WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.640 Good morning, y'all. It'd be great if you could grab a copy of the sermon outline today 00:00:08.640 --> 00:00:14.660 with the Bible text on it. And also, it's on the St. Paul's app. So if you want to get 00:00:14.660 --> 00:00:20.879 it down, the St. Paul's app takes a while. It would be fantastic. So I wonder why are 00:00:20.879 --> 00:00:29.440 you here? I wonder why you're not down at the cinemas. I wonder why you're not winding 00:00:29.440 --> 00:00:37.600 down in front of the television at home. Iron Chef America is on after all. I wonder why 00:00:37.600 --> 00:00:42.520 you're not at the beach. I wonder why you're not even just down shopping at Westfield. 00:00:42.679 --> 00:00:51.299 Why are you not at the gym, visiting friends, family? I wonder if maybe you're just here 00:00:51.299 --> 00:00:58.400 because, well, there isn't anything else to do. There's no other pressing needs. There's 00:00:58.399 --> 00:01:09.340 no parties on. The kids' sports not on right now. I wonder if, for instance, your thinking 00:01:09.340 --> 00:01:17.180 is, well, it is only church after all. And so when something more pressing does come up, 00:01:18.180 --> 00:01:24.519 then, well, that just takes precedence. I wonder if you're comfortable with the way those words 00:01:24.519 --> 00:01:33.439 run together. Only church. I do wonder whether church fits in and around everything else that's 00:01:33.439 --> 00:01:40.819 on. Certainly statistics of church attendance would certainly indicate that. And even those 00:01:40.819 --> 00:01:50.359 who regard themselves as mature Christians think that two out of four is called regular nowadays. 00:01:50.359 --> 00:01:59.739 Maybe it's not an afterthought. But maybe it's just something that you've done. It's not so much, 00:02:00.000 --> 00:02:05.079 you know, you're actually here regularly, but it's just something that you have always done. You have 00:02:05.079 --> 00:02:12.159 just come to church. You've grown up just coming to church. And so you don't give any thought to it. 00:02:12.240 --> 00:02:17.219 You don't give any preference. You just do it like a habit, like you clean your teeth. Same kind of thing. 00:02:17.219 --> 00:02:27.240 For various conversations I've had with parents, I've noticed that parents struggle to answer the 00:02:27.240 --> 00:02:36.960 question when their kids ask them, why do we go to church? Haven't actually thought about it. 00:02:38.120 --> 00:02:45.520 Haven't got a biblical answer to it. So if you're comfortable with the words, it's only church, 00:02:45.520 --> 00:02:53.640 or comfortable just making it a daily habit or a weekly habit and not really thinking it's, 00:02:54.240 --> 00:03:02.580 or you're just in that phase of life where there's potentially a creeping cynicism, confusion, apathy, 00:03:03.640 --> 00:03:11.040 then I want you to see something wonderful today. While your experience of church might have been 00:03:11.039 --> 00:03:20.599 disappointment, boring, confusing, or relationships that have been less than what they could be, 00:03:21.399 --> 00:03:29.620 today we are catching a glimpse of God's intention for his church. And if you've got the sermon outline, 00:03:29.620 --> 00:03:38.939 you'll see that I've got three ideas. We're a new family, we're a united family, and then 00:03:38.939 --> 00:03:43.460 some practical application on being a brilliant family. 00:03:44.900 --> 00:03:50.980 Last week, we saw the incredible scope of God's plan for the universe through time and eternity of the 00:03:50.980 --> 00:03:57.340 Lord Jesus. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, God has redeemed us from sin, 00:03:57.340 --> 00:04:04.800 from death and captivity to selfishness and the ego. And no religious duty, no moral effort on our 00:04:04.800 --> 00:04:13.460 behalf contributes to it. We are liberated from slavery to sin to be who God has made us to be 00:04:13.460 --> 00:04:21.699 in the first place. We're being set free to praise and serve. And you may recall that at the end of 00:04:21.699 --> 00:04:32.719 chapter 1, Paul prays that people would see the evidence of God's mighty sovereign grace at work in 00:04:32.719 --> 00:04:39.879 the world. He prays that people would see that evidence in the world. And now in these verses, 00:04:40.639 --> 00:04:49.300 we see one of the major, if not the major evidence of God's work in his world. 00:04:49.300 --> 00:05:00.220 inside the church, there are people living together in peace and harmony and deep relationship 00:05:00.220 --> 00:05:04.620 who outside the church could never get along. 00:05:07.620 --> 00:05:15.800 God's plan of salvation in Jesus doesn't just bring us back into relationship with God, 00:05:15.800 --> 00:05:19.520 God's plan of salvation in Jesus. And it brings us back together. 00:05:21.000 --> 00:05:24.920 I see what the saving work of Jesus accomplished. Chapter 2, verse 14, 00:05:25.340 --> 00:05:33.519 for he himself, this is Jesus, is our peace who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the 00:05:33.519 --> 00:05:41.939 barrier, the dividing wall of hostility. Now the word hostility is used twice in these verses. 00:05:41.939 --> 00:05:55.519 And it's a word that means hate. And the test case, if you like, the case study that Paul uses 00:05:55.519 --> 00:06:03.600 is the deep historical hatred between Jew and Gentiles, which is basically Jews and everyone else. 00:06:03.600 --> 00:06:14.640 not only has the death of Jesus brought down the dividing wall of hostility and hatred between us and God, 00:06:14.800 --> 00:06:18.340 but also the dividing wall of hostility and hatred between people. 00:06:18.879 --> 00:06:22.540 Even centuries of deep hatred. 00:06:22.540 --> 00:06:28.780 But it goes a step further. It's not just the dividing wall has been ripped down. 00:06:29.020 --> 00:06:31.720 Halfway through verse 15, we read, 00:06:31.720 --> 00:06:41.180 His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, 00:06:42.460 --> 00:06:50.340 thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, 00:06:50.339 --> 00:06:53.399 by which he put to death their hostility. 00:06:55.519 --> 00:07:00.279 God's purpose in salvation is to create a new humanity in Jesus. 00:07:01.619 --> 00:07:05.479 A new family in Jesus. 00:07:06.659 --> 00:07:08.059 We are not a club. 00:07:09.339 --> 00:07:14.519 A club is where you share one or two common interests with other people. 00:07:14.519 --> 00:07:21.799 So, for instance, if you're a tennis club, you share the interest of tennis. 00:07:22.939 --> 00:07:24.879 Or you share the interest of wearing white. 00:07:25.699 --> 00:07:26.579 Whatever it is. 00:07:27.219 --> 00:07:30.939 But you share one or two connected things. 00:07:31.299 --> 00:07:32.139 Points of connection. 00:07:34.039 --> 00:07:35.939 As part of an ethnic group, 00:07:36.799 --> 00:07:42.859 you have a much more profound connection with people of the same ethnic group 00:07:42.860 --> 00:07:45.300 than you do if you're a member of a club. 00:07:46.240 --> 00:07:50.680 There are possibly hundreds of points of connection that you would have 00:07:50.680 --> 00:07:55.980 and history that you would have with an affinity group as an ethnic group. 00:07:57.300 --> 00:08:01.060 And Paul is saying here that when you become a Christian, 00:08:01.879 --> 00:08:09.100 the connection points are even deeper and more profound than ethnicity. 00:08:09.100 --> 00:08:16.620 This connection is more deeper, more extensive than any other connection point. 00:08:17.720 --> 00:08:22.100 So much so that as an Anglo-Australian, 00:08:22.420 --> 00:08:27.939 I have a greater connection with other Christians of other cultures 00:08:27.939 --> 00:08:34.080 than I do with people who are of my own ethnic group who are not Christian. 00:08:34.080 --> 00:08:42.500 What the gospel of Jesus does when he rescues us from selfishness and the ego, 00:08:43.700 --> 00:08:50.420 Jesus reshuffles the layers in our ego deck or identity decks. 00:08:51.759 --> 00:08:58.200 My and your cultural heritages do not get obliterated in the Lord Jesus. 00:08:58.500 --> 00:09:00.600 They are just put in their right place. 00:09:00.600 --> 00:09:08.820 I am still an Anglo-Australian male from rural northwest New South Wales. 00:09:09.180 --> 00:09:13.460 The only place on the planet where the English language is spoken without an accent. 00:09:19.399 --> 00:09:22.720 There is irony in that statement in case you haven't picked it up. 00:09:22.720 --> 00:09:32.879 And you are who you are with your cultural identity markers. 00:09:32.980 --> 00:09:33.980 That doesn't change. 00:09:35.340 --> 00:09:40.500 But our connection and our unity with Jesus trumps it all. 00:09:41.879 --> 00:09:42.420 It all. 00:09:43.379 --> 00:09:47.240 The church is a new humanity, a new family with a new identity. 00:09:47.240 --> 00:09:55.940 In Jesus, God has made it possible for us to get over the horrible, horrible divisions of the human race. 00:09:57.320 --> 00:10:06.580 God displays the wisdom and the worth and the saving power of Jesus to the world through his new family. 00:10:06.580 --> 00:10:17.180 You may have noticed that the church, the word church is mentioned twice in chapter 3, verses 10 and 21. 00:10:18.460 --> 00:10:20.060 I want you to notice the wording. 00:10:20.540 --> 00:10:21.920 First of all, in verse 10. 00:10:21.919 --> 00:10:38.059 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms. 00:10:40.240 --> 00:10:49.519 Manifold, the word manifold in verse 10 means literally many colored. 00:10:51.919 --> 00:10:58.000 Many, multifaceted wisdom of God. 00:10:58.559 --> 00:11:06.759 And it's the same word that's used in the Old Testament for Joseph and his many colored cloak. 00:11:09.259 --> 00:11:17.819 The church is God's many colored, diverse church. 00:11:17.820 --> 00:11:21.980 The church is his brightly colored neon sign to the universe. 00:11:21.980 --> 00:11:29.620 The church is the public advertisement of the glorious wisdom of God. 00:11:31.960 --> 00:11:36.420 God's plan is devastatingly simple and disarmingly beautiful. 00:11:36.820 --> 00:11:47.320 His eternal plan is to bring a new family together under Christ from all kinds of people who are bound together in love, 00:11:47.320 --> 00:11:51.580 who outside the church are opposed to one another. 00:11:54.460 --> 00:11:55.500 That's his plan. 00:11:58.220 --> 00:12:01.700 Secondly, we're a united family. 00:12:02.379 --> 00:12:12.560 The emphasis in chapter 2, verses 19 and 22 is we are not just together in the same sort of area, 00:12:12.559 --> 00:12:14.479 but that we're in fact united. 00:12:14.479 --> 00:12:17.539 Verse 19 says that we are his household. 00:12:17.799 --> 00:12:18.939 We are his children. 00:12:19.079 --> 00:12:19.939 We are his family. 00:12:20.059 --> 00:12:21.339 We are his eternal family. 00:12:21.839 --> 00:12:24.799 It also says that we are his temple. 00:12:26.000 --> 00:12:29.539 You see, what happens in the move from household to temple, 00:12:29.699 --> 00:12:33.939 the intensity builds to the final image. 00:12:33.940 --> 00:12:43.040 In verses 21 to 22, we are his temple being built together for his spirit to dwell in for his glory. 00:12:45.640 --> 00:12:49.780 A king lives in a country with his subjects, 00:12:50.280 --> 00:12:54.760 but there may be no relationship between the king and the subjects. 00:12:54.759 --> 00:13:00.580 A father lives under the same roof with his children. 00:13:01.980 --> 00:13:05.980 If you're a citizen of a country, you might live next door to each other. 00:13:06.039 --> 00:13:07.879 You may live long way from each other. 00:13:08.139 --> 00:13:10.100 You may have no connection with each other at all. 00:13:10.139 --> 00:13:12.840 But if you're a child growing up with siblings, 00:13:13.200 --> 00:13:17.860 you are living in very close proximity to one another. 00:13:18.700 --> 00:13:20.319 That's what happens with family. 00:13:20.320 --> 00:13:26.300 Of course, however, as you move the metaphors to temple, 00:13:26.800 --> 00:13:32.720 if you are stones in a building, you're cemented to each other. 00:13:36.300 --> 00:13:41.420 The image here at the end of chapter 2 is of our unity, our connectedness, 00:13:41.680 --> 00:13:45.560 our togetherness in Jesus. 00:13:45.559 --> 00:13:52.379 And this theme of togetherness and unity flows over into chapter 3, 00:13:53.279 --> 00:13:59.179 where Paul prays that the church will be a beacon of unity and love to the world. 00:14:00.659 --> 00:14:05.019 Ephesians 3 is one of those chapters that's very messy. 00:14:05.119 --> 00:14:08.079 You might have picked that up as you read to us just a moment ago. 00:14:08.080 --> 00:14:11.080 So Paul begins chapter 3 with, 00:14:11.160 --> 00:14:16.180 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus, for the sake of you Gentiles. 00:14:17.360 --> 00:14:19.160 And then he stops. 00:14:19.759 --> 00:14:24.200 It's like he breaks his thought halfway through and goes on a detour. 00:14:24.300 --> 00:14:26.879 You know how frustrating that is when people do that and you're talking to them 00:14:26.879 --> 00:14:29.540 and you're trying to work out how is this connected with what, 00:14:29.940 --> 00:14:32.060 you know, you've started the sentence but you haven't kind of finished it? 00:14:32.059 --> 00:14:38.979 And this little detour of Paul's lasts until verse 14, 00:14:39.379 --> 00:14:40.779 where he says, 00:14:41.219 --> 00:14:43.319 For this reason I knew before the Father. 00:14:44.019 --> 00:14:48.379 And so what you've got to do is you've got to hold his train of thought 00:14:48.379 --> 00:14:53.279 while he travels on this detour from verses 2 to 13. 00:14:53.279 --> 00:15:00.299 And the detour, he's like, this is kind of his idea of the detour. 00:15:00.980 --> 00:15:03.039 Let me remind you of God's plan. 00:15:03.139 --> 00:15:05.419 Let me remind you of why I'm here in prison 00:15:05.419 --> 00:15:10.539 and why Gentiles like you find yourself part of God's family. 00:15:11.100 --> 00:15:12.679 It's all because of the mystery. 00:15:13.480 --> 00:15:14.980 That's no longer a mystery. 00:15:15.179 --> 00:15:17.679 It's all because of the plan that finally came together. 00:15:17.679 --> 00:15:23.559 And as you run your eye down verses 2 to 13, 00:15:24.159 --> 00:15:30.739 you'll see he makes the same point over and over and over again. 00:15:31.779 --> 00:15:38.199 The plan that wasn't known before is now clear. 00:15:40.219 --> 00:15:45.419 And verse 6 is what has been made known. 00:15:45.419 --> 00:15:49.819 The mystery is that through the gospel, 00:15:50.599 --> 00:15:53.959 the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, 00:15:54.500 --> 00:15:57.899 members together of one body, 00:15:58.500 --> 00:16:03.799 and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. 00:16:04.799 --> 00:16:08.379 Together, together, together. 00:16:10.379 --> 00:16:14.299 And there's nothing that Paul wants to see more 00:16:14.299 --> 00:16:18.979 than the Ephesians living out their togetherness. 00:16:20.479 --> 00:16:23.500 As he comes back from the detour in verse 14, 00:16:24.299 --> 00:16:28.620 that's the thing that he is moved to pray for. 00:16:30.479 --> 00:16:36.319 Verses 14 to 21 is a long and complex thought. 00:16:36.320 --> 00:16:40.980 But in the end, it breaks down to a very simple prayer. 00:16:42.379 --> 00:16:46.040 A prayer to the Father that the Ephesian church 00:16:46.040 --> 00:16:50.720 might really be a diverse and a united family. 00:16:51.640 --> 00:16:54.480 A prayer that boils down to this in verse 17. 00:16:55.840 --> 00:17:00.740 So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. 00:17:00.740 --> 00:17:05.200 And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love. 00:17:06.240 --> 00:17:11.819 He prays that Jesus may so fill their hearts 00:17:11.819 --> 00:17:17.099 that they'll know what real love looks like. 00:17:19.099 --> 00:17:21.019 Paul says, middle of verse 17, 00:17:21.019 --> 00:17:24.160 I'm praying that you, being rooted and established in love, 00:17:24.240 --> 00:17:27.660 may have power, you Gentiles together with the saints, 00:17:27.740 --> 00:17:32.420 to comprehend what is the breadth and the length 00:17:32.420 --> 00:17:36.099 and the height and the depth of the love of Christ 00:17:36.099 --> 00:17:38.099 and to know the love of Christ 00:17:38.099 --> 00:17:40.980 that goes way beyond all knowledge. 00:17:40.980 --> 00:17:46.220 That's what we looked at last week. 00:17:47.839 --> 00:17:53.380 It's what we see in his many blessings 00:17:53.380 --> 00:17:55.460 that he's poured out to us. 00:17:56.200 --> 00:17:58.880 Every spiritual blessing in Jesus. 00:18:00.880 --> 00:18:05.940 And the more we grapple with every spiritual blessing in Jesus, 00:18:05.940 --> 00:18:11.299 the more the layers of our identity deck gets reshuffled 00:18:11.299 --> 00:18:14.340 till he sits at the top, always. 00:18:18.820 --> 00:18:20.799 Paul says here, it doesn't make sense, 00:18:20.880 --> 00:18:24.779 but the love of Christ encompasses all kinds of people. 00:18:26.700 --> 00:18:28.920 Paul's praying that we will together catch on 00:18:28.920 --> 00:18:30.940 how big the love of Jesus is 00:18:30.940 --> 00:18:33.259 and be so filled with the fullness of God. 00:18:33.259 --> 00:18:36.460 He prays for it because when the church does it, 00:18:37.759 --> 00:18:43.140 they become God's great advertising campaign to the world. 00:18:44.619 --> 00:18:48.079 Over 20 years ago, there was a war raging in Kosovo 00:18:48.079 --> 00:18:51.240 between Serbs and ethnic Albanians. 00:18:52.359 --> 00:18:57.859 That war came on the back of a cultural hatred 00:18:57.859 --> 00:19:01.220 that had run for over a thousand years 00:19:01.220 --> 00:19:03.720 from both sides. 00:19:04.559 --> 00:19:08.680 And it resulted in terrible crimes against humanity. 00:19:10.759 --> 00:19:12.620 There were Christian churches 00:19:12.620 --> 00:19:15.579 on both sides of that divide. 00:19:16.259 --> 00:19:18.880 And right in the middle of the conflict 00:19:18.880 --> 00:19:21.579 where ethnic cleansing is happening, 00:19:21.579 --> 00:19:27.679 one pastor of an Albanian Baptist church in Pristina 00:19:27.679 --> 00:19:30.599 crossed over the racial divide 00:19:30.599 --> 00:19:33.980 and preached in a Serbian church 00:19:33.980 --> 00:19:36.399 on the opposite side of the conflict, 00:19:37.119 --> 00:19:37.939 filled with Serbians. 00:19:40.339 --> 00:19:43.039 Against the background of all the hate, 00:19:44.039 --> 00:19:46.359 the pastor of the church in Belgrade 00:19:46.359 --> 00:19:51.000 took this man into his home 00:19:51.000 --> 00:19:53.199 and put him in his pulpit. 00:19:55.199 --> 00:19:56.919 And the pastor said, 00:19:57.500 --> 00:19:59.599 we don't have much in common 00:19:59.599 --> 00:20:02.679 apart from Christ. 00:20:02.680 --> 00:20:07.120 And that's the point. 00:20:11.740 --> 00:20:13.900 If you really catch on the breadth 00:20:13.900 --> 00:20:14.980 and the depth and the height 00:20:14.980 --> 00:20:16.460 and the width of the love of Christ, 00:20:17.340 --> 00:20:19.060 then you've started down 00:20:19.060 --> 00:20:21.960 the path of loving one another 00:20:21.960 --> 00:20:24.560 and a shared discomfort when we meet. 00:20:27.299 --> 00:20:28.500 Against the odds, 00:20:28.700 --> 00:20:29.740 against the generations, 00:20:29.740 --> 00:20:31.880 against the cultural dividing lines 00:20:31.880 --> 00:20:33.740 in a way that not only astounds 00:20:34.460 --> 00:20:35.640 the world around us 00:20:35.640 --> 00:20:37.980 when they see the way we love one another, 00:20:38.200 --> 00:20:40.480 but the spiritual powers as well. 00:20:40.740 --> 00:20:41.579 Did you see that? 00:20:43.680 --> 00:20:47.039 It's enough to make the angels rejoice 00:20:47.039 --> 00:20:52.420 and the demons hang their heads in shame. 00:20:54.160 --> 00:20:56.359 Paul says God's intent, 00:20:56.680 --> 00:20:57.500 God's design, 00:20:57.660 --> 00:20:58.579 God's plan, 00:20:58.579 --> 00:20:59.559 verse 10, 00:20:59.799 --> 00:21:02.019 is that through the church, 00:21:02.439 --> 00:21:04.399 the manifold wisdom of God 00:21:04.399 --> 00:21:06.379 might be made known to the rulers 00:21:06.379 --> 00:21:08.639 and authorities in the heavenly places. 00:21:08.720 --> 00:21:09.519 Imagine that. 00:21:09.939 --> 00:21:11.419 Imagine the angels 00:21:11.419 --> 00:21:14.059 looking down on St. Paul's Chatswood 00:21:14.059 --> 00:21:15.579 and marveling 00:21:15.579 --> 00:21:18.139 at God's eternal purposes 00:21:18.139 --> 00:21:19.619 being worked out in monsters. 00:21:21.059 --> 00:21:24.199 Marveling at the glory of the gospel 00:21:24.200 --> 00:21:27.220 as the boundaries the world puts up 00:21:27.220 --> 00:21:29.819 come down between us. 00:21:32.360 --> 00:21:34.819 We're here to be part of God's church. 00:21:35.860 --> 00:21:39.120 We're here to actively love one another. 00:21:39.220 --> 00:21:42.360 We're here to demonstrate to this world 00:21:42.360 --> 00:21:44.200 and the angels in the heavenly realms 00:21:44.200 --> 00:21:45.980 the wonders of God's plan 00:21:45.980 --> 00:21:47.660 being worked out in the Lord Jesus. 00:21:47.660 --> 00:21:51.480 We're here to reveal to the world 00:21:51.480 --> 00:21:53.460 that alienation and self-centeredness 00:21:54.019 --> 00:21:56.340 and hatred and division 00:21:56.340 --> 00:21:59.620 don't have the final word. 00:21:59.619 --> 00:22:04.179 We're here to work together 00:22:04.179 --> 00:22:05.819 to display Christ's love 00:22:05.819 --> 00:22:07.939 in real ways to the world. 00:22:10.319 --> 00:22:11.519 So if you're a parent 00:22:11.519 --> 00:22:12.519 and your kid asks you, 00:22:12.639 --> 00:22:14.419 why are we going to church? 00:22:18.139 --> 00:22:18.819 Oh, kiddo, 00:22:18.879 --> 00:22:20.699 we're going to demonstrate to the world 00:22:20.699 --> 00:22:23.479 and to the angels in the heavenly realms 00:22:23.479 --> 00:22:27.099 the wonders of God's plan of salvation. 00:22:27.099 --> 00:22:27.299 The world's plan of salvation 00:22:27.299 --> 00:22:32.299 worked out in Jesus Christ. 00:22:34.419 --> 00:22:37.079 The beach is not inviting. 00:22:39.359 --> 00:22:40.599 It can wait. 00:22:41.659 --> 00:22:43.039 It'll be better in heaven anyway. 00:22:45.939 --> 00:22:47.419 So how do we work it out? 00:22:47.459 --> 00:22:50.159 How do we be God's brilliant family? 00:22:52.079 --> 00:22:53.879 It's passages like this 00:22:53.879 --> 00:22:55.619 and many others in the New Testament 00:22:55.619 --> 00:22:58.019 behind our purpose statement 00:22:58.019 --> 00:23:00.179 which normally is on the wall behind me. 00:23:00.779 --> 00:23:02.879 You can find this in our vision booklet 00:23:02.879 --> 00:23:03.659 for this year, 00:23:03.839 --> 00:23:05.099 the stuff I'm about to say now. 00:23:05.639 --> 00:23:06.939 Behind our purpose statement, 00:23:07.019 --> 00:23:07.359 that is, 00:23:07.719 --> 00:23:09.059 our purpose statement is the reason 00:23:09.059 --> 00:23:10.239 we exist as a church 00:23:10.239 --> 00:23:11.139 and our one says 00:23:11.139 --> 00:23:13.439 that we treasure Jesus together 00:23:13.439 --> 00:23:15.559 for God's glory 00:23:15.559 --> 00:23:18.699 and the joy of all people. 00:23:18.939 --> 00:23:20.319 See the connection with what I just said 00:23:20.319 --> 00:23:21.439 from Ephesians 2 and 3? 00:23:21.440 --> 00:23:23.620 That's why we exist. 00:23:24.740 --> 00:23:26.559 This passage also lies behind 00:23:26.559 --> 00:23:28.539 what we're seeking to do together. 00:23:28.960 --> 00:23:31.539 Our vision as a church here in Chatswood 00:23:31.539 --> 00:23:32.860 is to be a church 00:23:32.860 --> 00:23:35.000 that unites our diverse community 00:23:35.000 --> 00:23:37.740 in the good news of Jesus Christ 00:23:37.740 --> 00:23:40.220 so that more and more and more people 00:23:40.220 --> 00:23:41.380 through the gospel 00:23:41.380 --> 00:23:44.660 have the layers of their identity 00:23:44.660 --> 00:23:45.500 and we're going to be 00:23:45.500 --> 00:23:46.940 shuffled by Jesus. 00:23:50.940 --> 00:23:52.920 And passages like this 00:23:52.920 --> 00:23:54.420 lie behind our strategy 00:23:54.420 --> 00:23:56.420 how we're going to achieve our vision 00:23:56.420 --> 00:23:59.779 to unite our diverse community in Jesus. 00:24:00.940 --> 00:24:02.440 We will achieve our vision 00:24:02.440 --> 00:24:03.960 by being a transcultural church, 00:24:04.040 --> 00:24:05.060 not a multicultural church, 00:24:05.120 --> 00:24:06.340 a transcultural church, 00:24:06.900 --> 00:24:09.340 displaying the manifold wisdom of God 00:24:09.340 --> 00:24:09.980 to our livelihood. 00:24:09.980 --> 00:24:11.579 That means that we reflect, 00:24:12.200 --> 00:24:13.079 we embrace, 00:24:13.380 --> 00:24:14.420 and we enjoy 00:24:14.420 --> 00:24:15.900 all the diversity 00:24:15.900 --> 00:24:17.240 of the context of our neighborhood, 00:24:17.360 --> 00:24:19.720 all the ways that God has made us 00:24:19.720 --> 00:24:22.120 while in the power of the gospel 00:24:22.120 --> 00:24:25.819 having our identity decks reshuffled, 00:24:26.039 --> 00:24:28.759 rising above all the cultural differences 00:24:28.759 --> 00:24:29.620 that are amongst us 00:24:29.620 --> 00:24:31.579 and being united together 00:24:31.579 --> 00:24:32.339 as a community, 00:24:32.440 --> 00:24:33.700 as a family under Jesus. 00:24:34.539 --> 00:24:36.059 He becomes supreme. 00:24:37.160 --> 00:24:38.500 He's the one who connects us. 00:24:38.500 --> 00:24:40.940 We do not try and find cultural connection. 00:24:41.259 --> 00:24:42.400 We rise above it 00:24:42.400 --> 00:24:44.839 and find connection and unity in Jesus. 00:24:46.220 --> 00:24:46.579 Therefore, 00:24:47.279 --> 00:24:49.519 what that means in practice, 00:24:49.700 --> 00:24:52.599 we develop united congregations 00:24:52.599 --> 00:24:54.220 like this one 00:24:54.220 --> 00:24:56.819 that reflect the ethnic, 00:24:57.079 --> 00:24:58.359 generational, social, 00:24:58.559 --> 00:25:00.440 economic diversity of our neighborhood 00:25:00.440 --> 00:25:02.859 and we deliberately, 00:25:03.640 --> 00:25:05.680 deliberately work against 00:25:05.680 --> 00:25:07.119 the homogenous unit principle 00:25:07.119 --> 00:25:09.619 that wants to segregate people 00:25:09.619 --> 00:25:10.899 into affinity groups. 00:25:12.139 --> 00:25:14.299 We will use the unifying language 00:25:14.299 --> 00:25:15.019 of our neighborhood 00:25:15.019 --> 00:25:16.759 in all our corporate gatherings 00:25:16.759 --> 00:25:17.619 and communications. 00:25:18.619 --> 00:25:20.699 We develop mature disciples 00:25:20.699 --> 00:25:21.539 of the Lord Jesus 00:25:21.539 --> 00:25:24.000 who are equipped with skills 00:25:24.000 --> 00:25:25.599 and cultural intelligence 00:25:25.599 --> 00:25:28.279 to serve across cultures. 00:25:28.279 --> 00:25:30.680 So there is deeper appreciation 00:25:30.680 --> 00:25:32.139 of our differences 00:25:32.139 --> 00:25:35.379 and we develop culturally diverse 00:25:35.379 --> 00:25:36.259 leadership teams 00:25:36.259 --> 00:25:38.359 across all layers of decision making. 00:25:39.460 --> 00:25:40.740 Now there's work to do 00:25:40.740 --> 00:25:43.259 to make that reality measure up 00:25:43.259 --> 00:25:44.339 here at St. Paul's 00:25:44.339 --> 00:25:46.399 and sin will always 00:25:46.399 --> 00:25:47.839 get in the way. 00:25:48.539 --> 00:25:50.099 But we must fight for it. 00:25:50.099 --> 00:25:53.919 I'm glad that Nick and John 00:25:53.919 --> 00:25:56.919 are at this morning 00:25:56.919 --> 00:25:59.039 at a church called Parkside Church 00:25:59.039 --> 00:26:00.759 down near Fairfield, 00:26:01.219 --> 00:26:03.879 a church of about 700, 800 people 00:26:03.879 --> 00:26:06.219 where 50 different nationalities 00:26:06.219 --> 00:26:07.240 are gathered together 00:26:07.240 --> 00:26:10.319 in these kinds of congregations. 00:26:10.319 --> 00:26:13.299 just learning about 00:26:13.299 --> 00:26:14.079 how to do it better. 00:26:16.460 --> 00:26:17.539 Now no church 00:26:17.539 --> 00:26:18.960 can be totally inclusive 00:26:18.960 --> 00:26:21.879 but how do we stretch 00:26:21.879 --> 00:26:23.740 to be more ethnically 00:26:23.740 --> 00:26:24.659 and culturally 00:26:24.659 --> 00:26:27.139 and socially inclusive? 00:26:27.599 --> 00:26:29.059 How do we work hard 00:26:29.059 --> 00:26:31.740 to have a shared discomfort 00:26:31.740 --> 00:26:32.659 when we meet? 00:26:34.079 --> 00:26:35.319 That's to keep the gospel 00:26:35.319 --> 00:26:35.960 in front of us 00:26:35.960 --> 00:26:37.319 Sunday by Sunday by Sunday 00:26:37.319 --> 00:26:39.099 before we come, 00:26:39.179 --> 00:26:39.819 after we've been, 00:26:39.919 --> 00:26:40.559 while we're here. 00:26:41.720 --> 00:26:42.799 How do we work, 00:26:43.240 --> 00:26:44.299 sacrifice and serve 00:26:44.299 --> 00:26:45.980 to be who we are? 00:26:47.259 --> 00:26:48.460 See if you're a Christian 00:26:48.460 --> 00:26:50.519 you've been called 00:26:50.519 --> 00:26:51.879 into God's new family 00:26:51.879 --> 00:26:53.839 and you have been called 00:26:53.839 --> 00:26:55.720 into deep relationships 00:26:55.720 --> 00:26:57.460 and deep involvement 00:26:57.460 --> 00:26:59.579 in the Christian family. 00:27:00.519 --> 00:27:02.839 You cannot love and serve 00:27:02.839 --> 00:27:04.639 in shallow relationships. 00:27:05.879 --> 00:27:06.859 How deep? 00:27:08.039 --> 00:27:08.859 How deep? 00:27:09.059 --> 00:27:10.099 I hear you ask. 00:27:10.839 --> 00:27:11.859 That's a silly question 00:27:11.859 --> 00:27:13.299 to ask at this time of the day 00:27:13.299 --> 00:27:14.439 but I'm going to go 00:27:14.439 --> 00:27:15.079 into it anyway. 00:27:16.119 --> 00:27:16.819 Deep enough 00:27:16.819 --> 00:27:19.159 for personal accountability. 00:27:19.279 --> 00:27:19.759 I've got three things 00:27:19.759 --> 00:27:20.159 to say in this. 00:27:20.240 --> 00:27:20.579 Deep enough 00:27:20.579 --> 00:27:21.480 for personal accountability. 00:27:22.059 --> 00:27:24.000 We are the same family. 00:27:24.700 --> 00:27:25.700 One thing you'll know 00:27:25.700 --> 00:27:26.439 about growing up 00:27:26.439 --> 00:27:27.039 in a family 00:27:27.039 --> 00:27:30.200 is transparency. 00:27:31.679 --> 00:27:32.179 That is, 00:27:32.799 --> 00:27:34.200 your family knows 00:27:34.200 --> 00:27:35.319 who you are 00:27:35.319 --> 00:27:37.240 and you know 00:27:37.240 --> 00:27:38.039 who they are. 00:27:38.839 --> 00:27:39.159 There's, 00:27:40.159 --> 00:27:42.200 they wipe your nose, 00:27:42.299 --> 00:27:43.539 they change your nappies. 00:27:44.359 --> 00:27:45.179 Your facades 00:27:45.179 --> 00:27:46.039 don't work 00:27:46.039 --> 00:27:46.919 in a family 00:27:46.919 --> 00:27:47.899 when you grow up 00:27:47.899 --> 00:27:48.139 and you're going to fit. 00:27:48.159 --> 00:27:48.759 They know 00:27:48.759 --> 00:27:49.859 who you are. 00:27:51.059 --> 00:27:52.059 On occasion 00:27:52.059 --> 00:27:52.879 while growing up 00:27:52.879 --> 00:27:53.559 when I got ahead 00:27:53.559 --> 00:27:54.159 of myself 00:27:54.159 --> 00:27:55.279 in self-importance, 00:27:55.700 --> 00:27:56.579 my dad would say 00:27:56.579 --> 00:27:56.819 to me, 00:27:56.879 --> 00:27:57.259 don't forget 00:27:57.259 --> 00:27:58.039 I wiped your bottom. 00:27:58.039 --> 00:28:00.539 that's just a, 00:28:00.720 --> 00:28:01.019 you know, 00:28:01.899 --> 00:28:05.799 put me back down there. 00:28:06.879 --> 00:28:07.720 No facades 00:28:07.720 --> 00:28:08.339 in a family. 00:28:08.879 --> 00:28:09.339 Transparency 00:28:09.339 --> 00:28:10.279 is essential. 00:28:10.619 --> 00:28:11.519 So I want to ask you 00:28:11.519 --> 00:28:12.399 in this church family, 00:28:12.539 --> 00:28:12.920 transparency 00:28:12.920 --> 00:28:13.659 is essential. 00:28:14.000 --> 00:28:14.779 Are there people 00:28:14.779 --> 00:28:15.799 who know 00:28:15.799 --> 00:28:17.879 your habitual sins 00:28:17.879 --> 00:28:20.740 because you've told them 00:28:20.740 --> 00:28:22.740 and then given them 00:28:22.740 --> 00:28:23.759 a hunting license 00:28:23.759 --> 00:28:24.920 to come after you 00:28:24.920 --> 00:28:26.119 if they see 00:28:26.119 --> 00:28:27.379 that you're indulging 00:28:27.379 --> 00:28:27.799 in them? 00:28:34.000 --> 00:28:34.979 Our family relationships 00:28:34.979 --> 00:28:35.859 also need to be 00:28:35.859 --> 00:28:36.339 as deep 00:28:36.339 --> 00:28:37.859 as whole life hospitality. 00:28:38.500 --> 00:28:39.899 A family lives together. 00:28:40.259 --> 00:28:40.839 In a family 00:28:40.839 --> 00:28:42.039 you share each other's 00:28:42.039 --> 00:28:43.299 space and things. 00:28:43.559 --> 00:28:44.119 You eat, 00:28:44.219 --> 00:28:44.599 you play, 00:28:44.699 --> 00:28:45.479 you work together. 00:28:46.059 --> 00:28:47.459 Hospitality is letting people 00:28:47.459 --> 00:28:49.119 into your whole life. 00:28:49.479 --> 00:28:50.079 It's not just putting on 00:28:50.079 --> 00:28:50.799 a meal for people. 00:28:51.059 --> 00:28:51.459 It's letting them 00:28:51.459 --> 00:28:52.779 into your whole life. 00:28:53.179 --> 00:28:53.859 It's not just about 00:28:53.859 --> 00:28:55.899 showing up to church events. 00:28:56.119 --> 00:28:58.679 Like we are colleagues. 00:28:59.119 --> 00:29:00.079 It's not about turning up 00:29:00.079 --> 00:29:01.839 as students 00:29:01.839 --> 00:29:03.119 to study 00:29:03.119 --> 00:29:03.619 or 00:29:03.619 --> 00:29:05.500 club to play tennis. 00:29:06.299 --> 00:29:07.259 We are brothers 00:29:07.259 --> 00:29:08.159 and sisters. 00:29:09.339 --> 00:29:10.179 We also need 00:29:10.179 --> 00:29:11.179 to deepen our relationships 00:29:11.179 --> 00:29:11.719 to the point 00:29:11.719 --> 00:29:12.859 of corporate spirituality. 00:29:13.519 --> 00:29:13.899 God 00:29:13.899 --> 00:29:15.379 comes to us 00:29:15.379 --> 00:29:16.839 as a gathered 00:29:16.839 --> 00:29:17.719 people. 00:29:18.139 --> 00:29:19.539 He inhabits us 00:29:19.539 --> 00:29:20.699 as a gathered 00:29:20.699 --> 00:29:21.500 people. 00:29:21.500 --> 00:29:25.200 We need to talk 00:29:25.200 --> 00:29:26.839 about our prayer life, 00:29:27.059 --> 00:29:27.740 what it's like. 00:29:28.940 --> 00:29:30.099 We need to talk 00:29:30.099 --> 00:29:31.259 about how real God 00:29:31.259 --> 00:29:32.779 is in our heart, 00:29:33.319 --> 00:29:35.079 what God is teaching 00:29:35.079 --> 00:29:36.000 us through the Bible. 00:29:36.099 --> 00:29:36.579 The reason why 00:29:36.579 --> 00:29:37.700 we don't do that 00:29:37.700 --> 00:29:39.640 is either because 00:29:39.640 --> 00:29:41.380 we are chronically, 00:29:41.539 --> 00:29:42.319 chronically 00:29:42.319 --> 00:29:44.140 shy, 00:29:44.500 --> 00:29:45.579 which the Spirit 00:29:45.579 --> 00:29:46.500 of God can get over, 00:29:46.500 --> 00:29:47.700 or because 00:29:47.700 --> 00:29:48.319 those things 00:29:48.319 --> 00:29:48.900 are actually 00:29:48.900 --> 00:29:49.599 not happening. 00:29:51.000 --> 00:29:51.700 They're actually 00:29:51.700 --> 00:29:52.279 not happening. 00:29:54.279 --> 00:29:55.279 In his book, 00:29:55.440 --> 00:29:56.279 The Four Loves, 00:29:57.279 --> 00:29:57.880 C.S. Lewis 00:29:57.880 --> 00:29:59.460 has a chapter 00:29:59.460 --> 00:30:00.279 on friendship. 00:30:00.480 --> 00:30:01.240 It's a great book. 00:30:01.319 --> 00:30:01.680 I'd encourage 00:30:01.680 --> 00:30:01.980 you everyone 00:30:01.980 --> 00:30:02.539 to read it. 00:30:03.279 --> 00:30:03.559 Lewis, 00:30:04.559 --> 00:30:05.539 as he was 00:30:05.539 --> 00:30:06.619 over a long period 00:30:06.619 --> 00:30:06.960 of time, 00:30:07.019 --> 00:30:07.680 was one of three 00:30:07.680 --> 00:30:08.259 friends. 00:30:08.259 --> 00:30:10.200 They were, 00:30:10.359 --> 00:30:10.720 if you like, 00:30:10.859 --> 00:30:12.579 co-BFFs. 00:30:13.700 --> 00:30:14.759 There was Lewis, 00:30:15.700 --> 00:30:16.640 there was 00:30:16.640 --> 00:30:17.339 Ronald, 00:30:17.539 --> 00:30:18.519 and Charles, 00:30:18.680 --> 00:30:19.379 three of them, 00:30:19.700 --> 00:30:20.299 three of them 00:30:20.299 --> 00:30:21.579 co-best friends. 00:30:22.519 --> 00:30:23.200 Tragically, 00:30:23.379 --> 00:30:24.359 Charles died. 00:30:26.440 --> 00:30:27.359 As great 00:30:27.359 --> 00:30:28.079 as Lewis 00:30:28.079 --> 00:30:28.759 was 00:30:28.759 --> 00:30:29.700 about the death 00:30:29.700 --> 00:30:30.480 of Charles, 00:30:30.839 --> 00:30:31.500 he thought 00:30:31.500 --> 00:30:32.220 to himself, 00:30:32.779 --> 00:30:33.299 at least 00:30:33.299 --> 00:30:33.720 I've got 00:30:33.720 --> 00:30:34.019 Ronald. 00:30:35.779 --> 00:30:37.220 He assumed 00:30:37.220 --> 00:30:38.380 he would 00:30:38.380 --> 00:30:38.880 now be 00:30:38.880 --> 00:30:39.720 closer to 00:30:39.720 --> 00:30:40.059 Ronald 00:30:40.059 --> 00:30:40.460 because 00:30:40.460 --> 00:30:40.700 there's 00:30:40.700 --> 00:30:41.000 just the 00:30:41.000 --> 00:30:41.360 two of 00:30:41.360 --> 00:30:41.460 them 00:30:41.460 --> 00:30:41.759 now. 00:30:42.860 --> 00:30:43.160 And 00:30:43.160 --> 00:30:43.460 therefore, 00:30:43.600 --> 00:30:43.880 he would 00:30:43.880 --> 00:30:45.000 get more 00:30:45.000 --> 00:30:45.360 of Ronald. 00:30:45.440 --> 00:30:45.700 He doesn't 00:30:45.700 --> 00:30:45.940 have to 00:30:45.940 --> 00:30:46.200 share 00:30:46.200 --> 00:30:46.600 Ronald 00:30:46.600 --> 00:30:47.220 anymore. 00:30:48.500 --> 00:30:49.079 As the 00:30:49.079 --> 00:30:49.539 weeks and 00:30:49.539 --> 00:30:49.900 the months 00:30:49.900 --> 00:30:50.480 went by 00:30:50.480 --> 00:30:51.339 after Charles 00:30:51.339 --> 00:30:51.960 died, 00:30:52.880 --> 00:30:53.100 Lewis 00:30:53.100 --> 00:30:53.819 discovered 00:30:53.819 --> 00:30:55.700 that this 00:30:55.700 --> 00:30:56.019 in fact 00:30:56.019 --> 00:30:56.519 wasn't the 00:30:56.519 --> 00:30:56.980 case. 00:30:58.339 --> 00:30:58.940 He 00:30:58.940 --> 00:30:59.600 discovered 00:30:59.600 --> 00:31:00.960 he actually 00:31:00.960 --> 00:31:01.400 got 00:31:01.400 --> 00:31:02.660 less 00:31:02.660 --> 00:31:03.360 of 00:31:03.360 --> 00:31:03.680 Ronald. 00:31:06.180 --> 00:31:06.819 And 00:31:06.819 --> 00:31:07.359 he finally 00:31:07.359 --> 00:31:08.139 realized 00:31:08.139 --> 00:31:09.480 that there 00:31:09.480 --> 00:31:10.000 was a 00:31:10.000 --> 00:31:10.399 side, 00:31:10.599 --> 00:31:11.079 a part 00:31:11.079 --> 00:31:11.240 of 00:31:11.240 --> 00:31:11.519 Ronald, 00:31:11.659 --> 00:31:12.379 a personality 00:31:12.379 --> 00:31:12.839 bit of 00:31:12.839 --> 00:31:13.139 Ronald, 00:31:13.659 --> 00:31:14.679 that he 00:31:14.679 --> 00:31:15.379 could not 00:31:15.379 --> 00:31:16.099 bring out 00:31:16.099 --> 00:31:17.599 of Ronald. 00:31:18.559 --> 00:31:19.159 And that 00:31:19.159 --> 00:31:19.539 that bit 00:31:19.539 --> 00:31:19.939 was now 00:31:19.939 --> 00:31:20.419 lost to 00:31:20.419 --> 00:31:20.679 him. 00:31:23.579 --> 00:31:24.439 He goes 00:31:24.439 --> 00:31:24.759 on to 00:31:24.759 --> 00:31:25.159 say, 00:31:26.159 --> 00:31:26.899 it takes 00:31:26.899 --> 00:31:28.039 a community 00:31:28.039 --> 00:31:29.759 to really 00:31:29.759 --> 00:31:30.659 know a 00:31:30.659 --> 00:31:31.259 person. 00:31:31.259 --> 00:31:33.440 because 00:31:33.440 --> 00:31:33.960 any 00:31:33.960 --> 00:31:34.640 individual 00:31:34.640 --> 00:31:35.440 is not 00:31:35.440 --> 00:31:36.140 enough 00:31:36.140 --> 00:31:37.279 to draw 00:31:37.279 --> 00:31:38.019 the whole 00:31:38.019 --> 00:31:39.119 person 00:31:39.119 --> 00:31:40.059 out. 00:31:41.599 --> 00:31:42.240 People 00:31:42.240 --> 00:31:42.980 are complex, 00:31:43.160 --> 00:31:43.539 people are 00:31:43.539 --> 00:31:43.920 deep, 00:31:44.160 --> 00:31:44.559 and we 00:31:44.559 --> 00:31:45.240 cannot know 00:31:45.240 --> 00:31:46.299 someone by 00:31:46.299 --> 00:31:47.039 ourselves. 00:31:48.680 --> 00:31:49.740 We need 00:31:49.740 --> 00:31:50.640 a community 00:31:50.640 --> 00:31:51.599 to know 00:31:51.599 --> 00:31:51.859 them. 00:31:53.440 --> 00:31:54.000 And 00:31:54.000 --> 00:31:54.440 friends, 00:31:54.440 --> 00:31:56.259 it's 00:31:56.259 --> 00:31:56.740 the same 00:31:56.740 --> 00:31:56.980 with 00:31:56.980 --> 00:31:57.460 Jesus. 00:32:01.860 --> 00:32:02.380 We 00:32:02.380 --> 00:32:03.080 get to 00:32:03.080 --> 00:32:03.400 know 00:32:03.400 --> 00:32:03.940 Jesus 00:32:03.940 --> 00:32:04.620 better 00:32:04.620 --> 00:32:05.740 together. 00:32:07.620 --> 00:32:08.140 The 00:32:08.140 --> 00:32:08.640 deeper you 00:32:08.640 --> 00:32:09.120 get into 00:32:09.120 --> 00:32:09.640 the spiritual 00:32:09.640 --> 00:32:10.180 life of 00:32:10.180 --> 00:32:10.519 friends, 00:32:10.600 --> 00:32:11.000 the deeper 00:32:11.000 --> 00:32:11.420 you get 00:32:11.420 --> 00:32:11.700 into 00:32:11.700 --> 00:32:12.120 Jesus. 00:32:13.120 --> 00:32:13.759 And if 00:32:13.759 --> 00:32:14.100 you're not 00:32:14.100 --> 00:32:14.660 getting deep 00:32:14.660 --> 00:32:15.200 in Jesus, 00:32:16.259 --> 00:32:16.700 there's 00:32:16.700 --> 00:32:18.080 a connection 00:32:18.080 --> 00:32:18.779 there between 00:32:18.779 --> 00:32:19.519 how deep 00:32:19.519 --> 00:32:19.860 you are 00:32:19.860 --> 00:32:20.320 getting into 00:32:20.320 --> 00:32:20.779 the spiritual 00:32:20.779 --> 00:32:21.240 life of 00:32:21.240 --> 00:32:21.559 others. 00:32:21.559 --> 00:32:21.679 Jesus. 00:32:23.919 --> 00:32:24.599 And the 00:32:24.599 --> 00:32:25.000 deeper you 00:32:25.000 --> 00:32:25.359 get into 00:32:25.359 --> 00:32:25.720 Jesus, 00:32:25.859 --> 00:32:26.259 the deeper 00:32:26.259 --> 00:32:26.859 your unity 00:32:26.859 --> 00:32:27.319 and your 00:32:27.319 --> 00:32:27.740 love as a 00:32:27.740 --> 00:32:28.039 family. 00:32:28.559 --> 00:32:29.059 If you 00:32:29.059 --> 00:32:29.539 want to 00:32:29.539 --> 00:32:30.819 experience the 00:32:30.819 --> 00:32:31.379 surpassing 00:32:31.379 --> 00:32:31.839 power of 00:32:31.839 --> 00:32:32.240 God in 00:32:32.240 --> 00:32:32.819 your life 00:32:32.819 --> 00:32:33.339 as Paul 00:32:33.339 --> 00:32:34.299 prays for, 00:32:35.879 --> 00:32:36.319 you need 00:32:36.319 --> 00:32:36.899 to plunge 00:32:36.899 --> 00:32:37.839 yourself into 00:32:37.839 --> 00:32:38.519 his new 00:32:38.519 --> 00:32:38.980 family. 00:32:39.960 --> 00:32:40.399 To the 00:32:40.399 --> 00:32:41.000 degree that 00:32:41.000 --> 00:32:41.619 you serve 00:32:41.619 --> 00:32:42.099 your new 00:32:42.099 --> 00:32:42.759 family is 00:32:42.759 --> 00:32:43.319 the degree 00:32:43.319 --> 00:32:43.960 of depth 00:32:43.960 --> 00:32:44.299 you will 00:32:44.299 --> 00:32:44.779 get into 00:32:44.779 --> 00:32:46.039 Jesus and 00:32:46.039 --> 00:32:46.720 embrace your 00:32:46.720 --> 00:32:47.159 eternal 00:32:47.159 --> 00:32:48.539 identity as 00:32:48.539 --> 00:32:49.019 members of 00:32:49.019 --> 00:32:49.659 his family. 00:32:50.700 --> 00:32:51.099 And so as 00:32:51.099 --> 00:32:51.719 we look to 00:32:51.719 --> 00:32:52.079 the year 00:32:52.079 --> 00:32:53.319 ahead and 00:32:53.319 --> 00:32:54.439 throw ourselves 00:32:54.439 --> 00:32:55.379 into God's 00:32:55.379 --> 00:32:56.199 family in 00:32:56.199 --> 00:32:56.759 service of 00:32:56.759 --> 00:32:57.279 one another, 00:32:57.740 --> 00:32:59.259 may Paul's 00:32:59.259 --> 00:33:00.059 prayer in 00:33:00.059 --> 00:33:01.019 verse 20 be 00:33:01.019 --> 00:33:01.759 our prayer. 00:33:03.000 --> 00:33:03.539 Now to 00:33:03.539 --> 00:33:04.659 him who 00:33:04.659 --> 00:33:05.379 is able to 00:33:05.379 --> 00:33:06.899 do immeasurably 00:33:06.899 --> 00:33:08.219 more than 00:33:08.219 --> 00:33:09.339 all we ask 00:33:09.339 --> 00:33:10.119 or imagine 00:33:10.119 --> 00:33:11.219 according to 00:33:11.219 --> 00:33:12.000 his power 00:33:12.000 --> 00:33:13.059 that is work 00:33:13.059 --> 00:33:14.119 in us. 00:33:15.119 --> 00:33:15.579 Amen.