WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.799 Welcome to DeSoto Hills Baptist Church. 00:00:02.959 --> 00:00:07.200 Our Sunday morning services are weekly at 9 and 10 30 a.m. 00:00:07.519 --> 00:00:11.439 You're listening to an audio recast of this past week's service. 00:00:11.599 --> 00:00:12.960 We hope you enjoy. 00:00:13.279 --> 00:00:14.240 God bless. 00:00:15.519 --> 00:00:18.239 This morning we'll be in Acts chapter 15. 00:00:18.719 --> 00:00:22.559 I'm going to start reading in verse 19 as you turn there. 00:00:22.719 --> 00:00:27.920 You know, with the holidays coming up, Thanksgiving and Christmas. 00:00:28.160 --> 00:00:34.479 Um I if you read Ministry Moment this morning, you'll see how much I love Christmas. 00:00:34.560 --> 00:00:38.000 I love to think about Christmas, but I love Thanksgiving too. 00:00:38.799 --> 00:00:45.200 Here's some things that I love about it, or one thing that I love about the holidays is the family time. 00:00:45.600 --> 00:00:47.920 The time that we get to be with our families. 00:00:48.000 --> 00:00:56.640 And you know, when I say that word family, sometimes it causes emotions to be felt uh in ourselves. 00:00:57.039 --> 00:01:12.799 Sometimes those are those are good emotions, those are good things, there's good memories, there's there's good, especially around Thanksgiving and and Christmas, there's there's good holiday memories and and and things like that where you go back and have these good memories of being with family. 00:01:12.879 --> 00:01:20.719 But I also recognize that in a fallen world, sometimes our model of family isn't great. 00:01:20.879 --> 00:01:28.319 And and we we haven't had a great good model of what family looks like and what it what it feels like and what it means. 00:01:28.560 --> 00:01:38.319 And and so so it causes, when we say the word family and when we think about family, sometimes it can cause some some big and strong emotions. 00:01:38.400 --> 00:01:40.079 So that's the question, why? 00:01:40.159 --> 00:01:42.879 Why does it why do we have those emotions? 00:01:42.959 --> 00:01:44.319 And here's what I think. 00:01:45.040 --> 00:01:49.840 I think all of us long to belong to something bigger than ourselves. 00:01:50.079 --> 00:02:00.959 We long to have a place where we belong, a place that is our place, that is safe for us to go to and safe for us to find comfort and peace and find that. 00:02:01.200 --> 00:02:04.400 And I believe God created the family to be that. 00:02:04.560 --> 00:02:09.439 Again, I know it's not always that, but I believe God created the family to be that. 00:02:10.240 --> 00:02:20.879 But also as we look in Scripture, one of the most powerful metaphors for the church is the family of God. 00:02:22.080 --> 00:02:43.120 He has given us the church, he has given us each other to be a family, to find that place of belonging, to find that place of camaraderie, to find that place, that safe place where we can come together and be challenged and be encouraged, yes, of course, and to be to be pushed sometimes, yes. 00:02:43.520 --> 00:02:48.080 But by people that we know that love us and want the best for us. 00:02:48.479 --> 00:02:55.039 And so as we approach this passage today, where we we see that. 00:02:56.080 --> 00:03:01.039 You know, it said even that you can't choose your family, and that's true. 00:03:01.199 --> 00:03:04.080 You can choose your friends, you can't choose your family. 00:03:04.800 --> 00:03:06.400 Even in the church, that's true. 00:03:06.800 --> 00:03:16.400 Now, granted, I know that you could decide to leave the Soto Hills, or you could decide to come to the Soto Hills, or at some point you made a decision for this to come and be your family. 00:03:16.479 --> 00:03:24.080 And while maybe you can make decisions like that, listen, it is not our choice where we are part of the family of God. 00:03:24.319 --> 00:03:25.520 God chose that. 00:03:26.479 --> 00:03:28.080 He brought us into his family. 00:03:28.240 --> 00:03:36.800 That's what James says in verse 19 when he says, Therefore, my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God. 00:03:37.199 --> 00:03:56.479 He what he is saying here is he's not talking, he's talking about how Gentiles who have turned to God shouldn't have to become Jews first, because they are saved by grace through faith, according to Scripture, for the glory of God. 00:03:57.280 --> 00:04:02.960 That is why we are saved, and that's why we come together and and and God chooses that. 00:04:03.039 --> 00:04:14.240 Just as we have a responsibility to respond, God chooses that, and so we don't get to choose our who the church is, but we are family. 00:04:15.360 --> 00:04:21.680 And and another another family saying that you hear all the time is blood is thicker than water. 00:04:23.600 --> 00:04:28.319 Understand our bond as family of God. 00:04:28.959 --> 00:04:35.199 It's not my blood, it's not your blood, it's his blood. 00:04:36.000 --> 00:04:41.040 And it bonds us together as this family of God. 00:04:42.800 --> 00:04:49.759 If you notice at the end of verse 19, though, it doesn't end with a period, it ends with a comma. 00:04:50.639 --> 00:04:51.839 It ends with a comma. 00:04:51.920 --> 00:04:55.759 So there's a the the the James's thought here was not finished. 00:04:55.839 --> 00:05:00.560 And what we want to do today is take the second part of this thought. 00:05:00.959 --> 00:05:04.639 The first part is that we are saved by the grace of God. 00:05:04.800 --> 00:05:11.439 Salvation comes through the grace of God, but we see this second part of this after the comma. 00:05:11.519 --> 00:05:25.920 And what we're going to see today is while we have, while believers have been given the grace of God, James is going to encourage believers to now extend the grace of God to each other. 00:05:26.319 --> 00:05:30.639 He's going to encourage them to extend the grace of God to each other. 00:05:30.720 --> 00:05:52.720 And we recognize that while it is the grace of God that brings salvation, hear me, familial grace, grace among the family, grace among the family promotes unity and fellowship. 00:05:53.360 --> 00:05:55.839 And James is calling the church to do that. 00:05:55.920 --> 00:06:02.800 So the challenge for us today is that we must extend grace to each other. 00:06:03.759 --> 00:06:10.160 So we want to seek to answer the question this morning of how was grace extended? 00:06:10.560 --> 00:06:14.480 How did James encourage them to extend grace to one another? 00:06:14.560 --> 00:06:17.439 And how do we see that happening? 00:06:17.680 --> 00:06:24.319 So this morning we're going to read Acts chapter 15, starting in verse 19, and read down through verse 35. 00:06:24.399 --> 00:06:29.439 If you're able, I invite you to stand with me as we give honor to the reading of God's word. 00:06:33.519 --> 00:06:50.720 Luke writes, Therefore, my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood. 00:06:51.040 --> 00:07:01.600 For ancient generation for from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he has read every Sabbath in the synagogues. 00:07:01.920 --> 00:07:10.560 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders with the whole church to choose men from among them and sing them, send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. 00:07:10.720 --> 00:07:17.040 They sent Judas called Bersabbas and Silas, leading men among the brothers, with the following letter. 00:07:17.279 --> 00:07:26.079 The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Sicilya, greetings. 00:07:26.639 --> 00:07:48.639 Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions, it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:07:48.879 --> 00:08:10.000 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth, for it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements, that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. 00:08:10.399 --> 00:08:14.160 If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. 00:08:14.639 --> 00:08:15.839 Farewell. 00:08:16.399 --> 00:08:26.240 So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch, and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter, and when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement. 00:08:26.399 --> 00:08:32.000 And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words. 00:08:32.159 --> 00:08:37.519 And after they had spent some time, they were sent off in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them. 00:08:37.759 --> 00:08:45.600 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord with many others also. 00:08:46.159 --> 00:08:47.759 Let's pray together. 00:08:48.559 --> 00:08:50.240 God, we thank you. 00:08:50.639 --> 00:08:53.679 We thank you for today, and we thank you for how you love us. 00:08:54.320 --> 00:09:02.320 God, we thank you for the grace that you have poured out on us, the grace to save us, the grace to give us this opportunity to open your word. 00:09:03.200 --> 00:09:10.960 God, we pray that you change our lives, that you change our lives for all eternity. 00:09:11.279 --> 00:09:13.279 Jesus, it's in your name we pray. 00:09:13.600 --> 00:09:14.240 Amen. 00:09:16.159 --> 00:09:23.759 So again, the question that we have is how was grace extended in this first, in this new first century setting? 00:09:23.919 --> 00:09:29.600 Well, the first thing that we see is grace is extended by abstaining. 00:09:30.080 --> 00:09:31.600 By abstaining from something. 00:09:31.759 --> 00:09:36.080 See, again, understand, they are saved by grace. 00:09:36.320 --> 00:09:51.519 And and James writes, look, let's not put any other burden on them than just salvation here, but it would be good if you abstained from some things. 00:09:51.600 --> 00:09:55.679 And he lists four things here that they should abstain from. 00:09:55.919 --> 00:10:00.559 One of these is a a abstain from something immoral. 00:10:00.960 --> 00:10:02.879 It is a moral command. 00:10:03.039 --> 00:10:06.000 He says to abstain from sexual immorality. 00:10:06.240 --> 00:10:20.320 This is a big deal because in the first century, especially in Greek cultures like that like they were in in Antioch, the Greek culture would have, there was a lot of sexual immorality happening. 00:10:20.480 --> 00:10:21.840 Can we just say that? 00:10:22.240 --> 00:10:30.320 Religiously, in the way that they worshiped their false gods, culturally in the way that they interacted with each other. 00:10:30.480 --> 00:10:35.440 There was a lot of immorality going on and happening, and this can't happen. 00:10:35.519 --> 00:10:36.799 And that is the same message. 00:10:36.879 --> 00:10:40.000 That same thing should apply to us today. 00:10:40.480 --> 00:10:51.679 Listen, we have got to stop allowing the culture to tell us and define for us what is right and wrong, and we've got to allow God's word to do that. 00:10:51.919 --> 00:10:54.240 We've got to avoid sexual immorality. 00:10:54.320 --> 00:10:57.519 We've got to avoid improper relationships. 00:10:57.679 --> 00:11:02.399 We've got to avoid things such as homosexuality and transgenderism. 00:11:02.559 --> 00:11:06.320 Listen, we've got to avoid things such as pornography and fornication. 00:11:07.440 --> 00:11:09.919 We are supposed to abstain from those things. 00:11:10.080 --> 00:11:24.399 Not that avoiding and abstaining from those things saves us, but because abstaining from those things, listen, is going to build brotherhood and unity because we are standing on truth. 00:11:25.120 --> 00:11:27.919 We've got to stand on the truth of God's word. 00:11:29.279 --> 00:11:36.480 So he gives this one moral, but the other three recognize they're more ritual in nature. 00:11:36.720 --> 00:11:53.519 What I mean by they are more ritual in nature, they are more ritual in nature because what they are they are doing is they are describing how the Jews worshiped and how they approached God. 00:11:54.559 --> 00:12:01.039 If we define worship as coming and adoring God, they define how they approached and worshiped God. 00:12:01.679 --> 00:12:10.879 One of those, probably the biggest, is to that he told them to abstain from things polluted by idols. 00:12:11.279 --> 00:12:13.039 Things polluted by idols. 00:12:13.200 --> 00:12:14.320 What does he mean by that? 00:12:14.480 --> 00:12:21.919 Probably the most obvious thing throughout the rest of Scripture is meat that had been sacrificed to idols. 00:12:23.440 --> 00:12:35.759 That was a thing that happened in the religion of false gods in that time is they would offer this meat, these sacrifices to these false gods, to these idols. 00:12:35.919 --> 00:12:38.559 Then they would take the meat and they would eat it. 00:12:40.000 --> 00:12:46.799 And you have what you have happening here is some of these Gentiles who are now believers not seeing anything wrong with that. 00:12:46.879 --> 00:12:49.120 And you say, well, what would be wrong with it? 00:12:49.279 --> 00:12:50.559 Well, nothing. 00:12:51.360 --> 00:12:53.600 Here's why nothing's wrong with that. 00:12:53.919 --> 00:12:57.440 Because here's in their view, this is what they would say. 00:12:57.679 --> 00:12:59.600 It's a piece of wood. 00:13:01.039 --> 00:13:04.399 It's metal, it's not real. 00:13:04.879 --> 00:13:10.399 There is one true living God, and so they're just killing this animal in front of this piece of wood. 00:13:10.639 --> 00:13:12.399 Why should I not eat it? 00:13:12.639 --> 00:13:16.799 But listen, for the Jews, this was a big deal. 00:13:17.600 --> 00:13:18.240 Listen. 00:13:21.759 --> 00:13:28.960 The Davidic kingdom, the kingdom of David and Solomon, were split. 00:13:29.279 --> 00:13:31.200 You want to know the root cause? 00:13:31.840 --> 00:13:33.120 Idolatry. 00:13:34.559 --> 00:13:35.840 Idolatry. 00:13:37.600 --> 00:13:42.480 Later in Israel's history, they are going to be taken into exile. 00:13:44.000 --> 00:13:45.919 A lot of things they were doing wrong. 00:13:46.080 --> 00:13:47.919 You want to know the root cause? 00:13:49.200 --> 00:13:50.480 Idolatry. 00:13:51.200 --> 00:13:54.799 Turning their hearts away from God to worship anything else. 00:13:54.879 --> 00:14:00.639 And sometimes it sometimes it was the idols of Baal and other idols. 00:14:00.960 --> 00:14:07.919 Sometimes it was not just a particular idol, but it was just them turning away from God and not giving God the worship that was due. 00:14:08.080 --> 00:14:13.519 And when we do that, whatever we turn our hearts to becomes that idol and that root cause. 00:14:13.600 --> 00:14:19.600 This was a big deal to Israel because idolatry had caused them so much grief in their history. 00:14:19.759 --> 00:14:23.039 And so what they wanted to do is not turn from that. 00:14:23.600 --> 00:14:25.600 But for the Gentiles, it wasn't a big deal. 00:14:25.679 --> 00:14:32.879 And James, he had some, he must have had some kind of foresight because he knew it was going to happen. 00:14:33.200 --> 00:14:39.360 In 1 Corinthians chapter 8, when Paul is writing to the church at Corinth, guess what he's talking about? 00:14:39.600 --> 00:14:42.080 Eating meat offered to idols. 00:14:42.399 --> 00:14:50.799 And he comes and he says, look, some of you, some of you have a proper understanding of this, that it is a piece of wood, it's a piece of metal, it is fine to you to eat. 00:14:50.879 --> 00:14:56.720 But he basically says this just because you have a right to eat it doesn't mean you should eat it. 00:14:57.519 --> 00:15:01.919 Just because you have the right to do it doesn't mean that you should do it. 00:15:02.080 --> 00:15:14.080 In chapter 8, verse 13 of 1 Corinthians, he says this, therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat lest it make my brother stumble. 00:15:14.320 --> 00:15:20.879 Paul says, I can eat meat offered to idols, but if it's going to cause my brother to stumble, I'm going to choose not to. 00:15:21.039 --> 00:15:26.320 Even though I have the right to do it, doesn't mean I should do it. 00:15:27.200 --> 00:15:31.279 In Romans, Paul's riding to the church at Rome. 00:15:31.919 --> 00:15:35.039 In Romans chapter 14, guess what he's addressing? 00:15:35.600 --> 00:15:38.080 Eating meat offered to idols. 00:15:38.559 --> 00:15:42.879 And he comes and he's talking about how they should or they shouldn't do it. 00:15:42.960 --> 00:15:53.360 And then in chapter 14, verse 19, he says, this, so then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. 00:15:53.519 --> 00:15:58.320 Again, he's saying, look, I understand it's a piece of wood, it's a piece of metal. 00:15:58.480 --> 00:16:00.000 You have the right to eat it. 00:16:00.159 --> 00:16:02.559 What you're eating is not going to make you unclean. 00:16:02.720 --> 00:16:04.000 We've already established that. 00:16:04.159 --> 00:16:05.279 That's not going to be happening. 00:16:05.600 --> 00:16:10.480 But what you should pursue is not your right to eat that meat. 00:16:10.639 --> 00:16:17.200 What you should pursue is what makes for peace and mutual upbuilding. 00:16:18.879 --> 00:16:21.600 Listen, you say, Grant, what does this have to do with us? 00:16:21.840 --> 00:16:27.679 Because there's no idols that we're offering meat to that I'm going to the grocery store to buy. 00:16:28.559 --> 00:16:28.879 Okay. 00:16:30.720 --> 00:16:32.799 Let's take that principle, though. 00:16:34.240 --> 00:16:41.679 What things among us as a church do we have the right to do? 00:16:42.559 --> 00:16:45.200 But it is not the best thing for us to do. 00:16:46.080 --> 00:16:52.320 Because it doesn't promote peace and mutual upbuilding. 00:16:53.519 --> 00:16:56.799 See, he calls them to abstain. 00:16:57.200 --> 00:17:00.480 Extend grace by abstaining from some things. 00:17:00.639 --> 00:17:06.000 And in that abstaining, what they are seeking to do is to become unifying. 00:17:06.480 --> 00:17:17.680 He tells us there in verse 21 what's happening for the Jews is for their whole life they've been going to the synagogues and having the law of Moses read. 00:17:18.400 --> 00:17:23.039 Week after week after week after week, they're having this law read. 00:17:23.200 --> 00:17:32.799 And now they're coming and they're seeing, looking back on their history and understanding what what the division that it has caused for them to eat meat offered to idols. 00:17:32.880 --> 00:17:36.079 And so that's not an easy thing for them to give up. 00:17:36.160 --> 00:17:42.000 And what he is saying, what he's trying to do is get the Gentiles who say, look, that's crazy. 00:17:42.160 --> 00:17:42.960 We can do this. 00:17:43.039 --> 00:17:44.559 It hasn't caused us any grief. 00:17:44.720 --> 00:17:51.440 What he's trying to get them to do is look at the Jews and have sympathy and empathy for them and say, you know what? 00:17:51.599 --> 00:17:54.559 We're not going to do anything that's going to cause you to stumble. 00:17:54.720 --> 00:18:00.799 It is better to abstain and unify than it is for me to have my rights and divide. 00:18:03.279 --> 00:18:08.799 So he says, We need to find unity in this. 00:18:11.200 --> 00:18:13.039 We need to be unified. 00:18:14.240 --> 00:18:16.720 Sometimes that requires sacrifice. 00:18:16.960 --> 00:18:18.720 And that's abstaining. 00:18:19.839 --> 00:18:21.440 So how did they extend grace? 00:18:21.519 --> 00:18:24.480 They did it by abstaining, they did it by unifying. 00:18:25.440 --> 00:18:28.400 Finally, they did it by planning. 00:18:30.160 --> 00:18:32.960 And they were very intentional in their plans. 00:18:33.759 --> 00:18:36.079 Verses 22 through 35. 00:18:37.119 --> 00:18:41.599 We're going to find some things that are happening that they are doing planning-wise. 00:18:41.759 --> 00:18:47.440 But listen, what I want you to see bigger than planning, I said planning because it, I'm trying to be a preacher. 00:18:47.599 --> 00:18:49.920 Abstaining, unifying planning. 00:18:50.640 --> 00:18:53.680 Probably a better thing here is intentionality. 00:18:54.480 --> 00:18:57.200 They are being very intentional in what they do. 00:18:57.440 --> 00:18:59.200 Here's what they're doing intentionally. 00:18:59.359 --> 00:19:02.880 They are intentionally communicating. 00:19:03.599 --> 00:19:04.559 Here's what happens. 00:19:04.640 --> 00:19:10.000 They choose two witnesses, aside from Paul and Barnabas, to send these two witnesses. 00:19:10.160 --> 00:19:20.000 They send them out and they say, hey, look, here's what the church, here's what the apostles and the elders and the brothers who are there, here's what they have come to. 00:19:20.160 --> 00:19:24.319 They are sending out so the witness can go out by word of mouth. 00:19:24.480 --> 00:19:37.279 They are being very intentional in their communication by sending out these witnesses to deliver the message, but they're also sending these witnesses out not just to deliver a message, but to deny false witnesses. 00:19:37.440 --> 00:19:54.400 There are people who have come into the church to cause division who have caused division, who are working out of their own opinions and their own what they think right, think is right, not judging by what the church is saying and what is going to be unifying and building up. 00:19:55.519 --> 00:19:57.279 So they're sending these witnesses. 00:19:57.440 --> 00:20:00.799 They are being very intentional in how they communicate. 00:20:00.880 --> 00:20:09.599 They're also being very intentional, not just in sending these witnesses, but they're also being very intentional because they are sending a letter as well. 00:20:10.720 --> 00:20:20.960 A letter signed by the elders and by the apostles that are saying, listen, we are saved by grace through faith. 00:20:21.920 --> 00:20:25.359 Nothing more, nothing less. 00:20:25.680 --> 00:20:26.400 But you know what? 00:20:26.559 --> 00:20:31.359 For the fellowship, it would be good if you abstained from these things. 00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:39.039 It doesn't cost salvation, but it is grace being extended for the benefit of the family. 00:20:41.920 --> 00:20:48.480 Not only are they being intentional in their communication, they're being intentional in their purpose. 00:20:49.920 --> 00:21:07.839 See what happens when Judas, when Judas and Silas come to the church, they deliver the message, they gather them up, they deliver the message, and then they proclaim the word of God. 00:21:08.319 --> 00:21:10.720 Paul and Barnabas, what did they do? 00:21:11.039 --> 00:21:13.119 They proclaim the word of God. 00:21:14.160 --> 00:21:22.720 They were very intentional in their purpose, which was this: to be Christ's witnesses for the kingdom of God. 00:21:23.119 --> 00:21:25.359 He called them to it back in chapter one. 00:21:26.000 --> 00:21:31.839 You shall receive power after the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses. 00:21:32.160 --> 00:21:37.279 Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth. 00:21:37.920 --> 00:21:39.680 So, what does this mean for us? 00:21:40.319 --> 00:21:41.359 Real quickly. 00:21:42.160 --> 00:21:43.519 Here's what it means. 00:21:44.880 --> 00:21:45.519 Church. 00:21:58.000 --> 00:22:00.079 Again, I'm gonna say it again. 00:22:00.319 --> 00:22:07.759 Just because you have the right to do something does not mean you should do something. 00:22:08.079 --> 00:22:16.160 We should seek, we should seek what brings peace and mutual upbuilding. 00:22:16.640 --> 00:22:22.400 Now, listen, I understand there are some things that we do have to take a stand on. 00:22:22.559 --> 00:22:25.759 James did it talking about sexual immorality. 00:22:26.400 --> 00:22:28.160 Look, there's no giving here. 00:22:28.400 --> 00:22:30.559 This is true, you gotta stand on it. 00:22:30.640 --> 00:22:39.440 There are some doctrines that we hold, there are some truths of scripture that we hold that we have to stand firm on, that there is no wiggle on. 00:22:39.599 --> 00:22:45.039 We are saved by grace through faith according to scripture for the glory of God. 00:22:45.279 --> 00:22:47.519 We cannot bend on those things. 00:22:49.680 --> 00:23:02.400 But when it comes to our opinions and what we think should be done, what we seek is peace and the mutual upbuilding of the church. 00:23:02.960 --> 00:23:08.000 Sometimes that requires sacrifice and us abstaining. 00:23:08.720 --> 00:23:12.720 It also requires us being intentional in our communication. 00:23:16.960 --> 00:23:20.319 Don't wait for the perfect time to apologize. 00:23:21.279 --> 00:23:23.839 Be intentional and go apologize. 00:23:24.640 --> 00:23:29.440 Don't wait for the perfect time to let somebody know that they hurt your feelings. 00:23:30.720 --> 00:23:34.640 Be intentional and go communicate, seeking peace. 00:23:35.599 --> 00:23:39.680 Because when we are not intentional in our communication, do you know what happens? 00:23:40.000 --> 00:23:41.680 Gossip and rumors. 00:23:42.799 --> 00:23:44.640 We have to be intentional. 00:23:45.519 --> 00:23:48.240 We also have to be intentional in our purpose. 00:23:48.559 --> 00:23:49.839 Remembering this. 00:23:50.799 --> 00:23:55.680 We are Christ's witnesses for the kingdom of God. 00:23:57.440 --> 00:24:07.119 Do you want to know the best way for the world to see how God has given us grace when they see how we give each other grace? 00:24:08.400 --> 00:24:13.680 May we be a church that extends grace to each other? 00:24:14.079 --> 00:24:16.640 We're about to enter into a time of invitation. 00:24:17.279 --> 00:24:19.680 When you pray for us, we're going to stand and sing. 00:24:20.319 --> 00:24:25.359 As we sing, let me ask you this: have you ever, are you a part of the family of God? 00:24:26.079 --> 00:24:31.839 Have you ever trusted Christ to save you and bring you into the fellowship? 00:24:32.079 --> 00:24:35.519 If you haven't, let me tell you, today is the day of salvation. 00:24:35.839 --> 00:24:42.799 If you have, but there is somebody that you need to reconcile with this morning. 00:24:42.880 --> 00:24:44.799 There is an apology that needs to be made. 00:24:44.960 --> 00:24:47.119 There is an apology that needs to be sought. 00:24:47.279 --> 00:24:55.920 There is something that needs to be done for us to promote peace and the mutual upbuilding of one another. 00:24:56.240 --> 00:25:00.640 Maybe this morning during this invitation, you need to go seek somebody out. 00:25:00.799 --> 00:25:04.960 Maybe you need to step out and make a phone call to somebody. 00:25:07.200 --> 00:25:13.680 Whatever God is leading you to, I pray that this morning you will allow Him to work in your life. 00:25:13.920 --> 00:25:15.119 Let's pray together. 00:25:15.440 --> 00:25:16.799 God, we love you. 00:25:17.200 --> 00:25:21.119 We thank you for how you love us and we thank you for all you've done for us. 00:25:23.200 --> 00:25:35.599 God, we pray that this morning, as you are moving among us, God, you will help us to understand that we are the family of God. 00:25:37.039 --> 00:25:38.880 You have united us. 00:25:39.359 --> 00:25:40.640 You have called us. 00:25:40.880 --> 00:25:42.799 You have chosen us. 00:25:45.359 --> 00:25:52.240 God, not because of anything that we've done or not because we deserve it, but because of you who you are and your grace. 00:25:53.519 --> 00:25:56.640 God, I pray for those who need to trust you this morning. 00:25:56.720 --> 00:25:57.839 Give them faith. 00:25:58.079 --> 00:26:01.759 God, I pray for those who need to extend grace to someone this morning. 00:26:01.839 --> 00:26:04.400 I pray that you give them the faith to do that. 00:26:05.200 --> 00:26:08.559 Help us and lead us as only you can. 00:26:09.119 --> 00:26:10.640 In Jesus' name. 00:26:10.960 --> 00:26:11.599 Amen. 00:26:12.880 --> 00:26:15.039 Thanks for listening to this week's sermon. 00:26:15.200 --> 00:26:20.960 If you have any questions for our pastor, feel free to reach out at DeSotoHills.com.