1 00:00:00,420 --> 00:00:02,610 Speaker: Good morning, brothers and sisters. 2 00:00:02,610 --> 00:00:02,880 Good morning. 3 00:00:03,630 --> 00:00:06,630 I said Good morning brothers and sisters. 4 00:00:06,810 --> 00:00:07,080 Good morning. 5 00:00:08,250 --> 00:00:11,640 My name is Marcel Hall and I have the honor and privilege being able 6 00:00:11,640 --> 00:00:15,420 to, uh, serve full time in the ministry here in this wonderful OC 7 00:00:15,420 --> 00:00:17,770 church, uh, with my wife Karina. 8 00:00:17,790 --> 00:00:18,390 So grateful. 9 00:00:18,390 --> 00:00:22,800 We have three kids, uh, Sanaiya, Desiree and Dominique. 10 00:00:23,010 --> 00:00:27,450 14, 12 and, uh, as of Thursday, or was that Wednesday? 11 00:00:27,450 --> 00:00:27,930 Wednesday. 12 00:00:28,275 --> 00:00:31,815 Uh, a 7-year-old, so it is active at our house. 13 00:00:31,815 --> 00:00:32,354 Amen. 14 00:00:32,534 --> 00:00:34,875 So if you're ever thinking about praying, pray for us. 15 00:00:34,875 --> 00:00:35,325 Okay? 16 00:00:35,595 --> 00:00:36,975 We definitely need that. 17 00:00:37,245 --> 00:00:39,615 Uh, we're going to get into the word of God right now. 18 00:00:39,615 --> 00:00:41,505 We're excited about the word of God. 19 00:00:41,505 --> 00:00:44,925 Thank you so much, all who are visiting here with us in person, and those of 20 00:00:44,925 --> 00:00:47,085 you who are worshiping with us online. 21 00:00:47,085 --> 00:00:47,985 So grateful to have you. 22 00:00:47,985 --> 00:00:50,985 We know we have a number of people that have been coming out since Easter. 23 00:00:50,985 --> 00:00:55,575 We're so grateful that you've been worshiping with our spiritual family, 24 00:00:55,575 --> 00:00:57,525 and that's what we strive to be. 25 00:00:57,839 --> 00:01:02,670 Is a spiritual family, not just a, a church that gathers on Sundays, 26 00:01:02,670 --> 00:01:06,930 but really be a family that supports and strengthens one another. 27 00:01:06,930 --> 00:01:10,620 And in fact, uh, that's the title of today's message is Family 28 00:01:10,620 --> 00:01:15,720 Matters because the family matters and we have some family matters. 29 00:01:15,720 --> 00:01:16,320 You know what I'm saying? 30 00:01:17,445 --> 00:01:18,900 The verb and noun sense. 31 00:01:18,900 --> 00:01:21,390 I know some of you might be thinking of the show Family Matters. 32 00:01:21,390 --> 00:01:22,170 Remember that show. 33 00:01:22,200 --> 00:01:22,380 Amen. 34 00:01:22,950 --> 00:01:24,180 I know I've dated myself. 35 00:01:24,180 --> 00:01:26,910 All those who are younger than me, you have no idea what I'm talking about. 36 00:01:26,910 --> 00:01:30,060 But there was a show called Family Matters with a guy named Urkel. 37 00:01:30,060 --> 00:01:30,810 You remember Urkel? 38 00:01:31,560 --> 00:01:32,979 Did I do that that? 39 00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:33,630 There you go. 40 00:01:34,229 --> 00:01:35,190 You know, it's crazy. 41 00:01:35,190 --> 00:01:38,340 So I used to get my haircuts at the same place with Urkel. 42 00:01:38,340 --> 00:01:41,280 Well, he wouldn't like me to call him Urkel, but Jaleel White. 43 00:01:41,465 --> 00:01:44,789 And so I remember going in one time and I'm like, man, that looks like Urkel. 44 00:01:45,720 --> 00:01:47,280 And sure enough, it was Urkel. 45 00:01:47,280 --> 00:01:47,845 You know what I mean? 46 00:01:48,570 --> 00:01:50,729 And, uh, we had a good time there, but that was the one I 47 00:01:50,729 --> 00:01:52,560 used to live in in Los Angeles. 48 00:01:52,740 --> 00:01:56,160 Uh, speaking of family matters, we have a prayer request I just received, 49 00:01:56,430 --> 00:01:57,780 uh, for one of our, uh, brothers. 50 00:01:57,780 --> 00:01:59,580 He actually was just baptized last year. 51 00:02:00,180 --> 00:02:01,890 Uh, he's, he's, uh, in his eighties now. 52 00:02:01,920 --> 00:02:03,720 And that's David Jones, Sr. 53 00:02:03,720 --> 00:02:06,555 And so right now he's, uh, with the family in the hospital. 54 00:02:06,555 --> 00:02:09,720 I don't know any of the details, but ask for all of us to pray 55 00:02:09,720 --> 00:02:11,850 for David, uh, and the situation. 56 00:02:11,850 --> 00:02:13,710 So can you go ahead and pray with me? 57 00:02:14,685 --> 00:02:19,635 Father, thank you so much for this time to, uh, gather as a family. 58 00:02:20,025 --> 00:02:25,155 We're grateful for the chance to worship you, to be, uh, able to respond to 59 00:02:25,155 --> 00:02:27,105 your goodness and your faithfulness. 60 00:02:27,375 --> 00:02:30,525 Thank you for being a God who provides Thank you for being a 61 00:02:30,525 --> 00:02:33,135 God who is worthy of our praise. 62 00:02:33,405 --> 00:02:38,655 We thank you that you not only call us your friend, but you call us your child. 63 00:02:38,924 --> 00:02:41,475 Father, we pray right now for one of your children, David. 64 00:02:41,475 --> 00:02:43,515 God, as you know, you know the situation I. 65 00:02:43,815 --> 00:02:46,845 Don't know the particulars, but I know Father, that you are present. 66 00:02:47,325 --> 00:02:50,115 I know that you want to work in the situation. 67 00:02:50,115 --> 00:02:53,925 We pray for your grace and mercy in the situation. 68 00:02:53,925 --> 00:02:59,235 Father, for you to instill faith and peace that is divine during this time. 69 00:02:59,235 --> 00:03:01,695 And God, we pray that we can get an update soon. 70 00:03:01,695 --> 00:03:04,935 But pray that we can be helpful and supportive to the Jones family. 71 00:03:04,935 --> 00:03:09,075 We pray uh, for our time in the word God, that you will speak clearly to 72 00:03:09,075 --> 00:03:11,954 all of us and that we will come away with greater conviction, greater 73 00:03:11,954 --> 00:03:13,935 courage, and greater trust in you. 74 00:03:13,935 --> 00:03:14,895 It's in Jesus name. 75 00:03:14,925 --> 00:03:15,105 Amen. 76 00:03:15,720 --> 00:03:15,870 Amen. 77 00:03:16,890 --> 00:03:17,190 Amen. 78 00:03:17,190 --> 00:03:19,740 I want to give you some encouragement. 79 00:03:20,100 --> 00:03:26,850 Uh, I also want to give you some reminders and even a, a challenge in our time today. 80 00:03:26,850 --> 00:03:29,730 And so first let's start off with some encouragement. 81 00:03:29,730 --> 00:03:30,270 Amen. 82 00:03:30,600 --> 00:03:35,040 And it says in John chapter one in verse 12, the what we call the Gospel of the 83 00:03:35,040 --> 00:03:39,510 Book of John is a letter written by one of Jesus's followers named John. 84 00:03:39,510 --> 00:03:43,350 And he writes this biography, if you will, about Jesus's life. 85 00:03:43,350 --> 00:03:46,470 And he's talking about how there was a, a forerunner, someone who 86 00:03:46,470 --> 00:03:48,329 would prepare the way for Jesus. 87 00:03:48,329 --> 00:03:50,445 And that being John the Baptist. 88 00:03:50,445 --> 00:03:54,435 And he gets in here in verse 12, and he writes this powerful statement 89 00:03:54,435 --> 00:03:59,055 that says, yet to all who did receive him talking about Jesus, to those 90 00:03:59,055 --> 00:04:04,305 who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. 91 00:04:05,115 --> 00:04:08,685 Children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision, or 92 00:04:08,685 --> 00:04:12,345 a husband's will, but born of God. 93 00:04:12,555 --> 00:04:13,545 We'll stop right there. 94 00:04:13,545 --> 00:04:15,345 This passage is rich. 95 00:04:15,915 --> 00:04:17,084 Just these two verses. 96 00:04:17,084 --> 00:04:23,745 There's a whole lot in these two verses right here, we see really captured the 97 00:04:24,015 --> 00:04:26,805 essence and the reason behind the gospel. 98 00:04:27,135 --> 00:04:31,725 The gospel being Jesus came, he died and he rose for your and my salvation 99 00:04:32,325 --> 00:04:37,784 for the world's salvation to be redeemed with the great King, God Almighty. 100 00:04:37,995 --> 00:04:41,565 But it also tells us there is a response to the gospel message. 101 00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:44,280 That we can respond in two ways. 102 00:04:44,430 --> 00:04:49,020 We can respond by not having faith, or we can respond with true faith that 103 00:04:49,020 --> 00:04:52,409 responds with a commitment to Jesus. 104 00:04:52,740 --> 00:04:57,000 And we see the blessing of responding to this gospel. 105 00:04:57,150 --> 00:05:04,410 It's to become a child of God and have eternal life To be a child of God, 106 00:05:04,410 --> 00:05:06,900 now we have to be spiritually born. 107 00:05:07,215 --> 00:05:12,645 To be a child of God, and we're reminded of this in Galatians chapter three. 108 00:05:12,645 --> 00:05:13,965 Let's go ahead and read that. 109 00:05:14,115 --> 00:05:18,585 It says, so in Christ Jesus, you are all children of God through faith. 110 00:05:19,005 --> 00:05:22,034 For all of you who are baptized into Christ, have clothed 111 00:05:22,034 --> 00:05:23,775 yourselves with Christ. 112 00:05:24,225 --> 00:05:28,065 And so we are spiritually born when we repent and we ent trust Jesus to 113 00:05:28,065 --> 00:05:32,145 be savior of our lives, and we get baptized into the waters of salvation. 114 00:05:32,265 --> 00:05:34,034 We are now clothed with Christ. 115 00:05:34,034 --> 00:05:38,865 He no longer sees the sin, but he sees a son and he sees a daughter. 116 00:05:40,005 --> 00:05:44,055 Therefore, we are becoming children of God. 117 00:05:44,895 --> 00:05:47,205 Did you hear what I said? 118 00:05:47,985 --> 00:05:52,065 You are a child of the living God. 119 00:05:52,140 --> 00:05:52,289 Amen. 120 00:05:52,950 --> 00:05:55,409 That is your identity. 121 00:05:56,310 --> 00:06:00,870 Now, you may may be the son or the daughter of maybe Mr. 122 00:06:00,870 --> 00:06:01,755 Or Mrs. 123 00:06:01,755 --> 00:06:03,510 Hernandez or Mr. 124 00:06:03,510 --> 00:06:03,990 Or Mrs. 125 00:06:03,990 --> 00:06:08,580 Kim or Johnson Smith or whatever it may be, and that is your identity. 126 00:06:08,700 --> 00:06:12,180 But spiritually speaking, and first and foremost, you are a child of the 127 00:06:12,180 --> 00:06:14,669 God who reigns from heaven above. 128 00:06:15,599 --> 00:06:17,310 That's who you are. 129 00:06:18,479 --> 00:06:20,550 You are not just average Joe. 130 00:06:21,420 --> 00:06:27,240 Or average Susie, you are a child of the living God. 131 00:06:28,020 --> 00:06:28,950 That's who you are. 132 00:06:28,950 --> 00:06:30,090 So you're having a bad day. 133 00:06:30,120 --> 00:06:32,820 Just go to John chapter one and say, I'm a child of God. 134 00:06:33,510 --> 00:06:36,479 When someone gets to trip you say, do you know who my daddy is? 135 00:06:37,710 --> 00:06:39,960 That's what you have the opportunity to do. 136 00:06:40,289 --> 00:06:40,919 You say what? 137 00:06:40,919 --> 00:06:42,480 You don't know who I am, do you? 138 00:06:42,810 --> 00:06:44,039 You don't know my pops. 139 00:06:44,039 --> 00:06:44,580 Do you? 140 00:06:45,675 --> 00:06:48,735 And if some of us, especially maybe some males back in the day, at least, I'm not 141 00:06:48,735 --> 00:06:52,575 sure if that's the culture now, but when you would get into, you know, spats and 142 00:06:52,575 --> 00:06:56,115 competition with your friends and you'd be like, Hey, my daddy can beat your daddy. 143 00:06:57,165 --> 00:07:00,375 Every one of us can say that my daddy can beat your daddy. 144 00:07:01,155 --> 00:07:03,915 'cause my daddy is the living king of all the universe. 145 00:07:04,545 --> 00:07:05,415 Who's your daddy? 146 00:07:07,575 --> 00:07:09,825 That's who we are. 147 00:07:10,755 --> 00:07:13,425 Children of God. 148 00:07:14,565 --> 00:07:18,375 So that means if we are children of God, that means we are 149 00:07:18,375 --> 00:07:21,735 part of the family of God. 150 00:07:21,735 --> 00:07:23,265 You get that logic and connection. 151 00:07:24,555 --> 00:07:30,405 That means you and I are part of the family of God, from God's creation, 152 00:07:30,405 --> 00:07:36,284 from Adam and Eve all the way to 2025 ad we are part of this universal 153 00:07:36,284 --> 00:07:39,885 intergalactic family of believers. 154 00:07:40,755 --> 00:07:41,805 That's who we're a part of. 155 00:07:42,585 --> 00:07:44,115 Now, I don't know about you, but that's a, that's a, that's 156 00:07:44,115 --> 00:07:45,375 a good family to be a part of. 157 00:07:46,155 --> 00:07:49,125 That's better than being part of the royal family in, in England. 158 00:07:49,995 --> 00:07:52,275 That's better than being part of the Walmart family. 159 00:07:53,655 --> 00:07:55,725 I think the Walmart family is like the richest family in America, 160 00:07:56,565 --> 00:07:57,735 and so that might be cool. 161 00:07:57,735 --> 00:07:58,215 One sense. 162 00:07:58,215 --> 00:08:00,705 But we're part of the God who has the treasures of all 163 00:08:03,000 --> 00:08:03,560 eternity. 164 00:08:03,565 --> 00:08:05,235 That's our inheritance. 165 00:08:07,050 --> 00:08:10,110 You know this plan has been the plan of God from the beginning. 166 00:08:10,110 --> 00:08:12,510 I wanna read this passage here in Ephesians chapter two. 167 00:08:12,600 --> 00:08:13,770 Church, are you still with me? 168 00:08:14,940 --> 00:08:15,480 All right. 169 00:08:15,600 --> 00:08:20,130 It says, for He chosen us in him before the creation of the world to 170 00:08:20,130 --> 00:08:24,780 be holy and blameless in his sight, in lovey predestined us for adoption 171 00:08:24,845 --> 00:08:29,070 to sonship through Jesus Christ in accordance with his pleasure and 172 00:08:29,070 --> 00:08:30,960 will, what does it say right there? 173 00:08:31,260 --> 00:08:34,169 It says, this is God's plan from the beginning. 174 00:08:34,845 --> 00:08:38,955 That when Jesus would come, he would establish his church, but his 175 00:08:38,955 --> 00:08:42,585 church wouldn't just be a gathering, his church would be a family. 176 00:08:43,395 --> 00:08:47,055 And this is powerful, especially for those reading it back then, because in 177 00:08:47,055 --> 00:08:49,665 those times you would only adopt sons. 178 00:08:49,935 --> 00:08:53,325 And so now what he's saying, he said, no, we're all adopted, 179 00:08:53,985 --> 00:09:00,045 male and female in the kingdom of God, we all become part of God's. 180 00:09:00,359 --> 00:09:01,020 Family. 181 00:09:01,349 --> 00:09:04,979 And so Jesus established a church which is the family of God. 182 00:09:05,459 --> 00:09:08,489 So when you are a part of God's church, you're a part of his family. 183 00:09:09,420 --> 00:09:12,719 So now, if we all have the same dad, we're a part of the family 184 00:09:12,719 --> 00:09:15,060 of God, what does that make us? 185 00:09:16,560 --> 00:09:17,640 Brothers and sisters. 186 00:09:17,640 --> 00:09:22,140 I appreciate those who got as in class saying that, but 187 00:09:22,140 --> 00:09:23,579 the logic is simple, right? 188 00:09:23,640 --> 00:09:25,829 That means you and I are family. 189 00:09:26,670 --> 00:09:27,630 So guess what? 190 00:09:27,689 --> 00:09:28,680 We are family. 191 00:09:28,950 --> 00:09:29,040 Right. 192 00:09:29,670 --> 00:09:31,200 Let's go pointer sisters. 193 00:09:31,920 --> 00:09:33,660 We are family. 194 00:09:33,660 --> 00:09:34,320 Come on now. 195 00:09:34,410 --> 00:09:35,730 All right, Vicki, I see you. 196 00:09:36,300 --> 00:09:38,190 I got all my sisters with me, all. 197 00:09:38,190 --> 00:09:38,970 You know what I'm saying? 198 00:09:40,170 --> 00:09:41,490 We are family. 199 00:09:42,090 --> 00:09:44,430 Now, some of you that excite you, some of you're like, uh, I don't 200 00:09:44,430 --> 00:09:46,230 know if I like that so much. 201 00:09:47,310 --> 00:09:49,470 I like so and so, but, uh, that's my family. 202 00:09:49,620 --> 00:09:51,270 Can that be my distant fourth cousin? 203 00:09:53,160 --> 00:09:56,190 But can we keep it 100 up in here? 204 00:09:58,155 --> 00:10:00,105 This can be viewed in different ways. 205 00:10:00,105 --> 00:10:01,155 Some of us, we rejoice. 206 00:10:01,155 --> 00:10:02,655 Yes, we're a family of God. 207 00:10:02,655 --> 00:10:03,015 Yes. 208 00:10:03,135 --> 00:10:06,975 Some of us, it, it, it, it doesn't resonate as well with us sometimes, 209 00:10:07,605 --> 00:10:11,865 in part because we can have views of family that are different. 210 00:10:12,855 --> 00:10:16,545 Some of us, we come in and maybe we have, well in all families, there's 211 00:10:16,545 --> 00:10:19,995 some form of dysfunction that I haven't met a family yet that didn't 212 00:10:19,995 --> 00:10:21,225 have some form of dysfunction. 213 00:10:21,855 --> 00:10:24,375 And if you do just wait till next week 'cause your dysfunction will come. 214 00:10:27,615 --> 00:10:31,395 But we come in and we have this view and sometimes our dysfunctional view 215 00:10:31,395 --> 00:10:34,335 or view of our dysfunctional fa, we place it onto the family of believers. 216 00:10:34,335 --> 00:10:35,685 So we're a little hesitant about that. 217 00:10:36,855 --> 00:10:38,775 So we'd rather be church goers. 218 00:10:38,775 --> 00:10:39,375 What up homie? 219 00:10:42,165 --> 00:10:45,855 Some of us, our view of family, it's, it's, it's just a nuclear family. 220 00:10:46,005 --> 00:10:48,435 It's just my mom, my dad, and those live in my house. 221 00:10:48,435 --> 00:10:51,795 We don't really talk to cousins and aunts and uncles, so that's the family. 222 00:10:51,885 --> 00:10:54,225 So the idea of this family seems overwhelming. 223 00:10:55,110 --> 00:10:56,520 Or does it seem appealing? 224 00:10:57,270 --> 00:11:00,360 Some of us, hey, hey, we come from a culture where you're not 225 00:11:00,360 --> 00:11:02,160 technically family, but you're family. 226 00:11:02,790 --> 00:11:04,590 If you lived on our block, you're family. 227 00:11:05,130 --> 00:11:07,440 Some of us are like, if you didn't live in this house, I don't know, you 228 00:11:07,440 --> 00:11:08,580 and I don't wanna be close to you. 229 00:11:09,270 --> 00:11:11,520 So what happens when all these views come together? 230 00:11:13,710 --> 00:11:15,150 There can be some challenges sometimes. 231 00:11:15,150 --> 00:11:15,360 Right? 232 00:11:16,230 --> 00:11:16,410 Right. 233 00:11:16,410 --> 00:11:18,360 Because I, my view might be different than yours. 234 00:11:18,360 --> 00:11:22,530 And so sometimes what happens is when we view with things and we see others 235 00:11:22,530 --> 00:11:26,160 who don't adopt and have the same philosophy of family, the spiritual 236 00:11:26,160 --> 00:11:29,310 family that we have, then we think, well, they're in the wrong and they're in sin. 237 00:11:30,330 --> 00:11:33,300 Or there's a problem with this big church because they don't 238 00:11:33,300 --> 00:11:36,450 view it the way I view family. 239 00:11:38,280 --> 00:11:42,270 So here's the thing, and here's the challenge for every one of us, is 240 00:11:42,270 --> 00:11:48,180 that we have to be careful to not allow our cultural, our background. 241 00:11:48,510 --> 00:11:53,280 Views of family distorts our views of the spiritual family. 242 00:11:54,090 --> 00:11:58,620 We have to allow God's view and biblical principles of what the spiritual 243 00:11:58,620 --> 00:12:03,600 family is like to form and transform our view of the spiritual family. 244 00:12:03,660 --> 00:12:06,180 Are you with me here now? 245 00:12:06,180 --> 00:12:08,730 It's a challenge, but it can be done. 246 00:12:09,270 --> 00:12:14,790 And I would say this real quickly, for those of us who maybe can struggle with 247 00:12:14,790 --> 00:12:17,310 people's view, we have to be patient. 248 00:12:18,584 --> 00:12:23,985 We have to understand, we come from different backgrounds and so 249 00:12:23,985 --> 00:12:28,275 we're all on this journey, and some of us might be further along than 250 00:12:28,275 --> 00:12:30,584 others, and we have to understand. 251 00:12:30,584 --> 00:12:35,145 Sometimes we use the word unity and we misapply the word unity where 252 00:12:35,145 --> 00:12:38,475 we say everybody has to do the same thing in order to be unified. 253 00:12:39,015 --> 00:12:41,385 But that's not accurate when it comes to the family. 254 00:12:42,300 --> 00:12:46,470 I take my family and my, my in-laws, for instance, we all come together 255 00:12:46,560 --> 00:12:48,750 on Christmas Eve and Karina. 256 00:12:48,750 --> 00:12:50,520 She's, she's, you didn't know she's Guatemalan. 257 00:12:50,670 --> 00:12:53,040 So there's about 65,000 of us in the house 258 00:12:55,410 --> 00:12:57,750 and we all come together on Christmas Eve and we rock and roll. 259 00:12:57,750 --> 00:12:58,800 We have a great time. 260 00:12:59,010 --> 00:13:02,550 But on Christmas day, a lot of us go with the other sides of the 261 00:13:02,550 --> 00:13:03,959 family and we do our own thing. 262 00:13:03,959 --> 00:13:04,949 We have different traditions. 263 00:13:05,100 --> 00:13:07,020 Are we disunified on Christmas day? 264 00:13:07,770 --> 00:13:08,310 No. 265 00:13:09,195 --> 00:13:10,155 We're doing different things. 266 00:13:10,155 --> 00:13:12,165 It's smaller, but we're still unified. 267 00:13:12,165 --> 00:13:15,855 We're still a family, but we're doing some things different. 268 00:13:16,515 --> 00:13:17,985 And the same thing as spiritual family. 269 00:13:17,985 --> 00:13:19,575 Sometimes we need the whole big thing. 270 00:13:19,665 --> 00:13:22,575 Sometimes we have the smaller families together and it's still family. 271 00:13:22,575 --> 00:13:23,115 Are you with me? 272 00:13:23,115 --> 00:13:28,035 Church, again, we have to make sure that we allow biblical 273 00:13:28,035 --> 00:13:30,435 principles to influence us. 274 00:13:30,465 --> 00:13:33,255 Here's what I'm gonna say here real quickly, and this is controversial. 275 00:13:33,255 --> 00:13:36,525 Here's my controversial statement for the day, at least one. 276 00:13:37,574 --> 00:13:39,135 If you don't like it, talk to Kyle about it. 277 00:13:41,175 --> 00:13:44,775 Here's the thing, the church is a family and not just a community. 278 00:13:46,604 --> 00:13:48,854 I know that's been a cool phrase in Christianity. 279 00:13:48,885 --> 00:13:50,354 Hey, we need to be a community. 280 00:13:50,354 --> 00:13:52,665 And that is true, but that's limited. 281 00:13:54,344 --> 00:13:55,484 See, here's the thing. 282 00:13:56,805 --> 00:14:01,545 We're all part of communities, but we're not all part of a spiritual family. 283 00:14:02,850 --> 00:14:07,290 How you view your community is different than how you view your family. 284 00:14:09,240 --> 00:14:15,720 It's so easy to leave a community, but it's hard to leave a family. 285 00:14:18,930 --> 00:14:23,370 There's a difference in commitment and understanding and values with 286 00:14:23,370 --> 00:14:25,200 a family than there is a community. 287 00:14:25,950 --> 00:14:30,480 And so God wanted to establish his spiritual family in the church. 288 00:14:31,710 --> 00:14:35,880 And so let's talk about some of these dynamics, these values and expectations. 289 00:14:35,880 --> 00:14:40,530 Again, here's a reminder for all of us, or maybe perhaps for some of 290 00:14:40,530 --> 00:14:43,410 us this might be new information. 291 00:14:43,980 --> 00:14:46,890 First off, here we see the family's heart. 292 00:14:46,950 --> 00:14:48,870 We love and forgive. 293 00:14:49,694 --> 00:14:52,064 This is the family's heart we love and forgive. 294 00:14:52,214 --> 00:14:53,145 Look at his passage. 295 00:14:53,145 --> 00:14:56,535 The Apostle Paul wrote this to the church that met in the city of Colossae, and 296 00:14:56,535 --> 00:15:01,334 it says, therefore, as God's chosen people wholly and dearly love, clothe 297 00:15:01,334 --> 00:15:05,145 yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 298 00:15:05,355 --> 00:15:07,995 Bear with each other and forgive one another. 299 00:15:08,084 --> 00:15:12,735 If any of you has a grievance against someone, forgive as the Lord forgave you. 300 00:15:13,305 --> 00:15:18,885 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect. 301 00:15:19,140 --> 00:15:23,730 Unity we love because our father loves, 302 00:15:25,980 --> 00:15:30,270 we love the family because our father loves the family. 303 00:15:30,270 --> 00:15:34,770 He has set the president an example for us, so therefore we're part of his family. 304 00:15:34,860 --> 00:15:38,820 We're like our dad, so therefore we love one another. 305 00:15:39,660 --> 00:15:45,600 Even that sister who is hard to love, you know who I'm talking about. 306 00:15:47,505 --> 00:15:52,905 But here's the thing, you might be that person too, and you probably are for 307 00:15:52,905 --> 00:15:57,285 someone else, but we love one another. 308 00:15:57,855 --> 00:16:00,435 We also forgive one another. 309 00:16:00,765 --> 00:16:02,145 The F word, 310 00:16:05,115 --> 00:16:05,925 forgive. 311 00:16:06,945 --> 00:16:07,905 Y'all better stay with me. 312 00:16:10,215 --> 00:16:10,965 We forgive. 313 00:16:10,965 --> 00:16:12,885 Now if you forgive, what does that imply? 314 00:16:12,885 --> 00:16:15,015 What does that mean if I have to forgive you? 315 00:16:16,155 --> 00:16:16,875 That means what? 316 00:16:18,944 --> 00:16:21,165 You hurt me or you sinned against me. 317 00:16:22,935 --> 00:16:24,465 So it's implied. 318 00:16:24,495 --> 00:16:27,735 No, it stated it is a hundred percent and abundantly clear. 319 00:16:27,885 --> 00:16:30,405 You and I are going to hurt one another, 320 00:16:33,045 --> 00:16:33,915 but we forgive. 321 00:16:33,915 --> 00:16:33,975 You 322 00:16:36,194 --> 00:16:41,025 see, in God's family, love isn't optional, and forgiveness is 323 00:16:41,025 --> 00:16:42,210 what keeps the family together. 324 00:16:44,265 --> 00:16:46,785 Let's move forward and let's talk about the family's responsibility. 325 00:16:46,845 --> 00:16:48,015 We ride or die. 326 00:16:48,285 --> 00:16:48,435 Come on. 327 00:16:50,445 --> 00:16:50,925 Here we go. 328 00:16:50,925 --> 00:16:53,655 All my fast and furious friends, come on. 329 00:16:53,655 --> 00:16:55,605 Ride or die family. 330 00:16:56,205 --> 00:16:57,495 That's how we decorate family. 331 00:16:58,935 --> 00:16:59,475 That's okay. 332 00:17:01,725 --> 00:17:05,265 We ride or die with and for one another. 333 00:17:05,878 --> 00:17:07,710 Look at what it says in Romans chapter 12. 334 00:17:07,710 --> 00:17:10,648 It says, be devoted to one another in love. 335 00:17:10,679 --> 00:17:12,898 Honor one another above yourselves. 336 00:17:12,898 --> 00:17:16,679 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor serving the Lord. 337 00:17:16,740 --> 00:17:18,388 I think James read this passage earlier. 338 00:17:18,480 --> 00:17:21,960 Be joyful and hope patient and affliction faithful in prayer. 339 00:17:22,020 --> 00:17:23,970 Share with the Lord's people who are in need. 340 00:17:24,148 --> 00:17:26,069 Practice hospitality. 341 00:17:26,250 --> 00:17:28,950 We ride or die for one another. 342 00:17:28,980 --> 00:17:29,040 Yeah. 343 00:17:29,700 --> 00:17:32,040 That means we're faithful to one another. 344 00:17:32,100 --> 00:17:33,930 We support one another. 345 00:17:33,930 --> 00:17:35,580 We serve one another. 346 00:17:35,700 --> 00:17:38,070 We protect one another. 347 00:17:39,420 --> 00:17:41,850 We're compassionate with one another. 348 00:17:42,930 --> 00:17:46,110 We sacrifice for one another. 349 00:17:46,830 --> 00:17:48,120 It's who we are. 350 00:17:48,180 --> 00:17:49,860 It's what we do. 351 00:17:51,090 --> 00:17:52,620 That's what our father was like. 352 00:17:53,010 --> 00:17:54,930 That's what Jesus is like. 353 00:17:56,010 --> 00:17:57,360 They're our role models. 354 00:17:58,095 --> 00:17:59,505 This family affair. 355 00:18:00,165 --> 00:18:04,635 So therefore, this is who we are and this is what we do. 356 00:18:05,055 --> 00:18:08,565 We stick together, we support each other through the challenges. 357 00:18:09,195 --> 00:18:10,005 We support it. 358 00:18:10,005 --> 00:18:10,875 We sacrifice. 359 00:18:10,875 --> 00:18:12,495 That's what we're doing with our special message. 360 00:18:12,675 --> 00:18:17,415 We're supporting locally, our family, and we're supporting those across the, 361 00:18:17,415 --> 00:18:19,665 the, the border, our spiritual family. 362 00:18:20,385 --> 00:18:24,285 We're sacrificing to give why for the greater good of the 363 00:18:24,375 --> 00:18:26,775 universal family of believers. 364 00:18:27,435 --> 00:18:29,715 We're there for one another through thick and thin. 365 00:18:29,895 --> 00:18:34,185 I know we can raise hands to a t and those who have been members longer than 366 00:18:34,185 --> 00:18:38,355 a week, you can say, I've had people in this room who have served and helped 367 00:18:38,355 --> 00:18:42,225 me through some hard times, or just to get over the hump to make Jesus Lord. 368 00:18:43,785 --> 00:18:46,755 I'm so grateful for the many people just in this room. 369 00:18:46,755 --> 00:18:49,425 I could think about, uh, uh, you know, Kenny Barber. 370 00:18:49,425 --> 00:18:53,850 I think about Chris Glossy, uh, I think about Martin Chare, uh, uh, 371 00:18:53,855 --> 00:18:58,185 uh, I think about Daniel Samo, uh, uh, wan, I, I I, I, I can go on. 372 00:18:58,185 --> 00:18:59,835 I know I miss some people, so please forgive me. 373 00:18:59,955 --> 00:19:00,855 That's where you forgive. 374 00:19:03,945 --> 00:19:05,115 I think of all those. 375 00:19:05,355 --> 00:19:07,515 I can think of memories, recents. 376 00:19:08,295 --> 00:19:10,365 I can think of those in the last couple of years. 377 00:19:10,845 --> 00:19:14,145 Who have helped and prayerfully I've been able to serve and 378 00:19:14,145 --> 00:19:15,735 be a good friend in return. 379 00:19:16,575 --> 00:19:19,815 You know, in when we ride or die together, that means everyone contributes. 380 00:19:20,355 --> 00:19:24,195 You go to a family meal, a family gathering, who's supposed to bring food? 381 00:19:24,500 --> 00:19:25,110 Everybody. 382 00:19:25,395 --> 00:19:25,905 Everybody. 383 00:19:25,905 --> 00:19:27,736 Somebody's like, yeah, I got a cousin that don't bring food. 384 00:19:30,615 --> 00:19:31,245 Think about that. 385 00:19:31,995 --> 00:19:34,395 Let me ask you, are you that cousin that doesn't bring food? 386 00:19:36,225 --> 00:19:37,275 We're all coming together. 387 00:19:37,275 --> 00:19:39,945 We're all contributing our talents, our recent, our experiences. 388 00:19:40,754 --> 00:19:44,175 You're going, uh, I just came here to get some free corn bread 389 00:19:50,115 --> 00:19:53,685 or some macaroni and cheese, so I got hungry. 390 00:19:53,685 --> 00:19:54,254 All of a sudden. 391 00:19:58,935 --> 00:20:01,814 In a family, we protect, we protect each other. 392 00:20:03,300 --> 00:20:05,310 That impressed me so much when I came into this fellowship. 393 00:20:05,310 --> 00:20:08,790 I got, I got baptized in Washington DC and it was part of the DC church. 394 00:20:08,790 --> 00:20:11,280 It was part of our church in New York, and then part of our church 395 00:20:11,280 --> 00:20:14,520 out here in the Los Angeles area, and then moved down to Orange County. 396 00:20:14,670 --> 00:20:17,430 And that's one of the things that, that just wowed me because I had went 397 00:20:17,430 --> 00:20:22,050 to church for most of my life and, and it was church goers, but when 398 00:20:22,050 --> 00:20:26,310 I saw the spiritual family, I saw those who were protecting each other. 399 00:20:26,310 --> 00:20:29,160 I saw brothers who would protect the sister. 400 00:20:30,450 --> 00:20:33,630 They weren't for any jokers to come in and swindle their way 401 00:20:33,690 --> 00:20:35,280 and try to take out a sister. 402 00:20:35,940 --> 00:20:39,300 I saw sisters who were mindful of the brothers who cared about the 403 00:20:39,300 --> 00:20:42,870 brothers who saw little Susie walk in and said, don't worry, bro. 404 00:20:42,900 --> 00:20:44,280 I'll talk to Susie for you. 405 00:20:47,250 --> 00:20:48,750 I hope we still have that going on. 406 00:20:49,920 --> 00:20:51,360 Well, we're protecting one another. 407 00:20:51,930 --> 00:20:52,680 Danger. 408 00:20:52,740 --> 00:20:53,400 Danger. 409 00:20:53,490 --> 00:20:54,660 I got you bro. 410 00:20:54,960 --> 00:20:55,290 Sis. 411 00:20:55,290 --> 00:20:56,550 Let me help you out here. 412 00:20:57,389 --> 00:21:01,290 I know that's going on and I hope it still is going on beyond even my understanding. 413 00:21:02,820 --> 00:21:07,290 You know, in a family also, everyone in a family looks out for the youth. 414 00:21:08,399 --> 00:21:09,360 Think about your family. 415 00:21:10,139 --> 00:21:11,280 Think about your family gathering. 416 00:21:12,030 --> 00:21:13,350 Does everybody look out for the youth? 417 00:21:14,190 --> 00:21:17,760 If a little kid is about to run off, not just the parent, and go, Hey, hey, you 418 00:21:17,760 --> 00:21:22,080 better go get 'em, that you snatch them up and depending on your family, you 419 00:21:22,080 --> 00:21:23,700 might have the authority to discipline. 420 00:21:23,700 --> 00:21:24,210 You know what I'm saying? 421 00:21:24,210 --> 00:21:25,260 I don't know how it goes for you. 422 00:21:26,895 --> 00:21:28,395 But we all look out for the youth. 423 00:21:28,875 --> 00:21:31,125 We all come in, Hey, how's my nephew doing? 424 00:21:31,125 --> 00:21:32,175 How's my niece doing? 425 00:21:32,295 --> 00:21:34,005 You engage with the youth? 426 00:21:34,035 --> 00:21:34,935 Hey, what's going on? 427 00:21:34,935 --> 00:21:35,745 Hey, gimme a hug. 428 00:21:35,775 --> 00:21:37,845 Hey, don't you come out here without giving me a hug. 429 00:21:39,105 --> 00:21:40,605 Hey, I got a little gift for you. 430 00:21:40,605 --> 00:21:41,535 Hey, we're doing this. 431 00:21:41,625 --> 00:21:43,875 You look out for the youth in your family. 432 00:21:43,935 --> 00:21:45,615 So what's it happening in the church? 433 00:21:48,075 --> 00:21:50,835 Oh, that's just Daniel and Savannah and some teen leaders. 434 00:21:52,695 --> 00:21:53,985 Is that a family or is that. 435 00:21:54,660 --> 00:21:55,139 Community. 436 00:21:56,580 --> 00:21:58,290 See in the community you can do that. 437 00:21:59,129 --> 00:22:04,500 In a family you can't because that youth you care about as if it was your own. 438 00:22:08,310 --> 00:22:10,379 You know, I, I wanna mention this here real quick. 439 00:22:10,440 --> 00:22:12,780 I, I wanna take a second here to talk about the youth. 440 00:22:16,395 --> 00:22:19,470 You know, OC has traditionally, and, and our Fellowship of 441 00:22:19,470 --> 00:22:23,310 churches has traditionally been great at investing in the youth. 442 00:22:24,075 --> 00:22:26,625 And I've been here now, it's going to actually just hit 10 years. 443 00:22:26,805 --> 00:22:27,165 Uh, no. 444 00:22:27,165 --> 00:22:27,435 July. 445 00:22:27,435 --> 00:22:28,185 It'll be 10 years, right? 446 00:22:28,305 --> 00:22:33,645 10 years we'll be here and, and, and man, OC has a rich tradition of investing 447 00:22:33,645 --> 00:22:38,235 time, resources, money for the youth. 448 00:22:39,435 --> 00:22:41,115 And you see the fruit of it today. 449 00:22:42,405 --> 00:22:44,145 I mean, Kyle was up here. 450 00:22:44,145 --> 00:22:46,305 Kyle leads our campus ministry with his wife. 451 00:22:46,305 --> 00:22:46,815 Guess what? 452 00:22:46,965 --> 00:22:49,305 They were both teens in the church. 453 00:22:50,535 --> 00:22:51,585 Daniel, Savannah, SMO. 454 00:22:52,350 --> 00:22:57,300 Teens in the church that, that, that, that cool dude that was singing up here. 455 00:22:57,300 --> 00:22:57,870 Dallas 456 00:23:00,750 --> 00:23:02,040 Teen in the church. 457 00:23:02,040 --> 00:23:07,530 In fact, several people in the worship team, teens in the church. 458 00:23:08,010 --> 00:23:13,080 We have family group leaders who were teens in the church. 459 00:23:14,340 --> 00:23:17,490 We have many servants who were teens. 460 00:23:18,690 --> 00:23:26,520 Church that was from years of a collective investment in the youth. 461 00:23:27,240 --> 00:23:31,560 And some of you can testify you, I'm looking at little Kylie over here, and you 462 00:23:31,560 --> 00:23:35,070 can remember when little Kylie was running around in the little kids' classes with 463 00:23:35,070 --> 00:23:40,740 just a diaper on yelling and screaming, or when Derek Lale was doing his thing. 464 00:23:40,740 --> 00:23:45,150 And we all know, oh look, oh Derek, Derek is notorious. 465 00:23:45,150 --> 00:23:46,020 Oh boy. 466 00:23:46,020 --> 00:23:46,800 That was something else. 467 00:23:48,165 --> 00:23:50,715 But now Derrick's a faithful disciple of Jesus. 468 00:23:53,655 --> 00:23:54,405 I love Derrick. 469 00:23:54,405 --> 00:23:58,515 I can be, I can say that the lales know it is all love. 470 00:24:00,135 --> 00:24:02,565 But what happened there was an investment. 471 00:24:03,345 --> 00:24:07,605 People decided I will sacrifice some of my worship so I can be with the 472 00:24:07,605 --> 00:24:12,045 children's classes so that these kids can have an opportunity to know more about 473 00:24:12,045 --> 00:24:16,335 God, so that later on they can make a decision to follow Jesus for themselves. 474 00:24:18,625 --> 00:24:20,159 I want to give you a stat here real quickly. 475 00:24:20,580 --> 00:24:23,220 Daniel told us this the other day, starting in June. 476 00:24:23,310 --> 00:24:26,879 So what are we, three weeks, four weeks from June, we're gonna have 477 00:24:26,879 --> 00:24:31,439 about 58 60 teenagers here in Orange County, just in our fellowship. 478 00:24:32,220 --> 00:24:32,909 That's a lot. 479 00:24:33,929 --> 00:24:36,240 And we have what we call, uh, teen leaders. 480 00:24:36,240 --> 00:24:40,500 These are our, our adult mentors who mentor teens and, and help put on the 481 00:24:40,500 --> 00:24:42,540 events every week for the teenagers. 482 00:24:43,110 --> 00:24:46,020 And so we've always had a model in which we've had teen leaders. 483 00:24:47,130 --> 00:24:52,080 And so starting on June for those 60, about 60 kids, we 484 00:24:52,080 --> 00:24:54,270 will have three team leaders. 485 00:24:55,590 --> 00:24:58,260 And you don't have to be great at the math, but that's one per 20. 486 00:24:59,910 --> 00:25:01,890 Is that sustainable? 487 00:25:03,270 --> 00:25:05,580 How's that gonna work out by July? 488 00:25:08,460 --> 00:25:10,530 And so what we need is what? 489 00:25:12,060 --> 00:25:13,230 She already said it. 490 00:25:13,530 --> 00:25:14,460 You quit, girl. 491 00:25:14,460 --> 00:25:14,940 Thank you. 492 00:25:16,095 --> 00:25:23,655 We need people to invest in not just the next, but I call it the now generation. 493 00:25:25,545 --> 00:25:26,925 We need people in here. 494 00:25:26,925 --> 00:25:27,885 Yes, you. 495 00:25:27,945 --> 00:25:30,435 We need you to be able to invest. 496 00:25:30,435 --> 00:25:34,995 We need some, we know we can't have 35 of you guys become team leaders, 497 00:25:35,265 --> 00:25:38,025 but we can have 35 mentors for kids. 498 00:25:38,925 --> 00:25:42,825 We can have people decide I can get together on a consistent basis and 499 00:25:42,825 --> 00:25:44,685 engage and build a relationship. 500 00:25:46,335 --> 00:25:50,175 Studies have shown that those who grew up in a church who have made 501 00:25:50,175 --> 00:25:53,804 it and stayed faithful to God in their thirties and forties, they had 502 00:25:53,804 --> 00:25:59,175 on average five adult relationships through the years growing up. 503 00:26:00,195 --> 00:26:01,845 And that's excluding mom and dad. 504 00:26:04,665 --> 00:26:07,095 And so what are we gonna do for those 60 plus? 505 00:26:07,095 --> 00:26:12,105 We have about 30 or 20 something junior high students coming up right after them. 506 00:26:13,020 --> 00:26:16,380 Brother and sister, this is a call for you and I to ride or die 507 00:26:16,470 --> 00:26:20,520 with and for each other that we're gonna all care for the youth. 508 00:26:21,090 --> 00:26:24,270 We're gonna protect one another, and we're all gonna have some form or 509 00:26:24,270 --> 00:26:26,430 fashion in which we help the youth. 510 00:26:28,800 --> 00:26:30,510 When we got married, Kareem and I got married. 511 00:26:31,185 --> 00:26:34,695 Uh, and, and I think this is, is common beyond just, uh, uh, 512 00:26:34,725 --> 00:26:38,535 Guatemalan culture, but there's a, a, a thing called Pinos, right? 513 00:26:38,535 --> 00:26:39,315 I think that's how you say it. 514 00:26:39,315 --> 00:26:41,265 Hopefully I said my, I wrote my R correctly. 515 00:26:41,535 --> 00:26:42,285 Alright, you're nodding in your head. 516 00:26:42,285 --> 00:26:42,885 Thank you, sis. 517 00:26:42,885 --> 00:26:43,125 Okay. 518 00:26:43,125 --> 00:26:43,455 Thank you. 519 00:26:43,635 --> 00:26:43,965 Alright. 520 00:26:44,265 --> 00:26:48,225 And so what happens here is when we got married, part of the family, every part 521 00:26:48,225 --> 00:26:52,635 of the Corina's family decided, Hey, I'm gonna be a, you know what I'm saying? 522 00:26:54,495 --> 00:26:58,065 That I'm gonna be that for you. 523 00:26:58,155 --> 00:27:00,075 So one person's like, well, we'll get the cake for you. 524 00:27:00,465 --> 00:27:01,695 Well, we'll help out with this. 525 00:27:01,725 --> 00:27:03,825 We'll help out with, with some of the decorations. 526 00:27:03,885 --> 00:27:06,885 We just, we had about 25 family members helping contribute. 527 00:27:06,975 --> 00:27:09,555 We didn't have any money, so we're like, hallelujah, thank you. 528 00:27:10,485 --> 00:27:13,155 But they all found a way to contribute. 529 00:27:14,325 --> 00:27:18,105 Brother Sisters, every single one of us can find a way to contribute. 530 00:27:19,035 --> 00:27:22,185 We could be their spiritual pacinos for our youth today. 531 00:27:22,950 --> 00:27:24,210 And maybe that's being a mentor. 532 00:27:24,210 --> 00:27:26,610 Maybe that's providing your resources, your expertise, 533 00:27:26,700 --> 00:27:28,170 maybe that's Amen's mission. 534 00:27:28,950 --> 00:27:30,270 We share the gospel. 535 00:27:31,200 --> 00:27:33,120 Here's what it says here in John Chapter 20. 536 00:27:33,120 --> 00:27:35,460 Jesus, he says, peace be with you. 537 00:27:35,460 --> 00:27:39,180 As the Father has sent me, I am sending you. 538 00:27:40,140 --> 00:27:42,690 We have a family hearts we love, we serve. 539 00:27:42,690 --> 00:27:44,010 We have a family responsibility. 540 00:27:44,010 --> 00:27:46,650 We ride or die together and we have a family mission. 541 00:27:46,800 --> 00:27:48,840 We share the good news. 542 00:27:49,920 --> 00:27:53,550 We share it with those we live with, we share it with those that live next to us. 543 00:27:53,550 --> 00:27:55,620 We work with, we go to school with that. 544 00:27:55,620 --> 00:27:57,150 We meet at the grocery store. 545 00:27:57,240 --> 00:28:03,300 We have an opportunity to join our father in his mission, to redeem his creation, 546 00:28:03,390 --> 00:28:06,870 to go from creation to child of God. 547 00:28:07,860 --> 00:28:09,630 And so we have that opportunity. 548 00:28:09,780 --> 00:28:13,530 That's our mission as a family. 549 00:28:14,070 --> 00:28:18,540 And just like Jesus, we follow the family and sharing the good news. 550 00:28:19,020 --> 00:28:23,130 What an opportunity we have and why are we talking about this? 551 00:28:23,130 --> 00:28:24,480 Why is this important? 552 00:28:24,480 --> 00:28:28,200 Well, it, it does go with our special missions because we're giving to 553 00:28:28,200 --> 00:28:32,790 help build the family of God again, locally and across the border. 554 00:28:33,450 --> 00:28:37,170 But really the main thing here is that family, the family of God 555 00:28:37,170 --> 00:28:41,280 is at the center of God's heart and the center of God's will. 556 00:28:42,120 --> 00:28:42,930 It's at the center. 557 00:28:42,930 --> 00:28:46,320 Jesus came to establish his family and so that others. 558 00:28:47,085 --> 00:28:50,265 Enter and become children of the most high God. 559 00:28:50,415 --> 00:28:55,725 And we have to avoid the trap of letting worldly and cultural views 560 00:28:55,905 --> 00:29:02,055 distort our view, and therefore misalign us with God's will in his design. 561 00:29:04,035 --> 00:29:08,235 But if you think about this, this is our desire as well. 562 00:29:09,105 --> 00:29:11,895 We wanna be a part of something special. 563 00:29:13,200 --> 00:29:19,110 We wanna be a part of something that's filled and established and rooted in love. 564 00:29:20,280 --> 00:29:23,400 We wanna be a part of something that's bigger than us. 565 00:29:24,180 --> 00:29:30,270 We all desire to be a part of something that leaves and impacts upon this world. 566 00:29:30,870 --> 00:29:37,500 We all desire to be a part of something that's eternal and divine, and that's 567 00:29:37,500 --> 00:29:40,650 what we have in the family of God. 568 00:29:41,235 --> 00:29:45,375 It's who we are and it's what we do. 569 00:29:46,035 --> 00:29:47,625 And so how do we respond? 570 00:29:47,925 --> 00:29:49,185 I believe it's real simple. 571 00:29:49,365 --> 00:29:51,135 We build up the family of God. 572 00:29:52,155 --> 00:29:57,555 We have to own our particular role in the family and help build up the 573 00:29:57,555 --> 00:29:59,865 family of God The father is working. 574 00:30:00,825 --> 00:30:03,645 It's what his children join him in building. 575 00:30:04,635 --> 00:30:08,235 And I know we have so many that are, but I'm afraid some of us we're not building. 576 00:30:09,405 --> 00:30:13,785 It's a call for every single one of us to continue to build or for 577 00:30:13,785 --> 00:30:15,855 some of us to get back up and build. 578 00:30:16,125 --> 00:30:21,525 Because you are a child of God, therefore you have a role in the family of God. 579 00:30:22,155 --> 00:30:25,245 Every single one of us is needed, just like every single one of 580 00:30:25,245 --> 00:30:27,225 your family members are needed. 581 00:30:28,305 --> 00:30:30,645 And I wanna say this for those who may be. 582 00:30:32,220 --> 00:30:35,490 You don't know her, it's clear you're not a member of the family of God. 583 00:30:35,490 --> 00:30:39,030 I wanna encourage you to make a decision today to become a family member. 584 00:30:39,870 --> 00:30:43,110 I wanna encourage you today to make a decision to join the family. 585 00:30:43,110 --> 00:30:43,350 God. 586 00:30:43,350 --> 00:30:46,410 See, Jesus didn't invite you just to believe Jesus invited 587 00:30:46,410 --> 00:30:47,640 you to belong to his family. 588 00:30:47,880 --> 00:30:50,550 Enjoyed him in building something that's eternal. 589 00:30:52,260 --> 00:30:56,430 And so I wanna encourage you today to study the Bible and get help 'cause 590 00:30:56,430 --> 00:30:59,130 we've all done it and make a decision. 591 00:30:59,640 --> 00:31:03,240 To follow Jesus for those who have been members for many years. 592 00:31:03,240 --> 00:31:04,020 Here's a question. 593 00:31:04,290 --> 00:31:06,930 What kind of family member am I 594 00:31:09,300 --> 00:31:12,210 and what kind of family member does God want me to be? 595 00:31:14,910 --> 00:31:17,580 Reflect on that and then make some choices. 596 00:31:18,389 --> 00:31:21,510 You can give to the youth, you can mentor a single professional. 597 00:31:21,600 --> 00:31:25,260 You can help an an older and elderly brother or sister in Christ. 598 00:31:25,260 --> 00:31:28,200 You can protect a sister, whatever the case may be. 599 00:31:28,230 --> 00:31:34,230 But go ahead and do your role in building up the family of God. 600 00:31:35,190 --> 00:31:38,610 And if we were to do this, we will fulfill the father's vision and the 601 00:31:38,610 --> 00:31:42,210 father's will for his family picture here. 602 00:31:42,210 --> 00:31:46,320 Real quickly, what would this picture look like if we were all committed? 603 00:31:46,905 --> 00:31:50,205 Every single one of us to building up the family of God. 604 00:31:56,265 --> 00:31:59,055 What if we all lived out the family's heart? 605 00:31:59,055 --> 00:32:01,275 What we love and we forgive 606 00:32:04,635 --> 00:32:07,845 picture, what it would look like if we were all devoted to the 607 00:32:07,845 --> 00:32:12,705 family's responsibility where we ride or die for one another. 608 00:32:13,425 --> 00:32:15,885 We protect, we sacrifice, we serve. 609 00:32:17,925 --> 00:32:21,315 Picture what it would look like if we all joined the family 610 00:32:21,315 --> 00:32:23,445 mission in sharing the gospel. 611 00:32:25,155 --> 00:32:27,014 What kind of spiritual family would that be? 612 00:32:31,545 --> 00:32:33,555 Would you like to be part of that spiritual family? 613 00:32:37,514 --> 00:32:41,355 What kind of spiritual family would that be? 614 00:32:43,095 --> 00:32:44,955 Would that be a spiritual family that you would. 615 00:32:45,840 --> 00:32:51,000 Give yourself over to that you would contribute to would others 616 00:32:51,000 --> 00:32:56,100 see the glory of God and therefore wanna be part of that family of God? 617 00:32:58,380 --> 00:33:03,030 Here's the thing, brother sisters, that's who we are, and that's what we do. 618 00:33:04,350 --> 00:33:08,760 So let's be who we are and let's do what we're supposed to do. 619 00:33:10,260 --> 00:33:13,200 Let's close out here as we take communion. 620 00:33:14,070 --> 00:33:17,520 This is where we take the emblems, the, the juice, and the bread 621 00:33:18,510 --> 00:33:22,590 symbolizing Jesus's body and blood that was sacrificed for our salvation. 622 00:33:23,399 --> 00:33:26,190 And it says here in John chapter one and verse 12, we'll 623 00:33:26,190 --> 00:33:27,480 go back to where we started. 624 00:33:27,899 --> 00:33:31,080 Yet, to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave 625 00:33:31,080 --> 00:33:34,320 the right to become children of God. 626 00:33:35,250 --> 00:33:38,639 Children born not of natural decision, nor of human decision, or a hu 627 00:33:38,670 --> 00:33:41,909 husband's will, but born of God. 628 00:33:42,300 --> 00:33:47,399 If we get a chance to be the children of the most high God, part of God's 629 00:33:47,610 --> 00:33:53,790 universal, intergalactic divine family because of Jesus' life, 630 00:33:54,120 --> 00:33:56,760 death, and resurrection, let's pray. 631 00:33:57,419 --> 00:33:59,220 Father, thank you so much for Jesus. 632 00:33:59,610 --> 00:34:01,710 Thank you that he is the center of our faith. 633 00:34:02,095 --> 00:34:04,680 He's the focus Father, he's the example. 634 00:34:05,250 --> 00:34:06,960 We thank you for your love. 635 00:34:06,960 --> 00:34:08,790 We thank you that you've had a design. 636 00:34:09,105 --> 00:34:12,764 From the beginning, before the creation you designed that those who would choose 637 00:34:12,764 --> 00:34:15,614 to respond will be a part of your family. 638 00:34:15,735 --> 00:34:20,685 We thank you that we have the opportunity to be called a child of yours. 639 00:34:20,985 --> 00:34:22,995 Thank you for the brothers and sisters here. 640 00:34:23,385 --> 00:34:27,495 Father, we thank you for your grace and mercy that has been lavished upon 641 00:34:27,495 --> 00:34:33,284 us every single day of our lives, and we wanna respond with faithfulness to 642 00:34:33,284 --> 00:34:38,114 you, faithfulness to your plan, and your desire and your will, and to your people. 643 00:34:38,880 --> 00:34:42,420 We thank you again for Jesus, the author and perfecter of 644 00:34:42,420 --> 00:34:44,370 our faith in his name, amen.