"You Will Be My Witnesses"
Series: "It is I"
Speaker: Adrian Wong
Date: 26th April 2020
00:00:00 --> 00:00:04 Hi everyone, my name is Adrian Wong,
00:00:05 --> 00:00:07 and I'm one of the members of the staff team at this church.
00:00:08 --> 00:00:10 It's great that I can bring the word of God to you today.
00:00:11 --> 00:00:14 And I'm also a regular user of Facebook,
00:00:15 --> 00:00:19 and I've seen some memes that try to capture this time in a lighthearted way.
00:00:20 --> 00:00:24 The best one that I have seen is the four stages of quarantine.
00:00:24 --> 00:00:26 You might have that on screen with you.
00:00:26 --> 00:00:30 I love this one because it captures this moment perfectly.
00:00:31 --> 00:00:33 From the stresses of homeschooling or work,
00:00:34 --> 00:00:37 and the potential wage gain of being housebound.
00:00:39 --> 00:00:41 And I just really hope that for myself,
00:00:41 --> 00:00:44 that I won't come out as a more haggardly fatter version of myself
00:00:44 --> 00:00:47 at the end of this time.
00:00:48 --> 00:00:51 And we live in a time of drastic change.
00:00:52 --> 00:00:53 In this section of the Bible,
00:00:53 --> 00:00:57 we can also see and meet a group of Jesus' followers
00:00:57 --> 00:01:00 who also went through a drastic change.
00:01:01 --> 00:01:07 Well, it's easy to bunk up and have a siege mentality during this time.
00:01:08 --> 00:01:11 Just look at all the ludicrous examples of hoarding.
00:01:12 --> 00:01:16 But today, I hope to challenge you to live differently,
00:01:16 --> 00:01:23 both for right now and also to aim for what we can be at the end of this time.
00:01:24 --> 00:01:26 I'll pray to God now so that we can do this.
00:01:27 --> 00:01:31 Dear God, as you change the disciples through Jesus,
00:01:32 --> 00:01:33 through your word,
00:01:33 --> 00:01:35 pray that you can do a similar work in us.
00:01:36 --> 00:01:38 We pray this in Jesus' name.
00:01:38 --> 00:01:39 Amen.
00:01:39 --> 00:01:44 So please keep the Bible open up at Luke 24,
00:01:45 --> 00:01:48 so that we can read through this.
00:01:49 --> 00:01:51 What we have here is a before and after picture.
00:01:53 --> 00:01:55 In verses 36 to 43,
00:01:56 --> 00:01:57 we have the before picture.
00:01:59 --> 00:02:00 The disciples were in a state of shock,
00:02:01 --> 00:02:03 even when Jesus appeared in bodily form.
00:02:05 --> 00:02:06 Let's look at verse 37.
00:02:06 --> 00:02:09 They were described as startled and frightened.
00:02:10 --> 00:02:11 They thought that they saw a ghost.
00:02:13 --> 00:02:17 We can see that Jesus tried to show in different ways that he is real.
00:02:18 --> 00:02:20 In verse 40, he said,
00:02:21 --> 00:02:22 When he had said this,
00:02:22 --> 00:02:24 he showed them his hands and feet.
00:02:25 --> 00:02:27 And while they still did not believe it
00:02:27 --> 00:02:29 because of joy and amazement,
00:02:29 --> 00:02:30 he asked them,
00:02:30 --> 00:02:32 Do you have anything to eat?
00:02:32 --> 00:02:37 The disciples here still couldn't believe what they saw.
00:02:38 --> 00:02:40 So now that we have the before picture,
00:02:40 --> 00:02:41 let's look at the after.
00:02:42 --> 00:02:46 The after picture is in verses 50 to 53.
00:02:47 --> 00:02:48 I'll read from verse 52.
00:02:50 --> 00:02:52 Then they worshipped him
00:02:52 --> 00:02:54 and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.
00:02:55 --> 00:02:58 And they stayed continually at the temple,
00:02:58 --> 00:02:59 praising God.
00:02:59 --> 00:03:02 We must ask ourselves this question.
00:03:03 --> 00:03:06 How did they change from fear and confusion
00:03:06 --> 00:03:09 to worship and proclamation?
00:03:11 --> 00:03:14 To do this, we need to understand what caused the change.
00:03:16 --> 00:03:18 The first thing that caused the change
00:03:18 --> 00:03:20 is the disciples realized
00:03:20 --> 00:03:23 what Jesus means from the Old Testament
00:03:23 --> 00:03:25 because Jesus showed them what he means.
00:03:26 --> 00:03:29 In verse 46, he told them,
00:03:29 --> 00:03:31 This is what is written.
00:03:32 --> 00:03:36 The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day.
00:03:38 --> 00:03:41 Jesus' death isn't just a cruel execution
00:03:41 --> 00:03:43 or an accidental death.
00:03:44 --> 00:03:47 But as the Messiah, God's chosen servant,
00:03:48 --> 00:03:51 he willingly suffered so we can be forgiven.
00:03:51 --> 00:03:55 Jesus is also God's chosen king,
00:03:56 --> 00:03:57 rising on the third day
00:03:57 --> 00:04:00 to show that he can defeat the ultimate enemy, death.
00:04:03 --> 00:04:05 Secondly, the disciples understood
00:04:05 --> 00:04:08 Jesus' work and its significance.
00:04:09 --> 00:04:10 In verse 47, it says,
00:04:11 --> 00:04:13 Repentance for the forgiveness of sins
00:04:13 --> 00:04:16 will be preached in his name.
00:04:16 --> 00:04:21 So here, preaching isn't about just what happened to Jesus,
00:04:22 --> 00:04:23 but what his actions has achieved.
00:04:25 --> 00:04:28 So, what does repentance and forgiveness
00:04:28 --> 00:04:29 in his name mean?
00:04:29 --> 00:04:32 So let's look at the idea of repentance.
00:04:33 --> 00:04:36 Dictionary.com defines repentance in this way.
00:04:36 --> 00:04:41 Firstly, deep sorrow or contrition for a past sin,
00:04:42 --> 00:04:43 wrongdoing or the like.
00:04:44 --> 00:04:46 The second way is regret for any past action.
00:04:48 --> 00:04:51 Is this the kind of repentance that Jesus has in mind?
00:04:51 --> 00:04:55 We often function with this dictionary definition,
00:04:56 --> 00:04:59 but that wouldn't be what is described here.
00:05:00 --> 00:05:03 You see, if we function with that definition,
00:05:03 --> 00:05:05 it has nothing to do with Jesus.
00:05:06 --> 00:05:09 Repentance is not only about giving up your moral vices,
00:05:10 --> 00:05:11 but it's actually turning,
00:05:11 --> 00:05:15 turning away from those things to Jesus as the king.
00:05:17 --> 00:05:19 In the same way, forgiveness in Jesus' name
00:05:19 --> 00:05:23 is not mainly about forgiving other people
00:05:23 --> 00:05:26 or seeking forgiveness from others
00:05:26 --> 00:05:29 or trying to forgive yourself to clear your conscience.
00:05:31 --> 00:05:33 When we turn to Jesus,
00:05:33 --> 00:05:35 we realize that we need forgiveness
00:05:35 --> 00:05:37 and the only way we can do that
00:05:37 --> 00:05:39 is through the death of Jesus
00:05:39 --> 00:05:43 so that our wrongdoing can be paid for by Jesus.
00:05:44 --> 00:05:47 So look at the task that Jesus gave to the disciples.
00:05:47 --> 00:05:50 We can see that in verse 47.
00:05:52 --> 00:05:54 And repentance for the forgiveness of sins
00:05:54 --> 00:05:57 will be preached in his name to all nations,
00:05:58 --> 00:05:59 beginning at Jerusalem.
00:06:02 --> 00:06:03 The idea we see here
00:06:03 --> 00:06:08 also appears in Luke, in Acts,
00:06:08 --> 00:06:09 which is a sequel to Luke.
00:06:10 --> 00:06:12 In chapter 1, verse 8, it says,
00:06:12 --> 00:06:29 The disciples carried out the instructions from Jesus
00:06:29 --> 00:06:32 from Luke 24, verse 47,
00:06:32 --> 00:06:33 in the book of Acts.
00:06:33 --> 00:06:37 There are two paths to Jesus' instruction,
00:06:38 --> 00:06:40 which is to preach repentance and forgiveness,
00:06:41 --> 00:06:43 and who to preach it to,
00:06:43 --> 00:06:44 to all nations.
00:06:46 --> 00:06:48 We can see the disciples
00:06:48 --> 00:06:50 proclaiming this message
00:06:50 --> 00:06:51 in the book of Acts.
00:06:52 --> 00:06:54 Let me read you some examples
00:06:54 --> 00:06:55 from the book of Acts.
00:06:57 --> 00:06:59 In Acts, chapter 2, verse 38, it says,
00:06:59 --> 00:07:02 Repent and be baptized, every one of you,
00:07:03 --> 00:07:05 in the name of Jesus Christ
00:07:05 --> 00:07:07 for the forgiveness of your sins.
00:07:08 --> 00:07:10 Acts 10, verse 43, says,
00:07:11 --> 00:07:13 All the prophets testify about him
00:07:13 --> 00:07:16 that everyone who believes in him
00:07:16 --> 00:07:19 receives forgiveness of sins through his name.
00:07:20 --> 00:07:22 Acts 14, verse 15, says,
00:07:23 --> 00:07:24 We bring you good news,
00:07:24 --> 00:07:27 telling you to turn from these worthless things
00:07:27 --> 00:07:28 to the living God.
00:07:29 --> 00:07:31 Acts 17, 30,
00:07:32 --> 00:07:34 In the past, God overlooked such ignorance,
00:07:35 --> 00:07:38 but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.
00:07:39 --> 00:07:40 In Acts 26,
00:07:41 --> 00:07:44 I preach that they should repent and turn to God
00:07:44 --> 00:07:47 and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds.
00:07:49 --> 00:07:53 And in the sermons that I've quoted from,
00:07:53 --> 00:07:56 they also fulfilled the prayer
00:07:56 --> 00:07:57 to preach to all nations,
00:07:58 --> 00:08:01 with Peter preaching in Jerusalem in Acts 2,
00:08:02 --> 00:08:03 and at the end,
00:08:03 --> 00:08:04 near the end,
00:08:04 --> 00:08:06 Paul reaching Rome at the end of Acts.
00:08:08 --> 00:08:10 So, let's look at the third thing.
00:08:10 --> 00:08:11 How are we to proclaim Jesus now?
00:08:13 --> 00:08:15 It's fairly obvious that none of us
00:08:15 --> 00:08:17 are old enough to see Jesus
00:08:17 --> 00:08:19 or have been taught by the disciples.
00:08:19 --> 00:08:24 And we are not eyewitnesses like the disciples are.
00:08:25 --> 00:08:28 And although we won't proclaim Jesus in the same way,
00:08:29 --> 00:08:30 the brief to us is similar.
00:08:31 --> 00:08:33 We are to proclaim Jesus to all nations.
00:08:34 --> 00:08:37 So, let me give you two practical ways
00:08:37 --> 00:08:39 for each part of the brief.
00:08:40 --> 00:08:42 Firstly, how do we reach the nations?
00:08:43 --> 00:08:44 The first way that we can do that
00:08:44 --> 00:08:47 is to deepen our existing relationships.
00:08:47 --> 00:08:50 So, I'll give you an example from one of my friends.
00:08:51 --> 00:08:53 He, like me,
00:08:53 --> 00:08:54 we like playing board games,
00:08:55 --> 00:08:58 and we meet once every two or three months to do so.
00:08:59 --> 00:09:00 As a parent with young kids,
00:09:00 --> 00:09:02 I don't get to do this often,
00:09:02 --> 00:09:03 so that's all we can do,
00:09:03 --> 00:09:04 once every two or three months.
00:09:05 --> 00:09:06 He's also a Christian,
00:09:07 --> 00:09:10 and he really wanted to deepen his relationship
00:09:10 --> 00:09:12 with his high school friends
00:09:12 --> 00:09:13 that he hasn't met that much.
00:09:14 --> 00:09:16 So, he organized to play board games
00:09:16 --> 00:09:17 and chat.
00:09:18 --> 00:09:20 He found that this way of playing,
00:09:21 --> 00:09:23 people were much more willing to meet.
00:09:24 --> 00:09:25 He has organized three of these meetings
00:09:25 --> 00:09:26 in the last month already.
00:09:27 --> 00:09:29 And he had time to delve into more
00:09:29 --> 00:09:31 one-to-one relationships after the games.
00:09:33 --> 00:09:34 The example of what he did
00:09:34 --> 00:09:35 is something that we can emulate.
00:09:35 --> 00:09:38 I'll just break it down into steps
00:09:38 --> 00:09:39 so we can sort of think about
00:09:39 --> 00:09:41 how we do that in our own context.
00:09:42 --> 00:09:43 The first thing is,
00:09:43 --> 00:09:44 we need to encourage
00:09:44 --> 00:09:47 our existing physical communities
00:09:47 --> 00:09:49 to keep in touch in virtual communities.
00:09:51 --> 00:09:52 The second thing
00:09:52 --> 00:09:54 is once you form these communities,
00:09:55 --> 00:09:56 be an active participant
00:09:56 --> 00:09:58 and initiate conversations.
00:10:00 --> 00:10:01 And when you're in these conversations,
00:10:01 --> 00:10:02 be genuine and caring.
00:10:04 --> 00:10:05 And work out how they are feeling
00:10:05 --> 00:10:07 and use it as a bridge
00:10:07 --> 00:10:08 to invite people
00:10:08 --> 00:10:10 to our online church
00:10:10 --> 00:10:11 or community groups.
00:10:11 --> 00:10:16 This season of fear and uncertainty
00:10:16 --> 00:10:18 means that people are more willing
00:10:18 --> 00:10:19 to open up.
00:10:21 --> 00:10:22 Somebody at church shared with me
00:10:22 --> 00:10:24 that he felt during the last month
00:10:24 --> 00:10:27 he has much deeper conversations.
00:10:28 --> 00:10:29 He thinks that it would take years
00:10:29 --> 00:10:31 to achieve the same level of death
00:10:31 --> 00:10:33 under the normal circumstances.
00:10:35 --> 00:10:37 The second way that we can reach nations,
00:10:37 --> 00:10:40 besides building deeper relationships,
00:10:40 --> 00:10:41 is to make new ones.
00:10:41 --> 00:10:44 So for a lot of us,
00:10:44 --> 00:10:46 social distancing is quite tough already.
00:10:47 --> 00:10:49 But imagine doing this by yourself,
00:10:50 --> 00:10:50 as a student,
00:10:51 --> 00:10:53 or a worker on a working visa
00:10:53 --> 00:10:54 from overseas.
00:10:55 --> 00:10:57 And they can't return home overseas
00:10:57 --> 00:10:59 because of travel restrictions.
00:11:00 --> 00:11:01 And they have no way
00:11:01 --> 00:11:04 of connecting with their family and friends.
00:11:06 --> 00:11:07 We have a great opportunity
00:11:07 --> 00:11:09 to connect with many people like this.
00:11:09 --> 00:11:13 especially in the area of Chesford.
00:11:15 --> 00:11:17 In this local council area,
00:11:18 --> 00:11:19 just more than half,
00:11:19 --> 00:11:20 50.6% of people,
00:11:22 --> 00:11:22 were born overseas.
00:11:23 --> 00:11:25 The nations have come to Chesford.
00:11:26 --> 00:11:28 And the nations need to know Jesus,
00:11:29 --> 00:11:30 especially in this time.
00:11:30 --> 00:11:33 So I'll show you some ways
00:11:33 --> 00:11:35 that people at this church
00:11:35 --> 00:11:37 have tried to take hold of this opportunity
00:11:37 --> 00:11:40 to connect with people during this time.
00:11:41 --> 00:11:41 So some people,
00:11:42 --> 00:11:43 during their exercise walks,
00:11:44 --> 00:11:46 have been dropping notes to their neighbours,
00:11:47 --> 00:11:49 either the neighbours
00:11:49 --> 00:11:51 or the same people in the apartment complex,
00:11:52 --> 00:11:52 offering help,
00:11:52 --> 00:11:54 like picking up groceries,
00:11:55 --> 00:11:57 offering their number for a friendly chat,
00:11:57 --> 00:11:59 to establish goodwill.
00:12:00 --> 00:12:00 And as a result,
00:12:01 --> 00:12:02 quite a few of them
00:12:02 --> 00:12:03 have gotten to know their neighbours
00:12:03 --> 00:12:03 a bit better.
00:12:05 --> 00:12:06 And others have tried to do this
00:12:06 --> 00:12:07 in quite creative ways.
00:12:08 --> 00:12:08 For example,
00:12:09 --> 00:12:11 they got the kids to play on the driveway
00:12:11 --> 00:12:12 instead of in the backyard,
00:12:13 --> 00:12:14 just to get more chances
00:12:14 --> 00:12:15 to bump into the neighbours.
00:12:17 --> 00:12:19 I encourage you to think of creative ways
00:12:19 --> 00:12:20 that you can do this
00:12:20 --> 00:12:21 in your own context.
00:12:22 --> 00:12:24 For those that are watching the service online,
00:12:24 --> 00:12:26 and are meeting as a group,
00:12:27 --> 00:12:28 why don't you meet after the service
00:12:28 --> 00:12:30 and brainstorm ideas
00:12:30 --> 00:12:32 of how you can make more connections
00:12:32 --> 00:12:34 and make deeper connections as well.
00:12:35 --> 00:12:37 So let's look at the second part of the brief,
00:12:38 --> 00:12:39 which is how to proclaim Jesus.
00:12:40 --> 00:12:43 So it's unlikely that many of us
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 will stand in front of 3 people
00:12:44 --> 00:12:46 like Peter or more
00:12:46 --> 00:12:48 and proclaim Jesus.
00:12:48 --> 00:12:50 But let me suggest two ways
00:12:50 --> 00:12:52 that we can do this in our context.
00:12:52 --> 00:12:55 The first thing that we have already seen,
00:12:56 --> 00:12:56 that we have mentioned,
00:12:57 --> 00:12:58 is to invite people
00:12:58 --> 00:13:00 to our online communities,
00:13:01 --> 00:13:02 both the large ones
00:13:02 --> 00:13:02 like the live streaming
00:13:02 --> 00:13:04 that you are a part of right now,
00:13:04 --> 00:13:05 or the small ones
00:13:05 --> 00:13:07 in our community groups.
00:13:09 --> 00:13:10 So I'll show you why that's important.
00:13:11 --> 00:13:12 In the past,
00:13:13 --> 00:13:14 the typical path
00:13:14 --> 00:13:15 for people to become a Christian
00:13:15 --> 00:13:17 is for them to figure out
00:13:17 --> 00:13:19 what the Bible means
00:13:19 --> 00:13:20 before joining a local church.
00:13:22 --> 00:13:22 Nowadays,
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 quite a few of us
00:13:24 --> 00:13:26 want to see and experience
00:13:26 --> 00:13:27 what things are like
00:13:27 --> 00:13:28 for believing.
00:13:29 --> 00:13:30 Putting it another way,
00:13:31 --> 00:13:32 in the past,
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 a lot of people
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 want to believe
00:13:34 --> 00:13:35 before they belong.
00:13:36 --> 00:13:37 Now it's more likely
00:13:37 --> 00:13:37 the other way around.
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 People want to belong
00:13:39 --> 00:13:40 before they believe.
00:13:41 --> 00:13:42 Now this statement
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43 doesn't only apply
00:13:43 --> 00:13:45 to those that grew up
00:13:45 --> 00:13:46 in the postmodern West,
00:13:47 --> 00:13:48 but it also applies
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 for cultures
00:13:49 --> 00:13:49 that never heard
00:13:49 --> 00:13:50 of the good news of Jesus.
00:13:50 --> 00:13:53 When these people
00:13:53 --> 00:13:56 see and hear
00:13:56 --> 00:13:56 and experience
00:13:56 --> 00:13:57 the good news of Jesus
00:13:57 --> 00:13:58 in action,
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 they would want to work out
00:14:00 --> 00:14:01 what Jesus means
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 for them in real life.
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 I'll give you
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05 an example of this.
00:14:06 --> 00:14:07 A few years ago,
00:14:08 --> 00:14:09 I was talking to
00:14:09 --> 00:14:10 a grandpa
00:14:10 --> 00:14:11 from mainland China
00:14:11 --> 00:14:13 here on a one-year visa
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 because he was here
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 to look after his grandkids.
00:14:15 --> 00:14:17 We went to the same church
00:14:17 --> 00:14:19 and as we were
00:14:19 --> 00:14:20 standing outside,
00:14:21 --> 00:14:22 he noticed
00:14:22 --> 00:14:22 how the kids
00:14:22 --> 00:14:23 were playing.
00:14:24 --> 00:14:24 He said to me,
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26 I can see that
00:14:26 --> 00:14:26 you guys are different.
00:14:28 --> 00:14:28 The kids are taking
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 care of each other
00:14:29 --> 00:14:31 and the parents
00:14:31 --> 00:14:31 were willing
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 to help the kids
00:14:32 --> 00:14:34 and not just
00:14:34 --> 00:14:34 their own kids
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 but other kids
00:14:35 --> 00:14:36 if they needed help.
00:14:37 --> 00:14:39 That was attractive
00:14:39 --> 00:14:40 to this grandpa
00:14:40 --> 00:14:41 so he decided
00:14:41 --> 00:14:42 to hang around
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 this church community
00:14:43 --> 00:14:44 for a while.
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 Can you see that
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 in this example
00:14:47 --> 00:14:49 when a community
00:14:49 --> 00:14:51 even as young as kids
00:14:51 --> 00:14:53 express their repentance
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 turning away
00:14:54 --> 00:14:56 from living for themselves
00:14:56 --> 00:14:58 for caring for each other
00:14:58 --> 00:15:00 it gives us
00:15:00 --> 00:15:02 a living example
00:15:02 --> 00:15:02 of repentance
00:15:02 --> 00:15:04 and the opportunity
00:15:04 --> 00:15:05 to speak about
00:15:05 --> 00:15:06 the message of Jesus.
00:15:06 --> 00:15:09 Even though we can't
00:15:09 --> 00:15:09 meet in person
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 right now,
00:15:11 --> 00:15:11 we can invite people
00:15:11 --> 00:15:13 to online communities
00:15:13 --> 00:15:15 and there are some
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 unexpected advantages
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 for us to do this.
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 Well,
00:15:19 --> 00:15:20 when people can
00:15:20 --> 00:15:22 live stream church
00:15:22 --> 00:15:23 at home,
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 they don't have to worry
00:15:25 --> 00:15:25 about fitting in.
00:15:26 --> 00:15:26 They can do it
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 from the comfort
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 of their own home
00:15:28 --> 00:15:30 and it's not that far
00:15:30 --> 00:15:30 to,
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 it's right here at home
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 so it's not far
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 for you to go to church.
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 And the best thing is
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 people are opting
00:15:38 --> 00:15:38 into church.
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 They can opt in
00:15:40 --> 00:15:42 as their own accord
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 and watch this
00:15:43 --> 00:15:43 and work out
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 what Jesus means for them.
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 The thing is
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 the way that we
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 express community
00:15:49 --> 00:15:49 right now,
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 whether we are warm
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 and inviting,
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 impacts the way
00:15:54 --> 00:15:54 we meet together
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 when we do
00:15:55 --> 00:15:55 come back together.
00:15:57 --> 00:15:59 So my first challenge
00:15:59 --> 00:15:59 for you is
00:15:59 --> 00:16:01 are you willing
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 to invite people
00:16:02 --> 00:16:02 to community?
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 An easy way
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 for you to do that
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 is just to post
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 the live stream links
00:16:07 --> 00:16:09 every week
00:16:09 --> 00:16:09 for church
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 on Sunday
00:16:10 --> 00:16:12 and work out
00:16:12 --> 00:16:12 how to do
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 a personal invite
00:16:13 --> 00:16:15 for your community groups.
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 The second way
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 that we can proclaim Jesus
00:16:18 --> 00:16:20 is to use our stories.
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 When people see
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 the experiences
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 of our repentance
00:16:26 --> 00:16:26 and forgiveness,
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 not just the facts
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 of what Jesus did
00:16:29 --> 00:16:31 and not just
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 how you were converted,
00:16:32 --> 00:16:34 but how you experience
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 it every day
00:16:35 --> 00:16:37 is a concrete example
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 for people to see.
00:16:39 --> 00:16:39 So I'll give you
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 a second challenge
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 of how to do that.
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 I'll film myself
00:16:43 --> 00:16:45 sharing a story
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 of how I turned
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 to Jesus
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 and how it's
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 impacted my life.
00:16:50 --> 00:16:50 And I would like
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 to invite you
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 to take up
00:16:52 --> 00:16:52 the same challenge.
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 Record a video
00:16:54 --> 00:16:54 of yourself,
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 tell others
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 how the good news
00:16:57 --> 00:16:57 of Jesus
00:16:57 --> 00:16:59 has impacted you
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 and posted
00:17:00 --> 00:17:00 on social media.
00:17:02 --> 00:17:02 Remember,
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 we can share
00:17:04 --> 00:17:04 both our successes
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 and failures.
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 When we are genuine,
00:17:08 --> 00:17:08 others can see
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 that the impact
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 of Jesus has on us.
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 It's actually,
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 especially in our failures,
00:17:14 --> 00:17:14 that people can see
00:17:14 --> 00:17:16 how repentance
00:17:16 --> 00:17:16 and forgiveness
00:17:16 --> 00:17:18 is about in action.
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 So as we come
00:17:21 --> 00:17:21 to a close,
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 I would like to think
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 of us to think
00:17:24 --> 00:17:24 of church
00:17:24 --> 00:17:26 in the form
00:17:26 --> 00:17:26 of a meme.
00:17:27 --> 00:17:27 So what would
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 we be like
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 at the end
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 of social distancing?
00:17:32 --> 00:17:32 Imagine a church
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 that takes
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 the task
00:17:34 --> 00:17:34 of reaching
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 the nation seriously.
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 Imagine a church
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 where every regular
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 member
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 has built
00:17:41 --> 00:17:43 five deeper
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 or new relationships
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 with those
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 in our community.
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 Imagine a church
00:17:49 --> 00:17:49 that takes
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 proclamation seriously,
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 that invites people
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 to our church
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 and community groups,
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 and is ready
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 to share
00:17:57 --> 00:17:57 the good news
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 of Jesus
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 in their stories
00:17:59 --> 00:17:59 of how Jesus
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 has impacted them.
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 Wouldn't that be
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 a change worth
00:18:03 --> 00:18:03 aiming for?
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 So what I would
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 like to do now
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 is for us
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 to have 15 seconds
00:18:08 --> 00:18:10 to jot down
00:18:10 --> 00:18:10 what you want
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 to change
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 and James
00:18:12 --> 00:18:12 will lead us
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 in prayer
00:18:13 --> 00:18:13 after this time.
00:18:13 --> 00:18:25 with the law
00:18:25 --> 00:18:27 to bring us
00:18:27 --> 00:18:27 into that
00:18:27 --> 00:18:32 and
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 in their
00:18:33 --> 00:18:33 infirmed