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[5215.46 --> 5220.60] If we are sharing stories, people are willing to hear it because they're listening. |
[5221.98 --> 5228.66] The act of sharing implies that the person we are sharing it with is willing to receive |
[5228.66 --> 5230.02] it, to accept it. |
[5230.02 --> 5234.28] And I think that's how we approach our mission here on this earth. |
[5234.38 --> 5239.00] We won't share the gospel with someone unless we know they're willing to receive it. |
[5240.32 --> 5244.60] We don't want to push people too hard, and we definitely don't want to feel uncomfortable |
[5244.60 --> 5250.04] ourselves, so only share with people who want to hear it. |
[5250.78 --> 5254.36] Or we default to hoping that our actions will just do the job for us and we don't have to |
[5254.36 --> 5255.18] open our mouths at all. |
[5255.18 --> 5262.24] Unfortunately, that means that we miss opportunities to declare his praises, like our text says today. |
[5262.76 --> 5267.18] We wait for these moments where the one who needs to hear this news is good and ready to |
[5267.18 --> 5267.84] hear this news. |
[5268.50 --> 5270.58] And that moment might never come. |
[5272.84 --> 5275.34] Brothers and sisters, we are not called to share the gospel. |
[5276.82 --> 5279.64] We're called to declare the gospel. |
[5279.64 --> 5282.94] The receptivity? |
[5283.94 --> 5284.34] Receptivity. |
[5284.90 --> 5285.48] That's the word. |
[5285.62 --> 5290.10] The receptivity of our audience does not play into this equation. |
[5291.42 --> 5295.60] Now, obviously, I'm not saying that we should all go by bullhorns and stand on the corner |
[5295.60 --> 5301.38] of the street and shout into these things and sin-shame strangers into turning to God lest |
[5301.38 --> 5302.92] they burn in a pit of hell forever. |
[5302.92 --> 5303.42] No. |
[5305.26 --> 5312.20] What I'm saying is, we all have someone we can think of right now. |
[5313.42 --> 5316.94] Someone who needs to hear this news. |
[5317.10 --> 5323.10] Someone who needs to hear that Jesus lived and died and rose again for them. |
[5324.38 --> 5329.58] And that their identities are secured in him because of that truth. |
[5329.58 --> 5336.16] Jesus, you're all thinking of someone right now who needs to hear that Jesus loves them. |
[5337.38 --> 5340.08] That Jesus loves them so much that he died for them. |
[5341.94 --> 5348.20] You're all thinking of someone right now, and you might be waiting to share this news with |
[5348.20 --> 5350.54] them until they're ready to hear it. |
[5350.54 --> 5362.18] But what Peter is saying here is that waiting for them to be more receptive is not for you to worry about. |
[5364.14 --> 5370.40] You are called to declare God's praises no matter the audience. |
[5370.40 --> 5376.98] And so, I have a challenge for you today. |
[5377.74 --> 5383.10] Actually, God has a calling for you, is a better way to say it. |
[5384.30 --> 5391.74] Whoever was on your heart before, whoever it is that you know needs to hear God's love, |
[5392.58 --> 5396.70] whoever needs to hear about Jesus' life and death and resurrection, |
[5396.70 --> 5401.06] whoever needs to hear of your story of God's faithfulness in your life, |
[5401.82 --> 5406.44] your calling this week is to go and declare it to them. |
[5408.34 --> 5411.98] So we collectively, as a church, this week, we are going to go out and have at least |
[5411.98 --> 5416.24] 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 15, 20, 40, 250, |
[5416.64 --> 5420.26] 180 online, 250 conversations this week. |
[5421.00 --> 5422.70] That is what we as a church are going to do. |
[5422.70 --> 5428.76] Maybe it's a sibling or a cousin or a son or a daughter or a parent |
[5428.76 --> 5430.90] or a parent on your kid's soccer team |
[5430.90 --> 5433.98] or a colleague you know at work that you see every day. |
[5436.56 --> 5438.52] Right now, this text is calling you |
[5438.52 --> 5441.08] to go and declare God's praises to them. |
[5444.04 --> 5446.28] And so we're going to go have those conversations this week. |
[5447.02 --> 5448.70] No matter how old you are here today, |
[5448.78 --> 5449.88] no matter your comfort zone, |
[5450.24 --> 5452.28] no matter if you like being challenged at church or not, |
[5452.70 --> 5457.74] we're going to go and declare God's praises. |
[5459.00 --> 5460.96] And Pastor Chris and I are going to follow up this week. |
[5462.30 --> 5463.44] You're looking for it later, |
[5464.02 --> 5465.70] but we're going to reach out to all of you |
[5465.70 --> 5466.68] and we're going to hold you to this. |
[5467.24 --> 5468.86] We want to hear these stories, |
[5469.16 --> 5471.52] not just to like check off a box, |
[5471.88 --> 5473.82] but because it's important to hear these stories |
[5473.82 --> 5475.38] so that we can share them with each other |
[5475.38 --> 5477.82] and spur each other on to keep doing this. |
[5478.62 --> 5480.42] We want to lift each other up. |
[5480.42 --> 5483.78] No matter how well these conversations go |
[5483.78 --> 5485.24] or how poorly they go in your eyes, |
[5485.78 --> 5488.32] we want to encourage each other |
[5488.32 --> 5489.84] and lift each other up with these stories. |
[5489.94 --> 5492.62] We are the church chosen by God |
[5492.62 --> 5496.46] to declare the gospel together. |
[5496.46 --> 5499.12] And so, |
[5499.60 --> 5504.90] declare God's name to whomever was on your heart this week. |
[5506.90 --> 5508.02] We are the church. |
[5508.78 --> 5509.06] Check. |
[5510.62 --> 5511.82] Chosen by God. |
[5512.40 --> 5513.10] Identity, right. |
[5513.74 --> 5514.08] Check. |
[5514.92 --> 5518.42] To declare the gospel of Jesus Christ. |
[5518.42 --> 5518.50] Christ. |
[5519.94 --> 5521.48] That's the to-do this week. |
[5522.32 --> 5523.36] It's only one item long, |
[5523.72 --> 5525.54] but as our mission statement says, |
[5525.74 --> 5526.30] we've gathered, |
[5527.24 --> 5528.14] hopefully we've grown, |
[5529.04 --> 5530.02] but now we must go. |
[5531.04 --> 5532.50] With God as our cornerstone, |
[5532.60 --> 5534.68] let us declare his name. |
[5534.82 --> 5535.00] Amen? |
[5536.00 --> 5536.68] Let me pray. |
[5536.68 --> 5540.80] Father in heaven, |
[5541.00 --> 5542.06] we are the church, |
[5542.24 --> 5543.56] your chosen people. |
[5543.92 --> 5544.90] God, we are grateful |
[5544.90 --> 5546.74] that you have built us up. |
[5546.80 --> 5548.62] We are grateful that you have lived |
[5548.62 --> 5550.94] a life that we all should have lived |
[5550.94 --> 5552.64] and yet died in our place |
[5552.64 --> 5554.28] to forgive us from sin. |
[5554.36 --> 5555.50] We thank you for the cross, |
[5555.76 --> 5556.76] for the empty tomb, |
[5557.04 --> 5558.22] that you have been lifted up |
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