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Whole Heart, Whole Church, Whole World (1 Thessalonians 1)
15 Plays1 month ago
Sunday Message recorded 11 January 2026
by Senior Pastor Victor Morrison
First Baptist Church - Columbus, TX, USA
1700 Milam St.
Columbus, TX, USA 78934
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction and Gratitude
00:00:06
Speaker
Would you open God's word to 1 Thessalonians in the New Testament? 1 Thessalonians...
00:00:14
Speaker
1 Thessalonians 1, we've had such a great morning of worship, but also with the baptism. I just thank the Lord so much for Kendall and for how she's following Christ in her life. And just so excited, looking so forward to today.
Vision for 2026
00:00:29
Speaker
I'm also looking forward to today that I could share with you the vision that God has placed upon my heart for all of us as we travel together through 2026. You know, I don't know about you, but I like to know where I'm going.
00:00:41
Speaker
like to have some kind of idea of the direction. And so at the close of each year, I seek God and I say, God, what would you want to say to your people?
Church Belongs to Christ
00:00:53
Speaker
Because you know what? We all belong to Christ. This is really his church. It's not my church. It's not our church. It's his church. And so I was asking him, what is your vision for your church?
00:01:06
Speaker
You know, Habakkuk, the Old Testament prophet, he modeled a really good approach when you're seeking to know God's will, God's vision. He listened first and then he wrote down what God had said and then he shared the vision so the people could move forward in the right direction.
00:01:25
Speaker
And then the Lord also told him, you know, sometimes his vision is for a certain time, so we have to wait. It doesn't always happen instantly.
Directives from God
00:01:34
Speaker
Well, the Lord spoke clearly to my heart and gave me three directives.
00:01:39
Speaker
The first one is that we all, each one of us, would offer a whole heart to God. Would you be willing to say to God this year, Lord, I don't know what 2026 is going to have, but I want you to know you've got my whole heart.
00:01:57
Speaker
second thing that God placed upon my heart was not just a whole heart that we offered to him, but also we would mobilize the whole church, the whole church. If each one of us reached out to the people in our spheres of influence, to the people that we know, imagine what God would do with that. If we're not talking about a staff, we're not talking about deacons or Sunday school teachers, we're talking about every one of us.
00:02:24
Speaker
Do you realize that God's got a plan for you, that he wants to reach out through the whole church?
Global Vision and 1 Thessalonians
00:02:30
Speaker
You're here for a very special purpose, but also that we would keep the whole world in focus.
00:02:37
Speaker
You know, God's vision is not just God. for our church. It's not just for our community or our county. It's for the whole world. And so I want to share with you some things that the Lord said to me through 1 Thessalonians 1.
00:02:54
Speaker
I believe that if we will look at this passage together, that God will help us understand what he's trying to say. I want to put on the screen that passage, though, real quickly in case some of you are also in a place where you're trying to seek God's will.
00:03:11
Speaker
This is where that came from, from Habakkuk, from Habakkuk chapter 2, verses 1 through 3. He first says, you know what, I'm going to listen to hear what God has to say.
00:03:25
Speaker
Would you say that today to God? Would you be willing to listen to what God has to say to your life? Secondly, would you write down the vision that he reveals?
00:03:36
Speaker
You know, you may need to share that vision with someone else. But then the third thing is, he says, share the vision with others so they also can move forward in God's direction.
00:03:47
Speaker
That's why he says, I want you to write it down so those who hear it can run with it. This year, I want you to be able to go back. The first Thessalonians chapter one, you may forget what I say, but don't forget what God has said.
00:04:01
Speaker
This is what motivates us and moves us. I appreciate so much, Dr. Bam, reading that passage about how God's word is unique because it's inspired.
00:04:12
Speaker
God breathed it so that we can be equipped for what he wants to do in our lives this year. And don't give don't give up if it doesn't happen this month or next month.
00:04:22
Speaker
Sometimes we have to wait. Even if the vision delays, wait for it, for it will certainly come. It will certainly be fulfilled.
Historical Context of Thessalonica
00:04:33
Speaker
The historical background, not of Habakkuk there, but of 1 Thessalonians 1, is that Paul planted a church.
00:04:42
Speaker
He planted a church in Thessalonica. And what he did can be reviewed, not in 1 Thessalonians 1, as much as in Acts 17, verses 1-10.
00:04:55
Speaker
So if you're a note taker, you could just write down... review the background of the church at Thessalonica and how it got started from Acts 17 verses 1 through 10.
00:05:07
Speaker
But just to summarize what happened, Paul and Silas shared the gospel and made disciples in Thessalonica over three weeks. Three weeks. What could God do in the next three weeks?
00:05:20
Speaker
Well, if you look at Thessalonica, you'd say, whoa, I can't believe God did that in three weeks. But then eventually persecution arose against that little church in Thessalonica, forcing Paul and Silas to leave.
00:05:35
Speaker
But just before they left, they had formed a church. They got all of those who were disciples. They clustered them together in the home of a man named Jason.
00:05:46
Speaker
Jason's name is mentioned in Acts 17 verses 1 through 10 four times. four times And so he was definitely a key local. And maybe you're a key person in winning this community.
00:05:58
Speaker
But anyway, he opened his house. And man, it was just amazing how suddenly the whole place was against them. And all they were there to do was to share the good news.
00:06:09
Speaker
Paul later sent Timothy back to check on them. He left, but he couldn't get them off his heart. He was so burdened for them and he he wanted to find out how are they doing. So he said, Timothy, I want you to go back and check on them, but I also want you to strengthen them.
00:06:24
Speaker
I want you to encourage them. Then Timothy meets Paul a little bit later and he gave him a progress report. And man, was ever was Paul ever excited. He was so excited. And so what he did was he wrote this letter, 1 Thessalonians.
00:06:41
Speaker
And so what this letter says is what Paul was saying to them. But I believe also this is what God is saying to us as we begin this year. So would you stand in honor of God's word? Let me read through this chapter and make four well three simple comments.
00:06:57
Speaker
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the Church of the Thessalonians, and God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, grace to you and peace. We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
00:07:25
Speaker
For we know, brothers loved by God, that He has chosen you. Because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit.
00:07:36
Speaker
And with full conviction, you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. And you became imitators of us and of the Lord. For you received the word in much affliction with the joy of the Holy Spirit.
00:07:52
Speaker
So that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere so that we need not say anything.
00:08:15
Speaker
For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you. And now you turn to God from idols to serve the living and true God and to wait for his son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come.
00:08:34
Speaker
Let's pray. Lord, open up your word. Give us understanding. May we hear your voice. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Thank you You may be seated. Dr. John MacArthur says of the whole letter of 1 Thessalonians that it's like a catalog of marks of a healthy, growing church. Do you want to be a healthy, growing church spiritually this year?
00:08:59
Speaker
Well, let's look at this 2026 vision through the biblical lens and the practical example presented to us in 1 Thessalonians 1, verses 1 through 10.
Faith, Love, and Hope
00:09:11
Speaker
Let's consider first that we begin by offering a whole heart to the Lord. If you're saying, I don't know where to start, you know that's where to start.
00:09:22
Speaker
Why don't you say this year, if you haven't said it yet, say, Lord, everything I am everything I have, my whole heart, it belongs to you. Would you be willing to say that?
00:09:32
Speaker
If you're willing to say that, then 2 Chronicles 16, 9 says that, you know, God is looking across the whole earth. And he's looking for somebody who will give him their whole heart, their complete heart. And he says, if I find somebody that will give me their whole heart, you know what I'm going to give them?
00:09:54
Speaker
my power. He said, I'm going to give them my whole power. The power of God will stand behind the man, the woman, the boy, the girl, the student who says, you know what, Lord, my heart belongs to you.
00:10:07
Speaker
God says, okay, my power is going to belong to you. Sometimes we're looking for God and we're searching for him. And Jeremiah 29, 13 says, we seek him. All we want to do is find Him. Is that you today?
00:10:21
Speaker
Well, in Jeremiah 29, 13, the Lord says, you'll seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I'm telling you, that's what it's all about.
00:10:32
Speaker
That's why Jesus got at odds with the Pharisees. They were all about the externals and Jesus was all about the internal. Matthew 22, 36 to 38, someone said, what's the greatest commandment, Lord?
00:10:46
Speaker
And Jesus said, the greatest commandment is this, that you love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, with all your strength. that is the That's the best place to start.
00:10:59
Speaker
I believe that as we look at our text before us, especially if you zero in on verses 2 and 3, you'll see that Paul is writing a thank you note. Paul's writing a thank you note and he's saying, I'm so grateful for what I see in you.
00:11:15
Speaker
who you are in Christ and how you're presenting your heart to God. As a matter of fact, three heart attitudes help them to be at the right place at the right time.
00:11:28
Speaker
They had an authentic faith, did a love that wasn't just in word only, but it was in action. They also anticipated something very exciting about the future.
00:11:39
Speaker
And we're still looking forward to that in the future. But Paul outlined the whole letter around these three heart attitudes found in verse three. Would you look at them with me?
00:11:51
Speaker
The work of faith, the labor of love, the steadfastness of hope. How can you ever get those things in your life? Those are things only God can do.
00:12:02
Speaker
But first you have to say, I'm all yours, Lord. I am all in. I am all in. He's not going to play the game of Sunday only or something like that. He's saying, no, I want to know, are you all in?
00:12:15
Speaker
You know, if you were to go over to 2 Corinthians with me, I want to show you something really amazing that happened through those churches that were located in Macedonia. In 2 Corinthians chapter 8, it's amazing how God in his word describes this church we're looking at in Thessalonica, but not just them, also the church in Philippi, also the church in Berea.
00:12:42
Speaker
2 Corinthians chapter 8 verses 1 through 5. We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia. Keep in mind, he's talking about Thessalonica as one of those churches.
00:12:57
Speaker
For in a severe test of affliction, there are abundance of joy. Do you lose your joy whenever times get tough? You don't have to you know. And get this, verse 5.
00:13:09
Speaker
have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part for they gave according to their means as i testified and beyond their means of their own accord begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints and get this verse five And this, not as we expected. So Paul's so shocked that such a young church was willing to be used of God in such a mighty way.
00:13:40
Speaker
How did they do it? Well, he tells us in verse five, and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord. and then by the will of God to us.
00:13:54
Speaker
I'm just telling you, if you're looking for God's will this year, the place to start is surrender.
Surrender and Commitment
00:13:59
Speaker
The place to start is say, my heart, Lord, all of it, it belongs to you.
00:14:05
Speaker
Well, let's go to the second thing that we notice. I believe that we continue in what God's directives are by looking, secondly, at mobilizing the whole church in outreach, the whole church. It's pretty difficult to read verses 4, 5, 6, and 7 without seeing the incredible influence, how they impacted the people of their day.
00:14:28
Speaker
How can we impact the people of our day? Well, remember, it begins with a whole heart. But if our whole heart belongs to God, and if all of us together start 2026 with the same idea, Lord, my heart belongs to you, and we want to reach out. We want to grow.
00:14:47
Speaker
we want to grow in Christ, but we also want to reach the people that are still out there in the darkness and in the cold spiritually. You know, if you were to go through here, like in verse two, he says, who's he giving thanks for?
00:15:01
Speaker
He says, for all of you. You know what? I give thanks for all of you. Every person here today, I'm so grateful for you. But also he uses a word brothers in there.
00:15:12
Speaker
He uses the word brothers. I think that verse four, when he says brothers, he's talking about brothers and sisters. He's talking about all of you. As a matter of fact, do you know that he uses that term brothers 19 times throughout the letter to 1 Thessalonians? It's only five chapters.
00:15:31
Speaker
And yet he says brothers 19 times. I think he's trying to say something. And what I think he's trying to say is the whole church. He said, I'm thankful for ah all of you, but I also believe God wants to use each one of you.
00:15:47
Speaker
You know, Greece is known for its mountains and canyons. We would need to go no further than talking to Jeff and Tammy Coleman since their son serves there with his wife and his family.
00:16:00
Speaker
But it's there's a lot of mountains and a lot of canyons. Someone said 80% of Greece is like this terrain of mountains. So just think about how rugged the terrain is over there.
00:16:13
Speaker
So for that new church, those new disciples, how were they ever going to make traction in such an incredibly difficult place? You know what they did?
00:16:25
Speaker
That church, the church at Thessalonica, said, we're going to work together. We're going to work together and we're going to see how far God will go if we're all united in outreach, in reaching other people.
00:16:39
Speaker
And so it's amazing what happened. As a matter of fact, I want to give like a metaphor or an analogy. I think it was almost like four-wheel drive. Four-wheel drive torque where the power is going to each wheel.
00:16:53
Speaker
I believe the power of God is accessible by every Christian in here today. And so imagine what would happen if God's power is behind each one of us as we work together for God's kingdom this year.
00:17:07
Speaker
Let me give you four things about evangelism or outreach that we need to be together on on the same page. The first one is this. Evangelism is within the will of God.
00:17:20
Speaker
Evangelism is within the will of God. You know, 2 Peter 3, 9 says that God is not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
00:17:33
Speaker
And notice here in verse 4, where he says, you know what? We have certainty about this. He says in verse 4, for we know that no Do you know that God wants to reach the people around you?
00:17:45
Speaker
Are you forgetting that one factor, that one little point? But also, what would make us even care about others in our community, others in our county, others in our world that don't have a relationship with Jesus Christ?
00:18:01
Speaker
What would even make us care? There it is in verse four. For we know, brothers, loved by God. Are you convinced that God loves you?
00:18:11
Speaker
Are you convinced that God cares about you? Well, that same care that he has for you, he has for others. And so we should say, Lord, you don't want them to be on the outside.
00:18:23
Speaker
You want them to be on the inside. And notice the choice for outreach. That choice is so clear when Jesus died on the cross. He died there for every tribe, every tongue, every people, every nation.
00:18:38
Speaker
Definitely we should be convinced that evangelism is within the will of God. Secondly, evangelism requires a witness with the gospel. Look at verse 5.
00:18:48
Speaker
Verse 5 says, Because our gospel came to you not only in word but also in power and in the Holy Spirit with full conviction, you know what kind of men we prove to be among you for your sake.
00:19:04
Speaker
I wonder how many people in Thessalonica would have become a Christian if Paul and Silas had never gone there. I think that somehow we've got to realize if I don't tell them, then they're going to stay in darkness.
00:19:19
Speaker
I have to be a witness. I have to let them know the truth that I've come to know. Notice that the power of the gospel is also involved.
00:19:29
Speaker
Whenever Paul and Silas went there, he said, you know what? The power of the message of Christ, it can accomplish great things. The Spirit pulls people through the through the gospel. When we share the gospel, the Holy Spirit pulls them.
00:19:44
Speaker
And that's called conviction. And at first, don't give up because at first, you know what happens? People resist it. I'll never forget our former evangelist who's now with the Lord in glory, Kenneth Bundy.
00:19:57
Speaker
He said at first he hated it whenever people would come to share Christ with him. He said, I resisted. i got so upset. And the closer I got to giving in to Christ, he said, the worse my attitude became.
00:20:11
Speaker
But then there came that day when Kenneth gave his heart and his life to Christ. And then as he entered the business world, he became a witness for Christ. And he would often bounce his ideas that he planned whenever he was going to give a proposal or some presentation to people that he was connected with.
00:20:30
Speaker
Would you be willing to say, God, I pray you'll give me at least one person that I can share the gospel with, that I could be a witness to, Well, that's the the will of God and the witness with the gospel. But evangelism is also validated by something.
00:20:46
Speaker
You see, it's validated by the walk of the genuine, by the walk of the authentic. Isn't that what he's trying to say to them? You know, when he says to them how, what kind of men we prove to be in verse five,
00:21:02
Speaker
He says, you know what kind of men we proved to be. You know why they were so impactful in their day? Because their lives matched their lips.
00:21:14
Speaker
And when you get those two things on the same page, in the same person, in the same church, in the same community, watch out because the power of God can move through that.
00:21:25
Speaker
But when there's a disconnect between the lip and the life, that's when God says, we're going to wait. Yeah, we're just going to wait until we get that straight.
00:21:35
Speaker
So if all of us together say, you know what? We want to be used to reach this community. Then we have to say, Lord, so help me live it. I don't have to be perfect, but I've got to be genuine.
00:21:49
Speaker
I've got to be authentic. And when you're authentic and genuine, people notice it. They know about it. But I believe, fourthly, evangelism moves through toward a welcome of grace.
00:22:02
Speaker
Look at verse 6. For you receive the word. You know why I think some people get disheartened in evangelism? Because they forget that it's not our job to receive the gospel when we present the gospel. It's our job to present the gospel.
00:22:19
Speaker
We can't make our friends. We can't make our co-workers. We can't make our neighbors receive the word. But here's why Thessalonica, great things happen.
00:22:31
Speaker
Because evangelism moved toward a welcome of grace. There's gonna be some people out there, and it may be few, it may be a lot. But some people are going to say, you know what? That's the best news I've heard.
00:22:45
Speaker
I can't think of a better way to start my year than to say welcome to that. You see, the welcome begins with an intake or an infusion of Scripture. We start sharing the Word of God with them like Paul and Silas shared with Thessalonica.
00:22:59
Speaker
Whenever that happens, whenever there's an infusion of Scripture, and those who respond begin to imitate the Savior. An invitation of the Savior comes next.
00:23:12
Speaker
He says you were imitators of us and of the Lord, right? But then also there's an inflation by the spirit. Like you inflate a balloon.
00:23:22
Speaker
It's like suddenly it doesn't matter what's going on the outside. It's what's going on the inside. And you're saying, I have so much joy. I don't care if they all reject me. That's what Paul was saying. And that's what the people of Thessalonica started living.
00:23:36
Speaker
Well, in 2026, I would like to hear that each one of us is growing in two areas. That we're growing in giving that whole heart to God.
00:23:46
Speaker
That we're growing in terms of every person saying, okay, I'm ready to serve. I'm ready to live for Christ. I want to make a difference in my community. But then thirdly, growing and keeping the whole world in focus.
00:24:02
Speaker
You know, verse 8 is staggering in its implications because as you read through these verses 8 through 10, you realize, wow, they made an impact locally.
00:24:13
Speaker
They made an impact regionally and they made an impact globally. Would you be willing for God's trumpet to sound as it goes forth? You know, it says in verse 8, it sounded forth, right?
00:24:27
Speaker
It sounded forth. Exeketai is the word there. In ancient Greek manuscripts, you know what it meant? It meant somebody's going to play a trumpet. Somebody's going to play a trumpet or the thunder's going to boom like it did the other night.
00:24:43
Speaker
You know what happens when the thunder booms? You know what happens when a trumpet plays in a canyon? it reverberates. It echoes. And the echo just keeps going out and out.
00:24:55
Speaker
And so when I was looking at this, I thought, you know what? I see sound waves. I see sound waves of the gospel going out from those human trumpets. And they were saying, we got a message. We got a message we can share with the whole world.
00:25:08
Speaker
The first sound wave was this, their own example. Remember? Our life has got to validate what we're saying with our lips. Well, that's exactly what happened. It was like a multiplication of disciples because he said, you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.
Impact of Thessalonians' Faith
00:25:29
Speaker
You see, Macedonia was like this region of ah Greece in northern Greece. And he said, you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia, but also in Achaia. That's southern Greece.
00:25:44
Speaker
Imagine what would happen if all across the United States, people started saying, all across Texas, people started saying, have you ever heard of First Baptist Church Columbus? Have you ever heard and they put your name in there?
00:25:56
Speaker
That's exactly what was happening. It's like, secondly, the sound wave was being exported. So I thought, okay, you got the examples, but then you've got the exports, verses 7 and 8 and 9. Because like I said, Macedonia was northern Greece, Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea. You've got southern Greece, Achaia, so Corinth and Athens.
00:26:17
Speaker
But then he goes on to say something else. Did you catch what he says? It sounded forth, he said, sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, everywhere, so that we need not say anything.
00:26:36
Speaker
I don't know, I guess being raised in Tennessee, I'm thinking about Johnny Cash singing, I've been everywhere, man, I've been everywhere. Can you imagine? they're They're taking the gospel wherever they go in business.
00:26:50
Speaker
They're taking the gospel wherever they go on some kind of sports you know event. They're just saying, you know what, wherever I go, I'm exporting the gospel with me. I'm taking it with me.
00:27:01
Speaker
But then the sound wave number three of exits. See, there was a group of people who said, you know what? I see so much truth and so much love and so much forgiveness, so much hope in Jesus Christ that I'm willing to follow him. And in order to follow him, you know what they had to do? Have you ever been on the interstate? It's like, hey, there's my exit. You know, sometimes Jody and I have these, let's call them marriage building moments. But we have marriage building moments. When Jody says, there's your exit right there. And so, buddy, i I've tried to make it. And Jody's like, you're trying to kill us, you know. But anyway, we have to get off.
00:27:37
Speaker
We have to get off of one road in order to get on the other road. And that's what he's saying, right? Did you catch it? He says... Let's see. For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you and how you turn to God.
00:27:54
Speaker
So he sees that he sees the way out. He sees a better road than the road he's on. So he says, you know what? I'm going for God. And he said, in order to go to God, he was going to have to go away from idols to serve the living and true God.
00:28:11
Speaker
see what's happening? It's a sound wave of exits. In order for people to get on the road with Jesus, they're gonna have to exit off of some idols. They have to say, you know what? I'm done with this.
00:28:22
Speaker
I'm done with this. He is worth me following wholeheartedly. So they took the entrance ramp to turning to God. And the result was they had to get off of, well, why don't we call it the idolatry expressway or you know interstate idolatry.
00:28:39
Speaker
But expectation in verse 10 says, What were they expecting?
Certainty of Christ's Return
00:28:45
Speaker
They said, Jesus promised he's coming back. Do you know that? Do you know that Jesus is coming back?
00:28:51
Speaker
He goes to prepare a place for us. But the good news is he's coming back. And so I thought, man, the anticipation of Christ's return to wait for his son from heaven.
00:29:03
Speaker
He's coming back. They knew he's coming back. But how did they know? How can you have assurance that Jesus is really coming back? You can have assurance of his return because of his resurrection.
00:29:18
Speaker
It's all through the New Testament. So many people, over 500 people, saw Jesus raised from the dead after he was alive. There he was, and over 500 saw him.
00:29:29
Speaker
He would appear to this one, and then he would appear to that one. It's incredible how much evidence there is. And then the last thing is the extraction. If there's no other reason why somebody ought to receive Christ, it ought to be this one, the migration from dread judgment.
00:29:46
Speaker
You know, Romans 6.23 says, the wages of sin is death. Death is separation from God. The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
00:29:58
Speaker
And so I'm thinking, wow, who wants to go for the retribution of the penalty for sin? Nobody. Nobody wants that. But the problem is some haven't gone to the one who can rescue from the penalty of sin.
00:30:14
Speaker
That's only Jesus. He says, Jesus, who delivers us. That word's rescue. And some of you may say, yeah, it's really new for me. You know, it's it's a new thing to hear this.
00:30:26
Speaker
I understand that. And I know what it's like having to trust in new things. Have you ever heard some of the inventions across the years that people have tried to come up with? For example, one was called a radio newspaper.
00:30:39
Speaker
It's like, who needs a radio newspaper? Another one was like a boiled egg squarer. Have you ever tried to cut a boiled egg in plate? it's like, whoa, that thing's going to get away from me. Well, there's ah there's a squarer that somebody invented, so you just press down, and man, it just stops that running away right away.
00:30:56
Speaker
And then there was this one, a cat translator. Have you ever thought to yourself, what is that cat over there saying when he's kind of got his eyes closed like that, squinting at you? Well, somebody said, I've got a cat cat translator I'll sell you, and if you buy that thing, you know, you know And then some were like, hey, what we need is a razor phone. We need some so that men on the way to work can, you have a razor right there on their phone.
00:31:20
Speaker
Well, they didn't make it, right? But you know what? The gospel's been changing lives for a long time. Can you think of how many generations of people the gospel has changed?
Connection to the Great Commission
00:31:32
Speaker
People around the world? As a matter of fact, you know what this vision matches today? the Great Commission. It matches the Great Commission that Jesus gave in Matthew 28, 19 and 20 to all of us. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I've commanded you. And behold, I'm with you always to the end of the age.
00:32:00
Speaker
You know, the vision sounds a lot like that, doesn't it? That's how I knew it was from God. Because the whole heart involves making someone a disciple. And whenever someone's giving him their whole heart, you know what they do?
00:32:13
Speaker
They say, whatever I learn from God's word, whatever you teach me in God's word, I'm going to put it into practice. That's right there in Matthew 28 in verse 20.
00:32:24
Speaker
Teaching them to observe all that I've commanded. That's a whole heart. That's where you start. Secondly, the whole church. The whole church. He says, go make disciples, baptizing them, teaching them.
00:32:37
Speaker
Some people sitting here today would say, I'm not a teacher. Aren't you glad God has blessed us with so many really good teachers who can teach the word of God? Well, it's great. They can teach your kids. They can teach students. They can teach adults of all ages.
00:32:52
Speaker
But then he also said, make disciples of all the nations. And maybe you would say, that's ridiculous to think that a group this size could make an impact on the world. Well, just one reminder, right?
00:33:05
Speaker
Right there, when it talks about the Great Commission in motion, you know what that was said to? That was said to 11 disciples. You see, after we finish, I'm going to be a meeting with 11 new disciples, 11 new believers and trying to ground them in scripture.
00:33:23
Speaker
God doesn't have to have a lot. He's just got to have your whole heart. So we ought to say, God, you know what? I'm all yours. I just want to keep the world in focus.
00:33:34
Speaker
I want to see you use me and I want you to have my whole heart. Wow. This is what God says to us, church family.
Call to Commitment and Outreach
00:33:44
Speaker
This is what he says. So what say you? What are we saying back to God? Yes, Lord, I will do those three things as we go through 2026. Will you be willing to offer your whole heart to the Lord?
00:34:00
Speaker
Would you be willing as we make overtures to say, come on, let's mobilize the whole church for outreach. Would you be willing to say, you know what? We're gonna keep our focus on the whole world.
00:34:12
Speaker
You know, um next week we're going to have a a short video presentation from Aaron and Alyssa Litzler, and they're serving the Lord in Tulaksack, Alaska. And they're there to make disciples in that small village along with their two daughters.
00:34:27
Speaker
And so they're going to give us an update. So will you make a grocery list when that video is playing? Or will you say, no, I want to know how's it going? I want to know how I can pray.
00:34:39
Speaker
I want to know what their greatest needs are. Isn't it amazing in verse 8 that it says, your faith, new church in Thessalonica, your faith in God has gone forth everywhere.
00:34:56
Speaker
so that we as a missionary team, so that we need not say anything. Wouldn't that be something if all across the world, because of our many lives, and you may say, that can never happen.
00:35:08
Speaker
Oh, that's right. Social media hasn't been invented yet. Oh, that's right. We can't get the word out there. Oh man, we have so many tools that are at our disposal as opposed to what they had.
00:35:23
Speaker
And yet Paul says, everywhere I go across the Roman Empire, I keep bumping into people. And you know what everybody tells me? They've already heard your testimony and your testimony includes me.
00:35:34
Speaker
Wouldn't that be incredible if that started happening all across our world? Well, let's stand together. I want to give you an opportunity to respond if God's touched your heart. Let's say that you're you haven't given your heart to the Lord Amen.
00:35:49
Speaker
It's not too late. You know, we just witnessed Kendall Harris saying today, you know what I've been a Christian for a while, but I've never taken this step of obedience. Is there something in your life that you would say, I need to follow Kendall's example and I need to follow the Lord in baptism or something like that.
00:36:07
Speaker
Whatever it is, you say, you talk to God during this time of invitation, but mainly if you are not a Christian yet, we can help you know how to place your faith and trust in Christ. Let's pray. Lord, thank you for this time to look into your word.
00:36:21
Speaker
Thank you so much for an exciting time of worship and baptism and so many wonderful things today. So bless our time of invitation as we give those who are here just an opportunity to respond. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
00:36:40
Speaker
This is a ministry of First Baptist Church located at 1700 Milam Street, Columbus, Texas.