WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.899 Welcome to Ontario Community Church, 00:00:02.899 --> 00:00:04.799 where we're dedicated to encouraging, 00:00:04.799 --> 00:00:07.799 equipping, and engaging lives for Christ. 00:00:07.799 --> 00:00:10.000 Located in Ontario, Oregon, 00:00:10.000 --> 00:00:11.720 Pastor Patrick Daly preaches 00:00:11.720 --> 00:00:13.800 insightful sermons from the Word of God, 00:00:13.800 --> 00:00:16.760 offering practical applications for modern living. 00:00:16.760 --> 00:00:19.640 We're delighted to share this sermon with you. 00:00:19.640 --> 00:00:21.440 All right. Well, good morning, everyone. 00:00:21.440 --> 00:00:23.240 How are we doing this morning? 00:00:23.240 --> 00:00:24.359 We're doing good. 00:00:24.359 --> 00:00:27.640 I know we're awake from that loud sound that we had today. 00:00:27.640 --> 00:00:29.160 So if you were a little sleepy, 00:00:29.160 --> 00:00:31.480 sometimes we keep you on your toes here. 00:00:31.480 --> 00:00:35.000 Well, it's definitely great to be here with all of you. 00:00:35.000 --> 00:00:37.920 Last week, we had our annual Bazaar, 00:00:37.920 --> 00:00:40.840 and that was just a wonderful time for us to fellowship, 00:00:40.840 --> 00:00:43.359 get to know others within the community, 00:00:43.359 --> 00:00:45.120 and just have a wonderful meal. 00:00:45.120 --> 00:00:50.600 I know there was so much food and just so much fun together. 00:00:50.600 --> 00:00:52.840 This last, the week before that, 00:00:52.840 --> 00:00:56.480 we finished up our series through the book of Ezra. 00:00:56.479 --> 00:01:00.559 And so today, we are doing a message titled, 00:01:00.559 --> 00:01:03.719 Christ the Transformer of Culture. 00:01:03.719 --> 00:01:05.959 And this is a standalone sermon. 00:01:05.959 --> 00:01:07.679 This, in the next few weeks, 00:01:07.679 --> 00:01:11.799 will be going over the parables, the teachings of Christ. 00:01:11.799 --> 00:01:15.000 But today, I felt it was very important for us 00:01:15.000 --> 00:01:20.000 to go over how not only does Christ transform our lives, 00:01:20.199 --> 00:01:23.679 but he is the Transformer of our culture. 00:01:23.680 --> 00:01:27.080 It's so important for us to remember how, 00:01:29.080 --> 00:01:32.640 just as we took communion and we take time 00:01:32.640 --> 00:01:35.760 to examine our hearts and to reflect on the love 00:01:35.760 --> 00:01:39.920 that God has for us, we are to be reminded that 00:01:39.920 --> 00:01:43.240 God gives us the opportunity every single day 00:01:43.240 --> 00:01:46.240 to believe in him, to grow in him, 00:01:46.240 --> 00:01:48.880 and to do good in his name. 00:01:48.880 --> 00:01:50.840 And I think that as times such as this, 00:01:50.840 --> 00:01:54.079 there's a lot of change, a lot of challenges 00:01:54.079 --> 00:01:58.280 that are happening in our culture, in our very lives, 00:01:58.280 --> 00:01:59.840 and even in this country. 00:02:00.840 --> 00:02:03.520 And certainly, as we've gone over the book of Ezra 00:02:03.520 --> 00:02:06.640 previously, I want us to be reminded 00:02:07.640 --> 00:02:10.840 that we, as the people of God, we need to pray 00:02:10.840 --> 00:02:14.840 for divine intervention, that the Spirit of God, 00:02:14.840 --> 00:02:17.840 that the Holy Spirit will work in our lives, 00:02:17.840 --> 00:02:21.680 but also in our friends, our families, 00:02:21.680 --> 00:02:25.439 our leaders within the community, and let's face it, 00:02:25.439 --> 00:02:27.840 we just had an election that happened. 00:02:27.840 --> 00:02:29.920 Some of us are happy, some of us are unhappy 00:02:29.920 --> 00:02:32.480 with the results, and I'm not going there. 00:02:32.480 --> 00:02:35.480 But where I am going is saying, we've gotta pray 00:02:35.480 --> 00:02:39.039 that God will work in and through our leaders, 00:02:39.039 --> 00:02:43.000 much as God has worked in and through our lives. 00:02:43.000 --> 00:02:47.919 And so turn with me in your Bibles, in your ESVP Bibles, 00:02:47.919 --> 00:02:52.919 page 1148, we're gonna go into 2 Corinthians, 00:02:53.759 --> 00:02:56.960 chapter five, verses 17 through 20. 00:03:02.240 --> 00:03:04.759 Some of you may know this very famous verse 00:03:04.759 --> 00:03:08.759 that talks about the ministry of reconciliation, 00:03:08.759 --> 00:03:10.680 or being an ambassador for Christ, 00:03:10.680 --> 00:03:15.400 or some of us may simply know this verse as being a new creation. 00:03:16.439 --> 00:03:20.439 And so are we all there? 00:03:20.439 --> 00:03:22.439 You're welcome to use your ESVP Bible. 00:03:22.439 --> 00:03:25.879 Once again, it's page 1148. 00:03:25.879 --> 00:03:29.120 The verse is 2 Corinthians, chapter five, 00:03:29.120 --> 00:03:30.920 verses 17 through 20. 00:03:36.879 --> 00:03:38.319 And let's read this together. 00:03:38.319 --> 00:03:41.280 Let's start from verse 17 and we'll go all the way, 00:03:41.280 --> 00:03:43.680 we can go all the way to the end, that's fine. 00:03:43.680 --> 00:03:45.759 Let's read it together. 00:03:45.759 --> 00:03:50.759 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. 00:03:50.759 --> 00:03:54.759 The old has passed away, behold, the new has come. 00:03:54.759 --> 00:03:57.560 And this is from God who through Christ 00:03:57.560 --> 00:04:00.519 reconciled us to himself and gave us 00:04:00.519 --> 00:04:03.079 the ministry of reconciliation. 00:04:03.079 --> 00:04:07.319 That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world 00:04:07.319 --> 00:04:11.079 to himself, not counting their trust passes against them, 00:04:11.079 --> 00:04:15.079 and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 00:04:15.079 --> 00:04:18.079 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, 00:04:18.079 --> 00:04:21.079 God making his appeal through us. 00:04:21.079 --> 00:04:26.079 We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 00:04:26.079 --> 00:04:30.079 For our sake, he made him to be sin who knew no sin, 00:04:30.079 --> 00:04:35.079 so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 00:04:35.079 --> 00:04:38.159 Very powerful verses that we see here. 00:04:38.159 --> 00:04:41.959 It goes to show how important it is for us to first off 00:04:41.959 --> 00:04:43.959 become a believer in Christ. 00:04:43.959 --> 00:04:47.959 And upon believing in Christ, we are saved by grace 00:04:47.959 --> 00:04:51.079 through faith, and there is transformation that happens 00:04:51.079 --> 00:04:54.079 much as I have mentioned before and I'll mention again, 00:04:54.079 --> 00:04:57.360 being transported from the domain of darkness 00:04:57.360 --> 00:05:01.360 into the kingdom of light, how we are like vessels. 00:05:01.360 --> 00:05:03.879 We are to be filled with the Holy Spirit 00:05:03.879 --> 00:05:05.879 we are to be filled with the love and grace 00:05:05.879 --> 00:05:09.879 that comes from God, and we're transported, 00:05:09.879 --> 00:05:11.879 becoming a new creation. 00:05:11.879 --> 00:05:14.879 And I want to ask all of you a question here. 00:05:14.879 --> 00:05:19.879 What does it look like for us as the body of Christ 00:05:19.879 --> 00:05:23.879 to be a part of God's work in transforming our world? 00:05:23.879 --> 00:05:25.879 What does that look like? 00:05:25.879 --> 00:05:27.879 I want you to think of that question 00:05:27.879 --> 00:05:31.879 and how important it is for us to think that us as Christians, 00:05:31.879 --> 00:05:35.879 we are called to share in the hope of Jesus Christ, 00:05:35.879 --> 00:05:39.879 the gospel message, we are to share in our testimony, 00:05:39.879 --> 00:05:43.879 and we are to partake in the ministry of reconciliation 00:05:43.879 --> 00:05:48.879 being ambassadors for Christ in our everyday dealings 00:05:48.879 --> 00:05:52.879 with our friends, our families, our coworkers, other students. 00:05:52.879 --> 00:05:56.879 We have so much that we have to think about here. 00:05:56.879 --> 00:06:01.879 And so Christ calls us for a mission. 00:06:01.879 --> 00:06:04.879 Some of us, you don't have to raise your hand, 00:06:04.879 --> 00:06:06.879 we may know the great commandment, right? 00:06:06.879 --> 00:06:11.879 It is to love God and to love others, right? 00:06:11.879 --> 00:06:16.879 And there's others, there's the other one known as the Great Commission, 00:06:16.879 --> 00:06:20.879 which is to go out and to make disciples, right? 00:06:20.879 --> 00:06:25.879 And there's baptizing in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit. 00:06:25.879 --> 00:06:30.879 But what we see here is there's kind of another thing for us to factor in 00:06:30.879 --> 00:06:33.879 and that is the ministry of reconciliation. 00:06:33.879 --> 00:06:42.879 It is important for us to keep in mind how we, Christ reconciles us and gives us purpose. 00:06:42.879 --> 00:06:45.879 God has a much greater plan for our lives 00:06:45.879 --> 00:06:48.879 and when we believe in Christ and we are saved, 00:06:48.879 --> 00:06:51.879 we are to be ambassadors for Christ in our everyday. 00:06:51.879 --> 00:06:57.879 So the question that comes up is we have the breakdown of the verses, right? 00:06:57.879 --> 00:07:00.879 We have 2 Corinthians 5 verse 17, it begins, 00:07:00.879 --> 00:07:05.879 if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. 00:07:05.879 --> 00:07:10.879 That goes to show that anyone, right, doesn't matter who you are, 00:07:10.879 --> 00:07:14.879 what you have gone through, what you are going through, 00:07:14.879 --> 00:07:18.879 that there is an invitation for you to become a Christian, 00:07:18.879 --> 00:07:23.879 that we must believe in the death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 00:07:23.879 --> 00:07:29.879 If anyone, right, just like how for God, so love the world that he gave his only son that 00:07:29.879 --> 00:07:33.879 whosoever or whoever, depending on your translation, 00:07:33.879 --> 00:07:42.879 it's a reminder for us that you, whoever you are, there is hope for your life. 00:07:42.879 --> 00:07:45.879 There is hope for all of us in Jesus Christ. 00:07:45.879 --> 00:07:52.879 And we experience that transformation of through salvation that we are set free from sin. 00:07:52.879 --> 00:07:57.879 We are set apart and we're called to live as new creations. 00:07:57.879 --> 00:08:00.879 There's a famous book that I read many years ago. 00:08:00.879 --> 00:08:04.879 The name of the book was called Christ and Culture. 00:08:04.879 --> 00:08:09.879 And for those of you who love really deep Christian books, 00:08:09.879 --> 00:08:13.879 it's by H. Richard Niebuhr. 00:08:13.879 --> 00:08:19.879 And he wrote about five different approaches that Christianity or the church, 00:08:19.879 --> 00:08:25.879 the attitude that they have towards culture, meaning everyday people. 00:08:25.879 --> 00:08:29.879 And I'm not going to go too much into the book, I'm just giving you the gist of it. 00:08:29.879 --> 00:08:34.879 There's some people out there that believe that as Christians we should hide ourselves away from the world. 00:08:34.879 --> 00:08:38.879 And while it is true there is spiritual warfare, 00:08:38.879 --> 00:08:45.879 there is a war that is happening between good and evil, the battle is already won in Jesus Christ. 00:08:45.879 --> 00:08:48.879 And there is nothing for us to be afraid of. 00:08:48.879 --> 00:08:56.879 So instead of some that say we should hide away, we should take to heart the fact that we are saved by grace. 00:08:56.879 --> 00:09:03.879 And we should have confidence in knowing that, having confidence in our Lord and our God. 00:09:03.879 --> 00:09:08.879 There's other people that believe that to be a Christian is to be a sinner, 00:09:08.879 --> 00:09:16.879 and I know that's going to sound really wild, but it is to continue to sin and to be what we would call a worldly Christian. 00:09:16.879 --> 00:09:22.879 And although it's true that there is culture that exists and we should go out into culture, 00:09:22.879 --> 00:09:28.879 we don't become sinners or we are sinners, we don't habitually sin. 00:09:28.879 --> 00:09:30.879 Does that make sense? 00:09:30.879 --> 00:09:38.879 Instead, because we are transformed by Christ and we are a work in progress, yes, we go out into the culture, 00:09:38.879 --> 00:09:46.879 but we are set apart, we are being that ambassador, exhibiting the light, love and truth of Christ to others. 00:09:46.879 --> 00:09:55.879 There's other people who believe that, well, we should not focus on the truth of God's Word and only focus on the love of God, 00:09:55.879 --> 00:10:01.879 certainly we should focus on Christ's love, but we've got to focus on the truth that's right here in the Word of God. 00:10:01.879 --> 00:10:11.879 We don't compromise the truth and certainly we don't focus so much on truth that, well, we forget about love, the love of Christ. 00:10:11.879 --> 00:10:13.879 It's a balance between the two. 00:10:13.879 --> 00:10:20.879 And then there's others that teach that, well, there's us in the world and it's always going to be that way. 00:10:20.879 --> 00:10:28.879 And certainly there is truth to that, there's always going to be a need for us to go into the world and proclaim the good news of the gospel. 00:10:28.879 --> 00:10:35.879 But that's a very negative tone that the fourth approach says, well, whatever we'll be, we'll be. 00:10:35.879 --> 00:10:39.879 I don't need to do anything about it, that's absolutely inaccurate and incorrect. 00:10:39.879 --> 00:10:45.879 As Christians, we are to let the light of Christ shine before others, right? 00:10:45.879 --> 00:10:51.879 Just like that song, this little light of mine, I'm going to what? Let it shine, right? 00:10:51.879 --> 00:10:57.879 What else does that say? Hide it under a bushel? No, I'm going to let it shine. 00:10:57.879 --> 00:11:03.879 So the second thing that we see here is the ministry of reconciliation. 00:11:03.879 --> 00:11:09.879 God reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. 00:11:09.879 --> 00:11:15.879 Like I was saying, God has better plans for you. He tasks us, right? 00:11:15.879 --> 00:11:21.879 We're saved by grace through faith so that we can do good in the name of Christ. 00:11:21.879 --> 00:11:25.879 We're not saved by what we can do, we are saved by what has been done. 00:11:25.879 --> 00:11:34.879 And because of this salvation, we are to go out and to proclaim the good news so that people can be reconciled unto God. 00:11:34.879 --> 00:11:37.879 Does that make sense? 00:11:37.879 --> 00:11:40.879 And so it's so important so that others will know Christ. 00:11:40.879 --> 00:11:45.879 And finally, that third part, verse 20, is being an ambassador for Christ. 00:11:45.879 --> 00:11:48.879 As an ambassador, right? I always love that language. 00:11:48.879 --> 00:11:56.879 We are to represent Christ in all of our dealings, representing the truth of God's word and the love of Christ. 00:11:56.879 --> 00:12:01.879 We live out Christ's message in such a way that people know that we are different. 00:12:01.879 --> 00:12:07.879 How many of you have gone to the library or the grocery store, the gas station, your school, your work, 00:12:07.879 --> 00:12:11.879 and you see someone, you interact with them, and you just know. 00:12:11.879 --> 00:12:15.879 Somehow you know they're Christian. You can't really put your finger on them. 00:12:15.879 --> 00:12:17.879 You're like, there's something different about this person. 00:12:17.879 --> 00:12:19.879 Or maybe you felt that way before, right? 00:12:19.879 --> 00:12:22.879 Maybe someone's like, hey, there's something different about you. 00:12:22.879 --> 00:12:27.879 Are you a Christian? And you're like, yeah, what's going on here, right? 00:12:27.879 --> 00:12:34.879 But there's something that's different about being a Christian, right? That we are set apart, that we're being transformed. 00:12:34.879 --> 00:12:39.879 And we're to represent Jesus Christ. We live out the message of Christ. 00:12:39.879 --> 00:12:45.879 And we, as being ambassadors, we're being a beacon of hope for others. 00:12:45.879 --> 00:12:49.879 Don't you realize how divided this world can be? 00:12:49.879 --> 00:12:53.879 Turn on the news if you haven't. 00:12:53.879 --> 00:12:56.879 If you don't have a TV, then two thumbs up for you. 00:12:56.879 --> 00:13:09.879 But in the world that we live in, so much negativity, so much division, so much hatred that exists in our own community and in this own country, 00:13:09.879 --> 00:13:14.879 but we have got to set our minds on things that are higher, not things that are lower, 00:13:14.879 --> 00:13:18.879 not the things that divide us, but rather the things that bring us together, 00:13:18.879 --> 00:13:27.879 the things that unite us, such as Jesus Christ, that there is hope and there is salvation that exists in Him. 00:13:27.879 --> 00:13:32.879 And so it may, we may ask ourselves the question, what can we learn from this? 00:13:32.879 --> 00:13:39.879 The first thing is that transformation begins with us in Christ. I want to make that very clear. 00:13:39.879 --> 00:13:45.879 It's not transformation beginning with us. It's us in Christ. And I love the Romans chapter 12 verse 2. 00:13:45.879 --> 00:13:51.879 Many of you may know that. Do not be conformed to this pattern of this world, but be what? 00:13:51.879 --> 00:13:59.879 Transformed by the renewing of your mind. Isn't it interesting that the idea of repentance is the changing of the mind, right? 00:13:59.879 --> 00:14:05.879 We change our mind about who Christ is and we change our mind as we're saved, as we're growing in Christ. 00:14:05.879 --> 00:14:11.879 We continue to repent. Our minds are being changed and in turn they are being transformed. 00:14:11.879 --> 00:14:20.879 So this directly speaks of worldly Christians, right? That we are set apart and we have a mission. 00:14:20.879 --> 00:14:30.879 There's so much for us to do in regarding being the beacon of hope, representing Christ, be transformed by the renewal of your mind. 00:14:30.879 --> 00:14:37.879 The second thing that we can learn from this is living as the light of the world. 00:14:37.879 --> 00:14:42.879 You are the light of the world that your light shine for others. 00:14:42.879 --> 00:14:51.879 When we become a Christian, that is the greatest decision that you can make in this life that has eternal consequences. 00:14:51.879 --> 00:15:00.879 You have a decision to make. Are you going to receive the free gift of salvation? Or are you going to reject it? 00:15:00.879 --> 00:15:07.879 I can't make that decision for you. I can tell you about it, but at the end of the day you make that decision. 00:15:07.879 --> 00:15:15.879 And so, receiving the light, love and truth of Jesus Christ, why would you want to hide that? 00:15:15.879 --> 00:15:24.879 Why would you not want to let your friends and your family or Uncle Steve that is an alcoholic, if you have anyone named Steve that isn't an alcoholic? 00:15:24.879 --> 00:15:32.879 I apologize, it's an example here. But think about it, we have Thanksgiving coming up. 00:15:32.879 --> 00:15:43.879 We have the holidays, we have Christmas, and don't raise your hand, but how many of us have that one family member that didn't vote like we did? 00:15:43.879 --> 00:15:50.879 Or they don't believe what we do? And you just hope that they're not there. 00:15:50.879 --> 00:15:55.879 I wouldn't wish ill on any of our families, but we can all relate, we have family members like that. 00:15:55.879 --> 00:16:06.879 Think about how you can be a representative of Christ in your own family context with Thanksgiving coming up, Christmas, the holidays, or whenever you see your family members. 00:16:06.879 --> 00:16:20.879 Let us remember that being saved by grace, we are justified, and there's the process of sanctification becoming more like Him becoming more like Christ every single day. 00:16:20.879 --> 00:16:32.879 My friends, we are a work in progress. Amen? Are we there yet? We're still being molded, we're still being transformed and changed every single day. 00:16:32.879 --> 00:16:38.879 That's why God calls for us. First, we've got to have that relationship, we've got to believe in Him. 00:16:38.879 --> 00:16:45.879 And we're all on this journey in Christ together, going towards the Lord. 00:16:45.879 --> 00:16:53.879 Like I've given you that imagery before of vessels being transported to the place that they belong, like what you learned in Ezra. 00:16:53.879 --> 00:17:05.880 What a wonderful representation of the journey in Christ to be filled with the Holy Spirit, knowing that you are on this journey to the place that you belong with other vessels. 00:17:05.880 --> 00:17:12.880 Or much like how Christ being the great shepherd is leading the sheep over to green pastures. 00:17:12.880 --> 00:17:17.880 The third thing is engaging culture without compromise. 00:17:17.880 --> 00:17:28.880 And that's so important for us, right? Jesus calls for us to engage in the world and we are to remain set apart. 00:17:28.880 --> 00:17:37.880 We have to remember, we don't hide away from the world. We are set apart so that we go into the world. 00:17:37.880 --> 00:17:49.880 We do good in the name of Christ, we speak truth in love for some of us, it's defending the faith, but it's intentionally remaining rooted in Christ. 00:17:49.880 --> 00:17:58.880 We think of the imagery or the language of Christ when he's teaching about parables, the seed that is planted on good soil. 00:17:58.880 --> 00:18:09.880 That there is the seed representing the word, being in our hearts and growing and that's part of the transformation language here. 00:18:09.880 --> 00:18:14.880 We need to set our minds on things that are higher and not things that are lower. 00:18:14.880 --> 00:18:22.880 Again, we shouldn't be arguing over silly things. I don't want to call it stupid things, but it's the reality here, right? 00:18:22.880 --> 00:18:29.880 We set our minds on things that are higher, the things that bring us together, not the things that divide us. 00:18:29.880 --> 00:18:35.880 And the fourth thing here, the fourth lesson is transforming culture through small words and deeds. 00:18:35.880 --> 00:18:39.880 Now, you'll see here James chapter 3 verses 4 through 5, I love this. 00:18:39.880 --> 00:18:49.880 Take ships as an example. They are so large and driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 00:18:49.880 --> 00:18:54.880 Now, in the context of James, it's talking about the power of the tongue, right? 00:18:54.880 --> 00:18:58.880 Many of us know in Proverbs where it says death and lifer in the tongue, right? 00:18:58.880 --> 00:19:00.880 We see that throughout Scripture. 00:19:00.880 --> 00:19:10.880 And in the similar way, just as James is mentioning the power of the words that we say, so too must we be mindful of the actions that we have for other people. 00:19:10.880 --> 00:19:12.880 Does that make sense? 00:19:12.880 --> 00:19:17.880 We're to be mindful of what we say and how we conduct our lives. 00:19:17.880 --> 00:19:20.880 And so James is mentioning the power of the tongue. 00:19:20.880 --> 00:19:25.880 And think about small words and deeds. 00:19:25.880 --> 00:19:28.880 We think of random acts of kindness, right? 00:19:28.880 --> 00:19:30.880 You guys remember pay it forward to us? 00:19:30.880 --> 00:19:32.880 Anybody pay it forward anymore? 00:19:32.880 --> 00:19:35.880 Okay, so we kind of all, right? 00:19:35.880 --> 00:19:38.880 You buy someone's, someone behind you, right? 00:19:38.880 --> 00:19:43.880 You buy their meal and whatever and they bought like $50 worth of food because they had a big family. 00:19:43.880 --> 00:19:46.880 But you still do it anyways because it's an act of kindness, right? 00:19:46.880 --> 00:19:53.880 That not only matters in the eyes of God, but it also matters to people. 00:19:53.880 --> 00:19:57.880 Because if they ever talk to you, why did you do that? 00:19:57.880 --> 00:20:01.880 Well, I do it because I love people will tell me more about it. 00:20:01.880 --> 00:20:03.880 It's about building those relationships. 00:20:03.880 --> 00:20:08.880 It's not about us shoving down our faith down someone's throat. 00:20:08.880 --> 00:20:14.880 It's about the relationships we have, the small actions that we can do, the deeds that we can do. 00:20:14.880 --> 00:20:21.880 And in all of this, it then comes to the question then of how can we live out these verses? 00:20:21.880 --> 00:20:26.880 The first thing that comes up is number one. 00:20:26.880 --> 00:20:28.880 What does it say? 00:20:28.880 --> 00:20:30.880 Be saved, right? 00:20:30.880 --> 00:20:35.880 You got to become a Christian first and foremost and embrace, continue to transformation. 00:20:35.880 --> 00:20:39.880 Ephesians chapter four verses 22 through 24 says, 00:20:39.880 --> 00:20:46.880 Put off your old self and put on the new self created to be like God. 00:20:46.880 --> 00:20:52.880 First, you got to believe in Jesus Christ, believe in the death, burial and resurrection, believe that 00:20:52.880 --> 00:21:03.880 certainly we are sinners in need of a savior, that God has so much, so many better things in store for us. 00:21:03.880 --> 00:21:09.880 Commit to let God work in and through your life. 00:21:09.880 --> 00:21:12.880 Let him work in your life. 00:21:12.880 --> 00:21:18.880 So often sometimes we can be very resistant to what God has called for our own lives. 00:21:18.880 --> 00:21:24.880 I know when I think of my own walk with the Lord, there have been, I'll be very transparent with you. 00:21:24.880 --> 00:21:30.880 For many years, I neglected God's call for me to go into ministry because I was too stubborn. 00:21:30.880 --> 00:21:34.880 But here's the thing, it was like five years I was being stubborn. 00:21:34.880 --> 00:21:39.880 I was still serving the Lord, but not in the capacity he wanted me to. 00:21:39.880 --> 00:21:47.880 It took that much of my stubbornness to lay it aside, to know that God had something better in store for me. 00:21:47.880 --> 00:21:51.880 And now I look back at those five years and think, why was I doing that? 00:21:51.880 --> 00:21:53.880 Why was I not listening to the Lord, right? 00:21:53.880 --> 00:22:01.880 Hindsight's 2020 and you probably can identify as well of times where God wanted you to do something or to not do something. 00:22:01.880 --> 00:22:04.880 And you didn't listen. 00:22:04.880 --> 00:22:06.880 How often do we remember that part? 00:22:06.880 --> 00:22:09.880 I should have listened right away, right? 00:22:09.880 --> 00:22:11.880 So we have continued transformation. 00:22:11.880 --> 00:22:14.880 Let God work in and through your life, right? 00:22:14.880 --> 00:22:16.880 Let God shape you. 00:22:16.880 --> 00:22:21.880 Having a relationship, spending time with God in prayer, right? 00:22:21.880 --> 00:22:29.880 Reading Scripture and also being in Christian community, I can tell you that some of the best relationships, friendships that I have ever made, 00:22:29.880 --> 00:22:34.880 and maybe some of you can identify, has been in the church. 00:22:34.880 --> 00:22:41.880 Knowing that we are to be there for one another, helping encourage one another to grow in Christ. 00:22:41.880 --> 00:22:47.880 There's just something that's beautiful about the church, the local body, the assembly. 00:22:47.880 --> 00:22:52.880 And the next thing, number two, is to represent Christ in every interaction. 00:22:52.880 --> 00:23:01.880 Now I know in Colossians, as some of you have been here when I did Colossians, that verse is talking about the role that people are in. 00:23:01.880 --> 00:23:09.880 But it's definitely applicable for even us, that whatever you do, you do it in the name of Jesus Christ. 00:23:09.880 --> 00:23:12.880 That should be an encouragement for you. 00:23:12.880 --> 00:23:13.880 Think about that. 00:23:13.880 --> 00:23:21.880 The work that you do, if you're a child or if you're going to school or if you're going to work, you work diligently for the Lord. 00:23:21.880 --> 00:23:23.880 As though it's for the Lord. 00:23:23.880 --> 00:23:28.880 Now granted, our bosses and our teachers are not perfect, right? 00:23:28.880 --> 00:23:30.880 I'm going to get an amen on that, right? 00:23:30.880 --> 00:23:34.880 There's a lot of imperfect people, but God is perfect. 00:23:34.880 --> 00:23:37.880 And so do it as though you're doing it for the Lord. 00:23:37.880 --> 00:23:40.880 Do it in the name of the Lord Jesus. 00:23:40.880 --> 00:23:48.880 And I want you to think that every interaction that you have is a chance to reflect Christ's love, truth and grace. 00:23:48.880 --> 00:23:50.880 Think of it like that. 00:23:50.880 --> 00:23:53.880 Sometimes we meet people, right? 00:23:53.880 --> 00:23:56.880 We have people that cut us off when we're driving. 00:23:56.880 --> 00:24:01.880 We have people that take too long because they had change at Walmart. 00:24:01.880 --> 00:24:06.880 And they're paying with their change and you've got somewhere to be because you're running late. 00:24:06.880 --> 00:24:14.880 Think about those as opportunities to reflect Christ's love and grace with others. 00:24:14.880 --> 00:24:16.880 I know it's a challenge for us, trust me. 00:24:16.880 --> 00:24:18.880 Not that that's ever happened to me. 00:24:18.880 --> 00:24:23.880 I haven't been in the grocery store where someone was paying with change and they didn't have enough change. 00:24:23.880 --> 00:24:25.880 That's never happened. 00:24:25.880 --> 00:24:28.880 We've all had our own situations, right? 00:24:28.880 --> 00:24:34.880 And so the third thing then is to be a light in your community. 00:24:34.880 --> 00:24:38.880 Let your light shine before others. 00:24:38.880 --> 00:24:45.880 Intentionally let your faith shine through those acts of kindness, through service and through truth. 00:24:45.880 --> 00:24:50.880 Again, the words that we say has a profound impact on people. 00:24:50.880 --> 00:24:54.880 Just like in Scripture it says, death and life are in the power of the tongue. 00:24:54.880 --> 00:24:57.880 That's a very heavy verse, right? 00:24:57.880 --> 00:24:59.880 Also consider your actions. 00:24:59.880 --> 00:25:04.880 I've mentioned before the ministry of presence. 00:25:04.880 --> 00:25:08.880 Are you present when you're talking with someone or are you quick to go? 00:25:08.880 --> 00:25:10.880 We all do it. I know we do. 00:25:10.880 --> 00:25:16.880 Are you quick to go here when you're spending time with your family or you're spending time in the moment? 00:25:16.880 --> 00:25:20.880 It's being present in the moment. 00:25:20.880 --> 00:25:22.880 So be a light in your community, right? 00:25:22.880 --> 00:25:27.880 The words that you say and the actions that you do, it matters to God and it matters to others. 00:25:27.880 --> 00:25:29.880 Again, it doesn't save you though. 00:25:29.880 --> 00:25:32.880 And I don't want you leaving today thinking that. 00:25:32.880 --> 00:25:39.880 But we are saved by grace through faith so that we can do good in the name of Christ. 00:25:39.880 --> 00:25:45.880 And the fourth thing here is to transform culture as the body of Christ. 00:25:45.880 --> 00:25:49.880 Not only is there personal transformation that happens in our lives, 00:25:49.880 --> 00:25:55.880 but there is also transformation that happens in the church, happens in our community. 00:25:55.880 --> 00:25:58.880 We are called to be an ambassador for Christ. 00:25:58.880 --> 00:26:03.880 We are called as the body to work together, right? 00:26:03.880 --> 00:26:04.880 To be united in Christ. 00:26:04.880 --> 00:26:09.880 How good is it when brothers and sisters come together in unity? 00:26:09.880 --> 00:26:11.880 Think about that. 00:26:11.880 --> 00:26:15.880 Let's not focus on those things that divide us. 00:26:15.880 --> 00:26:22.880 We have a mission that God has set before us to share in the good news of the gospel with others. 00:26:22.880 --> 00:26:30.880 To let people know that there is hope in Jesus Christ and that God has a much greater plan for you. 00:26:30.880 --> 00:26:35.880 Knowing that God can work in and through us, changing our lives every single day 00:26:35.880 --> 00:26:40.880 and that you may not be the man or the woman that you were before you knew the Lord. 00:26:40.880 --> 00:26:48.880 Your own testimony, how God has worked in your life, the miracles, the healings that have happened in your own life. 00:26:48.880 --> 00:26:53.880 That's an encouragement for us. We're not to hide our light under a bushel. 00:26:53.880 --> 00:26:55.880 We are to let it shine. 00:26:55.880 --> 00:27:04.880 And so, let us think of what imagine for a moment the profound impact that we can have in the community 00:27:04.880 --> 00:27:12.880 with our friends and our families, not only as an individual, but together, united as the body of Christ. 00:27:12.880 --> 00:27:21.880 In 1 Corinthians 12 verse 27, you are the body of Christ and each one of you is a part of it. 00:27:21.880 --> 00:27:24.880 Now, what part of the body you are? I don't know. 00:27:24.880 --> 00:27:27.880 Some of us would not want to be a nose. I get it. 00:27:27.880 --> 00:27:31.880 But we all have our part. 00:27:31.880 --> 00:27:34.880 We all contribute to the body of Christ. 00:27:34.880 --> 00:27:41.880 And knowing that God works in and through our lives every single day should be motivation for us. 00:27:41.880 --> 00:27:44.880 So, I challenge you. 00:27:44.880 --> 00:27:51.880 I want you to reflect as we're closing on how each of us is part of the body of Christ. 00:27:51.880 --> 00:27:54.880 And we are called to grow in Christ, right? 00:27:54.880 --> 00:28:00.880 To know the Lord, believe in Him, be saved, to grow in Him, be filled with the Holy Spirit, be transformed every single day. 00:28:00.880 --> 00:28:04.880 And to go out into the world and do good in the name of Christ. 00:28:04.880 --> 00:28:07.880 The people that we interact with, right? 00:28:07.880 --> 00:28:14.880 Our friends and our family, our coworkers, our fellow students, right? 00:28:14.880 --> 00:28:23.880 If it's someone you haven't called in a while, if it's someone you haven't seen in a while, reflect on that. 00:28:23.880 --> 00:28:32.880 I challenge you for it because look, with so much that's changing in our own world and in our own culture, 00:28:32.880 --> 00:28:38.880 it can give us a lot of unease, but we've got to reflect on what is our foundation? 00:28:38.880 --> 00:28:40.880 It's in Christ. 00:28:40.880 --> 00:28:44.880 We believe in Christ and we should not be ashamed of the gospel. 00:28:44.880 --> 00:28:46.880 We shouldn't be afraid. 00:28:46.880 --> 00:28:48.880 So, let's not hide away. 00:28:48.880 --> 00:28:57.880 Let's not habitually sin, but let's be moved by the Holy Spirit to engage culture. 00:28:57.880 --> 00:29:07.880 And let us remember just as the title of that, the title of this sermon, Christ is the transformer of culture. 00:29:07.880 --> 00:29:15.880 Our calling in a broken world is to go out being ambassadors for Christ, knowing that we are changed 00:29:15.880 --> 00:29:19.880 and that we are to partake in the ministry of reconciliation. 00:29:19.880 --> 00:29:21.880 Let's pray together. 00:29:21.880 --> 00:29:30.880 Dear Lord and Heavenly Father, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, we're so grateful that we've had this opportunity to go through this message today. 00:29:30.880 --> 00:29:34.880 Just going through of how great you are. 00:29:34.880 --> 00:29:36.880 You are the sovereign God. 00:29:36.880 --> 00:29:43.880 You are in control, but in all of this, you call for us to have a relationship with you. 00:29:43.880 --> 00:29:53.880 Father, I pray that your Holy Spirit will work in and through every single person here and every single person online. 00:29:53.880 --> 00:30:03.880 Father, I don't know the battles that may, each person may be going through, but I pray that you will comfort them. 00:30:03.880 --> 00:30:05.880 I pray for healing. 00:30:05.880 --> 00:30:08.880 I pray for transformation in this church. 00:30:08.880 --> 00:30:17.880 That we can partake in the ministry of reconciliation, that we first and foremost believe in you and are saved by grace through faith, 00:30:17.880 --> 00:30:26.880 that we are moved to proclaim your name and that we are ambassadors for Christ. 00:30:26.880 --> 00:30:32.880 Father, we realize that there has been a lot of changes that has been going on in our world. 00:30:32.880 --> 00:30:44.880 And we pray that the Holy Spirit will work in and through our lives, our friends, our families, those community leaders, and those in political office. 00:30:44.880 --> 00:30:51.880 Pray for transformation, for repentance, for healing, but also for leading and guiding. 00:30:51.880 --> 00:30:53.880 We love you so much. 00:30:53.880 --> 00:31:03.880 We thank you that we can come here today and sing songs that praise your name, but also hear the truth from your word. 00:31:03.880 --> 00:31:07.880 We love you, we praise you, we glorify you, and we honor you. 00:31:07.880 --> 00:31:14.880 It is in the name of Jesus Christ, the cornerstone of our faith that we pray, and we all say together, amen, amen. 00:31:14.880 --> 00:31:18.880 Thank you for tuning in to the Ontario Community Church sermon podcast. 00:31:18.880 --> 00:31:26.880 For more about our church and how you can get involved or support our mission, please visit ontariocommunitychurch.org. 00:31:26.880 --> 00:31:50.880 May God's blessings be with you.