The Shepherd’s Staff: Guarding Truth in a Deceptive Age

• Righteous Judgment vs. Hypocrisy [00:27:35 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor contrasts the cultural misinterpretation of 'do not judge' with the biblical command to 'judge with righteous judgment' to discern truth from lies.
• Discernment of False Prophets [00:29:05 ▶️ 📄]
  > The speaker warns believers to be on guard against deceivers who wear religious titles but deny core doctrines, such as the incarnation and resurrection of Jesus.
• The Definition of Love and Obedience [00:29:56 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor defines love for Jesus not as abstract affection but as strict adherence to His commandments and recognition of His true nature.
• Rejection of Compromise [00:32:25 ▶️ 📄]
  > The sermon asserts that welcoming or entertaining false teachers makes one complicit in their wickedness, rejecting any theological gymnastics that try to justify sin.
• False Teachers and Deception [00:31:47 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor warns against pastors and theologians who deny the resurrection and twist scripture, noting that their lies are dangerous because they are 'laced with just enough truth' to deceive people.
• Christian Freedom and Obedience [00:33:33 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor clarifies that being 'free in Christ' means freedom from sin and debt, not freedom from obedience, love, or the expectations of Christ, correcting the cultural view that freedom means ignoring biblical rules.
• The Nature of Love [00:39:28 ▶️ 📄]
  > Love is defined not as 'warm fuzzies' but as reality and obedience, illustrated by the image of a shepherd correcting a sheep, emphasizing that love involves correction and truth.
• Catechesis and Doctrine [00:40:33 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor argues for the necessity of deep teaching and catechesis to protect the flock from deception, stating that basic knowledge is insufficient and that false doctrine is equally dangerous as open falsehood.

• Sermon Illustration [00:33:08 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor uses the analogy of a 'little ribbon of truth' tied to a lie, explaining that the most dangerous deceptions are those that mix a small amount of biblical truth with error to convince people that the falsehood is acceptable.
• Sermon Illustration [00:35:05 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor uses the analogy of a fish being tempted by a worm to explain how false teachers use 'a little ribbon of truth' to hook believers, leading them into deception.
• Sermon Illustration [00:39:36 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor shares a personal anecdote about being 'whacked' on the head by the shepherd's staff (correction) to illustrate that spiritual discipline and correction are acts of love.
• Sermon Illustration [00:43:27 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor references the temptation of Eve in the Garden of Eden, where the deceiver laced a lie with a question ('Is that really what he meant?') to show how deception often starts by twisting truth.

• Pastoral Charge [00:32:25 ▶️ 📄]
  > Do not welcome or entertain false teachers or deceivers into your home or community.
• Pastoral Charge [00:40:11 ▶️ 📄]
  > To listen to and obey the shepherd's (Christ's) voice.
• Pastoral Charge [00:44:15 ▶️ 📄]
  > To focus attention and auditory attention on Christ.

[00:00:00] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:00:00] We're a family. We're a family.
[00:00:01] My mom wants me to come up in here.
[00:00:03] We're going to go to the hall one day and tell her what we're going to do over there.
[00:00:09] We're 930 now, aren't we?
[00:00:15] Here we go.
[00:00:16] Bell, bell, bell.
[00:00:30] Thank you.

[00:07:01] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:07:01] be hidden of your most holy spirit each and more perfectly love you and more work through jesus christ our lord amen hear the words of our lord jesus christ as he says you shall love the lord
[00:07:24] your god with all your heart with all your soul and with all your mind this is the first and the greatest of the commandments and the second is like it you shall love your neighbor as you love
[00:07:35] yourself on these two commandments and all the law and all the prophets lord have mercy upon us lord have mercy upon us o lord god you did first deliver your commandments from a mountain which
[00:07:50] burned with fire amid darkness and storm we give you thanks that your law is now published unto us from mount zion through the mediation of a new and more perfect covenant we humbly beseech you
[00:08:04] to put these words in our mind to inscribe them upon the walls of our hearts that we should always take delight in your law and serve you in munis of spirit through jesus christ our lord who lives
[00:08:17] and reigns with you o father and the holy ghost ever one god world without end amen please be

[00:08:24] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:08:24] seated well good morning just a few announcements to start us off today thanks to everyone who We helped with the hot dog sale. We raised $900. Thank you very much.
[00:08:48] I actually got to stick my head in for about five seconds to say hi to everybody.
[00:08:51] It doesn't happen very often.
[00:08:53] Anyone wanting to participate in the Mount Pleasant Independence Parade, please let Dr. John know.
[00:08:59] The parade's going to be June the 27th. It's going to start at 5 p.m.
[00:09:03] Is that correct?
[00:09:04] Yes. The line-up starts at 3.30.
[00:09:07] Line-up at 3.30. And if you don't get there on time, you're spiritually eligible.
[00:09:12] I love how that happens.

[00:09:13] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:09:13] and she does not yell she speaks loudly enough so that everybody can understand that she's serious

[00:09:21] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:09:21] she articulates uh you may notice that the vacation bible school poster is on the wall in the nonvex it is going to be june 1st through june 5th and i think from 6 to 8 15 is that right miss
[00:09:36] kathy said right now that's the plan that's the plan so again they always need lots of help with that so anybody who wants to help in the kitchen or wants to help with teaching make sure you see Kathy and Gloria you're running the kitchen right?
[00:09:52] Janie, Gloria, so see if you want to help in the kitchen talk to Gloria if you want to help with the teaching inside here talk to Debbie and Kathy. Are there any more announcements today? Well let's have the children come help with the children's service.

[00:10:06] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:10:06] Do you remember a couple weeks ago we passed out some eggs and we collected some eggs to help raise money for what? Chickens. Chickens, that's right. Chickens for what? Chicken farms in where? A little louder. Africa. Africa, that's right.
[00:11:05] Does anybody remember what our goal was? How many we were going to try to raise? Not just Boger, but the EMR Senate across. Yes? 200. It was $200 per chicken farm.
[00:11:16] That's good, I'm glad you remembered that, Jacob.
[00:11:19] Fifteen chicken farms, that's right.
[00:11:30] Well, we have raised enough for 24.
[00:11:34] Wow.
[00:11:35] So participation from seven congregations across the inner Senate here in North America.
[00:11:47] So we have been able to surpass that initial goal.
[00:11:52] And about half of them are already on the ground and functioning.
[00:11:57] And the rest of them are in the logistics phase of getting in place.
[00:12:03] So thank you, Amanda.
[00:12:05] I wanted to remind you, let you guys know that.
[00:12:07] I'm glad that she reminded me because I would have forgotten that.
[00:12:11] So I want to go on real quick.
[00:12:13] And we're going to continue in the, everybody say, Heidelberg Catechism.
[00:12:17] Heidelberg Catechism.
[00:12:18] That's right.
[00:12:19] And today, the question is, who is that mediator who is true God and true man?
[00:12:30] So everybody repeat after me.
[00:12:31] Who is that mediator?
[00:12:36] Who is true God?
[00:12:39] And true man?
[00:12:43] All right.
[00:12:44] Does anybody know the answer to the question?
[00:12:45] Who is that mediator?
[00:12:49] Everybody.
[00:12:49] Jesus, that's right. So the answer is our Lord Jesus Christ, who is our redemption.
[00:13:03] Again, let's say that all together. Our Lord Jesus Christ, who is our redemption.
[00:13:11] All right, now I'm going to ask the question, and everybody's going to answer me, okay?
[00:13:17] Who is that mediator who is true God and true man?
[00:13:25] Everybody?
[00:13:25] Our Lord Jesus Christ.
[00:13:29] Who is our redemption?
[00:13:32] Very good.
[00:13:33] And our reference for that comes from 1 Timothy chapter 2 verse 5.
[00:13:40] And that's actually we're going to do 5 and 6 for context.
[00:13:44] And that says, For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men.
[00:14:00] The testimony given in its proper time.
[00:14:05] Okay?
[00:14:06] So, who is our redemption?
[00:14:09] Jesus is our redemption.
[00:14:12] Do you remember what our question was last week?
[00:14:14] Nobody?
[00:14:15] Anybody?
[00:14:16] Everybody, remember where our question was last week?
[00:14:18] How about this?
[00:14:20] Is God merciful?
[00:14:22] Everybody say, God is indeed merciful.

[00:14:26] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:14:26] God is indeed merciful.

[00:14:29] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:14:29] But He is likewise just.
[00:14:34] His justice requires that sins be punished.
[00:14:42] So, this week talks about who is that mediator.
[00:14:49] Who took on our punishment.
[00:14:52] Because we've all sinned, right?
[00:14:53] Because the wages of sin is death.
[00:14:57] That's right.
[00:14:58] The wages of sin is death.
[00:14:59] But do you and I have to die to have our sins forgiven?
[00:15:03] No.
[00:15:03] Why not?
[00:15:04] Because Jesus died for us.
[00:15:11] That's right.
[00:15:11] Because of Jesus is the answer.
[00:15:13] That's right.
[00:15:14] So, who is that mediator?
[00:15:16] Who is true God and true man?
[00:15:19] Everybody, our Lord, Jesus Christ, who is our Redeemer.
[00:15:26] Redemption.
[00:15:27] That's right.
[00:15:28] Very good.
[00:15:30] All right.
[00:15:31] So, why are we going over these questions?
[00:15:34] Anybody know why we're going over these questions?
[00:15:36] All right.
[00:15:36] Everybody say catechesis.
[00:15:39] Catechesis.
[00:15:40] catechesis is a very important part of our faith because we have this book what is this one called the holy bible we have the bible and the bible has a lot of stuff in it it's made up of a whole
[00:15:56] lot of different little books it's actually a library on it looks like itself did y'all know that everybody's saying yes my my wednesday night class you better say yes yes it's a library not not just a book.
[00:16:08] And there's a lot of stuff in here that doesn't always make sense, right?
[00:16:12] There are some things that we're like, what does that mean?
[00:16:15] I don't understand it.
[00:16:17] So the catechism, hey, sit up.
[00:16:24] Thank you.
[00:16:25] The catechism helps us to understand some of the difference.
[00:16:29] Those preachers are kids.
[00:16:30] They always say that.
[00:16:33] The catechism helps us to understand what this is talking about.
[00:16:38] Because all of those, you know, the these and the thous and the things that kind of make us scratch our head, okay?
[00:16:44] And Jesus talks in parables and he talks about things that are like other things.
[00:16:49] That's kind of hard to understand sometimes.
[00:16:51] The catechism helps us to understand what it is that Jesus is talking about, what it is that the prophets are talking about, and what it is that God expects of us in the Bible, okay?
[00:17:03] So that's why we're going over the catechism.
[00:17:05] That's why we're going through, everybody say catechesis.
[00:17:08] Catechesis.
[00:17:09] So that we can understand.
[00:17:12] Everybody say, so we can understand.

[00:17:14] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:17:14] So we can understand.

[00:17:16] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:17:16] Alright, very good. So now let's pray.
[00:17:18] Blessed Lord, we ask you, we come to you with thanksgiving in our hearts that you have given us access to your word, that you have given us access to your promises, to your gospel, and to your assurance.
[00:17:32] We give you thanks that you sent your son Jesus Christ into the world to live as an example of what that assurance is, but ultimately to be the fulfillment of your promise and to be our redemption, our atonement, and our forgiveness.
[00:17:47] Help us always to understand.
[00:17:49] Help us to search, to seek, and to desire to understand you better, to come closer to you and to conform our lives through obedience to your word and to your commands so that everything that we do throughout our whole lives,
[00:18:04] no matter how long or short that may be.
[00:18:07] It would be pleasing to you, O Lord.
[00:18:17] Amen.
[00:19:00] Blessed and eternal God, who has given us your commandments and your law for our benefit, so that we might conform to the things that you expect of us, so that we might see our own sin,
[00:19:16] our own shortcomings, and our own wickedness.
[00:19:19] Inspire our hearts that we should be unfetteredly grateful, that we should be thankful, and that we should be obedient to your commands and to the example that Christ has set before us.
[00:19:33] We pray these things in his precious name, that is the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

[00:19:51] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]
[00:19:51] Today's lesson comes from 2 John 1, verses 6 through 11.
[00:19:55] and this love that we walk in obedience to his commands as you have heard from the beginning his commands is that you walk in love i say this because many deceivers who do not acknowledge
[00:20:09] jesus christ as in as coming in the flesh have caught out in the world a such person is the Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked for, but you may be rewarded for it.
[00:20:31] Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God.
[00:20:37] The lover continues in the teaching, has both the Father and the Son.
[00:20:43] If anyone comes to you and does not bring his teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them.
[00:20:50] Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work.
[00:20:54] Here ends the lesson. Please stand and sing hymn number 374.

[00:21:14] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:21:14] It leads to the center through it, but small watch out for false prophets.
[00:25:15] They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.
[00:25:19] By their fruit you will recognize them.
[00:25:22] Do people pick grapes from the thorn bushes or figs from the thistles?
[00:25:27] Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but bad trees bear bad fruit.
[00:25:33] A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.
[00:25:38] Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
[00:25:43] Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
[00:25:47] Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter into the kingdom of heaven, but only he that does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
[00:25:56] Many will say to me on the day, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name did we not drive out demons and perform many miracles?
[00:26:06] Then I will tell them plainly, I never knew you.
[00:26:09] Go away from me, you evildoers.
[00:26:12] The gospel of the Lord. Praise be to thee, O Christ.
[00:26:16] Let us take time now to profess our faith together in the words of the Apostles' Creed, printed on the inside back cover of your book.
[00:26:52] I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried.
[00:27:09] He descended into hell. The third day he arose again from the dead.
[00:27:14] He has sent me to heaven and sits in the right hand of God the Father Almighty.
[00:27:19] From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
[00:27:22] I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.
[00:27:32] Amen.
[00:27:33] Please be seated.
[00:27:35] There's some kind of fierce lessons today.
[00:27:42] They're kind of judgy feeling, aren't they?
[00:27:45] Well, if we go back a little bit to the beginning of chapter 7 in Matthew's Gospel, you see the words, do not judge, for you will be judged.
[00:27:58] For in the same way you judge others, you too will be judged.
[00:28:03] And with the measure you use, it will be measured unto you.
[00:28:09] So at first, we hear those all too often out of context quoted words, do not judge.
[00:28:19] But then the Lord goes on.
[00:28:21] He says, judge with righteous judgment.
[00:28:25] Judge by the measure that you expect to be judged with.
[00:28:30] There's a lot of context there.
[00:28:33] The Lord goes on and He gives us examples.
[00:28:36] He gives us demonstrations of what we should use to judge, of how we should embrace truth and how we should view lies and wickedness.
[00:28:51] The Lord tells us that the gate is narrow and that only a few will find it.
[00:29:01] He goes on to tell us that we have to watch out for false prophets.
[00:29:05] That is a directive from our Lord.
[00:29:10] It says, be on your guard and be prepared to make judgments.
[00:29:16] be prepared to make calls to protect yourself to protect the flock be prepared know the word know the scriptures know my command so that when people lie to you you can make a righteous judgment
[00:29:34] and go that's not true in john's epistle he he is very very clear about the judgments that we are called to make he says this is what love is walk in obedience to the commands of
[00:29:56] Christ if you love me keep my commandments it's direct from the mouth of the word incarnate Jesus Christ what does it mean to love Jesus do what he 6. Follow his command. Follow his words. Follow his
[00:30:21] example. In the epistle here, John says many deceivers will come amongst you.
[00:30:32] Many deceivers will deny that Jesus actually did those things.
[00:30:39] In denying Christ, they deny the Father.
[00:30:43] Jesus tells us over and over they don't know the Father because they don't recognize me.
[00:30:49] If they knew the Father, they would know what I am.
[00:30:53] They would know who I am.
[00:30:54] They would recognize me.
[00:30:56] They would know me.
[00:30:59] And John goes on to warn us about these deceivers, these false prophets, who say, oh, well, all that Jesus stuff isn't important.
[00:31:09] As long as you've got, you know, God, in the world today, there are just as many false prophets, There are just as many deceivers who wear fancy gowns and stoles, who have fancy college degrees on their walls, who stand up and go, oh, I spend a lot of time studying what men have to say about the Word of God, therefore you should listen to me.
[00:31:35] They're deceivers.
[00:31:38] There are people who will stand up here and go, there is absolutely no historical evidence for the whole Jesus Christ resurrection thing.
[00:31:47] There are people who call themselves shepherds, who call themselves priests, who call themselves pastors, who call themselves bishops, who call themselves by whatever title gives people's attention, and they'll say, oh, well, you don't have to believe in that stuff.
[00:32:06] There's a reason they say that, because if you read that stuff, it would give them away.
[00:32:14] John says, if you so much as entertain them, if you welcome them into your house, you are aiding in their deception.
[00:32:25] You are just as guilty as they are.
[00:32:29] If anyone comes to you and does not bring his teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him.
[00:32:36] That's verse 10 in 2 John.
[00:32:38] Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wickedness.
[00:32:44] It doesn't get much plainer and simpler and more straightforward than that.
[00:32:51] Now, there are theologians who will jump through hoops and do all kinds of ridiculous acrobatics and contortions to try to justify their sin and their wickedness, who will try to say, well, you don't have to do all of this.
[00:33:08] the most powerful, the most dangerous lies are the ones that are tied up with a little ribbon of truth on top.
[00:33:20] Because it's that little ribbon of truth, it's that little taste of what the Gospel says and what the Scriptures teach that convinces people, well, maybe this is right.
[00:33:32] Angela and I talked about it this morning.
[00:33:33] We are free in Christ.
[00:33:36] Amen.
[00:33:37] We are free in Christ because we have been purchased by Christ.
[00:33:41] but we are free from our sin and from our wickedness.
[00:33:45] We are not free from obedience to Christ.
[00:33:52] We are not free from His love.
[00:33:55] We are not free from the expectations.
[00:33:58] We are not free from the debt that we owe to Him.
[00:34:03] He purchased our debt.
[00:34:06] He purchased our debt so that we are no longer indebted to debt and wickedness and corruption.
[00:34:11] but our debt is in life it is in glory, it is in obedience it is to love we are 100% absolutely free in Christ and people will twist and corrupt that and say you're free
[00:34:29] you don't have to follow all those rules you don't have to do what that 2000 plus year old book says it's not relevant anymore it's old cultural context. It was a different time. It was a different world.
[00:34:47] None of that stuff means anything anymore. All you have to do is love. And then they lace their lies with just enough truth. It's kind of like whenever a fish is swimming and they go
[00:35:05] oh look at that big, fat, juicy, plump worm. And they take a bite. And then they feel a hook inside their mouth. There's just enough truth. There's just enough deception to get their attention.
[00:35:23] And then before they know it, it's a lost cause.
[00:35:29] You might use a real worm and they go, oh look, I recognize that.
[00:35:35] I know that little bit of truth, that little bit of reality.
[00:35:41] And as soon as they bite it, like a fruit plucked from a tree, as soon as they bite it, their eyes are opened.
[00:35:56] The reality of the wickedness, the reality of the deception sinks and their eyes are opened.
[00:36:06] Jesus came into the world because he is our good shepherd.
[00:36:14] He didn't just say, I'll write the check.
[00:36:17] He delivered it.
[00:36:21] He brought it to us.
[00:36:23] He didn't just say, I forgive your sins.
[00:36:27] He could have.
[00:36:28] He's God.
[00:36:29] He could have.
[00:36:31] But he didn't.
[00:36:34] Because there's no value to something that's not tangible, to something that's not real, to something that's not visible, to something that's not appreciated.
[00:36:44] In the same way that God could have snapped his fingers, lightened the bolt, and here just out of the ground comes full-grown Jesus, beard and all, riding on a scout.
[00:36:54] But what would be the value?
[00:36:56] What would be the truth?
[00:36:58] What would be the example of a man that just came from heaven?
[00:37:05] It wouldn't be the example of a whole life.
[00:37:08] It wouldn't be the example of a sinless existence.
[00:37:13] A sinless conception.
[00:37:14] It wouldn't be a demonstration of what we were created to be.
[00:37:25] There are false prophets.
[00:37:27] There are false shepherds everywhere in the world.
[00:37:34] They carry a banner and wave it around and say, Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ, Lord, Lord.
[00:37:44] And that day will come that they face Christ and go, didn't I love in your name?
[00:37:50] did not make people welcome he will go goodbye but I welcomed and the world sister but I opened the gate wide so that everybody could come in and Jesus will say and I said the gate they will say but but but but God is love and he
[00:38:29] will say what is love what does it mean to love God what does it mean to love Christ what does it mean to belong to him if you love me keep mine that is what
[00:38:56] love is love isn't just warm fuzzies and and tight hugs warm isn't bundles of flowers and warm isn't nice presents and family gatherings love love is honesty See, love is reality, even when there are those who try to reject it.
[00:39:28] Love is a shepherd whacking a sheep on the head so that it doesn't wander off.
[00:39:36] As a sheep, as a member of the flock of Christ, he's whacked me a couple of times.
[00:39:43] Let me tell you, I've got the spiritual knots on my head to prove it.
[00:39:47] And I love every one of y'all, and I've seen y'all get knocked in the head too.
[00:39:51] I've only been here for a couple of years.
[00:39:54] Praise God and God willing, I'll be here for a whole lot more.
[00:39:58] And I'll see more of you get knocked in the head with the proverbial shepherd staff of Christ.
[00:40:04] And I'll go, listen, I've been there too.
[00:40:08] And we will listen to the shepherd's voice.
[00:40:11] We will be obedient to his voice together.
[00:40:17] We are one flock and we have one shepherd.
[00:40:22] We must know the shepherd's voice.
[00:40:25] We must know what the shepherd is calling us to do, to believe, to be.
[00:40:33] That's why catechesis is so important.
[00:40:37] That's why teaching our children what God says and what it means is essential.
[00:40:48] Because, listen, I know plenty of people who can pick up this book and go, Well, here it says this, and this is what it means.
[00:40:57] and their mouths spew lies.
[00:41:03] I can make ridiculous memes and infographics that mean absolutely nothing at all and post them all over the internet.
[00:41:13] I can convince a congregation to vote me in as pastor and teach all kinds of heresy and ridiculousness and lies and falsehoods.
[00:41:25] I can stand up here and teach all kinds of stuff that is contrary to the gospel.
[00:41:32] It doesn't matter how many people believe it.
[00:41:34] Lies is still lies.
[00:41:38] False doctrine is still false doctrine.
[00:41:42] Paul says if anyone comes to you teaching these falsehoods, if anyone comes to you and doesn't teach the truth, those are different things.
[00:41:58] Equally dangerous.
[00:41:59] Two sides of the same coin, but they're different.
[00:42:02] They're as different as grace and mercy.
[00:42:06] They go hand in hand.
[00:42:08] They're not the same.
[00:42:13] Any such person is a deceiver and the answer is.
[00:42:18] They're powerful words.
[00:42:22] Those are very, dare I say, judgmental words.
[00:42:31] Christianity isn't just all warm and fuzzy.
[00:42:34] It isn't just I heart God and God heart me.
[00:42:36] In fact, if you read the book of Hebrews, I think you'll find where it says, all right, we got it, let's move on beyond that.
[00:42:45] There are more things.
[00:42:46] There's deeper stuff to be talked about.
[00:42:49] Yes, Jesus died for our sins.
[00:42:51] We got it.
[00:42:52] Now what?
[00:42:54] Yes, God loves you.
[00:42:56] Okay, let's go over.
[00:42:59] We learned that in Miss Debbie's Sunday school class.
[00:43:04] We learned it when we were little.
[00:43:06] Okay, teach me something more.
[00:43:09] Understand more.
[00:43:10] Dive into it.
[00:43:11] Digest it.
[00:43:14] Because if that's it, if that's the foundation, nothing more than a deceiver will come in He'll build his lies upon the foundation of truth.
[00:43:23] We go all the way back to the beginning.
[00:43:27] And the deceiver didn't tell Eve God didn't say that.
[00:43:31] He goes, is that really what he meant?
[00:43:36] It's a lie laced with truth.
[00:43:39] It's a cake of evil with sprinkles of grace on top.
[00:43:47] But the substance remains the same.
[00:43:50] The truth is still true no matter how few people embrace it.
[00:43:56] And the Lord tells us that it's not going to be a whole, whole bunch because the gate is small, the path is narrow, the perception is wide.
[00:44:09] Keep your eyes on Christ.

[00:44:15] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[00:44:15] Keep your ears tuned to His.
[00:44:24] The path leads us.

[00:44:46] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:44:46] The king shall answer and say unto him, Verily I tell you, inasmuch as you have done to the least of these, my brethren, you have done also unto me.
[00:44:56] He that sows little shall reap little, and he that sows plenteously shall reap plenteous.
[00:45:02] Let everyone give as they are disposed in their hearts, not begrudgingly or out of necessity, remembering the Lord loves and cheers them.
[00:45:11] For all sorts and all conditions of mankind, we ask that you would be pleased to make your ways known unto us and to grant unto us life everlasting. We ask especially for your mercy at this time to fulfill the needs
[00:47:21] of all those whose names we call out before you.

[00:47:27] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:47:27] Amanda, Susan, and Rick.

[00:47:29] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]
[00:47:29] Greg Redmond, Fredo Fontana, George and Fran Bowen, and Marjorie Compton-Montes, Dr. Gerald Maxwell, the family of Randy Buckwell, Lance Romano, Nikki and Robert,

[00:47:54] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:47:54] Charlie and David, Kirby Allen,

[00:48:02] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:48:02] Carolyn, Greg, Shelby, Rachel, Karen, and David.
[00:48:15] day. Fulfill, O Lord, their many necessities in a way that is most expedient to their need according to your will. We bless your holy name for all the blessings, the glories, the mercies, the graces, the beauties, and the gifts of this life. We especially take time
[00:48:41] now to give you thanks and praise and to claim those blessings which you have laid before us by your divine majesty.

[00:48:50] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:48:50] Open our hearts, O Lord,

[00:49:19] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:49:19] so that we should always receive, see, and give you praise for your blessings, and that we might always be thankful. Remembering your mercy, O Lord, your church militant throughout the whole earth, clothed for ministers with righteousness and her priests with
[00:49:37] salvation, where she is desolate, build her up, where she is disordered, restore her, where she is divided and broken, heal her, and grant unto your church prosperity, safety, unity, and peace.
[00:49:51] We commend unto you, O Lord, this particular church, this congregation here at Boca, this pastor and these people who join together in our praise and our worship of your holy name.
[00:50:03] We beseech you to accept our piety and our faith and to increase towards us your heavenly grace, that we might always abound and that we would abound more and more in your knowledge and love
[00:50:17] unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ again in the Lord.
[00:50:22] Blessed Lord, we ask your continued blessing and provision for the ministers and the members of the congregations and the communities of our Evangelical and Reformed City.
[00:50:32] In every country, in every land, and in every tongue that they speak.
[00:50:39] Increase these congregations, increase these ministries by the power of your Holy Spirit and provide for their increase.
[00:50:49] Increase us in number and in depth of our commitment to your service.
[00:50:54] Today we pray especially for Son of God Christian School in Kizalabad, Pakistan.
[00:51:02] Enable your faithful servants continually to teach your word and to do your will.
[00:51:09] We pray for the rulers of all lands and all nations and for the people who are committed to their charge.
[00:51:15] Look with favor upon your servants, especially the presidents of these United States, the governor of this state, and all others who are in authority.
[00:51:24] Enrich them with your wisdom and grace.
[00:51:28] Build your head of protection around them.
[00:51:32] Raise them up and strengthen them so that they might do what is pleasing in your sight.
[00:51:40] That under their governance, we should lead quiet and peaceful lives.
[00:51:45] And that we should live lives of godliness and honesty.
[00:51:48] Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, we raise our prayers up before you, O Father. Amen.
[00:51:59] Send forth your light and your truth unto the ends of the earth.
[00:52:03] Cause the glorious gospel of your grace to be proclaimed to all the nations and to all the people thereof.
[00:52:10] Powerfully incline the hearts of mankind everywhere so that we would hear and that we would obey the joyful sound.
[00:52:19] Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives with you, O Father, and the Holy Ghost, to reign ever one God, world without end. Amen.
[00:52:34] Let us join our voices together and turn our hearts to God as we make our humble confession.
[00:52:43] Saying, Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, maker of all things, judge of all things, We acknowledge you for what you have done against sins and wickedness, which we, from time to time, most previously had committed, by thought, word, and deed, against thy mind, for both you have done justly by wrath and in condemnation against us.
[00:53:07] We do want to repent, but these are just feelings.
[00:53:11] In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
[00:54:00] the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen.
[00:54:05] Here are the words of our Lord Jesus Christ as he calls out to you and to all who truly turn unto him.
[00:54:13] Come unto me, all you that prevail in heaven and on earth.
[00:54:17] I will refresh you.
[00:54:21] God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son to the end that all who believe in him should not perish but have everlasting.
[00:54:29] Let us turn our eyes, our hearts, and our voices to the throne of heaven once again and pray the words that our Savior Jesus Christ taught us, calling the Lord God, our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done,

[00:54:53] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:54:53] Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
[00:55:01] And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

[00:55:06] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:55:06] The peace of God, which passes all understanding to your hearts and your minds, and the knowledge and love of God, take with you His blessing.
[00:55:28] In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen.
[00:55:32] Let us stand together and sing our closing hymn, number 458, Sweet Hour of Prayer.
[00:55:42] That's 458.
[00:55:43] Please.
[00:55:44] You are called and have become our salvation.
[00:59:32] The stone that was rejected by the builders has become the chief cornerstone.
[00:59:38] This is your doing, O Lord.
[00:59:40] And in our eyes, it is marvelous.
[00:59:45] Amen.
[00:59:46] Thank you.