Sermon
Why Is Jesus Relevant Today?
Publisher transcript
Transcript
-
Good morning. It's so good to be with you today.
-
And just as Ellen has said, we were going through the book of Acts.
-
And now we are taking a break.
-
We are taking a little bit of a break to do something new, to do something new.
-
But just to recap, what have we been learning in the book of Acts?
-
That Jesus ascended to heaven and then he told the disciples to wait.
-
To wait for what?
-
The Holy Spirit.
-
And the Holy Spirit descended upon them.
-
And then they built the church.
-
They received power.
-
They received the power to do signs and wonders.
-
And then they started to establish the church and speak about Jesus.
-
In the last couple of weeks, we've seen Peter and John speak about Jesus.
-
Speak boldly about Jesus.
-
And as they've encountered, as they have been speaking boldly, they've encountered opposition.
-
Why are you speaking about Jesus?
-
We demand that you no longer speak about Jesus.
-
Give us the reason.
-
Why are you speaking about Jesus?
-
They've been met with opposition.
-
And this opposition demands a response.
-
Apologetics is a defense of the gospel.
-
A defense of the truth that we believe in.
-
And so, we're going to be going through a six-part series on some of the most common apologetic questions.
-
Such as what we're going to go through today.
-
Why is Jesus relevant in our world today?
-
And then there's going to be other topics.
-
Why should we trust the Bible?
-
Has anybody thought about why we should trust the Bible?
-
Yeah?
-
Anybody looked into it?
-
We're going to look into science and faith.
-
Do they coexist?
-
We're going to look into the meaning of life.
-
We're going to look at how a good God can allow evil.
-
And will heaven be boring?
-
And one person in the Bible was very good at asking questions.
-
He was a skeptic.
-
He was called Thomas the Doubter.
-
And he was always seeking for the truth.
-
What is truth?
-
What is real?
-
Give me evidence.
-
And so, we're going to look into this specific question today of why is Jesus relevant?
-
Why is Jesus relevant?
-
Before we start, I want you to go into pairs or threes and discuss with each other.
-
Why is Jesus relevant?
-
Go into people, get to know your neighbor, twos, threes.
-
Answer this question.
-
Why is Jesus relevant for you today?
-
Okay?
-
And I want to hear some good answers.
-
All right.
-
Did you guys have a good discussion?
-
Have a good discussion?
-
Did the kids have a good discussion?
-
All right.
-
What are some of your brilliant answers?
-
I want to point to somebody who had a brilliant answer.
-
We'll hear from them.
-
No?
-
Nobody wants to point?
-
Okay.
-
Ryan had a...
-
Sean pointed out Ryan.
-
All right.
-
Ryan, share with us.
-
Why is Jesus relevant today?
-
What is something you share?
-
Well, I mean, obviously for believers, it's kind of self-explanatory.
-
I don't need to...
-
I don't need to expand on that.
-
For non-believers?
-
Yeah, for non-believers...
-
So I basically said that Christianity shaped European civilization.
-
And the Europeans kind of exported their ideals to the rest of the world.
-
And understanding the bases of their civilization is important, even for non-believers today.
-
Okay.
-
Okay.
-
Interesting.
-
Very interesting answer.
-
Very good.
-
All right.
-
Anybody else have an interesting answer?
-
Okay.
-
All right.
-
Jojo, you got pointed out.
-
Did you want me out?
-
Jesus is still relevant today because he still exists today, I believe.
-
And his death was not the end of him.
-
He's also resurrected, in which that means that we have hope today.
-
And also he's coming still.
-
So his story is still continuing.
-
Okay.
-
Very good.
-
Anybody else?
-
Anybody else?
-
No?
-
Do the kids have any good stories?
-
Anybody else?
-
No?
-
Okay.
-
Let's ask.
-
Chris, what about you?
-
It's probably something to do like my man said.
-
If you read the Bible, most of the things that's happening in the world is like,
-
you can actually tell you what happens.
-
Like instructions, it's prophetic, it's like everything.
-
It's like the truth.
-
Okay.
-
All right.
-
Okay.
-
Very good.
-
Yeah.
-
Yeah.
-
Okay.
-
We're going to look into the passage today, John chapter 14.
John 14 chapter mention
-
And we're going to invite Chris to come and read it for us.
-
Let's give a hand to Chris.
-
Chris has been with us for about a month now.
-
I don't know.
-
I don't know.
-
I don't know if you remember last time I spoke.
-
I met this guy at the basketball court.
-
And it just so happened that he is the trainer for one of our GU kids.
-
And that's just how we met.
-
And then I invited him to church.
-
And he's been seeking after truth and God.
-
And he found God in an incredible way.
-
So let's all stand.
-
We're going to read John chapter 14 together.
John 14 chapter mention
-
Chris is going to read it for us.
-
Verse 1 to 6.
-
Okay.
-
Oh, hold it.
-
All right.
-
John chapter 14.
John 14 chapter mention
-
I am the way and the truth and the life.
-
Let not your hearts be troubled.
-
Believe in God.
-
Believe also in me.
-
In my Father's house are many rooms.
-
If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?
-
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take to you myself that where I am, you may be also.
-
And you know the way to where I am going.
-
Thomas said to him, Lord, we do not know where you are going.
-
How can we know the way?
-
Jesus said to him, I am the way and the truth and the life.
-
No one comes to the Father except through me.
-
All right.
-
Let's pray.
-
Heavenly Father, we thank you for today that we can look into this very important topic of why you're relevant.
-
May you lead us through the Holy Spirit and guide us.
-
Speak through me and may you speak into our hearts personally as well.
-
In Christ's name we pray.
-
Amen.
-
Let's give a hand to Chris for reading the scripture for us.
-
All right.
-
Just a little bit of background.
-
John chapter 14.
John 14 chapter mention
-
They had just completed the last supper.
-
The disciples were with Jesus for their last meal.
-
And Jesus washed their feet.
-
And Jesus said to them, there's somebody going to betray me.
-
Somebody is going to betray me.
-
And in a little while, I'm going to have to go away.
-
And this place, you cannot come.
-
And so the disciples were troubled.
-
They're like, what do you mean?
-
You're going to go away and we cannot come.
-
And they were afraid of the Romans or the Jewish council who was against Jesus at that time.
-
And Jesus comforts them in this first verse and says, do not be troubled.
-
Even though I'm saying these things to you, do not be troubled.
-
And he promises the presence of the father, a reunion with the father.
-
He says, in my father's house, there's many rooms.
-
And it was not uncommon at that time when a couple was going to get married, that the groom would go and prepare a place for the bride.
-
And only the father would know when the groom would return.
-
He promises his presence that I will come again and I will take you with me so that you will be where I am also.
-
And that is where Thomas speaks out.
-
And he says very plainly, right?
-
Lord, we do not know where you're going.
-
How can we know the way?
-
How can we know the way?
-
Thomas, who is always skeptical, seeking evidence, also possesses the qualities of courage, analytical thinking, and the relentless pursuit of truth.
-
He is not just a doubter.
-
He is a man who has sought clarity and true understanding.
-
And how does Jesus respond?
-
Jesus responds by saying this very famous line, I am the truth, the way.
-
I'm the way, the truth, and the life.
-
And it's interesting because he uses the indefinite article.
-
The way, the truth, and the life.
-
He doesn't use an indefinite article where he says, I am a way, a truth, and a life.
-
He says, I am the way, right?
-
I am the goat, right?
-
And when you think of the goat, greatest of all time, there's the debate, right?
-
Jordan, LeBron, Kobe, not me, not James.
-
Definitely not Joe.
-
I'm joking.
-
The goat, right?
-
When you think of the goat, it's the best player in every sport.
-
And when Jesus is saying he is the way, the truth, and the life, he's not saying, oh, there's another possible way.
-
There's another amazing way to the Father.
-
No, he's saying he's the way, the only way.
-
We're going to learn about three things today of why Jesus is relevant.
-
Firstly, Jesus is the way in a world of disorder.
-
Jesus is the way in a world of disorder.
-
Jesus is the truth in the world of deception.
-
Jesus is the life in a world that is dying.
-
Firstly, we're going to learn about why Jesus is the way in a world of disorder.
-
This world is full of disorder.
-
We look at the current state of our world.
-
Every day, you just watch the news.
-
There's tension between different countries.
-
There's tension in the Middle East.
-
There's talks of wars, of tariffs.
-
The stock market goes up and down, and there's so much disorder.
-
We don't know what's happening.
-
Just yesterday, in our university group, we're talking about, can I, as a student visa, go into the U.S.?
-
There's some fears about it.
-
Can I even get a U.S. visa to be a student?
-
There's questions about it.
-
There's uncertainty.
-
There's disorder in this world.
-
There's also economic frailty, inflation, and the debt crisis.
-
Anybody going to Japan in this month?
-
Because there's apparently this, right, this theory or this prophecy from some Japanese woman that there's supposed to be an earthquake that was supposed to happen yesterday.
-
I guess she's a false prophet.
-
But she herself claimed that I don't actually know if this is the right date.
-
But there's so much fear, right?
-
Disorder leads to uncertainty, and certainty leads to fear.
-
And that's why nobody's going to Japan except Gabe here, who raised his hand.
-
Right?
-
Right?
-
And the ultimate cause of disorder is sin.
-
The ultimate cause of disorder is sin.
-
Because God created this world perfectly.
-
We were in a perfect relationship with God.
-
There was no sin.
-
There was no disease in this world.
-
But then sin entered the world.
-
Through Adam and Eve, they made a choice.
-
And because of that, disorder entered the world.
-
The first thing is that Jesus overcomes disorder through the cross.
-
Through the cross, as we see in the next slide.
-
He says, no one comes to the Father except through me.
-
In Acts chapter 4, salvation is found in no one else.
Acts 4 chapter mention
-
Only in Jesus Christ.
-
In this world that has been polluted, Jesus is the only remedy.
-
Jesus overcomes sin through the cross.
-
He gives us a way out.
-
Even though this world is still polluted, he has begun this process of redeeming us.
-
Of redeeming us.
-
The second thing we see is that Jesus is the perfect example.
-
Perfect example.
-
And he submits to the Father.
-
He submits to the Father.
-
When Jesus came into this world, all that he did was aligned with the Father.
-
Was aligned with the Father.
-
His plan was to do the will of the Father.
-
To save humanity and to share his love.
-
And when we are aligned with God, we are blessed.
-
Right?
-
We are blessed.
-
It's like hitting that sweet spot in a tennis racket.
-
We're hitting the sweet spot.
-
And the thing is, if we do not live in the sweet spot that God has intended for us.
-
To love him, to know him.
-
Something feels out of sync.
-
Right?
-
Have you ever, as you guys are going through different decisions in your life.
-
And you've made a decision that seems not in the sweet spot where God has called you.
-
You feel uncomfortable.
-
You feel like there's disorder in your life.
-
We were at an Alpha weekend with some of the students.
-
And we were praying for them.
-
You know, that God would be with them and give them strength.
-
And the Holy Spirit would empower them.
-
And as we were praying for students, interestingly, a lady came up to me.
-
And I was like, Johnny, God has a message for you.
-
And I want to pray for you.
-
And I was shocked at that time because we were all praying for the students.
-
Imagine like a hundred students in this room.
-
And all the mentors are just praying for them.
-
But then this lady comes up to me and says, I have a message for you.
-
And the message is, keep doing what you're doing.
-
You're right where God wants you to be.
-
And that's what Jesus is the perfect example of.
-
He was the perfect example of living in line with the will of the Father.
-
He gives us that perfect example of how to depend on the Father.
-
To love others.
-
To be humble.
-
To be a servant.
-
To wash the disciples' feet.
-
To forgive and give mercy.
-
He gave the perfect example of compassion.
-
He saw the crowd like sheep without a shepherd.
-
And he had compassion upon them.
-
He had righteousness and integrity.
-
And ultimately, it was his sacrificial love that gives us the perfect example.
-
He lived in alignment with the Father's will.
-
And that is why he's relevant.
-
Because he gives us the perfect example of how to live in alignment with the Lord.
-
The next thing is, Jesus promises peace amongst disorder.
-
Next slide.
-
Yes.
-
So the power of the cross.
-
The perfect example with purpose.
-
In alignment with the Lord.
-
And Jesus is relevant because he promises peace in this world.
-
That is so seeking peace.
-
He says, peace I leave with you.
-
Peace I give you.
-
I give you a peace that the world cannot give.
-
Peace comes through trusting in Jesus.
-
That he died for us on that cross.
-
And ultimately, it's not just peace on this earth.
-
But peace with God that leads to eternity.
-
Even in the midst of our sufferings in this world that has been polluted and in disorder.
-
There we can find peace because of what Jesus brings.
-
Peace in the midst of disorder.
-
I was talking with one of our business owners in our church.
-
And during COVID, it was a really hard time.
-
Right?
-
There was really little money coming in.
-
And he didn't know when his next client would be.
-
Who would be.
-
And he was talking to me.
-
And he was like, yeah, I don't know, man.
-
There's so much uncertainty in terms of my business right now.
-
And as a business owner, the buck stops with you.
-
Everything stops with you.
-
Like Stanford knows.
-
You know, he's an AI guy.
-
And he's running his own company.
-
Everything stops with you.
-
And there was so much pressure.
-
But he told me at the end of the day, he has peace.
-
Because he trusts that God is with him.
-
Jesus is leading him and guiding him.
-
When James tore his Achilles.
-
And there's just so much uncertainty.
-
He tore his Achilles, lost a leg, gained a child.
-
I don't know which is tougher, Micah or Achilles.
-
He had a sense of peace with him.
-
A peace that is beyond this world.
-
And he was a great example of how to live in alignment with the Father.
-
And even though walking with the Father might include different trials and sufferings in this world,
-
he walked in peace.
-
And he was a great example for us of gathering strength from the Lord and peace from the Lord.
-
Did anybody watch the NBA finals?
-
Game seven?
-
Within a couple minutes, there was a shock.
-
Tyrese Halliburton tore his Achilles in the most important game of his life.
-
And we all saw it.
-
The same thing.
-
Rolling on the ground.
-
There was a pop.
-
There was a pop.
-
Everybody saw it.
-
And he was rolling on the ground.
-
And we all knew.
-
Could this be?
-
And it was.
-
Devastating.
-
And yet, in the midst of this, Tyrese Halliburton released a statement.
-
I don't know how to explain it other than shock.
-
Words cannot express the pain of this letdown.
-
The frustration is unfathomable.
-
This makes no sense.
-
At 25, I've already learned that God never gives us more than we can handle.
-
I know I'll come out on the other side of this.
-
A better man and a better player.
-
And honestly, right now, torn Achilles and all, I don't regret it.
-
I'll do it again.
-
And after all that, to fight for this city and for my brothers.
-
For the chance to do something special.
-
Even in the midst of the peak.
-
Game seven.
-
Championship on the line.
-
Torn Achilles.
-
You don't know whether you're going to play the same way in the future.
-
You don't know if you're going to play next season.
-
He knows that God is with him.
-
He has learned that God never gives us more than we can handle.
-
Jesus offers us a peace that this world cannot give.
-
The second thing we're going to look at is,
-
Jesus is the truth in a world of deception.
-
Jesus is the truth in the world of deception.
-
What is the current state of our world?
-
We're currently fact-checking, right?
-
When we see a reel, we're like, is this real?
-
Is this trade real?
-
Right?
-
I mean, NBA trade, not like financial trade.
-
Students keep sending me reels.
-
And I have to see, you know, is this AI or is this not?
-
Right?
-
We're constantly checking.
-
And honestly, in our life, we're constantly checking for the truth.
-
Are we doing the right things at work?
-
Is our boss pleased with us?
-
We're trying to find the truth.
-
You know, are we pleased?
-
Is our parents pleased with us?
-
Is our son doing the right things?
-
Right?
-
The parents are trying to find, you know, find the truth.
-
Right?
-
In our life groups, are our members growing?
-
We're constantly trying to find the truth.
-
Pastors, we're trying to find the truth.
-
How can we help the congregation to grow?
-
How can we disciple people to grow in love?
-
In this world, we are constantly seeking after the truth.
-
There's, I don't know if you've seen this in the last couple months, but now they can take your photo and your voice.
-
And you can wake up and you can be saying whatever AI wants to say.
-
Can you imagine your face being on the face of the news?
-
Right?
-
With AI, it's going to get harder and harder to know what is the truth.
-
Damien could be on the news next day saying things that he's never said before.
-
Because it's AI generated.
-
We are seeking after truth and we need truth more than ever in this world of deception.
-
Jesus is relevant because he says that he is truth itself.
-
Truth is not just an idea or a moral principle.
-
It is a person.
-
Jesus is the perfect revelation of God.
-
What does it mean that Jesus is truth itself?
-
He reveals the character of God.
-
You have seen me.
-
You have seen the father.
-
Believe also in me as you have believed in the father.
-
Jesus is God incarnate.
-
God amongst us.
-
He reflects the father.
-
Jesus is God incarnate.
-
Just as Micah perfectly reflects Pastor James.
-
Jesus is not just the teacher of truth.
-
He is the truth itself.
-
To know him is to know God.
-
To walk in the light.
-
And to be freed from the lies of this world.
-
Jesus says that he is the true light.
-
And those that walk with him will also walk in the light.
-
Jesus is the truth that reveals God.
-
And that is why he is so relevant to us today.
-
Without Jesus we can't truly know God.
-
Because Jesus is the way and the truth in which we know get to know God.
-
The second thing is Jesus gives us discernment through.
-
Sorry.
-
Jesus exposes the lies.
-
Who is the father of lies?
-
Who is the father of lies?
-
The devil is the father of lies.
-
Right?
-
And that is why he's given us the word.
-
So that we can have it for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in all righteousness.
-
Jesus has set us free from the lies of the devil.
-
He is a liar and the father of lies.
-
In the Garden of Eden.
-
How did he persuade Adam and Eve?
-
How did he persuade Adam and Eve to eat that fruit?
-
What did he say?
-
You will not surely die.
-
You will not surely die.
-
Right?
-
Did God really say this?
-
He makes you question God.
-
Question the truth.
-
And instead leaves you with lies and deception.
-
You will not die.
-
But your eyes will be opened.
-
And you will become like God.
-
Instead, Jesus gives us the Holy Spirit.
-
And through the Holy Spirit, he gives us discernment.
-
The Holy Spirit is to be our counselor.
-
And I will go away.
-
And I will give you another counselor.
-
A counselor that will be with you forever.
-
He is the spirit of?
-
The spirit of truth.
-
And that truth will set us free.
-
As we are reading the word today, we are depending on the Holy Spirit to guide us.
-
To be our counsel.
-
To enlighten us of the mysteries of God's word.
-
As we are going through everyday different decisions, we are allowing the Holy Spirit to counsel us.
-
In our different directions.
-
Is this the job I should take?
-
Is this the school I should go to?
-
We are given the Holy Spirit.
-
So that we can discern the truth.
-
So three things.
-
Why is Jesus relevant?
-
Because he is truth itself.
-
He reflects the Father.
-
He reveals the Father to us.
-
He exposes the lies of Satan.
-
And he gives us the Holy Spirit.
-
He gives us the Holy Spirit.
-
The last thing.
-
Is that Jesus is the life in a world that is dying.
-
Jesus is the life in a world that is dying.
-
The current state of our world.
-
We see more and more moral decay.
-
Right is wrong.
-
Wrong is right.
-
The normalization of sex outside of marriage.
-
Adultery.
-
Moral decay.
-
We see that more and more.
-
Do you know how many abortions there are according to the World Health Organization each year?
-
Induced abortions?
-
73 million.
-
73 million lives.
-
Before you were born, I knew you in your mother's womb.
-
The increase of mental health situations.
-
In 2023, SCMP did a study that youth suicides were among the highest in the developed world.
-
Right here in our Hong Kong.
-
In our Hong Kong city.
-
In 2023, suicides almost tripled in 10 years.
-
32 cases in 2023.
-
We have students that sometimes message me and said, oh, somebody, I think, jumped from the school.
-
Or from their apartment building.
-
And I'm like, are you okay?
-
And I'm like, yeah.
-
He's like, yeah, this has happened before.
-
This should not be the norm.
-
This should not be the norm.
-
Our world is dying.
-
The moral decay.
-
The mental health issues.
-
Is a reflection of our dying world.
-
Jesus is relevant because we were created for a spiritual relationship.
-
A spiritual life.
-
We were discussing yesterday in our university group.
-
What is the difference between animals and us?
-
God gives us life.
-
You know, God gives animals life.
-
We have breath.
-
They have breath.
-
What is the difference?
-
The difference is we were made in his image.
-
We were made in God's image.
-
We were created for our relationship with God.
-
God.
-
Pascal says we were.
-
We have a God shaped vacuum in our hearts.
-
And we try to fill it with all these different things.
-
Right?
-
Money.
-
Power.
-
Sex.
-
And these things ultimately do not satisfy.
-
Because we were created.
-
For a perfect spiritual relationship with the Lord.
-
And we saw that Adam and Eve had a relationship.
-
A personal relationship with the Lord.
-
They were talking with the Lord.
-
And so Jesus is relevant.
-
Because he is the answer.
-
To restoring that spiritual relationship.
-
And he did that on the cross.
-
He did that on the cross.
-
The next thing is.
-
Jesus created us.
-
For an eternal life.
-
Without Christ.
-
We are spiritually dead.
-
In Ephesians chapter 2 verse 1.
-
We are spiritually dead.
-
Dead in our trespasses and sins.
-
But yet Jesus has conquered death.
-
Once and for all.
-
And he resurrected.
-
To prove that he is greater than death.
-
He has overcome and conquered death.
-
And now he gives us.
-
The resurrected life.
-
In John chapter 17.
John 17 chapter mention
-
It says this.
-
And this is eternal life.
-
That they may know you.
-
The true.
-
The one and only true God.
-
And Jesus Christ.
-
Whom you have sent.
-
To know Jesus.
-
Is to have eternal life.
-
Only Jesus.
-
Offers eternal life.
-
In this world.
-
Does Trump offer eternal life?
-
No.
-
He offers a gold card.
-
But this gold card.
-
Will not get you into heaven.
-
Right?
-
It might get you in the United States.
-
But it will not get you into heaven.
-
Nobody else.
-
Offers eternal life.
-
Confucius offers.
-
Suggestions.
-
On how to live a better life.
-
Buddha.
-
Buddha.
-
Offered suggestions.
-
On how to live a better life.
-
But none of them.
-
Promised eternal life.
-
And especially nobody.
-
Is like Jesus.
-
Because he.
-
Only he lives.
-
He died.
-
And he rose from the dead.
-
He's the resurrected life.
-
No one comes to the father.
-
Except through Jesus.
-
Confucius died.
-
Buddha died.
-
Gandhi died.
-
But Jesus.
-
Lives.
-
Still.
-
And because he lives.
-
We have hope.
-
We have life.
-
Eternal life.
-
And lastly.
-
We have the abundant life.
-
Jesus says this.
-
He came that we might have life.
-
And have it to the full.
-
What does it mean?
-
When Jesus says that.
-
I have come.
-
That they may have life.
-
And have it to the full.
-
Jesus doesn't want us to merely exist.
-
Or survive.
-
Jesus wants us to have the full life.
-
And that means to live.
-
In joy.
-
And in purpose.
-
In a relationship with the Lord.
-
We were reading Psalm 23.
-
Yesterday.
-
And in the last section.
-
It says that the Lord provides.
-
A table before me.
-
In the presence of my enemies.
-
He anoints my head with oil.
-
And my cup overflows.
-
This is a perfect example.
-
Of what it means.
-
To live the full life.
-
The full life.
-
He prepares a table.
-
He prepares a table.
-
We can always go home.
-
And have a meal.
-
His providence.
-
He anoints me.
-
He gives me purpose.
-
And establishes me.
-
With his family.
-
I'm rooted.
-
And founded in his family.
-
I'm a child of God.
-
And my cup overflows.
-
He blesses me.
-
With prosperity.
-
That is the full life.
-
It doesn't mean that we have all the material possessions.
-
He doesn't promise that.
-
But he promises true joy.
-
True peace.
-
True love.
-
True love.
-
And that is.
-
Lived out.
-
Through faith.
-
In him.
-
Lived out.
-
Through faith.
-
In him.
-
I'll give an example.
-
Of a full life.
-
I'll give an example.
-
Of a full life.
-
Um.
-
Every job.
-
That I've been given.
-
Has been from the Lord.
-
Every job.
-
When I was in university.
-
In my fourth year.
-
I was leading a Bible study.
-
And one of the new students came in.
-
And he was just in his first year.
-
I got to know him.
-
Maybe a couple weeks.
-
And he was like.
-
Johnny.
-
You're in your fourth year.
-
What are you going to do?
-
What are you going to do?
-
We've all been there.
-
Right?
-
After university.
-
Some of us.
-
Or just out of high school.
-
Right to jobs.
-
Thinking.
-
What do we do?
-
What do we do?
-
And I'm like.
-
I don't know.
-
Maybe I'll find a job.
-
Maybe I'll.
-
You know.
-
Go and.
-
Study my masters.
-
And he's like.
-
Johnny.
-
You want a job?
-
I'll get you one tomorrow.
-
And I'm like.
-
Who is this guy?
-
Right?
-
Who is this guy?
-
Who's going to get me a job tomorrow?
-
I'm in my fourth year.
-
University of Toronto.
-
Economics and philosophy.
-
I mean.
-
My GPA wasn't.
-
You know.
-
4.0 or anything.
-
I mean.
-
Why is this guy giving me a job tomorrow?
-
And I didn't think any of it.
-
Anything of it.
-
Because I just got to know him.
-
And he calls me up two weeks later.
-
And he says.
-
Johnny.
-
My dad's willing to take a chance on you.
-
And I'm like.
-
What does your dad do?
-
That's the first thing he says.
-
My dad's willing to take a chance on you.
-
I'm like.
-
Okay.
-
What does he do?
-
I mean.
-
Is he Trump?
-
Or is he.
-
Am I working at Trump Tower?
-
You know.
-
Like.
-
What's happening?
-
So he runs a financial company.
-
And he does reports for all the major banks in Canada.
-
All the major banks in Canada.
-
And so.
-
You know.
-
I dress up nice.
-
I have my resume prepared.
-
And I'm ready for the interview.
-
And I go in.
-
And he's like.
-
Johnny.
-
This is my company.
-
This is what you'll be doing.
-
This is one of your colleagues.
-
He'll show you what you'll be doing.
-
After you've seen what you'll be doing.
-
Come back.
-
And we'll discuss.
-
If you want this job.
-
You can have it.
-
It wasn't an interview.
-
It was an introduction.
-
It was an introduction.
-
And so.
-
I worked part time.
-
In my fourth year.
-
And when I graduated.
-
I worked full time.
-
For two years.
-
In the financial company.
-
I know.
-
I'm not.
-
I don't look like a financial guy.
-
Right?
-
Like.
-
This guy.
-
He looks like he's poor.
-
He doesn't know what he's doing.
-
You know.
-
Like.
-
Just waste money on shoes.
-
Right?
-
I mean.
-
These shoes are worth a lot.
-
Don't make fun of me.
-
They're worth a lot.
-
If you don't know.
-
Anyways.
-
The point is.
-
If we live.
-
In alignment.
-
With the father.
-
He provides us things.
-
Beyond what we can think.
-
Or imagine.
-
Even in the midst.
-
Of our suffering.
-
The Lord will provide.
-
Peace for us.
-
Even when we.
-
Have all this.
-
Economic.
-
Disorder.
-
And.
-
Insecurity.
-
Jesus.
-
Is our way.
-
The truth.
-
And the life.
-
And that is why he's relevant.
-
Nobody else in this world.
-
Promises.
-
A way to the father.
-
Eternal life.
-
To the father.
-
Only him.
-
And so as we welcome.
-
The worship team back up.
-
We're going to take some time.
-
To respond.
-
Let's just bow down our heads.
-
And connect with the father.
-
Today.
-
As you're seeking.
-
God.
-
Maybe you're here.
-
At church.
-
For the first time.
-
For.
-
The hundredth time.
-
The thousandth time.
-
But you don't know.
-
Jesus.
-
Jesus is knocking.
-
On the door of your heart today.
-
And he wants.
-
To have a personal relationship with you.
-
Jesus is relevant.
-
Because he is alive today.
-
And he's knocking.
-
On the door of your heart.
-
And he wants a personal relationship with you.
-
He wants to.
-
Eat with you.
-
He wants to.
-
Offer you.
-
Eternal life.
-
To be your Lord.
-
And savior.
-
He's knocking on the door of your heart.
-
Is there anybody here today.
-
Who wants to receive Jesus.
-
As their way.
-
Their life.
-
And their truth.
-
Jesus died on the cross.
-
Once and for all time.
-
So that our sins.
-
Would be taken away.
-
And so that we.
-
Could have a personal relationship.
-
With the father.
-
Is there anybody here today.
-
That wants to receive Jesus.
-
As their Lord and savior.
-
As their Lord and savior.
-
Would you raise your hand.
-
And we're going to pray together.
-
Father.
-
In this world.
-
Where there is.
-
So much uncertainty.
-
Jesus offers.
-
Peace.
-
True peace.
-
This is the world.
-
That cannot give.
-
He wants to be your peace.
-
Is there anybody.
-
Raise your hand.
-
We would love to pray with you.
-
To ask Jesus.
-
To be your Lord and savior.
-
Is anybody here today.
-
Any kids want to.
-
Ask Jesus into their life.
-
To be their Lord and savior.
-
Savior.
-
With childlike faith.
-
We're going to say a prayer together.
-
To ask Jesus into our life.
-
And.
-
Repeat after me.
-
Dear Jesus.
-
Repeat after me.
-
Dear Jesus.
-
I thank you.
-
For creating us.
-
To have a relationship with you.
-
Forgive me of my sin.
-
I've gone my own way.
-
I thank you.
-
That you died on the cross.
-
For my sins.
-
Once and for all time.
-
And on the third day.
-
You rose again.
-
To conquer death.
-
And sin.
-
Jesus.
-
Now I invite you.
-
Into my life.
-
To be the way.
-
The truth.
-
And the life.
-
To be my Lord and savior.
-
I commit my life to you.
-
In Jesus' name I pray.
-
Amen.
-
Let us stand and respond to our living Lord.
-
Heavenly Father, we thank you.
-
We look to you, the author of our salvation.
-
Bless us as we go, that we can be a blessing to others,
-
to share the good news of Jesus, what he's done in and through our life.
-
In Christ's name we pray, amen.