Thank you!  What a blessing to serve a group of people like you.  Karla and I, Sean and Sarah are blessed to be able to work alongside you and we count it a privilege that you allow us to lead.  Thank you for your generous display of love and support.  We deeply value it.  As I mentioned on Sunday, even the best leaders can accomplish little, if anything, without a good group of people to work with, and you certainly are a good group of people to work with. 

As we continue advancing the cause of Christ together in Hixson and around the world, most of the credit for any advances we make, humanly speaking, will belong to you.  Obviously, we cannot accomplish anything unless the Spirit of God does it.  All of our efforts are in vain if the LORD does not build the house.  However, any gains we make will come because we are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel.  They will come because we are of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.  Doing nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility counting others more significant than ourselves.  Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others, (Phil 1:27-28; 2:2-4).  Since most of us are studying Philippians together, those words should look familiar to you. 

As we come together in the unity that Christ died to create (Eph. 2:11-22), the power of the Holy Spirit will be unleased within our congregation and out into our world.  Thank you for serving with us.  Thank you for seeking unity in Christ.  Thank you for honoring us and loving us as you do.