Well, Welcome to Truth for Life weekend, where we're beginning a series called A Light in the Darkness.

We'll be looking at the dramatic transformations of individuals who encounter Jesus,

and we begin with a demon-possessed man.

Alistair Begg points out how, before we trusted in Jesus,

we had more in common with this man than we might think.

Father, we come to you as those who are tempted and tried and sometimes failing to ask for

your help as we study the Bible now.

Meet with us we pray.

Beyond the voice of a mere man, may we hear from you, the living God, by your spirit, through

your word, the Bible.

For we pray in Christ's name. Amen.

Well, can I invite you to turn to Mark and the fifth chapter? And as you're turning there,

let me say what an important and special day this is for our church family. Each time we send out export models as we do tonight in a formal and purposeful way,

we are reminded of the importance of obeying the command of Jesus,

to go out into all the world, and to make disciples,

and to teach them everything that He has commanded, to baptize them,

and to see them established in the truth.

And when, as we gather tonight and lay our hands upon this young couple, we will be confronted

by the question, what about us in our own streets, in our own offices, within our own sphere of influence and among our friends.

If it is of value and if it is significant, to take a young couple, uproot them from the security

of their lives, financial, relational, churchwide

security, and dispatch them into the heart of a very, very alien environment, then if it is

...