WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.080 Today I want to talk about unified partnership conviction. 00:00:04.940 --> 00:00:05.000 ! 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:31.179 It's a more consumeristic mindset. 00:00:31.440 --> 00:00:34.740 Basically, you get a membership in something, and then what do I get? 00:00:35.060 --> 00:00:40.759 As opposed to a partnership, it evokes more of a context of what do I give? 00:00:40.880 --> 00:00:42.120 How do we do this together? 00:00:42.899 --> 00:00:47.260 And so we believe that's what the church is supposed to be, and we believe that that's 00:00:47.260 --> 00:00:50.700 what actually, when the Bible talks about membership, that's what it's meaning. 00:00:50.900 --> 00:00:54.340 So here at Christ Church, partnership is how we do church membership. 00:00:54.460 --> 00:00:55.400 We believe in church membership. 00:00:55.900 --> 00:00:56.840 We believe it's important. 00:00:56.840 --> 00:01:02.520 But one of the questions I guess I want to ask you this morning is, how important is 00:01:02.520 --> 00:01:05.640 church membership or partnership? 00:01:06.400 --> 00:01:07.560 Does it really matter? 00:01:08.240 --> 00:01:11.640 And what do you believe about whether it matters or not? 00:01:11.920 --> 00:01:15.000 And does it matter what you believe about whether it matters or not? 00:01:15.580 --> 00:01:16.600 I think it does. 00:01:17.080 --> 00:01:20.560 I think it's really important about what you believe about it. 00:01:21.120 --> 00:01:25.020 And I think there's probably typically three kind of dispositions towards partnership. 00:01:25.019 --> 00:01:28.019 I'd love you to think about what your disposition is. 00:01:28.979 --> 00:01:31.659 You're either neutral about partnership, church membership. 00:01:31.899 --> 00:01:34.340 It's kind of like, yeah, you know, that's cool. 00:01:34.519 --> 00:01:35.359 They want to do that. 00:01:35.560 --> 00:01:36.319 They can do that. 00:01:37.439 --> 00:01:42.799 Or maybe you're embarrassed by church membership or church partnership. 00:01:43.579 --> 00:01:44.840 Maybe you're a part of the church. 00:01:44.920 --> 00:01:48.840 You think, yeah, sometimes I don't like talking about it. 00:01:48.859 --> 00:01:50.519 I get a little embarrassed to talk about it. 00:01:50.579 --> 00:01:52.120 I'm not really sure why we do it. 00:01:52.120 --> 00:01:55.420 I'm not really totally keen on the whole deal. 00:01:55.880 --> 00:01:58.960 It's kind of a little bit uncomfortable for me when people ask about it. 00:01:59.439 --> 00:02:01.040 I'm kind of more embarrassed by it. 00:02:01.140 --> 00:02:02.020 I get it. 00:02:02.080 --> 00:02:03.020 I see that we need it. 00:02:03.060 --> 00:02:05.880 But I'm not like super confident or convicted by it. 00:02:06.300 --> 00:02:08.400 And then third would be that you are convicted by it. 00:02:08.439 --> 00:02:10.540 You're saying, no, I'm not neutral on it. 00:02:10.560 --> 00:02:12.080 I'm not embarrassed by it. 00:02:12.080 --> 00:02:19.100 I'm actually convicted of the necessity of church membership, of what we call partnership. 00:02:19.880 --> 00:02:24.220 And I don't just adhere to it, submit to it. 00:02:24.460 --> 00:02:31.140 I want to be an evangelist of it because of its importance biblically and its importance in the life of our church. 00:02:31.139 --> 00:02:34.839 So those would be kind of three dispositions I would see regarding partnership. 00:02:35.119 --> 00:02:36.659 I'd ask you to think, what's yours? 00:02:37.779 --> 00:02:42.299 What would be your disposition towards church membership or what we call partnership? 00:02:44.219 --> 00:02:48.239 A little backdrop to why I think this is something you should be convicted of, 00:02:48.299 --> 00:02:51.500 why I think it's something that is really important for us as a church. 00:02:51.500 --> 00:02:58.000 I would go as far as to say that our partnership is really one of the most important things for the health of our church. 00:02:58.879 --> 00:03:00.080 I want to explain why. 00:03:00.400 --> 00:03:04.919 But the first would be that to build anything, 00:03:05.460 --> 00:03:11.340 you must be able to count on the parts that make up the whole to do their part. 00:03:12.000 --> 00:03:12.139 Okay? 00:03:12.639 --> 00:03:15.939 To build anything, you must be able to count on the parts that make up the whole. 00:03:16.280 --> 00:03:18.099 You must be able to count on them to do their part. 00:03:18.520 --> 00:03:18.800 All right? 00:03:18.800 --> 00:03:23.260 So if you're going to build a good business, you must be able to count on the employees to do their part. 00:03:23.600 --> 00:03:28.820 If you're going to build a sports team, then you must be able to count on your players to do their part. 00:03:29.240 --> 00:03:36.460 If you're going to build a sturdy house, you must be able to count on the materials in your house to do their part. 00:03:37.080 --> 00:03:39.500 I mean, just imagine if the nails didn't do their part. 00:03:40.160 --> 00:03:42.580 Imagine if all the nails dissolved in your wood. 00:03:43.340 --> 00:03:44.300 That'd be rough, right? 00:03:44.300 --> 00:03:46.360 You think, just those little things, is that really a big deal? 00:03:46.360 --> 00:03:50.300 But if all the nails dissolved in your house, yeah, you're in trouble. 00:03:51.660 --> 00:03:57.380 For anybody who's ever built a deck with treated lumber without galvanized nails, you know what I'm talking about. 00:03:58.040 --> 00:04:00.220 Which I didn't do that, but I've heard of people that know. 00:04:00.740 --> 00:04:05.160 So to build a sturdy house, you must be able to count on all the materials to do their part. 00:04:05.220 --> 00:04:07.960 In other words, you want them to do their part so the house stays up, right? 00:04:08.520 --> 00:04:09.540 So you can count on it. 00:04:09.539 --> 00:04:12.139 To build a healthy body, right? 00:04:12.199 --> 00:04:14.659 We call people who do that bodybuilders, right? 00:04:14.840 --> 00:04:20.379 To build a healthy body, you must be able to count on all your members to do their part. 00:04:20.639 --> 00:04:22.759 Someone who's not healthy, we call that handicap. 00:04:23.219 --> 00:04:26.219 Well, why do we call a person handicapped? 00:04:26.599 --> 00:04:31.980 Because one of their parts isn't doing what it's supposed to or it's actually missing, right? 00:04:31.980 --> 00:04:38.319 Like maybe they're bound in a wheelchair because their legs aren't doing their part or maybe they don't have legs, okay? 00:04:38.700 --> 00:04:46.400 Or, you know, that person's unhealthy because their heart isn't doing their part or their lungs aren't doing their part or maybe their brain isn't doing their part. 00:04:46.500 --> 00:04:47.340 You see what I'm saying? 00:04:48.220 --> 00:04:50.540 We would say that's not a healthy body. 00:04:50.680 --> 00:04:54.080 I need to be able, my body, I need to count on all the parts. 00:04:54.079 --> 00:05:00.339 Like when I take a step, I need to be able to count on my toes to give me balance or I'm falling over, you know? 00:05:01.099 --> 00:05:08.300 I need to count on my arteries to pump that blood and to not get clogged up or I'm not going to be healthy, right? 00:05:08.399 --> 00:05:18.319 I'm counting on all these parts to do their work, both the ones you see and are obvious and the ones you don't see, which are no less important, like my brain and my heart and those kind of things that you don't see. 00:05:18.659 --> 00:05:19.759 Those are important, right? 00:05:20.539 --> 00:05:23.560 To build a healthy body, you must be able to count on all your members to do their part. 00:05:24.079 --> 00:05:32.899 And consequently, to build a healthy church, you must be able to count on a specific group of people to do their part as well, okay? 00:05:33.079 --> 00:05:40.339 If you're trying to build a church that doesn't have a specific group of people that you can count on, do you really have a church? 00:05:41.180 --> 00:05:42.240 I would argue no. 00:05:43.079 --> 00:05:44.199 Well, you might have a building. 00:05:44.599 --> 00:05:45.680 You might have the steeple. 00:05:45.759 --> 00:05:47.759 You might look inside and, you know, find all the people. 00:05:47.759 --> 00:05:53.219 But that's not necessarily what the Bible says is a church. 00:05:53.220 --> 00:05:59.520 That's not necessarily a church that's really going to build you up and benefit a lost world. 00:06:00.000 --> 00:06:02.180 It'll just be a religious experience. 00:06:02.400 --> 00:06:07.100 It'll be a service maybe, maybe even some encouragement, whatever. 00:06:07.640 --> 00:06:11.160 But it's not ultimately what Jesus Christ died for. 00:06:12.040 --> 00:06:20.040 We have to have a specific group of people that can be counted on in order to have a healthy church. 00:06:20.040 --> 00:06:26.340 And could it be that maybe in your past that maybe some of you were a part of an unhealthy church at one point in time? 00:06:26.819 --> 00:06:27.460 Think about it. 00:06:27.540 --> 00:06:29.860 What was unhealthy about it? 00:06:30.040 --> 00:06:38.460 In many ways, most unhealthy churches are a group of people where there's not a specific group of people within that group of people that can be counted on. 00:06:38.459 --> 00:06:42.379 And because of that, it ends up being unhealthy. 00:06:43.239 --> 00:06:45.560 Ends up where people aren't doing their part. 00:06:45.859 --> 00:06:48.620 And then the church is disjointed, unhealthy. 00:06:48.819 --> 00:06:50.659 And you think, this isn't working. 00:06:50.879 --> 00:06:51.779 It's not growing. 00:06:52.019 --> 00:06:53.539 It's not helping. 00:06:53.839 --> 00:06:55.219 It's not God glorifying. 00:06:56.839 --> 00:06:59.560 This is not what we're after. 00:06:59.560 --> 00:07:05.300 Not to mention, I think you'd all agree, church is costly. 00:07:05.399 --> 00:07:06.280 It takes a lot of work. 00:07:06.740 --> 00:07:09.339 Why would you give a lot of work to something that's not going to last? 00:07:09.639 --> 00:07:12.079 That's not going to actually truly build up. 00:07:12.180 --> 00:07:14.259 That's not going to actually truly be God glorifying. 00:07:14.620 --> 00:07:19.319 We need to have a church that consists of a group of people that can be counted on. 00:07:20.379 --> 00:07:23.199 Because each person affects the other person. 00:07:23.199 --> 00:07:30.279 1 Corinthians 12, 26 says, when one part suffers, all suffer together. 00:07:31.039 --> 00:07:33.740 So it really comes down to, do you believe that that statement is true? 00:07:34.139 --> 00:07:35.800 I believe it's true because it's the Bible. 00:07:36.300 --> 00:07:38.379 John 17, 17 says, your word is truth. 00:07:38.819 --> 00:07:42.139 So I take all of it and say, yeah, Bible, truth, synonymous. 00:07:43.319 --> 00:07:45.360 And it's easy to say, I agree with that. 00:07:45.419 --> 00:07:46.899 Yeah, of course, I believe the Bible is true. 00:07:46.939 --> 00:07:47.379 I'm a Christian. 00:07:47.519 --> 00:07:48.519 I believe that in my life. 00:07:48.879 --> 00:07:50.079 But do you believe it in practice? 00:07:50.079 --> 00:07:52.539 Do you believe that if one part suffers, we all suffer? 00:07:53.199 --> 00:07:57.879 If you believe that, then we want people in our church not to be suffering. 00:07:57.979 --> 00:08:01.699 We want them to be healthy so that the whole body is healthy. 00:08:02.860 --> 00:08:12.240 And so doing things, building in such a way as to bring the most health is going to affect everybody. 00:08:12.519 --> 00:08:17.099 Because when there's people who aren't healthy, it's not like only they suffer. 00:08:18.079 --> 00:08:19.279 Very important point here. 00:08:19.939 --> 00:08:20.639 Let me say that again. 00:08:20.639 --> 00:08:29.039 When you're in a group of people that is called a church and there's people who are unhealthy, they're not the only ones suffering for that. 00:08:29.159 --> 00:08:29.740 They are. 00:08:30.240 --> 00:08:31.759 But we all suffer for that. 00:08:32.720 --> 00:08:33.919 We all suffer for that. 00:08:34.000 --> 00:08:39.960 But when we're all healthy and we're all doing our part, then the body builds itself up in love, the Bible says. 00:08:40.419 --> 00:08:40.620 Okay? 00:08:40.620 --> 00:08:40.659 Okay? 00:08:41.220 --> 00:08:42.620 So 1 Corinthians 12, 26. 00:08:42.879 --> 00:08:45.240 Very important when we think about church. 00:08:45.779 --> 00:08:47.500 If one part suffers, all suffer. 00:08:47.799 --> 00:08:51.879 This kind of flies in the face of the whole, yeah, you know, my sin, it only affects me. 00:08:51.940 --> 00:08:53.060 It doesn't affect anybody else. 00:08:53.259 --> 00:08:54.580 My discouragement only affects me. 00:08:54.639 --> 00:08:55.519 It doesn't affect anyone else. 00:08:55.700 --> 00:08:58.039 My lack of participation only affects me. 00:08:58.120 --> 00:08:59.539 It doesn't affect anyone else. 00:08:59.740 --> 00:09:01.600 My lack of conviction only affects me. 00:09:01.840 --> 00:09:02.899 It doesn't affect anyone else. 00:09:03.259 --> 00:09:04.960 My not showing up to this, that, or the other. 00:09:05.019 --> 00:09:06.560 It only affects me, not everyone else. 00:09:06.559 --> 00:09:10.139 And this verse just spits in the face of that. 00:09:11.059 --> 00:09:12.479 If one part suffers, we all suffer. 00:09:13.159 --> 00:09:14.939 And that's just a totally wrong view of the body. 00:09:15.179 --> 00:09:16.679 It's a totally wrong view of the church. 00:09:17.779 --> 00:09:23.739 It comes from this weird religious view that all church is, is you just showing up at a service once a week, maybe twice a week. 00:09:24.559 --> 00:09:26.019 Where did we even get this idea? 00:09:26.119 --> 00:09:27.159 You don't find that in the Bible. 00:09:27.899 --> 00:09:29.599 But that's what church has become. 00:09:30.619 --> 00:09:34.019 And we're saying as a church, we will not stand for that. 00:09:34.319 --> 00:09:35.339 We're not okay with that. 00:09:35.340 --> 00:09:40.920 We have to have a church that is based on people we can count on. 00:09:41.240 --> 00:09:42.460 Otherwise, it's not a church. 00:09:42.680 --> 00:09:54.620 It's just a, we might as well go to, I'm going to struggle for examples here, but some other worldly thing that gets together and does positive things with each other. 00:09:55.280 --> 00:09:55.420 Okay? 00:09:55.519 --> 00:09:56.560 Whatever group that may be. 00:09:56.639 --> 00:09:57.940 Sorry, I don't have an example of that one. 00:09:59.460 --> 00:10:01.400 But in some ways, that's what the church has become. 00:10:01.400 --> 00:10:05.000 It's like, it's just this kind of positive pep talk, you know? 00:10:05.340 --> 00:10:10.220 Come to TED Talk Sunday and hear some positive, encouraging words. 00:10:10.460 --> 00:10:12.240 And it's like, is that really what this is all about? 00:10:12.320 --> 00:10:16.399 I just, give me a, you know, little shot in the arm so I can get through my miserable life? 00:10:16.500 --> 00:10:17.000 I'm like, no. 00:10:17.000 --> 00:10:19.379 That's not what it's supposed to be. 00:10:19.899 --> 00:10:22.620 It's supposed to be a people that we can count on. 00:10:22.860 --> 00:10:23.039 Okay? 00:10:23.580 --> 00:10:32.600 If you have to be able to count on the parts that make up the whole to do their part, then that means that we need to be careful how we build. 00:10:33.539 --> 00:10:35.000 Especially when building a new church. 00:10:35.000 --> 00:10:35.600 Okay? 00:10:36.000 --> 00:10:41.120 If each part needs to be counted on, then we have to be careful how we build them together. 00:10:41.559 --> 00:10:43.659 1 Corinthians 3, 9-15 says, 00:10:44.179 --> 00:10:45.620 We are God's fellow workers. 00:10:46.100 --> 00:10:47.259 You are God's field. 00:10:47.419 --> 00:10:48.059 God's building. 00:10:48.620 --> 00:10:50.399 This is Paul talking, okay? 00:10:50.779 --> 00:10:51.779 As an apostle, he says, 00:10:51.840 --> 00:10:59.840 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder, I laid a foundation and someone else is building upon it. 00:10:59.840 --> 00:11:00.780 And then he says, 00:11:00.960 --> 00:11:04.360 Let each one take care how he builds upon it. 00:11:04.980 --> 00:11:05.560 All right? 00:11:05.899 --> 00:11:07.440 Let each one take care how he builds upon it. 00:11:07.519 --> 00:11:08.440 Stop there for a second. 00:11:09.759 --> 00:11:13.879 So many times, churches don't do this. 00:11:15.040 --> 00:11:16.639 They don't take care how they build. 00:11:17.360 --> 00:11:22.139 It's like anyone and everyone can just be a part of it on their own terms. 00:11:22.240 --> 00:11:25.180 They can do what they want, when they want, how they want, the way they want. 00:11:26.360 --> 00:11:28.060 That's what we do. 00:11:28.200 --> 00:11:28.840 That's church. 00:11:28.840 --> 00:11:28.960 Church. 00:11:29.580 --> 00:11:31.000 No, that's not church. 00:11:31.800 --> 00:11:32.800 That's not church. 00:11:33.180 --> 00:11:35.860 If we do that, we won't have a body. 00:11:36.340 --> 00:11:38.660 We'll have a group of people in a room, but we won't have a body. 00:11:39.060 --> 00:11:43.639 And when we talk about church, some people say, well, the church means assembly. 00:11:44.259 --> 00:11:45.780 I'd say, yeah, I agree. 00:11:46.379 --> 00:11:49.399 So does that mean you just assemble a bunch of people in a room? 00:11:49.480 --> 00:11:50.160 Is that an assembly? 00:11:50.860 --> 00:11:51.620 Well, you tell me. 00:11:51.680 --> 00:11:55.460 If you put all the parts of a plane in a room and they're just in a big pile, is that a plane? 00:11:57.100 --> 00:11:57.460 No. 00:11:57.460 --> 00:11:57.580 No. 00:11:57.940 --> 00:11:59.120 They have to be assembled. 00:11:59.740 --> 00:12:00.980 They have to be put together. 00:12:02.000 --> 00:12:06.379 And we've decided to put a, you know, you ever buy something on the side of the box that 00:12:06.379 --> 00:12:07.480 says no assembly required? 00:12:08.820 --> 00:12:10.040 We've made the church that way. 00:12:10.680 --> 00:12:11.759 No assembly required. 00:12:11.960 --> 00:12:13.060 You think, no, we assemble. 00:12:13.300 --> 00:12:14.320 We show up every Sunday morning. 00:12:14.560 --> 00:12:14.800 No, no, no. 00:12:14.980 --> 00:12:17.220 I'm not talking about that assembly and neither is the Bible. 00:12:17.800 --> 00:12:21.280 The Bible isn't just talking about gathering random parts together in a room. 00:12:21.279 --> 00:12:23.939 That ain't going to fly, so to speak. 00:12:24.159 --> 00:12:27.059 The parts of the plane have to be put together so they're a plane. 00:12:27.639 --> 00:12:30.899 No one would look at a pile of plane parts and say, wow, look at that plane. 00:12:31.740 --> 00:12:32.899 That's not a plane, man. 00:12:32.939 --> 00:12:34.139 That's just a pile of parts. 00:12:34.579 --> 00:12:34.899 No, no, no. 00:12:35.059 --> 00:12:35.659 That's a plane. 00:12:35.659 --> 00:12:39.279 I remember my brother-in-law's building a house next to me. 00:12:40.259 --> 00:12:44.600 And before he got started, he had all the parts, because it's a barn dominium, so it's 00:12:44.600 --> 00:12:45.059 a metal building. 00:12:45.319 --> 00:12:50.199 He had all the parts of the metal building delivered and sat in my yard for a while. 00:12:51.379 --> 00:12:52.339 Over there in the corner. 00:12:53.199 --> 00:12:56.399 And it was there for a while, so a lot of people saw it. 00:12:56.399 --> 00:13:01.539 Not one time did anyone ever say, wow, that's cool. 00:13:01.980 --> 00:13:03.340 Kurt's house is over there. 00:13:04.039 --> 00:13:05.419 No one called it Kurt's house. 00:13:05.740 --> 00:13:07.639 But in fact, it was Kurt's house. 00:13:08.740 --> 00:13:09.840 But why didn't they say that? 00:13:09.919 --> 00:13:12.459 Because at the moment, it was just a bunch of parts in a pile. 00:13:13.199 --> 00:13:16.959 Even though it was all the parts for the house, what needed to be done? 00:13:17.199 --> 00:13:17.980 They needed to be assembled. 00:13:18.100 --> 00:13:20.439 Well, eventually some guys came along and they assembled those parts. 00:13:20.799 --> 00:13:24.259 Now people look over there and they say, they don't refer to it a bunch of parts. 00:13:24.259 --> 00:13:26.960 They say, oh, how's Kurt's house coming along? 00:13:27.759 --> 00:13:29.100 Because now it's assembled. 00:13:29.639 --> 00:13:36.399 Okay, so in the same way, this is why Paul says, as a skilled master builder, which just 00:13:36.399 --> 00:13:39.500 side note, there are people in the church who are skilled master builder. 00:13:39.639 --> 00:13:40.200 They're builders. 00:13:40.340 --> 00:13:41.019 They're called apostles. 00:13:41.399 --> 00:13:42.740 This is their job in the church. 00:13:43.039 --> 00:13:48.759 They're not some weird charismatic CEO that is a CEO over multiple churches and wears weird 00:13:48.759 --> 00:13:55.460 name tags and has preferential treatment and preferred parking in front of the church and 00:13:55.460 --> 00:14:00.580 this weird kind of stuff that happens in that world. 00:14:01.039 --> 00:14:07.700 No, they're unassuming parental people who have an ability to build the church. 00:14:08.100 --> 00:14:08.259 Okay? 00:14:08.539 --> 00:14:10.340 And we should take care of how we build the church. 00:14:10.399 --> 00:14:14.179 And not just the apostolic workers, but the team of people that's working with them to say, 00:14:14.179 --> 00:14:17.919 hey, this has to be built in a certain way and it has to be built together. 00:14:19.339 --> 00:14:20.979 It has to be built with the right materials. 00:14:21.159 --> 00:14:22.919 We can't just, you know, do it. 00:14:23.479 --> 00:14:25.659 We can't just let everybody do it on their own terms. 00:14:26.159 --> 00:14:27.299 No one can lay a foundation. 00:14:27.439 --> 00:14:30.279 This is verse 11, 1 Corinthians 3, verse 11, keeping going here. 00:14:31.459 --> 00:14:33.239 Let each one take care how he builds upon it. 00:14:33.539 --> 00:14:33.799 Four. 00:14:33.959 --> 00:14:39.179 So he's saying the reason you have to take care is because no one can lay a foundation other 00:14:39.179 --> 00:14:41.139 than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 00:14:41.139 --> 00:14:48.679 Now, if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 00:14:49.139 --> 00:14:54.039 two different groups, okay, gold, silver, precious stones, or wood, hay, straw, 00:14:54.580 --> 00:14:59.019 each one's work will become manifest for the day will disclose it. 00:14:59.500 --> 00:15:04.299 Because it will be revealed by fire and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 00:15:04.919 --> 00:15:09.379 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 00:15:09.379 --> 00:15:15.259 If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. 00:15:16.120 --> 00:15:20.039 See, we can't just build with anyone in any way. 00:15:20.539 --> 00:15:27.399 We need specific expectations on a specific group of people so that what we build is healthy and sustainable. 00:15:29.399 --> 00:15:29.919 Okay? 00:15:30.720 --> 00:15:34.460 Now, you might say, after me saying that, you might say, 00:15:34.460 --> 00:15:36.879 that feels like we're excluding people. 00:15:38.879 --> 00:15:40.540 And I would say, yes. 00:15:41.340 --> 00:15:44.220 Not excluding people from the life of our church, 00:15:44.220 --> 00:15:48.620 but excluding people based on certain commitments that need to be made 00:15:48.620 --> 00:15:51.440 so that we can be a people that can be counted on. 00:15:52.100 --> 00:15:55.040 So I say, yes, but it's unto something. 00:15:55.580 --> 00:15:59.139 Exclusion in order to create healthy, loving inclusion. 00:15:59.139 --> 00:16:03.840 Exclusion in order to create healthy, loving inclusion. 00:16:04.279 --> 00:16:07.679 Having specific things we require of members and partners 00:16:07.679 --> 00:16:11.199 is so that we have something to include people into, 00:16:11.480 --> 00:16:13.319 which is very loving. 00:16:14.279 --> 00:16:17.019 If we don't have anything to include people into, 00:16:18.460 --> 00:16:21.039 then what are we doing? 00:16:21.779 --> 00:16:25.100 Again, are we just showing up on a Sunday morning and hear a little pep talk? 00:16:25.100 --> 00:16:27.620 No, thanks. 00:16:28.120 --> 00:16:30.899 I'd rather sit at home in the comfort of my own home and watch a TED Talk. 00:16:31.019 --> 00:16:36.560 I don't need to come to a building and wake up early and pray to a God I can't see. 00:16:37.659 --> 00:16:39.620 But if we're praying to the real God, 00:16:40.200 --> 00:16:45.259 and he causes people to come together in the foolishness of all our differences, 00:16:45.700 --> 00:16:48.560 but uniting around things that God says are important, 00:16:48.559 --> 00:16:52.919 and we do say, yes, there are specific commitments that need to be made 00:16:52.919 --> 00:16:55.939 in order to create a loving inclusion of people. 00:16:58.599 --> 00:17:00.559 Because if we include everyone on their terms, 00:17:00.639 --> 00:17:03.079 then we create something that no one desires to be a part of. 00:17:04.359 --> 00:17:05.419 That's an important point. 00:17:05.639 --> 00:17:09.079 If we include everyone on their terms, 00:17:09.559 --> 00:17:13.339 basically we submit to anyone who would come in 00:17:13.339 --> 00:17:16.139 and has terms that they're going to join us on. 00:17:16.140 --> 00:17:18.259 And we empower them, 00:17:18.540 --> 00:17:21.860 then we create something that no one wants to be a part of, 00:17:21.920 --> 00:17:22.740 and we lose it all. 00:17:23.240 --> 00:17:25.640 And I think, oh, but we included everyone. 00:17:25.720 --> 00:17:27.420 But you included everyone into nothing. 00:17:28.440 --> 00:17:29.520 Does that make sense? 00:17:30.160 --> 00:17:32.259 It's like, oh, we have this great inclusion, 00:17:32.700 --> 00:17:34.300 but it's inclusion into nothing. 00:17:35.160 --> 00:17:36.980 Don't worry, I'll try to talk over the rain. 00:17:37.920 --> 00:17:38.140 Okay? 00:17:38.140 --> 00:17:42.980 If we only include certain people on God's terms, 00:17:43.240 --> 00:17:46.540 then we build something that people desire to be a part of, 00:17:46.580 --> 00:17:49.580 because what we build builds other people up. 00:17:50.300 --> 00:17:52.460 Builds other people up, which is very important. 00:17:53.500 --> 00:17:54.180 So the question is, 00:17:54.280 --> 00:17:57.560 do churches have the right to require certain things of their members? 00:17:58.580 --> 00:18:00.680 I would say there's actually a better question. 00:18:01.180 --> 00:18:02.980 Do churches have the responsibility 00:18:02.980 --> 00:18:06.000 to require certain things from their members? 00:18:06.000 --> 00:18:08.920 Not just the right, the responsibility. 00:18:09.900 --> 00:18:12.319 Yes, if they're going to love for people and care for people. 00:18:12.579 --> 00:18:14.519 Because everyone says, I want community. 00:18:15.420 --> 00:18:16.319 Am I right on this? 00:18:16.759 --> 00:18:17.720 I mean, I don't know about you, 00:18:17.799 --> 00:18:18.640 I hear it all the time. 00:18:19.460 --> 00:18:22.460 Especially over the last 13 years, 14 years, 00:18:23.480 --> 00:18:25.980 almost every single person I've seen coming into the church, 00:18:26.420 --> 00:18:28.359 you ask them, like, what are you looking for? 00:18:28.720 --> 00:18:29.720 What's kind of your heart? 00:18:30.079 --> 00:18:31.119 They all say the same thing. 00:18:31.240 --> 00:18:32.019 I want community. 00:18:33.200 --> 00:18:33.380 Okay? 00:18:33.400 --> 00:18:34.039 I want community. 00:18:34.039 --> 00:18:37.420 But there's a really important point to be made in this. 00:18:37.839 --> 00:18:39.240 When people say they want community, 00:18:39.480 --> 00:18:43.740 there is no community without responsibility and accountability. 00:18:44.299 --> 00:18:45.480 It doesn't exist. 00:18:45.680 --> 00:18:46.200 It's a unicorn. 00:18:47.220 --> 00:18:47.379 Okay? 00:18:47.579 --> 00:18:51.259 There is no community without responsibility and accountability. 00:18:52.180 --> 00:18:53.639 So people say, I want community. 00:18:53.759 --> 00:18:55.079 My question to them is, do you? 00:18:56.240 --> 00:18:57.240 Do you really? 00:18:58.460 --> 00:19:00.019 Yeah, I want community. 00:19:00.019 --> 00:19:04.940 Well, you don't want community if you don't want responsibility and accountability. 00:19:05.500 --> 00:19:07.200 You can't have one without the other. 00:19:08.440 --> 00:19:10.480 And basically, what people are really saying is, 00:19:10.660 --> 00:19:14.180 I want community without responsibility and without accountability. 00:19:14.900 --> 00:19:18.119 And that's basically saying, I want something that doesn't exist. 00:19:18.119 --> 00:19:19.979 I want something that's not real. 00:19:20.239 --> 00:19:21.759 I want this weird unicorn. 00:19:22.319 --> 00:19:27.239 And you're going to give it to me because you have a responsibility to give it to me and I have a right to it. 00:19:27.819 --> 00:19:29.619 And my answer to that is, no, you don't. 00:19:30.599 --> 00:19:31.439 No, you don't. 00:19:31.959 --> 00:19:33.839 And we don't have to kowtow to that. 00:19:33.899 --> 00:19:34.539 And we won't. 00:19:34.539 --> 00:19:41.059 And the reason we won't is not because we're some hyper-religious, religious, condescending zealots. 00:19:41.359 --> 00:19:43.639 It's because we actually care for people. 00:19:44.599 --> 00:19:49.819 And if I care for someone who says they want community but only wants it on their own terms, 00:19:50.099 --> 00:19:51.799 I'm going to tell them that they can't. 00:19:53.139 --> 00:19:55.779 You might say, oh, that's not very loving to say no to them. 00:19:56.099 --> 00:19:58.319 No, sometimes no is the most loving thing you can say. 00:19:58.319 --> 00:20:05.319 Especially if they have this foolish, erroneous belief that they can have true community without responsibility, 00:20:06.279 --> 00:20:09.299 without commitment, and without accountability to that commitment. 00:20:10.359 --> 00:20:12.019 That's not loving to let them think that. 00:20:12.439 --> 00:20:14.599 That's not loving to not say no to them. 00:20:15.339 --> 00:20:17.759 You might say, but that no might exclude them. 00:20:18.059 --> 00:20:20.759 Yes, unto love so that we have something to include them in. 00:20:21.519 --> 00:20:21.919 Yes. 00:20:23.539 --> 00:20:27.619 Because at the end of the day, a lot of times people who say they want that don't really want it. 00:20:27.619 --> 00:20:28.979 They want a mirage. 00:20:29.059 --> 00:20:31.979 They want something created in their mind that is not real in real life. 00:20:32.459 --> 00:20:36.599 And we have to be the mayors of Realville and say, no, that is not an option. 00:20:37.519 --> 00:20:38.559 That's not an option. 00:20:39.239 --> 00:20:42.139 If church leaders don't require responsibility and accountability, 00:20:42.719 --> 00:20:46.719 then church leaders don't have any community to offer to people. 00:20:48.439 --> 00:20:53.000 Church leaders do have the right and the responsibility to require certain things from their members 00:20:53.000 --> 00:20:58.359 in order to pay careful attention to all the flock. 00:20:58.559 --> 00:20:59.299 Acts 20, 28. 00:20:59.680 --> 00:21:01.940 And to care for the church of God. 00:21:02.000 --> 00:21:03.480 Both quotes from Acts 20, 28. 00:21:03.799 --> 00:21:07.140 To pay careful attention to all the flock and to care for the church of God. 00:21:07.460 --> 00:21:09.059 These are things that church leaders should do. 00:21:09.160 --> 00:21:15.160 And they can only do that if they're going to require of them a certain level of responsibility 00:21:15.160 --> 00:21:17.400 and accountability to that responsibility. 00:21:18.880 --> 00:21:23.279 Having a group of people we can count on to do their part is the best way to care for all the parts. 00:21:24.640 --> 00:21:26.940 So my question, I'm saying that this morning. 00:21:27.040 --> 00:21:27.759 I believe that. 00:21:27.840 --> 00:21:29.019 I have conviction about that. 00:21:29.279 --> 00:21:30.820 I'm asking you if you believe that. 00:21:31.220 --> 00:21:34.960 Do you believe that having a group of people we can count on to do their part 00:21:34.960 --> 00:21:37.519 is the best way to care for all the parts? 00:21:37.519 --> 00:21:39.680 I believe it is. 00:21:40.559 --> 00:21:44.519 And I've been trying to build it as such for many years now. 00:21:44.759 --> 00:21:50.559 And I think if we don't all agree on that, if we acquiesce to that in a neutral way, 00:21:50.559 --> 00:21:54.940 or even in an embarrassed way where it's like, yeah, you know, Josh likes to talk about that, 00:21:55.039 --> 00:21:57.480 but I don't know. 00:21:57.539 --> 00:21:59.819 I'm not really keen on that. 00:21:59.900 --> 00:22:02.200 I'm kind of even embarrassed that you're asking about it. 00:22:02.200 --> 00:22:07.500 And, well, yeah, we're not going to have what we could have together, 00:22:07.640 --> 00:22:09.799 and that is a really healthy church. 00:22:11.759 --> 00:22:14.240 So I think it's important that we share conviction on this. 00:22:14.980 --> 00:22:19.200 And I also think it's important to think about the role of leadership in this. 00:22:19.279 --> 00:22:22.779 You know, Hebrews 13, 17 says, obey your leaders and submit to them. 00:22:23.160 --> 00:22:25.319 Now, if you take that on its head, it's just like, okay. 00:22:27.120 --> 00:22:28.420 Of course, you'd say that. 00:22:29.120 --> 00:22:29.880 You're a leader. 00:22:29.880 --> 00:22:32.680 You're going to quote the obey your leaders verse? 00:22:33.100 --> 00:22:34.400 Seems a little self-serving. 00:22:36.220 --> 00:22:39.760 Well, yeah, if I didn't read the rest of the verse, let me read the rest of the verse. 00:22:40.820 --> 00:22:42.400 Obey your leaders and submit to them. 00:22:43.000 --> 00:22:45.440 For, okay, what is that there for? 00:22:46.340 --> 00:22:50.300 It's telling us what this obey your leaders and submit to them is there for. 00:22:50.680 --> 00:22:51.720 It's there for a certain reason. 00:22:52.080 --> 00:22:54.720 Why should we obey leaders and submit to them? 00:22:54.720 --> 00:22:59.900 Because they're keeping watch over your souls as those who have to give an account. 00:23:01.160 --> 00:23:09.740 So there's a reason why leaders are given authority to build people up and to call people to a unified vision and expectation. 00:23:10.299 --> 00:23:10.640 Why? 00:23:10.640 --> 00:23:13.520 Because they're keeping watch over your souls. 00:23:14.020 --> 00:23:21.480 And not just in a general sense, but in a way that one day God will hold them to account how they paid careful attention to the flock. 00:23:22.580 --> 00:23:25.540 So then it says, let them do this with joy and not with groaning. 00:23:25.900 --> 00:23:28.720 And again, you might say, okay, that's self-serving. 00:23:28.720 --> 00:23:36.019 Yeah, the leader's telling people, make sure you do this so that I can be filled with joy and not groaning. 00:23:36.500 --> 00:23:39.400 It's like, well, no, read the rest of the verse, right? 00:23:39.779 --> 00:23:44.980 Let them do this with joy and not with groaning for, again, he's giving us the reason here. 00:23:45.460 --> 00:23:47.680 For that would be of no advantage to you. 00:23:48.220 --> 00:23:49.180 Do you hear that? 00:23:49.720 --> 00:23:56.779 If leaders are doing leading where it's a constant burden and not a joy, what advantage is that to you? 00:23:56.779 --> 00:23:57.339 It's not. 00:23:58.579 --> 00:24:04.599 And I'll tell you what's really a groan for leaders is when we're not unified on the same thing. 00:24:04.680 --> 00:24:07.099 We're not one people moving in the same direction. 00:24:07.500 --> 00:24:10.460 That makes it very difficult to lead a group of people. 00:24:11.960 --> 00:24:15.139 I would go as far as to say not only difficult, I would say it's impossible. 00:24:16.259 --> 00:24:23.960 For all the people who advocate this kind of religious free-for-all in churches, I've never led a church like that, and I don't know how you could. 00:24:23.960 --> 00:24:25.819 And maybe that's just because I'm ignorant. 00:24:25.960 --> 00:24:26.860 I'll be open to that. 00:24:27.319 --> 00:24:30.279 But I just don't believe it's best. 00:24:30.700 --> 00:24:33.519 I don't think it's a good advantage to you when that happens. 00:24:33.579 --> 00:24:38.360 I think when we're all one together going the same direction, that truly is an advantage to you. 00:24:38.620 --> 00:24:41.019 It truly is beneficial in building up to you. 00:24:41.019 --> 00:24:49.559 And you've got to know it's not like leadership can just kind of throw down these edicts when they're having these expectations of people. 00:24:50.059 --> 00:24:54.519 Those leaders who are saying those things need to remember that they are going to be held accountable by God. 00:24:55.920 --> 00:24:58.759 And what are they going to be accountable for? 00:24:58.879 --> 00:25:00.279 Keeping watch over souls. 00:25:00.660 --> 00:25:02.480 That's a weighty responsibility. 00:25:02.480 --> 00:25:04.539 I take that seriously. 00:25:04.980 --> 00:25:06.460 And we should as leaders. 00:25:07.500 --> 00:25:09.160 So we need people we can count on. 00:25:09.259 --> 00:25:11.940 In other words, people who are dependable or reliable. 00:25:12.559 --> 00:25:12.660 Okay? 00:25:13.180 --> 00:25:15.039 2 Timothy 2.2 in the NIV says, 00:25:15.480 --> 00:25:18.660 And these things that you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses, 00:25:19.319 --> 00:25:23.460 entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. 00:25:23.720 --> 00:25:23.900 Okay? 00:25:24.180 --> 00:25:25.819 You're looking for reliable people. 00:25:26.220 --> 00:25:29.039 And really, the people who should be reliable are the members of a church. 00:25:29.240 --> 00:25:31.460 They should be reliable to be counted on. 00:25:31.460 --> 00:25:34.319 But to be counted on for what? 00:25:35.299 --> 00:25:36.200 It's a great question, right? 00:25:36.579 --> 00:25:37.720 We're going to talk about them being counted on. 00:25:37.779 --> 00:25:38.940 What are they counted on for what? 00:25:39.539 --> 00:25:46.340 Well, a partner is a Christian who can be counted on to be what a Christian is and to do what a Christian does. 00:25:47.319 --> 00:25:47.500 Okay? 00:25:48.539 --> 00:25:54.160 Hands down, the biggest hindrance to partnership is when people lack the fruit of being a Christian. 00:25:54.519 --> 00:26:00.460 The biggest hindrance to a church being healthy is when people professing to be Christians don't have the fruit of being a Christian. 00:26:00.460 --> 00:26:05.340 And so part of what partnership and membership is, is holding people to be a Christian. 00:26:05.720 --> 00:26:09.460 Is holding them to be what a Christian is and to do what a Christian does. 00:26:10.279 --> 00:26:13.680 And some might say, well, yeah, you're asking too much. 00:26:13.799 --> 00:26:15.259 Christchurch is asking too much. 00:26:15.620 --> 00:26:17.039 And to them I'd ask this question. 00:26:17.420 --> 00:26:20.200 Is your problem with Christchurch or is your problem with Jesus? 00:26:20.200 --> 00:26:26.440 In other words, is Christchurch asking more than what Jesus is asking of? 00:26:26.960 --> 00:26:29.840 Is Christchurch asking things that the Bible is asking? 00:26:33.100 --> 00:26:34.519 That's what you've got to ask the question. 00:26:35.180 --> 00:26:36.279 It's an important question. 00:26:37.580 --> 00:26:39.819 And we believe that a partner is someone who has moved. 00:26:39.880 --> 00:26:40.980 When you think, okay, what is a partner? 00:26:41.039 --> 00:26:44.840 A partner is someone who's moved from attendance to responsibility. 00:26:44.839 --> 00:26:48.259 So not just attending a church service, but taking responsibility. 00:26:48.519 --> 00:26:53.159 We believe a partner is someone who's moved from just observing to participation. 00:26:54.139 --> 00:27:00.859 We believe a partner is someone who moves from consuming, just consuming, to creating value for other people. 00:27:01.619 --> 00:27:03.639 Okay, if everybody consumed, then no one would get anything. 00:27:04.139 --> 00:27:06.839 If people are coming to create value, then we all benefit. 00:27:07.459 --> 00:27:12.039 So we believe a partner is someone who's moved from just consuming to creating value for other people. 00:27:12.039 --> 00:27:21.920 We believe a partner is someone who's moved from primarily receiving to being an intentional giver or from helping, just helping to taking ownership. 00:27:22.619 --> 00:27:25.460 You might even say partner could be referred to as a part owner. 00:27:26.139 --> 00:27:28.000 Okay, so you're moving from, I'm not just a helper. 00:27:28.359 --> 00:27:30.720 I'm not just someone who kind of lends a hand every once in a while. 00:27:30.980 --> 00:27:31.799 I'm a part owner. 00:27:32.559 --> 00:27:34.379 Like I own the vision and mission of the church. 00:27:34.380 --> 00:27:47.340 I own the fruition of this church because I care about God, most importantly, and I care about the people who are lost and the people who are part of his church. 00:27:48.000 --> 00:27:57.160 So in other words, if a partner is someone who's moved from attendance to responsibility, from observing to participation, from consuming to creating value for others, 00:27:57.160 --> 00:28:04.220 from primarily receiving to being an intentional giver, and from helping to taking ownership, in other words, a partner is a Christian. 00:28:05.580 --> 00:28:09.460 Partnership is expecting of people what Jesus expects of people. 00:28:10.540 --> 00:28:10.680 Okay? 00:28:11.160 --> 00:28:13.980 Partnership is expecting of people what Jesus expects of people. 00:28:14.740 --> 00:28:16.740 And essentially, what does Jesus expect of people? 00:28:17.040 --> 00:28:18.259 He expects them to do their part. 00:28:18.560 --> 00:28:20.519 We see this in 1 Corinthians 12. 00:28:20.880 --> 00:28:21.279 Okay? 00:28:21.580 --> 00:28:25.100 Which I've quoted already at the beginning of the message, but we'll look at it a little bit more here. 00:28:25.099 --> 00:28:32.619 1 Corinthians 12, multiple times during that chapter, 1 Corinthians 12, uses the phrase part of the body. 00:28:33.459 --> 00:28:33.639 Okay? 00:28:33.959 --> 00:28:37.199 So we're all one body, but each one of us is a part. 00:28:38.000 --> 00:28:41.319 You, if you're a part of the body of Christ, are a part of the body. 00:28:41.679 --> 00:28:44.279 Now, you might not be a part of a local church. 00:28:44.879 --> 00:28:48.419 By being a Christian, you're automatically a part of the church universal. 00:28:49.500 --> 00:28:49.980 Okay? 00:28:49.980 --> 00:28:57.240 But that has no practicality, no natural outflow, unless you're a part of a local church. 00:28:58.000 --> 00:28:58.259 Okay? 00:28:59.019 --> 00:29:02.200 And that's how you express being part of the body. 00:29:02.500 --> 00:29:08.140 The reality is, if you're a Christian, you are part of the body, but it doesn't find his expression until you're part of a local body. 00:29:09.220 --> 00:29:09.480 Okay? 00:29:09.960 --> 00:29:13.319 1 Corinthians 12, 20 says, there are many parts, but one body. 00:29:14.019 --> 00:29:14.400 Okay? 00:29:14.400 --> 00:29:21.320 Romans 12, 4 to 5 says, for as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function. 00:29:21.840 --> 00:29:26.540 So we, though many, are one body in Christ and individually members of one another. 00:29:26.780 --> 00:29:30.900 This is where you get that 1 Corinthians 12, 26, one part suffers, we all suffer. 00:29:31.140 --> 00:29:32.620 It's because we're members of one another. 00:29:33.440 --> 00:29:37.200 We affect each other, both positively and negatively. 00:29:37.200 --> 00:29:45.740 And that can be a very, most people have maybe a visceral, strong belief of how that can affect us negatively, 00:29:45.980 --> 00:29:50.819 but we don't maybe have vision or have never seen how much that can affect you positively. 00:29:51.259 --> 00:29:56.779 When a group of people are committed together and have the same expectations and the same responsibilities, 00:29:57.259 --> 00:30:01.880 the shared priorities, shared vision, shared mission, shared responsibility, 00:30:01.880 --> 00:30:05.600 when we share that together, how much the whole is benefited. 00:30:05.599 --> 00:30:12.480 Ephesians 4, 16 says, from him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, 00:30:12.879 --> 00:30:16.480 grows and builds itself up in love as each part does its work. 00:30:16.959 --> 00:30:17.119 Okay? 00:30:17.179 --> 00:30:22.039 So here it says that each part not only has a work, but they have to do their work. 00:30:22.500 --> 00:30:28.819 Now, if you have this belief about church that we're all part of a body, 00:30:29.259 --> 00:30:33.439 but you're being part of the body has no responsibility to do anything, 00:30:33.839 --> 00:30:35.379 you don't understand a body. 00:30:35.599 --> 00:30:42.099 My hand is a part of the body, but when my hand doesn't do its part, 00:30:42.480 --> 00:30:48.119 even though it's part of the body, I'm not just satisfied that. 00:30:48.619 --> 00:30:53.259 It's like, yeah, my hand hasn't worked for a couple months, but I mean, at least it's part of the body, right? 00:30:53.319 --> 00:30:54.240 I mean, that's cool, right? 00:30:55.159 --> 00:30:56.379 No one says that. 00:30:56.379 --> 00:30:58.500 Yeah, I can't walk. 00:30:58.500 --> 00:31:00.420 My leg is broken. 00:31:00.880 --> 00:31:02.839 But man, at least it's part of the body, right? 00:31:03.799 --> 00:31:05.579 It's like, that is so weird. 00:31:06.240 --> 00:31:07.740 And yet that's what we do in church. 00:31:07.960 --> 00:31:10.420 We just say, hey, they're a part of the body, right? 00:31:10.519 --> 00:31:13.299 I mean, we just, it doesn't matter if they're working. 00:31:14.380 --> 00:31:15.940 It doesn't matter if they're doing their part. 00:31:16.640 --> 00:31:17.900 I mean, they're a part of the body. 00:31:17.900 --> 00:31:19.400 That's the important thing, right? 00:31:20.259 --> 00:31:23.780 And it's like, yeah, but no. 00:31:24.040 --> 00:31:30.280 I mean, Ephesians 4 says that the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, 00:31:30.420 --> 00:31:35.940 grows and builds itself up in love as each part does its work. 00:31:36.559 --> 00:31:38.360 Each part has to do its work. 00:31:38.920 --> 00:31:40.420 Okay, so this brings up another thing. 00:31:40.519 --> 00:31:42.519 It's like, okay, I can't just be a part. 00:31:42.820 --> 00:31:47.460 I can't just be automatically a part of the body because I've believed on Christ, 00:31:47.600 --> 00:31:49.799 turned from my sin, and I'm saved by him. 00:31:50.039 --> 00:31:51.640 I have to do my part. 00:31:53.539 --> 00:31:55.220 And this is where the rubber meets the road. 00:31:55.360 --> 00:31:57.519 People don't like being told what to do. 00:31:59.059 --> 00:32:01.160 People don't like being told, hey, you got to do a part. 00:32:01.440 --> 00:32:04.340 They just want to be a part of something without having to do something. 00:32:04.339 --> 00:32:07.279 This is what membership has become in our culture. 00:32:08.299 --> 00:32:10.399 You know, I become a member, now what do I get? 00:32:11.339 --> 00:32:13.240 Not, I become a member, now what do I do? 00:32:13.959 --> 00:32:15.619 Heaven forbid I would ever think that. 00:32:16.319 --> 00:32:20.659 It's just, I become a member, what do I get? 00:32:20.759 --> 00:32:21.500 Not, what do I do? 00:32:22.319 --> 00:32:24.819 But this isn't the way a body works. 00:32:24.859 --> 00:32:26.799 This isn't the way the Bible describes things. 00:32:27.299 --> 00:32:30.500 It says it grows and builds itself up in love as each part does its work. 00:32:30.779 --> 00:32:32.339 We have to each do our work. 00:32:32.339 --> 00:32:37.379 And we have to have a church that expects people to do their work and is specific about what 00:32:37.379 --> 00:32:38.599 they have to do with their work. 00:32:38.779 --> 00:32:44.299 And if you don't have a church that calls people to a specific work together, then we will not 00:32:44.299 --> 00:32:46.139 grow and build ourself up in love. 00:32:46.399 --> 00:32:48.779 You don't have a healthy body. 00:32:49.059 --> 00:32:50.459 You have a very handicapped body. 00:32:50.779 --> 00:32:52.299 In some ways, you kind of have a zombie. 00:32:54.199 --> 00:32:55.079 What's a zombie? 00:32:55.199 --> 00:33:02.139 A zombie is like a lifeless body that kind of moves around, but it's pretty freaky, right? 00:33:03.140 --> 00:33:07.600 And in many ways, that's a lot of times what the church becomes, this kind of zombified, 00:33:08.259 --> 00:33:11.080 freaky body that it's just kind of scary. 00:33:11.300 --> 00:33:14.820 And I don't really know if it's going to hurt me or benefit me. 00:33:17.460 --> 00:33:19.060 That's not what it's supposed to be. 00:33:19.180 --> 00:33:24.100 We need a group of people to build with who we can count on to do the work. 00:33:24.680 --> 00:33:28.160 We need a group of people that we can build with who we can count on to do the work. 00:33:28.160 --> 00:33:33.460 Each partner or part owner are the ones we count on to do the work. 00:33:34.740 --> 00:33:37.080 And a healthy body is where each part does its work. 00:33:37.759 --> 00:33:43.460 2 Corinthians 8.4, Paul refers to a specific group of people and he says, 00:33:43.620 --> 00:33:49.340 these people were begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints. 00:33:49.759 --> 00:33:52.500 If you know what the relief of the saints is that he's talking about in this context, 00:33:52.800 --> 00:33:55.019 he's talking about the favor of being able to give them money. 00:33:55.019 --> 00:33:55.500 Okay? 00:33:57.079 --> 00:34:00.400 When was the last time you begged someone for the opportunity to give them money? 00:34:01.359 --> 00:34:02.059 No, no, please. 00:34:02.359 --> 00:34:02.700 Please. 00:34:03.619 --> 00:34:07.019 Let me relieve the financial strain. 00:34:07.579 --> 00:34:10.759 You know, that's typically not like something you're begging someone for. 00:34:11.139 --> 00:34:13.539 You know, it's like, hey, someone is in need. 00:34:14.239 --> 00:34:16.219 Well, maybe I can help. 00:34:16.480 --> 00:34:18.059 But not these people. 00:34:18.099 --> 00:34:21.920 They were begging them earnestly for the favor of taking part. 00:34:21.920 --> 00:34:24.139 Again, you see that verbage there? 00:34:24.240 --> 00:34:25.039 Taking part. 00:34:26.200 --> 00:34:30.000 Doing the part to relieve the part of the body that was struggling. 00:34:30.280 --> 00:34:31.440 They were begging earnestly. 00:34:31.900 --> 00:34:33.740 That's the kind of church you want to be a part of. 00:34:34.099 --> 00:34:35.740 That's the kind of church that's healthy. 00:34:36.099 --> 00:34:42.039 That's the kind of church that actually is something that people desire to be in. 00:34:42.539 --> 00:34:42.700 Okay? 00:34:42.699 --> 00:34:48.699 People who are earnestly begging for the favor of taking part in the needs of other people. 00:34:48.819 --> 00:34:49.460 To meet those needs. 00:34:49.559 --> 00:34:50.460 To bless in those needs. 00:34:50.559 --> 00:34:52.339 To benefit and love those needs. 00:34:53.599 --> 00:34:53.859 Okay? 00:34:55.359 --> 00:34:58.039 Which means, if a church is a body this way, 00:34:58.719 --> 00:35:02.559 you can't disqualify yourself and you can't disqualify others. 00:35:03.039 --> 00:35:05.939 Or, in other words, to use the biblical language of 1 Corinthians 12, 00:35:05.940 --> 00:35:09.740 you can't say, I don't belong, or you can't say someone else doesn't belong. 00:35:11.079 --> 00:35:11.300 All right? 00:35:11.619 --> 00:35:14.500 1 Corinthians 12, 15-24 says that the foot should say, 00:35:14.940 --> 00:35:18.179 because I'm not a hand, I do not belong to the body. 00:35:18.420 --> 00:35:20.400 That would not make it any less a part of the body. 00:35:20.679 --> 00:35:24.139 And if the ear should say, because I'm not an eye, I do not belong to the body, 00:35:24.200 --> 00:35:26.079 that would not make it any less a part of the body. 00:35:26.400 --> 00:35:29.079 So if you're saying, you know, I'm not gifted like so-and-so, 00:35:29.220 --> 00:35:30.179 I don't really belong. 00:35:30.300 --> 00:35:33.539 Or, I don't really fit into this particular group of people within our church. 00:35:33.880 --> 00:35:34.579 I don't belong. 00:35:34.579 --> 00:35:36.159 I just don't belong in this church. 00:35:36.279 --> 00:35:39.799 And you buy into that narrative and start acting like that, 00:35:40.219 --> 00:35:41.619 we all lose. 00:35:43.779 --> 00:35:45.599 And you might say, well, that's not my problem. 00:35:46.019 --> 00:35:47.819 They should make me feel like belonging. 00:35:48.179 --> 00:35:50.239 Yeah, as much as possible, but what if they don't? 00:35:50.279 --> 00:35:52.400 Is that an excuse for you to say that you don't belong? 00:35:53.840 --> 00:35:54.759 Are you going to check out? 00:35:55.819 --> 00:35:58.420 Are you going to have a pity party in the corner and say I don't belong? 00:35:58.599 --> 00:36:01.119 And I'm not trying to lessen that and say that that doesn't hurt. 00:36:01.199 --> 00:36:03.099 It does hurt when you don't feel like you don't belong. 00:36:03.719 --> 00:36:04.199 I get it. 00:36:04.199 --> 00:36:05.899 No one wants to feel alone. 00:36:06.119 --> 00:36:07.239 No one wants to feel lonely. 00:36:07.559 --> 00:36:09.139 No one wants to feel like they don't belong. 00:36:10.199 --> 00:36:11.219 So please hear me. 00:36:11.239 --> 00:36:12.219 I'm not minimizing that. 00:36:12.299 --> 00:36:13.739 That's a painful place to be in. 00:36:14.159 --> 00:36:15.500 No one wants to be in that place. 00:36:15.859 --> 00:36:16.699 And no one should want. 00:36:16.960 --> 00:36:17.960 I mean, no one should. 00:36:18.039 --> 00:36:20.439 As much as possible, we should not have people be in that place. 00:36:20.440 --> 00:36:23.400 But sometimes you find yourself in that place. 00:36:23.400 --> 00:36:25.160 Or the devil is trying to speak. 00:36:25.160 --> 00:36:26.820 He's speaking in your ear. 00:36:27.039 --> 00:36:28.000 You don't belong. 00:36:29.280 --> 00:36:30.099 You don't belong. 00:36:30.099 --> 00:36:33.380 Maybe some in this room have heard that since we've started this church. 00:36:33.539 --> 00:36:34.619 I don't belong. 00:36:34.619 --> 00:36:36.500 I don't fit in. 00:36:37.659 --> 00:36:38.960 I'm not really a part. 00:36:39.039 --> 00:36:39.940 I'm not like so-and-so. 00:36:40.039 --> 00:36:40.880 I'm not into the... 00:36:40.880 --> 00:36:43.299 I haven't known people as long as some other people. 00:36:43.819 --> 00:36:45.480 And I'm telling you, resist that temptation. 00:36:46.119 --> 00:36:47.059 You do belong. 00:36:47.139 --> 00:36:51.920 And if you buy into the narrative that you don't belong, if you disqualify yourself, we all lose. 00:36:52.579 --> 00:36:53.539 We all lose. 00:36:54.079 --> 00:36:55.000 We need you. 00:36:55.700 --> 00:36:56.619 We need you. 00:36:57.019 --> 00:36:57.980 We need your part. 00:36:58.700 --> 00:37:02.539 And yes, sometimes we could do a better job of making you feel like we need you. 00:37:04.440 --> 00:37:06.000 But don't buy into that lie. 00:37:06.900 --> 00:37:09.000 Now, the other half of that is... 00:37:10.460 --> 00:37:14.820 It says that God arranged the members of the body, each one of them as he chose. 00:37:15.320 --> 00:37:16.500 It's 1 Corinthians 12, 19. 00:37:16.619 --> 00:37:18.500 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 00:37:18.940 --> 00:37:20.980 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. 00:37:20.980 --> 00:37:22.639 And then he goes on the other... 00:37:22.639 --> 00:37:28.940 The flip side of this says that I cannot say to the hand, I have no need of you, nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 00:37:29.039 --> 00:37:35.559 So sometimes people feel that way because there's other people in the body who are literally saying, I don't need you. 00:37:35.920 --> 00:37:37.079 You don't belong. 00:37:37.619 --> 00:37:37.860 Okay? 00:37:37.940 --> 00:37:39.559 And maybe that's why they're buying into that. 00:37:39.980 --> 00:37:46.639 Where it's just like, I like this group of people, but I kind of wish you weren't a part of this group because I don't get along with you as well. 00:37:46.840 --> 00:37:48.440 I don't like the way you do things. 00:37:48.480 --> 00:37:49.539 I don't like your style. 00:37:49.539 --> 00:37:54.099 I don't like your personality maybe rubs me wrong. 00:37:54.360 --> 00:37:57.699 Or the way you do ministry isn't the way I like it. 00:37:57.719 --> 00:37:58.639 Whatever it may be. 00:37:59.460 --> 00:37:59.639 Okay? 00:37:59.960 --> 00:38:01.360 I get along with these people. 00:38:01.460 --> 00:38:02.559 I don't need you. 00:38:03.159 --> 00:38:04.320 And that's a lie too. 00:38:04.320 --> 00:38:21.500 If you believe that and you communicate that and you act like you don't need someone else, and maybe not totally outright you're saying you don't need them, but like in the way you act to them or you're a little cold to them or you're dismissive of them, you're kind of condescending of them. 00:38:21.500 --> 00:38:25.619 Or maybe if you go even as far as speaking ill of them and slandering them. 00:38:25.619 --> 00:38:31.059 If you're doing that, you're creating an atmosphere, a church that's unhealthy. 00:38:31.059 --> 00:38:33.779 You're creating a church that's not healthy. 00:38:34.579 --> 00:38:38.199 It's, we can't disqualify ourselves and we can't disqualify others. 00:38:38.400 --> 00:38:42.000 We can't say I don't belong and we also can't say I don't need you. 00:38:42.619 --> 00:38:44.840 A healthy church says I need you. 00:38:44.840 --> 00:38:47.019 I need you. 00:38:47.260 --> 00:38:48.340 And you need me. 00:38:48.800 --> 00:38:50.380 And we're going to learn how to figure this out. 00:38:50.780 --> 00:38:54.100 I want you to feel accepted and loved and beloved and belong. 00:38:55.140 --> 00:39:01.160 And I also am not going to disqualify myself. 00:39:02.920 --> 00:39:09.059 Now, we're not going to, that doesn't mean it's a free for all and that everybody can just come in on their own terms. 00:39:09.760 --> 00:39:12.780 There's still things, there's still expectations that have to be there. 00:39:12.780 --> 00:39:16.000 Otherwise, that'll never work. 00:39:16.080 --> 00:39:16.780 That'll never happen. 00:39:17.060 --> 00:39:20.160 Just like in a body, there's specific expectations and rules. 00:39:20.600 --> 00:39:22.640 Your limbs just can't go rogue. 00:39:22.840 --> 00:39:25.300 Or this whole thing called a body doesn't work. 00:39:25.500 --> 00:39:26.780 It's the same thing in the church. 00:39:27.640 --> 00:39:27.780 Okay? 00:39:28.200 --> 00:39:32.620 Because God has an idea for the body to be equally cared for. 00:39:32.900 --> 00:39:33.480 Do you know this? 00:39:33.880 --> 00:39:35.420 It's at the end of 1 Corinthians 12. 00:39:35.500 --> 00:39:38.840 Verse 24 says God has so composed the body. 00:39:38.840 --> 00:39:42.540 So he's saying here, God made the body in a certain way. 00:39:43.340 --> 00:39:45.260 That's kind of what this verb is meaning, right? 00:39:45.620 --> 00:39:47.120 God so composed the body. 00:39:47.200 --> 00:39:54.060 Or another way to say it is, God made the body in a specific way, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it. 00:39:55.040 --> 00:39:55.480 Why? 00:39:55.680 --> 00:39:58.280 So that there may be no division in the body. 00:39:59.300 --> 00:40:01.320 So that there may be no division in the body. 00:40:01.440 --> 00:40:06.600 Sometimes there's division in the body because we're disqualifying ourselves or we're disqualifying other people. 00:40:07.420 --> 00:40:11.779 Sometimes there's division in the body because we're not realizing that God is the one who composed the body. 00:40:11.780 --> 00:40:16.560 And God is composing even the expectations in that body. 00:40:16.559 --> 00:40:20.019 And by not respecting the fact that God composed the body and brought it together. 00:40:20.019 --> 00:40:26.139 And by not respecting the leaders God had put into the church to compose it in a specific way with certain expectations. 00:40:26.780 --> 00:40:29.579 What we're ending up doing is causing division in the body. 00:40:30.380 --> 00:40:33.199 And God composed the body in a way that that wouldn't happen. 00:40:33.579 --> 00:40:35.320 That there wouldn't be division in the body. 00:40:35.539 --> 00:40:38.139 But that the members would have the same care for one another. 00:40:39.380 --> 00:40:41.840 If one member suffers, all suffer together. 00:40:42.079 --> 00:40:44.219 If one member is honored, all rejoice together. 00:40:44.219 --> 00:40:48.000 That's the way he composed the body is that we would have the same care for one another. 00:40:48.779 --> 00:40:48.939 Okay? 00:40:49.500 --> 00:40:53.759 You can't have the same care for one another if we don't have the same expectations on one another. 00:40:53.959 --> 00:40:59.379 You can't have the same care for one another if we're not going in the same direction together. 00:41:00.500 --> 00:41:04.079 It's important for us to have that same care for one another. 00:41:04.459 --> 00:41:07.000 So in essence, what am I saying partnership is? 00:41:07.119 --> 00:41:12.659 Saying partnership, a partner is a person who takes part in an activity with another. 00:41:12.659 --> 00:41:16.259 Or another way to put it would be a partner is one who shares. 00:41:16.719 --> 00:41:16.879 Okay? 00:41:17.139 --> 00:41:21.359 When he shares a task with another or one who shares ownership with another. 00:41:21.739 --> 00:41:21.899 Right? 00:41:21.940 --> 00:41:26.239 This is why, you know, in businesses we say it's a two-way partnership, four-way partnership, whatever we say. 00:41:26.579 --> 00:41:28.159 And that's how the ownership is split up. 00:41:28.279 --> 00:41:28.440 Okay? 00:41:28.839 --> 00:41:31.799 Partnership is shared ownership with another person. 00:41:31.799 --> 00:41:33.219 Or you could say with a part owner. 00:41:33.339 --> 00:41:34.779 A partner is a part owner. 00:41:34.780 --> 00:41:43.940 A partner is someone you can count on to share the same priorities, the same vision, and to share the same responsibility. 00:41:44.720 --> 00:41:44.920 Why? 00:41:45.040 --> 00:41:52.620 Because if you have different priorities, if we have a group of people who have different priorities, then we can't truly partner together. 00:41:53.160 --> 00:41:58.440 Because if you treasure one thing and I treasure another thing, then our hearts will be going in different directions. 00:41:58.760 --> 00:41:59.320 How do I know that? 00:41:59.320 --> 00:42:10.200 Matthew 6.21 says where your treasure is, what you treasure, what you value, or another way to say it, what you prioritize, there your heart will be also. 00:42:10.539 --> 00:42:13.600 Your heart naturally follows what you prioritize or value. 00:42:14.080 --> 00:42:18.760 So if we don't prioritize or value the same thing, we won't be of one heart. 00:42:19.940 --> 00:42:22.019 Our hearts will be in all different directions. 00:42:22.019 --> 00:42:25.259 And we won't be able to have the same care for one another. 00:42:25.980 --> 00:42:26.139 Okay? 00:42:27.219 --> 00:42:35.099 In the same way, if we have different visions of how our priorities are to be fleshed out, then we can't truly partner with one another. 00:42:35.259 --> 00:42:36.840 Because we have two visions. 00:42:37.099 --> 00:42:41.139 Or to use the word that the Bible used, we have division. 00:42:41.940 --> 00:42:43.039 Di means two. 00:42:43.460 --> 00:42:44.400 You have two visions. 00:42:45.400 --> 00:42:48.780 And a house divided against itself can't stand. 00:42:48.880 --> 00:42:49.759 Mark 3.25. 00:42:49.760 --> 00:42:59.920 And so if one group of people in our church believes we're supposed to go this way, another group of people in our church believes we're supposed to go this way, you think we're going to go the same way? 00:43:00.480 --> 00:43:00.920 No. 00:43:01.360 --> 00:43:02.140 That's division. 00:43:02.380 --> 00:43:03.200 That's two visions. 00:43:04.300 --> 00:43:07.560 A church divided against itself, it can't stand. 00:43:08.520 --> 00:43:09.820 That's Jesus' words. 00:43:10.080 --> 00:43:10.280 Right? 00:43:10.720 --> 00:43:11.520 Mark 3.25. 00:43:11.519 --> 00:43:23.780 And thirdly, if we have the same priorities, and we even have the same vision of how those priorities are fleshed out, but we don't share responsibility, then we can't partner. 00:43:23.780 --> 00:43:33.820 Because if one of us thinks we don't belong or that we don't need each other, then we can't partner because we're alone and partnership is together. 00:43:33.820 --> 00:43:42.920 So by very nature, saying you don't need me puts me alone, and me saying I don't need you makes me alone. 00:43:43.340 --> 00:43:46.480 And the truth is, the language of togetherness is all over the Bible. 00:43:47.160 --> 00:43:48.280 We're to do this together. 00:43:48.940 --> 00:43:52.039 So it needs to be, our priority needs to be the kingdom of God. 00:43:52.120 --> 00:43:54.200 It needs to be done in all of life, and it needs to be done together. 00:43:54.199 --> 00:44:00.039 Amos 3.3 in the New King James says, can two walk together unless they are agreed? 00:44:02.519 --> 00:44:17.059 Is this not the reason why so often churches can't do things together, or can't be a healthy church, is because they can't agree on what their priorities are, and what the vision is for how those priorities are fleshed out, and they can't agree on shared responsibility? 00:44:17.659 --> 00:44:19.419 Can two walk together unless they are agreed? 00:44:19.480 --> 00:44:20.439 That's a rhetorical question. 00:44:20.519 --> 00:44:21.199 The answer is no. 00:44:22.139 --> 00:44:22.879 They can't. 00:44:24.199 --> 00:44:27.639 House divided against itself cannot stand. 00:44:28.099 --> 00:44:43.299 1 Corinthians 1.10 says, I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you may be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 00:44:44.399 --> 00:44:50.960 So when it comes to our church, Christ's church, our mission is the kingdom of God and all of life together. 00:44:50.960 --> 00:44:51.599 Okay? 00:44:51.599 --> 00:44:51.659 Okay? 00:44:52.659 --> 00:44:54.720 Shared priorities, kingdom of God. 00:44:54.960 --> 00:45:00.240 If we share the priority of seeking the kingdom first, because that's what it says, Matthew 6.21. 00:45:01.059 --> 00:45:02.559 I mean, sorry, Matthew 6.33. 00:45:02.559 --> 00:45:11.079 If we share the priority, the first priority of seeking the kingdom first together, now we have unity. 00:45:11.480 --> 00:45:13.179 But we can't just share the same priority. 00:45:13.259 --> 00:45:16.179 It has to be, how is that priority fleshed out? 00:45:16.259 --> 00:45:18.179 We believe it's fleshed out in all of life. 00:45:18.179 --> 00:45:26.799 Because the Bible calls us, 1 Corinthians 15.58 is give ourselves always, all right, fully to the work of the Lord. 00:45:27.239 --> 00:45:28.899 Always and fully to the work of the Lord. 00:45:29.119 --> 00:45:30.079 It's an all of life thing. 00:45:30.859 --> 00:45:34.519 Jesus says, if you don't give up everything, you cannot be my disciple. 00:45:35.199 --> 00:45:36.279 Luke chapter 14. 00:45:36.280 --> 00:45:37.200 Okay? 00:45:37.440 --> 00:45:42.200 So we believe that our mission is the kingdom of God, that it should be fleshed out in all of life. 00:45:42.280 --> 00:45:43.440 The priority is the kingdom of God. 00:45:44.260 --> 00:45:46.720 The vision of how it gets fleshed out is in all of life. 00:45:46.860 --> 00:45:50.820 And then we believe that it should be done together. 00:45:51.360 --> 00:45:52.960 And we should share the responsibility. 00:45:53.580 --> 00:45:55.700 It's not just about a bunch of paid professionals. 00:45:55.880 --> 00:45:58.519 It's not just, you know, the church staff. 00:45:58.620 --> 00:45:59.860 It's not just, no. 00:45:59.860 --> 00:46:06.340 It's that we all share responsibility together and then we got something. 00:46:07.180 --> 00:46:11.599 A partner is someone we can count on to seek first the kingdom of God in all of life together. 00:46:12.640 --> 00:46:13.039 Okay? 00:46:13.620 --> 00:46:15.820 If it's not first, then it's not partnership. 00:46:15.960 --> 00:46:18.039 If the kingdom isn't first, it's not partnership. 00:46:18.680 --> 00:46:22.980 If you're seeking the kingdom and it's just a part of your life, then it's not partnership. 00:46:23.160 --> 00:46:24.320 There needs to be equal buy-in. 00:46:25.099 --> 00:46:29.519 And if you're seeking it on your own, but not together, then it's not partnership. 00:46:29.860 --> 00:46:39.120 Our partners are the ones who are, who are leaders are accountable for leading and who 00:46:39.120 --> 00:46:43.059 in return are accountable to their leaders for growing and participating in the mission 00:46:43.059 --> 00:46:43.559 of God. 00:46:44.200 --> 00:46:46.400 At the end of the day, our partners are the ones we count on. 00:46:46.880 --> 00:46:50.500 And if we have a group of people we can count on, we have a church that's going to be healthy. 00:46:50.620 --> 00:46:51.940 We have a church that's going to be united. 00:46:52.760 --> 00:46:58.360 And I really believe that united partnership conviction is extremely important for a healthy 00:46:58.360 --> 00:46:59.260 church experience. 00:46:59.260 --> 00:47:02.380 And I'm asking you, are you neutral to this? 00:47:02.520 --> 00:47:04.480 Are you even embarrassed by this? 00:47:04.660 --> 00:47:06.000 Or are you convicted of it? 00:47:06.060 --> 00:47:13.240 And I'm saying, I believe you and I need to be convicted of the need to be one body, 00:47:13.400 --> 00:47:16.700 partnered together for the sake of the church. 00:47:16.820 --> 00:47:24.120 I think we need to be bold in it, in our espousing it and saying, hey, this is how our church is 00:47:24.120 --> 00:47:24.440 healthy. 00:47:24.440 --> 00:47:28.860 I think that's going to be key in the long term for us having a healthy church. 00:47:29.079 --> 00:47:30.820 And you might say, well, how do we buy into that? 00:47:30.880 --> 00:47:32.159 We buy in because we're bought. 00:47:33.539 --> 00:47:35.159 You buy in because you're bought. 00:47:35.300 --> 00:47:38.159 1 Corinthians 6 20 says, you were bought with a price. 00:47:38.240 --> 00:47:39.539 So glorify God with your body. 00:47:39.780 --> 00:47:41.000 Your life is not your own. 00:47:41.740 --> 00:47:41.880 Okay. 00:47:41.880 --> 00:47:42.940 Your life is not your own. 00:47:43.019 --> 00:47:44.000 You were bought with a price. 00:47:44.380 --> 00:47:46.240 So we buy in because we're bought. 00:47:46.420 --> 00:47:49.579 When you're no longer your own, then you don't fight for your rights. 00:47:49.840 --> 00:47:51.079 You submit to Jesus. 00:47:51.680 --> 00:47:55.880 And when a church is all agreed upon seeking the kingdom of God first, doing it in all of 00:47:55.880 --> 00:47:56.960 life and doing it together. 00:47:57.559 --> 00:47:58.900 Now we have something potent. 00:47:59.260 --> 00:47:59.460 Amen. 00:47:59.460 --> 00:47:59.599 Amen. 00:47:59.599 --> 00:48:00.659 Amen. 00:48:00.799 --> 00:48:01.259 Let's stand.