Unity Is Confusing for the World and Very Attractive

September 7, 2025 · Acts

Series · Acts · Week 110 of 120

Scripture referenced 17 passages

The passage this message was preached from, in full, with every other passage it reached for.

Psalm 103:1 quoted to open worship: 'Praise the Lord my soul, all my inmost being, praise his holy name'

1 Praise Yahweh, my soul! All that is within me, praise his holy name!

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Acts 1:8

Jesus tells disciples they will be witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth.”

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Acts 1:12-14

disciples return to Jerusalem and gather in the upper room, devoting themselves with one mind to prayer

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away.

13 When they had come in, they went up into the upper room, where they were staying; that is Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James.

14 All these with one accord continued steadfastly in prayer and supplication, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

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Acts 2:43-47

believers together with one mind daily in the temple, sharing meals and possessions, Lord adding to their number

43 Fear came on every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.

44 All who believed were together, and had all things in common.

45 They sold their possessions and goods, and distributed them to all, according as anyone had need.

46 Day by day, continuing steadfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart,

47 praising God, and having favor with all the people. The Lord added to the assembly day by day those who were being saved.

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Acts 4:24-26

Peter and John released, companions raise voices to God with one mind, quoting Psalm 2 about nations plotting against the Lord and his Christ

24 When they heard it, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, “O Lord, you are God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all that is in them;

25 who by the mouth of your servant, David, said, ‘Why do the nations rage, and the peoples plot a vain thing?

26 The kings of the earth take a stand, and the rulers take council together, against the Lord, and against his Christ.’

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Psalm 2

cited within the Acts 4 prayer about kings and rulers gathered against the Lord and his Christ

1 Why do the nations rage, and the peoples plot a vain thing?

2 The kings of the earth take a stand, and the rulers take counsel together, against Yahweh, and against his Anointed, saying,

3 “Let’s break their bonds apart, and cast their cords from us.”

4 He who sits in the heavens will laugh. The Lord will have them in derision.

5 Then he will speak to them in his anger, and terrify them in his wrath:

6 “Yet I have set my King on my holy hill of Zion.”

7 I will tell of the decree. Yahweh said to me, “You are my son. Today I have become your father.

8 Ask of me, and I will give the nations for your inheritance, the uttermost parts of the earth for your possession.

9 You shall break them with a rod of iron. You shall dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”

10 Now therefore be wise, you kings. Be instructed, you judges of the earth.

11 Serve Yahweh with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

12 Give sincere homage to the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish on the way, for his wrath will soon be kindled. Blessed are all those who take refuge in him.

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Acts 5:12-16

apostles together with one mind in Solomon's Portico, signs and wonders, sick healed, believers added

12 By the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. They were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.

13 None of the rest dared to join them, however the people honored them.

14 More believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women.

15 They even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on cots and mattresses, so that as Peter came by, at the least his shadow might overshadow some of them.

16 The multitude also came together from the cities around Jerusalem, bringing sick people, and those who were tormented by unclean spirits: and they were all healed.

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Acts 7:54-60

crowd rushes at Stephen with one accord to stone him; Stephen sees Jesus standing at God's right hand and prays for forgiveness of his killers

54 Now when they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth.

55 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,

56 and said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”

57 But they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and rushed at him with one accord.

58 They threw him out of the city, and stoned him. The witnesses placed their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.

59 They stoned Stephen as he called out, saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!”

60 He kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, “Lord, don’t hold this sin against them!” When he had said this, he fell asleep.

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Acts 8:4-8

scattered believers preach the word; Samaritans listen to Philip with one mind and many are healed

4 Therefore those who were scattered abroad went around preaching the word.

5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and proclaimed to them the Christ.

6 The multitudes listened with one accord to the things that were spoken by Philip, when they heard and saw the signs which he did.

7 For unclean spirits came out of many of those who had them. They came out, crying with a loud voice. Many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed.

8 There was great joy in that city.

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John 4

Samaritan woman at the well, Jesus already at work among Samaritans before Philip arrives

1 Therefore when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John

2 (although Jesus himself didn’t baptize, but his disciples),

3 he left Judea, and departed into Galilee.

4 He needed to pass through Samaria.

5 So he came to a city of Samaria, called Sychar, near the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son, Joseph.

6 Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being tired from his journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour.

7 A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.”

8 For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.

9 The Samaritan woman therefore said to him, “How is it that you, being a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)

10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”

11 The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. So where do you get that living water?

12 Are you greater than our father, Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank of it himself, as did his children, and his livestock?”

13 Jesus answered her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again,

14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never thirst again; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”

15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I don’t get thirsty, neither come all the way here to draw.”

16 Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.”

17 The woman answered, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You said well, ‘I have no husband,’

18 for you have had five husbands; and he whom you now have is not your husband. This you have said truly.”

19 The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet.

20 Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.”

21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour comes, when neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, will you worship the Father.

22 You worship that which you don’t know. We worship that which we know; for salvation is from the Jews.

23 But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such to be his worshipers.

24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

25 The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah comes, he who is called Christ. When he has come, he will declare to us all things.”

26 Jesus said to her, “I am he, the one who speaks to you.”

27 At this, his disciples came. They marveled that he was speaking with a woman; yet no one said, “What are you looking for?” or, “Why do you speak with her?”

28 So the woman left her water pot, and went away into the city, and said to the people,

29 “Come, see a man who told me everything that I did. Can this be the Christ?”

30 They went out of the city, and were coming to him.

31 In the meanwhile, the disciples urged him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.”

32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you don’t know about.”

33 The disciples therefore said to one another, “Has anyone brought him something to eat?”

34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me, and to accomplish his work.

35 Don’t you say, ‘There are yet four months until the harvest?’ Behold, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and look at the fields, that they are white for harvest already.

36 He who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit to eternal life; that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.

37 For in this the saying is true, ‘One sows, and another reaps.’

38 I sent you to reap that for which you haven’t labored. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.”

39 From that city many of the Samaritans believed in him because of the word of the woman, who testified, “He told me everything that I did.”

40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they begged him to stay with them. He stayed there two days.

41 Many more believed because of his word.

42 They said to the woman, “Now we believe, not because of your speaking; for we have heard for ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.”

43 After the two days he went out from there and went into Galilee.

44 For Jesus himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country.

45 So when he came into Galilee, the Galileans received him, having seen all the things that he did in Jerusalem at the feast, for they also went to the feast.

46 Jesus came therefore again to Cana of Galilee, where he made the water into wine. There was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum.

47 When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to him, and begged him that he would come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death.

48 Jesus therefore said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders, you will in no way believe.”

49 The nobleman said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”

50 Jesus said to him, “Go your way. Your son lives.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way.

51 As he was now going down, his servants met him and reported, saying “Your child lives!”

52 So he inquired of them the hour when he began to get better. They said therefore to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour, the fever left him.”

53 So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives.” He believed, as did his whole house.

54 This is again the second sign that Jesus did, having come out of Judea into Galilee.

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Deuteronomy 18:18

promise of a prophet like Moses, which the Samaritan woman was looking back to

18 I will raise them up a prophet from among their brothers, like you. I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I shall command him.

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Acts 12:20-23

people of Tyre and Sidon come to Herod with one mind for political reasons; Herod struck down for not giving God glory

20 Now Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. They came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus, the king’s personal aide, their friend, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king’s country for food.

21 On an appointed day, Herod dressed himself in royal clothing, sat on the throne, and gave a speech to them.

22 The people shouted, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!”

23 Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he didn’t give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died.

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Acts 15:24-29

Jerusalem Council letter sent to Gentile churches, leaders becoming of one mind on not burdening Gentiles beyond essential requirements

24 Because we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, ‘You must be circumcised and keep the law,’ to whom we gave no commandment;

25 it seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose out men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves will also tell you the same things by word of mouth.

28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay no greater burden on you than these necessary things:

29 that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality, from which if you keep yourselves, it will be well with you. Farewell.”

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Acts 18:12-15

Jews rise up together against Paul before Gallio the proconsul at Corinth

12 But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him before the judgment seat,

13 saying, “This man persuades men to worship God contrary to the law.”

14 But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If indeed it were a matter of wrong or of wicked crime, you Jews, it would be reasonable that I should bear with you;

15 but if they are questions about words and names and your own law, look to it yourselves. For I don’t want to be a judge of these matters.”

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Acts 19:28-32

crowd at Ephesus rushes with one accord into the theater shouting for Artemis, assembly in confusion

28 When they heard this they were filled with anger, and cried out, saying, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

29 The whole city was filled with confusion, and they rushed with one accord into the theater, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul’s companions in travel.

30 When Paul wanted to enter in to the people, the disciples didn’t allow him.

31 Certain also of the Asiarchs, being his friends, sent to him and begged him not to venture into the theater.

32 Some therefore cried one thing, and some another, for the assembly was in confusion. Most of them didn’t know why they had come together.

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John 17

Jesus prays that his followers may be one just as the Godhead is one

1 Jesus said these things, and lifting up his eyes to heaven, he said, “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may also glorify you;

2 even as you gave him authority over all flesh, so he will give eternal life to all whom you have given him.

3 This is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and him whom you sent, Jesus Christ.

4 I glorified you on the earth. I have accomplished the work which you have given me to do.

5 Now, Father, glorify me with your own self with the glory which I had with you before the world existed.

6 I revealed your name to the people whom you have given me out of the world. They were yours, and you have given them to me. They have kept your word.

7 Now they have known that all things whatever you have given me are from you,

8 for the words which you have given me I have given to them, and they received them, and knew for sure that I came from you, and they have believed that you sent me.

9 I pray for them. I don’t pray for the world, but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.

10 All things that are mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them.

11 I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them through your name which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are.

12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in your name. Those whom you have given me I have kept. None of them is lost, except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.

13 But now I come to you, and I say these things in the world, that they may have my joy made full in themselves.

14 I have given them your word. The world hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

15 I pray not that you would take them from the world, but that you would keep them from the evil one.

16 They are not of the world even as I am not of the world.

17 Sanctify them in your truth. Your word is truth.

18 As you sent me into the world, even so I have sent them into the world.

19 For their sakes I sanctify myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.

20 Not for these only do I pray, but for those also who will believe in me through their word,

21 that they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that you sent me.

22 The glory which you have given me, I have given to them; that they may be one, even as we are one;

23 I in them, and you in me, that they may be perfected into one; that the world may know that you sent me, and loved them, even as you loved me.

24 Father, I desire that they also whom you have given me be with me where I am, that they may see my glory, which you have given me, for you loved me before the foundation of the world.

25 Righteous Father, the world hasn’t known you, but I knew you; and these knew that you sent me.

26 I made known to them your name, and will make it known; that the love with which you loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

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Romans 15:5-6

quoted as the only prescriptive use of homothymodon outside Acts: God grant you to be of the same mind so that with one purpose and voice you glorify God

5 Now the God of perseverance and of encouragement grant you to be of the same mind one with another according to Christ Jesus,

6 that with one accord you may with one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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Recap

The message in order, in a few minutes of reading.

Pastor Ryan walked through every use of the Greek word homothymodon in the book of Acts, a word meaning "with one accord" or "according to one passion," and asked what it looks like when a congregation genuinely shares one mind and one purpose. He noted that the word appears eleven times in the New Testament, ten of them in Acts, and treated those ten occurrences as Luke's intentional thread running through the whole story. The sermon closed with Communion, observed together as a deliberate act of that same unity.

What was said

The study began at Acts 1, where the disciples are gathered in the upper room before Pentecost, devoting themselves with one mind to prayer. Pastor Ryan pointed out that this small, quiet gathering is the starting point for everything that follows in the book, and that the unity there is not organizational or strategic but a shared orientation toward God.

Moving through the early chapters, he showed a pattern: the believers meeting daily in the temple, sharing meals, selling property to meet each other's needs, and drawing larger numbers as a result. He paused on the table fellowship angle long enough to connect it to the cookout happening that same morning outside, making the point that eating together with sincerity of heart is not a minor detail in the New Testament.

Not every use of the word is a good one, and Pastor Ryan made that clear early. When the crowd rushes at Stephen with one passion to stone him, that is homothymodon too. When the people of Tyre and Sidon unite politically to flatter Herod, and when the silversmiths in Ephesus fill the theater shouting "Great is Artemis" for two hours, those are all the same word. His point was plain: it is entirely possible to be unified and be wrong, to have concord that is completely detached from truth and humility.

The Jerusalem Council in Acts 15 came up as the clearest example of the word being used well in a complex situation. The elders, Paul, and Barnabas had real disagreement in front of them about what Gentile believers were required to take on from Jewish law. They reasoned from scripture together, they prayed, and then they wrote a letter that said twice it seemed good to them, and good to the Holy Spirit. Pastor Ryan found that remarkable, that there was no beam of light from heaven, just people called into one family working through a hard question together and landing somewhere they could all stand.

The only use of the word outside the book of Acts is in Paul's letter, where it becomes explicitly prescriptive: that God would grant them to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one purpose and one voice they might glorify God. Pastor Ryan read that as the anchor for everything descriptive in Acts. The pattern in Acts shows what the thing looks like in practice; Paul's letter says this is what we are actually called to pursue.

He closed with Communion, which he described as the congregation's own regular practice of homothymodon. Everyone waits until all have been served, and then all take it together. The point was that whatever background someone comes from, whatever theological lean they bring, the blood of Christ is what draws the room into one family and one purpose. That, he said, is what unifies us.

Doing a Bible study?

Here is a guide we have prepared for you: the passages in order, questions for the group, and room to write.

Pastor Nathan described homothymodon as being united according to one passion or impulse, not just being in the same room together. What is the difference between physical togetherness and the kind of unity Luke seems to be describing in Acts?
The sermon pointed out that the early believers in Acts 2 were together with one mind in the temple and at meals, and that the Lord was adding to their number because of it. What do you think it is about that kind of unity that draws people in rather than pushing them away?

and 3 more questions in the guide

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Working with I might as well tune up. We're good, Ryan.

Okay. Good morning, everyone. Welcome to First Bee in Jackson, Wyoming. Thank you for being here. We're we're having I mean, it's kinda becoming typical.

We're having some tick technical issues, but I think we're we're pretty much good to go. But be patient with us. Would you stand with us and join us in song? Here's a good word from Psalm one zero three to lead us into worship. Praise the Lord my soul, all my inmost being.

Praise his holy name. We're gonna start by singing fall afresh, which is a good one just to talks about waking us up, getting us getting us ready to worship.

Spirit, come. Spirit, come.

Amen, y'all. Oh, boy. Y'all can have a seat. That is a wild sounding Yeah. Something's working.

So the announcements are these. We're having technical issues. That's one of them. Old bills happened yesterday. Tanya and I happened to be out of town for a funeral, but we have heard nothing but good things about it.

I'm gonna invite Allie Lane, if you would. Check that mic and see what's gonna happen to you. Yeah. Alright.

Good morning. My name's Ali. I am gonna start by asking you to imagine two new parents walking out of the hospital. They're newborn, the car seat, going to the car, going home for the first time. How do you think they're feeling?

Go ahead. Shout it out. How do you think they're feeling? Scared. Terrified.

Okay. Now let's fast forward six weeks. Both parents are feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, anxious about every noise the baby makes. Is this normal? Should I call the doctor?

Now imagine going through this experience far from family, in a community where you're still building connections with limited knowledge of what resources actually exist. This is a reality for many of the families in our valley. Nationally, perinatal mental health disorders are now recognized as the number one complication of childbirth. One in five women and one in ten men will experience a perinatal mood disorder. That's not the baby blues.

This is clinical depression and anxiety that can last for months and years if not treated. The tragedy, half of these cases will go completely undiagnosed because families think, well, I'll just tough it out. This is where it takes a valley enters the scene. Our community has incredible perinatal resources. The the problem isn't that sport doesn't exist, it's that families can't find it when they're exhausted, overwhelmed, don't know where to look.

So we're not duplicating services. We're not competing with providers. We're simply partnering with the community organizations and health care professionals that already work with this expecting a new families. So our role is to be the connector. So you're thinking, okay, how does this work?

So first we've created a current easy to navigate hub showcasing over 80 perinatal resources. So like, who are the doulas in town? Are there support groups for families? Who are the mental health therapists? What can I do with my two year old?

We've done the legwork. Families don't need to do that. Second, we help normalize this crazy experience of parenthood. Talking about hard to hard to talk about issues like infertility, miscarriage, birth trauma, mental health. When we share openly, we discover how much we have in common.

Third, we help facilitate direct support through a free maternity infant child clothing and gear swap. Here's how it works. Families donate their outgrown items before the swap. We have volunteers organize them and then families come the next day and get whatever they need for their families for free. The swap has been happening since 2018.

So you might have heard of it or perhaps attended. It's grown to be a beloved community event. 600 people attended in April with over a 100 volunteers and many community partners. But the best part is we achieve a 100% landfill diversion. What doesn't get taken by local families goes on to support the Wind River Reservation for their community baby shower.

So nothing goes to waste, and our circle of care extends throughout Wyoming. So you might be thinking, okay, well, I don't even have kids. Like, my kids are grown. How does this affect me? Here's how.

Supported parents are more productive employees. They're more stable and engaged community members, and they choose to stay in our valley and raise their families because they feel like they belong. So here's where you can help. Spread the word. Tell your family or tell your employees, tell your friends, community members that might be in this life stage because the more families that discover support, the better.

We also have an incredible opportunity right now through old bills. If you we humbly would ask you to consider a donation to It Takes a Valley. Our goal is 30,000 to reach that maximum match amount. This will help ensure the swap continues to be free and our continued collaboration efforts. Whether you're currently in this life stage or been there thirty years ago or know families that could benefit, your support creates a huge safety net for families.

So it truly does take a valley to raise children. So visit our website, there's QR codes on the screen. I have some more info in the back too. So thanks for having me. And if you have any questions, I'll love to talk to you after the service.

Registration is open. That is starting next Monday, not tomorrow, but Monday week if you're from the South. September 15, registration is open now. There is a meeting today between the services and it's in the Fellowship Hall because first b the q is out here on the lawn. If you would, Iwana volunteers, run out, grab something quick, and then come on down the hall to the Fellowship Hall.

And I think Jenny and Danny have some something planned for you down there. There is a horse whispering event, Sunday, September 21 up at the Diamond Cross Ranch at 05:00. That's the information that I have. I think Peter and Lauren are here. Actually, Grant Galher and Jane asked us.

We were up I was up doing a wedding a while back and he said his beloved horse Freckles passed this year. And so this is sort of an in celebration of Freckles, but he's invited all the churches in the valley. If you wanna come up, the Diamond Cross Ranch is an absolutely gorgeous place to be. Beautiful evening, 05:00, Sunday, September 21, Diamond Cross Ranch up in Buffalo Valley. The Guatemala missions trip is forming and we need to get them a head count very soon.

So October 11 through the eighteenth. For more details, can talk to Mike back there in the doorway or you can talk to me. The j h women's community Bible study is happening. At this time, it's meeting at the Presbyterian Church. They're covering the book of Genesis from September 10 to October 29.

That's ten to noon and childcare is provided for that. If you wanted to sign up, can do that at jhwomensbiblestudy.com. Sisters Saved by Grace, Nancy made the announcement last week, but this is a great great great group of ladies that meets in the Fellowship Hall on Thursday evenings at six. Praying with power, they they are doing a book study this time. Praying with power, books are $7 and we have those that starts this week, September.

Started that last week. Oh gracious. Last week. September 4 is past. Okay.

Alright. Goodness. I can't keep up. First b b q, September 7. That is today.

So that's out here between services. And if there's anything else that I have forgotten and I feel like there's one. Is there one? No? Oh,

yes. There is one on Friday.

There is one on Friday. Okay. That's it. So this is for the Teton Valley Fellowship over in Idaho. Where are you meeting and when?

We will be at the plumber's house.

The plumber's house on Friday at? Six. 06:00. Six to eight ish. Okay.

That's Teton Valley Fellowship, Teton Valley Auto. Thank you very much. And other than that, would you all just pray with me quickly and you can stand. Lord God Almighty, I thank you for this group gathered in your name this morning. I pray that you would teach us something from your word.

Lord, teach us something that we can hold on to and we can put into practice, Lord. But right now, what we want to do is just praise you for you are good and you are a pursuing God. And if you have caught us, we are to be pursuing others. In Jesus name, I pray that we recognize your goodness and be a part of it in this world. Amen.

What'd we forget? That's what I forgot. I knew that was a big one. That's it. So we are on the twenty first.

Also, we're gonna vote. We're gonna have a congregational meeting in between services. That's what it was. No slide. That's what it was.

So we have been meeting together as a search committee since before Carl moved to Alabama. And the search committee has come to an agreement on who the next associate pastor would be. And so we are putting forward Van Jones, his wife Lauren and their kids as being our next associate pastor. And so we're gonna take a congregational vote on that. The elders and the search committee have made the decision and they're putting that forward for a vote on the twenty first between services.

Right? Okay. That's the one. Alright. God, you are good.

May we concentrate all effort, lord, all effort on being in your will, in your way. Would you would you move this morning in and through us? Amen.

All my life you have been faithful. All my life you have been so so good with every breath that I am able I will sing of the goodness of God I love your voice You have led me through the fire in darkest night. You were close like no other. I've known you as a father. I've known you as a friend.

I've lived in the goodness of God. All my life good with every breath that I am able I will sing that again. Will sing of the goodness of God Amen. Be. Amen.

Let's pray. Lord, we we just come before you this morning, Sunday morning. It's beautiful outside here in Wyoming. Just reminds us of your creation that you have created everything that we see, and and we are reminded of your goodness as well. We just pray that you would come before us, help us to worship you in truth, and we just thank you again for this for this time.

And it's in your name we pray. Amen.

I'm and my soul finds rest in your selfishness show me grace I worship you and my heart cries only you.

Okay. You can have a seat. We're gonna be entering a time of worship through giving. That's part of the service, and I'll invite the ushers to come on forward. Ray, would you pray for us?

Yep. God, thank you for this for this morning, for this crowd that's gathered in your name. Lord, we ask that you'd use us to as your witnesses that would you would use us to advance the gospel, Lord. We know that that's your plan a. We know that there's no plan b.

We wanna be a part of what's going on, Lord. Would you show us the way that you would have us to go forward walking together for your glory, for our good, for your glory, and for the benefit of all of those around us, Lord. From here to the very uttermost parts, we ask you to use this offering to do whatever you will and whatever way you will. In Jesus name, would you ask we do ask that you would bless the gift and the giver, expand and multiply. Amen.

Constant in the trial and the change, one

thing remains

the

higher gives up, never runs out on me. You're love. And on and on and on and on it goes it overwhelms and satisfies my soul and I'll never ever have to be I'm confident and covered by the power of your great love. My death is pain. There's nothing that could separate my heart from your great love.

Your love never fails and never gives up, never runs out on me. Your love never fails and never gives up, never runs out on me. Your love never fails and never gives up, never runs out on me. Your love. Your

Amen. And it is happening downstairs. Children's Church is on. There they go. Can you all hear me?

Not really. Alright. Now, can you hear me now? Yes. Okay.

Alright. Cool. Alright. We'll keep on working through it. We are in a study of acts and we have been in a study of acts, but I gave you plenty of fair warning last week that I'm doing a topical sermon this week, and I have not been more nervous in my whole life.

That's the topical sermon right there. I tried to do use this in a wedding recently and I flat could not pronounce it. Is a word in the New Testament that's used 11 times and in its 11 uses, 10 of them are in the book of Acts. And so the 10 of them in the book of Acts, I think are programmatic by Luke. Think he's saying the same thing.

There are other ways to say this about being unified. So here we are, homothymodon. It helps if I write it in English. Homothymodon is to be in one accord or in one mind or under one impulse according to one passion, it's an adverb. Hey, look at that.

It's an adverb. It's from a compound base of these two words, hamu. Hamu is together. Hamas, same, together, and Thumas, which is wrath or even passion. It is according to the same impulse, the same mind.

And if you've been paying attention throughout the book of Acts, we see this come up quite a bit. We're 22 chapters in and we've seen it so far all of its times, and I'm gonna cover those in this and then I'm gonna come back. I am nervous, so I am going to pray. God help me. This reminds me of all those times I had to preach before I was a preacher and all over the place.

So Lord, would you bring us all into one accord? Would you bring my thoughts into one accord with one purpose, with one intent, Lord, that you would be glorified. In Jesus name, I pray that you would be here at work amongst us this morning. Amen. Amen.

So here we are in the first chapter of the book of Acts. Take this as a review of the book of Acts. Okay? You remember Acts one eight when Jesus says to his disciples, you will be my witnesses and you'll do that here in Jerusalem, and in Judea, and in Samaria, and even to the uttermost parts. And we have seen that happen in our study of acts up to where we were last week.

But he said, stay right here until you are imbued with power from on high and then this is what comes next. Then they returned to Jerusalem from that mountain which is called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath stage journey away. And when they entered into the city, they went up to the upstairs room. Oh my goodness, the disciples together in an upper room. That calls back to the upper room discourse in John, and it is great tied together here.

They were there where they were staying and Peter and John and James and Andrew and Philip and Thomas and Bartholomew and Matthew and James, son of Alphesians, and Simon the zealot, and Judas the son of James, not to be confused with Judas Iscariot. All of these were continually devoting themselves with one mind, one mind to prayer. So you can be together in one mind praying and that's what they were. All of these, it tells who was there, this little small group at the very beginning of the book of Acts were together, with one mind to prayer along with the women, Mary mother of Jesus and his brothers. That's the first time we see it.

Next one, and that's a good one. I put green or red. Okay. The green means it's a good one. That's a good use of this, which spoiler alert, there are some bad uses of the word.

So everyone kept feeling a sense of all. This is toward the end of chapter two. Chapter two is the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. It is the tongues of flames of fire lighting upon each of them and people were confused because they understood. Isn't that great?

My favorite. People were confused because they understood, aren't all those folks Galileans and yet I hear them in my own language? God is a God of order, not chaos. He is bringing order and light to the people. Okay.

This is towards the end of that chapter. I can't preach the whole chapter. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe, and many wonders, and many signs, miracles were taking place through the apostles. The miracles authenticate the message, and all the believers were together and they had all things in common and they'd sell the property and possessions and share them with all to the extent that anyone that had need. Now day by day, continuing with one mind, Haumadon.

Does it sound like people are putting aside their selfish desires and they're putting aside their self, and they are coming together on purpose day by day continually with one mind in the temple. Now having seen that Messiah is Jesus, they go back to the temple and they are taking their meals together with gladness and with sincerity of heart. Did I invite y'all to first b b q out here? Table fellowship is extremely important in the New Testament. To sit with someone for a meal, to sit with someone for a meal like this this past night before last, got to sit down with someone who's grieving for a meal.

There's nothing else quite like it. Daily, they were there and they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people, and the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who are being saved. Amen. They were together, homothumedon, with one mind and God was adding to their number. Unity is confusing for the world.

It's also very very attractive. So that's a good one. Four. In four, chapter four, James and I mean, Peter and John had been had been arrested and had been beaten, and had been told never to preach again in Jesus' name, and this is what happens next after that little scene. And when they had been released, they went to their own companions, and reported everything that the chief priests and elders had said to them, including don't do this anymore, I'm sure.

And when they heard this, they raised their voices to God with one mind and said, Lord, it is you who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything that's in them, who by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of our father David your servant said this, why were the nations insolent and the peoples plotting in vain, the kings of the earth took their stand. The government just told them don't do this anymore, And then they're calling up Psalm two. Why did the nations contend? Why are they insolent? Why are the peoples plotting in vain?

The kings of the earth took their stand and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against his Christ. Who are we gonna go with? Are we gonna go with God or are we gonna go with man? And they were together in one accord, praying this and recognizing from the scripture that they need to stick with God moving forward. That's a good one too.

So three uses so far, all of them good. Five. At the hands of the apostles, many signs and wonders were taking place among the people, and they were all together in one mind, in one accord, according to one purpose, according to one passion. You can read that. It's Haumadon.

This is the way it's translated here, but according to one passion, they were together in Solomon's Porticoat. They were there in a corporate gathering, But none of the rest dared to associate with them because of all that was going on, but they did hold them in high esteem. I don't know what's going over there scares me, but it's pretty awesome. Increasingly, however, increasingly believers in the Lord, large numbers of men and women were being added to their number. Being together in one accord has a tendency to draw people in.

To such an extent that they even carried out their sickened streets and they laid them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by or at least a shadow might fall on any of them and the people from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together as well, bringing together who were sick, people who were sick or tormented with unclean spirits, and they were all being healed. They were all together in one place, and the people were being healed, and they were being drawn into it. Does that sound like a good thing? Yeah. Sounds like a great thing.

Where's Ali? Thank you, Ali. When you recognize an issue, recognize a problem, recognize a way that you can heal a people, a land, a person, whatever, if you can be a help in that, amen. Let's get together. We'll get get behind them on that.

It's wonderful. That's a good use. Another one, that's four uses. All of them good. Acts seven.

Now, when they heard this, were infuriated. Uh-oh. And they began gnashing their teeth at them. But he being full of the Holy Spirit looked intently into heaven. This is the stoning of Stephen.

Oh my goodness. So they have been the witnesses in Jerusalem and they were beginning to be the witnesses in Judea right around Jerusalem. We've seen those both right here before now. And this says, so Stephen being full of the Holy Spirit looked intently into heaven and saw the glory of God. He saw Jesus who had been seated in his session stand at the right hand of God and he said, behold I see the heavens open and the son of man is standing at the right hand of God.

But they shouted with loud voices and covered their ears. They did not want to hear it and they rushed at him with one passion. They wanted to kill him. Does that sound like a good one? That's bad.

It is possible to be unified and be wrong. Okay. It's possible. And we'll see throughout the rest of the book of Acts that as the witness grows, and I think the witness grows because they are unified and intent on doing God's will in God's way, we see opposition come in. Now, when they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him and witnesses laid aside their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul, and they went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

And then he fell on his knees, and he cried out with a loud voice, Lord, don't hold this sin against them. And having said this, he fell asleep. This is Stephen. Now who is he in one accord with? He sounds just like Jesus.

Father, forgive them for they know not what they do. Don't hold this sin against them. They're unified opposing Christ and Stephen at that point, and Christ is standing to receive him. Here we are in Acts seven. Therefore, those who had been scattered, the scattering of the people happened at this after the stoning of Stephen.

If we stay here, we're all gonna get killed. And so they scattered, and Jesus had said, you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem where it's comfortable and you live and everything's hunky dory, and in Judea, and in Samaria. You're gonna spread out from here, and they didn't. They they hold up in Jerusalem and the witness was not moving forward and then after the stoning of Stephen, they're scattered and it says, therefore, those who had been scattered went out through places and they were all proclaiming and preaching the word. And Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming Christ to them and the crowds were paying attention with one mind.

They were in one accord. Christ went before them. John chapter four, Samaritan woman, there are lots of different places to see that the Holy Spirit is already working. In fact, when Jesus is speaking to the Samaritan woman, he says, this is one of those cases where one guy plants and others water, and then the other one gets time for the harvest. If you think all the way back to what that lady was looking back to was Moses eighteen eighteen.

Deuteronomy eighteen eighteen, he says, be looking for a prophet, one like me who will rise up from among the people, and you should listen to him. And that lady listened to him, and she went back into town and she told him everything about him, and they came out and Jesus and the disciples stayed there for three days, and poor Peter must have been starving because he wouldn't dare eat anything in the Samaritan house. Samaritans were gathered in one accord. You think that the Jews had been waiting a long time, but the Samaritans had been half breeds and they had been outcast for a long long time. And now, they're together and they want to hear more about this Messiah, this Taheb, this prophet.

So they were listening with one accord to what Philip was said and as they heard and they saw the signs which he was performing, Philip later called the evangelist from the case of many who having unclean spirits. They were coming out of him, shouting with a loud voice and many who had been paralyzed and left or on crutches were healed, so that there was much rejoicing in that city. There was much rejoicing because the people were united to hear the message of God. That's a good one. Here we go.

Acts 12. Now he was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. Does that one sound like it's gonna be a good one? With one mind, they came to him and having one over blast us the king's chamber. Oh, where is this?

This is Herod. This is Herod. You'll recognize him before the end of the paragraph. These are the people of Tyre and Sidon who with one mind, they got together and they began to plot politically how they would take on this situation. With one mind, they came to him and they won over blast us the king's chamberlain.

Was it bribe? We don't know. Was it flattery? Not sure. Sounds like them later on.

But they were asking for peace because their country was supported with grain from the king's country and on an appointed day after putting on his royal apparel, Herod took his seat on the rostrum and began delivering an address to these people of Tyre and Sidon who needed his help. And they were listening to him and the people repeatedly cried out, the voice of God and the not of a man. And immediately, an angel of the Lord struck down Herod because he did not give God the glory. He was supposed to be God's man. He was supposed to be the king of the Jews.

But immediately, an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give God the glory and he was eaten by worms and died. The one accord can just be political and that's not good. I'll give that a red slut. It's not good. If you come together for a purpose that is not God's purpose, whether it's looking out for yourself, looking out for your people is what they were doing, but that's not necessarily good.

Let's go on. Acts 15. To make it fit on the slide, I left out verse 27. I didn't think it mattered in this context. Since we have heard that some of our number to whom we gave no instruction, James and the elders in the Jerusalem church, the Jewish flavored Christians who were making the decisions at the Jerusalem church.

Paul came back to them and said, God's moving among the Gentiles. This is the whole book of Acts we're talking about right here. God is moving not just in the Jewish church, he's moving here among the Gentiles and it looks like there's gonna be a clash. Everywhere that we go, seems like and this is what we talked about last week. It seems like there's a clash between how much of the Jewish law are we required to take on if we just believe in Jesus.

So here it is, Jerusalem Council, Acts 15. James, since we this is part of a letter that was sent out to the Gentile churches. Since we have heard that some of our number to whom we gave no instruction have confused you by their teaching, the Judaizers. They are upsetting your souls. It seemed good to us having become of one mind to select men to send to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ for it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us.

Did you hear twice it said it seemed good to us? The next time you're in a meeting and you just are sitting there going, why can't we get together on this? It feels like we're working at cross purposes here. We're not together on this. Take your time.

Pray. And then this sounds like, oh, it's a dirty word today, compromise. It seemed good to us. It seemed good to us and it seemed good to the Holy Spirit. It seemed good to us to lay upon y'all no greater burden than these essentials.

Abstain from things that are sacrificed to idols. That's super gross to us, and we're not gonna be able to get along. And I hate that it is that way, but it kinda is that way. And from blood, and from things that are strangled, and from acts of sexual immorality. Our past Jewish flavored Christians, we've been understanding this for a long time.

We still make mistakes. There are still errors here. We still have flaws and faults over it, but trust us, it's better if you avoid sexual immorality. I don't know what your background is. If your background is from a place where that's just the norm, you still need to come away from that.

Jesus is calling us all out of our people and into one people. And when he prayed in John 17, that you all may be one just like the Godhead is one. He meant that. He really meant it. Calling you out of your background and into the ecclesia, the called out ones, the church.

Abstain from these things, and if you do these things, you will do well. If you keep yourself free from such things, you will do well. I think that's a Jerusalem Council, and I think that's a good one. I think it's a good one in a in the same way that it says they prayed together in one accord, in one mind, in the same way that they praise God together in one mind, they kept on kept on meeting with one another to figure out what needed to happen for the problems that they were facing in the world. And they looked to the Holy Spirit to do it and they were in one accord.

So that's a good one. Acts 18. But while Gallio was proconsul Vicaea, I think this is a bad one, it is at Corinth. While Gallio was proconsul Vicaea, the Jews rose up together against Paul, and they brought him before the judgment seats, and this man is inciting the people to worship God, contrary to the law. But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said, if this was a matter of some crime, some vicious, unscrupulous act of Jews, it'd be reasonable for me to put up with you.

But if there are no questions about teaching a person your own law, see to it yourself. Y'all just deal with it. This is the moment where they could have been together in one accord looking for what God had for them and Paul was giving them what God had for them. Are you with me? Paul's expressing the goodness of God through the gospel presenting Messiah Jesus, and they were in one accord adamantly against him.

And once you get to be adamantly against, it's really hard for you to turn the corner. Now Paul knows that better than anybody else. Every time he presents his story and he's gonna present it again the next time I preach. Every time he presents his story, he presents it in such a way that he says, I know where you are because I was there too. And Jesus said to him, we haven't gotten to this yet, but Saul, it's hard for you to kick against the goats.

You keep on doing it though because it's all you know. If what you're hearing is true, go with that. And so he's trying to express that to them, but they were homophobedon against him. Acts 19. Now when they heard this, they were filled with rage.

This is at Ephesus. And they began shouting, great is artemans of the Ephesians, and the city was filled with confusion. And they rushed Homo thumedon into the theater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul's Macedonian traveling companions. This is that near riot in Ephesus, and I left the whole slide up here because the last verse cracks me up every time I read it. So then some were shouting one thing and they were completely convinced of it.

It says they shouted, great is Artemis of Ephesians for two hours. And others were shouting another thing, for the assembly itself was in confusion. That's not Homo thumedon. Both sides were fine, yelling out what they were yelling out, but the assembly was in confusion and honestly, the majority didn't even know what reason they come together. Does that tell a story of our times?

It does. That's a bad usage of it. You can be together and be against the purposes of God. So that's all of them. So is this prescriptive?

Is he saying be together or is it descriptive? They were together. I think it's mostly descriptive. But if I had to go for prescriptive, I'd go the only other use. The only other use of this word and this Bible in this New Testament is this.

And it is absolutely prescriptive. It's absolutely something that we should do. And Paul is saying this, and he was present for virtually every one of those homophthymedons that we've already covered in acts. Right? Almost all of them, not all, but almost all of them.

Corporate prayer and waiting on the Lord from acts one. Daily temple worship and table fellowship in acts two. United praise after persecution and beating in acts four and five. Healing coming together to help people get through stuff. We have folks right now in this church who are suffering and they're hurting and we want to be able to help them.

We want to heal them physically, we want to heal them spiritually, and we want to help them mentally to get through. To stand against hostile unanimity. It is possible to have concord and unity, but if that is detached from the actual truth and humility, then that is a bad thing. So missional consensus at the Jerusalem Council is when I go back to and every time I see and it seemed good to them. It's weird to me.

It's not, oh, and then there's a beam shining from heaven and it said, know, written out in finger of God in stone. No. It's people who are called together into this one family that will get together and will reason together from the scriptures, and they'll work through what it is that needs to happen next. That's pretty awesome, and it's okay. It's okay to just decide on that sort of stuff.

I I did not preach this because of the vote in two weeks, obviously. I forgot the vote in two weeks during the announcements. But it is really cool that we have an opportunity to come together and to say, we're here and we're in one accord. Okay. Practical application for today.

A congregation can cultivate Homathumedon by anchoring their fellowship and apostolic teaching. I have such a great conviction for for presenting just what it says every week, and I don't think that's gonna change. I don't think topical is ever gonna be the way for me, but I don't mind it when somebody else does that, that's fine and I'm almost always encouraged by it. But man, what's in there is just so good just presented straight, you know. Apostolic teaching, practicing generous hospitality and y'all do that.

Resolving conflict biblically and prioritizing corporate prayer. One that was left out was this. We practice an open table here. We have an open table. Any of y'all who have ever put your faith in Christ are welcome at this table.

And so we're also going to do it Homathumedon. Paul says, later on, says, if you're going to do this, wait till everybody gets one. I know that seems silly for some of y'all who grew up doing this a different way, but we wait for everybody to have the the cracker. We distribute that before, and then we all take it together, homothymba done, in one accord. And then, whether you lean towards this or your background is this or you lean towards this and your background is this, when we come together at this table, we recognize that the blood of Christ, the blood of Christ, the perfect life given sacrificially and voluntarily is available to whomever would accept it.

That's what unifies us. We are in this family, the family of God because of the blood of Jesus. So we practice an open table and I'm gonna invite the ushers to come on down. I'll read this now and then I'll read it again probably for the close. But now, right in the midst of this Lord's Supper, may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant all of y'all to be of the same mind.

That's a different word in this case, but it's very similar. With one another and according to Christ Jesus so that with one purpose and with one voice, you may glorify the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Lord God Almighty, I pray that you'd bless this little representation of the body of Jesus that says, he walked it out perfectly. He had a perfect record. He was sent by the father and in complete submission to the spirit, walked it out on earth, tempted in every way just as we are tempted, yet was without sin.

Thank you, Lord, for your not just good example, but for your perfect record which you are offering. As each one would partake, Lord, I pray that if they put their trust in you, they would partake. I'm gonna give a chance right here, Lord, for us to confess any unconfessed sin. We want to be in one accord, in one purpose, of one mind with you. So as you bring things to our mind, may we let them go.

As you bring unforgiveness to our mind, may we let it go and forgive. Lord God Almighty, what you're offering is too important for us to just be selfish and alone. Amen.

The

Now on the same night that he was betrayed, he took the bread after supper and after he'd given thanks, he said to his disciples that were now and his voice still rings to us. This is my body which is given for you. Take this and eat of it and do it as often as you will in remembrance of me. Thank you Jesus for your perfect submission to the will of God, for your emptying of yourself, leaving the glories of heaven, for all that you did, to know what it's like and to walk it out without failing in the probation that all of us have. In Jesus name, we gather because in Jesus blood, are drawn together.

We ask your blessing on this little plastic cup of grape juice as we distribute it, Lord, that for each that would partake, Lord, that they would sense your presence in a new and different way deeper into their life than ever before. I pray that we recognize the sacrifice that you made in Jesus name. And for those Lord who let the cup pass because they just don't believe at this point, Lord, I pray that you would show who you are through homophthoumadon, our humble accordance and concord together with you according to your one mind and your one purpose to glorify God and for the good of mankind. In Jesus name, amen.

For he changed me completely. A new life is mine. That is why by the cross I will stay.

Thank you. And in the same manner that he had taken the bread, he also took the cup, and he said to them there and says to us today that this is this is the new covenant in my blood. Take this, take it in, and drink. Do it as often as you will in remembrance of me. Amen.

And as we stand, as we stand together in one accord, would you all sing with me the doxology? Judy, would you hit a g over there somewhere?

Praise God from whom all bless ings flow. Praise him all creatures here below. Praise him above ye heavenly host. Praise father, son, and holy ghost.

May that be a blessing on breakfast too. Amen.

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