WEBVTT

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 How does the thought of studying the Bible strike you?

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 It's the idea.

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 I'm going to study the Bible.

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 Some church members,

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 and I hope not in this room right now,

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 but some church members would say,

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 I think I'll study the Bible,

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 I think I'll study the Bible,

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 I think boring, irrelevant to life.

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 And if a person thinks like that,

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 they rarely, if ever, read it at home.

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 And they don't really get too excited about

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 coming to church and hearing somebody teach it or preach it.

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 Now, on the other hand, there are church members,

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 and maybe some in here who think in terms of

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 studying the Bible in a positive way,

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 like studying their favorite subject in school, like history.

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 Some people think of studying the Bible as

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 learning new facts about God, about people,

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 about other things that you consider to be interesting in the Bible.

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 Now, I hope you understand that

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 these are two extreme and wrong ways to look at the Bible.

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 The Bible is the Word of God,

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 and so it is not boring.

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 And we who preach and teach,

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 we need to make sure we don't make our teaching and preaching boring.

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 It's not irrelevant to our lives.

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 It's very spot on to how we live in this world.

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 But we also need to understand,

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 the Bible is not an encyclopedia of religious knowledge.

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 It's not a book we should read just to acquire more information.

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 The Bible really is the Word of God

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 that He has given to us

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 to make a practical difference in our lives.

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 The Bible is God's story.

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 It's a story about creation,

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 about human beings' rebellion against God.

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 And then God's gigantic,

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 from Genesis to Revelation, rescue plan.

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 His way of calling men and women and boys and girls

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 to faith in Jesus, salvation.

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 Now, when we open the Bible with that idea,

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 we're going to find that God reveals what we should believe,

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 what is right to believe,

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 and what we shouldn't believe.

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 Everything that people talk about of a religious or spiritual nature

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 is not true.

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 It's not valid.

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 It's not going to do anything but lead us astray.

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 And if we come to the Bible with the right attitude,

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 we'll find that the Bible not only teaches us what to believe,

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 but how to live,

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 how not to live in this world

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 in order to please God

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 and make the most, the best of our own lives.

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 We come to the Bible the right way,

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 with a teachable attitude.

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 The Spirit of God, you'll see it on the screen,

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 will inform our minds,

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 stir our emotions,

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 and move us to action.

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 That's what, maybe not every time,

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 sometimes we come to the Bible,

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 even in church, the Bible study,

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 personally in the mornings, whenever you read,

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 sometimes we're tired, we're sleepy,

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 we just don't have it.

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 But on a regular basis,

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 we come to the Bible with the right attitude,

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 a teachable attitude.

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 The Spirit of God should inform our minds,

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 stir our emotions,

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 and move us to do it.

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 To believe what God says to believe,

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 and to do what God says to do.

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 The result will be that

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 we will do what Paul talks about

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 in Philippians chapter 1, verse 27.

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 We'll live a life worthy of the gospel.

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 We'll actually live like Christians,

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 is what he's talking about.

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 Turn with me, if you would,

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 to Philippians chapter 1,

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 where we've been now for several weeks.

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 We're moving on today,

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 in verses 27 through 30.

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 He actually tells us,

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 calls us,

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 live a life worthy of the gospel.

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 He's saying,

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 live like a Christian.

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 Live like the Christian you are,

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 who has been changed by God.

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 Let's read it.

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 Philippians 1, 27.

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 Only let your manner of life

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 be worthy of the gospel of Christ.

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 So that whether I come and see you

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 or am absent,

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 I may hear of you,

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 that you are standing firm

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 in one spirit with one mind,

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 striving side by side

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 for the faith of the gospel,

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 and not frightened in anything

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 by your opponents.

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 This is a clear sign to them

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 of their destruction,

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 but of your salvation,

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 and that from God.

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 For it has been granted to you

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 that for the sake of Christ,

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 you should not only believe in Him,

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 but also suffer for His sake.

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 Engage in the same conflict

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 that you saw I had.

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 Read Acts chapter 16,

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 and you'll read how Paul,

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 when he first went to the city of Philippi,

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 some things happened.

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 A mob turned against him,

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 beat him,

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 threw him in jail,

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 and for all practical purposes,

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 ran him out of town.

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 That's what he's taught.

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 They knew that.

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 Engage in the same conflict

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 that you saw I had,

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 and now hear that I have.

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 Now he's in prison in Rome,

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 waiting to be tried before Caesar.

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 They know that.

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 I want you to look at these verses

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 and see what it means

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 to live a life worthy of the gospel

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 and how that will affect

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 our relationships here in the church

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 and even relationships outside the church

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 with people who do not believe like we believe

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 or even oppose us.

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 So let's think.

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 We live worthy of the gospel.

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 Number one,

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 we will demonstrate how Christ

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 has made a difference in our lives.

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 If we really live like Christians,

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 we will demonstrate

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 by the way that we live in this world

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 and interact with people,

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 we'll demonstrate

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 that the Lord has made a difference in us

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 when He saved us,

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 when He put His Spirit in us.

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 I want you to look at the first part of verse 27.

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 He says,

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 Only let your manner of life

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 be worthy of the gospel of Christ.

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 Most commentators talk about

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 how this is a difficult phrase to translate

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 and show us just how strongly

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 Paul is calling us

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 to live a faithful Christian life.

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 Here's the problem.

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 He is writing to people

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 who live in the city of Philippi.

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 Philippi had been made years earlier

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 a Roman colony.

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 The people who lived in that place

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 were made Roman citizens

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 with many privileges

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 that people around them did not have.

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 After that,

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 everyone born into that city

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 was a Roman citizen.

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 It was a privileged status.

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 And the people who lived there,

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 they knew,

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 we are something.

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 And I'm not talking about

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 just terrible pride,

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 kind of arrogance,

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 condescension,

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 but they just knew,

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 we are citizens of Philippi.

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 That does make us special.

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 And they took pride

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 in living like a citizen of Philippi.

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 Well, what Paul is trying to do,

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 he's got that in his mind.

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 And so he's telling

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 these Philippian Christians

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 who understand

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 the privilege they have

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 of being citizens,

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 he's saying now,

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 you live like a citizen of heaven.

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 He even uses that phrase

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 specifically later on

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 in chapter 3.

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 You live like a citizen of heaven.

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 You go all out

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 to live up to

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 who you are

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 as a Christian.

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 A New Testament commentator

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 by the name of Moises Silva

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 tries to point this out

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 in his translation

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 of that phrase

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 in verse 27.

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 He says,

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 What really matters

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 is that you behave

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 as citizens of heaven

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 in a manner worthy

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 of the gospel of Christ.

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 Now,

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 the idea of living

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 in a manner

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 worthy of the gospel of Christ

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 or worthy of our salvation,

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 Paul's not saying

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 you make yourself worthy.

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 Everything about our salvation

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 is due to God's grace.

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 It has nothing to do

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 with what we have done

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 or with our own good works

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 or anything like that.

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 One of the best verses

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 that describes

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 how we owe everything

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 about our salvation to God

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 is the verse we read earlier

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 from Ephesians chapter 2.

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 Look at it.

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 For by grace

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 you have been saved

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 through faith

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 and this is not

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 your own doing.

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 Grace is a gift from God.

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 Your salvation

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 is a work of God.

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 Faith itself

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 is a gift from God.

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 This is not your own doing,

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 none of it.

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 It is the gift of God

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 not a result of works

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 so that no one may boast.

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 Paul is calling us

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 to demonstrate

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 the change

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 that God has brought about

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 in our lives

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 as a result of us

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 believing the gospel.

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 And when we put our faith

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 in Jesus

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 for our salvation,

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 the Spirit of God

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 comes to live within us

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 and brings about

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 from that moment on

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 change

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 as He makes us

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 more and more

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 like Jesus.

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 And we've talked about this before

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 in terms of character

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 especially.

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 Now,

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 in this passage

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 Paul talks about

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 some of the ways

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 that God changes us.

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 So let's look at

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 some of the ways

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 that we ought to demonstrate

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 that we're Christians.

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 Number one,

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 we will be united.

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 Paul says that he wants

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 to hear,

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 look at this,

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 verse 27,

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 that you are standing firm

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 in one spirit

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 with one mind

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 striving side by side

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 for the faith of the gospel.

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 The gospel

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 has a way of uniting us

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 when we believe

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 we're regenerated.

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 We're united to God

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 in a special relationship.

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 But we're also united

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 to one another

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 in a very special relationship.

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 brothers and sisters

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 in Christ.

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 What he's telling us

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 here is

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 as members of the family

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 of God

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 we've got to put forth

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 effort.

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 As he says here

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 we've got to put forth

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 effort to stand firm

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 in one spirit.

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 He's referring to the

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 power of the Holy Spirit

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 here

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 and strive together

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 to proclaim the gospel.

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 I want you to think with me

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 in light of what he's saying here.

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 churches should be

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 the most common

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 and best examples

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 in this country

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 of how

00:11:32.899 --> 00:11:34.360
 different people

00:11:34.360 --> 00:11:36.740
 diverse people

00:11:36.740 --> 00:11:38.959
 come together

00:11:38.959 --> 00:11:39.980
 join together

00:11:39.980 --> 00:11:41.759
 to live

00:11:41.759 --> 00:11:42.779
 and work

00:11:42.779 --> 00:11:44.759
 as one.

00:11:46.799 --> 00:11:47.039
 But

00:11:47.039 --> 00:11:48.259
 I guess

00:11:48.259 --> 00:11:49.079
 at least

00:11:49.079 --> 00:11:50.139
 most of us

00:11:50.139 --> 00:11:50.659
 in this room

00:11:50.659 --> 00:11:52.600
 we know that churches

00:11:52.600 --> 00:11:53.360
 are not like that.

00:11:53.360 --> 00:11:55.680
 churches are not

00:11:55.680 --> 00:11:56.480
 models

00:11:56.480 --> 00:11:58.620
 of diversity

00:11:58.620 --> 00:12:00.620
 where people

00:12:00.620 --> 00:12:01.560
 from all different

00:12:01.560 --> 00:12:02.340
 kinds of backgrounds

00:12:02.340 --> 00:12:03.039
 come together

00:12:03.039 --> 00:12:03.860
 as one.

00:12:04.899 --> 00:12:06.320
 Throughout this country

00:12:06.320 --> 00:12:09.120
 as they meet

00:12:09.120 --> 00:12:09.620
 today

00:12:09.620 --> 00:12:11.399
 most

00:12:11.399 --> 00:12:11.919
 not all

00:12:11.919 --> 00:12:12.980
 but most churches

00:12:12.980 --> 00:12:13.860
 will be made up

00:12:13.860 --> 00:12:14.620
 of people

00:12:14.620 --> 00:12:15.680
 who are very

00:12:15.680 --> 00:12:16.300
 very similar

00:12:16.299 --> 00:12:17.599
 of the same

00:12:17.599 --> 00:12:18.120
 race

00:12:18.120 --> 00:12:19.979
 of the same

00:12:19.979 --> 00:12:21.079
 social class

00:12:21.079 --> 00:12:23.659
 and other

00:12:23.659 --> 00:12:25.219
 sameness.

00:12:26.620 --> 00:12:27.799
 That's just about

00:12:27.799 --> 00:12:30.459
 who most

00:12:30.459 --> 00:12:31.319
 American churches

00:12:31.319 --> 00:12:32.079
 are

00:12:32.079 --> 00:12:33.059
 what they are.

00:12:34.679 --> 00:12:35.279
 But you know

00:12:35.279 --> 00:12:36.359
 there is

00:12:36.359 --> 00:12:38.559
 a very popular

00:12:38.559 --> 00:12:41.279
 diverse group

00:12:41.279 --> 00:12:42.279
 found all

00:12:42.279 --> 00:12:42.939
 over this

00:12:42.939 --> 00:12:43.419
 country

00:12:43.419 --> 00:12:45.240
 who

00:12:45.240 --> 00:12:46.620
 stand firm

00:12:46.620 --> 00:12:47.959
 and strive

00:12:47.959 --> 00:12:48.439
 together

00:12:48.439 --> 00:12:49.139
 for a common

00:12:49.139 --> 00:12:49.720
 cause.

00:12:51.019 --> 00:12:51.899
 College football

00:12:51.899 --> 00:12:52.379
 teams

00:12:52.379 --> 00:12:55.360
 NFL teams

00:12:55.360 --> 00:12:55.899
 any sports

00:12:55.899 --> 00:12:56.279
 team you could

00:12:56.279 --> 00:12:56.699
 say but

00:12:56.699 --> 00:12:58.399
 college football

00:12:58.399 --> 00:12:59.139
 teams I want you

00:12:59.139 --> 00:12:59.500
 to think

00:12:59.500 --> 00:13:01.199
 and let's be

00:13:01.199 --> 00:13:02.399
 more local

00:13:02.399 --> 00:13:03.059
 as we think

00:13:03.059 --> 00:13:05.000
 and let's

00:13:05.000 --> 00:13:06.720
 have a little

00:13:06.720 --> 00:13:07.379
 bit of diversity

00:13:07.379 --> 00:13:08.000
 let's think about

00:13:08.000 --> 00:13:08.799
 both Clemson

00:13:08.799 --> 00:13:09.679
 and South Carolina.

00:13:11.199 --> 00:13:12.259
 The Clemson

00:13:12.259 --> 00:13:13.279
 and South Carolina

00:13:13.279 --> 00:13:14.219
 football teams

00:13:14.219 --> 00:13:15.599
 are made up

00:13:15.599 --> 00:13:16.459
 of young men

00:13:16.459 --> 00:13:18.500
 from very

00:13:18.500 --> 00:13:19.279
 diverse

00:13:19.279 --> 00:13:20.139
 backgrounds

00:13:20.139 --> 00:13:21.659
 black

00:13:21.659 --> 00:13:22.539
 and white

00:13:22.539 --> 00:13:23.620
 high

00:13:23.620 --> 00:13:24.039
 middle

00:13:24.039 --> 00:13:24.779
 and low

00:13:24.779 --> 00:13:25.599
 social

00:13:25.599 --> 00:13:26.399
 classes

00:13:26.399 --> 00:13:27.379
 conservative

00:13:27.379 --> 00:13:28.299
 and liberal

00:13:28.299 --> 00:13:29.719
 and I'm sure

00:13:29.719 --> 00:13:30.279
 there are several

00:13:30.279 --> 00:13:31.359
 other categories

00:13:31.359 --> 00:13:32.439
 of differences

00:13:32.439 --> 00:13:33.839
 that we could

00:13:33.839 --> 00:13:34.699
 use here

00:13:34.699 --> 00:13:35.479
 to describe this.

00:13:36.659 --> 00:13:37.359
 These young

00:13:37.359 --> 00:13:37.879
 men though

00:13:37.879 --> 00:13:39.320
 despite their

00:13:39.320 --> 00:13:39.720
 differences

00:13:39.720 --> 00:13:41.439
 they choose

00:13:41.439 --> 00:13:42.879
 to focus on

00:13:42.879 --> 00:13:43.639
 the one

00:13:43.639 --> 00:13:44.419
 thing

00:13:44.419 --> 00:13:45.480
 that has

00:13:45.480 --> 00:13:46.059
 brought them

00:13:46.059 --> 00:13:46.460
 together

00:13:46.460 --> 00:13:47.139
 that has

00:13:47.139 --> 00:13:48.159
 united them

00:13:48.159 --> 00:13:49.559
 that's playing

00:13:49.559 --> 00:13:49.980
 football.

00:13:51.379 --> 00:13:52.240
 They focus

00:13:52.240 --> 00:13:53.320
 on playing

00:13:53.320 --> 00:13:53.840
 football

00:13:53.840 --> 00:13:55.220
 we're one

00:13:55.220 --> 00:13:55.720
 team

00:13:55.720 --> 00:13:57.879
 and they

00:13:57.879 --> 00:13:58.519
 let the

00:13:58.519 --> 00:13:59.159
 things that

00:13:59.159 --> 00:14:00.120
 divide them

00:14:00.120 --> 00:14:01.759
 be secondary.

00:14:03.159 --> 00:14:04.139
 They're not

00:14:04.139 --> 00:14:04.700
 primary.

00:14:04.840 --> 00:14:05.139
 They're not

00:14:05.139 --> 00:14:05.500
 going to be

00:14:05.500 --> 00:14:06.200
 the emphasis

00:14:06.200 --> 00:14:07.259
 of the team.

00:14:07.879 --> 00:14:09.939
 I want you

00:14:09.939 --> 00:14:10.299
 to think

00:14:10.299 --> 00:14:11.679
 a lot of

00:14:11.679 --> 00:14:12.019
 you keep

00:14:12.019 --> 00:14:12.639
 up with

00:14:12.639 --> 00:14:13.939
 year round

00:14:13.939 --> 00:14:15.139
 your favorite

00:14:15.139 --> 00:14:15.899
 football team

00:14:15.899 --> 00:14:18.320
 you know

00:14:18.320 --> 00:14:19.259
 they choose

00:14:19.259 --> 00:14:19.879
 to support

00:14:19.879 --> 00:14:20.379
 each other

00:14:20.379 --> 00:14:21.539
 to play

00:14:21.539 --> 00:14:22.299
 for each

00:14:22.299 --> 00:14:22.620
 other

00:14:22.620 --> 00:14:23.860
 and in more

00:14:23.860 --> 00:14:24.820
 recent times

00:14:24.820 --> 00:14:25.379
 more and more

00:14:25.379 --> 00:14:25.899
 college football

00:14:25.899 --> 00:14:26.340
 players are

00:14:26.340 --> 00:14:26.639
 talking about

00:14:26.639 --> 00:14:26.899
 how much

00:14:26.899 --> 00:14:27.840
 they love

00:14:27.840 --> 00:14:28.519
 one another.

00:14:29.200 --> 00:14:29.960
 They love

00:14:29.960 --> 00:14:30.639
 their brothers

00:14:30.639 --> 00:14:31.600
 on that team

00:14:31.600 --> 00:14:33.320
 and the

00:14:33.320 --> 00:14:34.220
 result is

00:14:34.220 --> 00:14:36.519
 most

00:14:36.519 --> 00:14:38.180
 let's just

00:14:38.180 --> 00:14:38.360
 say

00:14:38.360 --> 00:14:39.340
 successful

00:14:39.340 --> 00:14:39.980
 college

00:14:39.980 --> 00:14:40.320
 football

00:14:40.320 --> 00:14:40.800
 teams

00:14:40.800 --> 00:14:42.899
 they become

00:14:42.899 --> 00:14:43.779
 like brothers

00:14:43.779 --> 00:14:44.940
 in a family.

00:14:45.620 --> 00:14:46.259
 It's a

00:14:46.259 --> 00:14:47.060
 football family

00:14:47.060 --> 00:14:48.740
 but it truly

00:14:48.740 --> 00:14:49.279
 is

00:14:49.279 --> 00:14:50.740
 a family

00:14:50.740 --> 00:14:52.360
 made up

00:14:52.360 --> 00:14:52.779
 of people

00:14:52.779 --> 00:14:53.460
 from all

00:14:53.460 --> 00:14:54.399
 different walks

00:14:54.399 --> 00:14:55.040
 of life.

00:14:56.500 --> 00:14:57.080
 Now if

00:14:57.080 --> 00:14:57.879
 athletes can

00:14:57.879 --> 00:14:58.460
 come together

00:14:58.460 --> 00:14:59.100
 like that

00:14:59.100 --> 00:15:01.600
 Christians

00:15:01.600 --> 00:15:01.980
 should

00:15:01.980 --> 00:15:02.879
 absolutely

00:15:02.879 --> 00:15:03.460
 be able

00:15:03.460 --> 00:15:03.759
 to come

00:15:03.759 --> 00:15:04.060
 together

00:15:04.060 --> 00:15:04.480
 as one

00:15:04.480 --> 00:15:04.940
 family

00:15:04.940 --> 00:15:06.120
 the family

00:15:06.120 --> 00:15:06.720
 of God

00:15:06.720 --> 00:15:07.920
 because we

00:15:07.920 --> 00:15:08.360
 have a

00:15:08.360 --> 00:15:09.220
 unifying

00:15:09.220 --> 00:15:10.040
 supernatural

00:15:10.040 --> 00:15:11.139
 power

00:15:11.139 --> 00:15:12.259
 to help

00:15:12.259 --> 00:15:12.560
 us

00:15:12.560 --> 00:15:13.240
 the power

00:15:13.240 --> 00:15:13.440
 of the

00:15:13.440 --> 00:15:13.940
 Holy Spirit

00:15:13.940 --> 00:15:15.620
 who indwells

00:15:15.620 --> 00:15:16.019
 us

00:15:16.019 --> 00:15:17.720
 as individual

00:15:17.720 --> 00:15:18.220
 Christians

00:15:18.220 --> 00:15:19.040
 who will

00:15:19.040 --> 00:15:19.740
 help us

00:15:19.740 --> 00:15:20.900
 come together

00:15:20.899 --> 00:15:22.699
 and see

00:15:22.699 --> 00:15:23.000
 what we

00:15:23.000 --> 00:15:23.299
 have in

00:15:23.299 --> 00:15:23.579
 common

00:15:23.579 --> 00:15:24.240
 and focus

00:15:24.240 --> 00:15:24.559
 on what

00:15:24.559 --> 00:15:24.860
 we have

00:15:24.860 --> 00:15:25.000
 in

00:15:25.000 --> 00:15:25.299
 common

00:15:25.299 --> 00:15:26.720
 more than

00:15:26.720 --> 00:15:28.559
 just our

00:15:28.559 --> 00:15:29.199
 differences.

00:15:30.419 --> 00:15:30.600
 Now

00:15:30.600 --> 00:15:33.340
 I'm not

00:15:33.340 --> 00:15:34.600
 emphasizing this

00:15:34.600 --> 00:15:36.379
 because of a

00:15:36.379 --> 00:15:36.980
 problem of

00:15:36.980 --> 00:15:37.919
 disunity in

00:15:37.919 --> 00:15:38.699
 our church

00:15:38.699 --> 00:15:39.620
 that I'm

00:15:39.620 --> 00:15:40.319
 aware of

00:15:40.319 --> 00:15:41.779
 but

00:15:41.779 --> 00:15:44.019
 we do

00:15:44.019 --> 00:15:45.000
 need to

00:15:45.000 --> 00:15:45.579
 work on

00:15:45.579 --> 00:15:46.279
 maintaining

00:15:46.279 --> 00:15:48.860
 or building

00:15:48.860 --> 00:15:49.319
 close

00:15:49.319 --> 00:15:49.980
 relationships

00:15:49.980 --> 00:15:51.480
 with our

00:15:51.480 --> 00:15:52.000
 church family

00:15:52.000 --> 00:15:52.600
 members right

00:15:52.600 --> 00:15:53.120
 now

00:15:53.120 --> 00:15:55.139
 in light of

00:15:55.139 --> 00:15:56.340
 the situation

00:15:56.340 --> 00:15:56.740
 we find

00:15:56.740 --> 00:15:57.279
 ourselves in.

00:15:58.120 --> 00:15:58.779
 The

00:15:58.779 --> 00:15:59.240
 coronavirus

00:15:59.240 --> 00:16:00.200
 pandemic

00:16:00.200 --> 00:16:02.200
 has hurt

00:16:02.200 --> 00:16:03.000
 the fellowship

00:16:03.000 --> 00:16:03.639
 of most

00:16:03.639 --> 00:16:04.139
 churches

00:16:04.139 --> 00:16:05.519
 because it

00:16:05.519 --> 00:16:06.139
 has prevented

00:16:06.139 --> 00:16:07.639
 us from

00:16:07.639 --> 00:16:08.440
 being together

00:16:08.440 --> 00:16:08.940
 from doing

00:16:08.940 --> 00:16:09.740
 things together.

00:16:10.940 --> 00:16:12.039
 You see how

00:16:12.039 --> 00:16:12.519
 these seats

00:16:12.519 --> 00:16:13.180
 are all spread

00:16:13.180 --> 00:16:13.440
 out.

00:16:14.600 --> 00:16:15.480
 We're supposed

00:16:15.480 --> 00:16:16.019
 to try to

00:16:16.019 --> 00:16:16.860
 stay six

00:16:16.860 --> 00:16:17.519
 feet away

00:16:17.519 --> 00:16:18.259
 from people

00:16:18.259 --> 00:16:19.120
 outside of our

00:16:19.120 --> 00:16:20.240
 immediate family.

00:16:22.100 --> 00:16:23.539
 I don't say

00:16:23.539 --> 00:16:23.820
 it every

00:16:23.820 --> 00:16:24.980
 week but

00:16:24.980 --> 00:16:25.179
 we've

00:16:25.179 --> 00:16:25.560
 encouraged

00:16:25.560 --> 00:16:26.360
 don't shake

00:16:26.360 --> 00:16:26.879
 hands.

00:16:27.659 --> 00:16:28.100
 By all

00:16:28.100 --> 00:16:28.580
 means don't

00:16:28.580 --> 00:16:28.899
 hug

00:16:28.899 --> 00:16:29.379
 anybody.

00:16:31.379 --> 00:16:32.100
 We went

00:16:32.100 --> 00:16:32.879
 through a

00:16:32.879 --> 00:16:33.120
 period of

00:16:33.120 --> 00:16:33.340
 time where

00:16:33.340 --> 00:16:33.580
 we didn't

00:16:33.580 --> 00:16:33.960
 meet at

00:16:33.960 --> 00:16:34.399
 all.

00:16:35.480 --> 00:16:36.179
 We're not

00:16:36.179 --> 00:16:36.620
 meeting in

00:16:36.620 --> 00:16:37.139
 Sunday school

00:16:37.139 --> 00:16:37.639
 now in

00:16:37.639 --> 00:16:38.500
 small groups.

00:16:38.879 --> 00:16:39.419
 We're

00:16:39.419 --> 00:16:40.100
 discouraging

00:16:40.100 --> 00:16:40.500
 that.

00:16:43.120 --> 00:16:44.019
 There is a

00:16:44.019 --> 00:16:44.399
 pandemic.

00:16:45.799 --> 00:16:45.980
 The

00:16:45.980 --> 00:16:46.720
 coronavirus is

00:16:46.720 --> 00:16:47.080
 real.

00:16:47.080 --> 00:16:47.700
 I don't

00:16:47.700 --> 00:16:48.040
 care who

00:16:48.040 --> 00:16:48.780
 thinks what

00:16:48.780 --> 00:16:49.100
 in this

00:16:49.100 --> 00:16:49.500
 room.

00:16:51.200 --> 00:16:52.139
 In this

00:16:52.139 --> 00:16:52.980
 room there

00:16:52.980 --> 00:16:53.460
 are people

00:16:53.460 --> 00:16:53.960
 who have

00:16:53.960 --> 00:16:54.720
 had it

00:16:54.720 --> 00:16:55.139
 and been

00:16:55.139 --> 00:16:55.820
 very sick.

00:16:57.400 --> 00:16:57.780
 There are

00:16:57.780 --> 00:16:58.120
 members of

00:16:58.120 --> 00:16:58.480
 our church

00:16:58.480 --> 00:16:59.240
 whose

00:16:59.240 --> 00:17:02.820
 parent or

00:17:02.820 --> 00:17:03.620
 sibling has

00:17:03.620 --> 00:17:05.880
 died from

00:17:05.880 --> 00:17:06.279
 the coronavirus.

00:17:07.059 --> 00:17:07.840
 It is

00:17:07.840 --> 00:17:08.200
 real.

00:17:09.779 --> 00:17:10.600
 And we

00:17:10.600 --> 00:17:11.299
 need to do

00:17:11.299 --> 00:17:11.600
 some of the

00:17:11.600 --> 00:17:11.940
 things that

00:17:11.940 --> 00:17:12.700
 we've done

00:17:12.700 --> 00:17:13.880
 to try to

00:17:13.880 --> 00:17:14.400
 avoid

00:17:14.400 --> 00:17:16.400
 spreading it

00:17:16.400 --> 00:17:17.620
 if somebody

00:17:17.620 --> 00:17:18.960
 comes and

00:17:18.960 --> 00:17:19.440
 they've got

00:17:19.440 --> 00:17:19.700
 it.

00:17:21.779 --> 00:17:22.440
 So we

00:17:22.440 --> 00:17:22.700
 need to

00:17:22.700 --> 00:17:23.240
 acknowledge

00:17:23.240 --> 00:17:25.460
 there is a

00:17:25.460 --> 00:17:25.819
 problem.

00:17:26.700 --> 00:17:27.220
 There is a

00:17:27.220 --> 00:17:27.640
 pandemic.

00:17:28.259 --> 00:17:28.900
 We can't be

00:17:28.900 --> 00:17:29.480
 together like

00:17:29.480 --> 00:17:31.220
 we once

00:17:31.220 --> 00:17:31.660
 were, like

00:17:31.660 --> 00:17:32.180
 we want to

00:17:32.180 --> 00:17:33.120
 be for

00:17:33.120 --> 00:17:33.600
 right now.

00:17:35.120 --> 00:17:35.860
 But what we

00:17:35.860 --> 00:17:36.340
 can do is

00:17:36.340 --> 00:17:37.240
 work on

00:17:37.240 --> 00:17:38.940
 maintaining

00:17:38.940 --> 00:17:40.920
 fellowship the

00:17:40.920 --> 00:17:41.660
 best way

00:17:41.660 --> 00:17:42.140
 that we

00:17:42.140 --> 00:17:44.300
 can under

00:17:44.300 --> 00:17:44.480
 these

00:17:44.480 --> 00:17:44.960
 circumstances.

00:17:46.900 --> 00:17:47.340
 You know,

00:17:47.360 --> 00:17:47.680
 this is one

00:17:47.680 --> 00:17:48.039
 of the things

00:17:48.039 --> 00:17:48.759
 we've got to

00:17:48.759 --> 00:17:50.600
 really work

00:17:50.600 --> 00:17:51.080
 on when this

00:17:51.080 --> 00:17:51.600
 whole thing's

00:17:51.600 --> 00:17:51.860
 over.

00:17:53.420 --> 00:17:54.060
 When they

00:17:54.060 --> 00:17:54.560
 declare an

00:17:54.560 --> 00:17:54.840
 end to the

00:17:54.840 --> 00:17:55.259
 pandemic,

00:17:56.539 --> 00:17:57.900
 when it's

00:17:57.900 --> 00:17:58.560
 okay to

00:17:58.560 --> 00:17:59.120
 just do

00:17:59.120 --> 00:17:59.740
 life like

00:17:59.740 --> 00:18:00.140
 we used

00:18:00.140 --> 00:18:00.420
 to do

00:18:00.420 --> 00:18:00.800
 life,

00:18:02.080 --> 00:18:02.720
 we as a

00:18:02.720 --> 00:18:02.920
 church,

00:18:03.019 --> 00:18:03.500
 every church,

00:18:03.560 --> 00:18:04.060
 not just our

00:18:04.060 --> 00:18:04.259
 church,

00:18:04.360 --> 00:18:04.820
 every church,

00:18:04.960 --> 00:18:05.460
 we've got to

00:18:05.460 --> 00:18:06.140
 really do

00:18:06.140 --> 00:18:06.539
 some things

00:18:06.539 --> 00:18:07.300
 to build

00:18:07.300 --> 00:18:08.240
 unity,

00:18:08.580 --> 00:18:09.200
 get back

00:18:09.200 --> 00:18:09.680
 together,

00:18:09.680 --> 00:18:11.140
 rekindle

00:18:11.140 --> 00:18:11.400
 some

00:18:11.400 --> 00:18:12.259
 relationships,

00:18:13.500 --> 00:18:14.039
 rediscover

00:18:14.039 --> 00:18:14.539
 how much

00:18:14.539 --> 00:18:14.960
 we really

00:18:14.960 --> 00:18:15.880
 do need

00:18:15.880 --> 00:18:16.640
 one another.

00:18:17.440 --> 00:18:17.740
 But in

00:18:17.740 --> 00:18:18.380
 the meantime,

00:18:19.539 --> 00:18:20.759
 probably all

00:18:20.759 --> 00:18:21.060
 of us in

00:18:21.060 --> 00:18:21.420
 this room,

00:18:22.420 --> 00:18:23.500
 we need to

00:18:23.500 --> 00:18:23.900
 make more

00:18:23.900 --> 00:18:24.740
 phone calls,

00:18:25.720 --> 00:18:26.320
 send more

00:18:26.320 --> 00:18:26.980
 cards,

00:18:27.120 --> 00:18:27.539
 emails,

00:18:27.860 --> 00:18:28.840
 text messages,

00:18:30.200 --> 00:18:30.580
 and whatever

00:18:30.580 --> 00:18:31.340
 else we can

00:18:31.340 --> 00:18:33.100
 do to

00:18:33.100 --> 00:18:33.680
 maintain

00:18:33.680 --> 00:18:34.160
 fellowship.

00:18:34.840 --> 00:18:35.580
 Not just

00:18:35.580 --> 00:18:36.660
 to stay in

00:18:36.660 --> 00:18:37.039
 touch,

00:18:37.180 --> 00:18:37.539
 but to

00:18:37.539 --> 00:18:39.100
 have real

00:18:39.099 --> 00:18:40.679
 meaningful

00:18:40.679 --> 00:18:41.899
 relationships.

00:18:43.459 --> 00:18:44.099
 If we

00:18:44.099 --> 00:18:44.379
 live a

00:18:44.379 --> 00:18:44.919
 life worthy

00:18:44.919 --> 00:18:45.179
 of the

00:18:45.179 --> 00:18:45.500
 gospel,

00:18:46.500 --> 00:18:47.279
 if we

00:18:47.279 --> 00:18:48.179
 truly live

00:18:48.179 --> 00:18:49.139
 out our

00:18:49.139 --> 00:18:49.519
 Christian

00:18:49.519 --> 00:18:49.879
 faith,

00:18:50.599 --> 00:18:51.179
 unity and

00:18:51.179 --> 00:18:51.519
 fellowship

00:18:51.519 --> 00:18:52.299
 will be

00:18:52.299 --> 00:18:52.799
 something that

00:18:52.799 --> 00:18:53.559
 we enjoy.

00:18:53.980 --> 00:18:54.559
 Nobody will

00:18:54.559 --> 00:18:55.039
 have to tell

00:18:55.039 --> 00:18:55.959
 us we

00:18:55.959 --> 00:18:56.399
 need that.

00:18:56.480 --> 00:18:56.879
 We know

00:18:56.879 --> 00:18:57.179
 that.

00:18:57.500 --> 00:18:58.219
 We enjoy

00:18:58.219 --> 00:18:58.619
 that.

00:19:00.759 --> 00:19:01.339
 And we

00:19:01.339 --> 00:19:01.619
 need to

00:19:01.619 --> 00:19:02.259
 work at it.

00:19:03.319 --> 00:19:03.980
 We need to

00:19:03.980 --> 00:19:04.359
 work at it

00:19:04.359 --> 00:19:04.559
 the best

00:19:04.559 --> 00:19:05.019
 we can

00:19:05.019 --> 00:19:05.539
 now under

00:19:05.539 --> 00:19:06.099
 difficult

00:19:06.099 --> 00:19:07.759
 circumstances,

00:19:08.319 --> 00:19:08.599
 but in

00:19:08.599 --> 00:19:08.959
 the days

00:19:08.959 --> 00:19:09.439
 to come,

00:19:09.759 --> 00:19:10.019
 we'll have

00:19:10.019 --> 00:19:10.279
 to make

00:19:10.279 --> 00:19:10.459
 it a

00:19:10.459 --> 00:19:10.939
 priority.

00:19:11.659 --> 00:19:11.980
 As a

00:19:11.980 --> 00:19:12.259
 united

00:19:12.259 --> 00:19:12.839
 family of

00:19:12.839 --> 00:19:13.099
 God,

00:19:13.179 --> 00:19:14.500
 we will

00:19:14.500 --> 00:19:15.139
 advance the

00:19:15.139 --> 00:19:15.519
 gospel.

00:19:15.839 --> 00:19:16.179
 He says

00:19:16.179 --> 00:19:17.079
 striving side

00:19:17.079 --> 00:19:17.639
 by side

00:19:17.639 --> 00:19:18.039
 for the

00:19:18.039 --> 00:19:18.619
 faith of

00:19:18.619 --> 00:19:19.099
 the gospel.

00:19:20.819 --> 00:19:21.559
 The church

00:19:21.559 --> 00:19:22.399
 exists to

00:19:22.399 --> 00:19:23.159
 make disciples,

00:19:23.279 --> 00:19:23.579
 to do the

00:19:23.579 --> 00:19:24.159
 great commission.

00:19:24.259 --> 00:19:24.480
 You know

00:19:24.480 --> 00:19:24.740
 that.

00:19:25.919 --> 00:19:26.319
 Part of

00:19:26.319 --> 00:19:26.859
 that is

00:19:26.859 --> 00:19:28.299
 doing

00:19:28.299 --> 00:19:28.980
 evangelism,

00:19:29.839 --> 00:19:30.699
 proclaiming the

00:19:30.699 --> 00:19:30.980
 gospel,

00:19:31.139 --> 00:19:31.639
 sharing the

00:19:31.639 --> 00:19:32.059
 gospel,

00:19:33.059 --> 00:19:33.779
 as well as

00:19:33.779 --> 00:19:34.199
 helping people

00:19:34.200 --> 00:19:36.019
 understand the

00:19:36.019 --> 00:19:36.340
 truth of

00:19:36.340 --> 00:19:36.600
 God's

00:19:36.600 --> 00:19:36.900
 word and

00:19:36.900 --> 00:19:37.819
 grow and

00:19:37.819 --> 00:19:38.319
 mature in

00:19:38.319 --> 00:19:38.620
 their own

00:19:38.620 --> 00:19:38.980
 faith.

00:19:41.180 --> 00:19:41.620
 Evangelism,

00:19:41.759 --> 00:19:42.160
 witnessing,

00:19:43.960 --> 00:19:44.420
 sharing the

00:19:44.420 --> 00:19:44.759
 gospel,

00:19:45.279 --> 00:19:46.120
 that is every

00:19:46.120 --> 00:19:46.660
 Christian's

00:19:46.660 --> 00:19:47.140
 responsibility.

00:19:48.019 --> 00:19:48.480
 There's nothing

00:19:48.480 --> 00:19:48.880
 in the Bible

00:19:48.880 --> 00:19:49.519
 that says it

00:19:49.519 --> 00:19:50.559
 is for a

00:19:50.559 --> 00:19:51.340
 select few

00:19:51.340 --> 00:19:51.660
 in the

00:19:51.660 --> 00:19:52.080
 church.

00:19:52.840 --> 00:19:53.120
 You know,

00:19:53.140 --> 00:19:53.519
 over the

00:19:53.519 --> 00:19:53.920
 years,

00:19:54.720 --> 00:19:55.360
 I've put this

00:19:55.360 --> 00:19:55.640
 on the

00:19:55.640 --> 00:19:56.860
 screen many

00:19:56.860 --> 00:19:57.400
 times.

00:19:57.840 --> 00:19:58.620
 I've had a

00:19:58.620 --> 00:19:59.920
 handout just

00:19:59.920 --> 00:20:00.539
 like this

00:20:00.539 --> 00:20:01.960
 many times

00:20:01.960 --> 00:20:02.500
 on Sunday

00:20:02.500 --> 00:20:02.880
 morning.

00:20:03.019 --> 00:20:03.259
 We've done

00:20:03.259 --> 00:20:03.620
 things on

00:20:03.620 --> 00:20:04.160
 Sunday night.

00:20:04.200 --> 00:20:04.539
 Wednesday

00:20:04.539 --> 00:20:04.880
 night.

00:20:06.420 --> 00:20:06.940
 As

00:20:06.940 --> 00:20:07.519
 Christians,

00:20:08.880 --> 00:20:11.519
 we need to

00:20:11.519 --> 00:20:13.420
 understand that

00:20:13.420 --> 00:20:14.039
 we have

00:20:14.039 --> 00:20:14.779
 circles of

00:20:14.779 --> 00:20:17.180
 influence in

00:20:17.180 --> 00:20:17.759
 which some

00:20:17.759 --> 00:20:17.980
 of the

00:20:17.980 --> 00:20:20.000
 people that

00:20:20.000 --> 00:20:20.480
 we know,

00:20:20.620 --> 00:20:21.080
 we love,

00:20:21.160 --> 00:20:21.539
 we work

00:20:21.539 --> 00:20:21.980
 with,

00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.519
 maybe in

00:20:22.519 --> 00:20:23.039
 your family,

00:20:23.279 --> 00:20:23.720
 they're not

00:20:23.720 --> 00:20:24.120
 Christians.

00:20:26.240 --> 00:20:27.000
 And God

00:20:27.000 --> 00:20:27.980
 expects us,

00:20:28.819 --> 00:20:29.539
 as people who

00:20:29.539 --> 00:20:29.940
 know the

00:20:29.940 --> 00:20:31.580
 Lord, as

00:20:31.580 --> 00:20:31.960
 people who

00:20:31.960 --> 00:20:32.340
 believe what

00:20:32.340 --> 00:20:32.600
 the Bible

00:20:32.600 --> 00:20:32.980
 says,

00:20:33.080 --> 00:20:33.299
 that the

00:20:33.299 --> 00:20:33.620
 only way to

00:20:33.619 --> 00:20:34.019
 be right with

00:20:34.019 --> 00:20:34.439
 God through

00:20:34.439 --> 00:20:34.799
 faith in

00:20:34.799 --> 00:20:35.059
 Jesus,

00:20:35.739 --> 00:20:36.399
 God expects

00:20:36.399 --> 00:20:37.039
 us to build

00:20:37.039 --> 00:20:37.459
 the kind of

00:20:37.459 --> 00:20:38.239
 relationships with

00:20:38.239 --> 00:20:38.659
 these people

00:20:38.659 --> 00:20:39.119
 that we can

00:20:39.119 --> 00:20:39.559
 talk to them

00:20:39.559 --> 00:20:41.159
 about things

00:20:41.159 --> 00:20:41.679
 that matter.

00:20:43.239 --> 00:20:43.779
 And at the

00:20:43.779 --> 00:20:44.139
 top of that

00:20:44.139 --> 00:20:44.799
 list should be

00:20:44.799 --> 00:20:45.559
 their relationship

00:20:45.559 --> 00:20:46.099
 with the Lord,

00:20:46.879 --> 00:20:47.500
 be able to

00:20:47.500 --> 00:20:48.079
 share the

00:20:48.079 --> 00:20:48.599
 gospel with

00:20:48.599 --> 00:20:48.779
 them.

00:20:49.779 --> 00:20:50.479
 Over the past

00:20:50.479 --> 00:20:51.699
 couple of years,

00:20:52.139 --> 00:20:53.179
 Southern Baptists

00:20:53.179 --> 00:20:54.239
 have had a sort of

00:20:54.239 --> 00:20:54.899
 what you might call

00:20:54.899 --> 00:20:56.839
 a denominational

00:20:56.839 --> 00:20:57.459
 emphasis,

00:20:57.460 --> 00:21:00.319
 where we as

00:21:00.319 --> 00:21:01.019
 Christians are

00:21:01.019 --> 00:21:01.740
 being asked,

00:21:02.779 --> 00:21:03.380
 just share the

00:21:03.380 --> 00:21:04.000
 gospel with one

00:21:04.000 --> 00:21:04.539
 person this

00:21:04.539 --> 00:21:04.840
 year.

00:21:06.720 --> 00:21:07.559
 You remember,

00:21:08.720 --> 00:21:09.360
 who is your

00:21:09.360 --> 00:21:09.840
 one?

00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:10.620
 I've preached

00:21:10.620 --> 00:21:10.940
 on it,

00:21:11.000 --> 00:21:11.620
 I think Jeff

00:21:11.620 --> 00:21:12.019
 has,

00:21:12.340 --> 00:21:13.220
 we've done

00:21:13.220 --> 00:21:14.059
 things in

00:21:14.059 --> 00:21:14.559
 Sunday school,

00:21:14.640 --> 00:21:14.920
 but in the

00:21:14.920 --> 00:21:15.200
 newsletter,

00:21:15.480 --> 00:21:15.840
 tried to

00:21:15.840 --> 00:21:16.299
 emphasize,

00:21:17.240 --> 00:21:18.240
 as individuals,

00:21:18.440 --> 00:21:18.740
 we need to

00:21:18.740 --> 00:21:18.940
 think,

00:21:19.579 --> 00:21:20.240
 who is one

00:21:20.240 --> 00:21:20.960
 person in my

00:21:20.960 --> 00:21:21.779
 life that's

00:21:21.779 --> 00:21:22.100
 not a

00:21:22.100 --> 00:21:22.420
 Christian,

00:21:22.980 --> 00:21:23.460
 that I could

00:21:23.460 --> 00:21:24.420
 zero in on

00:21:24.420 --> 00:21:25.440
 to pray for,

00:21:25.900 --> 00:21:26.920
 to develop my

00:21:26.920 --> 00:21:27.680
 relationship with

00:21:27.680 --> 00:21:27.900
 them,

00:21:28.320 --> 00:21:30.320
 and to look for

00:21:30.320 --> 00:21:31.200
 an opportunity to

00:21:31.200 --> 00:21:31.759
 share the gospel

00:21:31.759 --> 00:21:32.259
 with them.

00:21:33.259 --> 00:21:33.960
 Who is your

00:21:33.960 --> 00:21:34.519
 one?

00:21:36.640 --> 00:21:37.180
 And have you

00:21:37.180 --> 00:21:37.900
 shared the gospel

00:21:37.900 --> 00:21:38.860
 with that person?

00:21:40.360 --> 00:21:41.300
 If you have it,

00:21:41.360 --> 00:21:41.960
 are you still

00:21:41.960 --> 00:21:42.940
 working on it?

00:21:44.160 --> 00:21:44.800
 Trying to

00:21:44.800 --> 00:21:45.200
 develop your

00:21:45.200 --> 00:21:45.720
 relationship in

00:21:45.720 --> 00:21:46.460
 such a way that

00:21:46.460 --> 00:21:47.500
 it'll just be

00:21:47.500 --> 00:21:48.500
 natural for you

00:21:48.500 --> 00:21:49.039
 to talk with

00:21:49.039 --> 00:21:49.440
 them about

00:21:49.440 --> 00:21:51.240
 things that are

00:21:51.240 --> 00:21:51.820
 serious,

00:21:53.320 --> 00:21:53.800
 like,

00:21:53.799 --> 00:21:54.619
 their

00:21:54.619 --> 00:21:54.940
 relationship

00:21:54.940 --> 00:21:55.200
 with the

00:21:55.200 --> 00:21:55.379
 Lord.

00:21:56.819 --> 00:21:57.299
 Now,

00:21:57.519 --> 00:21:57.899
 I want to go

00:21:57.899 --> 00:21:58.279
 back to the

00:21:58.279 --> 00:21:58.759
 idea of the

00:21:58.759 --> 00:21:59.339
 church being

00:21:59.339 --> 00:22:00.700
 a diverse

00:22:00.700 --> 00:22:01.700
 group of

00:22:01.700 --> 00:22:02.000
 people.

00:22:04.299 --> 00:22:05.139
 What I do

00:22:05.139 --> 00:22:05.940
 not mean is

00:22:05.940 --> 00:22:06.440
 this.

00:22:08.319 --> 00:22:09.059
 We should

00:22:09.059 --> 00:22:09.659
 not,

00:22:10.159 --> 00:22:11.259
 as a church,

00:22:12.879 --> 00:22:13.599
 target

00:22:13.599 --> 00:22:15.599
 different

00:22:15.599 --> 00:22:16.980
 kinds of

00:22:16.980 --> 00:22:17.440
 people,

00:22:18.440 --> 00:22:19.940
 and make

00:22:19.940 --> 00:22:20.220
 it our

00:22:20.220 --> 00:22:22.539
 goal to

00:22:22.539 --> 00:22:23.079
 go after

00:22:23.079 --> 00:22:23.480
 them,

00:22:23.799 --> 00:22:25.460
 so that

00:22:25.460 --> 00:22:26.039
 we'll be

00:22:26.039 --> 00:22:26.500
 a more

00:22:26.500 --> 00:22:27.240
 diverse

00:22:27.240 --> 00:22:27.740
 church.

00:22:29.019 --> 00:22:29.759
 We do

00:22:29.759 --> 00:22:30.259
 not need

00:22:30.259 --> 00:22:30.940
 to target

00:22:30.940 --> 00:22:32.940
 the black

00:22:32.940 --> 00:22:33.440
 community,

00:22:33.599 --> 00:22:34.139
 the Hispanic

00:22:34.139 --> 00:22:34.759
 community,

00:22:35.379 --> 00:22:36.000
 a rich

00:22:36.000 --> 00:22:36.559
 community,

00:22:36.740 --> 00:22:37.139
 a poor

00:22:37.139 --> 00:22:37.720
 community,

00:22:37.720 --> 00:22:39.259
 and try to

00:22:39.259 --> 00:22:40.059
 reach people

00:22:40.059 --> 00:22:41.720
 from outside

00:22:42.359 --> 00:22:43.180
 our white

00:22:43.180 --> 00:22:44.000
 middle class

00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:44.799
 group,

00:22:45.399 --> 00:22:45.980
 and just

00:22:45.980 --> 00:22:46.399
 make our

00:22:46.399 --> 00:22:46.759
 church more

00:22:46.759 --> 00:22:47.000
 diverse.

00:22:47.159 --> 00:22:47.899
 That's not

00:22:47.899 --> 00:22:49.099
 the way to

00:22:49.099 --> 00:22:49.419
 do it.

00:22:49.420 --> 00:22:52.120
 that is

00:22:52.120 --> 00:22:52.500
 not going

00:22:52.500 --> 00:22:53.039
 to work.

00:22:54.680 --> 00:22:55.300
 I had a

00:22:55.300 --> 00:22:56.000
 black pastor

00:22:56.000 --> 00:22:56.420
 I heard

00:22:56.420 --> 00:22:56.860
 one time,

00:22:56.980 --> 00:22:57.279
 Votie

00:22:57.279 --> 00:22:57.820
 Bauckham,

00:22:59.240 --> 00:22:59.759
 really a

00:22:59.759 --> 00:23:00.240
 nationally

00:23:00.240 --> 00:23:00.840
 known

00:23:00.840 --> 00:23:02.259
 pastor,

00:23:02.660 --> 00:23:03.080
 who has

00:23:03.080 --> 00:23:03.360
 said,

00:23:03.820 --> 00:23:04.660
 that's not

00:23:04.660 --> 00:23:05.660
 what the

00:23:05.660 --> 00:23:06.120
 church needs

00:23:06.120 --> 00:23:06.360
 to do

00:23:06.360 --> 00:23:06.660
 today.

00:23:08.039 --> 00:23:09.080
 Here's two

00:23:09.080 --> 00:23:10.820
 ways we

00:23:10.820 --> 00:23:11.140
 need to

00:23:11.140 --> 00:23:11.800
 approach the

00:23:11.800 --> 00:23:13.820
 idea of

00:23:13.820 --> 00:23:14.400
 diversity,

00:23:14.400 --> 00:23:15.820
 in terms of

00:23:15.820 --> 00:23:16.279
 being a

00:23:16.279 --> 00:23:16.880
 church that

00:23:16.880 --> 00:23:17.539
 includes

00:23:17.539 --> 00:23:18.019
 everybody.

00:23:18.180 --> 00:23:18.799
 Number one,

00:23:19.680 --> 00:23:20.099
 we must do

00:23:20.099 --> 00:23:21.759
 our best to

00:23:21.759 --> 00:23:22.339
 be a church

00:23:22.339 --> 00:23:23.059
 that welcomes

00:23:23.059 --> 00:23:24.019
 every single

00:23:24.019 --> 00:23:24.720
 person that

00:23:24.720 --> 00:23:25.359
 walks through

00:23:25.359 --> 00:23:26.159
 our doors,

00:23:27.139 --> 00:23:27.879
 regardless of

00:23:27.879 --> 00:23:28.599
 their race,

00:23:29.240 --> 00:23:30.139
 social class,

00:23:30.139 --> 00:23:31.039
 or any other

00:23:31.039 --> 00:23:31.480
 difference.

00:23:32.759 --> 00:23:33.720
 We need to

00:23:33.720 --> 00:23:34.119
 be, as

00:23:34.119 --> 00:23:35.119
 individuals and

00:23:35.119 --> 00:23:35.980
 collectively as a

00:23:35.980 --> 00:23:36.440
 church family,

00:23:37.200 --> 00:23:37.659
 we need to have

00:23:37.659 --> 00:23:38.879
 the mindset that

00:23:38.879 --> 00:23:39.579
 anyone who

00:23:39.579 --> 00:23:40.259
 walks in that

00:23:40.259 --> 00:23:42.319
 door, if

00:23:42.319 --> 00:23:42.639
 they're a

00:23:42.639 --> 00:23:43.339
 Christian, they're

00:23:43.339 --> 00:23:44.240
 our brother or

00:23:44.240 --> 00:23:45.319
 sister in

00:23:45.319 --> 00:23:46.819
 Christ, and we

00:23:46.819 --> 00:23:47.579
 embrace them.

00:23:48.859 --> 00:23:49.259
 We need to

00:23:49.259 --> 00:23:49.460
 have the

00:23:49.460 --> 00:23:50.179
 mindset, anybody

00:23:50.179 --> 00:23:50.759
 that walks in

00:23:50.759 --> 00:23:51.339
 that door, and

00:23:51.339 --> 00:23:51.939
 if they're not a

00:23:51.939 --> 00:23:53.639
 Christian, they

00:23:53.639 --> 00:23:54.259
 are a human

00:23:54.259 --> 00:23:55.139
 being for whom

00:23:55.139 --> 00:23:57.500
 Jesus died, and

00:23:57.500 --> 00:23:57.819
 if they don't

00:23:57.819 --> 00:23:58.200
 come to know

00:23:58.200 --> 00:23:58.799
 the Lord, they're

00:23:58.799 --> 00:23:58.980
 going to spend

00:23:58.980 --> 00:23:59.579
 eternity in

00:23:59.579 --> 00:23:59.879
 hell.

00:24:01.039 --> 00:24:01.779
 And we should

00:24:01.779 --> 00:24:02.619
 care enough about

00:24:02.619 --> 00:24:03.179
 them, regardless

00:24:03.179 --> 00:24:03.500
 of what they

00:24:03.500 --> 00:24:04.839
 look like, sound

00:24:04.839 --> 00:24:06.539
 like, that we

00:24:06.539 --> 00:24:07.740
 want to embrace

00:24:07.740 --> 00:24:08.579
 them, welcome

00:24:08.579 --> 00:24:09.539
 them, make

00:24:09.539 --> 00:24:10.099
 them feel at

00:24:10.099 --> 00:24:13.159
 home, and share

00:24:13.159 --> 00:24:14.179
 our lives with

00:24:14.179 --> 00:24:16.279
 them, and most

00:24:16.279 --> 00:24:16.680
 important is to

00:24:16.680 --> 00:24:17.359
 share the gospel

00:24:17.359 --> 00:24:18.899
 with them so

00:24:18.899 --> 00:24:19.319
 that they'll be

00:24:19.319 --> 00:24:19.720
 saved.

00:24:21.440 --> 00:24:22.579
 We need to be a

00:24:22.579 --> 00:24:24.019
 church that

00:24:24.019 --> 00:24:25.539
 welcomes everyone,

00:24:25.859 --> 00:24:26.480
 and I mean

00:24:26.480 --> 00:24:27.559
 genuinely.

00:24:29.000 --> 00:24:29.879
 Whoever walks in

00:24:29.879 --> 00:24:31.440
 that door, regardless

00:24:31.440 --> 00:24:32.180
 of how different

00:24:32.180 --> 00:24:33.420
 they are than me,

00:24:34.180 --> 00:24:35.559
 I'm glad they're

00:24:35.559 --> 00:24:35.799
 here.

00:24:36.519 --> 00:24:37.440
 I smile.

00:24:38.639 --> 00:24:39.779
 I welcome them,

00:24:40.220 --> 00:24:41.059
 and I mean it.

00:24:41.420 --> 00:24:43.539
 Number two, we

00:24:43.539 --> 00:24:44.960
 must start inviting

00:24:44.960 --> 00:24:46.539
 our friends and

00:24:46.539 --> 00:24:48.200
 acquaintances from

00:24:48.200 --> 00:24:49.799
 work, from school,

00:24:50.000 --> 00:24:51.399
 or the neighborhood

00:24:51.399 --> 00:24:52.960
 or wherever to

00:24:52.960 --> 00:24:53.759
 come to church with

00:24:53.759 --> 00:24:55.000
 us, regardless of

00:24:55.000 --> 00:24:56.700
 their race, social

00:24:56.700 --> 00:24:58.399
 class, or any

00:24:58.399 --> 00:24:58.859
 difference.

00:25:00.379 --> 00:25:03.139
 In this room, a lot

00:25:03.139 --> 00:25:03.720
 of people in here,

00:25:04.519 --> 00:25:05.099
 you who go to

00:25:05.099 --> 00:25:05.879
 school with, you

00:25:05.879 --> 00:25:06.940
 work with, or in

00:25:06.940 --> 00:25:08.079
 your neighborhood are

00:25:08.079 --> 00:25:08.839
 people who are very

00:25:08.839 --> 00:25:10.680
 different than the

00:25:10.680 --> 00:25:11.680
 majority of members

00:25:11.680 --> 00:25:12.400
 of this church.

00:25:15.640 --> 00:25:16.580
 We need to have the

00:25:16.580 --> 00:25:17.480
 mindset, if we're

00:25:17.480 --> 00:25:17.940
 going to be

00:25:17.940 --> 00:25:20.700
 witnesses, if we're

00:25:20.700 --> 00:25:22.560
 going to take

00:25:22.560 --> 00:25:23.700
 seriously the people

00:25:23.700 --> 00:25:24.580
 in our circles of

00:25:24.580 --> 00:25:25.279
 influence who are not

00:25:25.279 --> 00:25:26.480
 Christians, we need

00:25:26.480 --> 00:25:27.299
 to look at them,

00:25:28.320 --> 00:25:29.060
 build relationships

00:25:29.060 --> 00:25:31.580
 with them, no

00:25:31.580 --> 00:25:32.200
 matter how different

00:25:32.200 --> 00:25:33.420
 they are, invite

00:25:33.420 --> 00:25:34.940
 them to come with

00:25:34.940 --> 00:25:37.080
 us to this church,

00:25:37.079 --> 00:25:37.139
 church.

00:25:39.019 --> 00:25:40.279
 And all of us

00:25:40.279 --> 00:25:42.339
 who are here, we're

00:25:42.339 --> 00:25:43.159
 going to embrace

00:25:43.159 --> 00:25:43.460
 them.

00:25:45.699 --> 00:25:46.960
 That's the most

00:25:46.960 --> 00:25:49.779
 logical way that

00:25:49.779 --> 00:25:50.659
 our church would

00:25:50.659 --> 00:25:51.720
 become more

00:25:51.720 --> 00:25:52.379
 diverse.

00:25:52.799 --> 00:25:53.960
 We're open, we're

00:25:53.960 --> 00:25:55.179
 receptive, we're

00:25:55.179 --> 00:25:56.399
 wanting whoever God

00:25:56.399 --> 00:25:57.240
 brings, and we'll

00:25:57.240 --> 00:25:58.299
 welcome them to

00:25:58.299 --> 00:25:59.019
 open arms.

00:25:59.599 --> 00:26:01.259
 But also, we're

00:26:01.259 --> 00:26:01.679
 going to share the

00:26:01.679 --> 00:26:02.599
 gospel with whoever

00:26:02.599 --> 00:26:03.799
 God puts in our

00:26:03.799 --> 00:26:04.179
 life.

00:26:04.839 --> 00:26:05.460
 Friends that are

00:26:05.460 --> 00:26:06.139
 very different.

00:26:07.079 --> 00:26:07.859
 We're going to at

00:26:07.859 --> 00:26:09.079
 least invite them,

00:26:09.399 --> 00:26:10.639
 bring them with us.

00:26:11.799 --> 00:26:12.439
 And some of them

00:26:12.439 --> 00:26:14.319
 very well may become

00:26:14.319 --> 00:26:17.279
 a real active part of

00:26:17.279 --> 00:26:18.019
 our church family.

00:26:19.159 --> 00:26:20.099
 It might make us

00:26:20.099 --> 00:26:20.659
 uncomfortable.

00:26:22.099 --> 00:26:22.819
 So what?

00:26:23.399 --> 00:26:24.119
 There's a lot of

00:26:24.119 --> 00:26:24.759
 things in life that

00:26:24.759 --> 00:26:25.339
 make us uncomfortable.

00:26:26.059 --> 00:26:27.399
 That doesn't matter.

00:26:28.019 --> 00:26:28.980
 Now, I want to make

00:26:28.980 --> 00:26:29.679
 this statement since

00:26:29.679 --> 00:26:30.599
 we're on this subject.

00:26:31.599 --> 00:26:32.699
 I do not have any

00:26:32.699 --> 00:26:33.579
 person in mind.

00:26:33.659 --> 00:26:34.339
 I have not heard

00:26:34.339 --> 00:26:34.779
 anything.

00:26:34.819 --> 00:26:35.299
 I've not heard

00:26:35.299 --> 00:26:36.059
 anything implied.

00:26:36.059 --> 00:26:36.919
 Nobody's said

00:26:36.919 --> 00:26:37.519
 anything to me about

00:26:37.519 --> 00:26:38.220
 anything like this.

00:26:38.399 --> 00:26:38.899
 This is just an

00:26:38.899 --> 00:26:39.659
 appropriate time to do

00:26:39.659 --> 00:26:39.740
 it.

00:26:39.960 --> 00:26:40.799
 I've done it in the

00:26:40.799 --> 00:26:41.879
 past, but I've never

00:26:41.879 --> 00:26:42.799
 done it lately.

00:26:43.659 --> 00:26:44.559
 So I think it's very

00:26:44.559 --> 00:26:44.980
 important.

00:26:46.119 --> 00:26:47.139
 If there is one

00:26:47.139 --> 00:26:48.079
 person who I'd have a

00:26:48.079 --> 00:26:49.419
 problem, I want to say

00:26:49.419 --> 00:26:49.839
 it this way.

00:26:52.559 --> 00:26:55.419
 We cannot be a church

00:26:55.419 --> 00:26:57.980
 of Jesus Christ and not

00:26:57.980 --> 00:27:00.579
 welcome every human

00:27:00.579 --> 00:27:01.519
 being who walks in

00:27:01.519 --> 00:27:01.919
 that door.

00:27:01.920 --> 00:27:05.279
 And if anybody in this

00:27:05.279 --> 00:27:06.660
 church has a problem

00:27:06.660 --> 00:27:08.420
 with welcoming

00:27:08.420 --> 00:27:11.740
 everyone, you leave.

00:27:13.000 --> 00:27:13.779
 You're not going to be

00:27:13.779 --> 00:27:14.600
 a stumbling block.

00:27:18.600 --> 00:27:20.000
 We are going to be the

00:27:20.000 --> 00:27:21.000
 family of God called

00:27:21.000 --> 00:27:21.759
 Pickens First Baptist

00:27:21.759 --> 00:27:23.519
 Church who welcomes

00:27:23.519 --> 00:27:24.039
 everybody.

00:27:24.039 --> 00:27:27.480
 And I know for a

00:27:27.480 --> 00:27:29.119
 fact 99% of our

00:27:29.119 --> 00:27:29.859
 church family feels

00:27:29.859 --> 00:27:30.240
 that way.

00:27:30.960 --> 00:27:32.379
 But if there's one or

00:27:32.379 --> 00:27:35.339
 two that do not, you

00:27:35.339 --> 00:27:36.240
 got the problem.

00:27:36.920 --> 00:27:38.359
 And you will not make

00:27:38.359 --> 00:27:39.879
 us have a problem over

00:27:39.879 --> 00:27:40.159
 that.

00:27:43.619 --> 00:27:44.980
 I have no target.

00:27:46.599 --> 00:27:47.799
 But if I hit the

00:27:47.799 --> 00:27:48.440
 bull's eye somewhere

00:27:48.440 --> 00:27:49.899
 this morning, I mean

00:27:49.899 --> 00:27:50.200
 it.

00:27:51.379 --> 00:27:52.180
 But I want you to

00:27:52.180 --> 00:27:52.639
 know if you're a

00:27:52.639 --> 00:27:53.279
 visitor, you're not a

00:27:53.279 --> 00:27:53.659
 part of our church

00:27:53.660 --> 00:27:53.960
 family.

00:27:54.259 --> 00:27:55.040
 We've never had

00:27:55.040 --> 00:27:56.140
 issues over this.

00:27:58.160 --> 00:28:00.080
 Our church would not

00:28:00.080 --> 00:28:01.240
 tolerate something like

00:28:01.240 --> 00:28:01.580
 this.

00:28:02.680 --> 00:28:03.860
 But I do think it's

00:28:03.860 --> 00:28:04.700
 good from time to time

00:28:04.700 --> 00:28:05.560
 knowing human nature

00:28:05.560 --> 00:28:07.840
 to bring it up.

00:28:08.960 --> 00:28:09.740
 And just clarify

00:28:09.740 --> 00:28:10.340
 things.

00:28:11.500 --> 00:28:13.080
 And from the past,

00:28:14.120 --> 00:28:14.759
 when I've said some

00:28:14.759 --> 00:28:15.480
 things like this,

00:28:15.920 --> 00:28:16.840
 I've had a lot of

00:28:16.840 --> 00:28:19.720
 affirmation in saying

00:28:19.720 --> 00:28:20.620
 things like this.

00:28:20.960 --> 00:28:21.779
 Because this is who

00:28:21.779 --> 00:28:23.340
 our church as a whole,

00:28:23.339 --> 00:28:25.259
 99%, if not 100%,

00:28:25.259 --> 00:28:26.939
 wants us to be.

00:28:27.980 --> 00:28:29.839
 Now, another change

00:28:29.839 --> 00:28:30.959
 the gospel brings

00:28:30.959 --> 00:28:33.000
 means we will stand

00:28:33.000 --> 00:28:35.240
 unafraid against our

00:28:35.240 --> 00:28:35.639
 enemies.

00:28:35.720 --> 00:28:36.459
 Look at verse 28.

00:28:36.939 --> 00:28:38.639
 And not frightened in

00:28:38.639 --> 00:28:40.720
 anything by your

00:28:40.720 --> 00:28:41.059
 opponents.

00:28:41.480 --> 00:28:42.419
 People of the world

00:28:42.419 --> 00:28:44.259
 who do not believe,

00:28:44.919 --> 00:28:45.839
 who don't care about

00:28:45.839 --> 00:28:46.859
 God, who hate God

00:28:46.859 --> 00:28:48.939
 even, they oppose the

00:28:48.940 --> 00:28:50.539
 gospel for many reasons.

00:28:51.580 --> 00:28:52.640
 One reason is contrary

00:28:52.640 --> 00:28:53.539
 to their self-centered

00:28:53.539 --> 00:28:54.200
 way of living.

00:28:54.580 --> 00:28:55.340
 And for some of them,

00:28:56.059 --> 00:28:57.279
 the things that the

00:28:57.279 --> 00:28:58.000
 Bible teaches,

00:28:59.000 --> 00:29:02.019
 it declares them to be

00:29:02.019 --> 00:29:02.920
 immoral.

00:29:03.279 --> 00:29:04.220
 And they don't like that.

00:29:05.660 --> 00:29:07.240
 And so, they oppose

00:29:07.240 --> 00:29:09.559
 the truth of God's word.

00:29:09.559 --> 00:29:12.399
 And for us, most of us

00:29:12.399 --> 00:29:13.359
 in this room know,

00:29:14.159 --> 00:29:15.359
 in this world today,

00:29:16.159 --> 00:29:18.980
 people do not embrace

00:29:18.980 --> 00:29:20.619
 the idea that there's

00:29:20.619 --> 00:29:21.639
 only one way to be

00:29:21.639 --> 00:29:22.440
 right with God,

00:29:22.539 --> 00:29:23.279
 that's through faith in

00:29:23.279 --> 00:29:23.839
 Jesus Christ.

00:29:23.919 --> 00:29:24.419
 That's what the Bible

00:29:24.419 --> 00:29:24.740
 says.

00:29:25.059 --> 00:29:26.039
 Jesus said, I am the

00:29:26.039 --> 00:29:26.779
 way, the truth, and the

00:29:26.779 --> 00:29:27.019
 life.

00:29:27.379 --> 00:29:28.419
 No one comes to the

00:29:28.419 --> 00:29:29.220
 Father except through

00:29:29.220 --> 00:29:29.519
 me.

00:29:30.639 --> 00:29:31.759
 But when we really

00:29:31.759 --> 00:29:34.000
 believe that and

00:29:34.000 --> 00:29:35.940
 witness, share the

00:29:35.940 --> 00:29:36.859
 gospel, and tell people

00:29:36.859 --> 00:29:38.759
 because, you know, we

00:29:38.759 --> 00:29:39.299
 love them, that's not

00:29:39.299 --> 00:29:39.740
 the way they can be

00:29:39.740 --> 00:29:41.379
 right with God, we're

00:29:41.379 --> 00:29:42.420
 called intolerant.

00:29:43.680 --> 00:29:44.819
 And we're out of step

00:29:44.819 --> 00:29:46.140
 with the way things are

00:29:46.140 --> 00:29:47.420
 in this world today, to

00:29:47.420 --> 00:29:49.119
 be so inclusive and to

00:29:49.119 --> 00:29:50.079
 never say there's just

00:29:50.079 --> 00:29:51.660
 one way of anything.

00:29:53.500 --> 00:29:56.039
 In today's world, many

00:29:56.039 --> 00:29:57.019
 people are quick to

00:29:57.019 --> 00:30:01.220
 condemn Christianity and

00:30:01.220 --> 00:30:02.720
 to hatefully attack

00:30:02.720 --> 00:30:03.539
 Christians.

00:30:04.839 --> 00:30:05.960
 And it's happening more

00:30:05.960 --> 00:30:06.379
 and more.

00:30:07.400 --> 00:30:08.519
 But we are called as

00:30:08.519 --> 00:30:10.879
 God's people to stand

00:30:10.879 --> 00:30:14.920
 firm in our faith no

00:30:14.920 --> 00:30:15.379
 matter what.

00:30:16.160 --> 00:30:16.960
 Now, as we show the

00:30:16.960 --> 00:30:17.539
 world the difference

00:30:17.539 --> 00:30:18.740
 Christ has made, as we

00:30:18.740 --> 00:30:20.119
 do stand firm, we will

00:30:20.119 --> 00:30:20.779
 influence others.

00:30:20.839 --> 00:30:21.299
 Look at this.

00:30:21.660 --> 00:30:22.879
 Our stand for Christ will

00:30:22.879 --> 00:30:24.139
 be a sign of judgment

00:30:24.139 --> 00:30:24.819
 to unbelievers.

00:30:24.879 --> 00:30:25.700
 He says in verse 28,

00:30:25.980 --> 00:30:27.259
 this is a clear sign to

00:30:27.259 --> 00:30:29.379
 them of their destruction.

00:30:30.440 --> 00:30:31.000
 I want you to think.

00:30:31.559 --> 00:30:32.579
 When we stand firm in

00:30:32.579 --> 00:30:34.439
 our faith, I mean

00:30:34.439 --> 00:30:38.059
 graciously, appropriately.

00:30:39.439 --> 00:30:41.339
 Not being mean-spirited

00:30:41.339 --> 00:30:44.339
 jerks, but graciously and

00:30:44.339 --> 00:30:44.839
 appropriately.

00:30:45.519 --> 00:30:46.779
 We stand firm.

00:30:48.359 --> 00:30:52.899
 God will use that to cause

00:30:52.899 --> 00:30:56.439
 some people to think there

00:30:56.440 --> 00:30:57.680
 may be something to this.

00:30:59.279 --> 00:31:00.320
 Why else would that

00:31:00.320 --> 00:31:01.920
 person be ridiculed?

00:31:02.559 --> 00:31:03.320
 Why else would that

00:31:03.320 --> 00:31:06.580
 person be ostracized by

00:31:06.580 --> 00:31:07.740
 standing for what they

00:31:07.740 --> 00:31:08.180
 believe?

00:31:08.559 --> 00:31:09.519
 There must be something

00:31:09.519 --> 00:31:09.960
 to it.

00:31:10.380 --> 00:31:13.779
 And they may be convicted

00:31:13.779 --> 00:31:17.559
 or at least become open to

00:31:17.559 --> 00:31:19.720
 inquiring about the truth.

00:31:19.720 --> 00:31:21.100
 So standing firm on

00:31:21.100 --> 00:31:21.960
 biblical convictions,

00:31:22.519 --> 00:31:23.360
 on biblical convictions

00:31:23.360 --> 00:31:25.240
 the right way, is one of

00:31:25.240 --> 00:31:27.579
 the ways that God warns

00:31:27.579 --> 00:31:28.259
 unbelievers.

00:31:29.259 --> 00:31:29.839
 Let's look at this.

00:31:30.019 --> 00:31:31.059
 Our stand for Christ will

00:31:31.059 --> 00:31:32.120
 also be a sign of assurance

00:31:32.120 --> 00:31:32.660
 for Christians.

00:31:32.960 --> 00:31:33.920
 He says this is a clear

00:31:33.920 --> 00:31:35.600
 sign of your salvation

00:31:35.600 --> 00:31:36.220
 and that from God.

00:31:36.620 --> 00:31:37.440
 Standing firm in our

00:31:37.440 --> 00:31:38.400
 faith is something that

00:31:38.400 --> 00:31:40.839
 God will use to give us

00:31:40.839 --> 00:31:41.200
 assurance.

00:31:42.480 --> 00:31:43.480
 If you're truly a

00:31:43.480 --> 00:31:44.839
 Christian, you truly believe

00:31:44.839 --> 00:31:45.839
 in the Lord Jesus Christ,

00:31:46.880 --> 00:31:48.339
 when you make those hard

00:31:48.339 --> 00:31:49.700
 decisions to stand firm

00:31:49.700 --> 00:31:51.460
 against the crowd,

00:31:52.180 --> 00:31:53.759
 God's going to affirm you.

00:31:56.420 --> 00:31:58.740
 He's going to give you

00:31:58.740 --> 00:32:02.019
 real assurance, not only

00:32:02.019 --> 00:32:03.000
 that you're His, but you're

00:32:03.000 --> 00:32:03.920
 doing the right thing.

00:32:05.140 --> 00:32:06.340
 Our faithfulness also

00:32:06.340 --> 00:32:08.460
 encourages some of our

00:32:08.460 --> 00:32:09.420
 Christian brothers and

00:32:09.420 --> 00:32:12.700
 sisters to stand firm, to

00:32:12.700 --> 00:32:15.180
 be faithful, and to trust

00:32:15.180 --> 00:32:15.580
 God.

00:32:16.460 --> 00:32:17.019
 You know, there could be

00:32:17.019 --> 00:32:18.080
 somebody in your life right

00:32:18.079 --> 00:32:21.119
 now, and they need for you

00:32:21.119 --> 00:32:22.599
 where you work, or at

00:32:22.599 --> 00:32:24.259
 school, or somewhere out

00:32:24.259 --> 00:32:25.059
 away from church.

00:32:25.439 --> 00:32:26.359
 There may be some people

00:32:26.359 --> 00:32:27.259
 in your life right now,

00:32:28.699 --> 00:32:29.819
 they really need for you to

00:32:29.819 --> 00:32:30.960
 stand strong as a

00:32:30.960 --> 00:32:31.240
 Christian.

00:32:31.839 --> 00:32:33.439
 Not be afraid, not back

00:32:33.439 --> 00:32:33.759
 down.

00:32:34.559 --> 00:32:35.759
 Right now, they're timid,

00:32:35.839 --> 00:32:36.639
 they're sort of reserved,

00:32:36.939 --> 00:32:40.179
 they're afraid, but they

00:32:40.179 --> 00:32:41.500
 would be encouraged by your

00:32:41.500 --> 00:32:42.079
 strong example.

00:32:42.079 --> 00:32:45.480
 Be that person.

00:32:45.480 --> 00:32:48.419
 Now, one thing the Bible

00:32:48.419 --> 00:32:49.480
 never promises is that

00:32:49.480 --> 00:32:50.139
 living a faithful Christian

00:32:50.139 --> 00:32:50.939
 life will be easy.

00:32:51.659 --> 00:32:52.699
 It is not.

00:32:53.299 --> 00:32:54.179
 The Bible says this is going

00:32:54.179 --> 00:32:54.419
 to be hard.

00:32:54.480 --> 00:32:55.599
 Look at the last point here.

00:32:55.960 --> 00:32:57.460
 We will suffer as we seek

00:32:57.460 --> 00:32:58.220
 to live for Christ.

00:32:58.659 --> 00:32:59.839
 Paul speaks of this as,

00:33:00.639 --> 00:33:03.299
 think about this, a privilege,

00:33:04.119 --> 00:33:05.139
 a gift from God.

00:33:05.199 --> 00:33:06.480
 Verse 29, for it has been

00:33:06.480 --> 00:33:07.819
 granted to you that for the

00:33:07.819 --> 00:33:09.279
 sake of Christ, you should not

00:33:09.279 --> 00:33:11.799
 only believe in Him, but also

00:33:11.799 --> 00:33:14.339
 suffer for His sake.

00:33:16.279 --> 00:33:17.759
 Suffering for the Lord is not

00:33:17.759 --> 00:33:21.160
 something Paul made up because

00:33:21.160 --> 00:33:21.980
 he did it so much.

00:33:23.220 --> 00:33:25.079
 Paul learned it from experience

00:33:25.079 --> 00:33:26.599
 for sure, but that's what

00:33:26.599 --> 00:33:27.279
 Jesus taught.

00:33:27.480 --> 00:33:28.039
 Look at this.

00:33:28.740 --> 00:33:29.680
 Jesus said, if anyone will

00:33:29.680 --> 00:33:31.420
 come after me, let him deny

00:33:31.420 --> 00:33:33.019
 himself, take up his cross.

00:33:33.119 --> 00:33:34.200
 That's an instrument of death.

00:33:35.519 --> 00:33:36.480
 Let him deny himself.

00:33:37.500 --> 00:33:39.039
 Die to himself even.

00:33:39.279 --> 00:33:40.599
 To follow me.

00:33:42.039 --> 00:33:43.200
 The commitment we've got to

00:33:43.200 --> 00:33:43.480
 make.

00:33:44.079 --> 00:33:45.339
 And then after the apostles

00:33:45.339 --> 00:33:47.960
 experienced their first

00:33:47.960 --> 00:33:51.500
 beating for preaching the

00:33:51.500 --> 00:33:52.579
 gospel when they were told not

00:33:52.579 --> 00:33:54.019
 to, look at what they said.

00:33:55.500 --> 00:33:57.059
 They left the court rejoicing

00:33:57.059 --> 00:33:58.420
 because they had been counted

00:33:58.420 --> 00:34:01.079
 worthy of suffering disgrace

00:34:01.079 --> 00:34:02.480
 for the name.

00:34:03.399 --> 00:34:05.099
 The idea of suffering as

00:34:05.099 --> 00:34:08.139
 Christians, it does sound

00:34:08.139 --> 00:34:09.940
 strange to us because

00:34:09.940 --> 00:34:12.619
 thankfully in this country

00:34:12.619 --> 00:34:15.460
 Christians have not suffered

00:34:15.460 --> 00:34:18.279
 physically like in some

00:34:18.279 --> 00:34:19.440
 countries where they're

00:34:19.440 --> 00:34:20.960
 imprisoned, they're beaten

00:34:20.960 --> 00:34:24.639
 today, killed for their faith.

00:34:25.519 --> 00:34:27.019
 We should be thankful that we

00:34:27.019 --> 00:34:28.980
 have not experienced that in

00:34:28.980 --> 00:34:30.859
 our country, in our lifetimes,

00:34:30.940 --> 00:34:31.900
 in the history of our country.

00:34:31.900 --> 00:34:34.980
 But sometimes we all are, we are

00:34:34.980 --> 00:34:37.639
 called to suffer for doing the

00:34:37.639 --> 00:34:40.280
 right thing in difficult

00:34:40.280 --> 00:34:41.000
 circumstances.

00:34:42.000 --> 00:34:43.380
 You know, it may be that if you

00:34:43.380 --> 00:34:47.960
 refuse to lie or be dishonest in

00:34:47.960 --> 00:34:51.940
 performing your job, it will cost you

00:34:51.940 --> 00:34:52.300
 something.

00:34:53.019 --> 00:34:54.940
 It'll cost you advancement.

00:34:54.940 --> 00:34:57.519
 Or it could cost you a demotion.

00:34:58.519 --> 00:35:01.099
 It could cost you even your job.

00:35:02.000 --> 00:35:03.420
 It sometimes costs us to be

00:35:03.420 --> 00:35:06.240
 faithful in serving the Lord in

00:35:06.240 --> 00:35:06.880
 our church.

00:35:07.119 --> 00:35:09.159
 Sometimes it costs us time.

00:35:09.360 --> 00:35:11.500
 I mean, we sacrifice time.

00:35:12.360 --> 00:35:12.679
 Money.

00:35:13.760 --> 00:35:17.039
 We sacrifice our energy when we're

00:35:17.039 --> 00:35:17.460
 tired.

00:35:18.760 --> 00:35:21.200
 Sacrifice sleep sometimes maybe even.

00:35:21.199 --> 00:35:24.099
 These things are not much compared

00:35:24.099 --> 00:35:25.619
 to the suffering Paul's talking

00:35:25.619 --> 00:35:26.579
 about, I know.

00:35:28.000 --> 00:35:29.579
 But what I want us to know in this

00:35:29.579 --> 00:35:31.839
 room today, suffering for Christ

00:35:31.839 --> 00:35:34.199
 doesn't always mean life-threatening

00:35:34.199 --> 00:35:35.039
 danger.

00:35:36.539 --> 00:35:37.980
 Here's what we've got to understand.

00:35:38.919 --> 00:35:40.480
 If we live our lives worthy of the

00:35:40.480 --> 00:35:45.419
 gospel, it will require some degree of

00:35:45.419 --> 00:35:48.399
 suffering at times.

00:35:48.400 --> 00:35:51.280
 The Christian life, live faithfully,

00:35:51.579 --> 00:35:56.160
 cannot be just a cakewalk seven days

00:35:56.160 --> 00:36:00.000
 a week, 365 days a year, year in and

00:36:00.000 --> 00:36:00.300
 year out.

00:36:00.400 --> 00:36:01.320
 It cannot be.

00:36:02.260 --> 00:36:03.800
 The New Testament says it won't be.

00:36:05.280 --> 00:36:07.460
 The Christian life, I want us to

00:36:07.460 --> 00:36:09.559
 understand, it's not about knowing the

00:36:09.559 --> 00:36:13.860
 right things, just believing the right

00:36:13.860 --> 00:36:14.340
 truths.

00:36:14.340 --> 00:36:21.440
 It involves acting on what we know and

00:36:21.440 --> 00:36:22.160
 what we believe.

00:36:23.059 --> 00:36:23.740
 Final thought.

00:36:24.660 --> 00:36:28.120
 The gospel makes a difference in the

00:36:28.120 --> 00:36:30.539
 lives of everyone who believes it.

00:36:32.539 --> 00:36:36.579
 As you look at your life, is it obvious

00:36:36.579 --> 00:36:39.740
 that you believe the gospel?

00:36:39.739 --> 00:36:42.199
 Let's pray.

00:36:43.079 --> 00:36:46.599
 Dear God, help us to see the truth about

00:36:46.599 --> 00:36:47.199
 ourselves.

00:36:50.199 --> 00:36:51.599
 Help us to understand from what we're

00:36:51.599 --> 00:36:52.779
 seeing in this passage this morning,

00:36:52.859 --> 00:36:58.759
 dear God, that it will show if we're

00:36:58.759 --> 00:36:59.179
 Christians.

00:36:59.179 --> 00:37:05.199
 It will show in our unity.

00:37:06.799 --> 00:37:08.500
 It will show in our willing to stand

00:37:08.500 --> 00:37:11.259
 firm, tough, difficult situations.

00:37:14.059 --> 00:37:19.519
 Help us to see that we will not shrink

00:37:19.519 --> 00:37:21.839
 before our enemies, the enemies of

00:37:21.839 --> 00:37:22.279
 yours.

00:37:25.339 --> 00:37:26.819
 Help us just to see, Father, some of the

00:37:26.820 --> 00:37:28.640
 things that we've looked at in this

00:37:28.640 --> 00:37:30.440
 passage or things you bring to mind

00:37:30.440 --> 00:37:32.000
 right now to a Christian in this room.

00:37:33.260 --> 00:37:36.500
 Help them to understand what it means

00:37:36.500 --> 00:37:37.840
 to be a Christian.

00:37:38.539 --> 00:37:40.480
 The cost involved, the suffering that

00:37:40.480 --> 00:37:41.420
 sometimes comes.

00:37:44.620 --> 00:37:46.200
 Lord, don't let anyone in this room who

00:37:46.200 --> 00:37:49.860
 is a church member, been baptized, just

00:37:49.860 --> 00:37:50.980
 professed to be a Christian for many

00:37:50.980 --> 00:37:51.200
 years.

00:37:51.380 --> 00:37:53.820
 Don't let anyone leave here deceived

00:37:53.820 --> 00:37:56.600
 deceived that they're a Christian when

00:37:56.600 --> 00:37:57.200
 they're not.

00:37:58.460 --> 00:37:59.840
 Help us to see, dear God, that there

00:37:59.840 --> 00:38:01.660
 will be evidence in every one of our

00:38:01.660 --> 00:38:04.500
 lives if we've been born again by the

00:38:04.500 --> 00:38:05.120
 Spirit of God.

00:38:07.320 --> 00:38:09.820
 Make it clear that we've just seen a few

00:38:09.820 --> 00:38:13.700
 of the things that will be true about

00:38:13.700 --> 00:38:14.340
 real Christians.

00:38:16.080 --> 00:38:17.240
 Father, if there are people in this room

00:38:17.240 --> 00:38:19.059
 who've been convicted that they are not

00:38:19.059 --> 00:38:22.559
 true believers, help them to admit that

00:38:22.559 --> 00:38:25.139
 totally, humbly to you right now.

00:38:26.519 --> 00:38:27.559
 Turn from their sin.

00:38:27.739 --> 00:38:28.619
 Truly repent.

00:38:28.820 --> 00:38:29.539
 Change their mind.

00:38:29.880 --> 00:38:31.279
 Hate their sin and turn from it.

00:38:32.820 --> 00:38:34.420
 Help them to truly understand that when

00:38:34.420 --> 00:38:35.940
 Jesus died on the cross, He paid the

00:38:35.940 --> 00:38:37.019
 penalty for their sins.

00:38:38.400 --> 00:38:40.299
 Help them, dear God, to trust Jesus this

00:38:40.299 --> 00:38:43.119
 way, to call upon Him to save them now.

00:38:44.739 --> 00:38:46.000
 Let's just, in an attitude of prayer,

00:38:46.519 --> 00:38:48.259
 listen to the Lord, respond to Him

00:38:48.259 --> 00:38:50.940
 personally, individually, as you know

00:38:50.940 --> 00:38:52.519
 you need to do.

00:38:55.920 --> 00:38:58.000
 Amen.