WEBVTT

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 How many of y'all glad you came to church this morning?

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 Would you slip your hand up?

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 Yeah, awesome.

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 Well, we're glad you're here too.

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 Would you take your Bibles with me and turn to Ephesians,

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 Paul's letter to the church in Ephesus,

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 the book of Ephesians.

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 We are gonna get through the first chapter today.

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 We're not starting a new series on the book of Ephesians.

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 We're just gonna stay in chapter one today,

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 and in the future we'll be in other passages

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 that have to do with the church, with us.

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 All right, so that is what we are doing

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 every time we come here and we gather in this assembly,

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 we are doing church.

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 If you have kids that normally be dismissed

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 and you haven't done that yet,

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 go ahead and send those kids off to children's church

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 at this time.

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 I believe that's four years old and under.

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 For children's church.

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 All right, so Ephesians chapter one.

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 This morning I'm reading from the English Standard Version.

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 It should be very close to what you're reading.

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 And let's get into it.

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 Verse one, Ephesians one.

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 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,

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 to the saints who are in Ephesus

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 and are faithful in Christ Jesus,

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 grace to you and peace from God our Father

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 and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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 So he's addressing the church in Ephesus.

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 Now we know from the instruction all throughout Scripture

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 in the New Testament,

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 the Bible was not just written

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 to its intended recipients at that moment.

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 It was written to all of us across all of time.

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 It was God's love letter to mankind,

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 God's instruction manual to mankind.

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 And it is just as relevant to us today

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 as it has ever been.

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 So we're gonna be studying throughout this passage

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 and many more to follow over the next several weeks.

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 What does it mean to be the church?

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 We are the church.

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 We call ourselves that.

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 It's out on our sign.

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 We invite people to church.

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 We say, I go to this church.

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 And what does that mean?

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 What does that entail?

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 What exactly are we saying

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 when we are saying that we are a church?

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 So this is gonna be a study in practical theology.

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 What is theology?

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 It is the study of God, theos.

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 It is a study of God.

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 And so this is the practical side of theology,

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 not just the academic side,

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 not just the research side.

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 This is the actual everyday practical

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 life application side of theology.

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 This is the concept behind the sermon today

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 and the series really.

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 We don't just go to church.

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 We are the church.

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 Would you say that with me now?

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 We don't just go to church.

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 We are the church.

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 We can do a better job than that.

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 Here we go, ready?

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 We don't just go to church.

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 We are the church.

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 Yes, we are.

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 The church is not a building.

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 It is the bride of Christ.

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 It is not just a place.

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 It is a people.

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 It's a gathering.

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 It's an assembly.

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 It's a called out body of believers.

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 So where do we get the word that we use for church?

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 It comes from the biblical word, the Greek word, ekklesia.

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 How many of you guys can read Greek?

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 I figure there might be a couple people in here who could.

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 You just never know.

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 That's all right.

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 There's the Greek version up there.

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 And then you can see the English lettering below.

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 Ekklesia.

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 It means an assembly, a congregation, a gathering.

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 This word would have been normal and understandable

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 to those back in the day that it was written thousands of years ago.

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 However, for us today, we understand it as a meeting together,

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 a gathering together, an assembling of people.

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 It's a congregation.

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 So we are the church.

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 The doctrine of the church is called ecclesiology.

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 That's where we get that word from, ecclesiology,

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 from the biblical word, ekklesia.

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 Ekklesia.

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 So it is the doctrine of that gathering,

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 that assembling of believers in Jesus.

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 We're going to be in Ephesians 1.

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 And I had my new King James, and then I left it at home,

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 so I grabbed my English standard.

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 That was my backup in my office.

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 So that's what we're doing today.

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 That's all right.

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 So let's look at verses.

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 Jump down.

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 Tell you what, we'll just read it.

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 We left off in verse 2.

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 Let's pick it up in verse 3.

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 We're going to pay special attention to verses 4 and 5.

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 Verse 3, Ephesians 1.

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 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

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 who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,

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 even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world,

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 that we should be holy and blameless before Him.

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 Verse 5.

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 In love He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ,

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 according to the purpose of His will.

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 So we see in verses 4 and 5, God chooses us.

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 So the idea here is it's not about us, it's about God.

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 We didn't merit God's grace and favor by some amazing feat that we performed

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 or some sinlessness that we achieved.

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 There is nothing like that.

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 God chose us.

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 We can't earn God's grace.

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 There's nothing good enough that any of you or I could ever do

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 to merit or earn the grace of God.

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 God chooses us.

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 So let's jump back to verse 3.

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 We'll see it in just a second here.

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 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

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 who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing.

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 Okay, now jump down to verse 7.

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 We left off in 5, didn't we?

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 Let's read 6, then we'll get to 7 and 8.

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 Here we go.

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 Verse 6.

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 To the praise of His glorious grace,

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 with which He has blessed us in the Beloved.

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 Now verse 7.

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 Here we go.

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 In Him, in Christ, in Jesus,

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 in Him we have redemption through His blood.

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 The forgiveness of our trespasses,

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 according to the riches of His grace.

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 Verse 8.

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 Which He lavished upon us in all wisdom and insight.

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 So the truth we're drawing from this is God freely gives to us.

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 God chooses us and He freely gives to us.

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 We couldn't earn His grace and we can't earn His favor.

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 We can't earn His blessings.

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 We can't earn God's gifts to us.

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 We couldn't earn the free gift of salvation which He offered to us.

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 And we can't earn all the grace that He lavishes on us day in and day out.

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 We can't earn His favor.

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 Now verse 9.

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 Making known to us the mystery of His will,

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 according to His purpose,

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 which He set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time

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 to unite all things in Him,

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 things in heaven and things on the earth.

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 In Him we have obtained an inheritance,

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 having been predestined according to the purpose of Him

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 who works all things according to the counsel of His will,

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 not ours.

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 You catch that?

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 He works all things according to the counsel of His will.

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 He doesn't need to consult us on what to do.

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 He's got it all figured out.

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 He's got His will set, determined,

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 before the foundation of the world.

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 And that's what He works things according to that purpose.

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 Now verse 12.

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 So that we who were the first to hope in Christ

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 might be to the praise of His glory.

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 Verse 13.

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 In Him you also,

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 when you heard the word of truth,

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 the gospel of your salvation,

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 and believed in Him,

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 were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.

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 Check this one out.

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 God saves us for His glory.

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 We have no bragging rights.

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 God redeems us,

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 saves us,

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 grants us that saving grace,

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 that washing of our sins

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 by His blood.

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 And friend, if you're sitting here this morning

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 and you're not sure what I'm talking about,

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 you need to get sure before you leave today.

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 You need to come down,

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 talk to us after the service,

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 come talk,

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 I will stop everything else I'm doing

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 and talk to you

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 about how God can save you,

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 how God can forgive you,

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 how He can redeem you.

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 That is step number one.

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 And nothing else matters.

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 All the songs,

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 all the building,

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 all the everything we do in church

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 doesn't matter

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 if you are not born again,

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 the Bible says.

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 Saved.

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 Becoming a child of God.

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 That is number one.

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 Or else everything else.

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 is just distracting from that.

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 Everything else is pretending

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 that that's who you are

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 and you're really not.

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 So that is the most important step.

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 And God saves us for His glory.

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 He does it to glorify Himself.

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 Jesus said,

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 I glorify the Father.

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 The Father has glorified me

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 and I glorify the Father.

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 You and I have no bragging rights.

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 There's nothing that we could do

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 to earn God's favor.

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 Look over in chapter 2

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 and verse 8 real quick.

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 Cross the page,

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 chapter 2 and verse 8.

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 By grace,

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 you have been saved

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 through faith.

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 This is not your own doing.

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 It is the gift of God.

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 Not of works.

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 Not a result of works.

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 So that no one may,

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 what's that word?

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 Boast.

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 There's no boasting.

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 There's no bragging rights.

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 Look at me.

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 I'm a child of God.

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 Well, that makes me wonder

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 if you are.

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 Because a child of God

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 would understand

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 that He didn't do anything

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 to become one.

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 He was adopted.

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 That process

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 was born of God.

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 It was carried through by God.

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 And it will be sustained

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 by God alone.

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 Now,

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 let's pick it up

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 in verse 14.

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 Who is the guarantee,

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 the Holy Spirit,

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 who is the guarantee

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 of our inheritance

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 until we acquire possession of it

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 to the praise of His glory?

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 Verse 15.

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 For this reason,

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 because I have heard of your faith

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 in the Lord Jesus

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 and your love toward all the saints,

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 I do not cease

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 to give thanks for you,

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 remembering you in my prayers

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 that the God

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 of our Lord Jesus Christ,

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 the Father of glory,

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 may give you a spirit of wisdom

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 and of revelation

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 in the knowledge of Him.

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 Having the eyes

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 of your hearts enlightened

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 that you may know

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 what is the hope

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 to which He has called you,

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 what are the riches

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 of His glorious inheritance

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 in the saints,

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 and what is the immeasurable greatness

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 of His power

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 toward us who believe

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 according to the working

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 of His great might.

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 God works through us.

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 You and I have no

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 boastworthy accomplishments.

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 There's nothing

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 that we can boast in

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 that we accomplish for God.

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 He does it all through us.

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 That's why He gets the glory.

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 In all things,

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 He is to have the preeminence

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 all throughout our lives.

00:11:53.700 --> 00:11:54.799
 Pick it up in verse 20.

00:11:54.799 --> 00:11:57.299
 The working of His great might

00:11:57.299 --> 00:11:58.879
 that He worked in Christ

00:11:58.879 --> 00:12:00.179
 when He raised Him

00:12:00.179 --> 00:12:00.719
 from the dead

00:12:00.719 --> 00:12:01.879
 and seated Him

00:12:01.879 --> 00:12:03.240
 at His right hand

00:12:03.240 --> 00:12:05.019
 in the heavenly places.

00:12:06.139 --> 00:12:08.179
 Far above all rule

00:12:08.179 --> 00:12:08.740
 and authority

00:12:08.740 --> 00:12:09.919
 and power and dominion

00:12:09.919 --> 00:12:11.939
 and above every name

00:12:11.939 --> 00:12:12.620
 that is named,

00:12:13.219 --> 00:12:14.339
 not only in this age

00:12:14.339 --> 00:12:15.599
 but also in the one to come.

00:12:15.959 --> 00:12:17.219
 And He put all things

00:12:17.219 --> 00:12:18.039
 under His feet

00:12:18.039 --> 00:12:20.459
 and gave Him as head

00:12:20.459 --> 00:12:21.979
 over all things

00:12:21.979 --> 00:12:23.240
 to the church.

00:12:23.699 --> 00:12:24.359
 Did you catch that?

00:12:24.360 --> 00:12:26.159
 He put all things

00:12:26.159 --> 00:12:27.080
 under His feet

00:12:27.080 --> 00:12:28.879
 and gave Him, Jesus,

00:12:29.080 --> 00:12:30.659
 as head over all things

00:12:30.659 --> 00:12:31.360
 to the church

00:12:31.360 --> 00:12:33.419
 which is His body,

00:12:34.300 --> 00:12:35.460
 the fullness of Him

00:12:35.460 --> 00:12:38.060
 who fills all in all.

00:12:38.800 --> 00:12:40.100
 Verses 20 through 23,

00:12:40.240 --> 00:12:40.980
 the end of this chapter,

00:12:41.120 --> 00:12:41.700
 teach us

00:12:41.700 --> 00:12:43.320
 God is the head

00:12:43.320 --> 00:12:44.680
 of all things

00:12:44.680 --> 00:12:45.740
 in the church.

00:12:46.580 --> 00:12:47.539
 He is the head

00:12:47.539 --> 00:12:48.120
 of the church.

00:12:48.500 --> 00:12:49.240
 He is the head

00:12:49.240 --> 00:12:49.659
 of everything

00:12:49.659 --> 00:12:50.460
 that's in the church.

00:12:50.960 --> 00:12:51.800
 He is the head

00:12:51.800 --> 00:12:53.180
 of everyone in the church,

00:12:53.179 --> 00:12:54.819
 everything else

00:12:54.819 --> 00:12:56.039
 is under His feet.

00:12:56.859 --> 00:12:58.179
 He is the head

00:12:58.179 --> 00:12:59.120
 of the church.

00:12:59.219 --> 00:13:00.159
 It's not about you

00:13:00.159 --> 00:13:02.019
 and it's not about me.

00:13:04.519 --> 00:13:06.559
 So that is the lesson

00:13:06.559 --> 00:13:07.059
 for today.

00:13:08.059 --> 00:13:08.939
 The church

00:13:08.939 --> 00:13:11.120
 is not about me.

00:13:11.120 --> 00:13:15.379
 The church

00:13:15.379 --> 00:13:17.220
 is not about me.

00:13:18.960 --> 00:13:19.980
 Would you join me

00:13:19.980 --> 00:13:20.759
 if you're able to

00:13:20.759 --> 00:13:21.580
 in saying that

00:13:21.580 --> 00:13:22.220
 with me ready?

00:13:22.840 --> 00:13:23.560
 The church

00:13:23.560 --> 00:13:25.720
 is not about me.

00:13:27.200 --> 00:13:28.480
 Now we can say that

00:13:28.480 --> 00:13:30.500
 and we might believe that,

00:13:30.560 --> 00:13:31.060
 we might want

00:13:31.060 --> 00:13:31.799
 to believe that,

00:13:32.379 --> 00:13:33.080
 but sometimes

00:13:33.080 --> 00:13:33.659
 it's hard

00:13:33.659 --> 00:13:35.019
 to live that way.

00:13:35.899 --> 00:13:37.139
 We are the church,

00:13:37.139 --> 00:13:38.740
 but the church

00:13:38.740 --> 00:13:40.340
 is not about us.

00:13:42.740 --> 00:13:43.759
 If you're taking notes

00:13:43.759 --> 00:13:44.139
 this morning,

00:13:44.240 --> 00:13:44.779
 jot this down

00:13:44.779 --> 00:13:45.220
 if you would.

00:13:45.299 --> 00:13:46.340
 My primary role

00:13:46.340 --> 00:13:47.159
 in the church

00:13:47.159 --> 00:13:49.259
 is to glorify God.

00:13:49.360 --> 00:13:50.460
 My primary role

00:13:50.460 --> 00:13:51.960
 in the church

00:13:51.960 --> 00:13:53.580
 is to glorify God.

00:13:53.819 --> 00:13:54.639
 Back in Ephesians

00:13:54.639 --> 00:13:55.319
 chapter 1,

00:13:55.360 --> 00:13:56.319
 we read it a moment ago

00:13:56.319 --> 00:13:57.059
 in verse 12.

00:13:57.279 --> 00:13:57.939
 I like how the

00:13:57.939 --> 00:13:58.980
 Revised Standard Version

00:13:58.980 --> 00:14:00.139
 reads this.

00:14:00.399 --> 00:14:01.059
 They're all good.

00:14:01.159 --> 00:14:01.980
 Sometimes the phrasing

00:14:01.980 --> 00:14:03.080
 is just slightly different

00:14:03.080 --> 00:14:04.039
 and I love how clear

00:14:04.039 --> 00:14:04.799
 this makes it.

00:14:05.139 --> 00:14:05.779
 Verse 12,

00:14:05.779 --> 00:14:07.980
 we who had first

00:14:07.980 --> 00:14:09.240
 hoped in Christ

00:14:09.240 --> 00:14:10.620
 have been destined

00:14:10.620 --> 00:14:11.480
 and appointed

00:14:11.480 --> 00:14:13.620
 to live for the praise

00:14:13.620 --> 00:14:15.419
 of His glory.

00:14:15.839 --> 00:14:16.720
 That's because

00:14:16.720 --> 00:14:17.879
 the church

00:14:17.879 --> 00:14:19.199
 is not about me.

00:14:19.679 --> 00:14:21.500
 My primary purpose

00:14:21.500 --> 00:14:23.019
 in this church

00:14:23.019 --> 00:14:23.959
 and on this earth

00:14:23.959 --> 00:14:25.639
 is to glorify God.

00:14:25.839 --> 00:14:27.279
 Now this is a Baptist church,

00:14:27.899 --> 00:14:28.120
 right?

00:14:28.459 --> 00:14:29.100
 The Baptists,

00:14:29.259 --> 00:14:30.279
 our creed is the Bible.

00:14:30.600 --> 00:14:31.439
 Our only creed

00:14:31.439 --> 00:14:31.919
 is the Bible.

00:14:32.120 --> 00:14:32.539
 Our only,

00:14:32.919 --> 00:14:34.159
 you know,

00:14:34.240 --> 00:14:35.199
 thing that we build

00:14:35.200 --> 00:14:36.160
 our lives around,

00:14:36.280 --> 00:14:36.860
 our foundation

00:14:36.860 --> 00:14:37.740
 of all of our lives

00:14:37.740 --> 00:14:38.520
 is the Bible.

00:14:38.640 --> 00:14:39.800
 There are other churches

00:14:39.800 --> 00:14:40.640
 and denominations

00:14:40.640 --> 00:14:41.600
 that will adopt

00:14:41.600 --> 00:14:42.980
 confessions or creeds

00:14:42.980 --> 00:14:44.379
 that take the Bible

00:14:44.379 --> 00:14:45.540
 and kind of put it

00:14:45.540 --> 00:14:46.120
 in their words

00:14:46.120 --> 00:14:46.580
 and we say,

00:14:46.780 --> 00:14:47.680
 this is what we hold to.

00:14:47.960 --> 00:14:48.640
 And that's fine.

00:14:48.680 --> 00:14:49.480
 I'm not judging them

00:14:49.480 --> 00:14:49.940
 for that.

00:14:50.220 --> 00:14:50.600
 Actually,

00:14:50.820 --> 00:14:51.560
 sometimes those

00:14:51.560 --> 00:14:52.540
 can be very helpful

00:14:52.540 --> 00:14:53.800
 summaries

00:14:53.800 --> 00:14:55.060
 of biblical beliefs.

00:14:55.460 --> 00:14:56.660
 And one of the most

00:14:56.660 --> 00:14:57.420
 effective ones

00:14:57.420 --> 00:14:58.660
 and long-standing ones

00:14:58.660 --> 00:15:00.420
 is the Westminster

00:15:00.420 --> 00:15:01.740
 Shorter Catechism

00:15:01.740 --> 00:15:02.539
 and it says,

00:15:03.100 --> 00:15:04.779
 the chief end of man

00:15:04.779 --> 00:15:06.879
 is to glorify God

00:15:06.879 --> 00:15:08.919
 and enjoy Him forever.

00:15:10.019 --> 00:15:11.659
 The chief end of man

00:15:11.659 --> 00:15:12.919
 is to glorify God

00:15:12.919 --> 00:15:14.519
 and enjoy Him forever.

00:15:15.360 --> 00:15:15.980
 You got to smile

00:15:15.980 --> 00:15:16.680
 when you say that

00:15:16.680 --> 00:15:18.940
 because you can't enjoy God.

00:15:19.720 --> 00:15:20.600
 There's nothing wrong

00:15:20.600 --> 00:15:21.120
 with that.

00:15:21.240 --> 00:15:22.240
 Sometimes when you meet

00:15:22.240 --> 00:15:23.519
 Christians who have been

00:15:23.519 --> 00:15:25.120
 Christians for a long time,

00:15:25.200 --> 00:15:25.980
 many, many years

00:15:25.980 --> 00:15:26.480
 and decades

00:15:26.480 --> 00:15:27.480
 and it just seems like

00:15:27.480 --> 00:15:28.519
 they have a perennial frown

00:15:28.519 --> 00:15:29.139
 on their face.

00:15:29.600 --> 00:15:29.980
 Like, man,

00:15:29.980 --> 00:15:30.940
 have you been enjoying God

00:15:30.940 --> 00:15:31.500
 all that time?

00:15:32.539 --> 00:15:33.580
 Maybe you've been missing

00:15:33.580 --> 00:15:34.620
 your chief end.

00:15:35.519 --> 00:15:36.360
 Maybe you haven't been

00:15:36.360 --> 00:15:38.180
 enjoying God as much

00:15:38.180 --> 00:15:39.120
 because you haven't been

00:15:39.120 --> 00:15:40.840
 glorifying God

00:15:40.840 --> 00:15:42.039
 as much.

00:15:43.259 --> 00:15:44.440
 So that is

00:15:44.440 --> 00:15:46.480
 my primary purpose

00:15:46.480 --> 00:15:47.800
 in this church

00:15:47.800 --> 00:15:49.480
 is to glorify God.

00:15:49.580 --> 00:15:50.060
 Number two,

00:15:50.659 --> 00:15:52.420
 I glorify God the most

00:15:52.420 --> 00:15:54.519
 when I glorify me

00:15:54.519 --> 00:15:56.019
 the least.

00:15:56.019 --> 00:16:00.600
 That's a hard truth

00:16:00.600 --> 00:16:01.319
 to accept, y'all.

00:16:02.980 --> 00:16:04.240
 We want to make

00:16:04.240 --> 00:16:05.360
 ourselves look good.

00:16:06.360 --> 00:16:08.039
 We put on our best clothes.

00:16:08.539 --> 00:16:09.600
 We take a bath

00:16:09.600 --> 00:16:10.399
 every once in a while

00:16:10.399 --> 00:16:12.240
 or a shower.

00:16:12.340 --> 00:16:13.059
 Those are more effective

00:16:13.059 --> 00:16:13.480
 sometimes.

00:16:15.340 --> 00:16:16.720
 We put on smell good,

00:16:16.860 --> 00:16:17.159
 you know.

00:16:18.559 --> 00:16:20.139
 We try to wash our clothes

00:16:20.139 --> 00:16:21.100
 and iron them

00:16:21.100 --> 00:16:22.799
 and look good.

00:16:22.799 --> 00:16:23.919
 Today,

00:16:24.319 --> 00:16:25.359
 I wore waiters

00:16:25.359 --> 00:16:26.139
 in the baptistry

00:16:26.139 --> 00:16:27.219
 for the first time.

00:16:28.099 --> 00:16:29.799
 These other baptisms

00:16:30.919 --> 00:16:31.500
 that have happened,

00:16:31.579 --> 00:16:32.599
 I brought a change of clothes.

00:16:32.899 --> 00:16:33.639
 That's why it takes me

00:16:33.639 --> 00:16:35.059
 so long to get back out here

00:16:35.059 --> 00:16:37.179
 because I changed clothes

00:16:37.179 --> 00:16:38.219
 and changed back into

00:16:38.219 --> 00:16:39.199
 all the full suit

00:16:39.199 --> 00:16:39.659
 and everything.

00:16:40.519 --> 00:16:41.919
 And I went out

00:16:41.919 --> 00:16:42.799
 and got some waiters

00:16:42.799 --> 00:16:44.159
 and so I wore those in

00:16:44.159 --> 00:16:45.699
 and I forgot

00:16:45.699 --> 00:16:47.620
 that the waiters

00:16:47.620 --> 00:16:49.479
 don't cover your arm.

00:16:49.480 --> 00:16:51.860
 So I'm thinking,

00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:52.800
 man, I don't have

00:16:52.800 --> 00:16:53.820
 to get undressed, you know.

00:16:53.920 --> 00:16:54.440
 I'm just going to

00:16:54.440 --> 00:16:55.340
 put my waiters on

00:16:55.340 --> 00:16:56.120
 and here we go.

00:16:56.620 --> 00:16:58.779
 And you can't really see it

00:16:58.779 --> 00:16:59.960
 but let me just tell you,

00:17:00.480 --> 00:17:02.960
 this entire side of me

00:17:02.960 --> 00:17:03.740
 is soaked

00:17:03.740 --> 00:17:04.960
 from the waist up.

00:17:06.880 --> 00:17:07.779
 So I thought I would

00:17:07.779 --> 00:17:08.539
 just come clean.

00:17:08.680 --> 00:17:09.500
 Shane and Kadron,

00:17:09.660 --> 00:17:09.920
 you know,

00:17:09.980 --> 00:17:10.960
 they were back there with me

00:17:10.960 --> 00:17:11.720
 and they're just trying

00:17:11.720 --> 00:17:12.279
 not to laugh

00:17:12.279 --> 00:17:12.819
 and be nice.

00:17:14.500 --> 00:17:15.299
 Coming clean.

00:17:15.460 --> 00:17:16.019
 Here we go.

00:17:16.660 --> 00:17:17.120
 But you know,

00:17:17.200 --> 00:17:18.279
 I was trying to show y'all

00:17:18.279 --> 00:17:19.559
 look like I had it all together.

00:17:19.660 --> 00:17:20.619
 It's like if I keep my

00:17:20.619 --> 00:17:21.759
 coat button

00:17:21.759 --> 00:17:22.700
 then nobody will see.

00:17:23.960 --> 00:17:24.899
 My shirt is wet.

00:17:26.399 --> 00:17:28.079
 We try to put on

00:17:28.079 --> 00:17:29.399
 the best version of ourselves.

00:17:29.559 --> 00:17:31.220
 We try to present ourselves

00:17:31.220 --> 00:17:32.519
 the best possible way

00:17:32.519 --> 00:17:34.039
 and that's just how we are

00:17:34.039 --> 00:17:34.879
 and there's nothing wrong

00:17:34.879 --> 00:17:35.359
 with that.

00:17:35.460 --> 00:17:35.960
 But listen,

00:17:36.359 --> 00:17:37.079
 there's got to be

00:17:37.079 --> 00:17:38.359
 a mind shift

00:17:38.359 --> 00:17:40.440
 for God's people

00:17:40.440 --> 00:17:41.359
 that says,

00:17:41.720 --> 00:17:43.139
 I glorify God the most

00:17:43.139 --> 00:17:44.500
 when I glorify me

00:17:44.500 --> 00:17:45.519
 the least.

00:17:45.920 --> 00:17:46.759
 How do we know that?

00:17:46.839 --> 00:17:47.599
 Is that in the Bible?

00:17:47.599 --> 00:17:49.099
 Well, yes it is.

00:17:49.179 --> 00:17:50.059
 John chapter 3

00:17:50.059 --> 00:17:50.819
 in verse 30.

00:17:51.339 --> 00:17:52.419
 He must increase,

00:17:52.799 --> 00:17:54.240
 I must decrease.

00:17:54.579 --> 00:17:55.139
 Where's Harlan?

00:17:55.299 --> 00:17:56.000
 Is Harlan in here?

00:17:56.559 --> 00:17:57.119
 There you go.

00:17:57.579 --> 00:17:58.539
 What time is it?

00:18:03.259 --> 00:18:04.199
 There we go.

00:18:04.319 --> 00:18:04.719
 Some of them

00:18:04.719 --> 00:18:05.359
 were a little shy

00:18:05.359 --> 00:18:05.839
 but yeah,

00:18:05.959 --> 00:18:07.039
 Harlan started teaching them

00:18:07.039 --> 00:18:09.299
 that at VBS,

00:18:09.419 --> 00:18:10.379
 Vacation Bible School

00:18:10.379 --> 00:18:10.779
 and he said,

00:18:10.859 --> 00:18:11.659
 what time is it?

00:18:11.679 --> 00:18:12.459
 And the kid would say,

00:18:12.559 --> 00:18:13.579
 John 3, 30.

00:18:13.719 --> 00:18:14.899
 He must increase,

00:18:15.019 --> 00:18:16.019
 I must decrease.

00:18:16.019 --> 00:18:17.700
 He's got them down

00:18:17.700 --> 00:18:18.079
 with that.

00:18:18.160 --> 00:18:19.240
 Austin does it sometimes.

00:18:19.440 --> 00:18:20.500
 The other day,

00:18:20.639 --> 00:18:21.960
 I was actually asking

00:18:21.960 --> 00:18:22.920
 what time it was

00:18:22.920 --> 00:18:24.139
 and Austin just busts out,

00:18:24.220 --> 00:18:25.039
 he must increase,

00:18:25.139 --> 00:18:25.900
 I must decrease.

00:18:26.019 --> 00:18:26.619
 John 3, 30.

00:18:27.019 --> 00:18:27.460
 I was like,

00:18:27.500 --> 00:18:28.160
 that's great man,

00:18:28.220 --> 00:18:29.039
 but what time is it?

00:18:29.200 --> 00:18:30.019
 I need to know

00:18:30.019 --> 00:18:30.759
 what time it is.

00:18:31.619 --> 00:18:32.019
 Anyway,

00:18:32.599 --> 00:18:34.700
 that is a biblical concept.

00:18:35.420 --> 00:18:36.920
 We glorify God the most

00:18:36.920 --> 00:18:38.299
 when we glorify ourselves

00:18:38.299 --> 00:18:38.839
 the least.

00:18:39.079 --> 00:18:39.660
 Verse 31,

00:18:39.879 --> 00:18:40.839
 the one who comes

00:18:40.839 --> 00:18:41.619
 from above

00:18:41.619 --> 00:18:43.039
 is above all.

00:18:43.039 --> 00:18:44.440
 Do you sense a theme here?

00:18:44.960 --> 00:18:45.559
 A trend?

00:18:46.099 --> 00:18:47.139
 God is above everything

00:18:47.139 --> 00:18:47.819
 in the church.

00:18:48.059 --> 00:18:49.460
 He is above everything,

00:18:50.099 --> 00:18:50.960
 everywhere,

00:18:51.779 --> 00:18:53.220
 all people,

00:18:54.019 --> 00:18:54.819
 each one of us.

00:18:54.940 --> 00:18:55.559
 God is above.

00:18:56.539 --> 00:18:57.480
 He must increase,

00:18:57.960 --> 00:18:59.119
 but I must decrease.

00:19:02.119 --> 00:19:03.859
 The one who is from the earth

00:19:03.859 --> 00:19:05.200
 is earthly.

00:19:06.480 --> 00:19:07.279
 That's us.

00:19:07.500 --> 00:19:08.399
 That was John the Baptist.

00:19:09.180 --> 00:19:10.659
 Speaks in earthly terms.

00:19:10.660 --> 00:19:12.460
 That's all the prophets.

00:19:12.640 --> 00:19:14.400
 That's all the great people

00:19:14.400 --> 00:19:15.720
 that we read about in Scripture,

00:19:15.880 --> 00:19:16.960
 all the heroes of the Bible,

00:19:17.100 --> 00:19:18.380
 and that's you and me.

00:19:18.480 --> 00:19:19.160
 We are earthly.

00:19:19.440 --> 00:19:20.180
 We speak.

00:19:20.320 --> 00:19:20.820
 We think.

00:19:20.940 --> 00:19:22.380
 We act in earthly terms,

00:19:22.519 --> 00:19:25.080
 but the one who comes from heaven

00:19:25.080 --> 00:19:28.060
 acts in heavenly terms,

00:19:28.420 --> 00:19:29.759
 speaks in heavenly terms.

00:19:30.320 --> 00:19:32.200
 He is above it all,

00:19:33.200 --> 00:19:35.960
 but he didn't just stay in heaven.

00:19:36.740 --> 00:19:37.880
 He came down.

00:19:37.880 --> 00:19:41.220
 He was born as a baby.

00:19:41.380 --> 00:19:42.100
 He grew up.

00:19:42.200 --> 00:19:42.960
 He went through

00:19:42.960 --> 00:19:44.700
 all of the difficulty of life

00:19:44.700 --> 00:19:45.620
 that you and I do.

00:19:46.680 --> 00:19:48.280
 He went through all the temptation,

00:19:48.440 --> 00:19:49.140
 all the struggle.

00:19:49.640 --> 00:19:51.080
 He subjected himself

00:19:51.080 --> 00:19:53.880
 to this sinful world,

00:19:54.880 --> 00:19:57.600
 and yet he did it without sin.

00:19:58.780 --> 00:20:00.620
 He maintained his deity.

00:20:01.160 --> 00:20:02.920
 He maintained his Godhead,

00:20:03.620 --> 00:20:05.180
 but he took on flesh,

00:20:05.980 --> 00:20:06.720
 humbled himself,

00:20:06.720 --> 00:20:08.220
 became a servant,

00:20:08.360 --> 00:20:11.059
 and set that as the example

00:20:11.059 --> 00:20:12.279
 for us to do,

00:20:12.660 --> 00:20:13.779
 to humble ourselves,

00:20:14.140 --> 00:20:15.299
 to become a servant,

00:20:15.440 --> 00:20:17.740
 to understand it's not about me.

00:20:17.900 --> 00:20:19.660
 It's about God.

00:20:20.279 --> 00:20:21.700
 So we are the church.

00:20:24.339 --> 00:20:26.000
 My primary role in this church

00:20:26.000 --> 00:20:26.920
 is to glorify God.

00:20:29.720 --> 00:20:31.079
 Glorify God the most

00:20:31.079 --> 00:20:32.600
 when I glorify myself the least.

00:20:32.599 --> 00:20:34.980
 And then number three,

00:20:35.319 --> 00:20:36.519
 I cannot glorify God

00:20:36.519 --> 00:20:38.939
 if I'm holding a grudge.

00:20:40.139 --> 00:20:41.859
 I can't glorify God

00:20:41.859 --> 00:20:43.859
 if I'm holding a grudge

00:20:43.859 --> 00:20:47.039
 because then God ceases to be God.

00:20:47.539 --> 00:20:49.219
 I'm allowing something else

00:20:49.219 --> 00:20:52.039
 to take precedence over God in my life.

00:20:52.240 --> 00:20:55.000
 So I cannot glorify God

00:20:55.000 --> 00:20:56.699
 if I'm holding a grudge

00:20:56.699 --> 00:20:58.099
 against someone else.

00:20:58.099 --> 00:21:00.859
 God is forgiveness.

00:21:01.959 --> 00:21:04.059
 God is all about forgiveness.

00:21:04.559 --> 00:21:06.439
 He forgave the worst of us.

00:21:06.759 --> 00:21:08.240
 He forgave the best of us

00:21:08.240 --> 00:21:09.339
 who are actually the worst.

00:21:10.059 --> 00:21:11.500
 There is no one who is good.

00:21:11.599 --> 00:21:13.319
 There is no one who is perfect.

00:21:13.519 --> 00:21:14.839
 There is no one who is sinless.

00:21:15.179 --> 00:21:17.079
 And God forgave all of it.

00:21:18.159 --> 00:21:19.599
 So we have no excuse

00:21:19.599 --> 00:21:21.159
 to hold a grudge

00:21:21.159 --> 00:21:21.539
 and say,

00:21:21.659 --> 00:21:22.319
 I won't forgive.

00:21:23.699 --> 00:21:25.699
 Romans chapter 15 deals with this.

00:21:25.700 --> 00:21:27.980
 Romans 15 verses 5 and 6.

00:21:28.080 --> 00:21:28.840
 Now may the God

00:21:28.840 --> 00:21:30.039
 who gives endurance

00:21:30.039 --> 00:21:31.319
 and encouragement

00:21:31.319 --> 00:21:32.640
 grant you

00:21:32.640 --> 00:21:34.059
 to live in harmony

00:21:34.059 --> 00:21:35.380
 with one another

00:21:35.380 --> 00:21:37.539
 according to Christ Jesus.

00:21:38.700 --> 00:21:40.259
 Live in harmony with one another

00:21:40.259 --> 00:21:41.880
 according to Christ Jesus.

00:21:42.160 --> 00:21:43.420
 God can grant us

00:21:43.420 --> 00:21:44.600
 the ability to do that.

00:21:45.059 --> 00:21:45.460
 Verse 6.

00:21:45.519 --> 00:21:47.140
 So that you may glorify

00:21:47.140 --> 00:21:48.180
 the God and Father

00:21:48.180 --> 00:21:49.380
 of our Lord Jesus Christ

00:21:49.380 --> 00:21:50.720
 with one mind

00:21:50.720 --> 00:21:51.940
 and one voice.

00:21:51.940 --> 00:21:53.779
 Is God glorified

00:21:53.779 --> 00:21:56.279
 if His people come here

00:21:56.279 --> 00:21:58.619
 and lift their voices together

00:21:58.619 --> 00:22:00.700
 and sing songs of praise

00:22:00.700 --> 00:22:01.680
 to God together

00:22:01.680 --> 00:22:03.660
 and then walk out these doors

00:22:03.660 --> 00:22:04.559
 and fight

00:22:04.559 --> 00:22:05.579
 and bicker

00:22:05.579 --> 00:22:07.200
 and talk about each other

00:22:07.200 --> 00:22:07.940
 behind our backs

00:22:07.940 --> 00:22:09.039
 and run each other down.

00:22:09.339 --> 00:22:10.879
 Can God be glorified?

00:22:12.319 --> 00:22:14.099
 Because we're not of one mind

00:22:14.099 --> 00:22:14.920
 and one voice.

00:22:16.079 --> 00:22:17.819
 We might seem like we are

00:22:17.819 --> 00:22:19.139
 when we're all gathered here

00:22:19.139 --> 00:22:20.559
 in the sanctuary.

00:22:20.559 --> 00:22:23.960
 But when we walk out

00:22:23.960 --> 00:22:25.599
 the world will see

00:22:25.599 --> 00:22:28.099
 if we're glorifying God

00:22:28.099 --> 00:22:29.599
 living in harmony

00:22:29.599 --> 00:22:30.279
 with one another.

00:22:31.659 --> 00:22:33.740
 So I cannot glorify God

00:22:33.740 --> 00:22:34.480
 if I give

00:22:34.480 --> 00:22:36.079
 if I hold a grudge.

00:22:36.759 --> 00:22:38.079
 Proverbs chapter 19

00:22:38.079 --> 00:22:38.480
 gives

00:22:38.480 --> 00:22:39.980
 the entire book of Proverbs

00:22:39.980 --> 00:22:41.539
 gives life advice to us

00:22:41.539 --> 00:22:42.839
 and this is a particularly

00:22:42.839 --> 00:22:43.639
 applicable one

00:22:43.639 --> 00:22:44.319
 to this point.

00:22:44.639 --> 00:22:45.940
 A person's insight

00:22:45.940 --> 00:22:47.240
 gives him patience

00:22:47.240 --> 00:22:49.059
 and his virtue

00:22:49.059 --> 00:22:51.160
 is to overlook

00:22:51.160 --> 00:22:52.740
 an offense.

00:22:55.519 --> 00:22:57.200
 It is a virtue

00:22:57.200 --> 00:22:59.099
 to overlook

00:22:59.099 --> 00:22:59.980
 an offense.

00:23:01.200 --> 00:23:02.120
 God knows

00:23:02.120 --> 00:23:03.140
 offenses will happen.

00:23:04.259 --> 00:23:05.180
 You will get offended.

00:23:06.180 --> 00:23:07.059
 Others will offend

00:23:07.059 --> 00:23:08.579
 you

00:23:08.579 --> 00:23:09.299
 and guess what?

00:23:09.400 --> 00:23:10.559
 You will offend others.

00:23:12.019 --> 00:23:13.519
 You will offend others.

00:23:13.519 --> 00:23:16.579
 And we always love

00:23:16.579 --> 00:23:17.200
 when someone

00:23:17.200 --> 00:23:17.960
 overlooks

00:23:17.960 --> 00:23:18.700
 our offense.

00:23:19.339 --> 00:23:20.859
 But it's hard for us

00:23:20.859 --> 00:23:21.819
 to overlook others.

00:23:22.000 --> 00:23:22.579
 Is that not right?

00:23:24.180 --> 00:23:25.759
 But that shows

00:23:25.759 --> 00:23:27.279
 your insight

00:23:27.279 --> 00:23:28.440
 into God.

00:23:28.839 --> 00:23:29.599
 That shows

00:23:29.599 --> 00:23:30.359
 your insight

00:23:30.359 --> 00:23:31.079
 your connection

00:23:31.079 --> 00:23:32.619
 to the heart of God

00:23:32.619 --> 00:23:34.700
 when we're patient

00:23:34.700 --> 00:23:35.319
 with each other.

00:23:35.680 --> 00:23:36.819
 When we overlook

00:23:36.819 --> 00:23:37.460
 an offense.

00:23:38.779 --> 00:23:39.960
 Not everything

00:23:39.960 --> 00:23:42.240
 has to get dealt with.

00:23:42.240 --> 00:23:43.920
 Not every wrong

00:23:43.920 --> 00:23:45.359
 has to get righted.

00:23:47.200 --> 00:23:48.259
 Jesus took

00:23:48.259 --> 00:23:48.839
 every wrong

00:23:48.839 --> 00:23:49.480
 on himself.

00:23:50.839 --> 00:23:52.240
 And he didn't come

00:23:52.240 --> 00:23:53.299
 with the hammer

00:23:53.299 --> 00:23:54.000
 of justice

00:23:54.000 --> 00:23:55.700
 and beat back

00:23:55.700 --> 00:23:56.259
 the Romans

00:23:56.259 --> 00:23:58.220
 who were oppressing

00:23:58.220 --> 00:23:58.799
 his people.

00:23:59.859 --> 00:24:00.759
 He didn't come

00:24:00.759 --> 00:24:02.019
 and fix

00:24:02.019 --> 00:24:03.059
 every injustice

00:24:03.059 --> 00:24:03.680
 that had happened

00:24:03.680 --> 00:24:04.319
 in this world.

00:24:05.519 --> 00:24:06.779
 But he paid

00:24:06.779 --> 00:24:07.900
 the price

00:24:07.900 --> 00:24:09.259
 for all the sin

00:24:09.259 --> 00:24:10.539
 for all of us.

00:24:10.539 --> 00:24:13.159
 because we're

00:24:13.159 --> 00:24:14.200
 all equally bad.

00:24:15.899 --> 00:24:17.000
 Maybe you and I

00:24:17.000 --> 00:24:17.940
 haven't killed somebody

00:24:17.940 --> 00:24:19.000
 like somebody else has.

00:24:20.000 --> 00:24:20.700
 Maybe we haven't

00:24:20.700 --> 00:24:21.599
 taken advantage

00:24:21.599 --> 00:24:22.940
 of a minor

00:24:22.940 --> 00:24:23.579
 or someone

00:24:23.579 --> 00:24:24.619
 who is defenseless.

00:24:25.559 --> 00:24:26.339
 There are certainly

00:24:26.339 --> 00:24:27.680
 degrees to sin

00:24:27.680 --> 00:24:29.119
 in how bad

00:24:29.119 --> 00:24:29.579
 they are.

00:24:29.659 --> 00:24:30.460
 But the truth is

00:24:30.460 --> 00:24:31.659
 it's all bad

00:24:31.659 --> 00:24:33.000
 and it's all

00:24:33.000 --> 00:24:34.139
 earning the same

00:24:34.139 --> 00:24:34.700
 punishment.

00:24:34.700 --> 00:24:36.859
 Which is eternal

00:24:36.859 --> 00:24:37.440
 death

00:24:37.440 --> 00:24:38.460
 in the lake of fire

00:24:38.460 --> 00:24:39.639
 we call hell.

00:24:40.539 --> 00:24:42.359
 God takes

00:24:42.359 --> 00:24:43.460
 sin seriously.

00:24:44.259 --> 00:24:45.399
 So seriously

00:24:45.399 --> 00:24:46.879
 Jesus had to die

00:24:46.879 --> 00:24:47.299
 for it.

00:24:48.159 --> 00:24:49.399
 He gave his own life.

00:24:52.000 --> 00:24:53.079
 Who are we

00:24:53.079 --> 00:24:53.599
 to say

00:24:53.599 --> 00:24:55.659
 I won't forgive

00:24:55.659 --> 00:24:56.220
 that sin.

00:24:56.920 --> 00:24:57.460
 That sin

00:24:57.460 --> 00:24:57.899
 that Jesus

00:24:57.899 --> 00:24:58.519
 died for

00:24:58.519 --> 00:24:59.019
 that sin

00:24:59.019 --> 00:24:59.619
 that Jesus

00:24:59.619 --> 00:25:01.039
 shed his life

00:25:01.039 --> 00:25:01.779
 blood for

00:25:01.779 --> 00:25:03.079
 cried out.

00:25:03.079 --> 00:25:04.139
 I love what

00:25:04.139 --> 00:25:04.759
 Cajun said

00:25:04.759 --> 00:25:05.420
 in the baptism

00:25:05.420 --> 00:25:07.519
 that Jesus

00:25:07.519 --> 00:25:08.579
 looked at his father

00:25:08.579 --> 00:25:08.920
 and said

00:25:08.920 --> 00:25:09.380
 my God

00:25:09.380 --> 00:25:09.840
 why have you

00:25:09.840 --> 00:25:10.600
 forsaken me?

00:25:11.360 --> 00:25:12.019
 The torment

00:25:12.019 --> 00:25:12.840
 the anguish

00:25:12.840 --> 00:25:13.560
 that our Savior

00:25:13.560 --> 00:25:14.140
 endured

00:25:14.140 --> 00:25:15.740
 for that sin

00:25:15.740 --> 00:25:16.420
 that's got you

00:25:16.420 --> 00:25:16.940
 hung up.

00:25:18.539 --> 00:25:19.560
 Can't forgive it.

00:25:21.240 --> 00:25:22.759
 Can't glorify God

00:25:22.759 --> 00:25:24.460
 until we forgive it.

00:25:25.460 --> 00:25:25.920
 You didn't think

00:25:25.920 --> 00:25:26.779
 you'd see Buddy Hackett

00:25:26.779 --> 00:25:27.460
 in church did you?

00:25:29.360 --> 00:25:30.039
 Younger people

00:25:30.039 --> 00:25:30.680
 don't worry about it.

00:25:30.680 --> 00:25:32.539
 He said

00:25:32.539 --> 00:25:33.480
 don't carry a grudge

00:25:33.480 --> 00:25:34.080
 while you're out

00:25:34.080 --> 00:25:34.940
 carrying the grudge

00:25:34.940 --> 00:25:35.700
 the other guy's

00:25:35.700 --> 00:25:36.400
 out there dancing.

00:25:37.400 --> 00:25:38.259
 There is a lot of

00:25:38.259 --> 00:25:38.720
 truth to that

00:25:38.720 --> 00:25:39.120
 isn't there?

00:25:39.840 --> 00:25:40.680
 Sometimes we can

00:25:40.680 --> 00:25:41.440
 carry a grudge

00:25:41.440 --> 00:25:42.100
 for months

00:25:42.100 --> 00:25:43.320
 for years

00:25:43.320 --> 00:25:44.380
 for decades

00:25:44.380 --> 00:25:46.039
 and the other person

00:25:46.039 --> 00:25:47.440
 has long forgot it.

00:25:48.039 --> 00:25:48.799
 The only person

00:25:48.799 --> 00:25:49.200
 that's hurting

00:25:49.200 --> 00:25:49.860
 at that point

00:25:49.860 --> 00:25:50.720
 is us.

00:25:50.779 --> 00:25:51.320
 But you know what

00:25:51.320 --> 00:25:52.080
 there's more to that.

00:25:52.560 --> 00:25:53.220
 The only person

00:25:53.220 --> 00:25:53.680
 that's hurting

00:25:53.680 --> 00:25:54.600
 is us

00:25:54.600 --> 00:25:55.640
 and those we interact

00:25:55.640 --> 00:25:55.980
 with

00:25:55.980 --> 00:25:57.080
 those who love us

00:25:57.080 --> 00:25:58.240
 those who care about us

00:25:58.240 --> 00:25:59.519
 those who want to help

00:25:59.519 --> 00:26:01.200
 it's affecting

00:26:01.200 --> 00:26:02.779
 more and more

00:26:02.779 --> 00:26:04.039
 ripples around us

00:26:04.039 --> 00:26:05.180
 when we carry

00:26:05.180 --> 00:26:06.460
 a grudge.

00:26:08.059 --> 00:26:08.960
 John Stott

00:26:08.960 --> 00:26:09.779
 is one of my

00:26:09.779 --> 00:26:10.599
 personal favorite

00:26:10.599 --> 00:26:11.240
 theologians

00:26:11.240 --> 00:26:12.099
 and he wrote this book

00:26:12.099 --> 00:26:13.220
 called Basic Christianity

00:26:13.220 --> 00:26:15.539
 and I like his

00:26:15.539 --> 00:26:16.359
 application of it

00:26:16.359 --> 00:26:17.039
 maybe a little bit

00:26:17.039 --> 00:26:18.039
 better than Buddy Hackett's.

00:26:18.099 --> 00:26:18.380
 He says

00:26:18.380 --> 00:26:19.180
 most quarrels

00:26:19.180 --> 00:26:20.160
 are due to a

00:26:20.160 --> 00:26:20.700
 misunderstanding

00:26:20.700 --> 00:26:22.460
 and the misunderstanding

00:26:22.460 --> 00:26:23.599
 is due to our

00:26:23.599 --> 00:26:25.259
 failure to appreciate

00:26:25.259 --> 00:26:26.240
 the other person's

00:26:26.240 --> 00:26:26.839
 point of view.

00:26:26.839 --> 00:26:29.139
 It is more natural

00:26:29.139 --> 00:26:29.759
 to us

00:26:29.759 --> 00:26:30.379
 to talk

00:26:30.379 --> 00:26:31.539
 than to listen

00:26:31.539 --> 00:26:32.859
 to argue

00:26:32.859 --> 00:26:34.439
 than to submit.

00:26:35.339 --> 00:26:36.179
 Many conflicts

00:26:36.179 --> 00:26:37.139
 could be resolved

00:26:37.139 --> 00:26:38.319
 if both sides

00:26:38.319 --> 00:26:39.259
 first examine

00:26:39.259 --> 00:26:40.279
 themselves critically

00:26:40.279 --> 00:26:41.759
 and then examine

00:26:41.759 --> 00:26:42.740
 the other side

00:26:42.740 --> 00:26:43.980
 charitably.

00:26:44.579 --> 00:26:44.799
 Did you catch

00:26:44.799 --> 00:26:45.419
 the difference there?

00:26:45.779 --> 00:26:46.659
 Examine ourselves

00:26:46.659 --> 00:26:47.099
 critically

00:26:47.099 --> 00:26:48.279
 and then examine

00:26:48.279 --> 00:26:49.099
 the other side

00:26:49.099 --> 00:26:50.259
 charitably

00:26:50.259 --> 00:26:51.399
 rather than

00:26:51.399 --> 00:26:52.399
 our normal practice

00:26:52.399 --> 00:26:53.259
 of being charitable

00:26:53.259 --> 00:26:53.959
 to ourselves

00:26:53.959 --> 00:26:55.139
 and critical

00:26:55.139 --> 00:26:55.899
 of others.

00:26:55.900 --> 00:26:56.940
 Our outlook

00:26:56.940 --> 00:26:57.780
 is one-sided.

00:26:58.320 --> 00:26:59.160
 We exaggerate

00:26:59.160 --> 00:26:59.660
 the virtues

00:26:59.660 --> 00:27:00.300
 in ourselves

00:27:00.300 --> 00:27:01.460
 and the vices

00:27:01.460 --> 00:27:02.600
 in others.

00:27:03.680 --> 00:27:03.920
 So

00:27:03.920 --> 00:27:05.980
 my primary role

00:27:05.980 --> 00:27:06.920
 in the church

00:27:06.920 --> 00:27:08.120
 is to glorify God.

00:27:08.740 --> 00:27:09.900
 I glorify God

00:27:09.900 --> 00:27:10.420
 the most

00:27:10.420 --> 00:27:11.680
 when I glorify me

00:27:11.680 --> 00:27:12.200
 the least

00:27:12.200 --> 00:27:13.900
 and I cannot glorify

00:27:13.900 --> 00:27:14.320
 God

00:27:14.320 --> 00:27:15.580
 if I hold

00:27:15.580 --> 00:27:16.700
 a grudge.

00:27:20.580 --> 00:27:21.840
 What are the takeaways?

00:27:22.840 --> 00:27:23.820
 Church is about God

00:27:23.819 --> 00:27:25.240
 it's not about me.

00:27:29.240 --> 00:27:30.419
 The church

00:27:30.419 --> 00:27:31.460
 is for us.

00:27:32.500 --> 00:27:33.980
 We identify

00:27:33.980 --> 00:27:35.240
 as the church

00:27:35.240 --> 00:27:37.279
 but it's not

00:27:37.279 --> 00:27:37.939
 about us.

00:27:38.319 --> 00:27:39.179
 We are not

00:27:39.179 --> 00:27:39.899
 to receive

00:27:39.899 --> 00:27:40.599
 the glory.

00:27:42.099 --> 00:27:43.460
 It is not

00:27:43.460 --> 00:27:44.139
 established

00:27:44.139 --> 00:27:45.579
 to promote

00:27:45.579 --> 00:27:46.500
 us.

00:27:46.799 --> 00:27:47.519
 It is not

00:27:47.519 --> 00:27:48.079
 established

00:27:48.079 --> 00:27:49.200
 to make us

00:27:49.200 --> 00:27:49.839
 look good

00:27:49.839 --> 00:27:50.919
 in this community.

00:27:50.920 --> 00:27:52.279
 it's not

00:27:52.279 --> 00:27:52.759
 established

00:27:52.759 --> 00:27:53.300
 for us

00:27:53.300 --> 00:27:53.640
 to feel

00:27:53.640 --> 00:27:54.060
 good

00:27:54.060 --> 00:27:54.680
 about

00:27:54.680 --> 00:27:55.220
 ourselves.

00:27:55.759 --> 00:27:56.360
 The church

00:27:56.360 --> 00:27:57.740
 is about God

00:27:57.740 --> 00:27:59.060
 not me.

00:27:59.440 --> 00:28:00.120
 I wrote down

00:28:00.120 --> 00:28:00.700
 some thoughts

00:28:00.700 --> 00:28:01.200
 and I want to

00:28:01.200 --> 00:28:01.500
 share them

00:28:01.500 --> 00:28:01.840
 with you

00:28:01.840 --> 00:28:02.960
 before we

00:28:02.960 --> 00:28:03.300
 leave.

00:28:03.299 --> 00:28:13.000
 the church

00:28:13.000 --> 00:28:15.359
 is not

00:28:15.359 --> 00:28:16.740
 a social

00:28:16.740 --> 00:28:17.059
 club.

00:28:18.259 --> 00:28:19.000
 The church

00:28:19.000 --> 00:28:19.379
 is not

00:28:19.379 --> 00:28:19.799
 a country

00:28:19.799 --> 00:28:20.119
 club.

00:28:21.180 --> 00:28:21.859
 The church

00:28:21.859 --> 00:28:22.159
 is not

00:28:22.159 --> 00:28:22.460
 a book

00:28:22.460 --> 00:28:22.819
 club

00:28:22.819 --> 00:28:23.940
 or a fan

00:28:23.940 --> 00:28:24.299
 club

00:28:24.299 --> 00:28:25.480
 or a secret

00:28:25.480 --> 00:28:25.859
 club

00:28:25.859 --> 00:28:27.200
 definitely

00:28:27.200 --> 00:28:27.759
 not a night

00:28:27.759 --> 00:28:28.039
 club

00:28:28.039 --> 00:28:29.919
 and it's

00:28:29.919 --> 00:28:30.440
 not a trophy

00:28:30.440 --> 00:28:30.759
 club.

00:28:30.759 --> 00:28:32.680
 The church

00:28:32.680 --> 00:28:34.059
 is a blood

00:28:34.059 --> 00:28:34.480
 bought

00:28:34.480 --> 00:28:35.940
 called out

00:28:35.940 --> 00:28:37.420
 sanctified

00:28:37.420 --> 00:28:38.299
 living

00:28:38.299 --> 00:28:38.920
 breathing

00:28:38.920 --> 00:28:39.640
 body

00:28:39.640 --> 00:28:40.079
 of born

00:28:40.079 --> 00:28:40.319
 again

00:28:40.319 --> 00:28:40.720
 believers

00:28:40.720 --> 00:28:41.200
 in Jesus

00:28:41.200 --> 00:28:42.119
 who are

00:28:42.119 --> 00:28:42.660
 set apart

00:28:42.660 --> 00:28:43.119
 to love

00:28:43.119 --> 00:28:43.460
 God

00:28:43.460 --> 00:28:44.519
 to seek

00:28:44.519 --> 00:28:44.940
 truth

00:28:44.940 --> 00:28:45.839
 and to

00:28:45.839 --> 00:28:46.039
 serve

00:28:46.039 --> 00:28:46.420
 people

00:28:46.420 --> 00:28:47.680
 by spreading

00:28:47.680 --> 00:28:48.039
 the good

00:28:48.039 --> 00:28:48.240
 news

00:28:48.240 --> 00:28:48.879
 of salvation

00:28:48.879 --> 00:28:50.000
 by God's

00:28:50.000 --> 00:28:50.240
 grace

00:28:50.240 --> 00:28:50.599
 through our

00:28:50.599 --> 00:28:50.920
 faith.

00:28:51.660 --> 00:28:52.480
 We give

00:28:52.480 --> 00:28:52.740
 them the

00:28:52.740 --> 00:28:53.059
 gospel

00:28:53.059 --> 00:28:54.200
 we baptize

00:28:54.200 --> 00:28:54.460
 them

00:28:54.460 --> 00:28:55.619
 we remember

00:28:55.619 --> 00:28:56.140
 Christ's

00:28:56.140 --> 00:28:56.599
 sacrifice

00:28:56.599 --> 00:28:56.879
 at the

00:28:56.879 --> 00:28:57.200
 Lord's

00:28:57.200 --> 00:28:57.420
 supper

00:28:57.420 --> 00:28:58.039
 and we

00:28:58.039 --> 00:28:58.519
 teach them

00:28:58.519 --> 00:28:58.960
 to follow

00:28:58.960 --> 00:28:59.379
 Jesus

00:28:59.379 --> 00:29:00.279
 according to

00:29:00.279 --> 00:29:00.619
 the whole

00:29:00.619 --> 00:29:01.059
 counsel

00:29:01.059 --> 00:29:02.079
 of the

00:29:02.079 --> 00:29:02.220
 word

00:29:02.220 --> 00:29:02.599
 of God.

00:29:03.599 --> 00:29:04.079
 That's

00:29:04.079 --> 00:29:04.319
 what the

00:29:04.319 --> 00:29:04.500
 church

00:29:04.500 --> 00:29:04.819
 is

00:29:04.819 --> 00:29:05.920
 and the

00:29:05.920 --> 00:29:06.160
 gates

00:29:06.160 --> 00:29:06.579
 of hell

00:29:06.579 --> 00:29:07.339
 will not

00:29:07.339 --> 00:29:07.740
 prevail

00:29:07.740 --> 00:29:08.519
 against it

00:29:08.519 --> 00:29:09.399
 and if

00:29:09.399 --> 00:29:09.960
 your idea

00:29:09.960 --> 00:29:10.420
 of church

00:29:10.420 --> 00:29:11.059
 doesn't fit

00:29:11.059 --> 00:29:11.420
 that

00:29:11.420 --> 00:29:12.259
 then I'm

00:29:12.259 --> 00:29:12.619
 sorry

00:29:12.619 --> 00:29:13.440
 but you've

00:29:13.440 --> 00:29:13.700
 got the

00:29:13.700 --> 00:29:14.220
 wrong idea

00:29:14.220 --> 00:29:14.759
 of church

00:29:14.759 --> 00:29:15.720
 it's not

00:29:15.720 --> 00:29:16.240
 about you

00:29:16.240 --> 00:29:17.160
 it's never

00:29:17.160 --> 00:29:17.680
 been about

00:29:17.680 --> 00:29:17.920
 you

00:29:17.920 --> 00:29:18.240
 and it

00:29:18.240 --> 00:29:18.639
 will never

00:29:18.639 --> 00:29:19.180
 be about

00:29:19.180 --> 00:29:19.420
 you

00:29:19.420 --> 00:29:21.059
 it's always

00:29:21.059 --> 00:29:21.660
 going to be

00:29:21.660 --> 00:29:22.180
 about him

00:29:22.180 --> 00:29:23.180
 in all

00:29:23.180 --> 00:29:23.639
 things

00:29:23.639 --> 00:29:24.279
 he gets

00:29:24.279 --> 00:29:25.000
 the preeminence

00:29:25.000 --> 00:29:25.460
 we get that

00:29:25.460 --> 00:29:26.039
 from Colossians

00:29:26.039 --> 00:29:26.500
 118

00:29:26.500 --> 00:29:27.339
 which says

00:29:27.339 --> 00:29:28.059
 Jesus is

00:29:28.059 --> 00:29:28.399
 the head

00:29:28.399 --> 00:29:28.899
 of the body

00:29:28.899 --> 00:29:29.460
 the head

00:29:29.460 --> 00:29:30.000
 of the church

00:29:30.000 --> 00:29:30.940
 in everything

00:29:30.940 --> 00:29:32.140
 he might be

00:29:32.140 --> 00:29:33.019
 preeminent

00:29:33.019 --> 00:29:34.160
 you want to know

00:29:34.160 --> 00:29:34.819
 why you're unhappy

00:29:34.819 --> 00:29:36.539
 why you're

00:29:36.539 --> 00:29:37.259
 unsatisfied

00:29:37.259 --> 00:29:39.500
 why you keep

00:29:39.500 --> 00:29:40.079
 getting bent out

00:29:40.079 --> 00:29:40.500
 of shape

00:29:40.500 --> 00:29:42.079
 why people keep

00:29:42.079 --> 00:29:42.500
 getting under

00:29:42.500 --> 00:29:43.000
 your skin

00:29:43.000 --> 00:29:43.500
 it's because

00:29:43.500 --> 00:29:44.059
 you're flipped

00:29:44.059 --> 00:29:45.160
 upside down

00:29:45.160 --> 00:29:46.560
 God is not

00:29:46.560 --> 00:29:46.720
 God is not in

00:29:46.720 --> 00:29:47.400
 first place

00:29:47.400 --> 00:29:48.480
 when it comes

00:29:48.480 --> 00:29:49.100
 to your pet

00:29:49.100 --> 00:29:49.480
 peeve

00:29:49.480 --> 00:29:50.820
 your golden

00:29:50.820 --> 00:29:51.320
 calf

00:29:51.320 --> 00:29:52.120
 so to speak

00:29:52.120 --> 00:29:53.660
 you've got

00:29:53.660 --> 00:29:54.120
 your favorite

00:29:54.120 --> 00:29:54.460
 pew

00:29:54.460 --> 00:29:55.740
 your favorite

00:29:55.740 --> 00:29:56.180
 class

00:29:56.180 --> 00:29:56.640
 your favorite

00:29:56.640 --> 00:29:57.040
 teacher

00:29:57.040 --> 00:29:58.320
 your favorite

00:29:58.320 --> 00:29:58.840
 song

00:29:58.840 --> 00:30:00.320
 and nobody

00:30:00.320 --> 00:30:01.640
 better mess

00:30:01.640 --> 00:30:02.040
 with that

00:30:02.040 --> 00:30:03.560
 or you'll make

00:30:03.560 --> 00:30:04.240
 sure they know

00:30:04.240 --> 00:30:05.200
 that they

00:30:05.200 --> 00:30:05.980
 messed up

00:30:05.980 --> 00:30:09.500
 aren't you

00:30:09.500 --> 00:30:10.160
 just God's

00:30:10.160 --> 00:30:10.440
 gift

00:30:10.440 --> 00:30:11.920
 to God's

00:30:11.920 --> 00:30:12.160
 people

00:30:12.160 --> 00:30:16.240
 what on earth

00:30:16.240 --> 00:30:16.900
 would this church

00:30:16.900 --> 00:30:17.960
 do without you

00:30:17.960 --> 00:30:20.160
 I'll tell you

00:30:20.160 --> 00:30:20.860
 what it might do

00:30:20.860 --> 00:30:22.940
 it might grow

00:30:22.940 --> 00:30:25.180
 the Holy Spirit

00:30:25.180 --> 00:30:26.140
 might take over

00:30:26.140 --> 00:30:27.180
 and have room

00:30:27.180 --> 00:30:27.720
 to work

00:30:27.720 --> 00:30:29.460
 if your spirit

00:30:29.460 --> 00:30:30.400
 of pride

00:30:30.400 --> 00:30:32.039
 and contentiousness

00:30:32.039 --> 00:30:33.539
 ever got out of

00:30:33.539 --> 00:30:34.080
 the way long

00:30:34.080 --> 00:30:34.380
 enough

00:30:34.380 --> 00:30:35.940
 for God to do

00:30:35.940 --> 00:30:36.279
 something

00:30:36.279 --> 00:30:40.620
 this goes for me

00:30:40.620 --> 00:30:41.480
 and it goes for you

00:30:41.480 --> 00:30:43.840
 every one of us

00:30:43.840 --> 00:30:45.360
 it's not about us

00:30:45.360 --> 00:30:46.259
 finally

00:30:46.259 --> 00:30:48.100
 you know why

00:30:48.100 --> 00:30:48.880
 the church isn't

00:30:48.880 --> 00:30:49.380
 about you

00:30:49.380 --> 00:30:51.700
 because your name

00:30:51.700 --> 00:30:54.740
 can't break

00:30:54.740 --> 00:30:55.200
 an addiction

00:30:55.200 --> 00:30:57.400
 but the name

00:30:57.400 --> 00:30:57.799
 of Jesus

00:30:57.799 --> 00:30:58.180
 can

00:30:58.180 --> 00:31:00.140
 your name

00:31:00.140 --> 00:31:00.840
 can't put a

00:31:00.840 --> 00:31:01.400
 family back

00:31:01.400 --> 00:31:01.799
 together

00:31:01.799 --> 00:31:03.220
 but the name

00:31:03.220 --> 00:31:03.660
 of Jesus

00:31:03.660 --> 00:31:04.100
 can

00:31:04.100 --> 00:31:05.620
 your name

00:31:05.619 --> 00:31:06.239
 can't forgive

00:31:06.239 --> 00:31:06.839
 sins

00:31:06.839 --> 00:31:07.859
 your name

00:31:07.859 --> 00:31:08.559
 can't banish

00:31:08.559 --> 00:31:08.979
 demons

00:31:08.979 --> 00:31:09.719
 your name

00:31:09.719 --> 00:31:10.399
 can't heal

00:31:10.399 --> 00:31:11.139
 your name

00:31:11.139 --> 00:31:12.039
 can't liberate

00:31:12.039 --> 00:31:12.699
 your name

00:31:12.699 --> 00:31:13.379
 can't wash

00:31:13.379 --> 00:31:14.039
 me clean

00:31:14.039 --> 00:31:15.019
 but the name

00:31:15.019 --> 00:31:15.439
 of Jesus

00:31:15.439 --> 00:31:15.899
 can

00:31:15.899 --> 00:31:17.139
 to him

00:31:17.139 --> 00:31:18.259
 who is able

00:31:18.259 --> 00:31:19.119
 to do far

00:31:19.119 --> 00:31:20.139
 more abundantly

00:31:20.139 --> 00:31:20.699
 and beyond

00:31:20.699 --> 00:31:21.379
 everything

00:31:21.379 --> 00:31:22.959
 that we could

00:31:22.959 --> 00:31:23.879
 ask or think

00:31:23.879 --> 00:31:25.039
 to him

00:31:25.039 --> 00:31:26.259
 be all the glory

00:31:26.259 --> 00:31:27.559
 in the church

00:31:27.559 --> 00:31:29.179
 forever and ever

00:31:29.179 --> 00:31:30.659
 amen

00:31:30.659 --> 00:31:33.279
 that's Ephesians

00:31:33.279 --> 00:31:33.979
 chapter 3

00:31:33.979 --> 00:31:34.639
 and verses 20

00:31:34.639 --> 00:31:35.139
 and 21

00:31:35.140 --> 00:31:36.440
 church

00:31:36.440 --> 00:31:36.759
 church is not

00:31:36.759 --> 00:31:37.240
 about you

00:31:37.240 --> 00:31:38.580
 it's not

00:31:38.580 --> 00:31:39.100
 about me

00:31:39.100 --> 00:31:40.800
 it's always

00:31:40.800 --> 00:31:41.900
 about Jesus

00:31:41.900 --> 00:31:44.759
 the leadership

00:31:44.759 --> 00:31:46.360
 answers to God

00:31:46.360 --> 00:31:47.580
 not you

00:31:47.580 --> 00:31:49.540
 not even me

00:31:49.540 --> 00:31:51.180
 the leadership

00:31:51.180 --> 00:31:51.720
 answers

00:31:51.720 --> 00:31:52.540
 to Jesus

00:31:52.540 --> 00:31:55.440
 this church

00:31:55.440 --> 00:31:56.259
 is accountable

00:31:56.259 --> 00:31:57.780
 to congregation

00:31:57.780 --> 00:31:59.960
 but we will

00:31:59.960 --> 00:32:00.780
 answer to God

00:32:00.780 --> 00:32:01.660
 someday

00:32:01.660 --> 00:32:03.000
 for what we did

00:32:03.000 --> 00:32:04.360
 with our leadership

00:32:04.359 --> 00:32:05.000
 of this church

00:32:05.000 --> 00:32:06.779
 so what are the

00:32:06.779 --> 00:32:07.139
 takeaways

00:32:07.139 --> 00:32:07.839
 my spirit

00:32:07.839 --> 00:32:08.240
 will either

00:32:08.240 --> 00:32:09.259
 help or harm

00:32:09.259 --> 00:32:10.240
 God's work

00:32:10.240 --> 00:32:11.039
 in his church

00:32:11.039 --> 00:32:12.000
 my spirit

00:32:12.000 --> 00:32:12.659
 will either

00:32:12.659 --> 00:32:14.039
 help or harm

00:32:14.039 --> 00:32:15.059
 God's work

00:32:15.059 --> 00:32:15.919
 in his church

00:32:15.919 --> 00:32:16.339
 would you bow

00:32:16.339 --> 00:32:16.679
 your heads

00:32:16.679 --> 00:32:16.959
 with me

00:32:16.959 --> 00:32:17.259
 please

00:32:17.259 --> 00:32:17.699
 quietly

00:32:17.699 --> 00:32:18.299
 I'm going to

00:32:18.299 --> 00:32:18.639
 ask these

00:32:18.639 --> 00:32:19.179
 questions

00:32:19.179 --> 00:32:19.819
 as our heads

00:32:19.819 --> 00:32:20.240
 are bowed

00:32:20.240 --> 00:32:21.219
 this is getting

00:32:21.219 --> 00:32:21.699
 down to the

00:32:21.699 --> 00:32:22.119
 nitty gritty

00:32:22.119 --> 00:32:22.719
 of our everyday

00:32:22.719 --> 00:32:23.319
 life here

00:32:23.319 --> 00:32:24.799
 would you ask

00:32:24.799 --> 00:32:25.179
 yourself

00:32:25.179 --> 00:32:25.699
 with your head

00:32:25.699 --> 00:32:26.000
 bowed

00:32:26.000 --> 00:32:26.679
 would you silently

00:32:26.679 --> 00:32:27.379
 in your own head

00:32:27.379 --> 00:32:27.939
 ask yourself

00:32:27.939 --> 00:32:28.559
 this question

00:32:28.559 --> 00:32:30.000
 is my spirit

00:32:30.000 --> 00:32:31.139
 helping or harming

00:32:31.139 --> 00:32:32.079
 First Baptist

00:32:32.079 --> 00:32:32.539
 Church of

00:32:32.539 --> 00:32:32.899
 Henrietta

00:32:32.899 --> 00:32:34.419
 we got visitors

00:32:34.419 --> 00:32:35.079
 here this morning

00:32:35.079 --> 00:32:35.779
 and I don't expect

00:32:35.779 --> 00:32:36.599
 you to be able

00:32:36.599 --> 00:32:37.139
 to answer that

00:32:37.139 --> 00:32:38.480
 question right

00:32:38.480 --> 00:32:39.019
 this moment

00:32:39.019 --> 00:32:40.339
 but for our

00:32:40.339 --> 00:32:41.179
 regular attenders

00:32:41.179 --> 00:32:41.659
 and members

00:32:41.659 --> 00:32:42.399
 I'd like to ask

00:32:42.399 --> 00:32:42.799
 you that

00:32:42.799 --> 00:32:43.599
 is your spirit

00:32:43.599 --> 00:32:44.619
 helping or harming

00:32:44.619 --> 00:32:45.559
 First Baptist

00:32:45.559 --> 00:32:46.039
 Church

00:32:46.039 --> 00:32:49.019
 the church

00:32:49.019 --> 00:32:49.579
 is not about

00:32:49.579 --> 00:32:49.839
 me

00:32:49.839 --> 00:32:50.659
 it's not about

00:32:50.659 --> 00:32:50.940
 you

00:32:50.940 --> 00:32:53.240
 it's about

00:32:53.240 --> 00:32:53.759
 Jesus

00:32:53.759 --> 00:32:55.019
 am I glorifying

00:32:55.019 --> 00:32:55.399
 God

00:32:55.400 --> 00:32:57.480
 is there anything

00:32:57.480 --> 00:32:58.060
 I'm doing

00:32:58.060 --> 00:32:58.620
 that's bringing

00:32:58.620 --> 00:32:59.800
 glory to God

00:32:59.800 --> 00:33:01.519
 or am I

00:33:01.519 --> 00:33:02.620
 glorifying myself

00:33:02.620 --> 00:33:04.220
 am I scratching

00:33:04.220 --> 00:33:04.960
 my itches

00:33:04.960 --> 00:33:06.640
 am I making

00:33:06.640 --> 00:33:07.200
 sure that

00:33:07.200 --> 00:33:07.800
 everything is

00:33:07.800 --> 00:33:08.680
 exactly as I

00:33:08.680 --> 00:33:09.140
 want it

00:33:09.140 --> 00:33:10.000
 and the minute

00:33:10.000 --> 00:33:10.740
 it starts to

00:33:10.740 --> 00:33:11.280
 get out

00:33:11.280 --> 00:33:12.600
 of shape

00:33:12.600 --> 00:33:13.500
 or something

00:33:13.500 --> 00:33:14.060
 that I don't

00:33:14.060 --> 00:33:14.420
 like

00:33:14.420 --> 00:33:15.660
 I'm going to

00:33:15.660 --> 00:33:16.280
 fight tooth and

00:33:16.280 --> 00:33:16.960
 nail to get it

00:33:16.960 --> 00:33:17.620
 back to how I

00:33:17.620 --> 00:33:18.120
 think it ought to

00:33:18.120 --> 00:33:18.400
 be

00:33:18.400 --> 00:33:21.060
 guys we can't

00:33:21.060 --> 00:33:21.580
 have that

00:33:21.580 --> 00:33:24.120
 if everybody

00:33:24.120 --> 00:33:25.080
 started acting

00:33:25.079 --> 00:33:25.559
 in that way

00:33:25.559 --> 00:33:27.259
 we would be

00:33:27.259 --> 00:33:28.299
 a church of

00:33:28.299 --> 00:33:28.839
 nothing but

00:33:28.839 --> 00:33:29.339
 strife

00:33:29.339 --> 00:33:30.299
 contentiousness

00:33:30.299 --> 00:33:32.299
 constant arguments

00:33:32.299 --> 00:33:34.319
 and we're not

00:33:34.319 --> 00:33:35.519
 that I thank God

00:33:35.519 --> 00:33:36.319
 that we are not

00:33:36.319 --> 00:33:37.019
 that kind of

00:33:37.019 --> 00:33:37.399
 church

00:33:37.399 --> 00:33:41.079
 but this is a

00:33:41.079 --> 00:33:42.220
 continual reminder

00:33:42.220 --> 00:33:43.480
 it is a

00:33:43.480 --> 00:33:44.659
 continual struggle

00:33:44.659 --> 00:33:47.159
 to say he must

00:33:47.159 --> 00:33:48.619
 increase I must

00:33:48.619 --> 00:33:49.259
 decrease

00:33:49.259 --> 00:33:51.039
 the church is not

00:33:51.039 --> 00:33:51.559
 about me

00:33:51.559 --> 00:33:52.960
 it's about

00:33:52.960 --> 00:33:53.439
 Jesus

00:33:53.440 --> 00:33:57.539
 maybe you're

00:33:57.539 --> 00:33:57.880
 here this

00:33:57.880 --> 00:33:58.559
 morning and

00:33:58.559 --> 00:33:58.960
 you don't

00:33:58.960 --> 00:33:59.480
 know for

00:33:59.480 --> 00:34:01.279
 sure that

00:34:01.279 --> 00:34:02.059
 you are God's

00:34:02.059 --> 00:34:02.400
 child

00:34:02.400 --> 00:34:05.200
 you're in

00:34:05.200 --> 00:34:05.880
 church we're

00:34:05.880 --> 00:34:06.340
 grateful for

00:34:06.340 --> 00:34:06.660
 that

00:34:06.660 --> 00:34:09.599
 but you say

00:34:09.599 --> 00:34:10.039
 I've never

00:34:10.039 --> 00:34:10.639
 taken the

00:34:10.639 --> 00:34:11.900
 step to put

00:34:11.900 --> 00:34:12.559
 all my faith

00:34:12.559 --> 00:34:13.059
 in Jesus

00:34:13.059 --> 00:34:13.940
 for the

00:34:13.940 --> 00:34:14.539
 forgiveness of

00:34:14.539 --> 00:34:15.200
 my sins

00:34:15.200 --> 00:34:16.820
 for God to

00:34:16.820 --> 00:34:17.659
 save me

00:34:17.659 --> 00:34:19.000
 if that's you

00:34:19.000 --> 00:34:19.460
 would you slip

00:34:19.460 --> 00:34:19.900
 your hand up

00:34:19.900 --> 00:34:20.519
 now no one's

00:34:20.519 --> 00:34:21.059
 looking around

00:34:21.059 --> 00:34:21.900
 but I'd like

00:34:21.900 --> 00:34:22.360
 to pray for

00:34:22.360 --> 00:34:22.659
 you

00:34:22.659 --> 00:34:27.940
 thank you

00:34:27.940 --> 00:34:28.279
 you can put

00:34:28.279 --> 00:34:28.579
 your hands

00:34:28.579 --> 00:34:28.860
 down

00:34:28.860 --> 00:34:30.420
 let me ask

00:34:30.420 --> 00:34:31.019
 this question

00:34:31.019 --> 00:34:32.360
 how many of

00:34:32.360 --> 00:34:32.639
 you would

00:34:32.639 --> 00:34:33.039
 say

00:34:33.039 --> 00:34:35.259
 God is

00:34:35.259 --> 00:34:35.639
 working on

00:34:35.639 --> 00:34:36.059
 my heart

00:34:36.059 --> 00:34:36.420
 and I need

00:34:36.420 --> 00:34:36.900
 prayer about

00:34:36.900 --> 00:34:37.279
 something

00:34:37.279 --> 00:34:39.079
 it might be

00:34:39.079 --> 00:34:39.659
 because

00:34:39.659 --> 00:34:43.000
 I've been

00:34:43.000 --> 00:34:43.599
 contentious

00:34:43.599 --> 00:34:44.059
 I've been

00:34:44.059 --> 00:34:44.719
 trying to make

00:34:44.719 --> 00:34:45.239
 it about me

00:34:45.239 --> 00:34:45.559
 and I know

00:34:45.559 --> 00:34:45.920
 it's about

00:34:45.920 --> 00:34:46.199
 Jesus

00:34:46.199 --> 00:34:46.739
 it might be

00:34:46.739 --> 00:34:47.320
 something else

00:34:47.320 --> 00:34:48.619
 but would you

00:34:48.619 --> 00:34:49.079
 slip your hand

00:34:49.079 --> 00:34:49.500
 up now

00:34:49.500 --> 00:34:50.639
 say I need

00:34:50.639 --> 00:34:50.920
 prayer

00:34:50.920 --> 00:34:52.619
 thank you guys

00:34:52.619 --> 00:34:53.119
 all around the

00:34:53.119 --> 00:34:53.239
 room

00:34:53.239 --> 00:34:53.460
 would you

00:34:53.460 --> 00:34:53.719
 put your

00:34:53.719 --> 00:34:54.179
 hands down

00:34:54.179 --> 00:34:54.780
 God

00:34:54.780 --> 00:34:57.300
 you know

00:34:57.300 --> 00:34:57.940
 every man

00:34:57.940 --> 00:34:58.239
 and woman

00:34:58.239 --> 00:34:58.579
 who raised

00:34:58.579 --> 00:34:58.920
 their hand

00:34:58.920 --> 00:34:59.340
 here today

00:34:59.340 --> 00:35:00.280
 you know

00:35:00.280 --> 00:35:00.659
 what's going

00:35:00.659 --> 00:35:01.039
 on in their

00:35:01.039 --> 00:35:01.380
 hearts

00:35:01.380 --> 00:35:02.940
 you know

00:35:02.940 --> 00:35:03.420
 you know

00:35:03.420 --> 00:35:03.800
 intimately

00:35:03.800 --> 00:35:04.280
 what's going

00:35:04.280 --> 00:35:04.760
 on in every

00:35:04.760 --> 00:35:05.059
 heart

00:35:05.059 --> 00:35:06.719
 but Lord

00:35:06.719 --> 00:35:08.480
 I pray

00:35:08.480 --> 00:35:09.000
 specifically

00:35:09.000 --> 00:35:09.500
 for the

00:35:09.500 --> 00:35:09.880
 people that

00:35:09.880 --> 00:35:10.239
 raised their

00:35:10.239 --> 00:35:10.519
 hands

00:35:10.519 --> 00:35:10.760
 that

00:35:10.760 --> 00:35:12.739
 one they

00:35:12.739 --> 00:35:13.019
 would be

00:35:13.019 --> 00:35:13.460
 open and

00:35:13.460 --> 00:35:14.019
 sensitive to

00:35:14.019 --> 00:35:14.340
 the leading

00:35:14.340 --> 00:35:14.679
 of your

00:35:14.679 --> 00:35:15.039
 spirit

00:35:15.039 --> 00:35:15.539
 in their

00:35:15.539 --> 00:35:15.780
 heart

00:35:15.780 --> 00:35:16.219
 and life

00:35:16.219 --> 00:35:18.400
 that you

00:35:18.400 --> 00:35:18.760
 would make

00:35:18.760 --> 00:35:19.360
 them vessels

00:35:19.360 --> 00:35:20.039
 of mercy

00:35:20.039 --> 00:35:20.680
 vessels

00:35:20.680 --> 00:35:21.180
 of your

00:35:21.180 --> 00:35:21.599
 power

00:35:21.599 --> 00:35:25.820
 that you

00:35:25.820 --> 00:35:26.360
 would remind

00:35:26.360 --> 00:35:27.099
 every man

00:35:27.099 --> 00:35:27.420
 woman

00:35:27.420 --> 00:35:27.960
 child

00:35:27.960 --> 00:35:28.380
 in this

00:35:28.380 --> 00:35:28.660
 room

00:35:28.660 --> 00:35:31.720
 our

00:35:31.720 --> 00:35:32.280
 primary

00:35:32.280 --> 00:35:33.079
 goal

00:35:33.079 --> 00:35:33.920
 is to

00:35:33.920 --> 00:35:34.480
 bring glory

00:35:34.480 --> 00:35:35.000
 to you

00:35:35.000 --> 00:35:36.599
 to bring

00:35:36.599 --> 00:35:37.240
 honor to

00:35:37.240 --> 00:35:37.500
 you

00:35:37.500 --> 00:35:38.960
 to praise

00:35:38.960 --> 00:35:39.400
 you with

00:35:39.400 --> 00:35:39.980
 our lives

00:35:39.980 --> 00:35:42.280
 and that's

00:35:42.280 --> 00:35:42.539
 got to

00:35:42.539 --> 00:35:42.960
 happen in

00:35:42.960 --> 00:35:43.480
 this church

00:35:43.480 --> 00:35:45.180
 help us

00:35:45.180 --> 00:35:45.539
 to set

00:35:45.539 --> 00:35:46.039
 ourselves

00:35:46.039 --> 00:35:46.340
 our

00:35:46.340 --> 00:35:46.800
 preferences

00:35:46.800 --> 00:35:47.280
 everything

00:35:47.280 --> 00:35:47.580
 else

00:35:47.580 --> 00:35:48.019
 aside

00:35:48.019 --> 00:35:49.540
 and remember

00:35:49.540 --> 00:35:50.320
 that as long

00:35:50.320 --> 00:35:50.800
 as you

00:35:50.800 --> 00:35:51.300
 are being

00:35:51.300 --> 00:35:51.920
 lifted up

00:35:51.920 --> 00:35:53.920
 that's what's

00:35:53.920 --> 00:35:54.480
 most important

00:35:54.480 --> 00:35:56.720
 it's in

00:35:56.720 --> 00:35:57.220
 Jesus name

00:35:57.220 --> 00:35:57.640
 we pray

00:35:57.640 --> 00:35:59.019
 amen

00:35:59.019 --> 00:36:01.340
 on

00:36:01.340 --> 00:36:02.000
 love

00:36:02.000 --> 00:36:03.219
 that as long

00:36:03.219 --> 00:36:04.219
 so

00:36:04.219 --> 00:36:05.820
 ifodus

00:36:05.820 --> 00:36:10.019
 and

00:36:10.820 --> 00:36:12.659
 you

00:36:12.659 --> 00:36:18.820
 then

00:36:22.699 --> 00:36:22.759
 or