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Ephesians 5:1 · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

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Our text this morning is Ephesians chapter 5.
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Two weeks ago I had the privilege of going to the Social Security office to get a new Social Security card.
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! I walk into the office and the Federal Security guard calls me over real politely.
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He quietly tells me that the knife in my pocket needs to go back to my vehicle.
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I was shocked for a number of reasons.
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First, for his request.
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Second, that I actually had my knife in my pocket.
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I don't usually carry one around.
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And third, it's only about two inches long, so I don't know.
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He saw the shock on my face and he proceeded to tell me that weapons are not allowed on Federal property.
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If you've never been to the Social Security office, the new location in Gainesville, it's in an office building.
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Below it is a doctor's office.
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The law office next to it is a law office.
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So how in the world am I on Federal property?
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Because I'm pretty sure the law office and the doctor's office are not Federal offices.
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When I walked through the door into the Social Security office, I was stepping into and onto Federal grounds.
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That moment, I was on Federal ground.
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I was told by the Security guard and there was nothing I could do about it.
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I had to abide by his laws.
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In all honesty, there's probably signs posted that I didn't see.
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I'm sure there are signs posted.
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I would make an argument this morning that the same effect should occur when people come in contact with us.
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That when they come in contact with us, we should have signs up figuratively that people know exactly who we are, where we stand, and that we are Christians.
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We are adopted sons and daughters of the King.
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So friend or foe, enemy or acquaintance should know exactly where we stand.
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I'm afraid that too often our signs aren't even up.
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I'm afraid too often the doorways aren't marked in our lives.
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And there's no difference between us and the world, between Christians and the world.
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A couple of weeks ago, Nathan talked about six things to look for in a healthy church.
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One of the things he mentioned was missional church, to find a church that is missional.
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A church that believes that everyone, as Christians, are ministers sent into the world to build the kingdom of God for the glory of God.
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I would argue that living missional lives is how the signs stay out.
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It's how everyone knows where we stand.
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Our doorways are marked.
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And people will know exactly where they are and who they are in the presence of.
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I am not advocating prideful arrogance because we are adopted kings, adopted sons and daughters of the King.
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I'm advocating a sincere life changed by the Gospel.
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I would also argue that being missional is not this one thing we do.
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It's not this event that we put on or this outreach that we do or this particular Bible study that we study.
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It isn't the specific way that you talk or the clothes that you wear or the way that you choose to live a certain time.
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Being missional is life.
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It is a life that has been changed by the Gospel and is now compelled to love all.
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Friend and foe, neighbor and family, enemy and companion.
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Missional is our subject this morning.
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My goal is for all of us to be moved, convicted and compelled to put up a sign and make ourselves known to the world.
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Ephesians 5.1 is our text this morning.
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One verse.
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And it reads,
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Therefore, be imitators of God as beloved children.
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Let's pray together.
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Amen.
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Gracious Heavenly Father,
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hallowed be Your name.
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Your kingdom come.
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Your will be done this morning.
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I pray that You would speak through me.
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That the words that are spoken would not be my words, not my opinions, not my thoughts,
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but be Your words to us this morning.
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That we would hear Your words and we would follow Your words with obedience, whatever that requires.
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Repentance.
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A step in being a little more bold.
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Whatever that is, God, we would be moved by Your word this morning.
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The Gospel has already changed our life.
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It's already made us new creatures.
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God, I pray that it would change our actions as well.
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We would not hinder that from happening.
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We ask that You move this morning.
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That You would speak to our hearts.
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Your Holy Spirit would continue to move in this room and in our gathering.
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I pray this in Jesus' name.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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So let me define missional for you.
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The definition I want to use is from a book entitled Community by Brad House.
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He says,
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Missional is to participate in the mission of God as a response to the Gospel through proclamation and practice.
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So, participate in the mission of God as a response to the Gospel through proclamation and practice.
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Before we dig any deeper into the ground of missional living, we must look at the Gospel.
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The end of the definition says,
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As a response to the Gospel through proclamation and practice.
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A missional life lives in response to the Gospel.
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The life-changing act of the Father sending His Son to earth to live a sinless life.
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Romans 8.3
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For God has done what the law we can by the flesh could not do.
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By sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin.
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God the Father sent His Son to earth to be sin, to bear the wrath of God for us, His body, the church.
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We are undeserving and in fact we did not desire Him.
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He showed us favor for His glory.
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He showed us grace.
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His grace.
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Because He is a merciful and gracious God.
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Now, as children of God, we sit here.
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We sing songs.
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We go to work during the week.
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We sit in a classroom.
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And because of Jesus, our standing with God is as if no sin had ever been committed.
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Because our sin was taken away and given to us was Jesus' righteousness.
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Some may say that we were neutral recipients of the grace of God.
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That we do good and we do bad and it just kind of evens out.
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The law tells us that we were actually in overdrive, driving the opposite direction of God.
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Running from Him as sinners in rebellion of Him.
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We weren't just undeserving.
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We were guilty and deserving of the full wrath of God.
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And He showed us grace by sending His Son for us.
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God the Father has sent His Son.
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And in John 20, 21, it says that Jesus then sends us.
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He says, as the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.
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Not just His apostles.
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Not just the disciples.
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But all Christians are sent.
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We are sent in the world, as Romans 8 tells us,
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as ambassadors of Jesus, as ambassadors of the Gospel.
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This is missional living.
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In response to the Gospel.
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From the Gospel.
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Out of the Gospel.
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Because of the Gospel.
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This is missional living.
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Ephesians 5.1 says,
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Therefore, be imitators of God as beloved children.
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I want to unpack the second part of the verse first.
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As beloved children.
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We are beloved children because of the Gospel.
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Romans 8.15 says,
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For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear,
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but you have received the spirit of adoption as sons,
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by whom we cry, Abba, Father.
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Ephesians 1.5 says,
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He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ.
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Ephesians 1.5 says,
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Through Jesus Christ.
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For what part?
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His entire life.
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Sinless.
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Perfect sacrifice for us.
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Turn to Hebrews 9.10.
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I'll show you something really quick,
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and then we'll come back to Ephesians.
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Hebrews 9.10.
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Chapter 9, verse 11.
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But when Christ appeared as a high priest for the good things that have come,
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then through the greater and more perfect tent,
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not made with hands,
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that is, not of His creation,
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He entered once for all into the holy places,
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not by means of the blood of goats and calves,
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but by means of His own blood,
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thus to securing an eternal redemption.
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For if the blood of goats and bulls,
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and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of heifer,
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sanctify for the purification of the flesh,
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how much more will the blood of Christ,
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who through the eternal Spirit,
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offered Himself without blemish to God,
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purify our conscience from dead works,
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to serve the living God.
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Now, what I want to show you is,
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in verse 12,
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He says He entered once for all.
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Once and for all.
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Look at verse 12.
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Or, I'm sorry, not verse 12.
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We just read that.
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Verse 26 in chapter 9.
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For then He would have had to suffer repeatedly
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since the foundation of the world,
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but as it is, He has appeared once for all.
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Verse 28.
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So Christ having been offered once
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to bear the sins of many.
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Chapter 10.
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Verse 10.
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And by that,
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will we have been sanctified
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through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ
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once for all.
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And again, in verse 12.
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But then Christ had offered for all time
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a single sacrifice for sins.
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You have been adopted once and for all.
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It is over.
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You're always part of the family.
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You will not be let go.
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You will not be discarded.
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Once and for all.
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It is finished.
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You are a child of God.
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And Ephesians 5.
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1 says,
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A beloved child of God.
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And nothing will change that.
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We are children of God.
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And we are to imitate God
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as children of God.
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I started thinking about my kids
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and the imitation of me
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that they do.
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They do it.
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If you don't have kids yet,
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here you go.
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I've got an experiment for you.
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Parents, try this at home.
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See how long it takes.
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Siblings, older siblings,
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try this.
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And then when you have kids,
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try it.
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Do some goofy dance move
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and see how long it takes them
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for them to add it
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to their repertoire.
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It will happen.
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I've seen it.
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It will happen.
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It won't take long.
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Kids and children
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imitate their parents
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for the good
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and for the bad.
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Children also trust their parents
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and are in complete
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dependence of them.
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They're dependent
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for all their needs.
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You don't see a four-year-old
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shopping for groceries,
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but they have them.
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You don't see a ten-year-old
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shopping for insurance,
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but they have it.
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You don't see a fourteen-year-old
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shopping for a house,
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but they live in one.
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Guys, we are beloved children of God.
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We must be dependent on Him
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and Him alone.
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Children also are nurtured
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by their parents.
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The love and support they need
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is there from the parents.
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The touch and feel they need
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is there.
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Let me take a moment here.
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Some of you don't have parents.
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Some of you haven't received
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nurture from them
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in a really long time.
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Maybe your dad has never said,
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I love you.
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Maybe he's never hugged you.
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Maybe your mom has never
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complimented you
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or told you that she loves you.
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Maybe you never have had
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real parents.
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Be comforted.
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Be comforted
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because this verse
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is for you.
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As beloved children,
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He loves you
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and He wants to nurture you.
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He wants to hold you
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and take care of you.
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Your Heavenly Father
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can and will
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fill that void.
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Allow Him to heal you.
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Allow Him to be
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your nurturing Father.
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Allow Him to heal you.
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Let go of whatever
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is hindering you
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from that happening.
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Children are taken care of
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by their parents.
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and we are taken care of
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by our Heavenly Father
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as beloved children
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imitate God.
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So how do we imitate God?
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Without digging down deep,
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we know there's some things
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that we just can't do.
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We can't redeem
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a people.
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We can't forgive sins.
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That is where the Gospel
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comes into play.
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That is where the Gospel
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works.
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I looked at just
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the book of Ephesians.
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Just one book.
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And I went through
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and I marked
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what God does.
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If we're going to
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imitate Him,
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let's see what He does.
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So real quick,
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kind of a quick run through
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of Ephesians.
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Six chapters.
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In chapter 1, verse 3,
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God blessed us in Christ
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with every spiritual blessing.
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chapter 1, verse 4,
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He chose us in Him
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to be holy and blameless.
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Chapter 1, verse 5,
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He adopted us as sons.
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Verse 7,
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He redeemed us
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and He forgives us.
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Verse 11,
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He has given us
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an inheritance.
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Verse 17,
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He gives us a spirit
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of wisdom and revelation
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in the knowledge of Him.
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He makes it possible
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for us to know Him.
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In chapter 2, verse 4,
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He is rich in mercy.
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He is merciful.
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Also, verse 4,
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He has great love.
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Verse 13 of chapter 2,
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He gathers His children close.
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Verse 14,
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He is our peace.
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He unites.
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Verse 16,
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He is peacemaker.
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Verse 22,
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He continues to work.
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In chapter 3, verse 2,
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He is the giver of grace.
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Chapter 3, verse 8,
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He is bearer of unsearchable riches
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in Christ.
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Verse 19 of chapter 3,
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He has love that surpasses knowledge.
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Chapter 4, verse 1,
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He calls.
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Verse 7 of chapter 4,
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He is the giver of grace.
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Verse 16 of chapter 4,
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He is the head of the body
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and He makes it grow.
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This is what God does.
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Verse 21 of chapter 4,
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He is truth.
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Verse 32,
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He forgives.
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Chapter 5, verse 2,
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He has made a sacrifice for us.
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Verse 8,
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He is the giver of light
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so that we can walk in light.
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Chapter 5, verse 23,
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He is the Savior.
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Verse 29,
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He cherishes the church.
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Chapter 6, verse 4,
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He disciplines and He instructs.
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Verse 8,
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He is the giver of good.
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Verse 10,
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He is strong and mighty.
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Verse 24,
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He has an incorruptible love.
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Now there's 65 more books in the Bible
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that we should go through
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and figure out what God does.
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Because that's just one of them
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and it's a daunting list.
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How in the world can we imitate God?
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The answer is by being missional.
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In response to the Gospel.
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Missional.
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The definition is to participate
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in the mission of God
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as a response to the Gospel
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through proclamation and practice.
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See, our message,
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it can redeem.
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We can forgive because of the Gospel.
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We can love because of the Gospel.
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And when we do so,
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we live in response to the Gospel.
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So that list there that I just ran through,
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that's what God does.
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That's what God does.
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So then,
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what is His mission?
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In other words,
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why does He do those things?
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God's mission can be summed up by,
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God's mission is to be glorified
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by making Himself known.
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So how does He accomplish this?
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God's mission,
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be glorified by making Himself known.
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Well, He accomplishes this
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by sending Jesus
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to redeem His people,
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to build His clean kingdom
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and to glorify the Father.
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And then by Jesus sending us.
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Jesus sending us,
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as we read in John chapter 20.
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Matthew 28,
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verse 18 through 20,
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is the Great Commission.
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These are our marching orders.
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Verse 18 of Matthew 28 says,
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All authority in heaven and on earth
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has been given to Me.
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Go therefore and make disciples
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of all nations,
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baptizing them in the name of the Father
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and of the Son
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and of the Holy Spirit,
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teaching them to observe
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all that I have commanded you.
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And behold,
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I am with you always
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to the end of the age.
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These are our marching orders.
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We are sent into the world.
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And this go here
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is in our going.
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Or as we go,
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as we walk,
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as we work,
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as we sing,
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as we talk,
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make disciples.
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The good news here
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is we see this list.
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We've read through that list
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of Ephesians
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of what God does.
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We see this Great Commission.
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The good news is
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that we don't have to do
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anything new.
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We don't have to create
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a new program
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to reach the lost.
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All we have to do
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is join God
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in what He's already doing.
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Join Him
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on His mission.
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He's already working.
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He's already making Himself known.
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We have been invited
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to join Him.
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We join God
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by living missional lives.
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By imitating Him
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out of the Gospel
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and not for the Gospel.
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Out of the Gospel,
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not for the Gospel.
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The definition was
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in response to the Gospel
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by proclaiming
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and practicing
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the Gospel.
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The church is the messenger.
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The universal church.
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Not Christ's family church.
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Not Church of Dahlonega.
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Not First Baptist of wherever.
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The church.
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The big church.
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Capital C.
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Is the messenger
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of salvation.
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Not the means
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of salvation.
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So we proclaim
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the message
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of salvation
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to the world.
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God sends us.
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Jesus has sent us.
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And we proclaim
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the message
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of salvation.
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In Luke chapter 4
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verse 43,
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Jesus says,
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I must preach
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the good news
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of the kingdom
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of God
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to the other towns
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as well.
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For I was sent
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for this purpose.
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Jesus was sent
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to preach the good news.
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The good news
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about Himself.
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And we then
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are sent
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to preach
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the good news
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of Jesus.
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As John chapter 20
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verse 21 says,
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As the Father
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has sent me,
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Jesus speaking,
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even so
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I am sending you.
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So as the Father
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has sent me,
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I then am sending
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you out.
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We are to imitate
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God by joining
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Him in His mission.
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By joining Him.
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See,
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missional is not
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this new idea.
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Missional is not
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this new buzzword,
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although it is
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a buzzword.
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It is a popular
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word to speak
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in Christian circles.
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Missional is
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the command
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of God.
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It is the way
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that we must,
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must,
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live our
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lives.
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So then,
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how do we live
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missional lives?
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How then do we
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live missional lives?
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First of all,
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by being intentional
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in proclaiming
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and practicing
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the Gospel.
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Here is why
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I chose
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the word
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intentional.
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See,
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we have been
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given a new
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life as Christians.
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But as
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Romans 7
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taught us,
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we still have
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the same
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corrupting
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thoughts
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and desires.
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And Romans 8
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tells us
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that we have,
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we no longer
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are condemned,
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but we still
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sin.
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So we have
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the sin
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and the corrupting
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thoughts and
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desires still
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in us.
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We're battling
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it in us.
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So missional
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living requires
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intentionality.
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We have to be
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intentional and
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determined
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to live it out.
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We have to make
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a point to be
22:29
missional.
22:30
have to be
22:31
disciplined,
22:32
to be determined
22:34
and to be devoted
22:35
to being
22:36
missional.
22:38
We have to
22:38
continually remember
22:39
that we are
22:40
the sent ones.
22:41
We are sent
22:42
with a purpose.
22:44
We are invited
22:45
by God
22:46
to join Him
22:47
in what He
22:47
is already
22:48
doing.
22:50
That He's
22:50
already doing.
22:51
He has
22:52
invited us
22:53
to join Him.
22:54
This,
22:56
right there,
22:56
that right there
22:57
should ease
22:58
some of our
22:59
fear and our
22:59
uncertainty.
23:01
We join God
23:02
in what He's
23:02
doing.
23:04
We then
23:04
imitate Him
23:05
and live
23:06
missional lives
23:07
in response
23:08
to the Gospel.
23:09
So here,
23:10
at Christ's
23:11
Family Church,
23:11
one of the ways
23:12
that we are
23:12
intentional is
23:13
by meeting
23:14
in community
23:14
groups.
23:16
We meet in
23:17
community groups
23:17
during the week.
23:19
The purpose
23:19
of community
23:20
groups is not
23:21
to have a
23:21
mid-week
23:22
Bible study.
23:23
Even though
23:24
that's good.
23:26
It's not
23:27
to meet
23:27
together
23:28
and fellowship
23:28
over food.
23:30
Even though
23:31
that's good.
23:32
It's not
23:32
to meet
23:32
and bear
23:33
one another's
23:33
burdens.
23:34
Even though
23:35
that's good
23:35
and that
23:36
happens.
23:37
The main
23:37
purpose
23:38
of community
23:38
groups is
23:39
to reach
23:40
the community
23:40
for Jesus.
23:42
To minister
23:43
together
23:44
to glorify
23:45
God
23:45
by making
23:46
Him known.
23:48
We have
23:48
three community
23:49
groups right now.
23:50
We have
23:51
two in
23:51
Dahlonega
23:51
and one
23:52
down in
23:52
Gainesville.
23:53
We want
23:54
to make
23:54
the communities
23:55
we are
23:55
in better
23:56
in response
23:57
to the
23:58
Gospel.
23:59
We want
24:00
all of
24:00
Christ's
24:01
family
24:01
church
24:01
to proclaim
24:02
the Gospel
24:02
and live
24:03
it out.
24:04
We want
24:04
all of
24:04
Christ's
24:05
family
24:05
church,
24:05
every person
24:06
in this
24:06
room,
24:07
to be part
24:07
of the
24:07
community
24:07
group,
24:08
so that
24:08
we can
24:09
better the
24:09
community
24:10
because of
24:11
the Gospel
24:11
and for
24:14
the glory
24:14
of God.
24:16
We want
24:16
to make
24:16
an impact
24:17
in our
24:17
communities,
24:19
not for
24:20
Christ's
24:20
family
24:20
church,
24:21
not for
24:21
our name,
24:22
but for
24:22
His name,
24:23
for His
24:24
glory.
24:25
Each group
24:26
is praying
24:27
for ministry
24:28
opportunities
24:28
to serve
24:29
the community.
24:30
We're
24:31
looking for
24:32
opportunities
24:33
to see where
24:33
God is at
24:34
work,
24:34
to see where
24:35
we can
24:35
join Him,
24:36
where can
24:37
we minister
24:38
to people
24:38
who are
24:38
in need.
24:42
We want
24:42
to love
24:43
the people
24:43
of Dahlonega,
24:44
love the
24:45
people of
24:45
Gainesville,
24:46
and
24:46
surrounding
24:48
areas of
24:48
those
24:49
to make
24:50
God
24:51
known.
24:53
Big
24:54
tasks.
24:55
Big
24:55
tasks.
24:56
But we
24:57
serve a
24:57
bigger God.
24:59
And He
24:59
has called
25:00
us to
25:00
join Him
25:01
on His
25:02
mission.
25:04
And He
25:05
will enable
25:05
us to do
25:06
exactly what
25:07
He wants
25:07
us to do.
25:08
We just
25:08
have to
25:09
trust and
25:09
obey.
25:11
If I
25:11
say
25:11
Metropolitan
25:12
Tabernacle,
25:13
you guys
25:13
know what
25:13
I'm talking
25:13
about?
25:14
No.
25:16
Metropolitan
25:17
Tabernacle
25:17
is the
25:18
church that
25:18
Charles Spurgeon
25:19
preached and
25:20
was pastor
25:21
for over
25:21
40 years
25:22
in London,
25:23
downtown
25:24
London.
25:27
In the
25:28
1800s,
25:29
the Industrial
25:29
Revolution was
25:30
coming through.
25:31
And listen to
25:32
some of the
25:32
problems that
25:33
London faced.
25:35
The Industrial
25:36
Revolution began
25:37
in the United
25:37
Kingdom in the
25:38
latter half of
25:39
the 18th
25:39
century.
25:40
And by the
25:41
1850s,
25:42
its effects
25:43
pervaded
25:43
England.
25:45
In this
25:45
period of
25:45
great
25:46
industrialization,
25:47
people left
25:47
their farms
25:48
and small
25:49
towns and
25:50
flocked to
25:50
London,
25:51
Manchester,
25:52
and other
25:52
cities.
25:53
As people
25:54
congregated in
25:55
vast numbers,
25:56
the old
25:57
infrastructure of
25:57
London lacked
25:58
the capacity and
25:59
resources to
26:00
attend to the
26:01
needs of the
26:02
new crowds.
26:03
The influx of
26:04
people into
26:04
London meant
26:05
not only a
26:06
spike in
26:07
laborers and
26:08
factories,
26:08
but also the
26:09
number of
26:09
under-resourced
26:10
women,
26:11
children,
26:12
orphans,
26:12
and widows
26:13
exploded in
26:15
London.
26:15
The city was
26:16
in crisis.
26:17
The leaders
26:18
didn't know
26:18
what to do.
26:19
They saw the
26:20
mountain of
26:21
needs that
26:22
confronted them
26:22
from every
26:23
angle.
26:24
Thus, in the
26:25
1850s, a lot
26:26
of London
26:27
churches did
26:28
what a lot of
26:29
American churches
26:29
have done during
26:30
the last 30
26:31
years.
26:31
They fled the
26:32
cities.
26:34
These churches
26:34
moved their
26:35
locations to the
26:36
outskirts of
26:37
London.
26:38
Now, we
26:40
don't deal
26:40
with overpopulation
26:43
here in
26:43
Dahlonega and
26:44
Gainesville.
26:45
We don't deal
26:46
with the
26:46
Industrial Revolution
26:47
coming through
26:48
our area.
26:52
But like
26:53
Metropolitan
26:53
Pabernacle,
26:54
they had a
26:55
decision to
26:55
make.
26:56
We have a
26:57
decision to
26:57
make.
26:58
Are we going
26:58
to be
26:59
intentional and
27:00
live in response
27:01
to the
27:02
gospel, or are
27:03
we going to
27:03
ignore the
27:04
needs of
27:04
people and
27:05
ignore God?
27:08
This is our
27:09
decision to
27:10
make.
27:13
We ignore
27:14
problems.
27:16
We stub our
27:16
noses sometimes.
27:19
When are we
27:20
going to get
27:21
involved?
27:22
When are we
27:23
going to live
27:23
intentional,
27:25
missional lives?
27:27
Are we going
27:28
to fear the
27:29
growing gay and
27:30
lesbian culture
27:30
because we
27:31
don't know how
27:31
to love them?
27:33
Are we going
27:33
to ignore the
27:34
growing drug
27:35
culture?
27:36
Or are we
27:37
going to fight
27:38
it and love
27:38
those who
27:39
are in the
27:39
middle of
27:39
it?
27:40
Are we
27:40
going to
27:41
embrace the
27:41
art culture?
27:42
Are we
27:42
going to
27:43
just be like
27:43
most churches
27:44
of the last
27:44
century and
27:45
ignore it?
27:46
These are
27:47
questions that
27:47
we have to
27:48
ask and
27:49
answer because
27:50
we are in
27:51
Northeast Georgia.
27:56
Are we
27:57
going to live
27:57
missional lives
27:58
that are
27:59
intentional,
28:00
that are in
28:01
response to
28:02
the gospel?
28:04
Read what
28:05
Metropolitan
28:06
did.
28:06
Metropolitan
28:09
Tabernacle
28:10
pastored by
28:11
Charles Spurgeon
28:12
decided we're
28:12
not going to
28:13
do that.
28:14
We're going
28:14
to stay
28:14
here.
28:15
We see
28:15
this as an
28:17
opportunity
28:17
for the
28:19
gospel.
28:20
Metropolitan
28:21
Tabernacle
28:21
looked at the
28:22
needs of the
28:22
people in the
28:23
city and
28:24
began to
28:24
engage in
28:25
helping them
28:26
with their
28:26
problems.
28:27
The problems
28:27
of the
28:28
desperately
28:28
poor were
28:29
the most
28:29
pressing,
28:30
so Metropolitan
28:31
Tabernacle
28:32
leaders created
28:32
almshouses for
28:33
people who
28:34
lost their
28:34
jobs and
28:35
needed time to
28:35
get back on
28:36
their feet.
28:37
The poor
28:37
houses in
28:38
London operated
28:39
in terrible
28:40
conditions,
28:41
but the
28:42
almshouses of
28:42
Metropolitan
28:43
Tabernacle
28:44
provided a
28:44
crucial
28:45
alternative.
28:46
The church
28:47
also built a
28:47
large number
28:48
of homes for
28:48
the elderly
28:49
where they
28:49
would care for
28:51
them and
28:51
help them die
28:53
with dignity
28:54
and peace.
28:55
The church
28:56
created an
28:56
orphanage where
28:59
they educated,
29:00
cared for,
29:01
and fed
29:01
thousands of
29:02
orphans.
29:03
they created
29:03
homes for
29:04
single mothers
29:05
who had lost
29:05
their husbands
29:06
and helped
29:06
them find
29:06
employment.
29:08
Metropolitan
29:09
Tabernacle
29:09
started a
29:10
school for
29:10
pastors from
29:11
rural areas to
29:13
receive a
29:13
theological
29:14
education and
29:15
help clothe and
29:15
provide books
29:16
for these
29:16
impoverished
29:17
pastors.
29:18
They started
29:19
programs for
29:20
businessmen to
29:20
use their
29:21
entrepreneurial
29:21
efforts to
29:22
expand the
29:23
kingdom through
29:24
their businesses.
29:25
Now listen to
29:26
this.
29:27
Metropolitan
29:28
Tabernacle's
29:29
influence spread
29:29
so quickly
29:30
throughout the
29:31
poor and all
29:32
the way up
29:32
to the
29:32
class ladder
29:33
to the
29:33
aristocracy.
29:35
It got to
29:36
the point that
29:36
if Metropolitan
29:37
Tabernacle had
29:39
shut down at
29:39
any point during
29:40
that decade of
29:41
grappling with the
29:42
problems of the
29:43
Industrial Revolution,
29:45
the city of
29:45
London would have
29:46
been crippled.
29:49
They would have
29:49
grieved the
29:50
loss of the
29:51
Tabernacle.
29:52
Can you imagine
29:53
serving the needs
29:54
of the city,
29:54
being so attuned
29:56
to the common
29:57
good for the
29:57
sake of the
29:58
gospel,
29:59
that your city
30:00
would grieve
30:01
if you picked
30:01
up and
30:02
left?
30:07
Are we going
30:08
to live
30:09
intentional lives
30:11
in response to
30:13
the gospel?
30:14
Another way of
30:15
living missional
30:15
life is having
30:16
ownership of the
30:17
gospel and the
30:18
mission of God.
30:20
Have you ever
30:20
rented a car
30:22
and found
30:24
yourself treating
30:24
it worse than
30:25
you would your
30:25
own?
30:27
You get in it
30:28
and the first
30:28
thing you look at,
30:29
and this might
30:29
just be the
30:30
guys.
30:30
You get in it
30:31
and you look at
30:31
it and you
30:32
look and see
30:32
how far the
30:32
speedometer goes.
30:34
120, 125,
30:35
what are we
30:36
looking at?
30:36
And then you
30:37
say, let's see
30:38
what this baby
30:38
will do.
30:40
We do this
30:41
because it's
30:41
not ours.
30:43
We don't have
30:43
ownership of it.
30:44
We don't care
30:45
as much about it.
30:46
We don't think
30:47
about it as much
30:48
and we certainly
30:48
don't live for it.
30:51
It's the same
30:51
with the gospel
30:52
and the mission
30:52
of God.
30:54
If the gospel
30:55
and the mission
30:55
of God are just
30:56
religious activities,
30:57
if they're just
30:58
things that we
30:58
do that just
30:59
happen on Sunday,
31:01
there's no
31:01
ownership.
31:03
If there's just
31:03
another activity
31:04
on our list
31:05
of responsibilities,
31:07
there's no
31:09
ownership.
31:10
You abuse it,
31:11
you ignore it,
31:12
and you don't
31:12
live for it.
31:14
But if,
31:16
if you have
31:17
ownership,
31:17
you take care
31:18
of it,
31:19
you love it,
31:20
you cherish it,
31:21
like your car,
31:22
you baby it,
31:23
and very seldom
31:26
do you floor it.
31:28
You find yourself
31:29
caring for it,
31:31
wanting to take
31:31
care of it,
31:32
cherishing it,
31:33
because it's yours.
31:35
Well,
31:36
I'm here to tell you
31:37
that the gospel
31:37
and the mission
31:38
of God is yours.
31:40
It is yours
31:41
and it is mine.
31:43
Ephesians chapter 1.
31:44
Flip back to
31:45
Ephesians chapter 1
31:46
real quick.
31:46
Ephesians chapter 1
31:57
verse 3.
31:58
It says,
31:59
Blessed be the
31:59
God and Father
32:00
of our Lord Jesus
32:01
Christ,
32:02
who has blessed
32:03
us in Christ
32:04
with every
32:04
spiritual blessing
32:05
in the heavenly
32:06
places,
32:07
even as He chose
32:09
us in Him
32:09
before the
32:10
foundation of the
32:11
world,
32:11
that we should
32:12
be holy
32:12
and blameless
32:13
before Him.
32:15
In love,
32:16
He predestined
32:17
us for
32:18
adoption as
32:18
sons through
32:20
Jesus Christ
32:21
according to
32:22
the purpose
32:23
of His will,
32:24
to the praise
32:24
of His glorious
32:25
grace with which
32:26
He has blessed
32:27
us in the
32:28
Beloved.
32:29
In Him,
32:29
we have
32:30
redemption
32:30
through His
32:31
blood,
32:31
the forgiveness
32:32
of our
32:32
trespasses
32:33
according to
32:34
the riches
32:34
of His grace,
32:35
which He
32:36
lavished upon
32:36
us in all
32:37
wisdom and
32:38
insight,
32:39
making known
32:39
to us
32:40
the mystery
32:40
of His
32:41
will,
32:41
according to
32:42
His purpose
32:42
which He
32:43
has set forth
32:44
in Christ
32:45
as a plan
32:45
for the
32:46
fullness of
32:47
time to
32:47
unite all
32:48
things in
32:48
Him,
32:49
things in
32:49
heaven and
32:50
things on
32:51
earth.
32:52
It is
32:53
personal.
32:55
This
32:55
salvation,
32:56
this adoption
32:57
is personal.
32:58
It's just
32:58
not an
32:59
activity.
33:01
No one
33:01
is adopted
33:02
without it
33:02
being personal.
33:04
Britain,
33:04
my oldest
33:05
is adopted
33:05
and it
33:06
has been
33:06
personal.
33:08
Her life
33:09
has been
33:09
affected by
33:10
her adoption
33:11
for the
33:11
good.
33:13
Let's be
33:14
honest.
33:14
it is
33:16
personal.
33:17
But,
33:18
we cannot
33:19
believe the
33:19
gospel without
33:21
being moved
33:22
to action
33:22
by it.
33:24
We cannot
33:25
believe the
33:27
gospel without
33:28
being moved
33:29
to action
33:30
by it.
33:32
See,
33:32
we know the
33:33
commandments of
33:34
God.
33:34
We know the
33:35
love that God
33:37
has for us.
33:38
And in turn,
33:39
we're supposed
33:39
to have for
33:40
others.
33:40
We know
33:40
these things.
33:41
We know
33:41
God's mission.
33:42
And because
33:43
we do,
33:44
we must
33:45
act.
33:47
In the book
33:48
Community
33:48
that I quoted
33:50
earlier,
33:50
it says,
33:50
when our
33:51
hearts beat
33:52
in rhythm
33:52
with His,
33:53
we begin
33:54
to see His
33:55
mission and
33:56
are ready
33:56
to take
33:57
ownership
33:57
of it.
33:59
I see it.
34:00
Do you see
34:01
God's mission?
34:02
Do you see
34:03
why He's doing
34:05
what He does?
34:06
Why He
34:07
redeems a
34:08
people?
34:08
to glorify
34:10
Himself by
34:11
making Himself
34:12
known.
34:14
Ownership is
34:14
marked by a
34:15
get-to
34:16
sacrifice and
34:17
not a got-to
34:18
out of duty.
34:22
Ownership is
34:23
a get-to.
34:24
We get to be
34:24
part of God's
34:25
mission.
34:26
We get to
34:27
join Him.
34:27
We get to
34:28
love people.
34:29
We get to
34:30
live the
34:30
gospel out for
34:31
others to see.
34:33
We get to
34:33
be on mission
34:34
with God.
34:36
We get to
34:37
join Him in
34:37
the work that
34:38
He is
34:38
already
34:39
doing.
34:40
There is
34:41
not a
34:41
got-to
34:42
attitude in
34:42
ownership.
34:44
It is a
34:45
get-to
34:45
sacrifice for
34:46
His glory
34:47
and His
34:47
name.
34:49
Own the
34:50
truth of
34:51
God and
34:52
get in the
34:52
game.
34:54
It is
34:55
real and
34:56
it is
34:56
personal.
34:58
Here's some
34:58
good news
34:59
though.
35:00
Here's some
35:01
really good
35:01
news.
35:02
God has
35:03
created us
35:03
for His
35:04
good work.
35:06
Ephesians
35:06
chapter 2
35:07
verse 10.
35:08
For we
35:09
are His
35:09
workmanship
35:10
created in
35:11
Christ Jesus
35:12
for good
35:13
works which
35:14
God prepared
35:15
before Him
35:16
that we
35:17
should walk
35:17
in them.
35:18
Not only
35:19
has God
35:19
created us
35:20
for His
35:20
good work,
35:21
we are
35:21
equipped for
35:23
His good
35:23
work.
35:23
Chapter 4
35:24
verse 11
35:26
and 12.
35:26
And He
35:27
gave the
35:27
apostles,
35:28
the prophets,
35:29
the evangelists,
35:30
the shepherds,
35:30
and teachers
35:31
to equip the
35:32
saints for the
35:33
work of the
35:34
ministry,
35:35
for building
35:35
up the
35:36
body of
35:37
Christ.
35:38
Not only
35:38
has God
35:39
created us
35:40
for this
35:40
work,
35:41
not only
35:41
has He
35:41
equipped us
35:42
for this
35:42
work,
35:43
but He
35:43
empowers us
35:44
and compels
35:45
us through
35:47
the gospel.
35:47
Again,
35:48
Ephesians
35:48
chapter 3
35:49
verse 20
35:51
and 21.
35:52
Now to Him
35:53
who is able
35:54
to do far
35:55
more abundantly
35:55
than all
35:56
that we
35:57
ask or
35:58
think,
35:59
according to
35:59
the power
36:00
at work
36:01
within us.
36:02
To Him
36:03
be glory
36:03
in the
36:04
church and
36:04
in Christ
36:05
Jesus
36:05
throughout all
36:06
generations
36:06
forever and
36:08
ever.
36:08
Amen.
36:10
God has
36:11
created us
36:12
for His
36:12
work.
36:13
He equips
36:13
us for His
36:14
work and
36:14
He empowers
36:15
us for His
36:16
work through
36:16
the gospel.
36:17
There is no
36:18
reason to
36:18
fear.
36:19
There is no
36:20
reason to
36:20
worry.
36:21
There is no
36:22
reason to
36:22
doubt.
36:23
There is no
36:24
reason to
36:25
question.
36:26
He has
36:26
created us
36:27
for His
36:27
work.
36:28
He has
36:30
equipped us
36:30
for His
36:31
work and
36:31
He empowers
36:32
us for
36:33
His
36:33
work.
36:33
It is
36:33
why the
36:34
verse 1
36:36
of chapter
36:36
5 says
36:37
and walk
36:37
in love.
36:38
We can
36:39
walk in
36:39
love because
36:40
He has
36:40
equipped us,
36:43
created us,
36:44
and empowered
36:44
us to be
36:45
able to do
36:46
just that.
36:49
Missional is
36:50
participating in
36:51
the mission of
36:52
God as a
36:53
response to
36:54
the gospel
36:55
through
36:55
proclamation
36:56
and practice
36:58
that is
36:59
missional.
37:00
We join
37:01
God in
37:01
His
37:02
mission,
37:02
on His
37:03
mission.
37:04
We don't
37:05
create a
37:05
new mission.
37:06
We join
37:07
Him in
37:08
what He
37:08
is already
37:09
doing.
37:10
That is
37:12
missional.
37:12
When we
37:13
are living
37:13
missional
37:14
lives,
37:14
by imitating
37:15
God,
37:16
people will
37:16
know.
37:18
Like when I
37:19
walked into
37:20
the Social
37:20
Security office
37:21
and I was
37:22
told I was
37:23
on federal
37:23
ground.
37:24
Nothing I
37:25
could do
37:25
about it.
37:27
I just
37:27
knew.
37:28
I guess.
37:28
I was
37:28
told and
37:29
I knew.
37:30
I was on
37:30
federal
37:30
property.
37:32
People will
37:33
know immediately
37:33
we're living
37:35
missional
37:35
lives.
37:37
You're
37:37
a Christian
37:38
on mission.
37:39
On God's
37:40
mission.
37:41
That is
37:41
being
37:42
missional.
37:43
Being
37:43
missional
37:43
begins and
37:44
ends with
37:45
the gospel.
37:46
We are
37:46
sent from
37:47
Him for
37:48
Him.
37:50
We have
37:50
been chosen
37:50
for His
37:51
mission,
37:52
for His
37:53
glory and
37:53
His name.
37:54
God.
37:55
See,
37:55
the gospel
37:55
compels
37:56
us.
37:57
It empowers
37:57
us.
37:58
And it
37:58
is the
37:58
message we
38:00
share.
38:01
Let us be
38:02
on mission
38:03
with God
38:03
and for
38:03
God.
38:05
That is
38:06
missional.
38:07
Let's pray
38:07
together.
38:08
Let us
38:09
desde