WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.259 This is the fourth Sunday of Advent. 00:00:05.179 --> 00:00:12.820 Each week of Advent, we prepare to celebrate Jesus' birth by lighting a candle and focusing on different themes of Christ's coming. 00:00:13.820 --> 00:00:18.400 So far, we have lit the candles of hope, peace, and joy. 00:00:19.059 --> 00:00:21.059 This week, we light the candle of love. 00:00:21.820 --> 00:00:26.760 During the time of the Old Testament, God had revealed himself to his people through the law. 00:00:26.760 --> 00:00:31.760 The law told the people what God expected of them in their day-to-day conduct. 00:00:32.600 --> 00:00:39.160 It was a loving gift from a good God intended to show his people how to love him and how to love one another. 00:00:40.040 --> 00:00:45.140 By the time Jesus was born, however, the law had been usurped by the religious leader of the day, 00:00:45.500 --> 00:00:50.359 who used the law to oppress those who couldn't keep its rules as perfectly as they could. 00:00:50.359 --> 00:00:58.619 When Jesus came into the world, he came reminding everyone that the goal of the law was not conformity to a set of rules, 00:00:58.920 --> 00:01:02.799 but rather love, both for God and for our neighbors. 00:01:03.780 --> 00:01:07.239 The law's goal of helping us love God is somewhat ironic, 00:01:07.680 --> 00:01:11.079 since in reality, the law shows us all of our imperfections 00:01:11.079 --> 00:01:16.140 and reminds us just how short we fall of truly being able to love God as we should. 00:01:16.140 --> 00:01:20.819 When he came into the world, Jesus came to remedy this problem as well. 00:01:21.379 --> 00:01:24.900 By dying on the cross for us and bearing the punishment for our sins, 00:01:25.640 --> 00:01:30.340 Jesus showed us God's love and gave us a way that we can now properly love God and others. 00:01:31.239 --> 00:01:36.379 Please join me for the reading of God's Word, found in Matthew 22, 35-40. 00:01:36.960 --> 00:01:38.960 The passage is also located on the screens. 00:01:38.959 --> 00:01:45.439 And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 00:01:45.959 --> 00:01:49.239 Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law? 00:01:49.759 --> 00:01:51.000 And he said to him, 00:01:51.519 --> 00:01:57.899 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 00:01:58.299 --> 00:02:00.939 This is the great and first commandment. 00:02:01.419 --> 00:02:03.060 And the second is like it. 00:02:03.459 --> 00:02:05.799 You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 00:02:05.799 --> 00:02:10.359 And these two commandments depend on all the law and the prophets. 00:02:11.240 --> 00:02:12.539 Please pray with me. 00:02:13.439 --> 00:02:16.219 Dear Father, thank you for your love for us. 00:02:16.900 --> 00:02:20.300 Thank you for showing us your love through Jesus' perfect life, 00:02:20.819 --> 00:02:23.039 death on the cross for our sins and resurrection. 00:02:24.019 --> 00:02:26.579 Please be with us as we go throughout our weeks, 00:02:27.139 --> 00:02:28.879 allowing us to fix our eyes on you, 00:02:29.280 --> 00:02:32.259 to love you with all our hearts, souls, and minds, 00:02:32.599 --> 00:02:34.900 and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. 00:02:34.900 --> 00:02:36.939 In Jesus' name we pray. 00:02:37.420 --> 00:02:37.700 Amen. 00:02:38.719 --> 00:02:39.680 Before you're seated, 00:02:39.879 --> 00:02:43.759 please take a moment to meet and greet members of your Watermark community standing next to you. 00:02:44.200 --> 00:02:44.680 Okay. 00:02:45.020 --> 00:02:46.900 And after you've met at least one person, 00:02:48.400 --> 00:02:48.800 you can, 00:02:49.400 --> 00:02:50.120 or two people, 00:02:50.240 --> 00:02:50.819 or three people, 00:02:51.460 --> 00:02:52.219 sit down. 00:02:53.560 --> 00:02:54.259 Thank you. 00:02:54.340 --> 00:02:54.580 Yeah. 00:02:54.980 --> 00:02:55.740 How you guys doing? 00:02:57.360 --> 00:02:57.840 Okay. 00:02:58.120 --> 00:02:58.300 Hey, 00:02:58.599 --> 00:02:59.920 I noticed that 00:02:59.920 --> 00:03:01.500 there are a lot of, 00:03:02.460 --> 00:03:04.620 I want to be politically correct, 00:03:05.180 --> 00:03:05.480 so, 00:03:05.620 --> 00:03:07.640 my mother is here, 00:03:07.819 --> 00:03:08.920 joining us, 00:03:09.300 --> 00:03:10.200 and so I noticed, 00:03:10.420 --> 00:03:12.580 so I noticed that there's a lot of people who had 00:03:12.580 --> 00:03:16.900 more senior members in their family joining them today, 00:03:17.580 --> 00:03:18.099 and so, 00:03:18.219 --> 00:03:19.500 if you could say it that way, 00:03:19.520 --> 00:03:20.039 I don't know if you can. 00:03:20.340 --> 00:03:22.800 So if you have a grandmother, 00:03:23.099 --> 00:03:23.580 a mother, 00:03:23.819 --> 00:03:24.340 a dad, 00:03:24.400 --> 00:03:25.140 or somebody like that, 00:03:25.219 --> 00:03:25.460 would you, 00:03:25.599 --> 00:03:26.280 envision us today, 00:03:26.340 --> 00:03:27.140 would you raise your hand? 00:03:27.240 --> 00:03:28.319 I know you're not supposed to do that, 00:03:28.360 --> 00:03:29.099 but just raise your hand. 00:03:29.680 --> 00:03:30.080 Come on, 00:03:30.140 --> 00:03:30.280 SV. 00:03:31.180 --> 00:03:31.539 Okay, 00:03:31.680 --> 00:03:31.780 well, 00:03:31.819 --> 00:03:33.759 we'd like to welcome you guys today, 00:03:33.919 --> 00:03:35.219 so you're about to see, 00:03:35.599 --> 00:03:37.500 if you haven't heard about what the church is like, 00:03:37.819 --> 00:03:40.939 you're about to see it in real life time right now, 00:03:41.060 --> 00:03:41.420 and it's, 00:03:41.840 --> 00:03:43.460 I use the word raw, 00:03:44.039 --> 00:03:45.460 but some people say you can't use raw, 00:03:45.560 --> 00:03:46.479 you have to use the word organic, 00:03:47.020 --> 00:03:49.300 and so we use organic or just chaos, 00:03:49.740 --> 00:03:51.080 and so what I'd like to do is, 00:03:51.120 --> 00:03:55.860 I'd like to invite all the Watermark kids up here, 00:03:55.860 --> 00:03:58.480 and they're going to do a special performance for us. 00:04:02.020 --> 00:04:04.380 Conducted by Natalie, 00:04:04.660 --> 00:04:05.160 conductor. 00:04:05.160 --> 00:04:06.280 Okay, 00:04:06.400 --> 00:04:07.080 here we go. 00:04:07.380 --> 00:04:09.980 That is right. 00:04:10.380 --> 00:04:10.680 Thank you. 00:04:10.680 --> 00:04:12.820 Thank you. 00:04:13.180 --> 00:04:14.340 Thank you. 00:04:14.780 --> 00:04:15.660 Thank you. 00:04:16.160 --> 00:04:18.319 Thank you. 00:04:18.920 --> 00:04:20.600 Thank you. 00:04:24.900 --> 00:04:26.500 Thank you. 00:04:30.660 --> 00:04:31.259 Thank you. 00:04:31.259 --> 00:04:41.259 The bells of Jesus are sweet for the rain. 00:04:45.259 --> 00:04:51.259 The candles are waiting for the rain. 00:04:52.259 --> 00:04:57.259 The bells of Jesus are bright. 00:04:57.259 --> 00:05:05.259 He makes a aixòり love to hear the sun and by the sphere, the thuy? 00:05:06.259 --> 00:05:12.259 The psalm of the surf. 00:05:16.259 --> 00:05:20.259 Hear me, O Lord, hear thy sky. 00:05:20.259 --> 00:05:29.019 I see to save those times forever and love me I pray. 00:05:29.019 --> 00:05:35.319 Let us know the dear children who can die tender care. 00:05:35.719 --> 00:05:41.939 And take us to heaven to live with me there. 00:05:42.839 --> 00:05:49.899 Take us to heaven to live with me there. 00:05:50.259 --> 00:06:07.519 Hear our songs! 00:06:07.519 --> 00:06:10.139 Here we go! 00:06:10.139 --> 00:06:14.079 In the sun the started night 00:06:14.079 --> 00:06:17.579 The land of Israelisoft interact 00:06:17.579 --> 00:06:24.459 And grace began, screaming calm and still. 00:06:25.379 --> 00:06:31.500 And in the path of shame, in the nature, 00:06:32.839 --> 00:06:39.360 For the world was born in all the world. 00:06:39.360 --> 00:06:53.960 I've been praying for days, our Lord was born in all the world. 00:06:53.960 --> 00:07:00.980 And in the path of shame, in the path of shame, in the path of shame, 00:07:00.980 --> 00:07:08.160 For the world was born in all the world. 00:07:08.160 --> 00:07:08.960 Here we go. 00:07:09.960 --> 00:07:17.420 Then the shepherds came away, where God gave His name, 00:07:17.420 --> 00:07:24.140 And said, we live, and kneeling upon His side. 00:07:24.640 --> 00:07:31.420 And I'm part of the heart of the land, for the peace of land, 00:07:31.420 --> 00:07:39.680 And for the world was born in all the world. 00:07:39.680 --> 00:07:53.420 Angels and men, the land and the land, for the world was born in all the world. 00:07:53.420 --> 00:08:07.420 Only if you'll say, my name, and love you, and the land and the land, for the world was born in all the world. 00:08:07.420 --> 00:08:08.800 And that's what I want to say. 00:08:08.800 --> 00:08:09.680 And that's what I want to say. 00:08:09.680 --> 00:08:10.640 Great job, you guys. 00:08:10.640 --> 00:08:11.140 Thank you guys. 00:08:11.140 --> 00:08:12.640 Thank you guys. 00:08:12.640 --> 00:08:14.680 I want to thank you guys. 00:08:14.680 --> 00:08:18.379 I want to thank you guys for reading and loudly, okay? 00:08:18.379 --> 00:08:20.720 You guys know this one. 00:08:20.720 --> 00:08:28.820 Le sex is a light. 00:08:28.820 --> 00:08:35.300 You få sushi. 00:08:35.299 --> 00:08:42.500 You are not a God, it depends on all that we have. 00:08:42.500 --> 00:08:50.500 You are a God, it needs a plan, anything we can give by a plan, 00:08:50.879 --> 00:08:53.899 that's just the way it is. 00:08:53.899 --> 00:09:05.100 You are a God, it needs a plan, that you can't have. 00:09:05.100 --> 00:09:10.779 You are not a God, it depends on any one of them. 00:09:10.779 --> 00:09:18.679 You are not a God, it needs a plan, anything we can give by a plan, 00:09:18.679 --> 00:09:21.179 that's just the way it is. 00:09:21.179 --> 00:09:23.179 I need you guys to be really loud here. 00:09:23.179 --> 00:09:24.179 Let's see. 00:09:24.179 --> 00:09:29.179 You are God alone, God's happy day. 00:09:29.179 --> 00:09:36.179 You are not alone, you are not alone. 00:09:36.179 --> 00:09:41.179 And right now, in the middle of the mountain, 00:09:41.179 --> 00:09:48.179 you are not alone, you are God alone. 00:09:48.179 --> 00:09:51.179 You are not alone, you are not alone. 00:09:51.179 --> 00:09:57.179 Right now, in the middle of the mountain, 00:09:57.179 --> 00:09:58.179 you are not alone, you are not alone. 00:09:58.179 --> 00:09:59.179 You are not alone, you are not alone, you are not alone. 00:09:59.179 --> 00:10:01.179 You are not alone, you are not alone. 00:10:01.179 --> 00:10:02.120 You are not alone, you are not alone, you are not alone. 00:10:02.120 --> 00:10:06.899 Oh, God, you have our arms and our children's name. 00:10:07.419 --> 00:10:13.000 You are all God, you can live and live and never end. 00:10:13.360 --> 00:10:19.159 And you are all God, you can live and let him be a gift. 00:10:19.379 --> 00:10:23.980 You are God, you have just the way it is. 00:10:23.980 --> 00:10:30.980 We are God of love, from what I've been there. 00:10:30.980 --> 00:10:37.560 You are all God, you are God alone. 00:10:38.220 --> 00:10:45.620 And right now, loose hands and bed, you are all God alone. 00:10:45.620 --> 00:10:49.460 You are God alone. 00:10:50.399 --> 00:10:57.180 Unstoppable, unshakable, unstoppable. 00:10:57.179 --> 00:11:05.919 Unchangeable, unshakable. 00:11:05.919 --> 00:11:12.859 Unstoppable, that's what you are. 00:11:12.860 --> 00:11:16.320 You are God alone. 00:11:16.320 --> 00:11:20.300 Unweetened when you're free of love and never end. 00:11:20.300 --> 00:11:26.080 You are all God, you have just the way it is. 00:11:26.080 --> 00:11:32.280 And right now, in the go-times and best 00:11:32.280 --> 00:11:35.000 You are on the tour 00:11:35.000 --> 00:11:37.840 You are God alone 00:11:37.840 --> 00:11:53.700 Amazing! 00:11:54.379 --> 00:11:55.820 That was great, guys. 00:11:55.820 --> 00:11:56.740 Thanks for doing that. 00:11:59.240 --> 00:12:01.400 Hey, I'm going to pray for us, okay? 00:12:01.480 --> 00:12:02.420 Can you guys pray with me? 00:12:03.160 --> 00:12:05.000 I'm going to pray for us 00:12:05.000 --> 00:12:07.840 And then you guys are going to be dismissed to your class, okay? 00:12:07.920 --> 00:12:08.900 So let's pray, okay? 00:12:09.480 --> 00:12:11.379 Dear God, thank you for this day. 00:12:11.580 --> 00:12:13.440 Thank you for my friends here. 00:12:14.020 --> 00:12:15.480 Thank you for your son, Jesus. 00:12:16.260 --> 00:12:19.680 We just pray that we would continue to fall more in love with him 00:12:19.680 --> 00:12:22.580 as we see him in your word, 00:12:22.580 --> 00:12:24.200 in your world, 00:12:24.940 --> 00:12:26.639 in the family around us. 00:12:26.800 --> 00:12:27.620 We love you. 00:12:27.680 --> 00:12:30.240 We pray for these children as they go off to their Sunday school classes. 00:12:30.440 --> 00:12:32.180 Pray for the teachers. 00:12:32.580 --> 00:12:35.820 Just pray for mercy and for grace on the teachers. 00:12:35.820 --> 00:12:39.440 We pray that the kids would just fall in love with Christ 00:12:39.440 --> 00:12:43.660 and know him at an early age and do mighty things for his kingdom. 00:12:44.280 --> 00:12:47.060 And so we love you and we thank you for these precious gifts. 00:12:47.520 --> 00:12:47.820 Amen. 00:12:47.820 --> 00:12:48.000 Amen. 00:12:49.020 --> 00:12:51.700 Okay, Watermark kids, you guys are dismissed. 00:12:52.100 --> 00:12:53.420 Time to go to Sunday school class. 00:12:53.940 --> 00:12:54.780 Good morning, Watermark. 00:12:56.480 --> 00:13:02.560 My name is Chris and I help oversee the community groups here in Watermark. 00:13:02.660 --> 00:13:06.040 I'm glad you've made it through the end of the world and you're still here. 00:13:07.379 --> 00:13:12.940 I don't know about you, but I've got a memory like a goldfish at times. 00:13:13.820 --> 00:13:15.840 I forget lots of things. 00:13:15.840 --> 00:13:22.000 I'm halfway through a sentence and I forget what I was going to say. 00:13:22.540 --> 00:13:27.420 I go into the kitchen to get something and as I get in there, I think, 00:13:28.019 --> 00:13:29.620 why did I come in here? 00:13:30.519 --> 00:13:34.240 Or maybe I go out shopping, maybe go Christmas shopping 00:13:34.240 --> 00:13:39.440 and I'm there, I'm looking at all the different things that are on offer 00:13:39.440 --> 00:13:43.580 and I think there was someone I needed to buy a gift for. 00:13:43.580 --> 00:13:50.240 And I get back home and then suddenly I realized that it was someone I really love, 00:13:50.320 --> 00:13:54.240 like maybe my fiance or someone who you don't want to forget a gift for. 00:13:55.560 --> 00:13:58.940 And if you're like me, you need reminders. 00:13:59.980 --> 00:14:05.360 Reminders of why you're here, what you're doing, what things are really all about. 00:14:05.360 --> 00:14:08.360 I need a note on my desk. 00:14:08.539 --> 00:14:10.360 I need an alarm on my phone. 00:14:10.659 --> 00:14:15.440 I need a text message from my fiance just to keep me doing what I'm meant to be doing. 00:14:16.740 --> 00:14:20.740 And I think all of us in some ways are forgetters. 00:14:21.379 --> 00:14:25.379 We naturally, in the busyness of life, even at this Christmas season, 00:14:25.379 --> 00:14:32.700 we get so wrapped up in all the things we have to do, in our schedules, in our work, in our preparations, 00:14:33.360 --> 00:14:39.919 that sometimes we lose sight of what we're here for, of who we really are, of what really defines us. 00:14:41.259 --> 00:14:51.139 And Jesus instituted a meal as a reminder to us of who we are, of what defines us, 00:14:51.139 --> 00:14:53.340 and of what we're here for. 00:14:54.039 --> 00:14:58.639 It was a meal that had been celebrated for hundreds of years by the Jews. 00:14:59.080 --> 00:15:06.980 It was a meal that celebrated when God had rescued his people out of slavery in the land of Egypt, 00:15:07.179 --> 00:15:08.779 and he brought them into freedom. 00:15:09.460 --> 00:15:13.259 He brought them into freedom to know God, to live for God. 00:15:13.259 --> 00:15:17.960 And to bring them into this freedom, what God did is, 00:15:18.319 --> 00:15:22.879 he said, I'm going to bring judgment on the people in the land of Egypt. 00:15:23.939 --> 00:15:32.439 But you, my people, I want you to kill a lamb and place its blood on the doorposts of your houses. 00:15:33.779 --> 00:15:39.919 And when my judgment comes, it will pass over you, and you can escape to freedom. 00:15:39.919 --> 00:15:49.199 Jesus, on the night before he died, also ate that meal. 00:15:49.319 --> 00:15:50.439 That meal is called the Passover. 00:15:51.799 --> 00:15:55.159 He ate that meal, but when he ate it, he said, 00:15:55.459 --> 00:15:59.719 that lamb a long time ago, that lamb was pointing towards me, 00:16:00.620 --> 00:16:05.559 because I am going to die to bring you out of slavery and into freedom. 00:16:05.559 --> 00:16:11.079 Out of slavery for all the things which consume us in our lives. 00:16:11.359 --> 00:16:15.379 Out of slavery to maybe what people think about us. 00:16:15.519 --> 00:16:17.219 Out of slavery to our schedules. 00:16:17.379 --> 00:16:20.779 Out of slavery to unforgiveness, to anger, to bitterness. 00:16:21.859 --> 00:16:23.839 He said, I've come to bring you freedom. 00:16:24.839 --> 00:16:26.379 Freedom to live for God. 00:16:26.859 --> 00:16:27.919 Freedom to know God. 00:16:28.379 --> 00:16:30.519 Freedom to be who you are meant to be. 00:16:30.519 --> 00:16:36.100 And so as we come to communion, this is a reminder to all of us, 00:16:36.159 --> 00:16:37.879 because I don't know what's happened in your week, 00:16:38.519 --> 00:16:42.000 but actually, we all at times forget who we are. 00:16:42.460 --> 00:16:45.039 We forget that it's Jesus who defines us. 00:16:45.460 --> 00:16:47.220 We forget that we're here for him. 00:16:48.559 --> 00:16:52.779 And as we come to eat of it, I want you to think about this week. 00:16:52.879 --> 00:16:58.480 What is it that maybe you've lost sight of who you're here for? 00:16:58.480 --> 00:16:59.940 You've lost sight of Jesus. 00:17:00.320 --> 00:17:01.560 You've lost sight of freedom. 00:17:02.139 --> 00:17:06.539 And this meal reminds you that you're not a slave anymore. 00:17:07.480 --> 00:17:09.720 We were once slaves to all kinds of things, 00:17:09.819 --> 00:17:11.420 but God says you're not a slave anymore. 00:17:11.880 --> 00:17:13.120 You can live free. 00:17:13.839 --> 00:17:17.559 And here's a reminder that Jesus' death brings freedom 00:17:17.559 --> 00:17:21.700 to all who will follow and trust in him. 00:17:22.599 --> 00:17:25.539 So as we come to take of it, this is a family meal, 00:17:25.539 --> 00:17:29.399 which means if you have not yet trusted in Jesus 00:17:29.399 --> 00:17:33.180 as the one who can set you free from those things which enslave us, 00:17:33.819 --> 00:17:35.980 then we just ask you, we're so glad you're here, 00:17:36.259 --> 00:17:39.599 we just ask you to watch, observe, and ask questions. 00:17:39.819 --> 00:17:41.720 If you're here with someone who's brought you, 00:17:42.539 --> 00:17:44.720 don't let them go away without you asking, 00:17:45.000 --> 00:17:47.139 what is Jesus' death really all about? 00:17:47.140 --> 00:17:51.200 If you've got children and they're still in, 00:17:53.340 --> 00:17:56.660 we ask you that you please bring them up, 00:17:57.180 --> 00:17:59.160 but if you know where they are spiritually, 00:17:59.940 --> 00:18:02.440 and if you still have the children in here, 00:18:03.360 --> 00:18:06.259 let them take communion if you think they have trusted in Jesus. 00:18:06.380 --> 00:18:08.520 But if not, use it as a teaching time 00:18:08.520 --> 00:18:13.340 just to help them know what it is to really put their trust in Jesus. 00:18:13.339 --> 00:18:15.459 So if the community students could come up, 00:18:16.379 --> 00:18:19.399 and I'd like you to just have a moment to think about, 00:18:19.519 --> 00:18:20.720 even this past week, 00:18:21.079 --> 00:18:25.259 where are the areas where maybe you've been slaved to different things? 00:18:26.500 --> 00:18:29.059 You've taken your focus off of God. 00:18:30.859 --> 00:18:33.179 And take this moment just to reflect on that, 00:18:33.659 --> 00:18:35.240 and to reflect on what Jesus has done. 00:18:35.519 --> 00:18:39.039 And then when you're ready, come up and take the elements. 00:18:39.039 --> 00:18:43.599 On that night of that meal, 00:18:44.299 --> 00:18:46.339 Jesus took some bread, 00:18:47.079 --> 00:18:48.599 and he gave it to his disciples. 00:18:49.420 --> 00:18:49.980 And he said, 00:18:50.159 --> 00:18:50.960 this is my body, 00:18:51.119 --> 00:18:53.039 which is given for you. 00:18:53.700 --> 00:18:55.039 Take this as a reminder 00:18:55.039 --> 00:18:57.420 that I am who defines you, 00:18:57.619 --> 00:18:59.740 that my death is what saves you. 00:19:00.299 --> 00:19:01.659 The body of Christ. 00:19:01.659 --> 00:19:01.819 Amen. 00:19:01.819 --> 00:19:11.579 And on that same night, 00:19:11.679 --> 00:19:12.919 he also took a cup, 00:19:13.720 --> 00:19:16.059 and he gave it to his disciples, 00:19:16.259 --> 00:19:16.619 and said, 00:19:16.879 --> 00:19:19.019 this is my blood, 00:19:19.399 --> 00:19:20.859 the blood of a new covenant, 00:19:21.480 --> 00:19:24.899 which I give for you for the forgiveness of your sins. 00:19:24.899 --> 00:19:28.339 For all those times where you have gone away and forgotten, 00:19:29.939 --> 00:19:31.359 here is forgiveness for you. 00:19:31.819 --> 00:19:32.619 Drink this. 00:19:37.359 --> 00:19:38.980 Let me just pray for us. 00:19:40.079 --> 00:19:41.819 Father, I thank you so much 00:19:41.819 --> 00:19:43.460 that at Christmas time, 00:19:43.939 --> 00:19:49.359 we remember that you came to die for us. 00:19:49.779 --> 00:19:52.179 You came to release us from slavery, 00:19:52.619 --> 00:19:53.919 to bring us into freedom. 00:19:55.039 --> 00:19:56.159 And I pray, Lord, 00:19:56.259 --> 00:19:59.359 that as Tobin comes to speak to us, 00:19:59.439 --> 00:20:01.119 that you would also speak to us, 00:20:01.119 --> 00:20:04.759 that you would also show us more about yourself, 00:20:05.079 --> 00:20:08.239 that you would help us to make you the center of our lives, 00:20:08.559 --> 00:20:12.359 and to realize that everything is all about you. 00:20:13.019 --> 00:20:14.679 So we pray these things in your name. 00:20:15.239 --> 00:20:15.500 Amen. 00:20:15.500 --> 00:20:16.500 Amen. 00:20:23.299 --> 00:20:26.500 Today's scripture reading come from the Gospel of Luke, chapter 2. 00:20:27.500 --> 00:20:29.259 Please follow along in your bulletin. 00:20:29.259 --> 00:20:34.960 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of Passover. 00:20:35.519 --> 00:20:36.879 And when he became twelve, 00:20:37.259 --> 00:20:39.819 they went up there according to the custom of the feast. 00:20:40.140 --> 00:20:41.299 And as they were returning, 00:20:41.599 --> 00:20:43.279 after spending the full number of days, 00:20:43.700 --> 00:20:45.720 the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. 00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:48.240 But his parents were unaware of it, 00:20:48.480 --> 00:20:51.379 but supposed him to be in the caravan and went a day's journey. 00:20:51.420 --> 00:20:54.859 And they began looking for him among their relatives and acquaintances. 00:20:54.859 --> 00:20:57.279 When they did not find him, 00:20:57.379 --> 00:20:59.259 they returned to Jerusalem looking for him. 00:20:59.759 --> 00:21:01.219 Then, after three days, 00:21:01.399 --> 00:21:02.740 they found him in the temple, 00:21:03.299 --> 00:21:04.859 sitting in the midst of the teachers, 00:21:05.240 --> 00:21:07.839 both listening to them and asking them questions. 00:21:08.319 --> 00:21:12.119 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 00:21:12.759 --> 00:21:14.000 When they saw him, 00:21:14.119 --> 00:21:15.159 they were astonished. 00:21:15.559 --> 00:21:16.859 And his mother said to him, 00:21:17.299 --> 00:21:19.559 Son, why have you treated us this way? 00:21:20.099 --> 00:21:23.199 Behold, your father and I have been anxiously looking for you. 00:21:23.200 --> 00:21:24.480 And he said to them, 00:21:25.000 --> 00:21:26.480 Why is it that you are looking for me? 00:21:26.880 --> 00:21:29.640 Did you not know that I had to be in my father's house? 00:21:30.160 --> 00:21:33.400 But they did not understand the statement which he had made to them. 00:21:33.940 --> 00:21:36.779 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth. 00:21:37.080 --> 00:21:39.640 And he continued in subjection to them. 00:21:39.920 --> 00:21:42.779 And his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 00:21:43.500 --> 00:21:46.259 And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, 00:21:46.559 --> 00:21:47.799 in favor with God and men. 00:21:48.360 --> 00:21:49.220 This is God's word. 00:21:49.220 --> 00:21:53.740 That was great. 00:21:55.200 --> 00:21:55.940 Thanks, guys. 00:21:56.120 --> 00:21:59.140 Thanks, Natalie, for controlling the kids. 00:21:59.480 --> 00:22:02.539 And one mom on the way up, the kids said, 00:22:02.579 --> 00:22:03.539 I don't know if I know that song. 00:22:03.600 --> 00:22:05.680 She said, just sing Watermelon, Watermelon, Watermelon. 00:22:06.279 --> 00:22:07.680 Move your lips and you'll be okay. 00:22:08.680 --> 00:22:09.720 So, yeah. 00:22:10.400 --> 00:22:13.400 So now you get a little idea of what the kids are learning in Sunday school also 00:22:13.400 --> 00:22:19.240 as we teach them and bring them in this up on what it means to know Christ. 00:22:20.240 --> 00:22:23.519 If you're here for the first time, I'd like to welcome you to Watermark Community Church. 00:22:23.759 --> 00:22:26.840 Our focus is to point people to Christ. 00:22:28.019 --> 00:22:29.440 That they would fall in love with him. 00:22:29.960 --> 00:22:31.540 They would walk a lifetime with him. 00:22:32.320 --> 00:22:34.400 That would be the most important thing in their life. 00:22:35.380 --> 00:22:37.400 Christmas is upon us. 00:22:37.400 --> 00:22:40.600 So I think we have two more days of shopping. 00:22:41.580 --> 00:22:42.480 It was incredible. 00:22:42.620 --> 00:22:43.980 I love this time of the season. 00:22:44.120 --> 00:22:45.700 I love being out there. 00:22:45.820 --> 00:22:49.780 I love, though I have certain rules, like don't go down to Causeway Bay on the weekends 00:22:49.780 --> 00:22:51.280 or things like that. 00:22:51.320 --> 00:22:56.400 But I love just the music and the sound. 00:22:56.519 --> 00:22:59.060 We had the church-wide lunch last Sunday. 00:22:59.059 --> 00:23:01.460 And I went up to a three-year-old. 00:23:02.419 --> 00:23:05.200 And I said, I love asking kids, you know, what about Christmas and things like that. 00:23:05.259 --> 00:23:06.480 And I said, three-year-old. 00:23:06.559 --> 00:23:08.940 I said, so what do you want for Christmas? 00:23:10.179 --> 00:23:13.200 And the three-year-old looked at me and said, I want an iPad. 00:23:15.579 --> 00:23:16.519 Three years old. 00:23:19.240 --> 00:23:20.099 I want an iPad. 00:23:20.359 --> 00:23:21.220 I was like, whoa, okay. 00:23:22.379 --> 00:23:24.799 I just got like little blocks or things like that. 00:23:24.859 --> 00:23:28.139 So I think times have really changed nowadays. 00:23:28.140 --> 00:23:30.840 So we think about Christmas and being a parent. 00:23:31.020 --> 00:23:35.880 And it's kind of got our, yeah, we got our work cut out for us. 00:23:36.400 --> 00:23:42.380 It's interesting to me also when the Christmas music starts in late April or early May. 00:23:42.540 --> 00:23:46.780 It's hard to get into the season then, too, because you're used to it starting in November 00:23:46.780 --> 00:23:49.560 or December, the very first part of December. 00:23:49.560 --> 00:23:50.960 But here it just starts anytime. 00:23:51.060 --> 00:23:53.400 So you walk into the mall and it's always Christmas. 00:23:53.500 --> 00:23:56.000 So it's kind of interesting to be a part of that. 00:23:56.000 --> 00:24:05.380 But to see the trees and to hear the music and to reflect back on why do we come together today? 00:24:06.259 --> 00:24:10.619 Why are we here to worship? 00:24:10.619 --> 00:24:18.239 It's reminded of this story of three men who died during Christmas. 00:24:18.979 --> 00:24:20.439 And they went up to heaven. 00:24:21.359 --> 00:24:23.699 And they met St. Peter there. 00:24:24.919 --> 00:24:31.000 And Peter looked at them and said, well, since it's Christmas time, I'm not going to ask you the normal questions. 00:24:32.059 --> 00:24:33.659 I'm going to ask you special questions. 00:24:33.660 --> 00:24:38.600 I'd like for you just to produce something that symbolizes Christmas for you. 00:24:39.480 --> 00:24:45.540 Bring out something that you have on your person that shows the meaning or what Christmas is about to you. 00:24:46.240 --> 00:24:48.220 The first guy I thought really panicking. 00:24:48.380 --> 00:24:49.900 He was trying to think about what he was going to do. 00:24:49.980 --> 00:24:51.900 What did he have on him that represented Christmas? 00:24:52.019 --> 00:24:54.440 What could he produce so that he could get into heaven? 00:24:54.500 --> 00:24:55.300 Now, this isn't real. 00:24:55.880 --> 00:24:57.360 You don't produce things to get into heaven. 00:24:58.019 --> 00:24:58.779 This is his story. 00:24:58.880 --> 00:24:59.920 Just follow me, okay? 00:24:59.920 --> 00:25:05.039 And so he pulls out this big lighter and he lights it. 00:25:06.200 --> 00:25:13.940 And he goes, this represents the candles that we light and the stars at night and all the light in the midst of darkness. 00:25:14.140 --> 00:25:15.320 And Peter will go, that's pretty good. 00:25:16.400 --> 00:25:17.400 And he looked at the second guy. 00:25:17.480 --> 00:25:19.019 And the second guy was kind of panicking. 00:25:19.960 --> 00:25:21.480 And he didn't know what to produce. 00:25:22.120 --> 00:25:23.759 And all of a sudden he, okay, okay, I got it, I got it. 00:25:23.759 --> 00:25:27.200 And so he reaches into his pocket and he pulls out his keys. 00:25:28.060 --> 00:25:29.240 And he jingles them. 00:25:29.920 --> 00:25:36.680 And the keys jingling represents the sound of music and carols and the bells jinging and do-do-do-do and all this stuff. 00:25:37.300 --> 00:25:38.320 And Peter goes, that's pretty good. 00:25:38.500 --> 00:25:38.740 Okay. 00:25:39.519 --> 00:25:42.220 Third guy, he's like, he's white. 00:25:42.440 --> 00:25:46.720 He's like, he has no idea what he's going to do, how he's going to produce. 00:25:47.160 --> 00:25:50.200 He just, you know, he has, he doesn't know how he's going to get into heaven. 00:25:50.200 --> 00:26:00.200 And all of a sudden he, and he reaches deep into his pocket and he pulls out a pair of women's reading glasses. 00:26:01.620 --> 00:26:03.120 And he lays them on the table. 00:26:07.279 --> 00:26:11.880 And Peter looks at him going, okay, you got to, you got to help me out. 00:26:11.880 --> 00:26:14.140 How does this represent Christmas? 00:26:15.340 --> 00:26:17.740 He says, those are carols. 00:26:24.460 --> 00:26:24.820 Okay. 00:26:25.440 --> 00:26:27.840 The red and yellows in you are going to be thinking about that. 00:26:27.960 --> 00:26:29.660 All your discernment, those are carols. 00:26:30.180 --> 00:26:30.860 What does that mean? 00:26:30.859 --> 00:26:33.279 So, but that's, that's what I love. 00:26:33.359 --> 00:26:35.659 You know, Christmas is about having fun. 00:26:35.759 --> 00:26:37.019 It's about thinking about things. 00:26:37.559 --> 00:26:39.059 It's an amazing time to me. 00:26:39.339 --> 00:26:42.799 But Christmas is also this paradox to me. 00:26:43.439 --> 00:26:45.079 It's an anomaly to me. 00:26:45.259 --> 00:26:46.699 It's, it's, it's craziness. 00:26:46.879 --> 00:26:53.519 As I think about it, it's a story of amazing highs amidst amazing lows. 00:26:54.339 --> 00:26:58.079 It's a story of light in the middle of darkness. 00:26:58.079 --> 00:27:03.639 It's, it's a story of hope when there was no hope in the history of the world. 00:27:05.159 --> 00:27:09.480 It's a story of life that will be centered on death. 00:27:11.419 --> 00:27:18.299 We're celebrating a baby that we're going to kill so that we might have life. 00:27:19.199 --> 00:27:20.960 And every time I think of that, I wonder. 00:27:22.079 --> 00:27:23.679 I was at a party last night. 00:27:23.759 --> 00:27:24.839 I don't make these stories up. 00:27:24.879 --> 00:27:25.639 You can ask me. 00:27:25.640 --> 00:27:28.020 And Tim was there. 00:27:28.080 --> 00:27:28.780 My wife was there. 00:27:28.840 --> 00:27:30.640 We were talking to our neighbors down below. 00:27:30.960 --> 00:27:32.360 And it was a great party. 00:27:32.480 --> 00:27:36.120 I mean, the people that are not churchgoers, if they were churchgoers, it would have been 00:27:36.120 --> 00:27:39.120 the most amazing evangelistic outreach party ever. 00:27:39.480 --> 00:27:42.500 There was about 80 little kids running around and Santa Claus came in. 00:27:42.560 --> 00:27:45.460 We were singing songs and we were, we were doing all these carols. 00:27:45.620 --> 00:27:46.780 And it was just incredible. 00:27:46.779 --> 00:27:50.819 And in the midst of this time, I looked at one of the ladies and we're talking and I'm saying, 00:27:50.899 --> 00:27:51.680 isn't this amazing? 00:27:52.599 --> 00:27:53.660 This is amazing. 00:27:55.160 --> 00:27:59.819 And all of a sudden she just looked at me and I don't know if it's something happened. 00:27:59.819 --> 00:28:08.799 And she goes, yep, you know, there's something very dark about this season. 00:28:10.519 --> 00:28:15.039 There's something very sad about this season. 00:28:16.059 --> 00:28:19.399 There's something that when I think about it, she's telling me this and I'm just sitting 00:28:19.400 --> 00:28:21.300 there and just nodding my head. 00:28:22.580 --> 00:28:26.640 There's something very sad when I think about this time of year. 00:28:29.180 --> 00:28:30.420 And I just feel lonely. 00:28:33.060 --> 00:28:36.480 Now you and I know what she's missing. 00:28:39.080 --> 00:28:40.060 But she doesn't. 00:28:42.620 --> 00:28:48.660 Christmas is a story full of people who miss the meaning of Christmas and they lose everything. 00:28:49.400 --> 00:29:00.160 It's a story of people who get the meaning of Christ and Christmas and they gain everything. 00:29:03.940 --> 00:29:07.500 Christmas is a very, very interesting time. 00:29:07.980 --> 00:29:12.660 And the thing that perplexes me and amazes me is that story continues today. 00:29:12.660 --> 00:29:20.400 And so what I want to do is very briefly, I want to look at a story of people who found Christ 00:29:20.400 --> 00:29:22.620 and lost him. 00:29:23.720 --> 00:29:24.800 You heard it read. 00:29:24.880 --> 00:29:25.720 It's in your bulletin. 00:29:25.840 --> 00:29:29.640 Today's passage is the go-to passage for all Christmas passages. 00:29:30.060 --> 00:29:34.300 Whenever you go to a church for the first time, chances are pretty high during Christmas 00:29:34.299 --> 00:29:38.960 you're going to hear Luke chapter 2 verses 1 through 19 read. 00:29:39.659 --> 00:29:41.220 Because it's the go-to passage. 00:29:42.059 --> 00:29:47.339 You probably will not hear the passage that we're going to talk about read today. 00:29:48.119 --> 00:29:52.899 Because it's not seen as a traditional Easter or Christmas passage. 00:29:54.240 --> 00:29:58.539 But what I've been experiencing in my life is that it is a go-to passage for me. 00:29:58.539 --> 00:30:03.240 It's a think about God and what he means and how we do that. 00:30:04.139 --> 00:30:06.420 You read in the bulletin that it is the Passover. 00:30:07.299 --> 00:30:09.759 Now the Passover was very, very special. 00:30:10.180 --> 00:30:12.899 It was a celebration that usually happened in March or April. 00:30:13.420 --> 00:30:17.839 And it was a flashback to God redeeming his people from Egypt. 00:30:18.440 --> 00:30:24.879 It was a massive, massive celebration where all the people of God were required by religious 00:30:24.879 --> 00:30:28.039 law to go back to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. 00:30:28.539 --> 00:30:35.240 All Jewish males 13 years or older had to be at the Passover. 00:30:35.619 --> 00:30:37.799 It was one of three holidays they had to celebrate. 00:30:38.079 --> 00:30:44.019 So that the minute a boy turned 13, he was required by law to go to Jerusalem and participate 00:30:44.019 --> 00:30:48.099 in the Passover and to sacrifice and to make sacrifices for his sin. 00:30:49.000 --> 00:30:52.839 We're told that Jerusalem, which is only one square kilometer. 00:30:53.139 --> 00:30:53.899 Now think about this. 00:30:54.099 --> 00:30:56.159 One square kilometer at this time. 00:30:56.160 --> 00:30:59.740 Now Hong Kong Island is 80 square kilometers. 00:31:00.300 --> 00:31:02.220 Jerusalem was one square kilometer. 00:31:02.580 --> 00:31:09.660 But on this celebration, on this day, the population of Jerusalem was larger than the population of Hong Kong Island. 00:31:10.980 --> 00:31:23.200 1.5 million people squeezed into a place about the size of Cyberport and Sandy Bay to fulfill their religious duty to sacrifice and to worship. 00:31:23.200 --> 00:31:25.960 The Passover lasted about a week. 00:31:26.340 --> 00:31:29.500 It was usually tacked on to the Feast of Unleavened Bread. 00:31:30.299 --> 00:31:34.980 And so the Jewish people would go there and they would partake in this ceremony and this festival. 00:31:34.980 --> 00:31:50.720 On this Passover, we're told that 270,000 lambs were killed to atone for the people of God's sin. 00:31:51.720 --> 00:31:52.980 We have records of it. 00:31:53.039 --> 00:31:54.380 You can go back and you can read them. 00:31:55.640 --> 00:31:57.160 270,000 people. 00:31:57.960 --> 00:32:01.400 And as we look at this passage, you've got to ask yourself some questions. 00:32:01.400 --> 00:32:04.460 Why did God put this passage here? 00:32:05.780 --> 00:32:15.759 Because we're told at the end of Scripture that the stories of Jesus were so many that if you wrote them all down, the books of the world could not contain it. 00:32:17.019 --> 00:32:19.320 And so you have to ask the question, why did God put this passage here? 00:32:19.360 --> 00:32:22.060 What's so special about this passage that he wants us to know? 00:32:22.120 --> 00:32:23.440 What does he want us to learn from this? 00:32:23.660 --> 00:32:25.800 And I think there are several things that I learned from this passage. 00:32:25.799 --> 00:32:31.539 The first thing that I learned is that Mary and Joseph, they were good parents. 00:32:32.119 --> 00:32:33.319 They were good Jews. 00:32:33.960 --> 00:32:37.819 They brought their kids up into the tradition of the religious household of that day. 00:32:38.319 --> 00:32:40.000 They kept all the sacrifices. 00:32:40.339 --> 00:32:41.259 They did all the laws. 00:32:41.579 --> 00:32:44.700 They took the journey to Jerusalem every year. 00:32:45.240 --> 00:32:48.200 Now, from Nazareth to Jerusalem, it was a three-day journey. 00:32:49.139 --> 00:32:53.720 Typically, people would go on this journey in a community, in a family, for protection. 00:32:53.720 --> 00:32:57.079 And so they would take three days to travel to Jerusalem. 00:32:57.500 --> 00:33:00.120 They would partake in about a seven- to eight-day ceremony. 00:33:00.400 --> 00:33:03.279 And then they would take three days to travel back. 00:33:04.500 --> 00:33:06.660 And in this ceremony, that's how long it took. 00:33:06.700 --> 00:33:08.019 In other ceremonies, it took longer. 00:33:08.400 --> 00:33:12.600 But we're told that Jesus' parents were good Jewish parents. 00:33:13.019 --> 00:33:14.740 And they did this all the time. 00:33:15.720 --> 00:33:18.900 Another thing that sticks out here in verse 42 is this. 00:33:18.900 --> 00:33:27.240 This is really important. 00:33:27.900 --> 00:33:35.680 Because when a Jewish boy turned 12, it was a start of one year of intensive internship. 00:33:35.680 --> 00:33:43.980 For one year, his dad took him along and mentored him and taught him everything about his profession, 00:33:44.620 --> 00:33:50.700 about being a husband, about being a dad, about the family of God, about the religious aspects. 00:33:51.100 --> 00:33:56.680 For that one year, beginning now, when Jesus turned 12, his dad would have had him under intense mentorship, 00:33:57.680 --> 00:34:00.320 been with him all the time, teaching him and explaining to him. 00:34:00.319 --> 00:34:03.599 Because when Jesus turned 13, he got bar mitzvahed. 00:34:04.319 --> 00:34:05.639 Bar means son. 00:34:06.279 --> 00:34:07.779 Mitzvah means commandment. 00:34:08.039 --> 00:34:09.940 He became a son of the commandment. 00:34:10.619 --> 00:34:11.599 He became an adult. 00:34:12.319 --> 00:34:14.940 So at 13 years old, he was a man. 00:34:15.940 --> 00:34:19.880 And so we know that this is Jesus' last year before he becomes a man. 00:34:20.099 --> 00:34:23.139 And it would have been a time when he would have stayed very close to his dad. 00:34:23.380 --> 00:34:24.980 He would have never ventured from his dad. 00:34:25.239 --> 00:34:26.920 His dad would have been talking to him all the time. 00:34:26.920 --> 00:34:34.480 This passage is also interesting because it's the only time in all of the scripture where you see Jesus as a boy. 00:34:35.920 --> 00:34:39.420 All the other times in the Bible, we see that Jesus is a baby or that Jesus is a man. 00:34:39.599 --> 00:34:41.380 But this is the only time that Jesus is a boy. 00:34:41.720 --> 00:34:48.460 And this is the first words that are recorded in all the Bible that Jesus speaks. 00:34:50.320 --> 00:34:53.780 So we get excited sometimes when we say, Daddy, Mommy, and all these things. 00:34:53.780 --> 00:35:05.360 And these weren't his first words, but these are the first words that God chose to record for us so that we could learn about God during this season and during this time. 00:35:06.420 --> 00:35:08.980 And then in verse 43 and 44, we see something amazing. 00:35:10.300 --> 00:35:13.680 In verse 43 and 44, we see that the ceremony is over. 00:35:13.960 --> 00:35:15.000 The celebration is over. 00:35:15.280 --> 00:35:16.320 People are on this high. 00:35:16.440 --> 00:35:17.080 They're on this religious. 00:35:17.360 --> 00:35:19.040 This is the greatest retreat ever. 00:35:19.340 --> 00:35:19.980 This is amazing. 00:35:19.980 --> 00:35:21.980 They all pack up and they leave. 00:35:23.880 --> 00:35:25.460 And they leave Jesus behind. 00:35:27.760 --> 00:35:29.559 The words are very specific. 00:35:29.699 --> 00:35:38.119 It says that they left him behind, supposing that he was with them, thinking that he was there, taking it for granted that Jesus was with them. 00:35:40.119 --> 00:35:41.780 His family left them behind. 00:35:41.780 --> 00:35:50.000 And they go on this journey for one day before they stop and they realize, what have we done? 00:35:51.940 --> 00:35:53.060 We've left our son. 00:35:54.460 --> 00:35:55.540 But this isn't just our son. 00:35:55.620 --> 00:35:57.120 This is the son of God. 00:35:58.060 --> 00:35:59.400 I mean, they knew all the stories. 00:35:59.500 --> 00:36:00.040 They were ready. 00:36:00.160 --> 00:36:00.880 They were protecting him. 00:36:01.080 --> 00:36:01.840 They were guarding him. 00:36:02.100 --> 00:36:05.519 I mean, on my way to the community center this week, I went by a school. 00:36:05.519 --> 00:36:11.599 And in the school, there was lined up all these parents outside waiting to pick their kids up because our kids are special. 00:36:11.719 --> 00:36:12.300 We protect them. 00:36:12.380 --> 00:36:12.980 We guard them. 00:36:13.280 --> 00:36:16.840 But here, you have a very special kid. 00:36:16.940 --> 00:36:18.340 You have the ultimate kid. 00:36:18.679 --> 00:36:20.920 You have the kid who's going to save us all. 00:36:21.079 --> 00:36:22.639 And they leave them behind. 00:36:22.759 --> 00:36:24.259 And you wonder what his parents were thinking. 00:36:25.420 --> 00:36:32.920 You wonder if they were thinking, I hope Herod doesn't get a hold of him because Herod's already killed all those little babies before his birth. 00:36:33.420 --> 00:36:34.840 If Herod finds him, he's dead. 00:36:34.840 --> 00:36:41.160 I hope the Romans don't get a hold of him because if the Romans find out about him, they're going to kill him. 00:36:41.320 --> 00:36:48.180 I hope the leaders of the Sanhedrin don't get a hold of him because they know in the stars there's predicted a ruler that's going to usurp their power. 00:36:48.480 --> 00:36:50.800 And we are really worried about what's going to happen. 00:36:51.140 --> 00:36:52.320 What is going to happen here? 00:36:54.140 --> 00:37:01.740 And so they, one day out, one day back, one day searching, frantically trying to figure out what it was all about. 00:37:03.039 --> 00:37:04.500 Can you imagine what that would have been like? 00:37:04.840 --> 00:37:13.420 Can you imagine just the anger, the pain, the suffering, the, I thought you did this. 00:37:13.480 --> 00:37:16.720 How come, you're the dad, you're supposed to be with him. 00:37:17.740 --> 00:37:19.880 Well, I thought he was with you. 00:37:20.160 --> 00:37:22.300 And where's Jesus? 00:37:24.160 --> 00:37:25.200 We thought he was with us. 00:37:25.199 --> 00:37:31.319 Can you, sidebar here, I got to think this. 00:37:32.319 --> 00:37:34.239 Can you imagine what it was like to have Jesus as a child? 00:37:38.079 --> 00:37:39.059 Have you ever thought about that? 00:37:39.059 --> 00:37:48.079 I mean, you're in your room and you hear this crash in the kid's room and you run in there and my response is, who did this? 00:37:49.219 --> 00:37:50.559 Which I've been told is wrong. 00:37:50.639 --> 00:37:52.679 My wife comes in and she tells me, don't do that. 00:37:53.420 --> 00:37:57.019 You should come in and say, hmm, how did this happen? 00:37:57.019 --> 00:38:05.000 Well, when Jesus is your kid and you hear the crash and you run into the room, what do you do? 00:38:05.000 --> 00:38:07.900 Jesus, who did this? 00:38:10.059 --> 00:38:10.980 Okay, I trust him. 00:38:12.400 --> 00:38:14.460 Because usually at my house, when I go in, who did this? 00:38:14.480 --> 00:38:16.199 The fingers are going, you know. 00:38:16.639 --> 00:38:20.780 And it's interesting because we're always told we don't compare our kids to each other. 00:38:21.719 --> 00:38:28.139 But if Jesus is your son, you'd be going, hey, Isaac, why don't you be more like Jesus? 00:38:28.139 --> 00:38:31.019 And it would be a good thing, wouldn't it? 00:38:31.980 --> 00:38:33.739 It would be a great thing. 00:38:34.960 --> 00:38:38.299 I mean, it would be a great thing to have him as a role model for your kids. 00:38:39.599 --> 00:38:42.039 And then I get in a fight with my wife. 00:38:44.219 --> 00:38:45.799 And I lose my temper. 00:38:47.179 --> 00:38:51.319 And I'm just being not nice, carnal, sinful. 00:38:52.500 --> 00:38:57.059 And I walk into my room and one of my kids follows me in there and says, dad. 00:38:58.139 --> 00:38:59.960 You were really hard on mom. 00:39:01.239 --> 00:39:02.799 You should apologize to her. 00:39:04.179 --> 00:39:07.639 And in my mind, I'm thinking, yeah, but you don't understand, right? 00:39:07.779 --> 00:39:10.159 Because she did this and I was expecting this. 00:39:10.219 --> 00:39:13.099 And it's really not my fault because it was really her fault. 00:39:13.159 --> 00:39:14.599 And you still understand because you're a kid. 00:39:15.599 --> 00:39:21.719 But if Jesus were your son, he would know everything, right? 00:39:23.159 --> 00:39:25.739 And he's like, okay, dad, before you bring up that excuse, 00:39:25.739 --> 00:39:30.000 I know that you're just really struggling with identity issues. 00:39:33.119 --> 00:39:36.919 You're really struggling with who you are and how I've made you. 00:39:38.199 --> 00:39:39.439 You need to lighten up a little. 00:39:40.619 --> 00:39:42.279 And really, it's not just because of you. 00:39:42.579 --> 00:39:43.500 It's not her fault. 00:39:43.619 --> 00:39:44.759 It's your fault, right? 00:39:45.239 --> 00:39:46.939 So, dad, I think you should go back. 00:39:47.019 --> 00:39:49.179 I think you should go apologize to your mom. 00:39:49.179 --> 00:39:52.739 And, oh, yeah, after you do that, you can come repent to me. 00:39:54.559 --> 00:39:55.579 Not good, right? 00:39:56.259 --> 00:39:58.419 You don't ever want your kids saying that at all, right? 00:39:58.619 --> 00:40:01.980 But here, Jesus' parents lose him. 00:40:02.219 --> 00:40:03.579 And they go on this journey. 00:40:03.799 --> 00:40:05.019 And they try to find him. 00:40:05.279 --> 00:40:10.480 And as I read this passage, I wonder what it would have been like to be without Jesus for three days. 00:40:10.480 --> 00:40:18.260 And then I realize that often in my life, 00:40:19.320 --> 00:40:24.000 I'm without him for three days. 00:40:28.500 --> 00:40:30.960 Sometimes I lose him in my work. 00:40:32.099 --> 00:40:33.880 Sometimes I lose him in my marriage. 00:40:34.920 --> 00:40:36.679 Sometimes I lose him in life. 00:40:36.679 --> 00:40:39.359 And I go on this journey. 00:40:39.480 --> 00:40:42.379 And I think that Christ is traveling with me. 00:40:45.219 --> 00:40:46.559 And I misplace him. 00:40:49.559 --> 00:40:53.199 Taking it for granted that he was with me. 00:40:57.000 --> 00:40:57.879 He wasn't. 00:40:57.880 --> 00:41:08.000 This passage, to me, speaks over and over about how we sometimes misplace Christ in our life, 00:41:08.079 --> 00:41:09.619 especially during this Christmas season. 00:41:11.640 --> 00:41:12.260 You know, sometimes, 00:41:13.320 --> 00:41:18.780 sometimes we misplace him because we're too busy. 00:41:20.860 --> 00:41:24.599 There have been several times this week where I've gone to three different Christmas parties, 00:41:24.599 --> 00:41:26.960 running from place to place. 00:41:27.360 --> 00:41:28.880 I've got him to get to where I'm going to go. 00:41:29.400 --> 00:41:31.179 Supposing that he's with me as I go there. 00:41:31.299 --> 00:41:32.420 But I'm really busy. 00:41:32.519 --> 00:41:33.639 I've got to get these things done. 00:41:34.039 --> 00:41:35.299 I have the best intentions. 00:41:35.739 --> 00:41:37.500 I want to get up and I want to pray. 00:41:37.779 --> 00:41:39.639 But my schedule is different today. 00:41:39.719 --> 00:41:40.739 It's too busy. 00:41:40.839 --> 00:41:42.059 I don't have time to pray. 00:41:42.360 --> 00:41:43.739 I don't have time to read my Bible. 00:41:43.980 --> 00:41:45.659 I don't have time to go to community group. 00:41:45.900 --> 00:41:47.500 I don't have time to prepare for things. 00:41:47.920 --> 00:41:49.500 But God is with me. 00:41:49.940 --> 00:41:51.079 And I'm going to do it tomorrow. 00:41:51.079 --> 00:41:53.460 But all of a sudden, that one day turns to two. 00:41:53.539 --> 00:41:54.920 And the two days turns to a week. 00:41:55.119 --> 00:41:56.440 And the week turns to a month. 00:41:56.639 --> 00:41:58.960 And the month turns to a year. 00:42:01.840 --> 00:42:03.420 And I'm wandering around, 00:42:04.759 --> 00:42:08.819 supposing that God is with me. 00:42:10.139 --> 00:42:11.980 But in reality, I'm missing him. 00:42:13.840 --> 00:42:16.000 There's an amazing passage in Matthew 7. 00:42:16.079 --> 00:42:17.159 Go back tonight and check it out. 00:42:17.460 --> 00:42:18.739 But it says, Jesus is talking. 00:42:18.739 --> 00:42:21.479 And he says, in the end, people are going to come to me. 00:42:22.219 --> 00:42:24.399 And they're going to say, Lord, Lord, didn't I do this? 00:42:24.419 --> 00:42:25.319 And didn't I do that? 00:42:25.500 --> 00:42:26.639 And I should be able to get into heaven. 00:42:26.899 --> 00:42:28.119 And Jesus is going to look at them. 00:42:28.139 --> 00:42:30.599 And he's going to say, depart from me. 00:42:30.639 --> 00:42:34.039 For I never knew you. 00:42:36.419 --> 00:42:39.539 I was never with you. 00:42:41.599 --> 00:42:44.519 You're too busy doing your stuff, your life. 00:42:44.519 --> 00:42:46.880 You're too busy to think about these things. 00:42:47.019 --> 00:42:48.119 And you've missed me. 00:42:48.199 --> 00:42:49.759 And sometimes I miss him in my busyness. 00:42:51.860 --> 00:42:55.699 Sometimes I miss him when I have the wrong focus. 00:42:55.800 --> 00:42:58.280 And this is the biggest and the most scariest thing for me at all. 00:42:58.400 --> 00:42:59.739 Because you see it in this passage. 00:43:00.059 --> 00:43:05.539 It always amazes me that they lose Jesus at the height of their religious experience. 00:43:07.099 --> 00:43:08.199 It's not in the gutters. 00:43:08.300 --> 00:43:09.179 It's not when it's dark. 00:43:09.259 --> 00:43:10.059 It's not when it's hard. 00:43:10.119 --> 00:43:10.860 It's not when it's difficult. 00:43:10.860 --> 00:43:13.820 They lose Jesus when it's the best of times. 00:43:15.820 --> 00:43:17.900 They've been focused on doing the religious things. 00:43:18.000 --> 00:43:19.260 They're going to the temple. 00:43:19.400 --> 00:43:20.140 They're sacrificing. 00:43:20.640 --> 00:43:21.700 They're tithing. 00:43:22.019 --> 00:43:22.620 They're serving. 00:43:23.400 --> 00:43:24.140 They're getting clean. 00:43:24.440 --> 00:43:28.559 They're doing all the things that they're supposed to do as religious people, as good Jews. 00:43:28.720 --> 00:43:29.920 And they lose him. 00:43:29.920 --> 00:43:38.860 And I realize that's me sometimes. 00:43:41.599 --> 00:43:51.539 So sometimes I can be so focused on doing and doing and doing that I forget to be and to be and to be with God. 00:43:51.539 --> 00:43:54.860 And the scary thing is sometimes those things are religious things. 00:43:57.139 --> 00:43:59.039 I do all the right religious things. 00:43:59.119 --> 00:44:01.039 We do all the things that God has called us to do. 00:44:01.199 --> 00:44:08.019 But in we're doing them, we've lost focus on who we've done them for. 00:44:08.019 --> 00:44:23.099 And the passage says, be careful that you don't lose Jesus because you're focused on a religious experience or something different or something that's good, but it's not an ultimate thing. 00:44:25.980 --> 00:44:28.460 I went home this summer and talking to a buddy who's a pastor. 00:44:28.559 --> 00:44:31.440 And we were talking about the life of churches in America and what's going on in churches. 00:44:31.800 --> 00:44:36.340 And how churches want to get bigger and popular and more name branding and just bigger and expanding. 00:44:36.340 --> 00:44:43.920 And he looked at me and he said, you know, the problem with the church in America is that we've lost our focus. 00:44:46.720 --> 00:44:50.000 We've forgotten why we do things the way we do. 00:44:50.079 --> 00:44:51.960 We've forgotten who we do things for. 00:44:52.760 --> 00:44:56.120 We just do, do, do, thinking that if we do, then God will show up. 00:44:57.220 --> 00:44:59.260 But this passage says that's not true. 00:45:02.720 --> 00:45:05.100 I worry about us as a church sometimes. 00:45:06.340 --> 00:45:09.420 That we don't head down this road of doing, doing, doing. 00:45:10.700 --> 00:45:13.380 But our focus is not where God wants us to be. 00:45:16.180 --> 00:45:21.460 What would it look like for you today to have the wrong focus in your life? 00:45:23.460 --> 00:45:26.220 You came and you came to worship with us, which is an amazing thing. 00:45:26.280 --> 00:45:27.260 We're really glad you're here. 00:45:27.680 --> 00:45:29.240 We'd rather have you no other place. 00:45:29.239 --> 00:45:38.500 But what would it look like for you right now to be doing all these good things for the wrong reasons? 00:45:44.399 --> 00:45:45.500 I was talking to my buddy. 00:45:45.659 --> 00:45:46.859 We were rugby coaches. 00:45:48.179 --> 00:45:50.079 We were talking about the craziness of the season. 00:45:51.879 --> 00:45:54.339 He said, man, I got to go to communion. 00:45:54.439 --> 00:45:54.899 He's Catholic. 00:45:54.900 --> 00:45:56.280 I got to go to communion. 00:45:56.440 --> 00:45:57.180 Wednesday night, I got to go. 00:45:57.320 --> 00:45:57.740 I got to go. 00:45:58.240 --> 00:46:00.300 And for some reason, God just kind of stopped me. 00:46:02.059 --> 00:46:05.800 And I looked at him and I said, why? 00:46:05.800 --> 00:46:10.480 Why do you have to go to communion? 00:46:12.420 --> 00:46:14.100 And he just kind of looked at me dumbfounded. 00:46:18.120 --> 00:46:19.220 He didn't say anything. 00:46:21.280 --> 00:46:22.580 I don't know. 00:46:23.000 --> 00:46:25.360 It's just something I have to do. 00:46:25.360 --> 00:46:35.500 Sometimes in the Christmas season, sometimes as we walk with the Lord, sometimes we can lose our focus on who we're doing everything for. 00:46:36.380 --> 00:46:38.740 Because we're focused on really, really good things. 00:46:40.519 --> 00:46:42.900 But we forget the person who gave us those good things. 00:46:42.900 --> 00:46:53.420 The last thing that sticks out to me and hits me like a hammer in the head, if I'm honest, this is something that is, and you got to look at it here. 00:46:53.480 --> 00:46:58.220 Because this passage is full of things that we need to keep coming back to. 00:46:59.820 --> 00:47:00.800 Verse 48. 00:47:00.800 --> 00:47:05.519 When they saw him, they were astonished. 00:47:06.560 --> 00:47:09.860 In Greek, the word is close to being flabbergasted. 00:47:10.300 --> 00:47:13.980 If that's a word in your culture, it's in Texas language it is. 00:47:15.200 --> 00:47:21.140 And his mother said to him, which mothers would never talk to the sons, especially sons who are about to become men. 00:47:21.400 --> 00:47:23.039 It was always the father's responsibility. 00:47:23.280 --> 00:47:25.460 So you know that Mary is a very strong woman here. 00:47:26.920 --> 00:47:28.260 She's very strong. 00:47:28.260 --> 00:47:36.680 And she looks at him and she says, son, why have you treated us this way? 00:47:39.020 --> 00:47:45.820 Behold, your father, your mentor, the one you're supposed to be looking up to, the one you're not supposed to leave his side, 00:47:46.100 --> 00:47:50.740 the one you're supposed to be doing everything this year with, your father and I were so worried. 00:47:52.500 --> 00:47:53.860 How could you do this to us? 00:47:58.260 --> 00:48:04.660 In Texas language, she probably would have said, boy, why you do your mama like that? 00:48:05.860 --> 00:48:07.680 Don't you know your daddy and me have been really upset? 00:48:09.060 --> 00:48:09.840 Shame on you. 00:48:12.720 --> 00:48:13.680 Verse 49. 00:48:14.840 --> 00:48:18.620 And he said to them, why is it that you are looking for me? 00:48:18.619 --> 00:48:23.859 Did you not know that I had to be in my father's house? 00:48:25.779 --> 00:48:29.079 There's a play on words and ideas, father and father. 00:48:30.079 --> 00:48:32.619 And at 12, he knows his father. 00:48:34.139 --> 00:48:39.880 And he's basically reteaching his mom something she learned at his birth. 00:48:39.880 --> 00:48:43.280 There's an implied statement after that. 00:48:43.559 --> 00:48:48.780 Not only do I have to be in my father's house, but I have to be about doing my father's business. 00:48:52.440 --> 00:49:00.320 And the thing that sticks out to me as I wander through Christmas sometimes is sometimes my priorities are all wrong. 00:49:00.320 --> 00:49:07.600 And the question that Christ asked here, why are you looking at me? 00:49:07.700 --> 00:49:08.960 Why didn't you know I was here? 00:49:09.240 --> 00:49:12.320 Are the questions that we need to continually ask ourselves. 00:49:13.539 --> 00:49:19.620 And we need to question and see, are we doing the father's business? 00:49:23.820 --> 00:49:28.600 As we walk with God this season, are our priorities right? 00:49:30.320 --> 00:49:32.380 Are our priorities true? 00:49:33.519 --> 00:49:39.940 Have we ever stopped for just a second during the holidays and said, God, what are your priorities right now? 00:49:42.800 --> 00:49:44.260 What do you want me to do? 00:49:48.160 --> 00:49:52.900 Have we ever stopped and said, God, you've given me this amazing job. 00:49:54.100 --> 00:49:56.820 Am I bringing glory to you right now? 00:49:56.820 --> 00:50:01.700 Am I fulfilling your priorities or am I fulfilling my priorities? 00:50:05.559 --> 00:50:17.539 God, you've given me this amazing family, amazing mind, amazing heart, amazing resources, amazing time, amazing relationships. 00:50:17.539 --> 00:50:31.599 During this Christmas time, do we ever stop and ask, am I doing what you want me to do? 00:50:38.099 --> 00:50:39.920 Am I fulfilling your priorities? 00:50:39.920 --> 00:50:46.079 Am I building your kingdom? 00:50:48.880 --> 00:50:50.860 Or am I fulfilling my priorities? 00:50:53.059 --> 00:50:55.280 And am I building my kingdom? 00:50:56.720 --> 00:51:02.380 And I realized during the holidays that when I don't focus on these things, I get lost. 00:51:02.380 --> 00:51:13.099 And in the midst of this incredible celebration, sometimes I feel like I'm walking in darkness. 00:51:16.700 --> 00:51:17.820 Have you ever felt that way? 00:51:17.820 --> 00:51:32.620 The amazing thing to me about this passage is that he gives us a solution to that. 00:51:35.019 --> 00:51:37.160 He helps us reprioritize. 00:51:37.440 --> 00:51:38.660 He helps us refocus. 00:51:38.659 --> 00:51:42.420 He helps us not be so busy and focus on the right things. 00:51:43.199 --> 00:51:47.920 But the choice is, do we want that to happen this holiday season? 00:51:50.859 --> 00:51:57.299 I realize as I share right now, there are people in here who at one time made a commitment to Christ. 00:51:57.420 --> 00:51:59.000 You invited Jesus Christ into your life. 00:51:59.279 --> 00:52:00.279 You're walking with him. 00:52:00.280 --> 00:52:07.900 And all of a sudden, in this time, you feel emptiness. 00:52:10.820 --> 00:52:12.040 You feel darkness. 00:52:13.080 --> 00:52:16.620 You wonder why you feel this way when everything is going so well. 00:52:16.820 --> 00:52:18.560 It is the best of seasons. 00:52:19.680 --> 00:52:21.560 It's the perfect time. 00:52:22.420 --> 00:52:25.380 But instead, you feel lost. 00:52:25.600 --> 00:52:26.620 You feel empty. 00:52:26.619 --> 00:52:30.619 Maybe you wonder, how long is this going to take? 00:52:31.559 --> 00:52:33.500 So I just get back to my normal day. 00:52:37.719 --> 00:52:39.460 Maybe you've become too busy. 00:52:39.599 --> 00:52:41.420 Maybe you have lost your focus. 00:52:42.259 --> 00:52:44.719 Maybe your priorities are all wrong. 00:52:46.619 --> 00:52:49.920 Maybe you have health issues. 00:52:50.679 --> 00:52:53.579 Or you've lost somebody very close to you. 00:52:54.199 --> 00:52:56.480 And that death has changed your life. 00:52:56.619 --> 00:53:01.199 Maybe this last week, you just found out that you lost your job. 00:53:03.559 --> 00:53:05.500 And you're wondering what you're going to do next. 00:53:08.000 --> 00:53:16.119 And that joy, and that feeling, and that comfort that you once had, you don't have anymore. 00:53:17.299 --> 00:53:19.599 And you struggle, and you wonder, why? 00:53:19.839 --> 00:53:20.099 Why? 00:53:20.099 --> 00:53:20.159 Why? 00:53:20.159 --> 00:53:20.299 Why? 00:53:21.099 --> 00:53:21.420 Why? 00:53:21.420 --> 00:53:26.339 And the passage here, for me, tells me why. 00:53:26.340 --> 00:53:30.220 It tells me that I've become so busy. 00:53:31.320 --> 00:53:32.740 That I've lost my focus. 00:53:32.840 --> 00:53:34.039 That my priorities have changed. 00:53:34.240 --> 00:53:37.320 And I need to come back to where I lost Christ. 00:53:39.079 --> 00:53:41.460 And start my relationship back up with Him again. 00:53:41.460 --> 00:54:04.019 The message of Christmas is no matter where you are on your journey, no matter how far that you feel like you've gone from Christ, no matter how empty or no matter how much you feel like you walk in the darkness, the message of Christmas, the message of the manger, the message of Jesus, the message of this passage of losing Him and finding Him, is that as you turn around, as you come back to Him, He's right there. 00:54:04.019 --> 00:54:15.360 It's us who've walked away, but Christ has been waiting in the temple, doing the things of God, waiting for us to come back to Him. 00:54:18.679 --> 00:54:20.059 The question is, will we do that? 00:54:22.039 --> 00:54:26.139 I realize as I share that there's probably some people in here who've never started on the journey. 00:54:26.440 --> 00:54:28.019 You don't even know what I'm talking about. 00:54:28.099 --> 00:54:29.639 You've come because a friend has asked you. 00:54:29.880 --> 00:54:31.619 You're wondering what it means to follow Christ. 00:54:31.619 --> 00:54:33.719 You wonder why the true meaning of Christmas. 00:54:34.039 --> 00:54:41.380 You're wondering, why is it bad to walk in darkness and hopelessness? 00:54:42.199 --> 00:54:43.900 Isn't that what life is all about? 00:54:45.559 --> 00:54:53.799 And my prayer for you is that you would not leave here until you took and looked at the people who brought you and you asked them questions about Jesus Christ. 00:54:54.799 --> 00:54:57.440 You asked them questions about why we celebrate this season. 00:54:57.699 --> 00:54:59.739 You asked them questions about what our hope is. 00:54:59.739 --> 00:55:02.500 You asked them questions about why they do these things. 00:55:03.759 --> 00:55:09.739 Because chances are they're afraid to tell you right now because they don't want to offend you, even though they know that you need it. 00:55:10.379 --> 00:55:12.459 And it's the thing that's going to change your life. 00:55:13.759 --> 00:55:22.799 And so maybe you, as the visitor, should turn the tables on them and ask them why they brought you here today. 00:55:22.800 --> 00:55:26.480 And why Christmas is so important to them. 00:55:27.760 --> 00:55:33.160 I'm going to end our time right now and we'll try something I don't think we tried one time any years ago, two years ago. 00:55:33.159 --> 00:55:45.500 As we enter into this season and this time of being lost and being found and what it means to walk with God and what it means to become unbusy and what it means to reprioritize, 00:55:46.059 --> 00:55:49.039 I'm going to ask Jeremy and Celeste to come up. 00:55:49.039 --> 00:55:53.880 In front of you, there are tables of candles here. 00:55:57.400 --> 00:56:01.440 They're going to come up and they're going to start playing some music right now. 00:56:01.440 --> 00:56:09.019 And when they come up, what I would like for you to do is to think about this message. 00:56:10.619 --> 00:56:16.539 I'd like for you to ask God where you're at right now in the quietness of your share. 00:56:17.920 --> 00:56:19.639 Where are you on the journey with him? 00:56:21.639 --> 00:56:28.340 I'd like for you to ask God right now, are you feeling the type of relationship with him that he's made you for? 00:56:31.440 --> 00:56:46.559 I'd like for you to think of people in your life who, like my friend last night at the party, was very, very far away from God. 00:56:48.780 --> 00:56:55.720 But you knew that God was pursuing them because he was on her heart. 00:56:55.719 --> 00:57:05.899 And when you're done praying, coming before the Lord, asking him to examine your heart, confessing, repenting, 00:57:06.659 --> 00:57:11.639 which the amazing thing to me about this passage is it's okay to lose him. 00:57:11.879 --> 00:57:13.519 Actually, it's normal as his children. 00:57:15.679 --> 00:57:17.679 And he continues to bring us back to him. 00:57:17.679 --> 00:57:27.099 And if you want, we would like for you to come up and just light a candle. 00:57:28.359 --> 00:57:32.319 This isn't a Catholic thing, but this is a thing of remembrance. 00:57:33.559 --> 00:57:34.519 And it's a commitment. 00:57:35.759 --> 00:57:39.119 And as you light this candle, we would like for you to commit to pray for your friend. 00:57:39.119 --> 00:57:43.299 We'd like for you to commit to pray for them this year. 00:57:43.839 --> 00:57:48.239 We'd like for you to commit to present to them the message of the gospel. 00:57:49.839 --> 00:57:54.219 Whether you bring them to church, you do it at home, you take them out to a nice dinner, whatever that looks like. 00:57:54.480 --> 00:57:57.159 But we would like for you to be praying for these people in your life 00:57:57.159 --> 00:58:03.000 who need to be here next Christmas 00:58:03.000 --> 00:58:08.859 to celebrate this amazing, amazing gift. 00:58:12.059 --> 00:58:14.239 I'll come back up in a couple minutes and close this. 00:58:19.839 --> 00:58:22.839 There's a lot of neat opportunities for people to invite friends 00:58:22.839 --> 00:58:26.219 to hear about the true meaning of Christmas and to meet Christ going on. 00:58:26.219 --> 00:58:29.119 You see these red flyers out there on the desk. 00:58:29.219 --> 00:58:35.659 We've been having a fair here at Cyberport from 2 to 5 starting on Friday, last Friday. 00:58:35.779 --> 00:58:37.179 And it's going all the way through Christmas. 00:58:37.899 --> 00:58:40.139 So my family is going to be out there today hanging out 00:58:40.139 --> 00:58:42.579 and taking pictures with little kids in front of a nativity scene 00:58:42.579 --> 00:58:46.459 and handing out books about Christ and like these mangas, 00:58:46.579 --> 00:58:47.919 which are at the bookstore for free, 00:58:48.039 --> 00:58:51.439 just so people have opportunity to do that and to hear about Christ. 00:58:51.440 --> 00:58:57.000 And so I would like to encourage you to pray for the outreach out there right now. 00:58:57.039 --> 00:58:59.340 And if you want to come out and join us, be a part of it, that's great. 00:58:59.420 --> 00:59:01.440 Just an opportunity to meet people in the community. 00:59:02.420 --> 00:59:07.659 Also on the 25th, we are going to do a Christmas service here at 1030. 00:59:08.400 --> 00:59:10.519 So it's going to be from 1030 to 1130. 00:59:11.039 --> 00:59:15.220 So for those of you who come at 11, you're only going to get half of it. 00:59:15.219 --> 00:59:20.879 So I encourage you to come early to be a part of that service. 00:59:21.759 --> 00:59:25.559 Last week, someone, I was at a party and they asked me their first time here, 00:59:25.619 --> 00:59:27.239 they said, okay, you didn't take an offering. 00:59:27.539 --> 00:59:28.239 What's up with that? 00:59:29.159 --> 00:59:30.319 We've been in the last three churches. 00:59:30.399 --> 00:59:31.439 All they do is talk about money. 00:59:31.500 --> 00:59:32.319 How come you didn't do that? 00:59:32.619 --> 00:59:33.679 And I didn't know what to say. 00:59:33.739 --> 00:59:36.119 I just said, but we don't right now. 00:59:36.239 --> 00:59:38.159 We're on a step of faith and a journey with God. 00:59:38.459 --> 00:59:42.419 And so we have these blue envelopes that are around in a little kiosk. 00:59:42.420 --> 00:59:48.079 But we think that there's probably no greater indicator to your spiritual health 00:59:48.079 --> 00:59:50.420 than your generosity. 00:59:51.920 --> 00:59:55.619 Because if you look at Christ and God, he is very generous. 00:59:56.500 --> 00:59:57.820 And he continues to be generous. 00:59:58.920 --> 01:00:02.400 So as you focus on the Christmas season and what the gospel and Christ means to you, 01:00:02.440 --> 01:00:06.119 we would just ask for you to give and proportion in response to that. 01:00:06.119 --> 01:00:10.360 And knowing that your ties go to help us do these outreaches 01:00:10.360 --> 01:00:12.640 and everything that we're about as a church. 01:00:13.539 --> 01:00:15.400 Also, there's some great books for sale. 01:00:15.519 --> 01:00:17.059 Some of them are for seekers. 01:00:18.300 --> 01:00:21.220 And some of them are for people who are on the journey for a while. 01:00:21.700 --> 01:00:23.039 I want to encourage you out there. 01:00:24.340 --> 01:00:27.260 We are selling them all at 20% loss at least. 01:00:27.400 --> 01:00:29.079 But we just want to get them into your hands. 01:00:30.599 --> 01:00:35.760 You know, one of the things I love about Christmas is the movies. 01:00:35.760 --> 01:00:42.740 And so there are about six movies that my family watches throughout Christmastime. 01:00:43.500 --> 01:00:46.180 I'm afraid to tell you those things because you'll laugh. 01:00:47.000 --> 01:00:50.020 But we watch things like It's a Wonderful Life by Frank Capra, 01:00:50.860 --> 01:00:54.340 Little Women, which I kind of get my way through 01:00:54.340 --> 01:00:58.020 because I want to be a good dad and be there with my wife and my daughters. 01:00:58.019 --> 01:01:02.139 We watch Santa Claus is Coming to Town. 01:01:02.280 --> 01:01:04.199 We watch Elf with a Youth Friday night. 01:01:05.340 --> 01:01:11.320 We watch Sound of Music, which is an act of love to my wife. 01:01:12.139 --> 01:01:14.119 Last night, we watched Sound of Music. 01:01:15.059 --> 01:01:18.719 I went to bed about 40 minutes left because I just couldn't. 01:01:18.840 --> 01:01:20.500 I wanted to pray, right? 01:01:24.239 --> 01:01:25.860 But hear me on this. 01:01:28.019 --> 01:01:31.519 Christmas shows are amazing and songs are great, 01:01:31.619 --> 01:01:33.500 but sometimes they have poor theology. 01:01:35.059 --> 01:01:36.300 Very poor theology. 01:01:37.380 --> 01:01:41.320 And so I left last night when Captain Von Trapp 01:01:41.320 --> 01:01:44.380 was in a gazebo with Maria. 01:01:45.800 --> 01:01:47.679 Maria had run off to the abbey. 01:01:47.960 --> 01:01:49.059 She falls in love with him. 01:01:49.159 --> 01:01:51.559 The evil baroness tried to break him up. 01:01:52.000 --> 01:01:53.639 Now the evil baroness has stepped aside 01:01:53.639 --> 01:01:56.079 because, you know, plenty of nothing they don't have. 01:01:56.079 --> 01:01:57.759 They can't offer anything to each other. 01:01:58.019 --> 01:01:58.920 And so she leaves. 01:01:58.980 --> 01:02:02.320 And so Captain Von Trapp is going there to talk to Maria 01:02:02.320 --> 01:02:03.480 because Maria has come back. 01:02:03.639 --> 01:02:05.380 And he's in love with her and they're in love with her. 01:02:05.400 --> 01:02:06.900 And I'm teasing Rachel, my daughter. 01:02:07.259 --> 01:02:09.780 And I'm singing the song to Rachel as we're doing these things. 01:02:09.840 --> 01:02:10.940 And she's like, oh, come on. 01:02:10.940 --> 01:02:13.360 But there's a line in there. 01:02:13.940 --> 01:02:17.240 As they face each other and make googly eyes. 01:02:19.119 --> 01:02:21.460 Nothing comes from nothing. 01:02:22.440 --> 01:02:24.619 Nothing seldom does. 01:02:25.579 --> 01:02:28.360 Somewhere in my youthful childhood, 01:02:29.079 --> 01:02:33.740 I must have done something good. 01:02:33.739 --> 01:02:37.619 And she says that's the reason why she got the captain. 01:02:38.719 --> 01:02:40.019 Because she did something good. 01:02:41.000 --> 01:02:42.719 And I kept singing that over and over. 01:02:42.839 --> 01:02:43.399 And I'm looking at her. 01:02:43.619 --> 01:02:44.500 That's terrible. 01:02:45.619 --> 01:02:46.879 I usually do it at a movie theater. 01:02:46.979 --> 01:02:47.779 And Christina goes, shh. 01:02:49.879 --> 01:02:50.819 But that's terrible. 01:02:52.699 --> 01:02:54.799 Because the message of Christmas 01:02:54.800 --> 01:02:59.420 is that nowhere in our past 01:02:59.420 --> 01:03:02.280 did we do anything good. 01:03:06.760 --> 01:03:08.420 But God looked at us. 01:03:09.960 --> 01:03:11.220 And he loved us. 01:03:12.660 --> 01:03:15.380 And he sent the most precious thing in his life. 01:03:16.380 --> 01:03:16.700 Jesus. 01:03:18.840 --> 01:03:20.240 To come as a man. 01:03:20.660 --> 01:03:22.220 To live a perfect life. 01:03:22.219 --> 01:03:25.459 To be an example for us. 01:03:25.539 --> 01:03:26.739 To die on the cross. 01:03:27.019 --> 01:03:28.619 To be the perfect sacrifice. 01:03:28.919 --> 01:03:29.799 So that there no longer had to be 01:03:29.799 --> 01:03:32.519 270,000 lambs 01:03:32.519 --> 01:03:34.500 sacrificed on Passover. 01:03:35.480 --> 01:03:36.299 Just one. 01:03:38.239 --> 01:03:40.199 So that whoever will believe in him 01:03:40.199 --> 01:03:42.299 put their faith 01:03:42.299 --> 01:03:44.639 and trust in him. 01:03:45.599 --> 01:03:47.559 Turn from their self-righteousness. 01:03:48.519 --> 01:03:49.519 Their pride. 01:03:49.679 --> 01:03:50.219 Their arrogance. 01:03:51.319 --> 01:03:51.959 That whoever 01:03:51.960 --> 01:03:53.099 would do that 01:03:53.099 --> 01:03:55.519 would be saved. 01:03:57.039 --> 01:03:58.519 It has nothing to do 01:03:58.519 --> 01:03:59.420 with what you've done 01:03:59.420 --> 01:04:01.179 or didn't do 01:04:01.179 --> 01:04:03.460 in your youthful childhood. 01:04:04.800 --> 01:04:06.159 It has all to do 01:04:06.159 --> 01:04:07.720 about an amazing God 01:04:07.720 --> 01:04:10.139 and his son Jesus Christ. 01:04:12.260 --> 01:04:13.400 That's why we're here. 01:04:14.500 --> 01:04:15.880 That's why this church exists. 01:04:16.760 --> 01:04:17.740 To point people 01:04:17.740 --> 01:04:18.720 who don't know him yet 01:04:18.720 --> 01:04:20.840 to that amazing son. 01:04:20.840 --> 01:04:22.539 Amen? 01:04:23.980 --> 01:04:24.539 Let's pray. 01:04:25.820 --> 01:04:27.240 Father, we thank you for this day. 01:04:27.340 --> 01:04:28.300 We thank you for these privileges, 01:04:28.539 --> 01:04:29.300 these opportunities 01:04:29.300 --> 01:04:31.680 to just walk with you. 01:04:32.820 --> 01:04:34.420 Lord, I pray for all of us, 01:04:34.460 --> 01:04:35.200 especially myself, 01:04:35.460 --> 01:04:36.460 that we would continue 01:04:36.460 --> 01:04:37.420 to remember the gospel, 01:04:38.220 --> 01:04:39.280 the message of grace 01:04:39.280 --> 01:04:40.079 and of mercy, 01:04:40.860 --> 01:04:42.480 that when we become flustered, 01:04:43.300 --> 01:04:44.460 when we become distant, 01:04:44.760 --> 01:04:45.920 when we become arrogant, 01:04:45.920 --> 01:04:48.000 when we become self-sufficient 01:04:48.000 --> 01:04:48.940 and self-righteous, 01:04:49.139 --> 01:04:49.260 Lord, 01:04:49.860 --> 01:04:51.139 Lord, just show us your son 01:04:51.139 --> 01:04:51.940 and what he did 01:04:51.940 --> 01:04:53.980 and to help us to realize 01:04:53.980 --> 01:04:54.920 that nothing 01:04:54.920 --> 01:04:57.280 in our youthful childhood 01:04:57.280 --> 01:04:58.059 or past 01:04:58.059 --> 01:05:00.280 could compare to him. 01:05:00.280 --> 01:05:02.760 bring us to you. 01:05:04.840 --> 01:05:05.880 It's only about your son, 01:05:05.920 --> 01:05:06.600 Jesus Christ. 01:05:07.880 --> 01:05:09.100 Lord, we pray as a church 01:05:09.100 --> 01:05:10.360 as we go on this journey together 01:05:10.360 --> 01:05:11.700 that we would encourage each other, 01:05:12.080 --> 01:05:13.100 that we lift up each other, 01:05:13.180 --> 01:05:14.800 we would point to each other 01:05:14.800 --> 01:05:15.680 to your grace 01:05:15.680 --> 01:05:16.400 and your mercy 01:05:16.400 --> 01:05:18.560 and just your word, 01:05:18.920 --> 01:05:20.140 and we do it as a community 01:05:20.140 --> 01:05:21.280 so that people look at us 01:05:21.280 --> 01:05:22.040 at Cyberport 01:05:22.040 --> 01:05:23.000 and wherever we go 01:05:23.000 --> 01:05:23.740 and they say, 01:05:23.840 --> 01:05:25.280 wow, there is something amazing 01:05:25.820 --> 01:05:27.240 about those people 01:05:27.239 --> 01:05:29.139 that even in the midst of darkness, 01:05:29.639 --> 01:05:31.399 they have hope 01:05:31.399 --> 01:05:33.439 and they have light. 01:05:34.659 --> 01:05:35.519 And so we come before you 01:05:35.519 --> 01:05:36.079 as your people 01:05:36.079 --> 01:05:38.059 this two days 01:05:38.059 --> 01:05:39.539 before we celebrate 01:05:39.539 --> 01:05:40.599 the birth of your son 01:05:40.599 --> 01:05:41.779 who changes everything 01:05:41.779 --> 01:05:44.459 and we worship you 01:05:44.459 --> 01:05:46.759 and we love you 01:05:46.759 --> 01:05:49.279 and we need you desperately. 01:05:50.279 --> 01:05:51.500 We pray all these things 01:05:51.500 --> 01:05:52.599 in Jesus' holy name. 01:05:53.719 --> 01:05:53.979 Amen. 01:05:54.679 --> 01:05:55.579 God bless you. 01:05:55.959 --> 01:05:57.019 We'll see you back here 01:05:57.019 --> 01:05:57.699 Christmas Day 01:05:57.699 --> 01:05:58.960 hopefully with some friends 01:05:58.960 --> 01:06:01.159 and have a great week.