Disciple - Luke 14:25-35 (Pastor Jeff Shipley)

Now I want you to pay attention. It wasn't anything in Israel wasn't their military size.

We're gonna be in Luke chapter 15 today Luke chapter 15, and we're gonna be talking about Discipleship. The sound is perfect guys. Thank you Discipleship how many of you in this room are Christians. Raise your hand.

Okay, good good good. I see some not hands raised. We'll get to you in a minute. How many of you are disciples? Okay. Here's what's amazing in the New Testament the word Christian is only used three times.

Jesus never used the word Christian, but over 297 times over 297 times he used the term Disciple Mateus he used that term to describe the true believers. So the question I have today is not whether you are a Christian.

The question I have for you today is are you a disciple of Jesus Christ now before you answer? I think it's fair to note and to describe what that means. Before you commit to it at the end of this sermon.

We're gonna have a time for you to respond if you are not a Christian and want to become one. That's going to be a time for you but also if you are a Christian, but you need to Refocus and become a disciple I'm gonna ask you to come down here front too because you need God's people to help Accomplish that so let's set the context Harmonetically go to Luke chapter 14 verse 1 and we're gonna see What this passage in Luke 15 is all about so Luke 14 1 we're told that Jesus is Invited one Sabbath when he went to dine at the house of the ruler of the Pharisees.

So this would be like the archbishop. This is like a big preacher guy. Okay, when he went to dine at the ruler of the Pharisees They were watching him carefully and behold there was a man before him who had dropsy.

That's kind of like a demia his body was retaining fluid and We Jesus responded to the lawyers and Pharisees saying is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not? But they didn't say a word now. Let me put this to you in context.

This was not a chance meeting. Okay, this was not a chance meeting. They invited Jesus over to dinner and they had this sick person all swollen Laying in the road in front of the house. Jesus walks up and he knows exactly what they're gonna do because God said keep the Sabbath holy.

That's all he said keep it holy. But the religious people that we still do it today. We take God's law and add 330 things to it to try to make it more Exclusive for us, but that's God said I want everybody not just the religious, right?

So God said in there Jesus is sitting there and he walks up. He knows what's up. He walks up and he turns to him and before they even have a chance to spring the trap He asks him the question. Is it lawful for a man to heal on the Sabbath verse 4?

But they remain silent. Then he took him and healed him and sent him away and he said to them Which of you having a son or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day will not Immediately pull him out and they could not reply to these things now just a couple of things before we get going.

There was no band. No light show there was no praise team. There was no great healing crusade. I Loathe that that that terminology. I loathe it. There was no Benny Hen, there was nobody getting slapped in the head.

There was nobody falling on the ground giggling. Jesus saw a need picked him up and said you're healed go home. That's it you know why because Jesus is the epicenter. Which all glory should go even when we have seen miracles.

We've had a lady cured of cancer in here. I'm not going to mention her name and most you don't know her because she is not the object of worship. God is the object of worship. See, but you have these idiots on TV that claim in the name of Jesus to heal.

Let me tell you something. The only miracles that are ever done is by Jesus Christ himself. It's not you don't look at a beautiful piece of art and praise the brush you praise the artist, right? But we have in a world today We praise the brushes the tools that God can use and in today's time We even mimic him trying to get money for ourselves, but I want to turn now.

So Jesus is at the dinner. He goes through the dinner and there's this awkward silence. Because they just saw a miracle now remember they hated Jesus because Jesus was taking the attention off of them and put it on himself and.

So they hated his guts. They were trying to find a way to kill him and so they're sitting in dinner and It's this awkward silence and you can read 14 and it'll tell you this there's this awkward silence.

One of the pastors looks around Blessed be he who eats the bread of God and that's about what it sounded like. And they didn't know what to do and they were feeling very awkward. And Jesus said hey, thanks for dinner, I'm leaving so now go to Luke chapter 15 I'm sorry 1426 1426 and watch what happens afterwards.

So he finishes dinner and he gets up and leave in verse 25 and great crowds. Accompanied him and he turned in him and said if anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters and yes, and even his own life he Could not be my disciple.

Let me tell you the first characteristic about being a disciple of Christ. You are going to be a minority. You're going to be a minority and I ain't talking about all that bullcrap. Racial stuff that you people are eating up like pigs on slop.

I'm talking about a real minority. I'm talking about where the world is going to hate you for the name of Jesus. How many of you? Seek approval. I'm looking at some of you 18 year old men in here. How many of you seek approval from your friends and your what's that thing called the tick-tock thing.

Y 'all are on the snapchat the tick-tock the Facebook and followers. That's the word I was looking for you want followers for yourself, but you don't want to be a follower. Oh, you'll follow the Dude with tattoos on his face with rap music holding stacks of money.

Because that's something to emulate that guy's an idiot and going to hell and you're going to follow him there. Some of you girls want to follow the prettiest most popular chick on that stuff. Listen, if you're going to be a Christian you are going to be different than the rest of the world some of y 'all's language.

Some of y 'all's language as born-again believers sounds way too close to the world. Pastor, you know, I don't think it's wrong to cuss. Okay, you want to talk about right and wrong? That's fine I'm talking about where is the mark difference in your words and actions that are different from the world.

Do you blend in like you wearing world camouflage? Are you so different the world says there's something different about that guy here. It says a large crowd follow Jesus now watch Jesus's strategic marketing plan for growing a church.

They're following him. He stops and says You people want to come after me if you want to come after me you got to hate everybody else. Have a good day. What my children children in there? We're good, right?

I Got to hate everybody. To follow you. Yeah, I didn't stutter. I can do that. Remember when my kids were growing up my wife and I took every opportunity to explain to them. We don't love you. Like we love each other.

We don't. Y 'all y 'all are just passing through. Okay, me and her gonna be together for 50 years. And guys, let me tell you something. I've heard about this empty nest thing. It ain't true. Okay, you hear what I'm saying sister Man.

Having the time of our lives, you know, and we like it when the grandkids come over say hey, yeah here go by. You know Paul Cindy, you know what I'm saying later. We told our kids we love each other more than we love you.

And I know that sounds contradictory to the world, but that's what I'm going for. Okay, that's for me in my house we're serving the Lord and I ain't joking. Okay guys Jesus turned around and said You can't follow me unless you hate everything else now the Greek word here.

It doesn't literally mean hate as in detest. It means a lesser love a lesser love. Love the Lord your God with all your heart with all your soul and with all your mind and love your neighbor as yourself.

That was the whole law of Jesus Christ. The whole idea of Jesus was to love God and love each other. Ladies and gentlemen, if you want to be a disciple of Christ, it means you're going to be a minority.

Let me ask you a question. What do you love more than Jesus? Right now just stop and think forget sermon forget church for y 'all this crap. What do you love more than Jesus if you say nothing? I'm gonna ask you to rethink your answer.

Oh No pastor when we were singing that song. I had that feeling, you know, I got two goosebumps. Yeah, guys, that's last when the last note is played those go away when you're an immature Christian. But when you're a disciple of Christ you can talk about Jesus you can hear about Jesus you can absolutely Love serving God.

Well pastor. How do I serve God? It's real simple. You serve his people. You serve his people. How how do you much do you love Jesus? Well, let me ask you this. How much are you obeying and serving him?

Well, not much then you don't love him like you love yourself guys. We need to be the masters minority number two. Disciples will be committed to Jesus among Every thing else now I want to point this out to you verse 26 if anyone comes to me the two things I want you to note is this.

Anyone it doesn't say white Anglo-saxon southern Protestant Republicans. It don't say oppressed liberal Democrats. It doesn't say this group or that group, you know. Why because there's only two groups of people in the world.

Those that are lost and without hope and those who have been found by the blood of Jesus Christ. That's the only two groups there is but the gospel of Jesus Christ is open to anyone. I know that in this room there are homosexuals in this room right now.

I know there are. So what? Your sin is no worse than their sin. I know that there are addicts in this room. Good lord. We got a bunch of them in this room right now and thank you for coming. All right.

But that don't matter either. I know some of y 'all are divorced. I know some of y 'all have been hurt. I know some of y 'all are absolutely despondent. I know some of y 'all couldn't find your butt with both hands in the dark.

You're that dumb. Have you looked around lately? Guys. Listen to me the gospel of Jesus Christ is open to you, but notice this other thing Jesus said if anyone wishes to come after me. Now I want you to think about this for a second.

Watch this. All you people out there in Witten land. I Have God's will for your life if you will listen to me. Do what I tell you to do. Follow me and give up everything else. By the way, we're serving Kool-Aid right after this service.

You will be just fine. Do you realize the audacity of Jesus's words right here? To every Jew there. They were like dude be smoking crack. He has lost his every mind Jesus and his audacious Exclusive command right here.

He didn't say follow God. He said follow me which is the exact same thing Jesus Christ says. I'm not interested you follow in Baptist. I'm not interested who you follow on Twitter. I'm not interested who you follow in the elections.

You must come to me the Exclusivity of the name of Jesus Christ is more powerful than you will ever ever imagine. I want you to understand this and I know this is going around today in philosophy. Not all roads lead to Jesus.

Okay. Now listen, this is gonna offend some of you, okay. There is no way to heaven except by Jesus Christ. Okay, it's not Buddha or Muhammad or whatever like little cafeteria style theology you want to go.

Jesus said I am the way I am the truth. I am the life. No one comes to the Father but by me. You see if you're a disciple of Christ. You got to leave everything behind but you can't just leave everything behind and follow anything.

You have to follow Christ in Christ alone. I want you to hear this. I Need you to understand that your level of commitment is not based on your emotions. Okay, now listen. How many of y 'all are married raise your hand?

How many of y 'all have ever had that moment where you're like looking at your spouse? And I've been married 30. I don't know something years. There are still times where I'm looking at my wife and my wife is very dorky.

Okay. She is Does not get sense as a humor cannot she she can't tell jokes, please don't ever scare of tell a joke. She is the biggest dork in the world but it's usually at that time when I'm looking at her and Everybody else is looking at her trying to figure out what she's trying to say in my head.

I go man. I really love her. And I really do. I mean there are times when you look at your spouse and you're like wow I really love this person. You know what I mean? Have y 'all ever had that? Okay, go to Brandon's class if you hadn't but That's not what we're talking about here.

That's not what we're talking about here. My wife is the toughest person I know on the face of the earth. She had bronchitis and she's had it all week. She sounds like she's on her 20th pack of cigarettes for the day.

You know. It's so sexually attractive, let me tell you. And as she's hacking and coughing up stuff and it crawls away. It's just it's disgusting. And I said to her Gwynn Why don't you stay home from work now?

When I was a kid I Probably went to school maybe three out of five days a week. Okay, I always went to school. I just didn't do the whole class thing. Okay, the class thing was boring to me. School was awesome class.

Not so much. I said Gwynn once you stay home from work. You want to smoke another bowl baby, I mean. She is tough as nails. Tough as nails. It's amazing to me. She does not know the word quit. But she knows the word sacrifice.

Sacrifice. So she's sick. She comes home Thursday. When she gets home, I've done all the laundry. Wash the sheets clean the house clean the bathrooms. I have a TV tray with a little towel on it. Went to tzatziki's and got this.

Disgusting lemon soup crap. Have y 'all ever had that stuff? Does anybody you people like it. God you people going to hell it is the most disgusting filth. She loves it. Remember she is a dork. I had that in a little bowl with some crackers and little napkin and I served it to her and I said sit down.

On the couch. I gotta get the lock. No, you ain't already done it. Well, I got to do that. I already did it. I got it. I already did it. You don't need to do nothing. Sit down drink your water and. Then I put her she was asleep by 645.

Guess what? She was up 5 a .m. The next morning going to work. Now I. The whole time while I'm serving her. Did not have one of those emotional feelings of wow. I love you. Mostly it was can you cover your mouth?

Maybe do something with your hair, you know, my gosh, you look horrible, you know. But I was loving her. You see if you want to come after Jesus and be a disciple it means leaving everything else. Including the feelings that you're looking for for validation.

Some of you in this room you're battered Christians. Because you're battered by the own your own mind and saying that I should feel X. To validate why I am with Christ. Guys, if you do that, you're gonna you're gonna explode.

You're gonna reach a point at some point in your spiritual development where you're gonna give up. Because you're tired of trying come here. It's really good news for you because there was this guy that once said hey all you there heavy and weary.

Come to me. For I would know wise cast you out. Quit looking give up everything. Including your emotions of self-indictment. Okay third thing. I Want you to look at this? It says this who does not bear verse 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

It was for BC for BC. We think Jesus was born between 4 and 6 BC. So this is for 4 BC and the Jews in Galilee, which is north of Jerusalem started getting a little froggy. Jews were always wanting to pick a fight because they were sick of the Romans and they wanted to kill them and get them out Of there because they were Jews, right?

So a guy rebelled against the Roman government rebelled against him and Rome said, all right, cool. Y 'all rebel and they sent a guy called Verus. He was a Roman general and this dude was not a joke. He grabbed a couple of legions on the way to Jerusalem and they whipped every Jew and Galilee and as an example what he did is he gathered up all the Jews that he had captured and All the Jews that he had killed and he nailed them on spikes All along the road from Galilee into Jerusalem.

Now you say well, that's pretty heinous. Well, no, what was heinous was about six months later because the birds changed their migratory patterns because it was a free buffet for six months and You could not get close to that area without smelling the decayed rotting flesh.

It kind of kept some people from revolting it really did. But what it also did is it and this happened more than once? It taught the people What brutality and crucifixion was so when Jesus said to his people following him who were followers?

But most of them were fans, you know what I mean? They appreciated the whole let's heal. Let's feed the let's help the sick. Let's you know be advocates for the poor people and in the prostitutes. Yeah, we're all for that.

We're a fan of that. Well, if you want to keep following me, you're gonna have to take up your cross. Whoa? Jesus you're getting a little personal there. That's that's not appropriate talk in this kind of setting.

This is a religious gathering. Don't be talking about people riding on corpses riding on crosses. But that's the price of admission to be a follower of Jesus. You must take up your cross now notice this.

You must take up your cross ladies and gentlemen. Look up here focus right here. I know some of y 'all are a DDing on me. Stay right here. You are already Condemned you think you're gonna get to heaven and God's gonna go.

Yeah, you're condemned. That's not what scripture says when you were conceived in your mother's womb. You were already condemned and You have no hope you can't do. I have a counseling couple and I asked them.

They were referred to me by someone else. They came here. I said if I shot you right now and you died, would you go to heaven or hell? They said heaven. I said why because we're pretty good people we do more good than bad.

Wow. Wow, I didn't know there were people who still thought that. Guys, you are already condemned to hell already. You have no hope you see you're already on the cross dead you are that decaying body on the cross and the grace of God our Father reached out and said Jesus get me that one and Jesus stretched out his arms.

So that you could have eternal life. Each one of us already bears the cross of total depravity and damnation. That's not what Jesus is talking about here. What it means is I have to die again. If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.

Old things are passed away. Behold all have become new for I am crucified with Christ yet. Nevertheless, I live yet not I but Christ that lives within me and the life that I now live. I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.

If you want to be a follower of Jesus, it's not about going to church. It's about going to the grave. You have got to die. Your wants needs and desires become secondary to the command of God. When that porn urge hit some of you men when that porn urge hit some of you men.

Nail it to the cross you addicts when that urge hits. Yeah, you can do the prayer of solid. What is it called? Serenity prayer. You can do that if that helps that's great. But ultimately the power is going to come not from your efforts, but from your surrendering to the power of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Guys, I Was a drug addict. I am NOT a drug addict today. I'm not now. I still don't drink. I still don't do anything. Because that was what I nailed to the cross, but I have been healed because I surrendered that part of my life to him.

Guys, if you're in here today and you want to be a disciple, it's not about going to church. It's about going to the grave. If anyone wishes to come after me, let him bear his own cross and be my disciple.

Now I want you to understand what it means to bear your own cross. It means that it's a one-way ticket. One-way ticket. I And my wife we love to travel. Another benefit of having kids at home. We love to travel and I'm not talking about to grandiose places.

We went to Mississippi, what's that? Corinth we went to Corinth, Mississippi. Not the intellectual or cultural center of the universe to be sure. But let me tell you it was a great getaway if you've never gone to Corinth, Mississippi.

You can do everything by walking. It was really cool. I love getting away with her. I just love getting away. I love just going. I love going out into the woods. I really love it. But one of the things that we really love doing is getting on our motorcycle and Going out no phones.

No maps. No nothing getting out and driving till we get lost. We love doing that. We love driving. Until we get lost and we'll come to a T or an intersection and we'll go right or left. I Don't know. Rock scissor paper sheet, and that's the way we'll go.

We don't know where we're going. It's a one-way ticket, baby. It's a one-way ticket. We'll make it back home, but it won't be by that route. Ladies and gentlemen, if you're gonna follow Christ, I want you to understand it's going to be an adventure.

But it's a one-way ticket. There ain't no coming back. Once you're in you're in you can't pick and choose when you're gonna serve Jesus. It is a 100 death to yourself and what you want and you ain't coming back.

Listen to this. Anyone who wishes to come after me? I want you also to notice this. Jesus leads the way now. I know some of you army guys in here going Rangers. No dorks. Jesus leads the way. Okay. Anyone who wishes to come after me?

Jesus went to the grave For us. Jesus rose for us. He took our sins for us and he doesn't ask us to follow him anywhere. He ain't already leading where God God's he provides and then the last thing is simply this.

Disciples will be called to sacrifice and work now start in verse 28. He gives us two examples. He gives us two examples of what Contextually, he's trying to say and I'm gonna read those for you. For which of you desiring to build a tower?

Think of this as a first century scarecrow in their vineyards. They used to build a tower and a dude would hang out in it and he would scare everything away. Including people who tried to take the wine or the grapes.

He said for what you desiring to build a tower does not first sit down and count the cost. Whether he has enough to complete it. Otherwise when he has laid a foundation He's not able to finish it and all who see it begin to mock him saying this man began to build and was not Able to finish or what.

King going out to encounter another king in war will not sit down first and Deliberate whether he is able with 10 ,000 to meet him who comes against him with 20 ,000 verse 32. And if not while the other is still a great far-off way He sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace verse 33.

So therefore any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. Wow, that's some harsh stuff. Let me tell you something I've learned. Construction and combat will cost you always more than you estimated always.

Every time I'm dealing with a general contractor right now. Oh my gosh. I mean, first of all, you have to dumb down your language by about five grades because they're not that smart. And and the best thing when you're dealing with this contractors just talk to his wife Ashley because she's so much smarter and cuter than Stephen but I remember Sitting there and going through the list and I remember going well, that's not how much I thought it was gonna be.

That's not how much I thought it was gonna be. That's not how much I thought it was gonna be. But it's a fair price. Okay, I'm gonna do it. Now that contractor sent me an estimate. I in my head looked at that estimate because I wasn't going to commit to something until I knew the cost.

Want to be Christian. I Know that online and in many other buildings all over this country today. There are pastors who want to teach you a sermon to get you to stay in that seat. This is not one of those churches.

Okay, I Want you to know and be fully aware in full disclosure because that's what Jesus did. What it's going to cost you to be a Christian. It's gonna cost you everything. Your wife your children your business your money everything and If you're not willing to pay that price.

You are not ready yet. I Know you need to hear just come down this. I Take me by the hand and say dear Jesus. I know I'm a sinner Lord come into my heart and save me in the name of Jesus. Amen. And you think that's your salvation?

Some of you want to have dreams and visions you need the grandiose. But you're not willing to pay the price. You can have as many emotional visions and sermons and songs that you want. But if you have not surrendered anything Everything then you are not ready to be a Christian.

I know that sounds harsh. But I don't want to lie to you because I'm gonna stand before God one day and not in some ethereal Dream or make-believe Casper and a friendly ghost with clouds and harps and angels.

I'm gonna stand before Yahweh. And he's gonna go boy. What did you do with my grace? Sorry, I'm not gonna get a bad mark on my record for you people. Sorry, I love you. But I love God more and I'm more interested in pleasing him than I'm ever gonna be in growing numerically a church.

Guys, are you ready to pay that price? Pastor I'm just not ready. Then you are not fit for the kingdom of God. I Know that doesn't sound good. I know I need to be a seeker friendly church. Problem is I don't like lying about Scripture.

Listen to me. Are you ready? Do you want to be that disciple? It's gonna cost you a lot in 1519 a guy Named Cortez some of y 'all know who this is. He had 700 men and 11 ships and he was given The task of attacking this place on the Mexican, by the way, if you're Guatemalan Honduras Mexican You're the guy that you should be angry at is Spain and a guy named Cortez because he wore those people's out.

But he landed 700 men and 11 ships off of Veracruz. And when they started marching inland, he left a few sailors there with one job. No, it wasn't to burn the ships. He scuttled them. He literally had guys at the bottom of the ships with axes.

Letting the water in because once he landed he was 100 Committed to winning. There was no retreating. There was no turning back. I'm gonna ask you in a few minutes if you want to be a Christian. I'm not talking about maybe the garbage you've heard your whole life.

I'm talking about a mental and spiritual commitment to surrender everything in your life without emotion without feeling a decision and If you're not willing to leave everyone behind. Then keep filling a pew with your rear end because you're not ready for the kingdom of God.

But if you're ready. If you're wanting to say pastor, I'm tired of living my life this way. I want to burn the ship leave everything behind and follow Christ in Christ alone. You are ready now for salvation.

Ladies and gentlemen, I got to ask you. Are you ready? Last two verses say this. Jesus gets weird and this seems like a contextual or a parenthetical expression. But it's not it says he goes on to verse 34 salt is good.

But if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no use for either the soil or the manure pile. It is thrown away. He who has an ear let him hear. He who has an ear let him hear.

It is now 1138 by Jeff time 1138. Some of you are thinking when is this going to be over? I'm ready to go. Some of y 'all are waiting for the next shock value statement or the next entertaining statement to laugh.

Giggle to assuage the apathy of hearing the Word of God. Some of y 'all are wanting the music to start. You're waiting for me to shut my Bible because you're done hearing the Word of God. Ladies and gentlemen, please Hear not my words.

I'm an idiot just like everyone else in this room. I am nothing special. Same Spirit of God's in me is the same Spirit of God that's in every believer in this place. I'm asking if you have an ear. Please hear this part is to you Christians.

Are you a salty Christian? My dad used to tell me sometimes son. You need to get a little bit more salty. Now that was from his background in the service. What that meant is you need to look a little bit more when we go to Puerto Rico and people are wearing dark hats a white Band will on that hat in their shirts from the salt of their body and the sweat coming out and drying on them.

Me it's because they've been working Christian how salty are you? How salty are you? Well pastor I showed up at church. What did he do? Really you showed up at church. The problem is you're not being the church.

See when you walk out that door, you're done for a week. It's not me all for a month. You're done Christian. Let me ask you a question. Have you lost your saltiness? How effective. How separated from the world are you and how strong are you standing for Jesus?

Did you do it for a little while? But that salts been diluted with the world and you know, you need to get salty again. Then stop drinking from the world and dehydrate yourself from the world and be filled with the power of Jesus Christ again.

Some of you guys need to get a little bit more salty and I want you to understand. I'm gonna. I'm unclosed with this. I want you to understand. It's gonna cost you. You see because salt is an antiseptic and a preservative and a lot of it causes you to go right a Lot of it causes you to go it.

Yeah, it's two women walking. It's okay focus right here. But if you want to be of use to Christ understand this as an antiseptic. When you put an antiseptic on it burns, I Know this is not sounding really Joel Osteen ish for a second.

But hang on with me. I want to stick with Scripture if you truly are somebody's friend and your words do not convict and does not saltiness. Cleanse the sin that they're in if You have a brother or sister in Christ or a lost person that is continuing sin.

And you don't want to rock the boat to be the salt and the light to show them the difference. You're worthless. God said this to Ezekiel. If any man lives in sin and he dies in that sin and you do not warn him of that sin.

His blood while I require from your hands. The greatest friend that you can be the greatest family member that you can be. Is that you can be the salt of Jesus Christ? And yes, sometimes it burns. Yes, sometimes it's a lot.

I had people tell me all the time pastor. You're just too much. Cool. I'm glad to be too much because see at the end of my life I'm rounding third base at 55 years old. I'm rounding third base. Okay, this is the homestretch for me, baby.

I know that I'm about to see Jesus and not too long and I want him to go. That's my boy right there. Well done now good and faithful servant. You ran that race. You didn't swing it air you fought the good fight boy.

Come on in here. Yeah, well, I probably won't be that gay but you know, whoa, whoa right. Trying to sound more manly just getting worse ain't it guys? I want to try to live at peace with all men, but not at expense of their souls.

Where are you today? So we're gonna have this time to respond. And I know that sounds weird for some of you because a lot of you ain't didn't grow up in church. But see this is where it's a little bit different.

I don't want to just preach God's Word to you go. Oh, well good. All right, let's go home. This is a time for you to put the rubber to the road. If you're in this room and you've prayed Jesus Christ into your heart and you were a fan of his.

But you have never been a follower of his. Come here. Look look, please and I say this to you in all Christian love and I can you are not a Christian. You are not you never have been and if you keep living in that delusion, you never will be okay.

Have you truly had a metamorphical change in your life. Have you ever? Changed completely. Were you a caterpillar or a butterfly or you just a puppy that's grown into a bigger dog. This one is saved. This one is not.

You're a new creature. Well pastor that's never happened to me. You're not saved. You're not a Christian and I'm sorry if that offends you. I'd rather you go to hell hearing those words of promise and truth.

Than to be lied to and go to hell in ignorance. Okay, I'm not here trying to be your friend. I'm not here trying to grow a mega church. I'm here to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. That's it. Because I'm gonna stand before God without no committee and without no deacon standing behind me.

Okay, are You truly a believer pastor? I really don't know. Come on down baby because I got a Bible that will teach you what you need to know. Now if you are a Christian, but you've lost that saltiness.