WEBVTT 00:00:07.900 --> 00:00:11.099 Hey guys, this is Tracy. If at any time you'd 00:00:11.099 --> 00:00:15.019 like to connect with HCV, go to hcv .church forward 00:00:15.019 --> 00:00:18.100 slash connect. If you feel called to give, go 00:00:18.100 --> 00:00:21.980 to hcv .church forward slash give. And if at 00:00:21.980 --> 00:00:23.920 any time you feel called to make a change in 00:00:23.920 --> 00:00:29.399 your life, text change me to 970 -00. Enjoy the 00:00:29.399 --> 00:00:35.679 message. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the 00:00:35.679 --> 00:00:42.700 final week of Summer Jams 2026. We floated down 00:00:42.700 --> 00:00:45.619 the river. We've reflected on the things we have 00:00:45.619 --> 00:00:50.359 done. We've rocked out in a jailhouse. Now it's 00:00:50.359 --> 00:00:55.259 time to slow it down. So rise to your feet. Turn 00:00:55.259 --> 00:00:58.539 on your cell phone lights. and sway to the beat 00:00:58.539 --> 00:01:04.640 help me welcome to the stage sean ray as he brings 00:01:04.640 --> 00:01:10.939 you guns and roses hit song patience check good 00:01:10.939 --> 00:01:15.060 morning church how are you today uh so this song 00:01:15.060 --> 00:01:18.819 is mainly about a man and a woman relationship 00:01:18.819 --> 00:01:21.659 and this also relates to our relationship with 00:01:21.659 --> 00:01:43.200 christ so here we go Shed a tear cause I'm missing 00:01:43.200 --> 00:01:49.799 you I'm still alright to smile Girl I think about 00:01:49.799 --> 00:01:57.760 you every day now Was a time when I wasn't sure 00:01:57.760 --> 00:02:03.939 But you set my mind at ease There is no doubt 00:02:03.939 --> 00:02:12.719 you're in my heart now Said woman slow it'll 00:02:12.719 --> 00:02:19.080 work itself out fine all we need is just a little 00:02:19.080 --> 00:02:43.919 patience says sugar make it slow Sit here on 00:02:43.919 --> 00:02:49.900 the stairs, cause I'd rather be alone If I can't 00:02:49.900 --> 00:02:56.479 have you right now, I'll wait here Sometimes 00:02:56.479 --> 00:03:01.080 I get so tense, but I can't speed up the time 00:03:01.080 --> 00:03:05.319 But you know, love, there's one more thing to 00:03:05.319 --> 00:03:12.960 consider Said woman, take it slow and things 00:03:12.960 --> 00:03:18.800 will be just fine. You and I'll just use a little 00:03:18.800 --> 00:03:26.360 patience. Said sugar, take the time cause our 00:03:26.360 --> 00:03:31.539 lights are shining bright. You and I've got what 00:03:31.539 --> 00:03:39.990 it takes to make it. We won't fake it. Never 00:03:39.990 --> 00:04:19.189 faked it Cause I can't take it Solo for this 00:04:19.189 --> 00:04:21.069 next part, and I need some help from you all. 00:04:28.569 --> 00:04:34.470 Just need a little patience. Ready? We need a 00:04:34.470 --> 00:04:41.290 little patience. Yeah. Just a little. Just a 00:04:41.290 --> 00:04:46.350 little patience. Keep it going. Yeah. Come on. 00:04:47.170 --> 00:04:50.839 We need a little Louder, I need to hear you. 00:04:51.240 --> 00:05:43.519 Yeah, just a little patience Thank you, church. 00:05:43.720 --> 00:06:05.100 God bless you all. Thank you. Good morning, everyone. 00:06:06.720 --> 00:06:10.879 How's everybody doing today? Did you just transport 00:06:10.879 --> 00:06:15.000 yourself back to the 90s? We all did. If you're 00:06:15.000 --> 00:06:16.639 joining us from home, thank you for welcoming 00:06:16.639 --> 00:06:20.779 us into your space. Patience, of course, by Guns 00:06:20.779 --> 00:06:25.060 N' Roses is an acoustic rock ballad generally 00:06:25.060 --> 00:06:29.079 focusing on the challenges of a romantic relationship. 00:06:29.560 --> 00:06:32.060 Rather than giving up on something difficult, 00:06:32.160 --> 00:06:35.000 it's about pressing on and pressing in. It was 00:06:35.000 --> 00:06:38.720 released in 1988 on the album Guns N' Roses Lies. 00:06:39.389 --> 00:06:42.189 And the lyrics simply describe a couple separated 00:06:42.189 --> 00:06:47.189 by distance, conflict, and uncertainty. Axl Rose 00:06:47.189 --> 00:06:50.449 sings to his partner to trust in their relationship 00:06:50.449 --> 00:06:54.730 because it's worth waiting for. All we need is 00:06:54.730 --> 00:06:57.129 a little patience. The song peaked at number 00:06:57.129 --> 00:06:59.550 four on the U .S. Billboard Hot 100, reached 00:06:59.550 --> 00:07:03.370 number 10 on the U .K. Hot Singles. Interestingly 00:07:03.370 --> 00:07:06.970 enough, Chris Cornell sang a cover of Patience 00:07:06.970 --> 00:07:09.399 that reached number one. on the U .S. charts. 00:07:09.879 --> 00:07:13.079 Ultimately, this is a song about real, authentic 00:07:13.079 --> 00:07:18.240 struggles in our relationships. It's sad, but 00:07:18.240 --> 00:07:21.300 it's hopeful. The band members all shared that 00:07:21.300 --> 00:07:24.699 this song was deeply personal to them in making 00:07:24.699 --> 00:07:27.459 it. The whole experience from writing the song 00:07:27.459 --> 00:07:33.540 to the video, they were engrossed in this intimate 00:07:33.540 --> 00:07:36.819 encounter while at the same time, The emotions 00:07:36.819 --> 00:07:40.560 that Rose sung about express the universal nature 00:07:40.560 --> 00:07:43.800 that the audience related to through relationships. 00:07:44.019 --> 00:07:47.620 There's ups, there's downs as we navigate them 00:07:47.620 --> 00:07:50.600 and walk through life. By show of hands, humor 00:07:50.600 --> 00:07:53.459 me, how many of you have ever struggled in a 00:07:53.459 --> 00:07:58.180 relationship? Anybody? Yeah, if every hand isn't 00:07:58.180 --> 00:08:01.019 raised, then you're Jesus, come pray for me, 00:08:01.139 --> 00:08:06.670 okay? Because that's truth. All of us struggle 00:08:06.670 --> 00:08:10.050 in our relationships. It could be a marriage 00:08:10.050 --> 00:08:12.329 that is on the rocks, a friendship that fell 00:08:12.329 --> 00:08:15.350 apart, a child who stopped talking to you, a 00:08:15.350 --> 00:08:18.290 parent who hurt you, a coworker or classmate 00:08:18.290 --> 00:08:21.329 you just can't seem to get along with. Or maybe 00:08:21.329 --> 00:08:24.329 the relationship that you struggle with most 00:08:24.329 --> 00:08:26.990 is who you see in the mirror in the morning. 00:08:28.569 --> 00:08:31.750 Relationships are beautiful, but they're also 00:08:31.750 --> 00:08:34.490 very complicated. And they can be very messy. 00:08:34.830 --> 00:08:37.629 Every one of us longs to be loved, understood, 00:08:37.929 --> 00:08:41.029 accepted, and valued. Yet the people we love 00:08:41.029 --> 00:08:45.210 the most often have the greatest ability to hurt 00:08:45.210 --> 00:08:49.389 us, to tear us down. Miscommunication, unmet 00:08:49.389 --> 00:08:52.409 expectations, pride, selfishness, unforgiveness, 00:08:52.509 --> 00:08:55.669 broken trust, just to name a few, can slowly 00:08:55.669 --> 00:09:00.330 drive a wedge between people who once couldn't 00:09:00.330 --> 00:09:03.879 imagine life without one another. And truth is, 00:09:04.000 --> 00:09:07.779 every relationship struggles. Not because relationships 00:09:07.779 --> 00:09:10.700 are flawed, but because the people that are in 00:09:10.700 --> 00:09:13.559 them are flawed. And we live in a culture, let's 00:09:13.559 --> 00:09:17.240 be honest, that's quick to walk away when things 00:09:17.240 --> 00:09:21.139 become difficult. If it gets uncomfortable, replace 00:09:21.139 --> 00:09:24.980 it. If it's too much work, quit. If you get disappointed, 00:09:25.379 --> 00:09:28.960 cancel them. But healthy relationships aren't 00:09:28.960 --> 00:09:32.299 built on convenience. They are built on commitment. 00:09:33.200 --> 00:09:35.539 And one of the greatest love songs ever written, 00:09:35.639 --> 00:09:38.120 it's interesting, wasn't written in a church. 00:09:38.240 --> 00:09:42.159 It was written by Guns N' Roses. Because the 00:09:42.159 --> 00:09:45.120 reality is, them singing about all of us needing 00:09:45.120 --> 00:09:48.940 a little patience is true. And while it wasn't 00:09:48.940 --> 00:09:52.460 a sermon, it points to the timeless truth that 00:09:52.460 --> 00:09:54.899 relationships rarely grow because everything 00:09:54.899 --> 00:09:58.580 is easy. Relationships grow when people forgive, 00:09:58.779 --> 00:10:01.980 communicate, and stay committed to one another, 00:10:02.100 --> 00:10:04.279 patiently working through those difficult times 00:10:04.279 --> 00:10:07.259 together. And friends, that requires patience. 00:10:08.039 --> 00:10:12.159 Let's open in prayer. Holy Spirit, come. God, 00:10:12.220 --> 00:10:15.559 we are grateful that we can listen to music and 00:10:15.559 --> 00:10:20.279 be challenged by your truths. Change us today, 00:10:20.360 --> 00:10:23.820 God. Open our eyes to the reality of relationship 00:10:23.820 --> 00:10:28.259 struggles. And allow us to become a people that 00:10:28.259 --> 00:10:30.919 is different as we leave here today. In Jesus' 00:10:31.059 --> 00:10:34.940 name, amen. Our first thought today, the term 00:10:34.940 --> 00:10:40.100 friend has changed. A friend used to mean somebody 00:10:40.100 --> 00:10:43.259 you did life with. It used to mean people coming 00:10:43.259 --> 00:10:46.360 together, doing life together. Now, think about 00:10:46.360 --> 00:10:48.899 it. A friend can be somebody you never met in 00:10:48.899 --> 00:10:52.940 person. That simply follows you on social media. 00:10:53.419 --> 00:10:56.700 So the term friend has changed. Now the Bible 00:10:56.700 --> 00:11:01.019 defines a friend in Proverbs 17, 17. A friend 00:11:01.019 --> 00:11:05.759 is always loyal. A brother or sister is born 00:11:05.759 --> 00:11:08.980 to help in time of need. And notice, when we 00:11:08.980 --> 00:11:11.559 read those words, it's about being connected 00:11:11.559 --> 00:11:14.320 and being together. Today, the average American 00:11:14.320 --> 00:11:19.500 Facebook user has 340 Facebook friends. But the 00:11:19.500 --> 00:11:22.919 average American says they only have two close 00:11:22.919 --> 00:11:26.399 friends, which is down from six just 20 years 00:11:26.399 --> 00:11:31.539 ago. 25 % of Americans today say they have zero 00:11:31.539 --> 00:11:35.539 close relationships. So the tension is real, 00:11:35.639 --> 00:11:39.720 right? A person may have 340 online friends, 00:11:39.919 --> 00:11:43.019 but say they have no real close relationships 00:11:43.019 --> 00:11:46.620 and connection. So we could argue we've got lots 00:11:46.620 --> 00:11:50.120 of online interaction, yet we have very limited 00:11:50.120 --> 00:11:53.320 personal connection and intimacy. So the term 00:11:53.320 --> 00:11:57.019 friend has changed. Therefore, the reality of 00:11:57.019 --> 00:12:00.120 our friendships have changed. Sociologists have 00:12:00.120 --> 00:12:03.299 found that relationships in our culture today 00:12:03.299 --> 00:12:06.539 have drastically changed in just the last 10 00:12:06.539 --> 00:12:09.700 years. In the last 10 years, people are more 00:12:09.700 --> 00:12:13.370 digitally connected, but feel less. connected 00:12:13.370 --> 00:12:16.889 personally. Texting, social media, group chats 00:12:16.889 --> 00:12:20.669 makes it very easy and comfortable for many people 00:12:20.669 --> 00:12:24.529 to connect, but that leaves them without face 00:12:24.529 --> 00:12:27.970 -to -face conversations. Loneliness has become 00:12:27.970 --> 00:12:31.230 more common, right? Research over the past decade 00:12:31.230 --> 00:12:34.730 has consistently found increasing levels of loneliness, 00:12:34.789 --> 00:12:38.590 both in the young people and the elder generation. 00:12:39.870 --> 00:12:43.029 Friendships require more intentionality because 00:12:43.029 --> 00:12:46.350 of the smartphones, right? We now have schedules. 00:12:46.350 --> 00:12:48.750 We now have meetings. We have everything saved 00:12:48.750 --> 00:12:51.549 in our phone, and our phone now tells us where 00:12:51.549 --> 00:12:55.110 to go and what to do. It doesn't matter if you're 00:12:55.110 --> 00:12:58.029 in school, at work, in church, in your neighborhood. 00:12:58.830 --> 00:13:03.049 Those connections now take second place to the 00:13:03.049 --> 00:13:06.409 phone. Too many adults now have to deliberately 00:13:06.409 --> 00:13:09.990 schedule time together because of busy calendars. 00:13:10.309 --> 00:13:14.590 And we have to be careful. Church, we have to 00:13:14.590 --> 00:13:17.490 be careful not to let the world, and you say, 00:13:17.549 --> 00:13:19.509 Chris, how's your phone in the world? This is 00:13:19.509 --> 00:13:22.950 of the world, dude. Like, this is the world. 00:13:23.250 --> 00:13:25.730 And it's telling us where to go, what to do, 00:13:25.789 --> 00:13:28.250 what to listen to. We have to be careful not 00:13:28.250 --> 00:13:32.460 to allow the world to pull us down. Proverbs 00:13:32.460 --> 00:13:36.980 18, 24 says, there are friends who destroy each 00:13:36.980 --> 00:13:40.120 other. There are friends who destroy each other, 00:13:40.139 --> 00:13:42.980 but a real friend sticks closer than a brother. 00:13:43.200 --> 00:13:46.200 See, if we surround ourselves with friends, with 00:13:46.200 --> 00:13:50.179 close relationships. right, that are passionate 00:13:50.179 --> 00:13:53.019 about the world, then chances are we're going 00:13:53.019 --> 00:13:55.519 to be tempted to join them. For example, I have 00:13:55.519 --> 00:13:57.539 a great example for you. I need someone. Oh, 00:13:57.620 --> 00:13:59.500 there you go, Carl. Carl's here in the front 00:13:59.500 --> 00:14:01.720 row. This is Carl. Everybody give Carl a hand. 00:14:02.779 --> 00:14:04.940 Carl's one of our worship leaders here. We appreciate 00:14:04.940 --> 00:14:08.259 him, right? Let's say, for example, Carl is my 00:14:08.259 --> 00:14:11.240 friend. Carl is in the world. And it's not necessarily, 00:14:11.480 --> 00:14:14.490 you could say Carl is also this phone. Right? 00:14:14.529 --> 00:14:17.190 He's in the world. And I want to help Carl. I 00:14:17.190 --> 00:14:19.230 want to get him out of the world. But please 00:14:19.230 --> 00:14:23.210 notice, who has the advantage here? Carl does. 00:14:23.389 --> 00:14:26.190 It doesn't matter that I'm stronger. It doesn't 00:14:26.190 --> 00:14:30.110 matter that I'm bigger. Carl has the advantage. 00:14:30.210 --> 00:14:33.370 And he can pull me down anytime he wants to. 00:14:33.590 --> 00:14:37.090 But if I surround myself with a friend, Frank, 00:14:37.169 --> 00:14:39.710 Frank, I need your help. Right? If I surround 00:14:39.710 --> 00:14:42.230 myself with a friend, who has the advantage now? 00:14:42.940 --> 00:14:47.519 I do. Because we can now, yeah, we can pull, 00:14:47.759 --> 00:14:53.500 right? We can pull Carl out of the world up into 00:14:53.500 --> 00:14:55.620 the kingdom of God. And you say the kingdom of 00:14:55.620 --> 00:14:57.440 God is set apart from the world. Yes, it is. 00:14:57.759 --> 00:15:00.639 We're called to a higher standard. We're called 00:15:00.639 --> 00:15:05.259 to be separate in the world, but not of it. Right? 00:15:05.320 --> 00:15:08.419 When we surround ourselves with friends that 00:15:08.419 --> 00:15:11.299 are like -minded, that are Jesus -centered, they 00:15:11.299 --> 00:15:14.679 can partner with us to help pull people, friends, 00:15:14.799 --> 00:15:17.620 family members out of the world and their struggles 00:15:17.620 --> 00:15:21.279 into the kingdom of God and abundant life. But 00:15:21.279 --> 00:15:24.980 it's a choice. It's a choice whether you surround 00:15:24.980 --> 00:15:27.480 yourself with people or not, which leads us to 00:15:27.480 --> 00:15:31.279 our next thought. Society is obsessed with self. 00:15:32.779 --> 00:15:34.700 These statistics are going to blow your mind. 00:15:34.799 --> 00:15:36.980 The University of Michigan did a comprehensive 00:15:36.980 --> 00:15:40.779 study on 14 ,000 college students between the 00:15:40.779 --> 00:15:45.600 years 1979 and 2009. They found that there was 00:15:45.600 --> 00:15:49.399 a drastic decline in empathy over those 30 years. 00:15:49.659 --> 00:15:53.399 In fact, the results of this massive study showed 00:15:53.399 --> 00:15:58.820 that we, Americans, care 40 % less about other 00:15:58.820 --> 00:16:02.600 people than we did in the 1980s. 40%. That's 00:16:02.600 --> 00:16:04.759 a staggering number. And some of you are thinking, 00:16:04.779 --> 00:16:07.240 oh, how did they determine that? So I did a little 00:16:07.240 --> 00:16:10.440 research into their research, and they asked 00:16:10.440 --> 00:16:13.340 those that were polled questions just like this. 00:16:13.799 --> 00:16:16.559 Write one to five. One is the least, five is 00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:20.059 the highest. And you personally rank them as 00:16:20.059 --> 00:16:23.539 you hear the question. I sometimes try to understand 00:16:23.539 --> 00:16:26.360 my friends better by looking at things from their 00:16:26.360 --> 00:16:32.269 perspective. Poe had a drastic drop in people 00:16:32.269 --> 00:16:35.370 that they cared about. I often have a tender, 00:16:35.429 --> 00:16:38.509 concerned feeling about people less fortunate 00:16:38.509 --> 00:16:43.169 than me. Significant drop. Fewer people, right, 00:16:43.269 --> 00:16:45.870 called themselves soft -hearted than they did 00:16:45.870 --> 00:16:51.330 years ago. 40 % drop. In how much we care about 00:16:51.330 --> 00:16:55.769 people since the 1980s. So that raises the question, 00:16:56.070 --> 00:16:59.149 why are we caring less? And there's a lot of 00:16:59.149 --> 00:17:02.289 theories, but experts argue and believe that 00:17:02.289 --> 00:17:05.589 the top cause is the rise in social media today 00:17:05.589 --> 00:17:09.349 because people now care less. Studies show that 00:17:09.349 --> 00:17:11.910 80%, this is going to blow your mind, of what 00:17:11.910 --> 00:17:14.910 a person does on social media actually relates 00:17:14.910 --> 00:17:19.589 directly to them and them only. In other words, 00:17:19.730 --> 00:17:22.089 if you're going on social media, you're going 00:17:22.089 --> 00:17:24.470 to see what you're interested in. There's algorithms 00:17:24.470 --> 00:17:27.269 out there that are targeting you. And if you 00:17:27.269 --> 00:17:29.869 continue to buy into it, those same algorithms 00:17:29.869 --> 00:17:32.430 are going to go again and again and again until 00:17:32.430 --> 00:17:34.930 you give in. What are they saying about me? Do 00:17:34.930 --> 00:17:36.970 they like me? Don't they like me? Do they care 00:17:36.970 --> 00:17:39.009 about the picture I post? Do they comment on 00:17:39.009 --> 00:17:42.509 it? 80 % of what we do on social media relates 00:17:42.509 --> 00:17:47.960 directly to you and you only. And then, You have 00:17:47.960 --> 00:17:51.319 to realize that because of that 80%, there's 00:17:51.319 --> 00:17:53.480 something that goes off in our brain called dopamine. 00:17:53.759 --> 00:17:57.180 It's called a legal buzz, not illegal. And you're 00:17:57.180 --> 00:18:00.319 like, oh, I like that feeling. And since we're 00:18:00.319 --> 00:18:03.140 looking at stuff dealing with us and us only, 00:18:03.240 --> 00:18:06.480 the dopamine being released into our bodies actually 00:18:06.480 --> 00:18:10.299 train us to be more selfish. So social media 00:18:10.299 --> 00:18:13.480 is training us to become more self -centered. 00:18:14.480 --> 00:18:16.779 Social media can cause us to care less about 00:18:16.779 --> 00:18:19.920 other people. Our bodies are literally transformed, 00:18:20.079 --> 00:18:23.220 become more self -centered. And yet Jesus challenges 00:18:23.220 --> 00:18:26.720 us with these words in John 15. This is my commandment. 00:18:26.900 --> 00:18:30.140 Love each other in the same way I've loved you. 00:18:30.279 --> 00:18:32.799 There is no greater love than to lay down one's 00:18:32.799 --> 00:18:36.460 life for one's friends. Now notice that Jesus 00:18:36.460 --> 00:18:40.539 doesn't simply tell us to feel love, right? He 00:18:40.539 --> 00:18:44.700 calls us to what? demonstrate it. And his definition 00:18:44.700 --> 00:18:47.220 of love has nothing to do with being self -centered. 00:18:47.380 --> 00:18:50.980 It's actually self -giving. It's not about asking, 00:18:51.039 --> 00:18:55.180 how are people serving me? It's about asking, 00:18:55.259 --> 00:18:57.880 how can I serve them? See, Jesus didn't merely 00:18:57.880 --> 00:19:00.779 preach this sacrificial love. He modeled it. 00:19:01.299 --> 00:19:05.640 He washed his disciples' feet. He welcomed the 00:19:05.640 --> 00:19:09.380 forgotten. He forgave his enemies. And he ultimately 00:19:09.380 --> 00:19:12.210 laid down his life for us on the cross. And he 00:19:12.210 --> 00:19:15.069 calls his followers, you and me, to adopt that 00:19:15.069 --> 00:19:17.849 same posture. See, the healthiest relationships 00:19:17.849 --> 00:19:21.309 aren't built by two people demanding to be served. 00:19:21.950 --> 00:19:24.529 They're built by two people who continually look 00:19:24.529 --> 00:19:27.789 for ways to serve one another. That's why James 00:19:27.789 --> 00:19:30.190 reminds us in James 3 .16, for whenever there 00:19:30.190 --> 00:19:33.670 is jealousy and selfish ambition, there, their 00:19:33.670 --> 00:19:36.950 church, you will find disorder and every kind 00:19:36.950 --> 00:19:43.200 of greed. Selfishness asks. What can I get? Love 00:19:43.200 --> 00:19:46.859 speaks. What can I give? I want to challenge 00:19:46.859 --> 00:19:50.000 you. Let go of the self -centeredness and begin 00:19:50.000 --> 00:19:52.059 to focus on the relationship that's right in 00:19:52.059 --> 00:19:54.160 front of you, which leads us to our third thought. 00:19:54.839 --> 00:19:58.640 Humanity is now addicted to immediate affirmation. 00:19:58.740 --> 00:20:02.799 Now, be remembered, 40 % drop, right, in caring 00:20:02.799 --> 00:20:06.480 about others since the 1980s. So with the rise 00:20:06.480 --> 00:20:11.150 of the selfie, smile, Just kidding, I wouldn't 00:20:11.150 --> 00:20:14.410 do that to you. With the rise of the selfie and 00:20:14.410 --> 00:20:18.210 personal posts about life, pictures, accomplishments, 00:20:18.829 --> 00:20:21.789 social media has now trained you for immediate 00:20:21.789 --> 00:20:24.990 affirmation. You need a response. We're becoming 00:20:24.990 --> 00:20:27.950 addicted to the immediate feedback. Again, scientists, 00:20:28.210 --> 00:20:30.890 they're pointing to the dopamine. These phones 00:20:30.890 --> 00:20:34.470 are using us, training us to become more selfish, 00:20:34.710 --> 00:20:36.970 right? We begin to ask questions. What did they 00:20:36.970 --> 00:20:39.650 say about that picture? Did they like it? Who 00:20:39.650 --> 00:20:42.910 liked it? Did it go viral? Right? Why didn't 00:20:42.910 --> 00:20:46.390 she like it? Why didn't he comment? Well, I'm 00:20:46.390 --> 00:20:47.890 not going to follow her anymore. I'm not going 00:20:47.890 --> 00:20:51.170 to follow him anymore. And it goes on and on 00:20:51.170 --> 00:20:55.190 and on and on. Social media is meeting a short 00:20:55.190 --> 00:20:58.890 -term need. But in the end, we're neglecting 00:20:58.890 --> 00:21:02.049 a longer -term and deeper need, which is personal 00:21:02.049 --> 00:21:05.789 connection. Sociologists have now termed the 00:21:05.789 --> 00:21:09.289 phrase called deferred loneliness. We feel lonely, 00:21:09.410 --> 00:21:12.470 so we post something, we receive something, we 00:21:12.470 --> 00:21:15.509 get this immediate feedback, but we're longing 00:21:15.509 --> 00:21:19.210 for intimate connection with people in another 00:21:19.210 --> 00:21:22.390 time. And so many people, they're living for 00:21:22.390 --> 00:21:26.750 the likes and longing for love. They're looking 00:21:26.750 --> 00:21:29.950 for the instant gratification, and it changes 00:21:29.950 --> 00:21:33.180 the entire way we do relationships. Galatians 00:21:33.180 --> 00:21:35.880 1 .10 reminds us, church, obviously I'm not trying 00:21:35.880 --> 00:21:39.539 to win the approval of people, but of God. If 00:21:39.539 --> 00:21:41.400 pleasing people were my goal, I would not be 00:21:41.400 --> 00:21:44.480 Christ's servant, which leads us to our final 00:21:44.480 --> 00:21:48.480 truth, not just thought. Jesus gave us a new 00:21:48.480 --> 00:21:51.119 commandment. So if you're in a relationship with 00:21:51.119 --> 00:21:52.559 Jesus here this morning, I want to challenge 00:21:52.559 --> 00:21:54.720 you. This is the new commandment he gave us in 00:21:54.720 --> 00:21:57.460 John 13. So now I'm giving you a new commandment. 00:21:57.700 --> 00:22:00.859 Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you 00:22:00.859 --> 00:22:04.200 should love each other for love for one another 00:22:04.200 --> 00:22:06.380 will prove to the world that you are my disciples. 00:22:06.519 --> 00:22:08.440 Now notice what Jesus said here. He says, love 00:22:08.440 --> 00:22:12.420 each other as I have loved you. Jesus didn't 00:22:12.420 --> 00:22:15.079 say, he didn't say, love others when it's convenient. 00:22:16.240 --> 00:22:19.319 Love others when they deserve it. Love others 00:22:19.319 --> 00:22:23.180 when they agree with you. He said, love as I 00:22:23.180 --> 00:22:25.720 have loved you. And how ultimately did Jesus 00:22:25.720 --> 00:22:28.970 love? He was sacrificial. Just before giving 00:22:28.970 --> 00:22:32.490 this new commandment, Jesus literally washed 00:22:32.490 --> 00:22:35.890 the disciples' feet. And remember, he even washed 00:22:35.890 --> 00:22:38.190 Judas' feet, the man who would betray him, and 00:22:38.190 --> 00:22:41.930 he knew that he was going to betray him. So Jesus 00:22:41.930 --> 00:22:45.069 loved the committed disciple, the struggling 00:22:45.069 --> 00:22:48.549 disciple, the doubting disciple. He even loved 00:22:48.549 --> 00:22:51.029 the betraying disciple. And you're like, well, 00:22:51.029 --> 00:22:53.210 Chris, that's a supernatural kind of love. Yes, 00:22:53.269 --> 00:22:56.519 it is. But Jesus never asked us to do something 00:22:56.519 --> 00:22:59.900 he hadn't already done. He did it, and he desires 00:22:59.900 --> 00:23:02.759 that we follow it. See, most people love when 00:23:02.759 --> 00:23:05.119 it costs them little. Jesus loved when it cost 00:23:05.119 --> 00:23:09.099 him everything. The love of God, church, is more 00:23:09.099 --> 00:23:12.400 than a feeling. It's a decision to put others 00:23:12.400 --> 00:23:15.220 before yourselves, which leads to our action 00:23:15.220 --> 00:23:18.119 steps. I want to challenge you with four simple 00:23:18.119 --> 00:23:21.759 steps this morning in developing a Jesus -centered 00:23:21.759 --> 00:23:24.599 relationship. That a Jesus -centered relationship 00:23:24.599 --> 00:23:26.900 is the most important relationship that you could 00:23:26.900 --> 00:23:30.160 ever walk in. And in order to practice these 00:23:30.160 --> 00:23:32.660 relationships, we all need a little patience 00:23:32.660 --> 00:23:35.259 if we're going to love like Jesus. And the first 00:23:35.259 --> 00:23:38.400 step is this. We need to practice the power of 00:23:38.400 --> 00:23:41.640 presence. We need to practice the power of presence. 00:23:41.740 --> 00:23:45.200 And I'm not referring to God's presence. I'm 00:23:45.200 --> 00:23:47.099 referring to one another's presence, Hebrews 00:23:47.099 --> 00:23:50.819 chapter 10. Let us think of ways to motivate 00:23:50.819 --> 00:23:54.000 one another to acts of love and good works. And 00:23:54.000 --> 00:23:56.140 I want to pause there just for a second. I want 00:23:56.140 --> 00:23:59.480 you to look at your neighbor, okay? And I want 00:23:59.480 --> 00:24:01.180 you to look at your other neighbor that you don't 00:24:01.180 --> 00:24:05.319 like as much. Thank you. And now I want you to 00:24:05.319 --> 00:24:08.039 look at the neighbor behind you who you're trying 00:24:08.039 --> 00:24:12.440 to ignore. There you go. All right. Now, keep 00:24:12.440 --> 00:24:15.579 that scripture up, please. Wouldn't it be amazing? 00:24:15.720 --> 00:24:17.779 Think about it. Everybody you just looked at, 00:24:17.819 --> 00:24:20.420 picture their face. Wouldn't it be amazing to 00:24:20.420 --> 00:24:23.799 get together with that individual, right, and 00:24:23.799 --> 00:24:27.640 say, how can we be so aggressive? And the way 00:24:27.640 --> 00:24:31.119 we show love to others, that people begin to 00:24:31.119 --> 00:24:34.299 talk about the way we love one another. They 00:24:34.299 --> 00:24:37.440 must be in a relationship with Jesus. Think about 00:24:37.440 --> 00:24:39.539 that. That's what that scripture verse is saying. 00:24:39.660 --> 00:24:42.779 That the people around you should be challenged 00:24:42.779 --> 00:24:45.099 by how you're living your life. And then you're 00:24:45.099 --> 00:24:48.920 challenging them to do the same. Hebrews continues. 00:24:49.640 --> 00:24:53.250 Let us not. neglect our meeting together, as 00:24:53.250 --> 00:24:55.630 some people do, but encourage one another, especially 00:24:55.630 --> 00:24:57.529 now that the day of his return is drawing near. 00:24:57.630 --> 00:24:59.750 So we would love, if you're watching at home, 00:24:59.849 --> 00:25:04.990 for you to join us in person in this coming month, 00:25:05.150 --> 00:25:08.829 because there's love and life here in our community 00:25:08.829 --> 00:25:10.849 of faith, because some of us need to rediscover 00:25:10.849 --> 00:25:14.789 the power of practicing presence, being together 00:25:14.789 --> 00:25:18.069 with people. In fact, Jesus said this in Matthew 00:25:18.069 --> 00:25:24.269 18 20, for where two or three, or four, or 400 00:25:24.269 --> 00:25:28.250 gathered together as my followers, I am there 00:25:28.250 --> 00:25:33.890 among them. See, whenever we come together with 00:25:33.890 --> 00:25:38.089 other believers in the name of Jesus, we experience 00:25:38.089 --> 00:25:41.029 a very real presence of the Holy Spirit. True 00:25:41.029 --> 00:25:44.940 or false? And it's supernatural. There's so many 00:25:44.940 --> 00:25:47.980 people that, I got an email this week, a testimony 00:25:47.980 --> 00:25:51.299 of how Summer Jams has transformed an individual's 00:25:51.299 --> 00:25:53.539 life because they were watching online. They 00:25:53.539 --> 00:25:55.720 were inspired, heard about this live music, Summer 00:25:55.720 --> 00:25:57.680 Jams. They came and they said, I've been here 00:25:57.680 --> 00:26:00.339 four straight weeks. I never want to watch online 00:26:00.339 --> 00:26:03.059 again. The power of being together with other 00:26:03.059 --> 00:26:10.230 people and meeting Jesus is overwhelming. Now, 00:26:10.230 --> 00:26:12.289 hear me out. It doesn't mean we can't experience 00:26:12.289 --> 00:26:14.750 the presence of God alone. Of course we can. 00:26:15.190 --> 00:26:17.910 But there's something special, something powerful 00:26:17.910 --> 00:26:20.869 when we come together with other believers and 00:26:20.869 --> 00:26:24.190 we pray for one another. I mean, there is healing 00:26:24.190 --> 00:26:27.289 after healing testimony of God changing lives 00:26:27.289 --> 00:26:29.589 through the words of knowledge and through our 00:26:29.589 --> 00:26:31.869 prayer team every single Sunday, and I'm not 00:26:31.869 --> 00:26:34.730 making that up. If you hear a word of knowledge 00:26:34.730 --> 00:26:36.809 that we give at the end of this service, and 00:26:36.809 --> 00:26:38.930 you're like, man, that's for me, run up here. 00:26:39.440 --> 00:26:41.599 I'm serious. Don't be like, man, should I go 00:26:41.599 --> 00:26:44.779 up there? Is that really for me? Just be like, 00:26:44.920 --> 00:26:48.220 that's me. I'm getting healed. Because it literally 00:26:48.220 --> 00:26:51.059 could happen today. There's power when the church 00:26:51.059 --> 00:26:53.440 comes together and pray. True or false? There's 00:26:53.440 --> 00:26:55.980 power when the church comes together and lifts 00:26:55.980 --> 00:26:58.660 holy hands and worships God. Is there power in 00:26:58.660 --> 00:27:02.119 that? There's power in that. There's excitement 00:27:02.119 --> 00:27:05.960 in that. Something happens when we experience 00:27:05.960 --> 00:27:09.640 the tangible presence of God. Something happens 00:27:09.640 --> 00:27:13.259 when we discuss God's Bible together, right? 00:27:13.319 --> 00:27:15.259 When we're challenged to be different, when we're 00:27:15.259 --> 00:27:18.119 challenged to love like Jesus, we leave here 00:27:18.119 --> 00:27:22.000 inspired, desiring to make a difference. And 00:27:22.000 --> 00:27:25.799 that's exactly what Jesus did, right? Jesus came 00:27:25.799 --> 00:27:29.700 to earth to show us, to set an example for us 00:27:29.700 --> 00:27:32.500 to follow. God didn't shout down from heaven, 00:27:32.660 --> 00:27:36.599 hey, this is how you get saved. You just believe 00:27:36.599 --> 00:27:39.690 in me. He didn't say that. He didn't do that. 00:27:39.930 --> 00:27:45.450 He literally sent his son to earth, stripped 00:27:45.450 --> 00:27:47.670 himself of all heavenly glory and became one 00:27:47.670 --> 00:27:52.630 of us. He became Emmanuel, which means God is 00:27:52.630 --> 00:27:55.990 with us. So God became one of us in the person 00:27:55.990 --> 00:27:58.650 of Jesus. And what did he do? He lived with us. 00:27:59.049 --> 00:28:03.390 He ate like we do. He struggled like we do. He 00:28:03.390 --> 00:28:06.799 loved those the others rejected. He poured his 00:28:06.799 --> 00:28:09.200 heart into religious communities that weren't 00:28:09.200 --> 00:28:12.619 worthy. He ate with and dined with, fellowshiped 00:28:12.619 --> 00:28:14.720 with tax collectors, sinners, and prostitutes. 00:28:15.599 --> 00:28:19.019 Right? God didn't yell down from heaven. He set 00:28:19.019 --> 00:28:22.099 us an example to follow. And I want to remind 00:28:22.099 --> 00:28:24.779 you and encourage you, there's something about... 00:28:25.299 --> 00:28:28.400 being in the presence of other people that's 00:28:28.400 --> 00:28:31.539 powerful, and we can't settle for anything less. 00:28:31.779 --> 00:28:34.799 We've got to prioritize it, and we've got to 00:28:34.799 --> 00:28:37.660 begin to prioritize putting these down and getting 00:28:37.660 --> 00:28:40.039 personal with one another, which leads us to 00:28:40.039 --> 00:28:43.279 our next step. Practice the power is presence. 00:28:43.339 --> 00:28:45.559 Number two, we need to be present. So when we're 00:28:45.559 --> 00:28:49.460 with people, we need to be present. Be present 00:28:49.460 --> 00:28:52.160 with one another, right? I want you to take a 00:28:52.160 --> 00:28:54.339 second. I want you to look at the neighbor you 00:28:54.339 --> 00:28:56.640 didn't like very much, and I want you to look 00:28:56.640 --> 00:28:59.440 at them and say, I appreciate you. Go ahead, 00:28:59.480 --> 00:29:09.339 say it. Say it. Say it. Right? I love it. All 00:29:09.339 --> 00:29:11.599 right, bring it back. Man, you're loving each 00:29:11.599 --> 00:29:13.980 other too much. Don't get out of control here. 00:29:14.859 --> 00:29:21.089 Jeez. Okay, the point of me doing that, the point 00:29:21.089 --> 00:29:24.289 of me doing that is to show you there's something 00:29:24.289 --> 00:29:27.089 special when you encourage others. When we have 00:29:27.089 --> 00:29:29.650 face -to -face contact, making eye contact, when 00:29:29.650 --> 00:29:30.970 we look at someone and say, man, I appreciate 00:29:30.970 --> 00:29:33.970 you so much, there's something about receiving 00:29:33.970 --> 00:29:36.710 that truth that changes us. Paul wrote these 00:29:36.710 --> 00:29:40.650 words in Romans 12. Don't pretend to love others. 00:29:43.349 --> 00:29:49.279 Stop pretending. Really love them. Love one another. 00:29:49.720 --> 00:29:52.619 Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. 00:29:52.660 --> 00:29:54.640 Love each other with genuine affection and take 00:29:54.640 --> 00:29:57.619 delight in honoring each other. Because when 00:29:57.619 --> 00:30:00.140 God's people are in need, be ready to help them. 00:30:00.420 --> 00:30:04.420 Always be eager to practice hospitality. And 00:30:04.420 --> 00:30:06.839 what is the normal, acceptable way to show love 00:30:06.839 --> 00:30:16.519 today? Oh, hold on. Listen. Hold on here. Yeah, 00:30:16.519 --> 00:30:25.940 okay. Yeah. There we go. Okay. All right. I'm 00:30:25.940 --> 00:30:29.759 good. What did I just do? The way we show appreciation 00:30:29.759 --> 00:30:32.720 now and connect with people is through these 00:30:32.720 --> 00:30:36.880 devices. We'll send a quick text. Hey, thinking 00:30:36.880 --> 00:30:41.839 about you today. Okay. Appreciate you thinking 00:30:41.839 --> 00:30:44.880 about me. Which isn't bad. I do it all the time. 00:30:45.359 --> 00:30:49.160 I send Bible verses. I send prayers. I send encouragement. 00:30:49.319 --> 00:30:53.039 These are tools. I'm not saying you destroy them. 00:30:53.119 --> 00:30:55.220 I'm not saying you get rid of them. I'm saying 00:30:55.220 --> 00:31:00.460 you make them submit to you. Don't allow them 00:31:00.460 --> 00:31:03.339 to control you. Do you use text messages? Absolutely. 00:31:03.559 --> 00:31:05.779 But I want to challenge you, HTV, to take it 00:31:05.779 --> 00:31:08.650 a step further. Send a text message of encouragement. 00:31:08.690 --> 00:31:11.849 And if someone responds to you and says, wow, 00:31:11.970 --> 00:31:14.369 I really needed that today. That changed my life. 00:31:14.470 --> 00:31:16.509 Send another text that says, can I call you? 00:31:17.750 --> 00:31:20.630 Because when you call them and you make a verbal 00:31:20.630 --> 00:31:23.250 connection with them and you pray with them through 00:31:23.250 --> 00:31:26.130 the phone, what happens? Intimacy, connection, 00:31:26.549 --> 00:31:29.609 relationship. And at the end of that prayer or 00:31:29.609 --> 00:31:31.990 the end of that encouragement verbally, let's 00:31:31.990 --> 00:31:33.890 take it a step further and say, hey, let's schedule 00:31:33.890 --> 00:31:37.779 dinner together. And invite someone over for 00:31:37.779 --> 00:31:39.799 dinner because that's where the rubber meets 00:31:39.799 --> 00:31:43.059 the road, right? That's where you begin to make 00:31:43.059 --> 00:31:48.380 real connections, right? In your house. There's 00:31:48.380 --> 00:31:51.839 power in presence. You know, here's the reality. 00:31:51.960 --> 00:31:55.700 Today in our society, you've achieved it. You've 00:31:55.700 --> 00:32:00.259 made it if you live in a gated community. What? 00:32:01.160 --> 00:32:04.240 Like society will tell you, you're a success. 00:32:04.339 --> 00:32:07.359 You can afford a home in a gated community where 00:32:07.359 --> 00:32:11.059 everyone else is what? Locked out. You don't 00:32:11.059 --> 00:32:13.420 want anybody different than you around. You want 00:32:13.420 --> 00:32:15.920 everybody locked out. That's what our society 00:32:15.920 --> 00:32:20.660 says. When in reality, let's be different. Let's 00:32:20.660 --> 00:32:23.700 be a church that's more like Jesus and let people 00:32:23.700 --> 00:32:27.190 in. Let's open the doors up and invite people 00:32:27.190 --> 00:32:29.410 in. Well, Chris, I can't cook. Mike Shriver, 00:32:29.490 --> 00:32:31.549 he said to me, Chris, I can't cook. I don't care. 00:32:32.049 --> 00:32:35.250 Order some food in. You know what I mean? Spend 00:32:35.250 --> 00:32:37.509 the money. Order some Mission Barbecue in. Everybody 00:32:37.509 --> 00:32:40.109 loves barbecue. And break bread together because 00:32:40.109 --> 00:32:43.470 there's power in breaking bread together. Some 00:32:43.470 --> 00:32:45.529 of you, you need to invest in the younger generation. 00:32:46.210 --> 00:32:48.450 You have something to offer. You have something 00:32:48.450 --> 00:32:52.730 to give back. Invite someone over because I guarantee 00:32:52.730 --> 00:32:56.660 you there's 60 % of you that are longing for 00:32:56.660 --> 00:32:59.900 more connection, more spiritual connection, more 00:32:59.900 --> 00:33:03.319 humanity connection, and you're neglecting it 00:33:03.319 --> 00:33:05.019 because you think you're getting it through the 00:33:05.019 --> 00:33:08.960 phone. Invite someone over. Is it all right if 00:33:08.960 --> 00:33:12.480 I double dog dare you today? Okay, so Christmas 00:33:12.480 --> 00:33:14.900 story is my favorite Christmas movie, you know, 00:33:14.900 --> 00:33:16.539 and I'm not asking you to stick your tongue on 00:33:16.539 --> 00:33:20.359 a frozen pole, okay? I'm going to double dog 00:33:20.359 --> 00:33:23.980 dare you right now. to invite someone over for 00:33:23.980 --> 00:33:27.000 dinner before you leave this building. I double 00:33:27.000 --> 00:33:30.599 dog dare you. And better yet, and better yet, 00:33:30.640 --> 00:33:33.900 listen, better yet, find someone you don't know 00:33:33.900 --> 00:33:36.460 that's the weirdest looking dude in this place 00:33:36.460 --> 00:33:38.980 and invite them over. And you're like, what? 00:33:39.720 --> 00:33:42.700 That's what Jesus would do, man. That's what 00:33:42.700 --> 00:33:47.200 Jesus would do. Jesus would invite someone over 00:33:47.200 --> 00:33:50.200 that is completely outside of the box. I've lost 00:33:50.200 --> 00:33:55.779 everybody. Oh my gosh. Jeez. Everybody's excited 00:33:55.779 --> 00:33:58.059 about inviting everyone over. I'm like, calm 00:33:58.059 --> 00:34:01.319 down. Now I got to finish. All right. So we got, 00:34:01.380 --> 00:34:04.420 there's power in presence. Be present. Number 00:34:04.420 --> 00:34:09.559 three, you have to be engaged. Don't just be 00:34:09.559 --> 00:34:14.159 physically present. Be emotionally. completely 00:34:14.159 --> 00:34:18.380 engaged. Peter says it this way. Most important 00:34:18.380 --> 00:34:21.599 of all, 1 Peter 4 .8, most important of all, 00:34:21.659 --> 00:34:25.760 continue to show deep love for each other. I'm 00:34:25.760 --> 00:34:27.820 sorry, I'm sorry. Church, what was most important 00:34:27.820 --> 00:34:35.440 of all? Oh, what was it? And was that most important? 00:34:36.659 --> 00:34:41.380 I don't think some of you understand. Peter said, 00:34:42.119 --> 00:34:46.719 The most important thing we as Jesus followers 00:34:46.719 --> 00:34:50.219 are called to do is show deep love for one another. 00:34:50.940 --> 00:34:53.599 That's spiritual engagement. That's when you 00:34:53.599 --> 00:34:56.280 say, I'm done with it. I'm all in. It's where 00:34:56.280 --> 00:34:59.099 the person in the room is the most important 00:34:59.099 --> 00:35:03.119 person. It's like inviting over a king or a queen 00:35:03.119 --> 00:35:06.340 going all out. That's how we're to treat one 00:35:06.340 --> 00:35:09.070 another. But the sad part is, if you were to 00:35:09.070 --> 00:35:10.710 go out to lunch today, if you were to go out 00:35:10.710 --> 00:35:13.670 to lunch after this gathering today, what are 00:35:13.670 --> 00:35:15.269 you going to see at the restaurant? What are 00:35:15.269 --> 00:35:17.250 80 % of the people going to be doing at the restaurant? 00:35:18.030 --> 00:35:19.190 They're going to be staring at their phones. 00:35:19.230 --> 00:35:22.070 They're going to be scrolling. They're not engaging 00:35:22.070 --> 00:35:24.230 one another. They're not doing anything with 00:35:24.230 --> 00:35:26.269 one another. It's all of them. You're like, well, 00:35:26.289 --> 00:35:28.750 it's the younger generation. No, it's not. No, 00:35:28.789 --> 00:35:31.929 it's not. I went out Friday night on a date. 00:35:32.389 --> 00:35:36.059 I went on a date Friday night. Some of y 'all 00:35:36.059 --> 00:35:38.719 need to go on a date. So I went out on a date 00:35:38.719 --> 00:35:41.440 on Friday night. And there was people older than 00:35:41.440 --> 00:35:45.219 me there just scrolling along. See, this thing 00:35:45.219 --> 00:35:48.480 has sucked everybody in. This isn't a young person 00:35:48.480 --> 00:35:53.039 problem. This is a societal problem. And it's 00:35:53.039 --> 00:35:55.760 not about what you're doing on the phone. Listen, 00:35:56.000 --> 00:35:58.579 I'm trying to learn Spanish on this phone. I 00:35:58.579 --> 00:36:00.519 do my Bible on this phone. My son's learning 00:36:00.519 --> 00:36:04.269 the guitar on his phone. All good things. All 00:36:04.269 --> 00:36:07.949 good things. But when we're on that phone, it 00:36:07.949 --> 00:36:10.170 doesn't allow us to be engaged. Remember I said 00:36:10.170 --> 00:36:11.730 I went out on a date on Friday night, right? 00:36:12.150 --> 00:36:14.829 Well, Jess was getting ready. And while she was 00:36:14.829 --> 00:36:16.170 getting ready, she's like, hey, Phoenix is in 00:36:16.170 --> 00:36:18.130 the pool. Go out and hang out with him before 00:36:18.130 --> 00:36:20.309 we go. So Phoenix is out there swimming. He's 00:36:20.309 --> 00:36:22.550 got this giant water gun that shoots 50 feet, 00:36:22.690 --> 00:36:25.190 right? And as I'm walking out, I noticed the 00:36:25.190 --> 00:36:29.190 dog's wet. I'm like, yep. I'm like, hey, Phoenix, 00:36:29.230 --> 00:36:31.730 stop squirting the dog. The dog will smell bad. 00:36:32.360 --> 00:36:34.280 and we can't afford to get her another bath. 00:36:34.460 --> 00:36:37.179 Okay, so stop squirting the dog. So I go up, 00:36:37.179 --> 00:36:39.559 I sit down, and I do my Duolingo, which is how 00:36:39.559 --> 00:36:41.460 I learn Spanish. For those of you that don't 00:36:41.460 --> 00:36:42.860 know what Duolingo is, I'm learning Spanish, 00:36:43.039 --> 00:36:47.519 trying to become a learner of Spanish. I'm sitting 00:36:47.519 --> 00:36:49.760 there, and I look up. There's Phoenix squirting 00:36:49.760 --> 00:36:52.519 the dog again. I said, Phoenix, stop squirting 00:36:52.519 --> 00:36:56.440 the dog. Back to Duolingo. Look up. What's Phoenix 00:36:56.440 --> 00:36:59.960 doing? Squirting the dog. Back to Phoenix, stop 00:36:59.960 --> 00:37:06.329 squirting the dog. But six times, Phoenix stopped 00:37:06.329 --> 00:37:08.989 squirting the dog. And then the final time, Bay 00:37:08.989 --> 00:37:11.170 had gotten up on the hill in the flower bed. 00:37:11.389 --> 00:37:14.849 And I look up and Phoenix just full force right 00:37:14.849 --> 00:37:18.510 in the face. And Bay's like, and there's water 00:37:18.510 --> 00:37:21.210 flying off her nose and her mouth. It was just, 00:37:21.250 --> 00:37:25.789 I was like, that's it. And I lost it. Get out 00:37:25.789 --> 00:37:28.510 of the pool. Get upstairs. I mean, he's, I've 00:37:28.510 --> 00:37:30.090 never seen him run so fast to the third floor. 00:37:33.879 --> 00:37:36.639 So I'm on my way with Jess to our date, right? 00:37:36.739 --> 00:37:38.420 And I'm explaining to her, why isn't our son 00:37:38.420 --> 00:37:40.840 listening? Why isn't our son listening? And she 00:37:40.840 --> 00:37:46.699 goes, Chris, he wanted your attention. And then 00:37:46.699 --> 00:37:49.400 suddenly I got hit in the face with a concrete 00:37:49.400 --> 00:37:54.300 block. I was doing Spanish though. I wanted to 00:37:54.300 --> 00:37:58.960 learn Spanish. I need to learn Spanish. And Jess 00:37:58.960 --> 00:38:02.369 goes, no, you need to engage your son. Because 00:38:02.369 --> 00:38:05.309 if you engage your son, he wouldn't be squirting 00:38:05.309 --> 00:38:11.849 the dog. He may be squirting you. That's funny 00:38:11.849 --> 00:38:16.570 right there. But he's not going to squirt the 00:38:16.570 --> 00:38:20.369 dog. And the problem is this. Every time this 00:38:20.369 --> 00:38:26.570 thing buzzes, whistles, chirps, beeps. Who said 00:38:26.570 --> 00:38:29.260 something? Who needs something? Who wants something? 00:38:29.420 --> 00:38:31.860 In fact, there's now a word that's in our dictionary 00:38:31.860 --> 00:38:33.880 because we have cell phones, and it's called 00:38:33.880 --> 00:38:37.219 FOMO. F -O -M -O. And this is what it stands 00:38:37.219 --> 00:38:42.559 for. Fear of missing out. Our phones have created 00:38:42.559 --> 00:38:45.500 a word that has been added to our dictionary. 00:38:45.739 --> 00:38:48.320 And here's the truth, church. At the end of your 00:38:48.320 --> 00:38:50.400 life, you're not going to be sitting around worrying 00:38:50.400 --> 00:38:53.199 about how many likes you got. At the end of your 00:38:53.199 --> 00:38:55.360 life, you're not going to be worried about sitting 00:38:55.360 --> 00:38:58.119 around discussing how that video went viral. 00:38:58.679 --> 00:39:01.559 Because it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter 00:39:01.559 --> 00:39:03.820 at the end of the day. All that matters at the 00:39:03.820 --> 00:39:06.380 end of the day is how many people you served, 00:39:06.579 --> 00:39:08.719 how many people you loved, and how many people 00:39:08.719 --> 00:39:10.860 you made a difference in in their life. And the 00:39:10.860 --> 00:39:15.539 choice is yours. The choice is yours. Because 00:39:15.539 --> 00:39:19.719 your children are begging for attention. You 00:39:19.719 --> 00:39:22.179 hear me, parents? Your children are begging for 00:39:22.179 --> 00:39:24.059 attention. I want to challenge you. Don't just 00:39:24.059 --> 00:39:27.519 sign them up for What a Mess VBS. Volunteer to 00:39:27.519 --> 00:39:31.179 help with them because it will change their life. 00:39:31.460 --> 00:39:33.800 And it may not be your kids, but it may be your 00:39:33.800 --> 00:39:37.159 coworkers. It may be your classmates. I want 00:39:37.159 --> 00:39:41.039 to challenge you. Disengage from the screen and 00:39:41.039 --> 00:39:43.940 begin to make relationships a priority. 1 John 00:39:43.940 --> 00:39:48.219 3, 18. Dear children, let us not merely say that 00:39:48.219 --> 00:39:51.800 we love each other, Let's show the truth by our 00:39:51.800 --> 00:39:56.960 actions. Let's show the world that we love one 00:39:56.960 --> 00:39:59.840 another. That we show up at someone's house and 00:39:59.840 --> 00:40:03.320 we pray for them. That we give away a bed that 00:40:03.320 --> 00:40:06.239 we're not using in storage to someone in need. 00:40:06.760 --> 00:40:10.420 The greatest weapon of the first century followers 00:40:10.420 --> 00:40:12.739 of the early church, remember they're being persecuted 00:40:12.739 --> 00:40:15.599 from the outside, was their radical unifying 00:40:15.599 --> 00:40:18.480 love. No one ever had a need. The Bible tells 00:40:18.480 --> 00:40:19.940 us that they would take their own possessions, 00:40:20.260 --> 00:40:22.780 sell them, and take the money to give to those 00:40:22.780 --> 00:40:25.280 in need. Think about that. Think about hunger 00:40:25.280 --> 00:40:29.079 crisis. Think about we built beds a couple months 00:40:29.079 --> 00:40:32.739 ago for kids without beds. You know, we're having 00:40:32.739 --> 00:40:34.619 a backpack giveaway for kids without backpacks. 00:40:34.659 --> 00:40:36.960 In the early church, whenever it was a need, 00:40:37.300 --> 00:40:40.980 it was always met. Because that's how we show 00:40:40.980 --> 00:40:45.969 the love of Jesus to the world. As the skeptical 00:40:45.969 --> 00:40:48.730 world looked on, they're like, I don't know about 00:40:48.730 --> 00:40:51.110 this Jesus thing or being raised from the dead, 00:40:51.250 --> 00:40:54.449 but I know that that group of people, they love 00:40:54.449 --> 00:40:57.210 each other. And I want to challenge you, HCV, 00:40:57.289 --> 00:40:59.650 let's be that kind of church. That there's a 00:40:59.650 --> 00:41:01.909 radical love that the tri -state area sees and 00:41:01.909 --> 00:41:03.929 they say, man, we want a part of that. And that 00:41:03.929 --> 00:41:06.010 happens, number four, our fourth and final, when 00:41:06.010 --> 00:41:08.570 we serve each other. I want to challenge you. 00:41:09.329 --> 00:41:14.150 Serve. Get out of your seats. Don't just... Be 00:41:14.150 --> 00:41:18.210 a spectator. Be a participant. Because when we're 00:41:18.210 --> 00:41:20.590 a participant with Jesus, everything changes, 00:41:20.610 --> 00:41:23.949 Philippians 2. Don't be selfish. Don't try to 00:41:23.949 --> 00:41:25.849 impress others. Be humble. Thinking of others 00:41:25.849 --> 00:41:28.309 is better than yourselves. Don't look out only 00:41:28.309 --> 00:41:30.010 for your own interests, but take an interest 00:41:30.010 --> 00:41:33.550 in others. You must have the same attitude that 00:41:33.550 --> 00:41:36.269 Christ Jesus had. See, the greatest obstacle 00:41:36.269 --> 00:41:39.130 of healthy relationships is not the other person. 00:41:39.909 --> 00:41:42.510 It's our self -centeredness. It's our selfishness. 00:41:43.079 --> 00:41:46.940 Pride says, how are you treating me? Humility 00:41:46.940 --> 00:41:50.000 asks, how can I love them and serve them with 00:41:50.000 --> 00:41:54.900 the love of Jesus? Right? Jesus had every right. 00:41:54.960 --> 00:41:58.380 He was God to be served, but he chose to serve. 00:41:59.820 --> 00:42:02.340 And if you want a healthier marriage, if you 00:42:02.340 --> 00:42:04.940 want stronger families, if you want deeper friendships, 00:42:05.340 --> 00:42:07.559 if you want a church that's changing the world, 00:42:07.659 --> 00:42:10.280 adopt the mindset of Jesus, and that's in Mark 00:42:10.280 --> 00:42:13.909 10. For even the Son of Man came not to be served, 00:42:14.030 --> 00:42:17.349 but to serve others and give his life as a ransom 00:42:17.349 --> 00:42:20.949 for many. See, the healthiest relationships are 00:42:20.949 --> 00:42:24.289 the ones that work the hardest to out -serve 00:42:24.289 --> 00:42:28.989 one another. Who are you out -serving? And don't 00:42:28.989 --> 00:42:30.949 worry about, who's going to take care of me? 00:42:31.989 --> 00:42:34.289 But Chris, what about my family? Who's going 00:42:34.289 --> 00:42:36.070 to take care of my family? You know who takes 00:42:36.070 --> 00:42:38.909 care of your family when you're serving others? 00:42:39.940 --> 00:42:44.139 God does. And if you don't believe that, ask 00:42:44.139 --> 00:42:48.300 any one of my kids. Ask any one of my kids. Because 00:42:48.300 --> 00:42:51.679 we planted a church and we were the poorest of 00:42:51.679 --> 00:42:56.820 poor. We lived in poverty. Food stamps, WIC, 00:42:56.980 --> 00:43:01.099 you name it. But you ask our kids. Ask my kids 00:43:01.099 --> 00:43:04.440 who are here. Did they ever go without? Did they 00:43:04.440 --> 00:43:06.760 ever not live their dreams? Did they ever not 00:43:06.760 --> 00:43:10.139 go to a private... School that costs $60 ,000 00:43:10.139 --> 00:43:13.480 a year? Nope, they did it all. You wanna know 00:43:13.480 --> 00:43:17.940 why? Because God gives back to those that serve. 00:43:18.159 --> 00:43:23.460 He takes care of you if you're willing to serve 00:43:23.460 --> 00:43:26.460 the world and make a difference in other people's 00:43:26.460 --> 00:43:32.000 lives. Ask him, I double dog dare you. Oh, that's 00:43:32.000 --> 00:43:35.280 two double dog dares. And I wanna close with 00:43:35.280 --> 00:43:44.530 this. This chair, this chair right here represents 00:43:44.530 --> 00:43:50.789 the person in your sphere of influence that is 00:43:50.789 --> 00:43:55.949 in need. All of us have them. All of us know 00:43:55.949 --> 00:44:02.010 who they are, right? Thanks, brother. Love you, 00:44:02.030 --> 00:44:06.940 man. All of us have them. All of us know who 00:44:06.940 --> 00:44:12.599 they are. Don't text them. Don't even call them. 00:44:13.280 --> 00:44:16.840 Make it a point to meet them in person this week. 00:44:17.679 --> 00:44:22.980 Pray for them. Invite them. Give them a hug. 00:44:23.639 --> 00:44:26.639 Cry with them. Because that's the most important 00:44:26.639 --> 00:44:29.920 thing you could ever do. Get rid of the unforgiveness 00:44:29.920 --> 00:44:33.480 and the resentment and make that person that's 00:44:33.480 --> 00:44:37.210 sitting in that chair. Your priority. And learn 00:44:37.210 --> 00:44:40.869 from me. Don't get hit by a concrete block across 00:44:40.869 --> 00:44:45.070 the head. Prioritize engaging the people that 00:44:45.070 --> 00:44:55.969 need it most. Amen? Will you stand with me? So 00:44:55.969 --> 00:44:57.929 as I was praying for all of you this week, listen, 00:44:58.130 --> 00:45:00.530 as I was praying for all of you this week, I 00:45:00.530 --> 00:45:02.449 got the word resentment from the Holy Spirit. 00:45:03.559 --> 00:45:05.760 That there's going to be many people here struggling 00:45:05.760 --> 00:45:08.980 with resentment. You might have resentment towards 00:45:08.980 --> 00:45:13.960 a spouse. You may have resentment towards a parent. 00:45:16.039 --> 00:45:19.179 Brother, sister, friend, co -worker, classmate. 00:45:19.219 --> 00:45:21.420 There's this resentment in your heart. And it's 00:45:21.420 --> 00:45:25.019 preventing you from engaging with others in authentic 00:45:25.019 --> 00:45:27.519 relationships that ultimately will impact and 00:45:27.519 --> 00:45:28.760 change your life. And I want to challenge you, 00:45:28.780 --> 00:45:33.039 if that's you, I'm going to pray for you. And 00:45:33.039 --> 00:45:36.059 I want you to lay it down and ask for forgiveness. 00:45:36.980 --> 00:45:38.579 Because resentment, you know what resentment 00:45:38.579 --> 00:45:40.800 does? Resentment builds walls around your heart. 00:45:41.500 --> 00:45:44.739 And it doesn't allow you to connect with other 00:45:44.739 --> 00:45:49.219 people. Change the way you're doing life. Tear 00:45:49.219 --> 00:45:51.699 the walls down that you've built around your 00:45:51.699 --> 00:45:56.119 heart and allow God in so that he can lead you 00:45:56.119 --> 00:45:59.079 to others that are in deep, deep need. Because 00:45:59.079 --> 00:46:01.400 that's what life's all about. So Holy Spirit, 00:46:01.440 --> 00:46:04.949 come. change our community of faith today. May 00:46:04.949 --> 00:46:06.989 these truths come to life for each and every 00:46:06.989 --> 00:46:09.769 one of us. May we all develop a little more patience, 00:46:09.789 --> 00:46:14.269 but more importantly, may we all love well. Forgive 00:46:14.269 --> 00:46:17.750 us, God, for harboring unforgiveness and resentment, 00:46:17.949 --> 00:46:20.590 for not showing others your grace and your mercy 00:46:20.590 --> 00:46:24.510 as you desire. We lay it down at your feet. And 00:46:24.510 --> 00:46:27.449 we ask, God, that we be a church that's a beacon 00:46:27.449 --> 00:46:30.789 of light as we love one another, that's an example 00:46:30.789 --> 00:46:34.849 of your love. to the tri -state area. We're grateful 00:46:34.849 --> 00:46:37.469 for you, God. And we give it to you now in Jesus' 00:46:37.610 --> 00:46:40.250 name. And I want to pray a simple prayer because 00:46:40.250 --> 00:46:41.969 I believe God brings people in our midst that 00:46:41.969 --> 00:46:44.809 are distant and far from God. And I want to speak 00:46:44.809 --> 00:46:48.469 to those of you that are here in recovery. As 00:46:48.469 --> 00:46:50.269 I was watching you all come in, as I was high 00:46:50.269 --> 00:46:54.329 -fiving you, as I was hugging you, you're worthy 00:46:54.329 --> 00:46:58.269 of God's love. It doesn't matter what you're 00:46:58.269 --> 00:47:02.440 struggling with. It's okay to not be okay. You're 00:47:02.440 --> 00:47:05.519 welcome here. We want you here. We love you. 00:47:06.980 --> 00:47:09.440 But if you're distant and far from God, come 00:47:09.440 --> 00:47:11.880 home. Because that's what's going to radically 00:47:11.880 --> 00:47:15.440 change your life. God, Jesus, will change your 00:47:15.440 --> 00:47:20.760 life. Let's pray. Jesus, I'm broken. I'm full 00:47:20.760 --> 00:47:26.619 of doubt, shame, regret, sin. Change me. Forgive 00:47:26.619 --> 00:47:32.380 me. I believe you're God's son. I believe you 00:47:32.380 --> 00:47:37.219 died for me. I believe you're alive today. Make 00:47:37.219 --> 00:47:41.019 me new. Set me free. Fill me with your spirit. 00:47:42.119 --> 00:47:45.260 Surround me, God, with healthy relationships 00:47:45.260 --> 00:47:52.239 as we change others. In Jesus' name, amen. Now, 00:47:52.239 --> 00:47:53.820 there are several words of knowledge no one leaving. 00:47:55.340 --> 00:47:57.639 I believe this is one of the most important parts 00:47:57.639 --> 00:48:00.480 of our gathering. Because it's your opportunity 00:48:00.480 --> 00:48:04.400 to experience healing. You're struggling with 00:48:04.400 --> 00:48:07.699 anxiety and depression that's debilitating. You 00:48:07.699 --> 00:48:10.099 have pain radiating from the back of your neck 00:48:10.099 --> 00:48:12.780 into your right shoulder. You are struggling 00:48:12.780 --> 00:48:15.699 with eyesight problems because of optic nerve 00:48:15.699 --> 00:48:19.880 issues. Like if that's you, you should be like 00:48:19.880 --> 00:48:23.400 running here now. That's pretty specific. You 00:48:23.400 --> 00:48:26.780 have pain in your right knee. You are currently 00:48:26.780 --> 00:48:30.000 struggling in a relationship that's causing you 00:48:30.000 --> 00:48:32.639 heartache. So if any of those are you, our prayer 00:48:32.639 --> 00:48:34.280 team will be up here on my left and my right, 00:48:34.340 --> 00:48:35.699 or you have any other need, we're gonna pray 00:48:35.699 --> 00:48:38.380 for you. Next week, July 4th, we're excited about 00:48:38.380 --> 00:48:42.619 it, right? 250, yeah, let's go. Freedom, rain. 00:48:44.260 --> 00:48:47.039 Give out some glow neck, glow bracelets, right? 00:48:47.139 --> 00:48:48.719 If you didn't get a glow bracelet, there'll be 00:48:48.719 --> 00:48:50.519 more here at the office this week. Come pick 00:48:50.519 --> 00:48:52.699 them up. But more importantly, we kick off a 00:48:52.699 --> 00:48:56.039 new series. called Promise Keeper. And we're 00:48:56.039 --> 00:48:58.219 going to look at four of Jesus's promises he 00:48:58.219 --> 00:49:01.260 gave to us that are promises that you can stand 00:49:01.260 --> 00:49:03.199 on that will supernaturally change your life. 00:49:03.380 --> 00:49:05.880 I'm excited about this series because I believe 00:49:05.880 --> 00:49:07.579 it's going to be transformational for many of 00:49:07.579 --> 00:49:10.559 you. Pack the house. Fill the house to celebrate 00:49:10.559 --> 00:49:13.760 July 4th. We got crumpies. We got bomb pops. 00:49:14.059 --> 00:49:16.380 We got all kinds of fun things planned for July 00:49:16.380 --> 00:49:19.179 5th. You don't want to miss it. I'm going there, 00:49:19.219 --> 00:49:21.219 Brian. I'll be there quick. I love you guys. 00:49:21.300 --> 00:49:27.550 God bless. You are my lifeline. Yeah, don't cut 00:49:27.550 --> 00:49:30.869 off my lifetime. I was stuck up in that grind. 00:49:31.090 --> 00:49:33.170 Now I know what you gave for life for mine. You're 00:49:33.170 --> 00:49:35.590 the one turning water into wine. Please fix my 00:49:35.590 --> 00:49:36.550 heart and the things inside.