What Jesus Does for Sinners

This is the manuscript of the sermon preached on Sunday January 25, 2026 at Christ Church

John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. (Revelation 1:4-6 NIV)

Think about the inexhaustible resources that belong to Jesus Christ and are freely available to us by faith. For these spiritual riches to be ours, we have only to receive him as our Savior and confess him as our Lord. Then all that Jesus possesses and all that he does for sinners will be credited to our account.

This can be described as “The  Great Exchange”. It describes a spiritual "bank account" where Christ’s infinite assets are transferred to us the moment we place our trust in Him.

Here are three things that Jesus does for sinners;

Jesus loves us in our sins.

Jesus frees us from our sins

Jesus lifts us out of our sins.

 Romans 5:6-17 NIV [6] You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. [7] Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. [8] But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. [9] Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! [10] For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! [11] Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. [12] Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned— [13] To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law. [14] Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come. [15] But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! [16] Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. [17] For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!

               

Introduction

In the late 19th century, the Union Pacific Railroad issued bonds to fund the expansion of the American West. These were "Gold Bonds," meaning they promised repayment in actual gold coin rather than paper currency.

In the early 2000s, a group of heirs and investors came forward with several of these original bonds. They argued that because the U.S. had abandoned the gold standard in the 1930s, the "face value" of the bonds should be adjusted to the current market price of gold.

While a bond might have had a face value of $1,000 in 1896, the claimants argued that with compound interest and the skyrocketing value of gold, the railroad owed them hundreds of millions of dollars per bond.

Well the Union Pacific and the U.S. court system rejected the claims. Courts generally ruled that the 1933 Gold Clause Resolution passed by Congress legally converted all "gold" obligations into standard U.S. dollars, effectively wiping out the massive "hidden value" the heirs hoped to find.                                    

In contrast to this, think about the inexhaustible resources that belong to Jesus Christ and are freely available to us by faith. 

For these spiritual riches to be ours, we have only to receive him as our Savior and confess him as our Lord. Then all that

Jesus possesses and all that he does for sinners will be credited to our account.

This can be described as The  Great Exchange. It describes a spiritual "bank account" where Christ’s infinite assets are transferred to us the moment we place our trust in Him.

Romans 10:9-10 NIV [9] If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. [10] For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 

And Romans 8:16-17 NIV says[16] The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. [17] Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Text: 

Revelation 1:4-6 NIV [4] John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, [5] and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, [6] and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.

In our text, the Apostle John in his communication to the seven churches in the province of  Asia, moves from a formal greeting to a profound declaration of Christ’s character and His specific actions on behalf of humanity. These verses highlight Jesus’ past, present, and future work.

The text for our message this morning focuses on three things Jesus does for sinners.

1. Jesus loves us in our sins.

2. Jesus frees us from our sins

3. Jesus frees us from our slavery to sin and changes our status

 I. Jesus Loves Us in Our Sins

The heartbeat of the Gospel is found in the final phrase of verse 5: "To him who loves us." In the original Greek, this is a present-tense, continuous reality. Literally, it means He "is loving us" right now.

Jesus  Loves Us Exactly as We Are: We often feel we have to "clean up" before approaching God, but the Bible reveals a Savior who meets us in our mess. Think of it this way a  parent waiting for a traveling child doesn't wait for them to shower before leaning in for a hug. They don't see the dirt; they see the person. They rush to meet them exactly as they are—disheveled and worn out—because the welcome is more important than the wash. The embrace isn't the finish line; it’s the beginning.

Jesus Loves Us Sacrificially: Sacrificial love, Agape love, is not a passive feeling that waits for us to arrive; it is an unstoppable pursuit that comes to find us. It is the love of God who refuses to leave His greatest treasure in the hands of the enemy. This love didn't just feel compassion from a distance; it took on flesh, took ridicule and beatings, and took on our debt. The Cross is the proof that God’s love is not a word He speaks, but a price He paid. It is not a passive feeling but an active, driving force that led Him to the Cross.  Agape is a verb, an action word, not a noun.

Romans 5:6-8 NIV [6] You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. [7] Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. [8] But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

II. Jesus Frees Us from Our Sins

The end of verse 5 gives us our 'Declaration of Independence.' It says He 'freed us from our sins.' This word freed literally means to 'loose what is bound.' Think of a ship tied to a pier or a prisoner chained to a wall—Jesus walked into the mess of our lives and cut the ropes. He didn't just change our clothes; He changed our status from 'captive' to 'citizen of the Kingdom.

Philippians 3:20-21 NIV [20] But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, [21] who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. 

Just as a citizen living abroad follows the laws and customs of their home country, we are called to live by the "customs" of Heaven (love, grace, and truth) while we are here.

This is the true story of a guy by the name of Martin Leu, who was a man from Nebraska who decided that as long as he had life in his veins, he would use it to save others. Over a period of forty-five years, Martin went to the blood bank over and over again. By the time he was finished, he had donated over 200 pints of blood.

To put that in perspective, the average human body only holds about 10 to 12 pints. Martin Leu literally gave his entire body's volume of blood back to the world twenty times over. Doctors estimate that his 'liquid gift' saved hundreds of lives—people he never met, who were facing death until his blood was poured into their veins.

But as inspiring as Martin Leu was, his sacrifice had a limit. He could only give one pint at a time, and he had to wait weeks for his body to replenish it.

But look at Jesus Christ. When He hung on that Cross, He didn’t just give a pint; He gave it all. And unlike a human donor, the blood of Jesus is an inexhaustible resource. It doesn't just save a few hundred people in Nebraska; it has the power to loose the chains of slavery to sin, of every person in human history.

Martin Leu’s blood gave people a few more years of earthly life; His sacrifice was physical, but Jesus’ sacrifice was eternal. He didn't just give a portion of Himself; He poured out His very life to settle our spiritual debt.

1 Peter 1:18-19 NIV [18] For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, [19] but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 

Jesus redeems sinners His blood frees a repentant sinner from the bondage of sin into the liberty found in Him. 

1 Peter 2:22-24 NIV [22] “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” [23] When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. [24] “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 

III. Jesus frees us of From Slavery to Sin and changes our status

Finally, verse 6, of our text  reveals our new status: He "has made us to be a kingdom and priests." Jesus does more than just pardon us; He promotes us. He doesn't just pull us out of the pit; He seats us in the palace.

Jesus made a startling promise in John 12:32: 'And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.' When the world 'lifted Him up,' they intended it to be a display of ultimate shame. They lifted Him up on a jagged cross, between two thieves, in the sight of a mocking crowd. 

But Jesus knew a secret the world didn't: His descent into shame was the beginning of our ascent into glory. He was lifted up in agony so that you could be lifted up in grace. This 'lifting grace' finds a life weighted down by the gravity of sin—defined by failure and degradation—and it defies that gravity. It picks you up from the ash heap of your past and seats you in a life defined by divine purpose

Look around you today. The 'lifting grace' of Jesus is still at work in the quiet, everyday corners of our lives:

Jesus doesn't just lift the 'super-Christians.' He lifts sinners. He takes lives defined by 'what used to be' and elevates them into 'what can be' through His power. It all starts with realizing that He has already reached down to lift you up. You don't have to climb your way to Him; you only have to reach out and let His lifting grace take hold."

Conclusion

We began this morning talking about the heirs of the Union Pacific Gold Bonds—people who held onto old documents, hoping for a payday that never came. They went to the courts with their claims, but the law had changed, the gold was gone, and their "hidden value" was wiped out. They were left with nothing but worthless paper and a broken dream.

How different it is with the Kingdom of God!

The world is full of people chasing windfalls that don't exist and seeking value in things that can be "wiped out" by a single act of Congress or a shift in the economy. But you and I have been given a bond that is backed by the Throne of Heaven.

Matthew 6:31-33 NIV [31] So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ [32] For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. [33] But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 

When you realize that Jesus loves you exactly as you are, He takes away your need to perform. When you realize He has freed you by His blood, He takes away your shame. And when you realize He has lifted you into His kingdom, He takes away your insignificance.

Your account is not empty. Your inheritance is not tied to the gold standard of this world; it is tied to the "unsearchable riches of Christ." 

1 Peter 1:3-5 NIV [3] Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, [4] and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, [5] who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 

You are a child of the King, a priest of the Most High, and a joint-heir with the Savior. Don't leave here today trying to "break free" from chains that He has already broken off.

Walk out of those doors in the "lifting grace" of Jesus Christ. You are no longer defined by the pit you were in, but by the Palace you are going to.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father,

We thank You today for the Great Exchange. We thank You that while we were still powerless, while we were still disheveled and had the stench of sin on us You ran to us and embraced us.

Lord Jesus, we confess that we have often lived like spiritual paupers when You have made us royalty. Forgive us for staring at the chains on the floor instead of walking through the open door. We thank You for Your blood—that inexhaustible resource that didn't just wash us, but freed us forever.

Today, we reach out and take hold of Your "lifting grace." Lift those of us who feel we have failed; those of us  who feel like we aren’t enough; those of us who feel like we are stuck in sinking sand. Remind us that our names are written in Your book, and our account is overflowing with Your righteousness.

Help us to align our priorities with Your will. May we live not to get a blessing, but from the blessing we already have in Christ, who loves us, and freed us, and lifted us.

In the mighty name of Jesus, Amen.

Things Truly Christian

This is the manuscript of the sermon preached on Sunday January 18, 2026 at Christ Church.

If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world (James 1:26–27 NIV).

It’s easy for someone to say, “I am a Christian. I am a follower of Jesus.” But that isn't enough. If we are truly Christians, our lives and actions must show it. Conformity to a Christian code does not necessarily mean that someone is a true Christian. According to the teachings of the New Testament, a genuine Christian will produce Christlike fruit.

There are three things that must be an integral part of every Christian’s life.

1) A controlled tongue

2) A compassionate spirit.

3) A clean life.

Scripture

James 1:19-27 NIV [19] My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, [20] because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. [21] Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. [22] Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. [23] Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror [24] and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. [25] But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. [26] Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. [27] Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.                

               

Introduction

"Before we dive into the Word, we would be remiss if we didn't acknowledge that tomorrow our nation observes Martin Luther King Jr. Day. As we continue our series, 'Things Worth Remembering,' focusing on building a New Year on a New Foundation, Dr. King stands as a great example of what that looks like in practice. Two weeks ago we identified the essentials—Faith, Hope, and Love—last week we said that God can use us when we have the essentials of faith, hope and love. 

In a world of surface-level labels, anyone can claim to follow Christ. But "Things Truly Christian" are not found in the words we speak; they are revealed in the lives we lead and the ways we grow. Dr. King didn't just preach about justice; he bore the fruit of it through sacrifice and service. Following that same New Testament standard, a genuine disciple is known by their fruit.

Today, we are going to look at the unmistakable evidence of a life that is truly, deeply, and authentically aligned with God's will.

Here’s our text for today;

James 1:26–27 (NIV) "If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

Conformity to a "Christian code" does not make one a true believer.  Genuine Christianity is far more than a public performance. A heart truly transformed by God expresses itself in simple, down-to-earth, and practical ways.

In today’s text James lists three things that must be an integral part of every Christian’s life.

1.  A controlled tongue

2.  A compassionate spirit.

3.  A clean life.

James 1:26 NIV [26] Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 

If you fail to control your tongue your religion is worthless, futile, meaningless, insignificant, or void.   

Though the tongue is small, it is powerful.

James 3:3-5 NIV [3] When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. [4] Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. [5] Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 

A horse is a massive creature of pure muscle and instinct. Yet, a small piece of metal in its mouth—the bit—allows a rider to direct that power.

Our words are the "bits" of our lives. When we speak out of anger, pride, or "ostentatious" self-importance, we allow our base instincts to run wild. However, when we discipline our tongue, we are actually disciplining our whole person.

James describes a great ship tossed by "strong winds." The winds represent the external pressures of life—crises, social expectations, or stress. Despite these massive forces, the tiny rudder determines where the ship ends up.

Your words determine your direction. If you speak words of doubt and bitterness during a storm, you steer toward the rocks. If you speak words of faith and alignment, you steer toward the harbor.

The tongue is like a small flame that starts a fire that can destroy great forests, thousands of homes, and lives, like the fires we had here in the Los Angeles area last year. 

James 3:6, 9-11 NIV [6] The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

[9] With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. [10] Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. [11] Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 

This exposes the contradiction we often live in: trying to maintain a "believer" status on the outside while harboring bitterness or pride on the inside. 

Think of a drop of ink in a glass of clear water. The ink is small, but it doesn't stay in one corner; it permeates everything. When we use our words to manipulate, vent, or "pompously" elevate ourselves, that toxicity doesn't stay in our mouths—it seeps into our health, our mental clarity, and our relationships.   Our words don't just affect the moment we speak them; they create a direction. 

A life of complaining creates a path of misery; a life of gratitude creates a path of peace.

It is absolutely absurd that we use our words as instruments to "praise our Lord" and then we use our words to "curse human beings." It is easy to be "meticulous" about our praise on Sunday morning, but the true test of our foundation is how we speak to the person who cuts us off in traffic or the coworker who makes a mistake. 

Every person is "made in God’s likeness." so to curse a person is, in a sense, to insult the Creator we claim to praise. If our priority is truly God’s will, our words must reflect his love for everyone, not just those we like.

A spring doesn't decide what kind of water to produce; the water is simply a result of the source. If "salt water" (bitterness, sarcasm, lies) is coming out, it’s a sign that the "reservoir" of our heart needs attention.

 We carry the tongue in our mouths, but we cannot control it in our own strength. To truly govern our words, we must surrender the lead to the Holy Spirit.

James 3:7-8 NIV [7] All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, [8] but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

Humanity has successfully dominated the natural world. We have trained lions to sit, falcons to hunt, and dolphins to perform.

We have the technology to split the atom and explore deep space, yet we often cannot stop ourselves from saying that one "worthless" comment that ruins a relationship. The problem of the tongue is not a lack of intelligence or willpower—it is a condition.

If "no human being can tame the tongue," we are left with a problem we cannot solve on our own. This is where the Holy Spirit and our foundation in faith becomes the only solution.

Taming the tongue isn't about trying harder; it’s about surrendering sooner. We must invite the Holy Spirit to stand guard at the "door of our lips."

Psalm 141:3 is a scripture that my mother said she affirmed everyday before she walked out of the house.

Psalms 141:3 NIV Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.

The Holy Spirit doesn't just put a muzzle on us; He changes the source. When our priorities are aligned with God's will, the Holy Spirit begins to replace the "deadly poison" with the "fruit of the Spirit"

Galatians 5:22-23 NIV [22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.                                     

 A genuine Christian must have a controlled tongue and must have a compassionate spirit.

                  

Genuine Christianity is more than words: it reaches out in love to those who are in need.

James 1:27 NIV  Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

True Christians will be concerned for others. This is the attitude of Jesus; he was always concerned about people in need.

Remember what we said last week?

Jesus saw past the crowds to the crisis. He didn't just see people; He saw souls that were harassed and helpless. 

Matthew 9:35-36 NIV [35] Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. [36] When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 

It is not enough to say simply to the hungry, “Go and be fed.” We have to help feed them.

James 2:14-17 NIV [14] What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? [15] Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. [16] If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? [17] In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

Genuine Christians will respond to the needs of others. Two weeks ago I said that;

Love is not a noun we possess; it is a verb we practice.  Our love is shown in action.  If love is merely a "noun" (a possession), it would stay inside us but because our love is a "verb" (an action), it flows through us.  Our love for others should not depend on whether they deserve it, agree with us, or can return it. 

Genuine Christianity has eyes that see, arms that embrace, and a purse or wallet  that opens.

                

A genuine Christian must have a controlled tongue, a compassionate spirit and a clean life.

James 1:27 NIV Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Someone who is a true follower of Jesus will live a clean life. Christians are people whose lives have been purified. Not perfect but purified.

Perfect implies something that is already finished, without a single flaw or mistake. In this life, only Jesus is perfect. If we wait until we are perfect to serve God, we will never start.

Purified implies something that was once stained but is being made clean. It is like refined gold—the gold is "pure" not because it never had dirt on it, but because it has been through the fire to remove the impurities.

Perfection is about following every rule and never tripping. It’s a "pass/fail" grade.

Purification is about the posture of the heart. When you mess up, a purified person doesn't hide; they return to the Refiner to be washed again.

1 John 1:8-10 NIV [8] If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. [9] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. [10] If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

Here’s a simple illustration:

A white shirt can be perfect when it’s brand new in the box. But the moment you wear it out into the world, it’s going to get dirty. Being a purified Christian is like a shirt that is washed every single day. It might have a scar or a mend in the fabric, but because it is regularly washed in the blood of Christ, it is clean. God isn't looking for people who never get dirty; He is looking for people who are willing to be washed.

Although we are all sinners, Christians are commanded to live upright moral lives. We can do this only through the strength the indwelling Holy Spirit gives 

Galatians 5:22-25 NIV [22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. [24] Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. [25] Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.                 

Conclusion

How are we to define Christianity? The meaning is obvious only in the charitable words from our mouths and in the loving acts done from our hearts.

We’ve spent these last few weeks talking about "Things Worth Remembering"—Faith, Hope, and Love. But James reminds us that if these things don’t move from our heads to our hands, if they don't move from our memory to our movements, they remain just ideas.

As we look toward tomorrow, observing the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we see a man who embodied this text. He knew that a "New Foundation" for a nation—and for a person—isn't built on religious slogans, but on the three things we’ve discussed today:

The Call to Action

The question for Christ Church today is simple: Is your religion working?

If your words are still full of "salt water," if your hands are closed to those in "distress," or if your life is being "polluted" by the values of this world, then your foundation is shifting sand. But there is good news. You don't have to be perfect to start fresh today. You just have to be willing to be purified.

You can't tame your tongue on your own. You can't manufacture compassion out of thin air. You can't stay clean in a dirty world by your own willpower. But you can "keep in step with the Spirit."

Let’s be a people whose religion isn’t just a Sunday performance, but a Monday practice. Let’s build our lives on the only foundation that stands the test of time: a faith that expresses itself through love.

Let us pray.

Lord, we don't want a "worthless" religion. We want a life that is pure and faultless in Your sight. Change our hearts, so that our words might change. Open our hands, so that our city might feel Your touch. And keep us close to You, so that we might reflect Your light in a dark world. As we leave this place, help us to not just remember the Word, but to do it. In the name of Jesus, our firm foundation, Amen.