WEBVTT 00:00:01.120 --> 00:00:05.919 Hey, this is Andrew Demazio, lead pastor of Rose Church here in Portland, Oregon. 00:00:06.000 --> 00:00:06.879 Welcome to our podcast. 00:00:07.040 --> 00:00:13.679 Our mission here at Rose is building big people, becoming like Jesus in community while growing in our faith. 00:00:13.839 --> 00:00:20.559 Whoever you are, wherever you are, I pray today's message challenges you and encourages you on your walk with Jesus. 00:00:20.719 --> 00:00:22.079 Thank you so much for listening. 00:00:22.239 --> 00:00:24.239 Enjoy today's podcast. 00:00:25.359 --> 00:00:28.879 We have started a new series last Sunday called One Another. 00:00:30.160 --> 00:00:31.280 One another. 00:00:31.839 --> 00:00:39.359 And uh, as we talked about last week, there are 45 verses, there's 45 commands in the New Testament about uh blank one another. 00:00:39.439 --> 00:00:43.679 That's loving one another and encouraging one another and supporting one another and praying for one another. 00:00:43.759 --> 00:00:46.880 There's 45 of them in the New Testament that says one another. 00:00:46.960 --> 00:00:51.200 And so we we're spending the whole month of March on this idea that this is a communal thing. 00:00:51.280 --> 00:00:56.399 This is not an individual thing, this is not a solo journey, this is not um you and Jesus by yourself. 00:00:56.479 --> 00:01:00.079 It is us, it is we, it is our, it is us together, and this is a communal journey. 00:01:00.240 --> 00:01:02.479 So we're going through these commands on the one another's. 00:01:02.560 --> 00:01:06.079 Last week we talked about what does it mean to encourage one another? 00:01:06.319 --> 00:01:11.599 Not just with positivity, but biblically encouraging one another as brothers and sisters. 00:01:11.760 --> 00:01:16.560 And today we're gonna deal with another aspect of the one another verses. 00:01:16.799 --> 00:01:20.799 Real quick, before we jump into our text, let me just um paint you a picture. 00:01:20.959 --> 00:01:22.799 Let's do a mental exercise together. 00:01:22.959 --> 00:01:24.480 And I want you to embody this. 00:01:24.560 --> 00:01:29.200 I want you to like fully hear what I'm saying and try your very best to put yourself in this scenario. 00:01:29.680 --> 00:01:31.680 Imagine it's the first century. 00:01:32.799 --> 00:01:35.200 Jesus has died, resurrected, he's gone. 00:01:35.359 --> 00:01:37.920 It's been about 50 years since he left. 00:01:38.159 --> 00:01:40.239 And you are a Roman centurion. 00:01:40.799 --> 00:01:42.239 Okay, you're a Roman guard. 00:01:43.599 --> 00:01:47.920 You get saved because a man named Paul is in your prison. 00:01:49.519 --> 00:01:59.840 And while he's in your stay, while you're a Roman guard, making sure this Roman slash Jewish man does not get out, you get saved because the power of God shows up in that cell and you get saved. 00:02:00.079 --> 00:02:02.719 When Paul leaves, he says, Hey, this is in Rome. 00:02:02.879 --> 00:02:07.519 Hey, I'm I have to move to Ephesus and Thessalonica and Galatia, I have to go start some other churches. 00:02:07.680 --> 00:02:12.319 You stay here, and there's a few other believers that you can start a church with. 00:02:12.719 --> 00:02:13.039 Okay? 00:02:13.680 --> 00:02:19.919 And as a Roman guard, you now understand that because you are now saved, this is gonna change your entire life. 00:02:20.240 --> 00:02:24.319 And so he says, Hey, there's this woman, uh, her name is Phoebe, go to her house. 00:02:24.639 --> 00:02:28.000 She's hosting another room full of other Christians. 00:02:28.240 --> 00:02:28.960 Start there. 00:02:29.360 --> 00:02:29.680 Okay? 00:02:30.560 --> 00:02:31.199 You follow me? 00:02:31.360 --> 00:02:31.439 Yeah. 00:02:31.680 --> 00:02:38.479 You're a Roman guard, you show up to this house, you walk in, you're in your Roman guard because it's status. 00:02:39.039 --> 00:02:42.879 You probably still have your centurion gear because of safety. 00:02:43.280 --> 00:02:55.520 You walk into this home, and there's not a thousand people, there's not five hundred people, there's twenty-five or thirty-five people in this terrace, in this Roman house. 00:02:56.080 --> 00:03:00.479 There's food, there's wine, there's people sitting around tables and talking. 00:03:00.639 --> 00:03:04.879 You walk in and you see a single Jewish woman who's about 17. 00:03:05.599 --> 00:03:08.400 And you've been told your entire life she's your enemy. 00:03:09.680 --> 00:03:16.479 You turn to the other side of the house, and there's a tax collector that has stolen from you your entire life. 00:03:17.360 --> 00:03:25.120 You turn to the other side of the house, and there's a family in which you killed their brother because he was against the Roman Empire, and they know who you are. 00:03:26.080 --> 00:03:33.039 You turn to the other side, and it's a Pharisee who has tried to ruin your entire life, and you know his name. 00:03:33.520 --> 00:03:43.599 You turn to the other side, and it's a politician who you know that you and him have ruined everyone's life in this room, and you know you and the politician have been doing things behind the scenes. 00:03:45.039 --> 00:03:49.120 You walk into this home and you sit down, and Phoebe says, Welcome to church. 00:03:51.599 --> 00:04:01.120 And they open up to a letter that talks about, dear brothers and sisters, and you look across the table going, That is not my brother and sister. 00:04:01.599 --> 00:04:03.039 That is my enemy. 00:04:03.360 --> 00:04:04.479 Let's make it worse. 00:04:04.639 --> 00:04:18.399 If you were a Jew in the 1930s and 40s, and you start serving Jesus, and you get invited to a gathering, and you walk in, and there's five other Nazi regimes there who have now accepted Jesus as well. 00:04:18.639 --> 00:04:21.360 And you open up and read, dear brothers and sisters. 00:04:24.480 --> 00:04:25.839 To make it worse. 00:04:26.480 --> 00:04:32.639 You're a Christian in the Gaza Strip that serves Jesus, and now you're your saved Israeli that lives in Israel. 00:04:32.959 --> 00:04:38.879 You get invited to a private meeting in a home and you show up, and half the room is from the Gaza Strip, and half is from Israel. 00:04:39.120 --> 00:04:41.680 And you open up and have to read to your brothers and sisters. 00:04:43.439 --> 00:04:44.800 Welcome to church. 00:04:46.319 --> 00:04:48.399 Let's make it even more personalized. 00:04:48.720 --> 00:04:50.319 See, I don't need to even read this text. 00:04:50.399 --> 00:04:54.240 We can talk about our cultural moment. 00:04:55.519 --> 00:05:03.199 You walk in, and there are immigrants there, and there's also somebody who's there January 6th, who have now both been saved. 00:05:06.160 --> 00:05:10.160 And you have to look across the table going, you're my brother and sister now? 00:05:11.600 --> 00:05:20.000 Like, friends, what I want to talk about today, and this is why it's so uncomfortable, is because I want to talk about what does it mean to live in harmony with one another. 00:05:21.199 --> 00:05:23.680 And is that even possible? 00:05:24.879 --> 00:05:43.920 Let alone in the ancient world, in our world, in our cultural moment, we live in one of the most, I won't say the most because I wasn't alive back in the 20s or back in the 1700s or back in the third century, but I would say one of the most culturally divided moments in our time. 00:05:44.240 --> 00:05:47.680 You would talk about Bad Bunny playing at the Super Bowl. 00:05:48.800 --> 00:05:51.199 Divide that that lit some homes on fire. 00:05:51.920 --> 00:05:56.800 Talk about Trump, talk about Iran, talk about Ukraine and Russia, talk about what do you want to talk about? 00:05:57.120 --> 00:06:02.160 We can lay a whole bunch of stuff at the table and then sit those people in a room and go, brothers and sisters. 00:06:04.079 --> 00:06:11.839 Is the seriously, is that even possible to do a church in complete harmony? 00:06:12.480 --> 00:06:14.000 That's what I want to talk about today. 00:06:14.160 --> 00:06:15.519 The messy church. 00:06:17.279 --> 00:06:19.120 You want to talk about messy church? 00:06:19.680 --> 00:06:26.879 Walk into a room with 25 people and see those faces around a table, and you have to ask your arch rival, can you pass the communion cup? 00:06:28.879 --> 00:06:33.120 You have to ask the person you've been told to never trust a day in your life, can you pass the bread? 00:06:34.560 --> 00:06:36.319 You want to talk about messy church? 00:06:36.560 --> 00:06:38.800 We're gonna talk about the book of Romans today. 00:06:39.120 --> 00:06:42.240 This was the literal Roman experience. 00:06:42.560 --> 00:06:47.920 Roman centurion guards, slave girls, single, married, widowed. 00:06:48.160 --> 00:06:53.120 People that other people in that room have most likely either murdered or ruined their life. 00:06:53.199 --> 00:06:54.800 You don't have to do communion with those people. 00:06:55.600 --> 00:07:01.600 And Paul dares to say, dear brothers and sisters, live in harmony with one another. 00:07:02.079 --> 00:07:02.399 Why? 00:07:02.560 --> 00:07:09.120 Because the Romans were bringing up their social status, and the Jews were bringing up their religious status. 00:07:09.600 --> 00:07:11.439 The Romans were like, don't you understand that? 00:07:11.519 --> 00:07:12.560 I'm a Roman. 00:07:12.800 --> 00:07:13.920 I have legal status. 00:07:14.000 --> 00:07:17.040 And the Jews are like, we are the children of Abraham. 00:07:17.519 --> 00:07:21.519 We think you carry we carry your status, we are the spiritual royalty. 00:07:21.600 --> 00:07:34.560 So these two people are going at it in the book of Romans, chapters 11 to 16, is simply Paul trying to help a Jewish woman and a Roman man take communion together. 00:07:35.279 --> 00:07:37.279 Because the Jews are like, you can't eat that. 00:07:37.439 --> 00:07:38.560 You ever heard of kosher? 00:07:39.360 --> 00:07:42.319 And the Romans are like, grow up, it's just meat. 00:07:43.279 --> 00:07:45.439 And the Gentiles are like, this is not a big deal. 00:07:45.519 --> 00:07:48.000 And the Jews are like, you can't drink wine like that. 00:07:48.160 --> 00:07:50.959 And they cannot, they literally can't do church together. 00:07:51.199 --> 00:07:57.279 So Paul writes a little letter to this little house church at Phoebe's house going, I need you guys to live in harmony with one another. 00:07:58.800 --> 00:08:00.879 And that's what you and I are going to talk about today. 00:08:01.120 --> 00:08:01.600 Why? 00:08:01.839 --> 00:08:06.480 Because I'm pretty sure I don't need to remind you, maybe I do, that we have an enemy. 00:08:07.360 --> 00:08:08.959 And it's not your next neighbor. 00:08:10.319 --> 00:08:14.560 It's not even your stepmom, it's not your boss, it's not your ex-wife. 00:08:14.639 --> 00:08:15.920 We have an actual enemy. 00:08:16.319 --> 00:08:19.120 His name is Lucifer, Satan, the devil, whatever you want to call him. 00:08:19.279 --> 00:08:20.000 We have an enemy. 00:08:20.160 --> 00:08:28.959 And I think that enemy would look at this church and what God is doing in our midst and try to find a way to ruin what Rose is. 00:08:29.199 --> 00:08:32.159 And I bet you he would think is if I could cause division. 00:08:33.519 --> 00:08:42.480 If I could seed disunity and separate that church at the seams, they won't be able to accomplish the will of God in that city. 00:08:45.120 --> 00:08:47.120 So I'm trying to communicate today. 00:08:47.279 --> 00:08:48.879 I can't speak for any other church in this city. 00:08:48.960 --> 00:08:49.919 I can't speak for this one. 00:08:50.399 --> 00:08:55.039 That I long to be a church of harmony, a church of unity. 00:08:55.759 --> 00:08:57.679 And let's read Romans chapter 12. 00:08:58.399 --> 00:08:59.840 We're going to read the majority of the chapter. 00:08:59.919 --> 00:09:04.159 I'm going to show you some things I've never seen before until I've been wrestling with this chapter all week long. 00:09:04.240 --> 00:09:06.080 Man, thoughts, deleting thoughts, writing some. 00:09:06.240 --> 00:09:06.879 What does this mean? 00:09:07.519 --> 00:09:10.960 I have given all my time and attention to this one chapter this week. 00:09:11.279 --> 00:09:12.639 We're going to read 18 verses. 00:09:12.799 --> 00:09:13.919 Stay with me and hear. 00:09:14.080 --> 00:09:16.240 And think of the scene that I just painted in your mind. 00:09:16.320 --> 00:09:17.600 Don't lose that scene. 00:09:18.879 --> 00:09:22.720 And hear these words, imagining sitting around that table. 00:09:23.120 --> 00:09:24.720 Romans 12, 1. 00:09:25.360 --> 00:09:39.279 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, not arch rivals, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, for this is your true and proper worship. 00:09:39.440 --> 00:09:45.279 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. 00:09:45.519 --> 00:09:49.679 Then you'll be able to test and approve what God's will is, his good and pleasing and perfect will. 00:09:49.919 --> 00:09:55.360 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you, who's the you, think of this table. 00:09:55.600 --> 00:10:04.320 Don't think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance to the faith that God has distributed to each of you. 00:10:05.120 --> 00:10:18.320 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so it is in Christ we have though many from one body, uh form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 00:10:18.480 --> 00:10:21.440 We have different gifts according to the grace given to each of us. 00:10:21.600 --> 00:10:25.759 If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy, in accordance with your faith. 00:10:25.840 --> 00:10:26.879 If it's serving, serve. 00:10:27.039 --> 00:10:28.240 If it's teaching, teach. 00:10:28.399 --> 00:10:29.919 If it's to encourage, encourage. 00:10:30.080 --> 00:10:31.679 If it's giving, give generously. 00:10:31.919 --> 00:10:32.559 Amen. 00:10:33.919 --> 00:10:36.559 If it's to lead, do it diligently. 00:10:36.799 --> 00:10:39.279 If it's to show mercy, do it cheerfully. 00:10:39.519 --> 00:10:41.759 Your love must be sincere. 00:10:42.240 --> 00:10:45.279 Hate what is evil and cling to what is good. 00:10:45.519 --> 00:10:48.240 Be devoted to one another in love. 00:10:48.879 --> 00:10:51.519 Honor one another above yourselves. 00:10:52.080 --> 00:10:56.720 Never lacking in zeal, but keeping your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 00:10:56.879 --> 00:10:57.360 Look at this. 00:10:57.519 --> 00:10:58.480 These three are just so good. 00:10:58.559 --> 00:11:02.879 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer. 00:11:03.440 --> 00:11:05.840 Man, if just those three could be said about our community. 00:11:06.000 --> 00:11:11.279 Those people are joyful in their hope, patient in their suffering, and faithful in their prayer. 00:11:11.840 --> 00:11:14.559 Share with the Lord's people for those who are in need. 00:11:14.720 --> 00:11:16.080 Practice hospitality. 00:11:17.039 --> 00:11:19.120 Bless those who persecute you. 00:11:20.159 --> 00:11:20.799 Bless. 00:11:21.039 --> 00:11:22.240 Do not curse. 00:11:22.559 --> 00:11:25.679 Rejoice with those who rejoice, mourn with those who mourn. 00:11:25.840 --> 00:11:28.080 Live in harmony with one another. 00:11:28.720 --> 00:11:29.759 Don't be proud. 00:11:30.879 --> 00:11:33.840 And be willing to associate with people of low position. 00:11:34.159 --> 00:11:35.279 Don't be conceited. 00:11:35.919 --> 00:11:37.919 Don't repay anyone evil for evil. 00:11:38.000 --> 00:11:40.879 But be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 00:11:41.039 --> 00:11:46.399 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 00:11:47.759 --> 00:11:48.960 Could you imagine? 00:11:50.000 --> 00:11:55.120 Sitting in the scenario, I just painted in your mind, having those words read over the church that you just joined. 00:11:56.240 --> 00:12:00.320 How could we live in harmony with one another? 00:12:00.559 --> 00:12:01.840 Well, they did. 00:12:02.240 --> 00:12:03.679 They figured it out. 00:12:04.000 --> 00:12:07.039 This is a big aspect on what changed the world. 00:12:07.360 --> 00:12:11.679 Historian Rodney Stark says this about the early church. 00:12:12.080 --> 00:12:17.600 The early Christians responded with an appealing alternative to the state policy of religious toleration. 00:12:17.840 --> 00:12:20.720 Throw out all pagan gods and replace them with Jesus. 00:12:20.960 --> 00:12:21.600 Look at this. 00:12:21.679 --> 00:12:26.480 But people did not convert to Christianity solely because of what the early Christians believed. 00:12:26.720 --> 00:12:30.639 They converted because of the way in which the early Christians behaved. 00:12:31.519 --> 00:12:35.840 Love of one's neighbor is not exclusively a Christian virtue. 00:12:36.000 --> 00:12:42.879 But in this period, first of the third century, the Christians appear to have practiced it in a much more effective way than any other group. 00:12:47.200 --> 00:12:49.279 Why does this matter if you and I to live in community? 00:12:49.360 --> 00:12:52.879 Because living in community embodies your theology. 00:12:54.080 --> 00:12:58.000 You can believe whatever you want when you live by yourself. 00:12:58.799 --> 00:12:59.360 C.S. 00:12:59.440 --> 00:13:00.720 Lewis has this hilarious quote. 00:13:00.799 --> 00:13:06.240 He says this forgiveness is a lovely, abstract idea until you have to forgive someone. 00:13:08.720 --> 00:13:10.639 We can read all this about forgiveness. 00:13:10.720 --> 00:13:11.519 I'm a forgiving person. 00:13:11.600 --> 00:13:12.240 I love to forgive. 00:13:12.320 --> 00:13:13.440 Wow, the forgiveness of God. 00:13:13.600 --> 00:13:18.240 Until you have to sit across the table and actually forgive someone. 00:13:18.320 --> 00:13:19.759 Then forgiveness takes on what? 00:13:20.000 --> 00:13:20.960 Flesh and bone. 00:13:21.679 --> 00:13:25.360 Living in community embodies your actual beliefs. 00:13:26.159 --> 00:13:30.960 You can have whatever beliefs you want until it's tested across the table. 00:13:32.240 --> 00:13:36.960 So, I have five ideas today on how you and I can live in harmony. 00:13:37.120 --> 00:13:38.240 Let me piece my way through. 00:13:38.320 --> 00:13:39.200 Are we okay so far? 00:13:39.759 --> 00:13:41.679 It is quite quiet in this room. 00:13:45.039 --> 00:13:45.679 Five ways. 00:13:46.320 --> 00:13:47.279 I'm just gonna teach the Bible to you. 00:13:47.360 --> 00:13:49.360 I'm gonna just go verse by verse through all the 18, okay? 00:13:49.440 --> 00:13:51.039 I'm just gonna read you to see what Paul said. 00:13:51.120 --> 00:13:54.960 How in the world could we live in harmony, let alone the ancient world, our world right now? 00:13:55.600 --> 00:13:57.039 How could Rose live in harmony? 00:13:57.120 --> 00:13:58.799 Number one, I've never seen this before. 00:13:58.879 --> 00:13:59.759 This is profound. 00:14:00.000 --> 00:14:02.320 Harmony takes a renewed mind. 00:14:03.840 --> 00:14:05.039 Do you see how he starts? 00:14:05.120 --> 00:14:08.720 I've always put Romans 1 and 2 as a different section. 00:14:08.799 --> 00:14:10.720 I thought it belonged in chapter 11. 00:14:10.879 --> 00:14:14.399 I thought those that gave the Bible chapters and verses made a mistake. 00:14:14.480 --> 00:14:21.840 Like these two verses belong in chapter 11, and this chapter should start at chapter 3 because they're seemingly completely separate notions. 00:14:22.159 --> 00:14:26.639 Until I really dove into this text this week, what is Paul saying in Romans 12 and 1? 00:14:26.960 --> 00:14:28.159 Verses 1 and 2? 00:14:28.399 --> 00:14:30.159 How are you going to live in harmony? 00:14:30.240 --> 00:14:32.559 You have to have a renewal of your mind. 00:14:34.159 --> 00:14:40.000 Because biblical harmony is not possible if you've kept your worldly mind. 00:14:41.679 --> 00:14:45.759 If you still think like your news feed, harmony is not possible. 00:14:46.159 --> 00:14:49.679 If you still think like your university, harmony is not possible. 00:14:50.320 --> 00:14:53.840 If you still think how your mama raised you to think, it is not possible. 00:14:54.080 --> 00:14:58.080 If you only think how your TikTok feed tells you to think, harmony is not possible. 00:14:58.639 --> 00:15:07.840 The only way that you and I in this church, in this moment, in this cultural time, are going to live in harmony, it's only if the word of God is washing our mind. 00:15:08.399 --> 00:15:09.919 This is the only way. 00:15:11.759 --> 00:15:12.879 Look what he says. 00:15:13.200 --> 00:15:15.440 Do not be conform to this world. 00:15:16.399 --> 00:15:19.200 Too many Christians are conformed to this world. 00:15:19.360 --> 00:15:20.080 That's so true. 00:15:21.360 --> 00:15:22.559 Made in the image of. 00:15:22.720 --> 00:15:28.480 He says, don't be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. 00:15:28.960 --> 00:15:32.480 Friends, have you ever considered you don't need another ultra call, you need a renewed mind. 00:15:34.639 --> 00:15:37.200 You don't need another pursuit, you need a renewed mind. 00:15:37.759 --> 00:15:41.440 You don't need just another pastor praying over you, you need a renewed mind. 00:15:41.919 --> 00:15:46.879 I think too often charismatic churches give so much weight to the experiential side of our faith. 00:15:47.360 --> 00:15:51.840 Another ultra call, another prayer, another pursuit, another moment, another experience, and those are all great. 00:15:51.919 --> 00:15:52.559 I'm for them. 00:15:52.720 --> 00:15:53.759 They've changed my life. 00:15:53.919 --> 00:15:58.320 But what has changed the trajectory of my life is changing how I think. 00:15:59.840 --> 00:16:01.600 Renewing my mind. 00:16:02.240 --> 00:16:03.840 So, so, real simple. 00:16:04.799 --> 00:16:09.039 What about your life do you still think like the world? 00:16:12.799 --> 00:16:15.200 Don't don't nudge anyone, just you, you. 00:16:17.279 --> 00:16:17.919 This is for you. 00:16:18.000 --> 00:16:19.200 I'm glad you came. 00:16:19.679 --> 00:16:26.720 What things do you think about that is not found in these pages? 00:16:31.039 --> 00:16:48.320 If you just got saved at 22 or 25, and you see some girls from school, from your college, some friends from high school, when you start having discussions about the things you all used to agree upon, there should be some level of I don't I don't think that way anymore. 00:16:49.840 --> 00:16:51.440 I don't hold that value anymore. 00:16:51.600 --> 00:16:52.960 That's not my ideal any longer. 00:16:53.120 --> 00:16:53.679 What happened? 00:16:53.840 --> 00:16:55.759 I got my mind, my mind got renewed. 00:16:57.840 --> 00:17:02.639 Everything else we're gonna talk about today literally does not matter if you still think how you used to think. 00:17:03.440 --> 00:17:07.200 I think that's why Paul starts with chapter 12, verses 1 and 2. 00:17:07.359 --> 00:17:09.359 Let our minds be renewed. 00:17:09.759 --> 00:17:11.359 Why should our minds be renewed? 00:17:11.519 --> 00:17:13.839 So that we can live what I'm about to say. 00:17:14.079 --> 00:17:18.559 Because everything else we're about to read in this chapter is not possible without a renewed mind. 00:17:19.680 --> 00:17:23.119 Has the word of God changed how you think yet? 00:17:23.920 --> 00:17:25.839 Or are you still TikTok formed? 00:17:26.559 --> 00:17:28.160 Are you still Fox News formed? 00:17:28.319 --> 00:17:29.759 Are you still CNN formed? 00:17:29.920 --> 00:17:31.839 Are you still my professor from college formed? 00:17:31.920 --> 00:17:33.839 Are you still dad always told me formed? 00:17:34.079 --> 00:17:41.039 What has formed your mind and how you think about this world? 00:17:41.279 --> 00:17:45.359 Number one, harmony takes a renewed mind. 00:17:47.519 --> 00:17:52.640 Number two, harmony takes holy diversity. 00:17:54.319 --> 00:17:56.400 Harmony takes holy diversity. 00:17:56.640 --> 00:17:59.680 Do you see what he says in verses three to eight? 00:18:00.000 --> 00:18:08.160 He says, We are one body, just how your body is one, but it has many members, and they don't all have the same function. 00:18:08.400 --> 00:18:09.359 Do you see the language? 00:18:09.440 --> 00:18:14.000 We won't read it because I need to move on, but between verses three and eight, he uses this phrase over and over again. 00:18:14.079 --> 00:18:16.319 We have one body, but many gifts. 00:18:16.720 --> 00:18:18.640 Many members, one body. 00:18:19.279 --> 00:18:20.640 This is profound. 00:18:20.799 --> 00:18:24.720 That you and I serve and are formed by the Holy Spirit, right? 00:18:25.200 --> 00:18:28.720 The Holy Spirit is the author of oneness and unity. 00:18:29.839 --> 00:18:34.319 The Holy Spirit is the one that makes us one and the one that makes us many. 00:18:34.960 --> 00:18:42.559 So we are called to be one body with many parts that are not like the other parts at all. 00:18:43.279 --> 00:18:45.279 But yet we're still one body. 00:18:45.920 --> 00:18:48.960 That's why he says if you have the gift of prophecy, prophesy. 00:18:49.519 --> 00:18:51.279 Prophecy is not teaching. 00:18:51.599 --> 00:18:53.039 Teaching is not serving. 00:18:53.279 --> 00:18:54.960 Hospitality is not generosity. 00:18:55.039 --> 00:18:56.960 Those gifts are wildly different. 00:18:57.119 --> 00:18:58.319 But yet they're one. 00:18:58.720 --> 00:19:04.160 You have to hear today that we serve the spirit of one and the spirit of many. 00:19:04.720 --> 00:19:09.200 We serve the one that makes us one body and the one that makes us diverse. 00:19:10.720 --> 00:19:15.599 Later in the next book over, Corinthians, sorry, Romans, then 1 Corinthians. 00:19:15.680 --> 00:19:19.359 1 Corinthians 12, he doubles down in this thought, and then Ephesians 4 doubles down again. 00:19:19.519 --> 00:19:27.359 1 Corinthians 12, he says, What hand, so we have the body again, what hand can say to the foot, I don't need you. 00:19:28.319 --> 00:19:31.039 What foot can say to the eye, I don't need you. 00:19:32.160 --> 00:19:40.480 So, if you only like hanging out with hands, you are deformed. 00:19:42.000 --> 00:19:45.839 If you only get along with feet, gross. 00:19:46.319 --> 00:19:48.720 But weird. 00:19:51.519 --> 00:19:52.880 You are deformed. 00:19:53.519 --> 00:19:57.440 So if a church only looks like an eyeball, they're missing the rest of their body. 00:19:58.400 --> 00:20:02.559 If a church only looks like a hand, they're missing the rest of their body. 00:20:03.359 --> 00:20:08.160 If any church has not committed to diversity, they will look deformed. 00:20:08.960 --> 00:20:13.599 And I do not just mean racial diversity, though that is a big aspect. 00:20:13.759 --> 00:20:21.440 I mean diversity of gifts, talents, perspectives, ideas, upbringings, social groups, political groups. 00:20:21.599 --> 00:20:23.920 Like it is not just racial diversity. 00:20:24.240 --> 00:20:28.559 It is diversity as a whole that you and I are meant to live in. 00:20:28.960 --> 00:20:32.160 Where we act different than one another, but yet we're one. 00:20:32.799 --> 00:20:37.519 I don't want anyone to walk into Rose back, oh, that person's the image of Rose. 00:20:41.359 --> 00:20:44.079 Any one of us should not be the image of Rose. 00:20:45.440 --> 00:20:49.359 You shouldn't be able to walk in and define robes with one person characteristic. 00:20:50.079 --> 00:20:54.000 They all look like that, they all talk like that, they all sing like that, they all worship like that. 00:20:54.240 --> 00:20:55.920 Man, it is just a church of what? 00:20:56.079 --> 00:20:57.680 Uniformity, not unity. 00:20:59.519 --> 00:21:04.160 To use a bigger word, homogeneous is not the same as heterogeneous. 00:21:04.640 --> 00:21:10.960 Homogeneous is the word that we create one like-minded bodies and groups that all have one thing in common. 00:21:12.160 --> 00:21:13.839 This is not the gospel. 00:21:14.480 --> 00:21:16.480 This is not the church that he is building. 00:21:16.960 --> 00:21:22.240 We should be able to walk into this thing called Rose and be like, there are so many different types of people here. 00:21:23.920 --> 00:21:27.119 And they're all way different from one another, but they're all one. 00:21:28.640 --> 00:21:33.599 They're all on the same page and the same mind and the same spirit and the same heart and the same focus, and they're all there. 00:21:33.839 --> 00:21:37.039 What it's oneness and diversity. 00:21:37.839 --> 00:21:40.000 Look what Scott McKnight says about this. 00:21:40.400 --> 00:21:46.319 Phenomenal quote Unity transcends our differences in Christ. 00:21:46.400 --> 00:21:47.119 What's up there? 00:21:47.200 --> 00:21:50.160 Yes, we must transcend our differences. 00:21:50.559 --> 00:21:53.599 We cannot live in our differences, we must transcend them. 00:21:53.920 --> 00:21:55.039 But look what he says. 00:21:55.200 --> 00:21:59.200 But transcending differences in Christ does not mean eradicating differences. 00:22:01.279 --> 00:22:06.240 Eradicating differences is what happens when we're tempted toward uniformity. 00:22:06.880 --> 00:22:12.240 Being one in Christ does not mean Yachov, or the Hebrew word Jacob, is no longer a Jew. 00:22:13.200 --> 00:22:15.839 Nor does it mean that Theodore is no longer a Gentile. 00:22:16.240 --> 00:22:19.839 One in Christ does not mean that Fortunatist is no longer a wealthy Roman. 00:22:20.079 --> 00:22:22.640 Nor that pubivist is no longer a slave. 00:22:23.039 --> 00:22:34.160 Getting a new mind and living in the Spirit means we transcend our differences while remaining different as we live with one another. 00:22:34.480 --> 00:22:38.720 And here, our differences is not eliminated. 00:22:39.440 --> 00:22:42.799 For difference is the vitality of our fellowship. 00:22:48.880 --> 00:22:56.240 It takes diversity, difference, not just racially, backgrounds, upbringing. 00:22:56.559 --> 00:22:58.160 It takes all of us. 00:22:58.480 --> 00:23:02.079 Being in one room together, being formed into the image of Christ. 00:23:03.920 --> 00:23:07.440 We transcend our differences, but we don't eradicate them. 00:23:10.079 --> 00:23:16.160 We celebrate and we encourage diversity within unity. 00:23:17.039 --> 00:23:18.160 Why would we do that? 00:23:18.319 --> 00:23:20.640 Because the Trinity is diversity and unity. 00:23:21.599 --> 00:23:22.960 They're three in one, one in the same. 00:23:23.039 --> 00:23:23.920 The Holy Spirit is not Jesus. 00:23:24.000 --> 00:23:25.759 He doesn't have a body, but they're all one. 00:23:26.079 --> 00:23:27.680 God the Father is not like God the Son. 00:23:27.839 --> 00:23:29.200 God the Son is not like God the Spirit. 00:23:29.279 --> 00:23:33.680 They are all three distinct, different individuals, yet they're in total unity with one another. 00:23:33.839 --> 00:23:40.559 That's why Jesus in the sermon in John 14, 15, 16, 17, he says, Lord, I pray that they will be one like we are one. 00:23:41.519 --> 00:23:44.480 Total unity within our diversity. 00:23:45.279 --> 00:23:48.640 So, harmony takes diversity. 00:23:48.960 --> 00:23:50.000 Number three. 00:23:52.000 --> 00:23:53.200 I'm trying. 00:23:55.839 --> 00:23:59.279 Harmony takes continual formation. 00:24:01.359 --> 00:24:02.160 Continual formation. 00:24:02.240 --> 00:24:03.920 Look what he says in verse 9. 00:24:05.279 --> 00:24:06.319 Your love must be sincere. 00:24:06.480 --> 00:24:07.920 Hate what was evil, cling to what is good. 00:24:08.079 --> 00:24:09.359 Be devoted to one another. 00:24:09.599 --> 00:24:11.519 Think of each other above yourselves, honor one another. 00:24:11.680 --> 00:24:12.880 Look at this, verse 11. 00:24:13.039 --> 00:24:15.200 Never lacking in zeal. 00:24:16.160 --> 00:24:20.960 But keeping your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 00:24:21.279 --> 00:24:26.079 He's speaking to ongoing, committed discipleship to Jesus. 00:24:26.720 --> 00:24:35.440 So what happens is in my life and in your life, we can kind of put it in neutral and we go into passive Christianity, not intentional Christianity. 00:24:35.680 --> 00:24:36.960 It's whatever, another Sunday. 00:24:37.039 --> 00:24:40.720 Let's go, let's give, let's go to pursue, let's sit in the back, let's sing, let's go home, let's leave early. 00:24:40.799 --> 00:24:44.160 We got stuff, let's come late, we're busy, let's go to the connect and not really dive in. 00:24:44.240 --> 00:24:45.440 Let's give but not really be generous. 00:24:45.519 --> 00:24:47.680 Let's kind of like stir, but like it's just like, well, whatever. 00:24:47.759 --> 00:24:51.839 And you would just put yourself in neutral and you're just passively becoming what you become. 00:24:52.000 --> 00:24:54.960 You're just passively floating through this river called Christianity. 00:24:55.119 --> 00:24:56.480 That is not what he's talking about. 00:24:56.559 --> 00:25:01.680 He's talking about keep your zeal, keep your spiritual fervor. 00:25:01.839 --> 00:25:17.599 Because then when we again imagine the image, the room you walk into, that will settle some anxiousness when you walk into a room of difference, when you walk into a room of diversity, but you know, every one of us around the table, we are highly committed to being formed by Jesus. 00:25:17.759 --> 00:25:21.599 We're highly fervent, we have our fervor, we have our zeal, we're pursuing Jesus. 00:25:21.759 --> 00:25:24.720 None of us in this room are being passive about our faith. 00:25:24.880 --> 00:25:26.480 We are all we're all doing this, right? 00:25:26.559 --> 00:25:34.319 We are all intentional that will probably give some peace to your spirit, because you know that no one in this room is slacking. 00:25:34.640 --> 00:25:36.480 No one in this room is not taking this seriously. 00:25:36.559 --> 00:25:39.839 We are all this whole connector, we're seriously pursuing the Lord. 00:25:40.400 --> 00:25:45.039 And this continual formation is going to happen. 00:25:46.960 --> 00:25:50.319 Why does the continual formation need to happen? 00:25:50.480 --> 00:25:54.400 Because this was really, really hard. 00:25:55.200 --> 00:25:57.200 And there maybe there's some people in the room that you don't like. 00:25:57.279 --> 00:25:59.039 Maybe that's why you left the Kinet group. 00:25:59.200 --> 00:26:03.440 Maybe that's why you switched services, because you don't like the girl at the 830, so you came to the 1030 and whatever, right? 00:26:03.519 --> 00:26:04.880 Like you have services of law. 00:26:05.039 --> 00:26:06.480 That wasn't an option back then. 00:26:07.440 --> 00:26:09.519 There wasn't a bridget town to go to. 00:26:09.759 --> 00:26:10.960 There wasn't a door hope. 00:26:11.279 --> 00:26:13.039 There was one church in the beginning. 00:26:13.279 --> 00:26:15.759 There was no escape down the road. 00:26:16.000 --> 00:26:17.440 So you got highly offended. 00:26:17.519 --> 00:26:19.039 Guess who's back tomorrow? 00:26:21.440 --> 00:26:22.559 That same girl. 00:26:23.359 --> 00:26:25.519 There is no, I don't think this church is for me. 00:26:25.759 --> 00:26:26.319 Let me find another. 00:26:26.400 --> 00:26:27.279 There is no other. 00:26:28.000 --> 00:26:29.200 Not yet, there isn't. 00:26:29.599 --> 00:26:30.720 So they had to what? 00:26:30.880 --> 00:26:32.640 Work through the messiness of church. 00:26:33.200 --> 00:26:38.160 So my submission to you, if there's some people that you just like don't really vibe with, because I dare you. 00:26:38.319 --> 00:26:39.759 I dare you to do this. 00:26:40.079 --> 00:26:40.799