Speaker 1 0:00

Good morning everybody , and let's begin with a word of prayer . Father , thank you for your family that is in here this morning . Thank you for the opportunity to gather like this and worship you . We thank you for your Holy Spirit that you sent to us , and we just ask that it is in this place this morning . Father , we thank you for your Son and what he chose to do for us to die for us . We can't

Opening Prayer and Worship

Speaker 1 0:26

even imagine it , lord , but we thank you that he did that for us and it's in his name we pray . Amen , amen .

Speaker 2 0:34

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path , a light unto my path . Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path when I feel afraid , I think I've lost my way , still you're there , right beside me . Nothing will I fear as long as you are . Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path . Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path .

Speaker 2 1:47

I will not forget your love for me , and yet I'll forever be wandering . Jesus , be my guide , hold me to your side . Be my guide , hold me to your side . I will love you to the end . Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path . Thy word is a and a light unto my path . Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path .

Speaker 2 2:39

I am a poor wayfaring stranger while traveling through this world of woe . Yet there's no sickness , toil or danger in that bright world to which I go . I'm going there to see my Father . I'm going there , no more to roam . I'm only going over Jordan , I'm only going over home . I know dark clouds will gather around me , I know my way is rough and steep , but golden fields lie out before me where God's redeemed shall ever sleep . I'm going there to see my Father . I'm going there , no more to roam . I'm only going over Jordan , I'm only going over home .

Speaker 2 4:35

I'll soon be free from every trial , my body sleep in the church yard , I'll drop the cross of self-denial and enter on my great reward . I'm going there to see my Father . I'm going there , no more , to roam , I'm only going over Jordan . I'm only going over Jordan , I'm only going over home .

Speaker 2 5:42

How deep the Father's love for us . How vast beyond all measure that he should give His only Son To make a wretch His treasure , treasure . How great the pain of searing loss . The Father turns His face away as wounds which mar the chosen one Bring many sons to glory . Behold the man upon a cross , my sin upon His shoulders . Ashamed , I hear my mocking voice scoffers . It was my sin that held him there until it was accomplished . His dying breath has brought me life . I know that it is finished . I will not boast in anything no gifts , no power , no wisdom , but I will boast in Jesus Christ , his death and resurrection . Resurrection . Why should I gain from his reward ? I cannot give an answer , but this I know with all my heart His wounds have paid my ransom .

Speaker 1 8:38

Amen .

Speaker 4 8:39

Good morning . Today's scripture reading comes from Galatians 2 , 16 . Yet we know that a person is made right

Scripture Reading from Galatians

Speaker 4 8:48

with God by faith in Jesus Christ , not by obeying the law . And we have believed in Christ Jesus so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ , not because we have obeyed the law .

Speaker 5 9:06

So we begin with a word of prayer . Father God , we thank you so much for your love . God , we thank you so much for this family . As we can gather together as brothers and sisters in Christ and be reminded of the great love that you have for us , to be encouraged by one another and motivated in your love . Father , we ask that you open up our hearts and our ears to the things that you want to see here today , so that we can go out into the world and we can love in all situations , whether it be comfortable or uncomfortable , that we can share the love of Christ in all situations . Thank you for Jesus , thank you for his love and his example . Thank you for the Holy Spirit that you give us that helps guide us in our walk . Thank you for Jesus . In his name , we pray , amen . Good morning . A couple things as we get started this morning .

Speaker 5 9:56

I want to take just a few minutes to explain the bracket . I know Bryce has done that just a little bit . We did this last year , we're doing it again this year . These are if you looked at the bracket , you thought , well , how did they come up with these songs and why is it my favorite song on there . Well , we picked songs that we've been singing over the last year . We literally just went back and picked all the songs that we've been singing over the past year and kind of put them in the bracket . We left off some of the ones that were in it last year , put in some of the newer ones that we've been singing , and so we're going to give you two weeks to fill this out . If you can bring it back on the 16th , that'll give us time to kind of tally it up . And yes , there's hard decisions that come with it . I've had people come up and tell me how in the world did you put those two ? Well , we just did Okay , you got to make a tough decision in the bracket . Next year we'll just do it family feud style and just say survey says and we'll do it that way , but that's the bracket . Just wanted to give you some more information on that . Just a fun thing that we do . And then on the 23rd we're going to have Praise and Worship Sunday , where we spend a lot of time singing those songs , and so we encourage you to be a part of that and cast your votes and things like that . I also had a birthday reminder as well it is AJ's birthday on March 6th , so , aj , we hope you have a great birthday this week , brother .

Speaker 5 11:19

So we're going to get started this morning . We're talking about the idea of uncomfortable love . We've talked about this last week . Conflict is something that you're always going to have , because there's always going to be people , and when you put people together , there's conflict because there's difference of opinions and things like that . This morning , as we get started though , I want to skip past this one we're going to on your outline , you should have Paul and Peter listed about 10 times .

Speaker 5 11:51

Okay , so here's what's going to happen this morning . The conflict that we're going to get into involves Paul and Peter , and Paul and Peter were two of the biggest names in all of Scripture , especially the New Testament , and Paul and Peter are both very bold in the things that they did and the things that they said , and so what I have here this morning is I have ten quotes that either come from Peter or from Paul , and we're going to see if you can guess which one they came from . So I'm going to read a quote . I'm going to say number one . I'm going to read the quote . You're going to circle whether you think it was Peter or it was Paul ? Everybody got that Makes sense . Just a fun way for us to learn about who we're talking about today .

Speaker 5 12:33

So the first one is this I do not understand what I do , for what I want to do I do not do , but what I hate I do . Don't shout out the answer , riggo . I do not understand what I do , for what I want to do I do not do , but I what I hate I do . Everybody got it all right . The answer is that one is paul . Very good , how many of you got that one right ? Very good , very good . All right , here we go , keep going . Number two Repent and be baptized , every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ , for the forgiveness of your sins , and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit . Is that Peter or is that Paul ? Starts with a . P .

Speaker 5 13:24

Starts with a P . Riggo says Repent and be baptized , every one of you , in the name of Jesus Christ , for the forgiveness of your sins , and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit , was said by Peter in Acts 2 . Now in the 830 service , we argued that Paul probably said something very similar . But that exact quote came from Peter in Acts 2 , verse 38 , when he's speaking to the crowd . Here we go . Number three I am ready to go with you to prison and to death . I am ready to go with you to prison and to death . That should be number three I am ready to go with you to prison and to death . Who said that ? That is peter , who's got them all right so far . All right church , all right .

Speaker 5 14:18

Number four this one's my favorite . This is my favorite quote you foolish people , that's it . End of quote . You foolish people . I can only imagine what it would be translated to today . You foolish people who said that that is Paul . It actually , if you break it down , he really says you foolish Galatians , and he's speaking to Alright . Number five Again , I say don't think that I am a fool to talk like this , but even if you do think I'm a fool , listen to me as you would to a foolish person while I also boast a little . End of quote . Again , I say don't think that I am a fool to talk like this , but even if you think I'm a fool , listen to me as you would to a foolish person while I boast a little bit . That is , that's Paul . And then he goes on to boast about his suffering . Is what he's . Some of you gave me faces like what's he boasting ? He's boasting in his suffering for Jesus . All right .

Speaker 5 15:40

Number six Lord , this one's easy . We should in church , we should get this one real fast . Lord , if it's really you , tell me to come to you walking on the water . The answer

Introducing Paul and Peter

Speaker 5 15:50

is Peter . Okay , thank you , that's a layup for you . I gave that one to you for free . Alright , here we go . Even if I have to die with you , I will never deny you . Even if I have to die with you , I deny you . Even if I have to die with you , I will never deny you . Famous last words . Guess what he did immediately following that ? Denied him not once , not twice , but three times . That is Peter , our friend Peter . Number eight you are the Christ , the Son of the living God . You are the Christ , the Son of the living God . Number nine that is the Son of the living God . You are the Christ , the Son of the living God . That is , that is Peter . That is Peter . Out of you say Paul , that was Peter . Alright , this one isn't much a quote , but this is just the thing that happened to him . Number nine he was bit by a snake . He was bit by a snake . He was bit by a snake . Peter or Paul , that was Paul . And , last but not least , thou shalt never wash my feet . Thou shalt never wash my feet . That was Peter . Very good , so here we go as we dive into this morning . Paul and Peter were both two high energy people , but the truth is , and the thing that we have to remember this morning as we dive into this story , is that , yes , they were two high energy people , they were two bold people , but they both loved Jesus . They both had a relationship and loved Jesus and had a passion for sharing the gospel for two other people so that they could believe and fall in love with Jesus .

Speaker 5 17:33

Well , this morning , as we get started , everybody has a personality . Right , there are people that are morning people . Right , they wake up and they're just happy to be awake . Right , those people are annoying . No , I'm just kidding , I'm just kidding , but there are . There's people , that's their personality . They wake up in the morning and they're just ready to go , but at 6.30 at night they're ready to go to bed , too . Right At 5 am they're ready to go , smiles . At 6 pm they're ready for bed . Okay , there's those people .

Speaker 5 18:06

Then you have the people that are just the nice people . They're always nice , no matter what . They're just going to be nice . You could punch them and they would say thank you , right , there's just those people in your life that are just always the nice person . No matter what you do , they're going to have a nice compliment to give you . And then you have the quiet people , the people that are in the room and you never know . They're in the room but they're sitting and they're listening and they're watching and they're taking notice to everything that's taking place . But they're just going to sit in their quietness . And when they do speak up , it's going to be something real powerful and really eye-opening . But in the moment they are just the quiet people . And then you have the high energy people , the people that always have something to say , even when they shouldn't have something to say . They feel the need to say something . Okay , that is who we're talking about this morning , and when we talk about Peter and Paul , we're talking about two guys that just ultimately always had something to say . They always had something to do and they're going to get in a confrontation this morning .

Speaker 5 19:11

The story that we're going to look into and it really would be like the ultimate showdown of two of the biblical spearheads in all of Scripture . Peter was a dude that was with Jesus . He saw many different things . He saw miracles . Peter was responsible for a lot of things happening . Peter was the guy that cut off a dude's ear because they were trying to arrest Jesus . He swung the sword and it's one of my favorite stories because Jesus just picks it up and says , no , we're not going to do that right now and puts it back on .

Speaker 5 19:40

But Peter is that kind of guy . He's the guy that says I'm never going to deny you Jesus , but then he denies Him three times . He's the guy that has the boldness , or is scared enough to say , hey , jesus , if it's really , you have me walk on water , and he walked on water for a few steps . That was Peter . He's the same guy that had to tell Jesus three times . He loved Him after all of that . And then you have Paul . Paul was the ex-murderer . He had killed some guys . He had seen some things . He was in prison many times Sat in prison cells . He had healed some people along the way . He wasn't always welcomed everywhere he went . He'd been shipwrecked . He'd been bit by a snake . He liked to call people foolish . Those are the two guys we're talking about this morning . If we had to take this story , it would have been like a celebrity boxing match to have these two in the argument that they're going to get in .

Speaker 5 20:35

I told you last week that we're human . There's always going to be conflict , and one reason there's always going to be conflict is because our actions don't always align with what we're saying . We don't like shady people , do we ? We don't like hypocrites , do we ? We don't like people that say one thing and do another thing . If you're going to talk the talk , you need to walk the walk . Don't be shady .

Speaker 5 21:07

But we've all been there before . We've all had that one friend . That's a little weird , but he's like your best friend , and when no one else is around , that's the friend you hang out with , right ? You know who I'm talking about . You all got that friend in mind , or maybe you are that friend You'll discover that in a second but we all have that one friend that maybe he's not the coolest guy or maybe not the coolest person ever , but he's your friend and you claim him when it's convenient for you to claim them . But then when other people come around , sometimes you're just kind of like well , see you later , buddy , I'm going to go hang out with my friends over here , right , you've watched this play out before , and so you go over and you hang out with your cool friends and then the weird friend comes over and starts talking and you're like who is that guy ? Do you know that guy ? We've had those moments . And maybe , if you're saying I don't know that friend , maybe you are that friend .

Speaker 5 22:03

And sorry about that this morning , but that's frustrating , isn't it , to watch that scenario . I've watched my kids do that as they've grown up . They hang out with a certain kid and then when other kids get there , they just kind of abandon that one friend . It's like , no , we're not going to do that , right , that's what happens in our story this morning .

Speaker 5 22:21

You have Peter hanging out with some people and he's really cool with them and he's telling them how much he loves them and how much God loves them , and he's spending time with them and he's saying hey , this gospel thing , this Jesus coming to live and die and raise again , that's great . This Jesus coming to live and die and raise again , that's great and that's awesome . I want you to know all about that . And he's sharing that with a group of people . He's saying I want you to know everything about the Gospel and how great it is . When he's speaking to the Gentiles , he's reassuring them that if you just have faith in Jesus , then you have forgiveness . If you just believe in the Gospel , then you're good . Just believe in the gospel , then you're good . You see , but Paul gets upset with Peter because Peter flips a little bit and he gets a little bit shady .

Speaker 5 23:03

We read here in Galatians , chapter 2 , verse 11, . It says but when Peter came to Antioch , I had to oppose him to his face , for what he did was very wrong . When he first arrived , he ate with the Gentile believers who were not circumcised . But afterwards , when some friends of James came , peter wouldn't eat with the Gentiles anymore . He was afraid of the criticism from those people who insisted on the necessity of circumcision . As a result , other Jewish believers followed Peter's hypocrisy and even Barnabas was led astray by his hypocrisy .

Speaker 5 23:35

You catch what's going on ? Peter is hanging out with the Gentiles and he's saying Gentiles , you are great , you are awesome . If you just believe in Jesus , you are set free , you are saved . He's telling them that he's hanging out with them , but then when his Jewish friends come around , he starts hanging out with his Jewish friends and he acts like he doesn't know the Gentiles anymore , acts like he doesn't know the Gentiles anymore and in fact he's starting to question whether they really are saved from the Gospel . He's starting to believe maybe they need to go back and follow the law , maybe they need to be circumcised , maybe they need to follow certain rules , maybe they need to eat certain foods . And Paul is writing to Peter and saying don't do that . Don't act one way and be another way . Paul says I had to oppose him face to face .

Speaker 5 24:21

Now we don't get the details of this argument or this interaction . I wish we did . I told you last week I don't like confrontation . I like watching confrontation , like I'll stand back here and my hands will be sweaty and I'll be nervous , but I'll watch the fight that's going to take place over there . I wish we got that here with Paul and Peter . We don't get a whole lot of details . Paul just tells us why he's angry with Peter . We don't get the full conversation . Now he goes on to tell us a little bit more details that we're going to look into in just a minute . But in all seriousness we get this conflict because Peter is acting one way and he's telling the Gentiles if you just believe the gospel , you're saved . But then when he gets around other people he says wait a minute , maybe you do need to do these other steps , maybe you need to follow the law .

Speaker 5 25:14

We see Paul gets frustrated with Peter because of a few things . Paul has a passion for the Gentiles . He's almost like a first-generation Christian and in the moment when he had his come-to-Jesus moment , god told him on the road to Damascus that you are going to be an instrument , that you are going to be a tool for the Gentiles to receive the Gospel . And so Paul was instructed by God that you are going to be an instrument for the Gentiles to be freed from their sin . And so we understand that Paul kind of has a passion for those people , for the Gentiles . But also he's kind of frustrated because he knows that Peter has had a vision where God showed him this sheet and there's all different kinds of food and Peter tried to have this argument well , this is unclean and I shouldn't be eating that . And God says , no , just take it , it's for you . And he describes , and he shares with him , that the Gospel is in fact for the Gentiles . And so Peter has been taught , peter has been teaching that the gospel is for all people , but now he's choosing to kind of go back to his roots .

Speaker 5 26:29

Does that make sense where we're at in the story ? So what do we learn about uncomfortable love ? Well , the first thing we learn is that confrontation doesn't have to be negative and it can be done in love . Paul confronts Peter face to face because Peter's actions were misrepresenting the Gospel . Peter was influenced by fear of judgment from a group of Jewish Christians , so he withdrew from eating with his Gentile friends and it created division . I wrote this down for me . This is a message for Josh this morning . Sometimes love means speaking up when you see someone going astray . That just because I don't like confrontation doesn't mean that there has to be confrontation . Sometimes it's the loving thing to do . We might be afraid of damaging relationships or we might worry about how others are going to perceive us , but love that is truly rooted in the gospel is not passive . It can't be . It doesn't sweep things under the rug , but it confronts it . And that's what Paul was really good at confronting things . Think about all the letters that he wrote to the churches confronting the issues that were going on . Made a good point in the 830 service , though this one was face-to-face . It wasn't a letter , it wasn't a text message , it wasn't a Facebook post . But Paul went straight to Peter face-to-face and said hey , I have an issue with what you're doing . You're costing the Gentiles freedom , you're wasting their freedom because you're doing these judgmental things . He goes face-to-face because the gospel love confronts sin head-on . And his goal , paul's goal I truly believe this was out of love head on . And his goal , paul's goal , I truly believe this was out of love . His goal was to restore , to reconcile , the Gentiles' belief .

Speaker 5 28:27

I was talking to Jeff this week . We were reading through this story and trying to uncover what all this was about , and so I always pick Jeff's brain because he's the counselor guy and he's smarter than me , so I'm picking his brain . I said what is going on here ? And he said well , he said fear has the tendency to make us run to what we think will save us and I forgot to add this or make us feel comfortable . So fear has the tendency to make us run to what we think will save us or make us comfortable . And so for Peter , it was to run back to the law , not the gospel Peter's uncomfortable . He run back to the law , not the gospel Peter's uncomfortable . He wants everybody to like him , he wants to fit in , and so for everybody to do that , he just kind of falls back to the law , because that's what he's had to believe for so long . And so the law was is you need to be circumcised , you need to eat these foods , you need to follow these laws , instead of falling back on the gospel . So , being uncomfortable and in his fear , he fell back to what he was used to , and that's a natural tendency . You and I do too . We fall back to what makes us comfortable , and that's where Peter's at , and Paul just calls him out in a loving way .

Speaker 5 29:24

We learn another thing Uncomfortable love bridges divide . Peter was a Jew and he had once been comfortable eating and fellowshipping with the Gentiles . But when certain people came around , he started to change his behavior . Uncomfortable love , as Paul shows us , is a love that breaks down walls . It breaks down divide . The gospel unites the Jew and the Gentile . The gospel unites the rich and the poor . The gospel unites the male and the female , the black and the white . In Christ we are united . That was the purpose of the gospel , and we can't claim to love others if we build up walls based on our fear and our prejudice and our tradition . Does that make sense ? The gospel came to demolish all of that and to unite us . The gospel unites us in Christ . I believe that's there on your outline . The gospel unites us in Christ . I believe that's there on your outline . The gospel unites us in Christ .

Speaker 5 30:18

And then , number three uncomfortable love must be rooted in truth . Uncomfortable love must be rooted

The Conflict Between Peter and Paul

Speaker 5 30:26

in truth . We get verse 16 . This is after Paul confronts him and he says I opposed him face to face and I let him know what he was doing was wrong . And he keeps on writing to let him know what the gospel does for us . And he says yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in who In Jesus Christ ? Not by obeying the law . And we have believed in Christ Jesus so that we might be made right with God because our faith in Christ , not because we have obeyed the law . So who do we put our faith in Jesus ? We put our faith in the gospel . We put our faith in the things that God has done . We don't put our faith in tradition . We don't put our faith in our personal belief . We put our faith in Jesus belief . We put our faith in Jesus . We like things simple .

Speaker 5 31:22

I was reading an article this week about the top 100 influential children's books . Okay , and I have the top three with me this morning . Number three on the list of top influential children's stories is Green Eggs and Ham . Children's stories is green eggs and ham . Sam I am you remember this story . Somebody tell me the lesson behind this story Try something new . We get all of these rhymes and all of these riddles and all of this green eggs and ham to teach us a lesson that we are to what . I obviously didn't read this enough as a kid because I'll stick to my dino nuggets and fries . This is the number three top-selling children's book and it influences kids and the message is simple . It is try things that are new or try new things . The second one and this one's weird . I don't know . I had to use chat GPT to tell me the meaning behind this story .

Speaker 5 32:26

This one is called Good Night Moon . Anybody ever read this one ? Number two selling children's book . You know what all it says . This one is called Good Night Moon . Anybody ever read this one ? Number two selling children's book ? You know what all it says Good night moon . Good night cow jumping over the moon . Good night mush . Good night hush . Or grandma sitting in the chair hushing or something here . You know what we got time In the great green room .

Speaker 5 32:56

There was a telephone and a red balloon and a picture of the cow jumping over the moon and there was three little bears sitting in chairs and two little kittens and a pair of mittens and a little toy house and a young mouse and a comb and a brush and a bowl full of mush . See , I was right . This is basically all it says . And a quiet old lady who's whispering . Yeah , you guys got it . Good night room , hold on . Good night . Anybody know this one memorized Good night moon . Good night cow jumping over the Good night light and the red balloon Good night bears and good night light and the red balloon .

Speaker 5 33:28

Good night bears and good night chairs . Good night kittens and good night mittens . Good night clocks and good night socks . Good night little house and good night mouse . Good night comb and good night brush . Good night nobody . Why is that in there ? Good night mush and good night to the old lady . Whispering hush and good night stars . Good night air . Good night noises everywhere .

Speaker 5 33:54

What in the world is the meaning of this book ? Here's what Google tells you , the meaning of this book and what it teaches our children . It teaches us the comforting power of familiar routine and the security of saying good night to beloved objects , signifying a sense of peace and readiness for sleep , particularly for young children . As a bunny in the story bids farewell to the items in his room , creating a soothing repetition that helps them transition to bedtime , it essentially represents the idea that , even while you drift off to sleep , your familiar surroundings will always be there when you wake up . That's the simple lesson behind that story . It's a simple story , but kids love it , don't they ? Our kids read that story as well . And then there's the last one .

Speaker 5 34:37

This is the most influential children's book and it's a really simple story . It's about a tree and a boy . It's called the Giving Tree . How many of you read this story ? It's a popular story . It's about a boy and a tree and the boy essentially goes the first time and he needs a snack , and so he takes an apple from the tree . The second time he goes back and he wants to build something . So the tree says here you can take some of my branches and build it . Then he wants to build a boat and he says the while the tree is giving up things for the boy . Finally , he wants to build a house for his family and the tree says take anything you need until he's just a stump . The man grows old and he comes back and he sits on the stump .

Speaker 5 35:20

You know what this teaches us Sacrificial love . That's the simple message behind it . It's a great story , but it's telling us how to love . Sometimes things just need to be simple . Sometimes we overcomplicate things .

Speaker 5 35:34

Paul stops Peter and he says don't complicate this , peter . The gospel is really easy . The gospel doesn't have to be hard . Did I click this Act like you ? Didn't see that Everybody got it ? Erase that from your memory . Didn't see that Everybody got it . Erase that from your memory . Paul says we're going to keep things really simple for you , peter . Don't overcomplicate the gospel . It's a really easy thing .

Speaker 5 35:57

Okay , if I told you to get on Facebook , what would you learn about the world today ? Yeah , all right , let's do this together . Okay , I need help . Aidan , come here . You got big muscles . This thing's really heavy . You're just going to hold this like this , yeah , but like , hold it like you're like on a game show , like you're proud of it . Okay , ready , all right . So we got two circles . All right , so we got two circles .

Speaker 5 36:30

If we get on Facebook , it's going to tell us the world is what's the matter ? You , good , is you looking at him ? No , okay , you good . All right , we get on Facebook . It's going to tell us about the world . What's it going to tell us ? The world is full of drama . It's crazy . There's just all kinds of mess going on . It's just a mess , okay , so we got a mess . But we woke up this morning and we looked outside and we saw the sun rising . What do we see ? It's going to be nice . That's a good answer .

Speaker 5 36:57

We're reminded of God's creation and His love for us , and so in the beginning there was God's creation . We're going to draw a heart there . Okay , I'm quite the artist , ain't I ? Okay , so we have the world and we got the craziness of the world and we have God's love . Well , in the beginning God created man and we chose to run where we ran ? To the world . We wanted to know more . Adam and Eve wanted to discover more . They wanted to know the craziness of the world . And so now we run to . This is us running . That's what those three lines are . That's us running . We're running to the world . And now we try to do everything we can to get out of the world . And we can't get out of it . We chase fame , we chase money , we chase everything . We may fall into addiction , whatever it is . We're trying to get out of this crazy world .

Speaker 5 37:44

So God decided this wouldn't be the end of the story . There had to be more to the gospel . And so he sends Jesus . So we got Jesus here , j-e-s-u-s . So he sends Jesus and he says , okay , this can't be the end of the plan . We just can't have humanity being separated from God . There has to be more to the plan . So he sends Jesus and says you have an opportunity to get to Jesus , because Jesus is going to come to earth . He's going to die on the cross and he's going to raise again . Everybody see that , get out of the way . That's what Jesus did . You saw that before ? No , you didn't . You didn't see that . So Jesus comes and he lives on earth and he dies on the cross and he rose again . He defeated death for our sake .

Speaker 5 38:35

And so the Gospel is simply this If we can get to a moment where we recognize that this is true , that's a man kneeling . Everybody got that . You can see that . If we get to this moment where we decide I don't want to be a part of the world anymore , I want a relationship with Jesus and I want to make Him king over my life , then God says if you just take

Uncomfortable Love Confronts and Unites

Speaker 5 39:02

me on in baptism , I will make you new and you will be a new creation so that you can join me in heaven . Does that make sense ? That's a simple thing . I didn't create that . That's been around the world for all . I don't know . Somebody way smarter than me drew three circles . I just copied it . But we've overcomplicated the gospel .

Speaker 5 39:20

The gospel is simple . The world was broken . The world was broken and God said I have a better plan . I'll send Jesus , he'll die , he'll go to the cross , he'll raise again and if you just choose Him , you can be made new again and experience the love that God has for you and you can spend forever for Amen , amen . It's a simple Gospel .

Speaker 5 39:38

Paul says Peter , just get back to this . Don't throw in all these rules and all these laws and all this stuff . Just go back to this . Don't throw in the laws . Keep it simple , because we like simple stories . Right , keep it simple . All right , you want to take that home with you ? You can hang it on the wall at school . The kids at OU will love that . Yeah , take it home with you . I tried again on the 830 , so you got a double copy there . You want me to sign it After service ? Hi , I drew that last night . This is my good drawing last night . Just kidding , that's a picture off of Google . That's what I was trying to create , right there . Okay , the gospel is simple . Paul says let's just get back to the plan . He sent Jesus , he died , he rose and we can be made new if we're baptized into Christ and we can have that relationship . Peter got lost in the world and the world wants to complicate it and the world wants to make it harder . But Paul says let's just get back to the basics .

Speaker 5 40:44

Number four uncomfortable love is all for Jesus . Verse 20 says this my old self has been crucified with Christ . It is no longer I who live , but Christ who lives in me . So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God , who loved me and gave himself up for me . Paul's powerful words in verse 20 says I have been crucified with Christ . It's I no longer who live , but Christ who lives in me . Paul's powerful words in verse 20 says I have been crucified with Christ . It's I who no longer who live , but Christ who lives in me . He emphasizes that true love involves sacrifice . It's putting to death our desires , our comfort , our control and our preferences to follow Jesus , and it means allowing the life of Christ to be made evident in us . Paul is reminding Peter it's all about Jesus . It's not about you , it's not about your comfort , it's not about being liked . It's all about allowing people to discover Jesus . Uncomfortable love reflects the heart of Christ , the kind of love that changes lives , transforms communities and brings people closer to the heart of God . Uncomfortable love reflects the heart of Christ . It's the kind of love that changes lives , transforms communities and brings people closer to the heart of God .

Speaker 5 42:09

Let's pray , father God . We thank you so closer to the heart of God . Let's pray , father God . We thank you so much for the gift of Jesus . God , we thank you for , through him , that it's . He makes us right with you , god . We know that we are not saved by what we do , but in our faith in you , god , help us to remember that your grace is enough and that we don't need to earn your love . Guide us to live in the freedom that you've given us , trusting in you daily . Help us to stand firm in the truth of the gospel and share your love with others . Allow us to not get in the way , father , of your great love for us . Thank you for making us new in Christ , and it's in Jesus' name we pray , amen for me and that thou bidst me come to thee .

Speaker 2 43:18

O Lamb of God , I come , I come . I come , just as I am , though tossed about With many a conflict , many a doubt , conflict Doubt With fears Within and pose Without . O Lamb of God , I come , I come , just as I am . Thy love unknown , the cross of unknow I come , I come . You call me out upon the waters , the great unknown , where feet may fail . And there I find you , in the mystery , in oceans deep . My faith will stand and I will call upon your name and keep my heart above the wind . When oceans rise , my soul will rest in your embrace , for I am yours and you are mine .

Speaker 2 46:06

Your grace abounds in deepest waters , your sovereign hand will be my guide when feet may fail and fear surrounds me . You never fail and you won't start now . So I will call upon your name and keep my eyes above the waves . When oceans rise , my soul will rest in your embrace , for I am yours and you are mine . Oh Spirit , lead me where my trust is , without borders . Let me walk upon the waters Wherever you would call me . Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander , and my faith will be made stronger in the presence of my .

Speaker 2 47:35

Savior Spirit , lead me where my trust is without borders . Let me walk upon the waters wherever you would call me . Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander and my faith will be made stronger in the presence of my Savior , and I will call upon your name and keep my eyes above the waves . When oceans rise , my soul will rise to you in praise

The Simple Gospel Explained

Speaker 2 48:24

, for I am yours and you are mine . I am yours and you are mine .

Speaker 1 48:44

Amen . God bless you everybody . Have a great week . Tell somebody about Jesus this week .