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Today is a wonderful day. 
It's the most important day of 

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our week. 
It's the Lord's day is the first

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day of the week and the 
opportunity that we have as a 

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few of God's children to 
assemble and worship God in 

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spirit and in truth. 
We're so thankful for that. 

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I'm glad to be here with you, 
and to worship with you 

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together. 
On the screen, the title of our 

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lesson is entitled until Christ 
is formed in you and these are 

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not new Concepts, but I want to 
talk on the subject of spiritual

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growth. 
I think a congregation has to be

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focused on growth and I think 
the growth has to be focused on 

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ourself individually. 
First. 

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In other words, if we don't grow
individually in Jesus Christ, 

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then a congregation will not 
grow. 

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I'm very concerned. 
Learned about the church and 

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plans, Road in Bakersfield, 
California in this regard. 

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As an evangelist working here. 
My hope. 

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And my prayer is that this 
congregation will continue to 

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exist far beyond the years that 
I am here. 

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I think if we are content with 
just existing, there will come a

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time when we will no longer 
exist. 

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So, I want to talk about the 
subject of Christ being formed 

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in you a very encouraging 
passage and a very Pointed 

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passage found in Galatians. 
Chapter 4 and verse 19. 

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Paul said, my little children 
for whom I labor in birth again 

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until Christ is formed in you 
now, Paul was writing to those 

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that were members of the body of
Christ, they were Christians and

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the laboring. 
Again, I think what he's talking

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about. 
The first labor, obviously was 

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when they obeyed the gospel and 
he did his part by way of 

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laboring that they might obey 
the gospel. 

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Oil. 
But also now he's saying I'm 

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laboring again until Christ is 
formed in you. 

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I think this is a great passage 
that shows us that God allows 

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time for growth. 
That's very encouraging that God

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allows time for growth but also 
here as Paul is pointing out, 

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there's urgency so picture it 
this way. 

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I'm thankful that there's 
patience on God's part but 

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there's urgency on my part 
because growing in Christ is a 

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command and by the way, we're 
going to get into the specific 

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things that would describe 
someone who has Jesus Christ 

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formed in them and just a few 
minutes. 

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Let me just say by way of an 
introduction. 

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Action. 
A couple of General statements. 

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If a person is carnally minded, 
instead of spiritually minded, 

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in other words, driven by the 
thoughts of the flesh. 

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Decisions are made by the flesh 
there carnally minded as opposed

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to spiritually minded if that is
you and I don't know who that 

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is, but if that is you, Jesus 
Christ is not formed in you. 

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If you have a hard time with 
commitment, I'm talking about 

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commitment to Jesus Christ and 
his church. 

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Then Jesus Christ is not formed 
in you. 

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If you are a person where 
Christianity has not changed 

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your life, then Jesus Christ is 
not formed in you if your 

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service to God is only when we 
assemble on Sunday morning as 

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the Lord's Church to worship, if
that's it. 

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And that's the extent of your 
Christianity. 

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Then Jesus Christ is not formed 
in you. 

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If you obeyed the gospel many 
years ago but you haven't grown 

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at all once again. 
And then Jesus Christ, not yet 

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is not formed in you. 
Spiritual growth is a choice 

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that everybody must make. 
It's a command by God and it 

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requires a diligent effort on 
our part. 

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You know, the great blessings 
though we find that God's going 

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to help us in our growth. 
He's going to help us. 

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We pray that God would help us. 
Give us wisdom, give us 

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strength, give us courage to 
persevere and all those 

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wonderful things. 
God helps us but number Two 

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number two. 
He also blesses us when we do 

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spiritual growth though, often 
times is hindered by low 

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self-esteem. 
And therefore, we don't achieve 

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higher levels of spiritual 
growth because of low 

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self-esteem. 
In other words, somebody might 

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say, well, you know, I don't 
have any capabilities, I don't 

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have the ability to do that, I 
can't really grow. 

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I'm not like somebody else. 
He's got a whole lot more 

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ability than I do. 
And sometimes because of low, 

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self-esteem and negative, 
self-talk, we talk ourselves out

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of the idea that we can grow. 
Now, listen, God has never given

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us something to do. 
Way the command that we were not

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capable of doing never he wants 
us to do exactly what he said 

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and that is to grow and 
everybody's different, I get 

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that. 
But sometimes growth is hindered

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by negative self-talk. 
Be careful about that. 

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But there's also something else 
about that too. 

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Sometimes a person says well I 
don't have any abilities. 

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I'm just the one Talent guy more
on that later. 

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I'm just the one Talent guy. 
And sometimes they use that as 

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an excuse, not to try to grow. 
But growth is a command. 

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All right, what are the goals 
for growth? 

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I think everybody has to have 
goals. 

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I think we have to have goals in
every aspect of our life Hall of

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Fame running back. 
Emmitt Smith. 

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One time said, as he was drafted
into the NFL Master. 

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Why did you write down every 
specific goal that you ever 

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wanted to achieve as a 
professional football player? 

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And he said this he it did not 
originate with him but he did 

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say it too. 
He said dreams are not goals 

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until they're written down. 
Out. 

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My whole life, my father taught 
me that people don't plan to 

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fail. 
They only fail to plan. 

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He taught me, you got to write 
it down, you have a dream, you 

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have an idea that you would like
to someday. 

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You got to write it down and it 
becomes a goal, then you have 

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objectives to achieve that. 
Well, the same is true. 

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Spiritually, isn't it? 
We should be very specific about

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that. 
So it is where the Christian 

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what I've done is today, I have 
broken down these goals in three

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categories. 
Ural goals, functional goals and

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congregational goals. 
Now, we're gonna spend the 

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majority of our time on the 
first one behavioral goals, and 

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this is why because behavioral 
goals apply to everybody, 

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equally everybody here equally. 
Functional goals and 

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congregational goals. 
They can vary and we'll talk 

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about that a little bit later, 
but we spend the majority of our

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time on behavioral goals. 
Our ultimate goal is to be like 

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Jesus Christ. 
Jesus Christ is formed in us 

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when we become more like him. 
Now, I want to just give us some

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foundational passages bear with 
me through some of these 

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foundational passages because 
Jesus talked about what it was 

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like to be a disciple. 
In fact, in Luke chapter 6, and 

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verse 40. 
Jesus said a disciple is not 

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above his teacher, but everyone 
who is perfectly trained, will 

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be like his teacher. 
Now, we need to be like Jesus, 

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who's Jesus? 
He is our teacher, we are his 

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disciple. 
What is Jesus want today? 

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What's he want us to be? 
He wants us to be disciples, he 

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wants us to be followers of him,
in fact, in Matthew 28, 

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beginning there in verse 19, the
Great Commission go, therefore 

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and Make Disciples of all 
Nations, baptizing them in the 

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name of the father, and of the 
son, and of the Holy Spirit, 

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teaching them to observe all 
things. 

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Things that I have commanded you
and lo. 

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I Am With. 
You Always even to the end of 

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the age, that's what Jesus 
wants. 

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He wants disciples and disciples
are properly trained when they 

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become like the teacher. 
That's what Jesus wants for your

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life. 
What's God want? 

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Same thing, Romans 8:29 for whom
he that's God foreknew. 

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He God also predestined to be 
conformed, to the image of his 

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His son, what a powerful 
passage. 

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And sometimes people get these 
kind of words, misunderstood and

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out of whack their foreknew and 
predestined, okay? 

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All it means is, God foreknew in
his mind, from the foundation of

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the world, he predestined or 
predetermined, that a follower 

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of Jesus Christ, a disciple of 
Jesus Christ would be conformed 

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to the image of his son. 
From the foundation of the 

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world. 
That's exactly what God wanted. 

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He goes on to say that he might 
be the firstborn among many 

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brethren We need to become more 
like Jesus in our life. 

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What else though? 
What else? 

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So here in this passage we are 
conformed to the image of his 

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son but there's more second 
Corinthians 3 and 18 but we all 

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with unveiled face beholding as 
in a mirror, the glory of the 

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Lord are being transformed into 
the same image from glory to 

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glory, just as by the spirit of 
Our Lord. 

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So Paul says we are Form to the 
image of his son. 

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He further says we are 
transformed into the image of 

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Jesus Christ and one more in 
Colossians chapter 3, same 

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author. 
This is what Paul said in 

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Colossians 3 and verse 10 and 
have put on the new man who is 

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renewed in the knowledge 
according to the image of him 

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who created him. 
Notice we are conformed and 

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transformed into his image and 
we are renewed in knowledge. 

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So the essential element of 
spiritual growth is to become 

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more like Jesus, renewing, our 
Behavior to conform to the 

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example of Jesus Christ. 
And this involves growing in the

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knowledge of Christ. 
Second Peter chapter 3 and verse

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18. 
But grow in Grace and knowledge 

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of our Lord and Savior. 
Jesus Christ to him, be both 

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Timmy Glory both now and 
forever. 

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Interestingly though this is not
just academic knowledge. 

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This is very important. 
This is personal knowledge, 

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through character development, 
personal knowledge, through 

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character development, You know,
this is kind of when Jesus 

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Christ becomes alive in your 
life. 

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It's when your faith becomes 
your own. 

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It's when you are truly changed 
and your behavior is changed. 

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Its when Christianity becomes 
personal to you, It means 

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something folks. 
I'm going to tell you a 

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Christianity has to be more, has
to be more than checking boxes. 

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Look, in a certain part and 
obeying rules. 

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It's got to be more than that. 
Now, do Christians have a 

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certain way that we look sure at
all. 

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That's true. 
It's got to be more than that 

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folks. 
As be way more than that. 

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And I think sometimes what we do
is and please don't 

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misunderstand me. 
I've not gone off the 

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reservation. 
Sometimes we talk about the 

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importance of being a member of 
the church, which is true and 

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yes it is and it's important and
you can't have Jesus without it.

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I preach that a couple weeks ago
all, that's true but sometimes 

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we talk about what it looks like
to be a church member and we 

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don't spend any time on what 
it's like to be a Christian. 

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To be christ-like to be like 
Jesus. 

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To have our lives that are 
transformed and changed. 

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Remember that song we used to 
sing. 

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He's real, he's real. 
What a beautiful song and what 

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and he lives in my heart. 
That's when Jesus Christ changes

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us. 
And Christ is now formed in us. 

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Let's spend time. 
Also understanding what it means

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to be a Christian and have our 
lives truly changed. 

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And by the way, I'll just tell 
you this right now. 

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The only way that a person going
through life with all the trials

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and all the hard things in life,
the only way that you can 

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persevere and the only way that 
you can handle all the all the 

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things out there, Is to be a 
child of God. 

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Be changed on the Inside Out, 
have Christ formed in you and 

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that is your Christianity is 
real and working for you. 

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It has to be working for you. 
Some of the old-timers used to 

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say, how's it working for you? 
How is your religion working for

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you? 
How is it? 

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If it's superficial, it's not 
working very well. 

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But if it's Inward and private 
and real, and you're changed, 

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and transformed and conformed, 
and renewed, like Paul said, all

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those words, guess what? 
It's going to get you through 

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anything in life. 
Going to show you a very 

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practical passage. 
Now we've done this before. 

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We're going to do it again. 
It's great stuff. 

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It's found in 2nd Peter chapter 
1 beginning in verse 5. 

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Peter says, but also for this 
reason. 

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Giving all diligence. 
Add to your faith virtue to 

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Virtue knowledge to knowledge, 
self-control to self-control 

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perseverance to perseverance, 
godliness to Godliness, 

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brotherly, kindness and to 
brotherly, kindness love. 

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First of all, this talk about 
faith for just a moment. 

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The Hebrew writer says, for 
without faith. 

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It's impossible to please God, 
for he, that comes to him. 

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Must believe that he is. 
He that comes to God, must 

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believe that he is, and that he 
is, a rewarder of them that 

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diligently seek Him. 
You cannot go to heaven and you 

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cannot come to Jesus without 
faith. 

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We know that. 
But there Comes A Time in your 

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life when your faith has to 
change and what I mean by that 

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it changes in that it grows. 
Do you remember when Jesus was 

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speaking to his disciples when 
they came to him? 

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Very familiar story. 
I won't spend a lot of time on 

238
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it, but when they could not cast
out that demon out of that young

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00:14:34,300 --> 00:14:37,600
man, and Jesus finally does it 
and they come to him and they 

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00:14:37,600 --> 00:14:39,700
said, how come we couldn't do 
it. 

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00:14:39,700 --> 00:14:44,100
What we doing wrong and Jesus 
says because of your unbelief, 

242
00:14:44,100 --> 00:14:46,600
which Means in the original, 
your little faith. 

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00:14:47,900 --> 00:14:53,000
They had little weak faith and 
then he says, if you could just 

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have the faith of a mustard 
seed, you can move mountains and

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nothing would be impossible for 
you. 

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00:14:58,800 --> 00:15:02,400
In other words, the mustard seed
that starts off very, very 

247
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small. 
It grows to Greatness what he 

248
00:15:04,908 --> 00:15:06,800
was telling him is your faith 
died. 

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Small at didn't grow you don't 
have great faith, you got little

250
00:15:10,000 --> 00:15:13,600
weak Faith. 
So Every Christian, there comes 

251
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a time. 
In our life our faith has to 

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grow and become real but not 
only that we got to add some 

253
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stuff to it. 
Now, I don't know about you, but

254
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I love practical passages of 
scripture that I could say, 

255
00:15:28,800 --> 00:15:32,000
okay, you know what? 
Things are a little out of sorts

256
00:15:32,000 --> 00:15:33,600
right now. 
But if I could just get my hands

257
00:15:33,600 --> 00:15:35,600
on a practical passage, it'll 
help me. 

258
00:15:35,800 --> 00:15:38,200
That's this one right here. 
Here's some specific things to 

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00:15:38,200 --> 00:15:41,300
do. 
These are the things that we 

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add, we add virtue knowledge, 
self-control, perseverance, 

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00:15:45,900 --> 00:15:50,200
godliness, brotherly, kindness. 
And we add love. 

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00:15:50,800 --> 00:15:52,600
I'm going to Define these and 
then we're going to put them all

263
00:15:52,600 --> 00:15:55,000
together. 
What do they actually mean? 

264
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These are things that we have to
add number one, adding virtue 

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that is moral excellence. 
That is your quality of life. 

266
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So you add to your faith, faith,
and what faith in the gospel 

267
00:16:07,600 --> 00:16:09,600
faith in? 
Jesus Christ, you just obeyed. 

268
00:16:09,600 --> 00:16:11,200
The gospel. 
You became a Christian. 

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I got to add something to that. 
What am I going to add? 

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00:16:13,500 --> 00:16:15,100
I'm going to add moral 
Excellence. 

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Moral Excellence. 
Also based upon something, I 

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gotta add knowledge. 
And, by the way, this is this 

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00:16:24,100 --> 00:16:26,300
word actually means correct in 
sight. 

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00:16:27,200 --> 00:16:31,400
Okay, so anybody that would say 
that you can't no real truth. 

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00:16:31,500 --> 00:16:35,000
You can't understand absolute 
truth and everybody's truth is 

276
00:16:35,000 --> 00:16:36,700
for themselves and they choose 
and all that. 

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00:16:36,900 --> 00:16:39,600
That's not what this word means.
You know what it's saying? 

278
00:16:39,800 --> 00:16:41,700
Peter is saying you add 
knowledge. 

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00:16:41,700 --> 00:16:45,700
This is correct in sight, it is 
knowledge properly, understood 

280
00:16:45,700 --> 00:16:48,700
comprehended and applied that's 
what it means. 

281
00:16:49,700 --> 00:16:54,200
Understood comprehended and 
applied proper knowledge. 

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00:16:54,200 --> 00:16:56,700
What else do I have to add? 
Well, I got to add something 

283
00:16:56,700 --> 00:17:01,000
that we all need and that self 
control, and it literally means 

284
00:17:01,000 --> 00:17:05,900
to hold oneself in. 
Now some people don't have 

285
00:17:05,900 --> 00:17:08,599
trouble with that. 
Some people do have trouble with

286
00:17:08,599 --> 00:17:12,400
that, but I'm going to tell you 
every Christian needs to know 

287
00:17:12,400 --> 00:17:13,900
about self-control. 
We all do. 

288
00:17:13,900 --> 00:17:17,200
Right? 
What else perseverance 

289
00:17:17,800 --> 00:17:21,300
perseverance does not mean 
passive acquiescence. 

290
00:17:21,500 --> 00:17:23,500
You know what it means? 
It's an action word. 

291
00:17:23,500 --> 00:17:26,000
It means endurance to do what's 
right. 

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00:17:26,500 --> 00:17:29,400
Godliness, is something that I 
have to add to, and that word 

293
00:17:29,400 --> 00:17:33,300
means reverence, it's having a 
practical awareness of God in 

294
00:17:33,300 --> 00:17:34,900
every aspect. 
Out of my life. 

295
00:17:34,900 --> 00:17:36,500
And if I got that, you know 
what's going to happen? 

296
00:17:36,600 --> 00:17:38,500
It'll demonstrate itself in 
action. 

297
00:17:38,500 --> 00:17:41,200
That's called righteous living. 
What else? 

298
00:17:41,500 --> 00:17:44,500
I got to add some brotherly 
kindness, which is brotherly 

299
00:17:44,500 --> 00:17:47,900
affection. 
And finally, I've got to add a 

300
00:17:47,900 --> 00:17:51,200
guppy love sacrificial. 
Selfless Love. 

301
00:17:51,600 --> 00:17:52,900
Now, let's put them all 
together. 

302
00:17:52,900 --> 00:17:54,700
These are the words and what 
they mean. 

303
00:17:55,500 --> 00:17:58,700
So what Peter is saying is the 
first thing I got to think about

304
00:17:58,700 --> 00:18:01,900
when I obey the gospel, I got to
add some stuff to my faith. 

305
00:18:01,900 --> 00:18:05,300
I'm going to add, moral 
Excellence, quality of life 

306
00:18:05,300 --> 00:18:09,500
based upon proper knowledge, 
knowledge, that is properly, 

307
00:18:09,500 --> 00:18:11,900
understood comprehended and 
applied. 

308
00:18:11,900 --> 00:18:14,600
You know what that's going to 
do, it's going to give me the 

309
00:18:14,600 --> 00:18:18,400
ability to have self-control to 
hold myself in. 

310
00:18:18,400 --> 00:18:22,000
It's going to also give me 
something else to, and that is 

311
00:18:22,000 --> 00:18:25,300
the strength to persevere to 
endure to do that, which is 

312
00:18:25,300 --> 00:18:25,900
right. 
Right? 

313
00:18:26,200 --> 00:18:29,900
All based upon godliness with 
the Practical awareness of God. 

314
00:18:29,900 --> 00:18:33,500
In every aspect of my life. 
I will demonstrate that Godly 

315
00:18:33,500 --> 00:18:37,000
life in brotherly kindness which
is brotherly affection for 

316
00:18:37,000 --> 00:18:41,900
others. 
All in my pursuit of agape love 

317
00:18:41,900 --> 00:18:47,200
sacrificial. 
Selfless, Love two things. 

318
00:18:48,400 --> 00:18:55,200
One, it's not a one-time thing. 
It's a lifelong thing and to it 

319
00:18:55,200 --> 00:18:57,100
doesn't just go in One 
Direction. 

320
00:18:57,400 --> 00:19:00,200
Watch it goes the other way too.
It is a cycle like this around 

321
00:19:00,200 --> 00:19:03,300
and around. 
Notice if I have in my pursuit 

322
00:19:03,300 --> 00:19:06,000
of agape love, you know what if 
I've got that in my life, you 

323
00:19:06,008 --> 00:19:08,500
know, it's going to happen, 
it'll manifest itself in 

324
00:19:08,500 --> 00:19:12,400
brotherly, kindness, all based 
upon godliness with the 

325
00:19:12,400 --> 00:19:15,100
Practical awareness of God. 
In every aspect of my life. 

326
00:19:15,200 --> 00:19:17,000
It's going to give me the 
strength to endure. 

327
00:19:17,100 --> 00:19:19,600
It's going to give me the 
ability to hold myself in. 

328
00:19:19,800 --> 00:19:22,300
It's going to be based upon 
proper knowledge. 

329
00:19:22,300 --> 00:19:25,700
All in my pursuit of virtue, 
moral Excellence, it goes the 

330
00:19:25,700 --> 00:19:29,700
other way, too. 
As some pretty great stuff that 

331
00:19:29,700 --> 00:19:33,900
Peter gave us to do. 
When we develop these Graces, we

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00:19:33,900 --> 00:19:37,200
are truly fruitful in the 
knowledge of Jesus Christ. 

333
00:19:37,200 --> 00:19:40,300
And again these are not just 
academic knowledge but personal 

334
00:19:40,300 --> 00:19:44,200
knowledge. 
You character development, 

335
00:19:44,300 --> 00:19:46,900
that's when the Lord becomes 
real in our life. 

336
00:19:47,300 --> 00:19:49,400
In second, Peter chapter 1 and 
verse 8. 

337
00:19:50,400 --> 00:19:54,600
For if these things are yours 
and abound, you will be neither 

338
00:19:54,600 --> 00:19:58,800
be Barren nor unfruitful in the 
knowledge of Jesus Christ. 

339
00:19:59,600 --> 00:20:02,200
You know, all of these Graces 
that we talked about, were best 

340
00:20:02,200 --> 00:20:06,300
personified in Jesus. 
So the more that we grow in 

341
00:20:06,300 --> 00:20:11,700
them, the more we truly know and
understand our savior but I 

342
00:20:11,708 --> 00:20:15,200
understand too. 
That there's great challenges 

343
00:20:15,200 --> 00:20:18,600
sometimes you know why it's 
challenging to grow. 

344
00:20:20,000 --> 00:20:22,300
I think it's challenging to grow
for a couple reasons. 

345
00:20:22,300 --> 00:20:25,500
There may be others, but I'm 
just going to use to, I think 

346
00:20:25,500 --> 00:20:30,100
it's challenging to grow because
it requires diligent effort, and

347
00:20:30,100 --> 00:20:33,000
sometimes we choose the path of 
least resistance. 

348
00:20:33,000 --> 00:20:37,000
Sometimes sometimes not meaning 
to, sometimes we just get busy. 

349
00:20:38,100 --> 00:20:40,300
But it takes diligent effort on 
our part. 

350
00:20:40,300 --> 00:20:42,700
So if I'm going to grow as a 
Christian, it's not a one-time 

351
00:20:42,700 --> 00:20:44,500
thing. 
It's a diligent effort that I 

352
00:20:44,508 --> 00:20:47,900
must put forth. 
Number two, it also requires a 

353
00:20:47,900 --> 00:20:50,600
sustained effort. 
Paul talked about that in 

354
00:20:50,600 --> 00:20:54,100
Galatians, chapter 6. 
And sometimes it's a, it's a 

355
00:20:54,100 --> 00:20:57,000
sustained effort, even if we're 
growing discouraged. 

356
00:20:58,600 --> 00:21:02,700
Your been discouraged. 
Sure, you have. 

357
00:21:05,100 --> 00:21:10,600
Everybody's been discouraged. 
That's why Paul says, do not 

358
00:21:10,600 --> 00:21:14,500
grow weary. 
The King James says, in 

359
00:21:14,500 --> 00:21:19,700
well-doing, the new King James 
says, in doing good, don't grow 

360
00:21:19,700 --> 00:21:21,300
weary, even if you're 
discouraged. 

361
00:21:21,300 --> 00:21:24,100
So sometimes it's hard for 
people to grow because it takes 

362
00:21:24,300 --> 00:21:27,800
a diligent effort and it takes a
sustained effort even when we 

363
00:21:27,800 --> 00:21:32,100
grow discouraged, as stressed 
before though, such growth does 

364
00:21:32,100 --> 00:21:35,300
not come naturally. 
If we're not very careful, we 

365
00:21:35,300 --> 00:21:38,100
revert back to our formal 
conduct and character. 

366
00:21:38,300 --> 00:21:41,800
Do you know the you know, the 
old saying if we've always if we

367
00:21:41,800 --> 00:21:44,000
always do what we've always 
done, we'll always get what 

368
00:21:44,000 --> 00:21:47,400
we've always got. 
Sometimes we have the best 

369
00:21:47,400 --> 00:21:49,300
intentions, man. 
We got some great intentions. 

370
00:21:49,300 --> 00:21:53,000
We're going to start on fire. 
And it's just a matter of time 

371
00:21:53,000 --> 00:21:57,100
before we revert back and forget
that happens to us, doesn't it? 

372
00:21:57,400 --> 00:22:00,300
It's kind of like this January 
1. 

373
00:22:00,300 --> 00:22:02,500
Everybody's New Year's 
resolution most people's New 

374
00:22:02,500 --> 00:22:03,700
Year's resolution. 
They're going to prove 

375
00:22:03,700 --> 00:22:06,500
themselves somehow. 
Usually go to the gym, get in 

376
00:22:06,500 --> 00:22:11,200
shape, gyms are packed, in 
January by March. 

377
00:22:11,200 --> 00:22:13,300
They're finding out. 
You know why? 

378
00:22:13,700 --> 00:22:15,800
Because people just go back to 
what they've always done. 

379
00:22:16,500 --> 00:22:18,900
And sometimes with it, when it 
comes to growth, we need to be 

380
00:22:18,900 --> 00:22:20,800
careful. 
We need to be diligent and we 

381
00:22:20,808 --> 00:22:24,100
need to be steadfast. 
In our work to grow or will 

382
00:22:24,100 --> 00:22:26,000
drift back, we don't want to do 
that. 

383
00:22:26,000 --> 00:22:28,600
We don't want to drift back. 
Second, Peter chapter 2, and 

384
00:22:28,600 --> 00:22:31,900
verse 24, if after the they 
escaped, the pollutions of the 

385
00:22:31,900 --> 00:22:34,200
world, through the knowledge of 
the Lord, Jesus and Savior, 

386
00:22:34,200 --> 00:22:38,500
Jesus Christ, they are again. 
Entangled in them and overcome. 

387
00:22:38,500 --> 00:22:42,100
The latter end is worse for them
than the beginning. 

388
00:22:42,500 --> 00:22:48,900
I remember years ago, brother 
Linwood Smith, He said this. 

389
00:22:51,500 --> 00:22:56,000
There's no telling. 
How many people we could save? 

390
00:22:57,600 --> 00:23:00,300
If we didn't have to keep saving
the same ones over and over. 

391
00:23:03,500 --> 00:23:07,800
Linwood said that I'm quoting 
Linwood but I get it. 

392
00:23:08,500 --> 00:23:13,100
I understand it. 
Sometimes we try to beg, people 

393
00:23:13,100 --> 00:23:16,300
almost beg people to be 
stronger, beg people to be 

394
00:23:16,300 --> 00:23:19,900
committed. 
But at some point in time, 

395
00:23:19,900 --> 00:23:22,300
folks, you have to decide in 
your heart. 

396
00:23:22,800 --> 00:23:28,000
This means more to me. 
This means more to me and I'm 

397
00:23:28,000 --> 00:23:29,900
going to grow, and I'm going to 
be the Christian that I should 

398
00:23:29,900 --> 00:23:32,200
be. 
And I'm never ever, ever going 

399
00:23:32,200 --> 00:23:38,100
to turn my back on the Lord. 
So We are conformed, transformed

400
00:23:38,100 --> 00:23:39,900
and renewed to the image of 
Christ. 

401
00:23:39,900 --> 00:23:43,100
That is our behavioral goals but
then we go to this. 

402
00:23:43,600 --> 00:23:46,800
Actually, let me just one more 
passage here in Romans 12 and 

403
00:23:46,800 --> 00:23:49,100
verses 1 and 2 and do not be 
conformed to this world but be 

404
00:23:49,100 --> 00:23:51,500
transformed by the renewing of 
your mind. 

405
00:23:51,500 --> 00:23:56,000
That you may prove what is that 
good and acceptable and perfect 

406
00:23:56,000 --> 00:23:58,200
will of God. 
So now let's talk about 

407
00:23:58,200 --> 00:24:02,100
functional goals. 
In 1st Corinthians chapter 12, 

408
00:24:03,000 --> 00:24:06,900
we read about functional 
different functions in the body 

409
00:24:06,900 --> 00:24:12,200
of Christ, the church has many 
members in 1st Corinthians 

410
00:24:12,200 --> 00:24:14,000
chapter 12, beginning in verse 
20. 

411
00:24:14,700 --> 00:24:16,700
But now indeed, there are many 
members. 

412
00:24:16,700 --> 00:24:20,200
Yet one body and the eye cannot 
say to the hand. 

413
00:24:20,200 --> 00:24:23,500
I have no need of you, nor 
again, the head to the feet. 

414
00:24:23,500 --> 00:24:27,600
I have no need of, you know, 
much rather those members of the

415
00:24:27,600 --> 00:24:30,000
body, which seem to be weaker 
are necessary. 

416
00:24:30,100 --> 00:24:33,000
Re and those members of the 
body, which we think to be less 

417
00:24:33,000 --> 00:24:36,600
honorable on these, we bestow 
greater honor and on our 

418
00:24:36,600 --> 00:24:39,500
unpresentable parts have greater
modesty. 

419
00:24:40,100 --> 00:24:47,300
Now interestingly there are many
members and everybody is needed.

420
00:24:48,900 --> 00:24:52,100
There's not one part of my 
physical body, that is not 

421
00:24:52,100 --> 00:24:56,100
needed. 
Every member of the body of 

422
00:24:56,100 --> 00:24:59,400
Christ is needed. 
You might be saying what you 

423
00:24:59,408 --> 00:25:02,600
mean me? 
Yeah, you yeah, you I've said 

424
00:25:02,600 --> 00:25:05,900
this for years I must say it 
again, if the church is going to

425
00:25:05,900 --> 00:25:08,200
be all that it could be and 
should be. 

426
00:25:08,600 --> 00:25:12,700
It's going to take all of us. 
I believe in that it's gonna 

427
00:25:12,700 --> 00:25:14,800
take all of us. 
Everybody is needed. 

428
00:25:15,600 --> 00:25:19,700
But also understand this, 
there's many members, but we 

429
00:25:19,700 --> 00:25:23,400
don't all have the same function
in Romans chapter 12 Verses 4 

430
00:25:23,400 --> 00:25:28,400
and 5 for as for as we have many
members in one body but all the 

431
00:25:28,400 --> 00:25:30,500
members do not have the same 
function. 

432
00:25:30,800 --> 00:25:35,000
So we being many are one body in
Christ and individually members 

433
00:25:35,100 --> 00:25:37,900
of one another. 
So what do we learn? 

434
00:25:37,900 --> 00:25:40,000
There's many members in the body
of Christ. 

435
00:25:40,700 --> 00:25:43,300
Every member is important. 
Number two, number three. 

436
00:25:43,300 --> 00:25:46,100
We don't all have the same 
function but number For 

437
00:25:47,000 --> 00:25:51,700
everybody has to do their own 
part in Ephesians 4:16. 

438
00:25:52,900 --> 00:25:56,400
From whom the whole body joined 
and knit together by what every 

439
00:25:56,400 --> 00:25:59,600
joint supplies, according to the
effective working by which every

440
00:25:59,600 --> 00:26:03,700
part doesn't share causes growth
of the Body for the edifying of 

441
00:26:03,700 --> 00:26:07,600
itself in love. 
As members of the body, we have 

442
00:26:07,600 --> 00:26:11,400
to grow, we have to develop our 
functions. 

443
00:26:12,000 --> 00:26:14,800
Now, some people might have 
different functions and others 

444
00:26:14,800 --> 00:26:16,700
and different abilities and 
talents more on that in just a 

445
00:26:16,708 --> 00:26:19,400
minute. 
But there are some people that 

446
00:26:19,400 --> 00:26:25,200
teach but just because you don't
teach, and that's not your role 

447
00:26:25,200 --> 00:26:27,500
to teach, or you don't have the 
ability to teach doesn't mean 

448
00:26:27,500 --> 00:26:30,100
you don't have a role in the 
body. 

449
00:26:31,300 --> 00:26:34,000
I know people that are some of 
the greatest servers, I know. 

450
00:26:34,300 --> 00:26:36,100
And they serve others. 
They serve others like crazy. 

451
00:26:36,100 --> 00:26:38,600
They're awesome with that. 
They're good at that. 

452
00:26:39,100 --> 00:26:40,600
They see about the needs of 
others. 

453
00:26:40,600 --> 00:26:44,000
They pick up the phone and find 
out about how somebody's doing 

454
00:26:45,000 --> 00:26:48,400
Reaching out. 
Some people are incredible song 

455
00:26:48,400 --> 00:26:52,200
leaders. 
I am not But we have some that 

456
00:26:52,200 --> 00:26:54,900
are right here in this 
congregation, I've always 

457
00:26:54,900 --> 00:26:57,700
thought it was awesome to go to 
pick up a songbook and you've 

458
00:26:57,700 --> 00:26:59,400
never seen it before and then 
just sing it. 

459
00:27:00,200 --> 00:27:02,900
Okay. 
Everybody's has a roll. 

460
00:27:02,900 --> 00:27:06,200
Everybody has abilities. 
Everybody has a function. 

461
00:27:06,300 --> 00:27:14,200
Everybody does. now, whatever 
abilities that we have, We have 

462
00:27:14,200 --> 00:27:17,700
to utilize those abilities in 
the service to god. 

463
00:27:17,800 --> 00:27:20,200
Notice what the Bible says in 
First Peter, chapter 4, in verse

464
00:27:20,200 --> 00:27:22,500
10. 
So, whatever you have notice, 

465
00:27:22,500 --> 00:27:26,100
what first Peter 4 in. 
Verse 10 says, as each one has 

466
00:27:26,100 --> 00:27:31,400
received a gift Minister, it to 
one another as good stewards of 

467
00:27:31,400 --> 00:27:36,400
the manifold. 
Grace of God, failing to grow 

468
00:27:36,400 --> 00:27:38,700
waste, the abilities that God 
has given us. 

469
00:27:38,700 --> 00:27:41,300
Look at this passage right here 
for though. 

470
00:27:41,300 --> 00:27:43,500
By this time, you ought to be 
teachers. 

471
00:27:43,600 --> 00:27:47,300
Do you need someone to teach you
again the first principles of 

472
00:27:47,300 --> 00:27:51,100
the Oracles of god notice? 
And you have come to need milk 

473
00:27:51,100 --> 00:27:54,000
and not solid food? 
Let me ask you. 

474
00:27:54,200 --> 00:27:57,300
If you've been a Christian for 
10 years, have you grown and 

475
00:27:57,300 --> 00:28:01,400
knowledge at all? 
Can you handle the meat of the 

476
00:28:01,400 --> 00:28:03,800
word of God? 
Are you hungering for the meat 

477
00:28:03,800 --> 00:28:07,700
of the word of God? 
Or are you in infancy stage? 

478
00:28:07,700 --> 00:28:11,200
And you still need somebody to 
teach you the first principles 

479
00:28:11,200 --> 00:28:14,800
of the Oracles of God and you 
still need to meet the milk and 

480
00:28:14,800 --> 00:28:17,400
not of strong meat or strong 
food. 

481
00:28:19,600 --> 00:28:24,100
Have to grow. 
Growth, comes from nourishment. 

482
00:28:25,400 --> 00:28:27,000
You know, I really believe we 
live in a Bible. 

483
00:28:27,000 --> 00:28:31,700
Illiterate Society, I do there 
was a time and, you know, this 

484
00:28:31,700 --> 00:28:34,300
there was a time. 
If you're anywhere near my age, 

485
00:28:34,300 --> 00:28:37,700
you'll know this there was a 
time when people even in the 

486
00:28:37,700 --> 00:28:39,800
world knew a little something 
about the Bible. 

487
00:28:40,900 --> 00:28:43,800
People would quote scriptures. 
People would have passages of 

488
00:28:43,800 --> 00:28:47,600
scripture that that were their 
favorites and so forth. and it 

489
00:28:47,600 --> 00:28:51,600
seems to me today, that there's 
many people, that have 

490
00:28:51,600 --> 00:28:56,400
absolutely no idea about the 
word of God, but on the same 

491
00:28:56,400 --> 00:29:00,400
level or with the say, that 
being said, sometimes we have 

492
00:29:00,400 --> 00:29:04,300
Christians that are malnourished
to members of the Lord's church 

493
00:29:04,300 --> 00:29:08,700
that are malnourished But growth
comes from nourishment. 

494
00:29:09,700 --> 00:29:12,300
Now, the challenge of reaching 
our functional goals is 

495
00:29:12,300 --> 00:29:15,000
determining what? 
Our functions are based upon our

496
00:29:15,000 --> 00:29:16,200
abilities. 
I get that. 

497
00:29:16,300 --> 00:29:18,800
So let me ask you this, I'm 
going to put all these things on

498
00:29:18,800 --> 00:29:22,400
the screen. 
Because based on your abilities 

499
00:29:22,400 --> 00:29:25,800
will determine your function. 
Number one, what are mine? 

500
00:29:27,400 --> 00:29:31,200
What are my abilities? 
Because my abilities will 

501
00:29:31,200 --> 00:29:35,200
determine my function. 
So ask yourself what are my 

502
00:29:35,200 --> 00:29:36,800
abilities? 
What can I do? 

503
00:29:36,900 --> 00:29:41,300
Number two, ask yourself this. 
Do I really lack certain talents

504
00:29:41,700 --> 00:29:45,200
or do they just need to be 
developed? 

505
00:29:45,600 --> 00:29:48,400
Listen, I'm going to tell you, 
I've known some teachers that 

506
00:29:48,400 --> 00:29:50,600
started off. 
They had ability but they 

507
00:29:50,600 --> 00:29:53,300
started off and they were green.
Like everybody else is when you 

508
00:29:53,308 --> 00:29:57,500
start out right in time, man, 
they grew. 

509
00:29:58,100 --> 00:29:59,800
You know why? 
Because they always had the 

510
00:29:59,800 --> 00:30:05,900
ability, it just needed to be 
developed So ask yourself, ask 

511
00:30:05,900 --> 00:30:09,500
yourself, do I lack certain 
talents or they need to be 

512
00:30:09,500 --> 00:30:13,200
developed number 3? 
Am I the one Talent man? 

513
00:30:13,200 --> 00:30:17,000
Really? 
Or is that an excuse that I use 

514
00:30:17,000 --> 00:30:19,800
not to grow. 
What else? 

515
00:30:22,200 --> 00:30:25,700
Is my lack of development due to
laziness and indifference. 

516
00:30:28,600 --> 00:30:32,100
Am I selling myself short 
through negative self-talk. 

517
00:30:33,300 --> 00:30:37,000
Or watch. 
This is the world preoccupying 

518
00:30:37,000 --> 00:30:41,000
my time and energy so I have no 
time for Spiritual things. 

519
00:30:42,300 --> 00:30:44,500
By the way, this is your list. 
This is for you. 

520
00:30:44,800 --> 00:30:47,600
I've already looked at it. 
I asked myself the same stuff 

521
00:30:47,600 --> 00:30:49,900
too, but ask yourself these 
questions. 

522
00:30:49,900 --> 00:30:54,100
What are they? 
Do I like talents or do do they 

523
00:30:54,100 --> 00:30:56,900
just need to be developed? 
Am I the one Talent manner? 

524
00:30:56,900 --> 00:30:59,800
Do I use that as an excuse is my
lack of development due to 

525
00:30:59,800 --> 00:31:02,600
laziness and indifference? 
Do I sell myself short through 

526
00:31:02,600 --> 00:31:04,400
negative? 
Self-talk and is the world 

527
00:31:04,400 --> 00:31:09,300
preoccupying, all of my time, 
all of my time and energy again,

528
00:31:09,300 --> 00:31:13,500
as I said in our introduction, 
if we just continue to exist, 

529
00:31:13,500 --> 00:31:16,900
there will be one day when the 
church in Bakersfield will stop 

530
00:31:16,900 --> 00:31:18,900
existing. 
So we have to grow. 

531
00:31:19,100 --> 00:31:22,500
We must have behavioral goals 
and we must have Functional 

532
00:31:22,500 --> 00:31:26,900
goals and finally, we must have 
congregational goals. 

533
00:31:28,200 --> 00:31:32,800
Now. 
Individual growth is intertwined

534
00:31:32,800 --> 00:31:35,800
with church growth. 
The work of the church is 

535
00:31:35,800 --> 00:31:39,000
threefold. 
And here's what it is. 

536
00:31:39,700 --> 00:31:44,600
Number one, edification. 
Number two evangelism and number

537
00:31:44,600 --> 00:31:48,600
three benevolence and that's 
benevolence with our own, by the

538
00:31:48,600 --> 00:31:51,400
way, that's the work of the 
church. 

539
00:31:52,400 --> 00:31:55,100
So there are people that have 
all kinds of ideas in the world 

540
00:31:55,100 --> 00:31:57,400
in the religious World about 
things that the church does and 

541
00:31:57,400 --> 00:31:59,100
so forth. 
And so on, this is what the 

542
00:31:59,100 --> 00:32:01,800
Bible teaches, what the Lord's 
church, this is the function of 

543
00:32:01,800 --> 00:32:03,900
the Lord's church. 
This is what the Lord's Church 

544
00:32:03,900 --> 00:32:06,700
does, and application evangelism
and benevolence. 

545
00:32:06,700 --> 00:32:10,700
Now, edification can be done 
privately, it can be done 

546
00:32:10,700 --> 00:32:13,500
publicly, it can be And by 
teachers and preachers of the 

547
00:32:13,500 --> 00:32:18,300
Gospel. 
Evangelism it can be done by the

548
00:32:18,300 --> 00:32:20,400
net by the Evangelist. 
It could be done by a 

549
00:32:20,400 --> 00:32:23,700
congregation reaching out to 
those that are in the world. 

550
00:32:26,700 --> 00:32:28,700
And benevolence taken care of 
our own. 

551
00:32:31,800 --> 00:32:35,600
You know, we always pray. 
That God will bless our 

552
00:32:35,600 --> 00:32:41,300
congregation with growth. 
And we mentioned specific 

553
00:32:41,300 --> 00:32:47,700
things, don't we? 
we say grow in strength, Growing

554
00:32:47,700 --> 00:32:55,500
knowledge, grow in wisdom. 
Grow in patients grow in love. 

555
00:32:57,200 --> 00:33:01,200
And grow a number. 
And I always pray because I got 

556
00:33:01,200 --> 00:33:05,300
it from my father. 
I always pray with the drawing 

557
00:33:05,300 --> 00:33:07,500
power, being that of the gospel 
and nothing else. 

558
00:33:09,800 --> 00:33:11,700
Do you see the responsibilities 
that we have? 

559
00:33:13,100 --> 00:33:17,100
We have to reach out to those 
that are in the world around us.

560
00:33:17,100 --> 00:33:21,500
And I got to tell you, It's true
that the mass numbers of people 

561
00:33:21,500 --> 00:33:24,500
coming to Christ or perhaps 
coming to Jesus Christ in other 

562
00:33:24,500 --> 00:33:29,300
countries, that's probably true.
But that doesn't remove our 

563
00:33:29,300 --> 00:33:32,500
responsibility in our local 
city. 

564
00:33:32,600 --> 00:33:36,200
In our local town right here. 
In fact, if the church isn't 

565
00:33:36,200 --> 00:33:38,400
strong here and growing guess 
what? 

566
00:33:38,400 --> 00:33:41,300
We won't even have, the means to
send preachers to those Faraway 

567
00:33:41,300 --> 00:33:46,100
lands. 
Evangelism, you've heard me, 

568
00:33:46,100 --> 00:33:48,500
give this a little station years
ago in a totally different 

569
00:33:48,500 --> 00:33:50,000
sermon, but I've put it in this 
one now. 

570
00:33:52,000 --> 00:33:55,200
But I think it really fits about
having a vision for those that 

571
00:33:55,200 --> 00:33:57,400
are lost in the world wherever 
they are. 

572
00:33:59,300 --> 00:34:01,700
There's a story told about a 
wise, Indian father. 

573
00:34:03,100 --> 00:34:07,500
And he had three sons. 
And he determined to give all of

574
00:34:07,500 --> 00:34:12,000
his worldly, possessions to one 
of his three sons that 

575
00:34:12,000 --> 00:34:15,100
manifested, the greatest promise
and the greatest prowess. 

576
00:34:16,600 --> 00:34:18,199
As a test, he pointed to a 
mountain. 

577
00:34:18,199 --> 00:34:20,699
That was bold against the sky 
and he sent all three of them up

578
00:34:20,699 --> 00:34:23,100
the side of the mountain and he 
gave him one instruction. 

579
00:34:24,600 --> 00:34:27,900
He said when you come back when 
you return, you have to bring in

580
00:34:27,900 --> 00:34:31,000
your hand, a token of how high 
you climbed. 

581
00:34:32,400 --> 00:34:35,800
The first son wasn't gone very 
long, and when he came back, he 

582
00:34:35,800 --> 00:34:38,800
handed his father. 
A white Wildflower. 

583
00:34:39,900 --> 00:34:42,400
His father knew exactly how high
he climbed because he knew that 

584
00:34:42,400 --> 00:34:46,699
grew just above the Timberline. 
The second one was gone quite a 

585
00:34:46,699 --> 00:34:49,100
bit longer and when he returned 
in his hand, he had a red 

586
00:34:49,100 --> 00:34:54,199
Flintstone and his father knew 
that son made it almost to the 

587
00:34:54,199 --> 00:34:57,600
top. 
But the third son was gone for a

588
00:34:57,607 --> 00:35:00,900
long, long time. 
And when he returned he stood 

589
00:35:00,900 --> 00:35:04,200
before his father, and he said, 
father, I have nothing in my 

590
00:35:04,200 --> 00:35:07,800
hands because where I went, 
there was nothing to bring back.

591
00:35:10,100 --> 00:35:14,500
But I stood on the summit. 
And I overlooked the valley. 

592
00:35:16,200 --> 00:35:18,400
And I saw two Great Rivers. 
Join the ocean. 

593
00:35:20,400 --> 00:35:23,900
His proud father said son, it's 
been my life's ambition, that 

594
00:35:23,900 --> 00:35:25,900
one of my sons would see what 
you have seen. 

595
00:35:27,500 --> 00:35:30,400
You have as it were nothing in 
your hands to show for your 

596
00:35:30,400 --> 00:35:32,100
travels, but you have something 
that's far. 

597
00:35:32,100 --> 00:35:37,600
Greater you have Vision in your 
soul, the greatest of all I'm 

598
00:35:37,600 --> 00:35:40,600
going to tell you something, we 
may think in our life, in all of

599
00:35:40,600 --> 00:35:44,800
our efforts, We Stand open. 
We Stand empty handed But if we 

600
00:35:44,800 --> 00:35:48,000
can say that where we've gone, 
we have stood on that Summit 

601
00:35:48,500 --> 00:35:51,600
that we've overlooked the valley
and we saw the two great rivers 

602
00:35:51,600 --> 00:35:53,500
of human need and soul, 
starvation. 

603
00:35:53,500 --> 00:35:56,100
Join the ocean of life. 
If we could say that where we've

604
00:35:56,100 --> 00:35:57,900
gone, we've seen that and we did
all. 

605
00:35:57,900 --> 00:36:02,500
We could well, have something 
far greater will have a vision 

606
00:36:02,500 --> 00:36:11,500
in our soul, the greatest of all
Evangelistic goals. in 

607
00:36:11,500 --> 00:36:16,000
conclusion this morning, if we 
desire to grow spiritually, 

608
00:36:18,200 --> 00:36:20,000
we're going to have to have 
behavioral goals. 

609
00:36:21,900 --> 00:36:25,500
And that is that our 
Christianity becomes more than 

610
00:36:25,500 --> 00:36:29,400
just what we do. 
Now, what I mean by that is when

611
00:36:29,400 --> 00:36:34,000
we assemble in attendance to 
worship, Our Christianity has to

612
00:36:34,000 --> 00:36:38,700
be more than just what we do 
into in attendance at church. 

613
00:36:39,900 --> 00:36:44,600
It's got to be what we are. 
Functional goals determined 

614
00:36:44,600 --> 00:36:49,100
strengths and fill a function in
everybody in a congregation is 

615
00:36:49,100 --> 00:36:51,600
needed and everybody is 
necessary. 

616
00:36:52,400 --> 00:36:55,100
Our congregational goals. 
If we're doing all of that, if 

617
00:36:55,100 --> 00:36:58,300
we're being transformed on the 
inside out, if we're occupying 

618
00:36:58,300 --> 00:37:01,200
our functions and doing what we 
can with in our role, guess 

619
00:37:01,200 --> 00:37:04,500
what, then we can have 
congregational goals to that are

620
00:37:04,500 --> 00:37:08,900
reach out and see the Lost, save
the lost and keep them saved. 

621
00:37:09,500 --> 00:37:16,200
One final thing about that. 
There was a survey done. 

622
00:37:18,500 --> 00:37:20,700
And I got to tell you my whole 
life. 

623
00:37:20,700 --> 00:37:23,100
I've always kind of said and you
maybe have to. 

624
00:37:23,200 --> 00:37:27,600
I know the old-timer said it a 
lot, but the people that are in 

625
00:37:27,600 --> 00:37:32,500
the religious world Looking for 
a church, Ardis looking for 

626
00:37:32,500 --> 00:37:36,500
entertainment. 
That may be true in some degree.

627
00:37:36,500 --> 00:37:38,900
I don't know. 
May be true of some degree. 

628
00:37:40,500 --> 00:37:42,500
But I know one thing that's not 
the majority. 

629
00:37:43,800 --> 00:37:46,400
There was a, there was a poll 
taken, not long ago and they 

630
00:37:46,400 --> 00:37:48,800
were asked, what are you looking
for, in a church? 

631
00:37:48,800 --> 00:37:51,400
This is people out in the 
Christian professing world. 

632
00:37:51,500 --> 00:37:52,900
What are you looking for in a 
church? 

633
00:37:52,900 --> 00:37:59,900
Do you know what happened 83%. 
We're looking for a church that 

634
00:37:59,900 --> 00:38:04,400
has a good sermon preached. 
Something in the Bible that can 

635
00:38:04,400 --> 00:38:09,100
help me practically in my life. 
That's number one. 83% said, 

636
00:38:09,200 --> 00:38:12,600
we're looking for a sermon 
places where they preach sermons

637
00:38:12,600 --> 00:38:14,300
that are helpful to me in my 
life. 

638
00:38:14,300 --> 00:38:20,400
And number to get this 79% of 
that 83% said, we're looking for

639
00:38:20,400 --> 00:38:23,700
a place where the leaders of 
that congregation reach out and 

640
00:38:23,700 --> 00:38:28,000
make us feel welcome. if that's 
not in our wheelhouse, I don't 

641
00:38:28,000 --> 00:38:33,400
know what is we got the truth of
the word of God. 

642
00:38:35,200 --> 00:38:39,800
We got people that care and love
others and want to reach out and

643
00:38:39,800 --> 00:38:43,700
make them feel welcome. 
We can make a difference. 

644
00:38:45,100 --> 00:38:48,600
Are you growing is Jesus Christ?
Formed in you. 

645
00:38:49,500 --> 00:38:55,200
If so Jesus is your life, 
Finally. 

646
00:38:56,900 --> 00:39:00,300
Jesus Christ is not in you if 
you are not in him Galatians 

647
00:39:00,300 --> 00:39:04,100
3:27 for as many of you as were 
baptized into Jesus. 

648
00:39:04,100 --> 00:39:07,100
Christ have put on Christ you 
got to become a member of the 

649
00:39:07,100 --> 00:39:09,500
Lord's Church. 
You have to become a Christian. 

650
00:39:09,600 --> 00:39:11,700
You do that by contacting the 
blood of Jesus. 

651
00:39:13,700 --> 00:39:17,100
Jesus says he that believeth and
is baptized shall be saved. 

652
00:39:17,100 --> 00:39:20,300
He that believeth not shall be 
damned Jesus. 

653
00:39:20,300 --> 00:39:23,200
Further said in Luke 13 and 3, I
tell, you know, but except ye 

654
00:39:23,207 --> 00:39:25,400
repent, you will all likewise 
perish. 

655
00:39:25,500 --> 00:39:28,200
I got to change my heart, my 
mind, I got changed my heart. 

656
00:39:28,200 --> 00:39:31,200
It's going to change my life, 
which the greatest thing ever, 

657
00:39:31,300 --> 00:39:34,300
when I do that, and I obey the 
gospel, it changes my 

658
00:39:34,300 --> 00:39:37,100
relationship with the Lord great
stuff. 

659
00:39:38,200 --> 00:39:40,700
Jesus said, if you confess me 
before men, I will confess you 

660
00:39:40,707 --> 00:39:43,900
before my Father, which is in 
heaven and that confession is, I

661
00:39:43,900 --> 00:39:47,700
believe that Jesus Christ is the
Son of God first. 

662
00:39:47,700 --> 00:39:51,000
Peter 3:21 says, the like figure
whereunto even baptism doth 

663
00:39:51,000 --> 00:39:55,100
also. 
Now, save us, not the putting 

664
00:39:55,100 --> 00:39:57,300
away of the filth of the flesh, 
but the answer of a good 

665
00:39:57,300 --> 00:40:00,600
conscience toward God, by the 
resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

666
00:40:01,300 --> 00:40:03,600
If you've never taken those 
steps of obedience, you need to 

667
00:40:03,600 --> 00:40:05,200
do that today. 
And we'd love to assist you in 

668
00:40:05,200 --> 00:40:07,600
that contact. 
The blood of Jesus have your 

669
00:40:07,600 --> 00:40:12,300
say, Sins washed away, and Jesus
will add you to his church. 

670
00:40:14,100 --> 00:40:16,700
We thank you for listening to 
our podcast, put on by the 

671
00:40:16,700 --> 00:40:22,500
Church of Christ at 22:15 plans.
Road in Bakersfield, if you 

672
00:40:22,500 --> 00:40:25,500
would like any additional 
information, or you would like 

673
00:40:25,500 --> 00:40:28,700
to receive a free Bible 
correspondence, course by mail. 

674
00:40:29,400 --> 00:40:33,200
Please email us at info at her 
Church of Christ 

675
00:40:33,200 --> 00:40:37,200
Bakersfield.com. 
Our service times are on Sundays

676
00:40:37,200 --> 00:40:42,800
at 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. and 
Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. 

677
00:40:43,400 --> 00:40:46,900
Please make plans to join us. 
We would love for you to be our 

678
00:40:46,900 --> 00:40:47,800
honored guest.