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Unity in Christ — Transcript

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0:20Welcome to Hope Sabbath School, an
0:22in-depth interactive study of the word
0:24of God. It's a Bible study for everyone.
0:26We're glad you're part of our Hope
0:28Sabbath School family. Maybe you're here
0:30for the first time. We're in a series of
0:33letters to new Christians. You say,
0:36"Hmm, well, there was a
0:39former adversary of the Christian faith
0:42named Saul of Tarsus who became a
0:44follower of Jesus and and wrote half of
0:47the books of the New Testament. And he
0:50has a special message for new Christians
0:53writing to the church in Corinth. That's
0:55what we're studying right now. If you
0:57miss miss the first two parts of our
0:59series, you can go to our website
1:01hopetv.org/hopess
1:04or go to our YouTube channel and you can
1:06watch part one and two. Today, unity in
1:10Christ. You see, we'll discover that
1:13when we come together as new Christians
1:15and maybe older ones, too, we don't
1:17always agree. So, how can we experience
1:20that oneness that God wants for us?
1:23That's our topic today. And I'm excited
1:25because one of our team members, Sabina,
1:28is going to be leading our study today.
1:30Always enjoy that. And look at the team,
1:32you look great. We're glad you're here.
1:34And and we're always blessed as we hear
1:36from
1:37Hope Sabbath School members around the
1:38world, aren't we? And we're glad that
1:40you write to us sshope.hopetv.org.
1:44You say, "Well, I haven't written
1:45recently." Well, write. Tell us how God
1:48is blessing you through a study of his
1:50word. Here is a note from Madeline in
1:53Vanuatu.
1:55How many of you would like to go and
1:56visit
1:58Madeline in Vanuatu? Well, they had a
2:00terrible storm some years ago right hit
2:02the island damaged a
2:04great portion of the island. But anyway,
2:07greetings to you in the name of our good
2:09Lord. Right from that line so she's a
2:12Christian.
2:13You are all God's messengers and you
2:16bring hope to the world each day each
2:18week.
2:19Thank you for your faithfulness in
2:22bringing hope to someone out there who
2:25may be struggling with life.
2:27You bring hope through God's word and
2:30light to them.
2:31It's from an island in the South Pacific
2:33she writes.
2:36Thank you for your ministry reaching out
2:38to the unreached and bringing hope to
2:41the hopeless.
2:43Well, Madeline thanks for writing to us
2:45from Vanuatu. We're happy to hear from
2:48you.
2:49Jean writes from Canada
2:52and caught my attention. Actually, I
2:54think it was a feedback posted on our
2:56YouTube channel. We're approaching
2:58150,000
3:00subscribers just on our YouTube channel.
3:04I was 13 years old writes Jean. My
3:07sister Joyce was 16 years old when we
3:11were cast out from our home because we
3:14decided to become followers of Jesus.
3:19Jean thanks for writing to us from
3:21Canada. 13 and her sister was 16.
3:25Here's the last sentence.
3:28I am now 89 and my sister is 92 and
3:32we're still living for Jesus.
3:35Well, Jean [laughter]
3:37thanks for writing to us.
3:39Oh, I love to hear from 10-year-olds
3:41watching Hope Sabbath School and
3:4389-year-olds.
3:45But but that's a testimony, isn't it?
3:47Thrown out of your home for being a
3:48follower of Jesus and
3:50>> [snorts]
3:50>> and we're still walking with him. Praise
3:52God for that. Here is a handwritten note
3:56from a donor couple in Florida.
3:59>> Okay.
3:59>> And the couple write and say, "Greetings
4:02to the Hope Sabbath School team.
4:05>> Greetings.
4:05>> May the Lord continue to bless your
4:07ministry
4:09and the contributions made by the team.
4:12Hope Sabbath School has been has and is
4:16a fabulous spiritual resource for me
4:20over the years.
4:22Enclosed, please find a donation to help
4:26with this ministry. May the Lord
4:28continue to bless the Hope Sabbath
4:31School family.
4:32I look forward to seeing all of you in
4:34heaven."
4:37And a donation of $4,300.
4:40>> Praise God. Praise God.
4:42>> Well, I just want to say thank you,
4:44donor couple. You know who you are and
4:47and praise God that you're blessed, but
4:49thank you that you're also a blessing
4:52by joining in this great miracle of
4:54sharing a message of eternal hope with
4:56the world. Now, friend, if you'd like to
4:58help, you said, "Derek, I've thought
4:59about helping, too."
5:01You can go to our website,
5:02hopetv.org/hopess
5:06and you can click on the donate button
5:08or get an address and send a note to us.
5:11I just want to say thank you to each one
5:12of you for your support and for your
5:15prayers. One last note from K in
5:18Michigan and she writes
5:21on our YouTube channel.
5:23"Blessings, Hope Sabbath School team.
5:26I was introduced to Hope Sabbath School
5:28by my mom.
5:31We would watch Hope Sabbath School with
5:34our evening meal
5:36and we enjoyed the scripture songs, too.
5:40She would ask if Travis was on the
5:42panel."
5:43>> [laughter]
5:44>> Well, Travis, you better give a wave to
5:45K in Michigan.
5:48Uh Travis lives in Michigan, just in
5:50case you folks didn't know.
5:53She went to sleep in Jesus, uh
5:56just before she turned 100 years of age.
5:58That's Mom.
6:00I've continued watching Hope Sabbath
6:02School, and we say Praise God.
6:05I appreciate your in-depth interactive
6:08study. I learned so much. And now I
6:11share Hope Sabbath School with a lady
6:13who was recently baptized.
6:17May God bless you all, Kay. Well, Kay,
6:19thanks for writing to us, and thank you.
6:22I know your mom, on the resurrection
6:24day, when you say, "Mom, I shared with
6:26someone else, and they decided to spend
6:29eternity with God, too." That your mom
6:31will use my favorite Hebrew word,
6:33"Hallelujah."
6:35Well, we've got some resources for you.
6:37Don't forget to go to our website, click
6:39on the free gift for you tab. There's a
6:42wonderful resource about the Apostle
6:45Paul, a lot of his life and ministry.
6:47It's called The Acts of the Apostles.
6:49You can download a digital copy of that,
6:52and I know that will be a blessing. You
6:54can download our theme song, Psalm 92.
6:58Uh you can download the outline. Have
7:00you learned the theme song yet? Um I
7:02love it. It says, "It's good to give
7:04thanks to the Lord." Psalm 92. Let's
7:06sing it together.
7:17>> It [singing] is good to [music] give
7:18thanks to the Lord, and to sing
7:22praises [music] to your name. [singing]
7:24It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
7:28and to sing
7:29praises to your [singing] name, oh
7:32>> [music]
7:33>> most high,
7:34oh
7:35>> [singing]
7:35>> most high.
7:39To declare your loving
7:40[music and singing] kindness in the
7:42and your faithfulness
7:44every night. On an instrument of ten
7:48>> [music]
7:49>> strings, on the lute
7:50>> [singing]
7:51>> and on the harp
7:53with
7:55harmonious [singing]
7:57>> [music]
8:00>> sound. For you, oh Lord, [singing] have
8:02made me glad,
8:04made me glad
8:06through your work. [music and singing]
8:08I will triumph in the works, in the
8:12[singing] works
8:14of your hands,
8:15oh
8:16>> [music]
8:17>> Most High,
8:18oh Most High.
8:21>> [singing]
8:23>> You know, not all of the Psalms were
8:24written by David, but he did play the
8:26instrument of ten strings and the lute,
8:28right? It's kind of like a guitar turned
8:31upright, and uh
8:34what a beautiful thing it is to praise
8:35God. Well, we're going to praise God.
8:37Sabina, as you lead our study today on
8:39unity in Christ.
8:40>> Amen. Looking forward to that.
8:44Uh it is indeed something that makes us
8:46very glad to be here. Amen. Just like
8:48David is saying, so are we glad. I hope
8:52that you who are watching us, that
8:53you're also going to experience the
8:55gladness of studying the word of God
8:58with us today. God bless you as you go
9:00pick up your Bible.
9:02Be ready to be glad. Amen.
9:05Friends, let us pray as we start off.
9:09Our heavenly Father, how wonderful are
9:11your works indeed. As we just sang, we
9:14are glad to be here. You are the Most
9:17High God. You've invited us into a
9:19relationship with you. And now look at
9:21us. We have the opportunity of sharing
9:25of those works with so many people out
9:28there who are also thirsty and hungry
9:30for you.
9:31I pray that your Holy Spirit is going to
9:34be impressing our hearts and our minds
9:37and as we record and at the time when
9:40our listeners will be, you know,
9:42participating with us when watching this
9:44lesson and that we are going to grow in
9:47learning more of who you are and who you
9:49want us to be as we continue this
9:51journey in love in you, God. I pray all
9:55those things in the powerful name of
9:57Jesus. Amen.
9:59>> Amen.
10:00>> Okay, so we've been in this journey.
10:03This is already our third lesson in this
10:05series and we've been studying about
10:08these two special letters that the
10:11Apostle Paul wrote under the inspiration
10:13of the Holy Spirit to the people in the
10:16cities in the city of Corinth in the
10:19ancient city of Corinth that nowadays
10:22stays in
10:23in which area of the world?
10:25>> Greece.
10:25>> Greece, very much. Thank you.
10:28So, as we start off this study,
10:31our topic today, my friends, is about
10:34unity in Christ. And we're going to be
10:37looking at some of the,
10:39you know, challenges and difficulties
10:41that the people in this, you know, new
10:43church in Corinth were
10:46facing
10:47as they journeyed together in the new
10:50faith that they had just acquired. And
10:52that makes me think about, you know, my
10:54upbringing. I grew up in Brazil in São
10:56Paulo. It's a very big city, very
10:58cosmopolitan, people from all over the
11:00world. And since God called me into
11:02full-time ministries, I had to move a
11:05lot from place to place. So, I've lived
11:08in Uganda and then eventually I had to
11:10move and I lived in Italy. Eventually,
11:13from Italy I moved to Washington, D.C.
11:16And in the US, I still moved to a couple
11:18different states and I moved to Canada
11:21and I'm living in California. There are
11:23so many places that I've been that God
11:25led me to.
11:26And you know, there is something very
11:28special about moving around. You get to
11:30know new people, but there is something
11:32challenging also is because there's
11:34always a lot of newness. Not only
11:36newness of language, but newness of
11:38people and you need to learn their
11:40culture and they need to learn you. And
11:42those things they can come sometimes
11:46more easily and sometimes with bumps in
11:48the road. So it's normal to be new to
11:51experiences and God wants us to grow and
11:53be new to experiences. But there is
11:55wisdom in looking to the word of God of
11:58how can we better find a path in the
12:01newness of experiences. Amen. That God
12:03can help us. And that will have to do a
12:06lot with what the experience was in the
12:08church of Corinth. So to start us off, I
12:11wonder if Mighty, if you can take us to
12:13the
12:15first episode of Corinth and you read
12:17for us chapter 1 verse 10. And I want us
12:21to be thinking already of what's the
12:22appeal that Paul makes at the beginning
12:25of this letter.
12:26>> Yes, and I'll be reading from the New
12:28American Standard Bible.
12:30And it says,
12:32"Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name
12:35of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all
12:37agree and that there be no divisions
12:40among you,
12:41but that you be made complete in the
12:43same mind and in the same judgment."
12:47>> Okay, thank you so much. So what is it
12:49that you see here, friends? What is the
12:52appeal of Apostle Paul to this new
12:54forming church?
12:55>> Yes.
12:56>> It's to come together, which suggests
12:58that they're all just scattered around
13:00making different groups and just
13:02divided.
13:03>> That's right, Alex. Seems like there is
13:05a strong appeal right in the beginning
13:06here for them to be together. Yes, Ryan.
13:09>> Well, I see him calling for unity, but
13:11not unanimity. I see him calling for
13:14them to be united in Jesus, but that
13:16doesn't mean that we always agree on
13:17everything, but we do agree on the major
13:19things, which is that Jesus is first and
13:21then you second and myself last.
13:24>> Thank you, Ryan. So I wonder if Orate,
13:27if you can take us to the next passage
13:29here in 1 Corinthians chapter 1 verses
13:3212 and 13. And we're going to be, you
13:34know, finding a little bit more why is
13:36it that this is important to Paul this
13:38theme of unity.
13:41>> I will be reading from the King James
13:42Version 1 Corinthians 1 verses 12 and
13:4513. It says, "Now this I say that every
13:48one of you sayeth, I am of Paul and I of
13:52Apollos and I of Cephas and I of Christ.
13:56Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified
13:59for you? Or were you baptized in the
14:01name of Paul?"
14:03>> Mhm, thank you. So, friends, why does it
14:07seem like this was an important topic to
14:10Paul? Yes, Scott.
14:12>> You know, I think it's kind of part of
14:15human nature to separate ourselves into
14:17different groups. And whether it's
14:19different ways of thinking or different
14:21origins or whatever it may be, we we
14:23naturally divide ourselves into
14:25in-groups and out-groups. And I think
14:29what he's saying is like, "No, we're
14:30supposed to be all unified as Christians
14:33in Christ. We're all part of that one
14:35group, the group of Christians." And
14:38it can be
14:40it can really undermine our
14:41effectiveness as Christians if we so
14:44strongly
14:46identify with one single group that we
14:48damage our relationships with people who
14:50are from some other group.
14:51>> Okay, so the you know, human
14:54inclination, the humans they like to be
14:58cliques. So, you see that as a reason
14:59why Paul would go there. Yes, Travis. I
15:03say I see you have something.
15:04>> Well, just because I've experienced this
15:06in my life, you know. And of course, I'm
15:08not going to say names. That's not what
15:10this is about, but it is, you know, we
15:12have talked to different people groups.
15:14My pastor said and this person and that
15:17and the reference is always a human
15:18being and that's what's happening here.
15:20The reference the human being this human
15:22said this and this human believes this
15:24and
15:25and
15:26and then the text goes on to say, "Is
15:28Christ divided?" But what really matters
15:30is what does Jesus say? And if we're
15:32focused on what Jesus says and who Jesus
15:35is,
15:36>> [snorts]
15:36>> we will by nature draw close together
15:39and be perfectly joined together.
15:41>> Okay, and I love that you brought out
15:43this this topic. There there's two
15:45humans there he's talking about. One
15:47human is his own self.
15:48>> Yeah.
15:49>> Right? And then he's mentioning another
15:50human also, Apollos, right? So he's
15:53mentioning other names here. So
15:57"I am of Apollos, I am of Cephas, I am
16:01of Paul, or I am of Christ." So there
16:03seems like some of those divisions they
16:05were happening around leadership.
16:08>> Mhm.
16:08>> Right? So who are the leaders that they
16:10were turning to?
16:11>> Mhm.
16:11>> Zindzi, did you have your hand up?
16:13>> Uh I did. I was going to say that it it
16:16was interesting to me with the history
16:20of the Corinth that it was a city full
16:22of philosophers and teachers and people
16:25coming to teach. And because of that,
16:27the people in general were identifying
16:30with certain teachers. And when they
16:32came into the church, they also brought
16:34in their culture of the what they used
16:36to do and started identifying with Paul,
16:39with Apollos, with Cephas. To say, if we
16:42are not careful as well,
16:44even as Christians, we will start
16:45identifying with certain groups because
16:48of our certain beliefs or because of our
16:51loyalty to individuals rather than
16:53Christ.
16:53>> Right. And we see that happening overall
16:55in life, right? So people they gravitate
16:58towards ideas, towards leaders, towards,
17:01you know, things that they can relate
17:02better with. But what about in the
17:04church? You know, I'm wondering here,
17:06why is it for so easy for cliques to
17:09form in churches? Yes, all right.
17:12>> I think it goes back to the human
17:14nature.
17:15As was stated before, we as humans like
17:18to congregate into groups that we
17:21that we are familiar with. And so and
17:24you see here in in
17:26the specific situation here that was
17:28happening in Corinth, that unfortunately
17:30instead of the church rallying around
17:33the gospel, the devil had was able to
17:36use that same division that he did from
17:39the Garden of Eden and from even when he
17:40was in heaven to try and separate and
17:43sow division. And so I think a lot of
17:45the times when we see certain
17:47discussions happening on certain
17:50religious issues, it might be that it is
17:53that the discussion is actually okay,
17:54but then is it going to lead to division
17:56that is going to cause us not to
17:58actually come together and be as a whole
18:00or is it going to drive us apart?
18:02>> Okay, so if I heard you well, it seems
18:06like beyond just like some ideological
18:09perspective or cultural change, there is
18:11also a spiritual element, right? I think
18:13you brought that up very well. So this
18:15is not just about ideas, but there seems
18:18like there is also powers and forces to
18:20be that might not be willing us to be
18:23agreeable, right?
18:25I see many hands up. So what about
18:28Mighty goes first and then I want to
18:29take their comment as well.
18:32>> Oh, just to kind of piggyback by by what
18:34Orry was saying is that
18:36the aspect of human nature that wants to
18:37belong in groups per se, that's not a
18:40desire that is wrong, but is it that
18:42Christ wants us to expand who we
18:45consider that group to be. I just
18:47kind of think back to when I was in
18:49school that because as you read in the
18:51Corinthians, this kind of attitude is
18:52kind of nature is same thing that we
18:54experience today. We just form cliques,
18:56right? There's different groups that you
18:57would join based on whatever kind of
18:59identity that you most resonates with
19:01you. But what we tend to forget is that
19:04we're all in the same school.
19:06Right? We're in the school of Christ.
19:08And so if we think expand our minds to
19:10be like, "Hey, I'm not just part of this
19:11clique or that clique, but we all are
19:13one." If another school comes to
19:15challenge us, we have to band together
19:17as a school. You know, if we kind of
19:19think back to when there's like, you
19:20know, two teams playing against each
19:21other and you're supporting your school,
19:23supporting your group, your side. That
19:25as, you know, when we think about it in
19:27the spiritual sense, that we're all part
19:28of the school of Christ and that we all
19:30support each other even though and
19:31embrace our diversities that we have
19:33amongst each other. And hey, we're part
19:35of the same team, part of the same
19:36group, and we should, you know, band
19:38with each other.
19:40>> Okay, so challenges in the church for a
19:43spiritual reasons, maybe a hard time
19:46just to, you know, see each other as
19:49belonging to the same school, the school
19:51of Christ. We're all growing, no matter
19:53the differences we we might have. Yes,
19:56Derek.
19:56>> So,
19:58I think that the cliques or little
20:00groups form everywhere, not just in
20:02churches, in in sports clubs, and in in
20:04schools, and
20:06in some ways it's natural.
20:09What I think we Paul's wrestling with
20:13and what we need to wrestle with is
20:14what's the difference between a healthy
20:16group
20:17and what what we call a clique. I don't
20:20know how you translate that into the
20:21many languages of our Hope Sabbath
20:23School family, but kind of an exclusive
20:25little group that excludes everybody
20:28else that we think isn't like us, right?
20:32Um
20:33that that's that's kind of our broken
20:35culture. And and part of what we see, I
20:37think, in in the letters to the church,
20:40the new Christians, is we can bring
20:42those less than ideal dysfunctional
20:46practices into the church, and it can
20:50start there, too.
20:52But we need healthy groups because
20:54groups give us friendship. Like, this is
20:56a group. We need love and we need to
20:59know each other's names. And so, I think
21:02the difference is what Paul is calling
21:05for is um
21:07is a group that is inclusive
21:11>> Mhm.
21:11>> rather than exclusive.
21:13>> Right. So, there is such thing as a
21:16positive grouping of peoples around a
21:19certain idea or project. And also some
21:23sort of a negative example, right? I saw
21:26I I'm loving you guys have your hands
21:28up.
21:29>> [laughter]
21:29>> We are going to continue. Maybe if
21:32um
21:33let's see Alex, if you can take us to
21:36the book of John.
21:38>> John.
21:38>> And as you turn to John 13:35
21:41and then 17:21
21:44and 23, I am going to take Travis's
21:46comment. So, Travis, you were just about
21:49to share something.
21:50>> Mhm.
21:51>> Well, I think it's really wise to be
21:53aware of Satan's plan. We certainly want
21:56to be um aware of God's plan for our
21:59life and that's that he wants everyone
22:00in heaven and he wants unity.
22:03But in John chapter 10:12, it says that
22:05the wolf comes to scatter the sheep. And
22:08if we can always have that in the back
22:10of our mind, is this group
22:13um promoting division
22:15or is it promoting unity? Because even
22:17if you're in a group, the group should
22:20promote unity really in the church. But
22:22if it's starting to cause division, we
22:24can say, "Wait a second. Maybe the wolf
22:26>> Yeah.
22:27>> is a part of trying to
22:29this group trying to actually scatter
22:31the sheep and to get us divided."
22:34>> So, maybe if it's expressing a desire to
22:36understand perspective, you know, like
22:39put yourself in the shoes of others as
22:41well, be respectful of their
22:42experiences, that might be a good
22:44evidence as opposed to just like stick
22:46to a side and have no empathy and no
22:48openness to hear. Okay, so Alex, will
22:51you take us then to John? And we are
22:54going to see there some things that can
22:57help us further with this discussion.
22:59>> Okay. So, the first one John 13:35. I'll
23:03be reading from the New King James
23:04Version. Verse 35, it says, "By this all
23:07will know that you are my disciples, if
23:11you have love for one another."
23:13>> Mhm.
23:14>> And then in John chapter 17, starting in
23:17verse 21 to 23,
23:19the word of God says,
23:21"that they all may be one, as you
23:23Father, are in me, and I in you, that
23:26they also may be one in us, that the
23:28world may believe that you sent me, and
23:32the glory which you gave me I have given
23:34them, and they may be one, just as we
23:38are one, I and them, and you and me,
23:41that they may know, or that they may be
23:43perfect in one, and that the world may
23:46know that you have sent me, and have
23:48loved them as you love me."
23:50>> Wow. So, ultimately,
23:52why is it so debilitating to have, you
23:56know, those challenges? Can you spot it
23:58from those passages?
24:00>> Mhm.
24:01>> Why, my friends? This is He has Rachel.
24:03>> I think we can't fulfill the mission
24:06that we have to spread the good news of
24:08Jesus, because if we are not united with
24:11Jesus, then we can't work for him.
24:12>> Mhm. All right.
24:15>> Yes, I wanted to build on what she said.
24:17The whole purpose of us here being on
24:20Earth is to spread the gospel of Jesus
24:22Christ. And the devil is going to use so
24:24many different things to try and
24:25distract us. He'll use the cares of this
24:27life, he'll use the allurements, uh the
24:30entertainment and whatnot, and even
24:32within the church, as we're seeing here,
24:33he will also use division. So, at the
24:35end of the day, the reason why this is
24:38so important is because it's
24:39unfortunately detracting from our
24:42message and our mission, and that is the
24:44furtherance of the gospel through the
24:46world.
24:46>> Mhm.
24:47>> Yes, it detracts from the mission, and
24:49there is one thing more very important
24:51that I have in this verse. I wonder if
24:52you, Alex, you were the reader. What did
24:54you spot there?
24:55>> Well, what I spotted is we can be
24:57preaching the gospel, but if they see
25:00division,
25:01they're like, "I don't think these
25:02people are actually his disciples."
25:05Cuz I I don't see any unity here, and
25:06they're preaching this gospel that's
25:07supposed to be good news, but yet
25:09they're divided.
25:10>> What what is the specific words that
25:12Jesus used? Let's see his quote. What is
25:15Jesus?
25:16>> Well, he talked about, you know, having
25:18love for one another, but he also talked
25:20about being unified as God and you know,
25:25is is unified. In other words, this is
25:26not
25:27So,
25:28many leaders ask for people to unify
25:32under their own vision.
25:34And that can be harmful if that vision
25:38is harmful. What Jesus is asking is us
25:40to be unified in God, and when we're
25:42working together with love for other
25:44people, and and in that vision that's a
25:48a 100% good vision, that's what makes
25:51all the difference.
25:52>> Amen. I love that you brought up the
25:54word love, because that's exactly the
25:57end of here what Jesus says, that by
25:59this all would know, you know, by the
26:01love that you share for each other,
26:03that's how people are going to know that
26:05you are my disciples, that you follow
26:07me. Right? So, more than just expression
26:11of unity, maybe of ideas, because we are
26:15different, we're never going to be all
26:16together that cohesive, but if in the
26:20conversations we're having, the
26:21challenges we're trying to overcome
26:23together, if people are seeing us as
26:26more so
26:28uh you know, individuals who are trying
26:29to fight each other instead of being
26:32loving, they might question who our
26:34allegiance is to, right? So, most
26:38importantly, Jesus seems to be worried
26:40that whatever is it that we're
26:41conducting in the ways that we carry on
26:44our conversations, and that we try to
26:46overcome our challenges, that we might
26:50do that in love. Amen.
26:52Okay, so but how does that how is that
26:55even possible then? Because we're saying
26:57well that's a great question.
26:58>> And you know it's impossible actually
27:01because we human nature like we want to
27:03get our way and and the key the first
27:06part that was read so they may be one
27:09but later it says that they may be one
27:11in us.
27:12>> Amen. So actually the kind of unity
27:16>> which is a witness to the world filled
27:18with the love of God is when each of us
27:21seeks to be one with Christ that it
27:24brings us together in him.
27:27>> Amen.
27:28>> I think that's the key.
27:30>> I love that Derek. Thanks for bringing
27:32that up and we are going to look further
27:33into this
27:35idea that is being brought by by Derek
27:37here. Can we have
27:40Rachel take us to the book of
27:43first Corinthians and we're going to
27:45look at verse 10 of chapter 1 if you
27:48read that for us. And friends,
27:51let's be thinking how is it possible
27:53then according to Paul for us as
27:56imperfect human beings to be perfectly
27:58joined then?
28:00>> And I'll be reading from the New King
28:01James version.
28:03Now I plead with you brethren by the
28:05name of our Lord Jesus Christ that you
28:07all speak the same thing and that there
28:10be no divisions among you.
28:12But that you be perfectly joined
28:13together in the same mind and in the
28:15same judgment.
28:17>> Okay, so before I take further comments,
28:19can I have then maybe
28:22Mighty if you read for us just following
28:25this first Corinthians is still chapter
28:271 verses 4 to 9.
28:30And then I'm going to have Travis or
28:34yeah, Travis if you can read Romans 5:5
28:36for us following Mighty.
28:38>> All right, so I'll be reading from the
28:39New American Standard Bible 1
28:41Corinthians chapter 1 verses 4 to 9 and
28:44it says
28:45I thank my God always concerning you for
28:48the grace of God which was given you in
28:50Christ Jesus. That in everything you
28:53were enriched in him in all speech and
28:56all knowledge.
28:58Even as the testimony concerning Christ
29:00was confirmed in you.
29:01So that you are not lacking in any gift
29:04awaiting eagerly the revelation of our
29:06Lord Jesus Christ.
29:08Who will also confirm you to the end
29:10blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus
29:12Christ.
29:13God is faithful through whom we were
29:15called into fellowship with his son
29:18Jesus Christ our Lord.
29:22>> Travis
29:23>> And I'll be reading from the New King
29:25James Version.
29:28Now hope does not disappoint because the
29:30love of God has been poured out in our
29:32hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given
29:36to us. Amen.
29:37>> Okay, so what does it take my friends?
29:40What does it take? What do you see there
29:42is caught?
29:43>> You know, Derek already said that unity
29:46is impossible humanly speaking, right?
29:49But but we were just reading about about
29:51love being poured out. We're talking
29:52about how we're enriched in Christ in
29:55all knowledge, all wisdom, all this
29:57stuff.
29:58When we are connected with Christ, that
30:01is the only thing that really enables
30:03unity to be powerful.
30:05>> So it seems like the unity we need to
30:07have first and foremost is towards who
30:11is the king of the universe, who is the
30:13savior, who is the center of it all and
30:15that's Jesus. And if we begin there,
30:17things will be easier to be
30:20uh discussed and okay.
30:23Many hands Rachel.
30:25>> Um I love Romans 5:5 because it says
30:28that the love of God has been poured out
30:30in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. So I
30:32think I feel like a huge part of key to
30:35unity is prayer. Prayer for the Holy
30:38Spirit which acts who?
30:41Who acts upon the hearts and minds of
30:46Christians?
30:47>> Amen. So, definitely having the help of
30:50God himself in changing, in working on
30:54our hearts so that we can be more
30:56understanding of each other, we can be
30:58better listeners, Derek.
31:00>> My wife just put Colossians 3:14 to
31:02music, so it's in my head and it relates
31:05to what Rachel said about the love of
31:07God. It says above all these, put on
31:10love, agape love, which binds everything
31:13together in perfect harmony.
31:16You see, God is is harmony
31:18and when God's love is poured into our
31:20hearts, instead of contending with each
31:24other or competing with each other,
31:27we are bound together in his love in
31:29perfect harmony. That's a miracle.
31:32But, it is a miracle God can work in our
31:34hearts.
31:35>> Amen. And I think this is a beautiful
31:37segue as we continue this study.
31:40Uh to for us to better understand what
31:42it looks like the unity that is
31:45exemplified in the sacrifice and in the
31:48life of Christ.
31:49So, maybe Nicole, if you would take us
31:51to the book of Philippians,
31:54uh I would love us to be reading there
31:56chapter 2, verses 1 to 8.
31:59And then we are going to better
32:00understand what it is to have the same
32:03mind exemplified in Christ.
32:06>> The New International Version says,
32:08"Therefore, if you have any
32:10encouragement from being united with
32:12Christ, if any comfort from his love, if
32:16any common sharing in the spirit, if any
32:19tenderness and compassion, then make my
32:21joy complete by being like-minded,
32:24having the same love, being one in
32:27spirit and of one mind.
32:29Do nothing out of selfish ambition or
32:31vain conceit. Rather, in humility value
32:35others above yourselves, not looking to
32:38your own interest, but each of you to
32:40the interest of the others.
32:42In your relationships with one another,
32:45have the same mindset as Christ Jesus,
32:47who, being in very nature God, did not
32:51consider equality with God something to
32:53be used to his own advantage. Rather, he
32:57made himself nothing by taking the very
32:59nature of a servant, being made in human
33:02likeness, and being found in appearance
33:05as a man, he humbled himself by becoming
33:08obedient to death, even death on a
33:10cross.
33:12>> Okay, thank you so much, Nicole. So,
33:14what do you see here, my friends? What
33:16does it mean to be of same mind,
33:19according to, you know, the life of
33:21Christ?
33:23Zanjile.
33:24>> Uh for me, it is to live with humility,
33:28uh selflessness,
33:30and be willing to serve others in as
33:33much as the example with Christ, uh who
33:36saved us. That same mindset that Christ
33:39had of wanting to serve, if we could
33:41have to say, I can esteem the other
33:43individual and put them better above my
33:46own needs.
33:47>> It will take us a long It's beautiful,
33:49isn't it? Isn't Jesus beautiful? Jesus
33:51is wonderful, Ryan.
33:53>> Uh I think sometimes the
33:56uh the contentions that arise within
33:58church is due to misunderstandings. And
34:01in this verse that she just read, um
34:03esteem others as better than yourself.
34:05So, if some if I have a misunderstanding
34:07with someone else, my inclination is to
34:09believe it was intentional and they were
34:10trying to hurt me. But, if I esteem them
34:12as better than myself, I can try to
34:14treat them with the same uh
34:17to to to to have the best possible uh
34:21belief about them, to think the best, to
34:23give the benefit of the doubt uh to them
34:25that well, I wouldn't try to hurt this
34:26other person, so they probably weren't
34:28trying to hurt me. It probably wasn't
34:29intentional. It was a misunderstanding.
34:31So, esteem others is better than
34:32yourself.
34:33>> Mhm.
34:34>> And Julie, to have empathy, um the mind
34:37of Christ, seeing like and
34:40understanding, feeling what other people
34:42are actually feeling because God
34:44instilled that in us to help and connect
34:47with others by actually understanding
34:49them. And that's how he spread his
34:51gospel, spread the good news is because
34:54he understood from a form of a servant
34:56what it means to be in that position.
34:58>> Mhm.
34:59>> So, it seems like the case not
35:01necessarily try to force people to have
35:03the same opinions because it doesn't
35:05seem like it will ever be possible.
35:08However, is to point to the humility of
35:11Christ.
35:12Right? Because if we are able to develop
35:14empathy, if we are able to be better
35:16hearers as Ryan was suggesting, if as
35:19Julie was saying, if we take a
35:21a submissive position towards each
35:23other, it will make it much easier for
35:26us to walk together. Sometimes, you
35:28know, in a direction that is, you know,
35:31favoring a bit better someone's opinion
35:33here, and then in another time we
35:35incline to the others trying all
35:37together to be under the leadership of
35:39Christ. Amen. Yes, Travis.
35:41>> I'm going to propose something radical.
35:44In just in my visiting churches around
35:46the world, actually, the churches that
35:48are busy
35:50serving God and winning souls for others
35:53have less of this.
35:55The ones that are less
35:57um
35:59um busy about God's business are have
36:02more contention. So, I would say, get
36:04busy, let Jesus be your leader, get
36:06busy, go out and and win souls for him.
36:09>> Okay.
36:10>> Amen.
36:11>> So, possibly when we are united
36:13around the same mission, that helps us
36:15also to have a goal to pursue together.
36:18And then as we are pursuing these goals
36:20in the kingdom of God, we are going to
36:22do better in, you know, trying to find
36:25solutions for our disagreements, right,
36:27Nicole?
36:28>> I was going to say that, you know, I
36:30don't think there's anything wrong with
36:31having a diversity of opinions because
36:32we're all individual in the people. I
36:35think that it boils down to having the
36:36character of Christ reflected in
36:38everything that you do, whether you're
36:39different or whether you have a
36:40difference of opinion. If you're
36:42reflecting Christ, those differences
36:44would actually unite you in a way
36:45because you're tolerant and you're
36:46understanding of someone else's
36:48perspective, but in the end, you're
36:50still reflecting Christ.
36:51>> That's so beautiful what you just
36:53brought up, Nicole. I think I wonder
36:54about the counselors who are watching
36:56us, you know, people that work. It's
36:58true. A lot of people, if you work with
37:01individuals that are going through
37:02conflict, you are going to learn that if
37:05they learn ways to communicate
37:08and grow in that conflict together,
37:10their relationship becomes stronger as
37:13opposed to weaker. So, in certain ways,
37:16conflict can be very positive, right?
37:19Because there's no such a time in which
37:21we're not going to be facing those
37:23differences with each other.
37:25>> Mhm.
37:25>> However, the way we are going about
37:27those differences, as Nicole was
37:29suggesting, may either break us or make
37:32us, right? All right, I'll take your
37:34comment and then we are going to move
37:36forward in our study.
37:37>> Sure. Quick Uh quick thing. It's very
37:39interesting because conflict is going to
37:40arise and just like how our faith is
37:43tried by going through difficult
37:46situations, I believe that a lot of
37:48times unity has to come because we've
37:50gone through conflict. And so, even
37:51though we might not agree, but it allows
37:53us to see the other side and it allows
37:55us to then finally unify under Christ.
37:58So, I don't think that it is it's wrong
38:00to think that, hey, sometimes the Lord
38:02does bring
38:03these issues into the church or allows
38:06them to happen, rather, in order for us
38:08to be able to work through them and
38:10become better Christians because what we
38:11find out is that generally when and you
38:13saw saw this in some of uh
38:15Sorry, you saw this in other areas of
38:17Paul's writings, where there were times
38:19when after the conflict happened, the
38:21church became more unified. And so,
38:23sometimes the Lord does allow these
38:24things to happen because he realizes
38:25that it will eventually bring a more
38:27perfect unity.
38:28>> Amen. Yes. Yeah, I agree with you it in
38:31more than just permission, I would say
38:33he created us
38:34with freedom of will.
38:35>> Mhm.
38:36>> It's actually part of the gift of God
38:38for humankind for us to be able to think
38:40through things with our own minds, to
38:43make decisions and even decisions that
38:45would be otherwise than God would. You
38:47know, this is what the cross is about.
38:48He's granting me and you the opportunity
38:50to think and reflect. And in that
38:53process, it would be just natural that
38:55people are going to have opposing views
38:58and they need to come together with
39:00humility, with the ability to listen,
39:03most importantly under the banner and
39:05the mission of Christ.
39:06>> Amen.
39:07>> And that surely will make it a much
39:09easier and more mature ways for us to go
39:12around relationships. Amen. And the
39:14unity of the church is part of that
39:17because the church is is comprised of
39:19people. So, it's our relationships,
39:21right? It's not just a building, an
39:23institution, or a pastor, or a leader.
39:25It's how we go about connecting with
39:28each other, making decisions as the body
39:30of Christ or just as friends and
39:33families. Amen.
39:34>> Amen.
39:35>> So, this is a topic that we are going to
39:37continue looking at as we now turn into
39:40this part of the study where we are
39:42going to be studying about what it is
39:44spiritual maturity and how to grow in
39:47spiritual maturity, right? Because unity
39:50it seems like it's a reflection of
39:52spiritual maturity as well, right? The
39:54more mature we can be spiritually as a
39:56church community, the better and more
39:58united we will be.
39:59>> Mhm.
40:00>> So, maybe if we can have
40:02um
40:03Angeli, if you read for us 1 Corinthians
40:07chapter 3 verses 1 and 2, and then I
40:10would love to hear my friends here how
40:13is Paul describing the spiritual
40:14maturity level of this new church in
40:17Corinth.
40:18>> First Corinthians chapter 3 verses 1 and
40:202. I'm reading from the King James
40:22version.
40:24And I, brethren, could not speak unto
40:27you as unto spiritual, but as unto
40:30carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I
40:34have fed you with milk and not with
40:37meat. For hitherto ye were not able to
40:40bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
40:45>> Okay, so
40:47what's the name that Paul gives to them?
40:50>> Baby.
40:51>> Babies.
40:51>> Babies.
40:53They were like babies. You know, I
40:55currently I serve in a church and I have
40:58the blessing of serving with children
41:00and with families. It's so nice to see
41:03the babies. I love especially cradle
41:05roll.
41:06So for those who are watching us, if you
41:08are wondering what cradle roll is
41:10in a church family, we have this
41:13blessing of having
41:15uh Bible school on Saturday morning on
41:18our Sabbaths. And especially we have the
41:21opportunity to be teaching even by age
41:23groups in ways that are appropriate to
41:25every age. And in my church, we get to
41:28have a class for parents with babies
41:31from 0 to 24 months. And it's my
41:34favorite place to be. You know, we have
41:37songs we sing with the babies. We are
41:39there all together. The babies are so
41:41cute. They are very cute. But you know
41:44what, my friends, they really depend on
41:46their parents because I see that if they
41:49were grown and had the strength of the
41:51parents with the minds that they have as
41:54little ones, they would not survive.
41:56They would not survive a day. They would
41:58make so many poor decisions.
42:01So what are your thoughts about what
42:03Paul is saying here, friends? Babies.
42:06>> There you go.
42:06>> I don't think he's being critical.
42:09You know, [clears throat] he's not
42:10calling them names.
42:11He's just describing where they are in
42:14their journey. We've entitled the series
42:16letters to new Christians, right?
42:20So, they're just getting started.
42:21There's a lot of things that they don't
42:23know.
42:23>> Mhm.
42:24>> And like you said in in the
42:27with the children, with the parents,
42:29they need loving spiritual mentors
42:33>> Mhm.
42:34>> or friends who can help them in that
42:36journey because they're just getting
42:39started.
42:39>> Right. Yeah, babies are very special,
42:42right?
42:43>> [laughter]
42:43>> If you've been around babies, they are
42:44smart. They have capabilities that some
42:48adults seem not to have as much again.
42:50You know, they are more flexible. They
42:52learn faster. You know, there are some
42:55developmental stages that happen with
42:57babies. They learn super fast. They jump
42:59from a phase to another. So, it can
43:02actually not just be detrimental. Yes,
43:04Alex.
43:05>> Yes, and that really goes in line with
43:06Bible talk whenever Jesus says, "You
43:09must be born again." So, when you're
43:11born again, you you begin as a child,
43:14but you don't stay as a child. And I
43:15praise God that Jesus is not only our
43:17author, but he's our finisher of our
43:19faith.
43:20>> Amen. Wonderful. Yeah, so let's let's
43:23follow here. First Corinthians 3 verses
43:273 and 4. Travis, would you read that for
43:30us, please?
43:32>> And I'll be reading from the New King
43:34James version.
43:36For you are still carnal.
43:38For where
43:40there are envy, strife, divisions among
43:43you, are you not carnal and behaving
43:45like mere men?
43:46>> Mhm.
43:47>> For when one says, "I am of Paul," and
43:50another, "I am of Apollos," are you not
43:53carnal?
43:55>> Mhm.
43:55>> Mhm.
43:56>> Mhm.
43:57>> Okay, so when he's calling them babies,
44:00what is the manifestation of immaturity
44:03that he's pointing out to?
44:05Scott, and then actually Travis first,
44:07you were just reading it and Scott.
44:09Yeah.
44:10>> So this was I don't know if it's a
44:11rebuke to me as much as it was an
44:13enlightenment as I was studying because
44:15I thought to myself, this is happening
44:18these sometimes in our churches even
44:20today. Could it be that even a church
44:22established a long time could be
44:24considered a baby? Just because of the
44:27contention and the things that are
44:28there. Could it be that we've reached a
44:31point where we're not learning at the
44:32feet of Jesus? And so it's interesting
44:35something like food for thought for me
44:36as I was thinking about this and how can
44:39I um one be a person who will try to um
44:45how do I want to say
44:47disrupt this contention in the sense
44:50that help evaluate and refocus on Jesus
44:54so that we don't have to be babies
44:55anymore and we can start growing again
44:57in Jesus.
44:58>> Amen, Scott.
45:00>> I was noticing a couple things. First of
45:03all, I think when when Travis
45:05read the word carnal in the New King
45:08James version, my English Standard
45:10Version says merely human.
45:12This is the the human way and this idea
45:15of which tribe are you a part of? Which
45:18which faction do you follow? I follow
45:20Paul. I follow Apollos. I feel if I
45:22follow my favorite leader here. He says
45:24that's the kind of thing that's getting
45:26in the way because we're not even though
45:28we
45:29spiritual leaders are greatly valuable
45:32in teaching us and helping us, but we're
45:34not to follow the leader. We're to
45:35follow Christ.
45:38>> Okay, so we've been talking here about
45:40all those challenges and we could go on
45:42and on about talking what it looks like
45:44to be mature, but I want to give us the
45:46opportunity of turning the you know,
45:49turning a little forward and learning
45:51what it looks like to be mature and to
45:53gain that maturity. So maybe Zenzile, if
45:55you read for us 1 Corinthians chapter 2
45:58verses 12 to 16 and then I want you
46:01friends to be thinking about what is an
46:03indication for us that we are growing in
46:05maturity.
46:08>> So, and I'll be reading from the New
46:10King James Version, 1 Corinthians
46:12chapter 2, verses 12 to 16. And it
46:16reads,
46:17"Now we have received not the spirit of
46:21the world, but the spirit who is from
46:24God, that we might know the things that
46:27have been freely given to us by God.
46:30These things we also speak not in words
46:33which men's wisdom teaches, but which
46:36the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing
46:39spiritual things with spiritual.
46:43But the natural man does not receive the
46:45things of the spirit of God, for they
46:48are foolishness to him, nor can he know
46:51them because they are spiritually
46:54discerned. But he who is spiritual
46:57judges all things, yet he himself is
47:00rightly judged by no one. For who has
47:03known the mind of the Lord that he may
47:06instruct him. But we have the mind of
47:09Christ."
47:11>> So, what is an indication, friends, that
47:13the Christian is growing their spiritual
47:16journey?
47:18Yes, Angeli.
47:19>> Well, I can empathize with uh new
47:21Christians as well, because when you
47:23learn something new, you just want to go
47:25share it. And when you do start sharing,
47:27sometimes your ego can be involved,
47:30which we've seen in the early churches.
47:32But discerning what um Paul was talking
47:35about is that it's not about what I want
47:38to say, it's about what God wants me to
47:40say. How do not what what I want to do
47:44or think, but what God wants me to. And
47:47that's not just in the way we speak, but
47:49how do we study the Bible? Is it the way
47:50I want to or what I want to see or is
47:53what God wants me to see? And that's a
47:55huge controversy within ourselves, and
47:57that's true spiritual maturity.
47:59>> Mhm.
47:59>> Amen. So, it seems like a spiritually
48:02mature person, a spiritually mature
48:04Christian, is willing to hear the voice
48:07of God and to let the Holy Spirit work
48:10in their heart as they, you know, read
48:13scripture, as they seek guidance and
48:15wisdom from God, that they are going to
48:17become more flexible, right? Is that
48:20what I'm hearing from you, Angeli?
48:21>> More malleable to let God
48:22>> More malleable, [clears throat]
48:23mighty.
48:24>> Uh yes, actually, uh that was the train
48:27of thought I was wanting to kind of
48:28direct our minds to is that I when
48:30speaking about spiritual maturity, it my
48:32mind gets drawn to the apostles
48:34themselves that were following Jesus,
48:35right? So, how I see their life is
48:37almost like two phases, right? They were
48:40always following Christ, but the mindset
48:43shifted before Christ died on the cross
48:46and after. Um where in Acts chapter 2,
48:48it showed that they were surrounded by
48:51tongues of fire, which was the spirit
48:53that fell down upon them, and we could
48:55see a shift in their attitude between
48:57before that happened and after that
48:59happened because they were of one mind.
49:01They were of one accord. If you looked
49:03at the apostles before that event, they
49:05were very um combative. There was
49:08division even amongst them, right? There
49:09was jealousy amongst them, right? And
49:11there was strife. There was fighting,
49:13right? Peter cut off the ear of of a
49:16servant, and Peter didn't want to allow
49:17Jesus to fulfill his mission, and Jesus
49:20said to him, "I pray that when you are
49:21converted, you can see these things,
49:23right?" So, what we really looking for
49:25is are we converted in our hearts,
49:27right? Cuz when we have the spirit in
49:28our hearts, the Holy Spirit, we can have
49:30that humbleness that Christ had, right?
49:33So, Peter's attitude before and if we
49:34read the book of Acts and in society, we
49:36can see Peter's attitude just completely
49:38shifted. Very humble, and when I read
49:41that, I always get amazed by this is not
49:42the same Peter I saw before.
49:44>> Amen.
49:45>> So, that's something we need to draw our
49:46minds to is that hey, when we truly have
49:48the spirit of Christ in our hearts, that
49:50we will really be humble.
49:52Our attitudes will shift. The division
49:54that was present before will not be
49:56present afterwards. So, you know, that's
49:58something to keep our minds on.
49:59>> Amen. Amen. Praise God. And I love that
50:00you're bringing that up, Mighty, because
50:02such thing as the baptism with the Holy
50:04Spirit is not something that was only
50:06available for the apostles in the book
50:09of Acts.
50:10Actually, the Bible says and there is a
50:12promise in Jesus Christ that you and me,
50:14my friends, we can receive the Holy
50:17Spirit. We can let the Holy Spirit work
50:20in our hearts and it will be evidence of
50:23maturity in our lives and walk with God
50:25once we let the Holy Spirit dwell in our
50:28hearts, move our our minds and hearts.
50:31And I want to invite you, if you have
50:33not had that experience yet, will you
50:34pray with us today? At the end, we are
50:37going to have a prayer with Pastor Derek
50:39and I want to invite you to pause and
50:41consider inviting the Holy Spirit to
50:43change your heart. Amen.
50:44>> Amen.
50:45>> Okay, so there is so much more that
50:47could be said about that, but I want to
50:49move forward to the next part of our
50:51study because, you know, this discussion
50:54about humility and unity and maturity in
50:56Christ, it cannot pass without us
50:59looking also into what it looks like to
51:01be a leader. You know, Jesus is inviting
51:04me and you, friends, to be leaders. You
51:06know, make disciples is to lead others
51:08into lead them into the drawing and
51:11wonderful hopeful love of God. Amen. So,
51:14there is such a thing as how a leader
51:17moves and acts that can collaborate
51:20for unity and for maturity or not. So,
51:24we want to learn from Jesus what it
51:26looks like to be a servant leader.
51:29So, if I can have um
51:33Scott read for us from 1 Corinthians
51:37chapter 4 verses 1 and 2.
51:40And then I would love to have Travis, if
51:44you read for us Mark 10:42 and 45.
51:48>> All right, 1 Corinthians 4:1-2 from the
51:51English Standard Version.
51:54This is how one should regard us as
51:56servants of God and stewards of the
51:59mysteries of God.
52:01Moreover, it is required of stewards
52:03that they be found faithful.
52:07>> Okay, thank you.
52:09>> And I'll be reading from the New King
52:11James Version.
52:14But Jesus called them to himself and
52:16said to them,
52:18"You know that those who are considered
52:19rulers over the Gentiles lord it over
52:22them,
52:23and their great ones exercise authority
52:25over them.
52:27Yet it shall not be so among you. But
52:30whoever desires to become great among
52:32you shall be your servant.
52:35And whoever of you desires to be first
52:37shall be slave of all.
52:40For even the Son of Man did not come to
52:42be served, but to serve."
52:45>> Mhm.
52:45>> And to give his life a ransom for many.
52:50>> Amen. So, what does this teachings of
52:53Jesus and also what we just read, the
52:56invitation of Paul that Scott read,
52:59teaches us about the follow of
53:02following his example in servant
53:05leadership?
53:07Yes, Travis.
53:08>> So, I was just working with with some of
53:10my guys the other day and it was really
53:12cold and this verse came to my mind as
53:14I'm asking them to go out and be cold. I
53:17thought, "How can I expect them to do it
53:19if I'm not willing?"
53:21And so, I this verse is kind of special
53:23to me because as we look to Jesus as a
53:25servant leader who just gave himself,
53:28it's if we're going to be the true
53:30leaders, we need to lead by example. If
53:32we are not willing to do it, how can we
53:34expect somebody else to to do it? And
53:37Jesus, he's not He was the perfect
53:39example. He did He gave everything and
53:41gave all.
53:42>> Mhm. Amen. Okay, any other thoughts
53:45about Jesus' way of leading?
53:49Yes, Angeli.
53:51>> You know, I have a my pastor at our
53:53church, every time we have potluck, he's
53:55like the first one to clean up, to take
53:58the chairs. He's the first person to do
54:01the janitor's duties. He's the first
54:02person to sweep and vacuum. And it's
54:05because of that everyone joins in. I
54:07think that's just
54:09pure humbleness and true leadership is
54:12embodying what Christ does.
54:14And seeing people, us leaders, if we do
54:18that, others will start doing that as
54:20well. And that's great.
54:22Being a really good role model for
54:23others as well.
54:24>> And what are some of the people in your
54:26life that you think you could influence
54:27them with this type of leadership?
54:30>> [snorts]
54:30>> Who Who can you think about? You know,
54:32what in your circle of influence, who
54:34are they? Yes, Nicole.
54:36>> I think we have a very a strong
54:37influence of our children cuz they
54:39should be able to see us doing the work
54:41that we're asking them to do, and we
54:42have the same relationship that we want
54:44them to have. They can emulate that. And
54:46I think that that's kind of where for me
54:48it starts is making sure that I'm being
54:49the example of my kids that I want them
54:51to become.
54:52>> Mhm. Yes, it's called our children.
54:55>> You know, when it says it's it's
54:57required of stewards that they be that
54:59they be found faithful. And based on
55:00your question about about leadership,
55:02>> Mhm.
55:03>> I feel like there's a a portion of
55:05leadership that we don't even realize
55:07we're doing. There are people we're
55:08influencing, we don't even know we're
55:10influencing them. But our own
55:12faithfulness gets observed and you know,
55:16it makes a difference and we'll find out
55:18about it maybe in heaven.
55:20>> Mhm. Amen. So, we were just looking from
55:23the beginning of this study, right? That
55:26there is such thing as new churches, new
55:28communities. They are going to face
55:30challenges, you know, in agreeing and in
55:33walk walking together. The most
55:35important thing is to have Jesus at the
55:37center of those conversations.
55:39>> And that can make us good leaders. Amen.
55:42A person that follow the example of
55:44Jesus is going to lead others also in
55:47the same direction. Amen. So we just
55:50learned also about the importance of the
55:51Holy Spirit. So I want to pause here
55:54once again and Derek I know you're going
55:56to come for the final prayer.
55:57>> You pray.
55:58>> But is it okay if I make a prayer for
56:00for those who are listening to us that
56:01they are going to receive the Holy
56:03Spirit in their lives.
56:06Our heavenly Father, we are just talking
56:08here about how important and how
56:10precious it is that we turn to you and
56:14have you as the center of our lives as
56:16we relate to each other God. May it be
56:19in family, in church, or as leaders God
56:22we want to be humble. We want to emulate
56:25the love that you have for us. And we
56:27all need your Holy Spirit to guide us in
56:30that process. So I am praying that every
56:33person who is watching us is going to
56:35receive a baptism with the Holy Spirit.
56:38God that they will have that experience
56:40of what it is to be guided and provided
56:43by you in everything that they do and
56:45have their [clears throat] mind shaped
56:47by the power of God. In your name we are
56:50praying that we are blessing those who
56:52are watching us with this a special
56:53blessing. Amen.
56:55>> Amen.
56:56>> Amen.
56:57>> Thank you so much Sabina.
56:59How important it is you know I I I think
57:01being perfectly united together,
57:03perfectly fitting
57:05only a perfect God can do that.
57:08And we want to be fully surrendered to
57:09him. Let him pour his love into our
57:11hearts. And when we see that unity that
57:14reflects the beautiful character of God,
57:16we'll be quick to give God all of the
57:18praise. Let's pray. Father in heaven,
57:21thank you for this wonderful invitation
57:24to participate in a unity that only
57:27comes from above.
57:28We surrender to you and as we see you
57:31work in us and through us, we will give
57:33you all of the praise. In Jesus' name,
57:36amen.
57:37Well, thanks for joining us for Hope
57:39Sabbath School. You say, "Derek, I need
57:40that miracle in my life." Friend,
57:42whether you're a new Christian or you've
57:44been walking with Jesus for many years,
57:46we all need that miracle of being united
57:50in him.
57:50>> [music]
57:51>> Accept the blessing and go out and be a
57:53blessing to those around you.
58:14>> [music]

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