1 00:00:02,600 --> 00:00:03,440 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:03,760 --> 00:00:06,440 Speaker 2: Build Different is a production of the American Association of 3 00:00:06,559 --> 00:00:09,440 Speaker 2: Christian Counselors. To support this podcast and learn how you 4 00:00:09,440 --> 00:00:11,959 Speaker 2: can help us to promote all our biblical content, spread 5 00:00:11,960 --> 00:00:14,680 Speaker 2: the Gospel, and provide mental health resources and training to 6 00:00:14,760 --> 00:00:19,720 Speaker 2: people everywhere, just go to aaccfoundation dot org. Again, that's 7 00:00:19,800 --> 00:00:27,880 Speaker 2: Aaccfoundation dot org. Welcome to Built Different. I'm Zach Clinton, 8 00:00:27,920 --> 00:00:30,160 Speaker 2: your host, and each week I come to you exclusively 9 00:00:30,280 --> 00:00:32,240 Speaker 2: on the Life Audio podcast Network. 10 00:00:32,280 --> 00:00:33,640 Speaker 1: I'm proud to partner with Life. 11 00:00:33,479 --> 00:00:37,280 Speaker 2: Audio and bring you entertaining, life changing, family friendly podcasts 12 00:00:37,320 --> 00:00:38,239 Speaker 2: for a new generation. 13 00:00:38,479 --> 00:00:39,080 Speaker 1: I Built Different. 14 00:00:39,080 --> 00:00:41,800 Speaker 2: Our mission is to provide encouragement, hope, and challenge to 15 00:00:41,840 --> 00:00:43,519 Speaker 2: help push you past your limits and. 16 00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:45,280 Speaker 1: Reach goals you never thought possible. 17 00:00:45,400 --> 00:00:47,960 Speaker 2: Colossians two, verse six says, So then, just as you 18 00:00:48,040 --> 00:00:51,280 Speaker 2: received Christ Jesus's Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, 19 00:00:51,560 --> 00:00:53,200 Speaker 2: rooted and built up in him. 20 00:00:53,360 --> 00:00:56,640 Speaker 1: Amen. Now let's roll. 21 00:01:01,800 --> 00:01:05,440 Speaker 2: Hello everybody, Welcome back into the Built Different Podcast. As always, 22 00:01:05,480 --> 00:01:07,160 Speaker 2: I'll be your host today, doctor Zach Clinton, in the 23 00:01:07,160 --> 00:01:09,759 Speaker 2: place where we seek to have conversations that really meet 24 00:01:09,800 --> 00:01:13,720 Speaker 2: at the intersection of mental health, ministry and or motivation. 25 00:01:14,120 --> 00:01:15,759 Speaker 2: And today I think we're going to get a little 26 00:01:15,760 --> 00:01:18,200 Speaker 2: bit of all three of those. How I want to begin, though, 27 00:01:18,319 --> 00:01:20,840 Speaker 2: is really the premise of today's conversation that a lot 28 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:25,080 Speaker 2: of Christians find themselves in this place of tension. We're 29 00:01:25,080 --> 00:01:28,639 Speaker 2: not fully denying Jesus, but what if you were living 30 00:01:28,720 --> 00:01:32,960 Speaker 2: at a dangerous distance, far enough away that you're not 31 00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:35,960 Speaker 2: receiving the backlash, but maybe just close to enough where 32 00:01:35,959 --> 00:01:38,360 Speaker 2: you're being able to proclaim that you know you believe 33 00:01:38,400 --> 00:01:39,040 Speaker 2: in Jesus. 34 00:01:39,080 --> 00:01:40,200 Speaker 1: But let me tell you something. 35 00:01:40,480 --> 00:01:43,480 Speaker 2: What our guest today has really helped us uncover and 36 00:01:43,520 --> 00:01:47,800 Speaker 2: recognize is that distance doesn't protect your faith. It eventually 37 00:01:47,800 --> 00:01:51,000 Speaker 2: begins to erode that very thing. Our guest today is 38 00:01:51,040 --> 00:01:53,320 Speaker 2: a dear friend, someone that my dad and myself, all 39 00:01:53,360 --> 00:01:55,240 Speaker 2: of us today, as you see, know, and we love. 40 00:01:55,120 --> 00:01:57,440 Speaker 1: And we so appreciate. Pastor Travis Johnson. 41 00:01:57,480 --> 00:01:59,760 Speaker 2: He's a lead pastor of Pathway Church, a thriving multi 42 00:01:59,760 --> 00:02:03,400 Speaker 2: site church across the Gulf Coast, serves as executive director 43 00:02:03,720 --> 00:02:06,520 Speaker 2: of People for Care and Learning, is the founder of 44 00:02:06,640 --> 00:02:09,120 Speaker 2: By a Tree, Change a Life, sits on the National 45 00:02:09,200 --> 00:02:11,680 Speaker 2: Faith Advisory Board, and is the author of the book 46 00:02:11,680 --> 00:02:15,080 Speaker 2: We're going to Be Unpacking Today, Unembarrassed of Jesus. 47 00:02:15,160 --> 00:02:17,040 Speaker 1: Pastor Travis, my friend, thank you so much for joining me. 48 00:02:17,040 --> 00:02:18,200 Speaker 3: Thank you so much, Doctor Zach. 49 00:02:18,480 --> 00:02:19,680 Speaker 1: Hey, we're gonna have a lot of fun. 50 00:02:19,760 --> 00:02:23,040 Speaker 2: I know we're here for an incredible event, the Unleashed Conference. 51 00:02:23,120 --> 00:02:25,840 Speaker 2: Really just praying for the encounter and the experience of 52 00:02:25,960 --> 00:02:29,560 Speaker 2: revival in this place. Story Life Church, Orlando, Florida. Speak 53 00:02:29,600 --> 00:02:32,640 Speaker 2: to just upfront, Pastor Travis. Why do events like this matter? 54 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:36,080 Speaker 2: Especially for leaders because we know leadership can be pretty lonely. 55 00:02:36,680 --> 00:02:38,040 Speaker 1: But why do events like this matter? 56 00:02:38,200 --> 00:02:40,560 Speaker 3: Well, you know, courage is contagious, and when you get 57 00:02:40,560 --> 00:02:44,680 Speaker 3: together with like minded people together, it's just it's empowering 58 00:02:45,280 --> 00:02:48,399 Speaker 3: and it's refreshing and just being able to break away 59 00:02:48,440 --> 00:02:51,520 Speaker 3: and do that. It's awesome to worship together and then 60 00:02:51,560 --> 00:02:53,839 Speaker 3: to be challenged by new insights even to do things 61 00:02:53,919 --> 00:02:54,120 Speaker 3: like this. 62 00:02:54,720 --> 00:02:58,079 Speaker 2: Yes, I look forward to just continuing to unpack your 63 00:02:58,120 --> 00:03:00,359 Speaker 2: wealth of wisdom. I've watched you and so many of 64 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:03,240 Speaker 2: your sermons, so many different interviews. I've been able to 65 00:03:03,320 --> 00:03:05,600 Speaker 2: vicariously just hear more and more about you through my 66 00:03:05,720 --> 00:03:08,239 Speaker 2: dad on all these nfab trips and so many things. 67 00:03:08,600 --> 00:03:11,760 Speaker 2: But God's doing something powerful through you, especially through this book. 68 00:03:11,840 --> 00:03:13,000 Speaker 1: Unembarrassed of Jesus. 69 00:03:13,040 --> 00:03:14,840 Speaker 2: I guess where I want to begin, Pastor Travis, is 70 00:03:15,480 --> 00:03:17,799 Speaker 2: when did you feel the call to really begin to 71 00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:20,239 Speaker 2: write this book And what was it about this cultural 72 00:03:20,280 --> 00:03:22,920 Speaker 2: hour where you thought, you know what this needs to happen. 73 00:03:23,440 --> 00:03:26,720 Speaker 3: Well, really, this book has being written for some time. 74 00:03:27,960 --> 00:03:30,880 Speaker 3: The best way to say is I started getting radicalized. 75 00:03:32,160 --> 00:03:36,240 Speaker 3: I would say maybe about nineteen years ago. I just 76 00:03:36,280 --> 00:03:41,040 Speaker 3: wanted to preach. I just wanted to baptize people, pray 77 00:03:41,040 --> 00:03:44,000 Speaker 3: in the altars with people, dedicate babies, and be good 78 00:03:44,040 --> 00:03:47,080 Speaker 3: faithful pastor and build a great community and not get 79 00:03:47,160 --> 00:03:48,520 Speaker 3: involved in some of the things that are a little 80 00:03:48,520 --> 00:03:51,520 Speaker 3: more spicy. But I found out that you actually don't 81 00:03:51,520 --> 00:03:54,560 Speaker 3: get a chance to do that. One people are coming 82 00:03:54,600 --> 00:03:57,960 Speaker 3: to you to know Jesus, and they're coming from real challenges. 83 00:03:58,400 --> 00:04:02,800 Speaker 3: Of course, there is this environment and evangelicalism where we 84 00:04:02,880 --> 00:04:05,040 Speaker 3: have rounded off the corners of the gospel to make 85 00:04:05,080 --> 00:04:08,160 Speaker 3: it more palatable. We're trying to build crowds instead of disciples, 86 00:04:08,920 --> 00:04:10,840 Speaker 3: and so if you do that, you're really doing a 87 00:04:10,840 --> 00:04:13,240 Speaker 3: lot of harm to your people. But then there are 88 00:04:13,240 --> 00:04:16,200 Speaker 3: also forces outside the church that they get involved in 89 00:04:16,200 --> 00:04:17,520 Speaker 3: the unit. In fact, one of the things that I've 90 00:04:17,520 --> 00:04:20,320 Speaker 3: heard is that we should keep religion, keep faith, keep 91 00:04:20,400 --> 00:04:24,159 Speaker 3: Jesus separate from the public square or even politics. Yes, 92 00:04:24,279 --> 00:04:26,240 Speaker 3: but this is not even the issue. First of all, 93 00:04:26,880 --> 00:04:30,880 Speaker 3: the issue is that politics is getting involved in our theology. 94 00:04:30,960 --> 00:04:33,760 Speaker 3: And so it's not getting involved in politics when you're 95 00:04:33,760 --> 00:04:36,440 Speaker 3: talking about the sanctity of life or about biblical marriage. 96 00:04:36,680 --> 00:04:39,279 Speaker 3: These are theological issues. And for whatever reason that a 97 00:04:39,279 --> 00:04:43,039 Speaker 3: lot of pastors have backed off and speaking about issues 98 00:04:43,080 --> 00:04:47,240 Speaker 3: like that or other issues that can divide the church. 99 00:04:47,279 --> 00:04:50,520 Speaker 3: But I mean, the reality is we have to repent 100 00:04:50,640 --> 00:04:53,080 Speaker 3: when we come to Jesus, and then there are ideologies 101 00:04:53,120 --> 00:04:55,279 Speaker 3: that we still hold as we follow Jesus that are 102 00:04:55,320 --> 00:04:58,680 Speaker 3: in opposition to Christ, then we've not fully given the 103 00:04:58,720 --> 00:05:00,480 Speaker 3: domain of our life over to the life. So it's 104 00:05:00,600 --> 00:05:06,159 Speaker 3: my job. That being said, And probably around two thousand 105 00:05:06,160 --> 00:05:11,400 Speaker 3: and seven or so, my church in Miami was meeting 106 00:05:11,440 --> 00:05:13,600 Speaker 3: in a movie theater. We met in a movie theater 107 00:05:13,680 --> 00:05:15,320 Speaker 3: for about seven years as we were getting it up 108 00:05:15,320 --> 00:05:18,320 Speaker 3: and going some amazing church. But we were running pillar 109 00:05:18,400 --> 00:05:20,719 Speaker 3: to post then, and we didn't have a baptistry. So 110 00:05:20,760 --> 00:05:24,000 Speaker 3: we would go to the beach there in Miami and 111 00:05:24,480 --> 00:05:26,600 Speaker 3: we were doing baptisms and we had a park shut 112 00:05:26,600 --> 00:05:30,840 Speaker 3: down our baptism. It's very embarrassing. Our pastors and people 113 00:05:30,839 --> 00:05:33,240 Speaker 3: were cursed out for over an hour. We have all 114 00:05:33,279 --> 00:05:36,720 Speaker 3: the footage. Fox News wanted to run that footage, and 115 00:05:37,320 --> 00:05:40,000 Speaker 3: some religious liberty law firms wanted to sue. In fact, 116 00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:42,920 Speaker 3: one said, pastor, please let us sue Miami Day. These 117 00:05:42,920 --> 00:05:46,360 Speaker 3: are our favorite people to sue. And so, you know, 118 00:05:46,520 --> 00:05:49,080 Speaker 3: I was just trying to I didn't want to smoke. 119 00:05:49,120 --> 00:05:52,200 Speaker 3: I wasn't looking for the notoriety, but I did want 120 00:05:52,240 --> 00:05:53,799 Speaker 3: to minister to my city and I want to mister 121 00:05:53,920 --> 00:05:58,120 Speaker 3: my people, and so I just slow walked it, speaking 122 00:05:58,400 --> 00:06:01,080 Speaker 3: to you know, the various people on up to leaders 123 00:06:01,160 --> 00:06:03,560 Speaker 3: of Miami Dade County, and they explained to me that 124 00:06:03,920 --> 00:06:05,760 Speaker 3: I needed to if I wanted to do baptisms in 125 00:06:05,800 --> 00:06:08,120 Speaker 3: the future, that had to be before five am because 126 00:06:08,120 --> 00:06:11,320 Speaker 3: it was offensive to people. Well, of course, I asked, well, 127 00:06:11,640 --> 00:06:14,560 Speaker 3: you know, there is this thing called the Constitution, and 128 00:06:14,640 --> 00:06:18,600 Speaker 3: we have the right to free speech, we have the 129 00:06:19,240 --> 00:06:22,799 Speaker 3: you know, we have a religious freedom. Are you patrolling 130 00:06:22,839 --> 00:06:26,839 Speaker 3: every prayer that's made over every hamburger? People are chicken fighting, 131 00:06:26,839 --> 00:06:28,600 Speaker 3: splashing in the water, and we're doing the same thing. 132 00:06:29,240 --> 00:06:32,360 Speaker 3: And on top of that, you know, we're all taxpayers. 133 00:06:32,360 --> 00:06:34,599 Speaker 3: We've paid for that park, we paid entrance to the park, 134 00:06:34,640 --> 00:06:38,520 Speaker 3: we paid to reserve that pavilion, and so we're not 135 00:06:38,600 --> 00:06:43,800 Speaker 3: really asking how we enter the water. That's not your business. 136 00:06:43,880 --> 00:06:46,320 Speaker 3: And they said, well, it doesn't matter. I understand what 137 00:06:46,320 --> 00:06:48,440 Speaker 3: you're saying, but it would have to be before five am. 138 00:06:48,520 --> 00:06:50,520 Speaker 3: I said, have you not seen what's going on Miami Beach? 139 00:06:50,560 --> 00:06:53,240 Speaker 3: This is too offensive. You've seen what people wear or 140 00:06:53,279 --> 00:06:58,200 Speaker 3: don't wear before five am. I said, okay, well, I 141 00:06:58,200 --> 00:07:00,160 Speaker 3: don't have a big ad budget. We're a church plan. 142 00:07:00,360 --> 00:07:01,800 Speaker 3: We have about four hundred people. We meet in a 143 00:07:01,839 --> 00:07:05,800 Speaker 3: movie theater, but I sure could use the publicity. So 144 00:07:06,000 --> 00:07:09,200 Speaker 3: this is when our next baptimism is. If you'd like to, 145 00:07:09,600 --> 00:07:12,040 Speaker 3: you know, arrest us. I'll tell everybody to get in 146 00:07:12,080 --> 00:07:15,200 Speaker 3: the cock car. And we went on with our baptism. 147 00:07:15,240 --> 00:07:21,840 Speaker 3: They didn't do anything. So I began to realize then that, 148 00:07:22,320 --> 00:07:24,040 Speaker 3: you know, politics were going to get involved in me, 149 00:07:24,320 --> 00:07:26,000 Speaker 3: and then I was going to have to decide what 150 00:07:26,040 --> 00:07:28,640 Speaker 3: I would do with that. I was thinking about this 151 00:07:28,640 --> 00:07:31,480 Speaker 3: this morning on the way in, about your voice and courage. 152 00:07:31,880 --> 00:07:34,560 Speaker 3: When you lose your courage, you lose your voice. When 153 00:07:34,600 --> 00:07:37,160 Speaker 3: you lose your voice, you lose your influence. And I 154 00:07:37,160 --> 00:07:39,720 Speaker 3: think what this world and even a lot of Christians want, 155 00:07:40,680 --> 00:07:43,080 Speaker 3: maybe because it's happened to them, is they want you 156 00:07:43,240 --> 00:07:46,200 Speaker 3: just to slide back, be more respectable, don't be contentious, 157 00:07:46,240 --> 00:07:48,880 Speaker 3: don't stand up when those sort of things happen, and 158 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:51,640 Speaker 3: just kind of go along to get along. But then 159 00:07:51,680 --> 00:07:53,640 Speaker 3: you've lost your courage, you've lost your voice, and you've 160 00:07:53,640 --> 00:07:56,480 Speaker 3: lost your influence. And I think I'm just I just 161 00:07:56,560 --> 00:07:59,160 Speaker 3: got to the place then where I said I'm not 162 00:07:59,160 --> 00:08:02,760 Speaker 3: going to be for sale, and if it means that 163 00:08:02,920 --> 00:08:06,800 Speaker 3: someone looks at me differently, I'm okay with that. So 164 00:08:06,840 --> 00:08:09,040 Speaker 3: that was two thousand and six, two thousand and seven, 165 00:08:09,320 --> 00:08:12,360 Speaker 3: and the Lord blessed us. By the way. A year later, 166 00:08:12,600 --> 00:08:14,480 Speaker 3: some of the people that were involved in that situation 167 00:08:14,520 --> 00:08:17,520 Speaker 3: were baptized in that same place. Then about two or 168 00:08:17,560 --> 00:08:20,040 Speaker 3: three years later, we were doing our by a Tree 169 00:08:20,120 --> 00:08:22,120 Speaker 3: Change a Life event, which is a we do this 170 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:26,320 Speaker 3: national Christmas tree sale all of America and we give 171 00:08:26,320 --> 00:08:29,040 Speaker 3: away all the proceeds to help children globally and locally. 172 00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:31,600 Speaker 3: It's called by a Tree Change of Life, and so 173 00:08:31,640 --> 00:08:34,520 Speaker 3: we have churches all over that do that. So the 174 00:08:34,559 --> 00:08:36,880 Speaker 3: county manager came in to get a Christmas tree from 175 00:08:36,960 --> 00:08:40,000 Speaker 3: us on a Saturday, and then the next day he 176 00:08:40,040 --> 00:08:43,040 Speaker 3: came to church. He still sits on the second row 177 00:08:43,360 --> 00:08:45,320 Speaker 3: of the church at Life Point Church there in Miami, 178 00:08:46,160 --> 00:08:52,360 Speaker 3: And so that decision was defining for me. And then 179 00:08:52,360 --> 00:08:55,000 Speaker 3: I saw God bless in the middle of that challenge. 180 00:08:55,559 --> 00:08:57,640 Speaker 3: That's when I realized that the giants you face today 181 00:08:58,320 --> 00:09:01,680 Speaker 3: are the platforms that you stand on tomnight. So that 182 00:09:01,840 --> 00:09:05,640 Speaker 3: was really substantial. There are a couple other things that 183 00:09:05,720 --> 00:09:08,079 Speaker 3: led to me getting involved in National Faith Advisory Board. 184 00:09:09,600 --> 00:09:12,400 Speaker 3: While I was you know, and that's great too. You 185 00:09:12,400 --> 00:09:14,200 Speaker 3: were talking about that a little earlier. Why is this 186 00:09:14,280 --> 00:09:18,840 Speaker 3: good well for me? In twenty three I faced another challenge. 187 00:09:18,880 --> 00:09:20,280 Speaker 3: Now this point, I had already been a part of 188 00:09:20,640 --> 00:09:23,920 Speaker 3: National Faith Advisory Board for a long time, and I 189 00:09:23,960 --> 00:09:28,880 Speaker 3: got into another issue. And then this time it wasn't 190 00:09:29,000 --> 00:09:31,880 Speaker 3: just one past or a few pastors. I had some 191 00:09:32,000 --> 00:09:34,600 Speaker 3: giants standing with me then, so I felt a little 192 00:09:34,600 --> 00:09:36,360 Speaker 3: more bold and I was more mature. 193 00:09:36,520 --> 00:09:36,840 Speaker 1: Also. 194 00:09:37,520 --> 00:09:40,880 Speaker 3: Of course, twenty twenty happened, and Obert felt happened earlier 195 00:09:40,960 --> 00:09:44,199 Speaker 3: than that. So there have been some things building and 196 00:09:44,440 --> 00:09:47,840 Speaker 3: twenty three happened. I got canceled in my city hall 197 00:09:48,160 --> 00:09:51,520 Speaker 3: over our prairie parade, our family got docked. A lot 198 00:09:51,520 --> 00:09:56,400 Speaker 3: of things happened there, and newspapers were calling for us 199 00:09:56,400 --> 00:10:00,640 Speaker 3: to apologize, for me to apologize for my prayer, and 200 00:10:02,200 --> 00:10:05,679 Speaker 3: so I put on it's a longer story, I'll try 201 00:10:05,720 --> 00:10:08,880 Speaker 3: and trim it down. I put on social media that 202 00:10:08,920 --> 00:10:13,240 Speaker 3: I was going to make a statement. There was a 203 00:10:13,240 --> 00:10:18,000 Speaker 3: lot of attention, there were newspapers, and so I stepped 204 00:10:18,000 --> 00:10:20,880 Speaker 3: to my pulpit on that Sunday morning and I said, Hey, 205 00:10:20,920 --> 00:10:23,000 Speaker 3: they're asking for an apology. I have a statement. Here's 206 00:10:23,000 --> 00:10:26,880 Speaker 3: my statement. My statement is I am not sorry. I 207 00:10:26,960 --> 00:10:32,520 Speaker 3: do not apologize. We don't bow, we stand. People erupted. 208 00:10:32,760 --> 00:10:36,440 Speaker 3: They were so excited. I felt so encouraged. It was June. 209 00:10:36,480 --> 00:10:40,120 Speaker 3: Our services were packed, all five campuses, about seven services. 210 00:10:40,520 --> 00:10:43,280 Speaker 3: We had more people baptized that month than any other month. 211 00:10:43,679 --> 00:10:47,040 Speaker 3: Our giving went through the roof our church. Felt encouraged, 212 00:10:47,080 --> 00:10:51,080 Speaker 3: I felt strengthened. Pastors all over our city came together 213 00:10:52,200 --> 00:10:57,440 Speaker 3: and the issue was I prayed. But at the same time, 214 00:10:57,440 --> 00:11:00,960 Speaker 3: there were drag queens dancing with children in front of 215 00:11:01,880 --> 00:11:06,600 Speaker 3: our cathedral, and our city had funded advertisement for it, 216 00:11:07,640 --> 00:11:10,360 Speaker 3: but I didn't know any I just prayed. But then 217 00:11:10,400 --> 00:11:14,959 Speaker 3: that unleashed a next wave of activity. As pastors came together, 218 00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:18,960 Speaker 3: we wrote a joint statement in Mobile It was called 219 00:11:18,960 --> 00:11:24,920 Speaker 3: a Joint Statement from Mobile Bay Pastors during Pride months, 220 00:11:26,120 --> 00:11:29,480 Speaker 3: and so the statement was is about fifty pastors signed 221 00:11:29,520 --> 00:11:34,400 Speaker 3: under this, we said, where Americans has passed Evangelicals, we're Americans. 222 00:11:34,400 --> 00:11:37,000 Speaker 3: We believe in free speech. We affirmed the free speech 223 00:11:37,080 --> 00:11:40,640 Speaker 3: of all of the residents of Mobile Secondly, as evangelical 224 00:11:40,679 --> 00:11:43,840 Speaker 3: pastors who believe the Bible, we call on everyone in 225 00:11:43,920 --> 00:11:47,199 Speaker 3: Mobile Bay to repent of their sins and turn to Jesus. 226 00:11:47,880 --> 00:11:52,480 Speaker 3: And then thirdly is evangelical pastors who represent taxpayers, tens 227 00:11:52,480 --> 00:11:57,880 Speaker 3: of thousands of taxpayers across our city. We completely object 228 00:11:57,880 --> 00:12:02,440 Speaker 3: to taxpayer funding of drag dancing with our kids, our 229 00:12:02,480 --> 00:12:05,920 Speaker 3: war memorials being painted in rainbow, our sidewalks being painted 230 00:12:05,920 --> 00:12:10,440 Speaker 3: in rainbow, and we call on the mayor to fire 231 00:12:10,520 --> 00:12:17,000 Speaker 3: the LGBTQ liaisons that are funded by you know, and 232 00:12:17,000 --> 00:12:19,400 Speaker 3: our mayor was really great, it's a friend of mine. 233 00:12:21,200 --> 00:12:23,439 Speaker 3: We gathered up with him and we said, listen afew 234 00:12:23,520 --> 00:12:26,680 Speaker 3: if you'll let them go, we'll circle right back in 235 00:12:26,720 --> 00:12:29,720 Speaker 3: with you, support you, pray for you. We met two 236 00:12:29,720 --> 00:12:32,680 Speaker 3: weeks in a row, and then he let me know 237 00:12:32,720 --> 00:12:35,840 Speaker 3: that he wanted to get rid of those liaisons, and 238 00:12:35,880 --> 00:12:38,920 Speaker 3: his attorney wondered if we could just bring on a 239 00:12:38,920 --> 00:12:41,200 Speaker 3: lot of liaisons so I didn't mean anything, and then 240 00:12:41,240 --> 00:12:43,840 Speaker 3: get rid of them, you know, kind of quietly, I said, well, 241 00:12:45,360 --> 00:12:48,200 Speaker 3: you know, you brought him in the front door, you 242 00:12:48,240 --> 00:12:50,640 Speaker 3: need to take him out the front door. He fired 243 00:12:50,679 --> 00:12:53,280 Speaker 3: him in the newspaper the next day, and we became 244 00:12:53,320 --> 00:12:56,079 Speaker 3: the first city in America to lower our human rights 245 00:12:56,120 --> 00:12:59,960 Speaker 3: campaign inbi score, which is the score that you know, 246 00:13:00,080 --> 00:13:04,160 Speaker 3: government and big hedge funds used to determine how funded 247 00:13:04,200 --> 00:13:06,560 Speaker 3: you're going to be, and that score is really about, 248 00:13:06,880 --> 00:13:08,520 Speaker 3: you know, if you have one hundred, then you're doing 249 00:13:08,920 --> 00:13:11,720 Speaker 3: gender affirming care for children and insurance and that kind 250 00:13:11,760 --> 00:13:14,040 Speaker 3: of thing. So I just saw time and time again, 251 00:13:14,120 --> 00:13:20,480 Speaker 3: God blessed the church grew through it, and I think 252 00:13:20,520 --> 00:13:24,120 Speaker 3: at the end of the day, I felt like there's 253 00:13:24,160 --> 00:13:29,240 Speaker 3: so many people parents dealing with issues on smaller levels 254 00:13:30,120 --> 00:13:34,920 Speaker 3: with their children, where we've been taught that we're by 255 00:13:34,920 --> 00:13:38,280 Speaker 3: this culture we have to affirm, like to love means 256 00:13:38,280 --> 00:13:41,160 Speaker 3: to affirm whatever behavior our kids do, it's actually not love. 257 00:13:42,320 --> 00:13:45,920 Speaker 3: And I watched it happen in our church. I've seen 258 00:13:46,760 --> 00:13:50,440 Speaker 3: good parents affirm destructive behavior by their kids and walk 259 00:13:50,480 --> 00:13:54,760 Speaker 3: away from clear doctrine. And we just want to put 260 00:13:54,760 --> 00:13:57,400 Speaker 3: a resource in people's hands. It would help them ultimately 261 00:13:57,400 --> 00:14:01,000 Speaker 3: as a matter to be construction. And so, yes, this 262 00:14:01,440 --> 00:14:04,559 Speaker 3: book has been being written now, I would say for 263 00:14:04,640 --> 00:14:07,880 Speaker 3: about eighteen years. I'm really happy with what God's done 264 00:14:07,880 --> 00:14:10,920 Speaker 3: with it so far. I wish every pastor could get it, 265 00:14:11,320 --> 00:14:17,520 Speaker 3: every parent, every gen z anyone's wrestling with their faith 266 00:14:17,840 --> 00:14:20,640 Speaker 3: or has gripped their faith, but like you said, is 267 00:14:20,680 --> 00:14:24,920 Speaker 3: walking passively respectably behind Jesus. 268 00:14:25,280 --> 00:14:26,960 Speaker 2: I'm going to stop this right there and jump in 269 00:14:26,960 --> 00:14:28,680 Speaker 2: to say, you're listening to built Different. 270 00:14:28,840 --> 00:14:29,720 Speaker 1: I'm Zach Clinton. 271 00:14:29,880 --> 00:14:32,520 Speaker 2: We need to break for a brief message from our sponsors. 272 00:14:32,720 --> 00:14:35,080 Speaker 2: I'll be back with our guests to keep the conversation flowing. 273 00:14:35,240 --> 00:14:41,840 Speaker 2: Right after this, you're listening to life audio. I remember 274 00:14:41,880 --> 00:14:45,680 Speaker 2: reading not long ago that we find ourselves in a 275 00:14:45,720 --> 00:14:50,600 Speaker 2: discipleship epidemic in America, especially amongst the Western Church. 276 00:14:51,400 --> 00:14:53,960 Speaker 1: And there was this one article and I remember coming 277 00:14:54,000 --> 00:14:54,720 Speaker 1: across this line. 278 00:14:54,720 --> 00:14:57,520 Speaker 2: It said something along the lines of that they believe 279 00:14:57,640 --> 00:15:03,080 Speaker 2: that Western Christians are three one thousand Bible versus overweight, 280 00:15:03,600 --> 00:15:05,720 Speaker 2: And what they're really getting at is that we focus 281 00:15:05,840 --> 00:15:10,760 Speaker 2: so much on absorption, on knowledge, on knowing the word, 282 00:15:11,280 --> 00:15:14,000 Speaker 2: but then we place less of an emphasis not on 283 00:15:14,120 --> 00:15:15,360 Speaker 2: just what Jesus said, but on. 284 00:15:15,280 --> 00:15:16,080 Speaker 1: How he lived. 285 00:15:16,720 --> 00:15:19,720 Speaker 2: So rather than absorption, maybe we need to shift discipleship 286 00:15:19,760 --> 00:15:22,520 Speaker 2: more toward action and living out our faith and being 287 00:15:22,560 --> 00:15:25,080 Speaker 2: able to do life with other people rather than just 288 00:15:25,120 --> 00:15:26,880 Speaker 2: me and you sitting here and blowing smoke in the 289 00:15:26,920 --> 00:15:29,400 Speaker 2: mirror and being able to rattle off Bible verses off 290 00:15:29,440 --> 00:15:32,720 Speaker 2: of our tongue because of memorization. Those things are incredibly important, 291 00:15:32,720 --> 00:15:34,640 Speaker 2: we know that, but it's also the way that we 292 00:15:34,760 --> 00:15:37,880 Speaker 2: live boldly and courageously, not just speaking it from a pulpit. 293 00:15:37,880 --> 00:15:39,840 Speaker 2: And I'll be honest, let's go here for a second, Travis. 294 00:15:40,120 --> 00:15:43,200 Speaker 2: There are pastors that get behind pulpits and care more 295 00:15:43,200 --> 00:15:46,360 Speaker 2: about their platforms than they do the purpose that God 296 00:15:46,400 --> 00:15:47,160 Speaker 2: has placed on their life. 297 00:15:47,160 --> 00:15:48,880 Speaker 1: They care more about impressing. 298 00:15:48,480 --> 00:15:51,800 Speaker 2: People whatever that looks like, watering down the gospel, watering 299 00:15:51,840 --> 00:15:53,640 Speaker 2: down their faith. Like you said, rounding out the edges 300 00:15:53,680 --> 00:15:54,360 Speaker 2: tofu faith. 301 00:15:54,400 --> 00:15:55,120 Speaker 1: I love that term. 302 00:15:55,320 --> 00:15:57,680 Speaker 2: It's the first time I said that that's powerful, right, 303 00:15:58,200 --> 00:16:00,600 Speaker 2: They round it out and they care more about impressing 304 00:16:00,640 --> 00:16:02,640 Speaker 2: then they care about impacting. And so speak to a 305 00:16:02,640 --> 00:16:05,040 Speaker 2: pastor out there who might be listening today, who maybe 306 00:16:05,080 --> 00:16:07,640 Speaker 2: feels like they're on the fence. They're afraid of the costs, 307 00:16:07,680 --> 00:16:10,480 Speaker 2: they're afraid of the backlash, and they're holding Jesus at 308 00:16:10,480 --> 00:16:12,000 Speaker 2: a distance even as a pastor. 309 00:16:12,280 --> 00:16:13,800 Speaker 1: What would you say to I. 310 00:16:13,800 --> 00:16:16,000 Speaker 3: Think it shows up in two places. One where we're 311 00:16:16,000 --> 00:16:20,680 Speaker 3: trying to curate a platform and we're riffing out these 312 00:16:20,840 --> 00:16:24,960 Speaker 3: you know, quotable pop Christianity. You know, we're not actually 313 00:16:25,040 --> 00:16:28,320 Speaker 3: breaking down scripture for the application. And then it also 314 00:16:28,760 --> 00:16:31,040 Speaker 3: will it'd be really great if that's all we had 315 00:16:31,080 --> 00:16:34,680 Speaker 3: to focus on, not being or if we could just 316 00:16:34,760 --> 00:16:37,960 Speaker 3: kind of rail on those folks. But it's also in 317 00:16:38,040 --> 00:16:40,600 Speaker 3: a church of eighty people, you have a family that 318 00:16:40,640 --> 00:16:43,720 Speaker 3: controls the church, and the pastor avoids the topics that 319 00:16:43,880 --> 00:16:47,120 Speaker 3: the people that are paying the bills are saying, and 320 00:16:47,120 --> 00:16:48,960 Speaker 3: that you know, maybe it's even been said in that church. 321 00:16:49,240 --> 00:16:52,720 Speaker 3: If you say that, then will withhold our tithe? You 322 00:16:52,760 --> 00:16:56,640 Speaker 3: know that happens all over America, you know, So I 323 00:16:56,680 --> 00:16:59,440 Speaker 3: mean I would say you know, love people, you know, 324 00:16:59,480 --> 00:17:03,920 Speaker 3: shepherd your people well, and get good at that as 325 00:17:04,040 --> 00:17:05,800 Speaker 3: much as you can. But if you have to choose 326 00:17:06,240 --> 00:17:09,640 Speaker 3: being good or being bold, be bold. And the more 327 00:17:09,680 --> 00:17:11,399 Speaker 3: you do it, then the better you'll get at it 328 00:17:12,160 --> 00:17:15,359 Speaker 3: so that it can land well. But the time of 329 00:17:15,400 --> 00:17:19,360 Speaker 3: spending fifteen minutes in a sermon preparing everyone for some 330 00:17:19,400 --> 00:17:23,240 Speaker 3: hard truth it's in the Bible, giving that hard truth 331 00:17:23,280 --> 00:17:26,000 Speaker 3: in five or ten minutes, and then apologizing for it 332 00:17:26,040 --> 00:17:28,800 Speaker 3: the rest of your sermon, It's time to just make 333 00:17:28,840 --> 00:17:32,800 Speaker 3: it normal to preach the word of God with conviction. 334 00:17:33,680 --> 00:17:35,760 Speaker 3: And what I've actually seen is when you do that, 335 00:17:36,440 --> 00:17:40,119 Speaker 3: men are compelled to the gospel, and then gen Z 336 00:17:40,520 --> 00:17:44,320 Speaker 3: is triggered. But they're fascinated because no one's telling them 337 00:17:44,320 --> 00:17:46,639 Speaker 3: the truth. And they will hang with you, and a 338 00:17:46,640 --> 00:17:49,879 Speaker 3: lot of them will be saved. And God will help you. 339 00:17:50,040 --> 00:17:54,000 Speaker 3: God'll help you. And I remember talking to you know, 340 00:17:54,200 --> 00:17:57,119 Speaker 3: my executive pastor, when I was just first coming into 341 00:17:57,200 --> 00:17:59,240 Speaker 3: our church that we've been pastoring now for nine years 342 00:17:59,560 --> 00:18:02,000 Speaker 3: and we're only with some financial issues. I say, hey, 343 00:18:02,000 --> 00:18:04,320 Speaker 3: as long as you keep me updated on the on 344 00:18:04,359 --> 00:18:06,439 Speaker 3: the money, we can write it down. As long as 345 00:18:06,480 --> 00:18:09,520 Speaker 3: we need to stay ahead of it and everything's going 346 00:18:09,560 --> 00:18:12,400 Speaker 3: to be all right. It's worth it to get your 347 00:18:12,400 --> 00:18:16,040 Speaker 3: stuff right because God will help you. Got to help 348 00:18:16,080 --> 00:18:17,879 Speaker 3: you get through those things. A lot of people are 349 00:18:17,920 --> 00:18:21,080 Speaker 3: in that situation or have been in that situation, a 350 00:18:21,280 --> 00:18:24,480 Speaker 3: dying church and you're down to the last You've got 351 00:18:24,520 --> 00:18:26,919 Speaker 3: to breathe life on that. If you do, it's not 352 00:18:26,960 --> 00:18:31,119 Speaker 3: just pastors. Parents will get their kids together, do devotions 353 00:18:31,200 --> 00:18:32,520 Speaker 3: at the end of the day or the beginning of 354 00:18:32,560 --> 00:18:35,600 Speaker 3: the day, and just speak it and love people. The 355 00:18:35,600 --> 00:18:39,080 Speaker 3: more you do that easier to speak the truth. If 356 00:18:39,080 --> 00:18:42,640 Speaker 3: your pastor. If your pastor is preaching the truth, amen 357 00:18:42,800 --> 00:18:46,560 Speaker 3: him so strong because the devil doesn't like that. You 358 00:18:46,640 --> 00:18:48,720 Speaker 3: just encourage them right on through that, and what will 359 00:18:48,760 --> 00:18:53,840 Speaker 3: happen is you'll create a church of bold disciples and 360 00:18:54,440 --> 00:18:57,240 Speaker 3: there's people hungry for it. That's what I found is 361 00:18:57,520 --> 00:18:59,879 Speaker 3: this is crazy. It sounds crazy. You actually have to 362 00:19:00,040 --> 00:19:03,480 Speaker 3: preach the truth for people to get saved, for people 363 00:19:03,520 --> 00:19:06,320 Speaker 3: to repent. You'll see life change. And you know a 364 00:19:06,320 --> 00:19:08,399 Speaker 3: lot of people that push back on that kind of 365 00:19:08,440 --> 00:19:11,000 Speaker 3: talk or get mad when you speak about a certain issue. 366 00:19:11,040 --> 00:19:14,760 Speaker 3: They're not converted, they're not saved. So get them saved 367 00:19:14,800 --> 00:19:18,639 Speaker 3: and if they leave, it's man, I don't want them 368 00:19:18,680 --> 00:19:20,359 Speaker 3: to leave, but it's better for them to leave than 369 00:19:20,400 --> 00:19:23,560 Speaker 3: to be leading your small groups. So get them saved. 370 00:19:23,760 --> 00:19:28,399 Speaker 3: And what I have seen when I'm preaching the truth, 371 00:19:28,560 --> 00:19:31,600 Speaker 3: the church has grown. We're not the best church in 372 00:19:31,600 --> 00:19:33,480 Speaker 3: the world. I'm definitely not the best pastor in the world, 373 00:19:33,480 --> 00:19:36,600 Speaker 3: but I've just watched the church grow out over twenty 374 00:19:36,640 --> 00:19:38,920 Speaker 3: six twenty seven years of being a senior pastor, which 375 00:19:38,960 --> 00:19:41,760 Speaker 3: is crazy to say, but I've watched God just be 376 00:19:41,840 --> 00:19:42,440 Speaker 3: real faithful. 377 00:19:42,560 --> 00:19:43,280 Speaker 1: It's remarkable. 378 00:19:43,280 --> 00:19:46,440 Speaker 2: Like you said, people don't want artificial, they want authentic. 379 00:19:46,640 --> 00:19:50,040 Speaker 2: They're just hungry and thirsty for truth. And when you 380 00:19:50,119 --> 00:19:53,200 Speaker 2: bring truth to the mix, when you stand on it 381 00:19:53,320 --> 00:19:55,879 Speaker 2: boldly and courageously, like you said, if you get the 382 00:19:55,920 --> 00:19:59,240 Speaker 2: choice between being good or being bold, be bold. When 383 00:19:59,240 --> 00:20:01,280 Speaker 2: we do, that's it's amazing what God can do. 384 00:20:01,320 --> 00:20:03,359 Speaker 1: Travis. I have two follow up questions for you. 385 00:20:03,400 --> 00:20:05,880 Speaker 2: The first one is somebody out there listening today who 386 00:20:05,880 --> 00:20:08,320 Speaker 2: maybe feels like they are kind of living at a distance. 387 00:20:08,840 --> 00:20:11,720 Speaker 2: They are living with that lukewarm Christianity, that lukewarm faith. 388 00:20:11,720 --> 00:20:13,520 Speaker 2: We know what God says about that, but they don't 389 00:20:13,600 --> 00:20:15,879 Speaker 2: know really what to do. Next, how to deep and 390 00:20:15,920 --> 00:20:19,520 Speaker 2: how to draw near? What's the next best step? Here? 391 00:20:19,600 --> 00:20:23,720 Speaker 3: Failed, and then Jesus was resurrected. The women go and 392 00:20:23,760 --> 00:20:28,359 Speaker 3: tell them. Peter and John run to the tomb. John 393 00:20:28,400 --> 00:20:31,920 Speaker 3: got there first. Peter's an older fisherman. John's a young guy. 394 00:20:32,680 --> 00:20:35,879 Speaker 3: I beat my dad in basketball the first time. I 395 00:20:35,960 --> 00:20:37,440 Speaker 3: was gloating. He said, well, you may be able to 396 00:20:37,480 --> 00:20:39,000 Speaker 3: run up the hold faster, but at least I know 397 00:20:39,040 --> 00:20:41,199 Speaker 3: what to do when I get there. Peter knew what 398 00:20:41,200 --> 00:20:44,480 Speaker 3: to do. He went in on the tomb, so he 399 00:20:44,520 --> 00:20:50,640 Speaker 3: felt relief. Pretty powerful moment, but Jesus still went to 400 00:20:50,680 --> 00:20:52,960 Speaker 3: Peter in his shame and said, I'm not done with you. 401 00:20:54,240 --> 00:20:57,880 Speaker 3: I'm not done. Even after Peter knew Jesus went to him, 402 00:20:57,920 --> 00:21:01,720 Speaker 3: he said, come on, let's go. Pretty powerful thing. If 403 00:21:02,359 --> 00:21:06,880 Speaker 3: if we have friends that are they recognize they were 404 00:21:06,880 --> 00:21:09,840 Speaker 3: convinced of the truth, and they're saying, I want that 405 00:21:10,480 --> 00:21:13,680 Speaker 3: radical devotion where my mind is fixed. I'm gonna please 406 00:21:13,760 --> 00:21:17,240 Speaker 3: Jesus before I please anybody else. Then I would say 407 00:21:17,280 --> 00:21:21,439 Speaker 3: that I would let Jesus take my shame from the 408 00:21:21,480 --> 00:21:24,400 Speaker 3: times that I've denied him, Because there's no question we've 409 00:21:24,480 --> 00:21:26,960 Speaker 3: all sat at the fire to watch and see what 410 00:21:27,000 --> 00:21:29,280 Speaker 3: would happen. You know, I think Peter was probably thinking 411 00:21:30,160 --> 00:21:32,320 Speaker 3: I should step up there and tell them I just 412 00:21:32,400 --> 00:21:36,480 Speaker 3: saw Jesus with Elijah and Moses on the mountain. I 413 00:21:36,480 --> 00:21:39,600 Speaker 3: saw him raise a dead he's a son of God. 414 00:21:40,040 --> 00:21:44,360 Speaker 3: But he probably thought, well, what good would a dead 415 00:21:44,440 --> 00:21:49,159 Speaker 3: husband be to a wife? He probably thought, you know, 416 00:21:49,160 --> 00:21:50,760 Speaker 3: I had signed up to follow a teacher, not to 417 00:21:50,760 --> 00:21:54,239 Speaker 3: be a martyr. People that are working through that, they 418 00:21:54,720 --> 00:21:56,680 Speaker 3: they're convinced of the truth. I want you to know 419 00:21:56,720 --> 00:22:02,200 Speaker 3: that there is therefore now no condemnation to those who 420 00:22:02,200 --> 00:22:05,000 Speaker 3: are in Christ Jesus. So you're not who you were, 421 00:22:07,040 --> 00:22:08,920 Speaker 3: but you're also not who you're gonna be. And if 422 00:22:08,920 --> 00:22:11,480 Speaker 3: you will let God speak into your life, you know 423 00:22:11,520 --> 00:22:14,120 Speaker 3: that he's taken away your shame when he took away 424 00:22:14,119 --> 00:22:17,320 Speaker 3: your sin, and you're not defined by your past. You're 425 00:22:17,320 --> 00:22:20,359 Speaker 3: defined by Jesus. And he says you're a new creation, 426 00:22:21,359 --> 00:22:25,120 Speaker 3: so you can follow him boldly. And really it's about 427 00:22:25,160 --> 00:22:28,399 Speaker 3: that revelation. In our own mind, God settled it when 428 00:22:28,440 --> 00:22:32,080 Speaker 3: he saved us. Let's see ourselves like God sees us. 429 00:22:33,119 --> 00:22:37,439 Speaker 3: When we unite with him, then we stand in power. 430 00:22:38,040 --> 00:22:40,640 Speaker 3: And that's what happened to Peter. So Peter goes from 431 00:22:40,760 --> 00:22:47,000 Speaker 3: christ denire, deconstructed Christ's denire. Maybe he was thinking, if 432 00:22:47,000 --> 00:22:49,159 Speaker 3: I just put my head down, pay my taxes, all this, 433 00:22:49,280 --> 00:22:51,159 Speaker 3: my religious phase will go away. People accept me, you 434 00:22:51,160 --> 00:22:56,360 Speaker 3: get no. Christ embraces him. And then on the day 435 00:22:56,359 --> 00:23:01,760 Speaker 3: of Pentecost, the Bible says, think gets acts two seventeen, 436 00:23:03,200 --> 00:23:08,520 Speaker 3: and Peter stood and shouted boldly, and when he did that, 437 00:23:08,600 --> 00:23:12,320 Speaker 3: the other eleven apostles stood with him. And that's the 438 00:23:12,320 --> 00:23:15,480 Speaker 3: next place. It's that moment where you say, I am 439 00:23:15,560 --> 00:23:17,560 Speaker 3: going to be who God has called me to be. 440 00:23:17,640 --> 00:23:20,080 Speaker 3: You're speaking to your friends for the first time differently, 441 00:23:21,280 --> 00:23:23,600 Speaker 3: you're unapologetic in your faith. You don't have three or 442 00:23:23,600 --> 00:23:26,920 Speaker 3: four different kinds of friend groups that you're having to remember. 443 00:23:27,440 --> 00:23:29,879 Speaker 3: It's not the friend groups. You don't have to have 444 00:23:29,920 --> 00:23:33,919 Speaker 3: three or four iterations of yourself around these different friend groups. No, 445 00:23:34,040 --> 00:23:36,639 Speaker 3: you can be the same person in all your friend groups. 446 00:23:36,920 --> 00:23:41,560 Speaker 3: And when you do that, you'll see friends people stand up, 447 00:23:41,760 --> 00:23:45,280 Speaker 3: step step up, step forward with you. And it's the 448 00:23:45,280 --> 00:23:49,520 Speaker 3: most liberating thing. It's the most peaceful existence where you 449 00:23:49,560 --> 00:23:52,040 Speaker 3: don't have to remember who you're supposed to be. You 450 00:23:52,160 --> 00:23:54,680 Speaker 3: just know who you are because God said a thing. 451 00:23:54,600 --> 00:23:56,919 Speaker 1: About you, Pastor Travis. 452 00:23:56,960 --> 00:23:59,359 Speaker 2: I want to close our time together is when I 453 00:23:59,400 --> 00:24:03,399 Speaker 2: think about being unembarrassed of Jesus, I think you have 454 00:24:03,440 --> 00:24:06,280 Speaker 2: to have a right understanding of who Jesus is. I 455 00:24:06,320 --> 00:24:09,480 Speaker 2: remember sitting in the pews of my church and my 456 00:24:09,560 --> 00:24:13,040 Speaker 2: pastor Jonathan Folwell shared a sermon a couple Easters ago, 457 00:24:13,320 --> 00:24:15,640 Speaker 2: and he got up there and he professed to who 458 00:24:15,720 --> 00:24:18,320 Speaker 2: Jesus was, and he shared the Gospel, and he shared 459 00:24:18,320 --> 00:24:20,120 Speaker 2: this story, the greatest story and not just ever told 460 00:24:20,200 --> 00:24:23,520 Speaker 2: what ever lived, and then here he was. And he 461 00:24:23,720 --> 00:24:25,879 Speaker 2: closed out his sermon by saying, but at the end 462 00:24:25,880 --> 00:24:27,439 Speaker 2: of the day, it matters not who I say that 463 00:24:27,520 --> 00:24:28,000 Speaker 2: Jesus is. 464 00:24:29,119 --> 00:24:32,080 Speaker 1: What matters most is who you say that he is. 465 00:24:32,560 --> 00:24:33,080 Speaker 1: I think of. 466 00:24:33,080 --> 00:24:38,040 Speaker 2: Jesus in Matthew sixteen and Luke nine. I believe it's 467 00:24:38,080 --> 00:24:40,639 Speaker 2: Mark eight, the same interaction where all of the disciples 468 00:24:40,680 --> 00:24:42,320 Speaker 2: are surrounding him and they're telling him who. All of 469 00:24:42,359 --> 00:24:44,560 Speaker 2: these different people are saying that he's allied, he's a prophet, 470 00:24:44,600 --> 00:24:47,040 Speaker 2: he's this, he's that. But Jesus looks at them and 471 00:24:47,119 --> 00:24:49,560 Speaker 2: he just I can just imagine it, dropping low and 472 00:24:49,600 --> 00:24:51,840 Speaker 2: just asking but who you say that I am for 473 00:24:52,000 --> 00:24:55,080 Speaker 2: somebody out there who maybe doesn't know who this man 474 00:24:55,560 --> 00:24:56,760 Speaker 2: named Jesus is. 475 00:24:57,680 --> 00:24:59,080 Speaker 1: Who is he to you, pastor Travis? 476 00:24:59,160 --> 00:25:05,320 Speaker 3: It's me now. Jesus is the same yesterday, today, forever. 477 00:25:06,640 --> 00:25:13,080 Speaker 3: Jesus is. He's unchanging. But he approached me in a 478 00:25:13,080 --> 00:25:18,280 Speaker 3: way specific to Travis, and so for me, he rescued me. 479 00:25:19,920 --> 00:25:23,960 Speaker 3: He cleared my mind. You know, there's some other things 480 00:25:23,960 --> 00:25:25,359 Speaker 3: that happened in my life. You know. I used to 481 00:25:25,440 --> 00:25:29,080 Speaker 3: have night terrors when I was a kid, and it 482 00:25:29,640 --> 00:25:32,080 Speaker 3: was terrible. My dad would use ammonia snaps to try 483 00:25:32,080 --> 00:25:34,320 Speaker 3: and wake me up, Pour water on me, hold me. 484 00:25:34,680 --> 00:25:37,240 Speaker 3: My eyes would be open, but I was really asleep. 485 00:25:37,240 --> 00:25:39,480 Speaker 3: I would sleep walk around. It is embarrassing if I 486 00:25:39,560 --> 00:25:43,080 Speaker 3: had to sleep over, you know. And I remember my 487 00:25:43,160 --> 00:25:45,800 Speaker 3: dad saying it, telling me, he said, someoneever you're afraid, 488 00:25:45,800 --> 00:25:48,880 Speaker 3: you just call on the name of Jesus. Remember waking 489 00:25:48,960 --> 00:25:53,119 Speaker 3: up from a of a night in terror. My Dad's 490 00:25:53,160 --> 00:25:56,480 Speaker 3: holding me, and I was. I woke up calling on 491 00:25:56,520 --> 00:26:00,000 Speaker 3: the name of Jesus for me. He was a deliberate 492 00:26:02,160 --> 00:26:06,359 Speaker 3: He found me when I was afraid. Look back on 493 00:26:06,440 --> 00:26:08,320 Speaker 3: those I can look back on those things and see 494 00:26:08,320 --> 00:26:12,800 Speaker 3: where God has been so faithful. So the question is 495 00:26:14,240 --> 00:26:19,320 Speaker 3: what will we do with this Jesus? And then Peter said, 496 00:26:19,320 --> 00:26:22,240 Speaker 3: when I was asked of him, he said, repent and 497 00:26:22,320 --> 00:26:28,520 Speaker 3: be baptized. If Jesus is who he said he is, 498 00:26:29,200 --> 00:26:31,320 Speaker 3: why won't we do what He's called us to do? 499 00:26:32,760 --> 00:26:36,439 Speaker 3: All those pressures that we feel in our jobs, expectations 500 00:26:36,480 --> 00:26:41,960 Speaker 3: from our friends, those voices get quieter, and Jesus's voice 501 00:26:41,960 --> 00:26:47,720 Speaker 3: gets louder and more clear. Walk close to him, trust him, 502 00:26:49,480 --> 00:26:53,960 Speaker 3: stay bold, never quit, and trust Jesus all the way. 503 00:26:54,480 --> 00:26:55,000 Speaker 3: Can't go wrong. 504 00:26:55,080 --> 00:26:56,520 Speaker 1: Doing that can't go wrong. 505 00:26:56,600 --> 00:26:58,720 Speaker 2: James Fred, when you draw near to him, he too 506 00:26:59,359 --> 00:27:02,639 Speaker 2: will draw near to you. That's the question you have 507 00:27:02,680 --> 00:27:03,640 Speaker 2: to ask yourself every day. 508 00:27:03,640 --> 00:27:05,640 Speaker 1: Who is Jesus to you? And what will you do 509 00:27:06,119 --> 00:27:07,959 Speaker 1: when you know who he is? 510 00:27:08,119 --> 00:27:10,600 Speaker 2: He is the great redeemer, He is the great restore 511 00:27:10,640 --> 00:27:13,840 Speaker 2: He is the great repurposer who can take broken things 512 00:27:14,440 --> 00:27:17,399 Speaker 2: and make them beautiful again. Travis Johnson, my friend, you 513 00:27:17,480 --> 00:27:20,760 Speaker 2: have been a gift to countless people, but you've been 514 00:27:20,800 --> 00:27:22,720 Speaker 2: a gift to my life, to my dad's life, to 515 00:27:22,760 --> 00:27:25,639 Speaker 2: the Clinton family. We're incredibly indebted and grateful for you. 516 00:27:25,760 --> 00:27:27,960 Speaker 2: Thank you for your time, Today, I want to close 517 00:27:28,000 --> 00:27:30,040 Speaker 2: by just giving you the chance to share with our audience. 518 00:27:30,040 --> 00:27:31,600 Speaker 2: Where can they go to find out more about you, 519 00:27:31,640 --> 00:27:33,600 Speaker 2: To find out more about the church. To purchase a 520 00:27:33,600 --> 00:27:35,880 Speaker 2: copy of the script book Unembarrassed Jesus. 521 00:27:35,920 --> 00:27:38,560 Speaker 3: You could get the book on Amazon. You can also 522 00:27:38,640 --> 00:27:42,120 Speaker 3: text the word Jesus to eight seven seven eighty five 523 00:27:42,280 --> 00:27:45,520 Speaker 3: six zero four forty four, which I'm always proud of 524 00:27:45,560 --> 00:27:50,560 Speaker 3: myself whenever that's right. Also, you can you can track 525 00:27:50,560 --> 00:27:53,520 Speaker 3: along with me on socials at Pastor Travis Johnson everywhere 526 00:27:53,960 --> 00:27:58,439 Speaker 3: except on x where I'm based Pastor trave so we 527 00:27:58,480 --> 00:28:00,000 Speaker 3: have a lot of fun there. Of course, you'll follow 528 00:28:00,040 --> 00:28:02,879 Speaker 3: along with this Pathway Church. You see our ministry of 529 00:28:02,920 --> 00:28:06,359 Speaker 3: campuses across the Gulf Coast, and then we're involved globally 530 00:28:07,440 --> 00:28:10,240 Speaker 3: at through People for Karen Learning. That website is PCL 531 00:28:10,280 --> 00:28:13,479 Speaker 3: dot I. And then if you're a pastor watching and 532 00:28:13,520 --> 00:28:16,000 Speaker 3: you want to help children in your town and around 533 00:28:16,000 --> 00:28:19,080 Speaker 3: the world, we have this great little missions project that's 534 00:28:19,080 --> 00:28:22,080 Speaker 3: gotten out of control. It's called Biatrey Change of Life. 535 00:28:22,080 --> 00:28:23,840 Speaker 3: If you go to buy a tree change life dot com. 536 00:28:24,000 --> 00:28:28,600 Speaker 3: Our average church raises thirty three thousand dollars each Christmas 537 00:28:29,080 --> 00:28:31,520 Speaker 3: and it's just really it's just changing and buying behavior. 538 00:28:31,560 --> 00:28:33,359 Speaker 3: All your people in your church are always already buying 539 00:28:33,400 --> 00:28:36,359 Speaker 3: Christmas trees. We'll do that and we give one hundred 540 00:28:36,359 --> 00:28:38,440 Speaker 3: percent of that money away. Half of it stays in 541 00:28:38,440 --> 00:28:42,440 Speaker 3: your community and the other half goes globally to do 542 00:28:42,600 --> 00:28:45,920 Speaker 3: Orphan care. And you know, Zach, we have some churches 543 00:28:46,040 --> 00:28:48,400 Speaker 3: are raising six figures. We have a ton of churches 544 00:28:48,440 --> 00:28:50,680 Speaker 3: are raising well over one hundred thousand in a couple 545 00:28:50,720 --> 00:28:53,400 Speaker 3: of weeks. We have some churches three hundred and fifty thousand, 546 00:28:53,480 --> 00:28:55,680 Speaker 3: five hundred fifty thousand. But you go to buy a tree, 547 00:28:55,760 --> 00:28:57,680 Speaker 3: change life dot com, all out of interest form. We'd 548 00:28:57,680 --> 00:28:59,120 Speaker 3: love to have you a part of that really great team. 549 00:28:59,280 --> 00:29:02,800 Speaker 2: Wow again, just thank you for all that you're doing. 550 00:29:02,880 --> 00:29:05,800 Speaker 2: Thank you for your obedience. Thank you for finding your 551 00:29:05,920 --> 00:29:09,680 Speaker 2: power and your purpose in close proximity to Jesus. Thank 552 00:29:09,720 --> 00:29:12,720 Speaker 2: you for reminding us that at a distance it can 553 00:29:12,760 --> 00:29:15,640 Speaker 2: actually become dangerous to our faith. Hey, thank you for 554 00:29:15,720 --> 00:29:19,840 Speaker 2: living the unembarrassed life. Love and appreciate our tough our audience. 555 00:29:19,840 --> 00:29:21,120 Speaker 2: I hope and pray that each and every one of 556 00:29:21,120 --> 00:29:25,000 Speaker 2: you would continue to live the unembarrassed of Jesus' life, 557 00:29:25,040 --> 00:29:28,360 Speaker 2: not in the distance, not denying him, but leaning in, 558 00:29:28,560 --> 00:29:31,720 Speaker 2: pressing in and making his name more known. 559 00:29:31,840 --> 00:29:33,960 Speaker 1: My friends, thank you for joining us. We love being 560 00:29:34,000 --> 00:29:34,760 Speaker 1: a part of your life.