Bikers Church Cape Town

Jesus Christ - The only true savior for the world. Pastor George Lehman   Salvation is an Unearned blessing Given to an Unworthy sinner. The greatest story ever told to the human race. Which is still bearing fruit to all who would embrace the truth. Luke 2:1-11 - 1“At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. 2(This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. 4And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He travelled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. 5 He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child. 6And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. 7 She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them. 8That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! Notice verse 11 A Savior has been born. You can’t Know the good news until you understand the news The very reason that God sent His Son to this earth is to: Save Mankind from eternal punishment and Hell. Therefore, Jesus Christ is called the Savior of the world.   Luke 19:10 - “For the son of man came to seek and save that which was lost” If our greatest need had been technology God would have sent us a Scientist. If our greatest need had been money God would have sent us an Economist. If our greatest need was pleasure God would have sent us an Entertainer. But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Savior.   Think about it: No other religion has ever, even attempted to save mankind from hell, or even sacrificed self to redeem mankind from the effects of Sin. All other religions operate on an external basis, keeping laws, giving things, trying to achieve by mind over matter. Our relationship with Jesus starts in the heart and then works outward. Matthew 1:23b - They will call Him Immanuel -“God with us”   He became like we are so we can become like He is. Philippians 3:20 - For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the savior the Lord Jesus Christ.   Not only are we saved from eternal punishment and hell, but we are also now citizens of heaven. According to the Bible eternal life can alone be obtained through faith in the Son of God and through faith in His name Jesus Christ, King of kings and Lord of Lords.   Philippians 2:10-11 - Every knee shall bow those in heaven and those on earth, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.   Acts 4:12 - And there is salvation in and through no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by and in which we must be saved.     The word savior actually means much more than what we read on the surface – Savior the Greek word is Soter = Deliverer, Protector, Healer, make you whole. That is why savior also refers to Salvation from danger or difficult circumstances not only does Jesus save us He also protects us. Salvation and victory over some enemy like anger, maybe a bad habit. Salvation for healing of our physical bodies.   1 Peter 2:24 - By His wounds you have been healed. When God sent His son as that little baby in that “Food trough” (manger) The Father had ambitious plans for you and I. Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.   The same One who saved your soul, longs to remake your heart. God wants for you and I to change into the likeness of the savior. Ephesians 4:23-24 - 23To be made new in the attitude of your minds, 24And to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.   Give yourself a check up. What’s your heart condition today What part of your “Old self” gives you the most trouble. Remember this is not the season to relax spiritually – Don’t take a holiday from God. As we celebrate this season of a savior who came to give us, Hope, Joy, Peace and a certain future. Let us show our appreciation to our Heavenly Father, by loving Him as our first love. Offering ourselves as a gift of thankfulness.  And commit to change that what needs changing in us. Let us live for the things that Christ died for. Always having a never give up attitude. 2 Corinthians 5:15 - He died for all so that all who live having received eternal life from Him- might live no longer for themselves to please themselves but to spend their lives pleasing Christ who died and rose again for them.

Building Godly relationships #7 By Pastor George Lehman   LOVE is a little word; people make it BIG. (Make it: Active, real, effective.) Relationship is not the cherry on the cake; IT IS THE CAKE! One of the greatest abilities and gifts God has placed in our heart is to LOVE. John 15:16-17 (Amp) - 16You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and I have appointed you [I have planted you], that you might go and bear fruit and keep on bearing, and that your fruit may be lasting [that it may remain, abide], so that whatever you ask the Father in My Name [as presenting all that I AM], He may give it to you.  17This is what I command you: that you love one another.                 John 15:12 (Amp) - This is My commandment:  that you love one another [just] as I have loved you.                Sadly, love as one of the rarest and most valuable gifts in the world, we don’t use it as we should. God wants us to value what He values. We are called to LOVE people, because God values people.  The truth is, God sees us as valuable, important and as priceless gifts. We at times value things that aren’t valuable.  People who have been touched by God value relationships.  They master loving people in word and deed. Colossians 1:4 (NIV) - Because we have heard of your (1)faith in Christ Jesus and of the (2)love you have for all the saints                What was their clear, obvious identification mark? Love God They loved one another.   Romans 12:9 (Msg) - Love from the centre of who you are; don’t fake it, run for dear life from evil, hold on for dear life to good.   Paul’s prayer for the church: 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 (Amp)  - 12And may the Lord make you to increase and excel and overflow in love for one another and for all people, just as we also do for you.  13So that He may strengthen and confirm and establish your hearts faultlessly pure and unblameable in holiness in the sight of our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) with all His saints (the holy and glorified people of God)! Amen, (so be it)!   Walking in love prepares me for the coming of Jesus.  Full and running over with love. Peter says, “Since you’ve changed, make sure that you love one another.” 1 Peter 1:22 (Amp) - Since by your obedience to the Truth through the [Holy] Spirit you have purified your hearts for the sincere affection of the brethren, [see that you] love one another fervently from a pure heart.   1 John 4:7 (Amp) - Beloved, let us love one another, for love is (springs) from God; and he who loves [his fellowmen] is begotten (born) of God and is coming [progressively] to know and understand God [to perceive and recognize and get a better and clearer knowledge of Him].    When I begin to put loving others into practice, I begin to understand God’s heart.   1 John 4:12 (Amp) - No man has at any time [yet] seen God.  But if we love one another, God abides (lives and remains) in us and His love (that love which is essentially His) is brought to completion (to its full maturity, runs its full course, is perfected) in us! A story of friendship: One day a teacher asked her students to list the names of the other students in the room on two sheets of paper, leaving a space between each name.   Then she told them to think of the nicest thing they could say about each of their classmates and write it down.  It took the remainder of the class period to finish the assignment, and as the students left the room, each one handed in the papers.   That Saturday, the teacher wrote down the name of each student on a separate sheet of paper and listed what everyone else had said about that individual.   On Monday, she gave each student his/her list.  Before long, the entire class was smiling. “Really?” she heard whispered.  “I never knew that I meant anything to anyone!” and “I didn’t know others like me so much,” were most of the comments.   No one ever mentioned those papers in class again.  She never knew if they discussed them after class or with their parents, but it didn’t matter.  The exercise had accomplished its purpose.  The students were happy with themselves and one another.   That group of students moved on.  Several years later, one of the students were killed in Vietnam and his teacher attended the funeral of that special student.  She had never seen a serviceman in a military coffin before.  He looked so handsome, so mature.   The church was packed with his friends.  One by one those who loved him took a last walk by the coffin.  The teacher was the last one.  As she stood there, one of the soldiers who acted as a pallbearer came up to her.  “Were you Mark’s math teacher?” he asked.  She nodded:  ‘yes.”  Then he said:  “Mark talked about you a lot.   After the funeral, most of Mark’s former classmates went together to a luncheon.  Mark’s mother and father were there, obviously waiting to speak to his teacher.  “We want so how you something“, his father said, taking a wallet out of his pocket.  “They found this on Mark when he was killed.  We thought you might recognize it.”  Opening the wallet, he carefully removed two worn pieces of notebook paper that had obviously been taped, folded and refolded many times.  The teacher knew without looking that the papers were the ones on which she had listed all the good things each of Mark’s classmates had said about him.  “Thank you so much for doing that,” Mark’s mother said.  “As you can see, Mark treasured it.”   All of Mark’s former classmates started to gather around.  Charlie smiled rather sheepishly and said, “I still have my list.  It’s in the top drawer of my desk at home.”  Chuck’s wife said, “Chuck asked me to put his in our wedding album.”  “I have mine too,” Marilyn said.  “It’s in my diary.”  Then Vicki, another classmate, reached into her pocketbook, took out her wallet and showed her worn and frazzled list to the group.  “I carry this with me at all times,” Vicki said and without batting an eyelash, she continued:  “I think we all saved our lists.”  That’s when the teacher finally sat down and cried.     She cried for mark and for all his friends who would never see him again.  The density of people in society is so thick that we forget that life will end one day.  And we don’t know when that one day will be.  So please, tell the people you love them that they are valuable, special, important and you care for them.  God created us in His image so let’s go out of our way and build Godly relationships with one another.  DO IT, before it is too late… How easily we fall into the trap of the enemy: Without thinking, we can be so unloving. Sadly, we too often love things and use people when we should be using things and loving people. What you are in your heart is how you really are. Luke 6:45-46 (NIV) - 45The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart.  For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.  46“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” The only condition for loving, is to love without condition. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a (LB) - 4Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, 5never haughty or selfish or rude.  Love does not demand its own way. It is not irritable or touchy.  It does not hold grudges and will hardly even notice when others do it wrong.  6It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever truth wins out.  7If you love someone you will be loyal to him no matter what the cost.  You will always believe in him, always expect the best of him, and always stand your ground in defending him.  8All the special gifts and powers from God will someday come to an end, but love goes on forever. The love of God IN US is the key to freedom to build Godly relationships. Philippians 1:9-10 (Amp) - 9And this I pray: that your love may abound yet more and more and extend to its fullest development in knowledge and all keen insight [that your love may display itself in greater depth of acquaintance and more comprehensive discernment], 10So that you may surely learn to sense what is vital, and approve and prize what is excellent and of real value [recognizing the highest and the best, and distinguishing the moral differences], and that you may be untainted and pure and unerring and blameless [so that with hearts sincere and certain and unsullied, you may approach] the day of Christ [not stumbling nor causing others to stumble].                           

14-12-2025 By Pastor Kobus Massyn “My Greatest Asset is Me” (Identity. Growth. Faithfulness.) Everything in life — your family, your calling, your success — flows from one source: you. If you lose your job, you can get another. If you lose your possessions, you can rebuild. But if you lose yourself — your faith, your purpose, your discipline — you lose everything. That’s why I say: my greatest asset in life is me. Not in pride, but in truth — because I am God’s investment. Psalm 139:14: “I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” Story #1 — The Broken Violin There’s an old story about a violin that was auctioned off for almost nothing — dusty, scratched, out of tune. Then a master violinist stepped forward, tuned it, and played a beautiful melody. Suddenly, the price jumped from a few dollars to thousands. The difference wasn’t the violin — it was who held it. “You might feel ordinary, but in the hands of the Master, your value changes.” That’s the truth of your life: God’s touch gives you worth. My Greatest Asset Is Me — God is Invested in You 1 Corinthians 6:19–20: “You are not your own; you were bought with a price.” God placed His Spirit, His creativity, His potential in you. He doesn’t just want to use your gift — He wants to grow you. “When you realize God invested His Son in you, you stop living like you have nothing to offer.” Challenge: Take care of what God placed in you — your mind, your health, your faith. Because you are heaven’s most expensive project. Build What God Gave You — Growth Through Stewardship Galatians 6:7–9: “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap… Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not give up.” Growth doesn’t happen overnight — it happens over time. Every prayer, every act of obedience, every seed of faith matters. 2 Peter 1:5–7: “Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.” “Faithfulness isn’t standing still — it’s growing steadily.” Story #2 — The Bamboo Tree In China, farmers plant bamboo seeds and water them faithfully for years — and nothing happens. No sprout, no stem, no sign of life. But in the fifth year, the bamboo suddenly shoots up more than 20 meters in just six weeks! Did it grow in six weeks? No — it grew underground for years, building roots deep enough to sustain its height. “When it looks like nothing is happening, God might just be growing your roots.” Challenge: Keep sowing, even when you can’t yet see your harvest. Be Faithful With What God Gave You — Fruit Through Obedience Matthew 25:25: “I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground.” Fear will make you hide what faith wants you to use. The servant didn’t lose because he failed — he lost because he did nothing. Matthew 25:21: “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.” God doesn’t promote talent — He promotes faithfulness. “If you stay faithful in the small things, God will trust you with the big things.”   Story #3 — The Single Mother and Her Coins A true story from South Africa: A single mother of three used to bring her tithe every Sunday — a few coins in a folded envelope. One week her pastor told her, “You don’t have to feel guilty for giving so little.” She smiled and said, “Pastor, this isn’t about guilt. Every time I give, I remind myself that I still trust God with what I have.” A year later, she started a small baking business — and every week, she testified that God multiplied her “faithfulness” far more than her money. “Tithing isn’t a tax — it’s a testimony.” Galatians 6:9: “Do not grow weary in doing good, for in due time you will reap if you do not give up.” God gave you a life, a gift, and a calling. You don’t need to be perfect — you just need to be faithful. Step Focus Scripture Story/Reminder 1 Know it… You are God’s investment Psalm 139:14 The violin in the Master’s hands 2 Grow it… Build your faith and character 2 Peter 1:5–7 The bamboo tree roots 3 Show it… Be faithful and fruitful Matthew 25:21 The faithful mother’s tithe “When you grow, everything around you grows.” “When you are faithful, God adds more to your life.” Story #4 — The Janitor Who Became a NASA Engineer Back in the 1960s, when NASA was preparing to send a man to the moon, President John F. Kennedy visited one of the space centre’s. As he walked through the hallways, he noticed a janitor sweeping the floor. The President stopped and asked, “What are you doing, sir?” The man looked up, smiled, and said, “Mr. President, I’m helping put a man on the moon.” He wasn’t just sweeping floors — he was serving with purpose. Years later, that same man continued to work faithfully, learning small technical skills on the side. Eventually, NASA trained him as a technician. He went from cleaning the floor to helping launch rockets. “He didn’t get promoted because he was the most talented — he was promoted because he was the most faithful.” That’s exactly what Jesus meant in Matthew 25:21: “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many.” You may feel like your part is small… But God watches how you handle the small things. And when you stay faithful, He opens doors that talent alone never could. Maybe today you’re sweeping the floors in life — but God sees someone who’s preparing to launch something greater.” Closing Challenge: Don’t bury what God placed in you. Don’t let fear silence your gift. Don’t let comparison kill your confidence. Because when God returns, He won’t ask, “What did you get?” He’ll ask, “What did you do with what I gave you?” Let’s be found faithful — using, growing, and multiplying what He entrusted to us.

Building Godly relationships #6 By Pastor George Lehman   Unforgiveness does a great deal more damage to the vessel in which it is stored than the object on which it is poured. If you mess up with this one, you mess up every relationship. You will never build Godly relationships.  It’s like drinking rat poison and waiting for the rat to die… Ephesians 4:32 (Amp) - And become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tenderhearted (compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted), forgiving one another [readily and freely], as God in Christ forgave you.                                      Somehow as God’s children, we’ve reserved the right to be disobedient and do our own thing when it suites us. The Greek word for forgiveness is Aphiemi: means: - Forsake, lay aside, leave, let alone, let be, let go.   God created human beings in His image so they can be friends - intimate, love-filled companions with Him and one another. To all the wonders that God created, human beings add an invention of their own … It’s almost like the law of Newton:  “For every infliction of pain, there must be an equal and opposite act of vengeance.” Genesis 4:23-24 (Amp) - Lamech said to his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice; you wives of Lamech, listen to what I say; for I have slain a man [merely] for wounding me, and a young man [only] for striking and bruising me.   If Cain is avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech [will be avenged] seventy-sevenfold.                Lamech kills a man for wounding him, he then says, “he will seek revenge – 77 x7 to anyone who hurts him.”  I call it ‘The Law of LAMECH’. If anyone inflicts pain or hurt on me, I must pay them back. The question is – does this law still exist today?  Sadly, the answer is, “it still does”. ‘REVENGE’ (You hurt me and I’ll hurt you back…) Shortly after this episode of Lamech, God views the violence, corruption, the hurt and pain that spread through the creatures He loved and says: Genesis 6:5-6 (Amp) - The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination and intention of all human thinking was only evil continually and the Lord regretted that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved at heart. God keeps giving His heart to the human race and they keep showing up at the function on somebody else’s arm. So, God who created in six days, has to create once more after the fall of man. God creates a kind of a spiritual surgery that can remove what is toxic to the heart and make dead relationships live again. This new creation is called…  ‘FORGIVENESS’ In some way His last, best gift to the human race.   It’s the only force strong enough to heal relationships – damaged by hatred and betrayal, hurt, bitterness and sin. Peter comes to Jesus and says:  “Someone has done me wrong, someone has hurt me.  I know I’m supposed to forgive them.  Why must I always be the one to forgive?  How many times should I forgive – 7 times?”   Matthew 18:21-22 (Amp) - Then Peter came up to Him and said, Lord, how many times may my brother sin against me and I forgive him and let it go?  [As many as] up to seven times?  Jesus answered him, I tell you, not up to seven times, but seventy times seven! Peter is expecting Jesus to say:  “WOW Peter that’s magnanimous, that’s a call way beyond your duty”. You see, it’s not just anyone who hurt him – it’s a brother, one he trusted. The concern of Peter is felt by every one of us that’s been hurt or wronged or sinned against. Why should I forgive?  What if the other person doesn’t deserve it?  We know it’s the spiritual thing to do, but it doesn’t seem to work out for us in the real world. Imagine Peter’s response.  Instead of patting him on his back, Jesus tells Peter he still has 483 acts of forgiveness to go.  Why 70x7? Because by the time you get to 320 times, it’s becoming a good habit in your life. Jesus is reversing ‘The law of Lamech’ The point Jesus is making:  There are 2 ways to live with hurt: 1.  The way of vengeance, or 2.  The way of forgiveness The 1st way leads to death. The 2nd way leads to life. Here are some real-life changing truths of forgiveness: - You can’t get ahead while you’re trying to get even. - There is no revenge as sweet as forgiveness. - We should forgive and then forget what we have forgiven. Never is God operating more effectively and so strong in your life as when you release revenge and dare to forgive an injury, a wrong, a hurt or a sin against you. - It’s far better to forgive & forget than to hate & remember. - Forgiveness may not change the past, but it will enlarge the future. Unforgiveness is the cholesterol of the heart – it slows the flow of peace, joy, blessings and a victorious, free life. I mean really, if you want to be miserable, don’t forgive people. To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover the prisoner was you. Think about this: Forgiveness saves the expense of anger, the high cost of hatred and the waste of energy. A person who cannot forgive has forgotten how great a debt God has forgiven them. For many Christians, unforgiveness is often hidden under other words that sound more acceptable: I’m not angry; I’m just hurt. Emotional hurt has its roots in unforgiveness.  We wouldn’t dream of walking with unforgiveness for months.  Hurt is part of the torment of unforgiveness. Jesus said: Matthew 18:35 (Amp) - So also My heavenly Father will deal with every one of you if you do not freely forgive your brother from your heart his offenses. Another key to unforgiveness is this phrase:  I can forgive, but I can’t forget. “What’s the matter with you?” growled a man at his wife.  “Why do you keep talking about that mistake I made?  I thought you said you had forgiven and forgotten?” “I have forgiven and forgotten,” snapped the wife.  “But I just don’t want you to forget that I have forgiven and forgotten.” People have even said (hiding behind the Bible) “I’ll forgive him/her because God is going to punish him/her.” I know Rom 12:19 says: Romans 12:19 (Amp) - Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave the way open for [God’s] wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is Mine, I will repay (requite), says the Lord.   But we are warned not to rejoice: Proverbs 24:17-18 (Amp) - 17Rejoice not when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles or is overthrown, 18Lest the Lord see it and it be evil in His eyes and displease Him, and He turn away His wrath from him [to expend it upon you, the worse offender].   We’ve been discussing - the importance of forgiveness and building Godly relationships, let me ask you this question: How do you understand and interpret these scriptures: We live in a culture where we don’t always mean what we say.   Luke 17:3-4 (Amp) - 3Pay attention and be on your guard [looking out for one another].  If your brother sins (misses the mark), solemnly tell him so and reprove him, and if he repents (feels sorry for having sinned), forgive him.  4And even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and turns to you seven times and says, I repent [I am sorry], you must forgive him (give up resentment and consider the offense as recalled and annulled).   Mark 11:25 (Amp) - And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him and let it drop (leave it, let it go), in order that your Father Who is in heaven may also forgive you your [own] failing and shortcomings and let them drop.                             Matthew 6:14-15 (Amp) - 14For If you forgive people their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins, leaving them, letting them go, and giving up resentment](wrok), your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15But if you do not forgive others their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins, leaving them, letting them go, and giving up resentment], NEITHER will your Father forgive you your trespasses. Forgiveness is God’s greatest plan for ‘Building Godly relationships. I wonder how many Christians would want God to forgive them in the same way they have forgiven others.  Forgiveness: You don’t give, you don’t get! Galatians 6:1 (Msg) - Live creatively, friends, If someone falls into sin forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself.  You might be needing forgiveness before the day is out.                           Luke 17:5 (Amp) – The apostles said to the Lord, increase our faith (that trust and confidence that springs from our belief in God). We are going to trust God for release and give us victory over unforgiveness in our life.  To past and maybe present relationships which you are holding against others?  Trust the Holy Spirit to speak to your heart.

Building Godly relationships #5 By Pastor George Lehman   “I only love God as much as I love the person whom I love the least.” This is a How do I make it work or not work service?  Faults are thick where love is thin. Matthew 23:23-24 (Amp) - Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, pretenders (hypocrites)!  For you give a tenth of your mint and dill and cummin and have neglected and omitted the weightier (more important) matters of the Law – right and justice and mercy and fidelity.  These you ought [particularly] to have done, without neglecting the others.   You blind guides, filtering out a gnat and gulping down a camel!   Luke 6:42 (NIV) - How can you say to your brother, Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye, when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye?  You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.                   The history recorded in a museum in Nantucket island: It was about an organization formed centuries ago.  In those days, travel by sea was extremely dangerous because of the storms and the rocks along their Atlantic coast. Many lives were lost within a 1,5 km distance of land.  So, a group of volunteers went into the lifesaving business.  They called themselves the Human Society. These people built little huts along the shoreline.  They had people watching the sea all the time.  Whenever a ship went down, the word would go out.  They would devote everything to save every life they could.  They did not put themselves at risk for money, fame or recognition - only because they prized human life. To remind them of what was at stake, they adopted this motto: “You have to go out, but you don’t have to come back” Not such a great recruiting slogan, but it was. So many accounts and testimonies of people who would risk everything – even their lives to save people they had never met. Over the years things changed.  The U.S. Coast Guard eventually took over.  Their saying was “Let the professionals do it.”  They were better equipped, better trained and paid for it.  Volunteers stopped manning the life saving huts; they stopped looking out for shipwrecks.  They could never get themselves to disband the life-saving society.  They still get together once in a while, but to have dinner and a chat.  They enjoy one another’s’ company.  The point is, “They’re just not in the life saving business anymore”. Here are some truths about this story: Live saving relationship building is not just the function of the pastor or leaders or those that are on fire for Jesus. We are all in the life saving Godly relationship building business. We don’t always see it, because we are so pre-occupied with our own life. I mean It’s a professional job after all Oh yes!!. People around us have mini shipwrecks everyday: They have family fights, mess up at work, children fail at school, make foolish financial choices, have bad habits and choices causing personal low self esteem, they fail, are hurt, disappointed.  The list just goes on… So much has been left by so many to so few. Our lifelines mostly are words that we offer to people. Our words offer: - acceptance, - love and - hope BUT… Our words have the ability to: - judge, - condemn, - wound, - be critical, - unkind and - degrading Romans 15:7 (NIV) - Accept one another…                  Accept is an action from my side to accept people; to be there for them; to say they are valuable and precious and that you long for the best for them. Just note that it doesn’t mean to approve of everything they do. Here’s a story of Jesus, a woman and a bunch of stone throwers: John 8:3-11 (NLT) 3“As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd. 4 “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?” 6 They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. 7 They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” 8 Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust. 9 When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. 10 Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” 11 “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” Like the paralytic, she is brought to Jesus, not on a mat, but wrapped in sheets.  It’s the same purpose, but totally different attitudes: One was for Jesus to heal. One was for Jesus to approve her killing. Before you judge these guys too quickly… Question:  Have you ever held a stone in your hand…? As Christians we can be great stone throwers: - You go through life with judgmental thoughts - A superior attitude - Impatient words - Bitterness – unforgiveness - Not much room for love - Expressing a critical, condemning attitude about individuals - Saying something about someone in a way, that you would not want the other person to hear. There are so many trembling, fear filled, guilt ridden, brokenness and lost ness around you, BUT it doesn’t move you – you don’t even notice, because you’re caught up in your own self-righteousness, pride and judgmentalism. There is no room for stone throwing in Jesus’ plan for Godly relationship building. The reason is: We are all too guilty!’ Phillip Yancey says: Jesus’ audience would have divided people into 2 categories: Sinners (like the woman) Righteous (like the men)   YET… Jesus in one brilliant stroke replaces them with two different categories: Sinners who admit Sinners who deny Ask yourself the question when you are tempted to pick up a stone or see a speck: Why do I take pleasure or feel the need to do this? 2. What am I running away from in my own life? 3. Am I guilty of some of these issues? 4. What good will this do me and those who listen? If you say you are serious about Building Godly relationships.  (It’s not optional, it’s a command.)  ‘Because God truly is.’   Then when you get the urge to throw a rock or pick a speck, look within and ask: What do I need to work on myself? Where have I failed in the past? Let us get back into the lifesaving business: ‘Building Godly relationships’ Ephesians 4:29 (Amp) - Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word nor unwholesome or worthless talk [ever] come out of your mouth, but only such [speech] as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as if fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grace (God’s favor) to those who hear it