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<v Speaker 1>Hey, everyone, welcome to Pastor Rick's Daily Hope, the Bible

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<v Speaker 1>teaching ministry of Rick Warren. Hey, we're excited you've joined

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<v Speaker 1>us today as we begin a powerful news series how

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<v Speaker 1>the Church meets your deepest needs. Together, we're going to

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<v Speaker 1>uncover the joy and strength that comes from being a

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<v Speaker 1>part of God's family. All right, let's get right to

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<v Speaker 1>Rick for a message called why you absolutely need a

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<v Speaker 1>church family.

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<v Speaker 2>You know, every Sunday in the United States, about one

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<v Speaker 2>hundred and twenty million people go to a church worship service.

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<v Speaker 3>Now, let me put that in perspective.

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<v Speaker 2>That means more people in America go to a church

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<v Speaker 2>service on one single weekend, one hundred and twenty million people.

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<v Speaker 2>Then we'll go and attend every single professional sporting event

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<v Speaker 2>in America in an entire year. Now, today, I want

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<v Speaker 2>to ask the big question, why why do they do this?

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<v Speaker 3>What are the benefits?

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<v Speaker 2>Why are over two million, excuse me, two billion people

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<v Speaker 2>around the world a member of a church family somewhere

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<v Speaker 2>in the world.

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<v Speaker 3>Why do they do this? What are the benefits? What's

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<v Speaker 3>the payoff?

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<v Speaker 2>Why get out of bed and go attend a service

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<v Speaker 2>at a church when you can stay home. How would

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<v Speaker 2>you answer that question. You know, having been a pastor

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<v Speaker 2>for over forty years, I happen to know that most

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<v Speaker 2>people who attend to church service have no clear reason

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<v Speaker 2>or idea why they're there.

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<v Speaker 3>Now, I'm sure that some.

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<v Speaker 2>Of those millions who are attending church around the world,

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<v Speaker 2>not just in America, but in Berlin and in Buenos

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<v Speaker 2>Aires and in Hong Kong and Manila and all the

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<v Speaker 2>other places where we're reaching out, I'm sure that some

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<v Speaker 2>people attend out a habit or out of tradition, or

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<v Speaker 2>maybe they go out of duty, or they went to

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<v Speaker 2>a church service out of guilt, or maybe they went

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<v Speaker 2>because somebody pressured them to go. Somebody were to ask you,

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<v Speaker 2>why are you a part of a church family?

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<v Speaker 3>What reasons would you give? What would you say?

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<v Speaker 2>We need to who we are and what we are.

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<v Speaker 2>We need to identify why we do what we do

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<v Speaker 2>and what are the purposes of a church family. Now

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<v Speaker 2>you need to have clearly in your mind this foundation.

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<v Speaker 2>You need to know all of the ways that God

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<v Speaker 2>wants to bless your life through your church family. So,

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<v Speaker 2>starting this weekend, I'm going to teach you a five

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<v Speaker 2>exclusive benefits of being part of a church family. Now,

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<v Speaker 2>these five benefits to your life are exclusive to the church.

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<v Speaker 2>In other words, nothing else besides the church family can

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<v Speaker 2>meet the five deepest needs in your life and provide

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<v Speaker 2>the five essential benefits that a church provides. You can't

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<v Speaker 2>get them anywhere else. They are only available through a

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<v Speaker 2>church family. You can't get these benefits through your work,

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<v Speaker 2>or your school, or your nation, or even your physical family.

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<v Speaker 2>Only the church can meet your five deepest needs and

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<v Speaker 2>help you fulfill God's five purposes for your life. Now

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<v Speaker 2>that's a big claim. I'm going to prove to you

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<v Speaker 2>without a doubt. Now, what I'm saying is true that

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<v Speaker 2>only your church family can meet the five deepestieds of

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<v Speaker 2>your life help you fulfill God's five purposes for your life.

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<v Speaker 2>And I'm going to be very practical and very very specific.

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<v Speaker 2>Now the starting point is to ask this, what's the church?

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<v Speaker 3>What is a church? How?

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<v Speaker 2>How do you define it? How do you describe it?

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<v Speaker 2>When I say the word church?

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<v Speaker 3>What do you think of? Now?

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<v Speaker 2>Depending on your background, your answer is going to vary.

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<v Speaker 2>Whether you come of a Christian background or a non

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<v Speaker 2>Christian background, or an atheist background, or Buddhist or you

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<v Speaker 2>know whatever, Muslim or whatever. But my guess is that

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<v Speaker 2>your understanding of what a church really is it's probably

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<v Speaker 2>pretty limited and not really all that God says that

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<v Speaker 2>a church family is. So let me first what a

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<v Speaker 2>church is not. It's not a building. I mean most

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<v Speaker 2>of you when you think of a church, you think

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<v Speaker 2>of a church building on a location. I'm going to

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<v Speaker 2>the church, which means a building. Jesus didn't die for

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<v Speaker 2>a building. Churches meet in buildings, but they're not a building. Second,

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<v Speaker 2>a church is not an institution, which is a misconception.

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<v Speaker 2>We often think of the institutionalized church. Well, that can

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<v Speaker 2>be out there, but that's not what a church is.

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<v Speaker 2>It's not a building and it's not an institution. I

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<v Speaker 2>want you to write this down, Okay, write this down

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<v Speaker 2>in your outline. A church is not a place I

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<v Speaker 2>go to, and it's not an event I attend. It

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<v Speaker 2>is a spiritual family that I belong to. It's not

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<v Speaker 2>a place I go to. It's not an event I attend.

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<v Speaker 2>It's a spiritual family that I belong to. Now, there

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<v Speaker 2>are many many verses in the Bible that will teach

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<v Speaker 2>this truth, but let me just look at one Acts,

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<v Speaker 2>Chapter two, verses forty one and forty two and down

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<v Speaker 2>verse forty six, which is a clear description of the

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<v Speaker 2>very first church which was in Jerusalem.

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<v Speaker 3>And here's what it says.

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<v Speaker 2>Every one of these words that I tell you the

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<v Speaker 2>circle is important. So please circle them, and then we'll

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<v Speaker 2>come back and talk about to those who believed, circle

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<v Speaker 2>the word believed. Those who believed, circle that were baptized.

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<v Speaker 2>Circle that believed baptized and added to the church. They joined,

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<v Speaker 2>circle the word joined, So you got believed, baptized, joined,

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<v Speaker 2>They joined with other believers and committed themselves to the

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<v Speaker 2>apostles teaching and to fellowship circle teaching, and circle fellowship teaching.

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<v Speaker 2>And what's the apostles teaching. It's the Bible and fellowship

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<v Speaker 2>and the fellowship. It says they worshiped together, circle the

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<v Speaker 2>word worship. They worshiped together regularly at the temple courts.

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<v Speaker 2>And they met in small groups. Circle that in home

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<v Speaker 2>for communion. You can underline a circle communion and shared meals.

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<v Speaker 3>I like this part.

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<v Speaker 2>Circle shared meals with great joy and thankfulness. Now notice

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<v Speaker 2>these words believed, baptized, joined, worshiped, fellowshipped, They ate together,

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<v Speaker 2>they ministered together, they served together. All these different things

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<v Speaker 2>according to the Bible, this verse and many others. Here's

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<v Speaker 2>the definition of a church. A church, I've written it

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<v Speaker 2>there on your outline. A church is a group of

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<v Speaker 2>baptized believers who've joined together in a commitment. Notice the

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<v Speaker 2>word commitment. I didn't have you circle that who joined

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<v Speaker 2>together in a commitment to help each other fulfill God's

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<v Speaker 2>five purposes for their lives. That, friends, is a church.

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<v Speaker 2>It's a group of baptized believers who've joined together for

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<v Speaker 2>the purpose of helping each other fulfill God's purposes for

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<v Speaker 2>their lives. The purpose of the church is to help

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<v Speaker 2>you fulfill God's five purposes for your life. Now, we've

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<v Speaker 2>talked in the past many times about the purpose driven life,

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<v Speaker 2>but in this series we're going to look at the

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<v Speaker 2>purpose driven church and why you need other people in

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<v Speaker 2>your life to fulfill God's purposes. So the next question

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<v Speaker 2>we need to ask is this, why is the church

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<v Speaker 2>the most important group on earth?

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<v Speaker 3>Somebody say, well, it is.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, I'm sorry to tell you this if you don't

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<v Speaker 2>know it, but it is. The Church is the most

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<v Speaker 2>important group on earth. He said, well, why would that

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<v Speaker 2>be true? Well, let me give you a number of

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<v Speaker 2>reasons for that. You might write these down. Number one

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<v Speaker 2>first reason it's the most important thing on earth is

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<v Speaker 2>because the church is God's family. It is God's family

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<v Speaker 2>one Peter one three. God has given us the privilege

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<v Speaker 2>of being born again, so that we're now members of

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<v Speaker 2>God's own family. You become a part of the human

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<v Speaker 2>race by being born into the world. You become a

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<v Speaker 2>part of God's family. By being born again into God's family.

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<v Speaker 2>We are a part of God's families. Notice it says

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<v Speaker 2>we're members of God's own family circle the word member.

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<v Speaker 2>We're members of God's own family. You need to be

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<v Speaker 2>a member of God's own family. Now what is God's family? Well,

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<v Speaker 2>One Timothy three five three point fifteen says this NCV

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<v Speaker 2>version that family is the church. God's family is the

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<v Speaker 2>Church of the Living God, the support and foundation of

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<v Speaker 2>the truth. Here in California, where we have earthquakes, we

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<v Speaker 2>know the value of support and foundation. You don't have

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<v Speaker 2>good support, you don't have good foundation, You're gonna crumble

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<v Speaker 2>when the earthquakes happen. And if you don't have a

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<v Speaker 2>good support and good foundation for your life, the support

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<v Speaker 2>and foundation of truth, you're gonna crumble when the heat's on.

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<v Speaker 3>In your life. So the Church is God's family.

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<v Speaker 2>That's why it's more important than any business, any government,

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<v Speaker 2>or anything else. Number two, it is the only reason

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<v Speaker 2>God created the universe. Did you know that the whole

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<v Speaker 2>reason God created the universes He wanted a family. God

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<v Speaker 2>wanted a family, and that family is called the Church.

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<v Speaker 2>So the Church is the reason God created the universe.

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<v Speaker 2>If God hadn't wanted a family, if God hadn't wanted

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<v Speaker 2>the church, none of this would exist. The Bible says

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<v Speaker 2>God created the entire universe because he wanted the Church.

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<v Speaker 2>That's how important it is. Look at this verse in

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<v Speaker 2>the Bible, Ephesians, chapter one, verse four. Living a Bible

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<v Speaker 2>long ago.

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<v Speaker 3>Even before He made the world, Even before He made

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<v Speaker 3>the world.

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<v Speaker 2>This is before the universe, God chose us to be

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<v Speaker 2>his very own through what Christ would do for us.

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<v Speaker 2>Did you know that before God thought of the universe,

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<v Speaker 2>he thought of you. That's how valuable you are. That's

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<v Speaker 2>how important you are. That's how much you matter to God.

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<v Speaker 2>Before he thought of the universe, he thought of you.

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<v Speaker 2>Look at this verse on five. His unchanging plan. God's

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<v Speaker 2>unchanging plan has always been from the very beginning of

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<v Speaker 2>time to adopt us into his own family. God wanted

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<v Speaker 2>a family, to adopt us into his own family by

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<v Speaker 2>bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ, and this gave

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<v Speaker 2>him great pleasure. So the Church is God's family. God

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<v Speaker 2>wanted a family. It's the whole reason he created the universe.

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<v Speaker 2>That's how important the church is. If God didn't want

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<v Speaker 2>a church, nothing else would exist. Number Three, God is

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<v Speaker 2>using his church for his eternal purposes. Phesians three, verse ten.

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<v Speaker 2>In the Bible, verse ten and eleven says this God's intent,

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<v Speaker 2>that's his intention. His purpose was that now through the Church,

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<v Speaker 2>through the Church, through the church. Underline that through the Church,

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<v Speaker 2>the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to

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<v Speaker 2>all the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according

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<v Speaker 2>to his eternal purpose, which was accomplished in Christ. Jesus,

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<v Speaker 2>our Lord, I love the message. Paraphrase of this passage

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<v Speaker 2>Ephesians three ten, it says this through Christians like yourselves,

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<v Speaker 2>gathered in churches, this extraordinary plan of God is becoming

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<v Speaker 2>known and talked about even among angels. God's plan for

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<v Speaker 2>all of time involves the Church. No church, no universe,

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<v Speaker 2>no time, no plan. Number four fourth reason why the

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<v Speaker 2>church is more important than any business, any school, any government,

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<v Speaker 2>any nation. Jesus died for his church. He didn't die

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<v Speaker 2>for your nation or my nation. He didn't die for

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<v Speaker 2>your business. He died for the Church Ephesians five, twenty

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<v Speaker 2>five and twenty seven. Christ loved the Church and gave

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<v Speaker 2>himself for it.

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<v Speaker 3>It's like the.

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<v Speaker 2>Father dies for his family, the husband dies for his

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<v Speaker 2>wife and kids. Christ loved the Church, the bride of Christ,

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<v Speaker 2>the body of Christ, the family of God, and he

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<v Speaker 2>gave himself for it. He died so that he could

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<v Speaker 2>give the Church to himself like a bride in all

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<v Speaker 2>of her beauty. And he died so that the Church

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<v Speaker 2>could become pure and without fault. You want to know

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<v Speaker 2>how something matters, you look at what somebody is willing

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<v Speaker 2>to pay for it. When somebody is willing to give

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<v Speaker 2>their life for something, that shows how much it's valuable.

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<v Speaker 3>Christ died for the church. Number five.

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<v Speaker 2>It's the only thing on earth that's gonna last forever.

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<v Speaker 2>The thing about this Starbucks isn't gonna last forever. McDonald's

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<v Speaker 2>isn't gonna last forever. Walmart is gonna last forever. No

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<v Speaker 2>corporation Toyota Corporation isn't gonna last forever. No nation's gonna

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<v Speaker 2>last forever, No business will last forever. The only thing

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<v Speaker 2>that's going to on earth right now that's live, gonna

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<v Speaker 2>last forever is God's Church. It's gonna last forever. The

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<v Speaker 2>Bible says this, and Ephesians three twenty one, glory will

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<v Speaker 2>belong to God in his Church.

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<v Speaker 3>Christ, in Christ, Jesus.

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<v Speaker 2>Notice I underline this for all time and for all eternity.

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<v Speaker 2>The Church is gonna last forever. Nothing on this planet's

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<v Speaker 2>going to last except the Church. That's how important it is.

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<v Speaker 3>It is.

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<v Speaker 2>First, Thessalonians three four seventeen talks about one day that

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<v Speaker 2>when the second come in Christ, then we'll be caught

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<v Speaker 2>up together with him in the air, in the clouds

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<v Speaker 2>to meet the Lord in the air, and we will

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<v Speaker 2>be with the Lord together forever.

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<v Speaker 3>Well, that's who who is that? Who's that? We?

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<v Speaker 2>The church number six. The church is the only group

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<v Speaker 2>that Jesus said would succeed. In Matthew sixteen, verse eighteen,

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<v Speaker 2>Jesus says this, I will build my church, and all

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<v Speaker 2>the powers of Hell will not conquer it. Jesus is

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<v Speaker 2>in the church building business. He's not interested in building

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<v Speaker 2>my reputation. He's not interested in building your reputation. He's

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<v Speaker 2>not interested in building nations. He's not interested in building businesses.

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<v Speaker 2>He's not interested in building clubs or organizations. He says,

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<v Speaker 2>I'm going to build my family. That's why I built

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<v Speaker 2>the whole universe. I will build my church, and all

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<v Speaker 2>the powers of Hell will not conquer it. Yes there

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<v Speaker 2>are battles, Yes there are losses. Yes there are things

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<v Speaker 2>we don't win in. But I've read the last chapter

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<v Speaker 2>of the Bible. We win, and ultimately the church succeeds.

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<v Speaker 2>It's the only thing that's going to last number seven.

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<v Speaker 2>It is the only group big enough to solve global problems.

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<v Speaker 2>You know, I've spoken before the United States Congress, I've

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<v Speaker 2>spoken before the United Nations. I've spoken at TED conferences

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<v Speaker 2>and Aspen Institute and Davos World Economic Forum, and I

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<v Speaker 2>hear people talking about public and private partnerships. But you

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<v Speaker 2>know what the problem is, They're not big enough to

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<v Speaker 2>solve all the global problems. There's no nation big enough,

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<v Speaker 2>there's no business big enough. The Church is the only

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<v Speaker 2>thing big enough to solve global problems. Let's put this

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<v Speaker 2>respective there are two point two billion church members in

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<v Speaker 2>the world. That means the church is bigger than China.

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<v Speaker 2>The church is bigger than India and China put together.

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<v Speaker 2>And the Bible says in Ephesians three twenty and the

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<v Speaker 2>New Living Translation, by His mighty power at work within

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<v Speaker 2>us the Church, he is able to accomplish infinitely more

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<v Speaker 2>than we had ever dared to ask or hope. All

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<v Speaker 2>of the global problems cannot be solved without one third

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<v Speaker 2>of the world who happened to be members of churches.

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<v Speaker 3>We have the greatest distribution, We.

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<v Speaker 2>Have the most volunteers and with highest motivation, love, and

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<v Speaker 2>on and on. Let me give you one other reason

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<v Speaker 2>why we're going to do this series. Because the greatest

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<v Speaker 2>privilege in life. Listen, the greatest privilege in life is

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<v Speaker 2>to be a part of God's church. To say I'm

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<v Speaker 2>a member of God's family. I'm a child of God.

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<v Speaker 2>That's more important than your nationality, or your gender, or

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<v Speaker 2>your business or anything else. The greatest privile reagi in

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<v Speaker 2>life is to say I'm a part of God's family.

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<v Speaker 2>One Peter one three says it like this. God has

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<v Speaker 2>given us the privilege, the privilege circle that this is

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<v Speaker 2>the greatest privilege. God has given us the privilege of

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<v Speaker 2>being born again, so that we're now members of God's

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<v Speaker 2>own family circle the word members again member and circle

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<v Speaker 2>word family. God has given us privilege to be a

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<v Speaker 2>member of His family. One Corinthians three sixteen. Do you realize?

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<v Speaker 2>Don't you realize? That all of you together are the

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<v Speaker 2>temple of God and the spirit of God lives in you.

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<v Speaker 3>I said this earlier, but I want to say it again.

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<v Speaker 2>When you were born physically, you were immediately born into

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<v Speaker 2>the human family. You became a part of the human race.

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<v Speaker 2>You didn't have a choice. The moment you were physically born.

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<v Speaker 2>You became a part of the human race. Once you're

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<v Speaker 2>born physically, you're in that human race. But when you

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<v Speaker 2>are going to be a part of God's family, that's choice,

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<v Speaker 2>and you've got to choose to let Christ come into

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<v Speaker 2>your life. And when you're born spiritually, reborn, born again, rejuvenated,

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<v Speaker 2>new life, then you're born into God's family, and that's choice.

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<v Speaker 2>I don't know if you've made that choice or not.

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<v Speaker 2>You're in the human race, you're created by God, you're

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<v Speaker 2>loved by God, but you're not in God's family unless

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<v Speaker 2>you've asked him to be a part of his family

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<v Speaker 2>and accept Christ as your savior. Now you said, okay, Rick,

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<v Speaker 2>I get it. Church is not something we go to.

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<v Speaker 2>It's not an event, it's not a building. It's family

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<v Speaker 2>that I belong to. And you just gave me eight

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<v Speaker 2>reasons why it's more important than anything else on the planet. Well,

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<v Speaker 2>next question that comes up is what's a purpose driven church?

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<v Speaker 2>You've heard that around saddleback any length of time.

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<v Speaker 3>What is a purpose driven church?

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<v Speaker 2>Well, if you were to look up the word drive

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<v Speaker 2>in a dictionary, you would find that the word means

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<v Speaker 2>to guide or to control, or to direct, to guide,

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<v Speaker 2>to control, are direct. When you drive a car, you

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<v Speaker 2>guide control directed down street. When you drive a nail

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<v Speaker 2>into the wood with a hammer, you guide control, direct

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<v Speaker 2>the nail into the wood. When you drive a golf ball,

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<v Speaker 2>hopefully you guide control directed down the fairway and onto

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<v Speaker 2>the green. Drive means to guide, to control, or direct.

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<v Speaker 2>Every organization, every business, every nation, and every church is

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<v Speaker 2>driven by something guided, controlled, are directed. I've listed a

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<v Speaker 2>few things there in your outlets. Some churches are driven

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<v Speaker 2>by tradition, and some organizations are driven by tradition. How

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<v Speaker 2>do you know your tradition driven church. They have the

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<v Speaker 2>favorite phrases. We've always done it that way. Some churches

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<v Speaker 2>and some organizations are driven by personality, and the question

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<v Speaker 2>then is what does the key leader want. The problem

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<v Speaker 2>with the personality driven church is when the leader dies

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<v Speaker 2>or retires or as a moral fay or whatever burns out,

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<v Speaker 2>then the church is left floundering. And we've all seen

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<v Speaker 2>that happen to a lot of churches. We don't want

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<v Speaker 2>a personality driven church. Some churches and some businesses driven

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<v Speaker 2>by finances. And when you have a finance driven church,

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<v Speaker 2>the question is how much will it cost? And he

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<v Speaker 2>asked that some churches are driven by programs. And you

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<v Speaker 2>look at the schedule of a typical church and they've

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<v Speaker 2>got programs for Sunday school and program for women, programs

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<v Speaker 2>for men, and programs for the choir, and programs for children,

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<v Speaker 2>and on and on and on, and you get the

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<v Speaker 2>whole idea that the purpose of the church is just

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<v Speaker 2>to keep people busy, to keep Christians busy in meetings.

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<v Speaker 2>Jesus did not say I've come that you might have meetings.

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<v Speaker 2>He said I've come that you might have life. Some

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<v Speaker 2>churches are actually driven by their buildings. I think it

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<v Speaker 2>was Winston Churchill who said, we shape our buildings and

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<v Speaker 2>then they shape us. One of the reasons why Saddleback

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<v Speaker 2>went fifteen years without a building. We wanted to prove

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<v Speaker 2>to the world you don't have to have a building

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<v Speaker 2>to grow a church. This church grewed over ten thousand

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<v Speaker 2>in attendance in a tent. We didn't even have a building.

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<v Speaker 2>Why we wanted to prove that a church is not

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<v Speaker 2>a building. We moved so many dozens and dozens of

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<v Speaker 2>times in the first fifteen years of our church before

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<v Speaker 2>we finally built a building. And then Some churches are

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<v Speaker 2>actually driven by events, keep the calendar full of activities.

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<v Speaker 2>But at Saddleback Church, we call ourselves a purpose driven church,

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<v Speaker 2>not tradition driven, events driven, you know, money driven, you

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<v Speaker 2>know ego driven, personnite driven. No, not a guilt driven,

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<v Speaker 2>not a fear driven church, but a purpose driven church. Why, well,

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<v Speaker 2>we base it on this verse Proverbs nineteen twenty one,

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<v Speaker 2>which says this many are the plans in a man's heart,

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<v Speaker 2>but it is the Lord's purposes that prevail or last eternally.

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<v Speaker 2>What does that verse say? I can make all kinds

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<v Speaker 2>of plans, but they're not going to last. The only

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<v Speaker 2>thing that's really going to last is to have a

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<v Speaker 2>solid purpose of God that says his plans are eternal,

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<v Speaker 2>his plans last forever, his plans prevail, His purposes are

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<v Speaker 2>going to be going on forever and ever and ever.

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<v Speaker 2>And we're going to look at these in detail for

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<v Speaker 2>our church family in the days of He ahead.

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<v Speaker 3>Now, all of this has just.

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<v Speaker 2>Been introduction, but I don't want to leave you without

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<v Speaker 2>giving you a short list of some of the many,

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<v Speaker 2>many benefits of belonging to a church family. So let's

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<v Speaker 2>just wrap this up by giving you five benefits of

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<v Speaker 2>being a part of a church family, of belonging, not

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<v Speaker 2>just attending, but belonging.

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<v Speaker 3>Say that's my family.

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<v Speaker 2>You can always tell others an attendant member, when attender

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<v Speaker 2>comes up to me in the grocery store, says Pastor Rick,

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<v Speaker 2>I love your church, your church. But when a member

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<v Speaker 2>comes up to me, he says Pastor Rick, I love

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<v Speaker 2>our church. Have you made that hop Have you made

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<v Speaker 2>that switch from consumer to contributor, from a tender to member,

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<v Speaker 2>from longing to belonging. Let me give you five of

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<v Speaker 2>the many benefits. We'll look at dozens of these in

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<v Speaker 2>the days ahead. But why don't you write down these five?

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<v Speaker 2>Number one, A church family helps me focus on God.

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<v Speaker 2>A church family helps me focus on God. You know

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<v Speaker 2>that is it easy to lose your focus on God?

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<v Speaker 3>Yes?

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<v Speaker 2>Is it easy to get distracted by details and distractions

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<v Speaker 2>and disturbances and dead ends and delays and difficulties. Yes,

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<v Speaker 2>and about every few days. I need to get my

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<v Speaker 2>focus refocused. And coming together as a church family helps

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<v Speaker 2>me focus on God. And the Bible says seek first

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<v Speaker 2>Kingdom of God. All these other things will be added

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<v Speaker 2>to you. So if I focus on God, the bigger

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<v Speaker 2>God gets in my mind. The smaller my problems are,

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<v Speaker 2>the bigger I see my problems, the smaller God is,

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<v Speaker 2>so I refocus on God. Number two, A church family

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<v Speaker 2>not only helps me focus on God, it helps me

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<v Speaker 2>face life's problems. You know, it helps a whole lot

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<v Speaker 2>to know that other people are in the fight with you,

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<v Speaker 2>that you're not alone, that you're not by yourself, that

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<v Speaker 2>you're you're not alone. Ranger, Let me just get real personal.

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<v Speaker 2>You ever get discouraged? Of course you do. Why Because

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<v Speaker 2>life is tough. Life is tough. Life is a series

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<v Speaker 2>of problems, and some of you have this myth in

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<v Speaker 2>your mind that one day I'm going to get it

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<v Speaker 2>all together and then I'll have no more problems and

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<v Speaker 2>no more stress, and no more tension, no more in anxiety,

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<v Speaker 2>no more stress the rest of my life. I hate

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<v Speaker 2>to tell you this, but you're going to have stress

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<v Speaker 2>the rest of your life because life is a series

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<v Speaker 2>of problems. It's how you build character. You're right now

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<v Speaker 2>in one of three positions. Either you just came out

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<v Speaker 2>of a problem, or you're in the middle of a

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<v Speaker 2>problem right now, or you're headed into the next one.

419
00:23:52.039 --> 00:23:55.400
<v Speaker 2>Because life is a series of problems. But God never

420
00:23:55.519 --> 00:23:58.960
<v Speaker 2>meant for you to go through life and all those

421
00:23:58.960 --> 00:24:02.720
<v Speaker 2>problems and all that stress on your own. See the

422
00:24:02.759 --> 00:24:05.279
<v Speaker 2>life that God intends for you, a purpose driven life

423
00:24:05.480 --> 00:24:09.000
<v Speaker 2>is never a solo act. God never meant for you

424
00:24:09.039 --> 00:24:13.079
<v Speaker 2>to have to handle all this stress, all this anxiety, questions, problems, doubts,

425
00:24:13.119 --> 00:24:17.119
<v Speaker 2>fears by yourself. He built a support group of people

426
00:24:17.160 --> 00:24:21.920
<v Speaker 2>around you. It's a spiritual family, and we call that fellowship.

427
00:24:22.519 --> 00:24:25.880
<v Speaker 2>It's part of the purpose of the Church for your life.

428
00:24:26.960 --> 00:24:31.000
<v Speaker 2>So Number one, God helps me to focus my faith,

429
00:24:31.000 --> 00:24:34.079
<v Speaker 2>It helps me to efface my problems. Number three a

430
00:24:34.160 --> 00:24:40.640
<v Speaker 2>church family will help me fortify fortify my faith. Now

431
00:24:40.680 --> 00:24:43.480
<v Speaker 2>do you know what fortify means. It means to strengthen,

432
00:24:43.640 --> 00:24:47.039
<v Speaker 2>It means to develop. It means to reinforce or to

433
00:24:47.039 --> 00:24:50.880
<v Speaker 2>make stronger. And what happens is when you get with

434
00:24:51.079 --> 00:24:56.519
<v Speaker 2>other people in God's family, you set up your right values,

435
00:24:56.720 --> 00:24:59.640
<v Speaker 2>you get the right support. It helps you establish your priorities.

436
00:25:00.039 --> 00:25:03.920
<v Speaker 2>It helps you decide what's trivial, what's really important. It

437
00:25:03.960 --> 00:25:08.400
<v Speaker 2>helps you fortify your faith. It clarifies your values.

438
00:25:08.559 --> 00:25:10.039
<v Speaker 3>You know this is true.

439
00:25:10.200 --> 00:25:12.240
<v Speaker 2>There's a lot of phony, blogny ideas out there in

440
00:25:12.279 --> 00:25:12.920
<v Speaker 2>the world today.

441
00:25:14.000 --> 00:25:16.440
<v Speaker 3>There's a lot of stuff on the radio and on

442
00:25:16.480 --> 00:25:18.039
<v Speaker 3>the TV, and on the internet and.

443
00:25:17.920 --> 00:25:21.759
<v Speaker 2>On social media. It's just not true. They're not just

444
00:25:21.839 --> 00:25:25.480
<v Speaker 2>fake news. There's fake everything. And if you don't have

445
00:25:25.559 --> 00:25:30.279
<v Speaker 2>a fortified faith, if you don't stand for something, you're

446
00:25:30.319 --> 00:25:33.319
<v Speaker 2>gonna fall for anything. You know that, So it helps

447
00:25:33.319 --> 00:25:36.400
<v Speaker 2>you fortify your faith. Number four, A church family helps

448
00:25:36.440 --> 00:25:40.279
<v Speaker 2>me find my place to make a difference. It helps

449
00:25:40.319 --> 00:25:43.480
<v Speaker 2>me find my place to make a difference. You have

450
00:25:43.559 --> 00:25:47.480
<v Speaker 2>a desire to aspire, you have a need to succeed.

451
00:25:48.119 --> 00:25:50.119
<v Speaker 2>You and I weren't put on this earth just to

452
00:25:50.200 --> 00:25:53.680
<v Speaker 2>use up resources, to take up space, to breathe air,

453
00:25:54.519 --> 00:25:59.039
<v Speaker 2>and then to die. God has a significant purpose for

454
00:25:59.119 --> 00:26:03.720
<v Speaker 2>your life, your life mission for each of your of

455
00:26:03.720 --> 00:26:07.839
<v Speaker 2>our lives, and God has something unique for you to do.

456
00:26:08.200 --> 00:26:10.319
<v Speaker 2>He has a ministry in the church and a mission

457
00:26:10.359 --> 00:26:12.160
<v Speaker 2>in the world that he wants you to make a

458
00:26:12.279 --> 00:26:15.039
<v Speaker 2>contribution with your life. He didn't want you to just

459
00:26:15.079 --> 00:26:17.240
<v Speaker 2>be a consumer your whole life. He wants you to

460
00:26:17.279 --> 00:26:19.680
<v Speaker 2>make a difference. He wants you to leave a legacy.

461
00:26:20.079 --> 00:26:23.680
<v Speaker 2>He wants you to learn how to serve God by

462
00:26:23.680 --> 00:26:26.640
<v Speaker 2>serving others, how to make a difference with your life.

463
00:26:26.680 --> 00:26:28.640
<v Speaker 2>The best way to learn how to do that is

464
00:26:28.640 --> 00:26:31.359
<v Speaker 2>in a church family. Are you gonna learn that at business? No,

465
00:26:31.480 --> 00:26:33.480
<v Speaker 2>you don't learn that at school. No, you don't learn

466
00:26:33.559 --> 00:26:34.400
<v Speaker 2>that in a neighborhood.

467
00:26:34.440 --> 00:26:37.160
<v Speaker 3>No. Now, let me just say this.

468
00:26:38.359 --> 00:26:42.720
<v Speaker 2>When we get to heaven and we and we're standing

469
00:26:42.759 --> 00:26:47.000
<v Speaker 2>there for God, God's gonna ask a couple questions. The

470
00:26:47.039 --> 00:26:49.480
<v Speaker 2>first question that God's gonna ask you is, this is

471
00:26:49.519 --> 00:26:51.839
<v Speaker 2>the most important question in life. What did you do

472
00:26:51.920 --> 00:26:54.839
<v Speaker 2>with my son Jesus Christ. I hope you know the

473
00:26:54.880 --> 00:26:58.519
<v Speaker 2>answer to that. I accepted him his life into my life.

474
00:26:58.519 --> 00:27:01.680
<v Speaker 2>I accepted his graces forgive. I trusted him with my life.

475
00:27:02.079 --> 00:27:05.799
<v Speaker 2>I repented and turned to him. But there's a second question.

476
00:27:05.839 --> 00:27:08.319
<v Speaker 2>It's just as important. After he says, what did you

477
00:27:08.359 --> 00:27:10.799
<v Speaker 2>do with my son Jesus? And by the way, he's

478
00:27:10.839 --> 00:27:13.200
<v Speaker 2>not going to ask what was your denomination? What was

479
00:27:13.240 --> 00:27:15.160
<v Speaker 2>my son? What did you do with my son Jesus?

480
00:27:15.240 --> 00:27:18.319
<v Speaker 2>Then he's going to ask what did you do with

481
00:27:18.440 --> 00:27:22.799
<v Speaker 2>what I gave you? That is the question of the

482
00:27:22.839 --> 00:27:25.960
<v Speaker 2>stewardship of your life. How did you use your life

483
00:27:26.119 --> 00:27:29.000
<v Speaker 2>to serve others, to make a difference, to give back,

484
00:27:29.240 --> 00:27:33.319
<v Speaker 2>to make a contribution. The first question determines our eternal destiny,

485
00:27:33.640 --> 00:27:38.400
<v Speaker 2>but the second question actually determines our eternal rewards. And

486
00:27:38.559 --> 00:27:41.200
<v Speaker 2>part of my job as your pastor, and part of

487
00:27:41.240 --> 00:27:44.960
<v Speaker 2>our church's job as a family, is to get you ready.

488
00:27:44.680 --> 00:27:48.519
<v Speaker 3>For that final exam.

489
00:27:48.559 --> 00:27:52.200
<v Speaker 2>Finally, there's a fifth thing benefit, and that is a

490
00:27:52.279 --> 00:27:57.079
<v Speaker 2>church family helps me fulfill my life mission. Not just

491
00:27:57.160 --> 00:27:59.640
<v Speaker 2>how you serve others, but you were put on earth

492
00:28:00.079 --> 00:28:04.839
<v Speaker 2>to make a difference that no one else can make.

493
00:28:06.880 --> 00:28:10.240
<v Speaker 2>Have you thought about that God doesn't need one of

494
00:28:10.319 --> 00:28:12.480
<v Speaker 2>us or two of us, He just only needs one

495
00:28:12.519 --> 00:28:15.200
<v Speaker 2>of us. God puts you here specifically for a unique

496
00:28:15.200 --> 00:28:20.160
<v Speaker 2>life mission that no one else can fulfill. I can't

497
00:28:20.200 --> 00:28:23.400
<v Speaker 2>fulfill it, nobody else can fulfill it. And if you

498
00:28:23.400 --> 00:28:27.039
<v Speaker 2>don't fulfill your life mission, guess what, it's not gonna

499
00:28:27.039 --> 00:28:29.559
<v Speaker 2>get done. And we're going to talk about that in

500
00:28:29.599 --> 00:28:32.920
<v Speaker 2>the days ahead. Now I realize it's just a little

501
00:28:32.920 --> 00:28:34.880
<v Speaker 2>taste of where I'm going to take you in the

502
00:28:34.880 --> 00:28:38.160
<v Speaker 2>next forty eight days. As I said, we've studied the

503
00:28:38.200 --> 00:28:41.880
<v Speaker 2>purpose driven life before, but in this series, we're going

504
00:28:41.960 --> 00:28:44.559
<v Speaker 2>to look at how you need a purpose driven church

505
00:28:45.519 --> 00:28:48.359
<v Speaker 2>to meet all of your five deepest needs. We're going

506
00:28:48.400 --> 00:28:51.079
<v Speaker 2>to look at each of your five deepest needs and

507
00:28:51.119 --> 00:28:54.599
<v Speaker 2>how to fulfill your life purposes. Let me pray for you,

508
00:28:55.119 --> 00:28:59.640
<v Speaker 2>Heavenly Father. I thank you for our church family. I

509
00:28:59.720 --> 00:29:02.839
<v Speaker 2>love everybody who's here. We come from every different background.

510
00:29:03.039 --> 00:29:07.839
<v Speaker 2>We represent every different age group, every ethnic group, nationality,

511
00:29:07.880 --> 00:29:12.440
<v Speaker 2>we represent different sixty seven seventy different languages, we represent

512
00:29:12.519 --> 00:29:17.079
<v Speaker 2>different economic strata and background and even political differences. But

513
00:29:17.160 --> 00:29:19.920
<v Speaker 2>we all come together in this family called Saddleback, a

514
00:29:20.000 --> 00:29:25.279
<v Speaker 2>purpose driven church that we might learn what you want

515
00:29:25.319 --> 00:29:28.000
<v Speaker 2>to do through your family. Help us to realize that

516
00:29:28.119 --> 00:29:30.640
<v Speaker 2>this is the greatest privilege of life. There is no

517
00:29:30.720 --> 00:29:33.599
<v Speaker 2>greater privilege than the bee a part of your family.

518
00:29:35.279 --> 00:29:39.039
<v Speaker 2>If you've never invited Jesus Christ into your life, if

519
00:29:39.079 --> 00:29:41.400
<v Speaker 2>you've never stepped across the line, you're not a part

520
00:29:41.440 --> 00:29:44.599
<v Speaker 2>of his family. But you can start today. Will you

521
00:29:44.680 --> 00:29:46.920
<v Speaker 2>take this step? Just say in your heart, Jesus Christ,

522
00:29:47.039 --> 00:29:50.680
<v Speaker 2>Just say these words, Jesus Christ, in your mind. I

523
00:29:50.720 --> 00:29:54.240
<v Speaker 2>want to be a part of your family. I want

524
00:29:54.279 --> 00:29:58.039
<v Speaker 2>to live forever in heaven, but I want to know you,

525
00:29:59.000 --> 00:30:00.920
<v Speaker 2>and I want to be a part of your family.

526
00:30:00.960 --> 00:30:03.880
<v Speaker 2>And I want to see how my needs can be

527
00:30:04.000 --> 00:30:07.400
<v Speaker 2>met by your family. And I want to fulfill your

528
00:30:07.559 --> 00:30:11.000
<v Speaker 2>five purposes for my life. So the damn saying yes

529
00:30:11.119 --> 00:30:14.279
<v Speaker 2>to you as simply as I know how, and I

530
00:30:14.400 --> 00:30:15.279
<v Speaker 2>humbly ask.

531
00:30:15.200 --> 00:30:18.599
<v Speaker 3>This in your name Jesus Amen.

532
00:30:24.480 --> 00:30:26.440
<v Speaker 2>You know, if you just prayed that prayer for the

533
00:30:26.559 --> 00:30:30.640
<v Speaker 2>very first time, or you just recommitted your life to

534
00:30:30.759 --> 00:30:33.279
<v Speaker 2>Jesus again today, would you let me know about it.

535
00:30:33.599 --> 00:30:37.039
<v Speaker 2>There's something real about sharing your commitment. So write me

536
00:30:37.400 --> 00:30:40.119
<v Speaker 2>Rick at pastor Rick dot com and say, Rick, I

537
00:30:40.279 --> 00:30:43.519
<v Speaker 2>prayed that prayer of commitment. I gave my life to Christ.

538
00:30:43.759 --> 00:30:46.240
<v Speaker 2>And I'll send you some material that will help you

539
00:30:46.319 --> 00:30:49.519
<v Speaker 2>on your journey with Jesus, and I'll also pray for you.

540
00:30:49.839 --> 00:30:50.519
<v Speaker 2>God bless you.

541
00:30:54.160 --> 00:30:54.440
<v Speaker 3>Wow.

542
00:30:54.559 --> 00:30:57.839
<v Speaker 1>Thanks Rick for such an encouraging message. Hey, do you

543
00:30:57.880 --> 00:31:01.039
<v Speaker 1>ever wonder if your life really matter? Or what on

544
00:31:01.119 --> 00:31:02.240
<v Speaker 1>earth you're here for?

545
00:31:02.559 --> 00:31:02.759
<v Speaker 3>Will?

546
00:31:02.839 --> 00:31:06.039
<v Speaker 1>Pastor Rick Warren wants to let you know that God

547
00:31:06.119 --> 00:31:09.240
<v Speaker 1>has a good plan and purpose for your life, and

548
00:31:09.319 --> 00:31:12.359
<v Speaker 1>in his best selling book, The Purpose Driven Life, he

549
00:31:12.480 --> 00:31:16.000
<v Speaker 1>lays out a simple, life changing roadmap to help you

550
00:31:16.079 --> 00:31:19.759
<v Speaker 1>discover and live it. This book has transformed millions of

551
00:31:19.839 --> 00:31:23.920
<v Speaker 1>lives and it could transform someone you love. And great

552
00:31:23.920 --> 00:31:29.039
<v Speaker 1>news it's been updated for today's generation. This edition includes

553
00:31:29.319 --> 00:31:33.759
<v Speaker 1>a video introduction from Pastor Rick for each chapter, audio

554
00:31:33.799 --> 00:31:37.279
<v Speaker 1>teaching at the end of every chapter, and two powerful

555
00:31:37.319 --> 00:31:41.160
<v Speaker 1>bonus chapters on the biggest barriers to living a purpose

556
00:31:41.240 --> 00:31:44.640
<v Speaker 1>driven life. As you go through this book, you'll uncover

557
00:31:44.759 --> 00:31:48.880
<v Speaker 1>that your deepest meaning and fulfillment doesn't come from success

558
00:31:48.960 --> 00:31:53.200
<v Speaker 1>or status, but from understanding and living out the purpose

559
00:31:53.319 --> 00:31:57.279
<v Speaker 1>that God created you for. It's an incredible resource for

560
00:31:57.359 --> 00:32:00.400
<v Speaker 1>your own spiritual growth, but it's also one of the

561
00:32:00.400 --> 00:32:04.759
<v Speaker 1>most effective ways to introduce someone you love to Jesus.

562
00:32:05.200 --> 00:32:08.160
<v Speaker 1>In fact, millions have come to faith in Christ through

563
00:32:08.240 --> 00:32:12.079
<v Speaker 1>this book, often just because someone like you gave them

564
00:32:12.119 --> 00:32:15.079
<v Speaker 1>a copy, so we say don't just get one, get

565
00:32:15.119 --> 00:32:19.000
<v Speaker 1>several copies to share with friends, family, co workers, and

566
00:32:19.160 --> 00:32:23.440
<v Speaker 1>neighbors who need hope. Request your copy today. When you

567
00:32:23.480 --> 00:32:26.640
<v Speaker 1>give a gift to help Daily Hope share the gospel

568
00:32:26.720 --> 00:32:29.559
<v Speaker 1>around the world, it's our way of saying thank you

569
00:32:29.759 --> 00:32:31.079
<v Speaker 1>for your partnership.

570
00:32:31.640 --> 00:32:32.160
<v Speaker 3>Just go to.

571
00:32:32.160 --> 00:32:36.000
<v Speaker 1>Pastorick dot com to get your copy of this great resource.

572
00:32:36.240 --> 00:32:39.680
<v Speaker 1>That's pastorick dot com. Or you can text the word

573
00:32:39.759 --> 00:32:43.000
<v Speaker 1>hope to seven oh three to oh nine. Again, that's

574
00:32:43.039 --> 00:32:45.920
<v Speaker 1>the word hope to seven oh three to oh nine.

575
00:32:46.119 --> 00:32:48.680
<v Speaker 1>Be sure to join us next time as we look

576
00:32:48.720 --> 00:32:52.160
<v Speaker 1>into God's word for our daily hope. This program is

577
00:32:52.160 --> 00:32:56.839
<v Speaker 1>sponsored by Pastor Rick's Daily Hope and your generous financial support.