WEBVTT
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Hello everyone.
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My name is Aidan.
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Um I was invited to this room from good friends Manny in Brooklyn and have been attending for close to a year now.
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Uh our scripture today is Luke 5, 1 through 11.
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One day as Jesus was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God.
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He saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen who were washing their nets.
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He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore.
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Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.
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When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, Put out into deep water and let down the nets for a catch.
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Simon answered, Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything, but because you say so, I will let down the nets.
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When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.
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So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
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When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, Go away from me, Lord, I am a sinful man.
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For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of the fish they had taken, and so were James and James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners.
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When Jesus said to Simon, then Jesus said to Simon, Don't be afraid, from now on you will fish for people.
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So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything, and followed him.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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Thank you.
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Thank you, Aiden.
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It is so good to see you all.
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Just uh fun to be here.
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Um I didn't put this quite where I wanted it.
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That's my fault.
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All right.
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Well, if you're new, welcome.
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My name is Isaac.
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I'm the lead pastor here at the Intersections Church.
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Really glad you're all here.
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And let me hit this button correctly.
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Um it's a good day.
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We uh, because of the age of my kids and the age of my friends, uh, what's happening in our life is a lot of my kids' friends are going off to college, and a lot of my friends' kids are going off to college.
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Does that make sense?
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Hopefully you're with me on that.
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And so we, over the last month or so, many of them have gone off to college, many for the first time.
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Others, it's a re-entry into that.
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And we celebrate them, we honor them.
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Uh, Eastern and the community colleges finally started this week.
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It feels like eternity.
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The WSU students have been gone for months now, it seems like.
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And so there's there's just something that the college experience is a part of my just normal conversations because the age of life I'm in.
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And then when these kids make the decision to attend a university, a regular question we ask is are they committed?
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Are they committed?
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Have they committed to that college?
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And it's an interesting way to phrase it.
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And what they mean we mean by that is, is the paperwork in?
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Have they finalized everything?
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Is it official?
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You know, kids understandably have a lot of options as they're trying to navigate out of high school, trade school, universities, massive decision.
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And so they can change their mind.
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And so when we say have they committed, is it are they for sure?
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Definitely paperwork is in, they're going to that particular school or university or situation.
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So when they make that, the fall finally rolls around, and off the students go to the place of their commitment.
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So they go, what their commitment determines where they go.
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Their commitment determines where they end up.
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WSU, Idaho, Central, wherever that is.
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Uh the community colleges.
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And over the past few weeks, what we've been looking at is the life of Peter.
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He was a fisherman named Simon who was changed by Jesus to a person named Peter, which means the rock.
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He became a rock, and we've looked at how in Revelation it says he was a pillar.
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And we can be, like Peter, transformed into a pillar.
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What we notice, though, is that he he had to have a commitment to start that journey.
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So that's what we're talking about today.
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A couple weeks ago, we talked about his first day.
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You could call it day one, day of encounter, where Peter, then Simon, meets Jesus for the first time.
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He has an encounter.
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There's a couple exchanges happen.
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Jesus says, Your name is no longer Simon, but it's Peter.
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And so he starts the transformation process.
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That's that first day, day of encounter.
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Today we want to talk about the second day of Peter, which is the day of commitment.
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It's a second significant day, day of commitment, commitment day.
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Where Peter had to decide what's he gonna do?
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Where is he gonna go?
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Well, this passage is uh that we just had Aiden read for us.
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Thank you, Aiden, for being so brave to come up here on stage.
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Some of you guys keep shooting me down, and I am not deterred.
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I you will, you will be up here.
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Um but no, we're great, we're grateful for that for your participation.
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But we just had this passage read where uh Peter has met Jesus again on this day of commitment.
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So what happens is we're in the middle of a story.
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Weeks prior, Jesus and Peter had met for the first time.
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And then Jesus leaves for 40 days.
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He goes out in the wilderness where he fasts and he's by himself, and then he comes back to the community, he moves to the city along the Sea of Galilee called Capernaum, he sets up camp there, and he begins to teach.
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And people start following him, and he kind of begins to collect a following.
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Peter is along the seashore, he's a fisherman, so I'm sure at this point that he has interacted with Jesus, he's probably heard many sermons by Jesus, but we just don't know much about him.
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So we're taught multiple weeks have gone through, a couple of months of Jesus and Peter's first encounter.
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And this is our story.
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And so, Peter, he's a fisherman, he's minding his own business, he's cast, he's fixing his nets, we're told.
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He's trying to earn a living for his family.
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And Peter is offered an opportunity which will change the course of his life.
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And Luke puts this story in the account of Jesus so we can learn about Peter, but also the lessons we can apply and learn.
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And we can be begin the process of becoming pillars in the temple of God.
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We want to be people who can be looked to for sources of strength in a world which is very unstable.
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And so we want to we're learning from Peter here.
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And we can note that Peter was not yet following Jesus.
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Catch this.
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He's doing his own thing.
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He'd met Jesus, he'd spoken to him, he'd listened to him, but he's not yet a follower.
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And so my first observation today is that Jesus invites Peter at a pace Peter can accept.
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Jesus invites Peter at a pace Peter can accept.
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So again, Jesus meets him, he speaks to him, meaningful, meaningful moments, but that's about it.
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Jesus isn't in his face telling him, You will follow me.
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He's not, there's none of that, it's just kind of a normal interaction.
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And then Jesus one day says, Hey Peter, I'm teaching.
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The acoustics are better as I preach along the shore.
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Do you mind if I get in your boat, pull back a little bit, and just do my teaching from there?
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A really easy ask in the story.
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And Peter's like, go for it, do your thing.
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I'll read it together.
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Peter doesn't have to get involved.
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He's just sitting there doing his thing, right?
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Here's that verse one and two and three.
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On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing, he, meaning Jesus, was standing by the lake of Gennesareth and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets.
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Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land and he sat down and taught the people.
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Very easy ask.
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Peter, can I just borrow your boat to sit in?
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Great, no problem.
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And I was thinking about this, I started to chuckle as I read through the story because it's just a baby step.
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Peter, can I use your boat?
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Sure.
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Do you mind if we just push out a little bit?
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Knock yourself out, Jesus.
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Do your thing.
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Uh hey, do you mind if we just go out a little further into fishing?
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And then Peter, you know, we'll get to the story a little bit more, but it's just baby step, baby step, baby step, baby.
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And then all of a sudden it's, Jesus, what did you do?
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We're going to die.
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And I thought that was funny because many of us have experienced that.
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Well, sure, Jesus, I'll do that.
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I'll sure I'll help.
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Sure, I'll help.
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Yeah, sure.
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You need help in the kids' ministry, sure.
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I'm now in here, and five babies in this nursery need their diapers changed now.
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Where is Jesus?
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You know, you've experienced that process of what is going on.
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And I love how Jesus just goes pace, pace, pace.
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And then there's a recognition there of we are out of control.
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Has anyone experienced that where step, step, step, Jesus, I need your help.
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Has anybody experienced that besides me?
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I see a couple hands.
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I'd like to welcome those of you who are attentive this morning.
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I'm really glad that you're here.
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Others of you, life can get out of control.
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How about this?
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Has anybody ever experienced being out of control?
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Your life is a little out of control.
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I can live there all the time where you're just going, I don't know what's going on.
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This is what Peter is experiencing.
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In this story, he experiences his life is out of control.
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It's step, step, step, yes, Jesus, yes, Jesus, yes, Jesus, Jesus, help.
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And so there's a reason for this.
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There's a reason for this.
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And the reason is these steps of invitation are steps of revelation.
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These steps of invitation are steps of revelation.
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What I mean by that is Jesus exposes in these steps of invitation of who's in control.
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If you won't even let Jesus get in your boat, that says something like, no way, I want no part of this guy.
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If you say yes, it's just once once, yeah, sure.
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Use my use my boat.
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Yeah, okay, yes, Jesus.
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And there what happens is it's a process where we begin to decide who is in control of our life.
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This is what Jesus does for all of us.
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We see whether I am in control or is it God?
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So when we're when we're living out of control, hopefully what we're recognizing is I am in desperate need of somebody greater than me.
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Many of us think, no, no, I got this, I'm gonna be fine, and we keep holding on more and more, and we our lives begin to crack and break, and we just think, no, it's somebody else's fault.
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Uh but when we're attentive to what's going on in the world around us, we realize our need for somebody greater than us.
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And this is what Peter begins to discover.
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And what we learn is that we cannot control others.
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We realize we cannot control the situation, we cannot control the doctor's report, we cannot control our boss's attitude, we cannot control our children calling us back.
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We try really hard.
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We can't control that.
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But when we things are out of control, we can notice our need for Jesus.
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And as I'm looking at this, I'm reminded of Psalm 91, where he says in verse 11 and 12, for he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways, so they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
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And the image here is one of us falling, where we are falling.
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And the angels we're told are prepared to catch us.
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And I like this because he's not saying, if you stumble, the reality is we will stumble.
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We will have our lives out of control.
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When we fall, we are out of control.
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And in those moments, there is God still prepared to catch us, to keep us safe, even when it seems dangerous.
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We will experience times when life is dangerous, but we are in the safest possible place when we are saying, Jesus, I trust you.
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It seems out of control.
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I seem like this world is chaotic and nothing is going the way I expected.
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The safest place to be is when we say yes to Jesus.
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And this is what will help we see here with Peter here.
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What's interesting here is that if you feel out of control, what I notice about Jesus is that Jesus is not out of control.
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When the boats are filled, we'll talk about this a little bit more in a few minutes, but the boats are so full of fish that they start to sink.
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They are panicking.
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And Jesus is not stressed at all.
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He's just hanging out.
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Some of you may be wanting him while you're out of control, you're frustrated, you're discouraged, you may want to take Jesus and say, Jesus, this is very serious.
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Get it together.
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And Jesus is just relaxed.
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I think it's annoying when somebody or me, if I'm freaking out, if I am just panicking, and there is somebody next to me who is very unpanicked.
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No, this is serious.
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You're not taking this situation serious enough.
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I need you to match my level of panic here.
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Does anyone else feel that way?
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We need we want people to panic when we're panicking.
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And here's Jesus, just relaxed while the boats are sinking.
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I actually, as I'm reading through this, I imagine Jesus laughing at this situation.
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He's like, ha, I got them on this one.
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Their boats are sinking.
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He's having a great time laughing at them.
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They're panicking, freaking out.
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Come help.
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Our boats are sinking.
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And Jesus is just smiling, totally unpanicked, relaxed.
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Why?
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Well, Jesus is so calm.
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Is it because Jesus doesn't care?
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No.
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No.
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It's because Jesus knows who's in control.
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He has the fish, the wind, the waves obey him.
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He is completely at rest.
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He's not panicked at all.
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And I wonder if so many of us are stressed and panicked and frustrated because we have forgotten who is in control.
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He's the one alongside us.
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He's the one who asked us to throw out our nets.
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He's the one who's asked us to do these things.
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And now we're going, what are we even going to do?
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And Jesus says, I got it.
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This is fun.
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Look what's going to happen here.
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I wonder if we've just forgotten who is in control.
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So here's what I want us to do.
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This isn't a normal thing, if you're new to us this morning, this is not a normal thing I'm going to ask you to do.
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Maybe it should be, I don't know.
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But some of us are just panicked right now.
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We're frustrated.
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What I'm going to ask you to do is just take a deep breath and relax.
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Just all together, we're just going to take a deep breath.
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Will you join me in taking a deep breath?
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Ready?
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That's the first deep breath some of you have taken in a long time.
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We're going to do it again.
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Just remind yourself while you're breathing it in, remind yourself that Jesus is our, the Holy Spirit is our breath.
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So we're going to breathe in and remember that Jesus is in control.
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Will you do it one more time with me?
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And we're reminded that Jesus is in control.
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He's got this.
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You don't have to be anxious.
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Jesus is the one who's in control.
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Peter, he's in proximity to this guy.
00:16:39.279 --> 00:16:41.279
He hasn't begun to follow him.
00:16:41.679 --> 00:16:42.799
He's hanging around.
00:16:42.960 --> 00:16:44.879
He's listened to a few messages.
00:16:45.519 --> 00:16:49.600
Some of you have listened to 40, 50 years worth of messages.
00:16:49.919 --> 00:16:55.039
You know what it means to be in proximity of Jesus, to have people talk about him.
00:16:55.279 --> 00:16:58.000
Maybe you're like Peter, you've participated in a couple of things.
00:16:58.080 --> 00:16:59.679
You've done some Jesus-y things.
00:16:59.759 --> 00:17:01.519
You come to church occasionally.
00:17:01.759 --> 00:17:03.679
You showed up at the Easter egg hunt.
00:17:03.840 --> 00:17:07.440
You've greeted at the door a time or two when we've been desperate for a greeter.
00:17:08.720 --> 00:17:10.160
And this is what Peter is doing.
00:17:10.240 --> 00:17:12.240
He's just nearby helping out.
00:17:14.079 --> 00:17:16.160
Until this day.
00:17:17.039 --> 00:17:18.319
This day of commitment.
00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:22.480
Many of us in this room have had this day of commitment.
00:17:23.680 --> 00:17:25.279
If not, maybe today is.
00:17:25.519 --> 00:17:29.119
Maybe, maybe today is your day of re-commitment.
00:17:30.079 --> 00:17:38.880
You've just been Jesus doing Jesus-y things and participating and near people who know Jesus, but you haven't committed.
00:17:39.039 --> 00:17:41.200
And we're going to talk about that in just a moment.
00:17:41.759 --> 00:17:50.319
But here's what I want you to think about is that Jesus, I think this morning, Jesus is inviting us to next steps of that commitment.
00:17:50.720 --> 00:17:54.079
Now, what's interesting is Jesus is at the lake.
00:17:54.160 --> 00:17:55.119
He's going fishing.
00:17:55.279 --> 00:17:58.960
This sounds like a great day, a day at the lake going fishing.
00:17:59.119 --> 00:18:06.160
However, what I want us to notice is that when we commit our lives to Jesus, not every day is a day at the lake.
00:18:06.720 --> 00:18:10.400
There are, number two, inconvenient costs.
00:18:10.559 --> 00:18:12.960
There are inconvenient costs when we follow Jesus.
00:18:13.119 --> 00:18:15.359
Here's verses 7, 4 through 7.
00:18:15.599 --> 00:18:17.599
Imagine yourself in Peter's situation.
00:18:17.680 --> 00:18:18.559
He's been out all night.
00:18:18.720 --> 00:18:21.920
Use your imaginations as I read read this passage again.
00:18:22.240 --> 00:18:28.480
And when Jesus had finished speaking, he said to Simon, Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.
00:18:28.640 --> 00:18:34.160
And Simon answered, Master, we toiled all night and took nothing.
00:18:34.799 --> 00:18:36.960
But at your word I will let down the nets.
00:18:37.119 --> 00:18:42.720
And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking.
00:18:42.960 --> 00:18:50.079
They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both the boats so that they began to sink.
00:18:50.319 --> 00:18:57.039
Now the start of the story just kills me because I know for sure what I would be thinking if Jesus asked me to do this.
00:18:57.920 --> 00:19:05.359
If I had been working like Peter up all night, if I would have been up all night, I'm already annoyed.
00:19:05.519 --> 00:19:09.440
I'm already really upset about how my day is going.
00:19:09.759 --> 00:19:13.039
Then keep in mind they caught nothing.
00:19:13.440 --> 00:19:13.920
Nothing.
00:19:14.079 --> 00:19:17.039
Peter has nothing to provide for his family.
00:19:17.200 --> 00:19:19.759
He has nothing to go home and cook for breakfast.
00:19:20.000 --> 00:19:24.559
He is coming back empty-handed, discouraged, frustrated.
00:19:24.799 --> 00:19:25.519
I am at this.
00:19:25.759 --> 00:19:33.680
If I'm Peter, I am super annoyed that Jesus is saying, hey, can we just go back out for a quick try again?
00:19:33.839 --> 00:19:36.000
I'm just not interested in this at all.
00:19:36.160 --> 00:19:40.799
I'm just trying to get mend my nets, do my thing, get back to work.
00:19:41.200 --> 00:19:42.079
I was thinking about this.
00:19:42.160 --> 00:19:48.880
Have any of you walked into a coffee shop or a restaurant with 10, maybe five minutes to go before closing?
00:19:49.119 --> 00:19:49.920
You walk in.
00:19:50.160 --> 00:19:52.160
Do those people greet you with a happy smile?
00:19:52.400 --> 00:19:54.240
We're glad you're here.
00:19:54.799 --> 00:19:55.680
Come in.
00:19:55.920 --> 00:19:57.759
How big can we make your meal?
00:19:58.000 --> 00:19:58.640
No, no.
00:19:58.880 --> 00:20:00.160
They're annoyed.
00:20:00.480 --> 00:20:01.440
I know we get it.
00:20:01.519 --> 00:20:02.319
We would be too.
00:20:02.400 --> 00:20:03.680
And this is much worse.
00:20:03.839 --> 00:20:05.839
This is much worse situation.
00:20:06.559 --> 00:20:19.279
And so, Jesus, what I what can I just tell you that Jesus often, usually even, calls us when we are right in the middle of something.
00:20:19.759 --> 00:20:25.279
Now, his timing I mentioned a few minutes ago is just perfect, where he's constantly, he just goes at a good pace.
00:20:25.599 --> 00:20:39.519
But also true, he calls us at the worst time, when we are involved in something, when I'm at my busiest, when I have something to do, he asks me to do something for him.
00:20:40.079 --> 00:20:48.079
Right when I am distracted and up to my ears in something, is when I feel like Jesus says, Isaac, I really have something I'd really like for you to do.
00:20:48.319 --> 00:20:50.319
It's never when I'm bored.
00:20:50.799 --> 00:20:59.039
It's never when I'm just sitting around watching football, saying, you know, Jesus, now would be a great time for me to do something that you want.
00:20:59.119 --> 00:21:00.319
Have you noticed this?
00:21:00.559 --> 00:21:04.640
That Jesus calls us at the most inconvenient times.
00:21:04.799 --> 00:21:10.799
And what he also does is he also zeroes in right on that thing that we just have an issue with.
00:21:11.039 --> 00:21:18.960
So Peter, there's had to have been something with Peter and late night, not not having fish available, not being able to go home.
00:21:19.200 --> 00:21:23.519
And he zeroes right in on that one thing that would probably just set Peter off.
00:21:24.559 --> 00:21:26.400
It may be for you, maybe it's your money.
00:21:26.480 --> 00:21:27.920
Jesus asks you to do something.
00:21:28.000 --> 00:21:33.839
You've been trying to save for something, you have some ideas of a new car or a great vacation, or you need to re-roof or whatever.
00:21:34.319 --> 00:21:35.119
Roofing.
00:21:35.359 --> 00:21:37.039
Have you guys looked into this?
00:21:38.000 --> 00:21:39.119
What is the deal?
00:21:39.359 --> 00:21:50.880
Anyway, um, you just you've been saving, and all of a sudden something happens, and you say, God, you're asking me to give here, and I just would rather not.
00:21:51.599 --> 00:21:59.519
He zeroes in on that thing that just captures maybe again, maybe it's your home, maybe it's your time, maybe it's your reputation.
00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:07.279
And he asks us right in something that we just realize who's in control.
00:22:08.240 --> 00:22:10.400
Who's in control of this situation?
00:22:12.720 --> 00:22:17.039
And what he does, he's he he says, just just cast your net, just give it a try.
00:22:17.440 --> 00:22:20.960
Maybe for you, what he's asking you to do is call a friend back.
00:22:21.920 --> 00:22:24.160
You just would rather not.
00:22:24.240 --> 00:22:31.519
Or maybe you're uh somebody needs a ride, or to volunteer at a food bank, or attend a small group.
00:22:32.640 --> 00:22:34.799
Um here's one that I was thinking of.
00:22:34.960 --> 00:22:40.000
For some of you, maybe what is inconvenient is for you to not be in charge of something.
00:22:40.240 --> 00:22:45.200
For you to say, sure, you do it, and I'm gonna sit here and like it.
00:22:45.680 --> 00:22:52.720
What is it that just he's zeroing in on and saying, I'm gonna ask you to just sit tight here.
00:22:53.119 --> 00:22:55.599
Um, what's what's happening in these situations?
00:22:55.680 --> 00:22:56.960
It's our inconvenience.
00:22:57.039 --> 00:22:57.839
What's happening?
00:22:58.079 --> 00:23:00.240
Well, here's the problem.
00:23:00.400 --> 00:23:01.920
Uh stay with me for half a second.
00:23:02.079 --> 00:23:04.799
I think part of the problem is I'm reminded of a story.
00:23:05.039 --> 00:23:10.400
When Katie and I were uh newly married, we didn't have any kids yet, we're living in Eugene, Oregon.
00:23:10.559 --> 00:23:19.839
We took a day trip to the Oregon coast, and I remember a little tourist stop shop was selling some napkins.
00:23:20.000 --> 00:23:22.880
And the napkins said something I'll never forget.
00:23:23.119 --> 00:23:29.279
The napkins said, if you are what you eat, I'm cheap, fast, and easy.
00:23:31.039 --> 00:23:34.240
And uh that's what we want our life to be.
00:23:34.480 --> 00:23:37.279
We want our life to be cheap, fast, and easy.
00:23:37.440 --> 00:23:46.640
We want it to be comfortable, we want it to be convenient, we want DoorDash brought to our doorstep, and boom, I'm a disciple.
00:23:47.119 --> 00:23:48.160
That's what we want.
00:23:48.319 --> 00:23:50.000
We want it very comfortable.
00:23:50.960 --> 00:23:55.279
This is not the way Peter was formed.
00:23:56.079 --> 00:24:00.000
This is not the way pillars are formed.
00:24:00.559 --> 00:24:10.880
We are formed through pressure, through being tasked in inconvenient times, where we're being exposed of am I in control, or am I gonna let God be in control?
00:24:11.279 --> 00:24:16.640
This is what these places of formation where God shapes and molds us.
00:24:17.119 --> 00:24:19.359
And it's not comfortable.
00:24:20.160 --> 00:24:22.880
We want it cheap, fast, and easy.
00:24:23.039 --> 00:24:28.799
There's a 20th-century theologian, uh martyr, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, you might have heard of him.
00:24:29.039 --> 00:24:32.559
Um he has a term called cheap grace.
00:24:32.799 --> 00:24:33.440
Cheap grace.
00:24:33.519 --> 00:24:36.079
That's well, I'm gonna read to you what he defines as cheap grace.
00:24:36.240 --> 00:24:38.240
Listen to what he says about cheap grace.
00:24:38.480 --> 00:24:40.079
And think about our world today.
00:24:40.240 --> 00:24:45.440
This is 1940, 1940-ish, is when he writes this.
00:24:45.599 --> 00:24:52.240
He says this cheap grace is not the kind of forgiveness of sin which frees us from the toils of sin.
00:24:52.480 --> 00:24:55.440
Cheap grace is what we bestow on ourselves.
00:24:55.680 --> 00:25:05.440
Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, communion without confession, absolution without confession.
00:25:05.680 --> 00:25:12.319
Cheap grace is grace without discipline, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.
00:25:12.559 --> 00:25:21.039
That's what our society really wants, is just cheap grace, where you can tell me how awesome I am and it costs me nothing.
00:25:23.440 --> 00:25:24.640
That's the current world.
00:25:24.799 --> 00:25:26.880
This is what Bonhoeffer says we actually need.
00:25:27.039 --> 00:25:28.559
He calls it costly grace.
00:25:28.720 --> 00:25:37.519
He says, costly grace is the pearl of great price to buy, which the merchant will sell all his goods.
00:25:38.240 --> 00:25:44.079
It's the kingly rule of Christ, for whose sake a man will pluck out the eye which causes him to stumble.
00:25:44.319 --> 00:25:50.720
It is the call of Jesus Christ at which the disciple leaves his nets and follows him.
00:25:51.279 --> 00:25:56.640
It's the call, costly grace is the thing that says, I'm gonna get all that I have.
00:25:56.799 --> 00:26:01.200
I'll give all my money, I'll give all my time, I'll give all my emotion, my resources.
00:26:01.359 --> 00:26:02.400
Jesus, you can have it all.
00:26:02.559 --> 00:26:04.799
I will leave everything for you.
00:26:04.960 --> 00:26:06.960
This is incredibly inconvenient.
00:26:07.119 --> 00:26:08.880
It is incredibly costly.
00:26:08.960 --> 00:26:10.799
And we see this in the story of Peter.
00:26:10.960 --> 00:26:12.240
This is what he did.
00:26:14.000 --> 00:26:19.039
What might Jesus be asking you to do today that is inconvenient?
00:26:20.319 --> 00:26:21.920
What's costly?
00:26:22.640 --> 00:26:38.480
Several years ago, I attended a memorial service for a good and faithful pastor, and at one point in one of the service, one of the during the service, one of his children got up on stage and said that this pastor every morning would read his Bible before he would open the newspaper.
00:26:38.640 --> 00:26:43.680
And the reason he did this is because he wanted good news before bad news.
00:26:44.079 --> 00:27:03.519
And that term caught me because I love to get up in the morning and while I'm getting ready for the day, drinking my coffee, all the things, you know, I will open up my phone, I'll check ESPN, I will check the news, I'll check all the social media things, and if I have times, I'll crack open the Bible.
00:27:03.920 --> 00:27:10.000
And it caught me because I was putting in bad news before good news, and I thought about this idea of what is what's costly?
00:27:10.160 --> 00:27:12.240
Well, I would rather read the bad news.
00:27:12.400 --> 00:27:13.599
It's more exciting.
00:27:14.480 --> 00:27:19.279
I get a bit of a dopamine hit of wow, look at all the chaos going on in our world.
00:27:19.440 --> 00:27:27.519
There's I get by checking social media, I can get all the excitement and keep scrolling, and there is something intoxicating about that.
00:27:27.839 --> 00:27:33.839
But there is something inconvenient and costly about sitting down and reading scripture and saying, God, show me where I am.
00:27:34.000 --> 00:27:38.880
Sitting, there's something costly about sitting before God saying, God, where do I need to be today?
00:27:38.960 --> 00:27:40.240
What are you speaking to me?
00:27:40.480 --> 00:27:42.480
It's inconvenient, it's costly.
00:27:42.720 --> 00:27:53.039
And so for me, when I think of what's inconvenient, every morning, every morning, I wake up and think, good news before bad news or bad news before good news.
00:27:53.759 --> 00:27:55.599
Then I have a decision to make.
00:27:55.920 --> 00:27:58.960
That's what I wrestle with every morning.
00:27:59.440 --> 00:28:02.240
And so I don't know what might be inconvenient for you.
00:28:02.480 --> 00:28:03.200
Fasting.
00:28:03.440 --> 00:28:05.920
Fasting is terribly inconvenient.
00:28:06.480 --> 00:28:07.839
And yet it does something to us.
00:28:08.240 --> 00:28:09.279
Sabbath keeping.
00:28:09.440 --> 00:28:10.079
How about this?
00:28:10.160 --> 00:28:16.720
How about what might be inconvenient for you is paying attention to your spouse, even when the football game is on?
00:28:17.039 --> 00:28:19.119
Katie, no promises today.
00:28:19.359 --> 00:28:23.519
But she's she's smiling, I think.
00:28:23.920 --> 00:28:27.359
Um but maybe paying attention to your spouse.
00:28:27.440 --> 00:28:28.240
That's inconvenient.
00:28:28.319 --> 00:28:32.559
But the way we treat those around us is also how we interact with God.
00:28:32.799 --> 00:28:35.359
Maybe it's uh forgiving.
00:28:35.599 --> 00:28:37.359
Maybe it's taking out the trash.
00:28:37.599 --> 00:28:39.119
See, these are things that are costly.
00:28:39.200 --> 00:28:41.359
It takes us time, things we'd rather not do.
00:28:41.519 --> 00:28:45.039
Maybe it's saying no to something you really want to do.
00:28:46.559 --> 00:28:48.960
Because your spouse wants your help with something else.
00:28:49.279 --> 00:28:51.759
See, following Jesus costs us our life.
00:28:51.920 --> 00:28:53.440
He asks for everything.
00:28:54.000 --> 00:29:05.359
And I love, I love Peter's response to this because I feel like I would be, I wouldn't have the courage to say what Peter said, but I feel like Peter is expressing kind of what he what I said here.
00:29:05.519 --> 00:29:10.240
Uh I like it because I don't see Peter saying, Yes, Lord, I'm going out.
00:29:10.400 --> 00:29:11.119
Let's do it.
00:29:11.279 --> 00:29:12.640
Let's conquer the world.
00:29:12.799 --> 00:29:14.799
I will absolutely throw out my nets for you.
00:29:14.960 --> 00:29:15.759
He doesn't say that.
00:29:16.000 --> 00:29:22.720
He says, uh, Master, um, we were out there just a few minutes ago and it didn't go well.
00:29:22.960 --> 00:29:26.000
Uh I don't know if you know anything about fishing, but now it's daytime.
00:29:26.160 --> 00:29:27.680
The fish are at the bottom.
00:29:27.839 --> 00:29:29.039
This is just a terrible idea.
00:29:29.200 --> 00:29:32.240
He says, Masters, we toiled all night and took nothing.
00:29:33.119 --> 00:29:35.279
This is just a bad idea.
00:29:35.599 --> 00:29:36.799
This doesn't work.
00:29:36.960 --> 00:29:39.759
This isn't how fishing works, Jesus.
00:29:40.000 --> 00:29:43.680
He says, but I'll do it.
00:29:43.839 --> 00:29:44.400
I love this.
00:29:44.480 --> 00:29:46.319
He's saying, God, we caught nothing, Jesus, we caught nothing.
00:29:46.400 --> 00:29:47.519
I'd rather go to bed.
00:29:47.839 --> 00:29:52.000
But, but, and I like how the NIV phrases his response here.
00:29:52.160 --> 00:29:54.799
If you catch nothing else today, catch this phrase.
00:29:54.960 --> 00:30:00.960
And we're gonna say it several times here, but he says this because you say so, I will.
00:30:02.799 --> 00:30:05.920
Because you say so, I will.
00:30:08.400 --> 00:30:11.920
Because you say so, I will.
00:30:12.400 --> 00:30:16.799
And what Peter does here, he has a faithful response.
00:30:16.960 --> 00:30:20.559
And I realize on my notes, number three, faithful or faithful obedience.
00:30:20.720 --> 00:30:29.039
In my notes, I didn't spell faithful correctly, but the idea is because I want us to be full of the faith we have available.
00:30:29.359 --> 00:30:32.720
Full of what is available in our faith in that moment.
00:30:32.880 --> 00:30:33.839
And it's obedient.
00:30:33.920 --> 00:30:38.400
And I call it obedience because Peter shows us what our invitation is.
00:30:38.720 --> 00:30:45.519
Belief only becomes real when it is accompanied with obedience.
00:30:45.839 --> 00:30:54.319
See, if we do not have our body doing what we believe, that's not belief.
00:30:54.640 --> 00:30:59.599
Our body must be active for it to be faith.
00:30:59.759 --> 00:31:01.519
That's just the way it is.
00:31:01.759 --> 00:31:05.279
And so if there is no obedience, there is no belief.
00:31:05.519 --> 00:31:09.440
Obedience and belief must go together.
00:31:10.240 --> 00:31:14.880
If we say we believe in Jesus and do not do what he says, we haven't actually believed.
00:31:15.039 --> 00:31:16.720
We've split that in America.
00:31:16.880 --> 00:31:19.119
We've split obedience and faith.
00:31:19.359 --> 00:31:22.079
But that's not how the word is.
00:31:22.480 --> 00:31:25.200
So we talk all the time about what is belief?
00:31:25.599 --> 00:31:28.640
Belief and faith in the Greek is the same word.
00:31:28.960 --> 00:31:32.559
It's the word pistos, which is an interesting word to say.
00:31:32.799 --> 00:31:35.839
Um, and so it's pistos, Greek.
00:31:35.920 --> 00:31:38.160
It's it's faith, belief, all in one.
00:31:38.559 --> 00:31:41.279
Your body participates in that.
00:31:42.160 --> 00:31:46.640
Peter is not a man full of confidence yet of what Jesus is doing.
00:31:46.720 --> 00:31:48.480
So he's not saying, I'm all in.
00:31:48.559 --> 00:31:49.599
I said that already, right?
00:31:49.759 --> 00:31:54.880
He but he has enough faith to say, all right, I'm gonna give this a try.
00:31:55.039 --> 00:31:57.440
I'm gonna just take one more step.
00:31:57.759 --> 00:32:01.200
He was full, he had the amount of faith he had on that day.
00:32:01.359 --> 00:32:07.759
He was, he used all of the faith he had, and he said, If you say so, I will.
00:32:08.160 --> 00:32:11.200
And he put his body into action.
00:32:12.160 --> 00:32:18.000
These words, if you say so, I will, are the words of a burgeoning rock.
00:32:18.160 --> 00:32:24.640
A person who's being formed, strengthened, a person who's becoming a pillar in the house of God.
00:32:25.440 --> 00:32:30.000
We think we must understand what God is doing.
00:32:30.240 --> 00:32:35.119
We must be able to know exactly what God is doing before we believe.
00:32:35.519 --> 00:32:37.440
That's not what's happening here.
00:32:37.759 --> 00:32:41.839
Have you ever had somebody pull up and say, hey, get in the car, I'm gonna let's go.
00:32:42.079 --> 00:32:43.359
What's your first question?
00:32:43.519 --> 00:32:46.079
Your first question is, where are you going?
00:32:46.400 --> 00:32:47.920
How long are you gonna be there?
00:32:48.160 --> 00:32:49.680
How many stops along the way?
00:32:49.839 --> 00:32:51.039
Who's coming with us?
00:32:51.200 --> 00:32:55.680
We want all of our questions answered before we get in the car with somebody, typically.
00:32:55.839 --> 00:33:02.079
But if it's somebody we really care about, we don't have to have all those questions answered.
00:33:02.160 --> 00:33:03.680
We just get in the car.
00:33:04.000 --> 00:33:05.599
Somebody pull up, hey, get in the car.
00:33:05.680 --> 00:33:12.079
I remember in college one time, a guy, uh he was a senior, I was a sophomore, and he said, Hey, I'm going to the store.
00:33:12.240 --> 00:33:12.799
Hop in.
00:33:12.960 --> 00:33:16.240
I didn't know where we're going, but here was somebody inviting me.
00:33:16.400 --> 00:33:17.839
So I just jumped in the car.
00:33:18.079 --> 00:33:22.880
What we do now, when our relationship with Jesus, Jesus says, Hey, come with me.
00:33:22.960 --> 00:33:24.319
We say, Where are we going?
00:33:24.559 --> 00:33:26.000
How are we gonna get there?
00:33:26.240 --> 00:33:29.359
Actually, I have a couple of stops along the way, Jesus.
00:33:29.519 --> 00:33:32.880
Uh, here's a couple of things I would like you to do for me while we're driving.
00:33:33.039 --> 00:33:34.960
And then we actually, Jesus, how about this?
00:33:35.119 --> 00:33:40.960
How about let's pull over, you pull over, I'll drive, you get in the car, this is the system we're gonna go.
00:33:41.039 --> 00:33:43.279
Isn't that how we treat Jesus sometimes?
00:33:43.599 --> 00:34:00.559
But what Jesus is saying is, do this, and we say, I don't understand where we're going or why we're doing this or what the process is, I don't know the destination, but Jesus, because I'm with you, I will say yes.
00:34:00.880 --> 00:34:04.000
The destination is the presence of Jesus.
00:34:04.160 --> 00:34:06.319
That's our destination, that's the goal.
00:34:06.480 --> 00:34:10.880
And we get that when somebody we love invites us.
00:34:11.360 --> 00:34:15.679
The destination is being with that person, the destination is relationship.
00:34:15.840 --> 00:34:18.239
And Jesus is inviting us to this.
00:34:18.480 --> 00:34:21.440
He's saying, Come alongside, follow me.
00:34:21.599 --> 00:34:23.119
And we say, Yes.
00:34:24.079 --> 00:34:26.800
This is the posture of a Christ follower.
00:34:26.880 --> 00:34:28.559
If you say so, I will.
00:34:29.920 --> 00:34:35.519
What I appreciate about Jesus is he doesn't get mad at Peter when Peter says, Jesus, this isn't how we normally do it.
00:34:35.760 --> 00:34:41.199
I think we can even express to Jesus, Jesus, this isn't the way normally things are done.
00:34:41.360 --> 00:34:43.599
In fact, I don't agree with this at all.
00:34:43.920 --> 00:34:46.719
I would rather not go with you.
00:34:47.280 --> 00:34:49.920
But if you say so, I will.
00:34:50.079 --> 00:34:52.639
Jesus can handle that if we express all those things.
00:34:52.880 --> 00:34:55.039
He doesn't, he's not ashamed of that.
00:34:55.119 --> 00:34:57.679
He's not saying, well, then you can't go with me if you have some questions.
00:34:57.840 --> 00:35:02.000
If we get in the car with him, if we follow him, he's happy.
00:35:02.159 --> 00:35:03.599
We're doing it with him.
00:35:04.880 --> 00:35:13.920
Um areas in our lives, I think, are um have kept us from following him.
00:35:14.239 --> 00:35:15.840
They become exposed in these moments.
00:35:16.000 --> 00:35:29.599
And our faith, when we say yes to Jesus, when we say, if you say so, I will, even if I don't get it, even if I don't understand, when we begin to take one step in front of the other, we are stretched, we begin to grow.
00:35:29.840 --> 00:35:38.639
And as I look into what is quickly becoming 2027, where in the world is time going?
00:35:38.800 --> 00:35:45.280
But when I look into 2027, we are forced to wonder what's that year going to be like.
00:35:46.960 --> 00:35:55.679
I think it looks like people who are being built differently than the world around them.
00:35:56.000 --> 00:36:02.880
This world needs people who are built differently, who say, I am not like the world.
00:36:03.039 --> 00:36:12.800
That's what is happening here is uh Peter, he uses a different metaphor in 1 Peter, he calls the church, members of the church, he calls them exiles.
00:36:13.039 --> 00:36:16.480
And this is what he means by that is this is not our home.
00:36:16.719 --> 00:36:25.760
Now, by this, I don't mean our land, because Jesus is returning, but really the kingdom of God is in our hearts.
00:36:26.000 --> 00:36:28.639
And the kingdom of this world is about people's hearts.
00:36:28.880 --> 00:36:38.400
And so the world right now is not dominated by the kingdom of God, and so we are living in exile among other people, is what Peter tells us.
00:36:38.639 --> 00:36:46.000
And so, what this means is that we don't belong in the kingdom of this world, we live differently.
00:36:47.519 --> 00:36:57.199
And so, what we need to do as I look at 2027, we need people who have been stretched and grown, and the way we do that is by taking a step saying, if you say so, I will.
00:36:58.480 --> 00:37:03.440
And this comes by faith fully obeying the words of God.
00:37:03.840 --> 00:37:06.079
Uh it's been a big week for me, actually.
00:37:06.400 --> 00:37:11.199
I made a new friend without Katie's help, and so I'm really excited about that.
00:37:11.440 --> 00:37:13.360
Most of my friends come via Katie.
00:37:13.599 --> 00:37:14.880
I'm grateful for her.
00:37:15.119 --> 00:37:17.519
Um it's been a big week.
00:37:17.679 --> 00:37:21.199
But my new friend, he um, he's a man from Indonesia.
00:37:21.440 --> 00:37:26.400
He lived in Indonesia, and he then left his family and he went to a Bible college in Indonesia.
00:37:26.559 --> 00:37:33.519
And then he took one more faithful step, and he decided to go to move to Nashville, Tennessee to go to seminary.
00:37:33.679 --> 00:37:41.440
And then he took another faithful step, and he ended up being a teacher in Tigered, Oregon, at Portland Seminary.
00:37:41.599 --> 00:37:49.119
And I said to my new friend, I said, Did you imagine yourself growing up, raising your family in Tigered, Oregon?
00:37:49.599 --> 00:37:51.760
And he had no context.
00:37:51.840 --> 00:37:56.960
He's like, no, no, I never imagined as a boy saying, you know where I'd really like to raise my family?
00:37:57.119 --> 00:37:58.480
Uh, Tigered, Oregon.
00:37:58.639 --> 00:38:00.559
It just not at all what happened.
00:38:00.719 --> 00:38:02.239
What did what did my friend do?
00:38:02.400 --> 00:38:14.559
He took one faithful step, one faithful step, one faithful step, and here he is serving Jesus, an Indonesian man in Tigered, Oregon.
00:38:14.800 --> 00:38:21.119
How many among us, if we would go around our car and tell our stories, you'd say, I don't know how I ended up here.
00:38:21.280 --> 00:38:26.639
I just took one faithful step, and God led me along the path.
00:38:26.719 --> 00:38:28.639
And I am grateful that he did.
00:38:28.880 --> 00:38:31.920
That's what happens when we say yes to Jesus.
00:38:32.159 --> 00:38:35.360
This is the path of a burgeoning pillar.
00:38:35.920 --> 00:38:42.079
At the conclusion of our story, Peter and his friends experience so much fish that their boats begin to sink.
00:38:42.400 --> 00:38:51.199
And following Jesus does not, what I want us to pay attention to is following Jesus does not mean a stress-free world.
00:38:51.679 --> 00:38:54.719
When we say yes to Jesus, there will be moments of stress.
00:38:54.880 --> 00:39:03.519
Their boats are sinking, they're calling in help, they they are trying to figure it out, and I can just see Jesus brimming with pride.
00:39:03.760 --> 00:39:06.960
Yes, look at these guys relying on me.
00:39:07.119 --> 00:39:10.320
This is the life of a Christ follower.
00:39:10.480 --> 00:39:14.000
And I have to add a final statement to what Peter says here.
00:39:14.079 --> 00:39:20.159
He said, At the very end, he says, and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon.
00:39:20.400 --> 00:39:24.159
And Jesus said to Simon, Do not be afraid, from now on you will be catching men.
00:39:24.239 --> 00:39:28.800
And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.
00:39:30.400 --> 00:39:34.880
Jesus tells Peter that he will now be a fisher of men.
00:39:35.199 --> 00:39:39.280
He will be casting out his net, trying to collect people who follow Jesus.
00:39:39.519 --> 00:39:41.039
His purpose had shifted.
00:39:41.280 --> 00:39:42.559
Being a fisherman is great.
00:39:42.639 --> 00:39:43.440
It's a great job.
00:39:43.599 --> 00:39:45.039
Thank you, fishermen.
00:39:45.360 --> 00:39:48.400
We are grateful for the service you provide us.
00:39:48.639 --> 00:39:50.800
Peter was just called to something different.
00:39:51.039 --> 00:39:52.400
And so Peter follows that.
00:39:52.639 --> 00:39:55.679
He leaves everything and follows Jesus.
00:39:55.920 --> 00:39:58.719
Following Jesus is costly.
00:40:00.239 --> 00:40:04.000
You will be asked to do things you never expected to do.
00:40:04.400 --> 00:40:10.639
And this is good because who we are right now is kind of a mess.
00:40:10.960 --> 00:40:13.679
Many of us, if we are honest, we're just a bit of a mess.
00:40:13.760 --> 00:40:16.880
And what Jesus does is he shapes and molds us.
00:40:17.039 --> 00:40:24.400
And out of these pressure moments, out of the hard things in life, what he begins to do is produce something that looks more and more like him.
00:40:24.639 --> 00:40:30.880
It begins to look more like joy, peace, goodness, love, faithfulness.
00:40:31.519 --> 00:40:36.320
These hard moments that you're going through where you're saying, Jesus, I would rather not.
00:40:36.559 --> 00:40:46.320
Jesus is doing something to you in these moments where your faith begins to grow, and you keep saying, I don't get it at all, Jesus, but I'll trust you again.
00:40:46.880 --> 00:40:48.559
And our faith grows.
00:40:48.960 --> 00:40:50.000
It's hard.
00:40:50.320 --> 00:40:52.480
And yet Jesus does something to us.
00:40:53.199 --> 00:40:56.159
Jesus invites all of us to a next step.
00:40:57.119 --> 00:41:01.280
So what are we going to practice this week?
00:41:02.000 --> 00:41:07.119
I'm going to ask you to practice saying, if you say so, I will.
00:41:07.280 --> 00:41:08.480
So here's what we're going to do.
00:41:09.440 --> 00:41:10.880
We're going to say it out loud together.
00:41:11.039 --> 00:41:12.639
We're just going to do practice it right now.
00:41:12.719 --> 00:41:17.199
For those who are interested, you can, I'm going to ask you to join me.
00:41:17.360 --> 00:41:19.280
We just say, if you say so, I will.
00:41:19.440 --> 00:41:21.280
Now, I don't want any liars out there.
00:41:21.360 --> 00:41:24.320
I do believe that what we should say, it matches who we are.
00:41:24.480 --> 00:41:28.960
So if you're not saying yes to Jesus, no one's looking at you.
00:41:29.119 --> 00:41:30.320
I can't see you at all.
00:41:30.400 --> 00:41:31.440
It's so bright up here.
00:41:31.519 --> 00:41:32.559
I'm not even looking at you.
00:41:32.639 --> 00:41:34.639
I can't see if your mouths are moving or not.
00:41:34.800 --> 00:41:43.519
And so just if you're if you want to say yes to Jesus, just say if with me, oh, in just a moment, if you say so, I will.
00:41:43.679 --> 00:41:48.960
And what you're doing is you're making this a day of commitment or recommitment to him.
00:41:49.360 --> 00:41:51.679
I'm going to need a drink here before I do that.
00:41:55.519 --> 00:42:00.800
And so, if you are interested in saying yes to Jesus, I want this to be a day of commitment.
00:42:01.039 --> 00:42:06.880
I don't understand, I don't always know, but I will say, if you say so, I will.
00:42:06.960 --> 00:42:08.880
That's our posture of this Christ follower.
00:42:09.039 --> 00:42:11.199
Will you say it with me together?
00:42:11.519 --> 00:42:14.159
If you say so, I will.
00:42:14.480 --> 00:42:15.519
One more time.
00:42:15.840 --> 00:42:18.559
If you say so, I will.
00:42:20.320 --> 00:42:23.679
This week, be reminded of that.
00:42:23.760 --> 00:42:27.920
There may be times where you need to say, Lord, if you say so, I will.
00:42:28.639 --> 00:42:30.320
If you say so, I will.
00:42:30.480 --> 00:42:34.239
Um, some of us have experienced this day of commitment.
00:42:34.880 --> 00:42:38.800
Maybe you sense God taking you a step you would rather not go.
00:42:39.119 --> 00:42:43.119
And we just trust in Jesus and say, Okay, I am afraid.
00:42:43.199 --> 00:42:44.719
I'm not really comfortable about this.
00:42:44.880 --> 00:42:45.760
I'd rather not.
00:42:45.840 --> 00:42:48.000
But if you say so, I will.
00:42:48.480 --> 00:42:49.199
We'll pray.
00:42:49.280 --> 00:42:51.119
Some of you have never committed your life to Jesus.
00:42:51.199 --> 00:42:52.559
So in just a moment, I will pray.
00:42:52.639 --> 00:43:07.360
And in that moment, by you saying, if you say so, I will, Lord, you can make this your first ever day of commitment, where you are born of Christ, welcomed into the family of God, full of Him, and what a glorious day it will be.
00:43:07.599 --> 00:43:09.519
It is worth doing.
00:43:09.599 --> 00:43:11.199
There's no greater way to live.
00:43:11.360 --> 00:43:15.280
It's not easy, folks, but there is no greater way to live.
00:43:15.599 --> 00:43:18.239
It is to live for Jesus is the greatest way.
00:43:18.400 --> 00:43:21.039
So I'll pray for you if you've never made this day of commitment.
00:43:21.199 --> 00:43:26.000
Some of you though, um, maybe God is asking you to do something that you'd rather not do.
00:43:26.079 --> 00:43:28.639
And he's saying, just go a little further out.
00:43:28.719 --> 00:43:30.800
And you say, Lord, if you say so, I will.
00:43:30.880 --> 00:43:36.000
I'm gonna commit to Jesus, and the course of your life may be changed for the good.
00:43:36.159 --> 00:43:41.440
You won't believe what God will do through this next step that He's asking you to take.
00:43:41.679 --> 00:43:42.960
Let's pray.
00:43:44.559 --> 00:43:47.039
Lord, you are good and gracious to us.
00:43:47.679 --> 00:43:49.519
You're patient with us.
00:43:49.840 --> 00:43:52.800
You don't get frustrated when we don't understand.
00:43:53.360 --> 00:43:56.639
You're just so kind.
00:43:57.360 --> 00:44:01.599
And Lord, there may be some who have never had a day of commitment where they said yes to you.
00:44:01.840 --> 00:44:09.679
So in this moment, Lord, may they say, if you say so, Lord, if you're inviting me, I will take one more step closer to you and invite you into my life.
00:44:09.840 --> 00:44:12.800
So in this moment, Jesus, come into their lives.
00:44:13.039 --> 00:44:18.480
There may be some here who have said yes to you, but they have stopped actually walking with you.
00:44:18.559 --> 00:44:19.840
It's now just a mental thing.
00:44:19.920 --> 00:44:29.199
And they would say, Yeah, I believe in Jesus, but they have not become the followers, disciples, students of you who follow and do what you ask, who we've stopped obeying.
00:44:29.360 --> 00:44:37.119
Lord, make this day a day of recommitment where you say, I'm I'm not gonna just agree, I'm gonna act out my faith.
00:44:37.840 --> 00:44:39.840
Lord, stir us today.
00:44:40.800 --> 00:44:44.559
We thank you, mighty God, for your great grace.
00:44:44.800 --> 00:44:45.599
In your name.
00:44:45.840 --> 00:44:46.480
Amen.
00:44:47.440 --> 00:44:51.519
Um I forgot to mention one of the other practices.
00:44:51.679 --> 00:45:00.960
If you have never been to Welcome to the Intersection, we're gonna have it right after the service on about 20 minutes by the time Pastor Kim and I get in the center.
00:45:01.039 --> 00:45:01.760
So it's in the center.
00:45:01.840 --> 00:45:05.280
If you go out these doors, if you're new, go out these doors, take a left and go through.
00:45:05.360 --> 00:45:14.239
Uh if you're new to the intersection or if you want to become a member, this is one of the processes we ask you to do to become a member, is go to Welcome to the Intersection where we get to meet you.
00:45:14.480 --> 00:45:16.320
You get to hear what we're about.
00:45:16.559 --> 00:45:19.440
And is this is this a place you want to belong and become a part of?
00:45:19.599 --> 00:45:22.480
So that's right after the service in about 20 minutes or so.
00:45:22.639 --> 00:45:26.719
Um, I think there's gonna be coffee, and usually Kim has some good stuff for us.
00:45:26.800 --> 00:45:28.239
So don't just go in there for the coffee.
00:45:28.320 --> 00:45:31.199
If you come get coffee or donuts, stay.
00:45:31.360 --> 00:45:32.000
That's the cost.
00:45:32.079 --> 00:45:32.559
I'm just kidding.
00:45:32.639 --> 00:45:33.760
I'm kidding, you're always welcome.
00:45:34.000 --> 00:45:36.719
Okay, uh, but welcome to join us for welcome to the intersection.
00:45:36.960 --> 00:45:39.440
Let me give two discussion questions for us this morning.
00:45:39.679 --> 00:45:43.840
What is something you committed to that changed your life more than you expected?
00:45:44.000 --> 00:45:48.960
So, is there a time where you said, I'm just gonna make this commitment and it changed the course of your life?
00:45:49.119 --> 00:45:52.639
Now, listen, marriage is obviously the right answer.
00:45:53.679 --> 00:45:55.199
Pick something else.
00:45:55.920 --> 00:45:59.679
Your spouse already, you already love them, they know this.
00:45:59.840 --> 00:46:01.440
Pick something besides marriage.
00:46:01.599 --> 00:46:02.800
That's the obvious answer.
00:46:03.199 --> 00:46:04.639
James saying yes to Jesus.
00:46:04.719 --> 00:46:04.960
Yep.
00:46:05.039 --> 00:46:08.880
I mean like, oh, I went to this college or I moved to this house or I chose this friend.
00:46:09.039 --> 00:46:09.840
Something like that.
00:46:10.000 --> 00:46:12.400
Don't pick the don't pick the Jesus answer here.
00:46:12.639 --> 00:46:17.119
Pick pick something a little more personal besides Jesus and your spouse.
00:46:17.360 --> 00:46:17.599
All right.
00:46:17.760 --> 00:46:21.760
And the next question is to what do you think you need to say because you say so I will?
00:46:21.920 --> 00:46:28.320
Is God asking you to do something, and you need you'd just rather not, but you sense God saying something, you say, Okay, I will do that.
00:46:28.559 --> 00:46:30.400
So those are our discussion questions this week.
00:46:30.559 --> 00:46:32.719
Let me give us a prayer of blessing as we go.
00:46:33.039 --> 00:46:35.039
The Lord bless you and keep you.
00:46:35.440 --> 00:46:38.239
The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you.
00:46:38.400 --> 00:46:41.679
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
00:46:42.000 --> 00:46:45.199
Intersection, you are loved.
00:46:45.360 --> 00:46:46.079
You're loved.
00:46:46.239 --> 00:46:47.760
Go in peace, have a great week.
00:00:00.239 --> 00:00:01.199
Hello everyone.
00:00:02.640 --> 00:00:04.000
My name is Aidan.
00:00:04.160 --> 00:00:11.679
Um I was invited to this room from good friends Manny in Brooklyn and have been attending for close to a year now.
00:00:12.080 --> 00:00:16.800
Uh our scripture today is Luke 5, 1 through 11.
00:00:17.679 --> 00:00:23.600
One day as Jesus was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God.
00:00:23.839 --> 00:00:29.359
He saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen who were washing their nets.
00:00:29.600 --> 00:00:34.560
He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore.
00:00:34.799 --> 00:00:37.679
Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.
00:00:37.920 --> 00:00:43.759
When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, Put out into deep water and let down the nets for a catch.
00:00:44.000 --> 00:00:51.119
Simon answered, Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything, but because you say so, I will let down the nets.
00:00:51.679 --> 00:00:56.399
When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.
00:00:56.560 --> 00:01:03.439
So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
00:01:03.679 --> 00:01:09.599
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, Go away from me, Lord, I am a sinful man.
00:01:09.840 --> 00:01:19.280
For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of the fish they had taken, and so were James and James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners.
00:01:19.599 --> 00:01:26.959
When Jesus said to Simon, then Jesus said to Simon, Don't be afraid, from now on you will fish for people.
00:01:27.200 --> 00:01:31.120
So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything, and followed him.
00:01:31.519 --> 00:01:32.159
Amen.
00:01:33.439 --> 00:01:34.079
Amen.
00:01:34.319 --> 00:01:34.719
Thank you.
00:01:34.879 --> 00:01:35.920
Thank you, Aiden.
00:01:37.840 --> 00:01:39.920
It is so good to see you all.
00:01:40.480 --> 00:01:42.319
Just uh fun to be here.
00:01:42.480 --> 00:01:45.359
Um I didn't put this quite where I wanted it.
00:01:45.439 --> 00:01:46.000
That's my fault.
00:01:46.159 --> 00:01:46.560
All right.
00:01:46.719 --> 00:01:48.000
Well, if you're new, welcome.
00:01:48.079 --> 00:01:49.040
My name is Isaac.
00:01:49.120 --> 00:01:51.359
I'm the lead pastor here at the Intersections Church.
00:01:51.519 --> 00:01:52.799
Really glad you're all here.
00:01:53.040 --> 00:01:55.280
And let me hit this button correctly.
00:01:55.599 --> 00:01:59.439
Um it's a good day.
00:02:00.319 --> 00:02:15.599
We uh, because of the age of my kids and the age of my friends, uh, what's happening in our life is a lot of my kids' friends are going off to college, and a lot of my friends' kids are going off to college.
00:02:15.759 --> 00:02:16.719
Does that make sense?
00:02:17.360 --> 00:02:18.879
Hopefully you're with me on that.
00:02:19.120 --> 00:02:25.280
And so we, over the last month or so, many of them have gone off to college, many for the first time.
00:02:25.520 --> 00:02:27.599
Others, it's a re-entry into that.
00:02:27.759 --> 00:02:29.840
And we celebrate them, we honor them.
00:02:29.919 --> 00:02:33.759
Uh, Eastern and the community colleges finally started this week.
00:02:33.840 --> 00:02:35.280
It feels like eternity.
00:02:35.439 --> 00:02:39.280
The WSU students have been gone for months now, it seems like.
00:02:39.439 --> 00:02:46.800
And so there's there's just something that the college experience is a part of my just normal conversations because the age of life I'm in.
00:02:47.280 --> 00:02:55.520
And then when these kids make the decision to attend a university, a regular question we ask is are they committed?
00:02:55.759 --> 00:02:56.400
Are they committed?
00:02:56.479 --> 00:02:58.080
Have they committed to that college?
00:02:58.240 --> 00:02:59.599
And it's an interesting way to phrase it.
00:02:59.680 --> 00:03:02.800
And what they mean we mean by that is, is the paperwork in?
00:03:03.120 --> 00:03:04.719
Have they finalized everything?
00:03:04.879 --> 00:03:06.159
Is it official?
00:03:06.319 --> 00:03:14.400
You know, kids understandably have a lot of options as they're trying to navigate out of high school, trade school, universities, massive decision.
00:03:14.560 --> 00:03:15.840
And so they can change their mind.
00:03:15.919 --> 00:03:19.759
And so when we say have they committed, is it are they for sure?
00:03:19.919 --> 00:03:25.919
Definitely paperwork is in, they're going to that particular school or university or situation.
00:03:26.240 --> 00:03:35.840
So when they make that, the fall finally rolls around, and off the students go to the place of their commitment.
00:03:36.080 --> 00:03:41.599
So they go, what their commitment determines where they go.
00:03:43.039 --> 00:03:45.919
Their commitment determines where they end up.
00:03:46.159 --> 00:03:51.280
WSU, Idaho, Central, wherever that is.
00:03:51.439 --> 00:03:53.919
Uh the community colleges.
00:03:54.159 --> 00:03:58.960
And over the past few weeks, what we've been looking at is the life of Peter.
00:03:59.520 --> 00:04:08.719
He was a fisherman named Simon who was changed by Jesus to a person named Peter, which means the rock.
00:04:08.879 --> 00:04:14.240
He became a rock, and we've looked at how in Revelation it says he was a pillar.
00:04:14.560 --> 00:04:20.800
And we can be, like Peter, transformed into a pillar.
00:04:21.120 --> 00:04:28.639
What we notice, though, is that he he had to have a commitment to start that journey.
00:04:28.959 --> 00:04:30.399
So that's what we're talking about today.
00:04:30.560 --> 00:04:32.879
A couple weeks ago, we talked about his first day.
00:04:33.199 --> 00:04:39.920
You could call it day one, day of encounter, where Peter, then Simon, meets Jesus for the first time.
00:04:40.160 --> 00:04:41.439
He has an encounter.
00:04:41.600 --> 00:04:43.759
There's a couple exchanges happen.
00:04:44.079 --> 00:04:48.000
Jesus says, Your name is no longer Simon, but it's Peter.
00:04:48.079 --> 00:04:50.160
And so he starts the transformation process.
00:04:50.240 --> 00:04:52.319
That's that first day, day of encounter.
00:04:52.560 --> 00:04:58.160
Today we want to talk about the second day of Peter, which is the day of commitment.
00:04:58.959 --> 00:05:02.800
It's a second significant day, day of commitment, commitment day.
00:05:03.279 --> 00:05:05.920
Where Peter had to decide what's he gonna do?
00:05:06.399 --> 00:05:07.680
Where is he gonna go?
00:05:07.920 --> 00:05:12.079
Well, this passage is uh that we just had Aiden read for us.
00:05:12.160 --> 00:05:14.879
Thank you, Aiden, for being so brave to come up here on stage.
00:05:15.040 --> 00:05:18.399
Some of you guys keep shooting me down, and I am not deterred.
00:05:18.639 --> 00:05:21.120
I you will, you will be up here.
00:05:21.279 --> 00:05:24.319
Um but no, we're great, we're grateful for that for your participation.
00:05:24.480 --> 00:05:32.079
But we just had this passage read where uh Peter has met Jesus again on this day of commitment.
00:05:32.240 --> 00:05:34.480
So what happens is we're in the middle of a story.
00:05:34.800 --> 00:05:38.639
Weeks prior, Jesus and Peter had met for the first time.
00:05:39.199 --> 00:05:41.920
And then Jesus leaves for 40 days.
00:05:42.000 --> 00:05:55.839
He goes out in the wilderness where he fasts and he's by himself, and then he comes back to the community, he moves to the city along the Sea of Galilee called Capernaum, he sets up camp there, and he begins to teach.
00:05:56.079 --> 00:06:01.040
And people start following him, and he kind of begins to collect a following.
00:06:01.519 --> 00:06:11.759
Peter is along the seashore, he's a fisherman, so I'm sure at this point that he has interacted with Jesus, he's probably heard many sermons by Jesus, but we just don't know much about him.
00:06:11.839 --> 00:06:18.560
So we're taught multiple weeks have gone through, a couple of months of Jesus and Peter's first encounter.
00:06:18.879 --> 00:06:20.079
And this is our story.
00:06:20.160 --> 00:06:27.680
And so, Peter, he's a fisherman, he's minding his own business, he's cast, he's fixing his nets, we're told.
00:06:27.839 --> 00:06:30.800
He's trying to earn a living for his family.
00:06:31.199 --> 00:06:36.879
And Peter is offered an opportunity which will change the course of his life.
00:06:37.120 --> 00:06:45.120
And Luke puts this story in the account of Jesus so we can learn about Peter, but also the lessons we can apply and learn.
00:06:45.360 --> 00:06:50.560
And we can be begin the process of becoming pillars in the temple of God.
00:06:51.040 --> 00:06:59.519
We want to be people who can be looked to for sources of strength in a world which is very unstable.
00:07:00.959 --> 00:07:04.000
And so we want to we're learning from Peter here.
00:07:05.199 --> 00:07:08.399
And we can note that Peter was not yet following Jesus.
00:07:08.560 --> 00:07:09.040
Catch this.
00:07:16.560 --> 00:07:17.600
He's doing his own thing.
00:07:17.680 --> 00:07:22.079
He'd met Jesus, he'd spoken to him, he'd listened to him, but he's not yet a follower.
00:07:22.240 --> 00:07:30.399
And so my first observation today is that Jesus invites Peter at a pace Peter can accept.
00:07:30.959 --> 00:07:34.879
Jesus invites Peter at a pace Peter can accept.
00:07:35.120 --> 00:07:40.399
So again, Jesus meets him, he speaks to him, meaningful, meaningful moments, but that's about it.
00:07:40.639 --> 00:07:44.720
Jesus isn't in his face telling him, You will follow me.
00:07:44.879 --> 00:07:47.759
He's not, there's none of that, it's just kind of a normal interaction.
00:07:48.000 --> 00:07:51.279
And then Jesus one day says, Hey Peter, I'm teaching.
00:07:51.439 --> 00:07:53.839
The acoustics are better as I preach along the shore.
00:07:54.000 --> 00:07:58.319
Do you mind if I get in your boat, pull back a little bit, and just do my teaching from there?
00:07:58.639 --> 00:08:00.399
A really easy ask in the story.
00:08:00.480 --> 00:08:03.839
And Peter's like, go for it, do your thing.
00:08:04.639 --> 00:08:05.519
I'll read it together.
00:08:05.759 --> 00:08:07.199
Peter doesn't have to get involved.
00:08:07.360 --> 00:08:09.040
He's just sitting there doing his thing, right?
00:08:09.199 --> 00:08:11.519
Here's that verse one and two and three.
00:08:12.000 --> 00:08:25.519
On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing, he, meaning Jesus, was standing by the lake of Gennesareth and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets.
00:08:25.680 --> 00:08:31.439
Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land and he sat down and taught the people.
00:08:31.680 --> 00:08:32.879
Very easy ask.
00:08:32.960 --> 00:08:35.120
Peter, can I just borrow your boat to sit in?
00:08:35.360 --> 00:08:36.639
Great, no problem.
00:08:37.360 --> 00:08:42.720
And I was thinking about this, I started to chuckle as I read through the story because it's just a baby step.
00:08:42.799 --> 00:08:44.000
Peter, can I use your boat?
00:08:44.159 --> 00:08:44.399
Sure.
00:08:44.559 --> 00:08:46.799
Do you mind if we just push out a little bit?
00:08:47.200 --> 00:08:48.480
Knock yourself out, Jesus.
00:08:48.639 --> 00:08:49.200
Do your thing.
00:08:49.360 --> 00:08:52.879
Uh hey, do you mind if we just go out a little further into fishing?
00:08:52.960 --> 00:08:58.080
And then Peter, you know, we'll get to the story a little bit more, but it's just baby step, baby step, baby step, baby.
00:08:58.399 --> 00:09:01.840
And then all of a sudden it's, Jesus, what did you do?
00:09:02.080 --> 00:09:03.279
We're going to die.
00:09:03.440 --> 00:09:07.039
And I thought that was funny because many of us have experienced that.
00:09:07.360 --> 00:09:09.039
Well, sure, Jesus, I'll do that.
00:09:09.120 --> 00:09:10.080
I'll sure I'll help.
00:09:10.240 --> 00:09:10.960
Sure, I'll help.
00:09:11.039 --> 00:09:11.519
Yeah, sure.
00:09:11.600 --> 00:09:13.360
You need help in the kids' ministry, sure.
00:09:13.600 --> 00:09:18.159
I'm now in here, and five babies in this nursery need their diapers changed now.
00:09:18.399 --> 00:09:19.519
Where is Jesus?
00:09:19.759 --> 00:09:22.960
You know, you've experienced that process of what is going on.
00:09:23.120 --> 00:09:26.559
And I love how Jesus just goes pace, pace, pace.
00:09:26.720 --> 00:09:31.200
And then there's a recognition there of we are out of control.
00:09:31.360 --> 00:09:35.519
Has anyone experienced that where step, step, step, Jesus, I need your help.
00:09:35.679 --> 00:09:37.759
Has anybody experienced that besides me?
00:09:38.000 --> 00:09:39.120
I see a couple hands.
00:09:39.200 --> 00:09:41.519
I'd like to welcome those of you who are attentive this morning.
00:09:41.600 --> 00:09:42.799
I'm really glad that you're here.
00:09:43.039 --> 00:09:45.600
Others of you, life can get out of control.
00:09:45.679 --> 00:09:46.159
How about this?
00:09:46.240 --> 00:09:48.639
Has anybody ever experienced being out of control?
00:09:48.799 --> 00:09:50.559
Your life is a little out of control.
00:09:50.960 --> 00:09:55.840
I can live there all the time where you're just going, I don't know what's going on.
00:09:56.799 --> 00:09:58.879
This is what Peter is experiencing.
00:09:59.440 --> 00:10:02.960
In this story, he experiences his life is out of control.
00:10:04.000 --> 00:10:08.720
It's step, step, step, yes, Jesus, yes, Jesus, yes, Jesus, Jesus, help.
00:10:08.799 --> 00:10:11.679
And so there's a reason for this.
00:10:12.000 --> 00:10:13.279
There's a reason for this.
00:10:13.440 --> 00:10:18.639
And the reason is these steps of invitation are steps of revelation.
00:10:18.960 --> 00:10:22.080
These steps of invitation are steps of revelation.
00:10:22.320 --> 00:10:28.399
What I mean by that is Jesus exposes in these steps of invitation of who's in control.
00:10:29.039 --> 00:10:34.399
If you won't even let Jesus get in your boat, that says something like, no way, I want no part of this guy.
00:10:34.559 --> 00:10:37.759
If you say yes, it's just once once, yeah, sure.
00:10:37.919 --> 00:10:39.279
Use my use my boat.
00:10:39.600 --> 00:10:40.799
Yeah, okay, yes, Jesus.
00:10:40.960 --> 00:10:48.559
And there what happens is it's a process where we begin to decide who is in control of our life.
00:10:48.879 --> 00:10:51.200
This is what Jesus does for all of us.
00:10:51.519 --> 00:10:55.519
We see whether I am in control or is it God?
00:10:55.679 --> 00:11:04.080
So when we're when we're living out of control, hopefully what we're recognizing is I am in desperate need of somebody greater than me.
00:11:04.879 --> 00:11:15.919
Many of us think, no, no, I got this, I'm gonna be fine, and we keep holding on more and more, and we our lives begin to crack and break, and we just think, no, it's somebody else's fault.
00:11:16.000 --> 00:11:21.679
Uh but when we're attentive to what's going on in the world around us, we realize our need for somebody greater than us.
00:11:21.840 --> 00:11:25.360
And this is what Peter begins to discover.
00:11:25.679 --> 00:11:31.200
And what we learn is that we cannot control others.
00:11:32.320 --> 00:11:46.720
We realize we cannot control the situation, we cannot control the doctor's report, we cannot control our boss's attitude, we cannot control our children calling us back.
00:11:47.279 --> 00:11:49.360
We try really hard.
00:11:50.000 --> 00:11:51.120
We can't control that.
00:11:51.279 --> 00:11:57.679
But when we things are out of control, we can notice our need for Jesus.
00:11:58.000 --> 00:12:15.519
And as I'm looking at this, I'm reminded of Psalm 91, where he says in verse 11 and 12, for he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways, so they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
00:12:15.679 --> 00:12:20.240
And the image here is one of us falling, where we are falling.
00:12:20.399 --> 00:12:23.759
And the angels we're told are prepared to catch us.
00:12:23.919 --> 00:12:29.679
And I like this because he's not saying, if you stumble, the reality is we will stumble.
00:12:29.919 --> 00:12:32.159
We will have our lives out of control.
00:12:32.240 --> 00:12:34.399
When we fall, we are out of control.
00:12:35.279 --> 00:12:42.480
And in those moments, there is God still prepared to catch us, to keep us safe, even when it seems dangerous.
00:12:42.720 --> 00:12:54.960
We will experience times when life is dangerous, but we are in the safest possible place when we are saying, Jesus, I trust you.
00:12:55.200 --> 00:12:56.879
It seems out of control.
00:12:57.360 --> 00:13:02.320
I seem like this world is chaotic and nothing is going the way I expected.
00:13:02.480 --> 00:13:05.759
The safest place to be is when we say yes to Jesus.
00:13:06.000 --> 00:13:08.960
And this is what will help we see here with Peter here.
00:13:09.679 --> 00:13:16.399
What's interesting here is that if you feel out of control, what I notice about Jesus is that Jesus is not out of control.
00:13:16.639 --> 00:13:24.159
When the boats are filled, we'll talk about this a little bit more in a few minutes, but the boats are so full of fish that they start to sink.
00:13:24.879 --> 00:13:26.639
They are panicking.
00:13:27.600 --> 00:13:30.799
And Jesus is not stressed at all.
00:13:31.919 --> 00:13:34.639
He's just hanging out.
00:13:35.200 --> 00:13:46.240
Some of you may be wanting him while you're out of control, you're frustrated, you're discouraged, you may want to take Jesus and say, Jesus, this is very serious.
00:13:46.399 --> 00:13:47.759
Get it together.
00:13:48.240 --> 00:13:50.799
And Jesus is just relaxed.
00:13:53.039 --> 00:14:03.440
I think it's annoying when somebody or me, if I'm freaking out, if I am just panicking, and there is somebody next to me who is very unpanicked.
00:14:04.080 --> 00:14:05.440
No, this is serious.
00:14:05.519 --> 00:14:08.320
You're not taking this situation serious enough.
00:14:08.559 --> 00:14:11.279
I need you to match my level of panic here.
00:14:11.519 --> 00:14:13.200
Does anyone else feel that way?
00:14:13.440 --> 00:14:15.759
We need we want people to panic when we're panicking.
00:14:15.840 --> 00:14:19.360
And here's Jesus, just relaxed while the boats are sinking.
00:14:19.519 --> 00:14:24.159
I actually, as I'm reading through this, I imagine Jesus laughing at this situation.
00:14:24.320 --> 00:14:26.720
He's like, ha, I got them on this one.
00:14:26.879 --> 00:14:28.240
Their boats are sinking.
00:14:28.480 --> 00:14:30.639
He's having a great time laughing at them.
00:14:30.799 --> 00:14:32.399
They're panicking, freaking out.
00:14:32.559 --> 00:14:33.279
Come help.
00:14:33.440 --> 00:14:34.639
Our boats are sinking.
00:14:34.799 --> 00:14:40.159
And Jesus is just smiling, totally unpanicked, relaxed.
00:14:40.639 --> 00:14:41.279
Why?
00:14:41.519 --> 00:14:43.360
Well, Jesus is so calm.
00:14:43.679 --> 00:14:46.000
Is it because Jesus doesn't care?
00:14:47.519 --> 00:14:47.840
No.
00:14:48.320 --> 00:14:48.639
No.
00:14:48.879 --> 00:14:51.679
It's because Jesus knows who's in control.
00:14:52.720 --> 00:15:00.080
He has the fish, the wind, the waves obey him.
00:15:00.879 --> 00:15:02.960
He is completely at rest.
00:15:03.519 --> 00:15:05.360
He's not panicked at all.
00:15:05.600 --> 00:15:12.559
And I wonder if so many of us are stressed and panicked and frustrated because we have forgotten who is in control.
00:15:13.200 --> 00:15:14.720
He's the one alongside us.
00:15:14.879 --> 00:15:17.840
He's the one who asked us to throw out our nets.
00:15:18.000 --> 00:15:20.080
He's the one who's asked us to do these things.
00:15:20.159 --> 00:15:22.320
And now we're going, what are we even going to do?
00:15:22.480 --> 00:15:24.639
And Jesus says, I got it.
00:15:25.519 --> 00:15:26.480
This is fun.
00:15:27.519 --> 00:15:29.679
Look what's going to happen here.
00:15:31.440 --> 00:15:34.240
I wonder if we've just forgotten who is in control.
00:15:34.720 --> 00:15:36.879
So here's what I want us to do.
00:15:36.960 --> 00:15:41.919
This isn't a normal thing, if you're new to us this morning, this is not a normal thing I'm going to ask you to do.
00:15:42.159 --> 00:15:43.679
Maybe it should be, I don't know.
00:15:43.919 --> 00:15:46.000
But some of us are just panicked right now.
00:15:46.159 --> 00:15:47.200
We're frustrated.
00:15:47.440 --> 00:15:52.080
What I'm going to ask you to do is just take a deep breath and relax.
00:15:52.799 --> 00:15:55.600
Just all together, we're just going to take a deep breath.
00:15:55.679 --> 00:15:57.840
Will you join me in taking a deep breath?
00:15:58.080 --> 00:15:58.720
Ready?
00:16:02.720 --> 00:16:06.080
That's the first deep breath some of you have taken in a long time.
00:16:07.120 --> 00:16:08.559
We're going to do it again.
00:16:08.799 --> 00:16:15.200
Just remind yourself while you're breathing it in, remind yourself that Jesus is our, the Holy Spirit is our breath.
00:16:15.440 --> 00:16:19.039
So we're going to breathe in and remember that Jesus is in control.
00:16:19.120 --> 00:16:20.879
Will you do it one more time with me?
00:16:24.480 --> 00:16:28.320
And we're reminded that Jesus is in control.
00:16:29.200 --> 00:16:30.159
He's got this.
00:16:30.559 --> 00:16:32.000
You don't have to be anxious.
00:16:32.720 --> 00:16:34.399
Jesus is the one who's in control.
00:16:34.639 --> 00:16:38.879
Peter, he's in proximity to this guy.
00:16:39.279 --> 00:16:41.279
He hasn't begun to follow him.
00:16:41.679 --> 00:16:42.799
He's hanging around.
00:16:42.960 --> 00:16:44.879
He's listened to a few messages.
00:16:45.519 --> 00:16:49.600
Some of you have listened to 40, 50 years worth of messages.
00:16:49.919 --> 00:16:55.039
You know what it means to be in proximity of Jesus, to have people talk about him.
00:16:55.279 --> 00:16:58.000
Maybe you're like Peter, you've participated in a couple of things.
00:16:58.080 --> 00:16:59.679
You've done some Jesus-y things.
00:16:59.759 --> 00:17:01.519
You come to church occasionally.
00:17:01.759 --> 00:17:03.679
You showed up at the Easter egg hunt.
00:17:03.840 --> 00:17:07.440
You've greeted at the door a time or two when we've been desperate for a greeter.
00:17:08.720 --> 00:17:10.160
And this is what Peter is doing.
00:17:10.240 --> 00:17:12.240
He's just nearby helping out.
00:17:14.079 --> 00:17:16.160
Until this day.
00:17:17.039 --> 00:17:18.319
This day of commitment.
00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:22.480
Many of us in this room have had this day of commitment.
00:17:23.680 --> 00:17:25.279
If not, maybe today is.
00:17:25.519 --> 00:17:29.119
Maybe, maybe today is your day of re-commitment.
00:17:30.079 --> 00:17:38.880
You've just been Jesus doing Jesus-y things and participating and near people who know Jesus, but you haven't committed.
00:17:39.039 --> 00:17:41.200
And we're going to talk about that in just a moment.
00:17:41.759 --> 00:17:50.319
But here's what I want you to think about is that Jesus, I think this morning, Jesus is inviting us to next steps of that commitment.
00:17:50.720 --> 00:17:54.079
Now, what's interesting is Jesus is at the lake.
00:17:54.160 --> 00:17:55.119
He's going fishing.
00:17:55.279 --> 00:17:58.960
This sounds like a great day, a day at the lake going fishing.
00:17:59.119 --> 00:18:06.160
However, what I want us to notice is that when we commit our lives to Jesus, not every day is a day at the lake.
00:18:06.720 --> 00:18:10.400
There are, number two, inconvenient costs.
00:18:10.559 --> 00:18:12.960
There are inconvenient costs when we follow Jesus.
00:18:13.119 --> 00:18:15.359
Here's verses 7, 4 through 7.
00:18:15.599 --> 00:18:17.599
Imagine yourself in Peter's situation.
00:18:17.680 --> 00:18:18.559
He's been out all night.
00:18:18.720 --> 00:18:21.920
Use your imaginations as I read read this passage again.
00:18:22.240 --> 00:18:28.480
And when Jesus had finished speaking, he said to Simon, Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.
00:18:28.640 --> 00:18:34.160
And Simon answered, Master, we toiled all night and took nothing.
00:18:34.799 --> 00:18:36.960
But at your word I will let down the nets.
00:18:37.119 --> 00:18:42.720
And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking.
00:18:42.960 --> 00:18:50.079
They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both the boats so that they began to sink.
00:18:50.319 --> 00:18:57.039
Now the start of the story just kills me because I know for sure what I would be thinking if Jesus asked me to do this.
00:18:57.920 --> 00:19:05.359
If I had been working like Peter up all night, if I would have been up all night, I'm already annoyed.
00:19:05.519 --> 00:19:09.440
I'm already really upset about how my day is going.
00:19:09.759 --> 00:19:13.039
Then keep in mind they caught nothing.
00:19:13.440 --> 00:19:13.920
Nothing.
00:19:14.079 --> 00:19:17.039
Peter has nothing to provide for his family.
00:19:17.200 --> 00:19:19.759
He has nothing to go home and cook for breakfast.
00:19:20.000 --> 00:19:24.559
He is coming back empty-handed, discouraged, frustrated.
00:19:24.799 --> 00:19:25.519
I am at this.
00:19:25.759 --> 00:19:33.680
If I'm Peter, I am super annoyed that Jesus is saying, hey, can we just go back out for a quick try again?
00:19:33.839 --> 00:19:36.000
I'm just not interested in this at all.
00:19:36.160 --> 00:19:40.799
I'm just trying to get mend my nets, do my thing, get back to work.
00:19:41.200 --> 00:19:42.079
I was thinking about this.
00:19:42.160 --> 00:19:48.880
Have any of you walked into a coffee shop or a restaurant with 10, maybe five minutes to go before closing?
00:19:49.119 --> 00:19:49.920
You walk in.
00:19:50.160 --> 00:19:52.160
Do those people greet you with a happy smile?
00:19:52.400 --> 00:19:54.240
We're glad you're here.
00:19:54.799 --> 00:19:55.680
Come in.
00:19:55.920 --> 00:19:57.759
How big can we make your meal?
00:19:58.000 --> 00:19:58.640
No, no.
00:19:58.880 --> 00:20:00.160
They're annoyed.
00:20:00.480 --> 00:20:01.440
I know we get it.
00:20:01.519 --> 00:20:02.319
We would be too.
00:20:02.400 --> 00:20:03.680
And this is much worse.
00:20:03.839 --> 00:20:05.839
This is much worse situation.
00:20:06.559 --> 00:20:19.279
And so, Jesus, what I what can I just tell you that Jesus often, usually even, calls us when we are right in the middle of something.
00:20:19.759 --> 00:20:25.279
Now, his timing I mentioned a few minutes ago is just perfect, where he's constantly, he just goes at a good pace.
00:20:25.599 --> 00:20:39.519
But also true, he calls us at the worst time, when we are involved in something, when I'm at my busiest, when I have something to do, he asks me to do something for him.
00:20:40.079 --> 00:20:48.079
Right when I am distracted and up to my ears in something, is when I feel like Jesus says, Isaac, I really have something I'd really like for you to do.
00:20:48.319 --> 00:20:50.319
It's never when I'm bored.
00:20:50.799 --> 00:20:59.039
It's never when I'm just sitting around watching football, saying, you know, Jesus, now would be a great time for me to do something that you want.
00:20:59.119 --> 00:21:00.319
Have you noticed this?
00:21:00.559 --> 00:21:04.640
That Jesus calls us at the most inconvenient times.
00:21:04.799 --> 00:21:10.799
And what he also does is he also zeroes in right on that thing that we just have an issue with.
00:21:11.039 --> 00:21:18.960
So Peter, there's had to have been something with Peter and late night, not not having fish available, not being able to go home.
00:21:19.200 --> 00:21:23.519
And he zeroes right in on that one thing that would probably just set Peter off.
00:21:24.559 --> 00:21:26.400
It may be for you, maybe it's your money.
00:21:26.480 --> 00:21:27.920
Jesus asks you to do something.
00:21:28.000 --> 00:21:33.839
You've been trying to save for something, you have some ideas of a new car or a great vacation, or you need to re-roof or whatever.
00:21:34.319 --> 00:21:35.119
Roofing.
00:21:35.359 --> 00:21:37.039
Have you guys looked into this?
00:21:38.000 --> 00:21:39.119
What is the deal?
00:21:39.359 --> 00:21:50.880
Anyway, um, you just you've been saving, and all of a sudden something happens, and you say, God, you're asking me to give here, and I just would rather not.
00:21:51.599 --> 00:21:59.519
He zeroes in on that thing that just captures maybe again, maybe it's your home, maybe it's your time, maybe it's your reputation.
00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:07.279
And he asks us right in something that we just realize who's in control.
00:22:08.240 --> 00:22:10.400
Who's in control of this situation?
00:22:12.720 --> 00:22:17.039
And what he does, he's he he says, just just cast your net, just give it a try.
00:22:17.440 --> 00:22:20.960
Maybe for you, what he's asking you to do is call a friend back.
00:22:21.920 --> 00:22:24.160
You just would rather not.
00:22:24.240 --> 00:22:31.519
Or maybe you're uh somebody needs a ride, or to volunteer at a food bank, or attend a small group.
00:22:32.640 --> 00:22:34.799
Um here's one that I was thinking of.
00:22:34.960 --> 00:22:40.000
For some of you, maybe what is inconvenient is for you to not be in charge of something.
00:22:40.240 --> 00:22:45.200
For you to say, sure, you do it, and I'm gonna sit here and like it.
00:22:45.680 --> 00:22:52.720
What is it that just he's zeroing in on and saying, I'm gonna ask you to just sit tight here.
00:22:53.119 --> 00:22:55.599
Um, what's what's happening in these situations?
00:22:55.680 --> 00:22:56.960
It's our inconvenience.
00:22:57.039 --> 00:22:57.839
What's happening?
00:22:58.079 --> 00:23:00.240
Well, here's the problem.
00:23:00.400 --> 00:23:01.920
Uh stay with me for half a second.
00:23:02.079 --> 00:23:04.799
I think part of the problem is I'm reminded of a story.
00:23:05.039 --> 00:23:10.400
When Katie and I were uh newly married, we didn't have any kids yet, we're living in Eugene, Oregon.
00:23:10.559 --> 00:23:19.839
We took a day trip to the Oregon coast, and I remember a little tourist stop shop was selling some napkins.
00:23:20.000 --> 00:23:22.880
And the napkins said something I'll never forget.
00:23:23.119 --> 00:23:29.279
The napkins said, if you are what you eat, I'm cheap, fast, and easy.
00:23:31.039 --> 00:23:34.240
And uh that's what we want our life to be.
00:23:34.480 --> 00:23:37.279
We want our life to be cheap, fast, and easy.
00:23:37.440 --> 00:23:46.640
We want it to be comfortable, we want it to be convenient, we want DoorDash brought to our doorstep, and boom, I'm a disciple.
00:23:47.119 --> 00:23:48.160
That's what we want.
00:23:48.319 --> 00:23:50.000
We want it very comfortable.
00:23:50.960 --> 00:23:55.279
This is not the way Peter was formed.
00:23:56.079 --> 00:24:00.000
This is not the way pillars are formed.
00:24:00.559 --> 00:24:10.880
We are formed through pressure, through being tasked in inconvenient times, where we're being exposed of am I in control, or am I gonna let God be in control?
00:24:11.279 --> 00:24:16.640
This is what these places of formation where God shapes and molds us.
00:24:17.119 --> 00:24:19.359
And it's not comfortable.
00:24:20.160 --> 00:24:22.880
We want it cheap, fast, and easy.
00:24:23.039 --> 00:24:28.799
There's a 20th-century theologian, uh martyr, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, you might have heard of him.
00:24:29.039 --> 00:24:32.559
Um he has a term called cheap grace.
00:24:32.799 --> 00:24:33.440
Cheap grace.
00:24:33.519 --> 00:24:36.079
That's well, I'm gonna read to you what he defines as cheap grace.
00:24:36.240 --> 00:24:38.240
Listen to what he says about cheap grace.
00:24:38.480 --> 00:24:40.079
And think about our world today.
00:24:40.240 --> 00:24:45.440
This is 1940, 1940-ish, is when he writes this.
00:24:45.599 --> 00:24:52.240
He says this cheap grace is not the kind of forgiveness of sin which frees us from the toils of sin.
00:24:52.480 --> 00:24:55.440
Cheap grace is what we bestow on ourselves.
00:24:55.680 --> 00:25:05.440
Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, communion without confession, absolution without confession.
00:25:05.680 --> 00:25:12.319
Cheap grace is grace without discipline, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.
00:25:12.559 --> 00:25:21.039
That's what our society really wants, is just cheap grace, where you can tell me how awesome I am and it costs me nothing.
00:25:23.440 --> 00:25:24.640
That's the current world.
00:25:24.799 --> 00:25:26.880
This is what Bonhoeffer says we actually need.
00:25:27.039 --> 00:25:28.559
He calls it costly grace.
00:25:28.720 --> 00:25:37.519
He says, costly grace is the pearl of great price to buy, which the merchant will sell all his goods.
00:25:38.240 --> 00:25:44.079
It's the kingly rule of Christ, for whose sake a man will pluck out the eye which causes him to stumble.
00:25:44.319 --> 00:25:50.720
It is the call of Jesus Christ at which the disciple leaves his nets and follows him.
00:25:51.279 --> 00:25:56.640
It's the call, costly grace is the thing that says, I'm gonna get all that I have.
00:25:56.799 --> 00:26:01.200
I'll give all my money, I'll give all my time, I'll give all my emotion, my resources.
00:26:01.359 --> 00:26:02.400
Jesus, you can have it all.
00:26:02.559 --> 00:26:04.799
I will leave everything for you.
00:26:04.960 --> 00:26:06.960
This is incredibly inconvenient.
00:26:07.119 --> 00:26:08.880
It is incredibly costly.
00:26:08.960 --> 00:26:10.799
And we see this in the story of Peter.
00:26:10.960 --> 00:26:12.240
This is what he did.
00:26:14.000 --> 00:26:19.039
What might Jesus be asking you to do today that is inconvenient?
00:26:20.319 --> 00:26:21.920
What's costly?
00:26:22.640 --> 00:26:38.480
Several years ago, I attended a memorial service for a good and faithful pastor, and at one point in one of the service, one of the during the service, one of his children got up on stage and said that this pastor every morning would read his Bible before he would open the newspaper.
00:26:38.640 --> 00:26:43.680
And the reason he did this is because he wanted good news before bad news.
00:26:44.079 --> 00:27:03.519
And that term caught me because I love to get up in the morning and while I'm getting ready for the day, drinking my coffee, all the things, you know, I will open up my phone, I'll check ESPN, I will check the news, I'll check all the social media things, and if I have times, I'll crack open the Bible.
00:27:03.920 --> 00:27:10.000
And it caught me because I was putting in bad news before good news, and I thought about this idea of what is what's costly?
00:27:10.160 --> 00:27:12.240
Well, I would rather read the bad news.
00:27:12.400 --> 00:27:13.599
It's more exciting.
00:27:14.480 --> 00:27:19.279
I get a bit of a dopamine hit of wow, look at all the chaos going on in our world.
00:27:19.440 --> 00:27:27.519
There's I get by checking social media, I can get all the excitement and keep scrolling, and there is something intoxicating about that.
00:27:27.839 --> 00:27:33.839
But there is something inconvenient and costly about sitting down and reading scripture and saying, God, show me where I am.
00:27:34.000 --> 00:27:38.880
Sitting, there's something costly about sitting before God saying, God, where do I need to be today?
00:27:38.960 --> 00:27:40.240
What are you speaking to me?
00:27:40.480 --> 00:27:42.480
It's inconvenient, it's costly.
00:27:42.720 --> 00:27:53.039
And so for me, when I think of what's inconvenient, every morning, every morning, I wake up and think, good news before bad news or bad news before good news.
00:27:53.759 --> 00:27:55.599
Then I have a decision to make.
00:27:55.920 --> 00:27:58.960
That's what I wrestle with every morning.
00:27:59.440 --> 00:28:02.240
And so I don't know what might be inconvenient for you.
00:28:02.480 --> 00:28:03.200
Fasting.
00:28:03.440 --> 00:28:05.920
Fasting is terribly inconvenient.
00:28:06.480 --> 00:28:07.839
And yet it does something to us.
00:28:08.240 --> 00:28:09.279
Sabbath keeping.
00:28:09.440 --> 00:28:10.079
How about this?
00:28:10.160 --> 00:28:16.720
How about what might be inconvenient for you is paying attention to your spouse, even when the football game is on?
00:28:17.039 --> 00:28:19.119
Katie, no promises today.
00:28:19.359 --> 00:28:23.519
But she's she's smiling, I think.
00:28:23.920 --> 00:28:27.359
Um but maybe paying attention to your spouse.
00:28:27.440 --> 00:28:28.240
That's inconvenient.
00:28:28.319 --> 00:28:32.559
But the way we treat those around us is also how we interact with God.
00:28:32.799 --> 00:28:35.359
Maybe it's uh forgiving.
00:28:35.599 --> 00:28:37.359
Maybe it's taking out the trash.
00:28:37.599 --> 00:28:39.119
See, these are things that are costly.
00:28:39.200 --> 00:28:41.359
It takes us time, things we'd rather not do.
00:28:41.519 --> 00:28:45.039
Maybe it's saying no to something you really want to do.
00:28:46.559 --> 00:28:48.960
Because your spouse wants your help with something else.
00:28:49.279 --> 00:28:51.759
See, following Jesus costs us our life.
00:28:51.920 --> 00:28:53.440
He asks for everything.
00:28:54.000 --> 00:29:05.359
And I love, I love Peter's response to this because I feel like I would be, I wouldn't have the courage to say what Peter said, but I feel like Peter is expressing kind of what he what I said here.
00:29:05.519 --> 00:29:10.240
Uh I like it because I don't see Peter saying, Yes, Lord, I'm going out.
00:29:10.400 --> 00:29:11.119
Let's do it.
00:29:11.279 --> 00:29:12.640
Let's conquer the world.
00:29:12.799 --> 00:29:14.799
I will absolutely throw out my nets for you.
00:29:14.960 --> 00:29:15.759
He doesn't say that.
00:29:16.000 --> 00:29:22.720
He says, uh, Master, um, we were out there just a few minutes ago and it didn't go well.
00:29:22.960 --> 00:29:26.000
Uh I don't know if you know anything about fishing, but now it's daytime.
00:29:26.160 --> 00:29:27.680
The fish are at the bottom.
00:29:27.839 --> 00:29:29.039
This is just a terrible idea.
00:29:29.200 --> 00:29:32.240
He says, Masters, we toiled all night and took nothing.
00:29:33.119 --> 00:29:35.279
This is just a bad idea.
00:29:35.599 --> 00:29:36.799
This doesn't work.
00:29:36.960 --> 00:29:39.759
This isn't how fishing works, Jesus.
00:29:40.000 --> 00:29:43.680
He says, but I'll do it.
00:29:43.839 --> 00:29:44.400
I love this.
00:29:44.480 --> 00:29:46.319
He's saying, God, we caught nothing, Jesus, we caught nothing.
00:29:46.400 --> 00:29:47.519
I'd rather go to bed.
00:29:47.839 --> 00:29:52.000
But, but, and I like how the NIV phrases his response here.
00:29:52.160 --> 00:29:54.799
If you catch nothing else today, catch this phrase.
00:29:54.960 --> 00:30:00.960
And we're gonna say it several times here, but he says this because you say so, I will.
00:30:02.799 --> 00:30:05.920
Because you say so, I will.
00:30:08.400 --> 00:30:11.920
Because you say so, I will.
00:30:12.400 --> 00:30:16.799
And what Peter does here, he has a faithful response.
00:30:16.960 --> 00:30:20.559
And I realize on my notes, number three, faithful or faithful obedience.
00:30:20.720 --> 00:30:29.039
In my notes, I didn't spell faithful correctly, but the idea is because I want us to be full of the faith we have available.
00:30:29.359 --> 00:30:32.720
Full of what is available in our faith in that moment.
00:30:32.880 --> 00:30:33.839
And it's obedient.
00:30:33.920 --> 00:30:38.400
And I call it obedience because Peter shows us what our invitation is.
00:30:38.720 --> 00:30:45.519
Belief only becomes real when it is accompanied with obedience.
00:30:45.839 --> 00:30:54.319
See, if we do not have our body doing what we believe, that's not belief.
00:30:54.640 --> 00:30:59.599
Our body must be active for it to be faith.
00:30:59.759 --> 00:31:01.519
That's just the way it is.
00:31:01.759 --> 00:31:05.279
And so if there is no obedience, there is no belief.
00:31:05.519 --> 00:31:09.440
Obedience and belief must go together.
00:31:10.240 --> 00:31:14.880
If we say we believe in Jesus and do not do what he says, we haven't actually believed.
00:31:15.039 --> 00:31:16.720
We've split that in America.
00:31:16.880 --> 00:31:19.119
We've split obedience and faith.
00:31:19.359 --> 00:31:22.079
But that's not how the word is.
00:31:22.480 --> 00:31:25.200
So we talk all the time about what is belief?
00:31:25.599 --> 00:31:28.640
Belief and faith in the Greek is the same word.
00:31:28.960 --> 00:31:32.559
It's the word pistos, which is an interesting word to say.
00:31:32.799 --> 00:31:35.839
Um, and so it's pistos, Greek.
00:31:35.920 --> 00:31:38.160
It's it's faith, belief, all in one.
00:31:38.559 --> 00:31:41.279
Your body participates in that.
00:31:42.160 --> 00:31:46.640
Peter is not a man full of confidence yet of what Jesus is doing.
00:31:46.720 --> 00:31:48.480
So he's not saying, I'm all in.
00:31:48.559 --> 00:31:49.599
I said that already, right?
00:31:49.759 --> 00:31:54.880
He but he has enough faith to say, all right, I'm gonna give this a try.
00:31:55.039 --> 00:31:57.440
I'm gonna just take one more step.
00:31:57.759 --> 00:32:01.200
He was full, he had the amount of faith he had on that day.
00:32:01.359 --> 00:32:07.759
He was, he used all of the faith he had, and he said, If you say so, I will.
00:32:08.160 --> 00:32:11.200
And he put his body into action.
00:32:12.160 --> 00:32:18.000
These words, if you say so, I will, are the words of a burgeoning rock.
00:32:18.160 --> 00:32:24.640
A person who's being formed, strengthened, a person who's becoming a pillar in the house of God.
00:32:25.440 --> 00:32:30.000
We think we must understand what God is doing.
00:32:30.240 --> 00:32:35.119
We must be able to know exactly what God is doing before we believe.
00:32:35.519 --> 00:32:37.440
That's not what's happening here.
00:32:37.759 --> 00:32:41.839
Have you ever had somebody pull up and say, hey, get in the car, I'm gonna let's go.
00:32:42.079 --> 00:32:43.359
What's your first question?
00:32:43.519 --> 00:32:46.079
Your first question is, where are you going?
00:32:46.400 --> 00:32:47.920
How long are you gonna be there?
00:32:48.160 --> 00:32:49.680
How many stops along the way?
00:32:49.839 --> 00:32:51.039
Who's coming with us?
00:32:51.200 --> 00:32:55.680
We want all of our questions answered before we get in the car with somebody, typically.
00:32:55.839 --> 00:33:02.079
But if it's somebody we really care about, we don't have to have all those questions answered.
00:33:02.160 --> 00:33:03.680
We just get in the car.
00:33:04.000 --> 00:33:05.599
Somebody pull up, hey, get in the car.
00:33:05.680 --> 00:33:12.079
I remember in college one time, a guy, uh he was a senior, I was a sophomore, and he said, Hey, I'm going to the store.
00:33:12.240 --> 00:33:12.799
Hop in.
00:33:12.960 --> 00:33:16.240
I didn't know where we're going, but here was somebody inviting me.
00:33:16.400 --> 00:33:17.839
So I just jumped in the car.
00:33:18.079 --> 00:33:22.880
What we do now, when our relationship with Jesus, Jesus says, Hey, come with me.
00:33:22.960 --> 00:33:24.319
We say, Where are we going?
00:33:24.559 --> 00:33:26.000
How are we gonna get there?
00:33:26.240 --> 00:33:29.359
Actually, I have a couple of stops along the way, Jesus.
00:33:29.519 --> 00:33:32.880
Uh, here's a couple of things I would like you to do for me while we're driving.
00:33:33.039 --> 00:33:34.960
And then we actually, Jesus, how about this?
00:33:35.119 --> 00:33:40.960
How about let's pull over, you pull over, I'll drive, you get in the car, this is the system we're gonna go.
00:33:41.039 --> 00:33:43.279
Isn't that how we treat Jesus sometimes?
00:33:43.599 --> 00:34:00.559
But what Jesus is saying is, do this, and we say, I don't understand where we're going or why we're doing this or what the process is, I don't know the destination, but Jesus, because I'm with you, I will say yes.
00:34:00.880 --> 00:34:04.000
The destination is the presence of Jesus.
00:34:04.160 --> 00:34:06.319
That's our destination, that's the goal.
00:34:06.480 --> 00:34:10.880
And we get that when somebody we love invites us.
00:34:11.360 --> 00:34:15.679
The destination is being with that person, the destination is relationship.
00:34:15.840 --> 00:34:18.239
And Jesus is inviting us to this.
00:34:18.480 --> 00:34:21.440
He's saying, Come alongside, follow me.
00:34:21.599 --> 00:34:23.119
And we say, Yes.
00:34:24.079 --> 00:34:26.800
This is the posture of a Christ follower.
00:34:26.880 --> 00:34:28.559
If you say so, I will.
00:34:29.920 --> 00:34:35.519
What I appreciate about Jesus is he doesn't get mad at Peter when Peter says, Jesus, this isn't how we normally do it.
00:34:35.760 --> 00:34:41.199
I think we can even express to Jesus, Jesus, this isn't the way normally things are done.
00:34:41.360 --> 00:34:43.599
In fact, I don't agree with this at all.
00:34:43.920 --> 00:34:46.719
I would rather not go with you.
00:34:47.280 --> 00:34:49.920
But if you say so, I will.
00:34:50.079 --> 00:34:52.639
Jesus can handle that if we express all those things.
00:34:52.880 --> 00:34:55.039
He doesn't, he's not ashamed of that.
00:34:55.119 --> 00:34:57.679
He's not saying, well, then you can't go with me if you have some questions.
00:34:57.840 --> 00:35:02.000
If we get in the car with him, if we follow him, he's happy.
00:35:02.159 --> 00:35:03.599
We're doing it with him.
00:35:04.880 --> 00:35:13.920
Um areas in our lives, I think, are um have kept us from following him.
00:35:14.239 --> 00:35:15.840
They become exposed in these moments.
00:35:16.000 --> 00:35:29.599
And our faith, when we say yes to Jesus, when we say, if you say so, I will, even if I don't get it, even if I don't understand, when we begin to take one step in front of the other, we are stretched, we begin to grow.
00:35:29.840 --> 00:35:38.639
And as I look into what is quickly becoming 2027, where in the world is time going?
00:35:38.800 --> 00:35:45.280
But when I look into 2027, we are forced to wonder what's that year going to be like.
00:35:46.960 --> 00:35:55.679
I think it looks like people who are being built differently than the world around them.
00:35:56.000 --> 00:36:02.880
This world needs people who are built differently, who say, I am not like the world.
00:36:03.039 --> 00:36:12.800
That's what is happening here is uh Peter, he uses a different metaphor in 1 Peter, he calls the church, members of the church, he calls them exiles.
00:36:13.039 --> 00:36:16.480
And this is what he means by that is this is not our home.
00:36:16.719 --> 00:36:25.760
Now, by this, I don't mean our land, because Jesus is returning, but really the kingdom of God is in our hearts.
00:36:26.000 --> 00:36:28.639
And the kingdom of this world is about people's hearts.
00:36:28.880 --> 00:36:38.400
And so the world right now is not dominated by the kingdom of God, and so we are living in exile among other people, is what Peter tells us.
00:36:38.639 --> 00:36:46.000
And so, what this means is that we don't belong in the kingdom of this world, we live differently.
00:36:47.519 --> 00:36:57.199
And so, what we need to do as I look at 2027, we need people who have been stretched and grown, and the way we do that is by taking a step saying, if you say so, I will.
00:36:58.480 --> 00:37:03.440
And this comes by faith fully obeying the words of God.
00:37:03.840 --> 00:37:06.079
Uh it's been a big week for me, actually.
00:37:06.400 --> 00:37:11.199
I made a new friend without Katie's help, and so I'm really excited about that.
00:37:11.440 --> 00:37:13.360
Most of my friends come via Katie.
00:37:13.599 --> 00:37:14.880
I'm grateful for her.
00:37:15.119 --> 00:37:17.519
Um it's been a big week.
00:37:17.679 --> 00:37:21.199
But my new friend, he um, he's a man from Indonesia.
00:37:21.440 --> 00:37:26.400
He lived in Indonesia, and he then left his family and he went to a Bible college in Indonesia.
00:37:26.559 --> 00:37:33.519
And then he took one more faithful step, and he decided to go to move to Nashville, Tennessee to go to seminary.
00:37:33.679 --> 00:37:41.440
And then he took another faithful step, and he ended up being a teacher in Tigered, Oregon, at Portland Seminary.
00:37:41.599 --> 00:37:49.119
And I said to my new friend, I said, Did you imagine yourself growing up, raising your family in Tigered, Oregon?
00:37:49.599 --> 00:37:51.760
And he had no context.
00:37:51.840 --> 00:37:56.960
He's like, no, no, I never imagined as a boy saying, you know where I'd really like to raise my family?
00:37:57.119 --> 00:37:58.480
Uh, Tigered, Oregon.
00:37:58.639 --> 00:38:00.559
It just not at all what happened.
00:38:00.719 --> 00:38:02.239
What did what did my friend do?
00:38:02.400 --> 00:38:14.559
He took one faithful step, one faithful step, one faithful step, and here he is serving Jesus, an Indonesian man in Tigered, Oregon.
00:38:14.800 --> 00:38:21.119
How many among us, if we would go around our car and tell our stories, you'd say, I don't know how I ended up here.
00:38:21.280 --> 00:38:26.639
I just took one faithful step, and God led me along the path.
00:38:26.719 --> 00:38:28.639
And I am grateful that he did.
00:38:28.880 --> 00:38:31.920
That's what happens when we say yes to Jesus.
00:38:32.159 --> 00:38:35.360
This is the path of a burgeoning pillar.
00:38:35.920 --> 00:38:42.079
At the conclusion of our story, Peter and his friends experience so much fish that their boats begin to sink.
00:38:42.400 --> 00:38:51.199
And following Jesus does not, what I want us to pay attention to is following Jesus does not mean a stress-free world.
00:38:51.679 --> 00:38:54.719
When we say yes to Jesus, there will be moments of stress.
00:38:54.880 --> 00:39:03.519
Their boats are sinking, they're calling in help, they they are trying to figure it out, and I can just see Jesus brimming with pride.
00:39:03.760 --> 00:39:06.960
Yes, look at these guys relying on me.
00:39:07.119 --> 00:39:10.320
This is the life of a Christ follower.
00:39:10.480 --> 00:39:14.000
And I have to add a final statement to what Peter says here.
00:39:14.079 --> 00:39:20.159
He said, At the very end, he says, and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon.
00:39:20.400 --> 00:39:24.159
And Jesus said to Simon, Do not be afraid, from now on you will be catching men.
00:39:24.239 --> 00:39:28.800
And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.
00:39:30.400 --> 00:39:34.880
Jesus tells Peter that he will now be a fisher of men.
00:39:35.199 --> 00:39:39.280
He will be casting out his net, trying to collect people who follow Jesus.
00:39:39.519 --> 00:39:41.039
His purpose had shifted.
00:39:41.280 --> 00:39:42.559
Being a fisherman is great.
00:39:42.639 --> 00:39:43.440
It's a great job.
00:39:43.599 --> 00:39:45.039
Thank you, fishermen.
00:39:45.360 --> 00:39:48.400
We are grateful for the service you provide us.
00:39:48.639 --> 00:39:50.800
Peter was just called to something different.
00:39:51.039 --> 00:39:52.400
And so Peter follows that.
00:39:52.639 --> 00:39:55.679
He leaves everything and follows Jesus.
00:39:55.920 --> 00:39:58.719
Following Jesus is costly.
00:40:00.239 --> 00:40:04.000
You will be asked to do things you never expected to do.
00:40:04.400 --> 00:40:10.639
And this is good because who we are right now is kind of a mess.
00:40:10.960 --> 00:40:13.679
Many of us, if we are honest, we're just a bit of a mess.
00:40:13.760 --> 00:40:16.880
And what Jesus does is he shapes and molds us.
00:40:17.039 --> 00:40:24.400
And out of these pressure moments, out of the hard things in life, what he begins to do is produce something that looks more and more like him.
00:40:24.639 --> 00:40:30.880
It begins to look more like joy, peace, goodness, love, faithfulness.
00:40:31.519 --> 00:40:36.320
These hard moments that you're going through where you're saying, Jesus, I would rather not.
00:40:36.559 --> 00:40:46.320
Jesus is doing something to you in these moments where your faith begins to grow, and you keep saying, I don't get it at all, Jesus, but I'll trust you again.
00:40:46.880 --> 00:40:48.559
And our faith grows.
00:40:48.960 --> 00:40:50.000
It's hard.
00:40:50.320 --> 00:40:52.480
And yet Jesus does something to us.
00:40:53.199 --> 00:40:56.159
Jesus invites all of us to a next step.
00:40:57.119 --> 00:41:01.280
So what are we going to practice this week?
00:41:02.000 --> 00:41:07.119
I'm going to ask you to practice saying, if you say so, I will.
00:41:07.280 --> 00:41:08.480
So here's what we're going to do.
00:41:09.440 --> 00:41:10.880
We're going to say it out loud together.
00:41:11.039 --> 00:41:12.639
We're just going to do practice it right now.
00:41:12.719 --> 00:41:17.199
For those who are interested, you can, I'm going to ask you to join me.
00:41:17.360 --> 00:41:19.280
We just say, if you say so, I will.
00:41:19.440 --> 00:41:21.280
Now, I don't want any liars out there.
00:41:21.360 --> 00:41:24.320
I do believe that what we should say, it matches who we are.
00:41:24.480 --> 00:41:28.960
So if you're not saying yes to Jesus, no one's looking at you.
00:41:29.119 --> 00:41:30.320
I can't see you at all.
00:41:30.400 --> 00:41:31.440
It's so bright up here.
00:41:31.519 --> 00:41:32.559
I'm not even looking at you.
00:41:32.639 --> 00:41:34.639
I can't see if your mouths are moving or not.
00:41:34.800 --> 00:41:43.519
And so just if you're if you want to say yes to Jesus, just say if with me, oh, in just a moment, if you say so, I will.
00:41:43.679 --> 00:41:48.960
And what you're doing is you're making this a day of commitment or recommitment to him.
00:41:49.360 --> 00:41:51.679
I'm going to need a drink here before I do that.
00:41:55.519 --> 00:42:00.800
And so, if you are interested in saying yes to Jesus, I want this to be a day of commitment.
00:42:01.039 --> 00:42:06.880
I don't understand, I don't always know, but I will say, if you say so, I will.
00:42:06.960 --> 00:42:08.880
That's our posture of this Christ follower.
00:42:09.039 --> 00:42:11.199
Will you say it with me together?
00:42:11.519 --> 00:42:14.159
If you say so, I will.
00:42:14.480 --> 00:42:15.519
One more time.
00:42:15.840 --> 00:42:18.559
If you say so, I will.
00:42:20.320 --> 00:42:23.679
This week, be reminded of that.
00:42:23.760 --> 00:42:27.920
There may be times where you need to say, Lord, if you say so, I will.
00:42:28.639 --> 00:42:30.320
If you say so, I will.
00:42:30.480 --> 00:42:34.239
Um, some of us have experienced this day of commitment.
00:42:34.880 --> 00:42:38.800
Maybe you sense God taking you a step you would rather not go.
00:42:39.119 --> 00:42:43.119
And we just trust in Jesus and say, Okay, I am afraid.
00:42:43.199 --> 00:42:44.719
I'm not really comfortable about this.
00:42:44.880 --> 00:42:45.760
I'd rather not.
00:42:45.840 --> 00:42:48.000
But if you say so, I will.
00:42:48.480 --> 00:42:49.199
We'll pray.
00:42:49.280 --> 00:42:51.119
Some of you have never committed your life to Jesus.
00:42:51.199 --> 00:42:52.559
So in just a moment, I will pray.
00:42:52.639 --> 00:43:07.360
And in that moment, by you saying, if you say so, I will, Lord, you can make this your first ever day of commitment, where you are born of Christ, welcomed into the family of God, full of Him, and what a glorious day it will be.
00:43:07.599 --> 00:43:09.519
It is worth doing.
00:43:09.599 --> 00:43:11.199
There's no greater way to live.
00:43:11.360 --> 00:43:15.280
It's not easy, folks, but there is no greater way to live.
00:43:15.599 --> 00:43:18.239
It is to live for Jesus is the greatest way.
00:43:18.400 --> 00:43:21.039
So I'll pray for you if you've never made this day of commitment.
00:43:21.199 --> 00:43:26.000
Some of you though, um, maybe God is asking you to do something that you'd rather not do.
00:43:26.079 --> 00:43:28.639
And he's saying, just go a little further out.
00:43:28.719 --> 00:43:30.800
And you say, Lord, if you say so, I will.
00:43:30.880 --> 00:43:36.000
I'm gonna commit to Jesus, and the course of your life may be changed for the good.
00:43:36.159 --> 00:43:41.440
You won't believe what God will do through this next step that He's asking you to take.
00:43:41.679 --> 00:43:42.960
Let's pray.
00:43:44.559 --> 00:43:47.039
Lord, you are good and gracious to us.
00:43:47.679 --> 00:43:49.519
You're patient with us.
00:43:49.840 --> 00:43:52.800
You don't get frustrated when we don't understand.
00:43:53.360 --> 00:43:56.639
You're just so kind.
00:43:57.360 --> 00:44:01.599
And Lord, there may be some who have never had a day of commitment where they said yes to you.
00:44:01.840 --> 00:44:09.679
So in this moment, Lord, may they say, if you say so, Lord, if you're inviting me, I will take one more step closer to you and invite you into my life.
00:44:09.840 --> 00:44:12.800
So in this moment, Jesus, come into their lives.
00:44:13.039 --> 00:44:18.480
There may be some here who have said yes to you, but they have stopped actually walking with you.
00:44:18.559 --> 00:44:19.840
It's now just a mental thing.
00:44:19.920 --> 00:44:29.199
And they would say, Yeah, I believe in Jesus, but they have not become the followers, disciples, students of you who follow and do what you ask, who we've stopped obeying.
00:44:29.360 --> 00:44:37.119
Lord, make this day a day of recommitment where you say, I'm I'm not gonna just agree, I'm gonna act out my faith.
00:44:37.840 --> 00:44:39.840
Lord, stir us today.
00:44:40.800 --> 00:44:44.559
We thank you, mighty God, for your great grace.
00:44:44.800 --> 00:44:45.599
In your name.
00:44:45.840 --> 00:44:46.480
Amen.
00:44:47.440 --> 00:44:51.519
Um I forgot to mention one of the other practices.
00:44:51.679 --> 00:45:00.960
If you have never been to Welcome to the Intersection, we're gonna have it right after the service on about 20 minutes by the time Pastor Kim and I get in the center.
00:45:01.039 --> 00:45:01.760
So it's in the center.
00:45:01.840 --> 00:45:05.280
If you go out these doors, if you're new, go out these doors, take a left and go through.
00:45:05.360 --> 00:45:14.239
Uh if you're new to the intersection or if you want to become a member, this is one of the processes we ask you to do to become a member, is go to Welcome to the Intersection where we get to meet you.
00:45:14.480 --> 00:45:16.320
You get to hear what we're about.
00:45:16.559 --> 00:45:19.440
And is this is this a place you want to belong and become a part of?
00:45:19.599 --> 00:45:22.480
So that's right after the service in about 20 minutes or so.
00:45:22.639 --> 00:45:26.719
Um, I think there's gonna be coffee, and usually Kim has some good stuff for us.
00:45:26.800 --> 00:45:28.239
So don't just go in there for the coffee.
00:45:28.320 --> 00:45:31.199
If you come get coffee or donuts, stay.
00:45:31.360 --> 00:45:32.000
That's the cost.
00:45:32.079 --> 00:45:32.559
I'm just kidding.
00:45:32.639 --> 00:45:33.760
I'm kidding, you're always welcome.
00:45:34.000 --> 00:45:36.719
Okay, uh, but welcome to join us for welcome to the intersection.
00:45:36.960 --> 00:45:39.440
Let me give two discussion questions for us this morning.
00:45:39.679 --> 00:45:43.840
What is something you committed to that changed your life more than you expected?
00:45:44.000 --> 00:45:48.960
So, is there a time where you said, I'm just gonna make this commitment and it changed the course of your life?
00:45:49.119 --> 00:45:52.639
Now, listen, marriage is obviously the right answer.
00:45:53.679 --> 00:45:55.199
Pick something else.
00:45:55.920 --> 00:45:59.679
Your spouse already, you already love them, they know this.
00:45:59.840 --> 00:46:01.440
Pick something besides marriage.
00:46:01.599 --> 00:46:02.800
That's the obvious answer.
00:46:03.199 --> 00:46:04.639
James saying yes to Jesus.
00:46:04.719 --> 00:46:04.960
Yep.
00:46:05.039 --> 00:46:08.880
I mean like, oh, I went to this college or I moved to this house or I chose this friend.
00:46:09.039 --> 00:46:09.840
Something like that.
00:46:10.000 --> 00:46:12.400
Don't pick the don't pick the Jesus answer here.
00:46:12.639 --> 00:46:17.119
Pick pick something a little more personal besides Jesus and your spouse.
00:46:17.360 --> 00:46:17.599
All right.
00:46:17.760 --> 00:46:21.760
And the next question is to what do you think you need to say because you say so I will?
00:46:21.920 --> 00:46:28.320
Is God asking you to do something, and you need you'd just rather not, but you sense God saying something, you say, Okay, I will do that.
00:46:28.559 --> 00:46:30.400
So those are our discussion questions this week.
00:46:30.559 --> 00:46:32.719
Let me give us a prayer of blessing as we go.
00:46:33.039 --> 00:46:35.039
The Lord bless you and keep you.
00:46:35.440 --> 00:46:38.239
The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you.
00:46:38.400 --> 00:46:41.679
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
00:46:42.000 --> 00:46:45.199
Intersection, you are loved.
00:46:45.360 --> 00:46:46.079
You're loved.
00:46:46.239 --> 00:46:47.760
Go in peace, have a great week.
