1 00:00:11,140 --> 00:00:13,210 Speaker: But again, if we're going to be a Christ exalting church, 2 00:00:13,210 --> 00:00:16,610 we have to first and foremost be Christ exalting Christians. 3 00:00:17,560 --> 00:00:21,850 If I can take your mind to that old poster that first appeared in World War I. 4 00:00:21,850 --> 00:00:28,199 Uncle Sam, who had his finger pointed, and he had his finger pointed at you 5 00:00:28,199 --> 00:00:29,500 as you're looking at that poster. 6 00:00:29,870 --> 00:00:32,800 And it says on that poster, I want you. 7 00:00:33,515 --> 00:00:34,055 I want you. 8 00:00:34,334 --> 00:00:36,715 And what that was, it was a recruiting tactic. 9 00:00:37,114 --> 00:00:37,595 The U. 10 00:00:37,595 --> 00:00:37,745 S. 11 00:00:37,745 --> 00:00:40,155 Army was saying, I want you to come and join the military. 12 00:00:40,584 --> 00:00:44,064 But at some point, it goes from I want you to when you're on 13 00:00:44,065 --> 00:00:45,384 the battlefield in the foxhole. 14 00:00:45,995 --> 00:00:46,545 I need you. 15 00:00:47,804 --> 00:00:52,455 Band of Brothers is one of my favorite series and just stories of Easy Company 16 00:00:52,455 --> 00:00:57,114 and everything that they went through in World War II and the Battle of Ardenne, 17 00:00:57,134 --> 00:01:00,834 the Battle of the Bulge, when they're dug in there and just thinking about 18 00:01:00,845 --> 00:01:06,195 everything that they had to go through, they needed every single man to be all 19 00:01:06,195 --> 00:01:10,605 in with the task at hand, which was to defend their position against the enemy. 20 00:01:10,605 --> 00:01:15,440 Church, if we are going to be a Christ exalting church, We have 21 00:01:15,440 --> 00:01:19,350 to have every single Christian in this room all in on being first and 22 00:01:19,350 --> 00:01:21,350 foremost a Christ exalting Christian. 23 00:01:22,390 --> 00:01:26,140 In other words, you can't just show up at church and think, I'm 24 00:01:26,140 --> 00:01:29,289 doing it, I'm exalting Christ because I go to church on Sunday. 25 00:01:30,190 --> 00:01:33,720 Or community group, involved in your community group, which we hope 26 00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:36,289 and pray that you guys are getting connected and plugged in here. 27 00:01:36,960 --> 00:01:40,580 But that's, being a Christ exalting Christian, it's more than that. 28 00:01:41,249 --> 00:01:43,150 Or going to youth group as students. 29 00:01:43,945 --> 00:01:47,035 Being a Christ exalting Christian is more than going to youth group. 30 00:01:48,245 --> 00:01:50,405 You know, picking up your Bible first thing in the morning, if that's what 31 00:01:50,405 --> 00:01:51,874 you do, great, praise God for that. 32 00:01:51,884 --> 00:01:54,544 But being a Christ exalting Christian is more than that. 33 00:01:55,484 --> 00:01:57,715 See, being a Christ exalting Christian, if I can borrow a 34 00:01:57,715 --> 00:02:02,174 word that the crunchy culture has taken, it's a holistic endeavor. 35 00:02:02,904 --> 00:02:06,364 Meaning, we have to be, as believers, all the way through, 36 00:02:06,710 --> 00:02:09,990 people who are bent on exalting Christ with everything in our lives. 37 00:02:10,310 --> 00:02:12,240 If we are going to be a Christ exalting church, and again that's 38 00:02:12,240 --> 00:02:14,780 part of our vision, we want to be a church that exalts Christ. 39 00:02:14,780 --> 00:02:18,760 If we are going to be a Christ exalting church, we must first and foremost be 40 00:02:18,800 --> 00:02:21,570 a church of Christ exalting Christians. 41 00:02:21,990 --> 00:02:23,619 Look at Colossians 118 with me. 42 00:02:24,520 --> 00:02:28,890 This verse, 118, is in the middle of a broader section of 15 20 that 43 00:02:28,890 --> 00:02:34,360 is most likely one of the earliest Christian hymns or creeds that exist. 44 00:02:34,720 --> 00:02:37,449 In your English Bible, you look at it and it's written just 45 00:02:37,449 --> 00:02:38,839 like the rest of Colossians is. 46 00:02:39,250 --> 00:02:42,340 But when you read it in the Greek text, it's set apart much like Psalms. 47 00:02:42,340 --> 00:02:45,590 If you turn over to Psalms or Proverbs, you'll, you'll note that it 48 00:02:45,590 --> 00:02:47,529 looks different because it's poetic. 49 00:02:47,530 --> 00:02:48,490 It's not prose. 50 00:02:48,870 --> 00:02:52,450 Well, in the, the Greek of Colossians here, when you get to this section of 51 00:02:52,450 --> 00:02:57,435 Colossians that we're drawing from, from verse 18, It's set apart in more 52 00:02:57,435 --> 00:03:01,605 of a poetic form than it is in the prose form, probably indicating that 53 00:03:01,605 --> 00:03:06,305 Paul here is quoting from what would have been one of the earliest creeds or 54 00:03:06,305 --> 00:03:10,075 hymns that the early church would have recited week in and week out together. 55 00:03:10,435 --> 00:03:14,125 And so as you start in verse 15, he's the image of the invisible God, the firstborn 56 00:03:14,125 --> 00:03:17,345 of all creation, for by him all things were created in heaven and on earth. 57 00:03:17,655 --> 00:03:21,914 We are reading things that the early church gathered together and would, would 58 00:03:21,945 --> 00:03:24,885 quote or recite or sing about Jesus. 59 00:03:25,090 --> 00:03:28,100 In fact, verses 15 through 20 is one of the hallmarks. 60 00:03:28,100 --> 00:03:30,940 It's probably the greatest of the Christological texts 61 00:03:30,940 --> 00:03:31,740 that we find in Scripture. 62 00:03:32,195 --> 00:03:34,945 It, it's hard to find another passage in the Bible that points 63 00:03:34,954 --> 00:03:38,954 and exalts Jesus with, with greater language and descriptions than we 64 00:03:38,954 --> 00:03:41,235 find in Colossians 1, 15 through 20. 65 00:03:41,635 --> 00:03:44,135 And so we're jumping right into the middle of this, but I think in verse 66 00:03:44,135 --> 00:03:47,774 18, we're jumping into what is the culmination of everything that Paul's 67 00:03:47,775 --> 00:03:49,645 writing in Colossians 1, 15 through 20. 68 00:03:50,015 --> 00:03:53,145 And so in verse 18, if you look down at the text with me, it says this, 69 00:03:53,625 --> 00:03:55,595 and he, this is speaking of Jesus. 70 00:03:55,785 --> 00:03:57,385 He is the head of the body. 71 00:03:57,515 --> 00:03:58,175 the church. 72 00:03:58,265 --> 00:04:01,325 He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in 73 00:04:01,325 --> 00:04:04,645 everything he might be preeminent. 74 00:04:05,515 --> 00:04:07,744 Okay, that word preeminent is where we're going to camp out for a little bit here. 75 00:04:07,745 --> 00:04:10,105 But before we get there, I want you to notice three other words 76 00:04:10,105 --> 00:04:12,265 that Paul lists here about Jesus. 77 00:04:12,305 --> 00:04:17,255 First, he says Jesus is the head, the head of the body, the church. 78 00:04:17,829 --> 00:04:21,870 Uh, that word head in the Greek there means, uh, the, the source of authority, 79 00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:24,720 the ruler, the leader, the one in charge. 80 00:04:25,160 --> 00:04:27,329 That is Jesus to the church, his bride. 81 00:04:27,770 --> 00:04:31,400 We find this in Ephesians chapter 4 verses 15 through 16. 82 00:04:31,440 --> 00:04:34,520 Paul says there, rather speaking the truth in love, we are to 83 00:04:34,529 --> 00:04:36,740 grow up in every way into him. 84 00:04:36,750 --> 00:04:40,110 That is into Jesus, who is the head into Christ. 85 00:04:40,219 --> 00:04:44,210 from whom the whole body joined together and held together by every joint with 86 00:04:44,210 --> 00:04:48,010 which it is equipped when each part is working properly, makes the body grow 87 00:04:48,039 --> 00:04:49,549 so that it builds itself up in love. 88 00:04:49,760 --> 00:04:52,010 So there Christ is the head as the authority, also the 89 00:04:52,010 --> 00:04:53,679 source in that context. 90 00:04:53,979 --> 00:04:55,194 Colossians 2. 91 00:04:55,194 --> 00:04:55,199 19. 92 00:04:55,200 --> 00:04:57,379 If you look across the page from where you are, Colossians 2. 93 00:04:57,380 --> 00:05:01,890 19, Paul's warning here that we need to make sure that we are holding fast 94 00:05:01,890 --> 00:05:05,729 and he says here and not be those that are not holding fast to the head. 95 00:05:05,750 --> 00:05:06,520 That is Jesus. 96 00:05:06,929 --> 00:05:09,640 From whom the whole body nourished and knit together through its 97 00:05:09,640 --> 00:05:12,739 joints and ligaments grows with the growth that is from God. 98 00:05:12,739 --> 00:05:14,070 So Christ is the head. 99 00:05:14,409 --> 00:05:15,139 He's the chief. 100 00:05:15,149 --> 00:05:15,869 He's the leader. 101 00:05:15,869 --> 00:05:16,879 He's the source. 102 00:05:16,879 --> 00:05:17,659 He's the ruler. 103 00:05:18,079 --> 00:05:19,989 He's the authority of, over, and beyond. 104 00:05:21,889 --> 00:05:22,119 Why? 105 00:05:22,619 --> 00:05:24,719 What gives Jesus that position? 106 00:05:24,719 --> 00:05:26,269 What gives Jesus that right? 107 00:05:26,269 --> 00:05:29,449 Well, in part, at least, what we read in Acts 20, 28. 108 00:05:29,869 --> 00:05:33,039 Paul to the Ephesian elders here says this, he says, Pay careful attention 109 00:05:33,039 --> 00:05:36,359 to yourselves and to all the flock in which the Holy Spirit has made you 110 00:05:36,379 --> 00:05:43,849 overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. 111 00:05:45,164 --> 00:05:47,664 See, church, Jesus redeemed us. 112 00:05:47,794 --> 00:05:49,084 He bought us. 113 00:05:49,094 --> 00:05:50,644 He purchased us. 114 00:05:50,674 --> 00:05:53,534 And in so doing, He became the Lord of the church. 115 00:05:53,534 --> 00:05:56,664 He owns His bride, the church. 116 00:05:56,984 --> 00:05:58,744 And so as a result, He is the head. 117 00:05:58,954 --> 00:05:59,704 He's the ruler. 118 00:05:59,714 --> 00:06:00,474 He is the authority. 119 00:06:00,474 --> 00:06:01,244 He is our Lord. 120 00:06:01,254 --> 00:06:03,504 We submit to Him. 121 00:06:03,764 --> 00:06:06,734 And so that's the first word that we find there to note as we are 122 00:06:06,744 --> 00:06:09,364 leading towards the culmination of this word preeminent here. 123 00:06:09,364 --> 00:06:10,104 So He is the head. 124 00:06:10,114 --> 00:06:11,644 Second, He's the beginning. 125 00:06:12,444 --> 00:06:12,894 The beginning. 126 00:06:12,904 --> 00:06:13,934 The beginning of. 127 00:06:14,294 --> 00:06:14,584 What? 128 00:06:15,374 --> 00:06:17,634 What is Jesus the beginning of? 129 00:06:18,034 --> 00:06:18,924 Well, Revelation 1. 130 00:06:19,264 --> 00:06:23,044 8, Jesus there says, I am the Alpha and the Omega. 131 00:06:23,824 --> 00:06:26,384 Alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet. 132 00:06:26,554 --> 00:06:30,324 So Jesus is in effect saying, I am the beginning. 133 00:06:30,364 --> 00:06:32,024 In fact, Revelation 21. 134 00:06:32,024 --> 00:06:32,933 6, He says something similar. 135 00:06:32,933 --> 00:06:33,894 He says, it is done. 136 00:06:34,374 --> 00:06:36,954 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning. 137 00:06:36,964 --> 00:06:38,104 There's our word, Arche. 138 00:06:38,454 --> 00:06:40,484 I am the beginning and the end. 139 00:06:41,244 --> 00:06:45,744 Revelation 22, 13, he says it again, I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first 140 00:06:46,074 --> 00:06:50,564 and the last, the beginning, there's our word, the beginning and the end. 141 00:06:50,744 --> 00:06:53,694 Okay, well, what beginning is Jesus the beginning of? 142 00:06:54,314 --> 00:06:56,344 Well, the answer is He is the beginning of all beginnings. 143 00:06:56,789 --> 00:07:01,659 He is the unmoved mover, the uncaused first cause, that before 144 00:07:01,659 --> 00:07:04,089 Jesus, there was nothing, right? 145 00:07:04,109 --> 00:07:06,849 Jesus is a member of the Trinitarian God, God the Father, 146 00:07:06,849 --> 00:07:07,799 God the Son, God the Spirit. 147 00:07:08,109 --> 00:07:09,469 Before God, there is nothing. 148 00:07:09,479 --> 00:07:14,179 In fact, God has always existed, so as such, there is no beginning to God. 149 00:07:14,189 --> 00:07:17,749 God is the beginner of all beginnings, except for His own, because He had none. 150 00:07:18,529 --> 00:07:18,889 Tired? 151 00:07:18,890 --> 00:07:19,589 Exhausted? 152 00:07:19,589 --> 00:07:20,159 Exhausted? 153 00:07:20,629 --> 00:07:21,479 Trying to track that. 154 00:07:22,349 --> 00:07:24,519 But Jesus is the beginner of all beginnings. 155 00:07:24,589 --> 00:07:27,279 In fact, look back up at verse 16 in our passage. 156 00:07:27,629 --> 00:07:30,339 Part of this Christological hymn, this creedal confession here, it says 157 00:07:30,339 --> 00:07:35,909 this, For by him, that's Jesus, by him all things were created in heaven 158 00:07:35,949 --> 00:07:40,299 and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or 159 00:07:40,299 --> 00:07:45,999 rulers or authorities, all things were created through him and for him. 160 00:07:46,819 --> 00:07:48,949 And so he is the beginning of all things. 161 00:07:49,259 --> 00:07:52,849 By extension, that means he is the beginning of what we are 162 00:07:52,849 --> 00:07:54,089 doing right here this morning. 163 00:07:54,509 --> 00:07:55,989 He's the beginning of the church. 164 00:07:56,459 --> 00:07:58,679 And I think that's Paul's thrust here in this passage. 165 00:07:59,199 --> 00:08:00,349 That he is the beginning. 166 00:08:00,359 --> 00:08:01,499 He's the head of the body. 167 00:08:01,549 --> 00:08:02,959 He's the beginning of the body. 168 00:08:03,179 --> 00:08:05,079 That without Christ, there is no church. 169 00:08:05,599 --> 00:08:07,959 Without Jesus, we're wasting our time. 170 00:08:08,584 --> 00:08:12,374 There's, there's no point to what we're doing, but as such, He is the 171 00:08:12,374 --> 00:08:15,034 Lord, He is the Savior who died for our sins, who rose from the dead, 172 00:08:15,254 --> 00:08:18,764 who then instituted the church, and that is why we continue to gather. 173 00:08:18,764 --> 00:08:21,254 He's the beginning of the church. 174 00:08:22,214 --> 00:08:25,434 Not only is He the, the head, though, and the beginning, He is 175 00:08:25,444 --> 00:08:27,464 third in our passage, the firstborn. 176 00:08:28,064 --> 00:08:28,804 The firstborn. 177 00:08:29,234 --> 00:08:31,084 Okay, look at verse 15 for a second. 178 00:08:31,494 --> 00:08:34,154 In verse 15, it says, He is the image of the invisible God, 179 00:08:34,174 --> 00:08:35,994 the firstborn of all creation. 180 00:08:36,094 --> 00:08:36,354 Okay? 181 00:08:36,355 --> 00:08:36,619 Okay? 182 00:08:37,149 --> 00:08:40,509 There, Paul is not talking about firstborn chronologically. 183 00:08:40,789 --> 00:08:42,009 Firstborn in time. 184 00:08:42,299 --> 00:08:45,749 If you are one of many siblings in the room, there is a 185 00:08:45,759 --> 00:08:47,579 firstborn in your family, right? 186 00:08:47,829 --> 00:08:50,759 And you refer to that person as the one that was firstborn, the one that 187 00:08:50,759 --> 00:08:52,279 came into the world first, okay? 188 00:08:52,769 --> 00:08:54,909 That's not what Colossians 1. 189 00:08:54,909 --> 00:08:55,349 15 is saying. 190 00:08:55,569 --> 00:08:56,574 Colossians 1. 191 00:08:56,574 --> 00:08:58,699 15, the firstborn of all creation, means that Jesus holds the 192 00:08:58,699 --> 00:09:00,229 highest rank in all creation. 193 00:09:00,849 --> 00:09:04,919 In ancient times, the firstborn got the greatest inheritance. 194 00:09:05,169 --> 00:09:08,959 He was the one who had the level of greatest honor in the family. 195 00:09:09,349 --> 00:09:12,459 And so as such, that is who Jesus is in all of creation. 196 00:09:12,649 --> 00:09:15,449 Not that he was created first, because Jesus was not created. 197 00:09:15,449 --> 00:09:16,999 We just saw that he's the beginning. 198 00:09:17,399 --> 00:09:21,119 But that Jesus holds the highest rank of honor in all of creation. 199 00:09:21,629 --> 00:09:23,559 But then look at our text in verse 18. 200 00:09:23,839 --> 00:09:27,479 It says there that he is the firstborn from the dead. 201 00:09:28,379 --> 00:09:30,939 Now we are talking about chronology. 202 00:09:31,569 --> 00:09:34,129 And you say, is that okay to have a word mean two different things 203 00:09:34,129 --> 00:09:35,749 in that, in such close context? 204 00:09:35,749 --> 00:09:38,659 Yeah, it is because we interpret scripture through the context 205 00:09:38,659 --> 00:09:39,849 of the rest of scripture, right? 206 00:09:40,239 --> 00:09:43,199 And so when, when, when we interpret these words, we're understanding what 207 00:09:43,199 --> 00:09:45,969 he's saying and the rest of scripture is going to help us understand that. 208 00:09:46,299 --> 00:09:48,619 Here, the word firstborn does mean chronologically because 209 00:09:48,619 --> 00:09:50,419 he's the firstborn from the dead. 210 00:09:50,899 --> 00:09:54,969 In what sense is Jesus the first one to be born from the dead. 211 00:09:54,969 --> 00:09:56,349 Weren't there resurrections? 212 00:09:56,359 --> 00:10:01,339 In fact, Jesus himself raised Lazarus from the dead and others from the dead. 213 00:10:01,729 --> 00:10:03,609 In the Old Testament, there's examples of this. 214 00:10:04,059 --> 00:10:05,949 So how is Jesus the first born from the dead? 215 00:10:06,189 --> 00:10:09,199 Well, Jesus is the first born from the dead in that Jesus resurrection 216 00:10:09,199 --> 00:10:13,329 was unique because Jesus was the only one, the first one to be raised 217 00:10:13,329 --> 00:10:14,989 from the dead, never to die again. 218 00:10:15,714 --> 00:10:17,914 That's what makes him the firstborn of the dead. 219 00:10:18,174 --> 00:10:23,014 And as the firstborn of the dead, he is the one that is later by, uh, by 220 00:10:23,034 --> 00:10:25,294 others called the, the first fruits. 221 00:10:25,674 --> 00:10:28,214 He is, he's going to be the one that is the firstborn of many 222 00:10:28,224 --> 00:10:30,234 brothers as Romans 8, 29 says. 223 00:10:31,044 --> 00:10:33,264 In other words, that we are going to follow after him. 224 00:10:33,265 --> 00:10:36,794 He is the one that goes before us and then we will follow after him. 225 00:10:37,334 --> 00:10:38,724 Revelation 1. 226 00:10:38,725 --> 00:10:41,424 5, the firstborn of the dead, he is called there again. 227 00:10:41,654 --> 00:10:43,844 And then here's the verse that I was just referring to, 1 Corinthians 15. 228 00:10:43,844 --> 00:10:45,334 20. 229 00:10:45,554 --> 00:10:48,484 But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits 230 00:10:48,514 --> 00:10:50,264 of those who have fallen asleep. 231 00:10:50,264 --> 00:10:52,374 In other words, we will follow after him. 232 00:10:52,374 --> 00:10:55,634 He's the firstborn of many brothers, as Paul says in Romans 8. 233 00:10:55,635 --> 00:10:55,984 29. 234 00:10:55,984 --> 00:10:57,824 So he's the head, He's the beginning. 235 00:10:57,834 --> 00:10:59,364 He's the firstborn from the dead. 236 00:10:59,454 --> 00:11:01,034 And that's our hope as the church, right? 237 00:11:01,054 --> 00:11:02,814 All of these things are pertaining to the church. 238 00:11:03,144 --> 00:11:06,944 We gather on Sunday mornings to remember the resurrection of Christ. 239 00:11:07,174 --> 00:11:09,664 That's our hope that one day we will rise from the dead as well. 240 00:11:09,664 --> 00:11:11,584 First Corinthians 15 is all about that. 241 00:11:12,134 --> 00:11:13,574 And so he is the, Beginning. 242 00:11:13,584 --> 00:11:14,174 He's the head. 243 00:11:14,184 --> 00:11:14,884 He's the beginning. 244 00:11:14,884 --> 00:11:15,654 He's the firstborn. 245 00:11:15,924 --> 00:11:20,054 And then Paul says this that That so a tiny little word in the Greek 246 00:11:20,054 --> 00:11:24,034 called Hinnah and it indicates that this is a purpose or a result He is 247 00:11:24,034 --> 00:11:28,444 all of these things with the result being that in everything Paul says 248 00:11:28,454 --> 00:11:31,804 in everything he might be Preeminent. 249 00:11:31,944 --> 00:11:32,934 Okay preeminent. 250 00:11:33,104 --> 00:11:34,054 That's the word. 251 00:11:34,224 --> 00:11:36,244 This is what I want us to think about this morning. 252 00:11:36,554 --> 00:11:37,324 What does it mean? 253 00:11:37,324 --> 00:11:40,674 What does it look like for Christ to be preeminent in our lives? 254 00:11:41,429 --> 00:11:44,649 This word is unique in the Greek New Testament in that it doesn't occur 255 00:11:44,659 --> 00:11:46,529 anywhere else other than this one place. 256 00:11:47,019 --> 00:11:49,609 This is the only location that you find the word preeminent. 257 00:11:49,959 --> 00:11:52,109 But the root does show up other places. 258 00:11:52,529 --> 00:11:55,859 The root of this word means to have first place. 259 00:11:56,749 --> 00:11:58,729 In fact, that's what the word preeminent means. 260 00:11:58,949 --> 00:12:01,009 It's to have first place in something. 261 00:12:01,099 --> 00:12:04,909 And, and, and so Jesus is the preeminent one. 262 00:12:04,909 --> 00:12:08,239 He is called to be the preeminent one in the church. 263 00:12:08,269 --> 00:12:09,649 He's the head of the church. 264 00:12:09,649 --> 00:12:11,029 He's the beginning of the church. 265 00:12:11,029 --> 00:12:13,069 He's the first born from the dead for the church. 266 00:12:13,249 --> 00:12:18,259 In order that in everything as a church, he might have first place. 267 00:12:19,369 --> 00:12:22,639 But again, what I want us to think about this morning is that that's not 268 00:12:22,639 --> 00:12:27,079 gonna be true of us as a church if he doesn't first have first place in 269 00:12:27,079 --> 00:12:30,079 everything in your life, in my life. 270 00:12:31,034 --> 00:12:33,084 See, if we're gonna be a Christ exalting church, we have to be a 271 00:12:33,084 --> 00:12:34,884 church of Christ exalting Christians. 272 00:12:35,874 --> 00:12:37,404 That's how that works. 273 00:12:38,204 --> 00:12:44,364 He can't just be preeminent in the life of the pastors or the worship leaders, or the 274 00:12:44,574 --> 00:12:45,874 people that show up and set up the chairs. 275 00:12:46,734 --> 00:12:49,064 He needs to be preeminent in their lives, but he also needs 276 00:12:49,064 --> 00:12:50,604 to be preeminent in your life. 277 00:12:51,874 --> 00:12:54,134 He needs to be preeminent in the life of the stay at home mom. 278 00:12:55,034 --> 00:12:59,054 He needs to have first place in the life of the lawyer, the doctor. 279 00:13:00,194 --> 00:13:00,844 the salesman. 280 00:13:03,584 --> 00:13:06,294 He needs to have first place in every single one of our lives if 281 00:13:06,294 --> 00:13:09,184 we as a church are going to make ourselves a Christ exalting church. 282 00:13:09,564 --> 00:13:12,434 So to be preeminent, what does it look like to make sure 283 00:13:12,434 --> 00:13:13,854 that Christ has first place? 284 00:13:14,334 --> 00:13:20,479 Adrienne Rogers, is a man, was a man, who was a pastor, uh, who died in 2005, 285 00:13:20,509 --> 00:13:23,399 but you've probably heard his voice if you're not familiar with the name. 286 00:13:23,979 --> 00:13:25,679 If you've turned on 100. 287 00:13:25,680 --> 00:13:26,891 7 or 100. 288 00:13:26,891 --> 00:13:30,829 3 or any of the Christian radio stations, you've probably heard 289 00:13:31,119 --> 00:13:32,759 Adrian Rogers voice on the radio. 290 00:13:33,124 --> 00:13:35,944 He's a well known pastor, he was also president of the Southern 291 00:13:35,944 --> 00:13:39,834 Baptist Theological, or Southern Baptist Convention, rather, and 292 00:13:39,834 --> 00:13:42,384 served three terms as president of the Southern Baptist Convention. 293 00:13:42,674 --> 00:13:44,604 Faithful expositor of God's Word. 294 00:13:45,014 --> 00:13:49,414 He preached on this passage and said to give Christ first place looks like this. 295 00:13:49,824 --> 00:13:52,504 He said, Christian, if you're going to give Christ first place, give 296 00:13:52,504 --> 00:13:53,634 Him the first thought of every day. 297 00:13:54,674 --> 00:13:58,234 Give Him the first day of the week, right, that's what we're doing 298 00:13:58,234 --> 00:13:59,444 right now, it's Sunday morning. 299 00:14:00,214 --> 00:14:02,514 Give Him the first fruits of your income. 300 00:14:04,219 --> 00:14:06,969 And give him the first consideration in any decision. 301 00:14:08,189 --> 00:14:08,659 And so Dr. 302 00:14:08,659 --> 00:14:12,429 Rogers preached a sermon on this passage and said, this is what it looks like to 303 00:14:12,439 --> 00:14:15,359 give Christ first place over your life. 304 00:14:15,389 --> 00:14:17,779 And in full deference to Dr. 305 00:14:17,779 --> 00:14:21,169 Rogers, I believe that he would agree with what I'm about to say here. 306 00:14:21,169 --> 00:14:24,429 But church, I think this is a great starting place. 307 00:14:25,519 --> 00:14:28,719 But I don't think this captures what we're talking about when we say Christ 308 00:14:28,719 --> 00:14:31,369 needs to be preeminent in your life. 309 00:14:32,284 --> 00:14:32,864 Here's why. 310 00:14:33,334 --> 00:14:38,144 So often when you talk about your priorities, a lot of times we can say 311 00:14:38,144 --> 00:14:39,794 something and I understand the sentiment. 312 00:14:40,354 --> 00:14:41,564 Well, my priorities are this. 313 00:14:41,754 --> 00:14:48,074 Christ, family, work or school, you know, friendships, relationships, 314 00:14:48,624 --> 00:14:49,864 my identity as a citizen. 315 00:14:50,034 --> 00:14:50,294 Okay? 316 00:14:50,924 --> 00:14:51,904 Those are my priorities. 317 00:14:51,904 --> 00:14:54,654 Christ is my top priority every single day. 318 00:14:55,564 --> 00:14:59,329 The problem with that is that I don't Is just like with any to do list. 319 00:14:59,499 --> 00:15:01,199 What's your objective with a to do list? 320 00:15:01,199 --> 00:15:06,659 Your Objective with a to do list is to be to done with that thing And so if 321 00:15:06,659 --> 00:15:09,959 Christ is the first thing on your to do list That implies that at some point 322 00:15:09,959 --> 00:15:15,029 in the day, you're gonna check that box and move on Christ being preeminent in 323 00:15:15,029 --> 00:15:20,919 your life means that as Paul said here in Colossians 1 18 in everything He has 324 00:15:20,919 --> 00:15:25,529 first place So instead, what does our priority list look like as Christians? 325 00:15:25,729 --> 00:15:28,319 It looks like Christ is first place in my family. 326 00:15:28,669 --> 00:15:32,069 Christ is first place in my workplace or in my education. 327 00:15:32,529 --> 00:15:35,999 Christ is first place in my relationships with other people. 328 00:15:36,229 --> 00:15:40,379 Christ is first place in my identity as a citizen of this country. 329 00:15:40,649 --> 00:15:44,189 See, Jesus being preeminent means that he pervades, it's again that 330 00:15:44,199 --> 00:15:50,929 holistic, he invades and pervades and seeps into every crevice of your life. 331 00:15:51,879 --> 00:15:54,739 It really is talking about the doctrine of the Lordship of Christ. 332 00:15:56,239 --> 00:15:59,869 Just like Abraham Kuyper said, there is not an inch in all of creation over 333 00:15:59,869 --> 00:16:02,049 which the Lord does not declare, mine. 334 00:16:02,849 --> 00:16:04,519 And that includes your life and my life. 335 00:16:05,129 --> 00:16:07,249 He gets to be first place in everything. 336 00:16:07,249 --> 00:16:08,689 So in all deference to Dr. 337 00:16:08,690 --> 00:16:10,454 Rogers, I think there's more. 338 00:16:10,964 --> 00:16:13,344 to making Christ first place than just giving Him the first thought of every 339 00:16:13,344 --> 00:16:16,584 day, the first day of the week, the first fruits of your income, and the 340 00:16:16,594 --> 00:16:18,174 first consideration in any decision. 341 00:16:18,174 --> 00:16:21,314 So let's talk about specifically what it looks like for Christ 342 00:16:21,324 --> 00:16:22,374 to be preeminent in our lives. 343 00:16:22,604 --> 00:16:25,114 Three A's for you to consider, and we'll break these down. 344 00:16:25,124 --> 00:16:26,654 The first A is your attention. 345 00:16:27,454 --> 00:16:29,584 The second A is your affection. 346 00:16:30,004 --> 00:16:31,634 And the third A is your action. 347 00:16:33,034 --> 00:16:35,534 For Christ to be first place, your attention, your 348 00:16:35,534 --> 00:16:36,934 affection, and your action. 349 00:16:39,534 --> 00:16:41,694 Let's talk about Christ being first place in your attention. 350 00:16:41,994 --> 00:16:44,074 Point number one this morning, you can write it down this way, is this. 351 00:16:44,334 --> 00:16:46,154 Give Christ the throne of your thoughts. 352 00:16:47,254 --> 00:16:50,184 And if Christ is going to be first place in your life, if we are going 353 00:16:50,184 --> 00:16:53,064 to be a Christ exalting church full of Christ exalting Christians, 354 00:16:53,575 --> 00:16:57,474 then we have got to make sure that Christ rules over our thought life. 355 00:16:58,594 --> 00:17:01,884 Give Christ the throne of your thoughts. 356 00:17:01,885 --> 00:17:04,094 You know, I read. 357 00:17:04,685 --> 00:17:08,773 Something in preparation for this that the average person has anywhere between 358 00:17:08,794 --> 00:17:14,385 12, 000 and 60, 000 thoughts every day Now let me qualify that a little bit 359 00:17:14,773 --> 00:17:17,194 because you might be thinking that's a lot of thoughts I'm probably closer to 360 00:17:17,194 --> 00:17:22,844 12 than I am to 60, 000 Some of those are just repetitive redundant thoughts 361 00:17:23,013 --> 00:17:25,964 Like I trust that you guys woke up this morning and brushed your teeth and your 362 00:17:25,973 --> 00:17:28,695 neighbor sitting next to you right now really hopes That you guys woke up this 363 00:17:28,695 --> 00:17:32,885 morning and brushed your teeth My guess is you didn't have to put a lot of thought 364 00:17:32,945 --> 00:17:34,294 into brushing your teeth this morning. 365 00:17:34,595 --> 00:17:38,105 Something that you've been doing for years, but still your brain was at work. 366 00:17:38,274 --> 00:17:41,524 Thoughts were taking place in grabbing the toothbrush, putting the toothpaste 367 00:17:41,524 --> 00:17:42,495 on there and brushing your teeth. 368 00:17:42,955 --> 00:17:44,385 Or maybe it's pouring your cup of coffee. 369 00:17:45,044 --> 00:17:48,014 Your brain was working to make sure that you didn't drop it, to make 370 00:17:48,014 --> 00:17:51,014 sure that you didn't pour it out onto the floor instead of into the cup. 371 00:17:51,524 --> 00:17:55,885 So some of those 12, 000 to 60, 000 thoughts are going to be things that we 372 00:17:55,885 --> 00:17:57,524 would kind of say are on just autopilot. 373 00:17:57,525 --> 00:18:03,344 But I want you to think about the thoughts that aren't on autopilot during your day. 374 00:18:04,455 --> 00:18:08,935 What about those thoughts, the intentional thoughts that you have, the times 375 00:18:08,935 --> 00:18:11,115 that you set your mind on something? 376 00:18:11,524 --> 00:18:14,784 How much of that does Christ rule over? 377 00:18:16,135 --> 00:18:20,635 How much of your thought life have you subjected to the lordship of Christ? 378 00:18:21,165 --> 00:18:25,625 How much of your brain activity does Jesus hold first place in? 379 00:18:27,904 --> 00:18:31,614 We find Paul writing about this in Colossians chapter 3, 380 00:18:32,235 --> 00:18:35,455 so just a couple chapters from where we are in Colossians 1. 381 00:18:35,455 --> 00:18:38,184 In Colossians chapter 3, verses 1 and 2, the Apostle Paul writes this. 382 00:18:38,474 --> 00:18:44,534 He says, if then you have been raised with Christ, aka if you are a Christian, okay? 383 00:18:45,784 --> 00:18:48,394 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek. 384 00:18:48,779 --> 00:18:53,489 The things that are above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God 385 00:18:53,809 --> 00:18:59,129 Set your mind on the things that are above and not on the things that are on 386 00:18:59,199 --> 00:19:04,489 earth Paul's talking about our thought life here and giving Christ the throne 387 00:19:04,489 --> 00:19:08,709 of our thought life When he says seek the things that are above that word 388 00:19:08,709 --> 00:19:14,590 seek is a word that is intentional It involves effort it involves discipline. 389 00:19:14,620 --> 00:19:20,954 It involves self control We, if we leave ourselves to just our neutral state, 390 00:19:20,964 --> 00:19:25,164 our default state, then we won't be setting our mind on the things above. 391 00:19:25,174 --> 00:19:27,134 We're going to be setting our mind on the things on the earth. 392 00:19:27,754 --> 00:19:31,204 See, our default is to think earthly, fleshly thoughts. 393 00:19:31,504 --> 00:19:34,524 And that's why Paul has to write what he has to write in Colossians 3. 394 00:19:35,004 --> 00:19:39,664 That if you've been raised with Christ, seek, give effort to, search for, 395 00:19:39,784 --> 00:19:44,044 mine, turn over the rocks, seeking for, searching for, looking for the 396 00:19:44,044 --> 00:19:46,524 things that are above where Christ is. 397 00:19:47,374 --> 00:19:49,264 Give Christ the throne of your thoughts. 398 00:19:49,744 --> 00:19:53,664 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 399 00:19:55,144 --> 00:19:56,314 What does that look like? 400 00:19:56,314 --> 00:19:58,204 Well, certainly a couple weeks ago, we talked about being in 401 00:19:58,204 --> 00:19:59,254 the Bible every single day. 402 00:19:59,254 --> 00:20:00,354 That's a huge part of this. 403 00:20:01,414 --> 00:20:03,604 You can't effectively set your mind on the things above if 404 00:20:03,604 --> 00:20:06,514 you're not having your mind in the Word of God on a regular basis. 405 00:20:07,024 --> 00:20:10,224 The more saturated you are with God's Word, the more of a default it will 406 00:20:10,224 --> 00:20:13,584 be for you to think the thoughts of God and think the things about Jesus. 407 00:20:14,064 --> 00:20:17,414 So time in the Word is, is imperative in this. 408 00:20:18,484 --> 00:20:20,654 But I want to suggest a little bit more than that to you this morning. 409 00:20:21,664 --> 00:20:21,934 Dr. 410 00:20:21,934 --> 00:20:25,324 Rogers said, give Christ the first thought of every day. 411 00:20:26,214 --> 00:20:26,864 That's great. 412 00:20:26,874 --> 00:20:29,084 That's, again, that's a great launch point. 413 00:20:30,509 --> 00:20:31,709 Think about your life. 414 00:20:31,719 --> 00:20:32,869 Think about your last week. 415 00:20:32,919 --> 00:20:33,859 Think about this morning. 416 00:20:34,569 --> 00:20:37,139 What was the first thought that you had when you got out of bed this morning? 417 00:20:38,369 --> 00:20:39,399 Let me ask it a different way. 418 00:20:39,949 --> 00:20:43,719 What did you give your first thoughts to when you got out of bed this morning? 419 00:20:44,649 --> 00:20:46,639 Because your first thoughts didn't happen to you. 420 00:20:47,189 --> 00:20:49,319 You intentionally set your mind on something this morning. 421 00:20:49,789 --> 00:20:50,789 Was it to grab your phone? 422 00:20:51,619 --> 00:20:55,169 And to open up your email inbox or to open up the news or to open up 423 00:20:55,199 --> 00:20:57,609 X or open up Facebook or Instagram? 424 00:20:58,839 --> 00:21:01,619 Was it thinking about your schedule, your calendar? 425 00:21:02,779 --> 00:21:04,979 Was it, oh man, I wish I could go back to sleep? 426 00:21:04,989 --> 00:21:06,039 Okay, that's everybody's first thought. 427 00:21:06,039 --> 00:21:06,979 So we'll get that one out of the way. 428 00:21:07,699 --> 00:21:09,969 Everybody woke up this morning, I want five more minutes. 429 00:21:10,899 --> 00:21:13,939 But once you began to get up, where'd your mind go? 430 00:21:15,089 --> 00:21:18,549 If we can get into the discipline, and again, that's what it is, we have to seek, 431 00:21:18,559 --> 00:21:20,269 we have to intentionally set our mind on. 432 00:21:21,049 --> 00:21:23,849 But if we can get into the discipline to making our first thoughts, thoughts 433 00:21:23,849 --> 00:21:27,644 about God, thoughts about Christ, that's Man, that's going to go a long way 434 00:21:27,644 --> 00:21:30,094 to setting you up for success in the rest of this, for the rest of the day. 435 00:21:31,124 --> 00:21:32,584 It may look like this. 436 00:21:32,584 --> 00:21:35,014 You may be getting out of bed thinking to yourself, okay, 437 00:21:35,554 --> 00:21:37,264 I have to go brush my teeth. 438 00:21:37,264 --> 00:21:38,304 You were just talking about that. 439 00:21:38,304 --> 00:21:39,024 Yes, brush your teeth. 440 00:21:39,034 --> 00:21:40,954 That's sub point 1A, brush your teeth. 441 00:21:41,694 --> 00:21:45,014 How do I, how do I think about, pray as you're getting out of bed, God, 442 00:21:45,014 --> 00:21:46,164 thanks for waking me up this morning. 443 00:21:47,254 --> 00:21:50,474 Thanks for allowing my body to work to get myself out of bed this morning. 444 00:21:51,404 --> 00:21:52,214 Thanks for another day. 445 00:21:53,409 --> 00:21:56,694 I begin to, to ask God to, to allow you to use that day well, 446 00:21:56,694 --> 00:21:57,894 to steward it well for him. 447 00:21:58,284 --> 00:21:59,934 I think these are ways to give God thoughts. 448 00:22:00,504 --> 00:22:02,514 Maybe you're thinking, man, I, I can't get into the word 449 00:22:02,514 --> 00:22:03,504 until I have a cup of coffee. 450 00:22:03,504 --> 00:22:04,044 I get you. 451 00:22:04,044 --> 00:22:04,704 I'm there with you. 452 00:22:05,064 --> 00:22:05,904 So start your coffee. 453 00:22:05,904 --> 00:22:06,864 God, thank you for coffee. 454 00:22:07,404 --> 00:22:08,184 Thank you for this gift. 455 00:22:08,184 --> 00:22:09,444 Thank you for the way it tastes. 456 00:22:09,804 --> 00:22:11,754 Thank you for what it does and how it perks me up and allows 457 00:22:11,754 --> 00:22:12,564 me to focus on your word. 458 00:22:12,564 --> 00:22:15,054 That's a way that you can give the first thoughts of your day to Jesus. 459 00:22:15,714 --> 00:22:18,114 So give God the first thoughts of your day, man, that, that, that's, that's a 460 00:22:18,114 --> 00:22:20,034 great way to your, to start, but giving. 461 00:22:20,824 --> 00:22:22,734 Christ, the throne of your thought life, goes beyond that. 462 00:22:23,814 --> 00:22:25,164 It's that, but it's not only that. 463 00:22:25,224 --> 00:22:26,014 It's more than that. 464 00:22:26,274 --> 00:22:27,844 We talk as Christians about our worldview. 465 00:22:28,464 --> 00:22:33,434 Your identity as a Christian is how you, through the lens of your worldview, which 466 00:22:33,434 --> 00:22:35,924 is the Bible, how you interpret reality. 467 00:22:35,924 --> 00:22:38,454 Right now, I interpret all of you as a bunch of fuzzy orbs out there. 468 00:22:39,634 --> 00:22:42,074 But when I put my glasses on, I'm able to see clearly. 469 00:22:42,724 --> 00:22:43,034 Right? 470 00:22:44,074 --> 00:22:47,564 How do you think is a big part of what your worldview is? 471 00:22:48,329 --> 00:22:52,199 The things that happen to you as life happens to you every single day. 472 00:22:52,539 --> 00:22:55,079 Does Christ have the throne of your thoughts and the way that you react to the 473 00:22:55,079 --> 00:22:56,629 circumstances that take place around you? 474 00:22:57,949 --> 00:23:01,179 As a driver cuts you off, does Christ have the throne of your thoughts right there? 475 00:23:02,489 --> 00:23:04,749 As something at work falls through, does Christ have the throne 476 00:23:04,749 --> 00:23:06,179 of your thoughts right there? 477 00:23:08,309 --> 00:23:12,869 Or how about just the random headline that our soon to be 478 00:23:12,869 --> 00:23:14,679 president wants to buy Greenland? 479 00:23:15,009 --> 00:23:17,139 Did anybody have that on their 2025 bingo card? 480 00:23:17,804 --> 00:23:19,564 Buying Greenland for the United States. 481 00:23:20,914 --> 00:23:24,434 Should your identity in Christ impact the way that you read that headline? 482 00:23:25,174 --> 00:23:26,664 I'm going to argue yes. 483 00:23:26,874 --> 00:23:27,174 Why? 484 00:23:27,184 --> 00:23:30,154 Because Paul says in everything Christ should be first place. 485 00:23:32,654 --> 00:23:35,974 It's, it's easy a lot of the times, well maybe not easy a lot 486 00:23:35,974 --> 00:23:39,484 of the time, but it's easy much of the time for us in that regard. 487 00:23:39,484 --> 00:23:40,494 But how about when we suffer? 488 00:23:40,494 --> 00:23:43,384 What does it look like for Christ to rule the throne of our thoughts when we suffer? 489 00:23:44,974 --> 00:23:47,654 There's people in California right now that have lost everything. 490 00:23:49,689 --> 00:23:53,909 And how does Christ still rule on the throne of their thoughts as they stare at 491 00:23:53,929 --> 00:23:56,409 the ashes of what used to be their home? 492 00:23:59,249 --> 00:24:01,479 We're reading through Job in our daily Bible reading right now. 493 00:24:03,059 --> 00:24:06,759 If you've had a Job season in your life, what does it look like for 494 00:24:06,759 --> 00:24:11,359 Christ to rule over your thoughts in those times in life where you can't 495 00:24:11,559 --> 00:24:13,939 understand, you can't explain why? 496 00:24:16,389 --> 00:24:17,434 How does Christ still rule? 497 00:24:18,064 --> 00:24:20,374 Hold first place in your thoughts in those moments. 498 00:24:22,064 --> 00:24:25,974 I think we see a great example of it at the beginning of Job, when Job's first 499 00:24:25,974 --> 00:24:32,174 response is to say, Shall we receive good from the Lord and not also the bad? 500 00:24:33,894 --> 00:24:35,944 Naked I came into this world, naked I will leave. 501 00:24:36,034 --> 00:24:38,344 Still I will say, Blessed be the name of the Lord. 502 00:24:39,334 --> 00:24:42,164 And that is a Christ exalting thought in the face of pain and sorrow. 503 00:24:43,239 --> 00:24:44,489 It doesn't give all the answers. 504 00:24:44,499 --> 00:24:45,719 It doesn't check all the boxes. 505 00:24:45,719 --> 00:24:47,569 It doesn't rebuild the burnt house. 506 00:24:48,849 --> 00:24:52,679 But man, that is a thought that worships and honors Christ as 507 00:24:52,689 --> 00:24:55,999 Lord and says, I'm going to trust you even when I don't get it. 508 00:24:57,674 --> 00:24:59,314 It's Christ exalting thought life. 509 00:24:59,344 --> 00:25:01,984 That's Christ having first place in your life. 510 00:25:01,984 --> 00:25:04,704 Pastor Rod has talked a lot about journaling and he's faithful to do it 511 00:25:04,734 --> 00:25:06,974 every single day or most days at least. 512 00:25:06,974 --> 00:25:08,464 I'm trying to get there myself. 513 00:25:08,464 --> 00:25:09,614 I think it's a good practice. 514 00:25:09,984 --> 00:25:13,774 This is a good way for you to, to practice having Christ exalting thoughts, to 515 00:25:13,774 --> 00:25:17,124 reflect on your day at the end of the day and to write down some things and 516 00:25:17,124 --> 00:25:19,754 to think about your day through the lens of your biblical worldview and 517 00:25:19,754 --> 00:25:22,984 to think about, man, how was Christ exalted in my thought life today? 518 00:25:23,234 --> 00:25:25,139 How can I exalt Christ as I think about it? 519 00:25:25,529 --> 00:25:28,829 My day today, your brain can either be one of two things. 520 00:25:28,829 --> 00:25:32,229 It can be a weight room for sanctification or a playground for the flesh. 521 00:25:33,479 --> 00:25:35,809 And it's up to you to decide which way you're going to go with that. 522 00:25:36,729 --> 00:25:39,869 If you're thinking Christ exalting thoughts, it's not going to be easy. 523 00:25:40,539 --> 00:25:42,929 The weight room is never easy, but man, the benefits are there. 524 00:25:44,149 --> 00:25:46,499 But if you don't give that intentional effort, that discipline, that 525 00:25:46,499 --> 00:25:50,059 self control, then the mind will become a playground for the flesh. 526 00:25:50,349 --> 00:25:52,279 If we're going to be a Christ exalting church with Christ exalting 527 00:25:52,279 --> 00:25:54,799 Christians, man, we need to make sure that our brains, our thought life. 528 00:25:55,919 --> 00:25:58,579 We're pumping some iron for Jesus in our thought life. 529 00:25:58,579 --> 00:26:01,599 We need to have a weight room for growing in Christ likeness. 530 00:26:02,569 --> 00:26:03,109 Attention. 531 00:26:03,559 --> 00:26:05,609 Make sure, if Christ is going to have first place in your life, that 532 00:26:05,609 --> 00:26:08,249 He has your attention, that He has the throne of your thought life. 533 00:26:08,399 --> 00:26:10,489 The second A, right, is our affections. 534 00:26:11,169 --> 00:26:13,939 If Christ is going to have first place in our life, if we're going to be a church 535 00:26:13,959 --> 00:26:17,869 of Christ exalting Christians, then we need to make sure He has our affections. 536 00:26:17,869 --> 00:26:18,789 You can write it down this way. 537 00:26:18,979 --> 00:26:20,959 Make every day about pleasing Christ. 538 00:26:21,739 --> 00:26:23,579 Make every day about pleasing Christ. 539 00:26:23,619 --> 00:26:23,769 Now. 540 00:26:24,324 --> 00:26:27,784 I could just say, hey, for this point, just go back and listen to Pastor Rod's 541 00:26:27,784 --> 00:26:31,104 sermon from last weekend and repeat, okay? 542 00:26:32,324 --> 00:26:34,084 That's the idea, pursuing it. 543 00:26:34,114 --> 00:26:36,654 That's Paul's ambition there that he was talking about, that drive, 544 00:26:36,655 --> 00:26:40,784 that love for Jesus that's fueling our pursuit of Christ, right? 545 00:26:41,234 --> 00:26:43,484 And that's a lot of what we're talking about here. 546 00:26:43,874 --> 00:26:47,404 And this is one of those, hey, this sounds familiar, and sorry but not sorry, 547 00:26:47,414 --> 00:26:50,194 because if we're gonna be redundant about anything as we stand at the dawn 548 00:26:50,194 --> 00:26:53,384 of a new year, we're gonna be redundant about, hey, we need to love Jesus more. 549 00:26:53,989 --> 00:26:56,769 We need to pursue a greater affection for Christ. 550 00:26:57,109 --> 00:26:59,749 You've heard me say the phrase before if you've been around here very often, but 551 00:27:00,049 --> 00:27:03,419 we need to stir our affections for Jesus. 552 00:27:03,649 --> 00:27:05,359 Stir them up within us. 553 00:27:06,439 --> 00:27:08,956 I get this point from Ephesians 6, 24. 554 00:27:08,956 --> 00:27:10,369 Ephesians 6, 24. 555 00:27:10,369 --> 00:27:11,259 This is our target. 556 00:27:11,909 --> 00:27:13,289 Paul is literally ending the book. 557 00:27:13,309 --> 00:27:14,629 There's no Ephesians 6, 25. 558 00:27:14,629 --> 00:27:19,869 So this is the last verse in Ephesians 6, 24 says this, grace be with all who 559 00:27:19,879 --> 00:27:22,229 love our Lord Jesus Christ with love. 560 00:27:22,904 --> 00:27:23,684 Incorruptible. 561 00:27:23,685 --> 00:27:25,049 Incorruptible. 562 00:27:25,049 --> 00:27:29,474 An incorruptible love is a love that's going to make 563 00:27:29,504 --> 00:27:31,904 every day about pleasing Jesus. 564 00:27:32,194 --> 00:27:35,194 That word incorruptible in the Greek, it means immortal, imperishable. 565 00:27:35,894 --> 00:27:37,654 It's a love that's not going to degrade. 566 00:27:38,194 --> 00:27:39,634 It's a love that's not going to lessen. 567 00:27:39,634 --> 00:27:40,834 It's not going to fade away. 568 00:27:40,854 --> 00:27:42,014 It's not going to erode. 569 00:27:42,604 --> 00:27:45,104 It's going to remain steadfast and it's going to remain 570 00:27:45,174 --> 00:27:47,304 fervent in our pursuit of Jesus. 571 00:27:48,314 --> 00:27:48,634 Dr. 572 00:27:48,634 --> 00:27:52,544 Rogers, again, in that sermon said this, what should a Christian do on Sunday? 573 00:27:53,444 --> 00:27:54,904 What sort of recreation? 574 00:27:55,094 --> 00:27:56,194 What kind of sports? 575 00:27:56,614 --> 00:27:57,654 What kind of visiting? 576 00:27:58,074 --> 00:27:59,974 What kind of business should a Christian do? 577 00:28:00,534 --> 00:28:02,354 The New Testament does not lay down rules. 578 00:28:02,354 --> 00:28:03,734 It's not the Old Testament Sabbath. 579 00:28:03,744 --> 00:28:04,644 It is the Lord's Day. 580 00:28:05,054 --> 00:28:07,224 But dear friend, it is the Lord's Day. 581 00:28:07,484 --> 00:28:10,734 I'm not going to make any rules for you, but I tell you what you must do. 582 00:28:10,744 --> 00:28:14,464 You must bow and give this day to Jesus Christ. 583 00:28:14,884 --> 00:28:15,904 Yes and Amen. 584 00:28:17,154 --> 00:28:18,164 But again, I would say, Dr. 585 00:28:18,164 --> 00:28:20,624 Rogers, it's not only Sunday. 586 00:28:22,114 --> 00:28:25,044 It's Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, too. 587 00:28:25,884 --> 00:28:27,534 And again, I don't think he would disagree with that. 588 00:28:28,929 --> 00:28:32,719 Starting with the Lord's Day, saying, Hey, we are giving attention to this, 589 00:28:32,719 --> 00:28:36,169 and this is our devotion, and today is about Jesus, and we as a family are 590 00:28:36,169 --> 00:28:40,139 going to focus our affections, and our love, and our heart on Christ today, as 591 00:28:40,139 --> 00:28:43,159 the Lord's Day, and it's about church, and it's about being with God's people, 592 00:28:43,609 --> 00:28:46,719 and that's going to impact some of the other decisions and choices that we do, 593 00:28:46,759 --> 00:28:49,959 because we don't want anything to rob our affection from Jesus on Sundays. 594 00:28:50,329 --> 00:28:55,419 Praise God for that mentality, and then bring it in to Monday, and to Tuesday, 595 00:28:56,329 --> 00:28:57,609 and to Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. 596 00:28:58,129 --> 00:28:59,129 Saturday, Sunday. 597 00:29:00,799 --> 00:29:05,159 This is the holistic, this is the full or pursuit of making Christ first place 598 00:29:05,159 --> 00:29:10,399 in your life, is giving Him, making every day about pleasing Him, devoting yourself 599 00:29:10,429 --> 00:29:14,219 in love to Jesus every single day. 600 00:29:14,219 --> 00:29:20,819 Your affections being given to Jesus in totality every Pharisees, 601 00:29:20,849 --> 00:29:22,009 what's the greatest commandment? 602 00:29:22,769 --> 00:29:25,889 And Jesus says this, you should love the Lord your God with all, 603 00:29:26,249 --> 00:29:30,909 with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 604 00:29:31,729 --> 00:29:36,049 And then notice what he says, this is the great and first commandment. 605 00:29:37,179 --> 00:29:39,879 This is the great commandment, and it's the first, there's our word. 606 00:29:40,239 --> 00:29:42,589 It's the commandment that should have first place in your life. 607 00:29:42,829 --> 00:29:44,289 This is the preeminent commandment. 608 00:29:44,719 --> 00:29:45,869 Love God with everything. 609 00:29:46,459 --> 00:29:47,049 On Sundays? 610 00:29:47,119 --> 00:29:47,469 Yep. 611 00:29:48,039 --> 00:29:50,389 And Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, too. 612 00:29:50,389 --> 00:29:50,439 Amen. 613 00:29:50,440 --> 00:29:50,454 Amen. 614 00:29:51,354 --> 00:29:53,194 Give Christ your affections every single day. 615 00:29:53,194 --> 00:29:56,894 Make every day about pleasing Him, about honoring Christ. 616 00:29:56,895 --> 00:30:00,464 Asaph says this in Psalm 73, 25. 617 00:30:00,844 --> 00:30:03,004 He says, Whom have I in heaven but you? 618 00:30:03,834 --> 00:30:07,364 And there's nothing on earth I desire besides you. 619 00:30:08,604 --> 00:30:10,054 Oh man, would that we could get there. 620 00:30:10,914 --> 00:30:14,124 That we could say with Asaph, there's nothing, Jesus, that I 621 00:30:14,124 --> 00:30:16,594 desire on this earth but you. 622 00:30:17,644 --> 00:30:21,854 And so my, my question for you this morning is what is it that 623 00:30:21,864 --> 00:30:23,404 stirs your affection for Jesus? 624 00:30:24,804 --> 00:30:27,694 What are those things in your life that make you love Jesus more? 625 00:30:29,584 --> 00:30:31,694 Recently for me, it's been having a fire in the fireplace. 626 00:30:31,765 --> 00:30:32,904 Like, that sounds weird. 627 00:30:32,904 --> 00:30:35,284 Yeah, but it creates an environment where I can sit down, I can read, 628 00:30:36,154 --> 00:30:37,494 I can spend time with my family. 629 00:30:38,164 --> 00:30:41,094 That's been stirring my affection for Jesus recently, though I'm almost 630 00:30:41,094 --> 00:30:43,244 out of firewood, so I guess I'm gonna have to find something else to stir 631 00:30:43,244 --> 00:30:44,574 my affection for Jesus this week. 632 00:30:45,114 --> 00:30:46,764 This is supposed to be super cold again next week. 633 00:30:47,944 --> 00:30:51,214 But your affections for him, what, what kindles that? 634 00:30:52,794 --> 00:30:53,354 The Bible? 635 00:30:53,474 --> 00:30:56,044 Sure, the Bible does, and it should, and it's not less than 636 00:30:56,044 --> 00:30:57,614 that, but it's not only that. 637 00:30:59,054 --> 00:31:00,834 Being a Christ exalting Christian. 638 00:31:01,494 --> 00:31:06,284 It is about finding the things that are just everyday things that, that happen 639 00:31:06,284 --> 00:31:09,194 to you, that you do, the routines that you do, and finding a way to make all 640 00:31:09,194 --> 00:31:11,234 of those things about exalting Christ. 641 00:31:12,034 --> 00:31:14,094 Expressions of your love and devotion for Jesus. 642 00:31:14,294 --> 00:31:17,304 So the things that stir your affection for Jesus, a good cup of coffee as you 643 00:31:17,304 --> 00:31:20,424 sit down to read your Bible, time with your family, going on a walk with your 644 00:31:20,424 --> 00:31:25,444 family, do those things and do more of them to make you increase your affection, 645 00:31:25,444 --> 00:31:27,024 your love for Jesus every single day. 646 00:31:27,874 --> 00:31:29,544 The opposite is true as well. 647 00:31:29,569 --> 00:31:34,019 So, whatever those things are that rob your affections for Christ, get them out. 648 00:31:35,419 --> 00:31:35,929 Get them out. 649 00:31:36,769 --> 00:31:37,839 For example, traffic. 650 00:31:38,409 --> 00:31:42,089 When I go home from the office, it's a short commute because we are not far 651 00:31:42,089 --> 00:31:43,939 away from our house where our office is. 652 00:31:44,209 --> 00:31:47,259 But I don't like Preston Road. 653 00:31:48,499 --> 00:31:48,879 I don't. 654 00:31:49,299 --> 00:31:51,919 There's too many people up there, which is why we planted a church here, by 655 00:31:51,919 --> 00:31:53,199 the way, because of all the people. 656 00:31:54,579 --> 00:31:55,789 But I'm on my way home from work. 657 00:31:56,069 --> 00:31:57,229 I just want to go home. 658 00:31:57,399 --> 00:31:58,569 I don't like Preston Road. 659 00:31:58,569 --> 00:31:59,029 So what do I do? 660 00:31:59,049 --> 00:32:00,519 I take a back way to get there. 661 00:32:01,449 --> 00:32:03,999 I go through a school zone sometimes, although by then it's 662 00:32:04,059 --> 00:32:06,509 usually done, but there's stop signs, the speed limit's slower. 663 00:32:06,869 --> 00:32:07,729 But why do I go that way? 664 00:32:07,729 --> 00:32:10,179 I go that way because I'm not going to be out in the chaos, 665 00:32:10,179 --> 00:32:11,349 in the traffic on Preston Road. 666 00:32:11,639 --> 00:32:13,629 Because that robs my affections for Jesus. 667 00:32:15,299 --> 00:32:16,339 You laugh, but it's true. 668 00:32:18,600 --> 00:32:22,699 Going back, that slower way, I mean, I'm able to prepare to go home 669 00:32:22,699 --> 00:32:24,949 and be the husband and be the dad that I need to be when I get home. 670 00:32:25,059 --> 00:32:26,609 That stirs my affection for Jesus. 671 00:32:27,079 --> 00:32:28,939 So make decisions that are going to help you. 672 00:32:28,940 --> 00:32:32,559 I mean, if politics anger you, delete the news app. 673 00:32:34,159 --> 00:32:35,649 Turn off talk radio. 674 00:32:36,750 --> 00:32:39,339 If you find that it's angering you, it's not worth it. 675 00:32:40,789 --> 00:32:43,549 The world will still fall apart on its own without you being 676 00:32:43,549 --> 00:32:44,539 aware of how it's falling apart. 677 00:32:45,739 --> 00:32:49,939 It's okay, especially if it's detracting from your love for Jesus. 678 00:32:53,229 --> 00:32:55,949 Again, y'all, this is going to require effort for us. 679 00:32:56,919 --> 00:32:57,999 It doesn't happen by default. 680 00:32:58,419 --> 00:33:00,299 By default, where do our affections reside? 681 00:33:00,919 --> 00:33:01,849 With the man in the mirror. 682 00:33:03,299 --> 00:33:06,429 And so this is going to require us to be intentional and thoughtful 683 00:33:06,709 --> 00:33:09,819 about saying, man, I want to make every day about pleasing Jesus. 684 00:33:09,819 --> 00:33:11,989 Again, if you weren't here last week, go back and listen to Pastor 685 00:33:11,999 --> 00:33:14,999 Rod's sermon because he's going to dive in much deeper on that idea. 686 00:33:16,199 --> 00:33:17,669 Your attention, your affections. 687 00:33:18,139 --> 00:33:21,209 Third A, maybe you wrote it down and remember it, actions. 688 00:33:21,574 --> 00:33:22,624 Your actions, okay? 689 00:33:23,034 --> 00:33:25,794 Right down this way, point number three, be a 24 7 Christian. 690 00:33:26,564 --> 00:33:28,544 If you want Christ to have first place in your life, you want 691 00:33:28,544 --> 00:33:31,044 Him to be preeminent, be a 24 7. 692 00:33:31,044 --> 00:33:33,564 I could write 365, but that's too many numbers in a point. 693 00:33:34,514 --> 00:33:36,874 So just be a 24 7 Christian every day. 694 00:33:38,344 --> 00:33:41,454 24 7 Christian, meaning not a 5 minute a day Christian, not 695 00:33:41,454 --> 00:33:42,584 a 15 minute a day Christian. 696 00:33:43,354 --> 00:33:44,604 Not a 1 hour a day Christian. 697 00:33:45,214 --> 00:33:47,814 No, you're always a Christian. 698 00:33:48,724 --> 00:33:51,904 We're talking about our actions now, and so here we get, and this is similar 699 00:33:51,904 --> 00:33:53,864 to what we were just talking about, but, but I want you to think about 700 00:33:53,924 --> 00:33:57,344 aiming your actions, the things that you do now, not just your affections, 701 00:33:57,614 --> 00:33:59,094 but what your affections produce. 702 00:33:59,344 --> 00:34:05,154 2nd So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim, our ambition, 703 00:34:05,174 --> 00:34:08,603 our aspiration to please Christ. 704 00:34:09,054 --> 00:34:14,205 What we do, we want to make sure that when, when we act, when we make a 705 00:34:14,205 --> 00:34:18,034 decision, Adrian Rogers said, give Christ first consideration in every decision. 706 00:34:18,264 --> 00:34:22,295 We want to make sure as we're doing that, and not just the first 707 00:34:22,295 --> 00:34:24,353 thought, but all the thoughts, right, as we talked about in point one. 708 00:34:24,754 --> 00:34:29,603 As we're doing that, that we're doing that in such a way that makes Jesus look great 709 00:34:29,665 --> 00:34:31,583 in the eyes of anyone that are around us. 710 00:34:32,344 --> 00:34:34,583 You say, is that a biblical concept? 711 00:34:34,969 --> 00:34:38,529 Yeah, it's a biblical concept actually straight from the mouth of Jesus himself. 712 00:34:38,759 --> 00:34:47,059 Matthew 5 16 Matthew chapter 5 verse 16 says, hold on here Yep, I got it there. 713 00:34:47,069 --> 00:34:47,339 Good. 714 00:34:47,998 --> 00:34:52,889 Matthew 5 16 says this, in the same way Let your light shine before 715 00:34:52,929 --> 00:34:55,609 others so that they may see your what? 716 00:34:56,899 --> 00:35:03,019 your good works so that they may see your good works and Give glory to your Father 717 00:35:03,019 --> 00:35:07,884 who's in heaven Man, church, the call there is to live with Christ preeminent so 718 00:35:07,884 --> 00:35:13,544 that your actions, the things that you do, people see and glorify God as a result. 719 00:35:14,024 --> 00:35:17,035 Now, that assumes that they know that you're a Christian because 720 00:35:17,035 --> 00:35:19,944 you've told them that, or you've had that conversation, or ideally 721 00:35:19,944 --> 00:35:21,154 you've shared the gospel with them. 722 00:35:22,225 --> 00:35:24,964 But having done that, they're going to watch you live your life and think 723 00:35:24,964 --> 00:35:28,044 to themselves, man, there's something different about that person because 724 00:35:28,044 --> 00:35:29,435 of their relationship with Jesus. 725 00:35:31,040 --> 00:35:35,020 And even if that doesn't lead them to come to you and ask for a reason for the 726 00:35:35,020 --> 00:35:39,520 hope that's within you, Matthew 5, 16 is saying that God is going to be glorified 727 00:35:39,520 --> 00:35:40,910 in them noticing the difference there. 728 00:35:41,379 --> 00:35:44,540 And so does your life make Jesus look good? 729 00:35:44,839 --> 00:35:48,490 Are you a 24 7 Christian or just a Sunday morning Christian? 730 00:35:49,879 --> 00:35:52,370 Or just a Sunday morning, Tuesday night, whenever your small 731 00:35:52,370 --> 00:35:53,290 group meets, community group? 732 00:35:54,375 --> 00:35:58,205 Wednesday night, youth group, maybe you're serving in a youth group, or maybe 733 00:35:58,205 --> 00:36:01,665 you're in part of another Bible study, you're a Christian in those environments, 734 00:36:01,665 --> 00:36:03,315 but are you a Christian at home? 735 00:36:04,354 --> 00:36:06,905 Are you a Christian in the morning when you're getting up, 736 00:36:07,165 --> 00:36:08,254 before you've had your coffee? 737 00:36:09,695 --> 00:36:13,644 Are you a Christian when you get home, men, from work, and you walk in the door? 738 00:36:15,274 --> 00:36:19,444 Are you a Christian, moms, with your kids when they're on your last nerve? 739 00:36:21,584 --> 00:36:22,654 Are you a Christian? 740 00:36:23,434 --> 00:36:24,614 Single person in the room. 741 00:36:25,544 --> 00:36:28,335 In what you're doing with the time that God has given you, 1 Corinthians 742 00:36:28,335 --> 00:36:31,734 chapter 7, Paul says it's a gift of singleness because you are undistracted 743 00:36:31,754 --> 00:36:33,104 to be able to serve the Lord. 744 00:36:35,984 --> 00:36:38,104 Are we 24 7 Christians? 745 00:36:39,084 --> 00:36:43,034 If Christ is first place in our life, then the answer to that is going to be yes. 746 00:36:44,354 --> 00:36:46,904 Some areas to think about there, how about your, your speech? 747 00:36:48,324 --> 00:36:51,444 I'm, I'm so burdened by this one because of the culture in which we live. 748 00:36:52,224 --> 00:36:55,115 where profanity has become commonplace. 749 00:36:56,464 --> 00:37:00,164 There was a professional athlete in the local Metroplex here who 750 00:37:00,164 --> 00:37:01,325 just retired this past week. 751 00:37:01,325 --> 00:37:04,115 And he put up a post on Instagram about his retirement. 752 00:37:04,144 --> 00:37:06,414 And in the first part of the post, he was talking about how, man, I'm so 753 00:37:06,414 --> 00:37:10,604 grateful to God and Jesus for the ability to play baseball for these many years. 754 00:37:10,604 --> 00:37:14,204 And I'm so thankful that he allowed me to do this and my Savior, my Lord. 755 00:37:14,204 --> 00:37:18,224 And then in the next paragraph, he drops a very profane word, like 756 00:37:18,224 --> 00:37:20,004 a 5 word in the next paragraph. 757 00:37:21,239 --> 00:37:24,779 And just like that, everything that he said before that is completely undone. 758 00:37:27,259 --> 00:37:29,659 We need to be careful about our speech. 759 00:37:30,889 --> 00:37:34,649 Is your, is your speech showing that Christ has first place in your life? 760 00:37:36,199 --> 00:37:38,469 Jesus said the mouth speaks out of the abundance of the heart. 761 00:37:39,629 --> 00:37:43,249 It reveals what holds your heart, what has first place in your heart. 762 00:37:45,939 --> 00:37:46,969 Here's another one, driving. 763 00:37:49,389 --> 00:37:50,929 Does Christ have first place behind the wheel? 764 00:37:52,619 --> 00:37:54,749 We have these bumper stickers that say Compass Bible Church on them with 765 00:37:54,749 --> 00:37:58,909 our church logo on them And I've had people come to me and say thanks for 766 00:37:58,969 --> 00:38:01,179 for having those I'm not gonna put them on my car though, because I don't want 767 00:38:01,179 --> 00:38:02,359 to bring shame to the name of Jesus. 768 00:38:02,729 --> 00:38:03,939 Be a better driver! 769 00:38:06,869 --> 00:38:07,249 Right? 770 00:38:09,009 --> 00:38:11,749 I mean, we wouldn't say that about any other arena, would we? 771 00:38:13,119 --> 00:38:15,869 I don't want to wear a Compass Bible Church shirt into the strip club 772 00:38:15,879 --> 00:38:20,389 because I don't want to bring shame on the name of Jesus You laugh, but we've 773 00:38:20,389 --> 00:38:21,789 got our respectable sins, don't we? 774 00:38:24,424 --> 00:38:26,334 So I'm just trying to press in on something that might hurt. 775 00:38:26,354 --> 00:38:28,554 And believe me, I've been pressing on myself on that one, too. 776 00:38:29,244 --> 00:38:32,034 There have been times that my bumper sticker has literally sanctified me. 777 00:38:32,454 --> 00:38:34,574 Because I've thought about doing something and been like, uh uh, I can't 778 00:38:34,574 --> 00:38:35,544 do that, I got my sticker on the back. 779 00:38:35,804 --> 00:38:38,544 My worst nightmare would be preaching and then having somebody 780 00:38:38,544 --> 00:38:40,794 come up to me afterward and be like, you cut me off the other day. 781 00:38:41,304 --> 00:38:44,024 I saw you behind the wheel, I saw your sticker on the car. 782 00:38:44,964 --> 00:38:45,414 I'm out. 783 00:38:47,954 --> 00:38:49,564 I joke, y'all, but honestly? 784 00:38:51,899 --> 00:38:53,229 Getting into these corners, right? 785 00:38:53,239 --> 00:38:56,289 Like Kuyper said, there's not an inch in all of existence over 786 00:38:56,289 --> 00:38:57,489 which Christ does not say, mine. 787 00:38:58,779 --> 00:39:00,459 Does Christ have first place over your actions? 788 00:39:01,489 --> 00:39:04,659 Are you, with your actions, making Jesus look good? 789 00:39:04,769 --> 00:39:05,579 Exalting Him. 790 00:39:06,359 --> 00:39:06,869 Exalting Him. 791 00:39:06,890 --> 00:39:09,269 Be a 24 7 Christian. 792 00:39:12,319 --> 00:39:14,279 Think about a championship level team. 793 00:39:14,704 --> 00:39:14,984 Right? 794 00:39:16,204 --> 00:39:18,954 Uh, World Series winning team, like the Texas Rangers, not 795 00:39:18,954 --> 00:39:19,914 the Dodgers, they're old news. 796 00:39:20,304 --> 00:39:21,044 Texas Rangers. 797 00:39:22,714 --> 00:39:25,764 A team can't win a championship without each individual player on the team 798 00:39:25,764 --> 00:39:27,134 competing at a championship level. 799 00:39:28,764 --> 00:39:33,724 Church, if we want to be a Christ exalting church, we're not gonna get 800 00:39:33,724 --> 00:39:36,734 there without every single Christian in the room being a Christ exalting 801 00:39:36,734 --> 00:39:38,554 Christian first and foremost. 802 00:39:39,854 --> 00:39:42,364 If we are going to be a Christ exalting church, we must first and 803 00:39:42,364 --> 00:39:45,394 foremost be Christ exalting Christians. 804 00:39:45,444 --> 00:39:48,634 Attention, affection, and action. 805 00:39:50,664 --> 00:39:54,864 And again, the reason why is because He is the Lord of the church. 806 00:39:55,805 --> 00:39:58,174 Because Acts 20, 28, He bought it with His blood. 807 00:39:59,234 --> 00:40:01,874 So it's fitting that as we conclude our service, we're 808 00:40:01,874 --> 00:40:03,874 going to remember that sacrifice. 809 00:40:04,554 --> 00:40:10,064 that purchased the church, that cemented Jesus as the ruler, as the head, as the 810 00:40:10,064 --> 00:40:11,694 beginning, as the firstborn from the dead. 811 00:40:11,944 --> 00:40:14,044 That sacrifice that set all of that in motion. 812 00:40:14,524 --> 00:40:17,044 We're going to remember now as we observe the elements of communion. 813 00:40:17,474 --> 00:40:21,784 And so as these elements are passed and the music is played, think about this 814 00:40:21,784 --> 00:40:24,144 sermon in exalting Christ with your life. 815 00:40:24,524 --> 00:40:27,984 Look back at your week, look forward to what's coming ahead and give thanks 816 00:40:27,994 --> 00:40:32,694 for the sacrifice of Jesus that has made Him our Lord and our Savior. 817 00:40:36,185 --> 00:40:40,605 Okay.