WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.480 I want to talk to you this morning about the importance of exclusivity. 00:00:06.240 --> 00:00:08.400 The importance of exclusivity. 00:00:11.460 --> 00:00:19.640 As we are establishing this church, I think this is an important foundational value into how we form the church. 00:00:20.300 --> 00:00:27.080 And I think it's necessary for the future health of our church to understand the importance of exclusivity. 00:00:27.079 --> 00:00:38.859 Um, just the, just the term exclusivity is offensive, especially nowadays when inclusivity is the order of the day at all costs. 00:00:39.379 --> 00:00:47.340 Uh, so I'm asking you to hear me out before you get triggered in your heart and mind by the word exclusivity. 00:00:47.340 --> 00:00:56.540 Um, and think through with me what the nature of the church should be. 00:00:56.820 --> 00:00:59.840 What is the most potent version of the church? 00:01:00.160 --> 00:01:01.380 What did Jesus say? 00:01:01.500 --> 00:01:04.280 What is the New Testament in the early church? 00:01:04.640 --> 00:01:05.340 What was their experience? 00:01:05.340 --> 00:01:22.659 Um, looking back on, uh, church planting over the years that I've done, I've witnessed a lot of anger over the years, uh, over not accommodating people's different views so that they can feel included. 00:01:22.659 --> 00:01:28.280 Especially those who want community without responsibility or accountability. 00:01:28.859 --> 00:01:31.060 Those who want church on their own terms. 00:01:31.420 --> 00:01:31.579 Okay. 00:01:32.280 --> 00:01:44.959 Uh, a lot of people have gotten angry over the years at this and expect us to change our values or our standards in order that they can have what they want, when they want, how they want, the way they want. 00:01:44.959 --> 00:02:02.379 And, uh, I've been honestly a little bit surprised over the years at how many people have been angry that we, uh, put a certain standard, uh, on what the church is or on our membership or partnership. 00:02:03.000 --> 00:02:12.039 And, uh, but it has definitely, uh, kicked the hornet's nest, so to speak, over the years and caused a lot of anger, frustration, misunderstanding. 00:02:12.039 --> 00:02:21.340 And so I, I, my hope is to try and give a little bit more value for that as I talk about this this morning. 00:02:21.939 --> 00:02:33.120 Um, because unfortunately what happens is, and the reason I think people get mad is there's this kind of common mentality of, I have a right to be welcomed into your community on my terms. 00:02:33.599 --> 00:02:34.079 Okay. 00:02:34.079 --> 00:02:38.759 People come into the church and they don't say that, but they say that. 00:02:38.759 --> 00:02:44.459 I have a right to be welcomed into your community of believers on my terms. 00:02:44.679 --> 00:02:50.039 And if you don't give me that right, I'm going to be mad and I'm going to put up a fuss. 00:02:50.859 --> 00:02:55.039 And that's just the way things are. 00:02:55.799 --> 00:02:59.079 And with that comes a certain level of intimidation. 00:02:59.579 --> 00:03:08.479 Uh, fear is often associated with that because it makes you afraid to disclude someone in a certain thing or gathering. 00:03:08.479 --> 00:03:14.259 Or partnership, like the membership, the church, church in general, because we're afraid of offending people. 00:03:14.639 --> 00:03:22.179 And what I'm trying to say is this is offensive to people, but we don't want to offend people for offenses sake. 00:03:22.179 --> 00:03:33.599 We're not trying to be obnoxious or, uh, a church that, you know, uh, is known for identifies with offense and being bombastic or obnoxious. 00:03:33.599 --> 00:03:34.560 That's not our goal. 00:03:34.960 --> 00:03:35.319 Okay. 00:03:35.519 --> 00:03:48.419 But when people ever come in with a right to be welcomed in your community on their own terms, um, not understanding that the terms themselves are what make the community desirable to be welcomed into in the first place. 00:03:48.419 --> 00:03:53.419 Then, you know, that's something we need to take a stand on. 00:03:53.839 --> 00:04:11.539 That's something that we need to hold important because the people who are desiring to come into that said community don't understand that the very standards and values and, um, terms that are placed there are the things that make it desirable in the first place. 00:04:11.539 --> 00:04:12.019 Okay. 00:04:12.199 --> 00:04:13.639 That's kind of the value behind it. 00:04:13.739 --> 00:04:19.560 So it's also important to remember, remember, cause some people would say, oh man, that sounds exclusivity. 00:04:19.699 --> 00:04:21.259 That sounds like cult-like language. 00:04:21.920 --> 00:04:23.219 Uh, yeah. 00:04:23.379 --> 00:04:24.079 Cult-like language. 00:04:24.139 --> 00:04:29.219 If that's the only thing you have, if everything is exclusive, yeah, that sounds pretty cult-like. 00:04:29.219 --> 00:04:30.019 I would agree with that. 00:04:30.019 --> 00:04:45.019 But if some things are inclusive, where there's certain things that all people are invited to, and then there's certain things that aren't, in order to hold together something that could be the drawing point, and we'll look at that in a second, um, that's the difference. 00:04:45.180 --> 00:04:45.379 Okay. 00:04:45.819 --> 00:04:53.699 We have always, uh, we, we think of church that there are some things that are open to all people and then things get narrower and narrower. 00:04:53.699 --> 00:04:55.399 And that's the way it should be. 00:04:55.560 --> 00:05:00.379 Just like all people are welcome to fellowship with us on a Sunday morning. 00:05:00.819 --> 00:05:02.860 Not all people are welcome to be partners. 00:05:03.060 --> 00:05:03.939 There's terms for that. 00:05:04.259 --> 00:05:05.980 Not all people are welcome to be deacons. 00:05:06.099 --> 00:05:07.699 Not all people are welcome to be elders. 00:05:08.039 --> 00:05:10.379 Not all people are welcome to take of the Lord's table. 00:05:11.279 --> 00:05:16.000 You know, there should be restrictions on different aspects and that's for the benefit of the whole. 00:05:16.539 --> 00:05:23.560 So like I was saying before, one of the things that happens when people come in with that kind of mentality is this fear of excluding people. 00:05:23.699 --> 00:05:24.219 Okay. 00:05:24.719 --> 00:05:33.939 I think getting over your fear of, uh, that we need to get over our fear of explaining to a newcomer that a meeting is exclusive. 00:05:34.319 --> 00:05:36.459 That's a really important fear to get over. 00:05:36.959 --> 00:05:44.519 There's great value and importance in certain meetings being exclusive and it's really good for people to feel left out of those things. 00:05:45.120 --> 00:05:50.519 Uh, a verse I want to bring up on this is Acts chapter 5 verses 12 to 14. 00:05:50.519 --> 00:05:50.959 Okay. 00:05:50.959 --> 00:05:52.759 In Acts chapter 5, it says, 00:05:52.899 --> 00:06:00.399 Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles and they were all together in Solomon's portico. 00:06:00.979 --> 00:06:02.879 Listen to this verse in verse 13. 00:06:03.699 --> 00:06:08.979 None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. 00:06:08.980 --> 00:06:15.800 And more than ever, believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women. 00:06:16.600 --> 00:06:17.400 Did you hear that? 00:06:18.200 --> 00:06:22.680 They had church together and it says, none of the rest dared join them. 00:06:23.620 --> 00:06:23.800 Okay. 00:06:23.800 --> 00:06:29.420 Right before this was Ananias and Sapphira dying because they lied about, you know, the money they were giving. 00:06:29.420 --> 00:06:31.920 So that was definitely played into it. 00:06:32.020 --> 00:06:40.520 But there was a sense of church and respect for what the church was that nobody was joining willy-nilly, so to speak. 00:06:40.640 --> 00:06:44.720 There wasn't just this casual, yeah, I could join this on my own terms. 00:06:44.720 --> 00:06:48.900 You didn't join the early church on your own terms. 00:06:49.280 --> 00:06:53.280 In fact, if you try to do it on your own terms, some people even lost their lives. 00:06:53.680 --> 00:06:53.800 Okay. 00:06:54.980 --> 00:06:58.100 And then it says, so you might think, well, how does that work? 00:06:58.240 --> 00:06:59.300 No one dares join them. 00:06:59.300 --> 00:07:05.579 But then the next verse, verse 14, says that more than ever, believers were added to the Lord. 00:07:06.460 --> 00:07:08.139 First of all, it says more than ever. 00:07:08.280 --> 00:07:09.000 Isn't that interesting? 00:07:09.639 --> 00:07:16.360 At the time when people were afraid to join, more than ever, God added to them. 00:07:16.699 --> 00:07:17.620 Do you see that? 00:07:18.580 --> 00:07:20.920 We get it backwards, right? 00:07:21.699 --> 00:07:27.240 We right now, everybody dares join the church now, right? 00:07:27.240 --> 00:07:28.960 There's no fear of joining the church. 00:07:29.300 --> 00:07:32.199 There's an entitlement with, you must let me join the church. 00:07:32.319 --> 00:07:34.280 You must let me do it my way. 00:07:34.620 --> 00:07:40.439 There's no, not only is there not a fear of people joining, there's not a fear of people joining on their own terms, 00:07:40.900 --> 00:07:47.740 completely disregarding the terms of the Lord, or the terms that the local church has set in place in order to uphold God's ways. 00:07:48.699 --> 00:07:53.819 So everyone dares to join, and not many people are being added by the Lord. 00:07:54.319 --> 00:07:55.340 Do you see the difference? 00:07:55.339 --> 00:08:05.039 Whereas here, it says more than ever, when people were, didn't want to, they wouldn't dare join the church, God added to their number daily. 00:08:05.239 --> 00:08:06.519 I think there's something there. 00:08:07.159 --> 00:08:08.599 I think there's something there. 00:08:08.600 --> 00:08:17.340 And I think the something that's there is the potency of the church, that we have to be careful that we don't delude, okay? 00:08:17.860 --> 00:08:25.280 In our effort to include people, we end up dumbing down what it means to be a part, okay? 00:08:25.279 --> 00:08:31.439 And then there's nothing beneficial about being a part, which creates no incentive to be a part. 00:08:31.919 --> 00:08:37.839 What we end up working against, we end up working against ourselves when we have a fear of not including people. 00:08:38.799 --> 00:08:48.639 People feeling left out in ways is what gives value to being a part, because there's something there that is deep and real and committed. 00:08:48.639 --> 00:08:54.139 When you dilute that, then being a part doesn't mean anything. 00:08:56.460 --> 00:08:58.939 Exclusion gives the opportunity to include. 00:08:59.639 --> 00:09:02.819 To exclude no one is to have nothing to include people into. 00:09:03.679 --> 00:09:05.379 Do you understand what I'm saying with that? 00:09:05.840 --> 00:09:08.799 To exclude no one is to have nothing to include people into. 00:09:09.179 --> 00:09:15.159 Let me say it another way, and I think this is important, so hear me when I say this paragraph here. 00:09:15.360 --> 00:09:27.179 Letting someone in out of fear of leaving someone out dilutes the potency and power of what you are letting them into, thereby not really loving them. 00:09:28.000 --> 00:09:29.539 Let me say that again, okay? 00:09:29.860 --> 00:09:42.019 Letting someone in out of fear of leaving someone out dilutes the potency and power of what you are letting them into, thereby not really loving them. 00:09:42.019 --> 00:09:48.000 Because to love is to guard the whole by not letting people in who would dilute it. 00:09:49.179 --> 00:10:02.659 By protecting the potency of the whole, we love those who are excluded because we now have something of value to offer them that can change their lives for their good and God's glory. 00:10:03.720 --> 00:10:07.600 That is what, that's kind of the crux of what I'm saying here. 00:10:08.460 --> 00:10:12.480 Inclusion without regard for dilution is unloving. 00:10:13.200 --> 00:10:15.279 We exclude people for the sake of people. 00:10:17.240 --> 00:10:20.420 Inclusion without regard for dilution is unloving. 00:10:20.920 --> 00:10:37.500 The church has gotten this off and what has happened, the result is we've diluted the power and the potency of the church by not being careful who is let in, who we regard as Christians. 00:10:37.600 --> 00:10:43.820 The majority of people in America by far are not Christians who profess to be Christians. 00:10:44.500 --> 00:10:52.440 And therefore the church becomes weaker and weaker and the Lord is not adding to our number because everyone dares join the church. 00:10:52.440 --> 00:11:02.940 It's important to remember that Jesus was exclusive. 00:11:04.300 --> 00:11:04.460 Okay. 00:11:04.800 --> 00:11:05.780 John 14. 00:11:05.920 --> 00:11:06.800 John 14. 00:11:07.020 --> 00:11:07.660 Luke 14. 00:11:08.100 --> 00:11:08.340 Okay. 00:11:08.820 --> 00:11:10.480 Jesus gets really exclusive here. 00:11:10.860 --> 00:11:13.460 Says some really offensive things to our American minds. 00:11:13.920 --> 00:11:14.180 Right. 00:11:14.179 --> 00:11:17.039 He says Luke 14, 25 to 27. 00:11:17.159 --> 00:11:18.120 And then verse 33. 00:11:19.439 --> 00:11:21.120 Great crowds accompanied him. 00:11:21.539 --> 00:11:22.839 And he turned and said to them. 00:11:23.439 --> 00:11:26.199 Again, Jesus was not afraid of excluding people. 00:11:26.719 --> 00:11:29.099 Notice the verse that precedes what he's about to say. 00:11:29.459 --> 00:11:30.679 Great crowds. 00:11:32.019 --> 00:11:34.159 I mean, really you should be, oh man, Jesus. 00:11:34.519 --> 00:11:35.779 Jesus, you're really packing them in here. 00:11:35.839 --> 00:11:36.399 This is great. 00:11:36.799 --> 00:11:38.639 This movement has really taken off. 00:11:38.699 --> 00:11:40.099 This is, this is awesome. 00:11:40.199 --> 00:11:41.839 Jesus, you're finally doing it. 00:11:41.840 --> 00:11:44.100 Like you're getting, we're growing. 00:11:44.300 --> 00:11:45.480 This thing is awesome. 00:11:46.019 --> 00:11:48.420 Great crowds are accompanying him. 00:11:48.720 --> 00:11:59.740 And then he turns and says, if anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, even his own life. 00:12:00.259 --> 00:12:01.980 He cannot be my disciple. 00:12:02.500 --> 00:12:05.700 And you could just probably see some of the disciples like, oh, what? 00:12:05.800 --> 00:12:06.900 What are you doing? 00:12:07.660 --> 00:12:09.120 We had a good thing going here. 00:12:09.160 --> 00:12:10.120 Do you see these crowds? 00:12:10.120 --> 00:12:14.179 You're going to, you just, you, whoa, whoa, Jesus. 00:12:14.639 --> 00:12:17.139 He just went super exclusive. 00:12:18.120 --> 00:12:23.419 He just said, hey, you can't be my disciple unless you come to me. 00:12:24.039 --> 00:12:31.019 And if anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers and sisters, yes, even his own life. 00:12:31.100 --> 00:12:32.620 He cannot be my disciple. 00:12:32.620 --> 00:12:38.139 And then he says, whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 00:12:38.299 --> 00:12:43.279 And anyone of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. 00:12:43.419 --> 00:12:44.980 Do you see the exclusivity here? 00:12:46.560 --> 00:12:48.340 But it's important exclusivity. 00:12:48.340 --> 00:12:54.500 If Jesus himself did this, we have to ask the question, is this important? 00:12:55.940 --> 00:12:58.300 He did this in John chapter 6 as well. 00:12:59.340 --> 00:13:09.280 John chapter 6, again, things seem to be going really well here for the crew that's hanging around Jesus as far as gathering a crowd, 00:13:09.840 --> 00:13:12.360 gathering some kind of successful type movement. 00:13:12.360 --> 00:13:19.340 And it says in John 6, verse 2, a large crowd was following him. 00:13:20.180 --> 00:13:21.480 And then it says why? 00:13:22.800 --> 00:13:24.200 Okay, a large crowd is following him. 00:13:24.279 --> 00:13:28.960 And then it says because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. 00:13:29.480 --> 00:13:33.159 So they're not following yet because he's the Messiah. 00:13:33.539 --> 00:13:38.399 They're not following him yet because they need him to save them. 00:13:38.399 --> 00:13:47.559 They're not following him yet because he is the one that's been promised from those chapters in the Bible that Adam's been going over with the kids, 00:13:47.639 --> 00:13:48.959 like all the way back in the beginning. 00:13:50.319 --> 00:13:51.980 They're not following him for that reason. 00:13:52.079 --> 00:13:56.480 They're following him because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. 00:13:57.220 --> 00:13:57.419 Okay? 00:13:58.079 --> 00:14:04.199 And he ends up feeding 5,000 men with women and children. 00:14:04.379 --> 00:14:06.120 There's a good chance it was over 10,000. 00:14:06.120 --> 00:14:08.279 This is big-time miracle stuff here. 00:14:08.779 --> 00:14:08.959 Okay? 00:14:09.319 --> 00:14:12.799 Man, you can see why people are following him for the signs. 00:14:13.399 --> 00:14:14.480 Man, we could be hanging out with this guy. 00:14:14.740 --> 00:14:15.459 We don't even have to get food. 00:14:15.539 --> 00:14:16.720 This guy just makes food appear. 00:14:17.059 --> 00:14:17.959 This is a good deal. 00:14:18.139 --> 00:14:19.259 I want to hang around this guy. 00:14:19.419 --> 00:14:19.620 Right? 00:14:20.720 --> 00:14:27.579 Verse 26, after all this, after the feeding of the 5,000 with just bread and fish, 00:14:28.419 --> 00:14:32.039 Jesus addresses the crowd. 00:14:32.740 --> 00:14:34.919 He starts talking about being the bread of life. 00:14:34.919 --> 00:14:41.319 And then he says, truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me not because you saw signs, 00:14:41.319 --> 00:14:43.959 but because you had your fill of the loaves. 00:14:44.479 --> 00:14:48.939 So now he's saying it's even worse than just coming for signs. 00:14:49.139 --> 00:14:50.259 You just want food. 00:14:50.259 --> 00:14:52.279 That's why you're here. 00:14:52.779 --> 00:14:52.980 Okay? 00:14:53.220 --> 00:14:54.639 It's like, Jesus, what are you doing? 00:14:55.539 --> 00:14:56.539 What are you doing here? 00:14:57.179 --> 00:15:02.439 Again, he's pointing out that there are some people coming for the wrong reasons. 00:15:02.440 --> 00:15:08.140 And he's about to kind of drop the hammer, so to speak, and make them not feel included. 00:15:09.040 --> 00:15:09.480 Right? 00:15:09.600 --> 00:15:12.460 Because he's basically saying, this is not the right motive. 00:15:13.060 --> 00:15:16.720 And there are people who come into the church for all the wrong motives. 00:15:17.260 --> 00:15:21.980 And one of the most common now is they want community, but they don't want responsibility. 00:15:22.500 --> 00:15:26.180 They want a message that challenges them, maybe tickles their ears, 00:15:26.180 --> 00:15:30.480 or maybe legitimately challenges them, but they don't want to do anything with it. 00:15:30.480 --> 00:15:34.820 They want to hear people preach repentance without actually repenting. 00:15:35.399 --> 00:15:41.360 They want people to have a church where they enjoy certain aspects of the show. 00:15:41.720 --> 00:15:43.039 They like the music. 00:15:43.200 --> 00:15:44.360 The childcare is good. 00:15:44.800 --> 00:15:46.480 The preaching is dynamic. 00:15:46.960 --> 00:15:48.800 You know, you'll see this when you advertise churches. 00:15:49.080 --> 00:15:53.560 We have dynamic preaching, relevant preaching, these kind of things, 00:15:54.159 --> 00:15:55.680 which, is there any other kind? 00:15:55.840 --> 00:15:56.620 I mean, I don't know. 00:15:56.620 --> 00:16:00.840 Anyways, if it's true preaching. 00:16:02.019 --> 00:16:04.700 Truly, I say to you, you're seeking me not because you saw signs, 00:16:04.779 --> 00:16:06.639 but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 00:16:07.299 --> 00:16:13.000 Then in verse 41, he says, it says, and he starts going into it, 00:16:13.340 --> 00:16:17.320 starts saying that he's the bread of life. 00:16:17.500 --> 00:16:20.500 And then the Jews grumbled about him because he said, 00:16:20.600 --> 00:16:22.279 I'm the bread that came down from heaven. 00:16:22.939 --> 00:16:23.120 Okay? 00:16:23.500 --> 00:16:27.120 All of a sudden, it's like, these ones who are so excited about the signs 00:16:27.120 --> 00:16:29.439 and about getting fed start grumbling. 00:16:30.240 --> 00:16:32.819 And this is exactly what happens in the church. 00:16:33.439 --> 00:16:34.199 Hey, this is cool. 00:16:34.339 --> 00:16:38.220 I mean, I remember when we used to serve the once-a-month meals back at Bellicose, 00:16:38.519 --> 00:16:40.919 you'd have people that come in. 00:16:41.519 --> 00:16:45.919 You know, Michael stops some guy from eating about 40 pieces of sliced cheese one time. 00:16:46.699 --> 00:16:48.339 Some homeless guy off the street. 00:16:48.340 --> 00:16:52.280 Again, people come for all these different reasons. 00:16:53.139 --> 00:16:58.820 And we open things up for people to come who might have wrong motives. 00:16:59.440 --> 00:17:02.200 But we don't keep it that way. 00:17:02.740 --> 00:17:07.100 There has to, at some point in time, being a narrowing for salvation, of course, 00:17:07.480 --> 00:17:11.000 but also for the potency and power of the church to be what it's supposed to be 00:17:11.000 --> 00:17:12.680 as witnesses in the earth. 00:17:13.019 --> 00:17:15.240 And most likely what happens is people grumble. 00:17:15.240 --> 00:17:16.920 They did it to Jesus. 00:17:17.200 --> 00:17:18.259 They'll do it to us. 00:17:18.920 --> 00:17:21.920 The Jews started grumbling about him because they said, 00:17:22.019 --> 00:17:23.579 I'm the bread that came down from heaven. 00:17:23.720 --> 00:17:25.160 That was offensive to them. 00:17:26.200 --> 00:17:27.200 Verse 60. 00:17:27.839 --> 00:17:30.500 Now, even when many of the disciples heard it, they said, 00:17:31.059 --> 00:17:32.579 this is a hard saying. 00:17:32.680 --> 00:17:33.839 Who can listen to it? 00:17:34.720 --> 00:17:34.920 Okay? 00:17:35.599 --> 00:17:39.380 Because he's talking about himself being the way, himself being the bread, 00:17:39.900 --> 00:17:41.559 eating of his flesh, drinking. 00:17:41.799 --> 00:17:44.420 I mean, this is some crazy language. 00:17:44.420 --> 00:17:45.500 I'm not going to get into that. 00:17:45.660 --> 00:17:47.920 You know, these sound like vampire verses here. 00:17:48.100 --> 00:17:50.300 Jesus is talking about drinking his blood. 00:17:50.800 --> 00:17:52.680 You can understand why they were a little weirded out. 00:17:53.160 --> 00:17:55.860 But even his own disciples hear it and they say, 00:17:55.940 --> 00:17:56.940 this is a hard saying. 00:17:57.259 --> 00:17:58.600 Who can listen to it? 00:18:01.320 --> 00:18:05.220 But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, 00:18:05.720 --> 00:18:06.700 said to them, 00:18:06.700 --> 00:18:08.620 do you take offense at this? 00:18:09.400 --> 00:18:10.900 Do you take offense at this? 00:18:10.900 --> 00:18:15.400 And he goes on. 00:18:15.580 --> 00:18:16.840 And then verse 66. 00:18:17.240 --> 00:18:22.180 After this, many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. 00:18:22.740 --> 00:18:24.740 He says to the disciples, hey, do you want to leave? 00:18:25.400 --> 00:18:27.500 And they said, no, where else are we going to go? 00:18:27.540 --> 00:18:28.820 You have the words of eternal life. 00:18:29.400 --> 00:18:30.460 Jesus was exclusive. 00:18:31.140 --> 00:18:32.540 Jesus said things that offended. 00:18:32.539 --> 00:18:37.799 Jesus caused people who were coming for the wrong reasons to be offended 00:18:37.799 --> 00:18:40.740 when he started declaring what was the right reasons. 00:18:41.099 --> 00:18:47.259 And he started talking about language that would ultimately form what would be called his church. 00:18:48.059 --> 00:18:48.259 Okay. 00:18:48.619 --> 00:18:53.740 He opened it up and then got exclusive when it comes to him building his church. 00:18:54.319 --> 00:18:56.079 The early church was exclusive. 00:18:56.680 --> 00:18:57.839 Acts 2.42 says, 00:18:57.839 --> 00:19:00.299 They devoted themselves to the fellowship. 00:19:01.059 --> 00:19:01.240 Okay. 00:19:01.399 --> 00:19:04.579 There was a devotion to making sure they had fellowship. 00:19:05.119 --> 00:19:06.419 And what was their fellowship around? 00:19:06.579 --> 00:19:09.839 2 Corinthians 13.14 calls it the fellowship of the spirit. 00:19:10.240 --> 00:19:12.939 There are some people we don't have fellowship of the spirit with. 00:19:13.240 --> 00:19:19.459 And there are things that we believe and do that cause us to have fellowship in the spirit. 00:19:19.459 --> 00:19:23.079 And there are things we believe and do that cause us to not have fellowship in the spirit. 00:19:23.619 --> 00:19:23.799 Okay. 00:19:23.799 --> 00:19:25.700 But our fellowship is in the spirit. 00:19:26.119 --> 00:19:33.819 And there was a devotion to be fellowshiped, to have fellowship around the spirit, not around other things. 00:19:34.200 --> 00:19:38.259 And the temptation sometimes is to have our fellowship be around other things, 00:19:38.579 --> 00:19:45.099 but not really realizing that the exclusivity of having fellowship around the spirit 00:19:45.099 --> 00:19:50.259 actually is more inclusive than having fellowship around other things that limit us. 00:19:50.259 --> 00:19:57.079 Because the exclusivity of having fellowship around the spirit actually includes more people. 00:19:57.379 --> 00:20:03.500 Because it doesn't mean we have to have the same age, same background, same economic background. 00:20:03.779 --> 00:20:07.839 It doesn't mean we have to have the same interests. 00:20:08.640 --> 00:20:11.839 It just means that our primary interest is Christ's. 00:20:12.059 --> 00:20:13.599 And our fellowship is in the spirit. 00:20:13.599 --> 00:20:20.139 And that's actually, that pressing into exclusivity is actually in the long run more inclusive. 00:20:20.519 --> 00:20:26.279 And that we can relate to people that we would never be able to relate to apart from the spirit, apart from Christ. 00:20:27.919 --> 00:20:33.879 Now, the early church was exclusive, obviously, with not being yoked with unbelievers. 00:20:34.099 --> 00:20:37.599 Do not be, 2 Corinthians 6, do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. 00:20:38.119 --> 00:20:40.679 What partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? 00:20:40.680 --> 00:20:43.440 What fellowship has light with darkness? 00:20:44.140 --> 00:20:44.320 Okay? 00:20:44.600 --> 00:20:47.160 So, clearly, there's no fellowship with unbelievers. 00:20:47.400 --> 00:20:50.900 When that gets intermixed with the church, that's very diluted. 00:20:51.340 --> 00:20:51.640 Okay? 00:20:51.660 --> 00:20:52.860 But there's no fellowship there. 00:20:53.120 --> 00:20:55.299 If you're devoted to the fellowship, you can't let that happen. 00:20:56.320 --> 00:20:56.519 Okay? 00:20:57.160 --> 00:21:01.180 2 Thessalonians 3, 6 through 15 says, 00:21:01.180 --> 00:21:12.460 Wait, what? 00:21:13.600 --> 00:21:14.740 You're supposed to... 00:21:14.740 --> 00:21:17.680 He commands them to keep away from a brother? 00:21:17.920 --> 00:21:19.960 That's pretty exclusive language there, Paul. 00:21:20.400 --> 00:21:21.340 What are you talking about? 00:21:21.900 --> 00:21:25.320 He commands them to keep away from any brother who's walking in idleness. 00:21:25.319 --> 00:21:29.619 I mean, Paul, aren't you supposed to bear with those who are weak? 00:21:29.720 --> 00:21:30.299 What's the deal? 00:21:30.720 --> 00:21:31.980 You can't... 00:21:31.980 --> 00:21:35.480 You got to keep away from any brother who's walking in idleness and not accord with the 00:21:35.480 --> 00:21:37.659 tradition that you receive from us? 00:21:38.619 --> 00:21:43.899 Do you see that Paul had a tradition, a way of life that was being handed down, and he said, 00:21:44.000 --> 00:21:48.000 If these people aren't adhering to this, you should keep away from those brothers. 00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:53.279 For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were 00:21:53.279 --> 00:21:56.339 with you, nor do we eat anyone's bread without paying for it. 00:21:56.720 --> 00:22:00.259 But with toil and labor we work night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. 00:22:00.859 --> 00:22:05.460 It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you and ourselves an example to 00:22:05.460 --> 00:22:05.779 imitate. 00:22:06.359 --> 00:22:10.039 For even when we were with you, we would give you this command, if anyone is not willing 00:22:10.039 --> 00:22:11.759 to work, let him not eat. 00:22:12.380 --> 00:22:16.440 For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. 00:22:16.440 --> 00:22:21.740 Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly 00:22:21.740 --> 00:22:22.700 and to earn their own living. 00:22:23.460 --> 00:22:26.039 As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good. 00:22:26.420 --> 00:22:32.180 If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person and have nothing 00:22:32.180 --> 00:22:35.160 to do with him, that he may be ashamed. 00:22:35.980 --> 00:22:39.100 Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother. 00:22:39.620 --> 00:22:40.900 Do you see the language here? 00:22:41.559 --> 00:22:43.519 You see this exclusive language. 00:22:43.519 --> 00:22:48.579 Titus 3.10, as for a person who stirs up division after warning him once and then twice, 00:22:48.819 --> 00:22:50.299 have nothing more to do with him. 00:22:52.240 --> 00:22:55.180 Guarding the quality of life together. 00:22:55.660 --> 00:23:01.879 Saying if certain brothers, yes, there's things that unbelievers should be excluded from. 00:23:01.880 --> 00:23:08.600 But even those who call themselves brothers, who are idle, who are divisive, who aren't adhering 00:23:08.600 --> 00:23:14.520 to certain principles laid forth in the scripture, certain traditions that the apostolic tradition 00:23:14.520 --> 00:23:19.160 that was laid down to form potent churches, he says have nothing to do with them. 00:23:20.000 --> 00:23:21.540 Have nothing to do with them. 00:23:22.400 --> 00:23:23.680 1 Corinthians 5. 00:23:23.680 --> 00:23:25.480 He says, 00:23:25.480 --> 00:23:28.660 I wrote you my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people. 00:23:29.180 --> 00:23:33.880 Not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers or idolaters, 00:23:34.039 --> 00:23:35.580 since you would need to go out of the world. 00:23:36.279 --> 00:23:39.180 Now I'm writing you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother, 00:23:39.560 --> 00:23:42.039 if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, 00:23:42.360 --> 00:23:45.640 or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler. 00:23:45.920 --> 00:23:47.580 Not even to eat with such a one. 00:23:47.579 --> 00:23:50.720 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? 00:23:50.879 --> 00:23:55.460 Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 00:23:55.919 --> 00:23:57.859 Whom you are to judge? 00:23:59.179 --> 00:24:01.059 Whom you are to judge? 00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:03.579 Oh, I know that everyone wants to say, 00:24:03.699 --> 00:24:04.839 you're not supposed to judge. 00:24:04.899 --> 00:24:08.679 And they love to misquote Jesus and take it out of context and say don't judge. 00:24:08.899 --> 00:24:10.039 He just said, 00:24:10.659 --> 00:24:15.359 Is not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 00:24:15.720 --> 00:24:17.439 God judges those outside. 00:24:17.759 --> 00:24:18.259 And then he says, 00:24:18.339 --> 00:24:20.119 Purge the evil person from among you. 00:24:20.539 --> 00:24:24.579 There should be judgments within the church, by the church, 00:24:24.579 --> 00:24:29.879 in order to keep together the power and potency of the church and not to dilute it. 00:24:31.000 --> 00:24:33.000 Romans 16 said, 00:24:33.099 --> 00:24:36.539 I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles 00:24:36.539 --> 00:24:38.819 contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught. 00:24:39.039 --> 00:24:39.759 Avoid them! 00:24:40.419 --> 00:24:44.500 For such persons do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own appetites. 00:24:44.500 --> 00:24:48.099 And by smooth talk and flattery deceive the hearts of the naive. 00:24:50.039 --> 00:24:51.440 Second and last one. 00:24:51.539 --> 00:24:52.859 Second Timothy 3, 1-5. 00:24:53.319 --> 00:24:56.460 Understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 00:24:56.460 --> 00:25:08.840 People will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable. 00:25:08.839 --> 00:25:14.939 Man, if there's the one thing I've seen people coming into the church is unappeasable people. 00:25:15.699 --> 00:25:18.599 No matter what you try to do to include them, they're never happy. 00:25:19.019 --> 00:25:20.179 They're always grumbling. 00:25:20.180 --> 00:25:25.960 You try to include them, you try to make them happy, and the more you try, the more unappeasable they become. 00:25:26.200 --> 00:25:29.720 You give them an inch, they take a mile. 00:25:31.140 --> 00:25:31.279 Right? 00:25:32.160 --> 00:25:38.779 Slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, 00:25:39.240 --> 00:25:46.539 lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness but denying its power, avoid such people. 00:25:47.539 --> 00:25:48.720 Avoid such people. 00:25:48.720 --> 00:25:59.019 There are many professing Christians where there needs to be exclusivity from in order to keep the church where it's supposed to be. 00:25:59.940 --> 00:26:03.500 And I think one of the reasons there's confusion about this, there's offense about it, 00:26:03.579 --> 00:26:07.259 is because of the way church has been done for most of our lives and most of our experiences. 00:26:07.759 --> 00:26:11.120 Because most church experience is an attractional model. 00:26:11.660 --> 00:26:18.160 Meaning the goal, and the irony of us talking about this on the first day that we have our building in our church, 00:26:18.160 --> 00:26:21.400 is the goal for most churches is to get people in the building. 00:26:22.580 --> 00:26:31.779 Even though nowhere in this entire book do you see anything even remotely close to even mentioning that. 00:26:32.540 --> 00:26:33.600 Inviting people. 00:26:34.259 --> 00:26:35.180 You don't see that. 00:26:35.500 --> 00:26:39.000 You see multiple people on mission to specific people and places, 00:26:39.000 --> 00:26:47.740 but you do not see places where the focus was just make the place great so that the people come. 00:26:48.279 --> 00:26:50.180 But that in essence is what church has become. 00:26:50.720 --> 00:26:54.859 Make a great place with the, you know, the Holy Trinity of church planting, 00:26:55.140 --> 00:26:58.079 great worship, great child care, and great preaching. 00:26:58.539 --> 00:27:00.779 And if you got that, the people will come. 00:27:00.779 --> 00:27:02.799 And your job isn't to evangelize. 00:27:02.920 --> 00:27:04.139 Your job is to invite. 00:27:05.059 --> 00:27:07.480 We've replaced evangelism with invitation. 00:27:08.220 --> 00:27:12.259 And then we get a little bit arrogant and haughty sometimes because we think, 00:27:12.359 --> 00:27:13.980 oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, Josh. 00:27:14.259 --> 00:27:16.059 We're not like those people. 00:27:16.539 --> 00:27:21.220 We have a small church, and we don't invite people to some mega church thing 00:27:21.220 --> 00:27:25.879 with the slick worship and the slick child care and the slick preaching presentation. 00:27:26.240 --> 00:27:27.220 Oh, no, no. 00:27:27.220 --> 00:27:30.759 What we do is the same thing in a smaller setting. 00:27:31.160 --> 00:27:37.579 We invite people to gatherings and homes and replace evangelism for a meeting invite in a home 00:27:37.579 --> 00:27:44.279 rather than actually taking them into our own home or taking the uncomfortability on us 00:27:44.279 --> 00:27:48.039 and going to where they're at instead of putting the uncomfortability on them 00:27:48.039 --> 00:27:53.059 to come where we're at in religious settings where they don't know people and they feel uncomfortable. 00:27:53.059 --> 00:27:58.220 And so because that's the norm, because that's what we've experienced, 00:27:58.799 --> 00:28:06.000 we get confused with exclusivity because the order of the day in the church is not exclusivity. 00:28:06.000 --> 00:28:08.619 It's to include as many people as possible. 00:28:09.019 --> 00:28:10.940 This is where we get the phrase seeker sensitive. 00:28:11.639 --> 00:28:13.919 Be as sensitive as possible to the seeker. 00:28:14.319 --> 00:28:15.240 Make them comfortable. 00:28:15.659 --> 00:28:16.480 Make them happy. 00:28:16.859 --> 00:28:18.480 Do whatever you can to do that. 00:28:18.480 --> 00:28:22.839 And so when you get someone like myself now talking about exclusivity, 00:28:23.099 --> 00:28:27.819 talking about being missional to people and not replacing evangelism with a meeting invite, 00:28:28.160 --> 00:28:31.920 and that partnerships should be excluded to a certain core group of people 00:28:31.920 --> 00:28:34.660 that adhere to certain values and principles, 00:28:35.599 --> 00:28:39.500 and that we're not using the service to attract people but the people. 00:28:39.500 --> 00:28:44.259 See, the difference is what has happened is in the church, 00:28:44.400 --> 00:28:48.559 products and services have been the attraction rather than the people. 00:28:49.240 --> 00:28:51.039 And I don't see that in the scripture. 00:28:51.480 --> 00:28:53.220 So I will always preach to you. 00:28:53.319 --> 00:28:57.660 I will always advocate to you that our greatest attraction, 00:28:57.960 --> 00:29:02.200 our greatest potency is the quality of the people. 00:29:02.859 --> 00:29:05.480 It's the people who are the drawing factor. 00:29:05.599 --> 00:29:06.720 The church is a people. 00:29:06.960 --> 00:29:07.859 It's not a building. 00:29:07.859 --> 00:29:09.319 It's not products and services. 00:29:09.500 --> 00:29:11.740 It's not the preaching, the worship, and the childcare. 00:29:12.079 --> 00:29:14.859 It's the quality of the people that make up the church. 00:29:15.940 --> 00:29:21.480 And so we're not aiming at a slick worship service that gathers in as many people as possible. 00:29:21.680 --> 00:29:27.680 We're willing to offend people with the exclusivity of what we call partnership and membership in our church 00:29:27.680 --> 00:29:33.500 in order to have the impact that we see in the scriptures that Jesus wants us to have 00:29:33.500 --> 00:29:35.740 by being a people that are potent. 00:29:35.740 --> 00:29:36.220 A potent. 00:29:36.220 --> 00:29:44.920 A potent people because the people are the ones we're focusing on, not other things to attract people. 00:29:45.500 --> 00:29:49.819 And what happens is when you have that, instead of consumers, you have participants. 00:29:49.819 --> 00:29:53.119 We're looking for participants, not consumers. 00:29:53.559 --> 00:29:57.279 When attraction is your model, when you're just trying to attract people into a building, 00:29:57.619 --> 00:30:01.679 then all you're getting is consumers, not participants. 00:30:01.680 --> 00:30:03.779 If it's partnership, it's participants. 00:30:07.519 --> 00:30:11.940 And then the other thing, the danger of that is it's just gifting and not character. 00:30:12.420 --> 00:30:14.960 Because then gifting is what draws people. 00:30:15.340 --> 00:30:17.860 And then when the person who's gifted falls into sin, 00:30:18.220 --> 00:30:22.299 oh, we've got to keep them in ministry because without their gifting, the church has nothing. 00:30:22.299 --> 00:30:28.200 And so we perpetuate and we hide adultery and we hide sexual sin and we keep people in leadership 00:30:28.200 --> 00:30:30.259 because the church is too big to fail. 00:30:30.519 --> 00:30:33.180 And we need you to be the one attracting people. 00:30:33.460 --> 00:30:34.180 It's gross. 00:30:34.299 --> 00:30:35.079 It's disgusting. 00:30:35.419 --> 00:30:36.240 It's immoral. 00:30:36.460 --> 00:30:37.240 It's sick. 00:30:37.539 --> 00:30:39.500 It should be called out for what it is. 00:30:40.139 --> 00:30:40.579 Unafraid. 00:30:41.359 --> 00:30:41.799 Unapologetic. 00:30:42.359 --> 00:30:47.279 And there's no way in any way, shape or form we should ever allow that. 00:30:47.839 --> 00:30:51.639 But you don't need to allow that when the people are the drawing factor, 00:30:51.640 --> 00:30:53.480 when the character and the quality of the people, 00:30:54.040 --> 00:30:55.980 if character is what draws people, 00:30:56.620 --> 00:30:59.580 then gifting is not what impresses, then we don't get impressed by gifting. 00:30:59.920 --> 00:31:03.540 Because we know that you can build something with your gifting that you'll destroy with your character. 00:31:03.940 --> 00:31:05.320 So we're not impressed by that. 00:31:07.020 --> 00:31:13.880 It creates a hypocritical environment where products and services that are offered are disconnected from character. 00:31:14.280 --> 00:31:17.720 When character is all you got, there's no room for hypocrisy 00:31:17.720 --> 00:31:21.460 because you're not trying to sell something other than who you are. 00:31:22.400 --> 00:31:23.340 Do you understand? 00:31:24.180 --> 00:31:28.540 When we just have us be the thing, the quality of the people, 00:31:28.840 --> 00:31:31.680 there's no hypocrisy because what you see is what you get. 00:31:32.300 --> 00:31:35.040 There's not hypocrisy, but there is a lack of potency 00:31:35.040 --> 00:31:38.140 because what you see is what you get. 00:31:38.500 --> 00:31:41.600 And if what you see is not that great, you're not going to get much. 00:31:42.020 --> 00:31:43.320 No one's going to be interested. 00:31:43.520 --> 00:31:45.600 No one wants to join a group of people. 00:31:45.599 --> 00:31:50.699 God doesn't add to a group of people that have no reason why you'd want to join them. 00:31:51.219 --> 00:31:52.959 There's no quality of life together. 00:31:53.079 --> 00:31:57.839 There's no real integrating of life together in a powerful way. 00:31:58.740 --> 00:32:00.740 You know, John 13, 35 says, 00:32:00.859 --> 00:32:03.919 By this you will know that you are my disciples by your love for one another. 00:32:04.379 --> 00:32:07.959 Our love for one another is our greatest asset. 00:32:07.960 --> 00:32:11.120 It's our greatest compelling narrative. 00:32:11.620 --> 00:32:12.960 It's our apologetic. 00:32:13.400 --> 00:32:15.140 It's the preaching itself. 00:32:15.779 --> 00:32:18.640 It says more than a slick service. 00:32:19.640 --> 00:32:24.620 And it says it all day, every day, not just a Sunday morning and a Wednesday night. 00:32:25.059 --> 00:32:26.400 That's what we're after. 00:32:26.799 --> 00:32:32.460 We're after true discipleship that is shown in our love for one another. 00:32:32.460 --> 00:32:34.940 We're after partnership. 00:32:36.299 --> 00:32:38.840 Partnership is our way of devoting ourselves to the fellowship. 00:32:39.500 --> 00:32:42.519 Amos 3, 3 in the King James says, New King James, 00:32:42.980 --> 00:32:45.700 says can two walk together unless they're agreed? 00:32:46.480 --> 00:32:50.740 The problem is you have the church filled with so many people who don't agree on a set standard 00:32:50.740 --> 00:32:52.259 that they can't walk together. 00:32:52.880 --> 00:32:54.180 And you wonder why it has no potency. 00:32:54.440 --> 00:32:56.579 Because you have people walking all over in different directions. 00:32:56.940 --> 00:32:57.880 I want to walk this way. 00:32:57.900 --> 00:32:59.079 I don't want to walk the way you walk. 00:32:59.220 --> 00:33:01.539 But I still want all the benefits of your community. 00:33:01.539 --> 00:33:02.839 Let me walk with you. 00:33:03.119 --> 00:33:03.559 No. 00:33:04.639 --> 00:33:05.079 No. 00:33:05.579 --> 00:33:06.480 We're not going to. 00:33:06.899 --> 00:33:08.940 We love you too much to let you do that. 00:33:10.200 --> 00:33:11.559 Mark 3, 25 says, 00:33:11.599 --> 00:33:15.240 As a house is divided against itself, that house shall not be able to stand. 00:33:16.299 --> 00:33:17.139 And this is what you have. 00:33:17.240 --> 00:33:21.480 Churches all over the place with people who have their own value systems, 00:33:21.619 --> 00:33:22.680 their own way of life. 00:33:22.920 --> 00:33:24.480 There's no common way of life. 00:33:24.680 --> 00:33:25.799 There's no common vision. 00:33:26.099 --> 00:33:27.440 There's no common priorities. 00:33:27.799 --> 00:33:29.079 They're not sharing these things. 00:33:29.079 --> 00:33:32.319 And so you have people going in multiple different directions. 00:33:32.679 --> 00:33:34.179 And a house divided cannot stand. 00:33:34.519 --> 00:33:36.379 Why are churches closing all over the place? 00:33:36.500 --> 00:33:37.699 Because their house is divided. 00:33:37.700 --> 00:33:46.580 Don't be offended when church leadership is fighting against the devil's plan to divide us. 00:33:47.380 --> 00:33:55.180 Church leadership's emphasis on us being united in a set standard for which we come together on 00:33:55.180 --> 00:34:00.220 is actually loving so that we have something that's sustainable and that won't crumble to the ground. 00:34:00.220 --> 00:34:06.200 We're not just talking about agreement in word, but agreement in action. 00:34:07.000 --> 00:34:09.280 The dictionary defines partner as one who shares. 00:34:10.079 --> 00:34:14.599 True partnership requires exclusivity to those who share. 00:34:15.500 --> 00:34:16.320 To those who share. 00:34:16.820 --> 00:34:20.960 Partner is someone who can count on shared priorities, shared vision, and shared responsibility. 00:34:20.960 --> 00:34:21.360 Okay? 00:34:23.199 --> 00:34:28.420 If we're not a kingdom-first people, if you have a church where kingdom isn't first, 00:34:28.480 --> 00:34:33.420 we don't share the priority of the kingdom of God, there... 00:34:33.420 --> 00:34:35.880 I'm not saying in the negative. 00:34:36.019 --> 00:34:36.760 Let's say in the positive. 00:34:36.940 --> 00:34:37.079 Okay? 00:34:37.280 --> 00:34:40.039 When we do share the priority of the kingdom of God, 00:34:40.320 --> 00:34:43.059 when we're treasuring Christ and his kingdom, Matthew 6, 21, 00:34:43.260 --> 00:34:45.159 where your treasure is, there your heart will be also, 00:34:45.380 --> 00:34:46.940 our hearts are all one. 00:34:47.679 --> 00:34:49.119 One in heart, right? 00:34:49.119 --> 00:34:52.159 The Bible talks about being one in mind, but it talks about being one in heart. 00:34:52.420 --> 00:34:56.139 You can't be one in heart if your treasure isn't the same thing. 00:34:56.920 --> 00:35:00.839 When we're not exclusive in our joining together of the church 00:35:00.839 --> 00:35:04.519 and making it so that we have to have the same heart, 00:35:04.880 --> 00:35:08.679 we have to have the same priority, okay, 00:35:08.739 --> 00:35:12.460 that we treasure Christ and his kingdom more than anything else, 00:35:12.659 --> 00:35:15.839 then we're disjointed. 00:35:15.840 --> 00:35:19.360 We have to seek first the kingdom of God. 00:35:19.860 --> 00:35:22.640 And so holding up the exclusivity to say, 00:35:23.019 --> 00:35:25.860 we really, the only way we have true fellowship 00:35:25.860 --> 00:35:29.220 is when we're all seeking first the kingdom of God and we share that value. 00:35:29.620 --> 00:35:30.559 That's the only way. 00:35:30.559 --> 00:35:35.940 Secondly, shared vision and all of life people. 00:35:36.739 --> 00:35:39.880 If we have people who aren't keeping our life, 00:35:40.219 --> 00:35:41.219 who aren't trying to save it, 00:35:41.279 --> 00:35:44.460 who aren't just looking at Wednesdays and Sunday mornings, 00:35:44.460 --> 00:35:46.840 but there's an equal value of the same cost. 00:35:47.739 --> 00:35:49.719 If there's not the same cost, 00:35:50.259 --> 00:35:54.139 then we don't have that potency. 00:35:54.139 --> 00:35:55.900 But when there's same cost, 00:35:56.079 --> 00:35:59.940 when there's no confusion about it, 00:36:00.000 --> 00:36:02.420 everyone knows, hey, it's Luke 14. 00:36:02.799 --> 00:36:05.420 I have to give up everything to be his disciple. 00:36:06.639 --> 00:36:07.980 It's 2 Corinthians 12, 15. 00:36:08.119 --> 00:36:11.019 I most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. 00:36:11.539 --> 00:36:12.819 What does a church look like 00:36:12.819 --> 00:36:15.000 when everybody who is a member 00:36:15.000 --> 00:36:19.379 can say this with honesty and sincerity? 00:36:19.699 --> 00:36:22.839 I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. 00:36:22.840 --> 00:36:24.760 What does that church look like? 00:36:25.200 --> 00:36:25.860 Guess what? 00:36:26.160 --> 00:36:27.280 It's a lot more potent. 00:36:27.640 --> 00:36:28.900 It's a lot more powerful. 00:36:29.340 --> 00:36:31.880 The problem is we've made church to be 00:36:31.880 --> 00:36:33.700 where you don't have to do that. 00:36:34.740 --> 00:36:38.180 Where spending is a burden instead of a gladness. 00:36:39.200 --> 00:36:41.579 Most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. 00:36:43.140 --> 00:36:44.780 It's a parable of the kingdom of heaven, 00:36:45.079 --> 00:36:45.940 treasure in the field. 00:36:46.760 --> 00:36:48.519 Kingdom of heaven is like treasure in a field, 00:36:48.620 --> 00:36:49.700 Matthew 13, 44, 00:36:49.700 --> 00:36:51.760 which a man found and covered up 00:36:51.760 --> 00:36:53.480 then in his joy, 00:36:53.680 --> 00:36:55.460 he goes and sells all that he has 00:36:55.460 --> 00:36:56.320 and buys that field. 00:36:56.540 --> 00:36:57.680 That is our fellowship. 00:36:58.980 --> 00:37:01.980 It's the fellowship of joy experience 00:37:01.980 --> 00:37:04.340 when we've seen the same treasure 00:37:04.340 --> 00:37:07.420 and all given everything we have to buy it. 00:37:08.900 --> 00:37:11.720 It's the treasure in a field fellowship. 00:37:12.200 --> 00:37:15.000 It's the people who've all bought the field 00:37:15.000 --> 00:37:17.740 and they've all invested the same amount, everything. 00:37:17.739 --> 00:37:21.019 If someone were to come into that fellowship 00:37:21.019 --> 00:37:23.539 who hasn't bought in completely, 00:37:24.759 --> 00:37:26.500 who it's a burden to them, 00:37:26.639 --> 00:37:27.699 it's not joy to them, 00:37:28.079 --> 00:37:29.379 and they're begrudgingly giving 00:37:29.379 --> 00:37:30.939 and they're not giving all, 00:37:31.439 --> 00:37:33.739 what have you just done to that church? 00:37:34.059 --> 00:37:35.299 You've diluted the fellowship. 00:37:35.859 --> 00:37:37.059 You've diluted the power. 00:37:37.459 --> 00:37:38.679 You've diluted the potency. 00:37:39.079 --> 00:37:40.799 There is so much potency 00:37:40.799 --> 00:37:42.339 in a fellowship of people 00:37:42.339 --> 00:37:43.959 who've seen the treasure. 00:37:43.960 --> 00:37:45.659 Oh my gosh, 00:37:46.199 --> 00:37:48.199 this is worth way more than what I have. 00:37:48.760 --> 00:37:50.699 This is worth way more than what I have, 00:37:50.980 --> 00:37:53.400 but it only costs what I have. 00:37:53.639 --> 00:37:55.179 This is an amazing thing. 00:37:56.119 --> 00:37:58.159 This is worth way more than what I have, 00:37:58.300 --> 00:38:00.099 but it only costs what I have. 00:38:00.579 --> 00:38:02.400 I'm going to sell everything I have 00:38:02.400 --> 00:38:03.519 to get this, 00:38:03.659 --> 00:38:05.699 which is worth more than what I have. 00:38:05.960 --> 00:38:07.179 I can't believe this. 00:38:07.260 --> 00:38:08.840 Is there anybody else who knows about this? 00:38:09.280 --> 00:38:11.199 And then the church is those people. 00:38:11.199 --> 00:38:12.759 It's the people who've said, 00:38:12.960 --> 00:38:15.079 yeah, I saw it too. 00:38:15.599 --> 00:38:16.519 I bought it too. 00:38:17.239 --> 00:38:18.259 Oh my gosh. 00:38:18.539 --> 00:38:19.259 Isn't this amazing? 00:38:19.399 --> 00:38:20.279 Yes, it's amazing. 00:38:20.639 --> 00:38:21.539 I want to sing about it. 00:38:21.579 --> 00:38:22.179 Yeah, let's do it. 00:38:22.219 --> 00:38:24.339 Let's sing about it every week together 00:38:24.339 --> 00:38:25.939 in a group of people. 00:38:27.279 --> 00:38:28.980 Let's take the Lord's table together 00:38:28.980 --> 00:38:31.460 and remember this treasure in the field 00:38:31.460 --> 00:38:32.939 that we all bought and gave into. 00:38:33.339 --> 00:38:34.460 Let's talk about it. 00:38:34.639 --> 00:38:36.279 Let's tell other people about it 00:38:36.279 --> 00:38:37.239 and let's show them, 00:38:37.319 --> 00:38:38.579 hey, there's a treasure in a field. 00:38:38.940 --> 00:38:40.759 It's worth more than all you have 00:38:40.759 --> 00:38:42.440 and all you have to do to get it 00:38:42.440 --> 00:38:43.599 is to give all you have, 00:38:43.659 --> 00:38:45.400 but it's worth more than all you have. 00:38:45.639 --> 00:38:46.619 Can you believe it? 00:38:47.980 --> 00:38:49.980 Turn from believing that what you have 00:38:49.980 --> 00:38:52.259 is more worth than the treasure in the field 00:38:52.259 --> 00:38:54.059 and buy the treasure in the field 00:38:54.059 --> 00:38:56.500 and come be part of the family of people 00:38:56.500 --> 00:38:58.139 who believe that the treasure 00:38:58.139 --> 00:38:59.539 is greater than everything. 00:39:01.219 --> 00:39:02.279 Do you know what happens 00:39:02.279 --> 00:39:03.340 when you let people in 00:39:03.340 --> 00:39:04.599 who don't believe that? 00:39:05.259 --> 00:39:05.860 Yeah, you do 00:39:05.860 --> 00:39:07.200 because we've all lived it. 00:39:07.559 --> 00:39:08.620 It sucks. 00:39:08.980 --> 00:39:10.240 It's not church. 00:39:10.320 --> 00:39:11.360 It's not powerful. 00:39:11.500 --> 00:39:12.220 It's not potent. 00:39:12.460 --> 00:39:13.380 And you wonder 00:39:13.380 --> 00:39:15.579 why it's not effective. 00:39:18.019 --> 00:39:20.220 We have to share that same cost. 00:39:23.400 --> 00:39:25.140 2 Corinthians 7, 2-3 00:39:25.140 --> 00:39:25.840 says, 00:39:26.099 --> 00:39:27.440 Make room in your hearts for us. 00:39:27.539 --> 00:39:28.539 We have wronged no one. 00:39:28.840 --> 00:39:30.039 We have corrupted no one. 00:39:30.220 --> 00:39:31.640 We have taken advantage of no one. 00:39:31.639 --> 00:39:33.079 I do not say this to condemn you, 00:39:33.159 --> 00:39:33.940 for I said before 00:39:33.940 --> 00:39:35.859 that you are in our hearts 00:39:35.859 --> 00:39:37.319 to die together 00:39:37.319 --> 00:39:38.659 and to live together. 00:39:38.799 --> 00:39:39.859 It's that kind of people. 00:39:40.679 --> 00:39:42.359 People who are in each other's hearts 00:39:42.359 --> 00:39:43.379 to die together 00:39:43.379 --> 00:39:44.719 and to live together. 00:39:45.079 --> 00:39:46.099 That's cost. 00:39:46.460 --> 00:39:47.559 And it's the same cost. 00:39:48.079 --> 00:39:48.759 And then third, 00:39:49.259 --> 00:39:50.239 a together people. 00:39:50.799 --> 00:39:51.879 Sharing the responsibility 00:39:51.879 --> 00:39:52.879 of being together. 00:39:53.539 --> 00:39:53.719 Right? 00:39:56.500 --> 00:39:58.219 1 Thessalonians 2, verse 8 00:39:58.219 --> 00:39:59.000 says, 00:39:59.000 --> 00:40:02.019 So being affectionately desirous of you, 00:40:02.260 --> 00:40:03.460 we were ready to share with you 00:40:03.460 --> 00:40:05.019 not only the gospel of God, 00:40:05.119 --> 00:40:06.840 but also our very selves. 00:40:07.860 --> 00:40:09.659 Because of affectionate desire. 00:40:10.179 --> 00:40:11.780 Making sure that the people of God 00:40:11.780 --> 00:40:13.619 are filled with affectionate desire 00:40:13.619 --> 00:40:15.380 to share not just the gospel, 00:40:15.699 --> 00:40:17.079 but our very lives with one another. 00:40:18.139 --> 00:40:19.460 Where the church is being built up 00:40:19.460 --> 00:40:20.480 like Ephesians 4, 00:40:20.639 --> 00:40:22.260 when each part does its work. 00:40:22.480 --> 00:40:24.099 It's not community without responsibility. 00:40:24.579 --> 00:40:26.159 It's community with responsibility 00:40:26.159 --> 00:40:27.860 and accountability in joy. 00:40:27.860 --> 00:40:28.820 It's like, 00:40:28.840 --> 00:40:29.760 I'm going to do my part. 00:40:30.059 --> 00:40:31.120 Because if I don't do my part, 00:40:31.180 --> 00:40:32.280 the church is not built up. 00:40:32.700 --> 00:40:33.800 Something falls apart. 00:40:34.120 --> 00:40:35.300 The roof starts to leave. 00:40:36.660 --> 00:40:36.960 You know? 00:40:37.039 --> 00:40:37.200 Like, 00:40:37.260 --> 00:40:38.640 I need to do my parts. 00:40:40.519 --> 00:40:42.019 Each part or partner, 00:40:42.559 --> 00:40:43.440 part owner, 00:40:44.440 --> 00:40:45.539 are the ones we count on 00:40:45.539 --> 00:40:46.260 to do the work. 00:40:48.960 --> 00:40:49.940 Closing with this, 00:40:50.059 --> 00:40:51.300 the cost of dilution. 00:40:51.300 --> 00:40:52.300 dilution. 00:40:53.440 --> 00:40:55.260 If we have different priorities, 00:40:56.660 --> 00:40:57.760 it's Philippians 2.21, 00:40:57.860 --> 00:40:59.039 they all seek their own interests, 00:40:59.160 --> 00:41:01.120 not those of Jesus Christ. 00:41:01.500 --> 00:41:03.120 If we dilute the priorities 00:41:03.120 --> 00:41:04.260 and let people in 00:41:04.260 --> 00:41:05.360 with different priorities, 00:41:06.080 --> 00:41:09.120 we have multiple interests. 00:41:10.140 --> 00:41:11.720 And then Christ is in center. 00:41:12.280 --> 00:41:13.240 It has to be a people 00:41:13.240 --> 00:41:15.140 who seek the interest of Christ, 00:41:15.220 --> 00:41:16.120 not their own interests. 00:41:16.119 --> 00:41:18.059 If we have different buy-in 00:41:18.059 --> 00:41:19.139 or different costs, 00:41:20.739 --> 00:41:20.940 you know, 00:41:21.000 --> 00:41:21.880 where some people 00:41:21.880 --> 00:41:22.739 didn't give up everything 00:41:22.739 --> 00:41:23.519 to be a disciple, 00:41:24.519 --> 00:41:24.739 well, 00:41:24.779 --> 00:41:25.779 then you're not really a disciple. 00:41:26.719 --> 00:41:27.819 We've diluted it. 00:41:28.900 --> 00:41:31.039 It ends up being like John 10. 00:41:31.420 --> 00:41:32.880 John 10, 12 to 15, 00:41:32.980 --> 00:41:33.259 it says, 00:41:33.260 --> 00:41:34.380 He who is a hired hand 00:41:34.380 --> 00:41:35.540 and not a shepherd 00:41:35.540 --> 00:41:37.520 who does not own the sheep 00:41:37.520 --> 00:41:38.920 sees the wolf coming 00:41:38.920 --> 00:41:40.800 and leaves the sheep and flees. 00:41:41.380 --> 00:41:42.860 And the wolf snatches them 00:41:42.860 --> 00:41:43.720 and scatters them. 00:41:44.140 --> 00:41:44.960 Why does he flee? 00:41:46.020 --> 00:41:48.560 He flees because he is a hired hand 00:41:48.560 --> 00:41:50.300 and cares nothing for the sheep. 00:41:51.100 --> 00:41:52.040 I am the good shepherd. 00:41:52.200 --> 00:41:52.860 I know my own 00:41:52.860 --> 00:41:53.560 and my own know me. 00:41:53.840 --> 00:41:55.060 Just as the Father knows me 00:41:55.060 --> 00:41:55.860 and I know the Father 00:41:55.860 --> 00:41:57.660 and I lay down my life for the sheep. 00:41:58.400 --> 00:41:59.700 If you don't have ownership, 00:42:00.200 --> 00:42:01.280 then when trouble comes, 00:42:01.620 --> 00:42:02.460 guess where you go? 00:42:02.460 --> 00:42:03.559 Go out of here. 00:42:03.860 --> 00:42:05.079 If you don't have ownership 00:42:05.079 --> 00:42:06.820 and someone needs to be protected, 00:42:07.099 --> 00:42:08.019 where do you go? 00:42:08.199 --> 00:42:09.720 You let them be eaten by wolves. 00:42:10.760 --> 00:42:11.720 And is this not true 00:42:11.720 --> 00:42:13.340 in church after church after church 00:42:13.340 --> 00:42:14.920 and name only all over the country? 00:42:16.139 --> 00:42:18.119 Hirelings getting paid a salary 00:42:18.119 --> 00:42:19.840 who don't have true ownership, 00:42:20.240 --> 00:42:21.420 don't have true buy-in. 00:42:21.820 --> 00:42:23.440 And so then when hard things come, 00:42:23.679 --> 00:42:24.139 they jet. 00:42:24.400 --> 00:42:25.760 Isn't this what happened during COVID? 00:42:27.880 --> 00:42:29.659 Hirelings who don't care about the sheep. 00:42:30.039 --> 00:42:31.159 So when hard times came, 00:42:31.159 --> 00:42:31.960 they stopped meeting. 00:42:32.800 --> 00:42:34.340 Hirelings who don't care about the sheep. 00:42:34.740 --> 00:42:36.039 So when pressure came 00:42:36.039 --> 00:42:39.380 to politics and race 00:42:39.380 --> 00:42:40.579 and all this weirdness, 00:42:40.940 --> 00:42:42.139 the church capitulated 00:42:42.139 --> 00:42:43.559 and became woke and irrelevant. 00:42:45.280 --> 00:42:46.699 We have to stay potent. 00:42:48.220 --> 00:42:50.159 We have to have the same cost and buy-in. 00:42:50.199 --> 00:42:50.980 We have to own 00:42:50.980 --> 00:42:53.139 the sense of ownership of the sheep 00:42:53.139 --> 00:42:54.300 so that we fight for the sheep 00:42:54.300 --> 00:42:55.840 and don't run away when trouble comes. 00:42:56.440 --> 00:42:58.119 He flees because he's a hired hand 00:42:58.119 --> 00:42:59.739 who cares nothing for the sheep. 00:43:01.880 --> 00:43:02.900 And then lastly, 00:43:03.839 --> 00:43:06.739 we can't be independent of one another. 00:43:07.940 --> 00:43:09.119 If we're independent, 00:43:09.920 --> 00:43:11.299 1 Corinthians 12, 26 says, 00:43:11.300 --> 00:43:12.240 if one member suffers, 00:43:12.400 --> 00:43:13.280 all suffer together. 00:43:13.539 --> 00:43:14.740 If one member is honored, 00:43:14.880 --> 00:43:16.160 all rejoice together. 00:43:17.480 --> 00:43:17.700 Okay? 00:43:18.560 --> 00:43:18.960 Together. 00:43:19.180 --> 00:43:20.260 All rejoicing together, 00:43:20.380 --> 00:43:21.360 all suffering together. 00:43:21.980 --> 00:43:23.440 If some people rejoice 00:43:23.440 --> 00:43:24.460 and other people don't, 00:43:24.620 --> 00:43:25.180 we're not together. 00:43:25.300 --> 00:43:26.500 If some people suffer 00:43:26.500 --> 00:43:28.060 and other people don't suffer with them, 00:43:28.300 --> 00:43:29.080 we're not together. 00:43:29.320 --> 00:43:30.680 And then people sit in a room 00:43:30.680 --> 00:43:31.480 with a bunch of people, 00:43:31.820 --> 00:43:32.760 even though there's a bunch of people 00:43:32.760 --> 00:43:33.220 with them, 00:43:33.260 --> 00:43:34.200 on a regular basis 00:43:34.200 --> 00:43:35.320 and they still feel lonely. 00:43:35.320 --> 00:43:37.059 That is the deluded church 00:43:37.059 --> 00:43:39.700 that we don't want to have anything to do with. 00:43:44.280 --> 00:43:45.039 Last thing, 00:43:45.100 --> 00:43:45.960 I'm reading this paragraph 00:43:45.960 --> 00:43:46.820 that I read before. 00:43:47.720 --> 00:43:48.500 Letting someone in 00:43:48.500 --> 00:43:50.000 out of fear of leaving someone out 00:43:50.000 --> 00:43:51.800 dilutes the potency and power 00:43:51.800 --> 00:43:53.420 of what you're letting them into, 00:43:53.960 --> 00:43:56.039 thereby not really loving them. 00:43:56.700 --> 00:43:58.260 To love is to guard the whole 00:43:58.260 --> 00:44:00.980 by not letting people in 00:44:00.980 --> 00:44:02.260 who would delude it. 00:44:02.860 --> 00:44:05.120 By protecting the potency of the whole 00:44:05.119 --> 00:44:07.319 we love those who are excluded 00:44:07.319 --> 00:44:10.619 because we now have something 00:44:10.619 --> 00:44:12.000 of value to offer them 00:44:12.000 --> 00:44:13.639 that can change their lives 00:44:13.639 --> 00:44:15.019 for their good and God's glory. 00:44:15.480 --> 00:44:16.839 Inclusion without regard 00:44:16.839 --> 00:44:18.920 for delusion is unloving. 00:44:19.400 --> 00:44:20.199 We exclude people 00:44:20.199 --> 00:44:21.239 for the sake of people. 00:44:22.420 --> 00:44:24.739 So I hope you can hear my heart in this. 00:44:25.279 --> 00:44:28.219 We do have exclusivity in our church. 00:44:28.480 --> 00:44:29.579 We have partnership. 00:44:29.819 --> 00:44:30.779 It's not open to everybody. 00:44:31.099 --> 00:44:32.000 We have certain meetings 00:44:32.000 --> 00:44:32.759 with certain people. 00:44:32.980 --> 00:44:34.179 It's not open to everybody. 00:44:34.179 --> 00:44:36.059 It's not because we want to offend people. 00:44:36.159 --> 00:44:37.679 It's not because we want to be rude to people. 00:44:37.879 --> 00:44:39.819 It's not because we're trying to be obnoxious. 00:44:40.339 --> 00:44:42.639 It's because we're guarding 00:44:42.639 --> 00:44:44.699 a certain value system 00:44:44.699 --> 00:44:46.480 and structure of people 00:44:46.480 --> 00:44:47.940 to be the most powerful, 00:44:48.179 --> 00:44:49.839 potent force on earth 00:44:49.839 --> 00:44:50.599 that the gates of hell 00:44:50.599 --> 00:44:51.779 shall not prevail against. 00:44:52.119 --> 00:44:53.919 So as to best love the people 00:44:53.919 --> 00:44:54.879 who are on the outside 00:44:54.879 --> 00:44:56.839 and so that we can bring them in 00:44:56.839 --> 00:44:58.019 to something that's worth 00:44:58.019 --> 00:44:59.000 being brought into. 00:44:59.559 --> 00:45:01.440 To bring somebody into something 00:45:01.440 --> 00:45:02.960 that's not worth being brought into 00:45:02.960 --> 00:45:04.940 just so that their feelings aren't hurt 00:45:04.940 --> 00:45:06.099 is not love. 00:45:06.599 --> 00:45:08.519 And some of us need to check our hearts 00:45:08.519 --> 00:45:10.119 to see whether or not 00:45:10.119 --> 00:45:11.539 we care too much 00:45:11.539 --> 00:45:12.980 about what other people think of 00:45:12.980 --> 00:45:14.480 so that we are unwilling 00:45:14.480 --> 00:45:16.220 to offend them 00:45:16.220 --> 00:45:17.480 in order to love them. 00:45:20.019 --> 00:45:21.700 Because we have to do that sometimes. 00:45:22.980 --> 00:45:24.980 And if you're someone who's offended 00:45:24.980 --> 00:45:26.200 or has been offended 00:45:26.200 --> 00:45:27.740 or who will be offended, 00:45:28.220 --> 00:45:29.039 ask yourself, 00:45:29.039 --> 00:45:30.019 why am I offended? 00:45:31.960 --> 00:45:32.960 Why am I offended? 00:45:33.699 --> 00:45:34.840 Do I have rights 00:45:34.840 --> 00:45:36.159 to certain things? 00:45:36.400 --> 00:45:37.199 Am I entitled 00:45:37.199 --> 00:45:38.800 to a certain experience 00:45:38.800 --> 00:45:40.139 on my terms? 00:45:40.539 --> 00:45:41.779 Or must I seek 00:45:41.779 --> 00:45:43.019 the interests of Christ 00:45:43.019 --> 00:45:44.840 and submit to His terms 00:45:44.840 --> 00:45:46.300 so that ultimately 00:45:46.300 --> 00:45:47.500 because of His terms 00:45:47.500 --> 00:45:48.960 we end up having 00:45:48.960 --> 00:45:52.099 a potent, powerful church 00:45:52.099 --> 00:45:53.039 that is the best way 00:45:53.039 --> 00:45:53.659 to love people? 00:45:54.039 --> 00:45:55.019 That's my question 00:45:55.019 --> 00:45:55.880 for you to consider. 00:45:56.360 --> 00:45:57.099 That's my question 00:45:57.099 --> 00:45:58.219 for us to think about. 00:45:59.039 --> 00:45:59.380 And I'm sure 00:45:59.380 --> 00:46:00.420 there's multiple nuances 00:46:00.420 --> 00:46:01.619 that we can wrestle with 00:46:01.619 --> 00:46:03.159 and maybe even have questions 00:46:03.159 --> 00:46:03.779 about it. 00:46:04.039 --> 00:46:05.039 But I hope that 00:46:05.039 --> 00:46:06.900 what we're really coming down to 00:46:06.900 --> 00:46:09.099 is that the value itself 00:46:09.099 --> 00:46:10.460 is that 00:46:10.460 --> 00:46:11.980 by being passionate 00:46:11.980 --> 00:46:13.039 about a people, 00:46:14.380 --> 00:46:16.279 an exclusive group of people, 00:46:16.279 --> 00:46:17.420 that's the best way 00:46:17.420 --> 00:46:18.139 to be passionate 00:46:18.139 --> 00:46:19.420 about those 00:46:19.420 --> 00:46:20.639 who are on the outside. 00:46:22.099 --> 00:46:23.559 That by guarding that, 00:46:23.719 --> 00:46:24.440 we love that. 00:46:24.980 --> 00:46:25.199 Amen? 00:46:26.199 --> 00:46:26.679 Amen. 00:46:26.679 --> 00:46:26.820 Amen. 00:46:26.820 --> 00:46:26.880 Amen. 00:46:26.880 --> 00:46:26.900 Amen.