WEBVTT

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 Welcome to Ontario Community Church, where we are encouraging, equipping, and engaging lives for Christ.

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! I'm Pastor Patrick Daly, and you're listening to the sermon podcast for December 28th, 2025.

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 This is a special Sunday, as it is the last Sunday in the year 2025.

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 Today, we are looking at Ephesians 2, verses 13-22, with the sermon titled, Building Bridges to Peace.

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 Looking back at 2025, this year the theme was Building Bridges.

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 And as we come to the close of the end of this year, we find ourselves in a unique moment.

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 We are standing on this bridge between two years, 2025 and 2026.

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 We're right after Christmas, right before the new year.

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 It is a time where we are in between these two years,

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 and we reflect with gratitude with how God has been faithful in the past,

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 we live in the present, and we look forward, trusting in God for what He has in store for us in the next year, 2026.

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 In Ephesians 2, the Apostle Paul writes about how Christ is our peace.

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 He is not just a teacher of peace, but Christ is peace Himself.

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 Through His blood, through His sacrifice, those who were far off have been brought near.

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 The dividing wall of hostility has been broken down.

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 We who were once strangers and aliens are now fellow citizens and members of God's household,

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 built on Christ as the cornerstone.

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 This message also connects with 1 Samuel 7, verse 12,

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 where Samuel raises up this stone called an Ebenezer stone, saying,

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 Thus far the Lord has helped us.

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 It's both a remembrance and a reminder of God's faithfulness,

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 as well as a declaration of continued trust in Him for what is about to come next.

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 I always found that so interesting, this Ebenezer stone,

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 because it is connected with what we find in that famous hymn, Come Thou Fount.

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 You may know the lyric in verse 2,

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 Here I raise my Ebenezer.

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 Many people, we don't know what that word or that lyric even means,

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 but I found it so interesting how it's connected with 1 Samuel 7.

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 As we listen to this message, we will explore the observation,

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 the interpretation, and the application.

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 Let us stand on the bridge and remember that God has been there with us the entire way.

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 May we boldly cross the bridge faithfully.

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 May we trust in Him,

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 and may we be moved to be a peacemaker with Christ beside us.

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 Let us dive into God's word together.

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 This is one of the very few times you'll see me actually sitting down.

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 I've been, I was sick this week and I've been recovering.

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 I am recovered, but I don't want to move around and have a disaster go on.

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 So I hope you can forgive me with that.

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 But with that in mind, we're, you know, we're at the last Sunday of this year, of 2025,

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 and it's been really remarkable seeing how much time has been flying by.

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 You know, there's a famous saying that time flies when you're having fun,

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 and I hope that a lot of us are having a lot of fun here in the process, right?

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 You know, when we look back at 2025 and we think of just all of the things that have happened,

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 I am amazed at how fast the year has gone by.

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 Have you felt that way?

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 The year has just completely just gone by, you know?

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 I titled this sermon, Building Bridges to Peace.

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 Kind of as a, we're going to open our Bibles together.

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 We're going to go to Ephesians chapter 2, if you want to go ahead and open there.

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 It's going to be from page 1160.

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 Feel free to turn there.

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 The theme for this year, for 2025, was building bridges.

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 And the reason why that was the theme was considering how important it is for us as Christians

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 to know that there is no dividing wall.

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 There's nothing that separates us from the love of Christ.

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 And just as Christ has loved each and every one of us,

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 we are called to build bridges with other people.

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 Those even in our own family.

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 Those within our community.

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 And just how to really think of how God has been working in this place

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 has just been something that's been remarkable.

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 And so, let's pray.

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 And then we will read from the Word of God.

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 And we'll go into it.

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 And Father God, we thank you for this time and for this opportunity for us to gather

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 on the last Sunday of 2025.

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 I really hope and pray that each and every one of us who are here in person

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 or here online,

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 that they know that they are loved by you.

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 And I hope that we've had a lot more good than bad.

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 You know, as I was mentioning, Father, that time flies when you're having fun.

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 I hope that we've had good experiences.

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 But even if we've had bad or ugly experiences,

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 may we turn to you.

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 May we take this Sunday, this time,

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 to reflect not only on our own personal walk with you,

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 but how you have worked in and through our personal lives

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 and in and through this church.

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 We're so grateful for your love.

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 We're grateful for you sending your son, Jesus,

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 who is our peace.

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 We love you.

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 We praise you.

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 We glorify you.

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 And we honor you.

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 It's in the name of Jesus that we pray and we all say together, amen.

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 So, from Ephesians chapter 2,

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 it's going to be from verses 13 through 22.

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 We can actually start from verse 11, right,

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 where it says,

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 one in Christ.

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 Therefore, remember that at one time,

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 you Gentiles in the flesh,

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 called uncircumcision by what is called the circumcision, right?

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 So, it's talking about circumcision versus uncircumcision,

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 which is made in the flesh by hands.

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 Remember that you were at the time separated from Christ,

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 alienated from the commonwealth of Israel

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 and strangers to the covenant,

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 the covenants of promise,

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 having no hope and without God in the world.

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 So, we're thinking of the Gentiles, right?

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 The idea that they were outside of salvation.

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 They were outside of the fold of God.

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 But it goes on in verse 13,

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 but now, right?

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 Don't you love when verses say,

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 but then or but now, right?

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 That's a very important thing we see.

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 But now in Christ Jesus,

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 what does it say?

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 You who were once far off

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 have been brought near by what?

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 By the blood of Christ.

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 That's very important, right?

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 Verse 14,

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 For he himself is our what?

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 Our peace.

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 Who has made us both one

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 and has broken down in his flesh the what?

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 The dividing wall of hostility.

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 That's very important, right?

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 Nothing that will separate us from Christ.

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 By abolishing the law of commandments

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 expressed in ordinances

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 that he might create in himself,

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 one new man in place of the two,

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 so making peace.

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 And might reconcile us both to God

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 in one body through the cross,

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 thereby killing the hostility.

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 And he came and preached peace to you

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 who were far off

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 and peace to those who were near.

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 So, it's the same message, right?

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 You see here that peace was being preached

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 to those who were far off,

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 those who were outside of the fold,

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 and those who were near.

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 Verse 18,

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 For through him,

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 we both have access in one spirit to the Father.

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 What interesting language we see here, right?

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 To have access to the Father, right?

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 I always love giving this example

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 where when we think of prayer,

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 we can think of how we have a direct line to God.

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 You know how difficult it is

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 to have a direct line to a CEO, right?

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 The boss, the administrator.

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 We think of how difficult it is

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 in our own everyday life

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 to get in touch with somebody,

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 and then if you get in touch with them,

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 do they have the time, right?

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 Usually, they're busy.

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 They've got appointments and meetings.

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 But when it comes to God,

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 having that direct line

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 and that direct access,

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 as this text is saying,

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 is something that is astonishing.

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 So, it goes into verse 19.

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 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens,

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 but you are what, church?

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 Fellow citizens.

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 With the saints and members

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 of the household of God.

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 That kind of reminds,

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 should remind us of how

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 when Christ says that in his,

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 there are many rooms, right?

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 We know of that verse.

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 In the house, there are many rooms.

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 And so, it goes on, verse 20.

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 But the foundation of the apostles and prophets,

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 Christ Jesus himself being the what?

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 The cornerstone, right?

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 The most important stone, right?

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 The one that sustains everything together.

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 That's very powerful.

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 Verse 21.

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 In whom the whole structure,

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 being joined together,

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 grows into a holy temple in the Lord.

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 Verse 22.

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 In him, you also are being built together

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 into a dwelling place

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 for God by the Spirit.

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 And so, this is very interesting.

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 We're going to piece all of this together, right?

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 We're thinking about it.

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 We celebrated the Advent season,

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 the Christmas season, right?

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 We were talking about Emmanuel,

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 God being, God coming near to us.

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 And we have this verse,

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 and you'll see it later on.

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 It was in our interactive reading,

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 where it said,

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 thus far, the Lord has helped us.

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 And this is connected to what we have in Ephesians

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 and what we have for today.

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 In moments when you're between,

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 we're basically between two seasons here.

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 As a church body,

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 we celebrated our 80th anniversary.

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 For many of us,

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 we had all of the things happening in 2025,

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 and we're about to go into 2026.

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 We're in that little middle space.

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 And it's a very interesting space to be in, isn't it?

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 Right after Christmas,

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 right before the new year.

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 But we can think to ourself

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 how the Lord has helped us

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 and been there for us.

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 A bridge between two years,

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 looking back at last year

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 and stepping forward into the new year.

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 And how important it is for us

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 to celebrate the past victories

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 that have happened through Christ.

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 And how we humbly come before the Lord

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 for direction and for guidance.

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 And when we look at this Ephesians passage, right?

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 The language is mentioning those that were far off,

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 those that were distant,

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 and they are brought near by the blood of Christ.

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 Mentioning the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross.

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 We think of the Christian faith.

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 We think of how the Word became flesh

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 and dwelt among us, right?

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 When we talk about the Advent season, right?

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 Emmanuel, God with us.

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 How we still have our nativity scene, right?

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 The representation.

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 The story of how Jesus is coming into the earth

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 in such humble beginnings as a child.

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 And we think all of this happens

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 so that we can be included into salvation.

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 That God gives us the opportunity

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 for us to respond to that salvation.

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 That we can have security in Him.

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 Newness of life in Him.

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 Ephesians is also saying

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 that through the cross,

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 Jesus creates one new humanity.

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 Just like how Scripture says

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 that we are a new creation

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 and how important it is for us

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 to lay aside

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 the former things of the former life

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 and to seek the things that are higher,

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 the things that are nobler,

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 to grow in Christ,

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 not to just remain a spiritual child

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 all of your life.

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 But to mature

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 and to grow

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 just as a fruit tree

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 will produce fruit,

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 we are called to do the same thing.

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 And the very notion

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 that we have access to the Father

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 by one Spirit

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 is a remarkable thing.

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 It should give us comfort

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 when we hear

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 that we have access to God.

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 It always saddens me

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 when I hear about people saying,

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 well, God is distant.

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 He is far away

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 and He doesn't care.

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 How wrong can you be

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 knowing that we have access to God?

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 We can pray to Him.

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 And even in moments

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 where we don't think He's there

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 or in moments

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 we don't feel He is there,

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 He is still there with us.

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 Just think of how

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 in our own life

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 here on the earth,

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 God's going to be there

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 with you

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 in every season of your life,

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 in every moment.

00:15:53.539 --> 00:15:55.700
 That's a very comforting thing.

00:15:56.700 --> 00:15:58.940
 And I, as a pastor,

00:15:59.059 --> 00:16:01.000
 I speak very much against this notion

00:16:01.000 --> 00:16:02.399
 that God is far away.

00:16:02.399 --> 00:16:04.240
 we can see

00:16:04.240 --> 00:16:05.399
 in the Christmas season

00:16:05.399 --> 00:16:06.860
 and even in these passages

00:16:06.860 --> 00:16:10.100
 the nearness of God

00:16:10.100 --> 00:16:12.879
 and how He desires

00:16:12.879 --> 00:16:14.199
 to be with us

00:16:14.199 --> 00:16:15.860
 and how in the same way

00:16:15.860 --> 00:16:17.039
 we should desire

00:16:17.039 --> 00:16:18.399
 to be in the presence

00:16:18.399 --> 00:16:19.179
 of the Lord,

00:16:19.699 --> 00:16:21.779
 to be close to Him,

00:16:22.459 --> 00:16:24.480
 to grow in Him

00:16:24.480 --> 00:16:25.100
 as it were.

00:16:25.899 --> 00:16:26.899
 And the language

00:16:26.899 --> 00:16:27.980
 when it talks about

00:16:27.980 --> 00:16:30.740
 no longer being strangers

00:16:30.740 --> 00:16:32.700
 but being welcome

00:16:32.700 --> 00:16:33.560
 in the household,

00:16:34.180 --> 00:16:35.519
 it's just like how I

00:16:35.519 --> 00:16:37.000
 preached previously

00:16:37.000 --> 00:16:37.420
 about

00:16:37.420 --> 00:16:39.539
 all of these parables

00:16:39.539 --> 00:16:40.480
 that talk about

00:16:40.480 --> 00:16:42.840
 being ready for the feast

00:16:42.840 --> 00:16:44.440
 or the great banquet

00:16:44.440 --> 00:16:45.039
 as it were

00:16:45.039 --> 00:16:47.159
 and having the proper clothes

00:16:47.159 --> 00:16:47.860
 for the banquet.

00:16:48.740 --> 00:16:50.000
 There's so many different

00:16:50.000 --> 00:16:52.899
 parallels that we can see here.

00:16:52.899 --> 00:16:54.840
 in this verse,

00:16:55.419 --> 00:16:57.459
 to no longer be a stranger

00:16:57.459 --> 00:16:58.559
 but to be part

00:16:58.559 --> 00:16:59.759
 of God's household.

00:17:01.019 --> 00:17:03.620
 That's a sense of closeness, right?

00:17:04.940 --> 00:17:05.819
 Imagine for,

00:17:06.200 --> 00:17:08.379
 in your own story,

00:17:08.519 --> 00:17:09.859
 if you invited someone,

00:17:09.980 --> 00:17:10.519
 a stranger,

00:17:11.079 --> 00:17:12.180
 into your own home,

00:17:12.960 --> 00:17:13.740
 at what point

00:17:13.740 --> 00:17:14.400
 do they become

00:17:14.400 --> 00:17:15.440
 a member of the family?

00:17:15.940 --> 00:17:17.619
 It takes a lot of intention.

00:17:18.519 --> 00:17:19.299
 And I'm not saying

00:17:19.299 --> 00:17:20.480
 you all should do that

00:17:20.480 --> 00:17:21.200
 and I'm not saying

00:17:21.200 --> 00:17:22.339
 it's all going to happen

00:17:22.339 --> 00:17:23.799
 in our own circumstance

00:17:23.799 --> 00:17:24.579
 but just think

00:17:24.579 --> 00:17:25.420
 of the amount

00:17:25.420 --> 00:17:26.640
 of trust,

00:17:27.319 --> 00:17:27.660
 love,

00:17:28.200 --> 00:17:29.160
 and intentionality

00:17:29.160 --> 00:17:29.839
 that takes

00:17:29.839 --> 00:17:31.500
 and for God

00:17:31.500 --> 00:17:31.799
 to

00:17:31.799 --> 00:17:33.960
 welcome us in.

00:17:35.140 --> 00:17:36.200
 That's powerful.

00:17:36.839 --> 00:17:38.099
 That's an amazing

00:17:38.099 --> 00:17:39.120
 kind of love

00:17:39.120 --> 00:17:40.799
 that God has for us.

00:17:42.079 --> 00:17:43.779
 We are known to God.

00:17:44.900 --> 00:17:45.839
 Scripture talks about

00:17:45.839 --> 00:17:46.519
 how we are given

00:17:46.519 --> 00:17:47.279
 new names,

00:17:47.440 --> 00:17:48.059
 new identities,

00:17:48.059 --> 00:17:50.259
 and even new clothes.

00:17:50.960 --> 00:17:52.180
 Just like how we've been

00:17:52.180 --> 00:17:54.339
 taking a break

00:17:54.339 --> 00:17:55.740
 from our Revelation series

00:17:55.740 --> 00:17:58.299
 but how in Revelation

00:17:58.299 --> 00:17:58.920
 it says,

00:17:59.599 --> 00:18:00.460
 blessed is the one

00:18:00.460 --> 00:18:02.019
 who washes his robes.

00:18:03.079 --> 00:18:04.680
 How that's so connected

00:18:04.680 --> 00:18:07.339
 with going from filthy rags

00:18:07.339 --> 00:18:09.220
 into new clothes.

00:18:09.920 --> 00:18:11.099
 Isn't that powerful?

00:18:11.299 --> 00:18:12.339
 How we see all these

00:18:12.339 --> 00:18:13.240
 connections here.

00:18:14.660 --> 00:18:16.299
 And it's a reminder for us

00:18:16.299 --> 00:18:18.000
 that Christ is the cornerstone

00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:19.819
 and we are being built

00:18:19.819 --> 00:18:20.420
 together

00:18:20.420 --> 00:18:22.519
 into a dwelling place

00:18:22.519 --> 00:18:23.079
 for God.

00:18:24.059 --> 00:18:25.859
 Christ being the cornerstone,

00:18:26.180 --> 00:18:28.420
 being the most important stone

00:18:28.420 --> 00:18:30.220
 that holds everything together.

00:18:30.220 --> 00:18:34.900
 I love thinking of the famous

00:18:34.900 --> 00:18:36.019
 children's song,

00:18:37.140 --> 00:18:38.180
 He's Got the Whole World

00:18:38.180 --> 00:18:39.380
 in His Hands.

00:18:40.120 --> 00:18:40.339
 Right?

00:18:40.819 --> 00:18:42.980
 Talking about the sustenance,

00:18:43.660 --> 00:18:45.420
 the sustaining power of God,

00:18:46.720 --> 00:18:47.779
 that He's got this.

00:18:48.559 --> 00:18:49.920
 To have the whole world

00:18:49.920 --> 00:18:51.400
 in His hands,

00:18:51.880 --> 00:18:54.700
 that's a lot of care

00:18:54.700 --> 00:18:57.220
 and intentionality, right?

00:18:57.220 --> 00:18:58.620
 That kind of imagery.

00:18:59.920 --> 00:19:00.220
 If you,

00:19:00.799 --> 00:19:01.480
 some of you,

00:19:01.559 --> 00:19:02.640
 you may have worked

00:19:02.640 --> 00:19:04.860
 with model toys

00:19:04.860 --> 00:19:06.460
 or model houses.

00:19:07.000 --> 00:19:08.299
 I have a friend of mine

00:19:08.299 --> 00:19:11.880
 who works with model tanks

00:19:11.880 --> 00:19:15.220
 and the amount of work

00:19:15.220 --> 00:19:16.120
 that it takes

00:19:16.120 --> 00:19:18.980
 to make sure things are correct

00:19:18.980 --> 00:19:20.960
 and things don't break

00:19:20.960 --> 00:19:23.799
 is a lot of work

00:19:23.799 --> 00:19:26.039
 and that's just a little tank.

00:19:27.220 --> 00:19:29.299
 Imagine how God

00:19:29.299 --> 00:19:31.559
 is sustaining the world.

00:19:32.180 --> 00:19:33.880
 How powerful that is.

00:19:35.279 --> 00:19:35.660
 And so,

00:19:35.980 --> 00:19:36.759
 I have

00:19:36.759 --> 00:19:40.759
 the slide here.

00:19:41.920 --> 00:19:44.259
 What we can observe

00:19:44.259 --> 00:19:46.680
 from that entire set of passages,

00:19:47.680 --> 00:19:49.039
 if there's anything

00:19:49.039 --> 00:19:50.380
 you can take away from that,

00:19:51.140 --> 00:19:52.920
 is that Christ is our peace.

00:19:53.000 --> 00:19:54.940
 And I have this image of,

00:19:54.940 --> 00:19:57.640
 how many of you have experienced

00:19:57.640 --> 00:19:59.480
 or you've seen something like this, right?

00:19:59.500 --> 00:20:02.120
 You're at a very serene kind of lake

00:20:02.120 --> 00:20:04.299
 and there's like that one drop

00:20:04.299 --> 00:20:06.860
 and you see the ripple effects, right?

00:20:07.059 --> 00:20:08.279
 It's very calming.

00:20:08.480 --> 00:20:09.980
 It's very satisfying.

00:20:12.120 --> 00:20:14.320
 And that's just one,

00:20:15.380 --> 00:20:16.900
 a smaller example,

00:20:16.900 --> 00:20:20.360
 but we can think of how Christ,

00:20:21.519 --> 00:20:23.160
 in all of these verses,

00:20:24.000 --> 00:20:26.340
 being our peace

00:20:26.340 --> 00:20:29.060
 and breaking down that dividing wall.

00:20:30.340 --> 00:20:32.740
 And we think how very often

00:20:32.740 --> 00:20:36.140
 the text describes

00:20:36.140 --> 00:20:39.640
 not only what the wall is,

00:20:39.900 --> 00:20:41.800
 but that the wall is dividing

00:20:41.799 --> 00:20:43.980
 and that it's hostile.

00:20:45.819 --> 00:20:46.659
 And that's,

00:20:47.259 --> 00:20:48.859
 I don't want that kind of wall.

00:20:49.659 --> 00:20:51.259
 And to know that God is

00:20:51.259 --> 00:20:52.359
 removing

00:20:52.359 --> 00:20:54.720
 that kind of wall

00:20:54.720 --> 00:20:56.220
 and offering peace instead

00:20:56.220 --> 00:20:57.419
 is just something that is,

00:20:58.119 --> 00:20:59.559
 it can be very hard for us

00:20:59.559 --> 00:21:00.659
 to wrap our mind around.

00:21:01.299 --> 00:21:02.899
 And it's something that can be

00:21:02.899 --> 00:21:05.319
 very above our understanding

00:21:05.319 --> 00:21:06.139
 and that's okay.

00:21:06.140 --> 00:21:08.940
 But I just thought that image,

00:21:09.060 --> 00:21:09.360
 nonetheless,

00:21:10.080 --> 00:21:12.100
 you can think of how

00:21:12.100 --> 00:21:13.660
 in your own context,

00:21:13.660 --> 00:21:14.600
 in your own life,

00:21:14.880 --> 00:21:16.860
 something that is calming

00:21:16.860 --> 00:21:17.600
 and peaceful.

00:21:18.560 --> 00:21:19.860
 And think of how Christ

00:21:19.860 --> 00:21:20.500
 is much greater

00:21:20.500 --> 00:21:22.460
 than just a drop on a lake

00:21:22.460 --> 00:21:24.660
 or a, you know,

00:21:24.700 --> 00:21:25.800
 whatever you have.

00:21:27.820 --> 00:21:31.240
 I mentioned about 2025

00:21:31.240 --> 00:21:33.940
 how we were focusing

00:21:33.940 --> 00:21:35.259
 on building bridges.

00:21:36.140 --> 00:21:38.160
 And by the grace of God,

00:21:38.360 --> 00:21:39.940
 we have had

00:21:39.940 --> 00:21:41.580
 10 children

00:21:41.580 --> 00:21:43.380
 dedicated to the Lord.

00:21:44.540 --> 00:21:46.080
 By the grace of God,

00:21:46.240 --> 00:21:48.600
 we have had four baptisms.

00:21:49.540 --> 00:21:51.240
 And from what I understand,

00:21:51.340 --> 00:21:52.300
 we're looking at two

00:21:52.300 --> 00:21:53.520
 beginning next year.

00:21:54.520 --> 00:21:56.240
 Isn't that showing

00:21:56.240 --> 00:21:57.940
 how God is working

00:21:57.940 --> 00:21:58.759
 in this place?

00:22:00.500 --> 00:22:02.300
 God is doing a new thing.

00:22:02.980 --> 00:22:04.540
 And we are blessed by

00:22:04.539 --> 00:22:06.579
 not just the 10 children

00:22:06.579 --> 00:22:08.039
 in the four baptisms,

00:22:08.480 --> 00:22:09.980
 but the families

00:22:09.980 --> 00:22:11.839
 that are involved in it.

00:22:12.920 --> 00:22:14.259
 And we think about how

00:22:14.259 --> 00:22:16.079
 powerful

00:22:16.079 --> 00:22:19.319
 evidence of God's grace.

00:22:20.099 --> 00:22:21.539
 We are blessed that

00:22:21.539 --> 00:22:23.700
 these families are dedicating

00:22:23.700 --> 00:22:25.259
 their children to their Lord

00:22:25.259 --> 00:22:26.819
 and that lives

00:22:26.819 --> 00:22:28.039
 are being transformed.

00:22:28.819 --> 00:22:31.220
 Making that public statement,

00:22:31.220 --> 00:22:32.339
 saying,

00:22:32.539 --> 00:22:33.299
 I believe

00:22:33.299 --> 00:22:34.440
 in Jesus.

00:22:35.200 --> 00:22:36.319
 Let us remember

00:22:36.319 --> 00:22:38.380
 to believe in Christ

00:22:38.380 --> 00:22:40.019
 is very personal.

00:22:41.079 --> 00:22:42.620
 To be baptized then,

00:22:43.380 --> 00:22:44.380
 that's very public.

00:22:45.039 --> 00:22:46.400
 And it's very remarkable.

00:22:46.539 --> 00:22:47.360
 It's something we should

00:22:47.360 --> 00:22:48.500
 all celebrate together.

00:22:49.440 --> 00:22:49.900
 You know,

00:22:49.940 --> 00:22:50.920
 I always get a little,

00:22:50.980 --> 00:22:51.900
 I get a little jealous

00:22:51.900 --> 00:22:52.819
 sometime when I

00:22:52.819 --> 00:22:54.220
 see videos of people

00:22:54.220 --> 00:22:55.240
 getting baptized

00:22:55.240 --> 00:22:56.279
 in the River Jordan.

00:22:56.279 --> 00:22:58.879
 I think that's so cool.

00:22:59.879 --> 00:23:00.139
 You know,

00:23:00.259 --> 00:23:02.799
 I couldn't afford a flight.

00:23:03.059 --> 00:23:03.180
 You know,

00:23:03.200 --> 00:23:03.940
 I didn't get baptized

00:23:03.940 --> 00:23:04.819
 in the River Jordan

00:23:04.819 --> 00:23:06.920
 and not many of us can.

00:23:07.319 --> 00:23:07.779
 But,

00:23:08.299 --> 00:23:09.200
 in any sense,

00:23:10.259 --> 00:23:11.000
 to show

00:23:11.000 --> 00:23:12.039
 that

00:23:12.039 --> 00:23:13.740
 sense of

00:23:13.740 --> 00:23:14.879
 celebration,

00:23:16.160 --> 00:23:16.859
 that public

00:23:16.859 --> 00:23:17.399
 proclamation.

00:23:18.960 --> 00:23:19.920
 We've seen

00:23:19.920 --> 00:23:21.619
 in this course

00:23:21.619 --> 00:23:22.279
 of this year

00:23:22.279 --> 00:23:22.599
 that

00:23:22.599 --> 00:23:24.440
 God has been

00:23:24.440 --> 00:23:25.759
 allowing for us

00:23:25.759 --> 00:23:26.980
 to partner

00:23:26.980 --> 00:23:27.640
 with other

00:23:27.640 --> 00:23:28.539
 organizations.

00:23:29.220 --> 00:23:30.400
 My wife,

00:23:30.640 --> 00:23:31.380
 myself,

00:23:31.539 --> 00:23:32.620
 we've talked about

00:23:32.620 --> 00:23:33.680
 our partnership

00:23:33.680 --> 00:23:35.279
 with Building Healthy Families

00:23:35.279 --> 00:23:37.460
 to help strengthen

00:23:37.460 --> 00:23:38.059
 families

00:23:38.059 --> 00:23:39.019
 and by us

00:23:39.019 --> 00:23:40.140
 being present,

00:23:40.720 --> 00:23:42.380
 that builds

00:23:42.380 --> 00:23:43.299
 relationships.

00:23:44.820 --> 00:23:45.180
 And,

00:23:45.340 --> 00:23:46.799
 not to mention

00:23:46.799 --> 00:23:47.900
 our STEAM Nights.

00:23:49.000 --> 00:23:49.539
 Do you know

00:23:49.539 --> 00:23:50.519
 our STEAM Nights

00:23:50.519 --> 00:23:51.820
 are hosted

00:23:51.820 --> 00:23:52.920
 by this church,

00:23:53.140 --> 00:23:54.200
 our own church,

00:23:54.200 --> 00:23:55.100
 and we have

00:23:55.100 --> 00:23:55.759
 an average

00:23:55.759 --> 00:23:56.920
 of 40 people

00:23:56.920 --> 00:23:57.519
 who attend

00:23:57.519 --> 00:23:58.720
 every single time?

00:23:59.700 --> 00:24:00.700
 That's something

00:24:00.700 --> 00:24:02.279
 that is for families,

00:24:02.700 --> 00:24:03.779
 for communities,

00:24:04.319 --> 00:24:05.240
 to be exposed

00:24:05.240 --> 00:24:06.480
 to something

00:24:06.480 --> 00:24:07.700
 that,

00:24:08.880 --> 00:24:09.660
 to be exposed

00:24:09.660 --> 00:24:10.319
 to the church,

00:24:10.380 --> 00:24:11.220
 but also to be

00:24:11.220 --> 00:24:12.380
 exposed to community.

00:24:12.779 --> 00:24:14.080
 And that's something

00:24:14.080 --> 00:24:14.779
 that the church

00:24:14.779 --> 00:24:16.039
 has to offer.

00:24:16.160 --> 00:24:16.299
 And,

00:24:16.779 --> 00:24:16.980
 look,

00:24:17.059 --> 00:24:17.559
 we're not a,

00:24:17.559 --> 00:24:19.160
 we're not a big church.

00:24:20.000 --> 00:24:20.380
 You know,

00:24:20.519 --> 00:24:21.779
 what matters

00:24:21.779 --> 00:24:22.539
 is building

00:24:22.539 --> 00:24:23.539
 and cultivating

00:24:23.539 --> 00:24:24.099
 those kind

00:24:24.099 --> 00:24:25.019
 of relationships.

00:24:26.599 --> 00:24:27.559
 Knowing someone

00:24:27.559 --> 00:24:28.359
 by name,

00:24:28.819 --> 00:24:29.420
 not knowing them

00:24:29.420 --> 00:24:30.119
 by a number.

00:24:30.799 --> 00:24:31.639
 And I certainly hope

00:24:31.639 --> 00:24:32.220
 big churches

00:24:32.220 --> 00:24:34.079
 don't go by numbers.

00:24:34.799 --> 00:24:35.279
 Right?

00:24:35.700 --> 00:24:36.359
 I know,

00:24:36.420 --> 00:24:36.980
 you're all laughing,

00:24:37.099 --> 00:24:37.319
 right?

00:24:39.059 --> 00:24:40.159
 How many of you guys

00:24:40.159 --> 00:24:40.920
 have seen that,

00:24:40.960 --> 00:24:41.599
 that show,

00:24:41.680 --> 00:24:42.940
 Cheers?

00:24:44.519 --> 00:24:44.960
 Right?

00:24:45.119 --> 00:24:45.319
 You,

00:24:45.379 --> 00:24:46.059
 you probably know

00:24:46.059 --> 00:24:46.879
 the theme song.

00:24:46.980 --> 00:24:47.879
 You want to know

00:24:47.880 --> 00:24:48.860
 where everybody

00:24:48.860 --> 00:24:49.980
 knows your name.

00:24:50.340 --> 00:24:50.740
 Now,

00:24:50.800 --> 00:24:51.340
 that's talking

00:24:51.340 --> 00:24:52.020
 about a bar.

00:24:52.740 --> 00:24:53.960
 Let's be honest here.

00:24:56.640 --> 00:24:57.740
 That's probably

00:24:57.740 --> 00:24:58.500
 how a church

00:24:58.500 --> 00:24:59.080
 should be

00:24:59.080 --> 00:25:00.260
 operating,

00:25:00.440 --> 00:25:00.600
 though.

00:25:00.720 --> 00:25:01.940
 The same concept,

00:25:02.120 --> 00:25:02.420
 okay?

00:25:03.000 --> 00:25:03.520
 So,

00:25:03.740 --> 00:25:04.840
 I'll tell you,

00:25:04.940 --> 00:25:05.920
 go listen to

00:25:05.920 --> 00:25:07.220
 the Cheers theme song

00:25:07.220 --> 00:25:09.400
 and think of a church.

00:25:10.260 --> 00:25:10.780
 Okay?

00:25:12.260 --> 00:25:13.820
 The notion of that,

00:25:14.000 --> 00:25:14.460
 I think,

00:25:14.500 --> 00:25:15.280
 is very powerful.

00:25:16.120 --> 00:25:16.580
 Right?

00:25:16.579 --> 00:25:18.240
 Where you know people

00:25:18.240 --> 00:25:19.179
 and you have those,

00:25:19.259 --> 00:25:20.859
 those kind of relationships.

00:25:22.439 --> 00:25:23.240
 And so,

00:25:23.619 --> 00:25:25.319
 I bring all of that

00:25:25.319 --> 00:25:25.799
 kind of,

00:25:25.839 --> 00:25:26.279
 as we,

00:25:26.279 --> 00:25:27.500
 we now go into

00:25:27.500 --> 00:25:29.220
 Christ being our peace,

00:25:29.339 --> 00:25:30.099
 Christ tearing down

00:25:30.099 --> 00:25:30.579
 the walls,

00:25:30.639 --> 00:25:31.460
 let's go into

00:25:31.460 --> 00:25:32.819
 the interpretation,

00:25:33.259 --> 00:25:33.419
 then,

00:25:33.679 --> 00:25:34.819
 of what we can,

00:25:35.619 --> 00:25:36.379
 we've gone over

00:25:36.379 --> 00:25:37.220
 the observation,

00:25:37.339 --> 00:25:38.059
 what can we observe

00:25:38.059 --> 00:25:39.099
 directly in the text

00:25:39.099 --> 00:25:40.220
 and the interpretation,

00:25:40.579 --> 00:25:40.740
 then,

00:25:40.799 --> 00:25:41.619
 is what we can

00:25:41.619 --> 00:25:42.740
 learn from this.

00:25:43.439 --> 00:25:44.220
 The first thing,

00:25:44.339 --> 00:25:44.539
 then,

00:25:44.639 --> 00:25:45.240
 is that,

00:25:45.240 --> 00:25:47.039
 let's read it together,

00:25:47.160 --> 00:25:47.500
 church,

00:25:47.799 --> 00:25:50.059
 peace begins with Christ,

00:25:50.400 --> 00:25:51.660
 not with us,

00:25:51.740 --> 00:25:51.960
 right?

00:25:52.799 --> 00:25:53.960
 Christ does not

00:25:53.960 --> 00:25:56.420
 merely teach peace,

00:25:56.920 --> 00:25:57.359
 right?

00:25:57.980 --> 00:25:58.920
 That's very important.

00:25:59.059 --> 00:25:59.579
 There's a lot of people

00:25:59.579 --> 00:26:00.880
 that teach peace,

00:26:01.660 --> 00:26:02.859
 but we're talking about

00:26:02.859 --> 00:26:04.279
 how Christ

00:26:04.279 --> 00:26:06.160
 is our peace.

00:26:06.579 --> 00:26:08.019
 It's a subtle difference,

00:26:08.140 --> 00:26:09.500
 but it's a pretty

00:26:09.500 --> 00:26:11.180
 significant difference here.

00:26:11.180 --> 00:26:13.200
 And we think of how

00:26:13.200 --> 00:26:14.880
 reconciliation,

00:26:15.320 --> 00:26:15.420
 then,

00:26:15.460 --> 00:26:16.880
 it flows from the cross.

00:26:17.240 --> 00:26:18.100
 In other words,

00:26:18.360 --> 00:26:20.600
 we have to factor in

00:26:20.600 --> 00:26:22.220
 what Christ

00:26:22.220 --> 00:26:23.740
 has done

00:26:23.740 --> 00:26:24.460
 for us,

00:26:24.640 --> 00:26:26.240
 not what we

00:26:26.240 --> 00:26:27.460
 can do.

00:26:28.460 --> 00:26:29.740
 We think about that

00:26:29.740 --> 00:26:30.340
 when it comes

00:26:30.340 --> 00:26:31.340
 to our salvation

00:26:31.340 --> 00:26:32.660
 and how

00:26:32.660 --> 00:26:33.640
 the Lord

00:26:33.640 --> 00:26:35.259
 encourages us

00:26:35.259 --> 00:26:36.340
 and equips us

00:26:36.340 --> 00:26:37.759
 to do great things

00:26:37.759 --> 00:26:38.380
 in his name.

00:26:38.380 --> 00:26:40.280
 we think about

00:26:40.280 --> 00:26:41.300
 how in these verses

00:26:41.300 --> 00:26:42.640
 it was talking about

00:26:42.640 --> 00:26:44.280
 these walls,

00:26:44.460 --> 00:26:45.680
 these dividing walls

00:26:45.680 --> 00:26:46.700
 of hostility.

00:26:47.100 --> 00:26:48.440
 It didn't just say

00:26:48.440 --> 00:26:50.080
 walls were being destroyed.

00:26:51.000 --> 00:26:52.180
 It didn't say

00:26:52.180 --> 00:26:53.200
 unifying walls

00:26:53.200 --> 00:26:53.900
 were being destroyed.

00:26:53.980 --> 00:26:55.740
 Unifying walls of love.

00:26:57.100 --> 00:26:58.340
 It's talking about

00:26:58.340 --> 00:26:59.620
 dividing walls

00:26:59.620 --> 00:27:00.620
 of hostility

00:27:00.620 --> 00:27:02.100
 being destroyed,

00:27:02.220 --> 00:27:03.340
 being torn down.

00:27:03.339 --> 00:27:05.519
 And that is why

00:27:05.519 --> 00:27:08.480
 for 2025,

00:27:09.019 --> 00:27:10.279
 we focus so much

00:27:10.279 --> 00:27:11.959
 on building bridges

00:27:11.959 --> 00:27:13.480
 with other people.

00:27:15.259 --> 00:27:16.299
 These walls

00:27:16.299 --> 00:27:17.379
 are being torn down

00:27:17.379 --> 00:27:18.359
 of hostility

00:27:18.359 --> 00:27:22.240
 when we are called

00:27:22.240 --> 00:27:23.539
 to live and love

00:27:23.539 --> 00:27:24.779
 like Christ.

00:27:25.980 --> 00:27:27.139
 And when we think

00:27:27.139 --> 00:27:28.259
 of peace then,

00:27:29.319 --> 00:27:29.639
 well,

00:27:29.720 --> 00:27:31.079
 it begins with Christ.

00:27:32.179 --> 00:27:33.159
 True peace.

00:27:33.160 --> 00:27:35.019
 peace comes from Christ.

00:27:35.660 --> 00:27:36.380
 How many of you

00:27:36.380 --> 00:27:37.480
 have met someone

00:27:37.480 --> 00:27:38.580
 who,

00:27:39.660 --> 00:27:40.220
 they were so

00:27:40.220 --> 00:27:41.200
 peaceful

00:27:41.200 --> 00:27:43.380
 and no matter

00:27:43.380 --> 00:27:44.100
 what happened

00:27:44.100 --> 00:27:44.840
 in their life,

00:27:45.759 --> 00:27:48.600
 there was something

00:27:48.600 --> 00:27:49.220
 about them.

00:27:50.519 --> 00:27:51.519
 They had a peace,

00:27:51.640 --> 00:27:51.779
 right?

00:27:51.960 --> 00:27:53.060
 Scripture talks about

00:27:53.060 --> 00:27:53.820
 the peace

00:27:53.820 --> 00:27:54.840
 that surpasses

00:27:54.840 --> 00:27:56.720
 all understanding.

00:28:03.160 --> 00:28:04.960
 talk about peace

00:28:04.960 --> 00:28:05.200
 there.

00:28:07.019 --> 00:28:07.560
 I mean,

00:28:08.080 --> 00:28:08.560
 when we think

00:28:08.560 --> 00:28:09.000
 of peace,

00:28:09.060 --> 00:28:09.500
 we think of

00:28:09.500 --> 00:28:10.400
 peace and quiet,

00:28:10.540 --> 00:28:10.800
 you know?

00:28:10.980 --> 00:28:12.700
 Can I get a moment

00:28:12.700 --> 00:28:13.560
 of peace away

00:28:13.560 --> 00:28:14.400
 from the boss

00:28:14.400 --> 00:28:15.380
 who's nagging

00:28:15.380 --> 00:28:15.860
 on me

00:28:15.860 --> 00:28:16.680
 or whatever,

00:28:17.000 --> 00:28:17.360
 you know?

00:28:19.019 --> 00:28:19.440
 Can I,

00:28:19.840 --> 00:28:20.700
 it's too loud,

00:28:20.779 --> 00:28:21.500
 these kids are

00:28:21.500 --> 00:28:22.180
 rambunctious.

00:28:22.259 --> 00:28:23.180
 Not that I've

00:28:23.180 --> 00:28:24.100
 ever experienced

00:28:24.100 --> 00:28:24.440
 that,

00:28:25.120 --> 00:28:25.560
 you know?

00:28:25.559 --> 00:28:27.460
 I admit,

00:28:27.679 --> 00:28:28.440
 I'm human,

00:28:28.559 --> 00:28:29.500
 I've got five kids

00:28:29.500 --> 00:28:30.500
 and there's a lot

00:28:30.500 --> 00:28:31.359
 more loud moments

00:28:31.359 --> 00:28:32.220
 than quiet ones.

00:28:32.940 --> 00:28:34.139
 And to be very honest,

00:28:34.500 --> 00:28:35.299
 I get a little more

00:28:35.299 --> 00:28:35.819
 freaked out

00:28:35.819 --> 00:28:36.500
 when it's quiet

00:28:36.500 --> 00:28:37.440
 than when it's loud,

00:28:37.759 --> 00:28:38.220
 you know?

00:28:38.740 --> 00:28:39.919
 So I gotta be careful

00:28:39.919 --> 00:28:40.819
 what I ask for,

00:28:41.019 --> 00:28:41.599
 right?

00:28:42.240 --> 00:28:43.200
 But anyways,

00:28:43.319 --> 00:28:43.839
 with this,

00:28:44.379 --> 00:28:46.879
 as we receive

00:28:46.879 --> 00:28:47.940
 this true peace

00:28:47.940 --> 00:28:48.639
 from Christ,

00:28:48.720 --> 00:28:49.279
 we are called

00:28:49.279 --> 00:28:49.819
 to share

00:28:49.819 --> 00:28:50.379
 in the peace

00:28:50.379 --> 00:28:50.940
 of Christ

00:28:50.940 --> 00:28:52.220
 with other people.

00:28:52.980 --> 00:28:53.900
 The second thing

00:28:53.900 --> 00:28:54.680
 then is

00:28:54.680 --> 00:28:55.400
 peace

00:28:55.400 --> 00:28:57.100
 forms.

00:28:57.240 --> 00:28:58.460
 I have a typo there.

00:28:58.559 --> 00:28:59.480
 It forms us

00:28:59.480 --> 00:29:00.880
 or forms a us,

00:29:01.019 --> 00:29:01.259
 right?

00:29:01.740 --> 00:29:03.220
 It forms us

00:29:03.220 --> 00:29:04.180
 individually

00:29:04.180 --> 00:29:05.460
 and collectively,

00:29:05.700 --> 00:29:05.900
 right?

00:29:05.940 --> 00:29:06.480
 I'm human.

00:29:06.640 --> 00:29:07.039
 I have,

00:29:07.600 --> 00:29:08.740
 I put typos

00:29:08.740 --> 00:29:09.600
 every so often.

00:29:09.759 --> 00:29:10.860
 Were they intentional

00:29:10.860 --> 00:29:11.360
 or not?

00:29:11.380 --> 00:29:11.820
 I don't know.

00:29:11.880 --> 00:29:12.799
 I'll have to find out.

00:29:14.440 --> 00:29:15.799
 We think about this

00:29:15.799 --> 00:29:16.200
 that

00:29:16.200 --> 00:29:18.100
 God

00:29:18.100 --> 00:29:19.120
 not only

00:29:19.120 --> 00:29:19.799
 saves

00:29:19.799 --> 00:29:20.920
 individual people,

00:29:20.940 --> 00:29:22.220
 but he forms

00:29:22.220 --> 00:29:23.340
 people groups,

00:29:23.980 --> 00:29:25.480
 forming a people,

00:29:25.600 --> 00:29:26.660
 the body of Christ,

00:29:26.920 --> 00:29:27.580
 transforming

00:29:27.580 --> 00:29:28.820
 marriages

00:29:28.820 --> 00:29:30.380
 or relationships

00:29:30.380 --> 00:29:31.000
 with

00:29:31.000 --> 00:29:32.539
 mother and

00:29:32.539 --> 00:29:34.200
 mother and father,

00:29:34.320 --> 00:29:35.100
 mother and child,

00:29:35.279 --> 00:29:35.460
 father.

00:29:35.580 --> 00:29:35.799
 I mean,

00:29:35.880 --> 00:29:36.900
 you can go on

00:29:36.900 --> 00:29:38.019
 with families

00:29:38.019 --> 00:29:39.220
 and these kind of things.

00:29:39.380 --> 00:29:40.500
 It is God's desire

00:29:40.500 --> 00:29:42.080
 to make all things new.

00:29:43.019 --> 00:29:44.059
 It is God's desire

00:29:44.059 --> 00:29:44.840
 to transform

00:29:44.840 --> 00:29:46.140
 each and every one of us

00:29:46.140 --> 00:29:47.559
 and it doesn't stop

00:29:47.559 --> 00:29:48.880
 in the individual though.

00:29:49.279 --> 00:29:50.340
 It continues

00:29:50.339 --> 00:29:51.000
 with others.

00:29:51.000 --> 00:29:51.879
 Think about it.

00:29:52.720 --> 00:29:54.059
 If I'm the only

00:29:54.059 --> 00:29:54.759
 Christian

00:29:54.759 --> 00:29:55.819
 in

00:29:55.819 --> 00:29:57.259
 a completely

00:29:57.259 --> 00:29:58.079
 evil

00:29:58.079 --> 00:29:59.319
 and worldly family,

00:29:59.859 --> 00:30:01.339
 you don't think

00:30:01.339 --> 00:30:02.799
 that how God

00:30:02.799 --> 00:30:03.799
 is transforming me

00:30:03.799 --> 00:30:04.679
 is going to affect

00:30:04.679 --> 00:30:05.399
 my family

00:30:05.399 --> 00:30:06.619
 and everyone

00:30:06.619 --> 00:30:07.299
 that I know?

00:30:08.279 --> 00:30:09.779
 That's the transforming

00:30:09.779 --> 00:30:10.899
 power of God.

00:30:12.000 --> 00:30:12.919
 It affects

00:30:12.919 --> 00:30:14.079
 a multitude

00:30:14.079 --> 00:30:14.779
 of people.

00:30:16.019 --> 00:30:17.259
 And we think about that,

00:30:17.259 --> 00:30:18.299
 God's desire

00:30:18.299 --> 00:30:19.859
 to make all things new.

00:30:21.220 --> 00:30:21.859
 Christ being

00:30:21.859 --> 00:30:22.779
 the transformer

00:30:22.779 --> 00:30:24.879
 of all of us.

00:30:25.759 --> 00:30:26.759
 And it should be

00:30:26.759 --> 00:30:27.420
 our desire

00:30:27.420 --> 00:30:28.559
 to want to be

00:30:28.559 --> 00:30:30.160
 molded by the Lord,

00:30:30.519 --> 00:30:32.019
 to journey with Him.

00:30:33.779 --> 00:30:34.119
 And

00:30:34.119 --> 00:30:36.099
 we think

00:30:36.099 --> 00:30:37.200
 about that.

00:30:37.640 --> 00:30:38.420
 To think that

00:30:38.420 --> 00:30:39.859
 we're no longer

00:30:39.859 --> 00:30:40.379
 strangers

00:30:40.379 --> 00:30:41.059
 but members

00:30:41.059 --> 00:30:42.019
 of God's household,

00:30:42.140 --> 00:30:42.640
 that's a very

00:30:42.640 --> 00:30:44.220
 intimate kind of setting.

00:30:44.220 --> 00:30:46.880
 thinking about

00:30:46.880 --> 00:30:47.299
 how

00:30:47.299 --> 00:30:48.860
 Christ being

00:30:48.860 --> 00:30:49.819
 the cornerstone,

00:30:50.880 --> 00:30:51.360
 right?

00:30:51.460 --> 00:30:51.680
 This

00:30:51.680 --> 00:30:52.559
 peace

00:30:52.559 --> 00:30:54.420
 forms us.

00:30:55.680 --> 00:30:56.539
 We are

00:30:56.539 --> 00:30:57.299
 transformed

00:30:57.299 --> 00:30:58.120
 as we are

00:30:58.120 --> 00:30:58.860
 transformed.

00:30:59.299 --> 00:31:00.039
 We are to

00:31:00.039 --> 00:31:00.559
 transform

00:31:00.559 --> 00:31:01.420
 by living

00:31:01.420 --> 00:31:01.980
 and loving

00:31:01.980 --> 00:31:02.759
 like Christ.

00:31:02.759 --> 00:31:02.879
 Christ.

00:31:03.980 --> 00:31:04.879
 It is not

00:31:04.879 --> 00:31:06.720
 our power,

00:31:07.200 --> 00:31:07.940
 but it is

00:31:07.940 --> 00:31:08.400
 the power

00:31:08.400 --> 00:31:08.960
 that comes

00:31:08.960 --> 00:31:09.920
 through us

00:31:09.920 --> 00:31:11.500
 from Christ.

00:31:12.200 --> 00:31:12.900
 It's just

00:31:12.900 --> 00:31:13.480
 like how

00:31:13.480 --> 00:31:15.059
 many of you

00:31:15.059 --> 00:31:15.559
 have seen,

00:31:15.720 --> 00:31:17.460
 I think

00:31:17.460 --> 00:31:18.079
 it's the mummy,

00:31:18.240 --> 00:31:18.400
 Tim.

00:31:18.799 --> 00:31:19.440
 It might be

00:31:19.440 --> 00:31:19.839
 the mummy,

00:31:20.379 --> 00:31:21.400
 where

00:31:21.400 --> 00:31:22.779
 they're trying

00:31:22.779 --> 00:31:23.240
 to light

00:31:23.240 --> 00:31:23.960
 a very dark

00:31:23.960 --> 00:31:24.319
 room

00:31:24.319 --> 00:31:26.059
 and they

00:31:26.059 --> 00:31:26.940
 get a mirror

00:31:26.940 --> 00:31:27.960
 to shine

00:31:27.960 --> 00:31:28.500
 the light

00:31:28.500 --> 00:31:28.980
 of the sun

00:31:28.980 --> 00:31:29.740
 and they get

00:31:29.740 --> 00:31:30.099
 all these

00:31:30.099 --> 00:31:30.599
 mirrors

00:31:30.599 --> 00:31:31.859
 to keep

00:31:31.859 --> 00:31:32.440
 reflecting

00:31:32.440 --> 00:31:33.380
 and to

00:31:33.380 --> 00:31:33.820
 light this

00:31:33.820 --> 00:31:34.420
 entire

00:31:34.420 --> 00:31:34.920
 dark

00:31:34.920 --> 00:31:35.320
 room

00:31:35.320 --> 00:31:35.940
 up.

00:31:37.580 --> 00:31:38.480
 I think

00:31:38.480 --> 00:31:38.940
 that's a

00:31:38.940 --> 00:31:39.160
 really

00:31:39.160 --> 00:31:39.779
 great

00:31:39.779 --> 00:31:40.400
 imagery.

00:31:41.860 --> 00:31:42.460
 Right?

00:31:42.580 --> 00:31:43.100
 The mirror

00:31:43.100 --> 00:31:43.640
 is not

00:31:43.640 --> 00:31:44.180
 the sun.

00:31:45.600 --> 00:31:46.420
 It is

00:31:46.420 --> 00:31:47.100
 reflecting

00:31:47.100 --> 00:31:47.680
 the sun

00:31:47.680 --> 00:31:47.920
 though

00:31:47.920 --> 00:31:48.840
 to light

00:31:48.840 --> 00:31:49.279
 up that

00:31:49.279 --> 00:31:49.600
 room.

00:31:50.740 --> 00:31:51.460
 In a

00:31:51.460 --> 00:31:52.140
 very similar

00:31:52.140 --> 00:31:52.480
 way,

00:31:52.580 --> 00:31:53.059
 we have

00:31:53.059 --> 00:31:53.700
 the light

00:31:53.700 --> 00:31:54.320
 of Christ

00:31:54.320 --> 00:31:54.700
 and we

00:31:54.700 --> 00:31:55.140
 are to

00:31:55.140 --> 00:31:56.120
 reflect,

00:31:56.960 --> 00:31:57.460
 radiate,

00:31:58.120 --> 00:31:58.720
 share in

00:31:58.720 --> 00:31:59.259
 that kind

00:31:59.259 --> 00:31:59.779
 of light

00:31:59.779 --> 00:32:00.580
 of Christ

00:32:00.579 --> 00:32:01.480
 with other

00:32:01.480 --> 00:32:01.899
 people.

00:32:04.699 --> 00:32:05.319
 A couple

00:32:05.319 --> 00:32:06.759
 questions I

00:32:06.759 --> 00:32:07.259
 want you to

00:32:07.259 --> 00:32:07.779
 think about.

00:32:09.659 --> 00:32:10.240
 Have you

00:32:10.240 --> 00:32:10.799
 ever thought

00:32:10.799 --> 00:32:11.819
 of the

00:32:11.819 --> 00:32:12.179
 church

00:32:12.179 --> 00:32:13.220
 as a

00:32:13.220 --> 00:32:13.639
 household?

00:32:15.119 --> 00:32:15.579
 You've

00:32:15.579 --> 00:32:15.819
 probably

00:32:15.819 --> 00:32:16.299
 thought of

00:32:16.299 --> 00:32:16.740
 the church

00:32:16.740 --> 00:32:17.139
 as,

00:32:17.259 --> 00:32:17.319
 well,

00:32:17.379 --> 00:32:17.819
 this is

00:32:17.819 --> 00:32:18.619
 the

00:32:18.619 --> 00:32:19.379
 dwelling

00:32:19.379 --> 00:32:19.960
 place of

00:32:19.960 --> 00:32:20.279
 God,

00:32:20.740 --> 00:32:21.000
 right?

00:32:21.059 --> 00:32:21.439
 This is

00:32:21.439 --> 00:32:21.859
 God's

00:32:21.859 --> 00:32:22.199
 house.

00:32:22.299 --> 00:32:22.519
 I know

00:32:22.519 --> 00:32:23.179
 my parents

00:32:23.179 --> 00:32:23.500
 used to

00:32:23.500 --> 00:32:23.779
 tell me

00:32:23.779 --> 00:32:24.139
 that all

00:32:24.139 --> 00:32:24.859
 the time.

00:32:25.139 --> 00:32:25.619
 You don't

00:32:25.619 --> 00:32:25.939
 want to be

00:32:25.939 --> 00:32:26.579
 rambunctious

00:32:26.579 --> 00:32:26.939
 because this

00:32:26.939 --> 00:32:27.460
 is God's

00:32:27.460 --> 00:32:27.779
 house.

00:32:27.779 --> 00:32:28.700
 But have

00:32:28.700 --> 00:32:29.000
 you ever

00:32:29.000 --> 00:32:29.740
 thought of

00:32:29.740 --> 00:32:30.740
 the church

00:32:30.740 --> 00:32:32.139
 being part

00:32:32.139 --> 00:32:32.680
 of God's

00:32:32.680 --> 00:32:33.099
 household?

00:32:34.379 --> 00:32:34.680
 It's kind

00:32:34.680 --> 00:32:34.859
 of an

00:32:34.859 --> 00:32:35.180
 interesting

00:32:35.180 --> 00:32:35.519
 thought,

00:32:35.619 --> 00:32:35.960
 isn't it?

00:32:37.160 --> 00:32:38.019
 And then

00:32:38.019 --> 00:32:38.319
 the other

00:32:38.319 --> 00:32:39.240
 question is

00:32:39.240 --> 00:32:40.779
 how often

00:32:40.779 --> 00:32:41.599
 do we

00:32:41.599 --> 00:32:42.879
 try to

00:32:42.879 --> 00:32:43.480
 create peace

00:32:43.480 --> 00:32:43.799
 on our

00:32:43.799 --> 00:32:44.039
 own

00:32:44.039 --> 00:32:45.940
 when we

00:32:45.940 --> 00:32:47.019
 need that

00:32:47.019 --> 00:32:47.599
 peace that

00:32:47.599 --> 00:32:48.220
 surpasses

00:32:48.220 --> 00:32:48.420
 all

00:32:48.420 --> 00:32:49.019
 understanding?

00:32:50.819 --> 00:32:51.759
 The third

00:32:51.759 --> 00:32:52.299
 thing then

00:32:52.299 --> 00:32:54.619
 is peace

00:32:54.619 --> 00:32:55.759
 shapes us

00:32:55.759 --> 00:32:57.220
 as witnesses

00:32:57.220 --> 00:32:58.740
 and peacemakers.

00:33:00.500 --> 00:33:01.019
 That's

00:33:01.019 --> 00:33:01.299
 where we

00:33:01.299 --> 00:33:01.779
 had this

00:33:01.779 --> 00:33:02.480
 idea of

00:33:02.480 --> 00:33:02.640
 the

00:33:02.640 --> 00:33:03.099
 ministry

00:33:03.099 --> 00:33:03.339
 of

00:33:03.339 --> 00:33:03.940
 reconciliation,

00:33:04.379 --> 00:33:04.519
 right?

00:33:04.559 --> 00:33:05.019
 Where peace

00:33:05.019 --> 00:33:05.379
 is not

00:33:05.379 --> 00:33:06.039
 passive,

00:33:06.519 --> 00:33:07.500
 it moves

00:33:07.500 --> 00:33:08.079
 outward

00:33:08.079 --> 00:33:08.879
 towards

00:33:08.879 --> 00:33:09.240
 other

00:33:09.240 --> 00:33:09.680
 people.

00:33:10.460 --> 00:33:11.259
 Just as

00:33:11.259 --> 00:33:12.079
 we receive

00:33:12.079 --> 00:33:12.980
 the greatest

00:33:12.980 --> 00:33:13.619
 gift of

00:33:13.619 --> 00:33:14.240
 salvation,

00:33:15.440 --> 00:33:15.859
 why would

00:33:15.859 --> 00:33:16.119
 you not

00:33:16.119 --> 00:33:16.359
 want to

00:33:16.359 --> 00:33:16.700
 share that

00:33:16.700 --> 00:33:17.019
 with other

00:33:17.019 --> 00:33:17.359
 people?

00:33:18.119 --> 00:33:18.619
 I've

00:33:18.619 --> 00:33:18.920
 always been

00:33:18.920 --> 00:33:19.539
 so confused

00:33:19.539 --> 00:33:20.039
 by that.

00:33:20.480 --> 00:33:21.119
 Why would

00:33:21.119 --> 00:33:21.400
 you not

00:33:21.400 --> 00:33:21.799
 want to

00:33:21.799 --> 00:33:23.460
 tell everyone

00:33:23.460 --> 00:33:24.299
 what you

00:33:24.299 --> 00:33:24.779
 believe in?

00:33:24.779 --> 00:33:25.940
 why would

00:33:25.940 --> 00:33:26.240
 you not

00:33:26.240 --> 00:33:26.519
 want to

00:33:26.519 --> 00:33:26.960
 share how

00:33:26.960 --> 00:33:27.339
 God's

00:33:27.339 --> 00:33:27.799
 working in

00:33:27.799 --> 00:33:28.279
 your life?

00:33:28.660 --> 00:33:29.379
 Why would

00:33:29.379 --> 00:33:29.619
 you not

00:33:29.619 --> 00:33:29.899
 want to

00:33:29.899 --> 00:33:31.359
 share the

00:33:31.359 --> 00:33:32.099
 peace of

00:33:32.099 --> 00:33:33.359
 Christ or

00:33:33.359 --> 00:33:33.879
 share the

00:33:33.879 --> 00:33:34.519
 simple fact

00:33:34.519 --> 00:33:35.099
 that Christ

00:33:35.099 --> 00:33:35.819
 is your

00:33:35.819 --> 00:33:36.259
 peace?

00:33:37.059 --> 00:33:37.779
 It's a

00:33:37.779 --> 00:33:38.279
 call for

00:33:38.279 --> 00:33:39.460
 you to

00:33:39.460 --> 00:33:41.220
 share because

00:33:41.220 --> 00:33:41.859
 this kind

00:33:41.859 --> 00:33:42.359
 of peace

00:33:42.359 --> 00:33:43.519
 is an

00:33:43.519 --> 00:33:44.240
 active kind

00:33:44.240 --> 00:33:44.740
 of peace.

00:33:45.779 --> 00:33:46.559
 And I'm

00:33:46.559 --> 00:33:47.180
 reminded how

00:33:47.180 --> 00:33:48.039
 Christ calls

00:33:48.039 --> 00:33:48.680
 us to be

00:33:48.680 --> 00:33:50.000
 peacemakers

00:33:50.000 --> 00:33:51.680
 and not

00:33:51.680 --> 00:33:52.559
 peacekeepers.

00:33:53.399 --> 00:33:54.160
 We'll go

00:33:54.160 --> 00:33:54.580
 more into

00:33:54.580 --> 00:33:55.100
 that next

00:33:55.100 --> 00:33:55.480
 week.

00:33:56.560 --> 00:33:57.000
 Blessed

00:33:57.000 --> 00:33:57.500
 are the

00:33:57.500 --> 00:33:58.240
 peacemakers.

00:33:58.779 --> 00:33:59.080
 Very

00:33:59.080 --> 00:33:59.580
 interesting

00:33:59.580 --> 00:34:00.340
 when we

00:34:00.340 --> 00:34:00.779
 think about

00:34:00.779 --> 00:34:01.360
 the difference

00:34:01.360 --> 00:34:02.500
 between a

00:34:02.500 --> 00:34:03.200
 peacekeeper

00:34:03.200 --> 00:34:04.200
 and a

00:34:04.200 --> 00:34:05.019
 peacemaker.

00:34:06.200 --> 00:34:07.140
 So let's

00:34:07.140 --> 00:34:07.519
 keep that

00:34:07.519 --> 00:34:07.920
 in mind.

00:34:09.920 --> 00:34:10.420
 And so

00:34:10.420 --> 00:34:12.539
 in all of

00:34:12.539 --> 00:34:13.000
 this then

00:34:13.000 --> 00:34:13.840
 let us go

00:34:13.840 --> 00:34:14.720
 to our

00:34:14.720 --> 00:34:15.320
 application

00:34:15.320 --> 00:34:15.700
 then.

00:34:16.500 --> 00:34:17.180
 What do

00:34:17.180 --> 00:34:17.579
 we do

00:34:17.579 --> 00:34:18.300
 about this?

00:34:18.960 --> 00:34:19.340
 Right?

00:34:19.380 --> 00:34:19.780
 We have the

00:34:19.780 --> 00:34:20.760
 observation where

00:34:20.760 --> 00:34:21.400
 we read the

00:34:21.400 --> 00:34:21.740
 text.

00:34:21.739 --> 00:34:23.119
 we have

00:34:23.119 --> 00:34:23.279
 the

00:34:23.279 --> 00:34:23.959
 interpretation

00:34:23.959 --> 00:34:24.459
 is what

00:34:24.459 --> 00:34:24.799
 are the

00:34:24.799 --> 00:34:25.299
 underlying

00:34:25.299 --> 00:34:25.819
 lessons

00:34:25.819 --> 00:34:26.099
 here.

00:34:27.199 --> 00:34:27.879
 And the

00:34:27.879 --> 00:34:28.419
 application

00:34:28.419 --> 00:34:29.039
 then is

00:34:29.039 --> 00:34:29.500
 what we

00:34:29.500 --> 00:34:30.099
 do about

00:34:30.099 --> 00:34:30.299
 it.

00:34:31.579 --> 00:34:31.919
 You know,

00:34:32.039 --> 00:34:32.979
 it's very

00:34:32.979 --> 00:34:33.739
 important for

00:34:33.739 --> 00:34:34.339
 us to

00:34:34.339 --> 00:34:35.439
 go over

00:34:35.439 --> 00:34:35.919
 all of

00:34:35.919 --> 00:34:36.599
 these because

00:34:36.599 --> 00:34:38.519
 as we

00:34:38.519 --> 00:34:39.119
 learn,

00:34:39.839 --> 00:34:40.419
 as we

00:34:40.419 --> 00:34:40.859
 grow,

00:34:41.619 --> 00:34:41.959
 we need

00:34:41.959 --> 00:34:42.219
 to live

00:34:42.219 --> 00:34:42.559
 it out.

00:34:43.719 --> 00:34:43.879
 Right?

00:34:43.979 --> 00:34:44.619
 It's kind

00:34:44.619 --> 00:34:45.439
 of, I

00:34:45.439 --> 00:34:45.799
 always think

00:34:45.799 --> 00:34:46.399
 it's interesting

00:34:46.399 --> 00:34:48.439
 how, how

00:34:48.439 --> 00:34:48.839
 many of you

00:34:48.839 --> 00:34:49.239
 have ever

00:34:49.239 --> 00:34:49.739
 bought a

00:34:49.739 --> 00:34:50.719
 self-help

00:34:50.719 --> 00:34:51.219
 book before,

00:34:51.299 --> 00:34:51.619
 you can be

00:34:51.619 --> 00:34:52.139
 honest here,

00:34:52.239 --> 00:34:52.419
 right?

00:34:53.579 --> 00:34:54.139
 And they

00:34:54.139 --> 00:34:54.739
 always say

00:34:54.739 --> 00:34:55.479
 you need to

00:34:55.479 --> 00:34:56.379
 apply what

00:34:56.379 --> 00:34:56.819
 you've learned.

00:34:56.899 --> 00:34:57.259
 I mean, this

00:34:57.259 --> 00:34:58.279
 can apply to

00:34:58.279 --> 00:34:59.539
 life skills

00:34:59.539 --> 00:35:00.659
 or training

00:35:00.659 --> 00:35:01.279
 or whatever

00:35:01.279 --> 00:35:01.599
 it is.

00:35:01.639 --> 00:35:01.939
 It doesn't have

00:35:01.939 --> 00:35:02.419
 to be just

00:35:02.419 --> 00:35:02.879
 self-help.

00:35:02.939 --> 00:35:03.239
 It can be

00:35:03.239 --> 00:35:04.159
 any sort

00:35:04.159 --> 00:35:04.539
 of thing.

00:35:05.179 --> 00:35:05.559
 You have

00:35:05.559 --> 00:35:06.239
 to apply

00:35:06.239 --> 00:35:06.919
 the skills

00:35:06.919 --> 00:35:07.339
 that you

00:35:07.339 --> 00:35:07.699
 learn.

00:35:08.000 --> 00:35:08.539
 That's no

00:35:08.539 --> 00:35:09.219
 different than

00:35:09.219 --> 00:35:09.559
 when it

00:35:09.559 --> 00:35:10.079
 comes to

00:35:10.079 --> 00:35:10.419
 scripture.

00:35:11.319 --> 00:35:11.959
 When we

00:35:11.959 --> 00:35:12.439
 read the

00:35:12.439 --> 00:35:12.979
 text and

00:35:12.979 --> 00:35:13.379
 we learn

00:35:13.379 --> 00:35:13.899
 the lessons,

00:35:14.000 --> 00:35:14.239
 we have

00:35:14.239 --> 00:35:14.899
 to apply

00:35:14.899 --> 00:35:15.259
 it to

00:35:15.259 --> 00:35:15.639
 our very

00:35:15.639 --> 00:35:16.159
 lives.

00:35:17.159 --> 00:35:17.379
 And so

00:35:17.379 --> 00:35:17.719
 we have

00:35:17.719 --> 00:35:18.239
 the question

00:35:18.239 --> 00:35:18.459
 then,

00:35:18.460 --> 00:35:19.000
 how should

00:35:19.000 --> 00:35:19.880
 we live,

00:35:19.980 --> 00:35:20.199
 right?

00:35:20.780 --> 00:35:21.519
 The first

00:35:21.519 --> 00:35:22.340
 thing is,

00:35:22.740 --> 00:35:24.559
 I've used

00:35:24.559 --> 00:35:25.099
 this in

00:35:25.099 --> 00:35:25.579
 connection

00:35:25.579 --> 00:35:27.500
 with this

00:35:27.500 --> 00:35:28.900
 idea of

00:35:28.900 --> 00:35:29.539
 bridge

00:35:29.539 --> 00:35:29.940
 building,

00:35:30.420 --> 00:35:31.599
 is to

00:35:31.599 --> 00:35:33.119
 stand on

00:35:33.119 --> 00:35:33.679
 the bridge.

00:35:34.320 --> 00:35:34.679
 Remember

00:35:34.679 --> 00:35:35.639
 God's

00:35:35.639 --> 00:35:36.159
 help.

00:35:37.300 --> 00:35:38.360
 Now, I

00:35:38.360 --> 00:35:38.880
 want you to

00:35:38.880 --> 00:35:39.599
 think of

00:35:39.599 --> 00:35:40.840
 a bridge

00:35:40.840 --> 00:35:42.460
 just like

00:35:42.460 --> 00:35:42.820
 how the

00:35:42.820 --> 00:35:43.280
 text is

00:35:43.280 --> 00:35:43.860
 talking about

00:35:43.860 --> 00:35:44.460
 the dividing

00:35:44.460 --> 00:35:46.159
 wall of

00:35:46.159 --> 00:35:47.179
 hostility being

00:35:47.179 --> 00:35:47.579
 gone.

00:35:48.379 --> 00:35:48.699
 Think of

00:35:48.699 --> 00:35:49.219
 the image

00:35:49.219 --> 00:35:50.019
 of a

00:35:50.019 --> 00:35:50.440
 bridge

00:35:50.440 --> 00:35:52.279
 to God.

00:35:53.079 --> 00:35:53.799
 That you

00:35:53.799 --> 00:35:54.319
 now have

00:35:54.319 --> 00:35:55.239
 that access.

00:35:56.899 --> 00:35:57.399
 And so,

00:35:57.779 --> 00:35:59.019
 as you

00:35:59.019 --> 00:35:59.779
 stand on

00:35:59.779 --> 00:36:00.239
 the bridge

00:36:00.239 --> 00:36:00.699
 or as

00:36:00.699 --> 00:36:00.919
 you're

00:36:00.919 --> 00:36:01.399
 journeying

00:36:01.399 --> 00:36:01.779
 in the

00:36:01.779 --> 00:36:02.099
 bridge,

00:36:02.719 --> 00:36:03.179
 remember

00:36:03.179 --> 00:36:03.940
 God's

00:36:03.940 --> 00:36:04.480
 help.

00:36:05.759 --> 00:36:06.199
 Know that

00:36:06.199 --> 00:36:06.739
 God has

00:36:06.739 --> 00:36:07.239
 been there

00:36:07.239 --> 00:36:08.339
 for you.

00:36:09.419 --> 00:36:09.940
 Right?

00:36:10.019 --> 00:36:10.779
 That he's

00:36:10.779 --> 00:36:11.500
 calling for

00:36:11.500 --> 00:36:11.899
 each and

00:36:11.899 --> 00:36:12.359
 every one

00:36:12.359 --> 00:36:12.739
 of you

00:36:12.739 --> 00:36:13.899
 into a

00:36:13.899 --> 00:36:14.460
 relationship

00:36:14.460 --> 00:36:15.000
 with him.

00:36:16.139 --> 00:36:17.260
 And maybe

00:36:17.260 --> 00:36:17.880
 it's a

00:36:17.880 --> 00:36:18.420
 possibility

00:36:18.420 --> 00:36:19.019
 for you

00:36:19.019 --> 00:36:20.139
 to think

00:36:20.139 --> 00:36:20.500
 of one

00:36:20.500 --> 00:36:20.960
 way that

00:36:20.960 --> 00:36:21.559
 God has

00:36:21.559 --> 00:36:22.039
 brought you

00:36:22.039 --> 00:36:22.659
 near to

00:36:22.659 --> 00:36:22.900
 him.

00:36:24.039 --> 00:36:24.760
 Think of

00:36:24.760 --> 00:36:24.980
 that.

00:36:25.539 --> 00:36:26.059
 God is

00:36:26.059 --> 00:36:26.679
 with us.

00:36:27.280 --> 00:36:27.559
 He's

00:36:27.559 --> 00:36:28.099
 calling for

00:36:28.099 --> 00:36:28.380
 you to

00:36:28.380 --> 00:36:29.400
 draw near

00:36:29.400 --> 00:36:29.820
 to him.

00:36:30.659 --> 00:36:31.240
 Maybe you

00:36:31.240 --> 00:36:31.900
 can reflect

00:36:31.900 --> 00:36:33.139
 on one

00:36:33.139 --> 00:36:34.420
 instance

00:36:34.420 --> 00:36:35.760
 that God

00:36:35.760 --> 00:36:36.179
 has brought

00:36:36.179 --> 00:36:36.559
 you near.

00:36:37.480 --> 00:36:38.139
 And I

00:36:38.139 --> 00:36:39.000
 also encourage

00:36:39.000 --> 00:36:39.460
 for you

00:36:39.460 --> 00:36:40.780
 to thank

00:36:40.780 --> 00:36:41.119
 God

00:36:41.119 --> 00:36:41.940
 intentionally

00:36:41.940 --> 00:36:42.539
 for his

00:36:42.539 --> 00:36:43.300
 faithfulness.

00:36:44.300 --> 00:36:44.579
 God

00:36:44.579 --> 00:36:45.099
 doesn't

00:36:45.099 --> 00:36:46.039
 give up

00:36:46.039 --> 00:36:46.559
 on us.

00:36:47.780 --> 00:36:48.000
 Now,

00:36:48.980 --> 00:36:49.659
 nobody

00:36:49.659 --> 00:36:50.119
 here has

00:36:50.119 --> 00:36:50.440
 to raise

00:36:50.440 --> 00:36:50.920
 their hand,

00:36:51.019 --> 00:36:51.840
 but it's

00:36:51.840 --> 00:36:52.260
 the most

00:36:52.260 --> 00:36:53.320
 disheartening

00:36:53.320 --> 00:36:54.019
 thing when

00:36:54.019 --> 00:36:54.840
 someone gives

00:36:54.840 --> 00:36:55.240
 up on

00:36:55.240 --> 00:36:55.519
 someone,

00:36:55.619 --> 00:36:55.820
 right?

00:36:56.519 --> 00:36:57.099
 Very

00:36:57.099 --> 00:36:57.740
 disheartening.

00:36:58.440 --> 00:36:59.059
 But when

00:36:59.059 --> 00:36:59.440
 it comes

00:36:59.440 --> 00:36:59.940
 to God,

00:37:00.500 --> 00:37:00.860
 he is

00:37:00.860 --> 00:37:01.740
 beyond our

00:37:01.740 --> 00:37:02.159
 human

00:37:02.159 --> 00:37:02.800
 understanding

00:37:02.800 --> 00:37:03.619
 and our

00:37:03.619 --> 00:37:03.880
 human

00:37:03.880 --> 00:37:04.300
 reasoning.

00:37:06.340 --> 00:37:06.960
 God

00:37:06.960 --> 00:37:07.260
 doesn't

00:37:07.260 --> 00:37:07.579
 abandon

00:37:07.579 --> 00:37:07.980
 us.

00:37:08.940 --> 00:37:09.360
 He's

00:37:09.360 --> 00:37:10.039
 always there

00:37:10.039 --> 00:37:10.679
 for us.

00:37:10.679 --> 00:37:12.379
 when we

00:37:12.379 --> 00:37:12.919
 read so

00:37:12.919 --> 00:37:13.119
 much

00:37:13.119 --> 00:37:13.559
 scripture

00:37:13.559 --> 00:37:14.039
 talking

00:37:14.039 --> 00:37:14.399
 about

00:37:14.399 --> 00:37:15.399
 the

00:37:15.399 --> 00:37:15.619
 Lord

00:37:15.619 --> 00:37:15.899
 being

00:37:15.899 --> 00:37:16.699
 patient,

00:37:17.279 --> 00:37:17.639
 kind,

00:37:17.739 --> 00:37:17.879
 and

00:37:17.879 --> 00:37:18.319
 merciful,

00:37:19.319 --> 00:37:19.919
 how the

00:37:19.919 --> 00:37:20.299
 Lord is

00:37:20.299 --> 00:37:20.799
 faithful.

00:37:21.699 --> 00:37:22.379
 We should

00:37:22.379 --> 00:37:22.960
 thank God

00:37:22.960 --> 00:37:23.500
 for that.

00:37:24.879 --> 00:37:25.339
 Just say,

00:37:25.440 --> 00:37:25.940
 Lord God,

00:37:25.940 --> 00:37:28.440
 I'm glad

00:37:28.440 --> 00:37:28.839
 you're

00:37:28.839 --> 00:37:29.819
 faithful in

00:37:29.819 --> 00:37:30.480
 my life.

00:37:31.359 --> 00:37:31.759
 And you're

00:37:31.759 --> 00:37:32.299
 the same

00:37:32.299 --> 00:37:33.519
 yesterday,

00:37:33.799 --> 00:37:34.139
 today,

00:37:34.139 --> 00:37:35.279
 and forever.

00:37:36.639 --> 00:37:37.539
 And maybe

00:37:37.539 --> 00:37:38.480
 this is a

00:37:38.480 --> 00:37:39.119
 call for you

00:37:39.119 --> 00:37:40.859
 to share

00:37:40.859 --> 00:37:41.900
 in one

00:37:41.900 --> 00:37:43.279
 story of

00:37:43.279 --> 00:37:43.679
 God's

00:37:43.679 --> 00:37:44.420
 faithfulness.

00:37:46.819 --> 00:37:47.639
 The second

00:37:47.639 --> 00:37:47.960
 thing,

00:37:48.079 --> 00:37:48.239
 then,

00:37:48.400 --> 00:37:49.420
 is to

00:37:49.420 --> 00:37:50.019
 cross the

00:37:50.019 --> 00:37:50.380
 bridge

00:37:50.380 --> 00:37:51.400
 trusting in

00:37:51.400 --> 00:37:51.659
 God,

00:37:51.739 --> 00:37:51.960
 right?

00:37:52.279 --> 00:37:52.900
 Be on

00:37:52.900 --> 00:37:53.179
 this

00:37:53.179 --> 00:37:53.659
 journey

00:37:53.659 --> 00:37:54.839
 in the

00:37:54.839 --> 00:37:55.099
 Lord.

00:37:56.480 --> 00:37:57.460
 You can

00:37:57.460 --> 00:37:57.859
 think of

00:37:57.859 --> 00:37:58.679
 the imagery

00:37:58.679 --> 00:37:59.159
 of a

00:37:59.159 --> 00:37:59.500
 bridge,

00:37:59.559 --> 00:37:59.839
 you can

00:37:59.839 --> 00:38:00.219
 think of

00:38:00.219 --> 00:38:00.460
 just

00:38:00.460 --> 00:38:00.960
 journeying

00:38:00.960 --> 00:38:01.639
 in life,

00:38:02.599 --> 00:38:02.880
 right?

00:38:02.900 --> 00:38:03.239
 You can

00:38:03.239 --> 00:38:03.779
 think of

00:38:03.779 --> 00:38:04.739
 sheep going

00:38:04.739 --> 00:38:05.239
 to green

00:38:05.239 --> 00:38:05.859
 pastures

00:38:05.859 --> 00:38:06.279
 with the

00:38:06.279 --> 00:38:06.559
 shepherd,

00:38:06.559 --> 00:38:06.940
 you can

00:38:06.940 --> 00:38:07.299
 think of

00:38:07.299 --> 00:38:07.619
 many

00:38:07.619 --> 00:38:07.960
 different

00:38:07.960 --> 00:38:08.980
 types of

00:38:08.980 --> 00:38:09.420
 imagery

00:38:09.420 --> 00:38:10.179
 about

00:38:10.179 --> 00:38:11.019
 journeying

00:38:11.019 --> 00:38:12.860
 with the

00:38:12.860 --> 00:38:13.099
 Lord.

00:38:14.400 --> 00:38:15.059
 And I

00:38:15.059 --> 00:38:16.299
 always love

00:38:16.299 --> 00:38:16.920
 going back

00:38:16.920 --> 00:38:17.299
 to the

00:38:17.299 --> 00:38:17.820
 Psalms,

00:38:18.619 --> 00:38:20.079
 where it

00:38:20.079 --> 00:38:20.400
 says,

00:38:20.699 --> 00:38:21.039
 even though

00:38:21.039 --> 00:38:21.659
 I walk

00:38:21.659 --> 00:38:22.000
 through the

00:38:22.000 --> 00:38:22.579
 valley of

00:38:22.579 --> 00:38:23.079
 the shadow

00:38:23.079 --> 00:38:23.559
 of death,

00:38:23.639 --> 00:38:24.119
 I will

00:38:24.119 --> 00:38:24.880
 fear no

00:38:24.880 --> 00:38:25.480
 evil.

00:38:26.219 --> 00:38:26.500
 Why?

00:38:27.179 --> 00:38:27.840
 Because he

00:38:27.840 --> 00:38:28.559
 trusts that

00:38:28.559 --> 00:38:29.320
 God is

00:38:29.320 --> 00:38:29.920
 with him.

00:38:31.340 --> 00:38:32.159
 That's some

00:38:32.159 --> 00:38:32.799
 amazing

00:38:32.799 --> 00:38:33.579
 faith.

00:38:33.579 --> 00:38:33.639
 faith.

00:38:34.799 --> 00:38:35.440
 When you

00:38:35.440 --> 00:38:36.000
 read that,

00:38:36.840 --> 00:38:37.259
 that should

00:38:37.259 --> 00:38:37.599
 give you

00:38:37.599 --> 00:38:38.360
 great comfort.

00:38:39.980 --> 00:38:40.319
 I mean,

00:38:40.380 --> 00:38:41.119
 that's a

00:38:41.119 --> 00:38:41.519
 lot of

00:38:41.519 --> 00:38:41.980
 trust in

00:38:41.980 --> 00:38:42.319
 the Lord.

00:38:43.440 --> 00:38:44.019
 So I

00:38:44.019 --> 00:38:44.279
 want you

00:38:44.279 --> 00:38:44.659
 to think

00:38:44.659 --> 00:38:46.139
 about one

00:38:46.139 --> 00:38:47.539
 relationship

00:38:47.539 --> 00:38:48.900
 or friendship.

00:38:50.279 --> 00:38:51.259
 How can

00:38:51.259 --> 00:38:52.000
 you represent

00:38:52.000 --> 00:38:53.699
 Christ with

00:38:53.699 --> 00:38:54.380
 a friend?

00:38:55.139 --> 00:38:55.940
 Maybe it's

00:38:55.940 --> 00:38:56.639
 a friend that

00:38:56.639 --> 00:38:57.219
 has been

00:38:57.219 --> 00:38:57.900
 marked by

00:38:57.900 --> 00:38:59.000
 tension or

00:38:59.000 --> 00:38:59.519
 distance.

00:39:00.219 --> 00:39:00.960
 How can

00:39:00.960 --> 00:39:01.699
 you represent

00:39:01.699 --> 00:39:03.400
 Christ with

00:39:03.400 --> 00:39:03.780
 others?

00:39:06.200 --> 00:39:06.960
 And you

00:39:06.960 --> 00:39:07.539
 can also,

00:39:08.300 --> 00:39:08.920
 as you

00:39:08.920 --> 00:39:09.460
 cross the

00:39:09.460 --> 00:39:09.820
 bridge,

00:39:11.039 --> 00:39:12.380
 trust that

00:39:12.380 --> 00:39:13.059
 the Lord

00:39:13.059 --> 00:39:13.559
 knows what

00:39:13.559 --> 00:39:14.019
 he's doing.

00:39:15.160 --> 00:39:15.860
 Trust in

00:39:15.860 --> 00:39:16.119
 him.

00:39:17.480 --> 00:39:18.380
 Take one

00:39:18.380 --> 00:39:18.820
 step,

00:39:18.980 --> 00:39:19.200
 right?

00:39:19.980 --> 00:39:20.700
 I love

00:39:20.700 --> 00:39:22.340
 that Christmas,

00:39:22.700 --> 00:39:23.880
 there's a

00:39:23.880 --> 00:39:24.660
 Christmas movie,

00:39:25.000 --> 00:39:25.619
 it's the

00:39:25.619 --> 00:39:27.260
 clay animation

00:39:27.260 --> 00:39:27.940
 kind of thing,

00:39:28.579 --> 00:39:29.099
 where it's,

00:39:29.320 --> 00:39:29.880
 you may know

00:39:29.880 --> 00:39:30.340
 the song,

00:39:30.480 --> 00:39:31.220
 put one foot

00:39:31.220 --> 00:39:31.680
 in front of

00:39:31.680 --> 00:39:32.039
 the other.

00:39:32.380 --> 00:39:32.539
 Do you

00:39:32.539 --> 00:39:32.860
 guys know

00:39:32.860 --> 00:39:33.360
 that song?

00:39:33.900 --> 00:39:34.380
 It's the,

00:39:34.420 --> 00:39:34.820
 what is it,

00:39:34.840 --> 00:39:35.400
 the abominable

00:39:35.400 --> 00:39:35.900
 snowman?

00:39:36.579 --> 00:39:36.840
 Right?

00:39:36.900 --> 00:39:37.500
 He's trying to

00:39:37.500 --> 00:39:38.039
 walk and

00:39:38.039 --> 00:39:39.599
 he's just a

00:39:39.599 --> 00:39:40.059
 big scary

00:39:40.059 --> 00:39:40.420
 monster,

00:39:40.539 --> 00:39:40.920
 but he learns

00:39:40.920 --> 00:39:41.180
 how to

00:39:41.180 --> 00:39:41.480
 walk,

00:39:41.519 --> 00:39:41.760
 right?

00:39:42.260 --> 00:39:42.780
 But I

00:39:42.780 --> 00:39:43.260
 love that.

00:39:43.860 --> 00:39:44.280
 You put

00:39:44.280 --> 00:39:44.720
 one foot

00:39:44.720 --> 00:39:45.039
 in front

00:39:45.039 --> 00:39:45.280
 of the

00:39:45.280 --> 00:39:45.480
 other.

00:39:47.579 --> 00:39:47.980
 I think,

00:39:49.180 --> 00:39:49.780
 I know

00:39:49.780 --> 00:39:50.139
 that's not

00:39:50.139 --> 00:39:51.059
 the heart

00:39:51.059 --> 00:39:51.360
 of that

00:39:51.360 --> 00:39:51.680
 movie,

00:39:51.860 --> 00:39:53.180
 but just

00:39:53.180 --> 00:39:53.660
 like how,

00:39:54.039 --> 00:39:54.420
 you know,

00:39:54.579 --> 00:39:55.240
 going where

00:39:55.240 --> 00:39:55.840
 everyone knows

00:39:55.840 --> 00:39:56.380
 your name is

00:39:56.380 --> 00:39:56.660
 not the

00:39:56.660 --> 00:39:56.980
 heart of

00:39:56.980 --> 00:39:57.280
 Cheers,

00:39:57.460 --> 00:39:57.980
 but we can

00:39:57.980 --> 00:39:58.480
 take little

00:39:58.480 --> 00:39:59.240
 pieces of it

00:39:59.240 --> 00:39:59.599
 nonetheless.

00:39:59.599 --> 00:39:59.880
 us.

00:40:00.420 --> 00:40:01.380
 And so,

00:40:02.019 --> 00:40:03.279
 take one

00:40:03.279 --> 00:40:04.019
 step towards

00:40:04.019 --> 00:40:04.500
 peace,

00:40:04.839 --> 00:40:05.460
 conversation,

00:40:05.799 --> 00:40:06.119
 prayer,

00:40:06.759 --> 00:40:07.199
 invitation,

00:40:07.400 --> 00:40:08.380
 even forgiveness.

00:40:10.000 --> 00:40:10.699
 And the

00:40:10.699 --> 00:40:11.159
 third thing

00:40:11.159 --> 00:40:11.460
 then,

00:40:11.860 --> 00:40:13.460
 is to be a

00:40:13.460 --> 00:40:13.960
 peacemaker

00:40:13.960 --> 00:40:15.460
 with Christ

00:40:15.460 --> 00:40:16.400
 beside you.

00:40:16.400 --> 00:40:17.840
 And I want

00:40:17.840 --> 00:40:18.220
 you to think

00:40:18.220 --> 00:40:18.720
 about one

00:40:18.720 --> 00:40:20.119
 way that

00:40:20.119 --> 00:40:21.280
 you can be

00:40:21.280 --> 00:40:21.980
 a peacemaker

00:40:21.980 --> 00:40:22.360
 and you'll

00:40:22.360 --> 00:40:22.800
 see there's

00:40:22.800 --> 00:40:23.300
 a connection

00:40:23.300 --> 00:40:24.280
 with being

00:40:24.280 --> 00:40:24.940
 a peacemaker

00:40:24.940 --> 00:40:25.880
 and a

00:40:25.880 --> 00:40:26.420
 bridge builder.

00:40:28.099 --> 00:40:28.880
 Prayer and

00:40:28.880 --> 00:40:29.579
 discipleship,

00:40:29.800 --> 00:40:30.619
 hospitality and

00:40:30.619 --> 00:40:30.960
 welcome,

00:40:31.860 --> 00:40:32.340
 community

00:40:32.340 --> 00:40:32.900
 partnership,

00:40:33.079 --> 00:40:33.579
 there's many

00:40:33.579 --> 00:40:33.980
 ways,

00:40:34.099 --> 00:40:34.900
 but in

00:40:34.900 --> 00:40:35.639
 any sense,

00:40:36.720 --> 00:40:37.800
 let this

00:40:37.800 --> 00:40:38.280
 be a call

00:40:38.280 --> 00:40:38.760
 for you

00:40:38.760 --> 00:40:40.320
 to faithfully

00:40:40.320 --> 00:40:41.380
 step forward

00:40:41.380 --> 00:40:42.780
 to be a

00:40:42.780 --> 00:40:43.260
 peacemaker

00:40:43.260 --> 00:40:44.599
 with Christ

00:40:44.599 --> 00:40:45.119
 by your

00:40:45.119 --> 00:40:45.460
 side.

00:40:45.460 --> 00:40:47.320
 And in

00:40:47.320 --> 00:40:47.659
 closing,

00:40:48.340 --> 00:40:49.079
 I want to

00:40:49.079 --> 00:40:50.159
 take to

00:40:50.159 --> 00:40:50.639
 this next

00:40:50.639 --> 00:40:51.400
 slide here.

00:40:53.519 --> 00:40:54.139
 You know,

00:40:54.179 --> 00:40:54.880
 we sang that

00:40:54.880 --> 00:40:55.300
 song,

00:40:55.420 --> 00:40:55.840
 Come Thou

00:40:55.840 --> 00:40:56.300
 Fount,

00:40:57.139 --> 00:40:57.940
 and there's

00:40:57.940 --> 00:40:58.780
 this verse

00:40:58.780 --> 00:40:59.079
 here,

00:40:59.179 --> 00:40:59.599
 which I

00:40:59.599 --> 00:41:00.260
 think is

00:41:00.260 --> 00:41:01.240
 such a

00:41:01.240 --> 00:41:02.079
 strange verse,

00:41:02.179 --> 00:41:02.380
 right?

00:41:03.280 --> 00:41:05.280
 Thus far

00:41:05.280 --> 00:41:06.300
 the Lord

00:41:06.300 --> 00:41:06.760
 has helped

00:41:06.760 --> 00:41:07.079
 us.

00:41:07.539 --> 00:41:08.139
 It's kind

00:41:08.139 --> 00:41:08.460
 of like,

00:41:08.659 --> 00:41:08.920
 well,

00:41:09.000 --> 00:41:09.440
 God has

00:41:09.440 --> 00:41:09.860
 helped us

00:41:09.860 --> 00:41:10.599
 so far,

00:41:10.679 --> 00:41:11.039
 right,

00:41:11.280 --> 00:41:11.880
 kind of

00:41:11.880 --> 00:41:12.159
 thing.

00:41:13.119 --> 00:41:13.260
 Well,

00:41:13.400 --> 00:41:13.840
 and first,

00:41:14.039 --> 00:41:14.400
 and we're not

00:41:14.400 --> 00:41:14.840
 going to turn

00:41:14.840 --> 00:41:15.079
 there,

00:41:15.079 --> 00:41:16.559
 but in

00:41:16.559 --> 00:41:17.279
 1 Samuel

00:41:17.279 --> 00:41:18.699
 chapter 7,

00:41:19.519 --> 00:41:20.279
 God is

00:41:20.279 --> 00:41:21.239
 giving the

00:41:21.239 --> 00:41:21.699
 people of

00:41:21.699 --> 00:41:22.000
 God

00:41:22.000 --> 00:41:23.139
 victory.

00:41:24.460 --> 00:41:25.440
 And it's

00:41:25.440 --> 00:41:25.900
 in this

00:41:25.900 --> 00:41:26.639
 moment in

00:41:26.639 --> 00:41:27.400
 victory where

00:41:27.400 --> 00:41:28.099
 they're saying,

00:41:28.360 --> 00:41:30.259
 God has

00:41:30.259 --> 00:41:30.779
 helped us

00:41:30.779 --> 00:41:31.400
 so far,

00:41:31.519 --> 00:41:32.440
 and because

00:41:32.440 --> 00:41:33.179
 of this,

00:41:33.840 --> 00:41:34.420
 I'm going

00:41:34.420 --> 00:41:35.000
 to raise

00:41:35.000 --> 00:41:36.659
 up an

00:41:36.659 --> 00:41:37.199
 Ebenezer

00:41:37.199 --> 00:41:37.819
 stone.

00:41:38.539 --> 00:41:39.340
 And so I

00:41:39.340 --> 00:41:39.940
 put this as

00:41:39.940 --> 00:41:40.440
 kind of a

00:41:40.440 --> 00:41:41.000
 representation.

00:41:41.500 --> 00:41:42.079
 I have no

00:41:42.079 --> 00:41:42.719
 idea what it

00:41:42.719 --> 00:41:43.159
 looked like,

00:41:43.159 --> 00:41:43.460
 okay?

00:41:45.139 --> 00:41:45.940
 But in

00:41:45.940 --> 00:41:46.199
 this,

00:41:46.279 --> 00:41:47.099
 this stone

00:41:47.099 --> 00:41:48.279
 was a

00:41:48.279 --> 00:41:48.899
 representation,

00:41:49.299 --> 00:41:50.239
 it was a

00:41:50.239 --> 00:41:50.759
 remembrance

00:41:50.759 --> 00:41:52.299
 of marking

00:41:52.299 --> 00:41:53.099
 what God

00:41:53.099 --> 00:41:53.759
 had done

00:41:53.759 --> 00:41:54.739
 for the

00:41:54.739 --> 00:41:55.059
 people.

00:41:57.139 --> 00:41:57.879
 Not only

00:41:57.879 --> 00:41:58.719
 was it a

00:41:58.719 --> 00:41:59.159
 sense of

00:41:59.159 --> 00:41:59.619
 remembrance

00:41:59.619 --> 00:42:00.039
 though,

00:42:00.359 --> 00:42:01.139
 but it was

00:42:01.139 --> 00:42:02.460
 also the

00:42:02.460 --> 00:42:03.059
 people of

00:42:03.059 --> 00:42:03.420
 God

00:42:03.420 --> 00:42:04.359
 trusting

00:42:04.359 --> 00:42:06.099
 in the

00:42:06.099 --> 00:42:07.119
 Lord for

00:42:07.119 --> 00:42:07.500
 what he

00:42:07.500 --> 00:42:07.819
 would do

00:42:07.819 --> 00:42:08.219
 next.

00:42:08.940 --> 00:42:09.659
 It's a

00:42:09.659 --> 00:42:10.359
 moment in

00:42:10.359 --> 00:42:10.819
 time.

00:42:10.820 --> 00:42:12.240
 And so

00:42:12.240 --> 00:42:12.539
 when we

00:42:12.539 --> 00:42:12.840
 think of

00:42:12.840 --> 00:42:13.960
 that hymn,

00:42:14.640 --> 00:42:15.080
 Come Thou

00:42:15.080 --> 00:42:15.580
 Fount,

00:42:16.539 --> 00:42:17.059
 we think

00:42:17.059 --> 00:42:17.400
 of that

00:42:17.400 --> 00:42:17.840
 lyric,

00:42:19.440 --> 00:42:19.920
 Here I

00:42:19.920 --> 00:42:20.559
 raise my

00:42:20.559 --> 00:42:21.300
 Ebenezer,

00:42:22.400 --> 00:42:22.680
 right?

00:42:23.019 --> 00:42:23.820
 It's raising

00:42:23.820 --> 00:42:24.700
 that stone

00:42:24.700 --> 00:42:25.480
 in victory

00:42:25.480 --> 00:42:27.600
 and continuing

00:42:27.600 --> 00:42:28.320
 to trust

00:42:28.320 --> 00:42:28.940
 in God.

00:42:30.360 --> 00:42:30.980
 And I

00:42:30.980 --> 00:42:31.800
 think about

00:42:31.800 --> 00:42:32.039
 that,

00:42:32.100 --> 00:42:32.500
 it's such

00:42:32.500 --> 00:42:34.559
 an unusual

00:42:34.559 --> 00:42:35.400
 wording for

00:42:35.400 --> 00:42:36.019
 a lyric of

00:42:36.019 --> 00:42:36.460
 a hymn,

00:42:37.039 --> 00:42:38.340
 but it's

00:42:38.340 --> 00:42:38.720
 actually

00:42:38.720 --> 00:42:39.220
 beautifully

00:42:39.220 --> 00:42:40.920
 tied in

00:42:40.920 --> 00:42:41.160
 with

00:42:41.160 --> 00:42:41.640
 scripture

00:42:41.640 --> 00:42:44.360
 and tied

00:42:44.360 --> 00:42:44.840
 in with

00:42:44.840 --> 00:42:45.700
 where we

00:42:45.700 --> 00:42:46.260
 are at,

00:42:46.460 --> 00:42:47.460
 not only

00:42:47.460 --> 00:42:48.539
 in Ephesians,

00:42:48.680 --> 00:42:49.039
 but where

00:42:49.039 --> 00:42:49.579
 we are

00:42:49.579 --> 00:42:51.460
 today at

00:42:51.460 --> 00:42:51.780
 the end

00:42:51.780 --> 00:42:52.840
 of 2025.

00:42:54.400 --> 00:42:55.079
 That in

00:42:55.079 --> 00:42:55.480
 the same

00:42:55.480 --> 00:42:56.000
 way that

00:42:56.000 --> 00:42:56.460
 the people

00:42:56.460 --> 00:42:57.000
 of God

00:42:57.000 --> 00:42:58.240
 raised up

00:42:58.240 --> 00:42:58.900
 their stone,

00:42:59.480 --> 00:43:00.920
 knowing what

00:43:00.920 --> 00:43:01.400
 God had

00:43:01.400 --> 00:43:01.720
 done,

00:43:02.519 --> 00:43:03.120
 they were

00:43:03.120 --> 00:43:03.539
 going to

00:43:03.539 --> 00:43:04.220
 continue to

00:43:04.220 --> 00:43:04.940
 trust in

00:43:04.940 --> 00:43:05.200
 him,

00:43:05.640 --> 00:43:06.960
 not knowing

00:43:06.960 --> 00:43:07.199
 what

00:43:07.199 --> 00:43:07.599
 tomorrow

00:43:07.599 --> 00:43:08.059
 was going

00:43:08.059 --> 00:43:08.519
 to hold.

00:43:09.679 --> 00:43:10.000
 And I

00:43:10.000 --> 00:43:10.480
 think about

00:43:10.480 --> 00:43:10.800
 that.

00:43:11.900 --> 00:43:13.079
 2025 is

00:43:13.079 --> 00:43:13.559
 coming to

00:43:13.559 --> 00:43:14.059
 a close

00:43:14.059 --> 00:43:14.420
 and we're

00:43:14.420 --> 00:43:14.639
 going to

00:43:14.639 --> 00:43:15.159
 enter in

00:43:15.159 --> 00:43:16.139
 2026.

00:43:17.019 --> 00:43:17.740
 And quite

00:43:17.740 --> 00:43:18.139
 frankly,

00:43:18.139 --> 00:43:18.880
 we have no

00:43:18.880 --> 00:43:20.420
 idea what

00:43:20.420 --> 00:43:20.940
 that year is

00:43:20.940 --> 00:43:21.280
 going to be

00:43:21.280 --> 00:43:21.579
 like.

00:43:21.639 --> 00:43:21.920
 And that

00:43:21.920 --> 00:43:22.420
 can be

00:43:22.420 --> 00:43:23.720
 very

00:43:23.720 --> 00:43:25.079
 disheartening,

00:43:25.179 --> 00:43:25.619
 it can be

00:43:25.619 --> 00:43:26.139
 encouraging,

00:43:26.380 --> 00:43:27.000
 who knows.

00:43:28.139 --> 00:43:28.579
 But let's

00:43:28.579 --> 00:43:29.079
 not worry

00:43:29.079 --> 00:43:29.760
 about tomorrow

00:43:29.760 --> 00:43:30.320
 just as

00:43:30.320 --> 00:43:30.980
 Christ has

00:43:30.980 --> 00:43:32.059
 told us

00:43:32.059 --> 00:43:32.400
 not to

00:43:32.400 --> 00:43:32.780
 worry about

00:43:32.780 --> 00:43:33.179
 tomorrow.

00:43:33.179 --> 00:43:35.239
 let us

00:43:35.239 --> 00:43:37.440
 put

00:43:37.440 --> 00:43:38.299
 2026

00:43:38.299 --> 00:43:40.059
 into the

00:43:40.059 --> 00:43:40.519
 hands of

00:43:40.519 --> 00:43:40.839
 God,

00:43:41.879 --> 00:43:42.679
 trusting in

00:43:42.679 --> 00:43:42.980
 him,

00:43:43.839 --> 00:43:45.179
 just as

00:43:45.179 --> 00:43:46.339
 God

00:43:46.339 --> 00:43:47.259
 knows

00:43:47.259 --> 00:43:48.639
 what he

00:43:48.639 --> 00:43:49.099
 is doing.

00:43:49.579 --> 00:43:50.419
 So let us

00:43:50.419 --> 00:43:51.219
 look back on

00:43:51.219 --> 00:43:51.599
 God's

00:43:51.599 --> 00:43:52.460
 faithfulness

00:43:52.460 --> 00:43:53.819
 and let us

00:43:53.819 --> 00:43:54.599
 step forward

00:43:54.599 --> 00:43:55.259
 into this

00:43:55.259 --> 00:43:55.799
 new year

00:43:55.799 --> 00:43:56.659
 much as

00:43:56.659 --> 00:43:57.980
 we cross

00:43:57.980 --> 00:43:58.619
 the bridge,

00:43:59.039 --> 00:43:59.819
 much as

00:43:59.819 --> 00:44:00.339
 we know

00:44:00.339 --> 00:44:01.239
 that Christ

00:44:01.239 --> 00:44:01.859
 is our

00:44:01.859 --> 00:44:02.379
 peace,

00:44:02.380 --> 00:44:04.519
 may we

00:44:04.519 --> 00:44:05.340
 step boldly

00:44:05.340 --> 00:44:06.700
 in faith.

00:44:07.420 --> 00:44:07.760
 Let us

00:44:07.760 --> 00:44:08.360
 pray together.

00:44:10.700 --> 00:44:11.260
 And

00:44:11.260 --> 00:44:11.820
 Father God,

00:44:11.920 --> 00:44:12.840
 we thank

00:44:12.840 --> 00:44:13.240
 you for

00:44:13.240 --> 00:44:13.960
 this time

00:44:13.960 --> 00:44:14.860
 and this

00:44:14.860 --> 00:44:15.380
 opportunity

00:44:15.380 --> 00:44:15.940
 for us

00:44:15.940 --> 00:44:17.900
 to go

00:44:17.900 --> 00:44:18.220
 through

00:44:18.220 --> 00:44:18.680
 these

00:44:18.680 --> 00:44:19.720
 verses

00:44:19.720 --> 00:44:20.059
 in

00:44:20.059 --> 00:44:20.740
 Ephesians,

00:44:21.340 --> 00:44:22.360
 learning a

00:44:22.360 --> 00:44:22.660
 little bit

00:44:22.660 --> 00:44:23.059
 about

00:44:23.059 --> 00:44:24.880
 the

00:44:24.880 --> 00:44:25.380
 Ebenezer

00:44:25.380 --> 00:44:25.940
 stone,

00:44:26.300 --> 00:44:27.119
 but also

00:44:27.119 --> 00:44:27.680
 importantly,

00:44:28.440 --> 00:44:29.400
 knowing about

00:44:29.400 --> 00:44:30.660
 how your

00:44:30.660 --> 00:44:31.579
 son Christ

00:44:31.579 --> 00:44:32.219
 is our

00:44:32.219 --> 00:44:33.799
 peace and

00:44:33.799 --> 00:44:34.259
 how we

00:44:34.259 --> 00:44:34.840
 are to

00:44:34.840 --> 00:44:36.239
 receive this

00:44:36.239 --> 00:44:36.860
 peace and

00:44:36.860 --> 00:44:37.340
 to share

00:44:37.340 --> 00:44:38.000
 this peace.

00:44:39.400 --> 00:44:40.460
 The language,

00:44:40.779 --> 00:44:40.840
 Father,

00:44:41.000 --> 00:44:43.579
 of removing

00:44:43.579 --> 00:44:44.239
 the wall,

00:44:44.480 --> 00:44:45.480
 the dividing

00:44:45.480 --> 00:44:46.059
 wall of

00:44:46.059 --> 00:44:46.719
 hostility,

00:44:46.719 --> 00:44:49.159
 just goes to

00:44:49.159 --> 00:44:49.739
 show us

00:44:49.739 --> 00:44:51.039
 the love

00:44:51.039 --> 00:44:51.359
 that you

00:44:51.359 --> 00:44:52.199
 have for

00:44:52.199 --> 00:44:52.699
 each and

00:44:52.699 --> 00:44:53.099
 every one

00:44:53.099 --> 00:44:53.419
 of us.

00:44:53.500 --> 00:44:53.819
 I pray

00:44:53.819 --> 00:44:54.419
 for every

00:44:54.419 --> 00:44:55.919
 person here

00:44:55.919 --> 00:44:56.539
 today in

00:44:56.539 --> 00:44:57.739
 person and

00:44:57.739 --> 00:44:58.439
 every person

00:44:58.439 --> 00:44:59.199
 who is

00:44:59.199 --> 00:45:00.579
 watching online,

00:45:00.699 --> 00:45:01.219
 whether it's

00:45:01.219 --> 00:45:01.759
 YouTube,

00:45:02.579 --> 00:45:02.879
 TikTok,

00:45:03.199 --> 00:45:03.500
 Rumble,

00:45:03.719 --> 00:45:04.099
 Facebook,

00:45:04.099 --> 00:45:05.559
 or whether

00:45:05.559 --> 00:45:06.199
 they're listening

00:45:06.199 --> 00:45:08.219
 online to

00:45:08.219 --> 00:45:08.779
 the sermon

00:45:08.779 --> 00:45:09.480
 podcast.

00:45:09.480 --> 00:45:09.599
 Christ,

00:45:10.300 --> 00:45:12.260
 I pray

00:45:12.260 --> 00:45:14.800
 that everyone

00:45:14.800 --> 00:45:15.400
 will know

00:45:15.400 --> 00:45:16.920
 that they

00:45:16.920 --> 00:45:17.440
 are loved

00:45:17.440 --> 00:45:17.980
 by you

00:45:17.980 --> 00:45:19.360
 and they

00:45:19.360 --> 00:45:19.960
 are called

00:45:19.960 --> 00:45:20.639
 to receive

00:45:20.639 --> 00:45:21.280
 salvation.

00:45:21.840 --> 00:45:22.659
 They are

00:45:22.659 --> 00:45:23.500
 called into

00:45:23.500 --> 00:45:24.320
 transformation

00:45:24.320 --> 00:45:26.639
 and they

00:45:26.639 --> 00:45:27.240
 are called

00:45:27.240 --> 00:45:28.740
 to live

00:45:28.740 --> 00:45:29.599
 and love

00:45:29.599 --> 00:45:30.500
 like you.

00:45:31.780 --> 00:45:32.639
 We love

00:45:32.639 --> 00:45:33.340
 you so much

00:45:33.340 --> 00:45:35.219
 and we

00:45:35.219 --> 00:45:35.760
 know that

00:45:35.760 --> 00:45:36.380
 this is our

00:45:36.380 --> 00:45:37.340
 last Sunday

00:45:37.340 --> 00:45:38.539
 in 2025.

00:45:39.740 --> 00:45:40.519
 May we

00:45:40.519 --> 00:45:41.059
 take these

00:45:41.059 --> 00:45:41.720
 last few

00:45:41.720 --> 00:45:42.559
 days in

00:45:42.559 --> 00:45:43.539
 the remainder

00:45:43.539 --> 00:45:44.100
 of the year

00:45:44.100 --> 00:45:46.140
 seeking you

00:45:46.140 --> 00:45:48.220
 and

00:45:48.220 --> 00:45:50.620
 may we

00:45:50.620 --> 00:45:52.039
 trust in

00:45:52.039 --> 00:45:53.079
 you to

00:45:53.079 --> 00:45:53.460
 lead and

00:45:53.460 --> 00:45:54.019
 guide us

00:45:54.019 --> 00:45:55.000
 into next

00:45:55.000 --> 00:45:55.280
 year.

00:45:56.000 --> 00:45:56.480
 It is in

00:45:56.480 --> 00:45:56.940
 the name

00:45:56.940 --> 00:45:57.880
 of Jesus

00:45:57.880 --> 00:45:59.100
 that we

00:45:59.100 --> 00:46:00.320
 pray and

00:46:00.320 --> 00:46:00.640
 we all

00:46:00.640 --> 00:46:01.180
 say together.

00:46:01.280 --> 00:46:01.480
 Amen,

00:46:01.680 --> 00:46:01.920
 church.

00:46:02.300 --> 00:46:02.900
 Amen.

00:46:04.820 --> 00:46:05.559
 Thank you

00:46:05.559 --> 00:46:06.019
 for joining

00:46:06.019 --> 00:46:06.700
 us for this

00:46:06.700 --> 00:46:07.320
 message from

00:46:07.320 --> 00:46:08.300
 Ontario Community

00:46:08.300 --> 00:46:08.700
 Church.

00:46:09.380 --> 00:46:09.860
 As we

00:46:09.860 --> 00:46:10.360
 close out

00:46:10.360 --> 00:46:10.920
 this sermon

00:46:10.920 --> 00:46:11.519
 and close

00:46:11.519 --> 00:46:11.940
 out this

00:46:11.940 --> 00:46:12.200
 year,

00:46:12.500 --> 00:46:13.180
 I want to

00:46:13.180 --> 00:46:13.539
 leave you

00:46:13.539 --> 00:46:14.080
 with this.

00:46:14.680 --> 00:46:15.019
 Jesus

00:46:15.019 --> 00:46:16.200
 Christ is

00:46:16.200 --> 00:46:17.000
 our peace.

00:46:17.580 --> 00:46:17.920
 He has

00:46:17.920 --> 00:46:18.720
 broken down

00:46:18.720 --> 00:46:19.360
 the dividing

00:46:19.360 --> 00:46:19.960
 wall of

00:46:19.960 --> 00:46:20.660
 hostility

00:46:20.660 --> 00:46:21.559
 through the

00:46:21.559 --> 00:46:21.940
 cross.

00:46:22.640 --> 00:46:23.080
 Those who

00:46:23.080 --> 00:46:23.500
 were far

00:46:23.500 --> 00:46:24.059
 off have

00:46:24.059 --> 00:46:24.580
 been brought

00:46:24.580 --> 00:46:24.880
 near.

00:46:25.380 --> 00:46:25.760
 We are

00:46:25.760 --> 00:46:26.340
 no longer

00:46:26.340 --> 00:46:27.019
 strangers,

00:46:27.260 --> 00:46:27.519
 but we

00:46:27.519 --> 00:46:28.200
 are welcomed.

00:46:28.680 --> 00:46:29.059
 We are

00:46:29.059 --> 00:46:30.019
 members of

00:46:30.019 --> 00:46:30.380
 God's

00:46:30.380 --> 00:46:30.940
 household,

00:46:31.440 --> 00:46:32.000
 being built

00:46:32.000 --> 00:46:32.820
 together into

00:46:32.820 --> 00:46:33.580
 a dwelling

00:46:33.580 --> 00:46:34.700
 place for

00:46:34.700 --> 00:46:35.700
 God by

00:46:35.700 --> 00:46:36.240
 the Spirit.

00:46:36.239 --> 00:46:37.339
 And we

00:46:37.339 --> 00:46:37.939
 are standing

00:46:37.939 --> 00:46:38.819
 on a bridge

00:46:38.819 --> 00:46:39.339
 between

00:46:39.339 --> 00:46:41.159
 2025 and

00:46:41.159 --> 00:46:42.359
 2026.

00:46:43.099 --> 00:46:43.500
 As we

00:46:43.500 --> 00:46:44.059
 look back,

00:46:44.500 --> 00:46:44.799
 let us

00:46:44.799 --> 00:46:45.439
 raise our

00:46:45.439 --> 00:46:45.939
 Ebenezer

00:46:45.939 --> 00:46:46.719
 stone and

00:46:46.719 --> 00:46:47.279
 say with

00:46:47.279 --> 00:46:47.779
 Samuel,

00:46:48.399 --> 00:46:49.039
 thus far,

00:46:49.399 --> 00:46:49.859
 the Lord

00:46:49.859 --> 00:46:50.419
 has helped

00:46:50.419 --> 00:46:50.779
 us.

00:46:51.419 --> 00:46:51.979
 God has

00:46:51.979 --> 00:46:52.639
 been faithful,

00:46:53.219 --> 00:46:53.539
 but that

00:46:53.539 --> 00:46:54.579
 stone isn't

00:46:54.579 --> 00:46:55.319
 just about

00:46:55.319 --> 00:46:55.919
 the past.

00:46:56.319 --> 00:46:56.879
 It's about

00:46:56.879 --> 00:46:57.959
 continue trusting

00:46:57.959 --> 00:46:58.979
 God for

00:46:58.979 --> 00:46:59.579
 what's ahead.

00:47:00.179 --> 00:47:00.699
 And here's

00:47:00.699 --> 00:47:01.159
 the truth.

00:47:01.539 --> 00:47:02.399
 We have no

00:47:02.399 --> 00:47:03.059
 idea what

00:47:03.059 --> 00:47:03.819
 next year will

00:47:03.819 --> 00:47:04.099
 bring.

00:47:04.099 --> 00:47:05.099
 that can

00:47:05.099 --> 00:47:05.500
 make us

00:47:05.500 --> 00:47:06.299
 feel anxious

00:47:06.299 --> 00:47:07.299
 or uncertain

00:47:07.299 --> 00:47:08.339
 or we

00:47:08.339 --> 00:47:08.779
 may not

00:47:08.779 --> 00:47:09.299
 know even

00:47:09.299 --> 00:47:09.639
 what we

00:47:09.639 --> 00:47:09.980
 feel.

00:47:10.460 --> 00:47:11.119
 But Jesus

00:47:11.119 --> 00:47:11.920
 tells us

00:47:11.920 --> 00:47:12.679
 to not

00:47:12.679 --> 00:47:13.219
 worry about

00:47:13.219 --> 00:47:13.659
 tomorrow.

00:47:14.480 --> 00:47:14.759
 Let us

00:47:14.759 --> 00:47:15.259
 put this

00:47:15.259 --> 00:47:15.860
 new year

00:47:15.860 --> 00:47:16.319
 into the

00:47:16.319 --> 00:47:16.860
 hands of

00:47:16.860 --> 00:47:17.199
 God,

00:47:17.739 --> 00:47:18.420
 trusting in

00:47:18.420 --> 00:47:19.259
 Him because

00:47:19.259 --> 00:47:20.059
 He knows

00:47:20.059 --> 00:47:20.519
 what He

00:47:20.519 --> 00:47:20.960
 is doing.

00:47:21.699 --> 00:47:22.259
 You can

00:47:22.259 --> 00:47:22.920
 find all

00:47:22.920 --> 00:47:23.420
 of today's

00:47:23.420 --> 00:47:24.339
 resources at

00:47:24.339 --> 00:47:26.400
 OntarioCommunityChurch.org

00:47:26.400 --> 00:47:27.199
 including

00:47:27.199 --> 00:47:28.079
 congregational

00:47:28.079 --> 00:47:28.579
 notes,

00:47:29.199 --> 00:47:29.960
 Bible studies,

00:47:30.500 --> 00:47:31.239
 sermon slides,

00:47:31.440 --> 00:47:32.039
 and interactive

00:47:32.039 --> 00:47:32.460
 readings.

00:47:32.460 --> 00:47:33.780
 We're also

00:47:33.780 --> 00:47:34.599
 on YouTube,

00:47:34.900 --> 00:47:35.220
 Rumble,

00:47:35.440 --> 00:47:35.820
 Facebook,

00:47:36.119 --> 00:47:36.840
 or wherever

00:47:36.840 --> 00:47:37.320
 you listen

00:47:37.320 --> 00:47:37.599
 to your

00:47:37.599 --> 00:47:38.139
 podcasts.

00:47:38.980 --> 00:47:39.199
 May the

00:47:39.199 --> 00:47:39.699
 Lord bless

00:47:39.699 --> 00:47:40.019
 you and

00:47:40.019 --> 00:47:40.500
 keep you.

00:47:41.039 --> 00:47:41.360
 May the

00:47:41.360 --> 00:47:41.860
 Lord make

00:47:41.860 --> 00:47:42.340
 His face

00:47:42.340 --> 00:47:43.119
 shine upon

00:47:43.119 --> 00:47:43.679
 you and

00:47:43.679 --> 00:47:44.240
 be gracious

00:47:44.240 --> 00:47:44.840
 to you.

00:47:45.400 --> 00:47:45.720
 May the

00:47:45.720 --> 00:47:46.220
 Lord lift

00:47:46.220 --> 00:47:46.539
 up His

00:47:46.539 --> 00:47:47.059
 countenance

00:47:47.059 --> 00:47:47.619
 upon you

00:47:47.619 --> 00:47:48.260
 and give

00:47:48.260 --> 00:47:48.840
 you peace.

00:47:49.619 --> 00:47:50.139
 As we

00:47:50.139 --> 00:47:50.900
 step boldly

00:47:50.900 --> 00:47:52.340
 into 2026,

00:47:52.900 --> 00:47:53.639
 may we live

00:47:53.639 --> 00:47:54.280
 and love

00:47:54.280 --> 00:47:55.019
 like Christ.

00:47:55.699 --> 00:47:56.440
 Christ is

00:47:56.440 --> 00:47:57.079
 our peace,

00:47:57.500 --> 00:47:57.960
 and may we

00:47:57.960 --> 00:47:58.760
 cross bridges

00:47:58.760 --> 00:47:59.760
 with confidence

00:47:59.760 --> 00:48:01.039
 because Jesus

00:48:01.039 --> 00:48:01.900
 first built

00:48:01.900 --> 00:48:02.800
 the bridge

00:48:02.800 --> 00:48:03.579
 to us.

00:48:04.220 --> 00:48:04.559
 May you

00:48:04.559 --> 00:48:04.940
 have a

00:48:04.940 --> 00:48:05.420
 happy new

00:48:05.420 --> 00:48:05.639
 year,

00:48:05.800 --> 00:48:06.039
 friends,

00:48:06.460 --> 00:48:06.800
 and may

00:48:06.800 --> 00:48:07.460
 God bless

00:48:07.460 --> 00:48:08.260
 you in

00:48:08.260 --> 00:48:09.480
 2026.

00:48:10.220 --> 00:48:10.619
 Bye-bye.

00:48:10.619 --> 00:48:13.019
 God bless

00:48:13.019 --> 00:48:13.019


00:48:13.019 --> 00:48:13.019


00:48:13.019 --> 00:48:13.019


00:48:13.019 --> 00:48:13.019


00:48:13.019 --> 00:48:13.019


00:48:13.019 --> 00:48:13.019


00:48:13.019 --> 00:48:13.019


00:48:13.019 --> 00:48:13.019


00:48:13.019 --> 00:48:13.019


00:48:13.019 --> 00:48:13.019


00:48:13.019 --> 00:48:13.019


00:48:13.019 --> 00:48:13.019


00:48:13.019 --> 00:48:13.019


00:48:13.019 --> 00:48:13.019


00:48:13.019 --> 00:48:13.019


00:48:13.019 --> 00:48:13.019


00:48:13.019 --> 00:48:13.019


00:48:13.019 --> 00:48:43.000
 Thank you.

00:48:43.019 --> 00:49:13.000
 Thank you.

00:49:13.019 --> 00:49:43.000
 Thank you.

00:49:43.019 --> 00:50:13.000
 Thank you.