WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:03.439 Thank you for listening to the Kelowna Christian Center Podcast. 00:00:03.600 --> 00:00:08.080 Our desire is that today's message will be fresh and encouraging to you. 00:00:08.320 --> 00:00:13.599 For more information on KCC and how to connect, visit us at KCC.net. 00:00:18.079 --> 00:00:25.199 Scripture says that we overcome by the word by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimony. 00:00:25.359 --> 00:00:33.520 And that there's nothing that we can do in and of ourselves to actually overcome on our own merits and on our own strength. 00:00:33.759 --> 00:00:37.119 But when he's with us, nothing is impossible. 00:00:37.439 --> 00:00:38.079 Amen. 00:00:38.399 --> 00:00:46.000 So to him be the glory, to him be the praise, to him be the honor every day, all day. 00:00:46.320 --> 00:00:47.280 Hallelujah. 00:00:47.840 --> 00:00:50.960 I'd like to invite Val to come up, Val Lalon. 00:00:51.200 --> 00:00:53.039 Many of you have been praying. 00:00:54.240 --> 00:00:56.240 Many of you've been believing. 00:00:58.320 --> 00:01:05.200 The Lalon family and you know, God is good, and it's good to hear good news, isn't it? 00:01:05.760 --> 00:01:09.680 I'd like you just to share what's happening with Sean. 00:01:10.560 --> 00:01:15.359 So um, firstly, I just want to thank everybody here. 00:01:16.000 --> 00:01:19.840 Like she was praying in that song, we're community. 00:01:20.159 --> 00:01:22.799 And that's weird when you don't have that. 00:01:22.959 --> 00:01:27.760 When you come into church and you've never experienced community, that can be kind of weird. 00:01:28.000 --> 00:01:31.519 Um, so if you've if you're here and you've never experienced that, that's what we are. 00:01:31.599 --> 00:01:39.519 We're a family, we're a community, and um, we've just felt so lifted by everyone here and so blessed by meals and food. 00:01:39.599 --> 00:01:50.480 And so uh for those who don't know, my husband's a pastor here, and he was diagnosed with stage four cancer in um December, December 8th. 00:01:50.719 --> 00:01:57.439 And uh his diagnosis was basically that he needed to go home and there's nothing they could do for him. 00:01:57.680 --> 00:02:02.560 So we didn't want to accept that, and so many of you haven't with us, and we're so thankful for that. 00:02:02.640 --> 00:02:10.240 And uh, we've just been praying and we've been pushing the doctors, and uh we've uh kept going forward. 00:02:10.319 --> 00:02:21.039 And um, just this last week we went down where they decided they were gonna do a procedure for him where um basically would just prolong things and slow down the tumors that are in his liver. 00:02:21.120 --> 00:02:22.479 He has liver cancer. 00:02:22.879 --> 00:02:27.759 So um we went down to get this procedure, and I just I've started a prayer page. 00:02:27.840 --> 00:02:31.520 And if anybody wants to follow, it's called Pray for Sean Lalonde. 00:02:32.000 --> 00:02:35.840 And uh I just put on the prayer page, let's pray for this procedure. 00:02:35.919 --> 00:02:41.120 They they said they might not even give us the procedure because of the state of his cancer in his liver. 00:02:41.439 --> 00:02:59.599 And so I um I talked to a couple friends, I talked to my friend Dania, and was like, you know what, I'm praying that they don't even explain this procedure to us, that we go down there and that the tumors have shrunk, and they'll say, like, you have to come back because this procedure is we have something better for you. 00:02:59.840 --> 00:03:18.639 And that uh we went there on Monday and he had the CT scan done, and we met with a specialist, and the specialist said, We've had three doctors looking at his scans, and we can't explain this procedure to you because his tumor has shrunk and is no longer yeah. 00:03:19.120 --> 00:03:30.719 So they said they're they're gonna re- they're like sorry we can't tell you any good news in that what we're gonna do, but we're gonna do more than this. 00:03:30.800 --> 00:03:33.120 So they said they're gonna re-look at it. 00:03:33.199 --> 00:03:42.879 They haven't got back to us yet, but we're just believing that he's gonna have a complete healing and that he's gonna be back here worshiping God. 00:03:43.120 --> 00:03:46.800 So thank you and yeah, keep praying. 00:03:53.599 --> 00:03:57.039 Sean is probably listening online this morning. 00:03:57.520 --> 00:03:58.879 Maybe, maybe. 00:03:59.039 --> 00:04:00.960 He was pretty tired this morning. 00:04:01.280 --> 00:04:09.120 Sean's out there, and the scripture says that the prayers of the righteous are mighty in power, and they avail much. 00:04:09.759 --> 00:04:11.599 They can do a lot. 00:04:11.919 --> 00:04:15.280 Beyond what we can do, a prayer can do more. 00:04:15.520 --> 00:04:17.680 And so today, let's just pray. 00:04:17.920 --> 00:04:23.279 Let's lift up our hands to heaven and say, Father, we thank you for this testimony. 00:04:23.360 --> 00:04:28.800 We give you thanks, Lord, for what you're doing in Sean's body and where he is right now. 00:04:28.959 --> 00:04:31.920 We speak the life of God into his body. 00:04:32.160 --> 00:04:34.319 The life of God into his liver. 00:04:34.560 --> 00:04:37.759 Father, we thank you that you make all things new. 00:04:38.000 --> 00:04:48.399 And Father, we're speaking into his body a new liver and a new system, Lord, to the immune system to be able to cleanse every disease. 00:04:48.720 --> 00:04:51.439 We thank you, Lord, that you're doing the work around him. 00:04:51.680 --> 00:04:56.079 We plead the blood of Jesus, calling him yours. 00:04:56.399 --> 00:04:59.680 He doesn't belong to anyone else, he belongs to you. 00:04:59.920 --> 00:05:05.120 He's your child, adopted into your family, an heir unto healing. 00:05:05.279 --> 00:05:10.959 And we thank you, Lord, for 100% wholeness in his body today. 00:05:11.199 --> 00:05:12.879 We give you much thanks. 00:05:13.120 --> 00:05:16.560 We give you all the praise in Jesus' name. 00:05:16.800 --> 00:05:17.439 Amen. 00:05:17.759 --> 00:05:18.399 Amen. 00:05:19.040 --> 00:05:19.519 Amen. 00:05:19.680 --> 00:05:20.480 Thanks, Val. 00:05:22.639 --> 00:05:24.160 Oh, what a great team. 00:05:24.319 --> 00:05:26.000 What a what a great opportunity. 00:05:26.240 --> 00:05:31.040 What a great uh space to be in the family of God. 00:05:31.759 --> 00:05:34.720 And uh again, February is for family. 00:05:34.879 --> 00:05:44.639 This month, we're just continuing to affirm the fact that uh God loves you and God made you to love you. 00:05:45.199 --> 00:05:47.439 Turn to your neighbor and say, God loves you. 00:05:47.680 --> 00:05:51.600 God loves you, God loves you, God loves you, God loves you. 00:05:53.439 --> 00:05:55.519 You gotta smile when you say it. 00:05:56.879 --> 00:05:59.839 God's love for you is fierce. 00:06:00.639 --> 00:06:09.519 It's reckless, it's a breakthrough, a prison into your cell and get set you free. 00:06:10.000 --> 00:06:14.879 He is a redeemer, he's a deliverer, he's a healer. 00:06:15.199 --> 00:06:17.759 That's the kind of love that God has for you. 00:06:17.920 --> 00:06:20.560 You are made to last forever. 00:06:21.120 --> 00:06:21.680 Forever. 00:06:21.839 --> 00:06:25.360 One day your heart will stop and it'll be the end of your body. 00:06:25.600 --> 00:06:28.079 And uh, but it won't be the end of you. 00:06:29.519 --> 00:06:30.800 It won't be the end of you. 00:06:30.959 --> 00:06:34.160 That's why we as believers, we don't fear death. 00:06:34.800 --> 00:06:42.720 We don't fear the pain because we know that there's a lifetime we were designed in the image of God so that we'll spend more time on that side. 00:06:42.879 --> 00:06:49.759 You know, you're gonna get 80 plus years on this side, but you're gonna have an eternity on the other side. 00:06:50.560 --> 00:06:54.000 And that's where our lifespan will be. 00:06:54.560 --> 00:07:03.600 So we can either build for ourselves treasure on this side, 80 plus years, or we can build for ourselves treasures in heaven. 00:07:03.839 --> 00:07:15.279 And when we when we work every day, we look through this grid, we look through this lens of saying, what are we doing today that makes an impact for eternity? 00:07:16.079 --> 00:07:19.839 And as believers, that's where uh why we have such great hope. 00:07:20.079 --> 00:07:23.600 Because we don't have just a margin or a sliver of time. 00:07:23.920 --> 00:07:26.480 We have an eternity to look forward to. 00:07:26.959 --> 00:07:29.360 We have an eternity to hope for. 00:07:29.759 --> 00:07:31.360 Is Dylan here today? 00:07:32.319 --> 00:07:43.680 Dylan! Dylan, wait a sea. 00:07:44.000 --> 00:07:46.879 I haven't I'm so glad you're here with us. 00:07:47.040 --> 00:07:49.680 This is this is a God day. 00:07:51.120 --> 00:07:51.759 Right on. 00:07:52.000 --> 00:07:53.519 Dylan, we love you. 00:07:54.959 --> 00:08:02.879 Thank God, thank God for you, and we've been thanking God for the healing he's doing for you and your body continuing to do for you. 00:08:03.040 --> 00:08:08.800 We love your family, and uh we're just so grateful to have you seated with us today. 00:08:08.959 --> 00:08:10.000 We're blessed. 00:08:10.319 --> 00:08:11.439 That's awesome. 00:08:11.759 --> 00:08:13.040 Answer to prayer. 00:08:13.279 --> 00:08:19.040 Last time I I was with Dylan in the in the hospital, he was looking forward to uh a steak. 00:08:19.199 --> 00:08:21.040 Did you get that steak on the grill? 00:08:21.199 --> 00:08:22.000 Not yet. 00:08:22.480 --> 00:08:22.800 No? 00:08:24.079 --> 00:08:27.199 Come on, boys, it's gonna come. 00:08:29.759 --> 00:08:31.120 Oh, we're excited. 00:08:31.199 --> 00:08:47.440 He, you know what one of the things Dylan has said is that he said, you know, that this is it's uh not just that he experienced, because we've grown up together, Dylan and I in church, and uh, you know, Dylan knew all the stories, but now he's part of the story. 00:08:48.159 --> 00:08:56.159 He's part of God's deliverance, and uh and you it's he's continuing your stories continue to continuing to move forward. 00:08:56.240 --> 00:08:57.440 So we're there with you. 00:08:57.679 --> 00:08:58.320 Amen. 00:08:58.639 --> 00:09:06.879 God has a plan for you, and uh God has long-range plans for you, it's not just short term. 00:09:07.039 --> 00:09:12.480 The right reason why he created the universe was for you because he wanted to have family. 00:09:14.480 --> 00:09:24.399 God is love, he wanted to love someone, he wanted to pour all of his love onto someone, into somebody. 00:09:24.559 --> 00:09:28.159 And it was so big that it wasn't just gonna be one vessel. 00:09:28.399 --> 00:09:35.120 So he created many vessels so that he could continue to pour love upon you. 00:09:36.399 --> 00:09:40.879 And if you've never experienced that love before, it's like a wave. 00:09:41.120 --> 00:09:44.159 It's a wave that just crashes over and over. 00:09:44.240 --> 00:10:00.000 And and uh in our culture, we experience like a margin of it when it comes to marriage, a margin of it when it comes to relationships inside of our home, a margin of it when it comes to uh our our friendships. 00:10:00.240 --> 00:10:08.240 But God's love is an agape love, it's a love that is central to who he is, it exudes from him. 00:10:10.080 --> 00:10:15.759 It's a part of who he is, and that love was to be poured out onto mankind. 00:10:16.000 --> 00:10:21.360 Hebrews says this God is the one who made all things and all things for his glory. 00:10:21.679 --> 00:10:26.000 He wanted to have many children to share his glory. 00:10:26.480 --> 00:10:36.399 Someone said to me the other day when we were talking about family, how uh in the scripture in Genesis it said that you needed to reproduce, to multiply. 00:10:36.559 --> 00:10:49.120 And I said that I had three kids, and they told me that I wasn't multiplying because uh two of us really, it's you need four to multiply between Natalie and I, you need four. 00:10:49.200 --> 00:10:50.639 And I stopped at three. 00:10:51.039 --> 00:10:53.840 I said, Oh my gosh, it's done though. 00:10:54.080 --> 00:10:54.960 It's done. 00:10:55.200 --> 00:10:57.840 So the Lord's gonna have to happen with three. 00:10:57.919 --> 00:11:00.960 But for all those thinking about family, four is the number. 00:11:01.120 --> 00:11:04.639 You gotta be biblical, trust God, four. 00:11:04.799 --> 00:11:05.200 Amen. 00:11:05.360 --> 00:11:07.840 Anthony's where are the Anthony's at, right? 00:11:11.039 --> 00:11:15.600 God created the human race because he knew that some of them would choose to love them. 00:11:16.159 --> 00:11:20.639 Everyone was created by God, but not everyone will choose to live for God. 00:11:21.919 --> 00:11:27.120 He was created and loved by God, but not in the family of God unless you choose that. 00:11:28.399 --> 00:11:38.159 I didn't have a choice to become part of the human race, but uh when I was born, but I became part of a family when someone chose to take me home with them. 00:11:39.440 --> 00:11:45.279 I became part of a family when I was embraced and accepted into the Calaman household. 00:11:46.559 --> 00:11:51.120 If you choose to be part of the family of God, there's there's some responsibilities. 00:11:51.200 --> 00:11:59.519 And when we become a part of this family of God, we begin to uh we begin to carry responsibility for his house. 00:12:00.639 --> 00:12:12.720 And uh one of those responsibilities in the church, which isn't an organization or a club or a social group, it's not a place where you go, it's a community, it's a family that you see. 00:12:13.039 --> 00:12:20.720 Um people in this room you'll have longer relationships with than you will your natural family. 00:12:22.240 --> 00:12:29.039 That a natural family comes and goes, there's separation, there's death, kids grow up, they move away. 00:12:29.200 --> 00:12:30.399 I'm already thinking about it. 00:12:30.559 --> 00:12:38.639 My daughter's uh 11, and I'm thinking, oh my goodness, you know, she's growing up and she's gonna move away and have her own family. 00:12:38.960 --> 00:12:46.080 On this side of eternity, uh there's a natural season. 00:12:46.799 --> 00:12:54.000 But for us as part of the family of God, I'm gonna be living down the street from Paul. 00:12:55.600 --> 00:12:58.159 In eternity, I'm living near Ryan Docker. 00:13:00.159 --> 00:13:02.960 We're gonna hang out together for eternity. 00:13:04.159 --> 00:13:07.279 So that's why it's so important that we learn to love each other. 00:13:07.600 --> 00:13:12.639 Because I'm gonna be sitting next to next to you for a long time. 00:13:13.840 --> 00:13:16.799 I've got to have that deeper love for you. 00:13:17.519 --> 00:13:24.159 And it's gonna start now, and the you don't wait until you die before that love for the family of God starts. 00:13:24.720 --> 00:13:29.039 You don't get to heaven, then all of a sudden, oh, now there's a love for the family of God. 00:13:29.279 --> 00:13:30.320 It starts now. 00:13:30.480 --> 00:13:50.639 That's why there's such uh that there's such enthusiasm and such vigor in praying for Dylan, there's such vigor in praying for Sean and for the Lon family, because they're already starting to grow in our hearts because we're a part of the same family. 00:13:52.240 --> 00:13:56.720 It starts as soon as we accept Christ into our hearts. 00:13:56.960 --> 00:14:05.759 We we welcome his blood to cleanse us, and that same blood that flows in me that cleanses me, cleansed you. 00:14:06.879 --> 00:14:12.960 That same one, that same father who saved me, saved you. 00:14:13.919 --> 00:14:18.480 And now we have the same father that makes us brothers and sisters. 00:14:18.559 --> 00:14:28.240 We're adopted into the same family, into a spiritual family, a spiritual network where if one hurts, we all hurt. 00:14:28.639 --> 00:14:31.279 And if one is blessed, then we're all blessed. 00:14:32.399 --> 00:14:40.799 And if one is in trouble, we scoot over and we help shoulder the burden for them so that they don't have to carry it by themselves. 00:14:41.519 --> 00:14:48.080 And we use our gifts and our talents and our energy to be able to be a support for uh for other people. 00:14:48.480 --> 00:14:52.080 Um, I'm you know, Val mentioned the people who are cooking. 00:14:52.240 --> 00:14:56.799 I'm other people can cook for them, and you'll probably be better off. 00:14:57.039 --> 00:14:58.720 I'll buy you some good food. 00:14:59.039 --> 00:15:02.320 But when it comes to cooking, that's their gift, that's their talent. 00:15:02.399 --> 00:15:05.200 They're using it to support the body of Christ. 00:15:06.080 --> 00:15:08.320 But everyone is valuable. 00:15:09.440 --> 00:15:15.600 We must learn to live with each other and love each other because we're part of that family. 00:15:15.840 --> 00:15:18.080 Jesus said this in John. 00:15:18.320 --> 00:15:20.879 He said, I'm giving you a new commandment. 00:15:22.000 --> 00:15:23.360 Love each other. 00:15:24.559 --> 00:15:26.639 Just as I've loved you. 00:15:27.519 --> 00:15:29.120 You should love each other. 00:15:29.360 --> 00:15:34.559 Your love for each other will prove to the world that you are my people. 00:15:36.720 --> 00:15:37.840 You are my people. 00:15:38.000 --> 00:15:45.200 The world will know that there's that you are Christian because of your love for one another. 00:15:46.399 --> 00:15:53.120 How important is the love that we have for our spiritual family, for the body of Christ? 00:15:53.440 --> 00:15:56.080 How do you know that you're part of the family of God? 00:15:56.320 --> 00:15:58.000 You begin to love one another. 00:15:58.240 --> 00:16:10.000 I was sitting with my son yesterday, and he we were talking, and he was saying, asking why people don't actually um believe in God. 00:16:10.960 --> 00:16:21.200 And I was saying, one of the indicators that you actually know that you believe in God, that you have a love for God, or that you you know God, is that you love the body of Christ. 00:16:21.840 --> 00:16:30.159 So if there isn't a love in you for other people, then that's what the table of communion is all about. 00:16:30.399 --> 00:16:33.279 The table of communion is supposed to address that. 00:16:33.519 --> 00:16:44.320 And the scripture says before you even start worshiping, make sure that you walk across the aisle and make things right with the people that are in the church. 00:16:44.799 --> 00:17:01.759 If you got an offense or a hurt or there's some kind of a miscommunication that's happening and a misunderstanding, you actually go to that person and make things right because, or else the scripture says, or else your worship is going to be worthless. 00:17:03.279 --> 00:17:06.640 Your sacrifice will have been to no avail. 00:17:07.920 --> 00:17:18.720 And so we need to make things right, and that's why we have communion and the tables here each week, just so that our hearts are right before people and before God. 00:17:19.920 --> 00:17:23.839 So what does God, why does God want us to love each other? 00:17:24.480 --> 00:17:27.039 Number one, because it makes us like him. 00:17:27.920 --> 00:17:29.519 It makes us like him. 00:17:32.079 --> 00:17:37.519 God created you to live like him, so God is loving, and so we need to be loving. 00:17:37.839 --> 00:17:47.359 If we're uh we're adopted into a family where our father is love, then the sons and the daughters must carry love as well. 00:17:48.559 --> 00:17:50.880 So, what does that love look like? 00:17:51.279 --> 00:17:54.480 That love carries with it responsibility. 00:17:55.119 --> 00:17:57.920 Number two, God likes it when his kids get along. 00:17:58.079 --> 00:18:00.160 How many of you like it when your kids get along? 00:18:00.720 --> 00:18:02.880 Stop, stop, stop. 00:18:04.240 --> 00:18:05.920 You're oh man. 00:18:06.480 --> 00:18:09.839 Just thank you, Jesus, for my children. 00:18:10.079 --> 00:18:13.039 Kids getting into fights is not cool. 00:18:13.839 --> 00:18:20.960 It's not cool, but when people get along, when God likes it, when his kids get along with each other. 00:18:21.119 --> 00:18:23.440 That's why God wants us to love each other. 00:18:23.680 --> 00:18:26.480 Number three, we practice for eternity. 00:18:27.519 --> 00:18:32.480 We get we start loving now because we're gonna be spending a lot of time together. 00:18:32.720 --> 00:18:34.880 I don't know if that's a threat. 00:18:36.079 --> 00:18:37.519 That's a blessing. 00:18:37.759 --> 00:18:40.799 Uh, but learning to love each other is fellowship. 00:18:41.039 --> 00:18:47.119 You know, worship is good, and some people are really good at worship, and worship is where we learn how to love God. 00:18:47.359 --> 00:18:50.720 And some people are really, really good at worship. 00:18:50.960 --> 00:18:54.160 Fellowship is where we learn to love each other. 00:18:55.200 --> 00:19:05.599 And here's the thing: you can be really good at worship, loving God, but not good at loving people, or you can be really good at loving people and not good at loving God. 00:19:07.200 --> 00:19:09.119 And we need to have both. 00:19:09.839 --> 00:19:20.720 Where we have love, agape love, that love of God that allows us to not just love God, it's like a vertical love up and love out. 00:19:21.519 --> 00:19:23.440 They call it like an L. 00:19:23.599 --> 00:19:24.000 You get it? 00:19:24.079 --> 00:19:24.960 Like for love? 00:19:26.319 --> 00:19:28.000 Uh just a reminder there. 00:19:28.079 --> 00:19:28.559 There it is. 00:19:28.799 --> 00:19:30.559 Loving up and loving out. 00:19:30.960 --> 00:19:33.279 That's where how we love each other. 00:19:33.519 --> 00:19:38.000 We need to carry that same caliber of love for God as we do for each other. 00:19:38.480 --> 00:19:43.920 So worship, fellowship, connection is so important. 00:19:44.160 --> 00:19:49.279 So I'm gonna talk to you this morning about four levels of worship, of fellowship. 00:19:49.599 --> 00:19:55.759 Four levels of fellowship, and I'm gonna start from like the very basic and move to more advanced. 00:19:56.160 --> 00:20:01.359 And I'm gonna just share these things with you, and you tell me where you are. 00:20:01.680 --> 00:20:06.480 You just kind of indicate where you actually sit in the scale. 00:20:06.640 --> 00:20:12.000 Number one, the most shallow level of worship is that we learn to share together. 00:20:12.640 --> 00:20:15.440 Or level of fellowship is sharing together. 00:20:15.839 --> 00:20:25.839 The Bible says that uh that the first church community, the first thing they did was they met together and they shared whatever they had. 00:20:26.079 --> 00:20:30.079 They had everything in common and they shared things together. 00:20:30.240 --> 00:20:36.160 Uh, the more you share with someone, the deeper your fellowship with that individual becomes. 00:20:37.119 --> 00:20:50.640 So you share your time, you share your resources, you share your experiences, you share all these things with someone, and in that process, you become closer to that individual. 00:20:51.599 --> 00:20:53.440 Sharing is caring. 00:20:54.640 --> 00:20:56.480 Sharing is caring. 00:20:56.799 --> 00:21:02.240 It's that love, it's the shallowest level, it's what we all need to be doing. 00:21:02.480 --> 00:21:09.200 When I've got an uh I've got a story you need to hear, I need to share it. 00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:15.279 Some of you need to share an ear, you need to hear what other people are saying to you. 00:21:15.920 --> 00:21:20.720 Some of us need to be speakers, communicators, some of us need to be listeners. 00:21:21.200 --> 00:21:32.799 We need to be sharing with each other, sharing each other's burdens, sharing each other's uh challenges, sharing each other's blessings and celebrations and wins. 00:21:33.359 --> 00:21:35.839 And share in times when there's loss. 00:21:37.440 --> 00:21:47.039 The first followers of Jesus were famous for loving each other and loving people and sharing with people. 00:21:47.519 --> 00:21:48.799 It was constant. 00:21:48.960 --> 00:21:51.680 They spent time together every day. 00:21:51.839 --> 00:21:54.480 All the believers met constantly. 00:21:55.279 --> 00:21:58.880 Together they were meeting and sharing and eating together. 00:21:59.119 --> 00:21:59.759 I love that part. 00:22:00.400 --> 00:22:03.519 Eating together, eating together, eating together. 00:22:04.319 --> 00:22:05.680 Sundays are great for that. 00:22:05.759 --> 00:22:06.960 And there's a reason for that. 00:22:07.119 --> 00:22:12.640 You come to church, you meet together, then you go out later and you eat together. 00:22:12.960 --> 00:22:15.599 It's a spiritual practice. 00:22:15.839 --> 00:22:21.359 So when you go to that Chinese buffet afterwards, you're serving Jesus at the buffet. 00:22:21.599 --> 00:22:22.799 You're doing it. 00:22:23.039 --> 00:22:26.400 You're sharing with each other during that time. 00:22:26.720 --> 00:22:28.480 Fellowship takes time. 00:22:28.720 --> 00:22:33.680 Good marriages become and strong marriages happen over time. 00:22:33.920 --> 00:22:37.839 Good friendships, strong friendships happen over time. 00:22:38.079 --> 00:22:40.160 They don't just happen immediately. 00:22:40.480 --> 00:22:43.599 You share experiences with each other. 00:22:44.160 --> 00:22:47.279 No deep relationships happen without time. 00:22:48.640 --> 00:22:57.440 So you can't, if you don't have time to like check in with people and make those connections with people, then you're just too busy. 00:22:58.079 --> 00:22:59.119 You're too busy. 00:22:59.359 --> 00:23:01.519 People aren't gonna work just around your schedule. 00:23:01.599 --> 00:23:03.200 You gotta make that time. 00:23:03.519 --> 00:23:05.839 So a lot of people never get through this level. 00:23:05.920 --> 00:23:09.599 Like they just, their connection and the way they share with each other is very simple. 00:23:09.759 --> 00:23:10.720 Hey, how are you doing? 00:23:10.799 --> 00:23:13.359 It's good, all's good, cool. 00:23:14.000 --> 00:23:15.839 How about them Canucks? 00:23:16.480 --> 00:23:18.319 It's just very simple. 00:23:18.960 --> 00:23:24.799 But sharing with each other makes a big difference when you actually get deeper in your relationship. 00:23:25.680 --> 00:23:30.480 Hebrews says, let's not give up the habit of meeting together. 00:23:30.720 --> 00:23:34.880 Instead, when you meet together, encourage each other. 00:23:35.440 --> 00:23:40.960 The word encourage means to inject courage into each other. 00:23:41.279 --> 00:23:42.480 You can do it. 00:23:42.799 --> 00:23:43.839 Way to go. 00:23:44.079 --> 00:23:45.839 It's gonna be okay. 00:23:46.160 --> 00:23:48.000 You can accomplish this. 00:23:48.319 --> 00:23:49.440 You're not alone. 00:23:49.599 --> 00:23:50.720 We're behind you. 00:23:50.880 --> 00:23:55.039 You know, that encouragement factor is huge for relationships. 00:23:55.119 --> 00:23:57.200 How many of you love an encourager? 00:23:57.680 --> 00:24:00.079 Oh Lord, thank you for encouragers. 00:24:00.319 --> 00:24:03.039 Like you just need those encouragers in your life. 00:24:03.279 --> 00:24:08.880 The habit of meeting together for the first 300 years of Christianity, the church met in homes. 00:24:09.359 --> 00:24:10.880 We open our homes up. 00:24:11.039 --> 00:24:14.640 The scripture says, open your homes up without complaining. 00:24:14.960 --> 00:24:25.519 One of the indicators that you're a Christian is that you're hospitable to people, all people, different genders, different race, different. 00:24:26.240 --> 00:24:36.000 You open your heart up to people who are of different level places in life, if they're poor, if they're rich, if they're sinner, if they're saint. 00:24:36.240 --> 00:24:41.200 We open our houses up because we carry that hospitality. 00:24:41.599 --> 00:24:44.319 Sharing those experiences is so important. 00:24:45.359 --> 00:24:47.039 We learn from each other. 00:24:47.200 --> 00:24:49.519 So let me tell you what Corinthians says. 00:24:49.680 --> 00:24:53.039 The scripture says about how what we should do when we get together. 00:24:53.279 --> 00:24:59.759 When you gather, each one of you should be prepared with something useful for all. 00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:05.279 Sing a song, teach a lesson, tell a story, lead a prayer, provide an insight. 00:25:05.519 --> 00:25:09.440 Take your turn with no one person taking over. 00:25:09.680 --> 00:25:11.920 That way you learn from each other. 00:25:12.160 --> 00:25:16.480 This is a way that we work together and we share support. 00:25:16.960 --> 00:25:20.400 Rejoice with those who rejoice, mourn with those who mourn. 00:25:20.559 --> 00:25:22.000 We're caring each other. 00:25:22.240 --> 00:25:24.880 Number two, this is a little deeper now. 00:25:25.119 --> 00:25:26.720 Sharing is easy. 00:25:26.880 --> 00:25:28.240 It's the shallowest level. 00:25:28.400 --> 00:25:33.680 But as we get deeper in fellowship, we learn to belong together. 00:25:33.920 --> 00:25:36.799 The fellowship of belonging together. 00:25:37.039 --> 00:25:38.640 Love is a commitment. 00:25:38.799 --> 00:25:48.079 If you're committed to someone, a marriage, a friendship, if you really love someone, you'll place commitment. 00:25:48.799 --> 00:25:52.079 Guys, if you love that woman, you'll put a ring on it. 00:26:00.400 --> 00:26:03.279 I'll just let that sit for a little while. 00:26:06.799 --> 00:26:08.720 You'll put a ring on it. 00:26:10.000 --> 00:26:11.279 Love is commitment. 00:26:11.440 --> 00:26:14.240 Belonging is the difference between sharing and belonging. 00:26:14.400 --> 00:26:17.119 You don't belong until there's that commitment. 00:26:17.920 --> 00:26:22.480 You don't belong until there's that place of commitment. 00:26:22.640 --> 00:26:28.400 Like when I put a ring on my wife's finger, she I committed to her. 00:26:28.640 --> 00:26:29.839 I've committed to her. 00:26:30.000 --> 00:26:31.599 I belong to her. 00:26:32.319 --> 00:26:34.319 She belongs to me. 00:26:34.799 --> 00:26:39.599 And there's that unity of spirit and of heart. 00:26:39.920 --> 00:26:41.440 Belonging is important. 00:26:42.160 --> 00:26:45.839 It makes the difference between an attender and a member. 00:26:46.079 --> 00:26:49.680 It's the difference between a spectator and a participator. 00:26:49.839 --> 00:26:56.400 It's the difference between an outsider who just watches and an insider who helps assemble and build. 00:26:57.279 --> 00:27:03.759 Commitment, belonging together, requires that place of commitment. 00:27:04.079 --> 00:27:13.359 Say, I belong to you, you belong to me, and there's nothing you can do that can tear me away because I'm committed to you. 00:27:13.599 --> 00:27:15.119 We need to love each other. 00:27:15.279 --> 00:27:17.519 We need to love his church. 00:27:17.920 --> 00:27:20.079 Love the people around us. 00:27:21.039 --> 00:27:22.240 And follow. 00:27:22.799 --> 00:27:30.240 Anyone who doesn't have this level of commitment, anyone who's just on their own, the scripture calls them orphans. 00:27:31.279 --> 00:27:33.279 And an orphan is alone. 00:27:33.440 --> 00:27:48.400 When an orphan is in trouble, they're the most vulnerable because they don't have someone around them who can help pick them up, who can help keep them on the straight and narrow, who can who can help them during their difficulties. 00:27:48.640 --> 00:27:55.759 Being a Christian without being a part of a church is like saying, I want to be a football player, but not part of the NFL. 00:27:56.240 --> 00:28:00.240 I want to play for the NFL, but I don't want to be a part of any NFL team. 00:28:02.079 --> 00:28:06.880 I want to be a part of the army, but I don't want to be a part of any specific platoon. 00:28:07.039 --> 00:28:08.960 I just want to be on my own. 00:28:09.519 --> 00:28:10.799 The army of one. 00:28:11.920 --> 00:28:13.839 That's the way it works. 00:28:14.160 --> 00:28:18.079 But when we belong to each other, it's important. 00:28:18.319 --> 00:28:23.359 It takes our level of fellowship to a deeper level, a commitment to each other. 00:28:23.519 --> 00:28:26.559 Belonging in Scripture is not optional. 00:28:26.720 --> 00:28:30.960 The person who loves God must also love other believers. 00:28:32.480 --> 00:28:33.759 This is what the scripture says. 00:28:33.920 --> 00:28:37.359 The person who loves God must also love other believers. 00:28:37.599 --> 00:28:48.319 It says, if you are members of God's very own family and you belong in God's household with every other Christian, there's this place of belonging. 00:28:48.559 --> 00:28:53.359 Love, the scripture says in 1 Peter, love your spiritual family. 00:28:53.920 --> 00:28:54.880 Love them. 00:28:55.440 --> 00:28:58.319 Open your homes to each other without complaining. 00:28:58.559 --> 00:29:00.000 1 Peter 4:9. 00:29:00.720 --> 00:29:02.400 These are things that we do. 00:29:02.640 --> 00:29:04.240 Now, how can you belong? 00:29:04.640 --> 00:29:08.319 One of the ways we do it is through our next steps program. 00:29:08.480 --> 00:29:14.000 We do a 101 course where we give you an idea of who we are as a church. 00:29:14.240 --> 00:29:26.720 And after that course of who we are, that one hour, uh, 30-minute, one-hour course on 101, we ask you, say, do you want to become a partner? 00:29:27.519 --> 00:29:29.599 Do you want to belong to KCC? 00:29:29.920 --> 00:29:38.799 And this gives you opportunity to go home with your spouse and look at what we value and whether or not you're committed to be a part of that. 00:29:39.039 --> 00:29:52.160 And you actually sign off and you say to me and you indicate to our team, listen, you can trust, you can count on us, you can lean on us, you can lean on our talent, you can lean on our treasure, you can lean on our time. 00:29:52.400 --> 00:29:53.599 We're there for you. 00:29:53.759 --> 00:29:58.400 We'll pray, we'll give, we'll go, we'll do it, whatever the church needs. 00:29:58.640 --> 00:30:01.839 We're committed because we belong. 00:30:03.039 --> 00:30:05.839 The second way we do that is through baptism. 00:30:06.559 --> 00:30:12.160 Baptism is uh a picture of being a part of the body of Christ. 00:30:12.480 --> 00:30:14.559 It's an initiation. 00:30:14.799 --> 00:30:23.359 It doesn't make you a part of God's family being baptized, but it does identify you as being a part of the family of God. 00:30:26.000 --> 00:30:33.599 Just like a wedding band doesn't say that you're married, but it's a it's a symbol of the fact that you're married. 00:30:33.759 --> 00:30:37.599 And so if I lose my wedding band, it doesn't mean I'm no longer married. 00:30:39.359 --> 00:30:45.039 Some of you are watching, I'm not wearing my wedding band today, and it's because I've been going to the gym. 00:30:45.440 --> 00:30:52.240 And uh but the thing is, if you're uh if you're not wearing that band, it doesn't mean you're no longer married. 00:30:52.319 --> 00:30:54.720 It doesn't mean Natalie and I aren't married anymore. 00:30:54.960 --> 00:30:57.599 It means that we are now close. 00:30:57.920 --> 00:31:02.720 Like it's the wedding band is the indicator that yes, we are committed to each other. 00:31:03.279 --> 00:31:09.039 And so we're actually having at this end of this month a baptism service the week before Easter. 00:31:09.200 --> 00:31:19.039 So if anyone here wants to make that commitment to the church, to the spiritual family of God, we're encouraging you to actually get baptized. 00:31:19.200 --> 00:31:24.240 And uh, we have a big hot tub out front in front of everyone. 00:31:24.319 --> 00:31:32.799 You just announce, hey, I'm here to serve God and to serve the body of Christ, and you make that commitment and we baptize you. 00:31:32.880 --> 00:31:34.480 It's gonna be a great time. 00:31:34.960 --> 00:31:44.160 Number three, a deeper level of connecting is the fellowship of serving each other, serving together. 00:31:44.960 --> 00:31:49.839 When you serve with someone, you create this bond that's like deep. 00:31:50.720 --> 00:31:52.799 I love watching youth teams. 00:31:52.960 --> 00:32:05.759 For years I was part of youth teams, and my youth leaders, when I was a youth pastor, are all over the world, and they're still connecting with me today because of the experiences we had serving together. 00:32:06.480 --> 00:32:11.839 When you serve with someone, the scripture even says we're partners, we work together for God. 00:32:12.480 --> 00:32:17.599 When you serve together, you work together, you grow close to each other. 00:32:17.839 --> 00:32:20.000 You're working together. 00:32:20.240 --> 00:32:29.519 This level you start working, collaborating, partnering with a common purpose, and your love grows deeper with that person that you're working with. 00:32:29.759 --> 00:32:35.039 Marriages that minister together are most fulfilled marriages. 00:32:35.440 --> 00:33:03.359 When a marriage, it's been statistically written that those couples that are ministering together, either running a small group or being a part of some form of ministry, worship, greeters, coffee, it doesn't matter, hospital ministry, wherever they are, if they're ministering together, missions, their relationship grows closer. 00:33:03.920 --> 00:33:10.559 So if you want your relationship to grow closer with your spouse, ask yourself, are you serving together? 00:33:11.200 --> 00:33:13.599 Are you serving in the body of Christ? 00:33:13.920 --> 00:33:16.079 Are you connected in any way? 00:33:16.319 --> 00:33:24.880 When someone's on the worship team here and they're struggling, they've got a whole team around them that can serve, that can help them. 00:33:25.759 --> 00:33:26.640 Stay with them. 00:33:26.799 --> 00:33:35.200 An article in the New York Times, this was a few years ago, uh, wrote, there was this article that said, you don't need superstars to win. 00:33:35.279 --> 00:33:40.880 And a similar article was written about Google just recently when they assessed their employees. 00:33:41.039 --> 00:33:47.519 And they did a study and they said that teams that win aren't the biggest, aren't the teams with the biggest superstars. 00:33:48.400 --> 00:34:01.279 The ones that win are the ones that know how to work together, and the ones who honor each other, and the ones who collaborate together and support each other and encourage each other in their strengths. 00:34:01.680 --> 00:34:05.759 The scripture says this the whole body is fitted together. 00:34:06.079 --> 00:34:14.239 As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow so that the whole body is healthy and growing in love. 00:34:15.039 --> 00:34:22.400 God did not bring you to sit, to soak, to sour in your chair every Sunday. 00:34:22.639 --> 00:34:24.480 I sit, I soak, I sour. 00:34:24.639 --> 00:34:26.320