The Twin Errors of Legalism: Are You Broken or Blind?

[00:06:45] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
Good morning and welcome to worship at First Baptist Church of Mooresville.
[00:06:49] We are so delighted that you have chosen to be here and to worship with us this morning.
[00:06:53] Thank you to everyone who is worshiping with us in the overflow over in the Fellowship Hall area.
[00:06:59] We welcome you as well and also everyone who are at home, who are worshiping at home with us.
[00:07:05] We just thank you so much that we're all together as a community to come together to worship the one true living God.
[00:07:11] This morning, if you are a guest with us, we would welcome the opportunity to get to know you a little bit more.
[00:07:17] So if you would be so kind, in the pews in front of you, we have a Connect Card.
[00:07:21] If you would be so kind as to take that Connect Card and fill that out, you can turn it in at the Welcome Center in the back on your way out.
[00:07:28] We have a small gift as a way of just saying thank you for being here.
[00:07:32] But the Connect Card is also a great way for anyone to ask any questions about how you can get connected here at First Baptist Church.
[00:07:38] We offer many Bible studies.
[00:07:40] various ways in which you can serve and get connected here and so we welcome that opportunity to have that conversation with you but at this moment let's open our hearts and our minds to what God wants us to hear this morning thank you so much for worshiping with us well good morning David wrote these words that are on the screen now

[00:08:09] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.
[00:08:16] He didn't write, let me magnify.
[00:08:20] He wrote, magnify the Lord with me.
[00:08:22] That's what we've done this morning.
[00:08:24] We have gathered here and it's not by accident.
[00:08:27] The Lord has brought you here this morning for a purpose.
[00:08:31] And together we're going to exalt His name.
[00:08:34] We're going to glorify Him through worship.
[00:08:37] So if you're able, I invite you to stand as we open in song this morning.
[00:08:42] May God bless our time together.
[00:08:44] How great is our God!

[00:09:28] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
And all the earth rejoiced
[00:12:14] How great is our God!

[00:12:39] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
How great is our God!

[00:12:40] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
Sing with me how great is our God, and all will see how great, how great is our God.

[00:13:01] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
Heavenly Father, we come before you today acknowledging that you are the God above all gods, the name above all names.
[00:13:08] There is none like you, Lord, not in heaven above nor in the earth below.
[00:13:14] You are mighty and merciful, holy and gracious, the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.
[00:13:21] We thank you, Father, for your greatness that is beyond our understanding.
[00:13:26] Your love reaches higher than the heavens.
[00:13:28] Your faithfulness extends to the skies.
[00:13:31] You spoke creation into being, You hold the seas in the hollow of Your hand, and yet You know each of us by name.
[00:13:40] Lord, today as we witness believers walk through the waters of baptism, we are reminded of your mighty power.
[00:13:46] May this act of obedience be a testimony to your saving grace and transforming power.
[00:13:52] May it strengthen faith and encourage all who witness to walk more faithfully with you.
[00:13:58] We pray these things in the matchless and powerful name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, and all who agree say.
[00:14:05] Amen.
[00:14:06] Please be seated.

[00:14:19] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
Well, good morning church.
[00:14:21] Good morning.
[00:14:23] Thank you so much for being here today.
[00:14:25] Baptism does not save us.
[00:14:29] Only the blood of Jesus does that.
[00:14:31] Amen.
[00:14:32] Today we have a really special day because a dear brother is going to walk through the waters of baptism.
[00:14:39] And I want to take this time now just to ask Tyler Black if he'll come down.
[00:14:53] Tyler's 27 years old.
[00:14:54] Tyler's been a Christian for quite some time.
[00:14:58] But today he's standing before his church family, his friends, and his family, to tell the whole world that his heart belongs to Jesus.
[00:15:10] Tyler's wife is here begging, and well, there's two other people who's here today, and that's his little girls, who were two and a half years old and 15 months old.
[00:15:21] We're praying that today be a day that God just submits this in their heart, that God etches this into their heart where they renew the day their daddy stepped into the waters of baptism.
[00:15:32] Tyler, as you stand here in front of your girls, in front of your wife, in front of your church, let me ask you, do you trust Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and promise to live for Him your whole lives?
[00:15:44] Tyler, it is my honor and privilege to baptize you in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
[00:16:09] Listen, maybe you're here today.
[00:16:16] You've never walked through the water's bathroom.
[00:16:17] You've never made that decision to trust Jesus with your whole heart.
[00:16:21] I pray today, pray today, that today will be the day of salvation.
[00:16:26] Let's pray together.
[00:16:27] Why don't you stand right where you're at as we pray.
[00:16:29] Father, we thank you for who you are.
[00:16:31] We thank you for your mercy and for your grace.
[00:16:34] Lord, we thank you for Tyler.
[00:16:36] We thank you for the example that he sets for his family as he stands before his wife and his daughters.
[00:16:43] Father, as he stands before his church family, to let the whole world know that you and you alone, Lord, are not alone.
[00:16:51] Oh Lord, I pray today that you continue just to stir and mow them.
[00:16:54] And that, Father, others would be encouraged.
[00:16:57] Father, maybe there's someone here who's never made that decision.
[00:17:00] Today, today, Father, will you convict them in such a way that they completely surrender to you?
[00:17:06] Lord, we thank you for this moment.
[00:17:08] We're not here by accident this morning.
[00:17:10] We're here by your grace and by your mercy.
[00:17:13] And may we worship you today in spirit and truth.
[00:17:17] We pray all of this in your holy and most exalted name.

[00:17:23] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Amen.

[00:17:25] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
Let us sing together.

[00:19:13] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
of God the Savior, now and then He will be found.

[00:19:41] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Sisters pray and holy manna through each hour all around.
[00:19:42] Let us love our God so greatly, let us love each other too, let us love

[00:20:38] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
Good morning church family.
[00:20:39] We've got a lot of exciting things going on at First Baptist Church, and I want to tell you a few ways how you can get plugged in.
[00:20:49] First tonight, youth, this is yours, dinner at 5.30, some of your favorites, chicken tenders and mac and cheese.
[00:20:59] Then they'll be shopping and packing and praying over the shoeboxes that they'll be doing tonight.
[00:21:05] And afterward, for those who want to stay a little longer, you'll get to finish the night with the exciting underground church game from 7.30 to 8.30.
[00:21:16] So you find a friend and be here tonight at 5.30.
[00:21:22] Tuesday is Circle of Faith.
[00:21:24] I want to invite all the ladies to come to our meeting at 2 o'clock in Building C.
[00:21:30] We will have a beautiful time of fellowship, prayer, and encouragement together before we go out to visit some of our homebound members from our church.
[00:21:40] We miss them, and we want to go and show them that we love them, that we want to encourage them, and spend some time with them this week.
[00:21:49] So you're welcome to come and join us at 2 o'clock on Tuesday.
[00:21:54] The Outreach Choir will be busy, too.
[00:21:57] On Wednesday, they'll be going to Terra Bella.
[00:22:00] They're going to be singing and ringing.
[00:22:02] You can come and join them at 10 o'clock here at the church to gather or by 10.30 at Terra Bella.
[00:22:10] And they will be sharing music and worship with the residents there at Terra Bella.
[00:22:18] Wednesday Night Live.
[00:22:20] If you haven't been, you need to.
[00:22:22] It's amazing food.
[00:22:23] After food, the kids on mission get to go to music as well as have missions.
[00:22:30] The youth have Bible study, and we don't leave out the adults.
[00:22:34] There's three classes for us.
[00:22:36] The Book of Luke, led by Dr. Ryan.
[00:22:42] Simple Life, taught by Donna Basinger.
[00:22:47] It's a book that focuses on time, relationships, money, and God.
[00:22:51] And Pastor Seth is doing the Antioch Blueprint, which is building a church that moves the world through word,
[00:23:00] Worship and Witness.
[00:23:02] There's a place for everyone to plug in on Wednesday evenings.
[00:23:06] So I hope you'll come at 5 for supper and then those activities begin each evening, each Wednesday at 6 o'clock.
[00:23:14] It's almost time for the Joy Group.
[00:23:16] Next Tuesday, November 18th at 1130, they'll be meeting in the Fellowship Hall.
[00:23:23] It's an opportunity for a great meal and to come together for a time of fun and fellowship.
[00:23:28] You'll need to sign up by calling the church office this week.
[00:23:33] Operation Christmas Child is happening.
[00:23:37] We have collected half our goal of 50 boxes.
[00:23:40] We have a goal of 100.
[00:23:41] There's still boxes around if you'd like to take one this week.
[00:23:45] We've extended the deadline until next Sunday.
[00:23:48] So get your box in and remember to fill that box up.
[00:23:52] Make it fun.
[00:23:52] Make it personal with a card or a note.
[00:23:56] Even a picture for the child.
[00:23:58] But most importantly, be sure and pray for the child that will receive your box and share as they understand and share the love of Jesus with each child and even their family.
[00:24:11] And these go all around the world.
[00:24:14] Eighty people from the South Yadkin Baptist Association will be traveling to Harlan County, Kentucky this week to deliver 1,100 book bags.
[00:24:25] to every child in three schools.
[00:24:28] This is one of the most impoverished areas of the Appalachian region.
[00:24:32] Two years ago, I went with the team that went that year.
[00:24:38] Last year, four from our church went.
[00:24:41] And this year, I'm excited to say we have 10 who are going with this group.
[00:24:46] I'm so excited about that.
[00:24:52] We are grateful for your support of giving and filling 133 book bags and also the financial support to support that mission.
[00:25:02] You see, there's so much happening at First Baptist Church.
[00:25:06] Where can you plug in?
[00:25:08] There's always a place for you here at First Baptist.
[00:25:13] Will you pray with me now?
[00:25:16] Dear God, thank you for the gift of today.
[00:25:19] May we use it to honor and glorify you
[00:25:22] We are a people who love, as shown through our giving in so many ways, through book bags, through Christmas shoeboxes, through music and visits in our community.
[00:25:35] Let us always remember to give generously, for you gave us the greatest gift of all in your Son, Jesus Christ.
[00:25:43] In his name we pray.
[00:25:45] Amen.

[00:26:37] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
In the rising name of Jesus, I pray.
[00:26:58] Falling on the cloud of heaven, I shall pray.
[00:29:35] Christ became a Jesus by faith.

[00:30:54] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
Well, at this time we're going to dismiss for Children's Church.
[00:31:00] And if you're visiting with us today, just a quick note, it's not a babysitting program.
[00:31:07] It is church geared toward their age.
[00:31:10] So they're going to be going down to my right.
[00:31:12] They'll be downstairs with Rita Marie and her team.
[00:31:19] And if you need to find your way down there at the end of the service, quickest way, up the ramp behind the piano, turn right, down the steps, make another right hand turn.
[00:31:33] Well at this time we're going to turn to prayer, an important role of the church.
[00:31:40] Not the church staff, the church.
[00:31:43] And so we're going to come into a time where we lift up names of those in this congregation, those that are connected to this congregation.
[00:31:53] We always say, if you have someone that you need to be on the prayer list,
[00:31:58] Please get in touch with the church office or someone on staff so that we can include them.
[00:32:05] Also this morning I would like to invite our Harlan, Kentucky, Appalachian Backpack Trip Team to come forward at this time and we're going to lay hands on them.
[00:32:24] And I would also invite anyone who feels led to come down and let's lay hands upon them.
[00:32:31] If you can't get there from where you are, you can simply hold your hand up from your seat.
[00:32:42] At this time, let's pray together.
[00:32:46] Heavenly Father, we come before you today with grateful hearts.
[00:32:50] Knowing that you are a good God who loves us with an everlasting love, we thank you for the privilege of gathering together in your name, for wherever two or three are gathered, you have promised to be there with us.
[00:33:06] Lord, we lift up those preparing to go on mission trips, those that have been on mission trips.
[00:33:12] We heard reports this morning from international missions.
[00:33:16] And now for our Appalachia backpack trip team, Lord, making ready to carry your light into dark places.
[00:33:26] Lord, we thank you for the resources here at First Baptist Church to provide for the backpacks and for those who have worked to prepare them for distribution.
[00:33:34] Lord, we ask that you go before our team, prepare the hearts of those they will meet, give them the words to speak and the compassion to serve in your name.
[00:33:45] Lord, we lift up our outreach choir members as they travel this week to Taravella Retirement Community.
[00:33:50] Be with them as they reach out through music to share the good news of Jesus Christ and bring a message of hope and joy.
[00:33:59] Lord, we pray too for mission teams who've answered your call to go into all the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
[00:34:06] We pray for those who are serving in distant lands and villages and cities and places where your name is not yet known.
[00:34:13] This morning, Father, we lift up Mary Davidson serving in Montenegro.
[00:34:18] Give her strength, give her courage when the work is hard and the way seems long.
[00:34:24] Protect her and the whole Campus Crusade team from harm.
[00:34:28] Provide for their every need and let them see the fruit of their labor.
[00:34:32] May they be bold witnesses to your saving grace and may many come to know you through their faithful service.
[00:34:40] Lord, specifically we pray for Melicia, for Iva, for Mia, for Lana, Alyssa, and Anessa.
[00:34:51] Prepare their hearts, Lord, that they may be receptive to your word and would surrender their hearts to you.
[00:34:59] Father, we also come before you this morning with heavy hearts, knowing that many in our midst are walking through valleys of shadow and suffering,
[00:35:07] We lift up those who are sick, those that are in hospital beds, those battling disease and pain.
[00:35:15] Lord, we think of Ron Mitchum, Marissa Snyder, Barry Caldwell, Paula Owens, Mike Privet, Wendy's mom Connie Parnell,
[00:35:31] And Lord, there are many others that are struggling, but we also give you praise for the doctor's report for Vicki Brawley.
[00:35:39] Lord, we know that you are a good God, we know that you are the great physician, and we ask for your healing touch.
[00:35:45] Comfort them in their affliction, give them peace that passes understanding, strengthen the hands of the doctors and nurses who care for them, and remind each suffering soul that you are near to the brokenhearted.
[00:36:00] And Lord, we pray for those who are grieving, those who have lost loved ones and feel the ache of absence.
[00:36:07] We're especially mindful of Judith Lotz this morning, Lord, and the passing of her husband, Jim, and the Sprinkle family and the passing of their daughter, Jessie.
[00:36:19] Draw near to them in their sorrow.
[00:36:21] Remind them that you are close to those who mourn, that you collect every tear, that death has been conquered through the resurrection of your Son, Jesus Christ.
[00:36:32] Give them hope, Father.
[00:36:33] Hope that we will see our loved ones again.
[00:36:36] Hope that this life is not the end.
[00:36:39] Hope that you are making all things new.
[00:36:43] We pray all these things in the mighty and precious name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior who died for our sins and rose again that we might have eternal life.
[00:36:55] And all God's people said, Amen.

[00:37:06] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
Well, good morning everyone.
[00:37:10] You know, we had a brunch this morning, and we got our bellies full, and I wonder if now you're so sleepy that your response seems lethargic.
[00:37:23] So let's try that again, okay?
[00:37:25] Good morning, everyone.
[00:37:26] Good morning.
[00:37:27] Thank you for being here.
[00:37:28] Hey, if you will, will you kindly turn in your Bibles to Acts?
[00:37:34] Chapter 15.
[00:37:35] We're in a series called Core.
[00:37:37] We've been to this for quite a while.
[00:37:40] And we started talking about Chapter 15 last week.
[00:37:43] Didn't get to finish it.
[00:37:45] So just want to kind of pick up where we left off last week.
[00:37:49] And then Lord willing...
[00:37:50] We'll be able to finish out the chapter next week.
[00:37:55] And just in case you wasn't here last week, even if you was here, just kind of remind you about what's happened.
[00:38:01] In Acts chapter 15, Paul and Barnabas had just returned from a mission trip.
[00:38:08] And they've got back home to their home church in Antioch.
[00:38:11] Now remember, Antioch is the first Gentile church in the New Testament.
[00:38:16] Gentile is anyone that's not Jewish.
[00:38:20] And so when they get back to Antioch, here's what they realize, is that there was some men who came while they were gone, and they started preaching a false message.
[00:38:30] Look at this, Acts 15 verse 1.
[00:38:32] But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.
[00:38:45] Did you hear that?
[00:38:46] While Paul and Barnabas are gone, these men come down and they say, look, you've got to be circumcised according to the custom of Moses.
[00:38:54] Now the custom of Moses just literally means you have to be Jewish.
[00:38:59] Which means you have to follow the Jewish dietary rules, you have to honor the Jewish festivals, and you have to follow the Jewish custom of circumcision.
[00:39:07] And if you don't do this, if you don't do that, if you don't become Jewish first, then well, you just cannot be saved.
[00:39:13] I told you last week that these men are called Judaizers.
[00:39:17] And these Judaizers are really going to just be a pain in the neck all throughout the New Testament because these Judaizers would teach falsely that before God can save you, before you can be a Christian, you have to first become Jewish.
[00:39:35] And y'all, that's just not true.
[00:39:37] So when Paul and Barnabas return and they hear that this message has been spoken, they blow a gasket, if you will.
[00:39:45] Look at this, verse 2.
[00:39:46] And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them.
[00:39:51] Did you see that?
[00:39:52] No small dissension.
[00:39:53] That means they're losing their minds over this, okay?
[00:39:56] By the way, FBC, we do not sit idly by when false gospels are being preached, amen?
[00:40:02] We call that out, we stand our ground, and we do not let people take away from the true gospel of Jesus.
[00:40:09] Paul and Barnabas didn't do that.
[00:40:10] They had no small debate.
[00:40:13] And this is such a big deal that now Antioch is going to send Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem.
[00:40:20] because there's going to be this massive church council meeting in other words all the apostles and the elders are going to get together they're going to faithfully stand for the gospel they're going to guard the gospel protect the gospel and tell these judiazers just how wrong they are now i explained last week that what these judiazers are doing by saying that you have to become jewish first is really what we call legalism okay and legalism just means trying to earn god's approval through human effort
[00:40:48] Right?
[00:40:49] Okay, Jesus can save you, but first, X, Y, Z. Jesus can save you, but first, you've got to do that.
[00:40:56] First, you've got to be Jewish.
[00:40:57] Imagine this, okay?
[00:40:59] Imagine you're walking downtown Morrisville, and all of a sudden, somebody comes up to you and says, How must I be saved?
[00:41:06] And you tell them that you just trust in Jesus Christ.
[00:41:09] And they say, Okay, I'm ready to do that.
[00:41:11] You kneel down with this person.
[00:41:13] You're like on the sidewalk in downtown Mooresville.
[00:41:15] You kneel down with them and you're leading them through the sinner's prayer, right?
[00:41:20] And about halfway through that prayer, you open up your eyes and you say, wait, wait a second.
[00:41:25] Are you a member at Costco?
[00:41:28] I said, well, no.
[00:41:30] Sam's Club?
[00:41:31] No.
[00:41:32] Wait, Shop of BJ's?
[00:41:33] No.
[00:41:35] Well, you know, as a Christian, God wants us to be a good steward of our money and save, and so we believe in, you know, buying bulk.
[00:41:42] So I can't finish this prayer with you until you first go become a member at Costco.
[00:41:48] You laugh at that, and that sounds so silly.
[00:41:50] That's exactly what these Judaizers are doing.
[00:41:52] That's legalism, amen?
[00:41:54] And so this church council, they're not going to stand up for that.
[00:41:57] Well, they eventually all get to Jerusalem.
[00:42:00] Jump down to verse 5.
[00:42:01] Look at this.
[00:42:01] But some believers who belong to the party of the Pharisees.
[00:42:05] There you go.
[00:42:05] That's it.
[00:42:06] These Judaizers.
[00:42:08] They said it is necessary to circumcise them in order to keep the law of Moses.
[00:42:15] Right?
[00:42:15] Because unless you do this, you cannot be saved.
[00:42:18] Well, these apostles are going to say absolutely not.
[00:42:21] And I went into some detail last week, what Paul and Barnabas said, what James said.
[00:42:27] I'm not going to do that again.
[00:42:28] You can go back and listen to that.
[00:42:29] I do want to remind you, though, of what the apostle Peter said.
[00:42:32] So, if you will, jump down to verse...
[00:42:36] Let's go to verse 7.
[00:42:37] Look at this.
[00:42:38] And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and he said to them.
[00:42:42] Here's what Peter says.
[00:42:43] Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.
[00:42:52] From the very beginning, the Gentiles were supposed to come to God.
[00:42:55] And you saw that actually happen.
[00:42:57] Jump down to verse 9.
[00:42:58] And he made no distinction between us and them.
[00:43:02] Did you hear that?
[00:43:03] Peter says, from the very beginning, God made no distinction between us, Jewish, and them, Gentile, having cleansed their hearts by faith.
[00:43:12] See, they didn't have to earn this, they just had to believe in Jesus because Jesus alone is enough.
[00:43:18] Now look at this, verse 10, verse 10-11 is really important.
[00:43:20] Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?
[00:43:29] Verse 11, but we believe that we will be saved forever.
[00:43:33] Through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.
[00:43:37] Now I want you to highlight in your Bibles verse 10 and verse 11.
[00:43:41] Because what Peter is doing in these two verses is telling us the dangers of legalism when you start adding to the gospel.
[00:43:50] Let's go back to verse 10.
[00:43:51] Look at this.
[00:43:52] Now therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on their neck?
[00:43:58] You see, when you tell people
[00:44:00] That, well, Jesus alone can't just say you have to do something else.
[00:44:04] What you're doing is you're putting a weight around them.
[00:44:08] And there's a devastating thing that happens.
[00:44:10] We talked about this last week.
[00:44:12] That is, when you add to the gospel, you're actually leading people to a sense of hopelessness.
[00:44:18] You're leading people to a sense of hopelessness.
[00:44:22] I explain to you, it's like if somebody's drowning, if you're drowning, a rescue boat comes up, and a guy leans over the rail with a life preserver, and he says, well, before I give you this life preserver, let me first hand you this.
[00:44:34] And he throws you a manual on swimming instructions.
[00:44:37] Now what's going to happen?
[00:44:39] You're going to drown.
[00:44:40] and that's what happens to people when they think that there's something else besides Jesus for their salvation so I told you this last week legalism always ends in despair and false gospels create defeated people this isn't good news it's bad math when you start adding to the gospel and listen people leave church all the time not because they hate Jesus but because they're just so exhausted and trying to earn him but you don't earn your salvation
[00:45:08] Salvation is not about what you do, listen brothers and sisters, it's what Jesus Christ has already done 2,000 years ago, amen?
[00:45:17] So we've got to be real careful never to add to the gospel because what's going to happen is people are going to feel hopeless.
[00:45:22] That's what happened in Antioch.
[00:45:24] These Gentiles said, well, you know, I don't know if I can be saved if I have to be circumcised, if I have to follow the dietary rules, I don't know if I can do this.
[00:45:33] And because it led them into a sense of hopelessness.
[00:45:36] But that's not the only thing it does.
[00:45:38] This is what we didn't have time to cover last week.
[00:45:41] See, Peter says, not only do you put a weight around them, but the only way we're saved is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ alone.
[00:45:51] Now, why did he say that?
[00:45:53] Because sometimes legalism won't just drive people to a sense of hopelessness.
[00:46:00] Sometimes adding to the gospel actually leads people to false hope.
[00:46:05] So just follow with me for a second here.
[00:46:07] When you add to the gospel, for some, they're going to have a sense of false hope, and for others, they're going to have a sense of hopelessness.
[00:46:16] In other words, legalism itself will always produce despair, but for other people, legalism, write this down, will always produce pride.
[00:46:28] Sometimes false gospels create defeated people.
[00:46:33] Other times, false gospels, write this down, create deceived
[00:46:37] People.
[00:46:38] People who think that, well, they're good enough.
[00:46:43] In other words, it works like this, okay?
[00:46:46] This is what we call the twin era of legalism.
[00:46:49] There are some people out there who struggle with being broken because they think that, well, they never measure up.
[00:46:57] But other people, they're not broken.
[00:46:58] Listen to this.
[00:47:00] They're blind because they think they already have.
[00:47:04] You following with me so far this morning?
[00:47:07] You see, here's the devastating thing that happens.
[00:47:08] In Antioch, this message of the Judaizers, well, it drove some people away from the gospel, but there was other people who said, well, we gotta be circumcised.
[00:47:20] Let's get circumcised.
[00:47:21] If we gotta follow the law of Moses, let's follow the law of Moses.
[00:47:25] And they did.
[00:47:25] And then they just did whatever else they wanted to, thinking that they were okay with God, when they were not.
[00:47:33] Listen, we know from the Bible, there's people in Corinth, right, who they would meet in a church, just like ours, they would take the Lord's Supper, they would eat the bread, but when they got done eating the bread, they did not quit drinking the wine, and then they'd all get drunk there in communion.
[00:47:50] We know from extra-biblical sources like first century historian Josephus that in this region where Antioch is, Antioch is modern-day Turkey, Asia Minor, it's in the region of Galatia, that there was actual churches who would gather like we gather, they would sing like we sing, that they might even preach a little bit, that fellowship, but then after the service they would entertain gambling rings.
[00:48:17] Can you imagine after the service, standing up saying, and I surrender all, and then leaving and going to meet with your bookie?
[00:48:25] I mean, that sounds crazy, but those type of things were actually happening in the New Testament.
[00:48:29] Or they would get together and they would fellowship, and then after the service they would have slavery rings and participate in human trafficking.
[00:48:39] Or they would practice sexual immorality and be a part of the pagan brothels in the region of Galatia.
[00:48:46] Y'all, there's a word for that.
[00:48:47] You know what we call it?
[00:48:48] Hypocrites.
[00:48:50] Yet these people would say they're Christian.
[00:48:53] They would say they're followers of Christ.
[00:48:55] Why?
[00:48:56] Because they followed the custom of Moses and because the men were circumcised.
[00:49:02] Now they say, well, we can just do whatever we want to.
[00:49:05] And that is not how this works.
[00:49:07] So much so that Paul later has to write a letter to the churches in this region.
[00:49:12] If you will, go to Galatians chapter 5, really the entire book of Galatians, but particularly Galatians chapter 5, verse 1.
[00:49:18] Look at this.
[00:49:19] Paul says, For freedom Christ has set us free.
[00:49:22] That's really important.
[00:49:23] We'll come back to it later.
[00:49:25] Stand firm therefore and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.
[00:49:30] Do you see what Paul's doing?
[00:49:31] He's saying the same thing that Peter said in Acts 15 verse 10.
[00:49:35] Don't submit again to the yoke.
[00:49:38] Don't put a yoke on yourself.
[00:49:40] You see, when you have legalism, you think it frees you, but it's really just making you a slave.
[00:49:45] Look at this verse 2.
[00:49:46] Look, I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision...
[00:49:51] I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to obey what?
[00:50:02] The whole law.
[00:50:03] So for those of you that come in church and you think, well, okay, it looks good on the surface.
[00:50:08] Now I go do whatever I want to.
[00:50:10] You're wrong.
[00:50:11] Dead wrong.
[00:50:11] You're supposed to follow the whole law.
[00:50:15] You are severed from Christ.
[00:50:16] We'll play on words there.
[00:50:18] You who would be justified by the law, you have fallen away from grace.
[00:50:23] For through the Spirit by faith we ourselves eagerly await for the hope of righteousness.
[00:50:28] For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts.
[00:50:35] None of that counts, y'all.
[00:50:37] Instead, the only thing that counts is faith working through love.
[00:50:43] But by the way, if Paul was here today and he had to write a letter to the churches in Morrisville, what do you think he would say?
[00:50:51] I think he would say the same thing.
[00:50:53] I mean, clearly he's not going to talk about circumcision.
[00:50:55] We don't deal with that.
[00:50:57] But I think he would say the same thing.
[00:50:59] I think he would say, I, Paul, tell you just because you go to First Baptist don't mean anything.
[00:51:08] I, Paul, tell you just because you show up every Sunday and you're really faithful in your attendance, so what?
[00:51:15] Just because you drop your kids off at Mission of Music
[00:51:19] Just because you volunteer, just because you teach a Sunday school class, just because you tithe or give to the offering, just because you don't cheat on your taxes or cheat on your life, don't smoke or chew or run with people who do, just because it all looks good on the surface, doesn't mean that your heart is connected to Jesus.
[00:51:39] Amen?
[00:51:41] You see, you can look one way on the outside, and it can look good, but you can be miles apart from God on the inside.
[00:51:48] And that's the problem that's happening here.
[00:51:50] Paul goes on, verse 7, look at this, he says, You are running well!
[00:51:55] Who hindered you from obeying the truth?
[00:51:57] Well, those Judaizers, that's who.
[00:52:00] Look at this, this persuasion is not from him who calls you.
[00:52:04] That's not God's message.
[00:52:06] That's heresy.
[00:52:06] That's legalism.
[00:52:08] Verse 9, a little leaven leavens the whole lump.
[00:52:12] You see, this message of the Judaizers who says, you follow this law and you'll be fine, that might sound good to the ears, but it's devastating.
[00:52:22] Some of you know this.
[00:52:24] In 2019, we were living in Asia, and I drunk dirty water.
[00:52:28] And I ended up developing parasites.
[00:52:31] I had some really major, pretty major health complications from this.
[00:52:35] I started attacking some of my organs.
[00:52:37] Y'all, it took me about four years just to get back to the point where I was kind of functioning.
[00:52:43] And honestly, I've never been the same since.
[00:52:45] I don't think I ever will.
[00:52:47] It took me five minutes to drink this dirty water, and now I'm going to spend the rest of my life kind of suffering from it.
[00:52:53] And people have often asked me, well, why did you drink that dirty water in the first place?
[00:52:57] And here's what I tell them.
[00:52:58] Because I didn't know it was dirty.
[00:52:59] Duh.
[00:53:00] Right?
[00:53:02] I mean, obviously.
[00:53:04] Listen, here's what I've learned, okay?
[00:53:06] Did you know that dirty water tastes the same as clean water?
[00:53:12] It does.
[00:53:14] And when I drank it, it was very refreshing.
[00:53:15] It tastes good, but the effects afterwards is devastating.
[00:53:20] Y'all, legalism sometimes will sound like the gospel.
[00:53:25] It'll sound good to the ears.
[00:53:28] But what it does to the soul is devastating.
[00:53:31] Amen?
[00:53:32] A little bit of left will ruin the whole lump of bread.
[00:53:37] You gotta be on guard.
[00:53:38] That is the twin air of legalism.
[00:53:41] Some people are broken because they don't think they can measure up.
[00:53:43] Others are blind because they think they already have.
[00:53:48] And every person in this room right now, you're struggling in one of these two areas.
[00:53:52] Maybe you're in here, we focused a lot on this last Sunday, and you feel broken, you feel like you're in despair because you're basing your salvation off your own works.
[00:54:00] Maybe you're in here and you're blinded, you're not in despair, you're deceived because you think you already have measured up, but the reality is in here you're a million miles away.
[00:54:11] From Your Heavenly Father.
[00:54:13] By the way, Jesus actually talks about this.
[00:54:15] Luke chapter 15.
[00:54:16] Now, Luke 15, we typically talk about the story of just one son who runs away, but really this is what I would call the prodigal sons of legalism.
[00:54:26] Jesus talks about two sons.
[00:54:27] You want to see both of these broken and being bought in both these sons.
[00:54:31] So Jesus tells this story, Luke 15, starting with verse 11.
[00:54:35] Jesus says this, that there was a man who had...
[00:54:38] Two sons.
[00:54:39] How many sons?
[00:54:41] Two sons.
[00:54:42] And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me my share of the property that is coming to me.
[00:54:47] And he divided his property between them.
[00:54:49] Now we often focus on the younger son because he's such a jerk.
[00:54:53] I mean, really, what a stinker.
[00:54:56] He comes up to his dad and he says, Dad, my life would be better if you were dead.
[00:55:01] That way I could have my inheritance.
[00:55:04] But you're not dead, so my life kind of stinks right now.
[00:55:07] Well, the dad, we don't know why, but the dad actually liquidates all of his assets and he gives the son, the younger son, his inheritance.
[00:55:16] But it's not just the younger son.
[00:55:17] Did you see that?
[00:55:18] He divided his property between what?
[00:55:21] Them.
[00:55:21] That's plural.
[00:55:22] Both sons got the inheritance.
[00:55:24] Now, the younger one, when he gets it, he can't wait to get out of here.
[00:55:27] Look at this.
[00:55:28] Verse 13.
[00:55:29] Not many days later, the younger son gathered all that he had, and he took a journey to a far country.
[00:55:33] And there he squandered his property, reckless living.
[00:55:36] You see, this dad goes out, this kid goes out, he wastes all of his money.
[00:55:40] Eventually, there's a famine.
[00:55:42] He's starving.
[00:55:43] And then he hires himself out to a pig farmer.
[00:55:46] He ends up staying in the pig pen.
[00:55:48] He gets so hungry that he actually has a desire to eat the slop the pigs are eating.
[00:55:53] Eventually, he comes to his senses and he says, you know, maybe I can go back home.
[00:55:58] Maybe I'll leave this faraway country, go back home, and I'll just be like a hired help for my dad's servant.
[00:56:04] Well, he gets up, he goes back home, he's on his way back home, and in the distance, his daddy sees him, and he runs to where he's at, throws his arms around him, says, you ain't gonna be my servant, you're gonna be my boy because you were lost, but now you're found, dead, now alive.
[00:56:18] And he kills the fatted calf and they had this massive party.
[00:56:22] It's a beautiful story.
[00:56:23] But listen, while that party is going on, the older son hears the celebration.
[00:56:29] Jump down, if you will, to verse 25.
[00:56:32] Now his older son was in the field.
[00:56:35] Where's he at?
[00:56:36] The field.
[00:56:38] and as he came and drew near to the house he heard the music and dancing and he called to the servants and he asked what do these things mean well the servants explained to the older boy that your younger brothers came home and there's a party but this older brother is very upset verse 28 he was angry and he refused to go in well eventually his daddy has to come out and talk to him his dad explains why they're throwing a party listen what the son's response is verse 29 but he answered his father look
[00:57:07] These many years I have served you.
[00:57:10] I've never disobeyed your commandment.
[00:57:14] Yet you never gave me a young goat.
[00:57:17] See what happened to this story?
[00:57:19] You got two boys.
[00:57:20] Neither one of them are home.
[00:57:25] One's in a faraway country.
[00:57:27] And one's in a field, but neither one of them are in the house.
[00:57:31] One of the boys, one of the boys, he runs because he has rebellion.
[00:57:37] He breaks the rules and he wastes the inheritance and he ends up in a pig pen.
[00:57:40] But the other son stayed home and he kept the rules, yet he still missed the father's heart.
[00:57:47] Because one has rebellion and one has religion.
[00:57:51] One is broken, one is blind, and they both need grace.
[00:57:56] Amen?
[00:57:56] This is what happens with legalism.
[00:57:58] Write this down.
[00:57:59] Despair left unchecked always turns into defiance.
[00:58:03] That's the younger son.
[00:58:05] That's people who are broken.
[00:58:07] But look at this.
[00:58:08] Pride left unchecked always turns into performance.
[00:58:11] That's the older son.
[00:58:12] I've obeyed your commandments.
[00:58:14] I've been faithful.
[00:58:15] Write this down.
[00:58:16] Number three.
[00:58:17] When grace feels out of reach, rebellion feels like a relief.
[00:58:21] That's the younger son.
[00:58:23] Write this down.
[00:58:24] Number four.
[00:58:25] When grace feels unnecessary, religion feels sufficient.
[00:58:30] That's the older son.
[00:58:31] Where you at this morning?
[00:58:33] Where you at in this?
[00:58:35] You're broken or you're blind, because every one of us, we struggle.
[00:58:38] I want to be somewhere on that scale.
[00:58:41] Let me ask you a question as Bethany begins to play.
[00:58:45] If I make this statement to you, and I want you to listen to this very carefully.
[00:58:49] If I tell you that you are such a terrible person, you are so depraved, your sin is so bad and so horrendous,
[00:59:03] The only possible way for God to forgive you, and the only possible way for God's wrath not to be poured out on you, is by Him killing His Son, Jesus, on a cross.
[00:59:19] By Jesus dying a bloody and gruesome death.
[00:59:23] That's how bad your sin is, but here's the kicker.
[00:59:27] He loves you so much,
[00:59:30] That He willingly and freely wanted to do it.
[00:59:36] Now, when I make that statement to you, here's the question.
[00:59:40] What part do you struggle with?
[00:59:42] What part hits you the wrong way?
[00:59:45] The fact that your sin is that bad?
[00:59:48] That Jesus had to die a bloody and gruesome death just to forgive you?
[00:59:52] Or do you struggle with the fact that He loves you that much?
[00:59:58] I didn't want him to.
[01:00:00] Not every one of us in this room, we're either tempted to be broken
[01:00:03] Tempted to be blind.
[01:00:05] That's the problem when there's a false gospel.
[01:00:07] Are you tracking with me so far?
[01:00:09] That's why when we preach, we must preach real freedom, which means the gospel, write this down, must stay pure.
[01:00:15] The gospel must stay.
[01:00:16] We cannot add anything to this.
[01:00:19] You say, well Seth, what is real gospel?
[01:00:20] Can I just give this to you in equation?
[01:00:23] I think this will make sense.
[01:00:24] Here's the equation, okay?
[01:00:26] Jesus plus anything...
[01:00:30] Jesus plus following the customs of Moses.
[01:00:34] Jesus plus older son having good obedience, behavior modification.
[01:00:41] Jesus plus your works.
[01:00:44] Jesus plus gift.
[01:00:45] Jesus plus anything.
[01:00:47] You know what that equals?
[01:00:48] Nothing.
[01:00:51] That's why Paul says neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any benefit.
[01:00:55] The only thing that counts is faith expressed in itself through love.
[01:01:00] But here's the equation continues.
[01:01:03] Jesus plus nothing.
[01:01:05] You know what that equals?
[01:01:08] That equals everything.
[01:01:10] Because all you need is Him.
[01:01:12] And Him alone, you don't need your works.
[01:01:14] You don't need to be a better person before He can take you in to save you.
[01:01:20] But by the way, you don't perform and you don't pretend.
[01:01:24] You just accept Jesus.
[01:01:26] That's why Paul says this.
[01:01:28] Remember, go back to Galatians 5.1.
[01:01:30] For freedom, for freedom Christ has set us free.
[01:01:33] What does that mean that Christ has set us free?
[01:01:36] Before we end, let me just walk you through a good theology lesson, okay?
[01:01:40] You see, when you read the gospel, it means we are free.
[01:01:44] We do have freedom.
[01:01:46] We have freedom from the penalty of sin.
[01:01:49] Because we have messed up because we sinned, we deserve the wrath of God.
[01:01:54] Because we're guilty, we deserve to be punished.
[01:01:56] But Jesus
[01:01:58] Jesus took that punishment upon himself.
[01:02:01] We say it like this around First Baptist.
[01:02:03] We who are guilty can now be innocent before the Father because Jesus who is innocent became guilty on that cross.
[01:02:11] He took our punishment.
[01:02:12] He took the penalty of sin upon himself.
[01:02:15] Theologically, we call that justification.
[01:02:18] And all that we've been freed from the penalty of sin, listen to this brothers and sisters, we've been freed from the power of sin.
[01:02:25] Y'all listen, whatever it is you're struggling with, including either brokenness or blindness, whatever it is you're struggling with this morning, that sin does not have to control your life.
[01:02:34] Amen?
[01:02:35] See, gospel isn't about you being a better person, it's about you being a changed person.
[01:02:40] You know, we had that brunch just a few minutes ago, because that's what we do as Baptists, we just eat 24-7.
[01:02:48] Imagine we had a potluck after this service, and we go to the potluck, and you come up to me and you say, Listen, Pastor, I made some fried chicken, and I really want you to try it.
[01:02:57] Now, this is not very Baptist.
[01:02:59] I don't like chicken.
[01:03:02] But let's just imagine I go in there because you asked me, I go and try your fried chicken.
[01:03:07] Okay, after I eat your fried chicken, am I going to start loving fried chicken?
[01:03:12] No.
[01:03:13] There's like a zero chance that's going to happen, okay?
[01:03:16] Listen, I tried your fried chicken just to be a nice guy, just to be polite.
[01:03:21] But that doesn't mean I'm going to start craving it.
[01:03:24] That's the way a lot of you treat the gospel.
[01:03:27] When Jesus saves you, listen, he's not asking for behavior modifications, for you to start doing things just to be nice, be polite, just for the sake of doing it.
[01:03:38] Listen, when Jesus comes in your heart, here's to freedom.
[01:03:42] He actually changes the taste buds in your heart.
[01:03:45] So the things that you used to desire, you don't desire anymore.
[01:03:49] And the things that you didn't desire, now you do desire.
[01:03:51] They're like a loving relationship with your heavenly Father.
[01:03:54] Does that make sense?
[01:03:56] You've been given freedom over the power of sin.
[01:03:58] We call that sanctification.
[01:04:00] Listen, you get freedom over the pain of sin.
[01:04:04] Freedom from the pain of sin.
[01:04:06] Every problem we have is a result of sin, from the very beginning, death, cancer, sickness, everything, from that original sin.
[01:04:14] But one day, listen to me, one day there's a day coming when you're going to close your eyes on this earth and you're going to open them and you're going to be standing before the glory of Jesus.
[01:04:25] John tells us how that day there will be no more suffering, no more pain, and no more death, and we will be free.
[01:04:32] From the pain of sin, we call that glorification.
[01:04:35] We've got justification, sanctification, glorification.
[01:04:38] Can I give you one more before we leave?
[01:04:40] Listen, until that day happens, until you're completely healed, God's going to give you freedom over the pressure of sin.
[01:04:49] You see, some of you in here, you feel broken right now.
[01:04:53] And because you're broken, you feel like you have to perform, you have to do better.
[01:04:58] Some of you in here are blind.
[01:05:00] And because you're blind, deep down you're a hypocrite and now you feel like you have to pretend.
[01:05:05] But God says, because of what my son Jesus has done for you, no more performing and no more pretending.
[01:05:13] You are free from the pressure of sin.
[01:05:18] That's why, go back, Acts 15, Peter said it this way, verse 11, But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.
[01:05:29] Paul says it another way like this in Ephesians.
[01:05:33] Ephesians 2.8, For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not of your doing.
[01:05:42] It is a gift of God, not a result of works, that no one may boast.
[01:05:48] Here's what I want to leave you with right this now.
[01:05:50] We are saved by grace alone.
[01:05:54] Through faith alone.
[01:05:57] In Christ alone.
[01:06:02] And that's enough.
[01:06:05] That's enough.
[01:06:07] Nothing else has to be added.
[01:06:09] You don't have to pretend anymore.
[01:06:11] You don't have to perform anymore.
[01:06:14] Legalism can lose its grip in your life.
[01:06:18] The pressure of sin, you can be freed from that this morning.
[01:06:22] So here's what I ask you to do.
[01:06:23] I want to ask you one more time.
[01:06:26] What are you struggling with?
[01:06:29] What are you struggling with?
[01:06:31] That your sin is really that bad?
[01:06:34] That Jesus had to die a bloody and gruesome death to forgive you?
[01:06:39] Or do you struggle with that He loves you so much that He wanted to?
[01:06:43] Brothers and sisters, I'm just going to pray that the next few moments can just be moments of healing.
[01:06:48] This altar is going to be open.
[01:06:49] Maybe for you, maybe for you, you struggle with brokenness and living in despair.
[01:06:55] The day will come.
[01:06:56] Compass.
[01:06:57] Say, Lord, here I am.
[01:06:58] I know it's not because of my doings, but because of what you've already done.
[01:07:01] That's what saves me.
[01:07:04] It's you and you alone, Jesus.
[01:07:05] Maybe for you, if you're real honest, everything looks good on the outside.
[01:07:11] But in here, you know.
[01:07:13] You're a million miles from your Heavenly Father.
[01:07:17] Now, He's not left you.
[01:07:18] He's here.
[01:07:18] He's waiting for you.
[01:07:20] But He needs you to be courageous and submit to Him, to be honest that it's Him and Him alone that saves you.
[01:07:27] Maybe today's the day you surrender your life to Jesus.
[01:07:30] Maybe you are a Christian.
[01:07:32] Somewhere along the way you've become numb.
[01:07:34] And today's the day you need to renew your relationship with Jesus.
[01:07:37] Listen, I want to be here.
[01:07:39] Deacons are going to be around.
[01:07:40] Pastors are going to be around.
[01:07:41] We'd love to pray with you.
[01:07:42] Won't you stand right where you're at and let's pray together right now.
[01:07:45] Father, we thank you for your mercy.
[01:07:49] Father, we thank you that you and you alone save.
[01:07:51] Nothing else does.
[01:07:53] It's not our works.
[01:07:55] It's not behavior modification.
[01:07:58] It's not because we're good.
[01:08:01] It's not because we're righteous.
[01:08:02] It's because you and you alone are righteous.
[01:08:07] Lord, I pray that if there's someone in here who does not believe that, if there's someone in here who's not surrendered to you, that today would be the day, the day of salvation.
[01:08:18] Lord, you alone know our hearts.
[01:08:20] Would you search and seek us now?
[01:08:23] We pray this in your holy and most exalted name and all those who agree to say it.

[01:09:19] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
of God,
[01:09:57] In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
[01:10:21] Amen.
[01:10:52] In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
[01:11:15] Amen.

[01:11:22] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
All we need, amen?
[01:11:25] Brothers and sisters, I'm so excited today.
[01:11:28] I want to present to you the Martin family.
[01:11:33] First of all, you already saw Tyler earlier.
[01:11:36] You see how big he is in person, right?
[01:11:39] You realize that wasn't my fault.
[01:11:42] These are the sweet little girls that he got to stand before today.
[01:11:46] As they watch their daddy walk through the waters of baptism and his sweet wife, Megan, and David, Amy Martin, this is Megan's mom and dad, and Andrew and Taylor, and a sweet little child that's on the way as well.
[01:12:01] Well today, this whole family stands before you to become members here at First Baptist.
[01:12:07] And I also want to present to you...
[01:12:14] I also want to present to you the Hartley family, Chad and Andrea and Noah, a sweet family that's been here for quite some time, that's been volunteering and working and serving, and today they stand before you to become members of First Baptist Church.
[01:12:35] I just want you to know, by the way, I don't usually do this.
[01:12:37] I don't take this long.
[01:12:38] I know.
[01:12:39] But you already ate, so you're not in a rush.
[01:12:43] You know, y'all, it's not normal.
[01:12:46] To have as many baptisms and as many members as we've seen coming to this church.
[01:12:51] Listen, it just means that God is stirring and that God's working.
[01:12:54] It's not because of us.
[01:12:56] I often tell people it's actually spite of us, right?
[01:12:59] But it's because, it's because His grace and His mercy, because He alone is sufficient.
[01:13:06] Because Jesus says enough.
[01:13:07] Saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
[01:13:13] That alone is enough.
[01:13:14] Would you pray with me?
[01:13:15] Father, we thank you for who you are.
[01:13:17] We thank you for these sweet families, Lord.
[01:13:20] We thank you for planting them here at First Baptist.
[01:13:23] And Father, we look forward to seeing what you're going to do.
[01:13:28] Father, we know that you've got more riding on this church than we do.
[01:13:32] Father, we know that you have more at stake with this congregation than we do.
[01:13:36] And you've got more riding on Morrisville than we do.
[01:13:40] So would you use us?
[01:13:42] Would you use us?
[01:13:42] We know that outcome is your responsibility, but obedience is our responsibility.
[01:13:48] So Lord, move and use.
[01:13:50] Father, we want to serve faithfully because we know that you're not done.
[01:13:54] You're still stirring.
[01:13:55] You're still moving.
[01:13:56] Father, lives are still being radically turned upside down.
[01:13:59] It's because the gospel is still being preached.
[01:14:02] So Father, would you help us go preach that gospel as we get ready to leave here now?
[01:14:07] Help us be faithful.
[01:14:09] Help us be so on fire for you that if nothing else, others will come just to simply watch us burn.
[01:14:15] Father, help us, give us courage to go and share this good news to a dying world that nothing else is needed.
[01:14:22] But Jesus and Jesus alone.
[01:14:24] Father, I thank you for the Hartley family, for the Martin family, for the Black family, that you would help us as we walk alongside each other, that we keep each other accountable to encourage each other.
[01:14:35] And Father, I thank you for the way you're stirring and moving.
[01:14:39] Father, as we leave here, would you bless us, keep us, and make your face shine upon us.
[01:14:43] We pray all of these things in your holy and most exalted name and all those who agree said, Amen.
[01:14:50] Now, before you leave, make sure you come up and tell our new members how grateful you are.
[01:14:54] You are dismissed.