Thy Kingdom Come: Parables Recap

Welcome to Ontario Community Church, where we are encouraging, equipping, and engaging lives for Christ.

! I'm Pastor Patrick Daly, and each week I share sermons that balance the grace and love of Jesus Christ with the truth of the Word of God.

Together, we'll explore Scripture using observation, interpretation, and application.

This helps us discover practical ways to live out our faith every single day.

Let's dive in together into God's Word.

Well, good morning, everyone.

Today, we are doing something a little different.

We finished our series on the parables of Christ.

That was a 38-week sermon series.

We thank God for that.

We thank God that, number one, we had the opportunity for us to go over His Word,

but also for us to learn and grow together.

We think of parables as these simplistic teachings from Christ.

And these teachings are all part of God's plan, God's story.

It helps us to not only minister to us, but for us to minister to others.

And so I felt it appropriate.

This next week, we're going to celebrate Ontario Community Church's 80th anniversary.

And so before this celebration, I felt it was so appropriate for us to do a recap

and to go over, in a very simplistic manner, what it is we have gone over

and what it is we will go over.

I originally titled this, Thy Kingdom Come, Parables from Heaven for Life on Earth.

And this is to help all of us, no matter where we are in our spiritual walk and in our journey

in faith, to grow deeper in our relationship with the Lord.

For those of you who may not know the Lord, it's coming to know who Jesus is.

And for those of us who do know the Lord, to strengthen in your walk.

It's a great encouragement that no matter where it is you come from,

no matter what it is you have been through, what you have gone through,

what you're going through or what you will go through,

God extends that invitation for you to receive the free gift of salvation.

And so typically, what we do is we use the OIA method,

and I did the best that I could to follow that method, right?

Observation, interpretation, and application.

So let's go to this next slide here.

And we have in here parabolic symbols, right?

We have things that show up as patterns within the Word,

specifically within these parables that help us understand.

We began with the seed and the soil.

The seed representing the Word, and the soil representing our hearts.

And that our hearts should be softened towards the Lord.

That our hearts should be transformed.

For many of us, we may know someone who has a hardened heart.

Someone that we can pray for.

Someone who has bitterness or hatred towards Christ or to the Church.

For many of us, we may have even been hurt at times.

But it's such an important call for us to ask God to soften our hearts

and to receive His Word, much like how we are called to receive salvation.

We had all these soils representing different statuses of the heart.

Sometimes there are moments where there's sin that is occupying our lives,

represented by weeds.

That we need to clear out these weeds, as it were,

and focus on becoming more Christ-like,

following in the footsteps of Christ,

and letting God transform us from the inside out.

So we have the Word, right?

The seed gets planted into the ground,

and it grows into a tree,

representing our spiritual walk in the Lord,

and that we are to bear fruit.

We also went over this idea of the treasure and the pearl.

That salvation in Christ,

truth, the truth that we find in Christ,

should be regarded higher than any other truth.

When we went over the treasure and the pearl,

you had different scenarios where one person stumbled upon the truth.

They just happened to find something of such great value

that they were willing to trade everything for it.

Then you had the guy who was seeking after fine pearls,

who was seeking those pearls with everything that he had

to find something of great value.

And so, whether you stumble upon who the Lord is,

or you're seeking truth with all that you have,

it is important for us to seek after Christ,

the truth of his Word,

and the salvation that he offers to each and every one of us.

So, truth.

We also have the lamp and the householder.

The lamp representing,

we find this in the parable of the ten virgins, right?

Where some of them are holding their lamps,

and the lamp representing a vessel,

representing a person,

also representing churches.

That you want to have it filled with oil,

representing the Holy Spirit.

And you need to have the flame, right?

You need to have the light that shines in the darkness.

And as we went over last week,

let it shine.

We want our lamps to shine,

not only in our own households,

but for the world to see.

To be examples.

And the householder is someone then,

who is able to discern,

and take out the treasures new and old.

Some scholars have said,

it's the ability to distinguish the difference

between the Old Testament and the New Testament.

Some have said it's the old promises

and the new promises.

But it's the ability to shine your light,

and also to be able to spiritually discern.

Right?

Knowing the difference between right and wrong.

Truth from lies.

And in discernment,

we train in discernment.

We also have the shepherd and the sheep.

And what's really powerful about that

is the shepherd is represented,

and a lot of us know this language,

it's represented by Christ,

the chief shepherd, right?

Or the great shepherd.

And his sheep are represented

as those that know him, right?

Just as when scripture says

that the sheep know his voice, right?

And it's always interesting,

in a Bible study that I went to the other day,

there was a man there,

if Kermit is watching on YouTube or wherever,

he'll appreciate this.

He told me this story of when he would go outside,

and he would call for his cows, his cattle,

and hundreds of them would just come

right from over the hill, as it were.

He would just, they knew his voice so well

that they responded,

and it's such a real-life connection

when we think of the shepherd and the sheep, right?

When you have animals,

be that cows or sheep or horses,

they know who you are,

and how often they're happy to see you,

even when you're having a bad day, right?

There are, that goes to show the familiarity

of us knowing the Lord.

What beautiful imagery that is,

and also the fact,

the simple fact that we also can think of

those that are watching the gate.

We talked about gatekeepers,

that that unfortunately has a negative connotation,

but a gatekeeper is someone who is to protect

and assist the shepherd.

So we see Christ as the great shepherd,

but also we think of pastors

as they are to lead their congregations,

not to be a hireling,

but someone who cares for the flock, right?

Who watches out and checks in with their,

makes sure there's no injury

or they're not stuck in a rut or whatever it is,

but takes care of them.

And even in the image of gatekeepers,

people who are assisting the shepherd in that,

what beautiful language.

We also had the,

a lot of the language about virgins and the banquet

used as this idea of anticipation

and being prepared, right?

Preparing for the wedding feast.

And that kind of language is very,

it's difficult for us to think of nowadays,

but think of someone who's waiting

for their wedding day.

That sense of anticipation, right?

Is the same type of anticipation

when we are waiting upon the Lord to return,

waiting upon Christ for,

well, the new heaven and the new earth, as it were.

So there's so many connections that we're seeing here.

And of course, the banquet,

which is talking about the great feast.

When we think about this,

we, when we've just partook in communion,

it is the table that is available

for those to come and celebrate,

to taste and see that the Lord is good.

We think about it,

just as the table is open for you

to partake in communion,

so too is the table of plenty

when it comes to salvation, right?

We've talked about many parables

where invitations were invited to certain people

and they rejected the messengers

or they said that they were too busy

or whatever it was.

But the invitation now is for everyone.

Much like how when we think of Christianity,

the mystery of Christ,

that which was hidden,

is now revealed for all.

That which was once exclusive

is now inclusive

for everyone to come to Christ

by believing in the death, burial, and resurrection.

We also had the minas and the talents here.

Now, it's always interesting.

Most people, they go over the talents, right?

And we think of, you know,

stewarding your money, right?

We think of all these different things,

but it's so much more than that.

The importance of stewardship.

Many of us, I know in my own background,

I think of how I was taught,

you gotta steward your time, talent, and your treasure.

I remember learning that very young from my mother.

But we also steward our very lives.

We steward what God has given to us,

even our own testimony.

How are you going to use your story?

How are you going to use your resources

for the glory of God?

How you answer that is unique to you.

For some of us,

especially when we're younger,

we may have more time.

We may have a little bit of talent.

We may have a lot of talent.

We may not have a lot of treasure.

It's how we are going to use

what God has given to us

for his honor and his glory.

And so minas and talents,

it's just the main idea of stewardship

and how important that is for us.

And then we have the wheat and the weeds,

the net and the sheep and the goats.

This kind of language has been shown

throughout the parables,

showing this distinction of separation, right?

When we were doing our interactive reading,

the final separation or the final judgment

between good and evil, right?

And when we think of this idea

of sheep versus the goat,

the goats is,

who do you belong to?

Do you belong to the great shepherd

or do you not?

And even though that can be scary language

and to some capacity,

it's a call for us as Christians

to be able to share to the gospel

the goats of the world

or the weeds of the world.

It's also important for us to know

that there will be a final judgment

or a final sorting as it were.

That's nothing to be afraid of.

That's actually something

that we should be encouraged by.

That God has the final say

and that God is in control

and that we are to trust in him,

knowing that you see all of these references

about final judgment.

It's something that we need to take to heart.

And then I put on here,

there's a few other ones I haven't gone over,

but one important one was the friend at midnight

and the persistent widow.

Those are some of my favorite ones, right?

This widow who is asking for justice

from a wicked judge, right?

And the judge gets so bothered

by the fact that this old widow

is just bothering me for justice.

I'm finally gonna give her justice.

I think of this old guy

or I think of this judge

and he's like, leave me alone.

I'm not giving you justice.

I'm not giving you justice.

I'm not giving you justice.

And then finally she keeps coming,

asking for justice

and it finally happens.

And the whole premise of that parable

was God saying,

look at this wicked judge

who neither feared God

nor respected man,

as the text says, right?

That's a pretty wicked person.

Look at how much more God will give justice.

How much more God loves us.

So that is something that was very powerful.

And then the friend at midnight

was very similar

in the sense of being,

asking for assistance

and being persistent in prayer, right?

So we can think of how we seek God

and asking for justice,

for love,

or sometimes for some of us

we've asked for patience

and we're still waiting for it, right?

We think of these different things.

But it's being persistent in our prayers.

Just like how scripture tells us

that we are to pray without ceasing.

We are to continually to pray for others.

And there's a few other ones

that I haven't listed on here.

These are the main patterns.

For example,

the children in the marketplace

was the idea of

in good times or in bad,

respond and be a part of the community, right?

There's certain ones in there

that just we would be going on and on

basically the entire thing.

But these are the main patterns that we see.

In other words,

pursuing truth,

receiving salvation,

letting your light shine,

knowing who Christ is

and knowing the sheep,

being in preparation

for the final judgment,

being in preparation

for Christ's return,

the importance of stewardship,

knowing about the final sorting, right?

And then also being persistent in prayer

when you're seeking God.

That's how we bring it all together.

We now go to the next slide then

is what can we learn?

So we'll condense this even more

so that we can understand this.

An entire almost 40-week series,

how do we condense that

into something that we understand, right?

What we can learn is

from the seed to bearing fruit.

That's the first point in here, right?

And so it's a call for us

to respond to the gospel, right?

That let our hearts,

let our soil be ready

to receive not only the word,

but salvation into our hearts.

Some of you may know someone

who has that sense of bitterness.

You may know someone

who has a hardened heart.

Pray for them.

Pray that their heart will be softened

and be ready

to make that decision for Christ,

believing in the death, burial,

and resurrection.

But it's also,

it's not only the fact

about salvation though,

it's the fact of the kingdom of God.

When we're talking about

that which is small, right?

From the Jewish people,

going all the way to salvation

available for everyone.

Just as I had mentioned

many times throughout the series,

the stone that knocks over

the giant statue

and grows into a mountain,

very similar,

just as the seed, right?

It grows into a tree

and it bears fruit.

So not only can we think of this

at an individual level,

we can see how the kingdom of God

is expanding.

That is very powerful.

That is very beautiful.

And so,

when you receive salvation,

let God work in and through you.

Be ready to follow

in the footsteps of Christ.

Let God stir your hearts

as it were,

much like how the Lord will do that,

stir our hearts

and convict us

to become more like Him.

So we have from the seed

to bearing fruit.

And I pray that all of you,

first and foremost,

believe in Jesus Christ.

that you grow in Him

and that you bear fruit.

The second thing then

is stewardship

and counting the cost.

I had talked so much

about the idea

of when we had

our response stones, right?

When you're thinking

of counting the cost,

it's the very notion,

the language is

casting your pebble, right?

We can kind of think

about that nowadays,

about casting your vote,

but I don't want to get

too political here, right?

But it's basically

where are you going

to put all your,

what are you going

to put your life in,

so to speak, right?

And so counting the cost,

it's calculating,

it's considering

these kind of things, right?

But also the fact

when we think of stewardship,

that we are to,

everything that God

has given to us,

it's just like

when scripture says,

every good gift

comes from above, right?

The gifts that we are given,

right?

Our time, talent, treasure,

our testimony,

our very lives,

we are to use

and we are to discern,

we are to steward

our very lives

in honor and glory

to the Lord.

Now, again,

how you do that

is very different

from the one person

to the next person

to the next person.

And so that's very,

very important.

And it's also important

as we steward, right?

As we're growing in faith,

that our intentionality,

us, just as we should

all seek Christ

and his salvation,

we should continue

to seek God

and having him

transform our lives,

saying,

I am ready, God,

for you to mold me

into who you want me to be.

In other words,

we think that,

let us remember

that discipleship

is intentional,

that our faith

is built upon

the solid rock

and that we,

we are to cast our pebble

and let God work

in and through us

till the very end.

And then finally,

we have grace,

compassion,

and prayer.

These are three things

that we find

throughout the parables here.

That God seeks the lost.

That God provides grace.

God gives us

this opportunity,

this invitation

for us to respond to him.

salvation,

newness of life,

a new identity,

God provides

for all that we need.

And as we are given,

let us give back to God

and let us be that light

for others to see.

And so,

let us be

like the good Samaritan.

Let us be good neighbors,

right?

Just like,

what is it,

Mr. Rogers,

won't you be my neighbor,

right?

We think about

these kind of things.

How we can be

an example

for others to see.

Good neighbors

who show mercy

and kindness

and compassion,

love,

grace,

and the truth

of Christ.

All of these things.

And let us also remember

to, again,

be persistent

in prayer,

be faithful to God

in anticipation

for his return.

Now,

here's the thing.

We don't know

the time

when Christ

will return.

I know there's

many books out there,

many magazines

and articles

that'll say

it'll happen

at this moment

or another moment,

right?

How many of you

remember Y2K,

right?

The Y2K bug

that'll wipe out

everything,

right?

Other people said

it was 2012

because of the Mayan calendar,

right?

We had that.

It's almost like

every year

someone wants

to make a lot

of book sales

saying when it'll happen.

But how embarrassing

it must be

when you're proven wrong,

right?

But it's important

for us

that we wait

in anticipation

for Christ's return.

We live

as waiting

for him,

being faithful

to God

and to his word,

living and loving

like Christ

for other people.

And so,

that's what we can learn

when it comes

to parables

in the most

simplistic of senses.

And then finally,

it goes into,

then what can we

do about this?

How do we live

with these parables?

Something I did not

put on here.

Every parable

is a way

that you can minister

to someone.

Let me give you

an example.

There's the parable

of the

Pharisee

and the tax collector.

the Pharisee

representing someone

who's religious,

who,

the text says

that he gave

10% of everything

that he owned.

On the surface,

this man

looked like

he got

everything under control,

but yet Christ

said that he

is not justified.

Well,

what a way

to minister

to someone

who is more

focused on

the rules

and the rituals

and the religion

as opposed

to the relationship.

Does that make sense,

church?

Because it goes

over to the tax collector.

He goes in there

and some scholars

say he was in

the outer courts.

Some say he was

in the Holy of Holies.

We don't know

specifically,

but it says

that he wouldn't

lift his eyes

towards heaven

because when you

go in there,

you are going

to pray

with your arms open

and lift your eyes

towards heaven.

But this man,

he ends up

banging on his chest

saying,

God,

have mercy

on me,

a sinner.

This man

did not have it

together.

That parable

is a way

that you can

minister to someone

by sharing

a simple truth

to another person.

That's just

one parable.

And we,

as Christians,

are to think of

how can we

minister to people

by sharing

in the power

of parables.

So,

we still have

these three things.

I wanted to share

that as something

that's important

for when it comes

to sharing

our faith

with others.

Well,

the most important

thing, right,

receive the word,

right?

Christ being

the word.

Christ being

the solid rock,

the foundation.

In other words,

receive salvation.

Let it take

roots,

grow in it,

and produce

fruits.

Treasure the kingdom.

Treasure what you have.

Don't take it

for granted.

The very salvation

that we have

by you believing

in Jesus Christ.

The death,

burial,

and resurrection

is the single

greatest decision

that you could make

that not only

affects your life

here on the earth,

but has eternal

consequences.

Okay?

Us choosing

what we're going

to eat

or dress

or what college

we're going to

has no

eternal significance

compared to that

of believing

in Jesus Christ.

Christ.

So receive

the word,

receive Christ,

and treasure

what you have.

I've always

found it so

wonderful.

Some of you

may identify,

you may know

someone who just

became a Christian,

and they're so excited.

And they say

things like,

I know Jesus

saved me.

I know Jesus

loves me.

I know that

my sins are

forgiven.

And you're like,

man,

I hope I never

lose that enthusiasm.

I want to be

like that new

believer who

realizes the

heaviness of the

salvation they've

received.

May we never

grow cold or

bitter towards

that.

May we appreciate

the treasure,

the pearl of

great price,

the very word

that we have

received,

the salvation

that we hold

dear.

May we hang

on to it.

So ready your

heart to respond

to the gospel.

Seek God,

respond to the

invitation,

cast your stone,

enter through

the gates.

All of this

is very similar

language.

Believe in the

Lord and be

saved.

Let go of the

former life and

the former

things.

Let God work

in and through

you.

The second

thing then is

to steward your

life and count

the cost,

right?

Steward

everything that

you have.

Do it.

If God gives

you everything,

won't you give

but a little bit

back to him?

That's,

I remember

learning that

when I became

a new Christian

and I hated

that.

I'm like,

what do you

mean?

But when you

really think

about it,

write down

every blessing

that you have.

Write down

every gift

that you have

and just think

for a moment.

Take inventory

of that.

What can I

give back

to the Lord?

So your time,

talent,

your treasure,

your very life,

your mina,

follow in the

footsteps of Christ

and honor the

King.

It's just like

when we've

talked so much

about parables,

about this idea

that we are

to build

upon the

solid rock,

right?

We are to

build our

house.

Or just like

even how

scripture says

we are to

have treasures

in heaven.

Let us be

reminded that

we are saved

by grace

through faith.

We are not

saved by

what we do.

We are saved

by what has

been done.

We have

been saved

by grace

through faith

so that

we can do

good in

the name

of Christ.

And that's

very powerful.

It can be

convicting for

sure.

Build upon

the rock

and let

God work

in and

through you.

Journey

with Christ

in your

spiritual walk.

Be a

hearer

and a

doer.

Choose

the rock

over the

sand as

well.

And then

finally,

practice

love,

mercy,

prayer,

and shine.

Of course,

there's other

things.

Speak the

truth in

love.

Be an

ambassador for

Christ.

There's so

many different

things in

this.

In other

words,

it's being

Christ-like.

It's

considering how

you speak

to people.

It's

considering how

you act,

your words

and your

deeds,

your words

and your

actions,

but even

your very

presence

life.

When you

are with

someone,

how are you

exhibiting the

light of

Christ towards

others?

And we

have these

parables to

help us

to see

examples.

We think

of putting

our lamp

on a stand

and letting

it shine.

Let what

you do

point to

the Father.

Your very

life can

have such a

profound impact

on other

people.

From the

everyday,

the people

we meet at

the gas

station,

whether it's

Shell or

Maverick or

whatever it

is,

wherever it

is you go

to get

gas,

right?

Or wherever

you shop,

your co-workers,

students that

you know,

different things

you can exhibit

the light,

love,

and truth.

So this is

part of what

we found.

Love,

mercy,

right?

Prayer,

and let your

light shine.

And so,

be encouraged

by all of

this.

That God

is that

Jesus Christ

is the

good shepherd.

That Jesus

Christ is

the way,

the truth,

and the

life.

Let us

continue to

grow and

to make a

greater impact

for Christ.

Let us

consider the

words we

speak,

the actions

that we do

for others.

Now,

granted,

we're not

going to be

perfect,

right?

But we

still continue

to do the

work for

Christ.

I want

to go

ahead and

shift over

for a

moment,

if we

can put

the

revelation

slide

coming up.

Now,

in

studying,

preaching,

and teaching

the parables

of Christ,

this next

week,

we're having

our 80th

anniversary.

The following

week,

on September

21st,

we will be

getting a

new sermon

series on

revelation.

The parable

series was

called

Thy Kingdom

Come.

This is the

continuation of

this,

Thy Will

Be Done,

the final

parables of

the kingdom

going over

revelation.

The reason

for this is

because so

much of the

language in

revelation

can be

understood

by what we

learn from

parables.

Let me give

you a couple

examples here.

we had

the

ten

virgins

that were

holding their

lamps full

of oil,

right,

representing

the Holy

Spirit,

much like

how we

have the

churches in

revelation

and their

lampstands.

Very

similar

language to

what we

have learned

in parables.

We also

have the

harvest and

the city

that there's

so much

about the

final judgment

and things

that will

happen.

This is the

continuation

of that.

We also

have the

unknown

language where

there's a lot

of debate

on the

scrolls and

the seals and

the trumpets and

the bowls.

There's a lot

of people asking

which bowl

means what,

right?

But a lot

of that language

is similar to

God's plan for

final judgment.

I always

found it very

interesting when

we look at

the Old

Testament and

how when you

have the story

of Moses,

right, and

the people of

God in Egypt

and all of the

plagues that

happened, how

they're almost

exactly identical

to the judgments

in revelation.

That's

fascinating.

Like a lot

of that

apocalyptic

language that's

happening goes

right into

what we see

in revelation.

We also have

the lamb and

the shepherd

from revelation

five, just

like how there's

the parable of

the good shepherd

who takes care

of his sheep.

Very similar

in there.

You also have

the marriage

supper and the

white garments.

That's interesting,

right?

Just like how we

talked about the

wedding feast and

the great banquet

and being in

preparation for

the return of

the bridegroom.

So many

similarities in

there.

So we have

that.

We have the

books open and

the reward.

We have the

sickle and the

throne talking

about the

separation,

right?

Talking about

the final

sorting of

judgment, just

like we talked

about the

sorting of

the fish, the

separation of

the wheat and

the tares, the

sheep and the

goats.

We even have

the, we talk

about counterfeit

rule, right?

The dragon, the

beast, the

false prophet and

the mark.

And even the

river and the

tree of life.

So many things

are connected in

there that we

will go over.

It should be

about a 40

week, 40, 42

week sermon

series going

over revelation

and we will see

not only the

connections within

the parabolic

language from the

teachings of

Christ, but also

how revelation is

connected with

other things.

We are not

going to focus

on the things

that divide us

because I

realize, don't

raise your hand

here, I know

revelation is one

of the most

debated on books.

Pastor, what are

you doing

preaching revelation?

Do you want to

divide this church

or not, right?

You have

different perspectives,

amillennial versus

premillennial versus

postmillennial versus

rapture versus no

rapture versus is

the mark of the

beast the barcode,

right?

You have so many

different things,

right?

Is the beast

America?

Is the beast

Russia?

It goes on and

on.

But what we are

going to do is

look at where

are the patterns,

where are the

connections within

scripture and what

can we as

Christians, as new

believers, as

existing Christians,

how can we grow

and view revelation

as the final

parable?

That's why I put

it, final parables

of the kingdom

because the

apocalyptic

language is

very similar

to parabolic

language.

And so I have

to tell you as

your pastor, I'm

very excited to

go over this

series.

It will be

different.

It won't be the

typical, you

know, the beast

is, you know, the

antichrist is so-and-so

celebrity or so-and-so

politician, right?

We're not going to

necessarily go into

that, but what does

it mean?

What does the

antichrist mean?

What does the

mark mean?

What does it mean

in scripture, for

example, when it

says, blessed is the

man who washes his

robe?

What?

I've got to wash

my laundry and I'll

be blessed and make

them white?

No.

There's so much

more than that,

right?

Or when we think

of just all of this

language, we can find

a wonderful

understanding for our

growth and in our

preparation for things

that are to come.

And so I hope that

you guys will come to

as we begin our

revelation series in

two weeks and what a

great way to start

after celebrating our

80th year.

Amen?

Amen.

Well, let's go ahead

and pray together and

we'll go ahead and

we'll close it out.

Our final thing I want

to say.

Let us remember the

patterns.

When we find things

that are interconnected

with the Word of God,

we consider the

context.

We've got to know

what's going on in the

surrounding verses.

But we've also got to

see where is this

connected within the

entire body of

Scripture, right?

The Bible, right?

Meaning the library.

Where else is it in

the library?

Where else is it

found?

We think about these

kind of things and

there, let us receive

the Word, let us

steward our life, let

us practice being

Christ-like.

Let us let our

light shine.

And I'll read this

final verse and we'll

pray.

Every scribe who has

been trained for the

kingdom of heaven is

like a householder who

brings out his

treasure, what is new

and what is old.

Let us pray together.

Father God, we thank

you for this time and

this opportunity for us

to do this parable

recap, this parabolic

recap.

We're just grateful for

your Word.

We're grateful for your

Son, Jesus Christ, who

came down from heaven,

being born in a

manger, living, teaching

these parables, healing

the sick, walking on

water, even being

raised from the dead.

A fulfillment of

prophecy.

We're grateful for the

salvation that you give

to us.

May we never be

discouraged in taking

that believing in you,

making that decision to

receive this free gift of

salvation.

Father, I pray for this

congregation and I pray

for all of those who are

tuned in online.

However many there are,

we are grateful for all

of the people that are

here in this place,

whether physically,

digitally, or those who

are traveling, wherever you

are.

We're grateful for all of

them.

Father, we're grateful for

for your Son, for the

Word.

And we just pray that as

we conclude finally and

move on to our celebration

of our 80th anniversary,

may we consider how you

have worked in this

congregation, how you

have worked in this city,

the things that are

happening today and even

as we look forward to

tomorrow.

May we seek you and your

word.

May we become those

ambassadors for Christ.

May we be able to

discern and be a light,

holding your light, the

light of Christ for others

to see.

May we be transformed and

through you, may we

transform others.

We love you, we praise

you, we glorify you, and we

honor you.

It is in the name of

Jesus Christ that we

pray and we all say

together, amen.

Amen.

Thank you for listening for

this week's message from

Ontario Community Church.

I pray that you are

encouraged and strengthened in

your walk with Christ.

For more sermons and

resources, visit

OntarioCommunityChurch.org.

May God bless you as you

live out his grace and

truth every single day.

Thank you.