WEBVTT 00:01.516 --> 00:04.876 Welcome to the Valley Baptist Church sermon podcast. 00:04.876 --> 00:08.316 We're so glad you're here, and we hope this message inspires you, 00:08.316 --> 00:12.476 builds your faith, and moves you toward a deep relationship with God. 00:12.476 --> 00:15.516 Today, you'll find great insight into the Bible 00:15.516 --> 00:18.236 and learn how you can apply it straight to your life. 00:18.236 --> 00:20.736 So welcome and enjoy the message. 00:21.142 --> 00:25.602 If you have your Bible, please open it with me to 1 Thessalonians. 00:25.662 --> 00:28.962 We've been going verse by verse through this book. 00:29.042 --> 00:30.422 We're coming towards the end. 00:30.922 --> 00:34.902 Now, the title of the message this morning is Church Done Right. 00:35.642 --> 00:39.262 Now, that doesn't mean that a church can do everything right, though. 00:39.362 --> 00:42.442 There's no such thing as a perfect church. 00:42.442 --> 00:46.082 And if you ever find one, please don't join it because you're going to mess it up. 00:47.753 --> 00:49.753 No perfect church out there. 00:49.753 --> 00:51.993 Church is not made up of perfect people. 00:51.993 --> 00:52.832 Far from it. 00:52.833 --> 00:55.133 The church is made up of sinners. 00:55.133 --> 00:58.793 Sinners who have been saved by God's amazing grace. 00:58.793 --> 01:02.813 It's been said that a church is the only organization 01:02.813 --> 01:05.613 where you have to admit that you're all messed up 01:05.613 --> 01:06.933 before you can join in. 01:07.413 --> 01:08.732 Well, that's us. 01:08.733 --> 01:10.693 That's Valley Baptist Church. 01:10.893 --> 01:15.813 We have a wide array of backgrounds represented within our congregation, 01:15.973 --> 01:21.393 a wide array of sin and addiction and brokenness and pain. 01:22.013 --> 01:26.513 But as you step onto our campuses, what you'll experience is love. 01:27.106 --> 01:30.586 joy and peace. Why? Because of Jesus. 01:30.586 --> 01:34.346 Jesus has rescued us and that's 01:34.346 --> 01:37.346 what church is all about. A church isn't a building, it's not a 01:37.346 --> 01:43.306 campus, it's a people. God's people. God's people whom He has rescued, God's 01:43.306 --> 01:46.546 family. Now no one in our church 01:46.546 --> 01:49.986 became part of God's family by how good they were. 01:49.986 --> 01:55.566 No, far from it. It's to the contrary. It was while we were still sinners 01:55.557 --> 01:56.737 that Christ died for us. 01:57.017 --> 02:01.237 We love God and we love one another because he first loved us. 02:01.697 --> 02:05.237 And so church is made up of a bunch of sinners who have been forgiven, 02:05.617 --> 02:08.717 a bunch of guilty people who have been declared not guilty, 02:08.837 --> 02:12.577 a bunch of dead people spiritually who God has made spiritually alive, 02:12.577 --> 02:16.697 and a bunch of broken people whom God is healing. 02:17.782 --> 02:29.302 But while we're saved in a moment in time, a moment of faith, the transformation process of us becoming more and more like Jesus, that takes time, doesn't it? 02:29.582 --> 02:35.702 Which means church life is pretty messy because it's filled with people. 02:36.602 --> 02:40.182 Linus in Peanuts cartoon, he said, I love mankind. 02:40.702 --> 02:42.462 It's people I can't stand, right? 02:43.212 --> 02:44.632 Sometimes we feel that way. 02:44.772 --> 02:45.832 We love people. 02:46.012 --> 02:49.392 Well, when it gets down to it, sometimes it's hard to love people. 02:49.772 --> 02:54.672 Now, I've learned that there's a lot of church hurt out in the world today. 02:55.212 --> 02:57.332 Some of you were hurt by a church. 02:57.592 --> 03:00.712 Some of you were wounded very deeply. 03:00.712 --> 03:06.512 Maybe you're watching online or by television, and you're not here with us because you were hurt in a church. 03:06.612 --> 03:11.532 And so you're wanting to keep your distance a little bit, and I understand that. 03:12.271 --> 03:15.211 But I would encourage you that love 03:15.211 --> 03:17.991 is worth the risk of being hurt. 03:17.991 --> 03:21.911 And I would also encourage you that while churches 03:21.911 --> 03:24.731 can often do church wrong, 03:24.731 --> 03:28.151 there's a way for churches to do church right. 03:28.151 --> 03:32.311 Not in every way, but right in a way where the church 03:32.311 --> 03:36.451 becomes this wonderful blessing instead of a burden. 03:36.841 --> 03:44.861 Now, Paul ends his letter in chapter 5 in this rapid-fire succession of command after command. 03:44.981 --> 03:49.121 It's almost as if he gets to the end of his scroll and he's running out of scroll. 03:49.121 --> 03:57.041 And so he's got more to say, so he just starts firing off of these one-liners, these commands, these exhortations. 03:57.040 --> 04:01.900 Now, I would encourage you not to see this primarily as a list of do's and don'ts. 04:01.960 --> 04:07.320 No, these exhortations are simply the natural outflowing of the gospel. 04:07.320 --> 04:14.100 This is a natural outflowing of a church who knows and walks with Jesus. 04:14.843 --> 04:22.403 This week, we're going to just look at verses 12 through 15, talking about church life, our relationships one with another. 04:22.403 --> 04:29.683 And then, Lord willing, next week, we're going to finish up the book by looking at our individual, personal relationships with God. 04:30.023 --> 04:35.983 And I just want to encourage you, next week's verses are some of the most wonderful, warm verses you'll ever read in the Bible. 04:36.423 --> 04:38.283 But let's begin, beginning of verse number 12. 04:38.363 --> 04:40.627 He says, 04:40.628 --> 04:43.628 to recognize those who labor among you 04:43.628 --> 04:47.668 and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 04:47.668 --> 04:51.308 and to esteem them very highly in love for the work's sake. 04:51.308 --> 04:54.188 Be at peace among yourselves." 04:54.188 --> 04:57.988 Now, Paul calls the Thessalonians here brothers, 04:57.988 --> 05:01.228 reminding them that they're family. 05:01.228 --> 05:03.728 You see, believers, we, you and I, 05:03.728 --> 05:06.188 we are brothers and sisters in Christ. 05:06.188 --> 05:08.688 The Bible says we are family. 05:09.181 --> 05:14.781 Now, the word church, ekklesia in Greek, it appears a couple different ways. 05:14.841 --> 05:17.561 It's used a couple different ways within the New Testament. 05:17.741 --> 05:24.641 Occasionally, the word church refers to the universal church, which is the ultimate church of eternity, 05:24.781 --> 05:28.541 made up of believers throughout all of history, throughout all of the world. 05:28.661 --> 05:31.001 This is the body of Christ. 05:31.001 --> 05:32.265 Right? 05:32.266 --> 05:38.846 However, most of the time, the word ekklesia is used to refer to a local church, 05:38.846 --> 05:45.266 which is a community of believers who are in a particular place at a particular time. 05:46.006 --> 05:50.826 Valley Baptist is a local church, for example. 05:51.006 --> 05:53.586 River Lakes down the road is a local church. 05:53.686 --> 05:56.366 Olive Knolls down the road is a local church. 05:56.686 --> 06:00.806 We are local expressions of the body of Christ. 06:01.662 --> 06:10.202 Now, in verse number 12, Paul addresses the relationship between pastors and the church, 06:10.342 --> 06:11.882 the people in the church. 06:11.982 --> 06:18.042 And we see that God's plan is for church leaders and church members to have this healthy relationship 06:18.042 --> 06:19.482 one with another. 06:20.182 --> 06:24.322 Some of you, unfortunately, have been in churches where it felt like it was the people against 06:24.322 --> 06:26.722 the pastor and the pastor against the people. 06:26.722 --> 06:28.762 What a horrible thought, right? 06:28.763 --> 06:34.703 I praise God that I've never personally been in a church like that where the pastor and the people, 06:34.843 --> 06:38.043 they're constantly battling and bickering over every little thing. 06:38.423 --> 06:41.023 That's not church done right. 06:41.023 --> 06:45.463 And I can promise you in situations like that, everyone loses. 06:46.103 --> 06:49.263 More than likely, everyone also gets hurt. 06:49.975 --> 06:54.175 God's plan, His perfect plan within His church 06:54.175 --> 06:58.175 is that every local church of His would have godly leaders 06:58.175 --> 07:00.115 that would lead the people. 07:00.115 --> 07:02.475 Now, things can go wrong though, can't they? 07:02.475 --> 07:04.695 They can go wrong in a couple different ways. 07:04.695 --> 07:07.595 Sometimes a church has a leader 07:07.595 --> 07:11.815 who is not fulfilling their God-given responsibilities. 07:11.815 --> 07:14.235 Other times there's a congregation 07:14.235 --> 07:17.755 that's not fulfilling their God-given responsibilities. 07:17.755 --> 07:19.415 In either case, 07:19.945 --> 07:23.645 that creates incredible problems for the church. 07:23.645 --> 07:25.825 Now, whenever we talk about church leadership, 07:25.825 --> 07:28.685 it's important that we recognize that church leaders 07:28.872 --> 07:31.412 Church leadership is appointed by God 07:31.412 --> 07:33.552 and then affirmed by the congregation, 07:33.552 --> 07:37.052 at least in terms of pastoral leadership. 07:37.052 --> 07:40.732 Now, a church like ours, the size that we are, 07:40.732 --> 07:41.992 we have got a lot of staff. 07:41.992 --> 07:44.092 We've got a wonderful team of staff 07:44.092 --> 07:47.712 who serve as leaders in various ministries 07:47.712 --> 07:49.592 with delegated authority from the pastors, 07:49.592 --> 07:50.932 and we praise God for them. 07:50.932 --> 07:53.212 Valley Baptist would not be the church we are 07:53.212 --> 07:55.872 without our wonderful staff. 07:55.872 --> 08:02.452 But more than likely, in verse number 12, Paul is referring specifically to the pastors. 08:03.027 --> 08:07.127 Now, the pastor, the position of pastor, 08:07.127 --> 08:08.787 is described in the New Testament 08:08.787 --> 08:12.347 using three different descriptive titles. 08:12.347 --> 08:14.787 It's kind of like when we refer sometimes 08:14.787 --> 08:15.887 to the President of the United States, 08:15.887 --> 08:17.787 sometimes we might call him Mr. President, 08:17.787 --> 08:20.467 other times we might call him Commander in Chief, 08:20.467 --> 08:23.287 and other times we might call him Chief Executive. 08:23.287 --> 08:26.167 Same person, same position, different nuances, 08:26.167 --> 08:27.647 different roles. 08:27.647 --> 08:29.507 Well, for a pastor in the New Testament, 08:29.507 --> 08:30.947 sometimes we're called 08:30.938 --> 08:38.858 Elder. Other times we're called pastor and other times we're called bishop or literally translated overseer. 08:39.158 --> 08:47.578 We see this in 1 Peter chapter 5 when all three descriptive titles are used of the same person, the same position of leadership. 08:47.938 --> 08:51.758 It says in verse number 1, it says the elders, and I have it underlined for you so you can see it. 08:51.758 --> 08:54.098 The elders who are among you I exhort. 08:54.580 --> 08:58.380 shepherd, literally pastor, the flock of God, 08:58.380 --> 09:01.520 which is among you, serving as overseers, 09:01.520 --> 09:04.020 not by compulsion, but willingly, 09:04.020 --> 09:07.100 not for dishonest gain, but eagerly. 09:07.100 --> 09:08.760 Elder, pastor, and overseer, 09:08.760 --> 09:11.600 different nuances describing the same position. 09:11.600 --> 09:15.580 Now, in our passage today in 1 Thessalonians 5, 09:15.573 --> 09:19.553 Paul points out three different things that pastors do. 09:19.653 --> 09:22.633 Now, we do a lot, but he kind of sums it up here. 09:22.973 --> 09:25.833 He says, first of all, they labor among you. 09:26.413 --> 09:29.753 The word labor sometimes is translated as toil. 09:30.233 --> 09:33.673 It was a word that was used of a hardworking farmer. 09:33.673 --> 09:41.273 But while a farmer sows seeds with his hands, the pastor sows seeds with his life and with his words. 09:41.645 --> 09:49.985 Now, there's a certain exhaustion that comes with that labor of physically, emotionally, spiritually that accompanies a pastor's labor. 09:50.645 --> 09:56.765 Paul also says, though, that they serve as overseers to you in the Lord. 09:57.145 --> 10:00.925 Now, this has to do with them being an overseer within the church. 10:01.025 --> 10:03.205 He oversees the ministry of the church. 10:03.205 --> 10:05.065 Now, does he do all the ministry of the church? 10:05.405 --> 10:05.640 No. 10:05.641 --> 10:12.361 no he oversees the ministry of the church and that gives him a certain level 10:12.921 --> 10:19.001 of authority within the congregation now not an ultimate authority because it says here 10:19.001 --> 10:25.481 he oversees you in the lord those are some important important words his authority is 10:25.481 --> 10:31.241 only derived from the lord jesus you see a pastor is not in charge of the church but 10:31.240 --> 10:33.100 Jesus is in charge of the church. 10:33.300 --> 10:34.359 It's his church. 10:34.360 --> 10:38.000 There's only one head of the church, and his name is Jesus. 10:39.020 --> 10:44.800 But we know from Scripture that Jesus, who's our chief shepherd, our chief pastor, 10:45.400 --> 10:54.380 he has appointed under shepherds, under pastors, under him and his leadership within his local body of believers. 10:54.620 --> 10:57.600 Godly men who are to lead under his leadership. 10:57.600 --> 11:05.220 So that means for a pastor like myself, the goal is for me to lead and oversee exactly how Jesus would want me to. 11:05.648 --> 11:08.368 Now let's look at 1 Peter chapter 5 again. 11:08.448 --> 11:10.068 I want to read verse number 2 again. 11:10.208 --> 11:10.367 It says, 11:10.368 --> 11:10.687 It says, 11:10.688 --> 11:18.868 Now look at verse 3. 11:18.868 --> 11:26.748 Nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 11:27.620 --> 11:33.200 So while God has given a pastor a sense of authority within the church, 11:33.400 --> 11:35.600 he isn't to lead from that place of authority, 11:36.340 --> 11:38.800 lording it over the people as I'm in charge. 11:38.920 --> 11:44.120 No, instead he's to lead from a place of love, example, and influence. 11:44.120 --> 11:50.860 So a pastor labors, a pastor oversees, but Paul also says they admonish you. 11:51.640 --> 11:56.020 Now this word admonish literally means to place into the mind of. 11:56.948 --> 12:05.088 As a pastor, one of my main responsibilities is to teach God's Word and to serve as a spiritual counselor to our congregation. 12:05.528 --> 12:08.588 Placing God's Word into your mind. 12:09.608 --> 12:14.028 As I preach, in a sense, I'm doing counseling just at a large scale. 12:14.684 --> 12:19.304 Now, my favorite form of counseling is what I call preventative counseling. 12:19.844 --> 12:24.324 When I teach God's word in such a way, I'm hoping, I'm praying that you pick up some of that. 12:24.424 --> 12:29.824 Some of that goes into your mind so that I'm doing some preventative spiritual counseling 12:29.824 --> 12:32.484 so you don't end up in the crisis in the first place. 12:32.864 --> 12:37.544 But the word of God is so beautiful and multilayered and faceted in such a way 12:37.544 --> 12:41.824 that if you are in the crisis, you also are able to be pulled out of it. 12:42.106 --> 12:45.146 So Paul says, he says, pastors, they labor among you. 12:45.206 --> 12:46.786 They oversee you in the Lord. 12:46.866 --> 12:48.366 They admonish you. 12:48.846 --> 12:49.605 And here's the deal. 12:49.606 --> 12:54.506 If a church is not receiving that from their pastor, 12:55.206 --> 12:58.166 it's going to create a lot of problems within the body. 12:59.015 --> 13:04.615 Now, what about the people's responsibility to the pastor? 13:04.735 --> 13:05.755 Well, Paul addresses that. 13:05.815 --> 13:08.595 First of all, he says, recognize them. 13:10.095 --> 13:12.595 Acknowledge them in your life. 13:13.635 --> 13:20.895 There was a time when attending church was the measuring stick of a person's relationship with God. 13:21.661 --> 13:29.901 But now Christians have, I think, rightfully realized that there's a whole lot more to the Christian life than attending church. 13:31.027 --> 13:33.327 But now I'm afraid we have a different problem, 13:33.327 --> 13:36.607 a different error that has surfaced. 13:36.607 --> 13:39.107 And that's people who think that attending church 13:39.107 --> 13:40.687 doesn't really matter. 13:40.687 --> 13:43.247 It doesn't matter if I go to church or not. 13:43.247 --> 13:46.527 It doesn't matter if I have a pastor or not. 13:46.527 --> 13:48.807 That I can be just as good of a Christian 13:48.807 --> 13:53.007 without God's family, that I don't need God's family. 13:54.067 --> 13:55.387 Now, if that's you, 13:56.491 --> 13:58.871 I am very sorry that you've been deceived. 13:59.491 --> 14:01.771 And it's a very dangerous thing, that deception. 14:02.491 --> 14:03.731 You do need God's family. 14:03.811 --> 14:04.971 You're wrong about that. 14:04.971 --> 14:10.011 God has created and designed his church how he wants it to operate. 14:10.351 --> 14:12.771 And so don't feel like you don't need us. 14:12.891 --> 14:14.691 We all need one another. 14:15.051 --> 14:16.130 The book of Hebrews says, 14:16.131 --> 14:19.711 Do not forsake the assembling of yourselves together, as is the manner of son. 14:19.951 --> 14:21.411 That's speaking of attendance. 14:21.651 --> 14:26.111 Do not forsake the attending, the gathering, the assembling of yourselves together. 14:26.478 --> 14:31.118 So Paul says here, it's important for you to recognize and acknowledge that you have a church family 14:31.118 --> 14:35.338 and that you have pastors who oversee you in the Lord. 14:35.718 --> 14:42.198 A pastor who labors and oversees and admonishes you, that is God's plan. 14:43.058 --> 14:49.438 Now, it's very important to state, because sometimes there's a separation between the clergy and the people. 14:49.538 --> 14:50.898 That's a very dangerous thing. 14:51.858 --> 14:54.698 A pastor is no better than the people. 14:55.385 --> 14:58.525 We are all equal before the Lord. 14:58.525 --> 15:01.725 I mean, you have as much access to God right now 15:01.725 --> 15:04.045 as I have access to God. 15:04.045 --> 15:06.045 You see, Jesus is our great high priest. 15:06.045 --> 15:07.605 We are a priesthood of believers. 15:07.605 --> 15:10.905 We all have equal access to the Lord. 15:10.905 --> 15:15.905 But while we are equal, that does not mean we're the same. 15:17.045 --> 15:20.165 I mean, men and women are equal, 15:20.647 --> 15:22.087 But we're not the same, are we? 15:22.387 --> 15:23.967 We've been created differently. 15:24.467 --> 15:28.247 And God makes each and every one of us unique and different than one another. 15:28.407 --> 15:30.527 And he does so for the edifying of the body. 15:30.607 --> 15:31.847 He gifts us in different ways. 15:31.927 --> 15:35.327 He calls us to different roles within his church. 15:35.527 --> 15:39.567 And some he calls to be pastors. 15:40.070 --> 15:45.650 So Paul says, recognize it, acknowledge it, that you have pastors over you in the Lord. 15:45.730 --> 15:49.710 But then he says, I want you to esteem them highly in love. 15:49.710 --> 15:55.410 Now notice he says, esteem them highly in love for their works' sake. 15:56.590 --> 15:59.530 Not because they have the title pastor, 15:59.530 --> 16:01.710 not because they've been elevated 16:01.710 --> 16:04.110 and put on some pedestal they don't belong on, 16:04.110 --> 16:05.770 but because of their labor, 16:05.770 --> 16:07.250 because of their work in the Lord, 16:07.250 --> 16:11.250 because of what they're doing in the body of Christ. 16:11.250 --> 16:14.390 Now, I praise God that we have a congregation 16:14.390 --> 16:16.970 who esteems her pastors highly 16:16.975 --> 16:22.655 In fact, I don't know of a church that loves her pastors more than you do. 16:23.075 --> 16:27.075 You love my dad and pastor feels so very well. 16:27.155 --> 16:30.995 I even sensed that and experienced that and knew it as a kid. 16:31.895 --> 16:33.095 My dad was dying. 16:33.575 --> 16:38.215 I saw it firsthand, the love and the honor that poured out from you. 16:38.355 --> 16:41.395 It was truly remarkable and amazing. 16:41.495 --> 16:45.435 And now I get to experience it and sense that love from you as one of your pastors. 16:45.435 --> 16:46.695 Thank you. 16:46.692 --> 16:53.132 for treating us better than we deserve. Thank you for treating us with love and respect and honor. 16:53.292 --> 16:58.912 It's a humbling thing. I don't normally, I don't feel like I deserve it, but I'm thankful for it. 16:58.912 --> 17:05.212 And it really does make all the hard work of being a pastor more enjoyable and a whole lot more fun. 17:05.828 --> 17:08.808 Now Paul says in verse number 13, he says, 17:08.968 --> 17:11.628 be at peace among yourselves. 17:11.728 --> 17:13.968 I think this is what Paul is saying. 17:14.048 --> 17:15.988 I think these are the dots that are being connected. 17:16.728 --> 17:19.008 Remember, he's saying pastors, work hard, 17:19.608 --> 17:21.572 treat your people. 17:21.573 --> 17:25.173 with the way that God wants you to be treating them, 17:25.333 --> 17:26.933 with what he's called you to do. 17:27.593 --> 17:30.613 Congregation, acknowledge the pastor's role, 17:30.873 --> 17:32.113 show him love and respect. 17:32.873 --> 17:35.613 And when you do that, both the pastor and the congregation, 17:35.813 --> 17:38.013 when you do that, you're choosing peace. 17:38.853 --> 17:40.513 You see, when a pastor and congregation 17:40.513 --> 17:42.213 both fulfill their responsibility 17:42.213 --> 17:45.213 and they have these healthy relationships with one another, 17:45.213 --> 17:48.033 that makes for a very peaceful church 17:48.033 --> 17:50.753 that's united in Christ. 17:51.307 --> 17:52.146 Now, verse 14. 17:52.147 --> 17:54.047 I'm very excited to get off pastors. 17:54.247 --> 17:55.587 I don't like preaching on myself. 17:55.727 --> 17:57.066 It's awkward. 17:57.067 --> 17:59.426 Verse 14. 17:59.427 --> 17:59.686 He says, 17:59.687 --> 18:02.047 Now we exhort you, brothers, 18:02.827 --> 18:04.947 warn those who are unruly, 18:05.687 --> 18:07.107 comfort the faint-hearted, 18:07.787 --> 18:09.107 uphold the weak, 18:09.567 --> 18:11.007 be patient with all. 18:11.387 --> 18:15.027 See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, 18:15.467 --> 18:20.567 but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all. 18:21.412 --> 18:29.732 Now, when Paul says here that I exhort you, brethren, brothers, that means he's talking to everyone. 18:30.512 --> 18:34.272 The whole church family, brothers and sisters, not just to the leaders. 18:34.812 --> 18:37.012 And now he rattles off a list of exhortations. 18:37.472 --> 18:42.692 Warn the unruly, comfort the faint hearted, uphold the weak, and so on. 18:42.732 --> 18:43.732 So here's what we learn. 18:43.732 --> 18:50.932 The entire church family is part of helping one another live out the Christian life. 18:51.803 --> 18:55.043 Not just for the pastor, it's for us all. 18:55.043 --> 18:58.363 In God's design for his church, 18:58.363 --> 19:03.363 the family of God cares for and helps the family of God. 19:05.343 --> 19:07.643 That does not all fall on the pastors. 19:07.643 --> 19:11.103 It should not because we cannot do it. 19:11.103 --> 19:14.063 It falls on the people. 19:15.263 --> 19:17.683 Every single member of our church 19:17.683 --> 19:21.103 has something very, very important 19:21.655 --> 19:27.835 to contribute. Scripture makes that very, very clear. Now, our church can be a great blessing 19:27.835 --> 19:33.275 to you. I hope and I pray that we are, but you also can be a great blessing to us. That's what 19:33.275 --> 19:37.595 Paul is saying. He's saying there's some people in your church who need some help. 19:38.294 --> 19:43.454 They need someone to come alongside them and to love them enough to get involved in their life. 19:43.534 --> 19:45.434 And you're responsible to be helping them. 19:45.614 --> 19:51.954 Now, the first thing he says, the first category of people that need help, he says, warn the unruly. 19:52.194 --> 19:55.974 Now, the word unruly could be translated as irresponsible. 19:56.594 --> 19:59.554 It could be translated sometimes as lazy. 19:59.554 --> 20:04.114 It was a military word that was used for a soldier who was out of step. 20:04.113 --> 20:08.773 All the soldiers, they're marching in a certain direction, they're marching in a certain way, 20:08.833 --> 20:10.733 but there's one soldier who's out of step. 20:11.487 --> 20:12.527 He's unruly. 20:13.167 --> 20:18.507 This refers to a person, I think, who's neglecting the responsibilities to the church family. 20:19.027 --> 20:21.027 Maybe it's a lack of involvement altogether. 20:21.547 --> 20:24.107 Or maybe it's a little more rebellious in nature. 20:24.227 --> 20:28.767 They're a very challenging person who, no matter what's going on in the life of the church, 20:28.907 --> 20:31.647 they're just going to be out of step because that's what they are. 20:31.647 --> 20:33.046 They're unruly. 20:33.047 --> 20:35.267 Paul says you need to warn them. 20:35.264 --> 20:36.804 He's saying, you've got to deal with it. 20:36.844 --> 20:40.824 You can't let bad behavior in the church just go on without being confronted. 20:40.924 --> 20:41.783 You've got to toughen up. 20:41.784 --> 20:44.043 You've got to address it. 20:44.044 --> 20:51.684 Now, one of the great blessings of Valley Baptist Church is that sometimes we attract challenging people. 20:53.384 --> 20:59.244 People who society often rejects and doesn't want anything to do with. 20:59.800 --> 21:05.600 And I say it's a blessing because to me it's this very visible, loud sign saying we love everyone. 21:06.460 --> 21:07.760 We love everyone. 21:08.320 --> 21:10.340 And we're a part of a loving church. 21:10.800 --> 21:14.500 And sometimes that means we love people who are difficult to love. 21:15.220 --> 21:18.100 And so we've got all kinds of people within our church. 21:18.100 --> 21:25.400 And included in that all kinds of people, we have some people who fall under this word unruly or irresponsible. 21:27.003 --> 21:30.083 Now, if you're wondering, am I that person? 21:32.183 --> 21:34.303 If you're wondering that, maybe you are. 21:36.863 --> 21:38.943 Let me tell you, I'm glad you're here. 21:40.182 --> 21:42.782 I'm so glad this is exactly where you need to be. 21:43.242 --> 21:45.762 This is exactly where you want to be. 21:45.762 --> 21:50.702 But for your sake and for the sake of all of us, we don't want you to remain unruly. 21:51.162 --> 21:55.762 God desires to impact your life and to transform your life in such a way from the inside out 21:55.762 --> 21:59.442 that you actually become a productive member of the church family. 22:00.483 --> 22:04.103 Now, what about those of us who are not the unruly person, 22:04.203 --> 22:06.883 but we're exposed to the unruly person? 22:07.303 --> 22:12.423 The person who's out of step with the congregation, with our life group, 22:12.523 --> 22:16.563 with our ministry, you know, that person that services in life group like that, 22:16.583 --> 22:19.223 and that would never happen, but it does. 22:20.303 --> 22:21.723 How do you deal with that person? 22:22.323 --> 22:24.023 Well, first of all, they require patience. 22:24.403 --> 22:25.723 We're going to get to that in just a moment. 22:25.923 --> 22:27.903 That's one of the commands, be patient with them. 22:29.390 --> 22:35.750 So it requires patience, but it oftentimes requires some form of warning to them. 22:36.850 --> 22:42.670 A life group leader or some people might have to talk to them. 22:42.690 --> 22:46.870 Maybe a life group, you know, they can't allow a whole group to be hijacked 22:46.870 --> 22:51.610 by someone who's sowing division and causing a problem and different things. 22:51.830 --> 22:54.090 Occasionally a life group leader or some people in the life group, 22:54.250 --> 22:57.030 they need to love that person enough to sit down with them. 22:58.364 --> 23:03.884 And to patiently, prayerfully, gently have a strong conversation of warning. 23:04.324 --> 23:06.124 Behavior needs to change. 23:06.700 --> 23:11.180 So he says, warn the unruly, but he also says, comfort the faint-hearted. 23:11.660 --> 23:16.700 Now, the faint-hearted are those people who are overwhelmed with anxiety, I think. 23:17.300 --> 23:24.240 These are the people that it's like weak of soul, I think, literally is what it means. 23:24.240 --> 23:27.380 It's the people that are prone to discouragement. 23:27.480 --> 23:28.980 Maybe they're overthinkers. 23:29.465 --> 23:31.025 Maybe they're over-analyzers. 23:31.245 --> 23:34.325 And every time I over-analyze something, I tend to get discouraged. 23:34.445 --> 23:37.005 Or maybe they've just been beat up by life. 23:37.345 --> 23:38.805 They're on the verge of giving up. 23:38.805 --> 23:43.685 They're hanging on their last rope, and maybe they're overcome with grief. 23:45.045 --> 23:46.945 Something's happened terrible in their life. 23:47.045 --> 23:50.845 Maybe it's a series of things, and they're just barely hanging on. 23:52.330 --> 24:02.210 Now, at any moment in the life of our church family, as large as we are, we have hundreds of people who are fainthearted. 24:02.830 --> 24:08.470 And it's our responsibility, collectively and individually, to comfort those people. 24:09.458 --> 24:15.118 to love them enough to see it, to love them enough to recognize they're kind of faint-hearted, 24:15.258 --> 24:18.938 they're discouraged, they're prone to anxiety, they're prone to get down. 24:19.118 --> 24:24.798 We've got to come alongside them in order to encourage them and comfort them in the Lord. 24:25.318 --> 24:29.878 Now, Paul also says, he said, I want you to uphold the weak who are among you. 24:29.878 --> 24:34.418 Now, this could be referring to the physically weak, right? 24:34.417 --> 24:38.677 Although I think more than likely Paul has in mind the spiritually weak. 24:39.077 --> 24:41.857 A person who is weak in faith. 24:41.937 --> 24:42.937 Maybe they're a new believer. 24:43.117 --> 24:44.337 Maybe they're just weak in faith. 24:44.337 --> 24:51.437 Sometimes a person will get saved out of drugs and alcohol and a very promiscuous life. 24:51.537 --> 24:55.317 And there's this radical transformation that takes place in their life very, very quickly. 24:55.817 --> 24:57.017 We praise God for that. 24:58.058 --> 25:02.298 But other times, there's a person who gets saved and the battle is on. 25:02.558 --> 25:06.318 There's this intense battle with their old lifestyle. 25:06.498 --> 25:10.158 And sometimes it's three steps forward and it's two steps back. 25:10.218 --> 25:13.098 And they're falling a whole lot more than it seems like they should. 25:13.378 --> 25:14.378 They're weak. 25:15.541 --> 25:21.661 My dad used to talk about sins of rebellion and sins of weakness. 25:21.861 --> 25:24.081 And I used to wonder, you know, is that really a thing? 25:24.401 --> 25:26.921 I've come to realize that, yes, it's a real thing. 25:27.021 --> 25:29.281 Some people are much more prone to addiction. 25:30.081 --> 25:31.841 They're weak in that area. 25:32.201 --> 25:35.081 They get saved, and just like a toddler is weak, 25:35.121 --> 25:37.421 and they're a little wobbly as they're walking, 25:37.761 --> 25:38.821 they fall down a lot. 25:39.301 --> 25:40.601 And they keep falling down. 25:40.601 --> 25:42.541 And Paul is saying... 25:42.541 --> 25:43.601 Don't let them stay down. 25:44.121 --> 25:44.960 Grab a hold of them. 25:44.961 --> 25:45.760 Love them enough. 25:45.761 --> 25:46.760 Pick them back up. 25:46.761 --> 25:47.700 Lift them up. 25:47.701 --> 25:50.161 Uphold those who are weak. 25:51.041 --> 25:56.501 Now, Paul also says, I think a general statement, he says, be patient with them all. 25:57.641 --> 26:00.281 We all need patience, don't we? 26:00.681 --> 26:04.921 I praise God that God is patient with me, but I'm thankful that many of you, 26:05.581 --> 26:08.341 certainly my wife, is patient with me. 26:09.271 --> 26:10.851 Pastor Brian said one time, he says, 26:10.931 --> 26:14.111 patience is the grace that keeps a church running smoothly. 26:15.011 --> 26:19.071 He said, without patience, the gears start grinding against each other. 26:19.851 --> 26:22.250 Isn't that the truth? 26:22.251 --> 26:25.471 Whenever you minister to people, 26:26.271 --> 26:31.491 whoever it is in whatever situation or problem that exists, 26:32.051 --> 26:33.871 it always requires patience. 26:34.731 --> 26:36.010 Always. 26:36.011 --> 26:38.551 The unruly person requires a lot of patience. 26:40.068 --> 26:43.248 The faint-hearted and discouraged person, they require a lot of patience. 26:43.388 --> 26:46.708 The weak person, they require a lot of patience. 26:47.728 --> 26:49.808 Now, Paul says in verse number 15, he says, 26:49.808 --> 26:57.008 See that no one renders evil for evil, but pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all. 26:57.088 --> 27:02.888 Now, I love how he says pursue what is good both for yourself and for all. 27:05.161 --> 27:11.241 Whenever I'm facing a difficult decision or judgment call involving multiple people, 27:12.281 --> 27:19.721 sometimes it feels like I'm facing a decision that's good for one person and bad for another at first glance. 27:21.041 --> 27:23.641 Well, my goal is to make a decision that's good for everyone, right? 27:23.961 --> 27:26.421 Let's have a win-win kind of a decision. 27:26.741 --> 27:31.741 So sometimes I'll pray, even in the midst of a counseling, Lord, in my mind, I'm just, Lord, would you give me wisdom? 27:32.515 --> 27:35.515 to be able to navigate this complex situation 27:35.515 --> 27:38.955 in such a way where I make a judgment call 27:38.955 --> 27:41.255 that if everyone responds the right way, 27:41.255 --> 27:43.915 we're all gonna draw closer to Christ. 27:43.915 --> 27:46.035 Because if that happens, guess what? 27:46.035 --> 27:47.495 That's good for everyone. 27:47.495 --> 27:49.035 You may not think it's good on the surface 27:49.035 --> 27:52.075 based on what I decide, but that's good for everyone. 27:52.075 --> 27:53.595 That should be our goal, 27:53.595 --> 27:55.855 that we pursue not only what's right for me, 27:55.855 --> 27:57.295 that's normally what we pursue, 27:57.295 --> 28:00.695 but what's right for me and right for all. 28:00.697 --> 28:04.217 Paul says, also, he says, don't retaliate. 28:04.537 --> 28:06.697 Don't render evil for evil. 28:07.737 --> 28:08.616 No. 28:08.617 --> 28:10.557 That's easier said than done, though, isn't it? 28:11.137 --> 28:13.357 That's against human nature. 28:13.517 --> 28:15.357 If you push me, I want to push you back. 28:15.957 --> 28:17.037 But Jesus said, no, no, no. 28:17.557 --> 28:22.437 If someone strikes you on the cheek, you turn the other cheek to them also. 28:23.077 --> 28:25.597 God says very clearly, vengeance is mine. 28:25.817 --> 28:27.877 I will repay, says the Lord. 28:27.877 --> 28:30.017 In other words, no one's going to get away with anything. 28:31.730 --> 28:33.410 But it's not your place to retaliate. 28:33.530 --> 28:38.450 You don't have the faculties to judge that situation perfectly like I do. 28:38.670 --> 28:41.830 And you don't have the means to exercise justice like I do. 28:42.330 --> 28:44.170 That's my responsibility, God says. 28:45.110 --> 28:46.490 So what's our responsibility? 28:46.690 --> 28:52.830 Our responsibility is to do everything we possibly can to live at peace with people. 28:52.830 --> 28:55.410 In fact, Romans 12, verse 18 says, 28:55.610 --> 28:56.930 "...if it is possible." 28:57.616 --> 29:02.816 as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 29:04.436 --> 29:06.456 Now, sometimes it's not possible. 29:07.036 --> 29:10.996 A person is just coming at you and they're not going to let you be at peace. 29:10.996 --> 29:14.416 But you are responsible, absolutely responsible, 29:14.516 --> 29:17.756 to do everything in your power, in your control, 29:18.216 --> 29:19.736 to live peaceably with them. 29:21.036 --> 29:23.076 You know, sometimes... 29:24.633 --> 29:28.873 we can try to warn the unruly 29:28.873 --> 29:32.433 and comfort the faint-hearted and uphold the weak. 29:32.433 --> 29:36.813 And that might actually cause them to lash out at us. 29:36.813 --> 29:37.833 Did you know that? 29:37.833 --> 29:39.493 That actually is pretty common with people. 29:39.493 --> 29:41.953 It's common even within the church family. 29:41.953 --> 29:45.953 People who are hurting and wounded 29:45.953 --> 29:47.793 sometimes respond in anger, 29:47.793 --> 29:52.253 even to those who are trying to help them that love them. 29:52.253 --> 29:54.073 So sometimes there's people 29:54.805 --> 29:57.825 in your ministry or within your life that you're loving on. 29:58.205 --> 30:03.885 You've poured your life and you've invested time and energy and blood, sweat and tears. 30:04.005 --> 30:05.305 You've loved on them. 30:05.425 --> 30:05.884 You've invested. 30:05.885 --> 30:07.545 And they're the ones that hurt you the most. 30:08.445 --> 30:09.965 Feels like they stab you in the back. 30:10.045 --> 30:11.245 You're thinking, where did that come from? 30:11.525 --> 30:14.265 Listen, if that happens, don't retaliate. 30:15.005 --> 30:16.185 Do not retaliate. 30:16.385 --> 30:17.044 Here's what you do. 30:17.045 --> 30:22.585 You just treat them in a way that's good for them and good for all. 30:22.970 --> 30:29.310 Now, I think there's another principle that just jumps off the pages as I read this passage that we learn. 30:29.410 --> 30:36.090 And that is that every person in every situation calls for very unique ministry. 30:37.090 --> 30:42.050 It's not a one-size-fits-all kind of a situation within the church family. 30:42.050 --> 30:45.270 Some people think, well, I've just got to treat everyone the same. 30:46.477 --> 30:48.997 That sounds noble, but it's short-sighted. 30:49.417 --> 30:55.737 It does not recognize the complexity and the diversity of people and situations. 30:56.377 --> 31:01.757 Parents, this certainly is the case for you as you parent and as you raise your kids. 31:01.757 --> 31:07.697 You love each and every one of your kids equally, but that does not mean that you treat them the same. 31:08.137 --> 31:09.977 Why? They're all different. 31:10.996 --> 31:15.736 God made them and wired them and created them very differently. 31:16.176 --> 31:19.836 Each one of them has unique strengths and they have unique weaknesses. 31:20.176 --> 31:25.476 It's our job to get to know our kids so well that we know exactly how to parent them. 31:25.476 --> 31:29.196 We know exactly how to minister to them specifically. 31:29.676 --> 31:32.096 And it's the same within the church family. 31:32.630 --> 31:36.450 Unruly people, they often need a strong hand of warning. 31:37.290 --> 31:43.350 Fainthearted people, they often need a comforting hand, soft hand of comfort. 31:43.910 --> 31:45.970 Every person calls for unique ministry. 31:46.090 --> 31:52.130 But did you also know that every situation calls for unique ministry? 31:52.250 --> 31:54.190 This is where we've got to involve the Holy Spirit. 31:54.690 --> 31:56.591 Occasionally. 31:56.592 --> 31:59.192 Occasionally the unruly person doesn't need 31:59.192 --> 32:01.152 a strong hand of warning. 32:01.152 --> 32:02.852 Sometimes they need encouragement. 32:02.852 --> 32:05.132 Sometimes there's a reason they're unruly 32:05.132 --> 32:07.572 and they're beat up by life, they're beat up by people. 32:07.572 --> 32:10.092 They need someone to know, man, we love you 32:10.092 --> 32:13.832 and we're encouraging you, we're calling you up in the Lord. 32:13.832 --> 32:17.052 And as we walk in the spirit, God's gonna give us wisdom 32:17.052 --> 32:20.772 to know what kind of ministry each person needs 32:20.772 --> 32:22.572 and when they need it. 32:23.052 --> 32:30.132 As Christians, we need to learn how to love all kinds of people in all kinds of ways through all kinds of situations. 32:31.552 --> 32:38.292 Now, this passage is about life inside the church. 32:38.412 --> 32:41.752 And what I mean by that is life among God's people. 32:42.492 --> 32:44.892 Paul's going to conclude the book. 32:45.092 --> 32:46.752 Lord willing, we're going to look at it next week. 32:46.892 --> 32:51.612 Talking about a personal walk with Jesus, a personal relationship with him. 32:53.022 --> 32:58.242 But today's message is about church life, God's family. 32:59.742 --> 33:06.382 I think the question becomes for some of you, what do I do if I'm not part of God's family? 33:07.702 --> 33:11.722 I'm attending today, I'm tuning in, but I'm just here. 33:11.722 --> 33:14.662 I'm not really a part of this family. 33:16.062 --> 33:20.562 Is there a way I can join God's family? 33:22.435 --> 33:24.194 Absolutely. 33:24.195 --> 33:26.635 You must be born into it. 33:28.435 --> 33:33.515 Now, that does not mean that your parents or your grandparents needed to be Christians. 33:33.675 --> 33:34.374 No, no, no. 33:34.375 --> 33:35.935 No one is born a Christian. 33:36.875 --> 33:39.895 But we are born again a Christian. 33:40.778 --> 33:42.217 That's what Jesus said. 33:42.218 --> 33:44.438 He said you must, if you want to enter the kingdom of God, 33:44.718 --> 33:47.518 you must be born again of the Spirit. 33:48.158 --> 33:51.578 You must be given new life by the Spirit of God. 33:52.158 --> 33:57.238 And the only way that we're given new life is through receiving Jesus as our Savior and our Lord. 33:57.398 --> 33:58.538 See, we have a big problem. 33:59.198 --> 34:00.298 Our problem is sin. 34:00.598 --> 34:01.918 And sin deserves death. 34:01.998 --> 34:03.078 The wages of sin is death. 34:03.078 --> 34:04.818 The Bible makes that very, very clear. 34:05.138 --> 34:07.158 Physical death, but also spiritual death. 34:07.643 --> 34:11.523 When we're spiritually dead, our spirit is separated from the spirit of God. 34:11.603 --> 34:20.683 And what we need most is for the spirit of God to touch our spirit in such a way that we have new spiritual life and are born again. 34:21.643 --> 34:26.503 And the only way that that happens is through faith in Jesus. 34:26.623 --> 34:27.402 It requires faith. 34:27.403 --> 34:33.923 The book of Hebrews says that without faith, it's impossible to please God. 34:34.323 --> 34:37.303 You can't even begin to please God. 34:38.204 --> 34:46.584 without faith. And here's what we must believe. We must believe that Jesus is. We must believe 34:46.584 --> 34:53.904 that He loves us so much that He died on the cross for our sins and that He rose on the 34:53.904 --> 34:59.984 third day and that He has victory over death. 34:59.984 --> 35:06.984 John chapter 1 verse number 12 says, but as many as received Him, that's Jesus, to them 35:07.381 --> 35:13.381 He gave the right to become the children of God to those who believe in His name. 35:14.641 --> 35:22.261 Let me ask you, do you want to be given the right to be the child of God? 35:23.321 --> 35:25.621 There's nothing like being in God's family. 35:27.061 --> 35:32.841 There's nothing like having God as our personal loving Father. 35:33.301 --> 35:36.781 The Bible says that God is a father to the fatherless. 35:38.043 --> 35:42.943 Maybe you've known about God, but you've never personally known him as your Savior and your Lord. 35:43.623 --> 35:47.023 Let me ask you, do you want to get to know him? 35:48.903 --> 35:53.063 There's only one way that you can be called a child of God. 35:53.143 --> 35:56.043 There's only one way that you can be a part of the family of God, 35:56.143 --> 36:00.883 and that is by receiving Jesus as your Savior and as your Lord. 36:00.983 --> 36:02.723 Let's bow together in an attitude of prayer. 36:04.703 --> 36:07.163 This is a holy moment in the life of our church. 36:08.772 --> 36:13.192 The Bible says, for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, 36:14.232 --> 36:22.552 that whosoever believes in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. 36:23.172 --> 36:26.212 I want to invite you not to perish. 36:27.212 --> 36:30.492 I want to invite you to have everlasting life. 36:30.492 --> 36:33.232 And it's only found through relationship with Jesus. 36:38.607 --> 36:42.227 Now, we have a wonderful church family here at Valley Baptist. 36:43.167 --> 36:48.347 And I praise God, there's many wonderful church families, many wonderful local churches. 36:51.267 --> 36:55.967 Maybe you say, I want to join God's family, so I'm going to come join Valley Baptist Church. 36:56.067 --> 36:57.967 Listen, that's not how you join God's family. 37:02.067 --> 37:06.327 The way you join God's family is by becoming a child of God. 37:07.700 --> 37:11.520 through faith in Jesus, receiving him into your life, 37:12.160 --> 37:18.220 receiving his presence, inviting him in to every area of life. 37:19.260 --> 37:22.680 I want to invite you to do just that today. 37:22.800 --> 37:25.300 There's going to be, as soon as I pray here in just a moment, 37:25.380 --> 37:27.880 we're going to stand to our feet and there's going to be pastors and other leaders. 37:29.958 --> 37:33.898 Prayer partners here at the front, we're just going to invite you to come as we stand. 37:34.038 --> 37:35.698 Just walk down one of these aisles. 37:35.938 --> 37:37.238 Walk down one of these staircases. 37:38.178 --> 37:39.458 Say, I want to give my life to Jesus. 37:40.198 --> 37:41.578 I want to receive him. 37:42.398 --> 37:43.758 I want to be changed by him. 37:43.798 --> 37:45.118 I want to be forgiven by him. 37:45.118 --> 37:46.898 I want new life. 37:48.118 --> 37:51.278 These folks will know exactly how to help you. 37:51.338 --> 37:52.398 They're not going to embarrass you. 37:52.658 --> 37:54.998 They're not going to ask you questions that you can't answer. 37:55.098 --> 37:57.936 They're just going to help. 37:57.937 --> 37:59.116 They're going to comfort you. 37:59.117 --> 38:00.217 They're going to uphold you. 38:00.957 --> 38:02.037 They're going to pray with you. 38:05.457 --> 38:13.777 Maybe God is leading you to join our little local family here, Valley Baptist. 38:14.037 --> 38:16.757 You've been watching from a distance. 38:17.037 --> 38:23.177 You've been kind of on the fringes, kind of looking in, kind of maybe just waiting through it. 38:23.177 --> 38:27.117 See if this is the place God wants for you. 38:28.919 --> 38:36.159 But maybe God is making it clear that he wants you to be pastored by some people. 38:38.159 --> 38:43.319 He wants you to be accountable to some people, the church family. 38:44.410 --> 38:46.810 And maybe you want to formalize that today. 38:46.950 --> 38:48.610 We'd love to receive you as a member. 38:48.770 --> 38:51.130 We'd love to at least talk with you about that. 38:51.710 --> 38:54.890 You can come forward and let us know, and we'd love to visit with you about that. 38:54.890 --> 39:00.670 Or maybe you want to be baptized like the man who was baptized earlier in our service 39:00.670 --> 39:02.490 and go public with your faith. 39:02.610 --> 39:04.070 That's a wonderful, wonderful thing. 39:04.070 --> 39:06.010 However God leads in just a moment. 39:07.917 --> 39:09.177 Please come. Let's pray. 39:09.317 --> 39:13.497 Father, thank you for your love and your grace. 39:13.617 --> 39:16.257 We don't deserve it, but we are so grateful for it. 39:16.937 --> 39:18.817 Thank you for our church family. 39:19.797 --> 39:21.637 Thank you for blessing us. 39:22.897 --> 39:26.877 Thank you for giving us peace, 39:28.297 --> 39:29.457 using us. 39:31.437 --> 39:36.397 Lord, I pray for those who are faint-hearted. 39:38.647 --> 39:44.747 Maybe they're going through something that has them in that place where they're just hanging on by a thread. 39:46.227 --> 39:47.667 Lord, would you comfort them? 39:49.347 --> 39:51.647 Would you use your people to comfort them? 39:54.247 --> 39:55.947 Would you encourage them? 39:57.587 --> 40:01.587 Lord, in those who are weak, they keep falling down. 40:02.567 --> 40:03.947 They keep face-planting. 40:06.305 --> 40:07.284 And it's hurting them. 40:07.285 --> 40:08.425 It's hurting those around them. 40:08.685 --> 40:10.825 They're just weak in some areas of life. 40:10.885 --> 40:12.845 Would you strengthen them, Lord? 40:13.345 --> 40:15.185 Would you build their faith up? 40:15.265 --> 40:17.345 And Lord, when they can't hold themselves up, 40:17.425 --> 40:19.625 would you give them people in our church family 40:19.625 --> 40:24.025 that will lay hands on them and hold them up for a time? 40:24.565 --> 40:28.781 Lift them up. 40:28.782 --> 40:31.262 Lord, I pray for some who are unruly. 40:31.402 --> 40:33.662 They're out of step with your family. 40:33.802 --> 40:38.262 They're out of step with the direction that you have within our church. 40:38.422 --> 40:41.962 And Lord, maybe that's rebellious in nature. 40:42.322 --> 40:45.442 Maybe it's irresponsible or lazy in nature. 40:45.602 --> 40:46.682 Maybe it's apathetic. 40:46.802 --> 40:48.041 I don't know, Lord. 40:48.042 --> 40:49.081 You know who they are. 40:49.082 --> 40:50.641 We pray that you help them. 40:50.642 --> 40:55.202 Help us be patient with all like you're patient with all. 40:57.773 --> 41:01.533 Lord, I know that as a church family, as much as you've blessed us there, 41:02.813 --> 41:04.413 we are not perfect at all. 41:04.413 --> 41:07.233 We're a long ways from it. 41:07.233 --> 41:10.373 And there have been people whom you love, 41:10.373 --> 41:13.213 your very children who have fallen through the cracks. 41:16.533 --> 41:19.633 They have not been seen like they should have been seen. 41:20.513 --> 41:23.673 They have not been comforted like they should have been comforted. 41:26.360 --> 41:28.520 Lord, would you encourage those people today? 41:28.860 --> 41:30.980 And would you help us become a church family 41:30.980 --> 41:34.100 who does everything that we can, Lord, 41:34.660 --> 41:37.060 to be a responsible church, 41:38.060 --> 41:39.980 loving your children well. 41:41.060 --> 41:43.000 Lord, please draw people to yourself. 41:43.160 --> 41:44.780 If there are those that don't know you yet, 41:45.100 --> 41:47.100 may this be the day that everything changes 41:47.100 --> 41:50.340 and they get to know your love and your grace and your mercy. 41:50.540 --> 41:51.560 Please pursue them. 41:51.820 --> 41:53.280 We ask in Jesus' name. 41:53.760 --> 41:54.911 Amen. 41:54.912 --> 41:55.952 Thanks for listening today. 41:56.292 --> 41:57.792 We hope you enjoyed this message. 41:58.032 --> 42:01.152 And if you did, we would be so grateful if you left us a review. 42:01.812 --> 42:03.912 Also, go ahead and subscribe to the podcast 42:03.912 --> 42:06.772 if you would like to be notified when a new sermon is released. 42:07.352 --> 42:10.532 If you feel the Lord calling you to take the next step in faith 42:10.532 --> 42:14.392 through salvation, service, or giving, don't wait. 42:15.010 --> 42:18.130 reach out to us by texting podcast to 88988. 42:18.470 --> 42:20.750 That's podcast to 88988 42:20.750 --> 42:23.690 or connect with us on one of our social media platforms. 42:24.310 --> 42:27.430 You can also visit our website, valleybaptist.org 42:27.430 --> 42:29.450 to find even more great resources. 42:30.250 --> 42:31.810 No matter where you are in your journey, 42:32.450 --> 42:33.649 know that we love you. 42:33.650 --> 42:34.770 We're praying for you 42:34.770 --> 42:37.750 and we can't wait to see what God will do in your life.