The following sermon is by John MacArthur, pastor, author, and Bible teacher with Grace

to You.

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And now unleashing God's truth one verse at a time.

Here's Grace to You, Bible teacher John MacArthur.

As we sort of pull together, I guess, in some ways the strands of the last amazing eighteen months or so that the church has had to become something a little more.

A little bit different than it was in the past.

We had no idea of what the Lord would do.

We're still in awe of how the ministry of this church has grown and developed over this period of time.

I don't think anybody would have come up with this COVID situation as a strategy for church growth.

But it has turned out that way. I'm just kind of curious how many of you have come to Grace Church during the COVID period from eighteen months ago up until now? Put your hands up.

That's kind of what I thought.

So I only asked that question because I want you to understand there's been a sifting in the life of the church over this period of time.

And I don't think that is accidental because God is in charge of everything.

And first Peter 417 says, judgment must begin at the house of God.

For years, all of us who understand the word of God and who understand what the church is to be, have carried the heavy burden on our backs of unfaithful churches.

We have addressed the issues that define and describe unfaithful churches. We have confronted their bad theology, their bad practice.

We have confronted their unqualified leadership. We've addressed that time and time again through the years.

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