WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.600 --> 00:00:05.639 You belong to God's family. That is the second calling 2 00:00:06.040 --> 00:00:10.400 or purpose or reason or mission of your life. First 3 00:00:10.439 --> 00:00:13.880 to know God, who loves you dearly, but second is 4 00:00:13.919 --> 00:00:16.960 to be a part of his family, and that family 5 00:00:17.000 --> 00:00:19.879 is called the church. Romans one six says you are 6 00:00:19.920 --> 00:00:24.719 among those who have been called to belong to Jesus Christ, 7 00:00:25.239 --> 00:00:27.920 called to belong That's what we're looking at this weekend. 8 00:00:28.239 --> 00:00:32.679 You are called to belong to Jesus Christ. God designed 9 00:00:32.759 --> 00:00:37.520 his family, the church, to meet your five deepest needs. 10 00:00:38.280 --> 00:00:40.399 In fact, the church is the only thing that can 11 00:00:40.479 --> 00:00:45.359 meet your five deepest needs. In the Bible, the church 12 00:00:45.439 --> 00:00:49.200 is often referred to by a different metaphor. The church 13 00:00:49.280 --> 00:00:52.359 is called a family, the church is called a temple, 14 00:00:52.880 --> 00:00:55.920 the church is called a body, the church is called 15 00:00:56.000 --> 00:00:59.560 a flock, and the church is called a garden. Each 16 00:00:59.600 --> 00:01:02.759 one of them have profound implications for your life. And 17 00:01:02.840 --> 00:01:07.040 if you understand the five meanings of these five metaphors, 18 00:01:08.040 --> 00:01:11.719 you will understand how the church was designed. God's family 19 00:01:11.799 --> 00:01:17.079 was designed to meet your deepest needs in life Ephesians 20 00:01:17.079 --> 00:01:20.640 four twenty five. In Christ's body, we're all connected to 21 00:01:20.719 --> 00:01:25.920 each other, and a disconnected part dies. Now let me 22 00:01:25.959 --> 00:01:28.920 give you a fourth metaphor. The fourth description of the 23 00:01:29.000 --> 00:01:33.799 church in the Bible is a flock. It is a flock, 24 00:01:34.359 --> 00:01:38.760 like a flock of sheep. We're God's family. We learn 25 00:01:38.840 --> 00:01:42.000 our identity. We're in God's temple. We're supported by each other. 26 00:01:42.239 --> 00:01:45.359 Where Christ's body, we discover our own unique value. And 27 00:01:45.480 --> 00:01:48.400 in God's flock we're banded together. Look up here on 28 00:01:48.400 --> 00:01:52.560 the screen some one hundred, verse three says this God 29 00:01:52.640 --> 00:01:58.239 made us, and we are his. We are his people, 30 00:01:58.560 --> 00:02:03.079 the sheep of his pasture. Now, probably I imagine what 31 00:02:03.120 --> 00:02:06.079 you're thinking. You're saying, I'm a sheep and a flock. 32 00:02:06.200 --> 00:02:09.719 That doesn't sound too appealing. I mean, because we live 33 00:02:09.719 --> 00:02:14.960 in suburbia. You've never seen a sheep, and you have 34 00:02:15.039 --> 00:02:19.039 no idea how well cared sheep are taken care of. 35 00:02:19.400 --> 00:02:23.719 Because sheep are pretty innocent animals. They have no natural 36 00:02:26.439 --> 00:02:30.800 defense against predators, so they have to be protected by shepherds. 37 00:02:31.879 --> 00:02:33.840 You don't have to care for cows like you care 38 00:02:33.879 --> 00:02:36.879 for sheep. You don't have to care for horses or 39 00:02:36.919 --> 00:02:39.599 even chickens like you have to care for sheep, because. 40 00:02:39.439 --> 00:02:41.599 Sheep are pretty dependent. 41 00:02:43.319 --> 00:02:46.120 And let me read to you what it means to 42 00:02:46.159 --> 00:02:49.680 be a sheep from Psalm twenty three, the most famous 43 00:02:49.680 --> 00:02:54.000 Psalm FoST famous chapter in the Bible, because this is 44 00:02:54.000 --> 00:02:57.039 from the Living Bible. Because the Lord is my shepherd, 45 00:02:57.560 --> 00:03:00.120 I have everything that I need. Now I'm interested and 46 00:03:00.199 --> 00:03:03.759 being a sheep. If God's my shepherd, then I have 47 00:03:03.840 --> 00:03:06.919 everything I need. He lets me rest in meadow grass, 48 00:03:07.680 --> 00:03:11.479 and he leaves me beside quiet streams. He gives me 49 00:03:11.560 --> 00:03:14.680 new strength. He helps me to do what honors him 50 00:03:14.680 --> 00:03:16.960 the most. And even when I'm walking through dark valley 51 00:03:16.960 --> 00:03:20.479 of death, I won't be afraid because you, Lord, my shepherd, 52 00:03:20.639 --> 00:03:24.520 are close beside me, guiding, guarding all the way. You 53 00:03:24.599 --> 00:03:27.159 provide delicious food for me in the presence of my enemies, 54 00:03:27.199 --> 00:03:30.879 and you welcome me as your guest. Blessings overflow. Your 55 00:03:30.919 --> 00:03:33.439 goodness and unfailing kindness shall be with me all of 56 00:03:33.439 --> 00:03:36.520 my life and afterwards, I will live with you forever 57 00:03:36.599 --> 00:03:40.400 and your home. Now I want to be a sheep. Okay, 58 00:03:40.639 --> 00:03:43.360 now we're talking. Let me read you what Jesus said 59 00:03:43.560 --> 00:03:47.080 about shepherds and flocks and sheep and John ten. I 60 00:03:47.120 --> 00:03:50.520 am the good shepherd, and the good shepherd lays down 61 00:03:50.560 --> 00:03:54.960 his life for his sheep. A hired hand runs away 62 00:03:54.960 --> 00:03:57.280 because he cares nothing for the sheep, like when the 63 00:03:57.319 --> 00:03:59.759 wolves come. But I'm the good shepherd, and I know 64 00:03:59.800 --> 00:04:02.120 my sheep, and my sheep know me, and I lay 65 00:04:02.159 --> 00:04:04.560 down my life for my sheep. They listen to my 66 00:04:04.719 --> 00:04:07.520 voice and they follow me, and I give them eternal 67 00:04:07.560 --> 00:04:10.960 life and they will never perish and no one will 68 00:04:11.000 --> 00:04:13.560 ever be able to snatch my sheep out of my hand. 69 00:04:13.919 --> 00:04:19.040 Now, I want to be a sheep. So flock is 70 00:04:19.079 --> 00:04:19.720 a good term. 71 00:04:20.879 --> 00:04:26.600 I'm God's temple, I'm God's body, Christ's body, I'm God's family. 72 00:04:27.240 --> 00:04:30.759 I'm God's building, and I'm in God's flock. And why 73 00:04:30.800 --> 00:04:33.040 did God choose a flock of sheep as an illustration 74 00:04:33.079 --> 00:04:35.439 of what the church is like? Write this down? Because 75 00:04:35.480 --> 00:04:41.199 in God's flock, I'm protected and I'm cared for. I'm 76 00:04:41.240 --> 00:04:44.720 protected and I'm cared for. I'm not on my own. 77 00:04:45.360 --> 00:04:47.360 I have other people looking up for me. I enjoy 78 00:04:47.439 --> 00:04:51.079 safety and security because I've got a shepherd. And that 79 00:04:51.199 --> 00:04:54.240 makes me more confident, and that makes me less anxious, 80 00:04:54.279 --> 00:04:57.959 and it makes me less fearful. And I know that 81 00:04:58.000 --> 00:05:01.680 God is protecting me because I'm in his flock. Now 82 00:05:01.720 --> 00:05:03.959 when is that important? When I'm being beat up in 83 00:05:04.000 --> 00:05:08.040 the business world, when my family or my marriage is 84 00:05:08.040 --> 00:05:11.800 being strained to the breaking point, when I'm facing a 85 00:05:11.839 --> 00:05:15.319 personal crisis or a terminal illness, I need to know 86 00:05:15.879 --> 00:05:19.800 that somebody's protecting and caring for me. Now, not just 87 00:05:19.879 --> 00:05:23.279 God cares and protects for you. In the flock of God, 88 00:05:23.439 --> 00:05:26.279 we help each other. And what you need in your 89 00:05:26.319 --> 00:05:28.519 life is you need some people who will step up 90 00:05:28.560 --> 00:05:31.560 to bat for you when you need them. You need 91 00:05:31.639 --> 00:05:36.439 some people who walk into your life when everybody else 92 00:05:36.480 --> 00:05:39.519 walks out of your life. Do you have anybody like that? 93 00:05:39.519 --> 00:05:42.199 That's what the church is for. We are to walk 94 00:05:42.240 --> 00:05:45.639 into each other's life when everybody else walks out. That's 95 00:05:45.639 --> 00:05:49.839 what it means to be in the flock of God. Now, 96 00:05:50.000 --> 00:05:52.480 you need people who will step up for you. And 97 00:05:52.560 --> 00:05:55.439 in the flock of God, God has created two kinds 98 00:05:55.480 --> 00:05:59.120 of people who are caregivers, two kinds of people who 99 00:05:59.160 --> 00:06:01.360 will step up for you, Two kinds of people who 100 00:06:01.360 --> 00:06:02.240 will look out for you. 101 00:06:02.800 --> 00:06:05.040 The first is pastors. 102 00:06:05.720 --> 00:06:08.480 My pastors look out for me or watch out for 103 00:06:08.600 --> 00:06:11.079 me when I'm in a part of the of the 104 00:06:11.120 --> 00:06:13.560 flock of God. You know what the word pastor means. 105 00:06:14.079 --> 00:06:17.800 It's the Greek word for shepherd. That's what it means, poyman. 106 00:06:18.319 --> 00:06:21.240 A pastor is a shepherd. A shepherd is a pastor. 107 00:06:21.480 --> 00:06:24.879 Pastors are to shepherd the flock of God. In fact, 108 00:06:25.120 --> 00:06:27.319 you want to know my job description, look at this 109 00:06:28.399 --> 00:06:30.839 on your outline one Peter five to two. This is 110 00:06:30.879 --> 00:06:35.839 God's word to pastors, to shepherds, take care of God's flock, 111 00:06:37.240 --> 00:06:43.160 his people that you are responsible for. Watch over them 112 00:06:44.079 --> 00:06:48.519 because you want to, not because you're forced to. I'm 113 00:06:48.639 --> 00:06:51.519 to take care of God's flock. I'm the shepherd. I'm 114 00:06:51.560 --> 00:06:54.240 to be responsible. I'm to watch over you. Let me 115 00:06:54.279 --> 00:06:55.959 show you another verse. Look up here on the screen. 116 00:06:57.120 --> 00:07:04.879 Hebrews thirteen seventeen says this, obey your spiritual leaders and 117 00:07:04.959 --> 00:07:09.439 do what to say. Their work is to watch over 118 00:07:09.560 --> 00:07:16.639 your souls, and they know they are accountable to God. 119 00:07:17.120 --> 00:07:19.600 Now I'll be honest with you, guys. That to me 120 00:07:19.959 --> 00:07:23.439 is the scariest verse in the Bible. It scares me 121 00:07:23.519 --> 00:07:27.319 to death. Not the part about obey your spiritual leaders 122 00:07:27.360 --> 00:07:29.079 and do what to say. The part that scares me 123 00:07:29.240 --> 00:07:32.519 is they watch over your souls and they know they 124 00:07:32.560 --> 00:07:34.959 are accountable to God. 125 00:07:36.040 --> 00:07:37.639 That scares me to death. 126 00:07:38.399 --> 00:07:40.240 Let me just share with your heart to heart here 127 00:07:40.279 --> 00:07:45.519 for a minute. The Bible says that if you choose 128 00:07:45.560 --> 00:07:48.839 to put yourself under my care as a shepherd of 129 00:07:49.040 --> 00:07:52.240 saddle backed church, and you join this flock, and you say, 130 00:07:52.240 --> 00:07:54.319 this is going to be my family, this is going 131 00:07:54.399 --> 00:07:56.480 to be my flock. This is where I'm going to 132 00:07:56.560 --> 00:07:59.000 serve the body of Christ. This is the temple that 133 00:07:59.040 --> 00:08:01.519 I'm going to be built in doing sharing with that. 134 00:08:01.560 --> 00:08:05.680 If you put yourself under my care, that one day 135 00:08:05.959 --> 00:08:09.319 I am going to give an account to God for 136 00:08:09.399 --> 00:08:12.759 how well I helped you grow spiritually, And that scares 137 00:08:12.800 --> 00:08:16.439 me to death. One day I'm going to give an 138 00:08:16.480 --> 00:08:19.560 account to God. Meet Rick Warren will personally give an 139 00:08:19.600 --> 00:08:22.399 account to God for how well I took care of 140 00:08:22.439 --> 00:08:23.279 your soul. 141 00:08:24.800 --> 00:08:28.560 And you, guys, I'm not that smart. 142 00:08:30.120 --> 00:08:34.720 And if you join this church, I beg you, beg 143 00:08:34.799 --> 00:08:38.799 you to pray for me, because I don't take anybody 144 00:08:38.840 --> 00:08:43.320 smart enough to pastor church this size. I couldn't possibly 145 00:08:43.360 --> 00:08:48.000 care for everybody's needs, much less know everybody's needs. And 146 00:08:48.080 --> 00:08:49.919 yet the Bible says, one day I will give an 147 00:08:49.919 --> 00:08:54.759 account for the direction that I led this flock. And 148 00:08:54.840 --> 00:08:59.200 I take that very very seriously. It drives me to 149 00:08:59.279 --> 00:09:04.240 my knees every single day. And I am praying for 150 00:09:04.320 --> 00:09:07.279 you and your spiritual care, and I beg you to 151 00:09:07.320 --> 00:09:10.240 pray for me, because, as I said, I'm just not 152 00:09:11.080 --> 00:09:15.799 smart enough to do that. I need your help. And 153 00:09:16.120 --> 00:09:19.480 I am concerned that I lead you in the right direction. 154 00:09:19.720 --> 00:09:22.159 I would rather stick a knife in my heart than 155 00:09:22.240 --> 00:09:25.159 lead you in the wrong way. This is the family 156 00:09:25.200 --> 00:09:27.679 of God, This is the flock of God. This is 157 00:09:27.679 --> 00:09:30.879 not like some business where you just mess it up, 158 00:09:31.000 --> 00:09:34.759 you just go start another one. Eternity is in the 159 00:09:34.799 --> 00:09:41.519 balance here heaven and Hell. It's extremely important, and sometimes 160 00:09:41.840 --> 00:09:45.480 the burden is crushing to me. The Bible says, I 161 00:09:45.519 --> 00:09:49.840 will give an account to God one day, and so 162 00:09:51.120 --> 00:09:53.600 I take that serious that I want to make sure 163 00:09:53.720 --> 00:09:56.600 that you are You're safe, that I protect you from 164 00:09:56.639 --> 00:10:01.399 false doctrine and cults and wolves and false ideologies and 165 00:10:01.440 --> 00:10:05.120 things like that, and lead you in the right way 166 00:10:05.240 --> 00:10:06.720 because I'm accountable to God. 167 00:10:08.360 --> 00:10:09.759 But not only do we. 168 00:10:09.759 --> 00:10:12.159 Have pastors to help us in the flock of God, 169 00:10:12.840 --> 00:10:16.440 we have our small groups. And fifty eight times in 170 00:10:16.480 --> 00:10:19.639 the Bible the phrase one another is used, and the 171 00:10:19.679 --> 00:10:24.000 Bible says that the sheep take care of each other, sheep, care. 172 00:10:23.840 --> 00:10:25.320 For sheep, not just shepherds. 173 00:10:25.600 --> 00:10:27.720 And the Bible uses the phrase one another says love 174 00:10:27.759 --> 00:10:30.519 one another, care for one another, help one another, encourage 175 00:10:30.519 --> 00:10:33.440 one another, support one another, pray for one another, love 176 00:10:33.440 --> 00:10:35.320 one another, greet one another. 177 00:10:35.559 --> 00:10:37.440 Fifty eight times. We are to do these. And the 178 00:10:37.519 --> 00:10:39.879 only way you can do that is in a small group. 179 00:10:40.480 --> 00:10:42.840 That's why if you're not in a small group, you're 180 00:10:42.879 --> 00:10:47.720 not really connected, because you can't do those one anothers 181 00:10:47.879 --> 00:10:51.320 in a crowd of several thousand people. You could only 182 00:10:51.320 --> 00:10:53.679 do it in a group of four or six or 183 00:10:53.759 --> 00:10:57.200 seven or whatever. Here's what the Bible says, Galatians six 184 00:10:57.279 --> 00:11:04.120 to two share each other's troubles and problems. And in 185 00:11:04.159 --> 00:11:06.360 this way, in other words, when we share each other's 186 00:11:06.399 --> 00:11:09.440 troubles and problems, in this way, you obey the law 187 00:11:09.480 --> 00:11:13.080 of Christ. What is the law of Christ? Love your neighbors, yourself. 188 00:11:13.559 --> 00:11:15.480 And when you're in a small group and you pray 189 00:11:15.519 --> 00:11:18.440 for somebody who's just gone through a tough time, somebody 190 00:11:18.519 --> 00:11:21.759 just says, you know, this week was terrible, this happened, 191 00:11:21.799 --> 00:11:24.039 this happened, this happened, And you stop and you pray 192 00:11:24.039 --> 00:11:25.720 for them, and you encourage them you give them a 193 00:11:25.720 --> 00:11:28.960 pat on the back, you give them a warm, encouraging word. 194 00:11:29.919 --> 00:11:32.200 You have just done the one on others. You have 195 00:11:32.440 --> 00:11:37.600 just shepherded the flock yourself. You have been a part 196 00:11:37.639 --> 00:11:39.559 of the family of God. You've been a part of 197 00:11:39.600 --> 00:11:41.559 the body of Christ. You've been a part of the 198 00:11:41.600 --> 00:11:43.639 Temple of God. You've been a part of the flock 199 00:11:43.720 --> 00:11:47.519 of God, and there has been protection and care for 200 00:11:47.759 --> 00:11:54.480 Thessalonians five eleven says, encourage each other and give each 201 00:11:54.559 --> 00:11:57.679 other strength. You get strength, I get strength by we 202 00:11:57.799 --> 00:11:59.960 encourage each other in a small group. So here's my question, 203 00:12:01.120 --> 00:12:05.639 who's looking out for you? Here's another question, who are 204 00:12:05.679 --> 00:12:08.679 you looking out for? Can you name three or four 205 00:12:08.720 --> 00:12:11.840 specific people? You go, these are people in our flock, 206 00:12:12.159 --> 00:12:15.120 in our family, in our small group, in our body 207 00:12:15.159 --> 00:12:18.960 of Christ that I'm looking out for, and they're looking 208 00:12:18.960 --> 00:12:22.120 out for me. That's what it means to be a Christian. 209 00:12:23.519 --> 00:12:25.039 That's what it means to be a part of the 210 00:12:25.039 --> 00:12:27.320 family of God. That's what it means that I'm not 211 00:12:27.480 --> 00:12:31.000 just called to be loved. I am called by God 212 00:12:31.240 --> 00:12:33.960 to belong. And one day you'll stand before God and 213 00:12:33.919 --> 00:12:34.639 I'll say. 214 00:12:34.399 --> 00:12:35.840 Did you do that one? 215 00:12:36.120 --> 00:12:39.200 Did you do the belonging part that I called you 216 00:12:39.440 --> 00:12:41.480 to be a part of my family, a part of 217 00:12:41.519 --> 00:12:44.720 my flock, a part of my temple, a part of 218 00:12:44.759 --> 00:12:45.240 my body. 219 00:12:45.360 --> 00:12:49.440 Did you do those things? Here's the cool thing. 220 00:12:50.720 --> 00:12:53.200 All the stuff that you're most embarrassed about in the world, 221 00:12:53.519 --> 00:12:57.759 God uses it for good in the church. The very 222 00:12:57.799 --> 00:13:02.440 thing you're most embarrassed about, your hurts, your hang ups, 223 00:13:02.639 --> 00:13:06.320 your sins, your mistakes, your weaknesses. God says, you know what, 224 00:13:06.679 --> 00:13:09.679 in my family, I'm going to use those to encourage 225 00:13:09.720 --> 00:13:12.399 other people. So the stuff you want to keep a 226 00:13:12.440 --> 00:13:14.480 secret from everybody else in the world, you get to 227 00:13:14.480 --> 00:13:17.559 tell everybody here because it'll encourage them. Who could better 228 00:13:17.600 --> 00:13:20.480 help somebody who's on the verge of a divorce and 229 00:13:20.519 --> 00:13:22.000 somebody who's been on the verge of. 230 00:13:22.000 --> 00:13:24.320 A divorce, been there, done that. Let me tell you 231 00:13:24.399 --> 00:13:24.960 what's going on. 232 00:13:25.080 --> 00:13:28.159 Who could better help somebody who's struggling with an addiction 233 00:13:28.360 --> 00:13:32.000 than somebody who's had an addiction? Who could better help 234 00:13:32.039 --> 00:13:35.440 somebody who's been molested than somebody has been molested? Who 235 00:13:35.440 --> 00:13:40.120 could better help somebody who's gone through a bankruptcy or 236 00:13:40.200 --> 00:13:46.240 has lost a child, or any anything good, bad, sinful. 237 00:13:47.039 --> 00:13:48.759 God says, I can use it all. 238 00:13:59.039 --> 00:14:01.320 Hey, would you like to go so deeper with Pastor 239 00:14:01.399 --> 00:14:04.600 Rick to discover God's purpose in your life? Well now 240 00:14:04.639 --> 00:14:08.200 you can with the video based study kit called What 241 00:14:08.240 --> 00:14:11.639 on Earth Am I here for? This life changing study 242 00:14:11.720 --> 00:14:14.799 is taught by Rick and includes a workbook and six 243 00:14:14.919 --> 00:14:15.879 video sessions. 244 00:14:16.159 --> 00:14:17.320 As you go through. 245 00:14:17.080 --> 00:14:20.679 These lessons, you'll embark on a journey of discovery to 246 00:14:20.799 --> 00:14:25.039 answer life's most fundamental question, what on Earth am I 247 00:14:25.159 --> 00:14:28.320 here for? You'll learn that it's only in God that 248 00:14:28.360 --> 00:14:32.879 we discover our origin, our identity, our meaning, our purpose, 249 00:14:33.159 --> 00:14:36.039 our significance, and our destiny. 250 00:14:36.360 --> 00:14:38.840 Every other path leads to a dead end. 251 00:14:39.200 --> 00:14:43.200 This resource is packed with biblically centered principles and is 252 00:14:43.279 --> 00:14:47.120 perfect for personal or small group study. So be sure 253 00:14:47.159 --> 00:14:49.840 to request this study kit when you give a gift 254 00:14:49.879 --> 00:14:53.000 to Daily Hope to help share the hope of Jesus 255 00:14:53.120 --> 00:14:56.039 with a hurting world. We'll send it to you today 256 00:14:56.320 --> 00:14:58.080 as our way of saying thanks. 257 00:15:00.759 --> 00:15:01.080 Now. 258 00:15:01.559 --> 00:15:03.799 The final description that I want us to look at 259 00:15:03.799 --> 00:15:06.360 this weekend of the church is the church is called 260 00:15:06.440 --> 00:15:10.879 a garden. A garden specifically a vineyard, and this is 261 00:15:10.919 --> 00:15:14.039 an organic metaphor that has to do with how being 262 00:15:14.080 --> 00:15:18.000 a part of a church family helpshoot grow like fruit 263 00:15:18.159 --> 00:15:21.480 in a garden, like grapes on a vine on the screen. 264 00:15:21.519 --> 00:15:24.360 The Bible says in John fifteen, Jesus said, I am 265 00:15:24.399 --> 00:15:29.240 the true vine, and my father is the gardener, and 266 00:15:29.320 --> 00:15:31.279 you are the branches. 267 00:15:32.240 --> 00:15:33.960 Now, what's the lesson we get out of this? 268 00:15:34.600 --> 00:15:36.200 The lesson we get out of the fact that the 269 00:15:36.320 --> 00:15:39.879 church is like a garden where Jesus says, you know, 270 00:15:40.159 --> 00:15:43.080 I'm the vine and you're the branches. You know, I 271 00:15:43.159 --> 00:15:45.679 actually grow a bunch of different kinds of grapes. And 272 00:15:45.759 --> 00:15:49.240 I could bring into you some grape vines, and I 273 00:15:49.240 --> 00:15:50.759 could bring them in they're all cut up, but if 274 00:15:50.759 --> 00:15:54.200 they're disconnected, they don't bear any fruit at all. This 275 00:15:54.240 --> 00:15:57.879 is talking about being fruitful. Your life needs to be productive. 276 00:15:58.320 --> 00:16:00.840 You need to make a differ friends with your life. 277 00:16:00.879 --> 00:16:03.559 Everybody wants to end their life feel like I didn't 278 00:16:03.600 --> 00:16:06.840 just waste my life. I was productive with my life. 279 00:16:06.840 --> 00:16:10.000 I did something with life. I made my life count. 280 00:16:10.840 --> 00:16:12.720 And this is the fifth thing that we learned that 281 00:16:12.799 --> 00:16:19.080 in God's garden, my life becomes productive, it becomes fruitful. 282 00:16:19.759 --> 00:16:23.000 I do something with my life because now I'm connected 283 00:16:23.000 --> 00:16:26.679 to the vine, and there's life giving life flowing through 284 00:16:26.720 --> 00:16:29.720 those vines and those branches, so I'm able to bear fruit. 285 00:16:29.919 --> 00:16:32.360 If I'm disconnected, there's no way I'm going to bear fruit. 286 00:16:32.480 --> 00:16:34.200 I don't cut off a branch of an apple tree. 287 00:16:34.240 --> 00:16:36.759 It will never in a million years grow any apples. 288 00:16:37.000 --> 00:16:41.120 It only grows apples as it's connected to the tree. 289 00:16:41.440 --> 00:16:44.159 The Bible says in John fourteen fifteen, excuse me four 290 00:16:44.159 --> 00:16:49.039 and five. A branch cannot bear fruit if it's severed 291 00:16:49.080 --> 00:16:54.840 from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful apart from me, 292 00:16:55.960 --> 00:16:59.279 Jesus says, I am the vine, and you are the branches. 293 00:17:00.200 --> 00:17:03.240 Those who remain in me and I in them will 294 00:17:03.320 --> 00:17:09.119 produce much fruit, circle much fruit. That's called productivity. But 295 00:17:09.240 --> 00:17:13.119 apart from me, you can do nothing. The point is 296 00:17:13.319 --> 00:17:17.160 a disconnected branch can't bear fruit. God has all kinds 297 00:17:17.160 --> 00:17:20.920 of fruit he wants to bear in your life, but. 298 00:17:20.839 --> 00:17:21.640 You can't do it. 299 00:17:21.960 --> 00:17:23.960 None of the fruit that God has for your life 300 00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:27.759 will happen unless you're connected to the church. Unless you're 301 00:17:27.799 --> 00:17:33.119 connected to the vine. You're built into the building. You're 302 00:17:33.160 --> 00:17:36.480 a part of the body, you're a member of the family, 303 00:17:36.720 --> 00:17:40.000 your sheep in the flock. All these connection metaphors say, 304 00:17:40.480 --> 00:17:44.640 nothing happens that God intends for your life, your purpose. 305 00:17:45.000 --> 00:17:48.359 That's why your calling, your second calling is to belong 306 00:17:49.319 --> 00:17:54.920 to get connected. You have five basic needs in your life. 307 00:17:55.599 --> 00:17:58.359 You have a need to know your identity, who am 308 00:17:58.359 --> 00:18:03.400 I really need to develop stability so you don't get 309 00:18:03.440 --> 00:18:04.559 blown away by the tough. 310 00:18:04.400 --> 00:18:05.119 Things in life. 311 00:18:05.279 --> 00:18:08.519 You have a need to increase your capacity. You have 312 00:18:08.599 --> 00:18:13.759 a need to have security in your life. And you 313 00:18:13.839 --> 00:18:18.039 have a need for productivity. All five of these things 314 00:18:18.240 --> 00:18:22.400 are found in God's family. In God's family, I learn 315 00:18:22.480 --> 00:18:27.400 my identity. In Christ's body, I discover my unique value, 316 00:18:27.440 --> 00:18:30.799 my capacity. In God's temple, I learn how to support 317 00:18:30.880 --> 00:18:33.559 others and be supported by others and have that stability. 318 00:18:33.559 --> 00:18:37.960 And in God's flock I come together for protection and 319 00:18:38.039 --> 00:18:43.640 care security. And in the vine, in the garden, I 320 00:18:43.720 --> 00:18:48.319 learned productivity, fruitfulness. Let me say it another way. In 321 00:18:48.359 --> 00:18:50.359 your life, if you're going to really live the life 322 00:18:50.359 --> 00:18:53.839 God made you to live, you need power to live on. 323 00:18:55.000 --> 00:18:58.759 You need people to live with, You need principles to 324 00:18:58.799 --> 00:19:02.279 live by, you need a plan to live out, and 325 00:19:02.319 --> 00:19:03.880 you need a purpose to live for. 326 00:19:04.240 --> 00:19:07.160 Where are you going to get that outside of the church? Nowhere, 327 00:19:09.039 --> 00:19:10.200 Nowhere in the world. 328 00:19:10.400 --> 00:19:14.240 Will you find those five things anywhere else except in 329 00:19:14.319 --> 00:19:17.240 the plan of God, who created the whole thing and 330 00:19:17.319 --> 00:19:21.400 designed his family the church to answer your deepest needs. 331 00:19:21.799 --> 00:19:22.880 So here's my one question. 332 00:19:24.519 --> 00:19:27.880 Why should you remain disconnected when a church like this 333 00:19:28.079 --> 00:19:32.039 has so much to offer? People who say, well, I 334 00:19:32.079 --> 00:19:34.799 love Jesus, but I don't love the church. 335 00:19:34.880 --> 00:19:35.720 I don't need the church. 336 00:19:35.839 --> 00:19:40.039 That's the stupidest thing you can say. The Church was 337 00:19:40.079 --> 00:19:44.079 designed to meet your deepest needs. You cannot be what 338 00:19:44.160 --> 00:19:47.960 God puts you on this earth to be without being connected. 339 00:19:49.000 --> 00:19:52.279 We're better together, we grow together. And God says it 340 00:19:52.319 --> 00:19:55.160 four or five different ways. The Church is the hope 341 00:19:55.240 --> 00:19:58.359 of the world. America is not the hope of the world. 342 00:19:59.039 --> 00:20:02.240 Politics is not the hope of the world. Economics is 343 00:20:02.240 --> 00:20:04.880 not the hope of the world. Education is not the 344 00:20:04.880 --> 00:20:06.920 hope of the world. If any of those things would work, 345 00:20:06.960 --> 00:20:09.480 we would have already turned the thing around. The hope 346 00:20:09.480 --> 00:20:12.240 of the world is the spread of God's good news 347 00:20:12.279 --> 00:20:15.599 so that lives are changed, and hearts change, and families 348 00:20:15.599 --> 00:20:18.440 and marriages are saved. And the only thing that's going 349 00:20:18.519 --> 00:20:22.599 to last is the Church of God. So I highly 350 00:20:22.640 --> 00:20:25.640 recommend you invest the rest of your life in that 351 00:20:25.759 --> 00:20:29.400 which is going to outlast it. Nothing else will let 352 00:20:29.400 --> 00:20:32.400 the close of this verse on the screen. Ephesians three 353 00:20:32.599 --> 00:20:38.559 twenty one. Glory belongs to God in the Church and 354 00:20:38.640 --> 00:20:43.319 in Jesus Christ, for all time and eternity. Now, notice 355 00:20:43.440 --> 00:20:45.559 the Bible says two things bring glory to God, the 356 00:20:45.680 --> 00:20:49.279 Church and Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the son of God. 357 00:20:49.640 --> 00:20:52.400 The Church is the family of God. And those two 358 00:20:52.400 --> 00:20:55.400 things bring glory to God. Don't you ever put the 359 00:20:55.480 --> 00:21:00.440 Church down again. It's God's bride, it's God's family, it's 360 00:21:00.480 --> 00:21:04.119 God's flock, and it's God's purpose for your life. You're 361 00:21:04.240 --> 00:21:12.599 called to belong that's power heads. Lord, I thank you 362 00:21:12.640 --> 00:21:14.759 that even with all of our faults and weaknesses and 363 00:21:14.799 --> 00:21:20.000 all of the many sins in your family, you love 364 00:21:20.480 --> 00:21:24.640 your family, the Church. Of course, it's going to be imperfect. 365 00:21:24.720 --> 00:21:29.799 It's filled with imperfect people, but you love it. And Jesus, 366 00:21:29.880 --> 00:21:31.720 I thank you that you're not ashamed to call us 367 00:21:31.759 --> 00:21:34.880 your brothers and sisters, and so we may we never 368 00:21:35.119 --> 00:21:37.319 be ashamed of your church. 369 00:21:38.759 --> 00:21:41.720 It's your family. Lord. 370 00:21:41.759 --> 00:21:44.519 You said in the word Christ died for the church, 371 00:21:45.720 --> 00:21:48.519 and I pray that we would have that same attitude 372 00:21:48.799 --> 00:21:51.920 that the attitude of our brothers and sisters. You've said, 373 00:21:52.319 --> 00:21:54.559 we know what love is. That we lay down our 374 00:21:54.559 --> 00:21:58.279 lives for our brothers and sisters. May we realize we're 375 00:21:58.319 --> 00:22:02.799 not just friends, We're not just the tenders. We're family. 376 00:22:03.880 --> 00:22:06.000 May we stick up for each other. May we support 377 00:22:06.039 --> 00:22:08.200 each other. May we care for each other. And may 378 00:22:08.279 --> 00:22:10.480 the world look at saddle backed Church and say, those 379 00:22:10.519 --> 00:22:17.359 guys really love, they really love. If you haven't stepped 380 00:22:17.359 --> 00:22:19.519 across the line and invited Jesus Christ in your life, 381 00:22:19.559 --> 00:22:24.720 said Jesus Christ, come into my life right now, come 382 00:22:24.759 --> 00:22:28.160 into my life and change me and save me. I 383 00:22:28.240 --> 00:22:32.119 want to be a part of your family, and I 384 00:22:32.119 --> 00:22:35.240 want to accept your call to be loved, and I 385 00:22:35.279 --> 00:22:37.759 want to accept your call to belong. 386 00:22:39.559 --> 00:22:42.400 In your name. I pray amen. 387 00:22:53.119 --> 00:22:55.799 Friends, if you're having trouble staying consistent in your Bible 388 00:22:55.839 --> 00:22:59.599 study and quiet time, one thing you can do is 389 00:22:59.680 --> 00:23:03.279 have a daily Hope devotional and podcast emailed to you 390 00:23:03.720 --> 00:23:07.359 every single day. Did you know that? Now each devotional, 391 00:23:07.400 --> 00:23:11.000 each daily devotional gives you a Bible verse and both 392 00:23:11.039 --> 00:23:14.920 a written and an audio teaching about that verse. Now 393 00:23:14.920 --> 00:23:17.319 I mention this because that's exactly what one of my 394 00:23:17.799 --> 00:23:21.119 listeners has done. Marla wrote me, and she says that 395 00:23:21.200 --> 00:23:25.359 getting Daily Hope devotionals have helped deepen her relationship with 396 00:23:25.440 --> 00:23:29.200 the Lord and helped her be more consistent. Marla writes this, Hello, 397 00:23:29.279 --> 00:23:32.119 Pastor Rick, I've been a Christian all my life, but 398 00:23:32.160 --> 00:23:35.079 I felt lost for the past few years. But a 399 00:23:35.079 --> 00:23:38.359 friend of mine told me about your Daily Hope emails 400 00:23:39.039 --> 00:23:41.279 and I've been getting them for about a month now. 401 00:23:41.759 --> 00:23:45.000