WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.320
 Please join us in a time of prayer.

00:00:05.200 --> 00:00:08.380
 Father, we come to you with humble hearts

00:00:08.380 --> 00:00:10.720
 and praise you for being our God.

00:00:11.279 --> 00:00:12.980
 You created heaven and earth.

00:00:13.359 --> 00:00:15.679
 You shaped everything in it with your own hands.

00:00:16.320 --> 00:00:18.460
 You parted the sea and rescued your people

00:00:18.460 --> 00:00:20.019
 from the hands of their oppressors.

00:00:20.600 --> 00:00:22.679
 You went before David in every battle.

00:00:23.379 --> 00:00:24.359
 You healed the sick.

00:00:24.839 --> 00:00:26.120
 You raised the dead.

00:00:27.280 --> 00:00:29.260
 You are God of all these awesome wonders

00:00:29.260 --> 00:00:30.520
 and you are our God.

00:00:31.140 --> 00:00:32.539
 You are the God of watermark.

00:00:32.899 --> 00:00:33.740
 We praise you.

00:00:35.400 --> 00:00:36.840
 Thank you for your son Jesus

00:00:36.840 --> 00:00:39.640
 for all that he has done to bring us back to you.

00:00:40.520 --> 00:00:41.740
 Thank you that in Jesus,

00:00:42.340 --> 00:00:43.560
 in his sacrifice,

00:00:43.840 --> 00:00:45.980
 we see your perfect love fully displayed

00:00:45.980 --> 00:00:47.880
 and in his resurrection,

00:00:48.520 --> 00:00:50.719
 we have a perfect hope to hold on to.

00:00:52.180 --> 00:00:53.480
 Thank you for your mercy

00:00:53.480 --> 00:00:55.480
 that in your forgiveness,

00:00:55.700 --> 00:00:57.859
 we are set free from the bondage of our sin

00:00:57.859 --> 00:01:00.320
 so that we can now live in freedom

00:01:00.320 --> 00:01:02.039
 to serve and love you.

00:01:03.820 --> 00:01:05.480
 Thank you for your faithfulness,

00:01:06.200 --> 00:01:08.620
 shown not only through the stories in the Bible

00:01:08.620 --> 00:01:10.900
 and our individual life experiences,

00:01:11.420 --> 00:01:14.500
 but also abundantly evident in the life of watermark.

00:01:14.500 --> 00:01:18.060
 From the days when planting this church was just an idea

00:01:18.060 --> 00:01:20.859
 to where we are now with this wonderful congregation,

00:01:21.459 --> 00:01:23.879
 you have guided and provided in every step.

00:01:24.879 --> 00:01:27.640
 You have so generously blessed us in every way,

00:01:28.140 --> 00:01:31.180
 bringing people of many different gifts and talents to serve you,

00:01:31.920 --> 00:01:33.879
 giving us a place to meet every Sunday,

00:01:34.819 --> 00:01:36.900
 changing lives through the ministries of this church

00:01:36.900 --> 00:01:39.379
 and providing us a gospel-centered community.

00:01:39.379 --> 00:01:40.939
 this church,

00:01:41.319 --> 00:01:42.539
 which we can call home,

00:01:43.179 --> 00:01:44.339
 and these brothers and sisters,

00:01:44.659 --> 00:01:45.199
 our family.

00:01:46.239 --> 00:01:48.599
 We see your hand here working in watermark,

00:01:48.840 --> 00:01:51.739
 and we thank you for letting us be a part of your amazing plan

00:01:51.739 --> 00:01:52.739
 to redeem this city.

00:01:54.159 --> 00:01:55.620
 Lord, you have been faithful,

00:01:56.140 --> 00:01:58.959
 and I pray that we will never forget your goodness.

00:02:00.060 --> 00:02:01.319
 So with grateful hearts,

00:02:01.599 --> 00:02:02.599
 we thank you,

00:02:02.979 --> 00:02:04.019
 and we bless your name.

00:02:04.840 --> 00:02:05.759
 In Christ we pray.

00:02:05.760 --> 00:02:08.439
 Gracious Father,

00:02:08.939 --> 00:02:09.879
 we thank you, Lord,

00:02:09.960 --> 00:02:11.319
 for drawing us into your presence.

00:02:12.000 --> 00:02:15.280
 We thank you for allowing us to come into your presence today to worship.

00:02:15.920 --> 00:02:18.060
 We thank you for allowing us to come here

00:02:18.060 --> 00:02:21.000
 and just to worship you openly and freely.

00:02:22.140 --> 00:02:25.980
 Lord, we remain astounded week by week

00:02:25.980 --> 00:02:28.840
 for the goodness that you continue to shower on watermark.

00:02:29.360 --> 00:02:30.680
 We praise you continually

00:02:30.680 --> 00:02:33.099
 for faithfully making a place for us,

00:02:33.099 --> 00:02:34.519
 and despite all things,

00:02:34.620 --> 00:02:36.239
 we find ourselves here again at Cyberport.

00:02:36.900 --> 00:02:38.960
 Lord, we lift up a sacrifice of praise

00:02:38.960 --> 00:02:40.500
 for your love never fails.

00:02:40.780 --> 00:02:41.459
 It never ceases.

00:02:42.879 --> 00:02:44.680
 In this Thanksgiving season, Lord,

00:02:44.740 --> 00:02:47.599
 we are reminded of the utmost source of our everything

00:02:47.599 --> 00:02:48.979
 that is in Christ Jesus.

00:02:49.740 --> 00:02:51.819
 Father, we thank you that while we were still sinners,

00:02:51.939 --> 00:02:52.639
 you loved us.

00:02:53.459 --> 00:02:55.099
 Before time, you loved us.

00:02:56.139 --> 00:02:57.519
 And this love amazes me

00:02:57.519 --> 00:02:59.639
 just to see that

00:02:59.639 --> 00:03:02.400
 it's so fit to demand a ransom of your son

00:03:02.400 --> 00:03:03.719
 for our redemption.

00:03:04.640 --> 00:03:07.020
 Father, we thank you for the work of Christ on the cross

00:03:07.020 --> 00:03:08.780
 that reconciles us to you,

00:03:09.420 --> 00:03:11.080
 that draws us into your family.

00:03:12.099 --> 00:03:14.020
 Father, you sent your son to save us

00:03:14.020 --> 00:03:15.420
 and your spirit to guide us

00:03:15.420 --> 00:03:16.960
 even when we are unworthy.

00:03:17.640 --> 00:03:18.540
 I am grateful.

00:03:19.060 --> 00:03:20.080
 We are grateful, Lord,

00:03:20.120 --> 00:03:21.219
 and we thank you, Father.

00:03:21.900 --> 00:03:22.939
 We love you, Father,

00:03:23.000 --> 00:03:24.379
 for what you have done for us.

00:03:26.060 --> 00:03:28.080
 Father, we praise you for what you are doing,

00:03:28.180 --> 00:03:30.219
 not only for us, but through us.

00:03:30.219 --> 00:03:32.900
 We thank you for the community that you are building here.

00:03:33.620 --> 00:03:35.500
 And Lord, we pray that you will continue to allow us

00:03:35.500 --> 00:03:37.020
 to reflect your glory in this way.

00:03:37.939 --> 00:03:40.120
 And as we make steps out into our community

00:03:40.120 --> 00:03:42.099
 to love and to serve the people around us,

00:03:42.539 --> 00:03:44.120
 we pray that you would bless us

00:03:44.120 --> 00:03:45.020
 as you have already done.

00:03:45.719 --> 00:03:47.599
 We pray that the endeavors we make

00:03:47.599 --> 00:03:49.419
 be a blessing to those who receive.

00:03:50.579 --> 00:03:52.199
 Not, Lord, for our sake,

00:03:52.280 --> 00:03:52.979
 but for yours.

00:03:53.939 --> 00:03:55.139
 For your name we gather

00:03:55.139 --> 00:03:56.560
 and for your fame we serve.

00:03:56.560 --> 00:03:58.960
 For you, Lord, we lift up our souls

00:03:58.960 --> 00:04:00.280
 in worship and thanksgiving.

00:04:00.680 --> 00:04:02.780
 For you are a God who provides abundantly

00:04:02.780 --> 00:04:03.640
 for your children

00:04:03.640 --> 00:04:05.219
 and for Watermark Church.

00:04:05.920 --> 00:04:07.939
 In the name of Christ our Savior, we pray.

00:04:09.140 --> 00:04:11.199
 Father, we are so grateful

00:04:11.199 --> 00:04:12.360
 that you pursue us,

00:04:12.920 --> 00:04:13.800
 know us personally,

00:04:14.280 --> 00:04:15.980
 and want what is best for our lives.

00:04:16.579 --> 00:04:18.459
 You have brought us all to Watermark

00:04:18.459 --> 00:04:19.279
 for a purpose,

00:04:19.699 --> 00:04:21.360
 whether it is our first time here

00:04:21.360 --> 00:04:22.600
 or if we're here each week.

00:04:23.160 --> 00:04:24.899
 Thank you for bringing us to this community.

00:04:24.899 --> 00:04:26.819
 Thank you for creating

00:04:26.819 --> 00:04:27.839
 a Watermark family

00:04:27.839 --> 00:04:29.799
 that is united together by faith,

00:04:30.199 --> 00:04:31.639
 by the faith we have in Christ.

00:04:32.139 --> 00:04:33.579
 No matter our nationality,

00:04:33.779 --> 00:04:35.419
 job, our stage in life,

00:04:35.919 --> 00:04:36.879
 we feel and know

00:04:36.879 --> 00:04:37.560
 that you are building

00:04:37.560 --> 00:04:39.219
 a strong spiritual family here,

00:04:39.519 --> 00:04:40.259
 and we thank you.

00:04:40.739 --> 00:04:42.000
 For the community groups

00:04:42.000 --> 00:04:42.919
 that have been established

00:04:42.919 --> 00:04:43.959
 across Hong Kong,

00:04:44.319 --> 00:04:45.279
 we also thank you.

00:04:45.799 --> 00:04:46.979
 We are hearing about groups

00:04:46.979 --> 00:04:47.739
 that are reaching out

00:04:47.739 --> 00:04:48.479
 to their neighbors,

00:04:48.979 --> 00:04:49.519
 co-workers,

00:04:50.000 --> 00:04:51.319
 and the local poor and needy.

00:04:51.739 --> 00:04:52.479
 Thank you for giving

00:04:52.479 --> 00:04:53.339
 our community groups

00:04:53.339 --> 00:04:54.539
 a passion for service,

00:04:54.540 --> 00:04:56.200
 and a desire to walk

00:04:56.200 --> 00:04:57.220
 on this journey together

00:04:57.220 --> 00:04:58.640
 through support and encouragement.

00:04:59.660 --> 00:05:00.700
 We were amazed

00:05:00.700 --> 00:05:02.620
 as we watched 10 of our church family

00:05:02.620 --> 00:05:03.819
 baptized last week.

00:05:04.080 --> 00:05:04.980
 We are grateful

00:05:04.980 --> 00:05:05.879
 for what you are doing

00:05:05.879 --> 00:05:06.720
 in people's hearts

00:05:06.720 --> 00:05:08.360
 and for celebrating with us

00:05:08.360 --> 00:05:10.100
 as our brothers and sisters

00:05:10.100 --> 00:05:11.300
 symbolize their commitment

00:05:11.300 --> 00:05:13.080
 to be your followers

00:05:13.080 --> 00:05:14.340
 in front of family,

00:05:14.480 --> 00:05:15.100
 friends, and you.

00:05:15.759 --> 00:05:17.040
 We give thanks to you

00:05:17.040 --> 00:05:18.340
 for providing a meeting place

00:05:18.340 --> 00:05:19.660
 for our services each week

00:05:19.660 --> 00:05:21.259
 and for all our volunteers,

00:05:21.460 --> 00:05:22.180
 our worship team,

00:05:22.259 --> 00:05:23.460
 and staff that serve weekly.

00:05:23.459 --> 00:05:25.060
 You have always provided

00:05:25.060 --> 00:05:26.099
 comfortable locations

00:05:26.099 --> 00:05:27.579
 and given us a place

00:05:27.579 --> 00:05:28.659
 to worship collectively.

00:05:29.519 --> 00:05:30.419
 We are humbled

00:05:30.419 --> 00:05:31.339
 by what you are doing

00:05:31.339 --> 00:05:31.879
 through the work

00:05:31.879 --> 00:05:33.139
 of your hands at Watermark.

00:05:33.479 --> 00:05:35.099
 To you be all the glory.

00:05:35.639 --> 00:05:36.120
 Thank you.

00:05:36.339 --> 00:05:36.560
 Amen.

00:05:38.399 --> 00:05:39.439
 Good morning again,

00:05:39.519 --> 00:05:39.959
 Watermark.

00:05:40.659 --> 00:05:41.719
 My name is Chris.

00:05:41.979 --> 00:05:43.740
 I'm helping to oversee

00:05:43.740 --> 00:05:45.139
 some of the community groups.

00:05:45.139 --> 00:05:47.419
 And I don't know

00:05:47.419 --> 00:05:48.620
 if you read in the newspapers

00:05:48.620 --> 00:05:49.500
 this week,

00:05:49.539 --> 00:05:50.419
 but there was a survey

00:05:50.419 --> 00:05:51.800
 that was done

00:05:51.800 --> 00:05:53.560
 to find out

00:05:53.560 --> 00:05:55.039
 which countries

00:05:55.039 --> 00:05:56.659
 were the most emotional

00:05:56.659 --> 00:05:57.680
 in the world.

00:05:59.560 --> 00:06:02.319
 And they did this survey

00:06:02.319 --> 00:06:03.919
 and they asked a number

00:06:03.919 --> 00:06:04.659
 of questions

00:06:04.659 --> 00:06:06.819
 to evaluate.

00:06:07.259 --> 00:06:07.579
 They asked,

00:06:07.939 --> 00:06:08.919
 could you evaluate

00:06:08.919 --> 00:06:10.079
 how your life is

00:06:10.079 --> 00:06:10.639
 at the moment

00:06:10.639 --> 00:06:11.579
 and what you think

00:06:11.579 --> 00:06:12.959
 your life will be like

00:06:12.959 --> 00:06:14.039
 in five years' time?

00:06:14.120 --> 00:06:15.039
 From zero to ten,

00:06:15.099 --> 00:06:16.199
 where would you mark yourself?

00:06:16.939 --> 00:06:18.180
 They asked questions like,

00:06:18.620 --> 00:06:20.039
 do you smile a lot?

00:06:20.539 --> 00:06:21.659
 Do you laugh a lot?

00:06:21.839 --> 00:06:22.680
 Things like that.

00:06:23.319 --> 00:06:24.099
 And do you know

00:06:24.099 --> 00:06:25.099
 what country came out

00:06:25.099 --> 00:06:25.939
 as number one

00:06:25.939 --> 00:06:27.500
 as the most emotional country?

00:06:27.560 --> 00:06:27.919
 Anyone know?

00:06:30.560 --> 00:06:31.039
 No.

00:06:31.319 --> 00:06:32.219
 The Philippines

00:06:32.219 --> 00:06:35.180
 came out as number one country

00:06:35.180 --> 00:06:36.419
 for being most emotional.

00:06:36.420 --> 00:06:37.740
 Do you know

00:06:37.740 --> 00:06:38.259
 which country

00:06:38.259 --> 00:06:39.560
 came out as the bottom?

00:06:41.180 --> 00:06:41.600
 Correct.

00:06:41.939 --> 00:06:42.379
 Singapore

00:06:42.379 --> 00:06:44.520
 came out as

00:06:44.520 --> 00:06:46.680
 the most emotionless people

00:06:46.680 --> 00:06:48.100
 in the entire planet.

00:06:49.560 --> 00:06:49.920
 Now,

00:06:50.040 --> 00:06:51.319
 I'm not convinced

00:06:51.319 --> 00:06:52.980
 about the reliability

00:06:52.980 --> 00:06:54.420
 of the findings.

00:06:55.139 --> 00:06:56.660
 I know some Singaporeans

00:06:56.660 --> 00:06:58.420
 and they're not all emotionless.

00:07:00.259 --> 00:07:01.879
 But there was

00:07:01.879 --> 00:07:03.420
 a very interesting comment

00:07:03.420 --> 00:07:05.740
 by the Gallup spokesperson

00:07:05.740 --> 00:07:07.160
 who did the poll.

00:07:07.240 --> 00:07:07.819
 He said this,

00:07:08.500 --> 00:07:10.100
 if you measure Singapore

00:07:10.100 --> 00:07:12.939
 by the traditional indicators,

00:07:13.360 --> 00:07:14.720
 indicators like wealth,

00:07:15.540 --> 00:07:16.600
 prosperous economy,

00:07:17.160 --> 00:07:18.160
 good education,

00:07:18.680 --> 00:07:19.759
 low crime rates,

00:07:20.360 --> 00:07:21.439
 Singapore looks like

00:07:21.439 --> 00:07:23.560
 one of the best run countries

00:07:23.560 --> 00:07:24.379
 in the world.

00:07:25.439 --> 00:07:27.040
 But if you look at everything

00:07:27.040 --> 00:07:28.980
 that makes life worth living,

00:07:29.680 --> 00:07:31.199
 they're not doing so well.

00:07:32.540 --> 00:07:33.980
 That's a fascinating statement.

00:07:34.340 --> 00:07:35.259
 If you measure Singapore

00:07:35.259 --> 00:07:36.980
 by the traditional indicators,

00:07:37.620 --> 00:07:38.319
 they look like

00:07:38.319 --> 00:07:39.699
 one of the best run countries

00:07:39.699 --> 00:07:40.360
 in the world.

00:07:41.099 --> 00:07:42.159
 But if you look at everything

00:07:42.159 --> 00:07:43.699
 that makes life worth living,

00:07:44.159 --> 00:07:45.439
 they're not doing so well.

00:07:46.839 --> 00:07:47.439
 And I think

00:07:47.439 --> 00:07:49.240
 as we take that

00:07:49.240 --> 00:07:50.439
 and we look into Hong Kong

00:07:50.439 --> 00:07:51.259
 and we even look into

00:07:51.259 --> 00:07:52.199
 our own lives,

00:07:52.719 --> 00:07:54.060
 I wonder whether

00:07:54.060 --> 00:07:57.120
 that's also true for us.

00:07:57.240 --> 00:07:58.659
 That those things,

00:07:58.839 --> 00:08:00.240
 the traditional indicators

00:08:00.240 --> 00:08:01.480
 that we kind of pursue

00:08:01.480 --> 00:08:02.480
 and run after

00:08:02.480 --> 00:08:03.920
 the wealth,

00:08:04.520 --> 00:08:05.120
 status,

00:08:05.640 --> 00:08:06.300
 education,

00:08:06.819 --> 00:08:07.460
 titles,

00:08:07.460 --> 00:08:08.640
 all of those things.

00:08:08.879 --> 00:08:09.280
 Whether,

00:08:09.680 --> 00:08:10.120
 actually,

00:08:10.280 --> 00:08:11.160
 in our lives,

00:08:11.600 --> 00:08:13.660
 when we think about

00:08:13.660 --> 00:08:15.480
 what's really worth

00:08:15.480 --> 00:08:16.259
 living for,

00:08:16.840 --> 00:08:17.540
 whether we're doing

00:08:17.540 --> 00:08:18.400
 quite so well.

00:08:19.080 --> 00:08:20.560
 In 2 Corinthians 8,

00:08:20.819 --> 00:08:21.780
 verse 6,

00:08:22.000 --> 00:08:23.040
 Paul is speaking

00:08:23.040 --> 00:08:23.900
 to the church there

00:08:23.900 --> 00:08:24.620
 and he says to them,

00:08:24.620 --> 00:08:26.139
 You know the grace

00:08:26.139 --> 00:08:27.879
 of our Lord Jesus Christ,

00:08:28.680 --> 00:08:30.480
 that though he was rich,

00:08:31.019 --> 00:08:32.360
 for your sakes

00:08:32.360 --> 00:08:34.080
 he became poor,

00:08:34.820 --> 00:08:36.740
 that through his poverty

00:08:36.740 --> 00:08:38.919
 you might become rich,

00:08:39.240 --> 00:08:40.639
 that through his poverty

00:08:40.639 --> 00:08:42.240
 you might become rich.

00:08:42.259 --> 00:08:43.200
 What is he talking about?

00:08:43.379 --> 00:08:44.679
 He's talking about the cross.

00:08:45.139 --> 00:08:46.039
 He's talking about the cross

00:08:46.039 --> 00:08:47.740
 where Jesus came down

00:08:47.740 --> 00:08:49.139
 and poured out his life.

00:08:49.220 --> 00:08:50.320
 He emptied himself.

00:08:50.840 --> 00:08:51.940
 He poured out himself

00:08:51.940 --> 00:08:54.120
 so that we could become

00:08:54.120 --> 00:08:55.600
 rich in him.

00:08:55.720 --> 00:08:56.720
 We could actually have

00:08:56.720 --> 00:08:58.380
 what life is really

00:08:58.380 --> 00:08:59.560
 worth living for

00:08:59.560 --> 00:09:00.400
 in him.

00:09:01.480 --> 00:09:03.360
 And as we come to communion

00:09:03.360 --> 00:09:04.360
 we're going to celebrate

00:09:04.360 --> 00:09:06.820
 that actually the cross

00:09:06.820 --> 00:09:07.500
 is the place

00:09:07.500 --> 00:09:08.900
 where we can find

00:09:08.900 --> 00:09:11.560
 the true things of life.

00:09:11.720 --> 00:09:12.560
 That peace,

00:09:12.900 --> 00:09:13.620
 that joy,

00:09:14.020 --> 00:09:15.180
 that meaning and purpose

00:09:15.180 --> 00:09:15.700
 in life

00:09:15.700 --> 00:09:16.920
 for which we were made.

00:09:17.160 --> 00:09:17.900
 Because in Hong Kong

00:09:17.900 --> 00:09:18.780
 many people

00:09:18.780 --> 00:09:20.420
 are driven into the ground

00:09:20.420 --> 00:09:21.320
 through work,

00:09:21.320 --> 00:09:22.680
 not just because of the work

00:09:22.680 --> 00:09:23.180
 but they're trying

00:09:23.180 --> 00:09:24.220
 to prove themselves.

00:09:24.680 --> 00:09:25.480
 They're trying to prove

00:09:25.480 --> 00:09:26.620
 that they're worth something.

00:09:26.980 --> 00:09:27.840
 They're trying to prove

00:09:27.840 --> 00:09:29.480
 that they're acceptable

00:09:29.480 --> 00:09:31.180
 to their friends,

00:09:31.300 --> 00:09:31.960
 their family,

00:09:32.140 --> 00:09:32.820
 their parents,

00:09:32.960 --> 00:09:33.560
 their boss.

00:09:35.000 --> 00:09:36.340
 And yet it's a crushing weight.

00:09:36.560 --> 00:09:37.240
 But at the cross

00:09:37.240 --> 00:09:38.000
 what we see is

00:09:38.000 --> 00:09:38.900
 Jesus says

00:09:38.900 --> 00:09:40.980
 you're already approved.

00:09:41.260 --> 00:09:42.740
 You're already accepted.

00:09:43.320 --> 00:09:43.960
 You're already,

00:09:44.020 --> 00:09:44.900
 I've done everything

00:09:44.900 --> 00:09:47.700
 that you can be accepted.

00:09:47.700 --> 00:09:48.620
 At the cross

00:09:48.620 --> 00:09:49.860
 we also find

00:09:49.860 --> 00:09:50.940
 that those of us

00:09:50.940 --> 00:09:52.060
 who struggle with guilt,

00:09:52.480 --> 00:09:53.360
 who struggle with shame

00:09:53.360 --> 00:09:54.580
 because we feel like a failure

00:09:54.580 --> 00:09:56.139
 from the things of our past,

00:09:57.419 --> 00:09:58.299
 we find at the cross

00:09:58.299 --> 00:09:59.039
 Jesus says

00:09:59.039 --> 00:09:59.740
 forgiven.

00:10:00.340 --> 00:10:01.320
 It's finished.

00:10:01.940 --> 00:10:02.419
 Accepted

00:10:02.419 --> 00:10:03.299
 completely.

00:10:05.399 --> 00:10:05.899
 And so

00:10:05.899 --> 00:10:06.860
 I want you to remember

00:10:06.860 --> 00:10:07.259
 those things

00:10:07.259 --> 00:10:07.820
 and I want you to

00:10:07.820 --> 00:10:09.419
 just before you come up

00:10:09.419 --> 00:10:10.200
 and take communion

00:10:10.200 --> 00:10:11.899
 I want you to be thinking

00:10:11.899 --> 00:10:12.680
 about your life.

00:10:12.779 --> 00:10:13.879
 Are you living your life

00:10:13.879 --> 00:10:15.320
 for the traditional indicators?

00:10:15.320 --> 00:10:17.100
 Is that where you're

00:10:17.100 --> 00:10:18.040
 putting your hope in?

00:10:18.640 --> 00:10:19.680
 Or have you realized

00:10:19.680 --> 00:10:21.120
 that as we come to this

00:10:21.120 --> 00:10:23.080
 reminder of the cross

00:10:23.080 --> 00:10:24.500
 that actually this

00:10:24.500 --> 00:10:25.320
 is the fountain

00:10:25.320 --> 00:10:26.160
 of everything

00:10:26.160 --> 00:10:27.200
 that life

00:10:27.200 --> 00:10:28.420
 is worth living for?

00:10:29.860 --> 00:10:30.680
 Communion is

00:10:30.680 --> 00:10:32.280
 something for the family

00:10:32.280 --> 00:10:32.680
 of God.

00:10:32.760 --> 00:10:33.520
 What that means is

00:10:33.520 --> 00:10:35.160
 if you're not yet a Christian

00:10:35.160 --> 00:10:36.340
 you are so welcome

00:10:36.340 --> 00:10:37.540
 but we'd ask you

00:10:37.540 --> 00:10:38.260
 to stay in your seats

00:10:38.260 --> 00:10:39.140
 and just observe

00:10:39.140 --> 00:10:40.000
 what's going on

00:10:40.000 --> 00:10:41.860
 and ask questions.

00:10:41.860 --> 00:10:42.440
 If there's someone

00:10:42.440 --> 00:10:44.460
 who's brought you along

00:10:44.460 --> 00:10:45.740
 just nag them

00:10:45.740 --> 00:10:47.380
 about what this is all about.

00:10:47.820 --> 00:10:49.140
 Don't go away from here

00:10:49.140 --> 00:10:50.160
 until they've told you

00:10:50.160 --> 00:10:51.320
 about what it's about.

00:10:51.640 --> 00:10:52.660
 If you've got kids

00:10:52.660 --> 00:10:54.160
 you know where your kids are

00:10:54.160 --> 00:10:55.300
 spiritually.

00:10:57.060 --> 00:10:57.300
 And

00:10:57.300 --> 00:10:59.960
 what that means is

00:10:59.960 --> 00:11:01.160
 if they've not yet

00:11:01.160 --> 00:11:02.500
 professed faith in Christ

00:11:02.500 --> 00:11:03.280
 we ask you

00:11:03.280 --> 00:11:04.640
 bring them up

00:11:04.640 --> 00:11:05.460
 don't let them take

00:11:05.460 --> 00:11:06.180
 of the elements

00:11:06.180 --> 00:11:07.480
 but use this

00:11:07.480 --> 00:11:08.540
 as a teaching time

00:11:08.540 --> 00:11:09.500
 to teach them

00:11:09.500 --> 00:11:11.220
 about what it means

00:11:11.220 --> 00:11:12.500
 to build your foundation

00:11:12.500 --> 00:11:13.480
 of your life

00:11:13.480 --> 00:11:15.060
 on Christ

00:11:15.060 --> 00:11:16.139
 on what he's done

00:11:16.139 --> 00:11:17.680
 because then you'll be able

00:11:17.680 --> 00:11:18.660
 to live a life

00:11:18.660 --> 00:11:19.960
 that's truly worth living.

00:11:20.800 --> 00:11:22.000
 So if the communion students

00:11:22.000 --> 00:11:22.740
 could come up

00:11:22.740 --> 00:11:24.500
 take your places

00:11:24.500 --> 00:11:25.580
 so just have a minute

00:11:25.580 --> 00:11:26.460
 just to reflect

00:11:26.460 --> 00:11:27.279
 maybe confess

00:11:27.279 --> 00:11:28.120
 where you have put

00:11:28.120 --> 00:11:29.639
 your foundations

00:11:29.639 --> 00:11:30.560
 in anything else

00:11:30.560 --> 00:11:31.500
 and then when you're ready

00:11:31.500 --> 00:11:33.040
 come up

00:11:33.040 --> 00:11:34.300
 and take the elements.

00:11:34.920 --> 00:11:35.180
 Thank you.

00:11:35.639 --> 00:11:36.300
 I'd like to do something

00:11:36.300 --> 00:11:37.100
 slightly different

00:11:37.100 --> 00:11:37.879
 and

00:11:37.879 --> 00:11:39.580
 we're going to take

00:11:39.580 --> 00:11:40.340
 the elements

00:11:40.340 --> 00:11:40.840
 in a minute

00:11:40.840 --> 00:11:42.320
 but what I want you

00:11:42.320 --> 00:11:42.580
 to do

00:11:42.580 --> 00:11:43.700
 as we take them

00:11:43.700 --> 00:11:44.620
 I'd like you to look

00:11:44.620 --> 00:11:45.660
 around at each other

00:11:45.660 --> 00:11:47.060
 because actually

00:11:47.060 --> 00:11:47.700
 here today

00:11:47.700 --> 00:11:48.860
 you are

00:11:48.860 --> 00:11:49.660
 a people

00:11:49.660 --> 00:11:51.080
 if you know Christ

00:11:51.080 --> 00:11:52.080
 who are accepted

00:11:52.080 --> 00:11:53.080
 and forgiven

00:11:53.080 --> 00:11:54.980
 because of the cross.

00:11:55.200 --> 00:11:56.080
 So look at each other

00:11:56.080 --> 00:11:56.960
 and rejoice

00:11:56.960 --> 00:11:58.800
 that because of Jesus' death

00:11:58.800 --> 00:12:00.360
 he's made us one family

00:12:00.360 --> 00:12:01.220
 accepted

00:12:01.220 --> 00:12:02.040
 and forgiven.

00:12:02.920 --> 00:12:03.620
 So on the night

00:12:03.620 --> 00:12:04.800
 that Jesus was betrayed

00:12:04.800 --> 00:12:06.480
 he took bread

00:12:06.480 --> 00:12:08.600
 and he gave thanks.

00:12:08.879 --> 00:12:09.500
 He broke it

00:12:09.500 --> 00:12:10.059
 and he said

00:12:10.059 --> 00:12:10.799
 to his disciples

00:12:10.799 --> 00:12:12.159
 this is my body

00:12:12.159 --> 00:12:13.340
 that was given for you

00:12:13.340 --> 00:12:14.360
 do this

00:12:14.360 --> 00:12:15.620
 in remembrance of me

00:12:15.620 --> 00:12:17.059
 the body of Christ.

00:12:18.019 --> 00:12:18.860
 And on that same night

00:12:18.860 --> 00:12:19.700
 he took the cup

00:12:19.700 --> 00:12:21.519
 and he said

00:12:21.519 --> 00:12:21.879
 this

00:12:21.879 --> 00:12:23.279
 is my blood

00:12:23.279 --> 00:12:24.659
 of the new covenant

00:12:24.659 --> 00:12:26.039
 which was shed for you

00:12:26.039 --> 00:12:27.620
 shed to forgive you

00:12:27.620 --> 00:12:28.779
 for all of your sins

00:12:28.779 --> 00:12:30.299
 drink this

00:12:30.299 --> 00:12:31.500
 in remembrance of me

00:12:31.500 --> 00:12:32.480
 cup of Christ.

00:12:32.899 --> 00:12:33.379
 Father

00:12:33.379 --> 00:12:35.080
 we thank you so much

00:12:35.080 --> 00:12:35.840
 for your body

00:12:35.840 --> 00:12:36.879
 for your blood

00:12:36.879 --> 00:12:38.279
 that you have made us

00:12:38.279 --> 00:12:39.639
 one family

00:12:39.639 --> 00:12:41.019
 who are secure

00:12:41.019 --> 00:12:42.000
 and accepted

00:12:42.000 --> 00:12:42.620
 in you.

00:12:44.139 --> 00:12:44.600
 Father

00:12:44.600 --> 00:12:45.559
 I just want to thank you

00:12:45.559 --> 00:12:46.500
 also for

00:12:46.500 --> 00:12:47.740
 all of the kids

00:12:47.740 --> 00:12:48.879
 that you've given us.

00:12:49.340 --> 00:12:50.039
 I want to thank you

00:12:50.039 --> 00:12:50.539
 so much

00:12:50.539 --> 00:12:51.460
 that they're a blessing

00:12:51.460 --> 00:12:51.939
 to us.

00:12:52.059 --> 00:12:52.620
 I pray Lord

00:12:52.620 --> 00:12:53.899
 that as they go

00:12:53.899 --> 00:12:54.899
 to their classes now

00:12:54.899 --> 00:12:55.720
 that they would

00:12:55.720 --> 00:12:57.399
 learn

00:12:57.399 --> 00:12:58.139
 to build

00:12:58.139 --> 00:12:59.059
 on the foundation

00:12:59.059 --> 00:12:59.840
 which is you.

00:13:00.360 --> 00:13:01.139
 That they would learn

00:13:01.139 --> 00:13:01.919
 that you are

00:13:01.919 --> 00:13:02.720
 what makes life

00:13:02.720 --> 00:13:03.659
 worth living for.

00:13:03.899 --> 00:13:04.740
 Please bless them

00:13:04.740 --> 00:13:05.539
 bless their teachers

00:13:05.539 --> 00:13:06.139
 as they go

00:13:06.139 --> 00:13:07.620
 and praise in your

00:13:07.620 --> 00:13:08.339
 amazing name.

00:13:08.860 --> 00:13:09.199
 Amen.

00:13:10.059 --> 00:13:10.740
 All the kids

00:13:10.740 --> 00:13:11.620
 youth stay in

00:13:11.620 --> 00:13:12.279
 all the kids

00:13:12.279 --> 00:13:12.959
 and teachers

00:13:12.959 --> 00:13:14.399
 you are dismissed.

00:13:18.539 --> 00:13:19.879
 See you later kids.

00:13:24.299 --> 00:13:25.360
 If everyone just wants

00:13:25.360 --> 00:13:25.879
 to stand

00:13:25.879 --> 00:13:27.099
 and worship with us

00:13:27.099 --> 00:13:28.480
 sing with us.

00:13:31.399 --> 00:13:32.679
 So this morning

00:13:32.679 --> 00:13:33.599
 my name is Charles

00:13:33.599 --> 00:13:34.159
 I'm a volunteer

00:13:34.159 --> 00:13:35.240
 here at Watermark.

00:13:35.659 --> 00:13:36.279
 This morning

00:13:36.279 --> 00:13:37.620
 Tobin starts a series

00:13:37.620 --> 00:13:38.839
 on questions

00:13:38.839 --> 00:13:39.980
 that we've all had

00:13:39.980 --> 00:13:40.519
 as a community

00:13:40.519 --> 00:13:41.480
 about church

00:13:41.480 --> 00:13:42.019
 about life

00:13:42.019 --> 00:13:43.139
 about different things

00:13:43.139 --> 00:13:44.740
 and as you remember

00:13:44.740 --> 00:13:45.299
 last week

00:13:45.299 --> 00:13:46.100
 he invited us

00:13:46.100 --> 00:13:47.519
 to send in letters

00:13:47.519 --> 00:13:48.639
 or questions

00:13:48.639 --> 00:13:49.659
 that we might have

00:13:49.659 --> 00:13:51.299
 about certain things

00:13:51.299 --> 00:13:52.319
 and so we've taken

00:13:52.319 --> 00:13:52.879
 those questions

00:13:52.879 --> 00:13:53.480
 and we've put them

00:13:53.480 --> 00:13:54.480
 into different buckets

00:13:54.480 --> 00:13:55.439
 and today

00:13:55.439 --> 00:13:56.740
 we're going to be addressing

00:13:56.740 --> 00:13:57.980
 or Tobin's going to be addressing

00:13:57.980 --> 00:13:59.500
 things that are centered

00:13:59.500 --> 00:14:00.100
 around money

00:14:00.100 --> 00:14:01.139
 around finances

00:14:01.139 --> 00:14:02.039
 around stewardship.

00:14:02.720 --> 00:14:03.500
 So we've got a couple

00:14:03.500 --> 00:14:03.940
 of letters

00:14:03.940 --> 00:14:04.559
 we wanted to share

00:14:04.559 --> 00:14:05.039
 some of those

00:14:05.039 --> 00:14:05.500
 with you

00:14:05.500 --> 00:14:06.080
 so you can kind of

00:14:06.080 --> 00:14:06.740
 see where we're

00:14:06.740 --> 00:14:07.279
 going today.

00:14:07.799 --> 00:14:08.460
 The first letter

00:14:08.460 --> 00:14:09.440
 we got says

00:14:09.440 --> 00:14:10.700
 Pastor Tobin

00:14:10.700 --> 00:14:12.379
 whatever you talk

00:14:12.379 --> 00:14:13.419
 about in this series

00:14:13.419 --> 00:14:14.919
 please do not

00:14:14.919 --> 00:14:15.940
 talk about money.

00:14:17.000 --> 00:14:17.899
 I just came

00:14:17.899 --> 00:14:18.379
 from a church

00:14:18.379 --> 00:14:19.259
 that talked about it

00:14:19.259 --> 00:14:20.200
 and asked for it

00:14:20.200 --> 00:14:21.240
 all the time

00:14:21.240 --> 00:14:21.879
 as they built

00:14:21.879 --> 00:14:22.940
 a large church building.

00:14:23.720 --> 00:14:24.799
 I like it that you guys

00:14:24.799 --> 00:14:25.600
 try to keep it

00:14:25.600 --> 00:14:26.279
 low key.

00:14:27.320 --> 00:14:28.399
 Here's some more letters

00:14:28.399 --> 00:14:29.159
 take a listen.

00:14:30.000 --> 00:14:31.080
 Dear Tobin

00:14:31.080 --> 00:14:32.400
 as a new Christian

00:14:32.400 --> 00:14:33.420
 how much money

00:14:33.420 --> 00:14:34.100
 does this church

00:14:34.100 --> 00:14:35.220
 need me to give to them?

00:14:35.620 --> 00:14:36.379
 I'm still learning

00:14:36.379 --> 00:14:37.660
 about this tithing thing.

00:14:40.920 --> 00:14:41.900
 Dear Pastor

00:14:41.900 --> 00:14:44.040
 my question is about money.

00:14:44.639 --> 00:14:45.240
 As a person

00:14:45.240 --> 00:14:47.120
 who is not a Christ follower yet

00:14:47.120 --> 00:14:48.660
 but who comes to Watermark

00:14:48.660 --> 00:14:49.940
 I have lots of questions

00:14:49.940 --> 00:14:50.759
 on this issue.

00:14:51.700 --> 00:14:52.300
 Last Sunday

00:14:52.300 --> 00:14:53.360
 we had baptism

00:14:53.360 --> 00:14:54.180
 and you said

00:14:54.180 --> 00:14:55.140
 that baptism

00:14:55.140 --> 00:14:56.560
 was an outward sign

00:14:56.560 --> 00:14:57.879
 of an inward reality

00:14:57.879 --> 00:14:58.800
 and that the people

00:14:58.800 --> 00:14:59.580
 were getting baptized

00:14:59.580 --> 00:15:00.960
 because they had already

00:15:00.960 --> 00:15:01.940
 become Christians.

00:15:02.639 --> 00:15:03.720
 It seems to me

00:15:03.720 --> 00:15:04.560
 that tithing

00:15:04.560 --> 00:15:05.280
 and giving money

00:15:05.280 --> 00:15:06.120
 to the church

00:15:06.120 --> 00:15:06.860
 is the same

00:15:06.860 --> 00:15:07.740
 for you Christians.

00:15:08.480 --> 00:15:09.620
 An outward sign

00:15:09.620 --> 00:15:10.980
 on an inward reality

00:15:10.980 --> 00:15:12.120
 that Christians

00:15:12.120 --> 00:15:12.960
 are supposed

00:15:12.960 --> 00:15:14.000
 to think of money

00:15:14.000 --> 00:15:14.580
 and wealth

00:15:14.580 --> 00:15:15.139
 differently.

00:15:15.920 --> 00:15:16.660
 So my question

00:15:16.660 --> 00:15:17.320
 is this

00:15:17.320 --> 00:15:17.980
 honestly

00:15:17.980 --> 00:15:18.780
 I cannot

00:15:18.780 --> 00:15:19.800
 as I watch

00:15:19.800 --> 00:15:20.720
 my Christian friends

00:15:20.720 --> 00:15:21.700
 around me at work

00:15:21.700 --> 00:15:23.220
 they seem to desire

00:15:23.220 --> 00:15:24.040
 view

00:15:24.040 --> 00:15:24.740
 pursue

00:15:24.740 --> 00:15:25.520
 handle

00:15:25.520 --> 00:15:26.180
 spend

00:15:26.180 --> 00:15:27.220
 serve

00:15:27.220 --> 00:15:28.300
 worship

00:15:28.299 --> 00:15:28.899
 waste

00:15:28.899 --> 00:15:29.419
 and rely

00:15:29.419 --> 00:15:30.000
 on their money

00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:30.879
 no differently

00:15:30.879 --> 00:15:32.139
 than my friends

00:15:32.139 --> 00:15:32.819
 who laugh

00:15:32.819 --> 00:15:33.459
 at the claims

00:15:33.459 --> 00:15:34.079
 of Christ

00:15:34.079 --> 00:15:35.079
 and the thought

00:15:35.079 --> 00:15:35.639
 of giving up

00:15:35.639 --> 00:15:36.740
 their hard earned money.

00:15:37.339 --> 00:15:38.120
 How am I supposed

00:15:38.120 --> 00:15:38.579
 to handle

00:15:38.579 --> 00:15:39.179
 this apparent

00:15:39.179 --> 00:15:39.759
 contradiction?

00:15:40.319 --> 00:15:40.599
 Cheers!

00:15:44.479 --> 00:15:45.579
 Dear Gorilla

00:15:45.579 --> 00:15:47.279
 I know that

00:15:47.279 --> 00:15:47.839
 as a Christian

00:15:47.839 --> 00:15:48.699
 I'm supposed

00:15:48.699 --> 00:15:49.299
 to tithe

00:15:49.299 --> 00:15:50.599
 but I use my money

00:15:50.599 --> 00:15:51.399
 to take people

00:15:51.399 --> 00:15:52.099
 out to lunch

00:15:52.099 --> 00:15:53.299
 and do nice things

00:15:53.299 --> 00:15:53.719
 for them.

00:15:54.359 --> 00:15:55.319
 Is that the same thing?

00:15:55.639 --> 00:15:56.319
 And is God

00:15:56.319 --> 00:15:57.059
 okay with that?

00:15:57.059 --> 00:15:58.539
 I promise

00:15:58.539 --> 00:15:59.419
 I do not

00:15:59.419 --> 00:16:00.339
 spend it on myself.

00:16:05.419 --> 00:16:05.979
 Pastor

00:16:05.979 --> 00:16:07.539
 last Sunday

00:16:07.539 --> 00:16:08.599
 was the first time

00:16:08.599 --> 00:16:09.799
 I actually heard

00:16:09.799 --> 00:16:10.859
 you talking about

00:16:10.859 --> 00:16:11.919
 giving and tithing

00:16:11.919 --> 00:16:12.479
 at the end

00:16:12.479 --> 00:16:13.519
 of the worship time

00:16:13.519 --> 00:16:15.039
 though I was told

00:16:15.039 --> 00:16:15.759
 you mentioned it

00:16:15.759 --> 00:16:16.619
 that way

00:16:16.619 --> 00:16:17.500
 every so often.

00:16:18.199 --> 00:16:19.019
 To be honest

00:16:19.019 --> 00:16:19.479
 with you

00:16:19.479 --> 00:16:20.799
 even though

00:16:20.799 --> 00:16:21.519
 we've been coming

00:16:21.519 --> 00:16:22.099
 to Watermark

00:16:22.099 --> 00:16:22.919
 for many months

00:16:22.919 --> 00:16:24.359
 we still have not

00:16:24.359 --> 00:16:24.859
 decided

00:16:24.860 --> 00:16:25.820
 if your church

00:16:25.820 --> 00:16:26.480
 is worthy

00:16:26.480 --> 00:16:27.539
 enough to receive

00:16:27.539 --> 00:16:28.440
 money from us.

00:16:29.139 --> 00:16:29.960
 There are still

00:16:29.960 --> 00:16:30.840
 a few more things

00:16:30.840 --> 00:16:31.360
 we would like

00:16:31.360 --> 00:16:32.159
 to see happen

00:16:32.159 --> 00:16:33.620
 and a few more

00:16:33.620 --> 00:16:34.860
 opportunities offered

00:16:34.860 --> 00:16:35.720
 for us

00:16:35.720 --> 00:16:37.039
 before we think

00:16:37.039 --> 00:16:38.060
 you are worthy

00:16:38.060 --> 00:16:39.279
 to receive our money.

00:16:39.840 --> 00:16:41.560
 Please do more.

00:16:42.340 --> 00:16:43.620
 The scripture reading

00:16:43.620 --> 00:16:44.480
 today comes

00:16:44.480 --> 00:16:45.039
 from the book

00:16:45.039 --> 00:16:45.740
 of Psalms

00:16:45.740 --> 00:16:47.120
 and the gospel

00:16:47.120 --> 00:16:47.759
 of Luke.

00:16:48.100 --> 00:16:49.440
 Please follow along

00:16:49.440 --> 00:16:50.700
 in your bulletin.

00:16:54.740 --> 00:16:55.660
 The earth

00:16:55.660 --> 00:16:56.660
 is the Lord's

00:16:56.660 --> 00:16:57.480
 and everything

00:16:57.480 --> 00:16:57.980
 in it.

00:16:58.400 --> 00:16:59.020
 The world

00:16:59.020 --> 00:17:00.000
 and all its people

00:17:00.000 --> 00:17:00.980
 belong to him.

00:17:01.940 --> 00:17:02.500
 Now

00:17:02.500 --> 00:17:03.500
 he was also

00:17:03.500 --> 00:17:04.519
 saying to his

00:17:04.519 --> 00:17:05.000
 disciples

00:17:05.000 --> 00:17:06.480
 there was a rich

00:17:06.480 --> 00:17:07.299
 man who had

00:17:07.299 --> 00:17:07.799
 a manager

00:17:07.799 --> 00:17:09.500
 and this manager

00:17:09.500 --> 00:17:10.640
 was reported

00:17:10.640 --> 00:17:11.140
 to him

00:17:11.140 --> 00:17:11.980
 as squandering

00:17:11.980 --> 00:17:12.740
 his possessions

00:17:12.740 --> 00:17:14.400
 and he called

00:17:14.400 --> 00:17:15.100
 him and said

00:17:15.100 --> 00:17:15.600
 to him

00:17:15.600 --> 00:17:17.279
 what's this

00:17:17.279 --> 00:17:18.620
 I hear about you

00:17:18.619 --> 00:17:19.759
 give an account

00:17:19.759 --> 00:17:20.579
 of your management

00:17:20.579 --> 00:17:21.599
 for you can

00:17:21.599 --> 00:17:22.339
 no longer be

00:17:22.339 --> 00:17:22.799
 manager.

00:17:23.859 --> 00:17:24.799
 The manager

00:17:24.799 --> 00:17:25.719
 said to himself

00:17:25.719 --> 00:17:27.379
 what should I do

00:17:27.379 --> 00:17:28.819
 since my master

00:17:28.819 --> 00:17:29.599
 is taking the

00:17:29.599 --> 00:17:30.379
 management away

00:17:30.379 --> 00:17:30.899
 from me.

00:17:31.639 --> 00:17:32.719
 I'm not strong

00:17:32.719 --> 00:17:33.439
 enough to dig.

00:17:34.259 --> 00:17:35.299
 I'm ashamed

00:17:35.299 --> 00:17:35.839
 to beg.

00:17:37.599 --> 00:17:38.539
 I know what

00:17:38.539 --> 00:17:39.139
 I should do

00:17:39.139 --> 00:17:40.599
 so that I am

00:17:40.599 --> 00:17:41.500
 when I'm removed

00:17:41.500 --> 00:17:42.279
 from the management

00:17:42.279 --> 00:17:43.639
 people will welcome

00:17:43.639 --> 00:17:44.779
 me into their homes

00:17:44.779 --> 00:17:46.579
 and he summoned

00:17:46.579 --> 00:17:47.439
 each one of his

00:17:47.439 --> 00:17:48.419
 master's debtors

00:17:48.420 --> 00:17:50.340
 and he began

00:17:50.340 --> 00:17:50.960
 saying to the

00:17:50.960 --> 00:17:51.240
 first

00:17:51.240 --> 00:17:53.300
 how much do you

00:17:53.300 --> 00:17:54.019
 owe my master

00:17:54.019 --> 00:17:55.720
 and he said

00:17:55.720 --> 00:17:56.860
 a hundred

00:17:56.860 --> 00:17:57.580
 measures of

00:17:57.580 --> 00:17:57.860
 oil

00:17:57.860 --> 00:17:59.720
 and he said

00:17:59.720 --> 00:18:00.060
 to him

00:18:00.060 --> 00:18:01.220
 take your bill

00:18:01.220 --> 00:18:02.259
 and sit down

00:18:02.259 --> 00:18:02.640
 quickly

00:18:02.640 --> 00:18:03.300
 and write

00:18:03.300 --> 00:18:03.759
 fifty

00:18:03.759 --> 00:18:06.300
 then he said

00:18:06.300 --> 00:18:06.779
 to another

00:18:06.779 --> 00:18:07.800
 how much

00:18:07.800 --> 00:18:08.320
 do you owe

00:18:08.320 --> 00:18:09.620
 and he said

00:18:09.620 --> 00:18:10.500
 a hundred

00:18:10.500 --> 00:18:11.220
 measures of

00:18:11.220 --> 00:18:11.519
 wheat

00:18:11.519 --> 00:18:12.640
 and he said

00:18:12.640 --> 00:18:13.039
 to him

00:18:13.039 --> 00:18:14.060
 take your bill

00:18:14.060 --> 00:18:14.759
 and write

00:18:14.759 --> 00:18:15.240
 eighty

00:18:15.240 --> 00:18:17.000
 and his

00:18:17.000 --> 00:18:17.380
 master

00:18:17.380 --> 00:18:18.000
 praised

00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:18.839
 the unrighteous

00:18:18.839 --> 00:18:19.299
 manager

00:18:19.299 --> 00:18:20.400
 because he

00:18:20.400 --> 00:18:21.019
 had acted

00:18:21.019 --> 00:18:21.740
 shrewdly

00:18:21.740 --> 00:18:22.620
 for the

00:18:22.620 --> 00:18:23.079
 sons of

00:18:23.079 --> 00:18:23.740
 this age

00:18:23.740 --> 00:18:24.240
 are more

00:18:24.240 --> 00:18:24.799
 shrewd

00:18:24.799 --> 00:18:25.539
 in relations

00:18:25.539 --> 00:18:26.079
 to their

00:18:26.079 --> 00:18:26.799
 own kind

00:18:26.799 --> 00:18:27.539
 than the

00:18:27.539 --> 00:18:28.019
 sons of

00:18:28.019 --> 00:18:28.380
 light

00:18:28.380 --> 00:18:29.259
 and I

00:18:29.259 --> 00:18:29.640
 say to

00:18:29.640 --> 00:18:30.000
 you

00:18:30.000 --> 00:18:30.740
 make

00:18:30.740 --> 00:18:31.160
 friends

00:18:31.160 --> 00:18:31.400
 for

00:18:31.400 --> 00:18:31.920
 yourselves

00:18:31.920 --> 00:18:32.339
 by the

00:18:32.339 --> 00:18:32.660
 means

00:18:32.660 --> 00:18:33.259
 of wealth

00:18:33.259 --> 00:18:33.539
 of

00:18:33.539 --> 00:18:34.420
 unrighteousness

00:18:34.420 --> 00:18:35.359
 so that

00:18:35.359 --> 00:18:35.779
 when it

00:18:35.779 --> 00:18:36.220
 fails

00:18:36.220 --> 00:18:37.339
 they will

00:18:37.339 --> 00:18:38.140
 receive you

00:18:38.140 --> 00:18:38.680
 into the

00:18:38.680 --> 00:18:39.019
 eternal

00:18:39.019 --> 00:18:39.559
 dwelling

00:18:39.559 --> 00:18:41.139
 he who

00:18:41.139 --> 00:18:41.859
 is faithful

00:18:41.859 --> 00:18:42.960
 in a very

00:18:42.960 --> 00:18:43.799
 little things

00:18:43.799 --> 00:18:44.519
 is faithful

00:18:44.519 --> 00:18:45.259
 also in

00:18:45.259 --> 00:18:45.619
 much

00:18:45.619 --> 00:18:46.819
 he who

00:18:46.819 --> 00:18:47.859
 is unrighteous

00:18:47.859 --> 00:18:48.859
 in a very

00:18:48.859 --> 00:18:49.559
 little thing

00:18:49.559 --> 00:18:51.159
 is unrighteous

00:18:51.159 --> 00:18:51.919
 also in

00:18:51.919 --> 00:18:52.259
 much

00:18:52.259 --> 00:18:53.279
 therefore

00:18:53.279 --> 00:18:54.379
 if you

00:18:54.379 --> 00:18:54.960
 have not

00:18:54.960 --> 00:18:55.659
 been faithful

00:18:55.659 --> 00:18:56.319
 in the use

00:18:56.319 --> 00:18:57.159
 of unrighteous

00:18:57.159 --> 00:18:57.639
 wealth

00:18:57.639 --> 00:18:58.720
 who will

00:18:58.720 --> 00:18:59.339
 entrust

00:18:59.339 --> 00:18:59.759
 the true

00:18:59.759 --> 00:19:00.299
 riches

00:19:00.299 --> 00:19:00.919
 to you

00:19:00.919 --> 00:19:02.159
 and if you

00:19:02.159 --> 00:19:02.539
 have not

00:19:02.539 --> 00:19:03.200
 been faithful

00:19:03.200 --> 00:19:03.940
 in the use

00:19:03.940 --> 00:19:04.480
 of that

00:19:04.480 --> 00:19:04.980
 which is

00:19:04.980 --> 00:19:05.559
 in others

00:19:05.559 --> 00:19:06.700
 who will

00:19:06.700 --> 00:19:07.240
 give you

00:19:07.240 --> 00:19:07.779
 which is

00:19:07.779 --> 00:19:08.259
 yours

00:19:08.259 --> 00:19:09.940
 no servant

00:19:09.940 --> 00:19:10.879
 can serve

00:19:10.879 --> 00:19:11.619
 two masters

00:19:11.619 --> 00:19:12.940
 for either

00:19:12.940 --> 00:19:13.579
 he hate

00:19:13.579 --> 00:19:14.319
 the one

00:19:14.319 --> 00:19:14.859
 and love

00:19:14.859 --> 00:19:15.359
 the other

00:19:15.359 --> 00:19:16.539
 or else

00:19:16.539 --> 00:19:17.140
 he will be

00:19:17.140 --> 00:19:17.779
 devoted to

00:19:17.779 --> 00:19:18.099
 one

00:19:18.099 --> 00:19:19.200
 and despise

00:19:19.200 --> 00:19:19.740
 the other

00:19:19.740 --> 00:19:20.859
 you

00:19:20.859 --> 00:19:21.400
 cannot

00:19:21.400 --> 00:19:21.920
 serve

00:19:21.920 --> 00:19:22.359
 God

00:19:22.359 --> 00:19:23.259
 and wealth

00:19:23.259 --> 00:19:24.539
 now the

00:19:24.539 --> 00:19:25.220
 Pharisees

00:19:25.220 --> 00:19:25.920
 who were

00:19:25.920 --> 00:19:26.279
 lovers

00:19:26.279 --> 00:19:26.839
 of money

00:19:26.839 --> 00:19:28.019
 were listening

00:19:28.019 --> 00:19:28.460
 to all

00:19:28.460 --> 00:19:29.000
 these things

00:19:29.000 --> 00:19:29.319
 and were

00:19:29.319 --> 00:19:29.759
 scoffing

00:19:29.759 --> 00:19:30.079
 at him

00:19:30.079 --> 00:19:31.259
 this is

00:19:31.259 --> 00:19:31.579
 God's

00:19:31.579 --> 00:19:31.839
 word

00:19:31.839 --> 00:19:32.619
 how you

00:19:32.619 --> 00:19:32.779
 guys

00:19:32.779 --> 00:19:33.099
 doing

00:19:33.099 --> 00:19:34.180
 hey

00:19:34.180 --> 00:19:34.839
 well

00:19:34.839 --> 00:19:35.240
 one

00:19:35.240 --> 00:19:36.140
 let's

00:19:36.140 --> 00:19:36.339
 try it

00:19:36.339 --> 00:19:36.460
 again

00:19:36.460 --> 00:19:36.660
 how you

00:19:36.660 --> 00:19:36.839
 guys

00:19:36.839 --> 00:19:37.099
 doing

00:19:37.099 --> 00:19:38.500
 good

00:19:38.500 --> 00:19:39.719
 hey

00:19:39.719 --> 00:19:40.099
 thanks

00:19:40.099 --> 00:19:40.819
 for those

00:19:40.819 --> 00:19:41.279
 who wrote

00:19:41.279 --> 00:19:41.619
 in the

00:19:41.619 --> 00:19:42.079
 letters

00:19:42.079 --> 00:19:44.599
 the number

00:19:44.599 --> 00:19:45.059
 is still

00:19:45.059 --> 00:19:45.359
 in your

00:19:45.359 --> 00:19:45.899
 bulletin

00:19:45.899 --> 00:19:47.099
 and so

00:19:47.099 --> 00:19:47.439
 there's

00:19:47.439 --> 00:19:47.879
 opportunity

00:19:47.879 --> 00:19:48.240
 for you

00:19:48.240 --> 00:19:49.139
 to write

00:19:49.139 --> 00:19:49.519
 in more

00:19:49.519 --> 00:19:50.079
 questions

00:19:50.079 --> 00:19:50.839
 we're actually

00:19:50.839 --> 00:19:51.500
 gathering up

00:19:51.500 --> 00:19:52.059
 like Charles

00:19:52.059 --> 00:19:52.439
 said

00:19:52.439 --> 00:19:53.939
 and I like

00:19:53.939 --> 00:19:54.119
 how you

00:19:54.119 --> 00:19:54.339
 said it

00:19:54.339 --> 00:19:54.599
 put it

00:19:54.599 --> 00:19:54.799
 in a

00:19:54.799 --> 00:19:55.019
 bucket

00:19:55.019 --> 00:19:56.199
 and so

00:19:56.199 --> 00:19:56.419
 we're

00:19:56.419 --> 00:19:56.659
 kind of

00:19:56.659 --> 00:19:56.919
 mixing

00:19:56.919 --> 00:19:57.159
 them up

00:19:57.159 --> 00:19:57.359
 in the

00:19:57.359 --> 00:19:57.599
 bucket

00:19:57.599 --> 00:19:58.299
 and seeing

00:19:58.299 --> 00:19:59.079
 which

00:19:59.079 --> 00:19:59.740
 ones

00:19:59.740 --> 00:20:00.359
 gravitate

00:20:00.359 --> 00:20:00.719
 towards

00:20:00.719 --> 00:20:01.119
 the same

00:20:01.119 --> 00:20:01.679
 ideas

00:20:01.679 --> 00:20:02.759
 and so

00:20:02.759 --> 00:20:03.000
 my

00:20:03.000 --> 00:20:03.459
 question

00:20:03.459 --> 00:20:03.859
 is

00:20:03.859 --> 00:20:04.859
 who

00:20:04.859 --> 00:20:05.079
 wants

00:20:05.079 --> 00:20:05.299
 to come

00:20:05.299 --> 00:20:05.399
 up

00:20:05.399 --> 00:20:05.579
 and give

00:20:05.579 --> 00:20:05.899
 the sermon

00:20:05.899 --> 00:20:06.179
 today

00:20:06.180 --> 00:20:09.500
 yeah

00:20:09.500 --> 00:20:11.519
 my real

00:20:11.519 --> 00:20:12.180
 question is

00:20:12.180 --> 00:20:12.980
 did everybody

00:20:12.980 --> 00:20:13.580
 get a piece

00:20:13.580 --> 00:20:14.320
 of Thanksgiving

00:20:14.320 --> 00:20:14.840
 turkey

00:20:14.840 --> 00:20:16.519
 or turkey

00:20:16.519 --> 00:20:17.820
 who ate

00:20:17.820 --> 00:20:18.420
 turkey this

00:20:18.420 --> 00:20:18.620
 week

00:20:18.620 --> 00:20:19.039
 raise your

00:20:19.039 --> 00:20:19.320
 hand

00:20:19.320 --> 00:20:21.080
 okay

00:20:21.080 --> 00:20:21.920
 so we're

00:20:21.920 --> 00:20:22.259
 going to have

00:20:22.259 --> 00:20:22.779
 opportunity

00:20:22.779 --> 00:20:23.560
 on December

00:20:23.560 --> 00:20:24.600
 15th

00:20:24.600 --> 00:20:24.960
 we're doing

00:20:24.960 --> 00:20:25.460
 an outreach

00:20:25.460 --> 00:20:25.759
 at the

00:20:25.759 --> 00:20:26.060
 community

00:20:26.060 --> 00:20:26.299
 center

00:20:26.299 --> 00:20:26.759
 with Michael

00:20:26.759 --> 00:20:27.200
 Ramston

00:20:27.200 --> 00:20:28.160
 and we will

00:20:28.160 --> 00:20:28.740
 have a turkey

00:20:28.740 --> 00:20:29.519
 dinner there

00:20:29.519 --> 00:20:30.460
 and so

00:20:30.460 --> 00:20:31.019
 on December

00:20:31.019 --> 00:20:31.720
 15th

00:20:31.720 --> 00:20:32.019
 you are

00:20:32.019 --> 00:20:32.380
 welcome

00:20:32.380 --> 00:20:32.960
 to join

00:20:32.960 --> 00:20:33.259
 us

00:20:33.259 --> 00:20:34.099
 and eat

00:20:34.099 --> 00:20:34.700
 that turkey

00:20:34.700 --> 00:20:35.079
 that you

00:20:35.079 --> 00:20:35.500
 missed

00:20:35.500 --> 00:20:37.059
 for Thanksgiving

00:20:37.059 --> 00:20:37.740
 because there's

00:20:37.740 --> 00:20:38.240
 something about

00:20:38.240 --> 00:20:39.160
 turkey that is

00:20:39.160 --> 00:20:40.539
 I think is

00:20:40.539 --> 00:20:41.299
 amazing so

00:20:41.299 --> 00:20:41.980
 it's probably

00:20:41.980 --> 00:20:42.400
 the best

00:20:42.400 --> 00:20:43.079
 meat around

00:20:43.079 --> 00:20:46.039
 hey we are

00:20:46.039 --> 00:20:46.920
 we're

00:20:46.920 --> 00:20:47.859
 talking

00:20:47.859 --> 00:20:49.379
 about

00:20:49.379 --> 00:20:50.279
 topics

00:20:50.279 --> 00:20:51.160
 and we chose

00:20:51.160 --> 00:20:51.660
 to call it

00:20:51.660 --> 00:20:52.039
 gorilla

00:20:52.039 --> 00:20:52.879
 sermons

00:20:52.879 --> 00:20:53.299
 and some people

00:20:53.299 --> 00:20:53.500
 are like

00:20:53.500 --> 00:20:54.420
 what do you

00:20:54.420 --> 00:20:54.879
 say that

00:20:54.879 --> 00:20:55.700
 because it

00:20:55.700 --> 00:20:56.059
 sounds like

00:20:56.059 --> 00:20:56.379
 it's the

00:20:56.379 --> 00:20:57.059
 elephant in

00:20:57.059 --> 00:20:57.539
 the room

00:20:57.539 --> 00:20:58.299
 type topic

00:20:58.299 --> 00:20:59.400
 and it is

00:20:59.400 --> 00:21:00.039
 I think

00:21:00.039 --> 00:21:00.519
 the difference

00:21:00.519 --> 00:21:00.980
 between

00:21:00.980 --> 00:21:01.920
 the elephant

00:21:01.920 --> 00:21:02.460
 in the room

00:21:02.460 --> 00:21:03.180
 type topic

00:21:03.180 --> 00:21:04.200
 in a gorilla

00:21:04.200 --> 00:21:04.579
 sermon

00:21:04.579 --> 00:21:06.240
 is you

00:21:06.240 --> 00:21:06.779
 all know

00:21:06.779 --> 00:21:07.240
 the gorilla

00:21:07.240 --> 00:21:07.579
 is sitting

00:21:07.579 --> 00:21:08.120
 at the table

00:21:08.120 --> 00:21:08.360
 right

00:21:08.360 --> 00:21:08.660
 you know

00:21:08.660 --> 00:21:09.279
 it's there

00:21:09.279 --> 00:21:10.220
 it's eating

00:21:10.220 --> 00:21:10.759
 your food

00:21:10.759 --> 00:21:11.500
 it's messing

00:21:11.500 --> 00:21:11.860
 with your

00:21:11.860 --> 00:21:12.380
 relationships

00:21:12.380 --> 00:21:13.100
 it's making

00:21:13.100 --> 00:21:14.039
 your life

00:21:14.039 --> 00:21:14.539
 uncomfortable

00:21:14.539 --> 00:21:15.259
 you don't feel

00:21:15.259 --> 00:21:15.559
 like you

00:21:15.559 --> 00:21:16.000
 could share

00:21:16.000 --> 00:21:16.240
 everything

00:21:16.240 --> 00:21:16.480
 that you

00:21:16.480 --> 00:21:16.700
 need to

00:21:16.700 --> 00:21:17.079
 share

00:21:17.079 --> 00:21:18.220
 it's just

00:21:18.220 --> 00:21:18.819
 weird

00:21:18.819 --> 00:21:19.680
 and elephants

00:21:19.680 --> 00:21:20.059
 like that

00:21:20.059 --> 00:21:20.600
 sometimes too

00:21:20.600 --> 00:21:21.660
 and you want

00:21:21.660 --> 00:21:22.100
 to point it

00:21:22.100 --> 00:21:22.559
 out but you're

00:21:22.559 --> 00:21:23.160
 afraid to

00:21:23.160 --> 00:21:23.940
 and the difference

00:21:23.940 --> 00:21:24.700
 between a gorilla

00:21:24.700 --> 00:21:25.200
 and the elephant

00:21:25.200 --> 00:21:25.740
 is the elephant

00:21:25.740 --> 00:21:26.340
 you can point it

00:21:26.340 --> 00:21:27.500
 out and people

00:21:27.500 --> 00:21:27.940
 kind of get

00:21:27.940 --> 00:21:28.240
 shocked

00:21:28.240 --> 00:21:28.680
 but when you

00:21:28.680 --> 00:21:29.420
 point the gorilla

00:21:29.420 --> 00:21:30.160
 question out

00:21:30.160 --> 00:21:30.779
 or the topic

00:21:30.779 --> 00:21:31.079
 out

00:21:31.079 --> 00:21:32.000
 what usually

00:21:32.000 --> 00:21:32.440
 happens is

00:21:32.440 --> 00:21:32.720
 the gorilla

00:21:32.720 --> 00:21:33.120
 just comes

00:21:33.120 --> 00:21:33.380
 up and

00:21:33.380 --> 00:21:33.740
 rips your

00:21:33.740 --> 00:21:34.279
 arms off

00:21:34.279 --> 00:21:35.059
 and beats

00:21:35.059 --> 00:21:35.460
 you with

00:21:35.460 --> 00:21:35.680
 it

00:21:35.680 --> 00:21:36.480
 because it's

00:21:36.480 --> 00:21:36.840
 such a

00:21:36.840 --> 00:21:37.240
 sensitive

00:21:37.240 --> 00:21:38.100
 topic

00:21:38.100 --> 00:21:39.299
 that no one

00:21:39.299 --> 00:21:39.600
 wants to

00:21:39.600 --> 00:21:40.100
 talk about

00:21:40.100 --> 00:21:40.900
 sometimes

00:21:40.900 --> 00:21:42.220
 gorilla

00:21:42.220 --> 00:21:43.380
 topics

00:21:43.380 --> 00:21:44.160
 or sermons

00:21:44.160 --> 00:21:44.759
 or ideas

00:21:44.759 --> 00:21:45.100
 can be

00:21:45.100 --> 00:21:45.480
 people

00:21:45.480 --> 00:21:47.160
 they can

00:21:47.160 --> 00:21:47.340
 be

00:21:47.340 --> 00:21:48.019
 relationships

00:21:48.019 --> 00:21:50.220
 they can

00:21:50.220 --> 00:21:50.740
 be

00:21:50.740 --> 00:21:51.460
 ideas

00:21:51.460 --> 00:21:51.860
 they can

00:21:51.860 --> 00:21:52.059
 be

00:21:52.059 --> 00:21:52.900
 politics

00:21:52.900 --> 00:21:53.799
 they can

00:21:53.799 --> 00:21:54.400
 be questions

00:21:54.400 --> 00:21:55.160
 of priority

00:21:55.160 --> 00:21:56.620
 in marriages

00:21:56.620 --> 00:21:57.360
 they often

00:21:57.360 --> 00:21:58.380
 deal

00:21:58.380 --> 00:21:59.660
 with money

00:21:59.660 --> 00:22:00.940
 and questions

00:22:00.940 --> 00:22:01.500
 of who's

00:22:01.500 --> 00:22:02.040
 spending so

00:22:02.040 --> 00:22:02.500
 much money

00:22:02.500 --> 00:22:02.980
 and why is

00:22:02.980 --> 00:22:03.279
 our money

00:22:03.279 --> 00:22:03.800
 disappearing

00:22:03.800 --> 00:22:04.759
 so quickly

00:22:04.759 --> 00:22:05.200
 and you know

00:22:05.200 --> 00:22:05.620
 that that's

00:22:05.620 --> 00:22:06.060
 always going

00:22:06.060 --> 00:22:06.600
 to enter into

00:22:06.600 --> 00:22:07.100
 a fight

00:22:07.100 --> 00:22:07.840
 and discussion

00:22:07.839 --> 00:22:13.559
 ladies

00:22:13.559 --> 00:22:15.539
 when you come

00:22:15.539 --> 00:22:15.919
 up to your

00:22:15.919 --> 00:22:16.259
 husband

00:22:16.259 --> 00:22:18.019
 and you

00:22:18.019 --> 00:22:18.759
 say something

00:22:18.759 --> 00:22:19.240
 like

00:22:19.240 --> 00:22:19.980
 does this

00:22:19.980 --> 00:22:20.339
 dress

00:22:20.339 --> 00:22:20.839
 make me

00:22:20.839 --> 00:22:21.419
 look fat

00:22:21.420 --> 00:22:26.080
 the proper

00:22:26.080 --> 00:22:26.640
 response

00:22:26.640 --> 00:22:27.200
 guys

00:22:27.200 --> 00:22:28.539
 is just

00:22:28.539 --> 00:22:29.160
 to stare

00:22:29.160 --> 00:22:30.500
 and don't

00:22:30.500 --> 00:22:31.200
 say anything

00:22:31.200 --> 00:22:33.220
 because that's

00:22:33.220 --> 00:22:33.620
 what you do

00:22:33.620 --> 00:22:34.060
 when a gorilla

00:22:34.060 --> 00:22:34.720
 walks in the

00:22:34.720 --> 00:22:34.960
 room

00:22:34.960 --> 00:22:36.039
 you just

00:22:36.039 --> 00:22:36.360
 kind of

00:22:36.360 --> 00:22:36.980
 freeze

00:22:36.980 --> 00:22:37.920
 and you

00:22:37.920 --> 00:22:38.220
 try to

00:22:38.220 --> 00:22:38.460
 pretend

00:22:38.460 --> 00:22:38.800
 like you're

00:22:38.800 --> 00:22:39.380
 not there

00:22:39.380 --> 00:22:40.120
 okay

00:22:40.120 --> 00:22:41.480
 so don't

00:22:41.480 --> 00:22:42.660
 ask those

00:22:42.660 --> 00:22:43.300
 type of

00:22:43.300 --> 00:22:43.759
 questions

00:22:43.759 --> 00:22:44.160
 because those

00:22:44.160 --> 00:22:44.759
 are questions

00:22:44.759 --> 00:22:45.940
 that cause

00:22:45.940 --> 00:22:46.779
 discussions

00:22:46.779 --> 00:22:47.420
 because there's

00:22:47.420 --> 00:22:47.779
 something in

00:22:47.779 --> 00:22:48.220
 a guy's

00:22:48.220 --> 00:22:48.640
 brain that

00:22:48.640 --> 00:22:48.920
 we just

00:22:48.920 --> 00:22:49.180
 cannot

00:22:49.180 --> 00:22:49.800
 process

00:22:49.800 --> 00:22:50.740
 that

00:22:50.740 --> 00:22:51.519
 question

00:22:51.519 --> 00:22:51.880
 or any

00:22:51.880 --> 00:22:52.240
 question

00:22:52.240 --> 00:22:52.740
 like that

00:22:52.740 --> 00:22:53.240
 properly

00:22:53.240 --> 00:22:54.180
 and so

00:22:54.180 --> 00:22:54.680
 the only

00:22:54.680 --> 00:22:55.579
 correct

00:22:55.579 --> 00:22:56.059
 response

00:22:56.059 --> 00:22:56.579
 for a guy

00:22:56.579 --> 00:22:57.019
 is to

00:22:57.019 --> 00:22:57.920
 vapor lock

00:22:57.920 --> 00:22:58.180
 and to

00:22:58.180 --> 00:22:58.799
 shut down

00:22:58.799 --> 00:22:59.539
 and so

00:22:59.539 --> 00:23:00.339
 that's a

00:23:00.339 --> 00:23:00.920
 huge gorilla

00:23:00.920 --> 00:23:01.279
 question

00:23:01.279 --> 00:23:01.599
 not that

00:23:01.599 --> 00:23:02.019
 that's ever

00:23:02.019 --> 00:23:02.460
 asked in

00:23:02.460 --> 00:23:03.079
 our family

00:23:03.079 --> 00:23:04.460
 I love you

00:23:04.460 --> 00:23:04.700
 honey

00:23:04.700 --> 00:23:05.799
 in every

00:23:05.799 --> 00:23:06.299
 dress you

00:23:06.299 --> 00:23:06.539
 wear

00:23:06.539 --> 00:23:07.200
 but that

00:23:07.200 --> 00:23:07.599
 could be

00:23:07.599 --> 00:23:07.920
 one of

00:23:07.920 --> 00:23:08.240
 those

00:23:08.240 --> 00:23:09.180
 things

00:23:09.180 --> 00:23:09.480
 and those

00:23:09.480 --> 00:23:09.960
 questions

00:23:09.960 --> 00:23:10.880
 and I

00:23:10.880 --> 00:23:11.220
 think that

00:23:11.220 --> 00:23:11.519
 you know

00:23:11.519 --> 00:23:12.019
 everybody

00:23:12.019 --> 00:23:12.859
 has

00:23:12.859 --> 00:23:14.160
 topics

00:23:14.160 --> 00:23:14.880
 in their

00:23:14.880 --> 00:23:15.380
 world

00:23:15.380 --> 00:23:15.960
 that they're

00:23:15.960 --> 00:23:16.420
 afraid to

00:23:16.420 --> 00:23:16.980
 talk about

00:23:16.980 --> 00:23:19.660
 and so

00:23:19.660 --> 00:23:19.960
 I think

00:23:19.960 --> 00:23:20.700
 as Christians

00:23:20.700 --> 00:23:21.600
 we often

00:23:21.600 --> 00:23:23.360
 are really

00:23:23.360 --> 00:23:23.980
 afraid to

00:23:23.980 --> 00:23:24.500
 talk about

00:23:24.500 --> 00:23:25.039
 certain things

00:23:25.039 --> 00:23:25.640
 because we

00:23:25.640 --> 00:23:27.059
 just don't

00:23:27.059 --> 00:23:27.360
 know

00:23:27.360 --> 00:23:27.840
 we're a new

00:23:27.840 --> 00:23:28.220
 Christian

00:23:28.220 --> 00:23:29.240
 we're learning

00:23:29.240 --> 00:23:29.880
 we're growing

00:23:29.880 --> 00:23:30.819
 we're afraid

00:23:30.819 --> 00:23:31.100
 that we're

00:23:31.100 --> 00:23:31.500
 going to look

00:23:31.500 --> 00:23:32.240
 stupid

00:23:32.240 --> 00:23:33.440
 and someone

00:23:33.440 --> 00:23:34.120
 always knows

00:23:34.120 --> 00:23:34.860
 more information

00:23:34.860 --> 00:23:35.460
 or the latest

00:23:35.460 --> 00:23:35.900
 quote

00:23:35.900 --> 00:23:37.500
 or happiness

00:23:37.500 --> 00:23:38.019
 index

00:23:38.019 --> 00:23:38.519
 or things like

00:23:38.519 --> 00:23:38.680
 that

00:23:38.680 --> 00:23:39.180
 and so we

00:23:39.180 --> 00:23:39.900
 we kind of

00:23:39.900 --> 00:23:40.620
 stop talking

00:23:40.620 --> 00:23:41.180
 about those

00:23:41.180 --> 00:23:41.900
 but we want

00:23:41.900 --> 00:23:42.600
 to be a family

00:23:42.600 --> 00:23:43.140
 here

00:23:43.140 --> 00:23:43.660
 and we want

00:23:43.660 --> 00:23:44.279
 to be a family

00:23:44.279 --> 00:23:44.799
 in the house

00:23:44.799 --> 00:23:45.500
 where we discuss

00:23:45.500 --> 00:23:46.299
 everything

00:23:46.299 --> 00:23:47.340
 and so

00:23:47.340 --> 00:23:48.400
 I don't know

00:23:48.400 --> 00:23:48.640
 if we'll have

00:23:48.640 --> 00:23:49.319
 question and answer

00:23:49.319 --> 00:23:49.960
 time afterwards

00:23:49.960 --> 00:23:50.600
 we'll see

00:23:50.600 --> 00:23:51.380
 but please

00:23:51.380 --> 00:23:52.519
 head in

00:23:52.519 --> 00:23:53.460
 and ask

00:23:53.460 --> 00:23:54.180
 more questions

00:23:54.180 --> 00:23:54.519
 you know

00:23:54.519 --> 00:23:54.779
 where we're

00:23:54.779 --> 00:23:55.460
 going as a

00:23:55.460 --> 00:23:56.079
 sermon series

00:23:56.079 --> 00:23:57.640
 we're talking

00:23:57.640 --> 00:23:58.940
 on this

00:23:58.940 --> 00:24:00.279
 passage today

00:24:00.279 --> 00:24:01.400
 which I think

00:24:01.400 --> 00:24:02.019
 is one of

00:24:02.019 --> 00:24:03.380
 my most

00:24:03.380 --> 00:24:04.039
 challenging

00:24:04.039 --> 00:24:05.299
 passages

00:24:05.299 --> 00:24:05.840
 in all of

00:24:05.840 --> 00:24:06.120
 scripture

00:24:06.120 --> 00:24:08.100
 it's hard

00:24:08.100 --> 00:24:08.600
 enough

00:24:08.600 --> 00:24:09.680
 just to read

00:24:09.680 --> 00:24:10.500
 it and understand

00:24:10.500 --> 00:24:11.360
 why Jesus

00:24:11.360 --> 00:24:12.779
 is making

00:24:12.779 --> 00:24:14.140
 this guy

00:24:14.140 --> 00:24:14.960
 a hero

00:24:14.960 --> 00:24:15.819
 to us

00:24:15.819 --> 00:24:16.460
 or it seems

00:24:16.460 --> 00:24:17.319
 to be that way

00:24:17.319 --> 00:24:17.960
 as he's

00:24:17.960 --> 00:24:18.159
 sharing

00:24:18.159 --> 00:24:18.460
 with his

00:24:18.460 --> 00:24:18.879
 disciples

00:24:18.879 --> 00:24:19.779
 but it's

00:24:19.779 --> 00:24:20.539
 even harder

00:24:20.539 --> 00:24:22.200
 as a

00:24:22.200 --> 00:24:22.679
 pastor

00:24:22.679 --> 00:24:23.500
 to talk

00:24:23.500 --> 00:24:23.960
 about these

00:24:23.960 --> 00:24:24.179
 things

00:24:24.179 --> 00:24:24.700
 let me ask

00:24:24.700 --> 00:24:25.039
 a question

00:24:25.039 --> 00:24:25.599
 I'll ask

00:24:25.599 --> 00:24:25.919
 the question

00:24:25.919 --> 00:24:26.240
 you're never

00:24:26.240 --> 00:24:26.639
 supposed to

00:24:26.639 --> 00:24:27.079
 ask as a

00:24:27.079 --> 00:24:27.359
 pastor

00:24:27.359 --> 00:24:28.740
 is anybody

00:24:28.740 --> 00:24:29.259
 here for

00:24:29.259 --> 00:24:29.619
 the first

00:24:29.619 --> 00:24:29.980
 Sunday

00:24:29.980 --> 00:24:31.220
 would you

00:24:31.220 --> 00:24:31.619
 raise your

00:24:31.619 --> 00:24:31.879
 hand

00:24:31.879 --> 00:24:32.179
 do you have

00:24:32.179 --> 00:24:32.639
 any courage

00:24:32.639 --> 00:24:33.179
 if you have

00:24:33.179 --> 00:24:33.599
 courage

00:24:33.599 --> 00:24:34.059
 okay

00:24:34.059 --> 00:24:34.559
 one

00:24:34.559 --> 00:24:35.119
 two

00:24:35.119 --> 00:24:35.819
 three

00:24:35.819 --> 00:24:36.299
 four

00:24:36.299 --> 00:24:36.720
 five

00:24:36.720 --> 00:24:37.119
 six

00:24:37.119 --> 00:24:37.779
 five

00:24:37.779 --> 00:24:38.099
 ten

00:24:38.099 --> 00:24:38.519
 people

00:24:38.519 --> 00:24:38.939
 wow

00:24:38.939 --> 00:24:40.200
 okay

00:24:40.200 --> 00:24:41.279
 well

00:24:41.279 --> 00:24:41.660
 I

00:24:41.660 --> 00:24:43.840
 apologize

00:24:43.840 --> 00:24:45.000
 to begin

00:24:45.000 --> 00:24:45.319
 with

00:24:45.319 --> 00:24:45.700
 but I

00:24:45.700 --> 00:24:45.960
 don't

00:24:45.960 --> 00:24:46.420
 apologize

00:24:46.420 --> 00:24:47.220
 because

00:24:47.220 --> 00:24:47.640
 often

00:24:47.640 --> 00:24:47.920
 there's

00:24:47.920 --> 00:24:48.019
 a

00:24:48.019 --> 00:24:48.420
 stereotype

00:24:48.420 --> 00:24:48.700
 that

00:24:48.700 --> 00:24:48.799
 when

00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:48.900
 you

00:24:48.900 --> 00:24:49.100
 come

00:24:49.100 --> 00:24:49.220
 to

00:24:49.220 --> 00:24:49.480
 church

00:24:49.480 --> 00:24:49.640
 the

00:24:49.640 --> 00:24:50.019
 pastors

00:24:50.019 --> 00:24:50.680
 just

00:24:50.680 --> 00:24:51.080
 talk

00:24:51.080 --> 00:24:51.420
 about

00:24:51.420 --> 00:24:51.779
 money

00:24:51.779 --> 00:24:52.319
 and

00:24:52.319 --> 00:24:52.519
 this

00:24:52.519 --> 00:24:52.779
 happens

00:24:52.779 --> 00:24:52.980
 to be

00:24:52.980 --> 00:24:53.140
 your

00:24:53.140 --> 00:24:53.380
 first

00:24:53.380 --> 00:24:53.680
 Sunday

00:24:53.680 --> 00:24:53.900
 at

00:24:53.900 --> 00:24:54.059
 this

00:24:54.059 --> 00:24:54.279
 church

00:24:54.279 --> 00:24:54.500
 and

00:24:54.500 --> 00:24:54.680
 we

00:24:54.680 --> 00:24:54.880
 are

00:24:54.880 --> 00:24:55.640
 talking

00:24:55.640 --> 00:24:56.019
 about

00:24:56.019 --> 00:24:56.360
 money

00:24:56.360 --> 00:24:57.039
 but

00:24:57.039 --> 00:24:57.259
 in

00:24:57.259 --> 00:24:57.480
 our

00:24:57.480 --> 00:24:57.940
 family

00:24:57.940 --> 00:24:58.460
 as a

00:24:58.460 --> 00:24:58.740
 church

00:24:58.740 --> 00:24:59.039
 here

00:24:59.039 --> 00:24:59.460
 we

00:24:59.460 --> 00:24:59.680
 want

00:24:59.680 --> 00:24:59.779
 to

00:24:59.779 --> 00:25:00.039
 talk

00:25:00.039 --> 00:25:00.400
 about

00:25:00.400 --> 00:25:01.000
 everything

00:25:01.000 --> 00:25:01.799
 and

00:25:01.799 --> 00:25:01.940
 we

00:25:01.940 --> 00:25:02.279
 talk

00:25:02.279 --> 00:25:02.740
 about

00:25:02.740 --> 00:25:03.440
 money

00:25:03.440 --> 00:25:04.000
 often

00:25:04.000 --> 00:25:04.740
 because

00:25:04.740 --> 00:25:04.900
 we

00:25:04.900 --> 00:25:05.100
 feel

00:25:05.100 --> 00:25:05.279
 like

00:25:05.279 --> 00:25:05.480
 it's

00:25:05.480 --> 00:25:05.640
 one

00:25:05.640 --> 00:25:05.720
 of

00:25:05.720 --> 00:25:05.840
 the

00:25:05.840 --> 00:25:06.240
 greatest

00:25:06.240 --> 00:25:07.200
 idols

00:25:07.200 --> 00:25:08.000
 in

00:25:08.000 --> 00:25:14.299
 our life. And Christ talked about money often. Christ talked about money more than the kingdom

00:25:14.299 --> 00:25:19.740
 of God coming back. He talked about it about 24% of the time that he went up to share in the

00:25:19.740 --> 00:25:25.400
 gospels. There was an issue of stewardship. There was an issue of money. There was an issue of stuff

00:25:25.400 --> 00:25:30.059
 and how we use it. And so I just want to briefly look at this thing. Where we're going today is I

00:25:30.059 --> 00:25:34.019
 want to share this story. I want to share this story from a cultural standpoint. So look at your

00:25:34.019 --> 00:25:39.220
 scripture and I'll talk through it and give some cultural nuances as we talk about it. And then I

00:25:39.220 --> 00:25:44.779
 want to share these three points that have been sticking out to me over and over and over again.

00:25:45.139 --> 00:25:50.099
 So Jesus is telling this story to his disciples and it's about money, resources, and stewardship.

00:25:50.759 --> 00:25:55.940
 The story is of a very, very wealthy landowner. We know that because the amount of money that's

00:25:55.940 --> 00:26:02.879
 involved in here. The amount of money that he's lent out is massive. It's 10, 20, 30, 40 years of wages.

00:26:02.880 --> 00:26:09.260
 It's important to remember that in Jesus' day, people received a wage for their day's work. And so

00:26:09.260 --> 00:26:14.700
 there wasn't a large accumulation of wealth. You just worked for one day and you got that back. And so

00:26:14.700 --> 00:26:22.260
 people usually live day to day. And so this amount of money that this manager or this owner has, the

00:26:22.260 --> 00:26:30.160
 master, is massive. We're told that in this story the landowner has a steward. Now the steward is in charge

00:26:30.160 --> 00:26:35.779
 of managing the master's money. He's overseeing the property. Often he often takes care of the kids

00:26:35.779 --> 00:26:43.420
 and the children. In relationship, in Roman society, he often wore the master's ring and he

00:26:43.420 --> 00:26:49.019
 was able to transact business for the master. It's reported to this master that the steward

00:26:49.019 --> 00:26:56.720
 is squandering the master's resources. This squander is the same word that's used of the younger son in

00:26:56.720 --> 00:27:02.700
 the running father story that we just talked about earlier. So it's not that he's using them on bad

00:27:02.700 --> 00:27:08.799
 things, but he's just using them on things beyond his means. They're really expensive things.

00:27:09.480 --> 00:27:13.900
 We're told in this story, and there's an implication that the master is an honorable man,

00:27:13.900 --> 00:27:22.560
 that the master is a righteous man. And as he hears this report, he brings the steward in contrast to

00:27:22.560 --> 00:27:29.640
 him. The master is righteous. The steward is unrighteous. He brings the steward in and he calls

00:27:29.640 --> 00:27:36.600
 him in. The story tells us that the master looks at the steward and he shares the charges and the

00:27:36.599 --> 00:27:44.719
 steward says nothing. Now the people listening to this story would have been incredibly surprised

00:27:44.719 --> 00:27:50.299
 because in Jesus' day in culture, the first thing that this person would have done would have been

00:27:50.299 --> 00:27:59.779
 trying to shift blame or deny that it was his fault. I know that none of us do that today in our world,

00:27:59.779 --> 00:28:08.460
 but in Jesus' world, the steward would have shifted blame and he would have said, it's not my fault.

00:28:09.039 --> 00:28:16.759
 But instead, he says nothing. Everybody would have been incredibly shocked by what they'd heard.

00:28:17.319 --> 00:28:23.339
 By being silent, he's basically saying, I'm guilty. The master knows the truth. I've been disobedient.

00:28:23.339 --> 00:28:30.339
 I'm in trouble. The passage tells us that the steward is fired on the spot and all of his authority

00:28:30.339 --> 00:28:38.079
 is terminated immediately. The language and everything that's said is he's fired and he goes

00:28:38.079 --> 00:28:42.359
 out to lunch and he's coming back into the building and the swipe card doesn't work. His computer access,

00:28:42.519 --> 00:28:46.480
 I know none of us have experienced that here in Hong Kong, but in this culture, in this day,

00:28:46.559 --> 00:28:51.699
 that's how it happened. He is terminated immediately. The master says, turn in your books.

00:28:53.339 --> 00:29:00.099
 You're done with. Now, culturally, the master could have beaten the steward. He could have jailed

00:29:00.099 --> 00:29:06.720
 the steward. It was expected of him to humiliate him in front of the whole town in the village,

00:29:06.980 --> 00:29:15.559
 but he doesn't. And everyone listening to the story would have been amazed. By law, the steward must pay

00:29:15.559 --> 00:29:25.139
 back everything that he has wasted. By law, the steward had to pay back everything that he has wasted,

00:29:25.319 --> 00:29:37.759
 but the master in the story extends mercy. He extends grace. He extends generosity. And he doesn't ask the steward

00:29:37.759 --> 00:29:44.519
 to pay back anything. The master's actions in this passage that we read today are totally

00:29:44.519 --> 00:29:53.799
 countercultural. They're totally unexpected. And everybody in Jesus' day listening to this would have shook their heads

00:29:53.799 --> 00:30:01.419
 and said, there's no way this would have happened. The story tells us the steward, taking all of these things in,

00:30:01.720 --> 00:30:07.200
 processing what's going on, the seriousness of everything, he asks the question, what shall I do?

00:30:08.299 --> 00:30:13.279
 There's this implication that he's not just thinking about what happened here, but he's thinking far into the future.

00:30:14.000 --> 00:30:17.700
 He's thinking about what is going to happen to him when he doesn't have a job.

00:30:17.700 --> 00:30:24.819
 People are not going to hire him. He's not going to be welcome in anybody's home. His future is finished.

00:30:26.580 --> 00:30:30.340
 Then we're told in the passage in verse 4, he says, I know what I will do.

00:30:30.759 --> 00:30:34.620
 And in Hebrew, that terminology means a light bulb flashed into his head.

00:30:35.559 --> 00:30:38.039
 And this idea came into his mind,

00:30:38.319 --> 00:30:43.680
 this plan that he begins to formulate and he begins to work, but he realizes that the only way this plan is going to work

00:30:43.680 --> 00:30:46.779
 is if nobody, nobody knows that he's fired.

00:30:47.700 --> 00:30:53.319
 He realizes that the only way this plan is going to work is if he does what he's going to do very, very quickly

00:30:53.319 --> 00:30:55.360
 before the master finds out.

00:30:56.500 --> 00:31:03.440
 He realizes and he begins to think that there's a chance that his plan might just work

00:31:03.440 --> 00:31:09.240
 because he's already seen the master be incredibly gracious,

00:31:11.319 --> 00:31:12.279
 incredibly merciful,

00:31:13.580 --> 00:31:14.519
 incredibly forgiving.

00:31:14.519 --> 00:31:23.240
 He knows and everybody else listening to the story expects that the steward should be in jail right now.

00:31:24.039 --> 00:31:26.700
 He should be beaten and he should be in prison in chains.

00:31:27.079 --> 00:31:28.900
 And that has not happened to him.

00:31:29.480 --> 00:31:35.639
 So he realizes that the master is gentle and good and kind and forgiving.

00:31:35.640 --> 00:31:40.580
 And so he gets his plan and what he does is he summons all the master's debtors.

00:31:40.860 --> 00:31:45.420
 Now we're told by the amount of money in the master that these are very, very rich people.

00:31:46.000 --> 00:31:49.560
 I mean, the amount of money that's being transacted, the produce that's happening,

00:31:50.060 --> 00:31:51.620
 it's a lot of money.

00:31:52.140 --> 00:31:59.720
 And so he calls in secretively all of these people and he reduces the rent of two of them in verses six and seven.

00:31:59.720 --> 00:32:05.779
 But as you read the scripture and in the Hebrew and the Greek, there was an understanding that there was much more than two.

00:32:06.759 --> 00:32:10.240
 So the only thing that Jesus does is he tells us two of these examples.

00:32:11.000 --> 00:32:19.120
 But in your mind of the reader, you're thinking there's probably 20 or 30 or 40 of these examples out there

00:32:19.120 --> 00:32:24.819
 because the master is wealthy and that he has a lot of things to go and to share with it.

00:32:24.819 --> 00:32:33.559
 Now the whole plan only works as long as the debtors come in and they still believe that the steward is in charge.

00:32:34.779 --> 00:32:45.939
 The plan only works as long as the debtors come in and they think that the plan is the master's.

00:32:45.940 --> 00:32:50.940
 If there's any thought that the plan isn't the master's and this guy is fired,

00:32:51.140 --> 00:32:56.660
 they know immediately culturally that every transaction that he does is void and null.

00:32:58.100 --> 00:33:04.620
 So they're coming in there and they're saying, wow, what an amazing idea the master's come about.

00:33:05.039 --> 00:33:06.640
 Wow, this is incredible.

00:33:06.940 --> 00:33:09.860
 It's like Black Friday times 10.

00:33:10.460 --> 00:33:14.279
 I mean, everybody would assume that the whole idea was the master's.

00:33:14.279 --> 00:33:18.460
 But behind the scenes, they would have thought the steward put him up to this.

00:33:19.660 --> 00:33:21.859
 The steward is the one who really pushed the master.

00:33:22.660 --> 00:33:29.099
 And so in the passage, there was an understanding culturally that everybody would have loved the steward

00:33:29.099 --> 00:33:31.539
 and would have thought he was amazing.

00:33:32.519 --> 00:33:35.299
 But the two people that he's reduced, the two debts that he reduced,

00:33:35.819 --> 00:33:39.279
 was 10 years of wages.

00:33:39.279 --> 00:33:44.160
 10 years and just two of those reductions.

00:33:44.940 --> 00:33:46.899
 Now, the master already knows what's on the books.

00:33:47.720 --> 00:33:50.460
 The master already knows everything that he owns.

00:33:51.940 --> 00:33:54.779
 But culturally, the changes wouldn't have been unheard of.

00:33:55.859 --> 00:33:59.740
 I mean, if there was a drought, bad things happening,

00:33:59.740 --> 00:34:03.359
 often we're told that the masters reduced the rent of the land.

00:34:04.140 --> 00:34:06.120
 And the interesting thing is it wouldn't have been difficult.

00:34:06.779 --> 00:34:10.119
 Because all it would have been done is like, maybe the number is a T.

00:34:11.900 --> 00:34:16.460
 And the lender comes in and he takes that T and he swishes it into a P.

00:34:17.739 --> 00:34:22.059
 And that would have changed all of the numbers of the debt.

00:34:22.059 --> 00:34:28.119
 And so again, everyone in the village is thinking, man, this master is amazing.

00:34:28.960 --> 00:34:30.119
 This master is gracious.

00:34:30.239 --> 00:34:31.219
 This master is kind.

00:34:31.320 --> 00:34:32.840
 This master is noble.

00:34:34.699 --> 00:34:41.299
 And everybody would have been indebted for the rest of their life to the steward and his plan.

00:34:42.340 --> 00:34:46.159
 Now, whether it's because the steward comes in and turns in the books

00:34:46.159 --> 00:34:50.739
 or the master is walking through the village and someone just slaps him on the back and says,

00:34:50.739 --> 00:34:52.239
 you are amazing.

00:34:53.159 --> 00:34:54.679
 Man, give me a hug.

00:34:55.199 --> 00:34:57.579
 I can't believe you broke my rent down that much.

00:34:57.639 --> 00:34:58.619
 That's incredible.

00:34:59.299 --> 00:35:01.500
 Now, we don't know how the master found out.

00:35:02.099 --> 00:35:04.859
 But the master finds out.

00:35:04.939 --> 00:35:06.439
 He realizes what happened.

00:35:07.279 --> 00:35:13.519
 Now, remember, in this culture, the highest attribute a noble person can have,

00:35:13.519 --> 00:35:26.539
 the highest attribute that the master can have is to be seen as generous, gracious, forgiving, and merciful.

00:35:26.539 --> 00:35:32.239
 And we already know the master is that because in the very beginning of the story,

00:35:32.360 --> 00:35:34.559
 he could have put the guy in prison, but he didn't.

00:35:35.460 --> 00:35:40.400
 So now everybody is thinking that the master is generous, gracious, merciful, and forgiving,

00:35:40.779 --> 00:35:45.219
 is what he wants to be known as, but he knows the truth.

00:35:46.059 --> 00:35:46.980
 Now, he has a choice.

00:35:47.719 --> 00:35:48.579
 What's his choice?

00:35:48.579 --> 00:35:55.219
 His choice is either to go out there and say, hey, guys, I know that I gave you this break,

00:35:55.340 --> 00:35:56.960
 but, you know, I really didn't give it to you.

00:35:58.079 --> 00:35:59.039
 The steward did it.

00:36:00.340 --> 00:36:04.500
 In which case, all the people's joy will turn to anger.

00:36:05.699 --> 00:36:11.340
 All the people's loving of the master will turn to frustration and dislike.

00:36:11.340 --> 00:36:19.160
 Or the master can just say, okay, the steward has shown what I am.

00:36:20.300 --> 00:36:21.300
 I'm gracious.

00:36:21.760 --> 00:36:22.860
 I'm kind.

00:36:23.220 --> 00:36:24.180
 I'm forgiving.

00:36:24.920 --> 00:36:27.980
 The master brings the steward in in verse 9 and 8,

00:36:28.079 --> 00:36:31.460
 and we're told that he praises the steward for his shrewdness.

00:36:33.160 --> 00:36:35.720
 He doesn't praise him for lying.

00:36:37.860 --> 00:36:40.260
 He doesn't praise him for cheating.

00:36:41.340 --> 00:36:43.880
 He praises him for his shrewdness.

00:36:44.720 --> 00:36:46.660
 In Greek, the word is chokmah.

00:36:47.840 --> 00:36:49.960
 It's this word that means wisdom.

00:36:50.680 --> 00:36:52.500
 It's what we read about in the Proverbs.

00:36:52.740 --> 00:36:53.240
 Chokmah.

00:36:53.559 --> 00:36:53.940
 Chokmah.

00:36:54.019 --> 00:36:55.079
 Everybody wants it.

00:36:55.700 --> 00:36:57.079
 It's an understanding of life.

00:36:57.880 --> 00:36:59.440
 It's an understanding of where you're going.

00:36:59.700 --> 00:37:01.140
 It's an understanding of reality.

00:37:01.519 --> 00:37:04.180
 It's an understanding of your final destination.

00:37:04.720 --> 00:37:07.039
 And the master brings in his steward,

00:37:07.039 --> 00:37:08.900
 and he praises him for his chokmah

00:37:08.900 --> 00:37:12.579
 because he realizes that the steward understands very clearly where he's going.

00:37:12.579 --> 00:37:17.380
 You see, in this passage,

00:37:18.039 --> 00:37:21.659
 the steward, as he thought about this,

00:37:21.699 --> 00:37:23.019
 and he had this aha moment,

00:37:23.960 --> 00:37:27.079
 he realized that his current situation was impossible.

00:37:27.079 --> 00:37:35.019
 He realized that the only hope that he had of saving himself,

00:37:36.039 --> 00:37:40.559
 he realized that the only hope of his salvation

00:37:40.559 --> 00:37:43.900
 was the mercy,

00:37:45.219 --> 00:37:46.119
 the graciousness,

00:37:46.819 --> 00:37:47.759
 the kindness

00:37:47.759 --> 00:37:49.819
 of the master.

00:37:49.820 --> 00:37:51.960
 I mean,

00:37:52.000 --> 00:37:53.019
 from the very beginning,

00:37:54.380 --> 00:37:55.280
 the steward realized

00:37:55.280 --> 00:37:56.640
 that the only way this is going to work

00:37:56.640 --> 00:37:59.460
 is if the master's good.

00:38:00.980 --> 00:38:02.320
 Because if the master's not good,

00:38:02.340 --> 00:38:03.820
 he's going to come in and upset everything,

00:38:03.920 --> 00:38:04.840
 and I'm going to be in prison.

00:38:05.600 --> 00:38:06.740
 But I'm not in prison.

00:38:08.620 --> 00:38:09.380
 And so the steward

00:38:09.380 --> 00:38:11.180
 makes this elaborate plan,

00:38:11.800 --> 00:38:12.840
 but his salvation,

00:38:12.840 --> 00:38:16.700
 his future

00:38:16.700 --> 00:38:19.420
 is not protected

00:38:19.420 --> 00:38:21.140
 by his elaborate plan

00:38:21.140 --> 00:38:22.120
 and all his scheming.

00:38:23.260 --> 00:38:24.900
 His salvation and his future

00:38:24.900 --> 00:38:27.059
 is protected by the goodness

00:38:27.059 --> 00:38:27.740
 of the master,

00:38:28.460 --> 00:38:29.539
 his kindness,

00:38:30.000 --> 00:38:30.880
 his graciousness.

00:38:31.480 --> 00:38:32.940
 The passage basically tells us

00:38:32.940 --> 00:38:34.320
 that the master ate the debt.

00:38:36.059 --> 00:38:37.360
 The master ate the debt

00:38:37.360 --> 00:38:37.880
 at the beginning,

00:38:39.480 --> 00:38:40.460
 the master eats the debt

00:38:40.460 --> 00:38:40.940
 at the end,

00:38:40.940 --> 00:38:43.679
 and the only hope of salvation

00:38:43.679 --> 00:38:44.740
 that steward has

00:38:44.740 --> 00:38:46.599
 is the master's good.

00:38:48.780 --> 00:38:49.599
 That's the story.

00:38:53.599 --> 00:38:54.740
 There's a couple things

00:38:54.740 --> 00:38:55.420
 that I have been

00:38:55.420 --> 00:38:56.639
 reading through

00:38:56.639 --> 00:38:57.659
 and thinking about

00:38:57.659 --> 00:38:58.980
 and I want to put in front of you

00:38:58.980 --> 00:39:00.519
 before we finish today.

00:39:01.539 --> 00:39:02.679
 The first one is this,

00:39:02.700 --> 00:39:03.800
 and it's found in verse 1.

00:39:05.420 --> 00:39:07.539
 The earth is the Lord's

00:39:07.539 --> 00:39:10.639
 and all that is in it.

00:39:10.940 --> 00:39:14.079
 Who owned the property?

00:39:15.900 --> 00:39:16.900
 The master.

00:39:18.700 --> 00:39:20.260
 Who managed the property?

00:39:22.360 --> 00:39:23.400
 You and I.

00:39:24.900 --> 00:39:26.220
 Stewardship is a theme

00:39:26.220 --> 00:39:27.860
 that goes throughout Scripture.

00:39:28.400 --> 00:39:29.599
 The Bible talks about it

00:39:29.599 --> 00:39:31.659
 over and over and over.

00:39:32.659 --> 00:39:33.659
 As stewards,

00:39:33.840 --> 00:39:35.119
 we're entrusted with possessions,

00:39:35.900 --> 00:39:37.840
 we're entrusted with gifts,

00:39:38.539 --> 00:39:40.039
 we're entrusted with abilities,

00:39:40.039 --> 00:39:42.259
 we're entrusted with our bodies

00:39:42.259 --> 00:39:43.039
 and our health,

00:39:43.619 --> 00:39:45.239
 we're entrusted with relationships,

00:39:46.320 --> 00:39:49.019
 we're entrusted with time,

00:39:49.779 --> 00:39:51.119
 we're entrusted with money,

00:39:51.980 --> 00:39:53.300
 and I think the most important

00:39:53.300 --> 00:39:55.420
 is we're entrusted with the gospel.

00:39:55.420 --> 00:40:00.059
 And the question we have to ask ourselves,

00:40:00.180 --> 00:40:00.340
 guys,

00:40:00.420 --> 00:40:01.119
 today is,

00:40:01.559 --> 00:40:03.940
 do we believe this?

00:40:09.880 --> 00:40:12.119
 Do you believe it?

00:40:16.119 --> 00:40:16.700
 Do you believe it?

00:40:16.700 --> 00:40:17.780
 Do you believe that everything

00:40:17.780 --> 00:40:19.840
 that you have right now

00:40:19.840 --> 00:40:22.220
 is God's?

00:40:25.100 --> 00:40:25.660
 Everything.

00:40:28.800 --> 00:40:29.900
 Everything's the masters.

00:40:32.000 --> 00:40:33.820
 And we're just stewards.

00:40:35.740 --> 00:40:37.660
 Do we believe that everything

00:40:37.660 --> 00:40:40.019
 that we have is God's?

00:40:40.720 --> 00:40:42.000
 Because you see in this passage,

00:40:42.120 --> 00:40:43.420
 the problem began at the very beginning

00:40:43.420 --> 00:40:44.880
 when we begin to act like

00:40:44.880 --> 00:40:46.260
 it's ours.

00:40:47.539 --> 00:40:48.980
 When we begin to act like

00:40:48.980 --> 00:40:50.659
 we're going to do it on our own.

00:40:50.920 --> 00:40:52.019
 When we begin to do things

00:40:52.019 --> 00:40:54.119
 that are not in the master's best interest.

00:40:54.420 --> 00:40:55.680
 When we begin to do things

00:40:55.680 --> 00:40:58.059
 that are in our best interest.

00:40:59.940 --> 00:41:01.039
 The passage says

00:41:01.039 --> 00:41:02.019
 that we go from becoming

00:41:02.019 --> 00:41:03.480
 righteous stewards

00:41:03.480 --> 00:41:07.720
 to unrighteous stewards.

00:41:07.719 --> 00:41:10.739
 Because everything

00:41:10.739 --> 00:41:12.559
 is the master's.

00:41:13.439 --> 00:41:14.879
 And we just manage it.

00:41:15.819 --> 00:41:17.039
 The moment we forget

00:41:17.039 --> 00:41:17.679
 that the gift

00:41:17.679 --> 00:41:19.199
 is from the master,

00:41:19.299 --> 00:41:19.799
 we're in trouble.

00:41:20.500 --> 00:41:21.480
 The moment we forget

00:41:21.480 --> 00:41:22.359
 that we're accountable

00:41:22.359 --> 00:41:23.439
 for everything

00:41:23.439 --> 00:41:24.859
 that the master has given us,

00:41:25.179 --> 00:41:26.739
 we're in trouble.

00:41:27.459 --> 00:41:28.619
 The moment we say,

00:41:28.879 --> 00:41:29.679
 this is mine,

00:41:30.019 --> 00:41:31.159
 I want to do with it

00:41:31.159 --> 00:41:32.439
 what I want to do with it,

00:41:32.980 --> 00:41:34.279
 we're in trouble.

00:41:34.980 --> 00:41:35.919
 The minute we forget

00:41:35.919 --> 00:41:36.659
 that we're entrusted

00:41:36.659 --> 00:41:37.239
 with things

00:41:37.239 --> 00:41:38.119
 that aren't ours

00:41:38.119 --> 00:41:39.539
 and we're given a responsibility

00:41:39.539 --> 00:41:40.419
 to invest them

00:41:40.419 --> 00:41:41.459
 in a certain way,

00:41:42.079 --> 00:41:43.879
 we're in trouble.

00:41:45.679 --> 00:41:48.000
 We see this in the news

00:41:48.000 --> 00:41:50.539
 all the time.

00:41:51.779 --> 00:41:52.559
 Don't we?

00:41:54.559 --> 00:41:55.899
 How many traders

00:41:55.899 --> 00:41:58.519
 or bankers

00:41:58.519 --> 00:42:01.719
 or people buying homes

00:42:01.719 --> 00:42:04.039
 or countries

00:42:04.039 --> 00:42:07.380
 take what isn't theirs

00:42:07.380 --> 00:42:10.779
 and do and use it

00:42:10.779 --> 00:42:12.320
 for not what the owner

00:42:12.320 --> 00:42:13.840
 wanted it to be?

00:42:15.420 --> 00:42:16.539
 And this passage

00:42:16.539 --> 00:42:19.739
 yells at us

00:42:19.739 --> 00:42:20.480
 very clearly

00:42:20.480 --> 00:42:22.820
 that we're just stewards

00:42:22.820 --> 00:42:25.320
 and the minute we forget that,

00:42:26.000 --> 00:42:27.460
 we're in trouble.

00:42:27.460 --> 00:42:30.280
 the Bible says

00:42:30.280 --> 00:42:31.300
 that one day

00:42:31.300 --> 00:42:33.840
 God is going to come in

00:42:33.840 --> 00:42:36.000
 and he's going to audit

00:42:36.000 --> 00:42:36.639
 your account.

00:42:38.880 --> 00:42:39.740
 Did you know that?

00:42:41.320 --> 00:42:42.260
 We talked about him

00:42:42.260 --> 00:42:43.280
 being a venture capitalist

00:42:43.280 --> 00:42:44.360
 and he's giving money to us

00:42:44.360 --> 00:42:45.639
 and when he comes back

00:42:45.639 --> 00:42:46.320
 and he tries to see

00:42:46.320 --> 00:42:47.280
 the money he gave to us

00:42:47.280 --> 00:42:48.559
 and the resources he gave to us

00:42:48.559 --> 00:42:48.980
 and the relationships

00:42:48.980 --> 00:42:49.639
 he gave to us,

00:42:49.840 --> 00:42:50.820
 did we invest him well?

00:42:51.699 --> 00:42:52.960
 But this passage says

00:42:52.960 --> 00:42:54.059
 that one day

00:42:54.059 --> 00:42:55.480
 God's going to come in

00:42:55.480 --> 00:42:56.519
 and he's going to audit

00:42:56.519 --> 00:42:57.119
 our account.

00:43:00.880 --> 00:43:02.139
 And he's going to ask us

00:43:02.139 --> 00:43:04.800
 did we use the stuff

00:43:04.800 --> 00:43:07.619
 that he gave us

00:43:07.619 --> 00:43:10.900
 the way that he wanted us to?

00:43:12.559 --> 00:43:13.800
 I mean, I think it's amazing,

00:43:13.880 --> 00:43:14.079
 you know,

00:43:14.139 --> 00:43:15.179
 in the Old Testament

00:43:15.179 --> 00:43:16.119
 God gives us

00:43:16.119 --> 00:43:17.460
 all of his money,

00:43:17.760 --> 00:43:18.940
 he allows us to keep

00:43:18.940 --> 00:43:19.960
 90% of it,

00:43:20.519 --> 00:43:21.679
 he only wants

00:43:21.679 --> 00:43:22.860
 10% of it back,

00:43:23.639 --> 00:43:24.679
 that's a pretty good deal,

00:43:24.740 --> 00:43:25.059
 isn't it?

00:43:26.360 --> 00:43:26.880
 I mean, I remember

00:43:26.880 --> 00:43:28.079
 when I was sharing

00:43:28.079 --> 00:43:28.519
 with this guy

00:43:28.519 --> 00:43:29.000
 who was a banker

00:43:29.000 --> 00:43:30.019
 and he just came to Christ

00:43:30.019 --> 00:43:31.000
 and for some reason

00:43:31.000 --> 00:43:32.079
 this light bulb

00:43:32.079 --> 00:43:33.699
 came on in his mind

00:43:33.699 --> 00:43:35.240
 and we were talking

00:43:35.240 --> 00:43:35.719
 about this

00:43:35.719 --> 00:43:36.260
 and I said,

00:43:36.340 --> 00:43:37.340
 God's giving you everything,

00:43:37.440 --> 00:43:37.599
 he said,

00:43:37.639 --> 00:43:38.679
 yes, God's giving me everything

00:43:38.679 --> 00:43:39.400
 and I said,

00:43:39.659 --> 00:43:40.300
 and God's going to let you

00:43:40.300 --> 00:43:41.219
 keep 90% of it,

00:43:41.260 --> 00:43:41.420
 he said,

00:43:41.480 --> 00:43:41.960
 God's going to let me

00:43:41.960 --> 00:43:42.820
 keep 90% of it

00:43:42.820 --> 00:43:43.639
 but God just wants

00:43:43.639 --> 00:43:44.579
 to give back 10%,

00:43:44.579 --> 00:43:46.320
 just 10%,

00:43:46.320 --> 00:43:47.920
 just 10%,

00:43:47.920 --> 00:43:49.760
 he's like,

00:43:49.800 --> 00:43:50.840
 that's an amazing deal,

00:43:52.119 --> 00:43:53.480
 what investment do I get

00:43:53.480 --> 00:43:53.960
 where I get to keep

00:43:53.960 --> 00:43:54.740
 90% of it

00:43:54.739 --> 00:43:55.719
 and I just have to give back 10%?

00:43:56.959 --> 00:43:57.599
 And then he looked at me

00:43:57.599 --> 00:43:57.839
 and he said,

00:43:58.139 --> 00:43:59.979
 but it's still all God's,

00:43:59.979 --> 00:44:00.219
 right?

00:44:02.479 --> 00:44:03.079
 And I was like,

00:44:03.219 --> 00:44:03.439
 yeah,

00:44:04.619 --> 00:44:07.039
 it's still all God's.

00:44:08.139 --> 00:44:08.719
 The first thing

00:44:08.719 --> 00:44:09.419
 that sticks out to me

00:44:09.419 --> 00:44:10.079
 is stewardship,

00:44:10.679 --> 00:44:11.239
 do we know

00:44:11.239 --> 00:44:12.159
 that we don't own anything?

00:44:13.059 --> 00:44:13.759
 The next question

00:44:13.759 --> 00:44:14.859
 that we have to ask ourselves

00:44:14.859 --> 00:44:15.779
 as we come to this passage

00:44:15.779 --> 00:44:17.179
 is what kind of steward

00:44:17.179 --> 00:44:17.839
 are we going to be?

00:44:17.840 --> 00:44:19.920
 Are we going to be

00:44:19.920 --> 00:44:20.780
 shrewd stewards?

00:44:21.900 --> 00:44:22.680
 Are we going to be

00:44:22.680 --> 00:44:23.480
 foolish stewards?

00:44:24.220 --> 00:44:24.780
 Are we going to be

00:44:24.780 --> 00:44:25.420
 good stewards?

00:44:25.700 --> 00:44:26.340
 Are we going to be

00:44:26.340 --> 00:44:27.019
 bad stewards?

00:44:27.460 --> 00:44:28.440
 In the parable in here,

00:44:28.500 --> 00:44:29.079
 Jesus says,

00:44:29.440 --> 00:44:30.180
 for some reason,

00:44:30.559 --> 00:44:31.380
 this steward

00:44:31.380 --> 00:44:32.539
 understood something

00:44:32.539 --> 00:44:33.800
 that you and I

00:44:33.800 --> 00:44:34.760
 have a very difficult

00:44:34.760 --> 00:44:35.519
 time understanding.

00:44:36.260 --> 00:44:37.059
 He says it,

00:44:37.079 --> 00:44:37.300
 he says,

00:44:37.559 --> 00:44:38.340
 he's shrewd,

00:44:38.519 --> 00:44:39.760
 he understands things

00:44:39.760 --> 00:44:40.400
 that the children,

00:44:40.700 --> 00:44:41.700
 the sons of light

00:44:41.700 --> 00:44:43.160
 could not understand,

00:44:43.360 --> 00:44:44.500
 they need to understand that.

00:44:44.500 --> 00:44:47.460
 The question I ask is,

00:44:47.659 --> 00:44:47.800
 well,

00:44:48.360 --> 00:44:49.980
 what is it that he understands

00:44:49.980 --> 00:44:53.699
 that we don't understand?

00:44:55.360 --> 00:44:56.099
 Verse 9,

00:44:56.699 --> 00:44:57.460
 look at verse 9.

00:44:58.500 --> 00:44:58.760
 He says,

00:44:58.840 --> 00:44:59.300
 and I say to you,

00:44:59.320 --> 00:44:59.840
 my friends,

00:45:00.260 --> 00:45:01.860
 make friends for yourself

00:45:01.860 --> 00:45:03.039
 by means of the wealth

00:45:03.039 --> 00:45:03.920
 of the world

00:45:03.920 --> 00:45:05.980
 so that when it fails,

00:45:06.099 --> 00:45:06.920
 they will welcome you

00:45:06.920 --> 00:45:08.119
 into eternal dwellings.

00:45:08.900 --> 00:45:10.000
 In Texas language,

00:45:10.199 --> 00:45:11.579
 what he's basically saying here

00:45:11.579 --> 00:45:12.980
 is use your money

00:45:12.980 --> 00:45:14.000
 to build relationships.

00:45:14.500 --> 00:45:16.179
 And give people opportunity

00:45:16.179 --> 00:45:18.340
 to hear about Jesus.

00:45:22.039 --> 00:45:23.420
 The children of the light,

00:45:24.199 --> 00:45:25.659
 with all the resources

00:45:25.659 --> 00:45:26.760
 that God has given us,

00:45:27.500 --> 00:45:28.340
 God is saying,

00:45:28.480 --> 00:45:29.480
 this is what I want you to do.

00:45:30.559 --> 00:45:31.380
 Verse 9,

00:45:31.820 --> 00:45:32.719
 I want you to take

00:45:32.719 --> 00:45:33.320
 your resources,

00:45:34.219 --> 00:45:35.480
 I want you to use them

00:45:35.480 --> 00:45:36.760
 to create opportunities

00:45:36.760 --> 00:45:38.280
 to allow people

00:45:38.280 --> 00:45:40.099
 to hear the gospel

00:45:40.099 --> 00:45:42.400
 and so that when it fails,

00:45:42.480 --> 00:45:42.980
 in Hebrew,

00:45:42.980 --> 00:45:44.619
 when it fails means you die.

00:45:45.460 --> 00:45:46.780
 So if you go to a Jewish funeral

00:45:46.780 --> 00:45:47.519
 and they say,

00:45:47.599 --> 00:45:48.159
 what happened to him?

00:45:48.179 --> 00:45:48.360
 He said,

00:45:48.400 --> 00:45:49.260
 his money failed him.

00:45:50.519 --> 00:45:51.619
 His money failed him.

00:45:51.619 --> 00:45:51.820
 And you go,

00:45:51.860 --> 00:45:52.480
 what does that mean?

00:45:52.539 --> 00:45:53.500
 It means he died.

00:45:54.900 --> 00:45:56.659
 So the idea is that one day,

00:45:56.860 --> 00:45:57.099
 it,

00:45:57.599 --> 00:45:58.860
 your money or your resources

00:45:58.860 --> 00:45:59.740
 are going to fail you.

00:46:00.420 --> 00:46:01.719
 One day you're going to die

00:46:01.719 --> 00:46:03.199
 and when it fails,

00:46:03.739 --> 00:46:04.659
 these people

00:46:04.659 --> 00:46:06.419
 who you used your resources

00:46:06.419 --> 00:46:07.879
 to give them opportunities

00:46:07.879 --> 00:46:08.819
 to hear the gospel,

00:46:09.259 --> 00:46:09.879
 these people

00:46:09.879 --> 00:46:11.379
 are going to welcome you

00:46:11.379 --> 00:46:12.619
 when you get to heaven

00:46:12.619 --> 00:46:13.459
 and say,

00:46:13.819 --> 00:46:15.059
 thank you so much

00:46:15.059 --> 00:46:17.980
 for being a good steward

00:46:17.980 --> 00:46:20.359
 of what God has given you.

00:46:22.279 --> 00:46:23.239
 Have you ever thought about that?

00:46:23.239 --> 00:46:27.039
 Have you ever thought about

00:46:27.039 --> 00:46:27.559
 what it's going to be like

00:46:27.559 --> 00:46:28.139
 when you get to heaven

00:46:28.139 --> 00:46:30.199
 and as a good steward,

00:46:30.319 --> 00:46:31.059
 you used your money

00:46:31.059 --> 00:46:32.179
 to create opportunities

00:46:32.179 --> 00:46:32.899
 to hear people

00:46:32.899 --> 00:46:33.959
 so they can hear the gospel?

00:46:34.319 --> 00:46:34.779
 Do you ever think

00:46:34.779 --> 00:46:35.299
 what it's going to be like

00:46:35.299 --> 00:46:35.819
 when you get to heaven

00:46:35.819 --> 00:46:37.079
 and someone goes,

00:46:37.179 --> 00:46:37.299
 you know,

00:46:37.339 --> 00:46:38.179
 I'm really thankful

00:46:38.179 --> 00:46:41.059
 that you tithe that day

00:46:41.059 --> 00:46:43.099
 because you don't know it

00:46:43.099 --> 00:46:44.259
 but that money was used

00:46:44.259 --> 00:46:46.319
 to create an opportunity

00:46:46.319 --> 00:46:47.279
 for me to hear the gospel.

00:46:47.280 --> 00:46:49.620
 You know,

00:46:49.680 --> 00:46:50.860
 I'm really thankful

00:46:50.860 --> 00:46:53.100
 that you got that invitation

00:46:53.100 --> 00:46:53.680
 that the church

00:46:53.680 --> 00:46:54.760
 hands out next week

00:46:54.760 --> 00:46:55.640
 to take people

00:46:55.640 --> 00:46:56.740
 to the Michael Ramson talk

00:46:56.740 --> 00:46:58.260
 and then the turkey dinner

00:46:58.260 --> 00:46:59.860
 and then talk about Christianity

00:46:59.860 --> 00:47:00.460
 and Christmas

00:47:00.460 --> 00:47:01.280
 and apologetics.

00:47:01.560 --> 00:47:02.360
 I'm really thankful

00:47:02.360 --> 00:47:03.240
 that you picked one of those up

00:47:03.240 --> 00:47:04.220
 and you laid it on my desk

00:47:04.220 --> 00:47:06.900
 because you use that opportunity

00:47:06.900 --> 00:47:09.180
 and you don't realize it

00:47:09.180 --> 00:47:10.820
 in using that opportunity,

00:47:11.120 --> 00:47:11.940
 I'm here now.

00:47:15.440 --> 00:47:16.740
 The passage says,

00:47:16.739 --> 00:47:17.679
 and think about this,

00:47:18.139 --> 00:47:19.739
 how many things right now

00:47:19.739 --> 00:47:21.739
 do you and I invest in

00:47:21.739 --> 00:47:25.059
 that increased in value

00:47:25.059 --> 00:47:28.279
 and last for eternity?

00:47:33.319 --> 00:47:34.699
 The passage says,

00:47:35.099 --> 00:47:36.759
 the only thing that does that

00:47:36.759 --> 00:47:39.019
 is men's souls.

00:47:41.439 --> 00:47:44.059
 Men's souls in God's word

00:47:44.059 --> 00:47:45.219
 are the only thing

00:47:45.219 --> 00:47:45.979
 that are eternal.

00:47:46.739 --> 00:47:49.739
 And he looks at that guy,

00:47:49.959 --> 00:47:50.599
 the steward,

00:47:50.679 --> 00:47:51.399
 who is unjust

00:47:51.399 --> 00:47:52.219
 and he said,

00:47:52.459 --> 00:47:53.819
 you understand something

00:47:53.819 --> 00:47:55.819
 that Christians don't.

00:47:56.539 --> 00:47:58.219
 You understand you have a future,

00:47:58.459 --> 00:47:59.479
 a place you're going to,

00:47:59.519 --> 00:48:00.219
 you need to take care

00:48:00.219 --> 00:48:00.759
 of that place

00:48:00.759 --> 00:48:02.259
 and Christians don't understand

00:48:02.259 --> 00:48:02.500
 that.

00:48:02.879 --> 00:48:03.619
 Christians just live

00:48:03.619 --> 00:48:04.359
 as if their future

00:48:04.359 --> 00:48:06.119
 is here right now

00:48:06.119 --> 00:48:07.139
 and they don't realize

00:48:07.139 --> 00:48:07.879
 that I've given them

00:48:07.879 --> 00:48:08.859
 all these resources

00:48:08.859 --> 00:48:10.139
 to create opportunities

00:48:10.139 --> 00:48:10.939
 for people to hear

00:48:10.939 --> 00:48:11.819
 about Christ

00:48:11.819 --> 00:48:13.639
 so that when they die,

00:48:13.639 --> 00:48:14.719
 they fail,

00:48:14.799 --> 00:48:16.000
 the money fails them,

00:48:16.359 --> 00:48:17.279
 they get to heaven

00:48:17.279 --> 00:48:18.379
 and all those people

00:48:18.379 --> 00:48:19.079
 greet them

00:48:19.079 --> 00:48:20.219
 and thank them

00:48:20.219 --> 00:48:20.940
 for their stewardship.

00:48:23.199 --> 00:48:24.179
 Does that make sense?

00:48:27.500 --> 00:48:28.639
 When I get to heaven,

00:48:30.539 --> 00:48:32.400
 it's my junior year in college.

00:48:33.539 --> 00:48:34.219
 My parents were going

00:48:34.219 --> 00:48:34.799
 through a divorce.

00:48:36.159 --> 00:48:37.359
 My dad shut off

00:48:37.359 --> 00:48:38.059
 all of us

00:48:38.059 --> 00:48:38.940
 from any kind of money.

00:48:38.940 --> 00:48:41.079
 I was involved

00:48:41.079 --> 00:48:42.139
 in a campus ministry,

00:48:42.599 --> 00:48:43.300
 Campus Crusade.

00:48:44.019 --> 00:48:45.340
 They had a great opportunity

00:48:45.340 --> 00:48:45.980
 for an outreach.

00:48:47.099 --> 00:48:48.059
 I really,

00:48:48.360 --> 00:48:49.519
 really wanted to go to it

00:48:49.519 --> 00:48:51.679
 but I couldn't

00:48:51.679 --> 00:48:54.099
 because I just had no money

00:48:54.099 --> 00:48:57.139
 and so I went

00:48:57.139 --> 00:48:58.599
 to the campus director,

00:48:59.159 --> 00:48:59.860
 Skid Logan.

00:49:00.079 --> 00:49:01.159
 I still remember his name.

00:49:02.559 --> 00:49:03.920
 I was in his discipleship group.

00:49:04.800 --> 00:49:05.300
 I said, Skid,

00:49:05.360 --> 00:49:06.579
 I really want to go

00:49:06.579 --> 00:49:07.099
 but my parents

00:49:07.099 --> 00:49:07.820
 are going through a divorce.

00:49:07.820 --> 00:49:09.000
 There's no money

00:49:09.000 --> 00:49:09.559
 in my house.

00:49:09.620 --> 00:49:10.260
 I just can't go.

00:49:10.320 --> 00:49:10.660
 I'm sorry.

00:49:12.700 --> 00:49:13.539
 I went home.

00:49:15.420 --> 00:49:16.140
 The next day,

00:49:16.180 --> 00:49:16.800
 Skid called me up

00:49:16.800 --> 00:49:16.960
 and said,

00:49:17.039 --> 00:49:17.200
 hey,

00:49:18.420 --> 00:49:19.620
 someone gave you money

00:49:19.620 --> 00:49:20.740
 for a scholarship.

00:49:21.860 --> 00:49:22.680
 You can go.

00:49:24.519 --> 00:49:25.820
 And that trip

00:49:25.820 --> 00:49:27.880
 changed

00:49:27.880 --> 00:49:29.680
 my Christian life.

00:49:32.200 --> 00:49:32.860
 I'm going to be

00:49:32.860 --> 00:49:33.760
 so excited

00:49:33.760 --> 00:49:35.160
 to get to heaven

00:49:35.159 --> 00:49:37.759
 and meet that person

00:49:37.759 --> 00:49:39.519
 who scholarship me

00:49:39.519 --> 00:49:41.219
 to go on

00:49:41.219 --> 00:49:42.099
 a university outreach.

00:49:45.460 --> 00:49:46.899
 That's what the passage says.

00:49:47.480 --> 00:49:48.619
 How are we using

00:49:48.619 --> 00:49:49.440
 our resources?

00:49:50.440 --> 00:49:51.480
 What are we doing

00:49:51.480 --> 00:49:52.420
 with our time?

00:49:53.199 --> 00:49:54.159
 What are we doing

00:49:54.159 --> 00:49:55.179
 with our talent?

00:49:55.859 --> 00:49:56.559
 There's people

00:49:56.559 --> 00:49:57.519
 that need opportunities

00:49:57.519 --> 00:49:58.239
 to hear.

00:49:58.879 --> 00:50:00.039
 There's unloved children

00:50:00.039 --> 00:50:00.619
 running through

00:50:00.619 --> 00:50:01.259
 the congregation

00:50:01.259 --> 00:50:01.899
 whose parents

00:50:01.899 --> 00:50:02.779
 don't take care of them.

00:50:02.780 --> 00:50:03.640
 They need someone

00:50:03.640 --> 00:50:04.640
 to spend time with them.

00:50:05.700 --> 00:50:06.519
 There's opportunities

00:50:06.519 --> 00:50:07.460
 for outreaches

00:50:07.460 --> 00:50:08.220
 in Christmas

00:50:08.220 --> 00:50:09.160
 and Baguio

00:50:09.160 --> 00:50:10.040
 and over here

00:50:10.040 --> 00:50:12.040
 in the community center.

00:50:12.500 --> 00:50:13.340
 All of these things.

00:50:13.580 --> 00:50:15.080
 That's the church's job.

00:50:16.060 --> 00:50:16.720
 We feel like

00:50:16.720 --> 00:50:17.260
 as a staff

00:50:17.260 --> 00:50:17.780
 and as elders,

00:50:17.980 --> 00:50:19.480
 one of our biggest jobs

00:50:19.480 --> 00:50:20.560
 is to give you

00:50:20.560 --> 00:50:20.780
 opportunities

00:50:21.380 --> 00:50:23.180
 to be successful

00:50:23.180 --> 00:50:25.360
 in using your money

00:50:25.360 --> 00:50:26.940
 to give people

00:50:26.940 --> 00:50:27.620
 the opportunity

00:50:27.620 --> 00:50:29.440
 to hear about Jesus

00:50:29.440 --> 00:50:31.159
 so that when you die

00:50:31.159 --> 00:50:32.380
 and your money

00:50:32.380 --> 00:50:33.300
 fails you,

00:50:33.800 --> 00:50:34.820
 you leave it here.

00:50:35.480 --> 00:50:36.599
 You get to heaven

00:50:36.599 --> 00:50:38.159
 and you realize

00:50:38.159 --> 00:50:39.840
 what an amazing thing

00:50:39.840 --> 00:50:40.579
 God did

00:50:40.579 --> 00:50:41.980
 with your faithfulness.

00:50:42.740 --> 00:50:43.400
 And so the question

00:50:43.400 --> 00:50:44.159
 that sticks out to me

00:50:44.159 --> 00:50:45.300
 in this passage is

00:50:45.300 --> 00:50:47.460
 what kind of steward

00:50:47.460 --> 00:50:48.099
 are we going to be?

00:50:49.780 --> 00:50:51.000
 Are we going to be faithful

00:50:51.000 --> 00:50:52.860
 and spend it the way

00:50:52.860 --> 00:50:53.840
 the master wants us to?

00:50:54.720 --> 00:50:56.320
 Or are we going to squander it

00:50:56.320 --> 00:50:57.700
 like the steward did

00:50:57.699 --> 00:51:00.239
 and use it for things

00:51:00.239 --> 00:51:00.819
 that the master

00:51:00.819 --> 00:51:01.939
 doesn't want us to do?

00:51:02.919 --> 00:51:03.679
 One last thought.

00:51:07.639 --> 00:51:08.039
 Wow.

00:51:08.939 --> 00:51:09.199
 You know,

00:51:09.219 --> 00:51:10.219
 when I read this passage

00:51:10.219 --> 00:51:11.239
 and I keep reading it

00:51:11.239 --> 00:51:12.379
 over and over and over again,

00:51:12.579 --> 00:51:14.059
 today we tithe, right?

00:51:14.480 --> 00:51:15.480
 So today I'm going to

00:51:15.480 --> 00:51:16.480
 put my tithe in

00:51:16.480 --> 00:51:17.119
 every month.

00:51:17.279 --> 00:51:18.239
 We tithe at the beginning

00:51:18.239 --> 00:51:19.619
 of the pay cycle

00:51:19.619 --> 00:51:21.899
 and I have a cold

00:51:21.899 --> 00:51:23.000
 so I'm not crying yet.

00:51:23.000 --> 00:51:28.280
 Anyway.

00:51:31.400 --> 00:51:32.199
 We tithe.

00:51:33.380 --> 00:51:34.239
 As a family,

00:51:34.639 --> 00:51:35.559
 I usually have one of my kids

00:51:35.559 --> 00:51:36.360
 put it in the box.

00:51:37.679 --> 00:51:38.880
 When I heard this passage

00:51:38.880 --> 00:51:39.699
 in the past,

00:51:40.539 --> 00:51:42.019
 I used to think

00:51:42.019 --> 00:51:43.480
 and be incredibly convicted

00:51:43.480 --> 00:51:44.340
 of my life.

00:51:45.539 --> 00:51:46.679
 And what I thought is

00:51:46.679 --> 00:51:47.900
 I would examine my life,

00:51:47.980 --> 00:51:49.199
 I would examine my stewardship,

00:51:49.340 --> 00:51:50.460
 I would examine my giving,

00:51:50.460 --> 00:51:53.780
 and I would change.

00:51:54.000 --> 00:51:55.039
 I would make a connection.

00:51:55.480 --> 00:51:56.320
 I'd hear the pastor

00:51:56.320 --> 00:51:57.960
 tell some kind of tithing story.

00:51:58.559 --> 00:51:59.400
 The pastors usually

00:51:59.400 --> 00:52:00.280
 do these percentages,

00:52:00.500 --> 00:52:00.699
 you know,

00:52:00.800 --> 00:52:02.519
 if everybody gave a tenth

00:52:02.519 --> 00:52:04.260
 then we'd be able to do

00:52:04.260 --> 00:52:05.500
 a billion, zillion outreaches

00:52:05.500 --> 00:52:07.599
 and we need to build a building

00:52:07.599 --> 00:52:09.360
 and so everybody needs to give

00:52:09.360 --> 00:52:10.539
 and I would hear those talks

00:52:10.539 --> 00:52:13.179
 and I would be changed

00:52:13.179 --> 00:52:13.900
 for a little while.

00:52:13.980 --> 00:52:15.059
 I would change my giving,

00:52:15.440 --> 00:52:17.139
 I would change my habit,

00:52:17.260 --> 00:52:18.880
 I would tithe more.

00:52:18.880 --> 00:52:20.940
 But after a while

00:52:20.940 --> 00:52:21.579
 it just stopped.

00:52:24.180 --> 00:52:25.300
 Because I was reading

00:52:25.300 --> 00:52:26.280
 this passage

00:52:26.280 --> 00:52:29.200
 as if I were the main character

00:52:29.200 --> 00:52:29.920
 in this passage.

00:52:31.880 --> 00:52:32.640
 But you know what

00:52:32.640 --> 00:52:34.220
 the truth of the story is?

00:52:35.720 --> 00:52:37.079
 The main character

00:52:37.079 --> 00:52:39.260
 isn't a steward.

00:52:43.300 --> 00:52:44.360
 The main character

00:52:44.360 --> 00:52:45.019
 is the master.

00:52:45.019 --> 00:52:47.800
 The master

00:52:47.800 --> 00:52:48.759
 is the only reason

00:52:48.759 --> 00:52:49.659
 this story continues.

00:52:50.019 --> 00:52:50.860
 The master is why

00:52:50.860 --> 00:52:51.480
 the steward took

00:52:51.480 --> 00:52:52.219
 the step of faith

00:52:52.219 --> 00:52:53.000
 because he knew

00:52:53.000 --> 00:52:53.920
 that the master was good,

00:52:54.000 --> 00:52:54.579
 he knew that the master

00:52:54.579 --> 00:52:55.099
 was merciful,

00:52:55.460 --> 00:52:56.320
 he knew that he was generous,

00:52:56.400 --> 00:52:57.139
 he knew that he was caring

00:52:57.139 --> 00:52:58.380
 and the steward knew

00:52:58.380 --> 00:52:59.139
 all of these things

00:52:59.139 --> 00:53:00.460
 because he was caught in evil

00:53:00.460 --> 00:53:02.179
 and he said nothing.

00:53:03.860 --> 00:53:04.599
 And the master

00:53:04.599 --> 00:53:05.539
 gave him mercy

00:53:05.539 --> 00:53:06.639
 and instead of throwing

00:53:06.639 --> 00:53:07.360
 them in prison

00:53:07.360 --> 00:53:08.320
 he allowed him

00:53:08.320 --> 00:53:09.259
 to continue on

00:53:09.259 --> 00:53:10.519
 even after this whole

00:53:10.519 --> 00:53:11.219
 story is finished

00:53:11.219 --> 00:53:12.139
 he allows him

00:53:12.139 --> 00:53:12.920
 to continue on

00:53:12.920 --> 00:53:13.840
 and so the steward

00:53:13.840 --> 00:53:14.900
 steps out in faith

00:53:14.900 --> 00:53:15.860
 and he plans

00:53:15.860 --> 00:53:16.700
 his whole scheme

00:53:16.700 --> 00:53:17.579
 from the very beginning

00:53:17.579 --> 00:53:19.460
 because he realizes

00:53:19.460 --> 00:53:20.599
 that in himself

00:53:20.599 --> 00:53:21.559
 he's lost,

00:53:21.760 --> 00:53:22.380
 he's dead,

00:53:22.539 --> 00:53:23.599
 he has no chance

00:53:23.599 --> 00:53:24.559
 to redeem his life

00:53:24.559 --> 00:53:25.960
 and to pay his debt back

00:53:25.960 --> 00:53:26.900
 is impossible.

00:53:28.800 --> 00:53:29.800
 He realizes

00:53:29.800 --> 00:53:30.619
 that the only way

00:53:30.619 --> 00:53:31.659
 this story is going to work,

00:53:31.900 --> 00:53:32.480
 the only way

00:53:32.480 --> 00:53:33.059
 that his life

00:53:33.059 --> 00:53:33.740
 is going to be good,

00:53:33.980 --> 00:53:34.460
 the only way

00:53:34.460 --> 00:53:35.159
 that it's going to happen

00:53:35.159 --> 00:53:36.220
 is if the master

00:53:36.220 --> 00:53:36.980
 is true

00:53:36.980 --> 00:53:38.159
 to his character.

00:53:38.159 --> 00:53:43.599
 And so he plans

00:53:43.599 --> 00:53:44.539
 all of this scheme

00:53:44.539 --> 00:53:46.079
 not on his cleverness

00:53:46.079 --> 00:53:47.500
 but on the master's character.

00:53:49.480 --> 00:53:50.399
 And we're told

00:53:50.399 --> 00:53:51.139
 that the master

00:53:51.139 --> 00:53:52.759
 is the hero

00:53:52.759 --> 00:53:53.480
 of this story

00:53:53.480 --> 00:53:56.059
 not the steward.

00:54:00.699 --> 00:54:01.519
 As I've been thinking

00:54:01.519 --> 00:54:02.059
 about this

00:54:02.059 --> 00:54:02.679
 over the years

00:54:02.679 --> 00:54:03.659
 I realize that

00:54:03.659 --> 00:54:06.940
 in my story

00:54:06.940 --> 00:54:09.599
 in our story

00:54:09.599 --> 00:54:12.559
 we have a master

00:54:12.559 --> 00:54:15.500
 who's so much

00:54:15.500 --> 00:54:16.179
 more generous,

00:54:17.619 --> 00:54:20.179
 so much more forgiving,

00:54:21.079 --> 00:54:23.500
 so much more kind,

00:54:24.200 --> 00:54:25.860
 so much more merciful,

00:54:26.920 --> 00:54:28.380
 so much more sacrificial

00:54:28.380 --> 00:54:30.400
 than the master

00:54:30.400 --> 00:54:30.880
 of this story.

00:54:32.659 --> 00:54:34.320
 We serve a master

00:54:34.320 --> 00:54:35.960
 who realized

00:54:35.960 --> 00:54:36.760
 that we had a debt

00:54:36.760 --> 00:54:38.080
 that was so massive

00:54:38.080 --> 00:54:39.860
 that there was no way

00:54:39.860 --> 00:54:40.600
 that we could get out of it

00:54:40.600 --> 00:54:41.520
 by our own cleverness.

00:54:41.700 --> 00:54:42.740
 We couldn't cook the books.

00:54:42.840 --> 00:54:43.580
 We couldn't change

00:54:43.580 --> 00:54:44.960
 anything within a debt.

00:54:45.180 --> 00:54:45.920
 All we could do

00:54:45.920 --> 00:54:46.720
 is look at our debt

00:54:46.720 --> 00:54:47.720
 and be quiet.

00:54:50.880 --> 00:54:51.640
 And our master

00:54:51.640 --> 00:54:52.520
 is so good,

00:54:53.320 --> 00:54:55.000
 so kind,

00:54:56.080 --> 00:54:57.100
 so merciful

00:54:57.100 --> 00:54:59.620
 that he eats our debt

00:54:59.620 --> 00:55:01.800
 on a cross

00:55:01.800 --> 00:55:03.840
 in the northern part

00:55:03.840 --> 00:55:04.320
 of Jerusalem

00:55:04.320 --> 00:55:05.640
 on a hill

00:55:05.640 --> 00:55:06.260
 called Cogoth.

00:55:06.760 --> 00:55:09.080
 That's the master

00:55:09.080 --> 00:55:11.320
 that we serve today.

00:55:16.920 --> 00:55:18.340
 Until we realize that,

00:55:20.440 --> 00:55:21.480
 until we walk through

00:55:21.480 --> 00:55:21.940
 every day

00:55:21.940 --> 00:55:22.540
 realizing

00:55:22.540 --> 00:55:24.540
 that that's the good master

00:55:24.540 --> 00:55:26.240
 that we serve,

00:55:27.700 --> 00:55:29.140
 we're never going to be

00:55:29.140 --> 00:55:29.880
 faithful stewards.

00:55:33.080 --> 00:55:34.060
 We're never going to be

00:55:34.060 --> 00:55:35.260
 kind and gentle stewards

00:55:35.260 --> 00:55:35.720
 with our money

00:55:35.720 --> 00:55:36.440
 with our resources

00:55:36.440 --> 00:55:37.760
 with our money,

00:55:37.760 --> 00:55:38.080
 our resources.

00:55:38.080 --> 00:55:39.640
 Because we're always

00:55:39.640 --> 00:55:40.220
 going to expect

00:55:40.220 --> 00:55:40.980
 our resources

00:55:40.980 --> 00:55:42.180
 and our stuff

00:55:42.180 --> 00:55:44.080
 to provide love,

00:55:45.080 --> 00:55:45.880
 care,

00:55:47.300 --> 00:55:47.940
 future,

00:55:49.520 --> 00:55:49.980
 forgiveness,

00:55:51.760 --> 00:55:52.340
 tenderness,

00:55:53.340 --> 00:55:54.000
 security,

00:55:55.080 --> 00:55:55.540
 identity.

00:55:55.539 --> 00:55:55.659
 we're always going to be.

00:55:56.659 --> 00:55:58.159
 We're always going to do that

00:55:58.159 --> 00:55:59.860
 until we realize

00:55:59.860 --> 00:56:01.480
 that our master

00:56:01.480 --> 00:56:04.199
 is so much better

00:56:04.199 --> 00:56:05.800
 and gooder,

00:56:05.920 --> 00:56:06.940
 if that's a word,

00:56:08.059 --> 00:56:08.679
 than the master

00:56:08.679 --> 00:56:09.279
 of this story.

00:56:10.219 --> 00:56:11.940
 And until we realize that,

00:56:12.659 --> 00:56:14.579
 we'll never be able

00:56:14.579 --> 00:56:15.480
 to be the stewards

00:56:15.480 --> 00:56:18.179
 that God wants us to be.

00:56:18.179 --> 00:56:20.759
 we'll always be unfaithful,

00:56:20.879 --> 00:56:21.699
 we'll always be hanging

00:56:21.699 --> 00:56:22.460
 on to things

00:56:22.460 --> 00:56:24.059
 because we won't have been

00:56:24.059 --> 00:56:25.440
 trusting in the true master

00:56:25.440 --> 00:56:27.099
 who comes into our life

00:56:27.099 --> 00:56:28.539
 and he changes our life

00:56:28.539 --> 00:56:29.859
 and he changes everything.

00:56:32.139 --> 00:56:33.980
 But if we understand that,

00:56:34.859 --> 00:56:36.239
 if we understand

00:56:36.239 --> 00:56:37.000
 that true happiness

00:56:37.000 --> 00:56:37.719
 is found in him,

00:56:37.879 --> 00:56:38.539
 if we understand

00:56:38.539 --> 00:56:39.259
 that true security

00:56:39.259 --> 00:56:39.859
 is found in him,

00:56:40.039 --> 00:56:40.639
 if we understand

00:56:40.639 --> 00:56:41.239
 that true meaning

00:56:41.239 --> 00:56:41.960
 is found in him,

00:56:42.159 --> 00:56:42.759
 if we understand

00:56:42.759 --> 00:56:45.299
 that true significance

00:56:45.299 --> 00:56:47.579
 is found in this master,

00:56:48.179 --> 00:56:48.659
 God,

00:56:49.619 --> 00:56:51.039
 then we'll be able

00:56:51.039 --> 00:56:52.619
 to give up those things

00:56:52.619 --> 00:56:55.619
 that we cling to.

00:56:57.719 --> 00:56:58.699
 And then we'll be able

00:56:58.699 --> 00:57:00.519
 to be found faithful.

00:57:02.039 --> 00:57:03.839
 But it's not until we do that

00:57:03.839 --> 00:57:05.599
 that we can't.

00:57:07.219 --> 00:57:08.179
 Until we do that,

00:57:08.219 --> 00:57:09.000
 we're always going to think

00:57:09.000 --> 00:57:09.799
 about stewardship

00:57:09.799 --> 00:57:12.119
 and tithing and money

00:57:12.119 --> 00:57:14.059
 as percentages.

00:57:15.599 --> 00:57:16.940
 And how much can I give

00:57:16.940 --> 00:57:17.819
 and how much can I give

00:57:17.820 --> 00:57:18.700
 it till I get away with it?

00:57:18.880 --> 00:57:19.620
 And what does God

00:57:19.620 --> 00:57:20.580
 really need in our church?

00:57:20.840 --> 00:57:21.840
 But until we understand

00:57:21.840 --> 00:57:23.500
 that we have a merciful master

00:57:23.500 --> 00:57:25.600
 who paid all the debt,

00:57:28.280 --> 00:57:29.760
 until God

00:57:29.760 --> 00:57:33.680
 is the hero of our story,

00:57:34.680 --> 00:57:37.120
 we will always be

00:57:37.120 --> 00:57:38.740
 the unjust

00:57:38.740 --> 00:57:40.140
 and unfaithful stewards.

00:57:40.139 --> 00:57:43.579
 because we'll be relying

00:57:43.579 --> 00:57:44.199
 on something

00:57:44.199 --> 00:57:45.900
 besides God

00:57:45.900 --> 00:57:48.279
 and that will be us.

00:57:49.759 --> 00:57:51.059
 Because we read this story

00:57:51.059 --> 00:57:51.440
 and we think

00:57:51.440 --> 00:57:52.719
 the steward is the hero

00:57:52.719 --> 00:57:54.879
 and we live our life

00:57:54.879 --> 00:57:55.679
 and we think

00:57:55.679 --> 00:57:56.639
 that we're the hero,

00:57:57.199 --> 00:57:58.920
 but the passage says

00:57:58.920 --> 00:57:59.819
 we're not the hero.

00:58:01.819 --> 00:58:02.500
 God is.

00:58:02.500 --> 00:58:03.119
 God is.

00:58:05.119 --> 00:58:06.179
 And it's understanding

00:58:06.179 --> 00:58:06.559
 that

00:58:06.559 --> 00:58:08.800
 that frees you up

00:58:08.800 --> 00:58:11.219
 to be the steward

00:58:11.219 --> 00:58:13.340
 and the servant

00:58:13.340 --> 00:58:14.320
 that he wants you to be.

00:58:15.860 --> 00:58:17.260
 We preach this message

00:58:17.260 --> 00:58:18.179
 every Sunday.

00:58:18.780 --> 00:58:20.000
 It's about Christ.

00:58:20.500 --> 00:58:21.380
 It's about God.

00:58:22.039 --> 00:58:22.800
 He's the hero

00:58:22.800 --> 00:58:23.539
 of our story.

00:58:24.639 --> 00:58:25.800
 The question you have

00:58:25.800 --> 00:58:26.960
 to ask yourself today

00:58:26.960 --> 00:58:29.360
 is which master

00:58:29.360 --> 00:58:31.599
 are you serving right now?

00:58:35.200 --> 00:58:36.140
 And who,

00:58:37.079 --> 00:58:39.059
 who is the hero

00:58:39.059 --> 00:58:41.160
 of your story?

00:58:48.360 --> 00:58:49.519
 Who's the hero of your story?

00:58:52.320 --> 00:58:53.200
 Is it yourself?

00:58:56.400 --> 00:58:57.420
 Or is it the master?

00:58:57.420 --> 00:58:59.300
 Father,

00:58:59.380 --> 00:59:00.240
 we thank you for this day.

00:59:00.360 --> 00:59:01.059
 We thank you for your

00:59:01.059 --> 00:59:02.099
 faithfulness

00:59:02.099 --> 00:59:03.159
 and for your gentleness.

00:59:04.280 --> 00:59:06.720
 We look at this steward's life,

00:59:06.780 --> 00:59:07.860
 we realize that we,

00:59:08.420 --> 00:59:09.980
 what we receive in Hong Kong

00:59:09.980 --> 00:59:11.159
 and the lifestyle

00:59:11.159 --> 00:59:12.000
 that we live

00:59:12.000 --> 00:59:13.720
 and how you've provided for us

00:59:13.720 --> 00:59:16.280
 are abundantly beyond everything,

00:59:16.960 --> 00:59:18.159
 everything that we deserve.

00:59:19.820 --> 00:59:21.280
 And so we come to you today

00:59:21.280 --> 00:59:22.420
 as your stewards

00:59:22.420 --> 00:59:26.059
 with colds.

00:59:27.420 --> 00:59:30.639
 and we realize

00:59:30.639 --> 00:59:31.920
 that most of us

00:59:31.920 --> 00:59:34.639
 are found unfaithful

00:59:34.639 --> 00:59:37.500
 because we think of tithing

00:59:37.500 --> 00:59:39.200
 merely in terms of percentages

00:59:39.200 --> 00:59:41.079
 and how much

00:59:41.079 --> 00:59:42.599
 and whose stuff it is.

00:59:44.099 --> 00:59:44.960
 But we forget

00:59:44.960 --> 00:59:45.619
 the whole message

00:59:45.619 --> 00:59:46.159
 of Scripture

00:59:46.159 --> 00:59:48.559
 and the whole message

00:59:48.559 --> 00:59:49.480
 of the Bible

00:59:49.480 --> 00:59:50.340
 and our journey

00:59:50.340 --> 00:59:51.240
 is that you,

00:59:51.559 --> 00:59:52.599
 you're the hero

00:59:52.599 --> 00:59:53.320
 of our story

00:59:53.320 --> 00:59:54.220
 and you're the center

00:59:54.219 --> 00:59:56.199
 and you're our master

00:59:56.199 --> 00:59:58.459
 and if our master

00:59:58.459 --> 00:59:59.000
 is good

00:59:59.000 --> 01:00:00.480
 and he withholds nothing

01:00:00.480 --> 01:00:01.219
 to bring us

01:00:01.219 --> 01:00:02.039
 into the kingdom,

01:00:02.739 --> 01:00:04.299
 then surely

01:00:04.299 --> 01:00:05.339
 we can trust him

01:00:05.339 --> 01:00:07.239
 with tomorrow.

01:00:08.980 --> 01:00:09.759
 And if our master

01:00:09.759 --> 01:00:10.500
 is good

01:00:10.500 --> 01:00:11.179
 and kind

01:00:11.179 --> 01:00:11.959
 and merciful

01:00:11.959 --> 01:00:14.359
 and he forgives us

01:00:14.359 --> 01:00:14.779
 totally

01:00:14.779 --> 01:00:15.579
 and perfectly,

01:00:17.179 --> 01:00:18.399
 surely we can trust him

01:00:18.400 --> 01:00:20.639
 with our relationships

01:00:20.639 --> 01:00:22.380
 and our identity

01:00:22.380 --> 01:00:26.480
 and our forgiveness.

01:00:28.599 --> 01:00:28.900
 And so Lord,

01:00:28.940 --> 01:00:30.019
 we come before you

01:00:30.019 --> 01:00:31.360
 as your stewards

01:00:31.360 --> 01:00:33.320
 and we worship you.

01:00:34.780 --> 01:00:35.720
 We thank you

01:00:35.720 --> 01:00:37.539
 that from the very beginning,

01:00:37.680 --> 01:00:38.880
 even before we were born,

01:00:39.619 --> 01:00:40.780
 you knew how the story

01:00:40.780 --> 01:00:41.559
 was going to play out.

01:00:41.559 --> 01:00:43.880
 Most of us

01:00:43.880 --> 01:00:44.360
 are going to walk

01:00:44.360 --> 01:00:44.799
 through life

01:00:44.799 --> 01:00:45.480
 thinking that we're

01:00:45.480 --> 01:00:46.440
 the center of the story

01:00:46.440 --> 01:00:47.860
 and that we have

01:00:47.860 --> 01:00:48.759
 to do it on our own.

01:00:50.320 --> 01:00:50.920
 But you knew

01:00:50.920 --> 01:00:51.599
 from the very beginning

01:00:51.599 --> 01:00:52.179
 that this story

01:00:52.179 --> 01:00:52.980
 is not going to work

01:00:52.980 --> 01:00:54.799
 unless you're merciful

01:00:54.799 --> 01:00:56.059
 and good

01:00:56.059 --> 01:00:57.880
 and kind

01:00:57.880 --> 01:00:59.679
 and forgiving

01:00:59.679 --> 01:01:01.619
 and gentle.

01:01:03.059 --> 01:01:04.099
 And so we come before you

01:01:04.099 --> 01:01:04.779
 and we just repent

01:01:04.779 --> 01:01:05.579
 of our sin,

01:01:07.500 --> 01:01:08.900
 repent of our selfishness,

01:01:10.480 --> 01:01:11.539
 repent that we

01:01:11.539 --> 01:01:12.639
 reduce you

01:01:12.639 --> 01:01:13.340
 to percentages

01:01:13.340 --> 01:01:15.119
 in buildings

01:01:15.119 --> 01:01:17.719
 when there's so much

01:01:17.719 --> 01:01:18.460
 more than that.

01:01:19.980 --> 01:01:20.920
 So much more.

01:01:22.599 --> 01:01:23.039
 Father,

01:01:23.119 --> 01:01:24.079
 we need you desperately.

01:01:25.199 --> 01:01:25.980
 We thank you.

01:01:26.800 --> 01:01:27.800
 We pray all these things

01:01:27.800 --> 01:01:28.840
 in your son Jesus' name.

01:01:29.659 --> 01:01:29.920
 Amen.

01:01:31.920 --> 01:01:32.900
 Let's just stand

01:01:32.900 --> 01:01:33.820
 and declare

01:01:33.820 --> 01:01:35.139
 that he's our hero

01:01:35.139 --> 01:01:35.860
 and our master.

01:01:36.099 --> 01:01:36.880
 Amen to that?

01:01:37.779 --> 01:01:38.219
 Hey,

01:01:38.559 --> 01:01:40.139
 we have a couple announcements

01:01:40.139 --> 01:01:40.960
 so you've got to bear with me

01:01:40.960 --> 01:01:41.740
 but they're all important.

01:01:41.860 --> 01:01:42.880
 Some of them are in your bulletin.

01:01:43.220 --> 01:01:43.960
 The first thing is

01:01:43.960 --> 01:01:45.019
 that we are reaching out

01:01:45.019 --> 01:01:46.320
 to about 500 refugees

01:01:46.320 --> 01:01:47.380
 in this area

01:01:47.380 --> 01:01:49.240
 and you guys gave

01:01:49.240 --> 01:01:50.139
 an abundant amount

01:01:50.139 --> 01:01:51.280
 of cold weather clothes

01:01:51.280 --> 01:01:52.119
 and coats.

01:01:53.400 --> 01:01:54.179
 Overwhelmed the guys

01:01:54.179 --> 01:01:54.659
 and the guys said,

01:01:54.720 --> 01:01:55.280
 please don't give us

01:01:55.280 --> 01:01:56.480
 any more clothes.

01:01:56.760 --> 01:01:57.559
 We don't know what to do

01:01:57.559 --> 01:01:58.119
 with all of them

01:01:58.119 --> 01:01:59.739
 and they're all good clothes.

01:01:59.739 --> 01:02:02.639
 So what they need

01:02:02.639 --> 01:02:03.960
 is they need canned food.

01:02:04.699 --> 01:02:07.139
 So this is my most precious thing

01:02:07.139 --> 01:02:07.519
 right here.

01:02:08.339 --> 01:02:09.719
 They don't need Diet Coke

01:02:09.719 --> 01:02:10.799
 but it's my example

01:02:10.799 --> 01:02:11.779
 so just kind of go with it.

01:02:12.500 --> 01:02:13.759
 So next week

01:02:13.759 --> 01:02:15.159
 we want you to bring canned food.

01:02:15.299 --> 01:02:16.539
 These are 500 refugees,

01:02:16.699 --> 01:02:17.739
 families, little kids,

01:02:17.839 --> 01:02:18.139
 everything.

01:02:18.659 --> 01:02:20.000
 And so just bring a canned food

01:02:20.000 --> 01:02:20.980
 and just bring it here

01:02:20.980 --> 01:02:22.000
 and just lay it right there.

01:02:22.500 --> 01:02:24.400
 So we want to collect food for them

01:02:24.400 --> 01:02:25.460
 so they can survive

01:02:25.460 --> 01:02:27.159
 during this holiday season

01:02:27.159 --> 01:02:28.259
 and for the next couple months.

01:02:28.359 --> 01:02:30.239
 So just as God leads you,

01:02:30.339 --> 01:02:31.199
 we're giving you opportunities

01:02:31.199 --> 01:02:32.019
 to be successful

01:02:32.019 --> 01:02:32.859
 and good stewards

01:02:32.859 --> 01:02:34.859
 in light of His amazing

01:02:34.859 --> 01:02:35.679
 mercy and grace.

01:02:35.920 --> 01:02:37.119
 So food right there.

01:02:37.219 --> 01:02:37.859
 No Diet Cokes.

01:02:37.960 --> 01:02:38.819
 I'll take the Diet Cokes.

01:02:39.579 --> 01:02:42.119
 I won't but food right there.

01:02:42.460 --> 01:02:43.779
 Also immediately following this,

01:02:43.839 --> 01:02:44.779
 there's a choir rehearsal.

01:02:45.000 --> 01:02:45.659
 I've been told

01:02:45.659 --> 01:02:47.739
 that they desperately need men.

01:02:48.619 --> 01:02:50.079
 So if you are a man

01:02:50.079 --> 01:02:51.699
 and you can sing,

01:02:52.099 --> 01:02:52.960
 they need you.

01:02:53.039 --> 01:02:53.480
 So it's going to be

01:02:53.480 --> 01:02:54.519
 right after this.

01:02:54.980 --> 01:02:56.319
 So please, Charles,

01:02:56.399 --> 01:02:57.119
 is it right here?

01:02:57.619 --> 01:02:58.339
 Right over here.

01:02:58.500 --> 01:02:59.259
 So if you're a man,

01:02:59.339 --> 01:02:59.940
 we need you.

01:03:00.159 --> 01:03:01.359
 We're going to do our choir again

01:03:01.359 --> 01:03:03.579
 and it's always an amazing thing.

01:03:04.559 --> 01:03:06.000
 There are several opportunities

01:03:06.000 --> 01:03:07.239
 starting next week.

01:03:07.279 --> 01:03:07.759
 So pay attention

01:03:07.759 --> 01:03:08.399
 just really quickly.

01:03:08.739 --> 01:03:10.019
 As we go on the journey

01:03:10.019 --> 01:03:11.379
 as a church,

01:03:11.639 --> 01:03:12.579
 we want to make sure

01:03:12.579 --> 01:03:13.199
 that everybody has

01:03:13.199 --> 01:03:14.579
 a very strong foundation

01:03:14.579 --> 01:03:15.679
 of Scripture

01:03:15.679 --> 01:03:16.739
 and where we are

01:03:16.739 --> 01:03:17.739
 in God's story.

01:03:18.259 --> 01:03:19.219
 And so what we've done

01:03:19.219 --> 01:03:20.139
 is we put together

01:03:20.139 --> 01:03:21.519
 two lessons

01:03:21.519 --> 01:03:22.460
 to kind of begin

01:03:22.460 --> 01:03:24.219
 our Christian education here

01:03:24.219 --> 01:03:25.759
 besides the sermons.

01:03:25.760 --> 01:03:26.860
 And so starting

01:03:26.860 --> 01:03:27.980
 next Sunday,

01:03:28.340 --> 01:03:29.780
 there'll be a class.

01:03:29.900 --> 01:03:31.100
 We're going to offer it twice

01:03:31.100 --> 01:03:33.580
 at 9.15 to 10.15.

01:03:33.740 --> 01:03:34.860
 So that's before the service.

01:03:35.200 --> 01:03:35.860
 And then it'll be

01:03:35.860 --> 01:03:37.440
 12.15 to 1.15.

01:03:37.820 --> 01:03:38.980
 So it'll be next Sunday.

01:03:39.100 --> 01:03:39.860
 There'll be one class

01:03:39.860 --> 01:03:40.540
 offered twice.

01:03:40.680 --> 01:03:42.240
 And then the following Sunday

01:03:42.240 --> 01:03:43.180
 on the 9th,

01:03:43.460 --> 01:03:45.000
 there'll be a second class.

01:03:45.100 --> 01:03:46.000
 They're not the same.

01:03:46.000 --> 01:03:48.260
 9.15,

01:03:48.980 --> 01:03:49.860
 12.15,

01:03:50.019 --> 01:03:50.780
 same classes,

01:03:50.940 --> 01:03:51.440
 same day,

01:03:51.500 --> 01:03:52.699
 but two different classes.

01:03:53.019 --> 01:03:54.400
 We want to encourage you all

01:03:54.400 --> 01:03:57.400
 to come to one of those days

01:03:57.400 --> 01:03:58.219
 or both those days

01:03:58.219 --> 01:03:59.320
 at different times

01:03:59.320 --> 01:04:00.440
 because we want you

01:04:00.440 --> 01:04:01.719
 to get this foundation down

01:04:01.719 --> 01:04:02.280
 of what we think

01:04:02.280 --> 01:04:03.360
 Scripture talks about

01:04:03.360 --> 01:04:04.800
 and how we as Christians

01:04:04.800 --> 01:04:05.559
 are to respond

01:04:05.559 --> 01:04:07.000
 to God's story

01:04:07.000 --> 01:04:07.880
 being played out

01:04:07.880 --> 01:04:08.920
 in our life.

01:04:09.480 --> 01:04:09.840
 Also,

01:04:09.920 --> 01:04:10.639
 there is a ton

01:04:10.639 --> 01:04:11.679
 of opportunities, guys.

01:04:13.219 --> 01:04:13.880
 Community groups

01:04:13.880 --> 01:04:14.659
 are doing outreaches.

01:04:14.659 --> 01:04:15.619
 If you're not in a community group,

01:04:15.719 --> 01:04:16.319
 sign up for one.

01:04:16.420 --> 01:04:17.199
 Chris is out there.

01:04:17.699 --> 01:04:18.639
 We've had outreaches

01:04:18.639 --> 01:04:20.299
 started last week.

01:04:20.539 --> 01:04:21.619
 There's a lot of opportunities

01:04:21.619 --> 01:04:22.679
 for you to bring your friends

01:04:22.679 --> 01:04:23.539
 just to,

01:04:23.699 --> 01:04:24.399
 we're trying to make it

01:04:24.399 --> 01:04:25.559
 where you can succeed

01:04:25.559 --> 01:04:27.359
 in presenting to them

01:04:27.359 --> 01:04:29.599
 relationships in Jesus Christ.

01:04:30.119 --> 01:04:31.399
 And so this next week,

01:04:31.539 --> 01:04:32.579
 on the 15th,

01:04:32.579 --> 01:04:33.619
 we have Michael Ramston.

01:04:33.940 --> 01:04:34.739
 He's going to be

01:04:34.739 --> 01:04:35.819
 at the community center.

01:04:36.039 --> 01:04:37.639
 So from 2 to 5 o'clock,

01:04:37.719 --> 01:04:38.440
 he's an apologist

01:04:38.440 --> 01:04:39.420
 with Ravi's group.

01:04:39.859 --> 01:04:40.719
 He's going to teach us

01:04:40.719 --> 01:04:41.559
 about apologetics

01:04:41.559 --> 01:04:42.719
 and how to engage people

01:04:42.719 --> 01:04:43.319
 in our world.

01:04:43.659 --> 01:04:44.639
 And then at 6,

01:04:44.659 --> 01:04:45.779
 6 o'clock to 9,

01:04:45.899 --> 01:04:46.799
 we're bringing in

01:04:46.799 --> 01:04:47.659
 four turkeys.

01:04:47.960 --> 01:04:48.440
 We're turning

01:04:48.440 --> 01:04:49.279
 the community center,

01:04:49.460 --> 01:04:50.199
 not people,

01:04:50.719 --> 01:04:52.179
 but eating turkeys, right?

01:04:52.239 --> 01:04:53.019
 So different cultures.

01:04:53.639 --> 01:04:54.539
 I know Turkey

01:04:54.539 --> 01:04:55.519
 is a politician

01:04:55.519 --> 01:04:56.339
 in Germany, right?

01:04:59.500 --> 01:05:00.719
 I'm giving Michael our time.

01:05:01.159 --> 01:05:02.480
 But on the 15th,

01:05:02.699 --> 01:05:03.719
 from 6 to 9,

01:05:03.799 --> 01:05:04.799
 we're transforming

01:05:04.799 --> 01:05:05.639
 the community center

01:05:05.639 --> 01:05:07.960
 into a Christmas place

01:05:07.960 --> 01:05:08.920
 for food

01:05:08.920 --> 01:05:09.920
 and fellowship.

01:05:10.319 --> 01:05:11.119
 And we want you

01:05:11.119 --> 01:05:12.319
 to invite a friend

01:05:12.319 --> 01:05:12.879
 that you've been

01:05:12.879 --> 01:05:13.719
 spending time with

01:05:13.719 --> 01:05:14.879
 that has questions

01:05:14.879 --> 01:05:15.759
 about their walk

01:05:15.759 --> 01:05:16.339
 and their faith.

01:05:16.739 --> 01:05:17.399
 And this is a chance.

01:05:17.480 --> 01:05:18.519
 We don't want you to come

01:05:18.519 --> 01:05:20.339
 if you don't bring a friend.

01:05:20.500 --> 01:05:20.679
 Okay?

01:05:20.759 --> 01:05:21.619
 From 2 to 5,

01:05:21.679 --> 01:05:22.119
 the training,

01:05:22.259 --> 01:05:22.819
 you can come.

01:05:23.079 --> 01:05:23.759
 But afterwards,

01:05:23.919 --> 01:05:25.699
 it's purely about us

01:05:25.699 --> 01:05:26.699
 using our money

01:05:26.699 --> 01:05:28.000
 to create an opportunity

01:05:28.000 --> 01:05:28.719
 for people

01:05:28.719 --> 01:05:29.639
 to hear about Christ.

01:05:30.079 --> 01:05:31.259
 So from 6 to 9,

01:05:31.319 --> 01:05:32.579
 on the 15th of December,

01:05:33.059 --> 01:05:33.839
 invite a friend.

01:05:34.219 --> 01:05:34.759
 And if you didn't

01:05:34.759 --> 01:05:35.799
 eat turkey this week,

01:05:35.839 --> 01:05:36.839
 you'll get turkey then.

01:05:37.099 --> 01:05:38.039
 And I promise you

01:05:38.039 --> 01:05:38.599
 that it will be

01:05:38.599 --> 01:05:40.099
 very, very, very good.

01:05:40.099 --> 01:05:41.000
 We have a lot

01:05:41.000 --> 01:05:41.940
 of outreaches going on.

01:05:42.039 --> 01:05:42.940
 Read your bulletin.

01:05:44.319 --> 01:05:45.219
 How are you guys doing?

01:05:45.360 --> 01:05:45.719
 You okay?

01:05:47.639 --> 01:05:48.559
 Then, like I said,

01:05:48.599 --> 01:05:49.099
 you hear this

01:05:49.099 --> 01:05:49.799
 for like an hour

01:05:49.799 --> 01:05:50.920
 or 45 minutes.

01:05:51.539 --> 01:05:53.119
 And I've been,

01:05:53.279 --> 01:05:53.980
 this has been going

01:05:53.980 --> 01:05:54.799
 through me for like,

01:05:55.139 --> 01:05:56.559
 for a long time.

01:05:57.079 --> 01:05:57.699
 And so I pray

01:05:57.699 --> 01:05:58.319
 as a church

01:05:58.319 --> 01:05:58.880
 that we would just,

01:05:59.099 --> 01:06:00.299
 we would just think

01:06:00.299 --> 01:06:00.880
 about this

01:06:00.880 --> 01:06:01.739
 and what the next step

01:06:01.739 --> 01:06:02.519
 is for us

01:06:02.519 --> 01:06:04.099
 as followers of Christ.

01:06:04.339 --> 01:06:05.339
 And we would do that.

01:06:05.679 --> 01:06:06.759
 Continue sending messages

01:06:06.759 --> 01:06:08.059
 into the Gorilla Series.

01:06:08.059 --> 01:06:11.279
 We started a pastoral care center

01:06:11.279 --> 01:06:12.179
 and we're going to be

01:06:12.179 --> 01:06:12.960
 basically doing

01:06:12.960 --> 01:06:13.960
 a training center

01:06:13.960 --> 01:06:16.659
 and a counseling center

01:06:16.659 --> 01:06:18.000
 that God's giving us

01:06:18.000 --> 01:06:18.420
 the opportunity

01:06:18.420 --> 01:06:18.900
 to open up

01:06:18.900 --> 01:06:19.420
 and the resources

01:06:19.420 --> 01:06:20.340
 to do that with people.

01:06:20.860 --> 01:06:22.340
 And so here is a website

01:06:22.340 --> 01:06:23.619
 or the email address

01:06:23.619 --> 01:06:24.139
 you can call

01:06:24.139 --> 01:06:25.119
 if you have any questions.

01:06:25.239 --> 01:06:26.159
 Everything is confidential

01:06:26.159 --> 01:06:28.340
 because next week

01:06:28.340 --> 01:06:30.460
 the topic is very, very heavy.

01:06:31.079 --> 01:06:32.559
 And so we're just continuing

01:06:32.559 --> 01:06:33.320
 on this topic

01:06:33.320 --> 01:06:33.900
 of questions

01:06:33.900 --> 01:06:36.279
 that you are afraid to ask.

01:06:36.280 --> 01:06:38.560
 And so I want to challenge

01:06:38.560 --> 01:06:39.440
 you to come next week

01:06:39.440 --> 01:06:40.600
 and be a part of that.

01:06:41.160 --> 01:06:42.340
 Let me pray for us.

01:06:43.019 --> 01:06:43.960
 Father, we just thank you

01:06:43.960 --> 01:06:44.540
 for this day.

01:06:44.660 --> 01:06:45.260
 We thank you that,

01:06:45.320 --> 01:06:46.580
 we thank you that you're

01:06:46.580 --> 01:06:47.580
 the hero of our story.

01:06:48.300 --> 01:06:49.980
 I pray that you would slap us around

01:06:49.980 --> 01:06:50.860
 when we forget that.

01:06:50.940 --> 01:06:51.880
 I pray that we'd have friends

01:06:51.880 --> 01:06:52.360
 in our life

01:06:52.360 --> 01:06:53.320
 who would slap us around

01:06:53.320 --> 01:06:54.200
 when we forget that

01:06:54.200 --> 01:06:55.820
 and help us just to realize

01:06:55.820 --> 01:06:56.920
 that we're not the hero

01:06:56.920 --> 01:06:57.680
 and we're not,

01:06:58.240 --> 01:06:59.040
 we're not,

01:06:59.160 --> 01:07:00.320
 that we're not the master

01:07:00.320 --> 01:07:01.140
 but you are

01:07:01.140 --> 01:07:01.900
 and that everything

01:07:01.900 --> 01:07:02.660
 you've given us.

01:07:03.120 --> 01:07:03.980
 Help us to realize

01:07:03.980 --> 01:07:05.539
 that you abundantly

01:07:05.539 --> 01:07:06.400
 given to us

01:07:06.400 --> 01:07:08.059
 that we're encouraged

01:07:08.059 --> 01:07:10.059
 to use it on ourselves

01:07:10.059 --> 01:07:11.619
 and to have fun

01:07:11.619 --> 01:07:12.780
 and but that percentage,

01:07:12.960 --> 01:07:13.679
 whatever that percentage

01:07:13.679 --> 01:07:14.619
 is that we give back

01:07:14.619 --> 01:07:16.000
 and how we do that.

01:07:16.139 --> 01:07:16.760
 Lord, help us just

01:07:16.760 --> 01:07:18.240
 to determine that

01:07:18.240 --> 01:07:19.119
 by our relationship

01:07:19.119 --> 01:07:19.719
 with you.

01:07:20.519 --> 01:07:21.340
 Help us to reflect

01:07:21.340 --> 01:07:23.240
 on what you've done

01:07:23.240 --> 01:07:24.260
 in our lives

01:07:24.260 --> 01:07:25.320
 every moment

01:07:25.320 --> 01:07:25.980
 of every day

01:07:25.980 --> 01:07:26.960
 and realize that

01:07:26.960 --> 01:07:28.699
 the reason we're here

01:07:28.699 --> 01:07:30.019
 is because the master

01:07:30.019 --> 01:07:31.539
 had a plan

01:07:31.539 --> 01:07:32.420
 from the very beginning

01:07:32.420 --> 01:07:34.099
 and you continue

01:07:34.099 --> 01:07:34.980
 to walk with us

01:07:34.980 --> 01:07:35.599
 in this journey.

01:07:36.519 --> 01:07:36.940
 So Lord,

01:07:37.000 --> 01:07:38.900
 as we tie today,

01:07:39.039 --> 01:07:40.960
 I pray that this offering

01:07:40.960 --> 01:07:42.680
 is acceptable to you.

01:07:42.760 --> 01:07:44.260
 I pray that you would bless it,

01:07:44.300 --> 01:07:44.920
 that we'd use it

01:07:44.920 --> 01:07:46.000
 to reach out

01:07:46.000 --> 01:07:46.800
 to hungry people

01:07:46.800 --> 01:07:47.700
 and to lost people,

01:07:47.700 --> 01:07:48.880
 that we would use it

01:07:48.880 --> 01:07:49.680
 to plant churches

01:07:49.680 --> 01:07:51.059
 in this part of Hong Kong

01:07:51.059 --> 01:07:51.579
 and beyond.

01:07:52.099 --> 01:07:52.820
 I pray that we'd use it

01:07:52.820 --> 01:07:54.019
 to train up future leaders

01:07:54.019 --> 01:07:54.700
 for the churches

01:07:54.700 --> 01:07:55.500
 and the communities.

01:07:56.059 --> 01:07:56.360
 I pray, Lord,

01:07:56.400 --> 01:07:57.059
 that we would use it

01:07:57.059 --> 01:07:57.820
 and you would use it

01:07:57.820 --> 01:07:59.139
 and take it this small bit

01:07:59.139 --> 01:08:00.180
 and you would use it

01:08:00.180 --> 01:08:01.960
 to multiply your kingdom

01:08:01.960 --> 01:08:02.800
 on earth

01:08:02.800 --> 01:08:04.659
 because that's why

01:08:04.659 --> 01:08:05.099
 we're here.

01:08:06.519 --> 01:08:07.000
 So Lord,

01:08:07.039 --> 01:08:08.119
 we worship you

01:08:08.119 --> 01:08:08.940
 and we're just amazed

01:08:08.940 --> 01:08:09.539
 at your goodness

01:08:09.539 --> 01:08:10.260
 in our life.

01:08:10.679 --> 01:08:11.440
 We pray all these things

01:08:11.440 --> 01:08:12.380
 in your son Jesus' name.

01:08:12.880 --> 01:08:13.159
 Amen.

01:08:13.880 --> 01:08:14.519
 God bless you.

01:08:14.599 --> 01:08:15.460
 We're back here

01:08:15.460 --> 01:08:16.699
 next Sunday.

01:08:17.260 --> 01:08:18.960
 Pile of food right there

01:08:18.960 --> 01:08:19.739
 and we'll continue

01:08:19.739 --> 01:08:20.380
 our series.

01:08:21.100 --> 01:08:21.640
 Love you guys.