WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.840 But if Jesus is the light, we should be a light as well. 2 00:00:05.840 --> 00:00:10.160 Look at what Jesus goes on to say in Matthew chapter 5, beginning in verse 14. 3 00:00:10.160 --> 00:00:13.800 You are the light of the world, like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 4 00:00:13.800 --> 00:00:17.720 No one likes a lamp and then puts it under a basket, instead a lamp is placed on a stand 5 00:00:17.720 --> 00:00:21.320 where it gives light to everyone in the house, in the same way let your good deeds shine 6 00:00:21.320 --> 00:00:26.440 out for all to see so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. 7 00:00:26.440 --> 00:00:31.040 Welcome to the City Light Church podcast, thanks for joining us today, as we look into 8 00:00:31.040 --> 00:00:35.760 God's Word and discover the hope and truth that He has for us. 9 00:00:35.760 --> 00:00:41.560 If you want to connect with City Light Church, feel free to visit us at citylightnyc.com, 10 00:00:41.560 --> 00:00:44.880 that citylightnyc.com. 11 00:00:44.880 --> 00:00:50.080 Pastor Boyan Jansik and his team believe that the power of the Holy Spirit is already 12 00:00:50.080 --> 00:00:52.720 working in our hearts and minds. 13 00:00:52.720 --> 00:00:57.720 As you listen to today's teaching, remember that you are deeply loved by God, that you 14 00:00:57.720 --> 00:01:05.440 are surrounded by His grace, and that He has a real hope and a future for you. 15 00:01:05.440 --> 00:01:10.120 Do you know that there are some painters who are masters of light, and there are some 16 00:01:10.120 --> 00:01:13.240 painters who are masters of darkness? 17 00:01:13.240 --> 00:01:15.120 Doesn't that sound ominous? 18 00:01:15.120 --> 00:01:20.240 But I'm not talking about like Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, kind of light and dark, okay? 19 00:01:20.240 --> 00:01:25.320 There are some different implications, not just the moral symbolism, and I'm not even 20 00:01:25.320 --> 00:01:28.000 talking simply about the issue of technique, either. 21 00:01:28.000 --> 00:01:32.720 In the 19th century, French impressionists, for example, that were masters of light, they 22 00:01:32.720 --> 00:01:37.480 were interested in the optical effects that they found with paint, finding methods to make 23 00:01:37.480 --> 00:01:43.720 paint on canvas, resonate and resemble what light does in real life. 24 00:01:43.720 --> 00:01:51.160 But for them to capture light on canvas, it wasn't a means to an end by itself, it wasn't 25 00:01:51.160 --> 00:01:56.920 the process only, but in a more realistic depiction of the world is what they sat out 26 00:01:56.920 --> 00:01:57.920 for. 27 00:01:57.920 --> 00:02:03.120 When painters in early centuries showed a special interest in light, it was often just 28 00:02:03.120 --> 00:02:08.120 as much for the symbolism of light as it was for its physical properties. 29 00:02:08.120 --> 00:02:11.720 Oftentimes what we would see is light shining through darkness, right? 30 00:02:11.720 --> 00:02:15.720 You ever see a painting like that, and you'll see this shaft of light cutting through 31 00:02:15.720 --> 00:02:16.720 the darkness. 32 00:02:16.720 --> 00:02:19.080 That's what I love about this building, and I think it's appropriate we're meeting in 33 00:02:19.080 --> 00:02:20.080 here today. 34 00:02:20.080 --> 00:02:23.200 Normally, the area we meet, we don't have windows, but we've got these beautiful stained 35 00:02:23.200 --> 00:02:27.240 glass windows, and the light can come through, and it turns different colors at different 36 00:02:27.240 --> 00:02:30.080 times of the day and different periods during the year. 37 00:02:30.080 --> 00:02:33.440 I was joking before the first service with a couple of people in the back, and I said, 38 00:02:33.440 --> 00:02:34.440 you know, it's kind of interesting. 39 00:02:34.440 --> 00:02:38.200 When we meet here on Friday nights, I feel like it's kind of the lights pop a little bit 40 00:02:38.200 --> 00:02:39.200 more. 41 00:02:39.200 --> 00:02:42.320 I don't know why the lights are really shining, and they looked at me and he said, because 42 00:02:42.320 --> 00:02:49.680 it's daytime, and the sun is shining through the windows, James, oh, wow, wow, you see 43 00:02:49.680 --> 00:02:52.240 sometimes when it's cold, oxygen doesn't go all the way to the top. 44 00:02:52.240 --> 00:02:54.400 You hear what I'm saying? 45 00:02:54.400 --> 00:02:59.600 But light has some powerful implications, and we see that lightness shining through the 46 00:02:59.600 --> 00:03:00.600 dark. 47 00:03:00.600 --> 00:03:06.080 Darkness usually is symbolizing ignorance, and we see light typically symbolizing truth, 48 00:03:06.080 --> 00:03:07.080 goodness. 49 00:03:07.080 --> 00:03:13.040 I find it interesting throughout history, we find a representation of light being truth 50 00:03:13.040 --> 00:03:14.640 and life, right? 51 00:03:14.640 --> 00:03:18.720 And then Jesus comes on the scene, and he says this in John 812, Jesus spoke to all the 52 00:03:18.720 --> 00:03:21.720 people once more and said, I am the light of the world. 53 00:03:21.720 --> 00:03:25.760 If you follow me, you won't have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light 54 00:03:25.760 --> 00:03:27.640 that leads to life. 55 00:03:27.640 --> 00:03:35.280 Jesus calls himself the light of the world, and the light that leads to life, no less. 56 00:03:35.280 --> 00:03:39.680 Today we have the privilege of celebrating our first service of the New Year. 57 00:03:39.680 --> 00:03:44.080 We made it to 2024. 58 00:03:44.080 --> 00:03:47.560 Some of you didn't think we were going to make it, but we did. 59 00:03:47.560 --> 00:03:48.560 Happy New Year. 60 00:03:48.560 --> 00:03:52.360 Are you glad to have 2023 in the rearview mirror? 61 00:03:52.360 --> 00:03:54.280 I'm kind of glad to say goodbye to that thing. 62 00:03:54.280 --> 00:03:57.160 I don't want to live in the past like Paul said, I press on to what is ahead. 63 00:03:57.160 --> 00:03:59.760 So happy New Year, 2024 is ahead of us. 64 00:03:59.760 --> 00:04:01.080 So what does it have? 65 00:04:01.080 --> 00:04:02.320 More opportunity. 66 00:04:02.320 --> 00:04:03.520 That's what I'm excited about. 67 00:04:03.520 --> 00:04:06.840 So I thought it would be appropriate on this first Sunday of the New Year to really 68 00:04:06.840 --> 00:04:09.440 talk about what city light is all about. 69 00:04:09.440 --> 00:04:14.360 What does it mean to be a part of city light and what does 2024 look like around this place? 70 00:04:14.360 --> 00:04:18.360 If you've been around here for maybe five minutes or longer, you know that at city light 71 00:04:18.360 --> 00:04:23.040 we are passionate about making fully devoted followers of Christ, right? 72 00:04:23.040 --> 00:04:24.120 That's really our mission. 73 00:04:24.120 --> 00:04:28.680 We want to invest God's word into your heart and see a transformation, his spirit living 74 00:04:28.680 --> 00:04:32.280 through you and you in turn being a fully devoted follower of Jesus. 75 00:04:32.280 --> 00:04:38.280 So what does that really mean to say a disciple, fully devoted follower really means disciple. 76 00:04:38.280 --> 00:04:39.880 You sum it up really with that one word. 77 00:04:39.880 --> 00:04:42.400 So I like to go to the dictionary and say, well, what is that one word? 78 00:04:42.400 --> 00:04:45.720 We like to just throw words around like they mean nothing and we let culture change the 79 00:04:45.720 --> 00:04:47.320 meaning of words and we just go with it. 80 00:04:47.320 --> 00:04:48.840 But what is the word really mean? 81 00:04:48.840 --> 00:04:53.520 So Webster's dictionary defines a disciple as a personal follower of Jesus during his life, 82 00:04:53.520 --> 00:04:58.840 especially one of the 12 apostles or a follower or a student of a teacher, leader or philosopher. 83 00:04:58.840 --> 00:05:02.880 So Jesus asked us to make disciples, right? 84 00:05:02.880 --> 00:05:03.880 Disciple is a follower of Jesus. 85 00:05:03.880 --> 00:05:07.480 But where do we get that idea that we should be focusing on making more disciples? 86 00:05:07.480 --> 00:05:09.960 I just gave you the answer, is anybody know? 87 00:05:09.960 --> 00:05:10.960 Jesus. 88 00:05:10.960 --> 00:05:13.120 Jesus told us to make more disciples, right? 89 00:05:13.120 --> 00:05:14.520 So I'm not making it up. 90 00:05:14.520 --> 00:05:15.680 No one else making it up. 91 00:05:15.680 --> 00:05:16.840 Jesus made it up. 92 00:05:16.840 --> 00:05:20.960 He told us himself before he went back to heaven after his resurrection, he gave us his 93 00:05:20.960 --> 00:05:25.840 marching orders and this is what he said in Matthew 28, beginning in verse 18, Jesus 94 00:05:25.840 --> 00:05:27.120 came and told us disciples. 95 00:05:27.120 --> 00:05:31.120 I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth, therefore go and make disciples 96 00:05:31.120 --> 00:05:35.480 of all the nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, 97 00:05:35.480 --> 00:05:38.400 teaching these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. 98 00:05:38.400 --> 00:05:42.280 And be sure of this, I am with you always even to the end of the age. 99 00:05:42.280 --> 00:05:46.800 So his last command to his followers, Jesus tells us to go and make disciples, make more 100 00:05:46.800 --> 00:05:48.920 disciples in Jesus. 101 00:05:48.920 --> 00:05:50.720 That part seems pretty clear, right? 102 00:05:50.720 --> 00:05:51.720 Everybody with me? 103 00:05:51.720 --> 00:05:53.520 What are we supposed to do? 104 00:05:53.520 --> 00:05:54.520 Make disciples. 105 00:05:54.800 --> 00:05:57.600 He tells us go and make disciples so that part is clear. 106 00:05:57.600 --> 00:05:59.920 So if you're in agreement with me, you're in good company. 107 00:05:59.920 --> 00:06:04.720 But what doesn't he tell us how to go and make disciples? 108 00:06:04.720 --> 00:06:06.440 I think that's kind of interesting, right? 109 00:06:06.440 --> 00:06:07.680 He tells us to go do something. 110 00:06:07.680 --> 00:06:08.680 That's like the last command. 111 00:06:08.680 --> 00:06:11.040 It's like very important because it's the last thing he said. 112 00:06:11.040 --> 00:06:13.080 It's like your parting words are big, right? 113 00:06:13.080 --> 00:06:14.680 You always say, what do people say on their deathbed? 114 00:06:14.680 --> 00:06:16.040 Usually that's kind of important. 115 00:06:16.040 --> 00:06:19.600 They told you where the combination was to the safe so you can get all the money. 116 00:06:19.600 --> 00:06:21.000 What is the last thing he said? 117 00:06:21.000 --> 00:06:23.040 Go and make disciples. 118 00:06:23.040 --> 00:06:24.440 But he didn't tell us how. 119 00:06:24.440 --> 00:06:25.520 I think it's kind of interesting. 120 00:06:25.520 --> 00:06:29.400 And I think one of the reasons is because Jesus knew that our communication was going 121 00:06:29.400 --> 00:06:32.320 to change throughout the centuries, right? 122 00:06:32.320 --> 00:06:36.760 The way the world relates, as it evolves in our culture, he knew that we needed to stay 123 00:06:36.760 --> 00:06:40.680 relevant and current with the culture in which we're ministering to, just like he did. 124 00:06:40.680 --> 00:06:42.920 He came on the scene and he upset everything. 125 00:06:42.920 --> 00:06:44.360 He talked in a relevant way. 126 00:06:44.360 --> 00:06:47.320 He talked in parables and stories in the rabbis and the other priests. 127 00:06:47.320 --> 00:06:48.320 They weren't talking that way. 128 00:06:48.320 --> 00:06:53.440 They were going very old school, very lamentable, and they were talking like old days. 129 00:06:53.560 --> 00:06:54.800 No, Jesus came on the scene. 130 00:06:54.800 --> 00:06:55.720 He's telling stories. 131 00:06:55.720 --> 00:06:56.720 He's sarcastic. 132 00:06:56.720 --> 00:06:58.040 He's telling jokes. 133 00:06:58.040 --> 00:06:59.520 And they're like, what is this? 134 00:06:59.520 --> 00:07:03.160 I think Jesus wanted us to continue to grow in our communication stuff. 135 00:07:03.160 --> 00:07:07.640 That's why I'm preaching out of the NLT version today and not the King James version. 136 00:07:07.640 --> 00:07:09.680 Some of you say, I like the King James version. 137 00:07:09.680 --> 00:07:10.680 It's closer to God. 138 00:07:10.680 --> 00:07:11.680 No, it's not. 139 00:07:11.680 --> 00:07:14.840 It was closer to King James, okay? 140 00:07:14.840 --> 00:07:18.160 In the year 1611, he decided he was going to put a Bible together and where the 141 00:07:18.160 --> 00:07:21.600 Jews were vies and nows were those, don't worry about it. 142 00:07:21.640 --> 00:07:23.320 Pastor Bow uses the new King James. 143 00:07:23.320 --> 00:07:26.640 We look for relevant translations because our communication is important. 144 00:07:26.640 --> 00:07:29.760 If we want to reach a culture that has no idea what this stuff is all about. 145 00:07:29.760 --> 00:07:33.280 If we come on talking all this flowery, you know, 16th century stuff, they're going 146 00:07:33.280 --> 00:07:37.000 to say, what is wrong with you? 147 00:07:37.000 --> 00:07:38.360 So we just talk normal. 148 00:07:38.360 --> 00:07:39.360 We talk relevant. 149 00:07:39.360 --> 00:07:44.240 I think another thing that's important, God knew that we needed to actually work together 150 00:07:44.240 --> 00:07:47.400 to find a solution. 151 00:07:47.400 --> 00:07:49.920 Now one of us has the full picture, right? 152 00:07:49.920 --> 00:07:54.200 We each have a piece of the puzzle and when we come together, we contribute our pieces 153 00:07:54.200 --> 00:07:58.040 and then the more we work together, the puzzle picture starts to get clearer. 154 00:07:58.040 --> 00:08:00.040 Anybody ever put a puzzle together? 155 00:08:00.040 --> 00:08:01.040 I got a puzzle for Christmas. 156 00:08:01.040 --> 00:08:02.040 I eat puzzles. 157 00:08:02.040 --> 00:08:03.840 My wife loves puzzles. 158 00:08:03.840 --> 00:08:07.040 So we sit down and we do puzzles and I give up early and she sits there and she finishes 159 00:08:07.040 --> 00:08:13.840 the puzzle and I say, look at what we did. 160 00:08:13.840 --> 00:08:17.880 We come together with our own experiences and we make it clearer together. 161 00:08:17.880 --> 00:08:20.120 So let's figure this out together, right? 162 00:08:20.120 --> 00:08:24.280 We have so many different kinds of churches in New York and throughout the world. 163 00:08:24.280 --> 00:08:27.840 It's because they've all come together and they're trying to figure out their why, right? 164 00:08:27.840 --> 00:08:31.240 So here's the question I want to ask today and I want to help us answer. 165 00:08:31.240 --> 00:08:34.400 What has city light landed on in terms of our why? 166 00:08:34.400 --> 00:08:35.400 Our how? 167 00:08:35.400 --> 00:08:38.400 How are we actually going to make disciples? 168 00:08:38.400 --> 00:08:41.840 So what we found is that we're better together. 169 00:08:41.840 --> 00:08:42.840 So we're better together. 170 00:08:42.840 --> 00:08:44.560 We're stronger together, right? 171 00:08:44.560 --> 00:08:47.520 The picture becomes clearer when we contribute together. 172 00:08:47.520 --> 00:08:50.880 So the first thing that I want to share with you that I think is going to be helpful 173 00:08:50.880 --> 00:08:55.240 is that we actually have the privilege of doing life together with God, okay? 174 00:08:55.240 --> 00:08:57.960 We can't separate him from the equation. 175 00:08:57.960 --> 00:09:00.960 If we do it in our own power, are we going to succeed? 176 00:09:00.960 --> 00:09:01.960 No, that's it. 177 00:09:01.960 --> 00:09:02.960 You get to talk back. 178 00:09:02.960 --> 00:09:05.240 No, you're not going to succeed. 179 00:09:05.240 --> 00:09:08.520 So the first thing if you're taking notes and I hope you do because the shortest pencil 180 00:09:08.520 --> 00:09:12.120 is longer than the longest memory and you're going to forget 90% of what I said by the 181 00:09:12.120 --> 00:09:13.600 time you get home and eat lunch. 182 00:09:13.600 --> 00:09:17.320 That's sad because I worked hard on this, but that's okay as part of what we do. 183 00:09:17.320 --> 00:09:20.080 But if you write it down and put some notes in your phone, maybe this will stick with you 184 00:09:20.080 --> 00:09:22.280 later in the year, you think, what is my purpose in life? 185 00:09:22.280 --> 00:09:23.280 Why are we making disciples? 186 00:09:23.280 --> 00:09:24.840 Why do I even go to city light church? 187 00:09:24.840 --> 00:09:26.600 You pull this out and you say, oh, I remember. 188 00:09:26.600 --> 00:09:28.800 Because we have the privilege of doing life together with God. 189 00:09:28.800 --> 00:09:31.200 It has to do with our relationship with God. 190 00:09:31.200 --> 00:09:34.520 Christ living through us allows us to love the people in our lives in ways that we don't 191 00:09:34.520 --> 00:09:36.040 have the power to love them. 192 00:09:36.040 --> 00:09:39.600 It helps us to be patient with people in our lives that is really hard to be patient 193 00:09:39.600 --> 00:09:40.600 with. 194 00:09:40.600 --> 00:09:44.360 We in the church world call them extra grace required people, EGRs, okay? 195 00:09:44.360 --> 00:09:46.560 If you don't know what that means, you're probably one. 196 00:09:46.560 --> 00:09:47.560 That's all I'm trying to say. 197 00:09:47.560 --> 00:09:50.680 We have people that are not like you and they get on your nerves, but we got to love 198 00:09:50.680 --> 00:09:51.880 them anyway, right? 199 00:09:51.880 --> 00:09:56.640 Through Christ's spirit and his power, we have the ability to show patience and compassion 200 00:09:56.640 --> 00:09:58.640 with Christ living through us. 201 00:09:58.640 --> 00:10:02.720 Paul tells us in Galatians 5, beginning in verse 22, but the Holy Spirit produces this 202 00:10:02.720 --> 00:10:04.200 kind of fruit in our lives. 203 00:10:04.200 --> 00:10:05.200 Love. 204 00:10:05.200 --> 00:10:06.200 Joy. 205 00:10:06.200 --> 00:10:07.200 Peace. 206 00:10:07.200 --> 00:10:08.200 Patience. 207 00:10:08.200 --> 00:10:09.200 Kindness. 208 00:10:09.200 --> 00:10:10.200 Goodness. 209 00:10:10.200 --> 00:10:11.200 Faithfulness. 210 00:10:11.200 --> 00:10:12.200 Gentleness. 211 00:10:12.200 --> 00:10:13.200 And self-control. 212 00:10:13.200 --> 00:10:14.200 There's no laws against these things. 213 00:10:14.200 --> 00:10:18.320 Doing life together with God not only allows us to experience all the benefits that I just listed, 214 00:10:18.320 --> 00:10:21.840 but it shows them to the people in our lives. 215 00:10:21.840 --> 00:10:24.280 Apart from God, we can't hit the mark in any of those areas. 216 00:10:24.280 --> 00:10:25.880 No matter how good you think you are. 217 00:10:25.880 --> 00:10:30.840 And some of us we do, we walk around like, oh, my God, there's anybody watch the office? 218 00:10:30.840 --> 00:10:32.200 That's a funny show right there, right? 219 00:10:32.200 --> 00:10:36.200 There's an episode in later seasons where Dwight and Jim are at a sales conference together 220 00:10:36.200 --> 00:10:40.600 and Jim is trying to get Dwight to help him and so he tells him there's bedbugs in their 221 00:10:40.600 --> 00:10:41.600 hotel, right? 222 00:10:41.600 --> 00:10:43.320 And he says, Jim, what about these bedbugs? 223 00:10:43.320 --> 00:10:44.320 He said, oh, it was smug. 224 00:10:44.320 --> 00:10:45.320 How smug? 225 00:10:45.320 --> 00:10:50.040 He's like, and so every time I think of smugness thinking, I got it all together, I picked 226 00:10:50.040 --> 00:10:54.720 your Jim and say, that bedbugs, like, and that's when we walk around like, but we got 227 00:10:54.720 --> 00:10:55.720 to be real. 228 00:10:55.720 --> 00:10:56.720 Don't look at this way. 229 00:10:56.720 --> 00:10:57.720 Look at this way. 230 00:10:57.720 --> 00:11:03.560 God, we need a lot of help, so we need his power to help us to do things, right? 231 00:11:03.560 --> 00:11:05.320 Apart from him, we can't get it done. 232 00:11:05.320 --> 00:11:07.600 Doing life together with God means reading his word. 233 00:11:07.600 --> 00:11:09.200 He gave us his Bible, right? 234 00:11:09.200 --> 00:11:10.200 What's in his Bible? 235 00:11:10.200 --> 00:11:11.200 It's a love letter. 236 00:11:11.200 --> 00:11:13.680 It shows us his heart, shows us his character. 237 00:11:13.680 --> 00:11:14.680 That's an incredible book. 238 00:11:14.680 --> 00:11:16.200 Do you own one? 239 00:11:16.200 --> 00:11:17.200 Everybody have a Bible? 240 00:11:17.200 --> 00:11:18.680 We'll give you one if you don't have one. 241 00:11:18.680 --> 00:11:20.960 We'll make sure in 2024 you got a Bible. 242 00:11:20.960 --> 00:11:22.280 You got to add the U version app. 243 00:11:22.280 --> 00:11:23.800 You can download it on your phone. 244 00:11:23.800 --> 00:11:26.440 The Bible don't discount God's word. 245 00:11:26.440 --> 00:11:29.360 He communicates through his word to us. 246 00:11:29.360 --> 00:11:31.040 It means spending time and prayer. 247 00:11:31.040 --> 00:11:35.160 That's simply talking to God, having conversation, the Bible says to pray without ceasing, don't 248 00:11:35.160 --> 00:11:36.160 stop praying. 249 00:11:36.160 --> 00:11:37.160 Pray with him. 250 00:11:37.160 --> 00:11:38.320 What does prayer actually do? 251 00:11:38.320 --> 00:11:42.640 Some of us have relegated that to like, mealtimes or maybe bedtime or maybe when things 252 00:11:42.640 --> 00:11:45.920 get really bad in lives, like, God help or maybe if someone from church is looking, 253 00:11:45.920 --> 00:11:48.400 you're in a restaurant, you're about to eat and you see someone in the city, like, 254 00:11:48.400 --> 00:11:49.400 oh, definitely fine. 255 00:11:49.400 --> 00:11:50.400 Thank you for that. 256 00:11:50.400 --> 00:11:52.240 Amen. 257 00:11:52.240 --> 00:11:56.440 You weren't just going to eat right right there without saying thanks. 258 00:11:56.440 --> 00:12:00.400 Or if you're really spiritual 21 days of prayer, you're on Zoom every night at 7 p.m. 259 00:12:00.400 --> 00:12:03.480 I appreciate some of you doing it. 260 00:12:03.480 --> 00:12:05.000 But it's even more than that. 261 00:12:05.000 --> 00:12:07.080 Prayer is connecting and communing with God. 262 00:12:07.080 --> 00:12:11.440 He wants a relationship with you and a relationship requires what? 263 00:12:11.440 --> 00:12:12.440 Communication. 264 00:12:12.440 --> 00:12:14.920 You ever had a relationship with someone you didn't talk to? 265 00:12:14.920 --> 00:12:15.920 That would be stupid. 266 00:12:15.920 --> 00:12:20.800 That's not a relationship. 267 00:12:20.800 --> 00:12:23.040 And it's even more than just like, hey, how's it going? 268 00:12:23.040 --> 00:12:24.040 Oh, good. 269 00:12:24.040 --> 00:12:25.040 Happy New Year. 270 00:12:25.040 --> 00:12:26.040 You have a good year. 271 00:12:26.040 --> 00:12:27.040 It's cold outside. 272 00:12:27.040 --> 00:12:28.040 It's real cold. 273 00:12:28.040 --> 00:12:29.040 Get wet out there. 274 00:12:29.040 --> 00:12:30.040 That's not a relationship. 275 00:12:30.040 --> 00:12:31.040 That's small talk. 276 00:12:31.040 --> 00:12:33.400 That's superficial. 277 00:12:33.400 --> 00:12:37.000 He wants to know that you know he's there. 278 00:12:37.000 --> 00:12:39.080 Talk to God. 279 00:12:39.080 --> 00:12:41.000 The relationship with him. 280 00:12:41.000 --> 00:12:45.560 Doing life together with God also means worshiping God with other Christ followers. 281 00:12:45.560 --> 00:12:47.360 Just like what we're doing today in this place. 282 00:12:47.360 --> 00:12:51.520 Hebrews chapter 10 verse 25 says, and let us not neglect our meeting together as some 283 00:12:51.520 --> 00:12:52.520 people do. 284 00:12:52.520 --> 00:12:55.120 Do you know some people that didn't come today? 285 00:12:55.120 --> 00:13:00.440 Give them some grief and say, he pretends to chase that today, you neglected. 286 00:13:00.440 --> 00:13:04.080 But encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return draws near. 287 00:13:04.080 --> 00:13:10.560 He tells us to worship him together in his house, to encourage each other to do it. 288 00:13:10.560 --> 00:13:14.080 That's the next thing that we found a city like to because we have the joy of doing 289 00:13:14.080 --> 00:13:15.080 life together. 290 00:13:15.080 --> 00:13:18.480 And if you take notes, that first one is the privilege of doing life together with God. 291 00:13:18.480 --> 00:13:23.960 The second is we have the joy of doing life together with each other. 292 00:13:23.960 --> 00:13:25.520 And that is a privilege. 293 00:13:25.520 --> 00:13:28.040 Some of you say, what about those extra grace requires? 294 00:13:28.040 --> 00:13:29.360 It doesn't sound like a privilege James. 295 00:13:29.360 --> 00:13:32.120 I know, but it is a privilege nonetheless. 296 00:13:32.120 --> 00:13:38.160 That means getting in each other's business up in your grill, the good, the bad and the ugly. 297 00:13:38.160 --> 00:13:41.040 Because here's the thing, the joy of life, they're just not as sweet if you don't have 298 00:13:41.040 --> 00:13:42.640 someone to share them with, right? 299 00:13:42.640 --> 00:13:46.280 My wife is at a town right now because our daughter went back to the school down in Alabama. 300 00:13:46.280 --> 00:13:47.280 So they drove down. 301 00:13:47.280 --> 00:13:48.280 I drove up with them. 302 00:13:48.280 --> 00:13:50.360 And this time, they gave me a hard time on the road trip. 303 00:13:50.360 --> 00:13:51.360 I don't know why this. 304 00:13:51.360 --> 00:13:54.800 But I'm always trying to beat the clock and they're like, Dad, you do not stop enough. 305 00:13:54.800 --> 00:13:55.960 I'm like, why? 306 00:13:55.960 --> 00:13:56.960 We have gas. 307 00:13:56.960 --> 00:13:58.360 And I know where I'm going. 308 00:13:58.360 --> 00:14:01.160 They're like, well, I want to stop and take a picture here and let's stop at this gas 309 00:14:01.160 --> 00:14:02.160 station here. 310 00:14:02.160 --> 00:14:03.160 They're like, why? 311 00:14:03.160 --> 00:14:05.360 And so they said, I'm not very fun to go on a road trip with. 312 00:14:05.360 --> 00:14:10.080 So FYI, if you want to go to a road trip, call Pastor Mo, do not call me. 313 00:14:10.080 --> 00:14:11.240 I just want to get there. 314 00:14:11.240 --> 00:14:13.240 I like the destination, not the journey. 315 00:14:13.240 --> 00:14:14.480 So they went down together. 316 00:14:14.480 --> 00:14:16.160 My wife's flying back tomorrow. 317 00:14:16.160 --> 00:14:23.440 And so I find myself so often, I'm like, hey, they got, oh, you have to, oh, it's lonely 318 00:14:23.440 --> 00:14:26.760 because the joys of life are not as sweet when you don't have someone to share them 319 00:14:26.760 --> 00:14:27.760 with. 320 00:14:27.760 --> 00:14:28.760 So then I call her a FaceTime. 321 00:14:28.760 --> 00:14:32.560 Hey, I had something I want to tell you, but I forgot. 322 00:14:32.560 --> 00:14:34.480 Just come home. 323 00:14:34.480 --> 00:14:38.320 And the sad times, the burdens of life, they're almost unbearable if you don't have someone 324 00:14:38.320 --> 00:14:40.120 to share them with, right? 325 00:14:40.120 --> 00:14:42.080 We need people in our lives. 326 00:14:42.080 --> 00:14:45.680 Some of the hardest times in my life have turned into the greatest God-sized miracles 327 00:14:45.680 --> 00:14:50.080 and blessings because of the people God put in my life through my life group. 328 00:14:50.080 --> 00:14:52.240 Can I hear an amen for life groups? 329 00:14:52.240 --> 00:14:53.240 You guys in life groups? 330 00:14:53.240 --> 00:14:54.800 We're not just a church that has life groups. 331 00:14:54.800 --> 00:14:56.520 We're a church of life groups. 332 00:14:56.520 --> 00:14:59.040 It's the core and essence of what we are. 333 00:14:59.040 --> 00:15:01.840 That's what makes this large group turn into a community. 334 00:15:01.840 --> 00:15:03.160 This is not a community. 335 00:15:03.160 --> 00:15:04.320 Life doesn't happen in rows. 336 00:15:04.320 --> 00:15:05.880 It happens in circles. 337 00:15:05.880 --> 00:15:07.440 You are staring at me. 338 00:15:07.440 --> 00:15:09.920 But in a life group, you're staring at each other. 339 00:15:09.920 --> 00:15:10.920 You're talking. 340 00:15:10.920 --> 00:15:11.920 You're praying for each other. 341 00:15:11.920 --> 00:15:14.920 You're the first one there when somebody's sick, you're bringing them chicken noodle soup. 342 00:15:14.920 --> 00:15:16.800 You visit when they're in the hospital. 343 00:15:16.800 --> 00:15:18.520 They're the ones that help me move. 344 00:15:18.520 --> 00:15:22.400 They're the ones that really love you enough to get in the trenches and do life with you. 345 00:15:22.400 --> 00:15:27.040 If you're missing out on that, you're missing out on that because there's more than just 346 00:15:27.040 --> 00:15:29.680 this hour on Sunday. 347 00:15:29.680 --> 00:15:32.280 Look at what the Bible says about us doing life together. 348 00:15:32.280 --> 00:15:34.680 They like to call it one another, okay? 349 00:15:34.680 --> 00:15:39.520 That one word alone highlights the significance of doing life together. 350 00:15:39.520 --> 00:15:44.360 How do one another, in showing honor, it says in Romans 12-10, live in harmony with one 351 00:15:44.360 --> 00:15:45.360 another. 352 00:15:45.360 --> 00:15:46.360 Romans 12-16. 353 00:15:46.360 --> 00:15:47.360 Admonish one another. 354 00:15:47.360 --> 00:15:48.360 Romans 15-14. 355 00:15:48.360 --> 00:15:49.860 Wait for one another. 356 00:15:49.860 --> 00:15:51.680 First Corinthians 11-33. 357 00:15:51.680 --> 00:15:53.320 Have the same care for one another. 358 00:15:53.320 --> 00:15:54.920 First Corinthians 12-25. 359 00:15:54.920 --> 00:15:56.760 Be servants of one another. 360 00:15:56.760 --> 00:15:58.000 Galatians 5-13. 361 00:15:58.000 --> 00:15:59.240 Bear one another's burdens. 362 00:15:59.240 --> 00:16:00.240 Galatians 6-2. 363 00:16:00.240 --> 00:16:01.440 Convert one another. 364 00:16:01.440 --> 00:16:03.040 First the Solonians 5-11. 365 00:16:03.040 --> 00:16:04.400 Bill one another up. 366 00:16:04.400 --> 00:16:05.800 First the Solonians 5-11. 367 00:16:05.800 --> 00:16:07.240 The appease was one another. 368 00:16:07.240 --> 00:16:08.640 First the Solonians 5-13. 369 00:16:09.440 --> 00:16:10.680 Do good with one another. 370 00:16:10.680 --> 00:16:12.360 First the Solonians 5-15. 371 00:16:12.360 --> 00:16:13.680 Put up with one another and love. 372 00:16:13.680 --> 00:16:14.920 Ephesians 4-12. 373 00:16:14.920 --> 00:16:16.680 Be kind and compassionate to one another. 374 00:16:16.680 --> 00:16:17.920 Ephesians 4-32. 375 00:16:17.920 --> 00:16:18.920 Submit to one another. 376 00:16:18.920 --> 00:16:20.200 Ephesians 5-21. 377 00:16:20.200 --> 00:16:22.760 Give one another and forgive. 378 00:16:22.760 --> 00:16:24.680 Corinthians 13. 379 00:16:24.680 --> 00:16:26.400 Confess your sins to one another. 380 00:16:26.400 --> 00:16:27.320 James 5-16. 381 00:16:27.320 --> 00:16:28.320 Pray for one another. 382 00:16:28.320 --> 00:16:29.360 James 5-16. 383 00:16:29.360 --> 00:16:30.640 Love one another from the heart. 384 00:16:30.640 --> 00:16:31.800 First Peter 1-22. 385 00:16:31.800 --> 00:16:33.160 Be hospitable to one another. 386 00:16:33.160 --> 00:16:34.400 First Peter 4-9. 387 00:16:34.400 --> 00:16:36.360 Beat one another with humility. 388 00:16:36.360 --> 00:16:37.440 First Peter 5-5. 389 00:16:37.480 --> 00:16:39.360 That's a lot of one another's. 390 00:16:39.360 --> 00:16:41.800 When Jesus says something over and over and over, 391 00:16:41.800 --> 00:16:43.280 what does he mean? 392 00:16:43.280 --> 00:16:44.440 Pay attention. 393 00:16:45.720 --> 00:16:48.000 When he tells you something over and over, 394 00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:49.160 just like when I tell my kids, 395 00:16:49.160 --> 00:16:51.120 if I just say, hey, go clean your room. 396 00:16:51.120 --> 00:16:51.920 Don't go clean your room. 397 00:16:51.920 --> 00:16:53.800 I'm serious, clean your room. 398 00:16:53.800 --> 00:16:56.000 He's been beef business when you say it more than once. 399 00:16:56.000 --> 00:16:57.800 Jesus tells us over and over. 400 00:16:57.800 --> 00:16:59.960 One another, bear one another's burdens. 401 00:16:59.960 --> 00:17:01.200 Take care of one another. 402 00:17:01.200 --> 00:17:03.080 Lift each other up, exhort each other. 403 00:17:03.080 --> 00:17:03.920 Why? 404 00:17:03.920 --> 00:17:04.760 Why does he say it? 405 00:17:04.760 --> 00:17:06.520 Because he wants us to do life in community. 406 00:17:06.520 --> 00:17:07.560 As I read through that list, 407 00:17:07.560 --> 00:17:09.160 one thing is very evident to me. 408 00:17:09.160 --> 00:17:11.440 You could not possibly do any of those things 409 00:17:11.440 --> 00:17:13.800 without doing life in proximity with other people. 410 00:17:15.160 --> 00:17:17.920 Can you bear each other's burdens all by yourself? 411 00:17:19.160 --> 00:17:21.880 No, you cannot. 412 00:17:21.880 --> 00:17:23.760 How can you bear someone's burdens 413 00:17:23.760 --> 00:17:26.240 unless you know what those burdens are? 414 00:17:26.240 --> 00:17:29.160 And then you have to be willing to bear them, 415 00:17:29.160 --> 00:17:31.280 to help them, to carry them. 416 00:17:31.280 --> 00:17:32.680 How are you gonna put up with each other 417 00:17:32.680 --> 00:17:34.040 unless you're close enough to somebody 418 00:17:34.040 --> 00:17:35.520 to actually get on their nerves? 419 00:17:37.000 --> 00:17:37.840 Right? 420 00:17:39.360 --> 00:17:40.600 How are you gonna forgive somebody 421 00:17:40.600 --> 00:17:42.560 unless you're doing life together 422 00:17:42.560 --> 00:17:45.440 and you're close enough to actually hurt people's feelings? 423 00:17:46.520 --> 00:17:48.320 Or let each other down? 424 00:17:48.320 --> 00:17:50.360 How are you gonna learn to submit to others 425 00:17:50.360 --> 00:17:53.120 unless you struggle with their differences? 426 00:17:54.760 --> 00:17:58.680 In other words, if we are to connect with our lives 427 00:17:58.680 --> 00:18:01.640 with each other, it's gonna demand that we do more 428 00:18:01.640 --> 00:18:04.320 than our culture tells us is acceptable. 429 00:18:04.320 --> 00:18:06.280 It tells us to go to our apartment buildings, 430 00:18:06.280 --> 00:18:08.240 close the door, bolt it, lock it down, 431 00:18:08.240 --> 00:18:09.560 and then get on your phone. 432 00:18:11.000 --> 00:18:12.920 But we gotta break down the barriers. 433 00:18:12.920 --> 00:18:16.440 We have to do different things 434 00:18:16.440 --> 00:18:18.160 that people aren't normally doing 435 00:18:18.160 --> 00:18:21.560 to reach people that aren't being reached already. 436 00:18:21.560 --> 00:18:23.640 You gotta do different things. 437 00:18:23.640 --> 00:18:26.000 We have to be willing to do hard things, 438 00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:28.840 counter-cultural things if we're gonna reach people 439 00:18:28.840 --> 00:18:31.280 that no one else is reaching. 440 00:18:31.280 --> 00:18:32.920 Author Susie Kaceman writes, 441 00:18:32.920 --> 00:18:34.440 always surround yourself with friends 442 00:18:34.440 --> 00:18:35.640 that have plenty of light in them. 443 00:18:35.640 --> 00:18:37.360 That way you'll always have candles 444 00:18:37.360 --> 00:18:39.640 around when the days get dark. 445 00:18:39.640 --> 00:18:41.680 Don't try and do this thing alone. 446 00:18:41.680 --> 00:18:44.120 Your only is lonely as you've chosen to be 447 00:18:44.120 --> 00:18:46.520 because we have the privilege of doing life together. 448 00:18:46.520 --> 00:18:49.400 The third thing that we found is that when we come together, 449 00:18:49.400 --> 00:18:52.640 we actually have the tools to get our own life together. 450 00:18:52.640 --> 00:18:54.440 And can I get an A-man that you're a hot mess 451 00:18:54.440 --> 00:18:55.480 and you need help? 452 00:18:57.160 --> 00:18:59.280 Not as many of you getting excited about that one. 453 00:18:59.280 --> 00:19:00.520 I get it, I get it. 454 00:19:00.520 --> 00:19:02.480 But I know I'm a hot mess and I need help. 455 00:19:02.480 --> 00:19:04.880 So I am confident that you need some help as well 456 00:19:04.880 --> 00:19:06.800 because we're all in the same boat. 457 00:19:06.800 --> 00:19:09.600 We're all sinners in desperate need of a savior. 458 00:19:09.600 --> 00:19:11.920 So we have the privilege of doing life together with God. 459 00:19:11.920 --> 00:19:14.400 We have the joy of doing life together with each other. 460 00:19:14.400 --> 00:19:15.520 And then when we come together, 461 00:19:15.520 --> 00:19:18.000 we get the tools to get our own life together 462 00:19:18.000 --> 00:19:19.000 because we need some help. 463 00:19:19.000 --> 00:19:20.640 And apart from God, we can do nothing. 464 00:19:20.640 --> 00:19:22.480 Apart from each other, it's gonna be harder 465 00:19:22.480 --> 00:19:24.120 and we need to come together. 466 00:19:24.120 --> 00:19:26.760 So the third thing is we get the tools to do 467 00:19:26.760 --> 00:19:28.760 everything we can to get our life together. 468 00:19:28.760 --> 00:19:30.320 We have God's instruction manual, right? 469 00:19:30.360 --> 00:19:32.280 We got the Bible, we study that together. 470 00:19:32.280 --> 00:19:34.440 But we offer other things like life groups. 471 00:19:34.440 --> 00:19:36.840 We have healing rooms, we have growth track, 472 00:19:36.840 --> 00:19:38.400 we have 21 days of prayer and fasting 473 00:19:38.400 --> 00:19:40.040 and the list goes on and on of the tools 474 00:19:40.040 --> 00:19:41.360 and the resources we have. 475 00:19:41.360 --> 00:19:43.840 As a church, we wanna provide you resources 476 00:19:43.840 --> 00:19:47.160 to make sure that you're better parents, better spouses, 477 00:19:47.160 --> 00:19:52.160 better employees, better citizens, better neighbors, 478 00:19:53.440 --> 00:19:55.080 better commuters on the train, 479 00:19:55.520 --> 00:19:57.360 better followers of Jesus. 480 00:19:57.360 --> 00:19:59.200 Because that's the goal, right? 481 00:19:59.200 --> 00:20:02.200 We wanna be better followers of Jesus, more like Jesus. 482 00:20:02.200 --> 00:20:05.200 Remember Jesus calls himself the light of the world. 483 00:20:05.200 --> 00:20:07.200 So if we're his followers and disciples, 484 00:20:07.200 --> 00:20:09.680 we need to be lights as well, right? 485 00:20:09.680 --> 00:20:10.680 That's what we are. 486 00:20:10.680 --> 00:20:11.680 That's what Christian means. 487 00:20:11.680 --> 00:20:14.680 It's a little Christ where his disciple in the Old Testament 488 00:20:14.680 --> 00:20:17.680 a disciple really was someone that followed their rabbi, 489 00:20:17.680 --> 00:20:20.200 their teacher so closely that the dust they kicked up 490 00:20:20.200 --> 00:20:22.920 from their sandals would cover you and you would become 491 00:20:23.040 --> 00:20:24.600 up from their sandals would cover you 492 00:20:24.600 --> 00:20:26.000 and you would be covered with their dust 493 00:20:26.000 --> 00:20:28.960 and you would not really have your distinguishable 494 00:20:28.960 --> 00:20:30.080 characteristics anymore. 495 00:20:30.080 --> 00:20:32.320 You would be so close to the master. 496 00:20:32.320 --> 00:20:34.160 Even when they sat down in the outhouse, 497 00:20:34.160 --> 00:20:36.160 you would be so close in case they had an epiphany, 498 00:20:36.160 --> 00:20:38.200 you could write it down and you could commit that to memory. 499 00:20:38.200 --> 00:20:39.640 You were always there. 500 00:20:40.960 --> 00:20:41.960 That's gross. 501 00:20:44.400 --> 00:20:47.920 But if Jesus is the light, we should be a light as well. 502 00:20:47.920 --> 00:20:50.080 Look at what Jesus goes on to say in Matthew chapter five, 503 00:20:50.080 --> 00:20:51.360 beginning in verse 14. 504 00:20:51.440 --> 00:20:52.840 You are the light of the world, 505 00:20:52.840 --> 00:20:55.120 like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 506 00:20:55.120 --> 00:20:57.400 No one likes a lamp and then puts it under a basket. 507 00:20:57.400 --> 00:20:59.160 Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand 508 00:20:59.160 --> 00:21:00.960 where it gives light to everyone in the house. 509 00:21:00.960 --> 00:21:04.120 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see 510 00:21:04.120 --> 00:21:07.520 so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. 511 00:21:07.520 --> 00:21:10.080 I'm gonna ask the worship team to come back up. 512 00:21:10.080 --> 00:21:12.720 Not passage, he calls us the light of the world, right? 513 00:21:12.720 --> 00:21:13.960 So what's our job? 514 00:21:13.960 --> 00:21:15.480 It's the shine for Jesus. 515 00:21:16.680 --> 00:21:17.520 Are you? 516 00:21:21.360 --> 00:21:24.760 We're supposed to be a bunch of little fireflies for Jesus. 517 00:21:24.760 --> 00:21:26.000 That's what comes to my mind. 518 00:21:26.000 --> 00:21:27.240 You ever seen a firefly? 519 00:21:27.240 --> 00:21:28.280 We have a bunch up here. 520 00:21:28.280 --> 00:21:30.640 I grew up in New Mexico and then I lived in South Florida. 521 00:21:30.640 --> 00:21:32.360 There were no fireflies. 522 00:21:32.360 --> 00:21:34.960 Out in the desert, we have road runners and mosquitoes, 523 00:21:34.960 --> 00:21:37.080 but we didn't have fireflies. 524 00:21:37.080 --> 00:21:39.040 So I had never seen a real firefly. 525 00:21:39.040 --> 00:21:40.400 I grew up going to Disneyland 526 00:21:40.400 --> 00:21:42.000 and I'd go to the Pirates of the Caribbean ride 527 00:21:42.000 --> 00:21:43.280 and I see the fake ones. 528 00:21:43.280 --> 00:21:45.280 You go in the little boat and it's going through the bayou 529 00:21:45.280 --> 00:21:46.640 and there's these little fireflies. 530 00:21:46.640 --> 00:21:50.120 It's just a little light hanging on a wire, but it was cool. 531 00:21:50.200 --> 00:21:54.280 I was 38 years old before I saw my very first real firefly. 532 00:21:55.240 --> 00:21:56.360 I was so deprived. 533 00:21:57.360 --> 00:21:58.600 But 38 years old. 534 00:21:58.600 --> 00:22:00.640 I went for a little visit to Wichita, Kansas. 535 00:22:00.640 --> 00:22:01.920 Why? I do not know. 536 00:22:01.920 --> 00:22:04.160 But I went to Wichita, Kansas. 537 00:22:04.160 --> 00:22:05.800 You ever been to Wichita, Kansas? 538 00:22:05.800 --> 00:22:07.840 You don't have to, it's fine. 539 00:22:07.840 --> 00:22:09.400 I'm telling you all that there is to know about it. 540 00:22:09.400 --> 00:22:10.960 There's a fireflies. 541 00:22:10.960 --> 00:22:13.440 And I was sitting there and out of the corner of my eye, 542 00:22:13.440 --> 00:22:14.960 I see this little flicker of light. 543 00:22:14.960 --> 00:22:16.400 What in the world is? 544 00:22:16.400 --> 00:22:17.920 I look again. 545 00:22:17.920 --> 00:22:19.560 Every time I would turn to where I think it was 546 00:22:19.560 --> 00:22:20.560 and then it wasn't there. 547 00:22:20.560 --> 00:22:21.920 I think I'm losing my mind. 548 00:22:21.920 --> 00:22:23.480 I need to get a CAT scan or I need, 549 00:22:23.480 --> 00:22:25.040 I got some kind of optical issue. 550 00:22:25.040 --> 00:22:25.880 I'm having a stroke. 551 00:22:25.880 --> 00:22:26.880 I don't know what's happening. 552 00:22:26.880 --> 00:22:28.840 Why do I see these flickers of light? 553 00:22:28.840 --> 00:22:31.680 And then I looked and I actually finally saw it. 554 00:22:31.680 --> 00:22:32.680 And then I was mesmerized. 555 00:22:32.680 --> 00:22:33.520 I couldn't turn away. 556 00:22:33.520 --> 00:22:36.040 I'm just staring at these dozens of little fireflies 557 00:22:36.040 --> 00:22:37.160 lighting up the night sky. 558 00:22:37.160 --> 00:22:39.160 I thought that was the coolest thing I'd ever seen. 559 00:22:39.160 --> 00:22:41.640 So I thought I got to learn more about these fireflies. 560 00:22:41.640 --> 00:22:45.360 I mean, I know what flies, dragonflies, houseflies. 561 00:22:46.920 --> 00:22:49.120 I just thought of a dumber joke, yeah. 562 00:22:49.120 --> 00:22:51.040 You ever see a housefly? 563 00:22:51.040 --> 00:22:53.120 But I thought, what is this thing that lights up 564 00:22:53.120 --> 00:22:55.000 in little tail, illuminating? 565 00:22:55.000 --> 00:22:58.560 So did you know that a firefly can actually light up 566 00:22:58.560 --> 00:23:01.240 at every stage of its life? 567 00:23:01.240 --> 00:23:04.680 Even as an egg, it can create the chemical reaction 568 00:23:04.680 --> 00:23:06.760 to actually illuminate as an egg. 569 00:23:07.760 --> 00:23:08.960 That's crazy. 570 00:23:08.960 --> 00:23:11.720 And the larva on the adult stage as well, they light up. 571 00:23:11.720 --> 00:23:13.600 Another thing that I think is completely interesting 572 00:23:13.600 --> 00:23:15.520 and fascinating is they're the most efficient things 573 00:23:15.520 --> 00:23:17.640 that you're probably ever going to find. 574 00:23:17.680 --> 00:23:19.280 A firefly. 575 00:23:19.280 --> 00:23:21.680 Like as an example, take an incandescent light. 576 00:23:21.680 --> 00:23:25.160 90% of its energy is expended as heat. 577 00:23:25.160 --> 00:23:27.480 Only 10% is light. 578 00:23:27.480 --> 00:23:30.960 A firefly in contrast, 100% of its energy 579 00:23:30.960 --> 00:23:32.520 is emitted as light. 580 00:23:34.080 --> 00:23:36.520 So I'm thinking a firefly is a pretty cool, 581 00:23:36.520 --> 00:23:38.280 little creation that God made. 582 00:23:38.280 --> 00:23:40.240 We're supposed to be the fireflies of the human race, 583 00:23:40.240 --> 00:23:41.520 I think, for Christianity. 584 00:23:42.560 --> 00:23:44.760 We're supposed to be shining up the sky, 585 00:23:44.760 --> 00:23:47.400 lighting it up for Jesus. 586 00:23:47.400 --> 00:23:51.080 As Christ followers, we're the human population firefly. 587 00:23:51.080 --> 00:23:55.720 Ephesians 5.8 says, for once, you were full of darkness. 588 00:23:55.720 --> 00:23:58.000 But now you have light from the Lord, 589 00:23:58.000 --> 00:24:00.120 so live as people of light. 590 00:24:01.440 --> 00:24:04.640 So like the firefly in every stage of your Christian life, 591 00:24:04.640 --> 00:24:08.240 you should be shining up everywhere, 592 00:24:08.240 --> 00:24:13.080 lighting it up from your infancy to your eternal promotion. 593 00:24:13.080 --> 00:24:15.160 When you go to be with Jesus in eternity, 594 00:24:15.160 --> 00:24:16.360 we're to light it up, 595 00:24:16.360 --> 00:24:19.640 illuminate the world for Christ with Christ in us, 596 00:24:19.640 --> 00:24:22.280 showing the world his goodness and his love. 597 00:24:23.960 --> 00:24:25.560 So the next time you're sitting around, 598 00:24:25.560 --> 00:24:27.320 scrolling through Instagram and TikTok 599 00:24:27.320 --> 00:24:29.920 and you're like, hmm, why am I even here? 600 00:24:29.920 --> 00:24:31.760 What is the meaning of life? 601 00:24:32.960 --> 00:24:35.200 What am I even gonna do in 2024? 602 00:24:37.120 --> 00:24:40.360 Your purpose for life is to be a firefly for Jesus. 603 00:24:42.200 --> 00:24:43.040 That's it. 604 00:24:43.040 --> 00:24:43.880 Thank you. 605 00:24:49.880 --> 00:24:52.120 All your problems are solved for the year. 606 00:24:53.320 --> 00:24:54.920 I was just thinking between services, 607 00:24:54.920 --> 00:24:56.520 it might be a good marketing campaign. 608 00:24:56.520 --> 00:24:58.240 I got my sweatshirts as faith. 609 00:24:58.240 --> 00:24:59.840 I remember they all sweat pants. 610 00:24:59.840 --> 00:25:00.920 I wasn't allowed to look at them, 611 00:25:00.920 --> 00:25:02.880 but they said like, juicy across the rear. 612 00:25:02.880 --> 00:25:05.440 Maybe we get some that say like shine, 613 00:25:05.440 --> 00:25:09.440 city light, boom, shine for Jesus, light it up. 614 00:25:09.880 --> 00:25:13.120 But we're gonna make disciples for Jesus in 2024, aren't we? 615 00:25:13.120 --> 00:25:14.480 We're gonna give it everything we are, 616 00:25:14.480 --> 00:25:15.680 everything we hope to be, 617 00:25:15.680 --> 00:25:18.880 because we have the privilege of doing life together with God. 618 00:25:18.880 --> 00:25:20.960 We have the joy of doing life together 619 00:25:20.960 --> 00:25:22.560 and Christian community with each other. 620 00:25:22.560 --> 00:25:23.880 And when we come together, we're better 621 00:25:23.880 --> 00:25:25.800 because we get the tools to get our own life together. 622 00:25:25.800 --> 00:25:27.320 So we're gonna make disciples, 623 00:25:27.320 --> 00:25:30.080 we're gonna shine bright for Jesus in 2024, 624 00:25:30.080 --> 00:25:32.400 is gonna be the best year yet. 625 00:25:32.400 --> 00:25:33.400 You agree? 626 00:25:33.400 --> 00:25:37.600 In Jesus' name, Heavenly Father, thank you. 627 00:25:37.600 --> 00:25:40.360 Jesus' name, Heavenly Father, thank you for loving us. 628 00:25:40.360 --> 00:25:43.480 Thank you for giving us another year to show your love 629 00:25:43.480 --> 00:25:44.640 in a dark, dark place. 630 00:25:44.640 --> 00:25:46.560 Just as I mentioned with the paintings 631 00:25:46.560 --> 00:25:49.920 that we kind of can admire and take inspiration from, 632 00:25:49.920 --> 00:25:51.320 New York is a dark place. 633 00:25:51.320 --> 00:25:53.800 There are so many dark forces pressing against us, 634 00:25:53.800 --> 00:25:56.320 but you've called us to be lights in this dark place. 635 00:25:56.320 --> 00:25:57.840 And we're gonna push back the darkness 636 00:25:57.840 --> 00:25:59.720 and we're gonna shine so brightly 637 00:25:59.720 --> 00:26:01.000 that people aren't gonna help, 638 00:26:01.000 --> 00:26:03.880 but have to know why we're shining so bright for you. 639 00:26:03.880 --> 00:26:06.160 And then like you told us to always be ready 640 00:26:06.200 --> 00:26:09.600 to give an account for the reason we have hope and faith. 641 00:26:09.600 --> 00:26:11.040 And we're gonna bring more people to you. 642 00:26:11.040 --> 00:26:12.400 We're gonna create more disciples 643 00:26:12.400 --> 00:26:13.840 because that's what you asked us to do. 644 00:26:13.840 --> 00:26:15.480 Thank you that we get to do it together. 645 00:26:15.480 --> 00:26:19.640 We do it in your name, amen, amen. 646 00:26:19.640 --> 00:26:22.200 This is the City Light Church podcast. 647 00:26:22.200 --> 00:26:24.520 If you've missed any part of today's message 648 00:26:24.520 --> 00:26:26.080 or if you would like to find out more 649 00:26:26.080 --> 00:26:29.000 about Pastor Boyan Jansik in City Light Church, 650 00:26:29.000 --> 00:26:31.880 visit us at citylightnyc.com. 651 00:26:31.880 --> 00:26:35.080 That's citylightnyc.com. 652 00:26:35.080 --> 00:26:38.560 Feel free to visit us online or in person any time. 653 00:26:38.560 --> 00:26:40.960 We would love to connect with you. 654 00:26:40.960 --> 00:26:43.520 We pray that you have been encouraged today, 655 00:26:43.520 --> 00:26:46.520 that you have been reminded how much God loves you 656 00:26:46.520 --> 00:26:49.440 and that you are surrounded by grace. 657 00:26:49.440 --> 00:26:50.800 Thank you for listening. 658 00:26:50.800 --> 00:26:53.560 Make sure that you subscribe to City Light Church Podcast 659 00:26:53.560 --> 00:26:56.600 wherever you find your favorite podcasts worldwide.