WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.899 Welcome to Ontario Community Church, 00:00:02.899 --> 00:00:05.740 where we're dedicated to encouraging, equipping, 00:00:05.740 --> 00:00:07.980 and engaging lives for Christ. 00:00:07.980 --> 00:00:10.080 Located in Ontario, Oregon, 00:00:10.080 --> 00:00:12.679 Pastor Patrick Daley preaches insightful sermons 00:00:12.679 --> 00:00:13.960 from the Word of God, 00:00:13.960 --> 00:00:16.920 offering practical applications for modern living. 00:00:16.920 --> 00:00:19.219 We're delighted to share this sermon with you. 00:00:20.120 --> 00:00:24.060 Well, it's definitely great to be with you all here online 00:00:24.060 --> 00:00:27.199 as we're just continuing our sermon series. 00:00:27.199 --> 00:00:28.820 We're starting off this new year 00:00:28.820 --> 00:00:31.760 with this idea of building community 00:00:31.760 --> 00:00:34.899 from little hearts to loving hands. 00:00:34.899 --> 00:00:37.299 And the idea of this sermon series 00:00:37.299 --> 00:00:42.299 is focusing intentionally on children and on young families. 00:00:42.299 --> 00:00:45.799 And also what it means for us as the body of Christ 00:00:45.799 --> 00:00:50.679 as the local church to focus on being present in the community. 00:00:51.640 --> 00:00:53.079 You know, as a parent, 00:00:53.079 --> 00:00:55.439 one of the challenges of having children 00:00:55.439 --> 00:00:57.280 is juggling the day to day. 00:00:57.280 --> 00:00:59.219 I should know maybe a little bit about that 00:00:59.219 --> 00:01:01.660 with having five little ones. 00:01:01.660 --> 00:01:03.859 But my heart goes out to parents that are out there, 00:01:03.859 --> 00:01:06.159 the ones that have maybe one child 00:01:06.159 --> 00:01:08.099 or maybe they have 10 children. 00:01:08.099 --> 00:01:09.960 People that are constantly on the go, 00:01:09.960 --> 00:01:12.560 they're focusing on the day to day activities, 00:01:12.560 --> 00:01:14.299 taking care of their children. 00:01:14.299 --> 00:01:17.200 Maybe they're taking their children to soccer practice 00:01:17.200 --> 00:01:19.780 or they're focusing on rock climbing. 00:01:20.840 --> 00:01:23.579 Parents are intentionally focusing on the needs 00:01:23.579 --> 00:01:24.719 and the care of their children, 00:01:24.719 --> 00:01:27.480 which is a wonderful thing that God calls us to do. 00:01:27.480 --> 00:01:29.560 And it's a responsibility for a parent 00:01:29.560 --> 00:01:31.280 to care for your children. 00:01:31.280 --> 00:01:32.959 And much like how children, 00:01:32.959 --> 00:01:35.060 they need to be fed and cared for. 00:01:35.060 --> 00:01:38.819 There is a need for children to learn and to grow 00:01:38.819 --> 00:01:41.159 and to be in a safe environment 00:01:41.159 --> 00:01:43.599 where they learn about Jesus Christ, 00:01:43.599 --> 00:01:46.840 where they learn about who God is 00:01:46.840 --> 00:01:50.000 and also they have fun in doing so. 00:01:50.000 --> 00:01:52.379 You know, the church has been a place 00:01:52.379 --> 00:01:54.920 where people can come to know the Lord 00:01:54.920 --> 00:01:58.819 but also experience the love of Christ. 00:01:58.819 --> 00:02:01.219 And that is the message we'll be going over today. 00:02:01.219 --> 00:02:03.119 I'm titling this message, 00:02:03.119 --> 00:02:08.120 Cultivating Love and Faith, Families and Community. 00:02:08.519 --> 00:02:11.359 Family is so important today 00:02:11.359 --> 00:02:13.919 as it was in biblical times. 00:02:13.919 --> 00:02:17.539 It is so important that we as the church, 00:02:17.539 --> 00:02:20.340 that we focus on the next generation 00:02:20.340 --> 00:02:23.120 to know who Jesus Christ is. 00:02:23.120 --> 00:02:27.520 When we think about small babies or even to teenagers, 00:02:27.520 --> 00:02:31.400 think of them as the next generation of the church 00:02:31.400 --> 00:02:34.159 that they need to know who Jesus Christ is, 00:02:34.159 --> 00:02:36.960 to have that knowledge of who Jesus Christ is, 00:02:36.960 --> 00:02:39.560 to make a decision for the Lord 00:02:39.560 --> 00:02:42.520 and to be saved by believing in Him. 00:02:42.520 --> 00:02:47.060 I'm always reminded of that verse in John chapter 6, verse 47, 00:02:47.060 --> 00:02:49.360 which says, truly I say to you, 00:02:49.360 --> 00:02:51.600 this is Jesus Christ speaking. 00:02:51.600 --> 00:02:54.900 Whoever believes has eternal life. 00:02:54.900 --> 00:02:57.760 So let's think of how children can have fun 00:02:57.760 --> 00:03:01.800 being a safe environment but also come to know the Lord. 00:03:01.800 --> 00:03:04.480 You know, children being so innocent 00:03:04.480 --> 00:03:06.800 and they're so authentic. 00:03:06.800 --> 00:03:09.800 Sometimes they're more authentic than us adults are. 00:03:09.800 --> 00:03:13.280 I find that my son at times is more honest 00:03:13.280 --> 00:03:14.880 and he's blunt, but you know what? 00:03:14.880 --> 00:03:18.400 He tells the truth and that's something that's wonderful. 00:03:18.400 --> 00:03:22.080 I encourage us as a church to cultivate love 00:03:22.080 --> 00:03:26.319 and to really focus on how we can exhibit the love of Christ 00:03:26.319 --> 00:03:30.099 to others, but specifically to those who don't know 00:03:30.099 --> 00:03:31.980 who Jesus Christ is. 00:03:31.980 --> 00:03:36.300 Let us focus on children, that we as the body of Christ, 00:03:36.300 --> 00:03:39.080 that we as the church community, 00:03:39.080 --> 00:03:41.960 that we can exhibit that love to others. 00:03:41.960 --> 00:03:44.879 And our main passages that we'll be focusing on 00:03:44.879 --> 00:03:49.879 is going to be Deuteronomy chapter 6, verses 5 through 7 00:03:49.879 --> 00:03:54.879 and 1 John chapter 4, verses 7 through 12. 00:03:55.120 --> 00:03:57.759 As always, in any verse that we do, 00:03:57.759 --> 00:04:01.240 we look at the context and the connection 00:04:01.240 --> 00:04:02.479 and the application. 00:04:02.479 --> 00:04:05.519 So we look at what's going on in scripture 00:04:05.519 --> 00:04:08.560 and how is this verse or set of verses? 00:04:08.560 --> 00:04:11.800 How is this connected with other verses in scripture? 00:04:11.800 --> 00:04:15.960 And then finally, we focus on how can we apply this today? 00:04:15.960 --> 00:04:18.240 How can this be applied to our personal life 00:04:18.240 --> 00:04:22.139 and how can this be applied to us as the church? 00:04:22.139 --> 00:04:25.319 So I want us to think of how we can be present 00:04:25.319 --> 00:04:29.519 in the community and how we can extend the invitation, right? 00:04:29.519 --> 00:04:33.319 How can we invite people to come to know Christ? 00:04:33.319 --> 00:04:36.240 How can we invite people to come to the church? 00:04:36.240 --> 00:04:37.519 How can we do that? 00:04:37.519 --> 00:04:40.040 And I want you to think about that for this week 00:04:40.040 --> 00:04:43.480 is what can you do to invite someone 00:04:43.480 --> 00:04:47.040 to experience Jesus Christ or to be a part 00:04:47.040 --> 00:04:48.240 of the body of Christ? 00:04:48.240 --> 00:04:51.319 So with that, I wanna go ahead and pray for our sermon 00:04:51.319 --> 00:04:52.760 and we'll continue to go. 00:04:52.760 --> 00:04:57.520 And Father, we come before you this morning digitally, online 00:04:57.520 --> 00:04:59.080 as the body of Christ. 00:04:59.080 --> 00:05:02.120 And we just ask that you're here with us this morning 00:05:02.120 --> 00:05:05.120 and we ask that the words that are spoken speak truth 00:05:05.120 --> 00:05:06.960 that they honor and glorify you. 00:05:06.960 --> 00:05:09.280 And we ask that for everyone who is listening 00:05:09.279 --> 00:05:11.439 to this message, whether they're here locally 00:05:11.439 --> 00:05:14.299 in Ontario, Fruitland, Payette, Vale, 00:05:14.299 --> 00:05:17.839 any of the Treasure Valley or anyone who's watching 00:05:17.839 --> 00:05:20.000 from other states, you know who you are. 00:05:20.000 --> 00:05:23.359 So we just pray that you're there with, 00:05:23.359 --> 00:05:26.559 that you're here with us and you're there with them. 00:05:26.559 --> 00:05:28.199 You are the sovereign God. 00:05:28.199 --> 00:05:32.519 And we just pray that we can learn to love like you. 00:05:32.519 --> 00:05:35.959 First and foremost, may we make a decision for you, 00:05:35.959 --> 00:05:39.519 believe in you and grow in you and do good 00:05:39.519 --> 00:05:43.279 in your holy name, for it is believing in your son 00:05:43.279 --> 00:05:44.599 that we are saved. 00:05:44.599 --> 00:05:47.799 And because of this salvation, we're called to be more 00:05:47.799 --> 00:05:48.759 like you. 00:05:48.759 --> 00:05:51.120 So we just ask that you're there with us, 00:05:51.120 --> 00:05:53.240 here with us today this morning. 00:05:53.240 --> 00:05:57.199 It is in Jesus' holy name and we all say together, amen. 00:05:58.240 --> 00:06:00.519 And I wanna open up with this question that I want you 00:06:00.519 --> 00:06:01.359 to really think about. 00:06:01.359 --> 00:06:04.319 Feel free to comment in the comments below. 00:06:04.319 --> 00:06:07.360 I'll try to monitor it as best as possible. 00:06:07.360 --> 00:06:10.839 Is the question of can you think of a time where 00:06:10.839 --> 00:06:13.800 you felt loved and supported by your family? 00:06:13.800 --> 00:06:17.319 Or maybe you felt loved and supported by your church. 00:06:17.319 --> 00:06:21.560 Maybe you felt that love and support from your community. 00:06:21.560 --> 00:06:23.839 How did that love and support? 00:06:23.839 --> 00:06:26.079 How did that have an impact on you? 00:06:26.079 --> 00:06:30.199 So I want you to take a moment and feel free to comment 00:06:30.199 --> 00:06:33.560 down below and just really reflect on that. 00:06:33.560 --> 00:06:35.399 That's just something that's very powerful. 00:06:35.399 --> 00:06:38.160 So I'm gonna give a moment and feel free to answer 00:06:38.160 --> 00:06:39.759 that question in the comments. 00:06:39.759 --> 00:06:40.599 Okay. 00:07:01.639 --> 00:07:05.300 So feel free to keep that answer or that experience 00:07:05.300 --> 00:07:10.180 that you've had in mind as we go forth in this message today. 00:07:10.180 --> 00:07:11.939 Think of those experiences, 00:07:11.939 --> 00:07:14.680 those moments in your time where you felt love 00:07:14.680 --> 00:07:17.100 from your family, you felt love from your church, 00:07:17.100 --> 00:07:21.020 or your congregation, or wherever you have been. 00:07:21.020 --> 00:07:23.660 A moment where you felt supported. 00:07:23.660 --> 00:07:26.460 You know, this last week, I was talking about, 00:07:26.460 --> 00:07:30.180 in last week's sermon, I was talking about the idea 00:07:30.180 --> 00:07:32.420 of the empty chair. 00:07:32.420 --> 00:07:37.259 And the empty chair is a way that we can think of the, 00:07:37.259 --> 00:07:38.980 of who we are as a congregation, 00:07:38.980 --> 00:07:40.939 but who we can reach out to. 00:07:41.860 --> 00:07:44.100 When we invite people to come to church, 00:07:44.100 --> 00:07:48.100 or we invite people to come experience the love of Christ, 00:07:48.100 --> 00:07:50.520 I want you to think about that as we go through 00:07:50.520 --> 00:07:53.580 our sermon series and just moving forward, 00:07:53.580 --> 00:07:56.980 is the idea of the empty chair. 00:07:56.980 --> 00:07:58.939 Who can you invite? 00:07:58.939 --> 00:08:01.300 Who can you share in the love of Christ 00:08:01.300 --> 00:08:03.100 with that unknown? 00:08:03.100 --> 00:08:06.860 I got this idea originally from Jeff Bezos. 00:08:06.860 --> 00:08:11.220 He had a similar idea for Amazon, 00:08:11.220 --> 00:08:15.040 but it's really, we can use that similar framework 00:08:15.040 --> 00:08:18.540 for how we invite people, right? 00:08:18.540 --> 00:08:22.379 We have to ask people to come and see 00:08:22.379 --> 00:08:23.980 what we are all about. 00:08:23.980 --> 00:08:27.460 That Jesus is Lord, that he is the light, 00:08:27.460 --> 00:08:28.900 the life and the truth. 00:08:28.899 --> 00:08:32.620 And we're just really, that's just really a way 00:08:32.620 --> 00:08:35.740 for us to celebrate and also a way for us to invite. 00:08:36.620 --> 00:08:38.220 I wanna share a story with you 00:08:38.220 --> 00:08:40.740 that has really impacted my life. 00:08:40.740 --> 00:08:44.299 And I hope that this story will impact your life. 00:08:45.299 --> 00:08:46.939 I remember a time in my life 00:08:46.939 --> 00:08:50.779 where having a church family was very good for me. 00:08:50.779 --> 00:08:52.500 You know, there was a time in my life 00:08:52.500 --> 00:08:55.600 where I was trying to discover who I was. 00:08:55.600 --> 00:08:57.220 I was at this point in my life 00:08:57.220 --> 00:08:59.820 where I really didn't know, 00:09:01.379 --> 00:09:03.779 there was just some things that I was wrestling with 00:09:03.779 --> 00:09:05.980 and I needed some healing. 00:09:05.980 --> 00:09:08.980 I needed some clarification and I just needed, 00:09:08.980 --> 00:09:11.500 there were some issues that I just needed to work out. 00:09:11.500 --> 00:09:13.899 And I wasn't really finding the answers 00:09:13.899 --> 00:09:14.940 that I was looking for. 00:09:14.940 --> 00:09:17.980 It was something that was quite a struggle 00:09:17.980 --> 00:09:19.660 to say the least. 00:09:19.660 --> 00:09:23.660 And I found a church that really took me in. 00:09:23.659 --> 00:09:28.659 A church that loved me and helped me grow in my faith in Christ. 00:09:28.819 --> 00:09:32.860 It was this journey that I was embarking on 00:09:32.860 --> 00:09:35.980 from being a new believer in Christ 00:09:35.980 --> 00:09:39.579 to one who learns, who's interested in scripture, 00:09:39.579 --> 00:09:42.079 one who learned more about the word of God 00:09:42.079 --> 00:09:47.079 and one who began this process of being more Christ-like. 00:09:47.620 --> 00:09:50.299 And this experience that I had in this church, 00:09:50.299 --> 00:09:54.979 it really helped me in my journey in Christ. 00:09:54.979 --> 00:09:58.620 You know, you'd be amazed at how much your life 00:09:58.620 --> 00:10:01.059 can have a profound impact on other. 00:10:01.059 --> 00:10:04.179 By you being present, by you being there for someone 00:10:04.179 --> 00:10:06.339 and opening the word of God 00:10:06.339 --> 00:10:09.179 and showing that Jesus loves you 00:10:09.179 --> 00:10:12.500 or showing the truth of scripture, 00:10:12.500 --> 00:10:15.019 maybe you being a listening ear to someone 00:10:15.019 --> 00:10:16.819 has made a profound impact 00:10:16.819 --> 00:10:19.659 even though you didn't know what words to say. 00:10:19.659 --> 00:10:21.740 I know sometimes when someone is down 00:10:21.740 --> 00:10:23.779 and I wanna be there for them, 00:10:23.779 --> 00:10:26.500 sometimes I don't know what words to say. 00:10:26.500 --> 00:10:29.919 But I have found so often that just by being present 00:10:29.919 --> 00:10:33.219 with someone and just being that shoulder for them 00:10:33.219 --> 00:10:36.139 to cry on or just listening to someone, 00:10:36.139 --> 00:10:38.279 that has a very profound impact. 00:10:38.279 --> 00:10:41.699 And I think of so much of how us, 00:10:41.699 --> 00:10:46.699 how the church is really a reflection of God's love. 00:10:47.779 --> 00:10:49.419 And I want you to think of the times 00:10:49.419 --> 00:10:53.139 where you were impacted in your own spiritual journey. 00:10:53.139 --> 00:10:56.559 For each and every one of us were on this spiritual walk 00:10:56.559 --> 00:10:59.219 and this is what I like to tell people. 00:10:59.219 --> 00:11:01.860 If you don't know who Jesus Christ is, 00:11:01.860 --> 00:11:04.819 your spiritual journey should be to come to know 00:11:04.819 --> 00:11:06.500 who Jesus Christ is. 00:11:06.500 --> 00:11:10.259 And if you believe in the Lord and you have been saved, 00:11:10.259 --> 00:11:14.620 then your journey should be becoming more Christ-like. 00:11:14.620 --> 00:11:17.099 And it is becoming more holy, so to speak, 00:11:17.100 --> 00:11:21.180 and allowing God to work in and through your life. 00:11:21.180 --> 00:11:24.379 To be loved and to be supported is something 00:11:24.379 --> 00:11:27.460 that we find from God, knowing that God loves us, 00:11:27.460 --> 00:11:30.240 but also in the sense of community 00:11:30.240 --> 00:11:33.340 that exists in the church. 00:11:33.340 --> 00:11:34.659 And with all that being said, 00:11:34.659 --> 00:11:38.060 I'd like to read scripture, our first scripture reading, 00:11:38.060 --> 00:11:40.820 which is found in Deuteronomy chapter six, 00:11:40.820 --> 00:11:43.139 verses five through seven. 00:11:43.139 --> 00:11:47.939 And it says here, you shall love the Lord your God 00:11:47.939 --> 00:11:51.580 with all your heart and with all your soul 00:11:51.580 --> 00:11:53.620 and with all your might. 00:11:53.620 --> 00:11:55.659 And these words that I command you today 00:11:55.659 --> 00:11:58.299 shall be on your heart. 00:11:58.299 --> 00:12:01.059 You shall teach them diligently to your children 00:12:01.059 --> 00:12:04.500 and shall talk of them when you sit in your house 00:12:04.500 --> 00:12:08.779 and when you walk by the way and when you lie down 00:12:08.779 --> 00:12:10.980 and when you rise. 00:12:10.980 --> 00:12:15.180 So that's from Deuteronomy chapter six, verses five through seven. 00:12:15.180 --> 00:12:18.940 These verses, they remind us, it's a reminder. 00:12:18.940 --> 00:12:23.259 It's an instruction from God to love Him 00:12:23.259 --> 00:12:25.340 with everything that we are. 00:12:25.340 --> 00:12:27.860 Do you love the Lord with everything you are, 00:12:27.860 --> 00:12:30.539 with your mind, your body and your spirit? 00:12:30.539 --> 00:12:33.700 This verse goes on to teach us the importance 00:12:33.700 --> 00:12:37.259 of what it means to teach this love that we have for God 00:12:37.259 --> 00:12:40.060 and knowing that God loved us to the next generation, 00:12:40.059 --> 00:12:42.739 specifically to our children, right? 00:12:42.739 --> 00:12:44.779 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, 00:12:44.779 --> 00:12:46.619 with all your soul and with all your might, right? 00:12:46.619 --> 00:12:49.619 That's, some of us know these words very well. 00:12:49.619 --> 00:12:52.059 And with these words, it shall be on your heart. 00:12:52.059 --> 00:12:53.019 Very good. 00:12:53.019 --> 00:12:56.219 You shall teach them diligently to your children 00:12:56.219 --> 00:12:59.019 and you shall talk of them when you sit in your house 00:12:59.019 --> 00:13:00.419 and when you walk by the way. 00:13:00.419 --> 00:13:04.939 So there's this sense of having this teaching with children 00:13:04.939 --> 00:13:07.699 and how important it is. 00:13:07.700 --> 00:13:11.580 So it's focusing on the next generation. 00:13:11.580 --> 00:13:14.700 And I want you to think of how important it is for us 00:13:14.700 --> 00:13:16.740 to teach the next generation, 00:13:16.740 --> 00:13:18.820 to empower the next generation, 00:13:18.820 --> 00:13:20.780 to share in the love of Christ 00:13:20.780 --> 00:13:23.060 with the next generation of children, 00:13:23.060 --> 00:13:26.340 with biblical truth and that love of Christ. 00:13:26.340 --> 00:13:29.300 And I want you to ask yourself this question. 00:13:29.300 --> 00:13:33.700 How can we incorporate the love that we have for God 00:13:33.700 --> 00:13:36.180 into our own lives, right? 00:13:36.179 --> 00:13:41.099 With our children, with our family and with our community. 00:13:41.099 --> 00:13:44.500 When we receive this love from Jesus Christ, 00:13:44.500 --> 00:13:46.299 we're called to share in this love 00:13:46.299 --> 00:13:51.299 and we're not called to hold onto it and not share it 00:13:51.339 --> 00:13:53.539 but rather to share it with others. 00:13:54.379 --> 00:13:56.379 And like I said, I know that for many of us 00:13:56.379 --> 00:13:59.979 there's this verse that's quoted from Jesus. 00:13:59.979 --> 00:14:03.059 When Matthew is, excuse me, in the gospel of Matthew, 00:14:03.059 --> 00:14:05.859 when Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees, 00:14:05.860 --> 00:14:09.019 he is quoting the Shema, right? 00:14:09.019 --> 00:14:11.019 He's speaking to the Pharisees, 00:14:11.019 --> 00:14:13.779 saying, yes, you shall love the Lord your God 00:14:13.779 --> 00:14:15.300 with all of your heart. 00:14:15.300 --> 00:14:18.539 Well, that's the verse that it comes from. 00:14:18.539 --> 00:14:20.820 So it's part of what's known as the Shema. 00:14:20.820 --> 00:14:23.860 It's a prayer that God's people used to pray. 00:14:23.860 --> 00:14:26.820 And you'll find in your notes, if you have them, 00:14:26.820 --> 00:14:31.820 that Deuteronomy 4 through 9 is a prayer 00:14:31.820 --> 00:14:35.860 that the Jewish people would pray two times a day. 00:14:35.860 --> 00:14:38.980 And I'd like to kind of expand more on this. 00:14:38.980 --> 00:14:41.300 I want you to think of how some people, 00:14:41.300 --> 00:14:43.460 they pray when they get up in the morning 00:14:43.460 --> 00:14:46.620 or they pray when they do their, 00:14:46.620 --> 00:14:49.379 what is it, their evening prayers before they go to bed. 00:14:49.379 --> 00:14:51.220 Some of us pray before every meal. 00:14:51.220 --> 00:14:53.020 Some of us pray in the car 00:14:53.020 --> 00:14:55.620 and we have certain habits that we exhibit 00:14:55.620 --> 00:14:58.780 when we're going about our day to day. 00:14:58.779 --> 00:15:02.339 Well, the Shema was an affirmation of faith. 00:15:02.339 --> 00:15:06.179 It was a prayer that was repeated by God's people. 00:15:06.179 --> 00:15:10.339 These words were, they were spoken as a commitment to God 00:15:10.339 --> 00:15:12.100 and living out their faith. 00:15:12.100 --> 00:15:14.779 That's absolutely wonderful. 00:15:14.779 --> 00:15:18.500 It was a declaration for their love to God. 00:15:18.500 --> 00:15:22.459 And it was a reminder that God loved them as well. 00:15:22.459 --> 00:15:24.019 It was more than just words. 00:15:24.019 --> 00:15:26.819 It was about living out their faith. 00:15:26.820 --> 00:15:29.420 It was personal devotion to God. 00:15:29.420 --> 00:15:31.940 And we think of a modern day equivalent. 00:15:31.940 --> 00:15:33.180 Well, what would that look like? 00:15:33.180 --> 00:15:34.900 A modern day equivalent, like I'm saying, 00:15:34.900 --> 00:15:37.140 would be praying two times a day, right? 00:15:37.140 --> 00:15:38.900 When you get up or when you go to sleep 00:15:38.900 --> 00:15:40.900 or when you're reading the word of God, 00:15:40.900 --> 00:15:42.940 that would be a wonderful equivalent. 00:15:42.940 --> 00:15:45.580 Or praying about your thankfulness to God 00:15:45.580 --> 00:15:49.300 or maybe the commitment that you have to the truth 00:15:49.300 --> 00:15:52.660 of scripture and living out being Christ-like 00:15:52.660 --> 00:15:54.340 in your everyday life. 00:15:54.340 --> 00:15:56.700 So there's just many ways that we can think of 00:15:56.700 --> 00:15:57.780 an example of this. 00:15:57.780 --> 00:16:00.300 Now, this is not something you have to do, 00:16:00.300 --> 00:16:03.220 but this is certainly a way that the Jewish people, 00:16:03.220 --> 00:16:04.820 that God's chosen people, 00:16:04.820 --> 00:16:07.940 they dedicated their lives to the Lord. 00:16:07.940 --> 00:16:11.780 And certainly this is just one way that us as Christians 00:16:11.780 --> 00:16:15.500 or that we can connect with the Lord. 00:16:15.500 --> 00:16:18.540 So think for a moment, how do you connect to the Lord? 00:16:18.540 --> 00:16:20.580 Is it by praying when you get up in the morning 00:16:20.580 --> 00:16:22.580 or before you go to bed? 00:16:22.580 --> 00:16:25.340 Maybe you can answer in the question if you feel led to. 00:16:25.340 --> 00:16:27.580 It's just something to think about. 00:16:27.580 --> 00:16:29.379 Some of us, we may have the discipline 00:16:29.379 --> 00:16:33.340 of praying at certain times and maybe some of us don't. 00:16:33.340 --> 00:16:35.019 Let this be an encouragement for you 00:16:35.019 --> 00:16:37.100 of how you can connect to God 00:16:37.100 --> 00:16:40.060 and his divine plan for your life. 00:16:40.060 --> 00:16:45.060 And God calls us to love him with everything that we are. 00:16:45.220 --> 00:16:49.620 He calls for us, just like we're reading in Deuteronomy, 00:16:49.620 --> 00:16:53.940 to teach this type of love with our children. 00:16:53.940 --> 00:16:55.860 That wording that I've been highlighting 00:16:55.860 --> 00:16:59.460 is to teach them diligently, well, to teach who? 00:16:59.460 --> 00:17:01.580 To teach the children diligently. 00:17:03.380 --> 00:17:07.660 It highlights the important of not just teaching children 00:17:07.660 --> 00:17:12.660 as a one-time occurrence, but something that is continuous. 00:17:13.700 --> 00:17:16.940 This is much like how in the Christian world, 00:17:16.940 --> 00:17:20.259 we have this word called discipleship, right? 00:17:20.259 --> 00:17:24.059 Discipleship, much like teaching them diligently, 00:17:24.059 --> 00:17:25.859 is not a one-time thing. 00:17:25.859 --> 00:17:29.859 It's an ongoing journey for us to be more Christ-like. 00:17:29.859 --> 00:17:32.940 Like I'm saying, for those of you who don't know the Lord, 00:17:32.940 --> 00:17:35.819 may you be on a path to know who God is, 00:17:35.819 --> 00:17:38.019 to know who Jesus Christ is. 00:17:38.019 --> 00:17:40.099 And from knowing who Jesus is, 00:17:40.099 --> 00:17:44.420 may you be on a path of this ongoing process 00:17:44.420 --> 00:17:46.619 of living more like Jesus 00:17:46.619 --> 00:17:48.720 and knowing the truth of God's word. 00:17:48.720 --> 00:17:53.720 It's also, we also think of the idea of sanctification, 00:17:53.720 --> 00:17:58.360 where salvation is one and done, that Jesus paid it all, 00:17:58.360 --> 00:18:01.000 and when you believe in the Lord, you shall be saved, 00:18:01.000 --> 00:18:03.920 and upon that salvation, no one can snatch you 00:18:03.920 --> 00:18:05.960 from the hand of God. 00:18:05.960 --> 00:18:09.600 Sanctification, though, is this idea of ongoing, 00:18:09.600 --> 00:18:11.839 that you will become more Christ-like. 00:18:11.839 --> 00:18:13.799 So these are just some words and some ideas 00:18:13.799 --> 00:18:16.759 that you can think of when we're thinking of 00:18:16.759 --> 00:18:19.039 teaching children diligently. 00:18:20.039 --> 00:18:23.400 And may you be on a path to come to know the Lord, 00:18:23.400 --> 00:18:25.119 and knowing the Lord, 00:18:25.119 --> 00:18:29.119 may you be on a path of growing in the Lord. 00:18:29.119 --> 00:18:32.559 This journey is absolutely powerful. 00:18:32.559 --> 00:18:34.759 The journey to come to know who the Lord is 00:18:34.759 --> 00:18:37.440 and saying, wow, Jesus is this cool guy, 00:18:37.440 --> 00:18:40.200 and then seeing that he died on the cross, 00:18:40.200 --> 00:18:42.599 that he was born in the manger, 00:18:42.599 --> 00:18:44.720 that he performed many miracles, 00:18:44.720 --> 00:18:46.680 that he taught wonderful parables, 00:18:46.680 --> 00:18:49.200 that he performed these miracles, 00:18:49.200 --> 00:18:52.840 the ability to turn water into wine, 00:18:52.840 --> 00:18:54.200 walking on water, 00:18:54.200 --> 00:18:57.480 healing the sick, raising people from the dead, 00:18:57.480 --> 00:18:59.519 and then learning about how Christ died 00:18:59.519 --> 00:19:02.480 for our sins on the cross, 00:19:02.480 --> 00:19:06.840 that he died so that we could have everlasting life 00:19:06.840 --> 00:19:08.480 by believing in him, 00:19:08.480 --> 00:19:11.960 and knowing that on the third day he rose again, 00:19:11.960 --> 00:19:15.120 this is the gospel story, and it's so powerful, 00:19:15.119 --> 00:19:17.519 it's so important for us to know this, 00:19:17.519 --> 00:19:21.159 but also for the next generation to know this. 00:19:21.159 --> 00:19:24.359 And it makes me think of how important 00:19:24.359 --> 00:19:26.119 family should teach children, 00:19:26.119 --> 00:19:28.879 but also us as the church, 00:19:28.879 --> 00:19:32.519 as the body of Christ should do the same. 00:19:32.519 --> 00:19:35.919 We as the local church, as the body of Christ, 00:19:35.919 --> 00:19:39.319 we should see to it that we teach our children 00:19:39.319 --> 00:19:42.759 the truth of Scripture and the love of Jesus Christ. 00:19:42.759 --> 00:19:47.759 And how we do this is by us intentionally focusing, 00:19:48.039 --> 00:19:50.920 going all in about the children. 00:19:50.920 --> 00:19:52.839 They are the next generation, 00:19:52.839 --> 00:19:56.599 and setting up an environment where we can be able to 00:19:56.599 --> 00:19:58.720 let them have fun, let them be children, 00:19:58.720 --> 00:20:03.720 but also to teach them and see that Jesus loves them. 00:20:03.879 --> 00:20:05.839 I'm always reminded, I had a conversation 00:20:05.839 --> 00:20:10.319 with someone today just about the fundamental, 00:20:10.319 --> 00:20:13.679 that Jesus loves me, this I know, 00:20:13.679 --> 00:20:16.079 for the Bible tells me so. 00:20:16.079 --> 00:20:19.599 It's just a core truth of who Jesus Christ is. 00:20:19.599 --> 00:20:22.159 We should teach our children about the gospel story 00:20:22.159 --> 00:20:24.279 and the love that God has for us. 00:20:24.279 --> 00:20:27.879 And in teaching, and I want you to keep this in mind, 00:20:28.720 --> 00:20:31.200 it is in teaching children, 00:20:31.200 --> 00:20:35.039 it is in letting them experience, like I said, fun, 00:20:35.039 --> 00:20:36.720 and learning about who God is, 00:20:36.720 --> 00:20:40.039 that they will have the knowledge of who Jesus Christ is. 00:20:40.039 --> 00:20:43.079 And through knowledge comes faith. 00:20:43.079 --> 00:20:45.920 And I am convinced that just as the Jewish people 00:20:45.920 --> 00:20:49.720 were commanded to do this in the context of family, 00:20:49.720 --> 00:20:52.599 of course we should do this in our own family context, 00:20:52.599 --> 00:20:56.159 but also in the church body context. 00:20:56.159 --> 00:20:59.920 Children are the future of Christianity. 00:20:59.920 --> 00:21:03.359 And it is important for us to focus on providing 00:21:03.359 --> 00:21:07.079 that safe environment for children to, like I said, 00:21:07.079 --> 00:21:10.839 have fun, but also be exposed to who Jesus is. 00:21:10.839 --> 00:21:15.079 And we do that through family and through the church. 00:21:15.079 --> 00:21:17.839 It is a great encouragement that we focus 00:21:17.839 --> 00:21:20.519 on the next generation. 00:21:20.519 --> 00:21:23.000 And I want us to turn to our second scripture verse, 00:21:23.000 --> 00:21:25.119 which is found in 1st John. 00:21:25.119 --> 00:21:27.639 It's gonna be on 1st John chapter four, 00:21:27.639 --> 00:21:29.799 verses seven through 12. 00:21:29.799 --> 00:21:32.960 And it's titled, God is Love. 00:21:32.960 --> 00:21:34.519 It goes like this, 00:21:34.519 --> 00:21:37.519 Beloved, let us love one another, 00:21:37.519 --> 00:21:39.519 for love is from God. 00:21:39.519 --> 00:21:44.079 And whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 00:21:44.079 --> 00:21:46.839 Anyone who does not love does not know God 00:21:46.839 --> 00:21:49.039 because God is love. 00:21:49.039 --> 00:21:53.119 In this, the love of God was made manifest among us, 00:21:53.119 --> 00:21:56.279 that God sent his only son into the world 00:21:56.279 --> 00:22:00.200 that we might live through him. 00:22:00.200 --> 00:22:02.839 In this is love. 00:22:02.839 --> 00:22:06.240 Not that we have loved God, but that he loved us 00:22:06.240 --> 00:22:11.240 and sent his son to be the propitiation for our sins. 00:22:12.039 --> 00:22:15.039 Beloved, if God so loved us, 00:22:15.039 --> 00:22:18.799 we also ought to love one another. 00:22:18.799 --> 00:22:21.319 No one has ever seen God. 00:22:21.319 --> 00:22:25.319 If we love one another, God abides in us 00:22:25.319 --> 00:22:28.480 and his love is perfected in us. 00:22:28.480 --> 00:22:31.159 And there's a lot of depth and a lot of richness in this. 00:22:31.160 --> 00:22:33.600 And John's words are here to tell us 00:22:33.600 --> 00:22:37.000 that God loves each and every one of us. 00:22:37.000 --> 00:22:41.680 And because of this love, we should do the same. 00:22:41.680 --> 00:22:44.640 We should love others just as God has loved us. 00:22:44.640 --> 00:22:47.560 And we can do this by the words that we say 00:22:47.560 --> 00:22:49.240 and the things that we do. 00:22:49.240 --> 00:22:53.240 Certainly the criticalness is to believe in the Lord 00:22:53.240 --> 00:22:54.880 and be saved, right? 00:22:54.880 --> 00:22:57.840 Know that God loves you and receive that salvation 00:22:57.839 --> 00:23:02.480 and upon that salvation, share in the love of that God has 00:23:02.480 --> 00:23:03.519 for you. 00:23:03.519 --> 00:23:07.079 We are called to act, to be doers of the word, 00:23:07.079 --> 00:23:09.720 much like we are hearers of the word. 00:23:09.720 --> 00:23:12.159 We are called to show that same type of love 00:23:12.159 --> 00:23:15.720 with our friends, with our family and the community. 00:23:15.720 --> 00:23:18.319 Do you realize that the closer you get to God, 00:23:18.319 --> 00:23:21.279 the more God will work in and through your life? 00:23:21.279 --> 00:23:24.599 Do you realize when you open the pages of scripture 00:23:24.599 --> 00:23:26.559 and when you're in Christian community, 00:23:26.559 --> 00:23:31.559 you can see how lives are transformed? 00:23:32.000 --> 00:23:35.480 Do you see that the love that God has for us 00:23:35.480 --> 00:23:38.679 is beyond the human type of love? 00:23:38.679 --> 00:23:42.240 We're talking about agape love, unconditional love, 00:23:42.240 --> 00:23:45.240 everlasting love that is just so, 00:23:45.240 --> 00:23:49.079 it's so powerful and it's for us to learn to exhibit. 00:23:49.079 --> 00:23:54.079 The ability to forgive, the ability to be Christ-like. 00:23:54.079 --> 00:23:56.480 It's just so powerful. 00:23:56.480 --> 00:23:59.279 And ask yourself this question, 00:23:59.279 --> 00:24:02.879 who can you share in the love of Christ with? 00:24:02.879 --> 00:24:07.879 And I want you to reflect on these two verses in scripture, 00:24:08.879 --> 00:24:11.679 reflect on the powerful words of scripture 00:24:11.679 --> 00:24:14.000 and think about our mission and vision 00:24:14.000 --> 00:24:16.439 here at Ontario Community Church. 00:24:16.439 --> 00:24:20.359 It is critical that we encourage people 00:24:20.359 --> 00:24:23.240 to believe in the Lord and to be saved, 00:24:23.240 --> 00:24:27.240 but also to be encouraged to be a part of the church, 00:24:27.240 --> 00:24:30.200 to be a Christian and to grow in their faith. 00:24:30.200 --> 00:24:34.240 We focus on equipping so that believers can learn 00:24:34.240 --> 00:24:38.039 from the word of God and what it means to be a Christian. 00:24:38.039 --> 00:24:41.200 And we engage the community for Christ 00:24:41.200 --> 00:24:46.200 to the sharing of God's word, the good news, our testimony, 00:24:46.200 --> 00:24:49.000 but also through service. 00:24:50.000 --> 00:24:52.640 I want you to think about how we are planning 00:24:52.640 --> 00:24:56.040 to incorporate these community classes for children 00:24:56.040 --> 00:24:59.240 and how we are going to love Ontario. 00:24:59.240 --> 00:25:01.800 These are two things that we're going to be focused on 00:25:01.800 --> 00:25:03.360 in the next few weeks. 00:25:03.360 --> 00:25:05.040 Like I mentioned in the announcements, 00:25:05.040 --> 00:25:08.280 we definitely need help if we're going to create 00:25:08.280 --> 00:25:11.400 these community classes for children at 9 a.m. 00:25:11.400 --> 00:25:14.440 before our service and really just, 00:25:14.440 --> 00:25:16.480 let's spread the word to the community 00:25:16.480 --> 00:25:19.360 that, hey, here is an opportunity for children 00:25:19.359 --> 00:25:24.359 to learn a life skill and do it in the context of God's love. 00:25:24.559 --> 00:25:26.000 And at the conclusion of that, 00:25:26.000 --> 00:25:28.839 we invite those children and those families 00:25:28.839 --> 00:25:33.399 to come and experience God's love in our church service. 00:25:33.399 --> 00:25:35.679 It's so powerful for us. 00:25:35.679 --> 00:25:38.639 And I also talked about ways that we can love our city 00:25:38.639 --> 00:25:40.699 to love Ontario. 00:25:41.639 --> 00:25:44.679 It's so important for us as the church 00:25:44.679 --> 00:25:47.199 to exhibit the love of Christ 00:25:47.200 --> 00:25:50.400 and to be that beacon of hope, right? 00:25:50.400 --> 00:25:52.799 Jesus Christ is the light of the world 00:25:52.799 --> 00:25:55.920 and that light shines through us. 00:25:55.920 --> 00:25:59.160 Why wouldn't we want to be present in the community, 00:25:59.160 --> 00:26:02.480 active in the community, sharing in that love 00:26:02.480 --> 00:26:05.440 and that light of Christ with others? 00:26:05.440 --> 00:26:09.039 These are initiatives for us to focus on teaching children, 00:26:09.039 --> 00:26:10.779 to teach them diligently, 00:26:10.779 --> 00:26:15.120 but to focus on the family unit as a whole. 00:26:15.119 --> 00:26:18.000 It is about teaching people about the love of Christ 00:26:18.000 --> 00:26:21.519 and that there is salvation and that there is new life 00:26:21.519 --> 00:26:25.039 and that there is truth that comes from God. 00:26:25.039 --> 00:26:27.619 We are made with great purpose. 00:26:27.619 --> 00:26:29.639 We're made with great potential 00:26:29.639 --> 00:26:33.719 and we have the chance to share in that salvation, 00:26:33.719 --> 00:26:37.039 the good news of the gospel with other people. 00:26:37.039 --> 00:26:40.719 We have a unique opportunity to cultivate love, 00:26:40.720 --> 00:26:45.240 to love families and share in our faith 00:26:45.240 --> 00:26:46.519 in Christ with others. 00:26:46.519 --> 00:26:49.160 These are so important. 00:26:49.160 --> 00:26:53.680 And I speak of exhibiting love to the next generation 00:26:53.680 --> 00:26:57.600 and seeing to it that this next generation grows up 00:26:57.600 --> 00:27:01.519 in knowing who God is and the truth of the word. 00:27:01.519 --> 00:27:04.120 Can you imagine the profound impact 00:27:04.120 --> 00:27:06.720 that you can have on the next generation? 00:27:06.720 --> 00:27:10.559 Do you realize that by investing in children 00:27:10.559 --> 00:27:12.759 and having them grow in the Lord 00:27:12.759 --> 00:27:16.000 that you will see for yourself lives transformed 00:27:16.000 --> 00:27:17.799 by the gospel? 00:27:17.799 --> 00:27:21.279 It's something that is needed. 00:27:21.279 --> 00:27:23.519 It's needed now more than ever. 00:27:23.519 --> 00:27:26.319 Certainly I'm talking in the context of Ontario, 00:27:26.319 --> 00:27:30.179 but I also want you to think of other cities as well. 00:27:30.179 --> 00:27:33.359 Cities that need the word of God 00:27:33.359 --> 00:27:36.059 and coming back to our city to Ontario, 00:27:36.059 --> 00:27:40.119 when I read about young people who are fighting 00:27:40.119 --> 00:27:42.199 or they're shooting each other 00:27:42.199 --> 00:27:44.479 or they're being violent with one another, 00:27:44.479 --> 00:27:46.679 I think to myself that there is a better way 00:27:46.679 --> 00:27:51.679 for these young people to come to know who the Lord is. 00:27:52.559 --> 00:27:53.779 There's a better way. 00:27:55.000 --> 00:27:58.319 And I want us to take time today throughout this week 00:27:58.319 --> 00:28:01.639 to reflect on what it means to you 00:28:01.639 --> 00:28:05.719 to cultivate love for families and for the community. 00:28:05.719 --> 00:28:08.919 We are exhibiting that love of Christ to others. 00:28:08.920 --> 00:28:11.840 We are called to love God and to love people 00:28:11.840 --> 00:28:16.840 as that Matthew passage says in Matthew 22 verse 37. 00:28:17.240 --> 00:28:20.800 We're called to invest in the next generation of people, 00:28:20.800 --> 00:28:22.240 our own children. 00:28:22.240 --> 00:28:24.480 Do you remember when you were a child? 00:28:24.480 --> 00:28:27.880 Do you remember when people invested in you? 00:28:27.880 --> 00:28:30.759 And it may be if you didn't come to know the Lord as a child, 00:28:30.759 --> 00:28:33.640 do you remember the people that had a profound impact 00:28:33.640 --> 00:28:35.200 in your walk with the Lord 00:28:35.200 --> 00:28:38.160 and you coming to know who Jesus is? 00:28:38.160 --> 00:28:41.160 Certainly there had to have been people that worked with you 00:28:41.160 --> 00:28:43.580 and helped you along the journey. 00:28:43.580 --> 00:28:46.480 We're doing the same thing by passing the torch, 00:28:46.480 --> 00:28:49.680 so to speak, by focusing on them. 00:28:49.680 --> 00:28:52.120 It is so important. 00:28:52.120 --> 00:28:56.160 We're called to intentionally love our community. 00:28:56.160 --> 00:29:00.519 Let us embrace this call to focus on families 00:29:00.519 --> 00:29:04.279 and our community, to focus on the future. 00:29:04.279 --> 00:29:07.680 Let us be active in our faith and be doers of the word 00:29:07.680 --> 00:29:10.519 and not just hearers. 00:29:10.519 --> 00:29:13.160 And be encouraged to love others 00:29:13.160 --> 00:29:17.519 just as God loves you and how God loves us. 00:29:17.519 --> 00:29:20.519 Because of this love, we should exhibit and show 00:29:20.519 --> 00:29:23.680 that same kind of love to others. 00:29:23.680 --> 00:29:26.980 And I wanna remind everyone in all of these initiatives, 00:29:26.980 --> 00:29:30.120 the most important thing is believing in the Lord 00:29:30.120 --> 00:29:31.880 first and foremost. 00:29:31.880 --> 00:29:34.080 Believe in the Lord and be saved. 00:29:34.080 --> 00:29:37.580 And in belief, you will be born again. 00:29:37.579 --> 00:29:40.439 I'm reminded of John 3.16, 00:29:40.439 --> 00:29:43.199 which many of you know this verse that says 00:29:43.199 --> 00:29:47.359 that God so loved the world that he gave his only son, 00:29:47.359 --> 00:29:50.679 that whosoever believes shall not perish 00:29:50.679 --> 00:29:52.279 but have eternal life. 00:29:52.279 --> 00:29:54.679 And that verse speaks of everybody. 00:29:54.679 --> 00:29:57.359 It speaks of all people, right? 00:29:57.359 --> 00:30:01.599 Not just a select group, but everybody. 00:30:01.599 --> 00:30:03.220 And that is the core. 00:30:03.220 --> 00:30:06.399 That is the critical component of Christianity. 00:30:06.400 --> 00:30:09.400 Believe in the Lord and be saved. 00:30:09.400 --> 00:30:14.400 I'm also reminded of John 14 verses 34 through 35, 00:30:14.880 --> 00:30:17.800 where Jesus mentions the new commandment 00:30:17.800 --> 00:30:21.800 that you love one another just as he loved us, 00:30:21.800 --> 00:30:24.560 we are called to love one another. 00:30:24.560 --> 00:30:27.440 By this, I love that verse 35, 00:30:27.440 --> 00:30:30.540 by this all people will know that you are my disciples 00:30:30.540 --> 00:30:32.700 if you have love for one another. 00:30:32.700 --> 00:30:37.059 And we see in these verses from 1 John 00:30:37.059 --> 00:30:40.779 and the John passages that God is love. 00:30:40.779 --> 00:30:44.140 This is a profound statement because love is just one 00:30:44.140 --> 00:30:47.180 of the major attributes of who God is. 00:30:47.180 --> 00:30:49.980 God is love, but there's other words 00:30:49.980 --> 00:30:52.299 that describe who God is. 00:30:52.299 --> 00:30:54.620 God is the great I am. 00:30:54.620 --> 00:30:57.059 He is eternal, he is infinite. 00:30:57.059 --> 00:30:59.580 He is self-existent, he is holy. 00:30:59.580 --> 00:31:01.620 He is great, he is good. 00:31:01.619 --> 00:31:04.179 God is merciful, he is faithful. 00:31:04.179 --> 00:31:08.179 He's gracious and compassionate and forgiving. 00:31:08.179 --> 00:31:10.299 And our God, like I said, he's holy 00:31:10.299 --> 00:31:13.099 and the fact that he knows each and every one of us 00:31:13.099 --> 00:31:16.459 and loves us and gives us the ability to believe in him 00:31:16.459 --> 00:31:18.239 is simply remarkable. 00:31:19.339 --> 00:31:23.819 I bring up these many verses to show how important it is 00:31:23.819 --> 00:31:27.339 to cultivate love here in this church 00:31:27.339 --> 00:31:29.619 and here in this community. 00:31:29.619 --> 00:31:32.500 Us as Christians, we are to share in the love 00:31:32.500 --> 00:31:34.819 of Christ with others. 00:31:34.819 --> 00:31:38.699 Let us consider focusing on that next generation. 00:31:38.699 --> 00:31:42.500 Let us be encouraged to teach children about Jesus, 00:31:42.500 --> 00:31:44.959 that the love that he has for them, 00:31:44.959 --> 00:31:48.479 certainly how they can grow up to know the Lord. 00:31:49.459 --> 00:31:52.339 The Deuteronomy passage explains the importance 00:31:52.339 --> 00:31:55.099 of ongoing teaching for children 00:31:55.099 --> 00:31:58.219 and more thinking about creating these community classes 00:31:58.220 --> 00:32:01.460 for children, consider that these are our efforts 00:32:01.460 --> 00:32:04.059 to teach them diligently. 00:32:04.059 --> 00:32:07.779 Through learning life skills based on Christian principles, 00:32:07.779 --> 00:32:10.180 we are exposing them to have fun, 00:32:10.180 --> 00:32:12.460 but also to learn and grow 00:32:12.460 --> 00:32:15.640 and to know who Jesus Christ is. 00:32:16.620 --> 00:32:21.100 Both of these verses are a call for us to cultivate love. 00:32:21.100 --> 00:32:25.059 As a church, we should extend the invitation to our neighbors 00:32:25.059 --> 00:32:26.900 and to other families and of course, 00:32:26.900 --> 00:32:28.900 people within the community. 00:32:28.900 --> 00:32:32.780 We are focusing on cultivating love with our children, 00:32:32.780 --> 00:32:35.180 with our family and with the community. 00:32:35.180 --> 00:32:38.460 This is a reflection of what we are learning today. 00:32:38.460 --> 00:32:42.800 It is all about us being active in our faith. 00:32:42.800 --> 00:32:45.980 How can you be active in your faith? 00:32:45.980 --> 00:32:49.500 As our closing question, wanna ask you, 00:32:50.500 --> 00:32:54.019 how can we as the body of Christ, 00:32:54.019 --> 00:32:59.019 cultivate love with our families and to our community? 00:32:59.019 --> 00:33:03.180 I want you to think about this. 00:33:03.180 --> 00:33:06.859 Take this to heart as we go into this week. 00:33:07.900 --> 00:33:10.579 And with that, I'd like for us to close in prayer. 00:33:11.740 --> 00:33:15.259 And Father, as we conclude our time today, 00:33:15.259 --> 00:33:18.779 we thank you for providing us the truth of your word 00:33:18.779 --> 00:33:21.019 and that love that comes from you. 00:33:21.019 --> 00:33:24.139 We ask that you remain in us and that your word 00:33:24.139 --> 00:33:26.139 dwells richly within us. 00:33:26.139 --> 00:33:29.299 We pray for strength and wisdom to be able 00:33:29.299 --> 00:33:31.579 to cultivate love in this church 00:33:31.579 --> 00:33:34.980 and to be Christ-like in the community. 00:33:34.980 --> 00:33:37.859 We ask that you lead and that you guide us 00:33:37.859 --> 00:33:40.339 to be a church that extends an invitation 00:33:40.339 --> 00:33:42.139 to those in the community 00:33:42.139 --> 00:33:46.379 and that a church that cares for families, 00:33:46.379 --> 00:33:48.180 especially children, 00:33:48.180 --> 00:33:50.980 may we teach them diligently. 00:33:52.140 --> 00:33:54.380 Guide us to know the truth 00:33:54.380 --> 00:33:56.860 and that the truth will set us free. 00:33:56.860 --> 00:33:59.860 And let us be active in our faith 00:33:59.860 --> 00:34:02.940 and having you at the center of our lives. 00:34:02.940 --> 00:34:05.019 Let us consider that empty chair 00:34:06.019 --> 00:34:08.900 and help guide us in answering the question, 00:34:08.900 --> 00:34:12.460 who can sit in that empty chair? 00:34:12.460 --> 00:34:14.500 Let us love our neighbors. 00:34:14.500 --> 00:34:17.900 Teach us to live and to love like you. 00:34:17.900 --> 00:34:21.340 Be with us as we go from this place and word. 00:34:21.340 --> 00:34:26.220 And indeed, it is in Jesus' name that we pray 00:34:26.220 --> 00:34:28.820 and we all say together, amen. 00:34:29.700 --> 00:34:30.740 Thank you for tuning in 00:34:30.740 --> 00:34:33.780 to the Ontario Community Church sermon podcast. 00:34:33.780 --> 00:34:35.260 For more about our church 00:34:35.260 --> 00:34:37.980 and how you can get involved or support our mission, 00:34:37.980 --> 00:34:41.700 please visit ontariocommunitychurch.org. 00:34:41.699 --> 00:34:48.699 May God's blessings be with you.