WEBVTT 00:00:00.239 --> 00:00:03.919 There's something about the power of a story. 00:00:04.559 --> 00:00:05.599 My name's Maggie. 00:00:05.679 --> 00:00:13.439 If we haven't met before, I'm one of the pastors around here, and I'm so excited to be with you this morning as we continue in our series called You Belong Here. 00:00:13.759 --> 00:00:21.280 Like Sarah said, she connected with stories of people that made her feel rooted in belonging. 00:00:21.519 --> 00:00:22.719 The same has been true for me. 00:00:22.800 --> 00:00:28.800 So I want to start out our time together today, getting to know each other a little better by maybe sharing my story with you. 00:00:28.879 --> 00:00:34.000 There's a tool that we use at 242 called the 15-second story. 00:00:34.159 --> 00:00:41.439 And it's a way that we try to connect with other people to get to know them and understand what God is doing in their lives. 00:00:41.520 --> 00:00:45.600 And so I'd like to start by sharing my 15-second story with you. 00:00:45.840 --> 00:00:49.600 There was a time in my life when I felt alone. 00:00:50.960 --> 00:00:58.159 But because of Jesus, I'm becoming a person who has a place to belong. 00:00:58.719 --> 00:01:00.320 Just like Sarah. 00:01:00.640 --> 00:01:02.320 Maybe just like you. 00:01:02.960 --> 00:01:06.079 Like I said, we're in the middle of this series called You Belong Here. 00:01:06.159 --> 00:01:15.439 Last week we started off talking about how the foundation of this whole idea of belonging is rooted in the fact that we belong to God. 00:01:16.239 --> 00:01:25.920 That God in his mercy sent Jesus to pay the penalty for our sin and bring us back into a relationship with the Father. 00:01:26.159 --> 00:01:35.599 And so today we're going to take one more step into that story by talking about how because of what Jesus did, we belong with each other. 00:01:37.120 --> 00:01:42.719 That because of what Jesus did for us, we belong with each other. 00:01:42.879 --> 00:01:44.640 I'm going to make that a little more personal. 00:01:44.959 --> 00:01:46.879 You belong with each other. 00:01:47.040 --> 00:01:49.280 Take a moment and look around the room. 00:01:50.400 --> 00:01:56.879 You might see people that you know, people you don't know, people that you know and you don't like. 00:02:00.000 --> 00:02:02.239 That laugh means that's true. 00:02:04.799 --> 00:02:06.799 You belong with each other. 00:02:06.959 --> 00:02:09.680 And if you're watching online, I want you to know that's true for you too. 00:02:09.840 --> 00:02:13.919 Wherever you find yourself this morning as you are gathered in worship. 00:02:14.240 --> 00:02:17.280 We belong with each other. 00:02:18.080 --> 00:02:23.360 So we're gonna look at Philippians chapter two today as we dig deeper into this idea. 00:02:23.520 --> 00:02:27.840 If you have your Bibles or a Bible app, go ahead and turn with me to Philippians chapter two. 00:02:28.080 --> 00:02:37.360 If you're at home watching online, if you don't have a Bible with you, you can pull up your internet browser, go to biblegateway.com and type in Philippians chapter 2. 00:02:37.919 --> 00:02:39.840 I am really, you're gonna learn this quickly. 00:02:39.919 --> 00:02:43.520 I'm really passionate about you knowing God's word for yourself. 00:02:44.000 --> 00:02:55.199 I can kind of say, for the most part, anything I want to say up here, but unless you are reading God's word for yourself, you don't have the opportunity to know God personally for yourself. 00:02:55.439 --> 00:02:56.080 Amen. 00:02:56.560 --> 00:02:58.080 So let's study his word together. 00:02:58.240 --> 00:03:03.919 We're gonna take a detour a little bit back to Philippians chapter one from last week. 00:03:04.159 --> 00:03:11.599 And Paul is writing to the church in Philippi, and we read last week that he has great affection for them. 00:03:11.840 --> 00:03:23.599 But what we'll find out today is that he is also writing to them because they're starting to have some conflicts in their community, some ministry disagreements, some tensions. 00:03:24.479 --> 00:03:26.960 I mean, we don't have anything like that these days. 00:03:28.639 --> 00:03:30.159 Of course we do. 00:03:30.800 --> 00:03:34.000 Just like they did back then in the church in Philippi. 00:03:34.080 --> 00:03:39.039 And actually, Paul speaks to this in Philippians chapter 1, verse 15. 00:03:39.199 --> 00:03:44.479 He says, It's true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 00:03:44.639 --> 00:03:50.639 There are these people who had begun preaching the gospel not with the right motivation. 00:03:50.800 --> 00:03:55.759 They were preaching the gospel out of envy and rivalry towards Paul. 00:03:57.919 --> 00:04:00.960 Not because they wanted to see people come to Christ. 00:04:01.120 --> 00:04:06.319 And here was here was Paul's response to that, verse 18, he says, but what does it matter? 00:04:07.599 --> 00:04:08.479 What does it matter? 00:04:08.639 --> 00:04:15.680 The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached, and because of this I rejoice. 00:04:15.840 --> 00:04:18.480 Let me tell you, that would not be my response. 00:04:19.600 --> 00:04:27.439 And I know it probably wouldn't be yours either, but but Paul has this posture of humility. 00:04:28.639 --> 00:04:35.839 This posture of humility because he knows that the end goal is the gospel being preached and proclaimed. 00:04:35.920 --> 00:04:40.720 The end goal is those who are far from God drawing near to him. 00:04:42.399 --> 00:04:50.879 He kind of continues this idea, moving from his personal interactions with these tensions to a communal challenge. 00:04:51.120 --> 00:04:58.800 In verse 27, he says, Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. 00:05:00.160 --> 00:05:00.800 Ooh. 00:05:02.319 --> 00:05:07.439 Conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. 00:05:08.319 --> 00:05:09.439 Well, what does this look like? 00:05:09.519 --> 00:05:16.720 Well, he tells us later in the verse that I will know that you stand firm in one spirit. 00:05:17.439 --> 00:05:28.480 There's something about conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ that includes being unified in one spirit. 00:05:29.199 --> 00:05:34.319 And it's out of that idea that Paul brings us into chapter two. 00:05:34.720 --> 00:05:38.480 So here we go, chapter two, verse one, Paul says this. 00:05:38.800 --> 00:05:57.439 Therefore, Bible College Maggie learned many years ago that therefore is a connector word that means because of everything that I just said, Paul, because of everything I just said to you about conducting your lives in a manner worthy of the gospel so that people who are far from God can be drawn near to him because of that. 00:05:57.680 --> 00:06:14.879 Therefore, if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being in one spirit and of one mind. 00:06:15.199 --> 00:06:18.879 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. 00:06:19.120 --> 00:06:29.199 Rather, in humility, value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests, but each of you to the interests of others. 00:06:29.600 --> 00:06:31.120 So let's unpack this a little bit. 00:06:31.279 --> 00:06:37.920 Paul begins Philippians chapter 2 by making four conditional statements. 00:06:38.319 --> 00:06:55.839 He says, if you have encouragement from being united with Christ, if you have comfort from his love, if you have fellowship with the Spirit, if you experience tenderness and compassion, then you will be united in spirit. 00:06:56.480 --> 00:07:02.319 Then you will be humble, then you will value other people as better than yourselves. 00:07:02.560 --> 00:07:10.319 If you have been changed by the sacrifice and the love of Jesus, your life will look like laying it down. 00:07:12.720 --> 00:07:15.199 I'll say that again because I don't think you got it. 00:07:15.439 --> 00:07:23.120 If you have been changed by the love of Jesus, then that means your life will look like one that is laid down. 00:07:24.959 --> 00:07:37.680 Now, let's be honest, this type of reality, that this type of person that Paul is encouraging the church in Philippi to be, does not look anything like our culture today. 00:07:37.920 --> 00:07:38.480 Right? 00:07:38.720 --> 00:07:42.160 It does not look like what oftentimes we're encouraged to be. 00:07:42.399 --> 00:07:48.399 We're encouraged to puff up, to show up, to be tough, to take control. 00:07:48.560 --> 00:07:56.399 I was watching a, I was scrolling on Facebook uh last night, and this ad came across my feed for masterclass. 00:07:56.800 --> 00:08:05.839 And masterclass has these different professors from institutions who go on and record trainings for you to become the type of leader you want to be. 00:08:06.000 --> 00:08:12.399 And this one professor from Yale came on there in the ad and he said, Do you want to be a person who gets power? 00:08:13.439 --> 00:08:18.000 You don't get power by sitting back, you get power by seizing it. 00:08:21.759 --> 00:08:27.360 These are the type of mindsets that are discipling us into a way of being. 00:08:27.519 --> 00:08:35.840 And it's completely opposite from what Paul is saying it means for those who follow Christ to live. 00:08:36.559 --> 00:08:40.159 Completely opposite of what Paul is describing here. 00:08:41.840 --> 00:08:45.600 You know, I've heard it said that you can't be something that you haven't seen. 00:08:45.679 --> 00:08:58.720 And so I think as Paul continues on in this chapter, some of the most powerful verses in the book of Philippians, he gives us a picture to see so that we can be what he's encouraging us to be. 00:08:59.600 --> 00:09:11.600 Verse 5, he says, In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus, who being in the very nature of God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage. 00:09:11.759 --> 00:09:14.159 Rather, he made himself nothing. 00:09:15.120 --> 00:09:26.000 By taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness, and being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. 00:09:26.240 --> 00:09:44.320 Therefore, God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. 00:09:45.519 --> 00:09:53.039 Paul is saying, This is what it looks like to live a life worthy of the calling of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:09:54.480 --> 00:09:55.840 This is how you should live. 00:09:56.000 --> 00:09:58.960 You should live in humility. 00:09:59.200 --> 00:10:04.960 And he begins to give examples of all of the ways that Jesus did this. 00:10:05.279 --> 00:10:14.000 He says that we should live in relationship with one another in this way, mirroring Christ's actions. 00:10:14.879 --> 00:10:23.440 That Jesus came, and even though he's in the very nature, he is God, he lowered himself to become nothing. 00:10:24.159 --> 00:10:28.720 And then he took on the very nature of a servant, became even lower. 00:10:29.120 --> 00:10:33.600 And then he was made in human likeness even lower. 00:10:34.080 --> 00:10:38.559 And then he became obedient unto death, even lower. 00:10:39.360 --> 00:10:42.000 Even death on a cross. 00:10:42.320 --> 00:10:43.759 The lowest of all. 00:12:08.399 --> 00:12:21.440 When we are united with Christ, Paul says, therefore, if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, then we have been given the power through the Holy Spirit to engage in relationships with one another in this way. 00:12:24.720 --> 00:12:25.759 Humility. 00:12:41.279 --> 00:12:42.720 How do you do that? 00:12:43.039 --> 00:12:45.759 Do you do that by just trying to be more humble? 00:12:45.919 --> 00:12:54.879 Okay, I'm gonna like write the word humility on a sticky note and put it on my bathroom mirror, and just every morning for 30 minutes think about being humble, and then I'll go out and be humble. 00:12:56.159 --> 00:13:00.159 No, that's not how it works, mostly because I've tried it. 00:13:02.720 --> 00:13:08.399 Couple days ago, uh, I was in the line, in the drive-thru line at Wendy's. 00:13:08.639 --> 00:13:14.559 I was driving the car, my husband was sitting in the passenger seat, and my two kids ages five and eight were in the backseat. 00:13:14.639 --> 00:13:18.159 And it was kind of a long line, so we just had time to sit and chat. 00:13:18.480 --> 00:13:22.960 And my five-year-old says, you know what? 00:13:23.519 --> 00:13:26.240 I can't wait to be married one day. 00:13:28.320 --> 00:13:33.200 I really want to be a husband because when I get to be a husband, that means I get to drive all the time. 00:13:37.519 --> 00:13:41.039 I would like you to remember who was driving the car at that moment. 00:13:46.080 --> 00:13:53.279 Listen, now I want you to know that my husband does a really great job at operating motorized vehicles. 00:13:53.519 --> 00:13:57.039 In fact, it's one of the top 100 things I like to watch him do. 00:13:58.080 --> 00:14:03.039 In that moment, he brilliantly responded to our son. 00:14:03.600 --> 00:14:08.879 He said, Well, buddy, you know, I really like being in the driver's seat. 00:14:09.440 --> 00:14:11.759 I really like being in the driver's seat. 00:14:12.320 --> 00:14:15.200 But being in the driver's seat isn't what makes me a man. 00:14:16.320 --> 00:14:19.360 Your mom is really capable of driving the car on her own. 00:14:19.519 --> 00:14:24.559 And I feel just as much as a man sitting in the passenger seat with her as I do when I'm in the driver's seat. 00:14:27.120 --> 00:14:33.279 In that moment, he modeled for our son humility. 00:14:35.279 --> 00:14:39.519 That just because he can doesn't mean he will. 00:14:41.440 --> 00:14:44.799 And I'll be honest, he is a better driver than me. 00:14:46.639 --> 00:14:55.600 By far, the amount of times that I have tried to like back up a trailer or something with that man in a car and I break out into sweat, knowing he could do it better than me. 00:14:56.000 --> 00:15:00.159 But just because he can doesn't mean he will. 00:15:31.519 --> 00:15:36.080 That his identity was rooted in belonging to the father before anything else. 00:15:36.240 --> 00:15:37.360 I see the same thing in my husband. 00:15:37.519 --> 00:15:40.799 He wakes up at 4:30 every morning to work out and spend time with the Lord. 00:15:41.039 --> 00:15:45.440 His identity is rooted in who he knows he is before God. 00:15:45.600 --> 00:15:48.720 And so he's able to say, I'll let that woman drive that car. 00:15:49.120 --> 00:15:49.919 Not let. 00:15:51.519 --> 00:15:53.200 We're partnership. 00:15:54.399 --> 00:15:58.480 He's able to say to our son, I know who I am. 00:15:59.440 --> 00:16:03.519 So having your mom drive the car doesn't bother me one bit. 00:16:06.960 --> 00:16:08.799 Do you know who you are? 00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:12.320 Do you know who you belong to? 00:16:16.240 --> 00:16:20.720 So Paul says, look like Jesus and reflecting his humility. 00:16:21.120 --> 00:16:23.679 And he continues on in verse 12, kind of doubling down. 00:16:23.759 --> 00:16:38.960 He says, Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. 00:16:39.279 --> 00:16:44.000 Okay, this is a mouthful, and I want to unpack this so that we don't get it wrong. 00:16:44.320 --> 00:16:51.600 It would be really easy to read this passage, specifically the section where it says, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. 00:16:51.679 --> 00:16:53.120 That phrase right there. 00:16:53.919 --> 00:16:57.679 Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. 00:16:57.759 --> 00:16:59.679 Let's unpack some of those words. 00:17:00.000 --> 00:17:00.879 Salvation. 00:17:02.000 --> 00:17:07.920 Salvation is a word that really uh depicts the message of the gospel. 00:17:08.319 --> 00:17:18.319 That God wanted relationship to be restored with you so much that he sent Jesus, his one and only perfect holy son, to die for your sin. 00:17:18.720 --> 00:17:21.359 Even though you were not perfect, you were not holy. 00:17:21.519 --> 00:17:23.680 In fact, you were an enemy of God. 00:17:23.920 --> 00:17:32.640 And God wanted relationship with you so bad that he sent Jesus to die on a cross for your sin, taking your sin onto himself. 00:17:33.440 --> 00:17:38.000 But here's the thing I want to make sure we understand about salvation. 00:17:38.240 --> 00:17:42.880 This is a theological term called double imputation. 00:17:43.279 --> 00:17:46.480 Everybody say with me, double imputation. 00:17:46.640 --> 00:17:47.279 Say it again. 00:17:47.599 --> 00:17:49.359 Double imputation. 00:17:49.759 --> 00:17:50.880 Imputation. 00:17:51.039 --> 00:17:53.359 I M-P-U-T-A-T-I-O-N. 00:17:54.400 --> 00:17:55.920 Double imputation. 00:17:56.240 --> 00:18:01.839 Imputation is the idea that I'm gonna credit something of mine to another person. 00:18:02.079 --> 00:18:12.799 And so I hear us oftentimes talking about how I, you know, when I confess my sins, Christ takes my sins upon himself in his death and sacrifice. 00:18:13.279 --> 00:18:23.920 He takes my sin and my shame and my rejection and my abandonment and my lust and my gossip and my fear and my doubt onto himself on the cross. 00:18:24.160 --> 00:18:25.599 And it's true. 00:18:26.720 --> 00:18:55.200 But double imputation means that Christ takes onto himself all of my ick, but then I take onto myself the double part, his holiness, his righteousness, his acceptance, his belonging, his inheritance, his peace, his joy, his humility. 00:18:55.440 --> 00:18:59.759 I don't just get confession. 00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:09.759 I think sometimes in my life I've heard salvation talked about a gift so much that in my mind I've pictured it as like a little jewelry box. 00:19:09.920 --> 00:19:11.119 Here's a gift. 00:19:12.720 --> 00:19:18.079 When really we're not just getting a piece of Jesus, we're getting all of him. 00:19:19.200 --> 00:19:25.039 Double imputation says that I give up all of me and I receive in me all of Christ. 00:19:26.960 --> 00:19:28.559 That's salvation. 00:19:29.039 --> 00:19:30.559 That's the gospel. 00:19:31.039 --> 00:19:36.559 So Paul says to continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. 00:19:36.720 --> 00:19:49.359 The word work out there, I think it could be tempting for us to read that sentence and think, okay, that means that I need to do work, that my faith is based on works. 00:19:50.559 --> 00:20:00.559 That phrase, continue to work out your salvation, work out there in the Greek, it actually literally means work down to the end point. 00:20:02.799 --> 00:20:06.720 So work out your salvation, work it down to the end point. 00:20:07.920 --> 00:20:16.400 And you know what that paints a picture of in my mind is the work of sanctification in my life. 00:20:16.720 --> 00:20:29.680 That in one moment I received double imputation, in one moment I received the fullness of Christ in my being, and also as I live, I am working out to the end point the sanctification of my life. 00:20:30.480 --> 00:20:34.319 And what better way to do that than being with people who get on my nerves? 00:20:36.799 --> 00:20:46.079 What better way to do that than to rub shoulders with and be on mission with people who are made differently than me, who are hurt, who've been hurt differently than me? 00:20:49.039 --> 00:21:01.599 That God uses this togetherness to help me work down to the end point the reality of my salvation that is true in one moment and continuing to grow in the other. 00:21:03.680 --> 00:21:20.960 Paul says, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, with awe and glory and majesty given to the Father, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. 00:21:21.359 --> 00:21:21.680 Okay. 00:21:22.960 --> 00:21:30.559 Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, with relationship to one another. 00:21:32.079 --> 00:21:34.240 But how do you do that practically? 00:21:34.480 --> 00:21:35.839 Oh, I'm glad you asked. 00:21:36.079 --> 00:21:42.480 Paul says in verse 14 do everything without grumbling or arguing. 00:21:42.640 --> 00:21:43.839 Okay, I'm really bad at that. 00:21:44.000 --> 00:21:53.759 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation. 00:21:53.920 --> 00:21:59.440 Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky, as you hold firmly to the word of life. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:05.359 And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. 00:22:05.599 --> 00:22:11.839 But even I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith. 00:22:12.000 --> 00:22:14.559 I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 00:22:14.880 --> 00:22:17.920 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me. 00:22:19.039 --> 00:22:30.880 Paul details, probably because he there are people in the Philippian church congregation that are a lot like me who need the black and white descriptions of what exactly do you want me to do, Paul? 00:22:32.480 --> 00:22:33.519 He lays it out. 00:22:33.759 --> 00:22:35.440 Here's what it looks like. 00:22:36.160 --> 00:22:41.839 Here's what it looks like to conduct your lives in a manner worthy of the gospel. 00:22:41.920 --> 00:22:44.960 Here's what it looks like to belong with each other. 00:22:47.759 --> 00:22:51.920 I think that's the whole story of Scripture, right? 00:22:53.359 --> 00:22:58.319 At the beginning of time, we were created for a relationship with the Father. 00:22:58.480 --> 00:23:03.039 But in our sin and shame and pride, we broke that relationship. 00:23:04.000 --> 00:23:07.440 We broke, in essence, our belonging. 00:23:10.720 --> 00:23:19.759 Ever since then, God has been working to restore the proximity to us, to restore our belonging. 00:23:20.880 --> 00:23:32.559 So then in Exodus, we read that God made his dwelling among the people in the tabernacle, in a tent that moved from place to place as God's people moved from place to place. 00:23:32.720 --> 00:23:35.039 The presence of God dwelled in this temple. 00:23:35.200 --> 00:23:38.160 That word dwell meant to make your home in a place. 00:23:38.319 --> 00:23:41.920 The God of this universe put his presence in a tent. 00:23:42.079 --> 00:23:42.480 Why? 00:23:42.640 --> 00:23:44.640 Because he wanted to belong with you. 00:23:44.799 --> 00:23:46.400 And he wanted you to belong with him. 00:23:46.720 --> 00:23:48.559 But that wasn't close enough for God. 00:23:48.720 --> 00:23:54.079 And so then we read in John chapter 1 that the word became flesh and made his what? 00:23:54.400 --> 00:23:56.319 Dwelling among us. 00:23:57.039 --> 00:24:09.519 So God takes one step closer, putting on flesh and walking around in bodily human form among us, going to a cross and dying on our behalf. 00:24:10.160 --> 00:24:12.400 But even that wasn't close enough. 00:24:12.799 --> 00:24:24.480 So then he sends the Holy Spirit to enter our very bodies, to make his home in us, to dwell in us so that we could belong. 00:24:24.880 --> 00:24:29.759 And here's, ooh, I hope this doesn't hurt your feelings, but if it does, it's not my fault. 00:24:30.240 --> 00:24:34.960 1 Corinthians chapter 3, this isn't going to be on the screen, but I want you to listen to this. 00:24:35.279 --> 00:24:37.839 The Holy Spirit has now entered our bodies. 00:24:37.920 --> 00:24:48.400 And Paul, writing to the church in Corinth about a very similar issue, by the way, that they're bickering and complaining and not being unified, and they're like, you know, being mad at each other and stuff. 00:24:48.720 --> 00:25:00.640 1 Corinthians 3.16, Paul tells them, don't you know that you yourselves, at this point, he's not talking to individuals, he's talking to the church collectively. 00:25:01.519 --> 00:25:08.079 Don't you know that you yourselves, 242 Community Church, are God's temple? 00:25:08.319 --> 00:25:10.079 And that God's Spirit what? 00:25:10.480 --> 00:25:13.359 Dwells in your midst. 00:25:16.640 --> 00:25:27.119 Paul's making the case for why we need to do work to guard against offense, why we need to do work to guard against disunity. 00:25:27.920 --> 00:25:36.880 Because the Spirit of God dwells, makes his home in us collectively, not only us individually. 00:25:39.279 --> 00:25:44.000 This isn't just an idea, it's your reality. 00:25:44.960 --> 00:25:51.519 And what happens when we live into this reality, when we become people who do all the things that Paul is encouraging us to do? 00:25:51.599 --> 00:25:57.119 Well, he tells us in verse 15, he says, we become blameless and pure. 00:25:57.839 --> 00:26:04.000 We become children of God and we shine like stars. 00:26:05.440 --> 00:26:07.119 We shine like stars. 00:26:08.319 --> 00:26:16.640 You know, when when I accepted Jesus into my life, when I decided to follow him, I was given a light. 00:26:16.799 --> 00:26:20.720 The light that I was given isn't mine, it's his. 00:26:21.519 --> 00:26:32.400 So that when I go out into the world and live my life, we can turn down the lights here and see what happens. 00:26:34.960 --> 00:26:40.160 When I go out into the world and live my life, I shine. 00:26:40.559 --> 00:26:51.440 Again, not from my own light, but in shining the light that Christ has given me, I can impact my family, I can impact my neighborhood. 00:26:52.720 --> 00:26:58.000 But what happens when we all take the light that we've been given? 00:26:58.960 --> 00:27:05.200 When we all live the way that we've been called to live, conducting our lives in a manner worthy of the gospel. 00:27:05.279 --> 00:27:09.200 If you were given a glow stick when you came in, go ahead and break those right now. 00:27:12.799 --> 00:27:14.480 And hold up your glow stick. 00:27:16.640 --> 00:27:17.599 Look around. 00:27:19.359 --> 00:27:26.640 When Maggie shines her light, it just impacts her neighborhood. 00:27:27.039 --> 00:27:32.799 When we all shine our lights, it impacts the world. 00:27:33.119 --> 00:27:45.680 I think this is why Paul said that we are to conduct our lives in a worthy manner of the gospel so that other people can see what it means to draw near to God. 00:27:45.920 --> 00:27:49.599 Because when we all do it together, this is what they see. 00:27:50.240 --> 00:28:00.000 They don't see you, they don't see me and all my awkwardness, they see a community changed because of the blood of Jesus that secured belonging. 00:28:02.240 --> 00:28:04.240 Can go ahead and raise the lights back up. 00:28:08.720 --> 00:28:10.960 So this is the challenge today. 00:28:12.880 --> 00:28:17.519 One, to remember that you were created to belong with each other. 00:28:19.119 --> 00:28:32.079 So that means, this is gonna be bad news for some of you, that if you get offended, if you don't like the preaching or the worship music and you decide to go to another church, you're still bound to us by the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:28:32.319 --> 00:28:32.960 Amen. 00:28:36.240 --> 00:28:44.640 That means if you get mad at somebody because they're really weird and awkward in your small group, you're still bound to them by the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:28:46.960 --> 00:28:56.559 That means that, like, if somebody looks at you a wrong way because they're tired and you take it as them giving you a dirty look, you're still bound to them by the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:28:59.359 --> 00:29:04.720 We are called to conduct our lives in a manner that's worthy of the gospel. 00:29:06.319 --> 00:29:13.200 To live into the reality of what Christ has already said is true about us, that we belong with each other. 00:29:14.079 --> 00:29:15.839 So here's your next step today. 00:29:17.119 --> 00:29:18.799 I'll make it really simple for you. 00:29:20.400 --> 00:29:23.920 Sign up for rooted or get in a group. 00:29:25.359 --> 00:29:27.759 Sign up for rooted or get in a group. 00:29:27.920 --> 00:29:39.680 Sarah told her story this morning about how when she went through rooted, when she began to hear the stories of other people and their mess of their lives, that it gave her the courage to share her story. 00:29:39.759 --> 00:29:47.279 That she went from literally being homeless to having a home, to being accepted, to belonging. 00:29:47.440 --> 00:29:50.720 Psalm 68 says that God takes the lonely and sets them in families. 00:29:50.799 --> 00:29:52.000 He did that for Sarah. 00:29:52.319 --> 00:29:54.079 He can do that for you too. 00:29:56.240 --> 00:30:02.319 Another next step is I want you to this week go and have a meal with someone. 00:30:02.559 --> 00:30:08.720 Sit with them over lunch, over dinner, and don't sit with them just to consume food, but to connect. 00:30:10.000 --> 00:30:13.759 Engage in what it means to listen to someone's story. 00:30:14.799 --> 00:30:23.119 And if they're feeling a little shy about sharing theirs and you can help it along by sharing yours, here's a formula that I recommend. 00:30:24.079 --> 00:30:30.400 There was a time in my life when I fill in the blank. 00:30:31.920 --> 00:30:37.599 There was a time in my life when I felt alone. 00:30:38.720 --> 00:30:44.400 When I was guarded, when I was so hurt and angry that I didn't want to be around other people. 00:30:45.759 --> 00:30:59.839 But because of Jesus, I'm becoming, I'm working down to the end point someone who belongs. 00:31:01.279 --> 00:31:03.039 Do you have a story like that? 00:31:05.200 --> 00:31:06.240 Let's pray. 00:31:09.119 --> 00:31:14.720 Jesus, I thank you that you are the model for us of what it looks like to belong. 00:31:16.559 --> 00:31:20.160 Not only are you the model, but you are the reason we have a place to belong. 00:31:20.319 --> 00:31:34.160 And so, Lord, I pray that in this moment, if there's anyone in this room who is who is wrestling with whether or not this is true, Lord, that you would just weigh your presence down on them today. 00:31:34.400 --> 00:31:42.400 That your Holy Spirit would fill their minds and cast out any lie or untruth or deception that the enemy is trying to plant. 00:31:42.640 --> 00:31:48.960 And that instead it would be placed with clarity, with your truth, with your compassion, Lord. 00:31:49.519 --> 00:32:08.559 And God, I ask that again also if there's anyone in this room who has an offense against someone in the body of Christ, that they would take this moment today to make it right because they know that we can shine like stars when we lay down our pride and pick up your humility. 00:32:08.960 --> 00:32:10.799 I pray this in Jesus' name. 00:32:11.119 --> 00:32:11.759 Amen. 00:32:13.440 --> 00:32:14.799 This is the time in our service.