back to indexBerean Community Church Sunday Service August 15
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if you guys would at this time, make your way forward, 00:00:44.260 |
try to fill in the seats as best as possible. 00:00:52.320 |
We just have one minute until the start of service. 00:02:40.120 |
I hope all of you have been enjoying the retreat 00:02:46.280 |
It truly is a blessing as we have our Sunday worship here 00:02:53.120 |
We're gonna come before our God singing this first song, 00:03:00.800 |
what we have in Christ that he spilled his blood 00:05:54.000 |
♪ When this poor listening, stammering tongue ♪ 00:07:37.100 |
Don't forget about them as you go over to the photo. 00:07:40.180 |
And what we're gonna be doing is heading out. 00:07:49.980 |
So please make sure you pay attention to that. 00:07:51.900 |
But again, 12 sharp, we'll be headed out there. 00:07:56.860 |
are pertaining to some of the things happening at church. 00:08:09.020 |
and meeting up in different times that'll be set, 00:08:16.300 |
if you'd like to participate in that, to sign up. 00:08:31.780 |
the link is there on the Facebook or the app. 00:08:40.940 |
The next announcement I have for you is the FAM 245. 00:08:47.600 |
that's taking place on Saturday, August 28th, at 10.30 a.m. 00:08:55.600 |
who have been married recently, starting from 2018. 00:08:59.720 |
So if you're in that category, and Ivat has gone out, 00:09:04.640 |
It's a workshop talking about how to think about our wealth, 00:09:09.200 |
our stewardship, and the dangers of materialism. 00:09:11.920 |
So please make sure you sign up for that to participate. 00:09:38.380 |
and class divisions, et cetera, will be discussed, 00:09:40.440 |
and you'll have an opportunity to come and meet 00:09:42.960 |
the teachers that are going to be guiding those classes. 00:09:45.840 |
So please make sure you put that on your calendar. 00:09:47.840 |
It's a mandatory meeting for all the parents. 00:09:52.020 |
please be sure to message Pastor Peter Chang. 00:09:54.980 |
Okay, at this time, I'll lead us in a word of prayer, 00:10:00.420 |
to submit our offering via the electronic format. 00:10:05.520 |
Heavenly Father, we are truly grateful to you. 00:10:13.280 |
your mercies over us, and even this entire topic 00:10:27.920 |
So we're so grateful that you're teaching us, 00:10:33.620 |
Lord, we're thankful that we're able to come to you 00:10:35.400 |
in worship, and we pray that you would bless this time. 00:10:47.920 |
And Lord, as we even think about giving our offering, 00:10:59.120 |
would be just an expression of our gratitude, 00:11:01.680 |
and what's more, we do pray that the offering 00:12:23.040 |
♪ String will rise as we wait upon the moon ♪ 00:12:26.800 |
♪ Wait upon the Lord, we will wait upon the Lord ♪ 00:12:31.800 |
♪ String will rise as we wait upon the moon ♪ 00:13:22.760 |
♪ String will rise as we wait upon the moon ♪ 00:13:25.880 |
♪ Wait upon the Lord, we will wait upon the Lord ♪ 00:13:30.880 |
♪ String will rise as we wait upon the moon ♪ 00:19:49.840 |
not only in song, but also by going to his word. 00:20:21.600 |
and everyone I've met has been incredibly friendly. 00:20:25.200 |
I am so excited to be able to get to know you as a church, 00:20:31.200 |
and I think some of the best days of Brean are yet ahead. 00:20:38.480 |
We've been talking about biblical reconciliation 00:20:46.840 |
than what is commonly referred to as conflict resolution 00:20:55.960 |
than just merely resolving specific conflicts. 00:21:00.080 |
Our goal is oriented towards bringing about relationships 00:21:21.880 |
That doesn't mean that everybody in the body of Christ 00:21:27.680 |
What it does mean is that you treat everybody 00:21:49.660 |
and that's the family that you're a part of forever. 00:22:00.460 |
We're supposed to love our wives, love our husbands, 00:22:03.400 |
love our children, all that is good and we understand 00:22:15.020 |
Hence, Jesus talks about whoever leaves father, mother, 00:22:42.180 |
of worshiping the Lord in heaven this morning 00:22:50.020 |
I can get excited, I could just do this all day long. 00:23:17.540 |
the first session we dealt with the issue of the heart. 00:23:22.780 |
The heart has to change before there's any kind 00:23:29.880 |
Repentance is that agent that God has designed 00:23:33.980 |
to bring about a fundamental change in our nature 00:23:54.980 |
that I have to repent of that particular sin, 00:23:58.140 |
and we said that repentance is a change of mind 00:24:02.420 |
that is so complete that it leads to a change of life. 00:24:09.100 |
but it's a change of mind that is so complete 00:24:14.480 |
It leads to a fundamental nature change in you. 00:24:30.080 |
Remember how I said you need to bring to your session 00:24:36.520 |
and you need to add a flak vest for this session. 00:24:43.300 |
what does the Bible really say about forgiveness? 00:25:06.820 |
And I pray that through the work of the Spirit of God 00:25:18.400 |
especially when it comes to the topic of forgiveness. 00:25:24.840 |
So we commit our time to you in Christ's name, amen. 00:26:14.640 |
as a result of the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:26:43.840 |
with his atoning sacrifice for our sins for all time. 00:26:52.360 |
No one even comes close to deserving such a thing. 00:26:56.360 |
And that alone, when you sit at the foot of the cross 00:26:59.680 |
and you look up and see that Jesus Christ died for you, 00:27:06.260 |
So what is forgiveness from a biblical standpoint? 00:27:13.600 |
The primary Greek term that's translated forgive 00:27:25.760 |
So in reference to sin, it actually means to pardon. 00:27:35.840 |
But forgiveness has also rightly been described 00:27:47.400 |
he promises that he will never hold our sins against us. 00:28:02.760 |
I want you to take your Bible just for a moment 00:28:05.220 |
and let's go over to Ephesians chapter four in verse 32. 00:28:08.720 |
I want you to see this in Ephesians chapter four, verse 32, 00:28:16.980 |
is predicated upon the way in which God has forgiven us. 00:28:27.160 |
is predicated upon the way in which God has forgiven us. 00:28:34.540 |
be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other 00:28:46.360 |
Literally, remember we talked about this before 00:28:49.860 |
That really is in the Greek language tender bowed. 00:29:11.640 |
Go over two books to Colossians chapter three in verse 13. 00:29:19.520 |
Bearing with one another, he says, forgiving each other. 00:29:25.500 |
just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. 00:29:52.100 |
then you don't understand biblical forgiveness. 00:29:55.060 |
We're supposed to forgive the way that God has forgiven us. 00:30:03.280 |
Well, let's take a look at this just for an example. 00:30:08.480 |
What has God done in his forgiveness with us? 00:30:11.280 |
Let's go back to the Old Testament to understand this. 00:30:43.220 |
it says in verse 34, they will not teach again, 00:30:46.800 |
each man his neighbor, and each man his brother, 00:30:49.240 |
saying, know the Lord, for they will all know me, 00:30:52.320 |
from the least of them to the greatest of them, 00:30:54.360 |
declares the Lord, for I will forgive their iniquity, 00:31:06.160 |
you've got to understand something about the idea 00:31:17.040 |
Because God says their sin I will remember no more. 00:31:24.280 |
this coming new covenant, this was not something 00:31:26.640 |
that was a part of the Abrahamic covenant directly. 00:31:33.880 |
but it is talked about in relationship to the new covenant. 00:31:48.280 |
There's a difference between active and passive forgetting. 00:31:59.640 |
It's really bad, gentlemen, when you forget your anniversary, 00:32:05.780 |
because you just don't use that information all the time. 00:32:14.640 |
When you don't use information, you forget it, right? 00:32:18.680 |
If you were to ask me several years ago where I lived 00:32:21.800 |
and what my phone number was back 35, 40 years ago, 00:32:26.800 |
it would be really hard for me to recall my phone number 00:32:32.640 |
but when I lived in specific locations back in the Midwest, 00:32:37.640 |
it would be very, very difficult for me to remember that. 00:32:53.700 |
so I have passively forgotten that information. 00:33:15.520 |
because most of his Bible is about his people's sins. 00:33:35.040 |
he actively does not remember our sins against us any longer. 00:33:47.720 |
He actively does not remember our sins against us 00:34:01.840 |
But he actively does not remember, in this sense, 00:34:10.780 |
Corrie ten Boom used to say, "God takes our sins, 00:34:18.300 |
He actively does not remember our sins against us 00:34:39.280 |
"who wipes out your transgressions for my own sake, 00:34:50.480 |
The context, however, is the same as that of Jeremiah 31, 00:34:54.740 |
and that is he's talking about the new covenant. 00:34:59.640 |
but when we are forgiven under the new covenant, 00:35:39.940 |
He's absolutely pure in everything that he does, 00:35:43.620 |
but he does not hold any of our sins against us. 00:36:00.380 |
Your sins are no longer held according to your account. 00:36:11.320 |
All of our sins are taken care of for all eternity. 00:36:39.900 |
we have to do this the way in which we have been forgiven, 00:36:44.340 |
then now it's important for us to do the same thing. 00:36:58.740 |
to whoever has offended us and sought our forgiveness, 00:37:04.860 |
"I will not remember that sin against you any longer. 00:37:13.460 |
This is what God has done for us in salvation. 00:37:23.140 |
both before we're saved and after we're saved. 00:37:34.340 |
is what theologians call judicial forgiveness 00:37:38.580 |
because prior to being saved, God is our judge. 00:37:43.260 |
And our primary relationship to him is that of judgment. 00:38:09.440 |
So what we need prior to salvation is judicial forgiveness. 00:38:15.860 |
Theologians talk about this, judicial forgiveness. 00:38:20.420 |
But the forgiveness needed after we become a believer 00:38:35.620 |
So that's what theologians now call parental forgiveness. 00:38:46.880 |
Because God is now our loving, heavenly father 00:38:51.880 |
who wants to free us from the temporal discomfort 00:39:03.140 |
So prior to salvation, we need judicial forgiveness. 00:39:09.100 |
After salvation, we need parental forgiveness. 00:39:31.140 |
hardship, and trials, not to cause us to pay for sins 00:39:46.980 |
for the purpose of perfecting holiness in our lives. 00:40:00.880 |
we don't suffer as Christians to pay for our sins. 00:40:09.640 |
I've had Christians say that to me in counseling. 00:40:15.200 |
and all the hardship that's going on in their life 00:40:22.240 |
and they describe all this, and then they'll look at me 00:40:25.560 |
sometimes with tears running down their face, 00:40:27.160 |
and they'll say to me, you know, is God punishing me? 00:40:40.560 |
He's not punishing you, then what is he doing? 00:40:42.920 |
God's discipline in your life after you become a Christian 00:40:56.480 |
You don't pay for any sins, 'cause Christ paid for it all. 00:41:06.940 |
but I have to add my sufferings to Jesus' sufferings. 00:41:10.460 |
I have to pray the rosary, I have to continue to go 00:41:21.680 |
in order for me to add my sufferings to Christ's sufferings 00:41:29.440 |
We don't add anything to what Jesus Christ did. 00:41:37.080 |
What news could be better than all of your sins 00:41:43.040 |
fully and completely paid for at the cross of Jesus Christ? 00:42:19.560 |
So if our forgiveness of one another is predicated 00:42:25.480 |
then we need to be ready to do the same thing. 00:42:30.360 |
What does that really mean when it comes to our forgiveness? 00:42:35.340 |
Let me highlight three key things that that means. 00:43:00.540 |
I will not remind you of this sin in the future 00:43:05.060 |
unless it would be absolutely necessary for your good. 00:43:09.260 |
I'm not gonna throw this up in your face in the future 00:43:32.940 |
I'm not gonna go on some kind of archeological dig 00:43:41.880 |
We are to forgive one another just as God has forgiven us. 00:43:59.580 |
That means that we will never use their sin against them. 00:44:09.940 |
unless it would be absolutely necessary for your good. 00:44:15.100 |
Forgiven sin is only brought up to help, never to hurt. 00:44:31.000 |
When I promise to forgive someone, that's a settled issue. 00:45:04.540 |
about your particular sin to my friends or family members 00:45:14.300 |
When I forgive someone, I'm going on public record 00:45:32.300 |
or when a pedophile wants to work in the church nursery. 00:45:49.020 |
And the third one, and probably the most difficult one 00:46:04.300 |
You're not gonna allow your mind to dwell on it. 00:46:19.840 |
and out of personal hurt and difficulty and hardship, 00:46:31.560 |
And then I become bitter and I become resentful 00:46:40.720 |
No, no, no, I promise I'm not gonna dwell on that sin 00:46:58.640 |
in terms of forgiving us, when we go on record 00:47:16.220 |
When I forgive you, I'm making that particular promise. 00:47:43.500 |
And so the best definition of interpersonal forgiveness 00:48:19.080 |
Because I have been forgiven an entire lifetime of sin. 00:48:24.080 |
I have been forgiven an entire lifetime of sin. 00:48:34.580 |
and this is where it starts to get a little bit harder, 00:49:18.340 |
While others seem to imply that we should forgive everyone 00:49:22.140 |
who sins against us, whether they ask for it or not. 00:49:31.040 |
So how do we understand this apparent discrepancy 00:49:42.400 |
we're only supposed to forgive those who ask for it, 00:49:46.800 |
we're supposed to forgive anyone of anything, 00:49:56.880 |
two different things, and they seem to be contrary. 00:50:10.000 |
between what is referred to as transactional forgiveness 00:50:22.300 |
Transactional forgiveness and attitudinal forgiveness. 00:50:27.500 |
Or you could say reconciliation versus release. 00:50:38.640 |
So let me look at those two things in Scripture 00:50:45.400 |
The first one has to do with the attitude of forgiveness. 00:50:54.700 |
Even though you may not be able to fully reconcile 00:51:01.580 |
your attitude towards them should never be one of anger, 00:51:06.420 |
bitterness, resentment, or ill will of any kind. 00:51:12.540 |
You should treat them very kindly and graciously. 00:51:17.400 |
We talk about that in Romans chapter 12, verses 17 through 21. 00:51:30.140 |
which means that you're going to do everything 00:52:04.920 |
so let me read from the New American Standard version, 00:52:10.460 |
which talks about the fact that for you, Lord, are good 00:52:27.900 |
God stands ready to forgive anyone of any sin. 00:52:34.900 |
"An abundant and loving kindness to all who call upon you." 00:52:38.220 |
And in fact, you take a look at the Hebrew phraseology 00:52:47.580 |
Every time you see that in the Old Testament, 00:52:50.120 |
it means to call upon the Lord means to repent. 00:52:54.980 |
So God is ready to forgive all those who repent, 00:53:05.900 |
It's one of the best ways you can translate that verse. 00:53:16.540 |
an abundant and loving kindness to all who call upon you. 00:53:22.500 |
So in a similar way, if God is ready to do this 00:53:33.420 |
And that loving attitude has sometimes been called 00:53:53.540 |
because this type of forgiveness is always mentioned 00:54:15.260 |
Vertical forgiveness, attitude of forgiveness 00:55:10.420 |
Whenever you stand praying, forgive if you have anything 00:55:22.760 |
Here's a man who's gone to the temple to pray. 00:55:25.720 |
Well, it's only God is present and the man is present, 00:55:48.720 |
this is the very thing that sets the conditions 00:55:55.280 |
Our heart should be ready to forgive anyone of anything 00:56:08.800 |
We can see this, another illustration of this 00:56:28.740 |
Now there are a lot of people who look at that particular 00:56:31.500 |
verse and say, "Well, you see, Jesus is forgiving 00:56:34.180 |
"those people that have crucified him on the cross. 00:56:42.280 |
Read it carefully, Jesus is not forgiving them. 00:57:10.860 |
Fasten your seat belts and put your crash helmets on. 00:57:24.960 |
nowhere in the Bible does it ever teach the concept 00:57:39.300 |
It comes from actually contemporary psychology 00:57:44.140 |
Where it's just supposed to unconditionally forgive people, 00:57:48.120 |
whether they've repented of their sin or not. 00:57:53.160 |
There's not gonna be a sole individual in heaven 00:58:01.600 |
whose Christ's blood hasn't paid for their sin. 00:58:13.080 |
That's taught in contemporary psychology today 00:58:16.620 |
as a means to help people feel better about themselves. 00:58:26.700 |
he prays that the ones that are stoning him to death 00:58:43.420 |
And by the way, did you know that you and I here today 00:59:05.320 |
Paul becomes the primary apostle to the Gentiles, 00:59:21.640 |
Jesus' prayer on the cross when he hung there. 00:59:26.380 |
And by the way, his prayers were always answered 00:59:28.480 |
because his prayers were always in complete alignment 00:59:34.020 |
And by the way, God answers that prayer in Acts chapter two 01:00:04.320 |
where it says, where Jesus teaches the disciples prayer, 01:00:08.940 |
and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also 01:00:30.400 |
So if you conclude from those verses and others 01:00:35.400 |
concerning the love and graciousness of the Lord, 01:00:45.040 |
Father, you know what has happened between me and so and so. 01:00:50.040 |
Help me not to be angry or bitter at him or her, 01:00:57.600 |
Help me to love him or her and desire only their good. 01:01:02.600 |
Please work in their heart and bring them to repentance 01:01:07.640 |
so that we can have a reconciled relationship. 01:01:17.020 |
For a believer that may involve a confrontation, 01:01:25.720 |
according to Matthew 18, and for the unbeliever 01:01:28.200 |
it would involve witnessing to him if possible. 01:01:31.240 |
As Ephesians 4:32 says, and be kind to one another, 01:01:51.060 |
It's the very thing that conditions our heart 01:01:56.960 |
anyone who sins against us, no matter what that sin may be. 01:02:01.960 |
Which now brings us to transactional forgiveness. 01:02:14.000 |
Just as God does not make his promise of pardon to people 01:02:18.020 |
unless they repent, Luke chapter three and verse three, 01:02:21.680 |
as well as Acts 2, 38, you cannot actually say, 01:02:33.200 |
Therefore, the transaction of forgiveness is conditioned 01:02:46.000 |
are not forgiven by God, and of parental sins 01:03:02.600 |
He's dealing with interpersonal relationships 01:03:10.700 |
and he says, be on your guard, or be on alert, 01:03:14.160 |
and by the way, any time you find Jesus saying that 01:03:19.960 |
All right, he never uses those words carelessly. 01:03:23.360 |
Be on your guard, in other words, this is gonna be hard. 01:03:41.120 |
Now, when he says, if your brother sins, rebuke him, 01:03:47.040 |
There's a different Greek word that could be used 01:03:48.660 |
for a full indictment, of fully indicting somebody 01:03:51.400 |
for what they've done, without even listening 01:04:07.640 |
you go to your brother, and it's a sin against you, 01:04:10.360 |
or at least you perceive it to be a sin against you, 01:04:12.600 |
you go to your brother, and you tentatively rebuke them. 01:04:30.420 |
but I'm willing to hear your side of the story. 01:04:41.240 |
I believe you've done this, and this is a terrible thing 01:04:44.760 |
and you're just fully indicting that brother. 01:04:50.480 |
You're willing to hear their side of the story 01:04:56.900 |
So if your brother sins, tentatively rebuke him, 01:05:22.020 |
Then if they recognize their wrong and repent of it, 01:05:28.480 |
then you can be reconciled to them and say, I forgive you, 01:05:32.400 |
which means I'm not going to bring it up to you. 01:05:35.760 |
I'm not going to dwell on it in my own heart and mind 01:05:40.620 |
I'm making this promise of a pardon towards you. 01:05:44.300 |
Now, Matthew chapter 18, verses 15 through 17, 01:05:52.240 |
makes it clear that you cannot be fully reconciled 01:05:59.600 |
then you could not continue the process of church discipline 01:06:07.480 |
If you forgive everyone without confronting them, 01:06:15.320 |
And if you forgive everyone without confronting them 01:06:19.540 |
and they repenting, there would be no church discipline. 01:06:32.740 |
If the Bible was teaching unconditional forgiveness, 01:06:37.740 |
then the pastor would have to stand up in the pulpit 01:06:40.040 |
and say, I know brother so and so is cheating on his wife, 01:06:52.400 |
That sounds loving from a worldly point of view, 01:06:57.600 |
but it's not loving according to Christ's point of view, 01:07:06.640 |
Christ's love confronts and deals with sin graciously. 01:07:30.620 |
treated like an unbeliever, until he repents. 01:07:34.700 |
And by the way, that happens in 1 Corinthians, right? 01:07:38.200 |
The brother who's sleeping with his stepmother. 01:07:59.100 |
when you take a look at the Greek language there, 01:08:00.820 |
he says, "Receive that brother back with rejoicing." 01:08:16.260 |
with the concept of unconditional forgiveness. 01:08:24.940 |
makes it very clear that we've got to be able 01:08:33.080 |
When Christ loves us, he confronts our sin, right? 01:08:42.660 |
because that's what's best for our long-term welfare. 01:08:53.980 |
Well, let me see if I can cover some of these questions. 01:09:00.940 |
that are related to this that are very confusing. 01:09:19.980 |
When somebody says, "I've just covered that sin in love," 01:09:34.060 |
Remember how I said this is more like a worldly love 01:10:54.640 |
Covering a sin doesn't mean you look the other way. 01:11:02.360 |
Covering a sin means you practice biblical forgiveness. 01:11:50.920 |
Covering is directly related to the practice of forgiveness. 01:11:55.920 |
Not ignoring it, not acting like it never happened. 01:12:00.320 |
It means you're practicing biblical forgiveness. 01:12:20.160 |
That's a false use of the covering principle. 01:12:25.980 |
What about apologizing versus asking for forgiveness? 01:12:29.560 |
Several years ago when I was a pastor in Ohio, 01:12:33.220 |
I did a whole series of sermons on forgiveness. 01:12:38.480 |
"I'm trying to teach my kids never to apologize." 01:12:48.080 |
But it's really true because nowhere in the Bible 01:12:49.800 |
does it ever say we're supposed to apologize to one another. 01:13:00.900 |
but I tripped over a rock, the sun was in my eyes, 01:13:07.240 |
I'm throwing up a defense for what I did against you. 01:13:18.080 |
No one, nowhere in the Bible does it ever say 01:13:52.480 |
It really doesn't do anything for our relationship. 01:14:01.080 |
But if I were to go to him and I were to say to him, 01:14:07.400 |
"It's a sin against God, it's a sin against you. 01:14:22.520 |
do I wanna forgive that scoundrel John Street? 01:14:35.440 |
I admit my sin, I repent of my sin in front of him. 01:14:38.840 |
He now forgives me, which means he's not gonna bring it up 01:14:45.040 |
He's not gonna dwell on it in his own heart and mind, 01:15:01.900 |
Apologizing just backs the dump truck of feelings up 01:15:15.460 |
Seeking forgiveness, repenting of sin heals relationships. 01:15:29.200 |
is to get around really having a relationship 01:15:44.420 |
on that particular problem and try to move on with my life, 01:15:47.640 |
but I'm gonna avoid that person as much as possible. 01:15:50.340 |
When I see them at church, I'm not gonna talk to 'em. 01:15:52.460 |
I'm like, "No, no, that's not reconciliation. 01:16:00.900 |
You heard people, "What about forgiving God?" 01:16:11.760 |
I've got a lot of books from Christian psychology 01:16:23.540 |
who came to him and she was just really, really upset. 01:16:41.100 |
and all of her kids turned out being short in stature. 01:16:48.980 |
She was just upset by this and just bothered her. 01:16:55.120 |
Well, basically he says, "You're never going to be right 01:17:13.100 |
as if somehow God has made this terrible mistake? 01:17:20.780 |
He's never made a mistake at all in all of eternity 01:17:30.020 |
Notice what Numbers chapter 23 and verse 19 says. 01:17:45.420 |
Or has he spoken and will he not make it good? 01:17:56.420 |
well, why would a Christian who's a psychologist 01:18:04.500 |
It makes me feel justified in the position that I've taken. 01:18:25.460 |
That's imported into Christianity from secular sources. 01:18:30.160 |
And it's only done because it's supposed to make me 01:18:35.720 |
After all, that's the important thing, isn't it? 01:18:38.400 |
If I feel good about myself, everything's gonna be great. 01:18:41.920 |
I know a lot of Christians that need to feel horrible 01:18:51.560 |
It's where change and understanding God's forgiveness 01:19:22.040 |
That doesn't mean you shouldn't have forgiveness 01:19:27.300 |
You need to be ready to forgive the way God is. 01:19:29.780 |
So even though they're dead in their trespasses and sin, 01:19:34.780 |
you can use this as an evangelistic opportunity 01:19:39.260 |
to explain the forgiveness that comes through Jesus Christ. 01:19:43.440 |
Point out their sin and love so that the Lord can use it 01:19:48.500 |
to convict their hearts in order to share biblical truth 01:19:52.380 |
with them about their sin that they've committed 01:19:59.540 |
They may not be open, so your loving and patient endurance 01:20:16.020 |
there was a young couple that had just recently come 01:20:29.700 |
And the woman, her parents started attending church 01:20:34.700 |
along with her brother as well at that same time, 01:20:41.560 |
would you be willing to do premarital counseling 01:20:53.060 |
All right, premarital counseling is just amazing. 01:21:00.300 |
I'm not sure that counselees think that, but I think that. 01:21:05.760 |
So I said, absolutely, I'll be willing to sit down with you. 01:21:09.980 |
And so we set up an appointment, first appointment. 01:21:15.340 |
so standard operating procedure in first appointment 01:21:18.260 |
was to go through the gospel very, very thoroughly, 01:21:20.620 |
give them homework on the gospel, which we did, 01:21:25.860 |
Between that first appointment and the second appointment, 01:21:29.380 |
a whole week goes by, and we were supposed to, 01:21:36.340 |
we were supposed to have our second appointment. 01:21:42.040 |
in our church services that Sunday, got home, 01:21:51.260 |
I was there about 10 minutes, and I got a phone call. 01:21:59.700 |
And he said to me, our daughter and future son-in-law 01:22:09.760 |
Would you be willing to come to the emergency room 01:22:30.900 |
A surgeon comes out from behind the drapes there. 01:22:40.420 |
I don't feel like a pastor, but I must've looked like one. 01:23:04.140 |
I thought, I don't know what I'm getting myself into. 01:23:10.300 |
sat down, by that time, grandpa's and grandma's were there. 01:23:13.240 |
I said, God has chosen to take your daughter. 01:23:19.940 |
At this particular time, there's a lot of tears 01:23:22.860 |
It was just incredible at that particular point. 01:23:32.980 |
so they had taken her fiance to another hospital, 01:23:43.400 |
And we just arrived there just in time to catch him. 01:24:17.980 |
Her fiance was still alive, but the impact of that 01:24:26.180 |
So they had to go, he was bleeding to death from the inside. 01:24:36.240 |
talking with him about the Lord Jesus Christ. 01:24:45.700 |
probably the last time I'll ever see that man. 01:24:54.700 |
Make a long story, I mean, the long story of that, 01:25:06.220 |
They've got five kids serving the Lord together. 01:25:13.680 |
And for the next several months, I counseled mom and dad. 01:25:18.380 |
Turned out that dad in the family was already a believer. 01:25:22.500 |
Through that circumstance, mom came to Christ. 01:25:34.300 |
And by the way, that young man, he's an older man now, 01:25:54.320 |
that he had been planning to jump the sheriff in the court 01:25:58.880 |
when he went to see this guy who's being prosecuted. 01:26:12.520 |
"It's gonna bring more grief to your surviving son 01:26:24.060 |
It's the last month that I'm the pastor there 01:26:27.080 |
before I moved to California to teach at Masters. 01:26:54.000 |
So I agreed to go with them, went to the prison. 01:27:02.000 |
and they had stationed four of the biggest guards 01:27:07.680 |
to the University of Southern California football team. 01:27:29.820 |
"because the Lord Jesus Christ has changed our life." 01:27:36.460 |
And they began to share their testimony with him. 01:27:38.920 |
And they said, "We would love to be able to forgive you, 01:27:45.340 |
"And besides that, what you've done in killing our daughter 01:28:12.340 |
And I looked up and every single guard in that room 01:28:34.660 |
When we're talking about forgiving unbelievers, 01:28:37.060 |
the issue is not their sin against us, ultimately. 01:28:47.820 |
That's what really has to be dealt with first. 01:29:04.700 |
that their job is to win the unbelieving husband over 01:29:08.460 |
without a word by the behavior of their lives. 01:29:18.240 |
by putting repent on the bottom of his beer can. 01:29:23.820 |
You don't win him over by lecturing him into righteousness. 01:29:40.020 |
You say, okay, well, what about forgiving dead people? 01:29:50.600 |
You're supposed to put a chair in the middle of the room, 01:29:55.740 |
Boy, you know that's dangerously close necromancy. 01:29:58.620 |
That is talking with the dead, and the Bible's very clear. 01:30:16.820 |
God knows if that person who had already passed away 01:30:19.820 |
and sinned against you, if they had repented, 01:30:27.320 |
You don't put a chair in the middle of the room 01:30:30.760 |
and pretend that they're there and read them the riot act 01:30:33.840 |
and all of a sudden act as if somehow that takes care of it. 01:30:49.120 |
I know you can forgive me, but I just can't forgive myself. 01:30:53.080 |
Do you realize how prideful that statement is? 01:31:04.720 |
Well, my standard of forgiveness in terms of myself 01:31:32.180 |
There's not a hint of that anywhere in the Bible. 01:31:51.180 |
God can forgive me, but I just can't forgive myself. 01:31:54.420 |
How incredibly prideful that arrogant viewpoint on life is. 01:32:25.760 |
Here the Lord is speaking to the church there at Thyatira. 01:32:39.660 |
"and she teaches and leads my bond servants astray 01:33:05.640 |
nicknamed this woman there in the church at Thyatira 01:33:09.620 |
But if you look in verse 20 at the word tolerate, 01:33:26.080 |
Christians actually can practice too much forgiveness 01:33:48.080 |
That's not the way that the church of Jesus Christ 01:34:22.860 |
The Bible says we need to forgive immediately. 01:34:53.940 |
"And if he sins against you seven times in a day, 01:35:13.680 |
you're working next to a guy who has a problem with anger. 01:35:19.240 |
and he gets really frustrated at what he's doing. 01:35:28.360 |
And he said, "Oh, listen, that's wrong of me. 01:35:45.680 |
turns around, boom, in the kisser one more time. 01:36:04.080 |
You're saying, "Yeah, okay, I'm willing to forgive you." 01:36:33.240 |
All right, now you're starting to feel it, right? 01:36:41.440 |
Your reaction to that is exactly that of the apostles, 01:36:55.760 |
You can almost see them throw their hands up in the air. 01:37:01.800 |
there's no time to look for the fruit of repentance. 01:37:04.980 |
You have to forgive them based upon their word. 01:37:21.080 |
Basically, Jesus tells a story about the slave, 01:37:40.600 |
That's the standpoint that we have to approach 01:38:24.220 |
Because you are more like Christ when you do. 01:38:56.160 |
I hope that what we've studied has been helpful 01:39:26.900 |
you actively do not remember our sins against us. 01:39:36.100 |
in his perpetuary death and atoning work on the cross. 01:39:41.100 |
May we, as unworthy, undeserving, forgiven sinners, 01:39:47.960 |
be quick to forgive others who seek our forgiveness. 01:39:54.960 |
Only then can we have truly reconciled relationships. 01:40:03.880 |
And so, Father, I pray for Berean as a church 01:40:08.600 |
that represents the testimony and the gospel of Jesus Christ. 01:40:15.280 |
for all that are involved in the various ministries. 01:40:52.280 |
for dedicating your time to speak to our church. 01:40:58.720 |
So we were so blessed that he was able to say yes. 01:41:02.340 |
And even though, originally I think it was last year, right? 01:41:04.760 |
And then we had to postpone it, is that, yeah. 01:41:07.680 |
And so he's a man who wears many different hats, right? 01:41:20.140 |
and he's also an elder at Grace Community Church. 01:41:24.840 |
And so he's a husband, he's a grandfather, father. 01:41:29.840 |
And so the fact that we were able to have him 01:41:36.160 |
And so let's thank Dr. Street and Mr. Street who came. 01:41:44.120 |
Some of you are aware, and some of you may not be aware, 01:41:55.460 |
we made a conscious decision in our leadership 01:41:59.840 |
in pushing our church toward biblical counseling. 01:42:03.400 |
And so some people, when you think of biblical counseling, 01:42:06.120 |
you think of, you know, do you have a problem, 01:42:08.220 |
are you depressed, or something happened in your life, 01:42:12.600 |
And watching my wife Esther going through the program, 01:42:16.360 |
and I had a completely paradigm shift in the past few years, 01:42:23.000 |
that everybody needs to learn how to do, be trained, 01:42:25.760 |
because basically it's discipling other people 01:42:31.960 |
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, 01:42:34.680 |
and that's basically a summary of biblical counseling, 01:42:37.060 |
using the word of God specifically for everyone, right? 01:42:52.320 |
there are negative effects that has caused us 01:42:55.200 |
to live in such a way that is contrary to the word of God. 01:42:58.760 |
And so biblical counseling basically is learning the skill 01:43:06.580 |
And so again, I think it was really appropriate 01:43:08.800 |
that Dr. Street came, and hopefully we were motivated, 01:43:19.240 |
and the way he was able to go through the specifics 01:43:25.040 |
What it means to be reconciled, what it means to forgive, 01:43:33.840 |
and that's really, in the end, what discipleship is, right? 01:43:46.040 |
they offer a two-year program to train people, 01:43:50.280 |
and I know that some of us who are able to do that, 01:43:55.200 |
but also along with that, some of our church people 01:44:02.160 |
the biblical counseling training through other sources. 01:44:15.280 |
without committing two years, if you can't do that, 01:44:19.000 |
We're hoping that eventually, that Pastor Mark 01:44:25.240 |
and that's why we asked him to go get his doctorate 01:44:27.560 |
in that field, so that we can apply that in our church, okay? 01:44:32.920 |
and that's probably gonna happen sooner than later, 01:44:36.100 |
there are, like they have ACBC conferences that come up 01:44:41.720 |
and that'll kind of get you started in that process. 01:44:44.380 |
And so, this is something that we've been wrestling 01:44:46.640 |
as a church, especially as our church is getting bigger, 01:44:49.460 |
how do we disciple our church as it continues to grow? 01:44:56.660 |
in the past few years, that I've been really convicted 01:45:08.720 |
and how to help other people apply this in this life. 01:45:11.040 |
And so, again, we'll give you more specific information 01:45:14.540 |
as time goes, but hopefully all of you had enough of it 01:45:21.700 |
for professionals, you need to go get a doctor to do this, 01:45:24.700 |
this is something that every Christian should learn 01:45:41.040 |
we want, get in the habit of becoming active listeners, 01:45:46.140 |
meaning that you listen, and then if you just 01:45:48.620 |
kind of turn it off, and then you just go into the next 01:45:51.100 |
thing that's on your schedule, it's easy to forget. 01:45:54.140 |
And then if you ask next week, what did you learn, 01:45:58.980 |
And so get in the habit between husband and wife, 01:46:01.000 |
asking each other, what did you learn, right? 01:46:04.700 |
While you're driving down, you got two to six hours, 01:46:09.500 |
Ask each other, right, what did you learn specifically, 01:46:16.900 |
and they learn from Sunday school, ask your kids, 01:46:22.980 |
And then ask, how are you going to specifically apply that? 01:46:26.540 |
Where in your heart do you see that you need to really dig 01:46:29.980 |
and to, you know, to reveal, and to repent, and to forgive, 01:46:36.480 |
And hopefully you guys can have that meaningful conversation 01:46:43.340 |
but at least get in the habit of, not just at this retreat, 01:46:47.700 |
get in the habit of asking each other, what did you learn? 01:46:54.420 |
that we're actively trying to apply everything 01:47:00.460 |
And then as I said, at the beginning of the retreat, 01:47:10.660 |
I met some of you who've never even been to Berean. 01:47:13.220 |
The retreat's the first time that you've been around Bereans, 01:47:16.780 |
And then obviously, some of you have been here 01:47:23.580 |
And then from here on, it could be very awkward at church, 01:47:30.880 |
I remember meeting you, but I remember your name. 01:47:41.660 |
in the name of Jesus Christ, be awkward, right? 01:47:46.940 |
If you remember their face, yeah, I know I talked to you. 01:47:58.980 |
and build friendship and relationship going forward 01:48:06.100 |
And then you've got a whole bunch of people at church 01:48:12.500 |
So if you see them at church, see them down the street, 01:48:15.900 |
even if you didn't, get in the habit of asking, hey, 01:48:24.980 |
And then even if you have to do it for the next four or five 01:48:28.100 |
As our church grows, we need to be thick-faced in order 01:48:33.700 |
to build relationships that's going to last, OK? 01:48:53.260 |
And then again, as we wrap up, I want to specifically thank 01:49:11.260 |
There's everybody in the background, all the teachers 01:49:19.660 |
But again, Jason was kind of spearheading all of this. 01:49:23.220 |
And this is-- it's hard running a 100-people retreat. 01:49:38.500 |
And again, we want to thank Jason for just sacrificing. 01:49:45.660 |
And then hopefully when he goes home, he can take a fat nap 01:49:49.540 |
And it happens to be his 51st birthday today. 01:49:54.900 |
It's actually 41, but I'm assuming he aged 10 years 01:50:04.660 |
And as our church continues to grow, as we mentioned, 01:50:07.860 |
part of the reason why we practice membership 01:50:09.860 |
in our church, we're trying to be intentional with everything 01:50:13.260 |
And as our church grows, it becomes harder and harder 01:50:22.260 |
that you're learning has to be applied on the daily lives. 01:50:25.980 |
And so again, I want to encourage and challenge you. 01:50:28.860 |
Everything that you've heard, how can I personally 01:50:36.940 |
Because ultimately, when you live your Christian life 01:50:40.060 |
in isolation, and you do good, and you go before God, 01:50:46.180 |
If you're generous, they say, oh, you're a generous person. 01:50:48.300 |
If you're gracious, you're a gracious person. 01:50:50.380 |
But when that happens in the context of a community 01:50:53.340 |
and with other people sharing and building the church 01:50:58.300 |
Because what unifies us, what causes us together 01:51:01.100 |
to be gracious, is just not because one person is gracious. 01:51:06.900 |
And so that's why building a church, a deliberate church 01:51:31.540 |
And again, this is not unique to Beroean Community Church. 01:51:37.380 |
So again, we want to thank all of you who are here. 01:51:42.500 |
After this, there's going to be a small group time. 01:51:51.360 |
All right, we have a few key announcements right now. 01:52:08.140 |
and head directly to the photo, for the all-church photo. 01:52:11.220 |
For the Sprouts and Nursery, go pick up your kids 01:52:13.340 |
and head over to the lawn area with the fountain. 01:52:31.460 |
who haven't checked out already, clear out your rooms 01:52:41.460 |
you guys need to go to the hotel and check out that way. 01:52:45.900 |
For the rest of you who didn't arrive a day early, 01:52:49.900 |
Just clear out your rooms and you're good to go. 01:53:15.900 |
One's the ID holders and the other is the lanyards. 01:53:19.540 |
And lastly, we do have the winners for the podcast 01:53:25.100 |
It's going to be posted on the Facebook page. 01:53:42.780 |
Small group time, do that during your lunch time. 01:53:46.820 |
Do the small group time during your lunch time. 01:53:51.980 |
OK, so right after this, we're going straight out there. 01:53:56.100 |
go grab your kids and try to come out as soon as you can. 01:54:00.220 |
we'll probably go pack up and stuff and go to lunch. 01:54:04.460 |
And then your small group will be the conclusion 01:54:08.460 |
And then I'll stand up for the closing praise. 01:54:34.420 |
Your grace that leads the sinner home from death to life 01:54:58.900 |
Your grace that reaches far and wide to every tribe and nation 01:55:19.620 |
has called my heart to enter in the joy of your salvation. 01:55:42.660 |
And now I freely walk into the arms of Christ my Lord. 01:56:03.020 |
Your grace that I cannot explain, not by my earthly 01:56:38.540 |
And now I freely walk into the arms of Christ my Lord. 01:57:08.500 |
For grace will see me welcomed home to walk beside my Savior. 01:57:34.860 |
And now I freely walk into the arms of Christ my Lord. 01:57:56.140 |
And now I freely walk into the arms of Christ my Lord. 01:58:14.120 |
Heavenly Father, we thank you so much, Lord God, 01:58:18.100 |
for the privilege that we've had this weekend. 01:58:22.020 |
We know, Father, there are many brothers and sisters 01:58:24.500 |
around the world who are gathering together each week, 01:58:28.980 |
Lord God, not knowing the suffering and the persecution 01:58:35.420 |
Help us, Lord, as we continue to support and fellowship 01:58:40.420 |
that we would not take for granted everything 01:58:51.420 |
with just more knowledge, but help us to truly practice 01:58:58.420 |
What that means, Lord God, to be mindful, Lord, of our hearts, 01:59:04.420 |
to be able to expose, to repent, to be reconciled, to forgive, 01:59:09.420 |
and that as our church practices the love that Christ showed us, 01:59:15.420 |
that the world will know, Father God, who we are. 01:59:19.420 |
So I pray that you would continue to build a church that 01:59:21.420 |
honors you, glorifies you, and to be a brighter and brighter 01:59:27.420 |
that we may be able to share with more and more people, 01:59:30.420 |
Lord God, the hope that is in Christ, in Christ alone. 01:59:34.420 |
We thank you, Father God, for Dr. Street and Mrs. Street, 01:59:38.420 |
Lord God, who sacrificed to be with us this weekend. 01:59:41.420 |
I pray that you would give tremendous blessing 01:59:43.420 |
over their families, their children, their grandchildren, 01:59:46.420 |
for their ministry, that you would use them for many years 01:59:49.420 |
to come, Lord God, to spread the good news of the gospel 01:59:53.420 |
Give them the physical strength that they need, 01:59:55.420 |
the spiritual vitality, relationship, Lord God, 02:00:01.420 |
that many more people would come to know who you are, 02:00:04.420 |
and that you would bless them, that they would be a blessing 02:00:15.420 |
and that we would seek true wisdom, Lord God, 02:00:17.420 |
not of this world, but according to your kingdom. 02:00:20.420 |
And so we ask, Lord God, as we wrap up this retreat, 02:00:24.420 |
that you would help us to apply all that you've given 02:00:59.420 |
To buy my pardon, an empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives. 02:01:49.420 |
And life is worth the living just because he lives.