I'm convinced. I'm convinced that there are two kinds of people, uh, in this world I've been thinking about this week. There are two different kinds of people in this world. There's a group of people that enjoy eating hardball, eggs, that's one group. And then the other group, they love Jesus. All right. So there's two groups of people. I'm just kidding. No, there is a group of people that love hardball eggs, and then there's a group of people who don't. Now I would offer caution to those of you who like hardball eggs, cuz that's like a gateway to deviled eggs. see what I did there. Okay. So anyways, there's two groups of people and if you don't know what group that I'm in, I'm in the can't stand hard, boiled eggs. In fact, I just wanna offer you a different perspective for those of you who do like hard boiled eggs.
Um, and just raise your hand if that's you real quick. Okay. So I'm not sure what's happening at Fred at Nyah is 70% of the room, right? So church, we got some work to do today because I wanna offer you a perspective that maybe you don't know about because for those of us who don't enjoy hardball eggs, when you, okay, I'm gonna try not to gag while I say this. All right. But when you are peeling that egg and you take that first bite, like into the middle of the egg and, and it makes a sound, you can hear something that's happening. All I want to do is throw up in my mouth. That's it. I can't stand hardboiled eggs. And, and, and the reason why is, and this is a little bit of my story when I was growing up, my, my mom used to make, and she's watching this more.
Love you, mom. My mom used to make, um, this, this thing for dinner, you know, you know, meatloaf. Right. But she would make this thing that was ham loaf. Someone was like, Ew, I just saw something. Ew. Yeah. It's like ham loaf. And when she was making it, the house, it would have this smell. And it is the same. I, I had to get outta the house cause it smelled so bad. It smelled the same way that hardball eggs smell when you're cooking them. And so whenever I get around somebody, who's got, you know, eating hardball eggs. I immediately go back to growing up in a house where mom was cooking ham loaf and I couldn't stand it. And I just, man, I can't stand it. I'm just on that side. And what's interesting is even, you know, I've been talking about, you're like get on with the message.
I've been talking about hardball eggs for two minutes and already I divided us. I divided us up. There's about 70% of you that like hardball eggs, much higher than I thought. Then there's 30% of us that don't, and this is pretty common in the context of the culture, in which we live. In fact, we are really good at taking a topic and, and, and drawing a line right down the middle and saying, Hey, what side of the line are you on? Are you on the left side or the right side? And what also is true is that once you determine what side of the line you're on, don't you just tend to like the people that are on your side more, you do, you tend to go find information that backs up your point of view or your belief. And, and then you start finding people that believe the same thing that you believe.
And they're easier to find because they're already on your side of the line, church, people really good at ideas. We draw lines, we create division. And if you don't think that's true, you should just drive around town today and just start riding down all the different, you know, denomination of churches you drive by. I mean, there's thousands and thousands. Some studies say there's 40,000 different denominations all around the world. And yet in the book of acts, you know how many churches there are one we're really good at dividing things up and picking us aside. I mean, there's so many polarizing topics in the context of our culture today. I mean, you've got, we're just really like big dividing lines. There's Republicans on one side there's Democrats, there's religious. There's the secular there's there's the white community. There's the black community there's mask or no mask.
Remember that one? That was fun. Alright, so you got a mask, no mask, you know, you figure out what side of the line you're on there's gay or, or straight or there's pro-choice or, or pro-life there's these polarized conversations. And we draw a line right down the middle. And then we find, we find what side of the line that, that we believe in. And then we start reading up to back up our opinion and our beliefs. And we find the people that, that chose the side that we are on. And then we start getting this kind of attitude. Like, you know, if, if, if somebody's on the other side of the line that, that, that you're on and we kind of have this like, well, if you don't agree with me, forget you kind of mentality. I mean, if you're not with me and you know, forget you, you're on you're on that side.
I I'm gonna stay on my side. We, we tend to often look on the other side of line and we begin to critique the people on the other side. You may not say it, but you're thinking it, you know, well, they, if they had the facts that I had or if they would have the right facts, they would come to a different conclusion. Or if they were just smarter. I mean, they're just not very competent because if they, if they were smarter like me, they would come to the same conclusion. They would be on my side of the line, which only breeds conflict, breeds tension, because in our culture, this is something that we gotta fix. But in our culture, we, we just don't quite understand what it means to disagree with a person who thinks differently than us. If you're a parent, I think this is one of the greatest challenges of raising a, a child in our culture today. We just don't even know what that means.
I mean, we, you know, how do you have a civil conversation in a polarized culture? How do you have a civil conversation when the lines are clear? So here, here's the thing this morning. If you're here this morning, let me just say a couple of things while I think maybe what we're talking about today is for you see, see if you resonate with any of this. But if, if there are people in your life that, that you won't talk to or, or have a meal with, or, or if you've been having the same fight with your spouse for years, or if you are constantly at odds with a coworker, or if you get upset or avoid people who hold different views than you, or if you've been the person that's kind of drawn lines and Christians, I'm, I'm looking at you and I'm looking at me.
We, we tend to be really good at that. If, if any of those things are true for you, then here's what Jesus says. Jesus says you are missing out. You're missing out. And especially if you're a Christian, you might be keeping other people out. If any of those things are true, you, you are probably missing out. And if any of those things are true in your life, you just might be keeping other people out as well. So if you ever Bibles this morning, I'm gonna be in Matthew chapter five. We've been working through, uh, this, this chapter, the first couple of verses the beginning of Matthew chapter five. This is where Jesus kind of, I mean, he begins one of his most famous sermon. We call the sermon on the mouth, this kind of his opening statements for his ministry. And he begins his sermon with these phrases, these, these eight B attitudes, these statements that are to help us see and understand what living and as a citizen in the kingdom of God looks like.
And today we get to, um, uh, be attitude that I'll be honest is very difficult. It's very difficult. And you'll notice as you work through the B attitudes, they seem just to kind of compound in difficulty. And, and these last two that we're gonna be talking about the one today and next week, they, I think that they're the most challenging. And today we're gonna be talking about the idea of peace. So here's what Jesus says. This is Matthew chapter five, verse nine. He says, this you're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. And that's when you discover who you really are and your place in God's family. I like the, the way that, the message kind words, that the NIV, which is probably the, the version that you've grown up in church, you've heard a said like this blessed it are, the peacemakers blessed are the peacemaker for, they will be called children of God.
Now, when Jesus is saying this, I'm just telling you, there's some shock value here. People are receiving it, they're hearing it. And there's some shock value because Israel was in no way living in peace or even trying to work for it. Rome was the enemy and Israel wasn't, you know, it, it was looking for a revolution. Israel was, was looking for another David, so to speak that would kill Goliath, which would've been Rome. They weren't looking for a peacemaker. They were looking for a fighter, which means people in the crowd. I mean, the be attitudes before this are very difficult to, to live within as well. They are very, very challenging. And yet this one for the crowd might have been the hardest be attitude to hear. And, and I don't know about you, but when I think about being a peacemaker, I'll be honest.
I , this is not something that comes easy to me. Uh, if you know anything about the Ingram, I'm, I'm an eight, we're called the challengers, which means that I often have strong opinions. And my idea of a good time is usually a, a spirited debate. I, I, when my wife and I first got married and we are kind of, you know, learning the ropes of conflict, I'm I like conflict. I, I like to get into it. My wife does not. She's at Enneagram six, she would try to avoid conflict at all costs. And most of our fights would start like this are, are, are you okay? Yeah, I'm good. If something wrong, nothing's wrong, but something was wrong and I couldn't let it go. And we would do this for hours and hours and hours. I remember this one time, this was very early on in our marriage.
Where, where I, I just kept, you know, after her and God, I know something's wrong, know someone's wrong, know something. And finally she just blew. I mean, she just screamed and yelled and she gave me the business for like 60, you know, 60 seconds. And she got done and I started clapping like, heck yeah, that's what I'm talking about. We need to do more of that. And that didn't turn out well. And we got into some pre, uh, some, some counseling, but here's the thing I, I, I just know when it comes to peace making, I know because of who I am and my personality, and I kind of have this edge and I, I kind of enjoy conflict. This is something that doesn't come naturally easy for me. In fact, I I've gotten to a lot of trouble over the years because I just naturally lean in that direction.
And, and so like most Indian grand mates, I've had to learn how to use my kind of confrontational nature in a positive way. So I don't lose all my friends. You know what I'm saying? You've had to learn these things. And if you're a Christian, look, you just gotta lean in here. Because as Christians we claim, I mean, this is kind of like our platform. This is a big deal. We claim that we love all people. And we show people who Jesus is by how we love them. We chat about this all the time. You know, John 13 and John 15, where Jesus says through disciples, I'll know that, that you're my disciple by how you love one another. We, we are known we're supposed to be a community that leads with love. And so the tension is, well, well, how do you do that?
Well, with people that are on the other side, the other side, they don't think like you, they don't act like you, they, they don't believe what, what you believe. How, how does that look? Especially in the context of our culture? Well, here, here's what Jesus says a little bit later in Matthew chapter five, I'm the sermon on the Mount. He leans in a little bit deeper, kind of clarifying what he was saying. He says this, you have heard that it was said, love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your father in heaven. He causes his son to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. Jesus goes, look, you you've heard, it said, love your neighbor and hate your enemy.
And Jesus goes, that's, that's kind of easy that that's where kind of everybody starts in 2000 years ago. Odds were that, that your neighbor, the person that you lived beside was very much just like you. Would've been hard to love the people that live besides you, because your community would've been filled with people that pretty much believe and live. Just like you. You would have a lot in common with people who live in the context of your community. And it's easy to love people that you have everything in common with keeps going verse 46. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? That's the easy stuff are not even the tax collectors doing that. And tax collectors always get picked on of the new Testament, cuz nobody liked them. And what I love about this is, uh, the guy who's like recording this Matthew, you know what he did for a living before he started following Jesus tax collector.
So, you know, he's having a good time, right? Not even the tax collector's doing this. Like, like even the people that you don't like at all, they get this too. I mean, they love people who love them. That's just kind of naturally where all of us start keeps going. Verse 47. If you greet only your own people, the people that are on your side, what are you doing more than others and do not even pagans do that. So be perfect. Therefore is your heavenly father is perfect. So Jesus is building this tension. And he's saying, now, look, guys, come on. The world operates like this. The world loves people who loves them back. And, and, and, and when they don't kind of have that kind of relationship where there's conflict or there's tension, you know what the world does, the world draws a line. And then they kind of look at the other side as their enemy.
They're the people on the other side, but Jesus leans in. He goes, but that that's, that's how everybody does it. And if you're gonna be a follower of me, if you're gonna be a citizen in my kingdom, this is something that's gonna be different. This is gonna be challenging because we're not gonna operate as the world operates. And you might have been there and you might be leaning in to listen to what Jesus is saying. And you know, and then maybe you go, well, well, what if somebody like hits me? What if somebody like swing like takes a swing at me then? I mean then can I respond? You know, then can I, you know, show 'em what's up? And Jesus says this in verse 38, you have heard. So he's like, guys, you've heard this stuff. It's nothing new. You have heard that. It was said eye for an eye in tooth for tooth.
But I tell you do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them, the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to Sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles, it get give to the one who asks you do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. Jesus goes, listen guys, how is the world's way going for you this old way that I'm talking about? Cause I'm presenting a new way, but how's it going? How's that working for you? Because I got this new way. Now. If somebody swings at you, if somebody comes at you just don't hit back. If somebody strikes you, you just stand there, just take it. If somebody drags you into court and literally sues you, you know, for the shirt off your back, you should gift wrap that thing and you should give it to him as a present. If somebody takes an unfair advantage of you, you should use that occasion where you have been wrong to serve that person. Jesus says, look, guys, I want you to be passive in your retaliation, but I want you to be active with your love.
The best retaliation is no longer revenge. It's love because followers of Jesus are peacemakers, not revenge secrets. It's tough. Paul who, you know, greatest church plant history of the church. Would've obviously heard these teachings of Jesus. He kind of reiterates it in, in his own way. In the book of Roman chapter 12, starting verse 18. Here's what Paul says. If it is possible, cuz you know, it's tough. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you live at peace with everyone, don't be looking around and giving excuses what you do or don't do what you do. And well they did this. The Paul says, no, no. I want you just to focus on you. Stop looking at what other people are doing and aren't doing. And just start, you know, if, if it's possible for, for whatever, depends on you, you do your best to live in peace with everyone says this in verse 17, don't hit back.
Discover beauty in everyone. If you've got it in, you get along with everybody. Don't insist on getting even that's not for you to do. I'll do the judging says, God, I'll take care of it. Our scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go by that person lunch. Or if he's thirsty, get him a drink, your generosity, your response, you crossing the line will surprise him with goodness. So don't let evil get the best of you. Get the best of evil by doing good. good. So how you respond to people who disagree with you, who hurt you? Who hate you, who say mean things against you? How you respond to those people matters to God. In fact, this is a major theme in the new Testament. Paul says, you know what? You should do know what you should do when, when, when the lines have been created and then there's people on the other side, you know what you should do.
Even if, if they're enemies, if they've hurt you or they have attacked you, you know what you should do. You should hit 'em back with love because enemies don't know what to do with love. They're not expecting love. They're not expecting generosity. They're not expecting to be served. Now. As soon as I said that, somebody who's listening just saw go Matt. That's what I'm talking about. That's what I'm talking about. That's one of my life, you know, my life's motives that these are one of my sayings because I always say the most loving thing I can do is tell those, you know, tell those people the truth in love. There you go. I'm right with you. I'm really good at that. God has given me a gift to tell people the truth in love. That's what I do. I love 'em so much. I tell them the truth. And can I just say this to you? And just to us all together because of the culture in which we live, I think that's a bad approach.
I think you should stop saying that. And I know you don't like me now, but usually just stop saying that. Cause I think it's a bad approach and the context of the culture in which we live. Because when you tell people the truth in love, honestly, it's not really loving half the time anyways, but I'm just gonna tell you what I think the other person is hearing you saying when you use that motto, if you're gonna tell the truth in love, what the person is hearing you saying is I wanna show you how wrong you are and how right I am.
I get it. It just doesn't seem to seem to work doesn't work because it puts people on the defensive and then, you know, and then if you keep going that discussion, then someone goes, well, guess what, Matt, I gotta be true to myself. This is the truth. And I gotta be true to myself and I gotta tell people the truth. Listen, that's great. I'm not telling you to change up your beliefs. Jesus, 2000 years ago, wasn't telling you to change your beliefs. He was telling you to change up your approach. He's challenging the approach and the reason why Jesus is challenging the approach and the reason why I would challenge the approach cuz you know what Jesus, isn't ultimately concerned in this conversation about being right. He's concerned about loving people that don't believe what he believes. In fact, it was very personal in Jesus' day because he's choosing to serve and to love people who do not believe he is who he says he is.
Jesus goes, you should think about your approach. If you're gonna be a peacemaker, then you're gonna have to listen to understand how somebody could see it differently than us. This is always kind of like a, a, a trap for us as the church. It's like, we're almost, we're shocked every time somebody doesn't think like us. I can't believe that there's people in the world that have a different opinion than me. I mean, I can't get, I can't give you one thing that the world is unified on. Can you, there's not one topic and you want, you wanna know why there isn't a topic that the, you know, 6 billion people in the world agree on because we're all different. We all grew up in different families. We come from different backgrounds. We've had different influences. Some of us have grown up in the church, others haven't.
We have different life experiences. We have different hurts and different wounds, which allows us to come to different conclusions and different beliefs. And we would be better off as a church and especially followers of Jesus. If we would just not be so shocked that people don't see it the same way that we see it. And oftentimes when we begin to engage in these conversations, we wanna be understood more than we wanna understand. Most people only listen long enough to, to frame up their, their next argument for their rebuttal, but peacemakers, it's not. So with them. I mean, they have the ability to hold two perspectives and intention, two different perspectives. And, and yet they can still care about the other person's point of view, even if it's not their own. The church 2000 years ago, one of the first biggest conflicts they had in, in the church had to do with food.
There were all these kind of Jewish Christians that, that grown up in the Jewish faith and they were entering into the church. And then there were all these Gentile, Christians, all these Christians who grew up with no faith, they came from pagan religions and they're all coming together and being part of the first church. And all of a sudden food becomes a big, a big point of discussion because what was happening was down at, you know, the supermarket, there was, there was meat and the pagans were going down and, and there was this meat that tend to be a little bit cheaper. And the reason why it was cheaper, cuz it, this meat came from idle worship sacrifice and the, and, and the Jewish Christians. They grew up in a, in a culture that said that you could not follow God and eat meat that came from pagan worship.
And so then you had all these Gentiles going in going, well, if you jokers, aren't gonna eat it, I'll eat it for half off. And you had one of your first biggest conflict. It was so big that Paul has to ride into the church and he has to be again, having this discussion and breaking it down tension. There's two point of views. If you're gonna be a Christian, you can't eat this me. And then there's another part of the church that says, oh yes you can. I never heard that rule. And Paul, the first thing he says is so beautiful. The first thing he says to both sides, he goes, guys, listen, why are we talking more about me than we're talking about Jesus.
Jesus is the thing that unifies us right now. He's talking to church people. And here's what he says. Could there be two point of views that are actually true in the midst of this conflict? Could it be that because you know how this group of people grew up, they kind of look at, you know, part of their idea of following Jesus is not eating this kind of food. And Paul goes, that's not a bad thing. If you think that helps you pursue Jesus more than don't eat it. And then in the very next breath, he looks over at the other group and goes, but if you think you can eat it, he says this, you do have freedom in Christ to do that, but you gotta serve each child that you gotta hold this. These two points, intention. What if you're both right? What if for you, it is right that you shouldn't eat it because it allows you to be closer to Jesus.
And what if it for you, you, you are right. You do have freedom in Christ, see peacemakers and some topics. They have the ability to hold two perspectives. That very well could both be true. And they can hold both in the midst of tension. Paul was able to see perspectives of both sides. And because he was able to do that, he was offered to bring some peace. Here's what I've learned, our experiences. They play a huge role in what we believe again, where we come from and the home we grew up in. And I'm just convinced, especially in the culture that we live in. We're never gonna argue somebody over to our side. It just doesn't work. Peace makers know that it's almost impossible to argue your way to a solution. The key to making peace is understanding. And the key to understanding is perspective.
And, and when you have perspective, I'm just telling you it's easier to love people. So here's what Jesus says. You can pick a topic, you can pick a topic, you can see what the line has drawn. And there are people on the other side who don't think like you, there's plenty of things where people aren't gonna share your same beliefs. And we have so many topics, you know, abortions, sexual orientation, political affiliation, and hard build eggs. We have all kind of topics. Well we've drawn lines. And there are people on the other side, simply because they don't agree with you. They don't believe like you. They don't see it the same way. And Jesus says, you don't have to agree with them. You don't have to agree with them, but you do have to love them. You do have to love them.
And there are too many groups, too many of those people. And I put it in quotes that are on the other side of the line when it comes to our beliefs as Christians and what we believe about God, there are too many people on the other side who don't see it the same way as us to have too many stories about how we have treated them on the other side of the line. Even if you don't believe what they believe there are still two, two truths, because most people who I talk to, who we differ in the context of what we believe to be true in any one of those topics that we pick. I also have to say, you know, what's true. There's a lot of hurt and a lot of wounds for how the people on my side have treated people on their side.
And those are stories that Jesus is leaning into hearing you saying, listen, not so with you. You don't fight back the way that the world fights back, you don't throw insults the way the world throw insults. You don't create lines the way that the world creates lines. If you're a Christian, you don't draw lines, you cross them. And if you're gonna cross lines and you should have a better approach, then I'm right and you're wrong. Cause that don't work. And when you choose to do that approach, the people on the other side are not listening. And every once in a while we get, we get dinged for this. Cuz there are people that are going, you know, well you should say it like this and you should say it like that. And here's the thing I'm not worried about winning an argument cuz here's what I know. As people take steps towards Jesus, they're gonna figure it out. Jesus will be the one that will lean in and create this tension. And if they ask me, I have an opinion and I'll share what I believe, but you better make sure. And I better make sure that when we engage in those conversations, we are very concerned about people's perspectives who are different than ours. And we would be wise to listen.
Cause everybody has a story and behind whatever they believe there just might be a story that allows you to see it from their perspective. And I'm not saying you have to agree with what they believe, but you would be better off in your relationship with that person to see where they're coming from to see the life that they have lived. You should be having more conversations that sound like this. Hey, I would love to hear your story. Share with me a little bit about how you kind of came to what you believe. I know we've got a little bit of tension here because I see it a little bit differently, but I really wanna see what you see. So if you would be willing to share your story and then they share something and then you go, thank you, man. Thank you. I I've never heard that kind of perspective before. That kind of helps me understand a little bit more about why you believe what you believe not I'm right. And you're wrong. Listen, I'm just curious about your perspective because I know it's different than mine.
People want to know that they're allowed to be heard. Here's the cool thing about Jesus. Jesus. Didn't only say that he loves you. He also showed you how much he loves you. If you think about this idea of, you know, crossing lines. I mean we were, the one creation was the one that created tension in the relationship with God, the, the creator. And yet Jesus is the one who crossed the line first. You didn't go to him. He came to you. He said, I love you. And then he demonstrated his love for you by hanging on a cross. And that guy says this in John chapter 14, that when he was, you know, leaving and ascending, here's what he said, peace. I leave with you. My way of life is better. And my peace I give you, I do not give to you as the world gives, see it's different guys. Our approach is different. We don't draw lines. We cross lines. This is different. So do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid in most of the world. The word peace. It simply just means the absence of war. But in the old Testament, the, the Hebrew word for peace is this word Shalom
And Shalom is not just the absence of conflict. That's a part of it. It's also the presence of something better in its place. True Shalom. It's this idea. It's a concept of wholeness or completeness or, or things as they should be. And if you're a follower of Jesus, maybe you can, you know, resonate with me a little bit, cuz cuz I believe in Jesus. And I believe that Jesus died from my sins and I believe that he came back from the dead and I believe that the best life here and now is following him as difficult as it might be, as difficult as it is reading through the be attitudes and Jesus challenging. You know how we view this thing and how we live and the world he created. And we all know there's a natural way to do it. And yet Jesus linked in. He goes not so with you, with you, it's different. And even in the midst of that tension, I still believe that living the way that he's called us to live is the best way. And here's my thing. I want as many people to experience what I have experienced.
I want as many people, not just the people that already agree with me or look like me or talk like me, but I want all people. I want people that are on the other side of my beliefs. In fact, that is the mission that God has called us to, to be a church, not just for some, but for, for all that, we care so much about people and their stories that we're willing to take some time to get to know them. When you get into the scriptures, you know, I've heard people argue different stories. You know, they go to John three and Nicodemus and you know, they go, well, Jesus told him the truth. Yeah. Well Nicodemus called the meeting or they go to John four and they go, well, Jesus told that woman to well the truth. Yeah. Cuz Jesus knew her whole story. He didn't have to sit down and have a conversation about his, her life because he's God, he knew her. He knew the best way to make the approach. He knew the best way to have the conversation. I'm just telling you if we're ever gonna be a church, that's reaching people on the other side of our beliefs, the I'm right and your wrong approach will not work. You know what will work? The approach that Jesus used. I love you.
And I don't have to agree with you to love you. I love you. And I'll serve. You I'll even sacrifice for this relationship. But if you swing at me, I won't swing back. I do have a belief. I'm okay sharing it. But I would hope that even if we don't believe the same thing, you know that I still love you by how I serve you by how I hang out with you, by how we have meals together and coffee together. See because of our beliefs are different. I don't create space between us. I close the gap. You're never gonna win anybody over to your side. Even if it's the right side, just with an argument. So here's how I was singing this week. What would happen as a church, right? I mean, if we just stop drawing lines and just start crossing them because we care about the person on the other side and if you don't know how well you're doing with this, this is just a little bit, a little test for you this week. Who's gonna be sitting at your table, having meals with you. Is there anybody at your table who thinks differently than you believes differently than you? If not,
You're not the best peacemaker who you gonna sit down and have coffee with this week who you inviting to church, who's gonna have your attention and your time odds are, you're like me. You've drawn up some lines and it's easier to love people who love you. It's easier to hang out with people who think and act and live and believe like you. It's easier to be around people who don't insult you or say mean things about you. And yet to be a peacemaker, you've gotta cross those lines. Jesus says you don't have to agree, but you do have to love. You do have to love blessed are the peacemaker for, they will be called the children of God, me pray for you father this morning, I pray. You'd help us. And a culture that is polarized by big topics, lines have been drawn on and people pick and choose. We find the information that backs us up and we find the people that think like us. And yet here's what I hope this morning that as your church and we might be mindful of how Jesus lived, who balanced grace and truth to perfection. Jesus had beliefs and yet his beliefs didn't keep him
From being with people who were far different than him. His approach was masterful. He had a way just with his words, he had a way with how he served. The people were certain that this guy was different. So I pray that you would help us as your church, a church that has beliefs about who you are that we would hold those things to be true. And yet that we would be mindful of our approach to engage with people, not to just to win an argument, but to understand how and why somebody might see it differently than us, that we might even be mindful as a church this morning, there is a day that we didn't see it even right with you. And yet somewhere along the way something happened. And we had a change of mind and a change of heart help us in this crazy world to be people who work together who find peace it's then that we find our place truly in your kingdom. We love you. And we thank you for Jesus and the path that he has shown. And it's in his name. We pray. Amen.
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