Full Transcript for You Are Making a Difference

00:05:07.650 --> 00:05:13.970 This church has always, always been good stewards. 00:05:15.410 --> 00:05:15.970 Always. 00:05:16.129 --> 00:05:18.689 I've been here 36 years. 00:05:19.009 --> 00:05:24.610 And I've seen this church step up to the plate and help in times of crisis. 00:05:24.850 --> 00:05:32.449 I've seen this church help people that were down and out, people that couldn't put a meal on the table during times of crisis. 00:05:32.610 --> 00:05:42.129 I've seen people in our church go out and rally around people that had uh had uh trees on the roof and needed blue tarps put on their roof. 00:05:42.290 --> 00:05:45.250 I've seen people during COVID help people that were sick. 00:05:45.730 --> 00:05:56.129 I mean, I have seen our church making a difference in people's lives being good stewards of what God has blessed us with. 00:05:56.530 --> 00:06:04.449 You know, I believe that being a good steward is being a steward of the money that he has blessed us with. 00:06:04.689 --> 00:06:08.930 You know, at the end of the service, you'll get to meet one of our missionaries. 00:06:09.170 --> 00:06:12.449 We have missionary Jim Foster here. 00:06:13.090 --> 00:06:15.490 He is a missionary in South Africa. 00:06:15.730 --> 00:06:17.970 And we were talking, I was talking to Brother Tommy about this. 00:06:18.129 --> 00:06:21.490 Brother Tommy told me that we have given, listen, just think about this, y'all. 00:06:21.650 --> 00:06:22.610 Think about this. 00:06:22.930 --> 00:06:30.769 Jim Foster, a missionary in South Africa, our church has given him$208,000. 00:06:33.889 --> 00:06:35.170 Think about that. 00:06:36.290 --> 00:06:38.449 That's just one missionary. 00:06:39.250 --> 00:06:42.850 That's not counting all the other 50-something that we support. 00:06:43.730 --> 00:06:55.889 You think about the way that people have given so that people could have uh problems in their life helped, taken care of financially. 00:06:56.209 --> 00:07:00.290 You have done that, you have made a difference. 00:07:00.689 --> 00:07:04.530 Many of you give financially in times of crisis. 00:07:04.689 --> 00:07:16.290 Many of you give every single week financially to missions and to the church so that the church can do a ministry like we do, which is widespread. 00:07:18.129 --> 00:07:27.970 You know, I have been able to see the importance now, me being gone, I've seen the importance of us having a quality online service. 00:07:28.689 --> 00:07:35.090 While we were gone, I couldn't get to church every week, so we would watch online church. 00:07:35.490 --> 00:07:36.530 And it's unbelievable. 00:07:36.689 --> 00:07:40.930 Now, one Sunday we didn't get to have it because of the hurricane, but I was able to watch online. 00:07:41.170 --> 00:07:53.410 Man, it's so cool to watch our church online and to see the great music and to hear the great preaching from this pulpit online while I'm in New Hampshire. 00:07:53.889 --> 00:07:56.449 I did get to go to a church and it was so interesting. 00:07:56.610 --> 00:07:59.329 I went to a church in uh Ohio. 00:08:00.050 --> 00:08:03.170 You know, we have a fellow that gives us a deer hunt every year. 00:08:03.329 --> 00:08:07.810 He lives in Ohio and he donates this deer hunt where I took the first grader who killed the deer. 00:08:07.889 --> 00:08:09.889 His name is Jared Yoder. 00:08:10.050 --> 00:08:13.889 And he said, Pastor, since y'all are here on a Sunday, would you go to church with me? 00:08:13.970 --> 00:08:15.009 I said, Sure, I'll go to church. 00:08:15.170 --> 00:08:16.209 Where do you go to church? 00:08:16.449 --> 00:08:21.810 He goes to an evangelical Mennonite church. 00:08:22.290 --> 00:08:25.090 And I thought, this will be a little different. 00:08:27.250 --> 00:08:28.689 Unbelievable. 00:08:29.250 --> 00:08:31.090 I knew every song. 00:08:32.610 --> 00:08:35.490 They sang the same, this Mennonite church. 00:08:35.649 --> 00:08:37.169 But it's a little different Mennonite church. 00:08:37.250 --> 00:08:39.490 I mean, they're go-getters, they're after it. 00:08:39.809 --> 00:08:49.409 And uh they dress a little different, you know, but I'm telling you, I knew every song, and the preacher got up and preached, and he put me to shame. 00:08:49.569 --> 00:08:51.009 That boy can preach. 00:08:51.250 --> 00:08:56.049 I mean, he preached, and I'm sitting there thinking, man, this is so awesome. 00:08:56.209 --> 00:09:02.609 Here is an evangelistic Mennonite church basically believed everything that we believe. 00:09:02.689 --> 00:09:05.250 They got baptisms coming up, and so on and so forth. 00:09:05.329 --> 00:09:05.969 It was so cool. 00:09:06.049 --> 00:09:15.889 But I thought, you know, I got to watch us online, and your dollars that you give make it possible for us to do that every week. 00:09:16.129 --> 00:09:18.049 They don't give that time away. 00:09:18.289 --> 00:09:19.169 It costs. 00:09:19.729 --> 00:09:27.329 Then I thought about the involvement of people, the manpower that it takes to do ministry like we do here. 00:09:27.489 --> 00:09:28.289 Do you realize? 00:09:28.449 --> 00:09:30.049 Hear me now, listen. 00:09:31.089 --> 00:09:35.889 Every week it takes 800 volunteers. 00:09:38.289 --> 00:09:46.929 Now, when you add crisis times to that, that number gets really inflated. 00:09:47.889 --> 00:10:05.169 There's a lot more people that jump in and give their time, their hands, their feet, their power, their strength to help like they did during this hurricane time in the aftermath of cleaning up yards and helping people that are sick and getting people to the doctors and all of this stuff. 00:10:05.329 --> 00:10:07.649 It takes a lot of manpower. 00:10:07.809 --> 00:10:08.529 But you know what? 00:10:08.609 --> 00:10:21.889 That's a part of it, the stewardship of your life, giving yourself to help people, and it's a part of who we are as a church, using the manpower and the money that God has blessed us with to be a blessing to this community.

00:10:22.370 --> 00:10:26.049 That, folks, is stewardship. 00:10:26.849 --> 00:10:28.370 That's what it is. 00:10:28.849 --> 00:10:46.609 It's about using what God has blessed us, your talent, your family influence, yourself, giving yourself, being the best manager of the life that God has given to you to help other people, to be a blessing to this community. 00:10:46.929 --> 00:10:49.329 That is stewardship. 00:10:50.370 --> 00:10:52.529 And I'm telling you, you're making a difference. 00:10:52.689 --> 00:10:53.489 Look at these pictures. 00:10:55.329 --> 00:10:56.929 We could put a thousand pictures up here. 00:10:57.169 --> 00:10:58.449 But you know, y'all seen it. 00:10:58.609 --> 00:11:01.089 You some of you some of you may recognize these pictures. 00:11:01.250 --> 00:11:04.289 Somebody may know that house, that yard right there. 00:11:05.409 --> 00:11:06.049 Wow. 00:11:06.929 --> 00:11:09.009 There's one of our men out there. 00:11:10.370 --> 00:11:12.929 Have you heard a lot of chainsaws for this last couple weeks? 00:11:13.009 --> 00:11:13.729 You have, ain't you? 00:11:14.049 --> 00:11:19.250 Somebody putting a roof, a tarp on a roof, getting keeping the water out. 00:11:19.409 --> 00:11:19.809 Yeah. 00:11:20.049 --> 00:11:20.849 Look at that. 00:11:21.169 --> 00:11:26.449 Some of our young people out there and others jumping in and helping, clearing trees. 00:11:26.689 --> 00:11:28.129 Man, you know, we listen to this. 00:11:28.209 --> 00:11:30.769 We got one of our one of the men in our church, Marty Wirth. 00:11:31.009 --> 00:11:35.329 He was using a chainsaw, and that thing jumped back and cut. 00:11:35.409 --> 00:11:37.569 I mean, he showed it to me this morning. 00:11:37.649 --> 00:11:38.529 I said, oh, ooh. 00:11:38.689 --> 00:11:41.569 Oh, sorry, I'm a wheeze when it comes to that. 00:11:41.649 --> 00:11:45.649 You know, I guess it's funny, I can skin a deer, but I can't stand to look at somebody's arm hurt. 00:11:45.729 --> 00:11:52.849 But anyway, cut his hand and arm, the chainsaw jumped back and cut it like this, all the way up. 00:11:53.250 --> 00:11:55.889 I said, How in the world did you not lose your arm? 00:11:56.049 --> 00:11:57.729 He says, Only a miracle of God. 00:11:57.889 --> 00:11:59.489 They sewed it all back together. 00:11:59.649 --> 00:12:00.449 And he was out there. 00:12:00.529 --> 00:12:03.409 Look at this guy cutting the, yeah, that may be one of you. 00:12:03.569 --> 00:12:11.089 And then, you know, the eight days of hope group that was here, that was here, they've been here all week going out helping people. 00:12:11.169 --> 00:12:15.169 They're gonna be all here all next week, and 30 more homes or families. 00:12:15.329 --> 00:12:17.329 You know, they're gonna keep on trying to help people. 00:12:17.409 --> 00:12:19.729 And there they are, some of them, their team right there. 00:12:19.889 --> 00:12:21.089 They've been stationed up here. 00:12:21.169 --> 00:12:26.209 All these white buildings you see over here, and all this, that's from the eight days of hope. 00:12:26.449 --> 00:12:27.329 People that are here. 00:12:27.409 --> 00:12:28.129 That's one of them. 00:12:28.209 --> 00:12:29.809 I said, Man, I need that at my house. 00:12:29.889 --> 00:12:30.370 Look at that. 00:12:30.529 --> 00:12:33.009 That's what I could tear some woods up with that thing. 00:12:33.169 --> 00:12:39.649 But anyway, you know, when you look at that, you think, you know, that's that's that's stewardship. 00:12:39.889 --> 00:12:41.250 That's what that is. 00:12:41.569 --> 00:12:48.849 That's you using what God has blessed you with to be a blessing to other people. 00:12:49.250 --> 00:13:00.769 Some of you given materials, you've given tarps, you've given roof material, you've given hammers and nails and chainsaws and tractors and trucks and on and on and on. 00:13:01.729 --> 00:13:09.569 Now, you always got some people that, you know, want to be negative, and all we got some people always, well, the church just didn't help me out. 00:13:09.649 --> 00:13:10.769 Well, we're sorry. 00:13:11.009 --> 00:13:13.329 If we didn't get to you yet, we're trying. 00:13:13.569 --> 00:13:15.329 You know, we're trying to do our best. 00:13:15.569 --> 00:13:21.250 You got some people, uh, they always don't like this, they don't like that, they always gotta whine, complain about something about the church. 00:13:21.409 --> 00:13:23.329 You know, listen, that's always gonna happen. 00:13:23.409 --> 00:13:24.929 Now I'm gonna tell you something. 00:13:25.169 --> 00:13:27.809 Don't pay any attention to that trash, okay? 00:13:28.129 --> 00:13:39.409 If you see somebody on online, you know, you got these cowboys uh that get on the computer and they're they're you know, they're most of them are anyway, they I'm not gonna say what I'm gonna say, but anyway. 00:13:41.649 --> 00:13:53.729 But you know, there are times we have to deal with those kinds of people, but you know, they get online and they whine about this and they whine about that and they complain about this and complain about this and run to church down about this, and we don't do this, and we don't do that, you know. 00:13:54.289 --> 00:13:56.849 Listen, don't listen to that trash, okay? 00:13:57.089 --> 00:14:00.929 Listen, if you see that trash, you're like, Jesus help that person. 00:14:02.209 --> 00:14:03.329 Just help him. 00:14:05.409 --> 00:14:11.809 Because I look at it and I see this church making a difference. 00:14:13.250 --> 00:14:16.689 You are making a difference. 00:14:17.409 --> 00:14:27.969 You know, in our travels, it was really something to see that people are really different. 00:14:29.089 --> 00:14:30.609 People are really different. 00:14:30.929 --> 00:14:33.969 And I I thought about how God kind of opened my eyes a little bit. 00:14:34.049 --> 00:14:37.729 You know, people are different, but they're they're good, they're good people everywhere. 00:14:38.049 --> 00:14:45.009 You know, when I went to that

midnight church, man, they were coming up, giving me hugs, and hey, brother, how you doing, you know? 00:14:45.809 --> 00:14:46.689 I'm doing great. 00:14:48.769 --> 00:14:52.209 They're different, but they're good, great brothers and sisters. 00:14:52.289 --> 00:14:53.089 It's a great church. 00:14:53.169 --> 00:14:53.969 It was awesome. 00:14:54.529 --> 00:14:57.089 People are different. 00:14:57.409 --> 00:15:07.250 And I'm I was so blessed to be able to be there, but I was so blessed to to watch our church and who they were through the social media that I was able to look at. 00:15:07.569 --> 00:15:13.329 Now, I'm gonna I'm gonna read one verse and I'm gonna make two points. 00:15:13.809 --> 00:15:16.209 Okay, you're going, wow, all right. 00:15:16.929 --> 00:15:18.049 Two points. 00:15:18.289 --> 00:15:21.649 Yeah, but they might be a little long, so don't get excited. 00:15:21.729 --> 00:15:22.849 No, they're not, they're not. 00:15:23.009 --> 00:15:27.169 But so I want you to look at one verse Ephesians chapter 2, verse number 10. 00:15:27.250 --> 00:15:28.209 Let's read it together. 00:15:28.449 --> 00:15:29.569 You read it silently. 00:15:29.649 --> 00:15:30.529 I'm gonna read out loud. 00:15:30.609 --> 00:15:34.529 Read it in your Bible, read it on your phone, you know, on your tablet. 00:15:34.689 --> 00:15:42.849 It was it was one of the things that's a little different is when you go to a Mennonite church, they don't have phones and text and tablets and all that. 00:15:43.009 --> 00:15:44.289 Everybody had a Bible. 00:15:44.609 --> 00:15:45.649 That was really awesome. 00:15:45.969 --> 00:15:48.209 Everybody in there had a Bible out, you know. 00:15:48.370 --> 00:15:52.370 And uh, so if however you read your word, look here it is. 00:15:52.689 --> 00:16:20.129 For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before put in place, ordained, made to happen, that we should walk, that we should live in that plan that He has created us for. 00:16:20.289 --> 00:16:21.489 That's what that verse is saying. 00:16:21.569 --> 00:16:22.769 I'm gonna break it down for you. 00:16:22.929 --> 00:16:24.849 Number one, write this down. 00:16:25.169 --> 00:16:28.609 We are created in Christ Jesus. 00:16:28.849 --> 00:16:29.809 Write that down. 00:16:30.049 --> 00:16:33.009 We are created in Christ Jesus. 00:16:33.169 --> 00:16:37.169 Now, that word created is an interesting word. 00:16:38.049 --> 00:16:40.929 And uh I looked it up in the original language. 00:16:41.009 --> 00:16:43.250 Now, I'm not a Greek scholar, I know a little Greek. 00:16:43.409 --> 00:16:45.250 He runs a restaurant, a Greek restaurant. 00:16:45.329 --> 00:16:46.370 I know that Greek restaurant. 00:16:46.529 --> 00:16:49.649 That's about all the Greek that I really I'm not an expert at this kind of stuff. 00:16:49.729 --> 00:16:51.089 But you can look it up, right? 00:16:51.250 --> 00:16:54.929 So I looked it up, and here's what that word means. 00:16:55.089 --> 00:16:56.129 Write it down. 00:16:56.449 --> 00:17:06.370 It means to form, to shape, or to bring into existence something entirely new. 00:17:06.529 --> 00:17:12.130 In other words, to create something from nothing. 00:17:13.089 --> 00:17:17.809 Or to make something completely different than it was. 00:17:18.769 --> 00:17:32.769 And the Bible says you and I were created, we were formed, we were shaped, we were brought into existence to be entirely new. 00:17:33.410 --> 00:17:36.529 Now, when you became a Christian, I hope you're saved. 00:17:36.769 --> 00:17:38.850 I hope you know the Lord as your Savior. 00:17:39.009 --> 00:17:44.130 Those out there at Bulin, Melino, North Pace, watching out there online, you're watching. 00:17:44.289 --> 00:17:47.170 I hope you know Jesus as your personal savior. 00:17:47.410 --> 00:17:49.009 I hope you have been saved. 00:17:49.170 --> 00:17:54.769 If you have been saved, then you have been made entirely new. 00:17:55.490 --> 00:17:56.850 Write this down. 00:17:57.650 --> 00:18:05.650 When Jesus saved you, it was not a makeover, and it's not a cosmetic change. 00:18:05.810 --> 00:18:07.330 Now everybody's heard about makeovers. 00:18:07.570 --> 00:18:08.210 That's a big deal. 00:18:08.289 --> 00:18:10.289 They got TV shows about makeovers these days. 00:18:10.450 --> 00:18:13.650 You can go and watch a reality show where these people get made over. 00:18:13.810 --> 00:18:15.330 Well, that's not what salvation is. 00:18:15.490 --> 00:18:18.210 And of course, there's cosmetic change. 00:18:18.370 --> 00:18:22.930 You know, you can paint it up, you can curl it up, you can dress it up, you know. 00:18:23.009 --> 00:18:25.970 There's a lot of things you can do cosmetically on the outside. 00:18:26.049 --> 00:18:27.250 But let me tell you something. 00:18:27.490 --> 00:18:44.370 Being changed by God, to be made a new creation, is not changing your hairstyle, it's not changing the way you dress, it's not changing even the words that you talk, it's not even changing the places that you go. 00:18:44.610 --> 00:18:49.410 All of those things can become a part of your life when you become a Christian. 00:18:49.570 --> 00:18:54.769 But you don't become a Christian by changing your hairstyle or your dress or your speech. 00:18:55.009 --> 00:18:59.330 It's not a makeover, it's not cosmetic. 00:19:00.690 --> 00:19:07.970 You see, becoming a Christian is absolutely 100% a new blueprint. 00:19:08.930 --> 00:19:17.970 You are a new creation, the Bible says, You are created, made something different, something new. 00:19:19.330 --> 00:19:20.690 Not made over. 00:19:21.009 --> 00:19:24.850 You are made into a new person. 00:19:25.170 --> 00:19:27.009 You're a new building, if you will. 00:19:27.170 --> 00:19:32.610 You got a new foundation, you got new walls or boundaries, you got a new covering. 00:19:32.769 --> 00:19:34.289 Jesus covers you. 00:19:34.610 --> 00:19:42.610 It all comes from a blueprint that God

established way back in eternity past when he knew what he wanted you to be. 00:19:43.009 --> 00:19:43.650 Hear me on this. 00:19:43.810 --> 00:19:44.930 Write this down. 00:19:45.810 --> 00:19:50.930 If you're saved, you have been created twice. 00:19:53.810 --> 00:19:59.410 The first creation came when you were conceived in your mother's womb. 00:20:00.450 --> 00:20:02.130 That's important to know. 00:20:02.769 --> 00:20:08.690 You were created by God, and he put the blueprint that he had for your life. 00:20:08.850 --> 00:20:09.650 Are you listening? 00:20:09.890 --> 00:20:18.370 He took the blueprint that he had for your life and he placed that blueprint inside your mother's womb. 00:20:18.690 --> 00:20:21.570 So the color of the eyes that you were gonna have. 00:20:21.970 --> 00:20:26.450 If you're gonna be the perfect 5'4 height was established. 00:20:33.410 --> 00:20:36.130 Were you gonna be right-handed or left-handed? 00:20:36.769 --> 00:20:39.009 What kind of personality type? 00:20:39.250 --> 00:20:46.930 You see, God had a blueprint for you, and he created you with that blueprint. 00:20:47.009 --> 00:20:50.529 You are created in Christ Jesus in your mother's womb. 00:20:50.610 --> 00:20:52.769 That's the first way that you were created. 00:20:52.930 --> 00:20:59.570 You see, that's why we are so big on protecting the unborn. 00:21:00.610 --> 00:21:08.210 That's why, because that is a baby, that is a human person inside that mother's womb. 00:21:08.289 --> 00:21:09.170 Now, listen to me. 00:21:09.250 --> 00:21:11.090 It's important that you hear this. 00:21:11.970 --> 00:21:18.850 That baby has the blueprint of God in that womb. 00:21:19.170 --> 00:21:20.210 That is a baby. 00:21:20.690 --> 00:21:22.130 People say, well, that's not human. 00:21:22.289 --> 00:21:23.490 Well, what is it then? 00:21:24.450 --> 00:21:25.970 Is it a bird? 00:21:27.170 --> 00:21:28.930 It's stupid, isn't it? 00:21:29.410 --> 00:21:31.090 Is it a monkey? 00:21:32.289 --> 00:21:35.250 Some of them later on act like monkeys, but it no. 00:21:37.170 --> 00:21:38.130 Is it a dog? 00:21:39.250 --> 00:21:39.570 No. 00:21:41.170 --> 00:21:49.490 Is it a oh just a glob of cells and flesh and tissue that doesn't make any sense? 00:21:49.810 --> 00:21:50.130 No. 00:21:52.370 --> 00:21:59.330 In that womb is a baby, a human baby. 00:22:00.130 --> 00:22:06.450 That's why we believe that it's important to support the pro-life agenda. 00:22:07.250 --> 00:22:09.650 The preborn baby. 00:22:09.970 --> 00:22:13.410 Protect that person that is in that mother's womb. 00:22:13.570 --> 00:22:15.090 I don't know about you. 00:22:15.490 --> 00:22:26.690 I'm suggesting to you, to everybody in here, and everybody that's listening out there watching us online, I'm suggesting that we support people and vote. 00:22:27.250 --> 00:22:31.330 For people that support the pro-life movement. 00:22:32.690 --> 00:22:33.330 Amen. 00:22:35.330 --> 00:22:43.170 Now, if you want to know who those people are, we have some forms that are all around the auditorium. 00:22:43.250 --> 00:22:45.730 They're all in the hallways and they're all around. 00:22:45.810 --> 00:22:49.410 And it talks about some of those candidates and what they support. 00:22:49.490 --> 00:22:53.250 And I believe that we ought to try to support those types of candidates. 00:22:53.330 --> 00:22:57.970 And also for those that are for freedom and for those that are for less government. 00:22:58.049 --> 00:23:01.250 And I don't want the government telling me how to run my life. 00:23:01.330 --> 00:23:02.289 How about you? 00:23:06.130 --> 00:23:07.090 Let me ask you this. 00:23:07.170 --> 00:23:08.529 I just got to throw this in. 00:23:08.769 --> 00:23:11.170 It's sitting on the teleprompter, okay? 00:23:12.370 --> 00:23:17.170 Have you ever in your life seen a crazier time in politics than we're seeing now? 00:23:18.610 --> 00:23:20.210 I've never seen anything like it. 00:23:20.610 --> 00:23:25.890 Can you believe those of you that now, for our young people, that this is, see guys, listen to me. 00:23:26.049 --> 00:23:28.130 This is all, this is new to y'all. 00:23:28.289 --> 00:23:30.930 This is just you, this is just the way it is with y'all. 00:23:31.090 --> 00:23:32.289 This doesn't mean anything to y'all. 00:23:32.370 --> 00:23:40.529 A lot of what you're seeing now in politics and people that are talking on there about what they're believe as politicians, this you you never, this is just the way it is. 00:23:40.769 --> 00:23:41.730 Let me tell you something. 00:23:41.970 --> 00:23:50.289 You get a few years on you, and you start going, I cannot believe somebody like that could get elected in the U.S. 00:23:50.769 --> 00:23:51.330 of A. 00:23:52.769 --> 00:24:16.289 I cannot believe that person could claim to be a socialist that believes in the government taking over businesses, believes that they ought to tell you how you can worship in church, that tells you freedom-wise, what you can't, that is socialism. 00:24:17.730 --> 00:24:25.410 That they want to take money from people that have made a lot of money and give it to people that don't have a lease. 00:24:25.570 --> 00:24:27.330 So that sounds really good. 00:24:27.650 --> 00:24:29.730 Well, let me ask you a question. 00:24:30.049 --> 00:24:40.370 If you work hard and you do your best and you make a lot of money, you should willingly and willfully help other people with your money, yes. 00:24:40.529 --> 00:24:49.570 But I don't want the government telling me what I have to give of what I have made and worked hard for, what I have to give to other people. 00:24:49.730 --> 00:24:53.650 You see, that's where socialism and communism comes in. 00:24:55.170 --> 00:25:01.570 See, those of us that have been around a little bit, I'm I'm not I'm not saying, you know, you don't want to listen to me now because I'm old and I know what I'm doing. 00:25:01.810 --> 00:25:03.810 I'm telling you, this is something new.

00:25:03.970 --> 00:25:06.210 It has not been like this in America. 00:25:07.009 --> 00:25:08.450 This is new, y'all. 00:25:08.690 --> 00:25:12.450 We've not had this issue with socialism we have now, right? 00:25:12.529 --> 00:25:14.370 Are y'all tell I'm telling the truth? 00:25:14.529 --> 00:25:16.850 Some of these people are gonna get elected. 00:25:18.049 --> 00:25:31.730 There are gonna be socialists that are going to get elected in the United States of America and they're going to be congressmen, they're gonna be senators, they're gonna be people in places of authority in our government. 00:25:32.210 --> 00:25:48.049 So, what we have to do is we have to make sure that we, as Bible-believing, pro-life, pro-freedom seeking people, go to the polls on Tuesday and we vote for the right people. 00:25:50.130 --> 00:25:53.730 Well, preacher, I just don't think the church ought to get involved in politics. 00:25:53.970 --> 00:25:56.930 Well, I am really sorry you believe that. 00:25:57.650 --> 00:26:04.769 Because the church has been involved in politics since the founding of our United States of America. 00:26:06.610 --> 00:26:13.490 And it's only in the last 40 years where it's been said that we should not be involved. 00:26:14.690 --> 00:26:15.490 Amen. 00:26:16.130 --> 00:26:17.490 That's good preaching. 00:26:17.650 --> 00:26:18.930 Keep on preaching it. 00:26:19.009 --> 00:26:19.570 Thank you for that. 00:26:19.650 --> 00:26:20.769 I appreciate that. 00:26:22.930 --> 00:26:24.690 Now, let me let me say that. 00:26:24.769 --> 00:26:26.289 I gotta I gotta, man, I'm on time. 00:26:26.370 --> 00:26:26.769 I'm good. 00:26:26.850 --> 00:26:28.130 Okay, all right, good. 00:26:29.970 --> 00:26:39.730 I mentioned that that God conceived you in your mother's womb, and then you get saved. 00:26:39.890 --> 00:26:50.610 So you get you get created at conception, and then you get saved, and you get recreated as a new person. 00:26:52.130 --> 00:26:57.170 And I said that all over the country where places that we've been, we've seen, man, a lot of great people. 00:26:57.250 --> 00:26:59.970 But you know, not everybody talks like us. 00:27:05.090 --> 00:27:11.730 You know, I was in Maine, and I would talk to people, and they would look at me so funny. 00:27:13.730 --> 00:27:17.490 You know, and I know they're going, you don't you don't talk right. 00:27:18.850 --> 00:27:21.250 And I'm thinking the same thing about them. 00:27:22.130 --> 00:27:27.330 So we may talk differently, but I'm telling you, we're there's a lot of great people. 00:27:27.730 --> 00:27:29.730 I got I gotta show you something, okay? 00:27:30.049 --> 00:27:38.930 Because I have learned in my travels now that wherever you go, we all have one thing in common. 00:27:40.130 --> 00:27:41.810 All right, are you ready for it? 00:27:42.049 --> 00:27:43.410 I want you to see this video. 00:27:43.570 --> 00:27:44.610 Watch this video. 00:27:46.610 --> 00:27:51.490 Okay, here we have the National Lacrosse team from Scotland. 00:27:52.370 --> 00:27:54.450 They got to meet their coach, Eric. 00:27:54.529 --> 00:27:57.330 He's a great guy, and guess who he pulls for? 00:27:57.650 --> 00:27:59.490 Roll Tide. 00:28:00.370 --> 00:28:01.730 Roll Tide, baby. 00:28:01.970 --> 00:28:03.570 Roll tide, baby. 00:28:03.810 --> 00:28:09.730 And we're up here at Gillette Stadium, and mom just got her picture with Big Tom Brady. 00:28:10.930 --> 00:28:11.410 All right. 00:28:15.330 --> 00:28:23.009 Get this now! We're up there in Gillette Stadium doing a little tour, you know, in Foxburgh, Massachusetts. 00:28:23.170 --> 00:28:25.650 Now, them people do talk, they talk funny. 00:28:26.130 --> 00:28:27.570 They got that great accent. 00:28:27.650 --> 00:28:28.289 It's different. 00:28:28.370 --> 00:28:29.090 I love it. 00:28:29.330 --> 00:28:35.090 And so we're out there in this group of people, them boys you saw, they all come walking up. 00:28:35.330 --> 00:28:38.049 And I had them my Alabama jersey. 00:28:38.450 --> 00:28:39.570 Roll tide. 00:28:40.210 --> 00:28:46.850 And I hear from all those boys, roll tide, roll tide. 00:28:47.009 --> 00:28:52.370 I can't even say it the way they said it, but I just want you to know it was very different. 00:28:53.250 --> 00:28:56.289 And so I said, roll tide back. 00:28:57.250 --> 00:28:59.570 And the coach, look at this now. 00:28:59.890 --> 00:29:09.970 He's the the the national, these the he's the coach for the lacrosse Scottish national team. 00:29:11.090 --> 00:29:17.650 I mean, they're they're over here in the United States playing other national playing our national lacrosse team. 00:29:17.810 --> 00:29:20.370 They were playing in Gillette Stadium. 00:29:20.850 --> 00:29:27.970 And so they're walking up, they saw my jersey, they yell out roll tide, and the coach yells out, roll tide, baby. 00:29:29.890 --> 00:29:31.490 And he didn't talk funny. 00:29:31.650 --> 00:29:33.170 He sounded like me. 00:29:33.650 --> 00:29:36.850 And so I said, Are you a Todd fan? 00:29:37.090 --> 00:29:38.610 He goes, Come over here. 00:29:38.769 --> 00:29:44.690 So I went over there and met all the Scottish, the Scottish team, you know, and then he gave me a big old hug. 00:29:44.769 --> 00:29:48.370 And he said, I went to the University of Alabama. 00:29:49.330 --> 00:29:51.890 I said, and you're coaching in Scotland? 00:29:52.130 --> 00:29:54.049 He goes, Yeah, but I don't live there. 00:29:55.170 --> 00:30:00.370 He lives now in like Chicago, and he he travels over there for the for the season. 00:30:00.450 --> 00:30:05.490 He's over there during the lacrosse season, and he comes back and he says he goes to Tuscaloosa to get his fix. 00:30:06.450 --> 00:30:08.210 But anyway, here's what I here's what I thought. 00:30:08.289 --> 00:30:09.890 I thought that is so awesome. 00:30:10.210 --> 00:30:16.529 So the one thing that we have in common no matter where we go is roll tide, baby. 00:30:17.330 --> 00:30:22.850 You can be in

Massachusetts and you're gonna hear a roll tide. 00:30:24.289 --> 00:30:27.890 You know, number two, write it down. 00:30:28.289 --> 00:30:29.730 I'm gonna go ahead and finish. 00:30:30.130 --> 00:30:37.570 Not only were we created in your mother's womb and recreated at salvation, but number two, we are his workmanship. 00:30:37.810 --> 00:30:40.450 The Bible says that he created you for good works. 00:30:40.529 --> 00:30:42.210 That's what we've been talking about all month. 00:30:42.450 --> 00:30:48.930 The good works are stewardship, doing what you can with your life for others and for God. 00:30:49.170 --> 00:30:51.490 That's what stewardship is. 00:30:51.890 --> 00:30:56.529 That means that we should exhibit faithfulness. 00:30:57.009 --> 00:30:59.810 Faithfulness to God's word. 00:31:00.450 --> 00:31:03.650 If you're gonna grow, you gotta be faithful to his word. 00:31:04.130 --> 00:31:06.289 Faithfulness to his will. 00:31:06.529 --> 00:31:09.330 Some of you were called to be teachers, be faithful. 00:31:09.490 --> 00:31:12.450 Some of you were called to be carpenters, be faithful. 00:31:12.610 --> 00:31:18.210 Some of you are called to be Christian school teachers, be faithful. 00:31:18.370 --> 00:31:22.850 Some of you are called to be moms, to stay home and raise a family, be faithful. 00:31:23.090 --> 00:31:31.330 Whatever God has called you to be in his will, your stewardship is to be faithful to his will. 00:31:31.490 --> 00:31:37.810 So faithful to his word, faithful in his will for you, faithfulness to worship. 00:31:37.970 --> 00:31:41.570 Man, when I look at you and I see you here today, and I know what some of y'all have been through. 00:31:41.650 --> 00:31:45.330 One guy before the service this morning told me he had 60 trees down in his yard. 00:31:45.650 --> 00:31:47.250 He's in church this morning. 00:31:47.570 --> 00:31:49.490 And some of you got holes in your roof. 00:31:49.650 --> 00:31:51.410 I talked to the range right down here. 00:31:51.570 --> 00:31:57.490 They had a tree fall on their roof, and Brother Roy was there when the tree fell. 00:31:57.650 --> 00:32:04.370 And the tree fell through his roof, and the tree hit Brother Roy's head, and he broke the tree. 00:32:06.450 --> 00:32:09.650 And Debbie, his wife, said, Roy's got a hard head. 00:32:11.730 --> 00:32:13.170 And they're in church today. 00:32:13.410 --> 00:32:14.769 You see what I'm saying? 00:32:15.009 --> 00:32:23.810 What I'm saying is there are people in this church that are so encouraging, and you're making such a difference in life because you are faithful. 00:32:24.130 --> 00:32:32.850 You're faithful to God, you're faithful to his will, you're faithful to his word, you're faithful to his church, you're faithful to private worship with him. 00:32:33.250 --> 00:32:35.090 Faithfulness to serving. 00:32:35.250 --> 00:32:38.769 Many of you serve in civic organizations within our community. 00:32:38.930 --> 00:32:40.450 That is so vital. 00:32:41.170 -->

00:32:43.890 To be light out there in the darkness. 00:32:44.130 --> 00:32:47.570 Some of you serve in social settings out in the community. 00:32:47.890 --> 00:32:49.490 So very vital. 00:32:49.650 --> 00:32:53.810 Some of you got businesses that are influential in this region. 00:32:54.130 --> 00:33:01.009 We got people in our church that everybody knows their name because of who they are in the community and because of their business. 00:33:01.250 --> 00:33:02.769 And they're Christians. 00:33:04.210 --> 00:33:07.490 And they serve God through their business. 00:33:08.049 --> 00:33:10.049 That is being a good steward. 00:33:10.529 --> 00:33:18.049 Being a good steward is faithfulness in serving out there in the community, social, civic, church, organization. 00:33:18.130 --> 00:33:21.250 You know, we got a lot of people that serve here, and a lot of people that are stepped up. 00:33:21.410 --> 00:33:22.930 We always need more. 00:33:25.009 --> 00:33:30.210 You can find something in your stewardship of life to do for God, to serve Him. 00:33:30.370 --> 00:33:34.049 And then, of course, last of all, let me just talk about this for just a minute as I quit. 00:33:34.210 --> 00:33:35.970 Faithfulness and giving. 00:33:36.850 --> 00:33:40.049 Last week, Jeremy talked about tithing. 00:33:40.769 --> 00:33:42.370 That was good, wasn't it? 00:33:43.009 --> 00:33:45.330 Oh, that's a weak amen there. 00:33:46.930 --> 00:33:50.529 Man, I'm telling you, Jeremy hit a home run. 00:33:51.330 --> 00:33:52.769 He knocked it out of the park. 00:33:52.850 --> 00:33:53.810 He did a great job. 00:33:54.210 --> 00:33:56.370 All of our guys that preach did a great job. 00:33:56.450 --> 00:33:57.970 They're really good preachers. 00:33:58.210 --> 00:34:07.330 But Jeremy did a really good job in explaining what tithing is about and$1 out of 10 and giving 10%, and that's just a starting point, and so on and so forth. 00:34:07.410 --> 00:34:09.889 And this Sunday, every year we've been doing it for 30-something years. 00:34:10.049 --> 00:34:13.250 This Sunday today is what we call all tither Sunday. 00:34:13.329 --> 00:34:20.289 It's where people try tithing andor they just go ahead and tithe like they always do. 00:34:20.849 --> 00:34:24.690 We have what we call a 90-day guarantee. 00:34:24.929 --> 00:34:39.250 If you will try tithing for 90 days, if you're not blessed within those 90 days, you want your tithe money back, you can call us up and we will give you your money back. 00:34:39.489 --> 00:34:45.409 It's called the 90-day tithe challenge, and we will give you your money back. 00:34:45.569 --> 00:34:48.769 You say, Preacher, has anybody ever asked for their money back? 00:34:48.929 --> 00:34:49.569 Yes. 00:34:50.529 --> 00:34:52.049 You say, come on. 00:34:52.289 --> 00:34:53.489 We had a person call. 00:34:53.569 --> 00:34:56.129 I don't even remember who it was, don't even know now. 00:34:56.289 --> 00:35:00.369 But a person called up and said, I want my money

back. 00:35:01.009 --> 00:35:02.849 And we wrote them a check. 00:35:03.089 --> 00:35:06.129 And we gave them their tithe money back. 00:35:06.369 --> 00:35:10.129 Fortunately, it wasn't very much money, but anyway, we gave it back. 00:35:10.369 --> 00:35:13.009 I don't know if he tied or not, but we gave it back to them. 00:35:13.250 --> 00:35:16.049 And I'll say to you, here's the deal. 00:35:17.489 --> 00:35:19.009 You try tithing. 00:35:20.129 --> 00:35:22.690 Now, I have today. 00:35:24.289 --> 00:35:26.049 I have my checks. 00:35:26.289 --> 00:35:30.049 I have two tithe checks that I'm putting in today. 00:35:30.849 --> 00:35:33.889 Some get paid this time where they can give today. 00:35:33.969 --> 00:35:36.210 Some people don't get paid until next week. 00:35:36.369 --> 00:35:39.489 And so you can't tithe until next week. 00:35:39.730 --> 00:35:40.529 That's fine. 00:35:40.769 --> 00:35:44.210 But what I'm asking you to do is I'm asking you to try tithing. 00:35:44.289 --> 00:35:47.009 Now, let me let me let me just mention this, and I'm gonna quit. 00:35:47.329 --> 00:35:49.009 Just a second, I'm gonna quit. 00:35:51.489 --> 00:35:53.329 You got damage at your house, right? 00:35:53.489 --> 00:35:54.049 I know you do. 00:35:54.210 --> 00:35:56.129 Some of you had insurance, some of you didn't. 00:35:56.369 --> 00:35:59.730 Some of you it's cost you a lot of money, some of you it's cost you a little bit of money. 00:35:59.889 --> 00:36:04.049 Some of you are having to help other people because they can't cover the expense. 00:36:04.210 --> 00:36:06.449 I get, I totally understand that. 00:36:06.529 --> 00:36:08.769 I get it, and that's all good. 00:36:10.529 --> 00:36:15.169 What happened here at the church is gonna cost us between three and five hundred thousand dollars. 00:36:17.809 --> 00:36:19.649 It's a lot of money. 00:36:20.929 --> 00:36:30.210 We don't really know the extent of everything yet, but we know that we can find three to we know we're at about$400,000. 00:36:30.289 --> 00:36:37.969 It could be as much as$500,000 that it's going to cost us not collecting from insurance. 00:36:38.210 --> 00:36:40.369 That's what we're gonna have to pay. 00:36:41.250 --> 00:36:44.369 So, what I'm saying to you is there's a lot of us. 00:36:45.009 --> 00:36:51.250 You know, if all of us could help, and we could give our tithe, we could give a little extra. 00:36:51.329 --> 00:36:53.569 Some of you got a lot of money, I know that. 00:36:53.730 --> 00:36:57.730 You've told me that you you'll help anytime you can because God's blessed you with a lot of money. 00:36:57.889 --> 00:36:58.690 I know that. 00:36:58.849 --> 00:37:01.969 Some of you don't have a lot of money, I know that too. 00:37:02.210 --> 00:37:09.409 But I'm I'm asking you to do what you can do to tithe and to give a little extra over the next few weeks. 00:37:09.649 --> 00:37:22.369 And on Christmas gift for Jesus, everything that comes in that day is going to go towards helping

our campuses and help cover the cost of all that the hurricane has done to us. 00:37:22.529 --> 00:37:23.969 We've lost offerings. 00:37:25.409 --> 00:37:27.009 Not everybody's here today. 00:37:27.250 --> 00:37:29.169 Not everybody has online giving. 00:37:29.409 --> 00:37:33.569 We've lost a lot of we've lost a lot of dollars in offerings. 00:37:33.730 --> 00:37:36.210 Okay, that's you know, hey, God, we've been here before. 00:37:36.369 --> 00:37:40.369 When Ivan came through, it cost us one million dollars. 00:37:41.329 --> 00:37:43.489 A million dollars, y'all. 00:37:43.730 --> 00:37:46.690 We had to raise a million dollars. 00:37:47.250 --> 00:37:49.169 So you can say, well, this is nothing, preacher. 00:37:49.250 --> 00:37:49.889 You got this one. 00:37:49.969 --> 00:38:05.089 Well, I'm looking at a lot of folks that understand that this is our house, this is our place, and we all get together and we can do our part to help take care of this issue. 00:38:05.169 --> 00:38:06.129 I will tell you this. 00:38:06.289 --> 00:38:14.129 My my my my wife and I have committed to 10,000, and she doesn't know that now, but she knows it now, but she she didn't know that, but she does know it now. 00:38:14.289 --> 00:38:16.690 But we we've committed, we'll give$10,000 to help. 00:38:16.769 --> 00:38:18.690 I don't have a lot of money, we'll give it. 00:38:19.009 --> 00:38:21.409 So I'm asking you, what can you do to help? 00:38:21.649 --> 00:38:22.929 We got to step up. 00:38:23.649 --> 00:38:28.609 And I don't know any other way to do it than just put it out there in black and white and just say, hey, folks, this is a family. 00:38:28.690 --> 00:38:29.809 That's who we are. 00:38:30.129 --> 00:38:33.329 And we need to be good stewards of what God has blessed us with. 00:38:33.409 --> 00:38:37.969 And let's all jump in and let's give as little or as much as you can give. 00:38:38.289 --> 00:38:40.529 Just give to God. 00:38:41.089 --> 00:38:44.769 Our people have stepped up. 00:38:45.569 --> 00:38:48.849 $208,000 we've given to Jim Foster, our missionary. 00:38:49.089 --> 00:38:50.609 Not counting all the other missionaries. 00:38:50.849 --> 00:38:55.569 A million dollars we raised to cover the cost of the last hurricane. 00:38:55.730 --> 00:39:01.969 All the people that we helped week in and week out, God has provided for us. 00:39:02.129 --> 00:39:02.690 Why? 00:39:03.009 --> 00:39:06.609 Because you are making a difference. 00:39:07.089 --> 00:39:08.049 It's you. 00:39:08.849 --> 00:39:10.049 It's not just me. 00:39:10.210 --> 00:39:16.849 It takes all of us to be stewards of what God has blessed us with. 00:39:17.169 --> 00:39:20.690 He created you, he made you like you are. 00:39:21.489 --> 00:39:24.929 He recreated you and made you a new person in Jesus Christ. 00:39:25.169 --> 00:39:30.049 Therefore, as his followers, we don't sit soaking sour. 00:39:30.690 --> 00:39:36.529 We do our best to give back to him and be good stewards. 00:39:36.849 --> 00:39:44.449 So let's make a difference now, and let's see what God's gonna do in us making a difference in the future. 00:39:44.769 --> 00:39:47.089 Maybe you need to meet Jesus as your Savior. 00:39:47.569 --> 00:39:52.129 Maybe it's the first time you've ever been in church because man, you've been going through so much junk and stuff. 00:39:52.289 --> 00:39:53.809 You say, I got I got to go to church. 00:39:53.889 --> 00:39:54.690 I got to get some help. 00:39:54.769 --> 00:39:56.690 There are people that are coming right now because of that. 00:39:56.849 --> 00:39:57.250 I know that. 00:39:57.329 --> 00:39:58.529 I've had people tell me that. 00:39:59.089 --> 00:39:59.730 Let me tell you something. 00:39:59.889 --> 00:40:01.089 Jesus died on the cross. 00:40:02.529 --> 00:40:03.489 He took your sin. 00:40:04.929 --> 00:40:06.210 He was buried in the grave. 00:40:06.929 --> 00:40:08.769 He was there for three days and three nights. 00:40:09.409 --> 00:40:15.329 He arose and he paid the price for your sin and for my sin. 00:40:15.569 --> 00:40:24.289 So if you accept Jesus and what he did on the cross and his death, burial, and resurrection, if you receive him as your Savior, he will forgive you of your sin. 00:40:24.849 --> 00:40:26.690 He will make you a child of God. 00:40:27.169 --> 00:40:31.889 He will put you in a position to where you can trust in him as your father. 00:40:32.529 --> 00:40:35.730 And he will meet your needs. 00:40:37.009 --> 00:40:39.889 And he will use you to make a difference.