1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:01,840 Well, good evening to you. 2 00:00:01,840 --> 00:00:03,920 Take your hymnal, if you will. 3 00:00:03,920 --> 00:00:12,400 Let's stand and sing together about the greatness of God, number 54, greatest I have faith in. 4 00:00:12,400 --> 00:00:15,400 Stand please, and we'll sing together. 5 00:00:15,400 --> 00:00:42,400 Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father, there is no shadow of turning with thee. 6 00:00:42,400 --> 00:00:56,400 Thou changest not thy compassion's aid may not, as thou hast been now forever with me. 7 00:00:56,400 --> 00:01:09,400 Great is thy faithfulness, great is thy faithfulness, morning by morning new mercies to see. 8 00:01:09,400 --> 00:01:26,400 All I have needed thy hand hath provided, great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me. 9 00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:40,400 Summer and winter and springtime and harvest, sun, moon and stars in their courses. 10 00:01:40,400 --> 00:01:55,400 Join with all nature in manifold witness, to thy great faithfulness, mercy and love. 11 00:01:55,400 --> 00:02:09,400 Great is thy faithfulness, great is thy faithfulness, morning by morning new mercies I see. 12 00:02:09,400 --> 00:02:27,400 All I have needed thy hand hath provided, great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me. 13 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:40,400 Pardon for sin and the peace that endureth, thine own dear presence to cheer and 14 00:02:40,400 --> 00:02:47,400 strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow. 15 00:02:47,400 --> 00:03:01,400 Blessings all mine with ten thousand beside, great is thy faithfulness, great is thy faithfulness, 16 00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:28,400 morning by morning new mercies I see. All I have needed thy hand hath provided, great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me. 17 00:03:28,400 --> 00:03:33,400 Be seated. 18 00:03:33,400 --> 00:03:39,400 And good evening to you on this first Sunday of March. And spring is in the air, isn't it? 19 00:03:39,400 --> 00:03:43,400 I mean, if we think happy thoughts, maybe it'll be here sooner. 20 00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:50,400 I guess the tournaments have to get over with in Minnesota before spring actually comes, but we've got one out of the way now. 21 00:03:50,400 --> 00:03:54,400 And one snowstorm out of the way, too. I'm glad you're here tonight. 22 00:03:54,400 --> 00:04:00,400 Looks like our junior highers are back from retreat, and we're glad that you've arrived back safely, too. 23 00:04:00,400 --> 00:04:07,400 As we go to prayer, we want to be remembering in prayer the Reeves family. 24 00:04:07,400 --> 00:04:13,400 Mark and Teresa got home from church today and received a phone call just as soon as they got there 25 00:04:13,400 --> 00:04:22,400 that Mark's father had apparently gone outside last night and stumbled and succumbed to the elements. 26 00:04:22,400 --> 00:04:30,400 And so they left this afternoon to be with the family that's involved, and so we want to remember them in prayer. 27 00:04:30,400 --> 00:04:35,400 Let's bow together right now and remember them. 28 00:04:35,400 --> 00:04:48,400 Father, there are times in life when our hearts are so crushed by sorrow and grief that 29 00:04:48,400 --> 00:04:57,400 our only hope is found in you and the solace and the comfort that you give. 30 00:04:57,400 --> 00:05:05,400 And undoubtedly that is where the Reeves are tonight in this tragedy, and we pray for them that you will strengthen them. 31 00:05:05,400 --> 00:05:12,400 May they sense your everlasting arms of comfort and love around them, supporting them. 32 00:05:12,400 --> 00:05:21,400 We pray that you will lead them in the decisions that they'll be making and make them a good testimony to family members. 33 00:05:21,400 --> 00:05:31,400 We uphold them before you tonight, and others in our church, too, are going through some valleys of a different sort, and you know each one. 34 00:05:31,400 --> 00:05:43,400 And so we pray for them, and we ask you to minister in a loving and definite way to show that you're with them in those valleys. 35 00:05:43,400 --> 00:05:52,400 We thank you for this special occasion today when we look back over eight years of ministry together as a church. 36 00:05:52,400 --> 00:05:59,400 You've done great things, and we say that your faithfulness has been proven. We've sung about that. 37 00:05:59,400 --> 00:06:06,400 And as we look ahead to whatever lies before in your will until Jesus comes, 38 00:06:06,400 --> 00:06:14,400 we pray that we might also experience your faithfulness and that we might be faithful to you. 39 00:06:14,400 --> 00:06:26,400 There are very great opportunities, and we desire that you would make us sufficient for them, that you would glorify your name in this place. 40 00:06:26,400 --> 00:06:30,400 Lord, we pray your blessing on this service tonight, each part of it. 41 00:06:30,400 --> 00:06:40,400 May our hearts be warmed and drawn together and drawn to you. In Jesus' name, amen. 42 00:06:40,400 --> 00:06:48,400 We want to spend a few minutes tonight as a part of this service recognizing the anniversary of our church. 43 00:06:48,400 --> 00:06:58,400 And we thought that it would be appropriate to include in this a word from Dave Clatterbuck, who is the chairman of our elders at the present time, 44 00:06:58,400 --> 00:07:04,400 and along with Dave, coming to the platform right now, which is a hint this is the time to come, 45 00:07:04,400 --> 00:07:14,400 Jim Danielson and Jeff Kraus, who I think is already up here, and Don Parker, each of these men will be having a part in this recognition. 46 00:07:14,400 --> 00:07:22,400 Dave, to say a few words, then Jim and Jeff are going to share with us some personal reflection of the ministry of Grace Church to them and their families, 47 00:07:22,400 --> 00:07:33,400 and then Don is going to close us in a prayer for the task that's yet before us. 48 00:07:33,400 --> 00:07:37,400 I think tonight is one of the greatest challenges in eight years at Grace Church Roseville. 49 00:07:37,400 --> 00:07:46,400 I was asked to speak about the last eight years, where we've been, where we are, and where we're going in two minutes. 50 00:07:46,400 --> 00:07:49,400 I'm not sure that can be done. We'll try. 51 00:07:49,400 --> 00:07:57,400 As many of you know, Grace Church Roseville began really about eight and a half years ago, almost nine years ago, 52 00:07:57,400 --> 00:08:05,400 even though we're celebrating our eighth anniversary, as a result of God bringing together three groups of people. 53 00:08:05,400 --> 00:08:14,400 One group was made up of several families that lived in the northern suburbs, who were meeting together regularly for prayer and Bible study, 54 00:08:14,400 --> 00:08:21,400 with the conviction that it was God's will that a new Bible teaching church be started in this part of Twin Cities. 55 00:08:21,400 --> 00:08:27,400 The second group of people were faithful people of God who attended the Immanuel Community Church, 56 00:08:27,400 --> 00:08:36,400 and they were praying that their church, which was having some difficulties, would become what God wanted it to be in the community. 57 00:08:36,400 --> 00:08:42,400 The third group were the leadership of Grace Church of Edina, who had a vision to start branch churches 58 00:08:42,400 --> 00:08:50,400 within 15 minutes of every resident in the Twin Cities, and it was God that brought these three groups together. 59 00:08:50,400 --> 00:08:59,400 And that time, Galen came as our pastor and Dave Sulak as our church administrator and doing everything imaginable at that time. 60 00:08:59,400 --> 00:09:08,400 And it started as a small group, but the church grew rapidly in those early days, as several hundred people began to attend. 61 00:09:08,400 --> 00:09:14,400 And they were frightening days to be in leadership at Grace Church, with large numbers growing weekly 62 00:09:14,400 --> 00:09:18,400 and very few people in leadership at that time. 63 00:09:18,400 --> 00:09:27,400 In those days, the leaders met almost weekly in meetings to try to decide what to do to keep up with the lack of facilities 64 00:09:27,400 --> 00:09:30,400 and the lack of leaders in the growing congregation. 65 00:09:30,400 --> 00:09:35,400 The next few years have been a time of developing and maturing of the ministry. 66 00:09:35,400 --> 00:09:40,400 As we've seen, our children's ministry grow and develop, the youth ministry grow and develop, 67 00:09:40,400 --> 00:09:46,400 the adult ministry expand with the small churches and the flocks and other activities. 68 00:09:46,400 --> 00:09:51,400 Missions in evangelism have been a vital part of the ministry from the beginning, 69 00:09:51,400 --> 00:10:00,400 growing in outreach and ministry, growing from several community outreaches, church-wide outreaches in the beginning, 70 00:10:00,400 --> 00:10:09,400 to the EE training program for evangelism, to the growing emphasis today of everyone being involved in evangelism 71 00:10:09,400 --> 00:10:13,400 with your friends, the people in your community, the people you work with. 72 00:10:13,400 --> 00:10:19,400 And then, of course, beginning just this Saturday of the Saturday night program, 73 00:10:19,400 --> 00:10:25,400 a new method, a new attempt to reach more people for Christ in our community. 74 00:10:25,400 --> 00:10:33,400 For the past three years, the church or so, the church's attendance has floated around 1,000 to 1,200, 1,250. 75 00:10:33,400 --> 00:10:39,400 And historically, in our time and our society today, in churches across the country, 76 00:10:39,400 --> 00:10:44,400 that's a very hard barrier to cross in the growth and development of a church. 77 00:10:44,400 --> 00:10:47,400 Now, we could at this point become complacent. 78 00:10:47,400 --> 00:10:51,400 We have full programs for all ages in our church. 79 00:10:51,400 --> 00:10:56,400 We've seen many people get involved in leadership and develop in their leadership ability, 80 00:10:56,400 --> 00:10:59,400 and many others are developing in leadership. 81 00:10:59,400 --> 00:11:05,400 And we're getting better at many of the things we're doing, and we're maturing as a church in many ways. 82 00:11:05,400 --> 00:11:09,400 But we just can't be complacent as a church. 83 00:11:09,400 --> 00:11:12,400 As we look at the future, we have to deal with the fact, I believe, 84 00:11:12,400 --> 00:11:17,400 that the Great Commission still stands today in our world. 85 00:11:17,400 --> 00:11:21,400 In our community, in the last eight years, as the community has grown, 86 00:11:21,400 --> 00:11:28,400 the percentage of people who know Christ has gone down in this community. 87 00:11:28,400 --> 00:11:32,400 And the same thing in the last eight years, the population of the world has grown. 88 00:11:32,400 --> 00:11:38,400 And at the same time, the need for missions is there to expand and grow. 89 00:11:38,400 --> 00:11:42,400 And we're seeing the mission force of the world shrinking at this time, 90 00:11:42,400 --> 00:11:46,400 so there's greater needs than ever before. 91 00:11:46,400 --> 00:11:53,400 We as leaders of Grace Church Roseville see the need to expand our ministry in this location, 92 00:11:53,400 --> 00:11:59,400 to reach more people, to develop this site to the fullest potential possible, 93 00:11:59,400 --> 00:12:02,400 to reach the most people here that we possibly can. 94 00:12:02,400 --> 00:12:10,400 At the same time, we feel the need to begin exploring the possibilities of starting other churches and other locations. 95 00:12:10,400 --> 00:12:16,400 When we look at the future, probably our greatest danger as a church is complacency, 96 00:12:16,400 --> 00:12:24,400 becoming content to be what we are, to become self-serving and to forget the lost world around us. 97 00:12:24,400 --> 00:12:31,400 Probably the greatest barrier to the expansion of our ministry as a church and its outreach is a lack of commitment. 98 00:12:31,400 --> 00:12:36,400 We need more people who are willing to commit themselves to service in the church, 99 00:12:36,400 --> 00:12:39,400 to use their spiritual gifts in serving others. 100 00:12:39,400 --> 00:12:45,400 We need more people who are willing to commit to evangelism, both here in the community and around the world. 101 00:12:45,400 --> 00:12:51,400 And we can't experience any expansion in either areas unless we see greater commitment to serve the cause of Christ 102 00:12:51,400 --> 00:12:59,400 through the sacrificial commitment of our finances, the resources that God has blessed us with as families and individuals. 103 00:12:59,400 --> 00:13:16,400 Our greatest challenge today is still to fulfill the great commission in our community and around the world. 104 00:13:16,400 --> 00:13:21,400 In reflecting on the past eight years since the beginning of Grace Church Roosevelt, 105 00:13:21,400 --> 00:13:26,400 I can't help but think of the many changes we have had in our own personal lives. 106 00:13:26,400 --> 00:13:31,400 Since Lois and I started attending Grace, we have had three of our children get married, 107 00:13:31,400 --> 00:13:36,400 have had the great experience of eight grandchildren coming into our lives, 108 00:13:36,400 --> 00:13:40,400 and we have also experienced the loss of a loved one. 109 00:13:40,400 --> 00:13:46,400 We both have experienced changes in job responsibilities and church responsibilities. 110 00:13:46,400 --> 00:13:55,400 I'm sure all of us can look back over the past several years and think of many changes that have taken place in our lives. 111 00:13:55,400 --> 00:14:01,400 We've experienced the people caring for each other and showing their caring in a concrete way, 112 00:14:01,400 --> 00:14:05,400 especially in the small church setting. 113 00:14:05,400 --> 00:14:17,400 Grace Church has experienced many changes as well and hopefully will continue to change to meet the needs of people. 114 00:14:17,400 --> 00:14:25,400 I am thankful for the unchanging nature of God whose love and comfort we can depend on through all of life's circumstances. 115 00:14:25,400 --> 00:14:27,400 In Psalm 102 we read, 116 00:14:27,400 --> 00:14:36,400 Of old thou didst found the earth, and the heavens are the work of thy hands. Even they will perish, but thou dost endure. 117 00:14:36,400 --> 00:14:42,400 And all of them will wear out like a garment, like clothing. Thou wilt change them, and they will be changed. 118 00:14:42,400 --> 00:14:57,400 And all are the same, and thy years will not come to an end. 119 00:14:57,400 --> 00:15:04,400 Well, I guess as we talked about this morning, it's good to be here, worshiping in God's house together. 120 00:15:04,400 --> 00:15:07,400 I just thought I'd share some experiences that I've had. 121 00:15:07,400 --> 00:15:12,400 Actually, I've been here most of the past eight years that we've been in existence as this kind of a body. 122 00:15:12,400 --> 00:15:16,400 I started attending in April of 81. 123 00:15:16,400 --> 00:15:22,400 Fresh out of college, pretty much, out of Iowa State, in Ames, Iowa, as a young engineer working for Honeywell, 124 00:15:22,400 --> 00:15:24,400 I was looking for a place to serve God. 125 00:15:24,400 --> 00:15:35,400 And I looked at a few places and was impressed with the devotion to God and to His Word and to the joy and anticipation of serving the Lord here. 126 00:15:35,400 --> 00:15:40,400 We were kind of a small group back then, so I kind of saw a lot of opportunity for service. 127 00:15:40,400 --> 00:15:48,400 About half the time I spend here has been in career class, and a lot of good experiences I've had there. 128 00:15:48,400 --> 00:15:54,400 I received challenges for service from a good friend of mine, Tom Paschke, who's now farming in Blue Earth. 129 00:15:54,400 --> 00:16:03,400 And I've also been involved with a lot of seasons of sports here with some of the teams at Grace in softball and basketball. 130 00:16:03,400 --> 00:16:08,400 I've been involved with ushering and taking some canoe trips. 131 00:16:08,400 --> 00:16:14,400 I've been involved with growth groups, as we called them a couple years ago, and now they're flocks. 132 00:16:14,400 --> 00:16:23,400 I've also met many friends and have come to know a lot of good people, some of whom I've had as roommates in the past. 133 00:16:23,400 --> 00:16:28,400 And I've really received a lot of good encouragement, some laughs along the way. 134 00:16:28,400 --> 00:16:35,400 And also, there's been times of growth and learning as we dealt with problems with one another. 135 00:16:35,400 --> 00:16:37,400 So it's been a good experience. 136 00:16:37,400 --> 00:16:48,400 Last but not least, I've also met my wife here, Shelley, and we enjoy meeting together with the folks in Small Church 28. 137 00:16:48,400 --> 00:16:55,400 I think, like I say, the thing I most appreciate about this church is the teaching of the Bible. 138 00:16:55,400 --> 00:17:00,400 And I think many of you know what I mean when you hear the teaching of God's Word. 139 00:17:00,400 --> 00:17:05,400 It tends to ring true in your life, and it tends to really speak to your heart. 140 00:17:05,400 --> 00:17:08,400 That's probably what I most appreciate here. 141 00:17:08,400 --> 00:17:13,400 The thing that I most enjoy is what I'm doing now, singing in the Worship Choir. 142 00:17:13,400 --> 00:17:20,400 There's just something about singing, the praise and worship to God, that I know when I first came in, I noticed this the most, 143 00:17:20,400 --> 00:17:27,400 that you feel like you're right there in heaven singing with the angels and the choirs of the believers, 144 00:17:27,400 --> 00:17:29,400 especially when we have orchestra up here. 145 00:17:29,400 --> 00:17:32,400 So that's really a good experience for me. 146 00:17:32,400 --> 00:17:39,400 I think although there's been some disappointments and regrets here with some of the things that I've experienced, 147 00:17:39,400 --> 00:17:48,400 I think on the whole, we're a people that are seeking to please God and to honor Him on His terms. 148 00:17:48,400 --> 00:17:57,400 And I think I've come to learn in my time here that we're actually serving Him in what we do, 149 00:17:57,400 --> 00:18:01,400 and not just the elders or the staff or each other. 150 00:18:01,400 --> 00:18:05,400 But in light of the service we give to the Lord, 151 00:18:05,400 --> 00:18:20,400 I feel I have no fear of committing whatever I have and whatever I am to His service here in this ministry. 152 00:18:20,400 --> 00:18:22,400 Thanks, Jeff. 153 00:18:22,400 --> 00:18:26,400 There was a publicity picture taken probably back in about 1982, 154 00:18:26,400 --> 00:18:30,400 and that's proof positive that Jeff was one of the early ones here. 155 00:18:30,400 --> 00:18:35,400 There's a picture of Jeff with Pastor Carl shaking hands and grinning at each other. 156 00:18:35,400 --> 00:18:43,400 And Jeff hasn't changed that much in eight years. 157 00:18:43,400 --> 00:18:54,400 Pastor Carl had jet black hair and sideburns that went down to his jawels. 158 00:18:54,400 --> 00:19:03,400 But God has done many things in the last eight years. 159 00:19:03,400 --> 00:19:04,400 We have a lot to be thankful for. 160 00:19:04,400 --> 00:19:11,400 What I'd like you to do is join me in a prayer of thanksgiving. 161 00:19:11,400 --> 00:19:14,400 Would you bow with me? 162 00:19:14,400 --> 00:19:22,400 I want you to think in your own hearts of some of the ways that God has ministered to you in this body. 163 00:19:22,400 --> 00:19:28,400 It might be through the teaching of the word that you're thankful for. 164 00:19:28,400 --> 00:19:33,400 It might be for some individual who's been an encouragement to you 165 00:19:33,400 --> 00:19:39,400 or who's ministered to you in times when you've been hurting or suffering. 166 00:19:39,400 --> 00:19:46,400 You might be thankful for the fellowship that you have in a group that you're a part of. 167 00:19:46,400 --> 00:20:02,400 Just take a moment to thank the Lord for the things that he's done in your life through Grace Church. 168 00:20:02,400 --> 00:20:10,400 And I want you to thank the Lord for how he's used you in Grace Church. 169 00:20:10,400 --> 00:20:13,400 Have you been a faithful steward? 170 00:20:13,400 --> 00:20:17,400 Can you look to the stewardship of your life and your ministry here at Grace 171 00:20:17,400 --> 00:20:24,400 and be thankful that God has been able to use you and find a place for you? 172 00:20:24,400 --> 00:20:41,400 So thank the Lord for that, for the precious privilege of being used of God to minister to others to bring glory to him. 173 00:20:41,400 --> 00:20:50,400 Father, we do have so much to be thankful for, for the working of the Holy Spirit in our midst in these past eight years, 174 00:20:50,400 --> 00:20:55,400 for the touch of the supernatural that we've seen around us, 175 00:20:55,400 --> 00:21:00,400 for things that have taken place that we really can't account for in human terms, 176 00:21:00,400 --> 00:21:06,400 but we know that it's a hand of God upon us. We're so thankful for that. 177 00:21:06,400 --> 00:21:14,400 We're thankful for the evidence of changed lives because it's the transforming power of the resurrection 178 00:21:14,400 --> 00:21:22,400 that brings joy to our hearts when we see that come to bear upon the lives of individuals. 179 00:21:22,400 --> 00:21:29,400 Lord, we're thankful for this composite group of people that you've brought together that make up the church. 180 00:21:29,400 --> 00:21:39,400 And we know that in your sovereignty, you've seen fit to bring the appropriate blend of gifts and sensitivities of heart together 181 00:21:39,400 --> 00:21:45,400 so that we make a church and that we're complete in Christ. 182 00:21:45,400 --> 00:21:52,400 Father, thank you for the many opportunities you've given us to serve, to minister to one another, 183 00:21:52,400 --> 00:21:59,400 and to be part of your work during this temporal life that we are in right now. 184 00:21:59,400 --> 00:22:05,400 As we look back, there are so many things that we can be thankful for, for the unity that you've preserved in this body, 185 00:22:05,400 --> 00:22:10,400 for the commitment to the truth of your word. 186 00:22:10,400 --> 00:22:20,400 But Father, there is so much more that needs to be accomplished and that we desire to be part of as you enable us and as you empower us. 187 00:22:20,400 --> 00:22:28,400 And as we look ahead, we pray that you would continue to preserve the unity in this body 188 00:22:28,400 --> 00:22:38,400 and that Grace Church would always be a place where the weaker brother or the babes in Christ are welcome and loved. 189 00:22:38,400 --> 00:22:49,400 Lord, might there be a forbearing and a supportive spirit of those who are new in the Lord and need to grow? 190 00:22:49,400 --> 00:22:58,400 Lord, I pray that you would protect the staff and the leadership of this church from the attacks of Satan. 191 00:22:58,400 --> 00:23:09,400 Continue to strengthen them and reinforce in them their commitment to godliness in their walk and in their example. 192 00:23:09,400 --> 00:23:16,400 Lord, protect them in the moral integrity that they have, that your work would not be dishonored, 193 00:23:16,400 --> 00:23:22,400 and that the effectiveness of their ministry would not be hampered. 194 00:23:22,400 --> 00:23:30,400 Father, we don't know when the time will come that Christ returns to receive us unto himself, 195 00:23:30,400 --> 00:23:39,400 but we pray collectively tonight and we recommit ourselves to being busy in the meantime, 196 00:23:39,400 --> 00:23:48,400 to exerting ourselves in the energies that you give us, to reaching out, to taking the gospel message to those who haven't heard, 197 00:23:48,400 --> 00:24:01,400 and to building up disciples, training them up and equipping them for the furtherance of your word in our community and abroad. 198 00:24:01,400 --> 00:24:07,400 Lord, we know this can only be accomplished effectively in your spirit, 199 00:24:07,400 --> 00:24:15,400 and so we pray that you would remove from us any obstacles, anything that would prevent you from working freely in us and through us, 200 00:24:15,400 --> 00:24:23,400 and accomplishing as a body of believers that which would bring joy to your heart. 201 00:24:23,400 --> 00:24:30,400 Thank you, Father, for the privilege and joy of being your children, of ministering and worshiping together 202 00:24:30,400 --> 00:24:39,400 in this corporate body, in this local church that you saw fit to establish eight years ago. 203 00:24:39,400 --> 00:24:45,400 Father, fill us with an excitement and an anticipation of what's yet to come, 204 00:24:45,400 --> 00:24:52,400 and might we see the touch of the supernatural in our midst in a new way, 205 00:24:52,400 --> 00:24:59,400 and fill us with the expectation of what can be accomplished through this body as we submit ourselves, 206 00:24:59,400 --> 00:25:06,400 as we get serious about allowing the Holy Spirit to work through our individual lives and through this corporate body. 207 00:25:06,400 --> 00:25:16,400 Fill us with the hope and the anticipation of the reality, O God, that indeed the best is yet to come 208 00:25:16,400 --> 00:25:20,400 for your children here at Grace Church, Roseville. 209 00:25:20,400 --> 00:25:30,400 We pray these things in Jesus' name, Amen. 210 00:25:50,400 --> 00:26:05,400 As I hear the rolling current, I'm on the road, O Lord, how great the heart! 211 00:26:05,400 --> 00:26:20,400 O God, we glory with thee, see that light, so roundly the world that he gave us his Son, 212 00:26:20,400 --> 00:26:37,400 in his life and atonement for sin, when all and the life in that home may go in. Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, that the earth hear his voice. 213 00:26:37,400 --> 00:26:50,400 Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, that the people rejoice. O come to the Father, through Jesus the Son, 214 00:26:50,400 --> 00:26:59,400 and give him the glory with things he hath done. 215 00:26:59,400 --> 00:27:14,400 It is thy faithfulness, O God, my Father, there is no shadow of turning with thee. 216 00:27:14,400 --> 00:27:31,400 Thou changest not like the passions they fail not, as thou hast been thou forever wilt be. 217 00:27:31,400 --> 00:27:46,400 Great is thy faithfulness, great is thy faithfulness, all in thy body new mercies I see. 218 00:27:46,400 --> 00:28:07,400 All I have needed thy hand hath provided, great is thy faithfulness, for unto me, 219 00:28:07,400 --> 00:28:26,400 when Christ shall come, when shalt come at the creation, and take me home, what joy shall fill my heart. 220 00:28:26,400 --> 00:28:44,400 Then I shall bow with humble adoration, and then proclaim, my God, how great thou art. 221 00:28:44,400 --> 00:29:03,400 Then sings my soul, O my Savior God, to thee, how great thou art, how great thou art. 222 00:29:03,400 --> 00:29:23,400 Then sings my soul, O my Savior God, to thee, how great thou art, how great thou art, 223 00:29:23,400 --> 00:29:43,400 how great thou art, how great thou art. 224 00:29:43,400 --> 00:29:52,400 Thank you, John, and Worship Choir for your ministry of music tonight. We appreciate it very much. 225 00:29:52,400 --> 00:29:58,400 Just a couple of words of announcement. But first let me say welcome to all of you, and especially to our visitors. 226 00:29:58,400 --> 00:30:05,400 We're glad you've come tonight. This Tuesday night is our elders' meeting, and we'll be having our bill study this week. 227 00:30:05,400 --> 00:30:09,400 So those of you who are involved in that, please don't forget. 228 00:30:09,400 --> 00:30:17,400 And then at 8.30 we take up our ministry business. So be praying for the elders this week. 229 00:30:17,400 --> 00:30:25,400 And then I have a telephone number for you so that you can get information regarding the very special evening with Dr. Gary Bauer. 230 00:30:25,400 --> 00:30:31,400 You may recall that that's on Thursday night, March the 16th, at Christ the Evangelical Free Church, 231 00:30:31,400 --> 00:30:39,400 a banquet at which Mr. Bauer will be speaking on behalf of a coalition of organizations here in Minnesota 232 00:30:39,400 --> 00:30:44,400 seeking to strengthen the hand of the family in our state. 233 00:30:44,400 --> 00:30:54,400 And we can get tickets to that through the Berean League, and that number is 633-0654. 234 00:30:54,400 --> 00:30:58,400 I know some of you are thinking, well, that's just what I need another night out. 235 00:30:58,400 --> 00:31:04,400 But I recognize that all of us have busy schedules, but there are some nights that are worth investing in, 236 00:31:04,400 --> 00:31:10,400 and I believe that this is that kind of a night. I hope that you'll be able to make it on March the 16th. 237 00:31:10,400 --> 00:31:15,400 Let's bow together now in prayer as we receive the offering for this evening. 238 00:31:15,400 --> 00:31:27,400 Lord, it's been good to hear of how you've used the ministry of the church and of each one of us to one another over these years. 239 00:31:27,400 --> 00:31:34,400 Thank you for that special entity that you have called into being, called the church, 240 00:31:34,400 --> 00:31:42,400 the living organism of your people, of which we are all members if we belong to Jesus Christ. 241 00:31:42,400 --> 00:31:50,400 And thank you for the local church, the geographical expression of that body, the spiritual body. 242 00:31:50,400 --> 00:31:59,400 And tonight as we bring ourselves and our gifts to you, we pray that the ministry of this body 243 00:31:59,400 --> 00:32:04,400 would continue to grow and be effective and be all that you want it to be. 244 00:32:04,400 --> 00:32:11,400 For you are our head, and we want to be a healthy body and honor and glorify you. 245 00:32:11,400 --> 00:32:21,400 And we do that in bringing these gifts tonight we trust. In Jesus' name, amen. 246 00:32:41,400 --> 00:32:43,400 Amen. 247 00:33:11,400 --> 00:33:13,400 Amen. 248 00:33:41,400 --> 00:33:43,400 Amen. 249 00:34:11,400 --> 00:34:13,400 Amen. 250 00:34:41,400 --> 00:34:58,400 Every day they pass me by. 251 00:34:58,400 --> 00:35:15,400 I can see it in their eyes, empty people filled with care, headed who knows where. 252 00:35:15,400 --> 00:35:33,400 On they go through private pain, living fear to fear. Laughter hides the silent cries. 253 00:35:33,400 --> 00:35:50,400 Only Jesus hears. People need the Lord. People need the Lord. 254 00:35:50,400 --> 00:36:12,400 At the end of broken dreams, He's the open door. People need the Lord. People need the Lord. 255 00:36:12,400 --> 00:36:32,400 When will we realize people need the Lord? 256 00:36:32,400 --> 00:36:44,400 We are called to take His light to a world where wrong seems right. 257 00:36:44,400 --> 00:36:55,400 What could be to greater cost for sharing life with one who's lost? 258 00:36:55,400 --> 00:37:06,400 Through His love our hearts can feel all the grief they bear. 259 00:37:06,400 --> 00:37:18,400 They must hear the words of life only we can share. 260 00:37:18,400 --> 00:37:29,400 People need the Lord. People need the Lord. 261 00:37:29,400 --> 00:37:40,400 At the end of broken dreams, He's the open door. 262 00:37:40,400 --> 00:37:51,400 People need the Lord. Oh, people need the Lord. 263 00:37:51,400 --> 00:38:16,400 When will we realize that we must give our lives for people need the Lord? 264 00:38:16,400 --> 00:38:33,400 People need the Lord. 265 00:38:46,400 --> 00:38:56,400 Thank you, Marcia. We were going to sing a hymn at this point, but we're going to delay that until later in the service. 266 00:38:56,400 --> 00:39:01,400 Maybe you'd like to stand and stretch. You've been seated for a long time. I think that would be good. 267 00:39:01,400 --> 00:39:30,400 As you're stretching, why don't you stretch out that right hand, or if you want, your left hand too, and welcome those near you. 268 00:39:30,400 --> 00:39:50,400 Well, perhaps you need to stretch a little longer, but I can't stretch the hour too far, so let's go ahead and get started. 269 00:39:50,400 --> 00:40:00,400 I appreciate your being here tonight. As we come to the Lord's table, I want us to do just exactly what Paul did in the book of 1 Corinthians, 270 00:40:00,400 --> 00:40:05,400 as he began to teach us about the Lord's table, and that was to talk about issues. 271 00:40:05,400 --> 00:40:20,400 As a parent, I look for those opportunities in our family when there are natural teaching occasions, 272 00:40:20,400 --> 00:40:38,400 those events or circumstances that allow you as a parent to communicate truth at a time when the kids are or should be willing to listen. 273 00:40:38,400 --> 00:40:42,400 Not always willing, but should be willing to listen. 274 00:40:42,400 --> 00:40:50,400 You can tell them things, but it's at the point when an issue arises that they often are willing to listen a little more intently. 275 00:40:50,400 --> 00:40:58,400 I think that's true of all of us, that we hear teaching, we read books, and accumulate vast amounts of knowledge, 276 00:40:58,400 --> 00:41:07,400 but it's not until we get to a point of need that all that information condenses and is focused, and we begin to grab a hold of it. 277 00:41:07,400 --> 00:41:10,400 That's where we find ourselves tonight as a church family. 278 00:41:10,400 --> 00:41:16,400 Last Sunday evening we had a presentation here of the Saturday evening ministry, which began last night, 279 00:41:16,400 --> 00:41:23,400 and which God blessed last night with a good attendance, and with some folks there who didn't know Christ, 280 00:41:23,400 --> 00:41:27,400 and who indicated enthusiasm and planned to be back. 281 00:41:27,400 --> 00:41:35,400 That's what it's all about. Saturday evening is not a worship service. Saturday evening is an outreach ministry of our church. 282 00:41:35,400 --> 00:41:41,400 Occasions will inevitably arise in any church when there's a difference of opinion, 283 00:41:41,400 --> 00:41:49,400 as in the case of the style of music that is used to some degree in the Saturday evening ministry. 284 00:41:49,400 --> 00:41:57,400 We can expect that differences of opinions will occur throughout our lives with other people, 285 00:41:57,400 --> 00:42:01,400 because none of us are perfect, and therefore there will be differences. 286 00:42:01,400 --> 00:42:08,400 When Christians have differences with one another, they handle those differences in a variety of ways. 287 00:42:08,400 --> 00:42:13,400 There are some who go to the person that they differ with and immediately try to work it out. 288 00:42:13,400 --> 00:42:21,400 There are others who just let it kind of simmer under the surface until it finally erupts and there's a kind of nasty explosion. 289 00:42:21,400 --> 00:42:30,400 There are others who decide that they're just going to leave and disassociate fellowship with the other person. 290 00:42:30,400 --> 00:42:38,400 How much better it is for all of us to recognize that differences are to be expected and that we can grow through them. 291 00:42:38,400 --> 00:42:44,400 I would like to say regarding this matter of music styles that it did not begin last Sunday night. 292 00:42:44,400 --> 00:42:50,400 That is the difference of opinion in our church, because there's been a difference of opinion that's been ongoing for some time 293 00:42:50,400 --> 00:42:56,400 regarding styles of music, particularly those used in our morning worship service and our Sunday evening service. 294 00:42:56,400 --> 00:43:01,400 So it's nothing new, it's just now the opportunity arises when I think we can address it. 295 00:43:01,400 --> 00:43:06,400 As a matter of fact, music is often a difference within churches. 296 00:43:06,400 --> 00:43:12,400 There are whole denominations that have split over styles of music or the approach to music. 297 00:43:12,400 --> 00:43:17,400 That's why someone said in jest that when the devil fell out of heaven, he fell into the choir loft. 298 00:43:17,400 --> 00:43:21,400 Now the point of that is not the choirs are filled with the devil, 299 00:43:21,400 --> 00:43:27,400 but the point of it is that so often music in a church becomes a point of controversy. 300 00:43:27,400 --> 00:43:31,400 What does the Bible say about music styles? 301 00:43:31,400 --> 00:43:37,400 Well the answer to that is surprisingly very little. 302 00:43:37,400 --> 00:43:41,400 The Bible hardly addresses that subject at all. 303 00:43:41,400 --> 00:43:46,400 And as a matter of fact, I'm not even sure that that's the point that we want to address tonight. 304 00:43:46,400 --> 00:43:50,400 I don't think that ought to be the point of our concern. 305 00:43:50,400 --> 00:43:55,400 I want to use this occasion tonight not to talk about music styles, 306 00:43:55,400 --> 00:43:59,400 but to talk about how to handle differences. 307 00:43:59,400 --> 00:44:03,400 It's interesting as I look back through the sermons that we've preached here in the past, 308 00:44:03,400 --> 00:44:10,400 five years ago today we were talking about the very same theme as we worked our way through the book of Romans. 309 00:44:10,400 --> 00:44:16,400 And if you would like a more full presentation of the subject, how to avoid church splits, 310 00:44:16,400 --> 00:44:22,400 there are three messages, Romans 14 and 15, that deal with that subject. 311 00:44:22,400 --> 00:44:29,400 But that's where I want us to turn tonight in just a brief survey of what these verses teach 312 00:44:29,400 --> 00:44:33,400 regarding how to handle differences in a local church. 313 00:44:33,400 --> 00:44:36,400 There are principles here that are very important. 314 00:44:36,400 --> 00:44:42,400 I believe that there is a parallel to what is dealt with in Romans 14 and 15 315 00:44:42,400 --> 00:44:49,400 to what some of us may be experiencing at the present time regarding styles of music. 316 00:44:49,400 --> 00:44:53,400 Music is not mentioned here, but other issues are, 317 00:44:53,400 --> 00:45:00,400 which are representative of issues that are non-moral issues. 318 00:45:00,400 --> 00:45:05,400 That is, where the Bible doesn't say this is right and this is wrong. 319 00:45:05,400 --> 00:45:12,400 They are issues that are disputed among people who are equally godly and equally sincere. 320 00:45:12,400 --> 00:45:22,400 Romans 14 and 15 deals with the weaker brother and the stronger brother, to use Paul's language. 321 00:45:22,400 --> 00:45:31,400 In the definitions that Paul is using, the weaker one is the one who is more restricted, 322 00:45:31,400 --> 00:45:38,400 the one who is sensitive to a certain issue. 323 00:45:38,400 --> 00:45:41,400 That one is called the weaker brother. 324 00:45:41,400 --> 00:45:47,400 The one who is the stronger brother is the one who has broader boundaries about that. 325 00:45:47,400 --> 00:46:07,400 The one who is able to enjoy in that area his freedom in Christ. 326 00:46:07,400 --> 00:46:17,400 Paul does not put down the weaker brother, nor does he exalt the stronger brother. 327 00:46:17,400 --> 00:46:26,400 As a matter of fact, he indicates that both the weaker brother and stronger brother have a responsibility to each other. 328 00:46:26,400 --> 00:46:34,400 He tells us that both of them are sincere, that they both have deeply held personal opinions. 329 00:46:34,400 --> 00:46:45,400 As a matter of fact, he affirms that that's great, that that's okay to have differences of opinions. 330 00:46:45,400 --> 00:46:50,400 He is not talking about issues where there is a moral right and a moral wrong. 331 00:46:50,400 --> 00:46:57,400 He is talking about that area in between that is gray, where the Bible is not specific. 332 00:46:57,400 --> 00:47:00,400 He does not say that the weaker brother is right or wrong. 333 00:47:00,400 --> 00:47:04,400 He does not say that the stronger brother is right or wrong. 334 00:47:04,400 --> 00:47:10,400 He does not say that one is immature in this context, nor does he say the other one is mature. 335 00:47:10,400 --> 00:47:13,400 The state of maturity is not the issue. 336 00:47:13,400 --> 00:47:17,400 It's the sensitivity of conscience about certain things. 337 00:47:17,400 --> 00:47:27,400 As a matter of fact, one who is a weaker brother in one issue may be the stronger brother in another issue and vice versa. 338 00:47:27,400 --> 00:47:34,400 I think that what Paul is telling us here is that we need to avoid being extreme. 339 00:47:34,400 --> 00:47:43,400 We need to avoid being a perpetual weaker brother in every issue and avoid being a presumptuous stronger brother. 340 00:47:43,400 --> 00:47:56,400 The perpetual weaker brother is one who is habitually legalistic and expects everyone else to limit their options to keep him happy. 341 00:47:56,400 --> 00:48:07,400 He wears legalistic opinions on his shoulders and dares others to offend him, and sometimes even has a tantrum if he doesn't get his way. 342 00:48:07,400 --> 00:48:14,400 On the other hand, the presumptuous brother has no regard for the genuine sensitivity of others. 343 00:48:14,400 --> 00:48:21,400 He is often arrogant and can flaunt his liberty to try to make a point, 344 00:48:21,400 --> 00:48:30,400 and is even willing, if he is a presumptuous stronger brother, to initiate an offense or will try to intimidate others who are weaker. 345 00:48:30,400 --> 00:48:33,400 Why doesn't he grow up? 346 00:48:33,400 --> 00:48:43,400 Those are the extremes in both cases, and those extremes are to be avoided. 347 00:48:43,400 --> 00:48:54,400 Let's turn to Romans chapter 14 and take a look at some of the principles that we are not just to know about, but which we are to practice in our church 348 00:48:54,400 --> 00:49:00,400 when it comes to differences of opinions about debatable things. 349 00:49:00,400 --> 00:49:07,400 The style of music is a legitimately debatable issue. 350 00:49:07,400 --> 00:49:19,400 Chapter 14 begins by saying, Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions. 351 00:49:19,400 --> 00:49:23,400 In other words, accept him without passing judgment on him. 352 00:49:23,400 --> 00:49:29,400 One man has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only. 353 00:49:29,400 --> 00:49:33,400 So he brings up an issue that was current in that day. 354 00:49:33,400 --> 00:49:43,400 There is a difference of opinion about these believers concerning who may eat meat and those who are vegetarians. 355 00:49:43,400 --> 00:49:48,400 Paul, in this particular instance, says the weaker brother is one who eats vegetables only. 356 00:49:48,400 --> 00:49:51,400 He has convictions about meat. 357 00:49:51,400 --> 00:49:59,400 Then there are others who eat meat, and the assumption is that that meat might possibly have been offered to idols, 358 00:49:59,400 --> 00:50:03,400 as was the case in the meat market often. 359 00:50:03,400 --> 00:50:05,400 So he has no qualms about that. 360 00:50:05,400 --> 00:50:09,400 He is not afraid to eat the meat, even though it may have been offered to idols. 361 00:50:09,400 --> 00:50:11,400 He is free in that regard. 362 00:50:11,400 --> 00:50:15,400 So Paul says the one man has faith that he may eat all things. 363 00:50:15,400 --> 00:50:18,400 He who is weak eats vegetables only. 364 00:50:18,400 --> 00:50:20,400 He won't even touch the meat. 365 00:50:20,400 --> 00:50:24,400 But not him who eats, regard with contempt him who does not eat. 366 00:50:24,400 --> 00:50:36,400 And let not him who does not eat judge him who eats, for God has accepted him. 367 00:50:36,400 --> 00:50:40,400 Now we can go on to read this whole paragraph, and we intend to work through it. 368 00:50:40,400 --> 00:50:52,400 But the basic point that Paul is making in the first 12 verses of chapter 14 is that we ought not to judge one another when it comes to debatable things. 369 00:50:52,400 --> 00:51:00,400 We are not to establish our opinions as the basis upon which to judge the spirituality or sincerity of other people, 370 00:51:00,400 --> 00:51:04,400 or even the legitimacy of their feelings. 371 00:51:04,400 --> 00:51:10,400 We are talking about opinions that are deeply, sincerely held, and which are different. 372 00:51:10,400 --> 00:51:13,400 And Paul says don't judge one another. 373 00:51:13,400 --> 00:51:21,400 And we just read the first reason, and that is that God has already accepted both of them, the weaker and the stronger. 374 00:51:21,400 --> 00:51:31,400 God has accepted them for where they are, and we are to accept them for where they are too, without judging them. 375 00:51:31,400 --> 00:51:37,400 In verses 4 through 9 he gives a second reason as to why we ought not to judge one another. 376 00:51:37,400 --> 00:51:45,400 And basically it's because both sides, the weaker and the stronger, belong to Jesus Christ. 377 00:51:45,400 --> 00:51:50,400 Notice the emphasis on the lordship of Christ in verses 4 through 9. 378 00:51:50,400 --> 00:51:54,400 The term lord is used at least eight times in these verses. 379 00:51:54,400 --> 00:51:57,400 Who are you to judge the servant of another? 380 00:51:57,400 --> 00:52:04,400 To his own master he stands or falls, and stand he will, for the Lord is able to make him stand. 381 00:52:04,400 --> 00:52:08,400 And now in verse 5 Paul brings up other potential issues. 382 00:52:08,400 --> 00:52:11,400 One man regards one day above another. 383 00:52:11,400 --> 00:52:13,400 Another regards every day alike. 384 00:52:13,400 --> 00:52:16,400 Let each man be fully convinced in his own mind. 385 00:52:16,400 --> 00:52:19,400 And that's one of the things that Paul says strongly in this chapter. 386 00:52:19,400 --> 00:52:22,400 It's okay to have differences of opinions. 387 00:52:22,400 --> 00:52:31,400 Just be convinced in your own mind that what you are opinionated about is where God wants you to be. 388 00:52:31,400 --> 00:52:34,400 He who observes the day observes it for the Lord. 389 00:52:34,400 --> 00:52:39,400 He who eats does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God. 390 00:52:39,400 --> 00:52:44,400 He who does not for the Lord he does not eat and gives thanks to God. 391 00:52:44,400 --> 00:52:48,400 For not one of us lives for himself and not one of us dies for himself. 392 00:52:48,400 --> 00:52:52,400 For if we live we live for the Lord, if we die we die for the Lord. 393 00:52:52,400 --> 00:52:56,400 Therefore whether we live or die we are the Lords. 394 00:52:56,400 --> 00:53:02,400 To this end Christ died and lived again that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. 395 00:53:02,400 --> 00:53:07,400 So we are not to judge one another because we both belong to Jesus Christ. 396 00:53:07,400 --> 00:53:13,400 Not only has God already accepted us, but we belong to the same Lord, Jesus Christ. 397 00:53:13,400 --> 00:53:18,400 And he concludes the paragraph by a third reason for not judging each other. 398 00:53:18,400 --> 00:53:25,400 That is that there is a coming judgment when all of us will be judged by Christ not by one another. 399 00:53:25,400 --> 00:53:29,400 He says, you, why do you judge your brother? 400 00:53:29,400 --> 00:53:33,400 Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? 401 00:53:33,400 --> 00:53:40,400 You see on the one hand the weaker brother with the more limited conscience in the issue, 402 00:53:40,400 --> 00:53:49,400 the more restricted one was judging the one who had the freedom in that issue, in this case the music. 403 00:53:49,400 --> 00:53:58,400 On the other hand the one who had the freedom looked upon the one who was more restricted with contempt and despised him. 404 00:53:58,400 --> 00:54:01,400 And Paul condemns both attitudes. 405 00:54:01,400 --> 00:54:09,400 He says, for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ, the weaker and the stronger. 406 00:54:09,400 --> 00:54:14,400 And he writes from the Old Testament where it says that, in verse 12 he says, 407 00:54:14,400 --> 00:54:24,400 so then each one of us shall give account of himself to God, not for his brother, but of himself. 408 00:54:24,400 --> 00:54:30,400 So as we think about differences in the church in this particular case over the style of music, 409 00:54:30,400 --> 00:54:34,400 let's begin with this first principle that Paul points out in Romans chapter 14. 410 00:54:34,400 --> 00:54:39,400 That is, that we have no business judging one another in matters like this, 411 00:54:39,400 --> 00:54:43,400 or having contempt upon one another in matters like this. 412 00:54:43,400 --> 00:54:47,400 For God has accepted us in our differences. 413 00:54:47,400 --> 00:54:54,400 We all are serving the Lord Jesus Christ, and to him alone each one of us shall stand to give account 414 00:54:54,400 --> 00:55:01,400 of the opinions that we've lived upon and our convictions that we've lived upon during our lifetime. 415 00:55:01,400 --> 00:55:05,400 Now in verses 13 through 23 there's a second principle. 416 00:55:05,400 --> 00:55:09,400 It's basically this, don't cause another to stumble. 417 00:55:09,400 --> 00:55:11,400 Very important principle. 418 00:55:11,400 --> 00:55:15,400 Elaborated upon in 1 Corinthians chapter 8. 419 00:55:15,400 --> 00:55:21,400 But here he says, don't cause another to stumble, verses 14 and 15, by conducting yourself, 420 00:55:21,400 --> 00:55:29,400 or rather, don't cause another to stumble by conducting yourself under the law of love. 421 00:55:29,400 --> 00:55:38,400 If you love your brother, you will not put an offense in his way, a stumbling block, an obstacle. 422 00:55:38,400 --> 00:55:41,400 You will desire to help him. 423 00:55:41,400 --> 00:55:44,400 You will desire to help him to stand. 424 00:55:44,400 --> 00:55:50,400 Paul says in 14, I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself. 425 00:55:50,400 --> 00:55:53,400 Now he's not talking about definite rights and wrongs. 426 00:55:53,400 --> 00:55:56,400 Understand that he's dealing with debatable things. 427 00:55:56,400 --> 00:56:01,400 But he says to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 428 00:56:01,400 --> 00:56:04,400 That's an important principle. 429 00:56:04,400 --> 00:56:06,400 We differ about that. 430 00:56:06,400 --> 00:56:13,400 But he says conduct yourself under the law of love and consider each other. 431 00:56:13,400 --> 00:56:19,400 In verses 16 through 19 he says that we will not cause another to stumble 432 00:56:19,400 --> 00:56:23,400 if we are seeking the priorities of Christ's kingdom. 433 00:56:23,400 --> 00:56:27,400 Those priorities are not in eating and drinking and issues. 434 00:56:27,400 --> 00:56:33,400 The priorities of Christ's kingdom are character qualities, such as those that are listed here. 435 00:56:33,400 --> 00:56:41,400 Righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit, verse 17. 436 00:56:41,400 --> 00:56:46,400 And finally he says don't cause another to stumble. 437 00:56:46,400 --> 00:56:48,400 How do you do that? 438 00:56:48,400 --> 00:56:53,400 By living without self-condemnation, verses 20 to 23. 439 00:56:53,400 --> 00:56:57,400 He says don't tear down the work of God for the sake of food. 440 00:56:57,400 --> 00:57:01,400 That is for the sake of an issue about which you feel strongly. 441 00:57:01,400 --> 00:57:06,400 All things indeed are clean but they are evil for the man who eats and gives offense, 442 00:57:06,400 --> 00:57:09,400 who causes another to stumble. 443 00:57:09,400 --> 00:57:15,400 He says it's good not to eat meat or to drink wine or to do anything by which your brother stumbles. 444 00:57:15,400 --> 00:57:20,400 The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. 445 00:57:20,400 --> 00:57:25,400 Happy is he who does not condemn himself and what he approves, 446 00:57:25,400 --> 00:57:29,400 but he who doubts is condemned if he eats because his eating is not from faith 447 00:57:29,400 --> 00:57:33,400 and whatever is not from faith is sin. 448 00:57:33,400 --> 00:57:36,400 So let's take what he's saying here and apply it to this situation. 449 00:57:36,400 --> 00:57:41,400 If a particular style of music is offensive to you or to your family, 450 00:57:41,400 --> 00:57:48,400 then teach that and have that opinion to yourself. 451 00:57:48,400 --> 00:57:51,400 Whichever side of the issue you may be on, 452 00:57:51,400 --> 00:57:59,400 that's what you're responsible for, for yourself and for your family. 453 00:57:59,400 --> 00:58:02,400 He who doubts is condemned if he eats. 454 00:58:02,400 --> 00:58:08,400 The point there is that if you feel strongly about a particular kind of music that is wrong, 455 00:58:08,400 --> 00:58:11,400 then abstain from it. 456 00:58:11,400 --> 00:58:13,400 But going back to the previous point, 457 00:58:13,400 --> 00:58:18,400 don't judge others who may feel differently than you do about it. 458 00:58:18,400 --> 00:58:25,400 We each will give answer to the Lord for our own position. 459 00:58:25,400 --> 00:58:29,400 And then in verses 1 through 7 of chapter 15, 460 00:58:29,400 --> 00:58:34,400 and you can tell that I'm rushing this because our time is limited, 461 00:58:34,400 --> 00:58:38,400 the third principle is this, don't please yourself. 462 00:58:38,400 --> 00:58:41,400 Don't please yourself. 463 00:58:41,400 --> 00:58:44,400 He says here to live as Jesus did, 464 00:58:44,400 --> 00:58:50,400 to lay aside personal rights for the good of others, 465 00:58:50,400 --> 00:58:56,400 to be willing to restrict an insistence on your own way for the sake of others. 466 00:58:56,400 --> 00:58:58,400 Don't please yourself. 467 00:58:58,400 --> 00:59:03,400 Obviously that has to be in a certain kind of balance. 468 00:59:03,400 --> 00:59:11,400 We're not to please another if that actually in the long run would do him harm. 469 00:59:11,400 --> 00:59:16,400 We're not to indulge another if he is wrong, 470 00:59:16,400 --> 00:59:20,400 if it's a moral wrong that he's involved in. 471 00:59:20,400 --> 00:59:25,400 But in this area where Paul is dealing with disputable things, he says, 472 00:59:25,400 --> 00:59:30,400 don't please yourself, but seek to please others. 473 00:59:30,400 --> 00:59:32,400 Now those are negatively stated principles. 474 00:59:32,400 --> 00:59:35,400 I want to turn those around and state them positively. 475 00:59:35,400 --> 00:59:37,400 I think it's more helpful to do that. 476 00:59:37,400 --> 00:59:40,400 First of all, let's say it this way. 477 00:59:40,400 --> 00:59:47,400 Give others freedom to be different from yourself in these disputable things. 478 00:59:47,400 --> 00:59:50,400 We're not dealing here with doctrines of the Bible. 479 00:59:50,400 --> 00:59:54,400 We're not dealing with the basics of the faith, the fundamentals of the faith. 480 00:59:54,400 --> 00:59:58,400 But in those areas where there's legitimate difference, 481 00:59:58,400 --> 01:00:02,400 give others freedom to be different from yourself. 482 01:00:02,400 --> 01:00:08,400 That doesn't mean that you have to change your opinion about anything. 483 01:00:08,400 --> 01:00:11,400 All of us one day will give answer to Christ. 484 01:00:11,400 --> 01:00:16,400 So give others freedom to be who God has created them to be. 485 01:00:16,400 --> 01:00:23,400 Principle number two, give others encouragement to be all God wants them to be. 486 01:00:23,400 --> 01:00:25,400 Encourage them. Seek to build them up. 487 01:00:25,400 --> 01:00:29,400 That's what he's saying in the last part of verse 14. 488 01:00:29,400 --> 01:00:32,400 Give others encouragement to be all that God has created them to be 489 01:00:32,400 --> 01:00:35,400 and build them up to that end. 490 01:00:35,400 --> 01:00:43,400 And thirdly, give others acceptance that together you might glorify God. 491 01:00:43,400 --> 01:00:49,400 As he says in verse 5, the God who gives perseverance and encouragement 492 01:00:49,400 --> 01:00:54,400 grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus. 493 01:00:54,400 --> 01:01:01,400 That with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 494 01:01:01,400 --> 01:01:05,400 Notice the emphasis on oneness, sameness of mind. 495 01:01:05,400 --> 01:01:10,400 So as Paul's saying here now after saying what he has, that everybody should think the same, 496 01:01:10,400 --> 01:01:16,400 not where there are differences, but where we think the same is that we're going to please one another. 497 01:01:16,400 --> 01:01:18,400 That we're not going to judge one another. 498 01:01:18,400 --> 01:01:20,400 That we're going to encourage one another. 499 01:01:20,400 --> 01:01:23,400 Think the same about those things. 500 01:01:23,400 --> 01:01:32,400 He says in verse 7, wherefore accept one another just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God. 501 01:01:32,400 --> 01:01:40,400 So the principles I think that apply to the differences in this case, music styles, 502 01:01:40,400 --> 01:01:44,400 are clear from the Word of God. 503 01:01:44,400 --> 01:01:51,400 We're not dealing here with something that is morally right or morally wrong. 504 01:01:51,400 --> 01:01:56,400 We're dealing here with a legitimate debatable issue. 505 01:01:56,400 --> 01:02:00,400 Sincere and godly people have difference of opinion. 506 01:02:00,400 --> 01:02:02,400 And that will always be the case. 507 01:02:02,400 --> 01:02:04,400 There will be differences. 508 01:02:04,400 --> 01:02:06,400 We are to give freedom to be different. 509 01:02:06,400 --> 01:02:09,400 We are to give encouragement to be all that God wants us to be. 510 01:02:09,400 --> 01:02:15,400 And we are to give others acceptance that together as we embrace each other in our differences, 511 01:02:15,400 --> 01:02:18,400 we may give glory to God. 512 01:02:18,400 --> 01:02:21,400 Now tonight we come to the Lord's table. 513 01:02:21,400 --> 01:02:24,400 The Lord's table is a place of acceptance. 514 01:02:24,400 --> 01:02:26,400 That's what it's all about. 515 01:02:26,400 --> 01:02:35,400 It reminds us as we partake of these elements that God has accepted Christ's work on our behalf. 516 01:02:35,400 --> 01:02:40,400 His work at the cross was sufficient. 517 01:02:40,400 --> 01:02:47,400 The shedding of His blood, the sacrifice of His body, is all that is needed to satisfy God. 518 01:02:47,400 --> 01:02:50,400 He accepted the work of Christ. 519 01:02:50,400 --> 01:02:55,400 This table also reminds us that Christ accepts us. 520 01:02:55,400 --> 01:03:02,400 At this table we sense His embrace because of the sacrifice that He made for us. 521 01:03:02,400 --> 01:03:04,400 This is His table. 522 01:03:04,400 --> 01:03:06,400 It is not the table merely of our church. 523 01:03:06,400 --> 01:03:08,400 It is the Lord's table. 524 01:03:08,400 --> 01:03:14,400 And we come here and we commune with Him as we partake of these elements, 525 01:03:14,400 --> 01:03:16,400 remembering the sacrifice. 526 01:03:16,400 --> 01:03:20,400 But it's also a table where we accept one another. 527 01:03:20,400 --> 01:03:22,400 That's what the table testifies. 528 01:03:22,400 --> 01:03:28,400 Where we are drinking of the same cup, we are eating of the same bread. 529 01:03:28,400 --> 01:03:30,400 And when we do that, we are saying, 530 01:03:30,400 --> 01:03:34,400 all who partake of this cup and who eat of this bread with me are one with me. 531 01:03:34,400 --> 01:03:38,400 And I accept them and they accept me. 532 01:03:38,400 --> 01:03:42,400 I think that's why it's appropriate that we close the service tonight, 533 01:03:42,400 --> 01:03:45,400 even after this theme with the Lord's table. 534 01:03:45,400 --> 01:03:47,400 Because as we partake of these elements, 535 01:03:47,400 --> 01:03:54,400 I hope it will be sincerely with acceptance of one another in our differences. 536 01:03:54,400 --> 01:04:04,400 Let's pray together. 537 01:04:04,400 --> 01:04:13,400 And as I'm praying, I'm going to ask that those who are serving the Lord's Supper come to the front. 538 01:04:13,400 --> 01:04:20,400 Lord, we've had to move very quickly through a lot of verses tonight. 539 01:04:20,400 --> 01:04:26,400 And sometimes that can even cloud the issues in some people's minds. 540 01:04:26,400 --> 01:04:30,400 I pray that enough has been said and can be used by your Spirit, 541 01:04:30,400 --> 01:04:37,400 which will help clarify the issues for all of us. 542 01:04:37,400 --> 01:04:42,400 I pray that you will help us not only to understand what you say, 543 01:04:42,400 --> 01:04:50,400 but to apply it to our lives, in our attitudes, our actions, and our words. 544 01:04:50,400 --> 01:04:54,400 Thank you for the variety within the body. 545 01:04:54,400 --> 01:04:59,400 Thank you that we are not clones. 546 01:04:59,400 --> 01:05:05,400 Thank you that we don't have to conform to some external standard, 547 01:05:05,400 --> 01:05:13,400 so that the Holy Spirit is conforming us internally to the person of the Lord Jesus. 548 01:05:13,400 --> 01:05:16,400 I pray that as we apply these principles, 549 01:05:16,400 --> 01:05:22,400 in whatever differences there might be amongst us, 550 01:05:22,400 --> 01:05:30,400 that there will be that conformity to Jesus Christ that will cause the body to be in unity. 551 01:05:30,400 --> 01:05:35,400 Thank you for this occasion, for this teaching opportunity, 552 01:05:35,400 --> 01:05:43,400 when all of us can grow together and learn and apply, and we all need to. 553 01:05:43,400 --> 01:05:51,400 Thank you for creating us with the capacity to be opinionated and sincere about things. 554 01:05:51,400 --> 01:05:59,400 But may we not be extreme in that, to the damaging of ourselves or of your work. 555 01:05:59,400 --> 01:06:02,400 May we be balanced. 556 01:06:02,400 --> 01:06:08,400 And whether we be on the weak side or the strong side in any given issue, 557 01:06:08,400 --> 01:06:15,400 may we accept one another and not judge each other. 558 01:06:15,400 --> 01:06:21,400 May we build up each other and not cause another to fall. 559 01:06:21,400 --> 01:06:29,400 May we please each other in the best sense. 560 01:06:29,400 --> 01:06:34,400 Before I finish praying, before we serve the Lord's Supper, 561 01:06:34,400 --> 01:06:40,400 I wonder if you need to talk to the Lord. 562 01:06:40,400 --> 01:06:44,400 I do not want you to partake of the Lord's Supper tonight unless it is sincerely, 563 01:06:44,400 --> 01:06:47,400 and I know you don't want to. 564 01:06:47,400 --> 01:06:53,400 If there is some issue of non-acceptance where you are struggling, 565 01:06:53,400 --> 01:07:00,400 then I ask you to consider what the Lord would have you do. 566 01:07:00,400 --> 01:07:05,400 It is a very serious thing as we come to the Lord's Table 567 01:07:05,400 --> 01:07:17,400 and there is some issue in our lives that we have not resolved and submitted to Christ's Lordship. 568 01:07:17,400 --> 01:07:36,400 So take just a few seconds to talk with him. 569 01:07:47,400 --> 01:07:49,400 Thank you. 570 01:08:17,400 --> 01:08:39,400 It symbolizes to us your body. 571 01:08:39,400 --> 01:08:48,400 Tonight, as a group of believers, we partake of this bread, 572 01:08:48,400 --> 01:08:52,400 reminding us of the price that Jesus paid for us, 573 01:08:52,400 --> 01:09:02,400 that we might be redeemed from our sinfulness, made whole and complete and one in Him. 574 01:09:02,400 --> 01:09:10,400 And so as we partake tonight, we partake as one body of people from the same loaf, 575 01:09:10,400 --> 01:09:15,400 the same true bread, even Jesus Christ. 576 01:09:15,400 --> 01:09:32,400 And we partake with gratitude. Amen.