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We are in the second week of a four-part series that the church is calling.

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That's the move. So as you're turning to Acts chapter two,

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I just wanna rehearse with you a little bit. From last week,

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we learned that the Holy Spirit came upon the, uh, people of God,

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those disciples that were waiting in Jerusalem at the request of Jesus.

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And this is after he rose from the dead. And after he ascended to the Father,

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the Holy Spirit comes upon them. Peter preaches a message.

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And what we see as a result of Peter's message is that Christ is

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the message of our mission. And the mission is our mandate.

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Something that we as a church need to carry on to the ends of the earth.

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And so we pick up from there and we see then at the end of chapter two,

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verses 20 or 42 through 47,

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something that we might call the values of this early group of believers.

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Now, a value is a,

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a groups or a person's standard of living a judgment

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on what they think is the purpose of their group.

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And so the apostolic team didn't take a a weekend retreat and go away

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and ensure that they understood what the values of the church were.

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They were just inherent in what happened at Pentecost.

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The Holy Spirit came preaching. 3000 people were added to the church that day.

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We, uh, read at the end of chapter 42 and here in verse 42, uh,

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and end of chapter two here, verse 42 of that same chapter says this. And they,

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that's the 3000 that were added to the church after pre, uh, Peter's message.

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And the 120 that were already there.

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Those 3,120 devoted themselves

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to the apostles teaching and to the fellowship,

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to the breaking of bread.

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And the prayers and awe came upon every soul.

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And many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles and all who

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believed were together and had all things in common.

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They were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds

346
00:32:03.656 --> 00:32:07.415
to all as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together,

347
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breaking bread in their homes,

348
00:32:09.525 --> 00:32:14.095
they receive their food with gladness and generous, uh, generous hearts,

349
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praising God and having favor with all the people.

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And the Lord added to their name number day by day,

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those who are being saved sounds utopian, doesn't it?

352
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People's needs being met, friendships being made,

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00:32:27.095 --> 00:32:30.125
everything in common joy is experienced

354
00:32:32.745 --> 00:32:36.545
and there's not a person alive that wouldn't want that kind of experience.

355
00:32:38.225 --> 00:32:42.685
Joy, gladness, friendship, need meeting.

356
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And these are the values. Now,

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if you go out and you look at our hallways,

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you'll see the marks we call live obediently,

359
00:32:54.155 --> 00:32:58.265
serve selflessly, connect intentionally, give generously,

360
00:32:58.595 --> 00:32:59.428
share willingly.

361
00:33:00.035 --> 00:33:03.825
Those are marks that come right out of this passage.

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00:33:04.625 --> 00:33:06.505
We just didn't make 'em up because we thought they were cool.

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This is what this passage is talking about, the marks that make up a church.

364
00:33:12.605 --> 00:33:13.438
Now,

365
00:33:13.985 --> 00:33:18.065
I think it's important that we realize that these aren't things that we are

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00:33:18.066 --> 00:33:23.065
necessarily, necessarily gonna just post on walls and have as as nice signs.

367
00:33:23.405 --> 00:33:26.025
But these are things that we really want to pray about and go after.

368
00:33:26.925 --> 00:33:30.265
But the problem with our culture today, including in the church, is this,

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00:33:30.266 --> 00:33:32.025
we have hyper individualism.

370
00:33:32.885 --> 00:33:37.045
Our country has always been individualistic from the get go.

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It was based and born on that, the idea of freedom and personal freedom.

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00:33:42.685 --> 00:33:47.585
But there is now a hyper individualism that's marched by three basic things.

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The first is the autonomous self. Maybe you've heard that phrase.

374
00:33:54.455 --> 00:33:58.475
People believing that they're a law unto themselves. That's what it means.

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00:33:58.705 --> 00:33:59.538
Self law.

376
00:34:00.675 --> 00:34:05.165
They think that they are the basic and most important unit of society.

377
00:34:06.685 --> 00:34:10.175
That would be me saying, I am the most important unit of society.

378
00:34:10.176 --> 00:34:13.094
That would be you saying that. That's the autonomous self. In other words,

379
00:34:13.095 --> 00:34:14.655
we live according to our own rules,

380
00:34:16.475 --> 00:34:20.885
then it's the actualized self that is the person that says,

381
00:34:20.886 --> 00:34:24.405
the most important voice for me to listen to is the voice inside of me.

382
00:34:26.655 --> 00:34:31.355
And that comes out to basically say, stay true to how you feel.

383
00:34:32.344 --> 00:34:37.075
That's big in our culture. And the third is the privatization of meaning.

384
00:34:37.505 --> 00:34:38.715
What I mean by that is

385
00:34:40.775 --> 00:34:42.755
you have an idea of what something means,

386
00:34:42.815 --> 00:34:44.715
and I have an idea of what something means.

387
00:34:44.735 --> 00:34:49.155
And those two things contradict each other, but they both can be true.

388
00:34:49.335 --> 00:34:51.795
So my truth is my truth. Your truth is your truth.

389
00:34:52.495 --> 00:34:55.355
And that is everywhere in our culture.

390
00:34:57.075 --> 00:35:00.015
And if you want to fast, fast track to loneliness,

391
00:35:02.525 --> 00:35:03.575
embrace these ideas.

392
00:35:05.835 --> 00:35:07.745
These three things have increased.

393
00:35:08.725 --> 00:35:13.425
And what we see that has also increased as a result of this self law

394
00:35:14.255 --> 00:35:19.065
focused on self feelings and defining your own sense of truth.

395
00:35:19.864 --> 00:35:24.685
It's, it's led to an increase in mental health issues,

396
00:35:26.535 --> 00:35:28.055
particularly in our young people.

397
00:35:29.725 --> 00:35:34.135
It's led to a spike in suicidal contemplation and completion

398
00:35:37.215 --> 00:35:40.344
rise in the use of depressive depression and anxiety.

399
00:35:41.025 --> 00:35:45.745
Prescriptions a greater sense of being overwhelmed and exhaustion is

400
00:35:45.746 --> 00:35:49.905
pervasive. The idea of community is fragmented throughout.

401
00:35:51.785 --> 00:35:52.645
That's what you get

402
00:35:54.265 --> 00:35:57.555
when you're focused on yourself.

403
00:36:00.685 --> 00:36:02.125
So let's unpack this a bit more.

404
00:36:02.905 --> 00:36:07.605
People are claiming that finding their own voice and defining their own truth is

405
00:36:07.606 --> 00:36:10.965
freedom. Self-expression is freedom.

406
00:36:13.805 --> 00:36:18.425
But what's really happening is that they're saying that family

407
00:36:19.565 --> 00:36:24.545
and church are the two most oppressive structures in

408
00:36:24.594 --> 00:36:25.905
every society.

409
00:36:27.844 --> 00:36:32.665
Straight from the French Renaissance, if you're familiar with that.

410
00:36:33.405 --> 00:36:37.265
The idea that any authority, especially in the home and in the church,

411
00:36:38.425 --> 00:36:39.825
squelches true freedom.

412
00:36:44.075 --> 00:36:46.415
Men should do what they wanna do. Women should do what they wanna do.

413
00:36:46.735 --> 00:36:51.175
Children should be able to do what they wanna do. And if you are at all

414
00:36:52.925 --> 00:36:56.215
opposed, if anybody confronts,

415
00:36:58.585 --> 00:37:03.075
then you vilify them. You castigate them,

416
00:37:03.695 --> 00:37:08.285
you cancel them because they're invading the voice within.

417
00:37:09.614 --> 00:37:10.447
That's our culture.

418
00:37:11.635 --> 00:37:14.815
And that culture has crept into the church in many cases.

419
00:37:17.975 --> 00:37:21.715
We abandon the truth of God's word for the sense of the voice from within.

420
00:37:23.925 --> 00:37:28.785
We neglect community for the sake of individuality.

421
00:37:31.125 --> 00:37:35.015
This hyper individualism leads to hyper loneliness.

422
00:37:38.525 --> 00:37:40.745
And this is not proven just in the Bible,

423
00:37:40.765 --> 00:37:44.585
but it's proven in psychology and medical journals,

424
00:37:46.005 --> 00:37:46.838
clinical studies,

425
00:37:48.114 --> 00:37:52.905
loneliness is like smoking 15 cigarettes a day. The impact on your health,

426
00:37:55.895 --> 00:38:00.535
it creates all kinds of emotional issues and stress and anxiety, loneliness.

427
00:38:01.915 --> 00:38:04.935
You have a family where they're supposed to be intimacy and it's fragmented

428
00:38:04.936 --> 00:38:07.094
because everybody's doing what's right in their own eyes

429
00:38:11.215 --> 00:38:14.685
where love should be unconditional. It's conditional.

430
00:38:16.565 --> 00:38:18.785
So what you say is, well, I have, I have friends

431
00:38:21.005 --> 00:38:23.065
and these friends are those kinds of friends,

432
00:38:23.655 --> 00:38:28.425
I'll call 'em factional friends because they're just friends that happen to

433
00:38:28.426 --> 00:38:31.325
agree with your ideology. And you,

434
00:38:31.585 --> 00:38:35.965
you seek on social media until you find those friends that agree with you and

435
00:38:35.966 --> 00:38:37.725
then that becomes your factional friend.

436
00:38:40.135 --> 00:38:41.395
And you dare not lose them.

437
00:38:41.495 --> 00:38:44.915
So you don't talk about anything other than that particular ideology.

438
00:38:46.265 --> 00:38:48.105
'cause should you cross into another discussion,

439
00:38:48.106 --> 00:38:50.344
they might disagree with you and you're gonna have to find another factional

440
00:38:50.345 --> 00:38:51.178
friend.

441
00:38:54.915 --> 00:38:56.735
And you've all experienced it, you've all seen it,

442
00:39:00.165 --> 00:39:04.785
you've all experienced when family members divided

443
00:39:04.895 --> 00:39:09.855
over issues that were not essential, especially during covid

444
00:39:12.455 --> 00:39:16.415
in politics, over gender issues, over race issues,

445
00:39:17.495 --> 00:39:19.855
families dividing, friends dividing.

446
00:39:23.594 --> 00:39:28.415
And it's all has to do with the fact that we want to listen to our own voice

447
00:39:28.555 --> 00:39:31.705
on matters. We want to be

448
00:39:34.275 --> 00:39:35.715
the captain of our own soul.

449
00:39:40.035 --> 00:39:43.575
So you have a number of fragmented families,

450
00:39:43.594 --> 00:39:46.135
you have factional friends on the other side, but nothing in between.

451
00:39:48.205 --> 00:39:50.025
So many people have nothing in between.

452
00:39:52.225 --> 00:39:53.725
And so they're deeply lonely,

453
00:39:56.364 --> 00:39:57.945
no unconditional friends,

454
00:39:58.085 --> 00:40:01.185
no place where you can share your grace needs and your hurts and your desires

455
00:40:01.525 --> 00:40:06.465
for fear. You might be rejected. And this is all the worst.

456
00:40:06.485 --> 00:40:09.425
If you experience that in church and

457
00:40:11.125 --> 00:40:14.594
maybe you are experiencing that in church,

458
00:40:16.735 --> 00:40:20.155
the one place besides your physical family where you should find unconditional

459
00:40:20.156 --> 00:40:24.475
love is here. And so pay,

460
00:40:24.476 --> 00:40:28.995
perhaps you came to church to find, uh, to overcome your loneliness. And,

461
00:40:28.996 --> 00:40:31.955
and you come and you are feeling like you're marginalized.

462
00:40:32.614 --> 00:40:34.155
People aren't paying attention to you.

463
00:40:34.215 --> 00:40:37.955
So your loneliness only increases 'cause it's, it's terrible to be lonely,

464
00:40:38.015 --> 00:40:39.995
but it's really terrible to be lonely in a crowd.

465
00:40:40.015 --> 00:40:44.315
And it's even worse to be lonely in a crowd of people that are supposed to care.

466
00:40:49.265 --> 00:40:54.045
So how do we recover the kind of community and friendship that

467
00:40:54.225 --> 00:40:57.265
God created for us to enjoy?

468
00:40:59.565 --> 00:41:01.305
I'm not saying it's lost here at hope necessarily,

469
00:41:01.364 --> 00:41:03.025
but there are people here in this room

470
00:41:06.344 --> 00:41:07.555
that wonder if they have any friends

471
00:41:11.625 --> 00:41:14.585
and every service that will ha that will happen this, this weekend at Hope.

472
00:41:14.586 --> 00:41:16.785
There'll be gonna be people there that are lonely.

473
00:41:20.755 --> 00:41:21.395
Well,

474
00:41:21.395 --> 00:41:25.685
this account that I just read at the end of Acts is a historical situation.

475
00:41:27.005 --> 00:41:27.895
There's preaching,

476
00:41:27.896 --> 00:41:32.495
there's a response to the message and the people just naturally

477
00:41:32.585 --> 00:41:34.565
gravitated towards each other. Remember,

478
00:41:34.985 --> 00:41:38.725
the Jews had come from every nation under heaven to the, to this, uh, day,

479
00:41:38.726 --> 00:41:41.005
the day of Pentecost in Jerusalem for celebration.

480
00:41:42.135 --> 00:41:46.065
They hear this message about what Jesus Christ has accomplished and they're

481
00:41:46.066 --> 00:41:49.665
pierced to heart. They believe they're baptized. And now they're one,

482
00:41:50.185 --> 00:41:54.625
they're one family. They're foundation was Christ.

483
00:41:55.485 --> 00:41:58.785
And since they were unified in Christ because of what he accomplished for them,

484
00:41:59.415 --> 00:42:02.265
they shared their lives together. And it looked like what we read.

485
00:42:02.266 --> 00:42:05.105
They heard the word together. They broke bread together.

486
00:42:06.594 --> 00:42:10.325
They gave of, uh, their possessions for the other people who were in need.

487
00:42:11.315 --> 00:42:15.205
They opened their homes to one another. They, they had the Lord supper together.

488
00:42:17.315 --> 00:42:20.415
How can we cover that? We have some of those things, don't we?

489
00:42:23.215 --> 00:42:24.755
But just think about that for a moment.

490
00:42:24.885 --> 00:42:29.855
There was 120 believers in Jerusalem, disciples of Jesus.

491
00:42:31.425 --> 00:42:36.165
And all of a sudden to that 123,000 people are

492
00:42:36.166 --> 00:42:37.125
added in one day.

493
00:42:40.114 --> 00:42:42.335
Can you imagine that conversation in the temple?

494
00:42:42.785 --> 00:42:47.645
Those people are sitting in my pew. Oh, that guy,

495
00:42:48.505 --> 00:42:51.085
man, he's prominent up from the, the country he comes from.

496
00:42:51.086 --> 00:42:52.485
He's gonna be more important than me.

497
00:42:53.485 --> 00:42:58.395
Could you imagine the potential of fracture and fragmentation when 3000 people

498
00:43:01.455 --> 00:43:04.515
are gathered together? But it didn't happen.

499
00:43:05.895 --> 00:43:10.625
They had all things in common. And there's two main reasons why.

500
00:43:12.385 --> 00:43:17.215
First, there was the centrality of the word of God. And secondly,

501
00:43:17.405 --> 00:43:22.215
they understood the need because of their situation to live life

502
00:43:22.525 --> 00:43:25.575
with and for each other.

503
00:43:25.675 --> 00:43:28.614
And I wanna look at those two points a little bit more specifically.

504
00:43:28.835 --> 00:43:33.545
So let's unpack them. So to know God and to obey his word,

505
00:43:34.145 --> 00:43:36.145
were key to them. 'cause they had just done that.

506
00:43:36.435 --> 00:43:38.625
Peter preached the word of God to them.

507
00:43:39.175 --> 00:43:41.864
They learned more about their God from the Old Testament.

508
00:43:42.055 --> 00:43:44.825
They understood the Old Testament. But as Peter explained it,

509
00:43:44.826 --> 00:43:49.505
in light of the Christ event, his death bureau and resurrection, they believed,

510
00:43:49.614 --> 00:43:54.065
they found out something about God they did not see before.

511
00:43:54.945 --> 00:43:56.965
So they were growing in their knowledge of God

512
00:43:58.585 --> 00:44:00.565
and they obeyed by repenting.

513
00:44:02.545 --> 00:44:04.844
So knowing God and obeying his word

514
00:44:06.364 --> 00:44:10.945
are the moves that the Spirit was doing in the lives of these first

515
00:44:11.355 --> 00:44:12.188
Christians.

516
00:44:17.255 --> 00:44:21.114
You see, the Bible is important for a number of reasons,

517
00:44:21.215 --> 00:44:26.195
but the most important reason is it's God's self revelation of to us.

518
00:44:26.455 --> 00:44:30.835
He is telling you, as you open the Bible, he's telling me as,

519
00:44:30.905 --> 00:44:35.364
as I open the scriptures something, in fact,

520
00:44:35.365 --> 00:44:37.645
everything he wants to know about us, he's telling us.

521
00:44:40.555 --> 00:44:41.975
And we have so many people that,

522
00:44:42.325 --> 00:44:46.975
that leave their Bibles closed during the week and expect only to be fed on the

523
00:44:46.976 --> 00:44:48.735
weekends and they're dying.

524
00:44:55.975 --> 00:45:00.155
If we're not in the word of God, we can't know God.

525
00:45:00.844 --> 00:45:05.505
And if we're relying for whatever we get on a Thursday night or a Sunday

526
00:45:05.506 --> 00:45:06.339
morning,

527
00:45:08.055 --> 00:45:10.965
we'll be spiritually anemic.

528
00:45:13.305 --> 00:45:17.765
That's why these folks understood the need to get together

529
00:45:18.235 --> 00:45:21.495
regularly, to know God,

530
00:45:22.195 --> 00:45:24.255
to understand his word in light of Christ,

531
00:45:26.005 --> 00:45:30.145
to live with and to live for each other. Now,

532
00:45:32.795 --> 00:45:35.275
Jeremiah 9 23 24,

533
00:45:36.614 --> 00:45:41.425
the Lord speaks to the people of Israel and he says this, thus says the Lord,

534
00:45:41.985 --> 00:45:43.665
let not the wise man boast in his wisdom.

535
00:45:45.364 --> 00:45:47.265
Let not the mighty man boast in his might.

536
00:45:48.455 --> 00:45:50.675
Let not He who is rich boast in his riches,

537
00:45:51.015 --> 00:45:55.155
but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me,

538
00:45:56.065 --> 00:45:59.585
that I exercise steadfast love,

539
00:46:01.855 --> 00:46:05.545
righteousness and justice in the earth. And in these things,

540
00:46:05.705 --> 00:46:09.235
I delight says the Lord who

541
00:46:10.945 --> 00:46:11.778
is strong,

542
00:46:13.775 --> 00:46:18.005
who is noted in God's commentary,

543
00:46:19.015 --> 00:46:22.895
those that know and understand him,

544
00:46:24.945 --> 00:46:26.695
Jesus said something very similar.

545
00:46:27.605 --> 00:46:30.055
He's praying in John 17 and he says,

546
00:46:30.645 --> 00:46:32.815
this is eternal life

547
00:46:34.855 --> 00:46:39.425
that they might know you, the only true God and Jesus Christ, whom you've sent

548
00:46:41.315 --> 00:46:42.148
Jesus' own words.

549
00:46:44.285 --> 00:46:47.755
Later on in the the epistles, Paul writes over and over again,

550
00:46:48.094 --> 00:46:52.614
the basic idea is I just want to know Christ and Him

551
00:46:52.615 --> 00:46:56.355
crucified. It's about knowing God.

552
00:46:58.855 --> 00:47:01.275
You want Sav for your broken heart.

553
00:47:04.594 --> 00:47:07.295
You want help through the trials and tribulations of life,

554
00:47:10.375 --> 00:47:13.335
plunge into the character of God.

555
00:47:17.094 --> 00:47:21.625
There's questions we cannot answer. There's situations that are mysterious.

556
00:47:23.015 --> 00:47:26.675
We don't always know why things happen the way they happen. We can't always

557
00:47:28.235 --> 00:47:32.145
trace God's hand, but we can,

558
00:47:32.245 --> 00:47:36.145
as the old song says, trust his heart. But only if we know him.

559
00:47:37.925 --> 00:47:42.215
Only if we understand from genesis to Revelation how he actually behaves,

560
00:47:42.675 --> 00:47:47.675
how he actually acts on our behalf, the Bible's that from Genesis to Revelation,

561
00:47:49.465 --> 00:47:53.935
God's activity for you, for me, his character,

562
00:47:56.885 --> 00:48:01.405
we must know God. Now you can know about God

563
00:48:03.075 --> 00:48:06.755
and not grow. A lot of people have head knowledge,

564
00:48:07.055 --> 00:48:08.475
but you gotta know in order to grow.

565
00:48:10.655 --> 00:48:15.235
And so we had to be Bible Christians, people that are in the Bible,

566
00:48:15.775 --> 00:48:16.608
the word of God,

567
00:48:17.465 --> 00:48:20.195
that which is disdained by many people in our culture because it's

568
00:48:20.196 --> 00:48:25.195
authoritative. And anything that's authoritative speaks against their self

569
00:48:25.765 --> 00:48:30.305
expression. But that's why they're lonely. And we should not be.

570
00:48:30.425 --> 00:48:34.105
'cause we have a God who's always with us. He never leaves us nor forsakes us.

571
00:48:35.515 --> 00:48:39.255
And we have other believers like in this room that, that agree with that.

572
00:48:39.355 --> 00:48:41.415
And together we are in community.

573
00:48:44.395 --> 00:48:46.455
So we not only know God, but we obey his word.

574
00:48:52.755 --> 00:48:55.625
Jesus came to obey his father's will. That was his,

575
00:48:55.626 --> 00:49:00.625
that was his mission to obey His father's will God of very God was here

576
00:49:00.864 --> 00:49:04.545
in humility, obeying his father. And so he says,

577
00:49:05.485 --> 00:49:08.675
if you love me, you'll keep my commandments.

578
00:49:13.165 --> 00:49:15.105
If anyone loves me, he'll keep my word.

579
00:49:16.985 --> 00:49:19.364
If you keep my commandments, you will abide my love.

580
00:49:19.635 --> 00:49:22.765
Just as I have kept my father's commandments and abide in his love,

581
00:49:22.766 --> 00:49:24.005
these things I have spoken to you,

582
00:49:24.315 --> 00:49:28.725
that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be full.

583
00:49:30.975 --> 00:49:33.975
Remember that sense of utopia, that that first century, uh,

584
00:49:33.976 --> 00:49:37.645
Christians were experiencing this is what Jesus is talking about.

585
00:49:37.895 --> 00:49:40.925
Abide in me in my truth, obey it.

586
00:49:41.885 --> 00:49:46.275
And you'll have joy, immeasurable. And that's the truth.

587
00:49:49.435 --> 00:49:53.255
But if you wanna set up your own set of laws,

588
00:49:54.045 --> 00:49:56.415
that self autonomy,

589
00:49:57.545 --> 00:49:59.114
then you're gonna struggle.

590
00:50:03.055 --> 00:50:04.755
And if I do that, I'm gonna struggle.

591
00:50:05.455 --> 00:50:08.955
But we all could use a little bit more joy in our life. And Jesus says, well,

592
00:50:09.105 --> 00:50:10.915
obey me and I will lead you into it.

593
00:50:14.265 --> 00:50:16.275
Knowing God as he's revealed himself in the Bible,

594
00:50:16.795 --> 00:50:20.765
I think relieves stress and anxiety and joy.

595
00:50:20.885 --> 00:50:24.885
I like to define joy this way. Joy is a settled contentment.

596
00:50:25.755 --> 00:50:27.765
That God is good and he's in control.

597
00:50:29.395 --> 00:50:32.295
It doesn't mean happy clappy like, oh yeah, life is grand.

598
00:50:34.535 --> 00:50:38.695
I love trials. They're so fun. No,

599
00:50:39.885 --> 00:50:43.614
it's understanding that behind all the dark spaces,

600
00:50:46.255 --> 00:50:47.594
the trials that you're going through,

601
00:50:48.285 --> 00:50:52.135
maybe even the loneliness you're experiencing, God is at work.

602
00:50:56.175 --> 00:50:57.755
He wants nothing more for you,

603
00:50:58.094 --> 00:51:01.555
for you than to demonstrate his kindness to you,

604
00:51:02.545 --> 00:51:03.378
his grace to you.

605
00:51:05.475 --> 00:51:10.375
But if we're going off in a different direction, it's hard for him to bless us.

606
00:51:11.745 --> 00:51:14.364
He blesses those, he leads those who obey into his joy.

607
00:51:15.975 --> 00:51:20.235
So there's a common faith Paul talks about in Ephesians chapter four,

608
00:51:21.405 --> 00:51:25.255
that we would be unified in the faith, in the word of God

609
00:51:26.815 --> 00:51:27.995
and the knowledge of his son.

610
00:51:28.535 --> 00:51:33.035
So there's a common faith that we must have to have a common faith.

611
00:51:33.695 --> 00:51:38.155
We must know the same God from the same book we call the Bible

612
00:51:38.655 --> 00:51:43.055
and we must obey it and then we can enjoy that kind of community.

613
00:51:44.085 --> 00:51:46.065
And the second one is, when we do that,

614
00:51:46.066 --> 00:51:48.344
then we can live life with and for each other.

615
00:51:48.765 --> 00:51:51.305
And I think it's extremely important that we get a handle on this.

616
00:51:52.445 --> 00:51:54.625
It says they were continually devoting themselves,

617
00:51:54.685 --> 00:51:57.025
not just to the apostles teaching, not just to doctrine,

618
00:51:57.026 --> 00:52:01.025
not just to the word of God, but to fellowship. That's the word partnership.

619
00:52:01.965 --> 00:52:06.005
And it's a very, very powerful term. It's in, in a sense,

620
00:52:06.085 --> 00:52:09.125
a contractual agreement between two people to do business.

621
00:52:11.985 --> 00:52:15.945
It's used in business dealings. It's that you share life together.

622
00:52:16.915 --> 00:52:21.695
It's not, you know, uh, coffee and cookies in the, in the church hall.

623
00:52:22.125 --> 00:52:24.215
Like we, we used to call it growing up.

624
00:52:24.545 --> 00:52:28.535
Let's go have fellowship in the fellowship hall. Oh, this is,

625
00:52:28.536 --> 00:52:33.094
this is serious stuff. Well, what did it look like for them? Well, um,

626
00:52:33.605 --> 00:52:37.935
they broke bread together. I think that, and that in verse 42 has to do with uh,

627
00:52:38.175 --> 00:52:40.614
actually having communion together, remembering what Christ had done

628
00:52:42.395 --> 00:52:45.375
and prayer. It says the prayers,

629
00:52:45.765 --> 00:52:48.775
they were still Jews still involved in the temple.

630
00:52:49.045 --> 00:52:52.695
They haven't gotten out of that. The gospel hasn't gone to the Gentiles yet.

631
00:52:52.715 --> 00:52:55.535
So they're still going through their Jewish prayers.

632
00:52:55.895 --> 00:52:58.775
But then it goes on and says this, and all who believed were together,

633
00:53:00.135 --> 00:53:03.025
they were together and had all things in common.

634
00:53:05.335 --> 00:53:07.995
And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the,

635
00:53:08.425 --> 00:53:12.375
some people said, wait, wait a minute, this sounds like communism, socialism.

636
00:53:12.935 --> 00:53:16.614
Now the point is this, when there are needs that we're able to meet,

637
00:53:16.715 --> 00:53:20.285
we ought to meet those needs. And sometimes

638
00:53:24.025 --> 00:53:28.495
you might sell something to help somebody. You might give somebody a car.

639
00:53:30.245 --> 00:53:33.695
Many of you give regularly. So that's already going to meet the,

640
00:53:34.395 --> 00:53:38.935
the thousands of needs that we meet through as a church in the community and in

641
00:53:38.936 --> 00:53:41.875
our church family. Many of you're already doing that.

642
00:53:43.945 --> 00:53:47.364
So it doesn't mean that you sell your possessions.

643
00:53:47.365 --> 00:53:50.925
So there's equal possessions for everybody. That is not the idea here.

644
00:53:51.605 --> 00:53:56.175
It's about meeting deeds. And

645
00:53:57.835 --> 00:54:00.815
day by day they had 10 of the temple together. Could you imagine though,

646
00:54:01.715 --> 00:54:06.175
3,100 people, brand new in their faith in Jesus?

647
00:54:07.175 --> 00:54:09.295
That's a lot of excitement, a lot of joy.

648
00:54:12.235 --> 00:54:14.094
But they also broke bread.

649
00:54:14.095 --> 00:54:16.855
And here I think it's actually just re referring to a meal.

650
00:54:17.565 --> 00:54:21.685
They broke bread in their homes. Well, why? There's people from all over,

651
00:54:22.005 --> 00:54:24.364
member all over the nation are here in Jerusalem.

652
00:54:24.665 --> 00:54:27.445
And so those that lived in Jerusalem said, Hey, come to our house,

653
00:54:27.955 --> 00:54:31.655
hang out with us. And they enjoyed that,

654
00:54:31.805 --> 00:54:35.175
that partnership of life that they had found in, in Jesus.

655
00:54:37.795 --> 00:54:42.614
So they had a common life, they're a common faith.

656
00:54:42.815 --> 00:54:47.135
And now they have a common life. And uh, they valued community over isolation.

657
00:54:47.136 --> 00:54:51.975
And what they got was friendship over loneliness. And that's the thing, I,

658
00:54:52.255 --> 00:54:55.864
if you value community, you won't be lonely.

659
00:54:58.775 --> 00:55:00.275
Romans 12, nine through 13.

660
00:55:00.276 --> 00:55:03.114
Unless we just think that this was part of the first, uh,

661
00:55:03.445 --> 00:55:06.315
first group of Christians and it didn't happen, the rest, uh, up,

662
00:55:06.316 --> 00:55:10.555
up through our day. Listen to Paul in Romans chapter 12, verses nine through 13.

663
00:55:11.855 --> 00:55:16.155
Let love be genuine. Abor what is evil? Hold fast to what is good.

664
00:55:17.225 --> 00:55:21.955
Love one another with brotherly affection. I do one another in showing honor.

665
00:55:23.465 --> 00:55:26.725
Do not be s lawful in zeal. Be fervent in spirit. Serve the Lord.

666
00:55:27.005 --> 00:55:29.844
Rejoice and hope. Be patient in tribulation. Be constant in prayer.

667
00:55:30.725 --> 00:55:33.645
Conti contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

668
00:55:33.905 --> 00:55:36.364
All of that we see in Acts chapter two. Now,

669
00:55:36.365 --> 00:55:40.205
we read about it in Romans chapter 12. These are the marks,

670
00:55:40.545 --> 00:55:42.645
the standards of living for the church.

671
00:55:44.425 --> 00:55:48.485
And it's hard to practice the one another's that were commanded to fulfill in

672
00:55:48.486 --> 00:55:53.205
isolation. It, it just is.

673
00:55:53.385 --> 00:55:55.285
You can't love one another from a distance.

674
00:55:56.145 --> 00:55:59.885
You can't outdo one another in showing honor if you're not together.

675
00:56:02.925 --> 00:56:04.864
The right of Hebrews says this, let us hold fast.

676
00:56:04.885 --> 00:56:09.605
The confession of our hope without wavering for he who promised us

677
00:56:09.885 --> 00:56:14.225
faithful. That's the word. That's a common faith.

678
00:56:14.985 --> 00:56:18.505
And let us consider how to stir one another to love and good deeds.

679
00:56:18.605 --> 00:56:23.545
Not neglecting meeting together as is the habit of some,

680
00:56:24.045 --> 00:56:27.185
but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

681
00:56:27.245 --> 00:56:31.364
So it's a common faith, holding fast. The confession of our hope.

682
00:56:31.365 --> 00:56:34.645
That's the common faith in a common life where to be together,

683
00:56:34.785 --> 00:56:39.185
to encourage each other, to stir up the, the,

684
00:56:39.245 --> 00:56:43.705
to agitate each other, to love and good deeds. Proper way to agitate people.

685
00:56:47.685 --> 00:56:51.645
You see, we can't live biblical Christianity as a private religion.

686
00:56:53.395 --> 00:56:54.685
Your faith is not private.

687
00:56:55.785 --> 00:57:00.675
It's personal in that you placed your faith in Jesus Christ alone and you

688
00:57:00.795 --> 00:57:03.245
are responsible for that. But once you did,

689
00:57:03.985 --> 00:57:07.325
you are immediately by the spirit of God brought into a family.

690
00:57:09.594 --> 00:57:13.685
You're like, great, I didn't ask for that. Well, that's what you got.

691
00:57:15.075 --> 00:57:20.065
And like every, every family there's joy. And like every family,

692
00:57:20.215 --> 00:57:24.185
there's friction. Oh good. There's another family down the road.

693
00:57:24.186 --> 00:57:28.755
I'll go to that one. Right? And that's what we do. Have a little tension here,

694
00:57:28.795 --> 00:57:31.075
a little friction at this church. We'll just go down to another one.

695
00:57:32.235 --> 00:57:36.055
But that's not the point. We don't do that in our families. Some do.

696
00:57:36.115 --> 00:57:39.885
That's not what we're supposed to do. We're supposed to work through it.

697
00:57:40.435 --> 00:57:43.285
Love one another, outdo one another and showing honor, right?

698
00:57:43.286 --> 00:57:46.845
Pray for one another. Confessor sins to one, all the one another's. About 26.

699
00:57:47.085 --> 00:57:50.045
One anothers rep repeated about 48 times in the New Testament.

700
00:57:50.305 --> 00:57:52.485
Why emphasizing community, community,

701
00:57:52.486 --> 00:57:55.685
community doing life with and life for one another.

702
00:58:01.065 --> 00:58:05.605
So we live with, we live for value of giving over getting.

703
00:58:07.475 --> 00:58:12.055
So you get satisfaction over dis discontent. Most of us,

704
00:58:12.115 --> 00:58:15.505
if not all of us, love to give gifts. And uh,

705
00:58:15.805 --> 00:58:18.865
that's no wonder 'cause God hardwired us to feel that way.

706
00:58:19.365 --> 00:58:23.625
So Paul in Acts chapter 20, verse 35 said, is as Jesus says,

707
00:58:23.645 --> 00:58:26.745
it is more blessed, more happy to give than to receive.

708
00:58:26.835 --> 00:58:31.345
We've all experienced that bringing a neighbor groceries or whatever it might

709
00:58:31.346 --> 00:58:34.865
be, it's like that felt really good. Yes, you're hardwired to give

710
00:58:37.855 --> 00:58:41.465
and not to give brings a discontent

711
00:58:44.605 --> 00:58:48.345
that's easily overcome by a simple act of giving.

712
00:58:49.365 --> 00:58:50.745
And I think that's really important that we,

713
00:58:51.205 --> 00:58:55.465
we get it to the heart of and we work hard. It says in,

714
00:58:55.605 --> 00:59:00.585
in Ephesians 4 28, we work hard so that we can give to those who have need.

715
00:59:00.765 --> 00:59:04.665
So two moves. We've had two moves from Acts. The early part of Acts two,

716
00:59:05.825 --> 00:59:08.785
Christ is the message of our mission. The mission as our mandate.

717
00:59:09.145 --> 00:59:13.065
Two moves from Acts 2 42 to 47.

718
00:59:13.945 --> 00:59:16.345
Know and obey God's word.

719
00:59:18.305 --> 00:59:23.055
That's a common faith. Live with live for others,

720
00:59:23.275 --> 00:59:26.895
that's a common life. So what's your move?

721
00:59:28.195 --> 00:59:29.028
What's your move?

722
00:59:31.025 --> 00:59:35.895
Maybe you're at home watching online and the

723
00:59:35.896 --> 00:59:39.375
only reason you're home watching online is because it's convenient.

724
00:59:43.825 --> 00:59:48.245
The Bible says you're choosing isolation over community

725
00:59:49.185 --> 00:59:51.525
and it's time to get into community.

726
00:59:53.085 --> 00:59:56.085
'cause that isolation will only bring

727
00:59:57.305 --> 01:00:00.345
discouragement, more fragmentation

728
01:00:01.925 --> 01:00:05.065
in your life. But maybe you're here,

729
01:00:07.035 --> 01:00:09.175
you came because you're lonely

730
01:00:10.675 --> 01:00:13.975
and you're kinda out the outskirts relationally at Hope Community Church.

731
01:00:18.295 --> 01:00:21.565
Don't wait for somebody to take a move towards you.

732
01:00:23.795 --> 01:00:26.205
Make a move towards somebody.

733
01:00:27.665 --> 01:00:29.365
You take the initiative to connect.

734
01:00:33.185 --> 01:00:36.005
Too many people just sit on the sidelines waiting for something to happen to

735
01:00:36.006 --> 01:00:40.375
them. We need to take the step forward.

736
01:00:43.475 --> 01:00:46.495
Try a small group until you find one that where there's good chemistry and you

737
01:00:46.695 --> 01:00:47.615
actually can connect with people.

738
01:00:50.305 --> 01:00:54.655
Maybe you're actually in a small group and you, uh, serve,

739
01:00:55.475 --> 01:00:57.495
you attend regularly and you still feel lonely.

740
01:00:59.885 --> 01:01:04.545
That's possible because this is not about programs and getting into hope's

741
01:01:04.546 --> 01:01:05.379
programs.

742
01:01:05.855 --> 01:01:09.105
This is about understanding what God has done for you through Jesus Christ.

743
01:01:09.485 --> 01:01:13.945
And that igniting a flame in you by the power of the Spirit to be part of a

744
01:01:13.946 --> 01:01:16.185
community, to be a contributing member of the community.

745
01:01:22.725 --> 01:01:26.535
Next week we're offering the Discovery class at our campuses.

746
01:01:26.555 --> 01:01:31.295
And the the purpose of that is to help people understand how they can get

747
01:01:31.296 --> 01:01:36.015
connected and to meaningful relationships and to opportunities to serve people

748
01:01:36.075 --> 01:01:39.255
and meet needs. And we want you to do that.

749
01:01:39.315 --> 01:01:40.895
So if you've not been through Discovery class,

750
01:01:41.015 --> 01:01:42.975
I encourage you to participate in that next week.

751
01:01:43.595 --> 01:01:46.175
If you're not in a Bible study, email me.

752
01:01:47.185 --> 01:01:51.055
We'll make sure you get into one where people are opening God's word so we can

753
01:01:51.056 --> 01:01:54.255
know him and learn to obey him.

754
01:01:55.035 --> 01:01:58.575
And where you'll learn to develop community with those, those folks.

755
01:01:59.315 --> 01:02:00.148
So important.

756
01:02:03.565 --> 01:02:06.055
Take a meal to someone you need, it's in need.

757
01:02:06.595 --> 01:02:08.855
Ask the Lord to give you eyes to see what's around you.

758
01:02:10.515 --> 01:02:14.195
But don't be satisfied with living your own life, your own way.

759
01:02:15.865 --> 01:02:16.795
It's a lonely life

760
01:02:18.455 --> 01:02:22.065
and God wants you to enjoy community his way.

761
01:02:24.235 --> 01:02:28.215
So what's your move? If you need help in any way,

762
01:02:29.485 --> 01:02:34.465
Gary v@gethope.net, email me. We'll make sure you get the help you need.

763
01:02:36.195 --> 01:02:40.625
Let's pray. Father, we're grateful, so grateful for your grace.

764
01:02:41.635 --> 01:02:45.665
Thank you for your gracious way of revealing yourself to us,

765
01:02:49.045 --> 01:02:52.175
Telling us what you expect of us. But before that,

766
01:02:52.176 --> 01:02:55.755
telling us what you've done for us. And Lord,

767
01:02:55.835 --> 01:03:00.395
I just pray that all of us gathered here would ensure

768
01:03:00.825 --> 01:03:04.835
that we are getting to know you in community life.

769
01:03:08.045 --> 01:03:10.585
Having a common faith, a common life,

770
01:03:12.325 --> 01:03:13.585
not uniformity, but unity,

771
01:03:16.895 --> 01:03:20.625
conversations, dialogue, even if there's disagreement,

772
01:03:22.125 --> 01:03:26.545
no canceling, no vilifying, no castigating.

773
01:03:33.235 --> 01:03:38.005
Help us to avoid the self stuff and go for the others stuff in our life.

774
01:03:39.805 --> 01:03:43.245
Give us strength to do that. We pray. Convict us by your spirit to do that.

775
01:03:43.365 --> 01:03:45.725
I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

776
01:03:56.295 --> 01:03:57.325
Let's stand together.

777
01:04:18.005 --> 01:04:19.445
My words for sure.

778
01:04:22.365 --> 01:04:24.125
I've nothing new.

779
01:04:26.865 --> 01:04:27.698
How could I,

780
01:04:36.025 --> 01:04:38.145
I could sing these songs

781
01:04:40.785 --> 01:04:42.665
as I often do.

782
01:04:45.505 --> 01:04:46.665
Every song must

783
01:04:57.945 --> 01:04:58.778
you again.

784
01:05:54.505 --> 01:05:58.465
So praise you again.

785
01:08:00.785 --> 01:08:02.545
Every voice, every hand. Come on.

786
01:08:03.665 --> 01:08:07.545
So I throw my hands and praise you again

787
01:08:11.545 --> 01:08:12.378
that I

788
01:08:18.805 --> 01:08:19.638
hall,

789
01:08:24.725 --> 01:08:25.685
I have nothing else

790
01:08:29.685 --> 01:08:32.165
except for Heart hall.

791
01:08:53.755 --> 01:08:57.405
Well, we thank God, uh, for that message from Gary Vet. Come on,

792
01:08:57.406 --> 01:09:00.285
y'all give Gary some love. Yeah, very thankful

793
01:09:03.545 --> 01:09:07.085
During that message, uh, he talked about discover class.

794
01:09:07.705 --> 01:09:12.685
Let me just share with you that discover is if you have not yet taken discover,

795
01:09:12.905 --> 01:09:17.165
it is your best first step or your best next step.

796
01:09:17.745 --> 01:09:21.285
And so one of the easiest ways that you can get signed up for Discover is simply

797
01:09:21.435 --> 01:09:25.005
text the word discover to the number 7 2 9 8 9.

798
01:09:25.225 --> 01:09:28.845
You can do that from the comfort of your home or you can do it in this room. Uh,

799
01:09:28.895 --> 01:09:33.325
don't let this day go by without you getting connected and being a part of

800
01:09:33.805 --> 01:09:33.955
Discover.

801
01:09:33.955 --> 01:09:37.925
It's a great way to discover both the mission and vision of Hope Community

802
01:09:37.926 --> 01:09:42.885
Church, but also what your role God may be sending you to be a part of this

803
01:09:43.325 --> 01:09:44.925
movement of God. Now listen,

804
01:09:45.385 --> 01:09:48.805
we love you guys and we do hope to see you back here next week.

805
01:09:49.104 --> 01:09:51.125
We hope to see you too at Get Hope tv.

806
01:09:51.665 --> 01:09:55.564
So just know that we love you and we want you to go out and continue to move in

807
01:09:55.565 --> 01:09:59.604
the way that only the church can by God's spirit. God bless you.

808
01:09:59.605 --> 01:10:00.205
We'll see you soon.