Romans 2 | Clayton Hentzel

Crossing family. It is so good to see you all to

welcome. Those of you joining from 48th

Street. Those of you in Macomb,

Kirksville 929, Pike County, Hannibal Lima, Mount Sterling,

Keokuk, Monmouth Jacksonville. I also want to welcome those of

you who are joining us online. Those of you who are part of the

crossing inside, I'm just so incredibly thankful to be a part

of this church with you. I am excited to announce that we

have I've set an all-time camper record for the crossing we have.

1276 kids, going to Camp so far this year, unbelievable.

We have seven summer camps to our completed.

One is presently underway, and for those of you who signed your

kids up, God bless you. Thank you for making a spiritual

investment in their spiritual. There is a 100% chance that your

kid is going to need to have a relationship with Jesus.

So while you do your Sports Camps, and you're teaching them

how to throw a ball, catch a ball Dodge a ball, make sure

you're giving them good opportunity to grow spiritually.

Second thing, those of you who created or we were generous and

created room and your lives to create scholarships for other

kids to go. Thank you so much for joining

Jennifer and I in that and we are taking more kids to Camp

because of you. So God bless you.

I also I want to welcome those of you who are joining us for

the first time or maybe the first time in a long time.

We are so incredible. Glad that you are here and if

you get bored in my sermon which has been known to happen from

time to time, don't completely check out, take advantage of the

QR code in front of you that way you can be on your phone but not

look like you're doing something, you're not supposed

to do, you know what I mean? That Will Clayton told me that's

why I'm on my phone and you can click on that link in the chair

right in front of you, it'll give you an opportunity to learn

more about our church and connect to our church.

But this summer here at the Crossing, we are going through

the book of Romans. And today, we are in Chapter 2,

and if you are want to get the most out of this series, I want

to encourage you to grab one of these companion books.

There's an incredible team here at our church who put these

things together. They are still available in the

lobbies of all of our different locations and are.

And what you do is, you just spend a little bit of time every

day. This is mine, I wrote my name in

it. It so that way nobody else can

have it and you just, you spend a little bit time.

You write yourself a little prayer.

At the end of write yourself, a little note and you just go

through it. And then on page 9 or page 16,

if you have one of these, there's a spot for you to take

notes in the sermon, which mind is blank.

I haven't listened to the sermon yet but I'll fill it up when I

listen to it. Okay.

But what this will help you do is this will help you kind of

book and your time in the Lord and I want to encourage you to

find someone to do this. Where once a week you Circle up

for, you know, five or 10 minutes, maybe 30 minutes, and

spend some time talking like, hey, what did God, teach you and

what did God teach you? And how can I pray for you?

And how can you pray for me? Husbands?

I really would encourage you to do this with your wives, but

everybody could find somebody to go on this journey with them.

Now, before we jump all the way into Romans to, I want to do a

little bit of recap from last week because as some of you are

studying, the Bible, for the very first time, there's going

to be some tools, you're going to need in your A belt to help

you understand how to read the Bible and get the most out of

the Bible. And the first thing we learned

is aim. What is the aim of the text

which is the author's intended? Meaning when God through the

through the Holy Spirit, inspired men to write God's

word. So that way you and I could know

more about God, there was one intended, meaning scripture can

never mean what it was never intended to mean and so if we

don't work hard Hard to figure out what the authors intended

meaning is, you could grab a hold of a promise, that isn't

really a promise like God never said that.

And then when things go south in your life and you're like why

cling to This Promise guys, like oh I didn't make you that

promise, I made you a different promise and so we want to learn

the author's intended meaning which is why when you're

studying the Bible we don't ask the question.

What does that mean to you? Because the to you is

irrelevant, what does it mean? And then how do I apply?

I it so there is one meaning, but lots of applications and one

of the best ways to do that is to remember this phrase context

is King. How many of you have ever been

taken out of context? Someone said something took

something that you said out of context.

Yeah, she's ugly. What, why did you say that

talking about my yard could crieff?

My yard is ugly. Okay, if you take something out

of context, people get their feelings hurt.

God gets frustrated. When we take his words out of On

text. And every verse, every word that

you see in Scripture, it falls in the context of a sentence, a

paragraph, a chapter, a book, or the Old and New Testament and

that context will help you understand scripture more

clearly, then what I want to do is I want to talk to you guys

about a couple questions you can ask when you're reading

scripture. We talked about these last week.

What is the important idea of the chapter If you get done

like, how do I book in? How do I say this in a clear

concise way? Husbands have your has your wife

ever told you a really, really long story?

And all you at the end of it, you're just like, so, what were

you trying to tell me? She was, like, I need you to

pick up the kids from school, right?

That's what this is after you read the scripture.

What is this? What is this chunk of scripture?

In a sentence? This will help you frame.

It? What is the first?

I would most like to memorize. It is good for us to be people

who memorize God's word because we all want to have our hearts

filled up with God's word. So that way what's in our hearts

eventually makes its out and makes it out.

Out into our lives and to the lives of the people that we

love. So the more of Jesus that we put

in our heart, the more of Jesus we will distribute to the people

around us. What is the most challenging

idea? And when we talk about the

challenging idea, there's like three different chunks that

three different areas, where things get hard one is, it's

hard to understand, I don't get it.

That might be a great opportunity for you to grow as

you try to, you know, Chase the rabbit hole, and figure out our

go down the rabbit hole and figure out where it leads.

Thanks for the first one is it's hard to understand.

I don't get it. The other one is it's hard to

hear. I don't like it.

You're going to have some of those things in Scripture.

Because God's perfect and he has a perfect expectation for you.

And for me, so, there's going to be things in there that aren't

going to agree with us because we still wrestle with our flesh.

And then, the other one is hard to apply.

I don't know what to do with it, or I don't want to do with it.

What I think I'm supposed to do. So when you're reading

scripture, you're going to find something that's hard.

Scripture should challenge you. If you read the Bible and you

get done reading it and you go, Go, man.

I'm awesome. You might be doing it wrong.

Okay, I'm just gonna tell you, all right, next one.

What is the application to my life in a sentence?

What should I do with this? Here's why, because in God's

economy, he loves it. When his people are obedient.

In fact, that's how you show. God, that you love him is

through obedience. Faith without works is dead.

So if your faith does, not cause you to do something in your

life, it is not a meaningful faith.

And I'm going to show you why we got to have that.

I have faith when God is talking, looking at his people,

what he wants is not just for you to be hearers of the word

Lashelle for church. Listen to a sermon, he doesn't

want you to just be listeners of the word, you know, put the

Bible audio and just go for a walk in here.

Although that's great what he really wants is he wants you to

do something with the word. Okay, ladies, if your husband,

if you called your husband and said, hey, I need you to put

this roast in the Crock-Pot for tonight because everybody's

coming over and I left and I had to leave early for work and I

need you to take care of it and you gave him all the

instructions. Then you told him to pull out,

the little seasoning stuff to put on the roast and read the

back of the stuff, and when he gets done reading all that

stuff, And then just did his own thing.

Would you be frustrated? Would you be?

Like, I'm just so thankful for this man, right?

Because you don't want him to. Yeah, I read it honey.

I read every I did. I listen to all the things you

know I needed you to do what I asked you to do. if Jesus was a

Angry Italian grandma, that's what that was.

Okay. Last one.

Are there any promises of God to me?

The reason why this is important is you are going to go through

storms. How many of you have been

through a storm when you go through storms, you are going to

need an anchor, you're going to need something to like help you

maintain your position. So that way you don't get blown

all over the place. And that is what the promises of

God will mean to you? What they will become to you.

That being said, I want to give you one more tool today.

The best tool to interpret scripture is and then we'll take

a guess, scripture. We have some people who grew up

at another church here today, I'm so glad you guys are here.

Okay, guys, feel that right? Scripture, the best tool to

interpret scripture is scripture?

God is consistent, he's unchanging.

So God doesn't say one thing over here in a completely

different thing over here. Anytime you think that there is

an apparent contradiction in Scripture?

That's all it is an apparent contradiction.

There's something more meaningful beneath the surface

that we can dig out. Now since scripture does not

contradict itself. Since God is unchanging, when we

bump into things in scripture which we're going to do this

just a little bit, you're going to go.

Ooh how am I supposed to put all of these things together?

That work helps Growers grow us as Christians.

You will never grow in any area of your life unless you Embrace

some of the difficulties associated with that.

So Sometimes when you bump into something scripture, it's an

opportunity to grow. That being said, I want to recap

quickly, what we learned last week.

Last week, Romans chapter 1 verses 16 through 17.

Romans 1:16–17

Those are like the key verses that I wanted us to maybe even

memorize. For I am not ashamed of the

gospel because it is the power of God.

That brings salvation to everybody say this word,

everyone who believes there is nobody that you will me.

That does not have the capacity to belief.

There is nobody that you will ever meet that.

God did not send his son to die on the cross.

For that. God loves wants to bring into a

relationship with him through everyone, who believes first for

the Jew. Then the Gentile, for, in the

gospel. The righteousness of God is

revealed a righteousness that is by faith From First to Last.

That means we add nothing to it. It's from Faith to Faith.

You and I aren't the ones who get this work done.

This is something that Jesus did on our behalf, just as it is

written, the righteous will live by faith.

The key takeaway was that God can be trusted, because of his

gospel, has the power to save? Absolutely everyone.

God can be trusted because he has done this marvelous work on

our behalf and this gospel makes you and I righteous and our part

is to take hold of it and we take hold of this righteousness.

Through faith and faith that is alive and active is obedient to

God. So we don't do the right things

in order to be in a right relationship with God.

It is because we are in a right relationship with Jesus Christ

that we do these things that God calls us to now.

In Romans chapter 1, Paul is outlining how much the Gentiles

Romans 1 · chapter mention

have sinned. Now, this is where it sometimes,

get can gets confusing because some of you you've been to

church your whole life and you're like, we get it.

And then there's some of you who are brand new and let me just

take a couple seconds to kind of explain the complexity of Jews

and Gentiles a gentile, is anyone who is not Jewish, so I

would be a gentile. It is anybody who is not a

Jewish person. Now in the Old Testament age, to

call somebody a Jew, Not just a national Proclamation.

It was also a religious Proclamation.

So, here in America, we kind of divide.

These two things out, we are an American, which is our national

attribution, and then we are Christians, which is our

religious affiliation. But in Jesus time, leading up to

the time of Jesus before the gospel is proclaimed before

Jesus died on the cross, all that stuff to be a Jew was to

have a religious affiliation to Yahweh, God.

And to be a, they have their own border, they have their own

kingdom. In fact, the Jewish people were

being ruled by Gentile. Romans in Israel, at the time,

Jesus was actually killed by Romans at the suggestion of

Jewish leaders. Now, when the gospel starts

being preached Jewish people, both religiously and nationally

are coming to Faith In Jesus so they are Becoming Jews

nationally and they are Christians religiously.

About track with you so far. This is like the complicated

part of the sermon. If we get through this, you has

my back Clayton. We get it.

I don't know why you keep talking slow.

All right, but the reason why this is important is because in

Rome you have Roman Christians who are Gentiles, and you have

Jewish Christians that are in the same church and they are

trying to get along, there's disunity there, there's

challenges there. One commentator says that the

best way to understand it's is to read it backwards.

What he's trying to do is he's trying to get Roman Christians

by the time we get to Romans 16, this will make sense.

He's trying to get Roman Christians and Jewish Christians

to stop being so divisive so that they can occupy the same

church and make a difference in Rome.

So while the Jews would be listening to Romans chapter 1,

Romans 1 · chapter mention

they are perhaps getting a little proud because if you

remember, Romans chapter one last week, you'd like, wow, Paul

is coming. After them, the Jews.

Romans are having a hard time getting along and it appears

that Paul is taking the side of the Jews.

Those of you have multiple kids in the house.

Have you ever like the kids have been arguing?

And then you start to weigh in and one kid seems to think that

you're on their side and the arrogance that pops up.

See, I told you might see, he's been like that for a long time,

you know this and you're like no no no I'm just picking on you

right now. I'm going to pick on you in a

second. Here's what's happening.

The Jews are listening to Romans chapter 1 and they're going Uh,

Romans 1 · chapter mention

yeah, get them. These Roman Christians are

difficult and then Paul's kind of like hold my Eucharist

because I'm coming after I'm coming after you guys.

So, and this is my go without saying.

But when you're reading the Bible, the chapters and the

numbers for the verses that was not ordained by God, those are

things that man put in there. Just that way, you could

reference the scripture easy, Jesus wasn't going.

Alright. Now, we're going to call this

one. John 3:16.

John 3:16

That's not, that's not how it worked so well.

I was like, okay, 15, 16 2016 is going to be a keeper lot of

tattoos dedicated there. Okay he's just he's there just

working through. So That being said in Romans

Romans 2 · chapter mention

Chapter 2, a big shift takes place.

I don't want to give you a mini devotional here.

Rarely when you read scripture, are we the good guy?

The victim. Most of the time when you and I

read scripture where the bad guys were the abusers.

So pleased as we're getting ready to read this.

Don't start doing to the Jews with the Jews were doing to the

Gentiles. That being said, Romans Chapter

Romans 2 · chapter mention

2. You therefore have no, excuse.

All right. Hold on a second.

I'm gonna give you another little tip, anytime you see the

word, therefore, in scripture. You need to ask your therefore

right there. You need to ask what?

Is the there for now, you got to make sure you do this right

there. For right.

You want to make sure you spell it right?

What is the therefore? Therefore, because that helps

you understand context. So what happened right before

this verse will Romans chapter 1 verse 32.

Romans 1:32

So, let's go to Roman's 3132 for.

Although they knew our know, God's righteous decree that

those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to

do these things, but also approve of those who practice

them. You therefore have no excuse you

who pass judgment on someone else for at whatever point you

judge another we're going to circle back to this versatile or

word in a second another you are condemning yourself because you

who pass judgment do the same things.

Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things

is based on truth. So when you a mere human being

NG pass. Here it shows up again, judgment

on them and yet do the same things.

Do you think that you will escape God's judgement?

He is swinging away at them right out of the gate and you

might be tempted to go. Oh, yeah, those judgmental Jews.

All right, in fact, it is part of the reading of this chapter

that is actually led to some oppressive state or oppressive

moves towards Jewish people over history.

Paul, at the very beginning is confronting two major sense.

Play it. Cool.

I wasn't thinking of you when I wrote this but I want you to see

if you find yourself in one of these two.

Evil's the first evil is when you know, sin is bad but

continue to do those things and approve of those who do those

things. And the second evil is when you

judge people, Okay. Who sin?

But you yourself, do the same sin.

Let me put this in a context. That isn't you?

You have a kid in your house and you have two little boys and you

tell them no iPads after bedtime and they both know the rule.

But sure enough late at night, the younger one has his iPad and

the older one goes, you are so cool for having the iPad that

you're not supposed to have after bedtime.

That is an evil of knowing that what they are doing is wrong but

approving of those who do it. Now, insert the sin that you

know, is wrong that you continue.

To approve of. Oh, it's okay.

You do you whatever it is. Paul saying that is an evil, but

he's also saying there's a second evil and the second evil

is when you judge people who sin, but you yourself, do the

same sin. So now picture yourself at hotel

Hensel and you live under our house and we have a very, you

know, keep your room clean. And wife walks up the stairs and

she goes into the oldest person's room and she goes you

are a pig. This room is trashed your father

and I work way too hard to make sure that you have nice stuff in

the house and this is how you treat it.

You need to clean your room. When she goes back downstairs

and then while she's you know doing whatever she does, she

hears the oldest kid. Walk over to the younger

brother's room. And then she hears him yelling.

At the younger brother. Your room is trash, mom and dad

works so hard to take care of us and you don't even love them

because you don't even take care of your room.

So then the wife starts to walk up the stairs and as she does

the oldest is coming out of the younger ones room and goes his

room is trashed kids. These days The hypocrisy.

Paul's going hold on a second when you judge people who sin,

but you yourself are doing the same sin.

Now, this brings up a conversation about judging since

Paul is accusing, the Jewish Christian followers of judgment.

Let's see how we can apply the tools we learned earlier context

is King and scripture to interpret scripture to navigate.

How do we as Christians solve the issue related to judgment?

Okay, because how many of you Have heard Matthew 7:1 do not

Matthew 7:1

judge or you too. Will be judged.

How many of you have had that verse quoted to you by somebody

who doesn't even go to church? It's like the most famous verse

of people who don't follow Jesus.

Well, aren't you guys not supposed to judge or you too

will be judged. And so you have this thrown at

you all the stinkin time. Well, let's unpack this first

thing we're going to do is we're going to look at it in context.

Matthew Chapter 7, Do not judge or you too.

Matthew 7 · chapter mention

Will be judged for in the same way, you judge others, you will

be judged. And with the measure you use, it

will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of

sawdust, in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the

plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother?

Let me take the speck out of your eye.

When all the time. There is a plank in your own eye

You everybody say this word hypocrite.

Okay first, take the plank out of your own eye, then you'll be

able to see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's

eye. The context here is not so much

judgment, its judgment out of context, not realizing that

you've got some stuff that screwed up in you too.

In fact, the word hypocrite, this is in Matthew chapter 7.

Matthew 7 · chapter mention

In Matthew chapter 6, The word hypocrite shows up in 6:2

Matthew 6 · chapter mention

chapter 6, verse 5, chapter 6, verse 16.

And at the end of this one, he still tells them to take the

speck out of your brother's eye. So you're still making a

judgment about the speck of dust in their eye, but you're only

supposed to address it. After you've done a serious

evaluation of the sin in your own life, Jesus doesn't seem to

have a problem with you making judgments.

He has a problem with you making.

Judgments without the context of your own sinful Behavior, deal

with the glaring sin in your life and then deal with the

smaller sins. And somebody else now watch this

in the very same chapter, Jesus goes on to make this statement.

Watch out for false prophets, they come to you in sheep's

clothing, but inwardly, they are ferocious wolves by their fruit.

You will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from

thornbushes or figs from thistles likewise?

This is a tongue twister every good tree Bears.

Good fruit. But a bad tree Bears.

Bad fruit and a good tree. Cannot bear bad.

A good tree. Cannot bear, bad fruit and a bad

tree. Cannot bear.

Good fruit. Every tree that does not bear.

Good. Fruit is cut down and thrown

into the fire thus, by your fruit You will recognize them.

Well Jesus, if I'm not supposed to judge, how could I ever

possibly discern? Who is a false teacher?

Jesus, if I'm not supposed to judge, how could I ever know

whether or not, this is good fruit or band fruit Jesus

obviously doesn't have a problem with Christians making careful,

evaluations or stating the obvious or watching how someone

behaves and making a judgment call based on it.

Okay. I mean, if that was the case,

how come Jesus says this quote Jesus back to somebody when

someone says well Jesus says, don't judge.

I would y'all well actually anybody have a well actually

friend in their life. You say something?

Well, actually okay you're not invited in over anymore, okay,

so here's your will actually verse.

This is, if you go and look at your Bible, you'll find this in

Red Letters. Stop judging by mere

appearances, but instead judge correctly.

Well, actually, Jesus says, I'm supposed to judge correctly.

So, you're trash. Okay, okay, now, watch this.

First Corinthians. This is Paul because someone

might go well, that was Jesus but Paul's talking here.

Okay, okay, okay. What business is it of mine to

judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those

inside? God, will judge those outside.

Expel. The wicked person from among

you. It appears that we are supposed

to have as Christians, a different posture with those who

belong to Jesus, then those who don't belong to Jesus.

Perhaps Christians should hold each other to a higher standard

and those who don't know. Jesus to a lower standard after

all If they don't believe in God, have the spirit of God have

the power of God or have the direction of God, how could they

possibly follow God. But those of us who have the

spirit of God, have the power to God have belief in God, it's

reasonable that we should be able to hold ourselves to a

higher standard. Galatians 6:1 through to look

Galatians 6:1

what it says brothers and sisters.

If someone is caught in sin, you who live by the spirit should

restore that person gently but watch yourselves.

Or you also may be tempted, carry each other's burdens.

And in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Hold on a second. Jesus.

If I'm not supposed to judge somebody, how could I ever know

that they were in sin? Furthermore, if I can't judge

whether or not they were in sin, how could I ever come alongside

someone to restore them gently? In other words, it appears that

scripture is saying something completely different than do not

judge what scripture is saying to.

Those of you who are Christians, pay attention here.

And to, those of you are not Christians, okay?

We just learned that. So, give us some Grace for

screwing it up for, however, long, okay.

One it's saying don't judge hypocritically.

It's saying don't judge superficially.

It is saying have a higher standard for Christians and

recognize that you've got to have a lower standard for

non-christians and use your judgment on fellow Believers to

come alongside of them and to help them out not to Snicker

judge and gossip. That makes more sense.

That's the character of Christ with that in mind.

Let's go back to Paul's argument, as he is pointing out

to the Jews that, while they are judging the Gentiles for their

behavior. They are doing the same things.

This is why this is important because Paul is taking off on

the on the Jews here. He says, now if you call

yourself a Jew, if you rely on the law and boasting God, if you

know, his will and approve, our in approve of what is superior

because you were instructed by the law.

If you are convinced that you're a guide for the blind, a light

for those who were in the dark and instructor of the foolish, a

teacher of little children because you have in the law, the

embodiment of knowledge and Truth.

You then who teach others to you, not teach yourself.

You who preach against stealing. Do you steal you?

Who say people should not commit adultery.

Do you commit adultery? You who abhor Idols?

Do you rob temples? You who boast in the law?

Do you dishonor God, by breaking the law.

Here is the summary statement as it is written.

God's name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.

Here's what he's saying. To the Jewish people, your

judgments are worthless, your witness is worthless, because

there is no difference between you and those who do not know

the Lord. Let me ask you the

confrontational question. As Christians, we have the

gospel message. We have the power of God in our

lives. We have his direction for how

we're supposed to live, let me ask you this question is God,

getting a bad reputation in our communities and in our world

because there is very little to distinguish the Christian from

the non-Christian we get. So frustrated at the world that

we see out there. And yet we don't spend nearly

enough time figuring out how much of the world is in here.

Is our divorce rate? Different is our charitable

giving different is our level of service, different care,

different gossip, different, Grace.

Different. It appears to me that our high

horse is not all that high anymore.

Which is what takes us what I think is to the key verse Romans

Romans 4:2

chapter 4 verse 2. There's a lot more in Romans to

that, you're going to fall in love with like God doesn't show

favoritism which is a big deal for people like me.

But look at this, Romans 2:4, this is one you could memorize,

Romans 2:4

or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness

forbearance and patience? Not realizing that God's

kindness is intended to lead you to repentance.

There are some of us who we are frustrated at the kindness of

God, the Restraint of God, his enduring long-suffering.

And instead we want to see, God set things, right?

We're just mad at God's kindness.

You're going through a bad divorce and your husband's got a

nice truck and you still got your hooptie minivan.

Like God, how come? I'm the one who's going to

church? And he never goes to church.

And he's the one who caused the divorce.

How come he gets the nice shiny truck, and I've got the hooptie

minivan. God.

Would you just make his car break down on a rainy day and

make him walk? So I can splash him in with the

puddle when I drive by God. Why are you so kind to him?

Because God's kindness is intended to lead your busted up

husband to repentance. That's why God.

How come I'm having to go through so many hardships and so

many struggles. Why can't you just put

everything right? Well, it's because holistically

God's kindness is design his forbearance.

His patience is designed to lead people to repentance.

God, how much longer am I going to suffer underneath a really

bad boss? I know that all the things that

he's doing aren't all right? And how come he just keeps the

keep going on Great Vacations, taken tons of pictures and here

I am. It's because God's kindness.

It is so easy for us to see the sin and other people.

But sometimes it's really, really hard for us to see the

sin in ourselves. And the very same kindness that

God is pouring out on the people.

You can't stand. There are people that can't

stand you. And God's kindness is designed

to lead you to repentance others of you.

You see God's kindness, his restraint, his long-suffering as

an excuse to keep on sinning, you did something dumb.

Nothing bad happened. I guess God didn't hate it all

that much. Like we kind of have this

lightning strike mentality. That if we did something really

bad, God would lightning strike. But since there was no lightning

strike like oh maybe God's, okay with this.

This was some of us we keep on sinning because we never get

caught and don't assume that because you've never been caught

that God doesn't care. He's holding back his judgment,

he's holding back his wrath. So, instead of having to pour it

on you, you can come to repentance and he can pour His

wrath out on Jesus. On your behalf.

Don't confuse his patients with permission.

The purpose of God's kindness is to Lead You and Me into

repentance and forgiveness and salvation.

The imagery that they're trying to convey.

Here is a soldier who is enduring the hardship of war

with an eye on the eventual Victory.

God is looking at the pain and suffering in this world.

He sees it, he experiences it with you.

He is being patient with an eye to win.

The world will be redeemed. Some of you, you're navigating

horrible diagnosis in your praying, God make all things

right and God wants to make all things, right?

And the way he would make all things.

Right. As you part, the skies he'd come

back immediately and to those who are in a relationship with

Jesus Christ, what an incredible day, that would be But to all of

those who are don't have an intimate, personal relationship

with Jesus Christ, what a horrible day.

That would be. God is patient with us.

Keeping his eye on the day when When he will come back.

He is patient because if he comes back today, there's so

many people that wouldn't be in relationship with him.

Why does this matter to you and me?

Because it means that God can be trusted because he is patient

with us giving us every opportunity to repent and be

saved. Heaven throws parties when lost

people repent and are saved. And so should the church, may we

here at the Crossing never get tired of telling people about

this patient. Jesus and celebrating the

baptisms that happen at our church.

Every time you see one happen here, Heaven is throwing a party

and we should join the heavens. The second thing that I think we

should take away is that if you're going to keep showing up

here at the church, I'm hoping that our church will look a

little bit like God. And what does that mean?

That that means that there might be some people who attend our

church who don't have it all together.

And we're going to be patient with people who don't have it

all together. Don't think for a second that

because some jacked-up people come to our church, that we

don't have a position on sin. We do.

We have a really clear position on sin.

Don't that's my sermon in a couple weeks, just just stop.

Stop what's inning and then we'll just we'll just pray and

go home like now is a good man. I almost can remember that one.

Just stop quit. Don't know, that's it in the

whole sermon but hear me. There's some of you you're going

to show up for church and your me like hey, wasn't that guy

drunk last night? Yeah, probably was Hey, isn't

that guy like cheat on his wife? Yeah, probably did.

Isn't that the person who embezzled money probably?

So isn't that the kitty you know, drove too fast.

Yeah. Maybe isn't that a person who

used to sell drugs? Yeah.

Isn't that person still selling drugs?

Maybe I don't know I'm not buying I'm not sure.

Where would you want them? Where would you want them to go?

I'll tell you what that person so drunk, they should never go

to church. I don't know where the church

should show the same kindness to them that God showed to us

because our kindness is what leads us to repentance.

Let me, let me unpack this a little bit further.

Okay, I never get asked what's our position on drunk driving

even though drunk drivers come to our church, I never get asked

that. Like, what are they going to do?

Yeah, we're huge fans. Here we love it, right.

Grab a cores. On your way out.

Like, we don't like, that's not how we operate.

I never have people come up to me and go.

Hey, what's the church's position on divorce?

Well, we're huge fans. Because when we get to remarry

him, we get to take the weekend away from our family and pick

get 300 bucks to marry you. It's a huge Cash Cow for us.

Like that's that's no that's not.

No, that's not. No, that's not us.

Listen, our Church's position on sin is clear, but where else

would you want a sinner? Then again him an opportunity

for us to be kind to them. So as Christians, we're going to

hold ourselves to a higher standard.

We're going to show as much grace as we possibly can as much

patience as much for parents. So they can find in Jesus.

What we found were moving to a time decision.

If you don't have an intimate personal relationship with Jesus

Christ, you have come to a great place because our church is

radically committed to that. Cause if you have questions,

about what it looks to be an intimate, personal relationship

with Jesus Christ, then just a few moments the people around

you. They're going to stand and sing.

Some of them are going to come up to the steps and pray and

that'll be a great opportunity for you to go right over there

by the baptistry and talk to somebody about how to start that

kind of relationship because that is is the way to Salvation.

You are never going to get things right on your own.

You are never going to get it all dialed in by yourself.

You're gonna need him. His power, his work on your

behalf but we take hold of it, through faith.

And if you're going McLain, I've messed up way too much.

I want you to know there's nobody who's messed up more than

Paul than me. You name it.

But God's grace was poured out on us and I can promise you.

God's Grace will be poured out on you.

So, if you're tired of doing Life by yourself, if you're

tired of doing it on your own power and your own strength.

If you are tired of, living your life under your direction,

submitting to no one. I want to encourage you, you can

stop all of that today and you can turn your life over to

Jesus. And for those of us who've had a

relationship with Jesus Christ for a while, we tell you that it

was the best decision that we ever made.

In our biggest regret is we didn't do it sooner to the rest

of you in here who are Christians I think at this point

and I guess those of you online, too, We have got to do a better

job of representing Christ to a broken World.

They are getting the wrong idea about Christians. because what

we say and what we believe oftentimes is so far removed

from how we actually behave We have become judgmental. we have

permission slips Galore for ourselves and for our family,

and for our circumstances, but nothing but judgment for other

people who are enduring incredible pain, I'm not saying

be okay with the sin that you see in the world.

I'm just asking you to take a radical, look at your own sin

first. Make serious changes their

first. I'm not saying, don't say

something. I'm not saying don't have an

opinion, a god, informed opinion.

But I don't think our strategy is working.

I don't think the way we are loving people is winning.

It was God's kindness. That led you and I to

repentance. And I think it will be our

kindness. That will lead the people were

trying to reach. In to repentance.

So, here's what I'm asking you to do.

If you care about people who don't have a relationship with

Jesus Christ, maybe you'd want to spend a little bit of time at

the steps today, just praying, and getting God help me to be

patient with them and kind to them for the day where they will

eventually repent, and begin the relationship with you.

Maybe some of you, you're kind of going.

You know what, I've been on a high horse lately, I've been a

little judgmental, I've been judgy and you're going, you know

what, I need to confess that to God, I need To own it.

I need to own it my own heart, so I can be the kind of Jesus

follow that he desires in the he deserves.

I think that's the kind of church we want to be.

So let's do it. Which you stand with me?

Heavenly father, thank you so much for today.

Thank you, for the time we get to spend together.

Rather so much ground. I know that you could take in

our hearts in our lives and I pray that you would give us the

courage to allow you to take it. The guy we would use this time

of surrender to reshape us redirect us so that we can make

the significant changes that need to be made in your name.

I pray. Amen.

Rather so much ground. I know that you could take in

our hearts in our lives and I pray that you would give us the

courage to allow you to take it. The guy we would use this time

of surrender to reshape us redirect us so that we can make

the significant changes that need to be made in your name.

I pray. Amen.