FIT CHECK: How to Stay United When People Get on Your Nerves by Ps. Dan Stephan

People will get on your nerves. They will misunderstand you, disappoint you, irritate you, and sometimes flat-out offend you. The question is: what happens inside YOUR heart when they do? 🌐 TAKING THE LAND PODCAST https://takingthelandpodcast.com ⭐ SUPPORT WORLD EVANGELISM — PREMIUM SUBSCRIPTION No ads • Early releases • Full-length Testimony Tuesdays Supercast — $3/month https://taking-the-land.supercast.com/ Spotify — $3.99/month https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/sh... Apple Podcasts — $4.99/month https://apple.co/4owjo5Z 📍 LOCATE A CFM CHURCH NEAR YOU https://cfmmap.org ALL PROCEEDS GO TO WORLD EVANGELISM. Preaching from Romans 15:5, this message challenges Christians to take a spiritual “fit check.” Scripture calls us to clothe ourselves with mercy, kindness, humility, patience, forgiveness, and love. When those things disappear, our relationships aren't the only thing that suffers. Our effectiveness for God suffers too. Unity does not mean everybody has the same personality or never disagrees. It means we refuse to let offense, pride, insecurity, competition, and bitterness destroy what God is trying to accomplish through His people. In this message: • Why your relationships reveal what's happening spiritually • How offense can slowly change your heart • Why talented people can still destroy team chemistry • The connection between unity and spiritual strength • How correction keeps us spiritually “in tune” • Why sometimes you simply have to be the bigger person CHAPTERS: 00:00 Warm greeting and report from New Zealand churches 00:31 Raratonga missionary church launched with strong turnout 00:59 Honoring the faith of earlier leaders and turning to Romans 15 01:24 Airport lounge dress code story sets up the sermon theme 02:33 Inner “fit check” versus outward appearance 03:01 Romans 15:5 and the call to live in harmony 03:21 Marriage feast parable and the wrong garment 05:00 God notices what is on the inside 06:22 “Fitting for followers of Christ” means suitable for our calling 07:23 Police conduct and what unbecoming behavior looks like for disciples 08:24 Disunity in church relationships as a fit check failure 09:21 Power adapter illustration and why connection affects spiritual power 10:48 Rehoboam, leadership, and the danger of not serving people well 11:39 Philippians 4 and the call for brothers and sisters to agree in harmony 12:38 Clothing ourselves with mercy, kindness, humility, patience, and forgiveness 14:44 Unity matters because the church is an army at war 15:53 Why God will not bless a church that is not united 16:22 Connect with God first when relationships get strained 17:47 Patience under pressure and learning to endure without breaking 18:16 Spiritual conductors and the need for correction 20:21 Philippians 2 and being of one mind, one love, one purpose 20:53 World Cup and football chemistry as an image of teamwork 23:20 Redwood trees and strength through interconnection 25:12 The Boys in the Boat and success through unison 28:02 Psalm 133, Acts 2, and God commanding blessing in unity 29:01 Salvation call and invitation to get right with God 30:27 Challenge to the church to stay team players and pass the fit check 34:01 Personal testimony about becoming more easily agitated over time 35:25 Warning to never stop being the bigger man 36:13 Closing prayer for mercy, humility, forgiveness, and grace