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[0:00] Ephesians 4, verses 1-3 were the verses that were preached on.

[0:17] Let's read 1-16. This is what I would have wanted to have preached on, but that's a lot. So, I'm going to read 1-16. I, therefore, a prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace.

[0:40] There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call. One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

[0:52] But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore, it says, When He ascended on high, He led a host of captives, and He gave gifts to men.

[1:03] And saying He ascended, what does it mean but that He also descended into the lower regions of the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.

[1:15] And He gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds, and teachers to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness and deceitful schemes.

[1:43] Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Him who is the head into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

[2:02] So the first question, how should a Christian's salvation change the way they think about themselves and members of their church?

[2:14] How should a Christian's salvation change the way they think about themselves? So we're talking about this morning the difference between being a Christian consumer and being a church member.

[2:28] And so how should, in thinking about your salvation, change the way you think, as far as from being a person who has a consumeristic mindset to one who has the mind of Christ, seeing themselves as one part of the body of which He is the head.

[2:49] Any, I don't, um, Cameron, will you be my, nobody's jumping on this one, so. Hey, there's Wes. Wes. Well, I had an answer until you started adding all that other stuff at the end there.

[3:11] But I'm going to say, um, through our salvation, we become adopted sons and daughters of, of, of God. So for starters, the way you're going to act and behave is you're a child of God.

[3:25] You're a citizen of heaven. And that I would look at my other Christians in the church the same way. We're all brothers and sisters in Christ. We're of the same family. And, you know, how do, how do children of the king act?

[3:39] So that's what I would think. Yeah, good. Because, like, going over to Danny. Good. Like, going, um, for one, chapters one through three in Ephesians, that's what Paul's been talking about.

[3:51] Positionally who you are. Now in chapter four. So this, since this is who you are, this is your position. You're part of the family of God. This is how you should act. Danny.

[4:04] Um, through salvation, we're saved from something. We needed to be saved from our wretched sins. So in no way should our salvation make us think that we have any type of entitlement.

[4:18] Um, we continually need a savior. And so, um, I don't know how we could come with our demands, um, if we constantly look back at that we have been saved.

[4:33] That makes sense. Good. Yeah. So it takes humility. Humility is involved in salvation. And to continue to be humble and acknowledging the fact that you are saved by God's grace, not because of who you are or what you've done, but because he's been merciful to you.

[4:51] So then you act mercifully towards others and you try to walk humbly towards others and love others because you've been the recipient of such amazing love and grace.

[5:04] Evan? Yeah, I was just going to build on that. Yeah, pre-salvation, it's about me. Post-salvation, it's about God. It's about my neighbor. I mean, kind of build on what Danny was talking about, coming with demands.

[5:17] You know, we see in Mark 10, uh, even the son of man came not to be served, but to serve, give his life as ransom for many. So when we come, uh, when we think about, um, ourselves in relation to other members of the body, you know, we understand that we come to serve, uh, not just to be served.

[5:34] Good. Yeah, right on. So we cannot act like Christ if we haven't been saved by Christ. It's not going to happen. We're going to continue to be selfish, self-centered, thinking of ourselves, looking out for number one, who in that case, it still is us, apart from Christ.

[5:55] Dwayne? I don't know if this is what you're looking for, but I would say 29 is 10. And so, you know, that's been more than a couple of days ago.

[6:08] And to not really understand how important it was to be in a church and look at each other, but the last few years have taught me, or the last two or three decades have taught me, that anytime I'm going through anything that, that I'm struggling with, I don't usually think of my biological family first to turn to for prayer.

[6:32] I turn to the church. So I see this as my refuge here on earth. And we should be able to lift each other up, care for one another, and, you know, and then love humility.

[6:47] But I think that's salvation. That's one way I see a change in my life, how I view membership or whatever. It's just that. Who do I think of first when I want prayer and advice and direction?

[7:00] It's the family here. Good. All good answers. And in all those answers, I mean, you hear that salvation changes us.

[7:15] It changes the way you think. It changes the way that you live. It changes the way that you think about yourself. Again, not that we're beating ourselves up or we're hating ourselves.

[7:26] That's not what humility is, but we just don't think about ourselves as much. Because we're thinking more about Christ. We're thinking more about others. We're thinking about our church. We're thankful to be given the privilege to be a part of the church.

[7:43] And it changes you. It changes everything about you. Any other answers for that question? Good. Julie? Julie? Julie? Julie? Julie?

[7:54] It really just goes along with what everybody else says. But, you know, his word says that Jesus came to set the captives free and to give sight to the blind.

[8:10] And the lame would walk and give life to the dead. And that's what he's, again, going to the change. That's what he's done.

[8:21] That we can actually see somebody else instead of just our own self and our own needs. That we can actually be set free from only, you know, I call it navel gazing.

[8:37] And to hear and see the word and see the beauty of the gospel that, quite frankly, I don't think you see until that happens.

[8:56] So, yeah, good. Yeah, there's freedom when we're saved. Freedom from self-centeredness.

[9:09] I mean, we're still struggling with that. But there's freedom to see that, man, it's not living my life only for myself and thinking only about myself is not a very great way to live.

[9:20] You know, the only one who usually benefits from that is me at the expense of others. And people who live that way don't seem all that happy anyway, do they? Because it comes down to it.

[9:30] They're a sinner. They're not really as great as they think that they are. Well, and also, it sets us free from our sin. Free from our sin. Yeah, absolutely.

[9:41] Sure. We have, we continue to sin, but we have the desire to repent, and we have that forgiveness over and over, the new mercies every day, and the ability to get up and move forward every day when, you know, you failed him the day before.

[10:01] But, so, that's another setting for you. Sure. Yeah, ultimately. Set free from sin, from its consequences, from its grip on us, and as part of that, to be able to live a life that, where Christ can be at the center.

[10:23] And that's what your heart's desire is, and with that, the ability to actually see other people, care about other people, and love other people without any kind of selfish motivation behind it, that you're going to do that act because you stand something to gain from it.

[10:40] But just because you know that it's a Christ-like thing to do, and you've been saved by Christ. Okay, let's move on to question two.

[10:51] Which of the characteristics, and again, I mean, you know, depending on your courage, if you want to talk about which ones you struggle with, or you can just talk about in general, what you feel like you see in the church at large, a struggle that they have.

[11:08] Which of the characteristics listed in verses two through three do you struggle the most with demonstrating, and how you seek God's help to change that? So if you remember what those characteristics were, humility, gentleness, patience, love, and unity.

[11:38] Wes? I look at this one as kind of a process of elimination. I'm really, really good at gentleness and patience and love and unity, and there's no room for improvement at all in there.

[11:50] So I'm guessing my issue is humility. Okay. Good one. I had to think that one. I do think humility, but there's room for improvement on all these items here.

[12:08] And just, I guess, the best way to get it done is keep reading my word and just praying for God to help guide me in a lot of this stuff. Trying to catch yourself before, like being impatient.

[12:20] It's kind of like once you become a Christian and a sin pops up, the better you get, the sooner you, you know, repent about it. And so keeping these things kind of almost in front of me where I'm thinking I could have been more patient in that aspect, or, oh, I need to show more unity when I'm thinking about something with my church members or whatever.

[12:39] So I think the best way is just to try to keep it in front of you and just keep thinking about this and just little steps at a time, I think. Yeah. I think you're right.

[12:50] And I was going to say, too, the struggles could be from situation to situation, too, or from person to person. Maybe you realize, you know, I could be gentle with this person, but I'm not so gentle with this other one.

[13:04] Or I'm patient in this situation. I'm not so patient here. Cameron? Cameron? I think for me, the big one that stuck out, and I think there's probably a reason it's listed first, is just humility.

[13:16] And I like what Evan said, you know, pre-salvation, it's all about ourselves. It's, you know, you're worried about, am I going to get into the right college? Am I going to get the career I want?

[13:28] Am I driving the type of car I like? Like, pre-salvation is all about yourself. And so once we're saved, how do you break that? How do you, okay, first it's God, and then it's other people.

[13:41] There's not a third commandment about myself that I read about, you know. So, and then when you look at the church in general with the American church, you know, it seems very much a self-centered gospel.

[13:59] A watered-down, what's-it-going-to-do-for-me kind of prideful gospel, if we're honest. It's a gospel that fits into my lifestyle. We're creating a gospel, and so we have no humility to accept the true gospel that is truly life-changing.

[14:19] And so I think humility being listed first is probably, you know, one of the big, hard stepping stones for people of, hey, all of a sudden, it's not about me.

[14:32] Yeah, good. I think that that, if we're looking at the church, certainly there's a, well, and I totally agree with everything you said, and I think it can go the other way, too, where we can be lack humility, and our doctrine is right, even if it is, which it is.

[14:52] But you know what I'm saying? We can even, you know, so I catch myself doing this sometimes on Facebook where I read through, you know, different Christian posts.

[15:03] It's like that verse is taken out of context, you know, or different things like that where we can even look down on others and lack humility because we can puff ourselves up, too, just as they can do in these other things.

[15:20] We can do it likewise in a different way that we need to be careful about, too, because then we're looking down on everyone else, and that doesn't communicate humility.

[15:36] Who else wants to share? John. Let's all guess what we think John is going to say.

[15:54] Well, I think for me, patience is probably what, you know, what I struggle with most. I mean, really? I have to put up with OSU, my friend, and KU friend.

[16:07] No, I'm just kidding. I love them all. I love them all. No. I have a family member that I'm, you know, I'm struggling with right now, and I'm having to be patient with this person, and it's been hard.

[16:23] I mean, it's just a breakdown sometimes, and I ask God to, you know, help me, you know, for wisdom and stuff. But anyway, I know this person is going to come around someday, hopefully soon.

[16:38] So anyway, I just think we just need to, you know, get on our knees and pray and ask for wisdom. Yeah. You know, I'm just kidding about that football stuff. Oh, yeah. We understand.

[16:52] Yeah, unity. So we're all going to root for KU now. That's how we'll keep it all united. No. But I think that, I think we can all say we have a situation where, and again, I think in each, in different, with different people in different situations, we can struggle with one of these characteristics in some way, impatience.

[17:16] I think we've all, there's all, we probably all have a situation or a person kind of similar to you, John, where it's just hard to be patient with that person. It's hard to be patient with them as you see them living a life that, you know, is going to, their choices are going to have some really bad consequences.

[17:34] They're going to get hurt, and other people are going to get hurt. So, I think we've all certainly been in that situation, if not currently, maybe are in a situation like that, where it is hard to be patient.

[17:51] Anybody else? Paul. All the way across. As I was thinking of it, and it really flows from a lot of what everybody's already said, the self-centeredness that we tend to be and tend to have.

[18:14] But I think that the church often struggles, that we as a church often struggle with unity the most. And part of that is because even once we're together on doctrine, and we still get into the nitty-gritty of working together as a church and doing activities as a church and all those kinds of things, my way is the best way to do this.

[18:42] And therefore, sometimes I have troubles, and we have troubles, giving in and even going to God and saying, okay, if my way isn't the way it should be, then show me how to hold back, show me how to back off, and let the church be the church.

[19:03] And so often, I think that self-centeredness and that pride, even in those little things, is where sometimes the church struggles the hardest. Yeah, I agree.

[19:13] And you think, because again, we have a church our size, a lot of different personalities with a lot of different spiritual gifts, and we tend to gravitate towards the area in our church where our gift is most frequently used, maybe.

[19:32] And that becomes really important to us. I do that with, you know, if somebody came up to me and be like, hey, we want to reduce your sermons by, you know, cut ten minutes out.

[19:42] I'd be, okay. But no, I wouldn't. I'd be, but you know what I'm saying? Don't do that, because now, oh, he'll just say, okay. But what I mean to say is we all have that thing that we, it's really important to us.

[19:54] And it's, you know, we, so yeah, I think exactly. We kind of, we can move towards, well, I think that this, I really enjoy this aspect of church, and I don't want it to change, or I want it to, I want us to focus our time and energies on that more so than others.

[20:14] And so, yeah, it can be hard to maintain unity. Another thing, if you just look at our denomination as well, anybody been to a convention before, a Southern Baptist Convention meeting before?

[20:27] Have you? Do you see a lot of unity throughout that whole entire week that we're together for those things? Every once in a while. But I'll tell you, I took Danny.

[20:40] First one I went to was when I, soon after I came to be pastor here down in Dallas, and I'd never been to one before, and I was like, oh, you know, it's in Dallas. It's just not that far away, and it seems like some important things are going on that I'd like to go and be a part of.

[20:57] And the part where they make motions or, what do they call those? I'm looking to Nick. Is he, did you know?

[21:09] Okay. It's like a proposal, but there's a name for it. It doesn't matter. Yeah, but along those lines, and you know, and then there's a back and forth from those in the audience, those on the stage, and the audience on the stage, and it got kind of a little bit heated, you know?

[21:31] And sinfully so, a little bit entertaining as well, to be honest. But you just saw, here's, we've got thousands of Southern Baptists together.

[21:41] And there's all these little things, these little, yeah, bickerings back and forth, concern over this, concern over that.

[21:53] You know, each, you know, different groups trying to say, if we go in that way, we're going to be ruined. No, if we go in this way, we're going to be ruined. And we still, we still have that stuff going on in our denomination as well.

[22:08] So, unfortunately, a lot of times, we see a lack of unity, not just in local churches, but in the denomination as well. Anybody else?

[22:21] Mike, we'll turn the tables on you here.

[22:32] Oh, no. You're not allowed to ask me questions. Yeah, so, over the last couple months, we've been talking about the church, and what is the church?

[22:43] What's the purpose of the church? And then church membership, and we've talked tonight about serving the body. Yeah, how do you think the body comes alongside each other in this, helping one another?

[22:58] What are the various ways that, or what does that look like? I know, like this morning, you mentioned praying for our other members, or being able to know and love one another enough to be able to hold one another accountable, or fasting together, or whatever it is.

[23:13] What are your thoughts there? I think that, so for me, what I see in Scripture, and what I think we're working towards achieving is identifying what people's spiritual gifts are, and putting them in positions within the church to put those gifts to work.

[23:40] And when we all are doing that, I feel like we're functioning like we're supposed to. So, like, for me, that's identifying things that I'm not very good at, and not trying to cover them up, or hide them, or hold on to them, for fear that, you know, it could make me look like I don't know what I'm doing.

[24:05] Does that make sense? But rather to find somebody in the church and be like, why am I going to do this, when that person enjoys it, and I hate it, and they do a good job, and they'll do a good job, because I know that they care about our church.

[24:15] So I think that's a huge part of what it means to be the body, is that, you know, each part, because this is a description, each member of the body, each part of the body has a different function.

[24:30] And when it's working together, it achieves much. But when a part of the body is out of place, doing something that it shouldn't do, or when it's missing, or sick, or broken, then it affects the rest of the body.

[24:47] Is that in answering your question? No? No? So ask again.

[25:00] Because I don't want to not answer your question. Are you talking about works and service in the church, or are you talking about something else?

[25:12] I think more so like, I'll use Michael Kingston here as a part of my example. Yeah, I'm really struggling to be gentle with my brother Nick here.

[25:32] Michael's seen me, you know, I haven't been very gentle with Nick. Okay. And so, yeah, how does Michael come alongside to help me in that struggle? I think that Paul says it in verse 15 here.

[25:49] Speaking the truth in love. So in that situation, it requires, yeah, one member of the body going to the other in a loving, gentle way. And I'm just saying, hey, I've noticed that you've been, you seem upset.

[26:09] You know, I see you're around Nick. Something's off. What's going on? So, yeah. And I think that's part of church discipline at step one. We're going to our brother or sister in Christ.

[26:21] Even, I think that's part of it too, is even if it was you or you just see it, to preserve and maintain the unity of the church, you're willing to have those kinds of conversations that are difficult but typically fruitful.

[26:34] Because that person may not even recognize it. Or they do and somebody needs to be used by God to speak some truth and love that hopefully will convict them and lead to change.

[26:51] Because those things are, it is a big deal. A very big deal in the church. And those little things can be used by Satan to create divisions within the church.

[27:08] And I think with that too, Evan, I think sometimes if it's you and you're lacking, you're finding you're lacking patience or being gentle with a person, for you to talk to, you know, one of the elders or a deacon or somebody in the church as well, be like, hey, I'm really struggling with this person.

[27:31] I'm struggling with being gentle to this person. Could you pray for me? Could you help me? And to know that that person truly is going to pray for you and help you. Instead of going to Nick in this scenario and saying, hey, Nick, did you know that Evan said all these terrible things about you?

[27:49] He really can't stand to be around you. I think that's how the body is being healthy when we're doing things like that. Linda.

[28:01] I'm not a gentle person. And I was actually called on the carpet jokingly. But a dear friend said, you know, you really come across as such and such.

[28:14] And so even though it was said jokingly, I've taken it seriously. And I'm really trying. And so very much in that scenario is she came to me. She loves me.

[28:25] And I know that. And I appreciated her sharing that. And I am trying. So remind me periodically that I'm not being gentle. I think it depends on the situation, too.

[28:38] Because I've seen you be, I mean, with my children, I've seen you be very gentle. Yeah. Now you brought, you got a lot of doll clothes for Hazel. I mean, that's something that somebody who cares does.

[28:51] But so were you thankful that that person told you? She said absolutely. I don't know that she recognizes that I'm talking about her. If somebody, I use a lot of sports analogies.

[29:10] But I remember in college, you know, my coach was trying to joke with me about something. And I did not take it well. And he's like, you need to have greasy shoulders. And he left. I've probably shared this before.

[29:21] I was like, what does that mean? And so I think I even asked my team, what does that mean? I'm not. And he's like, you got to let stuff roll off your back and not take it so seriously. But in some situations like that, too, where I guess what I'm trying to say is to be willing to hear someone speak the truth and love to you instead of being offensive, acting offended, being self-defensive.

[29:43] Those aren't fruits of the Spirit. But to be willing to hear that person, know that they care about you. Otherwise, they wouldn't say that to you. That they're speaking to you in love to be able to receive that without acting defensively and to change.

[30:03] I mean, that's what needs to be happening in the church for it to be healthy. To not only be willing to give that, but to receive it. And then to respond with God's help to change.

[30:17] Good. Because we don't always act that way, do we? And somebody comes to me and says, hey, you want to say? Automatically offensive or offended or defensive.

[30:28] No, I got all these excuses. No, you're impatient. You know? No, you're not gentle. I've seen you not be gentle. Who are you to tell me that I'm not being gentle?

[30:43] Any others? There is where you struggle or maybe, you know, when we speak about just Christians in general or the church.

[30:54] James. You guys are both tall. You got long reaches. Yep, just reach across there. Reach across about three pews. He's getting so old and feeble, I don't want to stress him out too much.

[31:08] I think for me, I know patience here lately has been one of my downfalls. And it's interesting when I'm in a situation where I know I'm losing my patience and my temper is starting to flare a little bit, that the Holy Spirit will just come on me and calm me down and say, look at it from their perspective, love them, be gentle with them.

[31:34] Sometimes I listen, sometimes I don't. But the Holy Spirit does convict and will bring that to your attention. And I think the thing that's interesting about this is the fact that we have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us that is making us a new creature.

[31:55] And the things that we do is not under our own power. And the more that we come to that understanding that the Holy Spirit is in control and is driving us, then it's easier for us to step back.

[32:11] Because I can sit back and know when I've lost my patience. And I can say, and somebody will come up and say, you're so patient, you're so good. And it's like, no, I'm not.

[32:22] But they're seeing the Holy Spirit working in me, not my true person. And so I think the more that you allow the Holy Spirit to work in you and to be in control of you, the easier it is to be more Christ-like, to be more the way you should be toward your brothers and sisters in Christ.

[32:43] And then when you stop and you think about each and every one of us was placed in here by God's own sovereign will. We didn't do it. In 1981, I never thought I was going to live in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.

[32:57] I didn't know I was going to be a part of Highland Park Baptist Church, but the Lord did. And he placed me here because this is where he wanted me. And he still wants me here. So it doesn't have anything to do with my will, what I want.

[33:12] It's what he wants and what he's leading me to. And that brings you to the humility part of it when you say, I'm a sinner saved by grace. Every single day, I am a sinner saved by grace.

[33:23] I have done nothing special, unique. It's all the Lord working through me. And so that's the more you have that attitude and allow him to have that control.

[33:37] And I'm not saying I'm perfect and I know I'm not. And I have my faults and just like anybody else. But the more he takes control of that, because I keep saying, Lord, I know they're not seeing me.

[33:48] They're not seeing the real me. They're seeing you working through me. And that is very humbling. Good. Yeah. And I think, as everyone has said, we all in different situations will find ourselves lacking maybe humility or patience or unity or love or gentleness.

[34:08] And what helps is to keep Christ in focus. How is Christ humble? How has Christ loved me? How has Christ been patient with me?

[34:18] How has Christ been gentle towards me? How has Christ united me to himself? And the more you think about that, the more it does. And, you know, the Holy Spirit, like you said, indwelling you, causing you to think about those things.

[34:32] But the more you are intentional about and thinking those ways, it will have an impact. It will change. It will help you to be more patient in areas where you're really struggling with a person or a situation.

[34:47] Cameron? The word you used there that caught my attention with what I'm wanting to say is intentional. And for me, one of the ones that God's really laid on my heart lately is loving everybody around me.

[35:02] Not that I don't love you guys. That's not what I'm saying. But there's so many times, you know, standing in the back of the choir leading music now, I look around. I want to see who's here, who's not here, who's missing.

[35:15] But how many times have I looked and it's just been a check mark? And I've not looked to say, hey, they're here. Do they look happy? Are they joyful? Does something look bothersome? And so God's really laid it on my heart of trying to be more intentional in how my family is feeling.

[35:33] Not that just my family is showing up to church, but actually trying to see people and see how they're feeling that day. And trying to talk to more people after service or before service or during Sunday school and just say, hey, how are you doing?

[35:49] That's something I've always been terrible at. I'm still terrible at it. But I think that is something that can go a long way within unity, humility, almost all of it.

[36:00] So that's one thing that's been really hitting me hard the last couple months. Good. Yeah. And looking around and seeing, you know, who's not here, too.

[36:12] And sometimes, because I've done this sometimes, too, look around and see who's not here to take notice of that. But then have I done anything intentionally that week to try to reach out to that person?

[36:23] Or, you know, could I be guilty of using the excuse of, well, the deacons can look out, whoever the deacon of that flock is. I'm like, yeah, maybe that should be happening. But especially for me as a pastor, I should be, I should know if they're not here, you know, as best as I can, especially if you haven't seen them for a while.

[36:41] Well, what's going on? Where have they been in checking in on them? And we can all do that. And it means a lot to people. That's what I was going to say. But we need to help you with that. Yeah. And it means a lot to people, you know, if anybody's ever reached out to you, you've been missing from church for a little while, and they sent you a card or they gave you a phone call or even a text message.

[37:00] It means a lot to know that you have been thought about, that you're missed in your church. Question three, how do church members best demonstrate humility, gentleness, patience, love, and unity to one another?

[37:16] So how do church members best demonstrate humility to one another? This is the one that caught my attention the most this morning, I think.

[37:30] And so I'm prepared, if you can believe that. We all probably use either NIV or ESV or New King James Bibles.

[37:42] But back in the King James, good old King James, in Romans 12, and I said, and you asked the question about how can we serve each other?

[37:56] Read Romans 12. But in Romans 12, verse 10, it says in the King James, be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love in honor, preferring one another.

[38:10] And you won't get that translation in honor, preferring one another. And that means to put the other person first in the situations.

[38:23] And as we work with one another here at Highland Park, and we go and we do things together and whatever, if it's got to be your way, you probably ought to stay home.

[38:37] Because that doesn't glorify Christ. It isn't build up unity and love. You're not showing your patience.

[38:50] You're not being gentle. And there's no humility in that. You've got to prefer your brother or sister over yourself.

[39:00] Not my way. Not Burger King. You know, all of it. This sermon today speaks a lot to how we can build up this church to glorify Christ and be his light on the hill here in Bartlesville and around the world.

[39:18] So that's what I've got to say. Amen. Good. Wes. Amy almost stole my thunder there, but this is in the ESV.

[39:36] The one I was thinking, I thought it was Paul that said it, and it's in Romans 12. It's outdo one another in humility, showing honor. And I think if you try to do that with everything on this list, if I try to outdo Cameron in my gentleness and patience, if I try to outdo Amy in love and just everybody, just as you, the whole thing is about humility and humbling others.

[40:02] And I think some people in here that are really good examples of that. And if you were, if we were all to do that to each other, it's like, I want to outdo you in love for you. No, I'm going to outdo you. I mean, that would just be a wonderful thing if we could all do that to each other.

[40:15] So I think that's how we do it. And just real quick, I wanted to say, I'm having a hard time understanding James losing his temper and getting his temper flaring.

[40:26] And then I also want to extend an offer out to Evan and Nick after the service we can meet. I can help you straighten out your issue you're having with him, okay? That's funny.

[40:40] It's the people here you never see angry when they are angry. It's scary, isn't it? You're going to see James getting angry, man. Ask Lee.

[40:53] As you guys were talking, I was thinking of a situation, Mark 10, where James and John came up to Jesus and requested to sit on his right and his left.

[41:03] You remember Jesus' response? Because the other disciples heard of it and were obviously upset. And Jesus' instruction to them and called them all together, diffused the situation, right?

[41:16] He said, you know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant.

[41:29] And whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many. As somebody I know had already mentioned that verse already.

[41:42] But, you know, how counter to our culture is that statement? That the greatest among you will be your servant. And whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.

[41:54] And I think sometimes we're so concerned with our needs, our desires, that if we're not fighting for our needs and our desires, that nobody else will do that.

[42:06] But I think what we find out in the church that is being obedient to the scriptures that we've read, is that as they're outdoing others and doing good, and as they're thinking about others, what they'll find is that they'll benefit from others doing the same for them.

[42:26] All of a sudden people are thinking about you. They do care about your needs because they're following that example as you're following that example of Jesus Christ, where you're seeking to serve and not thinking about yourself.

[42:38] All of a sudden you're the recipient of, you know, 100-something people in the church that all of a sudden really, they're looking out for you too, your interests and your problems and your needs.

[42:54] So, go ahead. I'd like to, just on a really serious side though, if anybody in the church has a need or a concern or whatever, really let your deacons know.

[43:08] Yes. Because from there we can, you know, I might not be able to fix your roof or say your plumbing, but I know somebody over there that can do that. Or if, I mean, seriously, I'm really being serious.

[43:20] Yeah. If there's something that someone else can do, if we know about it, we share. And then this church has a lot of resources of people that can sow or do all kinds of things.

[43:30] And if we let each other know what's going on, that's an easier way where people can step in and help out. So, it's not just the deacon's going to come fix your problems, but if you need someone to pray with you or pray for you or you just need someone to, you know, watch your dog or whatever it might happen to be, if we know about it, then we can try to find some kind of a solution and help people out.

[43:52] Amen. I'm glad you said that. We don't just have deacons just because we feel like we should because it's biblical. But, you know what I'm saying? They're not just there to be like, okay, we can check that box.

[44:04] No, we have deacons for specific biblical reason. And I know those who serve as deacons, they want people in our church to contact them when they have a need, spiritual or physical.

[44:21] And like Wes said, maybe they can't help you with it themselves, but they're going to talk to the elders. They know other people in the church. We're going to help you. And I think, and going back to what you said, Wes, a great comment, because I think that's humility as well.

[44:38] Being willing to admit the areas where you're struggling, confess, you know, or share those prayer requests, personal prayer requests as well.

[44:52] Being willing to let your guard down in humility to your deacon, to your church members, so that you can get the help that you need. Same thing with the physical needs.

[45:02] I think at times we can be like, well, I know, and this one's been hard for me. Because there's, so for example, yesterday, for example, we, Dana and I made a purchase that could not fit in our car.

[45:17] We thought it would fit. It wasn't going to fit. So automatically I was like, great. I feel like an idiot, first of all, because I didn't measure beforehand. And I just kind of was like, it's going to, it's going to fit, you know, and we'll just squeeze it in.

[45:31] It didn't fit. So now I'm like, okay, well, hold it. And I told Dana, we'll just go home and figure out what we're going to do. And so it's hard for me to ask for help in situations like that.

[45:44] And automatically I was, you know, just thinking, okay, who in the church do I know right now that's in town with a truck that I could reach out to? I reached out to two people. I reached out to Johnny Sawyer and I reached out to Nick Carraway.

[45:57] And they both, see, Ted, man, you were on the list too. I forgot that you had a truck. But the whole thing in my, the process of my mind is like they're busy. They're doing things. This is going to be an inconvenience to them.

[46:09] And I feel like an idiot because, you know, I didn't measure beforehand. I should have thought about this. And they're going to think I'm an idiot too because they're going to think, you know, why isn't this, why didn't he measure beforehand?

[46:21] He, who is this guy leading this church? Who can't, he doesn't even measure things before he buys them to make sure they can fit. And all these things kind of run in your head. So I texted them, I texted Nick and then John, like right, right, it was like one of these guys, hopefully it will be available.

[46:38] And boom, like automatically Johnny texted us like, yeah, come in, come and get it. Or do you want me to come meet you there and help you get in? And then Nick was like, yeah, same thing.

[46:50] I'll meet you there or pick you up or whatever. But I mean, within minutes, two church members who were willing to help out and then Nick to come and help me to do that and didn't call me an idiot or make me feel bad or anything like that, you know?

[47:08] But that's an example where, you know, I was even thinking on driving home from Walmart, you know, about renting a truck. How dumb is that?

[47:19] That's pride. That's pride. I know I have all these other people who would be willing to help me, but to try to hide my mistake, I was willing to pay a little extra for it. What did you say?

[47:33] Yeah. Well, guess what? It'll happen again, Ted. So you'll be, I'll move you to the top of the list. Yeah.

[47:43] Well, and we thought, I thought about you, Cameron, because I thought you might have been out of town with Kayla. But again, I mean, that's another one of those examples where you know there's people in the church that could help you, but then you kind of think your way out of it.

[47:58] Like, oh, they probably really don't want to help me. But I experienced that. And I know when people have asked me, I've been thankful to be able to have that opportunity to go and help them too. And that takes humility. And you know, a lot of fellowship and relationship building takes place in those situations.

[48:14] I know Mike's been called to a lot of your all's houses, mine included. And there's a lot of times to be able to build, to really get to know someone during little times like that.

[48:26] Church can really benefit in those moments where you're being loved upon and served. Linda or Wes first. Do you have something that we need to pick up in a truck, Wes?

[48:38] No, I don't. I got a truck. So you didn't call me either. You don't have a, you do have a truck. I've got a camper top. You do have a truck. You can't get big stuff in there. I was going to say, just another example is Linda.

[48:50] We were shoveling all that snow for everybody. She told me, and I shared with the deacons, like, if anybody needs a snowblower, she's got one. She's willing to let us use it. And so, I mean, there it is.

[49:01] An easy answer if you, you know, just ask and people are there to help. I did want to say also that if anybody does share with the deacons a prayer request or whatever, that's just kept among the deacons.

[49:14] So don't think it's something that's going to go out to the whole church. Or if you need someone to help you do something, you know, ask us and we'll help out. It kind of stays right there. It's not like you're going to, everybody's going to know you've got a bunion.

[49:27] We just, we'll go get the medication for you and we'll come back. All right. Okay. Okay.

[49:42] So quickly, when someone asks you for a favor, you willingly do it, right? Right? Yeah. So do you consider yourself more benevolent than the rest of us?

[49:54] Because we would do the same thing for you. And I think that by not allowing us to do that for you, then that's reducing us in our ability.

[50:05] You're absolutely right. You're absolutely right. And that's what I was convicted of yesterday, too. And I get those quick responses. It's this, you're absolutely right. Because I'm taking an opportunity away from somebody else to be, to serve me and to do something that is a blessing to me.

[50:26] So you're absolutely right. It was convicting, you know? So for sure. For sure. Cameron? I think the word that comes to my mind with how we demonstrate all of this is just our sincerity.

[50:38] When you ask somebody and Nick comes, he's going to love you and be sincere and not call you an idiot. Yeah. You know, but unless it's needed and then we'll call you an idiot.

[50:53] Yeah, yeah. Unless I'm being prideful. Hey, brother, maybe you should measure next time. You know, that would.

[51:04] You have a tape measure? I think I have an extra one at home. Was that? I didn't mean to cut you off. I just think sincerity goes a long way.

[51:15] For sure. I think so many times I just, especially, I don't know how to say this humbly, but with like everything going on and everything, you know, I'm involved in at the church, sometimes I get caught up in just the actions and everything going on and logistics.

[51:33] And that sincerity sometimes just is missing. Yeah. And that can hurt all of those things. It can drive my patients nuts when things don't fall just right.

[51:45] It's hard to be humble when it feels like so much is put on me to make sure everything goes smooth. You know, it can drive the, my love for you is not there enough like it should be if I just don't have the sincerity behind everything.

[52:04] Yeah. And so I think just our sincerity is, can be the driving force of all that. Sure. I think you're, I think that's, I think that's right.

[52:16] Because you could serve someone begrudgingly. Like, well, you know, I don't know if I have the time. I'll see if I can do it. But whenever you're willing to, like in, in these cases, and I know it's been the example for many of the rest of you who've been served by someone in the church, whenever they're willing to come like right away or soon.

[52:35] And they make it a priority because they sincerely want to help. Man, that, that's, that's, that's powerful. That, that'll, that'll build community for sure.

[52:49] Well, it's 732. I know, man. Well, you know, and we only talked about humility. Maybe we'll hit back on this one again.

[53:00] But I, I encourage you to think about these things and have conversations with one another about, you know, and you just think as a church as a whole, what can we do to better demonstrate humility, gentleness, patience, love, and unity to one another?

[53:15] And thinking of our outreach, how can we demonstrate these characteristics in a way that's visible to our community in a way that serves them too? And, and God will do good things through that.

[53:29] So, courage to hear what you, be encouraged to hear what you had to say. All right, let's pray. Father, thank you for this time that we've had to be together for this discussion.

[53:42] Lord, it's been, it's been a good time. We thank you, we thank you for it. God, we are thankful to know that you've saved us in your grace, that you've given us your spirit, that we have the ability, Lord, that you've, again, provided for us to not be self-centered people, but to be Christ-centered.

[54:04] Lord, we know the sin nature still remains. And at times, we struggle to think of others as ourselves.

[54:14] We are tempted to want to put ourselves in a place ahead of you. And so, God, I pray that all of us together tonight would be convicted by you, inspired by your word, to be the kinds of people in a kind of church that strives, is more intentional about making sure that we are demonstrating Christ-likeness to one another in a way that will draw the world's attention, in a way that will help us to be more effective and efficient in our sharing the gospel and advancing your kingdom on this earth.

[54:56] Lord, help us to be humble. Help us to be willing to admit where we struggle and where we stumble. Help us to be willing to accept help from one another, whether that's physical or spiritual.

[55:08] God, help us to be the kinds of people who are willing to speak the truth in love, that we would be on guard against any kind of division within our church, and that we would work to safeguard our unity and to maintain it, speaking the truth in love to one another.

[55:26] Lord, we pray that you'd be with us as we dismiss, Father, helping us to continue to think of what ways we can best and better as a church communicate your characteristics to one another and into our community, into our nation, that much would be made of the name of Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray.

[55:50]  Amen. Amen.