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Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie - Jesus and the Great Commission

February 15, 2026 | 27:29

Greg Laurie - Jesus and the Great Commission
Join Pastor Greg Laurie for a time of encouragement, worship, and Bible study.
#WordofGod #Righteousness #LoveofGod #Disciples #Belief #Authority #Commandment #Witness/Witnessing #GregLaurie

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Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie | Greg Laurie - Jesus and the Great Commission | February 15, 2026
  • ...
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  • Greg laurie: there's one thing that believers and nonbelievers
  • 00:00:06.486 --> 00:00:08.354
  • Have in common: they're both uptight about evangelism.
  • 00:00:08.488 --> 00:00:12.926
  • Non-christians are uptight about being evangelized, and
  • 00:00:13.026 --> 00:00:15.895
  • Christians are uptight about evangelizing.
  • 00:00:16.029 --> 00:00:16.796
  • But we should all be engaged in this.
  • 00:00:19.032 --> 00:00:21.267
  • And so, for some, the great commission has become the great
  • 00:00:21.267 --> 00:00:24.771
  • Omission, and that's a tragedy.
  • 00:00:24.771 --> 00:00:27.140
  • Now let me say something that may surprise you.
  • 00:00:27.140 --> 00:00:29.876
  • To not share your faith can be an actual sin.
  • 00:00:29.876 --> 00:00:33.446
  • ♪ this is the day, ♪
  • 00:00:36.983 --> 00:00:39.018
  • ♪ the day when life begins. ♪
  • 00:00:39.018 --> 00:00:44.324
  • ♪ this is the day, ♪
  • 00:00:44.324 --> 00:00:46.826
  • ♪ the day when life begins. ♪♪
  • 00:00:46.826 --> 00:00:54.801
  • Greg: you know, people have interesting things put on
  • 00:00:58.938 --> 00:01:02.242
  • Their tombstones.
  • 00:01:02.242 --> 00:01:03.676
  • Sometimes they're a bit humorous, sometimes they're a
  • 00:01:03.676 --> 00:01:07.680
  • Bit tragic.
  • 00:01:07.680 --> 00:01:09.816
  • And i heard about someone that actually put this on their
  • 00:01:09.816 --> 00:01:12.352
  • Tombstone, "i told you i was sick."
  • 00:01:12.352 --> 00:01:17.824
  • Another person put, "here lies an atheist all dressed up and no
  • 00:01:17.824 --> 00:01:22.529
  • Place to go."
  • 00:01:22.529 --> 00:01:24.330
  • Even another wrote these words, i don't know if they wrote them
  • 00:01:24.330 --> 00:01:26.666
  • Or someone else wrote them.
  • 00:01:26.666 --> 00:01:28.601
  • Someone else said these words inscribed on their tombstone,
  • 00:01:28.601 --> 00:01:31.704
  • "don't cry, i'm just changing addresses."
  • 00:01:31.704 --> 00:01:35.108
  • I think that's pretty good and that's really true.
  • 00:01:35.108 --> 00:01:37.243
  • I did hear the story about a man who had the unfortunate last
  • 00:01:37.243 --> 00:01:40.146
  • Name of odd.
  • 00:01:40.146 --> 00:01:41.981
  • Imagine going through life with the last name of odd.
  • 00:01:41.981 --> 00:01:44.851
  • You can imagine the jokes as well.
  • 00:01:44.851 --> 00:01:46.819
  • "oh, odd, that's odd.
  • 00:01:46.819 --> 00:01:48.454
  • You're odd."
  • 00:01:48.454 --> 00:01:49.822
  • He got so sick of it.
  • 00:01:49.822 --> 00:01:51.157
  • So knowing that eventually he was going to die, he gave
  • 00:01:51.157 --> 00:01:53.593
  • Instructions to his "family," "i don't want my name on
  • 00:01:53.593 --> 00:01:56.796
  • My tombstone.
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  • I want my tombstone left blank.
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  • I don't want anyone to comment on my name after i'm gone."
  • 00:02:00.400 --> 00:02:04.137
  • So they did exactly what he said.
  • 00:02:04.137 --> 00:02:06.005
  • But people would be walking through the cemetery.
  • 00:02:06.005 --> 00:02:08.274
  • They would read inscriptions on tombstones.
  • 00:02:08.274 --> 00:02:11.544
  • They would come to a blank tombstone and read it and say,
  • 00:02:11.544 --> 00:02:14.914
  • "the tombstone is blank.
  • 00:02:14.914 --> 00:02:16.583
  • That's odd."
  • 00:02:16.583 --> 00:02:17.917
  • So, i guess he couldn't escape it.
  • 00:02:17.917 --> 00:02:21.921
  • But often people will give their last words from their deathbed.
  • 00:02:21.921 --> 00:02:27.493
  • Karl marx, the founder of communism, was asked by his
  • 00:02:27.493 --> 00:02:30.930
  • Housekeeper what he wanted his last words to be.
  • 00:02:30.930 --> 00:02:34.100
  • His response to her was, "get out.
  • 00:02:34.100 --> 00:02:36.336
  • Last words are for fools who have not said enough."
  • 00:02:36.336 --> 00:02:39.806
  • Well, he said far too much.
  • 00:02:39.806 --> 00:02:41.908
  • Queen elizabeth the first gave her last words which were: "all
  • 00:02:41.908 --> 00:02:46.179
  • My possessions for a moment of time."
  • 00:02:46.179 --> 00:02:49.716
  • Voltaire, a famous philosopher and atheist, gave his last
  • 00:02:49.716 --> 00:02:53.486
  • Words, which are so tragic, when he said, quote, "i'm abandoned
  • 00:02:53.486 --> 00:02:57.390
  • By god and man.
  • 00:02:57.390 --> 00:02:58.825
  • I shall go to hell."
  • 00:02:58.825 --> 00:03:00.860
  • Wow, is that a hopeless statement?
  • 00:03:00.860 --> 00:03:02.595
  • But then there are the last words of those who had faith,
  • 00:03:02.595 --> 00:03:05.565
  • For those who trusted christ, like the great apostle paul, who
  • 00:03:05.565 --> 00:03:08.901
  • In his final letter to timothy wrote these words, "i fought the
  • 00:03:08.901 --> 00:03:12.872
  • Good fight, i kept the faith, i finished the course.
  • 00:03:12.872 --> 00:03:16.209
  • Henceforth: there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness,
  • 00:03:16.209 --> 00:03:19.345
  • Which the lord, the righteous judge, will give to me: and not
  • 00:03:19.345 --> 00:03:22.882
  • To me only, but to all who love his appearing."
  • 00:03:22.882 --> 00:03:25.985
  • And we come now to the last words of jesus.
  • 00:03:25.985 --> 00:03:29.989
  • Now, you might think that would be the seven statements from the
  • 00:03:29.989 --> 00:03:32.725
  • Cross, and indeed those were his last words before he died.
  • 00:03:32.725 --> 00:03:36.396
  • But then, he rose again from the dead, spoiler alert in case you
  • 00:03:36.396 --> 00:03:39.999
  • Didn't know that.
  • 00:03:39.999 --> 00:03:41.334
  • But he rose from the dead and then he ascended to heaven.
  • 00:03:41.334 --> 00:03:45.805
  • And before he ascended to heaven, he gave his final words,
  • 00:03:45.805 --> 00:03:50.276
  • Something that we call the great commission.
  • 00:03:50.276 --> 00:03:53.446
  • That's what i want to talk about.
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  • So, bringing me to point number one, god has called every
  • 00:03:54.814 --> 00:03:58.351
  • Believer to preach the gospel and make disciples.
  • 00:03:58.351 --> 00:04:01.654
  • It's on the screen.
  • 00:04:01.654 --> 00:04:02.989
  • I want us to repeat this together out loud.
  • 00:04:02.989 --> 00:04:06.159
  • Say this with me, "god has called every believer to preach
  • 00:04:06.159 --> 00:04:10.063
  • The gospel and make disciples."
  • 00:04:10.063 --> 00:04:13.132
  • That means you, that means me.
  • 00:04:13.132 --> 00:04:15.735
  • We're all called to do this.
  • 00:04:15.735 --> 00:04:17.403
  • This is why we call it the great commission and not the great
  • 00:04:17.403 --> 00:04:20.907
  • Suggestion, all right?
  • 00:04:20.907 --> 00:04:22.575
  • So, there are two primary passages we look to that are
  • 00:04:22.575 --> 00:04:26.379
  • Effectively the last words of our lord before he ascended
  • 00:04:26.379 --> 00:04:28.815
  • To heaven.
  • 00:04:28.815 --> 00:04:30.149
  • The first is in mark chapter 16, verse 15, where jesus says, "go
  • 00:04:30.149 --> 00:04:34.954
  • Into all the world and preach the gospel to every person."
  • 00:04:34.954 --> 00:04:39.392
  • And now we have the version we're going to focus on in this
  • 00:04:39.392 --> 00:04:42.195
  • Message, matthew 28, and verse 18, jesus says, "all authority
  • 00:04:42.195 --> 00:04:46.866
  • Has been given to me in heaven and on earth.
  • 00:04:46.866 --> 00:04:49.569
  • Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing
  • 00:04:49.569 --> 00:04:53.773
  • Them in the name of the father and of the son and of the
  • 00:04:53.773 --> 00:04:56.809
  • Holy spirit, teaching them," i would underline that teaching
  • 00:04:56.809 --> 00:05:00.913
  • Them, "to observe all things that i've commanded you; for lo,
  • 00:05:00.913 --> 00:05:04.517
  • I am with you, even to the end of the age."
  • 00:05:04.517 --> 00:05:06.919
  • A couple of things jump out from the statement of christ.
  • 00:05:06.919 --> 00:05:09.922
  • Number one, they're a command.
  • 00:05:09.922 --> 00:05:11.824
  • They're a command from christ, our lord and savior, our master
  • 00:05:11.824 --> 00:05:16.295
  • And commander.
  • 00:05:16.295 --> 00:05:18.164
  • Our god says to you, he says to me, "i command you to go into
  • 00:05:18.164 --> 00:05:23.202
  • All of the world and make disciples of all nations,
  • 00:05:23.202 --> 00:05:26.873
  • Go into all of the world and preach the gospel."
  • 00:05:26.873 --> 00:05:30.576
  • Secondly, contextually, they're not just addressed to what we
  • 00:05:30.576 --> 00:05:34.914
  • Might call the professionals, the evangelists, the pastor,
  • 00:05:34.914 --> 00:05:38.785
  • The missionary.
  • 00:05:38.785 --> 00:05:40.119
  • They're included, but they're addressed to every follower of
  • 00:05:40.119 --> 00:05:42.755
  • Jesus christ.
  • 00:05:42.755 --> 00:05:44.123
  • Every one of us, no matter what you do, man or woman, young or
  • 00:05:44.123 --> 00:05:46.893
  • Old, we're all called to do this.
  • 00:05:46.893 --> 00:05:50.396
  • And actually, i found that some of the most effective
  • 00:05:50.396 --> 00:05:52.665
  • Evangelists i've ever met are just everyday people.
  • 00:05:52.665 --> 00:05:56.836
  • They're not preachers.
  • 00:05:56.836 --> 00:05:58.204
  • They don't walk around with a pulpit.
  • 00:05:58.204 --> 00:06:00.106
  • They just have a gifting to engage people in conversations
  • 00:06:00.106 --> 00:06:04.577
  • About christ.
  • 00:06:04.577 --> 00:06:06.312
  • And so, this is something we're all called to do.
  • 00:06:06.312 --> 00:06:08.714
  • Another thing is god will give us the power we need to do this.
  • 00:06:08.714 --> 00:06:12.385
  • Look at verse 18, "all power is given to me in heaven and
  • 00:06:12.385 --> 00:06:15.855
  • On earth.
  • 00:06:15.855 --> 00:06:17.223
  • Go therefore."
  • 00:06:17.223 --> 00:06:18.558
  • Now, whenever you see the word therefore, find out what it's
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  • There for.
  • 00:06:20.960 --> 00:06:22.595
  • It's drawing in what has been previously said.
  • 00:06:22.595 --> 00:06:24.831
  • So, jesus is saying, "all power is given to me in heaven and
  • 00:06:24.831 --> 00:06:28.267
  • On earth.
  • 00:06:28.267 --> 00:06:29.635
  • Therefore, in light of this fact, go into all the world."
  • 00:06:29.635 --> 00:06:33.506
  • You see, he's giving you this power as well.
  • 00:06:33.506 --> 00:06:36.142
  • Acts chapter 1, verse 8, jesus says, "you shall receive power
  • 00:06:36.142 --> 00:06:40.279
  • After the holy spirit has come upon you to be witnesses
  • 00:06:40.279 --> 00:06:44.717
  • For me."
  • 00:06:44.717 --> 00:06:46.052
  • God will give you the power to do what he has called you to do.
  • 00:06:46.052 --> 00:06:50.423
  • And then the last thing i wanted to point out is that he will be
  • 00:06:50.423 --> 00:06:54.026
  • With us in a special way when we do this.
  • 00:06:54.026 --> 00:06:57.563
  • Look at verse 20, "i am with you always, even to the end of
  • 00:06:57.563 --> 00:07:01.534
  • The age."
  • 00:07:01.534 --> 00:07:02.902
  • Now, look, if you're a christian, wherever you go,
  • 00:07:02.902 --> 00:07:05.171
  • Christ is with you.
  • 00:07:05.171 --> 00:07:06.506
  • You're never alone again in life.
  • 00:07:06.506 --> 00:07:07.874
  • Isn't that great to know?
  • 00:07:07.874 --> 00:07:09.375
  • Jesus said, "i'll never leave you or forsake you."
  • 00:07:09.375 --> 00:07:12.712
  • And there are many verses that confirm the fact that christ is
  • 00:07:12.712 --> 00:07:15.548
  • With us, but this verse has a different sort of meaning to it.
  • 00:07:15.548 --> 00:07:19.385
  • In context of what has been previously said, jesus is
  • 00:07:19.385 --> 00:07:22.722
  • Saying, if you'll allow me to paraphrase it, "when you go and
  • 00:07:22.722 --> 00:07:26.058
  • Fulfill the great commission, when you go and preach the
  • 00:07:26.058 --> 00:07:29.762
  • Gospel and make disciples of all nations, i will be with you in a
  • 00:07:29.762 --> 00:07:34.267
  • Special way."
  • 00:07:34.267 --> 00:07:35.635
  • And you will sense the presence of god when you engage people
  • 00:07:35.635 --> 00:07:40.172
  • With this message, but it's weird because this is a subject
  • 00:07:40.172 --> 00:07:44.110
  • Some christians cringe at.
  • 00:07:44.110 --> 00:07:46.746
  • There's one thing that believers and non-believers have in
  • 00:07:46.746 --> 00:07:49.181
  • Common: they're both uptight about evangelism.
  • 00:07:49.181 --> 00:07:53.386
  • Non-christians are uptight about being evangelized, and
  • 00:07:53.386 --> 00:07:56.355
  • Christians are uptight about evangelizing, but we should all
  • 00:07:56.355 --> 00:08:00.326
  • Be engaged in this.
  • 00:08:00.326 --> 00:08:01.727
  • And so, for some, the great commission has become the great
  • 00:08:01.727 --> 00:08:05.264
  • Omission, and that's a tragedy.
  • 00:08:05.264 --> 00:08:07.600
  • Now let me say something that may surprise you.
  • 00:08:07.600 --> 00:08:10.336
  • To not share your faith can be an actual sin.
  • 00:08:10.336 --> 00:08:14.340
  • Let me say it again, to not share your faith can be an
  • 00:08:14.340 --> 00:08:17.643
  • Actual sin.
  • 00:08:17.643 --> 00:08:19.445
  • Now we think a sin is breaking a commandment, of course it is,
  • 00:08:19.445 --> 00:08:24.584
  • But there are sins of commission and omission.
  • 00:08:24.584 --> 00:08:27.420
  • A sin of commission is when you do what you should not do.
  • 00:08:27.420 --> 00:08:30.723
  • A sin of omission is when you don't do what you should do.
  • 00:08:30.723 --> 00:08:34.327
  • The bible says, "to him that knows to do good and does not do
  • 00:08:34.327 --> 00:08:37.997
  • It, to him it is sin."
  • 00:08:37.997 --> 00:08:39.332
  • Let me illustrate.
  • 00:08:39.332 --> 00:08:40.700
  • Let's say you're walking down the street in some neighborhood
  • 00:08:40.700 --> 00:08:42.735
  • And there's a house on fire, a crowd standing around.
  • 00:08:42.735 --> 00:08:46.072
  • The fire department has not arrived yet.
  • 00:08:46.072 --> 00:08:48.274
  • Someone says, "there's a small child in that house."
  • 00:08:48.274 --> 00:08:50.776
  • You might be a hero and run into the flames and try to save
  • 00:08:50.776 --> 00:08:54.213
  • The child.
  • 00:08:54.213 --> 00:08:55.581
  • At the very least you call 911.
  • 00:08:55.581 --> 00:08:57.550
  • But if you take a selfie of yourself in front of the burning
  • 00:08:57.550 --> 00:09:00.886
  • House, that's messed up.
  • 00:09:00.886 --> 00:09:04.290
  • I mean, that's a crime in a way.
  • 00:09:04.290 --> 00:09:07.426
  • Maybe it technically is a crime, but, you know, you can't
  • 00:09:07.426 --> 00:09:10.696
  • Do that.
  • 00:09:10.696 --> 00:09:12.064
  • See, that would be like the worst thing you could do.
  • 00:09:12.064 --> 00:09:14.734
  • Let me illustrate in another way.
  • 00:09:14.734 --> 00:09:16.102
  • Let's say that you had cancer and you were a medical
  • 00:09:16.102 --> 00:09:20.172
  • Researcher and you spent all of your time and energy trying to
  • 00:09:20.172 --> 00:09:22.975
  • Find a cure for cancer and somehow you came up with a
  • 00:09:22.975 --> 00:09:26.145
  • Single pill that one could take one time and be instantly cured
  • 00:09:26.145 --> 00:09:31.450
  • Of cancer.
  • 00:09:31.450 --> 00:09:32.785
  • So, you took it and you were cured and you never told anybody
  • 00:09:32.785 --> 00:09:35.554
  • Else about it.
  • 00:09:35.554 --> 00:09:36.989
  • Imagine having the cure for cancer and not telling anyone
  • 00:09:36.989 --> 00:09:40.126
  • Else about it.
  • 00:09:40.126 --> 00:09:41.494
  • So, to apply it to the point, what we're doing for people is
  • 00:09:41.494 --> 00:09:44.897
  • Even more important than getting someone out of a burning
  • 00:09:44.897 --> 00:09:47.333
  • Building or saving them from a burning judgment in eternity.
  • 00:09:47.333 --> 00:09:51.971
  • What we have is even better than the cure for cancer.
  • 00:09:51.971 --> 00:09:54.907
  • As wonderful as that would be, we have the cure to sin, the
  • 00:09:54.907 --> 00:09:58.277
  • Cure to hopelessness, the very cure for life.
  • 00:09:58.277 --> 00:10:01.781
  • We've got to share this with others.
  • 00:10:01.781 --> 00:10:04.316
  • We can't keep it to ourselves.
  • 00:10:04.316 --> 00:10:07.353
  • So, every one of us is called to do it.
  • 00:10:07.353 --> 00:10:10.322
  • So, if you would be daring enough to pray this prayer, you
  • 00:10:10.322 --> 00:10:13.392
  • Might be surprised by what happens.
  • 00:10:13.392 --> 00:10:15.261
  • And the prayer is simply this, it's the prayer of isaiah, "here
  • 00:10:15.261 --> 00:10:18.397
  • I am, lord, send me."
  • 00:10:18.397 --> 00:10:21.333
  • Want to say that out loud together?
  • 00:10:21.333 --> 00:10:23.135
  • On the count of three, "here i am, lord, send me."
  • 00:10:23.135 --> 00:10:26.839
  • Oh, watch out.
  • 00:10:26.839 --> 00:10:28.774
  • Watch out.
  • 00:10:28.774 --> 00:10:30.409
  • God might answer that prayer before the day is over.
  • 00:10:30.409 --> 00:10:34.046
  • See, far too often we're more like, "here he is, send him,"
  • 00:10:34.046 --> 00:10:38.918
  • Or, "there she is, send her, not me."
  • 00:10:38.918 --> 00:10:42.421
  • That was jonah.
  • 00:10:42.421 --> 00:10:43.756
  • God called jonah to go to nineveh and preach to them
  • 00:10:43.756 --> 00:10:46.058
  • Because they needed to repent because judgment was coming and
  • 00:10:46.058 --> 00:10:50.229
  • Jonah didn't want to go to them because they were his enemies,
  • 00:10:50.229 --> 00:10:53.165
  • The enemies of israel.
  • 00:10:53.165 --> 00:10:54.834
  • Of course god had the last word in that scenario, but the point
  • 00:10:54.834 --> 00:10:57.503
  • Is you need to go where god calls you to go.
  • 00:10:57.503 --> 00:11:01.006
  • Let's localize this, let's personalize it.
  • 00:11:01.006 --> 00:11:03.409
  • Instead of going to all of the world, let's just put it this
  • 00:11:03.409 --> 00:11:06.512
  • Way, go into all of your world and preach the gospel,
  • 00:11:06.512 --> 00:11:09.949
  • Your world.
  • 00:11:09.949 --> 00:11:11.317
  • You have a sphere of influence.
  • 00:11:11.317 --> 00:11:13.919
  • You have people that will listen to what you have to say.
  • 00:11:13.919 --> 00:11:18.390
  • So, go into all of your family and preach the gospel.
  • 00:11:18.390 --> 00:11:21.694
  • Do your family members know you're a christian?
  • 00:11:21.694 --> 00:11:23.763
  • I don't just mean your immediate family, i mean your
  • 00:11:23.763 --> 00:11:26.065
  • Extended family.
  • 00:11:26.065 --> 00:11:27.433
  • Do they know you've put your faith in christ?
  • 00:11:27.433 --> 00:11:29.635
  • Go into all of your neighborhood.
  • 00:11:29.635 --> 00:11:31.704
  • Do your neighbors know that you're a christian?
  • 00:11:31.704 --> 00:11:34.406
  • Go into all of your workplace, go into all of your campus.
  • 00:11:34.406 --> 00:11:38.878
  • Do your coworkers or other students that you know know that
  • 00:11:38.878 --> 00:11:42.548
  • You're a follower of christ?
  • 00:11:42.548 --> 00:11:44.283
  • Go into all of your world.
  • 00:11:44.283 --> 00:11:45.651
  • I like to call it frangelism, frangelism.
  • 00:11:45.651 --> 00:11:49.789
  • No, that does not mean only evangelize people with the name
  • 00:11:49.789 --> 00:11:52.525
  • Of fran.
  • 00:11:52.525 --> 00:11:54.093
  • Is there anyone named fran here?
  • 00:11:54.093 --> 00:11:56.228
  • No frans.
  • 00:11:56.228 --> 00:11:57.563
  • Okay, this is a fran-free zone, but fran is a, it's an acronym
  • 00:11:57.563 --> 00:12:01.901
  • F-r-a-n.
  • 00:12:01.901 --> 00:12:03.702
  • F for friends, r for relatives, a for associates,
  • 00:12:03.702 --> 00:12:08.774
  • N for neighbors.
  • 00:12:08.774 --> 00:12:10.109
  • Go into all of your world and tell people because christ has
  • 00:12:10.109 --> 00:12:14.580
  • The answer for everyone.
  • 00:12:14.580 --> 00:12:16.248
  • And notice it's addressed to whosoever.
  • 00:12:16.248 --> 00:12:19.151
  • John 3:16, whosoever.
  • 00:12:19.151 --> 00:12:21.487
  • I love this verse.
  • 00:12:21.487 --> 00:12:22.988
  • Let's put john 3:16 on the screen.
  • 00:12:22.988 --> 00:12:25.891
  • Listen, if you forget everything else that i said, i want you to
  • 00:12:25.891 --> 00:12:29.895
  • Remember this.
  • 00:12:29.895 --> 00:12:31.230
  • Every christian should have this verse memorized.
  • 00:12:31.230 --> 00:12:34.600
  • Let's say it out loud together, "for god so loved the world that
  • 00:12:34.600 --> 00:12:38.771
  • He gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him
  • 00:12:38.771 --> 00:12:42.842
  • Should not perish but have everlasting life."
  • 00:12:42.842 --> 00:12:47.246
  • Isn't that a great verse?
  • 00:12:47.246 --> 00:12:53.419
  • It's called the gospel in a nutshell.
  • 00:12:53.419 --> 00:12:56.922
  • Whoever or whosoever, as the king james version puts it,
  • 00:12:56.922 --> 00:13:00.326
  • Whosoever, which means the gospel is for everyone.
  • 00:13:00.326 --> 00:13:03.295
  • Now, there are some people of a reformed type of theological
  • 00:13:03.295 --> 00:13:06.765
  • Thinking, also known as calvinists, and in this case we
  • 00:13:06.765 --> 00:13:10.236
  • Might call them extreme calvinists that believe in
  • 00:13:10.236 --> 00:13:13.305
  • Double predestination, which means they believe that god in
  • 00:13:13.305 --> 00:13:17.142
  • Heaven has predestined some people to go to heaven and he's
  • 00:13:17.142 --> 00:13:22.248
  • Predestined other people to go to hell.
  • 00:13:22.248 --> 00:13:23.849
  • So, it works like this: you guys, you're all going
  • 00:13:23.849 --> 00:13:25.784
  • To heaven.
  • 00:13:25.784 --> 00:13:27.119
  • You're predestined.
  • 00:13:27.119 --> 00:13:28.487
  • You guys, you're all going to hell.
  • 00:13:28.487 --> 00:13:30.122
  • And you say, "but wait, wait, i wanna believe in jesus and go
  • 00:13:30.122 --> 00:13:32.758
  • To heaven."
  • 00:13:32.758 --> 00:13:34.126
  • No, you can't because you're not predestined.
  • 00:13:34.126 --> 00:13:36.896
  • Interesting.
  • 00:13:36.896 --> 00:13:38.230
  • Here's what the bible says, "whosoever believes in him
  • 00:13:38.230 --> 00:13:40.666
  • Should not perish but have everlasting life."
  • 00:13:40.666 --> 00:13:42.835
  • The gospel is for everyone. [applause]
  • 00:13:42.835 --> 00:13:48.908
  • Well, you might say, "well, greg, don't you believe
  • 00:13:48.908 --> 00:13:50.542
  • In predestination?"
  • 00:13:50.542 --> 00:13:51.877
  • Well, of course i do, it's in the bible.
  • 00:13:51.877 --> 00:13:53.946
  • Well, what do you do with those verses where you have
  • 00:13:53.946 --> 00:13:56.048
  • Predestination and free will?
  • 00:13:56.048 --> 00:13:57.883
  • How do you reconcile them?
  • 00:13:57.883 --> 00:13:59.919
  • I don't reconcile, friends.
  • 00:13:59.919 --> 00:14:02.354
  • They're both in the bible.
  • 00:14:02.354 --> 00:14:03.822
  • They're both true.
  • 00:14:03.822 --> 00:14:05.190
  • God chooses, god predestines, but we have a say so in
  • 00:14:05.190 --> 00:14:10.095
  • This matter.
  • 00:14:10.095 --> 00:14:11.463
  • Listen, you decide where you will spend eternity by what you
  • 00:14:11.463 --> 00:14:15.067
  • Do with jesus christ.
  • 00:14:15.067 --> 00:14:16.869
  • "whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have
  • 00:14:16.869 --> 00:14:20.105
  • Everlasting life."
  • 00:14:20.105 --> 00:14:21.473
  • I like the statement of the old evangelist d.l. moody
  • 00:14:21.473 --> 00:14:24.143
  • Who--d.l. moody who said,
  • 00:14:24.143 --> 00:14:30.082
  • "lord, save the elect and elect some more."
  • 00:14:30.082 --> 00:14:32.685
  • So, look, my job, your job, our job is just to give the gospel
  • 00:14:32.685 --> 00:14:37.923
  • Out to whosoever and leave the results in the hands of god.
  • 00:14:37.923 --> 00:14:42.194
  • But we say gospel a lot.
  • 00:14:42.194 --> 00:14:44.663
  • What exactly is the gospel?
  • 00:14:44.663 --> 00:14:47.766
  • I frankly don't think most americans have heard an accurate
  • 00:14:47.766 --> 00:14:50.869
  • And biblical presentation of the gospel.
  • 00:14:50.869 --> 00:14:54.573
  • Sometimes i wonder if some christians know what the gospel
  • 00:14:54.573 --> 00:14:57.476
  • Actually is.
  • 00:14:57.476 --> 00:14:58.877
  • There are certain elements that must be present for the gospel
  • 00:14:58.877 --> 00:15:02.948
  • To be the gospel.
  • 00:15:02.948 --> 00:15:04.583
  • Now, i know that you probably are aware of the fact that the
  • 00:15:04.583 --> 00:15:06.952
  • Word gospel means "good news".
  • 00:15:06.952 --> 00:15:09.555
  • So, the good news is there's a god in heaven who loves you.
  • 00:15:09.555 --> 00:15:12.891
  • The good news is you can be forgiven of all of your sin.
  • 00:15:12.891 --> 00:15:15.961
  • The good news is you can go to heaven.
  • 00:15:15.961 --> 00:15:18.397
  • But sometimes before i can fully appreciate the good news, i have
  • 00:15:18.397 --> 00:15:22.234
  • To first know the bad news.
  • 00:15:22.234 --> 00:15:24.003
  • The bad news is that you and i and all of us are sinners and we
  • 00:15:24.003 --> 00:15:29.575
  • Fall short of the glory of god and we've broken the commandment
  • 00:15:29.575 --> 00:15:33.012
  • Of god, and there's nothing we can do to satisfy the righteous
  • 00:15:33.012 --> 00:15:37.082
  • Requirements of god in our own strength and ability.
  • 00:15:37.082 --> 00:15:41.020
  • And that's where christ comes in.
  • 00:15:41.020 --> 00:15:43.255
  • The word sin in the bible is translated different ways.
  • 00:15:43.255 --> 00:15:46.625
  • One translation of the word means to miss the mark.
  • 00:15:46.625 --> 00:15:50.062
  • So, think of a game of archery, and you and i are competing.
  • 00:15:50.062 --> 00:15:54.466
  • So, i go first and i have ten arrows.
  • 00:15:54.466 --> 00:15:57.069
  • My first arrow hits a tree, my second arrow hits a cow grazing
  • 00:15:57.069 --> 00:16:01.440
  • In a pasture, my third arrow, we don't know where that one went.
  • 00:16:01.440 --> 00:16:05.377
  • By the time i'm done, one of my arrows has hit the outer rim of
  • 00:16:05.377 --> 00:16:09.181
  • The target.
  • 00:16:09.181 --> 00:16:10.516
  • Now, you get up, you're an expert archer.
  • 00:16:10.516 --> 00:16:12.317
  • Every one of your arrows hits the bull's eye except one.
  • 00:16:12.317 --> 00:16:16.488
  • So you say, "i win."
  • 00:16:16.488 --> 00:16:17.856
  • No, you didn't win.
  • 00:16:17.856 --> 00:16:19.191
  • You missed the mark.
  • 00:16:19.191 --> 00:16:20.526
  • "well, i was closer to the mark than you were," but you have to
  • 00:16:20.526 --> 00:16:22.961
  • Hit the mark, okay?
  • 00:16:22.961 --> 00:16:24.396
  • So, the mark that god has set for humanity is perfection.
  • 00:16:24.396 --> 00:16:27.833
  • And the bible says, "if you offend in one point of the law,
  • 00:16:27.833 --> 00:16:30.636
  • You're guilty of all."
  • 00:16:30.636 --> 00:16:32.004
  • Granted, some sin more than others, but one sin is enough to
  • 00:16:32.004 --> 00:16:34.907
  • Keep you out of heaven.
  • 00:16:34.907 --> 00:16:36.642
  • "so, how can i be perfect," we ask.
  • 00:16:36.642 --> 00:16:38.343
  • Well, you can't be, and that's where jesus comes in.
  • 00:16:38.343 --> 00:16:41.547
  • That's why christ and christ alone was uniquely qualified to
  • 00:16:41.547 --> 00:16:45.818
  • Bridge the gap between a holy god, excuse me, that we've
  • 00:16:45.818 --> 00:16:49.688
  • Offended, and humanity.
  • 00:16:49.688 --> 00:16:53.392
  • I choke up thinking about it.
  • 00:16:53.392 --> 00:16:54.793
  • And if we'll turn from our sin, we can be forgiven.
  • 00:16:54.793 --> 00:16:59.231
  • You go, "greg, i already know this."
  • 00:16:59.231 --> 00:17:00.632
  • Okay, good.
  • 00:17:00.632 --> 00:17:01.967
  • I'm glad you know it.
  • 00:17:01.967 --> 00:17:03.335
  • When did you tell someone about this recently?
  • 00:17:03.335 --> 00:17:05.604
  • Have you told them that they can come into this relationship
  • 00:17:05.604 --> 00:17:09.141
  • With god?
  • 00:17:09.141 --> 00:17:10.476
  • You know, we talk about everything.
  • 00:17:10.476 --> 00:17:11.844
  • We talk about the new hamburger place we just found.
  • 00:17:11.844 --> 00:17:14.613
  • "i found the best smash burger of all time.
  • 00:17:14.613 --> 00:17:17.516
  • I've got pictures, 25 pictures on the 'gram.
  • 00:17:17.516 --> 00:17:20.385
  • Look at it."
  • 00:17:20.385 --> 00:17:21.753
  • Whatever.
  • 00:17:21.753 --> 00:17:23.088
  • "i got a slow-mo video," okay.
  • 00:17:23.088 --> 00:17:24.990
  • "oh, i just binge watched this series on amazon prime video.
  • 00:17:24.990 --> 00:17:28.894
  • It's called 'the house of david.'"
  • 00:17:28.894 --> 00:17:30.229
  • That's worth talking about.
  • 00:17:30.229 --> 00:17:31.797
  • Or maybe something else, right?
  • 00:17:31.797 --> 00:17:34.733
  • "oh, i'm so excited-- or, politics."
  • 00:17:34.733 --> 00:17:36.502
  • "oh, don't get me started on politics."
  • 00:17:36.502 --> 00:17:38.403
  • Okay, that's fine.
  • 00:17:38.403 --> 00:17:39.771
  • You're entitled to your opinions, but we'll get all
  • 00:17:39.771 --> 00:17:42.374
  • Fired up about every subject under the sun.
  • 00:17:42.374 --> 00:17:45.210
  • When's the last time you got fired up about talking
  • 00:17:45.210 --> 00:17:47.746
  • About jesus?
  • 00:17:47.746 --> 00:17:49.481
  • That's what you need to be the most excited about.
  • 00:17:49.481 --> 00:17:55.587
  • Tell us about your epic smash burger, maybe keep some of your
  • 00:17:55.587 --> 00:17:59.391
  • Political views to yourself, depending on where you stand,
  • 00:17:59.391 --> 00:18:02.694
  • But the point is, i want to hear you talk about jesus.
  • 00:18:02.694 --> 00:18:06.732
  • It's so very important.
  • 00:18:06.732 --> 00:18:08.267
  • That's the gospel.
  • 00:18:08.267 --> 00:18:09.601
  • Okay, so we're not just called to preach the gospel, we're also
  • 00:18:09.601 --> 00:18:13.872
  • Called to make disciples.
  • 00:18:13.872 --> 00:18:16.742
  • Look at verse 20, "go therefore and make disciples of all
  • 00:18:16.742 --> 00:18:22.014
  • Nations, baptizing them in the name of the father, son, and the
  • 00:18:22.014 --> 00:18:25.851
  • Holy spirit, teaching them to observe all things that i've
  • 00:18:25.851 --> 00:18:30.222
  • Commanded you.
  • 00:18:30.222 --> 00:18:31.557
  • Lo, i'm with you, even to the end of the age."
  • 00:18:31.557 --> 00:18:33.992
  • Listen to this, you should either be discipling or be
  • 00:18:33.992 --> 00:18:39.164
  • Being disciple.
  • 00:18:39.164 --> 00:18:41.099
  • You should be discipling someone or they should be
  • 00:18:41.099 --> 00:18:44.036
  • Discipling you.
  • 00:18:44.036 --> 00:18:45.370
  • And sometimes you can do both at the same time.
  • 00:18:45.370 --> 00:18:47.172
  • You say, "i don't even know what you're talking about."
  • 00:18:47.172 --> 00:18:49.474
  • To disciple someone means that you take them under your wing
  • 00:18:49.474 --> 00:18:54.646
  • And you become a friend to them.
  • 00:18:54.646 --> 00:18:56.248
  • You don't have to be a theologian.
  • 00:18:56.248 --> 00:18:58.817
  • You don't have to be an expert on all of the bible.
  • 00:18:58.817 --> 00:19:02.287
  • I think you know the bible better than you may think you
  • 00:19:02.287 --> 00:19:04.723
  • Know the bible, and you just haven't been challenged to put
  • 00:19:04.723 --> 00:19:07.559
  • It to use yet, but you need to model for them what a christian
  • 00:19:07.559 --> 00:19:11.630
  • Looks like.
  • 00:19:11.630 --> 00:19:12.998
  • So, they're a brand new believer.
  • 00:19:12.998 --> 00:19:14.366
  • They need to see what christians do, not just sitting in church,
  • 00:19:14.366 --> 00:19:17.836
  • Because some things are taught and other things are caught.
  • 00:19:17.836 --> 00:19:21.640
  • There's only so much that i or pastor jonathan or anyone else
  • 00:19:21.640 --> 00:19:24.876
  • Standing behind this pulpit can do from this position.
  • 00:19:24.876 --> 00:19:27.946
  • We can teach certain ideas and principles, but they have to
  • 00:19:27.946 --> 00:19:31.883
  • Catch things by observing a christian in real life.
  • 00:19:31.883 --> 00:19:37.589
  • How do christians drive?
  • 00:19:37.589 --> 00:19:40.292
  • This is why i never have new believers drive with me
  • 00:19:40.292 --> 00:19:42.894
  • Anywhere, because i drive too slow.
  • 00:19:42.894 --> 00:19:45.998
  • You see, i don't want to frustrate them too much.
  • 00:19:45.998 --> 00:19:48.834
  • But then, no, the truth is, you know, let them see how a real
  • 00:19:48.834 --> 00:19:51.937
  • Christian lives.
  • 00:19:51.937 --> 00:19:53.305
  • This is very important for them.
  • 00:19:53.305 --> 00:19:54.640
  • And i had someone do this for me, and i'm eternally grateful
  • 00:19:54.640 --> 00:19:57.743
  • To him.
  • 00:19:57.743 --> 00:19:59.077
  • His name was mark.
  • 00:19:59.077 --> 00:20:00.445
  • So, i'm a brand new believer.
  • 00:20:00.445 --> 00:20:01.780
  • I came to christ on my high school campus.
  • 00:20:01.780 --> 00:20:03.782
  • Nobody told me what i just did.
  • 00:20:03.782 --> 00:20:05.350
  • Nobody said, "hey, greg, here's a--"
  • 00:20:05.350 --> 00:20:08.687
  • Here's one, okay.
  • 00:20:08.687 --> 00:20:10.055
  • "hey greg, here's a new believer's bible," hadn't been
  • 00:20:10.055 --> 00:20:11.590
  • Written yet.
  • 00:20:11.590 --> 00:20:12.924
  • Well, the bible had been written, but this particular
  • 00:20:12.924 --> 00:20:14.726
  • Version hadn't been.
  • 00:20:14.726 --> 00:20:16.094
  • "read this, it'll help you."
  • 00:20:16.094 --> 00:20:17.429
  • No one gave you that.
  • 00:20:17.429 --> 00:20:18.797
  • No one said, "greg, go to church on sunday."
  • 00:20:18.797 --> 00:20:20.532
  • No one said, "greg, you need to pray now.
  • 00:20:20.532 --> 00:20:22.567
  • Hey, hang out with me."
  • 00:20:22.567 --> 00:20:23.935
  • No one said anything to me, and i could have fallen through the
  • 00:20:23.935 --> 00:20:27.039
  • Cracks so easily, but this guy i didn't know from adam's
  • 00:20:27.039 --> 00:20:31.910
  • House cat.
  • 00:20:31.910 --> 00:20:33.345
  • I don't know if adam had a house cat.
  • 00:20:33.345 --> 00:20:36.014
  • But i didn't know him, i'd never seen him before.
  • 00:20:36.014 --> 00:20:39.284
  • He comes up, "hi, i'm mark.
  • 00:20:39.284 --> 00:20:40.786
  • Is your name greg?"
  • 00:20:40.786 --> 00:20:42.120
  • "yeah, it is."
  • 00:20:42.120 --> 00:20:43.488
  • "yeah, well, i saw that you prayed the other day and asked
  • 00:20:43.488 --> 00:20:45.891
  • Christ to come into your life."
  • 00:20:45.891 --> 00:20:47.259
  • I'm a little defensive, "yeah, so?"
  • 00:20:47.259 --> 00:20:49.661
  • "no, that's great, that's wonderful."
  • 00:20:49.661 --> 00:20:51.396
  • "oh, okay."
  • 00:20:51.396 --> 00:20:52.731
  • "yeah, you know what, greg, why don't you come to church
  • 00:20:52.731 --> 00:20:54.900
  • With me?"
  • 00:20:54.900 --> 00:20:56.501
  • "no, thank you."
  • 00:20:56.501 --> 00:20:57.836
  • "no, greg, i want you to come to church with me.
  • 00:20:57.836 --> 00:20:59.705
  • I want to take you to church."
  • 00:20:59.705 --> 00:21:01.740
  • "no, i don't wanna go."
  • 00:21:01.740 --> 00:21:03.075
  • "oh, there's this church called calvary chapel.
  • 00:21:03.075 --> 00:21:04.643
  • There's all kinds of young people there and the place is
  • 00:21:04.643 --> 00:21:07.145
  • Overflowing and you gotta come check this out."
  • 00:21:07.145 --> 00:21:10.415
  • I said, "no, no, no, i don't want to."
  • 00:21:10.415 --> 00:21:11.750
  • He goes, "yeah, where do you live?"
  • 00:21:11.750 --> 00:21:13.251
  • I said, "no, no, i don't want to go to church with you."
  • 00:21:13.251 --> 00:21:16.788
  • "when shall i pick you up?"
  • 00:21:16.788 --> 00:21:18.290
  • Next thing i know, i'm in his car on my way to church.
  • 00:21:18.290 --> 00:21:21.793
  • I commend that guy for not taking no for an answer, right?
  • 00:21:21.793 --> 00:21:30.602
  • Be persistent.
  • 00:21:30.602 --> 00:21:32.571
  • You know, don't just give up, "oh, okay."
  • 00:21:32.571 --> 00:21:34.172
  • "no, no, you gotta come, man," ask him again.
  • 00:21:34.172 --> 00:21:37.242
  • Ask him again.
  • 00:21:37.242 --> 00:21:38.577
  • So he takes me to church and my life literally changed.
  • 00:21:38.577 --> 00:21:42.347
  • And i--you couldn't get me out of the place after that because
  • 00:21:42.347 --> 00:21:45.417
  • I just wanted to learn as much as i could.
  • 00:21:45.417 --> 00:21:49.755
  • But mark said, "hey, come on over and meet my family."
  • 00:21:49.755 --> 00:21:52.691
  • Now i've never been with a family like this, you know.
  • 00:21:52.691 --> 00:21:55.761
  • I came from a broken home.
  • 00:21:55.761 --> 00:21:57.229
  • My mom's an alcoholic.
  • 00:21:57.229 --> 00:21:58.597
  • I never had a dad, and i'm sitting at a table with a mom
  • 00:21:58.597 --> 00:22:01.767
  • And a dad and the children eating a meal.
  • 00:22:01.767 --> 00:22:05.203
  • You say grace before the meal.
  • 00:22:05.203 --> 00:22:07.873
  • I thought this is only on television, right?
  • 00:22:07.873 --> 00:22:10.442
  • No, it was real.
  • 00:22:10.442 --> 00:22:11.777
  • They were a real christian family.
  • 00:22:11.777 --> 00:22:13.645
  • And after we had dinner, "well, let's talk about the bible," and
  • 00:22:13.645 --> 00:22:16.581
  • I'm hearing things for the first time.
  • 00:22:16.581 --> 00:22:18.583
  • It's literally blowing my little 17-year-old brain.
  • 00:22:18.583 --> 00:22:22.521
  • Like, i can't believe this stuff is true.
  • 00:22:22.521 --> 00:22:25.390
  • I needed someone to model it for me, and you can be that person
  • 00:22:25.390 --> 00:22:28.827
  • For someone else.
  • 00:22:28.827 --> 00:22:30.429
  • You can be that discipler, and not only can you be, you've got
  • 00:22:30.429 --> 00:22:34.132
  • To be because it's not going to just help them, it's going to
  • 00:22:34.132 --> 00:22:37.202
  • Help you.
  • 00:22:37.202 --> 00:22:39.004
  • Sharing the gospel and discipling others energizes and
  • 00:22:39.004 --> 00:22:43.275
  • Refreshes the christian.
  • 00:22:43.275 --> 00:22:46.344
  • You know, sometimes as we walk with the lord for a period of
  • 00:22:46.344 --> 00:22:49.347
  • Time, we may say, "i'm feeling kind of lethargic spiritually.
  • 00:22:49.347 --> 00:22:54.453
  • I feel like, you know, what do i need to do now?
  • 00:22:54.453 --> 00:22:58.490
  • I don't have the excitement i had before and the passion.
  • 00:22:58.490 --> 00:23:01.860
  • I actually feel a little bit spiritually dry.
  • 00:23:01.860 --> 00:23:05.297
  • What's wrong with me now?"
  • 00:23:05.297 --> 00:23:06.631
  • Let me say something that might surprise you from a preacher.
  • 00:23:06.631 --> 00:23:09.568
  • There can come a point where you literally don't need more bible
  • 00:23:09.568 --> 00:23:12.938
  • Study, though you probably always do in one sense, but
  • 00:23:12.938 --> 00:23:16.007
  • That's not what it is.
  • 00:23:16.007 --> 00:23:17.776
  • What it is is you need an outlet for what you're taking in.
  • 00:23:17.776 --> 00:23:21.913
  • Let's just say you ate a big meal.
  • 00:23:21.913 --> 00:23:24.516
  • We'll use thanksgiving as an example, that day when all of
  • 00:23:24.516 --> 00:23:28.253
  • America commits a sin of gluttony together.
  • 00:23:28.253 --> 00:23:31.590
  • And i love thanksgiving food once a year.
  • 00:23:31.590 --> 00:23:35.327
  • I don't know why i never have it any other day of the year, and
  • 00:23:35.327 --> 00:23:37.896
  • My wife cathe owns the thanksgiving meal.
  • 00:23:37.896 --> 00:23:40.932
  • I'm telling you, i've had thanksgiving in other homes.
  • 00:23:40.932 --> 00:23:43.802
  • It's fine, and i don't want to offend anyone in case i came to
  • 00:23:43.802 --> 00:23:47.005
  • Your house, but my wife does it better than you.
  • 00:23:47.005 --> 00:23:50.509
  • I'm just telling you she does.
  • 00:23:50.509 --> 00:23:52.577
  • Starting with the turkey, she cooks it perfectly.
  • 00:23:52.577 --> 00:23:54.746
  • Turkeys are so tricky.
  • 00:23:54.746 --> 00:23:57.215
  • They can end up too dry.
  • 00:23:57.215 --> 00:23:58.583
  • She gets it just right crispy on the outside, and then
  • 00:23:58.583 --> 00:24:01.152
  • The stuffing.
  • 00:24:01.152 --> 00:24:02.487
  • I don't like mushy stuffing.
  • 00:24:02.487 --> 00:24:04.256
  • She does the cornbread stuffing.
  • 00:24:04.256 --> 00:24:05.924
  • It has a little crisp on it.
  • 00:24:05.924 --> 00:24:07.759
  • Then she--is this making you hungry?
  • 00:24:07.759 --> 00:24:10.595
  • Then there's the sweet potatoes and she melts marshmallows on
  • 00:24:10.595 --> 00:24:13.798
  • Them and they're really good.
  • 00:24:13.798 --> 00:24:15.767
  • And then we have, you know, potatoes, mashed potatoes and
  • 00:24:15.767 --> 00:24:18.937
  • Gravy in the rolls.
  • 00:24:18.937 --> 00:24:20.438
  • And then i think it's a law in america you can only eat pumpkin
  • 00:24:20.438 --> 00:24:23.875
  • Pie afterwards.
  • 00:24:23.875 --> 00:24:25.443
  • Some people--somehow minced meat pies made it in.
  • 00:24:25.443 --> 00:24:28.480
  • That's rubbish.
  • 00:24:28.480 --> 00:24:29.814
  • I don't.
  • 00:24:29.814 --> 00:24:31.249
  • But i guess it deserves to exist somewhere.
  • 00:24:31.249 --> 00:24:33.685
  • But anyway, but how do you feel after you've eaten this
  • 00:24:33.685 --> 00:24:36.788
  • Wonderful meal?
  • 00:24:36.788 --> 00:24:38.156
  • You feel like you wanna go into a food coma.
  • 00:24:38.156 --> 00:24:41.226
  • So you fall asleep and you wake up and what do you do?
  • 00:24:41.226 --> 00:24:44.262
  • Let's have a turkey sandwich, right?
  • 00:24:44.262 --> 00:24:45.997
  • So, you're going in for round two, but here's my point, if you
  • 00:24:45.997 --> 00:24:49.935
  • Just eat and eat and take in and take in and don't have an outlet
  • 00:24:49.935 --> 00:24:53.905
  • For what you're taking in, you're going to grow lazy,
  • 00:24:53.905 --> 00:24:57.175
  • Spiritually fat, and lethargic.
  • 00:24:57.175 --> 00:24:59.377
  • You need a new believer in your life, right?
  • 00:24:59.377 --> 00:25:06.017
  • An older believer needs a younger believer because they
  • 00:25:06.017 --> 00:25:09.454
  • Will energize you and the younger believer needs an older
  • 00:25:09.454 --> 00:25:13.024
  • Believer because you will stabilize them.
  • 00:25:13.024 --> 00:25:16.328
  • You need each other.
  • 00:25:16.328 --> 00:25:18.530
  • This is what discipling is all about, and this is part of the
  • 00:25:18.530 --> 00:25:22.667
  • Great commission.
  • 00:25:22.667 --> 00:25:25.070
  • The christian life is like a race, many times the bible says.
  • 00:25:25.070 --> 00:25:30.442
  • And if it is a race, and it is, it's a long distance run.
  • 00:25:30.442 --> 00:25:34.312
  • And it's also a relay race, so we have the baton.
  • 00:25:34.312 --> 00:25:38.717
  • I'll use this microphone as a baton.
  • 00:25:38.717 --> 00:25:41.786
  • So, i run for my time and when my time is up, i pass the baton
  • 00:25:41.786 --> 00:25:47.158
  • On to the next runner who takes it and then they run with it for
  • 00:25:47.158 --> 00:25:52.097
  • A time and then they too pass the baton on.
  • 00:25:52.097 --> 00:25:56.267
  • And the baton is the gospel.
  • 00:25:56.267 --> 00:25:58.503
  • Each generation has the gospel.
  • 00:25:58.503 --> 00:26:00.572
  • We take it through our generation like it said of
  • 00:26:00.572 --> 00:26:03.775
  • David, he served god in his own generation and fell asleep and
  • 00:26:03.775 --> 00:26:09.014
  • He was buried.
  • 00:26:09.014 --> 00:26:10.382
  • We want to do this well and we want to finish well and we want
  • 00:26:10.382 --> 00:26:13.351
  • To hear jesus say, "well done, good and faithful servant.
  • 00:26:13.351 --> 00:26:18.123
  • Enter into the joy of your lord."
  • 00:26:18.123 --> 00:26:24.629
  • Greg: hi, i'm greg laurie.
  • 00:26:28.233 --> 00:26:29.601
  • I've got some good news for you.
  • 00:26:29.601 --> 00:26:31.002
  • God loves you, and god has a plan for your life.
  • 00:26:31.002 --> 00:26:34.739
  • Here's the problem, we're separated from god by our sin
  • 00:26:34.739 --> 00:26:38.376
  • Because we've all broken his commandments.
  • 00:26:38.376 --> 00:26:41.179
  • But the good news is, 2,000 years ago, god sent his son
  • 00:26:41.179 --> 00:26:45.850
  • Jesus christ to die on the cross for your sin and then to rise
  • 00:26:45.850 --> 00:26:50.255
  • Again from the dead.
  • 00:26:50.255 --> 00:26:51.589
  • The same jesus who died and rose is alive and ready to come into
  • 00:26:51.589 --> 00:26:55.460
  • Your life right now.
  • 00:26:55.460 --> 00:26:57.228
  • Would you like your sin forgiven?
  • 00:26:57.228 --> 00:26:59.264
  • Would you like to know that when you die you will go to heaven?
  • 00:26:59.264 --> 00:27:02.233
  • If so, pray this simple prayer with me right now.
  • 00:27:02.233 --> 00:27:05.537
  • Just say, "lord jesus, i know i'm a sinner, but i believe
  • 00:27:05.537 --> 00:27:09.140
  • You're the savior who died on the cross for my sin.
  • 00:27:09.140 --> 00:27:12.544
  • I turn from my sin now and i choose to follow you from this
  • 00:27:12.544 --> 00:27:16.881
  • Moment forward."
  • 00:27:16.881 --> 00:27:18.516
  • Did you just pray that prayer with me?
  • 00:27:18.516 --> 00:27:20.385
  • If you did, god in heaven has heard you.
  • 00:27:20.385 --> 00:27:23.321
  • And let me be the first to say to you, congratulations, and
  • 00:27:23.321 --> 00:27:27.225
  • Welcome to the family of god.
  • 00:27:27.225 --> 00:27:29.294