Freedom to Belong.

Steve Gentry

[0:00] Good morning have a seat [0:03] Welcome to the village my name is Steve [0:06] I’m one of the pastors here if you have your your Bibles with you [0:10] Go ahead and open them to Galatians chapter 3 there at the very end [0:15] We’re gonna go up through into chapter 4 this week [0:18] But if you have never been here before I just want to welcome you and say I’m glad you’re here

[0:25] It’s good to see you. It’s good to see all of you if you have been here before [0:29] But if you haven’t been here before just let me [0:31] Introduce you to what we’re actually going through right now. We’re going through the entire book of Galatians [0:37] That’s kind of something that we do here at the village [0:40] We don’t just kind of muddle through scripture kind of darting back and forth [0:44] But rather we want to get the whole idea

[0:46] That God is presenting to us in each book of the scriptures and as we’ve been going through the book of Galatians [0:53] We have seen the truth of the gospel really just laid out in long format of how God is weaving a story [1:00] Throughout history of how he is going to redeem man from his sins that there is no [1:07] Morality inside of us and there is no way that we can be obedient enough in order to save ourselves [1:14] from our sins [1:15] but rather that God himself stepped into history and the person of Jesus Christ and

[1:23] He took our sin onto himself when he died on the cross [1:26] Saving us from our sins and then rose again on the third day winning victory over death [1:31] and that’s what we just sang about in that wonderful song in Christ alone and [1:36] Paul is putting forth the idea that Jesus plus anything is wrong [1:42] The fact that it is only in Jesus that we can find salvation [1:47] And it is only in Jesus that God is going to bring salvation into your life

[1:53] Because what Paul is dealing with here is some people have come into the Galatian Church [1:57] To try to convince them that not only do they need Jesus [2:01] But they also need salvation through their works and they need to come under [2:06] The bondage of the Old Testament law in order to save themselves [2:09] But we kind of went through last week is to see that God never gave the law in order to save us [2:17] it kind of

[2:18] challenges some of the [2:19] Misconceptions that we have of the Old Testament law because sometimes we look at things like the Ten Commandments and we try to [2:27] measure up in a sense to try to see how [2:31] Obedient we’re being to God and how close we can get to God through our morality [2:36] But Paul tells us there in chapter 3 [2:40] That the law was never meant to be that kind of a compass that leads us to God

[2:45] But rather the law was given to show us our sin and to show us how we do not measure up [2:52] Because no man outside of Jesus Christ who is both man and God has ever been [2:59] Completely obedient to the law James actually puts forth the idea in the book of James [3:04] That if we are guilty of one of the laws it is as if we are guilty of them all [3:09] Because if we are disobedient in just one place [3:12] That is imperfection

[3:16] That it doesn’t take a great life of disobedience to be imperfect it takes one moment and [3:23] then that perfection is [3:26] Skewed and it’s off track and we now have a blemish on ourselves [3:30] And that’s why James says if you’ve broken one it’s as if you’ve broken them all because that is just imperfection [3:36] And the more disobedient you are it’s just adding to the imperfection that already exists [3:41] And that this law was given at the end of chapter 3 to be a schoolmaster or a guide

[3:49] To keep us imprisoned and to show us [3:52] That we’re condemned through our disobedience [3:56] But it was there to take us to know that we would need God [4:01] Himself to save us because we cannot save ourselves and that our only hope is if God will save us and God does that [4:09] Through Jesus and that’s kind of how we ended last week seeing that the only way of salvation is the fact that we’re [4:17] Condemned through the law, but we are free to live in Jesus Christ because he has completely

[4:23] freed us from the condemnation of the law and to give us a freedom to live life the way that [4:30] God originally designed it a life that is wrapped up in the absolute [4:35] Righteousness of Christ not wrapped up in the [4:39] Unrighteousness of us because we are taken from a place of death under the condemnation and the bondage of the law [4:46] to a place of life in [4:49] And through Jesus Christ and today we’re gonna go a little bit further in Galatians

[4:55] And we’re gonna take a look at the end of chapter 3 in the beginning of chapter 4 and I realize that we took [5:00] It all the way to the end of chapter 3 [5:02] But chapter 3 sort of bleeds into the beginning of chapter 4 and to really understand [5:09] What Paul is talking about at the beginning of chapter 4 we have to see the end of chapter 3 [5:14] So if you have your scriptures go to Galatians chapter 3, and I’m gonna start reading in verse 26

[5:23] For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God [5:28] Through faith for as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ [5:35] There is neither Jew nor Greek there is neither slave nor free there is no male and female [5:42] For you are all one in Christ Jesus, and if you are Christ’s then you are Abraham’s offspring [5:48] heirs according to the promise [5:51] That’s an amazing gospel

[5:54] That is the gospel right there the fact that God has taken us from one place of condemnation [6:00] And he has now given us Jesus to where now we put on [6:04] Jesus Christ Jesus gives us his very righteousness [6:07] And he translates us in a sense into a life of absolute freedom and life of liberty a life [6:14] That makes us heirs of the promise [6:16] But notice there that he also kind of in there says in Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek

[6:23] There is neither slave nor free there is neither male nor female [6:27] We are all sons of God in a sense, and we’re all on an equal playing field where grace is concerned

[6:36] This sort of challenges our concept of morality again to where in morality we like to look at it [6:41] Well, I’m more obedient than this other person so obviously I have more of God than anybody else [6:46] And so it’s gonna be me and God and those other people who aren’t as good as me well [6:51] They just don’t measure up the same way I do that’s not the idea that’s put forth here in Galatians [6:56] The idea that’s put forth here is that it’s about Jesus and not about us so in Jesus there is no better [7:04] Where you are concerned? There’s just Jesus

[7:07] There’s just one measuring mark and that measuring mark is Jesus and in Jesus [7:13] He has leveled the playing field and he has made us all equal [7:16] Because here’s the key that you have to understand to go with me this morning the gospel is far bigger than you [7:24] The gospel of Jesus Christ is about more than you [7:30] See throughout the history of Scripture and throughout the history of the world really God is weaving a story of redemption [7:39] It starts with creation where we fall out of

[7:44] Relationship with God and really out of relationship with each other

[7:49] notice that as soon as Adam and Eve bite the apple and [7:53] God comes down and any kind of plays a little game with him because he knows where they are [7:57] I mean he’s God and and he comes down the garden. He says Adam Eve. Where are you and [8:03] Then they come out and and they’ve put on some fig leaves because as soon as they send they’re like oh my goodness [8:08] We’re naked and so they put on these fig leaves and God looks at him and says why are you wearing clothes? [8:14] God of course knows and and notice what they do

[8:18] They don’t say well God we’ve sinned and we need to repent. No, they immediately start playing the blame game

[8:27] Notice that the fall of man not only took us out of relationship with God, but it also took us out of relationship with one another

[8:36] Because in the fall he looks at Adam and says Adam what happened this woman you gave me [8:42] Notice that he lays two blames in there [8:45] He blames Eve, but he also blames God because he says you gave her to me and look what she caused [8:53] As soon as woman came into my life nothing but trouble sounds like a country song [8:59] Then he goes to even he says well, what about what Adam’s saying here Eve well the snake that you created

[9:07] Notice how we constantly defer blame onto other people [9:12] And I don’t know about you, but I can see a little bit of myself in that story because I never want to think [9:18] That I have any part to blame for the choices that I make that lead to my own downfall [9:25] I never want to look at it that way. I always want to think well [9:29] It’s because when I was five years old I didn’t get that candy bar [9:32] So now I steal candy bars every time I see them

[9:36] That mother you gave me God she wouldn’t buy it for me [9:40] And we just we just have these ways of finding reasons and blaming other people so in this [9:47] We’re number one falling out of relationship with God because imperfection has entered into our life [9:52] But then number two we fall out of relationship with other people because we push them away [9:56] Because we want everything that’s wrong with us to be their fault, and it’s not our fault

[10:02] So what you have at the end of Galatians chapter 3 is God not simply saying [10:07] I’m going to forgive you of your sins [10:10] I’m going to bring you into relationship and give you a personal relationship with me through my son Jesus [10:16] What he’s saying is I’m now also going to redeem you as a whole community [10:22] You are all now one in Jesus [10:25] Ephesians chapter 3

[10:27] Excuse me chapters 2 & 3 actually put it forth where he continuously says you are united you are one [10:34] There’s one baptism one church one God one spirit one Jesus [10:38] There is this great oneness that the gospel causes into all of our lives [10:43] And what he’s saying at the end of Galatians chapter 3 is I’m making you one again [10:48] I’m repairing my relationship with you with me [10:53] But I’m also going to fix the relationship among you all

[10:57] Because now there is no one to blame [11:01] Because Jesus took the blame all on Himself

[11:08] Not that some things aren’t other people’s fault but what he’s saying is [11:14] Not only have I taken your sin but I’ve taken [11:16] their sin [11:18] So that great wrong that was done to you [11:22] That’s on Jesus [11:24] There is neither Jew nor Greek

[11:27] Slave nor free [11:28] Male nor female [11:30] Just one in Jesus [11:35] And you see what we have here is God writing a story [11:40] That’s bigger than us [11:43] It’s all about God

[11:45] But it’s all about the people that God wants to create [11:49] Not just the you that he wants to create [11:53] Because you see we have this weird thought [11:55] That what God does for us in Jesus is he makes us acceptable [12:01] So we are finally accepted [12:06] Because people don’t like rejection

[12:09] People want to be accepted [12:11] And we think that if people will just accept us for who we are [12:15] Then we will have freedom and this freedom to live will come through acceptance [12:21] From other people as well as God [12:23] And don’t get me wrong there is truth to that [12:26] But freedom is about far more than acceptance

[12:32] Freedom takes you past acceptable [12:35] Because in Jesus God does make you acceptable [12:40] Imperfection makes you absolutely unacceptable to God [12:43] It’s unacceptable [12:44] That’s the problem with Adam and Eve’s disobedience [12:46] Is now they are imperfect, now they have disobeyed, now they are unacceptable

[12:50] In Jesus we are now acceptable to God [12:54] But he makes us far more than that [12:57] But typically sometimes in our relationship with God that’s where we want to stop [13:02] You mean I’m acceptable? I’m not rejected? [13:05] Fantastic, that’s enough [13:07] And quite frankly sometimes that is enough for us

[13:10] It’s enough for me [13:11] I just don’t want to be rejected by God [13:13] But the scriptures lay out a little bit of a different story [13:15] Read the end of chapter 3 and then let’s go into the beginning of chapter 4 [13:19] And if you are Christ’s then you are Abraham’s offspring [13:24] Heirs according to the promise, okay?

[13:28] Chapter 4 [13:28] I mean that the heir as long as he is a child is no different from a slave [13:35] Though he is the owner of everything [13:37] But he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father [13:42] In the same way we also when we were children were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world [13:48] But when the fullness of time had come

[13:51] God sent forth his son born of a woman [13:53] Born under the law to redeem those who were under the law [13:58] So that we might receive adoption as sons [14:02] Okay, this is a huge landscape shot of the scriptures [14:07] Okay, in Jesus we are heirs to the promise that God made to Abraham way back in the book of Genesis [14:15] Okay, so hundreds, thousands of years before Jesus ever came

[14:20] God made this promise to Abraham [14:22] And God through Paul is laying out right here that in Jesus that promise is finally fulfilled [14:32] That we are heirs to this promise [14:36] That God has used history, God has used the law, God has used the prophets [14:42] Alright, notice that in the Old Testament if you go through the prophets of the Old Testament [14:47] One little thread constantly goes throughout it

[14:50] From the book of Isaiah through the end of the Old Testament, the book of Malachi [14:53] God constantly tells these prophets [14:56] I know things are bad [14:59] But understand that through these bad situations, through all of this disobedience [15:04] I am going to save for myself a remnant [15:09] And that term remnant is constantly used towards the end of the Old Testament

[15:14] Those are those short books that we constantly stay away from because we don’t understand it [15:17] We just know there’s a lot of like ugly pictures in them [15:21] But God constantly says I am going to save for myself a remnant [15:25] Okay, but have you ever considered how he’s going to do that?

[15:34] He does it in Jesus

[15:38] When he goes through the Old Testament and he gets to Jesus [15:43] God has taken man from the book of Genesis all the way through [15:48] When we read those records and we read how God is going to save for himself a people [15:52] And it looks hopeless because the people of Israel are constantly disobedient [15:57] But then he keeps saying I am going to save for myself a people

[16:01] Understand, you have been disobedient but I am going to send one that is obedient [16:05] And I am going to save for myself a people [16:08] Then Jesus comes [16:11] And then Paul explains [16:15] That the heirs to the promise of Abraham [16:20] Are the followers of Jesus

[16:23] That that remnant that God says he’s going to save for himself [16:28] Are the followers of Jesus [16:31] Why?

[16:35] Because only in Jesus are we ever going to find the fulfillment of the promises of God [16:43] The fulfillment of the laws of God [16:46] And an atoning salvation [16:49] That we can trust and have faith in [16:52] Because we can’t trust ourselves, we can’t trust anyone else [16:56] We can only trust Jesus

[16:59] Do you see how huge this story is that God is writing? [17:04] Do you see how this panoramic shot unfolds? [17:08] And the way that we tend to look at scripture [17:10] We try to look at these snapshots to gain a whole understanding [17:13] We read this one verse here and then connect it to this other verse way over here [17:18] And there is a promise to Israel over here

[17:21] And then there is a promise through Jesus over here [17:23] And we look at the scriptures as being the story that is completely disconnected [17:27] And somewhat confusing, so confusing [17:30] That there are books of the Bible that we just stay away from altogether [17:33] Because we have no idea what those books mean [17:36] And then we are like, well hopefully in heaven I will get it

[17:41] But unfold it, unpack it and step back and look at it as a whole [17:47] And you have one continuous story [17:51] You have one continuous promise [17:54] And then you have one fulfillment [17:55] And you have one thing to trust [17:58] And that is Jesus

[18:01] It is not as confusing if you see it as one full story [18:06] Rather than all these disconnected stories [18:09] It is all about Jesus [18:12] It has always been about Jesus [18:14] And it will always be about Jesus [18:17] Jesus is the main character of scripture

[18:21] Jesus is the climax of the story [18:25] Jesus is the plot, Jesus is the theme [18:28] But God unveils it in a certain way [18:32] So that we will be brought to an understanding [18:35] But because of the bondage of the law that we choose to stay in many times [18:41] We refuse to understand because we won’t see the story as a whole

[18:45] We will only see the story as it pertains to us [18:49] Because all we want is acceptance [18:51] But freedom in Christ is about far more than acceptance [18:55] The story of God redeeming man throughout all of scripture [19:00] Is about God building his kingdom

[19:06] It is not about God created a people and those people screwed up [19:11] So God goes back to the drawing board and he makes a strategy [19:14] And he says, well I am going to make this promise to Abraham [19:16] But then oh man, these people that came from Abraham, they keep messing it up [19:19] So I am going to need to send them the law [19:20] Maybe if I tell them the difference between right and wrong they will fix it

[19:23] And then he gives them the difference between right and wrong [19:25] And then they keep disobeying [19:27] So he is like, well man, it looks like I am going to have to go down there and do something [19:30] So then he sends his son and he is like, son, do something [19:33] And then Jesus comes and he dies on the cross and he raises again from the dead [19:36] And he is like, look I am going to give you salvation through my son

[19:38] I am going to give you the Holy Spirit [19:40] I am going to somehow fulfill those laws in the Old Testament through some other avenue [19:44] But you can have Jesus and that will equip you so that you can obey the Ten Commandments [19:48] And so that you can be acceptable to me [19:51] That is not the story of God

[19:55] Not at all [19:56] Do you see how confusing that would be? [19:57] And how we are kind of just blindsided by all these different ideas [20:01] No, it is about God creating man so that he can bring himself glory [20:09] See, God desires to make his own name great [20:12] God desires to be worshiped

[20:14] He doesn’t need it, but he wants it [20:17] And so God creates a people to do that [20:19] But then he knows that he can only bring himself glory [20:23] As if he himself saves those people

[20:28] So if we fast forward to the very end [20:31] I think we will grasp a little bit of this [20:33] In Revelation chapter 7, you don’t need to turn there [20:37] John, one of Jesus’ disciples, he writes this Revelation [20:42] Because he is called John the Revelator [20:44] God gives him a picture of the end of it all

[20:46] And the end of it all isn’t like all these crazy apocalyptic visions [20:52] Where the earth is burning and there are horses with scorpion tails [20:55] No, that is not what John records in this part that I am going to tell you about [20:59] There are some images like that later, but we will deal with that a different Sunday [21:03] Here is the picture that John writes [21:06] Revelation chapter 7, he writes this picture

[21:09] He says, and I saw before the throne of God

[21:14] People from every tribe, every tongue, and every nation [21:22] Worshipping God and saying, salvation belongs to our God [21:31] That is the great apocalyptic ending that John gives us [21:37] People from every tribe, every tongue [21:39] That means people from every corner of the earth [21:42] Before the throne of God

[21:44] I mean, I can just imagine the millions cascading there [21:47] Before the throne of God, worshipping [21:50] And in Revelation chapter 7, we see the fulfillment of the story [21:55] That God starts writing in Genesis chapter 1 [21:58] The rest of it is how God chose to get there [22:02] Why did God choose these things? He is God

[22:05] And Isaiah, he says, my thoughts are not your thoughts [22:08] My plans are not your plans [22:10] But in this story, he is writing to save for himself [22:15] A people who will worship him forever and ever [22:20] That is the story he is writing [22:22] And the way that he gets there is through Jesus

[22:25] That is what he writes here [22:26] Notice in verses 1-5, he says, you were an heir [22:31] You have always been an heir [22:33] But there was a time when you didn’t understand it [22:38] Because you were a child [22:40] And in your childhood, you were enslaved

[22:43] To these elementary principles of this world [22:47] You didn’t have understanding [22:50] You didn’t get it [22:52] But then he says, at the proper time [22:58] He sent Jesus to redeem you from your childhood [23:04] And take you from your slavery

[23:07] And adopt you as his son [23:10] Through the righteousness of Jesus [23:13] What part of that did you earn? [23:18] None of it [23:19] What part of that story did you write? [23:21] None of it

[23:23] God is writing the story of how he is redeeming for himself [23:28] A people to make his name great in this earth [23:33] Redemption builds the kingdom of God [23:37] Because redemption is not a story about you [23:40] It is a story about God [23:43] And in this redemption, the thing that we have often

[23:46] Wanted to focus on is this personal intimacy that we get with Jesus [23:50] And that is true [23:51] We do get that, man [23:53] We get a personal relationship with God through his son Jesus [23:56] And it is amazing [23:58] But here is the key

[24:00] Remember, the story is not just about you [24:03] It is about way more than that [24:06] See, if God is building himself a kingdom [24:08] If he is creating for himself a people [24:11] He says there is no Jew, there is no Greek [24:14] There is just a great playing field of people who are made one in Jesus

[24:19] And notice how he says, we are heirs [24:22] I have adopted you all [24:25] We, us, sons, plural

[24:30] God is building for himself a great community [24:32] Because the freedom that we have to live in Christ [24:35] Is not a freedom to live the way that we want to live [24:39] That is not freedom [24:40] Freedom is not the ability to do whatever you want [24:42] Freedom is the ability to live life the way that you were designed to live

[24:47] That is true freedom [24:48] Because what the condemnation through the law does [24:51] And what is revealed to us here at the beginning of chapter 4 [24:53] Is that the bondage of God kept us in a state [24:57] Where we could not live life as we were designed to live [25:00] But through Jesus we now have the ability

[25:05] To be the people that God created us to be [25:09] If we truly believe that God created earth [25:13] If we truly believe that God created us [25:16] Then God has the design for what life is supposed to look like [25:21] And that is the greatest life possible [25:24] God has plans for your life that you cannot even imagine

[25:32] And he does that through the building of his kingdom

[25:38] Freedom creates community [25:42] See this promise isn’t just to me [25:46] When I read the story of Galatians I don’t see a message that is only to me [25:53] And often times that is what we want scripture to be [25:55] We want it to be all about us [25:57] Just me and Jesus that is all I need

[25:59] That is not true [26:02] You need more than Jesus [26:04] Not because there is more [26:06] But because that is how God has designed it [26:09] God has designed us to build the kingdom of God [26:13] Through the community of God

[26:17] Because God is not saving for himself a person [26:21] God is saving for himself a people [26:24] And this challenges everything that we value in life [26:31] Because often the hardest thing to deal with inside of church and outside of church [26:36] Are our relationships with other people [26:39] The most broken thing about us

[26:44] Tangibly and obvious is our relationship with other people [26:48] Because it is the hardest thing to do [26:50] I mean two people that are running 70 miles per hour in the wrong direction together [26:57] There is bound to be some speed bumps

[27:02] And what we have is these fractured relationships [27:06] And when we try to find redemption [27:09] And even often times when we find it and we are in Jesus [27:12] We just want it to be about us because we are so me centered [27:16] Because that is what sin has done to us [27:19] That we just want to repair ourselves because we don’t have the strength to even deal with the relationships that God has given us

[27:26] But what God says in his scripture is that I am building a people [27:30] I am adopting you all as sons [27:34] Freedom builds community because when we see ourselves as one in Jesus [27:41] Because that is the vision that God gives us there at the end of chapter 3 [27:46] He says I have made you one collectively [27:51] As a people who will live for the renown of God

[27:56] But we have to do that together [27:58] Freedom is building a community of people who are recovering from their sinfulness [28:04] Who are being redeemed [28:06] You are redeemed in Jesus but you go through the rest of your life being redeemed a little bit at a time also [28:13] From redeemed to redeeming is the story of our lives [28:17] And God is laying out this story where in this community

[28:24] We are building the kingdom of God and we come together [28:27] And that is the church of Jesus Christ [28:30] Do you understand that you will never be who God created you to be as long as you are alone [28:39] See there are a few misconceptions about what community is [28:42] Often we think that because we are sinners we need the help of other people [28:47] And it is our sin that makes us need community with other people

[28:51] What community is are the relationships that help us grow [28:55] And because of sin we need that [28:57] Do you understand this wrong?

[29:00] How were we created at the very beginning? [29:03] God looks at Adam and says what? [29:06] It is not good for man to be alone [29:09] It is not good [29:10] So out of a man he creates Eve and you have two people [29:14] You have the beginnings of community

[29:17] But why did he do that? [29:20] When God is creating he says let us make man in our image [29:24] God himself does not exist outside of community [29:28] God does not do anything outside of community [29:31] God is one [29:33] God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit

[29:38] God is in community with himself

[29:43] That is hard to wrap your mind around I know [29:46] Theologians have spent 2,000 years trying to understand the Trinity [29:50] And we still have not come down with the best definition [29:54] But we see throughout scripture this thread of community [29:57] Where God exists 3 in 1 [29:59] He does things 3 in 1

[30:01] We have these pictures of the 3 in 1 [30:04] God in community [30:05] And when he creates man part of the image of God in us [30:10] Is this need to be in relationship with other people [30:13] Why do you think that marriage is a picture of God?

[30:20] When you do weddings you know what you say? [30:23] These two have become one [30:26] A picture of community being joined together [30:31] We need community [30:34] We were created to be in community [30:37] So why are we trying to live our Christian lives

[30:42] And grow in Jesus on our own? [30:46] If we are free to live the way that God designed us to [30:52] Under Jesus, not under our moral constraints [30:55] If we are free to live then we are also free to belong [31:01] Because God created us to live in community with other people [31:06] To come together as his church and be his community

[31:12] Because when we are freed in Jesus and the gospel [31:15] Comes alive in our lives [31:17] The gospel creates the church [31:20] And the church is that community that God desires desperately [31:27] For you to be a part of [31:29] You were not created to live a life where it is just you and Jesus

[31:34] And you are this lone gunman for the Lord [31:36] Because when you get around other people you get discouraged

[31:41] Are they going to do that? [31:43] Absolutely

[31:46] Because community is hard [31:49] But the gospel creates the church [31:52] Ephesians chapter 1 and verse 22 [31:55] The scripture says God has put everything under the feet of Jesus [32:01] And has made him the head of the church [32:06] Then in verse 23 it says

[32:09] The church is the fullness of him [32:16] God [32:17] This is crazy stuff going on in the kids department [32:19] God has created his people to be the fullness of him [32:25] Why do you think the scripture lays out this analogy where [32:28] Jesus is the head and the church is the body?

[32:32] 1 Corinthians chapter 12 [32:35] He lays out this even further and begins to describe how our different gifts and abilities [32:39] Come together to do different things inside of the church [32:42] To build God’s kingdom [32:44] God is not going to build his kingdom through you [32:47] God is going to build his kingdom through you

[32:50] Joining together with others to be the church [32:53] And then it just grows, it expands [32:56] See this redemption builds the kingdom of God because each person [32:59] Is added to the body of Christ and Jesus gets fuller and fuller [33:03] Not that he needs us, I don’t know why he created it so that we will have such a huge part of the story [33:09] But I’m so glad that he did because we get to be a part of the building of the kingdom of God

[33:15] And we’re not going to do it by separating ourselves into our corners [33:20] So that other people won’t be able to look into our lives [33:23] And see the messes that we have created when God desires to use other people [33:28] To help us realize our redemption from those messes that we keep creating [33:33] And he says through this, through you coming together [33:37] I am building for myself a people who will relate with each other

[33:42] And then as a people you will go out into culture [33:45] And you will begin to redeem the culture around you [33:50] Midlothian Virginia does not need one more Christian

[33:57] Midlothian needs many Christians who join together and say [34:01] Yes, we will be the church of God [34:05] And we will go out into this culture together as one [34:10] Truly trusting, truly believing that we will never be who we were created to be [34:15] Outside of Jesus and through his church [34:18] And through that, this culture that we live in will begin to be redeemed

[34:25] People will begin to worship God [34:27] People will begin to see a difference [34:29] Because right now when they look at the church [34:31] All they see is a group of people who come together [34:34] Sing a bunch of songs and then spend the rest of their lives outside apart from each other [34:40] Because those are the churches that we plant

[34:43] Those are the churches that we build [34:45] Because we make it about so many things other than the kingdom of God

[34:53] God does not desire for us to be disjointed [34:56] Rather, he desires us to come together [34:59] Uniting under the banner of his son Jesus [35:03] And redeeming the culture and community around us [35:07] To be counter culture in everything that we exist for [35:11] But to be absolutely cultural in the people that we reach

[35:15] And the people that we bring in [35:17] And God desires for his church to grow and grow and grow [35:21] And we say, absolutely, that sounds great [35:23] Let’s build the universal church [35:26] Universal church [35:28] Because we often have this concept of the church universal

[35:31] All worldwide Christians [35:32] Somehow existentially connected through the Holy Spirit [35:36] But we walk as just lone gunmen [35:39] It does the universal church no good

[35:44] Unless we join together and be the local church that builds the universal church [35:52] That’s not something that I’m comfortable with [35:54] Because of my own sin problems [35:58] So if you’re like, that’s tough, that means I have to actually be authentic [36:02] That means I actually have to spend time with other people, that’s tough [36:05] Trust me, that’s tough for me

[36:07] That’s hard [36:09] It’s hard to live that kind of life [36:11] Because number one, we’re so busy [36:12] But number two, we’re so sinful [36:15] Because we don’t think anybody else understands

[36:19] But I think Jesus understands [36:22] I think God gets it [36:24] Do you ever notice that when we’re on our own our problems never get better?

[36:30] They just follow us throughout the rest of our lives [36:33] Our baggage doesn’t get any better, it just follows us [36:37] Our hurt never gets any better, it just follows us [36:43] God doesn’t want it to follow you anymore [36:46] But as long as you’re carrying that baggage alone [36:50] It’s not going to get any better

[36:53] Because he’s given you this great picture of Jesus [36:56] Who takes these burdens off of us [37:01] But what if we could have a real tangible reality [37:04] Where these burdens start coming off of us [37:09] It’s only going to happen when freedom begins to create community [37:14] It’s only going to happen when you realize that the gospel is creating the church

[37:20] It’s only going to happen when you stop building your own kingdom [37:25] And start building the kingdom of God [37:27] Think about all the things that you try to fix the problems in your life with [37:32] The money, the possessions

[37:37] Broken relationships

[37:41] You’re never going to fix them [37:44] You’re just going to have to buy more stuff [37:47] One pastor said that we have more than we’ve ever had [37:51] We have more to do than we’ve ever had to do [37:54] We have more to distract us than we’ve ever had to distract us [37:57] And we are dreadfully bored

[38:00] I think that’s a pretty good picture of how we live our lives [38:04] Because nothing ever seems to fill this void of the kingdom that we are building for ourselves

[38:12] Stop building your kingdom [38:15] Because the gospel is not just about you [38:20] It’s about the kingdom of God that he wants to build [38:25] And that’s not going to start when Jesus comes back [38:30] It starts right here [38:33] Right now

[38:35] In the church of Jesus [38:38] Together we are one in Jesus [38:45] You might say, well that sounds great, but how do I do that? [38:50] Step one, welcome [38:53] Thanks for coming today [38:55] Step two, join in relationship with us

[38:59] Join a community group [39:02] See, one thing that we don’t do here is we don’t really do a lot of altar calls [39:07] And if you’ve been in church for a long time, that’s something that churches have done for a long time [39:11] And I’ve got nothing against that [39:13] But the reason that we don’t have these big altar calls where you come and you pray and you get emotional [39:18] And this burden feels like it’s taken off of you

[39:20] Is because one thing I’ve noticed by being in relationship with people [39:23] Is as soon as you stand up and walk out to your car, guess what follows you? [39:28] That same heartache [39:30] You’re just reminded of it at some point during that week [39:34] But what if you had a group of people that could rally around you that you could be honest with [39:38] And they didn’t look down on you because they know they have just as many problems if not more than you

[39:43] What if you had a group of people that could rally around you and could help build you up [39:47] What if you don’t understand what it means to be a part of the kingdom of God or build the kingdom of God [39:51] What if you had a group of people that could rally around you and help you begin to understand it [39:57] Because trust me, you’re not going to understand it on your own [39:59] I was in seminary for four years [40:02] I was in undergrad studying the scriptures for four years before that

[40:05] And guess what? It wasn’t sitting in a classroom and reading books by myself that I began to understand what the kingdom of God was [40:11] You know what happened?

[40:15] God formed a community around me [40:17] Of people [40:19] That I was able to be honest with and open with [40:22] And the baggage started falling off because I started seeing who I was in Jesus [40:28] And then guess what? That started becoming a church

[40:34] If you want to be free this morning [40:37] If you want to experience real freedom [40:40] You need community and you need the church [40:44] Is it always pretty?

[40:48] Is it sometimes messy?

[40:51] [40:51] Sometimes it’s really messy

[40:55] Is it liberating? [40:57] Absolutely

[41:00] You will never be free by yourself [41:02] I’m sorry [41:05] You’re only free when you’re building the kingdom of God through the church [41:11] Because that is how God designed it

[41:17] God designed us to be free [41:19] God designed us to build His church [41:22] So why don’t we just start becoming those people? [41:26] Why don’t we just start becoming the people of God? [41:30] Why don’t we just say, you know what? [41:31] I want to join up with the local church

[41:35] And I want to be a part of building the kingdom of God [41:38] Because that is what we want to do at the Village [41:41] It is [41:42] One of our core values is community [41:45] We strive to be a community that is driven by mission [41:50] We strive to be a community not just based on getting together and having a social club

[41:56] But rather to be a community that is focused specifically on furthering the gospel of Jesus Christ [42:01] In this community and beyond [42:05] We desire to be the people of God and to be the church of God [42:09] But guess what? [42:11] There’s only one problem [42:14] Like I said, God is building a people

[42:16] We can’t do it without you [42:19] We can’t [42:21] I’m talking to each and every one of you this morning [42:23] I don’t care where you’ve come from [42:25] I don’t care what you’ve done [42:27] I do care what your past experiences have been with church

[42:31] But guess what? [42:32] Jesus desires to take that baggage off of you [42:35] And I think he can help use us to do that [42:39] Because he loves you [42:42] And he does have a wonderful plan for your life [42:44] But it’s not outside of the church

[42:47] It’s not outside of his kingdom [42:48] It’s in living life the way that you were created to live [42:52] Have we figured that all out yet? [42:56] [42:57] But what if you could help us figure that out? [43:01] What if you could be another brick in the building?

[43:05] Ephesians chapter 2 [43:08] Lays out this vision [43:10] Where Jesus is the cornerstone of the church [43:15] The apostles who followed him are the foundation [43:19] And it says throughout the rest of history [43:22] God is building walls

[43:25] To build his church

[43:29] We’re a part of that wall [43:32] But only together [43:35] Only when we are liberated from our separation from each other [43:40] And when we finally say [43:43] I am free to belong

[43:48] Because you do [43:50] You belong to God [43:53] You are his great possession [43:56] You are the heir to the promises that he gives in Abraham [44:01] And for the rest of your life

[44:04] You need to live it

[44:10] The way that we respond [44:11] And the way that we’re going to say [44:13] You know what God? I am free to belong [44:16] I am free to live [44:17] And next week we’re going to see how we are free to dream [44:21] Because God has a bigger vision for you than you do

[44:24] I promise it [44:26] Because we proclaim the Lord’s death [44:29] Because that’s where our freedom comes from [44:31] The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus [44:34] We’re going to observe communion [44:36] We have more stations this week

[44:38] We have some off to the side [44:39] We have one in the front [44:40] Whichever one is closest to you, go to that one [44:43] But just take a minute to reflect [44:45] On all that God is for you in Jesus Christ [44:50] And if you are a believer here this morning

[44:52] If you’re a follower of Jesus [44:55] You have the freedom to belong [44:56] And you have the freedom to take communion [44:59] If you’re not

[45:03] Please don’t [45:04] It’s all that we ask [45:06] Scripture says [45:07] That communion is only for those who believe [45:10] Because it’s only for those who believe that it means anything

[45:15] So take a minute [45:17] And reflect on being an heir [45:20] To the promise of Abraham [45:21] And the great story that God wants to write with your life [45:24] And then come forward or go off to the side [45:27] And reflect through the bread

[45:29] And through the cup [45:31] If you want to become a follower of Jesus today [45:33] Or you don’t know what that means [45:34] Or you just want to talk about something [45:36] I’m going to be back there [45:38] And I would love to meet you

[45:40] I would love to talk to you about it [45:42] And I would love for today to be the day [45:45] Of your redemption [45:47] And then we can take communion together [45:50] Let’s pray [45:51] Father we come before you

[45:56] God I just want to thank you for all that you are for us and your son Jesus [46:02] We are one [46:03] We are your church [46:05] God help us to begin becoming your church [46:11] Until you return [46:13] Amen