WEBVTT 1 00:00:02.279 --> 00:00:06.200 This is Pastor Rick's Daily Hope, the Bible Teaching ministry 2 00:00:06.240 --> 00:00:09.720 of Pastor Rick Warren. Today we begin a new series 3 00:00:09.800 --> 00:00:13.960 called This is Us. In these lessons, Pastor Rick shows 4 00:00:14.039 --> 00:00:16.960 us how being part of a church family can help 5 00:00:17.000 --> 00:00:20.679 meet your deepest needs. In just a few moments, we're 6 00:00:20.679 --> 00:00:22.719 going to tell you how you can get a copy 7 00:00:22.760 --> 00:00:26.039 of Pastor Rick's book for kids called Words to Love. 8 00:00:26.120 --> 00:00:26.280 Buy. 9 00:00:26.640 --> 00:00:30.760 This book takes children on a joyful, grace filled journey 10 00:00:30.800 --> 00:00:34.880 exploring the power of words. They'll learn that while words 11 00:00:34.960 --> 00:00:38.479 may be small, they can do big things. You can 12 00:00:38.479 --> 00:00:41.759 find out more by going to Pastorick dot com or 13 00:00:41.960 --> 00:00:45.920 by texting the word Daily to eight hundred, six hundred 14 00:00:46.119 --> 00:00:49.759 five thousand and four. While you listen to today's message. 15 00:00:50.320 --> 00:00:53.000 Right now, here's Pastor Rick with part one of a 16 00:00:53.079 --> 00:00:56.640 message called the Only Family that Will Last Forever. 17 00:00:57.479 --> 00:01:01.399 You know in life, it's very important at different times 18 00:01:01.439 --> 00:01:04.280 in your life. This pause and just stop and ask 19 00:01:04.319 --> 00:01:09.200 the question why why am I doing this? What am 20 00:01:09.200 --> 00:01:11.439 I doing and why am I doing this? Why always 21 00:01:11.439 --> 00:01:15.760 determines how and how long. Now we're going to start 22 00:01:15.760 --> 00:01:18.200 at the beginning. Watch up here on the screen, the 23 00:01:18.239 --> 00:01:20.920 Bible says in Hebrews two ten. God is the one 24 00:01:20.959 --> 00:01:23.439 who made everything. That's where we start. We start with 25 00:01:23.519 --> 00:01:27.239 God made everything, and all things are for his glory. 26 00:01:27.480 --> 00:01:29.640 You and every plant and animal and rock are for 27 00:01:29.680 --> 00:01:34.879 his glory. But he wanted to have children to share 28 00:01:34.959 --> 00:01:39.439 his glory. The Bible says God invented the universe because 29 00:01:39.439 --> 00:01:41.000 he wanted a family. 30 00:01:42.000 --> 00:01:46.079 God wasn't lonely. God is love, but he didn't need us. 31 00:01:46.120 --> 00:01:49.799 But he wanted a family to love and to share 32 00:01:50.519 --> 00:01:53.200 his glory, and so he created the universe. Now, the 33 00:01:53.239 --> 00:01:58.319 Bible says this in Ephesians chapter one. God's unchanging plan 34 00:02:00.159 --> 00:02:03.599 beginning of time has always been to adopt us into 35 00:02:03.640 --> 00:02:09.479 his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. 36 00:02:09.840 --> 00:02:11.000 So the whole. 37 00:02:10.800 --> 00:02:14.039 Reason everything exists is God wanted a family, and he 38 00:02:14.039 --> 00:02:16.000 wants that family to be with him forever and ever 39 00:02:16.039 --> 00:02:17.759 and ever. He puts us here on earth as a 40 00:02:17.800 --> 00:02:22.400 trial test. But what is that family called. Well, we've 41 00:02:22.439 --> 00:02:25.520 talked about this. For that family is called the church, 42 00:02:26.280 --> 00:02:28.199 Jesus said in Ephesians. 43 00:02:28.360 --> 00:02:28.960 Excuse me. 44 00:02:29.120 --> 00:02:34.240 Jesus said in Matthew sixteen, verse eighteen, I will build 45 00:02:34.319 --> 00:02:38.120 my church. He didn't say I'll build a government. He 46 00:02:38.159 --> 00:02:40.280 didn't say I'll build a nation. He didn't say I'll 47 00:02:40.280 --> 00:02:42.719 build a business. He said I will build my church. 48 00:02:42.840 --> 00:02:46.919 Jesus is only interested. God is only interested in his family. 49 00:02:47.159 --> 00:02:48.919 Everything else is going to burn up. The only thing 50 00:02:48.960 --> 00:02:51.360 on planet Earth that's going to last is God's family. 51 00:02:51.800 --> 00:02:54.719 He says, I will build my church, and all the 52 00:02:54.879 --> 00:02:59.159 powers of Hell will not defeat it. The most successful 53 00:02:59.360 --> 00:03:04.120 human movement of all time is the Church of God 54 00:03:04.719 --> 00:03:09.319 two point three billion believers followers of Christ. The Church 55 00:03:09.479 --> 00:03:13.280 is the largest organization on the planet. Nothing comes close. 56 00:03:13.639 --> 00:03:16.800 The Church, at two point three billion believers, is bigger 57 00:03:16.840 --> 00:03:20.560 than China. The Church is bigger than China and the 58 00:03:20.680 --> 00:03:22.120 United States and. 59 00:03:22.039 --> 00:03:23.599 All of Europe put together. 60 00:03:24.719 --> 00:03:28.159 Nothing is big is the is the planet, the movement 61 00:03:28.199 --> 00:03:31.039 of God. You're not just part of an organization. You're 62 00:03:31.080 --> 00:03:33.919 part of a movement, and that movement is going to 63 00:03:33.960 --> 00:03:34.280 go on. 64 00:03:34.319 --> 00:03:35.879 For eternity in heaven. 65 00:03:36.000 --> 00:03:39.960 Jesus said I will build my church, and no dictator 66 00:03:40.080 --> 00:03:41.800 and no ism can stop it. 67 00:03:42.719 --> 00:03:43.000 Now. 68 00:03:43.800 --> 00:03:47.039 Sometimes you hear people say, well, I love Jesus, but 69 00:03:47.080 --> 00:03:48.039 I don't need the Church. 70 00:03:48.520 --> 00:03:48.719 No. 71 00:03:48.719 --> 00:03:52.879 No, that's a really big mistake people make, because you 72 00:03:52.960 --> 00:03:57.280 can't love Jesus without loving his bride, his body, his family, 73 00:03:57.759 --> 00:03:58.280 his flock. 74 00:03:58.400 --> 00:03:59.599 You can't love Jesus. 75 00:03:59.680 --> 00:04:02.719 In fact, the Bible says this in Ephesians chapter five, 76 00:04:02.840 --> 00:04:06.960 verse twenty five. Christ loves his church. Whatever he loves, 77 00:04:07.000 --> 00:04:10.400 you better love to Christ loves his church, and he 78 00:04:10.520 --> 00:04:15.000 gave his life for it. Christ died for the church. 79 00:04:15.479 --> 00:04:18.600 So don't ever say it's unimportant. Don't ever say it's 80 00:04:18.759 --> 00:04:20.399 the only people that are going to be in heaven 81 00:04:20.560 --> 00:04:25.240 is the Church. Nobody else is. That's his family. It's 82 00:04:25.240 --> 00:04:31.680 his family. Now it has different labels on it, Methodist, Baptists, Episcopalian, Catholic, Nazarene, 83 00:04:31.720 --> 00:04:35.759 and Calvary Chapel. All the labels are irrelevant. The fact 84 00:04:35.839 --> 00:04:37.720 is the people who are the followers of Christ are 85 00:04:37.720 --> 00:04:39.519 a part of his family. That's all that's going to 86 00:04:39.560 --> 00:04:42.600 be in heaven. And he built the universe because he 87 00:04:42.680 --> 00:04:46.199 wanted a family. Now let's just start with the basics. 88 00:04:46.399 --> 00:04:49.600 What is a church? When I say the word church, 89 00:04:49.759 --> 00:04:52.720 some people think of a building. No, the church is 90 00:04:52.759 --> 00:04:56.319 not a building. The church is not a location. So 91 00:04:56.360 --> 00:04:58.560 when I say church, people think of something they go 92 00:04:58.680 --> 00:05:02.839 to attend. People often say, well, I'm going to church. 93 00:05:03.319 --> 00:05:07.199 Technically that's a wrong statement. The church is not something 94 00:05:07.240 --> 00:05:12.519 you attend. It's a family that you belong to it. Really, 95 00:05:12.600 --> 00:05:15.040 it'd be more accurate to not say I'm going to church. 96 00:05:15.079 --> 00:05:19.079 For saying I'm going to a worship service, or I'm 97 00:05:19.120 --> 00:05:23.120 going to a Bible study, or I'm going to a fellowship, 98 00:05:23.879 --> 00:05:26.439 or I'm going to an activity of the church. You 99 00:05:26.519 --> 00:05:30.360 can't go to a church. A church is not an event. 100 00:05:31.639 --> 00:05:34.959 It has events, But the church is the family of God. 101 00:05:35.279 --> 00:05:38.160 Church is not an event you attend. It is a 102 00:05:38.279 --> 00:05:39.720 family you belong to. 103 00:05:39.759 --> 00:05:40.480 Does that make sense? 104 00:05:41.240 --> 00:05:44.000 Okay, So it's not something you go to to actually say, well, 105 00:05:44.040 --> 00:05:46.240 I'm going to church. You really mean to say I'm 106 00:05:46.279 --> 00:05:49.759 going to worship or I'm going to service, or I'm going. 107 00:05:49.639 --> 00:05:50.680 To Bible study. Whatever. 108 00:05:51.360 --> 00:05:53.319 It's not a place. It's not an event, it's not 109 00:05:53.360 --> 00:05:57.279 an institution. I'm going to give you a very specific 110 00:05:57.399 --> 00:05:59.720 biblical definition of the church. I'd like for you to 111 00:05:59.720 --> 00:06:01.720 write these four phrases down. 112 00:06:01.959 --> 00:06:02.319 Okay. 113 00:06:02.680 --> 00:06:06.040 Number one, because once I explained this, then I'm going 114 00:06:06.120 --> 00:06:08.639 to show you five benefits of being a part of 115 00:06:08.639 --> 00:06:11.920 God's family. Number one, what is the church? The church 116 00:06:12.000 --> 00:06:16.920 is God's family on earth and in heaven. God's family 117 00:06:17.079 --> 00:06:21.720 on earth and in heaven. The Church isn't just on earth. 118 00:06:22.680 --> 00:06:25.800 Many people are already in heaven. So some of the 119 00:06:25.879 --> 00:06:29.639 church that's God's family, is already in heaven. Some of 120 00:06:29.680 --> 00:06:32.959 the church is still here on earth. But the Church 121 00:06:33.040 --> 00:06:35.920 is both in heaven and on earth, and it is 122 00:06:35.959 --> 00:06:39.879 God's family. One Timothy chapter three, verses fourteen and fifteen 123 00:06:39.920 --> 00:06:44.480 says this, I'm writing to you so that you'll know 124 00:06:44.519 --> 00:06:47.639 how to live in the family of God. We need 125 00:06:47.680 --> 00:06:50.800 to learn how to live in God's family. That family 126 00:06:51.240 --> 00:06:55.720 is the Church of the Living God, the support and 127 00:06:55.839 --> 00:06:58.600 foundation of the truth. So anytime you talk about the church, 128 00:06:58.600 --> 00:07:00.639 you're talking about God's family. You talk about the time 129 00:07:00.680 --> 00:07:02.680 you talk about God's family, you talk about the church. 130 00:07:03.319 --> 00:07:06.120 There is no family of God outside of the church. 131 00:07:06.160 --> 00:07:06.839 It is the same. 132 00:07:10.439 --> 00:07:13.560 You're listening to Pastor Rick's Daily Hope. Rick will be 133 00:07:13.639 --> 00:07:16.480 back in just a moment with the rest of today's lesson. 134 00:07:16.839 --> 00:07:19.959 You can sign up for Pastor Rick's free email devotional 135 00:07:20.199 --> 00:07:24.399 at pastorick dot com. That's pastorick dot com. 136 00:07:24.480 --> 00:07:27.639 A short time back, Pastor Rick Warren teamed up with 137 00:07:27.720 --> 00:07:31.240 a talented artist to create the stunning new children's book 138 00:07:31.519 --> 00:07:35.720 Words to Love Buy. Written with warmth and wisdom, it 139 00:07:35.879 --> 00:07:38.920 speaks to the hearts of little ones and takes them 140 00:07:38.959 --> 00:07:43.800 on a joyful, grace filled journey. Exploring the power of words. 141 00:07:44.279 --> 00:07:49.199 Through charming illustrations and engaging text, young readers will understand 142 00:07:49.360 --> 00:07:53.199 how their words can change their lives and the lives 143 00:07:53.199 --> 00:07:56.800 of those around them. Kids learn that while words may 144 00:07:56.839 --> 00:08:01.600 be small, they can do big things. Words can encourage, 145 00:08:01.680 --> 00:08:05.040 and they can spread love and kindness, and they can 146 00:08:05.160 --> 00:08:08.720 let us know we are not alone. This hardcover book 147 00:08:08.839 --> 00:08:11.959 is written especially for children at ages four to eight. 148 00:08:12.319 --> 00:08:14.920 It makes a perfect gift for the kids God is 149 00:08:14.959 --> 00:08:18.279 placed in your life today. When you support Daily Hope 150 00:08:18.279 --> 00:08:21.279 with a financial gift, we'll send you the hardcover book 151 00:08:21.480 --> 00:08:24.839 Words to Love Buy by Rick Warren as our way 152 00:08:24.920 --> 00:08:28.000 of saying thanks. Call eight hundred at six hundred at 153 00:08:28.000 --> 00:08:31.240 five zero zero four to support Daily Hope and we'll 154 00:08:31.279 --> 00:08:34.919 send you this powerful resource. Or you can visit Pastorrick 155 00:08:34.960 --> 00:08:37.840 dot com. That's eight hundred at six hundred at five 156 00:08:37.960 --> 00:08:42.519 zero zero four or pastor Rick dot com. 157 00:08:42.720 --> 00:08:44.600 Once again, here's Pastor Rick. 158 00:08:46.159 --> 00:08:48.159 We need to learn how to live in God's family. 159 00:08:48.840 --> 00:08:53.799 That family is the Church of the Living God. The 160 00:08:53.840 --> 00:08:56.960 support and foundation of the truth. So anytime you talk 161 00:08:57.000 --> 00:08:59.039 about the church, you're talking about God's family. Any talking 162 00:08:59.039 --> 00:09:01.120 about the time you talk about God, you're talking about 163 00:09:01.159 --> 00:09:04.519 the church. There is no family of God outside of 164 00:09:04.559 --> 00:09:04.960 the Church. 165 00:09:05.039 --> 00:09:05.759 It is the same. 166 00:09:06.200 --> 00:09:08.600 So it's God's family on heaven and Earth. Number two, 167 00:09:08.960 --> 00:09:15.240 it's composed of saved and baptized believers. The church is 168 00:09:15.360 --> 00:09:20.679 composed of saved and baptized believers. Now, you might have 169 00:09:20.759 --> 00:09:23.000 your name on a role as a child in some church, 170 00:09:23.039 --> 00:09:24.799 but that doesn't make you a part of the church. 171 00:09:25.559 --> 00:09:27.919 It just means you're on somebody's role. You have to 172 00:09:27.960 --> 00:09:31.200 be saved and you have to be baptized to be 173 00:09:31.240 --> 00:09:34.120 a part of the Church of God. Let me just 174 00:09:34.159 --> 00:09:38.039 show you what Jesus said, Mark chapter sixteen, verse sixteen. 175 00:09:39.000 --> 00:09:44.399 Whoever believes in me Jesus said and is baptized will 176 00:09:44.799 --> 00:09:50.919 be saved. But whoever refuses to believe will be condemned. 177 00:09:51.120 --> 00:09:52.799 Now some people look at that and go, are you 178 00:09:52.840 --> 00:09:54.919 saying that I have to be baptized in order to 179 00:09:54.919 --> 00:09:56.480 be saved, that it's essential for salvation. 180 00:09:56.720 --> 00:09:57.120 No, I'm not. 181 00:09:57.200 --> 00:10:00.440 No water will save you. Only Jesus can say no 182 00:10:00.559 --> 00:10:04.039 water will save you. But if you really are saved, 183 00:10:04.679 --> 00:10:08.879 you want to be baptized. It's a contradiction to say, well, 184 00:10:08.879 --> 00:10:10.559 I'm a follower of Christ, but I don't do what 185 00:10:10.600 --> 00:10:14.000 he tells me to do. That's contradiction, so maybe you're 186 00:10:14.039 --> 00:10:17.720 not really saved. Baptism is what I call the wedding 187 00:10:17.799 --> 00:10:21.720 ring of the Christian life. This ring doesn't make me married. 188 00:10:22.360 --> 00:10:24.279 It was the commitment in my heart that made me 189 00:10:24.360 --> 00:10:25.039 married when. 190 00:10:24.919 --> 00:10:25.519 I said I do. 191 00:10:26.200 --> 00:10:29.279 This ring is the outward expression. It reminds me, oh, 192 00:10:29.360 --> 00:10:32.440 I made a vow in my heart. Baptism is the 193 00:10:32.440 --> 00:10:35.559 wedding ring of the Christian life. It doesn't make you 194 00:10:35.639 --> 00:10:39.200 a Christian. It shows that you are. And anybody who 195 00:10:39.200 --> 00:10:41.240 refuses to be baptized you had every reason of doubt 196 00:10:41.279 --> 00:10:43.919 they've had a commitment in their heart because the first 197 00:10:43.919 --> 00:10:48.320 thing Jesus said is be baptized as this outward symbol 198 00:10:48.759 --> 00:10:51.919 of your inward commitment. So it doesn't make you a Christian. 199 00:10:52.080 --> 00:10:57.240 But notice he says, anyone who believes and is baptized, 200 00:10:57.559 --> 00:11:04.080 which comes first believing or baptism believing? Right, you believe 201 00:11:04.480 --> 00:11:08.279 and then you're baptized. Now, if you were baptized before 202 00:11:08.360 --> 00:11:11.519 you were believed, before you believed, it didn't count. You 203 00:11:11.519 --> 00:11:13.399 don't get any blessing from that. You need to do 204 00:11:13.440 --> 00:11:17.799 it again because it means nothing. You just got wet. Okay, 205 00:11:18.080 --> 00:11:18.440 that's all. 206 00:11:18.440 --> 00:11:20.240 It means all. 207 00:11:20.440 --> 00:11:23.559 Baptism only matters if you believe. First, some of you 208 00:11:23.600 --> 00:11:28.279 don't even remember your baptism, So how could you possibly believe, 209 00:11:28.879 --> 00:11:31.000 because maybe you didn't even weren't even old enough. 210 00:11:30.840 --> 00:11:31.320 To know that. 211 00:11:31.960 --> 00:11:35.919 So you believe, Jesus said, and then you're baptized. Let 212 00:11:35.919 --> 00:11:38.519 me show you a couple of other verses. Acts chapter two, 213 00:11:38.600 --> 00:11:41.120 Verse thirty eight. This is the day of Pentecost. This 214 00:11:41.159 --> 00:11:44.399 is the day that Jesus began his church. And Peter 215 00:11:44.600 --> 00:11:49.399 preached this sermon. He said, this, repent and be baptized. 216 00:11:49.440 --> 00:11:51.840 This is the first day of the Church. In the 217 00:11:51.919 --> 00:11:55.399 name of Jesus Christ. For the forgiveness of your sin. 218 00:11:56.120 --> 00:11:59.559 Then God will give you His Holy Spirit. 219 00:12:00.240 --> 00:12:00.399 Now. 220 00:12:00.399 --> 00:12:02.360 In Romans chapter eight, it says, if you don't have 221 00:12:02.399 --> 00:12:03.440 God's spirited. 222 00:12:03.120 --> 00:12:05.480 You you're not a Christian. You're not saved. 223 00:12:06.000 --> 00:12:08.879 Do not have God's spirit would mean you don't really 224 00:12:08.960 --> 00:12:12.480 know the Lord yet. So he says, whoever believes in 225 00:12:12.559 --> 00:12:15.480 meaning baptized, he'll be saved. And then Peter says repent 226 00:12:15.559 --> 00:12:18.159 and be baptized. Now in that verse, which one comes 227 00:12:18.159 --> 00:12:22.919 first repent or be baptized repent? Right, So if you 228 00:12:22.960 --> 00:12:28.600 were baptized before you repented, it didn't count. As I said, 229 00:12:28.679 --> 00:12:31.399 it was just a nice little ritual, but it meant nothing. 230 00:12:31.440 --> 00:12:33.879 You got no spiritual blessing out of it because you 231 00:12:33.919 --> 00:12:37.320 didn't even know what the meaning of baptism was. It 232 00:12:37.360 --> 00:12:40.440 comes after you believe, and it comes after you repent. 233 00:12:41.000 --> 00:12:45.120 Now here's what happens same day, Acts two, verse forty one. 234 00:12:45.240 --> 00:12:50.679 It says, then those who believed they believe first were 235 00:12:50.840 --> 00:12:55.360 then baptized see believe in counts the four baptized, and 236 00:12:55.440 --> 00:12:58.840 then they became part of the church. Baptism is the 237 00:12:59.039 --> 00:13:03.600 entry door to the church. About three thousand people that day. 238 00:13:04.519 --> 00:13:06.679 So baptism doesn't bless you if you did it out 239 00:13:06.679 --> 00:13:10.720 of order, and if you believed after you were baptized, 240 00:13:11.039 --> 00:13:14.679 you need to be baptized again, because it didn't mean anything. 241 00:13:14.879 --> 00:13:17.559 It didn't mean what the meaning of baptism is all about. 242 00:13:17.679 --> 00:13:18.080 All right. 243 00:13:18.279 --> 00:13:21.320 So it's God's family on earth. It's composed of saved 244 00:13:21.360 --> 00:13:24.480 and baptized believer it. The third part is this, it's 245 00:13:24.960 --> 00:13:28.960 people who are committed to Jesus and each other. To 246 00:13:29.039 --> 00:13:31.360 be a part of the church means I'm not just 247 00:13:31.440 --> 00:13:35.919 committed to Jesus, I'm committed to the other people in 248 00:13:35.960 --> 00:13:40.960 my church. Family of church means I am committed to 249 00:13:41.080 --> 00:13:46.080 Jesus and to each other. Now, let me show you 250 00:13:46.120 --> 00:13:52.240 a few verses about this. Second Corinthians, chapter eight, verse five. First, 251 00:13:52.360 --> 00:13:57.559 it says they gave themselves to the Lord, and then second, 252 00:13:57.919 --> 00:14:02.399 by God's will, they gave themselves to us as well. 253 00:14:02.559 --> 00:14:05.399 This is what we call the first base commitments saddleback. 254 00:14:05.679 --> 00:14:07.799 First you give yourself to the Lord. 255 00:14:07.879 --> 00:14:10.679 And then you give yourself to a group of other Christians. 256 00:14:11.080 --> 00:14:13.799 The first one makes you a Christian. The second one 257 00:14:13.840 --> 00:14:18.080 makes you a church member. Let me say it again. First, 258 00:14:18.120 --> 00:14:20.639 they gave themselves the Lord. That's how you get saved. 259 00:14:21.120 --> 00:14:23.720 You give your life to the Lord. And it says 260 00:14:23.759 --> 00:14:26.720 and then they gave themselves to us as well. 261 00:14:27.039 --> 00:14:28.639 That's what it means to be a church member. 262 00:14:30.200 --> 00:14:33.840 You become a Christian by giving your life to Christ. 263 00:14:34.399 --> 00:14:37.480 You become a church member by giving yourself to a 264 00:14:37.519 --> 00:14:40.399 group of other people. Say that's gonna be my spiritual home, 265 00:14:41.279 --> 00:14:44.840 that's gonna be my family, That's gonna be my spiritual 266 00:14:44.919 --> 00:14:48.600 base for my life while I'm here in this area. Whatever, 267 00:14:48.759 --> 00:14:51.480 it is a commitment not simply to Christ. It's a 268 00:14:51.519 --> 00:14:54.080 commitment to another group of other people. And we're gonna 269 00:14:54.080 --> 00:14:56.919 look at that today. Let me show you some other verses. 270 00:14:57.000 --> 00:15:01.159 Romans twelve, verse ten says you are to be devoted 271 00:15:02.080 --> 00:15:05.440 circle this to each other, not just to God. 272 00:15:05.720 --> 00:15:07.799 You are being devoted to each other. 273 00:15:08.919 --> 00:15:13.240 As brothers and sisters in God's loving family. That's what 274 00:15:13.279 --> 00:15:15.080 it means to be a church member. You're not just 275 00:15:15.159 --> 00:15:18.559 committed to Christ. You're committed to his family. You're committed 276 00:15:18.559 --> 00:15:23.559 to your brothers and sisters in that family. Romans chapter fourteen. 277 00:15:23.879 --> 00:15:27.919 Excuse me, Romans twelve, verse four and five. In Christ's body, 278 00:15:28.799 --> 00:15:34.000 each member belongs to who all the others. 279 00:15:34.840 --> 00:15:36.919 You realize this that in this church. 280 00:15:36.799 --> 00:15:39.679 Family, I belong to you, You belong to me. We 281 00:15:39.799 --> 00:15:42.559 belong to each other. That's what it means to be 282 00:15:43.240 --> 00:15:45.039 a member of a family. Now, notice it has the 283 00:15:45.039 --> 00:15:47.720 word member there. Sometimes you'll hear people say, I've actually 284 00:15:47.759 --> 00:15:48.480 heard preachers on the. 285 00:15:48.519 --> 00:15:49.200 Radio say this. 286 00:15:49.440 --> 00:15:52.840 Well, there's no such thing as church membership in the Bible. 287 00:15:52.960 --> 00:15:56.879 That's just nonsense. The word member came from the Bible. 288 00:15:58.559 --> 00:15:58.799 Act. 289 00:15:58.840 --> 00:16:01.600 There was no word members until it was in the Bible. 290 00:16:02.519 --> 00:16:06.000 The word member is used about one hundred times in 291 00:16:06.080 --> 00:16:10.720 the New Testament. The whole concept of membership was only 292 00:16:10.919 --> 00:16:14.279 about the church until other people picked it up and 293 00:16:14.320 --> 00:16:17.559 all of a sudden, you know, you know American express 294 00:16:17.600 --> 00:16:22.120 as membership has its privileges. No, so now you can 295 00:16:22.159 --> 00:16:24.039 be a member of my book club, you can be 296 00:16:24.080 --> 00:16:26.840 a member of my Facebook following, you can be a 297 00:16:26.919 --> 00:16:30.759 member of some the rotary club, you can be members. 298 00:16:30.480 --> 00:16:31.799 Of a million other things. 299 00:16:31.840 --> 00:16:35.759 But the word member came from the Bible, and it's 300 00:16:35.840 --> 00:16:40.440 talking about being a member of a local body of Christ. 301 00:16:40.919 --> 00:16:43.120 And it's used in a very different way. It's not 302 00:16:43.159 --> 00:16:46.480 talking about secret handshakes and funny hats and passwords and 303 00:16:46.480 --> 00:16:49.159 stuff like that. What is it talking about a member? 304 00:16:49.159 --> 00:16:53.159 We'll look on the screen first Corinthians twelve twelve to fourteen. 305 00:16:54.600 --> 00:16:58.320 Just as your body has many members, what are we 306 00:16:58.320 --> 00:17:01.120 talking about there? Your hand is a member of your body. 307 00:17:01.159 --> 00:17:03.600 Your ear is a member of your body. Your eye 308 00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:06.240 is a member of your body. Your nose, your spleen, 309 00:17:06.359 --> 00:17:09.519 your liver, these are all members of your body. Just 310 00:17:09.599 --> 00:17:13.799 as your body has many members. And each member of 311 00:17:13.839 --> 00:17:15.960 your body is unique. The liver doesn't do what the 312 00:17:16.000 --> 00:17:23.519 heart does. All your members together form your single body physically, 313 00:17:24.160 --> 00:17:27.279 So it is with Christ's body, he says. It's the 314 00:17:27.319 --> 00:17:30.559 exact same thing, physical parallel to a spiritual parallel. The 315 00:17:30.640 --> 00:17:33.519 Christ's body is the church, he said. All the members 316 00:17:33.559 --> 00:17:38.119 of the church make up the body of Christ. All right, 317 00:17:39.079 --> 00:17:44.079 So he's saying here that only as you're connected does 318 00:17:44.119 --> 00:17:45.400 it really really matter. 319 00:17:45.960 --> 00:17:47.200 And then he says the rest of it. 320 00:17:47.200 --> 00:17:51.480 He says this, for in one spirit, we were all 321 00:17:51.599 --> 00:17:58.079 baptized into one body. Regardless of our background, whether Jews 322 00:17:58.160 --> 00:18:03.160 are gentiles or slaves are free, we all receive God spirit. 323 00:18:03.200 --> 00:18:03.480 He says. 324 00:18:03.519 --> 00:18:08.599 It doesn't matter what your background is religious background, ethnic background, 325 00:18:09.000 --> 00:18:13.279 language background, racial back, None of that really matters, he says, 326 00:18:13.440 --> 00:18:17.079 regardless of your background, we all receive God's spirit. That's 327 00:18:17.359 --> 00:18:20.960 what puts us in the body. We're baptized into one body. 328 00:18:21.319 --> 00:18:24.119 So the body isn't made up of just one member, 329 00:18:24.920 --> 00:18:28.359 it's all the members connected together. And what is that saying. 330 00:18:28.440 --> 00:18:31.759 It's saying this. You are not the Church of God 331 00:18:31.839 --> 00:18:35.960 by yourself. You are not the Family of God by yourself. 332 00:18:36.440 --> 00:18:39.720 You're not the body of Christ by yourself only as 333 00:18:39.759 --> 00:18:43.359 we are connected together? Are we the family of God? 334 00:18:43.880 --> 00:18:47.839 Are we the Body of Christ? Are we God's Church? 335 00:18:48.559 --> 00:18:51.839 I'm not the church, you're not the church, but together 336 00:18:52.240 --> 00:18:55.000 we are the church. And he said it's in that connection. 337 00:18:55.480 --> 00:18:58.759 So only in connection to other members are you actually 338 00:18:58.799 --> 00:19:01.880 in God's family? Are not connected to other members? How 339 00:19:01.880 --> 00:19:04.880 are you and God's family? So what does that mean? 340 00:19:05.000 --> 00:19:05.200 Then? 341 00:19:05.400 --> 00:19:07.599 What does that mean the body to be a part 342 00:19:07.640 --> 00:19:09.519 of the body of Christ? Look at these verses on 343 00:19:09.720 --> 00:19:14.000 Corinthians twelve twenty five. The way God designed our bodies 344 00:19:14.079 --> 00:19:19.480 physical bodies is a model for understanding our lives together 345 00:19:19.799 --> 00:19:21.559 as a church, says, Okay, look at your body, and 346 00:19:21.559 --> 00:19:24.640 then you figure out how. 347 00:19:23.480 --> 00:19:24.359 The church operates. 348 00:19:25.039 --> 00:19:29.200 Every part is to be dependent on the other parts. 349 00:19:30.440 --> 00:19:33.400 I can't say that I don't need this part or 350 00:19:33.400 --> 00:19:35.519 I don't need that part. We all need each other 351 00:19:35.720 --> 00:19:39.039 and we are to be dependent on the other parts. 352 00:19:39.240 --> 00:19:44.440 It was his intention that we live our lives together. 353 00:19:47.759 --> 00:19:51.160 This is Pastor Rick's daily Hope. We're so happy that 354 00:19:51.200 --> 00:19:54.359 you've chosen to study along with us today. If you'd 355 00:19:54.400 --> 00:19:57.079 like to have a hope filled message from Pastor Rick 356 00:19:57.160 --> 00:20:00.359 delivered to you every day, go to Pastor Rick dot 357 00:20:00.720 --> 00:20:04.400 and sign up for Rick's free email devotional. Right now, 358 00:20:04.839 --> 00:20:07.319 Rick will be back to close out our time today. 359 00:20:07.440 --> 00:20:11.400 But first, Pastor Rick Warren teamed up with a talented 360 00:20:11.480 --> 00:20:15.720 artist to create the stunning children's book Words to Love By. 361 00:20:16.079 --> 00:20:19.720 Written with warmth and wisdom, it speaks to the hearts 362 00:20:19.759 --> 00:20:23.200 of little ones. Words to Love By takes children on 363 00:20:23.279 --> 00:20:27.480 a joyful, grace filled journey, exploring the power of words. 364 00:20:27.759 --> 00:20:32.799 Through charming illustrations and engaging text. Young readers will understand 365 00:20:32.839 --> 00:20:36.519 how their words can change their lives and the lives 366 00:20:36.519 --> 00:20:40.039 of those around them. Kids learn that while words may 367 00:20:40.079 --> 00:20:44.559 be small, they can do big things. Words can encourage, 368 00:20:44.839 --> 00:20:47.920 and they can spread love and kindness, and they let 369 00:20:48.039 --> 00:20:51.519 us know we are not alone. This book is hardcover 370 00:20:51.680 --> 00:20:55.160 and is written especially for children ages four through eight. 371 00:20:55.480 --> 00:20:58.240 It makes a perfect gift for the kids God has 372 00:20:58.319 --> 00:21:00.839 placed in your life Today. Day when you give a 373 00:21:00.880 --> 00:21:03.759 gift to help daily Hope take the certain hope of 374 00:21:03.880 --> 00:21:08.200 Jesus to people worldwide, we'll send you the hardcover book 375 00:21:08.440 --> 00:21:11.480 Words to Love By by Rick Warren as our way 376 00:21:11.519 --> 00:21:15.759 of saying thanks. Call eight hundred, six hundred, five thousand 377 00:21:15.799 --> 00:21:18.920 and four to support Daily Hope and will send you 378 00:21:19.039 --> 00:21:23.160 this beautiful children's gift book, or you can visit Pastorick 379 00:21:23.240 --> 00:21:27.000 dot com. That's eight hundred, six hundred, five thousand and 380 00:21:27.039 --> 00:21:31.319 four or Pastorick dot com. Here's Pastor Rick with a 381 00:21:31.440 --> 00:21:33.359 letter from one of our listeners. 382 00:21:33.599 --> 00:21:36.880 Hi, everybody, today, I want to share a very powerful 383 00:21:36.960 --> 00:21:41.200 letter from a listener named Michael. Michael experienced terrible trauma 384 00:21:41.440 --> 00:21:44.400 as a child, but he says that Daily Hope is 385 00:21:44.480 --> 00:21:47.599 helping him overcome his past and now he's looking to 386 00:21:47.680 --> 00:21:49.480 the future with his kids. Let me read you just 387 00:21:49.519 --> 00:21:53.480 a little bit of Michael's story. Dear Pastor Rick, you 388 00:21:53.559 --> 00:21:57.160 and Daily Hope have brought God into my life and 389 00:21:57.200 --> 00:22:00.519 it has saved me. I am a twenty nine old 390 00:22:00.519 --> 00:22:03.200 father of five children, and I try my hardest to 391 00:22:03.279 --> 00:22:06.119 teach my children to know God and to love Jesus 392 00:22:06.200 --> 00:22:08.079 and how to pray. And I do my best to 393 00:22:08.119 --> 00:22:10.480 be a good example and be worthy of all the 394 00:22:10.480 --> 00:22:11.559 good gifts that God. 395 00:22:11.359 --> 00:22:11.960 Has given to me. 396 00:22:12.960 --> 00:22:16.680 But you know, because of my childhood and the insecurities 397 00:22:16.720 --> 00:22:20.519 and abandonment issues that were created in my life from 398 00:22:20.640 --> 00:22:24.559 years of mental abuse, physical abuse, verbal abuse, and yes, 399 00:22:24.599 --> 00:22:28.319 even sexual abuse, I've always had a hard time trusting God. 400 00:22:29.039 --> 00:22:32.200 I woke up every day feeling unworthy, and I suffered 401 00:22:32.200 --> 00:22:35.119