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Daneil: So we've been in a new series,
or, not really new, but we've been

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starting it for the past couple weeks
called, uh, Thank God For, alright?

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And I know that, uh, Marcel
preached and Eric preached last

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week, they did amazing jobs.

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I wasn't there, but I was able to watch
online and I was just like, Oh man,

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I got my work cut out for me today.

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But man, we talked about, you
know, thank God for, for his word.

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I know last week Eric talked about
thank God for, for the spirit.

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And today I want to talk about
thank God for his church.

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I don't know about you guys, but, you
know, growing up in the church, I always

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had this idea of what church is like.

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You know, I always thought church
was limited, you know, to a building.

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Uh, you know, speaking of gladiator,
he wasn't much of a gladiator, but

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you guys know the superhero Thor?

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I believe it's Norse mythology, Thor.

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So, the only Norse mythology I know
is from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

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So, in one of the movies You know,
he, he was fighting his, his sister,

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you know, she's a bad guy or whatever.

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And, you know, Thor lost his
father, meaning that, you know,

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he's gonna be king of Asgard.

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Alright, I believe it
was in Thor Ragnarok.

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And, you know, his dad
came to Thor in a vision.

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And, you know, his dad told him
that, you know, Son, Thor, Asgard

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is not a place, but it's the people.

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I remember watching that, I think
I was like a senior in high school.

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And I just, for some reason I was
like, I looked at my mom, I was

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like, is that what the church is?

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And she was like, exactly.

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You know, so thinking about
that, you know, Thor would

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obviously kick Gladiator's butt,
but we won't talk about that.

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But I really think about that, at
the same time, that's what church is.

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You know, church is not a place.

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Church is the people.

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You know, it's the community
of believers, and it's the body

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of Christ, the family of God.

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You know, the church is not a place we go.

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You know?

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It's not a place we just check off.

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It's a place where we belong to and it's
through the church we experience that God,

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you know, loves and grows in our faith
and carry out his mission in the world.

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And so when I think about, of like, man,
who in the Bible just loved the church?

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And, you know, it was, you know,
clear to me, sending it out

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this week, that it was Paul.

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The Apostle Paul loved the church.

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You know, I think Paul's perspective
is, is so important, because,

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you know, before he was even an
apostle, I don't know if you guys

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know this, but, he was a Pharisee.

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He was someone against,
you know, the church.

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He went from being someone to, uh,
wanting to kill disciples, you know,

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we see in Acts, I believe, chapter 8,
he was, uh, he killed, uh, Stephen,

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he was there for the stoning of them,
and it was just like, wow, okay,

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like, everyone was scared of this man.

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And then one day on the road to
Damascus, you know, Jesus encountered

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him, you know, blinded him, You
know, through that encounter, Paul

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was like, oh my goodness, like, why,
like, why am I persecuting Jesus?

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Why am I doing this to his
church when they're just trying

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to bring Jesus to the world?

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And he went from being one of its
greatest persecutors to one of its

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greatest defenders of the church.

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You know, Paul's love for the church
is remarkable, especially, like I

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said, when you consider his past.

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He sought to destroy it, and after
encountering Jesus, he, it became

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his life's work to build the church.

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It became his passion.

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And Paul not only helped, you
know, establish it, but he

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continuously prayed for the church.

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You know, his letters written in
the Bible, in the New Testament, he

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wrote 25 percent of it, but if you
read the epistles, all of it were

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letters to the church, to individuals,
to reveal a deep gratitude for the

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church, even in its imperfections.

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You know, Paul's writing teaches
us that what it means to value the

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church, not because it's perfect, but
because it's God's chosen instrument to

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carry out his mission into the world.

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You know, with that in mind, we have
to ask ourselves, how often do we

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stop to thank God for the church?

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You know, for some of us,
we may think of it daily.

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Some of us, we may not
think about it regularly.

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We get caught up with the busyness of
life and the demands of the week and

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maybe get challenged, face challenges
even within the church we are here today.

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You know, I know for myself, I
can get caught up in the busyness.

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I can get caught up in all the
imperfections of the church.

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And I'm like, you know what?

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Forget about it.

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I just want to remove myself from it.

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When we stop to reflect about
the church, we realize how vital

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it is for our spiritual journey.

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And, you know, it serves a
purpose for God and his people.

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For Now, the scripture I'd like to look
at is in, uh, Philippians chapter one.

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Philippians chapter one, verse
three through six, it reads, I thank

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my God every time I remember you.

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In all my prayers for all of you, I
always pray with joy because of your

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partnership in the gospel from the
first day until now, being confident

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of this, that he who began a good work
in you will carry it on to completion

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until the day of Christ Jesus.

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You know, I love this,
this scripture here.

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You know, he begins with saying, you know,
I thank my God every time I remember you.

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Think about that, that is so
powerful right there alone.

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Every time Paul thought about the
church in Philippi, you know, he,

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he couldn't help but feel gratitude.

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He didn't focus on their
imperfections or their mistakes.

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He focused on the joy and
encouragement they brought to his life.

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You know, for some of us, you know,
it could be, it might be easy to focus

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on the flaws or shortcomings of the
church or the people here around us.

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And I know for myself, I can
get caught up in that too.

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But I love Paul's examples here.

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Paul says, he reminds us to, to have
the choice to focus on what is good.

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To focus on, you know, the, the
joys in life, not really the, you

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know, to look at the imperfection
or flaws that other people have.

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And here Paul continues, he says
in all, uh, my prayers for all

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of you, I always pray with joy.

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Think about, why would he have joy?

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I mean like, man, you get this imperfect
people around here in this church, but

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like why am I joyful to be part of this?

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Because Paul's joy came from knowing
that the church there in Philippi,

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they weren't just passive Christians.

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They weren't just
sitting on the sidelines.

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Instead, they were on the field.

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They were actively, you know, trying to
continue to see the work of the gospel

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and they were partners with Paul in that.

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As we see here, it says, because of
your partnership in the gospel from the

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first day until now, you know, here,
Paul has the reason for gratitude.

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Philippians were partners with Paul
and Paul was partners with them.

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You know, Paul spread good
news in the church in Philippi.

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They supported Paul in his journey.

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You know, in Philippians chapter
4, we see that they, uh, I think

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they financially supported Paul
and his ministry in doing so.

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They prayed for Paul continuously, and
Paul prayed for the church in Philippi.

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And they also lived out their faith.

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Their faith was in action.

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Like I said, the church
wasn't on the sidelines.

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They were in it, despite
the persecutions they faced.

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They remained steadfast.

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And that encouraged Paul, and vice versa.

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You know, as I was studying it out this
week, thinking about, you know, remaining

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steadfast and not being on the sidelines,
you know, I think about our church here.

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I reflect on last year when we
made the move here to the PAC.

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You know, I remember we always talked
about, man, we all need to start serving.

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We all need to step up.

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I know some of us in this room, we've
been disciples for 5, 10, 15, 20

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plus years, and it could have been
easy for you guys to be like, no,

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no, no, give it to the young people.

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But no, I see the disciples, the
older disciples really stepping up.

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And I want to thank you for
that, because really it motivates

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me to not be on the sidelines.

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Knowing that, you know what,
yeah, let me be in the battle with

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you guys, let me start serving.

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Let me be in those studies with you guys.

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And I think,

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I think how, like I said, we're here at
the PAC, but this is, We all did this

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to, you know, have church like this.

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You know, we knew that we had
to put on our servant hats.

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We didn't have to put on our servant bibs
as, uh, Kyle Lounsbury liked to put it.

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And it's moments like these where
we serve continuously as a church.

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It reminds me of verse 6 here.

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Oh,

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and there it is.

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Being confident of this, that He who
began a good work in you will carry on

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to completion to the day of Christ Jesus.

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You know, Paul reminds the Philippians
the good work started with them.

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This partnership in the
gospel was not finished.

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God would continue to work
through them, shaping them into

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who he would want them to be.

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You know, Paul's confidence
wasn't in their abilities, but

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it was in God's faithfulness.

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He believed what God
started, he would finish.

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This gave Paul even more reason to
thank God for the church in Philippi.

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Paul saw the Philippians more
than just a group of believers.

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He saw them as a reflection
of God's grace and love.

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You know, they weren't perfect,
but they were willing, faithful,

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and committed to one another, and
to Paul, to thank God constantly.

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Now, are we, church, thankful for the
spiritual family as Paul was for his?

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Do we recognize the ways God
is working through the church

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to bring hope to the world?

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You know, I think, you know, I thought
about the offering we gave last

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week, the, the, uh, hope offering.

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And man, I was so grateful for that.

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Seeing the video and seeing where the
money is going to, to help children, to

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help third world countries like that.

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And I'm like, wow, the gospel
is being spread to them.

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And hopefully they're going to be
our brothers and sisters one day.

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You know, Paul's example reminds us
that even in the face of challenges, the

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church is worth thanking God for because
it reflects his grace, his purpose.

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His mission.

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Well, let's be real here.

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All right.

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We all know, we say the
church is the family, right?

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And just like any family, you know, we're
about to have Thanksgiving this Thursday.

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I don't know about you guys,
but there's going to be some

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people at the family table.

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You're like, all right, there's the good.

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And then there's that, that
crazy uncle, that crazy aunt.

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You know what I mean?

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You're just like,

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I don't have to deal with that.

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I don't think right.

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Yeah, no, no.

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But I think about that, like,
man, there's people who.

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Can give headaches and Paul
experienced that too within the church.

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I mean, look at, you know,
the church in Corinth.

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Man, that church was full of problems.

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There was pride, immorality,
misuse of freedom, lack of unity,

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lack of generosity, leadership.

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There was so much more to it.

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You know, in 1 Corinthians chapter
1, Verse 10 through 13, it says, I

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appeal to you, brothers and sisters,
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

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that all of you agree with one another
in what you say, and that there be

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no division among you, that you be
perfectly united in mind and thought.

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My brothers and sisters, some from
Chloe's household, have informed me

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that there are quarrels among you.

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What I mean is this, one of you guys
says, I follow Paul, another says,

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I follow Apollos, another, I follow
Cephas, still another, I follow Christ.

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Is Christ divided?

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Was Paul crucified for you?

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Were you baptized in the name of Paul?

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Think about that.

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They were plagued with division.

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The church was plagued with sin.

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People were aligning themselves
with different people and not really

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aligning themselves with Christ
themselves, who's the ultimate uniter.

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This was a messy situation Paul was in.

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Flawed group of people.

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It might seem like Paul had every
reason to just throw up his hands and

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just walk away, be like, you know what?

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Lost cause here.

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But instead, Paul calls
out a powerful question.

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He says, is Christ divided?

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Was Paul crucified for you?

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Now I don't think this was just a
rebuke, it was literally a reality check

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for the Corinth church right there.

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Paul reminded them that church isn't
about personal allegiances with

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human leaders, it's about Jesus.

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It's about his sacrifice,
his name, his mission.

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You know, Paul redirected
their focus to the core truth

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to all of the believers there.

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It's Christ who matters.

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It's not Paul, it's not
Cephas, it's Christ.

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You know, I love how he opens up
even in 1 Corinthians chapter 1 here.

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Before even entering himself in the
mess, he was just like, You know what?

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I always thank my God for you because
of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.

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You know, even in the imperfections,
Paul still show gratitude for the church.

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That is the heart we want to have
gratitude over imperfections.

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Paul didn't focus on their faults.

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You know, it's so easy to
focus on each other's faults.

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He focused though, on God's grace at
work in their lives, in his lives.

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He believed that God's grace was far
greater than their imperfections.

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You know, church, do we
have that same mindset?

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Yes, there may be that brother and
sister who, you know, you're just, ugh.

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But church, do we view them
the way God views them?

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Do we view them as a lost cause?

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00:13:10,175 --> 00:13:12,795
Do we view them truly as our brother
and sister, that we want to help them?

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If we're honest, sometimes though, it can
be hard to have that same perspective.

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It can be challenging to thank
God for church, especially when

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it feels messy or imperfect.

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You know, we can experience unrealistic
expectations, thinking that maybe

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the church, man, there shouldn't
be any problems in the church.

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Sorry to tell you, but there's
problems in the church.

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We're made up of imperfect people.

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We all fall short of the glory of God.

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All of us here, we're all in this
one room here worshiping God.

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Maybe we experience
hurt or disappointment.

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Maybe we focus on people
instead of Christ.

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Maybe we have spiritual
blind spots in our lives.

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Can we relate?

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And yet, Paul's perspective
reminds us something powerful.

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Gratitude for the church
isn't rooted in perfection.

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Paul's gratitude wasn't tied to the
church's performance or behavior.

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It was strictly tied to God's grace
and the bigger picture of what

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he was going to do through them.

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You know, when we focus on the work, you
know, when we focus on God's work in the

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church rather than the imperfection, we
begin to see the beauty of things, right?

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That's a matter of
perspective right there.

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You can decide what to
do in those situations.

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You know, the church's messiness
reminds me of the gospel itself.

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God takes broken people, He takes,
He takes them and transforms

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them through His love and power.

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And in our weakness and in our
struggles, God's strength shines through.

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You know, just as Paul saw God's
grace at work in Corinth, we can

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see God bring beauty and restoration
even in difficult circumstances.

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You know, but it's easy, like I said.

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It's easy for us to be frustrated.

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It's easy for us to point out
problems, to point out conflict and

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disappointment or unmet expectations.

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But I think if Paul could thank
the church as messy as Corinth,

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man, we can thank ours too.

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You know, when we feel hurt, let's
ask yourself, you know, how's God's

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00:15:11,689 --> 00:15:15,219
grace still at work here, rather
than taking that victim mindset.

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When we feel frustrated, let's
focus on the bigger picture.

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What is God doing through his people?

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00:15:22,640 --> 00:15:25,689
When we feel tempted to criticize,
man, let's pray for unity and

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00:15:25,699 --> 00:15:27,159
healing and growth as a church.

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00:15:27,160 --> 00:15:31,239
You know, sometimes we can let our
emotions cloud our perspective,

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causing us to miss out how God's
been working behind the scenes.

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00:15:35,600 --> 00:15:38,710
You know, it's easy to get stuck
on what's wrong and forget what God

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specializes in redeeming brokenness.

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In moments, we need to take a
step back and remember that the

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church isn't perfect, but God's
chosen instrument to reflect His

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love and carry out His mission.

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You know, when we choose gratitude over
frustration, we open our hearts to see

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His hand at work, even in the mess.

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00:15:59,930 --> 00:16:03,370
No, thanking God for the
church, I said, it's not easy.

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00:16:03,970 --> 00:16:08,040
You know, I'm still working through
that, even as a youth minister, thanking

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00:16:08,040 --> 00:16:09,939
God for the church does not come easy.

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00:16:10,510 --> 00:16:14,750
It requires us to look past the flaws, the
disappointments, the challenges, to see

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00:16:14,750 --> 00:16:17,400
the bigger picture of what God is doing.

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00:16:18,239 --> 00:16:23,010
But when we choose gratitude, when
we make decisions for God and His

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00:16:23,020 --> 00:16:25,800
church, it changes our perspective.

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00:16:26,600 --> 00:16:31,020
It helps us see and draw us
closer to God and His people.

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00:16:32,269 --> 00:16:35,029
You know, I think, why,
why should we thank God?

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00:16:35,039 --> 00:16:37,919
You know, we're in a sermon series,
you know, thank God for, why

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00:16:37,919 --> 00:16:39,769
should we thank God for his church?

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00:16:40,879 --> 00:16:44,469
And one of the things I thought about
is, man, church, church is a gift.

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Church is God's gift to us.

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00:16:47,680 --> 00:16:50,909
Like I said, maybe it's not, you
know, we're not all perfect, like

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00:16:50,909 --> 00:16:52,259
I said, but it's still a gift.

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00:16:52,259 --> 00:16:56,349
I think about, maybe when
you're younger and Santa, uh,

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00:16:56,639 --> 00:16:57,789
gave you a Christmas present.

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00:16:58,180 --> 00:17:00,680
And you're like, I really
didn't want this, Santa.

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00:17:02,389 --> 00:17:03,629
I wanted the new iPhone.

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00:17:04,858 --> 00:17:06,030
And you gave me this doll.

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00:17:06,098 --> 00:17:07,229
But still, it's like, you know what?

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00:17:07,358 --> 00:17:08,348
It's still a gift.

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00:17:08,770 --> 00:17:09,699
And you're still gonna cherish it.

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00:17:09,699 --> 00:17:11,098
You're still gonna make the most of it.

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00:17:11,199 --> 00:17:12,939
And that's what the church is like here.

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00:17:13,489 --> 00:17:17,520
You know, in Ephesians chapter 4,
verse 11 13, I like the ESV verses.

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00:17:17,540 --> 00:17:20,800
And he gave the apostles, the prophets,
the evangelists, the shepherds, and

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00:17:20,800 --> 00:17:24,040
the teachers to equip the saints
for the work of the ministry.

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00:17:24,679 --> 00:17:29,240
For building up the body of Christ
until we attain the unity of the faith

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00:17:29,590 --> 00:17:34,320
and of the knowledge of the Son of God,
to mature manhood, to the measure of

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00:17:34,320 --> 00:17:36,520
the stature of the fullness of Christ.

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00:17:38,319 --> 00:17:39,200
Now, what does this mean?

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Well, God designed the church for growth.

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00:17:42,620 --> 00:17:45,250
And I'm not talking about
numerically growing.

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I'm talking about spiritually,
for ourselves, growing.

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00:17:48,409 --> 00:17:51,879
We see that God gave us leaders, he
gave us apostles, prophets, shepherds.

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Not to dominate or control us, but to
equip us for God's work of service.

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00:17:59,429 --> 00:18:02,339
Now these roles exist to help
us grow spiritually and guide

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00:18:02,340 --> 00:18:05,739
us to understand God's word and
encourage us to live out our faith.

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00:18:05,740 --> 00:18:07,639
I mean, think about it.

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00:18:07,640 --> 00:18:13,989
When you've been challenged or comforted
by a sermon or a Bible study or a

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00:18:14,060 --> 00:18:17,689
talk with a brother and sister here
in this room, that right there is

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00:18:17,689 --> 00:18:20,379
the God's gift of church in action.

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00:18:20,379 --> 00:18:20,429
Amen.

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00:18:21,554 --> 00:18:24,855
You know, the church is also a
place for encouragement and unity.

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00:18:25,504 --> 00:18:28,064
You know, the goal is to build
up the church, obviously.

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00:18:28,284 --> 00:18:32,344
Like I said, not numerically, but, I mean,
we want to build up the church in that

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00:18:32,345 --> 00:18:34,014
way, but also just for our hearts too.

348
00:18:34,814 --> 00:18:36,454
We don't, we don't want to
just make something, we also

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00:18:36,455 --> 00:18:37,534
want to keep disciples as well.

350
00:18:37,534 --> 00:18:39,075
We want them to die as a disciple.

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00:18:39,095 --> 00:18:43,405
And the goal is for us to, to reach
unity in faith and in knowledge.

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00:18:43,945 --> 00:18:46,345
In a world that's often divided,
the church is supposed to be a

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00:18:46,345 --> 00:18:49,435
place where we come together,
unified in our love for Christ.

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00:18:50,665 --> 00:18:53,285
Now, how many times have the
church been there for you in

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00:18:53,285 --> 00:18:54,575
your lives during a hard time?

356
00:18:55,375 --> 00:18:56,635
Maybe someone prayed for you.

357
00:18:56,955 --> 00:18:58,235
Maybe someone brought a meal to you.

358
00:18:58,464 --> 00:19:00,515
Maybe just someone sat down
and just mourned with you.

359
00:19:01,455 --> 00:19:02,774
You know, I share it many times here.

360
00:19:02,775 --> 00:19:06,134
Just think about how the church was
there for me during times of mourning.

361
00:19:06,534 --> 00:19:07,595
When I lost my dad.

362
00:19:08,145 --> 00:19:09,765
Last year when I lost my friend Max.

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00:19:09,805 --> 00:19:11,995
A lot of us, man, you
guys were there for us.

364
00:19:12,085 --> 00:19:12,935
You were there for me.

365
00:19:13,405 --> 00:19:14,605
You guys were praying for me.

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00:19:14,705 --> 00:19:16,305
You guys were continuously
checking in on me.

367
00:19:16,485 --> 00:19:18,495
And I was so grateful for that.

368
00:19:19,705 --> 00:19:23,054
And the church is also just used
for encouragement, not only in that

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00:19:23,054 --> 00:19:24,584
area, but also for celebration.

370
00:19:25,225 --> 00:19:28,885
You know, this past year I got to marry
my wife Savannah, and you guys were

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00:19:28,915 --> 00:19:30,995
all just there wanting to help out.

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00:19:31,224 --> 00:19:34,234
You know, we were, we couldn't
rub two pennies together, but you

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00:19:34,235 --> 00:19:36,674
guys gave us that extra penny to
really make the wedding happen.

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00:19:36,675 --> 00:19:39,594
You guys encouraged us so
much through that time.

375
00:19:44,365 --> 00:19:46,305
You know, the church is God's gift.

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00:19:46,305 --> 00:19:49,515
It's also a path to become
mature, as it says here.

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00:19:50,040 --> 00:19:53,490
To the measure of stature of the
fullness of Christ, mature manhood.

378
00:19:53,880 --> 00:19:58,510
Though Paul reminds us, not only
to care for us, but to shape us.

379
00:19:58,589 --> 00:20:02,999
Sometimes that means to challenge or
correct, you know, so we can grow.

380
00:20:02,999 --> 00:20:04,010
People have to correct us.

381
00:20:04,020 --> 00:20:07,079
They have to challenge us and we have
to accept that because it's part of the

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00:20:07,079 --> 00:20:09,220
refining process to be just like Jesus.

383
00:20:10,580 --> 00:20:13,670
You know, one of Jesus purpose in this
world was to seek and save the lost.

384
00:20:14,350 --> 00:20:17,620
And the scripture I think about
It's here in Matthew chapter 5.

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00:20:17,620 --> 00:20:19,910
It says, You are the light of the world.

386
00:20:19,950 --> 00:20:22,240
A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.

387
00:20:22,550 --> 00:20:25,280
Neither do people light a
lamp and put it under a bowl.

388
00:20:25,310 --> 00:20:28,940
Instead, they put it on its stand and
gives light to everyone in the house.

389
00:20:29,310 --> 00:20:32,689
In the same way, let your light shine
before others, that they may see your good

390
00:20:32,690 --> 00:20:35,180
deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

391
00:20:36,220 --> 00:20:39,300
Now Jesus doesn't say here,
Hey, try to be the light.

392
00:20:40,140 --> 00:20:42,870
No, he says, You are
the light of the world.

393
00:20:43,165 --> 00:20:46,995
Now, as a church, we're a visible
representation of God's love, his

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00:20:46,995 --> 00:20:48,565
truth, and hope for the world.

395
00:20:48,935 --> 00:20:53,765
Our actions, our words, and unity shines
in a way that draws us close to him.

396
00:20:54,705 --> 00:20:57,504
And notice how Jesus gives the
example of a town built on a hill.

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00:20:58,365 --> 00:21:02,035
You know, I believe that, individually,
yes, he wants to be light, but as

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00:21:02,035 --> 00:21:04,345
a church, you know, think about it,
a town is not made of one person,

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00:21:04,345 --> 00:21:05,504
it's made of multiple people.

400
00:21:06,115 --> 00:21:09,705
And think about how Jesus wants us
all to be that town, to be that light.

401
00:21:09,705 --> 00:21:14,420
you Man, think about how us being a light
together, man, we're so unstoppable.

402
00:21:14,980 --> 00:21:17,390
I think of all of us, we're
to continuously be the light.

403
00:21:17,590 --> 00:21:20,120
I think we'll be that car on the
freeway late at night that just

404
00:21:20,130 --> 00:21:21,370
has their high beams light on.

405
00:21:21,559 --> 00:21:23,170
And that will be us right there.

406
00:21:24,340 --> 00:21:27,729
So when you thank God for the church,
we're not simply expressing gratitude

407
00:21:27,740 --> 00:21:29,780
for a building or an organization.

408
00:21:30,410 --> 00:21:31,820
We're thanking him for his wisdom.

409
00:21:32,910 --> 00:21:34,590
You know, a spiritual gift of family.

410
00:21:34,930 --> 00:21:36,230
A community where we can grow.

411
00:21:36,530 --> 00:21:37,460
Where we can find support.

412
00:21:37,460 --> 00:21:39,400
Where we can work together
to make an internal impact.

413
00:21:39,475 --> 00:21:43,995
You know, Paul, even while chained
in a prison cell, found reasons

414
00:21:43,995 --> 00:21:45,425
to thank God for his church.

415
00:21:46,585 --> 00:21:49,414
His circumstance didn't define
his gratitude because Paul

416
00:21:49,415 --> 00:21:52,625
understood the bigger picture
of God's purpose for the church.

417
00:21:53,535 --> 00:21:57,865
He saw beyond the imperfections and
the struggles, focusing instead on

418
00:21:58,225 --> 00:22:01,814
the way God was working through his
people to accomplish his mission.

419
00:22:01,815 --> 00:22:06,075
You know, Paul's gratitude wasn't
rooted in ideal conditions.

420
00:22:07,035 --> 00:22:08,485
It was rooted in a deep trust.

421
00:22:08,935 --> 00:22:10,315
In God's plan for his church.

422
00:22:12,015 --> 00:22:16,625
If Paul can rejoice, man, we can
rejoice in our church as well.

423
00:22:16,625 --> 00:22:21,704
You know, but gratitude, gratitude
isn't just a feeling church.

424
00:22:21,965 --> 00:22:23,235
It's something that we can live out.

425
00:22:23,934 --> 00:22:26,034
It's a choice that
requires intentionality.

426
00:22:26,785 --> 00:22:29,705
So how can we live out
thankfulness for the church?

427
00:22:31,015 --> 00:22:33,595
Well, here's some action steps
we like to do as a church.

428
00:22:34,575 --> 00:22:37,265
First, man, let's just
pray for the church.

429
00:22:38,305 --> 00:22:43,065
Make it a habit to pray for the church,
for its leaders, its members, its mission.

430
00:22:43,615 --> 00:22:46,505
Because when we pray, we're in
line with God's heart and with

431
00:22:46,505 --> 00:22:47,725
each other here in this room.

432
00:22:49,434 --> 00:22:50,765
Let's also encourage one another.

433
00:22:51,865 --> 00:22:55,224
Now take time to encourage someone
in this room today, tomorrow,

434
00:22:55,235 --> 00:22:56,304
you know, throughout the weeks.

435
00:22:56,304 --> 00:23:00,625
I know it's Thanksgiving, but man, maybe
a kind word, a note of gratitude, or even

436
00:23:00,625 --> 00:23:05,815
a simple thank you can go a long way,
lifting someone's spirit and their hearts.

437
00:23:06,590 --> 00:23:08,750
And then lastly, it's what we love to do.

438
00:23:08,750 --> 00:23:09,570
Let's celebrate.

439
00:23:10,200 --> 00:23:12,990
Let's celebrate the good of the church.

440
00:23:13,400 --> 00:23:16,600
You know, it's so easy to point
out imperfections, but let's

441
00:23:16,600 --> 00:23:18,010
choose to celebrate what's good.

442
00:23:19,170 --> 00:23:19,590
Amen.

443
00:23:19,590 --> 00:23:21,859
You know, maybe that worship singer
didn't sing well, but you know what?

444
00:23:21,859 --> 00:23:23,660
They're up there praising
God and they're leading us.

445
00:23:23,710 --> 00:23:24,260
Amen.

446
00:23:24,909 --> 00:23:25,259
Amen.

447
00:23:25,260 --> 00:23:27,100
That brother, man, he's stumbling
over his words, but guess what?

448
00:23:27,100 --> 00:23:28,080
He's preaching the word.

449
00:23:28,440 --> 00:23:29,390
Or man, you know what?

450
00:23:30,020 --> 00:23:32,310
That, that teacher, man, he was just
saying weird things, but you know what?

451
00:23:33,000 --> 00:23:33,980
They're serving my children.

452
00:23:33,990 --> 00:23:34,620
You know what?

453
00:23:34,890 --> 00:23:35,410
Amen.

454
00:23:36,635 --> 00:23:40,545
Because when we dwell on the imperfect
and celebrate the way God is at work

455
00:23:40,545 --> 00:23:43,525
in the church, man, we can do so much.

456
00:23:44,874 --> 00:23:45,785
Man, let's share good news.

457
00:23:45,795 --> 00:23:46,475
Let's reflect.

458
00:23:46,515 --> 00:23:50,535
Let's reflect on answered prayers and
rejoice in the victories, big or small.

459
00:23:51,055 --> 00:23:53,485
I'm gonna say a prayer and then
we'll continue with our worship.

460
00:23:54,934 --> 00:23:58,364
Lord, we're so grateful to be
called your sons and daughters, God.

461
00:23:58,434 --> 00:24:01,134
God, we're so grateful
for your church, God.

462
00:24:01,664 --> 00:24:04,694
God, I'm grateful that your church is
just not limited to a building, God.

463
00:24:05,070 --> 00:24:09,900
It's not limited to Sunday events,
but God, it truly is, uh, where

464
00:24:09,900 --> 00:24:11,090
we are, God, as a people, God.

465
00:24:11,110 --> 00:24:12,460
The church is all of us here in this room.

466
00:24:12,460 --> 00:24:17,080
And God, I pray that we can just look
past the flaws and imperfections, God.

467
00:24:17,550 --> 00:24:20,299
I know it's easy to dwell on them,
God, but I really pray that we can

468
00:24:20,299 --> 00:24:23,660
dwell on your goodness that you
have here for us in this time, God.

469
00:24:23,930 --> 00:24:28,070
God, I pray that the church here, that
we can really reflect and live out

470
00:24:28,170 --> 00:24:29,680
the true mission that you have, God.

471
00:24:29,980 --> 00:24:33,180
That we have the true partnership like
Paul had with the church in Philippi, God.

472
00:24:34,155 --> 00:24:35,825
God, thank you so much for this time.

473
00:24:35,825 --> 00:24:37,455
Thank you for the word, and
thank you for the people you've

474
00:24:37,455 --> 00:24:38,515
placed in our lives, God.

475
00:24:38,865 --> 00:24:40,655
God, we love you, and it's
just something we pray.

476
00:24:40,785 --> 00:24:41,175
Amen.