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Rick Warren

Rick Warren - We Are Ambassadors (Part 3)

November 16, 2025 | 27:29

Rick Warren - We Are Ambassadors (Part 3)
Pastor Rick shares biblical truth and practical tools for living the full life God desires for everyone.
#IdentityinChrist #Church #BodyofChrist #Calling #Purpose #Chosenpeople #Witness/Witnessing #Gospel #Commission #LightoftheWorld #Setapart #Christ-like #Character #Peace #Love #Help #Need #RickWarren

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Rick Warren | Rick Warren - We Are Ambassadors (Part 3) | November 16, 2025
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Pastor rick warren: now what is an ambassador?
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  • Well, an ambassador is a representative sent out on
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  • A mission to build relationships.
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  • That's usually what an ambassador is, a representative
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  • Sent out on a mission in order to build relationships.
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  • Now there are political ambassadors, there are economic
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  • And business ambassadors, there are cultural ambassadors, there
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  • Are goodwill ambassadors, and the bible says there are
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  • Spiritual ambassadors, and we are christ's ambassadors.
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  • If you are a follower of christ, the bible says you are
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  • An ambassador for him in the world.
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  • As an ambassador, you have three responsibilities here on earth,
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  • And these are the things that god wants you to do as
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  • An ambassador.
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  • Number one, "i must be an example."
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  • I must set an example for other people.
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  • The first thing god wants you to do is help other people know
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  • What god is like, by being an example of his character
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  • Qualities: love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness,
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  • Faithfulness, kindness, meekness, self-control.
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  • Now, the bible says this in 1 peter chapter 2: "people who do
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  • Not believe are living all around you."
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  • That's kind of obvious.
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  • "people who do not believe are living all around you and they
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  • Might say you're doing wrong.
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  • So live such good lives that they'll see the good things you
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  • Do and will give glory to god."
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  • What's he saying there?
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  • The first job of an ambassador, whether it's of a country or
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  • Of jesus, is you set a good example.
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  • What if you lived your life like that?
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  • That you realize that you're always on, as an ambassador of
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  • Jesus christ.
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  • That no matter where you go, you are the only christian some
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  • People will ever know.
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  • That the people around you, you're the only bible that they
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  • Will ever read.
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  • You are a living bible.
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  • Second responsibility of an ambassador.
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  • "i must share the message."
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  • I have a message that god has given me, and he wants me to
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  • Share it with other people.
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  • And it's interesting that in politics or in diplomacy,
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  • Ambassadors are often used, in history, to end wars.
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  • Ambassadors are sent to negotiate the peace.
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  • Ambassadors are sent to sign the treaties.
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  • Ambassadors are sent to bring a reconciliation between warring
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  • Entities and conflicting groups.
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  • And it's not an accident that god chose that term to refer
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  • To you.
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  • We're to help people make peace with god.
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  • We're to help people reconcile their relationship to god.
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  • We're to help people make their peace with him.
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  • The third responsibility of an ambassador.
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  • "i must show love."
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  • I must show love, to everybody.
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  • Because if you're an ambassador, you've gotta have a big heart,
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  • And you gotta show love.
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  • Why must an ambassador of jesus christ show love
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  • To everybody?
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  • Because god is love.
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  • And if you show anything but love to other people, you're not
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  • Representing jesus.
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  • God is love.
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  • Now how do i show love to the people in my life, the people i
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  • Work with, my neighbors, my family, my coworkers, my
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  • Enemies, my boss?
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  • How do i do it?
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  • Three ways.
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  • It's the next three verses.
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  • The first way i show love is "by using my life to meet
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  • Others' needs."
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  • When you use your life to meet the needs of other people in
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  • A practical way, whether it's taking them a meal or helping
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  • Them with a project, or offering them a ride or praying for them
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  • Or, you know, picking up something at the grocery thing,
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  • Or helping them with a plan or a deal.
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  • Every time you do practical help to somebody else, you serve
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  • Others, you're ministering to them, you're showing love to
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  • Meet their needs.
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  • And this is what an ambassador does.
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  • The bible says this in 1 thessalonians 2.
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  • Paul says, "we loved you so much," he's talking about the
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  • People in this town in greece called thessalonica.
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  • He said, "we loved you so much that we gave you not only god's
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  • Good news," that's number two, but number three, "our own lives
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  • As well."
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  • If you spend all--your whole christian life is spent inside
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  • The four walls of the church, you're not much of
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  • An ambassador.
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  • You gotta get out where people are hurting, where they're
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  • Needed, where they need love and they need help and concern.
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  • So you got to get out into the--out of the embassy and into
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  • The interior.
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  • Using my life to meet others' needs.
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  • Second way you show love.
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  • "by giving respect to everyone."
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  • By giving respect to everyone.
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  • As an ambassador of jesus christ, you are not
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  • Allowed to be disrespectful to anyone.
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  • Why?
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  • Because god values every person.
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  • It doesn't matter who they are, what they've done, who they've
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  • Done it with, or how long they've done it, they have the
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  • Dignity of being created in the image of god.
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  • And the bible says this, on the screen, 1 peter 2:17: "treat
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  • Everyone you like with dignity."
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  • Oh, it doesn't say that, does it?
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  • "treat everyone you agree with politically with dignity."
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  • No, it says, "treat everyone you meet with dignity.
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  • Love your spiritual family.
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  • Revere god, and respect the government."
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  • Let me ask you this.
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  • Is an ambassador dogmatic or diplomatic?
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  • Diplomatic.
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  • They don't stay as ambassadors very long if they're
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  • Not diplomatic.
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  • When you find a dogmatic christian, they are not
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  • An ambassador of jesus.
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  • They may be on the radio, they may be on television, they may
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  • Write books or blogs or whatever.
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  • If they're dogmatic, they may be right, but they're wrong.
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  • Because they're not being diplomatic.
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  • The bible says we're to do everything in love, we're to
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  • Respect everyone.
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  • Doesn't matter who they are, what they are, what
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  • They've done.
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  • I don't know if you've noticed this or not, but most of the
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  • Time when i'm not at saddleback, i'm speaking to people who
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  • Totally disagree with me.
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  • Almost all the time i'm speaking to group--and that gets me in
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  • A lot of trouble, okay?
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  • I speak to other religions, to atheist, to muslims, to jewish,
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  • To buddhist, to secularist, to gay groups.
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  • I speak most of the time, when i'm not at saddleback, to groups
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  • Who totally disagree with me.
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  • Why?
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  • Because i am an ambassador.
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  • That's my job.
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  • And you are an ambassador too.
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  • Ambassadors don't speak to their own country.
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  • They speak to everybody else who's not in their country.
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  • They even speak to their enemies.
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  • And we are to show the message with love and kindness.
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  • In fact, here's what the bible says.
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  • "be ready at all times to answer anyone who asks you to explain
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  • The hope you have in you, but do it with gentleness and respect."
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  • You and i are called to be gentle with everybody and
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  • Respect everybody.
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  • It doesn't matter what they say to me, doesn't matter how much
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  • They lie about me, doesn't matter how they accuse me.
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  • I am forbidden to hate anybody.
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  • I am forbidden to retaliate on anybody.
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  • I am forbidden to attack back.
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  • Why?
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  • Because i represent jesus.
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  • And jesus said, "you turn the other cheek."
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  • Jesus said, "you overcome evil with good."
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  • The bible says you bless those who persecute you.
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  • I am forbidden from using the same tactics that people use
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  • Against you or me or anybody else.
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  • Why?
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  • Because i am an ambassador of jesus christ, and we're to be
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  • Known by meeting others' needs, like in haiti, by loving,
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  • Respecting everybody.
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  • And here's the third thing we're to do.
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  • "i must show love by building bridges."
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  • Ambassadors build bridges, not walls.
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  • Now in 1 corinthians chapter 9, it tells us this.
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  • He's talking about dealing with unbelievers.
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  • "whatever a person is like, i try to find common ground
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  • With him."
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  • Okay, it doesn't matter what he is, okay?
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  • He may be another culture, may be another race, another
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  • Language, another political party, another religion, another
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  • Lifestyle, he said "whatever a person's like, i try to find
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  • Common ground with him."
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  • Why?
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  • To be popular? no.
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  • Here, "so that he will let me tell him about christ and let
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  • Christ save him."
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  • I'm an ambassador.
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  • "i do this," why?
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  • "to get the good news to them, and also for the blessing i
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  • Myself receive when i see them come to christ."
  • 00:10:28.978 --> 00:10:33.482
  • Anytime you see your pastor speaking to any group,
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  • Whether--i've spoken to intellectual groups.
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  • In the last couple of years i've spoken at harvard, at oxford, at
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  • Cambridge, at jewish university, at intellectual things like the
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  • Aspen ideas center.
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  • I've spoken to groups, like political groups on every
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  • Possible side.
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  • I've spoken to every possible religion you can imagine.
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  • When you see that, you need to understand, i don't have any
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  • Faith at all in politics' ability to change human lives.
  • 00:11:05.881 --> 00:11:11.353
  • Politics can't change a human heart.
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  • If i believed it could, i'd go into government, but i don't.
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  • You cannot force somebody to be good by a law.
  • 00:11:16.859 --> 00:11:20.596
  • It has to be an internal change in their heart.
  • 00:11:20.596 --> 00:11:23.933
  • And you need to understand that all these people i speak to,
  • 00:11:23.933 --> 00:11:26.469
  • Why do i do it?
  • 00:11:26.469 --> 00:11:27.837
  • So i can get the good news to them.
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  • I'm building bridges, not walls.
  • 00:11:29.805 --> 00:11:33.109
  • By the way, how do you know when you're building a bridge?
  • 00:11:33.109 --> 00:11:35.745
  • You get walked on.
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  • Okay, count on it.
  • 00:11:40.683 --> 00:11:42.384
  • You get walked on.
  • 00:11:42.384 --> 00:11:43.719
  • That's what bridges are for.
  • 00:11:43.719 --> 00:11:45.588
  • And so you know if you're building a bridge, if you get
  • 00:11:45.588 --> 00:11:48.090
  • Walked on.
  • 00:11:48.090 --> 00:11:49.458
  • Now if you never get walked on, what are you doing?
  • 00:11:49.458 --> 00:11:51.127
  • You're not building any bridges, you're only building walls.
  • 00:11:51.127 --> 00:11:53.963
  • Walls don't get walked on.
  • 00:11:53.963 --> 00:11:56.532
  • Bridges get walked on.
  • 00:11:56.532 --> 00:11:58.634
  • And my goal, and your goal as an ambassador of jesus, is that we
  • 00:11:58.634 --> 00:12:03.439
  • Build a bridge of respect and love to everybody so that jesus
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  • Christ can walk across.
  • 00:12:08.344 --> 00:12:11.380
  • That's the goal.
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  • That's the reason.
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  • We try to find common ground so we can do this.
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  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:12:18.921 --> 00:12:27.963
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  • Pastor rick: now, what's the reward?
  • 00:13:25.554 --> 00:13:27.056
  • We've looked at the role of an ambassador, we've looked
  • 00:13:27.056 --> 00:13:29.525
  • At the responsibilities.
  • 00:13:29.525 --> 00:13:31.660
  • Now what's the reward for being an ambassador?
  • 00:13:31.660 --> 00:13:33.863
  • Oh, it's good.
  • 00:13:33.863 --> 00:13:35.231
  • Colossians chapter 3: "whatever you do, always work at it with
  • 00:13:35.231 --> 00:13:42.805
  • All your heart."
  • 00:13:42.805 --> 00:13:44.173
  • Now i want you to circle "whatever you do" and "all
  • 00:13:44.173 --> 00:13:46.275
  • Your heart."
  • 00:13:46.275 --> 00:13:47.610
  • Now, i don't care what you do.
  • 00:13:47.610 --> 00:13:48.978
  • The bible says no matter what you do, you should be
  • 00:13:48.978 --> 00:13:50.713
  • Enthusiastic at it.
  • 00:13:50.713 --> 00:13:52.481
  • If you work at taco bell, you better be enthusiastic about it.
  • 00:13:52.481 --> 00:13:55.985
  • If you do gardening, you better be enthusiastic about it.
  • 00:13:55.985 --> 00:13:59.121
  • If you do daycare or hospice, or you close multi-million dollar
  • 00:13:59.121 --> 00:14:03.859
  • Deals, or you drive a bus, or whatever you do, the bible says,
  • 00:14:03.859 --> 00:14:09.865
  • "whatever you do," as a believer, "you are to do it with
  • 00:14:09.865 --> 00:14:14.637
  • All your heart," you're to do it with enthusiasm.
  • 00:14:14.637 --> 00:14:16.672
  • Why? because you represent jesus.
  • 00:14:16.672 --> 00:14:20.542
  • "you are to do it with all your heart, as though you were
  • 00:14:20.542 --> 00:14:22.878
  • Working for the lord, not for people," 'cause you are working
  • 00:14:22.878 --> 00:14:27.316
  • For the lord.
  • 00:14:27.316 --> 00:14:28.684
  • "remember that the lord will give you," here it is, "as
  • 00:14:28.684 --> 00:14:32.221
  • A reward, the inheritance he has kept for his people."
  • 00:14:32.221 --> 00:14:37.426
  • God has some big plans for you in heaven.
  • 00:14:37.426 --> 00:14:40.195
  • He has rewards.
  • 00:14:40.195 --> 00:14:41.530
  • He has an inheritance for you in heaven, and he's keeping it
  • 00:14:41.530 --> 00:14:43.999
  • There, "for christ is the real master you serve!"
  • 00:14:43.999 --> 00:14:47.403
  • Now you don't have to like your boss, but you do have to treat
  • 00:14:47.403 --> 00:14:51.106
  • Them with respect and dignity, and the bible says, regardless
  • 00:14:51.106 --> 00:14:54.310
  • Of who your boss is, you're to just do your work as if you're
  • 00:14:54.310 --> 00:14:57.546
  • Working for jesus.
  • 00:14:57.546 --> 00:15:00.516
  • And that's why you do what you do.
  • 00:15:00.516 --> 00:15:02.551
  • Not because you want to please that person, but because you
  • 00:15:02.551 --> 00:15:05.220
  • Want to please the lord.
  • 00:15:05.220 --> 00:15:07.289
  • And he says when you do that, it will produce great reward in
  • 00:15:07.289 --> 00:15:11.360
  • Your life.
  • 00:15:11.360 --> 00:15:12.795
  • I want to do something this weekend i've never done before.
  • 00:15:12.795 --> 00:15:16.365
  • I want to read from a well-known book.
  • 00:15:16.365 --> 00:15:23.906
  • Nice cover, "purpose driven life."
  • 00:15:23.906 --> 00:15:28.544
  • "imagine if you were asked by your country to be an ambassador
  • 00:15:28.544 --> 00:15:32.748
  • To an enemy nation.
  • 00:15:32.748 --> 00:15:35.250
  • You probably would have to learn a new language.
  • 00:15:35.250 --> 00:15:37.953
  • You'd have to adapt to some customs and cultural differences
  • 00:15:37.953 --> 00:15:40.522
  • In order to be polite and accomplish your mission.
  • 00:15:40.522 --> 00:15:44.893
  • As an ambassador, you would not be able to isolate yourself from
  • 00:15:44.893 --> 00:15:48.664
  • The enemy."
  • 00:15:48.664 --> 00:15:50.299
  • You couldn't stay in the embassy all the time.
  • 00:15:50.299 --> 00:15:54.870
  • You'd have to--"to fulfill your mission, you'd have to make
  • 00:15:54.870 --> 00:15:58.140
  • Contact with people and relate to them," the people who
  • 00:15:58.140 --> 00:16:02.611
  • Disagree with you.
  • 00:16:02.611 --> 00:16:04.713
  • "but suppose you became so comfortable as an ambassador
  • 00:16:04.713 --> 00:16:08.784
  • With this foreign country you're in, that you fell in love with
  • 00:16:08.784 --> 00:16:12.488
  • It and you started preferring it to your own homeland.
  • 00:16:12.488 --> 00:16:17.860
  • Your loyalty and commitment would change.
  • 00:16:17.860 --> 00:16:21.730
  • Your role as an ambassador would be compromised.
  • 00:16:21.730 --> 00:16:26.201
  • And instead of representing your home country, you would start
  • 00:16:26.201 --> 00:16:29.772
  • Acting like the enemy.
  • 00:16:29.772 --> 00:16:31.673
  • You would be a traitor.
  • 00:16:31.673 --> 00:16:36.078
  • The bible says we are ambassadors for christ.
  • 00:16:36.078 --> 00:16:39.515
  • Sadly, many christians have betrayed their king and
  • 00:16:39.515 --> 00:16:43.852
  • His kingdom.
  • 00:16:43.852 --> 00:16:45.287
  • They have foolishly concluded that because they live on earth,
  • 00:16:45.287 --> 00:16:48.524
  • That earth is their home.
  • 00:16:48.524 --> 00:16:50.359
  • It is not.
  • 00:16:50.359 --> 00:16:52.761
  • The bible is clear: "friend, this world is not your home,"
  • 00:16:52.761 --> 00:16:56.031
  • The bible says.
  • 00:16:56.031 --> 00:16:57.399
  • So don't make yourself cozy in it, don't indulge your ego at
  • 00:16:57.399 --> 00:17:00.235
  • The expense of your soul.
  • 00:17:00.235 --> 00:17:02.738
  • God wants us to not get too attached to what's around us
  • 00:17:02.738 --> 00:17:05.307
  • Because it's all temporary.
  • 00:17:05.307 --> 00:17:08.177
  • The bible tells us, "those in frequent contact with the things
  • 00:17:08.177 --> 00:17:11.513
  • Of this world should make good use of them without becoming
  • 00:17:11.513 --> 00:17:16.385
  • Attached to them, for this world and all it contains is going to
  • 00:17:16.385 --> 00:17:21.990
  • Pass away."
  • 00:17:21.990 --> 00:17:24.393
  • In order to keep us from becoming too attached to earth,
  • 00:17:24.393 --> 00:17:28.730
  • God allows us to feel a significant amount of discontent
  • 00:17:28.730 --> 00:17:32.568
  • And satisfaction--dissatisfaction in
  • 00:17:32.568 --> 00:17:34.837
  • Life, longings that will never be fulfilled in your life on
  • 00:17:34.837 --> 00:17:38.907
  • This side of eternity.
  • 00:17:38.907 --> 00:17:40.943
  • We're not completely happy here on earth because we're not
  • 00:17:40.943 --> 00:17:44.113
  • Supposed to be.
  • 00:17:44.113 --> 00:17:46.381
  • Earth is not our final home.
  • 00:17:46.381 --> 00:17:49.284
  • We were created for something much, much better.
  • 00:17:49.284 --> 00:17:53.922
  • A fish would never be happy living on land because it was
  • 00:17:53.922 --> 00:17:58.360
  • Made for water.
  • 00:17:58.360 --> 00:18:00.329
  • An eagle could never feel satisfied if it wasn't allowed
  • 00:18:00.329 --> 00:18:03.332
  • To fly.
  • 00:18:03.332 --> 00:18:05.234
  • You will never feel completely satisfied here on earth, because
  • 00:18:05.234 --> 00:18:09.138
  • You were made for far more.
  • 00:18:09.138 --> 00:18:12.541
  • You'll have happy moments here, yes, but nothing compared to
  • 00:18:12.541 --> 00:18:16.612
  • What god has planned for you in heaven.
  • 00:18:16.612 --> 00:18:19.381
  • Realizing that life on earth is just a temporary assignment
  • 00:18:19.381 --> 00:18:24.486
  • Should radically alter your values.
  • 00:18:24.486 --> 00:18:27.623
  • Eternal values, not temporal ones, should become the deciding
  • 00:18:27.623 --> 00:18:31.026
  • Factors for all your decisions.
  • 00:18:31.026 --> 00:18:34.296
  • C.s. lewis said, "all that is not eternal is
  • 00:18:34.296 --> 00:18:36.265
  • Eternally useless."
  • 00:18:36.265 --> 00:18:39.635
  • The bible says, "we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what
  • 00:18:39.635 --> 00:18:42.538
  • Is unseen, for what is seen is temporary, but what we cannot
  • 00:18:42.538 --> 00:18:47.109
  • See is eternal."
  • 00:18:47.109 --> 00:18:49.645
  • So it's a fatal mistake to assume that god's goal for your
  • 00:18:49.645 --> 00:18:52.748
  • Life is material prosperity or popular success as the world
  • 00:18:52.748 --> 00:18:57.219
  • Defines it.
  • 00:18:57.219 --> 00:18:58.820
  • The abundant life has nothing to do with material abundance, and
  • 00:18:58.820 --> 00:19:03.425
  • Faithfulness to god does not guarantee success in a career or
  • 00:19:03.425 --> 00:19:07.629
  • Even in ministry.
  • 00:19:07.629 --> 00:19:10.032
  • An old story is often repeated, of a retiring missionary coming
  • 00:19:10.032 --> 00:19:14.469
  • Back home to america on the same boat as the president of the
  • 00:19:14.469 --> 00:19:17.172
  • United states.
  • 00:19:17.172 --> 00:19:19.508
  • Cheering crowds and a military band and a red carpet and
  • 00:19:19.508 --> 00:19:22.411
  • Banners and the media all welcomed the president home with
  • 00:19:22.411 --> 00:19:25.781
  • Great fanfare.
  • 00:19:25.781 --> 00:19:28.350
  • But the missionary slipped off the same ship unnoticed, feeling
  • 00:19:28.350 --> 00:19:34.089
  • Self-pity and resentment.
  • 00:19:34.089 --> 00:19:36.625
  • The missionary began to complain to god.
  • 00:19:36.625 --> 00:19:40.362
  • Then god gently reminded him, "but my son, you're not
  • 00:19:40.362 --> 00:19:45.334
  • Home yet."
  • 00:19:45.334 --> 00:19:49.137
  • You will not be in heaven two seconds before you cry out, "why
  • 00:19:49.137 --> 00:19:52.708
  • Did i place so much importance on things that were temporary?
  • 00:19:52.708 --> 00:19:57.613
  • What was i thinking?
  • 00:19:57.613 --> 00:19:59.848
  • Why did i waste so much time and energy and concern on what
  • 00:19:59.848 --> 00:20:03.652
  • Wasn't going to last?"
  • 00:20:03.652 --> 00:20:07.222
  • When life gets tough and when you're overwhelmed with doubt,
  • 00:20:07.222 --> 00:20:11.026
  • And when you wonder if living for christ is worth the effort,
  • 00:20:11.026 --> 00:20:14.763
  • You need to remember that this isn't your home, and you're not
  • 00:20:14.763 --> 00:20:20.102
  • Home yet.
  • 00:20:20.102 --> 00:20:22.037
  • You see, at death, you won't leave home.
  • 00:20:22.037 --> 00:20:26.642
  • You'll go home."
  • 00:20:26.642 --> 00:20:29.845
  • Let's bow our heads, as you pray this prayer in your heart.
  • 00:20:29.845 --> 00:20:39.855
  • Dear jesus, i realize that to follow you means to be your
  • 00:20:39.855 --> 00:20:46.828
  • Ambassador, that it means to represent you in the world.
  • 00:20:46.828 --> 00:20:55.037
  • And i ask you to forgive me for failing in my mission.
  • 00:20:55.037 --> 00:21:01.243
  • Forgive me for the times that i have been silent and not shared
  • 00:21:01.243 --> 00:21:06.615
  • Your message.
  • 00:21:06.615 --> 00:21:08.450
  • Forgive me for the times that i have not been a good example.
  • 00:21:08.450 --> 00:21:12.888
  • Forgive me for the times that i have been just as unloving as
  • 00:21:12.888 --> 00:21:15.590
  • Others, and i have returned evil for evil rather than returning
  • 00:21:15.590 --> 00:21:20.362
  • Good for evil.
  • 00:21:20.362 --> 00:21:23.965
  • I want my life to reflect you, jesus.
  • 00:21:23.965 --> 00:21:28.637
  • I want you to use my life to meet the needs of other people.
  • 00:21:28.637 --> 00:21:33.842
  • I want you to help me to learn to respect and treat every
  • 00:21:33.842 --> 00:21:36.712
  • Person with dignity, no matter who they are or what they say
  • 00:21:36.712 --> 00:21:39.848
  • To me.
  • 00:21:39.848 --> 00:21:42.184
  • I want to be a bridge builder, not a wall builder.
  • 00:21:42.184 --> 00:21:47.556
  • And whatever i do, i want to do it with all my heart as you've
  • 00:21:47.556 --> 00:21:52.060
  • Commanded me to do, because i represent you.
  • 00:21:52.060 --> 00:21:56.898
  • Help me to get out of the embassy, to reach one more
  • 00:21:56.898 --> 00:22:01.269
  • Person for jesus.
  • 00:22:01.269 --> 00:22:03.438
  • God, i ask you to give me the privilege of bringing one person
  • 00:22:03.438 --> 00:22:08.110
  • Into your family this year.
  • 00:22:08.110 --> 00:22:11.313
  • I want to reach one more for you.
  • 00:22:11.313 --> 00:22:16.618
  • And lord, i ask you that when times are tough and i begin to
  • 00:22:16.618 --> 00:22:22.290
  • Focus on what i don't have and what i need, to realize that
  • 00:22:22.290 --> 00:22:26.395
  • This life here is just temporary, and that one day
  • 00:22:26.395 --> 00:22:30.365
  • I will be with you for eternity.
  • 00:22:30.365 --> 00:22:33.001
  • And i want to hear you say, "well done, good and
  • 00:22:33.001 --> 00:22:36.037
  • Faithful servant."
  • 00:22:36.037 --> 00:22:39.541
  • If you've never invited christ into your life, say,
  • 00:22:39.541 --> 00:22:41.443
  • "jesus christ, come into my heart right now.
  • 00:22:41.443 --> 00:22:44.746
  • I want to be on your team.
  • 00:22:44.746 --> 00:22:47.382
  • I want to follow you.
  • 00:22:47.382 --> 00:22:48.750
  • I want you to be my god, my boss, my manager.
  • 00:22:48.750 --> 00:22:55.590
  • I want to learn to love you and trust you in this year, and be
  • 00:22:55.590 --> 00:23:00.061
  • Your representative."
  • 00:23:00.061 --> 00:23:02.597
  • Thank you for ending the war.
  • 00:23:02.597 --> 00:23:05.434
  • Thank you for offering the message of peace, jesus.
  • 00:23:05.434 --> 00:23:08.804
  • Thank you for offering forgiveness.
  • 00:23:08.804 --> 00:23:11.540
  • I ask you to give me that forgiveness.
  • 00:23:11.540 --> 00:23:14.109
  • In your name i pray.
  • 00:23:14.109 --> 00:23:15.811
  • Amen.
  • 00:23:15.811 --> 00:23:17.245
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:23:17.245 --> 00:23:25.654
  • Pastor rick: one of the greatest joys of my day is reading
  • 00:23:27.589 --> 00:23:30.025
  • Letters from our listeners.
  • 00:23:30.025 --> 00:23:31.626
  • It truly is inspiring to see how god is working in your lives,
  • 00:23:31.626 --> 00:23:36.131
  • And it encourages me just as much as i hope to encourage you.
  • 00:23:36.131 --> 00:23:41.369
  • So today i wanna share a note from heather who has been
  • 00:23:41.369 --> 00:23:45.207
  • Discovering the incredible benefits of studying god's word
  • 00:23:45.207 --> 00:23:48.376
  • Every day.
  • 00:23:48.376 --> 00:23:49.744
  • Heather wrote to me, she said, "hi, pastor rick.
  • 00:23:49.744 --> 00:23:52.280
  • A friend of mine recently sent me your podcast, and i've been
  • 00:23:52.280 --> 00:23:55.817
  • Feeling lost and helpless, and i wasn't sure what to pray or how
  • 00:23:55.817 --> 00:23:59.354
  • To pray or when to pray, and it's like i hit a wall and i
  • 00:23:59.354 --> 00:24:02.557
  • Haven't been sure how to get back on track.
  • 00:24:02.557 --> 00:24:05.093
  • Well, your message really spoke truth to me and it made me
  • 00:24:05.093 --> 00:24:10.198
  • Realize the missing pieces i had in my life, because i was not in
  • 00:24:10.198 --> 00:24:15.270
  • God's word daily.
  • 00:24:15.270 --> 00:24:17.572
  • I was basically living my life without god, and i was trying to
  • 00:24:17.572 --> 00:24:20.408
  • Do everything on my own.
  • 00:24:20.408 --> 00:24:22.477
  • Well, pastor rick, it goes without saying that doing life
  • 00:24:22.477 --> 00:24:25.013
  • Without god has been miserable failure.
  • 00:24:25.013 --> 00:24:27.983
  • So thank you for stirring the holy spirit in my heart with the
  • 00:24:27.983 --> 00:24:32.087
  • Words that i needed to hear.
  • 00:24:32.087 --> 00:24:34.756
  • I have now made the commitment to read god's word every day and
  • 00:24:34.756 --> 00:24:38.226
  • To pray daily, and i even started praying in the car as i
  • 00:24:38.226 --> 00:24:41.763
  • Go about my day just like you.
  • 00:24:41.763 --> 00:24:43.465
  • It's hard for me to close my eyes and not fall asleep."
  • 00:24:43.465 --> 00:24:47.102
  • You were listening.
  • 00:24:47.102 --> 00:24:48.703
  • "but please keep doing what you're doing and reaching people
  • 00:24:48.703 --> 00:24:51.006
  • Who really need to hear about jesus and god's love."
  • 00:24:51.006 --> 00:24:54.576
  • Well, heather, i am so glad to hear that you're back in god's
  • 00:24:54.576 --> 00:24:58.613
  • Word and that you're making it a part of your daily life.
  • 00:24:58.613 --> 00:25:01.983
  • There really isn't anything more important than deepening your
  • 00:25:01.983 --> 00:25:04.286
  • Relationship with him, and i love the fact that you are
  • 00:25:04.286 --> 00:25:07.522
  • Praying every day, especially while keeping your eyes open
  • 00:25:07.522 --> 00:25:11.059
  • While you're driving. [chuckles]
  • 00:25:11.059 --> 00:25:13.461
  • Do you, or somebody you know, or even feel lost yourself like
  • 00:25:13.461 --> 00:25:19.267
  • Heather once did?
  • 00:25:19.267 --> 00:25:21.870
  • Well, the best way to find hope and strength is by staying
  • 00:25:21.870 --> 00:25:24.039
  • Connected to god every day.
  • 00:25:24.039 --> 00:25:25.440
  • That's the purpose of "daily hope" and that's why i started
  • 00:25:25.440 --> 00:25:28.543
  • It, to help people like heather dive into god's word and
  • 00:25:28.543 --> 00:25:32.280
  • Experience his encouragement on a daily basis.
  • 00:25:32.280 --> 00:25:36.184
  • Now our daily hope devotionals and our podcasts are completely
  • 00:25:36.184 --> 00:25:40.088
  • Free, and they're delivered straight to your inbox
  • 00:25:40.088 --> 00:25:43.792
  • Every morning.
  • 00:25:43.792 --> 00:25:45.627
  • So if you're not getting these, sign up today, and start each
  • 00:25:45.627 --> 00:25:50.765
  • Day with biblical wisdom and encouragement from god's word.
  • 00:25:50.765 --> 00:25:56.037
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:25:56.037 --> 00:26:05.180
  • Announcer: you know this christmas you can enjoy the
  • 00:26:05.180 --> 00:26:07.749
  • Beauty of god's word with a brand new set of 52 stunning
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  • Scripture cards, each featuring verses about the birth of christ
  • 00:26:11.786 --> 00:26:15.890
  • And adorned with elegant christmas artwork.
  • 00:26:15.890 --> 00:26:18.827
  • These are perfect for memorizing scripture, tucking into gifts,
  • 00:26:18.827 --> 00:26:22.964
  • Or placing on your holiday table.
  • 00:26:22.964 --> 00:26:25.567
  • These cards are a simple way to bring meaning to the season and
  • 00:26:25.567 --> 00:26:29.537
  • Share god's love with those around you.
  • 00:26:29.537 --> 00:26:32.073
  • So, whether you're starting a new tradition or looking for a
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  • Unique way to share the gospel with friends and family, well,
  • 00:26:35.777 --> 00:26:39.581
  • These cards are a perfect fit.
  • 00:26:39.581 --> 00:26:42.183
  • Today, when you give a gift to help "daily hope" take the
  • 00:26:42.183 --> 00:26:45.420
  • Certain hope of jesus to people worldwide, be sure to request
  • 00:26:45.420 --> 00:26:49.691
  • This very special collection of christmas scripture cards.
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  • It's our way of saying thanks for supporting "daily hope."
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  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:01.536 --> 00:27:01.536