UNITY: Are You Playing Your Part?

I WAS THINKING ABOUT CHRISTMAS LISTS THE OTHER DAY…AND....

I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT GROWING UP...

MY FAMILY ALWAYS MADE CHRISTMAS LISTS

I THINK IT’S PRETTY COMMON

SOMETIMES GROWING UP WE DIDN’T ALWAYS GET “THE THING”

I MEAN SOMETIMES WE GOT THE THING

AND THEN SOMETIMES MAYBE IT WAS A VERSION OF THE “THING”

EVEN MY KIDS NOW....

THEY MAKE LISTS

AND THE PRICE OF THOSE LISTS.....ARE RIDICULOUS.....LOL

(EXPOUND)

I STARTED TELLING MY KIDS....LOOK

IF YOU ONLY GOT 2 PRESENTS THIS YEAR

WHAT WOULD YOU WANT THEM TO BE

I MEAN I’M TRYING TO NARROW THIS THING DOWN HERE

I REMEMBER AS A KID....MAKING THE LISTS WAS FUN

BUT AS A PARENT…I DON’T LIKE LISTS

I MEAN....TELL ME SOMETHING YOU REALLY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AND WELL SEE ABOUT THE REST

I LIKE TO SURPRISE MY KIDS WITH THINGS....

SO I TRY TO PRETEND LIKE THERE IS NO WAY THEY WILL GET WHAT THEY ASKED FOR

IT’S TOO MUCH MONEY....

I’LL SAY THINGS LIKE....”OK, SANTA PROBABLY CAN’T AFFORD THAT....

WHAT IS ANOTHER GIFT YOU MAY WANT?

(AND MOST OF THE TIME IT’S A MIND GAME....)

MOST OF THE TIME.....AND MARIA DOESN’T LIKE WHEN I PLAY THAT GAME

BUT ANYWAYS....WHAT USUALLY HAPPENS IS..THE MAIN GIFT IS HIDDEN ON CHRISTMAS MORNING

AND AFTER WERE ALL SAID AND DONE....

AS THE DAD....I GET TO SAY....

OH WAIT, I FORGOT THERE IS ONE MORE

OH COME ON…ANYBODY EVER DO THIS???

SOMETIMES IT CAN BE TRICKY....

BECAUSE WE DON’T ALWAYS REMEMBER WHATS UNDER THE TREE

SO THEY END UP OPENING UP SOMETHING THAT GOES WITH THE MAIN GIFT

AND NOW WE JUST GAVE IT AWAY....LOL

FOR EXAMPLE:

A COUPLE YEARS AGO WE GOT ONE OF THE AN IWATCH...

WE WERE WAITING UNTIL THE END

AND ALL THE SUDDEN ABOUT 5 MINUTES IN

THAT PERSON OPENS A NEW WATCH BAND....LOL

I REMEMBER AT TIMES GETTING NICE THINGS FOR CHRISTMAS

AND DAD WOULD ALWAYS SAY....

TAKE GOOD CARE OF IT

IF FACT, I SAY IT MY KIDS SOMETIMES...

BUDDY, MAKE SURE YOUR TAKING CARE OF THIS THING

BUT IT’S NORMAL WHEN WE SPEND HARD EARNED MONEY TO BLESS OUR CHILDREN

WE WANT TO TEACH THEM TO TAKE CARE OF IT

HERE IS THE GIFT, NOW TAKE CARE OF IT

I THINK THIS IS A GOOD CONTEXT FOR APPROACHING EPHESIANS 4. TODAY

CHAPTERS 1-3...

PAUL OUTLINES WHAT THE GIFT IS

THE GIFT THAT WE HAVE IN CHRIST JESUS

A GIFT MIND YOU THAT WE COULD NEVER EARN OR DESERVE ON OUR OWN

IT IS A GIFT GIVEN FREELY IN CHRIST JESUS

AND IN CHAPTER 4 HE SAYS....

HERE IS THE GIFT

AND NOW HERE IS WHAT TO DO WITH IT

THE FIRST PART IS THE THEOLOGY

THE SECOND PART IS MORE OF THE APPLICATION

CHAPTER 4 IS SORT OF LIKE THE PIVOT POINT

IT’S KIND OF LIKE THIS SCENE WITH ROSS FROM FRIENDS...

I’M SORRY, I JUST HAD TO SNEAK IT IN THERE....LOL

EPH 4:1 THIS IS A PIVOT POINT IN THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS

PAUL IS SAYING...

IN LIGHT OF WHO YOU HAVE BECOME

THIS IS NOW HOW YOU ARE TO LIVE

THEOLOGIANS HAVE WRITTEN THIS...

NO PASSAGE IS MORE DESCRIPTIVE OF THE CHURCH IN ACTION THAN THIS ONE

SO THE PASSAGE THIS MORNING IS EPH 4:1-16 AND IF I COULD SUMMARIZE IT BEFORE WE DIVE IN…PAUL IS SAYING...

LIVE PRACTICALLY WHAT IS TRUE OF YOU POSITIONALLY

OH COME ON THATS GOOD....

HE IS SAYING HERE IS WHAT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO YOU

NOW GO LIVE ACCORDING TO IT

CHURCH…THIS MEAN THAT WE ARE NOT JUST SAVED FROM SOMETHING

BUT WE ARE SAVED FOR SOMETHING

WE ARE NOT JUST SAVED FORM SIN, DEATH, AND HELL

BUT WE ARE ALSO SAVED FOR SOMETHING

WE ARE SAVED TO LIVE A DIFFERENT KIND OF LIFE

AND PAUL IS GOING TO OUTLINE SOME OF THESE FOR US IN EPHESIANS...

ARE YOU READY...

Ephesians 4:1–3 CSB

1 Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

THERE ARE A BUNCH OF THINGS GOING ON HERE...

AND IF YOU’LL BEAR WITH ME…LOL

SEE WHAT I DID THERE

I JUST WANT TO CAMP OUT HERE FOR A FEW MINUTES AND TALK ABOUT WHAT THIS IS THAT HE IS SAYING

FIRST THING HERE WE SEE IS...

PAUL IS SAYING....

“I URGE YOU”

ANY TIME THE SCRIPTURES SAYS THINGS LIKE “URGE”

WE AT THE VERY LEAST SHOULD PAY ATTENTION

THE WORD URGE MEANS TO HAVE A STRONG OR INTENSE DESIRE TO DO SOMETHING

PAUL IS SAYING LIKE...

LET ME SHOW YOU A BETTER WAY

THERE IS A BETTER WAY TO LIFE

IT’S AS IF I WERE TO SEE YOU EATING A FAT FREE PIECE OF PIE WITH DECAF COFFEE...

I WOULD URGE YOU...

THAT THERE IS A BETTER WAY TO LIVE.....LOL

GET THE FULL FAT PIECE OF PIE WITH GIANT CUP OF CAFFEINE

IT’S JUST A BETTER WAY OF LIFE....

I’M JOKING...

SOME OF YOU ARE ALREADY SINNING IN YOUR HEART AGAINST ME

RELAX…I’M KIDDING

EAT HEALTHY

AND TO MUCH CAFFEINE IS BAD FOR YOU

BUT PAUL IS URGING US TO LIVE DIFFERENTLY

AND THEN HE USES THIS METAPHOR OF WALKING

WHICH IMPLIES SOMETHING OF LIKE....

DAILY CONDUCT

SCRIPTURE OFTEN USES THE METAPHOR OF

WALKING IN DARKNESS

OR WALKING IN LIGHT

AND IT’S NOT JUST TO DESCRIBE A MOMENT IN HISTORY

IT’S NOT JUST A MOMENT IN TIME…LIKE THE MOMENT OF SALVATION

HE IS SAYING…WALK IN THIS WAY

IT’S A DAILY RESPONSE TO GOD’S GOODNESS TO US

SO WHAT IS THAT “GOODNESS”

IN EPHESIANS 1:4 WE SEE THAT...

GOD CHOSE US

1:5....GOD MADE US HEIRS

1:13.....WE SEE THAT HE HAS SEALS US WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

2:4....HE HAS MADE US SPIRITUALLY ALIVE

2:8.....HE GAVE US THE FAITH TO BELIEVE

2:10....WE SEE THAT HE GAVE US A PURPOSE

AND THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING OF EPHESIANS

PAUL IS SAYING...

WALK IN A MANNER WORTHY OF THAT

OF THE TRUTH...

THAT YOU ARE NOW MADE ALIVE IN CHRIST

EVEN THOUGH YOU CAN’T EARN IT AND DON’T DESERVE IT

YET....HE COMES AFTER US

HE IS SAYING…WALK IN A MANNER WORTHY OF.....THAT

LET ME GIVE YOU SOME GREEK THIS MORNING.....

CALLING = KLESIS

THAT WORD KLESIS IS NOT A DEMAND...

IT’S AN INVITATION

NOW THERE ARE ASPECTS OF FOLLOWING CHRIST WHERE...

THERE ARE COMMANDS…FOR EXAMPLE

“IF YOU LOVE ME, YOU WILL OBEY MY COMMANDMENTS”

THESE ARE ASPECTS THAT ARE PRETTY DIRECT

BUT OVERALL IN SCRIPTURE

WE SEE THAT GOD IS NOT A GOD OF COERCION

HE IS A GOD OF INVITATION

HE IS CALLING US “INVITING US” INTO THE LIFE THAT IS TRULY…LIFE

THE LIFE THAT IS TRULY FLOURISHING

THE FULLNESS OF LIFE...

IT’S AN INVITATION FROM THE KING TO LIVE DIFFERENTLY

AND THEN THERE IS THE WORD....HUMILITY

HUMILITY = tapeinophrosyne

HERE IS THE THING ABOUT HUMILITY

HUMILITY IN OUR WESTERN MODERN CONTEXT

IS AT LEAST SOMETHING WE PRETEND TO VALUE

WE DON’T ALWAYS VALUE IT

BUT ON THE SURFACE WE KNOW THAT HUMILTY IS SOMETHING VALUABLE

IN THE ANCIENT WORLD....

IT WAS THE EXACT OPPOSITE

IN FACT THE GREEK AND THE ROMANS DID NOT EVEN HAVE A WORD FOR HUMILITY

THE GREEK LANGUAGE HAS LIKE 3 TIMES MORE WORDS THAN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE

AND THEY DID NOT HAVE A WORD FOR HUMILITY

SO FOR PAUL TO SAY THIS....WOULD HAVE BEEN SCANDALOUS

HUMILITY????

WHY WOULD I EVER EVEN PURSUE THAT

THE WHOLE POINT IS TO HAVE POWER

IT’S TO HAVE AUTHORITY AND STATUS AND ACHIEVEMENT

WHY WOULD YOU SAY THAT PAUL???

LET’S LOOK AT WHAT JESUS DID ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE....

Philippians 2:7–8 NIV

7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!

I HEARD THIS SAID ONCE...

HUMILITY ISN’T THINKING LESS OF YOURSELF

IT’S THINKING OF YOURSELF....LESS

IT’S NOT SELF FLAGELLATION

IT’S NOT SELF DENIGRATION

IT’S NOT THINKING LESS OF YOURSELF

BUT IT IS....THINKING OF YOURSELF....LESS

PAUL WOULD WRITE LATER IN SCRIPTURE

HUMILITY IS…LOOKING TO THE INTEREST OF OTHERS

PURSUING THE GOODNESS OF OTHER PEOPLE

THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN SCANDALOUS IN THE FIRST CENTURY

BUT PAUL IS SAYING THIS IS WHAT IT MEANS TO WALK IN THIS MANNER

THEN WE SEE THAT HE USES THIS WORD...

GENTLENESS

GENTLENESS = prautetos

GENTLENESS SIMPLY MEANS...

POWER UNDER CONTROL

ONE COMMENTATOR SAYS....

THINK OF A MASSIVE AND POWERFUL OX UNDER THE CONTROL OF A MASTER

IT’S POWER UNDER CONTROL

THINK ABOUT IT LIKE A.....PRESCRIPTION

IF YOU’VE EVER GOTTEN A PRESCRIPTION BOTTLE

THERE IS USUALLY INSTRUCTION ON HOW TO TAKE THE MEDICATION

TAKE 1 PILL TWICE A DAY.....WHY???

BECAUSE IF YOU TAKE IT ALL AT ONCE....IT’S POISON

IT’S NOT GOOD FOR YOU

GENTLENESS IS POWER

BUT POWER UNDER CONTROL

I WANT TO SAY SOMETHING PARTICULARLY TO THE MEN IN THE ROOM

GENTLENESS IS A FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

NOT A FEMININE QUALITY

WE HAVE BOUGHT IN TO THIS LIE

THIS UNDERSTANDING THAT GENTLENESS IS SYNONYMOUS WITH WEAKNESS

THAT IT’S FOR LIKE “THOSE” TYPE OF PEOPLE

OR “THAT” TYPE OF WORK OR BUSINESS

GUYS.....GENTLENESS IS A FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

IT IS PART OF THE EVIDENCE THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY GROWING IN CHRIST-LIKENESS

WHEN WE UNDERSTAND THAT GENTLENESS IS POWER UNDER CONTROL

THIS PASSAGE MAKES WAY MORE SENSE

AND THEN HE MENTIONS THE WORD…PATIENCE

PATIENCE = makrothymia

PATIENCE IN THIS CONTEXT IS TO SUGGEST...

ENDURANCE RATHER THAN A PASSIVE KIND OF WAITING

THIS ISN’T LIKE…WAITING IN THE DOCTORS OFFICE FOR YOUR TURN

HE IS NOT TALKING ABOUT.....WAITING

HE IS TALKING ABOUT ENDURING

WITHSTANDING ADVERSITY WITHOUT QUITTING

OH COME ON…SOMEBODY...

WHEN YOU FEEL TIRED, BEAT UP, WORN OUT

LEARN TO REST.....NOT QUIT

THIS IS WHAT PAUL IS GETTING AT IN THIS PASSAGE

THEN HE USES THE WORD…BEAR

BEAR = anechomenoi

THIS WORD BEAR MEANS...

TO ENDURE

OR EXERCISE RESTRAINT

WHICH WE KNOW IS TRUE OF EVERY RELATIONSHIP

BUT HE SAYS.....

BEARING WITH ONE ANOTHER IN LOVE

WHICH MEANS SOMETIMES PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE DIFFICULT TO GET ALONG WITH

THIS IS FOR CHRISTIANS…PAUL IS WRITING TO THE CHURCH

SOMETIMES FELLOW BELIEVERS ARE GOING TO BE DIFFICULT TO GET A LONG WITH…RIGHT?

LIKE…THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE THAT.... YOUR GLAD THEY ARE CHRISTIANS

BUT YOUR ALSO GLAD THAT HEAVEN IS REALLY BIG

PAUL RECOGNIZES THAT WE ARE SOMETIMES GOING TO NEED TO BEAR WITH ONE ANOTHER

IT’S EASY TO LOVE THOSE WHO ARE LOVABLE

YOU DON’T HAVE TO BEAR WITH THOSE WHO ARE NATURALLY LOVABLE

IT’S EASY..RIGHT?

WE CAN SEE THAT JESUS IN HIS EARTHLY MINISTRY EVEN MODELED THIS KIND OF “BEARING WITH ONE ANOTHER IN LOVE”

JESUS TOOK ON TAX COLLECTORS WHO WORKED FOR THE ROMANS

AND HE ALSO TOOK ON ZEALOTS

WHO WANTED NOTHING MORE THAN TO KILL ROMANS

AND JESUS CALLED THEM BOTH TOGETHER

AND SAID....FOLLOW ME AND LETS GO CHANGE THE WORLD.....LOL

WOW

THEN WE SEE PAUL TALKS ABOUT MAINTAINING UNITY

THIS ONE IS TRICKY

BECAUSE SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE WE CONFUSE UNITY WITH UNIFORMITY

OH COME ON SOMEBODY....

UNITY TO MOST MEANS....

WE ALL LOOK AND TALK AND ACT AND VOTE AND THINK AND DRESS THE SAME WAY

UNITY IS ABOUT PEOPLE OF ALL KINDS AND DIFFERENCES

COMING TOGETHER FOR THE COMMON GOAL AND MISSION OF CHRIST

AND TO FULFILL THE CALL OF CHRIST TOGETHER

AND THAT IS TO BUILD THE KINGDOM OF GOD

TO SPREAD THE TRUE GOSPEL

THINK.......SYMPHONY

NOT SOLOIST

YOU HAVE ALL OF THESE VERY DIFFERENT PEOPLE AND TALENTS COMING TOGETHER

AND PAUL IS SAYING

THIS IS WHAT IT IS ABOUT.....

UNITY IN CHRIST

TO MAINTAIN UNITY IN CHRIST

I THINK THAT THIS MAY BE TRUE OF UNITY...

THE GREATEST ENEMY OF UNITY IS THE ILLUSION OF IT

OH LORD HELP US...

ONE OF THE GREATEST ENEMIES OF UNITY IS...

THE FALSE BELIEF THAT WE HAVE IT

SIMPLY BECAUSE WE ARE SITTING IN THE SAME ROOM TOGETHER

WHICH IS GOOD…BUT

THE UNITY THAT PAUL IS DESCRIBING IS WAY MORE THAT JUST.....TOLERANCE

IT’S MORE THAN JUST GETTING ALONG FOR 2 HOURS ON A SUNDAY

IT’S WAY MORE THAN HAVING SIMILAR INTEREST

OR GOING TO THE SAME ADDRESS TO WORSHIP EVERY WEEK

WHAT HE IS TALKING ABOUT IS…LIFE TOGETHER

IT IS A SYMPHONY

NOT A SOLOIST

PAUL ALSO SAYS TO MAKE EVERY EFFORT...

YES WE ARE EMPOWERED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT

AND HE IS WORKING IN US TO BRING ABOUT THIS UNITY

BUT THERE IS ALSO SOMETHING THAT WE.... THROUGH THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

HAVE TO WORK OUT IN OUR LIVES

Grace is not opposed to effort, it is opposed to earning. Earning is an attitude. Effort is an action

-Dallas Willard

THIS IS NOT IN ANY WAY IMPLYING THAT WE EARN OR DESERVE GOD FAVOR

BUT BECAUSE IT IS GIVEN TO US FREELY IN CHRIST JESUS

IT CHANGES THE WAY WE LIVE

WE DON’T WORK FOR GOD’S AFFECTION

BUT WE MOST CERTAINLY WORK FROM IT

BECAUSE IT IS FREELY GIVEN TO US

IT SHOULD CHANGE THE WAY WE NOT ONLY SEE OURSELVES

BUT THE WAY WE SEE EVERY OTHER LIFE WE ENCOUNTER

DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU HAVE NEVER LOOKED INTO THE EYES OF SOMEONE GOD DOES NOT LOVE

Ephesians 4:3 NIV

3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

HE SAYS MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO KEEP OR MAINTAIN THE UNITY

HE IS SAYING...

GOD HAS ALREADY GIVEN THIS THING TO YOU

UNITY ....IS ALREADY IN YOU

IT IS TRUE OF YOU IN CHRIST JESUS

NOW YOU HAVE TO MAINTAIN IT

IN THE MOMENT THAT THE ENEMY TRIES TO BRING DIVISION TO THE UNITY WITH IN YOU

WE HAVE TO TURN FROM IT

CHOOSE TO TURN FROM PRIDE

CHOOSE TO TURN FROM IMPATIENTS

CHOOSE TO TURN FROM THE URGE TO BE AGGRESSIVE AND RUDE

ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE EASY TO TURN TO

BUT HUMILITY

GENTLENESS

AND PATIENCE

THAT IS DIFFICULT

THE ONLY WAY WE DO IT IS...

THROUGH THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

I LOVE THE WAY JD SALINGER PUT IT IN...

THE CATCHER IN THE RYE

HE SAID.....

“The mark of an immature man, is that he wants to die nobly for a cause. But the mark of a mature man, is that he wants to live humbly for one.”

I THINK IT’S HARDER TO LIVE HUMBLY FOR THE LORD

CHOOSING KINDNESS AND PATIENCE AND GENTLENESS

BUT IT SHOWS MATURITY IN THE LORD

Ephesians 4:4–7 NIV

4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.

ONENESS MATTERS DEEPLY FOR PAUL

HE IS REMINDING US IN THE CHURCH THAT...

WE DON’T SIMPLY HAVE PEACE WITH GOD

BUT PEACE WITH OTHERS

Ephesians 4:8 NIV

8 This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.”

THIS IS GOOD NEWS...

AS A GOOD FATHER

HE GIVES GIFTS AND NOT WAGES

HE LOVES TO GIVE GIFTS TO HIS KIDS

WE SEE OVER AND OVER IN SCRIPTURE THAT HE IS A GOOD FATHER

Ephesians 4:8–13 NIV

8 This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.” 9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

I LOVE THIS PASSAGE....

IT TEACHES US THAT AS CHRISTIANS

BELONGING TO CHRIST.....

WE HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES IN THIS LIFE

I APPRECIATE MY PARENTS IN THIS REGARD...

I FEEL THAT MY DAD TAUGHT ME VERY WELL IN THIS REGARD

I REMEMBER GROWING UP HEARING OF MY FRIEND GETTING PAID FOR GOOD GRADES

DID ANYONE ELSE GET PAID FOR GOOD GRADES????

I WAS LIKE....WHAT IN THE WORLD...

I DON’T GET MONEY FOR GOOD GRADE

AND SO I DECIDED I WAS GOING TO ASK HIM

SO I APPROACHED HIM ONE DAY KIND OF SHEEPISHLY....LOL

AND SAID....DEAREST FATHER.....NO

I DIDN’T TALK LIKE THAT

I SAID UH…DAD

I HEARD THAT SOME OF MY FRIENDS ARE GETTING MONEY FOR THEIR GOOD GRADES

I SAID.....WHAT CAN I GET FOR GETTING GOOD GRADES

AND HE SAID.....WITHOUT HESITATION

YOU GET TO SLEEP INDOORS....LOL

DUALLY NOTED....GOOD TALK

I APPRECIATE THAT THEY TAUGHT US

THAT WE WEREN'T JUST PASSIVE RECIPIENTS HERE

THAT WE ARE A PART OF A FAMILY

WHICH MEANS YOU HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES IN IT

WE WOULD NEVER SPEAK TO OUR MOMS THE WAY WE SPEAK TO THE SERVERS AT RESTAURANTS

- AT A RESTAURANT

IT’S FAIRLY ACCEPTABLE TO SAY

EXCUSE ME…I UH…DIDN’T WANT ONIONS

TRY SAYING THAT TO MOM WHEN YOUR A KID AT HOME

NOW A DAYS THOUGH.... IT’S BECOMING MORE ACCEPTABLE TO TALK TO MOM THAT WAY

OH MY LORD....HELP ME

MOMS YOU GOTTA STAND YOUR GROUND

YOU ARE THE ADULT

THEY ARE THE CHILD

AND THIS IS NOT BURGER KING WHERE YOU GET IT YOUR WAY

ESTABLISH THAT EARLY OR THEY WILL WALK ALL OVER YOU IN A FEW SHORT YEARS

OH THAT WAS FREE....

....WORSHIP TEAM COME.....BEFORE I GET INTO TROUBLE

Ephesians 4:11–12 NIV

11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up

UH....CHRIST FOLLOWER

THIS MEANS THAT...

YOU DON’T GO TO THIS CHURCH

YOU ARE THIS CHURCH

YOU ARE NOT ONLY APART OF A NEW FAMILY

BUT YOU HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES TO THIS FAMILY

THIS MEANS THAT…SUNDAYS ARE THE PUSH NOT THE POINT

OH MY GOODNESS...

I’M GONNA SAY THAT AGAIN...

I SAID…SUNDAYS ARE THE PUSH, NOT THE POINT

I LOVE WHAT WE DO ON SUNDAYS

I LOVE SINGING WITH YOU

I LOVE LEARNING WITH YOU

I LOVE TALKING WITH YOU BEFORE CHURCH

I LOVE THIS COMMUNITY

BUT SUNDAYS ARE THE PUSH

IT IS A BATTLESHIP

NOT A CRUISE LINER

SUNDAY MORNINGS ARE PREPARATION TO THEN GO OUT AND LIVE THE MISSION OUT THERE

PAUL IS SAYING....

CHRIST HIMSELF GAVE THE PASTORS, TEACHERS, PROPHETS, EVANGELIST, APOSTLES

NOT TO DO THE MINISTRY

BUT TO EQUIP THE SAINTS FOR THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY

CHURCH YOU HAVE A PART TO PLAY...

ARE YOU PLAYING YOUR PART?

OR ARE YOU JUST SHOWING UP TO FEEL BETTER ABOUT YOUR LIFE

ARE YOU MERELY SHOWING UP BECAUSE PASTOR KEEPS BUGGING ME

LISTEN TO ME…IT’S YOUR WALK

I’M GOING TO BE HELP RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT I TEACH AND WHAT THE EXAMPLE I GIVE

HOW YOU CHOOSE TO LIVE YOUR LIFE

IS YOUR CHOICE

BUT I’M TELLING YOU, THERE IS MORE TO WALKING IN THE LIGHT

THERE IS MORE TO JUST SHOWING UP

WE GOTTA GROW UP

WE GOTTA GET SERIOUS AND REAL IN OUR OWN WALK

I HAVE THE CONVERSATION WITH MY KIDS AT TIMES

I SAY…LOOK

AT SOME POINT YOU HAVE TO START GROWING IN THE LORD

RIDING ON MOM AND DADS SHIRT TAIL ISN’T GOING TO GET YOU INTO HEAVEN

IT’S NOT GOING TO UNLOCK THE BLESSINGS GOD HAVE FOR YOU HERE ON EARTH

YOU HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES TOO

CHURCH…YOU HAVE RESPONSIBLITIES...

RIDING THE PASTORS SHIRT TAIL ISN’T GOING TO GET YOU INTO HEAVEN

IT’S NOT GOING TO UNLOCK BLESSINGS THAT HE HAS FOR YOU ON EARTH

AMEN????

.......STAND TO YOUR FEET......

IF YOUR HERE TODAY AND READY TO DO YOUR PART

READY TO TAKE TAKE RESPONSIBLITY AND GROW

READY TO GO DEEPER

TODAY IS THE DAY WHERE CHANGE HAPPENS

I URGE YOU......

ALTARS ARE OPEN