WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:22.260 Hi, and welcome to the Willow Ridge Church weekly podcast. 00:00:22.780 --> 00:00:25.880 This is where you can find audio for our current and past sermons. 00:00:26.100 --> 00:00:30.420 We hope that you enjoy this week's installment, and be sure to check back next week to hear 00:00:30.420 --> 00:00:31.260 the latest message. 00:00:31.580 --> 00:00:32.460 Thanks for listening. 00:00:46.000 --> 00:00:46.880 Good morning. 00:00:47.840 --> 00:00:49.420 Glad that you guys are with us. 00:00:49.420 --> 00:00:53.480 If you've got your Bibles, open up to Ephesians chapter 4, where we are going to continue with 00:00:53.480 --> 00:00:54.080 this morning. 00:00:54.560 --> 00:00:58.860 To remind a couple of things, one, I want to speak specifically to some of the things 00:00:58.860 --> 00:01:03.000 that you just saw in that video about Celebrate Recovery, a ministry that we have here at Willow 00:01:03.000 --> 00:01:03.540 Ridge Church. 00:01:03.860 --> 00:01:06.800 You know, one of the things that was said, and a lot was said in that video, but one of the 00:01:06.800 --> 00:01:11.320 things I want to take some time and emphasize this morning is all too often, even though 00:01:11.320 --> 00:01:17.700 you and I are found in Christ, we allow the sins, mistakes, regrets, decisions of our past 00:01:17.700 --> 00:01:21.100 to define who we are, and not to define who we are in Christ. 00:01:21.280 --> 00:01:25.960 And one of the beauties that I love about our Celebrate Recovery ministry that we have here 00:01:25.960 --> 00:01:31.440 at Willow Ridge Church is it is a discipleship ministry looking to engage with men, women, 00:01:31.440 --> 00:01:36.700 and families to help them realize who they are in Christ and then mobilize them to be used 00:01:36.700 --> 00:01:38.480 for His name and for His kingdom. 00:01:38.960 --> 00:01:42.560 And so our Celebrate Recovery ministry that meets here on Thursday night, as you're looking 00:01:42.560 --> 00:01:47.980 at life, as you're evaluating with where you are, if there was any part of that video that 00:01:47.980 --> 00:01:53.000 resonated in your soul, I want to encourage you to give our CR ministry a try. 00:01:53.120 --> 00:01:56.580 You can get more information about it at our welcome table after the service. 00:01:56.920 --> 00:02:01.600 And I know sometimes it's easy and you kind of hear people from church are supposed to talk 00:02:01.600 --> 00:02:03.200 about ministries that are at the church. 00:02:03.460 --> 00:02:06.260 And so you're like, well, you're supposed to say all those things about CR. 00:02:06.560 --> 00:02:09.000 But I want to kind of explain to you my connection with CR. 00:02:09.420 --> 00:02:14.060 CR is a ministry that I've been familiar with for about 15 years now, both at Willow Ridge 00:02:14.060 --> 00:02:15.660 and the previous church that it was at. 00:02:15.740 --> 00:02:20.960 I've seen men and women and even students at our other church go through the process and 00:02:20.960 --> 00:02:26.240 what God used in their life to redeem them, to disciple them, and to use them for His kingdom. 00:02:26.240 --> 00:02:31.760 But not only have I seen the impact that it's had in individuals' lives, I've also walked 00:02:31.760 --> 00:02:33.860 through that process myself. 00:02:34.180 --> 00:02:39.580 Three years ago, the staff and I went through one of the CR step studies, and it was remarkable 00:02:39.580 --> 00:02:44.860 in my life to identify those hurts, habits, and hangups that were keeping me from the relationship 00:02:44.860 --> 00:02:46.560 with Christ that He desired for me. 00:02:46.840 --> 00:02:51.460 And because one time is never good enough, right, we just started back with our staff this past 00:02:51.460 --> 00:02:57.180 week going through another CR step study again, and already after week one, seeing tremendous 00:02:57.180 --> 00:03:02.560 things of how God is using that, not only in other people's lives, but in my life. 00:03:02.620 --> 00:03:09.120 And so if you are here and you are interested in that, please stop by our welcome table, talk 00:03:09.120 --> 00:03:10.220 to us after the service. 00:03:10.280 --> 00:03:11.520 We would love to talk with you. 00:03:11.520 --> 00:03:13.520 I know we've got some of our CR people in here. 00:03:13.780 --> 00:03:17.920 If they could be back there as well, they would love to answer any question that you have. 00:03:18.220 --> 00:03:21.920 Also tonight, Bowling 4 to 6 o'clock, I want to see everybody out there. 00:03:22.180 --> 00:03:24.380 I hope that you can come, have a wonderful time. 00:03:24.760 --> 00:03:26.180 We've got the entire Bowling app. 00:03:26.280 --> 00:03:29.100 People keep asking me, all right, how much money do I need to bring? 00:03:29.320 --> 00:03:31.280 All right, you don't need to bring anything for Bowling. 00:03:31.580 --> 00:03:34.040 We've got those wonderful shoes covered for you. 00:03:34.240 --> 00:03:36.260 We've got the lanes covered for you. 00:03:36.320 --> 00:03:37.460 You've got to leave the shoes. 00:03:37.520 --> 00:03:38.500 You can't take them with you, all right? 00:03:38.640 --> 00:03:40.680 We've got both of those things covered for you. 00:03:40.920 --> 00:03:45.300 You have to bring the money for the amount of food that you're going to eat, all right? 00:03:45.300 --> 00:03:49.160 And so if you want to load up on nachos and you want to load up on hot dogs and corn dogs 00:03:49.160 --> 00:03:53.820 and all the wonderful things that are there, I'm pretty sure it's all organic, clean eating, 00:03:53.900 --> 00:03:54.080 right? 00:03:54.260 --> 00:03:58.300 You can dive into that and enjoy that, but would love to see everyone there. 00:03:59.020 --> 00:04:03.100 And then kind of lastly, this is selfish maybe for me, but kind of inform you guys on the 00:04:03.100 --> 00:04:04.320 journey that I'm on. 00:04:04.400 --> 00:04:09.120 As school started back this past week for so many of our teachers and students, and I'm 00:04:09.120 --> 00:04:13.300 seeing pictures of college students going off to school and all of those, I want to kind 00:04:13.300 --> 00:04:16.400 of update you guys on where I am in school right now. 00:04:16.540 --> 00:04:21.700 I finished this past year, or this past summer with my second master's degree, and after 00:04:21.700 --> 00:04:27.100 some long, long prayer time and really wrestling with the Lord, I felt that God was calling 00:04:27.100 --> 00:04:28.520 me to start my doctoral program. 00:04:28.720 --> 00:04:32.560 And so I'll actually start that this week, starting tomorrow, my first class. 00:04:33.000 --> 00:04:34.960 They're doing things different for me. 00:04:35.180 --> 00:04:39.720 I haven't been in a traditional class setting in a long time, but I'll get to start that this 00:04:39.720 --> 00:04:44.600 week for at least for one week, Monday through Friday from 8.30 in the morning to 5.30 in 00:04:44.600 --> 00:04:45.100 the evening. 00:04:45.240 --> 00:04:49.580 So pray for me, pray for Emma and Grayson, and pray for Aaron and all of her sanity as 00:04:49.580 --> 00:04:50.540 I get through this, all right? 00:04:50.880 --> 00:04:53.500 We would greatly, greatly appreciate it. 00:04:53.640 --> 00:04:57.040 And then hopefully in three years, I will be done with this one. 00:04:57.120 --> 00:05:02.160 And then, as I have promised my wife, my kids, and myself, no more school, right? 00:05:02.220 --> 00:05:02.820 No more school. 00:05:02.880 --> 00:05:04.480 I want to continue to learn, but no more school. 00:05:04.860 --> 00:05:05.960 Well, let's pray as we get started. 00:05:06.580 --> 00:05:10.900 Lord, I thank you so much for this opportunity that we could have to be here this morning, 00:05:11.100 --> 00:05:12.220 Lord, to open your word. 00:05:12.540 --> 00:05:16.400 Lord, I'm so grateful for all of the visitors that we have here with us today. 00:05:16.580 --> 00:05:21.380 Lord, we are just reminded of the blessings that you give us, Lord, as we sit here right 00:05:21.380 --> 00:05:25.600 now and as we hear the rain that is hitting the roof of our building. 00:05:25.600 --> 00:05:30.760 We're reminded that we are dry and comfortable on the inside, Lord, but we are also reminded 00:05:30.760 --> 00:05:34.860 of those so many who do not experience that same thing today. 00:05:35.000 --> 00:05:39.520 So, Lord, we continue to pray that you'd be with our brothers and sisters in Haiti and 00:05:39.520 --> 00:05:44.020 all that is going on and taking place there, Lord, from all of the unrest to the natural 00:05:44.020 --> 00:05:44.900 disasters, Lord. 00:05:44.960 --> 00:05:48.380 We pray that you would work in a powerful way in that country, Lord. 00:05:48.440 --> 00:05:52.640 Pray that you would continue to work through Disciples Village and all who were there and 00:05:52.640 --> 00:05:55.080 who were ministering and caring for those people. 00:05:55.560 --> 00:06:00.140 Lord, we also, we can't go farther without thinking about our brothers and sisters in Afghanistan. 00:06:01.380 --> 00:06:03.060 Lord, we pray for them this morning. 00:06:03.800 --> 00:06:06.320 We pray for their strength to continue to meet. 00:06:07.100 --> 00:06:09.780 We pray for their boldness to continue to share. 00:06:10.920 --> 00:06:16.760 Lord, and we just ask you and we beg of you to put a protection around them, Lord, to keep 00:06:16.760 --> 00:06:17.320 them safe. 00:06:18.880 --> 00:06:24.280 Lord, we're reminded of the vast lostness that invades that country and invades so many places 00:06:24.280 --> 00:06:25.040 all over the world. 00:06:26.320 --> 00:06:31.860 Lord, we're reminded that those who live and function and gain power through means and acts 00:06:31.860 --> 00:06:35.640 of terror, that diplomacy is not what they need. 00:06:37.020 --> 00:06:41.900 That as great as democracy is for us to experience, that that's not what's going to change them. 00:06:43.020 --> 00:06:49.760 Lord, and what we pray for and what we ask is for their hearts to be changed through a saving 00:06:49.760 --> 00:06:51.340 relationship with Jesus Christ. 00:06:52.740 --> 00:06:56.620 And so, Lord, we pray for revival to take place in that country. 00:06:56.620 --> 00:07:00.560 We pray for salvation to be found for your name and for your glory. 00:07:01.480 --> 00:07:09.040 Lord, it is what you did in the life of Paul and what you did in the life of us, could you do in 00:07:09.040 --> 00:07:11.440 the people all over this world, Lord, who don't know you. 00:07:12.380 --> 00:07:19.520 Lord, may those who share continue to find the boldness to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, 00:07:20.060 --> 00:07:22.600 regardless of what circumstances they face. 00:07:23.500 --> 00:07:28.400 And Lord, we know that our reward is not here, but our reward is you. 00:07:29.120 --> 00:07:30.520 And it's in Jesus' name we pray. 00:07:31.080 --> 00:07:31.380 Amen. 00:07:31.960 --> 00:07:32.140 Amen. 00:07:32.440 --> 00:07:35.580 So just a moment, we're going to start reading in verse 7. 00:07:35.700 --> 00:07:39.240 But before we get there, I want to kind of recap as we're talking about family reunion, 00:07:39.380 --> 00:07:42.160 our vision and mission of who we are as a church. 00:07:42.280 --> 00:07:44.220 Our vision, this is who we are. 00:07:44.320 --> 00:07:51.040 We are one family, one ministry, one calling, built around the concept of one, the unity within 00:07:51.040 --> 00:07:56.100 the body of Christ, that we are one in him, that there's the sense of equality, there's 00:07:56.100 --> 00:08:01.420 equality in mission, there's equality in purpose, there's the unity within the body, that this 00:08:01.420 --> 00:08:04.600 is who we are as Willow Ridge Church. 00:08:04.760 --> 00:08:10.000 But not only that, but our mission, what we do, what we're about, what we want you to 00:08:10.000 --> 00:08:15.480 experience and be a part, what we want all of us, is engaging, equipping, and sending people 00:08:15.480 --> 00:08:17.500 to make known the truth of the gospel. 00:08:17.740 --> 00:08:19.460 We're not a social club. 00:08:19.560 --> 00:08:21.980 We're not here as a babysitting service. 00:08:22.140 --> 00:08:23.720 We're not here to entertain. 00:08:23.720 --> 00:08:29.360 What we are here to do is to engage with one another through relationships, to equip one 00:08:29.360 --> 00:08:35.340 another through discipleship, and then to mobilize each and every one of us that you and I know 00:08:35.340 --> 00:08:39.480 and that we understand that we are sent to make disciples. 00:08:39.820 --> 00:08:45.840 So wherever you live, wherever you work, wherever you play, that is the purpose of your life, 00:08:45.980 --> 00:08:50.400 that we are sending you and I to make known the truth of the gospel. 00:08:50.400 --> 00:08:55.380 And so last week when we began in Ephesians 4, what we're doing over these weeks in this 00:08:55.380 --> 00:09:01.300 series is looking at this chapter and understanding the oneness in Christ, the unity that's there, 00:09:01.500 --> 00:09:03.780 and that's who he has called us to be. 00:09:04.020 --> 00:09:08.960 So last week, kind of a real quick 30-second recap, last week we talked about the fact that 00:09:08.960 --> 00:09:15.480 all of us as Christians are called to live a life that is reflective of the saving relationship 00:09:15.480 --> 00:09:17.320 that we have in Jesus Christ. 00:09:17.320 --> 00:09:20.580 So Paul says, walk in a manner worthy. 00:09:20.860 --> 00:09:22.400 So let that be who you are. 00:09:22.520 --> 00:09:23.600 Let that be what you do. 00:09:23.740 --> 00:09:25.840 Let that be the words that come from your mouth. 00:09:26.200 --> 00:09:27.620 Walk in a manner worthy. 00:09:27.940 --> 00:09:31.200 We're not earning our salvation, but reflective of that. 00:09:31.500 --> 00:09:35.120 And here's where the tension comes at the church at Ephesus, 00:09:35.340 --> 00:09:38.280 and the tension comes at every church since then, 00:09:38.400 --> 00:09:41.320 is that you and I, we don't get to do this independently. 00:09:41.320 --> 00:09:47.260 So God doesn't save us, pull us, isolate us, put us on an island, and say, 00:09:47.360 --> 00:09:49.620 all right, buddy, it's you and me for the rest of the time. 00:09:49.760 --> 00:09:50.980 That's not how he rolls. 00:09:51.080 --> 00:09:52.040 That's not what he does. 00:09:52.220 --> 00:09:53.640 That's not what we're called to. 00:09:53.920 --> 00:09:55.200 Instead, he says, no, no, no. 00:09:55.280 --> 00:09:56.360 Here's what's going to happen. 00:09:56.580 --> 00:09:58.160 You're going to do this collectively. 00:09:58.900 --> 00:10:01.540 You're going to do this as a body together. 00:10:02.100 --> 00:10:05.780 And so what we see in the Old Testament, it's God's people in Israel. 00:10:05.960 --> 00:10:08.460 And what we see in the New Testament, it's the church. 00:10:08.820 --> 00:10:13.320 And that's where we find ourselves, that you and I, a relationship with Jesus, 00:10:13.520 --> 00:10:14.680 is not you and him. 00:10:14.820 --> 00:10:18.760 We've got to be careful when we talk about personal relationship with Christ 00:10:18.760 --> 00:10:22.780 doesn't mean me and him, and I don't need you, and I'm good. 00:10:22.920 --> 00:10:28.580 What it means is that I have a relationship with Jesus that is centered on him, 00:10:28.580 --> 00:10:31.780 but that you and I live in biblical community. 00:10:32.920 --> 00:10:36.020 I hear a phrase oftentimes, and I love this phrase, 00:10:36.120 --> 00:10:39.660 but I want to dive into it a little bit, that says that we are better together. 00:10:39.980 --> 00:10:40.780 And that is true. 00:10:40.860 --> 00:10:44.060 As the body of Christ, we are, and we're intended to be together, 00:10:44.180 --> 00:10:48.740 but only when the body is living for the glory of God and the growth of one another. 00:10:49.280 --> 00:10:50.060 And that's what we do. 00:10:50.480 --> 00:10:55.020 It's the vertical and horizontal relationships that we have here, 00:10:55.020 --> 00:10:58.340 that I and you, we are living for the glory of God. 00:10:58.500 --> 00:11:02.180 So everything that I do, everything that I say, everything that I think, 00:11:02.420 --> 00:11:05.360 everything that I am, it is for the glory of God. 00:11:05.440 --> 00:11:06.760 It's why God saves us. 00:11:06.920 --> 00:11:08.680 It's why God calls us. 00:11:08.840 --> 00:11:11.400 It's why God sends us for his glory. 00:11:11.400 --> 00:11:14.680 But then we work together for the growth of one another. 00:11:15.580 --> 00:11:17.200 And that's what we're going to dive into today. 00:11:17.840 --> 00:11:20.200 Because we are some messy, messy people. 00:11:20.320 --> 00:11:23.700 All of us, me included, probably more so than any of you, right? 00:11:24.120 --> 00:11:26.020 So let's look at this, starting in verse 7. 00:11:27.220 --> 00:11:27.660 Paul says, 00:11:27.660 --> 00:11:32.560 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. 00:11:33.720 --> 00:11:34.720 Therefore, it says, 00:11:34.820 --> 00:11:40.140 When he ascended on high, he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men. 00:11:40.980 --> 00:11:46.460 In saying he ascended, what does it mean that he also descended into the lower regions, the earth? 00:11:46.820 --> 00:11:53.440 He who descended is one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things. 00:11:54.080 --> 00:11:54.820 Verse 11, 00:11:54.820 --> 00:12:00.660 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds, and teachers, 00:12:00.920 --> 00:12:05.740 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body, 00:12:06.100 --> 00:12:10.780 until we all attain to the unity of the faith of the knowledge of the Son of God, 00:12:10.980 --> 00:12:15.660 to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 00:12:15.820 --> 00:12:20.740 so that we may no longer be children tossed to and fro by the waves, 00:12:20.740 --> 00:12:27.160 and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness and deceitful schemes. 00:12:27.600 --> 00:12:33.900 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, 00:12:34.140 --> 00:12:41.320 into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint which it is equipped. 00:12:41.620 --> 00:12:49.400 When each part is working properly, makes the body grow, that it builds itself up in love. 00:12:49.560 --> 00:12:56.180 So there's four things that I want us to kind of draw from this about who you and I are in the unity of the body, 00:12:56.520 --> 00:13:00.180 who we are in Christ, and who we are in the body of Christ. 00:13:00.260 --> 00:13:03.320 And number one, this is going to be our encouraging piece of where we're at, all right? 00:13:03.440 --> 00:13:06.300 Number one, you are gifted in Christ. 00:13:07.020 --> 00:13:08.400 Every single one of you. 00:13:08.700 --> 00:13:13.940 If you are saved, you are gifted in Christ. 00:13:14.100 --> 00:13:16.540 All right, so let's look back, verse 7 through 10. 00:13:17.580 --> 00:13:22.060 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. 00:13:22.540 --> 00:13:29.260 Therefore, it says, when he ascended on high, he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men. 00:13:29.860 --> 00:13:32.840 In saying he ascended, what does it mean? 00:13:32.920 --> 00:13:36.560 But that he also descended into lower regions the earth. 00:13:36.560 --> 00:13:43.960 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things. 00:13:44.080 --> 00:13:48.400 All right, so it's what Christ, who he is, and then what he has done. 00:13:48.860 --> 00:13:52.100 And what he has done for each and every one of us. 00:13:52.160 --> 00:13:55.420 Now, when you look back at verse 7, jump back to that real quick. 00:13:56.000 --> 00:13:59.160 I want to give some clarity about what verse 7 is talking about. 00:13:59.700 --> 00:14:08.600 Verse 7 says, but grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. 00:14:09.400 --> 00:14:17.020 And so here, when we hear grace, what you and I think of is the grace of God that saves us. 00:14:17.260 --> 00:14:20.260 That grace is given to us while we were sinners. 00:14:20.460 --> 00:14:22.180 Grace that we did not deserve. 00:14:22.420 --> 00:14:31.060 We deserve punishment, we deserve wrath, but instead what we get is salvation and forgiveness in God through Christ alone. 00:14:31.260 --> 00:14:36.640 And when we hear grace and we think of that, most of the time, you and I are absolutely correct. 00:14:37.140 --> 00:14:40.620 The problem is that's not what Paul is talking about in that grace. 00:14:41.320 --> 00:14:44.240 And so I want to explain what Paul is talking about. 00:14:44.240 --> 00:14:52.400 You know, sometimes even in the English language that we have a word that is spelled the same, it looks the same, but means different things. 00:14:52.420 --> 00:14:52.840 Right? 00:14:52.940 --> 00:14:56.680 Like, I'm a sports guy, and so I'll use this illustration. 00:14:57.180 --> 00:15:02.560 When I'm talking about sports and I say, you know, when I was growing up, I played, I was a pitcher. 00:15:03.560 --> 00:15:11.140 And you hear that, and even if you don't know baseball, no one thinks that I was a vessel that held water that got poured out. 00:15:11.180 --> 00:15:11.380 Right? 00:15:11.880 --> 00:15:14.800 You hear the word pitcher and you know what that means. 00:15:14.980 --> 00:15:20.200 You are the guy that stood on the mound, that grabbed the baseball and threw it at the catcher and tried to get it by the batter. 00:15:20.420 --> 00:15:26.400 But when we look at the word pitcher, for us in the English language, it means different things. 00:15:26.580 --> 00:15:31.600 A pitcher that you can pour into your glass to drink from, or a pitcher in baseball. 00:15:31.980 --> 00:15:34.140 Well, grace here is kind of the same thing. 00:15:34.820 --> 00:15:40.280 What theologians refer to is that there is saving grace and there's equipping grace. 00:15:40.820 --> 00:15:44.080 And the equipping grace is what Paul is talking about here. 00:15:44.240 --> 00:15:50.960 Because he goes on to say that each one of us, according to the measure of Christ's gift. 00:15:51.040 --> 00:15:54.340 So here's what this means, that you and I are gifted. 00:15:55.080 --> 00:15:56.600 That we're all gifted. 00:15:57.360 --> 00:16:03.980 But then the beauty, and we're going to see this in our diversity here in a little bit, that we are gifted differently. 00:16:04.780 --> 00:16:08.260 And we are gifted by measure as Christ deems fit. 00:16:08.760 --> 00:16:12.160 So that all of us in the body of Christ, we all have a gift. 00:16:12.660 --> 00:16:16.080 The beauty of it is all of those gifts are different. 00:16:16.540 --> 00:16:21.600 And then even within that, it's not that you and I had to work and earn and try to figure it out. 00:16:21.660 --> 00:16:27.200 It's that God in his sovereignty, God in his power, God in his plan says, 00:16:27.420 --> 00:16:29.320 I'm going to give, Frank, I'm going to give you this gift. 00:16:29.460 --> 00:16:31.580 And this is who you're going to be in your gift. 00:16:31.760 --> 00:16:33.680 And then Alan, I'm going to give you this gift. 00:16:33.740 --> 00:16:35.820 And that's who you're going to be in this gift. 00:16:35.880 --> 00:16:37.460 And Kareem, I'm going to give you this gift. 00:16:37.580 --> 00:16:38.820 And this is who you're going to be. 00:16:38.880 --> 00:16:41.300 Because I'm God and I'm sovereign and this is what I do. 00:16:42.460 --> 00:16:44.760 And so your giftedness is not even found in you. 00:16:45.700 --> 00:16:46.720 It's not found in me. 00:16:47.220 --> 00:16:48.520 But it's found in him. 00:16:48.800 --> 00:16:50.180 And this is what he does. 00:16:50.180 --> 00:16:53.960 And so the application of this, when we begin to think about it, is this. 00:16:54.220 --> 00:16:56.560 You and I in the body of Christ are not accidents. 00:16:57.420 --> 00:16:58.620 We're purposed. 00:16:59.220 --> 00:17:00.400 We're appointed. 00:17:01.180 --> 00:17:02.120 We're chosen. 00:17:02.820 --> 00:17:11.740 We're given in God's grace through the grace gifts that he gives us to then function and live in the body. 00:17:11.840 --> 00:17:14.520 So that all and I have a purpose. 00:17:14.860 --> 00:17:18.160 We find our value within the context of the body. 00:17:18.160 --> 00:17:22.820 And God's looking to use every single one of us. 00:17:24.060 --> 00:17:33.760 And so within this, what we know is that when the body is functioning healthy, that you and I, if you are found in Christ, you've got to be a contributor. 00:17:34.720 --> 00:17:36.660 You've got to be a contributor to the body. 00:17:37.560 --> 00:17:39.300 This is what God gifted you to be. 00:17:39.920 --> 00:17:42.000 This is what he called you in Christ to be. 00:17:42.280 --> 00:17:44.200 This is what he's done for you. 00:17:44.440 --> 00:17:46.580 This is why he's placed you here. 00:17:47.620 --> 00:17:53.280 And this is why it's so important that we all can kind of begin to understand the body that we're connected to. 00:17:53.360 --> 00:17:54.820 I read a statistic this week. 00:17:54.900 --> 00:17:56.220 Just kind of heard it in passing. 00:17:56.360 --> 00:17:58.440 And they were polling my generation. 00:17:59.500 --> 00:18:00.320 My generation, all right? 00:18:01.020 --> 00:18:03.000 So I believe it was like 30 to 45. 00:18:03.280 --> 00:18:04.060 I'm 42. 00:18:04.200 --> 00:18:05.540 Kind of getting to the other end of that, right? 00:18:06.340 --> 00:18:11.400 And it was, they were polling my generation, and they asked him this question. 00:18:12.340 --> 00:18:16.640 They said, how many churches do you belong to? 00:18:17.860 --> 00:18:29.520 And over 75%, 75% of them began to say multiple churches that they felt that they were a part of in different bodies. 00:18:31.000 --> 00:18:34.900 And then within there, what are you contributing to that body? 00:18:35.060 --> 00:18:39.540 And of that 75%, it was almost 0% of them, right? 00:18:40.260 --> 00:18:45.320 But so for us, what we find of who we are, we feel called to the body. 00:18:45.600 --> 00:18:50.200 God places us there, and then we contribute into that body. 00:18:50.520 --> 00:18:52.860 Because we have been gifted in Christ. 00:18:52.960 --> 00:18:58.200 But then the next thing I want us to see in this is that we're still a work in progress, right? 00:18:58.200 --> 00:19:00.100 You and I, we are a work in progress. 00:19:00.200 --> 00:19:07.580 Verse 11, and he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds, and teachers 00:19:07.580 --> 00:19:15.020 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ. 00:19:15.120 --> 00:19:18.660 So verse 11, what Paul does is he comes in and says this. 00:19:18.680 --> 00:19:20.060 Now, we just read a bunch of titles. 00:19:20.880 --> 00:19:25.860 Some of those titles were known to the church then and not known to the church today. 00:19:26.140 --> 00:19:30.100 Some of them overlap and continue to be consistent. 00:19:30.540 --> 00:19:34.480 And some of those, we've brought in other titles in the church as well. 00:19:34.600 --> 00:19:37.460 But what I want you to get is not hung up on the titles, all right? 00:19:37.580 --> 00:19:42.800 But to think through what Paul is establishing are the different layers and responsibilities 00:19:42.800 --> 00:19:45.480 of the leadership of the church. 00:19:45.520 --> 00:19:52.780 So he says, look, verse 11, here's the leaders, and then verse 12, here's what they're to do. 00:19:53.440 --> 00:20:01.880 To equip the saints for the work of the ministry, for building up the body of Christ. 00:20:02.420 --> 00:20:12.240 And so I, the leadership, who we are, we are called to equip the body for the ministry of the work. 00:20:12.320 --> 00:20:14.200 Now, this word equip is fascinating, right? 00:20:14.320 --> 00:20:16.380 And I'm so sorry if you're not a word person. 00:20:16.600 --> 00:20:18.980 We got a lot of word things that we're going to kind of work through today. 00:20:19.180 --> 00:20:21.940 This word equip carries with it three things. 00:20:22.340 --> 00:20:25.300 Number one, this word equip means that you need to fix what is broken. 00:20:26.420 --> 00:20:27.480 Fix what is broken. 00:20:27.900 --> 00:20:32.120 It carries with it to supply what is needed. 00:20:33.300 --> 00:20:38.040 And then lastly, to prepare for what needs to be done in the future. 00:20:38.720 --> 00:20:46.000 So when Paul comes in and he says that the leadership of the church is called to equip the saints, 00:20:46.160 --> 00:20:51.100 there's a process that the leadership that all of us are supposed to be going through in this, 00:20:51.100 --> 00:20:58.080 so that you and I understand that we aren't perfect, we haven't arrived, but we're in a process, 00:20:58.440 --> 00:21:03.460 that we are all gifted in Christ, but there's still some work that needs to be done. 00:21:03.840 --> 00:21:07.460 I read a guy this week who used this illustration, and I loved it. 00:21:07.460 --> 00:21:14.700 He used the illustration of equipping the body of Christ for the work of ministry by talking about a bone that had been broken. 00:21:15.600 --> 00:21:23.020 And he said he gave this illustration, when a bone is severely broken, number one, the bone must be set. 00:21:24.360 --> 00:21:29.720 And when we look at this in the body of Christ, what we see is that sin broke us, 00:21:30.280 --> 00:21:36.000 we are found new and restored in Christ, but we're still walking through that brokenness. 00:21:36.540 --> 00:21:38.720 We're still walking through that pain. 00:21:39.040 --> 00:21:41.220 We're still walking through that journey. 00:21:41.560 --> 00:21:46.700 And so what we take is broken, and we set it, and we get it back in place. 00:21:46.800 --> 00:21:51.680 But if you've ever had a bone that needs to be set, you know it doesn't get set, and then you walk right out, right? 00:21:52.740 --> 00:21:55.160 There's still a process that needs to happen. 00:21:55.600 --> 00:22:01.860 That once the bone is set, the bone must be supported with a cast. 00:22:02.720 --> 00:22:05.680 That it needs to be supplied what is lacking. 00:22:06.400 --> 00:22:11.960 The structure and the support around it, so that the bone that is now supported, 00:22:12.600 --> 00:22:18.320 the bone that has been set back in place, can now grow and can now heal. 00:22:19.960 --> 00:22:23.300 And if you've ever broken a bone and had a cast, 00:22:24.180 --> 00:22:29.940 I remember when I was in fourth grade, fifth grade, somewhere after my fifth grade year, I broke my wrist. 00:22:31.120 --> 00:22:32.380 And I thought it was so cool. 00:22:33.760 --> 00:22:34.920 I was going to get a cast. 00:22:36.060 --> 00:22:37.640 And I went down, and I got a cast. 00:22:37.700 --> 00:22:41.340 And this was before, like, you got, like, different color cast, right? 00:22:41.480 --> 00:22:44.240 And this was before you got the cast that could somewhat get wet. 00:22:44.420 --> 00:22:48.060 This is where you got that, like, white cast that was white for about three minutes. 00:22:48.260 --> 00:22:51.260 And then it just started to turn brown and smell like Funyuns, right? 00:22:51.320 --> 00:22:53.880 Like, y'all remember that, what I'm talking about, right? 00:22:54.180 --> 00:22:55.160 And that's what I got. 00:22:55.240 --> 00:22:58.520 And for, like, the first day, I was like, this is the coolest thing ever. 00:22:59.840 --> 00:23:03.240 Like, school was, like, the last week of school, and everybody was, like, writing their names. 00:23:03.340 --> 00:23:05.020 And some people write some other stuff on them. 00:23:05.040 --> 00:23:06.020 You got to scratch it out, right? 00:23:06.040 --> 00:23:07.400 And that's what you're doing with your cast. 00:23:07.600 --> 00:23:11.720 And then after, like, a couple of days, you're like, when do I get this thing off? 00:23:12.800 --> 00:23:17.000 When my arm's starting to itch, I'm ready to move my hand again. 00:23:17.220 --> 00:23:19.080 When can I get this thing off? 00:23:19.600 --> 00:23:24.520 And so for us, when we think about this, not only does the bone need to be set to be put back in place, 00:23:24.520 --> 00:23:29.060 not only does the bone need to be supported with a cast so that it can grow and it can heal, 00:23:29.240 --> 00:23:35.440 but the bone must be released so that it can do what it was created and was called to do. 00:23:36.220 --> 00:23:41.760 And so that for those of us in leadership, for those of us in leadership of the church, 00:23:41.860 --> 00:23:46.300 for all of us, the process that we go through in equipping is to fix what was broken, 00:23:46.640 --> 00:23:53.480 supply what is lacking, and then release to do and to serve in the way that God has called us to do. 00:23:54.300 --> 00:23:55.280 And this is my job. 00:23:56.920 --> 00:23:59.300 And this is our job as the leaders of the church. 00:24:00.560 --> 00:24:02.680 Regardless of what our title is, 00:24:03.980 --> 00:24:06.520 regardless of what we think we're here to do, 00:24:07.380 --> 00:24:09.180 Paul says, no, no, no, let's look at this. 00:24:09.180 --> 00:24:14.200 Verse 11, pastors, teachers, leaders, this is what you're to do, 00:24:14.340 --> 00:24:21.920 to equip the saints, to minister to the body, to do the ministry, right? 00:24:22.600 --> 00:24:24.640 So here's the thing. 00:24:25.580 --> 00:24:28.460 As we talk about the fullness of what you should come here and do, 00:24:29.200 --> 00:24:30.920 you should contribute, yes, 00:24:31.940 --> 00:24:34.740 but there's a peace also of you that you should just consume, 00:24:35.880 --> 00:24:38.060 that you need to come and be poured into, 00:24:38.940 --> 00:24:41.560 that you need to come and have others invest in, 00:24:42.140 --> 00:24:45.800 that you need to come and have people speak difficult things into your life 00:24:45.800 --> 00:24:47.840 of where you are and what you're going through, 00:24:48.320 --> 00:24:50.440 that you need to have a point in time, 00:24:50.540 --> 00:24:53.000 you need to have built-in areas of your life 00:24:53.000 --> 00:24:56.160 where you recognize that you're a dried-up sponge 00:24:56.160 --> 00:24:58.560 that needs to have someone pouring into, 00:24:58.560 --> 00:25:01.800 and so we consume as well. 00:25:02.680 --> 00:25:06.280 And the problem so oftentimes where the church gets out of balance 00:25:06.280 --> 00:25:09.040 is we've got the people who consume 00:25:09.040 --> 00:25:11.320 and the people who contribute, 00:25:12.500 --> 00:25:13.860 and they're two different groups. 00:25:15.100 --> 00:25:16.740 And what Scripture points us to, 00:25:16.820 --> 00:25:19.580 what Paul points to the healthiness in the body is this. 00:25:19.920 --> 00:25:21.240 It's when you consume, 00:25:21.500 --> 00:25:22.620 it's when you're equipped, 00:25:22.900 --> 00:25:24.700 it's when others are pouring into you, 00:25:24.780 --> 00:25:27.180 and then as a result of being poured into you, 00:25:27.180 --> 00:25:28.900 you pour into others. 00:25:30.180 --> 00:25:34.940 And so we're the vessel that keeps getting poured and poured and poured, 00:25:35.120 --> 00:25:36.560 so then it pours out. 00:25:36.920 --> 00:25:38.580 And when this happens, Paul says, 00:25:39.120 --> 00:25:40.120 when this happens, 00:25:40.520 --> 00:25:43.520 this is when the building up of the body exists. 00:25:44.820 --> 00:25:48.180 And church, I've been, we've seen, we've experienced, 00:25:48.380 --> 00:25:51.540 when the body of Christ is the strongest, 00:25:52.500 --> 00:25:55.740 when the body of Christ is the most effective, 00:25:56.320 --> 00:25:59.960 when the body of Christ is seeing men, women, and children's lives 00:25:59.960 --> 00:26:02.440 transformed by the sake of the gospel, 00:26:02.640 --> 00:26:05.520 it's not because one person standing in the group of masses 00:26:05.520 --> 00:26:06.800 says, I'm going to do it all. 00:26:07.760 --> 00:26:11.240 It's when the body, through their giftedness of who God has called them to be, 00:26:11.580 --> 00:26:13.980 joins arms, joins hands, and says, 00:26:14.080 --> 00:26:17.420 no, we're marching toward this together in unity, 00:26:17.740 --> 00:26:20.940 leaning in and pressing on to one another 00:26:20.940 --> 00:26:22.520 for the glory of God, 00:26:22.600 --> 00:26:24.180 for the betterment of each other, 00:26:24.280 --> 00:26:26.440 and the building up is what begins to take place. 00:26:27.720 --> 00:26:29.820 And then Paul begins to describe 00:26:29.820 --> 00:26:31.760 when this is what the body does, 00:26:31.920 --> 00:26:33.880 when you and I realize that we're gifted, 00:26:34.240 --> 00:26:37.420 when you and I realize that we're a work in progress 00:26:37.420 --> 00:26:39.560 with things that we still need to pursue 00:26:39.560 --> 00:26:42.320 and look at and do to have others pour into us. 00:26:42.560 --> 00:26:44.220 And this is when we begin to see 00:26:44.220 --> 00:26:46.360 the unity start to form and take place. 00:26:46.840 --> 00:26:47.680 And so what we're going to see, 00:26:47.840 --> 00:26:49.340 the third thing we're going to talk about this morning 00:26:49.340 --> 00:26:53.320 is diversity that matures into unity. 00:26:54.620 --> 00:26:56.580 Diversity that matures into unity. 00:26:56.700 --> 00:26:57.920 Look at verse 13 and 14. 00:26:59.560 --> 00:27:00.880 This goes on, Paul says, 00:27:00.960 --> 00:27:05.060 until we all attain to the unity of the faith 00:27:05.060 --> 00:27:07.680 and of the knowledge of the Son of God 00:27:07.680 --> 00:27:09.260 to mature manhood, 00:27:09.400 --> 00:27:12.360 to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ 00:27:12.360 --> 00:27:15.080 so that we may no longer be children 00:27:15.080 --> 00:27:17.440 tossed to and fro by the waves 00:27:17.440 --> 00:27:19.800 and carried about by every wind of doctrine, 00:27:20.020 --> 00:27:21.080 by human cunning, 00:27:21.460 --> 00:27:23.940 by craftiness and deceitful schemes. 00:27:24.100 --> 00:27:26.520 So what Paul says is that our measure, 00:27:26.800 --> 00:27:29.780 right, like what we're comparing ourselves to, 00:27:29.940 --> 00:27:31.680 the standard that we look at, right, 00:27:31.840 --> 00:27:34.460 isn't a pastor, not a small group leader, 00:27:34.660 --> 00:27:35.980 not a ministry leader, 00:27:36.180 --> 00:27:38.540 not some TV celebrity, right, preacher celebrity, 00:27:38.660 --> 00:27:40.420 but what we're setting our standard to 00:27:40.420 --> 00:27:41.820 of what we want to become, 00:27:42.060 --> 00:27:44.260 of what we want to look like is Christ. 00:27:45.080 --> 00:27:47.720 So he's where we press to. 00:27:47.720 --> 00:27:51.280 But within this, we're aiming in a goal 00:27:51.280 --> 00:27:53.160 amongst each other, 00:27:53.260 --> 00:27:57.980 which is unity of faith and unity of knowledge. 00:27:58.460 --> 00:28:00.560 Now, the beautiful aspect of the church, 00:28:00.980 --> 00:28:03.480 one of the things that I absolutely love 00:28:03.480 --> 00:28:05.640 about our church and other churches 00:28:05.640 --> 00:28:07.640 God's given me the opportunity to be a part of, 00:28:07.860 --> 00:28:11.000 what I love the most about going on mission trips 00:28:11.000 --> 00:28:12.400 and being a part of 00:28:12.400 --> 00:28:14.920 is seeing the diversity of the body of Christ. 00:28:15.260 --> 00:28:16.520 I tell people all the time, 00:28:16.720 --> 00:28:18.960 if you've never been on a mission trip, 00:28:19.660 --> 00:28:20.680 overseas mission trip, 00:28:21.240 --> 00:28:23.560 if you've never been on an overseas mission trip, 00:28:23.860 --> 00:28:26.400 go on one, if nothing else, 00:28:26.560 --> 00:28:28.520 than for the opportunity to worship 00:28:28.520 --> 00:28:30.720 with a group of people who don't look like you, 00:28:30.860 --> 00:28:31.800 don't act like you, 00:28:31.860 --> 00:28:33.360 who come from a different culture than you. 00:28:33.760 --> 00:28:36.740 And to take and to go and to experience that 00:28:36.740 --> 00:28:38.580 and everything that that's a part of, 00:28:38.740 --> 00:28:40.520 to go and let that be who you are 00:28:40.520 --> 00:28:42.920 and you begin to experience the diversity. 00:28:43.180 --> 00:28:48.820 But also, diversity can create complications within there. 00:28:49.560 --> 00:28:51.820 And I'm not talking about one area of diversity. 00:28:52.720 --> 00:28:54.160 I'm looking out at this crowd 00:28:54.160 --> 00:28:57.360 and I don't know how many different individuals we have, 00:28:57.760 --> 00:29:01.320 but the biggest difficulty to the unity of the body 00:29:01.320 --> 00:29:05.900 is not found in the difference between cultures 00:29:05.900 --> 00:29:09.640 or races or language or socioeconomic. 00:29:09.800 --> 00:29:13.720 It's found individually between us, right? 00:29:15.000 --> 00:29:17.660 I'd like to say that in everything that my wife and I do, 00:29:17.860 --> 00:29:19.180 there's full unity, right? 00:29:19.660 --> 00:29:21.520 We're always on the same page. 00:29:22.220 --> 00:29:23.920 We never have disagreements. 00:29:24.520 --> 00:29:27.460 I never say things that I have to say I'm sorry for, right? 00:29:27.920 --> 00:29:29.540 You know that's not true, right? 00:29:29.640 --> 00:29:31.380 Because you know me and you know Aaron, right? 00:29:31.460 --> 00:29:32.580 You know who we are. 00:29:32.960 --> 00:29:35.580 The conflict in our marriage is the individuality 00:29:35.580 --> 00:29:36.740 that exists between me and her. 00:29:37.040 --> 00:29:38.220 That I want to do what I want to do 00:29:38.220 --> 00:29:39.360 and she wants to do what she wants to do 00:29:39.360 --> 00:29:40.860 and that's where the conflict comes. 00:29:41.580 --> 00:29:43.360 And there's great diversity in that. 00:29:43.740 --> 00:29:45.240 There's a beauty that she brings, 00:29:45.520 --> 00:29:47.640 but we have to work through that. 00:29:47.880 --> 00:29:49.960 And Paul says that as we work through 00:29:49.960 --> 00:29:52.640 our own individual experiences, 00:29:52.640 --> 00:29:55.280 as we grow and mature in Christ, 00:29:55.440 --> 00:29:57.560 what we can find is the unity of faith 00:29:57.560 --> 00:29:59.720 and the unity of knowledge. 00:30:00.420 --> 00:30:02.160 But the body is filled with individuals 00:30:02.160 --> 00:30:04.600 with different paths, different perspectives, 00:30:05.440 --> 00:30:06.220 different insights 00:30:06.220 --> 00:30:09.580 that has been and shaped their individual experience. 00:30:09.680 --> 00:30:10.660 Let me give you an example of this. 00:30:12.940 --> 00:30:15.400 If you ask me to think about the fondest days 00:30:15.400 --> 00:30:17.100 that I had in school growing up, 00:30:17.740 --> 00:30:19.340 kindergarten through college, 00:30:20.320 --> 00:30:22.480 the best time that I can think of 00:30:22.480 --> 00:30:24.600 was the three years that was middle school. 00:30:25.500 --> 00:30:27.740 I loved middle school. 00:30:28.480 --> 00:30:30.740 Sixth, seventh, and eighth grade 00:30:30.740 --> 00:30:33.660 were absolutely the best three years 00:30:33.660 --> 00:30:34.700 of my school experience. 00:30:34.700 --> 00:30:36.160 Now, if you ask my mom, 00:30:36.340 --> 00:30:38.380 it was the most painful three years 00:30:38.380 --> 00:30:39.740 of my school experience, right? 00:30:39.840 --> 00:30:43.080 But for me, I absolutely loved every minute of it. 00:30:43.260 --> 00:30:44.800 I had a great group of friends. 00:30:44.960 --> 00:30:46.640 I had a great group of teachers. 00:30:47.100 --> 00:30:49.880 I thrived in my activities 00:30:49.880 --> 00:30:51.720 and the things that I was a part of. 00:30:51.900 --> 00:30:53.720 I absolutely loved middle school. 00:30:53.960 --> 00:30:55.260 So for all the middle school teachers 00:30:55.260 --> 00:30:56.000 who are out there, 00:30:56.100 --> 00:30:57.080 when you talk to me, 00:30:57.260 --> 00:30:58.420 like I'm gonna encourage you 00:30:58.420 --> 00:31:00.300 because I absolutely loved 00:31:00.300 --> 00:31:01.640 my middle school experience. 00:31:02.060 --> 00:31:04.080 But sit down and talk with someone 00:31:04.080 --> 00:31:05.060 whose middle school experience 00:31:05.060 --> 00:31:05.500 was different. 00:31:06.760 --> 00:31:09.100 Because as much as I thrived in mine, 00:31:10.340 --> 00:31:12.720 as much as I loved my peer group, 00:31:13.360 --> 00:31:15.400 as much as my activities were built 00:31:15.400 --> 00:31:16.640 and wired for me 00:31:16.640 --> 00:31:18.520 and my teachers were wonderful, 00:31:18.740 --> 00:31:20.080 there's another group of people 00:31:20.080 --> 00:31:21.840 that walked into the sixth grade 00:31:21.840 --> 00:31:23.280 and for the next three years, 00:31:23.400 --> 00:31:25.220 it was the worst experience of their life. 00:31:26.240 --> 00:31:28.000 Their teachers and them didn't line up. 00:31:29.240 --> 00:31:30.000 Their activities, 00:31:30.140 --> 00:31:31.220 they couldn't find themselves 00:31:31.220 --> 00:31:32.520 and hit their groove. 00:31:32.840 --> 00:31:33.800 And because I know 00:31:33.800 --> 00:31:34.880 that that middle schoolers, 00:31:35.120 --> 00:31:36.720 just like the rest of us, right? 00:31:36.780 --> 00:31:37.760 Like they're not different. 00:31:38.020 --> 00:31:39.360 They're a picture of who we are. 00:31:40.300 --> 00:31:41.780 Can be harsh sometimes. 00:31:43.180 --> 00:31:44.160 And so there's bullying. 00:31:45.280 --> 00:31:46.360 There's talking down 00:31:46.360 --> 00:31:47.260 and all these things 00:31:47.260 --> 00:31:48.420 that begin to happen. 00:31:49.380 --> 00:31:51.120 But you take two different people 00:31:51.120 --> 00:31:53.880 who went to the exact same place, 00:31:54.460 --> 00:31:55.440 but walked away 00:31:55.440 --> 00:31:56.640 with two different experiences. 00:31:57.480 --> 00:31:58.760 And here's where I'm getting to with this. 00:31:59.560 --> 00:32:00.900 If we're not careful 00:32:00.900 --> 00:32:01.740 when we talk about 00:32:01.740 --> 00:32:02.880 the unity of faith 00:32:02.880 --> 00:32:04.300 and the unity of knowledge 00:32:04.300 --> 00:32:06.620 of what Paul's pointing us to, 00:32:07.160 --> 00:32:08.700 if we're not careful, 00:32:09.280 --> 00:32:10.960 you and I can allow 00:32:10.960 --> 00:32:12.840 our personal experiences, 00:32:13.600 --> 00:32:15.300 we can allow the things 00:32:15.300 --> 00:32:16.700 that we've experienced 00:32:16.700 --> 00:32:18.900 and seen and tasted in life 00:32:18.900 --> 00:32:20.020 to influence 00:32:20.020 --> 00:32:21.160 how we see, 00:32:21.600 --> 00:32:22.120 understand, 00:32:22.840 --> 00:32:23.280 believe, 00:32:23.560 --> 00:32:24.540 and apply the truth 00:32:24.540 --> 00:32:25.080 of God's word. 00:32:26.820 --> 00:32:26.940 Right? 00:32:27.900 --> 00:32:29.080 But biblical truth 00:32:29.080 --> 00:32:31.080 is truth regardless 00:32:31.080 --> 00:32:32.940 of my experience 00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:33.380 or yours. 00:32:34.320 --> 00:32:35.360 And that's what we have to come to. 00:32:35.400 --> 00:32:36.800 That's what Paul's pointing to. 00:32:37.160 --> 00:32:37.300 All right? 00:32:37.400 --> 00:32:37.840 Let me give you 00:32:37.840 --> 00:32:38.780 a couple examples 00:32:38.780 --> 00:32:40.240 about how your experiences 00:32:40.240 --> 00:32:41.620 can influence 00:32:41.620 --> 00:32:42.700 the biblical truth 00:32:42.700 --> 00:32:43.880 that God has pointed us to 00:32:43.880 --> 00:32:44.440 and called us to. 00:32:44.860 --> 00:32:45.760 The first one, 00:32:45.840 --> 00:32:46.120 forgiveness. 00:32:47.800 --> 00:32:49.320 Have you ever forgiven someone 00:32:49.320 --> 00:32:50.760 in your life? 00:32:50.920 --> 00:32:51.820 Have you ever forgiven someone? 00:32:52.060 --> 00:32:52.680 I hope so. 00:32:52.760 --> 00:32:53.500 Absolutely, yes. 00:32:53.540 --> 00:32:53.720 Right? 00:32:53.840 --> 00:32:55.080 We've all forgiven people. 00:32:55.700 --> 00:32:57.140 Have you ever forgiven someone, 00:32:57.320 --> 00:32:57.460 though, 00:32:57.880 --> 00:32:59.320 for them to turn around 00:32:59.320 --> 00:33:00.780 and do the exact same thing 00:33:00.780 --> 00:33:01.660 to you again? 00:33:02.040 --> 00:33:02.960 And then to turn around 00:33:02.960 --> 00:33:03.880 and do the exact same thing 00:33:03.880 --> 00:33:04.660 to you again? 00:33:04.860 --> 00:33:06.060 And you keep forgiving them 00:33:06.060 --> 00:33:06.940 and forgiving them 00:33:06.940 --> 00:33:07.820 and forgiving them 00:33:07.820 --> 00:33:08.860 and then one day 00:33:08.860 --> 00:33:09.740 you hit the point 00:33:09.740 --> 00:33:10.880 where I'm done. 00:33:11.700 --> 00:33:12.800 I'm going to replace 00:33:12.800 --> 00:33:13.580 my forgiveness 00:33:13.580 --> 00:33:14.460 with bitterness 00:33:14.460 --> 00:33:15.800 and we're going to roll with that. 00:33:15.860 --> 00:33:16.380 How about that? 00:33:17.040 --> 00:33:17.900 And that's where we are. 00:33:18.780 --> 00:33:20.800 And so our experience then 00:33:20.800 --> 00:33:21.860 of forgiveness 00:33:21.860 --> 00:33:23.260 is one that's associated 00:33:23.260 --> 00:33:24.040 with hurt 00:33:24.040 --> 00:33:24.940 and with pain. 00:33:25.260 --> 00:33:26.700 And so then we come into church 00:33:26.700 --> 00:33:27.780 and we hear about 00:33:27.780 --> 00:33:28.480 God's forgiveness. 00:33:29.420 --> 00:33:30.940 We hear how God calls us 00:33:30.940 --> 00:33:32.000 to forgive others 00:33:32.000 --> 00:33:32.900 and we go, 00:33:33.060 --> 00:33:33.400 whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, 00:33:33.400 --> 00:33:33.740 God, 00:33:33.920 --> 00:33:36.240 I don't know that I can do that 00:33:36.240 --> 00:33:37.500 because I need to apply 00:33:37.500 --> 00:33:38.840 my experience 00:33:38.840 --> 00:33:40.220 to your truth. 00:33:41.060 --> 00:33:42.040 And so what happens 00:33:42.040 --> 00:33:42.720 within there 00:33:42.720 --> 00:33:44.200 sinfully within us 00:33:44.200 --> 00:33:45.460 because we've been hurt 00:33:45.460 --> 00:33:46.560 in forgiveness, 00:33:47.400 --> 00:33:47.660 right? 00:33:48.040 --> 00:33:49.300 We can't forgive others 00:33:49.300 --> 00:33:50.580 the way Jesus has called us to, 00:33:51.100 --> 00:33:52.720 which is sacrificially, 00:33:53.100 --> 00:33:54.360 which is painfully, 00:33:54.700 --> 00:33:56.200 which is over and over again, 00:33:56.660 --> 00:33:56.980 right? 00:33:57.020 --> 00:33:58.280 So it affects the relationship 00:33:58.280 --> 00:33:59.500 of the way God's called us 00:33:59.500 --> 00:34:00.400 to forgive others, 00:34:00.520 --> 00:34:01.620 but it's also 00:34:01.620 --> 00:34:03.460 in a relationship with Him 00:34:03.460 --> 00:34:05.720 creates so much conflict. 00:34:06.000 --> 00:34:06.700 One of the things 00:34:06.700 --> 00:34:07.340 that I sit down 00:34:07.340 --> 00:34:08.680 and I talk with the most people about 00:34:08.680 --> 00:34:09.580 as they struggle 00:34:09.580 --> 00:34:10.400 with their faith 00:34:10.400 --> 00:34:10.960 is this, 00:34:11.180 --> 00:34:12.120 that people who struggle 00:34:12.120 --> 00:34:13.460 with the reality 00:34:13.460 --> 00:34:15.560 that God would forgive them 00:34:15.560 --> 00:34:17.080 over and over 00:34:17.080 --> 00:34:18.040 and over again, 00:34:18.820 --> 00:34:19.120 right? 00:34:20.100 --> 00:34:21.080 Because they've been hurt. 00:34:21.840 --> 00:34:22.660 And I hear statements 00:34:22.660 --> 00:34:23.140 so many times, 00:34:23.220 --> 00:34:24.140 like as many times 00:34:24.140 --> 00:34:25.420 as I've hurt God, 00:34:25.660 --> 00:34:26.820 I cannot believe 00:34:26.820 --> 00:34:28.040 that God would forgive me 00:34:28.040 --> 00:34:29.520 and that God would find value. 00:34:30.500 --> 00:34:30.800 So see, 00:34:30.860 --> 00:34:33.100 we allow our individual experience 00:34:33.100 --> 00:34:34.960 to pull us away 00:34:34.960 --> 00:34:35.740 from God's truth. 00:34:35.840 --> 00:34:36.260 The second thing 00:34:36.260 --> 00:34:36.880 I want to talk about 00:34:36.880 --> 00:34:37.360 is grace, 00:34:37.480 --> 00:34:38.220 and I do want to talk 00:34:38.220 --> 00:34:39.060 about saving grace 00:34:39.060 --> 00:34:39.960 on this one. 00:34:40.900 --> 00:34:41.700 One of the things 00:34:41.700 --> 00:34:43.440 that so many of us, 00:34:43.460 --> 00:34:44.320 if not all of us, 00:34:44.360 --> 00:34:45.360 were brought into 00:34:45.360 --> 00:34:46.800 with a mindset is this, 00:34:46.920 --> 00:34:48.040 if you want something, 00:34:48.380 --> 00:34:49.000 go and earn it. 00:34:50.280 --> 00:34:51.260 If you're down, 00:34:51.380 --> 00:34:52.580 don't wait on anybody else. 00:34:52.880 --> 00:34:53.920 Pull yourself back up. 00:34:54.800 --> 00:34:56.740 Work harder than anyone else. 00:34:57.060 --> 00:34:58.720 Don't take what was handed to you. 00:34:59.000 --> 00:35:00.320 Go out and get yours. 00:35:00.600 --> 00:35:01.740 Be a contributing member 00:35:01.740 --> 00:35:02.540 of society. 00:35:02.940 --> 00:35:04.360 Make sure that you're pressing too. 00:35:04.680 --> 00:35:06.020 Go get what you earn. 00:35:06.300 --> 00:35:07.460 Go get what you deserve. 00:35:07.480 --> 00:35:09.060 But then God looks at us 00:35:09.060 --> 00:35:09.340 and says, 00:35:09.440 --> 00:35:10.060 nope, grace. 00:35:12.220 --> 00:35:12.580 Grace. 00:35:14.020 --> 00:35:15.600 And what we do within that 00:35:15.600 --> 00:35:15.900 is we go, 00:35:16.060 --> 00:35:16.360 whoa, whoa, whoa. 00:35:16.520 --> 00:35:17.100 But wait a minute. 00:35:17.300 --> 00:35:18.220 There is these areas 00:35:18.220 --> 00:35:19.240 that I've got to earn it though. 00:35:19.420 --> 00:35:19.580 Right? 00:35:19.620 --> 00:35:20.200 There's these areas 00:35:20.200 --> 00:35:21.580 that I've got to achieve this, 00:35:21.760 --> 00:35:23.140 that I've got to work through this. 00:35:23.180 --> 00:35:23.320 Right? 00:35:23.440 --> 00:35:24.820 Because I've been ingrained 00:35:24.820 --> 00:35:26.120 with that my entire life. 00:35:26.220 --> 00:35:27.980 We take an American work ethic 00:35:27.980 --> 00:35:29.100 and we impose it 00:35:29.100 --> 00:35:30.120 on a biblical Christianity 00:35:30.120 --> 00:35:31.700 in the context of grace. 00:35:31.760 --> 00:35:32.600 And it doesn't fit. 00:35:33.720 --> 00:35:34.720 Because we don't get 00:35:34.720 --> 00:35:35.360 what we deserve. 00:35:36.620 --> 00:35:38.040 We don't get what we've earned. 00:35:39.160 --> 00:35:40.440 Instead, God gives us his grace. 00:35:41.340 --> 00:35:42.200 And then he says this, 00:35:42.440 --> 00:35:43.680 you haven't earned the grace, 00:35:43.880 --> 00:35:44.900 but you respond to it. 00:35:45.680 --> 00:35:47.360 You respond to God's grace. 00:35:47.660 --> 00:35:48.180 And so go. 00:35:48.840 --> 00:35:49.460 So go. 00:35:49.720 --> 00:35:51.000 And so what Paul is saying 00:35:51.000 --> 00:35:51.640 to his church, 00:35:51.720 --> 00:35:52.960 and this is the church at Ephesus, 00:35:53.100 --> 00:35:54.780 and this is so important for us, 00:35:54.880 --> 00:35:56.320 is as we go through, 00:35:56.480 --> 00:35:57.880 as we live in the midst 00:35:57.880 --> 00:35:58.760 of our diversity, 00:35:58.980 --> 00:36:00.460 of our different experiences, 00:36:00.740 --> 00:36:01.920 of our different past, 00:36:02.020 --> 00:36:02.900 that we continue 00:36:02.900 --> 00:36:04.920 to build one another up 00:36:04.920 --> 00:36:06.360 so that we gain utmost 00:36:06.360 --> 00:36:07.280 of all things, 00:36:07.520 --> 00:36:08.840 the unity of faith 00:36:08.840 --> 00:36:10.660 and the unity of knowledge, 00:36:11.460 --> 00:36:14.120 of trusting and leaning in 00:36:14.120 --> 00:36:15.780 of God's word. 00:36:16.960 --> 00:36:18.320 And that this is what it says, 00:36:18.420 --> 00:36:20.040 and so this is what I hold to, 00:36:20.100 --> 00:36:21.160 and this is what I cling to. 00:36:22.780 --> 00:36:24.100 And so as we move 00:36:24.100 --> 00:36:24.700 to our last point, 00:36:24.760 --> 00:36:25.400 I want to say this, 00:36:25.620 --> 00:36:25.800 all right? 00:36:26.460 --> 00:36:27.980 So the Bible is no longer 00:36:27.980 --> 00:36:29.360 this is what it means to me. 00:36:30.860 --> 00:36:32.040 But the Bible is now 00:36:32.040 --> 00:36:33.140 this is what it means. 00:36:34.040 --> 00:36:36.000 And I seek to strive 00:36:36.000 --> 00:36:36.940 to understand. 00:36:37.720 --> 00:36:39.880 I seek to strive to obey. 00:36:40.600 --> 00:36:40.780 Right? 00:36:41.280 --> 00:36:42.440 We can take the truth 00:36:42.440 --> 00:36:43.600 and we can apply it, 00:36:44.020 --> 00:36:45.480 but we fight for 00:36:45.480 --> 00:36:46.780 the understanding 00:36:46.780 --> 00:36:47.720 of the meaning, 00:36:48.120 --> 00:36:49.740 the unity of faith, 00:36:49.860 --> 00:36:51.280 the unity of knowledge. 00:36:52.100 --> 00:36:52.980 And then the last thing, 00:36:54.220 --> 00:36:55.380 the point that you and I 00:36:55.380 --> 00:36:56.520 oftentimes as Christians 00:36:56.520 --> 00:36:57.880 like to take and manipulate 00:36:57.880 --> 00:36:59.520 is truth and love. 00:37:00.320 --> 00:37:01.160 Read Ephesians 4, 00:37:01.240 --> 00:37:02.000 15 through 16. 00:37:03.060 --> 00:37:03.500 Paul says, 00:37:03.500 --> 00:37:03.900 rather, 00:37:04.700 --> 00:37:05.780 speaking the truth 00:37:05.780 --> 00:37:06.480 in love, 00:37:07.220 --> 00:37:08.340 we are to grow up 00:37:08.340 --> 00:37:09.120 in every way 00:37:09.120 --> 00:37:09.760 into him 00:37:09.760 --> 00:37:10.560 who is the head 00:37:10.560 --> 00:37:11.320 into Christ, 00:37:12.000 --> 00:37:12.740 from whom 00:37:12.740 --> 00:37:13.640 the whole body 00:37:13.640 --> 00:37:15.280 joined and held together 00:37:15.280 --> 00:37:16.340 by every joint 00:37:16.340 --> 00:37:17.380 with which it is equipped. 00:37:17.780 --> 00:37:18.580 When each part 00:37:18.580 --> 00:37:19.600 is working properly, 00:37:19.720 --> 00:37:20.880 it makes the body grow 00:37:20.880 --> 00:37:22.200 so that it builds 00:37:22.200 --> 00:37:23.320 itself up in love. 00:37:23.740 --> 00:37:24.440 So if you and I 00:37:24.440 --> 00:37:25.060 are going to function 00:37:25.060 --> 00:37:25.640 and you and I 00:37:25.640 --> 00:37:26.340 are going to live this way, 00:37:26.400 --> 00:37:26.900 you and I are going to be 00:37:26.900 --> 00:37:27.880 the body of Christ. 00:37:27.980 --> 00:37:28.520 And he gives us 00:37:28.520 --> 00:37:29.460 the imagery 00:37:29.460 --> 00:37:30.520 and the picture 00:37:30.520 --> 00:37:31.420 of a body, right? 00:37:32.480 --> 00:37:33.680 That the hand 00:37:33.680 --> 00:37:35.840 is there for a point 00:37:35.840 --> 00:37:36.620 and for a purpose 00:37:36.620 --> 00:37:37.440 and then it's used 00:37:37.440 --> 00:37:37.920 in a way 00:37:37.920 --> 00:37:38.820 to encourage 00:37:38.820 --> 00:37:39.820 and to strengthen 00:37:39.820 --> 00:37:40.820 and to build the arm 00:37:40.820 --> 00:37:41.600 and the leg 00:37:41.600 --> 00:37:42.100 and the heart 00:37:42.100 --> 00:37:42.600 and the lungs 00:37:42.600 --> 00:37:43.060 and the ears 00:37:43.060 --> 00:37:43.560 and the eyes 00:37:43.560 --> 00:37:44.500 and that every part 00:37:44.500 --> 00:37:45.340 of the body 00:37:45.340 --> 00:37:46.360 serves a purpose 00:37:46.360 --> 00:37:47.620 and it's all held together 00:37:47.620 --> 00:37:48.900 and that this grows 00:37:48.900 --> 00:37:49.580 and it matures 00:37:49.580 --> 00:37:50.620 and it strengthens 00:37:50.620 --> 00:37:51.940 as we pour into one another 00:37:51.940 --> 00:37:53.040 and then it's done 00:37:53.040 --> 00:37:55.040 in these three words 00:37:55.040 --> 00:37:56.040 that Paul says 00:37:56.040 --> 00:37:56.880 and we're going to talk 00:37:56.880 --> 00:37:57.760 about what this means 00:37:57.760 --> 00:37:58.520 really quickly. 00:37:58.880 --> 00:38:00.260 He says this happens 00:38:00.260 --> 00:38:01.340 through speaking truth 00:38:01.340 --> 00:38:01.780 and love. 00:38:02.760 --> 00:38:03.440 Through speaking truth 00:38:03.440 --> 00:38:04.120 and love. 00:38:05.160 --> 00:38:06.180 What does that mean? 00:38:07.660 --> 00:38:08.400 What does that mean? 00:38:09.880 --> 00:38:10.580 When someone says 00:38:10.580 --> 00:38:11.700 I'm going to have a conversation 00:38:11.700 --> 00:38:12.700 I've got a difficult conversation 00:38:12.700 --> 00:38:14.060 I need to speak some truth 00:38:14.060 --> 00:38:14.860 and love to someone. 00:38:15.640 --> 00:38:16.460 I've said that. 00:38:18.020 --> 00:38:18.680 I've had somebody 00:38:18.680 --> 00:38:19.440 sit across the table 00:38:19.440 --> 00:38:19.900 from me 00:38:19.900 --> 00:38:20.260 and say 00:38:20.260 --> 00:38:21.080 hey but you know 00:38:21.080 --> 00:38:21.380 what I need to do? 00:38:21.420 --> 00:38:22.900 I need to graciously 00:38:22.900 --> 00:38:23.840 and kindly 00:38:23.840 --> 00:38:24.980 speak some truth 00:38:24.980 --> 00:38:26.100 to you in love. 00:38:27.020 --> 00:38:27.960 What does that mean? 00:38:28.740 --> 00:38:29.720 For a long time 00:38:29.720 --> 00:38:31.400 I've defined this incorrectly. 00:38:32.540 --> 00:38:33.520 I've defined this 00:38:33.520 --> 00:38:34.900 in my life incorrectly 00:38:34.900 --> 00:38:37.020 and I think most of us 00:38:37.020 --> 00:38:37.860 as Christians 00:38:37.860 --> 00:38:39.380 define this 00:38:39.380 --> 00:38:40.920 and apply this incorrectly 00:38:40.920 --> 00:38:42.060 and so here's 00:38:42.060 --> 00:38:43.600 the incorrect definition 00:38:43.600 --> 00:38:45.320 that we so often times see. 00:38:45.780 --> 00:38:47.120 Hard facts with grace. 00:38:48.560 --> 00:38:49.360 Hard facts 00:38:49.360 --> 00:38:50.540 as we see them 00:38:50.540 --> 00:38:51.980 with grace. 00:38:52.600 --> 00:38:53.840 An incorrect way. 00:38:54.000 --> 00:38:54.640 Now I'm not saying 00:38:54.640 --> 00:38:55.400 it's not beneficial 00:38:55.400 --> 00:38:56.060 sometimes. 00:38:56.800 --> 00:38:56.920 Right? 00:38:56.960 --> 00:38:57.280 I'm going to give you 00:38:57.280 --> 00:38:58.300 an example of one 00:38:58.300 --> 00:38:59.300 in just a second 00:38:59.300 --> 00:39:00.080 with myself 00:39:00.080 --> 00:39:00.820 as the object 00:39:00.820 --> 00:39:01.700 of the humiliation. 00:39:01.880 --> 00:39:02.060 Right? 00:39:03.220 --> 00:39:03.720 But 00:39:03.720 --> 00:39:05.320 this isn't what Paul's 00:39:05.320 --> 00:39:06.000 talking about. 00:39:06.720 --> 00:39:07.900 It's not hard facts 00:39:07.900 --> 00:39:08.340 with grace. 00:39:08.420 --> 00:39:08.860 It's not what he's 00:39:08.860 --> 00:39:09.920 pointing us to. 00:39:10.660 --> 00:39:11.600 Hard facts with grace 00:39:11.600 --> 00:39:12.100 means this. 00:39:12.200 --> 00:39:13.080 A few years ago 00:39:13.080 --> 00:39:16.260 I've got someone 00:39:16.260 --> 00:39:16.920 that's very close 00:39:16.920 --> 00:39:17.480 in my life 00:39:17.480 --> 00:39:19.220 that hammers me home 00:39:19.220 --> 00:39:20.320 with truth. 00:39:21.700 --> 00:39:23.040 Sees areas of my life 00:39:23.040 --> 00:39:23.900 that I either see 00:39:23.900 --> 00:39:25.280 and choose to ignore 00:39:25.280 --> 00:39:26.880 or that I don't see. 00:39:26.960 --> 00:39:27.500 Most of the times 00:39:27.500 --> 00:39:28.100 I'll be honest with you 00:39:28.100 --> 00:39:28.500 I see him 00:39:28.500 --> 00:39:29.140 and I ignore him. 00:39:29.300 --> 00:39:29.340 Right? 00:39:29.700 --> 00:39:30.940 And sat down with me 00:39:30.940 --> 00:39:32.080 and this individual 00:39:32.080 --> 00:39:32.720 looked at me 00:39:32.720 --> 00:39:33.240 and said 00:39:33.240 --> 00:39:35.560 I mean you know 00:39:35.560 --> 00:39:36.000 I love you. 00:39:36.040 --> 00:39:36.260 Right? 00:39:36.580 --> 00:39:37.720 And anytime anyone 00:39:37.720 --> 00:39:38.700 says that to you 00:39:38.700 --> 00:39:38.960 right? 00:39:39.180 --> 00:39:40.280 What's about to happen 00:39:40.280 --> 00:39:40.920 is going to hurt. 00:39:41.040 --> 00:39:41.240 Right? 00:39:41.640 --> 00:39:42.120 No one says 00:39:42.120 --> 00:39:42.940 you know I love you. 00:39:43.000 --> 00:39:43.200 Right? 00:39:43.280 --> 00:39:43.820 Here's the keys 00:39:43.820 --> 00:39:44.460 to a new truck. 00:39:44.580 --> 00:39:45.400 That doesn't happen. 00:39:45.480 --> 00:39:45.640 Right? 00:39:47.780 --> 00:39:48.380 Says you know 00:39:48.380 --> 00:39:48.800 I love you. 00:39:48.840 --> 00:39:49.060 Right? 00:39:50.260 --> 00:39:51.080 And I said yeah. 00:39:52.600 --> 00:39:53.920 Kind of hold on 00:39:53.920 --> 00:39:54.400 for the moment 00:39:54.400 --> 00:39:55.940 and said 00:39:55.940 --> 00:39:58.180 you're getting 00:39:58.180 --> 00:39:58.700 kind of big. 00:40:00.920 --> 00:40:01.900 Y'all can laugh at me 00:40:01.900 --> 00:40:02.080 right? 00:40:02.140 --> 00:40:02.780 I'm good with it. 00:40:02.820 --> 00:40:02.940 Right? 00:40:03.420 --> 00:40:03.640 You're getting 00:40:03.640 --> 00:40:04.060 kind of big. 00:40:05.360 --> 00:40:05.560 You know 00:40:05.560 --> 00:40:06.400 I see kind of 00:40:06.400 --> 00:40:07.360 your eating plan 00:40:07.360 --> 00:40:08.300 and all those things 00:40:08.300 --> 00:40:09.260 that you need to do 00:40:09.260 --> 00:40:10.080 and you see all the things 00:40:10.080 --> 00:40:10.780 that need to take place 00:40:10.780 --> 00:40:11.220 in your life 00:40:11.220 --> 00:40:11.700 and I just 00:40:11.700 --> 00:40:12.480 man I love you 00:40:12.480 --> 00:40:13.220 I care about you 00:40:13.220 --> 00:40:14.040 and I need to speak 00:40:14.040 --> 00:40:14.620 into that 00:40:14.620 --> 00:40:15.740 and I want to be honest 00:40:15.740 --> 00:40:16.020 with you 00:40:16.020 --> 00:40:17.000 it was a game changer 00:40:17.000 --> 00:40:17.420 for me. 00:40:18.320 --> 00:40:19.180 And so many times 00:40:19.180 --> 00:40:19.720 though as Christians 00:40:19.720 --> 00:40:20.580 we take this 00:40:20.580 --> 00:40:21.420 and we say 00:40:21.420 --> 00:40:22.560 this is what this means 00:40:22.560 --> 00:40:23.360 and then we cap it. 00:40:24.440 --> 00:40:25.020 That's it. 00:40:25.860 --> 00:40:27.240 It's speaking hard facts 00:40:27.240 --> 00:40:28.500 about what I've observed 00:40:28.500 --> 00:40:29.420 I've experienced 00:40:29.420 --> 00:40:30.060 now I want to say 00:40:30.060 --> 00:40:31.700 there's benefits from that 00:40:31.700 --> 00:40:33.120 as I started exercising 00:40:33.120 --> 00:40:34.880 and eating a little bit differently 00:40:34.880 --> 00:40:35.340 right? 00:40:35.420 --> 00:40:36.180 If McDonald's 00:40:36.180 --> 00:40:36.900 would shut down 00:40:36.900 --> 00:40:38.200 I'd probably be 175 00:40:38.200 --> 00:40:39.000 right now 00:40:39.000 --> 00:40:39.240 okay? 00:40:39.380 --> 00:40:40.080 But I'm not 00:40:40.080 --> 00:40:41.220 because those golden arches 00:40:41.220 --> 00:40:42.380 just call me to it 00:40:42.380 --> 00:40:42.620 alright? 00:40:43.620 --> 00:40:43.880 Alright? 00:40:45.240 --> 00:40:46.500 But I needed it 00:40:46.500 --> 00:40:48.480 and it was good for me 00:40:48.480 --> 00:40:50.080 but that's not 00:40:50.080 --> 00:40:50.760 what this passage 00:40:50.760 --> 00:40:51.620 is talking about 00:40:51.620 --> 00:40:53.960 but that's what you 00:40:53.960 --> 00:40:54.380 you and I 00:40:54.380 --> 00:40:55.560 only live at 00:40:55.560 --> 00:40:56.180 often times. 00:40:57.200 --> 00:40:57.740 I'm going to speak 00:40:57.740 --> 00:40:58.600 some hard facts 00:40:58.600 --> 00:40:59.100 with grace 00:40:59.100 --> 00:41:00.220 I love you 00:41:00.220 --> 00:41:00.920 but 00:41:00.920 --> 00:41:02.180 so here's what 00:41:02.180 --> 00:41:02.920 truth and love 00:41:02.920 --> 00:41:03.520 means 00:41:03.520 --> 00:41:05.120 biblical truth 00:41:05.120 --> 00:41:05.820 from love 00:41:05.820 --> 00:41:07.800 I'm going to speak 00:41:07.800 --> 00:41:09.220 not my truth 00:41:09.220 --> 00:41:10.700 I'm going to speak 00:41:10.700 --> 00:41:12.280 not my experience 00:41:12.280 --> 00:41:13.600 I'm going to speak 00:41:13.600 --> 00:41:13.900 maybe 00:41:13.900 --> 00:41:15.440 not even my opinion 00:41:15.440 --> 00:41:17.500 but I'm going to speak 00:41:17.500 --> 00:41:18.760 God's truth 00:41:18.760 --> 00:41:20.440 into your life 00:41:20.440 --> 00:41:21.140 and it's going 00:41:21.140 --> 00:41:21.940 to hurt you 00:41:21.940 --> 00:41:23.220 but I love you 00:41:23.220 --> 00:41:24.540 but even more importantly 00:41:24.540 --> 00:41:25.480 I love him 00:41:25.480 --> 00:41:25.960 so that's where 00:41:25.960 --> 00:41:26.580 it's coming from 00:41:26.580 --> 00:41:28.420 because I love him 00:41:28.420 --> 00:41:29.320 this is where 00:41:29.320 --> 00:41:30.500 this lies 00:41:30.500 --> 00:41:32.320 and just earlier 00:41:32.320 --> 00:41:33.160 Paul said that 00:41:33.160 --> 00:41:34.340 Jesus is our example 00:41:34.340 --> 00:41:34.880 in all this 00:41:34.880 --> 00:41:35.360 of maturity 00:41:35.360 --> 00:41:36.540 so let's look at a time 00:41:36.540 --> 00:41:37.600 where Jesus did this 00:41:37.600 --> 00:41:38.740 in Mark 10 00:41:38.740 --> 00:41:40.060 starting in verse 17 00:41:40.060 --> 00:41:41.100 it says 00:41:41.100 --> 00:41:41.860 and he was setting out 00:41:41.860 --> 00:41:42.700 on his journey 00:41:42.700 --> 00:41:44.140 a man ran up 00:41:44.140 --> 00:41:45.620 and knelt before him 00:41:45.620 --> 00:41:46.800 and asked him 00:41:46.800 --> 00:41:47.760 good teacher 00:41:47.760 --> 00:41:49.140 what must I do 00:41:49.140 --> 00:41:50.580 to inherit eternal life 00:41:50.580 --> 00:41:51.840 so this is Jesus 00:41:51.840 --> 00:41:54.860 and we see 00:41:54.860 --> 00:41:55.520 what we know 00:41:55.520 --> 00:41:57.000 as the rich young ruler 00:41:57.000 --> 00:41:58.740 comes running up to him 00:41:58.740 --> 00:42:00.180 and I love his question 00:42:00.180 --> 00:42:01.700 it's a good question 00:42:01.700 --> 00:42:04.540 it's a great question 00:42:04.540 --> 00:42:05.460 teacher 00:42:05.460 --> 00:42:06.820 what must I do 00:42:06.820 --> 00:42:08.700 to inherit eternal life 00:42:08.700 --> 00:42:09.720 he doesn't say 00:42:09.720 --> 00:42:10.580 what must I do 00:42:10.580 --> 00:42:11.300 to earn 00:42:11.300 --> 00:42:13.360 what must I do 00:42:13.360 --> 00:42:14.340 to obtain 00:42:14.340 --> 00:42:15.940 he says 00:42:15.940 --> 00:42:17.020 what must I do 00:42:17.020 --> 00:42:17.860 to inherit 00:42:17.860 --> 00:42:18.960 I need this 00:42:18.960 --> 00:42:19.980 given to me 00:42:19.980 --> 00:42:22.340 it's not of me 00:42:22.340 --> 00:42:23.960 it's not from me 00:42:23.960 --> 00:42:24.600 Jesus 00:42:24.600 --> 00:42:26.420 how do I get 00:42:26.420 --> 00:42:28.060 this eternal life 00:42:28.060 --> 00:42:29.320 how do I inherit it 00:42:29.320 --> 00:42:31.280 and Jesus said to him 00:42:31.280 --> 00:42:32.980 why do you call me good 00:42:32.980 --> 00:42:35.340 no one is good 00:42:35.340 --> 00:42:36.380 except God alone 00:42:36.380 --> 00:42:37.660 by the way 00:42:37.660 --> 00:42:38.340 Jesus is saying 00:42:38.340 --> 00:42:38.760 right here 00:42:38.760 --> 00:42:39.260 in this moment 00:42:39.260 --> 00:42:39.760 I'm God 00:42:39.760 --> 00:42:41.900 if you call me good 00:42:41.900 --> 00:42:43.080 and you know 00:42:43.080 --> 00:42:44.180 that only God alone 00:42:44.180 --> 00:42:44.600 is good 00:42:44.600 --> 00:42:45.040 then you know 00:42:45.040 --> 00:42:45.760 you're talking about 00:42:45.760 --> 00:42:46.920 that you're talking to God 00:42:46.920 --> 00:42:48.200 and he doesn't argue with him 00:42:48.200 --> 00:42:50.780 you know the commandments 00:42:50.780 --> 00:42:51.440 do not murder 00:42:51.440 --> 00:42:52.460 do not commit adultery 00:42:52.460 --> 00:42:53.120 do not steal 00:42:53.120 --> 00:42:54.260 do not bear false witness 00:42:54.260 --> 00:42:55.420 do not defraud 00:42:55.420 --> 00:42:56.520 honor your father and mother 00:42:56.520 --> 00:42:58.520 and he 00:42:58.520 --> 00:42:59.560 the rich young ruler 00:42:59.560 --> 00:43:00.260 said to him 00:43:00.260 --> 00:43:01.780 teacher 00:43:01.780 --> 00:43:02.860 all these 00:43:02.860 --> 00:43:03.640 I have kept 00:43:03.640 --> 00:43:04.400 from my youth 00:43:04.400 --> 00:43:05.220 now 00:43:05.220 --> 00:43:06.420 here's where the friction's 00:43:06.420 --> 00:43:06.880 gonna come 00:43:06.880 --> 00:43:08.980 I've done it all 00:43:08.980 --> 00:43:10.920 I've earned it 00:43:10.920 --> 00:43:13.600 this is what I deserve now 00:43:13.600 --> 00:43:15.780 and then verse 21 00:43:15.780 --> 00:43:18.740 I love these first words 00:43:18.740 --> 00:43:19.900 and Jesus 00:43:19.900 --> 00:43:21.580 looking at him 00:43:21.580 --> 00:43:22.620 loved him 00:43:22.620 --> 00:43:23.640 let's pause right there 00:43:23.640 --> 00:43:24.120 for a second 00:43:24.120 --> 00:43:28.500 Jesus didn't say 00:43:28.500 --> 00:43:29.360 or didn't 00:43:29.360 --> 00:43:30.280 within his heart 00:43:30.280 --> 00:43:31.600 and Jesus 00:43:31.600 --> 00:43:32.660 looking at him 00:43:32.660 --> 00:43:33.240 thought 00:43:33.240 --> 00:43:34.740 what a prideful individual 00:43:34.740 --> 00:43:37.460 Jesus didn't look at him 00:43:37.460 --> 00:43:37.720 and say 00:43:37.720 --> 00:43:38.840 what an idiot 00:43:38.840 --> 00:43:41.460 Jesus 00:43:41.460 --> 00:43:42.720 looking at him 00:43:42.720 --> 00:43:43.660 loved him 00:43:43.660 --> 00:43:45.820 he didn't rebuke him 00:43:45.820 --> 00:43:47.620 he loved him 00:43:47.620 --> 00:43:49.180 and he said to him 00:43:49.180 --> 00:43:51.040 you lack one thing 00:43:51.040 --> 00:43:53.060 one thing 00:43:53.060 --> 00:43:55.560 go and sell 00:43:55.560 --> 00:43:56.680 all that you have 00:43:56.680 --> 00:43:58.240 and give to the poor 00:43:58.240 --> 00:43:59.540 and you will have 00:43:59.540 --> 00:44:00.440 treasure in heaven 00:44:00.440 --> 00:44:01.460 come 00:44:01.460 --> 00:44:02.600 and follow 00:44:02.600 --> 00:44:03.340 me 00:44:03.340 --> 00:44:04.120 just like it's about 00:44:04.120 --> 00:44:04.840 who you are 00:44:04.840 --> 00:44:05.820 there's gotta be 00:44:05.820 --> 00:44:06.620 some surrender 00:44:06.620 --> 00:44:07.760 there's gotta be 00:44:07.760 --> 00:44:08.300 a breaking 00:44:08.300 --> 00:44:09.500 of the old 00:44:09.500 --> 00:44:10.040 and Jesus 00:44:10.040 --> 00:44:10.800 looking at him 00:44:10.800 --> 00:44:11.580 in love 00:44:11.580 --> 00:44:13.680 speaks the truth 00:44:13.680 --> 00:44:14.120 to him 00:44:14.120 --> 00:44:16.020 the truth 00:44:16.020 --> 00:44:16.840 did Jesus speak 00:44:16.840 --> 00:44:20.340 Jesus didn't speak 00:44:20.340 --> 00:44:20.820 the truth 00:44:20.820 --> 00:44:21.400 of the custom 00:44:21.400 --> 00:44:24.140 Jesus didn't speak 00:44:24.140 --> 00:44:24.680 the truth 00:44:24.680 --> 00:44:25.360 of the culture 00:44:25.360 --> 00:44:27.680 Jesus spoke 00:44:27.680 --> 00:44:28.500 the truth 00:44:28.500 --> 00:44:29.340 of God's word 00:44:29.340 --> 00:44:31.360 into the individual 00:44:31.360 --> 00:44:32.500 that needed 00:44:32.500 --> 00:44:33.160 to hear it 00:44:33.160 --> 00:44:34.020 and it says 00:44:34.020 --> 00:44:34.980 verse 22 00:44:34.980 --> 00:44:36.640 disheartened 00:44:36.640 --> 00:44:37.500 by the saying 00:44:37.500 --> 00:44:38.780 he went away 00:44:38.780 --> 00:44:39.380 sorrowful 00:44:39.380 --> 00:44:40.880 for he had 00:44:40.880 --> 00:44:42.080 great possessions 00:44:42.080 --> 00:44:42.680 church 00:44:42.680 --> 00:44:43.100 I'm gonna close 00:44:43.100 --> 00:44:43.760 on this 00:44:43.760 --> 00:44:46.320 truth in love 00:44:46.320 --> 00:44:47.160 is not your 00:44:47.160 --> 00:44:48.140 or my perspective 00:44:48.140 --> 00:44:50.800 truth in love 00:44:50.800 --> 00:44:51.520 is not your 00:44:51.520 --> 00:44:52.700 or my experience 00:44:52.700 --> 00:44:55.180 it's not our opinion 00:44:55.180 --> 00:44:58.420 truth in love 00:44:58.420 --> 00:44:59.640 is the truth 00:44:59.640 --> 00:44:59.640 is the truth 00:44:59.640 --> 00:45:00.960 of God's word 00:45:00.960 --> 00:45:03.620 spoken from a life 00:45:03.620 --> 00:45:04.900 that seeks 00:45:04.900 --> 00:45:05.920 God's glory 00:45:05.920 --> 00:45:07.040 and your good 00:45:07.040 --> 00:45:08.940 and my good 00:45:08.940 --> 00:45:11.400 and that's what it looks like 00:45:11.400 --> 00:45:13.240 and that's what it is 00:45:13.240 --> 00:45:14.400 you know 00:45:14.400 --> 00:45:15.400 as we go 00:45:15.400 --> 00:45:16.300 and as we interact 00:45:16.300 --> 00:45:17.460 and as we live 00:45:17.460 --> 00:45:18.180 with one another 00:45:18.180 --> 00:45:19.560 I'm not saying 00:45:19.560 --> 00:45:20.580 that we don't learn 00:45:20.580 --> 00:45:21.740 from each other's experience 00:45:21.740 --> 00:45:22.300 we do 00:45:22.300 --> 00:45:25.280 but our experience 00:45:25.280 --> 00:45:27.200 is not the authority 00:45:27.200 --> 00:45:27.980 of our life 00:45:27.980 --> 00:45:29.760 God is 00:45:29.760 --> 00:45:32.580 your truth 00:45:32.580 --> 00:45:34.200 is not the truth 00:45:34.200 --> 00:45:34.960 of this world 00:45:34.960 --> 00:45:36.860 my truth 00:45:36.860 --> 00:45:38.080 is not the truth 00:45:38.080 --> 00:45:38.840 of this world 00:45:38.840 --> 00:45:40.060 God's truth 00:45:40.060 --> 00:45:40.880 is the truth 00:45:40.880 --> 00:45:41.440 of this world 00:45:41.440 --> 00:45:43.200 if I have to hear 00:45:43.200 --> 00:45:44.240 one more person 00:45:44.240 --> 00:45:45.980 who claims 00:45:45.980 --> 00:45:46.740 to be Christian 00:45:46.740 --> 00:45:47.860 that says 00:45:47.860 --> 00:45:48.520 the only thing 00:45:48.520 --> 00:45:49.080 that matters 00:45:49.080 --> 00:45:50.140 is your truth 00:45:50.140 --> 00:45:51.400 I'm gonna vomit 00:45:51.400 --> 00:45:55.200 because my truth 00:45:55.200 --> 00:45:57.520 is limited 00:45:57.520 --> 00:45:59.380 to me 00:45:59.380 --> 00:46:01.940 but God's truth 00:46:01.940 --> 00:46:04.200 overcomes it all 00:46:04.200 --> 00:46:05.840 let's pray 00:46:05.840 --> 00:46:10.440 God I thank you so much 00:46:10.440 --> 00:46:12.800 Lord for who you are 00:46:12.800 --> 00:46:14.540 and for what you've done 00:46:14.540 --> 00:46:16.420 Lord I thank you 00:46:16.420 --> 00:46:17.160 for the grace 00:46:17.160 --> 00:46:18.500 that you've given us 00:46:18.500 --> 00:46:19.040 Lord I thank you 00:46:19.040 --> 00:46:19.660 for the hope 00:46:19.660 --> 00:46:20.680 that we have 00:46:20.680 --> 00:46:21.140 in you 00:46:21.140 --> 00:46:22.500 and in you alone 00:46:22.500 --> 00:46:25.020 Lord I pray 00:46:25.020 --> 00:46:25.680 that as we 00:46:25.680 --> 00:46:26.820 go from here 00:46:26.820 --> 00:46:28.440 Lord that as we 00:46:28.440 --> 00:46:29.840 seek to glorify you 00:46:29.840 --> 00:46:31.860 Lord that as we 00:46:31.860 --> 00:46:32.740 seek to surrender 00:46:32.740 --> 00:46:33.380 our life 00:46:33.380 --> 00:46:34.720 to all that you are 00:46:34.720 --> 00:46:35.700 and all that you've 00:46:35.700 --> 00:46:36.520 called us to be 00:46:36.520 --> 00:46:39.500 Lord would it be done 00:46:39.500 --> 00:46:40.380 for your name 00:46:40.380 --> 00:46:42.020 and for your renown 00:46:42.020 --> 00:46:44.420 Lord I pray for unity 00:46:44.420 --> 00:46:45.580 amongst the body 00:46:45.580 --> 00:46:47.600 unity that 00:46:47.600 --> 00:46:48.620 Lord that brings us 00:46:48.620 --> 00:46:49.120 together 00:46:49.120 --> 00:46:51.500 and that builds us 00:46:51.500 --> 00:46:53.240 Lord may what 00:46:53.240 --> 00:46:54.320 the truth that we speak 00:46:54.320 --> 00:46:55.160 from not be from 00:46:55.160 --> 00:46:56.620 only our experience 00:46:56.620 --> 00:46:57.520 but may it be from 00:46:57.520 --> 00:46:58.160 our experience 00:46:58.160 --> 00:46:58.880 found in you 00:46:58.880 --> 00:47:00.320 may it be from 00:47:00.320 --> 00:47:00.940 your truth 00:47:00.940 --> 00:47:01.640 of who you are 00:47:01.640 --> 00:47:02.180 of who you've 00:47:02.180 --> 00:47:03.140 called us to be 00:47:03.140 --> 00:47:03.900 of what you've 00:47:03.900 --> 00:47:05.240 laid out before us 00:47:05.240 --> 00:47:07.580 Lord and in that 00:47:07.580 --> 00:47:08.700 we pursue for the 00:47:08.700 --> 00:47:09.040 hope 00:47:09.040 --> 00:47:11.700 of all that 00:47:11.700 --> 00:47:12.240 you are 00:47:12.240 --> 00:47:14.260 and all that 00:47:14.260 --> 00:47:15.400 you have for us 00:47:15.400 --> 00:47:21.240 church just a moment 00:47:21.240 --> 00:47:21.960 every head bowed 00:47:21.960 --> 00:47:22.680 every eye closed 00:47:22.680 --> 00:47:24.920 we're going to 00:47:24.920 --> 00:47:25.780 respond to him 00:47:25.780 --> 00:47:28.440 through worship 00:47:28.440 --> 00:47:34.720 may we respond 00:47:34.720 --> 00:47:38.360 in the beautiful 00:47:38.360 --> 00:47:40.420 knowledge and faith 00:47:40.420 --> 00:47:41.600 of Christ 00:47:41.600 --> 00:47:43.740 Jesus we thank you 00:47:43.740 --> 00:47:44.740 we love you 00:47:44.740 --> 00:47:45.560 we praise you 00:47:45.560 --> 00:47:59.160 thanks again for 00:47:59.160 --> 00:47:59.840 listening to the 00:47:59.840 --> 00:48:00.600 Willow Ridge Church 00:48:00.600 --> 00:48:01.400 weekly podcast 00:48:01.400 --> 00:48:02.580 we hope that you 00:48:02.580 --> 00:48:03.420 enjoyed listening to 00:48:03.420 --> 00:48:04.220 this week's message 00:48:04.220 --> 00:48:05.400 if you'd like to 00:48:05.400 --> 00:48:06.040 learn more about 00:48:06.040 --> 00:48:06.600 who we are 00:48:06.600 --> 00:48:07.280 or explore 00:48:07.280 --> 00:48:08.220 additional resources 00:48:08.220 --> 00:48:09.700 visit us online 00:48:09.700 --> 00:48:13.260 at www.willowridgechurch.com 00:48:13.260 --> 00:48:14.480 or by searching 00:48:14.480 --> 00:48:15.520 for Willow Ridge Church 00:48:15.520 --> 00:48:16.140 on Facebook 00:48:16.140 --> 00:48:16.820 and Instagram