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It's good to see everyone this 
morning. 

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I want to Echo everything. 
Kyle is said and just welcome 

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you to New Life Community 
Church. 

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We're glad that you're here. 
It's good to be able to gather 

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together and yes, in spite of 
all the sickness, it's good to 

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be together today. 
It's good to do this. 

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Our Sunday Gathering is 
absolutely essential each week. 

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In my opinion, I think it is a 
beautiful thing and we're going 

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to talk about that today. 
That is part of what we'll be 

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discussing. 
So before we get started I'll 

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just introduce myself or anybody
that's visiting. 

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My name is Jasper. 
I'm the executive Pastor here. 

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Kyle is our lead pastor and over
the last two weeks I've been 

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doing a little mini series on 
growing in faith and love. 

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And so this is a little mini 
series that was born out of a 

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need to think about the upcoming
year. 

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Look back at the past year and 
just re-evaluate our mission or 

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purpose as a church and as a 
people. 

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And so to give you a brief recap
of what we discussed last week, 

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we talked about the man's Chief,
end in life, the purpose of man 

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is to glorify God in all that we
do and every corner of our 

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Lives. 
The way, we conduct our marriage

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and treat our spouse, the way, 
we raise our children, the way 

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we work at our jobs, the way we 
eat and drink. 

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Everything we do is to glorify 
God. 

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And so we said that at New Life 
Community Church, we do this, we

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try to live this out through our
mission statement. 

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Our mission statement is painted
on the wall in the lobby. 

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You see it? 
When you walk in the doors, our 

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mission statement says this. 
If you're taking notes in your 

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bulletin, it's all there. 
So you can fill this out. 

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I left this in there again this 
week because I want you guys to 

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learn this and know it by heart.
We exist to glorify God by 

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making Disciples who grow in 
their faith in Jesus and their 

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love toward one another. 
So, we exist as a church to 

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glorify God, we do that by 
making disciples again not 

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Disciples of Jasper or Kyle or 
anybody else but disciples, who 

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are growing in their faith in 
Jesus and growing in their love 

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toward one another. 
So we then determined based on 

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that that to be able to do these
things to be able to grow in our

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faith and to be able to grow in 
our love. 

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That there are certain ways we 
can do this, and we need to be 

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focused on this, especially 
again, as we look back on the 

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past year, we think about ways 
to improve and we come up with 

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all these resolutions about 
losing weight and all these 

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things. 
But it's more important to be 

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focused on the spiritual right. 
Not to be focused on Earthly 

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things. 
And so we determine that to be 

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growing in our faith. 
We have to start incorporating 

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what are called spiritual 
disciplines. 

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Now, this is nothing new. 
This is been talked about many 

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times before many Have been 
written on these things, but the

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spiritual disciplines or the 
means of Grace are different 

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ways that God pours out his 
grace in our lives, they're 

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called disciplines because they 
take that, they take discipline,

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it takes commitment. 
It takes determination to do 

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these things. 
They don't just come naturally. 

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So, we have to work at this, but
we talked about to grow in our 

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faith. 
The spiritual disciplines of 

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Bible study and prayer. 
These are two primary ways we 

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can be Growing in our faith, we 
can be in the word of God and we

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can be talking to God through 
prayer. 

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Now of course there are various 
ways these things live out in 

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our lives. 
So you know, the word is one of 

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the ways we grow in our faith. 
But that doesn't just have to be

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at home, by herself, studying 
the Bible, we get into the word 

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and here we're doing it right 
now. 

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We can get into the word through
podcasts and all kinds of 

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different ways. 
So there's all sorts of little 

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ways to do this, but the word 
and prayer are two of the 

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primary ways we grow in our 
faith. 

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So, today, we are going to talk 
about how can we grow in our 

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love? 
How can we grow and love toward 

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one another? 
So again, if you're taking 

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notes, we're going to have all 
this in there. 

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You can write down stuff. 
Fill in the blanks as we go. 

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But today, I want to present to 
you this idea that the primary 

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way that we grow in our love 
toward one another There is 

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through Fellowship, okay? 
It's through Fellowship. 

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That is the primary way that we 
grow in our love toward one 

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another. 
If you have your Bibles open to 

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the book of Acts chapter 2, 
we're going to be starting at 

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verse 42 and going through about
verse 47. 

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So Acts 2:42. 
Let's start there and read that 

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together. 
Now they devoted themselves to 

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the apostles teaching, And the 
fellowship to the breaking of 

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bread and the prayers. 
I just want to stop right there 

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for just a second, notice, what 
the first New Testament Church 

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devoted themselves to the 
apostles teaching, which would 

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have been the word and to the 
fellowship and to Breaking of 

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bread. 
And to the prayers, the word 

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prayer, fellowship and breaking 
bread together. 

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This is what they devoted 
themselves to this. 

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What they committed themselves 
to, let's keep going and all 

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came upon every soul and Many 
Wonders and signs were being 

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done through the apostles and 
all who believed were together 

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and had all things in common and
they were selling their 

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possessions and belongings and 
distributing the proceeds to all

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as any had need and day by day 
attending the temple together 

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and breaking bread in their 
homes. 

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They receive their food with 
glad and generous hearts. 

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Praising God and having favor 
with all the people and the Lord

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added to their number day by 
day. 

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Those who were being saved. 
Amen. 

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Let's pray really quick Father, 
we thank you for the ability to 

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gather together today. 
We thank you for the privilege 

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and the freedom to be here in 
your house. 

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We thank you for your word. 
We thank you for prayer and we 

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thank you that we can 
Fellowship. 

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God, we pray that as we talk 
through these things today, that

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you just speak to us that you 
open our minds and our hearts to

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these ideas. 
We pray that your glorified and 

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magnified in this place today. 
In Jesus name, amen. 

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Enso reading through Acts 2:42 
through 47, this is such a 

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beautiful picture of what the 
church is and what the church 

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was meant to be. 
It is an absolutely beautiful 

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thing to read through. 
These verses Fellowship has 

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always been a vital element in 
the life of the church. 

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It is always been at the very 
core of who people are. 

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It's been a common thing of the 
church. 

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Since the beginning, it 
certainly was for these first 

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churches in the New Testament. 
It is what made them who they 

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were, but it wasn't just any 
kind of Fellowship. 

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It wasn't just any kind of 
community. 

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They weren't just a group of 
people who shared common 

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interests and hobbies that got 
together once a week. 

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They were a people bound 
together by Jesus Christ. 

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That was the tie that binds. 
That was the common denominator.

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Manator was Jesus and the 
gospel. 

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That is what brings a church 
together. 

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That's what makes a church a 
church. 

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Many of your Bibles above. 
This passage might have the 

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title. 
The Fellowship of Believers. 

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That's what they were was 
Believers. 

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It's not just the fellowship. 
It's the fellowship of Believers

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and so that is what United them,
it was Jesus Christ. 

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It was his gospel. 
It was his kingdom. 

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It was his mission. 
That's what made them a people 

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United. 
And together, you take that 

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away, you take the Jesus out of 
the church and it is no longer a

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church. 
It's just a social group. 

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And so for these people the 
mission of Christ proclaiming 

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Christ. 
It was at the very core of who 

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they were and what they were 
trying to do, it's what brought 

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them together. 
There's a Greek word for this 

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Kyle's used it in a lot of his 
sermons. 

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I know I've used it before it's 
called Koinonia. 

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This is a Greek word that means 
a group or a community of people

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that share something much deeper
than just superficial Earthly 

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interests, David Mathes in his 
book habits of Grace. 

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I quoted from this book last 
week, I'll be quoting from it 

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again today, it's a great book. 
Encourage you to pick it up and 

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add it to your reading list for 
this year. 

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But he says this about this type
of Fellowship. 

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It is an all in life or death 
Collective Venture in the face 

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of great evil and overwhelming 
opposition. 

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True Fellowship is less like 
friends gather together to watch

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the Super Bowl with drinks and 
pizza and more like the soldiers

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storming, the beaches of 
Normandy side-by-side, ready to 

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lay down life and limb for a 
common Mission. 

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And for one another if 
necessary, So this was a much 

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deeper Fellowship than just 
common interests. 

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This was a Devotion to a life 
mission that they were willing 

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to die for if it came to that 
and that is what brought them 

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together and United them. 
They especially these New 

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Testament. 
Church has almost certainly 

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we're going to face persecution,
they could lose their life to 

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become a Christian joining, 
joining a church back then 

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wasn't as easy as it is. 
Now, especially in our area, we 

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just take your pick. 
You couldn't just throw a rock 

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and hit a church, that was a big
deal back. 

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Then a lot of them were doing 
home churches. 

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They were in hiding and so this 
meant a lot. 

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If you were going to join the 
fellowship of Believers, you 

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better be committed. 
You better be serious about it. 

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So they were known for this kind
of deep fellowship and this is 

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this Fellowship, this love for 
one, another was and still is 

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one of the chief means of grace 
and the life of a Believer. 

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This is one of the primary ways 
that God pours out his grace in 

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your life and in my life and in 
the life of these Believers. 

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So what does that look like for 
us today? 

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If that's we're talking about 
this New Testament Church? 

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Church. 
What does that look like for us?

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I have 33 points. 
I want to make today biblical 

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Fellowship not just any 
friendship Fellowship biblical 

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Fellowship is three different 
things and number one, it is 

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rooted in Christ. 
If you're taking notes, this is 

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interval at the biblical. 
Fellowship is rooted in Christ 

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again, that is the Tie that 
binds, it has to be founded on 

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Christ and his kingdom and his 
gospel. 

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Just like the first churches of 
the New Testament. 

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Our common identity is in 
Christ. 

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Also, that is what unites us as 
a church. 

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It's the love of God, that 
enables us to love one another 

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because he forgave us. 
We can now forgive one another, 

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our fellowship. 
Our love for one another is just

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that it is an outpouring. 
It is a fruit of our love for 

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the Lord and his love for us. 
Us. 

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You see the the Trinity that's 
always existed. 

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This love between the father and
the son overflowed into a love 

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for mankind. 
And now when we experience 

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fellowship with God that love 
overflows and to a love for 

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other people, it has to if it 
doesn't, it's not a true love. 

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And so it's because we've been 
made new in Christ that we love 

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one. 
Another that we can love one 

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another, it's impossible to do 
apart from that. 

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He gives us a new heart and new 
affections that go beyond our 

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own interests. 
So as Kyle mentioned in his 

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sermon, a couple of weeks ago, 
Grace is the foundation and the 

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fuel and our relationship with 
God. 

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It is also the foundation and 
the fuel and our relationship 

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For one another. 
It's the grace of God. 

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That is the foundation for this.
If it weren't for the grace of 

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God, this wouldn't be happening.
And it is only the grace of God 

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that allows this to continue to 
work somehow. 

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I mean, put all these people in 
a room together in any other 

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context and it's just going to 
be a mess, right? 

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And so it's the grace of God 
that makes this function somehow

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some way. 
So we are now one family with 

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God as the father, or the head 
of that family. 

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According to Ephesians 3:15, we 
are now many parts of the same 

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body bound together by the Holy 
Spirit according to Ephesians 

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4:4 36. 
So we have to establish right 

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out of the gate that it is, our 
identity in Christ that unifies 

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us and unites us. 
So biblical Fellowship is rooted

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in Christ. 
That was Point. 

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Number one point, A to biblical 
Fellowship is Covenant alone. 

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It's Covenant Ali. 
Again, Mathis says this the 

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deepest most durable form of 
Fellowship. 

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Not just any kind of friendship 
in any kind of Fellowship 

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relationship that deepest most 
durable form of it is Covenant, 

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'l. 
It's between two parties that 

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have made formal commitments to 
each other. 

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Anybody think of an example of 
this, where two parties make a 

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formal commitment to each other 
and put it on paper, it's a 

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marriage, right? 
Those are the deepest forms of 

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Fellowship that is the deepest 
form of commitment to one 

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another. 
He goes on to say this, when our

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fellowship is not simply a 
network of loose Christian 

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relationships, but it is 
anchored and a particular 

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Covenant Community has committed
members together and a local 

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Outpost of Christ's Kingdom. 
We come the closest to 

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experiencing what those first 
Christians did, when people 

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didn't just drift in and out of 
the community, but they were 

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either in or out. 
And those who were in pledged to

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be the church for each other, 
through thick and thin, this is 

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how we are called to love one 
another. 

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This is the type of Fellowship. 
We are called to it's just like 

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a marriage. 
We should be willing to lay down

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our own wants and our own 
interests for the greater good 

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of our brother or sister in 
Christ. 

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We should lay down our Comforts 
and our conveniences for one 

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another. 
When it comes to that Jesus 

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modeled this for us perfectly in
John 13 when he washed the 

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disciples feet after he finishes
doing that. 

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He says this to them a new 
commandment. 

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I give to you that you love one.
Another just as I have loved you

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you are to love one another and 
by this all people will know 

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that you are my disciples. 
If you have love for one another

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So this Fellowship this love for
one another that transcends our 

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own interests that is that deep 
Koinonia Fellowship. 

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This is how the world will know.
We are Disciples of Christ and 

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we cannot be disciples apart 
from that kind of love and 

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fellowship to one another. 
It's what sets us apart from the

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rest of the world So that being 
the case you cannot say that you

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love God but hate your brother. 
First John 4:20 says so the 

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church is the bride of Christ. 
The church is what he gave his 

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life for And so you cannot say, 
you love Jesus, but you hate his

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bride. 
I've made this point and other 

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sermons and I've used this same 
example, but I'm going to use it

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00:16:39,700 --> 00:16:41,800
against its really good. 
Maybe it's been a year or two 

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since I used it, but we went to 
a conference something. 

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00:16:46,500 --> 00:16:50,600
And in Nashville with Alan 
several years ago, and got to 

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hear a guy named Jim Putman 
speak and he used this example. 

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So this is this is his example. 
He said, what would you think if

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I got invited to go out to 
dinner? 

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With a couple and let's say they
call me up and they say, you 

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00:17:03,900 --> 00:17:05,300
know, hey I want to take you out
to dinner. 

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We want to treat you guys to 
really fancy supper. 

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00:17:08,500 --> 00:17:10,300
We're going to go to a really 
nice restaurant. 

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It's all on us. 
We'll come pick you up and 

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00:17:12,200 --> 00:17:16,200
everything and we're excited 
about this, but we'd be okay. 

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00:17:16,200 --> 00:17:19,800
Of just you came and you didn't 
bring Sherry like, we really 

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00:17:19,800 --> 00:17:24,000
like you but she's a little 
weird and so we don't want her 

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00:17:24,000 --> 00:17:25,599
to come, but that be okay with 
you. 

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00:17:25,800 --> 00:17:32,100
Like that's not going to go. 
So that's not gonna go over 

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00:17:32,100 --> 00:17:37,000
really well with me, right? 
We all understand that. 

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00:17:37,000 --> 00:17:41,500
That as a married couple, if you
want me you get her to. 

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00:17:41,500 --> 00:17:45,400
We Are One flesh and so it does 
not work that way. 

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00:17:45,400 --> 00:17:50,700
You don't get to have me apart 
from her likewise, we don't get 

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00:17:50,700 --> 00:17:56,100
to divorce. 
Jesus from his bride, we don't 

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00:17:56,100 --> 00:17:58,700
get to say, I love God, I love 
God. 

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00:17:58,700 --> 00:18:00,300
I don't have no problem with the
Lord. 

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00:18:00,800 --> 00:18:04,500
But I can't stand people 
especially church people, you 

295
00:18:04,500 --> 00:18:08,400
don't get to do that. 
He gave his life for those 

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00:18:08,400 --> 00:18:13,500
people. 
So here's the thing. 

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We all know that is the number 
one reason that people don't 

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00:18:18,000 --> 00:18:20,700
come to church, right? 
That's the number one, excuse. 

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00:18:21,000 --> 00:18:25,200
The people, right? 
Full of Hypocrites. 

300
00:18:26,000 --> 00:18:31,800
Well we're all Hypocrites. 
The thing is this isn't easy. 

301
00:18:31,900 --> 00:18:36,600
This type of love is not easy. 
It's not self-serving. 

302
00:18:37,500 --> 00:18:39,900
It is hard. 
It is very difficult. 

303
00:18:39,900 --> 00:18:43,100
Yes. 
If you hang around, any person 

304
00:18:43,100 --> 00:18:46,800
long enough, you're going to get
upset and they're going to hurt 

305
00:18:46,800 --> 00:18:48,200
your feeling. 
Something's going to go wrong. 

306
00:18:48,200 --> 00:18:51,300
I don't care how good to people 
get along. 

307
00:18:51,500 --> 00:18:56,200
I don't care who they are. 
You put you put to Patricia's in

308
00:18:56,200 --> 00:18:58,200
a room together. 
They're eventually going to have

309
00:18:58,200 --> 00:19:00,500
an argument over something. 
Patricia is the nicest person 

310
00:19:00,500 --> 00:19:03,700
I've ever met in my life but 
we're humans. 

311
00:19:03,700 --> 00:19:06,700
We're sinners. 
We're going to let each other 

312
00:19:06,700 --> 00:19:10,500
down at some point, but that's 
the difference that's what makes

313
00:19:10,500 --> 00:19:12,200
us. 
That Koinonia Fellowship is 

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00:19:12,200 --> 00:19:16,000
that, we learn to work past that
because it's not about me, it's 

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00:19:16,000 --> 00:19:17,600
about Jesus. 
Amen. 

316
00:19:18,100 --> 00:19:22,800
And so we learn to Rise Above 
All That above my own interests,

317
00:19:23,600 --> 00:19:27,600
we hold one another accountable.
We call one another out, when 

318
00:19:27,600 --> 00:19:31,700
we're being a jerk and then we 
very humbly repent and apologize

319
00:19:31,700 --> 00:19:34,100
when necessary. 
So we live in a world where 

320
00:19:34,100 --> 00:19:39,100
you're saying, I'm sorry, Will 
you forgive me is such a foreign

321
00:19:39,100 --> 00:19:42,900
idea. 
It is painful to even say the 

322
00:19:42,900 --> 00:19:46,700
words I've experienced this and 
Kyle and I have gone through 

323
00:19:46,700 --> 00:19:50,100
this, there have been times 
where he has apologized for 

324
00:19:50,100 --> 00:19:53,300
something and my uncomfortable 
responses, it's all good. 

325
00:19:53,800 --> 00:19:58,700
He's like, no, I need to hear 
you say you forgive me and that 

326
00:19:58,700 --> 00:20:00,700
is such a weird thing to do to 
have. 

327
00:20:00,700 --> 00:20:04,900
That is so awkward at times, but
it is so necessary to do that. 

328
00:20:05,400 --> 00:20:07,900
To not just try to brush it off.
Oh, you're all good. 

329
00:20:08,200 --> 00:20:09,900
No, it's not. 
You're going to hang on to that 

330
00:20:09,900 --> 00:20:12,400
for months if you don't handle 
this now. 

331
00:20:12,800 --> 00:20:15,200
So we have to be a people known 
for that kind of love. 

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00:20:15,200 --> 00:20:19,700
I'm sorry to chase the rabbit, 
but if we will lean into this, 

333
00:20:19,700 --> 00:20:22,400
if we will be this kind of 
community and do the hard 

334
00:20:22,400 --> 00:20:25,300
things, it can be a beautiful 
thing. 

335
00:20:25,300 --> 00:20:27,800
Just like what we read in the 
book of Acts, where they are 

336
00:20:27,800 --> 00:20:32,400
putting others needs and desires
above their own and they love 

337
00:20:32,400 --> 00:20:38,700
one, another truly and deeply 
The fellowship, maybe the often 

338
00:20:38,700 --> 00:20:42,800
forgotten middle child of the 
spiritual disciplines, but she 

339
00:20:42,800 --> 00:20:45,800
may save your life in the dark 
night of your soul. 

340
00:20:45,900 --> 00:20:49,100
According to Malthus, in his 
book and I couldn't agree more. 

341
00:20:49,600 --> 00:20:55,300
It is in those times that the 
Fellowship of the church Rises 

342
00:20:55,300 --> 00:20:56,700
up to meet your needs. 
How? 

343
00:20:56,700 --> 00:20:59,500
I mean, I could tell you 
countless stories of people in 

344
00:20:59,500 --> 00:21:02,300
this church, myself included, 
that I don't know where we'd be 

345
00:21:02,300 --> 00:21:06,500
without one another that people.
The rising up to meet the needs 

346
00:21:06,500 --> 00:21:10,500
of others to step up when you 
need someone that is what makes 

347
00:21:10,500 --> 00:21:15,000
us the church that common love 
for Christ and that love for one

348
00:21:15,000 --> 00:21:16,800
another. 
That is so deep. 

349
00:21:16,800 --> 00:21:21,800
So Galatians 6:10 says this. 
So then as we have opportunity, 

350
00:21:22,600 --> 00:21:26,100
let us do good to everyone 
especially those in the 

351
00:21:26,100 --> 00:21:29,900
household of faith. 
And so we are to be doing this 

352
00:21:29,900 --> 00:21:32,500
weird to be doing good for all 
people but especially our 

353
00:21:32,500 --> 00:21:38,400
Brothers and Sisters in Christ. 
So again, Point number one was 

354
00:21:38,400 --> 00:21:40,900
that biblical Fellowship is 
rooted in Christ Point. 

355
00:21:40,900 --> 00:21:44,100
Number two, is that biblical 
Fellowship is Covenant. 

356
00:21:44,300 --> 00:21:47,100
It is, it is deeper than just 
friendships. 

357
00:21:47,100 --> 00:21:51,900
We take an oath when we join 
this church to stand beside one,

358
00:21:51,900 --> 00:21:56,800
another through thick and thin 
and that's what this is point. 

359
00:21:56,800 --> 00:22:01,000
Number three, Biblical 
Fellowship is missional. 

360
00:22:03,800 --> 00:22:08,600
It's a missional. 
So if we do this, if we lean 

361
00:22:08,600 --> 00:22:12,600
into this and we try to be this 
kind of church in this kind of 

362
00:22:12,600 --> 00:22:16,800
people in this kind of 
Fellowship, it is going to be 

363
00:22:16,800 --> 00:22:21,400
contagious. 
It cannot help but be That 

364
00:22:21,400 --> 00:22:25,500
Koinonia love that we've been 
talking about will be noticeable

365
00:22:25,700 --> 00:22:30,600
to the world and to those around
us Acts 2 and verse 47. 

366
00:22:30,600 --> 00:22:34,400
The last part of verse 47 said, 
the Lord added to their number 

367
00:22:34,400 --> 00:22:37,300
day by day. 
Those who were being saved, you 

368
00:22:37,300 --> 00:22:40,000
see this this type of commitment
to one. 

369
00:22:40,000 --> 00:22:43,800
Another is what all people 
hunger for we all. 

370
00:22:43,800 --> 00:22:47,200
Want it so deeply. 
It's the way Human Relationships

371
00:22:47,200 --> 00:22:51,400
were supposed to be. 
But the world and sin has broken

372
00:22:51,400 --> 00:22:56,100
that and it becomes this Twisted
nasty version of what it was 

373
00:22:56,100 --> 00:22:59,500
meant to be but we all want it 
so bad that when we see it 

374
00:22:59,500 --> 00:23:01,200
happening. 
We notice it. 

375
00:23:01,200 --> 00:23:03,600
And we know something's 
different about that. 

376
00:23:03,900 --> 00:23:06,400
And so this kind of love if we 
can do this. 

377
00:23:06,400 --> 00:23:10,300
As a church will have a huge 
impact on the community around 

378
00:23:10,300 --> 00:23:14,200
us and the people in our lives. 
They can't help but be drawn to 

379
00:23:14,200 --> 00:23:17,300
that. 
Again, it is, it's a love that, 

380
00:23:17,300 --> 00:23:20,500
that overflows. 
It just spills out onto the 

381
00:23:20,500 --> 00:23:22,900
world around you, that's the 
natural fruit. 

382
00:23:22,900 --> 00:23:26,500
And byproduct of this kind of 
love a great example of this. 

383
00:23:26,500 --> 00:23:31,600
This type of love and desire to 
want to reach others. 

384
00:23:31,900 --> 00:23:37,100
Paul in the Book of Romans and 
chapter 9 says this, he wrote 

385
00:23:37,100 --> 00:23:41,100
that, he would gladly become a 
cursed for the sake of his 

386
00:23:41,100 --> 00:23:44,500
Kinsmen, for his, for the Jews, 
to Believe In Christ. 

387
00:23:44,500 --> 00:23:48,200
He would gladly Become a cursed,
he would rather give up his 

388
00:23:48,200 --> 00:23:51,400
salvation and spend eternity in 
hell if it meant they would 

389
00:23:51,400 --> 00:23:55,900
believe. 
That's the kind of that deep. 

390
00:23:55,900 --> 00:23:59,000
Koinonia love you have for a 
people that you want them to 

391
00:23:59,000 --> 00:24:02,100
know. 
Jesus, so bad and that's the 

392
00:24:02,100 --> 00:24:04,300
kind of love. 
We are supposed to have here 

393
00:24:04,300 --> 00:24:08,200
that pours out that's missional.
That's not just in word Focus, 

394
00:24:08,200 --> 00:24:11,000
but it's always looking out to 
others. 

395
00:24:12,200 --> 00:24:16,600
We must never forget that. 
We have a mission, right? 

396
00:24:17,200 --> 00:24:21,000
Remember, our purpose and our 
mission is to glorify God. 

397
00:24:21,400 --> 00:24:24,900
And how do we do that? 
We do that by making disciples, 

398
00:24:25,000 --> 00:24:28,300
that's why we're here. 
That's the Great Commission that

399
00:24:28,300 --> 00:24:32,600
we were given by Jesus himself 
is To Go Make Disciples, teach 

400
00:24:32,600 --> 00:24:36,300
them, train them passed down the
things you've been taught. 

401
00:24:37,800 --> 00:24:40,100
That's why we're here. 
We're here to spread the gospel.

402
00:24:40,300 --> 00:24:43,800
We're here to love God and love 
one another, as best we can. 

403
00:24:43,800 --> 00:24:46,800
And then we're here to spread 
the gospel and to tell people 

404
00:24:46,800 --> 00:24:50,500
about Christ. 
So this means that that as we 

405
00:24:50,500 --> 00:24:53,900
fellowship with one another, 
that we need to be constantly 

406
00:24:53,900 --> 00:24:59,900
looking and inviting and sharing
the gospel, we need to make room

407
00:25:00,400 --> 00:25:03,600
for the outsider. 
We need to make room on Sunday 

408
00:25:03,600 --> 00:25:07,200
mornings in this place, I don't 
think you guys are Are bad about

409
00:25:07,200 --> 00:25:09,700
this but you've all heard the 
story of you, go into a church 

410
00:25:09,700 --> 00:25:13,500
and sit down and the person 
walks up and you're in my seat, 

411
00:25:13,600 --> 00:25:16,000
you're in my spot. 
Like we don't want to be that 

412
00:25:16,000 --> 00:25:19,000
kind of church. 
Make room for the outsider in 

413
00:25:19,000 --> 00:25:20,900
here. 
We got is, we shouldn't even 

414
00:25:20,900 --> 00:25:23,400
really need a greeter team here 
at this church. 

415
00:25:24,200 --> 00:25:26,500
It should be the kind of place 
that if somebody walks in. 

416
00:25:26,500 --> 00:25:30,800
That's a new everybody just 
descends on him like, Hey man, 

417
00:25:31,000 --> 00:25:32,500
introduce yourself. 
Who are you? 

418
00:25:32,500 --> 00:25:34,200
Let me get to know you. 
Thanks for coming. 

419
00:25:34,700 --> 00:25:39,700
I know that can be intimidating,
but We need to Value when people

420
00:25:39,700 --> 00:25:43,000
decide to come visit here. 
We need to reach out to them. 

421
00:25:43,000 --> 00:25:45,000
We need to be welcoming. 
We need to let them know that 

422
00:25:45,000 --> 00:25:49,000
we're glad they're here. 
We need to also make room in our

423
00:25:49,000 --> 00:25:52,200
home groups for this. 
Our home groups, don't need to 

424
00:25:52,208 --> 00:25:56,000
become just closed off clicks 
where we don't want anyone else 

425
00:25:56,000 --> 00:25:58,000
to come into that. 
And I don't want my home group, 

426
00:25:58,000 --> 00:26:01,500
getting messed up and shaken up.
No, I like it just the way it 

427
00:26:01,500 --> 00:26:02,800
is. 
No. 

428
00:26:04,300 --> 00:26:07,500
The whole purpose is that it 
will grow, that more people 

429
00:26:07,500 --> 00:26:09,700
would want to come and learn 
about Jesus and grow in their 

430
00:26:09,700 --> 00:26:13,900
faith and and maybe just, maybe 
God will bless it in a way that 

431
00:26:13,900 --> 00:26:16,400
we're overflowing. 
This house is too small. 

432
00:26:16,400 --> 00:26:19,900
We need a bigger spot and when 
that happens, guess what we do? 

433
00:26:19,900 --> 00:26:22,300
We branch and we go start 
another one over here and then 

434
00:26:22,300 --> 00:26:23,800
we go start another one over 
here. 

435
00:26:24,800 --> 00:26:28,000
We do that, to make room for 
more people to be a part of this

436
00:26:28,000 --> 00:26:32,100
Fellowship in this community. 
It's not meant to be closed off 

437
00:26:32,100 --> 00:26:36,200
and just for us, We want to make
room for the for the outsider. 

438
00:26:36,200 --> 00:26:40,200
And then again, you also want to
make room in your own life, and 

439
00:26:40,200 --> 00:26:46,000
in your home, Make room make 
time for that co-worker or that 

440
00:26:46,000 --> 00:26:48,100
family member may be. 
That you need to have a hard 

441
00:26:48,100 --> 00:26:50,900
conversation with invite people 
over for dinner. 

442
00:26:50,900 --> 00:26:55,300
Be hospitable invite people into
your home, make room in your 

443
00:26:55,300 --> 00:26:59,300
life, for the outsider, spend 
time with them, talk to them 

444
00:26:59,300 --> 00:27:04,500
about the gospel. 
So again, biblical Fellowship 

445
00:27:04,500 --> 00:27:07,100
true. 
Biblical Fellowship will be 

446
00:27:07,100 --> 00:27:11,000
Mission. 
It will have the outsider in 

447
00:27:11,000 --> 00:27:15,400
mind. 
It will have making disciples a 

448
00:27:15,400 --> 00:27:21,200
core part of it. 
And so again, just to recap some

449
00:27:21,200 --> 00:27:24,800
of these things we need to know.
We need to understand that our 

450
00:27:24,800 --> 00:27:28,100
coming together as a church that
our fellowship is rooted in 

451
00:27:28,100 --> 00:27:31,100
Christ. 
That is the common denominator. 

452
00:27:31,100 --> 00:27:33,200
That's what brings us together 
without Christ. 

453
00:27:33,200 --> 00:27:35,100
We are nothing. 
We are not a church. 

454
00:27:36,000 --> 00:27:39,000
We also need to understand that 
this is a covenant allow thing 

455
00:27:39,500 --> 00:27:42,000
that we've entered into an 
agreement with one another that 

456
00:27:42,000 --> 00:27:44,900
we're devoted to one another as 
a church. 

457
00:27:44,900 --> 00:27:47,600
And we need to understand that 
it doesn't just End there, that 

458
00:27:47,600 --> 00:27:50,700
we need to be looking outward. 
We need to be seeking to make 

459
00:27:50,700 --> 00:27:53,700
disciples and see new people 
come to Salvation and Christ 

460
00:27:53,700 --> 00:27:59,100
always, that is the kind of 
church and fellowship. 

461
00:27:59,100 --> 00:28:01,400
We need to be at New Life 
Community Church. 

462
00:28:01,400 --> 00:28:04,200
That is my hope and prayer for 
all of us. 

463
00:28:05,300 --> 00:28:09,500
Now, for those of us here that 
our church members, that are 

464
00:28:09,500 --> 00:28:12,300
Christians that are believers, 
that are hearing these things 

465
00:28:12,300 --> 00:28:14,000
and agreeing, like, how do we 
apply? 

466
00:28:14,000 --> 00:28:17,900
What some practical application 
as far as these things go? 

467
00:28:17,900 --> 00:28:22,300
I have three ways that I really 
quickly want to point out that 

468
00:28:22,300 --> 00:28:25,100
we experienced this kind of 
Fellowship. 

469
00:28:25,100 --> 00:28:26,600
Three different ways we 
experience it. 

470
00:28:26,600 --> 00:28:30,400
Number one is through the 
Sunday, service is through the 

471
00:28:30,400 --> 00:28:33,800
corporate Gathering once a week 
of the church where we all come 

472
00:28:33,800 --> 00:28:35,200
together under one. 
One Roof. 

473
00:28:35,600 --> 00:28:40,800
Hebrews 10:24 through 25 says 
let us consider how to stir one 

474
00:28:40,800 --> 00:28:43,400
another up to love and good 
works. 

475
00:28:43,800 --> 00:28:48,500
Not neglecting to meet together 
as is the habit of some, but 

476
00:28:48,500 --> 00:28:51,800
encourage one, another and all 
the more as you see the day 

477
00:28:51,800 --> 00:28:59,000
Drawing Near So, we are not to 
neglect meeting this this, this 

478
00:28:59,000 --> 00:29:03,100
corporate Gathering where we all
get together Under One Roof. 

479
00:29:03,500 --> 00:29:06,600
All of us, all home groups, all 
the different classes. 

480
00:29:06,600 --> 00:29:11,300
All together in one place at one
time is the single greatest 

481
00:29:11,400 --> 00:29:15,400
means of Grace in your life. 
Now, don't miss this. 

482
00:29:15,400 --> 00:29:17,700
I know I'm I'm rambling a little
bit. 

483
00:29:17,700 --> 00:29:20,300
You guys really listen. 
Pay attention to this? 

484
00:29:21,400 --> 00:29:26,600
What we do here on Sunday 
mornings is the single greatest 

485
00:29:26,600 --> 00:29:31,700
means of Grace in your life. 
It is the best way God can pour 

486
00:29:31,700 --> 00:29:35,300
out his love and grace on you 
because of all the things that 

487
00:29:35,300 --> 00:29:41,000
I've talked about last week in 
this week, bible, study prayer 

488
00:29:41,400 --> 00:29:45,200
and fellowship. 
This on Sunday mornings is where

489
00:29:45,200 --> 00:29:48,000
all of those things come 
together in one place at one 

490
00:29:48,000 --> 00:29:51,400
time. 
We get into the word, we study 

491
00:29:51,400 --> 00:29:52,400
it. 
We pray. 

492
00:29:52,800 --> 00:29:56,200
We Fellowship together. 
We sing praises to God, we 

493
00:29:56,200 --> 00:29:59,000
worship together. 
We haven't even talked about 

494
00:29:59,000 --> 00:30:02,600
Worship in any of this yet. 
Yes, worship can be done alone 

495
00:30:02,600 --> 00:30:04,500
in your car. 
That's usually where the best 

496
00:30:04,500 --> 00:30:06,900
worship happens, right? 
Everybody screaming at the roof 

497
00:30:06,900 --> 00:30:12,700
of their car, but, but there is 
something about corporate 

498
00:30:12,700 --> 00:30:14,400
worship. 
And I think I don't even have to

499
00:30:14,408 --> 00:30:16,300
expound on that. 
I think you guys would agree. 

500
00:30:16,300 --> 00:30:18,500
There's something about singing 
together. 

501
00:30:18,700 --> 00:30:24,000
As a church. 
Gathering together is absolutely

502
00:30:24,100 --> 00:30:26,800
essential. 
This is not, this is not 

503
00:30:26,800 --> 00:30:29,500
optional. 
We have-we need this every 

504
00:30:29,500 --> 00:30:31,000
single week. 
I need this. 

505
00:30:31,000 --> 00:30:35,300
I know. 
So the Sunday service, the 

506
00:30:35,300 --> 00:30:37,200
Sunday service is a huge part of
this. 

507
00:30:37,200 --> 00:30:40,200
And there are certain elements 
to this that only can be 

508
00:30:40,200 --> 00:30:42,700
experienced here on a Sunday 
morning. 

509
00:30:43,400 --> 00:30:45,700
As I've already mentioned the 
corporate worship things like 

510
00:30:45,700 --> 00:30:50,300
baptism where we get to see new 
brothers and sisters initiated 

511
00:30:50,300 --> 00:30:53,100
into the Emily. 
And in watching this, we get to 

512
00:30:53,300 --> 00:30:57,100
remember our own salvation and 
our own baptism and we were, you

513
00:30:57,108 --> 00:31:01,000
know, lowered and likeness to 
his death and raised a new life.

514
00:31:01,000 --> 00:31:06,200
We get to recall all of that. 
And then communion communion is 

515
00:31:06,200 --> 00:31:09,800
a beautiful ongoing means of 
God's grace in our life, where 

516
00:31:09,800 --> 00:31:13,800
we reflect on the death of 
Christ and what that means in 

517
00:31:13,800 --> 00:31:16,900
our lives. 
It's who we are as Christians 

518
00:31:17,300 --> 00:31:19,700
communion is a massive part of 
this. 

519
00:31:19,700 --> 00:31:23,300
And onion is something reserved 
for the corporate Gathering when

520
00:31:23,300 --> 00:31:27,800
we're all together. 
I know there are different 

521
00:31:27,800 --> 00:31:30,600
opinions on this, but for now, 
we were going to say that this 

522
00:31:30,600 --> 00:31:33,100
is something that happens on 
Sundays and we're all together 

523
00:31:33,100 --> 00:31:36,600
as a family. 
When together, we can reflect on

524
00:31:36,700 --> 00:31:39,000
the death burial and 
resurrection of Christ and how 

525
00:31:39,000 --> 00:31:41,100
we are unified under that 
banner. 

526
00:31:41,900 --> 00:31:45,500
And to be honest with you, it's 
for that very reason that we're 

527
00:31:45,500 --> 00:31:48,900
not doing communion today we 
were going to but we have so 

528
00:31:48,900 --> 00:31:50,800
many brothers and sisters out. 
We'd rather wait. 

529
00:31:50,800 --> 00:31:54,300
So we can all be together. 
Together doing this. 

530
00:31:54,300 --> 00:31:56,900
This is not something just that 
we do on our own. 

531
00:31:58,400 --> 00:32:01,700
So again communion a huge part 
of the Sunday Gathering. 

532
00:32:01,700 --> 00:32:06,100
So Sunday, big church is one of 
the greatest ways that we can 

533
00:32:06,100 --> 00:32:08,200
experience this Fellowship. 
No other way we can do it is 

534
00:32:08,200 --> 00:32:12,900
through small groups, acts 2:46 
that we read said, day by day, 

535
00:32:12,900 --> 00:32:16,900
attending the temple together 
and breaking bread in their 

536
00:32:16,900 --> 00:32:19,000
homes. 
They received their food with 

537
00:32:19,000 --> 00:32:21,300
Gladden Generous Heart. 
So, they were going to the 

538
00:32:21,300 --> 00:32:24,400
temple together, but there are 
also breaking bread in their 

539
00:32:24,400 --> 00:32:27,400
homes. 
And so we do that to Ooh, 

540
00:32:27,400 --> 00:32:30,400
homegroups we get together in 
smaller Pockets throughout the 

541
00:32:30,400 --> 00:32:33,200
city. 
We share meals together and yes 

542
00:32:33,200 --> 00:32:35,200
we open God's word. 
We discuss it. 

543
00:32:35,200 --> 00:32:39,100
We ask questions of it now we 
get to laugh together, we get to

544
00:32:39,100 --> 00:32:41,700
cry together, we get to pray 
together. 

545
00:32:42,300 --> 00:32:46,300
Home groups are a massive part 
of our fellowship and how we 

546
00:32:46,300 --> 00:32:49,600
grow in our faith and then the 
other smaller group Ministries. 

547
00:32:49,600 --> 00:32:50,900
We have for your biblical. 
Manhood. 

548
00:32:50,900 --> 00:32:53,100
And Womanhood are a huge part of
this. 

549
00:32:54,000 --> 00:32:56,800
Sunday school even as a smaller 
Gathering, we're going a little 

550
00:32:56,800 --> 00:33:00,000
bit deeper into God's word, 
repealing back, a few more 

551
00:33:00,000 --> 00:33:03,200
layers than we normally do. 
Maybe it and home group or here 

552
00:33:03,200 --> 00:33:07,000
on a Sunday morning. 
So smaller Gatherings are also 

553
00:33:07,000 --> 00:33:10,500
absolutely crucial for our 
growth and our faith and for our

554
00:33:10,500 --> 00:33:13,100
fellowship together, to be able 
to do that. 

555
00:33:13,100 --> 00:33:17,500
I know most of you have 
experienced this in a whole 

556
00:33:17,500 --> 00:33:21,000
group at some point, as far as 
prayer goes, there are prayer 

557
00:33:21,000 --> 00:33:23,400
requests times. 
Are we sharing? 

558
00:33:23,500 --> 00:33:26,700
Are our hearts with one another 
and those home groups, that 

559
00:33:26,700 --> 00:33:28,600
would not happen in here on a 
Sunday morning. 

560
00:33:28,600 --> 00:33:33,500
And so that is absolutely vital 
for our spiritual health, we all

561
00:33:33,500 --> 00:33:35,600
need that. 
And then the last thing is 

562
00:33:35,600 --> 00:33:39,400
fellowship, through our personal
relationships and through our 

563
00:33:39,400 --> 00:33:42,400
friendships. 
Not only do we need this once a 

564
00:33:42,408 --> 00:33:46,500
week where we all come together 
Under One Roof and sing and 

565
00:33:46,500 --> 00:33:48,700
worship and do all of this 
together. 

566
00:33:48,700 --> 00:33:51,100
And not only do you need 
smaller, Gatherings, where 

567
00:33:51,100 --> 00:33:53,700
you've got a core group of 
people that, you know, you Can 

568
00:33:53,700 --> 00:33:57,000
call at a moment's notice and 
will be there for you but you 

569
00:33:57,000 --> 00:34:01,400
need that one or two people in 
your life that brother-sister 

570
00:34:02,300 --> 00:34:06,800
that is your person that you can
absolutely bare your soul to 

571
00:34:06,800 --> 00:34:08,900
that person. 
That is going to hold you 

572
00:34:08,900 --> 00:34:12,500
accountable and that cares about
your spiritual growth that 

573
00:34:12,500 --> 00:34:15,500
actually cares about whether or 
not you're following the Lord. 

574
00:34:16,600 --> 00:34:20,800
Jesus had this Jesus had his 12 
and then he had his three and 

575
00:34:20,800 --> 00:34:24,600
then he had his one and so we as
well need that we need men and 

576
00:34:24,600 --> 00:34:28,800
women in our lives that we know 
will be honest with us and tell 

577
00:34:28,800 --> 00:34:32,600
us when we're being a jerk and 
also encourage us and build us 

578
00:34:32,600 --> 00:34:34,500
up and help us grow in our 
faith. 

579
00:34:34,900 --> 00:34:38,400
That is such a vital part of 
every Christians life. 

580
00:34:38,400 --> 00:34:43,900
We all need this. 
And so I'm going to invite the 

581
00:34:43,900 --> 00:34:45,600
worship team. 
I don't know who's coming up but

582
00:34:45,600 --> 00:34:47,900
you Patricia who are working to 
wait and come up, I'm going to 

583
00:34:47,908 --> 00:34:53,600
close this like this. 
As we've talked through these 

584
00:34:53,600 --> 00:34:56,800
things, the last couple of 
weeks, you talk through how we 

585
00:34:56,800 --> 00:35:01,000
can be growing in our faith, how
we can be growing in our love 

586
00:35:01,000 --> 00:35:03,900
for one another? 
So we've talked about just basic

587
00:35:03,900 --> 00:35:10,000
tenets of the faith, we've 
talked about, just Elementary 

588
00:35:10,000 --> 00:35:14,600
things in Christian Life, 
studying the word, being people 

589
00:35:14,600 --> 00:35:18,300
of the word immersed in it, talk
about prayer and we've talked 

590
00:35:18,300 --> 00:35:23,100
about Fellowship, these are 
three vital They just core 

591
00:35:23,100 --> 00:35:25,200
elements of who we are as 
Christians. 

592
00:35:25,200 --> 00:35:29,800
And so I want to encourage you 
to be constantly seeking ways to

593
00:35:29,800 --> 00:35:34,000
grow in your faith, be in the 
word, be people who love God's 

594
00:35:34,000 --> 00:35:36,200
word, be people who cannot get 
enough of this. 

595
00:35:37,100 --> 00:35:40,800
Be people who pray be a Praying 
Church, go to the Lord. 

596
00:35:40,800 --> 00:35:44,200
And then let's not ever neglect 
to Fellowship. 

597
00:35:45,100 --> 00:35:48,100
So Believers in this place, I 
want to encourage you in that 

598
00:35:48,200 --> 00:35:52,400
lean into those relationships. 
Let's be a people like this ax 

599
00:35:52,700 --> 00:35:56,000
church that were known for this 
kind of fellowship and make sure

600
00:35:56,000 --> 00:36:00,700
you have those people in your 
life that you can depend on and 

601
00:36:00,700 --> 00:36:02,900
have that kind of fellowship 
with as well. 

602
00:36:03,800 --> 00:36:08,500
So anyone in here today that 
maybe is not even a believer. 

603
00:36:09,100 --> 00:36:13,500
If everything I've said, has 
been complete foreign to you if 

604
00:36:13,500 --> 00:36:15,900
it sounds like a none of it 
makes It's, I want to encourage 

605
00:36:15,900 --> 00:36:20,400
you in this. 
Being a part of this kind of 

606
00:36:20,400 --> 00:36:23,300
Fellowship is absolutely 
life-changing. 

607
00:36:23,300 --> 00:36:26,400
I know it has been for me for so
many other people in this 

608
00:36:26,400 --> 00:36:29,900
church. 
If you have never even placed 

609
00:36:29,900 --> 00:36:35,000
your faith in Christ, if none of
this makes sense start there. 

610
00:36:35,500 --> 00:36:39,200
As I said, at the beginning of 
this sermon, our fellowship is 

611
00:36:39,200 --> 00:36:42,400
rooted in Christ. 
That's what makes us who we are.

612
00:36:43,200 --> 00:36:47,700
Placing your faith in Christ, 
giving your life to him, is 

613
00:36:47,700 --> 00:36:51,600
where it all begins. 
Once that happens, then you get 

614
00:36:51,600 --> 00:36:55,100
invited into this family that 
I'm talking about this type of 

615
00:36:55,100 --> 00:36:59,100
Fellowship where you can have 
these People that love you and 

616
00:36:59,100 --> 00:37:01,900
lift you up, and hold you 
accountable and care about your 

617
00:37:01,900 --> 00:37:05,300
growth. 
So, if you've never done that, I

618
00:37:05,308 --> 00:37:08,600
invite you today to start there 
to place your faith in Christ. 

619
00:37:09,100 --> 00:37:12,700
Be forgiven, start a new life 
with a new family. 

620
00:37:12,700 --> 00:37:15,800
In this place today. 
Let's stand our feet, we are 

621
00:37:15,800 --> 00:37:19,000
going to sing, we're going to 
worship together, as is one of 

622
00:37:19,000 --> 00:37:21,300
the greatest Graces we have 
together. 

623
00:37:21,500 --> 00:37:23,600
Let me pray. 
And then we will sing and 

624
00:37:23,600 --> 00:37:25,000
worship. 
Father, we love you. 

625
00:37:26,000 --> 00:37:29,600
God, we thank you for today. 
We thank you for the ability to 

626
00:37:29,600 --> 00:37:31,600
gather together and be in this 
place. 

627
00:37:32,300 --> 00:37:35,200
God, we're thankful that we can 
worship together. 

628
00:37:35,800 --> 00:37:38,900
Thank you for this church. 
We pray now that you're honored 

629
00:37:38,900 --> 00:37:41,600
and glorified their everything 
we do and through this worship, 

630
00:37:41,600 --> 00:37:44,400
lift our voices to you. 
Now in Jesus name, amen,