1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:00,430 Wow. 2 00:00:00,430 --> 00:00:01,189 Look at that. 3 00:00:01,229 --> 00:00:04,620 What a warm Welcome to North O. 4 00:00:04,620 --> 00:00:05,290 C. 5 00:00:05,620 --> 00:00:08,880 Man, I know these guys have probably been working on that all week. 6 00:00:10,059 --> 00:00:10,840 Thank you guys. 7 00:00:11,049 --> 00:00:12,750 Uh, well guys, it's great to be with you all. 8 00:00:12,750 --> 00:00:16,290 For those who don't know who I am, my name is Kyle Lounsberry. 9 00:00:16,610 --> 00:00:19,210 Along with my wife, Jasmine Lounsberry. 10 00:00:19,249 --> 00:00:22,080 We lead our campus ministry here in Orange County. 11 00:00:22,360 --> 00:00:23,520 And we are so grateful to be here. 12 00:00:23,529 --> 00:00:23,900 Amen? 13 00:00:24,749 --> 00:00:26,479 Um, let's see if this works. 14 00:00:26,869 --> 00:00:28,559 There is a picture of our family. 15 00:00:28,559 --> 00:00:30,290 We have a newborn named Luca. 16 00:00:30,349 --> 00:00:32,589 Luca Lounsberry, for those who haven't met him. 17 00:00:32,890 --> 00:00:34,559 He is there in the back with my wife. 18 00:00:34,849 --> 00:00:37,109 Feel free to go back there and say hi. 19 00:00:37,419 --> 00:00:41,879 Uh, we are so grateful for truly just the support. 20 00:00:42,460 --> 00:00:48,510 And the, the meals from some of you from the, the barbers and the barons 21 00:00:48,510 --> 00:00:51,909 and the halls and many of you just pouring out and loving us, we're so 22 00:00:51,909 --> 00:00:54,539 grateful, um, for your guys support. 23 00:00:54,950 --> 00:00:58,600 During Jasmine's pregnancy and even during the birth of our baby boy and a 24 00:00:58,600 --> 00:01:01,080 few weeks, uh, of him being a newborn. 25 00:01:01,080 --> 00:01:03,010 And it's been a great time, lots of fun. 26 00:01:03,260 --> 00:01:06,700 And we're so grateful to be able to be back and serving and 27 00:01:06,710 --> 00:01:07,859 being able to speak here today. 28 00:01:07,859 --> 00:01:08,399 I'm so grateful. 29 00:01:08,420 --> 00:01:09,129 So thank you guys. 30 00:01:09,130 --> 00:01:11,030 I just want to personally thank the Norto's. 31 00:01:11,100 --> 00:01:14,089 You have a special place in our hearts and we truly are grateful. 32 00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:15,970 For all that you've done for our family. 33 00:01:15,980 --> 00:01:16,420 Amen. 34 00:01:16,840 --> 00:01:17,620 So thank you guys. 35 00:01:17,720 --> 00:01:18,289 Love you guys. 36 00:01:18,289 --> 00:01:18,760 Yes. 37 00:01:18,820 --> 00:01:19,289 Love you. 38 00:01:21,650 --> 00:01:26,129 Um, for those who don't know, we actually recently transitioned to the Central 39 00:01:26,150 --> 00:01:30,990 OC Ministry down in Irvine to help with our campus ministry at UC Irvine and 40 00:01:30,990 --> 00:01:32,639 some of the surrounding schools there. 41 00:01:32,700 --> 00:01:33,800 And that's been a lot of fun. 42 00:01:34,090 --> 00:01:37,750 Um, but quick update, we haven't physically moved down there yet. 43 00:01:37,750 --> 00:01:39,680 So I'm still 10 minutes away here in Brea. 44 00:01:39,680 --> 00:01:41,490 So that was an awesome drive this morning. 45 00:01:41,789 --> 00:01:43,350 Not having to go all the way down to Irvine. 46 00:01:43,610 --> 00:01:47,580 But, uh, what I will say is that we actually found a place and we'll be 47 00:01:47,580 --> 00:01:49,500 moving in the middle of December. 48 00:01:49,770 --> 00:01:52,800 Um, so we're very excited and grateful and looking forward to that. 49 00:01:52,800 --> 00:01:54,210 So campus, I'll be needing your help moving. 50 00:01:54,210 --> 00:01:54,800 Okay, Evan? 51 00:01:55,500 --> 00:01:55,930 Alright. 52 00:01:56,449 --> 00:01:59,539 Um, so that'll be an awesome time. 53 00:01:59,539 --> 00:02:03,640 You know, this past week we all celebrated, well most of us 54 00:02:03,660 --> 00:02:05,210 probably celebrated Thanksgiving. 55 00:02:06,125 --> 00:02:07,664 Thanksgiving is an amazing holiday. 56 00:02:07,664 --> 00:02:11,475 You know, in my family, my great grandfather, my dad's dad, uh, it's 57 00:02:11,475 --> 00:02:13,255 really the only holiday he celebrates. 58 00:02:13,265 --> 00:02:17,174 He's not religious, he's an atheist, he doesn't really like Christmas or Easter, 59 00:02:17,435 --> 00:02:21,404 um, but he loves Thanksgiving because it brings the whole family together and it's 60 00:02:21,404 --> 00:02:25,685 an opportunity to be able to give thanks for how much we have been blessed with. 61 00:02:25,745 --> 00:02:28,245 And that's one holiday that has a special place in my heart. 62 00:02:28,245 --> 00:02:32,925 So this past weekend we went up to Uh, Pismo Beach area and we got to celebrate 63 00:02:32,925 --> 00:02:36,745 Thanksgiving with my great grandpa and, uh, my dad's side of the family. 64 00:02:36,745 --> 00:02:39,675 That was a great time bringing the little one up there and showing 65 00:02:39,675 --> 00:02:40,915 him off to the whole family. 66 00:02:41,164 --> 00:02:43,285 Um, so hopefully you had a great Thanksgiving. 67 00:02:43,824 --> 00:02:48,445 Um, what I will say is last week Marcel started a two part series, 68 00:02:48,755 --> 00:02:50,925 uh, on the idea of giving thanks. 69 00:02:50,975 --> 00:02:54,285 Last week they, you guys, uh, you guys discussed how Thanksgiving's 70 00:02:54,295 --> 00:02:55,785 more than just a turkey, right? 71 00:02:55,785 --> 00:02:56,665 More than a turkey. 72 00:02:57,190 --> 00:02:59,900 And this week, we're going to talk a little bit more into 73 00:02:59,900 --> 00:03:01,350 this idea of giving thanks. 74 00:03:01,350 --> 00:03:05,179 I want to share here the definition Marcel brought up. 75 00:03:05,180 --> 00:03:07,980 And I love this because it's the expression of gratitude, right? 76 00:03:07,980 --> 00:03:10,180 So I'm going to use the word gratitude quite often today. 77 00:03:10,470 --> 00:03:12,860 And so if you hear that, it's interchangeable with 78 00:03:12,870 --> 00:03:14,270 this idea of giving thanks. 79 00:03:14,478 --> 00:03:17,970 But it's especially great to God. 80 00:03:18,100 --> 00:03:18,560 Amen? 81 00:03:19,310 --> 00:03:23,750 And when we give thanks, it's something we can do to our Lord Jesus. 82 00:03:24,275 --> 00:03:28,085 And he also mentioned how giving thanks is important to God. 83 00:03:28,685 --> 00:03:32,285 It's something that, as Christians, is very vital for our 84 00:03:32,285 --> 00:03:36,695 spirituality, to give thanks to God, because it's important to Him. 85 00:03:36,945 --> 00:03:40,353 And so today, Marcel mentioned this last week, but today we're going to 86 00:03:40,353 --> 00:03:43,534 be talking about how living thanks... 87 00:03:43,884 --> 00:03:45,004 is important to God. 88 00:03:45,054 --> 00:03:48,754 And so the title of today's message is, thanks, living. 89 00:03:48,984 --> 00:03:49,574 Alright? 90 00:03:49,655 --> 00:03:52,194 Not just giving it, but also living it. 91 00:03:52,194 --> 00:03:52,514 Amen? 92 00:03:52,514 --> 00:03:53,095 You with me? 93 00:03:53,475 --> 00:03:56,074 So let's go ahead, let's say a word of prayer, and we'll jump 94 00:03:56,074 --> 00:03:57,304 into God's word this morning. 95 00:03:59,064 --> 00:04:01,874 Lord, thank you so much for this time to be able to worship you. 96 00:04:03,074 --> 00:04:05,535 So grateful for my family here in the North O. 97 00:04:05,535 --> 00:04:05,944 C. 98 00:04:05,944 --> 00:04:10,514 and being able to see people who have just been amazing disciples and 99 00:04:10,514 --> 00:04:12,665 so faithful to you for many years. 100 00:04:13,484 --> 00:04:16,534 Thank you so much for the family that we've been able to develop here. 101 00:04:16,834 --> 00:04:21,684 Uh, Jasmine and I just being here for a few short years in the north and building 102 00:04:21,684 --> 00:04:23,114 the relationships we've got to build. 103 00:04:23,124 --> 00:04:26,834 God, I'm so eternally grateful for how much you've blessed us. 104 00:04:27,494 --> 00:04:30,994 And God, I pray that this morning as we read your word, as we talk through 105 00:04:30,994 --> 00:04:34,724 this idea of living out our thanks and living out our gratitude, God, that 106 00:04:34,914 --> 00:04:37,844 we can truly have a heart of humility. 107 00:04:38,294 --> 00:04:41,604 Have a heart of desiring to please you with our lives. 108 00:04:41,664 --> 00:04:42,334 We love you. 109 00:04:42,674 --> 00:04:46,924 Please speak through me this morning that it's not me speaking, rather it's you. 110 00:04:46,924 --> 00:04:48,874 We love you and thank you in Jesus name. 111 00:04:49,205 --> 00:04:49,674 Amen. 112 00:04:51,044 --> 00:04:51,585 Alright. 113 00:04:52,155 --> 00:04:55,433 Today we're gonna turn again to the book of Leviticus. 114 00:04:55,484 --> 00:04:56,015 Alright. 115 00:04:56,085 --> 00:04:57,874 Marcel mentioned Leviticus last week. 116 00:04:57,914 --> 00:05:01,714 I'm not gonna hang out in this chapter too long because then I would just get lost. 117 00:05:01,714 --> 00:05:01,994 Alright. 118 00:05:02,015 --> 00:05:06,814 But we're gonna look at one passage here in the book of Leviticus, chapter 22. 119 00:05:07,085 --> 00:05:07,544 Alright. 120 00:05:08,499 --> 00:05:12,089 In verse 29, it says, When you sacrifice a vain offering to the 121 00:05:12,089 --> 00:05:17,909 Lord, sacrifice it in such a way that it will be accepted on your behalf. 122 00:05:18,519 --> 00:05:20,409 It must be in that same day. 123 00:05:21,079 --> 00:05:22,759 Leave none of it till morning. 124 00:05:22,809 --> 00:05:24,569 I am the Lord. 125 00:05:25,579 --> 00:05:26,769 So why am I bringing this up? 126 00:05:26,769 --> 00:05:30,139 You know, the book of Leviticus is about the Jewish law, right? 127 00:05:30,139 --> 00:05:31,369 There's tons of laws in there. 128 00:05:31,369 --> 00:05:32,959 I believe there's over 600 laws. 129 00:05:33,280 --> 00:05:37,939 This specific passage is describing and talking about a vanquish offering. 130 00:05:38,479 --> 00:05:41,960 That in this time there was an opportunity for, for the Jews to 131 00:05:41,969 --> 00:05:46,140 be able to vanquish God through an offering, through a sacrifice. 132 00:05:46,749 --> 00:05:51,199 But what we see here that I think is really unique is the, the phrasing that it 133 00:05:51,199 --> 00:05:57,808 says, that, uh, sacrifice it in such a way that it will be accepted on your behalf. 134 00:05:58,879 --> 00:06:00,889 Who here has ever received a gift before? 135 00:06:02,270 --> 00:06:03,939 Okay, all of us received a gift, right? 136 00:06:04,489 --> 00:06:07,030 Who here has ever received a gift that you're like, I don't 137 00:06:07,030 --> 00:06:07,999 really have any use for this? 138 00:06:08,150 --> 00:06:09,229 Or I don't really like this? 139 00:06:10,020 --> 00:06:10,549 Some of us? 140 00:06:10,580 --> 00:06:11,469 Okay, yeah. 141 00:06:13,109 --> 00:06:16,179 So when you receive that gift, you're kind of like, Okay, thank you. 142 00:06:16,689 --> 00:06:16,999 Right? 143 00:06:16,999 --> 00:06:18,830 But it has no use for you. 144 00:06:18,979 --> 00:06:19,559 You with me? 145 00:06:20,400 --> 00:06:25,280 Well, if there's a sacrifice or an offering that's useful, or that is, 146 00:06:26,179 --> 00:06:31,570 excuse me, accepted by God, Wouldn't you think there could be an offering or 147 00:06:31,570 --> 00:06:34,619 a sacrifice that isn't accepted by God? 148 00:06:36,380 --> 00:06:36,849 Right? 149 00:06:36,960 --> 00:06:37,989 That's an observation here. 150 00:06:37,989 --> 00:06:41,308 A vain offering that is acceptable to God means that there can 151 00:06:41,308 --> 00:06:43,859 be one that is unacceptable. 152 00:06:44,839 --> 00:06:47,599 So we're going to look a little bit into this today and what that might mean. 153 00:06:48,279 --> 00:06:52,010 But I think it's important we draw from that scripture this idea 154 00:06:52,359 --> 00:06:55,000 that God looks for a specific... 155 00:06:55,820 --> 00:06:56,429 Thanks. 156 00:06:56,440 --> 00:07:00,799 Specific gratitude in the way we live our lives. 157 00:07:01,109 --> 00:07:03,169 He's looking for something in our hearts. 158 00:07:03,169 --> 00:07:05,599 He's looking for something the way that we live. 159 00:07:05,609 --> 00:07:06,159 You with me? 160 00:07:06,619 --> 00:07:08,570 And there's a cool parallel passage that we're going to focus 161 00:07:08,570 --> 00:07:10,560 in on today in the New Testament. 162 00:07:10,859 --> 00:07:13,789 Turn with me in your Bibles, if you will, to Luke chapter 17. 163 00:07:14,630 --> 00:07:15,070 Alright? 164 00:07:15,359 --> 00:07:18,530 Many of you know this passage, Luke chapter 17, verse 11. 165 00:07:18,739 --> 00:07:19,870 We're going to pick up here. 166 00:07:21,840 --> 00:07:24,500 And it reads, He's now on his way to Jerusalem. 167 00:07:24,864 --> 00:07:27,994 Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 168 00:07:28,814 --> 00:07:33,274 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. 169 00:07:33,994 --> 00:07:36,814 They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, 170 00:07:37,114 --> 00:07:40,274 Jesus, Master, have pity on us. 171 00:07:41,344 --> 00:07:45,375 When he saw them, he said, Go show yourselves to the priests, and they went. 172 00:07:45,554 --> 00:07:46,224 They were cleansed. 173 00:07:47,574 --> 00:07:52,355 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back praising God in a loud voice. 174 00:07:52,655 --> 00:07:55,414 He threw himself at Jesus feet and thanked him. 175 00:07:56,125 --> 00:07:57,284 And he was a Samaritan. 176 00:07:57,994 --> 00:08:00,954 Jesus asked, We're not all ten cleansed? 177 00:08:01,984 --> 00:08:03,034 Where are the other nine? 178 00:08:03,674 --> 00:08:07,774 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner? 179 00:08:08,564 --> 00:08:09,974 Then he said to him, Rise. 180 00:08:10,025 --> 00:08:10,544 Go. 181 00:08:11,125 --> 00:08:13,275 Your faith has made you well. 182 00:08:14,704 --> 00:08:15,125 Alright. 183 00:08:15,674 --> 00:08:17,354 So let's paint the picture here for a second. 184 00:08:17,515 --> 00:08:21,905 We have this really cool passage where we see ten men with leprosy. 185 00:08:22,584 --> 00:08:25,775 Now, leprosy was a horrible skin disease that, in that time, if you 186 00:08:25,775 --> 00:08:28,204 had that disease, you were outcasted. 187 00:08:28,584 --> 00:08:29,854 You had to stay away. 188 00:08:30,454 --> 00:08:33,484 Think of social distancing times ten, right? 189 00:08:33,584 --> 00:08:35,905 You were gone, you could not interact with anybody. 190 00:08:35,905 --> 00:08:36,953 Most of you know this, right? 191 00:08:36,953 --> 00:08:38,234 But that's what leprosy was. 192 00:08:38,234 --> 00:08:44,905 And so, ten of them, let's look back, ten of them come to Jesus with 193 00:08:44,905 --> 00:08:48,104 leprosy, and it says they stood at a distance, and they yelled out to him. 194 00:08:49,519 --> 00:08:51,249 Jesus, Master. 195 00:08:51,509 --> 00:08:52,619 They reference him as Master. 196 00:08:52,619 --> 00:08:53,300 It's interesting. 197 00:08:53,969 --> 00:08:55,359 Have pity on us. 198 00:08:55,849 --> 00:08:56,930 Asking for pity. 199 00:08:57,050 --> 00:09:00,430 And when he saw them, he said, go show yourselves to the priests. 200 00:09:00,869 --> 00:09:02,219 He says, go get cleansed. 201 00:09:02,579 --> 00:09:04,089 And as they went, they were cleansed. 202 00:09:04,979 --> 00:09:06,920 So, here's an observation. 203 00:09:07,129 --> 00:09:11,410 These guys go, based on their faith that Jesus told them to go. 204 00:09:12,219 --> 00:09:13,719 Because they could have gone and nothing happened. 205 00:09:14,314 --> 00:09:16,024 But they decide, you know what, we're going to trust you, Lord. 206 00:09:16,024 --> 00:09:17,154 We're going to trust you, Jesus. 207 00:09:17,194 --> 00:09:18,134 They call him Master. 208 00:09:18,134 --> 00:09:19,944 They reference him as Master. 209 00:09:20,104 --> 00:09:20,714 The Lord. 210 00:09:21,084 --> 00:09:21,954 Okay, we're going to go. 211 00:09:21,974 --> 00:09:23,734 And they go, and they're healed. 212 00:09:23,774 --> 00:09:24,444 They're cleansed. 213 00:09:25,074 --> 00:09:27,034 Cleansed from their horrible skin disease. 214 00:09:27,034 --> 00:09:29,174 I was going to put a picture up there, but it's just too graphic. 215 00:09:29,954 --> 00:09:32,814 Alright, I wasn't going to put it up there because I was like, this is really bad. 216 00:09:34,574 --> 00:09:35,314 They get healed. 217 00:09:37,064 --> 00:09:38,834 But only one of them returns. 218 00:09:40,435 --> 00:09:41,545 Only one of the ten. 219 00:09:41,545 --> 00:09:42,434 That's ten percent. 220 00:09:43,745 --> 00:09:46,495 Comes back and praises God. 221 00:09:48,235 --> 00:09:52,114 Says he came back praising God in a loud voice. 222 00:09:52,504 --> 00:09:54,665 He threw himself at Jesus feet. 223 00:09:55,254 --> 00:09:58,225 On his knees, praising Jesus. 224 00:09:58,805 --> 00:09:59,644 Thanking Him. 225 00:10:00,525 --> 00:10:01,475 Now think about this. 226 00:10:01,535 --> 00:10:02,875 Imagine if you were that leper. 227 00:10:03,444 --> 00:10:06,305 Imagine if for years you had this horrible skin disease. 228 00:10:06,545 --> 00:10:09,134 This horrible ailment that outcasted you. 229 00:10:09,134 --> 00:10:09,924 You had no friends. 230 00:10:09,924 --> 00:10:11,064 Your only friends were other lepers. 231 00:10:11,229 --> 00:10:15,920 First, imagine what you would be feeling for all those years. 232 00:10:16,689 --> 00:10:20,439 Imagine the pain, imagine the suffering, imagine the loneliness. 233 00:10:21,939 --> 00:10:26,869 Now think about the joy he must have felt when he was healed. 234 00:10:28,869 --> 00:10:35,979 He takes himself, he goes over to Jesus, and he kisses his feet, thank you. 235 00:10:35,979 --> 00:10:40,920 He expresses his gratitude with true, genuine action. 236 00:10:42,234 --> 00:10:46,344 And I believe, brothers and sisters, that this morning, as we think through 237 00:10:46,564 --> 00:10:51,204 what it means to live a life of gratitude, that it has to be genuine. 238 00:10:53,244 --> 00:10:58,494 It has to have a response of, man, this is my heart, this, thank you, Lord. 239 00:10:58,624 --> 00:11:00,175 The other nine, they took it for granted. 240 00:11:01,024 --> 00:11:03,665 The other nine, they ran off, they're like, we're healed, 241 00:11:03,665 --> 00:11:04,714 we can go do whatever we want. 242 00:11:04,744 --> 00:11:06,055 But the one said, no. 243 00:11:07,064 --> 00:11:07,644 It's because of you. 244 00:11:08,979 --> 00:11:13,979 Immediately, he made the connection, this is only possible because of Jesus. 245 00:11:14,649 --> 00:11:19,809 And I think for, for some of us, we may not realize that we, it's essential 246 00:11:19,839 --> 00:11:23,049 to express our gratitude to God. 247 00:11:23,559 --> 00:11:28,050 Sometimes we receive so much in our lives, we receive healing, we receive counsel, 248 00:11:28,050 --> 00:11:34,519 we receive advice, we receive joy, we receive forgiveness of sins, but we still 249 00:11:34,519 --> 00:11:37,410 live a life taking things for granted. 250 00:11:38,005 --> 00:11:41,125 We still live lives not expressing our heart to God. 251 00:11:41,135 --> 00:11:41,714 You with me? 252 00:11:41,954 --> 00:11:43,084 I know I can be this way. 253 00:11:45,265 --> 00:11:48,594 And what we can see from this passage is that a response 254 00:11:48,594 --> 00:11:49,984 of gratitude glorifies God. 255 00:11:51,064 --> 00:11:53,175 It is glorifying to God. 256 00:11:53,425 --> 00:11:54,744 It's not just a thank you. 257 00:11:54,745 --> 00:11:55,974 It's not just a nice gift. 258 00:11:56,254 --> 00:11:57,514 It glorifies Him. 259 00:11:57,514 --> 00:11:58,434 It honors Him. 260 00:11:58,434 --> 00:12:02,694 It makes Him the main character in the story and not you. 261 00:12:04,304 --> 00:12:06,194 Jesus was honored by that one man. 262 00:12:06,944 --> 00:12:08,935 And he ends up saving this man's soul. 263 00:12:08,935 --> 00:12:11,185 It says that your faith has made you well. 264 00:12:12,435 --> 00:12:17,594 Saves his soul because of his faith and his gratitude in response 265 00:12:17,595 --> 00:12:18,984 to what Jesus did in his life. 266 00:12:18,984 --> 00:12:19,535 You with me? 267 00:12:20,515 --> 00:12:22,255 So I want to ask you this question this morning. 268 00:12:22,634 --> 00:12:27,855 How do we respond when Jesus does miracles in our lives? 269 00:12:28,225 --> 00:12:28,955 Are we grateful? 270 00:12:29,564 --> 00:12:32,194 Do we respond with gratitude or do we just blow it off or 271 00:12:32,194 --> 00:12:33,574 say, Oh, it's just coincidence. 272 00:12:34,165 --> 00:12:36,145 Or, oh, that just happens to people. 273 00:12:36,205 --> 00:12:39,954 Or, are we full of gratitude? 274 00:12:40,905 --> 00:12:44,584 Do we have a response of, Man, I just want to beg you and thank you, Lord, 275 00:12:44,594 --> 00:12:45,895 for what you've done in my life. 276 00:12:47,604 --> 00:12:50,714 Sometimes we can be unaware, let's be honest for a second, of the good 277 00:12:50,714 --> 00:12:52,305 things God is doing in our lives. 278 00:12:52,704 --> 00:12:54,924 Sometimes we're just totally unaware, we're aloof to it. 279 00:12:55,074 --> 00:12:58,044 God is doing miracles amongst our lives today. 280 00:12:58,045 --> 00:13:00,064 But we don't even realize it sometimes. 281 00:13:00,555 --> 00:13:04,064 Either, one, we're just disconnected from it, we're not really realizing 282 00:13:04,074 --> 00:13:05,574 that it's God working there, or... 283 00:13:06,344 --> 00:13:08,194 We choose not to believe that it's God. 284 00:13:08,635 --> 00:13:11,875 We choose not to believe or, or, or accredit it to God. 285 00:13:13,545 --> 00:13:16,895 Are you, this morning, unaware of the good things God's doing in your life 286 00:13:16,895 --> 00:13:18,185 or in the lives of people around you? 287 00:13:20,014 --> 00:13:23,124 I think it's important we, we get in touch and get in tune with what 288 00:13:23,124 --> 00:13:27,055 God's doing so that we can live a life of thanks and gratitude to Him. 289 00:13:27,064 --> 00:13:27,474 Amen? 290 00:13:28,474 --> 00:13:31,895 We must live lives full of gratitude. 291 00:13:32,724 --> 00:13:37,185 You know, something starts to happen in our hearts In our lives, in our minds, 292 00:13:37,505 --> 00:13:39,455 when we have a mentality of gratitude. 293 00:13:39,824 --> 00:13:40,355 You with me? 294 00:13:40,694 --> 00:13:42,265 Uh, I'm sure there's tons of studies. 295 00:13:42,265 --> 00:13:46,694 I think Marcel brought it up last week that, that it's, it changes your mind. 296 00:13:47,915 --> 00:13:51,005 When you're grateful, when you're praying to God, when you're thanking 297 00:13:51,005 --> 00:13:55,244 God, when you're thinking about how much God is doing in your life, you 298 00:13:55,245 --> 00:13:57,335 start having a very positive outlook. 299 00:13:58,035 --> 00:13:59,835 You start having an optimistic mentality. 300 00:13:59,835 --> 00:14:01,615 You start having a faithful mentality. 301 00:14:01,814 --> 00:14:06,459 You start thinking about things from a, God point of view rather 302 00:14:06,459 --> 00:14:07,359 than a worldly point of view. 303 00:14:07,880 --> 00:14:08,420 You with me? 304 00:14:09,219 --> 00:14:10,810 And you know what starts to happen in our hearts? 305 00:14:10,810 --> 00:14:13,189 We become Servants. 306 00:14:13,489 --> 00:14:14,469 We start to give. 307 00:14:14,469 --> 00:14:15,520 We want to help people. 308 00:14:15,520 --> 00:14:17,819 We want to spread what God's doing in our lives. 309 00:14:18,140 --> 00:14:21,059 We want to share the good news about Christ. 310 00:14:21,059 --> 00:14:22,749 We want to share what God's doing in our lives. 311 00:14:23,349 --> 00:14:26,560 We become givers rather than takers. 312 00:14:27,930 --> 00:14:30,170 And we start realizing life's not really about me. 313 00:14:30,760 --> 00:14:32,189 It's not about myself anymore. 314 00:14:32,189 --> 00:14:35,069 It's not about how good I look, or how much money I make, or 315 00:14:35,180 --> 00:14:36,699 what it is I, I'm always doing. 316 00:14:36,699 --> 00:14:40,819 It's not about me, but we desire to serve and give for Christ. 317 00:14:40,819 --> 00:14:41,219 Amen? 318 00:14:42,439 --> 00:14:46,560 You know, when we live thankful lives, we desire to give and serve. 319 00:14:46,639 --> 00:14:49,309 Let's live lives full of gratitude. 320 00:14:50,419 --> 00:14:55,430 So that way we can also pass on to others what God has passed on to us. 321 00:14:55,449 --> 00:14:57,040 But, here's the, the reality. 322 00:14:57,829 --> 00:15:02,990 When we lack gratitude, We take things for granted and become selfish. 323 00:15:04,100 --> 00:15:04,980 Just what happens. 324 00:15:05,780 --> 00:15:07,280 We take things for granted. 325 00:15:07,670 --> 00:15:08,939 We become selfish. 326 00:15:09,210 --> 00:15:10,489 It's all about us. 327 00:15:11,320 --> 00:15:14,080 You know, lately I've been hearing this analogy going around different 328 00:15:14,080 --> 00:15:17,310 churches and even in our fellowship and it's a great analogy that I think 329 00:15:17,310 --> 00:15:21,810 is so practical and helpful for us to truly apply this type of heart. 330 00:15:21,910 --> 00:15:22,320 Amen? 331 00:15:24,225 --> 00:15:27,675 Being a new father, my son's not here yet, but eventually he's going to start 332 00:15:27,675 --> 00:15:29,464 wearing a bib when he eats, right? 333 00:15:29,745 --> 00:15:30,805 Right now he's just eating milk. 334 00:15:31,535 --> 00:15:33,855 But eventually he'll start wearing a bib so that way when he makes a 335 00:15:33,855 --> 00:15:36,785 mess, it doesn't get on his clothes, it gets on his bib, you with me? 336 00:15:37,105 --> 00:15:39,084 So here's a bib, right? 337 00:15:39,245 --> 00:15:39,844 Feed me! 338 00:15:40,764 --> 00:15:45,645 Well, sometimes in our lives as Christians, we like to wear the bib. 339 00:15:46,545 --> 00:15:49,155 We like to come to church wearing a bib. 340 00:15:50,060 --> 00:15:51,270 Feed me. 341 00:15:51,520 --> 00:15:52,620 Give to me. 342 00:15:53,579 --> 00:15:55,160 Consumer mentality. 343 00:15:55,160 --> 00:15:56,020 You with me? 344 00:15:56,319 --> 00:15:58,310 We, we put on a bib mentality. 345 00:15:59,729 --> 00:16:01,199 I do this all the time. 346 00:16:01,199 --> 00:16:02,579 What can I receive? 347 00:16:02,660 --> 00:16:03,199 Right? 348 00:16:03,300 --> 00:16:04,449 What can I get? 349 00:16:05,269 --> 00:16:06,709 You know, I'll share. 350 00:16:06,749 --> 00:16:09,560 This past week, we got home from Thanksgiving. 351 00:16:09,560 --> 00:16:10,250 It was a long drive. 352 00:16:10,260 --> 00:16:10,770 Pismo Beach. 353 00:16:10,780 --> 00:16:11,870 Four hour drive home. 354 00:16:11,939 --> 00:16:13,449 We got home Thursday night. 355 00:16:13,449 --> 00:16:13,949 It was late. 356 00:16:14,855 --> 00:16:19,194 And our son was, his sleep schedule was very off because we're traveling all day. 357 00:16:19,315 --> 00:16:19,694 Right? 358 00:16:20,015 --> 00:16:22,285 And we get home, and my wife is amazing. 359 00:16:22,305 --> 00:16:23,565 Alright, let me just say this first. 360 00:16:23,575 --> 00:16:26,375 My wife is an amazing mother, an amazing servant. 361 00:16:26,665 --> 00:16:29,645 She, she embodies this mentality. 362 00:16:29,645 --> 00:16:30,095 Okay? 363 00:16:30,164 --> 00:16:33,025 Not the bib mentality, but the mentality of a servant. 364 00:16:33,115 --> 00:16:33,535 Right? 365 00:16:33,955 --> 00:16:35,575 I embody the mentality of a bib. 366 00:16:35,615 --> 00:16:36,075 Okay? 367 00:16:36,075 --> 00:16:37,345 If I'm just being honest. 368 00:16:37,565 --> 00:16:38,494 And we get home, it's like 11. 369 00:16:38,495 --> 00:16:40,165 30 and I'm wiped. 370 00:16:40,165 --> 00:16:40,735 I'm tired. 371 00:16:40,745 --> 00:16:42,175 She even drove some of the way. 372 00:16:42,585 --> 00:16:44,215 Um, she's just amazing. 373 00:16:44,715 --> 00:16:48,655 We get home, and she's like, Hey, can you just help me stay up and take care 374 00:16:48,655 --> 00:16:50,835 of him, burp him, let's get him to sleep. 375 00:16:51,175 --> 00:16:52,325 And I'm like, yeah, yeah, I'll help. 376 00:16:53,215 --> 00:16:55,204 Well, twenty minutes later, I'm passed out. 377 00:16:55,445 --> 00:16:56,475 On the bed. 378 00:16:57,315 --> 00:16:59,165 And she, obviously, she's mad. 379 00:16:59,665 --> 00:17:00,095 Alright? 380 00:17:00,335 --> 00:17:02,655 She's mad at me, cause I'm being selfish. 381 00:17:03,115 --> 00:17:07,734 And, you know, I end up waking up briefly and she's like, Thanks for nothing. 382 00:17:07,734 --> 00:17:08,765 Like, you're not even helping me. 383 00:17:09,345 --> 00:17:10,464 I was like, oh man. 384 00:17:10,944 --> 00:17:11,954 So I'm like, okay, how can I help? 385 00:17:11,964 --> 00:17:12,454 How can I help? 386 00:17:12,464 --> 00:17:13,704 Like, you want me to throw away his diaper? 387 00:17:13,744 --> 00:17:14,895 So I go throw away the diaper. 388 00:17:14,905 --> 00:17:17,464 But she's already mad at me and I already, I already lost, right? 389 00:17:18,164 --> 00:17:20,844 And so then, you know, finally gets to sleep. 390 00:17:20,845 --> 00:17:22,253 It's like 12. 391 00:17:22,253 --> 00:17:22,255 30am. 392 00:17:22,255 --> 00:17:23,545 She was up for an extra hour. 393 00:17:24,075 --> 00:17:27,515 And, uh, the next morning I'm like, Oh man, she's gonna be mad at me. 394 00:17:27,545 --> 00:17:28,444 She didn't sleep. 395 00:17:28,555 --> 00:17:31,545 So luckily, I, I feel like I somewhat redeemed myself, you 396 00:17:31,545 --> 00:17:32,765 can ask her if I did or not. 397 00:17:32,795 --> 00:17:37,425 I got up with him when he first woke up, took him out of the room, burped him, 398 00:17:37,445 --> 00:17:40,564 let him nap a little bit more, and, you know, let her sleep for a couple hours. 399 00:17:40,564 --> 00:17:42,285 But I was being selfish, alright? 400 00:17:42,755 --> 00:17:44,565 I was taking on the bib mentality. 401 00:17:46,365 --> 00:17:49,585 Brothers and sisters, we gotta take on the apron mentality. 402 00:17:51,815 --> 00:17:53,095 We gotta put on the apron. 403 00:17:55,504 --> 00:17:57,925 We put on the apron when we're full of gratitude for Christ. 404 00:17:58,530 --> 00:18:00,160 For what God's doing in our lives. 405 00:18:00,390 --> 00:18:01,870 We want to go up to church to serve. 406 00:18:02,110 --> 00:18:04,200 We want to hang out with each other to serve one another. 407 00:18:04,590 --> 00:18:07,249 During family group or Bible talks or whatever it is, we're here to 408 00:18:07,250 --> 00:18:08,739 serve and give to one another. 409 00:18:08,740 --> 00:18:12,459 We're going to serve the community because we are so filled with 410 00:18:12,459 --> 00:18:15,830 the gratitude God has given us. 411 00:18:16,279 --> 00:18:17,990 How much God has given us. 412 00:18:18,410 --> 00:18:19,840 We're full of this gratitude. 413 00:18:20,050 --> 00:18:23,280 And so we desire, at your service, how can I give to you? 414 00:18:25,200 --> 00:18:27,430 Campus students, how can we give? 415 00:18:28,139 --> 00:18:28,980 Yeah, I'm going to call you out. 416 00:18:28,990 --> 00:18:29,720 You're my ministry. 417 00:18:29,760 --> 00:18:31,000 We talk to you all the time. 418 00:18:31,679 --> 00:18:33,090 How can we serve one another? 419 00:18:33,090 --> 00:18:35,020 How can we serve our parents? 420 00:18:35,370 --> 00:18:37,230 How can we serve our families? 421 00:18:37,620 --> 00:18:40,970 We've got to take on this heart and this mentality because the Bible says that the 422 00:18:40,970 --> 00:18:44,360 greatest among you is the servant of all. 423 00:18:44,990 --> 00:18:47,909 In fact, it says the slave of all. 424 00:18:48,830 --> 00:18:54,350 Jesus wants us to take on the mentality, the heart of a servant. 425 00:18:55,629 --> 00:18:56,700 This is how we ought to act. 426 00:18:57,245 --> 00:18:59,415 This is the mentality we ought to take on. 427 00:18:59,864 --> 00:19:01,534 And there's a huge difference. 428 00:19:01,854 --> 00:19:04,455 So I want us to imagine for a second, imagine the impact, and I, 429 00:19:04,455 --> 00:19:08,495 I do want to just say, our church is full of apron servants, amen? 430 00:19:08,824 --> 00:19:12,334 Tons of you serve, getting here this morning, seeing the kids kingdom workers 431 00:19:12,334 --> 00:19:16,054 serving, getting here early, setting up for our kids, seeing the welcome 432 00:19:16,054 --> 00:19:20,144 booth, the worship team, the AV team, people serve, not just on Sunday, 433 00:19:20,144 --> 00:19:21,534 but throughout the whole week, amen? 434 00:19:21,915 --> 00:19:24,124 So we have many servants, but imagine if all of us... 435 00:19:24,554 --> 00:19:28,685 Took on this heart and this mentality to put on the apron and think about the 436 00:19:28,735 --> 00:19:30,675 impact we could have in our community. 437 00:19:31,165 --> 00:19:32,524 Just for a second, think about it. 438 00:19:32,975 --> 00:19:36,994 Imagine how you might feel if you show up and you don't have to serve all the time 439 00:19:36,994 --> 00:19:38,644 because so many people are serving you. 440 00:19:39,264 --> 00:19:42,634 It's just this big cycle of serving and giving. 441 00:19:43,874 --> 00:19:44,554 That's awesome. 442 00:19:44,564 --> 00:19:45,284 That's special. 443 00:19:46,214 --> 00:19:48,704 That's something that God is glorified by. 444 00:19:48,714 --> 00:19:49,254 Amen? 445 00:19:50,064 --> 00:19:52,254 And that's how we ought to live our lives. 446 00:19:53,020 --> 00:19:56,399 When we have a serving mindset, it glorifies God and 447 00:19:56,399 --> 00:19:58,669 it encourages the fellowship. 448 00:19:59,110 --> 00:20:00,409 It encourages others. 449 00:20:01,889 --> 00:20:04,449 So why should we serve and give to God out of gratitude? 450 00:20:04,449 --> 00:20:05,269 Why should we do it? 451 00:20:06,909 --> 00:20:08,100 God deserves our best. 452 00:20:09,070 --> 00:20:11,429 God deserves our best. 453 00:20:11,429 --> 00:20:11,889 Amen? 454 00:20:12,249 --> 00:20:14,560 He deserves our best in everything we do. 455 00:20:14,679 --> 00:20:15,979 God deserves the best. 456 00:20:16,749 --> 00:20:18,229 He doesn't deserve the leftovers. 457 00:20:18,229 --> 00:20:20,050 He deserves the best. 458 00:20:20,090 --> 00:20:21,580 Romans 12 verse 1. 459 00:20:22,300 --> 00:20:27,240 It says, Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy. 460 00:20:28,370 --> 00:20:29,410 For a second, just think about that. 461 00:20:29,440 --> 00:20:36,899 The mercy God's given us, in view of that, offer your bodies as a living 462 00:20:36,910 --> 00:20:39,450 sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. 463 00:20:39,719 --> 00:20:43,690 This is your true and proper worship. 464 00:20:45,730 --> 00:20:47,180 In view of God's mercy. 465 00:20:47,390 --> 00:20:49,560 Again, we're accrediting this to God. 466 00:20:50,049 --> 00:20:51,209 It's because of God. 467 00:20:51,699 --> 00:20:52,699 That we live this way. 468 00:20:52,699 --> 00:20:54,530 It's because of God that we have gratitude. 469 00:20:54,530 --> 00:20:57,509 It's because of God we are doing the things we're doing. 470 00:20:57,509 --> 00:21:02,580 So, therefore, offer your bodies as a living sacrifice. 471 00:21:02,620 --> 00:21:05,060 Jesus sacrificed his life for all of us. 472 00:21:06,340 --> 00:21:07,209 For our sins. 473 00:21:08,820 --> 00:21:13,560 Well, let's offer our lives as a daily living sacrifice. 474 00:21:14,179 --> 00:21:15,449 So, what is that going to mean for you? 475 00:21:16,350 --> 00:21:20,129 What does it mean to offer yourself to God on a daily basis? 476 00:21:20,574 --> 00:21:22,134 as a living sacrifice. 477 00:21:23,165 --> 00:21:26,155 We talked earlier about a sacrifice that's acceptable to God. 478 00:21:27,294 --> 00:21:27,715 Right? 479 00:21:28,784 --> 00:21:33,034 Well, an acceptable sacrifice for our lives is to do it every day. 480 00:21:33,175 --> 00:21:34,374 Denying myself. 481 00:21:34,415 --> 00:21:35,735 Carrying my cross. 482 00:21:35,774 --> 00:21:38,524 What can I give up to honor God? 483 00:21:39,044 --> 00:21:43,915 What can I maybe not spend as much time doing to help serve others? 484 00:21:44,254 --> 00:21:45,294 To serve God? 485 00:21:45,544 --> 00:21:46,104 You with me? 486 00:21:47,344 --> 00:21:49,935 Giving God our best. 487 00:21:50,810 --> 00:21:52,070 It requires sacrifice. 488 00:21:53,920 --> 00:21:58,100 We can't just give God our best and just like, poof, here it is God, took no work. 489 00:21:58,560 --> 00:22:01,649 No, giving God our best requires sacrifice. 490 00:22:02,540 --> 00:22:03,629 It requires it. 491 00:22:03,850 --> 00:22:08,180 We have to sacrifice daily to give God our best. 492 00:22:08,180 --> 00:22:08,669 You with me? 493 00:22:09,209 --> 00:22:13,410 So maybe for some of us, maybe for some of the newer Christians, or people who have 494 00:22:13,410 --> 00:22:17,390 been disciples or Christians for a long time, maybe we've gotten out of the habit 495 00:22:17,390 --> 00:22:18,680 or out of the practice of just the basics. 496 00:22:19,685 --> 00:22:24,044 Just the simplest, simple little things that we know draw us nearer to God. 497 00:22:24,084 --> 00:22:25,115 Maybe that's a prayer time. 498 00:22:25,655 --> 00:22:28,814 Maybe that's, for some of us, we know getting out of the house and praying 499 00:22:28,824 --> 00:22:32,284 helps us connect better to God, but we've been too lazy, or we've been too busy, 500 00:22:32,365 --> 00:22:35,874 or we haven't really prioritized that, so we're just praying quickly in our homes. 501 00:22:37,395 --> 00:22:39,925 That's a small little sacrifice you can apply just like that. 502 00:22:40,695 --> 00:22:43,405 We've got to require, our best requires sacrifice. 503 00:22:43,405 --> 00:22:47,074 We have to sacrifice in our lives for Christ. 504 00:22:47,074 --> 00:22:47,495 Amen? 505 00:22:48,430 --> 00:22:50,020 I want to share one last example here. 506 00:22:50,480 --> 00:22:51,610 That I think is really key. 507 00:22:51,610 --> 00:22:54,140 And Marcel, I'm going to credit this one to Marcel. 508 00:22:54,140 --> 00:22:54,690 This is a good one. 509 00:22:56,050 --> 00:23:00,369 Imagine on Thanksgiving, this past Thursday, you had your whole family over. 510 00:23:00,369 --> 00:23:01,259 You showed up. 511 00:23:01,630 --> 00:23:03,729 You know, you, you, you know, planned this out. 512 00:23:03,730 --> 00:23:04,980 You even sent an invite out. 513 00:23:05,539 --> 00:23:07,490 And you've never really hosted your house, but you're like, I'm 514 00:23:07,490 --> 00:23:08,710 having the whole family over. 515 00:23:08,710 --> 00:23:10,200 In fact, I'm going to bring some friends over. 516 00:23:10,340 --> 00:23:12,120 People who, you know, whose families live far. 517 00:23:12,120 --> 00:23:14,270 I'm going to have the whole crew at the house. 518 00:23:14,270 --> 00:23:14,640 Right? 519 00:23:14,640 --> 00:23:16,210 I'm sure many of you did that. 520 00:23:16,764 --> 00:23:20,605 But imagine if you did that, and for Thanksgiving dinner, you 521 00:23:20,605 --> 00:23:23,685 laid out yesterday's leftovers. 522 00:23:25,784 --> 00:23:26,324 Imagine. 523 00:23:27,085 --> 00:23:29,214 Say, alright guys, this is turkey I made last week. 524 00:23:30,254 --> 00:23:31,595 It's been sitting in the fridge. 525 00:23:32,514 --> 00:23:36,595 You know, I actually chewed up the carrots for you guys, and then spit it out. 526 00:23:37,535 --> 00:23:40,335 I grabbed some of the salad out of the trash and threw it on there. 527 00:23:40,605 --> 00:23:42,325 Like, the leftovers, right? 528 00:23:42,355 --> 00:23:44,725 Imagine if that's what you served your guests. 529 00:23:44,735 --> 00:23:45,995 How would they be feeling? 530 00:23:46,629 --> 00:23:50,460 They will walk out that house so fast, you'll be like, this guy's crazy. 531 00:23:51,090 --> 00:23:52,429 There's no way, right? 532 00:23:53,600 --> 00:23:54,649 Because that's not your best. 533 00:23:57,100 --> 00:23:58,790 That's not how we give, that's not what we give God. 534 00:23:58,790 --> 00:24:00,139 We don't give God our leftovers. 535 00:24:01,490 --> 00:24:02,240 What do we do? 536 00:24:02,469 --> 00:24:03,539 We give Him our best. 537 00:24:04,279 --> 00:24:05,750 We lay out the whole spread. 538 00:24:05,750 --> 00:24:07,669 We get the nice silverware out of the cabinet. 539 00:24:08,320 --> 00:24:09,470 We get the plates. 540 00:24:10,250 --> 00:24:11,300 We don't just get paper plates. 541 00:24:11,300 --> 00:24:13,870 We go and we buy the porcelain plates, or whatever they call it. 542 00:24:13,929 --> 00:24:14,599 Did I get that right? 543 00:24:15,690 --> 00:24:16,690 Okay, China plates. 544 00:24:19,790 --> 00:24:21,020 We brine the turkey. 545 00:24:22,190 --> 00:24:23,160 24 hours. 546 00:24:23,210 --> 00:24:24,430 Maybe 48 for some of you. 547 00:24:25,880 --> 00:24:27,820 We put in the extra effort. 548 00:24:28,180 --> 00:24:30,429 We think through how it smells in the house. 549 00:24:30,450 --> 00:24:33,730 We think through all the things, because it's our best for God. 550 00:24:34,159 --> 00:24:36,690 We want to give our best to God. 551 00:24:36,700 --> 00:24:37,630 Not our leftovers. 552 00:24:37,640 --> 00:24:38,400 Not our second. 553 00:24:38,700 --> 00:24:40,620 Our absolute best. 554 00:24:40,620 --> 00:24:41,170 You with me? 555 00:24:42,220 --> 00:24:44,100 Church, how can we give our best to God? 556 00:24:44,875 --> 00:24:46,455 As we walk out of this building today. 557 00:24:47,225 --> 00:24:49,665 What are the ways we're going to be able to start giving our best? 558 00:24:50,035 --> 00:24:52,445 Maybe you are giving your best in one area, but in another area you're like, 559 00:24:52,445 --> 00:24:53,894 Oh, I know, I don't really want to. 560 00:24:53,894 --> 00:24:55,385 It's going to take more time and effort. 561 00:24:56,715 --> 00:24:57,524 How can we give our best? 562 00:24:57,604 --> 00:24:58,784 Living sacrifice. 563 00:24:59,695 --> 00:25:01,824 We're called to be living sacrifices for Christ. 564 00:25:01,834 --> 00:25:06,775 What can we do to improve God's kingdom with one another? 565 00:25:07,265 --> 00:25:08,715 Let's give our best to Him. 566 00:25:08,725 --> 00:25:09,145 Amen? 567 00:25:10,355 --> 00:25:13,225 Giving God our best, it requires sacrifice. 568 00:25:13,875 --> 00:25:15,305 Let's not give them our leftovers. 569 00:25:15,315 --> 00:25:19,295 Let's give them the best feast we can possibly provide. 570 00:25:20,895 --> 00:25:22,214 So we've got to put in time. 571 00:25:22,405 --> 00:25:23,465 We've got to put in effort. 572 00:25:24,335 --> 00:25:28,515 It's going to take a lot of soul searching for some of us. 573 00:25:28,884 --> 00:25:31,895 And we put in thought into how we serve and give to God. 574 00:25:31,895 --> 00:25:32,265 Amen? 575 00:25:33,375 --> 00:25:34,685 And so let's get real practical here. 576 00:25:34,685 --> 00:25:36,105 Let's look at some action steps. 577 00:25:36,105 --> 00:25:36,605 Alright? 578 00:25:37,345 --> 00:25:38,885 Some action steps are key here. 579 00:25:39,935 --> 00:25:42,565 Let's think about the ways you maybe have worn a bit. 580 00:25:43,060 --> 00:25:45,650 What are some of the ways that you have this selfish mindset, where 581 00:25:45,650 --> 00:25:48,920 you're wearing a bib, maybe when you wear that bib, it makes you critical. 582 00:25:49,660 --> 00:25:52,539 Maybe you just start pointing out all the flaws because you're only consuming. 583 00:25:52,690 --> 00:25:55,370 What are the ways that you've been wearing a bib? 584 00:25:56,869 --> 00:25:59,659 Another one is, I think it's important we commit as a church. 585 00:25:59,669 --> 00:26:01,900 What's one new serving opportunity? 586 00:26:01,900 --> 00:26:03,570 What's one way I can put on the apron? 587 00:26:04,580 --> 00:26:06,740 Alright, it can be something small, it can be something big. 588 00:26:06,740 --> 00:26:09,240 Wherever God is convicting your heart, how can you... 589 00:26:10,060 --> 00:26:12,070 Commit to one new serving opportunity. 590 00:26:12,480 --> 00:26:16,680 And lastly, I want you to share with a friend one way you can give God your best. 591 00:26:16,680 --> 00:26:19,260 One way you can start improving and giving God your best. 592 00:26:19,260 --> 00:26:23,130 In your own times with Him, whether it's in your servitude, whether it's in your 593 00:26:23,130 --> 00:26:26,899 relationships, whatever it is, what's one way you can give God your best? 594 00:26:26,900 --> 00:26:29,700 And please, let's share it with one another to have some accountability. 595 00:26:29,710 --> 00:26:30,110 Amen? 596 00:26:31,100 --> 00:26:33,500 You know, as we are closing out today, we're going to go ahead 597 00:26:33,500 --> 00:26:34,810 and be taking the communion here. 598 00:26:35,985 --> 00:26:39,735 And as we take the Communion, we read that scripture in Romans 12 that talks about 599 00:26:39,735 --> 00:26:42,315 how we have to be a living sacrifice. 600 00:26:43,025 --> 00:26:45,815 Well, we know that the greatest sacrifice in all of humankind, 601 00:26:45,855 --> 00:26:50,145 mankind, is the sacrifice of Jesus dying on the cross for our sins. 602 00:26:50,145 --> 00:26:50,555 Amen? 603 00:26:51,255 --> 00:26:54,665 And so as we pray, as we reflect, and as we take the Communion, let's 604 00:26:54,665 --> 00:27:00,205 remember that the sacrifice that Jesus gave for our lives prompts 605 00:27:00,205 --> 00:27:03,674 us, out of gratitude, to live. 606 00:27:04,170 --> 00:27:05,350 Sacrificially in our lives. 607 00:27:06,000 --> 00:27:06,370 Let's pray. 608 00:27:08,820 --> 00:27:11,740 God, thank you so much for this morning, and this time, to be able 609 00:27:11,740 --> 00:27:16,929 to worship you, to be able to think about living a life full of gratitude. 610 00:27:18,419 --> 00:27:22,949 God, that, our gratitude isn't just a lip service, isn't just something we say, 611 00:27:23,980 --> 00:27:25,560 but it's something we actually live out. 612 00:27:25,570 --> 00:27:31,519 That our gratitude for you, for the blessings you've given us, For many 613 00:27:31,529 --> 00:27:36,300 things that you've given us, God, I pray that that gratitude urges us 614 00:27:36,340 --> 00:27:39,159 to live a life full of sacrifice. 615 00:27:39,669 --> 00:27:42,249 To live a life that's giving our best to you. 616 00:27:43,110 --> 00:27:46,779 To live a life that's not putting on the bib and consuming, God, but it's 617 00:27:47,149 --> 00:27:48,539 putting on the apron and serving. 618 00:27:48,820 --> 00:27:49,469 Giving to you. 619 00:27:50,409 --> 00:27:53,469 And Lord, I pray that this morning, as we think through even some of the action 620 00:27:53,469 --> 00:27:58,369 steps in our lives, that we are motivated by your Son, Jesus, dying on the cross. 621 00:27:58,379 --> 00:27:59,459 That we're not doing this just because... 622 00:27:59,884 --> 00:28:03,175 I'm up here telling us to do it, but we want to, we want to 623 00:28:03,195 --> 00:28:07,294 truly apply these things because we're motivated by the cross. 624 00:28:08,034 --> 00:28:10,564 We're moved by the love you've shown us. 625 00:28:11,614 --> 00:28:14,904 And God, I pray that we can live our lives in devotion to you always. 626 00:28:14,915 --> 00:28:16,354 In Jesus name I pray, Amen.