1 00:00:01,560 --> 00:00:04,040 Hey everybody, this is Pastor John Ewart from Inglewood 2 00:00:04,040 --> 00:00:05,920 Baptist Church in Rocky Mountain, North Carolina. 3 00:00:05,920 --> 00:00:08,119 Thank you so much for tuning in to our podcast. 4 00:00:08,360 --> 00:00:11,320 You're going to hear from God today as we share from his word 5 00:00:11,560 --> 00:00:15,080 about important issues facing your life that can guide you 6 00:00:15,080 --> 00:00:21,400 according to the Bible. Well, I ask you to take your 7 00:00:21,400 --> 00:00:24,320 Bibles this morning and turn to James chapter 2. 8 00:00:25,360 --> 00:00:34,520 I will be with you momentarily. I appreciate so much what God is 9 00:00:34,520 --> 00:00:39,320 doing and I'm curious to what He's going to do next. 10 00:00:39,320 --> 00:00:43,840 He fascinates me. He absolutely fascinates me. 11 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:50,000 I do want to encourage you. On a side note, I made sure 12 00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:53,560 Jordan mentioned it earlier. This weekend in Tarboro is a 13 00:00:53,560 --> 00:00:57,400 very important day. We need all hands on deck this 14 00:00:57,400 --> 00:00:59,560 morning, this Saturday morning if we can. 15 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:02,720 And what we're going to do is we're going to be doing door 16 00:01:02,720 --> 00:01:06,640 hangers and Flyers and just inviting people primarily just 17 00:01:06,640 --> 00:01:09,920 canvassing, covering as much ground as we can to invite 18 00:01:09,920 --> 00:01:13,840 people to their lunch Sunday on October the 19th. 19 00:01:13,840 --> 00:01:16,720 So anybody and everybody, you can kind of come and go. 20 00:01:16,720 --> 00:01:20,360 We won't go past the morning. And so hope that you'll be here. 21 00:01:20,360 --> 00:01:23,840 Also appreciate, I appreciate the Wednesday night group. 22 00:01:23,840 --> 00:01:25,360 It's been fascinating to me as well. 23 00:01:25,960 --> 00:01:28,120 This this Wednesday night, believe it or not, we're going 24 00:01:28,120 --> 00:01:29,600 to talk, talk about the unpardonable sin. 25 00:01:29,600 --> 00:01:31,440 What does it mean to blasphemy the Holy Spirit? 26 00:01:31,880 --> 00:01:34,160 We're going to try not to do that, but we're going to talk 27 00:01:34,160 --> 00:01:38,800 about it. And so anyway, on Sunday 28 00:01:38,800 --> 00:01:42,520 mornings, we've been examining the contextual biblical vision 29 00:01:44,160 --> 00:01:48,640 that we believe God is leading us to achieve to, to make true 30 00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:51,560 disciples. And making disciples sits at the 31 00:01:51,560 --> 00:01:53,920 core of that. And I want to talk about that as 32 00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:55,920 well as what's going on around us. 33 00:01:56,520 --> 00:01:59,520 So we've been studying the Bible to show us what the essentials 34 00:01:59,520 --> 00:02:01,640 of discipleship really are. Who do we need to be? 35 00:02:01,640 --> 00:02:04,440 What do we need to know? What do we need to do to be a 36 00:02:04,440 --> 00:02:07,480 disciple? And so I invite you, you know, 37 00:02:07,480 --> 00:02:10,560 to continue to join me in this series called Come Live the 38 00:02:10,560 --> 00:02:12,920 Church's Vision, The Seven Essentials of Discipleship. 39 00:02:12,920 --> 00:02:15,600 Because we can't just be hearers of the Word. 40 00:02:15,600 --> 00:02:17,720 We can't just be students of the Word. 41 00:02:18,120 --> 00:02:20,520 We need to be doers of the Word as well. 42 00:02:20,920 --> 00:02:23,880 We need to love God and love others, not only belief, but in 43 00:02:23,880 --> 00:02:28,040 action. And so I've asked you over these 44 00:02:28,040 --> 00:02:31,560 months and it's been interesting to watch how you've responded 45 00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:34,520 for 100% participation in four areas. 46 00:02:34,520 --> 00:02:36,360 I don't know if you know, there were four of them or not. 47 00:02:37,200 --> 00:02:41,920 One was worship, the other one was connect groups. 48 00:02:41,920 --> 00:02:43,880 Thank you all for doing those things. 49 00:02:44,880 --> 00:02:48,640 Another one was the midweek experience, and this is for all 50 00:02:48,640 --> 00:02:52,720 ages. 100% means all ages. And then there, there was a 51 00:02:52,720 --> 00:02:54,840 fourth one. I don't know if you remember the 52 00:02:54,840 --> 00:02:59,600 4th one or not. The 4th 1 was service. 53 00:03:00,320 --> 00:03:04,160 And so I want to talk about that for a minute this morning 54 00:03:04,920 --> 00:03:07,040 because you probably thought I forgot about that one, huh? 55 00:03:09,600 --> 00:03:12,840 And so we've studied that as disciples of Jesus, we must 56 00:03:12,840 --> 00:03:15,760 engage the Bible, united in fellowship, abide in prayer. 57 00:03:16,600 --> 00:03:19,520 But there is a fourth and that is a disciple of Jesus is 58 00:03:19,520 --> 00:03:23,920 committed to service with generosity and compassion. 59 00:03:23,920 --> 00:03:29,600 And, and it's an interesting concept sometimes to people. 60 00:03:30,640 --> 00:03:34,560 You know, I've had the, I've had the privilege and, and people 61 00:03:34,560 --> 00:03:36,560 ask me all the time to share my whole testimony. 62 00:03:36,560 --> 00:03:39,840 I, I don't, don't know when that 2 hour experience would come. 63 00:03:39,840 --> 00:03:42,440 And it would probably be one that no children could be 64 00:03:42,440 --> 00:03:48,120 allowed to, to attend. But you know, I've had the, I 65 00:03:48,120 --> 00:03:50,720 had the had a weird privilege coming from the Bear Claw 66 00:03:50,720 --> 00:03:54,920 Valley, growing up along the Bear Claw Creek in a little 67 00:03:54,920 --> 00:04:01,320 place called Tahlequah, OK, to go all around the world and to 68 00:04:01,520 --> 00:04:05,360 meet people and to serve with people and to teach in places 69 00:04:05,360 --> 00:04:07,280 and to show the gospel in places. 70 00:04:08,000 --> 00:04:11,240 I've been to every communist country on the planet except 71 00:04:11,240 --> 00:04:13,920 one. And we were making inroads into 72 00:04:13,920 --> 00:04:17,440 that one. I've been in Muslim contexts, 73 00:04:17,440 --> 00:04:20,839 I've been in Hindu contexts, I've been in Buddhist contexts, 74 00:04:20,839 --> 00:04:24,480 I've been in Jewish contexts, I've been an animistic contexts. 75 00:04:25,600 --> 00:04:28,400 I've had confrontations with witch doctors. 76 00:04:31,080 --> 00:04:33,680 And so it's been an interesting ride. 77 00:04:35,320 --> 00:04:39,000 And I watch people who serve in those contexts, believers who 78 00:04:39,000 --> 00:04:42,800 get saved out of some of that background and their strength 79 00:04:42,800 --> 00:04:47,760 and determination to share the gospel with their people. 80 00:04:48,760 --> 00:04:52,440 It's always challenged me. It's made me look in the mirror 81 00:04:52,440 --> 00:04:56,640 a lot. And sometimes I worry about the 82 00:04:56,640 --> 00:05:02,360 comfortable American church. I don't know if you know this or 83 00:05:02,360 --> 00:05:09,240 not. 5th It's very possible, in fact quite likely that 15,000 84 00:05:09,240 --> 00:05:12,200 churches in the United States of America will close this year. 85 00:05:13,520 --> 00:05:20,680 15,000 in the next few years, so many churches are going to close 86 00:05:20,680 --> 00:05:24,040 it. It will be 1/4 it'll be 25% of 87 00:05:24,040 --> 00:05:26,600 the churches in the United States of America are going to 88 00:05:26,600 --> 00:05:30,440 close in the next few years. If thanks continue. 89 00:05:32,520 --> 00:05:36,000 And so to have an understood value and a true appreciation of 90 00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:41,960 the church is crucial to me. Why are we here and who are we 91 00:05:42,360 --> 00:05:45,160 trying to produce? What are we going to do about 92 00:05:45,160 --> 00:05:46,800 that? And how that's that's what we're 93 00:05:46,800 --> 00:05:50,160 trying to talk about. Don't know if I do a good job of 94 00:05:50,160 --> 00:05:55,320 always communicating that. And sometimes I, I find people 95 00:05:55,320 --> 00:05:57,320 funny. I, I find that I find that 96 00:05:57,320 --> 00:06:00,200 sometimes people have an extremely immature ecclesiology. 97 00:06:00,200 --> 00:06:03,880 I hope those words didn't throw you the way they pick and choose 98 00:06:03,880 --> 00:06:07,960 and leave and come or whatever to a church and how not how the 99 00:06:07,960 --> 00:06:10,480 reasons behind that, the motivation behind that 100 00:06:10,480 --> 00:06:14,320 fascinates me sometimes. Why did they get mad about that? 101 00:06:15,360 --> 00:06:17,280 Or why were they upset about this? 102 00:06:18,000 --> 00:06:20,520 You know, and then sometimes it makes perfect sense. 103 00:06:20,520 --> 00:06:22,000 They ought to be upset about that. 104 00:06:22,280 --> 00:06:24,520 There's, there's a righteous indignation side of it too. 105 00:06:24,520 --> 00:06:26,960 And a lot of people I've known they they needed to leave that 106 00:06:26,960 --> 00:06:31,440 church. So sometimes it's a weird thing 107 00:06:31,440 --> 00:06:35,440 in this culture. So, so John, are you saying 108 00:06:35,480 --> 00:06:39,240 because in the rest of my world, in the rest of my world, I get 109 00:06:39,240 --> 00:06:44,880 to sit back comfortably and kind of soak it all up, applauding or 110 00:06:44,880 --> 00:06:47,520 maybe criticizing those who are doing something? 111 00:06:48,160 --> 00:06:50,000 That's the way most of my life works. 112 00:06:51,480 --> 00:06:54,080 So, so I do hope we understand this is not just some 113 00:06:54,080 --> 00:06:56,960 performance that you simply get to watch others perform. 114 00:06:57,160 --> 00:07:02,280 Church is not a spectator sport. And and yet it evolves into 115 00:07:02,280 --> 00:07:03,640 that. And you say, now wait a minute, 116 00:07:03,640 --> 00:07:06,480 preacher. I don't know about this one. 117 00:07:07,040 --> 00:07:09,800 I mean, I mean, in all the other areas of my life, I get to, I 118 00:07:09,800 --> 00:07:12,440 get to sit up in the stands and yell at the referees. 119 00:07:14,280 --> 00:07:17,480 I get to sit in my easy chair and scream out the plays I know 120 00:07:17,480 --> 00:07:22,320 the coach should have called. I get to comment anonymously 121 00:07:22,320 --> 00:07:24,240 about everything on social media. 122 00:07:26,160 --> 00:07:29,600 I get to gossip when the person I'm talking about is not there. 123 00:07:31,080 --> 00:07:33,560 I get to demand service when I go out to eat. 124 00:07:33,800 --> 00:07:36,560 I even thought I'd get to rank and score the worship service, 125 00:07:36,560 --> 00:07:39,880 or what the pastor did or did not say afterwards or at lunch 126 00:07:39,880 --> 00:07:41,720 or to others. So, preacher, you're telling me 127 00:07:41,720 --> 00:07:45,000 there might just possibly be something else to this thing 128 00:07:45,000 --> 00:07:47,560 called the Christian life, this thing called discipleship, this 129 00:07:47,560 --> 00:07:52,400 thing called the church, and you're crazy enough to think 130 00:07:52,400 --> 00:07:55,840 it's absolutely essential. Well, preacher, you've gone to 131 00:07:55,840 --> 00:08:00,280 meddling. Now I don't know about this one, 132 00:08:01,080 --> 00:08:03,400 so just a second, this is what some people are going to let me 133 00:08:03,400 --> 00:08:05,440 find my scorecard. Let me find my where do I put 134 00:08:05,440 --> 00:08:08,640 that scorecard? I got to score this, let me find 135 00:08:08,640 --> 00:08:12,760 that scorecard. So I hope you got it ready 136 00:08:15,160 --> 00:08:19,400 because here we go. Galatians chapter 5 verse 13 137 00:08:19,400 --> 00:08:22,640 says, for you were called to freedom, brothers only. 138 00:08:22,640 --> 00:08:26,240 Do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but 139 00:08:26,240 --> 00:08:30,120 through love serve one another for the whole laws fulfilled. 140 00:08:30,120 --> 00:08:34,400 In one word, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. 141 00:08:34,559 --> 00:08:38,039 So Paul's asking this church that at times really irritated 142 00:08:38,039 --> 00:08:41,480 him, frankly. What are you all doing with the 143 00:08:41,480 --> 00:08:45,520 freedom that you have in Christ now, the freedom of grace? 144 00:08:45,680 --> 00:08:48,240 There are people right now, friends of ours, who have no 145 00:08:48,240 --> 00:08:50,880 freedom physically. They have no freedom 146 00:08:50,960 --> 00:08:53,840 relationally. They have no freedom legally, 147 00:08:54,480 --> 00:08:59,360 and they're sharing the gospel. We sit here in complete freedom. 148 00:08:59,360 --> 00:09:03,160 What are we going to do? We're going to use it as an 149 00:09:03,160 --> 00:09:06,240 opportunity to love generously and to love compassionately. 150 00:09:06,240 --> 00:09:08,600 Are we going to love our own flesh or how are we going to do 151 00:09:08,600 --> 00:09:10,080 this? How can I love you as myself 152 00:09:10,080 --> 00:09:13,600 when it's safer, when it's more comfortable, when it's when it's 153 00:09:13,600 --> 00:09:15,440 just? It's what I'm used to, to just 154 00:09:15,440 --> 00:09:20,840 love myself, to love what is mine, and to basically criticize 155 00:09:21,800 --> 00:09:26,240 anybody who stands in the way. If we could grasp the real 156 00:09:26,240 --> 00:09:29,480 purpose of salvation, if we could grasp the real purpose of 157 00:09:29,480 --> 00:09:31,720 church, if we could grasp for the real purpose of 158 00:09:31,720 --> 00:09:34,720 discipleship, it would fill our lives with such abundance. 159 00:09:34,720 --> 00:09:37,600 And my fear, Chuck Lawless said this to you all. 160 00:09:37,720 --> 00:09:41,080 My fear is that you're going to miss out on abundance for 161 00:09:41,360 --> 00:09:50,480 comfort, safety, opinion. God saves, God indwells, God 162 00:09:50,480 --> 00:09:53,760 baptizes, God gifts. God calls us to live out his 163 00:09:53,760 --> 00:09:56,160 intended vision of discipleship by serving. 164 00:09:56,400 --> 00:09:59,280 Jesus showed us this every step of the way. 165 00:09:59,480 --> 00:10:01,560 Just think about it. Right before his death, right 166 00:10:01,560 --> 00:10:05,120 before his arrest, even when he knew he was being betrayed, even 167 00:10:05,120 --> 00:10:08,000 when the dude who was going to betray him sitting at the table, 168 00:10:08,120 --> 00:10:09,800 he took up the towel in the wash basin. 169 00:10:11,560 --> 00:10:14,360 And in John 13 it says, and we'd wash their feet, and that 170 00:10:14,360 --> 00:10:18,640 included Judas's feet. And when he'd washed their feet 171 00:10:18,640 --> 00:10:21,120 and put on his outer garment and resumed his place, he said to 172 00:10:21,120 --> 00:10:22,800 them, Do you understand what I've done to you? 173 00:10:22,960 --> 00:10:25,760 You call me teacher and Lord, and you're right, for so I am. 174 00:10:25,920 --> 00:10:29,000 If I then your Lord and teacher have washed your feet, you also 175 00:10:29,000 --> 00:10:30,520 ought to wash one another's feet. 176 00:10:30,720 --> 00:10:33,600 For I've given you an example that you also should do just as 177 00:10:33,600 --> 00:10:35,440 I have done to you. Truly, truly. 178 00:10:35,440 --> 00:10:38,640 I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is 179 00:10:38,640 --> 00:10:40,640 a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 180 00:10:41,000 --> 00:10:43,160 If you know these things, blessed are you. 181 00:10:43,160 --> 00:10:48,560 If you do them, how are you living out your salvation? 182 00:10:49,640 --> 00:10:51,800 How are you using your spiritual giftedness? 183 00:10:52,120 --> 00:10:54,080 You're doing it to build up and serve the body. 184 00:10:54,840 --> 00:10:58,600 Or are you content to study about service, to watch others 185 00:10:58,600 --> 00:11:02,040 serve rather than roll up your sleeves and do it yourself? 186 00:11:02,360 --> 00:11:06,040 Are we guilty of Bible gluttony with no exercise? 187 00:11:06,680 --> 00:11:08,680 That was a line by a layperson at a church. 188 00:11:08,680 --> 00:11:12,920 I once served Bible gluttony with no exercise. 189 00:11:13,840 --> 00:11:16,880 So our God-given, given gifts must be generously used to serve 190 00:11:16,880 --> 00:11:18,800 others. So in James 2, you've got to 191 00:11:18,800 --> 00:11:21,480 understand and you've got to understand the background of 192 00:11:21,480 --> 00:11:22,960 James 2. If you don't understand the 193 00:11:22,960 --> 00:11:26,120 background of James two, you will misunderstand these verses 194 00:11:26,200 --> 00:11:31,520 and you will teach heresy. James is talking to Jewish 195 00:11:31,640 --> 00:11:34,040 Christians. You can't, you can't leave that 196 00:11:34,040 --> 00:11:37,560 out. It won't make sense if you don't 197 00:11:37,560 --> 00:11:42,160 understand that he is writing to Christians with a Jewish 198 00:11:42,200 --> 00:11:45,360 background. He is not writing to unsaved 199 00:11:45,360 --> 00:11:49,160 people. These verses are not for unsaved 200 00:11:49,160 --> 00:11:51,880 people. These verses are for saved 201 00:11:51,880 --> 00:11:54,520 people with that background. So he's not explaining how a 202 00:11:54,520 --> 00:11:56,280 person is to supposed to be saved. 203 00:11:56,440 --> 00:11:58,480 He's talking about how Christians should live after 204 00:11:58,480 --> 00:12:00,640 salvation. And if you lose this, these 205 00:12:00,640 --> 00:12:03,640 passages will be misinterpreted. In fact, Martin Luther commented 206 00:12:03,640 --> 00:12:05,760 about this. He said Romans deals with 207 00:12:05,760 --> 00:12:08,960 justification, James deals with validation. 208 00:12:10,680 --> 00:12:14,560 Now remember Ephesians 289? You all could probably quote it 209 00:12:14,560 --> 00:12:16,480 to me. For by grace you have been saved 210 00:12:16,480 --> 00:12:18,440 through faith, and this is not your own doing. 211 00:12:18,440 --> 00:12:21,520 It is the gift of God, not a result of work, so that no one 212 00:12:21,520 --> 00:12:23,720 may boast. So though we're saved by grace 213 00:12:23,720 --> 00:12:29,520 through faith and not because of works, James is going to show us 214 00:12:29,520 --> 00:12:35,520 that true saving faith must and will be demonstrated inactive 215 00:12:35,520 --> 00:12:38,920 work. So James chapter 2, verse 14, 216 00:12:40,120 --> 00:12:43,400 what good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but 217 00:12:43,400 --> 00:12:46,440 does not have works, can that faith save him? 218 00:12:47,120 --> 00:12:50,040 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily 219 00:12:50,040 --> 00:12:52,840 food, and one of you says to them, go in peace, be warmed and 220 00:12:52,840 --> 00:12:56,440 filled without giving them the things needed for the body, what 221 00:12:56,440 --> 00:12:59,000 good is that? So we need to understand the 222 00:12:59,000 --> 00:13:05,000 worthlessness of lifeless faith. You can call yourself a 223 00:13:05,000 --> 00:13:07,240 Christian. You can call yourself a church 224 00:13:07,240 --> 00:13:09,560 member, You can call yourself a disciple. 225 00:13:09,640 --> 00:13:13,600 But we need evidence. We need action to validate and 226 00:13:13,600 --> 00:13:19,120 demonstrate that claim. And this world demands it out of 227 00:13:19,120 --> 00:13:23,640 the evangelical church today. Are you really a biblical fruit 228 00:13:23,640 --> 00:13:26,920 producing, multiplying disciples who seeks to make other 229 00:13:26,920 --> 00:13:34,160 disciples prove it by showing an authentic, generous, 230 00:13:34,360 --> 00:13:38,560 compassionate service? Do the people who know you and 231 00:13:38,560 --> 00:13:43,040 are around your life outside of these walls know that you are 232 00:13:43,040 --> 00:13:45,800 strong believer seeking to live for Jesus Christ? 233 00:13:46,480 --> 00:13:50,320 Because lifeless faith is like a brother or sister who comes to 234 00:13:50,320 --> 00:13:53,160 you and need, and you do nothing to help them. 235 00:13:53,360 --> 00:13:55,480 Now you've got to understand who he's talking about. 236 00:13:55,600 --> 00:14:00,360 This is not some passing beggar. This is not. 237 00:14:00,560 --> 00:14:03,520 This is not referring to someone you don't know. 238 00:14:03,520 --> 00:14:05,320 This is referring to a family member. 239 00:14:05,400 --> 00:14:07,080 This is referring to a Christian. 240 00:14:07,120 --> 00:14:11,000 This is referring to a a fellow church member who really has a 241 00:14:11,040 --> 00:14:13,600 need. These are daily needs for daily 242 00:14:13,600 --> 00:14:15,520 things. They need daily food. 243 00:14:15,760 --> 00:14:18,920 It's not some scam artist. Not some questionable beggar out 244 00:14:18,920 --> 00:14:21,160 on it with a piece of cardboard on a random street corner. 245 00:14:21,280 --> 00:14:25,280 This is not a question. What good would it do to extend 246 00:14:25,280 --> 00:14:29,040 nice words and then do absolutely nothing when you know 247 00:14:29,040 --> 00:14:33,040 there's a real need? So so how does that testify? 248 00:14:33,040 --> 00:14:36,000 How does that demonstrate your faith in verse 16? 249 00:14:36,000 --> 00:14:37,760 Don't miss it. And one of you says to them, go 250 00:14:37,760 --> 00:14:40,400 in peace, be warmed and filled. It's sarcastic. 251 00:14:40,400 --> 00:14:42,880 It's supposed to be without giving them the things needed 252 00:14:42,880 --> 00:14:44,680 for the body. What good is that? 253 00:14:44,800 --> 00:14:49,080 That word filled or well fed refers to cows that gorge 254 00:14:49,080 --> 00:14:52,280 themselves on the feed lot. So in other words, it's like, 255 00:14:52,280 --> 00:14:55,720 oh, go be stuffed. It's mocking. 256 00:14:55,720 --> 00:14:59,920 It's sarcastic. So extending empty words like 257 00:14:59,920 --> 00:15:01,800 these does nothing to meet their real needs. 258 00:15:01,800 --> 00:15:04,080 There's no value. There are signs of an empty, 259 00:15:04,200 --> 00:15:08,640 lifeless faith. Now, what if I told you that we 260 00:15:08,640 --> 00:15:12,200 have real brothers and real sisters and real family members 261 00:15:12,200 --> 00:15:16,560 in real need for regular help right now at Inglewood Baptist 262 00:15:16,560 --> 00:15:18,600 Church? Now get ready. 263 00:15:19,640 --> 00:15:22,560 Y'all got your seatbelts on steel toe boots? 264 00:15:22,640 --> 00:15:27,720 You all right? I have asked 100% of you to 265 00:15:27,720 --> 00:15:30,880 participate in worship connect groups and midweeks. 266 00:15:31,480 --> 00:15:34,320 Well, that means that these areas are going to grow and they 267 00:15:34,320 --> 00:15:37,560 are. But do you realize what that 268 00:15:37,560 --> 00:15:41,160 means behind the scenes? Just just think about this 269 00:15:41,160 --> 00:15:43,200 logistically, practically for a minute. 270 00:15:43,640 --> 00:15:48,200 We have more people in more places we need, we need more 271 00:15:48,200 --> 00:15:51,400 help. So, for example, our brothers 272 00:15:51,400 --> 00:15:54,440 and sisters in the preschool children and special needs 273 00:15:54,440 --> 00:15:58,720 ministries are three areas where our brothers and sisters have 274 00:15:58,720 --> 00:16:04,240 regular, real needs and they need your real help and service. 275 00:16:04,840 --> 00:16:06,160 Well, that's somebody else's problem. 276 00:16:06,160 --> 00:16:12,400 Where's that scorecard again? Whoever someone else is. 277 00:16:12,400 --> 00:16:15,480 Whoever someone else is. I've never met someone else. 278 00:16:15,640 --> 00:16:19,840 Whoever someone else is that can do all the work, I let them do 279 00:16:19,840 --> 00:16:21,400 that. I don't want to take my turn. 280 00:16:21,800 --> 00:16:25,560 I've done my fair share. I've just never met someone 281 00:16:25,560 --> 00:16:27,960 else. This is our family. 282 00:16:28,800 --> 00:16:32,480 This is our next generation. This is many of our young 283 00:16:32,480 --> 00:16:36,280 families and they need help, right? 284 00:16:36,400 --> 00:16:38,840 It's a good thing because there's more of them. 285 00:16:39,640 --> 00:16:41,400 There's more. There's more kids on Wednesday 286 00:16:41,400 --> 00:16:43,440 nights, there's more kids on Sunday morning. 287 00:16:43,520 --> 00:16:45,920 There's more everybody. So they need help. 288 00:16:46,680 --> 00:16:50,200 So God gives us, equips us and calls us to exercise our faith 289 00:16:50,480 --> 00:16:52,200 and to build up the body by serving. 290 00:16:52,200 --> 00:16:53,680 Now the staff has worked real hard. 291 00:16:54,520 --> 00:16:56,520 Pull out your worship guide. Wave them in the air. 292 00:16:56,520 --> 00:16:58,720 I want to see them get your worship guide out. 293 00:16:58,720 --> 00:17:00,840 Wave them like it's a a white handkerchief. 294 00:17:00,840 --> 00:17:04,079 I want to see them on the very front cover of Your Worship 295 00:17:04,079 --> 00:17:06,839 Guide for those of you who are members. 296 00:17:07,680 --> 00:17:10,800 Our staff has worked on a updated real list of real 297 00:17:10,800 --> 00:17:13,520 service needs in our church that need real servants. 298 00:17:13,520 --> 00:17:17,440 You use that QR code right there or the one on the screen and 299 00:17:17,440 --> 00:17:20,720 it'll take you to information. Now, some of these positions 300 00:17:20,720 --> 00:17:23,359 require certain qualifications. Of course, not everybody can do 301 00:17:23,359 --> 00:17:24,800 everything. We would never expect that. 302 00:17:25,200 --> 00:17:27,760 But, and so there's certain qualifications you might need to 303 00:17:27,760 --> 00:17:30,520 meet, especially when you're working with children and and 304 00:17:30,520 --> 00:17:32,280 other and special needs and things like that. 305 00:17:32,280 --> 00:17:34,200 But there's some vitally important areas. 306 00:17:34,560 --> 00:17:38,680 So I want you to explore today how you can volunteer. 307 00:17:38,720 --> 00:17:41,200 In fact, you don't even have to listen to the rest of the sermon 308 00:17:41,200 --> 00:17:44,040 if you plant, if you're going to that QR code, forget anything 309 00:17:44,040 --> 00:17:46,040 else I'm going to say go to the QR code and get that 310 00:17:46,040 --> 00:17:47,520 information. If that's what you'd rather do. 311 00:17:49,480 --> 00:17:51,680 I need you to do this. Now, there's certainly 312 00:17:51,680 --> 00:17:54,120 qualifications you need to meet to serve in some of these 313 00:17:54,120 --> 00:17:55,800 important areas, but please explore them. 314 00:17:56,000 --> 00:17:58,760 So listen, how, how can we do this? 315 00:17:58,760 --> 00:18:01,000 Now, some of you, and don't miss, don't misunderstand what 316 00:18:01,000 --> 00:18:04,160 I'm about to say. You hear every word I'm about to 317 00:18:04,160 --> 00:18:07,560 say. Some of you wonderfully give and 318 00:18:07,560 --> 00:18:11,880 serve all around the community. You give to our partners, you 319 00:18:11,880 --> 00:18:14,360 give to community ministries, you give to all kind of stuff. 320 00:18:14,360 --> 00:18:16,480 And you put hours, hours and hours and hours. 321 00:18:16,600 --> 00:18:19,960 And I certainly appreciate that. But as we grow, we've got to 322 00:18:19,960 --> 00:18:23,200 make sure that we have enough servants taking care of 323 00:18:23,320 --> 00:18:28,240 Englewood Baptist churches 100% prioritized core as well. 324 00:18:28,480 --> 00:18:30,320 Now, does that not make common sense to you? 325 00:18:36,000 --> 00:18:38,920 We want to guide you to discover and put into practice your 326 00:18:38,920 --> 00:18:41,840 giftedness and calling. So our pastors in coordination 327 00:18:41,840 --> 00:18:45,160 with the Acts 18 Missions Task Force, with your finance team, 328 00:18:45,320 --> 00:18:48,040 are putting together a list of approved partners that we're 329 00:18:48,040 --> 00:18:50,920 going to seek for each connect group to serve. 330 00:18:51,080 --> 00:18:53,840 They're going to have missions, call them the M&M's, the 331 00:18:53,840 --> 00:18:55,840 missions and ministry partnerships. 332 00:18:55,880 --> 00:18:58,320 We want every single connect group to connect to and to 333 00:18:58,320 --> 00:18:59,680 serve. And we're going to be helping 334 00:18:59,680 --> 00:19:02,920 you with that to understand that our new budget proposal is going 335 00:19:02,920 --> 00:19:05,520 to reflect this as well. These are the partners that 336 00:19:05,520 --> 00:19:08,840 we're trying to support. We also have to prioritize the 337 00:19:08,840 --> 00:19:11,680 growth that's happening inside. Let me tell you something. 338 00:19:11,680 --> 00:19:14,080 You know, family comes here and there aren't enough people in 339 00:19:14,080 --> 00:19:15,800 that children's class to help out. 340 00:19:15,800 --> 00:19:17,440 What do you think that young family's going to do? 341 00:19:19,040 --> 00:19:23,240 They're going to leave. We've got to be ready because of 342 00:19:23,240 --> 00:19:27,240 growth. See, this is a good problem, but 343 00:19:27,240 --> 00:19:29,280 it's a real need. Are you with me? 344 00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:34,120 All right, so we've got to cover our 100% course structure first 345 00:19:34,240 --> 00:19:36,960 with an abundant team. If everybody takes their term, 346 00:19:37,080 --> 00:19:40,480 it'll be an abundant team of generous and compassionate 347 00:19:40,480 --> 00:19:43,400 disciples, servants. So please go today to see how 348 00:19:43,400 --> 00:19:45,240 you can help. And don't expect somebody else 349 00:19:45,240 --> 00:19:46,920 to take your place. They're probably not because 350 00:19:46,920 --> 00:19:48,400 everybody else is saying the same thing. 351 00:19:48,600 --> 00:19:52,480 You take your place because you have an indispensable role in 352 00:19:52,480 --> 00:19:54,640 the body of Christ. Paul wrote to the Corinthians 353 00:19:54,640 --> 00:19:55,840 about it. He said. 354 00:19:55,840 --> 00:19:58,920 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I don't want you to be 355 00:19:58,960 --> 00:20:01,080 uninformed. There are a variety of gifts, 356 00:20:01,080 --> 00:20:04,240 but the same spirit, variety of service but the same Lord, 357 00:20:04,400 --> 00:20:07,160 varieties of activities, but it's the same God who empowers 358 00:20:07,160 --> 00:20:09,280 them all in everyone. To each has given the 359 00:20:09,280 --> 00:20:11,480 manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 360 00:20:11,680 --> 00:20:13,520 We are not to be ignorant of these things. 361 00:20:14,320 --> 00:20:19,080 Peter wrote first Peter 410 As each has received a gift, use it 362 00:20:19,080 --> 00:20:21,920 to serve one another as good stewards of God's. 363 00:20:22,320 --> 00:20:26,520 Varied grace, so genuine saving grace produces authentic, 364 00:20:26,800 --> 00:20:31,560 visible works of generosity and compassion that match our words. 365 00:20:32,120 --> 00:20:35,160 We're to be servants of the Lord and one another, and we 366 00:20:35,160 --> 00:20:40,480 certainly need you right now. But Oh no, I'm not done. 367 00:20:40,480 --> 00:20:44,760 So, so get mark the scorecards because some of you qualified 368 00:20:44,760 --> 00:20:46,440 men now I'm going to restart meddling. 369 00:20:46,440 --> 00:20:52,760 Now some of you qualified men need to say yes when you're 370 00:20:52,760 --> 00:21:01,040 asked to serve as a Deacon. It's called a pause and I 371 00:21:01,040 --> 00:21:02,520 already know some of you been asked. 372 00:21:02,680 --> 00:21:04,800 Now, once again, there are qualifications that have to be 373 00:21:04,800 --> 00:21:08,160 met, but don't say you're too busy or right now or not right 374 00:21:08,160 --> 00:21:10,840 now unless you know beyond any shadow of a doubt that that is 375 00:21:10,840 --> 00:21:12,640 exactly what God wants you to do. 376 00:21:13,280 --> 00:21:16,400 We need at least 10 new deacons because of our growth, at least 377 00:21:16,400 --> 00:21:18,280 10 new deacons right now. We're getting ready for 378 00:21:18,280 --> 00:21:19,640 nominations. We're getting ready for that, 379 00:21:19,880 --> 00:21:22,800 that, that process. And so again, qualifications 380 00:21:22,800 --> 00:21:26,320 have to be met, but we need to cover our 100% participation 381 00:21:26,320 --> 00:21:29,720 areas well with servant workers so we can continue to grow and 382 00:21:29,720 --> 00:21:31,440 to expect to grow. We're going to baptize again 383 00:21:31,440 --> 00:21:34,720 next week. We got, in fact, I, I, I know of 384 00:21:35,480 --> 00:21:39,840 three or four couples at least who are waiting on baptism, at 385 00:21:39,840 --> 00:21:43,560 least that many. We've that means we've got to 386 00:21:43,560 --> 00:21:47,360 work first, John 3 says. But if anyone has the world's 387 00:21:47,360 --> 00:21:50,280 goods and sees his brother, brother in need, yet closes his 388 00:21:50,280 --> 00:21:53,000 heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? 389 00:21:53,560 --> 00:21:56,960 I mean, we can run from church service to church service and 390 00:21:56,960 --> 00:21:58,880 never know what service really is. 391 00:22:00,640 --> 00:22:02,840 That's because too many think this is about us. 392 00:22:02,840 --> 00:22:07,040 This is just about me, this is just for me, it's just about us. 393 00:22:07,480 --> 00:22:10,160 I promise you, my friends around the world know better. 394 00:22:11,040 --> 00:22:15,240 So false, lifeless faith substitutes words for work. 395 00:22:15,520 --> 00:22:21,040 Will our faith live in action? Will you serve? 396 00:22:21,040 --> 00:22:25,520 James 217 says so. Also, faith by itself, if it 397 00:22:25,520 --> 00:22:30,440 does not have works, is dead. Faith without works does not 398 00:22:30,440 --> 00:22:32,120 give life. It is dead. 399 00:22:32,480 --> 00:22:36,400 It provides no visible value for living out as plan. 400 00:22:36,720 --> 00:22:39,640 It produces no evidence for others to see. 401 00:22:39,800 --> 00:22:42,760 It provides no foundation upon which to build life. 402 00:22:42,960 --> 00:22:45,840 It's not strong enough to stand on its own. 403 00:22:46,040 --> 00:22:49,960 Loving action accompanies true faith. 404 00:22:50,160 --> 00:22:55,160 Always, always. True faith does not exist alone. 405 00:22:55,480 --> 00:22:59,600 Never Jesus talked about this in Matthew 7. 406 00:22:59,880 --> 00:23:01,560 Gang up in the booth. I'm not going to read that 407 00:23:01,560 --> 00:23:04,600 passage for the sake of time this morning, but just recognize 408 00:23:04,600 --> 00:23:07,040 that you've got to be careful how upon what you build your 409 00:23:07,040 --> 00:23:09,280 house. What's your foundation? 410 00:23:10,240 --> 00:23:13,880 Will you put action and evidence behind your faith? 411 00:23:14,720 --> 00:23:19,920 So in James 218 it says this, but someone will say you have 412 00:23:19,920 --> 00:23:24,800 faith. Good job gang and I have works. 413 00:23:25,680 --> 00:23:29,080 Show me your faith apart from your works and I will show you 414 00:23:29,080 --> 00:23:33,680 my faith by my works. You believe that God is 1. 415 00:23:33,680 --> 00:23:35,840 You do well. Even the demons believe in 416 00:23:35,840 --> 00:23:38,520 Shudder. Do you want to be shown, you 417 00:23:38,520 --> 00:23:41,360 foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 418 00:23:42,080 --> 00:23:45,200 So the second thing we've got to see is the display of living 419 00:23:45,200 --> 00:23:47,360 faith. We've got to show this. 420 00:23:47,440 --> 00:23:50,240 We've got to display this. The word means to bring it to 421 00:23:50,240 --> 00:23:52,320 light. Exercise your faith. 422 00:23:52,560 --> 00:23:57,600 Real saving faith is not hidden. That would again, it would make 423 00:23:57,600 --> 00:24:01,520 it worthless. We, we must show our faith by 424 00:24:01,520 --> 00:24:04,480 showing action. And so functioning living faith 425 00:24:04,480 --> 00:24:06,800 results in this real work. It results in effort. 426 00:24:06,880 --> 00:24:11,040 It, it results in energy. It it results in enthusiasm. 427 00:24:11,880 --> 00:24:15,440 So faith is this inward response to God, but without fruit, it 428 00:24:15,440 --> 00:24:18,120 remains hidden. And he never wants us to hide 429 00:24:18,120 --> 00:24:20,400 it. Hidden faith has no testimony. 430 00:24:22,120 --> 00:24:25,960 It bears no witness. So if you're not showing off 431 00:24:25,960 --> 00:24:28,000 your faith, you're missing out on the abundant life. 432 00:24:28,480 --> 00:24:31,760 And he has that life for you. And he wants, he wants you to 433 00:24:31,760 --> 00:24:33,800 provide the evidence that he has that for you. 434 00:24:34,840 --> 00:24:38,480 So you're affecting the rest of us too, by the way, you're 435 00:24:38,480 --> 00:24:40,000 hurting us all. You're hurting the rest of the 436 00:24:40,000 --> 00:24:43,320 world by doing that. Matthew 5 says this. 437 00:24:43,320 --> 00:24:45,040 It says you're the salt of the earth. 438 00:24:45,040 --> 00:24:47,680 But if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be 439 00:24:47,680 --> 00:24:49,440 restored? It is no longer good for 440 00:24:49,440 --> 00:24:51,840 anything except to be thrown at and trampled under people's 441 00:24:51,840 --> 00:24:53,480 feet. You're the light of the world. 442 00:24:53,480 --> 00:24:55,240 A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 443 00:24:55,400 --> 00:24:58,040 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a 444 00:24:58,040 --> 00:25:00,440 stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 445 00:25:00,800 --> 00:25:04,400 In the same way, let your light shine before others so that they 446 00:25:04,400 --> 00:25:09,160 may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in 447 00:25:09,160 --> 00:25:12,160 heaven. We are to be salt. 448 00:25:13,080 --> 00:25:16,960 We are to be light. We're not to be useless or 449 00:25:16,960 --> 00:25:19,640 hidden. And so God doesn't just save us 450 00:25:19,640 --> 00:25:22,160 for eternity. He saves us to serve, to have a 451 00:25:22,160 --> 00:25:26,000 relationship with Him and to serve Him, and to serve others 452 00:25:26,080 --> 00:25:29,880 to bring Him glory and to join Him in redeeming the nation's. 453 00:25:30,640 --> 00:25:34,800 And we are surrounded, my friends, by a community in great 454 00:25:34,800 --> 00:25:36,760 need. Before I ever came here, I 455 00:25:36,760 --> 00:25:39,680 conducted a pretty significant community assessment study of 456 00:25:39,680 --> 00:25:41,560 this whole area. I've mentioned it many times. 457 00:25:42,640 --> 00:25:44,720 And the people living right around you are concerned about 458 00:25:44,720 --> 00:25:47,200 their families. They're concerned about their 459 00:25:47,200 --> 00:25:49,440 finances. They're concerned about their 460 00:25:49,440 --> 00:25:50,760 future. They have real fears. 461 00:25:50,760 --> 00:25:54,120 They have real needs. So how can we be involved in 462 00:25:54,240 --> 00:25:57,200 meeting these needs? And the and the answer to that 463 00:25:57,200 --> 00:26:01,720 is by being the healthiest, strongest church possible, by 464 00:26:01,720 --> 00:26:06,240 making sure our core ministries are in great shape, by being 465 00:26:06,240 --> 00:26:09,240 active members of connect groups, reaching out to their M 466 00:26:09,240 --> 00:26:13,440 and Ms. so to speak. We will not be one of the 467 00:26:13,440 --> 00:26:18,080 15,000, but there will be others in our area that will. 468 00:26:19,920 --> 00:26:22,000 How would he love for you to display your faith? 469 00:26:23,040 --> 00:26:25,840 How can we let our light shine in front of everyone and put the 470 00:26:25,840 --> 00:26:28,800 spotlight on him? So don't just believe something, 471 00:26:29,000 --> 00:26:31,880 do something. And James 2/19 it says you 472 00:26:31,880 --> 00:26:33,280 believe that God is 1. You do. 473 00:26:33,280 --> 00:26:35,600 Well, even the demons believe and shudder. 474 00:26:35,720 --> 00:26:40,080 Even the enemy believes in God. Even the enemy knows him and 475 00:26:40,080 --> 00:26:42,920 trembles in fear because they know it's the truth. 476 00:26:42,920 --> 00:26:47,520 They know who he really is and it's vital to believe. 477 00:26:49,400 --> 00:26:54,880 Listen, demons are not atheists. Demons are not agnostics. 478 00:26:55,880 --> 00:26:58,920 They, they believe in the fact, but they don't obey in faith. 479 00:26:59,920 --> 00:27:02,840 So we got to be careful that we don't share demonic theology. 480 00:27:02,840 --> 00:27:14,040 How was that for a phrase? We know all kinds of truth, we 481 00:27:14,040 --> 00:27:17,920 studied everything. But does it really affect my 482 00:27:17,920 --> 00:27:22,080 actions? Does it affect my yes, when I'm 483 00:27:22,080 --> 00:27:27,120 asked to serve, to believe in God and not to submit to and 484 00:27:27,120 --> 00:27:29,360 obey Him? That may be the very essence of 485 00:27:29,360 --> 00:27:33,080 sin. James 417 says So whoever knows 486 00:27:33,080 --> 00:27:36,760 the right thing to do and fails to do it for him, it is sin. 487 00:27:38,640 --> 00:27:41,200 Do do we know the right thing He wants us to do? 488 00:27:41,800 --> 00:27:46,480 Do we experience transformative active faith in then let that 489 00:27:46,480 --> 00:27:50,120 pour out into service and love for others. 490 00:27:51,280 --> 00:27:53,680 I mean, what's your option? James 220 says. 491 00:27:53,920 --> 00:27:57,360 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart 492 00:27:57,360 --> 00:28:02,680 from works is useless. So don't be a vein. 493 00:28:02,800 --> 00:28:06,000 The word means empty. Don't be an empty person. 494 00:28:06,000 --> 00:28:08,040 Be an abundantly overflowing person. 495 00:28:08,120 --> 00:28:09,560 I mean, a person can be educated. 496 00:28:09,560 --> 00:28:12,520 I've spent a lot of time around educated people. 497 00:28:13,240 --> 00:28:17,400 They can be enlightened but still be absolutely empty and 498 00:28:17,400 --> 00:28:20,360 lost. Don't live an empty life. 499 00:28:20,400 --> 00:28:23,320 Exercise with enthusiasm and energy. 500 00:28:23,320 --> 00:28:25,640 A living faith. In fact, let me show you as we 501 00:28:25,640 --> 00:28:28,560 get come start coming into a close some examples of life 502 00:28:28,560 --> 00:28:29,720 faith. James gives them to us. 503 00:28:30,200 --> 00:28:32,640 He shares 2 extremes from Jewish history. 504 00:28:32,640 --> 00:28:35,960 It's a fascinating study. There's a famous St. and a 505 00:28:35,960 --> 00:28:39,120 famous Sinner that he shares. You got to remember these Jewish 506 00:28:39,120 --> 00:28:41,240 Christian background believers would know about these people 507 00:28:41,240 --> 00:28:44,560 already. And so first of all, in verse 508 00:28:44,560 --> 00:28:48,000 21, he says, was it not Abraham our father justified by works 509 00:28:48,160 --> 00:28:50,400 when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 510 00:28:50,920 --> 00:28:53,560 So we see father Abraham. I mean, all these readers would 511 00:28:53,560 --> 00:28:56,360 have said father Abraham. I mean, nobody would question 512 00:28:56,360 --> 00:29:00,920 the faith of Abraham. In fact, Paul refers to Abraham 513 00:29:00,920 --> 00:29:03,200 as the father of all who believe in Romans 4. 514 00:29:04,200 --> 00:29:07,360 So God required remarkable works of faith from Him. 515 00:29:08,160 --> 00:29:13,000 But never take verse 21 without verses 22 and 23 or you're going 516 00:29:13,000 --> 00:29:17,400 to reach the wrong conclusion. Verse 22, you see that faith was 517 00:29:17,400 --> 00:29:21,760 active along with His works, and faith was completed by His 518 00:29:21,760 --> 00:29:23,880 works. So don't share that the Bible 519 00:29:23,880 --> 00:29:27,240 says we're saved by works. But do share that after we're 520 00:29:27,240 --> 00:29:31,280 saved, the Bible commands us to show our faith by godly works. 521 00:29:32,440 --> 00:29:36,160 In fact, Hebrews 11/17 gives us some new commentary. 522 00:29:36,160 --> 00:29:40,360 It says by faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac 523 00:29:40,960 --> 00:29:44,680 and he who had received the promised promises was in the act 524 00:29:44,680 --> 00:29:48,760 of offering up his only son. Abraham was saved by faith. 525 00:29:49,760 --> 00:29:52,880 The sacrifice sacrifice of Isaac was a test of faith. 526 00:29:53,840 --> 00:29:58,200 Faith could not be proven unless Abraham put into action that 527 00:29:58,200 --> 00:30:00,840 whole act so that he obeyed. It's the same for us. 528 00:30:00,920 --> 00:30:03,520 His faith was made complete by his works. 529 00:30:03,520 --> 00:30:06,560 A mature Christian lives out faith in action. 530 00:30:06,560 --> 00:30:10,120 Look at verse 23 and the scripture was fulfilled that 531 00:30:10,120 --> 00:30:13,360 says Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as 532 00:30:13,360 --> 00:30:16,920 righteousness and he was called a friend of God. 533 00:30:17,480 --> 00:30:20,360 His belief in action was credited to him as 534 00:30:20,360 --> 00:30:22,360 righteousness. It was put into his account 535 00:30:22,960 --> 00:30:26,680 because Abraham believed or trusted and acted in obedience. 536 00:30:26,680 --> 00:30:28,480 He was also called a friend of God. 537 00:30:28,480 --> 00:30:32,320 What a title. Verse 24 says, you see that a 538 00:30:32,320 --> 00:30:36,040 person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 539 00:30:36,200 --> 00:30:38,040 But again, don't ever take this verse alone. 540 00:30:38,920 --> 00:30:40,360 You can't ever just take that verse alone. 541 00:30:40,440 --> 00:30:43,600 John Calvin actually comments. He says it is faith alone that 542 00:30:43,600 --> 00:30:47,080 justifies, but faith that justifies can never be alone. 543 00:30:48,440 --> 00:30:49,720 You can understand the relationship. 544 00:30:49,720 --> 00:30:52,880 And then James gives a second example before we close. 545 00:30:54,480 --> 00:30:58,120 And in the same way, was not Rahab the prostitute justified 546 00:30:58,120 --> 00:31:01,480 by works when she received the messengers and sent them out? 547 00:31:01,480 --> 00:31:05,800 By another way I mean what a contrast to Father Abraham, this 548 00:31:05,800 --> 00:31:08,760 immoral person who becomes this example of faith. 549 00:31:09,400 --> 00:31:12,280 Rahab lived in the walls of Jericho and hid the spies of 550 00:31:12,280 --> 00:31:15,080 Joshua. She was even in the genealogy of 551 00:31:15,080 --> 00:31:17,640 Jesus. She put her faith into action. 552 00:31:18,120 --> 00:31:20,560 And so it's important to read the whole Bible and not just one 553 00:31:20,560 --> 00:31:23,760 passage because James is assuming his Jewish readers 554 00:31:23,840 --> 00:31:25,800 already know about Rahab's faith. 555 00:31:26,200 --> 00:31:29,040 You got to recognize that she wasn't saved by works, but 556 00:31:29,040 --> 00:31:30,520 showed her faith through her works. 557 00:31:30,720 --> 00:31:33,840 And so she spoke to the spies about how she had heard of the 558 00:31:33,840 --> 00:31:36,680 things that God did back in Egypt and in the wilderness. 559 00:31:36,680 --> 00:31:38,560 In fact, in Joshua too, it says this. 560 00:31:38,800 --> 00:31:41,880 And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no 561 00:31:41,880 --> 00:31:43,960 spirit left in any man because of you. 562 00:31:44,160 --> 00:31:47,320 For the Lord your God, He is God in the heavens above and on the 563 00:31:47,320 --> 00:31:49,200 earth beneath. I mean, this is a proclamation 564 00:31:49,200 --> 00:31:52,400 of faith. So she didn't just talk about 565 00:31:52,400 --> 00:31:54,880 it, she then acted on it. She protected and hid the spies. 566 00:31:55,720 --> 00:31:57,960 Hebrews 11 again comments on Rahab. 567 00:31:59,000 --> 00:32:03,360 Verse 31 says by faith, Rahab the prostitute did not perish 568 00:32:03,360 --> 00:32:07,240 with those who were disobedient because she had given a friendly 569 00:32:07,240 --> 00:32:10,520 welcome to the spies. She displayed a living faith. 570 00:32:11,720 --> 00:32:14,840 Then James presents one more example in verse 26. 571 00:32:15,920 --> 00:32:20,240 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith 572 00:32:20,240 --> 00:32:25,640 apart from works is dead. If the reader couldn't relate to 573 00:32:25,640 --> 00:32:28,760 Abraham or Rahab, they certainly could relate to this one. 574 00:32:30,160 --> 00:32:32,400 The relationship between faith and works is like the 575 00:32:32,400 --> 00:32:34,200 relationship between the body and the spirit. 576 00:32:35,120 --> 00:32:37,560 Without a spirit, a body's just an empty shell. 577 00:32:37,560 --> 00:32:40,200 It's a corpse without faith or what? 578 00:32:40,200 --> 00:32:41,840 Excuse me? Without works, faith is 579 00:32:41,840 --> 00:32:46,360 invisible. Faith is lifeless and so true 580 00:32:46,360 --> 00:32:49,280 faith has to be living inactive. And so Abraham and Rahab didn't 581 00:32:49,280 --> 00:32:52,000 just talk about it. They responded in obedience. 582 00:32:52,000 --> 00:32:54,840 Their faith was full of life. Their faith was full of 583 00:32:54,840 --> 00:32:58,240 testimony and it was credited to them as righteousness. 584 00:32:59,400 --> 00:33:01,920 So, so how can I be known as a friend of God? 585 00:33:01,920 --> 00:33:03,760 How can we display our faith this way? 586 00:33:03,920 --> 00:33:08,680 We sit in the midst of an incredibly ripe harvest field of 587 00:33:08,680 --> 00:33:13,920 real need and and a church full of ministry, real need because 588 00:33:13,920 --> 00:33:16,760 of our growth. What are we going to do? 589 00:33:17,760 --> 00:33:23,000 Please serve with generosity. Please serve with that level of 590 00:33:23,000 --> 00:33:27,320 compassion. In English history, back years 591 00:33:27,320 --> 00:33:30,440 ago in the 1600s, there was a person named Oliver Cromwell who 592 00:33:30,600 --> 00:33:33,160 ran the government for a while. Controversial figure, he doesn't 593 00:33:33,160 --> 00:33:34,960 matter. But they ran out of silver to 594 00:33:34,960 --> 00:33:37,280 make coins. At that point, it's a hard time 595 00:33:37,280 --> 00:33:40,560 in British history. So he sent men out to all the 596 00:33:40,560 --> 00:33:43,000 cathedrals to see if they could find silver. 597 00:33:44,440 --> 00:33:47,240 And they came back and said, the only silver we can find are the 598 00:33:47,240 --> 00:33:49,760 statues of the Saints that stand in the corners. 599 00:33:50,840 --> 00:33:54,280 And Cromwell says, good, we'll meltdown the Saints and put them 600 00:33:54,280 --> 00:34:00,400 into circulation. It's time. 601 00:34:01,000 --> 00:34:03,480 It's time to step up, decide who you're going to be and go wood 602 00:34:04,480 --> 00:34:10,159 that next level, that next step. See, we got to serve in this 603 00:34:10,159 --> 00:34:12,639 way. Those of us who are here have to 604 00:34:12,639 --> 00:34:15,520 do this. We've got to go and find out how 605 00:34:15,520 --> 00:34:18,239 to do this, Jesus said in Mark 10:45. 606 00:34:18,239 --> 00:34:21,560 For even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and 607 00:34:21,560 --> 00:34:24,800 to give us life as a ransom for many. 608 00:34:27,440 --> 00:34:31,120 Someone associated with a ministry that I love dearly 609 00:34:32,360 --> 00:34:37,840 likely died in the last few days because of his faith in the 610 00:34:37,840 --> 00:34:43,040 Middle East or Central Asia. We have dear friends here 611 00:34:45,199 --> 00:34:49,840 sitting in a jail cell because of their faith in Jesus Christ. 612 00:34:51,400 --> 00:34:56,280 I've been sharing back and forth with members of that family, and 613 00:34:56,280 --> 00:34:59,560 this is a verse that was sent to me from them. 614 00:35:00,360 --> 00:35:05,160 Second Timothy 28 through 10. Remember Jesus Christ risen from 615 00:35:05,160 --> 00:35:08,200 the dead. The offspring of David has 616 00:35:08,200 --> 00:35:11,120 preached in my gospel for which I am suffering, bound with 617 00:35:11,120 --> 00:35:16,440 chains as a criminal. But the Word of God is not 618 00:35:16,440 --> 00:35:20,120 bound. I started off this morning by 619 00:35:20,120 --> 00:35:22,920 reading out of Galatians 5. For you were called to freedom, 620 00:35:22,920 --> 00:35:24,840 brothers only. Do not use your freedom as an 621 00:35:24,840 --> 00:35:29,480 opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 622 00:35:29,640 --> 00:35:35,080 Surely, surely you could serve right here at good old Englewood 623 00:35:35,960 --> 00:35:39,560 to help the core, to build us up, to make sure that we're 624 00:35:39,560 --> 00:35:43,320 staying strong as we grow. Surely you could do that as you 625 00:35:43,320 --> 00:35:48,200 are disciples of Jesus Christ. Surely, Father, thank you. 626 00:35:50,120 --> 00:35:54,680 Thank you for opportunity. Thank you, Father, that we have 627 00:35:54,680 --> 00:36:00,520 the privilege of free opportunity, of comfortable free 628 00:36:00,600 --> 00:36:06,640 opportunity. Father, forgive us when we say 629 00:36:06,640 --> 00:36:10,520 we don't have time. Forgive us, Father, when we 630 00:36:10,680 --> 00:36:12,560 think we have other things that we ought to be doing. 631 00:36:14,040 --> 00:36:16,600 Help us. Just to be sure, Father, that 632 00:36:16,600 --> 00:36:19,720 that list is absolutely prioritized by Your word and 633 00:36:19,720 --> 00:36:27,120 will and not our own desires. Father, we lift up those around 634 00:36:27,120 --> 00:36:31,600 the world who right now are suffering because they love you 635 00:36:31,600 --> 00:36:34,440 dearly and they're taking a stand because they love you 636 00:36:34,440 --> 00:36:39,640 dearly. And Father, forgive us when we 637 00:36:39,640 --> 00:36:44,800 don't take a stand. Forgive us when we don't serve 638 00:36:44,800 --> 00:36:50,960 you as we should. Father, I thank you so much for 639 00:36:50,960 --> 00:36:53,560 the people who've signed the dotted line and become members 640 00:36:53,560 --> 00:36:54,960 of this church. They want to work. 641 00:36:54,960 --> 00:36:58,640 They want to serve. Thank you for baptisms, Father. 642 00:36:58,640 --> 00:37:05,520 As more and more people come every week, Father and Father, I 643 00:37:05,520 --> 00:37:07,920 pray that the rest of us, Lord, will recognize our 644 00:37:07,920 --> 00:37:09,960 responsibilities. Some here are serving so hard. 645 00:37:09,960 --> 00:37:11,920 They have for so long. Thank you for them. 646 00:37:11,920 --> 00:37:15,400 Thank you for these dear warrior servants who have been holding 647 00:37:15,400 --> 00:37:18,600 the ropes and serving so many here. 648 00:37:19,960 --> 00:37:22,880 And Father, we just have some more spots we need filled. 649 00:37:24,800 --> 00:37:27,320 So, Father, as we pray to you, as we surrender to you this 650 00:37:27,320 --> 00:37:29,560 morning, for some it ought to be a commitment to service. 651 00:37:30,960 --> 00:37:34,320 Others recognize they they need to join this church also. 652 00:37:34,680 --> 00:37:36,480 They want to be a part of a church that's going to take it 653 00:37:36,480 --> 00:37:40,400 seriously. And so, Father, for some that 654 00:37:40,400 --> 00:37:44,240 step is salvation. For others it's baptism. 655 00:37:44,760 --> 00:37:47,360 For other, it's walking through the process of membership. 656 00:37:48,840 --> 00:37:51,160 So I pray, Father, that they would come, that we might share 657 00:37:51,160 --> 00:37:53,200 together and talk together and pray together. 658 00:37:54,160 --> 00:37:56,520 Father, when we begin to sing in a moment, I pray that people 659 00:37:56,520 --> 00:38:00,400 would just come, some to talk to us pastor, some to just pray, 660 00:38:00,400 --> 00:38:03,560 maybe just to intercede for our friends at these steps as a 661 00:38:03,560 --> 00:38:07,680 sign, as an altar of prayer, of intercession, of supplication. 662 00:38:09,080 --> 00:38:11,440 Some need to go to our Next steps room and talk to our 663 00:38:11,440 --> 00:38:14,000 loving counselors over there who just love to pray with them 664 00:38:14,000 --> 00:38:17,560 privately. Help us to surrender. 665 00:38:18,760 --> 00:38:23,360 Thank you for the freedom to do that in Christ's name, Amen. 666 00:38:23,440 --> 00:38:25,360 Well, I ask you to stand. We're going to sing together. 667 00:38:25,360 --> 00:38:27,360 Some of us will be here. You want to talk to us? 668 00:38:27,600 --> 00:38:29,200 Many of you just ought to come and pray. 669 00:38:29,760 --> 00:38:32,040 Some of you need to go to the Next Steps Room and talk to 670 00:38:32,040 --> 00:38:34,280 those folks in there. They would just love to visit 671 00:38:34,280 --> 00:38:36,680 with you. So whatever you need to do, you 672 00:38:36,680 --> 00:38:38,320 come as soon as we begin to sing. 673 00:38:41,280 --> 00:38:42,920 Thank you so much for listening today. 674 00:38:42,920 --> 00:38:44,240 And I also hope that you'll go to 675 00:38:44,240 --> 00:38:48,040 ourwebsite@englewoodbaptist.com as well as our app and find many 676 00:38:48,040 --> 00:38:50,400 other resources that will bless you and your families. 677 00:38:50,560 --> 00:38:51,600 Thank you once again.