WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:01.120 Well, good morning. 00:00:01.360 --> 00:00:04.559 We're studying our way through the book of Leviticus. 00:00:04.799 --> 00:00:07.200 If you remember the structure, we'll throw the structure up on the screen. 00:00:07.440 --> 00:00:08.320 Remember the structure? 00:00:08.560 --> 00:00:11.759 Last week we were in the pinnacle of the book, the Day of Atonement. 00:00:11.839 --> 00:00:14.880 Chapters 1 through 15 are taking us to the Day of Atonement. 00:00:15.039 --> 00:00:24.160 And then coming out of that today, we are entering chapters 17 through 20, which are known as the Holiness Code. 00:00:24.239 --> 00:00:31.920 And as we open up chapter 18, as we get to chapter 18, we see God speaking to sexuality. 00:00:32.159 --> 00:00:36.880 Don't have sex with this person and don't have sex with that person. 00:00:37.119 --> 00:00:45.280 God speaks against incest, he speaks against affairs, and God speaks to the issue of homosexuality. 00:00:45.600 --> 00:00:53.039 Now, about four times a year, I lead a new member's class for our church, and new people coming in. 00:00:53.119 --> 00:00:54.960 They want to learn about the church. 00:01:13.359 --> 00:01:20.319 And then all of a sudden, about every single time there was a question about homosexuality or transgender. 00:01:20.879 --> 00:01:28.560 For years I answered by saying, we are welcoming but not affirming. 00:01:29.120 --> 00:01:30.560 That's who we are. 00:01:30.799 --> 00:01:33.040 That's our church's belief. 00:01:33.359 --> 00:01:38.879 Welcoming to all, loving to all, but we cannot affirm everything. 00:01:39.280 --> 00:01:46.879 Now, some of you, some of us have family or friends who are homosexuals or transgender. 00:01:47.120 --> 00:01:51.120 Some of us may be homosexual or transgender. 00:01:51.680 --> 00:01:57.920 Some of us want to love people and we're just not quite sure what to do with the Bible. 00:01:58.640 --> 00:02:05.599 And some of us want to be so truth-filled that we forget to be loving. 00:02:06.159 --> 00:02:10.800 But we want to be like Jesus, who was truth and grace. 00:02:10.879 --> 00:02:22.639 And so the question that we want to ask when it comes to these issues is how can we be lavish in love and clear on truth? 00:02:23.520 --> 00:02:40.319 So last year, our church leadership, a group of maybe 10 people, it was our elder board, it was our staff, it was men, it was women, it was the Women's Advisory Council, decided to write a paper and create a paper and edit a paper on gender, marriage, and sexuality. 00:02:40.560 --> 00:02:44.800 And so we have printed copies for you of that paper on your way out. 00:02:44.960 --> 00:03:00.879 So a lot of what I'm gonna say this morning is it's all from that paper, and it's probably more clear in the paper than what I'm gonna do verbally, and it's filled with Bible citations, and so we have printed out enough for like one per family unit or one per person if you're here by yourself. 00:03:00.960 --> 00:03:03.919 And so please grab one at each door on the way out. 00:03:04.000 --> 00:03:11.680 You don't have to worry about like taking notes today, like because that paper is filled with everything I'm gonna say, plus more. 00:03:11.919 --> 00:03:14.479 So it's just not a normal Sunday. 00:03:14.719 --> 00:03:19.599 I've actually not preached on this in like 25 years, so it's been a while. 00:03:19.759 --> 00:03:25.360 Um, it actually doesn't come up in the Bible a lot, but when it does, it's clear. 00:03:25.520 --> 00:03:28.879 Um, just not a normal, uh it's not gonna be entertaining. 00:03:29.039 --> 00:03:32.639 Like I go and tell you, I'm gonna read a lot, I'm gonna read some. 00:03:32.800 --> 00:03:34.879 And the goal on that is just to be really clear. 00:03:34.960 --> 00:03:39.840 It's gonna be a lot of content, it's just not a normal Sunday for us or for me. 00:03:40.240 --> 00:03:42.159 Now, here's what I emailed out this week. 00:03:42.319 --> 00:03:43.680 Perhaps you got this email. 00:03:43.840 --> 00:03:45.599 Here is what I said in the email. 00:03:45.840 --> 00:03:52.400 I said, we realize people who belong to Redeemer will hold a variety of beliefs on these issues. 00:03:53.520 --> 00:04:02.879 So while we love those who hold differing opinions, our hope is to be clear and truthful, to love copiously. 00:04:03.039 --> 00:04:09.039 That means it's like love a whole lot and facilitate peace to reign amongst us. 00:04:09.280 --> 00:04:21.680 Now, given the weight of these matters, it's our hope to graciously give clarity to the church's views while extending the utmost of grace and love to all who agree and disagree with the church's views. 00:04:22.319 --> 00:04:25.519 So, in that we have a threefold purpose this morning. 00:04:25.759 --> 00:04:34.959 Number one, to provide a biblical rationale for our position on these issues and clarity for what are the practical implications of that sort of position. 00:04:35.199 --> 00:04:41.279 Number two, to call the church to a thoughtful, Christ-like engagement on these topics. 00:04:42.000 --> 00:04:49.360 Sometimes you'll get people who have thought a lot about it, but they don't seem to be a lot like Jesus in their relationships on this. 00:04:49.519 --> 00:04:59.360 And then number three, to give clarity on these important issues while not leaving our heart and calling to lovingly encourage one another in spite of differences of beliefs. 00:04:59.600 --> 00:05:04.800 So let's take it issue by issue, the three issues: gender, marriage, and sexuality. 00:05:05.040 --> 00:05:09.279 First, identity and gender, Genesis 1, 26 and 27. 00:05:09.519 --> 00:05:24.639 Then God said, Let us make man in our image after our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish and the sea and over the birds and the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. 00:05:24.720 --> 00:05:26.399 So God created man in his own image. 00:05:26.480 --> 00:05:31.360 In the image of God, he created him, male and female, he created them. 00:05:31.759 --> 00:05:42.879 So as for gender, we believe that God wonderfully and immutably, which means unchangeably, creates each person as male or female. 00:05:43.360 --> 00:05:51.360 God's design and intent in creation from the beginning is male or female in human sexuality. 00:05:51.680 --> 00:06:01.600 We believe that identity is located in our creation, not in our conditions of our lives or experiences. 00:06:01.759 --> 00:06:05.040 Now, we also know that we live in a broken world. 00:06:05.439 --> 00:06:10.959 And we know this can be an incredibly emotionally complex issue. 00:06:11.680 --> 00:06:22.639 So our church, we desire to relate in love and truth to all people, holding compassion to those who have had distressing struggles with gender issues. 00:06:23.439 --> 00:06:25.600 Second issue, marriage. 00:06:26.560 --> 00:06:37.519 The Bible displays covenantal unions between men and women as the normative means for sexual activity and committed romantic partnerships. 00:06:37.839 --> 00:06:39.519 We see polygamy in the Bible. 00:06:41.759 --> 00:06:42.639 I can't imagine. 00:06:45.600 --> 00:06:46.879 But we see it. 00:06:47.519 --> 00:06:48.160 We see it. 00:06:48.319 --> 00:06:55.839 But it's not the biblical normative, healthy marriage that the Bible teaches. 00:06:56.079 --> 00:07:04.399 From the beginning in Genesis, marriage is the uniting of a man and a woman in a single exclusive union. 00:07:04.480 --> 00:07:11.600 And godly sexuality is limited to sex between a man and a woman who are married. 00:07:11.839 --> 00:07:18.720 Okay, that was quick on gender, quick on marriage, a little bit longer this morning on the third issue: sexuality. 00:07:19.040 --> 00:07:33.920 We believe that any form of sexual immorality, any form, including the use of pornography, adultery, fornication, sexual relations with the same gender, incest, and bestiality is sinful and offensive to God. 00:07:34.399 --> 00:07:45.040 And we believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and repent of their sin, seeking his mercy and forgiveness through Jesus. 00:07:45.279 --> 00:07:56.959 So we could say it this way: there is grace to all sexual brokenness, whether it is due to personal choice or woundedness. 00:07:57.360 --> 00:08:13.839 Now, experientially, this grace may lead to varying levels of healing and restoration, or it may lead to the resources for living in this life faithfully and joyfully in the anticipation of the full restoration in heaven. 00:08:14.560 --> 00:08:23.199 Now, there are only a handful of verses in the whole Bible that talk to same-sex activity. 00:08:23.600 --> 00:08:27.120 But the Bible is consistent in those handful of verses. 00:08:27.439 --> 00:08:29.360 Leviticus 18 is one of those. 00:08:29.519 --> 00:08:34.080 So I knew even back last fall when I said, we're gonna preach through Leviticus. 00:08:34.159 --> 00:08:36.639 I was like, oh, 18's coming. 00:08:36.879 --> 00:08:37.919 It's coming for us. 00:08:38.000 --> 00:08:39.919 We're gonna have this Sunday is coming for us. 00:08:40.000 --> 00:08:41.919 We're gonna need to talk about it. 00:08:42.320 --> 00:08:48.240 Leviticus 18, 22, you shall not lie with a male as with a woman. 00:08:48.480 --> 00:08:50.240 It is an abomination. 00:08:50.639 --> 00:08:52.559 And this is in the middle of chapter 18. 00:08:52.639 --> 00:08:57.279 That's listening, all sorts of not having sex with this person and that person. 00:08:58.159 --> 00:09:07.279 And then again in chapter 20, verse 13 if a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. 00:09:07.440 --> 00:09:09.200 They shall surely be put to death. 00:09:09.360 --> 00:09:10.960 Their blood is upon them. 00:09:11.200 --> 00:09:15.120 Now that's the severity of ancient religious law. 00:09:15.519 --> 00:09:20.879 Unfortunately, in Sally, that's led to a lot of hate, a lot of fear of homosexuals. 00:09:20.960 --> 00:09:25.039 I grew up in a conservative town where there is a lot of fear of homosexuals. 00:09:25.360 --> 00:09:29.919 It's coming from this ancient religious law, which is not our calling. 00:09:30.159 --> 00:09:33.120 Our calling is Christian love and compassion. 00:09:33.919 --> 00:09:38.639 Here's Paul in the New Testament, Romans 1, verses 20 through 27. 00:09:38.960 --> 00:09:40.240 It's a bit of a read. 00:09:40.399 --> 00:09:41.759 Just hang with me. 00:09:42.480 --> 00:09:53.120 For his invisible attributes, namely his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. 00:09:53.360 --> 00:09:55.039 So they are without excuse. 00:09:55.200 --> 00:10:14.720 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened, claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. 00:10:14.879 --> 00:10:31.120 Therefore God gave them up in their lust of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies amongst themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the creator, who is blessed forever. 00:10:31.440 --> 00:10:32.080 Amen. 00:10:32.480 --> 00:10:54.000 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions, for their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature, and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. 00:10:54.480 --> 00:11:00.559 So in Romans, Paul lists homosexualities amongst many other sins, and throughout that whole book. 00:11:00.720 --> 00:11:10.320 I mean, Paul's point in the first few chapters of Romans is that we, myself, you, the other person, are all sinners. 00:11:11.279 --> 00:11:13.039 That's our starting point. 00:11:14.000 --> 00:11:25.279 Which means that even if you believe in a biologically determined inclination, even if you believe that, like homosexuality. 00:11:25.840 --> 00:11:30.159 Even if you believe that, Paul says it does not excuse the behavior. 00:11:30.720 --> 00:11:33.600 Because we're all sinners. 00:11:34.399 --> 00:11:36.960 We have a shared experience of sin. 00:11:38.399 --> 00:11:41.600 As to highlight our need of the grace of Jesus. 00:11:41.919 --> 00:11:45.759 Okay, so we have seven practical questions, like implications. 00:11:45.919 --> 00:11:53.120 Like, if you're gonna believe that as a church, welcoming to all, loving to all, but we can't affirm everything. 00:11:53.679 --> 00:11:55.279 What does that mean for a church? 00:11:55.360 --> 00:11:56.799 What does that look like? 00:11:57.039 --> 00:11:59.440 What are these implications? 00:11:59.759 --> 00:12:01.279 So, seven questions. 00:12:01.919 --> 00:12:03.120 Are y'all excited? 00:12:03.200 --> 00:12:04.240 You're really excited. 00:12:05.600 --> 00:12:08.399 I told you, I told you, no entertaining stories. 00:12:08.879 --> 00:12:14.080 Question number one: Can someone be both gay and Christian? 00:12:14.639 --> 00:12:15.279 Yes. 00:12:16.240 --> 00:12:20.799 Salvation is available to all who profess that Jesus is Lord and believe in his resurrection. 00:12:21.039 --> 00:12:31.840 Sanctification is the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit, and we leave room, our hope, our hope is we leave room for God to work in people's hearts and lives. 00:12:32.879 --> 00:12:34.320 Question number two. 00:12:35.120 --> 00:12:44.480 Are Christians who affirm homosexuality invited to attend, receive communion, and become members at Redeemer? 00:12:45.440 --> 00:12:46.080 Yes. 00:12:46.960 --> 00:12:55.840 We want a church culture of hospitality and keeping in the Spirit of Jesus who sought and welcomed those who desired belonging. 00:12:56.000 --> 00:13:00.799 So our communion table is open to all who call on the name of Jesus. 00:13:01.039 --> 00:13:16.799 Now, membership in our church is for those who make a confession to be a Christian, have attended our membership class, understand and are in agreement with the church's beliefs, mission, and vision, and desire to be part of our church in peace. 00:13:17.279 --> 00:13:33.120 So if you're a Christian and you affirm homosexuality, you can join if you can be at peace with our belief, or you cannot join and you can just belong to our church. 00:13:33.440 --> 00:13:35.519 We welcome you to do either. 00:13:36.000 --> 00:13:51.200 Number three, are Christians who affirm homosexuality, including practicing homosexuals or transgender, invited to participate in teaching roles at Redeemer? 00:13:52.080 --> 00:13:52.399 No. 00:13:54.000 --> 00:14:00.480 Because we would never ask you to affirm a teaching you don't believe. 00:14:00.879 --> 00:14:13.759 It doesn't make sense to put you in a teaching role where eventually the question of gender or marriage or sexuality may come up, and you are going to be put in an immediate position of conflict. 00:14:14.320 --> 00:14:21.120 Number four, will you perform marriage ceremonies for gay couples at Redeemer? 00:14:21.600 --> 00:14:21.919 No. 00:14:23.440 --> 00:14:26.799 All Americans are entitled to the pursuit of civil liberties. 00:14:27.679 --> 00:14:32.799 But Redeemer will continue to uphold an orthodox understanding of marriage. 00:14:34.000 --> 00:14:44.159 Number five, are practicing homosexuals, are transgender individuals able to attend and receive communion? 00:14:44.960 --> 00:14:45.519 Yes. 00:14:46.720 --> 00:14:51.039 Anybody who wants to be here in peace, we welcome you. 00:14:52.240 --> 00:14:57.360 Those who call on Jesus as Savior and Lord, please take communion. 00:14:57.679 --> 00:14:59.600 We welcome you to take communion. 00:15:00.240 --> 00:15:08.559 Number six, are practicing homosexuals or transgender individuals able to serve at Redeemer? 00:15:08.960 --> 00:15:12.960 Yes, but not in all service roles. 00:15:14.080 --> 00:15:26.639 Any role of service that holds leadership over others, holds authority and influence over them, if you are a homosexual or transgender, that part of your life's in conflict with part of Redeemer's beliefs. 00:15:26.960 --> 00:15:33.360 We would not ask you to serve in a role where eventually you're gonna be put in a position of conflict. 00:15:33.519 --> 00:15:36.960 That does not make sense to put you in that position. 00:15:37.200 --> 00:15:40.799 So, yes, you can serve, but not in all roles. 00:15:41.600 --> 00:15:42.480 Last question. 00:15:42.639 --> 00:15:49.279 Number seven, are practicing homosexuals or transgender individuals able to join Redeemer? 00:15:49.679 --> 00:15:50.000 No. 00:15:51.279 --> 00:15:52.720 No individual. 00:15:53.039 --> 00:15:54.080 No individual. 00:15:54.320 --> 00:16:01.360 And refusal of acknowledgement of a sinful lifestyle, say an affair, is able to join. 00:16:01.840 --> 00:16:04.799 You may say, well, I don't think that's a sin. 00:16:05.120 --> 00:16:07.840 And we would say, okay, we disagree here. 00:16:07.919 --> 00:16:10.159 This is probably why you shouldn't join. 00:16:10.559 --> 00:16:12.159 But we welcome you to be here. 00:16:12.320 --> 00:16:14.000 You're welcome to belong. 00:16:14.240 --> 00:16:18.000 You can belong and not join, or you can join and belong. 00:16:18.720 --> 00:16:27.600 There's a story in Acts 15 where Jewish folks and non-Jewish folks, Gentiles, are in a new Christian church. 00:16:27.759 --> 00:16:30.240 These are two very different groups of people. 00:16:30.799 --> 00:16:34.240 Imagine you're a non-Jew Christian. 00:16:35.200 --> 00:16:41.759 And finally you've heard, finally you've heard, you're fully accepted, and you're fully loved in Jesus. 00:16:41.840 --> 00:16:53.039 And then the people in charge, the Jewish Christians, they say, oh, by the way, you actually need to do all these things, and they're like piling on all these Old Testament laws of like do this and do this, and then God will really love you. 00:16:53.200 --> 00:16:56.000 Jesus loves you, but you really need to do this. 00:16:56.480 --> 00:16:59.919 So a council formed in Jerusalem to settle this. 00:17:00.080 --> 00:17:05.359 What do non-Jews need to do to be accepted in Jesus? 00:17:05.680 --> 00:17:10.000 And the council met, and then they sent leaders out to the church with the conclusion. 00:17:10.160 --> 00:17:12.880 Here's what we have in Acts 15, 27 through 29. 00:17:13.279 --> 00:17:19.680 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. 00:17:20.160 --> 00:17:34.160 For it has seemed good till the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements, that you abstain from what you have been sacrificed to idols and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. 00:17:34.319 --> 00:17:37.039 If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. 00:17:37.279 --> 00:17:38.160 Fair well. 00:17:38.799 --> 00:17:40.319 Now look at verse 28. 00:17:40.720 --> 00:17:44.240 For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us. 00:17:44.480 --> 00:17:58.960 And the point here is that our heart is we want to seek the Holy Spirit's guidance and conversations with others, as we have conversations for gospel faithfulness and toward church unity. 00:17:59.200 --> 00:18:01.359 That's what's going on in Acts 15. 00:18:01.519 --> 00:18:04.559 Here's what we taught last year when we look at Acts 15. 00:18:04.640 --> 00:18:07.680 We taught these five principles quickly. 00:18:07.839 --> 00:18:13.839 Number one, we are rescued out of guilt and self-justification by God's grace to us in Jesus. 00:18:14.079 --> 00:18:14.480 Amen. 00:18:14.559 --> 00:18:15.599 That's a starting point. 00:18:15.839 --> 00:18:18.400 Number two, we will have differences. 00:18:19.359 --> 00:18:23.279 And we need to listen to each other with humility and compassion. 00:18:23.519 --> 00:18:24.720 You have listened to me. 00:18:24.960 --> 00:18:26.640 I am open to listening to you. 00:18:27.359 --> 00:18:32.960 Number three, we take our differences to the scriptures asking the Holy Spirit for help. 00:18:33.279 --> 00:18:37.279 Number four, we need to distinguish between the essential and the important. 00:18:37.759 --> 00:18:38.799 What is the essential? 00:18:39.279 --> 00:18:43.680 Jesus' deity, his death on the cross for our sins and his resurrection. 00:18:44.000 --> 00:18:47.279 And then there are like a hundred important after that. 00:18:48.720 --> 00:18:49.359 Number five. 00:18:49.920 --> 00:18:55.519 The church can make a proclamation while individuals still differ. 00:18:56.319 --> 00:19:03.440 We would just ask you to consider if perhaps the orthodox view could be true. 00:19:04.319 --> 00:19:07.119 Now let me close by us thinking about Jesus. 00:19:08.559 --> 00:19:09.920 There's a story in John 8. 00:19:10.480 --> 00:19:13.440 And Jesus has upset the religious people. 00:19:13.839 --> 00:19:17.920 So they want to catch him being soft on the law. 00:19:18.559 --> 00:19:20.160 So they set a lady up. 00:19:20.640 --> 00:19:22.720 An adultery, they catch her. 00:19:23.759 --> 00:19:28.640 You bring her in front of Jesus in front of a crowd of people because they don't care about her at all. 00:19:30.160 --> 00:19:31.680 They have no compassion. 00:19:31.920 --> 00:19:36.000 And they say, hey Jesus, the law says we should stone her. 00:19:37.359 --> 00:19:38.640 What do you say? 00:19:40.480 --> 00:19:42.160 John 8, verse 6. 00:19:42.880 --> 00:19:44.960 This they said to test him. 00:19:46.079 --> 00:19:48.799 They might have some charge to bring against him. 00:19:49.839 --> 00:19:53.359 Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. 00:19:53.759 --> 00:19:55.599 And they continued to ask him. 00:19:56.079 --> 00:20:03.279 He stood up and said to them, Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her. 00:20:03.519 --> 00:20:06.799 And once more he bent down and he wrote on the ground. 00:20:07.680 --> 00:20:12.160 But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones. 00:20:12.400 --> 00:20:15.359 And Jesus was left alone with a woman standing before him. 00:20:15.599 --> 00:20:19.279 Jesus stood up and said to her, Woman, where are they? 00:20:19.440 --> 00:20:21.200 Has no one condemned you? 00:20:22.000 --> 00:20:23.839 And she said, No one, Lord. 00:20:24.160 --> 00:20:26.160 And Jesus said, Neither do I condemn you. 00:20:26.400 --> 00:20:29.759 Go, and from now on, sin no more. 00:20:31.359 --> 00:20:33.599 Can you imagine the shame of this woman? 00:20:35.279 --> 00:20:39.440 She is exposed in front of everyone. 00:20:40.960 --> 00:20:46.720 Now this isn't the same as homosexuality or transgender, but the point is Jesus. 00:20:47.519 --> 00:20:50.799 See, Jesus oddly bends down and he starts to write in the dirt. 00:20:50.880 --> 00:20:52.559 What an odd thing to do. 00:20:52.880 --> 00:20:59.680 But we do know that all the focus would have turned from the woman to Jesus. 00:20:59.920 --> 00:21:02.319 And that was quite a gift to her in that moment. 00:21:02.880 --> 00:21:08.319 And then verse 7, Jesus speaks to the religious people who think they have it all together. 00:21:08.960 --> 00:21:13.279 Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone. 00:21:13.680 --> 00:21:17.200 And Jesus is saying, be aware of your own sin. 00:21:18.480 --> 00:21:25.359 Don't come into any conversation about something that you think is a sin without thinking that you're not the sinner. 00:21:26.400 --> 00:21:28.720 That's how we begin with compassion. 00:21:29.279 --> 00:21:32.160 And then verse 10, Jesus speaks to the woman. 00:21:32.400 --> 00:21:33.519 Where are they? 00:21:35.920 --> 00:21:37.680 Has no one condemned you? 00:21:39.039 --> 00:21:42.240 And then this, he says, Neither do I condemn you. 00:21:42.400 --> 00:21:46.240 Go and from now on, sin no more. 00:21:46.720 --> 00:21:52.799 So Jesus is lavish in love without affirming everything about her. 00:21:54.079 --> 00:21:58.000 Affirmation is not required for love. 00:21:59.279 --> 00:22:02.640 Jesus does not choose between truth and grace. 00:22:02.799 --> 00:22:09.920 There's something much more profound that we can love someone. 00:22:10.880 --> 00:22:17.359 We can welcome someone without condemnation while we do not agree with them. 00:22:19.359 --> 00:22:29.359 Now it's possible that you hear all this or you read the paper and you have questions, or you have concerns, or you have feedback, or you're upset. 00:22:30.000 --> 00:22:31.680 And after the service, I'll be down front. 00:22:31.759 --> 00:22:32.880 I would love to talk to you. 00:22:33.039 --> 00:22:35.279 And as well, I'd love to set up a time to talk to you. 00:22:35.599 --> 00:22:42.160 You're welcome to reach out to us through our website, at the email on the website, and we will get back to you. 00:22:42.640 --> 00:22:43.440 We would love to talk. 00:22:43.759 --> 00:22:44.960 Let's pray together. 00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:48.720 Heavenly Father, we thank you that you know us and love us. 00:22:50.160 --> 00:23:08.240 Continue to increase our heart for what is true, what is lovely, and increase in our heart a compassion that is required when we have relationships with anybody. 00:23:08.880 --> 00:23:14.480 Have mercy on us that we might grow more lavish in love and more clear on truth. 00:23:14.720 --> 00:23:20.559 And may you guide us as a church and guide us as individuals and families to be like Jesus. 00:23:21.119 --> 00:23:21.680 Amen.