Steve Gentry
[0:00] we are privileged to have one of our members who has returned [0:03] for the holidays from serving in Oaxaca, Mexico, [0:07] with the International Mission Board. [0:08] And so I’m going to ask Christy Willis to come up, [0:10] and she’s going to tell us a little bit about her time there. [0:13] And I know since she left, how long has it been, Christy?
[0:16] A year and three months. [0:18] All right. [0:18] Since she left a year and three months ago, [0:20] I know some of you are new, and some of you [0:21] maybe have no idea who she is. [0:23] This is Christy Willis.
[0:24] She’s a member here at Village Church. [0:26] And a little over a year ago, she answered God’s call [0:30] to use her gifts and her love for Spanish culture [0:34] to go and serve in the mission of Jesus as a missionary [0:38] down in Mexico. [0:40] And so for those people who maybe aren’t familiar with you,
[0:43] why don’t you tell us a little bit about why you went down [0:46] to Mexico? [0:48] Well, first of all, I’m super honored to be here [0:50] and just feel incredibly blessed. [0:51] I was getting emotional just being here. [0:54] It’s just having a lot of reverse culture shock right now,
[0:57] too. [0:58] I feel like we need a couple barn animals [1:00] to run through here to actually make it feel more normal. [1:06] There’s always a chicken, always a dog, always something. [1:09] But yeah, I actually taught here in Chesapeakel County. [1:13] I was a Spanish teacher for seven years.
[1:15] I taught at Manchester High School. [1:17] And I started to attend Village Church, actually, [1:20] back when we were in a middle school. [1:24] And that was ages ago, I feel like, and now. [1:28] And then I started to get connected [1:30] into a community group where I was being discipled
[1:34] and just getting connected with the church body. [1:36] Started really getting into the word of God. [1:39] And that’s when I realized I really [1:40] wasn’t being obedient to what the word of God was. [1:44] I wasn’t making disciples. [1:45] I wasn’t being active in the process of loving others
[1:48] by sharing the gospel with them. [1:50] Because that’s the most important thing that we have. [1:52] And that’s the best way that we can love people [1:54] is sharing the gospel with them. [1:57] So when I started to get into the word [1:59] and actually read a book called Radical,
[2:02] if anybody’s ever read that, by our beloved David Platt, [2:05] president of IMB Now, it just changed my life. [2:09] I realized that I wasn’t actually [2:10] being obedient to the commands that God has given us. [2:16] And then that led you to quit your job? [2:19] Yeah, it was kind of crazy.
[2:21] Definitely a radical move. [2:22] I really felt like the Lord was just speaking to my heart, [2:26] using my gifts. [2:28] Obviously I’m bilingual in Spanish. [2:30] So the Lord was just really calling me to Mexico. [2:33] And actually as I was working with Alan Garnett
[2:35] on that whole process of going with the IMB and serving, [2:40] I was actually getting nos from the very beginning. [2:43] No, there’s nothing in Mexico and you’re too old. [2:46] And God just opened up all the doors. [2:50] Like nothing is impossible with him. [2:51] And it was so cool because he just paved the way
[2:55] for me to go and to serve there. [2:57] So now I serve with my partner, Rebecca, [3:00] who’s there with me. [3:01] And it’s just been an amazing year [3:03] and three months so far. [3:04] How have you seen God work over the past year in Oaxaca?
[3:08] So our primary job is church planting. [3:11] And we actually work with a group of people [3:13] that are called the Zapotec people. [3:16] Where I live is called Oaxaca. [3:18] It is the poorest state in the state of Mexico, [3:22] very southern, actually almost touches Guatemala,
[3:26] just to give you guys an idea. [3:28] And so there are tons of indigenous groups, [3:31] which means there are native peoples, [3:33] original people groups that speak different languages. [3:36] Like there could be three different villages [3:37] next to each other and they all speak Zapotec,
[3:40] but they don’t understand each other. [3:41] So they all speak different dialects. [3:43] So that’s why this area is so difficult [3:46] because the people have to translate the word of God [3:49] into their native language. [3:51] And that takes, wow, just, I mean,
[3:53] it could take a decade to master language enough [3:55] to be able to share just one book with them of the Bible. [3:59] So it’s really complex. [4:01] So Rebecca and I work with one specific group of people [4:04] and we are trying to plant a church in this village, [4:08] which the village has come down and experienced, thankfully.
[4:11] And so over this past year, we’ve been able, [4:14] actually got open another opportunity [4:16] in another village in a mountainous area. [4:18] And so we had started three groups [4:21] where we were discipling three different families. [4:24] And so we actually were super blessed
[4:28] to see the greatest miracle of all. [4:30] And that was an 80 year old couple [4:33] that received Christ last year. [4:36] And so we were able to disciple them for a year. [4:41] But working in really small communities, [4:44] there’s a lot of pressures.
[4:46] And one of the pressures comes majorly from the families [4:51] that don’t, they see change and they just, [4:55] they don’t want it. [4:56] Because they have their traditions, [4:57] they have their customs. [4:59] And so that family, as we were thinking,
[5:02] oh, this is so exciting, [5:04] we spent a lot of time talking about the next step [5:06] in the faith, which was getting baptized. [5:08] And they had made several comments about like, [5:11] we are the church, we need to, [5:14] we need to share with our neighbors
[5:17] and we’re just really excited about this. [5:20] And then we got to the point, [5:22] we were talking about baptism, [5:24] and it just seemed like they were like, [5:27] we just can’t take the pressures anymore. [5:29] So in our work, we just see a lot of ups and a lot of downs.
[5:33] You know, a lot of factors, [5:34] like for example, we were discipling another family. [5:37] Again, for a year, we do Bible stories with them. [5:40] And so we story through Genesis to the ascension of Jesus. [5:45] And it’s all in oral form. [5:47] So we memorize the stories,
[5:48] we share them with them and discuss them [5:50] because the people aren’t very literate, they don’t read. [5:53] A lot of them haven’t finished elementary school.
[5:57] So in that process, sometimes families too, [6:00] they have crops, they have things [6:02] that they need to attend to. [6:04] And so they decided not to continue either. [6:07] But in the village that the village is actually sharing in, [6:10] we are continuing to disciple a family,
[6:13] but we haven’t seen a lot of obedience. [6:16] And so that’s another stronghold just on the people. [6:20] I mean, they’re just very stuck in their tradition, [6:23] stuck in their ways. [6:24] And sometimes there’s a lot of what’s called syncretism. [6:26] And so they just want to check all the boxes.
[6:29] It’s like they do all of the things necessary [6:32] for the Catholic church. [6:33] They wear amulets that protect them. [6:36] They pray to the saints, [6:37] they pray to La Virgen de Guadalupe, [6:39] which is like a appearance of Mary.
[6:43] They just do all of these things. [6:44] And then you’re like, you tell them the gospel [6:46] and they’re like, yes, we want that too. [6:48] So they kind of combine all of these things [6:51] to just make sure that everything’s checked off. [6:54] And so to give them the word,
[6:58] it’s the first time that they’ve heard it. [7:01] And so it just, you know, the word never comes back void, [7:07] but you have to make a decision to be obedient [7:10] to what the word says. [7:11] And that means sacrifice. [7:13] It means sacrificing a lot of things.
[7:15] And in their lives, they don’t want to give up [7:17] a lot of the things that they’ve been comfortably living [7:20] with for so long, because it would just make them [7:23] so different from all the others. [7:26] And religion and state is not separated, it’s all together. [7:29] So once you say, no, I don’t want to do these things
[7:32] anymore, I don’t want to celebrate the day of the dead, [7:35] I don’t want to do these parties or drink [7:38] or all these things, it’s like it separates them totally [7:41] from the rest of their own society. [7:45] Now, what would you say to someone here? [7:47] We’ve taken a couple of trips down.
[7:49] We’ve had some great success. [7:51] We’ve done some basketball camps, helped them do that. [7:53] We’ve done a lot of things. [7:55] We’ve got another trip coming up in June. [7:57] I think it’s on June the 18th, they’re gonna be coming down [7:59] to help you out.
[8:00] What would you say to someone who’s kind of debating [8:04] whether or not they should go down? [8:06] Why should they come and serve down there [8:07] for a little over a week? [8:09] Oh my gosh, it will just change your life, first of all. [8:11] I just think that you have to be obedient
[8:13] to what the word says, right? [8:16] You read it, I mean, read in Matthew, right, at the end, [8:19] when it says, you know, go, make disciples. [8:21] I mean, there’s nothing more rewarding than sharing [8:24] the gospel with somebody. [8:25] It brings so much joy to your heart.
[8:27] To change someone’s life eternally, [8:29] that’s the only thing that matters. [8:32] You know, giving someone something [8:33] or doing something for someone doesn’t change anything, [8:37] right, but giving them the word of God, [8:39] something that changes their life eternally, significantly,
[8:43] I mean, it’s just, it makes a humongous difference. [8:46] I would encourage you to talk with some of the others here [8:49] that have gone and served. [8:51] You can connect with me personally. [8:52] I would love to share the countless crazy stories [8:55] that I have with you.
[8:58] It’s just, oh my gosh, it will just change your life. [9:01] I mean, there’s a lot of amazing things [9:05] that you would realize that we do here in the States [9:09] that we don’t need, and that just God wants [9:13] to use you more than anything. [9:16] Absolutely, now, one of the great ways
[9:18] that we as a church can serve Christy [9:21] is to constantly have her and the other missionaries [9:24] on the forefront of our minds in prayer. [9:27] What are a couple of ways that we can pray [9:30] for you as a church?
[9:32] Well, primarily, our ministry has changed a lot [9:37] from last year to this year. [9:39] Last year, we really focused on discipling several families, [9:43] and because some of those groups have kind of dissolved, [9:48] the Lord is really changing our direction [9:50] for this next year, and we’re gonna focus entirely
[9:52] on this year on the one village that the village [9:55] is gonna be going to, is Apoteke Village.
[9:59] And so we’re really excited. [10:01] The Lord really provided a lot of ideas and opportunities [10:06] to get involved with some new families. [10:08] We took Christmas cookies, actually, to many families [10:12] to connect with them, visit new families, [10:14] and got to share the Christmas story with them,
[10:16] and that opened up, believe it or not, [10:18] two different opportunities to begin discipling [10:21] two different families. [10:24] They’re interested and want to hear more, [10:26] and so I guess just pray continuously [10:29] just for the new ministries.
[10:31] One ministry that I would like to start this year, actually, [10:34] is a sewing group, or like a women’s group. [10:38] I am very not skilled in sewing, [10:40] and so possibly whoever comes in June [10:43] might be a sewing expert, and that could be really helpful, [10:46] or I’ll just become a major sewing expert before then,
[10:49] I’m not sure. [10:51] Lord works in mighty ways, but I mean, even in that group, [10:55] I mean, anything we do is gospel-centered, [10:58] so as we’re sharing and sewing together, [11:01] I’m sharing stories with them, [11:03] and putting the word of God into their heart.
[11:07] So just pray for those new ministries [11:09] that we’re gonna be starting. [11:10] It takes a lot of organization, it takes a lot of resources, [11:13] it takes a lot of planning on our parts. [11:15] It’s Rebecca and I, we’re it, we’re in a, [11:18] we are serving this village, there’s no one else.
[11:22] And so just continue to pray even for national partners [11:25] that they would serve alongside of us, the Mexican people, [11:28] the Mexican believers, that they would partner with us [11:30] and go, because if we leave, who’s gonna be there? [11:35] And so we just pray that they would continue [11:37] to catch that vision.
[11:38] Our national church that we go to, that we attend, [11:41] definitely nothing like the village, but it’s still amazing. [11:44] They’ve partnered with us this past year [11:46] doing dental clinics. [11:48] The co-pastor of our church is a dentist. [11:50] And so we just pray that that would continue to,
[11:54] they would continue to have a presence there. [11:57] Last year we started a kids ministry, [12:00] and every Friday we’re meeting with [12:02] anywhere from as high as 65 kids [12:06] to 30 kids towards the end. [12:09] And we were sharing, we were doing English,
[12:13] Bible stories, and then like a craft and a game with them. [12:17] And it is the first time that they’ve ever heard [12:22] these stories. [12:23] Like I told the story of David and Goliath to them, [12:26] and I was getting all into it, I’m like, [12:28] David grabbed a stone and he was winding up his slingshot
[12:32] and he threw it at David and hit him in the head [12:34] and he died. [12:35] And they’re like,
[12:37] it was like silence, you know. [12:39] They’ve not heard any of these stories. [12:42] And the government building, the government people [12:44] that work in the village, we always have to get permission [12:47] from them, whatever we’re doing. [12:49] And they have just opened their arms to us,
[12:52] they’ve really welcomed us to do almost anything. [12:57] I mean, they’re just like, teach us English. [12:59] You know, you wanna give us talks about [13:01] how to be better parents, better, you know, [13:04] teach our children all these things. [13:06] Yes, please do it.
[13:07] You know, they’re just so welcome, the door is open. [13:10] So just continue to pray that we would just [13:13] have a lot of wisdom, we would seek wisdom from the Lord [13:16] to be able to serve that community better. [13:18] Absolutely awesome. [13:18] Thank you so much for sharing with us this morning
[13:21] and we’re gonna be praying for you, [13:23] we’re gonna be sending a team down pretty soon. [13:25] Thank you so much, Christi. [13:26] Yes, thank you.
[13:30] Thank you. [13:32]
[13:33] Thank you. [13:33] So join me right now and let’s pray for Christi [13:35] and the rest of the missionaries down there. [13:38] Father, we are so thankful that you are still sending [13:44] people on your mission. [13:46] I thank you for the calling that you’ve placed
[13:49] on Christi’s life, the calling that you’ve placed [13:51] on Rebecca’s life and the calling on the career missionaries [13:54] that are there as well and for all of the missionaries [13:57] of the International Mission Board. [13:58] It’s our prayer this morning, specifically for the villages [14:02] that they’re going to be serving in
[14:03] and the one village in particular [14:06] that you’re gonna be using them in. [14:07] My prayer is that you will raise up within that village [14:10] a harvest of people to have faith in you, [14:14] of people to follow you and a movement [14:18] in this area of southern Mexico that’s classified
[14:21] as an unreached people, that there would be a move [14:24] of the gospel there that would just reap thousands [14:29] to have faith in you. [14:32] Lord, may you inspire in us a yearning to live your mission. [14:37] May you inspire in Village Church Melothian this morning, [14:42] a hope and a trust in you that would lead us to go.
[14:47] You would lead us to go and serve in many places [14:50] around this country and around this world [14:53] so that others will come to have faith in you as we do. [14:58] In the name of Jesus, I pray, amen.
[15:03] As mentioned this coming June, [15:06] we’re gonna be taking a trip down there [15:07] if you’re interested in that. [15:08] You can send an email to the info account. [15:11] You can see Alan Garnett. [15:12] You can talk to one of the pastors
[15:14] or talk to Christy or just talk to someone. [15:16] But I do ask that all of you purpose in your hearts to pray [15:21] that God would lead you and guide you [15:23] as to what you need to be doing for his mission. [15:26] Join me in Matthew chapter 13 this morning. [15:29] I want to talk this morning about living to be
[15:32] a disciple of Jesus Christ and maybe cast a vision [15:36] for this coming year of how God wants to work in your life [15:40] so that you can become a disciple, [15:43] be stronger in your discipleship, [15:45] but also aid and guide others to growth and maturity. [15:51] It was grained in my mind from a pastor
[15:54] that I once served under many years ago [15:56] that discipling others is the process [15:59] by which a Christian with a life worth emulating [16:02] commits himself or herself for an extended period of time [16:05] to a few individuals who’ve been one to Christ. [16:08] The purpose being to aid and guide their growth
[16:12] and maturity and help them to reproduce themselves [16:16] in a third spiritual generation. [16:20] That’s what it looks like to be a disciple maker. [16:24] But as we’ve talked about over the last few weeks, [16:27] in order to be a disciple maker, [16:29] you must be a disciple of Jesus Christ.
[16:33] In the new year, we all make resolutions [16:35] for changes that we want to see happen in our lives. [16:39] A resolution is necessarily a change that you want to see. [16:44] But as I’ve talked to many people over the years [16:47] and as I’ve made many resolutions myself, [16:50] one thing has been true of many of the resolutions
[16:53] that I’ve seen, is that many times the change [16:55] that you want to make is more of an external factor. [16:59] It’s more of a change that you really want to see [17:00] other people make in the way that they treat you [17:03] or the way that you want to see your job change. [17:05] But one thing that we really don’t do,
[17:08] and this is what prevents our lives from changing, [17:12] is that when we talk about change, we don’t personalize it. [17:16] When we talk about change, we don’t really tend [17:18] to take a huge amount of responsibility on our shoulders. [17:23] But understand that if you want any changes [17:25] to be made in your life, the first thing
[17:29] that needs to change is you.
[17:32] Changing your externals, even your job [17:37] or the scenery around you or the people around you, [17:41] it’s not ultimately going to change you. [17:44] For you to have any real change take place in your life, [17:51] the first thing that needs to happen is [17:52] is that you need to change.
[17:54] You need to change the way that you think. [17:57] You need to change the way that you act. [17:59] You need to change the way that you live in this world. [18:02] You probably need to change your perspective [18:06] about the world and about your place in it [18:08] and about the way that you work and you live in this world.
[18:13] I was once talking to a guy about some changes [18:16] that he wanted to see in his life [18:17] and the answer to everything was [18:19] that he had to leave Richmond. [18:21] If I just get out of Richmond, [18:24] everything’s going to be better.
[18:25] And I told him a piece of advice [18:27] that I’ve heard thousands of times, [18:28] buddy, no matter where you go, there you are.
[18:34] Most of the time, the biggest problem [18:36] in your life is an outside. [18:38] Most of the time, the problem in your life is you. [18:41] It’s inside. [18:42] It’s about changes that you need to be willing to make. [18:45] And I don’t discount the difficulty here.
[18:47] The hardest thing that you will ever have [18:49] to do in your life is change. [18:51] It’s difficult because we are, by nature, [18:55] creatures of habit. [18:56] We like to do things a certain way [18:58] and even if that thing is causing negative things
[19:01] to happen in our life, it’s difficult to change [19:03] so we’ll try to figure out something [19:05] that we can do to change it [19:06] without actually changing anything.
[19:10] You’ve got to change. [19:12] It’s one of the biggest things that Jesus talked about [19:15] and Jesus shared with us throughout the scriptures [19:18] is our need for change, first in our relationship with him, [19:22] then in our relationship with others, [19:24] and then just in the way that we view the world as a whole.
[19:27] You know, I was reminded this past week [19:29] that the scriptures and the person of Jesus [19:32] is about revealing to us the character of who God is. [19:36] In fact, the Old Testament, we see a bit of God’s character, [19:40] we see who he is, then in the person and work [19:43] of Jesus Christ, we see more of the character of God.
[19:48] Then throughout the rest of the New Testament, [19:49] into the book of Revelation, [19:50] we see more of the character of God. [19:53] All of them equal, all of them a revelation of who God is, [19:57] but we see in it all is this great picture of who God is [20:01] and then through viewing that,
[20:03] we begin to see the commands that God makes on us [20:06] and the things that he wants us to live our lives for [20:09] and if you know anything about who God is [20:12] in comparison to who you are, [20:14] there’s going to need some great changes to be made [20:16] if you’re going to become anything like him.
[20:19] And it’s not something that you’re going to be able [20:21] to reach the optimal weight [20:23] because most of your resolutions are your weight, [20:25] let’s be honest. [20:27] Preaching to the choir here.
[20:31] It’s not a number that you can reach and say, [20:33] ha, I’ve made it, I’m like God.
[20:39] It’s something that’s going to take the rest of your life, [20:41] it’s not a sprint, it’s going to be a marathon. [20:44] I think Jesus offers us a great word in Matthew chapter 13 [20:48] about the work that the gospel needs to do in our lives. [20:52] So join me in verse one of Matthew chapter 13. [20:56] This is Jesus in the gospel,
[20:58] says that same day Jesus went out of the house, [21:00] sat beside the sea, great crowds gathered about him. [21:04] He got into a boat, he sat down [21:05] and the whole crowd stood on the beach [21:08] and he told them many things and parables. [21:11] Then Jesus speaks and he says,
[21:13] a sower went out to sow. [21:15] As he sowed, some seeds fell along the path [21:17] and the birds came and devoured them. [21:20] Other seeds fell on rocky ground [21:22] where they did not have much soil [21:23] and immediately they sprang up
[21:26] since they had no depth of soil.
[21:30] But when the sun rose, they were scorched. [21:33] Since they had no root, they withered away. [21:36] Other seeds fell among thorns. [21:38] Thorns grew up, choked them. [21:40] Other seeds fell on good soil, produced grain, [21:43] some hundredfold, some 60, some 30.
[21:46] He who has ears, let him hear. [21:49] If you’re standing in the crowd that day, [21:51] you’re looking at Jesus and you’re saying, [21:53] I have no idea what you’re talking about. [21:56] Thankfully, he’s given us ears to hear the explanation [21:59] of the story that he gave his disciples a little bit later
[22:01] and that starts in verse 18. [22:04] Hear then the parable of the sower. [22:07] When anyone hears the word of the kingdom [22:09] and does not understand it, [22:12] the evil one comes and snatches away [22:14] what has been sown in his heart.
[22:19] This is what was sown along the path. [22:24] Number one this morning, understand that in your life, [22:28] the central issue of every day is your worship of Jesus. [22:36] I think one of the problems that many people have [22:38] in their life of attempting to follow Jesus, [22:42] seeking to have more faith in Jesus,
[22:44] seeking to overcome doubt in Jesus, [22:46] just seeking to be a disciple [22:48] and seeking to be a part of worshiping your life [22:51] is that you’ve got your life compartmentalized. [22:53] You’ve got what you look at as your daily life over here. [22:56] You’ve got your work life over here.
[22:58] You’ve got your exercise life over here. [23:01] Then you’ve got other portions for leisure [23:02] and then on Sunday, that’s the time that’s carved out [23:05] for you to go to school, [23:06] learn a little bit about your spiritual life, [23:08] learn about Jesus and you’ve got everything
[23:11] compartmentalized and then you wonder why you’ve got nowhere [23:15] in growing in faith in Jesus Christ.
[23:18] The reality is, is the reason that you’re not getting [23:20] anywhere is because you misunderstand what it means [23:22] to be a follower of Jesus, [23:23] is that God is not working in a portion of your life. [23:27] He is the God of the whole of your life. [23:30] And that’s true whether you believe in him or not,
[23:32] whether you’re a follower of Jesus or not. [23:35] So if you’re in here, you know, [23:35] I don’t even believe in Jesus, [23:37] that doesn’t apply to me. [23:38] No, it does. [23:39] He’s God and that term literally means he’s got everything.
[23:45] Every portion of the world, [23:47] every part of the universe is his. [23:49] That means you are his. [23:51] Means every part of your life is about him. [23:54] So everything that you do, whether it be your family, [23:56] whether it be your home, whether it be just you,
[23:59] whether it be work, whether it be exercise, [24:02] whether it be eat, whether it be the way you raise your kids, [24:04] whether it be the way you go to school, [24:06] whether it be the way that you get educated, [24:07] whether it be anything in your life, [24:10] he is the God of every part of it.
[24:13] Therefore, the central issue of your job [24:18] is worship of Jesus Christ. [24:21] The central issue of your marriage, worship of Jesus. [24:25] Central issue of education, Jesus. [24:27] The central issue of everything you do in your life [24:32] is Jesus because everything in your life
[24:34] is about what motivates you to do what you do.
[24:41] Absolutely everything in your life [24:43] is about how you love God. [24:46] If you look at whatever your resolutions are this year,
[24:53] let’s just for a moment think. [24:55] Many of you have already broken your resolutions, [24:57] pretend you haven’t yet. [24:59] You didn’t make it long, neither did I.
[25:04] The reality is imagine that in December of 2016, [25:07] you did it.
[25:10] You lost the weight, you got the job, [25:13] you finished school, you read that one book.
[25:18] You made it.
[25:23] If you make it, is that heaven to you?
[25:30] Is that the thing that you think [25:33] will give you ultimate satisfaction? [25:36] It’s what my identity is about? [25:40] You see friends, that’s the place of God in your life [25:43] and that’s what he desires to be. [25:44] That’s what he calls himself to be in your life.
[25:48] He wants to be heaven. [25:49] He wants to be satisfaction. [25:51] He wants to be the goal for your life. [25:54] So understand that whatever you put in that place, [25:57] it is the God that you are worshiping. [25:59] Therefore the central issue of everything
[26:01] in your life is worship.
[26:03] Whether it be a spouse, whether it be a job, [26:07] whether it be more money or less debt, [26:09] whether it be weight, whether it be bench press, [26:11] whether it be squat, whether it be that you could run [26:14] a quarter mile or whether it be for the Seahawks [26:17] to win the Super Bowl again,
[26:18] which apparently isn’t going to happen. [26:21] But if that thing is the thing that occupies your pursuits, [26:26] occupies your passions, occupies that which you want, [26:30] understand that that is the focus [26:31] of the worship of your life. [26:34] It’s what you are defining yourself by.
[26:38] So friend, the question you’ve got to deal with [26:40] is what are you finding your identity in this morning? [26:44] Because the seed that just fell along the path,
[26:49] that is the seed that no root ever falls down. [26:52] The birds of the air just come down and they swoop [26:54] and they eat it up because you’ve not taken the gospel in. [26:57] You’ve not truly believed it. [26:59] Maybe it’s something that you wanted to add to your life [27:01] because you thought it would actually get you
[27:03] what you really think God is. [27:06] Would get you success, it would get you health, [27:08] it would get you that which you wanted. [27:09] Your identity was never in it, [27:11] but you kind of wanted the gospel, [27:13] but no roots ever came down.
[27:19] But then look in verse 20.
[27:26] Excuse me, verse 19. [27:28] It says, when anyone hears the word of kingdom, [27:30] doesn’t understand it, the evil one comes, [27:32] snatches away what has been sown in his heart. [27:34] This is what seed that was sown along the path [27:36] as for what was sown on the rocky ground.
[27:40] This is the one who hears the word, [27:41] immediately receives it with joy, [27:43] yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while. [27:47] When tribulation or persecution arises on account [27:49] of the word, immediately he falls away.
[27:55] Some of you had a tough 2015. [27:59] It was a hard year. [28:01] For some of you there was physical suffering. [28:03] Some of you it was mental, some of you it was emotional. [28:06] Some of you maybe you lost a job this year, [28:08] you lost a loved one this year.
[28:10] You had loss, you felt pain. [28:13] Maybe you were diagnosed with something this year [28:15] and it just rocked your world. [28:17] Maybe you actually felt discrimination [28:19] because of your faith and you felt persecuted [28:21] for your faith.
[28:22] Regardless of it, you felt some type of pain. [28:26] For some of you, you’re going to feel pain in 2016.
[28:31] Maybe things are going great right now. [28:33] You’ve never been better, [28:35] but it’s just around the corner, you don’t see it yet. [28:38] It’s gonna be a diagnosis, it’s gonna be a personal loss, [28:41] it’s gonna be a relational loss, [28:42] it’s gonna be a financial loss.
[28:44] I don’t know what it’s going to be, [28:45] but for some of you, I can tell you, [28:48] a crowd this big, some of you are going [28:49] to have a hard year this year.
[28:52] You say, well don’t say that, let’s think positively. [28:55] Well, live in the real world. [28:57] It may be me, I don’t know. [29:01] But the reality is, what he’s talking about here [29:04] is the fact that pain, number two, [29:06] must not drive your life.
[29:11] Maybe because of 2015, you’re doubting God.
[29:17] See, this was a rough year. [29:20] This was a hard time. [29:21] I’ve never experienced pain on that level, [29:24] physically, emotionally, financially, [29:27] whatever it was.
[29:31] But it’s so overwhelming to you. [29:35] You’re neglecting God because of it. [29:38] You’re saying, well the gospel, it didn’t work out for me. [29:41] Or it’s not currently working out for me. [29:44] I go to church, I read my Bible, [29:46] bad things are still happening to me.
[29:49] Jesus saw that coming. [29:50] For some of you, that’s what’s going to happen.
[29:54] What he’s saying is the gospel isn’t just about [29:57] these temporal transient things that could happen. [30:01] But instead, he actually tells us in other places [30:03] in the book of John, and he actually tells us [30:05] in this parable, persecution’s going to happen. [30:08] Pain is coming.
[30:10] Whether it’s from an external force [30:12] of someone holding you down because of your faith in Jesus, [30:16] or whether it’s just because of the curse of sin [30:18] that’s still in this world, [30:19] because the kingdom has not been delivered, [30:21] we’re still sinful people, we still get sick,
[30:24] people still hurt our feelings, [30:25] people still do terrible things to one another, [30:28] but we are living in a fallen world [30:30] even though we have faith in Jesus. [30:32] Jesus is warning us, he’s saying, [30:34] if your faith in the gospel is all about you being healthy,
[30:37] if it’s all about you being wealthy, [30:39] if it’s all about leisure, [30:40] if it’s all about you being happy all the time [30:43] and being comfortable in your life, [30:45] then you do not have real faith.
[30:49] Because the gospel prepares you for pain, [30:52] it doesn’t prevent pain.
[30:56] For some of you, that’s going to be [30:58] the most liberating statement [30:59] that a pastor can say to you this year, [31:01] the gospel doesn’t prevent pain, [31:02] it prepares you for pain.
[31:06] Because the older you get, the more is coming. [31:10] That’s just reality.
[31:13] But don’t allow pain to drive your life. [31:20] Faith keeps moving forward with God [31:23] because no matter what, you get God. [31:28] It’s the hope of the gospel. [31:30] Is it right before Jesus ascended from heaven, [31:32] he died on the cross for our sin
[31:34] so that we would not have to face the wrath of God [31:36] giving us this overwhelming grace.
[31:42] He says, I forgive you, I take the penalty for your sin. [31:45] Then he rises from the dead so that we may have a new life [31:48] so that I can wake up this morning, [31:51] get in the word and actually talk to God [31:54] as if he’s in the room with me because he is.
[31:59] Cut says Jesus removes the barrier. [32:00] He was there with me early this morning. [32:04] He’s here with us right now. [32:07] Every moment of every day, [32:08] I can have a relationship with him. [32:10] And when the dark times come, Jesus promised.
[32:15] He said, I will be with you to the end of the age. [32:19] He’s not left, nor is he leaving. [32:23] The doctor’s office, Jesus will be there with you [32:25] and he will be there with me. [32:27] The counselor’s room, Jesus will be there with you [32:30] and he’s there for me.
[32:31] Late at night when you’re struggling to hold it together, [32:36] Jesus is there.
[32:39] He’s saying, you feel pain.
[32:42] I know you don’t understand all the time, [32:44] but Jesus always tells us, he says, [32:46] understand that I love you to the extent [32:48] that I lowered myself into the deepest depths [32:50] of pain for you. [32:53] So no matter what I lose in my life,
[32:57] whether it be physical loss, emotional loss, [33:01] reputation loss,
[33:05] I will never, ever lose the greatest gift [33:09] this universe has ever seen. [33:10] I will never lose God.
[33:13] Jesus secures that for me.
[33:18] That’s why the hymn says you can take this world, [33:23] you can’t take Jesus. [33:26] He’s never leaving. [33:28] He’s always there. [33:30] On the other side of all suffering because of Jesus [33:34] is the promise of the glory of God.
[33:38] In 2 Corinthians, the apostle Paul, [33:41] you know, I’ve been told that I’m not [33:44] the most merciful person in the world.
[33:47] Paul was worse. [33:50] In 2 Corinthians, he’s dealing with a church [33:52] that’s struggling with pain, [33:54] struggling with who to follow, [33:55] and he looks at their pain and he says, [33:57] oh, you’re experiencing some pain,
[33:59] but understand, it’s light and momentary. [34:02] Whenever you’re having a hard day, [34:03] is it ever comforting for someone to come in [34:05] and minimize it?
[34:08] That was what Paul did, so I guess I can do it too. [34:11] But Paul comes in and he says, [34:14] for the future glory that is prepared for you [34:18] because of what is true in the gospel of Jesus, [34:22] this light and momentary affliction doesn’t even compare.
[34:30] There have been a few days in my life [34:32] where I have to remind myself of that. [34:35] I can’t be driven by pain. [34:37] I can’t be driven to despair. [34:39] I must be driven to dependence.
[34:43] See, for many of you this year, [34:45] you need to replace your despair with dependence, [34:48] but our culture just ingrains in us, [34:52] be independent, be strong enough, be good enough, [34:57] handle your own issues yourself, [34:59] and the gospel says the opposite.
[35:01] The gospel says deny independence. [35:03] Be completely dependent on the God who is there, [35:07] the God who cares, the God who loves.
[35:12] So the gospel tells us replace our despair with dependence [35:16] because despair is what will happen [35:18] when you try to walk alone. [35:21] Walk with God.
[35:24] And then walk with the gift of the church [35:27] that the Lord has given you. [35:29] You are not alone. [35:32] You are a part of the body of Christ.
[35:37] Gather together, love one another, care for one another. [35:39] When someone is limping, you help them. [35:42] When someone is crawling, you help them. [35:44] And if you are walking right now, [35:46] help someone who’s limping.
[35:49] There’s a temptation for us [35:51] who think that we are stronger than everyone else [35:53] to kind of look at someone [35:54] who’s going through a period of weakness [35:55] and sometimes just say, oh, you are so weak, huh? [35:58] Why can’t you be as strong as me?
[36:01] For us, it’s coming right out of the corner someday. [36:05] But what the gospel means is [36:07] is that the limp isn’t something [36:09] they need to be ashamed of. [36:10] The limp is something that we can help them with [36:12] because of the truth of the gospel.
[36:14] See, sometimes God is going to need to use you [36:16] and someone who’s going through pain this year [36:18] to be a reminder of the gospel.
[36:22] So I heard a buffalo on the roof right now. [36:24] They’ll be down shortly.
[36:27] Number three this morning.
[36:31] I don’t know. [36:32] It’s probably my son. [36:34] Success can take you away from Jesus [36:38] just as fast as trials can. [36:40] We believe a lie in this world. [36:42] We believe that pain is to be avoided at all costs
[36:44] because pain causes terrible things. [36:47] So success is what you go after. [36:50] Success fixes it all. [36:51] But Jesus comes and he tells us, [36:53] well, success can cause some problems too. [36:58] Look in the scriptures here.
[37:00] In verse 22, he says, [37:01] as for that which was sown among thorns, [37:07] this is the one who hears the word. [37:09] But the cares of the world, [37:11] the deceitfulness of riches choke the word [37:15] and it proves unfruitful.
[37:20] You know, success is a good thing.
[37:23] I don’t think you should attempt failure. [37:27] I don’t think you should ever go into any venture saying, [37:31] let’s hope we fail.
[37:34] So there’s a tension here. [37:37] This is not an admonition against success. [37:40] This is a warning about what success can bring [37:44] if success is your God.
[37:50] If all you want is to get that job or to get that money [37:55] or to get that power, to get that fame or to get that trophy, [37:59] whatever it is, if that’s all that you want, [38:03] Jesus is warning you and he’s saying, [38:07] if that’s what you’re chasing, [38:08] it’s going to grow like weeds
[38:11] beside what you’re trying to have real faith in [38:14] and it’s going to replace the gospel of Jesus in your life.
[38:21] How quickly do your commitments for gaining, [38:27] whatever success is for you, [38:30] tear you away from growing in your understanding [38:32] of the gospel in your life.
[38:37] From environments of discipleship, [38:41] from community, excuse me, village groups, [38:44] from discipleship groups, [38:46] from time spent with the word, [38:49] time spent in prayer,
[38:53] time spent learning to read the word, [38:55] time spent learning to pray, [39:00] time that could be spent caring for someone else, [39:04] giving the gospel to someone else [39:06] or learning how to do that [39:08] so you don’t have to say,
[39:09] well, I don’t want to do that anymore. [39:11] How often does your pursuit of success, [39:16] whatever that might be like, [39:18] it’s not always a job, friends,
[39:21] how often does your pursuit of success [39:23] replace your pursuit of growing [39:27] and being a disciple of Jesus Christ?
[39:32] Thorns want to keep it all and sacrifice nothing.
[39:38] The thorns of this world will lie to you [39:40] and say you can have it all. [39:42] You don’t have to sacrifice anything. [39:44] Just add Jesus onto whatever thing else is going on. [39:47] It’ll just be like that one more thing in your backpack. [39:49] It’s a little heavier with Jesus,
[39:52] but you don’t have to sacrifice. [39:55] It’s a lie. [39:56] In Mark chapter four, [39:58] the record of Peter adds something to this parable [40:01] in verse 19, he says, [40:03] but the cares of the world
[40:04] and the deceitfulness of riches, [40:06] and note this, and the desires for other things [40:11] enter in, choke the word, [40:14] and it proves unfruitful. [40:18] Note that he says, [40:19] and desires for other things.
[40:21] It’s not all about money. [40:24] You can be the poorest person in the world, [40:26] and your success is just found somewhere else. [40:28] Your idol just looks a little bit differently. [40:31] Theologian John Calvin said that the human heart [40:33] is an idol factory.
[40:35] If you don’t keep it in check, [40:37] it will just produce another idol [40:38] as soon as you slay one.
[40:42] See, we have so many things that are competing [40:45] for our attention, [40:46] that which God calls us to focus on him, [40:49] that we must constantly keep that pursuit of success [40:52] in things and stuff and people and places. [40:57] Must always keep that tension and say,
[41:00] is this replacing my pursuit of discipleship? [41:03] And if it is,
[41:07] friend, then the best thing you could do in your life [41:09] is cut that thing off. [41:13] Whatever it is, [41:15] do not allow your pursuits in this world [41:19] to overwhelm your vision of Jesus Christ in your life.
[41:29] What will you say yes to this year [41:32] that means you are going to have to say no [41:35] to something that will grow you [41:37] in your relationship with Jesus Christ? [41:40] You see, the drought of pain and the weeds of success [41:44] are about the focus of your life.
[41:47] If you are focused on the things of this world, [41:50] it will choke out your faith in Jesus. [41:53] Believe that.
[41:57] This is a real warning.
[42:00] Scripture, constant prayer, [42:02] community with other believers, [42:04] committing to serve will begin to build a life [42:08] of being a disciple. [42:10] It will not happen by accident though. [42:14] They must all be based on the character of God,
[42:18] not on the character of you.
[42:22] Most of the pursuits that you have in your life [42:25] most likely look more like you than they do like Jesus. [42:29] And you must be willing to look in the mirror [42:31] and be honest about what your life actually looks like. [42:35] Are you growing and being a better version of you [42:38] or are you growing and becoming more like Jesus Christ?
[42:43] That is the question that needs to determine [42:45] the focus of the next year of your life. [42:49] See, because fourthly this morning, [42:50] commitment must be driven by gospel fruit. [42:54] Look what he says in verse 23. [42:58] He says, as for what was sown on good soil,
[43:01] this is the one who hears the word and understands it. [43:05] He indeed bears fruit. [43:09] And yields. [43:11] In one case, a hundredfold, [43:12] in another 60, in another 30.
[43:17] You see, one of the things that we do [43:20] when we read the scriptures is that we read it [43:23] as an outsider that’s looking at something [43:25] that we have no control over. [43:26] You see, the sower is God. [43:30] He is.
[43:31] And he’s sowing seeds of the gospel. [43:34] He’s sowing it into people’s lives. [43:35] And for some people, there’s no faith. [43:38] It doesn’t take any root. [43:40] But then for that last soil, [43:42] that’s the person that actually takes the gospel in,
[43:45] actually has real faith, actually has real repentance, [43:48] actually has real life change.
[43:52] But some of us have the perspective about the soil [43:55] that we have no control over. [43:57] It just is what it is. [43:59] And man, if I got cares of the world growing up like thorns,
[44:04] none of them can do about it. [44:06] If I’ve got the sun beating down on me [44:08] and I’m withering up because my roots aren’t deep enough, [44:12] nothing I can do about it. [44:13] If I’m the hard ground that the seeds fall on [44:16] and they never even actually get dirt over them,
[44:18] there’s nothing I can do about it. [44:19] Man, if only someone would go to Home Depot [44:22] and rent a tiller,
[44:25] and till me up, that way I’d be ready to receive the gospel, [44:29] no one’s ever going to do it for you.
[44:33] So what you need to do in your life [44:35] is you need to understand that the soil is you.
[44:40] And you have real decisions to make [44:42] what your life is going to look like. [44:45] You have real choices to make [44:48] as to what your pursuits are gonna be about. [44:50] You have real choices to make when pain happens.
[44:56] You have real decisions in real time. [44:59] This is about real life. [45:02] Believe it or not, he’s not talking about gardening at all.
[45:07] Jesus was tricky.
[45:10] He’s like, ha ha, I’m not talking about fruit. [45:14] Says about apples and tomatoes, [45:16] which I don’t know what tomatoes are fruit or not, [45:17] probably vegetable, whatever. [45:20] Some of you are judging me.
[45:24] Hurts.
[45:27] The reality this morning is, [45:29] is that you set the temperature in your life, [45:36] you set the soil in your life, [45:38] and the thorns are yours. [45:43] The rocks are your rocks. [45:47] The pain is something that you are going to have to react to.
[45:53] So this morning, if you want the next year of your life [45:56] to be about being a disciple of Jesus Christ [46:00] who makes disciples of Jesus Christ, [46:03] you’re going to have to make a decision [46:05] as to what type of soil you’re gonna have in your life.
[46:11] For roots to run deep, to receive the word,
[46:17] you’re gonna have to be beside the streams of Jesus.
[46:23] In Psalm chapter one,
[46:27] Jesus, through the psalmist, gives us another metaphor.
[46:32] It starts in verse one, he says, [46:34] blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, [46:37] nor stands in the way of sinners, [46:39] nor sits in the seat of scoffers. [46:42] His delight is in the law of the Lord, [46:43] and on his law he meditates day and night.
[46:45] He’s like a tree planted by streams of water. [46:49] Note, that yields its fruit. [46:50] It’s fruit in the season, and its leaf does not wither, [46:56] and all that he does, he prospers. [47:00] He yields a hundredfold, 60, 30. [47:04] The wicked are not so, but are like the chaff.
[47:08] The wind drives away.
[47:13] Friends, if you want your soil to be rich in nutrients [47:17] of God, gospel, fruit in your life. [47:22] Note what he says here. [47:25] Just wanna give you a couple of pieces [47:27] of advice for your year. [47:29] First, enter a path that leads to Jesus every single day.
[47:34] How do you do that? [47:34] Look at Psalm one. [47:36] Tells us first, he says, [47:37] don’t follow the advice of an unbelieving world.
[47:41] Don’t follow the advice of an unbelieving world. [47:43] You’re gonna hear so many messages [47:44] from so many places this year that are gonna tell you, [47:48] oh, if your life is like this, [47:49] it’ll be the best life possible. [47:50] If you have this, you’ll have the best life possible.
[47:51] If this happens, you’ll have the best life possible.
[47:55] But when you come in the presence of Jesus every day, [47:57] you have to ignore those voices, [47:59] and you have to look to what God says [48:00] will give you the best life.
[48:03] Don’t live in environments of those who don’t trust Jesus. [48:07] And you say, well, how am I supposed to evangelize? [48:09] Well, you get to evangelism in a minute. [48:11] But in this one, he’s saying, [48:14] enter intentionally and commit to setting aside time [48:18] so that you can be with in the presence of
[48:22] and being discipled by other believers. [48:26] Village group, personal discipleship group, [48:29] corporate gatherings on Sunday morning, [48:31] serving one another, getting together with one another [48:34] for the specific purpose and yes, [48:36] an agenda of actually encouraging one another
[48:40] to follow Jesus.
[48:43] Ask yourself about everything that you do in life. [48:47] Is this area of my life building my desire for God [48:51] or distracting me to other things? [48:56] This question must guide your steps [48:57] if you want to follow Jesus.
[49:03] But then note what he says about the law. [49:07] Speaking about the word of God there, [49:09] both the Old Testament and the New. [49:12] Do not buy into the lie that the New Testament [49:14] is somehow more inspired than the Old Testament. [49:16] It’s the same God, he didn’t change his mind.
[49:23] Bathe yourself in the Bible.
[49:29] Been reflecting over the past week or so [49:31] and I’ve been kind of asking myself, [49:33] what do I want people to hear from me? [49:36] And here’s what I want people to hear. [49:38] Above anything else, first the gospel, [49:41] but secondly, where do I get the gospel?
[49:43] I want to be about this book.
[49:46] I don’t want to be about anything else. [49:49] If it’s one thing that you hear from me in your life, [49:52] I think the most important message I could give you [49:55] is that you need this book more than you need air, [50:00] more than you need food, more than you need water. [50:04] You need the word of God.
[50:06] This is the word of God. [50:09] Nothing replaces it, nothing’s better than it. [50:12] Nothing will be better than this book in your life. [50:15] No book written this year will be better than this book. [50:19] If you read one thing this year, make it the word of God.
[50:25] You say, but I don’t understand it. [50:27] That’s where faith comes in. [50:29] So because faith goes to places, like 2 Chronicles,
[50:36] and it says, I’m not feeling much, [50:38] but I believe that God wrote this for a purpose [50:41] so I want to be about what God is about. [50:43] And if God said it was as important enough [50:45] to be in his book, then I need to know it. [50:49] You see, friends, that’s what faith does.
[50:52] Faith isn’t for the moments [50:53] where you’re getting chicken soup for the soul.
[50:57] Faith is for the moments where you’re like, I got nothing. [51:01] But I believe that God has something.
[51:05] Bathe yourself in the Bible.
[51:10] Trust the Bible or you can’t follow Jesus. [51:12] There’s no shortcut. [51:14] There is no other way to know God.
[51:20] That’s how you relate to him. [51:21] Prayer is harder when you don’t know about God.
[51:26] It’s harder. [51:26] It’s just like kind of that first conversation [51:28] you have with someone after about 30 seconds [51:30] where you’re like, so.
[51:34] Yep.
[51:36] What do you do?
[51:40] If you’re honest, that’s probably [51:42] what your prayer life’s a little bit like.
[51:45] But God through his word has given us [51:47] this magnificent way to learn about him. [51:50] And sometimes when I don’t know how to pray, [51:52] I just read the word, [51:54] just read it sometimes out loud, sometimes in my mind. [51:57] I’m like, I don’t know how to pray to God,
[51:58] so I’m just gonna read his word. [52:00] And then my prayer grows. [52:03] Soak in it day and night. [52:07] Soak in it. [52:09] We have discipleship groups, we have village group, [52:11] we have serve teams, we have gospel centered relationships.
[52:14] There’s so many environments that will till the soil [52:17] of your life to produce gospel centered fruit. [52:21] Take the responsibility and till the soil of your life [52:25] through faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ. [52:28] And he says that our life will be like a stream.
[52:35] You see, a tree planted by a stream [52:40] always has a source of sustenance.
[52:46] And in the Psalm, chapter one, [52:48] he describes Jesus Christ like being a stream.
[52:53] He says, closer you plant your life to him, [52:56] the more healthy you’ll be. [53:00] Friend, do you believe that Jesus is the son of God?
[53:05] Do you believe that he died on the cross [53:10] so that you could be forgiven of your sin [53:12] and never have to face the wrath of God for your sin? [53:16] Do you believe that he rose from the dead [53:19] to give you, number one, a new life in this world, [53:22] and then number two, eternal life
[53:24] in the presence of God forever? [53:25] Do you believe that? [53:28] If you don’t, first, I plead with you to trust Jesus.
[53:35] But number two, if you do,
[53:39] then that necessarily means that there is no better place. [53:44] There’s no greater success. [53:46] There’s nothing greater than being next to him [53:51] as close as you can possibly get.
[53:55] Therefore, if you believe, commit to entering in [54:02] to as many environments as possible in this coming year [54:06] so that you can grow in knowing Jesus. [54:10] Following Jesus isn’t a part-time gig.
[54:14] Let me tell you this morning.
[54:18] If everything that Jesus said is true, [54:21] if he did what he said he came to do, [54:24] and if he is who he says that he is, [54:26] it tells me something very important about my life. [54:28] It tells me something very important about your life. [54:30] It tells me that your life matters to God.
[54:34] And it tells me that we need to live connected to Jesus.
[54:40] As the band comes up,
[54:44] I’m thankful and grateful for everything that God has done. [54:48] If you’re in here this morning [54:50] and you’re a follower of Jesus Christ, [54:53] I want you to understand that this morning [54:56] that he is calling you to live out your faith in him. [55:00] And you can do that this morning.
[55:02] Every week here at Village Church, [55:04] we partake in what’s called the Lord’s Supper. [55:07] It’s a memorial to the death and resurrection [55:09] of Jesus Christ. [55:11] The cup represents the shed blood of Jesus, [55:14] the bread on the six or so tables around this room
[55:17] in the back and up front represent the broken body [55:21] of Jesus where his body was broken [55:23] and his blood was shed on the cross for you. [55:26] And when you eat and when you drink, [55:28] what it represents is that you believe [55:31] that Jesus died for your sins.
[55:36] And you desire for his life to be in your life [55:39] and to go into the lives of others. [55:42] This morning, if you believe that, [55:43] I want to start the year off as a church [55:47] proclaiming the death of Jesus for our sins. [55:52] When you’re ready, come, eat, drink.
[55:56] Then we will worship through song [55:58] and then we will go into this world.
[56:02] We seek to live connected to Jesus. [56:07] When you’re ready, come.