WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.820 Let me add my welcome to you. 00:00:02.020 --> 00:00:03.160 My name is Sam. 00:00:03.240 --> 00:00:05.219 I'm one of the pastoral team here at St. Paul's, 00:00:05.240 --> 00:00:07.759 and it is really good to see a bunch of faces 00:00:07.759 --> 00:00:09.279 that I don't know very well. 00:00:09.740 --> 00:00:11.620 Hopefully I'll get the chance to meet some of you 00:00:11.620 --> 00:00:14.339 over dinner at the after party after the service, 00:00:14.480 --> 00:00:16.440 but if I don't get the chance to chat to you, 00:00:16.519 --> 00:00:17.980 consider this a welcome, 00:00:18.100 --> 00:00:19.780 and hopefully I will get to at some point 00:00:19.780 --> 00:00:21.320 in the not-too-distant future. 00:00:22.019 --> 00:00:22.839 I'm going to pray, 00:00:22.960 --> 00:00:24.100 and then we're actually going to have a look 00:00:24.100 --> 00:00:26.060 at that passage that Helen just read out for us. 00:00:26.100 --> 00:00:28.820 In particular, we're going to focus on just four verses 00:00:28.820 --> 00:00:29.839 right at the beginning of it. 00:00:30.160 --> 00:00:31.359 And try and see if we can understand 00:00:31.359 --> 00:00:33.020 what it is that God is saying to us. 00:00:33.020 --> 00:00:34.299 That's what we believe the Bible is. 00:00:34.320 --> 00:00:36.679 It's God's way of talking to us and teaching us things. 00:00:37.079 --> 00:00:38.200 And so we're going to try and understand 00:00:38.200 --> 00:00:39.799 just those four verses tonight 00:00:39.799 --> 00:00:42.859 and try and think what does that mean for us individually. 00:00:43.179 --> 00:00:43.980 So how about I pray, 00:00:44.420 --> 00:00:46.420 and then we'll get stuck into it. 00:00:47.260 --> 00:00:49.560 Father God, we thank you for bringing us here tonight. 00:00:49.640 --> 00:00:51.840 We thank you for a beautiful day. 00:00:51.920 --> 00:00:53.079 We thank you for warm weather. 00:00:53.079 --> 00:00:55.480 We thank you for the Bible, which is your word. 00:00:55.980 --> 00:00:58.400 And we ask that you would help us to understand it tonight 00:00:58.399 --> 00:01:00.679 so that we might see you more clearly 00:01:00.679 --> 00:01:02.640 and know what it means to follow you. 00:01:03.079 --> 00:01:03.479 Amen. 00:01:05.280 --> 00:01:08.140 I wonder if you've ever felt like you weren't welcome, 00:01:08.700 --> 00:01:10.359 felt like you didn't belong somewhere. 00:01:11.159 --> 00:01:12.319 A couple of weeks ago, 00:01:12.379 --> 00:01:14.459 it's probably a little over a month ago now, 00:01:14.599 --> 00:01:17.200 the staff team that I'm a part of here at St. Paul's 00:01:17.200 --> 00:01:19.840 allocated a half a day to spend together 00:01:19.840 --> 00:01:20.939 to do something fun. 00:01:20.939 --> 00:01:24.200 Now, at my very enthusiastic recommendation, 00:01:24.620 --> 00:01:28.179 we landed on spending the day doing lawn bowls. 00:01:29.000 --> 00:01:30.879 Now, before you knock it, 00:01:30.939 --> 00:01:32.579 it's actually a really fun afternoon. 00:01:33.000 --> 00:01:36.239 But it's fair to say that for a 29-year-old 00:01:36.239 --> 00:01:38.099 and for pretty much all of the staff, 00:01:38.180 --> 00:01:39.799 it's a cross-cultural experience. 00:01:40.579 --> 00:01:43.319 And when we arrived at the bowling club that we had chosen, 00:01:43.640 --> 00:01:45.560 we eventually figured out which door 00:01:45.560 --> 00:01:46.840 we were supposed to walk into. 00:01:47.379 --> 00:01:49.500 We walked in, we were met by some carpet 00:01:49.500 --> 00:01:51.859 that wasn't that dissimilar to the lovely carpet 00:01:51.859 --> 00:01:52.819 that we're standing on now. 00:01:53.840 --> 00:01:55.859 We were met by an almost empty room. 00:01:56.180 --> 00:01:58.319 There was one table of slightly older men 00:01:58.319 --> 00:01:59.760 who were sitting there drinking, 00:01:59.939 --> 00:02:01.799 and they were, at best, disinterested, 00:02:02.180 --> 00:02:04.019 at worst, angry that we were in the room. 00:02:05.140 --> 00:02:06.599 And we kind of looked around, 00:02:06.700 --> 00:02:08.719 trying to find a staff member who could help us, 00:02:08.819 --> 00:02:09.879 but there was no one. 00:02:10.219 --> 00:02:11.780 There was just a kind of crumpled up, 00:02:12.099 --> 00:02:14.659 stained sign-in book that was on a table in front of us 00:02:14.659 --> 00:02:17.479 that we were kind of supposed to use our powers of deduction 00:02:17.479 --> 00:02:18.879 to figure out how things worked. 00:02:19.500 --> 00:02:22.500 Eventually, we'd been in there for about 10 minutes, 00:02:22.599 --> 00:02:23.860 and a staff member appears. 00:02:24.360 --> 00:02:27.280 That staff member then proceeded to try and convince us 00:02:27.280 --> 00:02:28.960 that we didn't have a booking for that day. 00:02:29.819 --> 00:02:32.599 After producing the voucher and a receipt, 00:02:33.620 --> 00:02:34.439 she conceded. 00:02:35.620 --> 00:02:38.020 At which point, the kitchen staff came out 00:02:38.020 --> 00:02:40.080 to let us know that we didn't have a booking for that day 00:02:40.080 --> 00:02:42.099 and they weren't going to be ready to cook lunch for us. 00:02:42.639 --> 00:02:44.020 A bit more back and forth, 00:02:44.240 --> 00:02:45.900 and eventually they went away 00:02:45.900 --> 00:02:48.560 and tried to figure out what they were going to give us for food. 00:02:49.520 --> 00:02:51.159 They stood around with us for a little while, 00:02:51.280 --> 00:02:53.420 and eventually they figured out that what needed to happen 00:02:53.420 --> 00:02:54.699 was to give us some lawn bowls 00:02:54.699 --> 00:02:56.120 and send us out onto the bowling green. 00:02:57.120 --> 00:02:58.580 But even once we got out there 00:02:58.580 --> 00:03:00.060 and we were left to our own devices, 00:03:00.680 --> 00:03:03.500 there was still this sense that the table of men inside, 00:03:03.659 --> 00:03:06.000 they put us on the green right in front of the window. 00:03:06.120 --> 00:03:08.140 I'm not sure if it was a ploy or not, 00:03:08.219 --> 00:03:10.740 but there was this sense that those men were inside 00:03:10.740 --> 00:03:11.680 watching and laughing. 00:03:11.800 --> 00:03:12.659 They may not have been, 00:03:12.719 --> 00:03:13.860 but that was how it felt. 00:03:13.860 --> 00:03:17.480 Because we're sitting there fumbling about at a sport 00:03:17.480 --> 00:03:20.360 that most of us haven't done before, 00:03:20.580 --> 00:03:23.660 and we're just feeling completely out of place. 00:03:23.920 --> 00:03:25.800 We didn't have the right clothes. 00:03:25.940 --> 00:03:27.280 We didn't know what the etiquette was. 00:03:27.660 --> 00:03:30.520 We weren't using the correct words for the correct things. 00:03:30.740 --> 00:03:32.360 And we just felt like outsiders, 00:03:32.500 --> 00:03:33.320 like we didn't belong. 00:03:35.040 --> 00:03:36.460 It's not a very fun feeling, 00:03:36.560 --> 00:03:38.280 but the reality is that for some of us, 00:03:38.320 --> 00:03:39.680 that might be how church feels. 00:03:39.680 --> 00:03:42.860 It might be that this is the first time in a long time 00:03:42.860 --> 00:03:43.980 that you've been in a church. 00:03:44.400 --> 00:03:45.939 Maybe you've never been before 00:03:45.939 --> 00:03:47.140 because you just weren't sure 00:03:47.140 --> 00:03:50.879 that you would actually fit in with churchy people. 00:03:51.640 --> 00:03:54.040 You dress different, you swear, you smoke, 00:03:54.120 --> 00:03:54.860 you've got a tattoo, 00:03:55.439 --> 00:03:57.939 and you've never really been keen on singing in public. 00:03:58.900 --> 00:04:00.780 And so the idea of coming to a church, 00:04:00.920 --> 00:04:01.560 you just kind of went, 00:04:01.740 --> 00:04:03.500 they're just going to stare at me. 00:04:03.879 --> 00:04:05.840 Or maybe you've even been to a church 00:04:05.840 --> 00:04:07.360 and experienced that sense of, 00:04:07.360 --> 00:04:09.940 everybody's looking at me like I'm strange. 00:04:10.460 --> 00:04:12.840 There's just this feeling that I don't belong 00:04:12.840 --> 00:04:15.300 and maybe I'm not good enough 00:04:15.300 --> 00:04:16.720 to be in this group of people. 00:04:17.460 --> 00:04:19.080 Now, if you've ever felt like that, 00:04:19.520 --> 00:04:20.920 sadly, you're not alone. 00:04:22.120 --> 00:04:24.340 I think that as long as there has been churches, 00:04:24.900 --> 00:04:27.020 there's been people in those churches 00:04:27.020 --> 00:04:29.439 acting as if they had the right to decide 00:04:29.439 --> 00:04:31.639 who should be in and who should be out. 00:04:32.600 --> 00:04:33.900 And so throughout all of history, 00:04:34.040 --> 00:04:35.759 there's been people wandering into churches 00:04:35.759 --> 00:04:37.199 and wandering out just as quickly 00:04:37.199 --> 00:04:39.339 because they didn't feel like they belonged. 00:04:39.539 --> 00:04:41.319 Now, I'm not just pointing the finger 00:04:41.319 --> 00:04:43.219 at those other churches that do that, 00:04:43.800 --> 00:04:44.899 because the reality is, 00:04:44.959 --> 00:04:46.199 if I'm really honest, 00:04:46.699 --> 00:04:48.680 there are people that I meet in my life, 00:04:48.759 --> 00:04:49.680 there are people that I see 00:04:49.680 --> 00:04:50.959 when I'm out at the shops 00:04:50.959 --> 00:04:52.199 or out with my friends, 00:04:52.699 --> 00:04:53.539 and deep down, 00:04:53.920 --> 00:04:54.939 I don't really want them 00:04:54.939 --> 00:04:55.939 to be sitting next to me 00:04:55.939 --> 00:04:57.139 the next Sunday in church. 00:04:57.719 --> 00:04:58.620 For whatever reason, 00:04:58.699 --> 00:04:59.579 there's something about them 00:04:59.579 --> 00:05:00.500 that I don't really like, 00:05:00.539 --> 00:05:01.599 and I just don't think 00:05:01.599 --> 00:05:02.819 that they should be a part 00:05:02.819 --> 00:05:03.659 of the church community. 00:05:03.819 --> 00:05:06.279 And so if you're here this evening 00:05:06.279 --> 00:05:07.920 and you're feeling unwelcome, 00:05:08.399 --> 00:05:09.959 you're feeling like out of place, 00:05:10.699 --> 00:05:12.759 I want to start by saying sorry, 00:05:13.899 --> 00:05:16.000 because that's not how it's supposed to work. 00:05:16.819 --> 00:05:18.800 That's not what the church is supposed to be. 00:05:18.920 --> 00:05:20.399 I mean, in some senses, 00:05:20.399 --> 00:05:21.759 that's how the world works. 00:05:22.100 --> 00:05:24.159 You hang out with the people that you are like. 00:05:24.579 --> 00:05:26.139 You hang out with the people you get on with. 00:05:26.360 --> 00:05:28.439 So if you don't like lawn bowls, 00:05:28.560 --> 00:05:30.120 you don't hang out at the bowling club. 00:05:31.000 --> 00:05:32.100 If you like boats, 00:05:32.180 --> 00:05:33.600 you hang out with people who like boats. 00:05:33.639 --> 00:05:34.240 If you skate, 00:05:34.340 --> 00:05:35.600 you hang out with people who skate. 00:05:35.720 --> 00:05:37.240 If you're into philosophy, 00:05:37.480 --> 00:05:38.259 you hang out with people 00:05:38.259 --> 00:05:39.840 who like to talk about philosophy. 00:05:40.259 --> 00:05:42.079 But the church is supposed to be different. 00:05:43.100 --> 00:05:44.399 See, the church is supposed to be 00:05:44.399 --> 00:05:45.160 a group of people 00:05:45.160 --> 00:05:47.060 that have been gathered together by God, 00:05:47.079 --> 00:05:48.019 and the only thing 00:05:48.019 --> 00:05:49.280 that they've got in common 00:05:49.280 --> 00:05:51.920 is that Jesus has saved them. 00:05:52.800 --> 00:05:54.399 I mean, people should look at the church 00:05:54.399 --> 00:05:54.740 and go, 00:05:54.840 --> 00:05:56.319 it just doesn't make sense. 00:05:57.019 --> 00:05:57.579 They should go, 00:05:57.579 --> 00:05:59.199 how is it possible that that guy 00:05:59.199 --> 00:06:00.259 and that girl, 00:06:00.360 --> 00:06:01.839 who are completely different, 00:06:02.199 --> 00:06:04.199 can have such a deep friendship. 00:06:06.800 --> 00:06:08.579 But the sad reality is, 00:06:09.240 --> 00:06:11.399 in churches all over the world right now, 00:06:11.860 --> 00:06:13.639 there are still people acting like 00:06:13.639 --> 00:06:14.620 they get to decide 00:06:14.620 --> 00:06:16.319 who's in and who's out. 00:06:17.579 --> 00:06:19.639 Even across Australia today, 00:06:20.240 --> 00:06:21.939 there are people who want to know Jesus, 00:06:22.099 --> 00:06:23.279 who want to find out more, 00:06:23.480 --> 00:06:24.519 but feel unwelcome 00:06:24.519 --> 00:06:26.099 to walk into a building like this, 00:06:26.100 --> 00:06:27.140 because they're worried 00:06:27.140 --> 00:06:28.160 that they're going to get judged 00:06:28.160 --> 00:06:29.379 or looked down on. 00:06:31.460 --> 00:06:33.220 And that is terrible. 00:06:36.620 --> 00:06:37.600 But in there, 00:06:38.360 --> 00:06:41.000 in that what is a disgusting situation, 00:06:41.660 --> 00:06:43.800 there is a huge encouragement. 00:06:45.439 --> 00:06:46.660 In that reality, 00:06:47.160 --> 00:06:49.080 is the best news 00:06:49.080 --> 00:06:50.240 that you have ever heard. 00:06:50.240 --> 00:06:55.280 Hiding in that unwelcome environment 00:06:55.280 --> 00:06:57.319 is the gospel. 00:06:58.980 --> 00:07:00.180 And I want to show you why, 00:07:00.240 --> 00:07:02.040 from the passage that Helen read out for us. 00:07:02.079 --> 00:07:03.019 If you've got it in front of you, 00:07:03.079 --> 00:07:03.680 that'll be helpful. 00:07:04.040 --> 00:07:04.980 If not, you can listen 00:07:04.980 --> 00:07:06.620 and I'll read out the key bits. 00:07:07.040 --> 00:07:08.259 But in Mark chapter 10, 00:07:08.319 --> 00:07:09.180 in verse 13, 00:07:09.379 --> 00:07:10.699 this is what's going on. 00:07:11.199 --> 00:07:11.759 It says, 00:07:11.759 --> 00:07:13.800 people were bringing little children to Jesus 00:07:13.800 --> 00:07:14.900 to have him touch them, 00:07:15.000 --> 00:07:16.680 but the disciples rebuked them. 00:07:17.400 --> 00:07:17.920 So you get it, 00:07:17.920 --> 00:07:18.939 it's a pretty simple scene. 00:07:19.300 --> 00:07:20.699 Jesus is the miracle worker. 00:07:20.980 --> 00:07:22.439 Jesus is the impressive teacher. 00:07:22.959 --> 00:07:24.040 And so everybody wants to, 00:07:24.060 --> 00:07:24.219 you know, 00:07:24.240 --> 00:07:25.180 send their kids in 00:07:25.180 --> 00:07:25.920 so that they can maybe 00:07:25.920 --> 00:07:27.040 catch some of the magic. 00:07:27.779 --> 00:07:28.000 You know, 00:07:28.019 --> 00:07:29.680 if maybe Jesus puts their hands on them, 00:07:29.719 --> 00:07:30.319 then they'll get into 00:07:30.319 --> 00:07:31.519 the right private school. 00:07:31.860 --> 00:07:34.079 Or they want some of the good blessing, 00:07:34.199 --> 00:07:35.839 the good stuff that Jesus is offering. 00:07:35.959 --> 00:07:36.740 But the disciples 00:07:36.740 --> 00:07:38.360 get in the way pretty quickly. 00:07:38.459 --> 00:07:38.779 They're like, 00:07:38.860 --> 00:07:39.019 look, 00:07:39.220 --> 00:07:39.980 Jesus is busy. 00:07:40.060 --> 00:07:41.019 He's got things to do. 00:07:41.600 --> 00:07:41.959 And now, 00:07:42.100 --> 00:07:43.620 before we nail the disciples 00:07:43.620 --> 00:07:44.699 for being jerks, 00:07:45.420 --> 00:07:46.540 we've got to realize 00:07:46.540 --> 00:07:47.720 that we actually treat kids 00:07:47.720 --> 00:07:48.579 the same way now. 00:07:49.560 --> 00:07:49.779 Like, 00:07:49.800 --> 00:07:50.759 we actually do the same 00:07:50.759 --> 00:07:51.579 sort of thing. 00:07:51.740 --> 00:07:52.459 At best, 00:07:52.600 --> 00:07:53.959 kids are something to be survived 00:07:53.959 --> 00:07:54.800 or tolerated. 00:07:55.379 --> 00:07:56.100 At worst, 00:07:56.219 --> 00:07:57.300 they're something to be avoided 00:07:57.300 --> 00:07:58.680 or pushed to the side. 00:07:59.699 --> 00:07:59.959 I mean, 00:08:00.019 --> 00:08:00.540 think about it. 00:08:00.540 --> 00:08:02.180 We have restaurants 00:08:02.180 --> 00:08:03.399 and cinemas 00:08:03.399 --> 00:08:04.800 and churches 00:08:04.800 --> 00:08:06.779 where kids aren't supposed to be. 00:08:07.339 --> 00:08:08.259 There are special places 00:08:08.259 --> 00:08:09.100 you can pay extra 00:08:09.100 --> 00:08:09.720 for the privilege 00:08:09.720 --> 00:08:10.519 of being free 00:08:10.519 --> 00:08:11.720 of the burden of children. 00:08:11.720 --> 00:08:11.780 children. 00:08:13.300 --> 00:08:14.540 We look down on them 00:08:14.540 --> 00:08:16.860 and it's almost logical. 00:08:17.480 --> 00:08:18.600 Because when you think about it, 00:08:18.660 --> 00:08:19.500 kids don't actually 00:08:19.500 --> 00:08:20.300 contribute anything, 00:08:20.380 --> 00:08:20.700 do they? 00:08:22.100 --> 00:08:23.400 They're kind of freeloaders. 00:08:25.020 --> 00:08:25.320 I mean, 00:08:25.480 --> 00:08:25.820 seriously, 00:08:25.880 --> 00:08:26.440 if you're a parent, 00:08:26.520 --> 00:08:27.180 and I am now, 00:08:27.220 --> 00:08:28.460 I'm six months into parenthood, 00:08:29.240 --> 00:08:29.880 and kids 00:08:29.880 --> 00:08:31.640 don't actually offer anything. 00:08:32.000 --> 00:08:33.040 They just take time 00:08:33.040 --> 00:08:33.500 and energy 00:08:33.500 --> 00:08:34.019 and resources 00:08:34.019 --> 00:08:35.300 from hardworking adults 00:08:35.300 --> 00:08:36.100 like you and me. 00:08:36.680 --> 00:08:37.600 And so in one sense, 00:08:37.680 --> 00:08:38.659 it's completely valid 00:08:38.659 --> 00:08:39.840 that the disciples go, 00:08:40.460 --> 00:08:41.620 these kids don't deserve 00:08:41.620 --> 00:08:42.540 any special treatment. 00:08:43.379 --> 00:08:44.159 They don't deserve 00:08:44.159 --> 00:08:45.399 front row seats for Jesus. 00:08:45.820 --> 00:08:46.639 There's more important 00:08:46.639 --> 00:08:47.259 people around. 00:08:48.060 --> 00:08:48.240 Now, 00:08:48.279 --> 00:08:48.820 as I said, 00:08:48.920 --> 00:08:49.800 I've been a father 00:08:49.800 --> 00:08:51.620 for almost six months 00:08:51.620 --> 00:08:53.580 and my little boy 00:08:53.580 --> 00:08:54.920 has a pretty basic routine. 00:08:55.980 --> 00:08:56.940 He sleeps 00:08:56.940 --> 00:08:57.740 not as much 00:08:57.740 --> 00:08:58.460 as we want him to. 00:08:59.060 --> 00:09:00.300 He wakes up screaming 00:09:00.300 --> 00:09:01.100 because he's hungry. 00:09:01.600 --> 00:09:02.620 He eats a little bit. 00:09:02.920 --> 00:09:04.160 He throws up a little bit. 00:09:04.500 --> 00:09:05.540 He poos a little bit. 00:09:05.539 --> 00:09:06.599 And then he whinges 00:09:06.599 --> 00:09:07.139 and wriggles around 00:09:07.139 --> 00:09:07.599 on the floor. 00:09:08.559 --> 00:09:09.399 There's not a lot 00:09:09.399 --> 00:09:10.059 of contribution 00:09:10.059 --> 00:09:11.179 from him so far 00:09:11.179 --> 00:09:12.120 in our family unit. 00:09:13.779 --> 00:09:14.659 He doesn't help 00:09:14.659 --> 00:09:15.159 with chores. 00:09:15.439 --> 00:09:16.299 He doesn't pay rent. 00:09:16.980 --> 00:09:18.019 He just takes time 00:09:18.019 --> 00:09:18.480 and energy 00:09:18.480 --> 00:09:19.459 from me and Sal. 00:09:20.360 --> 00:09:20.659 Now, 00:09:20.699 --> 00:09:21.059 we love him, 00:09:21.139 --> 00:09:21.740 just so we're clear. 00:09:23.019 --> 00:09:24.439 But he's not 00:09:24.439 --> 00:09:25.379 a major contributor 00:09:25.379 --> 00:09:26.179 in our family. 00:09:26.939 --> 00:09:27.099 Now, 00:09:27.240 --> 00:09:27.939 imagine with me 00:09:27.939 --> 00:09:28.439 for a second 00:09:28.439 --> 00:09:29.299 that my wife 00:09:29.299 --> 00:09:30.879 wins a prize for two. 00:09:31.919 --> 00:09:34.179 It's an all-expenses-paid, 00:09:34.179 --> 00:09:35.120 first-class, 00:09:35.120 --> 00:09:35.940 holiday for two 00:09:35.940 --> 00:09:36.700 around the world, 00:09:37.080 --> 00:09:38.179 finest hotels, 00:09:38.860 --> 00:09:39.600 limousines, 00:09:39.759 --> 00:09:40.179 everything. 00:09:40.899 --> 00:09:41.019 Now, 00:09:41.080 --> 00:09:42.039 which two members 00:09:42.039 --> 00:09:43.240 of my family 00:09:43.240 --> 00:09:45.580 deserve, 00:09:46.019 --> 00:09:47.200 let me underline that, 00:09:47.360 --> 00:09:47.960 deserve 00:09:47.960 --> 00:09:49.940 to go on that holiday? 00:09:51.560 --> 00:09:51.980 Now, 00:09:52.019 --> 00:09:52.899 you might be less selfish 00:09:52.899 --> 00:09:53.379 than me, 00:09:53.679 --> 00:09:55.560 but if we're really honest, 00:09:55.840 --> 00:09:56.580 it's fair to say 00:09:56.580 --> 00:09:57.759 that me and my wife 00:09:57.759 --> 00:09:58.879 deserve the holiday. 00:09:59.659 --> 00:10:00.480 We're the ones 00:10:00.480 --> 00:10:01.200 who do the cleaning, 00:10:01.299 --> 00:10:01.700 we're the ones 00:10:01.700 --> 00:10:02.700 who change nappies, 00:10:03.120 --> 00:10:03.740 we're the ones 00:10:03.740 --> 00:10:04.520 who make our own way 00:10:04.520 --> 00:10:05.080 to the bathroom 00:10:05.080 --> 00:10:06.060 when that needs to happen. 00:10:07.520 --> 00:10:08.080 And so, 00:10:08.160 --> 00:10:08.759 it's fair enough 00:10:08.759 --> 00:10:10.040 that out of the three of us, 00:10:10.100 --> 00:10:11.379 we are the most deserving 00:10:11.379 --> 00:10:13.360 of that extra privilege. 00:10:13.960 --> 00:10:14.180 Now, 00:10:14.220 --> 00:10:15.320 it's not that we don't love 00:10:15.320 --> 00:10:16.400 our boy, 00:10:16.820 --> 00:10:17.620 but we're the ones 00:10:17.620 --> 00:10:18.400 doing the work. 00:10:19.040 --> 00:10:19.960 And we're older, 00:10:20.180 --> 00:10:21.280 and we'll enjoy it more, 00:10:21.320 --> 00:10:22.460 and we'll appreciate it. 00:10:22.720 --> 00:10:23.500 It's not that 00:10:23.500 --> 00:10:25.080 our son's not important, 00:10:25.080 --> 00:10:26.660 it's just that 00:10:26.660 --> 00:10:28.100 he's less important 00:10:28.100 --> 00:10:28.940 than us. 00:10:31.139 --> 00:10:31.580 Now, 00:10:31.680 --> 00:10:32.860 just so we're clear again, 00:10:33.060 --> 00:10:34.120 my boy comes first 00:10:34.120 --> 00:10:34.720 in our family 00:10:34.720 --> 00:10:36.259 because he needs to. 00:10:36.960 --> 00:10:38.440 But you can understand 00:10:38.440 --> 00:10:39.500 at least a little bit 00:10:39.500 --> 00:10:40.259 of what's going through 00:10:40.259 --> 00:10:41.320 the head of the disciples. 00:10:42.080 --> 00:10:42.320 Now, 00:10:42.379 --> 00:10:43.360 they're not saying 00:10:43.360 --> 00:10:44.840 children are 00:10:44.840 --> 00:10:46.000 just unimportant 00:10:46.000 --> 00:10:46.700 and insignificant 00:10:46.700 --> 00:10:47.639 and don't matter. 00:10:48.580 --> 00:10:49.740 They're just saying 00:10:49.740 --> 00:10:51.860 children are less important. 00:10:52.920 --> 00:10:53.140 I mean, 00:10:53.180 --> 00:10:53.879 let's just remember 00:10:53.879 --> 00:10:54.960 who we're talking about here. 00:10:55.080 --> 00:10:56.399 This is Jesus. 00:10:57.120 --> 00:10:58.639 This is the miracle worker. 00:10:58.820 --> 00:10:59.799 This is the healer. 00:10:59.899 --> 00:11:00.700 This is the teacher. 00:11:00.840 --> 00:11:02.039 This is the son of God. 00:11:02.740 --> 00:11:03.759 And so they're thinking 00:11:03.759 --> 00:11:04.879 maybe there's more 00:11:04.879 --> 00:11:05.840 important people here 00:11:05.840 --> 00:11:06.519 who need to get 00:11:06.519 --> 00:11:07.539 to Jesus first. 00:11:08.039 --> 00:11:08.320 I mean, 00:11:08.340 --> 00:11:08.779 he's not going to be 00:11:08.779 --> 00:11:09.419 around forever. 00:11:09.500 --> 00:11:09.860 We're going to make 00:11:09.860 --> 00:11:10.740 the most of his time. 00:11:10.840 --> 00:11:11.379 There could have been 00:11:11.379 --> 00:11:13.240 doctors or lawyers 00:11:13.240 --> 00:11:15.899 or politicians, 00:11:16.860 --> 00:11:17.000 you know, 00:11:17.019 --> 00:11:18.139 really important people. 00:11:19.600 --> 00:11:20.500 And the disciples 00:11:20.500 --> 00:11:21.659 are doing exactly 00:11:21.659 --> 00:11:22.759 what we would probably do. 00:11:23.879 --> 00:11:25.279 We start sorting out 00:11:25.279 --> 00:11:26.259 who is the most 00:11:26.259 --> 00:11:27.620 important people, 00:11:27.700 --> 00:11:28.200 who are the most 00:11:28.200 --> 00:11:29.059 worthy people 00:11:29.059 --> 00:11:30.299 and we'll give them 00:11:30.299 --> 00:11:31.379 a shot at looking 00:11:31.379 --> 00:11:32.600 at Jesus first. 00:11:33.299 --> 00:11:34.080 So the children 00:11:34.080 --> 00:11:34.799 in this passage 00:11:34.799 --> 00:11:36.000 and children in general 00:11:36.000 --> 00:11:36.799 don't deserve 00:11:36.799 --> 00:11:37.799 any special treatment 00:11:37.799 --> 00:11:38.439 from God. 00:11:39.159 --> 00:11:40.120 They don't deserve 00:11:40.120 --> 00:11:40.799 this free 00:11:40.799 --> 00:11:41.720 jump to the front 00:11:41.720 --> 00:11:42.700 of the queue pass. 00:11:42.700 --> 00:11:45.020 And interestingly, 00:11:45.680 --> 00:11:46.820 Jesus doesn't actually 00:11:46.820 --> 00:11:47.720 argue the point 00:11:47.720 --> 00:11:48.720 when he responds 00:11:48.720 --> 00:11:49.580 to his disciples. 00:11:49.759 --> 00:11:50.160 I don't know if you 00:11:50.160 --> 00:11:50.780 noticed that. 00:11:52.120 --> 00:11:53.140 Jesus doesn't turn around 00:11:53.140 --> 00:11:53.340 and go, 00:11:53.400 --> 00:11:53.820 disciples, 00:11:53.980 --> 00:11:54.580 you idiots. 00:11:55.360 --> 00:11:56.340 Children do deserve 00:11:56.340 --> 00:11:56.879 my blessing. 00:11:57.000 --> 00:11:57.900 They are more important 00:11:57.900 --> 00:11:58.500 than everyone else. 00:11:58.600 --> 00:11:59.420 Let them to the front. 00:12:00.520 --> 00:12:01.860 Listen to what he does say 00:12:01.860 --> 00:12:02.800 back in the passage 00:12:02.800 --> 00:12:03.680 at verse 14. 00:12:03.679 --> 00:12:05.979 When Jesus saw this, 00:12:06.279 --> 00:12:07.059 he was indignant 00:12:07.059 --> 00:12:08.120 and he said to them, 00:12:08.959 --> 00:12:10.019 Let the little children 00:12:10.019 --> 00:12:10.759 come to me 00:12:10.759 --> 00:12:12.179 and do not hinder them 00:12:12.179 --> 00:12:13.639 for the kingdom of God 00:12:13.639 --> 00:12:15.379 belongs to such as these. 00:12:15.759 --> 00:12:16.839 I tell you the truth, 00:12:17.000 --> 00:12:17.959 anyone who will not 00:12:17.959 --> 00:12:20.339 receive the kingdom of God 00:12:20.339 --> 00:12:21.559 like a little child 00:12:21.559 --> 00:12:22.979 will never enter it. 00:12:23.179 --> 00:12:24.120 And he took the children 00:12:24.120 --> 00:12:24.799 in his arms, 00:12:24.939 --> 00:12:25.899 put his hands on them 00:12:25.899 --> 00:12:26.919 and blessed them. 00:12:27.919 --> 00:12:29.179 What's Jesus' response? 00:12:30.039 --> 00:12:30.699 He says, 00:12:30.700 --> 00:12:31.900 let them come. 00:12:33.300 --> 00:12:34.000 He doesn't say 00:12:34.000 --> 00:12:34.560 let them come 00:12:34.560 --> 00:12:35.000 because they're 00:12:35.000 --> 00:12:35.800 the most important. 00:12:36.240 --> 00:12:36.700 He says, 00:12:36.780 --> 00:12:37.340 let them come. 00:12:37.480 --> 00:12:39.360 Even though they're unworthy, 00:12:39.520 --> 00:12:40.800 even though they're unimportant, 00:12:40.920 --> 00:12:42.180 even though they're unimpressive, 00:12:43.000 --> 00:12:43.600 he says, 00:12:43.820 --> 00:12:44.620 my blessing, 00:12:44.920 --> 00:12:45.520 my kingdom, 00:12:45.720 --> 00:12:46.259 all the stuff 00:12:46.259 --> 00:12:47.120 that I want to give 00:12:47.120 --> 00:12:50.259 belongs to such as these. 00:12:51.940 --> 00:12:53.280 His kingdom belongs 00:12:53.280 --> 00:12:54.640 to the childlike. 00:12:55.600 --> 00:12:55.900 Now, 00:12:56.020 --> 00:12:57.100 the amazing irony 00:12:57.100 --> 00:12:57.860 in this passage 00:12:57.860 --> 00:12:59.500 is that the same way 00:12:59.500 --> 00:13:00.320 that the disciples 00:13:00.320 --> 00:13:01.160 are looking down 00:13:01.160 --> 00:13:01.820 on these children 00:13:01.820 --> 00:13:03.260 and the same way 00:13:03.260 --> 00:13:04.000 that sometimes 00:13:04.000 --> 00:13:05.080 people in churches 00:13:05.080 --> 00:13:06.320 look down on other people 00:13:06.320 --> 00:13:07.220 as being unworthy 00:13:07.220 --> 00:13:08.100 or undeserving, 00:13:08.860 --> 00:13:10.340 that is exactly 00:13:10.340 --> 00:13:12.460 how God sees 00:13:12.460 --> 00:13:13.960 each and every one of us. 00:13:14.940 --> 00:13:15.920 That is exactly 00:13:15.920 --> 00:13:17.240 how God sees 00:13:17.240 --> 00:13:18.160 even the disciples 00:13:18.160 --> 00:13:19.160 in this passage. 00:13:19.960 --> 00:13:20.240 Now, 00:13:20.280 --> 00:13:20.960 let me say that again 00:13:20.960 --> 00:13:22.160 because that's really important. 00:13:22.700 --> 00:13:23.820 The way we sometimes 00:13:23.820 --> 00:13:24.660 try and discern 00:13:24.660 --> 00:13:25.500 between who is 00:13:25.500 --> 00:13:26.400 more deserving 00:13:26.400 --> 00:13:27.140 of God's love 00:13:27.140 --> 00:13:28.040 and less deserving, 00:13:28.560 --> 00:13:29.920 we look at other people 00:13:29.919 --> 00:13:31.099 as less deserving. 00:13:31.719 --> 00:13:33.539 But when God sees us, 00:13:34.500 --> 00:13:35.399 he sees us 00:13:35.399 --> 00:13:36.419 as undeserving. 00:13:37.079 --> 00:13:38.099 He sees us 00:13:38.099 --> 00:13:39.019 as unworthy. 00:13:39.379 --> 00:13:40.179 He sees us 00:13:40.179 --> 00:13:41.339 as having no right 00:13:41.339 --> 00:13:41.919 whatsoever. 00:13:44.799 --> 00:13:46.339 When God looks at you 00:13:46.339 --> 00:13:47.339 and me 00:13:47.339 --> 00:13:48.459 and every single one 00:13:48.459 --> 00:13:48.899 of us, 00:13:49.139 --> 00:13:50.500 he sees what the disciples 00:13:50.500 --> 00:13:51.479 see in these kids, 00:13:52.419 --> 00:13:54.319 people who don't deserve 00:13:54.319 --> 00:13:55.259 his blessing. 00:13:55.259 --> 00:13:58.620 So on one level, 00:13:58.799 --> 00:13:59.399 if you're sitting 00:13:59.399 --> 00:14:00.259 in church tonight 00:14:00.259 --> 00:14:01.700 and you're feeling 00:14:01.700 --> 00:14:02.379 unwelcome, 00:14:03.019 --> 00:14:03.759 you're feeling like 00:14:03.759 --> 00:14:05.139 maybe you don't fit here, 00:14:06.139 --> 00:14:07.980 you're actually heading 00:14:07.980 --> 00:14:08.840 in the right direction. 00:14:10.220 --> 00:14:11.279 God is giving you 00:14:11.279 --> 00:14:12.000 some insight 00:14:12.000 --> 00:14:13.519 into how he sees you. 00:14:14.159 --> 00:14:14.759 He's giving you 00:14:14.759 --> 00:14:15.460 a chance to look 00:14:15.460 --> 00:14:16.399 from his perspective 00:14:16.399 --> 00:14:17.059 and understand 00:14:17.059 --> 00:14:18.879 that no one 00:14:18.879 --> 00:14:20.360 deserves to be able 00:14:20.360 --> 00:14:21.279 to call God Father. 00:14:21.759 --> 00:14:22.700 No one deserves 00:14:22.700 --> 00:14:23.259 to be able to call 00:14:23.259 --> 00:14:24.559 Jesus their Savior. 00:14:24.559 --> 00:14:25.699 No one deserves 00:14:25.699 --> 00:14:26.299 to be able to call 00:14:26.299 --> 00:14:27.299 Jesus their friend. 00:14:27.719 --> 00:14:28.739 And in this passage, 00:14:29.159 --> 00:14:30.059 the reason the children 00:14:30.059 --> 00:14:30.819 are unworthy 00:14:30.819 --> 00:14:32.319 is because they're children. 00:14:33.039 --> 00:14:33.599 All they need 00:14:33.599 --> 00:14:34.319 is a few years 00:14:34.319 --> 00:14:34.939 and they can deal 00:14:34.939 --> 00:14:35.519 with that issue 00:14:35.519 --> 00:14:36.279 but our issue 00:14:36.279 --> 00:14:37.199 is more significant. 00:14:37.779 --> 00:14:38.339 Our problem's 00:14:38.339 --> 00:14:39.239 not so easily fixed. 00:14:39.339 --> 00:14:40.879 See, we're unworthy 00:14:40.879 --> 00:14:42.299 of God 00:14:42.299 --> 00:14:43.099 because we spend 00:14:43.099 --> 00:14:43.519 our lives 00:14:43.519 --> 00:14:43.979 treating him 00:14:43.979 --> 00:14:44.739 like he doesn't matter. 00:14:45.959 --> 00:14:46.899 We're unworthy 00:14:46.899 --> 00:14:47.819 because we act 00:14:47.819 --> 00:14:48.339 like the one 00:14:48.339 --> 00:14:49.059 who made us 00:14:49.059 --> 00:14:50.079 and keeps us alive 00:14:50.079 --> 00:14:51.019 is just a resource 00:14:51.019 --> 00:14:51.979 that we can use 00:14:51.979 --> 00:14:53.639 instead of a God 00:14:53.639 --> 00:14:54.399 who deserves 00:14:54.399 --> 00:14:55.199 to be obeyed. 00:14:56.199 --> 00:14:56.899 We don't do 00:14:56.899 --> 00:14:57.879 what he tells us to. 00:14:58.299 --> 00:14:59.159 We do what he tells 00:14:59.159 --> 00:14:59.939 us not to do 00:14:59.939 --> 00:15:01.319 and the sad thing is 00:15:01.319 --> 00:15:02.000 even if we were 00:15:02.000 --> 00:15:03.139 to try and change now 00:15:03.139 --> 00:15:04.399 and become better people, 00:15:04.919 --> 00:15:05.460 even if we were 00:15:05.460 --> 00:15:06.539 to start obeying 00:15:06.539 --> 00:15:07.600 from this point forward, 00:15:08.179 --> 00:15:09.340 that doesn't change 00:15:09.340 --> 00:15:09.899 that we are 00:15:09.899 --> 00:15:10.960 disobedient people. 00:15:11.620 --> 00:15:12.539 That doesn't change 00:15:12.539 --> 00:15:13.340 that up to this point 00:15:13.340 --> 00:15:13.919 in our lives 00:15:13.919 --> 00:15:14.899 and in reality 00:15:14.899 --> 00:15:15.659 from here forward, 00:15:15.740 --> 00:15:16.399 we're going to keep 00:15:16.399 --> 00:15:17.439 ignoring him 00:15:17.439 --> 00:15:18.299 and making choices 00:15:18.299 --> 00:15:19.319 that we know 00:15:19.319 --> 00:15:20.559 he doesn't want us to. 00:15:20.559 --> 00:15:23.019 We have a habit 00:15:23.019 --> 00:15:23.519 when we talk 00:15:23.519 --> 00:15:24.399 about God 00:15:24.399 --> 00:15:25.639 of thinking about 00:15:25.639 --> 00:15:26.379 good people 00:15:26.379 --> 00:15:27.519 and bad people. 00:15:28.119 --> 00:15:29.279 We think of bad people 00:15:29.279 --> 00:15:29.699 as the people 00:15:29.699 --> 00:15:30.239 who murder 00:15:30.239 --> 00:15:31.099 or steal 00:15:31.099 --> 00:15:31.939 or abuse 00:15:31.939 --> 00:15:33.279 and good people 00:15:33.279 --> 00:15:34.219 are the ones 00:15:34.219 --> 00:15:35.099 who manage to avoid 00:15:35.099 --> 00:15:36.819 those serious bad things 00:15:36.819 --> 00:15:37.919 and those are the only 00:15:37.919 --> 00:15:38.979 two categories we've got. 00:15:39.059 --> 00:15:39.659 We've got good 00:15:39.659 --> 00:15:40.479 and bad 00:15:40.479 --> 00:15:41.619 but God has a higher 00:15:41.619 --> 00:15:42.699 standard than good. 00:15:45.000 --> 00:15:46.159 God is perfect 00:15:46.159 --> 00:15:47.159 in every way. 00:15:47.799 --> 00:15:48.419 There is nothing 00:15:48.419 --> 00:15:49.419 bad in him 00:15:49.419 --> 00:15:50.539 and he demands 00:15:50.539 --> 00:15:51.139 that if we would 00:15:51.139 --> 00:15:51.879 follow him, 00:15:52.240 --> 00:15:53.179 if we would call him 00:15:53.179 --> 00:15:53.699 father, 00:15:53.959 --> 00:15:54.899 if we would be a part 00:15:54.899 --> 00:15:56.099 of his family, 00:15:57.039 --> 00:15:57.919 then we need to be 00:15:57.919 --> 00:15:58.719 perfect as well. 00:15:59.839 --> 00:16:00.860 Now you might be good 00:16:00.860 --> 00:16:02.379 but you are not perfect. 00:16:03.279 --> 00:16:04.179 You might be better 00:16:04.179 --> 00:16:04.919 than everyone else 00:16:04.919 --> 00:16:05.459 in this room, 00:16:05.559 --> 00:16:06.199 you might be the best 00:16:06.199 --> 00:16:06.979 person you know 00:16:06.979 --> 00:16:07.860 but you are still 00:16:07.860 --> 00:16:09.319 not perfect. 00:16:10.559 --> 00:16:11.439 Which means 00:16:11.439 --> 00:16:12.439 in God's eyes 00:16:12.439 --> 00:16:14.779 you're not good enough. 00:16:16.599 --> 00:16:17.899 You don't deserve 00:16:17.899 --> 00:16:18.779 his blessing. 00:16:18.779 --> 00:16:19.779 You don't deserve 00:16:19.779 --> 00:16:20.740 all the good things 00:16:20.740 --> 00:16:21.720 that he has. 00:16:22.379 --> 00:16:23.379 Jesus is saying 00:16:23.379 --> 00:16:24.620 something really profound 00:16:24.620 --> 00:16:25.720 in these four verses. 00:16:26.360 --> 00:16:27.500 The kingdom of God 00:16:27.500 --> 00:16:27.860 he says, 00:16:27.919 --> 00:16:29.079 the blessing of God 00:16:29.079 --> 00:16:29.459 he says, 00:16:29.539 --> 00:16:30.000 belongs 00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:31.600 to such 00:16:31.600 --> 00:16:32.679 as these. 00:16:33.459 --> 00:16:34.439 The church 00:16:34.439 --> 00:16:35.620 will be full 00:16:35.620 --> 00:16:36.679 of such 00:16:36.679 --> 00:16:37.519 as these. 00:16:37.860 --> 00:16:38.159 Heaven 00:16:38.159 --> 00:16:39.459 will be full 00:16:39.459 --> 00:16:40.500 of such 00:16:40.500 --> 00:16:41.299 as these. 00:16:41.379 --> 00:16:42.339 But what does that mean? 00:16:43.779 --> 00:16:44.980 What does it mean 00:16:44.980 --> 00:16:46.199 to receive the kingdom 00:16:46.200 --> 00:16:47.240 like a little child? 00:16:51.280 --> 00:16:52.060 Well it's all 00:16:52.060 --> 00:16:52.700 the things 00:16:52.700 --> 00:16:53.800 that you spend 00:16:53.800 --> 00:16:54.500 your life 00:16:54.500 --> 00:16:55.780 trying to get out of. 00:16:56.300 --> 00:16:57.020 All the habits 00:16:57.020 --> 00:16:57.580 that you're trying 00:16:57.580 --> 00:16:58.180 to avoid. 00:16:58.540 --> 00:16:59.120 The dependence 00:16:59.120 --> 00:16:59.840 of children. 00:17:00.180 --> 00:17:01.000 The helplessness 00:17:01.000 --> 00:17:01.560 of children. 00:17:02.540 --> 00:17:03.040 See we live 00:17:03.040 --> 00:17:03.660 in a society 00:17:03.660 --> 00:17:04.720 where we value 00:17:04.720 --> 00:17:05.559 independence. 00:17:06.640 --> 00:17:07.559 We want our lives 00:17:07.559 --> 00:17:08.039 to be about 00:17:08.039 --> 00:17:09.000 what we can do. 00:17:09.240 --> 00:17:10.000 We want to be judged 00:17:10.000 --> 00:17:10.840 on our merits. 00:17:11.120 --> 00:17:11.720 We want to stand 00:17:11.720 --> 00:17:12.660 on our own two feet 00:17:12.660 --> 00:17:13.299 and we want 00:17:13.299 --> 00:17:13.920 what is fair 00:17:13.920 --> 00:17:14.519 and just 00:17:14.519 --> 00:17:15.700 for what we have done. 00:17:17.720 --> 00:17:19.100 But Jesus is saying 00:17:19.100 --> 00:17:20.579 if God gives you 00:17:20.579 --> 00:17:21.279 what is fair 00:17:21.279 --> 00:17:21.880 and just 00:17:21.880 --> 00:17:22.980 for what you have done 00:17:22.980 --> 00:17:25.039 then you have no chance 00:17:25.039 --> 00:17:25.420 of getting 00:17:25.420 --> 00:17:26.279 all the good things 00:17:26.279 --> 00:17:26.759 that he wants 00:17:26.759 --> 00:17:27.259 to give you. 00:17:30.640 --> 00:17:31.620 Being a Christian 00:17:31.620 --> 00:17:32.700 is about 00:17:32.700 --> 00:17:33.480 recognizing 00:17:33.480 --> 00:17:35.160 embracing 00:17:35.160 --> 00:17:37.100 and rejoicing 00:17:37.100 --> 00:17:38.240 in the fact 00:17:38.240 --> 00:17:38.900 that you 00:17:38.900 --> 00:17:39.660 need 00:17:39.660 --> 00:17:40.299 Jesus' 00:17:40.740 --> 00:17:41.019 help. 00:17:41.720 --> 00:17:43.279 I'll say that again. 00:17:43.740 --> 00:17:44.460 Being a Christian 00:17:44.460 --> 00:17:45.039 is about 00:17:45.039 --> 00:17:45.819 recognizing 00:17:45.819 --> 00:17:46.759 that you need 00:17:46.759 --> 00:17:47.420 Jesus' help 00:17:47.420 --> 00:17:48.279 embracing 00:17:48.279 --> 00:17:48.960 the fact 00:17:48.960 --> 00:17:49.660 that you need 00:17:49.660 --> 00:17:49.880 help 00:17:49.880 --> 00:17:50.400 from something 00:17:50.400 --> 00:17:51.299 outside yourself 00:17:51.299 --> 00:17:52.460 and rejoicing 00:17:52.460 --> 00:17:53.160 in the fact 00:17:53.160 --> 00:17:54.500 that God 00:17:54.500 --> 00:17:55.120 has provided 00:17:55.120 --> 00:17:55.600 that help 00:17:55.600 --> 00:17:56.220 that you need. 00:17:58.839 --> 00:17:59.779 These children 00:17:59.779 --> 00:18:00.640 come to Jesus 00:18:00.640 --> 00:18:01.299 because they are 00:18:01.299 --> 00:18:01.779 confident 00:18:01.779 --> 00:18:02.620 that he 00:18:02.620 --> 00:18:03.480 will love them. 00:18:03.940 --> 00:18:04.720 Not confident 00:18:04.720 --> 00:18:05.519 that they deserve 00:18:05.519 --> 00:18:06.100 his love. 00:18:06.579 --> 00:18:07.100 Not confident 00:18:07.100 --> 00:18:07.600 that they have 00:18:07.600 --> 00:18:08.220 some right 00:18:08.220 --> 00:18:09.019 to his blessing. 00:18:09.980 --> 00:18:11.059 But depending 00:18:11.059 --> 00:18:11.799 on the fact 00:18:11.799 --> 00:18:12.179 that he 00:18:12.179 --> 00:18:12.619 will love 00:18:12.619 --> 00:18:12.819 them 00:18:12.819 --> 00:18:13.460 in spite 00:18:13.460 --> 00:18:14.679 of how 00:18:14.679 --> 00:18:15.200 unimpressive 00:18:15.200 --> 00:18:15.700 they are. 00:18:16.519 --> 00:18:17.159 They bring 00:18:17.159 --> 00:18:17.700 nothing to 00:18:17.700 --> 00:18:18.179 the table. 00:18:18.679 --> 00:18:19.039 They just 00:18:19.039 --> 00:18:19.720 come eager 00:18:19.720 --> 00:18:20.839 and keen 00:18:20.839 --> 00:18:21.819 empty handed 00:18:21.819 --> 00:18:23.200 and Jesus 00:18:23.200 --> 00:18:23.599 welcomes 00:18:23.599 --> 00:18:23.839 them. 00:18:25.740 --> 00:18:26.720 That is 00:18:26.720 --> 00:18:27.819 what it means 00:18:27.819 --> 00:18:28.799 to receive 00:18:28.799 --> 00:18:29.200 the kingdom 00:18:29.200 --> 00:18:29.980 like a child. 00:18:30.480 --> 00:18:31.079 It's about 00:18:31.079 --> 00:18:31.679 recognizing 00:18:31.679 --> 00:18:32.059 you don't 00:18:32.059 --> 00:18:32.679 deserve it 00:18:32.679 --> 00:18:33.960 and asking 00:18:33.960 --> 00:18:34.539 God to 00:18:34.539 --> 00:18:34.960 welcome you 00:18:34.960 --> 00:18:35.379 anyway. 00:18:35.380 --> 00:18:37.480 the gospel 00:18:37.480 --> 00:18:37.880 message 00:18:37.880 --> 00:18:38.800 is a message 00:18:38.800 --> 00:18:39.880 of unworthy 00:18:39.880 --> 00:18:40.440 people 00:18:40.440 --> 00:18:41.600 offered 00:18:41.600 --> 00:18:42.140 forgiveness 00:18:42.140 --> 00:18:43.000 and love 00:18:43.000 --> 00:18:44.320 through the 00:18:44.320 --> 00:18:44.640 death 00:18:44.640 --> 00:18:45.620 and resurrection 00:18:45.620 --> 00:18:46.400 of Jesus. 00:18:48.520 --> 00:18:49.480 But don't 00:18:49.480 --> 00:18:50.000 mishear me 00:18:50.000 --> 00:18:50.440 when I say 00:18:50.440 --> 00:18:50.680 that. 00:18:51.300 --> 00:18:51.900 The fact 00:18:51.900 --> 00:18:52.400 that God 00:18:52.400 --> 00:18:53.040 has welcomed 00:18:53.040 --> 00:18:53.660 an imperfect 00:18:53.660 --> 00:18:54.320 person like 00:18:54.320 --> 00:18:54.840 me and the 00:18:54.840 --> 00:18:55.460 fact that 00:18:55.460 --> 00:18:56.240 tonight he 00:18:56.240 --> 00:18:56.540 might be 00:18:56.540 --> 00:18:56.880 ready to 00:18:56.880 --> 00:18:57.340 welcome an 00:18:57.340 --> 00:18:57.720 imperfect 00:18:57.720 --> 00:18:58.380 person like 00:18:58.380 --> 00:18:58.660 you 00:18:58.660 --> 00:18:59.880 doesn't mean 00:18:59.880 --> 00:19:00.240 that he's 00:19:00.240 --> 00:19:00.800 lowering his 00:19:00.800 --> 00:19:01.200 standards. 00:19:01.200 --> 00:19:02.900 It doesn't 00:19:02.900 --> 00:19:03.319 mean that he 00:19:03.319 --> 00:19:03.740 looked and 00:19:03.740 --> 00:19:04.259 realized there 00:19:04.259 --> 00:19:04.559 was no 00:19:04.559 --> 00:19:05.279 perfect people 00:19:05.279 --> 00:19:05.680 and thought 00:19:05.680 --> 00:19:06.080 well if I 00:19:06.080 --> 00:19:06.519 just lower 00:19:06.519 --> 00:19:07.100 a bit and 00:19:07.100 --> 00:19:07.400 just get 00:19:07.400 --> 00:19:07.840 kind of the 00:19:07.840 --> 00:19:08.660 top tier of 00:19:08.660 --> 00:19:09.160 good people 00:19:09.160 --> 00:19:09.799 heaven will 00:19:09.799 --> 00:19:10.100 still be 00:19:10.100 --> 00:19:10.440 alright. 00:19:11.200 --> 00:19:11.799 God has 00:19:11.799 --> 00:19:12.799 not lowered 00:19:12.799 --> 00:19:13.620 his standards. 00:19:14.220 --> 00:19:14.559 What it 00:19:14.559 --> 00:19:15.240 means is he 00:19:15.240 --> 00:19:15.660 loves you 00:19:15.660 --> 00:19:17.360 enough to 00:19:17.360 --> 00:19:17.940 pay the 00:19:17.940 --> 00:19:18.519 price that 00:19:18.519 --> 00:19:19.100 you're supposed 00:19:19.100 --> 00:19:20.700 to pay and 00:19:20.700 --> 00:19:21.960 instead give 00:19:21.960 --> 00:19:22.519 you his love 00:19:22.519 --> 00:19:23.019 and blessing. 00:19:23.880 --> 00:19:24.519 The famous 00:19:24.519 --> 00:19:25.259 author C.S. 00:19:25.340 --> 00:19:26.200 Lewis calls 00:19:26.200 --> 00:19:26.660 it the great 00:19:26.660 --> 00:19:27.299 exchange. 00:19:28.620 --> 00:19:29.279 Jesus comes 00:19:29.279 --> 00:19:30.259 to earth and 00:19:30.259 --> 00:19:30.779 in his whole 00:19:30.779 --> 00:19:31.180 life he 00:19:31.180 --> 00:19:32.120 is perfectly 00:19:32.120 --> 00:19:33.519 obedient to 00:19:33.519 --> 00:19:34.019 God in 00:19:34.019 --> 00:19:34.259 heaven. 00:19:34.860 --> 00:19:35.140 He does 00:19:35.140 --> 00:19:35.880 everything that 00:19:35.880 --> 00:19:36.680 God requires 00:19:36.680 --> 00:19:37.620 of him and 00:19:37.620 --> 00:19:38.360 instead of the 00:19:38.360 --> 00:19:39.799 love and 00:19:39.799 --> 00:19:41.140 privilege position 00:19:41.140 --> 00:19:41.820 that he deserves 00:19:41.820 --> 00:19:43.400 in heaven he 00:19:43.400 --> 00:19:44.160 takes on the 00:19:44.160 --> 00:19:45.220 punishment that 00:19:45.220 --> 00:19:45.820 every one of 00:19:45.820 --> 00:19:47.180 us deserves for 00:19:47.180 --> 00:19:48.080 telling God that 00:19:48.080 --> 00:19:48.440 he doesn't 00:19:48.440 --> 00:19:48.700 matter. 00:19:49.720 --> 00:19:50.840 He takes on the 00:19:50.840 --> 00:19:51.820 judgment and 00:19:51.820 --> 00:19:52.480 punishment that 00:19:52.480 --> 00:19:54.680 is ours and 00:19:54.680 --> 00:19:55.420 then instead of 00:19:55.420 --> 00:19:56.420 receiving the 00:19:56.420 --> 00:19:57.080 punishment that 00:19:57.080 --> 00:19:58.560 is ours we 00:19:58.560 --> 00:19:59.120 are given the 00:19:59.120 --> 00:19:59.660 life and 00:19:59.660 --> 00:20:00.240 blessing that 00:20:00.240 --> 00:20:00.700 is his. 00:20:00.700 --> 00:20:00.799 grace. 00:20:01.500 --> 00:20:02.259 It is the 00:20:02.259 --> 00:20:03.240 great exchange. 00:20:08.039 --> 00:20:08.759 If you're 00:20:08.759 --> 00:20:09.940 here and 00:20:09.940 --> 00:20:10.480 you're invited 00:20:10.480 --> 00:20:11.140 by someone 00:20:11.140 --> 00:20:12.160 maybe you're 00:20:12.160 --> 00:20:12.460 here because 00:20:12.460 --> 00:20:12.980 you're curious 00:20:12.980 --> 00:20:13.620 about God 00:20:13.620 --> 00:20:14.100 maybe you're 00:20:14.100 --> 00:20:14.519 here because 00:20:14.519 --> 00:20:15.000 you were just 00:20:15.000 --> 00:20:15.580 sick of saying 00:20:15.580 --> 00:20:16.620 no to that 00:20:16.620 --> 00:20:17.319 really persistent 00:20:17.319 --> 00:20:17.740 friend. 00:20:19.019 --> 00:20:19.880 Whatever brought 00:20:19.880 --> 00:20:20.440 you to this 00:20:20.440 --> 00:20:23.160 room God was 00:20:23.160 --> 00:20:23.779 behind it. 00:20:23.779 --> 00:20:25.980 if you're 00:20:25.980 --> 00:20:26.460 feeling like 00:20:26.460 --> 00:20:26.759 you don't 00:20:26.759 --> 00:20:27.339 really belong 00:20:27.339 --> 00:20:27.899 right now 00:20:27.899 --> 00:20:29.700 good. 00:20:33.839 --> 00:20:34.639 Because the 00:20:34.639 --> 00:20:35.440 reality is 00:20:35.440 --> 00:20:37.160 you don't 00:20:37.160 --> 00:20:38.720 deserve to 00:20:38.720 --> 00:20:39.220 be in God's 00:20:39.220 --> 00:20:39.579 family. 00:20:40.700 --> 00:20:41.539 You are 00:20:41.539 --> 00:20:43.099 unworthy of 00:20:43.099 --> 00:20:43.740 his love and 00:20:43.740 --> 00:20:44.119 forgiveness 00:20:44.119 --> 00:20:44.319 forgiveness. 00:20:46.119 --> 00:20:47.339 But so is 00:20:47.339 --> 00:20:48.019 everyone else 00:20:48.019 --> 00:20:48.579 around you. 00:20:52.539 --> 00:20:53.899 God sees 00:20:53.899 --> 00:20:54.519 your life. 00:20:55.179 --> 00:20:55.579 He knows 00:20:55.579 --> 00:20:55.919 who you 00:20:55.919 --> 00:20:56.239 are. 00:20:56.799 --> 00:20:57.139 He knows 00:20:57.139 --> 00:20:57.599 the deep 00:20:57.599 --> 00:20:58.379 dark secrets 00:20:58.379 --> 00:20:58.939 that you hope 00:20:58.939 --> 00:20:59.519 no one ever 00:20:59.519 --> 00:21:00.599 finds out and 00:21:00.599 --> 00:21:01.779 he says I 00:21:01.779 --> 00:21:02.179 love you 00:21:02.179 --> 00:21:02.659 anyway. 00:21:02.660 --> 00:21:05.540 He says if 00:21:05.540 --> 00:21:05.920 you would just 00:21:05.920 --> 00:21:07.240 stop trying to 00:21:07.240 --> 00:21:07.880 be good enough 00:21:07.880 --> 00:21:08.900 stop thinking 00:21:08.900 --> 00:21:09.540 at least I'm 00:21:09.540 --> 00:21:10.140 not as bad as 00:21:10.140 --> 00:21:10.759 other people 00:21:10.759 --> 00:21:12.080 and would just 00:21:12.080 --> 00:21:12.880 like a child 00:21:12.880 --> 00:21:14.680 depend on him 00:21:14.680 --> 00:21:16.860 he would 00:21:16.860 --> 00:21:17.380 welcome you 00:21:17.380 --> 00:21:17.900 with open 00:21:17.900 --> 00:21:18.420 arms. 00:21:21.200 --> 00:21:21.900 It doesn't 00:21:21.900 --> 00:21:22.320 matter what 00:21:22.320 --> 00:21:22.860 other people 00:21:22.860 --> 00:21:23.480 say to you 00:21:23.480 --> 00:21:24.220 no one else 00:21:24.220 --> 00:21:25.000 gets to decide 00:21:25.000 --> 00:21:25.460 whether or not 00:21:25.460 --> 00:21:25.800 you're good 00:21:25.800 --> 00:21:26.240 enough for 00:21:26.240 --> 00:21:26.500 heaven. 00:21:27.820 --> 00:21:28.519 Jesus is 00:21:28.519 --> 00:21:29.000 saying now 00:21:29.000 --> 00:21:29.480 you're not 00:21:29.480 --> 00:21:30.259 but I want to 00:21:30.259 --> 00:21:30.640 welcome you 00:21:30.640 --> 00:21:31.000 anyway. 00:21:32.660 --> 00:21:34.580 If you call 00:21:34.580 --> 00:21:35.140 yourself a 00:21:35.140 --> 00:21:35.940 Christian if 00:21:35.940 --> 00:21:36.360 you're sitting 00:21:36.360 --> 00:21:36.900 in this room 00:21:36.900 --> 00:21:37.440 and you've 00:21:37.440 --> 00:21:37.940 been following 00:21:37.940 --> 00:21:38.640 Jesus for a 00:21:38.640 --> 00:21:39.580 while I just 00:21:39.580 --> 00:21:39.880 want to be 00:21:39.880 --> 00:21:40.580 clear that here 00:21:40.580 --> 00:21:41.019 is what you're 00:21:41.019 --> 00:21:41.680 saying according 00:21:41.680 --> 00:21:42.180 to Jesus. 00:21:43.380 --> 00:21:43.920 You're saying 00:21:43.920 --> 00:21:44.480 that God 00:21:44.480 --> 00:21:45.759 loves me even 00:21:45.759 --> 00:21:46.380 though there is 00:21:46.380 --> 00:21:47.360 nothing in me 00:21:47.360 --> 00:21:48.759 that makes me 00:21:48.759 --> 00:21:49.380 worthy of it. 00:21:50.080 --> 00:21:50.759 That's what a 00:21:50.759 --> 00:21:51.400 Christian is. 00:21:52.279 --> 00:21:52.860 Someone who 00:21:52.860 --> 00:21:53.759 recognizes they 00:21:53.759 --> 00:21:54.320 don't deserve 00:21:54.320 --> 00:21:55.740 God's love but 00:21:55.740 --> 00:21:56.700 gets it anyway. 00:21:58.800 --> 00:21:59.660 And so if 00:21:59.660 --> 00:22:01.560 that's you maybe 00:22:01.560 --> 00:22:02.220 you need to be 00:22:02.220 --> 00:22:03.640 reminded that you 00:22:03.640 --> 00:22:05.200 are never in a 00:22:05.200 --> 00:22:06.380 position to look 00:22:06.380 --> 00:22:07.259 at someone else 00:22:07.259 --> 00:22:08.740 as being less 00:22:08.740 --> 00:22:09.960 deserving of God's 00:22:09.960 --> 00:22:10.920 love than you 00:22:10.920 --> 00:22:11.140 are. 00:22:12.579 --> 00:22:13.420 If you look at 00:22:13.420 --> 00:22:14.000 someone and see 00:22:14.000 --> 00:22:14.779 them as unworthy 00:22:14.779 --> 00:22:15.420 that's right, 00:22:15.519 --> 00:22:15.940 that's what the 00:22:15.940 --> 00:22:16.720 Bible says but 00:22:16.720 --> 00:22:17.279 you've got to see 00:22:17.279 --> 00:22:18.000 yourself right 00:22:18.000 --> 00:22:18.740 alongside them 00:22:18.740 --> 00:22:19.819 because that's 00:22:19.819 --> 00:22:20.319 what the gospel 00:22:20.319 --> 00:22:20.819 says. 00:22:21.579 --> 00:22:22.400 You don't deserve 00:22:22.400 --> 00:22:24.100 God's love but 00:22:24.100 --> 00:22:25.259 you get it because 00:22:25.259 --> 00:22:26.539 God loves you. 00:22:27.180 --> 00:22:28.100 You get it because 00:22:28.100 --> 00:22:29.259 he chooses to 00:22:29.259 --> 00:22:29.660 love you. 00:22:29.660 --> 00:22:30.660 God loves you. 00:22:30.660 --> 00:22:32.160 And maybe he is 00:22:32.160 --> 00:22:33.080 challenging some of 00:22:33.080 --> 00:22:34.240 us tonight to 00:22:34.240 --> 00:22:34.860 maybe be a little 00:22:34.860 --> 00:22:36.320 bit more humble in 00:22:36.320 --> 00:22:36.779 the way that we 00:22:36.779 --> 00:22:37.340 follow him. 00:22:38.200 --> 00:22:39.040 To maybe be a 00:22:39.040 --> 00:22:39.480 little bit more 00:22:39.480 --> 00:22:39.980 welcoming. 00:22:40.500 --> 00:22:41.320 To make this a 00:22:41.320 --> 00:22:42.420 place that anyone 00:22:42.420 --> 00:22:43.580 would feel comfortable 00:22:43.580 --> 00:22:44.400 to walk into 00:22:44.400 --> 00:22:46.019 regardless of what 00:22:46.019 --> 00:22:46.900 they're wearing or 00:22:46.900 --> 00:22:49.440 how they talk or 00:22:49.440 --> 00:22:50.320 how strange this 00:22:50.320 --> 00:22:50.880 all seems. 00:22:50.880 --> 00:22:54.980 we started off 00:22:54.980 --> 00:22:56.380 tonight lamenting 00:22:56.380 --> 00:22:57.000 the fact that 00:22:57.000 --> 00:22:57.840 churches are often 00:22:57.840 --> 00:22:59.080 unwelcoming places, 00:22:59.340 --> 00:22:59.900 that they're often 00:22:59.900 --> 00:23:01.800 exclusive and I 00:23:01.800 --> 00:23:03.180 said that hiding in 00:23:03.180 --> 00:23:04.420 that reality was 00:23:04.420 --> 00:23:05.000 good news. 00:23:07.060 --> 00:23:08.480 The fact that the 00:23:08.480 --> 00:23:09.540 church is full of 00:23:09.540 --> 00:23:10.400 people like that, 00:23:11.400 --> 00:23:12.100 people who make 00:23:12.100 --> 00:23:12.780 others feel 00:23:12.780 --> 00:23:14.380 unwelcome, it's not 00:23:14.380 --> 00:23:16.300 a good thing but 00:23:16.300 --> 00:23:18.160 at very least it's 00:23:18.160 --> 00:23:21.240 proof that 00:23:21.240 --> 00:23:22.160 everyone sitting 00:23:22.160 --> 00:23:23.279 in church is just 00:23:23.279 --> 00:23:24.259 as unworthy as 00:23:24.259 --> 00:23:24.480 you. 00:23:26.840 --> 00:23:27.800 If you have ever 00:23:27.800 --> 00:23:28.980 been made to feel 00:23:28.980 --> 00:23:29.920 unwelcome in a 00:23:29.920 --> 00:23:31.279 church, if you have 00:23:31.279 --> 00:23:32.160 ever been told by 00:23:32.160 --> 00:23:32.940 Christians that you 00:23:32.940 --> 00:23:33.940 don't deserve God's 00:23:33.940 --> 00:23:34.480 love, that you 00:23:34.480 --> 00:23:35.340 don't deserve to be a 00:23:35.340 --> 00:23:36.240 part of their 00:23:36.240 --> 00:23:39.100 community, I think 00:23:39.100 --> 00:23:39.660 that's actually 00:23:39.660 --> 00:23:41.460 evidence that they 00:23:41.460 --> 00:23:42.040 don't deserve it 00:23:42.040 --> 00:23:42.279 either. 00:23:42.279 --> 00:23:44.440 And that's the 00:23:44.440 --> 00:23:45.039 proof that it's 00:23:45.039 --> 00:23:46.059 all about God 00:23:46.059 --> 00:23:47.460 and it's all about 00:23:47.460 --> 00:23:48.079 what God has 00:23:48.079 --> 00:23:48.399 done. 00:23:49.680 --> 00:23:51.160 Plus, you feeling 00:23:51.160 --> 00:23:53.019 that unworthiness is 00:23:53.019 --> 00:23:54.039 actually a necessary 00:23:54.039 --> 00:23:54.920 starting point. 00:23:55.960 --> 00:23:56.579 If you're going to 00:23:56.579 --> 00:23:57.220 be able to receive 00:23:57.220 --> 00:23:57.960 it like a child, 00:23:58.059 --> 00:23:58.399 you've got to 00:23:58.399 --> 00:23:59.099 recognise that you've 00:23:59.099 --> 00:23:59.660 got nothing to 00:23:59.660 --> 00:24:01.039 offer, that it 00:24:01.039 --> 00:24:01.559 doesn't matter how 00:24:01.559 --> 00:24:01.980 good you're going 00:24:01.980 --> 00:24:02.819 to be from now on, 00:24:02.859 --> 00:24:03.259 it doesn't matter 00:24:03.259 --> 00:24:03.799 how good you've 00:24:03.799 --> 00:24:04.660 been until now, 00:24:05.819 --> 00:24:06.399 you've got to 00:24:06.399 --> 00:24:07.940 recognise it is all 00:24:07.940 --> 00:24:09.460 about God's love 00:24:09.460 --> 00:24:10.240 for you. 00:24:10.240 --> 00:24:12.400 It is all about 00:24:12.400 --> 00:24:13.299 the fact that he 00:24:13.299 --> 00:24:14.660 sent Jesus to die 00:24:14.660 --> 00:24:16.839 for you and it is 00:24:16.839 --> 00:24:17.759 all about the fact 00:24:17.759 --> 00:24:18.620 that Jesus rose 00:24:18.620 --> 00:24:20.120 again for you. 00:24:21.480 --> 00:24:22.960 It is not and it 00:24:22.960 --> 00:24:24.180 will not ever be 00:24:24.180 --> 00:24:25.299 about what you 00:24:25.299 --> 00:24:26.220 have or haven't 00:24:26.220 --> 00:24:26.500 done. 00:24:28.640 --> 00:24:30.240 Lastly, you being 00:24:30.240 --> 00:24:31.099 in this room now 00:24:31.099 --> 00:24:32.359 is good news 00:24:32.359 --> 00:24:33.779 because if God 00:24:33.779 --> 00:24:34.660 can welcome me, 00:24:35.620 --> 00:24:36.559 even though I'm 00:24:36.559 --> 00:24:38.039 imperfect, and if 00:24:38.039 --> 00:24:38.759 God can welcome 00:24:38.759 --> 00:24:40.019 you, even though 00:24:40.019 --> 00:24:40.720 you're imperfect, 00:24:40.879 --> 00:24:41.259 and even though 00:24:41.259 --> 00:24:42.019 we are completely 00:24:42.019 --> 00:24:42.879 different people 00:24:42.879 --> 00:24:43.339 with different 00:24:43.339 --> 00:24:44.180 lives and different 00:24:44.180 --> 00:24:47.359 experiences, maybe 00:24:47.359 --> 00:24:48.240 somebody else will 00:24:48.240 --> 00:24:48.879 walk into this 00:24:48.879 --> 00:24:50.579 room one time and 00:24:50.579 --> 00:24:51.480 see if God can 00:24:51.480 --> 00:24:52.500 forgive that guy 00:24:52.500 --> 00:24:54.759 and that girl, 00:24:55.980 --> 00:24:57.440 then maybe he can 00:24:57.440 --> 00:24:58.379 forgive me as well. 00:25:01.180 --> 00:25:02.400 Jesus rebukes his 00:25:02.400 --> 00:25:03.220 disciples in this 00:25:03.220 --> 00:25:04.139 passage because they 00:25:04.139 --> 00:25:05.200 block the way for 00:25:05.200 --> 00:25:06.900 children that he had 00:25:06.900 --> 00:25:07.720 already chosen to 00:25:07.720 --> 00:25:08.980 love, that he had 00:25:08.980 --> 00:25:10.120 already chosen to 00:25:10.120 --> 00:25:10.420 welcome. 00:25:11.779 --> 00:25:12.839 There is nothing 00:25:12.839 --> 00:25:14.559 and no one that 00:25:14.559 --> 00:25:15.819 God will let get in 00:25:15.819 --> 00:25:17.200 the way of you 00:25:17.200 --> 00:25:17.900 coming to him. 00:25:19.339 --> 00:25:20.160 Nothing you have 00:25:20.160 --> 00:25:21.839 done and no other 00:25:21.839 --> 00:25:22.900 person's opinion of 00:25:22.900 --> 00:25:24.200 you can block how 00:25:24.200 --> 00:25:25.120 much God loves you. 00:25:29.319 --> 00:25:30.500 The challenge for you 00:25:30.500 --> 00:25:32.319 tonight is, are you 00:25:32.319 --> 00:25:34.279 ready like a child? 00:25:34.279 --> 00:25:37.119 Are you ready to 00:25:37.119 --> 00:25:37.899 admit that you have 00:25:37.899 --> 00:25:38.740 nothing to offer to 00:25:38.740 --> 00:25:38.940 him? 00:25:40.099 --> 00:25:41.220 To recognize that 00:25:41.220 --> 00:25:42.000 more than that, you 00:25:42.000 --> 00:25:43.740 are undeserving of 00:25:43.740 --> 00:25:44.639 his love, but you 00:25:44.639 --> 00:25:45.619 are actually deserving 00:25:45.619 --> 00:25:47.940 of his punishment, and 00:25:47.940 --> 00:25:49.759 yet still he wants to 00:25:49.759 --> 00:25:50.339 welcome you. 00:25:51.180 --> 00:25:52.039 He wants to offer you 00:25:52.039 --> 00:25:52.639 something better. 00:25:54.799 --> 00:25:55.940 The question for you 00:25:55.940 --> 00:25:57.819 tonight is, will you 00:25:57.819 --> 00:25:59.720 accept his love with 00:25:59.720 --> 00:26:00.960 open hands like a 00:26:00.960 --> 00:26:01.220 child? 00:26:01.220 --> 00:26:04.160 will you receive the 00:26:04.160 --> 00:26:04.940 blessing that he wants 00:26:04.940 --> 00:26:05.420 to give you? 00:26:08.120 --> 00:26:08.799 Let's pray. 00:26:17.140 --> 00:26:19.039 Father God, we want 00:26:19.039 --> 00:26:19.860 to acknowledge that 00:26:19.860 --> 00:26:21.100 there is so much in 00:26:21.100 --> 00:26:22.220 our lives that is not 00:26:22.220 --> 00:26:23.480 worthy of you. 00:26:25.019 --> 00:26:26.380 That every single one 00:26:26.380 --> 00:26:27.380 of us in this room 00:26:27.380 --> 00:26:29.120 spends time acting like 00:26:29.119 --> 00:26:30.539 we're in charge, acting 00:26:30.539 --> 00:26:31.219 like we get to make 00:26:31.219 --> 00:26:32.279 our own decisions and 00:26:32.279 --> 00:26:33.000 you don't matter. 00:26:35.399 --> 00:26:36.379 And God, we want to 00:26:36.379 --> 00:26:37.179 thank you that even 00:26:37.179 --> 00:26:38.939 though we are so 00:26:38.939 --> 00:26:41.099 disobedient, you still 00:26:41.099 --> 00:26:41.639 love us. 00:26:43.539 --> 00:26:44.619 We want to thank you 00:26:44.619 --> 00:26:45.559 for being willing to 00:26:45.559 --> 00:26:46.839 send Jesus to take our 00:26:46.839 --> 00:26:47.239 punishment. 00:26:48.619 --> 00:26:49.599 We want to thank you 00:26:49.599 --> 00:26:50.219 that it's not about 00:26:50.219 --> 00:26:51.179 what other people think 00:26:51.179 --> 00:26:53.059 of us, it's about your 00:26:53.059 --> 00:26:54.000 love which you have 00:26:54.000 --> 00:26:54.959 shown us in Jesus. 00:26:56.079 --> 00:26:57.379 God, I want to pray 00:26:57.379 --> 00:26:57.939 that if there are 00:26:57.939 --> 00:26:58.859 people sitting in this 00:26:58.859 --> 00:27:00.059 room right now who 00:27:00.059 --> 00:27:00.919 don't yet know what 00:27:00.919 --> 00:27:01.839 it is to be welcomed 00:27:01.839 --> 00:27:03.059 by you, to be forgiven 00:27:03.059 --> 00:27:04.079 by you, to be loved 00:27:04.079 --> 00:27:06.199 by you, who don't yet 00:27:06.199 --> 00:27:06.919 know what it is to 00:27:06.919 --> 00:27:08.439 call you Father, who 00:27:08.439 --> 00:27:09.259 don't know what it is 00:27:09.259 --> 00:27:10.219 to be sure that you 00:27:10.219 --> 00:27:11.240 have reserved a place 00:27:11.240 --> 00:27:12.000 for them in heaven, 00:27:13.199 --> 00:27:14.139 Lord, I pray that 00:27:14.139 --> 00:27:14.819 tonight you would 00:27:14.819 --> 00:27:16.019 remove the barriers 00:27:16.019 --> 00:27:17.519 and you would welcome 00:27:17.519 --> 00:27:17.779 them. 00:27:20.819 --> 00:27:22.019 God, we thank you so 00:27:22.019 --> 00:27:23.819 much for your love 00:27:23.819 --> 00:27:25.439 and for sending 00:27:25.439 --> 00:27:25.899 Jesus. 00:27:27.259 --> 00:27:27.619 Amen.