Do You Really Believe This? | Prove It | Part 1 | Jerry Flowers

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[00:00:08]I just want you to pre-mark your Bibles first. Let's pre-mark to First Peter chapter 3.

[00:00:16]1 Peter chapter 3. And we're going to start our reading at verse 13. I want to explain to you why I believe the Holy Spirit has us going this particular route.

[00:00:29]I'm excited and I'm also divinely stirred because on today we are starting a brand new sermon series, our second sermon series of the 2026 calendar year entitled Prove It. Somebody shout prove it.

[00:00:46]>> Prove it.

[00:00:47]>> This is a sermon series that has been constructed by the Holy Spirit to ensure that our faith is solid. Because if we be honest, many of us in the sacred sanctuary overflows and watching online, you have faith that has cracks in it.

[00:01:07]>> Amen.

[00:01:09]>> You have faith that has cracks in it. It can't withstand another breakup.

[00:01:15]>> It can't withstand another loss, layoff, or hard questions from somebody that does not believe what you believe. and you have questions yourself about what they're questioning you with. And it just takes another hard question to expose your faith has cracks in it. And I just believe this as I was engaged in sermon prep and prayer for the last three weeks. God wants to take us beyond. He wants to wants to take us beyond just displaying. Because many of us, you have a faith right now that looks good. It sounds good. It shouts good. It sings good. Well, kind of. It knows how to dance good. But it's never been tested, never been afflicted, never been questioned.

[00:02:07]And all it takes is one conversation to show that you have borrowed faith, not grounded faith. Like if your faith only works in church, it won't survive in a classroom and your professors and atheists.

[00:02:24]If your faith only works in an atmosphere where there are other believers, you won't be able to handle it when unbelievers ask you hard questions. If your faith only works when you're experiencing promotion and gain, you're not going to know what to do when you're experiencing suffering and loss.

[00:02:45]And any faith, please hear me. Any faith that cannot be questioned and defended will soon be abandoned.

[00:02:54]>> Did y'all hear what I just said?

[00:02:56]>> Any faith THAT CANNOT BE QUESTIONED AND defended will soon be abandoned. Faith with cracks and cracks leads to collapse.

[00:03:07]>> So, let's read our foundational text together. I want to read it and then I'm going to expound on why not investigating is so dangerous and then we're going to come back and read exedute like squeeze this particular text where we could understand the climate the setting and why the apostle Peter has this particular tone in this epistle. First Peter chapter 3 verse 13.

[00:03:31]If you got it shout I got it.

[00:03:33]>> I got it.

[00:03:34]Peter says, "Who is going to harm you?

[00:03:37]If you are eager to do good, but even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed.

[00:03:47]Do not fear their threats, do not be frightened. But in your hearts, everybody say hearts."

[00:03:57]>> Hearts. Not in your post, not on your podcast, not your apparel, not the things that you have as your hashtag, not the Christian license plate, not in just your profession, but in your hearts revere, coming from the word reverence, revere Christ as Lord. Watch the text.

[00:04:18]Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who ask you to give the reason for the hope that you have. Most people skip this next part. But do this >> with gentleness and respect. Our clause of concern, our verse of emphasis. What is going to be the waiter throughout this sermonic presentation lives in the halfway mark of verse 15. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who ask you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. Let's speak around this thought from this subject for part one of our brand new sermon series. Do you really believe this?

[00:05:19]Do you really believe this? Father, you're awesome. Thank you for allowing us to come into your holy s sanctuary.

[00:05:26]Thank you for allowing us to crack open the scriptures to study and investigate your word. Forgive us for casual Christianity.

[00:05:35]for the individuals who this is the first time since last Sunday that they opened up the scriptures. Help us to view your word as tasty, oh God, to where we begin to desire and crave to read the word. Not just when I say it, but because they have a heart of pursuing Christ. And like I prayed in public, I also declare it. Like I prayed in private, I also declare it in public.

[00:05:58]All of the study means absolutely nothing if you aren't magnified and you aren't glorified. Use me as your oracle, the soundtrack system of heaven. We're asking that you do it. And everybody says in Jesus name, >> amen.

[00:06:12]>> Amen. Can I get everybody to say this and then we're going to get to work. Can I get everybody to say, "Father, >> Father, >> remove the cracks."

[00:06:19]>> Remove the cracks.

[00:06:20]>> SOLIDIFY MY FAITH.

[00:06:22]>> Solidify my faith.

[00:06:23]>> Where I can transition >> where I CAN TRANSITION >> FROM SHALLOW CONFESSION >> from shallow confession >> into proven conviction.

[00:06:30]>> into proven conviction.

[00:06:31]>> In Jesus name.

[00:06:32]>> In Jesus name. ONE MORE TIME. FATHER, >> FATHER, >> REMOVE THE CRACKS.

[00:06:36]>> REMOVE THE CRACKS.

[00:06:37]>> SOLIDIFY my faith.

[00:06:38]>> Solidify my faith.

[00:06:39]>> Where I could transition >> where I can transition >> from shallow confession >> shallow confession >> into proven conviction.

[00:06:46]>> into proven conviction.

[00:06:47]>> In Jesus name.

[00:06:48]>> In Jesus name.

[00:06:50]>> Amen.

[00:06:51]>> Amen.

[00:06:53]Charlene Woods.

[00:06:55]Miss Woods was driving on December the 15th of 1967 across this silver bridge when she felt that it started to shake.

[00:07:14]This particular bridge spanned the Ohio River and was the route from Ohio all the way to West Virginia. The Silver Bridge served 4,000 cars every day. And on this particular day, Miss Woods is on the bridge and she feels that the bridge is starting to shake.

[00:07:40]And this is what the national newspaper printed as the title after this calamity. The deadliest bridge disaster in US history was caused by a tiny crack just 3 mm deep.

[00:08:06]In 1967, the Silver Bridge was a very popular bridge. This bridge was built in 1928.

[00:08:18]And it handled the weight every day of morning traffic and lunchtime traffic and rush hour traffic. It even handled the weight of seasons transitioning. It handled the weight of storms. It handled the weight of blizzards. But what people didn't know is that underneath the surface there is a crack. Now hear me.

[00:08:42]It wasn't a massive hole.

[00:08:46]It was just a tiny crack. AND THE TRAGEDY OF THIS EVENT is not the crack.

[00:08:53]It's that the crack never got investigated.

[00:08:59]>> IT'S NOT THAT THE CRACK IN ITSELF WAS THE PROBLEM. is that the bridge was existing with a crack that never got inspected. Because in those days, the way that they inspected was just with the eyes. They looked, they glance, just like most of us do. You glance over scripture.

[00:09:19]You skim over your Bible. YOU JUST GLANCE, NOT KNOWING UNDERNEATH the surface there is a crack.

[00:09:27]There's a crack that's forming. And these inspectors assumed because it looked fine, it is fine.

[00:09:38]And similar, please hear me, oh family, similar to these inspectors who did not look deeper. And y'all, they didn't even have to LOOK SUPER DEEP. THEY HAD TO LOOK THREE MILLIMETERS DEEP.

[00:09:52]Due to these inspectors not looking a little bit deeper, several lives were lost.

[00:10:04]H oh y'all edges.

[00:10:08]Many of us have been operating with a surface level Christianity.

[00:10:16]And the whole time while you're coming to church, you're coming to disciplehip developments, there are cracks that are underneath your profession. AND HEAR ME, THE PROBLEM IS NOT THE CRACKS.

[00:10:29]Because if THE CRACKS GET CONFRONTED, they can be treated. The problem IS NOT THE CRACKS. THE PROBLEM IS THE CRACKS ARE THERE. and you're just continuing on navigating, claiming to be A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST, BUT YOU YOURSELF HAVE QUESTIONS and you never investigated. AND ALL IT TAKES IS FOR ONE MUSLIM TO ASK YOU, "HOW IS IT THAT JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD?" ONE ATHEIST TO TELL YOU, "HOW IS IT THAT YOUR GOD IS SUCH A LOVING GOD?" And he throws people into hell. That's not loving. THAT'S CRUEL. AND BECAUSE THAT CRACK ALREADY EXISTED IN YOUR HEART, IT BEGAN to expand. And now your faith is wobbly BECAUSE THERE WERE CRACKS YOU HAD THE WHOLE TIME THAT YOU NEVER INVESTIGATED YOURSELF. Because please HEAR ME, JUST BECAUSE YOU DON'T INVESTIGATE THEM, THAT DOESN'T mean they disappear. They develop.

[00:11:20]>> JUST BECAUSE YOU IGNORE THEM doesn't mean they're GOING AWAY. IN FACT, THE MORE THAT YOU IGNORE THEM, THE MORE IT SPREADS.

[00:11:30]But if YOU HAD SOME APOLOGETIC SKILLS, if an atheist were to ask you, "How is it that your God claims to be loving?"

[00:11:37]And he throws people in hell, you could defend your faith and say, "How is it cruel for you to have a dress code for your house?"

[00:11:48]>> Okay?

[00:11:50]So, IF I'M A WEDDING HOST AND I'M HAVING THIS party and I want everybody to come to this party, this is Bible, by the way. 1 Timothy chapter 2:3.

[00:12:00]This is good and pleases God our savior who wants all people to BE SAVED AND TO COME TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF TRUTH. So if I'm a host of this wedding party and I want everybody to come, but I said the only way you can get in here is you got to wear red. That's the dress code.

[00:12:23]That's the dress code. You have to wear red.

[00:12:27]You decide I'm going to show up wearing yellow.

[00:12:32]And I even gave you a red outfit AND SAID ALL YOU GOT TO do is wear this outfit.

[00:12:40]>> Is the host cruel?

[00:12:43]>> Because it's his house.

[00:12:45]>> And he says if you want to come IN MY HOUSE, >> YOU HAVE to wear red. And I'm not making it hard for you. HERE IS THE RED CORRELATION. TO COME INTO THE LORD OF hosts house, you have to wear red. THE BLOOD OF JESUS.

[00:13:02]>> You have to be bloodcovered to come up in this house. I DON'T CARE THAT THAT RELIGION says you can wear yellow, you can wear orange, you can wear blue, you can wear turquoise. You can be AS CREATIVE AS YOU WANT TO BE. BUT I'M NOT CRUEL FOR HAVING A DRESS code for my house.

[00:13:18]In fact, what would be cruel is for you to stand there in your yellow outfit >> and say, "Listen, I really don't like you.

[00:13:28]>> Come on.

[00:13:28]>> I don't like your waiters.

[00:13:31]>> I don't like your guests.

[00:13:33]>> I don't like your servants.

[00:13:35]>> I don't like their music.

[00:13:37]>> But it's cruel if you don't let me in."

[00:13:40]>> Anybody else who like, "You don't like my preachers.

[00:13:43]>> You don't like my ministers.

[00:13:45]>> You don't like my worshippers. You don't like my doctrine. You don't like my dress code. It would be cruel of me to force you in here anyway.

[00:13:54]>> So, the actual cruelty would be saying, "I DON'T CARE THAT YOU DON'T LIKE ME.

[00:13:59]YOU DON'T LIKE MY PEOPLE. TAKE THAT OFF.

[00:14:02]WEAR THIS and get in here." That's cruel.

[00:14:10]during rush hour on December the 16th. December the 15th, 1967, while people were just operating in their normal day-to-day lives. This bridge collapsed, killing 46 people, not because the bridge looked weak, but because there was a crack that never was investigated.

[00:14:33]So, I researched this and their personal testimonies. Howard Boogs was a passenger in the car with his 17-month-old child and his 18-year-old wife, Marjorie. They were driving and they heaved into the river. The current was so strong and the waters were so cold that he couldn't get his family.

[00:14:50]And a rescuer got him and pulled him out. And he's saying, "Man, I hope that they saved my wife." They found his child and his wife six weeks later in the car down the river. State Trooper Rudy Odell, one of the first responders to the disaster, said, "I could hear them screaming for help. I didn't know how many were there at the time. There was absolutely nothing I could do. It was a long way into the water. Cracks leads to collapse."

[00:15:20]Another rescuer, Bill McCormack, observed, "People were hanging on to devices in the freezing water, wondering how did this happen? It was a crack."

[00:15:30]Please hear what I'm telling you. It was a crack that never was investigated. So, President Lyndon Johnson released a statement saying, "All Americans are shocked and devastated about this tragedy and loss of life." Watch this.

[00:15:49]and he then assembled a task force team to investigate the bridge because most of the time you investigate after it collapses.

[00:16:02]>> So they investigate in forensic analysis were able to trace the problem to a small stress crack that had been expanding throughout the seasons. And this crack was aggravated by the natural movements of an eyebar on the bridge.

[00:16:19]Engineers later discovered something extremely unsettling that this flaw was not just hidden but it was embedded within the design itself.

[00:16:29]So the only way to fix this crack is they would have to take the whole bridge down to be able to fix this crack. Hear me for many of us. The only way that you can solidify your faith is you're going to have to unlearn everything that you have learned. Okay?

[00:16:50]Because what is not talked about enough is how many people are meeting and discovering God outside of church.

[00:17:01]>> Can we talk family?

[00:17:03]>> Just because you grew up in church does not mean you grew up in Christ.

[00:17:09]And it is, if I could just be transparent, it is the testimonies of individuals who are telling me that THEY MET JESUS OUTSIDE OF CHURCH. That's a bittersweet to me as a pastor. It's sweet because I'm so grateful that you truly have encountered the Lord, but I'm grieved over the place that's labeled as as his house did not make the introduction.

[00:17:38]cracks. I want IT TO BE SAID OF us as A PASTOR. JEREMIAH 3:15. And I will give you pastors ACCORDING TO MY HEART. NOT ACCORDING TO WHO'S VIRAL. NOT ACCORDING TO YOUR ALGORITHM, NOT ACCORDING TO YOUR own itching ears, but according TO MY HEART, WHICH SHALL FEED YOU WITH KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING.

[00:18:03]AMEN.

[00:18:04]>> This new series, Prove It, HAS SET MY HEART ON FIRE WITHIN ME, and I'm burdened with the marvelous opportunity to number one, partner with the Holy Spirit to strengthen your belief and surrender in Christ so that your faith is no longer fragile, no longer borrowed, and no longer silent. We will be people who know what we believe, why we believe, can share that belief, AND CAN STAND 10 TOES DOWN IN THAT BELIEF when challenged, QUESTIONED, ARE PERSECUTED.

[00:18:41]>> That's number one.

[00:18:43]And the second reason that the Holy Spirit has led for me to do this series is for all of us who are searching, all of you who have questions.

[00:18:54]This is not an invitation to blind faith. This is an invitation to bold truth.

[00:19:01]Because as we examine the life of Jesus, as we investigate the teachings of Christ, we are confronted with two realities that we cannot ignore. And that is Jesus was either arrogant or he was accurate.

[00:19:21]Because the most influential man who ever walked the face of this earth also made the most extraordinary, audacious, extreme claims. And those claims must be investigated.

[00:19:36]So regardless if you're rooted or you're reaching, if you're convinced or you have questions, this for everybody.

[00:19:47]I want us to be able to articulate why you believe, what you believe, can share that belief without stuttering, and not just quote me.

[00:20:03]>> See, borrowed faith is dangerous.

[00:20:05]>> Many of us, you have grandma's faith.

[00:20:09]>> You have a viral pastor's faith.

[00:20:11]>> But let me tell you something. Jerry's faith won't keep you in a hellish season.

[00:20:15]>> Borrow faith doesn't keep you. It actually exposes you've been indoctrinated but not biblically educated. There is no excuse for you to be a CHRISTIAN AND YOU CANNOT ARTICULATE why you believe what you believe and the reason that you could defend your belief and YOU CAN STAND UP FOR YOUR FAITH when it's lied on and have false accusations.

[00:20:35]And this is not something that just a pastor, a preacher, a deacon or a minister should be able to do. Everybody should be able to do it, >> not just me. So now let's read again our foundational text and we're going to execute it so that you can fully understand this.

[00:20:55]Peter is speaking to hear me. He's speaking to Christians who are scattered throughout Asia Minor.

[00:21:05]This is modernday Turkey.

[00:21:08]This is called a seminary term the despora churches. Despora in the Greek simply means scattered abroad. So if we look at first Peter chapter 1, this proves what I'm telling you because it SAYS TO GOD'S ELECT, THIS IS 1 PETER chapter 1 verse one, to God's elect exiled scattered throughout the providence of Pontius, Galata, Capidoshia, Asia, and Bithni. So he's speaking to believers who are scattered abroad. The reason he's talking to them is because these particular believers are experiencing social ridicule.

[00:21:53]They're being misunderstood.

[00:21:56]They're talked about, localized, persecuted, and some of them even have become martyrs. They're being charged up regularly because of their allegiance to Christ. Now watch this.

[00:22:09]Since they did not engage in emperor worship, since they do not follow pagan traditions, and since their ethics are countercultural, their holiness makes them visible and their difference makes them an identifier. Don't miss this.

[00:22:30]because they do not engage in worshiping the emperor. Because they are not participating in paganistic traditions, because their ethics are countercultural, their holiness, holy means to be separate, makes them visible.

[00:22:50]And that difference becomes an identifier. These people are Christians.

[00:22:56]Oo family. If you were charged for being a Christian, could we find enough evidence to convict you?

[00:23:08]>> Amen.

[00:23:09]>> Amen.

[00:23:11]>> I'm talking about what you going to do tonight.

[00:23:13]>> I'm talking about what you did last night. I'm not talking about now. I'm not talking about when you're taking notes. I'm not talking about when your Bible is in your hand. I'm talking about when nobody's watching. When nobody knows behind the scenes. IF YOU WERE ON TRIAL AND THE CHARGE was you are a Christian, could we find enough evidence to convict that statement to be true?

[00:23:34]>> Because these believers were known as believers because they didn't blend.

[00:23:41]>> And so because they didn't blend, THEY WERE ASKED QUESTIONS a lot, SOMETIMES UNDER HOSTILE CONDITIONS. WHY ARE YOU FOLLOWING THE WAY? THE WAY MEANS JESUS.

[00:23:55]WHY ARE YOU FOLLOWING THE WAY? So now let's read our epistle understanding that biblical knowledge. First Peter chapter 3 verse verse 13. Who is going to harm you?

[00:24:07]If you are eager to do good, but even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed.

[00:24:17]Do not fear their threats. Do not BE FRIGHTENED. BUT IN your heart, revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. Now, it makes sense, doesn't it? I want us to read the exact same verse with the ESV version. Okay?

[00:24:43]But in your hearts, honor Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to make a defense. Somebody say defense.

[00:24:52]>> Defense >> to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that you have. Now the word defense, I want this on the screen where we can get it. The word defense in its original translation is apologia. It's where we get the word apologetics.

[00:25:11]Okay? Apologetics doesn't mean you're apologizing for something. Apologetics, here's a whole definition I want us to remember. Get your phones out. Take a picture of it. Write it down.

[00:25:21]Apologetics is the ability to give a reasoned defense of the faith by explaining with gentleness and respect why you follow Christ.

[00:25:35]>> That's sense. That's it. What is apologetics? It is the ability to give a reason defense of the faith by explaining with gentleness and respect.

[00:25:45]Some of us need to put gentleness and respect in all caps.

[00:25:49]WITH GENTLENESS AND RESPECT. WHY you follow Christ? Simply put, it's a prepared mind, a submitted heart, and a Christlike tone.

[00:26:02]>> Thank you, sis. A prepared mind, a submitted heart, and a Christlike tone.

[00:26:09]Why is the heart important? Because biblical apologetics, please y'all hear me, is not so that you can win arguments.

[00:26:18]It's not so that you could win debates.

[00:26:22]>> It's not so that you could humiliate your opposer, nor is it so that you could boast in how much scripture you know. If you do that, you're a >> Pharisee.

[00:26:33]>> If you boast in your scripture knowledge and you love debating and love winning arguments and love humiliating people, you are trafficking in Phariseem. And Jesus had a problem with Pharisees because they knew the word but they didn't know the word.

[00:26:50]>> So we we aren't doing this to flaunt in how much we know. Apologetics is simply this. It's when a Christ ruled heart gets pressed my hope spills out in words.

[00:27:04]>> That's it. Woo. That's good.

[00:27:06]>> It's when a Christ ruled hearts. When you press me, WHEN YOU CHALLENGE ME, WHEN YOU QUESTION ME, my hope is just spilling out in words. I can't help but tell you everything that Jesus has done for me. I can't help BUT TELL YOU HOW he's transformed my life. I can't help BUT TELL YOU HOW I have a new mind. And I'm not just talking about stuff in the Bible. I'm giving you evidence as well >> that Jesus truly existed >> and he did what he said he was going to do. Now, this is my issue. Y'all ready for this?

[00:27:46]>> The reason many of us can't defend our faith is not because Christianity is weak.

[00:27:52]>> It's because you don't study.

[00:27:56]>> Hear me, family? The same Bible that tells you to pray, the same Bible that tells you to forgive, the same Bible that tells you to love, is the same Bible that tells you to study. Why in the world do you expect for me to study, but >> you expect for me to study? You don't want me to take things OUT OF CONTEXT.

[00:28:19]YOU want me to understand WHO WROTE IT, WHY THEY WROTE IT, WHO THEY'RE WRITING TO, AND EDUCATE YOU. BUT HEAR ME, APOLOGETICS IS NOT JUST FOR PASTORS.

[00:28:29]>> IT'S FOR ANYBODY WHO CLAIMS TO BE A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST.

[00:28:36]>> How in the world have you been saved for eight years and you never read the whole Bible once?

[00:28:42]>> But you finished season 6, season 7, >> YOU'VE BEEN SAVED SINCE 2012, BUT YOU HAVEN'T READ THE WHOLE BIBLE ONCE.

[00:28:55]WILL SAVE TEXT THREADS FROM SOMEBODY ELSE.

[00:29:00]>> SAVE SCREENSHOTS, BUT DON'T MEMORIZE SCRIPTURE.

[00:29:03]>> I COULD PUT A WHOLE SONG ON BY BEYONCE, A WHOLE SONG ON BY DRAKE, BUT YOU CAN QUOTE IT, BUT you can't quote anything besides Psalm 23 >> or John chapter 3, verse 16.

[00:29:15]>> Either you're a new convert or you've been indoctrinated and not biblically educated.

[00:29:22]The reason false prophets have churches is because we don't study.

[00:29:28]>> The reason FALSE TEACHING GOES VIRAL is because we don't study. THE REASON WE'RE AT THEIR CONFERENCES is because we don't study. The reason reason we sew into their ministries is because we don't study. THERE IS THIS ATTACK THAT'S HAPPENING THAT'S targeted at the believers. And most of us don't even discern what this attack is.

[00:29:48]>> It's your hunger to seek. Amen.

[00:29:52]>> I can give you biblical passage after biblical passage. Matthew chapter 6:33.

[00:29:58]But seek ye first >> the kingdom OF GOD. NOT SEEK HIM FIRST.

[00:30:03]Not seek that baddy first. Not seek Zaddy first. NOT SEEK YOUR BANK ACCOUNT FIRST. NOT SEEK A PLATFORM FIRST. Not seek a promotion first. Seek ye first the kingdom and all of his righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.

[00:30:19]Jeremiah chapter 29:13.

[00:30:22]And ye shall seek me and what? Find me.

[00:30:26]>> This is so good, y'all. When ye shall search for me WITH ALL YOUR HEART.

[00:30:32]HEBREWSAP 11:6. He is a rewarder of those that diligently seek him. Psalms 105:4, seek the Lord and his strength. Seek his face forever more. The problem is we're seeking everybody else.

[00:30:52]>> There's an attack and that attack is we don't study. We rather be entertained than investigate.

[00:31:02]Have you not picked up the undertone of the teachings of Christ AND HIS PARABLES? HE WOULD SAY THINGS LIKE, "There was a treasure hidden, >> a lost coin, >> a lost sheep, >> A LOST SON." IN MATTHEW 7:7, HE SAYS, "ASK AND it will be given. KNOCK AND THE DOOR WILL BE OPEN. SEEK AND YE SHALL FIND. INVESTIGATE."

[00:31:35]>> THIS IS MY PROBLEM. WE'RE DOING SO MUCH SCROLLING, BUT WE DON'T INVESTIGATE.

[00:31:41]YOU'RE BURPING up from content that does nothing for your spiritual growth. But then when it comes to things of the gospel, YOU GET SLEEPY. YOU DON'T INVESTIGATE.

[00:31:53]>> Y'ALL, I feel this.

[00:31:55]>> We don't investigate. And hear me. Faith that never gets examined will easily be abandoned when pressure arise. And when the appetite to investigate dies, the ability to deceive will be elevated.

[00:32:13]When the appetite to investigate dies, the ability to be deceived is elevated.

[00:32:20]But when you know what you believe, >> when you fully have had an encounter with Christ, >> storms don't shake you.

[00:32:32]I don't I don't cry about fiery furnaces because I know this is the atmosphere for me to meet the fourth man.

[00:32:42]>> When you know what you believe, you can't just sit there with your hands in your pocket when my wife is up here or whoever's leading worship. YOU UNDERSTAND HOW GOOD GOD HAS BEEN. AND YOU'RE NOT JUST WORSHIPING HIM AS A CORPORATE ENTITY. You did that this MORNING ON YOUR OWN. YOU DID THAT LAST NIGHT ON YOUR OWN. YOU DID THAT ON YOUR PRAYER TIME ON YOUR OWN >> BECAUSE YOU KNOW HIM FOR YOURSELF.

[00:33:09]>> HALLELUJAH.

[00:33:12]>> Hear me family. There is a marriage between study and transformation.

[00:33:20]There's a whole research I did whole research. This comes from the CBE. This is a center of Bible engagement. They have something called the power of four.

[00:33:29]Okay. They said those who read their Bible one day a week, nothing in their life changes.

[00:33:37]Those who read the Bible just two times, nothing happens. But they did a study of 40,000 people and they said, "We noticed when people read the Bible at least four times a week," watch this, they're less likely to get drunk, less likely to have sex outside of marriage, less likely to gamble, less likely to engage in pornography, less likely to be lonely, they're more likely to share their faith, they're more likely to memorize scripture, and they're more likely to disciple others. There's a marriage in study and transformation.

[00:34:17]So now it makes sense. The reason we have so much profession and not transformation, >> we don't study.

[00:34:27]>> You're not even supposed to just take my word for it.

[00:34:33]>> Cuz what hasn't been addressed yet is how America loves to idolize pastors.

[00:34:41]They love to worship pastors, defend pastors as though we're not human.

[00:34:46]>> My boo boo stink just like yours.

[00:34:49]>> I have morning breath just like you do.

[00:34:52]I have weaknesses just like you do. And when you idolize a pastor, when they fall, you walk away from Jesus. And I'm like, okay, listen. If your favorite song is made by Beethoven and you go to a karaoke bar and somebody is slaughtering the song, you don't say, "I don't listen to Beethoven anymore." You just say that person who's attempting to sing Beethoven is doing a terrible job.

[00:35:16]But the original the original is still good.

[00:35:24]Hear me family. Acts chapter 17 verse 11. This is Luke writing. Okay?

[00:35:32]He says, "Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the scriptures once a month.

[00:35:50]>> They examine the scriptures on Sunday.

[00:35:54]>> Look, they examine the scriptures every day." Watch this. to see if what Paul said was true. AS A RESULT, I LOVE THIS.

[00:36:08]As a result, many of them believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men. I want you to notice the pattern. Watch the pattern.

[00:36:19]Received, examined, believed.

[00:36:25]>> Okay? received, examined, believe.

[00:36:32]You can't believe if you don't examine.

[00:36:36]>> And yes, you receive, but you better follow up.

[00:36:41]>> Are y'all getting this?

[00:36:43]>> The examination didn't kill their faith.

[00:36:47]>> It produced it.

[00:36:49]>> This is so good. Well, I'm trying so hard to stay calm. It produced it. We have a whole generation.

[00:36:57]THE CRISIS IN OUR GEN GENERATION IS NOT THAT we lack exposure to truth.

[00:37:03]It's that we lack examinating what claims to be true.

[00:37:10]Borrowed faith has cracks. Okay? So, grounded faith doesn't ignore doubt. It interrogates it. Whatever you're struggling, how did Jesus how did his mother get pregnant and and she's a virgin? Whatever it is that you're struggling with, don't just stray away from it. Investigate it. Study it.

[00:37:29]Grounded faith doesn't ignore doubt. It interrogates it until doubt either matures into truth or collapses under it. So hear me. The danger is not always obvious rebellion.

[00:37:42]The danger is unexamined belief.

[00:37:46]You're showing up every week, but you don't believe this.

[00:37:51]YOU'RE CLAPPING YOUR HANDS, BUT YOU DON'T BELIEVE THIS. PASTOR, I DO BELIEVE IT. YOUR LIFE DOESN'T say that.

[00:38:00]>> I HAVE A THREE-YEAR-OLD SON.

[00:38:02]The stove is hot.

[00:38:05]I COULD TELL IF HE LEARNED THE STOVE IS HOT BY IF HE STILL REACHES FOR THE STOVE THAT'S HOT. BUT ONCE I SEE THAT HE WALKS AND DOES THIS, I UNDERSTAND he believes THE STOVE IS HOT. IF you believe JESUS IS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR, THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT ARE HOT THAT I'M NOT GOING TO CONSUME. THAT'S NOT LEGALISM.

[00:38:27]THAT'S I LEARNED.

[00:38:31]>> OKAY. All right. Hear me, family. This isn't just about belief. Because demons believe, disciples believe and obey.

[00:38:43]>> Demons believe and tremble.

[00:38:45]>> Yes, sir. Disciples believe and obey >> because you know your foundation is firm. You don't just take my word for it.

[00:38:56]>> You don't just build off of me. You build off of what Jesus said about himself. Let me give you a Bible. Come here.

[00:39:02]>> First Corinthians chapter 5.

[00:39:06]1 Corinthians chapter 3. Excuse me.

[00:39:07]Verse five.

[00:39:10]The Apostle Paul had to deal with this.

[00:39:11]He said, "Hey, listen y'all. No one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid which is Jesus Christ.

[00:39:21]What after all is Apollos?

[00:39:24]What after all is Paul? Only servants.

[00:39:27]This is why we don't worship pastors.

[00:39:29]We're only servants.

[00:39:31]Though whom you come to believe as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed. Apollos watered it.

[00:39:40]But God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose and they will each be rewarded accounted to their own labor. For we are co- lababorers, for we are co-workers in God's service. You are God's field, God's building. By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care.

[00:40:16]Here it is. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.

[00:40:28]>> Defend your faith. Your foundation is firm.

[00:40:33]Jesus, that's my foundation. Jesus, the rock of ages, that's my foundation.

[00:40:41]Jesus, the name WHO SHAKES DARKNESS BUT STEADIES HEARTS. Jesus the prince of peace in the middle of chaos. Jesus the lion out of the tribe of Judah. Jesus who transcends time is over time, BUT IS GOD ENOUGH TO STEP IN time to be with us while we're going through time? Jesus.

[00:41:06]Jesus, THE ONE WHO SEES YOUR PAIN AND IS RIGHT THERE WITH YOU. Jesus was and is not a politician. HE WAS NOT FOR A REPUBLICAN PARTY, A DEMOCRATIC PARTY, OR ANY PARTY. IN FACT, IT WAS GOD'S original will that we never have a king or a president.

[00:41:27]We see that to be true in 1st Samuel chapter 8. But because the Jews wanted a king like everybody else, God gave them a king. But that was never God's original desire. But Jesus was never for dishonoring the laws of the land. Which is why he says in Mark 12:17, "Give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and give to God WHAT IS GOD." YOUR FOUNDATION IS FIRM. DEFEND YOUR FAITH.

[00:41:57]>> Jesus was not and is NOT A TYRANT. HE'S NOT LOOKING TO FOGG you into submission.

[00:42:03]HE DOESN'T WANT TO throw you into hell, BUT HE'S A FRIEND THAT STICKS CLOSER THAN A BROTHER.

[00:42:09]>> He washes the FEET OF HIS DISCIPLES.

[00:42:11]HE'S RIGHT THERE WITH YOU IN the midst OF ALL YOUR PAIN. HIS EARTHLY OCCUPATION WAS CARPENTRY. THAT MEANS HIS JOB WAS FIXING STUFF THAT WAS BROKE.

[00:42:23]HIS JOB WAS FIXING STUFF THAT WAS BROKE.

[00:42:26]AND ON THE CROSS, HE WAS FIXING relationships that were broke.

[00:42:33]>> Jesus is YOUR FIRM FOUNDATION. DEFEND YOUR FAITH.

[00:42:38]Jesus was not and is not homophobic.

[00:42:42]>> PLEASE FORGIVE ALL CHRISTIANS THAT WERE OUTSIDE SOME RALLY with a flag that says God HATES GAYS. GOD HATES SIN, but God loves people.

[00:42:58]God hates sin and he loves people. But since sin had a hold ON US, ANYTIME GOD WANTS something to loose us, he either removes it and replaces it or removes it and becomes it. THIS IS WHY THE Bible says he who knew no sin became sin for us. He wanted to REMOVE IT SO HE HAD TO BECOME IT.

[00:43:25]But just so that we get the record straight, in Matthew chapter 19, he said, "For this reason, a man shall leave his mother and father and cleave not to his man, not to his bad, but to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh."

[00:43:43]Here we go. Seed with seed can't be fruitful and multiply. Womb with womb can't be fruitful and multiplied.

[00:43:51]Anything that's seedless has been manipulated by man.

[00:44:00]>> Anything that cannot be fruitful and multiplied has been manipulated by man.

[00:44:05]But let's just go and get the record straight. The same blood that flowed on the cross for the heterosexual is the same blood on the cross that flowed for the homosexual. The same blood that flowed on the cross for the virgin is the same blood that flowed on the cross for the prostitute. The same blood that FLOW ON THE CROSS for the disciple is the same blood that flow on the cross for the atheist. The same blood that FLOW ON THE CROSS FOR THE UNBELIEVER is the same blood that flowed from the unbelie for the believer. And if you KNOW WHO YOUR GOD is y'all, I feel power on this word.

[00:44:49]Jesus was not just a prophet.

[00:44:53]>> Y'all sit down. You're rushing me.

[00:44:56]>> Jesus was not just a prophet.

[00:45:00]>> Islam says he's one of the greatest prophets.

[00:45:05]>> Hindus, Buddhist, and Confucious.

[00:45:08]Confucianism says that he was a holy man, a great moral teacher, but he wasn't divine. Atheists believe that he was just a historical figure and some atheists even believe that he was a mythological figure. Jehovah witness believed that he was Michael the Archangel.

[00:45:26]Naturalism. These are people who believe in the universe. I got to watch the energy I'm putting on the universe. Oh, the universe. Okay.

[00:45:34]They believe Jesus is a legend and share similarities with atheists and agnostic.

[00:45:40]Unitarianism. They reject the deity of Christ. And modern utarianism, universalists, they believe that all pass to God. But here's the problem with that.

[00:45:51]>> What Jesus said IS SO EXTREME COMPARED TO WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE BELIEVES. I want to show IT TO YOU. JOHN chapter 14 verse 6. JESUS SAID, "I AM THE WAY."

[00:46:06]Thank you.

[00:46:07]Come on.

[00:46:10]He says, "I am the way. I am the truth and I am the life. No one comes to the father except through me." So Jesus is claiming to be one with God. If this is true, THERE ARE NOT MULTIPLE WAYS to God. Salvation is exclusively THROUGH JESUS CHRIST. CONFUCIOUS NEVER SAID THAT. MUHAMMAD NEVER SAID THAT. BUDDHA NEVER SAID THAT. JOSEPH SMITH NEVER SAID THAT. THE VIRGIN MARY NEVER SAID THAT.

[00:46:42]>> So either he's accurate >> or he's very arrogant.

[00:46:48]>> Jesus says John 10:30, I am I and the father are one.

[00:46:56]>> So he is claiming unity with God.

[00:46:59]>> If this is true, this means Jesus is divine, sharing God's nature. He's not just a teacher or a prophet. And here's my problem. When they say, "Oh, we respect him. He was a prophet." I said, "Then he got to be a false prophet."

[00:47:14]>> No, no, no. He's not a false prophet. He prophesied that he will be betrayed into the hands of sinners, >> crucified and die, and on the third day raise up with all power in his hand.

[00:47:28]>> He prophesied that. So, you can't say he's just a prophet because you would have to say he's a false prophet, >> right? Come on.

[00:47:36]>> You can't say that he's just a moral teacher because what's moral about saying anyone who wants to follow me pick up your cross and follow me?

[00:47:45]>> Jesus says in John 8:58 before Abraham was >> I am.

[00:47:54]>> So Jesus is claiming eternal existence >> and uses God's name I am. So this means that he existed before Abraham and is identifying himself with God not just a created being.

[00:48:10]>> Matthew 25:31 he says the son of man will sit on his glorious throne and separate the people.

[00:48:19]So Jesus is claiming authority to judge humanity.

[00:48:24]You see how this is clashing with every other religion's viewpoint of Jesus.

[00:48:29]John chapter 6:35 he says I am the bread of life.

[00:48:35]So your spiritual life is in me.

[00:48:41]>> So true spiritual satification and eternal life are found in him and him alone. This one really made me shout. In Matthew 28:18 he says all authority.

[00:48:53]>> Can I get somebody say all?

[00:48:55]>> All.

[00:48:56]>> So if he has all, NOBODY ELSE HAS NOT SOME OF IT, >> not a piece of it.

[00:49:10]>> I got all authority >> in heaven and earth has been given to me. So Jesus claims absolute authority over everything.

[00:49:25]So, every other religion's viewpoint clashes because Jesus is the only one >> who's making these extreme claims. And this is my issue. Why would the apostles die for a known lie?

[00:49:40]>> Like, if you lie, it's to gain something.

[00:49:44]>> Why would Why Why would they die knowing why would they lie knowing this going to cost me my life?

[00:49:52]There's certain things that you never forget. Watch this. How many of us remember September 11, 2001?

[00:50:01]>> Okay, you don't forget that because it's called a impactful event.

[00:50:09]>> Well, I just don't believe the Bible.

[00:50:10]There was too many different authors.

[00:50:12]When September 11th happened, ABC was reporting, >> CNN was reporting, Fox was reporting, >> BCC was reporting, >> MSNBC was reporting.

[00:50:26]>> And so from all those reports, we can conclude an airplane hit a building.

[00:50:37]>> But I don't know. I don't know about the timeline. How How do we know that's still real? Okay, I got a timeline for you. Jesus ministry was 30- 33 AD.

[00:50:46]That's his life, death, resurrection of of Jesus. From 33 to 50 AD, they already had trans transmissions of his teaching.

[00:50:56]In 50 AD, that's the first letters from THE APOSTLE PAUL. 65 AD, that's the first gospel of Mark. 80 AD, that's the first go, that's the gospel of Matthew and Luke. And 90 AD is the Gospel of John. Timeless.

[00:51:15]As soon as it happens, they're recording it.

[00:51:18]Well, I They all seem different.

[00:51:21]Matthew's gospel is different than Mark's gospel. And Luke's gospel. Okay, I'm glad you asked that. I'm going to explain that to you, too. Matthew was a tax collector.

[00:51:30]So this is why if you ever spoke to a tax collector, tax collector or CPA or accountant, they're like, "Okay, this receipt is to this. This is to this."

[00:51:40]How does Matthew start? He had this son.

[00:51:42]Then this had this son. Then this had this son. His occupation is bleeding over in the way he's writing.

[00:51:50]Okay?

[00:51:52]So he was writing to the Jewish Christians. The reason he was writing to them in such a genealogy way is because they needed proof that Jesus was truly coming from the lineage of the son of David.

[00:52:06]>> Okay. Mark who worked closely with both Peter and Paul at different times in their ministry. They were their primary audience was the Gentiles and the Roman believers. Okay. Their main focus is suffering and the actions of Jesus. Luke was a doctor. So if you read his gospel, he's more detailed. He took mud from the ground, mixed it with saliva, put it on his eyes. Why is he so detailed? Because his occupation was a physician.

[00:52:36]>> Is this making sense?

[00:52:38]>> John was also apostle and he was writing to the Christians and he was speaking about the divinity and the theology of Jesus.

[00:52:47]So the argument is what about the variations?

[00:52:51]This detective that I was watching, his name is Detective J. Warner Wallace.

[00:52:56]This was before he was a Christian.

[00:52:59]He said, "I'm a crime detective, and the first thing I do when I get called for a murder scene is I ask dispatch to let me speak to the police." I said, "Are eyewitnesses still on the scene?" He said, "Yes." He says, "Separate them.

[00:53:16]Don't let the eyewitnesses talk to one another."

[00:53:20]He says, "Because if they talk to one another, their story is exactly the same, which lets me know somebody lying.

[00:53:29]>> I want them to give me different variations so that that will prove that they're telling the truth." AND SO HE SAID, "BEFORE I EVER WAS A CHRISTIAN, when I studied Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, I noticed from my occupation the same type of strategy that happens when an eyewitness is telling about this is so good, y'all.

[00:53:54]The variations don't eliminate the credibility of the scriptures. They support it."

[00:54:02]Okay, let's end with these.

[00:54:06]Point number one, apologetics is not about winning arguments.

[00:54:12]It's about revealing truth.

[00:54:15]>> This isn't about arrogance.

[00:54:17]It's about clarity.

[00:54:20]Okay.

[00:54:21]Number two, belief is not inherited.

[00:54:26]is tested, tried, and proven.

[00:54:31]God never asked you to check your brain out at the door.

[00:54:36]He never told you, "Leave your brain at the door when you study the scriptures."

[00:54:40]He commanded for you to engage with it.

[00:54:43]Matthew 22:37, Jesus said unto them, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." Any sermon that you can't think to listen to that speaker, I'm out of there.

[00:55:04]Number three, Christianity makes bold variable variable claims. This is what separates Christianity from vague spirituality. Christianity does not say find your truth. It does not say all paths lead to God. We do not say just follow your heart. Why? Because our hearts are deceitfully.

[00:55:28]>> It does not say just be a good person.

[00:55:31]It's we are such flawed people and we need a savior >> and we have one Jesus.

[00:55:40]>> Okay. Number four, the resurrection is a centerpiece.

[00:55:45]Okay.

[00:55:47]I want you to just consider this. 1 Corinthians chapter 15:1 17. The Apostle Paul says, "And if that didn't happen, if Christ had not been raised, your faith is futile, meaning meaningless."

[00:56:01]If this was all a lie, why would you say, "Hey, if it's all a lie, don't believe none of it."

[00:56:09]You're not going to encourage people that if this isn't true, don't believe none of it. If you say that, this must mean I COULD STAND 10 TOES DOWN in this.

[00:56:20]This is true that he got up. The resurrection is a centerpiece of the Christian faith.

[00:56:26]Everything hinges on the resurrection because if Jesus didn't rise, he's not God. If he's not God, the Bible collapses. If the Bible collapses, salvation disappears. If he did rise, that changes everything. And there's also considerable evidence the tomb is empty. The disciples went from terrified to fearless. Over 500 witnesses claimed to see him alive. And every disciple except one died refusing to deny what they saw. People don't die for a known lie.

[00:56:59]And last point, the real issue is not intellectual, it's spiritual. Okay?

[00:57:09]So if somebody says I don't believe there's there's there's not enough evidence.

[00:57:13]The truth really is I don't believe because I don't want to submit.

[00:57:24]>> If I accept your faith, this means I have to give an account for how I live.

[00:57:31]>> And I don't want to give an account for how I live.

[00:57:34]>> So I rather believe my own doctrine.

[00:57:38]false doctrine so that I don't ever have to give an account for how I live.

[00:57:44]>> But here's the thing, family.

[00:57:48]Islam, Confucianism, atheist, agnostic, whatever the religion may be, there hundreds of them.

[00:57:58]Every knee, hear me.

[00:58:06]Every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. And I said this so many times. I don't know what it looks like to have my knees bowed. So, I'm going to do it on my own.

[00:58:27]>> I don't know what that's going to look like.

[00:58:30]But while I have oxygen in my lungs, while I have warm blood flowing through my arteries, I'm going to bow right now.

[00:58:38]You can't have a Jesus menu. Enough with that.

[00:58:43]This isn't a buffet where you pick and believe what scriptures you want to apply to your life.

[00:58:50]This isn't an option. This isn't your life, your choice.

[00:58:56]The claims that Christ made are extreme and no other religious figure ever made it.

[00:59:02]So either he's arrogant or he's accurate.

[00:59:08]And we're going to plow for the next several weeks to show you he's accurate.

[00:59:15]And my prayer is that the spirit of the living God will cause for the scales to fall off of our eyes for those who don't believe and those who are casual with cracks cuz it just takes a December the 15th cold day of a disappointment or loss to show you there have been cracks in your faith.