WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.060 Well good morning Ontario Community Church. It's good to see all of you this 00:00:06.060 --> 00:00:12.599 morning. It's great to be with you this morning. My name is Patrick Daley and I 00:00:12.599 --> 00:00:18.199 am the pastor here at Ontario Community Church. It is an honor to be with all of 00:00:18.199 --> 00:00:24.199 you this morning to be with you today. Today we are continuing our series going 00:00:24.199 --> 00:00:31.640 over the 3e pathway, encouraging, equipping, and engaging lives for Christ. 00:00:31.640 --> 00:00:37.560 Our mission and our vision, the most important thing about our church is that 00:00:37.560 --> 00:00:44.359 we are pointing towards Christ. We are encouraged to love God and to love His 00:00:44.359 --> 00:00:50.760 people. When we make a decision for Christ, it is an internal decision that 00:00:50.759 --> 00:00:56.679 has eternal significance. To make a decision for Christ is it is accepting 00:00:56.679 --> 00:01:04.000 that you are a sinner and that you need a Savior and that Savior is Jesus Christ. 00:01:04.000 --> 00:01:10.560 There's also baptism where a person is making that public proclamation and this 00:01:10.560 --> 00:01:16.359 comes after receiving Jesus Christ, receiving that salvation. Choosing 00:01:16.359 --> 00:01:23.519 Christ is personal, it is internal, and baptism is public and external. After you 00:01:23.519 --> 00:01:28.599 make a decision for Christ, I want all of us to remember it is not the end of 00:01:28.599 --> 00:01:36.159 your life, rather it is the beginning. I am reminded of Ecclesiastes chapter 3 00:01:36.159 --> 00:01:42.200 where it says that for everything there is a season, there is a time for every 00:01:42.200 --> 00:01:47.280 matter under heaven. And this verse in Ecclesiastes, you have Solomon who is 00:01:47.280 --> 00:01:51.079 towards the end of his life and he's talking about all of the vanities and 00:01:51.079 --> 00:01:56.640 all of the fleeting things in life. The teacher is referring to his observation 00:01:56.640 --> 00:02:02.439 in the things in life and that there is a natural order to things. There are 00:02:02.439 --> 00:02:07.560 natural seasons in this earth. When we think of summer, winter, fall, and spring, 00:02:07.560 --> 00:02:12.080 there is a natural progression for things. We also know that there is a natural 00:02:12.080 --> 00:02:17.400 progression from when we are children to when we grow up to become adults. There 00:02:17.400 --> 00:02:22.320 is something that we can observe just like how Solomon learned that there is a 00:02:22.320 --> 00:02:28.960 time for everything under every matter under heaven. From being a new Christian 00:02:28.960 --> 00:02:35.200 to spiritual maturity, this message today we are learning about what it means to be 00:02:35.200 --> 00:02:40.960 equipped to grow in faith from being a baby Christian or being a new believer 00:02:40.960 --> 00:02:47.080 to becoming more mature in the word of God and knowing who Christ is and what it 00:02:47.080 --> 00:02:52.080 means to be a Christian. From the time we begin our walk with the Lord we begin 00:02:52.080 --> 00:02:56.680 as children. We don't begin as adults necessarily. We're gonna learn about 00:02:56.680 --> 00:03:02.520 equipping. But before we do that I want us to pray. Let's bow our heads and pray 00:03:02.520 --> 00:03:08.040 to the Lord before we go any further. And Father God is we begin our time going 00:03:08.039 --> 00:03:13.599 over this second E equip. We're reminded that in everything we do we are doing in 00:03:13.599 --> 00:03:19.959 honor of you to glorify you in excellence for you and your glory. We pray 00:03:19.959 --> 00:03:24.680 that our minds will be open to hearing your word and that our hearts will be 00:03:24.680 --> 00:03:30.479 opened. It will be moved to action. We pray that every one of us are on a path, a 00:03:30.479 --> 00:03:36.280 spiritual path that leads towards you and not away from you. A path of spiritual 00:03:36.280 --> 00:03:41.159 growth and maturity. We realize that as Solomon is writing that for everything 00:03:41.159 --> 00:03:45.719 there is a season. There is an appointed time and a moment for every matter 00:03:45.719 --> 00:03:51.759 under heaven. We are under heaven. We pray that we enter this season of growth 00:03:51.759 --> 00:03:57.479 and we take every moment and every opportunity to worship you, to glorify 00:03:57.479 --> 00:04:03.039 you, to learn more about you and to grow in you. May we apply these lessons to our 00:04:03.039 --> 00:04:08.840 lives and do what the word of God says. For your word it guides us, it equips us, 00:04:08.840 --> 00:04:14.000 it motivates us and it transforms us. We ask that you are with us today as we go 00:04:14.000 --> 00:04:18.879 through these many verses, these ideas, these biblical concepts, but more 00:04:18.879 --> 00:04:26.560 importantly may we be guided to you. May we come to you. May we return to you. May 00:04:26.560 --> 00:04:34.120 we grow in you. Not run and hide, but may we come to you. May we not be afraid of 00:04:34.120 --> 00:04:40.319 your word. May we not be afraid of your presence. May we be here together in this 00:04:40.319 --> 00:04:46.720 place. It is in Jesus' name that we pray and we all say together amen. And as we go 00:04:46.720 --> 00:04:52.560 from this idea of being equipped in the faith I have a question I want us to 00:04:52.560 --> 00:04:58.199 think of as we're going. 00:05:09.439 --> 00:05:14.279 I'm wondering if we can have someone do the slides. My remote access is not 00:05:14.279 --> 00:05:19.399 working. Can we have someone do slides? 00:05:19.399 --> 00:05:31.399 Hold that time. See even as I, the younger guy, we run into technical difficulties. 00:05:37.319 --> 00:05:45.120 So the opening question is what does it mean to you to be a student or a 00:05:45.120 --> 00:05:50.639 disciple of Jesus Christ? I want you to think of this question as we're going 00:05:50.639 --> 00:05:57.000 forth today. You know 2nd Peter, it's a verse that I want us to all turn into in 00:05:57.000 --> 00:06:05.240 our Bibles. It's going to be in our ESVP Bibles. Let's turn to page 1209. If 00:06:05.240 --> 00:06:09.840 you're not using the ESVP Bible that's perfectly fine. You'll find it in your 00:06:09.839 --> 00:06:15.839 notes. It's going to be 2nd Peter chapter 3 verse 18. So go ahead and turn that 00:06:15.839 --> 00:06:21.319 there to that place in Scripture with me. 00:06:21.919 --> 00:06:34.759 1209. It's towards the end of 2nd Peter. It's actually the final verse in now. So 00:06:34.759 --> 00:06:39.759 I'm going to go ahead and read it. Let's read it together. But grow in the grace and 00:06:39.759 --> 00:06:46.839 knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and 00:06:46.839 --> 00:06:54.079 to the day of eternity. Amen. You know in the context of this verse we find that 00:06:54.079 --> 00:07:00.719 Peter is encouraging Christians or believers to grow in their faith 00:07:00.720 --> 00:07:06.200 throughout their lives. Contextually 2nd Peter, it's a smaller letter, right? It's 00:07:06.200 --> 00:07:10.800 a smaller letter in the Bible where Peter is writing to health believers fight 00:07:10.800 --> 00:07:17.200 the battle against false teachers. One of the very incredible things that we have 00:07:17.200 --> 00:07:21.880 to be reminded of in Scripture is there are many warnings against false 00:07:21.880 --> 00:07:29.360 teachers, false prophets, false theology if you will. And here we find in Peter 00:07:29.360 --> 00:07:34.600 he's talking about God gives us everything that we need to live a life 00:07:34.600 --> 00:07:39.560 for God. And even though there are false teachers who are teaching things like 00:07:39.560 --> 00:07:45.240 contextually in 2nd Peter, denying the return of Christ or the importance of 00:07:45.240 --> 00:07:51.319 living for Christ or the importance of righteous living, Peter is encouraging 00:07:51.319 --> 00:07:58.520 believers to grow in grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. You see when we grow in 00:07:58.519 --> 00:08:02.680 our walk with the Lord we are encouraged to study the Word of God. We're 00:08:02.680 --> 00:08:07.279 encouraged to study Scripture. We're encouraged to be in Christian community. 00:08:07.279 --> 00:08:12.959 We are encouraged to learn about what it means to live for Christ, to grow in the 00:08:12.959 --> 00:08:18.759 faith from once being a child to being a mature adult. We can grow to know more 00:08:18.759 --> 00:08:22.039 of the difference and one of the great things of studying the Word of God is 00:08:22.039 --> 00:08:27.479 knowing the difference between good and evil, truth and lies and things that are 00:08:27.480 --> 00:08:33.800 godly versus ungodly. Now we're not doing a study on 2nd Peter but this is an 00:08:33.800 --> 00:08:39.279 overview of what's happening in that book. We are encouraged in Scripture to 00:08:39.279 --> 00:08:44.720 become a Christian to make a decision for Christ, to love the Lord our God with 00:08:44.720 --> 00:08:49.120 all of our heart, right, with everything that we are and to love people. We are 00:08:49.120 --> 00:08:55.399 also encouraged to grow in the faith, to be baptized, to study the Word of God, to 00:08:55.399 --> 00:09:03.480 be in Christian community and to as a church even to grow. To grow in grace 00:09:03.480 --> 00:09:09.639 means to exhibit kindness, it means to exhibit favor, it means to show good will 00:09:09.639 --> 00:09:15.840 to others. This is but a reference for having love for people just as God has 00:09:15.840 --> 00:09:21.600 shown love and grace towards us. You see in the same way that God has shown love 00:09:21.600 --> 00:09:27.279 towards us like we talked about last week, we are to exhibit that same kind of agape 00:09:27.279 --> 00:09:34.279 love or agapeo love if you will. We are encouraged to do that. Let us remember 00:09:34.279 --> 00:09:39.600 that to know Jesus Christ, to grow in Jesus Christ, it's not just about having 00:09:39.600 --> 00:09:44.720 that head knowledge but it's also about having the heart knowledge, having the 00:09:44.720 --> 00:09:49.440 heart to love Jesus Christ and having the mind to understand the deeper things 00:09:49.440 --> 00:09:54.680 of Scripture. It's knowing, it's having that personal relationship with Jesus 00:09:54.680 --> 00:10:00.600 Christ if you will. Jesus Christ is the firm foundation and we are to build our 00:10:00.600 --> 00:10:05.960 lives on the solid rock. I want us to consider Matthew chapter 7 verse 24 00:10:05.960 --> 00:10:12.320 through 27 which talks about the two men who build their houses. Well what do they 00:10:12.320 --> 00:10:15.760 build their houses on? Some of you may know this, some of you may not. One person 00:10:15.759 --> 00:10:20.080 builds their house on the sand and the other person builds their house on what? 00:10:20.080 --> 00:10:27.399 On the rock, the firm foundation. So one on the sand and one on the rock and when 00:10:27.399 --> 00:10:32.240 the rainstorm comes, I think of the hurricane that's coming up to California 00:10:32.240 --> 00:10:37.600 right now, right? When a rainstorm comes, do you want your house to be on solid 00:10:37.600 --> 00:10:44.879 ground or do you want it to be on the sand? I hope we all, we pick the solid rock. 00:10:44.879 --> 00:10:51.759 We don't pick the sand. I love how in 1 Corinthians chapter 3 verse 11 it says 00:10:51.759 --> 00:10:57.879 this is in reference to Christ as the firm foundation. It says that no one can 00:10:57.879 --> 00:11:05.200 lay a foundation other than that which is laid which is in Jesus Christ. So that's 00:11:05.200 --> 00:11:10.120 interesting. Remember I always talk about there's connections in the Word of God. 00:11:10.120 --> 00:11:14.960 There's connections that we find just scattered throughout and it goes it 00:11:14.960 --> 00:11:20.240 should encourage us, it should help us grow in our faith. The entire chapter is 00:11:20.240 --> 00:11:26.039 is having a ton of rich biblical truth in it. In 1 Corinthians you have Paul 00:11:26.039 --> 00:11:30.879 addressing divisions that are happening in Corinth and he is encouraging 00:11:30.879 --> 00:11:37.120 Christians that no one can lay that foundation in anything other than Jesus 00:11:37.120 --> 00:11:44.000 Christ and that's a very powerful verse. To be equipped is to be on a spiritual 00:11:44.000 --> 00:11:48.399 path of growth towards maturity from being once a baby Christian. I know 00:11:48.399 --> 00:11:54.960 that's always a weird thing to say. A new believer if you will. A child to someone 00:11:54.960 --> 00:12:01.519 who is mature. Do you guys remember when you were a baby? Maybe you remember better 00:12:01.519 --> 00:12:05.879 when you had your first child if you will or maybe your friend or your co-worker 00:12:05.879 --> 00:12:12.320 you saw a new child. They didn't eat steak and if they did I kind of question 00:12:12.320 --> 00:12:17.960 the way you're raising your child here. But the thing is we start as children and 00:12:17.960 --> 00:12:23.080 we grow into the adults. It is that natural progression. In Ephesians chapter 00:12:23.080 --> 00:12:27.759 4 verse 11 through 13 it says this is a famous verse some of you may know it. It 00:12:27.759 --> 00:12:31.840 says that he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds 00:12:31.840 --> 00:12:39.720 and teachers to equip. To equip who? The saints. Who are the saints? They are the 00:12:39.720 --> 00:12:45.080 believers. They are Christians. For the work of ministry, for building up the 00:12:45.080 --> 00:12:51.200 body of Christ until we all attain what? The unity in faith. Because you see in 00:12:51.200 --> 00:12:55.480 Scripture we do better when we are together and we're not attacking one 00:12:55.480 --> 00:13:01.120 another. When we are united in Christ. And of the knowledge of the Son of God to 00:13:01.120 --> 00:13:06.960 maturity or as some translations say mature manhood. To the measure of the 00:13:06.960 --> 00:13:13.440 stature of the fullness of Christ so that we may no longer be children. Tossed to 00:13:13.440 --> 00:13:17.679 and fro by the waves and carried about every wind of doctrine by human 00:13:17.679 --> 00:13:22.399 cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather speaking the truth in 00:13:22.399 --> 00:13:27.039 love. This whole verse is talking about no longer being swayed right? But like by 00:13:27.039 --> 00:13:31.439 the waves. It's kind of like if you have a really small ship if you will right? 00:13:31.439 --> 00:13:35.279 You've probably heard the saying that we are to be anchored in Christ. Well if you 00:13:35.279 --> 00:13:39.199 don't have an anchor and the waves come or storm comes you're going to be 00:13:39.199 --> 00:13:43.919 tossed to and fro. And that's like how when we have false teachers who will 00:13:43.919 --> 00:13:49.199 push you every which away. It's a famous verse that's talking about there are 00:13:49.199 --> 00:13:54.159 many parts of the body of Christ. There are shepherds right? There's evangelists. 00:13:54.159 --> 00:13:58.480 There's all of these types of people who are to serve to equip the saints 00:13:58.480 --> 00:14:04.079 specifically to equip believers. We're talking about those who are set apart. 00:14:04.079 --> 00:14:09.679 Those who are part of the body of Christ. We are to be equipped so that we can 00:14:09.679 --> 00:14:15.199 serve. And that's that third E when we're talking about the three E pathway. 00:14:15.199 --> 00:14:18.319 Right? To be encouraged to love God and love others. 00:14:18.319 --> 00:14:21.919 To be equipped in the word of God and what it means to be a Christian or 00:14:21.919 --> 00:14:25.839 godly living. And the third aspect is service. 00:14:25.839 --> 00:14:31.279 Engaging the community for Christ through service and through sharing your 00:14:31.279 --> 00:14:35.120 faith. So it's all connected here. So we are 00:14:35.120 --> 00:14:39.759 being equipped so that we can serve so that we can grow to maturity so we can 00:14:39.759 --> 00:14:44.479 have unity within the church. So we can have knowledge of our faith so we 00:14:44.479 --> 00:14:49.679 can give an account for what we believe in. Consider the fact that if you are a 00:14:49.679 --> 00:14:53.679 Christian, a brand new Christian, consider the consequence of if you've 00:14:53.679 --> 00:14:57.519 never grown in your faith. How vulnerable you can be to 00:14:57.519 --> 00:15:02.159 false doctrine and theology. But also consider the fact if someone asks you a 00:15:02.159 --> 00:15:05.839 question about why do you believe what you believe? 00:15:05.839 --> 00:15:10.719 Who is Jesus? You don't want to say, I don't know. 00:15:10.719 --> 00:15:15.439 He's my savior. You got to go more. Come on, you got to do better than that. 00:15:15.439 --> 00:15:19.279 You have to be able to say this is I believe in Jesus Christ the Son of the 00:15:19.279 --> 00:15:23.199 living God. Or at least have something to say. 00:15:23.199 --> 00:15:26.799 Something much more than I, you know, I like Jesus. 00:15:26.799 --> 00:15:31.759 You should be able to be equipped to give an account for your faith. 00:15:31.759 --> 00:15:35.120 We are equipped so that we will no longer be children. 00:15:35.120 --> 00:15:39.120 So that we can stand firm in our faith and not be 00:15:39.120 --> 00:15:44.399 manipulated or convinced or something that is contrary to the teachings of 00:15:44.399 --> 00:15:49.840 Christ and the teachings of scripture. In making a decision for Christ, you are 00:15:49.840 --> 00:15:53.679 choosing to have Christ at the center of your life. 00:15:53.679 --> 00:15:57.840 Because God needs to be at the center of everything that you do. 00:15:57.840 --> 00:16:01.279 And so you have to ask yourself the question, well, 00:16:01.279 --> 00:16:05.039 what foundation am I building my life on? 00:16:05.039 --> 00:16:08.799 Like we were talking about the two men who built their houses on different 00:16:08.799 --> 00:16:13.840 foundations, right? Is your foundation on Jesus the Rock? Or is it on 00:16:13.840 --> 00:16:18.720 the sinking sand of the world as it were? The choice is up to you. 00:16:18.720 --> 00:16:22.320 How are you going to build your life? Being 00:16:22.320 --> 00:16:26.399 equipped requires actions for the believer. I've said it once and I'm 00:16:26.399 --> 00:16:29.519 going to say this almost in every sermon that I 00:16:29.519 --> 00:16:34.399 that I give here. We are saved by grace through faith. 00:16:34.399 --> 00:16:41.440 We are to believe in Jesus Christ so that we can do good in the world. 00:16:41.440 --> 00:16:46.960 My friends, there is a difference between believing in a system that says you are 00:16:46.960 --> 00:16:50.240 saved by doing good in the world and there's many religions that teach that. 00:16:50.240 --> 00:16:53.600 We can go on and on about different religions that do this. 00:16:53.600 --> 00:16:58.800 There's also, there is Christianity that says something very different. 00:16:58.800 --> 00:17:04.559 It talks about what has been done for you. Because Christ was born, 00:17:04.559 --> 00:17:09.039 he lived, he performed miracles, he healed the sick, 00:17:09.039 --> 00:17:13.920 he raised people from the dead, he turned water into wine, 00:17:13.920 --> 00:17:18.159 he performed so many miracles, he taught parables, he taught, 00:17:18.159 --> 00:17:23.680 he rebuked the Pharisees even. He fulfilled the prophecies, many 00:17:23.680 --> 00:17:28.319 prophecies, not just one prophecy. He died on that cross, he was buried and 00:17:28.319 --> 00:17:34.159 on the third day he rose again. There is so much to our faith. 00:17:34.160 --> 00:17:40.160 And so I say this, I will say this so many times. We are saved by grace through 00:17:40.160 --> 00:17:44.960 faith so that we can do good in the name of Christ. 00:17:44.960 --> 00:17:48.640 We're to have an act of faith that means we are to engage in the reading and the 00:17:48.640 --> 00:17:51.360 studying and the application of the scriptures into our daily 00:17:51.360 --> 00:17:54.960 lives. Do you realize that scripture will 00:17:54.960 --> 00:17:58.880 change you? Do you realize that God, you are allowing 00:17:58.880 --> 00:18:04.000 God to transform your life? Do not be conformed to the patterns of 00:18:04.000 --> 00:18:08.480 this age, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind. 00:18:08.480 --> 00:18:13.440 That's a very powerful verse. That God will transform you. 00:18:13.440 --> 00:18:18.079 I'm here to tell you that I'm not the man that I was 10 years ago. 00:18:18.079 --> 00:18:20.880 I'm not even the man that I was five years ago. 00:18:20.880 --> 00:18:25.599 Because God continues to work in me. He continues to transform my life. 00:18:25.599 --> 00:18:29.839 But see, it's not just about me. It's about God who is the great transformer 00:18:29.839 --> 00:18:32.720 and he will transform each and every one of you. 00:18:32.720 --> 00:18:39.440 We are to seek first the kingdom of God. We are to seek its righteousness. 00:18:39.440 --> 00:18:45.120 We are to do or to grow in our faith. We are to become equipped through 00:18:45.120 --> 00:18:48.559 Bible studies, through small groups, through serving the community, through 00:18:48.559 --> 00:18:52.799 prayer and mentorship. We are to choose Christ first and foremost 00:18:52.799 --> 00:18:57.120 and to grow in him. And central to our spiritual growth is the Bible. 00:18:57.120 --> 00:19:01.680 It is the word of God. Scripture is used for equipping believers. That means for 00:19:01.680 --> 00:19:06.480 us as the church, we are to grow in our faith by knowing God and his word. 00:19:06.480 --> 00:19:12.960 To grow as a Christian, we do this as individuals and we do this together. 00:19:12.960 --> 00:19:17.200 Consider a bundle of sticks. Some of you may have heard this problem before. 00:19:17.200 --> 00:19:25.200 One stick may be easy to break. Two may be harder. Three sticks may be even more 00:19:25.200 --> 00:19:29.360 difficult. And that is a representation. 00:19:29.359 --> 00:19:34.639 So too is the church that when we are together, when we grow together, 00:19:34.639 --> 00:19:37.919 we are not easily broken like the bundle of sticks. 00:19:37.919 --> 00:19:42.639 Because that's how the devil attacks you is when you're alone. 00:19:42.639 --> 00:19:46.799 When we're together, when we are united in Christ and we're all on, 00:19:46.799 --> 00:19:50.479 we realize we're all on the same team, we're growing together. 00:19:50.479 --> 00:19:55.839 We are like the bundle of sticks. In 2 Timothy, I want to, I want you to turn 00:19:55.839 --> 00:20:01.279 your Bibles to, it's going to be 2 Timothy 3 verse 16 through 17. 00:20:01.279 --> 00:20:07.359 It's going to be page 1182 in your ESPQ Bibles. 00:20:07.359 --> 00:20:17.919 It's a famous verse that some of you may know. 2 Timothy 3 verse 16 and 17. 00:20:17.920 --> 00:20:32.880 1,182. 00:20:32.880 --> 00:20:41.360 2 Timothy chapter 3 verse 16 and 17. So it just starts right at the bottom of 00:20:41.359 --> 00:20:48.959 1,182. It says, all scripture is breathed out by God. 00:20:48.959 --> 00:20:52.719 It is profitable for teaching, for reproof, 00:20:52.719 --> 00:20:56.240 for correction, and for training in righteousness. 00:20:56.240 --> 00:21:01.359 That the man of God may be complete and equipped for every good work. 00:21:01.359 --> 00:21:05.839 This verse is saying that scripture is breathed out by God, 00:21:05.839 --> 00:21:10.240 which means that the scriptures are divinely inspired 00:21:10.240 --> 00:21:15.279 as though God breathed on them. I love that verse where it's talking about 00:21:15.279 --> 00:21:20.720 the inspiration that comes from God. The Word of God is powerful and we're not 00:21:20.720 --> 00:21:25.279 to consider the Word of God just like any any old textbook, 00:21:25.279 --> 00:21:29.519 or we're not to consider it like Grimm's fairy tales or other 00:21:29.519 --> 00:21:37.519 books. We are to elevate the Word of God as the Word of God, not the Word of man. 00:21:37.519 --> 00:21:42.879 No, it's that divine inspiration that we have. 00:21:42.879 --> 00:21:48.079 The Word of God is profitable and that means that how the Word of God it is 00:21:48.079 --> 00:21:54.079 useful. It is invaluable for us as believers. I like 00:21:54.079 --> 00:21:57.039 looking at the Word of God as something that is useful for us and 00:21:57.039 --> 00:22:02.799 something that is invaluable. You can't put a price on the Word of God. 00:22:02.799 --> 00:22:06.879 The Word of God scripture is used, it says in the verse, you can find this in 00:22:06.880 --> 00:22:10.960 your notes as well. It is for teaching, it is for reproof 00:22:10.960 --> 00:22:14.960 and correction and training. The training simply means 00:22:14.960 --> 00:22:18.560 instruction in the truth for we are to be taught 00:22:18.560 --> 00:22:24.240 the Word of God and we are to grow. We are to be on a path of growth. 00:22:24.240 --> 00:22:28.320 We're all on our own individual journey towards Christ, 00:22:28.320 --> 00:22:32.000 but we are all also on a journey as a community. 00:22:32.000 --> 00:22:36.640 And that journey should be towards Christ. It shouldn't be towards 00:22:36.640 --> 00:22:40.960 Buddha. It shouldn't be towards any other God, but it should be towards Jesus 00:22:40.960 --> 00:22:47.280 Christ, the Son of the living God. The Word of God is a guide for us. 00:22:47.280 --> 00:22:52.720 It molds us. It transforms us. We are taught as believers the truth of 00:22:52.720 --> 00:22:56.880 scripture and look, there's many easy passages and there's certainly 00:22:56.880 --> 00:23:00.160 difficult passages. There's some passages you're like, 00:23:00.160 --> 00:23:04.240 what is the firmament? What do I do with that? 00:23:04.240 --> 00:23:10.720 How do I balance faith and works? That's why you hear me say 00:23:10.720 --> 00:23:14.880 so much. We're saved by grace through faith in Christ 00:23:14.880 --> 00:23:20.240 so that we can do works because it can be very easy to get that confused. 00:23:20.240 --> 00:23:25.759 So some verses are harder than others. Very hard book in the Bible 00:23:25.759 --> 00:23:34.879 is Revelation. Also Romans. Some are a little easier than others. 00:23:34.879 --> 00:23:40.559 Reprove means conviction or rebuking. Nobody likes that word rebuked, right? 00:23:40.559 --> 00:23:46.480 Or conviction for that matter. It is identifying if there is an error, 00:23:46.480 --> 00:23:50.400 if there is sin, if there is something that we need to 00:23:50.400 --> 00:23:56.320 horse correct. I'm not speaking of anger and aggression. I'm merely talking 00:23:56.320 --> 00:23:59.840 about the Word of God pointing out when you're 00:23:59.840 --> 00:24:05.040 sinning, when you're doing wrong. Let us remember, there's a famous 00:24:05.040 --> 00:24:09.680 quote, some of you may know it, to err is human. 00:24:09.680 --> 00:24:14.080 Well the Bible convicts us and corrects us towards Christ. 00:24:14.080 --> 00:24:17.920 Correction means straightening up or redirection. Now here's the thing about 00:24:17.920 --> 00:24:21.519 the Word of God. It'll point out when you're doing something 00:24:21.519 --> 00:24:26.960 wrong and it will give you a framework or a guidance towards how to fix it. 00:24:26.960 --> 00:24:31.200 Because you see so often we were placed in situations where we're pointed out 00:24:31.200 --> 00:24:35.759 the wrong that we do but not how to fix it. And what's beautiful about the Bible 00:24:35.759 --> 00:24:39.920 is that correction aspect, redirection. 00:24:39.920 --> 00:24:44.080 God provides a way for us to get back with him or to make our lives 00:24:44.079 --> 00:24:51.519 right with God. Consider a sailor, someone who is searing in the open sea. 00:24:51.519 --> 00:24:57.599 If the sailor is even but one degree off, if he does not course correct, 00:24:57.599 --> 00:25:00.720 eventually he will be so far from his destination 00:25:00.720 --> 00:25:04.639 because he didn't make those adjustments along the journey. 00:25:04.639 --> 00:25:09.439 So too is what is something we have to do in regards to sin. We 00:25:09.439 --> 00:25:12.399 course correct, we get right with God. Look, 00:25:12.400 --> 00:25:15.519 all fall short of the glory of God. We're all sinners. 00:25:15.519 --> 00:25:19.680 Just look, we're not perfect. None of us are perfect. 00:25:19.680 --> 00:25:22.800 So we need to course correct and we turn to the pages of scripture. 00:25:22.800 --> 00:25:29.360 We turn to God in prayer. We turn to our friends in Christ even. 00:25:29.360 --> 00:25:35.120 God is like that map or that GPS. We need to realign ourselves. 00:25:35.120 --> 00:25:40.960 So we think another, this identifies the idea of sin. Now I love 00:25:40.960 --> 00:25:44.400 the definition of sin. Did you know that sin 00:25:44.400 --> 00:25:48.000 in Hebrew and Greek is the same definition? 00:25:48.000 --> 00:25:52.160 It is to miss the mark. It is like how an archer, 00:25:52.160 --> 00:25:56.319 I don't know how to bow an arrow so I'm just giving a visual representation here. 00:25:56.319 --> 00:26:01.279 The archer will shoot towards his target and he'll miss. 00:26:01.279 --> 00:26:05.440 Sometimes he'll hit the target, sometimes he'll hit the bullseye. 00:26:05.440 --> 00:26:09.200 The archer needs to adjust their aim or their technique but sometimes the 00:26:09.200 --> 00:26:13.120 archer needs to consider the wind or or different factors that are 00:26:13.120 --> 00:26:18.080 happening, the distance from the target. And it's a really great analogy of how 00:26:18.080 --> 00:26:24.799 we are to look at us when we sin. We are missing the mark. 00:26:24.799 --> 00:26:28.319 We are when we fall short, it's we are missing 00:26:28.319 --> 00:26:36.000 the point. And I want us to remember to air as human, that's the famous quote, 00:26:36.000 --> 00:26:41.279 but to restore godly. The verse goes on to say that there's 00:26:41.279 --> 00:26:45.279 training in righteousness. This has to do with being disciplined, with being 00:26:45.279 --> 00:26:50.000 trained or instructed. We are corrected and put on a path towards 00:26:50.000 --> 00:26:56.079 Christ. We should never do it alone. We should have, we are to relate to Christ 00:26:56.079 --> 00:27:00.160 and we are to relate to fellow believers. That's why we have the church as the 00:27:00.160 --> 00:27:04.960 community of believers to pray for each other, to encourage each other, to 00:27:04.960 --> 00:27:11.200 love each other, and to help build the church up together. 00:27:11.200 --> 00:27:15.360 So often in Christianity there is a push against doing good in the world. 00:27:15.360 --> 00:27:18.640 Many people say that doing good works doesn't matter. 00:27:18.640 --> 00:27:22.400 Some people like to just ignore the fact that there are works in the Bible and 00:27:22.400 --> 00:27:27.279 others like to use works as, well this is the basis for your 00:27:27.279 --> 00:27:32.480 salvation. But I have to remind you, works matter 00:27:32.480 --> 00:27:36.880 after you have been saved. You make a decision for Christ, 00:27:36.880 --> 00:27:43.279 you place yourself on a trajectory of growing in Christ. 00:27:43.279 --> 00:27:46.880 That includes doing good in the name of Christ. 00:27:46.880 --> 00:27:50.160 That is including how do you love your neighbor, 00:27:50.160 --> 00:27:54.079 how do you serve your community. I'm not going to go too much into this but that 00:27:54.079 --> 00:27:57.839 will be more for next week. But see how everything is connected. 00:27:57.839 --> 00:28:01.680 We are being equipped so that we can make a defense for what we believe in. 00:28:01.680 --> 00:28:06.080 We are being equipped so that we can serve, so that we can share in our faith. 00:28:06.080 --> 00:28:10.480 So all of this is there's connection. It is my hope and 00:28:10.480 --> 00:28:13.519 prayer for this church that we grow in faith. 00:28:13.519 --> 00:28:17.360 God wants us to grow from being children to mature adults. 00:28:17.360 --> 00:28:21.519 May we go from spiritual milk. I always think that's such a strange 00:28:21.519 --> 00:28:26.080 word for the word of God to use, going from milk to solid food. 00:28:26.080 --> 00:28:29.360 First Corinthians chapter 13 verse 11, it talks about 00:28:29.359 --> 00:28:32.559 the natural stages from childhood to adulthood. 00:28:32.559 --> 00:28:36.639 When I was a child I spoke as a child, I thought as a child, 00:28:36.639 --> 00:28:40.719 I reasoned like a child and when I became a man I gave up childish ways. 00:28:40.719 --> 00:28:44.799 Now contextually Paul is talking about the importance 00:28:44.799 --> 00:28:50.959 of spiritual growth from a child to an adult in the context of the ability to 00:28:50.959 --> 00:28:54.399 love other people. Because earlier in those passages 00:28:54.399 --> 00:28:57.679 it's talking about you can have all the gifts and the abilities but if you don't 00:28:57.680 --> 00:29:00.640 have love you're nothing. Then he goes on describing that love is 00:29:00.640 --> 00:29:05.279 patient, love is kind. He's talking referencing being a child. 00:29:05.279 --> 00:29:11.759 So contextually going from a child to an adult is your ability to love others. 00:29:11.759 --> 00:29:15.120 So there's natural progressions and seasons in life. 00:29:15.120 --> 00:29:19.200 God does not wish for us to remain as children in our walk with the Lord. 00:29:19.200 --> 00:29:23.120 God wants us to mature. This is a part of discipleship. 00:29:23.120 --> 00:29:26.400 This is a part of being a student. I love how 00:29:26.400 --> 00:29:30.000 disciple is defined as being a student of Jesus. 00:29:30.000 --> 00:29:34.720 Because when we think of colleges and we think of universities and whatnot 00:29:34.720 --> 00:29:38.880 there's classes that we take and it ends at the end of the class or 00:29:38.880 --> 00:29:43.280 it ends at the degree that you have. But when being a student of Christ it is a 00:29:43.280 --> 00:29:48.480 lifelong process. It is something that God will continue to work in and through 00:29:48.480 --> 00:29:53.280 you through his word. Whether you're 15 or whether you're 50 00:29:53.279 --> 00:29:57.839 you can be eight years old or 80 years old. You never you should never stop 00:29:57.839 --> 00:30:02.079 learning the word of God. How many of you have 00:30:02.079 --> 00:30:05.839 read the word of God once and then you read it again and 00:30:05.839 --> 00:30:09.599 it meant something the way God spoke to you was entirely different than the 00:30:09.599 --> 00:30:12.559 first time. I know there were situations where I 00:30:12.559 --> 00:30:16.480 read it I'm like okay it means this. The next time I read it 00:30:16.480 --> 00:30:21.440 meant something else. That's the power of the word of God. 00:30:21.440 --> 00:30:26.080 First Peter chapter 2 verse 2 says like newborn infants long for pure spiritual 00:30:26.080 --> 00:30:30.400 milk that by it you may grow up into salvation and I 00:30:30.400 --> 00:30:34.080 need to speak about this real quick. The growing up into salvation sounds like a 00:30:34.080 --> 00:30:36.720 very scary thing. What do you mean I'm growing up into salvation? Is that a 00:30:36.720 --> 00:30:41.440 workspace system? Well in first Peter he's talking about 00:30:41.440 --> 00:30:45.600 existing Christians who have already known the Lord. In fact in 00:30:45.600 --> 00:30:50.400 first Peter chapter 1 verse 23 he is talking about believers who are 00:30:50.400 --> 00:30:54.000 going through trials. It says since you have been 00:30:54.000 --> 00:30:58.720 born again so he's specifically talking to Christians who already exist 00:30:58.720 --> 00:31:03.280 and they are growing in the faith. He just chose the common salvation as some 00:31:03.280 --> 00:31:08.400 of the letters or the epistles are speaking to. First Corinthians chapter 00:31:08.400 --> 00:31:13.280 3 verse 2 and Hebrews chapter 5 verses 12 through 14 make mention of 00:31:13.280 --> 00:31:18.560 similar themes of spiritual milk and solid food. First Corinthians I fed you 00:31:18.559 --> 00:31:22.559 with milk not solid food for you were not ready for it and even now 00:31:22.559 --> 00:31:26.559 you are not ready for it. Hebrews chapter 5 verse 12 through 14 it 00:31:26.559 --> 00:31:30.079 says you need milk not solid food for everyone who lives on milk is 00:31:30.079 --> 00:31:34.960 unskilled. So there's these connections with having milk as a child right? 00:31:34.960 --> 00:31:39.679 You don't give a baby that steak. Please don't. Just don't. 00:31:39.679 --> 00:31:44.319 Give them a bottle if you will. Give them milk and as they grow when they start 00:31:44.319 --> 00:31:47.759 getting their teeth in or when they start wanting to have 00:31:47.759 --> 00:31:51.119 what is it smoothies and other things they start going into 00:31:51.119 --> 00:31:55.920 mac and cheese or rice or more solid food. Then comes the point where they are 00:31:55.920 --> 00:32:01.519 ready for that solid food. Hebrews talks about how the people 00:32:01.519 --> 00:32:04.879 need to go back to the basics and grow in faith. 00:32:04.879 --> 00:32:09.359 It is a wake-up call to begin again in their discipleship process. 00:32:09.359 --> 00:32:13.599 In first Corinthians Paul is telling the church to remain in faith 00:32:13.599 --> 00:32:18.319 and not on human leaders. My friends there's a lot of verses that talk 00:32:18.319 --> 00:32:22.000 about relying on Christ. Like in first 00:32:22.000 --> 00:32:26.159 first Corinthians there's the question that Paul is asking well 00:32:26.159 --> 00:32:31.599 who is Paul who is Apollos who is Cephas because he's addressing 00:32:31.599 --> 00:32:37.679 people. We don't follow people. Don't don't follow me. 00:32:37.679 --> 00:32:42.079 Follow Christ and if any of you are following me I want to point you towards 00:32:42.079 --> 00:32:46.319 Jesus Christ. It's not about me. It is about Jesus 00:32:46.319 --> 00:32:51.279 Christ. That is what we are to keep in mind and sometimes we need 00:32:51.279 --> 00:32:55.759 reminders of the basics of the faith. Sometimes we do. 00:32:55.759 --> 00:32:59.599 Sometimes we need that course correction in our life. Whether you're starting on 00:32:59.599 --> 00:33:03.679 your walk with God or you're further along may your path always be towards 00:33:03.679 --> 00:33:09.519 Christ. Not on the not on a celebrity. Not on man 00:33:09.519 --> 00:33:13.440 but on God. We place our faith and our trust in 00:33:13.440 --> 00:33:19.440 Christ and not on humanity. Now we love humanity by all means. We love our 00:33:19.440 --> 00:33:23.759 brothers and sisters in Christ. We love people as God has commanded us. 00:33:23.759 --> 00:33:27.920 But when we talk about salvation it points to 00:33:27.920 --> 00:33:34.559 Christ. Psalm 119-105 says your word is a lamp to my feet and a 00:33:34.559 --> 00:33:39.039 light to my path. For God's word is used as a guide 00:33:39.039 --> 00:33:45.920 for all of us in our faith journey. Joshua 1-8 it talks about how 00:33:45.920 --> 00:33:52.079 the how Joshua is to meditate on God's word every day so he can lead God's 00:33:52.079 --> 00:33:56.399 people. You see study, reading, meditating on the 00:33:56.399 --> 00:34:01.599 word of God is not about personal gain. It is allowing God to speak to you, to 00:34:01.599 --> 00:34:06.159 work in and through you and to transform you. 00:34:06.160 --> 00:34:11.760 Let us be a church like Acts chapter 2 verse 42 where the early church devoted 00:34:11.760 --> 00:34:15.280 themselves to teachings, fellowship, breaking 00:34:15.280 --> 00:34:19.200 bread and prayer. It is an encouragement much much like we are to 00:34:19.200 --> 00:34:24.400 hear from the word of God. Do life together all for the glory of God. 00:34:24.400 --> 00:34:31.200 And in our beginning passage in 2 Peter chapter 3 verse 18 grow in the grace 00:34:31.200 --> 00:34:34.400 and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ 00:34:34.400 --> 00:34:38.800 to him be the glory now and to the day of eternity. 00:34:38.800 --> 00:34:42.000 And as we close our time today I want to ask you 00:34:42.000 --> 00:34:49.760 this question how can I draw closer to God and grow in him? 00:34:49.760 --> 00:34:52.800 First it's about making a decision for Christ. 00:34:52.800 --> 00:34:56.240 First it's about receiving the gift of salvation. 00:34:56.240 --> 00:35:01.680 As you grow or as you make that decision grow in Christ and ask yourself that 00:35:01.679 --> 00:35:07.440 question how can I grow in Christ? If you don't know the Lord 00:35:07.440 --> 00:35:12.639 make a decision for Christ first and foremost. If you are a Christian 00:35:12.639 --> 00:35:17.839 how can you grow in faith? Does that mean studying languages? Does that mean 00:35:17.839 --> 00:35:21.039 being in Christian community? Does that mean being in a Bible study? 00:35:21.039 --> 00:35:25.279 Does that mean reading different translations? 00:35:25.279 --> 00:35:29.440 How you answer that question is for you to think about. It's not for me to answer. 00:35:29.440 --> 00:35:33.519 I don't really want to think about how everyone can answer that. 00:35:33.519 --> 00:35:38.480 But it's for you to answer. So think about that as we are closing 00:35:38.480 --> 00:35:42.880 today and I want us to remember what we learned today. 00:35:42.880 --> 00:35:47.599 We are learning about what it means to be equipped. 00:35:47.599 --> 00:35:51.440 We make the decision for Jesus Christ and we grow 00:35:51.440 --> 00:35:56.240 in our faith. We grow knowing who more about Jesus Christ 00:35:56.239 --> 00:36:01.359 more about Scripture. Allowing for God to work in and through us. 00:36:01.359 --> 00:36:05.919 To be plugged into Christian community Bible study as if you will. 00:36:05.919 --> 00:36:10.239 There's many practical ways that we can do this. So with that 00:36:10.239 --> 00:36:13.119 let's close in prayer. 00:36:13.919 --> 00:36:18.319 Father God as we continue as we conclude our time this morning we 00:36:18.319 --> 00:36:23.039 ask that we want to draw near to you each day. 00:36:23.039 --> 00:36:28.000 May we come to know you as you have known and 00:36:28.000 --> 00:36:32.159 known us even before we were born. We are made in your image 00:36:32.159 --> 00:36:36.719 and you love us unconditionally. Teach us how to love like you. 00:36:36.719 --> 00:36:42.320 Teach us that we need you. That we are sinners in need of a Savior. 00:36:42.320 --> 00:36:47.199 Guide our steps. Teach how encourage us to grow in faith. May we be 00:36:47.199 --> 00:36:51.360 equipped so that we can produce good fruit. 00:36:51.360 --> 00:36:55.519 May we mature in our faith and let your word be a guide for everyday living. 00:36:55.519 --> 00:36:58.960 Let your word transform our lives, our church, and our community. 00:36:58.960 --> 00:37:02.480 And as we leave today may we grow in knowledge, 00:37:02.480 --> 00:37:09.120 love, and dedication to you. Bless everyone here today and be with those 00:37:09.120 --> 00:37:12.559 who are awake and those who are yet to come. 00:37:12.559 --> 00:37:16.079 May they come to know that they are loved by you. 00:37:16.079 --> 00:37:22.239 May they come to know about your Son Jesus Christ who paid it all by dying 00:37:22.239 --> 00:37:28.000 and rising on that cross. We thank you so much for all that you have 00:37:28.000 --> 00:37:31.840 done, all that you do, and all that you continue to do. 00:37:31.840 --> 00:37:35.840 You are that firm foundation and we need something 00:37:35.840 --> 00:37:39.440 we need a constant and an ever-changing world 00:37:39.440 --> 00:37:43.840 be with us this week. It is in Jesus' name that we pray. 00:37:43.840 --> 00:37:47.840 Amen.