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Five times, I've almost skipped over this short discussion, and just made #42 out of the next. Five times I've been brought back to the fact that a disciple needs to hear this... needs to know this can happen. Sometimes, some people are going to just stop loving you. Sometimes it's going to be because you've become unlovely, and we have to face that fact, but sometimes it's because they can't accept that you're right and they're wrong. Always, it hurts.

One of our listeners and friends wrote us asking about the Trinity, "I heard a sermon on this subject; I would like to hear a discussion by you. Some sermons even say, 'Forget the Trinity - they are all "Jesus."' So what is your take?"

The other half of Brian's message, "What are you doing about the poor?" It's so easy to get stuck on the "stewardship" issues of "is this wise," "are these people playing the system," "how do we know they really need help," "can we trust them..."? Well... we talk about it.

As always, we treasure your feedback. If you like the show, tell a friend about it! If you don't like it, tell someone you don't like! In either case, you can send us feedback at feedback@opendiscipleship.org

Ephesians 5:21

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

1 Corinthians 16:15-18

You know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints. I urge you, brothers, to submit to such as these and to everyone who joins in the work, and labors at it. I was glad when Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus arrived, because they have supplied what was lacking from you. For they refreshed my spirit and yours also. Such men deserve recognition.

We seem to get a lot of feedback condemning the Church or condemning the people that go to church, or condemning the reasons people go to church, or just condemning people because "those people" [blah, blah, blah].

Well, I'm tired of it! Listen up, people! "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." If you've got a problem with that.... you've got a problem

"Dear Lord, bless this food.... and ... uh ... thanks for the ... uh ... great life .... and the kids ... and the wife .... .... and ... uh .... bless the .... uh ... those who are traveling ... and .... uh .... " (*pssst! the food's getting cold!*) " .... Amen!"

So, everything we have is from God, and he provides it to us in his time. What's his, what's 'ours,' and when does he provide it....

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Disagreeing with someone you love over something that's important to you is the hardest thing. It's often the thing that causes friction in families and churches. If we, as Christians, can learn how to disagree in love, we can learn from those disagreements. We need to learn that there's a big, important difference between 'unity' and 'uniformity.' We are called to unity -- not uniformity. That means we are going to disagree, and that's a good thing!

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Do churches pass over the people God has planted in our congregations that could or should be ministering because they don't have a Bible College degree? Are we hiring people who have a Bible College degree who aren't called to be our ministers while we overlook gifted, qualified people who are already established to minister to our churches and communities?

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What's in a name? Everything! We build a lot of walls around our understandings of Christianity, but Jesus told us that if we believe in him, or as the Apostles put it, "in the name of Jesus," we will be saved. Amen! Powerful, powerful truth.

So, I expect that you'll disagree with us.... we both disagreed with this not very long ago....

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God speaks to each of us. He speaks to each of us in unique ways. Sometimes those words are sharp and striking, sometimes sweet and subtle. When and where does God speak to you? When does he call your name? How does God tell you, "I love you"?