WEBVTT 00:01.516 --> 00:04.356 Welcome to the Valley Baptist Church sermon podcast. 00:04.896 --> 00:09.656 We're so glad you're here, and we hope this message inspires you, builds your faith, and 00:09.656 --> 00:12.036 moves you toward a deep relationship with God. 00:12.576 --> 00:17.236 Today, you'll find great insight into the Bible and learn how you can apply it straight 00:17.236 --> 00:18.215 to your life. 00:18.216 --> 00:20.396 So welcome, and enjoy the message. 00:21.456 --> 00:27.196 First Thessalonians chapter 2, in a message I'm calling Christian Leadership. 00:27.196 --> 00:28.498 Okay. 00:28.499 --> 00:34.359 A couple weeks ago, we started a brand new series going verse by verse through the book of 1 Thessalonians. 00:35.039 --> 00:41.759 And in this letter, the Apostle Paul is writing to a young church in Thessalonica in order to encourage them. 00:41.899 --> 00:45.339 As he does so, as you'll see here in just a moment, 00:45.340 --> 00:50.340 In chapter two, he begins recounting his time with them 00:50.340 --> 00:53.280 because it seems like some people had come along 00:53.280 --> 00:56.880 that who started criticizing the Apostle Paul's ministry. 00:56.880 --> 00:59.760 Now, Paul knew what it was like to be attacked 00:59.760 --> 01:01.020 and criticized. 01:01.020 --> 01:02.460 He was attacked by the Jews. 01:02.460 --> 01:03.860 He was attacked by the Romans. 01:03.860 --> 01:05.140 He was certainly attacked. 01:05.135 --> 01:12.655 by the Judaizers of the day. And the Judaizers were Jews who claimed to be Christians, 01:13.375 --> 01:19.135 but got the gospel all wrong. They said that we are saved by Jesus plus circumcision, 01:19.655 --> 01:27.195 Jesus plus the keeping of the law, Jesus plus rules. And Paul says, no, no, no, we are saved by Jesus 01:27.195 --> 01:28.215 alone. 01:29.030 --> 01:32.710 So let's remember the context for a moment. 01:32.710 --> 01:36.850 In Acts 17, Paul and his team went to Thessalonica 01:36.850 --> 01:39.030 for several weeks and for three Sabbaths, 01:39.030 --> 01:42.230 they went into the synagogue and they declared Jesus. 01:42.749 --> 01:44.669 And some of the people got saved. 01:44.669 --> 01:48.469 In fact, it was mainly God-fearing Greeks. 01:48.469 --> 01:52.289 The Jews, for the most part, rejected the gospel message. 01:52.289 --> 01:54.669 And not only did they reject Jesus, 01:54.669 --> 01:57.069 they stirred the city up into an uproar 01:57.069 --> 01:59.129 and it caused a riot. 01:59.129 --> 02:01.449 And so Paul, Silas, and Timothy, 02:01.449 --> 02:04.909 they were forced to leave the city of Thessalonica. 02:04.909 --> 02:07.309 So they just went to the next city. 02:07.589 --> 02:11.809 Berea. But meanwhile, back in Thessalonica, 02:12.149 --> 02:13.149 these new believers, 02:13.329 --> 02:18.849 they continued to meet and to gather for Bible study and worship and prayer and 02:18.849 --> 02:19.948 fellowship. 02:19.949 --> 02:24.949 Now it's clear from the text that they were radically saved by God. 02:25.029 --> 02:29.609 And so they started telling everyone about Jesus in Thessalonica and beyond. 02:30.449 --> 02:31.889 When that happened, 02:32.345 --> 02:36.605 the enemy, that is the devil, went into attack mode. 02:36.865 --> 02:40.325 And that's something very important for all of us to keep in mind, 02:40.665 --> 02:44.265 especially as God is doing a great work among our church. 02:44.265 --> 02:48.845 Anytime God is doing a great work, the enemy is going to attack. 02:49.065 --> 02:50.285 And that's exactly what he did. 02:50.789 --> 02:53.629 The Thessalonians were attacked from without, 02:53.629 --> 02:55.869 that was with persecution, 02:55.869 --> 02:59.389 but they were also attacked from within 02:59.389 --> 03:03.329 through criticism that threatened to undermine 03:03.329 --> 03:05.409 the Apostle Paul's ministry. 03:05.409 --> 03:08.409 Now, we don't know exactly who was criticizing Paul, 03:08.409 --> 03:10.269 but someone apparently was. 03:10.263 --> 03:13.283 Perhaps it was the Jews who ran him out of town. 03:13.543 --> 03:19.483 Maybe it was the government officials who blamed the city's problems on Paul and Silas and the team. 03:19.483 --> 03:24.923 Maybe it was the Judaizers of the day who got word about what was happening in Thessalonica, 03:25.043 --> 03:30.303 and they swept in to try to destroy the credibility of Paul and his ministry. 03:30.563 --> 03:32.343 We don't know exactly who it was. 03:33.010 --> 03:39.450 But Paul feels the need under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to set the record straight. 03:39.450 --> 03:51.470 And he does so by reminding them of the genuine love and the faithfulness that he and his team displayed while they were with them in Thessalonica. 03:51.890 --> 03:58.490 And today, you and I, we are recipients and beneficiaries of what he wrote. 04:07.030 --> 04:11.556 Because we read in 1 Thessalonians 2. 04:11.557 --> 04:15.796 and we see, we're going to see in just a moment, some key aspects of godly Christian leadership. 04:15.797 --> 04:16.997 And our world is in need of some godly Christian leadership. Amen? 04:19.017 --> 04:22.545 Now, don't panic here. 04:22.546 --> 04:24.085 And don't tune me out thinking, well, I'm not a leader. 04:24.086 --> 04:27.325 I don't even need this message. 04:27.326 --> 04:28.645 Listen, you may not think of yourself as a leader, 04:28.646 --> 04:31.785 but you are. 04:31.786 --> 04:36.785 John Maxwell defined leadership as influence. 04:36.786 --> 04:38.645 And every single human being has influence over someone. 04:38.646 --> 04:40.565 Now, it's not always a positive influence, 04:40.566 --> 04:43.285 but it's influence nonetheless. 04:43.286 --> 04:47.885 And since we all have influence over someone, 04:47.886 --> 04:49.665 that makes all of us, in a sense, leaders. 04:49.666 --> 04:52.431 But the question becomes, 04:52.432 --> 04:57.291 What kind of leaders are we? 04:57.292 --> 05:03.131 In chapter 1, Paul said, he said, you followed us and the Lord. 05:03.132 --> 05:06.651 Let me ask you, if people started following you, would that mean they were also following the Lord? 05:06.652 --> 05:11.539 Or would that mean they were being led astray? 05:11.540 --> 05:16.399 Now, today's message is certainly directed at me as a pastor. 05:16.400 --> 05:24.459 It's directed at all of our pastors, but it's also directed at all of our life group leaders, 05:24.460 --> 05:28.739 every volunteer, every husband and father, every wife and mother, every businessman, school teacher, boss, 05:28.740 --> 05:31.661 every single person who has influence over someone. 05:31.662 --> 05:33.221 We read in verse number one, Paul says, 05:33.222 --> 05:37.441 for you yourselves know, brothers, 05:37.442 --> 05:42.121 that our coming to you was not in vain. 05:42.122 --> 05:44.141 Vain means empty, you're useless, that it was fruitless. 05:44.142 --> 05:45.481 Paul's saying that's not what it was. 05:45.482 --> 05:47.961 Don't believe the criticism. 05:47.962 --> 05:48.821 Our time with you clearly was impactful. 05:48.822 --> 05:50.301 God used it. 05:50.302 --> 05:51.672 You're now walking with God. 05:52.652 --> 05:56.111 Here's our first principle. 05:56.112 --> 05:59.651 Godly leaders love fruitfulness. 05:59.652 --> 06:05.071 It matters that an impact is taking place. 06:05.072 --> 06:08.929 Sometimes Christians will say, well, all God requires of us is faithfulness. 06:08.930 --> 06:13.049 Well, faithfulness is great, but God also wants fruitfulness. 06:13.050 --> 06:18.389 I mean, what wife expects only faithfulness from her husband? 06:18.390 --> 06:20.129 No, certainly she expects faithfulness, but she also expects fruitfulness, productivity. 06:20.130 --> 06:22.729 Do something with your life, right? 06:22.730 --> 06:29.569 God expects the same for you and I. 06:29.570 --> 06:37.180 Jesus said to his disciples, he said, abide, remain in me, and then you'll produce much fruit. 06:37.181 --> 06:40.980 Now, I think the main fruit that Jesus probably had in mind was the fruit of his spirit that's produced within our life. 06:40.981 --> 06:46.000 But the Bible also speaks of the fruit of ministry. 06:46.001 --> 06:51.213 And the fruit of ministry ultimately is the fruit of spirit. 06:51.214 --> 06:55.393 in other people's lives, that fruit is being produced in others. 06:55.394 --> 07:00.793 Now, I quoted this a couple weeks ago, but William Carey, the great missionary, said, 07:00.794 --> 07:07.673 expect great things from God, attempt great things for God. 07:07.674 --> 07:09.636 Paul clearly attempted great things for God in Thessalonica, but he also expected great things. 07:09.637 --> 07:10.856 It was not in vain, he said. 07:10.857 --> 07:13.436 Now, why was that? 07:13.437 --> 07:19.016 It was because God had called him to go there. 07:19.017 --> 07:20.114 And anytime God calls us to do something and we do it, we ought to expect that it will not be in vain. 07:26.714 --> 07:29.493 In fact, Paul told the church in Corinth, he said that our labor for the Lord is never in vain. 07:29.494 --> 07:33.713 It's never empty. It's never without fruit. 07:33.714 --> 07:37.133 Now, you may not be able to see all of the impact that you've had. 07:37.134 --> 07:40.113 Sometimes people work and work for years and even decades. 07:40.114 --> 07:42.993 They don't have the opportunity to see all of the fruit of their labor. 07:42.994 --> 07:52.994 But just because you don't see it doesn't mean it doesn't exist. 07:54.725 --> 07:56.284 Godly leaders learn to expect that their work for the gospel, the work God is doing through their lives, will bring about fruitfulness that will not be in vain. 07:56.285 --> 07:57.560 Verse number two. 08:20.700 --> 08:25.094 He says, 08:25.095 --> 08:33.834 Not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts. 08:33.835 --> 08:34.995 We see here that godly leaders, they're bold with truth in the face of suffering and even conflict. 08:40.655 --> 08:41.823 Now, truth is under attack within our culture, isn't it? 08:44.483 --> 08:47.482 Our culture says that truth is relative. 08:47.483 --> 08:52.642 What's true for you may not be true for me. 08:52.643 --> 08:57.102 What's true for me may not be true for you, that we kind of create our own truth. 08:57.103 --> 08:58.122 If I'm a boy but I identify as a girl, then I'm actually a girl. 08:58.123 --> 09:00.662 That's my truth. 09:00.663 --> 09:05.482 No, that's not what that means. 09:05.483 --> 09:07.296 You're still a boy because truth is not relative, right? 09:07.297 --> 09:09.936 It's absolute. 09:09.937 --> 09:12.176 Mathematically, two plus two equals four. 09:12.177 --> 09:15.696 It's always gonna equal four. 09:15.697 --> 09:17.916 It doesn't matter if you say, well, for me it equals three. 09:17.917 --> 09:21.696 No, it equals four still. 09:21.697 --> 09:23.136 So in our culture, the very concept of truth 09:23.137 --> 09:25.176 is under attack, but in Paul's day, 09:25.177 --> 09:27.896 it was the truth of the gospel, 09:27.897 --> 09:33.026 the good news of Jesus that was under attack. 09:33.027 --> 09:36.106 When Paul and Silas and Timothy were in Philippi, 09:36.107 --> 09:38.066 just before they came to Thessalonica, 09:38.067 --> 09:39.206 Paul and Silas, they cast out a demon 09:39.207 --> 09:42.206 from a slave girl there. 09:42.207 --> 09:45.306 And you'd think everyone would be happy about that, 09:45.307 --> 09:49.086 but they weren't because that slave girl had some owners. 09:49.087 --> 09:51.026 And the owners were profiting from her demon possession. 09:51.027 --> 09:54.086 And so they went to the magistrates of the city 09:54.087 --> 09:55.286 and they stirred up the crowd against Paul and Silas 09:55.287 --> 09:57.746 with their accusation. 09:57.747 --> 10:01.842 And we read in Acts chapter 16, 10:01.843 --> 10:02.862 Verse 22, then the multitude rose up together against them. 10:02.863 --> 10:05.622 That's Paul and Silas. 10:05.623 --> 10:07.702 And the magistrates tore off their clothes. 10:07.703 --> 10:08.923 That must have been an embarrassing thing. 10:11.543 --> 10:16.482 And they commanded them to be beaten with rods. 10:16.483 --> 10:18.766 And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison. 10:18.767 --> 10:24.266 That's what Paul had just faced. 10:24.267 --> 10:27.926 And so Paul reminds them all about their suffering before they came to Thessalonica. 10:27.927 --> 10:32.026 And he says, in the face of all of that suffering, all of that conflict, 10:32.027 --> 10:33.367 that's when we shared with you about Jesus without error, without deceit. 10:37.507 --> 10:42.686 Our culture, our world desperately needs some leaders in our homes, 10:42.687 --> 10:46.986 in our schools, in our places of work, and certainly within our government 10:46.987 --> 10:50.539 who are bold to share the truth in the midst of the world, 10:50.540 --> 10:53.659 who rejects it and even hates it, right? 10:53.660 --> 10:55.979 We get attacked as bigots. 10:55.980 --> 10:58.079 Our culture's sort of become an echo chamber 10:58.080 --> 11:01.859 for the worst ideas out there, 11:01.860 --> 11:04.499 so that if someone, anyone claims a truth, 11:04.500 --> 11:07.299 no matter how blatantly untrue it is, 11:07.300 --> 11:10.559 our culture expects us to celebrate it. 11:10.560 --> 11:13.819 But what an incredibly cruel thing for us to do 11:13.820 --> 11:18.675 to celebrate a lie in someone's life. 11:18.676 --> 11:26.655 No, no, no. Our world, what it needs the most is the truth. 11:26.656 --> 11:30.495 Stats will show that depression and anxiety and suicide are on the rise. 11:30.496 --> 11:34.535 Now, I recognize that that's a complex issue. 11:34.536 --> 11:36.293 There's many factors taking place, but certainly. 11:39.793 --> 11:41.972 It's a result of many people being bombarded 11:41.973 --> 11:44.832 with the lies of the enemy, 11:44.833 --> 11:47.372 that he's trying to create a false narrative of this world. 11:47.373 --> 11:51.052 And what our world needs the most 11:51.053 --> 11:54.632 is for someone to tell them the truth with the love of God, 11:54.633 --> 11:55.712 to share with them truth in love. 11:55.713 --> 11:56.713 Jesus said, 11:59.873 --> 12:01.992 and you shall know the truth and the truth shall what? 12:01.993 --> 12:03.932 Set you free. 12:03.933 --> 12:05.369 You guys know your Bible, I love that. 12:10.229 --> 12:12.288 Lies bring about bondage, but truth brings about freedom, doesn't it? 12:12.289 --> 12:14.249 Now, sometimes that's hard, admittedly. 12:16.809 --> 12:17.888 It's hard to tell people things they don't want to hear. 12:17.889 --> 12:20.388 I get that. 12:20.389 --> 12:21.688 Sometimes I'm conflicted. 12:21.689 --> 12:24.768 I struggle with that myself. 12:24.769 --> 12:28.788 I say, Lord, if I say that, I know I'm going to get some emails. 12:28.789 --> 12:29.528 If I say that, I'm going to ruffle some feathers and upset some people. 12:29.529 --> 12:31.028 I don't like that. 12:31.029 --> 12:32.908 You see, I'm the middle child. 12:32.909 --> 12:34.768 I don't know if you knew that, so I'm kind of wired. 12:34.769 --> 12:36.318 Can't we all just get along, right? 12:42.518 --> 12:46.057 Well, yes, we can, but never at the expense of the truth of God's word. 12:46.058 --> 12:51.197 Now, Paul also says in verse number four, we read it a moment ago, 12:51.198 --> 12:56.957 he said that we spoke not as pleasing men, but pleasing God. 12:56.958 --> 13:01.642 We see here that godly leaders, their focus is on pleasing God, not people. 13:01.643 --> 13:05.822 Now, if we could just get that, if we could come to grips with that truth, 13:05.823 --> 13:07.462 that the focus of our life is to please God and not people around us, 13:07.463 --> 13:10.822 that would give us a lot of peace. 13:10.823 --> 13:11.702 That would really simplify our lives. 13:11.703 --> 13:13.302 And Paul knew that. 13:13.303 --> 13:15.562 He said, I can't please everyone. 13:15.563 --> 13:19.402 I mean, it's impossible to please everyone. 13:19.403 --> 13:20.603 So instead, I'm just going to focus all my attention on pleasing God. 13:27.063 --> 13:30.827 You know, parents sometimes struggle with this, being people pleasers or children pleasers. 13:30.828 --> 13:38.067 All of us as parents, we certainly want to make our kids happy. 13:38.068 --> 13:45.407 But unfortunately, our kids learn that and they start manipulating us if we're not careful. 13:45.408 --> 13:47.362 And so one of the keys to becoming a good parent is to learn this little word called know. 13:50.402 --> 13:52.041 You know, sometimes parents, they just don't even know that word exists. 13:52.042 --> 13:53.101 You got to learn it. 13:53.102 --> 13:55.741 Sometimes it's hard. 13:55.742 --> 13:57.401 So maybe you get in front of the mirror, you just practice. 13:57.402 --> 13:59.501 No, no. 13:59.502 --> 14:02.061 Then you go, you have some courage. 14:02.062 --> 14:06.281 No, absolutely not. 14:06.282 --> 14:10.801 No, you know, we've got to tell our kids no at times. 14:10.802 --> 14:14.161 You see, instead of doing whatever is going to make our child happy in the moment, 14:14.162 --> 14:15.340 what we need to focus on is what is going to make God happy. 14:17.980 --> 14:19.539 Our job as parents is not to make our kids happy, 14:19.540 --> 14:22.459 it's to make God happy. 14:22.460 --> 14:25.499 And did you know that whatever makes him happy 14:25.500 --> 14:28.179 is also what's best for our kids? 14:28.180 --> 14:30.319 As a leader, it's so easy to be controlled 14:30.320 --> 14:33.959 by other people's expectations, 14:33.960 --> 14:37.179 whether that's as a parent or a boss or a ministry leader, 14:37.180 --> 14:38.839 when we're supposed to be controlled by God's expectation. 14:38.840 --> 14:43.579 Because Paul reminds us here, he said, 14:43.580 --> 14:46.579 "'It's God actually who's examining and testing our hearts.'" 14:46.580 --> 14:48.099 He's the one we're actually accountable to. 14:48.100 --> 14:50.559 You know what? 14:50.560 --> 14:52.579 God's not trying to trip us up. 14:52.580 --> 14:53.559 Sometimes people think that, well, I'm accountable, 14:53.560 --> 14:55.839 he's trying to trip me up. 14:55.840 --> 14:57.039 No, God wants us to win. 14:57.040 --> 14:57.999 He wants us to succeed. 14:58.000 --> 14:59.739 We're his children. 14:59.740 --> 15:01.739 He's got everything invested in us. 15:01.740 --> 15:04.719 He made us, he loves us. 15:04.720 --> 15:06.279 He died on the cross for our sins. 15:06.280 --> 15:09.299 Jesus did. 15:09.300 --> 15:11.559 His opinion of us is all that really should matter, 15:11.560 --> 15:13.901 not other people's criticism. 15:13.902 --> 15:20.041 I love what John Stott said, and he said, 15:20.042 --> 15:24.881 "'To be accountable to God is to be delivered from the tyranny of human criticism.'" 15:24.882 --> 15:29.961 I love that. I might need to just put that up on my wall so I remember that one. 15:29.962 --> 15:33.788 "'To be accountable to God is to be delivered from the tyranny of human criticism.'" 15:33.789 --> 15:34.748 Now, in verse number four, Paul continues, and he says a little bit more. 15:34.749 --> 15:41.428 We read it a moment ago. 15:41.429 --> 15:48.908 He said, we've been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. 15:48.909 --> 15:53.588 Godly leaders recognize that they have been entrusted with the gospel message. 15:53.589 --> 15:55.169 Now, Paul had been entrusted with the gospel as an apostle. 15:55.170 --> 16:00.769 None of us are in that category. 16:00.770 --> 16:01.830 But all of us who have trusted Christ have been entrusted with the gospel as a Christian. 16:09.290 --> 16:14.600 If you're a Christian, God has approved for you to be entrusted with the good news of Jesus. 16:14.601 --> 16:16.420 I remember when our kids were much younger, 16:16.421 --> 16:18.140 occasionally we would need a babysitter 16:18.141 --> 16:20.380 and we would be looking for someone 16:20.381 --> 16:22.220 to try to babysit our kids. 16:22.221 --> 16:25.220 And when we did that, 16:25.221 --> 16:29.040 we didn't just entrust our kids to anyone, did we? 16:29.041 --> 16:31.000 No, there was an approval process involved in that. 16:31.001 --> 16:33.840 As we evaluated those people, 16:33.841 --> 16:38.060 we made sure that they understood the weight 16:38.061 --> 16:39.368 of the responsibility we were entrusting to them. 16:48.828 --> 16:50.267 God, in a similar way, has entrusted us with the heavy weight and the wonderful weight of sharing Jesus with people. 16:50.268 --> 16:52.227 Each and every one of us. 16:52.228 --> 16:53.907 We have a circle of influence. 16:53.908 --> 17:01.107 It's not always a position of influence. 17:01.108 --> 17:01.727 Oftentimes, it's just influence within our family, within our neighborhood, our workplace, and beyond. 17:01.728 --> 17:04.047 Right? 17:04.048 --> 17:04.987 And I don't think the people in our lives are there by accident. 17:04.988 --> 17:10.247 God is sovereign. 17:10.248 --> 17:13.587 He has intentionally placed them in our lives for a reason. 17:13.588 --> 17:17.067 And the reason is so we can share Jesus with them. 17:17.068 --> 17:21.307 You see, the gospel, that is the good news of Jesus, 17:21.308 --> 17:24.787 it's the most valuable treasure in all the world. 17:24.788 --> 17:27.247 And God has given it to us, and we hold this treasure. 17:27.248 --> 17:33.430 The good news of Jesus is, 17:33.431 --> 17:35.790 And he's given it to us not to hoard it and keep it to ourselves, but to liberally share it. 17:35.791 --> 17:37.908 So Christian, you've been approved to do that. 17:40.588 --> 17:42.327 It's not that you're approved because you're worthy, 17:42.328 --> 17:45.307 it's because Jesus is worthy, 17:45.308 --> 17:47.487 and God has made you worthy through him. 17:47.488 --> 17:50.227 2 Corinthians 5, verse 20 says, 17:50.228 --> 17:51.607 "'Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, 17:51.608 --> 17:53.527 "'as though God were pleading through us. 17:53.528 --> 17:55.467 "'We implore you on Christ's behalf, 17:55.468 --> 17:57.587 "'be reconciled to God.'" 17:57.588 --> 18:00.047 Be reconnected to God. 18:00.048 --> 18:02.627 That is our job as Christians. 18:02.628 --> 18:04.867 We're ambassadors not for the United States of America. 18:04.868 --> 18:09.927 We are ambassadors for Christ's kingdom. 18:09.928 --> 18:17.187 We represent the King of kings, the Lord of lords, him and his kingdom. 18:17.188 --> 18:19.487 And as ambassadors, we've been entrusted with the message of Jesus. 18:19.488 --> 18:24.067 In verse number five, he says, 18:24.068 --> 18:28.375 For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know. 18:28.376 --> 18:32.235 nor a cloak for covetousness, which God is our witness. 18:32.236 --> 18:35.435 Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, 18:35.436 --> 18:36.655 when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. 18:36.656 --> 18:44.075 And skip on down to verse 10. 18:44.076 --> 18:45.195 He says, you are witnesses in God also how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves when we were among you. 18:45.196 --> 18:47.415 Here's our principle. 18:47.416 --> 18:48.495 Godly leaders are authentic. 18:48.496 --> 18:53.561 Right? 18:53.562 --> 18:58.801 Throughout this chapter, Paul keeps having this repeating phrase over and over. 18:58.802 --> 19:00.361 He says, as you know, as you know, as you know, you're witnesses to this. 19:00.362 --> 19:02.841 God also is a witness to this. 19:02.842 --> 19:04.381 We were the real deal among you is what he's saying. 19:04.382 --> 19:06.261 We didn't just talk the talk. 19:06.262 --> 19:12.561 We walked the walk. 19:12.562 --> 19:14.561 And in a moment, Paul also is going to say that we were like nursing mothers among you, 19:14.562 --> 19:17.661 affectionately loving you. 19:17.662 --> 19:19.175 Now, that's a big statement. 19:23.375 --> 19:26.554 Kelsey and I have four kids and I witnessed Kelsey 19:26.555 --> 19:28.294 as she mothered our kids and still mothers them. 19:28.295 --> 19:31.334 I can't think of anything stronger 19:31.335 --> 19:34.234 than a mother's maternal instinct of love 19:34.235 --> 19:38.114 and gentleness and affection, 19:38.115 --> 19:41.434 especially as she's nursing her child. 19:41.435 --> 19:43.394 So how could Paul make such a bold claim 19:43.395 --> 19:44.234 that he was like a nursing mother? 19:44.235 --> 19:45.234 How? 19:45.235 --> 19:49.362 Because it was true. 19:49.363 --> 19:52.642 Paul knew that they knew it was true. 19:52.643 --> 19:55.022 Paul had authentically and genuinely loved 19:55.023 --> 19:57.502 and cared for them so much that we read earlier 19:57.503 --> 20:01.462 in chapter one that now months later, 20:01.463 --> 20:04.402 he says, I'm still praying for you earnestly every day. 20:04.403 --> 20:07.242 As a Christian leader, as a person who's trying 20:07.243 --> 20:11.582 to influence the world around you for Jesus, 20:11.583 --> 20:16.605 nothing is more important than authenticity. 20:16.606 --> 20:20.045 Nothing, whether you're a parent, whether you're a ministry leader, business person, 20:20.046 --> 20:21.146 nothing is more important than authenticity. 20:27.486 --> 20:29.465 Now, the question is, how did Paul love them in that kind of a way, 20:29.466 --> 20:35.025 like a nursing mother loves her children? 20:35.026 --> 20:40.665 Well, it was because he had genuinely, authentically received the love of God in his life 20:40.666 --> 20:46.806 in such a way that he became a conduit of God's love to those around him. 20:46.807 --> 20:47.786 He didn't just kind of go through the motions of love, like, you know, sort of fake it till you make it. 20:47.787 --> 20:48.887 No, he was authentic. 20:54.827 --> 20:59.346 So many people and Christians sometimes focus all of their attention, 20:59.347 --> 21:04.766 all of their energy on mimicking the real deal instead of just becoming the real deal. 21:04.767 --> 21:05.926 It's so much easier to become the real deal because that happens by God's grace. 21:06.826 --> 21:09.805 You know, the old saying says, 21:09.806 --> 21:12.285 more things are caught than are taught. 21:12.286 --> 21:13.505 You can't fake the Christian life for long. 21:13.506 --> 21:15.425 People are going to find out. 21:15.426 --> 21:18.265 People aren't stupid. 21:18.266 --> 21:21.785 And if you're not the real deal Christian, 21:21.786 --> 21:26.845 you may actually do more harm to the gospel than good. 21:26.846 --> 21:28.306 You see, the starting place for leading is always following. 21:31.926 --> 21:33.845 Genuinely, authentically following Jesus. 21:33.846 --> 21:35.440 Verse number 7. 21:39.920 --> 21:46.579 He says, but we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children. 21:46.580 --> 21:51.539 So affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, 21:51.540 --> 21:52.899 but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us. 21:52.900 --> 21:55.159 Here's our principle. 21:55.160 --> 21:55.419 Godly leaders are also transparent. 21:55.420 --> 21:56.770 Right? 22:00.730 --> 22:04.429 I think one of the great travesties of church history 22:04.430 --> 22:08.029 is that in many denominations, in many local churches, 22:08.030 --> 22:09.070 there has been at times a great separation 22:12.610 --> 22:16.089 between the clergy and the layman, 22:16.090 --> 22:25.215 between pastors and the people. 22:25.216 --> 22:29.695 Pastors often get placed on a pedestal by the congregation, which is a big problem because 22:29.696 --> 22:32.315 no one belongs on a pedestal except for Jesus. 22:32.316 --> 22:35.855 Everyone else placed on there is going to fail you and you're going to be hurt in the 22:35.856 --> 22:40.055 process when they're coming down off that pedestal. 22:40.056 --> 22:41.495 Now one of the reasons I think that congregations put their pastor on a pedestal is because 22:41.496 --> 22:44.182 their pastor lets them. 22:44.183 --> 22:45.142 Now, you may not realize that's what he's doing, 22:45.143 --> 22:47.922 but that's what's happening. 22:47.923 --> 22:51.162 If a congregation has put their pastor on a pedestal, 22:51.163 --> 22:52.722 it means the pastor has not led them 22:52.723 --> 22:57.442 with enough transparency, 22:57.443 --> 23:00.842 hasn't sufficiently shared his life openly enough with them 23:00.843 --> 23:04.362 so that they're able to see him for who he actually is, 23:04.363 --> 23:07.142 that he also has warts and faults and shortcomings, 23:07.143 --> 23:08.602 that he too is a real person desperately need 23:08.603 --> 23:10.782 of the grace of God. 23:10.783 --> 23:12.494 Now, whenever that happens, 23:12.495 --> 23:13.955 Who misses out? 23:14.855 --> 23:15.975 Everyone does. 23:17.315 --> 23:19.654 Everyone misses out. 23:19.655 --> 23:21.954 Whether you're a parent or a pastor, 23:21.955 --> 23:25.134 everyone misses out because the pastor 23:25.135 --> 23:27.074 is going to grow more relationally distant. 23:27.075 --> 23:33.260 And in order to... 23:33.261 --> 23:41.140 And he does that in order to live up to that false reality of his life that doesn't exist. 23:41.141 --> 23:44.340 And the congregation is going to miss out on seeing an actual real life model of what it means to follow after Jesus. 23:44.341 --> 23:47.360 Paul said, we didn't just give to you the gospel. 23:47.361 --> 23:56.260 We gave our very lives. 23:56.261 --> 23:57.325 There's an old saying that says people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. 24:02.625 --> 24:03.765 The Thessalonians had gotten close enough to the Apostle Paul to see the Christian life lived out and modeled. 24:08.245 --> 24:13.904 To see how one is gentle and loving and strong all at the same time. 24:13.905 --> 24:14.965 Whenever a pastor acts like he's perfect, he's just crippled his ministry. 24:19.785 --> 24:29.785 No one can identify with that. Why? It's not real. It's not real. 24:31.011 --> 24:32.111 What people desperately need is authentic, transparent leadership in our churches, in our homes, our workplaces, everywhere. 24:33.431 --> 24:33.830 Verse number nine, he continues. 24:33.831 --> 24:40.950 He says, 24:40.951 --> 24:44.230 For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil, for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. 24:44.231 --> 24:47.005 We preach to you the gospel of God. 24:53.845 --> 25:00.344 The New Testament teaches that a pastor who pastors well should be counted worthy of double honor in terms of his pay. 25:00.345 --> 25:01.433 And the Bible says regarding pastors specifically that a laborer is worthy of his wages. 25:08.613 --> 25:10.272 So the expectation was that someone like Paul, who's in ministry, would be supported financially, collectively by the church. 25:10.273 --> 25:17.892 But Paul says, no, no, no. 25:17.893 --> 25:20.592 I didn't receive any financial help from you because I didn't want to become a bird to you as I was preaching. 25:20.593 --> 25:27.312 So I just worked night and day to support ourselves. 25:27.313 --> 25:30.592 Now, we know from other places in the New Testament that the Apostle Paul was a tent maker by trade. 25:30.593 --> 25:36.802 And so he made tents for people to live in. 25:36.803 --> 25:43.482 for a living to support his ministry of going into the world to tell people about Jesus. Now, 25:43.483 --> 25:49.922 why didn't Paul receive financial support there in Thessalonica? Well, I think it's because everyone 25:49.923 --> 25:54.062 there was a brand new believer. This was a new church. New churches are notorious for not being 25:54.063 --> 25:59.202 able to financially support their pastors for a while. They're just, they're baby Christians. 25:59.203 --> 26:05.015 They don't know about financial stewardship and things of that nature. I think that's 26:05.016 --> 26:13.255 One of the reasons why, as a church, we're wanting to plant and start a bunch of churches moving forward. 26:13.256 --> 26:15.262 More than likely, some of those churches are going to need some bivocational pastors for a while because it takes some time. 26:18.122 --> 26:20.721 Here's what we actually see from this verse, 26:20.722 --> 26:22.941 that godly leaders go above and beyond 26:22.942 --> 26:25.741 the standard expectations. 26:25.742 --> 26:28.461 Paul, he could have certainly received support, 26:28.462 --> 26:29.641 but instead he just worked day and night. 26:29.642 --> 26:34.381 Why? 26:34.382 --> 26:35.721 Because the situation at Thessalonica called for it. 26:35.722 --> 26:39.201 And that's what godly leaders do. 26:39.202 --> 26:40.220 They go above and beyond to meet the need. 26:42.580 --> 26:44.759 Jesus, as he's preaching the Sermon on the Mount, 26:44.760 --> 26:46.679 he said, whoever compels you to go one mile, 26:46.680 --> 26:48.719 you go with them too. 26:48.720 --> 26:52.959 You see, in the Roman world in the first century 26:52.960 --> 26:54.939 at that time, a Roman soldier could compel any Jewish man 26:54.940 --> 26:59.119 who he's walking by and he sees him, 26:59.120 --> 27:02.519 he could compel him to carry all of his equipment 27:02.520 --> 27:09.828 and all of his stuff, his gear, for one mile. 27:09.829 --> 27:18.688 And so if he's called on, that man had to draw, he was obligated to drop everything he was doing and to obey. 27:18.689 --> 27:22.468 And Jesus says, if that happens to you, I want you to carry his stuff for one mile and then you carry it a second mile too. 27:22.469 --> 27:23.388 That's where we get the saying in our culture, go the second mile. 27:23.389 --> 27:30.808 That came from Jesus. 27:30.809 --> 27:33.259 It's when a person out of love goes above and beyond what's required and expected. 27:33.260 --> 27:38.439 Godly leaders, that's what we do. 27:38.440 --> 27:41.079 That's what godly leaders do because they're not focused on the bare minimum. 27:41.080 --> 27:42.359 They're not focused even on the status quo. 27:42.360 --> 27:44.939 They're focused on the goal. 27:44.940 --> 27:46.719 What's it going to take to meet the goal? 27:46.720 --> 27:49.019 And I'm not just talking about business goals. 27:49.020 --> 27:52.839 I'm talking about spiritual goals. 27:52.840 --> 28:01.985 And the goal we find from verse number 11 and 12. 28:01.986 --> 28:11.885 He says, as you know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you as a father does his own children. 28:11.886 --> 28:18.185 Now here's the goal, the purpose, that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into his own kingdom and glory. 28:18.186 --> 28:19.377 Here's what we see, godly leaders, they help others walk worthy of God. 28:20.657 --> 28:25.076 That's the goal. 28:25.077 --> 28:28.416 No matter what area of leadership or influence that you have within your life, 28:28.417 --> 28:29.777 the goal is to help other people walk with Jesus. 28:35.157 --> 28:38.776 Now, the word worthy here means acceptable or appropriate. 28:38.777 --> 28:46.636 The word walk has to do with live, lifestyle. 28:46.637 --> 28:47.744 So I think what he's saying is my goal was for you to live like you have actually met Jesus. 28:54.144 --> 28:55.284 For what you say you believe to align with how you live. 29:01.384 --> 29:09.203 Now, Paul has said earlier that I was like a nursing mother among you with my affection. 29:09.204 --> 29:12.687 And here he says, I was like a father to you, encouraging you and charging you to walk with God. 29:12.688 --> 29:15.127 And both these metaphors are tender, aren't they? 29:15.128 --> 29:22.767 They're intimate language, imagery. 29:22.768 --> 29:24.368 Paul says, I came to you with the tenderness of a mother and with the strength of a father, comforting and encouraging you. 29:32.548 --> 29:33.847 Now, I think that we often undervalue the importance of encouragement. 29:36.747 --> 29:38.246 Encouragement means to put courage into. 29:38.247 --> 29:39.186 And when we encourage other people, 29:39.187 --> 29:40.886 that's what we're doing. 29:40.887 --> 29:42.846 We're putting courage into them. 29:42.847 --> 29:44.246 Fathers, we have a wonderful opportunity 29:44.247 --> 29:46.066 to put courage into our kids, 29:46.067 --> 29:48.846 and our kids need it, don't they? 29:48.847 --> 29:50.986 They are growing up in a very dark, messed up world. 29:50.987 --> 29:52.166 They need some courage out there. 29:52.167 --> 29:55.426 Fathers, we can do that. 29:55.427 --> 29:58.526 Leaders, influencers, whatever realm of influence 29:58.527 --> 30:01.806 you have in your world, the people around you, 30:01.807 --> 30:04.584 they need some courage placed in them, and you can do that. 30:04.585 --> 30:07.164 In football and certainly in basketball, 30:07.165 --> 30:09.644 there's what's called the home field advantage 30:09.645 --> 30:13.584 and the home court advantage. 30:13.585 --> 30:16.284 Stats will show that most teams have a better home record 30:16.285 --> 30:17.344 than they do an away record. 30:17.345 --> 30:18.545 Now, why is that? 30:20.125 --> 30:21.784 Encouragement. 30:21.785 --> 30:23.744 Encouragement, when they're at home, 30:23.745 --> 30:24.964 all their fans are cheering them on 30:24.965 --> 30:28.464 and it adds a little spark. 30:28.465 --> 30:30.404 It gives them a little courage to keep pressing on. 30:30.405 --> 30:31.559 Admittedly though, 30:33.359 --> 30:36.498 I'm not really great at encouragement. 30:36.499 --> 30:38.099 I've even been told that by people. 30:41.379 --> 30:44.118 When someone tells you that, you've got to recognize, 30:44.119 --> 30:45.219 okay, this must be an area of weakness that I have. 30:52.299 --> 30:53.615 I'm praying that God would help me become more of an encouraging husband and father and pastor. 31:06.575 --> 31:10.734 You know, one of the things that I think Paul did so beautifully well in this chapter was he identified with the pain and the suffering of the people that he was influencing, the Thessalonians. 31:10.735 --> 31:16.034 He knew all the pain and the persecution they were facing. 31:16.035 --> 31:18.732 So he says, hey, when I was in Philippi before I came to you, I also was persecuted. 31:18.733 --> 31:20.352 Paul wanted them to know they're not alone. 31:20.353 --> 31:21.372 You're not alone. 31:21.373 --> 31:24.152 You haven't been forgotten. 31:24.153 --> 31:25.553 And more importantly, God has not forgotten you. 31:28.513 --> 31:31.072 Did you know that God has not forgotten you? 31:31.073 --> 31:34.032 In the midst of whatever pain, 31:34.033 --> 31:35.262 whatever failure you've experienced, 31:38.042 --> 31:42.521 That God sees you, you're not going unseen. 31:42.522 --> 31:43.721 God sees you and he loves you and he cares for you. 31:43.722 --> 31:45.761 You have not been forgotten. 31:45.762 --> 31:49.141 And did you know that you can have a savior 31:49.142 --> 31:51.901 if you'll just call upon him who identifies with you? 31:51.902 --> 31:53.861 He knows exactly what you're going through. 31:53.862 --> 31:56.281 He went through all of it and more. 31:56.282 --> 31:58.701 Hebrews chapter four, verse number 15 says, 31:58.702 --> 31:59.849 for we do not have a high priest, that's Jesus. 32:02.809 --> 32:07.808 who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, 32:07.809 --> 32:10.709 but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 32:14.009 --> 32:16.368 Maybe you think, well, no one understands 32:16.369 --> 32:18.868 the temptation that I'm facing. 32:18.869 --> 32:22.268 Listen, Jesus understands. 32:22.269 --> 32:24.888 We say, no one could possibly know the pain 32:24.889 --> 32:26.258 that I'm enduring, Jesus knows. 32:30.278 --> 32:31.457 No one could possibly help me with the mess that I've made of my life. 32:31.458 --> 32:33.058 Listen, Jesus can. 32:37.638 --> 32:40.737 Jesus identifies with your life, and he came to save you, 32:40.738 --> 32:48.737 to rescue us from what we've made of life. 32:48.738 --> 32:52.737 Now, as we wrap up, maybe Christian leadership was the furthest thing from your mind 32:52.738 --> 32:54.878 when you stepped onto our campuses or when you tuned in online today. 32:57.258 --> 32:59.717 Influencing others, that's not on your mind at all. 32:59.718 --> 33:01.397 You've just been thinking about survival. 33:01.398 --> 33:02.718 How do I survive? 33:08.838 --> 33:10.658 How do I get some semblance of peace and rest and hope? 33:11.858 --> 33:13.698 If that's you, 33:20.058 --> 33:21.355 please know that Jesus offers to meet you exactly where you're at today. 33:22.115 --> 33:24.094 He loves you. 33:24.095 --> 33:25.034 No one's ever loved you like Jesus. 33:25.035 --> 33:27.734 The Bible says, 33:27.735 --> 33:32.574 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, 33:32.575 --> 33:37.194 that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life. 33:37.195 --> 33:38.835 God sees you and he loves you and he offers to meet you right where you're at today. 33:44.395 --> 33:45.835 Now the majority of us in our church here, 33:47.715 --> 33:49.891 that's our story. 33:53.471 --> 33:57.530 We were all in a place where you might find yourself today, 33:57.531 --> 34:01.890 in a place where you just feel the weight of life, 34:01.891 --> 34:04.010 the weight of sin and failure and other people's sin. 34:04.011 --> 34:05.870 It's compounding. 34:05.871 --> 34:09.130 That was our story as well. 34:09.131 --> 34:13.830 And Jesus met us right where we're at. 34:13.831 --> 34:15.760 And he'll meet you right in your pain, in your sin. 34:19.820 --> 34:23.159 And he'll forgive you and give you life and hope and peace and joy. 34:23.160 --> 34:24.340 We want to invite you to experience that today. 34:31.120 --> 34:33.479 Jesus said, come to me, all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I'll give you rest. 34:44.519 --> 34:47.938 Sometimes people walk around their entire life with this heavy weight of their guilt and their regrets. 34:47.939 --> 34:49.279 And it's like, it's this crushing load. 34:54.099 --> 34:55.433 But God did not mean for you to carry that load yourself. 34:58.893 --> 35:02.732 God came to carry the load for you. 35:02.733 --> 35:06.512 See, Jesus will take your load of sin 35:06.513 --> 35:07.372 and He'll put it upon His shoulders, 35:07.373 --> 35:08.712 upon the cross, 35:08.713 --> 35:11.852 and He'll pay for your sin 35:11.853 --> 35:13.092 so that you can be forgiven 35:13.093 --> 35:14.317 and have eternal life. 35:19.917 --> 35:24.936 Now, it could be that you've become a Christian and you've experienced the grace of God, 35:24.937 --> 35:30.396 but in your mind, you think about God's grace, that moment of salvation, 35:30.397 --> 35:33.596 and afterwards, all the failure and all the sin after you became a Christian, 35:33.597 --> 35:38.716 it's weighing on you. 35:38.717 --> 35:41.030 And you're carrying all of these heavy weights that are just crushing you. 35:44.410 --> 35:45.450 God doesn't want his children to walk in such bondage. 35:50.130 --> 35:54.929 He came to lighten our load and to give us freedom. 35:54.930 --> 35:58.249 I want to invite you to do exactly what God said. 35:58.250 --> 36:03.709 He said, cast your cares on him who cares for you. 36:03.710 --> 36:04.749 I want to invite you to take all of that and by faith to confess it to God. 36:04.750 --> 36:05.810 Own it. 36:06.870 --> 36:08.229 Just be honest with him. 36:08.230 --> 36:10.069 He already knows all about it. 36:10.070 --> 36:11.692 Say, God, I'm sorry. 36:16.152 --> 36:17.192 I want to give you this and allow you to forgive me today. 36:17.812 --> 36:18.812 You know what? 36:20.932 --> 36:24.011 God will do just that. 36:24.012 --> 36:25.632 Let's bow together in an attitude of prayer, if you will. 36:29.192 --> 36:32.452 Both here and at Olive Drive, this is a holy moment in the life of a church. 36:37.352 --> 36:39.130 This is a moment when people respond to the truth of God's Word. 36:43.170 --> 36:46.949 and that they respond to the gospel, 36:46.950 --> 36:49.290 which is that Jesus, God's own very Son, 36:53.750 --> 36:54.810 took on flesh, became a human like you and I, 36:57.250 --> 37:00.429 he dwelt among us, 37:00.430 --> 37:02.550 so he could identify with all of our weaknesses, 37:06.630 --> 37:08.898 so he could victoriously do that which we failed to do. 37:19.718 --> 37:21.257 And then the innocent, that is Jesus, willingly died a gruesome, painful death upon the cross to pay for the guilty. 37:21.258 --> 37:24.558 That's us. 37:30.598 --> 37:32.018 And the good news of the Bible is that Jesus did not remain dead. 37:34.298 --> 37:35.898 On the third day, he rose. 37:39.738 --> 37:41.238 showing his victory over sin and the grave. 37:44.698 --> 37:47.677 And he offers now to all who will believe 37:47.678 --> 37:49.657 to give that same resurrection life, 37:49.658 --> 37:50.918 eternal life, but life now, 37:51.778 --> 37:55.806 by his Spirit. 37:55.807 --> 37:57.986 I want to invite you to give your life to Christ today. 37:57.987 --> 38:01.846 In just a moment, I'm going to pray. 38:01.847 --> 38:04.826 And as I pray, as soon as I'm done, we're going to stand to our feet, 38:04.827 --> 38:07.346 both here and at Olive Drive, and we're going to have pastors and leaders 38:07.347 --> 38:11.146 and prayer partners across the front. 38:11.147 --> 38:14.306 And we're going to ask you to just step out and come as you are. 38:14.307 --> 38:16.726 Walk down one of these aisles, walk down one of these staircases, 38:16.727 --> 38:18.866 and take one of these leaders by the hand and say, 38:18.867 --> 38:20.207 I want to give my life to Jesus today. 38:21.407 --> 38:22.996 Today's the day. It's time. 38:24.836 --> 38:27.735 I need him, and I know it. 38:27.736 --> 38:30.816 I'm surrendering today. 38:31.376 --> 38:33.095 Here's the thing. 38:33.096 --> 38:34.955 Sometimes people get confused. 38:34.956 --> 38:37.215 They think, well, man, I don't want to be a hypocrite, 38:37.216 --> 38:37.855 so I need to clean up my life and then give my life to Jesus. 38:37.856 --> 38:39.076 No, no, no, no. 38:40.156 --> 38:41.390 You come to him. 38:43.230 --> 38:45.869 He has to meet you where you are. 38:45.870 --> 38:47.329 Otherwise, you're not going to understand the concept of grace. 38:47.330 --> 38:49.309 You come broken. 38:49.310 --> 38:54.769 You come as a failure. 38:54.770 --> 38:57.016 You come in need and allow God to meet your need. 39:01.636 --> 39:02.435 Maybe you want to be baptized like others today or join our church family. 39:02.436 --> 39:07.515 Come let us know. 39:07.516 --> 39:09.015 We'd love to talk to you about what baptism is and what it means and its significance 39:09.016 --> 39:12.995 or joining our church family. 39:12.996 --> 39:16.315 Maybe you've been coming for a while and God's placing it on your heart 39:16.316 --> 39:18.695 to officially be a member of our local body of Christ. 39:18.696 --> 39:20.435 And say, you know what, I don't just want to be a spectator. 39:20.436 --> 39:22.795 I want to get in the game. 39:22.796 --> 39:30.660 I want to get involved and help. 39:30.661 --> 39:36.660 However God leads in just a moment, let's respond. Let's pray. Father, thank you, thank you, thank you 39:36.661 --> 39:38.541 for loving us so well and so much. Thank you for Jesus. 39:42.341 --> 39:45.300 Thank you for not leaving us alone in our sin. You had every right to do so, 39:45.301 --> 39:47.135 but you loved us anyway. 39:54.895 --> 39:58.754 I pray, Lord, that some people who have not been experiencing your love and your grace would experience it today in a deep place. 39:58.755 --> 40:00.275 They would invite you to meet their deepest needs. 40:06.095 --> 40:07.255 And Lord, I thank you for the great responsibility that you've entrusted to us of the good news of your son. 40:12.595 --> 40:13.780 It is the privilege of our life to be entrusted with the treasure of the gospel. 40:16.120 --> 40:18.539 Help us as a church family, collectively, 40:18.540 --> 40:22.640 and also as individuals 40:25.980 --> 40:27.000 to be good stewards of that, 40:31.220 --> 40:34.639 to not take it lightly or flippantly, 40:34.640 --> 40:35.760 but that we would care for the gospel. 40:38.020 --> 40:39.959 Please do a work that goes beyond 40:39.960 --> 40:42.799 what I've been able to talk about and say, 40:42.800 --> 40:44.358 and take your word, please, Lord. 40:48.378 --> 40:55.317 And would you apply it in over a thousand different ways 40:55.318 --> 40:56.318 to wherever a person finds themselves in today? 40:57.858 --> 40:59.518 Would you please touch them? 41:01.518 --> 41:03.453 We ask in Jesus' name, amen. 41:03.454 --> 41:05.293 Thanks for listening today. 41:05.294 --> 41:08.633 We hope you enjoyed this message. 41:08.634 --> 41:11.413 And if you did, we would be so grateful if you left us a review. 41:11.414 --> 41:14.273 Also, go ahead and subscribe to the podcast 41:14.274 --> 41:18.013 if you would like to be notified when a new sermon is released. 41:18.014 --> 41:21.893 If you feel the Lord calling you to take the next step in faith 41:21.894 --> 41:25.631 through salvation, service, or giving, don't wait. 41:25.632 --> 41:28.251 reach out to us by texting podcast to 88988. 41:28.252 --> 41:31.191 That's podcast to 88988 41:31.192 --> 41:34.931 or connect with us on one of our social media platforms. 41:34.932 --> 41:36.951 You can also visit our website, valleybaptist.org 41:36.952 --> 41:39.311 to find even more great resources. 41:39.312 --> 41:40.851 No matter where you are in your journey, 41:40.852 --> 41:42.271 know that we love you. 41:42.272 --> 41:45.291 We're praying for you 41:45.292 --> 41:55.292 and we can't wait to see what God will do in your life.