The podcast episode emphasizes the importance of perseverance in sharing the Gospel, particularly in the face of rejection. Speaker B highlights the Great Commission, underscoring the obligation of believers to spread the message of Jesus Christ, despite potential setbacks. He recounts personal experiences that illustrate how rejection can be disheartening, yet he encourages listeners to keep pressing forward rather than giving up. The episode further explores the responses of Jesus and His disciples to rejection, particularly focusing on Jesus' rebuke of the disciples' desire for vengeance against those who did not accept His message. Ultimately, the discussion serves as a reminder that while rejection is an inevitable part of the Christian journey, the call to share God’s love remains paramount.

The podcast episode presents a reflective discussion on the dynamics of faith, community, and the challenges of evangelism within the church. Speaker A opens with a heartfelt introduction of Brother Jonathan Moore, a significant figure in their church community, who has navigated the complexities of ministry during a particularly challenging time. The speaker highlights the church's commitment to planting new congregations, framing this effort as a vital aspect of fulfilling their Christian mission. This introduction not only celebrates community achievements but also reinforces the importance of collective prayer and support among members as they embark on their outreach endeavors.

Transitioning into the heart of the episode, Speaker B shares their experiences with evangelism, candidly addressing the emotional toll that comes with sharing one's faith. They recount stories of rejection faced when presenting the Gospel, a reality that many believers encounter. However, the speaker balances these narratives with testimonies of joy and fulfillment experienced when individuals accept Christ. This contrast serves to illustrate the complexities of witnessing—highlighting both the importance of perseverance and the deep rewards that come from faithfully sharing the Gospel.

As the discussion progresses, Speaker B urges listeners to embrace the Great Commission, emphasizing that the call to share the message of salvation is not optional but a fundamental responsibility of all believers. The episode concludes with a powerful reminder that rejection should not deter outreach efforts; instead, it should motivate believers to seek out new opportunities to share their faith. Listeners are encouraged to actively engage in their mission, fostering a spirit of resilience and hope in the ongoing quest to spread the love of Christ.

Takeaways:

• The importance of church planting is emphasized as a command from the Lord, and it reflects a church's growth and outreach strategy.
• Brother Moore reflects on his transition as youth pastor during the pandemic, highlighting the church's resilience and community support in College Station.
• The Great Commission is presented as a fundamental obligation for believers to spread the Gospel, emphasizing the necessity of sharing faith with others.
• Jesus' steadfast determination to go to Jerusalem, knowing the suffering ahead, illustrates the courage required to fulfill one's mission despite challenges.
• In response to rejection, the disciples learn that moving on to the next opportunity to share the Gospel is essential, rather than seeking retribution.
• The podcast highlights the significance of personal faith stories in evangelism, encouraging listeners to share their testimonies as a means of outreach.

Amen.

Enjoyed that song.

We do have, of course, brother Jonathan Moore with us tonight.

Brother Moore was our fearless youth pastor song leader for four years.

Came on right after Covid happened.

It's interesting story and it's now been down in College Station Brian air for over a year.

Church is doing well.

It's in your bulletin every week.

Hope that you're praying for them and then praying for brother Wiggins out in Mobile, Alabama, and brother Lee Davis as well.

And so this is a opportunity for our church to do what the Lord has commanded churches to do, and that is to plant other churches.

And so I'm so glad and they're doing such a good job.

Look at him.

Appreciate you.

Get him out of here earlier.

No.

All right.

Well, it is good to be here this evening and I am going to just want to take a few seconds just to thank Heritage Baptist Church.

But before I do that.

Whoa, I got loud there.

We just want to show a quick video is our first year anniversary on January 26th.

So we're going to show that video and then I just want to say a few words before we get in the message this evening.

Not some tragic struggle not some endless search Just the story of some kids growing up in church.

We took in every moment with opened eyes and ears and one day took to heart what we saw in those years and we saw real people with real struggles and real life bruising real ways There was real joy oh, yeah real hope and through it all we found real faith we count it as a blessing to know such strength and peace oh, not that they were perfect but they lived with honesty and the evidence we witnessed daily in each life Helped pave the way for us to embrace the love of Christ and we knew real people with real struggles and real life Bruising real ways There was real joy and real hope and through it all we found real faith Remind us, oh Father that around us every day the innocent eyes are watching May they see our lives and say I see real people with real struggles and real lives Boozing real ways There was real joy and real hope and through it all we found we'll fade and through it all we found.

Amen so we're thankful again for the opportunity to be in College Station for all my A and M fans.

Gig Em.

There we go.

Only one of them, man.

Come on, Tyler.

I expect a little more than that, but that's all right.

But no, we are excited to be there and I do want to just take a moment this evening and I told myself I wouldn't cry.

But humanly speaking, this church has been such a blessing to me and my family.

For us to be where we're at.

There was much sacrifice, and that's because of a vision of Pastor Crawford, but also the people of this church that are willing to give faithfully to support the ministries here, but also to support missionaries around the world, as well as works right here in the United States.

And so I just want to say I wasn't expecting to preach, so I honestly wasn't.

I just wanted to get up and say thank you again from the bottom of my heart for what this church has meant to us, not just financially, but also in praying for us.

I tell people all the time I need all this, thankfully for all the support that we get.

But the most important thing is people that are praying for us.

And every Sunday I can count on whether I'm discouraged going into that Sunday morning, I can count on a text from Pastor Crawford just saying he's praying for me and that he prays that our services go well.

And that means so much to me.

And so I just wanted to personally say thank you again to this church and my family.

I want to say thank you to you for all that you mean to me and my family and just continue to serve the Lord, continue to live for him and continue to support ministries all across the United States and across the world.

I'm so thankful for all that the Lord has allowed us to do.

We average about 40 in attendance and then our high was on our.

I love my church.

Sunday we had 53 people and so it was a wonderful day that day.

We've had four people get saved this year.

We've baptized two.

I just finished.

I've been discipling.

I've had about four people, four men that I've been discipling.

My wife is discipling a couple of ladies as well.

And so I just had one.

If you follow us on any social media, we just posted on that one of the guys that is going, he'll be a senior next year, but he just finished the discipleship course.

We met for 14 weeks and just to see him get grounded and desire to serve the Lord has just been awesome.

So thank you for all that you do and it's not in vain.

And just want to say again, thank you so much.

If you would turn in your Bibles this evening to the book of Luke.

The book of Luke, chapter 9, Luke, chapter 9.

And we'll begin reading in verse 49, Luke, chapter 9 and verse 49.

I don't want To Caleb said I could drink the half drunk one.

I don't want to do that.

So found the one that hasn't been used yet.

Luke, chapter nine.

And we'll begin reading.

In verse 49 the Bible says, and John answered and said, master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name.

And we forbade him because he followed not with us.

And Jesus said unto him, forbid him not, for he that is not against us is for us.

And it came to pass when the time was come that he should be received up, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem and sent messengers before his face.

And they went and entered into a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him.

And they did not receive him because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.

And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, even as Elias did?

But he turned and rebuked them and said, ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of, for the Son of man has not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them.

And they went to another village.

Let's go.

Lord in prayer Father, we come to you in Jesus name and I thank you for the privilege to be in church this evening.

Thank you for everyone that is faithfully that they are here.

And I pray that you would bless them this evening.

Lord, I pray that you would give me the words to say may whatever it is that you want me to say, I pray that I would say it.

Whatever you don't want me to say, Lord, help me not to say it.

And then Lord, as I ask each time I pray, I pray that you would give us listening ears.

Lord, we don't come out of tradition, we don't come out of obligation.

We come because we want to hear from your word.

And so Lord, I pray that you would bless as I speak.

I pray that you'd help us to hear and to allow you to change our lives as you desire to.

And Lord, we'll praise you and thank you for it.

For it's in Jesus name I pray.

Amen.

At the end of the book of Matthew, In Matthew, chapter 28, some of the most.

If you are a believer, some of the most well known verses are recorded in Matthew chapter 28, verses 19 and 20.

We have what is called the Great Commission.

And God has given us the Great Commission.

And it is our job, it is our obligation to go out and tell other people about the good news of Jesus Christ.

And in fact I love what it says in verse 18 where he says this in Matthew, chapter 28, all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost.

And I'm so thankful as we go with the Great Commission, as we go and tell other people about Jesus Christ.

I'm so thankful that I don't go in my own strength because I know my own personality.

It's not always that I have all the courage to just go and tell someone about Jesus Christ.

There are many times or sometimes it might be a little nerve wracking or wondering if I'm going to have the words to say or is someone going to ask a question, maybe that I don't know.

And maybe you've been there in your life, maybe you experienced that as well.

And I promise, if you determine to say no to this flesh and determine that you are going to tell someone about Jesus, I promise you, you've had these feelings at one time or another.

But I'm so thankful that I can take courage and each of us can take courage in the very fact that as we go, Jesus is with us every step of the way.

Cause he said, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.

But it is our job, the Bible says to go therefore and teach all nations.

Well, what are we teaching them?

What we're teaching them to understand that there is a Savior that loved us and died on the cross and was buried and rose again.

We call that the Gospel, the Good News.

I'm sure each and every one of you would know the good news, the Gospel, the death, the burial and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

And anyone that will put their faith and trust in Jesus can have a new life, a hope that lasts for eternity, and a life with Jesus forevermore.

And it's a wonderful thing.

I never want to get over the fact when I was 12 years old on the left side of the platform where I realized I was a sinner and gave my life to the Lord.

I never want to get over that.

And I never want to get over the fact that I have the opportunity.

Wait, let me say it a different way.

I have the obligation of telling other people about Jesus.

This is the Great Commission.

This isn't the.

If I choose to, or if I want to.

No.

God has commissioned every one of us to give the Gospel to other people and to help them to understand that God loves them and God died for them and he wants to give them everlasting life.

And what a wonderful truth knowledge it is that I don't know about you.

And if the Lord has allowed you to take someone through the Scriptures and show them their need of salvation and to see them see that they're a sinner and them understand that they are lost before God and the understanding that there is a penalty, and then you ask them, hey, do you want to receive the gift of everlasting life?

And to hear them say, yes, then they want to do that.

And so they bow their head and they accept Jesus as their Savior.

It's a wonderful time.

It's an amazing time.

It's a wonderful experience.

I love it every time the Lord gives me the opportunity to do that.

It is so enjoyable to just joy to the soul, to see people come to know Jesus as their personal savior.

But the passage we're going to look at tonight is to understand that going with the Great Commission, yes, it is wonderful when someone realizes their need.

And let me just say it right now, if you have never put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ, even if on a Sunday night, and it's one of the y'all are the faithful that are here all the time, but you can't think of a time where you personally accepted the gift of salvation, can I encourage you?

Don't leave today without accepting Jesus as your personal savior.

Hell is real.

Eternity lasts forever.

And everyone that dies will spend eternity in one place or the other.

But we need to understand as we go with the Great Commission, that there are many times when we go with the Gospel of Jesus Christ that we meet rejection.

In other words, every time I give the gospel to someone, they're not just super excited to accept the gift.

In fact, there are people that say, in fact, I was just talking to a gentleman that came a couple Sundays ago for our Easter service.

I went out to lunch with him, was answering all the questions he had and all those kind of things.

And still he said, I want to believe, but I just don't know if I believe that everything in the Bible is real.

And how heartbreaking it is to walk away from a conversation like that, knowing how much God loves them and how much God gave so that they can have everlasting life.

And then to see them reject it, that's a difficult thing.

And so Jesus wants them to understand this passage.

And I hope it's an encouragement to you as it was to me.

How do we respond to rejection when it comes in our lives as we go with the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

And I'm so thankful that Jesus was willing to die.

And in fact, as we approach our passage Tonight, in verse 51, Jesus is headed to Jerusalem.

He's up in Galilee.

But the Galilean ministry is, Is coming to a close.

Chapter nine of Luke is a very transitional chapter in the life of Jesus as the Galilean ministry is ending and he is heading towards Jerusalem.

And Jesus knows all that's that is going to await him in Jerusalem.

Jesus know is.

Knows it is going to be there, that he is going to be falsely accused, put on trial for crimes he did not commit, be beaten as we celebrated Easter, the resurrection.

But we also have to remember, for the resurrection to happen, first he had to be beaten to where you couldn't even tell he was a human being.

You had to be able to tell he was crucified on a cross, he was raised up to die, and, and he knew all that was going to happen when he went to Jerusalem.

But as he was heading that way, the Bible says in verse 51, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem.

That means to have an established be established, to be set or to fix firmly.

In other words, Jesus was determined to go to Jerusalem.

And this set his face indicates a determined nation to accomplish a task, no matter what it cost him.

Aren't you glad that Jesus was willing to accomplish the task for which Jesus came, no matter what came in his way?

I'm so glad that Jesus didn't get to the place where they were spitting on him and saying, man, I'm not gonna go through this anymore.

Maybe as they placed the crown of thorns on his head, look, I don't know if they're really worth it.

As they begin to whip his side.

I'm glad he didn't say, well, I don't know if it's worth it or not.

He had set his face, he was fixed.

He was determined to do and accomplish what God had called him to do.

The very reason that Jesus had sent him, the reason God had sent him to this earth.

It has the idea of someone that nothing is going to get in their way.

You see, it takes courage to do that.

There are two types of courage.

There is courage in the moment which requires no previous thought, right?

There's courage where someone, maybe you've seen a parent or maybe a kid is playing out in the street and they see the car coming and they run over and they grab the kid and pull them to safety.

They didn't think about it.

They didn't contemplate about it, they just saw something and it took courage.

Maybe you think about someone in wartime where maybe a grenade is going to go off and that person is willing to jump on top of that and has the courage.

They don't even think about it.

It's just in the moment, they are going to accomplish the task for which they or what has come in front of them.

But then there's also what's called planned courage, which sees the difficulty ahead instead fastly marches towards it.

And Jesus had this kind of courage.

In other words, he's looking at the cross and let's not Forget he was 100% God, but he was 100% man.

He was 100% God, but He was 100% man.

He knew what it meant to be hungry.

He knew what it meant to be thirsty.

He literally felt the pain.

May we never forget that.

He felt the pain of the nails that went into his hands and threw his feet.

He felt the pain of the crown of thorns on his head.

And though he is making his way over the next 10 chapters of Luke, he is going to be making his way from Galilee down to Jerusalem.

He knows exactly what is going to happen, and yet he marches forward.

I love what one commentator said.

He said he saw the cross on the horizon, but still steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem.

Here he sees the cross on the horizon.

He says, I'm going to keep marching towards it.

But how many can someone give us a phone call and they get upset about something we said or the flyer we put on their door and we're like, I'm done with that.

I've been persecuted enough for Jesus.

I just don't think I could do this anymore.

But the courage that he had, he saw what was up ahead and he marched forward with the task at hand.

And so while he's on the way to Jerusalem, Jesus sends messengers before his face.

Look at verse 52.

And sent messengers before his face.

And they went and entered into a village of the Samaritans to make ready, and they did not receive Him.

I'm so thankful.

If you know Jewish history, you understand that many a time the Jews, they would not go through Samaria.

In fact, even though it took three days journey to get around Samaria, they would go around because they wanted nothing to do with the Samaritans.

The Samaritans were half breeds.

They were half Gentile, half Jew.

And the Jews hated the Gentiles, and the Gentiles hated the Jews, and they wanted no part of them.

But I'm so glad that God loves everyone.

God does not care more about one person than the other.

I'm so thankful.

I know it seems to be rare in its ugly head here lately, so I hit it on it a lot in my church.

But I'm just saying God did not choose some for hell and some for heaven.

No, I'm so thankful.

He loves everyone and he wants everyone to have a personal relationship with him.

He wants everyone to be saved.

He wants everyone to realize they're a sinner and accept the gift of salvation.

He wants everyone to have their sins forgiven.

And so even though they are met with rejection, in fact they want nothing to do with the message.

The Samaritans wanted nothing to do with that.

But it's like the first end of a bookend.

Because what's going to happen as soon as he gets to Jerusalem?

You know, they can look and see the Samaritans, they want nothing to do with Jesus.

But Jesus is going to get to Jerusalem and you know what's going to happen?

He's going to be rejected.

They're not going to want anything to do with him.

In fact, they're going to, as we already said, put him on a cross to die.

And so they did not.

They were not accepted.

They did not receive the messengers nor the message that was given.

And the disciples, after hearing this, they did not.

They did not receive the news well at all.

They were not happy.

In fact, they were furious about how the Samaritans had treated the message and the messengers and those that were sent.

And look what it says in verse 54.

And when the disciples, James and John saw this, they said, lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven?

And consumed them even as Elias.

Now you need to understand, earlier in the book of chapter nine, we find the passage on the mount of Transfiguration.

Guess who was on the Mount of Transfiguration?

Little Sunday school lesson.

Anybody want to.

Peter, James and John, right?

That inner circle go up on the mount of Transfiguration and they're there with Jesus.

And they get to see Jesus the only time while he was on this earth where his glory just shone through.

And everybody could, all three could see his glory that just shone through on the mount of Transfiguration.

But you know who also showed up?

Moses and Elijah.

And so they're saying they've just experienced, they've just got to sit down with the prophets of the Old Testament and they're super excited about it.

And here they find out these Samaritans did not receive the message.

And the first thing I can just imagine in my mind goes back to Elias.

And you know what they're asking?

Hey, James is thinking, I know exactly how Jesus is going to respond.

I know exactly what Jesus would do in this situation.

Jesus, what if give us the authority.

Because obviously he needed authority from Jesus.

Give us the authority to call down fire from heaven.

I can imagine James again.

James and John, they're the sons of thunder.

I can just imagine them saying, yeah.

James going, yeah, I agree with John.

Give us the power.

Let us call fire down from heaven and just destroy them for rejecting the message.

Well, time out for a second before we beat up on them too much.

How many times can we have someone reject the message and just feel, lord, why don't you just destroy them, man?

Their life is so in opposition to the word of God.

I know you wouldn't admit that.

I always say I'm too transparent.

But in my mind it's, you can always have that.

Like, well, they're not going to receive the message.

Then just forget about them.

Who cares?

God just let them go.

Who cares about them?

And that's what they're desiring that Jesus would do, that he would be able to call fire down from heaven.

But I have to say that James and John did not expect Jesus response because Jesus did not respond with praise.

Jesus responds with a rebuke.

Look at what verse 55 says.

But he turned and rebuked them and said, ye know not what spirit ye are of.

Well, what kind of spirit are you of?

Well, that's not the spirit that Jesus has, because he says in verse 56, for the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them.

You don't.

He's saying, you don't know what the manner, the kind of spirit you are of.

The thief cometh not for to steal and to kill and destroy.

I did not come to destroy men's lives, I came to save them.

And so he's saying that the mindset that you have, that you would want to see them, their lives destroyed because of, of their rejection of the gospel is not in line with what I desire and what I want.

I love.

He didn't come to be ministered and want to be served.

No, he came to give his life.

I think we could all quote John 3:16.

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

But I love the verse that follows that says, for God sent not his Son to the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved.

See, God doesn't desire men's lives to be destroyed.

They might be in total opposition.

But my mind's eye always goes to what Paul said when he said, some of you.

And he lists all these heinous sins, and then he says the line, and such were some of you.

I'm so thankful that no one is above the grace and the love of Jesus Christ.

That's why First Timothy 1:15 says, this is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief.

He says, look, disciples, you need to understand the spirit that you are demonstrating is in total opposition to what my spirit is.

Y'all need.

You need to under.

He was texting, he said, y'all, you need to understand.

I am headed to Jerusalem and I'm going to give my life because of my great love for others.

I'm going to give my life for the redemption of all mankind.

And so he wanted them to understand the importance of how a person responds to rejection.

Because, can I say this right now, if you are serious about your walk with the Lord and you are serious about getting the message out, then let me tell you, there is going to be rejection.

There is going to be times where no one, they don't want to hear the message that you have to give.

But it's the greatest gift that could has ever been given and that anybody could receive.

I know, and I understand that.

But there are those that still say, yeah, I just don't know if I believe all that or, man, I can't believe you trust in all that.

And I don't want anything to do with it.

How do you respond to the rejection?

Now let me encourage in this way.

You don't have to worry about getting rejection if you don't tell anyone about Jesus.

If you just keep the best news in the entire world to yourself, you don't have to worry about being rejected.

Just keep it all to yourself.

Don't tell anyone about it.

But how sad is it to have the greatest news that anybody could ever hear?

Makes Me think about the leper.

Two lepers in the Old Testament.

They came on and saw the city, then all the spoil that was there, and they began to feast themselves.

And they said, it's wrong for us to know of this good news and not go back and tell other people about it.

How can we have the greatest news that's ever been given and keep it to ourselves?

And we know the right answer.

We know this is what we should do.

And we'd say, yes, I love Jesus and I want people to be saved.

But can I ask you, what are you doing to see other people come to know Christ?

What are you doing to give the gospel out?

If you were to go over this last week, what did you spend more time on?

Did you spend time getting the gospel out and passing out a tract?

I encourage our people to take five tracts and just get them out during the week.

Get the good news out, tell people about Jesus Christ.

We don't have much time.

Work for the night is coming when no man can work.

So it's important that we get the gospel, the good news of Jesus out.

But I will say we don't have to worry about rejection if we don't determine to get the gospel out.

So how did Jesus teach his disciples to respond to rejection?

How did Jesus teach him?

How do you deal with rejection in your life when it comes to the gospel of Jesus Christ?

Well, it's found at the end of verse 56.

The Bible says, and they went to another village.

I know I just wowed y'all with that deep knowledge.

Everybody's impressed and amazed.

In fact, next year I'll probably be preaching the Bible conference.

No, I'm just kidding.

I'm joking.

But they went to another city.

You know what Jesus said whenever these people.

Whenever I go through this city and I tell people about the gospel and you tell them about who is.

And they don't want anything to do with it.

Yes, one day, if they reject and they.

They die and they, they.

They have not accepted Christ, they will.

There is a judgment coming.

We can't push that away and say there is no judgment coming.

But God's desire is not to see them be judged and forever separated from God for all of eternity.

That's not what he desires.

He came that they might have life and then they might have it more abundantly.

Okay, yeah, but they rejected.

We should just call fire down from heaven and see them destroyed.

That's what John and James said.

No, no, we're not going to do that.

In fact, I came to Save their lives.

You know what we're going to do?

We're going to go to the next city, we're going to go to the next village and tell them about the fact that Jesus is coming through their area and prepare them and give them the opportunity.

Well, what if that city rejects?

Well, then we're going to go to another city and you know what we're going to do there?

We're going to give the news that Jesus is coming through the area and what if they reject?

Okay, I think you get the picture.

And that's what it should be in our lives as well.

You say, man, that family member wanted nothing to do with Jesus Christ.

Well, don't stop praying for them.

Don't be like, well, just write them off.

Pray for them that they would get saved.

But maybe talk to another family member or maybe that co worker that seems to not want anything to do with Jesus Christ.

Don't give up on them, keep praying for them, don't write them off, but go to the next person.

That's our job, is to go with the Great Commission and tell other people about Jesus Christ.

And how you respond to the rejection is simply going to the next person and telling them about the good news of Jesus Christ.

So I ask you, how are you doing at fulfilling the Great Commission?

Like I said at the beginning, it is wonderful.

It's been.

It's the most enjoyable thing about my life to share the gospel with Jesus Christ and to see them bow their knee and accept Christ as their personal savior.

But along the way, in between those times, I've had 10, 15, 20, hundred people not want anything to do with it.

Am I supposed to just give up?

Am I just supposed to give in?

Am I just say it's supposed to say it's not worth it?

No, I just go to the next one and I tell them, hey, I want you to know that God loves you.

I don't know if anybody's told you today God loves you, but God loves you and he wants you to know what it means to have your sins forgiven and you can have a personal relationship with him and you can know what it means to live with him for all of eternity.

If that one rejects, I just go to the next one.

We're going through a course on Wednesday nights, a book that y'all would know price everyone here would know about but Paul Chappell and talk about taking it personally.

And I love the story of the end of it.

This kid that was on the seashore and he was taking starfish and There was a bunch of them that just lined the seashore.

And he was just picking one up.

There was, like thousands of starfish there.

And he was picking up one and throwing it back in the water, picking up another one, throwing it back in the water.

And this older gentleman came up and said, what are you doing, son?

He just kind of looked up at him, went back down, started throwing the starfish back in the water.

He said, what are you doing, boy?

There's no way that you can save all of these starfish.

I just love this phrase.

He picked up another starfish, threw it back in the water and said, made a difference in that one's life.

That's our job.

Can I ask you, how much are you going with the Great Commission?

How much are you telling people that they can have their sins forgiven?

Maybe you've been rejected.

You feel like, man, it's just not worth it.

Can I encourage you this evening to just get back up and go to the next person and tell them about the gospel?

Share with them your.

I always tell people, share with them your personal testimony.

People may argue with a lot of things, but no one can argue with my personal testimony about when I was 12 years old and I accepted Jesus as my personal savior.

But just get up and go, because let me help us all understand our personality is not going to matter when we stand before the Lord.

Well, I'm just.

I'm not really outgoing, so.

Well, if you knew how my wife felt my hands before I came up here, I get nervous.

I preached the other a couple weeks ago at another church, and my hand was all cold, and JJ was like, man, your hand's really cold.

And I was like, yeah, I get nervous, and I just do what God told me to do.

But we all get nervous.

We all get nervous about sharing the gospel.

And sometimes there is rejection.

And I'll finish with this.

But I remember while I was.

We were filling up gas at an heb, and I got out, and it's just kind of my custom.

I try to always have tracks.

And I was filling up gas, and I took a car, and I went to someone, I said, I just want you to know God loves you.

I don't know if anybody's told you that recently, but we'd love to have you come visit with us.

And I got back in the vehicle, and my son JJ he was sitting there and he said, dad, there's a guy over here.

Give me the track.

And so I gave him one.

He went over there, and normally it's exciting.

It's good to have kids with you because usually they don't reject kids, right?

They usually it's, you know.

But on this occasion, JJ went up to this gentleman and said, hey, I just want you to know God loves you and we'd love to have you come visit with us at Twin Cities Baptist Church.

And he said, no, I don't want it.

Keep it.

I don't want anything to do with it.

Well, of course, JJ was very shell shocked when he got back in.

But you know what we determine?

Well, we're not going to let that stop us.

You know what I'm going to do?

I'm going to get up and I'm going to tell someone else because I have the commission, not because I'm a preacher, but because I am saved to tell people about the gospel of Jesus Christ.

So may we with a clear conscience know that when Jesus comes back, we have fulfilled the Great Commission.

And even when we face rejection, we say, I'm just going to go to the next person and tell them about the good news of Jesus Christ.