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Bible Text: Romans 12:1-8 | Preacher: Kyle Wells | Series: Best Use of Our Time

Since whole-hearted commitment to Jesus is inextricably connected to commitment to his community, we must invest in the local church.

Romans 12:1–8
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

Why God Made A Whip

Bible Text: John 2:13–22 | Preacher: Nick Whitaker | Series: Gospel of John

Jesus has cleared the way to God of every obstacle.
John 2:13–22

13 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” 17 His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

18 The Jews then responded to him, “What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?”

19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”

20 They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” 21 But the temple he had spoken of was his body. 22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.

Gospel as An Ethic of Bearing Our Neighbors Burdens

Bible Text: Galatians 6:1–5 | Preacher: Nick Whitaker | Series: Galatians: The One and Only Gospel

Bear one another’s burdens, but keep a watch on yourself.
 
Galatians 6:1–5
Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. 5 For each will have to bear his own load.

 

Welcomed to Welcome

Bible Text: Romans 15:5–13 | Preacher: Reed Jolley | Series: For the Life of the World

Because God accepts us without regard to worth, but on the basis of what his Son has done, we must likewise accept others.
Romans 15:5–13 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.” And again it is said, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.” And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol him.” And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.” May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

That They May be One

Bible Text: John 17:20–24 | Preacher: Kyle Wells | Series: One Body: Living Into the Unity the Gospel Provides

It’s no secret that our country is divided in many ways. Civil strife and discord are in the news almost daily. We might expect a nation as vast and diverse as the United States to hold many world views and perspectives in tension. What may be surprising, though, is that many people experience the Christian Church as no different. Critics point to the various divisions as reasons for disbelief. Yet, Jesus is not surprised. In fact, Christian unity is the very thing he prayed for on the night before he went to the cross. This week we begin a series on the Christian practice of the communion of the saints.