WEBVTT 1 00:00:02.359 --> 00:00:06.280 Hello everybody, and welcome to Pastor Rick's Daily Hope, the 2 00:00:06.320 --> 00:00:10.080 Bible teaching ministry of Rick Warren. We're so excited that 3 00:00:10.119 --> 00:00:13.199 you've joined us today. As we continue in this powerful 4 00:00:13.320 --> 00:00:17.920 series how the Church meets your deepest needs, together, we're 5 00:00:18.000 --> 00:00:21.519 uncovering the joy and strength that comes from being a 6 00:00:21.559 --> 00:00:24.559 part of God's family. Well, let's get into it with 7 00:00:24.640 --> 00:00:27.879 the final part of a message called sharing your hope 8 00:00:27.879 --> 00:00:29.679 with others? 9 00:00:30.440 --> 00:00:34.159 Now, how do I share my hope? Let me give 10 00:00:34.200 --> 00:00:37.799 you some practical steps. I'll give you six practical steps. Okay, 11 00:00:38.200 --> 00:00:39.799 how do you share your hope? 12 00:00:40.039 --> 00:00:41.039 Number one? 13 00:00:41.280 --> 00:00:47.600 Real simple, write it down, live it, live it, Live 14 00:00:48.079 --> 00:00:53.240 your hope. Live a life of hope, long before you 15 00:00:53.280 --> 00:00:54.119 ever talk about it. 16 00:00:54.399 --> 00:00:55.399 Just live it. 17 00:00:56.280 --> 00:01:00.200 Verse Peter, Chapter two, verse twelve says this, we have 18 00:01:00.320 --> 00:01:05.519 such good lives among your unbelieving neighbors that they see 19 00:01:06.519 --> 00:01:09.680 circle that that they see the good things in you, 20 00:01:10.200 --> 00:01:13.200 the good things you do, and then they will honor. 21 00:01:12.920 --> 00:01:14.560 God by believing. 22 00:01:15.400 --> 00:01:17.280 Live in such a good way in front of your 23 00:01:17.359 --> 00:01:18.239 unbelieving neighbors. 24 00:01:18.280 --> 00:01:20.159 They see the good things you do, and. 25 00:01:20.079 --> 00:01:24.079 They will honor God by believing. What does that verse 26 00:01:24.120 --> 00:01:28.079 teach us that you need to be an audio visual believer. 27 00:01:29.159 --> 00:01:31.760 You gotta both walk the walk and talk the talk. 28 00:01:32.000 --> 00:01:34.159 You've got to be audio and you gotta be visual. 29 00:01:34.719 --> 00:01:37.120 You've got to live it in front of others. I 30 00:01:37.239 --> 00:01:40.480 told my staff the other day talking about our culture. 31 00:01:40.719 --> 00:01:45.359 If they like what they see, they will listen to 32 00:01:45.400 --> 00:01:49.519 what we say. If they like what they see, they 33 00:01:49.560 --> 00:01:52.799 will listen to what we say. So we start by sharing, Oh, 34 00:01:52.920 --> 00:01:57.719 by simply living hopeful lives. Now, this involves a lot 35 00:01:57.719 --> 00:02:01.480 of times just being nice to people. Why because you 36 00:02:01.519 --> 00:02:04.319 cannot win your enemies to Christ. You can only win 37 00:02:04.359 --> 00:02:07.640 your friends. They've got to become your friends before they 38 00:02:07.680 --> 00:02:11.800 can become christ friends. See, before people say is Jesus real? 39 00:02:11.840 --> 00:02:14.400 They want to know are you real? Before they want 40 00:02:14.400 --> 00:02:17.240 to know is the Bible legitimate? Can it be trusted? 41 00:02:17.400 --> 00:02:20.039 They want to know are you legitimate? Can you be trusted? 42 00:02:20.680 --> 00:02:23.240 Before they want to know is is everything that the 43 00:02:23.280 --> 00:02:25.960 scripture teaches credible? They want to know are you credible? 44 00:02:27.080 --> 00:02:30.719 So it just starts by being nice to people, building 45 00:02:30.759 --> 00:02:35.479 bridges of friendship. Outreach, evangelism, witnessing is simply you build 46 00:02:35.479 --> 00:02:38.639 a bridge of love between your heart and theirs, and 47 00:02:38.759 --> 00:02:39.919 Jesus walks cross. 48 00:02:40.719 --> 00:02:41.120 That's why. 49 00:02:41.199 --> 00:02:46.439 Romans twelve, verse thirteen says this two words practice hospitality. 50 00:02:47.520 --> 00:02:53.599 Romans twelve thirteen, practice hospitality. What is hospitality, Well, just 51 00:02:53.680 --> 00:02:57.400 making people feel welcomed and wanted. It means living your 52 00:02:57.439 --> 00:02:59.800 life in such a way. You invite them into your 53 00:02:59.840 --> 00:03:01.919 home home, you share meals with them, you have a 54 00:03:01.919 --> 00:03:04.000 barbecue with them, you go to a game with them, 55 00:03:04.319 --> 00:03:07.159 You live your life with them. I could give you 56 00:03:07.240 --> 00:03:10.120 so many illustrations. Do you know that in the first 57 00:03:10.199 --> 00:03:13.680 year of first two years of sadle Back Church, every 58 00:03:13.719 --> 00:03:19.000 Tuesday and every Thursday, we had people in our homes 59 00:03:19.039 --> 00:03:22.159 for two years. Kate cooked the same meal every week, 60 00:03:22.240 --> 00:03:23.800 so we didn't have to worry about what the buyer 61 00:03:23.960 --> 00:03:26.879 or the planning. It was all about having people in 62 00:03:26.960 --> 00:03:29.680 our home showing hospitality. And in the first two years 63 00:03:29.680 --> 00:03:32.560 of this church, every single person who came this church 64 00:03:32.840 --> 00:03:35.599 was invited to my home. And we did it for 65 00:03:35.639 --> 00:03:39.240 two years. Every single person got invited to a meal. 66 00:03:39.919 --> 00:03:44.919 This church was built on hospitality. The a in Saddleback's name, 67 00:03:45.000 --> 00:03:48.719 which is now All Nation Congregation used to be atmosphere 68 00:03:48.759 --> 00:03:53.400 of acceptance, which is the hospitality point of our values. 69 00:03:53.520 --> 00:03:56.479 Why because we didn't have an agent the word saddleback. 70 00:03:56.759 --> 00:04:00.680 So we called it atmosphere of acceptance. So you've got 71 00:04:00.719 --> 00:04:04.599 to live a life of hospitality and love in front 72 00:04:04.599 --> 00:04:06.599 of people, at a life of hope. Then number two, 73 00:04:07.280 --> 00:04:11.000 after you live it, learn it. You need to learn 74 00:04:11.080 --> 00:04:13.560 more about the hope that is within you. You know 75 00:04:13.599 --> 00:04:16.439 you've got hope, but you may have our time expressing it. 76 00:04:17.079 --> 00:04:20.600 One Peter, Chapter three, verse fifteen says this, always be 77 00:04:20.639 --> 00:04:24.079 ready to answer anyone who asks you to explain the 78 00:04:24.120 --> 00:04:28.439 reason for the hope that you have, but do it 79 00:04:28.480 --> 00:04:32.000 with gentleness and respect. Did you know that never in 80 00:04:32.040 --> 00:04:35.560 the Bible you told to share your faith. The Bible 81 00:04:35.560 --> 00:04:38.439 says share your hope. Never in the Bible are we 82 00:04:38.519 --> 00:04:41.360 commanded to share our faith. We are commanded to share 83 00:04:41.360 --> 00:04:44.360 our hope, and it says do it with gentleness and respect. 84 00:04:45.399 --> 00:04:48.160 Here's the third thing. You got to live it and 85 00:04:48.199 --> 00:04:51.560 you got to learn it. Here's number three. Apologize for 86 00:04:51.680 --> 00:04:52.720 not sharing sooner. 87 00:04:54.079 --> 00:04:56.319 Now let me explain this. What do you mean by that? 88 00:04:56.600 --> 00:04:58.319 Apologize for not explaining sooner? 89 00:04:58.879 --> 00:05:01.000 Okay, this in your mind? 90 00:05:01.240 --> 00:05:03.600 Do you have people in your life who are not 91 00:05:03.680 --> 00:05:06.360 believers and you've known him for a long long time, 92 00:05:06.360 --> 00:05:08.959 maybe five years, ten years, maybe even twenty years. You 93 00:05:09.040 --> 00:05:12.040 may have lived next to a neighbor forever and you've 94 00:05:12.120 --> 00:05:14.839 never talked to him about the Lord, and now you're 95 00:05:14.879 --> 00:05:18.639 kind of embarrassed because you've been neighbors so long and 96 00:05:18.680 --> 00:05:21.720 you've never talked to him about it, and now you 97 00:05:21.759 --> 00:05:25.399 feel awkward about bringing it up. How do you break 98 00:05:25.439 --> 00:05:27.959 the ice in talking to somebody about the Lord? Do 99 00:05:28.000 --> 00:05:29.680 you've known for some time and have never talked to 100 00:05:29.720 --> 00:05:30.160 him about it? 101 00:05:30.920 --> 00:05:33.920 Just apologize? Now, here's how I would do it. 102 00:05:35.120 --> 00:05:36.959 You go, let's say you've got a next door neighbor 103 00:05:36.959 --> 00:05:39.360 you've never talked about the Lord, never invited him church, 104 00:05:40.120 --> 00:05:42.399 and you go to him and you say, let's say 105 00:05:42.399 --> 00:05:46.839 his name's Joe. You say, Joe, I need to apologize 106 00:05:47.079 --> 00:05:49.800 to you. Now that's going to get their attention right 107 00:05:49.839 --> 00:05:52.439 off the bat. Okay, what have you done wrong? I 108 00:05:52.480 --> 00:05:55.439 need to apologize? And I said, well, what, sure? 109 00:05:55.519 --> 00:05:57.399 Yeah, you know whatever. What do you need to apologize 110 00:05:57.439 --> 00:05:58.160 for it? Well? 111 00:05:58.600 --> 00:06:03.319 You know friends, I don't keep secrets from friends, and 112 00:06:03.360 --> 00:06:05.199 I consider you to be a close friend. 113 00:06:05.560 --> 00:06:06.519 You're a good friend. 114 00:06:06.720 --> 00:06:10.240 You've been a good neighbor for many years, and I've 115 00:06:10.399 --> 00:06:12.600 never talked to you about the most important thing in 116 00:06:12.639 --> 00:06:15.800 my life, and I'm really sorry. I'm embarrassed about it 117 00:06:16.319 --> 00:06:20.079 because honestly, I kind of thought that if I shared 118 00:06:20.120 --> 00:06:21.639 it with you, you'd think I was a nut or 119 00:06:21.639 --> 00:06:26.199 a kook or some goofy person. And I really thought 120 00:06:26.240 --> 00:06:28.800 that maybe you'd think less of me. And I know 121 00:06:28.879 --> 00:06:31.319 that's dumb, and I'm sorry. I should have thought more 122 00:06:31.360 --> 00:06:33.680 of our friendship. It's stronger than that. I know that, 123 00:06:34.319 --> 00:06:37.439 and so I ask you to forgive me. Now, the 124 00:06:37.480 --> 00:06:40.879 guy's dying to hear what you're going to say, and 125 00:06:40.920 --> 00:06:43.560 you say, you know what, I just need to tell 126 00:06:43.560 --> 00:06:46.800 you that the most important thing in my life is 127 00:06:46.879 --> 00:06:50.639 my friendship with God. I've learned how to have a 128 00:06:50.680 --> 00:06:54.319 relationship with God, and i'd love some time to talk 129 00:06:54.360 --> 00:06:56.439 to you about it and tell you about it. Well, 130 00:06:56.439 --> 00:06:58.079 now you've just opened the door. 131 00:07:00.000 --> 00:07:00.600 The apology. 132 00:07:00.600 --> 00:07:03.480 Evangelism is the way you start with somebody haven't talked 133 00:07:03.480 --> 00:07:06.800 to in a long time, you know. Proverbs chapter twelve, 134 00:07:07.240 --> 00:07:10.360 verse twenty six. It's very difficult verse to translate treat 135 00:07:10.399 --> 00:07:14.279 in different translations. It's all different ways, but I think 136 00:07:14.319 --> 00:07:17.879 that today's English version gets the closest the original meaning 137 00:07:17.879 --> 00:07:20.800 of the Hebrew and Proverbs twelve twenty six says this 138 00:07:20.879 --> 00:07:26.000 and the TeV the righteous person is a guide to 139 00:07:26.079 --> 00:07:30.519 his friends. The righteous person is a guide to his friends. 140 00:07:30.800 --> 00:07:32.600 And what you want to do. If your friends is somebody, 141 00:07:32.639 --> 00:07:34.439 you want to guide them in the right way. You 142 00:07:34.519 --> 00:07:36.839 care enough about them, you want to spend an eternity 143 00:07:36.879 --> 00:07:39.639 in heaven with you. You don't want to be separated 144 00:07:39.680 --> 00:07:43.040 from for them from eternity. And a righteous person is 145 00:07:43.079 --> 00:07:47.519 a guide to his friends. Another verse, Proverbs seventeen seventeen says, 146 00:07:47.720 --> 00:07:51.079 friends always show their love. And the most loving thing 147 00:07:51.160 --> 00:07:54.160 you can do is to show somebody how they can 148 00:07:54.199 --> 00:07:57.319 have their past forgiven, get a purpose for living, and 149 00:07:57.319 --> 00:07:59.680 get a home in heaven by opening their heart to 150 00:07:59.680 --> 00:08:04.279 the grint of God. Friends always show their love. It's 151 00:08:04.439 --> 00:08:08.560 unloving to not tell people the good news. All right, 152 00:08:09.000 --> 00:08:10.360 let me give you a fourth thing you can do. 153 00:08:10.399 --> 00:08:12.800 You can practice this week. You learn it, then you 154 00:08:14.000 --> 00:08:16.600 live it, then you apologize for not talking about it. 155 00:08:16.800 --> 00:08:22.199 Number four Listen first. Listen first, and by the way, 156 00:08:22.279 --> 00:08:25.319 ask questions. Write that down to you. Listen first and 157 00:08:25.439 --> 00:08:29.480 ask questions. You will always bring more people to Christ 158 00:08:30.399 --> 00:08:34.279 by listening to them than by talking to them. Why 159 00:08:34.519 --> 00:08:38.720 because everybody on this planet has a deep, deep hunger 160 00:08:39.039 --> 00:08:42.799 to be listened to, to be understood, to have their 161 00:08:42.840 --> 00:08:46.799 feelings validated, to not just blow it off, but to 162 00:08:46.919 --> 00:08:51.080 really listen. And very few people in this world care 163 00:08:51.240 --> 00:08:55.840 enough to actually listen to people, to their neighbors and friends. 164 00:08:56.080 --> 00:08:58.519 That's why people pay big money to go to counselors, 165 00:08:58.960 --> 00:09:01.799 because very few people car enough to actually listen to 166 00:09:01.879 --> 00:09:06.440 their friends. Your ear is a great tool. 167 00:09:05.919 --> 00:09:10.360 For showing love to someone. This is a huge tool. 168 00:09:11.000 --> 00:09:14.559 Proverbs eighteen, verse thirteen in today's English version says this, 169 00:09:15.120 --> 00:09:19.720 always listen before you answer. If you don't, you're being 170 00:09:19.759 --> 00:09:22.840 stupid and insulting. If you remember that verse early, we 171 00:09:22.879 --> 00:09:25.200 talked about it says always be ready to share your 172 00:09:25.240 --> 00:09:28.399 hope and always be ready to give an answer to 173 00:09:28.399 --> 00:09:30.519 people ask you about the hope that's in you. Well, 174 00:09:30.720 --> 00:09:35.759 the second part is always listen first before you share it. 175 00:09:36.360 --> 00:09:38.440 Always listen, and that's where you're gonna find the key 176 00:09:38.480 --> 00:09:42.600 to their heart. Proverbs twenty, verse five, today's English version 177 00:09:42.639 --> 00:09:46.480 says this, A person's thoughts are like water in a 178 00:09:46.519 --> 00:09:51.120 deep well, but somebody with insight could draw them out, 179 00:09:52.240 --> 00:09:55.440 can you that's a beautiful picture. A person's thoughts are 180 00:09:55.480 --> 00:09:58.039 like water in a deep well, but someone with insight 181 00:09:58.080 --> 00:09:59.960 could draw them out. How do you draw it out 182 00:10:00.039 --> 00:10:02.720 out of people? How do you find their hidden hurt? 183 00:10:03.000 --> 00:10:06.840 How do you find their deep need, unmet need, their 184 00:10:06.879 --> 00:10:11.159 felt need? By asking questions? The way you draw something 185 00:10:11.200 --> 00:10:14.759 out of people is by asking questions. And then after 186 00:10:14.799 --> 00:10:17.759 they've answered the questions, they will tell me more, and 187 00:10:17.799 --> 00:10:21.000 then ask it again, will tell me more, and what else, 188 00:10:21.320 --> 00:10:25.159 and you just keep letting them talk. You know a 189 00:10:25.200 --> 00:10:27.360 lot of people are worried that I've got to go 190 00:10:27.399 --> 00:10:29.159 out there and prove that God exists. No, you don't 191 00:10:29.159 --> 00:10:32.279 have to do that first place. Most people don't doubt 192 00:10:32.279 --> 00:10:37.000 God's existence. There are arguments out there, theological and teleological 193 00:10:37.080 --> 00:10:40.240 arguments for the existence of God. The cosmological argument, the 194 00:10:40.320 --> 00:10:44.759 teleological argument, the ontological argument, constant moral reproof. 195 00:10:44.799 --> 00:10:45.480 These are all things. 196 00:10:45.519 --> 00:10:47.279 If you go to seminary, you have to learn the 197 00:10:47.399 --> 00:10:49.720 arguments for the existence of God. Do you know what, 198 00:10:49.840 --> 00:10:52.679 most people couldn't care less. Again, they're living at the 199 00:10:52.679 --> 00:10:56.559 emotional level. It's not your job to prove God's exist 200 00:10:57.200 --> 00:11:01.039 It's your job to just show the grace of God 201 00:11:01.080 --> 00:11:04.840 to them. Now that goes in and along with my 202 00:11:04.919 --> 00:11:11.480 fifth suggestion, write this down, share your stories. Share your stories. 203 00:11:12.039 --> 00:11:13.919 You don't have to be going to the Bible for everything. 204 00:11:14.200 --> 00:11:16.039 Just share what's happened to you. 205 00:11:16.120 --> 00:11:16.279 Now. 206 00:11:16.320 --> 00:11:19.840 This is called as you know, your testimony. In class 207 00:11:19.879 --> 00:11:22.279 four oh one, we teach you how to write out 208 00:11:22.519 --> 00:11:26.600 your testimony. But you notice I say share your stories plural, 209 00:11:26.840 --> 00:11:27.840 not share your story? 210 00:11:27.879 --> 00:11:28.240 Why? 211 00:11:28.480 --> 00:11:32.240 Because you have many testimonies. A lot of people think 212 00:11:32.279 --> 00:11:34.679 they only have one testimony, the testimony of how they 213 00:11:34.720 --> 00:11:39.000 came to Christ, how they were saved. But has God 214 00:11:39.000 --> 00:11:41.120 ever helped you with a financial problem? Then you have 215 00:11:41.159 --> 00:11:43.840 a financial testimony. Has God ever helped you with a 216 00:11:43.879 --> 00:11:47.799 relational problem? Then you have a relational testimony? Or marriage testimony? 217 00:11:47.919 --> 00:11:50.000 Has God ever helped you with dating? Then God, You've 218 00:11:50.039 --> 00:11:52.600 got a dating testimony. Has God ever helped you when 219 00:11:52.600 --> 00:11:54.799 you were going through a crisis or grief or you 220 00:11:54.879 --> 00:11:57.360 lost someone, or you were worried, or you were sick. 221 00:11:58.080 --> 00:12:03.879 You have hundreds of testimonyes. You know the power of 222 00:12:03.919 --> 00:12:08.039 a testimony is that you are the authority. You're not 223 00:12:08.080 --> 00:12:11.159 pointing to anybody else's people in today's age, you go, well, 224 00:12:11.639 --> 00:12:14.080 you said it, it's you are the authority on your life. 225 00:12:14.200 --> 00:12:16.240 Nobody's a better authority on your life than you. 226 00:12:17.639 --> 00:12:17.799 Now. 227 00:12:17.799 --> 00:12:20.080 The Bible, of course, is filled the testimonies of people. 228 00:12:21.039 --> 00:12:25.240 One time Jesus healed the bland guy, and the Pharisees 229 00:12:25.679 --> 00:12:27.840 kind of came to him and tried to trap him 230 00:12:28.000 --> 00:12:31.480 with some theological questions and discussion, tried to pin him 231 00:12:31.519 --> 00:12:34.080 down in the identity of Jesus. And the guy was 232 00:12:34.120 --> 00:12:37.600 really smart and he just resorted back to his testimony. 233 00:12:38.159 --> 00:12:41.320 And he did that because when you have a testimony, 234 00:12:41.360 --> 00:12:44.159 you're the authority on it. And in John chapter nine, 235 00:12:44.240 --> 00:12:46.039 verse twenty five, when they come and say who do 236 00:12:46.080 --> 00:12:47.759 you think Jesus is, he goes, well, you know what. 237 00:12:48.080 --> 00:12:50.320 I don't know what you're going to argue about, but 238 00:12:50.399 --> 00:12:52.759 I do know this. I was blind, but now I 239 00:12:52.759 --> 00:12:55.200 can see that's a testimony. 240 00:12:55.440 --> 00:12:56.320 You have lots of. 241 00:12:56.440 --> 00:12:59.720 I was blind, but now I can see testimonies about parenting, 242 00:13:00.120 --> 00:13:06.639 about dieting, about sleeping well, about dealing with stress, about 243 00:13:06.639 --> 00:13:09.519 dealing with pressure, and all the other things in your life. 244 00:13:09.639 --> 00:13:13.399 You have hundreds of testimonies. Finally, let me give you 245 00:13:13.399 --> 00:13:18.360 one more suggestion, number six. Bring them to worship. This 246 00:13:18.519 --> 00:13:20.799 is one of the best ways that you can share 247 00:13:21.200 --> 00:13:25.279 your hope with people. Who are struggling without hope. Did 248 00:13:25.320 --> 00:13:28.879 you know that studies show that people come to Christ 249 00:13:29.039 --> 00:13:32.159 quicker when they do it in the context of a 250 00:13:32.240 --> 00:13:35.559 larger group of people rather than just buy one on one. 251 00:13:36.120 --> 00:13:38.440 So when you talk to your neighbor, your friend, your 252 00:13:38.519 --> 00:13:41.639 coworker about the Lord. But then you bring them to 253 00:13:41.759 --> 00:13:44.919 church and they walk into a service and they see 254 00:13:44.960 --> 00:13:48.480 a lot of other people, hundreds of people or maybe 255 00:13:48.480 --> 00:13:52.480 even thousands, who believe the same thing. That's called a 256 00:13:52.679 --> 00:13:58.000 corporate witness and has enormous emotional and spiritual power. And 257 00:13:58.080 --> 00:14:01.879 when people come and see other people together believing the 258 00:14:01.879 --> 00:14:04.759 same thing, it adds credibility to what you have shared 259 00:14:04.759 --> 00:14:07.600 with your friend. And your frame thinks. He looks around 260 00:14:07.600 --> 00:14:09.440 and he goes, Wow, there are a lot of people here 261 00:14:09.799 --> 00:14:12.840 who believe this. They couldn't all be crazy. I mean, 262 00:14:12.879 --> 00:14:16.000 they might doubt you, but they can't couldn't all be crazy. 263 00:14:17.279 --> 00:14:21.000 This is why Jesus wants us to bring people into 264 00:14:21.039 --> 00:14:23.679 his church family and actually bring him to worship services. 265 00:14:23.960 --> 00:14:27.639 In Luke chapter fourteen, verse twenty three, Jesus said this, 266 00:14:28.080 --> 00:14:32.360 go into the streets and everywhere else and invite anyone 267 00:14:32.440 --> 00:14:36.000 you find to come with you, so that my house 268 00:14:36.240 --> 00:14:40.440 will be full. Notice that God wants a full house. 269 00:14:42.360 --> 00:14:46.440 He wants a full house. He wants everybody saved. When 270 00:14:46.559 --> 00:14:50.279 was the last time you invited somebody to church? Care 271 00:14:50.440 --> 00:14:54.679 enough to bring somebody with you next weekend. You know 272 00:14:55.200 --> 00:14:57.879 when you do that, you're going to watch. You're going 273 00:14:57.960 --> 00:15:00.320 to see church from a whole different perspective when you 274 00:15:00.360 --> 00:15:02.279 sit next to somebody who's never been in the service 275 00:15:02.320 --> 00:15:04.720 before and you see all of the things that going. 276 00:15:04.799 --> 00:15:06.000 Now I get why we do this. 277 00:15:06.080 --> 00:15:08.600 Now, I see why we do this at Saddleback, and 278 00:15:08.679 --> 00:15:10.919 I have seen the reality of Psalm forty verse three 279 00:15:11.320 --> 00:15:15.120 happen thousands and thousands of times at saddle Back Church 280 00:15:15.279 --> 00:15:18.519 when people brought their friends to church. Psalm forty verse 281 00:15:18.519 --> 00:15:22.720 three says this, many people will see this what the 282 00:15:22.759 --> 00:15:26.320 service of worship, and they will worship him. Then they 283 00:15:26.559 --> 00:15:30.440 will trust the Lord. Notice that worship leads to outreach, 284 00:15:31.240 --> 00:15:33.679 worship leads to conversion. Then they will trust the Lord. 285 00:15:34.480 --> 00:15:37.279 When people who don't yet have a friendship with God, 286 00:15:38.039 --> 00:15:42.399 watch believers give thanks to God like in singing. It 287 00:15:42.519 --> 00:15:46.399 is a powerful witness. And this is why the first 288 00:15:46.480 --> 00:15:49.559 Church of Jerusalem actually grewed over one hundred thousand members 289 00:15:49.879 --> 00:15:54.039 in less than twenty years because the worship was there 290 00:15:54.200 --> 00:15:58.240 and everybody was bringing their friends to the temple. Acts two, 291 00:15:58.399 --> 00:16:04.080 verse forty seven says this, as they worshiped God, people 292 00:16:04.159 --> 00:16:08.679 in the community liked what they saw, and as a result, 293 00:16:09.240 --> 00:16:13.679 every day their number grew as God added. 294 00:16:13.480 --> 00:16:14.960 Those who were being saved. 295 00:16:15.840 --> 00:16:19.600 All right, now I've given you, you know, five or 296 00:16:19.639 --> 00:16:23.399 so reasons why you should have confidence, and six or 297 00:16:23.440 --> 00:16:26.120 so steps to just get going. Let me wrap this 298 00:16:26.279 --> 00:16:30.000 up by just concluding with why why do we do this? 299 00:16:31.120 --> 00:16:34.120 Why do we share our hope? Well, let me just 300 00:16:34.759 --> 00:16:37.519 give you three or four reasons real quick. Number one, 301 00:16:37.720 --> 00:16:41.159 everybody needs Jesus. The reason we share our hope is 302 00:16:41.200 --> 00:16:44.720 because everybody needs Jesus. You know, if I had the 303 00:16:44.759 --> 00:16:50.279 cure for cancer or AIDS or dementia and I didn't 304 00:16:50.360 --> 00:16:53.919 share it with everybody, that would be criminal. They should 305 00:16:53.960 --> 00:16:55.960 lock me up and put me in prison. If I 306 00:16:56.080 --> 00:16:59.039 knew how to cure people's cancer or AIDS or dementia 307 00:16:59.159 --> 00:17:02.720 or some other thing, it would be criminal if I 308 00:17:02.759 --> 00:17:06.000 didn't pass it on. We have something even better, how 309 00:17:06.000 --> 00:17:09.039 to have eternal life past forgiven purpose for living home 310 00:17:09.079 --> 00:17:12.160 in heaven, it would be criminal. To not share it 311 00:17:12.160 --> 00:17:16.519 with others. Look at this verse Matthew eleven twenty eight 312 00:17:16.559 --> 00:17:19.279 to thirty. Jesus says in the message para Freeze, are 313 00:17:19.279 --> 00:17:19.799 you tired? 314 00:17:20.119 --> 00:17:22.480 Are you worn out? Are you burned out on religion? 315 00:17:23.079 --> 00:17:23.559 Come to me? 316 00:17:24.400 --> 00:17:26.720 Get away with me and you'll recover your life and 317 00:17:26.720 --> 00:17:29.000 I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk 318 00:17:29.079 --> 00:17:33.240 with me, work with me. Watch how I do it. 319 00:17:33.319 --> 00:17:37.559 Jesus says, learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't 320 00:17:37.599 --> 00:17:40.319 lay anything heavy or ill fitting on you. Keep company 321 00:17:40.359 --> 00:17:43.839 with me, and you'll learn how to live freely and lightly. 322 00:17:44.240 --> 00:17:48.200 Who doesn't want that. It's not like you're trying to 323 00:17:48.200 --> 00:17:52.920 get people to eat cat food or something. You know, 324 00:17:53.000 --> 00:17:57.480 what most people reject is not true Christianity. What most 325 00:17:57.480 --> 00:18:02.839 people reject is a misconception of it. Jesus says, you 326 00:18:02.920 --> 00:18:05.960 got needs in your life, Come to me and I 327 00:18:06.000 --> 00:18:08.640 will meet that need. I will give you rest. So 328 00:18:08.759 --> 00:18:12.720 we do it because everybody needs Jesus. The second reason 329 00:18:12.759 --> 00:18:15.200 we do it is because Jesus commands us to do it. 330 00:18:15.359 --> 00:18:17.799 We looked at those commands at the very start that 331 00:18:17.920 --> 00:18:21.720 this church Saddleback exists because of his great commission to 332 00:18:21.839 --> 00:18:26.640 go make disciples, Mark chapter eight, verse thirty eight. He said, 333 00:18:26.759 --> 00:18:30.440 Jesus said this very very sobering verse. Look at this 334 00:18:30.559 --> 00:18:34.599 verse Mark eight thirty eight. Jesus says, if you're ashamed 335 00:18:34.599 --> 00:18:39.400 of me and my message in these sick and sinful days, 336 00:18:39.880 --> 00:18:43.720 I will be ashamed of you when I return in glory. 337 00:18:44.480 --> 00:18:47.400 Whoa, whoa. 338 00:18:47.759 --> 00:18:51.000 We do this because God commands us to do it. 339 00:18:51.440 --> 00:18:54.480 Do you care more about what people think than about 340 00:18:54.480 --> 00:18:58.519 what God thinks? Are you more worried about your reputation 341 00:18:59.039 --> 00:19:02.960 than their salvation? Are you ashamed of Jesus? 342 00:19:03.680 --> 00:19:03.960 Why? 343 00:19:04.920 --> 00:19:07.160 I mean, maybe if you're ashamed of Jesus, maybe you 344 00:19:07.160 --> 00:19:07.839 don't really have. 345 00:19:07.799 --> 00:19:10.440 A friendship with him. Yet you need to get to 346 00:19:10.480 --> 00:19:10.839 know him. 347 00:19:11.680 --> 00:19:14.480 Jesus commands us to share our hope. Third reason we 348 00:19:14.519 --> 00:19:17.640 share our hope is because we're grateful to God and 349 00:19:17.680 --> 00:19:21.799 we love people Sewod Corinthians five point fourteen. The Bible 350 00:19:21.839 --> 00:19:27.279 says Christ's love compels us. Christ love compels us because 351 00:19:27.279 --> 00:19:30.160 we know that He died for all. We are motivated 352 00:19:30.160 --> 00:19:33.000 by love. People ask me what motivates you rick year 353 00:19:33.039 --> 00:19:35.680 after year after year at Saddleback Church. I love Jesus 354 00:19:35.759 --> 00:19:38.440 Christ with all my heart, and I love people, and 355 00:19:38.480 --> 00:19:42.480 that compels us. You know, there's a point where Jesus 356 00:19:42.480 --> 00:19:44.279 one time is up on a hill and he looks 357 00:19:44.319 --> 00:19:47.839 out the whole city of Jerusalem, and in passionate cry, 358 00:19:48.079 --> 00:19:51.759 he says, Oh, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how I would have gathered 359 00:19:51.799 --> 00:19:55.279 you as a hen gathers her chicks under her brood, 360 00:19:55.400 --> 00:19:56.519 but you would not have me. 361 00:19:57.640 --> 00:20:00.000 Can you hear the verse that the passion had, Oh, 362 00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:01.440 Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem. 363 00:20:03.000 --> 00:20:06.240 I have prayed that prayer so many times as I've 364 00:20:06.240 --> 00:20:08.799 been up on a hill, saying, Oh, saddle back Valley, 365 00:20:08.880 --> 00:20:11.440 saddle back Valley, how much I would have gathered you 366 00:20:11.720 --> 00:20:14.440 to bring you the good news? And then as we 367 00:20:14.559 --> 00:20:19.599 expanded Orange County, Southern California, Oh, Southern California, Southern California, 368 00:20:19.640 --> 00:20:23.240 how much I would have gathered you together and shared 369 00:20:23.279 --> 00:20:25.799 with you the good news of Christ if you just listen. 370 00:20:27.400 --> 00:20:31.400 And now I with campuses around the world, I say, oh, world, 371 00:20:32.960 --> 00:20:37.160 how I plead and beg for you to listen to 372 00:20:37.240 --> 00:20:38.599 the good News of Jesus Christ. 373 00:20:39.359 --> 00:20:40.319 We do it out of love. 374 00:20:41.680 --> 00:20:45.480 Finally, the Bible says that you will be rewarded in 375 00:20:45.519 --> 00:20:48.799 heaven that when you share your hope with others, you 376 00:20:48.920 --> 00:20:53.559 will be rewarded in heaven. Proverbs eleven, verse thirty says 377 00:20:53.640 --> 00:20:58.359 this good people give life to others like a fruit 378 00:20:58.400 --> 00:21:03.839 bearing tree, and those who save souls are wise. Do 379 00:21:03.880 --> 00:21:07.279 you want to be wise save souls? You want to 380 00:21:07.279 --> 00:21:09.200 bear fruit, You want to be a tree of life. 381 00:21:09.359 --> 00:21:11.880 You want to leave a legacy. The way you leave 382 00:21:11.880 --> 00:21:16.079 a legacy is by sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. 383 00:21:17.839 --> 00:21:20.400 The Bible says, for since we were restored to friendship 384 00:21:20.400 --> 00:21:23.039 with God by the death of his son while we 385 00:21:23.039 --> 00:21:25.839 were still as enemies, we will certainly be delivered from 386 00:21:25.880 --> 00:21:27.759 eternal punishment by his life. 387 00:21:28.039 --> 00:21:29.799 Romans five ten. 388 00:21:30.240 --> 00:21:33.920 What a great promise you will be rewarded in eternity 389 00:21:34.119 --> 00:21:36.640 for the people you brought with you. Is anybody going 390 00:21:36.680 --> 00:21:39.960 to be in heaven because of you? Let me close 391 00:21:40.240 --> 00:21:46.559 in prayer. The Bible says that God wants us to 392 00:21:46.599 --> 00:21:47.279 be witnesses. 393 00:21:47.960 --> 00:21:49.240 But a lot of times. 394 00:21:49.319 --> 00:21:52.119 We're what I call Arctic river Christians. We're frozen at 395 00:21:52.119 --> 00:21:56.240 the mouth and we don't say anything, and we hold back. 396 00:21:57.359 --> 00:21:59.880 But Jesus says, if you're not fishing, you're not following. 397 00:22:00.839 --> 00:22:03.400 So let me encourage you to write now in your mind. 398 00:22:03.400 --> 00:22:06.599 I want everybody to think of one person. Think of 399 00:22:06.640 --> 00:22:11.480 a name of somebody who you love who doesn't know 400 00:22:11.599 --> 00:22:13.960 Jesus yet. Okay, think of a name as somebody who 401 00:22:14.000 --> 00:22:16.400