WEBVTT

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 And God said, Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds,

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 livestock and creeping things, and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.

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 And it was so.

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 And God made the beast of the earth according to their kinds,

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 and the livestock according to their kinds,

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 and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind.

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 And God saw that it was good.

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 Then God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness,

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 and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea,

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 and over the birds of the heavens, and over the livestock,

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 and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.

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 So God created man in his own image.

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 In the image of God he created him, male and female he created them.

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 And God blessed them, and God said to them, Be fruitful and multiply,

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 and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea,

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 and over the birds of the heavens, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.

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 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.

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 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying,

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 You may surely eat of every tree of the garden,

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 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat.

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 For in the day that you eat of it, you shall surely die.

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 Then the Lord God said,

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 It is not good that the man should be alone.

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 I will make him a helper fit for him.

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 Now out of the ground the Lord God had formed every beast of the field,

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 and every bird of the heavens,

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 and brought them to the man to see what he would call them.

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 And whatever the man called every living creature,

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 that was its name.

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 The man gave names to all livestock,

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 and to the birds of the heavens,

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 and to every beast of the field.

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 But for Adam, there was not found a helper fit for him.

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 So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man.

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 And while he slept,

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 while he slept, took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh.

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 And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man,

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 he made into a woman and brought her to the man.

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 Then the man said,

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 This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.

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 She shall be called woman because she was taken out of man.

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 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother

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 and hold fast to his wife,

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 and they shall become one flesh.

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 And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.

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 Hey, let me pray for us,

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 and then let's dive in.

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 Heavenly Father,

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 as we say almost every week, God,

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 we want to be a church which is hearing you speak to us from your word.

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 God, in a subject about gender and our bodies,

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 which is so complicated,

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 in which our culture has so much to say,

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 and yet it's so confused.

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 God, we really want to hear from you.

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 Father, I pray that what I have to say, God,

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 will truly represent your heart.

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 God, if there's anything that is not of you,

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 I pray it will fall in deaf ears.

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 I pray it won't take any root in our hearts.

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 But God, if we are able to truly extrapolate what your word is saying,

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 then God, I pray let your seeds go deep in our hearts.

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 God, we live in a time in which the tides and the current are so ferocious,

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 and are changing so quickly.

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 We need an anchor for us all.

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 We need a word that has lasted throughout the generations.

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 And so come and speak to us, I pray, God.

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 May we know your heart.

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 God, bring clarity and compassion to us today.

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 Let your word speak to us, we pray.

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 Pray this in your great and gracious name.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 If you are new to church this morning,

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 my name is Kevin,

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 and it's great to have you with us this morning.

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 Now, today is the last sermon in a series on our physical bodies.

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 For the last five weeks,

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 we've been doing the series on the body

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 and what the Bible has to say about our bodies.

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 And as Neil pointed out last week,

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 we've been following the storyline of the Bible.

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 I don't know if you've picked that up.

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 The Bible is not just a random teaching,

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 a bunch of teachings.

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 It is a storyline.

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 It starts with creation and then fall and then redemption

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 and then restoration, resurrection one day.

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 And the storyline we've been following in the series

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 has followed that same storyline.

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 And so we looked at the fact that our bodies,

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 our physical bodies are wonderfully and fearfully made,

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 created by God, not arbitrary, made by God.

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 But then we also looked at the fact that our bodies are fallen.

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 Ever since sin entered the world,

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 all of creation has been corrupted,

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 including our physical bodies.

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 And so the way we think is out of line with how God is designed,

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 the way our bodies feel,

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 the way our bodies behave.

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 We are subject to sin and death and decay and disease.

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 Our bodies don't work the way that they were meant to.

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 The fall happened.

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 But then last week,

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 we saw one day our bodies are going to be resurrected

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 in the new creation.

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 And we're going to have glorious, wonderful bodies

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 in the new bodies in the new creation.

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 So creation for resurrection.

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 And how should we live between now and the resurrection?

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 Well, over the series, we've seen three things.

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 We've seen that we should recognize

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 that our identity isn't primarily found in our physical bodies.

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 What people say about us,

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 what culture says about us,

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 what social media says about us,

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 that's not primarily who you are.

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 Our identity is rooted in who God says we are.

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 Now, we've seen also that we should use our bodies

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 for worship and service.

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 Offer our bodies a living sacrifice

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 in worship of God and service of others.

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 And then last week we said,

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 we should live our lives now in this world

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 in light of the world to come.

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 Okay, so that's where we've been so far.

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 Well, today we're in the final one

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 and we're going to look at the subject

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 of our bodies and gender.

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 Our bodies and gender.

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 Now, just to quickly point out before we dive in,

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 there's two books on the piano

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 I want to recommend to you.

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 The one is called,

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 we've been promoting this the whole time,

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 What God Has to Say About Our Bodies by Sam Albury.

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 This is a book called When Harry Became Sally.

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 It's a book written about the transgender movement.

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 A very good book.

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 I want to encourage you to take a look at both of those.

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 Okay.

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 Our bodies and gender.

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 This is a topic which there has been many books,

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 articles, social media posts, tweets, blogs written about.

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 And as the saying goes,

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 it's a topic that has created more heat than light.

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 In other words, more friction,

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 more conflict than actually understanding.

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 In 1992, the American author and counselor,

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 John Gray, wrote the very famous book,

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 Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus.

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 And he's tried to explain and bring some kind of understanding

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 to the confusion we feel between the genders.

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 Well, in the last 30 years or so,

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 unfortunately, despite an ocean of books and podcasts and blogs and articles,

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 the confusion has not dissipated at all.

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 And on the confusion, the disorientation only seems to have increased.

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 And so today, the fundamental questions we ask are not so much,

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 what are the differences between the gender, male and female,

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 but are there any differences at all?

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 Is it, is gender simply a social construct?

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 Is it possible to be a man trapped in a woman's body or vice versa?

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 Or is gender merely just an evolutionary process for the propagation of the human race,

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 but nothing more than that?

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 And of course, if you have been following the Olympic Games,

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 you'll know a lot of the stories and the news,

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 the controversy about gender and the Olympic Games,

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 the sports and transgender athletes competing.

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 Well, we want to think carefully about this, right?

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 As Christians, we believe that the Bible is not only authoritative,

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 it's also sufficient.

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 That means the Bible is sufficient to speak to the most important areas of life.

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 Now, the Bible doesn't tell us everything there is to know about the whole world.

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 The Bible doesn't tell us how to make pork dumplings or change a tire on a car,

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 but the Bible does tell us everything we need to know

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 to live flourishing lives as created beings in God's created world.

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 And so what does God in His Word have to say about our bodies and gender?

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 Well, this morning I want us to look at three things.

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 And the first one is this.

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 Gender is intentionally designed.

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 Gender is intentionally designed.

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 I don't know if you, I don't know what you feel about the movie Crazy Rich Asians.

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 That title might offend you.

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 It came out a few years ago.

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 There's a line in that movie where one of the characters,

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 the lady I think, turns to a guy called Matthew,

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 and she says in that book, I think we've got in the movie,

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 it's not my job to make you feel like a man.

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 I can't make you something that you're not.

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 It's a great dig, it's a great chirp, but is it true?

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 Is it true?

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 It's not my job to make you feel like a man.

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 I can't make you something that you're not.

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 How do we feel about gender and who we are?

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 The Bible in Genesis 1 that Rachel read to us is very clear that in Scripture,

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 we have these two genders, male and female,

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 and God's creation of them are neither arbitrary nor incidental,

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 but they are intentionally designed and planned by the all-wise God for our well-being.

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 Many scholars have pointed out that in the creation narrative,

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 in Genesis 1 in particular,

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 is full of these corresponding pairs,

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 complementary parts that go together.

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 So for instance, in Genesis 1, you have heaven and earth,

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 you have light and darkness,

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 you have day and night,

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 you have land and sea,

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 these complementary corresponding parts that go together.

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 One author said it like this,

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 it is part of the brilliance of God's creation

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 that diverse, unlike things,

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 are made to unite and create dynamic wholes,

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 which generate more life and beauty through their relationship.

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 Okay, so God brings these diverse pairs together,

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 and together they create life.

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 And of course, the climax of God's creation is

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 these beings that He makes in His image,

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 these corresponding pairs of male and female.

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 Ray Orton says it like this,

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 both male and female display the glory of God with equal brilliance,

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 animal reproduction is assumed,

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 whereas human gender distinction is celebrated.

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 That's what we read in chapter 1.

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 Look at it with me again in verse 26.

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 God says,

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 let us make mankind in our image.

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 All throughout creation,

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 God has said,

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 let there be,

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 let there be light,

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 let there be the heavens and the stars,

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 let there be.

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 Then God says,

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 let us make man in our image,

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 after our likeness.

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 Verse 27,

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 so God created man in His image,

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 in the image of God He created him,

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 male and female He created them.

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 Now, of course,

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 there are many distinctions that God could have made

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 in describing His humanity.

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 Genesis could have said,

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 so God made mankind in His image,

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 in the image of God He created them,

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 Chinese and Caucasian.

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 Tall and short.

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 Introvert and extrovert.

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 Smart and simple.

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 Right?

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 There are many distinctions.

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 Black and white.

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 But of course, He doesn't.

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 The one distinction that God makes

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 is with respect to our gender,

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 male and female.

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 I think one of the obvious reasons for this

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 is that many of those distinctions,

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 there is a continuum.

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 So you get introverts,

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 you get extroverts,

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 you get many people in between.

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 You get tall people,

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 you get short people,

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 you get many people in between.

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 But the point of Genesis

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 is that gender is binary.

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 There's not a continuum.

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 There is a binary of male and female.

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 Andrew Wilson explains it like this.

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 He says,

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 complementarity,

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 which is the coming together

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 of two or more different things,

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 which improve and emphasize

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 each other's qualities,

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 is written into creation.

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 Male and female,

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 equal in dignity,

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 equal in value,

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 equal in human and spiritual worth

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 before God,

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 are not identical.

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 Male and female are not the same

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 any more than heaven and earth,

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 or day and night are the same.

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 Genesis 1 is the story of order

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 and life coming through separate,

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 distinct things coming together.

00:12:57.159 --> 00:12:58.659
 When the distinctions collapse,

00:12:58.939 --> 00:12:59.279
 in other words,

00:12:59.319 --> 00:13:01.039
 when you try to make them interchangeable,

00:13:01.360 --> 00:13:02.219
 there is no life.

00:13:02.740 --> 00:13:04.860
 Life comes through beautiful difference,

00:13:05.259 --> 00:13:06.459
 whereas identical pairs

00:13:06.459 --> 00:13:08.179
 are as barren as a cave on earth,

00:13:08.559 --> 00:13:11.179
 as desolate as Jupiter in the skies.

00:13:12.219 --> 00:13:13.459
 So right from the beginning,

00:13:13.579 --> 00:13:14.219
 Genesis 1,

00:13:14.299 --> 00:13:15.639
 we see God's intention,

00:13:15.779 --> 00:13:16.079
 the way he,

00:13:16.379 --> 00:13:17.259
 within the Godhead,

00:13:17.259 --> 00:13:17.759
 Father,

00:13:17.899 --> 00:13:18.039
 Son,

00:13:18.120 --> 00:13:18.379
 Spirit,

00:13:18.500 --> 00:13:19.639
 speak amongst themselves,

00:13:19.740 --> 00:13:21.019
 their intention to create

00:13:21.019 --> 00:13:22.319
 these image bearers,

00:13:22.480 --> 00:13:23.460
 made in his image.

00:13:23.939 --> 00:13:24.419
 And what he,

00:13:24.559 --> 00:13:26.679
 his design is to make male and female,

00:13:26.960 --> 00:13:28.399
 equal image bearers,

00:13:28.840 --> 00:13:30.059
 equally called by God,

00:13:30.139 --> 00:13:31.319
 to steward creation,

00:13:31.759 --> 00:13:32.860
 to propagate the world,

00:13:33.080 --> 00:13:34.679
 to look after his world,

00:13:34.720 --> 00:13:35.620
 on his behalf.

00:13:36.259 --> 00:13:37.779
 And as often pointed out,

00:13:38.220 --> 00:13:39.159
 throughout Genesis 1,

00:13:39.240 --> 00:13:40.019
 when God creates,

00:13:40.080 --> 00:13:40.460
 he says,

00:13:40.819 --> 00:13:41.019
 you know,

00:13:41.039 --> 00:13:43.539
 he created the stars,

00:13:43.659 --> 00:13:44.980
 the heavens and the earth,

00:13:45.039 --> 00:13:45.799
 and it was good.

00:13:45.799 --> 00:13:47.179
 He created plants,

00:13:47.279 --> 00:13:47.939
 and it was good.

00:13:48.059 --> 00:13:48.839
 He created animals,

00:13:48.939 --> 00:13:49.419
 it was good.

00:13:49.759 --> 00:13:51.459
 But when God makes humanity,

00:13:51.599 --> 00:13:52.459
 male and female,

00:13:52.579 --> 00:13:53.059
 in his image,

00:13:53.099 --> 00:13:53.679
 what does he say?

00:13:54.139 --> 00:13:55.500
 It is very good.

00:13:56.079 --> 00:13:56.959
 It is very good.

00:13:58.000 --> 00:13:58.399
 Except,

00:13:58.559 --> 00:13:59.179
 I don't know if you noticed

00:13:59.179 --> 00:14:00.740
 in the reading that Rachel gave us,

00:14:00.799 --> 00:14:02.279
 there's one thing that is not good.

00:14:03.120 --> 00:14:03.859
 Did you notice it?

00:14:04.759 --> 00:14:07.099
 At the end of God creating male and female,

00:14:07.599 --> 00:14:08.259
 in his image,

00:14:08.319 --> 00:14:08.659
 he says,

00:14:08.759 --> 00:14:09.839
 it is very good.

00:14:10.359 --> 00:14:11.759
 But then look at chapter 2,

00:14:11.819 --> 00:14:12.659
 in verse 18.

00:14:12.659 --> 00:14:13.959
 Having said,

00:14:14.039 --> 00:14:14.500
 it is good,

00:14:14.579 --> 00:14:15.079
 it is good,

00:14:15.139 --> 00:14:15.860
 it is very good,

00:14:15.919 --> 00:14:16.719
 now God says,

00:14:17.360 --> 00:14:18.459
 then the Lord God said,

00:14:18.579 --> 00:14:19.620
 it is not good,

00:14:20.120 --> 00:14:21.459
 that man should be alone.

00:14:22.639 --> 00:14:23.039
 So,

00:14:23.259 --> 00:14:23.959
 Adam is alone,

00:14:24.100 --> 00:14:24.539
 and God says,

00:14:24.600 --> 00:14:25.360
 this is not good.

00:14:25.639 --> 00:14:25.860
 Now,

00:14:26.019 --> 00:14:26.620
 here's a question.

00:14:27.299 --> 00:14:28.439
 What's the problem,

00:14:28.439 --> 00:14:30.559
 with Adam's aloneness?

00:14:31.719 --> 00:14:32.579
 Is it the fact,

00:14:32.740 --> 00:14:33.480
 that he's lonely,

00:14:34.240 --> 00:14:35.319
 and he doesn't have anybody,

00:14:35.319 --> 00:14:35.939
 to help him,

00:14:36.019 --> 00:14:37.019
 with household chores,

00:14:37.059 --> 00:14:37.539
 at home,

00:14:37.899 --> 00:14:39.220
 and he's bored?

00:14:40.139 --> 00:14:40.539
 No,

00:14:40.539 --> 00:14:41.939
 it's far more profound than that.

00:14:42.039 --> 00:14:43.500
 Alistair Roberts says it like this,

00:14:44.159 --> 00:14:46.179
 the problem of man's aloneness,

00:14:46.319 --> 00:14:48.039
 is not the psychological problem,

00:14:48.039 --> 00:14:48.759
 of loneliness,

00:14:49.539 --> 00:14:50.219
 but the fact,

00:14:50.339 --> 00:14:51.199
 that without assistance,

00:14:51.379 --> 00:14:51.919
 without Eve,

00:14:52.360 --> 00:14:53.579
 humanity's purposes,

00:14:53.799 --> 00:14:55.179
 cannot be achieved.

00:14:56.099 --> 00:14:56.899
 You see the point there?

00:14:57.579 --> 00:14:59.039
 Adam cannot be,

00:14:59.199 --> 00:15:00.879
 the person that God has called him to be,

00:15:01.159 --> 00:15:02.639
 he cannot fulfill,

00:15:03.000 --> 00:15:04.439
 the calling that God has got,

00:15:04.500 --> 00:15:05.259
 on his life,

00:15:05.819 --> 00:15:06.179
 alone.

00:15:06.839 --> 00:15:07.439
 Without Eve,

00:15:07.439 --> 00:15:08.539
 he cannot do it.

00:15:09.279 --> 00:15:09.559
 Now,

00:15:09.839 --> 00:15:10.360
 obviously,

00:15:10.480 --> 00:15:11.000
 on the one hand,

00:15:11.339 --> 00:15:12.339
 he can't be fruitful,

00:15:12.459 --> 00:15:12.939
 and multiply,

00:15:13.179 --> 00:15:13.939
 subdue the earth,

00:15:14.039 --> 00:15:15.339
 and fill it with the image,

00:15:15.379 --> 00:15:16.219
 and the glory of God,

00:15:16.279 --> 00:15:16.519
 right?

00:15:16.879 --> 00:15:17.579
 We know that,

00:15:17.579 --> 00:15:18.319
 Adam couldn't,

00:15:18.319 --> 00:15:19.559
 propagate the earth.

00:15:20.240 --> 00:15:20.539
 But,

00:15:20.980 --> 00:15:21.959
 when we think of,

00:15:22.039 --> 00:15:22.919
 Adam's aloneness,

00:15:23.000 --> 00:15:23.459
 the problem,

00:15:23.620 --> 00:15:25.019
 merely being procreation,

00:15:25.500 --> 00:15:26.639
 we're thinking about that,

00:15:26.679 --> 00:15:27.719
 from the vantage point,

00:15:27.799 --> 00:15:28.719
 from which we have,

00:15:28.779 --> 00:15:29.120
 already.

00:15:29.919 --> 00:15:31.279
 There's no indication,

00:15:31.579 --> 00:15:32.299
 in the Bible,

00:15:32.699 --> 00:15:33.779
 that God couldn't have,

00:15:33.779 --> 00:15:34.500
 come up with a way,

00:15:34.599 --> 00:15:35.679
 for Adam alone,

00:15:35.779 --> 00:15:36.679
 to single handedly,

00:15:36.839 --> 00:15:37.480
 recreate,

00:15:37.959 --> 00:15:38.279
 propagate.

00:15:38.799 --> 00:15:39.620
 And we know now,

00:15:39.699 --> 00:15:40.519
 that he needed a wife,

00:15:40.579 --> 00:15:41.199
 he needed a female,

00:15:41.720 --> 00:15:42.360
 but that's because,

00:15:42.519 --> 00:15:43.579
 that's how God's designed it.

00:15:44.100 --> 00:15:45.179
 But God could have designed,

00:15:45.339 --> 00:15:46.120
 that Adam alone,

00:15:46.199 --> 00:15:47.079
 could have recreated,

00:15:47.220 --> 00:15:47.939
 and propagated,

00:15:48.259 --> 00:15:49.399
 and filled the earth.

00:15:49.839 --> 00:15:51.019
 But the point is here,

00:15:51.079 --> 00:15:52.740
 it's not just procreation,

00:15:53.059 --> 00:15:54.500
 everything that God,

00:15:54.579 --> 00:15:55.419
 called Adam to do,

00:15:55.579 --> 00:15:57.199
 he couldn't do on his own.

00:15:57.740 --> 00:15:58.559
 He needed,

00:15:59.000 --> 00:16:00.319
 someone who was like him,

00:16:00.399 --> 00:16:01.579
 and yet unlike him,

00:16:01.919 --> 00:16:03.120
 someone who was equal,

00:16:03.120 --> 00:16:04.100
 and yet different,

00:16:04.519 --> 00:16:05.419
 to help him fulfill,

00:16:05.620 --> 00:16:06.860
 the calling that God had from him.

00:16:06.860 --> 00:16:07.560
 So,

00:16:08.060 --> 00:16:08.980
 fulfill the calling of,

00:16:09.240 --> 00:16:09.879
 to care for,

00:16:09.960 --> 00:16:10.419
 and keep,

00:16:10.500 --> 00:16:11.620
 and cultivate creation,

00:16:12.019 --> 00:16:13.879
 to be God's image bearer,

00:16:13.919 --> 00:16:14.480
 on the earth,

00:16:14.879 --> 00:16:16.480
 to image God's relationship,

00:16:16.480 --> 00:16:17.340
 with humanity.

00:16:18.159 --> 00:16:19.100
 In other words,

00:16:19.460 --> 00:16:20.700
 our gendered sexuality,

00:16:21.159 --> 00:16:22.740
 is not merely functional,

00:16:23.200 --> 00:16:24.860
 for the sake of procreation,

00:16:25.340 --> 00:16:27.120
 it's God's good design,

00:16:27.580 --> 00:16:28.360
 to help us,

00:16:28.419 --> 00:16:29.519
 understand something,

00:16:29.600 --> 00:16:30.139
 about him,

00:16:30.659 --> 00:16:31.659
 to understand something,

00:16:31.720 --> 00:16:32.519
 about the gospels,

00:16:32.519 --> 00:16:33.539
 as the new testament says,

00:16:33.840 --> 00:16:35.240
 to learn from one another,

00:16:35.439 --> 00:16:36.460
 to work together,

00:16:36.460 --> 00:16:37.759
 to fulfill our mandate,

00:16:37.840 --> 00:16:38.720
 as human beings.

00:16:39.740 --> 00:16:40.159
 So,

00:16:40.259 --> 00:16:40.740
 one of the ways,

00:16:40.779 --> 00:16:41.579
 that we see this,

00:16:41.939 --> 00:16:42.639
 is that the way,

00:16:42.759 --> 00:16:43.639
 that God speaks,

00:16:43.720 --> 00:16:44.620
 in the plurality,

00:16:44.699 --> 00:16:45.439
 about himself,

00:16:45.539 --> 00:16:46.159
 and the trinity,

00:16:46.600 --> 00:16:47.899
 and his making mankind,

00:16:47.899 --> 00:16:48.639
 in his image.

00:16:49.000 --> 00:16:49.419
 For instance,

00:16:49.539 --> 00:16:50.379
 God says this,

00:16:50.919 --> 00:16:51.360
 he says,

00:16:51.699 --> 00:16:52.559
 let us,

00:16:53.120 --> 00:16:54.000
 the trinity God,

00:16:54.100 --> 00:16:54.799
 trinitarian God,

00:16:55.139 --> 00:16:56.019
 make mankind,

00:16:56.179 --> 00:16:57.100
 male and female,

00:16:57.319 --> 00:16:58.620
 in our image,

00:16:58.620 --> 00:17:00.139
 rather than God saying,

00:17:00.460 --> 00:17:01.000
 let me,

00:17:01.120 --> 00:17:01.679
 make mankind,

00:17:01.940 --> 00:17:02.679
 in my image.

00:17:03.179 --> 00:17:04.039
 It's one of the only places,

00:17:04.119 --> 00:17:04.440
 in the bible,

00:17:04.519 --> 00:17:05.940
 where God speaks about himself,

00:17:06.140 --> 00:17:06.900
 is us,

00:17:07.019 --> 00:17:07.700
 in the plural.

00:17:08.400 --> 00:17:08.839
 Why?

00:17:09.140 --> 00:17:10.200
 Because part of the,

00:17:10.299 --> 00:17:11.000
 equality,

00:17:11.220 --> 00:17:12.039
 and yet diversity,

00:17:12.039 --> 00:17:13.119
 of the genders,

00:17:13.259 --> 00:17:14.140
 is meant to reflect,

00:17:14.140 --> 00:17:15.259
 something of the equality,

00:17:15.420 --> 00:17:16.200
 and yet the diversity,

00:17:16.619 --> 00:17:17.400
 of the trinity.

00:17:19.240 --> 00:17:20.119
 Our genders,

00:17:20.220 --> 00:17:21.039
 is meant to image,

00:17:21.119 --> 00:17:22.279
 something of who God is,

00:17:22.359 --> 00:17:23.220
 and in the new testament,

00:17:23.359 --> 00:17:23.819
 it tells us,

00:17:23.900 --> 00:17:25.079
 image something of the gospel,

00:17:25.559 --> 00:17:27.119
 and how we relate to God.

00:17:27.980 --> 00:17:28.380
 Now,

00:17:28.619 --> 00:17:29.719
 some people would say,

00:17:30.000 --> 00:17:30.219
 okay,

00:17:30.319 --> 00:17:30.739
 well obviously,

00:17:30.879 --> 00:17:31.519
 men and women are,

00:17:31.519 --> 00:17:34.139
 are psychologically different,

00:17:34.279 --> 00:17:35.759
 we're anatomically different,

00:17:36.099 --> 00:17:36.239
 okay,

00:17:36.259 --> 00:17:37.179
 women have wombs,

00:17:37.279 --> 00:17:38.279
 men don't have wombs,

00:17:38.779 --> 00:17:40.599
 our genitalia is different,

00:17:40.679 --> 00:17:42.039
 for the purposes of reproduction,

00:17:42.219 --> 00:17:42.359
 okay,

00:17:42.399 --> 00:17:42.739
 obviously,

00:17:43.159 --> 00:17:44.179
 but beyond that,

00:17:44.579 --> 00:17:45.419
 aren't men and women,

00:17:45.539 --> 00:17:47.000
 essentially identical?

00:17:47.159 --> 00:17:48.179
 Aren't they interchangeable?

00:17:48.699 --> 00:17:49.539
 Why can't,

00:17:50.059 --> 00:17:50.939
 you be a man,

00:17:51.019 --> 00:17:51.899
 trapped in a woman's body,

00:17:51.979 --> 00:17:52.659
 and vice versa?

00:17:53.359 --> 00:17:53.679
 And,

00:17:53.779 --> 00:17:54.339
 some Christians,

00:17:54.339 --> 00:17:55.519
 have even made this argument,

00:17:55.639 --> 00:17:57.139
 and they'll point to Galatians 3,

00:17:57.259 --> 00:17:57.839
 verse 28,

00:17:57.839 --> 00:17:59.599
 look at it on the slide with me,

00:18:00.000 --> 00:18:01.039
 in the new testament,

00:18:01.240 --> 00:18:02.559
 the apostle Paul writes this,

00:18:03.119 --> 00:18:03.399
 he says,

00:18:03.480 --> 00:18:04.579
 for as many of you,

00:18:04.839 --> 00:18:06.519
 were baptized into Christ,

00:18:06.720 --> 00:18:07.919
 you've put on Christ,

00:18:08.439 --> 00:18:09.819
 there's neither Jew nor Greek,

00:18:10.179 --> 00:18:11.379
 neither slave nor free,

00:18:11.879 --> 00:18:13.139
 neither male nor female,

00:18:13.299 --> 00:18:14.220
 for you are all,

00:18:14.439 --> 00:18:15.720
 one in Christ Jesus.

00:18:17.059 --> 00:18:18.699
 What is the apostle Paul,

00:18:19.019 --> 00:18:19.779
 saying here?

00:18:19.779 --> 00:18:20.960
 Paul here,

00:18:20.960 --> 00:18:23.059
 Paul here is talking about,

00:18:23.059 --> 00:18:24.720
 the wonder of the gospel,

00:18:25.660 --> 00:18:26.879
 he's talking about salvation,

00:18:27.960 --> 00:18:28.859
 he's talking about righteousness,

00:18:29.119 --> 00:18:29.740
 he's talking about,

00:18:30.299 --> 00:18:32.220
 our justification before God,

00:18:32.980 --> 00:18:33.859
 he's talking about the,

00:18:33.940 --> 00:18:35.299
 the wonderful thing,

00:18:35.759 --> 00:18:37.920
 that the only thing,

00:18:38.039 --> 00:18:38.940
 that matters,

00:18:39.460 --> 00:18:41.220
 for diverse people,

00:18:41.460 --> 00:18:42.660
 from different cultures,

00:18:43.059 --> 00:18:43.940
 and backgrounds,

00:18:44.319 --> 00:18:45.440
 and ethnicities,

00:18:45.440 --> 00:18:46.440
 and genders,

00:18:46.940 --> 00:18:48.000
 and socio-economic,

00:18:48.400 --> 00:18:50.240
 statuses in society,

00:18:50.660 --> 00:18:51.660
 the only thing,

00:18:51.779 --> 00:18:52.620
 that really matters,

00:18:53.120 --> 00:18:54.700
 as to whether,

00:18:55.259 --> 00:18:56.799
 you will be part of God's family,

00:18:57.299 --> 00:18:58.240
 and loved by God,

00:18:58.299 --> 00:18:58.960
 and know God,

00:18:59.019 --> 00:18:59.720
 and part of his kingdom,

00:18:59.860 --> 00:19:01.019
 and saved for all eternity,

00:19:01.220 --> 00:19:02.600
 the only thing that matters is,

00:19:02.920 --> 00:19:03.960
 what do you do with Jesus?

00:19:04.799 --> 00:19:05.820
 Do you know Jesus?

00:19:06.600 --> 00:19:07.400
 Do you love Jesus?

00:19:07.460 --> 00:19:08.960
 Have you come to surrender,

00:19:09.080 --> 00:19:10.600
 and bow down to Jesus?

00:19:11.419 --> 00:19:12.459
 In the ancient world,

00:19:12.659 --> 00:19:13.819
 most Jewish men,

00:19:13.819 --> 00:19:14.659
 would every morning,

00:19:15.019 --> 00:19:15.339
 pray,

00:19:15.459 --> 00:19:15.779
 say God,

00:19:15.839 --> 00:19:16.319
 I thank you,

00:19:16.379 --> 00:19:17.039
 that I'm not a woman,

00:19:17.500 --> 00:19:18.279
 I'm not a slave,

00:19:18.639 --> 00:19:19.699
 I'm not a Gentile,

00:19:20.399 --> 00:19:21.299
 and Paul writes in,

00:19:21.379 --> 00:19:22.099
 and says Jesus,

00:19:22.240 --> 00:19:23.779
 obliterates all those things,

00:19:23.879 --> 00:19:24.539
 Jesus now says,

00:19:24.879 --> 00:19:25.459
 you can be,

00:19:25.639 --> 00:19:26.399
 a Gentile,

00:19:26.579 --> 00:19:26.980
 female,

00:19:27.219 --> 00:19:27.619
 slave,

00:19:27.919 --> 00:19:29.439
 and you're on equal status,

00:19:29.559 --> 00:19:30.359
 before God,

00:19:30.519 --> 00:19:31.519
 with every other being,

00:19:31.599 --> 00:19:31.980
 in the human,

00:19:32.259 --> 00:19:33.599
 in the planet,

00:19:34.159 --> 00:19:35.119
 it doesn't matter,

00:19:35.359 --> 00:19:36.719
 how rich or poor you are,

00:19:36.919 --> 00:19:37.399
 it doesn't matter,

00:19:37.459 --> 00:19:38.819
 how smart or simple you are,

00:19:38.939 --> 00:19:39.480
 educated,

00:19:39.639 --> 00:19:40.240
 uneducated,

00:19:40.240 --> 00:19:41.500
 it doesn't matter who you are,

00:19:41.660 --> 00:19:42.940
 the only thing that matters,

00:19:43.519 --> 00:19:44.400
 is do you know Jesus?

00:19:45.140 --> 00:19:46.680
 What gets you a seat,

00:19:46.759 --> 00:19:47.880
 at God's table,

00:19:48.079 --> 00:19:49.120
 is not your genetics,

00:19:49.299 --> 00:19:50.059
 or your chromosomes,

00:19:50.779 --> 00:19:51.839
 but grace,

00:19:52.740 --> 00:19:53.019
 grace,

00:19:53.099 --> 00:19:54.079
 that's his point,

00:19:55.240 --> 00:19:56.880
 but if you become a Christian,

00:19:57.620 --> 00:19:59.059
 that doesn't change,

00:19:59.160 --> 00:20:00.700
 the ontological realities,

00:20:01.400 --> 00:20:02.519
 of who you are,

00:20:03.180 --> 00:20:03.980
 when you become a Christian,

00:20:03.980 --> 00:20:06.380
 you don't become non-Chinese,

00:20:06.640 --> 00:20:06.880
 right,

00:20:07.299 --> 00:20:08.799
 as if somehow you're just,

00:20:09.220 --> 00:20:09.700
 a human,

00:20:09.700 --> 00:20:10.720
 or a Christian,

00:20:11.140 --> 00:20:12.740
 I don't become Chinese,

00:20:12.840 --> 00:20:13.580
 when I become a Christian,

00:20:13.680 --> 00:20:14.840
 I'm still South African,

00:20:14.920 --> 00:20:15.660
 as much as I think,

00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:16.500
 I'm a Hong Konger,

00:20:16.740 --> 00:20:17.799
 the truth is,

00:20:18.059 --> 00:20:19.100
 I'm still South African,

00:20:20.039 --> 00:20:22.380
 and this is wonderful news,

00:20:22.440 --> 00:20:23.160
 because in a culture,

00:20:23.319 --> 00:20:23.980
 like Hong Kong,

00:20:24.080 --> 00:20:25.200
 which is so performance,

00:20:25.240 --> 00:20:25.740
 orientated,

00:20:25.819 --> 00:20:27.319
 in such a meritocracy,

00:20:27.920 --> 00:20:29.080
 full of comparisons,

00:20:29.940 --> 00:20:30.759
 Jesus levels,

00:20:30.860 --> 00:20:31.740
 the playing fields,

00:20:32.220 --> 00:20:32.920
 and he welcomes,

00:20:32.920 --> 00:20:33.940
 all who would,

00:20:34.080 --> 00:20:35.200
 trust in him,

00:20:35.200 --> 00:20:38.000
 but coming to Christ,

00:20:38.120 --> 00:20:39.100
 doesn't change,

00:20:39.200 --> 00:20:40.500
 the ontological realities,

00:20:40.620 --> 00:20:41.180
 of our being,

00:20:41.819 --> 00:20:42.580
 it doesn't make you,

00:20:42.740 --> 00:20:43.819
 non-gendered,

00:20:44.360 --> 00:20:45.259
 you're still a male,

00:20:45.420 --> 00:20:46.180
 you're still a female,

00:20:46.420 --> 00:20:47.360
 you're still Gentile,

00:20:48.120 --> 00:20:48.680
 you're still,

00:20:48.680 --> 00:20:49.740
 an employer,

00:20:49.920 --> 00:20:50.440
 an employee,

00:20:51.440 --> 00:20:52.200
 and this leads,

00:20:52.299 --> 00:20:53.380
 to the second point,

00:20:53.460 --> 00:20:53.980
 that we make today,

00:20:54.059 --> 00:20:54.580
 which is that,

00:20:54.920 --> 00:20:55.880
 gender is not only,

00:20:55.880 --> 00:20:57.660
 God's intentional design,

00:20:57.940 --> 00:20:59.720
 it's biologically grounded,

00:21:00.059 --> 00:21:01.160
 biologically grounded,

00:21:01.160 --> 00:21:02.540
 again,

00:21:02.700 --> 00:21:03.560
 think of that comment,

00:21:03.720 --> 00:21:04.720
 from Crazy Rich Asians,

00:21:05.180 --> 00:21:06.480
 I cannot make you something,

00:21:06.720 --> 00:21:07.740
 that you are not,

00:21:08.140 --> 00:21:09.640
 I cannot make you feel,

00:21:09.920 --> 00:21:10.660
 a certain way,

00:21:11.320 --> 00:21:11.580
 now,

00:21:11.720 --> 00:21:12.700
 nine years ago,

00:21:12.860 --> 00:21:14.500
 in July 2019,

00:21:15.100 --> 00:21:16.080
 Vanity Fair,

00:21:16.220 --> 00:21:16.900
 very famously,

00:21:17.120 --> 00:21:17.519
 the cover,

00:21:17.980 --> 00:21:18.720
 had a picture,

00:21:18.960 --> 00:21:20.420
 of a middle-aged woman,

00:21:21.000 --> 00:21:22.000
 with the title,

00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:23.000
 underneath it said,

00:21:23.800 --> 00:21:24.960
 call me Caitlin,

00:21:25.240 --> 00:21:25.480
 right,

00:21:25.580 --> 00:21:26.560
 and the thing,

00:21:26.640 --> 00:21:27.200
 that was astonishing,

00:21:27.200 --> 00:21:28.240
 about this cover,

00:21:28.600 --> 00:21:29.440
 was that the person,

00:21:29.540 --> 00:21:29.980
 on the front,

00:21:30.259 --> 00:21:31.000
 was the Olympic athlete,

00:21:31.000 --> 00:21:32.440
 Bruce Jenner,

00:21:32.660 --> 00:21:33.819
 who had transitioned,

00:21:34.079 --> 00:21:35.559
 to being a trans woman,

00:21:36.099 --> 00:21:36.619
 and now,

00:21:36.720 --> 00:21:37.660
 wanted to be called,

00:21:37.839 --> 00:21:38.240
 Caitlin,

00:21:39.099 --> 00:21:40.099
 in 2015,

00:21:40.339 --> 00:21:41.720
 this was astonishing news,

00:21:42.140 --> 00:21:42.960
 in 2024,

00:21:43.279 --> 00:21:43.960
 this feels like,

00:21:44.019 --> 00:21:44.839
 old news,

00:21:44.980 --> 00:21:45.259
 right,

00:21:46.039 --> 00:21:46.920
 now,

00:21:47.059 --> 00:21:47.940
 for some of us,

00:21:48.460 --> 00:21:49.180
 the idea,

00:21:49.180 --> 00:21:50.819
 of gender confusion,

00:21:51.279 --> 00:21:52.220
 gender dysphoria,

00:21:52.980 --> 00:21:54.819
 is not just,

00:21:54.960 --> 00:21:56.599
 a theoretical concept,

00:21:57.559 --> 00:21:58.500
 for some of us,

00:21:58.579 --> 00:21:59.700
 maybe personally,

00:21:59.900 --> 00:22:00.440
 we struggle,

00:22:00.440 --> 00:22:01.500
 with our own gender,

00:22:02.320 --> 00:22:03.200
 our own feelings,

00:22:03.200 --> 00:22:04.299
 of maybe dysphoria,

00:22:04.580 --> 00:22:05.460
 feeling uncomfortable,

00:22:05.460 --> 00:22:06.360
 in our own bodies,

00:22:07.039 --> 00:22:08.019
 maybe some of us here,

00:22:08.100 --> 00:22:09.000
 have loved ones,

00:22:09.120 --> 00:22:09.759
 family members,

00:22:09.900 --> 00:22:10.240
 colleagues,

00:22:10.440 --> 00:22:10.860
 friends,

00:22:11.220 --> 00:22:11.860
 that struggle,

00:22:12.120 --> 00:22:13.240
 with gender dysphoria,

00:22:13.799 --> 00:22:15.180
 with same sex attraction,

00:22:15.880 --> 00:22:17.620
 with being intersex conditions,

00:22:17.840 --> 00:22:18.140
 maybe,

00:22:18.980 --> 00:22:20.460
 maybe some of us,

00:22:20.539 --> 00:22:21.620
 have no loved ones,

00:22:21.660 --> 00:22:22.360
 or have loved ones,

00:22:22.420 --> 00:22:23.700
 that have transitioned,

00:22:23.900 --> 00:22:24.680
 and changed,

00:22:25.019 --> 00:22:26.100
 their gender,

00:22:26.099 --> 00:22:28.139
 what does God's word,

00:22:28.219 --> 00:22:29.199
 say about this,

00:22:30.059 --> 00:22:31.159
 one of the things,

00:22:31.240 --> 00:22:33.279
 we see in Genesis 1,

00:22:33.899 --> 00:22:34.519
 is that,

00:22:34.740 --> 00:22:35.679
 when God talks about,

00:22:35.879 --> 00:22:36.359
 being male,

00:22:36.519 --> 00:22:37.179
 and female,

00:22:37.519 --> 00:22:38.199
 he's talking us,

00:22:38.259 --> 00:22:39.459
 being physically male,

00:22:39.719 --> 00:22:40.619
 and female,

00:22:41.179 --> 00:22:42.899
 all through Genesis 1,

00:22:43.299 --> 00:22:44.519
 God is physically,

00:22:44.519 --> 00:22:45.179
 forming,

00:22:45.439 --> 00:22:46.119
 and filling,

00:22:46.659 --> 00:22:47.199
 creation,

00:22:47.980 --> 00:22:48.779
 God makes,

00:22:48.779 --> 00:22:49.819
 physical land,

00:22:49.959 --> 00:22:50.919
 and physical seas,

00:22:51.379 --> 00:22:52.779
 he makes physical plants,

00:22:52.839 --> 00:22:53.859
 and physical animals,

00:22:53.859 --> 00:22:55.259
 he makes a physical sun,

00:22:55.379 --> 00:22:56.099
 a physical moon,

00:22:56.539 --> 00:22:57.539
 physical stars,

00:22:58.119 --> 00:22:59.379
 when God announces,

00:22:59.519 --> 00:23:00.159
 his intention,

00:23:00.379 --> 00:23:02.079
 to make human beings,

00:23:02.199 --> 00:23:03.099
 male and female,

00:23:03.719 --> 00:23:04.399
 he is not,

00:23:04.439 --> 00:23:05.399
 as one author put it,

00:23:05.740 --> 00:23:07.299
 talking about a concept,

00:23:07.419 --> 00:23:08.159
 of maleness,

00:23:08.240 --> 00:23:09.099
 or femaleness,

00:23:09.219 --> 00:23:10.419
 that is distinct,

00:23:10.519 --> 00:23:11.919
 from our physical reality,

00:23:12.779 --> 00:23:13.919
 now one of the points,

00:23:13.919 --> 00:23:14.839
 that I think,

00:23:14.959 --> 00:23:16.059
 I've been trying to make here,

00:23:16.219 --> 00:23:17.039
 is that our gender,

00:23:17.319 --> 00:23:17.919
 is not simply,

00:23:18.759 --> 00:23:19.500
 biology,

00:23:19.659 --> 00:23:20.639
 it's much more than that,

00:23:21.079 --> 00:23:21.979
 but it's also,

00:23:22.240 --> 00:23:23.699
 nothing less than that,

00:23:23.859 --> 00:23:24.699
 it is as,

00:23:25.000 --> 00:23:25.459
 Sam Aubrey,

00:23:25.579 --> 00:23:26.059
 remarkably,

00:23:26.539 --> 00:23:27.159
 succinctly,

00:23:27.240 --> 00:23:27.799
 succinctly,

00:23:27.879 --> 00:23:28.399
 put it like this,

00:23:28.459 --> 00:23:28.759
 he said,

00:23:29.199 --> 00:23:30.639
 maleness and femaleness,

00:23:30.759 --> 00:23:32.199
 are physically grounded,

00:23:32.719 --> 00:23:33.959
 not psychologically,

00:23:34.240 --> 00:23:34.759
 determined,

00:23:35.599 --> 00:23:36.559
 our gender identity,

00:23:36.759 --> 00:23:37.339
 is not something,

00:23:37.439 --> 00:23:38.619
 we look for in our feelings,

00:23:38.979 --> 00:23:40.279
 it's something we find,

00:23:40.379 --> 00:23:41.240
 in our bodies,

00:23:41.859 --> 00:23:42.779
 and we could add to that,

00:23:42.819 --> 00:23:43.740
 that gender identity,

00:23:43.859 --> 00:23:45.019
 is not something we discover,

00:23:45.319 --> 00:23:46.939
 by looking at social settings,

00:23:47.039 --> 00:23:47.839
 or social norms,

00:23:48.179 --> 00:23:49.240
 as if all men,

00:23:49.299 --> 00:23:50.439
 behave a certain way,

00:23:50.539 --> 00:23:51.479
 therefore this is what it means,

00:23:51.539 --> 00:23:52.079
 to be masculine,

00:23:52.439 --> 00:23:53.259
 or all women,

00:23:53.259 --> 00:23:53.839
 behave a certain way,

00:23:53.839 --> 00:23:54.759
 this is what it means,

00:23:54.819 --> 00:23:55.279
 to be feminine,

00:23:55.919 --> 00:23:56.799
 of course not,

00:23:57.480 --> 00:23:59.159
 but the point here,

00:23:59.259 --> 00:24:00.259
 is that gender,

00:24:00.439 --> 00:24:02.099
 is biologically grounded,

00:24:02.220 --> 00:24:02.980
 not psychologically,

00:24:03.279 --> 00:24:03.799
 determined,

00:24:04.839 --> 00:24:05.439
 amazingly,

00:24:05.899 --> 00:24:06.740
 God has so designed,

00:24:06.799 --> 00:24:07.339
 our bodies,

00:24:07.980 --> 00:24:08.659
 that our gender,

00:24:08.819 --> 00:24:09.319
 is coded,

00:24:09.439 --> 00:24:10.659
 into every one,

00:24:11.220 --> 00:24:13.399
 of our 30 trillion cells,

00:24:13.559 --> 00:24:14.720
 within our DNA,

00:24:15.179 --> 00:24:16.279
 our DNA strands,

00:24:16.339 --> 00:24:16.899
 and every one of our,

00:24:16.959 --> 00:24:17.959
 30 trillion cells,

00:24:18.059 --> 00:24:18.859
 is coded,

00:24:19.480 --> 00:24:20.539
 part of our DNA,

00:24:21.159 --> 00:24:21.959
 with our chromosomes,

00:24:21.960 --> 00:24:22.100
 hormones,

00:24:23.100 --> 00:24:24.160
 a few years ago,

00:24:24.279 --> 00:24:25.360
 I told you the story,

00:24:25.500 --> 00:24:26.240
 three years ago,

00:24:26.319 --> 00:24:27.160
 of Laura,

00:24:27.420 --> 00:24:28.680
 Laura Perry,

00:24:29.240 --> 00:24:30.319
 who was an American,

00:24:30.819 --> 00:24:31.519
 a lady,

00:24:31.660 --> 00:24:32.360
 who transitioned,

00:24:32.920 --> 00:24:33.779
 to a man,

00:24:34.180 --> 00:24:35.279
 she called herself,

00:24:35.400 --> 00:24:35.660
 Jack,

00:24:36.019 --> 00:24:37.579
 and this is what she says,

00:24:37.740 --> 00:24:39.420
 the day after her surgery,

00:24:40.180 --> 00:24:40.720
 she says,

00:24:41.200 --> 00:24:42.640
 after my surgery,

00:24:43.440 --> 00:24:43.740
 sorry,

00:24:43.819 --> 00:24:44.220
 not the day,

00:24:44.279 --> 00:24:45.380
 I think it was about a week,

00:24:45.420 --> 00:24:46.600
 or a month after her surgery,

00:24:47.240 --> 00:24:47.539
 she says,

00:24:47.539 --> 00:24:48.259
 after my surgery,

00:24:48.259 --> 00:24:49.799
 even though I liked the results,

00:24:50.339 --> 00:24:51.779
 I liked how I looked physically,

00:24:52.420 --> 00:24:53.819
 I realized the surgery,

00:24:54.039 --> 00:24:55.099
 hadn't made me a man,

00:24:55.700 --> 00:24:56.920
 I was legally a man,

00:24:57.400 --> 00:24:58.099
 I could look down,

00:24:58.160 --> 00:24:59.000
 at my ID card,

00:24:59.079 --> 00:24:59.799
 that said male,

00:25:00.680 --> 00:25:01.720
 but I came to realize,

00:25:01.839 --> 00:25:02.480
 I was still,

00:25:02.740 --> 00:25:03.480
 the same person,

00:25:04.180 --> 00:25:05.759
 and that was a devastating blow,

00:25:05.859 --> 00:25:06.200
 to me,

00:25:06.599 --> 00:25:08.299
 because I really had believed,

00:25:08.779 --> 00:25:09.799
 that I could become,

00:25:10.460 --> 00:25:11.000
 a man,

00:25:13.440 --> 00:25:14.759
 our gender identity,

00:25:15.180 --> 00:25:15.519
 doesn't matter,

00:25:15.720 --> 00:25:16.599
 what hormone treatment,

00:25:16.759 --> 00:25:17.220
 you take,

00:25:17.220 --> 00:25:18.120
 it doesn't matter,

00:25:18.200 --> 00:25:19.180
 what your ID card say,

00:25:19.240 --> 00:25:19.500
 it doesn't matter,

00:25:19.579 --> 00:25:20.519
 what surgery you have,

00:25:20.579 --> 00:25:21.960
 or how you socially transition,

00:25:22.799 --> 00:25:23.600
 our gender identity,

00:25:23.759 --> 00:25:25.100
 is coded into our DNA,

00:25:25.860 --> 00:25:27.259
 it's very part of who we are,

00:25:27.839 --> 00:25:29.259
 it's biologically grounded,

00:25:29.420 --> 00:25:30.640
 and no treatment,

00:25:30.759 --> 00:25:31.779
 is going to change that,

00:25:32.299 --> 00:25:33.740
 it is who God has made us,

00:25:34.360 --> 00:25:35.759
 now up until 30 years ago,

00:25:35.880 --> 00:25:37.160
 so all that we would have said,

00:25:37.200 --> 00:25:38.880
 would have been highly unremarkable,

00:25:38.980 --> 00:25:39.380
 everyone said,

00:25:39.799 --> 00:25:40.000
 yeah,

00:25:40.140 --> 00:25:40.819
 well obviously,

00:25:40.819 --> 00:25:41.660
 what's the big deal,

00:25:41.860 --> 00:25:42.279
 but of course,

00:25:42.360 --> 00:25:44.140
 culture has taken a massive turn,

00:25:44.259 --> 00:25:44.839
 on the subject,

00:25:45.400 --> 00:25:46.019
 and today we feel,

00:25:46.140 --> 00:25:47.079
 that gender really is,

00:25:47.079 --> 00:25:48.599
 psychologically determined,

00:25:49.019 --> 00:25:50.339
 based on how we feel,

00:25:51.159 --> 00:25:51.960
 now the Bible says,

00:25:52.039 --> 00:25:52.819
 that feelings,

00:25:52.919 --> 00:25:54.379
 are very important part,

00:25:54.419 --> 00:25:55.019
 of who we are,

00:25:55.099 --> 00:25:55.539
 they are not,

00:25:55.659 --> 00:25:56.740
 to be minimized,

00:25:56.819 --> 00:25:57.679
 they're not unimportant,

00:25:57.799 --> 00:25:58.539
 they're an important part,

00:25:58.579 --> 00:25:59.079
 of who we are,

00:25:59.519 --> 00:26:00.240
 but our feelings,

00:26:00.319 --> 00:26:01.659
 are not authoritative,

00:26:02.480 --> 00:26:03.279
 they're not ultimately,

00:26:03.359 --> 00:26:04.759
 determine what's true,

00:26:05.659 --> 00:26:06.559
 God's word,

00:26:06.679 --> 00:26:07.619
 is our authority,

00:26:07.740 --> 00:26:08.960
 and the Bible's clear teaching,

00:26:09.299 --> 00:26:10.379
 both here and throughout scripture,

00:26:10.639 --> 00:26:11.819
 is that a person's,

00:26:11.819 --> 00:26:13.139
 biological sex,

00:26:13.599 --> 00:26:14.179
 reveals,

00:26:14.180 --> 00:26:15.060
 and determines,

00:26:15.060 --> 00:26:16.460
 their objective gender,

00:26:16.620 --> 00:26:17.480
 what gender in fact,

00:26:17.539 --> 00:26:17.980
 they are,

00:26:18.140 --> 00:26:19.100
 as well as,

00:26:19.180 --> 00:26:20.519
 how's God called them to live,

00:26:20.640 --> 00:26:21.779
 as gendered beings,

00:26:22.140 --> 00:26:23.180
 in a physical world,

00:26:24.019 --> 00:26:24.860
 now here's a question,

00:26:25.400 --> 00:26:26.480
 how do we think,

00:26:26.560 --> 00:26:27.259
 or how are we,

00:26:27.420 --> 00:26:28.080
 for those of us,

00:26:28.120 --> 00:26:28.660
 that are Christians,

00:26:29.140 --> 00:26:30.120
 how are we to think,

00:26:30.200 --> 00:26:31.080
 about those that struggle,

00:26:31.240 --> 00:26:32.080
 with gender dysphoria,

00:26:32.079 --> 00:26:34.740
 or intersex conditions,

00:26:35.259 --> 00:26:35.759
 well I think,

00:26:35.859 --> 00:26:36.639
 there are at least,

00:26:36.839 --> 00:26:37.359
 three things,

00:26:37.419 --> 00:26:38.259
 that we need to think about,

00:26:38.799 --> 00:26:39.939
 the first is this,

00:26:40.299 --> 00:26:41.139
 we need to,

00:26:41.419 --> 00:26:42.179
 think about those,

00:26:42.259 --> 00:26:42.839
 that struggle,

00:26:43.000 --> 00:26:44.059
 with intersex conditions,

00:26:44.179 --> 00:26:45.079
 or gender dysphoria,

00:26:45.619 --> 00:26:47.039
 with deep compassion,

00:26:47.460 --> 00:26:48.240
 and sympathy,

00:26:48.759 --> 00:26:49.859
 not with simplistic,

00:26:50.019 --> 00:26:50.740
 or tried answers,

00:26:51.519 --> 00:26:52.639
 the reality is that,

00:26:53.059 --> 00:26:54.339
 depending on the data,

00:26:54.480 --> 00:26:56.740
 up to 1% of people,

00:26:56.879 --> 00:26:59.119
 or 0.08% of people,

00:26:59.259 --> 00:27:00.779
 experience intersex conditions,

00:27:00.779 --> 00:27:01.420
 which means that,

00:27:01.519 --> 00:27:03.299
 their biology,

00:27:03.579 --> 00:27:04.579
 doesn't neatly fit,

00:27:04.660 --> 00:27:05.599
 into one category,

00:27:05.720 --> 00:27:07.160
 of the gender binary,

00:27:07.379 --> 00:27:08.039
 or the other,

00:27:08.680 --> 00:27:11.240
 and the reality is that,

00:27:11.279 --> 00:27:12.000
 for those that struggle,

00:27:12.160 --> 00:27:12.279
 with this,

00:27:12.339 --> 00:27:13.460
 this is a deeply,

00:27:13.619 --> 00:27:14.579
 deeply painful,

00:27:15.259 --> 00:27:15.700
 traumatic,

00:27:16.019 --> 00:27:17.339
 and difficult experience,

00:27:17.899 --> 00:27:18.539
 and as Christians,

00:27:18.700 --> 00:27:19.500
 sometimes Christians,

00:27:19.619 --> 00:27:20.039
 in the past,

00:27:20.079 --> 00:27:20.819
 have given just very,

00:27:20.980 --> 00:27:22.859
 trite and simplistic answers,

00:27:23.519 --> 00:27:23.920
 and yet we,

00:27:24.099 --> 00:27:25.039
 that's not helpful,

00:27:25.519 --> 00:27:26.039
 we need to be,

00:27:26.299 --> 00:27:27.139
 deeply compassionate,

00:27:27.379 --> 00:27:28.579
 we need to empathize,

00:27:28.639 --> 00:27:29.440
 and sympathize,

00:27:29.440 --> 00:27:30.720
 with those who are struggling,

00:27:31.139 --> 00:27:32.240
 we need to emulate,

00:27:32.240 --> 00:27:34.039
 the compassion of Christ,

00:27:34.480 --> 00:27:35.879
 who moved towards,

00:27:35.960 --> 00:27:37.200
 people in his age,

00:27:37.539 --> 00:27:38.539
 a day that were often,

00:27:38.619 --> 00:27:39.519
 outcasts,

00:27:39.519 --> 00:27:40.559
 or ostracized,

00:27:40.599 --> 00:27:41.279
 from society,

00:27:41.559 --> 00:27:42.940
 and moved towards them,

00:27:42.960 --> 00:27:43.559
 with compassion,

00:27:43.660 --> 00:27:44.639
 we need to do the same,

00:27:45.200 --> 00:27:46.079
 so the first thing is,

00:27:46.240 --> 00:27:47.099
 we need to move towards,

00:27:47.180 --> 00:27:48.079
 people with compassion,

00:27:48.220 --> 00:27:49.139
 we need to welcome,

00:27:49.579 --> 00:27:50.299
 and love those,

00:27:50.339 --> 00:27:51.000
 that are struggling,

00:27:51.440 --> 00:27:52.639
 those that are finding it hard,

00:27:53.019 --> 00:27:53.920
 those that are grappling,

00:27:54.079 --> 00:27:55.119
 with maybe their gender,

00:27:55.200 --> 00:27:55.740
 or their bodies,

00:27:56.559 --> 00:27:57.819
 the second thing is this,

00:27:58.519 --> 00:27:59.980
 our biblical theology,

00:27:59.980 --> 00:28:00.960
 should tell us,

00:28:01.000 --> 00:28:02.799
 not to be surprised,

00:28:03.259 --> 00:28:04.279
 at the anomalies,

00:28:04.440 --> 00:28:05.700
 that we find in society,

00:28:06.360 --> 00:28:10.299
 as respect to,

00:28:10.440 --> 00:28:11.460
 the gender binary,

00:28:12.220 --> 00:28:13.160
 what I mean by that,

00:28:13.279 --> 00:28:13.700
 is this,

00:28:14.380 --> 00:28:15.000
 what does Neil,

00:28:15.120 --> 00:28:16.440
 speak about three weeks,

00:28:16.579 --> 00:28:17.319
 three weeks ago,

00:28:18.000 --> 00:28:19.200
 our biblical theology,

00:28:19.200 --> 00:28:19.880
 tells us,

00:28:20.019 --> 00:28:21.440
 that since sin,

00:28:21.519 --> 00:28:22.380
 entered the world,

00:28:22.860 --> 00:28:23.920
 the world is fallen,

00:28:23.920 --> 00:28:25.100
 the world is broken,

00:28:25.620 --> 00:28:26.920
 and every part,

00:28:26.960 --> 00:28:27.779
 of our humanity,

00:28:28.000 --> 00:28:28.560
 our bodies,

00:28:28.700 --> 00:28:29.320
 our minds,

00:28:29.420 --> 00:28:29.880
 our souls,

00:28:30.019 --> 00:28:30.740
 every part,

00:28:30.759 --> 00:28:31.340
 of our humanity,

00:28:31.340 --> 00:28:32.880
 has been affected,

00:28:33.080 --> 00:28:33.600
 and broken,

00:28:34.039 --> 00:28:34.779
 by the fall,

00:28:35.240 --> 00:28:36.180
 so psychologically,

00:28:36.420 --> 00:28:37.060
 we don't think,

00:28:37.100 --> 00:28:38.120
 the way that we meant to think,

00:28:38.180 --> 00:28:38.620
 we don't think,

00:28:38.640 --> 00:28:39.160
 God's thoughts,

00:28:39.200 --> 00:28:39.660
 over him,

00:28:39.840 --> 00:28:40.600
 after him,

00:28:40.900 --> 00:28:41.680
 our bodies,

00:28:41.759 --> 00:28:42.160
 are broken,

00:28:42.240 --> 00:28:42.800
 are subject to,

00:28:43.160 --> 00:28:43.480
 sickness,

00:28:43.700 --> 00:28:44.279
 and disease,

00:28:44.539 --> 00:28:45.080
 and death,

00:28:45.259 --> 00:28:47.340
 and strange feelings,

00:28:47.940 --> 00:28:48.800
 our souls,

00:28:48.900 --> 00:28:49.259
 and spirits,

00:28:49.259 --> 00:28:50.279
 are dead to God,

00:28:50.340 --> 00:28:51.100
 we don't know God,

00:28:51.099 --> 00:28:51.859
 every part,

00:28:51.899 --> 00:28:52.699
 of our humanity,

00:28:53.099 --> 00:28:53.839
 has been affected,

00:28:54.139 --> 00:28:55.000
 by the fall,

00:28:55.679 --> 00:28:56.019
 and so,

00:28:56.259 --> 00:28:57.259
 same sex attraction,

00:28:57.879 --> 00:28:58.779
 gender dysphoria,

00:28:59.339 --> 00:29:00.339
 intersex phenomena,

00:29:00.799 --> 00:29:02.000
 are painful examples,

00:29:02.199 --> 00:29:02.799
 of the way that,

00:29:03.119 --> 00:29:03.939
 God's good,

00:29:04.039 --> 00:29:05.199
 and beautiful design,

00:29:05.579 --> 00:29:06.559
 has become distorted,

00:29:07.219 --> 00:29:07.579
 broken,

00:29:07.799 --> 00:29:08.379
 in our world,

00:29:08.899 --> 00:29:09.259
 and yet,

00:29:09.299 --> 00:29:10.319
 however much sin,

00:29:10.319 --> 00:29:10.959
 has spoiled,

00:29:11.079 --> 00:29:11.819
 our understanding,

00:29:11.980 --> 00:29:12.599
 or experience,

00:29:12.699 --> 00:29:13.059
 and what it means,

00:29:13.139 --> 00:29:13.539
 to be male,

00:29:13.619 --> 00:29:14.179
 or female,

00:29:14.719 --> 00:29:16.459
 it hasn't dismantled,

00:29:16.919 --> 00:29:17.519
 the distinction,

00:29:17.659 --> 00:29:18.459
 between the sexes,

00:29:18.500 --> 00:29:19.240
 it hasn't created,

00:29:19.339 --> 00:29:20.079
 a third gender,

00:29:20.079 --> 00:29:22.000
 and so,

00:29:22.079 --> 00:29:22.879
 our biblical theology,

00:29:22.879 --> 00:29:24.339
 tells us not to be surprised,

00:29:25.019 --> 00:29:26.019
 but then the third thing,

00:29:26.079 --> 00:29:26.740
 we need to think about,

00:29:26.779 --> 00:29:27.159
 is this,

00:29:27.639 --> 00:29:28.439
 how did Jesus,

00:29:28.439 --> 00:29:29.319
 think about this,

00:29:30.079 --> 00:29:31.099
 how did Jesus think,

00:29:31.599 --> 00:29:32.779
 and what we see,

00:29:32.879 --> 00:29:34.179
 when we see Jesus,

00:29:34.259 --> 00:29:34.879
 in the gospels,

00:29:35.000 --> 00:29:35.639
 is that Jesus,

00:29:35.759 --> 00:29:36.299
 handled this,

00:29:36.379 --> 00:29:37.000
 with two things,

00:29:37.059 --> 00:29:37.799
 with compassion,

00:29:38.339 --> 00:29:39.539
 and with clarity,

00:29:40.359 --> 00:29:42.439
 in Matthew 19,

00:29:43.159 --> 00:29:44.319
 some people come to Jesus,

00:29:44.559 --> 00:29:45.879
 and they ask him,

00:29:45.879 --> 00:29:46.460
 about marriage,

00:29:46.519 --> 00:29:47.000
 and divorce,

00:29:47.599 --> 00:29:48.399
 and Jesus,

00:29:48.639 --> 00:29:49.679
 in answering them,

00:29:49.680 --> 00:29:50.740
 goes back,

00:29:50.880 --> 00:29:52.140
 not to Genesis 2,

00:29:52.279 --> 00:29:53.140
 the first marriage,

00:29:53.299 --> 00:29:54.420
 but to Genesis 1,

00:29:54.560 --> 00:29:55.180
 to the creation,

00:29:55.259 --> 00:29:55.900
 of male and female,

00:29:56.000 --> 00:29:56.799
 listen to what he says,

00:29:57.140 --> 00:29:57.920
 Genesis 19,

00:29:58.019 --> 00:29:58.799
 Jesus says this,

00:29:59.240 --> 00:30:00.019
 have you not read,

00:30:00.480 --> 00:30:01.080
 that God,

00:30:01.180 --> 00:30:02.100
 who created them,

00:30:02.299 --> 00:30:03.180
 from the beginning,

00:30:03.380 --> 00:30:04.180
 made them male,

00:30:04.299 --> 00:30:05.039
 and female,

00:30:05.759 --> 00:30:06.420
 and he said,

00:30:06.519 --> 00:30:07.220
 a man shall leave,

00:30:07.279 --> 00:30:08.019
 his father and mother,

00:30:08.120 --> 00:30:09.180
 and hold fast to his wife,

00:30:09.240 --> 00:30:10.580
 and the two shall become one flesh,

00:30:11.100 --> 00:30:12.519
 so Jesus here,

00:30:12.720 --> 00:30:13.320
 affirms,

00:30:13.440 --> 00:30:14.519
 the binary nature,

00:30:14.519 --> 00:30:15.860
 of our sexual identities,

00:30:16.699 --> 00:30:17.319
 Jesus Christ,

00:30:17.359 --> 00:30:17.979
 who is known,

00:30:18.079 --> 00:30:19.139
 as the most gracious,

00:30:19.339 --> 00:30:20.000
 and compassionate,

00:30:20.419 --> 00:30:21.179
 and welcoming,

00:30:21.319 --> 00:30:22.199
 of all people,

00:30:22.439 --> 00:30:24.079
 doesn't confuse the matter,

00:30:24.199 --> 00:30:25.259
 but brings clarity,

00:30:25.259 --> 00:30:26.459
 about the binary nature,

00:30:26.759 --> 00:30:27.799
 of gender identity,

00:30:28.759 --> 00:30:30.199
 but then remarkably,

00:30:30.459 --> 00:30:31.439
 Jesus goes on,

00:30:31.500 --> 00:30:33.000
 to speak with compassion,

00:30:33.559 --> 00:30:34.939
 to those that struggle,

00:30:35.399 --> 00:30:36.240
 because he goes on,

00:30:36.240 --> 00:30:37.399
 to talk about eunuchs,

00:30:37.979 --> 00:30:38.599
 a eunuch,

00:30:38.599 --> 00:30:39.479
 is somebody who,

00:30:39.879 --> 00:30:40.979
 generally a male,

00:30:41.099 --> 00:30:42.199
 who's been castrated,

00:30:42.400 --> 00:30:42.940
 that means their,

00:30:43.039 --> 00:30:44.360
 male genitalia,

00:30:44.460 --> 00:30:45.180
 is being removed,

00:30:45.539 --> 00:30:46.480
 and this often happened,

00:30:46.559 --> 00:30:47.700
 because kings,

00:30:47.799 --> 00:30:48.380
 or emperors,

00:30:48.460 --> 00:30:49.120
 didn't want those,

00:30:49.180 --> 00:30:49.759
 that were serving,

00:30:49.860 --> 00:30:50.319
 in their courts,

00:30:50.420 --> 00:30:51.140
 to mess around,

00:30:51.220 --> 00:30:51.960
 with his wives,

00:30:52.000 --> 00:30:52.559
 or his daughters,

00:30:52.920 --> 00:30:54.100
 or the female servants,

00:30:54.740 --> 00:30:55.580
 and so males,

00:30:55.640 --> 00:30:56.360
 would be castrated,

00:30:56.880 --> 00:30:57.860
 and Jesus says this,

00:30:58.019 --> 00:30:58.779
 in Matthew 19,

00:30:58.860 --> 00:30:59.200
 he says,

00:30:59.660 --> 00:31:00.799
 there are some eunuchs,

00:31:00.799 --> 00:31:01.880
 that have been made so,

00:31:02.000 --> 00:31:02.660
 by men,

00:31:02.940 --> 00:31:03.700
 he's talking about that,

00:31:03.799 --> 00:31:04.580
 incident,

00:31:05.000 --> 00:31:05.620
 he says,

00:31:05.700 --> 00:31:06.720
 there are some people,

00:31:06.900 --> 00:31:07.519
 that have chosen,

00:31:07.660 --> 00:31:08.519
 the life of a eunuch,

00:31:08.600 --> 00:31:09.440
 for the sake of the kingdom,

00:31:09.920 --> 00:31:10.340
 they've chosen,

00:31:10.500 --> 00:31:11.180
 not to have children,

00:31:11.319 --> 00:31:12.120
 to devote themselves,

00:31:12.200 --> 00:31:12.799
 to God's kingdom,

00:31:13.660 --> 00:31:14.420
 and then he says,

00:31:14.779 --> 00:31:15.700
 and there are some,

00:31:15.860 --> 00:31:16.519
 that are eunuchs,

00:31:16.600 --> 00:31:17.340
 by birth,

00:31:18.160 --> 00:31:19.259
 Jesus is recognizing,

00:31:19.440 --> 00:31:20.559
 that there's some people,

00:31:20.920 --> 00:31:21.720
 whose bodies,

00:31:21.840 --> 00:31:22.880
 don't naturally fit,

00:31:23.019 --> 00:31:24.220
 into the gender binary,

00:31:24.860 --> 00:31:26.160
 but Jesus doesn't confuse,

00:31:26.259 --> 00:31:26.580
 the matter,

00:31:26.759 --> 00:31:28.519
 he speaks with compassion,

00:31:28.620 --> 00:31:29.299
 and gentleness,

00:31:29.480 --> 00:31:30.100
 and he says,

00:31:30.200 --> 00:31:31.059
 even such people,

00:31:31.140 --> 00:31:31.819
 we've got to welcome,

00:31:32.440 --> 00:31:33.220
 we've got to love,

00:31:33.620 --> 00:31:34.680
 we've got to embrace,

00:31:35.420 --> 00:31:36.319
 we've got to be,

00:31:36.799 --> 00:31:38.180
 tender towards them,

00:31:38.880 --> 00:31:40.059
 and we should do the same,

00:31:41.059 --> 00:31:41.700
 and so we live,

00:31:41.700 --> 00:31:42.620
 in a broken world,

00:31:43.340 --> 00:31:44.539
 gender and body dysphoria,

00:31:44.759 --> 00:31:45.620
 gender confusion,

00:31:46.580 --> 00:31:47.200
 pain,

00:31:47.440 --> 00:31:47.759
 suffering,

00:31:47.840 --> 00:31:48.400
 will exist,

00:31:49.340 --> 00:31:50.279
 Jesus gets it,

00:31:51.019 --> 00:31:52.220
 Jesus understands it,

00:31:53.140 --> 00:31:54.120
 Jesus is not harsh,

00:31:54.180 --> 00:31:54.720
 towards it,

00:31:55.420 --> 00:31:56.420
 Jesus is welcoming,

00:31:57.160 --> 00:31:57.420
 and friends,

00:31:57.480 --> 00:31:58.000
 what that means,

00:31:58.059 --> 00:31:58.380
 is this,

00:31:58.500 --> 00:31:59.740
 you may struggle,

00:31:59.740 --> 00:32:00.819
 with your own body,

00:32:01.519 --> 00:32:02.340
 you may struggle,

00:32:02.340 --> 00:32:04.279
 with your own gender,

00:32:05.059 --> 00:32:05.799
 you may struggle,

00:32:06.100 --> 00:32:07.080
 with your own sexuality,

00:32:07.079 --> 00:32:08.619
 you've got to know,

00:32:08.799 --> 00:32:09.960
 that Jesus Christ,

00:32:10.039 --> 00:32:10.619
 the one who went,

00:32:10.679 --> 00:32:11.439
 to the cross for you,

00:32:11.939 --> 00:32:12.679
 knows it,

00:32:13.359 --> 00:32:14.480
 and understands it,

00:32:15.019 --> 00:32:16.000
 and is compassionate,

00:32:16.000 --> 00:32:16.879
 towards it,

00:32:18.220 --> 00:32:18.759
 as Dan Orton,

00:32:18.839 --> 00:32:19.559
 often tells us,

00:32:19.659 --> 00:32:20.159
 the posture,

00:32:20.279 --> 00:32:21.419
 most natural to Jesus,

00:32:21.559 --> 00:32:22.759
 is not a pointed finger,

00:32:23.599 --> 00:32:24.960
 but wide open arms,

00:32:25.639 --> 00:32:26.240
 saying come,

00:32:26.919 --> 00:32:28.159
 and experience my grace,

00:32:28.160 --> 00:32:32.100
 gender is intentionally designed,

00:32:32.460 --> 00:32:33.680
 gender is biologically grounded,

00:32:34.080 --> 00:32:34.900
 last thing I want to say,

00:32:35.000 --> 00:32:35.259
 is this,

00:32:35.700 --> 00:32:37.040
 is gender is missionly,

00:32:37.420 --> 00:32:38.060
 essential,

00:32:38.700 --> 00:32:39.560
 missionly essential,

00:32:40.420 --> 00:32:42.019
 in 2022,

00:32:42.400 --> 00:32:43.200
 so two years ago,

00:32:43.519 --> 00:32:44.519
 Rebecca McLaughlin,

00:32:44.759 --> 00:32:45.880
 wrote an amazing book,

00:32:45.880 --> 00:32:46.759
 Rebecca McLaughlin,

00:32:46.900 --> 00:32:47.540
 is a respected,

00:32:47.540 --> 00:32:47.880
 theologian,

00:32:48.640 --> 00:32:49.060
 and author,

00:32:49.580 --> 00:32:50.360
 and she wrote a book,

00:32:50.500 --> 00:32:50.600
 called,

00:32:50.720 --> 00:32:52.279
 Jesus through the eyes of women,

00:32:52.640 --> 00:32:54.060
 how the first female disciples,

00:32:54.279 --> 00:32:55.560
 helped us to know,

00:32:56.080 --> 00:32:56.920
 and love the Lord,

00:32:56.920 --> 00:32:58.539
 and in this book,

00:32:58.600 --> 00:32:59.000
 one of the things,

00:32:59.080 --> 00:33:00.259
 that Rebecca McLaughlin shows,

00:33:01.000 --> 00:33:02.120
 is she highlights,

00:33:02.340 --> 00:33:03.480
 that throughout the gospels,

00:33:03.539 --> 00:33:04.160
 and the New Testament,

00:33:04.759 --> 00:33:05.860
 the vital role,

00:33:06.039 --> 00:33:07.060
 that women played,

00:33:07.160 --> 00:33:07.960
 in the ministry,

00:33:08.100 --> 00:33:08.920
 in the life of Jesus,

00:33:09.480 --> 00:33:11.200
 and in the early church,

00:33:11.980 --> 00:33:12.240
 now,

00:33:12.600 --> 00:33:13.460
 I say that,

00:33:13.539 --> 00:33:14.900
 not to be patronizing,

00:33:14.900 --> 00:33:15.400
 to women,

00:33:15.519 --> 00:33:15.880
 or to say,

00:33:15.880 --> 00:33:16.340
 oh you know,

00:33:16.440 --> 00:33:17.380
 women you've also got a role,

00:33:17.480 --> 00:33:17.960
 in God's kingdom,

00:33:18.500 --> 00:33:19.580
 but often,

00:33:19.840 --> 00:33:20.500
 as men,

00:33:20.580 --> 00:33:21.759
 often when we read the Bible,

00:33:22.180 --> 00:33:23.180
 when we think of Jesus,

00:33:23.360 --> 00:33:24.380
 and his disciples,

00:33:24.820 --> 00:33:25.840
 who do we often think about?

00:33:26.339 --> 00:33:27.919
 We think about the 12 disciples,

00:33:28.099 --> 00:33:28.939
 and the 12 apostles,

00:33:29.119 --> 00:33:29.279
 right?

00:33:29.359 --> 00:33:30.579
 That's generally what you think about.

00:33:31.399 --> 00:33:33.079
 But Rebecca McLaughlin shows,

00:33:33.899 --> 00:33:34.559
 that actually,

00:33:34.819 --> 00:33:35.559
 at every,

00:33:36.399 --> 00:33:37.759
 throughout the ministry of Jesus,

00:33:37.919 --> 00:33:38.659
 and especially,

00:33:38.859 --> 00:33:39.699
 at all the critical,

00:33:39.839 --> 00:33:41.500
 elements of Jesus life,

00:33:41.579 --> 00:33:42.139
 his birth,

00:33:42.519 --> 00:33:43.039
 his death,

00:33:43.359 --> 00:33:44.119
 his resurrection,

00:33:45.119 --> 00:33:45.639
 prominent,

00:33:45.839 --> 00:33:46.839
 in all of those roles,

00:33:46.959 --> 00:33:47.899
 is the role of women.

00:33:48.439 --> 00:33:49.799
 And her point is,

00:33:50.199 --> 00:33:51.179
 that the life,

00:33:51.279 --> 00:33:51.819
 and the ministry,

00:33:51.819 --> 00:33:52.959
 the ministry of Jesus,

00:33:53.139 --> 00:33:53.759
 and the ministry,

00:33:53.759 --> 00:33:54.699
 of the early church,

00:33:54.700 --> 00:33:56.519
 almost,

00:33:57.240 --> 00:33:57.960
 you almost could say,

00:33:58.039 --> 00:33:58.860
 wouldn't happen,

00:33:59.319 --> 00:34:00.779
 certainly wouldn't have been the same,

00:34:01.100 --> 00:34:02.420
 without both genders,

00:34:02.580 --> 00:34:03.539
 equally involved,

00:34:03.720 --> 00:34:04.759
 male and female.

00:34:05.160 --> 00:34:06.059
 She writes this,

00:34:06.120 --> 00:34:06.500
 she says,

00:34:06.720 --> 00:34:08.500
 if we work our way through,

00:34:08.619 --> 00:34:08.880
 Matthew,

00:34:09.039 --> 00:34:09.300
 Mark,

00:34:09.420 --> 00:34:09.619
 Luke,

00:34:09.679 --> 00:34:10.079
 and John,

00:34:10.460 --> 00:34:11.539
 and we cut out,

00:34:11.619 --> 00:34:12.139
 we discard,

00:34:12.240 --> 00:34:13.519
 we tear out of our Bibles,

00:34:13.960 --> 00:34:14.900
 all the scenes,

00:34:15.039 --> 00:34:16.179
 where women play no role,

00:34:16.320 --> 00:34:17.340
 where women aren't involved,

00:34:17.440 --> 00:34:18.240
 and don't have a role,

00:34:18.960 --> 00:34:19.420
 actually,

00:34:19.559 --> 00:34:20.260
 we would tear out,

00:34:20.260 --> 00:34:21.500
 very little of our Bibles.

00:34:22.239 --> 00:34:22.659
 In other words,

00:34:22.760 --> 00:34:23.760
 most of the New Testament,

00:34:23.900 --> 00:34:25.119
 almost every page,

00:34:25.559 --> 00:34:26.440
 somewhere in there,

00:34:26.480 --> 00:34:27.739
 you see the vital role,

00:34:27.820 --> 00:34:28.619
 in which women are playing,

00:34:28.699 --> 00:34:29.699
 to the ministry of Jesus.

00:34:29.780 --> 00:34:30.400
 That's her point.

00:34:31.219 --> 00:34:31.659
 Conversely,

00:34:31.699 --> 00:34:32.059
 she says,

00:34:32.420 --> 00:34:33.340
 cut out all the roles,

00:34:33.380 --> 00:34:34.360
 that women do play,

00:34:34.639 --> 00:34:35.500
 and the Gospels,

00:34:35.840 --> 00:34:36.300
 and we'd have,

00:34:36.440 --> 00:34:37.079
 in the Gospels,

00:34:37.179 --> 00:34:38.420
 we'd have some real problems.

00:34:39.500 --> 00:34:40.260
 And she goes on,

00:34:40.280 --> 00:34:41.820
 to show how Christ's life,

00:34:41.920 --> 00:34:42.780
 was witnessed,

00:34:43.079 --> 00:34:43.820
 testified to,

00:34:44.079 --> 00:34:45.400
 and sometimes even enabled,

00:34:45.860 --> 00:34:47.400
 by the many female followers.

00:34:48.159 --> 00:34:49.219
 And we see this,

00:34:49.219 --> 00:34:50.159
 throughout the rest,

00:34:50.159 --> 00:34:50.980
 of the New Testament,

00:34:51.519 --> 00:34:52.319
 the vital role,

00:34:52.460 --> 00:34:54.019
 that both men and women,

00:34:54.179 --> 00:34:55.179
 male and female,

00:34:55.359 --> 00:34:56.219
 play in the expansion,

00:34:56.339 --> 00:34:56.719
 of the Gospel.

00:34:57.559 --> 00:34:58.179
 Most of us know,

00:34:58.259 --> 00:34:58.960
 the missionary work,

00:34:59.119 --> 00:34:59.779
 of Paul,

00:34:59.920 --> 00:35:00.859
 and Barnabas,

00:35:01.179 --> 00:35:01.679
 the sermons,

00:35:01.759 --> 00:35:02.339
 of Stephen,

00:35:02.440 --> 00:35:02.940
 and Peter.

00:35:03.579 --> 00:35:04.119
 But what about,

00:35:04.199 --> 00:35:04.659
 the teamwork,

00:35:04.839 --> 00:35:05.339
 of Aquila,

00:35:05.500 --> 00:35:06.059
 and Priscilla?

00:35:06.599 --> 00:35:07.420
 There's husband and wife,

00:35:07.599 --> 00:35:08.279
 couple that,

00:35:08.679 --> 00:35:09.619
 plant and host,

00:35:10.000 --> 00:35:10.339
 churches,

00:35:10.480 --> 00:35:11.699
 in three of the major cities,

00:35:11.759 --> 00:35:12.099
 of the world,

00:35:12.239 --> 00:35:12.599
 Ephesus,

00:35:12.859 --> 00:35:13.139
 Corinth,

00:35:13.219 --> 00:35:13.599
 and Rome.

00:35:14.440 --> 00:35:15.219
 What about,

00:35:15.519 --> 00:35:17.119
 people like Chloe,

00:35:17.259 --> 00:35:18.359
 host the church,

00:35:18.440 --> 00:35:18.980
 in her home?

00:35:19.379 --> 00:35:19.920
 Or Lydia,

00:35:19.920 --> 00:35:20.780
 who helped establish,

00:35:20.780 --> 00:35:21.920
 the church in Philippi,

00:35:22.000 --> 00:35:22.840
 one of the leading churches,

00:35:22.960 --> 00:35:23.579
 in the New Testament.

00:35:24.320 --> 00:35:25.220
 Or people like,

00:35:25.300 --> 00:35:25.559
 Yodi,

00:35:25.659 --> 00:35:26.220
 and Tiki,

00:35:26.340 --> 00:35:27.000
 who Paul says,

00:35:27.340 --> 00:35:28.880
 labored side by side,

00:35:28.960 --> 00:35:30.079
 with me for the Gospel,

00:35:30.559 --> 00:35:31.420
 together with Clement,

00:35:31.539 --> 00:35:32.940
 and the rest of my fellow workers.

00:35:33.740 --> 00:35:34.260
 Or consider,

00:35:34.420 --> 00:35:35.800
 Paul's letter to Titus,

00:35:35.840 --> 00:35:36.240
 where he says,

00:35:36.700 --> 00:35:37.420
 older women,

00:35:37.539 --> 00:35:38.460
 and older men,

00:35:38.500 --> 00:35:39.519
 are needed in the church,

00:35:39.579 --> 00:35:40.460
 so train them,

00:35:40.519 --> 00:35:41.639
 to do the work of ministry.

00:35:42.200 --> 00:35:43.599
 Or Paul's words,

00:35:43.700 --> 00:35:44.400
 to Timothy,

00:35:44.519 --> 00:35:44.880
 where he says,

00:35:45.200 --> 00:35:46.159
 train older men,

00:35:46.159 --> 00:35:47.059
 and older women,

00:35:47.139 --> 00:35:48.320
 to teach the younger men,

00:35:48.360 --> 00:35:49.059
 and the younger women,

00:35:49.139 --> 00:35:49.720
 in the church.

00:35:50.500 --> 00:35:51.300
 What's the point?

00:35:51.760 --> 00:35:52.720
 The point is this,

00:35:53.240 --> 00:35:54.840
 that the God of the Bible,

00:35:55.200 --> 00:35:56.760
 resolutely proclaims,

00:35:57.000 --> 00:35:57.559
 that yes,

00:35:57.639 --> 00:35:58.139
 men and women,

00:35:58.220 --> 00:35:59.380
 are equal and different.

00:35:59.659 --> 00:36:00.059
 Absolutely.

00:36:00.240 --> 00:36:01.240
 Not interchangeable.

00:36:01.320 --> 00:36:02.320
 Not intercollapsible.

00:36:02.860 --> 00:36:03.680
 Into one and the same.

00:36:04.139 --> 00:36:05.019
 Not only different,

00:36:05.099 --> 00:36:06.599
 in anatomy and genitalia,

00:36:06.940 --> 00:36:07.820
 but different,

00:36:08.039 --> 00:36:09.840
 in who God's made us.

00:36:10.420 --> 00:36:10.780
 And yet,

00:36:10.960 --> 00:36:11.420
 both,

00:36:11.559 --> 00:36:12.519
 Christianity says,

00:36:12.579 --> 00:36:13.500
 are vitally,

00:36:13.659 --> 00:36:14.659
 absolutely essential,

00:36:14.780 --> 00:36:16.480
 to the mission of the church,

00:36:16.720 --> 00:36:17.940
 the mission of God's kingdom,

00:36:17.940 --> 00:36:19.639
 the advancement of the gospel,

00:36:19.820 --> 00:36:20.679
 in this world,

00:36:21.000 --> 00:36:23.039
 until Christ returns.

00:36:23.539 --> 00:36:23.980
 Both,

00:36:24.159 --> 00:36:24.820
 older men,

00:36:25.079 --> 00:36:25.760
 and older women,

00:36:26.000 --> 00:36:26.619
 younger men,

00:36:26.780 --> 00:36:27.440
 and younger women,

00:36:27.539 --> 00:36:28.860
 are absolutely needed,

00:36:29.099 --> 00:36:31.280
 unapologically needed,

00:36:31.659 --> 00:36:32.780
 bring who they are,

00:36:33.179 --> 00:36:34.460
 who Christ has made them,

00:36:34.880 --> 00:36:35.159
 to say,

00:36:35.220 --> 00:36:35.460
 God,

00:36:35.579 --> 00:36:36.380
 here I am.

00:36:36.880 --> 00:36:38.019
 This is who you've made me.

00:36:38.519 --> 00:36:39.720
 I can't be somebody else,

00:36:40.679 --> 00:36:41.760
 but all that I am,

00:36:41.780 --> 00:36:42.559
 and all that I have,

00:36:42.559 --> 00:36:43.960
 I bring myself to you,

00:36:44.039 --> 00:36:44.219
 and say,

00:36:44.340 --> 00:36:44.679
 Jesus,

00:36:45.420 --> 00:36:46.259
 have your way,

00:36:46.739 --> 00:36:47.500
 in my life.

00:36:49.000 --> 00:36:50.219
 And so what should we do with this?

00:36:50.259 --> 00:36:51.299
 How should we respond?

00:36:52.559 --> 00:36:53.539
 As we close,

00:36:53.699 --> 00:36:54.079
 let me,

00:36:54.559 --> 00:36:55.519
 suggest this.

00:36:57.119 --> 00:36:58.159
 Here's one response.

00:36:58.279 --> 00:36:59.440
 For those of us that are men,

00:36:59.679 --> 00:37:00.679
 in Watermark Church,

00:37:01.380 --> 00:37:02.619
 I want to ask you,

00:37:02.739 --> 00:37:04.299
 don't apologize for being a man.

00:37:05.099 --> 00:37:06.059
 We live in a time,

00:37:06.139 --> 00:37:06.860
 when I think,

00:37:07.279 --> 00:37:08.159
 men feel like,

00:37:08.239 --> 00:37:09.340
 they often need to apologize,

00:37:09.579 --> 00:37:10.039
 for being a man.

00:37:10.139 --> 00:37:10.940
 Don't be shy,

00:37:11.079 --> 00:37:11.639
 or timid.

00:37:12.360 --> 00:37:13.340
 Don't be apologetic,

00:37:13.420 --> 00:37:14.699
 about who God has made you.

00:37:15.559 --> 00:37:16.500
 Study the Bible,

00:37:16.679 --> 00:37:17.460
 study the scriptures,

00:37:17.920 --> 00:37:18.579
 and see,

00:37:18.800 --> 00:37:20.820
 what is it that God has called you,

00:37:21.259 --> 00:37:22.119
 as a man,

00:37:22.219 --> 00:37:23.019
 and if you're a Christian,

00:37:23.099 --> 00:37:24.079
 as a Christian man,

00:37:24.460 --> 00:37:25.039
 to be,

00:37:25.719 --> 00:37:26.340
 and to do.

00:37:27.019 --> 00:37:27.440
 And then,

00:37:27.599 --> 00:37:28.679
 resolutely choose,

00:37:28.759 --> 00:37:29.920
 to be the most godly,

00:37:30.539 --> 00:37:30.940
 humble,

00:37:31.619 --> 00:37:32.679
 Christ-like man,

00:37:32.679 --> 00:37:33.500
 that you can be,

00:37:33.840 --> 00:37:35.619
 to serve your fellow church,

00:37:35.719 --> 00:37:36.480
 to serve Christ,

00:37:36.559 --> 00:37:37.000
 and his kingdom,

00:37:37.139 --> 00:37:38.480
 to live on mission for him,

00:37:38.880 --> 00:37:39.739
 and to be the man,

00:37:39.739 --> 00:37:40.779
 that God's called you to be.

00:37:41.979 --> 00:37:42.719
 But let me say,

00:37:42.799 --> 00:37:44.000
 equally to the woman,

00:37:44.879 --> 00:37:45.739
 don't apologize,

00:37:45.959 --> 00:37:46.439
 for being a woman.

00:37:47.119 --> 00:37:47.819
 Don't feel like,

00:37:47.879 --> 00:37:49.119
 you're second rate citizens,

00:37:49.239 --> 00:37:49.899
 in God's kingdom.

00:37:50.619 --> 00:37:51.219
 Don't feel,

00:37:51.339 --> 00:37:52.500
 your role in God's kingdom,

00:37:52.619 --> 00:37:53.579
 is just to have babies,

00:37:53.699 --> 00:37:54.659
 and fill the earth,

00:37:54.719 --> 00:37:56.019
 with the image bearers of God.

00:37:56.099 --> 00:37:57.059
 That's not God's call,

00:37:57.119 --> 00:37:57.399
 on you,

00:37:57.839 --> 00:37:58.239
 as a woman.

00:37:59.119 --> 00:38:00.059
 Study the scriptures,

00:38:00.799 --> 00:38:01.659
 study the Bible.

00:38:02.519 --> 00:38:02.799
 See,

00:38:03.059 --> 00:38:04.079
 what is it that God,

00:38:04.079 --> 00:38:05.479
 has called you to be,

00:38:05.480 --> 00:38:07.119
 and then radically,

00:38:07.380 --> 00:38:08.360
 unapologetically,

00:38:08.659 --> 00:38:09.780
 pursue what that,

00:38:09.900 --> 00:38:10.860
 what that means.

00:38:11.440 --> 00:38:12.760
 Be the most godly,

00:38:13.199 --> 00:38:14.699
 Christ-like woman,

00:38:14.760 --> 00:38:15.340
 that you can be,

00:38:15.599 --> 00:38:17.440
 and give yourself wholeheartedly,

00:38:17.539 --> 00:38:18.760
 to advance God's kingdom,

00:38:19.320 --> 00:38:20.719
 to glorify God,

00:38:20.760 --> 00:38:22.780
 with every part of your femininity,

00:38:22.880 --> 00:38:23.960
 with all that you are,

00:38:24.280 --> 00:38:25.320
 to serve God,

00:38:25.760 --> 00:38:26.780
 and to serve his kingdom,

00:38:27.340 --> 00:38:28.500
 and his mission on earth.

00:38:29.599 --> 00:38:30.920
 And so let me close with,

00:38:30.920 --> 00:38:32.980
 Rebecca McLaughlin's words,

00:38:33.719 --> 00:38:34.539
 from her book.

00:38:34.539 --> 00:38:35.320
 She says this,

00:38:35.800 --> 00:38:37.159
 As we meet Jesus,

00:38:37.279 --> 00:38:38.059
 in the gospels,

00:38:38.820 --> 00:38:40.300
 we'll encounter a man,

00:38:40.420 --> 00:38:41.619
 born into scandal.

00:38:42.440 --> 00:38:43.279
 A man who further,

00:38:43.380 --> 00:38:44.920
 scandalized his fellow Jews,

00:38:45.039 --> 00:38:46.139
 by loving women,

00:38:47.019 --> 00:38:48.239
 known by their sin.

00:38:49.039 --> 00:38:50.059
 We find a man,

00:38:50.139 --> 00:38:51.679
 who never had sexual relationships,

00:38:52.320 --> 00:38:53.960
 but who loved women so well,

00:38:54.039 --> 00:38:55.139
 that they'd leave everything,

00:38:55.239 --> 00:38:56.119
 they had to follow him.

00:38:56.940 --> 00:38:57.619
 In the gospels,

00:38:57.679 --> 00:38:58.360
 we find a man,

00:38:58.360 --> 00:38:59.239
 who turned his back,

00:38:59.279 --> 00:39:00.519
 on the religiously powerful,

00:39:00.519 --> 00:39:01.300
 men of his day,

00:39:01.880 --> 00:39:02.719
 and had his longest,

00:39:02.860 --> 00:39:04.420
 recorded private conversations,

00:39:04.539 --> 00:39:06.659
 with religiously despised women.

00:39:07.380 --> 00:39:08.719
 Looking through the eyes of women,

00:39:08.860 --> 00:39:10.360
 Jesus lived and ministered to,

00:39:10.460 --> 00:39:10.779
 and among,

00:39:11.259 --> 00:39:12.079
 we see a man,

00:39:12.119 --> 00:39:13.639
 who valued all people,

00:39:14.159 --> 00:39:15.000
 men and women,

00:39:15.519 --> 00:39:17.199
 especially those vilified,

00:39:17.300 --> 00:39:18.579
 and looked down upon by others.

00:39:19.119 --> 00:39:20.340
 We should not be surprised,

00:39:20.460 --> 00:39:20.679
 therefore,

00:39:20.759 --> 00:39:21.719
 that all people,

00:39:22.259 --> 00:39:23.300
 men and women,

00:39:23.840 --> 00:39:24.440
 Caucasian,

00:39:24.719 --> 00:39:25.139
 Chinese,

00:39:25.559 --> 00:39:25.920
 black,

00:39:26.239 --> 00:39:26.860
 Nigerian,

00:39:27.360 --> 00:39:27.719
 Indian,

00:39:28.340 --> 00:39:29.099
 young and old,

00:39:29.460 --> 00:39:29.920
 smart,

00:39:30.259 --> 00:39:30.860
 not as smart,

00:39:30.980 --> 00:39:31.460
 educated,

00:39:31.460 --> 00:39:32.220
 uneducated,

00:39:32.320 --> 00:39:32.559
 rich,

00:39:32.679 --> 00:39:32.880
 poor,

00:39:33.199 --> 00:39:34.340
 all people,

00:39:34.880 --> 00:39:35.740
 have been flocking,

00:39:36.240 --> 00:39:37.240
 to Jesus Christ,

00:39:37.280 --> 00:39:37.780
 ever since.

00:39:38.720 --> 00:39:39.039
 Friends,

00:39:39.099 --> 00:39:39.679
 who is Jesus?

00:39:40.420 --> 00:39:41.720
 He's the friend of sinners,

00:39:42.579 --> 00:39:44.079
 he's the ally of the broken,

00:39:45.139 --> 00:39:47.139
 he's the one who embraced outcasts,

00:39:47.780 --> 00:39:48.619
 he's also the one,

00:39:48.699 --> 00:39:49.340
 who made you,

00:39:49.440 --> 00:39:50.159
 who you are,

00:39:50.980 --> 00:39:51.380
 he's the one,

00:39:51.440 --> 00:39:52.260
 who designed you,

00:39:52.320 --> 00:39:53.340
 every part of you,

00:39:53.900 --> 00:39:54.579
 he's the one,

00:39:54.579 --> 00:39:55.559
 who came to earth,

00:39:55.639 --> 00:39:56.579
 and died on the cross,

00:39:57.039 --> 00:39:58.500
 to redeem your broken body,

00:39:59.400 --> 00:39:59.840
 he's the one,

00:39:59.920 --> 00:40:00.780
 who allowed his body,

00:40:00.900 --> 00:40:01.579
 to be broken,

00:40:02.179 --> 00:40:02.860
 so that one day,

00:40:02.940 --> 00:40:03.739
 your broken body,

00:40:03.860 --> 00:40:04.519
 will be redeemed,

00:40:04.599 --> 00:40:05.139
 and resurrected.

00:40:06.179 --> 00:40:07.000
 Jesus is the one,

00:40:07.039 --> 00:40:08.059
 who moves towards us,

00:40:08.079 --> 00:40:09.679
 with infinite compassion,

00:40:09.860 --> 00:40:10.420
 and grace,

00:40:10.840 --> 00:40:12.039
 but also with clarity,

00:40:12.699 --> 00:40:13.300
 and he's the one,

00:40:13.380 --> 00:40:14.320
 who calls us,

00:40:14.760 --> 00:40:16.000
 to wholeheartedly,

00:40:16.000 --> 00:40:16.800
 follow him,

00:40:17.139 --> 00:40:18.699
 to pick up our cross,

00:40:19.119 --> 00:40:20.380
 to die to ourselves,

00:40:20.780 --> 00:40:21.980
 to live for his glory,

00:40:22.059 --> 00:40:22.940
 and to love others,

00:40:23.320 --> 00:40:24.639
 and to serve his mission,

00:40:24.639 --> 00:40:25.320
 and his kingdom,

00:40:25.820 --> 00:40:26.480
 here on earth.

00:40:27.219 --> 00:40:28.420
 And as we come to him,

00:40:28.420 --> 00:40:28.980
 and know him,

00:40:29.019 --> 00:40:29.800
 and experience him,

00:40:30.240 --> 00:40:31.800
 we'll find that in him,

00:40:32.420 --> 00:40:33.159
 is life,

00:40:33.820 --> 00:40:34.820
 and life to the full,

00:40:35.360 --> 00:40:36.659
 even in this broken world.

00:40:37.320 --> 00:40:38.579
 So let's come to him now,

00:40:39.039 --> 00:40:39.559
 in prayer.

00:40:40.220 --> 00:40:41.059
 Let me pray for us.

00:40:42.760 --> 00:40:43.480
 Lord Jesus,

00:40:43.720 --> 00:40:46.200
 we've spoken about a difficult topic,

00:40:47.139 --> 00:40:49.200
 God I hope that I've represented you,

00:40:49.340 --> 00:40:50.079
 and your word,

00:40:50.760 --> 00:40:51.900
 and your heart well.

00:40:54.440 --> 00:40:55.680
 God it's very easy,

00:40:55.760 --> 00:40:56.559
 to stand on a platform,

00:40:56.700 --> 00:40:57.900
 and talk about these things,

00:40:57.900 --> 00:40:58.860
 it's very hard,

00:40:58.860 --> 00:40:59.639
 to live them,

00:40:59.720 --> 00:41:00.680
 especially for those of us,

00:41:00.720 --> 00:41:01.280
 that struggle,

00:41:02.000 --> 00:41:04.000
 with issues of dysphoria,

00:41:04.559 --> 00:41:05.579
 with the pain,

00:41:05.700 --> 00:41:06.880
 maybe some of us have,

00:41:07.880 --> 00:41:08.880
 been hurt,

00:41:09.000 --> 00:41:09.700
 by others,

00:41:10.539 --> 00:41:11.519
 spoken down upon,

00:41:11.680 --> 00:41:12.000
 treated,

00:41:12.780 --> 00:41:13.280
 badly.

00:41:15.440 --> 00:41:16.180
 God we,

00:41:17.180 --> 00:41:19.280
 we come to you,

00:41:19.320 --> 00:41:20.360
 and we ask you for your grace.

00:41:21.680 --> 00:41:22.599
 We ask you God,

00:41:22.599 --> 00:41:23.639
 to both meet us,

00:41:23.639 --> 00:41:24.239
 with clarity,

00:41:24.239 --> 00:41:25.039
 and compassion,

00:41:25.299 --> 00:41:25.579
 God.

00:41:26.819 --> 00:41:27.400
 But God,

00:41:27.460 --> 00:41:28.299
 we pray that also,

00:41:28.539 --> 00:41:29.000
 you will,

00:41:30.059 --> 00:41:31.119
 tell us exactly,

00:41:31.279 --> 00:41:31.779
 who we are.

00:41:32.719 --> 00:41:33.619
 We pray God,

00:41:33.659 --> 00:41:34.819
 that we find our identity,

00:41:34.980 --> 00:41:36.179
 not from social media,

00:41:36.279 --> 00:41:37.440
 what Instagram has to say,

00:41:37.599 --> 00:41:38.599
 Facebook has to say,

00:41:39.799 --> 00:41:40.880
 but what your word says,

00:41:40.940 --> 00:41:42.219
 and what you by your spirit say.

00:41:43.199 --> 00:41:43.920
 And then God,

00:41:44.019 --> 00:41:44.940
 give us the conviction,

00:41:45.179 --> 00:41:46.099
 to be the man,

00:41:46.139 --> 00:41:46.579
 and the woman,

00:41:46.659 --> 00:41:47.940
 that you've called us to be.

00:41:48.679 --> 00:41:49.639
 And to live that out,

00:41:49.740 --> 00:41:50.420
 wholeheartedly,

00:41:50.579 --> 00:41:51.400
 unapologetically,

00:41:51.659 --> 00:41:52.480
 unreservedly,

00:41:52.639 --> 00:41:53.519
 for your glory.

00:41:54.760 --> 00:41:55.800
 God come and meet us,

00:41:55.860 --> 00:41:56.800
 we pray in this area.

00:41:58.400 --> 00:41:59.260
 Speak to us.

00:41:59.920 --> 00:42:00.840
 God where there's pain,

00:42:00.900 --> 00:42:01.260
 and hurt,

00:42:01.340 --> 00:42:02.220
 we pray once you,

00:42:02.659 --> 00:42:03.260
 heal us,

00:42:04.320 --> 00:42:04.860
 once you,

00:42:05.740 --> 00:42:08.000
 be at work in our lives.

00:42:08.880 --> 00:42:09.420
 And finally God,

00:42:09.480 --> 00:42:10.420
 make us a church,

00:42:10.420 --> 00:42:10.980
 that is,

00:42:11.340 --> 00:42:12.500
 full of compassion,

00:42:12.700 --> 00:42:12.980
 tender.

00:42:13.900 --> 00:42:14.619
 That is,

00:42:15.159 --> 00:42:16.039
 gracious and welcoming.

00:42:16.039 --> 00:42:18.099
 Even to those,

00:42:18.179 --> 00:42:19.460
 maybe who disagree with us,

00:42:20.139 --> 00:42:20.900
 we pray God,

00:42:20.960 --> 00:42:21.579
 may we exhibit,

00:42:22.239 --> 00:42:22.840
 and emulate,

00:42:22.980 --> 00:42:23.840
 the compassion of Jesus.

00:42:24.739 --> 00:42:25.460
 We pray this,

00:42:25.940 --> 00:42:26.599
 in your wonderful,

00:42:26.759 --> 00:42:27.460
 and gracious name.

00:42:28.380 --> 00:42:28.659
 Amen.