WEBVTT 00:00:00.239 --> 00:00:02.959 To go to Kids Connection, you're now dismissed as well. 00:00:03.600 --> 00:00:04.799 Awesome. 00:00:05.679 --> 00:00:07.679 Well, good morning, everyone. 00:00:08.080 --> 00:00:11.679 Hope you're having a good morning and enjoying the summer here in Pentwater. 00:00:11.759 --> 00:00:19.120 My family and I have gotten a new diet with all the fish we've been eating now and new activities that we're trying to get used to with sailing. 00:00:19.199 --> 00:00:24.559 My boys are officially sailing sunfishes all by themselves now and have a good time doing that. 00:00:24.640 --> 00:00:30.480 And just joined in with the yacht club to go sailing on Wednesday and got to uh sail with Quintus. 00:00:30.800 --> 00:00:34.240 And we we had a ton of fun and uh we ended up finishing last place. 00:00:34.399 --> 00:00:37.119 We want to make sure all the rest of them made it home, you know. 00:00:38.000 --> 00:00:39.039 But it was a good time. 00:00:39.119 --> 00:00:39.840 It was a good time. 00:00:39.920 --> 00:00:41.280 The next race is this Wednesday. 00:00:41.359 --> 00:00:44.799 If you want to come watch us, we'll be bringing them all home again, probably. 00:00:45.039 --> 00:00:46.240 Or maybe it'll be faster. 00:00:46.320 --> 00:00:46.799 We'll see. 00:00:46.960 --> 00:00:54.960 But it's been a ton of fun and hope you guys are enjoying it as well because it's August and uh summer is flying by, so we gotta enjoy it while we can. 00:00:55.119 --> 00:00:55.679 Amen. 00:00:56.320 --> 00:00:57.600 Couple other announcements. 00:00:57.679 --> 00:00:59.920 One is uh summer project update. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:14.000 I want to let you all know we've so far raised$3,500 for these little treasures right here, and we just need$26,500 more to get as many as we can to the missionaries out there to be able to hand out these little treasures. 00:01:14.159 --> 00:01:21.200 They have a solar-powered thing on the back, and you push play, and you can literally hear them preaching the gospel in their language. 00:01:21.359 --> 00:01:26.640 And I just highly encourage you to seek the Lord and ask him what he's putting on your heart to give to this. 00:01:26.799 --> 00:01:31.519 It's an amazing ministry, and it's gonna impact people who've never heard the gospel before. 00:01:31.680 --> 00:01:34.319 So I just ask that you prayerfully consider that. 00:01:34.480 --> 00:01:46.000 I also want to say we have a baptism service like we announced next Sunday, and I've been talking with the seven individuals who said they want to get baptized and just have incredible testimonies. 00:01:46.159 --> 00:01:54.000 They're gonna be sharing those with you guys, and so I just encourage you, if you're on that line of getting baptized, I would love to meet with you this week, okay? 00:01:54.079 --> 00:02:03.439 We've got to hurry things up, but this week we'd love to meet with you and hear your testimony, how God has saved your life, and we can add you to the list to get baptized. 00:02:03.599 --> 00:02:09.280 Well, we're gonna continue in our series and uh Philippians, joy in the journey. 00:02:09.439 --> 00:02:12.240 If you're new with us, we're gonna be in Philippians chapter 1. 00:02:12.400 --> 00:02:17.520 We're gonna be covering the last verses in Philippians chapter 1, verses 27 through 30. 00:02:17.680 --> 00:02:20.240 And before we dive on in, let's pray. 00:02:20.479 --> 00:02:24.400 Father, thank you so much for a new morning, and thank you for the sunshine you're bringing. 00:02:24.479 --> 00:02:30.479 And I just pray, Father, that you would help us to live in a worthy manner for you. 00:02:31.120 --> 00:02:38.400 There are so many things in this world to live for, and I pray, Father, that today we would live our lives for you. 00:02:38.639 --> 00:02:42.719 We thank you for Jesus, and we just ask, Father, your Holy Spirit would move to this place. 00:02:42.879 --> 00:02:47.439 We would hear the words your spirit has for us today, and we would apply them to our lives. 00:02:47.599 --> 00:02:50.080 We pray this all in your name, and all God's people said. 00:02:50.719 --> 00:02:51.199 Amen. 00:02:51.360 --> 00:02:54.560 Today's title, today's message is Christ is worthy. 00:02:54.639 --> 00:02:56.319 And I have a question for you this morning. 00:02:56.479 --> 00:02:59.919 Imagine you walk into the Tigers Stadium. 00:03:00.000 --> 00:03:01.680 How many Tiger fans do we have out there? 00:03:01.840 --> 00:03:03.120 All right, we got a couple out. 00:03:03.199 --> 00:03:04.960 How many Cub fans do we have? 00:03:05.280 --> 00:03:07.039 Okay, okay, there's maybe three or four. 00:03:07.360 --> 00:03:10.639 There's more in this service than there was in the last service. 00:03:10.960 --> 00:03:22.560 But I'll imagine you're at this beautiful ballpark of Tiger Stadium here, and you're watching the game and they're facing the Cubs, and you're sitting there and you're next to someone who's wearing a Tigers jersey. 00:03:22.719 --> 00:03:31.280 You'd assume they're rooting for the Tigers team, but every time the Cubs hit a home run or they do something good in the game, they start cheering for the Cubs. 00:03:31.439 --> 00:03:33.280 It'd be a massive upgrade, amen. 00:03:38.080 --> 00:03:40.240 All right, no one's agreeing with me on this one. 00:03:40.400 --> 00:03:45.520 But hey, it would be really fun to see, you know, and uh seeing the Cubs uh win and beat the Tigers. 00:03:45.599 --> 00:03:49.840 I know you guys beat us in the series, but looking at that, they keep on rooting on the Cubs. 00:03:49.919 --> 00:04:01.280 Every time the Cubs did something good, they have the Tigers jersey on, but they keep on saying, yes, yes, you got another home run here and there, and you're looking at him, and you're probably wondering, what is your deal? 00:04:01.520 --> 00:04:06.080 Your jersey says Detroit Tigers, but you keep on rooting for the Cubs. 00:04:06.240 --> 00:04:14.800 We would stop looking at their jersey and we would start looking at what their mouth is saying because their jersey says something, but their mouth is saying something else. 00:04:15.120 --> 00:04:19.279 We would question their true loyalty for the tigers, amen? 00:04:19.759 --> 00:04:21.839 And that's Paul's point in Philippians. 00:04:22.000 --> 00:04:24.160 Anyone can wear the jersey. 00:04:24.319 --> 00:04:29.040 The real question is: does your life match the name you wear? 00:04:29.279 --> 00:04:36.959 After you leave this place and we get out of our Sunday best, does your life match the name that you wear? 00:04:37.519 --> 00:04:39.439 Paul says the same thing to believers. 00:04:39.600 --> 00:04:46.879 If we've been rescued by the gospel, if Christ has saved us, then our lives should reflect the message that we proclaim. 00:04:47.120 --> 00:04:54.560 That's exactly what Paul means when he says, only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ. 00:04:54.720 --> 00:05:00.319 He's not saying we earn the gospel, he's saying that we should live in a way that fits the gospel. 00:05:00.560 --> 00:05:05.360 The word translated, conduct yourselves, literally means live as citizens. 00:05:05.680 --> 00:05:11.199 And Paul's writing at Philippi, it's a Roman colony where citizenship is actually a big deal. 00:05:11.360 --> 00:05:17.360 The Philippians were proud to be Roman citizens, and Paul says, you belong to a greater kingdom now. 00:05:17.519 --> 00:05:20.240 You actually have citizenship in heaven. 00:05:20.560 --> 00:05:27.360 And today Paul gives us three characteristics of a church that lives worthy of the gospel. 00:05:27.600 --> 00:05:33.040 And the first is this if you're taking notes, a worthy church lives with consistency. 00:05:33.199 --> 00:05:37.199 A gospel-worthy church lives with consistency. 00:05:37.360 --> 00:05:40.160 Let's pick it up in chapter 1 and verse 27. 00:05:40.560 --> 00:05:50.560 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you and that you are. 00:05:51.199 --> 00:05:54.639 So Paul spent his previous section talking about his own life. 00:05:54.720 --> 00:05:58.879 He said, For me to live is Christ, to die is gain. 00:05:59.120 --> 00:06:01.600 And we had shown you a white piece of paper. 00:06:01.839 --> 00:06:03.279 For you to live is what? 00:06:03.519 --> 00:06:08.959 That's a convicting question in thinking if I were to fill this white piece of paper, what would I put down? 00:06:09.120 --> 00:06:13.040 If my spouse was to fill that white piece of paper, what would they put down? 00:06:13.199 --> 00:06:17.120 For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 00:06:17.279 --> 00:06:21.759 And then he says, My eager expectation of Christ will be honored in my body. 00:06:21.920 --> 00:06:28.079 Now Paul turns the focus from himself, and we're going to see him turning to the Philippian church. 00:06:28.240 --> 00:06:31.519 In other words, don't just admire his example. 00:06:31.759 --> 00:06:33.759 Live in this way yourselves. 00:06:34.079 --> 00:06:36.319 Notice the very word only. 00:06:37.439 --> 00:06:47.279 It's as if Paul is saying, if you forget everything else I've told you today, if you only remember one thing, make sure your life reflects the gospel. 00:06:47.759 --> 00:06:50.000 That word gives tremendous emphasis. 00:06:50.160 --> 00:06:56.160 Paul isn't giving one suggestion among many, he's giving the controlling command for everything that follows. 00:06:56.480 --> 00:06:58.480 So what is this word worthy? 00:06:58.639 --> 00:07:01.279 Living your life worthy of the gospel. 00:07:01.360 --> 00:07:02.000 What does that mean? 00:07:02.160 --> 00:07:05.920 The word worthy does not mean becoming deserving of salvation. 00:07:06.079 --> 00:07:08.079 The Bible is crystal clear. 00:07:08.319 --> 00:07:10.879 We can never earn God's grace. 00:07:11.120 --> 00:07:18.480 Ephesians 2, verses 8 through 9 says, For by grace you've been saved through faith, and it is not of your own doing. 00:07:18.639 --> 00:07:23.360 It is a gift of God, not a result of works so that no one may boast. 00:07:23.839 --> 00:07:26.000 For by grace you've been saved through faith. 00:07:26.079 --> 00:07:28.160 It's not a result of any works that we have done. 00:07:28.319 --> 00:07:32.560 Paul isn't saying, live well enough so that God will save you. 00:07:32.800 --> 00:07:37.759 He's saying, because God saved you, live in a way that fits the gospel. 00:07:38.879 --> 00:07:42.560 The Greek word carries the idea of balancing a scale. 00:07:42.800 --> 00:07:48.639 Paul says this incredible weight of the gospel has been placed into your life. 00:07:48.800 --> 00:07:53.279 Now let your conduct match what Christ has done for you. 00:07:53.600 --> 00:08:00.959 I mean, you think about when you give your life to Jesus, when you accept him as your Lord and your Savior, what are you doing? 00:08:01.360 --> 00:08:03.279 You're taking on the weight of the gospel. 00:08:03.519 --> 00:08:06.399 You were dead, and now you're made alive. 00:08:06.959 --> 00:08:07.759 You were guilty. 00:08:07.839 --> 00:08:11.600 You should have gotten every guilty sentence, but now you've been forgiven. 00:08:11.839 --> 00:08:14.639 You were an enemy, and now you're God's child. 00:08:14.879 --> 00:08:17.839 You were hopeless, and now you have eternal hope. 00:08:18.639 --> 00:08:22.639 How could that not change the way that we live? 00:08:23.120 --> 00:08:24.160 How could it not change? 00:08:24.240 --> 00:08:26.480 The gospel is not simply this, okay. 00:08:26.560 --> 00:08:31.120 I did my one prayer, I'm good to go, I got my ticket to heaven, I'm all set to go. 00:08:31.519 --> 00:08:34.000 It's a completely new way of life. 00:08:34.159 --> 00:08:37.120 Now, what notice Paul says your manner of life? 00:08:37.279 --> 00:08:41.360 That phrase is fasting, the verb literally means live as citizens. 00:08:41.519 --> 00:08:48.000 And remember where Philippians lived, it's part of the Roman colony, and they took huge pride in acting like the Romans. 00:08:48.240 --> 00:08:58.960 They wanted to dress like the Romans, they they wanted to talk like the Romans, they they followed the Roman customs in their town, and their citizenship really did shape their identity. 00:08:59.200 --> 00:09:02.799 And you must have a greater citizenship now, is what Paul says. 00:09:03.440 --> 00:09:09.039 Your true citizenship was not with Rome anymore, it's now with heaven because you've given your life to Christ. 00:09:09.279 --> 00:09:14.799 He says in Philippians 3 and verse 20, our citizenship is in heaven. 00:09:15.360 --> 00:09:18.080 In other words, don't live like everyone else around you. 00:09:18.240 --> 00:09:21.759 Live like someone who belongs to the king, to King Jesus. 00:09:22.000 --> 00:09:25.200 People should be able to tell whose kingdom you belong to. 00:09:25.360 --> 00:09:26.480 You put that jersey on. 00:09:26.799 --> 00:09:29.200 I have a follower of Jesus, they should see it. 00:09:29.360 --> 00:09:31.840 Not just have the jersey on and do whatever we want. 00:09:32.080 --> 00:09:35.360 Sunday faith and Monday morning comes and we do what we want. 00:09:36.000 --> 00:09:40.000 The gospel doesn't simply change where we're going, it changes who are becoming. 00:09:40.320 --> 00:09:45.360 Because Jesus forgave me, I can forgive other people when they wrong me. 00:09:45.519 --> 00:09:50.240 Because Jesus showed me mercy, I'm gonna be merciful towards others. 00:09:50.480 --> 00:09:52.320 I became merciful because of him. 00:09:52.480 --> 00:09:54.639 Because Jesus humbled himself. 00:09:55.200 --> 00:09:57.679 Well, I'm gonna stop demanding my own way. 00:09:57.840 --> 00:10:02.159 Because Jesus served, I'll gladly serve others as well. 00:10:02.639 --> 00:10:09.039 But here's the danger: many profess Christ without reflecting Christ. 00:10:09.440 --> 00:10:15.759 I profess Christ, but oftentimes in my life it can be a moment where I'm just not trying to reflect him in my life. 00:10:15.840 --> 00:10:25.759 It's possible to know all the right Bible verses, attend church every Sunday, serve on committees, know all the worship songs, even know some of the key passages in Scripture. 00:10:26.399 --> 00:10:32.960 But Paul says, don't let there be a disconnect between what you proclaim and how you practice. 00:10:33.120 --> 00:10:35.200 Your walk should match your talk. 00:10:35.519 --> 00:10:39.279 Your character should support your confession. 00:10:39.600 --> 00:10:42.879 You know, I started to see this as I was putting this message together. 00:10:43.039 --> 00:10:53.200 We got the awesome opportunity to go fishing with Captain Kurt, and we were out on Lake Michigan, and you could see we caught some awesome King Salmon there, and the boys had a ton of fun. 00:10:53.279 --> 00:11:02.240 We took my two older boys and some of the Koinga boys with us, and we were with Captain Kurt having a good time, and uh we weren't just talking about fish. 00:11:02.480 --> 00:11:06.240 I found it interesting when we entered the boat, we talked about Jesus. 00:11:06.480 --> 00:11:10.879 We started going out to the harbor, we started talking about Jesus through the channel. 00:11:10.960 --> 00:11:19.840 It was about Jesus, and as we're catching fish, Jesus just kept coming up, and the boys started to catch on the rhythm that we just keep talking about Jesus as we're catching fish. 00:11:20.080 --> 00:11:25.120 That they all started to circle up together and say, maybe we should pray for some more fish. 00:11:27.200 --> 00:11:27.919 So they did. 00:11:28.000 --> 00:11:34.879 They circle up together, and then boom, we got another fish and another fish, and it just kept coming in, and they just had a ton of fun. 00:11:34.960 --> 00:11:36.159 And they're like, let's pray again. 00:11:36.240 --> 00:11:43.200 So they circled up again and they started praying for more fish and they started to catch on talking about Jesus was normal. 00:11:43.360 --> 00:11:48.240 It wasn't just something on Sunday, it was something we were doing on a Monday as well. 00:11:49.120 --> 00:11:50.639 It started to look normal. 00:11:50.720 --> 00:11:56.960 And we got back around midnight, and at that point, you should be done, you should be going to sleep, right? 00:11:57.039 --> 00:11:58.559 It's past my bedtime for sure. 00:11:58.720 --> 00:12:01.440 And Captain Kirk's like, no, we gotta we gotta clean the fish now. 00:12:01.519 --> 00:12:03.120 And I'm like, oh boy. 00:12:04.000 --> 00:12:06.559 So we unload the coolers, unload all the stuff. 00:12:06.639 --> 00:12:10.799 We get to the cleaning station and we start cleaning the fish, and I'm ready to go to bed. 00:12:10.879 --> 00:12:16.000 And Captain Kirk's showing him how to fillet the fish the right way, and he's starting to talk about Jesus again. 00:12:16.080 --> 00:12:20.799 And the guy across the counter was cutting his fish too, and he overheard him talking about Jesus. 00:12:21.039 --> 00:12:24.879 And next thing you know, we're all talking about Jesus in the cleaning station. 00:12:25.120 --> 00:12:33.039 And next thing you know, we're all praying at 12:45 in the morning and thanking Jesus for our catch, for the things he's done in our lives. 00:12:33.200 --> 00:12:37.120 We're playing praying downtown Pentwater of all places. 00:12:37.360 --> 00:12:39.120 Praying and thanking God. 00:12:39.759 --> 00:12:44.879 It was not just a Sunday morning activity, there was a consistency that was happening. 00:12:45.039 --> 00:12:48.720 Jesus naturally came out, and that's exactly what Paul's talking about. 00:12:48.879 --> 00:12:50.879 He's talking about this with the Philippians. 00:12:51.039 --> 00:12:54.000 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel. 00:12:54.159 --> 00:13:00.480 The gospel isn't something that we put on for just Sunday morning, it's something that shapes the way we live every single day. 00:13:00.799 --> 00:13:08.720 And when Christ has truly changed your heart, people don't just hear about Jesus in church, they see him in the way you live your life. 00:13:08.799 --> 00:13:14.960 And wherever you go, you got the jersey on, and it actually matches with the team you're rooting for. 00:13:15.679 --> 00:13:19.039 You gotta ask yourselves, and it's a convicting question this morning. 00:13:19.360 --> 00:13:23.200 Would people know I belong to Jesus by watching me for one week? 00:13:23.440 --> 00:13:29.039 You think of all the movies you can watch in reality TV and they're interviewing people all the time. 00:13:29.120 --> 00:13:35.600 If they had a camera on your life all week long, would they know you belong to Jesus? 00:13:36.960 --> 00:13:41.120 Would your coworkers, if you still work, know you belong to Jesus? 00:13:41.279 --> 00:13:42.559 Would your neighbors know? 00:13:42.720 --> 00:13:43.919 Hey, I love Jesus. 00:13:44.080 --> 00:13:45.519 Would your children know? 00:13:45.679 --> 00:13:50.320 Would your spouse say my private life matches my public testimony? 00:13:50.639 --> 00:13:58.480 If someone followed me around all week, would they become more interested in Christ or would they become less interested in Christ? 00:13:58.960 --> 00:14:09.360 The greatest testimony of the church isn't simply what we preach, it's whether people can see the transforming power of the gospel in every single day life. 00:14:09.679 --> 00:14:18.240 People may argue with your theology, but it's much harder to argue with the life that's genuinely been changed by Jesus. 00:14:18.799 --> 00:14:28.480 And when the message we proclaim is matched by the life we live, the gospel becomes this beautiful, believable thing to the world. 00:14:28.799 --> 00:14:32.399 A gospel-worthy church, they live with this consistency. 00:14:32.559 --> 00:14:43.120 We come together and we come to church and we come up with a plan and we go to Monday and we start trying our hardest to follow the Holy Spirit in our everyday lives, in every conversation. 00:14:43.679 --> 00:14:46.159 A gospel-worthy church lives with that consistency. 00:14:46.320 --> 00:14:49.600 Number two, a gospel-worthy church stands together. 00:14:49.840 --> 00:14:52.000 A gospel-worthy church stands together. 00:14:52.159 --> 00:15:03.039 Continuing the passage in Philippians 1.27, the second part, standing firm in one spirit with one mind, striving side by side for the faith of the gospel. 00:15:03.279 --> 00:15:06.639 So Paul has just talked about how we live individually. 00:15:06.799 --> 00:15:09.440 Now he turns to how we actually live together. 00:15:09.679 --> 00:15:13.840 The Christian life was never meant to be lived on an island, in isolation. 00:15:14.000 --> 00:15:20.639 The New Testament knows nothing of a believer says, I love Jesus, and now I'm just gonna leave the church and not be a part of anything. 00:15:20.879 --> 00:15:21.679 There's nothing in there. 00:15:21.840 --> 00:15:26.639 Paul assumes that those who belong to Christ will also belong to God's people. 00:15:26.799 --> 00:15:37.919 The gospel doesn't simply create individual Christians, it creates family, it creates a body of Christ, it creates a church, and notice the language of unity. 00:15:38.240 --> 00:15:40.240 Look at the words that the apostle Paul writes. 00:15:40.320 --> 00:15:47.600 He says, standing firm, one spirit, one mind, striving side by side. 00:15:48.080 --> 00:15:51.919 Almost every phrase emphasizes this word, togetherness. 00:15:52.000 --> 00:15:54.960 It's not an individual attack, it's it's all together. 00:15:55.120 --> 00:15:56.720 We're doing this together. 00:15:57.279 --> 00:16:01.519 Paul isn't interested in 50 individuals doing their own thing. 00:16:01.679 --> 00:16:07.279 He's describing one church moving in one direction with one purpose. 00:16:07.679 --> 00:16:09.919 Then he says, standing firm. 00:16:10.559 --> 00:16:15.440 This is a military expression that says it pictures soldiers refusing to retreat. 00:16:15.519 --> 00:16:19.840 No matter what gets thrown at them, they're gonna stand their ground, not giving up ground. 00:16:20.000 --> 00:16:29.120 In ancient warfare, if a soldier broke ranks, the entire troops would all become vulnerable and they would all start to run because fear would enter in. 00:16:29.360 --> 00:16:32.879 And that's what the Hebrew tells us encourage one another. 00:16:33.840 --> 00:16:35.440 Because it's hard. 00:16:35.600 --> 00:16:36.080 It's hard. 00:16:36.159 --> 00:16:37.360 You can get discouraged at times. 00:16:38.240 --> 00:16:39.679 Sometimes you feel like you're all alone. 00:16:39.759 --> 00:16:42.000 But the Bible says encourage one another daily. 00:16:42.159 --> 00:16:44.240 None of us are strong all the time. 00:16:44.399 --> 00:16:47.360 We all need people to help us stand firm. 00:16:48.320 --> 00:16:49.600 One spirit, one mind. 00:16:49.679 --> 00:16:53.039 Notice Paul doesn't say everyone has the same personality. 00:16:53.840 --> 00:16:56.320 He doesn't say everyone has the same preferences. 00:16:56.559 --> 00:16:59.679 He doesn't even say that everyone likes the same music. 00:17:00.559 --> 00:17:02.799 Unity is not uniformity. 00:17:03.120 --> 00:17:06.640 God never intended the church to be filled with identical people. 00:17:06.880 --> 00:17:07.920 I mean, just look around. 00:17:08.000 --> 00:17:14.319 There's some who are quiet, some who are loud, and some who are planners, and some who are more spontaneous. 00:17:14.720 --> 00:17:18.079 Some who love children, and some who want to get rid of their children. 00:17:19.839 --> 00:17:22.960 Some who love teaching, and some like, I just want to listen to music. 00:17:23.119 --> 00:17:27.039 Some love serving behind the scenes, and some love serving on the stage. 00:17:27.359 --> 00:17:28.640 There's different gifts. 00:17:28.880 --> 00:17:29.839 Praise God. 00:17:30.160 --> 00:17:32.319 There's different gifts, but there's one mission. 00:17:32.799 --> 00:17:37.599 There's different personalities, but there's one savior, different roles and one purpose. 00:17:37.839 --> 00:17:40.720 Unity isn't everyone becoming the same. 00:17:40.960 --> 00:17:49.920 It's everyone submitting to Christ together, striving side by side, striving side by side for the faith of the gospel. 00:17:50.079 --> 00:17:55.920 The Greek word gives us picture of athletes competing together, not against each other, but together. 00:17:56.240 --> 00:18:00.720 And sometimes churches accidentally become places where people try to compete. 00:18:00.960 --> 00:18:02.240 Well, look at my ministry. 00:18:02.400 --> 00:18:04.319 Look at all the volunteers I have. 00:18:04.960 --> 00:18:06.640 And who gets recognized the most? 00:18:06.720 --> 00:18:08.960 And Paul says, we've forgotten the whole mission. 00:18:09.119 --> 00:18:10.079 It's not about this. 00:18:10.319 --> 00:18:12.720 We're not competing against one another. 00:18:12.880 --> 00:18:15.200 We're fighting to advance the gospel. 00:18:15.359 --> 00:18:16.240 It's all about this. 00:18:16.400 --> 00:18:17.599 The enemy knows this. 00:18:17.920 --> 00:18:19.039 He is so good at this. 00:18:19.440 --> 00:18:23.039 Why does Satan work so hard to create division? 00:18:23.759 --> 00:18:25.599 We're so easily prone to wander. 00:18:25.759 --> 00:18:26.960 I mean, because he knows something. 00:18:27.119 --> 00:18:30.160 A divided church is a distracted church. 00:18:30.400 --> 00:18:34.160 And a distracted church becomes an ineffective church. 00:18:34.640 --> 00:18:37.839 He's been doing this for centuries and attacking the church. 00:18:37.920 --> 00:18:48.960 And think about how many churches have lost their witness because of not just because of false doctrine, not because of persecution, but because of unresolved conflict. 00:18:49.279 --> 00:18:56.319 They don't deal with arguments, they don't confront pride or gossip within the church or bitterness and personal agenda. 00:18:56.640 --> 00:18:59.119 Satan doesn't always have to destroy a church. 00:18:59.279 --> 00:19:05.200 Sometimes he simply gets Christians fighting against each other instead of reaching people. 00:19:05.440 --> 00:19:12.880 One pastor said the devil doesn't care which side of the boat you rock from as long as you keep on rocking it. 00:19:13.119 --> 00:19:14.160 And he creeps in. 00:19:14.240 --> 00:19:15.519 Did you hear what Susie said? 00:19:15.599 --> 00:19:16.799 Did you hear what Joe did? 00:19:17.519 --> 00:19:18.160 Did you see that? 00:19:18.319 --> 00:19:23.119 He starts rocking the boat, and the next thing you know it, the devil is making ground in the church. 00:19:23.279 --> 00:19:25.759 And Paul says, Don't let that happen. 00:19:26.160 --> 00:19:27.440 Stand together. 00:19:27.680 --> 00:19:28.480 Stand together. 00:19:28.720 --> 00:19:29.839 Fight together. 00:19:30.160 --> 00:19:31.279 Serve together. 00:19:31.519 --> 00:19:32.559 Jesus prayed this. 00:19:32.640 --> 00:19:34.480 This wasn't merely Paul's burden. 00:19:34.640 --> 00:19:35.839 It was Jesus' burden. 00:19:35.920 --> 00:19:43.599 The night before he went to the cross, Jesus prayed in John 17, 21, he said this, that they may all be one. 00:19:44.400 --> 00:19:52.480 Just as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe, you sent me. 00:19:54.319 --> 00:19:56.160 That they all may be one. 00:19:56.960 --> 00:19:57.839 You think about that. 00:19:59.200 --> 00:20:02.720 Jesus connected our unity to the world, to the world's belief. 00:20:02.880 --> 00:20:07.839 One of the greatest apologetics for Christianity isn't merely a well-seasoned argument. 00:20:08.000 --> 00:20:12.880 It's a church-filled people who genuinely love one another despite our differences. 00:20:13.039 --> 00:20:15.200 The world expects conflict from us. 00:20:15.519 --> 00:20:21.440 They expect people to walk away when they see believers loving each other, forgiving, and serving. 00:20:21.599 --> 00:20:23.440 It points them back to Christ. 00:20:24.319 --> 00:20:27.440 Unity does not mean we're always going to agree. 00:20:27.519 --> 00:20:28.799 There's going to be times we disagree. 00:20:28.880 --> 00:20:33.200 Even Paul and Barnabas had their disagreements on their first missionary journey. 00:20:33.519 --> 00:20:38.000 Unity means that we're going to refuse to let disagreements become divisions. 00:20:38.240 --> 00:20:41.519 It means that we assume the best instead of the worst of people. 00:20:41.599 --> 00:20:43.440 We listen before speaking. 00:20:43.599 --> 00:20:44.720 We forgive quickly. 00:20:44.880 --> 00:20:46.640 We refuse to gossip. 00:20:46.880 --> 00:20:49.119 We protect one another's reputation. 00:20:49.599 --> 00:20:51.680 We celebrate others' victories. 00:20:51.759 --> 00:20:54.400 We carry one another's burdens. 00:20:54.799 --> 00:21:03.279 Unity is not the absence of conflict, it's the presence of Christ-like love in the middle of conflict. 00:21:03.599 --> 00:21:05.920 You know, you guys would know better than anyone. 00:21:06.079 --> 00:21:10.640 You go to the Pentwater Pier, you see the light markers out there. 00:21:10.960 --> 00:21:12.559 I can see you guys going down there. 00:21:12.640 --> 00:21:13.440 You're walking the pier. 00:21:13.599 --> 00:21:24.960 I see you guys out there, and you look at that pier and you look at how many of those uh piers, how many of the waves go over the pier, and you look at how many times there's a storm out there and that pier's still standing. 00:21:25.039 --> 00:21:31.039 I'll see you guys drive by the little roundabout, just to make sure it's still there, and it's still there, it's still standing, you know. 00:21:31.119 --> 00:21:34.640 And you drive around the roundabout, you check out the water, and the pier's still there. 00:21:34.720 --> 00:21:36.720 And then you think, wow, what a storm we just had. 00:21:36.799 --> 00:21:40.640 And you drive around the roundabout again, and it's still there, it's still standing. 00:21:40.880 --> 00:21:41.440 Why? 00:21:41.680 --> 00:21:45.359 Why does something like that withstand the storms? 00:21:46.240 --> 00:21:49.039 If it was just one piece of concrete, it would be gone. 00:21:49.200 --> 00:21:53.599 It would sink, it would, it would just be moved away because the storms are pretty powerful. 00:21:53.839 --> 00:21:59.680 But because all that concrete is tied together, it that whole pier is tied together, it brings. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:02.160 An amount of strength you can't break. 00:22:02.240 --> 00:22:05.680 No matter what storm comes, that pier is not going to break. 00:22:05.920 --> 00:22:07.359 Because it's together. 00:22:07.519 --> 00:22:09.680 And that's what we got to be as a church. 00:22:09.839 --> 00:22:11.200 That's the picture Paul gives us. 00:22:11.279 --> 00:22:14.640 The gospel-worthy church isn't a collection of isolated believers. 00:22:14.799 --> 00:22:18.240 If each one of those pieces of concrete were isolated, it would be long gone. 00:22:18.480 --> 00:22:22.960 But because they're together, it stays, and that's what he wants us to be in the church. 00:22:23.200 --> 00:22:31.359 It's men and women standing shoulder to shoulder, anchored in Christ, holding the line together when the storms of life come. 00:22:31.920 --> 00:22:38.720 Ecclesiastes 4 12 says, And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him. 00:22:39.039 --> 00:22:41.839 A threefold cord is not quickly broken. 00:22:42.079 --> 00:22:44.400 You think about the unity in that. 00:22:45.279 --> 00:22:47.359 A three-chord is not easily broken. 00:22:47.440 --> 00:22:49.839 Now think of a whole church, boom. 00:22:50.000 --> 00:22:51.119 We're holding on. 00:22:51.279 --> 00:22:51.920 There's unity. 00:22:52.079 --> 00:22:55.519 We're different, but we're holding on no matter what storms of life come. 00:22:56.160 --> 00:23:02.000 You've got to ask yourself this morning am I contributing to the unity of the church? 00:23:02.960 --> 00:23:08.000 Am I actually one of those people who come in and say, I'm going to be unified no matter what comes our way? 00:23:08.240 --> 00:23:09.519 We have our differences. 00:23:09.680 --> 00:23:12.880 I'm contributing to the unity of this church. 00:23:13.119 --> 00:23:17.039 Or do my words build people up and tear them down? 00:23:17.359 --> 00:23:20.079 Am I quick to forgive or quick to hold bitterness? 00:23:20.160 --> 00:23:22.000 Do I assume the best of others? 00:23:22.079 --> 00:23:25.920 Or am I am I praying for our leaders in the church or ministry leaders? 00:23:26.079 --> 00:23:29.839 Am I serving alongside of others or am I simply just attending? 00:23:30.319 --> 00:23:35.279 If everyone in church had my attitude, what kind of church would we become? 00:23:35.440 --> 00:23:37.680 Wow, is that convicting to think about? 00:23:38.160 --> 00:23:42.240 Hopefully it'd be a good church if everyone had your mindset. 00:23:42.640 --> 00:23:46.720 If everyone had in your church had your attitude, what kind of church would we become? 00:23:46.960 --> 00:23:50.480 Unity is not someone else's responsibility, it's ours. 00:23:51.119 --> 00:23:58.799 Every encouraging word, every act of forgiveness, every prayer, every unnoticed act of service helps strengthen the body of Christ. 00:23:59.039 --> 00:24:02.079 This togetherness, this gospel connection. 00:24:02.240 --> 00:24:07.519 The only reason we can stand together is because Christ reconciled us to God. 00:24:07.759 --> 00:24:14.079 The ground at the foot of the cross is level because the cross removes our pride because none of us earned our salvation. 00:24:14.400 --> 00:24:15.839 It removes our boasting. 00:24:16.000 --> 00:24:18.160 Every one of us came in by grace. 00:24:18.240 --> 00:24:25.279 And when I remember how much Christ has forgiven me, it becomes much harder to hold bitterness towards a brother or sister. 00:24:25.680 --> 00:24:32.559 Because the gospel isn't merely unite sinners to holy God, it unites forgiven sinners also to one another. 00:24:32.799 --> 00:24:41.759 And that's why the gospel-worthy church is a church that refuses to let anything become more important than the mission of making Christ known. 00:24:42.000 --> 00:24:45.440 A gospel-worthy church, they stand together. 00:24:45.680 --> 00:24:46.799 Nothing breaks them. 00:24:46.960 --> 00:24:51.440 Last but not least, a gospel-worthy church stands with courage. 00:24:51.680 --> 00:24:58.880 A gospel-worthy church stands with courage in Philippians 1 and verse 28, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. 00:24:59.039 --> 00:25:05.039 This is a clear sign to them of your destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. 00:25:05.839 --> 00:25:13.920 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him, but also suffer for his sake. 00:25:14.079 --> 00:25:19.440 Engage in the same conflict you saw and I had now here that I still have. 00:25:19.759 --> 00:25:23.359 So you look at that, and not frightened at anything by your opponents. 00:25:23.519 --> 00:25:26.079 Paul has told the church to live consistently. 00:25:26.240 --> 00:25:34.079 He's told them to stand together, and now he tells them what inevitably is going to happen when you choose to do this, to live for Christ. 00:25:34.240 --> 00:25:38.400 If you stand for the gospel, you're going to face opposition. 00:25:38.559 --> 00:25:39.680 It's not going to be easy. 00:25:39.839 --> 00:25:41.359 Jesus never hid from the truth. 00:25:41.440 --> 00:25:47.920 In John 15, 18, he says, If the world hates you, know that it hated me before it hated you. 00:25:48.400 --> 00:25:54.799 He also said in John 16, 33, he said, I have said these things to you that in me you may have peace. 00:25:55.039 --> 00:25:57.279 And the world you're going to have tribulation. 00:25:57.519 --> 00:26:00.880 But take heart, I've overcome the world. 00:26:01.359 --> 00:26:03.920 Following Jesus has never been the easy road. 00:26:04.319 --> 00:26:06.160 It's always been a worthwhile road. 00:26:06.319 --> 00:26:10.240 And Paul says, not frightened in anything by your opponents. 00:26:10.400 --> 00:26:13.119 So the word frightened paints this interesting picture. 00:26:13.279 --> 00:26:15.839 It's often used in horses in a battlefield. 00:26:16.000 --> 00:26:23.680 Imagine a battle horse going out there and they hear the swords clashing and they hear the, they see the spheres flying, and they can hear them in the wind. 00:26:23.839 --> 00:26:27.519 And one of them decides, you know what, I can't take this, I'm turning around and running. 00:26:27.759 --> 00:26:30.640 Once one horse bolts, they all decide to bolt. 00:26:30.880 --> 00:26:32.799 And fear quickly spreads. 00:26:32.960 --> 00:26:34.720 Paul says, Don't panic. 00:26:34.960 --> 00:26:35.920 Don't retreat. 00:26:36.000 --> 00:26:36.799 Don't run. 00:26:37.119 --> 00:26:38.400 Stand your ground. 00:26:38.559 --> 00:26:42.480 Fear is contagious, but so also is courage. 00:26:42.720 --> 00:26:48.000 One courageous believer strengthens another, and fear is one of Satan's greatest weapons. 00:26:48.319 --> 00:26:52.079 He loves to destroy churches with the word fear. 00:26:52.799 --> 00:26:55.599 You think about fear references in the Bible. 00:26:55.680 --> 00:26:58.799 There's 365 of them, one for every day. 00:26:59.039 --> 00:27:01.359 Because God knew we were going to struggle with fear. 00:27:01.519 --> 00:27:06.559 We talked about that in our last series, you know, when he went to Joshua, he said, be strong and courageous. 00:27:06.720 --> 00:27:09.200 The angel told Mary, do not fear. 00:27:09.519 --> 00:27:12.880 But Jesus repeatedly told his disciples, don't be afraid. 00:27:13.200 --> 00:27:15.759 Because fear paralyzes the faith. 00:27:16.000 --> 00:27:22.480 Fear causes us to stay silent when we should speak, and fear causes us to compromise when we should stand. 00:27:23.440 --> 00:27:26.240 And fear causes us to hide when we should shine. 00:27:26.559 --> 00:27:29.759 Satan knows that he doesn't have to make Christians deny Christ. 00:27:29.920 --> 00:27:33.039 Sometimes he only has to make us afraid of speaking about him. 00:27:33.839 --> 00:27:38.960 And the gospel advances when ordinary believers they choose courage over comfort. 00:27:39.119 --> 00:27:40.880 Paul says something remarkable. 00:27:40.960 --> 00:27:46.000 This is a clear sign to them of your destruction, but of your salvation that is from God. 00:27:46.799 --> 00:27:52.319 When believers refuse to bow under pressure, people notice the world expects us to quit. 00:27:52.400 --> 00:27:58.079 And when we decide to persevere, we get to endure through things, it's a testimony. 00:27:59.440 --> 00:28:05.119 When we respond with joy, peace, patience, kindness, the fruit of the Spirit. 00:28:05.359 --> 00:28:08.720 It points people to something that we can't do in our own strength. 00:28:09.039 --> 00:28:10.480 It's supernatural. 00:28:10.799 --> 00:28:21.920