WEBVTT 00:00:00.680 --> 00:00:04.080 That song that the choir just did is one of my favorite songs out there. 00:00:05.000 --> 00:00:06.759 Just love the message of it. 00:00:08.560 --> 00:00:12.480 I don't know who did it first, but the first place I heard it was the group Selah. 00:00:13.580 --> 00:00:16.120 Y'all ever heard them? They did a fantastic job with it, 00:00:16.140 --> 00:00:18.660 and I thought our choir did very well with that. 00:00:20.519 --> 00:00:24.440 Let's go to the book of 1 Corinthians, 00:00:25.199 --> 00:00:27.300 Paul's first letter to the church in Corinth, 00:00:27.300 --> 00:00:35.219 and we are continuing on our practical preaching series on We Are the Church. 00:00:35.700 --> 00:00:37.299 We Are the Church. 00:00:38.939 --> 00:00:40.200 Is that working? 00:00:45.740 --> 00:00:47.060 Hold up a minute. 00:00:51.439 --> 00:00:53.799 There we go. Got it. 00:00:53.799 --> 00:00:58.799 All right. We talked about this by way of recap last Sunday. 00:00:59.259 --> 00:01:02.179 We don't just go to church. We are the church. 00:01:02.280 --> 00:01:03.599 Let's read that together if we can. 00:01:04.039 --> 00:01:07.599 We don't just go to church. We are the church. 00:01:07.700 --> 00:01:08.620 And one more time. 00:01:09.019 --> 00:01:13.200 We don't just go to church. We are the church. 00:01:13.319 --> 00:01:15.079 What do we mean when we say by that? 00:01:15.079 --> 00:01:19.920 Well, we're talking about the biblical word that we get the idea of church from, 00:01:20.039 --> 00:01:23.179 and that word is a Greek word called ekklesia. 00:01:23.819 --> 00:01:27.700 And you pronounce it just like you see down there in English, ekklesia. 00:01:28.159 --> 00:01:34.060 It means an assembly, a congregation, a called-out gathering of people, 00:01:34.359 --> 00:01:40.039 and in this case, a called-out gathering of believers in Jesus, Jesus' followers. 00:01:40.040 --> 00:01:45.000 So we're talking about the idea of ecclesiology, 00:01:45.620 --> 00:01:48.700 which is the doctrine, the Bible doctrine or set of beliefs 00:01:48.700 --> 00:01:54.880 that we glean from the Bible word ekklesia and the Bible's teaching on the church. 00:01:55.000 --> 00:01:58.040 So we put together this doctrine of the church called ecclesiology, 00:01:58.280 --> 00:02:02.800 and that is what this series is covering, this practical preaching series. 00:02:02.980 --> 00:02:07.960 We're not just going to dive into a bunch of theological mumbo-jumbo, etc., 00:02:07.959 --> 00:02:09.579 that you've got to try to wrap your heads around. 00:02:09.659 --> 00:02:12.859 We're trying to make it very practical, very everyday life, 00:02:13.299 --> 00:02:17.079 and draw out those truths and applications from the word of God. 00:02:17.439 --> 00:02:21.400 So last week we said the church, it's not about who? 00:02:22.319 --> 00:02:24.039 Me. It's not about me. 00:02:24.219 --> 00:02:26.900 And it's not about you. It's about God. 00:02:27.319 --> 00:02:30.240 So the church is not about me. 00:02:30.659 --> 00:02:33.840 We talked about how the church is not about me. 00:02:33.840 --> 00:02:41.319 The church is to glorify God, and I glorify God the most when I glorify myself the least. 00:02:41.879 --> 00:02:47.840 We also said it's impossible to glorify God when we hold grudges against one another. 00:02:48.599 --> 00:02:51.659 Now, Jacob Browning has a grudge against me this morning 00:02:51.659 --> 00:02:56.800 because I knocked him out of the steak and shoot skeet shooting last night. 00:02:57.140 --> 00:03:00.300 And so y'all lift him up in prayer this morning if you would. 00:03:00.300 --> 00:03:02.920 No, we're joking around. 00:03:03.040 --> 00:03:05.500 But the church is not about me this morning. 00:03:05.620 --> 00:03:11.620 We'd like to talk about this topic, the church unity in diversity. 00:03:12.360 --> 00:03:14.080 Unity in diversity. 00:03:14.760 --> 00:03:17.540 So we're going to be in 1 Corinthians chapter 12. 00:03:17.800 --> 00:03:22.900 If you would go there in your Bibles, 1 Corinthians chapter 12. 00:03:22.900 --> 00:03:29.680 We'll begin in verse 12, and we'll kind of jump around a little bit in that chapter, 00:03:29.840 --> 00:03:32.800 but we'll mostly stay in 1 Corinthians 12 today. 00:03:33.159 --> 00:03:34.980 There's one other passage we'll get to later. 00:03:35.259 --> 00:03:36.900 Beginning in verse 12. 00:03:36.900 --> 00:04:03.060 Notice that capitalization. 00:04:03.060 --> 00:04:17.360 If the foot should say, because I'm not a hand, I don't belong to the body, 00:04:18.100 --> 00:04:21.740 is it not for that reason any less a part of the body? 00:04:21.879 --> 00:04:25.399 And if the ear should say, because I'm not an eye, I don't belong to the body, 00:04:25.779 --> 00:04:28.500 it is not for that reason any less a part of the body. 00:04:28.579 --> 00:04:31.220 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? 00:04:31.220 --> 00:04:33.900 The whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 00:04:34.180 --> 00:04:39.440 But as it is, God has arranged each one of the parts in the body just as he wanted. 00:04:40.080 --> 00:04:41.060 Let's say that again. 00:04:42.060 --> 00:04:42.640 Verse 18. 00:04:42.840 --> 00:04:54.300 As it is, God has arranged each one of the parts in the body just as he wanted. 00:04:55.600 --> 00:04:56.500 Verse 19. 00:04:56.500 --> 00:05:00.540 And if they were all the same part, where would the whole body be? 00:05:01.220 --> 00:05:04.900 As it is, there are many parts, but one body. 00:05:06.240 --> 00:05:08.500 The eye cannot say to the hand, I don't need you. 00:05:08.960 --> 00:05:11.720 Or again, the head can't say to the feet, I don't need you. 00:05:12.240 --> 00:05:17.140 On the contrary, those parts of the body that are weaker are indispensable. 00:05:19.060 --> 00:05:19.560 Indispensable. 00:05:20.360 --> 00:05:23.080 And those parts of the body that we would consider less honorable, 00:05:23.340 --> 00:05:25.100 we clothe these with greater honor. 00:05:25.100 --> 00:05:28.280 And our unrespectable parts are treated with greater respect, 00:05:28.280 --> 00:05:30.960 which our respectable parts do not need. 00:05:30.960 --> 00:05:36.540 Instead, God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the less honorable, 00:05:36.740 --> 00:05:41.300 so that there would be no division in the body. 00:05:41.300 --> 00:05:45.819 That there would be no division in the body. 00:05:45.819 --> 00:05:51.980 But that the members would have the same concern for each other. 00:05:52.980 --> 00:05:56.720 So if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it. 00:05:57.300 --> 00:06:02.319 If one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. 00:06:02.319 --> 00:06:06.120 Now you are the body of Christ. 00:06:06.920 --> 00:06:10.120 And individual members of it. 00:06:10.980 --> 00:06:18.719 So this part of 1 Corinthians 12 really emphasizes the undivided church. 00:06:18.959 --> 00:06:23.240 That there would be no division in the body. 00:06:23.240 --> 00:06:29.280 That's why sometimes we refer to our church as a body of believers. 00:06:29.280 --> 00:06:32.300 Because we get that terminology from the scriptures. 00:06:33.579 --> 00:06:41.519 Long time ago, German Christians began to see over the course of time 00:06:41.519 --> 00:06:46.120 and theological trends began to see the church as more of a place. 00:06:46.120 --> 00:06:54.000 And so they came up, they started using the term kirche, or K-I-R-C-H-E. 00:06:54.180 --> 00:06:56.980 I do not speak German, so I'm probably pronouncing that wrong. 00:06:57.620 --> 00:07:04.139 But K-I-R-C-H-E, they started using that word for the word church. 00:07:04.959 --> 00:07:08.740 See how similar it sounds to our English word church. 00:07:09.560 --> 00:07:14.819 And that's kind of where that word that we all use so commonly came from. 00:07:14.819 --> 00:07:21.899 Because if you'll notice, church sounds nothing like ecclesia, which is the Bible word for church. 00:07:22.779 --> 00:07:30.139 And that German word for church actually means more house of the Lord. 00:07:32.539 --> 00:07:35.579 So the emphasis became more on the building. 00:07:36.800 --> 00:07:39.800 And beautiful churches were built up all over Germany. 00:07:39.800 --> 00:07:42.800 And I've gotten to go see some of those churches on trips. 00:07:43.600 --> 00:07:45.160 And they are absolutely stunning. 00:07:45.720 --> 00:07:48.280 Mixed in well with the beautiful castles over there, etc. 00:07:49.280 --> 00:07:58.699 But the emphasis became more on the place, the building, than it did the body of believers. 00:08:00.000 --> 00:08:00.720 The gathering. 00:08:00.720 --> 00:08:08.140 And subtly, in our minds, whether or not we're conscious of it every day, 00:08:08.920 --> 00:08:13.020 we often think of the church more as the building. 00:08:13.140 --> 00:08:16.300 Even if you asked us and said, what is the church? 00:08:16.360 --> 00:08:18.120 Is it a group of people or is it a building? 00:08:18.180 --> 00:08:19.320 We would say, it's the people. 00:08:19.500 --> 00:08:20.420 The church is the people. 00:08:20.420 --> 00:08:30.259 But oftentimes, the way we live signifies more that we see the church as more of a location than a body of believers. 00:08:31.319 --> 00:08:37.860 So these scriptures must be taken very seriously by our church, by our gathering, 00:08:38.519 --> 00:08:42.700 and continually remind us that the church is the people. 00:08:42.700 --> 00:08:47.520 And when you get a group of people together, what do you get? 00:08:49.259 --> 00:08:50.640 Anybody want to take a guess at it? 00:08:52.860 --> 00:08:53.540 What's that? 00:08:55.140 --> 00:08:55.540 Division. 00:08:55.980 --> 00:08:56.500 You do. 00:08:57.040 --> 00:08:57.840 You get arguments. 00:08:58.400 --> 00:08:59.420 You get disagreements. 00:08:59.980 --> 00:09:00.879 You get strife. 00:09:00.879 --> 00:09:06.860 When you get a group of people together, you usually have some problems that come along with that. 00:09:06.860 --> 00:09:14.560 However, also when you get a group of people together, oftentimes, great things can be accomplished. 00:09:15.659 --> 00:09:25.360 If you look throughout history, it's usually teams or coming together of people that accomplished great things. 00:09:25.800 --> 00:09:32.039 So you have both positive and negative from the gathering of people. 00:09:32.320 --> 00:09:34.800 But that is what God chose to do. 00:09:34.799 --> 00:09:44.379 He didn't institute any of us as Christian maverick commandos that were just going to go out as a one-man army and go win the world for Jesus Christ. 00:09:44.479 --> 00:09:45.979 That's not how God set it up. 00:09:46.620 --> 00:09:53.579 He set it up that we would form and assemble into local expressions of the body of Christ. 00:09:53.759 --> 00:09:55.740 We have two bodies of Christ. 00:09:56.059 --> 00:09:58.039 There is the universal church. 00:09:58.039 --> 00:10:03.919 There is the universal body of Christ that contains all believers in Jesus from all time. 00:10:04.799 --> 00:10:13.199 Those who have ever put their faith in Christ are part of that universal historical body of Christ. 00:10:13.319 --> 00:10:18.159 However, you can't be the pastor of that church. 00:10:18.620 --> 00:10:20.479 You can't be a deacon in that church. 00:10:20.979 --> 00:10:22.620 You can't go attend their services. 00:10:23.740 --> 00:10:28.639 You can't observe the ordinances that God gave us in baptism and the Lord's Supper. 00:10:28.639 --> 00:10:37.559 You can't do any of the things that the church was commanded if all you are is a member of the universal body of Christ, the universal church. 00:10:38.340 --> 00:10:41.439 And so there has to be local expressions of that. 00:10:41.759 --> 00:10:45.199 There have to be local assemblies of the church. 00:10:45.279 --> 00:10:47.059 And that's why we gather here today. 00:10:47.659 --> 00:10:54.580 That's why God instituted those local gatherings all across the Middle East, all around the world. 00:10:54.580 --> 00:10:56.580 And they began to spread. 00:10:57.320 --> 00:10:59.440 And the gospel was carried forth. 00:10:59.540 --> 00:11:01.259 The gospel was propagated. 00:11:01.940 --> 00:11:05.920 The gospel was spread all around their areas and even around the world. 00:11:05.920 --> 00:11:12.240 So much that they earned a reputation that they were turning the world upside down for the name of Jesus. 00:11:13.259 --> 00:11:16.840 So, we have the universal church. 00:11:17.560 --> 00:11:20.160 But we have the local church. 00:11:20.159 --> 00:11:27.500 The local church is what God is speaking to here in 1 Corinthians, the church in Corinth. 00:11:28.500 --> 00:11:37.240 And he's included it in Scripture for us to gather truth from today, to gather applications from for our church today. 00:11:37.639 --> 00:11:42.839 And so, number one, we are to be an undivided, undivided church. 00:11:42.980 --> 00:11:44.659 That is the first theme. 00:11:44.659 --> 00:11:50.339 And when I say number one, that's the first theme that we're looking at from 1 Corinthians 12, the undivided church. 00:11:50.779 --> 00:11:53.259 Now, let's jump back and go to verse 4. 00:11:54.139 --> 00:11:56.019 Same chapter, 1 Corinthians 12. 00:11:56.100 --> 00:11:57.600 Let's jump up to verse 4. 00:11:58.379 --> 00:12:02.100 And we'll spend most of the rest of the time talking about this second theme. 00:12:02.399 --> 00:12:09.059 But then it'll all hopefully tie together when we say unity in diversity. 00:12:09.059 --> 00:12:10.639 So, verse 4. 00:12:11.379 --> 00:12:14.839 There are different gifts, but the same Spirit. 00:12:15.019 --> 00:12:17.719 1 Corinthians 12, 4. 00:12:18.119 --> 00:12:20.359 There are different gifts, but the same Spirit. 00:12:20.579 --> 00:12:23.459 There are different ministries, but the same Lord. 00:12:24.399 --> 00:12:30.719 There are different activities, but the same God produces each gift in each person. 00:12:32.039 --> 00:12:33.000 Did you catch that? 00:12:33.759 --> 00:12:36.519 Different gifts, same Holy Spirit. 00:12:36.519 --> 00:12:40.240 Different ministries from the same Lord. 00:12:40.939 --> 00:12:46.779 Different activities, but the same God produces each gift in each person. 00:12:47.659 --> 00:12:51.240 So, this theme is spiritual gifts. 00:12:53.079 --> 00:12:57.100 Now, you might be a gifted individual, alright? 00:12:58.379 --> 00:13:02.179 You might have been part of a gifted program in school. 00:13:02.860 --> 00:13:06.000 And people looked at you and thought, wow, what a gifted person. 00:13:06.519 --> 00:13:08.579 Or you might not be. 00:13:09.340 --> 00:13:10.659 And that's okay. 00:13:11.139 --> 00:13:13.319 We're not talking about that always. 00:13:14.019 --> 00:13:17.319 We're talking about gifts that the Holy Spirit gives to you. 00:13:17.779 --> 00:13:21.879 Whether or not you're good at football, or whether or not you can play the piano like June, 00:13:22.240 --> 00:13:25.860 or whether or not you can sing like the choir or anything else. 00:13:26.419 --> 00:13:30.860 Those things can be good, and those things can absolutely be used in the church. 00:13:30.860 --> 00:13:40.820 But God is talking specifically here about spiritual gifts that the Holy Spirit imparts to each one of us. 00:13:40.879 --> 00:13:45.940 And let me tell you, each one of us that is a child of God, and you put your faith in Jesus, 00:13:46.180 --> 00:13:49.060 is gifted by the Holy Spirit. 00:13:49.759 --> 00:13:56.779 Each one of us, every person sitting in this room, has their spiritual gifts that God has given you. 00:13:56.779 --> 00:13:58.199 Let's jump over. 00:14:00.600 --> 00:14:04.480 As we look at number one, this is number one in the outline today. 00:14:05.120 --> 00:14:08.199 By the way, we're going to start tweaking the bulletin a little bit. 00:14:08.279 --> 00:14:10.220 Y'all remember when we had the folding bulletins? 00:14:10.740 --> 00:14:13.039 I've been told that that was a thing here. 00:14:13.139 --> 00:14:14.259 We had the bulletins that fold. 00:14:15.220 --> 00:14:16.459 Y'all looking at me like, what? 00:14:16.720 --> 00:14:17.039 Really? 00:14:18.120 --> 00:14:19.379 Such a thing exists? 00:14:19.379 --> 00:14:22.200 We did, okay? 00:14:22.480 --> 00:14:23.519 Unless I've been lied to. 00:14:23.620 --> 00:14:24.139 We had them. 00:14:24.639 --> 00:14:25.980 Whether or not we're getting them. 00:14:26.399 --> 00:14:28.820 Pretty soon, we're going to start having that bulletin that folds. 00:14:29.019 --> 00:14:30.120 And here's the part. 00:14:30.200 --> 00:14:32.279 There's going to be some engagement on your part, okay? 00:14:32.799 --> 00:14:35.799 In one of those pages, we're going to have the outline. 00:14:35.919 --> 00:14:37.039 We're going to have some blanks. 00:14:37.460 --> 00:14:41.379 So that means you actually have to work a little bit during the service. 00:14:42.539 --> 00:14:43.620 Y'all are excited, aren't you? 00:14:44.080 --> 00:14:45.320 This is going to be great. 00:14:45.320 --> 00:14:47.200 God is love. 00:14:47.300 --> 00:14:48.860 But it'll say, God is blank. 00:14:49.180 --> 00:14:50.040 Fill in the blank. 00:14:50.180 --> 00:14:50.480 Love. 00:14:50.820 --> 00:14:52.340 Means you have to pay attention a little bit, okay? 00:14:52.920 --> 00:14:53.740 All right, it'll be good. 00:14:55.000 --> 00:14:59.080 So, number one, in this outline today, you don't have to write it down unless you're just 00:14:59.080 --> 00:15:02.480 taking your own notes, but God equips us with unique gifts. 00:15:02.560 --> 00:15:03.420 That's the principle here. 00:15:03.780 --> 00:15:05.240 God equips us with unique gifts. 00:15:05.520 --> 00:15:09.240 Now let's jump over to the other passage we're going to spend time in today, which is Romans 00:15:09.240 --> 00:15:09.940 chapter 12. 00:15:10.520 --> 00:15:15.080 So, both chapter 12s, that's an easy thing to remember when you're thinking, where is spiritual 00:15:15.080 --> 00:15:16.360 gifts talked about in the Bible? 00:15:16.759 --> 00:15:18.580 Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12. 00:15:18.680 --> 00:15:21.740 Those are two key passages that talk about spiritual gifts. 00:15:22.180 --> 00:15:24.060 So, Romans 12, let's jump over there. 00:15:24.820 --> 00:15:27.720 It's one book back from 1 Corinthians. 00:15:28.540 --> 00:15:30.580 Kind of turn backwards until you find Romans. 00:15:32.740 --> 00:15:34.400 Romans chapter 12. 00:15:34.399 --> 00:15:39.299 And it's also on the screen for your convenience. 00:15:39.579 --> 00:15:40.840 But beginning in verse 3. 00:15:41.000 --> 00:15:47.059 For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly 00:15:47.059 --> 00:15:48.179 than he should think. 00:15:48.419 --> 00:15:51.379 Well, that is just good advice for all of us right there, okay? 00:15:51.600 --> 00:15:57.039 We can park right there for a minute and preach a whole sermon that you and I often think much 00:15:57.039 --> 00:15:59.039 more highly of ourselves than we should. 00:15:59.039 --> 00:16:06.079 And the Bible specifically commands us, do not think of yourself more highly than you 00:16:06.079 --> 00:16:06.620 ought to think. 00:16:06.699 --> 00:16:08.579 Instead, think sensibly. 00:16:09.539 --> 00:16:09.980 Sensibly. 00:16:11.319 --> 00:16:16.779 So, what do you think would happen if somebody's back there just kind of bragging on themselves 00:16:16.779 --> 00:16:20.899 and talking about how great they are and how skilled they are and how accomplished they 00:16:20.899 --> 00:16:24.839 are and all the great things they've done in their life and somebody just said, you're 00:16:24.840 --> 00:16:25.920 just not talking sense. 00:16:26.960 --> 00:16:29.100 You're just not talking good sense right now. 00:16:29.220 --> 00:16:33.580 Because the Bible says you're not thinking sensibly about yourself, okay? 00:16:34.879 --> 00:16:43.780 So, think sensibly as God has distributed, sorry, a measure of faith to each one, to each 00:16:43.780 --> 00:16:44.240 person. 00:16:44.740 --> 00:16:48.320 Every one of you, God has distributed a measure of faith. 00:16:48.720 --> 00:16:49.940 Now, verse 4, here we go. 00:16:49.940 --> 00:16:55.880 As we have many parts in one body and all the parts do not have the same function. 00:16:56.980 --> 00:16:59.460 We kind of covered some of that in 1 Corinthians 12. 00:16:59.900 --> 00:17:05.580 In the same way, we who are many are one body in Christ. 00:17:05.680 --> 00:17:08.580 You look across, there are many people in here this morning. 00:17:09.180 --> 00:17:13.940 There's a wide variety of people from all different kinds of backgrounds and socioeconomic 00:17:13.940 --> 00:17:20.000 statuses and, you know, my daddy was this and my daddy was this and my grandpa was this 00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:23.120 and my grandpa was this and they didn't get along and et cetera, et cetera. 00:17:23.259 --> 00:17:25.220 But look, all that, set it aside. 00:17:25.340 --> 00:17:29.480 We are many, but we are now one body in Christ. 00:17:31.539 --> 00:17:37.019 You may not be one body in Clay County, but you are one body in Christ. 00:17:37.019 --> 00:17:38.920 Does that make sense? 00:17:39.779 --> 00:17:46.139 There might be history between you and somebody else, but in Christ, that is under the blood 00:17:46.139 --> 00:17:46.559 of Jesus. 00:17:47.379 --> 00:17:50.160 In Christ, he can rise above all that. 00:17:50.819 --> 00:17:56.039 He can bring together anyone in his name with his power. 00:17:56.900 --> 00:18:02.440 So we who are many are one body in Christ and individually, I love how the Bible puts this, 00:18:02.519 --> 00:18:05.359 we are members of one another. 00:18:05.359 --> 00:18:14.379 We are members, not just of the body, the large body, but we are members of one another, 00:18:15.459 --> 00:18:19.279 intimately related to one another in this body. 00:18:19.599 --> 00:18:21.419 I like how Jack Hayford puts this. 00:18:21.500 --> 00:18:25.359 He was a pastor out in California and he wrote the old hymn, Majesty. 00:18:26.139 --> 00:18:28.379 You guys remember that song, Majesty, Worship His Majesty? 00:18:28.479 --> 00:18:29.859 He wrote this and some other songs. 00:18:30.359 --> 00:18:34.079 And he said, Jesus gives us the gift of the Holy Spirit. 00:18:34.079 --> 00:18:38.759 Yet when the Spirit comes, he is loaded with packages. 00:18:40.099 --> 00:18:46.359 He desires us to release, he desires to release much more in us and through us than we could 00:18:46.359 --> 00:18:47.019 ever imagine. 00:18:47.379 --> 00:18:52.019 These gifts are given for delivery, not for accumulation. 00:18:53.059 --> 00:18:56.399 We receive them to pass on to others. 00:18:56.400 --> 00:18:59.360 Did you catch that last part? 00:19:00.500 --> 00:19:07.680 God brings all these special packages for us, all these special gifts, but they're for delivery, 00:19:07.960 --> 00:19:09.320 not accumulation. 00:19:09.560 --> 00:19:12.420 We're not just supposed to hoard them and build them up. 00:19:12.620 --> 00:19:17.860 We are supposed to pass them on so they're a blessing to others. 00:19:17.859 --> 00:19:26.459 So, God equips us with unique gifts, but God also equips us for a unique role. 00:19:27.299 --> 00:19:29.879 God equips us for a unique role. 00:19:29.979 --> 00:19:31.939 Let's go back to Romans 12 again. 00:19:32.079 --> 00:19:34.159 Stay there, Romans 12 and pick it up in verse 6. 00:19:34.839 --> 00:19:35.799 Pick it up in verse 6. 00:19:35.879 --> 00:19:39.339 According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts. 00:19:39.339 --> 00:19:46.039 If prophecy, use your gift according to the proportion of one's faith. 00:19:46.639 --> 00:19:50.279 If it is service, use your gift in service. 00:19:50.899 --> 00:19:53.859 If it is teaching, use your gift in teaching. 00:19:55.079 --> 00:19:56.279 Let me jump back here. 00:19:56.439 --> 00:19:57.399 It jumped ahead on me. 00:19:57.939 --> 00:19:59.079 Verse 8, here we go. 00:19:59.740 --> 00:20:02.779 If it is exhorting, use your gift in exhortation. 00:20:02.779 --> 00:20:05.500 Giving with generosity. 00:20:06.259 --> 00:20:08.059 Leading with diligence. 00:20:09.019 --> 00:20:11.779 Showing mercy with cheerfulness. 00:20:14.319 --> 00:20:18.379 Interesting, the admonishments that were paired with each gift. 00:20:19.299 --> 00:20:20.480 Let's go back and look at them again. 00:20:21.559 --> 00:20:25.920 If you have prophecy, we talked about this a week before last, I believe it was. 00:20:25.980 --> 00:20:28.119 We said there were the Old Testament prophets, 00:20:28.460 --> 00:20:31.779 but when we read in the Bible of prophecy today, 00:20:31.779 --> 00:20:38.019 we believe firmly that Jesus is the fulfillment of all prophecy in himself. 00:20:38.700 --> 00:20:40.579 He is the prophesied one. 00:20:40.700 --> 00:20:41.379 He is the one. 00:20:41.539 --> 00:20:42.279 He is the Messiah. 00:20:42.420 --> 00:20:44.079 He came and fulfilled all the prophecy. 00:20:44.559 --> 00:20:49.559 And so now we believe that when the New Testament encourages us to prophesy, 00:20:49.779 --> 00:20:52.399 that is the preaching of the Word of God. 00:20:52.559 --> 00:20:54.399 And not necessarily just from the pulpit, 00:20:54.519 --> 00:20:57.879 but is the foretelling rather than the foretelling. 00:20:58.339 --> 00:20:59.460 Understand the distinction there. 00:20:59.619 --> 00:21:01.559 Foretelling is saying what's going to happen in the future. 00:21:01.779 --> 00:21:06.779 Well, we have everything written in Scripture that we need to know is going to happen in the future. 00:21:07.339 --> 00:21:10.339 You can't start filling in the blanks of Scripture with your own opinion 00:21:10.339 --> 00:21:12.039 and then treat that as prophecy. 00:21:12.700 --> 00:21:15.859 And there are a lot of people out there on the internet and in churches 00:21:15.859 --> 00:21:19.879 that will try to tell you and fill in the blanks of their opinion of what's going to happen. 00:21:19.880 --> 00:21:23.240 But we stick to what the Word of God says. 00:21:24.280 --> 00:21:28.240 And so if we are talking about prophecy, it's not foretelling. 00:21:28.440 --> 00:21:29.980 It's forth telling. 00:21:31.440 --> 00:21:36.300 Telling forth, preaching forth, holding forth the Word of God, the gospel message of Jesus. 00:21:36.299 --> 00:21:40.879 So it says, use that in proportion of your faith that God has given you. 00:21:41.259 --> 00:21:43.180 If in service, use it in service. 00:21:43.659 --> 00:21:45.039 If in teaching, teaching. 00:21:45.159 --> 00:21:46.119 Those are obvious things. 00:21:46.539 --> 00:21:48.980 If exhorting, encouraging one another. 00:21:50.099 --> 00:21:54.399 There's some similarities between that and prophesying, forth telling the gospel. 00:21:54.400 --> 00:21:57.860 But it can go more personal, more intimate with exhortation. 00:21:58.280 --> 00:22:01.000 And then giving, be a generous giver. 00:22:01.100 --> 00:22:02.100 Don't be a stingy giver. 00:22:03.200 --> 00:22:05.740 I liked what Bruce was saying earlier with the giving moment. 00:22:05.820 --> 00:22:09.620 We're going to have more and more of those as instead of me just standing up here and saying, 00:22:09.759 --> 00:22:10.820 y'all need to give to the church. 00:22:10.920 --> 00:22:11.940 Y'all need to give to the church. 00:22:12.460 --> 00:22:13.400 That's not what it's about. 00:22:13.820 --> 00:22:17.160 We're going to have some personal testimonies of people who have given back to God 00:22:17.160 --> 00:22:19.360 as an act of worship that giving is. 00:22:20.320 --> 00:22:23.040 You know, some people say, man, I don't need to give to the church. 00:22:23.040 --> 00:22:24.259 Church doesn't need my money. 00:22:24.400 --> 00:22:31.640 Giving is commanded in scripture as an act of worship to God. 00:22:32.480 --> 00:22:38.740 To again, not hoard what he gives you or just use it for your own personal good, 00:22:39.240 --> 00:22:42.220 but to give back to God's work on this earth. 00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:48.820 Whether it's not saying, well, they need this much money, so I guess I'll give some. 00:22:48.820 --> 00:22:53.980 It's saying, I'm going to give to God regardless because that is an act of worship. 00:22:54.400 --> 00:22:54.940 For God. 00:22:55.960 --> 00:22:59.940 The point of this message wasn't to preach about giving today, but we see it here in Romans 12. 00:23:00.080 --> 00:23:02.740 And so if we're giving, it is with generosity. 00:23:02.940 --> 00:23:04.259 And we should all be giving. 00:23:04.519 --> 00:23:07.960 Both of our finances, our time, our energy, etc. 00:23:08.160 --> 00:23:11.140 And being generous givers, not stingy. 00:23:11.200 --> 00:23:12.759 And then leading with diligence. 00:23:12.960 --> 00:23:17.320 I can't tell you how many times people have come to me over the years and said, 00:23:17.319 --> 00:23:18.899 I want to lead in this area. 00:23:19.059 --> 00:23:19.819 I want to lead. 00:23:21.559 --> 00:23:24.279 And I really need to see what their commitment level is. 00:23:25.059 --> 00:23:30.599 Because oftentimes people mean, I want to lead because that looks like it's fun. 00:23:31.279 --> 00:23:34.079 But when it's not fun anymore, I don't want to lead anymore. 00:23:34.079 --> 00:23:41.500 I want to do what you're doing if it means I get the attention or if it means I get a pat on the back 00:23:41.500 --> 00:23:44.599 or if it means I get to have a good time with everybody. 00:23:44.819 --> 00:23:48.419 But when it starts getting hard and when the target is on your back, 00:23:48.559 --> 00:23:50.460 then I don't want to lead anymore. 00:23:50.619 --> 00:23:53.139 So God says we need leaders with diligence. 00:23:53.619 --> 00:23:58.779 Leaders who will be faithful and diligent to the leading that God has called them to do. 00:23:58.980 --> 00:24:01.759 And then showing mercy and doing it with cheerfulness. 00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:06.640 Often times we'll show mercy and it's begrudging. 00:24:07.279 --> 00:24:09.440 Because we don't really want to show mercy. 00:24:11.059 --> 00:24:16.720 And so I think it's very interesting that he used the word be cheerful when you're giving mercy. 00:24:17.039 --> 00:24:21.700 Freely give it as God freely gave it to us. 00:24:23.200 --> 00:24:26.599 Romans 12 verses 6 through 8. 00:24:27.079 --> 00:24:28.660 I like the way Rick Warren put this. 00:24:28.779 --> 00:24:29.879 And let me just say this. 00:24:29.880 --> 00:24:32.580 You'll see all kinds of people that I'll quote from on here. 00:24:32.580 --> 00:24:36.760 This doesn't mean that I'm putting an absolute rubber stamp on their ministry 00:24:36.760 --> 00:24:39.700 and saying everything they've ever done or said in ministry is gospel. 00:24:39.880 --> 00:24:41.240 That is certainly not the case. 00:24:41.320 --> 00:24:44.780 And I hope nobody ever does that to me because I will let you down at some point. 00:24:44.820 --> 00:24:45.420 I guarantee you. 00:24:46.620 --> 00:24:49.240 But I can say that I liked this quote. 00:24:49.300 --> 00:24:50.020 I thought it was great. 00:24:50.280 --> 00:24:53.800 And Rick Warren's given us a lot of great quotes over the years in his books, etc. 00:24:53.799 --> 00:24:56.799 But this one is about spiritual gifts and it was very appropriate. 00:24:56.799 --> 00:25:02.799 Your spiritual gifts were not given for your own benefits, but for the benefit of others. 00:25:03.220 --> 00:25:07.619 Just as other people were given gifts for your benefits. 00:25:08.059 --> 00:25:09.700 Have you ever thought about it from that perspective? 00:25:10.200 --> 00:25:15.599 Oftentimes we love when people use their spiritual gifts for our good. 00:25:15.599 --> 00:25:19.379 But we don't always reciprocate. 00:25:20.219 --> 00:25:22.379 It doesn't always go the other way, right? 00:25:23.219 --> 00:25:27.519 Sometimes we're not willing to stick our neck out there or get out of our comfort zone 00:25:27.519 --> 00:25:30.619 and figure out what the spiritual gifts are that God has given us 00:25:30.619 --> 00:25:35.899 and then use them for the benefit of his body and even our community. 00:25:38.079 --> 00:25:39.639 So it's a two-way street there. 00:25:41.019 --> 00:25:44.679 Spiritual gifts were not just given for your own benefit, but for others. 00:25:44.680 --> 00:25:49.480 Just as the spiritual gifts and those around you benefit you. 00:25:51.180 --> 00:25:52.460 We need each of you. 00:25:53.940 --> 00:25:55.039 We need each of you. 00:25:57.039 --> 00:26:00.420 This church is not responsible. 00:26:01.720 --> 00:26:02.860 Hear me on this, please. 00:26:03.700 --> 00:26:05.279 If you don't hear anything else this morning. 00:26:05.360 --> 00:26:06.799 I hate it when the preacher says that, you know. 00:26:07.140 --> 00:26:08.820 If you don't hear anything else I'm saying, hear this. 00:26:08.920 --> 00:26:10.299 Like, great, so I can tune out the rest? 00:26:11.560 --> 00:26:12.500 That's not what it is. 00:26:12.500 --> 00:26:16.599 But seriously, this is a crucial, vital point. 00:26:16.700 --> 00:26:17.319 Don't miss it. 00:26:18.720 --> 00:26:24.140 We are not responsible for the results of our labor for God. 00:26:25.240 --> 00:26:28.460 But we are responsible for the effort. 00:26:30.200 --> 00:26:31.099 We are. 00:26:31.099 --> 00:26:34.199 We are responsible for the labor. 00:26:35.319 --> 00:26:40.179 We are responsible to try our very best for God. 00:26:40.919 --> 00:26:43.399 Now, will our very best ever be enough? 00:26:43.740 --> 00:26:43.959 No. 00:26:46.119 --> 00:26:53.319 God can take our best and bless it and make it far greater than we could ever make it. 00:26:53.639 --> 00:26:55.799 Make it far more effective than we could ever make it. 00:26:55.799 --> 00:26:58.460 So we are not responsible for the effort. 00:26:58.559 --> 00:26:59.639 Whatever's going on in your life. 00:27:00.000 --> 00:27:01.200 Whatever struggle you're facing. 00:27:01.399 --> 00:27:03.200 Whatever challenge that is there. 00:27:03.299 --> 00:27:04.680 Whatever obstacle you have to overcome. 00:27:06.079 --> 00:27:09.099 You are not responsible for success in that. 00:27:09.740 --> 00:27:11.919 But you are responsible to try. 00:27:12.619 --> 00:27:14.180 You are responsible for the effort. 00:27:14.180 --> 00:27:17.000 That's what God put us on this earth to do. 00:27:17.980 --> 00:27:23.820 Otherwise, he could have just snapped his magic fingers and kind of like Thanos, if you're a Marvel geek like me. 00:27:25.660 --> 00:27:26.360 The blip. 00:27:27.000 --> 00:27:28.060 Anybody know what I'm talking about here? 00:27:29.100 --> 00:27:30.580 You're just too embarrassed to raise your hands. 00:27:32.180 --> 00:27:37.779 Thanos snapped his fingers with the gauntlet on and the infinity stones. 00:27:38.019 --> 00:27:38.880 We're just, I'm sorry. 00:27:39.000 --> 00:27:39.700 We're way off. 00:27:40.259 --> 00:27:41.640 Losing a lot of people right now. 00:27:41.640 --> 00:27:45.480 Half the people in the world disappeared, okay? 00:27:46.100 --> 00:27:46.780 It's crazy. 00:27:47.700 --> 00:27:49.340 So yeah, God could have done it that way. 00:27:49.400 --> 00:27:53.780 He could have snapped his fingers and all the ones who were supposed to be saved would get saved magically. 00:27:53.940 --> 00:27:56.020 And we would all just go to heaven and live happily forever. 00:27:56.180 --> 00:27:57.880 But that's not how he chose to do it. 00:27:58.040 --> 00:27:59.240 He gave us a free will. 00:27:59.480 --> 00:28:00.540 He gave us a choice. 00:28:01.220 --> 00:28:02.900 He gave us responsibility. 00:28:02.900 --> 00:28:13.140 And so he chose to use us, not as his robots, as his flawed, but faithful children. 00:28:13.140 --> 00:28:19.520 So our responsibility is to put out effort on his behalf. 00:28:20.259 --> 00:28:22.120 And the church needs that. 00:28:23.020 --> 00:28:25.200 The church needs your role. 00:28:25.520 --> 00:28:26.960 It needs your gifts. 00:28:28.380 --> 00:28:32.960 Spiritual gifts are for cooperation, not competition. 00:28:32.960 --> 00:28:35.860 I didn't come up with that. 00:28:35.960 --> 00:28:36.860 I thought it was really good. 00:28:37.319 --> 00:28:39.380 I'm not 100% sure who did come up with that. 00:28:39.460 --> 00:28:41.500 I just saw it and there wasn't an author attributed to it. 00:28:41.720 --> 00:28:42.819 But I really liked it. 00:28:42.840 --> 00:28:43.440 So I put it in. 00:28:43.759 --> 00:28:47.660 Spiritual gifts are for cooperation, not competition. 00:28:50.039 --> 00:28:57.960 Oftentimes, in our body, we will compete with one another for who looks the holiest. 00:28:57.960 --> 00:29:02.700 Who seems like they're the best guy, the best girl. 00:29:05.640 --> 00:29:07.640 The Christian life is not a competition. 00:29:08.620 --> 00:29:10.140 The church is not a competition. 00:29:10.319 --> 00:29:13.400 It is meant to be cooperation between one another. 00:29:14.440 --> 00:29:21.980 But the devil always finds a way to wean his way, worm his way in there and find some way to divide us. 00:29:22.460 --> 00:29:24.059 Find some way to make it a competition. 00:29:24.059 --> 00:29:30.039 Find some way to, you know, hit somebody's buttons, press somebody's buttons. 00:29:32.240 --> 00:29:33.619 You've got your hang-ups. 00:29:33.759 --> 00:29:37.139 You've got that thing that nobody better do or you're going to get mad. 00:29:39.079 --> 00:29:42.440 That is killing the church. 00:29:43.740 --> 00:29:46.200 That is the death of the church. 00:29:46.200 --> 00:29:50.660 We always get scared about the world around us. 00:29:51.960 --> 00:29:56.940 Is the world around us lost and seemingly getting more lost every day? 00:29:57.799 --> 00:30:00.720 Are they seemingly getting more godless every day? 00:30:01.600 --> 00:30:01.880 Yeah. 00:30:03.000 --> 00:30:04.640 But you know what's killing churches? 00:30:07.960 --> 00:30:10.100 It's not what they're doing in Congress. 00:30:10.319 --> 00:30:12.840 It's not what they're doing in Hollywood, usually. 00:30:12.839 --> 00:30:16.000 Usually, it's what's happening inside the church. 00:30:16.819 --> 00:30:17.980 That's what kills churches. 00:30:18.559 --> 00:30:20.220 That's what renders us ineffective. 00:30:21.720 --> 00:30:28.939 When we bite at each other and snipe at each other and fight with each other and get that passive aggressiveness. 00:30:30.079 --> 00:30:32.740 That's what kills the body of Christ. 00:30:33.000 --> 00:30:33.899 That's what kills family. 00:30:34.519 --> 00:30:37.039 A house divided cannot stand. 00:30:37.039 --> 00:30:41.220 So, we are the church. 00:30:41.759 --> 00:30:45.859 And the church must find unity in her diversity. 00:30:46.859 --> 00:30:48.240 We are not all alike. 00:30:49.099 --> 00:30:50.440 We are not all the same. 00:30:50.819 --> 00:30:52.839 We're not all going to see things the same way. 00:30:53.180 --> 00:30:55.440 We're not all going to interpret things the same way. 00:30:55.879 --> 00:30:57.879 We're not all going to agree on everything. 00:30:58.220 --> 00:31:00.379 But we cannot let that divide us. 00:31:00.460 --> 00:31:02.500 We must find unity in that. 00:31:02.879 --> 00:31:03.599 And guess what? 00:31:03.599 --> 00:31:09.539 God gets glory when people who wouldn't otherwise get along, get along. 00:31:10.859 --> 00:31:17.759 When people who would never gather together or hang out each other's homes or become best of friends. 00:31:17.919 --> 00:31:20.500 When they gather together faithfully every Sunday. 00:31:20.759 --> 00:31:23.399 And they greet each other warmly in genuine love. 00:31:23.559 --> 00:31:24.980 And they sing songs together. 00:31:25.259 --> 00:31:27.679 And they shake each other's hand and give each other hugs. 00:31:27.680 --> 00:31:30.759 And they get along for the glory of God. 00:31:30.900 --> 00:31:31.900 God gets the glory. 00:31:33.259 --> 00:31:35.580 That's true in teams at work. 00:31:35.779 --> 00:31:37.799 That's true in your Sunday school class. 00:31:38.000 --> 00:31:39.320 That's true in your home. 00:31:39.539 --> 00:31:41.759 That's true right here in the church. 00:31:41.880 --> 00:31:45.620 The church must find unity in her diversity. 00:31:45.799 --> 00:31:46.560 So, what are the takeaways? 00:31:48.560 --> 00:31:49.279 Excuse me. 00:31:49.380 --> 00:31:53.759 My role is not more important than anyone else's. 00:31:54.560 --> 00:31:55.920 Let's take that away from here today. 00:31:55.920 --> 00:31:59.920 My role is not more important than anyone else's. 00:32:01.140 --> 00:32:01.340 Okay? 00:32:02.039 --> 00:32:02.900 Got that one down? 00:32:04.240 --> 00:32:04.980 Flip side. 00:32:05.140 --> 00:32:08.420 My role is not less important than anyone else's. 00:32:09.420 --> 00:32:11.240 There's another side to pride. 00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:14.120 Often, pride will say, I'm the greatest. 00:32:14.900 --> 00:32:15.600 I'm awesome. 00:32:15.860 --> 00:32:16.360 Look at me. 00:32:17.779 --> 00:32:23.240 And then other times, other people's personalities, pride will affect itself in a different way. 00:32:23.240 --> 00:32:25.440 It will say, I'm the worst. 00:32:26.420 --> 00:32:27.340 Don't look at me. 00:32:28.620 --> 00:32:28.940 Oh. 00:32:30.500 --> 00:32:31.340 I can't. 00:32:31.620 --> 00:32:32.680 It's just not who I am. 00:32:33.620 --> 00:32:35.220 I don't get out there in front of people. 00:32:35.460 --> 00:32:36.200 I don't serve. 00:32:37.160 --> 00:32:37.900 It's just not me. 00:32:38.180 --> 00:32:38.860 Just leave me alone. 00:32:40.140 --> 00:32:42.220 And you think that you're not essential. 00:32:42.880 --> 00:32:43.880 That you're not crucial. 00:32:44.279 --> 00:32:45.320 That it doesn't really matter. 00:32:45.720 --> 00:32:47.960 If you don't show up for church, nobody's going to miss you. 00:32:47.960 --> 00:32:53.519 You think that you don't necessarily have a role to play in the body of Christ. 00:32:55.920 --> 00:33:03.500 Every one of us, however pride manifests itself in our life, every one of us have to put that to death every day. 00:33:03.500 --> 00:33:05.880 The Bible calls it mortifying the flesh. 00:33:06.220 --> 00:33:12.240 Putting to death that fleshly sin that weakens us, that distorts our thinking. 00:33:13.299 --> 00:33:17.960 And says we are greater than we are or we are less than we are. 00:33:18.500 --> 00:33:19.500 You know who we are? 00:33:19.500 --> 00:33:21.619 We're who God says we are. 00:33:22.440 --> 00:33:23.819 We are his children. 00:33:24.660 --> 00:33:31.660 We are his blood-bought, washed servants, ambassadors for Jesus. 00:33:31.660 --> 00:33:40.320 So it is absolutely essential that we remember my role is not more important. 00:33:41.040 --> 00:33:42.720 My role is not less important. 00:33:44.540 --> 00:33:45.920 Let's finish with this. 00:33:50.500 --> 00:33:55.460 At Christmas time, we give our kids gifts. 00:33:56.600 --> 00:33:58.000 That doesn't offend anybody, right? 00:33:58.560 --> 00:33:59.480 Just making sure. 00:34:01.040 --> 00:34:01.320 Good. 00:34:02.160 --> 00:34:05.300 At Christmas time, we give our kids gifts. 00:34:07.040 --> 00:34:11.300 And it started out when they were real little. 00:34:12.960 --> 00:34:15.039 They kind of just wanted to know if it was theirs. 00:34:15.440 --> 00:34:16.760 You know, like, is this mine? 00:34:17.780 --> 00:34:19.680 Okay, then I'm going to guard it with my life. 00:34:21.000 --> 00:34:22.720 I just got this new dump truck. 00:34:23.300 --> 00:34:24.820 Nobody else better put their hands on it. 00:34:24.900 --> 00:34:25.880 This thing's mine, you know. 00:34:27.320 --> 00:34:31.300 And as they grew and tried to teach them and, you know, they learned. 00:34:31.300 --> 00:34:32.220 And they learned it, et cetera, et cetera. 00:34:32.760 --> 00:34:35.780 Now, they're more like, this is mine? 00:34:36.480 --> 00:34:36.840 Okay. 00:34:36.840 --> 00:34:41.600 But how many times have they heard, you know, to share, et cetera, et cetera. 00:34:42.059 --> 00:34:44.260 And so they would say, okay, this is mine. 00:34:44.380 --> 00:34:44.660 Awesome. 00:34:45.019 --> 00:34:46.579 Well, you can use it too. 00:34:48.300 --> 00:34:49.180 Austin would look at Bo. 00:34:49.179 --> 00:34:50.599 You can use it too. 00:34:50.719 --> 00:34:51.500 Bo would look at Austin. 00:34:51.960 --> 00:34:52.919 Here, this is awesome. 00:34:53.039 --> 00:34:54.259 I'm going to love this so much. 00:34:54.679 --> 00:34:56.259 And you can play with it too sometimes. 00:34:57.279 --> 00:35:01.919 They figured out that the gifts are not strictly for their use, right? 00:35:02.920 --> 00:35:06.500 Yeah, it's theirs and they have some measure of right to that. 00:35:06.980 --> 00:35:09.200 But really, it's for everyone, you know. 00:35:10.240 --> 00:35:14.360 When we got them a trampoline a few years back, they loved bouncing on that. 00:35:14.440 --> 00:35:16.500 They understood that that's there to share. 00:35:16.820 --> 00:35:18.680 That's not Austin's trampoline or Bo's trampoline. 00:35:18.840 --> 00:35:19.920 It's everybody's, right? 00:35:20.440 --> 00:35:22.720 Mommy and Daddy get out there every once in a blue moon. 00:35:22.719 --> 00:35:32.500 So that is exactly how it is with our spiritual gifts we get from God. 00:35:33.319 --> 00:35:35.359 They're not just meant for us to enjoy. 00:35:36.559 --> 00:35:40.759 They're meant to be shared for the enjoyment of the whole body. 00:35:42.019 --> 00:35:43.739 Would you bow your heads with me real quick? 00:35:44.739 --> 00:35:50.599 What has God given you that you're not blessing somebody else with? 00:35:52.719 --> 00:35:58.359 What gifts has God bestowed on you? 00:36:00.899 --> 00:36:03.399 Maybe you love to be a kind person. 00:36:03.519 --> 00:36:05.379 Maybe you love to do things for other people. 00:36:06.339 --> 00:36:07.619 You try to be thoughtful. 00:36:08.759 --> 00:36:11.919 You try to go out of your way to be a blessing to other people and show kindness. 00:36:12.819 --> 00:36:15.599 We have people in our church very much like that. 00:36:18.000 --> 00:36:19.819 God wants to use that. 00:36:19.820 --> 00:36:25.600 Not just to make you look good and to make people like you and love you and gravitate to you. 00:36:25.880 --> 00:36:30.080 God wants to use that to truly bless others. 00:36:30.640 --> 00:36:33.620 To truly inspire others to be like that. 00:36:34.440 --> 00:36:45.539 To show that, man, one of the foremost attributes of God is his kindness and compassion. 00:36:45.539 --> 00:36:48.820 It's how he deals with mankind. 00:36:51.199 --> 00:36:54.579 So maybe there's something in your life. 00:36:54.699 --> 00:36:55.860 Maybe it's giving. 00:36:57.119 --> 00:37:02.000 Maybe you do like to be generous and you like to give from what God has given to you. 00:37:02.079 --> 00:37:04.019 And you haven't been doing that like you should. 00:37:04.019 --> 00:37:12.980 And you say, God, help me to give of my resources, my finances, of my time, my emotion. 00:37:12.980 --> 00:37:16.079 When I listen to someone tell their story. 00:37:17.480 --> 00:37:19.199 I don't just tune people out. 00:37:21.599 --> 00:37:24.920 Whatever it is that God has gifted you with. 00:37:25.400 --> 00:37:26.739 Are you using it? 00:37:26.860 --> 00:37:28.940 Is the whole church benefiting from that? 00:37:28.940 --> 00:37:40.039 If not, I ask that you would sincerely ask God right now to help show you how you can use his gifts that he's given to you. 00:37:40.980 --> 00:37:43.000 For the good of the whole body of Christ. 00:37:43.000 --> 00:37:51.059 Thank you. 00:37:55.679 --> 00:38:00.460 Thank you. 00:38:04.639 --> 00:38:08.920 Thank you.