1 00:00:57,740 --> 00:01:00,940 Good morning. It's good to see everybody here 2 00:01:00,940 --> 00:01:05,040 this morning immediately following our worship service. 3 00:01:05,040 --> 00:01:07,520 We do have a board meeting. So if you're involved with the 4 00:01:07,520 --> 00:01:10,880 board, please attend Announcements for the week. 5 00:01:11,400 --> 00:01:14,320 It's not many prayer lunch tomorrow. 6 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:20,120 No prayer lunch tomorrow. There will not be a Disciples 7 00:01:20,120 --> 00:01:21,960 women's meeting Wednesday at 1:00. 8 00:01:21,960 --> 00:01:25,400 So that is that is is canceled. OK. 9 00:01:25,880 --> 00:01:29,520 They will deliver food boxes Wednesday at 10 AM. 10 00:01:29,640 --> 00:01:32,440 So are there any other announcements that need to be 11 00:01:32,440 --> 00:01:35,760 made to the church? OK. 12 00:01:35,840 --> 00:04:27,760 We'll continue on. Good morning. 13 00:04:28,880 --> 00:04:30,200 If you will please take a hymnal. 14 00:04:30,200 --> 00:04:33,800 Turn to hymn #584 Come into his presence. 15 00:04:34,160 --> 00:04:36,600 We will sing through twice. And if you would please stand 16 00:04:36,600 --> 00:06:33,000 with me as we sing. Your off stage standing won't 17 00:06:33,000 --> 00:06:36,320 take long. We'll read a statement to you 18 00:06:36,320 --> 00:06:38,200 and go through a couple of verses in the Bible. 19 00:06:39,760 --> 00:06:43,240 Worshiping is a privilege that that all Christian can 20 00:06:43,240 --> 00:06:45,560 experience or not all Christian can experience openly. 21 00:06:45,920 --> 00:06:48,160 We should be very thankful we can come here and gather in our 22 00:06:48,160 --> 00:06:51,320 church anytime we get ready to worship God and sing praises to 23 00:06:51,320 --> 00:06:53,840 His name. I'm going to read to you a few 24 00:06:53,920 --> 00:06:59,080 passages. My first one is Mark 1230. 25 00:07:04,880 --> 00:07:07,360 It said, love you Lord to God with all your heart, with all 26 00:07:07,360 --> 00:07:09,800 your soul, with all your mind and all your strength. 27 00:07:12,080 --> 00:07:21,120 The segment I'm going to read to you is is Matthew 1820. 28 00:07:23,640 --> 00:07:28,360 And it says for where I am, where two or three are gathered 29 00:07:28,360 --> 00:07:31,600 in, where two or three are gathered in my name, I was with 30 00:07:31,600 --> 00:07:33,920 them. The last one read to you is 31 00:07:33,920 --> 00:07:39,320 James 5/16. He said, therefore, confess your 32 00:07:39,320 --> 00:07:41,680 sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be 33 00:07:41,680 --> 00:07:44,520 healed. The prayer of a righteous person 34 00:07:44,520 --> 00:07:46,880 is powerful and effective. Would you please pray with me? 35 00:07:48,240 --> 00:07:50,240 Our most grace and Heavenly Father, we are thankful to be in 36 00:07:50,240 --> 00:07:53,160 this your house. What we know we can worship you 37 00:07:53,160 --> 00:07:55,640 openly and freely. We thank you for the many 38 00:07:55,640 --> 00:07:57,920 blessings you placed upon us. But most of all, we thank you 39 00:07:57,920 --> 00:08:01,040 for the gift of your Son Jesus. And we give you the prayer that 40 00:08:01,040 --> 00:08:05,040 he talked to us, saying, Our Father who art in heaven, 41 00:08:05,600 --> 00:08:10,360 hallowed be thy name thy Kingdom come thy will be. 42 00:08:10,360 --> 00:08:12,520 Done. On Earth as it. 43 00:08:12,520 --> 00:08:14,920 Is in heaven. Give us this. 44 00:08:14,920 --> 00:08:17,600 Day Our Daily Bread. And. 45 00:08:17,600 --> 00:08:21,960 Forgive us our debts. As we forgive our debtors and 46 00:08:21,960 --> 00:08:26,120 lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 47 00:08:26,640 --> 00:08:30,240 For thine is the Kingdom, the power and the. 48 00:08:30,240 --> 00:08:32,480 Glory forever. I'm in. 49 00:08:32,960 --> 00:08:37,039 Don't be seated, don't even start down. 50 00:08:38,080 --> 00:08:41,480 Hymn #447 it is well with my soul. 51 00:08:41,480 --> 00:08:46,040 We're going to do the first, second, and last verses, and I 52 00:08:46,040 --> 00:08:49,920 want these windows to be rattling when we get done, all 53 00:08:49,960 --> 00:12:30,840 right. Amen. 54 00:12:30,840 --> 00:12:31,720 You may be seated. Let's. 55 00:12:33,480 --> 00:12:34,480 Go. Let's go, let's go. 56 00:12:39,680 --> 00:12:43,240 This morning as we go to the Lord in prayer, I do just want 57 00:12:43,240 --> 00:12:46,760 to say how great it is to be in the House of the Lord. 58 00:12:48,720 --> 00:12:51,920 The opportunity, as Randy said, that each of us have to come 59 00:12:51,920 --> 00:12:56,360 together to worship, to give thanks, and simply to 60 00:12:56,400 --> 00:12:59,480 acknowledge how great a God it is that we serve. 61 00:13:00,360 --> 00:13:04,760 I pray that it's why we are here today and that we do bring glory 62 00:13:04,760 --> 00:13:06,480 and honor to His name. So let's pray. 63 00:13:07,680 --> 00:13:11,440 Heavenly Father, Lord, we come to you now just thanking you for 64 00:13:11,480 --> 00:13:16,320 the gift of music, for the opportunity to sing these 65 00:13:16,320 --> 00:13:20,240 wonderful hymns that you have given us, and for whatever is 66 00:13:20,240 --> 00:13:23,920 going on in our lives that we may be able to sing with 67 00:13:23,920 --> 00:13:28,400 confidence from our hearts. That it is well with my soul. 68 00:13:29,840 --> 00:13:32,360 Lord, we understand that they are going to be problems, that 69 00:13:32,360 --> 00:13:35,680 there are going to be concerns that we are going to have 70 00:13:35,680 --> 00:13:37,760 sometimes where we are going to suffer. 71 00:13:39,200 --> 00:13:42,400 But Lord, we also know that you walk with us through whatever 72 00:13:42,400 --> 00:13:46,920 circumstances that we are in and that you encourage us and you 73 00:13:46,920 --> 00:13:51,640 uphold us and you undergird us and you bring us through to the 74 00:13:51,640 --> 00:13:54,680 other side. Lord, we simply pray this 75 00:13:54,680 --> 00:14:02,880 morning that as we give, Lord, as we commune with you at the 76 00:14:02,880 --> 00:14:09,760 your table, as we look into your word, Lord, as we continue to 77 00:14:09,760 --> 00:14:15,080 sing, that our hearts are just drawn closer and closer to you. 78 00:14:16,480 --> 00:14:19,480 And Lord, that as we experienced that relationship with you, as 79 00:14:19,480 --> 00:14:23,720 we go forward from this place, we can't do anything other than 80 00:14:23,720 --> 00:14:27,960 go out and tell who Jesus Christ is and the difference that he 81 00:14:27,960 --> 00:14:30,000 makes in our lives each and every day. 82 00:14:30,480 --> 00:14:33,240 We ask all this in Jesus name, Amen. 83 00:18:38,760 --> 00:18:41,400 Can be used for your glory and to build your Kingdom. 84 00:18:41,880 --> 00:18:44,440 We give in faith. Trust in You as our provider. 85 00:18:44,640 --> 00:18:46,640 In your wonderful name we pray. Amen. 86 00:18:59,020 --> 00:19:03,340 Our communion hymn this morning is hymn #405 in Remembrance and 87 00:19:03,340 --> 00:19:05,140 we will sing all the way through. 88 00:22:20,360 --> 00:22:26,000 This morning as we come to the table, we have the invitation of 89 00:22:26,000 --> 00:22:28,000 our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 90 00:22:30,920 --> 00:22:36,600 In the song that we just sang, it talks about His desire for us 91 00:22:36,600 --> 00:22:44,760 to love as He loved to share, as He shared to those that 92 00:22:44,760 --> 00:22:50,640 sometimes that we feel may be maybe unworthy, that we invite 93 00:22:50,640 --> 00:22:54,720 them. Because as we've come to this 94 00:22:54,720 --> 00:22:58,080 table, we realize that without the love of Christ and without 95 00:22:58,080 --> 00:23:01,280 the relationship that we have with Him, we are unworthy. 96 00:23:03,200 --> 00:23:07,720 So my prayer for us today as we partake, as we give thanks for 97 00:23:07,720 --> 00:23:11,800 what Christ has done for us and that we go forth from this place 98 00:23:11,800 --> 00:23:14,560 ready to love as our Savior did, let's pray. 99 00:23:15,640 --> 00:23:18,000 Most special Heavenly Father, we thank you for the opportunity to 100 00:23:18,000 --> 00:23:20,760 stand before this table. We do understand this only by 101 00:23:20,800 --> 00:23:22,640 your invitation that we're allowed to be here. 102 00:23:23,160 --> 00:23:25,600 I shall be taking this bread and then be truly reminded to 103 00:23:25,600 --> 00:23:28,600 represent the Christ's broken body and forgiveness of all sins 104 00:23:28,720 --> 00:23:30,120 in Christ. And we pray. 105 00:23:31,560 --> 00:23:33,040 Father, thank you for the many blessings. 106 00:23:33,040 --> 00:23:36,200 You Kevin's thank you for this day and the opportunity we have 107 00:23:36,200 --> 00:23:39,720 to come together to worship and praise your man most special. 108 00:23:39,720 --> 00:23:42,560 We thank you for this table and the invitation we have to come 109 00:23:42,560 --> 00:23:45,880 and protect the good semblance. As we protect of this cup, we 110 00:23:45,920 --> 00:23:48,320 will remind you that it represents the blood of Jesus 111 00:23:48,320 --> 00:23:51,360 poured out on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. 112 00:23:51,800 --> 00:23:54,360 I pray that we may partake in a manner that's pleasing unto you. 113 00:23:55,040 --> 00:27:18,490 Christ's name, I pray. The Lord Jesus, on the night he 114 00:27:18,490 --> 00:27:22,250 was betrayed, took bread. When he given thanks, he broke 115 00:27:22,250 --> 00:27:24,930 it and said, This is my body given for you. 116 00:27:25,530 --> 00:27:33,650 Do this in remembrance of me. In the same way, after supper he 117 00:27:33,650 --> 00:27:37,730 took the cup, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood. 118 00:27:38,410 --> 00:27:41,810 Do this whenever you drink it in remembrance of me. 119 00:28:01,090 --> 00:28:04,730 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim 120 00:28:04,730 --> 00:28:44,040 the Lord's death until he comes. This morning as we look into 121 00:28:44,040 --> 00:28:51,920 God's word, if I, if I had a title, which I don't normally do 122 00:28:51,920 --> 00:28:53,880 titles, but I'm, I'm going to give you 1 today. 123 00:28:53,880 --> 00:28:59,600 It's growing in our walk with Christ, growing in our walk with 124 00:28:59,600 --> 00:29:02,440 Christ. And the only way that we can 125 00:29:02,440 --> 00:29:06,000 grow in our walk with Christ is as we become more like Jesus, we 126 00:29:06,000 --> 00:29:11,960 do so in our speech, in our actions, and in our hearts. 127 00:29:13,520 --> 00:29:29,130 If you can turn with me to Ephesians chapter 4 and verse 128 00:29:29,130 --> 00:29:33,010 22. Ephesians chapter 4 and verse 129 00:29:33,010 --> 00:29:36,610 22. You were taught with regard to 130 00:29:36,610 --> 00:29:40,290 your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is 131 00:29:40,290 --> 00:29:44,440 being corrupted by its deceitful desires, to be made new in the 132 00:29:44,440 --> 00:29:49,240 attitude of your minds, and to put on the new self created to 133 00:29:49,240 --> 00:29:52,640 be like God in true righteousness and holiness. 134 00:29:53,480 --> 00:29:56,360 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak 135 00:29:56,360 --> 00:30:00,160 truthfully to your neighbor. But we are all members of 1 136 00:30:00,160 --> 00:30:02,200 body. In your anger, do not let the 137 00:30:02,200 --> 00:30:04,440 devil, do not give the devil a foothold. 138 00:30:05,080 --> 00:30:07,800 Anyone who has been stealing must still no longer, but must 139 00:30:07,800 --> 00:30:11,320 work doing something useful with their hands that they may have 140 00:30:11,320 --> 00:30:13,240 something to share with those in need. 141 00:30:14,120 --> 00:30:17,840 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but 142 00:30:17,840 --> 00:30:20,400 only what is helpful for building others up according to 143 00:30:20,400 --> 00:30:23,960 their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 144 00:30:24,800 --> 00:30:28,600 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit with whom you were sealed 145 00:30:28,600 --> 00:30:32,080 for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage 146 00:30:32,080 --> 00:30:36,520 and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 147 00:30:36,680 --> 00:30:40,560 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other 148 00:30:40,760 --> 00:30:45,120 just as Christ forgave you this morning. 149 00:30:45,120 --> 00:30:54,600 I want to ask you if you were to kind of take, maybe a kind of 150 00:30:54,600 --> 00:30:59,240 take a self evaluation this morning, and it's not for, for 151 00:30:59,240 --> 00:31:02,200 you to share with anyone else, but just simply for you and the 152 00:31:02,200 --> 00:31:07,160 Lord to, to take a look at our walk with him and, and we ask 153 00:31:07,160 --> 00:31:12,000 ourselves the question, are we becoming more like Jesus in our 154 00:31:12,000 --> 00:31:17,640 speech and in our actions and in our hearts? 155 00:31:21,240 --> 00:31:24,520 Our words reveal what is in our hearts. 156 00:31:26,120 --> 00:31:32,400 In Matthew 1234 it says out of the abundance of the heart the 157 00:31:32,400 --> 00:31:38,920 mouth speaketh. How was your speech last week? 158 00:31:40,760 --> 00:31:47,960 Was it encouraging, was it uplifting, Was it harsh, was it 159 00:31:47,960 --> 00:31:53,200 cruel? I was Friday, we were out 160 00:31:53,640 --> 00:31:59,960 working at the church and Craig and Charles had gone over to cut 161 00:31:59,960 --> 00:32:06,400 some grass over on Hwy. 18 and I was cutting, I was trimming the 162 00:32:06,400 --> 00:32:10,600 shrubs and man it, it was so hot. 163 00:32:10,600 --> 00:32:14,360 And I, I was just like, where is Chris Ratliff? 164 00:32:15,360 --> 00:32:18,000 And he was skipping now he was out of town. 165 00:32:18,000 --> 00:32:23,320 And then when they got back, Craig said Brad and I'm going 166 00:32:23,320 --> 00:32:27,720 to, I was soaking wet. I mean, sweat just dropping 167 00:32:28,120 --> 00:32:31,360 everywhere. Craig walked up and he said, 168 00:32:31,360 --> 00:32:33,080 Brad, I'm going to be honest with you, He said, I don't 169 00:32:33,080 --> 00:32:34,920 really think these bushes even need trimming. 170 00:32:36,080 --> 00:32:38,760 I said, Craig, I want to punch you in the head right now. 171 00:32:38,760 --> 00:32:42,600 I just trimmed all these bushes. That's why they don't look like 172 00:32:42,600 --> 00:32:47,040 they need trimming. I had nothing kind, 173 00:32:47,040 --> 00:32:50,880 compassionate, loving to say to Craig at that moment. 174 00:32:59,720 --> 00:33:01,680 You see, the whole time I was trimming the hedges, I was 175 00:33:01,680 --> 00:33:04,720 thinking where is Craig now? Last time he helped me do this 176 00:33:05,720 --> 00:33:09,200 and he's not here. He's over cutting grass 177 00:33:09,200 --> 00:33:12,040 somewhere else, just riding on the zero turn lawn mower. 178 00:33:14,000 --> 00:33:18,280 You see the things that happen up in our minds and in our 179 00:33:18,280 --> 00:33:20,720 hearts. They come out in the words that 180 00:33:20,720 --> 00:33:23,000 we say in the speech that we use. 181 00:33:24,480 --> 00:33:28,120 So I will tell you this. If you feel like you're speaking 182 00:33:28,120 --> 00:33:36,280 with harshness, unkindness, you need to look at what's going on 183 00:33:36,280 --> 00:33:40,800 in here. Our words should encourage 184 00:33:42,120 --> 00:33:45,360 rather than discourage. Let me give you a James passage 185 00:33:45,360 --> 00:33:49,440 from James chapter 3. In verse 9, with the tongue we 186 00:33:49,440 --> 00:33:53,200 praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings 187 00:33:53,200 --> 00:33:55,040 who have been made in God's likeness. 188 00:33:55,720 --> 00:33:58,320 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. 189 00:33:58,320 --> 00:34:00,840 My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 190 00:34:02,040 --> 00:34:05,400 Can both freshwater and saltwater flow from the same 191 00:34:05,400 --> 00:34:07,760 spring? My brothers and sisters, can a 192 00:34:07,760 --> 00:34:11,520 fig tree bear olives or a Grapevine bear figs? 193 00:34:11,520 --> 00:34:15,440 Neither can a salt spring produce freshwater? 194 00:34:17,199 --> 00:34:19,320 Do your words bring healing or hurt? 195 00:34:21,000 --> 00:34:24,760 Do we speak hope or do we speak criticism? 196 00:34:26,760 --> 00:34:32,679 Do we reflect kindness in the words that we say to others? 197 00:34:33,960 --> 00:34:37,199 Instead of saying, Craig, I'd like to punch you in the head 198 00:34:37,199 --> 00:34:39,840 right now. I could have said something a 199 00:34:39,840 --> 00:34:43,800 lot more kind. You know, I could have said 200 00:34:43,800 --> 00:34:47,400 something like, well, Craig, I appreciate that you think that 201 00:34:47,400 --> 00:34:51,679 the bushes don't need trimming because I just trimmed them and 202 00:34:51,679 --> 00:34:57,320 just left it at that. But man, it is so easy for our 203 00:34:58,360 --> 00:35:01,240 human side to just come out just like that. 204 00:35:02,000 --> 00:35:07,160 It's always there. It's always there trying to take 205 00:35:07,160 --> 00:35:11,960 hold again. You think about when we accept 206 00:35:11,960 --> 00:35:16,280 Christ as Savior and we begin that process of, of growing to 207 00:35:16,280 --> 00:35:18,800 be who Christ desires for us to be. 208 00:35:19,800 --> 00:35:24,400 If we did it as a child, it's probably easier for us than for 209 00:35:24,400 --> 00:35:29,560 if we were 1415, sixteen 20s later in life because we we've 210 00:35:29,560 --> 00:35:36,680 had so much more time to to get ingrained those those bad habits 211 00:35:36,680 --> 00:35:44,240 to get ingrained. I remember growing up, we were 212 00:35:44,240 --> 00:35:50,560 taught without question, without fail, that we were going to say 213 00:35:50,560 --> 00:35:56,120 yes, Sir and no Sir and yes, ma'am and no ma'am, period. 214 00:35:56,120 --> 00:35:59,840 The end wasn't a question. It was going to happen because 215 00:35:59,840 --> 00:36:04,280 you were going to show respect to those who were older than 216 00:36:04,280 --> 00:36:08,080 you. And if you, if you missed it one 217 00:36:08,080 --> 00:36:11,680 time, I can promise you, if my granddad was there, you were 218 00:36:11,680 --> 00:36:15,440 going to get corrected for it. He wasn't going to let it slide. 219 00:36:15,440 --> 00:36:17,760 He wasn't going to say, oh, they probably didn't mean that. 220 00:36:18,600 --> 00:36:21,240 No, he said, I'm sorry, what'd you say? 221 00:36:21,240 --> 00:36:26,280 And you're just like, yes, Sir. Today we seem to have become 222 00:36:26,280 --> 00:36:29,000 more and more LAX in what we are teaching. 223 00:36:30,880 --> 00:36:35,440 And our speech reflects that through what our children are 224 00:36:35,440 --> 00:36:39,920 saying. There is no respect for adults. 225 00:36:40,600 --> 00:36:43,240 There is no respect for authority. 226 00:36:45,400 --> 00:36:47,760 You, you can watch on the news and you can hear these 227 00:36:47,760 --> 00:36:51,960 interactions because we now have body cams and, and as soon as 228 00:36:51,960 --> 00:36:57,440 police come up to the car, there's attitude given always. 229 00:36:58,720 --> 00:37:03,520 If there was an attitude given, I, I, I, I tend to believe that 230 00:37:03,520 --> 00:37:05,840 maybe that person might get off with a warning. 231 00:37:06,400 --> 00:37:09,080 But I can promise you, if as soon as they come up there, you 232 00:37:09,080 --> 00:37:13,440 start saying how sorry they are and that you pay their salary 233 00:37:13,440 --> 00:37:15,560 and if it wasn't for them, you wouldn't even be out here. 234 00:37:15,880 --> 00:37:19,560 You're getting a ticket. Whether you really deserve one 235 00:37:19,560 --> 00:37:24,400 or not, you're getting one. Those words that we use, they 236 00:37:24,400 --> 00:37:26,600 have an impact. They have an impact on that 237 00:37:26,600 --> 00:37:28,760 officer. They have an impact on our 238 00:37:28,760 --> 00:37:31,320 children. They have an impact on those 239 00:37:31,320 --> 00:37:33,040 that are in the service industry. 240 00:37:33,440 --> 00:37:37,160 If, and I want you to think about this, when you go up and 241 00:37:37,160 --> 00:37:41,320 order a hamburger and you get whatever it is that you like on 242 00:37:41,320 --> 00:37:46,960 yours and you get it and it comes out to you and and you 243 00:37:46,960 --> 00:37:50,400 open it up and it's not like what you expected it to be. 244 00:37:51,240 --> 00:37:54,520 And you go up there rant and Raven said, make this the way I 245 00:37:54,520 --> 00:37:57,680 wanted it from the beginning. These are the things that you 246 00:37:57,680 --> 00:38:00,640 should have on there and you list them off again. 247 00:38:02,800 --> 00:38:06,960 You think anything good is going to happen to your hamburger 248 00:38:06,960 --> 00:38:10,240 while it's in the back? I want you to really think about 249 00:38:10,240 --> 00:38:13,480 that. They're behind that wall. 250 00:38:13,480 --> 00:38:15,600 You don't know. They may have slapped your Patty 251 00:38:15,600 --> 00:38:17,920 down on the floor and picked it up and put it back on there. 252 00:38:18,120 --> 00:38:19,840 They come out, say, hey, Sir, I'm sorry. 253 00:38:20,240 --> 00:38:25,480 Hope you enjoy. Be careful with what your word 254 00:38:25,480 --> 00:38:27,400 say because they're going to have some consequences. 255 00:38:28,840 --> 00:38:32,440 Randy and I were at Chick-fil-A the other day, and this fellow 256 00:38:32,440 --> 00:38:35,160 was sitting there and they had gotten his order. 257 00:38:36,000 --> 00:38:38,960 Well, his cheese wasn't melted on his chicken sandwich that he 258 00:38:38,960 --> 00:38:42,040 got a Chick-fil-A. He called the little girl over 259 00:38:42,040 --> 00:38:44,560 there and he said this cheese isn't even melted. 260 00:38:44,560 --> 00:38:46,480 He said take that back and fix it again. 261 00:38:46,480 --> 00:38:48,360 She's like, yes, Sir, we're sorry about that. 262 00:38:49,960 --> 00:38:54,080 Took it back, fix it again, brought it back out. 263 00:38:54,520 --> 00:38:56,600 Yeah, he was hot. I mean, he was hot. 264 00:38:56,600 --> 00:38:59,600 His fries were getting cold and he, I could just see him 265 00:38:59,600 --> 00:39:03,080 steaming over there. She brought it back and she said 266 00:39:03,200 --> 00:39:05,640 whatever they what is, it is a pleasure to serve you. 267 00:39:05,640 --> 00:39:08,360 I don't know exactly what it is, but something about my pleasure, 268 00:39:08,640 --> 00:39:12,080 I think it's what they say. He got it. 269 00:39:12,080 --> 00:39:15,800 He opened it up. The cheese was not melting. 270 00:39:15,800 --> 00:39:17,120 I'm going to let you all know something. 271 00:39:17,560 --> 00:39:20,760 At Chick-fil-A, they don't have microwaves that I know of that 272 00:39:20,760 --> 00:39:22,720 they pop it in and melt the cheese for you. 273 00:39:23,120 --> 00:39:27,680 It's simply they put the cheese on the chicken and the longer it 274 00:39:27,680 --> 00:39:32,080 sits there, the more it melts. Just so you know, they don't 275 00:39:32,080 --> 00:39:37,960 melt the cheese at Chick-fil-A. He was so mad and he was just 276 00:39:37,960 --> 00:39:39,880 talking to himself over there. He was by himself. 277 00:39:39,880 --> 00:39:42,200 No one's with him. And I, he was just mumbling the 278 00:39:42,200 --> 00:39:44,520 whole time. This sandwich isn't any good. 279 00:39:44,520 --> 00:39:46,120 And on and on and on and on it went. 280 00:39:47,960 --> 00:39:50,640 And I sat there and I was watching him and I, and I began 281 00:39:50,640 --> 00:39:56,600 to think about myself and my, my interactions with people. 282 00:39:58,000 --> 00:40:00,680 And do I look exactly the way that this man did? 283 00:40:00,680 --> 00:40:02,680 Because I looked over there and I was like, man, you're, you're, 284 00:40:02,720 --> 00:40:05,400 you're almost 70 years old. Act like it. 285 00:40:05,400 --> 00:40:09,440 That's what I wanted to say. How many times do I get angry 286 00:40:09,440 --> 00:40:13,280 and act like I shouldn't act? And there's young people and 287 00:40:13,280 --> 00:40:16,280 people watching and they're thinking, well, that guy looks 288 00:40:16,280 --> 00:40:21,200 like an absolute idiot. What are our actions look like? 289 00:40:21,200 --> 00:40:25,000 Not just our words. What are our actions look like? 290 00:40:26,640 --> 00:40:31,160 People often see our actions before they hear our testimony. 291 00:40:31,440 --> 00:40:37,080 Let me give you a four example. If you had an interaction with 292 00:40:37,080 --> 00:40:42,280 me out in the public and I didn't act as you thought that a 293 00:40:42,280 --> 00:40:44,400 pastor should act. And then you came into the 294 00:40:44,400 --> 00:40:47,840 sanctuary and you sat down to hear the sermon and you looked 295 00:40:47,840 --> 00:40:50,800 up and you saw me. And you thought, that's that guy 296 00:40:50,800 --> 00:40:53,840 that I saw acting crazy at the McDonald's because they didn't 297 00:40:53,840 --> 00:40:56,400 give his double cheeseburger with just mayonnaise, ketchup 298 00:40:56,560 --> 00:41:01,240 and pickle. How, how much do you think 299 00:41:01,240 --> 00:41:03,360 they're going to get out of that sermon that I bring that day? 300 00:41:03,360 --> 00:41:08,600 It may be a good sermon. It it may be one of my best, but 301 00:41:08,600 --> 00:41:11,560 the actions that they saw in me before they came into this 302 00:41:11,560 --> 00:41:17,480 sanctuary, it's over. We have to be so careful and 303 00:41:17,480 --> 00:41:24,720 consistent in the way that we live outside the church because 304 00:41:24,720 --> 00:41:29,040 if we do get them into the church and they remember you or 305 00:41:29,040 --> 00:41:34,520 they Remember Me in a not good way, it's going to have an 306 00:41:34,520 --> 00:41:38,640 effect. The words that we speak, the 307 00:41:38,640 --> 00:41:42,080 actions that we have. In Matthew chapter 5 and verse 308 00:41:42,080 --> 00:41:46,200 16 it says let your light so shine before men that they may 309 00:41:46,200 --> 00:41:50,160 see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. 310 00:41:51,600 --> 00:41:55,840 When you think about your actions this past week, did they 311 00:41:55,840 --> 00:42:00,560 bring glory to God? Did people see goodness? 312 00:42:01,080 --> 00:42:03,600 Did they see love? Did they see mercy? 313 00:42:04,080 --> 00:42:09,760 Did they see light as they interacted with you? 314 00:42:14,160 --> 00:42:17,880 We are to walk in love. We think about how Jesus loved 315 00:42:17,880 --> 00:42:20,640 the unlovable. Jesus spoke to people that 316 00:42:20,640 --> 00:42:26,560 normally those who were the Christians, the good people of 317 00:42:26,560 --> 00:42:30,040 the day, the Pharisees, the religious leaders of the day, 318 00:42:30,040 --> 00:42:32,560 they wouldn't have been caught dead speaking to those people, 319 00:42:33,760 --> 00:42:38,240 but Jesus spoke to them. Jesus cared for them. 320 00:42:39,040 --> 00:42:45,120 He served those who many would have considered unworthy, 321 00:42:45,840 --> 00:42:47,960 worthless, not worthy of my time. 322 00:42:55,420 --> 00:42:58,020 So when we think about our walk, that's our actions. 323 00:42:58,020 --> 00:43:01,820 When we think about our walk, are we walking in obedience? 324 00:43:01,820 --> 00:43:07,060 Do we, do we have the love of Christ demonstrated in our 325 00:43:07,060 --> 00:43:12,620 lives? Are people seeing Christ in US? 326 00:43:15,260 --> 00:43:18,880 Jesus, we've use the scripture many times before in John 327 00:43:18,880 --> 00:43:23,000 chapter 14 and verse 15, he says if you love me, keep my 328 00:43:23,000 --> 00:43:27,200 commandments. Obedience means trusting God 329 00:43:27,200 --> 00:43:34,880 even when his way is difficult. We have to sometimes swallow our 330 00:43:34,880 --> 00:43:37,360 pride. We have to sometimes refrain 331 00:43:37,760 --> 00:43:42,560 from allowing our mouths to get going as they desire to, or our 332 00:43:42,560 --> 00:43:48,720 actions to be in such a way that will hurt our relationship with 333 00:43:48,760 --> 00:43:51,240 others. And when we hurt our 334 00:43:51,240 --> 00:43:55,480 relationship with others, we are separating ourselves from Christ 335 00:43:55,480 --> 00:44:01,160 because he was always looking to bring people in, to make them 336 00:44:01,160 --> 00:44:05,120 feel wanted, to make them feel loved, to make them feel worthy. 337 00:44:06,640 --> 00:44:10,960 You remember when Jesus washed his disciples feet, He taught 338 00:44:10,960 --> 00:44:15,280 them about the importance that that the greatest among us, 339 00:44:17,040 --> 00:44:20,960 those who think that we are of importance, we should humble 340 00:44:20,960 --> 00:44:25,360 ourselves and that should we should be willing to serve 341 00:44:26,080 --> 00:44:30,760 Christians who are growing. They they do this instead of how 342 00:44:30,760 --> 00:44:34,920 can I be served? Their thought process is how can 343 00:44:34,920 --> 00:44:41,640 I serve those who are growing in the relationship with Christ is 344 00:44:42,080 --> 00:44:48,200 what can I do to make someone else's life easier instead of 345 00:44:48,880 --> 00:44:52,280 what can I do to get out of the most work that I possibly can 346 00:44:52,280 --> 00:44:59,000 and let someone else do it. When we walk as Jesus walked, 347 00:45:00,640 --> 00:45:02,120 we're going to have to sacrifice. 348 00:45:06,240 --> 00:45:08,120 Last part is growing in our heart. 349 00:45:10,200 --> 00:45:26,680 We can go to Psalm 51 and verse 10. 5110 says this created me a 350 00:45:26,680 --> 00:45:29,920 pure heart. O God, and renew a steadfast 351 00:45:29,920 --> 00:45:34,080 spirit within me. Do not cast me from your 352 00:45:34,080 --> 00:45:36,160 presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. 353 00:45:36,160 --> 00:45:39,640 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing 354 00:45:39,640 --> 00:45:46,240 spirit to sustain me when our heart is far from God. 355 00:45:46,840 --> 00:45:51,880 I can promise you that our speech, that our actions, that 356 00:45:51,880 --> 00:45:57,360 just our overall attitude is going to be way off. 357 00:45:58,800 --> 00:46:02,200 We're going to be someone that people do not want to be around, 358 00:46:03,000 --> 00:46:07,400 they don't want to spend time with when our heart is where it 359 00:46:07,400 --> 00:46:09,720 should be. When we have that heart that God 360 00:46:09,720 --> 00:46:13,480 desires for us to have, people will be drawn to being around 361 00:46:13,480 --> 00:46:17,840 us. It will be enjoyable to be with 362 00:46:17,840 --> 00:46:22,800 us. I want you to think about this 363 00:46:22,800 --> 00:46:28,320 for a moment. If we're having a fellowship 364 00:46:28,320 --> 00:46:37,720 dinner and Lamar is cooking for that dinner and the whole time 365 00:46:37,720 --> 00:46:41,880 leading up to it, Lamar saying things like, man, I'm just 366 00:46:41,880 --> 00:46:43,320 getting tired of cooking for y'all. 367 00:46:44,960 --> 00:46:48,360 I'm just tired of it. I don't really even want to 368 00:46:48,360 --> 00:46:51,800 cook, but I'm going to do it because it's the right thing to 369 00:46:51,800 --> 00:46:56,400 do. We get there on that day and 370 00:46:57,280 --> 00:47:00,560 Lamar brings the food food in and he's puts it down on the 371 00:47:00,560 --> 00:47:03,800 table and he says, I hope you all enjoy because I've done all 372 00:47:03,800 --> 00:47:10,080 the work that I'm going to do. Does that make you want to have 373 00:47:10,600 --> 00:47:13,560 Lamar cook something else for you again? 374 00:47:14,520 --> 00:47:16,640 Or does it make you feel like, wow, well, I don't want to ask 375 00:47:16,640 --> 00:47:18,760 Lamar to cook again. We've I think we've overworked 376 00:47:18,760 --> 00:47:21,000 him and he's he's just not in a good place. 377 00:47:24,120 --> 00:47:29,600 Every time that I asked Lamar to cook, every time he says, Brad, 378 00:47:29,600 --> 00:47:33,080 you just tell me what you need me to do and I'm going to get it 379 00:47:33,080 --> 00:47:37,960 done every time. That's the way it's supposed to 380 00:47:37,960 --> 00:47:41,680 be. That's having the heart of a 381 00:47:41,680 --> 00:47:43,800 servant. We are humble, we are pure, we 382 00:47:43,800 --> 00:47:48,200 are compassionate, we are willing to surrender ourselves, 383 00:47:50,920 --> 00:47:54,720 and we are following the example that Jesus gave us in 384 00:47:54,720 --> 00:48:04,940 Philippians chapter 2. I didn't have this one. 385 00:48:04,940 --> 00:48:21,360 Mark Philippians, Chapter 2. And verse 5, in your 386 00:48:21,360 --> 00:48:25,480 relationship with one another have the same mindset as Christ 387 00:48:25,560 --> 00:48:29,160 Jesus, who, being in the very nature of God, did not consider 388 00:48:29,160 --> 00:48:32,760 equality with God something to be used to His own advantage. 389 00:48:32,760 --> 00:48:36,360 Rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a 390 00:48:36,360 --> 00:48:39,960 servant being made in human likeness and being found in 391 00:48:39,960 --> 00:48:42,600 appearance as a man. He humbled himself by becoming 392 00:48:42,600 --> 00:48:46,480 obedient to death, even death on a cross. 393 00:48:47,280 --> 00:48:50,040 This morning I want to ask you, do we have or are we in the 394 00:48:50,040 --> 00:48:55,720 process of developing the mindset of Christ, the heart of 395 00:48:55,720 --> 00:49:01,680 Christ? Do we have a heart that longs to 396 00:49:01,680 --> 00:49:06,800 be kind and compassionate, to be tender hearted, to be forgiving 397 00:49:06,800 --> 00:49:11,560 of one another? Philippians 432 says Be ye kind 398 00:49:11,560 --> 00:49:14,320 one to another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, even as 399 00:49:14,320 --> 00:49:17,680 God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. 400 00:49:19,120 --> 00:49:23,440 Listen to this Unforgiveness hinders spiritual growth. 401 00:49:24,440 --> 00:49:26,000 Listen to me one more time on that one. 402 00:49:26,040 --> 00:49:30,200 Unforgiveness hinders spiritual growth. 403 00:49:31,080 --> 00:49:36,640 If you have a relationship that is broken, that there is a wedge 404 00:49:36,640 --> 00:49:41,520 between you and whoever it may be, a Co worker, a family 405 00:49:41,520 --> 00:49:46,880 member, a friend, you cannot grow in your relationship with 406 00:49:46,880 --> 00:49:54,720 Christ if you're always angry, hostile, wishing evil upon that 407 00:49:54,720 --> 00:49:56,520 person. We got to go to that person and 408 00:49:56,520 --> 00:49:58,360 we've got to make that relationship right. 409 00:49:58,880 --> 00:50:00,840 And sometimes it wasn't even our fault. 410 00:50:00,840 --> 00:50:08,440 I get that sometimes we are right, but it's up to us to be 411 00:50:08,440 --> 00:50:14,600 willing to humble ourselves, to forgive and to restore that 412 00:50:14,600 --> 00:50:19,200 relationship when we had developed a heart that longs for 413 00:50:19,200 --> 00:50:21,160 God. We have a desire to know more 414 00:50:21,160 --> 00:50:27,640 about Christ. We we have a desire, we have a 415 00:50:27,640 --> 00:50:34,880 hunger for God's word, for prayer, for worship, for 416 00:50:34,880 --> 00:50:36,680 fellowship with other Christians. 417 00:50:37,760 --> 00:50:40,960 Have you ever noticed that that when you're in an in a not good 418 00:50:40,960 --> 00:50:49,000 place that you don't want to be around Christians, that their 419 00:50:50,800 --> 00:50:53,640 their goodness just kind of sets you off? 420 00:50:54,240 --> 00:50:56,040 Have you ever, has anyone ever noticed that? 421 00:50:57,000 --> 00:50:59,880 I'll be honest with you, there are times when I can come into 422 00:51:00,160 --> 00:51:10,000 contact with people who they're just so good that I'm thinking 423 00:51:10,000 --> 00:51:12,480 there, there is no way that they are that nice. 424 00:51:12,920 --> 00:51:16,560 There is no way. But yet every time I come in 425 00:51:16,560 --> 00:51:19,680 contact with them, they're they're so nice, they're so 426 00:51:19,680 --> 00:51:25,440 loving, they're so kind. And it makes me reflect back. 427 00:51:26,600 --> 00:51:28,680 Where am I in my relationship with the Lord? 428 00:51:28,680 --> 00:51:31,520 Where am I in my study of God's word? 429 00:51:32,520 --> 00:51:35,720 Am I spending time in prayer? Am I looking forward to worship? 430 00:51:37,440 --> 00:51:41,400 Do I have a desire to fellowship with other believers? 431 00:51:42,440 --> 00:51:46,880 Spiritual maturity is measured not by how much we know, but by 432 00:51:46,880 --> 00:51:52,520 how much we love Jesus, how much we obey Him, and how much we 433 00:51:52,520 --> 00:51:55,640 love others. So this morning, as you're 434 00:51:55,640 --> 00:52:00,440 taking your spiritual inventory, we're going to take a look at 435 00:52:00,440 --> 00:52:05,240 our speech. We're going to really consider 436 00:52:05,240 --> 00:52:10,800 the words that we say. We are going to understand that 437 00:52:10,800 --> 00:52:16,560 it is important for others to see in us a heart that loves 438 00:52:16,560 --> 00:52:19,160 God. We're going to consider our 439 00:52:19,160 --> 00:52:23,480 actions, how we interact with other people, not just the 440 00:52:23,480 --> 00:52:26,360 people that we like, but even those that we don't like. 441 00:52:27,480 --> 00:52:32,080 How is our how are our actions? And finally, our heart, how are 442 00:52:32,080 --> 00:52:35,800 we going about motivating? What is motivating us to do the 443 00:52:35,800 --> 00:52:40,320 things that we do? If we are walking with Jesus, we 444 00:52:40,320 --> 00:52:45,320 have a literal desire to love as He loved, to have compassion as 445 00:52:45,320 --> 00:52:49,680 He did. Are we willing? 446 00:52:49,680 --> 00:52:52,800 Are we looking forward to spending time in His Word? 447 00:52:54,160 --> 00:53:00,240 Spending time in prayer? Where are we today? 448 00:53:02,560 --> 00:53:07,320 As I look back over this past week and I saw several instances 449 00:53:07,320 --> 00:53:09,480 where I thought you can do better. 450 00:53:11,040 --> 00:53:17,160 That was not Christ like. I also saw some situations where 451 00:53:17,160 --> 00:53:21,560 I encountered people who definitely this is not who I 452 00:53:21,560 --> 00:53:27,280 want to be, but I also encountered some situations 453 00:53:27,280 --> 00:53:31,040 where I said that's Christ in action. 454 00:53:32,600 --> 00:53:35,080 That's what I want others to see in my life. 455 00:53:37,680 --> 00:53:47,160 I thank Lamar for his willingness to serve, and I hope 456 00:53:47,160 --> 00:53:53,840 that we appreciate it and that we don't take it for granted. 457 00:53:54,720 --> 00:53:59,280 But I also hope that that we have that desire to serve as 458 00:53:59,280 --> 00:54:04,880 well, that we are looking for opportunities that are going to 459 00:54:04,880 --> 00:54:08,160 benefit others and not us. Do you know how much money that 460 00:54:08,160 --> 00:54:12,840 I have paid Lamar for the, let's just say 200 meals that I've 461 00:54:12,840 --> 00:54:14,600 asked him to prepare since I've been here? 462 00:54:14,600 --> 00:54:16,960 You know how much I've said, you know what I I've said, Lamar, I 463 00:54:16,960 --> 00:54:18,520 just want to give you a little something extra. 464 00:54:19,440 --> 00:54:21,160 Lamar, how much extra have you gotten? 465 00:54:24,200 --> 00:54:31,080 Not one red sin. He didn't do it for money. 466 00:54:32,680 --> 00:54:36,160 He didn't do it even for me to stand up here and to say that I 467 00:54:36,160 --> 00:54:39,040 appreciate it. He did it because he loves the 468 00:54:39,040 --> 00:54:42,640 Lord and he has a desire to serve and I thank him for that. 469 00:54:44,720 --> 00:54:49,360 Peggy played my favorite communion. 470 00:54:50,920 --> 00:54:54,840 That's my favorite one. If I if I am not where I'm 471 00:54:54,840 --> 00:54:57,520 supposed to be with the Lord as I'm standing there and she 472 00:54:57,520 --> 00:55:02,520 begins to play that it just brings me into that place of 473 00:55:02,520 --> 00:55:05,600 understanding how great it is the God I serve and the love 474 00:55:05,600 --> 00:55:07,760 that I should have for him and I appreciate that. 475 00:55:09,120 --> 00:55:14,240 Next week these two ladies are going to play their prelude. 476 00:55:14,240 --> 00:55:18,400 Is it is the prelude that you're doing right Next week, Lord most 477 00:55:18,400 --> 00:55:22,200 holy, you need to be here not even for the sermon. 478 00:55:23,040 --> 00:55:25,520 You're going to get a sermon in that in that prelude itself. 479 00:55:25,520 --> 00:55:29,520 It is absolutely glorious, folks. 480 00:55:29,520 --> 00:55:31,440 We have so many opportunities to serve. 481 00:55:31,440 --> 00:55:34,480 We have so many opportunities to be who Christ desires for us to 482 00:55:34,480 --> 00:55:36,520 be. Are we taking them? 483 00:55:36,520 --> 00:55:38,360 Are we putting that love into action? 484 00:55:39,200 --> 00:55:41,800 Or are we still worried about ourself? 485 00:55:42,960 --> 00:55:44,840 Take the little spiritual inventory this week. 486 00:55:45,920 --> 00:55:48,320 Your speech, your actions, and your heart. 487 00:55:48,920 --> 00:55:52,920 Are they in line with Christ? And when they are, people are 488 00:55:52,920 --> 00:55:55,200 going to want to be around us and they're going to know why. 489 00:55:55,640 --> 00:55:57,040 And we get to tell them about Jesus. 490 00:55:57,040 --> 00:56:00,080 Let's pray. Heavenly Father, I do give 491 00:56:00,080 --> 00:56:06,280 thanks to you this morning for your love for us, Lord, for the 492 00:56:06,280 --> 00:56:09,960 supreme and ultimate imperfect example that we had in your Son 493 00:56:10,000 --> 00:56:11,800 Jesus Christ as he came to this earth. 494 00:56:14,680 --> 00:56:17,960 And Lord, this morning I simply pray that the Holy Spirit will 495 00:56:19,000 --> 00:56:24,200 be in our hearts and and move us and and convict us and mould us 496 00:56:24,200 --> 00:56:27,640 and to shape us to become more like you. 497 00:56:30,600 --> 00:56:33,880 And Lord, that where we need to forgive, that we will forgive. 498 00:56:36,120 --> 00:56:39,320 Where we need to let go of pride and we need to show humility 499 00:56:39,320 --> 00:56:45,680 that we will. And Lord, sometimes we may just 500 00:56:45,680 --> 00:56:48,560 need to simply sit quietly and allow you to speak. 501 00:56:49,960 --> 00:56:56,680 Lord, give us the heart of a servant and as we do that, Lord, 502 00:56:56,680 --> 00:57:01,560 it will grow our relationship with you in a mighty way and we 503 00:57:01,560 --> 00:57:04,760 will become closer to You and we will become closer to those who 504 00:57:04,760 --> 00:57:12,160 are around us because Jesus is perfect and our desires to 505 00:57:12,160 --> 00:57:14,800 become more like Him. We ask all this in Jesus name, 506 00:57:15,320 --> 00:57:23,880 Amen. Him of invitation. 507 00:57:23,880 --> 00:57:31,200 This morning is just as I am #434 no, I'm sorry. 435I stand 508 00:57:31,200 --> 00:57:32,760 corrected. You would please stand with me. 509 00:57:32,760 --> 00:57:36,160 We're going to do the first, second and last verses 1-2 510 00:59:53,520 --> 00:59:56,480 Heavenly Father, we pray this morning, Lord, that we will just 511 00:59:56,480 --> 01:00:00,520 come to you just as we are with all our imperfections, with all 512 01:00:00,520 --> 01:00:04,400 our faults, and then we lay them at your feet and more that we 513 01:00:04,400 --> 01:00:09,520 humble ourselves and realize that as we give of ourselves and 514 01:00:09,600 --> 01:00:12,720 and. Do our best to become more like 515 01:00:12,720 --> 01:00:15,240 you Lord, that you will lift a son, that you will raise a son, 516 01:00:15,240 --> 01:00:20,480 and that you will make us into who you desire for us to be and 517 01:00:20,480 --> 01:00:24,120 that we will bring glory and honor to your name through our 518 01:00:24,120 --> 01:00:26,600 words and our actions and our hearts. 519 01:00:27,040 --> 01:00:29,120 It's in Jesus name I pray. Amen. 520 01:00:31,200 --> 01:00:31,720 By those