WEBVTT 00:00:02.580 --> 00:00:07.720 - Welcome to the Willow Ridge Sermons Podcast. 00:00:07.720 --> 00:00:09.240 This is where you can find audio 00:00:09.240 --> 00:00:11.480 from Sunday morning messages and more. 00:00:11.480 --> 00:00:12.780 Make sure you're subscribed 00:00:12.780 --> 00:00:14.680 so that you don't miss future episodes 00:00:14.680 --> 00:00:15.920 and thanks for listening. 00:00:15.920 --> 00:00:23.600 - Well, good morning. 00:00:23.600 --> 00:00:25.160 If you have your Bibles and I hope you do, 00:00:25.160 --> 00:00:29.140 I wanna invite you to join us in 1 John chapter one. 00:00:30.140 --> 00:00:32.660 Over the next, this week and next week, 00:00:32.660 --> 00:00:35.380 we're gonna continue on in our series called Structure, 00:00:35.380 --> 00:00:37.300 where we look at who we are as a church. 00:00:37.300 --> 00:00:39.940 We explain why we do things the way that we do them 00:00:39.940 --> 00:00:41.780 and we connect them to what we believe 00:00:41.780 --> 00:00:46.740 is God's expectations for us as a church. 00:00:46.740 --> 00:00:50.060 And then the following Sunday, so in three weeks, 00:00:50.060 --> 00:00:53.620 we'll have Dr. Sam John from India will be here 00:00:53.620 --> 00:00:55.700 to preach and to share with us that morning, 00:00:55.700 --> 00:00:58.260 to talk about the ministry that's going on in India. 00:00:58.260 --> 00:01:00.660 And so you'll wanna be here and be a part of that 00:01:00.660 --> 00:01:03.260 for that service that morning. 00:01:03.260 --> 00:01:06.220 Exciting time, Sam is speaking at a church this morning. 00:01:06.220 --> 00:01:08.740 He's kinda touring all over, 00:01:08.740 --> 00:01:11.940 been in South Carolina, North Carolina, Texas. 00:01:11.940 --> 00:01:16.940 He'll be headed up to Illinois, Indiana and Ohio as well, 00:01:16.940 --> 00:01:21.620 over two months to share about the ministry that's there. 00:01:21.620 --> 00:01:23.500 So as you have it set in your mind 00:01:23.500 --> 00:01:25.140 to be able to pray for them. 00:01:25.140 --> 00:01:28.060 And then also wanna remind you about Tim and Maggie Rice 00:01:28.060 --> 00:01:30.140 that have been spending, I think about two and a half, 00:01:30.140 --> 00:01:31.380 or about two weeks now. 00:01:31.380 --> 00:01:33.460 They got two more weeks to go in Thailand 00:01:33.460 --> 00:01:35.740 where they're spending a month to do missions 00:01:35.740 --> 00:01:37.260 and to do ministry there. 00:01:37.260 --> 00:01:42.060 And so I wanna encourage you to be able to pray for them. 00:01:42.060 --> 00:01:45.620 As we continue on in our series, 00:01:45.620 --> 00:01:47.900 last week we talked about discipleship. 00:01:47.900 --> 00:01:49.580 This week we're gonna talk about fellowship. 00:01:49.580 --> 00:01:53.060 And we're doing so, and I had you turn to 1 John 1, 00:01:53.060 --> 00:01:54.680 but we're actually gonna start off, 00:01:54.680 --> 00:01:57.180 we're gonna look at Acts chapter two really quickly. 00:01:57.180 --> 00:01:58.940 This is a passage we looked at last week. 00:01:58.940 --> 00:02:00.580 We'll look at this passage next week. 00:02:00.580 --> 00:02:02.820 Kinda sets the foundation for us 00:02:02.820 --> 00:02:06.900 to understand what we believe we are to be as a church. 00:02:06.900 --> 00:02:07.820 Who are we to be? 00:02:07.820 --> 00:02:10.820 And it says this, Acts two starting in verse 42. 00:02:10.820 --> 00:02:15.660 "And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching 00:02:15.660 --> 00:02:19.840 "and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and prayers. 00:02:19.840 --> 00:02:22.920 "And awe came upon every soul, 00:02:22.920 --> 00:02:25.980 "and many wonders and signs were being done 00:02:25.980 --> 00:02:27.660 "through the apostles. 00:02:27.660 --> 00:02:30.320 "And all who believed were together 00:02:30.320 --> 00:02:33.180 "and had all things in common. 00:02:33.180 --> 00:02:36.780 "And they were selling their possessions and belongings 00:02:36.780 --> 00:02:41.180 "and distributing the proceeds to all as any had need. 00:02:41.180 --> 00:02:44.600 "And day by day, attending the temple together 00:02:44.600 --> 00:02:46.800 "and breaking bread in their homes, 00:02:46.800 --> 00:02:50.680 "they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 00:02:50.680 --> 00:02:54.600 "praising God and having favor with all the people. 00:02:54.600 --> 00:02:58.520 "And the Lord added to their number day by day 00:02:58.520 --> 00:03:00.960 "those who were being saved." 00:03:00.960 --> 00:03:05.240 So we believe what we see in Acts chapter two 00:03:05.240 --> 00:03:08.680 is a model that God gives us in his word 00:03:08.680 --> 00:03:11.080 that comes with an expectation. 00:03:11.080 --> 00:03:12.660 Of what we find in Acts chapter two, 00:03:12.660 --> 00:03:15.000 the early church as it is being formed, 00:03:15.000 --> 00:03:16.580 as it is being created, 00:03:16.580 --> 00:03:19.840 as the work of God is moving amongst men and women, 00:03:19.840 --> 00:03:22.500 and we see this body of believers formed 00:03:22.500 --> 00:03:26.000 where there was not a body of believers before. 00:03:26.000 --> 00:03:28.440 And we talked about discipleship within this last week, 00:03:28.440 --> 00:03:30.280 and this week we're gonna talk about fellowship. 00:03:30.280 --> 00:03:34.760 And what I think is so remarkable about this passage, 00:03:34.760 --> 00:03:38.760 is the plurality of people that we see, 00:03:38.760 --> 00:03:41.440 but the unification of those people 00:03:41.440 --> 00:03:44.000 that we see in this passage of scripture. 00:03:44.000 --> 00:03:47.280 It says, "They devoted themselves, 00:03:47.280 --> 00:03:52.140 "every soul, all who believed, 00:03:52.140 --> 00:03:56.100 "together they were selling, 00:03:56.100 --> 00:03:57.960 "attending the temple." 00:03:57.960 --> 00:04:02.040 Again, together they received their food, 00:04:02.040 --> 00:04:04.600 favor with all the people, 00:04:04.600 --> 00:04:07.560 and the Lord added to their number. 00:04:07.560 --> 00:04:11.480 So what we see is not this separation, 00:04:11.480 --> 00:04:15.600 but what we see is this unification of men and women 00:04:15.600 --> 00:04:18.560 who much like today, coming from different backgrounds, 00:04:18.560 --> 00:04:20.560 different settings, different contexts, 00:04:20.560 --> 00:04:25.560 are coming together all under the banner of Christ. 00:04:25.560 --> 00:04:27.880 Now what we're trying to do with Acts chapter two, 00:04:27.880 --> 00:04:30.840 is understand that this is a model that was given, 00:04:30.840 --> 00:04:33.160 and put it into the context 00:04:33.160 --> 00:04:35.360 that we understand in scripture, okay? 00:04:35.360 --> 00:04:38.160 So when the Holy Spirit comes and Pentecost happens, 00:04:38.160 --> 00:04:42.240 that there was not the religious infrastructure, 00:04:42.240 --> 00:04:44.320 I don't know a better way to say it, 00:04:44.320 --> 00:04:48.280 that you and I experience and that we live in today. 00:04:48.280 --> 00:04:51.560 When the Holy Spirit comes and people are saved, 00:04:51.560 --> 00:04:54.000 and that we see thousands throughout the book of Acts 00:04:54.000 --> 00:04:57.240 get saved, there was not, well now that you're saved, 00:04:57.240 --> 00:04:59.000 here's a church that's established, 00:04:59.000 --> 00:05:01.320 they've got their buildings, they've got their campuses, 00:05:01.320 --> 00:05:02.880 they've got their programs, 00:05:02.880 --> 00:05:04.300 they've got these things that are going on, 00:05:04.300 --> 00:05:05.920 their pastor's been to seminary, 00:05:05.920 --> 00:05:08.200 he's ready, like all of these things, 00:05:08.200 --> 00:05:09.680 they got a leadership structure, 00:05:09.680 --> 00:05:11.360 they got a leadership pipeline, 00:05:11.360 --> 00:05:12.960 they've got areas for you to serve, 00:05:12.960 --> 00:05:15.600 there's a kids ministry, there's a youth ministry. 00:05:15.600 --> 00:05:17.300 That's not the context. 00:05:18.140 --> 00:05:21.980 The context that we see is there's these 00:05:21.980 --> 00:05:26.980 few followers of Jesus who he called and they responded, 00:05:26.980 --> 00:05:31.300 and then the Holy Spirit comes and fills every believer, 00:05:31.300 --> 00:05:33.820 and the gospel is shared in multiple languages, 00:05:33.820 --> 00:05:36.600 and men and women come to faith, 00:05:36.600 --> 00:05:39.300 and they pursue after the Lord. 00:05:39.300 --> 00:05:42.420 And this is what we see in Acts chapter two. 00:05:42.420 --> 00:05:46.220 So that's why I believe that this is a model 00:05:46.220 --> 00:05:48.340 that scripture gives of what the church looked like, 00:05:48.340 --> 00:05:51.860 but I don't believe that we specifically break down 00:05:51.860 --> 00:05:55.700 and make sure that we're doing it the exact same way. 00:05:55.700 --> 00:05:57.600 But we are asking the question, 00:05:57.600 --> 00:06:01.180 in their model that they use, what are they doing, 00:06:01.180 --> 00:06:03.380 and we better make sure that we're doing the things 00:06:03.380 --> 00:06:04.620 that we see in scripture. 00:06:04.620 --> 00:06:08.940 And so that's how we look at, from this we see discipleship. 00:06:08.940 --> 00:06:14.980 Simplified definition, to grow more to be like Christ. 00:06:15.820 --> 00:06:19.940 We see fellowship happen and take place, 00:06:19.940 --> 00:06:23.220 to love the body of Christ. 00:06:23.220 --> 00:06:28.220 And we see worship to exist, to exalt the name of Christ. 00:06:28.220 --> 00:06:33.140 So what we do and what every church around is doing 00:06:33.140 --> 00:06:35.380 is taking what they see in scripture 00:06:35.380 --> 00:06:39.160 and then putting that into the context with where they are. 00:06:39.160 --> 00:06:43.100 For years I've heard in church, 00:06:43.100 --> 00:06:45.600 as you have conversations with people, 00:06:45.600 --> 00:06:47.620 they say things like, I wish I could be more involved, 00:06:47.620 --> 00:06:50.860 I wish I could be there, I wish I could do these things, 00:06:50.860 --> 00:06:52.380 but we're too busy. 00:06:52.380 --> 00:06:55.460 And largely over the years, 00:06:55.460 --> 00:06:58.660 what you'd seen in the snapshot of not just our church, 00:06:58.660 --> 00:07:01.540 but as every church, it's come be a part. 00:07:01.540 --> 00:07:02.900 Well what do I need to be a part of? 00:07:02.900 --> 00:07:04.680 Well we have this opportunity for you, 00:07:04.680 --> 00:07:07.100 we have this opportunity, we have this opportunity, 00:07:07.100 --> 00:07:08.440 and things are spread out. 00:07:08.440 --> 00:07:10.760 Fellowship is spread out, discipleship is spread out, 00:07:10.760 --> 00:07:11.760 worship is spread out, 00:07:11.760 --> 00:07:15.060 and there's a reason for that and it's not wrong. 00:07:15.060 --> 00:07:16.980 But for us, when we looked at that 00:07:16.980 --> 00:07:19.900 and we tried to emphasize what does God have 00:07:19.900 --> 00:07:23.980 in our context to understand that as much as, 00:07:23.980 --> 00:07:26.380 like busy has always been a problem, 00:07:26.380 --> 00:07:28.020 and to understand the more and more 00:07:28.020 --> 00:07:30.100 that we try to fight against busy, 00:07:30.100 --> 00:07:33.120 busy keeps rare in its ugly sinful head. 00:07:33.120 --> 00:07:37.560 Is how do we in our context do this? 00:07:37.560 --> 00:07:40.580 And so it's why we came up with the model that we have 00:07:40.580 --> 00:07:43.020 that many of you are participating in. 00:07:43.020 --> 00:07:46.620 It's why that you can come here on Sunday morning 00:07:46.620 --> 00:07:48.220 and you can get here at nine o'clock 00:07:48.220 --> 00:07:49.340 and we have discipleship. 00:07:49.340 --> 00:07:50.580 We have discipleship for all ages, 00:07:50.580 --> 00:07:52.300 we got it for our kids in building two, 00:07:52.300 --> 00:07:55.060 we got it for our youth in the upstairs over here, 00:07:55.060 --> 00:07:56.140 and then we got it for adults, 00:07:56.140 --> 00:07:58.420 we got it in small groups, relational discipleship, 00:07:58.420 --> 00:08:01.220 theological discipleship, broken out all over the campus 00:08:01.220 --> 00:08:02.700 and anybody can sign up 00:08:02.700 --> 00:08:04.420 and we'd love to have you be a part of that. 00:08:04.420 --> 00:08:07.100 And then we move from that to fellowship in here 00:08:07.100 --> 00:08:09.620 as a church where we gather in a room, 00:08:09.620 --> 00:08:11.500 just really quickly, like here's some things 00:08:11.500 --> 00:08:14.300 that I just saw and watched take place 00:08:14.300 --> 00:08:17.220 and was even privileged enough to be a part of these 00:08:17.220 --> 00:08:21.380 as you see lives cross over and relationships built. 00:08:21.380 --> 00:08:24.540 Like I saw a grandparent talking to a set of new parents 00:08:24.540 --> 00:08:25.420 and talk about what it was like 00:08:25.420 --> 00:08:26.900 when they first became a parent 00:08:26.900 --> 00:08:28.580 and helping them in understanding 00:08:28.580 --> 00:08:30.700 what they're walking through as new parents. 00:08:30.700 --> 00:08:33.260 I saw a senior adult and a senior in high school 00:08:33.260 --> 00:08:36.100 having a conversation and sitting there 00:08:36.100 --> 00:08:39.860 for a long amount of time, 00:08:39.860 --> 00:08:41.820 just talking through no clue what they talked about, 00:08:41.820 --> 00:08:43.820 but where do you see those things going on? 00:08:43.820 --> 00:08:46.040 I see friends who hadn't seen each other all week 00:08:46.040 --> 00:08:49.500 gathering together, I see people eating oatmeal cream pies, 00:08:49.500 --> 00:08:54.500 right, and oh, what's a, moon pie, there we go, that's it. 00:08:54.500 --> 00:08:56.620 That's it, right? 00:08:56.620 --> 00:09:00.300 You see little kids laughing, 00:09:00.300 --> 00:09:04.680 you see the merging together of lives, right? 00:09:04.680 --> 00:09:06.740 So we see discipleship, we see fellowship, 00:09:06.740 --> 00:09:08.820 and then we see what we're here for now, 00:09:08.820 --> 00:09:11.700 we gather together for worship. 00:09:11.700 --> 00:09:13.700 We gather together for worship. 00:09:13.700 --> 00:09:18.700 And so what we've done is we've taken Acts chapter two 00:09:18.700 --> 00:09:22.640 and we said how can we place this in the life 00:09:22.640 --> 00:09:26.140 for our church and invite and encourage 00:09:26.140 --> 00:09:29.820 and allow everyone to be a part of this process 00:09:29.820 --> 00:09:31.900 that we see, but the beauty, 00:09:31.900 --> 00:09:33.180 and this is what we're pressing to, 00:09:33.180 --> 00:09:35.420 but there's always the offer for more. 00:09:35.420 --> 00:09:37.380 There's always the offer for more. 00:09:37.380 --> 00:09:38.580 There's small groups that meet, 00:09:38.580 --> 00:09:40.060 there's opportunities to serve, 00:09:40.060 --> 00:09:42.220 there's ministries that gather together, 00:09:42.220 --> 00:09:44.020 and there's all of these things that are there, 00:09:44.020 --> 00:09:47.220 and they're gathered within this concept 00:09:47.220 --> 00:09:50.940 of what we see kind of fleshed out in Acts chapter two. 00:09:50.940 --> 00:09:53.800 And so last week, so let's get a biblical understanding 00:09:53.800 --> 00:09:57.520 that discipleship, if discipleship isn't simply 00:09:57.520 --> 00:10:02.520 taking a class, or if discipleship is more than being 00:10:02.700 --> 00:10:05.540 a part of a small group, if we acknowledge 00:10:05.540 --> 00:10:08.620 that what we are challenging ourselves is in discipleship, 00:10:08.620 --> 00:10:11.340 I'm asking the question how do we, 00:10:11.340 --> 00:10:15.460 how do I grow more like Christ? 00:10:15.460 --> 00:10:18.140 And then we looked at the passages of scripture 00:10:18.140 --> 00:10:21.820 that we saw last week, and it came down to a conversation 00:10:21.820 --> 00:10:24.580 that Jesus had with different individuals 00:10:24.580 --> 00:10:29.580 where the challenge there was devotion, was devotion. 00:10:30.540 --> 00:10:34.140 So to be a disciple, to go through discipleship 00:10:34.140 --> 00:10:37.700 means that what I'm saying is I am devoted to Christ. 00:10:37.700 --> 00:10:40.020 I'm walking away from my fishing boat, 00:10:40.020 --> 00:10:43.340 I'm walking away from my tax booth, 00:10:43.340 --> 00:10:47.180 and I'm walking after Christ, following him 00:10:47.180 --> 00:10:50.460 alongside other people to challenge me within that. 00:10:50.460 --> 00:10:53.020 So in that, then let's look and get an understanding 00:10:53.020 --> 00:10:56.900 of what it means to have fellowship, right? 00:10:56.900 --> 00:11:00.500 I grew up in a church that had a fellowship hall, 00:11:00.500 --> 00:11:02.980 anybody else grow up in a church that had a fellowship hall? 00:11:02.980 --> 00:11:06.380 And I'd be willing to bet in your fellowship hall, 00:11:06.380 --> 00:11:11.380 what you did, what we did once a week, was we ate. 00:11:11.380 --> 00:11:17.060 We were Southern Baptist, so fellowship was around food, 00:11:17.060 --> 00:11:21.020 and typically that food was fried, you know what I mean? 00:11:21.020 --> 00:11:25.040 We'd have our fellowship time in the fellowship hall 00:11:25.040 --> 00:11:28.500 with fried chicken and mashed potatoes and banana pudding, 00:11:28.500 --> 00:11:30.620 and then we would talk about not being a glutton 00:11:30.620 --> 00:11:32.060 like a few minutes later, right? 00:11:32.060 --> 00:11:34.940 This is the dichotomy in which we live. 00:11:34.940 --> 00:11:38.380 But for fellowship, it's more than that. 00:11:38.380 --> 00:11:39.940 It's more than that. 00:11:39.940 --> 00:11:43.500 Fellowship is more than a 15-minute interaction 00:11:43.500 --> 00:11:45.020 with a group of people. 00:11:45.020 --> 00:11:49.860 Fellowship is more than simply having a meal together. 00:11:49.860 --> 00:11:51.500 God can use all of those. 00:11:51.500 --> 00:11:55.240 Fellowship is more than simply hanging out. 00:11:55.240 --> 00:11:57.500 Fellowship is asking us the question, 00:11:57.500 --> 00:12:02.500 pushing us toward how do we love the body of Christ? 00:12:02.500 --> 00:12:07.300 And even challenging us, 00:12:07.300 --> 00:12:12.300 how can we love the body of Christ more? 00:12:12.300 --> 00:12:14.740 More. 00:12:14.740 --> 00:12:18.620 And what we're gonna find here is this, 00:12:18.620 --> 00:12:23.620 that we can do this as we seek to have a deep 00:12:23.840 --> 00:12:27.160 and intimate relationship with Christ, 00:12:27.160 --> 00:12:30.760 but we also seek to have a deep 00:12:30.760 --> 00:12:34.460 and intimate relationship with one another. 00:12:34.460 --> 00:12:38.860 You see, fellowship was never just about gathering 00:12:38.860 --> 00:12:41.360 all of the church together. 00:12:41.360 --> 00:12:46.360 Fellowship has been a unified commitment of God's people 00:12:46.360 --> 00:12:49.000 to love Him and to love one another. 00:12:49.000 --> 00:12:52.660 So let's look at 1 John 1, verses six and seven. 00:12:53.500 --> 00:12:58.500 If we say we have fellowship with Him 00:12:58.500 --> 00:13:01.500 while we walk in darkness, 00:13:01.500 --> 00:13:04.020 we lie and do not practice the truth. 00:13:04.020 --> 00:13:10.020 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, 00:13:10.020 --> 00:13:13.140 we have fellowship with one another, 00:13:13.140 --> 00:13:18.140 and the blood of Jesus, His Son, cleanses us from all sin. 00:13:18.140 --> 00:13:22.140 And so what I want us to see here this morning 00:13:22.140 --> 00:13:24.300 is the fellowship of love. 00:13:24.300 --> 00:13:28.860 John here, let me kind of break down these two verses 00:13:28.860 --> 00:13:29.700 really quickly for you. 00:13:29.700 --> 00:13:32.940 John here is giving this test of Christian faith, 00:13:32.940 --> 00:13:35.580 and in verse six is the negative test. 00:13:35.580 --> 00:13:38.300 He says, we say we have fellowship, 00:13:38.300 --> 00:13:41.860 which means intimate relationship. 00:13:41.860 --> 00:13:44.480 Fellowship does not mean I know them. 00:13:44.480 --> 00:13:48.700 Fellowship means depth of intimacy, 00:13:48.700 --> 00:13:52.460 and often this word that is used in the Greek 00:13:52.460 --> 00:13:55.460 is also used to define the relationship 00:13:55.460 --> 00:13:57.700 between the husband and the wife. 00:13:57.700 --> 00:14:00.020 A depth of intimacy. 00:14:00.020 --> 00:14:03.580 If we say we have fellowship with God, 00:14:03.580 --> 00:14:08.580 but we walk in darkness, habitual, unrepentant sin, 00:14:08.580 --> 00:14:14.660 John says these two cannot coexist, 00:14:14.660 --> 00:14:17.960 and he says we are liars if this is what we claim. 00:14:18.960 --> 00:14:22.880 He doesn't hold back in his explanation of this, 00:14:22.880 --> 00:14:24.840 but then verse seven, he says, 00:14:24.840 --> 00:14:29.840 but if we walk in light as He is light, 00:14:29.840 --> 00:14:36.480 so we live in the will and the way of God, 00:14:36.480 --> 00:14:38.060 then we have something. 00:14:38.060 --> 00:14:41.880 The same word that John uses in verse six. 00:14:41.880 --> 00:14:43.600 He uses back here, he says, 00:14:43.600 --> 00:14:48.600 we have intimate fellowship with Him and with one another. 00:14:48.600 --> 00:14:54.780 So what we begin to understand is that 00:14:54.780 --> 00:14:57.440 when we are in Christ, 00:14:57.440 --> 00:15:01.880 what we have is depth of relationship with God, 00:15:01.880 --> 00:15:04.720 praise the Lord, 00:15:04.720 --> 00:15:09.920 and then what will come from that intimate relationship 00:15:09.920 --> 00:15:13.360 with God is intimate relationship with one another. 00:15:14.200 --> 00:15:17.560 It's this that we see that happens. 00:15:17.560 --> 00:15:21.800 And John is so certain of this 00:15:21.800 --> 00:15:26.800 that he connects the promise of biblical forgiveness 00:15:26.800 --> 00:15:28.160 with biblical fellowship. 00:15:28.160 --> 00:15:29.400 Look back at verse seven. 00:15:29.400 --> 00:15:33.960 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, 00:15:33.960 --> 00:15:35.880 then he says two truths are promised. 00:15:35.880 --> 00:15:37.680 The second one, the blood of Christ 00:15:37.680 --> 00:15:39.040 cleanses us from all sins. 00:15:40.220 --> 00:15:42.020 But then the first one, 00:15:42.020 --> 00:15:47.020 we have fellowship with one another. 00:15:47.020 --> 00:15:52.720 And Christ is that unifying fellowship. 00:15:52.720 --> 00:15:58.980 It's why men and women and kids from different races, 00:15:58.980 --> 00:16:01.540 from different cultures, from different backgrounds, 00:16:01.540 --> 00:16:02.900 from different educations, 00:16:02.900 --> 00:16:04.860 from different socioeconomic status, 00:16:04.860 --> 00:16:06.820 from differing on a lot of things 00:16:06.820 --> 00:16:09.140 can come together and rally. 00:16:09.140 --> 00:16:14.140 It's why extroverts and God bless us, introverts, 00:16:14.140 --> 00:16:16.900 can gather in the same place. 00:16:16.900 --> 00:16:20.200 And what unifies us together 00:16:20.200 --> 00:16:24.460 in spite of all of our differences is Christ. 00:16:24.460 --> 00:16:26.900 And it produces something in us. 00:16:26.900 --> 00:16:29.780 It produces love for one another. 00:16:29.780 --> 00:16:32.900 And not just one another in this local gathering, 00:16:32.900 --> 00:16:34.780 but love for others, 00:16:34.780 --> 00:16:36.700 other brothers and sisters in Christ 00:16:36.700 --> 00:16:38.540 who are not a part of this fellowship, 00:16:38.540 --> 00:16:40.340 but a part of another fellowship. 00:16:40.340 --> 00:16:43.920 I've said this before and I'll say it again. 00:16:43.920 --> 00:16:46.980 My notes are incorrect. 00:16:46.980 --> 00:16:48.140 I say it's hard. 00:16:48.140 --> 00:16:49.300 It's impossible. 00:16:49.300 --> 00:16:52.460 It's impossible to say I love the groom, 00:16:52.460 --> 00:16:54.700 but I have no love in my heart for the bride. 00:16:54.700 --> 00:17:00.700 It's impossible that we can say that we love Christ, 00:17:00.700 --> 00:17:04.000 but yet not have love for his bride. 00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:08.300 And this is why we have fellowship with one another. 00:17:08.300 --> 00:17:11.180 So here's why fellowship matters. 00:17:11.180 --> 00:17:12.500 Here's why fellowship matters. 00:17:12.500 --> 00:17:14.420 We're gonna do three passages of scriptures. 00:17:14.420 --> 00:17:16.780 Galatians 6, Hebrews 10, John 13. 00:17:16.780 --> 00:17:18.500 So if you wanna turn to Galatians 6, 00:17:18.500 --> 00:17:21.180 we'll have these on the screen as well. 00:17:21.180 --> 00:17:23.280 That when we gather together, 00:17:23.280 --> 00:17:28.860 when we come together and drink orange juice and coffee, 00:17:28.860 --> 00:17:32.780 that there's something that's happening and taking place. 00:17:32.780 --> 00:17:36.740 There's a spiritual dynamic that is existing. 00:17:36.740 --> 00:17:40.220 When we welcome one another into our home 00:17:40.220 --> 00:17:43.540 and we do life together, we open God's word together 00:17:43.540 --> 00:17:46.540 and we fellowship, there's something that is happening 00:17:46.540 --> 00:17:48.540 and that is taking place. 00:17:48.540 --> 00:17:50.660 When we call up another brother and sister in Christ 00:17:50.660 --> 00:17:53.340 and we go have coffee together, we go for a walk together, 00:17:53.340 --> 00:17:55.740 we join the gym together, we go fishing together, 00:17:55.740 --> 00:17:57.140 we go to the game together, 00:17:57.140 --> 00:18:00.220 there's something that is happening and taking place 00:18:00.220 --> 00:18:04.060 as we are unified together in Christ. 00:18:04.060 --> 00:18:08.260 So Galatians 6, one is gonna explain why for some of this. 00:18:08.260 --> 00:18:10.820 Galatians 6, one through six. 00:18:10.820 --> 00:18:15.740 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, 00:18:15.740 --> 00:18:19.940 you who are spiritual should restore him 00:18:19.940 --> 00:18:22.340 in a spirit of gentleness. 00:18:22.340 --> 00:18:29.100 Keep watch on yourself lest you too be tempted. 00:18:29.100 --> 00:18:34.100 Bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ. 00:18:34.100 --> 00:18:39.820 But if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, 00:18:39.820 --> 00:18:41.860 he deceives himself. 00:18:41.860 --> 00:18:44.940 But let each one test his own work 00:18:44.940 --> 00:18:49.100 and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone 00:18:49.100 --> 00:18:50.460 and not in his neighbor. 00:18:50.460 --> 00:18:53.580 For each will have to bear his own load. 00:18:53.580 --> 00:18:57.860 Let the one who was taught the word share all good things 00:18:57.860 --> 00:18:59.700 with the one who teaches. 00:18:59.700 --> 00:19:03.780 And so what we see here from Paul's writing in Galatia, 00:19:03.780 --> 00:19:06.540 or to the Galatians, is this concept 00:19:06.540 --> 00:19:09.140 of the fellowship for one another. 00:19:09.140 --> 00:19:12.180 The fellowship for one another. 00:19:12.180 --> 00:19:17.060 So we are here in that we are gathering 00:19:17.060 --> 00:19:22.060 not just for ourself but for the one another. 00:19:22.060 --> 00:19:26.920 And you and I together unified 00:19:26.920 --> 00:19:29.540 are a part of the one another. 00:19:29.540 --> 00:19:34.540 And we all bring aspects to the table for the one another. 00:19:34.540 --> 00:19:39.860 And we need each other in completion of the one another. 00:19:39.860 --> 00:19:44.380 Think about the dynamic of how your family works. 00:19:44.380 --> 00:19:48.380 I look at my family and I see how we function, 00:19:48.380 --> 00:19:49.720 and I see how we operate. 00:19:49.720 --> 00:19:52.740 Give you a little snapshot into that. 00:19:52.740 --> 00:19:54.160 Aaron's with Kids Ministry today, 00:19:54.160 --> 00:19:55.300 so it's just him and Grayson, 00:19:55.300 --> 00:19:57.200 so they're a little nervous right now. 00:19:57.200 --> 00:20:01.700 Can I tell you what Grayson brings to our family? 00:20:01.700 --> 00:20:02.920 Multiple things. 00:20:02.920 --> 00:20:06.220 But Grayson brings, I don't know 00:20:06.220 --> 00:20:07.860 that I've ever told you this, son, 00:20:07.860 --> 00:20:10.620 and he's kinda side-eyeing me right now. 00:20:10.620 --> 00:20:12.400 Grayson brings the needed laugh. 00:20:12.400 --> 00:20:15.340 Grayson brings the needed laugh. 00:20:15.340 --> 00:20:18.460 This is what happens at dinner time. 00:20:18.460 --> 00:20:21.140 Grayson will say, "Oh my goodness." 00:20:21.140 --> 00:20:25.140 And then what we know is about to happen 00:20:25.140 --> 00:20:28.740 is a funny story that happened and took place. 00:20:28.740 --> 00:20:31.780 And in the timing of how things worked, it never fails. 00:20:31.780 --> 00:20:34.420 It seems like it falls in that moment, 00:20:34.420 --> 00:20:36.820 in our meal, in the flow of the day, 00:20:36.820 --> 00:20:38.900 where we're all stressed, we're all stressed, 00:20:38.900 --> 00:20:42.340 and just lighthearted, easy Grayson goes, 00:20:42.340 --> 00:20:44.220 "Let me tell you about this." 00:20:44.220 --> 00:20:45.060 And it's funny. 00:20:45.060 --> 00:20:48.460 Can I tell you what Emma brings to the table? 00:20:48.460 --> 00:20:52.700 Emma just closed her eyes and shook her head like this. 00:20:52.700 --> 00:20:53.900 Right? 00:20:53.900 --> 00:20:58.900 Emma brings the reminder of that we need the closeness. 00:20:58.900 --> 00:21:03.980 Emma's the one in our family to point out, 00:21:03.980 --> 00:21:07.520 we're busy, we need to stop, we need to be together. 00:21:07.520 --> 00:21:11.460 Emma brings in the, you've got meetings, 00:21:11.460 --> 00:21:13.740 and you've got things, and we have all of this, 00:21:13.740 --> 00:21:15.860 but I'm gonna tell you what's gonna happen tonight. 00:21:15.860 --> 00:21:18.700 Tonight we're gonna eat ice cream and watch movies. 00:21:18.700 --> 00:21:20.640 That's what we're gonna do. 00:21:20.640 --> 00:21:22.740 Can I tell you what Aaron brings? 00:21:23.660 --> 00:21:26.140 Everything that is positive and good and lovely. 00:21:26.140 --> 00:21:27.740 All right? 00:21:27.740 --> 00:21:30.820 Aaron brings the structure. 00:21:30.820 --> 00:21:33.860 Remember I asked a few weeks ago, who's the rule follower? 00:21:33.860 --> 00:21:37.280 Aaron's the rule follower in the house. 00:21:37.280 --> 00:21:38.860 She's the one that holds us, 00:21:38.860 --> 00:21:40.340 she's the one that keeps us in check, 00:21:40.340 --> 00:21:42.260 she's the one that's the reminder in this. 00:21:42.260 --> 00:21:45.100 Aaron very lovingly and graciously, 00:21:45.100 --> 00:21:50.100 and we love her so much, brings the unity that bonds 00:21:50.920 --> 00:21:53.540 and holds us together in so many instances, right? 00:21:53.540 --> 00:21:58.240 And when one of those is gone, 00:21:58.240 --> 00:22:01.220 when one of those aspects isn't working the way 00:22:01.220 --> 00:22:02.840 that it needs to anymore, 00:22:02.840 --> 00:22:05.700 what happens or what's created in that moment 00:22:05.700 --> 00:22:09.880 is the chaos that we're lacking. 00:22:09.880 --> 00:22:14.040 And so we need one another. 00:22:14.040 --> 00:22:15.920 Paul says here as a body, 00:22:15.920 --> 00:22:18.920 these aren't things that we can do individually. 00:22:18.920 --> 00:22:22.280 He gives a list in these six verses of the one another. 00:22:22.280 --> 00:22:24.880 He says we need to restore one another. 00:22:24.880 --> 00:22:26.640 To restore one another, 00:22:26.640 --> 00:22:30.240 meaning to return to the former condition. 00:22:30.240 --> 00:22:32.600 This phrase, for all the medical people, 00:22:32.600 --> 00:22:34.480 this gave me goosebumps when I read this 00:22:34.480 --> 00:22:36.000 and not in the good way, right? 00:22:36.000 --> 00:22:38.160 This phrase gives the imagery of setting a bone 00:22:38.160 --> 00:22:40.000 that has been broken. 00:22:40.000 --> 00:22:45.000 That when someone in the family falls into a pattern of sin, 00:22:45.000 --> 00:22:48.040 that we're to restore one another, we're to reset, 00:22:48.040 --> 00:22:51.600 we're to bring back together into their former condition 00:22:51.600 --> 00:22:54.960 so that we can be unified. 00:22:54.960 --> 00:22:57.080 That doesn't happen in the life 00:22:57.080 --> 00:22:59.160 of an individual on their own. 00:22:59.160 --> 00:23:02.160 It's, Paul writes and says that we're to bear 00:23:02.160 --> 00:23:03.540 with one another. 00:23:03.540 --> 00:23:04.560 We're to bear with one another. 00:23:04.560 --> 00:23:07.480 I love this in the commentary that I read. 00:23:07.480 --> 00:23:09.000 The commentator wrote this. 00:23:09.000 --> 00:23:11.960 He said, "This isn't the setting of the bone. 00:23:11.960 --> 00:23:13.960 "This is the carrying of the stretcher." 00:23:13.960 --> 00:23:16.360 This isn't the setting of the bone, 00:23:16.360 --> 00:23:18.120 but when we bear with one another, 00:23:18.120 --> 00:23:21.480 this is the carrying of the stretcher. 00:23:21.480 --> 00:23:23.840 Burdens we face, sin, sorrow, worry, doubt, 00:23:23.840 --> 00:23:26.360 failure, poverty, loneliness, illness, divorce, 00:23:26.360 --> 00:23:28.080 death, disabilities, depression, 00:23:28.080 --> 00:23:29.880 goes on and on and on and on and on. 00:23:29.880 --> 00:23:32.820 And the Bible tells us that in Christ, 00:23:32.820 --> 00:23:35.520 what we are to do within that is we're to bear 00:23:35.520 --> 00:23:39.960 the burden of one another, to come alongside. 00:23:39.960 --> 00:23:42.120 And for the person that's broken and beaten 00:23:42.120 --> 00:23:44.280 and laying there on the side of the road, 00:23:44.280 --> 00:23:46.960 there's a process of restoration that can happen, 00:23:46.960 --> 00:23:48.640 but what they need in this moment 00:23:48.640 --> 00:23:50.940 is to be picked up and to be carried, 00:23:50.940 --> 00:23:53.320 that we bear one another. 00:23:53.320 --> 00:23:55.600 I ask you this question, it struck me this week, 00:23:55.600 --> 00:23:58.720 like what burdens do you have that you are carrying 00:23:58.720 --> 00:24:00.200 that others need to carry? 00:24:00.200 --> 00:24:07.040 But also, what burdens have you carried for others? 00:24:07.040 --> 00:24:10.480 What burdens have you carried for others? 00:24:10.480 --> 00:24:13.140 Paul says we're to consider one another, 00:24:13.140 --> 00:24:17.280 consider others as important, not just focusing on ourself. 00:24:17.280 --> 00:24:19.280 The way we treat others largely depends 00:24:19.280 --> 00:24:20.880 on how we think about ourselves, 00:24:20.880 --> 00:24:23.120 and Paul says if you're self-centered, 00:24:23.120 --> 00:24:25.360 then you're gonna have a hard time being self-giving. 00:24:25.360 --> 00:24:27.740 Galatians 6, three, when we commit to being a part 00:24:27.740 --> 00:24:30.360 of something, the church, we commit to being a part 00:24:30.360 --> 00:24:31.840 of someone, one another. 00:24:31.840 --> 00:24:35.260 It's the truth that Paul explains for us. 00:24:35.260 --> 00:24:38.200 And the questions become how do I begin 00:24:38.200 --> 00:24:42.740 to see myself differently so that I can see others 00:24:42.740 --> 00:24:47.000 the way that God desires for me to see them? 00:24:47.000 --> 00:24:51.080 Consider one another. 00:24:51.080 --> 00:24:53.960 And then in the last verse, in verse six, 00:24:53.960 --> 00:24:56.760 we share with one another, Paul says, 00:24:56.760 --> 00:24:59.520 for let the one who has taught the word 00:24:59.520 --> 00:25:02.800 share all good things with the one who teaches. 00:25:02.800 --> 00:25:05.000 This is the cycle that we see in the church, 00:25:05.000 --> 00:25:08.560 and Paul gives the imagery of the pastor 00:25:08.560 --> 00:25:10.780 to the congregation. 00:25:10.780 --> 00:25:13.200 But I would say that within that circle, 00:25:13.200 --> 00:25:15.400 if we were to continue to draw that circle out, 00:25:15.400 --> 00:25:17.640 that what is happening here in this moment 00:25:17.640 --> 00:25:19.560 is the pastor to the congregation, 00:25:19.560 --> 00:25:21.660 the congregation that is back to the pastor 00:25:21.660 --> 00:25:22.500 with the gifts of what they do, 00:25:22.500 --> 00:25:24.820 and as we see how the church functions, 00:25:24.820 --> 00:25:27.160 but it's not just a me to you, 00:25:27.160 --> 00:25:28.440 that there's several stops, 00:25:28.440 --> 00:25:30.360 and there's several pieces along there 00:25:30.360 --> 00:25:33.320 that we walk alongside and that we share with one another. 00:25:33.320 --> 00:25:36.320 I can tell you the process of what just happened 00:25:36.320 --> 00:25:39.280 up here on the stage with these men and women 00:25:39.280 --> 00:25:41.020 coming up to use their gifts and talents 00:25:41.020 --> 00:25:43.380 to lead us in worship is phenomenal, 00:25:43.380 --> 00:25:45.860 that when we have different men and women in our church 00:25:45.860 --> 00:25:47.900 who are right now rocking babies 00:25:47.900 --> 00:25:49.780 and who are right now gathered over there 00:25:49.780 --> 00:25:52.220 and they're teaching our kids the truth of God's word 00:25:52.220 --> 00:25:54.380 is remarkable when our student ministry, 00:25:54.380 --> 00:25:55.500 especially on Sunday nights, 00:25:55.500 --> 00:25:57.220 comes up here and gathers together, 00:25:57.220 --> 00:26:00.180 and you see 12-year-olds and 18-year-olds 00:26:00.180 --> 00:26:02.780 and 52-year-olds all gathered in here 00:26:02.780 --> 00:26:05.020 chunking balls at each other as hard as they can, 00:26:05.020 --> 00:26:06.580 like it's a beautiful picture, right, 00:26:06.580 --> 00:26:08.740 of God's family as they gather together. 00:26:09.680 --> 00:26:12.440 And it's this beautiful piece of what's there 00:26:12.440 --> 00:26:17.120 that it's not just that we take from one another, 00:26:17.120 --> 00:26:23.560 but that we share with one another. 00:26:23.560 --> 00:26:29.920 Are you sharing or are you taking? 00:26:29.920 --> 00:26:35.740 Look at Hebrews chapter 10, verse 24 and 25. 00:26:36.720 --> 00:26:38.960 (birds chirping) 00:26:38.960 --> 00:26:41.320 Writer of Hebrews says, "And let us consider 00:26:41.320 --> 00:26:47.240 "how to stir up one another to love and good works, 00:26:47.240 --> 00:26:54.280 "not neglecting to meet together as is the habit of some, 00:26:54.280 --> 00:26:57.620 "but encouraging one another, 00:26:57.620 --> 00:27:02.620 "and all the more as you see the day drawing near." 00:27:03.620 --> 00:27:08.620 What we see here is the fellowship for sanctification, 00:27:08.620 --> 00:27:12.080 the fellowship for sanctification. 00:27:12.080 --> 00:27:17.820 Now this phrase, stir up one another, 00:27:17.820 --> 00:27:21.200 it's a very interesting word. 00:27:21.200 --> 00:27:26.200 And the word here is actually the word provoke, 00:27:26.200 --> 00:27:29.460 to provoke someone. 00:27:29.460 --> 00:27:32.420 Now here's what I believe, 00:27:32.420 --> 00:27:37.420 have you ever provoked someone to do something? 00:27:37.420 --> 00:27:44.540 You know, and my aunt kept me when I was little, 00:27:44.540 --> 00:27:49.140 my mom would go to work, 00:27:49.140 --> 00:27:51.220 she'd drop me off at my aunt's house. 00:27:51.220 --> 00:27:55.500 I had five, I say had, I still have, five cousins, 00:27:55.500 --> 00:28:00.300 my uncle and aunt, they had five daughters, right? 00:28:00.300 --> 00:28:01.900 I've talked about them before, 00:28:01.900 --> 00:28:04.020 five daughters crammed into their 00:28:04.020 --> 00:28:08.580 one and a half bathroom house. 00:28:08.580 --> 00:28:11.440 Let that just sit for a minute, right? 00:28:11.440 --> 00:28:16.440 My uncle, five daughters, one and a half bathroom house. 00:28:16.440 --> 00:28:23.060 And I was the baby, I was the young one. 00:28:23.940 --> 00:28:28.760 And I got in the most trouble out of all of them. 00:28:28.760 --> 00:28:33.380 We'd get together, they'd think of something to do, 00:28:33.380 --> 00:28:35.040 and then guess what would happen? 00:28:35.040 --> 00:28:41.060 They would provoke me to do it. 00:28:41.060 --> 00:28:46.340 So that when I got caught, guess what I would say? 00:28:46.340 --> 00:28:51.580 They made me do it, they made me do it. 00:28:51.580 --> 00:28:56.580 Now I wanna tell you the truth about little, 00:28:56.580 --> 00:29:00.600 skinny, big-headed Bo Bradbury, right? 00:29:00.600 --> 00:29:04.560 They didn't make me do anything. 00:29:04.560 --> 00:29:09.980 They gave me the idea and I wanted to do it, right? 00:29:09.980 --> 00:29:12.380 It was part of who I was, 00:29:12.380 --> 00:29:15.460 it was what I was wired to do within this. 00:29:15.460 --> 00:29:19.700 And so what I think we see here with this word provoke 00:29:19.700 --> 00:29:23.180 is I don't think what the writer of Hebrews is saying 00:29:23.180 --> 00:29:26.640 is let's consider how to provoke one another 00:29:26.640 --> 00:29:29.660 to do something that's not of them. 00:29:29.660 --> 00:29:33.200 I think what the writer of Hebrews is doing 00:29:33.200 --> 00:29:37.480 is saying that you and I, as the body of Christ, 00:29:37.480 --> 00:29:41.420 that what we're called to do is we're to stir up, 00:29:41.420 --> 00:29:45.300 we're to provoke one another to be 00:29:45.300 --> 00:29:48.320 who we are intended to be in Christ. 00:29:49.220 --> 00:29:51.260 It's not trying to get us to be something 00:29:51.260 --> 00:29:53.380 we're not supposed to be. 00:29:53.380 --> 00:29:58.380 We're trying to get us to be who God has called us to be. 00:29:58.380 --> 00:30:03.880 And he says, how does this happen? 00:30:03.880 --> 00:30:07.880 How do we do that with one another? 00:30:07.880 --> 00:30:14.860 How do you help me be who God intends for me to be? 00:30:17.980 --> 00:30:22.980 And how do I help you be who God's calling you to be? 00:30:22.980 --> 00:30:28.980 And how to you help one another 00:30:28.980 --> 00:30:31.300 be who God's calling you to be? 00:30:31.300 --> 00:30:33.660 It's two words. 00:30:33.660 --> 00:30:36.920 Be together. 00:30:36.920 --> 00:30:39.380 Be together. 00:30:39.380 --> 00:30:46.820 The writer of Hebrews says not neglecting to meet together 00:30:46.940 --> 00:30:48.300 as is the habit of some. 00:30:48.300 --> 00:30:54.460 But by being together, we have the wonderful opportunity 00:30:54.460 --> 00:30:58.780 to engage in relationship with one another. 00:30:58.780 --> 00:31:02.700 And that by doing so, what comes from that 00:31:02.700 --> 00:31:06.840 is selflessness and serving. 00:31:06.840 --> 00:31:13.100 We hit a point where I am here 00:31:13.100 --> 00:31:16.200 not just to get what God has for me, 00:31:17.040 --> 00:31:20.120 but I believe the mark of maturity is this, 00:31:20.120 --> 00:31:26.000 that I'm also here to help you with what God has for you. 00:31:26.000 --> 00:31:31.460 And so that it's not just about me anymore, 00:31:31.460 --> 00:31:34.840 but it's about us together. 00:31:34.840 --> 00:31:38.120 But here's the conflict for us. 00:31:38.120 --> 00:31:43.520 In order to say yes to being together, 00:31:44.560 --> 00:31:47.960 we have to say no to being apart. 00:31:47.960 --> 00:31:53.280 In order to say yes to being together, 00:31:53.280 --> 00:31:57.240 we have to say no to being apart. 00:31:57.240 --> 00:32:03.280 And understand that when Jesus promises us, 00:32:03.280 --> 00:32:07.440 that when we walk in the newness of life, 00:32:07.440 --> 00:32:12.080 that we have this beautiful opportunity to be together. 00:32:13.520 --> 00:32:15.120 And I would argue from scripture 00:32:15.120 --> 00:32:20.000 that we cannot be spiritually healthy 00:32:20.000 --> 00:32:23.820 and be spiritually apart from the body of Christ. 00:32:23.820 --> 00:32:26.640 We need one another. 00:32:26.640 --> 00:32:32.560 We need to provoke one another for what God has for us. 00:32:32.560 --> 00:32:36.960 Jump to John 13. 00:32:40.640 --> 00:32:43.620 John 13 verses 34 through 35. 00:32:43.620 --> 00:32:47.220 Jesus shares here, 00:32:47.220 --> 00:32:51.920 he says a new commandment I give to you. 00:32:51.920 --> 00:32:58.400 That you love one another just as I have loved you. 00:32:58.400 --> 00:33:03.320 You also are to love one another. 00:33:03.320 --> 00:33:09.420 By this all people will know 00:33:09.620 --> 00:33:11.640 that you are my disciples 00:33:11.640 --> 00:33:17.240 if you have love for one another. 00:33:17.240 --> 00:33:19.400 I think the last thing that we see 00:33:19.400 --> 00:33:20.920 is we understand fellowship. 00:33:20.920 --> 00:33:24.000 Is that when we move beyond fellowship 00:33:24.000 --> 00:33:26.280 simply being a hangout, 00:33:26.280 --> 00:33:28.800 simply being just time together, 00:33:28.800 --> 00:33:31.920 is that we understand we fellowship for mission. 00:33:31.920 --> 00:33:37.880 These verses are very frank verses from Jesus. 00:33:38.580 --> 00:33:42.940 Three times in two verses, 00:33:42.940 --> 00:33:45.700 he commands us to love one another. 00:33:45.700 --> 00:33:48.700 He doesn't say, 00:33:48.700 --> 00:33:54.260 and he will and has said love everyone. 00:33:54.260 --> 00:33:57.320 We see that in his teaching, 00:33:57.320 --> 00:33:58.860 we see that in who he is, 00:33:58.860 --> 00:34:01.280 we saw that in his parables. 00:34:01.280 --> 00:34:06.280 But very specifically in three different instances, 00:34:07.140 --> 00:34:11.340 he looks at this group of fathers in his room 00:34:11.340 --> 00:34:14.000 and he says this, 00:34:14.000 --> 00:34:17.480 love one another. 00:34:17.480 --> 00:34:23.480 And then he does so with the command of a standard 00:34:23.480 --> 00:34:27.760 that we love one another 00:34:27.760 --> 00:34:32.820 as he has loved us. 00:34:36.240 --> 00:34:41.120 The weight of the words of Christ 00:34:41.120 --> 00:34:47.000 as he makes his journey to the cross, 00:34:47.000 --> 00:34:50.740 as he sacrifices, 00:34:50.740 --> 00:34:55.280 as he lays his life down, 00:34:55.280 --> 00:35:00.560 as he befriends sinners, 00:35:00.560 --> 00:35:03.040 as he eats in their home, 00:35:03.040 --> 00:35:05.240 as he speaks truth, 00:35:05.240 --> 00:35:07.560 as he weeps, 00:35:07.560 --> 00:35:11.840 as he reminds them of who he is. 00:35:11.840 --> 00:35:15.400 And then his command, 00:35:15.400 --> 00:35:18.560 his standard comes with a promise. 00:35:18.560 --> 00:35:24.560 By this all people will know 00:35:24.560 --> 00:35:31.040 that you are my disciples. 00:35:32.320 --> 00:35:37.040 That the standard of what the world is judging us on 00:35:37.040 --> 00:35:40.740 is by the way we love 00:35:40.740 --> 00:35:42.780 and by the way we love one another. 00:35:42.780 --> 00:35:47.960 D.A. Carson, he said this, 00:35:47.960 --> 00:35:50.280 he said the new commandment, 00:35:50.280 --> 00:35:51.680 love one another, 00:35:51.680 --> 00:35:57.640 is simple enough for a toddler to memorize and appreciate, 00:35:59.600 --> 00:36:04.600 profound enough that the most mature believers 00:36:04.600 --> 00:36:08.200 are repeatedly embarrassed 00:36:08.200 --> 00:36:11.360 at how poorly they comprehend it 00:36:11.360 --> 00:36:13.600 and how poorly they put it into practice. 00:36:13.600 --> 00:36:16.720 I love that. 00:36:16.720 --> 00:36:20.080 Man, that registered so well with my heart. 00:36:20.080 --> 00:36:24.320 That the new commandment, love one another, 00:36:25.240 --> 00:36:30.240 is simple enough for a toddler to memorize and appreciate. 00:36:30.240 --> 00:36:35.760 We know what he means. 00:36:35.760 --> 00:36:42.200 We're intelligent and relational 00:36:42.200 --> 00:36:46.240 and wired enough of what it means to love someone, 00:36:46.240 --> 00:36:49.000 to think of others, 00:36:49.000 --> 00:36:51.560 to have empathy for them, 00:36:52.640 --> 00:36:55.760 to wrestle with what they wrestle with, 00:36:55.760 --> 00:36:58.060 to have compassion, 00:36:58.060 --> 00:37:00.540 to desire to see God's best for them. 00:37:00.540 --> 00:37:03.900 The new commandment, love one another, 00:37:03.900 --> 00:37:08.900 is simple enough for a toddler to memorize and appreciate 00:37:08.900 --> 00:37:13.620 and profound enough that the most mature believers, 00:37:13.620 --> 00:37:17.140 you and me, 00:37:17.140 --> 00:37:22.400 are repeatedly embarrassed 00:37:22.400 --> 00:37:24.880 at how poorly we comprehend it 00:37:24.880 --> 00:37:28.200 and then put it into practice. 00:37:28.200 --> 00:37:31.580 What if that's the challenge for us this week? 00:37:31.580 --> 00:37:35.040 What if the challenge for us this week 00:37:35.040 --> 00:37:37.280 is walking from here 00:37:37.280 --> 00:37:40.480 and trying to figure out and how do I understand, 00:37:40.480 --> 00:37:43.720 God, how can I be the disciple of love 00:37:43.720 --> 00:37:46.360 that grows in the love of the family? 00:37:46.360 --> 00:37:49.680 If we simplified it last week, 00:37:49.680 --> 00:37:53.600 we said discipleship is to make a commitment 00:37:53.600 --> 00:37:57.320 to follow Jesus and to be more like him. 00:37:57.320 --> 00:37:59.760 It's the goal. 00:37:59.760 --> 00:38:01.160 It's the peace that's there. 00:38:01.160 --> 00:38:04.400 And what if we left here today 00:38:04.400 --> 00:38:07.360 understanding very simply 00:38:07.360 --> 00:38:13.320 that fellowship is the making of a commitment 00:38:14.720 --> 00:38:19.720 to be with and to be a part of God's family 00:38:19.720 --> 00:38:26.640 and as we do, not with the selfish desires 00:38:26.640 --> 00:38:28.000 of what can I gain, 00:38:28.000 --> 00:38:30.680 but with the perspective 00:38:30.680 --> 00:38:35.360 of how do I walk alongside the one another? 00:38:35.360 --> 00:38:40.640 How do I grow in depth of love 00:38:40.640 --> 00:38:45.360 for the body of Christ in which God has placed me? 00:38:45.360 --> 00:38:46.520 Would you pray with me? 00:38:46.520 --> 00:38:55.320 God, you've called us 00:38:55.320 --> 00:38:59.980 in unity of togetherness. 00:38:59.980 --> 00:39:05.000 God, I'm so grateful for 00:39:05.000 --> 00:39:09.960 seeing the beauty of how you work 00:39:10.960 --> 00:39:13.640 to see God of how you move. 00:39:13.640 --> 00:39:18.600 God, to see how you bring men and women, 00:39:18.600 --> 00:39:24.000 Lord, from different places, 00:39:24.000 --> 00:39:27.600 from different backgrounds, 00:39:27.600 --> 00:39:31.840 from different settings together. 00:39:31.840 --> 00:39:38.240 And Lord, you don't call us 00:39:39.640 --> 00:39:41.120 an association. 00:39:41.120 --> 00:39:45.160 You don't call us a denomination. 00:39:45.160 --> 00:39:49.240 You don't call us an organization. 00:39:49.240 --> 00:39:53.220 Lord, you call us family. 00:39:53.220 --> 00:40:00.160 And so God, my prayer for us, 00:40:00.160 --> 00:40:05.480 as we look at and as we evaluate, 00:40:05.480 --> 00:40:07.120 we can ask ourselves the question, 00:40:07.120 --> 00:40:10.360 how am I loving the family? 00:40:10.360 --> 00:40:15.840 And God, not in a 00:40:15.840 --> 00:40:22.040 a earthly perspective 00:40:22.040 --> 00:40:25.200 of these are the things that I must do, 00:40:25.200 --> 00:40:28.840 but the desire that I have 00:40:28.840 --> 00:40:32.000 to give of myself 00:40:32.000 --> 00:40:35.720 to love others, 00:40:36.720 --> 00:40:38.680 so that they can grow 00:40:38.680 --> 00:40:42.560 in a relationship with Jesus. 00:40:42.560 --> 00:40:47.120 God, that is so hard 00:40:47.120 --> 00:40:51.480 for our mindset often to wrap around. 00:40:51.480 --> 00:40:58.120 When we live in a take, take, take society, 00:40:58.120 --> 00:41:02.600 a take, take, take mentality, 00:41:03.440 --> 00:41:06.760 but you call us to give, 00:41:06.760 --> 00:41:10.440 to give for you, 00:41:10.440 --> 00:41:13.200 to give for the mission, 00:41:13.200 --> 00:41:16.400 and to give for one another. 00:41:16.400 --> 00:41:22.720 God, I pray that we would take hold 00:41:22.720 --> 00:41:26.120 of who we are to be, 00:41:26.120 --> 00:41:29.320 Lord, and how we are to love. 00:41:31.560 --> 00:41:35.360 God, I thank you that this message for me this week 00:41:35.360 --> 00:41:40.120 was not a criticism of our church, 00:41:40.120 --> 00:41:43.040 but a reminder of who we are. 00:41:43.040 --> 00:41:49.640 Lord, I thank you that we see families coming together 00:41:49.640 --> 00:41:52.720 and becoming a family. 00:41:52.720 --> 00:41:58.360 That we see senior adults and seniors in high school 00:42:00.040 --> 00:42:01.560 sharing life together. 00:42:01.560 --> 00:42:06.520 That we see one generation pouring into another. 00:42:06.520 --> 00:42:08.800 That we see men and women 00:42:08.800 --> 00:42:11.880 whose paths have not crossed this week 00:42:11.880 --> 00:42:15.040 coming together today to pray for one another, 00:42:15.040 --> 00:42:17.400 to love one another, to encourage one another. 00:42:17.400 --> 00:42:22.640 But God, may we not be complacent in where we are. 00:42:22.640 --> 00:42:27.560 And Lord, may we desire to take a step 00:42:29.480 --> 00:42:34.040 of obedience more into what you have for us, 00:42:34.040 --> 00:42:36.560 fellowship amongst the body. 00:42:36.560 --> 00:42:41.200 Jesus, we love you, we praise you, 00:42:41.200 --> 00:42:44.280 and it's in your name we pray, amen. 00:42:44.280 --> 00:42:51.080 - Thanks again for listening, 00:42:51.080 --> 00:42:54.200 and be sure to check back next week for another episode. 00:42:54.200 --> 00:42:57.960 In the meantime, you can visit us at willowridgechurch.org 00:42:57.960 --> 00:42:59.880 or by searching for Willow Ridge Church 00:42:59.880 --> 00:43:01.440 on Facebook, Instagram.