DISCLAIMER:  This text is not a verbatim transcript.  Communication Access Real Time Translation (CART) is provided in order to facilitate communication credibility and may not be a totally verbatim record of the proceedings.    >> Thank you for joining us today. We want to let you know about a few items of interest. First, go to our website, firstcolonychurch.org, and go there often. You'll find links to our worship services; Bible study options; online giving; and our podcast, Anchor Point. You can also download our church app. Just search for "First Colony Church of Christ" in the App Store or on Google Play. The app is a great resource where you can stay connected to First Colony Church. Thank you for joining us today. We're glad you're here. ¶ ¶ >> Thank you for joining us today. We want to let you know about a few items of interest. First, go to our website, firstcolonychurch.org, and go there often. You'll find links to our worship services; Bible study options; online giving; and our podcast, Anchor Point. You can also download our church app. Just search for "First Colony Church of Christ" in the App Store or on Google Play. The app is a great resource where you can stay connected to First Colony Church. >> Hi. >> Thank you for joining us today. We're glad you're here. >> Shane: Hello, everyone! Good morning! And welcome to this worship time together as the First Colony Church of Christ family! So glad to have everybody here, so glad to see you guys watching online. God's Word proclaims to us in 1 John 3:1 "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God," and that is who we are, amen, church? So let's stand; let's sing; let's give praise to our God who loves us so much! Let's stand and sing! >> Richard: Yes! ("Open Up the Heavens" playing) >> Richard: Here we go! >> Richard: Yes! That song simply says, "Lord, meet us here. We want to meet with You today. We need You today. You are our God and our King; and we love You!" ("Stand in Your Love" playing) ¶ Oh, yes, we're standing in Your Love, oh ¶ >> Corey: Well, good morning! >> Richard: You may be seated. >> Corey: As I told the earlier service, sometimes I bring illustrations, and sometimes I am the illustration. The Bible tells us to put our armor on in Ephesians 6. As our kids begin to head to school this year, I'm reminded of the importance of putting their armor on. The Bible said in Psalm 28:7 that He is our strength and shield and in Him we put our trust. As kids go through these things, we're reminded He is our strength. He is giving them the strength they need to go on. But our shield is the interesting thing. A shield is used for pushing back the enemy but also used for protecting from the fiery darts of the enemy. An interesting fact about a Roman shield is they could lock their shields together to protect each other as the enemy was attacking. That is what I would like us to do this school year, as parents and kids, to lock arms together in prayer and combat the enemy with the prayer of faith and fight the fiery dart of the evil one. God bless you. >> Amen. (Applause) >> Shane: Amen! Thank you, Corey! Tommy and Tate Waldron will lead us in communion. Let's prepare our hearts to remember what Jesus has done; to reflect; to rejoice because we're saved by grace, amen, church? You guys come on up and lead us. Let's focus on the cross. >> Tommy: Good morning, church. I'm Tommy Waldron and this is my son Tate. We're excited to lead you in communion today as we pray over the bread, representing Christ's body broken for us; and the cup, which represents His bloodshed for us. Let's pray. Gracious Heavenly Father, we come before You this morning just in awe of Your love and Your mercy for us, Father. We're all at different spots, different places; but Father, the common theme is that we can approach Your throne and know we stand forgiven, forgiven because of Your perfect plan, Your plan that involved Your Son leaving Your right hand in heaven; coming to earth; living a perfect life; and ultimately burying our sin in a cruel death on the cross. And Father, this morning we just ask as we partake of this bread, which represents His broken body and this cup which represents His blood that we just remember the magnitude of that sacrifice, Father, and how much that means for us. Your Word tells us that while sins are scarlet, we are as white as snow because of the Gift of Your Son. We thank You for Your love and Jesus' love and sacrifice. It's in His Name we pray. Amen. >> Tate: I will read John 1:14-15. (Reading) ("No Longer Slaves" playing) >> Richard: Why don't we all stand together and continue to worship the Lord? >> Richard: You may be seated. >> Shane: Amen! Thank you, worship team! So we're going to take our offering now, and we believe without excuse, without apology, it's a good thing to give. God has called us to give; to give generously as we have been given; to bless others as we have been blessed; to work together using our time, abilities, money -- whatever it is God has given us -- to bless our community and to do God's work. So we thank you for giving and for partnering with us in that. Giving online is secure and simple and real easy to set up. You can also text to give. Here in the Worship Hall, you can use the boxes in the back. There's offering boxes you can use. Let's pray over our offering now. Father God, we simply ask You to use these offerings for Your glory, that the message of Jesus will go out; that others can know they are also a child of God and come fully into Your kingdom and know You as their Father, God. We ask this in the Name of Jesus. Amen. Well, Eric Nicholie is the head of Cornerstone Christian Academy and lead prayer time over students; teachers; educators; and everyone going back to school. Eric? >> Eric: Thank you, Shane. Could I have the educators in the Worship Center stand, where you're homeschool; aide; public; private; teacher -- if you work in education in any way, please stand so we can pray over you. Now, my students, if you will also stand. Students, please stand. We're praying for you as well. Yeah, my boys; I know you're there. You can stand. If you're watching online, we want to recognize you as well. Please stand while we pray for you. Please join me in prayer. Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You so much for these amazing teachers and educators that have given up their talents and of their time to serve our children today. As they prepare for the new school year, please fill them with the strength to lead; the grace to guide; and the hope to thrive in their classrooms each and every single day. Bless them beyond measure for their willingness to work with our children. Let this love they have both show and grow throughout the school year. We give a special prayer to Holley Elementary and ask they be blessed in their relationship and partnership with First Colony Church of Christ. Give educators patience and discernment to reach each individual as they guide them to new academic heights. Lord, I thank You for the gift of education in each and every form and pray specifically for our children as they prepare for the new school year. May confidence be their foundation and hope be their guide towards a bright future. I pray You will help them to be able to listen to an open ear to the teachers and educators that serve them daily. May they face each day knowing they have You. Please keep a hedge of protection around them as we continue to move through this pandemic. Keep them safe, Lord. As I think of this time, Your Scripture in Philippians 4:6-7 comes to mind that says, "Be anxious for nothing but for everything with prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let Your requests be known to God and peace of God be beyond You, which surpasses all understanding and guard with your hearts and mind through Jesus Christ." I ask for the Scripture to be able to be in the hearts and minds of educators today. It's in Jesus' Holy Name I pray. Amen. >> Shane: Amen. Yes, thank you so much. Well, we would love to help people get more connected here, especially if you're new, a guest, or haven't found your church within the church -- a crew, a ministry team or connection crew. There's a QR code on the screen or in the back of the pew in front of you. Our digital Connection card can help you get connected here. We'd love to help you out. If you're in the building and want to know more, go to "New Here? Start Here." We would love to help you learn more about our church. If you're from first through grade five, Main Street Live crew is ready to take you to Main Street Live to kids' worship time. You're welcome to go right now and follow them across to the chapel. Parents, if you have not checked your kid in, there's a kiosk that take you just a minute and you'll be right back. Go and check them in if you haven't yet, parents. You can do that this okay? Everybody else, let's stand and have time to greet one another in this fellowship time. ("Jailbreak" playing) >> Richard: Thank you for worshiping with us today! You may be seated! >> Ronnie: Thanks so much, Richard and team. Hi, everybody. How you doing today? Good morning! Welcome to our second service here at the First Colony Church of Christ. Great to see those of you in the room and great to see those of you watching online and worshiping with us online. We welcome you as well. And several Foster Creekers, it's great to see you up close and personal today. In our first service this morning, we welcomed some new members to our church family, Joe and Jan Herman. A little later in the service we'll get to witness two or three baptisms and that's always exciting to see. I want to recognize a couple of recent baptisms. One is watching online, that's Max Girod, son of Cody and Bethany, recently baptized. They're watching us online. Everyone, let's just celebrate with Max. (Applause) He can see and hear. That's fantastic. And in the room we want to celebrate with Hannah Grasham, daughter of Dan and Sarina. She was baptized last week -- where is Hannah? There she is, right there. (Applause) Fantastic. Thank you so much, Hannah. We want to begin a message series, one we're just walking through Scripture, walking through a book of the Bible. It's one of the foundational books of the New Testament, the book of 1 John, written by the Apostle John who wrote five New Testament books: The Gospel of John; Book of Revelation; and three letters appropriately named 1, 2, and 3 John. 1 John is a fascinating book and will give us three tests by which we can evaluate our faith. You'll hear these regularly over the next few weeks. John will give us a doctrinal test, a belief test; a moral test, how we behave; and a relational test, how we relate to our brothers and sisters in Christ and how we manage our relationships. I have a friend who a few years ago he and his family lived in California. They lived in Los Angeles and lived there for several years. They really liked so much about the L.A. area: they loved their church; the weather; the exciting cultural and recreational opportunities; but one event came along that shook them to their core, literally. It was an earthquake. By the way, it was it terrible what happened in Haiti recently with the loss of life? Let's be praying for the people in Haiti. Anyway, my friend's family experienced an earthquake, and he said, "Ronnie, picture yourself driving down the roughest road you can fathom, rougher than anything you've ever driven on before; and you're doing it at 50 miles an hour. That's what it felt like to us. All we could do is pray, scream, hold on to one another." He said, "Do you have any idea how unnerving it is to see things that you thought were secure and stable and solid being shaken like Jell-O?" The first readers of the first epistle of John had that kind of sensation and feeling. They have been taught the Gospel and rooted in the Word of God; but a lot of strange ideas are beginning to circulate around the church and within the church that dealt with the nature of sin and especially the identity of Jesus. It's creating no shortage of confusion, division, and a sense of insecurity. So the Apostle John is writing to these believers, reminding them of what is true and solid and dependable. One of his purposes he states clearly: you can know and rejoice in the assurance of your salvation. The title of today's message is "True Confessions." I have three. Confession number one: Jesus is for real and He demands a response. Reading from 1 John 1:1. "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched -- this we proclaim concerning the Word of life." Now you say, "Well, that sounds familiar." It almost sound like the beginning of Genesis and the Gospel of John. Here the Apostle John doesn't give a salutation. He just gets right into it. He says, "Jesus Christ is the Word of life." Now, you know what a word is. A word is a vehicle of communication. And sometimes, you know -- I mean, through words we can communicate. Sometimes that communication can be challenging. I have a friend from South Africa, and year ago he came to graduate school here in Texas. Now, in South Africa, one of the official languages is English so he thought, "No problem. I speak English and so do they." So -- in West Texas he is going to grad school. One Sunday evening, some friends from church invited him over to their house for coffee and dessert. It was a wonderful experience. Now, my friend from South Africa, they used the word "homely" to describe someone who is very, very gifted in hospitality; and so after coffee and dessert, my South African friend said to his Texas hosts, "I do believe that you are one of the homeliest women I have ever met in my life." (Laughter) He attempted to communicate, but it didn't quite communicate, at least initially. Jesus is the Word of life. He's the Word of God. He communicates with God and reveals God. Whatever culture you're in and whatever era -- whether it's 2021 or 1921 or 1521 -- Jesus is communicating, whatever language you speak. You see Jesus; you see God. As Francis Shafer has written, "God is there. He is not silent but rather He's made Himself known to us in space and time and history." John wants you to know, “I'm an apostle and I'm not the only one. We have seen Him; we have touched Him; we have heard Him; I saw Him with my own eye.” Sometimes we use that figure of expression "I saw it with my own eyes." Well, whose eyes do you think I would assume you're using? “Hey, I borrowed Greg eyes for a couple of days” -- no. We just say, "Look, this is personal. I can vouch for this." John is saying, "You can be sure about Jesus. He's no myth. He's no fable. You can be sure about Him. You may not be sure about much else in this world, but you can be sure of Jesus." Verse 3. "We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us, and our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to you to make our joy complete." Have you come to acknowledge Jesus is more? He's not a myth or fable. He's absolutely for real and His message to you is He's calling for a response. He's calling for faith and surrender and humility and discipleship, followership. Here's my second confession: sin is a big deal, and it should be taken seriously. Now, let me open this point by showing you a video. >> Fair warning. I'm going to use a dirty word. It's not the kind of word you use in polite company. You don't drop it at the dinner table or use it on Facebook, and you definitely don't use it at work. It's one of those words that thickens the air with an unspoken, "Did he really just say that?" We're tall grown-ups, right? We can keep it in perspective. We can handle a little adult language. Are you ready? SSSSS sin. I know! I know. Religious and all that. It's antiquated and small-minded. Trust me, I get it. Religious people don't like talking about it, either, at least not in reference to themselves. I mean, really; who wants to sit around and talk about murder, rape, and racism? Or honesty, lust, thinly veiled greed? I don't want to talk about hungry people while my table sags. I don't want to talk about the idols I make out of marriage; family; the American Dream; or the way I cling to what I have; give only when it's safe and easy; forgive only when it's safe and easy? I don't want to talk about my desire for influence -- another way to say power. My desire for security -- another way to say wealth. I don't want to talk about my jealous eyes and envious heart. I mean, it's not out in the open. We're too smart to flaunt it, right? It lurks underneath the surface, hidden, ready to pounce -- just like my pride. I deserve better -- need more. The world owes me something. God owes me something; and when I don't get what I want and things don't go according to my plan, bursts of anger fighting for myself. I need the approval; I hunger for the praise; I'm indifferent to the needs of others; suspicious and skeptical; I judge anyone who is not like me and I don't really care! Listen! Those of you among you without sin, go right ahead and cast the first stone! Those among you without sin, go right ahead and take the word out of your vocabulary. Sin. That is not a word that anyone wants to hear. >> Ronnie: So the Apostle John is a straight-shooter. He says sin is a big deal and should be taken seriously; and one of the first points he'll make is that as believers, don't live like your sin doesn't matter. Verse 5: "This is the message we have heard from him and we declare to you: God is light and in Him there's no darkness at all." God is full of unmixed goodness and if we, then, are followers of God, we should seek and we are seeking to imitate His moral duty. Now, John will continue to speak about this -- and he does something fascinating. He'll talk about obedience within the context of grace; and he'll talk about grace within the context of obedience. He does not pit the two against one another. They go together. Verse 6. "If we claim to have fellowship with Him -- with God -- and yet we walk in darkness" habitual, persistent, "We lie and we do not live out the truth." In other words, believers do not live defiant, willful lives. God is light. We do not just walk in darkness. It doesn't mean we're perfect. He'll talk about this in a moment. But believers live in a posture of surrender. He say, believer, whatever you do, don't be casual about sin or affirming sin. Don't embrace it. You're called to forsake what the Scriptures forbid. You're called to embrace what the Scriptures command. You will stumble, yes; but you will not walk in darkness, and you will resolve that Jesus is Lord. And you will follow Him. You know, this morning we took communion. Communion is a reminder of the covenant we share of both obedience and forgiveness. It's beautiful. Every time we take the Lord's Supper, what do we do? We are promising and re-upping. I'm saying, "Lord, I promise to obey You." What does the Lord promise to us regularly? "And I promise to forgive you as your obedience will never be perfect." "I promise to obey and surrender, walk in the light, try to lead a repentant, confessional life." He promises to keep forgiving as my life surrendered to Him is absolutely a work in progress. You know what sin is. Sin is basically non-compliance with God's values, resisting God's way. And a lot of us think sin is just messing up, an arbitrary thing. It's messing up. It's not. It's missing out. When I choose my way as opposed to God's way -- and everything in this room has found this out -- you complicate your life. You complicate your marriage and relationship and world. God says you could complicate what you would be for Me and what I want to accomplish through you. Sin is not messing up but missing out on God's best, goodwill for us. I have said this 100 times: Jesus is the smartest Person in the room. He's not just right about church stuff like baptism. He's right about everything. He's right about relationships; He's right about your money; He's right about everything. Notice what verse 7 says. "If we walk in if light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another." We're all in this together. "And the blood of Jesus, His Son." What Christ has accomplished for fuss, "It purifies us from all sin." Notice it's not past tense. It just keeps going, keeps working, keeps purifying. You stand in a state to have grace and assurance. Grace is not license to rebel but is freedom from guilt. What John's getting at here is beautiful. He says as believers, we take our maturity seriously. We take our -- here's the Bible word -- our sanctification seriously. We want to be holy and set apart and growing unto the Lord, and we are -- listen -- sin-sensitive but not guilty-ridden. There's a difference. Sin-sensitive from a standpoint of acceptance; guilt-ridden -- there's always a carrot out there I'm chasing. So he says, “Don't live, though, like your sin doesn't matter.” And secondly, don't live in denial. Verse 8. "If we claim to be without sin, we just deceive ourselves. The truth is not in us." Verse 9. "But if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just, and He will forgive our sins and He will purify us from all unrighteousness." You know, sometimes Protestant churches have minimized the value of confession. Confession is important for your healing. Forgiveness happens from God's perspective. Healing happens from yours. By the way, probably the number one question I've been asked over the years is, "Ronnie, how can I forgive myself?" Here's the best answer I know: you have to accept God's forgiveness of you You'll never conquer the sin you don't name. You're really good at confessing the sins of other people, aren't you? Yeah. I am GREAT at confessing the sins of other people. Confessing my own. This is where I partner with the Holy Spirit and I look at the itemized list. Sometimes at the restaurant you don't look at the itemized bill. "Okay, here's the total." Here's the credit card and you move right along. It's important to pay attention to the itemized list; and when I pay attention to my itemized list, then I can grow through my greed and grow through my lust and grow through my pettiness and -- you know, all of that -- not rename it or try to put a nice little bow on it. And you do know that when you confess, you do know God is not surprised, right? That, you know, you confess something to the Lord. He's not looking around, going, "Angels, did you know that? I had NO IDEA that was --" no. He already knows. But here's something some of you operate on. Some of you operate on the belief that God deals with you on the basis of what He knows about you. That's not true. God deals with you on the basis of what YOU acknowledge and surrender to Him. When I confess, I'm not giving Him information. I'm saying, "Lord, I'm saying the same thing about this as You would say. I need Your help and growth and maturity here." And secondly, you can just know, you already know God's reaction and response to you. You already know His posture. If we confess, what? He's faithful and just. Forgives us of ALL unrighteousness, ready to wash; rinse; cleanse; and renew. Verse 10 says, "If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His Word is not in us." Hmm. "Ronnie, would anybody really claim they have not sinned?" Sure! It's easy. Redefine it. "Well, Ronnie, you told a clear lie." "No, I redefined lying. Lying is not a sin anymore." You want to claim you haven't sinned? It's easy: just redefine what sin is. You living with somebody and not married? Hey, in our culture, everybody does it; just redefine it, right? God does not give me -- I believe -- God does not give me the prerogative to redefine what He's already defined in His Word. If I redefine it, He said, "I'm making the God out to be a liar; He's not saying the truth and His Word is not in us.” John Wesley said, “What one generation tolerates the next generation will embrace.” I've told you often about Rosario Butterfield. Her story is so inspiring. She says this, and I quote, "How I feel does not tell me who I am. Only God can tell me who I am because He's the One who made me. He's the one who takes care of me." She said in talking about sexual ethics, "Calling God's sexual ethic hate speech, that just does Satan's bidding. I only know who really am when the Bible becomes my lens for self-reflection. And when the blood of Christ SO POWERFULLY pumps my heart whole I can deny myself and take up my cross and follow Him." Confession number three: the grace is a bigger deal and can be received personally. We have already seen that in John's statement about how if we confess, God is faithful and just to forgive, but here he gets real technical with us. 1 John 2:1-2. "My dear children, I write this to you so you will not sin." Now, a lot of people like to read the verse this way: "My dear children, I write this to you so you will not sin much." I love John's -- and Jesus does -- Jesus ALWAYS calls for the very best and loves us when we never quite live up to it. But you keep pushing! You keep growing! You keep engaged in the process of sanctification. "I write this to you so you will not sin, but if anybody does sin, we have an Advocate.” We have a Legal Attorney with the Father." Who is it? Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the Atoning Sacrifice for our sins and not only for our sins but also for the sins of the whole world. What does that mean? That means regardless of your race, regardless of your age, regardless of how much money you earn, for ALL of us, the ground is level at the cross. Jesus is our Atoning Sacrifice. Literally the word is propitiation. What does it mean? It means there's a legal claim against you that's just. You deserve it. There's a legal claim against you, BUT it has now been satisfied; and the just anger that YOU deserve has been propitiated. It's been turned away and instead of ill will towards you, there's now an abundance of GOODWILL towards you. Jesus is our Advocate. What John does he is paint a picture. He paints a picture of Jesus standing before God the Father, saying, "What I did on the cross, My substitution their work on the cross is completely satisfactory and completely sufficient for your forgiveness and mine, your renewal and mine.” As Christians, we're filled with both -- get this -- humility and confidence. Humility -- just amazed at the incredible love and mercy of God to us. And confidence? I'm more broken than I care to admit and I am far more loved and assured and valued than I could ever begin to imagine. We have this beautiful mixture as believers, humility in Christ and confidence and boldness in Christ. Some of you in this room and some of you watching online, you have done some terrible things. And some of you have had some terrible things done to you. But nothing that's ever been done by you or to you is greater than what Jesus Christ has done FOR you. And if you can allow that Truth to massage your soul and spirit, it will change everything about you. You'll never view anything the same again. You'll want to run to grace but not just -- you will want to run to holiness and run to please the Lord. You want to run to Him to say, “I want my life to count for You. I want to be a light in a world of darkness.” My friends, let me encourage you to keep running to the light. When the Holy Spirit convicts you, don't resist it. Repentance is good for you. Repentance is what believers do every single day. It's the ability to keep turning afresh to the light and to God's good purposes. So the Apostle John begins -- I said it. He's a straight-shooter. Jesus is for real. He demands a response. Sin is a big deal. It's not to be taken lightly nor flippantly. Don't think as a Christian your sin doesn't matter. God's called you to walk in the light. Don't live in denial. Be honest and straight forward and confessional, knowing that God is there to receive and welcome and help and bless. And thirdly, just remember always grace is a bigger deal and it can be received personally. God bless you, everybody. And just continue to love the Lord and walk with Him. Let me just ask you as I ask myself -- please make your way up here, Warren. What is your next step as a man of God or as a woman of God? Where is the Holy Spirit? Where is God nudging you in a good direction? God bless you. Warren, lead us in prayer, please. >> Warren: Hello, everybody. For those of you in attendance as well as those online, we ask you please keep John Frizee, the Black family, and those compromised with COVID right now, in your prayers. Let's pray. Our Father in heaven, Holy is Your Name and we pray all people know You Are the Sovereign Lord and all know You're holy. Let the heart of those that seek You rejoice and find peace in Your family. We look to Your strength and worship You. May each of us be a person after Your own heart and pray and trust Your will be done with each of us. May we keep our eyes on You and ear open that those around us know we're Yours. We're thankful for the Holy Spirit that walks with us every day. Father, we thank You for caring for us and loving and providing for us. We rejoice in Your kindness and are always near. We praise You for meeting our daily needs and may we you can see s seek Your kingdom and righteousness only found in you. There are many in church family seeking Your help for one reason or another today and ask You wrap Your arms around them and give them the love and comfort only You can provide. Father, we boldly pray You hear John and bring him back to whole and ask you be with the Black family and comfort them with their lives. We also fervently ask You take the global pandemic away from us. Be with those at risk right now and those compromised with this virus. Father, we acknowledge we sin every day and would be no hope without Your Son. We live for the eternal life You give. Father, we pray You protect us from temptations. We know that strength and comfort comes through You to resist temptation and endure trials without failing. Father, for Yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever and ever. It's in Jesus Name we pray. Amen. >> Shane: Thank you, Warren. Church family, there are times we experience great sadness together. We experience great joys together. Sometimes in a ten-minute segment of time that we'll do now -- and Warren didn't know -- but we just got word that John Frizee passed away. I will continue that prayer -- you didn't know -- just got word. So let's pray for the family and the Fetter family and others close to them. Please continue the prayer with me. Father God, our hearts ache for Ann and John's family, kids and grandkids; for their family members; their dear friends, many who are here right now; several others who are right now outside the hospital and have been praying for him. God, please comfort them. God, we know that John is in Your arms now; that he has entered the reward that Jesus has bought for him. We're thankful. We're thankful he's with You and the salvation that came from Jesus to him. We're thankful for the life and example You gave us to him, that a blessing that John was to us. God, our hearts are just saddened right now, and we're grieved. So God, please comfort our hearts; but mostly comfort Ann and kids and grandkids. Would You be with them now? Would Your Presence surround them now? Would You help us as a church family in these trying times to rally around them as best we can, God? And may Your Spirit comfort and heal our hearts, God. (Clears throat) God, we lean on Jesus, and we depend on Your Love and Your grace; and we just fall at Your feet. We just say now this most profound prayer we know, sometimes, which is, "God, please help us and help our friend." It's in Jesus' Name we pray. Amen. So this is not what was planned, but we do get to experience new birth and new life today, too; and I'm glad we do. We're gonna have three baptisms, and let's just be in this moment and let God be Lord of all these things, right? Let's God be Lord of awe. Right now Macy and Lexi Houston, daughters of Philip and Dana, will be baptized by Philip. We're so glad to witness resurrection and new life now. >> Philip: Thank you. Hello, church! This is our oldest daughter Macy. My wife and I are super excited she's taking the next step in her faith through the act of baptism today with us. There's no doubt that God has put special people in each of our kids' lives from friends to youth group to this church, the leaders, and especially our family. Cousins, aunts, uncles; grandparents, and great-grandparents. Macy, today a lot of people are rejoicing you on this decision. Mom and I are really proud and excited for so I will ask you a few questions. Do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God? >> Macy: Yes, sir, I do. >> Philip: Do you believe He came to earth; lived a perfect life; died on the cross; and rose up on the third day? >> Macy: Yes, sir. >> Philip: And do you choose to make Him your Lord and Savior? >> Macy: Yes, sir, I do. >> Philip: I baptize you in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit for the forgiveness of your sin and receive the gift of that Holy Spirit. (Applause) >> Shane: Amen! And there's more. So continue. >> Philip: This is our youngest daughter Lexi. Heidi and I can't think of a more proud moment when our kids approached us to wanting to be baptized. We are excited and proud of each of them from now on. Our family will have the opportunity to partake in communion together each week whether we're together physically or apart and know they're a part of a much larger family now and large community of believers. So Lexi, Mom and I are really proud of you and excited to see how you and your sisters use the gifts and talents that God has given you to further His kingdom. I will ask you some questions also. Do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God? >> Lexi: Yes, sir. >> Philip: Do you believe He came to earth; lived a perfect life; died on the cross; and rose on the third day? >> Lexi: Yes, sir. >> Philip: And do you choose to make Him your Lord and Savior? >> Lexi: Yes, sir. >> Philip: I will baptize you in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit for the forgiveness of your sins and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Applause) >> Shane: Amen! Oh, so good. We have another baptism as welcoming up. Let me note Roman 6:3-4 speaks so much to us right now. "Don't you know that all of us who are baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were buried with Him through baptism into death in order just as Christ was raised from the dead; through the Father we, too, may live a new life." We're witnessing that now. Bob and Chery Gowens will baptize Aelita Matysina -- I don't know if I said that right. She's the daughter of Vlada and George. >> We're excited to introduce you to our friend Ella, as we know her. She has known Jesus for a long time and had a faith in Jesus but she was baptized as an infant and recently convicted that she wants to make the personal choice to put Jesus on in baptism, to claim Him as her Savior, and publicly confess He is her Lord. We're just thrilled to be able to be a part of that. >> I will ask you these questions. Do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God? >> Ella: Yes. >> Do you believe that He came to earth, lived a perfect life, died on the cross for your sins? >> Ella: Yes. >> Based on your confession of faith in Jesus, we will baptize you in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit for the forgiveness of your sins. (Applause) >> Shane: Amen! Even in a moment like now this church, can we proclaim God is good? >> God is good! >> Shane: God is good. You say “all the time.” God is good! >> All the time. >> Shane: All the time. >> God is good. >> Shane: I have a few things to note before we wrap up with one more song. In case you didn't know, we have Bible classes at 9:45 for all ages, the hour just before this worship of hour. In case you didn't know it, this Sunday was Promotion Sunday where the kids moved to in next grade level. We have an online class called “The Conversation” that Kyle teaches. That's at 12:30, now, for those watching online. You can hang on and at 12:30 join the Conversation class online. Okay? Also high schoolers should check out Delta Discipleship that meets once a month. The information on that is on the website. If you have a high school student, check out Delta. It's a great way to grow in faith. Middle school and high school, please check out the information upon our website about the rite of passage events. The info is on our website. Women's Bible studies are open. You can check the website to register and find just the right class and right time and group for you ladies. We have a new Connection Group catalog so all our groups that will meet in the fall in person and online and different variations, you can look online. There's also some catalogs at the Info Center so check that out. Finally, FriendSpeak training is September 11, a Saturday. Register on the website now. If you have one hour a week and a heart to teach people English using stories from the Bible and talking about Jesus, this is the ministry for you. It's a wonderful ministry. I hope you will check out FriendSpeak, okay? Well, thank you, everyone, for joining us today. Let's go out with one more song and may God's blessings be upon you. >> Richard: Amen. God is faithful. Let's all stand. God is faithful. ("Open Up the Heavens" playing) >> Richard: Thank you for joining us today! We love to worship with you! You are dismissed!