WEBVTT 00:00:00.400 --> 00:00:06.480 As well on Monday, this past Monday, we bought the space on the other side of that wall. 00:00:06.639 --> 00:00:11.359 So the space on the other side of that wall we now own, you know, wonderful, praise God. 00:00:12.000 --> 00:00:22.960 Pretty amazing to think about, pretty amazing to think about the fact that we get to buy the space on the other side of that wall, considering that we don't have land that we can build unto. 00:00:23.039 --> 00:00:25.519 We own our space, but we're part of a community. 00:00:25.600 --> 00:00:26.960 We're part of an HOA. 00:00:27.120 --> 00:00:42.159 And so our neighbor went up for sale, amazing, the wall that attaches to our sanctuary, amazing, and then sold it to us at a price that was fair to them and also fair to us that other people have already tried to buy it from us, which always feels really good, you know, when you buy property other people want. 00:00:42.399 --> 00:00:44.799 And so that property is available to us right away. 00:00:44.880 --> 00:00:48.320 Uh it's like a 1992 office space if you're wondering what it's like. 00:00:48.399 --> 00:00:52.159 Um, and so eventually we'll want to renovate it for highest and best use. 00:00:52.240 --> 00:00:59.280 Um, we bought another unit that attaches to it that's a that goes to the back parking lot and it's under lease for the next couple of months. 00:00:59.439 --> 00:01:01.200 And so we're right now getting our act together. 00:01:01.280 --> 00:01:03.280 Like, how are we gonna like pay off this debt? 00:01:03.439 --> 00:01:04.480 How are we gonna renovate it? 00:01:04.560 --> 00:01:06.159 Where's that money gonna come from? 00:01:06.239 --> 00:01:10.560 Uh, and so you can just begin to pray about that as we're praying about it. 00:01:10.959 --> 00:01:15.040 We are jumping right back into this early church story in the book of Acts. 00:01:15.120 --> 00:01:16.319 We're in chapter 15. 00:01:16.400 --> 00:01:24.159 The church is growing, it's great, it's filling with both Jewish people and non-Jewish people, it's called Gentiles. 00:01:24.400 --> 00:01:29.920 So, not one people, but all people, like a melting pot of people are coming into this early church. 00:01:30.000 --> 00:01:35.519 And so all this goodness is all mixed up, sort of getting all over each other like a melting pot, right? 00:01:35.680 --> 00:01:36.719 And this is church. 00:01:36.799 --> 00:01:38.079 This is what church is. 00:01:38.319 --> 00:01:38.719 Right? 00:01:38.959 --> 00:01:42.560 It's all really good, but we do have we do have differences. 00:01:43.200 --> 00:01:58.719 The context of Acts chapter 15 is that some of the Jewish Christians, they thought that the non-Jewish Christians, they need to accept Christ, but also practice their Jewish religious law. 00:01:58.879 --> 00:02:04.239 So this began the first major theological debate of the church here in Acts 15. 00:02:04.400 --> 00:02:06.000 What is required? 00:02:06.560 --> 00:02:09.599 What is required for someone to be a Christian? 00:02:10.319 --> 00:02:16.960 And this debate helps us learn that, but also it helps us learn how do we disagree? 00:02:17.360 --> 00:02:21.599 Like, how do we have differences and still move forward? 00:02:21.919 --> 00:02:24.879 Acts 15, verses 1 through 5. 00:02:25.680 --> 00:02:35.120 But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved. 00:02:35.759 --> 00:02:47.680 And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question. 00:02:48.080 --> 00:02:59.360 So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers. 00:02:59.599 --> 00:03:06.879 When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God has done with them. 00:03:07.199 --> 00:03:17.599 But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses. 00:03:17.919 --> 00:03:19.759 So we have a difference. 00:03:20.319 --> 00:03:24.639 Point number one is this, coming from what this difference actually is. 00:03:25.280 --> 00:03:32.159 The prison of legalism is in conflict to gospel freedom, rest, and growth. 00:03:32.719 --> 00:03:51.439 The prison of legalism says this your good standing as a Christian with God, so God's forever delight in you, well, that is secured by you holding, keeping, obeying, probably creating some more rules, certain rules. 00:03:51.680 --> 00:03:54.479 So a council form in Jerusalem discussed this. 00:03:54.560 --> 00:03:55.599 Let's talk this through. 00:03:55.680 --> 00:03:57.520 We need to make a decision. 00:03:57.759 --> 00:04:01.039 What do non-Jews need to do to be accepted as Christians? 00:04:01.120 --> 00:04:03.199 So imagine you're a non-Jew Christian. 00:04:03.360 --> 00:04:06.960 You can probably imagine it because you probably are a non-Jew Christian. 00:04:07.280 --> 00:04:10.560 You heard you're fully accepted and loved in Jesus. 00:04:12.000 --> 00:04:16.639 I actually have forgiveness, I'm loved by God, I'm secure with God, that's unbelievable, I have eternity in heaven. 00:04:16.720 --> 00:04:20.000 And then the people in charge say, well, actually, you know, actually. 00:04:20.160 --> 00:04:24.560 Yeah, that's kind of true, but actually, you really need to do this whole other set of things as well. 00:04:24.800 --> 00:04:36.160 So Jesus loves you, but but this week I I was driving, I was talking on the phone to Christy as I was driving in my car. 00:04:36.240 --> 00:04:39.519 I pulled up to a congested traffic light. 00:04:40.000 --> 00:04:43.279 Traffic was barely moving through from the other direction. 00:04:43.600 --> 00:04:45.120 I'm talking to Christy. 00:04:45.360 --> 00:04:48.319 And then our our arrow turned green. 00:04:48.879 --> 00:04:52.480 And that other traffic kept sneaking through. 00:04:52.959 --> 00:04:53.759 Uh-uh. 00:04:54.319 --> 00:04:54.639 No. 00:04:55.920 --> 00:04:56.720 Nope. 00:04:57.759 --> 00:05:01.360 So I do a little honking, you know, like a little honking, just enough. 00:05:01.600 --> 00:05:02.480 Just enough. 00:05:03.040 --> 00:05:10.800 And then I look to the side, to the car next to me, thinking, he will appreciate what I have done here. 00:05:11.759 --> 00:05:18.879 And he gives me this look, it's like sort of this like half disgust and half you're a moron look. 00:05:19.680 --> 00:05:23.120 And it was then that I learned that this was a funeral procession. 00:05:28.240 --> 00:05:32.399 I was talking at the grieving family. 00:05:32.639 --> 00:05:33.279 Maybe you. 00:05:33.439 --> 00:05:35.120 I don't, it could be you. 00:05:35.839 --> 00:05:41.040 This grieving family who just lost a loved one, and I am letting them have it. 00:05:44.720 --> 00:05:49.600 So if we're living by our resume, we are doomed. 00:05:50.480 --> 00:06:02.879 Right, not to mention just all the much more profound ways that I'm still reliant and you're still reliant on comfort or security or status or approval or money, people's approval. 00:06:03.680 --> 00:06:04.000 Right? 00:06:04.079 --> 00:06:08.879 We're like too much of something we shouldn't be, but we're not enough of the other thing that we should be, right? 00:06:08.959 --> 00:06:16.079 Like but neither, this is the good news, but neither the mistakes or the posturing or all your goodness. 00:06:16.480 --> 00:06:20.079 None of that is your actual belovedness to God. 00:06:21.360 --> 00:06:27.680 Because we are justified by grace alone, through faith alone, and Christ alone. 00:06:28.319 --> 00:06:31.680 Everything else flows from there. 00:06:33.920 --> 00:06:37.600 For years I lived with an internal scoreboard, like a list of rules. 00:06:37.759 --> 00:06:39.680 What else do I need to do? 00:06:40.720 --> 00:06:42.800 And if I'm scoring better, I feel better. 00:06:42.879 --> 00:06:47.360 So sort of like pride and then exhaustion, pride and then condemnation, right? 00:06:47.519 --> 00:06:59.759 And it turns out that I really do need God's grace to welcome me in as a Christian to grant me salvation, and also needs God's grace to sustain and empower me for ongoing growth and godliness. 00:06:59.920 --> 00:07:05.920 So what I keep learning is God's delight in me is not based on my production or my resume or my growth. 00:07:06.079 --> 00:07:10.879 God is already fully delighted in me, in Jesus. 00:07:11.199 --> 00:07:18.959 My growth and godliness, your growth and godliness is living more deeply in what God has given to you, in this great wealth of identity. 00:07:19.199 --> 00:07:21.120 So this council forms in Jerusalem. 00:07:21.199 --> 00:07:24.160 Eventually, Peter stands up in Acts 15, verse 7. 00:07:24.319 --> 00:07:36.959 And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 00:07:37.199 --> 00:07:44.399 And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us. 00:07:44.560 --> 00:07:51.199 And he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. 00:07:52.639 --> 00:08:01.360 Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? 00:08:01.759 --> 00:08:05.920 That's his way of saying, we've never been able to live up to the law. 00:08:06.240 --> 00:08:08.639 We need to live by grace through faith. 00:08:08.800 --> 00:08:09.680 Verse 11. 00:08:09.839 --> 00:08:16.319 But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will. 00:08:17.040 --> 00:08:19.839 So Peter just drops that gospel bomb on the place. 00:08:19.920 --> 00:08:27.199 It goes completely silent because everybody recognizes that they don't keep the law up, that they need God's grace to them. 00:08:27.360 --> 00:08:36.159 And then James says, in Acts 15, 19 through 21, and you can see how James here, you can see how we get the book of James when we hear James right here. 00:08:36.320 --> 00:08:40.639 Because James is taking gospel and he's going, yeah, let's also talk about what it means. 00:08:40.799 --> 00:08:42.879 What are the implications of this gospel? 00:08:43.039 --> 00:08:44.720 What does growth and godliness mean? 00:08:44.799 --> 00:08:50.960 And he says in verse 19, therefore, my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God. 00:08:51.039 --> 00:08:53.279 All right, so he's aligned with Peter here. 00:08:53.759 --> 00:09:01.519 But should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols and from sexual morality and for what has been strangled and from blood. 00:09:01.679 --> 00:09:08.480 For from ancient generations, Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues. 00:09:08.559 --> 00:09:09.200 Alright, here's the point. 00:09:09.279 --> 00:09:09.919 Point number two. 00:09:10.080 --> 00:09:12.320 Our rescue is always the gospel. 00:09:13.360 --> 00:09:16.639 Justification by grace alone through faith alone and Christ alone. 00:09:16.879 --> 00:09:18.720 That's always a rescue. 00:09:19.759 --> 00:09:22.480 Forty years ago, the great Ren McCormick. 00:09:22.639 --> 00:09:24.080 Do you remember the great Wren McCormick? 00:09:26.240 --> 00:09:28.399 1984 Footloose, not the new one. 00:09:28.480 --> 00:09:29.759 The new one does not count. 00:09:29.919 --> 00:09:30.480 I've seen it. 00:09:32.000 --> 00:09:34.159 Ren's a bit of a rebel, but he has a good heart. 00:09:34.240 --> 00:09:37.519 If you remember the storyline, his family has fallen apart. 00:09:37.679 --> 00:09:41.759 They move to this town that's controlled by legalistic church folk. 00:09:42.240 --> 00:09:45.840 So there's no rock and roll, there's no alcohol, there's no drinking. 00:09:46.320 --> 00:09:49.279 Ren goes before the city council to request a high school dance. 00:09:49.440 --> 00:09:50.080 Do you remember this? 00:09:50.240 --> 00:09:52.240 This great speech, right? 00:09:52.879 --> 00:09:57.919 He's so poetic, it's emotional, the music's in the background, and his pauses are perfect. 00:09:58.159 --> 00:09:59.039 He reads from the Bible. 00:09:59.120 --> 00:10:00.720 He cites that King David danced. 00:10:00.799 --> 00:10:01.519 Why aren't we dancing? 00:10:01.679 --> 00:10:02.720 King David danced. 00:10:02.879 --> 00:10:07.919 And then he says, and I'll read it, I cannot do justice to Kevin Bacon, but here we go. 00:10:08.080 --> 00:10:13.120 Ecclesiastes assures us that there is a time to every purpose under heaven. 00:10:13.279 --> 00:10:18.720 A time to laugh, a time to weep, a time to mourn, and there is a time to dance. 00:10:18.960 --> 00:10:22.559 And there was a time for this law, but not anymore. 00:10:22.879 --> 00:10:24.480 See, this is our time to dance. 00:10:24.559 --> 00:10:27.120 And it is our way of celebrating life. 00:10:27.200 --> 00:10:32.720 It's the way it was in the beginning, it's the way it's always been, it's the way it should be now. 00:10:33.519 --> 00:10:37.679 Now, years before Ren showed up into this town, there had been a wreck. 00:10:37.759 --> 00:10:41.600 Some teens had been drinking and driving, and they all died. 00:10:42.159 --> 00:10:43.120 Horrible. 00:10:43.440 --> 00:10:47.840 So this past wound turns to fear. 00:10:48.480 --> 00:10:51.519 Fear turns to control, control turns to legalism. 00:10:52.799 --> 00:10:55.519 That's how you get legalism through woundedness. 00:10:56.000 --> 00:10:57.840 But all of life feels like legalism. 00:10:58.000 --> 00:11:03.600 We can get to legalism just even if we're not out of a wound, just our sinful nature pushes us there. 00:11:03.759 --> 00:11:08.320 Paul says we are prone to justification by works of the law. 00:11:09.759 --> 00:11:13.759 What do I really need to do or be to be loved? 00:11:14.000 --> 00:11:22.240 I mean, I know what you're telling me about this like free, like freely forgiven, justified, righteous in Jesus, but sure, what do I really need to do? 00:11:22.799 --> 00:11:33.360 But Peter and Barnabas and James and Paul, they all say there was a time for life by the law, but not anymore. 00:11:34.240 --> 00:11:35.840 Now, what does that mean? 00:11:36.159 --> 00:11:43.840 Well, religion or life by the law says, as a Christian, it would say something like Jesus plus something equals everything. 00:11:44.159 --> 00:11:48.559 You just need something more than Jesus to be okay with God or beloved to God. 00:11:49.360 --> 00:11:55.600 This is why the Pharisees are asking the non-Jews to obey their religious law from the past. 00:11:55.679 --> 00:11:59.600 Now, the gospel says Jesus plus nothing equals everything. 00:11:59.919 --> 00:12:00.480 Everything. 00:12:00.639 --> 00:12:01.440 He's all we need. 00:12:01.600 --> 00:12:03.039 Now there are implications of that. 00:12:03.200 --> 00:12:05.120 Now, how this is how the implications work out. 00:12:05.279 --> 00:12:09.919 Religion says, well, it's like this, obey, then you are accepted. 00:12:10.399 --> 00:12:12.480 That's justification by works of the law. 00:12:12.639 --> 00:12:17.360 But gospel says you are accepted, therefore obey. 00:12:17.519 --> 00:12:20.799 Now that's what James was saying in verses 19 through 21. 00:12:21.840 --> 00:12:29.679 That our godliness is an empowerment out of our deep identity of already secure and forgiven and righteous in Jesus. 00:12:29.919 --> 00:12:32.399 That council sent a group of leaders out to these churches. 00:12:32.480 --> 00:12:34.559 In Acts 15, verse 27, we read that. 00:12:34.720 --> 00:12:41.200 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. 00:12:41.440 --> 00:12:56.000 For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements, that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols and from blood, and from what has been strangled and from sexual morality. 00:12:56.159 --> 00:12:58.799 If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. 00:12:59.039 --> 00:12:59.840 Farewell. 00:13:00.080 --> 00:13:06.159 So it's sort of like you are welcomed and free in Jesus, and in that freedom there is a path. 00:13:06.639 --> 00:13:09.759 There is a path of growth and a path of godliness. 00:13:10.000 --> 00:13:11.360 Now look at verse 28. 00:13:11.440 --> 00:13:13.440 It has something for us as a community of people. 00:13:13.600 --> 00:13:17.679 Verse 28, for it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us. 00:13:18.559 --> 00:13:19.759 So point number three is this. 00:13:19.919 --> 00:13:21.519 A little bit long, I think it's all important. 00:13:21.759 --> 00:13:27.200 We seek the Holy Spirit's guidance in conversations with others. 00:13:27.440 --> 00:13:28.960 This is what this council is doing. 00:13:29.120 --> 00:13:36.240 We seek the Holy Spirit's guidance in conversations with others for gospel faithfulness toward church unity. 00:13:37.759 --> 00:13:40.159 When we run into differences, this is what we should do. 00:13:40.240 --> 00:13:41.440 This is what these people did. 00:13:41.600 --> 00:13:47.919 They met together, they're seeking the Holy Spirit's guidance, they're talking things through, they're hearing from each other, coming to a decision. 00:13:48.159 --> 00:13:51.919 Twenty years ago, I went to Le Breeze Study and Retreat Center just south of London. 00:13:52.000 --> 00:13:54.480 Here's a picture of a beautiful manor home south of London. 00:13:54.559 --> 00:13:59.759 And you can go there and you can study for a few days or a week or up to a semester. 00:13:59.919 --> 00:14:01.519 I went for a week to study God's will. 00:14:01.679 --> 00:14:03.360 I was going to figure out God's will in a week. 00:14:03.440 --> 00:14:05.759 That's how I was going to do that as a 22-year-old. 00:14:05.840 --> 00:14:07.120 That's what you do when you're 22. 00:14:07.200 --> 00:14:08.879 So you can figure that out that quickly. 00:14:09.039 --> 00:14:12.320 And so you go there and you can study all sorts of different folks. 00:14:12.399 --> 00:14:13.279 It's an amazing place. 00:14:13.360 --> 00:14:14.639 The theologians run the place. 00:14:14.720 --> 00:14:20.480 So you're studying half the day, you do chores half the day, and then you have some little lectures and stuff like that. 00:14:20.720 --> 00:14:24.159 So the theologians at Run Place once a week, they have a house meeting. 00:14:24.399 --> 00:14:25.360 Kind of like a family meeting. 00:14:25.519 --> 00:14:27.440 Like, hey, we're all living together, we need to talk through things. 00:14:27.519 --> 00:14:28.320 Is there any conflict? 00:14:28.399 --> 00:14:29.120 What's going on? 00:14:29.360 --> 00:14:30.320 Full room. 00:14:30.480 --> 00:14:35.440 It's probably 15 different nations represented in this room. 00:14:35.840 --> 00:14:38.639 First world, second world, third world. 00:14:39.200 --> 00:14:44.799 Rich, poor, black, white, brown, conservatives, moderates, liberals, all together, one room. 00:14:44.960 --> 00:14:46.480 Big melting pot. 00:14:47.679 --> 00:14:49.039 Guy raises his hand. 00:14:49.279 --> 00:14:50.480 Oh, he's ready. 00:14:50.720 --> 00:14:52.080 And he lets it rip. 00:14:52.320 --> 00:14:54.320 He is so upset. 00:14:54.559 --> 00:15:05.519 He is so upset as a Christian that a group of these other Christians they walked into town and had a couple of beers. 00:15:06.240 --> 00:15:07.360 And he's upset. 00:15:07.679 --> 00:15:09.200 He's distraught. 00:15:09.440 --> 00:15:12.960 And the theologian says, okay, thank you for sharing that. 00:15:13.120 --> 00:15:13.440 Thank you. 00:15:13.600 --> 00:15:15.519 Would anybody else like to share? 00:15:17.200 --> 00:15:26.879 And one of the gals from the group that walked in and had a beer at the pub, she shares her view and opinion and convictions from the scriptures. 00:15:28.559 --> 00:15:31.840 So both have shared their heart from their convictions. 00:15:32.080 --> 00:15:33.679 Now what do we do? 00:15:34.159 --> 00:15:37.919 Both are wonderful people, wonderful, devout Christians. 00:15:39.279 --> 00:15:43.039 Now the theologian shares his view and his opinion and why. 00:15:43.519 --> 00:15:52.799 And then he said, this issue falls into important but not essential. 00:15:54.159 --> 00:16:00.399 See, the framing of your new shed, the framing of that shed is really important. 00:16:01.679 --> 00:16:04.639 But the foundation is essential. 00:16:05.679 --> 00:16:06.639 Alright, we got it? 00:16:06.720 --> 00:16:07.679 I mean, that's that's big. 00:16:07.840 --> 00:16:09.679 That's big for communal life. 00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:15.039 The framing is important, vitally important, but the foundation is essential. 00:16:15.360 --> 00:16:19.759 So in Acts 15, what do we learn as individuals living in a community of faith? 00:16:19.840 --> 00:16:25.200 Well, number one, we are rescued out of guilt and self-justification by God's grace to us and Jesus. 00:16:25.440 --> 00:16:26.799 Essential foundation. 00:16:26.960 --> 00:16:30.559 We can't talk about number two through five until we understand number one. 00:16:30.720 --> 00:16:33.840 Number two, we will have differences. 00:16:34.480 --> 00:16:38.240 And we need to listen to each other with humility and compassion. 00:16:39.120 --> 00:16:45.440 Number three, we take our differences to the scriptures, asking the Holy Spirit for help. 00:16:46.240 --> 00:16:51.200 Number four, we need to distinguish between the essential and the important. 00:16:52.399 --> 00:16:58.399 Number five, the church can make a proclamation while individuals still differ. 00:16:58.799 --> 00:17:03.279 Now you already know that because you differ with stuff all the time when I say something. 00:17:04.079 --> 00:17:04.400 Right? 00:17:04.559 --> 00:17:06.880 Every single one of our beliefs are never gonna line up. 00:17:06.960 --> 00:17:08.559 I mean, it's not even true in my marriage, right? 00:17:09.119 --> 00:17:13.279 It's not gonna be true with 250 people or 400 people or a thousand people, right? 00:17:13.440 --> 00:17:18.000 But what we're looking for is we're looking for like laser close alignment on the essentials. 00:17:18.240 --> 00:17:19.920 Like Acts 15. 00:17:20.160 --> 00:17:21.519 What does it mean to be a Christian? 00:17:21.680 --> 00:17:22.799 Laser close. 00:17:22.960 --> 00:17:26.160 And then reasonable alignment on the important. 00:17:26.799 --> 00:17:33.279 And even getting to say reasonable alignment is an unbelievable kind of cultural and historical gift. 00:17:33.359 --> 00:17:39.920 Because in many places in the world and in history, you're lucky if there's one church to show up to. 00:17:41.200 --> 00:17:42.000 Just one. 00:17:43.359 --> 00:17:46.079 See, we get to do all the shopping, picking. 00:17:46.799 --> 00:17:48.319 Imagine if there's just one. 00:17:50.400 --> 00:17:52.640 Now I know you want me to name the important. 00:17:54.400 --> 00:18:02.000 Baptism, creation, homosexuality, gifts of the spirit in times, men's and women's roles, alcohol, Seinfeld friends. 00:18:02.480 --> 00:18:05.200 Were Ross and Rachel on a break or not? 00:18:05.279 --> 00:18:07.920 I mean, this is but did I hit a hot spot? 00:18:08.240 --> 00:18:09.359 Of course I did. 00:18:09.839 --> 00:18:10.960 Of course I did. 00:18:11.200 --> 00:18:14.880 I'll say vitally important issues. 00:18:15.519 --> 00:18:17.119 The framing of the house. 00:18:17.440 --> 00:18:18.960 Vitally important issues. 00:18:19.119 --> 00:18:21.359 And we want to stand in truth as best we can. 00:18:21.519 --> 00:18:34.960 So our church will proclaim a clear view on essential and the important, which means you as an individual probably will not be in a hundred percent agreement with every single little thing. 00:18:35.039 --> 00:18:39.920 It's also why you haven't been in agreement with 100% of every single thing in any other church you've ever been to. 00:18:40.079 --> 00:18:43.359 And if you find that church, you will be by yourself in your basement. 00:18:50.880 --> 00:18:57.680 We're just looking for alignment on the essentials, laser alignment, the core of who we are in Jesus, and kind of reasonable alignment on the important. 00:18:57.759 --> 00:19:01.519 Like if we're getting around 80% of the important, like that's probably pretty good. 00:19:01.599 --> 00:19:05.680 If you drop below a certain point, start to get tense, and you can't be in a place in peace. 00:19:05.759 --> 00:19:09.440 Well, maybe you need to, maybe another church is an option for you. 00:19:10.559 --> 00:19:13.839 And this isn't easy because we do believe something. 00:19:14.160 --> 00:19:17.039 And sometimes the important can feel essential. 00:19:17.440 --> 00:19:19.680 And the essential and the important are connected. 00:19:19.839 --> 00:19:20.640 They're not separate. 00:19:20.799 --> 00:19:22.799 So that makes it harder too for us. 00:19:23.039 --> 00:19:39.119 But without some distinction here with us, we will never be at peace with each other, much less be at peace with our Christian family at Stonebridge, or our Christian family at First Methodist, our first Presbyterian, or the Baptist. 00:19:40.960 --> 00:19:42.240 We're different. 00:19:43.359 --> 00:19:45.599 But we are one in Jesus. 00:19:46.559 --> 00:19:54.079 Now, another gift that we have is councils have met throughout the history of the Christian faith to define the essentials. 00:19:54.240 --> 00:19:59.279 So our church's essentials are the 39 Articles of Religion, pretty long Reformation document. 00:19:59.440 --> 00:20:01.920 But we also hold to the historic creeds. 00:20:02.160 --> 00:20:04.960 The historic creeds give us the essentials. 00:20:05.279 --> 00:20:11.279 The Apostles' Creed in the fifth century is a summary of the Nicene Creed in the fourth century. 00:20:11.920 --> 00:20:17.920 So as to close, I'll read these essentials that unite our hearts together. 00:20:19.519 --> 00:20:24.160 I believe in God the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth. 00:20:24.400 --> 00:20:36.400 I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. 00:20:36.559 --> 00:20:39.440 He descended to the dead on the third day, he rose again. 00:20:39.519 --> 00:20:40.640 He ascended into heaven. 00:20:40.720 --> 00:20:42.960 He is seated at the right hand of the Father. 00:20:43.039 --> 00:20:45.279 He will come to judge the living and the dead. 00:20:45.440 --> 00:20:48.559 I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church. 00:20:48.720 --> 00:20:50.960 Catholic means all embracing. 00:20:51.440 --> 00:20:58.079 The communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. 00:20:58.240 --> 00:20:58.720 Amen. 00:20:58.880 --> 00:20:59.279 Let's pray. 00:20:59.519 --> 00:21:01.680 Heavenly Father, help us. 00:21:02.720 --> 00:21:06.240 Help us in all the places that we differ. 00:21:07.680 --> 00:21:13.039 Forgive us for our lack of compassion, our lack of curiosity. 00:21:14.079 --> 00:21:21.200 Forgive us for always wanting to be right more than listening and asking your Holy Spirit to help us. 00:21:21.519 --> 00:21:26.480 Would you increase both our love toward people and our love of truth? 00:21:27.759 --> 00:21:40.880 And help us on both the essentials and the important, not to be at the whim of culture, but to be in submission to your scriptures and the Holy Spirit that you would guide our hearts and us as a church. 00:21:42.079 --> 00:21:54.799 We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. 00:21:55.680 --> 00:21:57.279 We say together, Amen.