1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:29,980 Thank you. 2 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:31,000 Okay. 3 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:29,980 Thank you. 4 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:59,980 Thank you. 5 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:01,280 All right, I'll see you guys in church. 6 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:59,980 Thank you. 7 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:29,980 Thank you. 8 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:59,980 Thank you. 9 00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:29,980 I can't see it. 10 00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:30,880 What's wrong? 11 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:29,980 Thank you. 12 00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:59,980 I'll see you next time. 13 00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:29,980 Thank you. 14 00:11:30,000 --> 00:11:59,980 Thank you. 15 00:12:00,000 --> 00:12:29,980 Thank you. 16 00:14:00,000 --> 00:14:04,920 I'm going to open your phone and yell to me. 17 00:14:04,920 --> 00:14:06,820 I'm going to open your phone and yell to me. 18 00:14:06,820 --> 00:14:08,940 I'm going to open your phone and yell to me. 19 00:14:22,460 --> 00:14:52,440 Thank you. 20 00:14:52,460 --> 00:15:22,440 Thank you. 21 00:15:22,460 --> 00:15:52,440 Thank you. 22 00:15:52,460 --> 00:16:22,440 We'll be right back. 23 00:16:22,460 --> 00:16:52,440 The End 24 00:16:52,460 --> 00:17:22,440 Thank you. 25 00:17:22,460 --> 00:17:52,440 I'll see you next time. 26 00:17:52,460 --> 00:18:22,440 Thank you. 27 00:18:22,460 --> 00:18:52,440 Thank you. 28 00:18:52,460 --> 00:19:22,440 Thank you. 29 00:25:22,460 --> 00:25:29,460 wrangled up. Oh, yeah. 30 00:25:52,460 --> 00:25:57,460 Okay, all right I think we're gonna start, maybe. 31 00:26:22,460 --> 00:26:26,920 we're getting everything situated 32 00:26:26,920 --> 00:26:52,420 I think the camera is on yep so okay all right good morning everybody 33 00:26:52,420 --> 00:26:58,800 we're here. Brandon is preaching today, which I shouldn't be surprised because he preached like 34 00:26:58,800 --> 00:27:04,240 after he had a craniotomy. So this is a walk in the park compared to that, I guess. So just a 35 00:27:04,240 --> 00:27:10,200 reminder that he is pretty immunocompromised right now. So he's got to keep a distance and 36 00:27:10,200 --> 00:27:16,780 no hugging, handshaking, high fives, no rushing the stage. If you rush the stage, we'll have to 37 00:27:16,780 --> 00:27:24,640 get the bouncers which is Audrey and Kathy to escort you out so but uh it's good to be here 38 00:27:24,640 --> 00:27:31,700 and after last Sunday's craziness we're we're happy to be here so we're gonna the service is 39 00:27:31,700 --> 00:27:36,860 gonna be a little shorter today but it'll still be it'll still be good so we're gonna go ahead 40 00:27:36,860 --> 00:27:51,340 and stand and read out of Psalms together. And we're just going to be reading out of 41 00:27:51,340 --> 00:27:57,860 chapter 18 today, and we're going to be doing verses 1 and 2 together. And it begins, 42 00:27:57,860 --> 00:28:06,820 I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer. My God, 43 00:28:06,820 --> 00:28:14,740 my rock in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. 44 00:28:14,740 --> 00:28:21,660 This is the word of the Lord. Praise be to God. All right, we're going to go ahead and pray. 45 00:28:21,660 --> 00:28:27,560 God, we thank you for the opportunity to be here today and gather together and be 46 00:28:27,560 --> 00:28:34,480 encouraged by each other, both here and online. We thank you for the opportunity to worship you and 47 00:28:34,480 --> 00:28:40,760 to learn more about you throughout the different parts of your word. And we thank you for your 48 00:28:40,760 --> 00:28:45,680 closeness and your deliverance and how you're a mighty rock and a fortress for us when we need 49 00:28:45,680 --> 00:28:51,680 that and how you're always there and present in our lives. Be with our service today. Be with 50 00:28:51,680 --> 00:28:57,020 Brandon and just give him the strength to get through and just allow this to glorify you in 51 00:28:57,020 --> 00:29:01,680 Jesus name amen all right our first Song we're going to be singing together is 52 00:29:01,680 --> 00:29:04,900 going to be behold our God 53 00:29:27,020 --> 00:29:30,380 Cumbered every grain of sand 54 00:29:30,380 --> 00:29:37,320 Kings and nations tremble at His voice 55 00:29:37,320 --> 00:29:43,600 All creation rises to rejoice 56 00:29:43,600 --> 00:29:49,860 Behold our God 57 00:29:49,860 --> 00:29:52,920 Seated on His throne 58 00:29:52,920 --> 00:29:57,580 Come let us adore Him 59 00:29:57,580 --> 00:30:02,860 Behold our King 60 00:30:02,860 --> 00:30:06,100 Nothing can compare 61 00:30:06,100 --> 00:30:12,660 Come let us adore Him 62 00:30:22,920 --> 00:30:30,280 Who has given counsel to the Lord? 63 00:30:30,280 --> 00:30:36,840 Who can question any of His words? 64 00:30:36,840 --> 00:30:43,300 Who can teach the one who knows all things? 65 00:30:43,300 --> 00:30:49,940 Who can fathom all His wondrous deeds? 66 00:30:51,700 --> 00:31:03,860 Behold our God, seated on His throne, come let us adore Him. 67 00:31:03,860 --> 00:31:19,180 Behold our King, nothing can compare, come let us adore Him. 68 00:31:21,700 --> 00:31:36,820 God has felt the nails upon his hands 69 00:31:36,820 --> 00:31:43,460 Bearing all the guilt of sinful man 70 00:31:43,460 --> 00:31:50,320 God eternal, humble to the grave 71 00:31:50,320 --> 00:31:57,280 Jesus, Savior, is enough to reign. 72 00:31:57,280 --> 00:32:06,140 Behold our God, seated on His throne. 73 00:32:06,140 --> 00:32:10,880 Come, let us adore Him. 74 00:32:10,880 --> 00:32:18,960 Behold our King, nothing can compare. 75 00:32:18,960 --> 00:32:26,200 Come, let us adore Him 76 00:32:26,200 --> 00:32:39,680 All right, we're going to move a couple of things around in our service today. 77 00:32:39,680 --> 00:32:46,560 Usually we do our prayer and share time next, but we're actually going to do that at the end of, towards the end of the service today. 78 00:32:47,260 --> 00:32:49,860 So we're going to be moving into our time of communion. 79 00:32:49,860 --> 00:32:54,160 And if you want to stand while we sing this song, you can sit, whatever you'd like to do. 80 00:32:54,160 --> 00:32:59,340 And then Brandon's going to come up and preach. 81 00:32:59,340 --> 00:33:03,060 And we'll move forward with that. 82 00:33:03,060 --> 00:33:08,140 So this song we're going to be singing is a new song for us, but the words are really good. 83 00:33:08,140 --> 00:33:12,460 And so just follow along, and it's pretty easy to pick up. 84 00:33:12,460 --> 00:33:13,980 It's called By the Grace of God. 85 00:33:17,260 --> 00:33:35,540 I rest my soul on Jesus 86 00:33:35,540 --> 00:33:41,040 When the mountains shake 87 00:33:41,040 --> 00:33:48,540 I put my trust in Jesus 88 00:33:48,540 --> 00:33:53,400 The moment I awake 89 00:33:53,400 --> 00:34:02,420 And when my soul is lost at sea 90 00:34:02,420 --> 00:34:07,840 He will be my rock 91 00:34:07,840 --> 00:34:15,460 My vision be in Christ alone 92 00:34:15,460 --> 00:34:21,040 This grace is all we've got 93 00:34:21,040 --> 00:34:27,760 His love is like the mighty ocean 94 00:34:27,760 --> 00:34:34,620 His love for me will never stop 95 00:34:34,620 --> 00:34:47,560 Oh, His arms are strong enough to carry me through it all by the grace of God. 96 00:34:47,560 --> 00:35:00,800 So I, upon His shoulders, safely brought this far. 97 00:35:03,020 --> 00:35:09,160 Helper of my helpless soul 98 00:35:09,160 --> 00:35:15,020 The King of broken hearts 99 00:35:15,020 --> 00:35:21,320 His love is like the mighty ocean 100 00:35:21,320 --> 00:35:28,300 His love for me will never stop 101 00:35:28,300 --> 00:35:40,700 Oh, His arms are strong enough to carry me through it all by the grace of God. 102 00:35:40,700 --> 00:35:51,320 You are the passion of my life, Lord Jesus. 103 00:35:51,320 --> 00:36:04,320 You are the song within my soul My strength, my hope, my all in all 104 00:36:04,320 --> 00:36:08,400 Is you, Jesus 105 00:36:08,400 --> 00:36:15,380 When breath grows still and night draws near 106 00:36:15,380 --> 00:36:20,380 I will not be afraid 107 00:36:20,380 --> 00:36:28,380 I know the plans he has for me 108 00:36:28,380 --> 00:36:35,380 Don't finish at my grave 109 00:36:35,380 --> 00:36:44,840 His love is like the mighty ocean 110 00:36:44,840 --> 00:36:51,980 His love for me will never stop 111 00:36:51,980 --> 00:36:59,120 Oh, His arms are strong enough to carry me 112 00:36:59,120 --> 00:37:04,460 Through it all by the grace of God 113 00:37:04,460 --> 00:37:08,380 You may be seated. 114 00:37:14,840 --> 00:37:44,020 All right, I think that's on, so hopefully you can hear me here, and for those watching 115 00:37:44,020 --> 00:37:52,540 online. Specifically, say hi to Neil and Dee. Glad you're with us this morning. Glad you're 116 00:37:52,540 --> 00:37:58,360 all with us. I'm glad to be here. A little bit different, I have never been in front of the 117 00:37:58,360 --> 00:38:09,820 church in Crocs, and so that's a new experience for me as well. So as we get ready to come to 118 00:38:09,820 --> 00:38:17,520 the Lord's table, I just want us to think a little bit about grace. I've thought a lot about food 119 00:38:17,520 --> 00:38:26,620 this week, not because I was hungry, but kind of the opposite scenario. I not wanted a lot of food, 120 00:38:26,620 --> 00:38:35,200 but it's funny how it works out. Friday night, we've had friends making us dinner, and they had 121 00:38:35,200 --> 00:38:40,960 made just something real simple stuffed shells and a little salad to go with it and I came 122 00:38:40,960 --> 00:38:44,480 in to sit down at the table and Rachel said do you want some food and I said I don't want 123 00:38:44,480 --> 00:38:51,960 any food and I said well well what is it and so she gives me a little like three bites 124 00:38:51,960 --> 00:38:57,500 of stuffed shells and two bites of salad and I sat down and I took a bite and it tasted 125 00:38:57,500 --> 00:39:03,020 so good and I took another bite and it tasted so good and I ate all I ate everything on my 126 00:39:03,020 --> 00:39:10,680 plate. Now, it was like a toddler-sized portion of food, but it was one of those kind of moments 127 00:39:10,680 --> 00:39:17,560 of recovery where it's like, hey, I will someday be able to enjoy eating again. And it was a 128 00:39:17,560 --> 00:39:23,700 nourishing moment, not just physically because I was eating food, but it was nourishing because 129 00:39:23,700 --> 00:39:31,540 there was, it was a strengthening moment for me. For us as Christians, you and I, all of us need 130 00:39:31,540 --> 00:39:38,000 that, right? We need the strength, we need the nourishment, we need the encouragement of just 131 00:39:38,000 --> 00:39:43,740 sitting around the table with those that we love. And so when we come to this meal this morning, 132 00:39:43,740 --> 00:39:50,120 which is what we are doing right now, this is, even though it's small, a little tiny cracker, 133 00:39:50,120 --> 00:39:55,960 a little bit of juice, this is monumentally important, right? This nourishes us, it strengthens 134 00:39:55,960 --> 00:40:02,900 us it points us to our hope it reminds us of our forgiveness it tells us we have a savior who loved 135 00:40:02,900 --> 00:40:12,660 and who died for us this is our family meal so i'm going to read from corinthians and then we'll 136 00:40:12,660 --> 00:40:17,560 partake together and then we'll spend just a little bit of time talking probably the shortest 137 00:40:17,560 --> 00:40:23,540 sermon i've preached a lot of firsts a short sermon not a lot of cry not a lot of shoes and 138 00:40:23,540 --> 00:40:26,280 and we'll spend some time together in prayer. 139 00:40:26,280 --> 00:40:28,740 Father in heaven, 140 00:40:28,740 --> 00:40:31,900 thank you for your church and your word. 141 00:40:31,900 --> 00:40:36,620 I thank you so much for this bread and this cup 142 00:40:36,620 --> 00:40:38,900 that we're about to eat and drink. 143 00:40:38,900 --> 00:40:42,620 I thank you for the sacrifice that it represents. 144 00:40:42,620 --> 00:40:46,980 I thank you for the hope that it brings to our lives. 145 00:40:46,980 --> 00:40:51,900 I thank you for the nourishment that it fills up within us. 146 00:40:52,740 --> 00:40:56,340 I thank you for the forgiveness that you have lavished upon us. 147 00:40:56,340 --> 00:41:00,020 And we thank you, as we just sang, for the depths of your grace. 148 00:41:00,020 --> 00:41:04,540 Help us not to forget how good you have been to us, 149 00:41:04,540 --> 00:41:09,880 how gracious you have been, how your love has been poured out through the blood of your Son. 150 00:41:09,880 --> 00:41:15,600 Be with us as we partake. May we not forget the seriousness of this moment. 151 00:41:15,600 --> 00:41:20,040 Thank you for Jesus and for grace. It's in his name we pray. Amen. 152 00:41:21,040 --> 00:41:22,340 Paul writes this. 153 00:41:22,340 --> 00:41:27,500 For what I received from the Lord, what I delivered to you, 154 00:41:27,500 --> 00:41:30,740 the Lord Jesus, on the night when he was betrayed, took bread, 155 00:41:30,740 --> 00:41:33,360 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and he said, 156 00:41:33,360 --> 00:41:38,240 This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me. 157 00:41:47,240 --> 00:41:51,260 In the same way also, he took the cup after supper, saying, 158 00:41:51,260 --> 00:41:53,400 This cup is the new covenant in my blood. 159 00:41:53,400 --> 00:41:57,360 Do this as often as you drink it in remembrance of me. 160 00:41:57,360 --> 00:42:06,740 For as often as you eat this bread and you drink this cup, 161 00:42:06,740 --> 00:42:10,580 you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. 162 00:42:10,580 --> 00:42:12,300 We're going to pray one more time. 163 00:42:12,880 --> 00:42:20,660 Spend a little bit of time in God's Word and talking a little bit about some things that I am very thankful for. 164 00:42:20,660 --> 00:42:26,280 And then we will close up in a time of prayer with Russell. 165 00:42:26,280 --> 00:42:35,080 There's a lot to pray for in our world, in our lives, in our nation, in nations throughout the world. 166 00:42:35,080 --> 00:42:38,120 And so we want to do that together this morning. 167 00:42:38,120 --> 00:42:40,660 We'll sing again and wrap up our service. 168 00:42:40,660 --> 00:42:41,180 So let's pray. 169 00:42:41,840 --> 00:42:43,780 Father, give me strength. 170 00:42:43,780 --> 00:42:47,240 I thank you for the good news of the gospel. 171 00:42:47,240 --> 00:42:48,480 I thank you for Jesus. 172 00:42:48,480 --> 00:42:49,820 I thank you for hope. 173 00:42:49,820 --> 00:42:54,780 I thank you for all the good things that you have given to us. 174 00:42:54,780 --> 00:42:57,160 I thank you for your grace poured out in my life 175 00:42:57,160 --> 00:43:02,740 and the life of my family and the life of this church this past week. 176 00:43:02,740 --> 00:43:04,440 So I just ask that you would be with us, 177 00:43:04,440 --> 00:43:08,040 whether we are here in person or watching online, 178 00:43:08,040 --> 00:43:10,880 that your word might encourage us, 179 00:43:11,000 --> 00:43:20,040 that my experiences might encourage someone that you would help us to see your grace and how it's poured out. 180 00:43:20,040 --> 00:43:21,240 In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. 181 00:43:21,240 --> 00:43:25,120 So I'm glad to be here. 182 00:43:25,120 --> 00:43:28,120 A couple things that I want to do. 183 00:43:28,120 --> 00:43:33,080 In the 40th Psalm, the psalmist writes this. 184 00:43:33,080 --> 00:43:37,700 He says, I have told the glad news of my deliverance to the congregation. 185 00:43:38,560 --> 00:43:46,180 And behold, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O Lord. 186 00:43:46,180 --> 00:43:49,620 I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart. 187 00:43:49,620 --> 00:43:54,160 I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation. 188 00:43:54,160 --> 00:44:00,980 And I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation. 189 00:44:00,980 --> 00:44:04,340 So part of what I want to do this morning is just do that for a minute. 190 00:44:05,120 --> 00:44:10,840 Just share what God has done in my life and in the life of my family. 191 00:44:10,840 --> 00:44:17,460 Share three or four very specific things that I hope maybe will encourage you, 192 00:44:17,460 --> 00:44:20,760 that I have been encouraged by this week. 193 00:44:20,760 --> 00:44:25,680 And then secondly, just very simply, I just want to direct you to Jesus. 194 00:44:25,680 --> 00:44:34,200 Two verses in John chapter 6 that point us to wonderful, overwhelming, beautiful hope. 195 00:44:35,120 --> 00:44:39,180 And so I want to do that with you just for a few minutes. 196 00:44:39,180 --> 00:44:42,000 Normally, during our service, we've already done a prayer time. 197 00:44:42,000 --> 00:44:47,300 We're going to close with that, specifically thanking God for the good things, 198 00:44:47,300 --> 00:44:51,440 praying for those needs that we know of and we've seen, 199 00:44:51,440 --> 00:44:57,080 and also, I think, spending some time in prayer for world events, situations, 200 00:44:57,080 --> 00:45:00,200 the nation of Ukraine and the Christians there, 201 00:45:00,200 --> 00:45:04,820 who are worshiping very differently this morning. 202 00:45:05,020 --> 00:45:09,940 So, week's been a little bit different for me, as I think everybody knows. 203 00:45:09,940 --> 00:45:16,480 In many ways, as we read the news and hear the news, we see the brokenness of our world. 204 00:45:16,480 --> 00:45:19,500 And it's not just something that we've heard about, right? 205 00:45:19,500 --> 00:45:23,000 It's something that we can see and we can feel. 206 00:45:23,000 --> 00:45:28,700 And we can see that this is a world that is filled with hurt, right? 207 00:45:28,700 --> 00:45:33,460 Sin and brokenness isn't just something that we talk about. 208 00:45:33,460 --> 00:45:40,240 it's something that we see, we feel, and our hearts break. So I want to talk about how God 209 00:45:40,240 --> 00:45:46,380 moves into those sort of broken moments of our lives. So a bunch of years ago for me, 210 00:45:46,380 --> 00:45:54,300 at least 15, maybe 16 or 17 years ago, I showed up at church on a Sunday morning, 211 00:45:54,300 --> 00:46:02,880 kind of ready to preach. I was in an incredible amount of pain, and I was talking to Greg, 212 00:46:03,160 --> 00:46:08,740 as we tend to do before the service, and he's like, you know, you might want to go to the hospital. 213 00:46:08,740 --> 00:46:15,840 And I was like, I'm a man, and I don't need a hospital. And he's like, hey, just FYI, my brother-in-law 214 00:46:15,840 --> 00:46:23,260 is here. He's also a preacher. Probably has a sermon. It'll be okay if you go to the hospital. 215 00:46:23,260 --> 00:46:29,560 And so that time in the hospital, I was diagnosed with a hereditary kidney condition 216 00:46:29,560 --> 00:46:36,720 that in all likelihood would end in me requiring a kidney transplant, but not generally right away. 217 00:46:36,720 --> 00:46:42,340 And this particular disease can move very quickly or it can move very slowly. 218 00:46:42,340 --> 00:46:49,640 Sometimes it's years and years and years, and other times you go downhill very quickly. 219 00:46:49,640 --> 00:46:54,160 And in my case, mine was one of the sort of quicker moving cases. 220 00:46:54,460 --> 00:47:00,260 And so we've been on the transplant list for, I think, two or three years. 221 00:47:00,260 --> 00:47:07,660 I've been on dialysis three times a week since the beginning of last August. 222 00:47:07,660 --> 00:47:13,400 And I remember my first day at dialysis, I was terrified because the type of dialysis we were doing, 223 00:47:13,400 --> 00:47:21,440 they would stick very large needles into your arm, and then they just filter your blood like an external kidney. 224 00:47:21,440 --> 00:47:24,160 And I was not looking forward to it. 225 00:47:24,200 --> 00:47:28,660 In fact, I put it off probably months past where I needed to put it off. 226 00:47:28,660 --> 00:47:33,820 And God took an experience that for me was terrifying. 227 00:47:33,820 --> 00:47:37,580 And he turned it into something that was encouraging. 228 00:47:37,580 --> 00:47:45,280 It was life-giving, not just physically keeping me alive, but spiritually and emotionally. 229 00:47:45,280 --> 00:47:49,080 A very wonderful blessing for me. 230 00:47:49,740 --> 00:47:56,180 Since this year has begun, we've been evaluating our living donors, that's people who are willing 231 00:47:56,180 --> 00:47:57,680 to sort of shell out an extra kidney. 232 00:47:57,680 --> 00:48:01,380 Like, hey, we've got a kidney, you need a kidney, we'll give you a kidney. 233 00:48:01,380 --> 00:48:06,180 And so this process generally takes a lot of time, right, because they have to go through 234 00:48:06,180 --> 00:48:09,500 a lot of medical tests, they have to find out if they're a match, find out if they're 235 00:48:09,500 --> 00:48:13,080 healthy enough for surgery, find out all of these different things. 236 00:48:13,080 --> 00:48:18,260 And we were making some progress with our most recent volunteer donor. 237 00:48:18,720 --> 00:48:25,980 But with that process, it generally takes a little bit longer, and in that process, you 238 00:48:25,980 --> 00:48:27,940 have an idea of what's going on, right? 239 00:48:27,940 --> 00:48:32,240 So when it's timely time for the surgery, you're scheduled weeks, maybe even months in 240 00:48:32,240 --> 00:48:38,020 advance, you have a lot of warning that it's coming, and so I was starting to get excited 241 00:48:38,020 --> 00:48:43,600 because everything seemed like it was going really, really well, and I was like, maybe 242 00:48:43,600 --> 00:48:45,200 I will get a kidney someday. 243 00:48:45,940 --> 00:48:49,900 And then this past Sunday, normally I'm up between 5 and 5.15. 244 00:48:49,900 --> 00:48:53,580 And last Sunday I slept in until I think I was almost 5.30. 245 00:48:53,580 --> 00:48:58,400 And I wake up to a whole bunch of missed calls, which generally is not good. 246 00:48:58,400 --> 00:49:03,880 And it's a little weird because I tell everybody, if you're going to call after 10 p.m., call Rachel. 247 00:49:03,880 --> 00:49:05,540 Don't call Brandon. 248 00:49:05,540 --> 00:49:10,060 And so to wake up with a bunch of missed phone calls is a strange thing for me. 249 00:49:10,060 --> 00:49:13,200 And it was a 703 number, which was the transplant center. 250 00:49:15,020 --> 00:49:19,100 And so I was like, I'm just going to get a voicemail, probably a pre-recorded message. 251 00:49:19,100 --> 00:49:25,960 And so I call back, get a voicemail, lady answers on the very first ring, which is weird. 252 00:49:25,960 --> 00:49:30,160 Even when I've called back during business hours, I've never gotten an answer on the very first ring. 253 00:49:30,160 --> 00:49:32,540 I said, this is Brandon. Did you just call? 254 00:49:32,540 --> 00:49:35,480 And she says, we have an amazing kidney for you. 255 00:49:35,480 --> 00:49:38,780 How fast can you get to the hospital? 256 00:49:38,780 --> 00:49:42,040 And I said, I'm going to need to get back to you. 257 00:49:42,360 --> 00:49:47,940 And if I'm 100% honest, and if anybody who knows me knows that I like to kind of plan things out, 258 00:49:47,940 --> 00:49:50,700 I don't like to be surprised, especially when I already have a plan, 259 00:49:50,700 --> 00:49:54,960 my thought was, well, I've got church. I can't get a kidney on a Sunday morning. 260 00:49:54,960 --> 00:49:58,180 I was like, I've got to go to church. 261 00:49:58,180 --> 00:50:00,320 And so I said, Rachel, they've got a kidney. 262 00:50:00,320 --> 00:50:02,920 I called my parents. They came to the kids. 263 00:50:02,920 --> 00:50:09,520 Our neighbor, Eric, got his car ready to go because he was going to drive us, and we got moving. 264 00:50:09,520 --> 00:50:17,920 So we walked into ANOVA. They checked my name in the computer, and it wasn't like where you go to the doctor's office, and they say, have a seat. 265 00:50:17,920 --> 00:50:23,400 And then, you know, 45 minutes later, a nurse comes out and takes you back and goes through everything. 266 00:50:23,400 --> 00:50:28,540 Literally, the receptionist said, I'm taking you upstairs to a room right now. 267 00:50:28,540 --> 00:50:33,840 We stopped. We had a word of prayer with Rachel, Eric, and my dad. 268 00:50:33,840 --> 00:50:38,920 And next thing I know, I am wearing a hospital gown with no back. 269 00:50:39,520 --> 00:50:45,600 And they are taking 28 vials of blood out of my arm while trying to do a chest x-ray and an EKG. 270 00:50:45,600 --> 00:50:50,500 And a surgeon is telling me that the kidney has just arrived at the hospital. 271 00:50:50,500 --> 00:50:55,100 And then it just seemed like we waited for a really, really, really long time. 272 00:50:55,100 --> 00:51:04,720 And then I woke up four hours later with an incredible amount of pain with a brand new kidney. 273 00:51:05,420 --> 00:51:10,900 And so I want to share with that its background for some of you watching who don't know 274 00:51:10,900 --> 00:51:13,720 and haven't been through this experience with us, 275 00:51:13,720 --> 00:51:18,280 but I am very, very thankful this morning for God's common grace. 276 00:51:18,280 --> 00:51:24,540 And what God's common grace means is just the goodness that God has poured out on this entire world. 277 00:51:24,540 --> 00:51:26,660 In Psalm 145, it says, 278 00:51:26,660 --> 00:51:30,020 The Lord is good to all. His mercy is over all that He has made. 279 00:51:30,140 --> 00:51:35,800 And in Matthew 5, Jesus says he makes the sun rise on the evil and the good 280 00:51:35,800 --> 00:51:38,520 and sends rain on the just and the unjust. 281 00:51:38,520 --> 00:51:41,880 What that means is there is a grace in this world 282 00:51:41,880 --> 00:51:44,640 that God has poured out on every single person. 283 00:51:44,640 --> 00:51:47,000 Whether you're a Christian or not, 284 00:51:47,000 --> 00:51:50,020 you are a recipient of the good grace of God. 285 00:51:50,020 --> 00:51:51,800 On those beautiful sunny days, 286 00:51:51,800 --> 00:51:54,980 through the power of medicine and the human intellect 287 00:51:54,980 --> 00:51:56,680 that God has gifted to us, 288 00:51:56,680 --> 00:52:00,360 that lets us literally take a part out of one person 289 00:52:00,360 --> 00:52:02,340 and plug it into someone else. 290 00:52:02,340 --> 00:52:05,040 God has given us this grace. 291 00:52:05,040 --> 00:52:07,900 And this week, to me, it was very clear 292 00:52:07,900 --> 00:52:12,200 how God worked through His common goodness in this world, right? 293 00:52:12,200 --> 00:52:15,540 Through the doctors, the nurses, the techs, the surgeons, 294 00:52:15,540 --> 00:52:19,980 all of those people that have taken care of me 295 00:52:19,980 --> 00:52:22,560 and kept me alive. 296 00:52:22,560 --> 00:52:26,060 But I'm also very deeply thankful this morning 297 00:52:26,060 --> 00:52:29,440 for the depth of God's special grace. 298 00:52:29,440 --> 00:52:31,240 And what I mean by that is the grace 299 00:52:31,240 --> 00:52:36,840 that God gives specifically to his believers, right? 300 00:52:36,840 --> 00:52:40,240 The peace that passes understanding, 301 00:52:40,240 --> 00:52:43,820 the gift of the body of Christ, 302 00:52:43,820 --> 00:52:46,000 the prayers of the saints, 303 00:52:46,000 --> 00:52:51,520 his provision in the midst of just seeing giant obstacles. 304 00:52:51,520 --> 00:52:55,600 I'm thankful for how God has worked everything out 305 00:52:55,600 --> 00:53:02,280 And I was telling Rachel this morning, nothing has been simple, nothing's been easy, nothing 306 00:53:02,280 --> 00:53:09,500 has been without pain, there's definitely been some fear and some nervousness, but I've 307 00:53:09,500 --> 00:53:13,880 never seen anything in my life work the way this week has, right? 308 00:53:13,880 --> 00:53:21,160 Our kids have been taken care of by an amazing amount of people, we haven't had to make a 309 00:53:21,160 --> 00:53:28,240 meal this week not that we planned on um we didn't even have to ask there was just food um you know 310 00:53:28,240 --> 00:53:35,960 it's just God has provided in big ginormous enormous ways and and in just small everyday 311 00:53:35,960 --> 00:53:42,380 ways and I'm I'm so thankful but I think one of the things that that really hit home for me this 312 00:53:42,380 --> 00:53:49,420 week that I am so deeply thankful for are God's people um uh I've read a lot of verses in Paul 313 00:53:49,420 --> 00:53:54,620 where he says stuff and maybe you've read these where he'll say things like oh I long for the 314 00:53:54,620 --> 00:54:00,960 believers or you know I long for you with all the affection of Christ I can't wait to see you and I 315 00:54:00,960 --> 00:54:05,540 always think yeah there's some Christians that are pretty cool but one of the things that this week 316 00:54:05,540 --> 00:54:11,300 did drove home to me and I've always loved the church right you can't be in the church I think 317 00:54:11,300 --> 00:54:18,120 and experience things in the church and not love the church it's hard sometimes but I've always 318 00:54:18,120 --> 00:54:24,200 love the church, but this week, one of the things that I saw, I was so thankful for, was the church. 319 00:54:24,200 --> 00:54:31,900 I mean, our local body here at College Park, the prayers, the encouragement, like the calls, 320 00:54:31,900 --> 00:54:38,380 the little notes, the messages, but not just our church, but the other churches in town that are 321 00:54:38,380 --> 00:54:45,620 praying for us, and not just churches in our branch of Christianity, right? There's all kinds 322 00:54:45,620 --> 00:54:51,340 churches that have been praying, and not just here, but in the U.S. and throughout the world. I got 323 00:54:51,340 --> 00:54:56,760 messages, just simple messages, hey, us in our church are praying for you, and they're literally 324 00:54:56,760 --> 00:55:02,420 on the other side of the world, right? And so one of the things that God, and I think God knew I 325 00:55:02,420 --> 00:55:08,060 needed this, is to remind me I'm not alone, right? And I told the surgeon going in, I said, I don't 326 00:55:08,060 --> 00:55:13,480 know if you're a Christian or not, but there's probably a thousand people praying for me and for 327 00:55:13,480 --> 00:55:20,840 you right now and to me that is mind-boggling that you and I are part of a family that stretches 328 00:55:20,840 --> 00:55:28,260 throughout the globe right that in our hurts we have a church here and we have a church that goes 329 00:55:28,260 --> 00:55:34,540 through the world that loves us and wants to wrap us up in their person it's amazing right you know 330 00:55:34,540 --> 00:55:39,440 I just talked a little bit to Neil this week it was encouraging he feels the same way about the 331 00:55:39,440 --> 00:55:47,360 prayers of the saints. It's this thing that it's so easy for us to take for granted. But it's so 332 00:55:47,360 --> 00:55:54,440 important and so powerful. So I just say this, you're here in person, you're online, God brings 333 00:55:54,440 --> 00:56:00,780 you into a church. Be here, be part of it. Love your brothers and sisters in Christ. Know that you 334 00:56:00,780 --> 00:56:09,500 are loved, know that God gives you that love. Two quick verses in John the sixth chapter I want to 335 00:56:09,500 --> 00:56:16,800 share with you. John the sixth chapter is a really, really long chapter. I thought about it just to be 336 00:56:16,800 --> 00:56:25,040 difficult to make Brent read all 68 verses. If you're not familiar with John 6, a big part of it 337 00:56:25,040 --> 00:56:30,620 is the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000, right? One of those favorite Sunday school lessons, because 338 00:56:30,620 --> 00:56:36,480 it's this massive picture of thousands of people, they're all hungry, Jesus feeds them all, and then 339 00:56:36,480 --> 00:56:43,620 he teaches them about the truth. And in this, he'll provide them bread, and then he'll teach, 340 00:56:43,620 --> 00:56:48,080 and people will struggle with the teaching, specifically Jesus saying, I am the bread of 341 00:56:48,080 --> 00:56:53,840 life. And Jesus doesn't literally mean that his body is made of bread, but he says that I'm the 342 00:56:53,840 --> 00:57:00,260 one who will nourish and strengthen you, right? I'm what your soul needs. And so people struggle 343 00:57:00,260 --> 00:57:06,800 with that. And so they began to grumble and eventually his crowd of more than 5,000 people 344 00:57:06,800 --> 00:57:14,520 after this miracle and this sermon turns into a crowd of 12, right? We have a small church. 345 00:57:14,520 --> 00:57:22,240 Imagine going from a church of 5,000 to 12 in just a matter of minutes, right? It has to feel 346 00:57:22,240 --> 00:57:27,280 a little discouraging. And so Jesus will look at the last 12 that are sitting there. We know 347 00:57:27,280 --> 00:57:33,080 him the disciples and he'll say this after this many disciples turned back and no longer walked 348 00:57:33,080 --> 00:57:40,240 with him so Jesus answered the 12 do you want to go away as well and then look at what Peter says 349 00:57:40,240 --> 00:57:48,580 Peter says in verse 68 Peter answered him Lord to whom shall we go you have the words of eternal 350 00:57:48,580 --> 00:57:53,640 life and Peter says we've thought about it we've thought we know that there's other places we could 351 00:57:53,640 --> 00:58:00,640 go. But there's only one place that there are the words of eternal life, and that's in Jesus. So 352 00:58:00,640 --> 00:58:07,660 I've heard a lot of words this week. Some people have been incredibly encouraging, right? You call 353 00:58:07,660 --> 00:58:12,660 and they're like, yeah, we're so excited. We're so thankful. We're praying for you. Some people 354 00:58:12,660 --> 00:58:18,060 are very informational. My surgeon comes in Sunday morning. This is what we're going to do. We're 355 00:58:18,060 --> 00:58:21,220 going to do this. We're going to do this. We're going to go here. We're going to do that. Here's 356 00:58:21,220 --> 00:58:24,700 all the bad things that can happen to you just a lot of information right that's what surgeons 357 00:58:24,700 --> 00:58:30,440 their job is to give you information some people were really brusque um you know kind of short to 358 00:58:30,440 --> 00:58:35,580 the point the anesthesiologist which seems to be my experience with the anesthesiologist it comes in 359 00:58:35,580 --> 00:58:39,040 all right we're gonna put you to sleep take out a kitty put in a new one any questions 360 00:58:39,040 --> 00:58:45,340 right like i mean it was fun it was great and there were people who were uh praying all these 361 00:58:45,340 --> 00:58:51,060 things. But one of the words, it was just ridiculous. I'm laying there in pre-op, waiting 362 00:58:51,060 --> 00:58:54,920 to go into the operating room. Everybody's gone back. I'm by myself. There's some kind 363 00:58:54,920 --> 00:58:59,320 of situation in the corner that I'm trying to see because it looks real interesting. 364 00:58:59,320 --> 00:59:04,960 The guy's like, you can't detain me here. Anyway, it's weird. And then this 20-year-old 365 00:59:04,960 --> 00:59:10,000 tech comes over, looks at my chart and goes, oh good, you're an Aquarius too. And I was 366 00:59:10,000 --> 00:59:17,680 like i don't know what being an asparagus has to do with any of this whole situation but you know 367 00:59:17,680 --> 00:59:22,940 nice to meet you i'm brandon you know um anyway so there's then there's words that are just 368 00:59:22,940 --> 00:59:26,920 ridiculous and that was ridiculous and then she's like i don't know why your blood pressure is so 369 00:59:26,920 --> 00:59:35,700 high there is only one person who has words of life and that's Jesus right a lot of people can 370 00:59:35,700 --> 00:59:41,140 encourage us a lot of people can teach us a lot of people can make us mad with their words a lot 371 00:59:41,140 --> 00:59:47,540 of people can make us laugh with their words but there is only one person who has the words of life 372 00:59:47,540 --> 00:59:56,120 and it's interesting there's several different words used for words in the gospel of John one 373 00:59:56,120 --> 00:59:59,460 of them that we're familiar with you'll hear preachers talk about this that Jesus is the word 374 00:59:59,460 --> 01:00:04,580 and you know begins like in the gospel of John in the beginning was the word and the word was with 375 01:00:04,580 --> 01:00:09,260 God and the Word was God. Thinking about how the Word is made flesh, that Jesus is literally 376 01:00:09,260 --> 01:00:16,580 the Word of God in the flesh come to us. Well, the words we're talking about in verse 68 is a 377 01:00:16,580 --> 01:00:22,360 different kind of word. It's a different word in Greek. And what it means is word that is spoken 378 01:00:22,360 --> 01:00:28,980 out. So Jesus isn't just the Word of God, but he also brings to us the Word of God. I want you to 379 01:00:28,980 --> 01:00:34,600 think just for a moment about how wonderful that is. Think back to Genesis chapter 1. 380 01:00:34,600 --> 01:00:43,820 So God speaks, and what happens in Genesis chapter 1? There's life, right? The dead brown earth is 381 01:00:43,820 --> 01:00:50,200 covered with all kinds of different plants, right? We've got the flowers that my kids like to pick, 382 01:00:50,200 --> 01:00:55,720 dandelions, we'll call them weeds. We've got beautiful rose bushes. We've got big trees, 383 01:00:55,720 --> 01:01:02,760 little trees. God speaks, and what happens? There's life. And then God speaks again, 384 01:01:02,760 --> 01:01:09,420 and what happens? The oceans are filled with, you've got shrimp, you've got whales, you've got 385 01:01:09,420 --> 01:01:16,680 colorful fish, you've got brown fish, you've got all of this life that emanates from the Word of 386 01:01:16,680 --> 01:01:22,200 God, right? And then God speaks again, and what happens? And you get birds, and owls, and eagles, 387 01:01:22,200 --> 01:01:27,620 and hawks and birds and dogs like to chase and bark at, right? 388 01:01:27,620 --> 01:01:36,340 And then God speaks again, and all that life, the plants on the ground, is covered again. 389 01:01:36,340 --> 01:01:46,100 And this time, right, we've got horses and lions and cheetahs and dogs and cats and squirrels. 390 01:01:46,100 --> 01:01:50,200 And God speaks again, and what happens? 391 01:01:51,220 --> 01:01:55,240 Two living, breathing human beings, Adam and Eve, 392 01:01:55,240 --> 01:01:59,240 breathes his life into them with his words. 393 01:01:59,240 --> 01:02:01,060 You see the pattern? 394 01:02:01,060 --> 01:02:07,700 That when God speaks, he brings life into this world. 395 01:02:07,700 --> 01:02:14,400 What Peter realizes here, and it's simple, but it's so deeply profound, 396 01:02:14,400 --> 01:02:20,140 is that Jesus is speaking, but he's not just speaking words, right? 397 01:02:20,760 --> 01:02:22,780 Sometimes we talk just to talk. 398 01:02:22,780 --> 01:02:24,300 Sometimes we talk because we're nervous. 399 01:02:24,300 --> 01:02:25,740 Sometimes we talk because we're scared. 400 01:02:25,740 --> 01:02:27,560 Sometimes we talk because we're mad. 401 01:02:27,560 --> 01:02:32,760 But Jesus is speaking the words of eternal life. 402 01:02:32,760 --> 01:02:37,760 And Peter is saying, through you we've seen that there is a life 403 01:02:37,760 --> 01:02:42,280 that isn't just short and temporary, but one that never ends. 404 01:02:42,280 --> 01:02:46,840 And when God speaks to us through the words of Jesus, 405 01:02:46,840 --> 01:02:48,800 through the words of His Spirit, 406 01:02:49,620 --> 01:02:52,480 There's a life that is brought to us, right? 407 01:02:52,480 --> 01:02:54,860 In this world, there's going to be times 408 01:02:54,860 --> 01:02:56,680 where it feels like we're walking through a desert. 409 01:02:56,680 --> 01:03:01,100 In fact, the 63rd Psalm can talk about 410 01:03:01,100 --> 01:03:02,500 a dry, weary place. 411 01:03:02,500 --> 01:03:03,660 Maybe you sang that hymn 412 01:03:03,660 --> 01:03:07,200 where we talk about being in a dry and a weary place. 413 01:03:07,200 --> 01:03:09,680 And sometimes on this side of heaven, 414 01:03:09,680 --> 01:03:10,900 it feels that way. 415 01:03:10,900 --> 01:03:13,400 But through the gospel, 416 01:03:13,400 --> 01:03:16,100 through the words of Jesus, 417 01:03:16,100 --> 01:03:17,760 through the encouragement of the Spirit, 418 01:03:18,220 --> 01:03:19,840 through the salvation we have in Him, 419 01:03:19,840 --> 01:03:23,240 there is eternal life found in Jesus. 420 01:03:23,240 --> 01:03:28,040 One of the things that I am so thankful for in the Gospel 421 01:03:28,040 --> 01:03:32,540 is that God has drilled this truth into us, 422 01:03:32,540 --> 01:03:35,060 that there is only one place to go, 423 01:03:35,060 --> 01:03:37,080 there is only one hope, and that is in Jesus. 424 01:03:37,080 --> 01:03:39,920 God in the flesh who came, 425 01:03:39,920 --> 01:03:43,280 who has experienced life as we've experienced this, 426 01:03:43,280 --> 01:03:44,520 He knows what it's like to hurt, 427 01:03:44,520 --> 01:03:46,480 He knows what it's like to have joy, 428 01:03:46,600 --> 01:03:50,140 He knows what it's like to experience loss and to have friends. 429 01:03:50,140 --> 01:03:52,780 He knows what it's like to love and to be betrayed. 430 01:03:52,780 --> 01:03:54,540 He knows what it's like to be tempted. 431 01:03:54,540 --> 01:03:57,580 And ultimately, He doesn't just know your life, 432 01:03:57,580 --> 01:04:02,000 but He takes all the brokenness of our lives and He dies on the cross. 433 01:04:02,000 --> 01:04:04,340 He rises again for our victory. 434 01:04:04,340 --> 01:04:08,120 And in Him, and in Him alone, there is life. 435 01:04:08,120 --> 01:04:13,120 So like Peter, I hope it's our declaration. 436 01:04:13,120 --> 01:04:14,640 Where else can we go? 437 01:04:15,400 --> 01:04:18,000 You have the words of life. 438 01:04:18,000 --> 01:04:20,360 Let's have a word of prayer, 439 01:04:20,360 --> 01:04:23,520 and then we'll spend some time together in prayer. 440 01:04:23,520 --> 01:04:25,240 Father in heaven, 441 01:04:25,240 --> 01:04:28,880 thank you for your blessings in my life. 442 01:04:28,880 --> 01:04:34,240 Thank you for the way that you have worked 443 01:04:34,240 --> 01:04:37,260 wonderfully and providentially and miraculously 444 01:04:37,260 --> 01:04:41,320 to bring physical life into my body 445 01:04:41,320 --> 01:04:44,120 and spiritual life into my soul. 446 01:04:44,980 --> 01:04:47,180 I thank you for your people and your church. 447 01:04:47,180 --> 01:04:49,940 I thank you for your common grace poured out upon this world. 448 01:04:49,940 --> 01:04:53,500 The special grace that you have given to your church. 449 01:04:53,500 --> 01:04:56,040 Thank you for the prayers of your saints. 450 01:04:56,040 --> 01:05:01,300 I thank you that in Jesus there are words of life. 451 01:05:01,300 --> 01:05:02,580 Help us to cling to them. 452 01:05:02,580 --> 01:05:04,540 It's in Jesus' name we pray. 453 01:05:04,540 --> 01:05:05,300 Amen. 454 01:05:05,300 --> 01:05:09,560 So, normally I'd go sit down, but I'm just going to sit here. 455 01:05:09,560 --> 01:05:13,160 This is far more comfortable than moving at this point. 456 01:05:13,160 --> 01:05:14,860 I'll have Russell come. 457 01:05:14,980 --> 01:05:19,240 and we'll spend some time together in prayer. 458 01:05:44,980 --> 01:06:14,960 Thank you. 459 01:06:14,980 --> 01:06:44,960 Thank you. 460 01:06:44,980 --> 01:07:14,960 Thank you. 461 01:20:14,980 --> 01:20:37,900 So we're going to sing another new song. 462 01:20:38,620 --> 01:20:55,000 I think it's appropriate, as we've prayed for, not just all the good things that have happened and all of our requests, but to pray, or we've prayed for, you know, world events. 463 01:20:55,000 --> 01:20:57,240 So this song is called Hope of the Nations. 464 01:20:57,240 --> 01:20:59,080 You can stand, you can sit. 465 01:20:59,080 --> 01:21:03,700 I'm probably going to, I might just move right over here, we'll see. 466 01:21:06,020 --> 01:21:13,640 It's a song about how Jesus is our ultimate hope, not just for us, but for the nation. 467 01:21:13,640 --> 01:21:14,940 So we're going to try this out. 468 01:21:14,940 --> 01:21:18,500 We'll have a couple of announcements, and then we'll wrap up. 469 01:21:36,020 --> 01:21:46,280 Jesus, hope of the nations, Jesus, comfort for all who mourn. 470 01:21:46,280 --> 01:21:54,000 You are the source of heaven's hope on earth. 471 01:21:54,000 --> 01:22:04,860 Jesus, light in the darkness, Jesus, truth in each circumstance. 472 01:22:06,020 --> 01:22:13,100 You are the source of heaven's light on earth. 473 01:22:13,100 --> 01:22:18,000 In history, you live in sight. 474 01:22:18,000 --> 01:22:23,300 You broke the chains, you rose to life. 475 01:22:23,300 --> 01:22:28,980 You are the hope living in us. 476 01:22:28,980 --> 01:22:33,740 You are the rock in whom we trust. 477 01:22:33,740 --> 01:22:41,620 You are the light, shining for all the world to see 478 01:22:41,620 --> 01:22:47,760 You rose for day, conquering fear 479 01:22:47,760 --> 01:22:51,800 A prince of God, drawing us near 480 01:22:51,800 --> 01:22:59,780 Jesus I'm called, living for all who will receive 481 01:22:59,780 --> 01:23:04,920 Lord, we believe 482 01:23:04,920 --> 01:23:17,400 Jesus, hope of the nations 483 01:23:17,400 --> 01:23:23,080 Jesus, comfort for all who mourn 484 01:23:23,080 --> 01:23:28,960 You are the source of heaven's hope 485 01:23:28,960 --> 01:23:35,800 Jesus, light in the dark 486 01:23:35,800 --> 01:23:40,120 Jesus, truth in each circumstance 487 01:23:40,120 --> 01:23:46,900 You are the source of heaven's light 488 01:23:46,900 --> 01:23:48,680 On earth 489 01:23:48,680 --> 01:23:53,960 In history, you lived and died 490 01:23:53,960 --> 01:23:56,360 You broke the chains 491 01:23:56,360 --> 01:23:59,960 You rose to life 492 01:23:59,960 --> 01:24:03,940 You are the falling in us 493 01:24:03,940 --> 01:24:08,920 You are the rock in whom we trust 494 01:24:08,920 --> 01:24:11,260 You are the light 495 01:24:11,260 --> 01:24:17,100 Shining for all the world to see 496 01:24:17,100 --> 01:24:21,020 You rose from the dead 497 01:24:21,020 --> 01:24:23,960 Conquering fear 498 01:24:23,960 --> 01:24:28,140 I've got peace, drawing us near 499 01:24:28,140 --> 01:24:31,400 Jesus, I'm home 500 01:24:31,400 --> 01:24:37,080 Living for all who will be saved 501 01:24:37,080 --> 01:24:40,800 Lord, we believe 502 01:24:40,800 --> 01:24:45,600 Lord, we believe 503 01:24:45,600 --> 01:24:50,120 Lord, we believe 504 01:24:53,960 --> 01:24:58,220 All right, I want to thank you for joining us, whether you're here sitting or online. 505 01:24:58,220 --> 01:25:05,080 We are very, very thankful for you, and you are a huge encouragement to us, 506 01:25:05,080 --> 01:25:10,460 and I hope we've been able to be an encouragement in the gospel to you this morning. 507 01:25:10,460 --> 01:25:15,740 Just a quick announcement, we'll be hopefully here Wednesday night for Wednesday night Bible study. 508 01:25:15,740 --> 01:25:22,320 We've been trying to do this now, Thessalonians chapter 4, for like four weeks. 509 01:25:23,100 --> 01:25:27,020 So my notes keep getting longer every week because I go back through and reread it. 510 01:25:27,020 --> 01:25:28,460 And then it's like, well, you know what? 511 01:25:28,460 --> 01:25:29,680 I should probably add this. 512 01:25:29,680 --> 01:25:33,220 And then we end up with COVID. 513 01:25:33,220 --> 01:25:34,920 And then we ended up being sick. 514 01:25:34,920 --> 01:25:37,140 And then we ended up with a kidney transplant. 515 01:25:37,140 --> 01:25:42,180 And then, so anyway, we're ready to go for Wednesday night. 516 01:25:42,180 --> 01:25:44,920 So that's here at 7 p.m. upstairs. 517 01:25:44,920 --> 01:25:50,760 I'm excited to spend some time in discussion of the Word of God. 518 01:25:50,760 --> 01:25:52,900 So that'll be Wednesday night. 519 01:25:53,100 --> 01:25:55,860 at seven. Yes, Rachel? 520 01:25:55,860 --> 01:26:05,080 So there will be ladies' class, and there may be 521 01:26:05,080 --> 01:26:09,260 a bunch of kids at it. So anyway, so come to ladies' class 522 01:26:09,260 --> 01:26:12,380 at 1 p.m. 523 01:26:12,380 --> 01:26:14,940 So it's been a long time since I've been to ladies' class. 524 01:26:14,940 --> 01:26:19,380 So, all right, let's pray, and then we'll 525 01:26:19,380 --> 01:26:23,020 sing the doxology and be dismissed. 526 01:26:23,440 --> 01:26:26,180 Father in heaven, thank you for your church. 527 01:26:26,180 --> 01:26:29,700 Thank you for your word, your people, for grace, for Jesus, 528 01:26:29,700 --> 01:26:31,840 for brothers and sisters in Christ. 529 01:26:31,840 --> 01:26:34,040 Thank you for letting us be here this morning. 530 01:26:34,040 --> 01:26:35,780 It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. 531 01:26:35,780 --> 01:26:35,920 Amen. 532 01:26:53,100 --> 01:27:06,480 Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. 533 01:27:23,100 --> 01:27:53,080 Thank you. 534 01:27:53,100 --> 01:28:23,080 Thank you.