WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.679 Bible, I want you to turn to the book of Matthew, chapter 16. 00:00:05.879 --> 00:00:13.000 And before we start going into those couple of verses, I had the amazing honor in my life. 00:00:13.060 --> 00:00:13.880 You will not care. 00:00:14.000 --> 00:00:15.839 I imagine most of you will not care about this. 00:00:15.839 --> 00:00:22.839 But I was invited by a friend to go play golf at one of the most elite courses in the United 00:00:22.839 --> 00:00:24.100 States in Tulsa, Oklahoma. 00:00:24.519 --> 00:00:29.980 And I couldn't believe it, didn't ask Brooke if I could go, just said, let's go. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:36.420 And this golf course is known for how difficult it is, how pristine it is. 00:00:36.600 --> 00:00:43.700 But also it's widely known for how the members' guests are treated. 00:00:44.460 --> 00:00:47.780 So these people pay a fortune to play at this golf course. 00:00:48.019 --> 00:00:52.260 They paid a fortune for me to shoot 115 at this golf course. 00:00:52.420 --> 00:00:57.900 But I was treated because I was a friend of a member as like a king in the locker room, 00:00:57.899 --> 00:01:00.479 at the dining hall, the people on the different courses. 00:01:00.780 --> 00:01:06.000 And it was amazing to me to see just the reality of if you're a part of someone who's a part 00:01:06.000 --> 00:01:09.259 of something, that you are treated in the same way that they are. 00:01:10.060 --> 00:01:17.539 I think very often we think of the church not as Christ Church, but as a church that you and 00:01:17.539 --> 00:01:18.239 I are a part of. 00:01:18.239 --> 00:01:24.859 But we are actually members of Christ Church to where we then recognize that the blessing 00:01:24.859 --> 00:01:30.939 and how we are treated by the Father because of whom we have been buried with and raised 00:01:30.939 --> 00:01:31.619 to new life in. 00:01:32.459 --> 00:01:37.799 I wonder if you've ever heard someone say, and I imagine many of you have, I love Jesus, 00:01:38.280 --> 00:01:40.319 I just don't love the church. 00:01:40.319 --> 00:01:46.799 Or I'm a Christian, but I just don't go to church on Sunday morning. 00:01:46.879 --> 00:01:48.359 I kind of do church on my own. 00:01:48.679 --> 00:01:52.659 Play a little Christian music, have a little latte, maybe even open up a Bible. 00:01:53.000 --> 00:01:54.079 It's just me and the Lord. 00:01:54.839 --> 00:01:59.939 And you hear that and you go, oh, that's one of the silliest things in the world. 00:02:00.099 --> 00:02:01.719 You don't even know what you're talking about. 00:02:02.819 --> 00:02:07.000 I'd imagine if you spend enough time around other Christians, many would say, I love Jesus, 00:02:07.000 --> 00:02:08.939 I just don't love organized religion. 00:02:09.659 --> 00:02:11.740 Or I just don't care much for the church. 00:02:11.939 --> 00:02:15.139 I just like the teaching or I like one of the programs that they offer. 00:02:15.500 --> 00:02:20.080 But when I get kind of caught up in the organization of it, I just kind of get turned off a little 00:02:20.080 --> 00:02:20.319 bit. 00:02:20.740 --> 00:02:24.800 And I'd imagine you might want to respond to people who say things like that in a particular 00:02:24.800 --> 00:02:25.139 way. 00:02:26.280 --> 00:02:30.159 Sometimes in maybe haughtiness or sometimes in, I don't think you understand what you're 00:02:30.159 --> 00:02:30.719 talking about. 00:02:31.840 --> 00:02:33.520 That's the silliest thing I've ever heard. 00:02:33.520 --> 00:02:38.580 Now, if you approach it that way, your speech may not be gracious or helpful. 00:02:38.740 --> 00:02:42.580 Instead, the person might think, see, this is why I avoid church, of how you're talking 00:02:42.580 --> 00:02:44.300 to me right now, belittling me right now. 00:02:44.580 --> 00:02:50.300 But I want us to consider a better response where Jesus, one of Jesus, or Peter, Peter, 00:02:50.420 --> 00:02:57.180 one of Jesus' closest friends and disciples, thought and said that he loved Jesus so deeply. 00:02:57.960 --> 00:03:02.300 In John chapter 13, you don't have to turn there, verses 37 and 38, Peter tells Jesus, 00:03:02.300 --> 00:03:04.360 I will lay down my life for you. 00:03:05.120 --> 00:03:07.380 And Jesus responds, will you? 00:03:09.080 --> 00:03:11.780 You're going to deny me three times before the morning. 00:03:13.020 --> 00:03:15.360 And then later in John 18, Peter does exactly that. 00:03:15.439 --> 00:03:17.560 He denies knowing Jesus three times. 00:03:17.840 --> 00:03:21.520 Despite Peter's failure, Jesus, though, shows remarkable grace. 00:03:21.980 --> 00:03:26.800 To where in John 21, after his resurrection, Jesus gives Peter a chance for restoration. 00:03:26.800 --> 00:03:32.180 And just after breakfast, echoing the scene of Peter's denial, you think of right before 00:03:32.180 --> 00:03:36.840 morning and now a new morning, new mercy, we actually have Jesus saying, do you love 00:03:36.840 --> 00:03:37.020 me? 00:03:37.700 --> 00:03:38.840 And Peter affirms this. 00:03:39.260 --> 00:03:41.500 And then Jesus says, then feed my sheep. 00:03:42.020 --> 00:03:47.080 Three times Jesus emphasizes the reality and the call that he should feed his own sheep, 00:03:47.600 --> 00:03:52.520 highlighting Jesus' love for his church, which will then in turn be Peter's love for his 00:03:52.520 --> 00:03:53.740 church and God's very people. 00:03:53.920 --> 00:03:55.280 So, do you love Jesus? 00:03:57.540 --> 00:03:59.160 I would imagine you would say yes. 00:04:00.219 --> 00:04:03.780 So if you truly love Jesus, you will love his church. 00:04:04.620 --> 00:04:06.920 No one loves the church more than Jesus does. 00:04:07.740 --> 00:04:11.280 We know this because he laid down his life for her in Ephesians chapter 5. 00:04:11.780 --> 00:04:16.319 And then in John 3, 16, it says that love involves laying down our lives for our brothers 00:04:16.319 --> 00:04:17.019 and our sisters. 00:04:17.019 --> 00:04:21.779 And so I want us this morning to learn from Matthew 16 and Matthew 18 what Jesus means 00:04:21.779 --> 00:04:26.639 when he says that he loves his church, which in turn would mean we love the church, where 00:04:26.639 --> 00:04:29.079 we're swept up in the glory of the church. 00:04:30.279 --> 00:04:36.159 Mark Dever, one of my heroes, says that the church is the gospel made visible. 00:04:37.139 --> 00:04:42.459 And we see this through the specific sacraments that God gives his people, but the church, 00:04:42.519 --> 00:04:45.000 as it gathers, is the gospel made visible. 00:04:45.000 --> 00:04:50.879 And so I want us to explore Matthew 16, 13 through 20, which reveals that God's, reveals 00:04:50.879 --> 00:04:51.660 the church's glory. 00:04:51.759 --> 00:04:56.680 And then in Matthew 18, verses 15 through 17, which shows how personal the church actually 00:04:56.680 --> 00:04:57.019 is. 00:04:57.720 --> 00:05:02.259 Now, Jesus speaks of the church only three times in the gospel, gospels. 00:05:02.779 --> 00:05:08.000 Three times in the gospels, he uses the word church or ecclesia or assembly. 00:05:08.879 --> 00:05:12.600 Now, I think this emphasizes its profound importance and significance. 00:05:12.600 --> 00:05:19.420 So as we see a couple of these verses, keep the local church in mind as the thing that 00:05:19.420 --> 00:05:25.060 God loves and keep the universal church in mind as the thing that God loves. 00:05:25.840 --> 00:05:27.820 It's a central theme throughout the New Testament. 00:05:27.980 --> 00:05:32.640 So the first thing I want you to see here this morning is the glory of the church. 00:05:33.480 --> 00:05:35.700 Church, capital C, the glory of the church. 00:05:35.699 --> 00:05:40.819 The church of Jesus is glorious and worthy of our love and our commitment. 00:05:41.939 --> 00:05:45.379 Matthew 16, verses 13 through 20. 00:05:45.979 --> 00:05:51.599 Context here, Jesus brings his disciples to Caesarea Philippi, which is a city in northern 00:05:51.599 --> 00:05:53.699 Israel near Mount Hermon. 00:05:54.360 --> 00:06:00.159 Now, this region fed by the mountains' streams, so streams that would come out of the mountain, 00:06:00.160 --> 00:06:04.280 marks the headwaters of the Jordan River, but also it's a hub. 00:06:04.880 --> 00:06:07.560 And it's interesting that Jesus would bring his disciples up there. 00:06:07.840 --> 00:06:13.440 This area marked itself as a hub of pagan worship and Roman influence. 00:06:14.040 --> 00:06:20.200 It was the sin city of its own time, you could imagine, filled with temples and idol worship 00:06:20.200 --> 00:06:25.379 where sacrificial and immoral practices were abounding greatly. 00:06:25.379 --> 00:06:30.259 And it's here in this setting that Jesus takes them up there, looks at them, and asks his 00:06:30.259 --> 00:06:34.699 disciples, what do people say the Son of Man is? 00:06:36.480 --> 00:06:40.680 And these guys respond with names like John the Baptist, you see there in the text. 00:06:41.159 --> 00:06:42.980 Names like Elijah and Jeremiah. 00:06:43.180 --> 00:06:44.959 And all these were revealed figures. 00:06:45.180 --> 00:06:49.180 Jesus then turns to them, asks them a question, they answer the question, he turns it back on 00:06:49.180 --> 00:06:52.759 them, and he says, but okay, who do you say that I am? 00:06:53.980 --> 00:06:55.040 You see that there in that text. 00:06:55.040 --> 00:06:56.500 Who do you say that I am? 00:06:58.040 --> 00:07:02.680 I'd imagine some of you have fallen in love with your spouse. 00:07:03.600 --> 00:07:07.660 And it would take a lot of guts out of you to say, so what do your brothers think about 00:07:07.660 --> 00:07:07.840 me? 00:07:08.520 --> 00:07:10.379 What do your friends think about me? 00:07:10.960 --> 00:07:13.780 Oh, they think you're, you know, I would imagine in Brooke's case, they think you're 00:07:13.780 --> 00:07:14.240 really funny. 00:07:14.759 --> 00:07:15.800 They think you're really handsome. 00:07:16.000 --> 00:07:18.080 Like, man, imagine your genes going into our family. 00:07:18.140 --> 00:07:18.740 This would be incredible. 00:07:19.879 --> 00:07:22.120 I'm certain they didn't say that, at least the brothers. 00:07:22.120 --> 00:07:27.800 But then he would take even more guts, faced with that kind of news, feeding into her algorithm. 00:07:28.220 --> 00:07:29.780 Okay, who do you say that I am? 00:07:29.779 --> 00:07:36.299 Here we see Jesus going to them with this really important question. 00:07:36.300 --> 00:07:43.180 And it's Peter, who Peter messes up a lot, but you can't knock him for being bold and courageous. 00:07:43.819 --> 00:07:47.360 He says, you are the Christ, the son of the living God. 00:07:47.360 --> 00:07:50.980 And Jesus commends him there, you see in the text. 00:07:51.639 --> 00:07:56.900 And he actually affirms that this news that Peter preached from his lips back to Christ 00:07:56.900 --> 00:08:00.920 was something that was so amazing that it was heavenly inspired. 00:08:01.819 --> 00:08:06.500 Because you remember, it wasn't far removed from this that Peter would deny Jesus. 00:08:06.660 --> 00:08:07.980 But at this point, he was inspired. 00:08:08.879 --> 00:08:12.379 Then addressing Peter specifically, Jesus says, you are Peter. 00:08:13.220 --> 00:08:13.900 Who am I? 00:08:13.899 --> 00:08:16.199 You are the Christ, the son of the living God. 00:08:16.679 --> 00:08:17.299 Yes, you're right. 00:08:17.579 --> 00:08:18.379 That's from above. 00:08:19.060 --> 00:08:19.779 You are Peter. 00:08:20.459 --> 00:08:23.000 And on this rock, I will build my church. 00:08:23.439 --> 00:08:25.539 And the gates of Hades will not overpower it. 00:08:26.399 --> 00:08:28.819 Now, this rock, always up for debate. 00:08:29.759 --> 00:08:36.679 This rock is not the literal stones around them, but actually the confession that Peter just made. 00:08:36.779 --> 00:08:39.779 So he was using, you'd imagine, rocks as an example. 00:08:39.779 --> 00:08:47.519 But then he says, you, Peter, in this rock, I will build my church. 00:08:48.459 --> 00:08:53.179 Where this rock is not the literal stones around them, but the confession that Peter just made. 00:08:53.579 --> 00:08:55.159 That Jesus is the Christ. 00:08:55.980 --> 00:09:00.419 Now, I'd imagine in this particular church, somewhat my church growing this way, 00:09:00.740 --> 00:09:02.679 other churches that I've been around or you may be around, 00:09:02.679 --> 00:09:08.919 they make a big deal out of what is called a confession of faith or a church member's covenant. 00:09:09.819 --> 00:09:17.120 And the reason that they aim to do this is not because we want to really be smart or really sound Puritan 00:09:17.120 --> 00:09:22.299 or really make things in calligraphy that make us look pretty impressive. 00:09:22.539 --> 00:09:24.759 We have this confession, this mighty confession of faith. 00:09:24.759 --> 00:09:29.860 But in the reality that what a confession of faith does is it takes something so massive and so large, 00:09:30.019 --> 00:09:33.319 the Bible, and it says, this is who Jesus is. 00:09:34.120 --> 00:09:35.659 This is what hope we can have in him. 00:09:36.000 --> 00:09:37.799 This is what hope we can have in the future. 00:09:38.139 --> 00:09:41.360 This is what hope we can have in the future because of what it says about us in the past 00:09:41.360 --> 00:09:43.740 to where Peter basically makes his own confession. 00:09:44.059 --> 00:09:45.100 Who do you say that I am? 00:09:45.279 --> 00:09:46.279 You are the Christ. 00:09:46.279 --> 00:09:51.539 So as an aside, as you guys use this, and I know that you use this in your Sunday morning liturgy 00:09:51.539 --> 00:09:56.059 and even the promotion of the book that was handed out or other books that you might have, 00:09:56.240 --> 00:10:01.620 these building up a confession is because young ones here, let's just say that you're under 18 years old, 00:10:02.199 --> 00:10:06.959 life is going to come at you and say, what do you say about the Lord Jesus Christ? 00:10:07.019 --> 00:10:09.079 You really think someone was raised from the dead? 00:10:09.600 --> 00:10:13.620 Do you really think someone was crucified on a cross for the forgiveness of your sins? 00:10:13.620 --> 00:10:18.379 And hopefully you can be as strong and courageous as Peter when he blurts out 00:10:18.379 --> 00:10:21.460 that when someone says something like that, you say, absolutely. 00:10:22.200 --> 00:10:23.919 You think the whole world was made from nothing? 00:10:24.799 --> 00:10:29.879 And you want to go, if you think that's a big deal, wait till you see what it took to forgive my sins. 00:10:31.159 --> 00:10:36.500 To where Peter responds with a tremendous confession that Jesus is the Christ. 00:10:36.779 --> 00:10:40.919 Jesus then continues, I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. 00:10:40.919 --> 00:10:43.699 Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven. 00:10:44.279 --> 00:10:47.099 And whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 00:10:47.219 --> 00:10:51.000 So what I want to do for the remainder of this first point, still on the first point, 00:10:51.399 --> 00:10:57.059 I'm going to unpack verses 18 and 19 in order to demonstrate why the church is glorious. 00:10:57.779 --> 00:11:01.179 So I want to talk about the glory of the church, point one, four points, point one, 00:11:01.459 --> 00:11:02.539 why the church is glorious. 00:11:03.860 --> 00:11:07.699 The first one is, here's the first reason, verse 18, see it with your eyes. 00:11:07.700 --> 00:11:13.220 I say to you, Peter, that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church. 00:11:13.580 --> 00:11:19.400 The first reason the church is glorious is because Jesus, the confessed Christ, 00:11:19.860 --> 00:11:22.460 the son of the living God, is the builder. 00:11:23.340 --> 00:11:25.980 The church is glorious because Jesus is the builder. 00:11:27.080 --> 00:11:30.620 Now, what else might Jesus have said here? 00:11:30.620 --> 00:11:35.799 He might have said, Peter, on you, I will build my church. 00:11:36.460 --> 00:11:39.460 On you all, I will build my church. 00:11:39.940 --> 00:11:42.799 I'm going to use all of you to build my church. 00:11:42.879 --> 00:11:43.679 But he doesn't say that. 00:11:44.000 --> 00:11:46.060 He says, I will build my church. 00:11:48.720 --> 00:11:55.840 To build something, you must have power, resources, and influence. 00:11:56.019 --> 00:11:58.980 To build something, you must have power, resources, and influence. 00:11:58.980 --> 00:12:01.920 Now, about a month and a half ago, I'll never stop talking about it. 00:12:02.100 --> 00:12:07.100 I built, by myself, with the help of others, a pergola in my backyard. 00:12:07.879 --> 00:12:11.680 And I love this pergola now more than any other part of my house. 00:12:12.060 --> 00:12:12.759 I love it. 00:12:12.840 --> 00:12:13.680 I sit underneath it. 00:12:13.820 --> 00:12:15.639 I have fires even when it's hot outside. 00:12:15.820 --> 00:12:17.820 I take pictures of it and send it to other people. 00:12:19.580 --> 00:12:23.860 But I couldn't do it without Dave Bopp and Jen Hopkins or Brooke going, 00:12:24.259 --> 00:12:26.399 okay, another trip to Lowe's. 00:12:26.399 --> 00:12:31.860 I also couldn't do it because I actually took down this pergola from my parents' house 00:12:31.860 --> 00:12:33.059 and then transported. 00:12:33.179 --> 00:12:34.959 I didn't even pay for the wood. 00:12:35.419 --> 00:12:37.100 I certainly didn't chop down the tree. 00:12:37.379 --> 00:12:39.899 I even used the screws and the bolts that came with it. 00:12:40.139 --> 00:12:43.340 But look at my pergola. 00:12:44.779 --> 00:12:48.220 Jesus here says that he will build his church. 00:12:48.220 --> 00:12:51.960 And it takes power, resources, and influence. 00:12:52.620 --> 00:12:55.180 Now, here's what I want you to know about Jesus because he says, 00:12:56.060 --> 00:12:56.680 I will build. 00:12:57.220 --> 00:12:58.180 That's a promise. 00:12:58.540 --> 00:12:59.259 I will build. 00:12:59.840 --> 00:13:04.240 The tense in those words, that's a promise that he will build his church. 00:13:04.340 --> 00:13:06.060 And here's what you need to know about Jesus. 00:13:06.500 --> 00:13:08.500 And here's the reason the church is so glorious. 00:13:08.500 --> 00:13:13.879 That Jesus has everything he needs in order to build his church. 00:13:15.580 --> 00:13:17.500 I wonder if you actually believe that. 00:13:19.240 --> 00:13:21.960 I went to a church plant in college. 00:13:22.720 --> 00:13:24.679 It had been existing for about four years. 00:13:25.419 --> 00:13:29.159 And to be really honest, I'd imagine it's somewhat of what you all go through on a regular basis. 00:13:29.159 --> 00:13:31.879 It's really difficult sometimes to go to church. 00:13:32.659 --> 00:13:36.139 Because not only do you go, someone's got to set up stuff. 00:13:36.699 --> 00:13:38.059 Someone's got to tear down something. 00:13:38.319 --> 00:13:39.620 I'd invite guys from my fraternity. 00:13:40.039 --> 00:13:43.620 And then after church, I'd be like, okay, now we shove all the chairs underneath the stage in this elementary school. 00:13:44.740 --> 00:13:47.120 And it becomes a work. 00:13:47.719 --> 00:13:51.139 And you start doubting, is this thing really a thing? 00:13:51.179 --> 00:13:52.399 Is it really going to be a thing? 00:13:53.480 --> 00:13:56.240 One of my best friends planted a church three months before COVID. 00:13:56.240 --> 00:14:00.600 They had been meeting, and then they finally got into an elementary school. 00:14:01.080 --> 00:14:02.419 This is in northern Virginia. 00:14:02.960 --> 00:14:04.440 Like, people think California is crazy. 00:14:04.740 --> 00:14:06.639 Northern Virginia is the definition of crazy. 00:14:06.840 --> 00:14:09.860 Where they couldn't meet together for 13 months. 00:14:10.060 --> 00:14:12.159 In a place that they've been telling people, come here. 00:14:12.580 --> 00:14:15.639 Where we can gather together and sing and worship and enjoy the Lord. 00:14:16.560 --> 00:14:18.840 Jesus promises to build his church. 00:14:20.799 --> 00:14:23.399 I think we often think about the church being built by God. 00:14:23.740 --> 00:14:24.500 Sustained by God. 00:14:24.500 --> 00:14:27.120 And the way that we think that things are built all around us. 00:14:27.740 --> 00:14:31.480 In the city, Brooklyn, our near. 00:14:31.659 --> 00:14:33.860 So, in Oklahoma, there are two major cities. 00:14:33.980 --> 00:14:34.940 One's called The City. 00:14:35.299 --> 00:14:36.399 And the other's called Tulsa. 00:14:37.039 --> 00:14:37.679 Tulsa. 00:14:37.940 --> 00:14:41.600 The City, which is bigger, richer, stronger, prominent. 00:14:42.279 --> 00:14:44.179 Where sports teams come to exist. 00:14:44.279 --> 00:14:45.659 Not to die off five years later. 00:14:45.659 --> 00:14:52.079 Oklahoma City has promised to build a 1,907 foot skyscraper. 00:14:52.600 --> 00:14:54.579 Being one of the tallest in the world. 00:14:55.059 --> 00:14:56.139 In Oklahoma City. 00:14:56.639 --> 00:14:59.000 It's going to cost billions and billions of dollars. 00:15:00.159 --> 00:15:02.600 Now, how many of us think that that's actually going to happen? 00:15:03.600 --> 00:15:04.919 No way. 00:15:04.919 --> 00:15:13.519 There is no way that one of the tallest buildings in the world is going to be built by Oklahomans in the city in tornado country. 00:15:13.519 --> 00:15:22.100 Wouldn't you love to have an oil office on the 100th floor in May when an F whatever is coming towards you? 00:15:22.259 --> 00:15:24.860 And you might go, this is a bad real estate idea. 00:15:25.779 --> 00:15:29.919 I think we often think about the glory of what the church can be and actually doubt. 00:15:29.919 --> 00:15:32.479 What is Jesus going to build it? 00:15:34.360 --> 00:15:36.679 Jesus has all authority on heaven. 00:15:37.379 --> 00:15:38.899 In heaven and on earth. 00:15:39.199 --> 00:15:40.099 He has all power. 00:15:40.899 --> 00:15:43.559 He's the one who made everything and whom everything was made through. 00:15:43.699 --> 00:15:45.179 He has it all. 00:15:45.779 --> 00:15:47.620 He has all that it takes to build this church. 00:15:48.519 --> 00:15:49.759 Do you think this highly of Christ? 00:15:50.740 --> 00:15:51.659 To build your church? 00:15:54.159 --> 00:15:58.819 Very often there's a fear that sets in in pastors to build something. 00:15:58.820 --> 00:16:00.960 Or to maintain something. 00:16:01.400 --> 00:16:03.840 Or to deal with the church. 00:16:04.300 --> 00:16:10.379 Driving out here, you have a lot of time in the car to panic and to wonder and to question, 00:16:11.420 --> 00:16:12.920 am I going to build this church? 00:16:13.700 --> 00:16:16.680 To where they're near confronted by the words of the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:16:17.780 --> 00:16:18.540 He's the builder. 00:16:20.300 --> 00:16:25.280 My church has a past of putting a lot of emphasis on internal leadership. 00:16:25.960 --> 00:16:27.340 How are we going to grow our church? 00:16:27.340 --> 00:16:29.840 To build up leadership principles within our leaders. 00:16:30.360 --> 00:16:31.460 Send them to leadership camp. 00:16:31.840 --> 00:16:33.200 Subscribe to leadership magazines. 00:16:33.680 --> 00:16:36.460 Build us up in good delegating skills. 00:16:36.620 --> 00:16:37.600 Good meeting management. 00:16:37.940 --> 00:16:39.700 Good oratory skills. 00:16:39.899 --> 00:16:43.060 Or maybe a church will put a lot of emphasis on the showiness. 00:16:43.200 --> 00:16:43.860 The attractiveness. 00:16:44.480 --> 00:16:48.399 That if people just come in the doors, they'll be attracted to whatever is going on here. 00:16:48.580 --> 00:16:50.660 Or even we want to put so much emphasis on, 00:16:50.659 --> 00:16:59.240 if we could just have something that gathers people around and convinces them this is the best thing to do on a Saturday morning or Sunday morning or Sunday afternoon, Tuesday night. 00:16:59.579 --> 00:17:02.480 Then, then God will build his church. 00:17:02.480 --> 00:17:06.440 But Jesus promised that he would build his church. 00:17:06.500 --> 00:17:12.460 No business, no country, no organization has a builder like the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:17:12.599 --> 00:17:16.059 The church is glorious because its builder is glorious. 00:17:16.059 --> 00:17:20.659 And so we see that it's Jesus who promises, I'll build my church. 00:17:20.779 --> 00:17:22.919 Second thing of why the church is glorious, verse 18. 00:17:23.319 --> 00:17:26.379 Again, notice, I will build my church. 00:17:27.279 --> 00:17:28.220 My church. 00:17:29.079 --> 00:17:34.940 The second reason is that the, second reason the church is glorious is because it belongs to Jesus. 00:17:34.940 --> 00:17:37.680 I love the little phrase, my church. 00:17:38.380 --> 00:17:40.559 He doesn't say, I will build a church. 00:17:41.200 --> 00:17:43.220 I will build the church. 00:17:43.660 --> 00:17:46.700 Or even I will build you a church. 00:17:47.100 --> 00:17:49.880 But he says, I'll build my church. 00:17:51.059 --> 00:17:56.279 There's something really healthy, I think, in saying that wherever you might go, 00:17:57.100 --> 00:17:59.400 that you are a part of Reformed Heritage Church. 00:18:00.000 --> 00:18:01.860 Or Reformed Heritage Church is my church. 00:18:02.240 --> 00:18:02.980 Where do you go to church? 00:18:03.039 --> 00:18:03.880 Or do you go to this church? 00:18:03.880 --> 00:18:04.940 Well, I go to this church. 00:18:05.000 --> 00:18:05.980 This church is my church. 00:18:06.080 --> 00:18:09.260 When I go across town, I'm a member of Crosspoint Church. 00:18:09.920 --> 00:18:11.200 There's something healthy about that. 00:18:12.160 --> 00:18:13.600 Ownership and buy-in are good. 00:18:14.400 --> 00:18:15.780 But know this, know this. 00:18:15.900 --> 00:18:17.120 We belong to Jesus. 00:18:18.020 --> 00:18:20.320 And above all, we are the sheep of his pasture. 00:18:20.820 --> 00:18:22.860 It is us who was purchased by him. 00:18:23.120 --> 00:18:29.000 And here, in the same thrust of language, he says that he will build his church. 00:18:29.940 --> 00:18:31.100 Towards his church. 00:18:31.099 --> 00:18:34.359 First and foremost, above all, he's the authority of his church. 00:18:34.480 --> 00:18:38.799 But there's also something encouraging here and comforting here about him being possessive 00:18:38.799 --> 00:18:40.439 about the thing that he is able to build. 00:18:40.539 --> 00:18:41.699 My church. 00:18:42.079 --> 00:18:47.179 John 21, verses 15 through 17 tells Peter to tend to my sheep. 00:18:47.259 --> 00:18:48.159 Not your sheep, Peter. 00:18:48.379 --> 00:18:49.219 Not the sheep. 00:18:49.419 --> 00:18:50.599 Not anybody else's sheep. 00:18:50.859 --> 00:18:51.639 My sheep. 00:18:51.879 --> 00:18:52.659 Tend to mine. 00:18:52.660 --> 00:18:56.220 He calls you, friend, his. 00:18:56.880 --> 00:19:03.779 The Lord of heaven and earth goes out to a pastor and says, tend to my people. 00:19:03.779 --> 00:19:13.379 Well, we left Bradley behind having to fill out a statement that if he needs to go to a doctor 00:19:13.379 --> 00:19:21.399 or we leave an insurance card, we're watching constantly on our church's indoor video cameras. 00:19:21.740 --> 00:19:22.759 Are they alive? 00:19:23.460 --> 00:19:23.859 Why? 00:19:23.980 --> 00:19:25.259 Because Bradley is mine. 00:19:26.079 --> 00:19:28.480 And I just handed him over to Grandma. 00:19:29.200 --> 00:19:30.099 Now, I like Grandma. 00:19:30.460 --> 00:19:31.639 She's my favorite mom. 00:19:31.640 --> 00:19:33.160 I think she's better than your mom. 00:19:35.000 --> 00:19:39.020 But he's the most important thing to me outside of Brooke. 00:19:39.580 --> 00:19:41.960 But you're here with me carrying the insurance card. 00:19:43.120 --> 00:19:50.000 I think there's a sense in which when we give our lives to Christ and we become children of the Father 00:19:50.000 --> 00:19:54.100 through the Son, by the power of the Spirit, and we come into Jesus' church, 00:19:54.500 --> 00:19:58.280 despite anything that we are, Jesus says, I bought that one. 00:19:59.060 --> 00:19:59.880 I bought that one. 00:20:00.220 --> 00:20:01.440 I bought that one. 00:20:02.500 --> 00:20:03.300 They belong to me. 00:20:04.200 --> 00:20:07.820 So the church is glorious because Jesus is building his church. 00:20:07.820 --> 00:20:11.100 Third, verse 18, it says the gates of Hades will not overpower it. 00:20:11.400 --> 00:20:15.200 Third reason the church is glorious is that Jesus guarantees the church's victory. 00:20:15.980 --> 00:20:18.300 Now, the gates of Hades will not overpower. 00:20:18.440 --> 00:20:19.940 Let me tell you a little bit about the gates of Hades. 00:20:20.480 --> 00:20:23.060 Again, he's up in this area. 00:20:23.740 --> 00:20:24.380 There's rocks. 00:20:25.000 --> 00:20:25.820 There's pagan temples. 00:20:25.819 --> 00:20:30.200 But then there's also this cave called the gates of Hades. 00:20:31.000 --> 00:20:34.759 If you've ever been cave diving, you're crazy. 00:20:34.759 --> 00:20:39.019 I think if you ever go into caves, I'm a very claustrophobic person. 00:20:39.319 --> 00:20:40.119 I think you're crazy. 00:20:40.799 --> 00:20:41.660 Caves are terrifying. 00:20:42.220 --> 00:20:47.160 And when something is called the gates of Hades, what it's talking about is the open evil of the world 00:20:47.160 --> 00:20:49.980 as they mean to swallow everything outside of it. 00:20:49.980 --> 00:20:58.099 And Jesus uses this incredible testimony, taking them up to a sin city where there's sacrifices of goats. 00:20:58.319 --> 00:21:04.140 There's demonic, devilish worship going on, even to the point of sacrificing babies and eating them. 00:21:04.140 --> 00:21:09.660 And Jesus says, I'm going to build my church on top of everything else. 00:21:11.180 --> 00:21:12.620 Everyone here has played king of the mountain. 00:21:12.759 --> 00:21:13.720 What does it mean to be king of the mountain? 00:21:14.920 --> 00:21:15.680 You won. 00:21:17.280 --> 00:21:25.540 And Jesus is saying, look at all that evil that's going to come at you and all that I love. 00:21:26.240 --> 00:21:27.800 And I'm building it on top of that. 00:21:28.000 --> 00:21:29.740 Even the gates of Hades can't stand against it. 00:21:30.860 --> 00:21:32.259 Friends, whatever you fear. 00:21:32.259 --> 00:21:34.920 And are concerned about. 00:21:35.480 --> 00:21:42.079 Whatever you're afraid of and concerned of, the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 00:21:43.240 --> 00:21:50.619 Think of all the organizations, institutions, and countries, and empires, and businesses 00:21:50.619 --> 00:21:53.700 that have swept into the dustbin of history. 00:21:54.440 --> 00:21:56.700 Yet one thing continues on. 00:21:58.640 --> 00:22:00.539 When the church thrives and grows, 00:22:00.539 --> 00:22:07.240 you may often hear of churches' demise and secularism that may come into their premises as if they're winning, 00:22:07.319 --> 00:22:08.700 but we will triumph. 00:22:09.579 --> 00:22:12.240 In part because of whose church it is. 00:22:13.539 --> 00:22:16.379 Local churches may falter and fail and die, 00:22:16.599 --> 00:22:18.519 but the church universal will thrive. 00:22:18.519 --> 00:22:22.160 See, if you recognize this is inevitable, 00:22:22.579 --> 00:22:27.700 the church inevitably will shine until Revelation 7 verse 9, 00:22:27.779 --> 00:22:29.660 when we are before the throne of God, 00:22:29.720 --> 00:22:32.660 above worshiping with people from every tribe, tongue, and nation. 00:22:32.779 --> 00:22:37.460 It's at that point that we realize that it really did thrive and grow. 00:22:37.460 --> 00:22:41.340 It will grow under the sovereign hand of the Almighty God. 00:22:41.420 --> 00:22:43.079 If you want to be part of something great and awesome, 00:22:43.240 --> 00:22:45.740 something that will last, something that's bigger than yourself, 00:22:46.240 --> 00:22:51.720 I think the inflection of the scriptures is that you would give yourself over to the church 00:22:51.720 --> 00:22:54.400 because you've given over yourself to Christ. 00:22:55.019 --> 00:22:55.759 Jesus will build it. 00:22:56.500 --> 00:22:57.180 He will build it. 00:22:57.700 --> 00:22:58.380 The church is glorious. 00:22:58.380 --> 00:23:00.460 Fourth reason the church is glorious in verse 19. 00:23:01.080 --> 00:23:04.220 Notice again, I'll give you that little word that you've gotten singular. 00:23:04.940 --> 00:23:06.760 I will give you, Peter, singular, 00:23:07.020 --> 00:23:08.720 I'll give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. 00:23:09.680 --> 00:23:12.780 Whatever you bind on earth, you will be bound in heaven. 00:23:12.900 --> 00:23:15.960 Whatever you loose on earth shall be loose in heaven. 00:23:17.240 --> 00:23:20.820 Now there's a lot there, 00:23:21.300 --> 00:23:23.160 and we won't go into all of it today. 00:23:23.520 --> 00:23:26.260 Can't get through all the weeds of this glorious pasture 00:23:26.260 --> 00:23:27.780 on what all that means, 00:23:27.779 --> 00:23:30.039 but what I do want to bring up 00:23:30.039 --> 00:23:33.079 is the idea of the keys of the kingdom. 00:23:34.220 --> 00:23:36.019 Giving the keys of the kingdom, 00:23:36.180 --> 00:23:38.259 Jesus giving the keys of the kingdom to the church 00:23:38.259 --> 00:23:42.720 means that he's giving his church authority to do work. 00:23:43.440 --> 00:23:45.440 He's giving them authority to do work. 00:23:46.220 --> 00:23:47.359 Jesus gives his church, 00:23:47.619 --> 00:23:50.180 church the authority and the power to do this work, 00:23:50.279 --> 00:23:51.759 but particularly here, 00:23:52.299 --> 00:23:53.759 the authority, you see what it says, 00:23:53.859 --> 00:23:55.839 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. 00:23:56.119 --> 00:23:57.180 And that's just Jesus saying, 00:23:57.180 --> 00:24:00.019 I'm going to give you the ability to do the work 00:24:00.019 --> 00:24:01.120 that I've given you to do. 00:24:01.120 --> 00:24:02.640 And these keys of the kingdom, 00:24:02.759 --> 00:24:05.019 I think it's helpful to see that there are two keys here. 00:24:06.420 --> 00:24:08.259 When our church talks about the keys of the kingdom, 00:24:08.519 --> 00:24:10.519 at least our elders, other churches I've been at, 00:24:10.820 --> 00:24:12.299 when it talks about the keys of the kingdom, 00:24:12.400 --> 00:24:13.420 what are the keys of the kingdom? 00:24:13.759 --> 00:24:17.000 I think it's clearly explained that it's the who of the gospel 00:24:17.000 --> 00:24:19.240 and the what of the gospel. 00:24:19.660 --> 00:24:21.100 The who of the gospel means, 00:24:21.099 --> 00:24:22.740 I think in most simple forms, 00:24:22.779 --> 00:24:24.159 the actual membership of the church. 00:24:24.779 --> 00:24:26.559 So in our church, someone comes into the church, 00:24:26.819 --> 00:24:28.919 it's the church, not the elders, not me. 00:24:29.299 --> 00:24:31.439 It's the church who votes them in, 00:24:31.859 --> 00:24:33.000 who affirms them in, 00:24:33.079 --> 00:24:34.179 saying, we've heard your testimony, 00:24:34.519 --> 00:24:35.539 we've heard your confession, 00:24:36.039 --> 00:24:37.240 welcome to our tribe. 00:24:37.699 --> 00:24:39.439 And then when they leave, in likewise fashion. 00:24:40.000 --> 00:24:43.199 But then also the other key here is the what of the gospel, 00:24:43.519 --> 00:24:45.399 the confession that the gospel promotes. 00:24:45.719 --> 00:24:48.480 What does our church believe and confess to be true? 00:24:48.480 --> 00:24:50.740 That's going to make possibly our church a little bit different 00:24:50.740 --> 00:24:53.140 than this other group of other Christians down the road. 00:24:53.779 --> 00:24:54.460 When we gather, 00:24:54.799 --> 00:24:57.079 it's because we're exercising the keys of the kingdom 00:24:57.079 --> 00:24:58.480 on what we believe, 00:24:59.000 --> 00:25:00.660 see this through baptism and the Lord's Supper 00:25:00.660 --> 00:25:01.980 and the proclamation of the gospel, 00:25:02.279 --> 00:25:04.299 but also who we're aiming to do it with. 00:25:05.500 --> 00:25:07.480 Look at Matthew 18, 18 real quick. 00:25:07.579 --> 00:25:09.200 Turn over maybe one page on your own. 00:25:09.240 --> 00:25:10.240 Matthew 18, 18. 00:25:14.799 --> 00:25:17.759 Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven. 00:25:17.759 --> 00:25:20.359 Whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 00:25:22.400 --> 00:25:24.420 Sounds a lot of the same in 16, 19, 00:25:24.960 --> 00:25:26.119 where I think he's just saying, 00:25:26.200 --> 00:25:27.259 I'm going to give you the authority 00:25:27.259 --> 00:25:29.319 to do the work that I called you to do. 00:25:29.420 --> 00:25:31.119 I think just a side note from this 00:25:31.119 --> 00:25:34.359 is that when you all gather, something happens. 00:25:34.920 --> 00:25:36.019 Even when you scatter, 00:25:36.279 --> 00:25:38.319 you're probably pushed out by a benediction. 00:25:38.900 --> 00:25:40.759 And it's not have a great week. 00:25:41.160 --> 00:25:43.740 It's go in the grace and mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ 00:25:43.740 --> 00:25:44.660 or something like that. 00:25:44.940 --> 00:25:47.660 Not saying that your life on mission ends at this point, 00:25:47.660 --> 00:25:49.779 but that you, church, are doing something. 00:25:51.460 --> 00:25:54.000 So here we see that the church is glorious. 00:25:54.180 --> 00:25:55.360 The second thing I want you to see 00:25:55.360 --> 00:25:56.940 is now in Matthew 18. 00:25:57.380 --> 00:25:59.540 So if you've got a copy, turn over to Matthew 18, 00:25:59.980 --> 00:26:03.560 starting in verse 15 and going into verse 20. 00:26:04.420 --> 00:26:07.279 Matthew 18, verses 15 through 20, 00:26:07.380 --> 00:26:08.840 where I think we see here 00:26:08.840 --> 00:26:10.680 that the church is very, very personal. 00:26:11.740 --> 00:26:12.519 Verse 15 says, 00:26:12.519 --> 00:26:13.819 If your brother sins against you, 00:26:14.359 --> 00:26:16.759 go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. 00:26:16.839 --> 00:26:19.079 If he listens to you, you've already gained your brother. 00:26:19.859 --> 00:26:20.839 But if he doesn't listen, 00:26:21.059 --> 00:26:22.740 take one or two others along with you 00:26:22.740 --> 00:26:24.420 that every charge may be established 00:26:24.420 --> 00:26:26.339 by evidence of two or three witnesses. 00:26:27.220 --> 00:26:28.879 If he refuses to listen to them, 00:26:29.379 --> 00:26:30.139 tell it to the church. 00:26:30.879 --> 00:26:33.279 And if he refuses to listen even to the church, 00:26:33.920 --> 00:26:36.799 let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 00:26:36.799 --> 00:26:38.119 Truly I say to you, 00:26:38.279 --> 00:26:40.879 whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven. 00:26:41.000 --> 00:26:43.500 Whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 00:26:43.619 --> 00:26:44.659 Again I say to you, 00:26:44.799 --> 00:26:47.299 if two of you agree on earth 00:26:47.299 --> 00:26:49.059 about anything they ask, 00:26:49.119 --> 00:26:51.919 it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 00:26:52.480 --> 00:26:54.159 For where two or three are gathered in my name, 00:26:54.299 --> 00:26:55.399 there I am also with them. 00:26:57.879 --> 00:27:02.240 Very quickly, the church of Jesus is personal. 00:27:02.879 --> 00:27:03.519 It's local. 00:27:03.519 --> 00:27:06.099 It's not just universal, 00:27:06.339 --> 00:27:08.960 like I think chapter 16 is bringing up to the top, 00:27:09.079 --> 00:27:10.000 but it's personal, 00:27:10.099 --> 00:27:12.400 what 18 is bringing up down to us. 00:27:12.940 --> 00:27:14.680 I want to tell you this real quickly 00:27:14.680 --> 00:27:15.759 and see if you can track with this. 00:27:15.819 --> 00:27:17.299 If you go to Matthew 16 00:27:17.299 --> 00:27:19.440 and think of the local church is there, 00:27:19.559 --> 00:27:22.059 but I think it's really talking about the universal church, 00:27:22.720 --> 00:27:23.960 but here I think we're coming down 00:27:23.960 --> 00:27:25.019 to what it means to be local. 00:27:25.660 --> 00:27:29.019 Why you possibly get up on a Sunday morning 00:27:29.019 --> 00:27:30.819 and not just worship the Lord, 00:27:30.819 --> 00:27:33.159 but you don't forsake assembling 00:27:33.159 --> 00:27:34.460 with other people in the process. 00:27:35.720 --> 00:27:37.859 Likely in my own town of Enid, Oklahoma, 00:27:38.799 --> 00:27:41.359 I don't know all the Christians there. 00:27:41.899 --> 00:27:44.960 We've got 53,000 people on a weekend. 00:27:45.200 --> 00:27:47.419 We've got about 60,000 people on a weekday. 00:27:48.099 --> 00:27:50.839 I pray there are thousands of Christians there, 00:27:51.000 --> 00:27:52.079 though I don't know them. 00:27:52.179 --> 00:27:55.859 I do know the 262 members at my church 00:27:55.859 --> 00:27:56.819 who are Christians. 00:27:57.819 --> 00:27:59.579 Jesus knows who these other people are. 00:27:59.679 --> 00:28:01.339 I would imagine you guys in your own context, 00:28:01.480 --> 00:28:02.859 the Parker, Colorado, 00:28:03.000 --> 00:28:04.039 or wherever else around there, 00:28:04.119 --> 00:28:05.740 you might know a lot of Christians, 00:28:06.079 --> 00:28:07.399 but you don't know all of them. 00:28:07.819 --> 00:28:09.079 But you do know the Christians 00:28:09.079 --> 00:28:11.059 that are a part of your church, your tribe, 00:28:11.819 --> 00:28:12.599 knowing the members, 00:28:13.379 --> 00:28:14.419 knowing who's visibly there. 00:28:15.460 --> 00:28:17.519 Chapter 18, in context, 00:28:17.659 --> 00:28:18.759 in like glorious context, 00:28:18.899 --> 00:28:20.099 you look at Matthew 18 00:28:20.099 --> 00:28:21.359 and you spread it apart 00:28:21.359 --> 00:28:22.519 and you go, what's happening there? 00:28:22.939 --> 00:28:25.039 I think this is about Christian conflict. 00:28:25.039 --> 00:28:25.200 Right. 00:28:25.579 --> 00:28:27.240 Chapter 18 about Christian conflict. 00:28:27.879 --> 00:28:29.379 And here, in this particular section, 00:28:29.700 --> 00:28:30.720 verses 15 through 20, 00:28:30.940 --> 00:28:32.019 I think it's talking about 00:28:32.019 --> 00:28:33.539 how to handle conflict 00:28:33.539 --> 00:28:35.460 when two Christians are sinning 00:28:35.460 --> 00:28:36.899 against one another in the church. 00:28:37.839 --> 00:28:38.839 What to do with conflict, 00:28:39.079 --> 00:28:41.019 not that this ever happens, right? 00:28:41.339 --> 00:28:42.180 No one in a church 00:28:42.180 --> 00:28:43.700 has ever bothered by someone else. 00:28:43.980 --> 00:28:44.740 No one in the church 00:28:44.740 --> 00:28:46.819 has ever possibly gotten close 00:28:46.819 --> 00:28:48.159 to sinning against someone else. 00:28:48.299 --> 00:28:49.220 Or no one in the church 00:28:49.220 --> 00:28:49.920 has ever wondered, 00:28:50.119 --> 00:28:51.240 okay, what do I do now 00:28:51.240 --> 00:28:53.460 when this person has inflicted 00:28:53.460 --> 00:28:55.740 cosmic pain against me? 00:28:56.839 --> 00:28:59.279 And here we see instruction 00:28:59.279 --> 00:29:00.620 from the Lord Jesus Christ 00:29:00.620 --> 00:29:03.660 that you handle this first one-to-one 00:29:03.660 --> 00:29:05.000 where you could say 00:29:05.000 --> 00:29:06.359 heaven and hell hangs in the balance. 00:29:07.079 --> 00:29:07.900 Because if this person 00:29:07.900 --> 00:29:09.039 has sinned against you 00:29:09.039 --> 00:29:10.440 and they keep on, 00:29:10.880 --> 00:29:12.259 maybe they don't understand the gospel. 00:29:12.980 --> 00:29:14.220 Maybe they don't know the gospel 00:29:14.220 --> 00:29:15.420 or the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:29:15.579 --> 00:29:17.160 But by you going to them 00:29:17.160 --> 00:29:19.960 and calling them back to the gospel, 00:29:20.980 --> 00:29:23.180 then their confession is reignited. 00:29:24.019 --> 00:29:24.940 Like heaven and hell 00:29:24.940 --> 00:29:25.600 hanging the balance. 00:29:25.940 --> 00:29:26.740 If that doesn't work, 00:29:26.820 --> 00:29:27.960 you are now going 00:29:27.960 --> 00:29:29.640 two to three to one. 00:29:29.720 --> 00:29:30.740 Two to three to one. 00:29:31.460 --> 00:29:32.980 Because the witnessing proclamation 00:29:32.980 --> 00:29:34.560 of the gospel is at stake. 00:29:35.040 --> 00:29:36.800 It may think they want to deny you, 00:29:36.900 --> 00:29:38.259 but if two or three brothers 00:29:38.259 --> 00:29:39.500 or sisters go to them, 00:29:39.700 --> 00:29:41.060 what that's conveying to them is, 00:29:41.060 --> 00:29:43.200 hey, the watching world 00:29:43.200 --> 00:29:45.140 and us, your people, 00:29:45.140 --> 00:29:46.800 are calling you 00:29:46.800 --> 00:29:48.340 to a state of response 00:29:48.340 --> 00:29:48.800 and repentance. 00:29:49.460 --> 00:29:50.480 And if they deny that, 00:29:50.560 --> 00:29:52.420 then you now take it 00:29:52.420 --> 00:29:53.700 to the church to one. 00:29:53.980 --> 00:29:54.620 One to one, 00:29:54.920 --> 00:29:55.660 two to three to one, 00:29:55.900 --> 00:29:56.880 now the church to one. 00:29:56.940 --> 00:29:58.820 Because one's unapologetic, 00:29:59.140 --> 00:29:59.900 unrepentance, 00:30:00.040 --> 00:30:01.820 is not to be swept under the rug 00:30:01.820 --> 00:30:02.680 in the church 00:30:02.680 --> 00:30:03.720 of the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:30:05.360 --> 00:30:07.320 I'm a part of Rotary International 00:30:07.320 --> 00:30:08.580 in Enid, Oklahoma. 00:30:09.140 --> 00:30:10.600 I grew up a son 00:30:10.600 --> 00:30:11.800 of a Lions member. 00:30:12.040 --> 00:30:12.820 You guys know about those 00:30:12.820 --> 00:30:14.440 entities in cities 00:30:14.440 --> 00:30:15.480 where a bunch of old men 00:30:15.480 --> 00:30:16.080 have lunch 00:30:16.080 --> 00:30:17.340 and hear a program 00:30:17.340 --> 00:30:17.840 or whatever. 00:30:17.960 --> 00:30:18.640 Maybe it's Ambox. 00:30:18.740 --> 00:30:20.259 I'm a member of Rotary. 00:30:20.820 --> 00:30:21.640 And what's amazing 00:30:21.640 --> 00:30:23.100 is I think sometimes Rotary 00:30:23.100 --> 00:30:23.900 is actually better 00:30:23.900 --> 00:30:25.059 at maintaining a membership 00:30:25.059 --> 00:30:26.620 than even some local churches. 00:30:27.400 --> 00:30:28.779 You stop coming for a year, 00:30:29.360 --> 00:30:29.940 you're out. 00:30:30.380 --> 00:30:31.580 You stop paying your dues, 00:30:32.039 --> 00:30:32.660 you're out. 00:30:32.840 --> 00:30:33.640 It's not personal, 00:30:33.799 --> 00:30:34.080 but hey, 00:30:34.460 --> 00:30:35.259 we're a club. 00:30:36.380 --> 00:30:36.940 And here, 00:30:37.059 --> 00:30:37.779 this is heightened 00:30:37.779 --> 00:30:38.279 of, 00:30:38.580 --> 00:30:39.120 well, you're not a club 00:30:39.120 --> 00:30:39.779 because you pay. 00:30:39.980 --> 00:30:40.539 You're not a club 00:30:40.539 --> 00:30:41.220 because you attend. 00:30:41.220 --> 00:30:42.140 And you're a club 00:30:42.140 --> 00:30:43.299 because of what you confess 00:30:43.299 --> 00:30:44.640 about the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:30:45.220 --> 00:30:46.100 And if you don't confess 00:30:46.100 --> 00:30:46.980 the Lord Jesus Christ 00:30:46.980 --> 00:30:48.279 shown by your unrepentance, 00:30:49.120 --> 00:30:51.680 well, here we see 00:30:51.680 --> 00:30:52.460 someone saying, 00:30:52.579 --> 00:30:52.779 brother, 00:30:53.140 --> 00:30:54.200 come back. 00:30:56.160 --> 00:30:57.500 Now, we're not all perfect. 00:30:57.960 --> 00:30:58.660 And so this is really 00:30:58.660 --> 00:30:59.500 what church discipline 00:30:59.500 --> 00:31:01.079 is shown to be. 00:31:01.160 --> 00:31:02.519 This is the mega doctrine 00:31:02.519 --> 00:31:03.420 of church discipline, 00:31:03.779 --> 00:31:05.220 Matthew chapter 18. 00:31:05.860 --> 00:31:07.500 Now, discipline can look, 00:31:08.759 --> 00:31:09.460 can be looked at 00:31:09.460 --> 00:31:10.299 in two different frames. 00:31:11.139 --> 00:31:12.419 Imagine two picture frames. 00:31:13.379 --> 00:31:14.299 It's Christmas season. 00:31:14.839 --> 00:31:15.399 Maybe some of you 00:31:15.399 --> 00:31:16.319 decorate for Christmas. 00:31:16.700 --> 00:31:17.759 It's actually Thanksgiving, 00:31:18.119 --> 00:31:18.859 but many of us 00:31:18.859 --> 00:31:19.599 decorate for Christmas. 00:31:20.079 --> 00:31:20.960 Imagine you're decorating 00:31:20.960 --> 00:31:22.039 for Christmas in your house 00:31:22.039 --> 00:31:22.680 and you want to put up 00:31:22.680 --> 00:31:23.339 two portraits, 00:31:23.859 --> 00:31:25.039 two glorious frames, 00:31:25.359 --> 00:31:26.279 maybe on this side 00:31:26.279 --> 00:31:27.339 of a glorious fireplace. 00:31:28.440 --> 00:31:30.159 One frame is called formative 00:31:30.159 --> 00:31:32.200 and one is called corrective. 00:31:33.099 --> 00:31:34.099 Now, we're not all perfect. 00:31:34.919 --> 00:31:35.759 We all Christians 00:31:35.759 --> 00:31:37.099 are aiming to be molded 00:31:37.099 --> 00:31:38.379 into the likeness of Christ. 00:31:38.380 --> 00:31:40.800 And I think a helpful way 00:31:40.800 --> 00:31:41.340 to look at that, 00:31:41.700 --> 00:31:42.580 man, I really hope it's helpful, 00:31:42.900 --> 00:31:43.900 is to imagine me 00:31:43.900 --> 00:31:45.200 like a giant log. 00:31:46.120 --> 00:31:47.220 Imagine me like a giant log 00:31:47.220 --> 00:31:48.000 over behind the cabin 00:31:48.000 --> 00:31:49.040 that we're staying at over here. 00:31:49.360 --> 00:31:50.280 There's a bunch of trees 00:31:50.280 --> 00:31:51.260 that have been chopped up. 00:31:51.780 --> 00:31:53.040 Imagine that giant log 00:31:53.040 --> 00:31:53.940 named Asher, 00:31:54.360 --> 00:31:55.720 a big old piece of wood. 00:31:56.120 --> 00:31:57.480 Not much to look at now, 00:31:58.220 --> 00:31:59.040 but Jesus, 00:32:00.040 --> 00:32:01.300 God, 00:32:01.800 --> 00:32:02.740 says that he will 00:32:02.740 --> 00:32:03.920 shape and fashion 00:32:03.920 --> 00:32:06.440 me into the likeness 00:32:06.440 --> 00:32:07.080 of his son. 00:32:09.180 --> 00:32:10.100 I'm in on that. 00:32:11.140 --> 00:32:11.980 Now, how does that happen? 00:32:12.940 --> 00:32:13.820 Well, discipline. 00:32:14.900 --> 00:32:17.080 Think of formative discipline, 00:32:17.519 --> 00:32:18.960 like taking a piece of wood 00:32:18.960 --> 00:32:20.259 and taking a piece of sandpaper 00:32:20.259 --> 00:32:21.800 and finally shaping 00:32:21.800 --> 00:32:23.120 and fashioning me down 00:32:23.120 --> 00:32:24.360 stroke by stroke, 00:32:24.820 --> 00:32:25.240 smoother, 00:32:25.759 --> 00:32:26.240 kinder, 00:32:26.680 --> 00:32:27.600 gentler as my heart, 00:32:27.680 --> 00:32:28.140 more loving, 00:32:28.279 --> 00:32:28.759 more joyful, 00:32:28.759 --> 00:32:29.640 and the Lord. 00:32:29.980 --> 00:32:30.960 You might even see this 00:32:30.960 --> 00:32:32.400 being played out in my life. 00:32:32.519 --> 00:32:33.940 Imagine 13-year-old Asher, 00:32:34.519 --> 00:32:34.960 angsty, 00:32:35.220 --> 00:32:35.839 in middle school, 00:32:36.000 --> 00:32:37.000 you might take me out 00:32:37.000 --> 00:32:38.119 for whatever you take 00:32:38.119 --> 00:32:39.480 a 13-year-old out for 00:32:39.480 --> 00:32:40.339 and you talk about 00:32:40.339 --> 00:32:41.240 Bible verses 00:32:41.240 --> 00:32:42.480 and you talk about 00:32:42.480 --> 00:32:43.839 what your life 00:32:43.839 --> 00:32:44.720 in reflection of those 00:32:44.720 --> 00:32:46.000 Bible verses are like, 00:32:46.039 --> 00:32:47.220 whether it's about anger 00:32:47.220 --> 00:32:48.119 or lust 00:32:48.119 --> 00:32:49.099 or ambition 00:32:49.099 --> 00:32:51.039 and aim to encourage me, 00:32:51.440 --> 00:32:52.480 to point me 00:32:52.480 --> 00:32:54.099 towards a certain direction 00:32:54.099 --> 00:32:55.039 of godliness 00:32:55.039 --> 00:32:55.680 and righteousness. 00:32:56.700 --> 00:32:57.660 Maybe even you do that 00:32:57.660 --> 00:32:59.320 with a 38-year-old being down. 00:33:00.240 --> 00:33:01.259 That's discipleship, 00:33:01.560 --> 00:33:02.560 what the scriptures call, 00:33:02.840 --> 00:33:04.000 and it's formative discipline. 00:33:04.740 --> 00:33:05.460 Out of grace, 00:33:05.580 --> 00:33:06.500 other people are coming 00:33:06.500 --> 00:33:07.259 alongside you 00:33:07.259 --> 00:33:08.080 to shape you 00:33:08.080 --> 00:33:08.900 in the likeness of others, 00:33:09.320 --> 00:33:10.560 but think of the frame 00:33:10.560 --> 00:33:12.380 corrective 00:33:12.380 --> 00:33:13.440 on the other side. 00:33:14.500 --> 00:33:15.160 Some things need 00:33:15.160 --> 00:33:16.519 not just be encouraged 00:33:16.519 --> 00:33:17.900 or pointed toward, 00:33:18.240 --> 00:33:19.440 but actually corrected 00:33:19.440 --> 00:33:20.700 or even turned to 00:33:20.700 --> 00:33:21.800 what we call repentance. 00:33:22.620 --> 00:33:23.340 Think of me again 00:33:23.340 --> 00:33:24.259 as a big old log. 00:33:25.680 --> 00:33:26.360 God says that 00:33:26.360 --> 00:33:27.019 he will shape me 00:33:27.019 --> 00:33:27.660 into the likeness 00:33:27.660 --> 00:33:28.579 of his glorious son, 00:33:28.799 --> 00:33:29.500 which is amazing. 00:33:30.119 --> 00:33:30.920 But sometimes, 00:33:31.519 --> 00:33:32.859 things need more 00:33:32.859 --> 00:33:33.680 than sandpaper 00:33:33.680 --> 00:33:35.339 to craft towards beauty. 00:33:36.019 --> 00:33:36.819 Sometimes they need 00:33:36.819 --> 00:33:37.180 a hammer. 00:33:38.119 --> 00:33:38.759 Sometimes they need 00:33:38.759 --> 00:33:39.279 a saw, 00:33:39.759 --> 00:33:41.279 as harsh as that may be, 00:33:41.579 --> 00:33:42.619 but it's good for me. 00:33:43.579 --> 00:33:44.559 Now in God's spirit, 00:33:44.819 --> 00:33:46.000 he can do this internally. 00:33:46.200 --> 00:33:46.859 And praise God 00:33:46.859 --> 00:33:48.779 when he does do that. 00:33:49.319 --> 00:33:49.940 You can imagine me 00:33:49.940 --> 00:33:50.839 going towards something 00:33:50.839 --> 00:33:52.440 and God's spirit 00:33:52.440 --> 00:33:54.019 holds up Christ 00:33:54.019 --> 00:33:55.420 to where I look at this, 00:33:55.420 --> 00:33:56.240 and I think, 00:33:56.279 --> 00:33:56.480 hmm, 00:33:56.539 --> 00:33:57.240 I really want that. 00:33:57.740 --> 00:33:58.860 But then I look at Christ 00:33:58.860 --> 00:33:59.740 and I go, 00:33:59.900 --> 00:34:01.180 I really want that. 00:34:02.779 --> 00:34:04.060 But sometimes God's spirit 00:34:04.060 --> 00:34:04.940 uses others 00:34:04.940 --> 00:34:06.360 who are indwelled 00:34:06.360 --> 00:34:07.120 by his spirit. 00:34:07.740 --> 00:34:08.240 And this is what 00:34:08.240 --> 00:34:09.480 church discipline looks like 00:34:09.480 --> 00:34:10.539 when it's corrective. 00:34:10.940 --> 00:34:11.220 Brother, 00:34:11.300 --> 00:34:12.200 what you're doing is wrong. 00:34:13.800 --> 00:34:15.059 Now the brother may say, 00:34:15.460 --> 00:34:16.139 no it's not. 00:34:16.800 --> 00:34:17.659 I don't care. 00:34:17.659 --> 00:34:20.779 And then others may come along 00:34:20.779 --> 00:34:21.039 and say, 00:34:21.139 --> 00:34:21.480 brothers, 00:34:21.920 --> 00:34:23.339 hear me and other brothers, 00:34:23.440 --> 00:34:24.339 what you're doing is wrong. 00:34:25.339 --> 00:34:25.940 And he might go, 00:34:25.980 --> 00:34:26.519 no it's not. 00:34:27.159 --> 00:34:28.059 I don't care. 00:34:29.599 --> 00:34:30.699 And then it comes to the point 00:34:30.699 --> 00:34:31.079 of brother, 00:34:31.619 --> 00:34:32.259 here we stand, 00:34:32.339 --> 00:34:32.879 your church, 00:34:33.460 --> 00:34:34.559 whom you've identified 00:34:34.559 --> 00:34:35.399 to Christ with 00:34:35.399 --> 00:34:36.239 as your arms, 00:34:36.359 --> 00:34:36.599 legs, 00:34:36.659 --> 00:34:37.099 and heart, 00:34:37.259 --> 00:34:38.299 with Christ as your head, 00:34:38.359 --> 00:34:39.259 what you're doing is wrong. 00:34:40.960 --> 00:34:42.019 Come home in repentance 00:34:42.019 --> 00:34:43.579 and enjoy God's gift 00:34:43.579 --> 00:34:44.019 and forgiveness. 00:34:44.980 --> 00:34:46.179 You see here how the church 00:34:46.179 --> 00:34:47.960 is incredibly personal. 00:34:49.039 --> 00:34:50.179 Christ's church is glorious 00:34:50.179 --> 00:34:51.980 because it's incredibly personal. 00:34:53.599 --> 00:34:55.239 A third thing I want to bring up, 00:34:56.019 --> 00:34:57.099 I think as a conclusion, 00:34:58.099 --> 00:34:58.759 is you see here 00:34:58.759 --> 00:34:59.739 the church's commitment 00:34:59.739 --> 00:35:01.320 throughout the New Testament 00:35:01.320 --> 00:35:02.980 and throughout other examples 00:35:02.980 --> 00:35:03.420 in our lives. 00:35:03.480 --> 00:35:03.980 You all have heard, 00:35:04.320 --> 00:35:04.920 you may be familiar 00:35:04.920 --> 00:35:06.280 of Proverbs chapter 27, 00:35:06.380 --> 00:35:06.880 verse 17. 00:35:07.000 --> 00:35:07.940 You probably quote it 00:35:07.940 --> 00:35:09.179 off the top of your head. 00:35:09.239 --> 00:35:10.079 You know what it says, 00:35:10.199 --> 00:35:11.460 iron sharpens iron, 00:35:11.579 --> 00:35:14.000 so one man sharpens another. 00:35:14.019 --> 00:35:16.460 Now, you know what's required 00:35:16.460 --> 00:35:17.320 for people to sharpen 00:35:17.320 --> 00:35:17.820 one another? 00:35:19.039 --> 00:35:19.820 Coffee dates, 00:35:21.099 --> 00:35:21.719 bro nights, 00:35:22.759 --> 00:35:23.400 maybe golfing 00:35:23.400 --> 00:35:24.099 with your friends. 00:35:24.860 --> 00:35:25.320 What's it take 00:35:25.320 --> 00:35:26.519 for iron to sharpen iron? 00:35:27.619 --> 00:35:28.059 Tension, 00:35:29.059 --> 00:35:29.440 friction, 00:35:31.259 --> 00:35:32.139 holy conflict. 00:35:33.639 --> 00:35:34.000 Brooke and I, 00:35:34.099 --> 00:35:34.659 about a month ago, 00:35:34.719 --> 00:35:36.639 went with one of our best friends 00:35:36.639 --> 00:35:37.579 down to an area 00:35:37.579 --> 00:35:38.019 in Oklahoma 00:35:38.619 --> 00:35:39.559 called Broken Bow. 00:35:40.239 --> 00:35:41.259 It's a massive wood, 00:35:41.340 --> 00:35:42.360 it kind of looks like this, 00:35:42.360 --> 00:35:43.900 only less great, 00:35:44.000 --> 00:35:44.220 frankly, 00:35:44.460 --> 00:35:45.280 tinier mountains. 00:35:45.680 --> 00:35:46.559 It's called Broken Bow. 00:35:47.039 --> 00:35:48.539 It's where people in Dallas 00:35:48.539 --> 00:35:49.260 love to escape 00:35:49.260 --> 00:35:50.360 and it truly is beautiful 00:35:50.360 --> 00:35:51.460 and they've got 00:35:51.460 --> 00:35:52.780 low-key rivers 00:35:52.780 --> 00:35:53.720 that you can hike around. 00:35:53.820 --> 00:35:54.700 We've got a one-and-a-half-year-old 00:35:54.700 --> 00:35:55.120 showcase. 00:35:55.220 --> 00:35:56.280 We're not going to trek 00:35:56.280 --> 00:35:57.340 for eight hours at a time. 00:35:57.400 --> 00:35:58.420 We've got nap time 00:35:58.420 --> 00:35:58.860 to think about. 00:35:58.940 --> 00:36:00.120 We go along here 00:36:00.120 --> 00:36:00.740 and if you go 00:36:00.740 --> 00:36:01.460 and look in the river, 00:36:01.559 --> 00:36:02.480 just like any other river 00:36:02.480 --> 00:36:02.900 everywhere, 00:36:03.360 --> 00:36:05.180 but it meant something to me 00:36:05.180 --> 00:36:06.059 knowing this was coming up. 00:36:06.099 --> 00:36:06.660 You look in the river 00:36:06.660 --> 00:36:07.740 and you see a bunch of rocks 00:36:07.740 --> 00:36:08.099 in the river 00:36:08.099 --> 00:36:09.880 and then you look up, 00:36:10.319 --> 00:36:11.139 20 feet, 00:36:11.279 --> 00:36:11.699 50 feet, 00:36:11.839 --> 00:36:12.019 whatever, 00:36:12.259 --> 00:36:13.139 and you see rocks 00:36:13.139 --> 00:36:15.319 and in large part, 00:36:15.440 --> 00:36:15.980 you actually see 00:36:15.980 --> 00:36:16.659 that these rocks 00:36:16.659 --> 00:36:17.659 kind of have the same color. 00:36:18.179 --> 00:36:19.199 Now, not a science guy. 00:36:19.480 --> 00:36:19.980 You see rocks 00:36:19.980 --> 00:36:20.980 that are kind of the same color. 00:36:21.239 --> 00:36:21.799 They kind of have 00:36:21.799 --> 00:36:22.400 the same density. 00:36:22.659 --> 00:36:23.199 They look like 00:36:23.199 --> 00:36:23.980 they're kind of a part 00:36:23.980 --> 00:36:25.480 of the same formation, 00:36:25.480 --> 00:36:27.059 but these look 00:36:27.059 --> 00:36:28.219 very different than those. 00:36:28.400 --> 00:36:29.279 These look sharp, 00:36:30.079 --> 00:36:30.420 rough, 00:36:31.559 --> 00:36:31.900 dangerous. 00:36:32.519 --> 00:36:33.719 You don't want them to fall. 00:36:34.360 --> 00:36:35.000 These in the river, 00:36:35.420 --> 00:36:36.219 you skip with. 00:36:36.959 --> 00:36:37.879 You collect. 00:36:38.819 --> 00:36:39.639 You see that 00:36:39.639 --> 00:36:40.839 they're smooth stones. 00:36:42.399 --> 00:36:43.139 There's a term 00:36:43.139 --> 00:36:44.899 called hydraulic abrasion. 00:36:45.559 --> 00:36:46.480 I pray none of you 00:36:46.480 --> 00:36:47.039 are engineers 00:36:47.039 --> 00:36:48.419 and you will correct me 00:36:48.419 --> 00:36:48.879 after this. 00:36:49.099 --> 00:36:49.759 There's a term 00:36:49.759 --> 00:36:51.579 called hydraulic abrasion 00:36:51.579 --> 00:36:53.919 where these rocks 00:36:53.919 --> 00:36:54.599 have been in the creek 00:36:54.599 --> 00:36:55.019 or river 00:36:55.019 --> 00:36:55.919 and as the river 00:36:55.919 --> 00:36:56.359 comes up 00:36:56.359 --> 00:36:57.199 and pushes other rocks 00:36:57.199 --> 00:36:57.679 down the river, 00:36:58.039 --> 00:36:58.759 this rock bumps 00:36:58.759 --> 00:36:59.500 into other rocks 00:36:59.500 --> 00:37:00.019 like this 00:37:00.019 --> 00:37:01.439 and it takes rough edges 00:37:01.439 --> 00:37:02.500 off and makes it smooth. 00:37:02.619 --> 00:37:03.379 That's why when you go 00:37:03.379 --> 00:37:04.279 down into a river, 00:37:04.439 --> 00:37:05.799 you find rounded rocks 00:37:05.800 --> 00:37:06.780 because they're constantly 00:37:06.780 --> 00:37:08.580 bouncing off of others, 00:37:08.740 --> 00:37:09.820 feeling the tension in others 00:37:09.820 --> 00:37:11.519 and have their rough edges 00:37:11.519 --> 00:37:12.400 knocked off them. 00:37:13.580 --> 00:37:14.340 I wonder if you've ever 00:37:14.340 --> 00:37:15.019 met a Christian 00:37:15.019 --> 00:37:16.960 that has rough edges. 00:37:18.560 --> 00:37:19.500 I pray you meet 00:37:19.500 --> 00:37:20.039 some Christians 00:37:20.039 --> 00:37:21.260 that are just a delight. 00:37:21.820 --> 00:37:22.800 I've got so many 00:37:22.800 --> 00:37:23.380 in my church 00:37:23.380 --> 00:37:23.920 that it's like, 00:37:23.980 --> 00:37:24.760 I just want to hang out 00:37:24.760 --> 00:37:25.039 with you 00:37:25.039 --> 00:37:26.240 because every experience 00:37:26.240 --> 00:37:27.360 with you is just a delight. 00:37:28.260 --> 00:37:28.820 And then you might 00:37:28.820 --> 00:37:29.920 experience other Christians 00:37:29.920 --> 00:37:31.180 that are just a little 00:37:31.180 --> 00:37:32.240 rough around the edges. 00:37:32.239 --> 00:37:35.519 You know what happens 00:37:35.519 --> 00:37:38.239 when people have rough edges? 00:37:39.859 --> 00:37:40.839 They hurt people. 00:37:42.019 --> 00:37:42.619 They do. 00:37:42.679 --> 00:37:43.339 They hurt people. 00:37:44.619 --> 00:37:45.899 And I want to submit to you 00:37:45.899 --> 00:37:46.819 that one of the things 00:37:46.819 --> 00:37:47.319 that happens 00:37:47.319 --> 00:37:48.019 when you're a part 00:37:48.019 --> 00:37:49.619 of a biblical church 00:37:49.619 --> 00:37:50.919 in a personal way 00:37:50.919 --> 00:37:52.659 and God gets a hold of you 00:37:52.659 --> 00:37:53.439 and He puts you 00:37:53.439 --> 00:37:54.099 in a community 00:37:54.099 --> 00:37:55.439 where there's contact 00:37:55.439 --> 00:37:56.219 with one another, 00:37:57.079 --> 00:37:58.039 He starts to take 00:37:58.039 --> 00:37:59.079 the rough edges off you 00:37:59.079 --> 00:38:00.099 and sanctifies you 00:38:00.099 --> 00:38:01.079 for His glory 00:38:01.079 --> 00:38:02.000 and for the good of others. 00:38:03.179 --> 00:38:03.779 And so you're actually 00:38:03.779 --> 00:38:05.179 withholding the blessing 00:38:05.179 --> 00:38:06.599 of being sanctified 00:38:06.599 --> 00:38:07.379 and rounded out 00:38:07.379 --> 00:38:08.199 by the Holy Spirit 00:38:08.199 --> 00:38:09.039 by not engaging 00:38:09.039 --> 00:38:09.839 with God's people 00:38:09.839 --> 00:38:11.259 in a meaningful way 00:38:11.259 --> 00:38:12.319 in which you are 00:38:12.319 --> 00:38:13.519 in contact with them. 00:38:13.599 --> 00:38:14.759 I have an older friend 00:38:14.759 --> 00:38:15.759 who uses the example 00:38:15.759 --> 00:38:16.759 of when he was in college 00:38:16.759 --> 00:38:18.119 which was a long time ago 00:38:18.119 --> 00:38:19.000 that he was getting 00:38:19.000 --> 00:38:20.299 highly involved 00:38:20.299 --> 00:38:20.799 in the church 00:38:20.799 --> 00:38:21.319 and he asked one 00:38:21.319 --> 00:38:22.079 of his good friends, 00:38:22.779 --> 00:38:22.959 you know, 00:38:23.019 --> 00:38:23.539 are you a member 00:38:23.539 --> 00:38:24.319 of any other church? 00:38:24.399 --> 00:38:24.859 They were studying 00:38:24.859 --> 00:38:25.459 at a university. 00:38:25.639 --> 00:38:25.799 He says, 00:38:25.879 --> 00:38:26.219 no, 00:38:26.579 --> 00:38:27.859 I just think that 00:38:27.859 --> 00:38:28.819 if I'm part of another church 00:38:28.819 --> 00:38:30.259 it'll just slow me down 00:38:30.259 --> 00:38:31.319 in the faith. 00:38:32.239 --> 00:38:34.539 And maybe he might 00:38:34.539 --> 00:38:35.419 but he said, 00:38:35.559 --> 00:38:36.239 have you ever considered 00:38:36.239 --> 00:38:37.879 that it may slow you down 00:38:37.879 --> 00:38:38.839 to be a part of these people 00:38:38.839 --> 00:38:40.259 but you may be a cause 00:38:40.259 --> 00:38:41.500 of them actually increasing 00:38:41.500 --> 00:38:42.839 their walk with Christ? 00:38:43.779 --> 00:38:44.639 Are you harnessing 00:38:44.639 --> 00:38:45.319 around other people? 00:38:45.320 --> 00:38:47.380 Jesus commands us 00:38:47.380 --> 00:38:47.920 to be committed 00:38:47.920 --> 00:38:48.760 to a church, 00:38:48.860 --> 00:38:49.539 a local church 00:38:49.539 --> 00:38:50.539 so that we love 00:38:50.539 --> 00:38:51.420 and protect one another 00:38:51.420 --> 00:38:51.980 from sin 00:38:51.980 --> 00:38:52.980 so that we're shaped 00:38:52.980 --> 00:38:54.039 into the likeness of Jesus. 00:38:54.960 --> 00:38:55.960 Jesus commands us 00:38:55.960 --> 00:38:56.519 to be committed 00:38:56.519 --> 00:38:58.019 to a people 00:38:58.019 --> 00:39:00.120 when it's easy 00:39:00.120 --> 00:39:01.760 and when it's hard 00:39:01.760 --> 00:39:03.580 so that we love 00:39:03.580 --> 00:39:04.460 and protect one another 00:39:04.460 --> 00:39:04.940 from sin 00:39:04.940 --> 00:39:06.420 so that we're shaped 00:39:06.420 --> 00:39:07.640 into the likeness of Jesus. 00:39:08.480 --> 00:39:08.700 Friend, 00:39:08.740 --> 00:39:09.340 do you love 00:39:09.340 --> 00:39:10.400 Jesus? 00:39:10.400 --> 00:39:10.559 Jesus. 00:39:12.720 --> 00:39:13.599 When I was in college 00:39:13.599 --> 00:39:14.840 I got to live in Washington D.C. 00:39:14.860 --> 00:39:15.440 for a little bit 00:39:15.440 --> 00:39:15.980 and then later 00:39:15.980 --> 00:39:16.680 worked there 00:39:16.680 --> 00:39:17.599 on and off again 00:39:17.599 --> 00:39:18.960 and I moved to college 00:39:18.960 --> 00:39:19.460 when I was 20 00:39:19.460 --> 00:39:20.200 in between my freshman 00:39:20.200 --> 00:39:21.019 and sophomore year. 00:39:21.420 --> 00:39:22.220 I'd never lived alone, 00:39:22.340 --> 00:39:23.160 never really been alone, 00:39:23.260 --> 00:39:24.079 always been on a team 00:39:24.079 --> 00:39:25.000 or I had an older sister 00:39:25.000 --> 00:39:25.480 in the house. 00:39:25.760 --> 00:39:26.539 I lived in a fraternity 00:39:26.539 --> 00:39:27.480 with a hundred other people 00:39:27.480 --> 00:39:28.720 and then I found myself 00:39:28.720 --> 00:39:30.480 in a 10 by 10 foot apartment, 00:39:30.680 --> 00:39:31.180 20 years old, 00:39:31.440 --> 00:39:32.200 not even invited 00:39:32.200 --> 00:39:32.800 to other things 00:39:32.800 --> 00:39:33.760 after work with other people 00:39:33.760 --> 00:39:36.160 and I never felt more alone. 00:39:36.440 --> 00:39:37.840 I actually never felt alone in life 00:39:37.840 --> 00:39:38.539 and all of a sudden 00:39:38.539 --> 00:39:39.400 I am alone 00:39:39.400 --> 00:39:40.320 and I felt alone 00:39:40.320 --> 00:39:41.620 and it was a terrifying thing. 00:39:42.460 --> 00:39:43.280 I wanted to leave. 00:39:44.260 --> 00:39:44.920 I was alone 00:39:44.920 --> 00:39:46.980 and I felt like I needed others. 00:39:48.740 --> 00:39:49.720 About three weeks in 00:39:49.720 --> 00:39:51.660 I went to a particular church 00:39:51.660 --> 00:39:53.840 kind of by the U.S. Capitol 00:39:53.840 --> 00:39:55.140 and the only reason 00:39:55.140 --> 00:39:56.240 I went there in 2006 00:39:56.240 --> 00:39:58.039 was because it was a brick church 00:39:58.039 --> 00:40:00.140 and I've been going to churches 00:40:00.140 --> 00:40:00.860 and sheds 00:40:00.860 --> 00:40:02.079 and elementary gyms 00:40:02.079 --> 00:40:02.680 for too long 00:40:02.680 --> 00:40:03.260 and I'm like, 00:40:03.300 --> 00:40:03.600 you know what? 00:40:03.600 --> 00:40:04.360 It looks nice. 00:40:04.539 --> 00:40:05.860 I'm just going to go there on Sunday. 00:40:05.980 --> 00:40:06.620 I bet the heater 00:40:06.619 --> 00:40:07.900 works perfectly. 00:40:09.059 --> 00:40:09.940 So I went there 00:40:09.940 --> 00:40:11.059 and I was overwhelmed. 00:40:11.219 --> 00:40:12.119 I was overwhelmed 00:40:12.119 --> 00:40:14.440 from the very first second there. 00:40:14.960 --> 00:40:16.039 Now this is 2006, 00:40:16.159 --> 00:40:16.759 Bush administration 00:40:16.759 --> 00:40:17.960 so everyone was wearing 00:40:17.960 --> 00:40:18.500 a power suit 00:40:18.500 --> 00:40:19.079 and a power tie 00:40:19.079 --> 00:40:20.199 of which I was too 00:40:20.199 --> 00:40:21.639 and I just felt alive. 00:40:22.219 --> 00:40:23.420 But I heard 00:40:23.420 --> 00:40:25.779 these men sing 00:40:25.779 --> 00:40:27.079 masculinely 00:40:27.079 --> 00:40:28.659 from the top of their lungs. 00:40:29.519 --> 00:40:30.319 I talked to one of the pastors 00:40:30.319 --> 00:40:30.980 after the church. 00:40:31.059 --> 00:40:31.199 I said, 00:40:31.199 --> 00:40:32.259 I've just never been around people 00:40:32.259 --> 00:40:33.079 that sing like this. 00:40:33.799 --> 00:40:34.219 And he said, 00:40:34.279 --> 00:40:34.779 I have no idea 00:40:34.779 --> 00:40:35.900 why everyone sings loud here. 00:40:35.900 --> 00:40:36.780 I know the reason 00:40:36.780 --> 00:40:37.599 I sing loud here 00:40:37.599 --> 00:40:39.019 is because I want the widow 00:40:39.019 --> 00:40:40.039 that I sit next to 00:40:40.039 --> 00:40:41.340 be reminded of the heaven 00:40:41.340 --> 00:40:42.260 where her husband is. 00:40:43.059 --> 00:40:44.160 I was overwhelmed 00:40:44.160 --> 00:40:44.820 at the sermon. 00:40:45.019 --> 00:40:46.079 It lasted for an hour. 00:40:46.740 --> 00:40:47.820 I don't like sermons 00:40:47.820 --> 00:40:48.660 that last an hour. 00:40:48.960 --> 00:40:49.700 I really hope I'm not 00:40:49.700 --> 00:40:50.880 preaching an hour long sermon here. 00:40:51.160 --> 00:40:52.579 But I was just captivated 00:40:52.579 --> 00:40:53.760 by everyone's collective 00:40:53.760 --> 00:40:54.680 like love to hear 00:40:54.680 --> 00:40:55.599 what God was telling us 00:40:55.599 --> 00:40:56.119 in his word. 00:40:56.599 --> 00:40:57.119 The prayers 00:40:57.119 --> 00:40:57.880 in combination 00:40:57.880 --> 00:40:59.680 took a combination 00:40:59.680 --> 00:41:00.980 of 35 minutes. 00:41:01.639 --> 00:41:02.880 And I just never heard 00:41:02.880 --> 00:41:03.539 anything like it. 00:41:03.539 --> 00:41:05.619 And I left that place 00:41:05.619 --> 00:41:07.400 at 1235, 00:41:07.940 --> 00:41:09.119 started at 1030, 00:41:09.199 --> 00:41:09.840 1235, 00:41:10.920 --> 00:41:12.679 and I felt 00:41:12.679 --> 00:41:14.579 so alone. 00:41:16.659 --> 00:41:17.880 I just had the most 00:41:17.880 --> 00:41:19.579 euphoric feeling 00:41:19.579 --> 00:41:20.820 for two straight hours. 00:41:21.699 --> 00:41:22.739 And I felt 00:41:22.739 --> 00:41:23.639 completely 00:41:23.639 --> 00:41:24.679 spiritually 00:41:24.679 --> 00:41:25.599 alone. 00:41:27.300 --> 00:41:28.139 Because I knew 00:41:28.139 --> 00:41:28.820 that I was a part 00:41:28.820 --> 00:41:29.380 of nothing 00:41:29.380 --> 00:41:31.400 that had my soul 00:41:31.400 --> 00:41:31.880 in check. 00:41:33.139 --> 00:41:33.720 I grew up 00:41:33.720 --> 00:41:34.160 in a wonderful 00:41:34.160 --> 00:41:34.780 preaching church 00:41:34.780 --> 00:41:35.340 but I didn't have 00:41:35.340 --> 00:41:35.840 church membership. 00:41:36.559 --> 00:41:37.260 I went to a good 00:41:37.260 --> 00:41:37.800 preaching church 00:41:37.800 --> 00:41:38.780 my first year of college 00:41:38.780 --> 00:41:40.260 and it was a bomb 00:41:40.260 --> 00:41:40.820 to my soul 00:41:40.820 --> 00:41:41.920 and a lot of wickedness 00:41:41.920 --> 00:41:42.619 that I was around. 00:41:42.780 --> 00:41:43.519 But I knew 00:41:43.519 --> 00:41:43.980 that I was going 00:41:43.980 --> 00:41:44.300 to go back 00:41:44.300 --> 00:41:44.960 in several months 00:41:44.960 --> 00:41:46.760 and the church 00:41:46.760 --> 00:41:47.220 wasn't going 00:41:47.220 --> 00:41:47.800 to greet me. 00:41:49.079 --> 00:41:49.700 To the point 00:41:49.700 --> 00:41:50.420 of I joined 00:41:50.420 --> 00:41:50.780 a couple, 00:41:50.980 --> 00:41:51.559 or a couple 00:41:51.559 --> 00:41:52.000 of months later 00:41:52.000 --> 00:41:52.639 I joined a church 00:41:52.639 --> 00:41:53.079 in Stillwater, 00:41:53.200 --> 00:41:53.460 Oklahoma, 00:41:53.559 --> 00:41:54.139 Grace Prez. 00:41:55.160 --> 00:41:55.780 And part of the 00:41:55.780 --> 00:41:56.400 membership process 00:41:56.400 --> 00:41:56.940 is you go through 00:41:56.940 --> 00:41:57.500 a class 00:41:57.500 --> 00:41:58.200 and there were six 00:41:58.200 --> 00:41:58.720 of us that went 00:41:58.720 --> 00:41:59.240 through it together 00:41:59.239 --> 00:42:02.159 and it was fine, 00:42:02.199 --> 00:42:03.000 a wonderful experience, 00:42:03.099 --> 00:42:03.279 whatever. 00:42:03.659 --> 00:42:04.299 Never joined a church 00:42:04.299 --> 00:42:04.539 before, 00:42:04.619 --> 00:42:05.259 I was kind of excited. 00:42:05.359 --> 00:42:06.019 Then on Sunday morning, 00:42:06.379 --> 00:42:07.459 probably a group 00:42:07.459 --> 00:42:08.039 this size, 00:42:08.399 --> 00:42:08.839 there were six 00:42:08.839 --> 00:42:09.500 of us up here 00:42:09.500 --> 00:42:10.539 and part of our 00:42:10.539 --> 00:42:11.579 membership process 00:42:11.579 --> 00:42:12.179 and coming into 00:42:12.179 --> 00:42:12.619 the body 00:42:12.619 --> 00:42:14.359 was we were to take, 00:42:14.619 --> 00:42:15.299 we were to make 00:42:15.299 --> 00:42:16.539 commitments to the church. 00:42:16.919 --> 00:42:17.359 I don't remember 00:42:17.359 --> 00:42:18.139 what the pledges were, 00:42:18.399 --> 00:42:19.579 I'm sure they sounded nice. 00:42:19.919 --> 00:42:21.059 But the really impactful 00:42:21.059 --> 00:42:21.979 moment of this 00:42:21.979 --> 00:42:23.139 was not me making 00:42:23.139 --> 00:42:24.000 the commitments here, 00:42:24.479 --> 00:42:24.979 it's that then 00:42:24.979 --> 00:42:26.039 everyone in the church 00:42:26.039 --> 00:42:26.759 stood up and said 00:42:26.759 --> 00:42:27.779 the same commitments back. 00:42:29.239 --> 00:42:30.439 And at that point, 00:42:30.839 --> 00:42:32.099 I knew what the glory 00:42:32.099 --> 00:42:32.959 of the church was. 00:42:33.919 --> 00:42:35.239 That God in Christ 00:42:35.239 --> 00:42:36.579 saved his people 00:42:36.579 --> 00:42:37.779 and for the rest 00:42:37.779 --> 00:42:38.439 of their lives 00:42:38.439 --> 00:42:39.539 until they're with him 00:42:39.539 --> 00:42:40.419 in glory, 00:42:41.379 --> 00:42:42.979 there's a giant reflection 00:42:42.979 --> 00:42:44.879 of his grace and mercy. 00:42:45.819 --> 00:42:46.019 Friends, 00:42:46.079 --> 00:42:47.000 you love Jesus. 00:42:49.500 --> 00:42:49.679 I mean, 00:42:49.719 --> 00:42:50.619 you will love the church. 00:42:51.639 --> 00:42:52.079 Let's pray. 00:42:53.459 --> 00:42:53.839 Our gracious 00:42:53.839 --> 00:42:54.699 and heavenly Father, 00:42:54.759 --> 00:42:55.159 we thank you 00:42:55.159 --> 00:42:55.839 for what your word 00:42:55.839 --> 00:42:56.739 so clearly says 00:42:56.739 --> 00:42:58.199 about your particular 00:42:58.199 --> 00:42:59.359 love for your people. 00:43:00.039 --> 00:43:01.319 We are overwhelmed by it. 00:43:01.960 --> 00:43:03.399 We are amazed by it. 00:43:03.759 --> 00:43:04.439 We are thanked. 00:43:05.059 --> 00:43:06.059 We are thankful for it 00:43:06.059 --> 00:43:06.480 and we pray 00:43:06.480 --> 00:43:07.299 that you would continually 00:43:07.299 --> 00:43:08.659 shape and fashion us 00:43:08.659 --> 00:43:09.859 into the likeness 00:43:09.859 --> 00:43:10.399 of your son 00:43:10.399 --> 00:43:11.879 who loves your people. 00:43:13.859 --> 00:43:14.919 Say this in the name 00:43:14.919 --> 00:43:15.719 and the power 00:43:15.719 --> 00:43:17.259 of our loving Christ. 00:43:17.699 --> 00:43:17.879 Amen. 00:43:17.879 --> 00:43:17.980 Amen. 00:43:17.980 --> 00:43:18.019 Amen. 00:43:18.019 --> 00:43:18.059 Amen. 00:43:18.059 --> 00:43:18.079 Amen. 00:43:18.079 --> 00:43:18.119 Amen. 00:43:18.119 --> 00:43:18.239 Amen. 00:43:18.239 --> 00:43:20.019 Amen. 00:43:20.019 --> 00:43:20.119 Amen. 00:43:20.119 --> 00:43:20.139 Amen. 00:43:20.139 --> 00:43:20.179 Amen. 00:43:20.179 --> 00:43:22.159 Amen. 00:43:22.159 --> 00:43:22.179 Amen. 00:43:22.179 --> 00:43:22.219 Amen. 00:43:22.219 --> 00:43:22.239 Amen. 00:43:22.239 --> 00:43:22.259 Amen. 00:43:22.259 --> 00:43:22.339 Amen. 00:43:22.339 --> 00:43:24.239 Amen. 00:43:24.239 --> 00:43:24.299 Amen. 00:43:24.299 --> 00:43:24.339 Amen. 00:43:24.339 --> 00:43:26.279 Amen. 00:43:26.279 --> 00:43:26.339 Amen. 00:43:26.339 --> 00:43:28.179 Amen.