WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.080 We hope that you enjoy this teaching from Christ Church. 00:00:05.719 --> 00:00:11.580 This material is copyrighted and no unauthorized duplication, redistribution, or any other 00:00:11.580 --> 00:00:15.280 use of any part is permitted without prior consent from Christ Church. 00:00:15.640 --> 00:00:22.620 Please consider donating to this work in the San Francisco Bay Area online at ChristChurchEastBay.org. 00:00:26.379 --> 00:00:27.339 Good morning. 00:00:27.339 --> 00:00:31.759 My name is Carrie Moulton and I'm a member of the Oakland Women's Little Faith Group. 00:00:32.560 --> 00:00:39.159 And the first reading today is from Jeremiah chapter 9 verses 23 and 24. 00:00:39.880 --> 00:00:41.679 A reading from the prophet Jeremiah. 00:00:43.439 --> 00:00:45.200 This is what the Lord says. 00:00:47.460 --> 00:00:55.439 Let not the wise boast of their wisdom, or the strong boast of their strength, or the 00:00:55.439 --> 00:00:57.120 rich boast of their riches. 00:00:58.120 --> 00:01:01.140 But let the one who boasts boast about this. 00:01:01.760 --> 00:01:09.439 That they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord who exercises kindness, justice, 00:01:09.980 --> 00:01:11.480 and righteousness on earth. 00:01:12.240 --> 00:01:15.379 For in these I delight, declares the Lord. 00:01:15.379 --> 00:01:22.319 And then a reading from 2 Kings chapter 4 verses 1 through 6. 00:01:22.319 --> 00:01:29.239 The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elijah, 00:01:30.579 --> 00:01:35.659 Your servant, my husband, is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. 00:01:36.659 --> 00:01:41.159 But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves. 00:01:41.159 --> 00:01:44.259 Elisha replied to her, 00:01:44.259 --> 00:01:46.239 How can I help you? 00:01:46.780 --> 00:01:49.119 Tell me, what do you have in your house? 00:01:50.039 --> 00:01:55.079 Your servant has nothing there at all, she said, except a small jar of olive oil. 00:01:56.579 --> 00:01:57.479 Elisha said, 00:01:57.480 --> 00:02:01.540 Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. 00:02:02.060 --> 00:02:03.700 Don't ask for just a few. 00:02:04.719 --> 00:02:09.759 Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side. 00:02:09.759 --> 00:02:14.759 She left him and shut the door behind her and her sons. 00:02:15.239 --> 00:02:17.959 They brought the jars to her, and she kept pouring. 00:02:19.099 --> 00:02:21.899 When all the jars were full, she said to her son, 00:02:22.239 --> 00:02:23.199 Bring me another one. 00:02:23.419 --> 00:02:24.500 But he replied, 00:02:25.000 --> 00:02:26.340 There is not a jar left. 00:02:28.039 --> 00:02:29.699 Then the oil stopped flowing. 00:02:30.419 --> 00:02:33.060 She went and told the man of God, and he said, 00:02:33.519 --> 00:02:35.959 Go, sell the oil, and pay your debts. 00:02:36.459 --> 00:02:38.739 You and your sons can live on what is left. 00:02:38.740 --> 00:02:40.460 This is the word of the Lord. 00:02:41.200 --> 00:02:42.219 Thanks be to God. 00:02:42.900 --> 00:02:44.760 Alright, good morning Christ Church. 00:02:45.860 --> 00:02:47.879 The spirit is clearly moving today. 00:02:48.040 --> 00:02:49.159 I heard a few of you clapping. 00:02:50.260 --> 00:02:52.900 And I think I even saw a couple of you move. 00:02:53.060 --> 00:02:54.980 So that was cool. 00:02:56.219 --> 00:02:58.379 This is, as you've seen and you've heard so far, 00:02:58.500 --> 00:02:59.540 this is Compassion Sunday. 00:03:00.100 --> 00:03:06.760 And it's our hope to just help you engage with the compassionate heart of God for you, 00:03:06.759 --> 00:03:08.919 as well as for the global poor. 00:03:09.519 --> 00:03:14.899 And we're going to be inviting you to partner and to build friendships with children 00:03:14.899 --> 00:03:19.519 in some of the most vulnerable and dangerous situations in the world, 00:03:19.519 --> 00:03:21.919 so that they can be released. 00:03:22.019 --> 00:03:24.459 They can be lifted out of poverty in Jesus' name. 00:03:24.460 --> 00:03:29.659 And that we can have a part in helping them reach their full redemptive potential. 00:03:30.360 --> 00:03:31.420 You guys excited about that? 00:03:33.100 --> 00:03:38.360 So I want to just acknowledge my imposter syndrome right at the very top of this sermon. 00:03:38.360 --> 00:03:45.960 Because some of you, I know, have advanced degrees and experience in things like macroeconomics 00:03:45.960 --> 00:03:50.540 and poverty reduction, social development, and public policy. 00:03:51.200 --> 00:03:53.560 Others of you maybe don't have those credentials, 00:03:53.800 --> 00:03:57.760 but you have a large heart of compassion for the poor. 00:03:58.000 --> 00:04:02.260 And next to you, I feel like the Grinch, you know, whose heart is like three times too small. 00:04:02.259 --> 00:04:10.799 So I just want to say at the top, it's such a humbling thing to be the pastor of so many smart and caring people. 00:04:11.000 --> 00:04:13.579 And I have so much to learn from you today. 00:04:14.179 --> 00:04:18.279 But despite all the things that I'm lacking both in my head and in my heart, 00:04:18.659 --> 00:04:20.560 we're doing Compassion Sunday right now. 00:04:21.120 --> 00:04:23.219 And why are we doing that? 00:04:23.300 --> 00:04:25.980 Well, Andrew said earlier, we, as a church, 00:04:26.079 --> 00:04:31.240 we've committed ourselves to giving 10% of our general fund budget to Mercy and Missions every year. 00:04:31.240 --> 00:04:35.920 We gave $154,000 away last year. 00:04:36.000 --> 00:04:40.480 And this is now our third year in a row of tithing our income as a church. 00:04:40.540 --> 00:04:42.879 And I'm really proud to be a part of a church that does that. 00:04:44.699 --> 00:04:53.340 And, you know, we know that locally, the Bay Area has a vast disparity of wealth and of income inequality. 00:04:53.339 --> 00:05:03.219 And so part of that giving goes to address needs to support local organizations that are working with the poor, 00:05:03.299 --> 00:05:10.579 like Loaves and Fishes, Harbor House, Care Portal, Foss of the City, Project Peace, and others. 00:05:10.779 --> 00:05:16.120 We want to give our time, our talent, and certainly our treasures to support local poor. 00:05:16.120 --> 00:05:23.800 But we also want to be a both and church, both local and global, both for the city and for the world, 00:05:23.959 --> 00:05:28.800 both giving to people who are near and giving to people who are far away. 00:05:28.899 --> 00:05:35.259 And so this past spring, our church gave $25,000 to an existing church. 00:05:36.139 --> 00:05:39.040 I don't know how good your geography is, but picture Guatemala. 00:05:39.040 --> 00:05:44.280 And north and east of Guatemala City, there's a little church called Iglesia Bautista Nazaret. 00:05:45.000 --> 00:05:50.920 And we funded them and are partnering with them to launch a new child development center 00:05:50.920 --> 00:05:53.120 in partnership with Compassion International. 00:05:54.040 --> 00:05:55.939 You might be wondering why Guatemala. 00:05:56.220 --> 00:05:59.640 Well, 59% of Guatemalans live below the poverty line. 00:06:00.180 --> 00:06:06.460 There's a high level of violence, insecurity, and inequality that leads to poverty, crime. 00:06:06.459 --> 00:06:11.339 And some of the lowest social development indicators in Latin America. 00:06:12.379 --> 00:06:15.879 Guatemala has the youngest population in Latin America. 00:06:16.659 --> 00:06:22.139 And the vast majority of those young people have insufficient training and job opportunities. 00:06:22.339 --> 00:06:26.939 So when this opportunity was put before us, we said, great, we don't need to really look any further. 00:06:27.699 --> 00:06:33.740 So I want you to just imagine this young, vulnerable church that we have come across. 00:06:33.740 --> 00:06:39.000 They're set within a community of the most severe extreme poverty. 00:06:40.040 --> 00:06:42.379 And this church is full of people like us. 00:06:42.460 --> 00:06:43.160 They've got a vision. 00:06:43.920 --> 00:06:45.160 They love kids. 00:06:45.300 --> 00:06:46.800 They want to serve their community. 00:06:47.060 --> 00:06:52.840 But they need a partnership to be resourced to fulfill the mission that God has given to them. 00:06:52.960 --> 00:06:57.280 And so Christ Church has stepped in to become their partner. 00:06:57.279 --> 00:07:09.839 And now as a result of this new Child Development Center, there's 200 kids that are part of that program that are there and enrolled and waiting to be sponsored. 00:07:10.000 --> 00:07:11.679 And that's where you come in today. 00:07:11.680 --> 00:07:25.360 So if you already have a way, if you already have a means or a vehicle for releasing people from poverty in Jesus' name, especially children, I want to say to you, wonderful. 00:07:26.019 --> 00:07:26.740 Keep going. 00:07:26.920 --> 00:07:29.819 And don't let what we're doing here get in the way of that at all. 00:07:29.819 --> 00:07:41.480 But if you've not yet found a meaningful way to serve the global poor, both relationally and financially, then our goal is to encourage you today to sponsor a child and just take a step of faith. 00:07:42.300 --> 00:07:50.180 Think about the $43 this next month that you would have otherwise spent probably on yourself or on some sort of non-essential thing. 00:07:50.180 --> 00:08:02.480 And instead of keeping that for yourself, just give it to the Lord and let him use it to transform the life of a child and the life of a family and the life of a community. 00:08:03.480 --> 00:08:05.280 So that's why I'm here. 00:08:05.420 --> 00:08:08.939 Usually I don't tell you the application of the sermon at the very beginning. 00:08:09.079 --> 00:08:11.879 But that's why we're here and that's where I'm going. 00:08:11.879 --> 00:08:30.899 And now I want to open up God's word to 2 Kings chapter 4 because this amazing story tells us about the plight of the poor, the compassion of God, and the generosity of God's people. 00:08:30.980 --> 00:08:35.279 And I want to start just thinking for a moment together about the plight of the poor. 00:08:35.279 --> 00:08:37.579 If you look there at verse 1, it says, 00:08:38.720 --> 00:08:56.139 Just for context, this was a very dark time in Israel. 00:08:56.899 --> 00:08:59.059 There was much religious pluralism. 00:08:59.059 --> 00:09:05.679 The people of God were turning away from the true and living God to serve all of these counterfeit gods. 00:09:06.779 --> 00:09:09.619 And we're told in 1 Kings chapter 19, God says that, 00:09:10.119 --> 00:09:13.239 I've reserved for myself 7,000 people. 00:09:13.239 --> 00:09:19.879 Out of all of Israel, I've reserved for myself 7,000 people who have not bowed their knee to Baal. 00:09:20.399 --> 00:09:27.319 And this man apparently was part of that tiny, tiny remnant among the people of God who was living in awe of Yahweh 00:09:27.320 --> 00:09:30.240 and who was a prophet who was faithful to the word of God. 00:09:30.900 --> 00:09:34.500 And evidently, he was not rich as people count wealth. 00:09:35.560 --> 00:09:38.120 To use the words of Jesus, he was rich toward God. 00:09:38.780 --> 00:09:38.960 Right? 00:09:39.040 --> 00:09:42.020 He had stored up all of his treasure in heaven. 00:09:42.280 --> 00:09:45.180 And he was seeking first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, 00:09:45.420 --> 00:09:49.200 trusting that God was going to provide all the other things that he needed. 00:09:49.300 --> 00:09:51.660 And the problem is that this man died. 00:09:51.659 --> 00:09:53.879 And apparently, he died pretty young. 00:09:54.439 --> 00:09:58.699 And he's left his widow behind him in a crisis. 00:09:59.740 --> 00:10:03.879 And so I want you to notice her destitution and desperation. 00:10:05.079 --> 00:10:06.219 Here's this single mother. 00:10:07.100 --> 00:10:09.659 She's facing a future with no inheritance. 00:10:10.639 --> 00:10:17.639 The only way that her family debts can be paid off in that time was for her two sons to become indentured servants. 00:10:17.639 --> 00:10:21.080 So at one stroke, she loses her husband. 00:10:21.759 --> 00:10:24.980 She loses her financial resources and her inheritance. 00:10:25.139 --> 00:10:26.720 And she's about to lose her sons. 00:10:28.179 --> 00:10:29.819 Now, just zoom out for a minute. 00:10:30.679 --> 00:10:34.600 And think about the way that God, in his wisdom, 00:10:35.259 --> 00:10:38.779 provided all these laws and all these customs for Israel 00:10:38.779 --> 00:10:42.559 that created this elaborate social safety net. 00:10:42.559 --> 00:10:49.479 So that families would be responsible to provide care when hard times came. 00:10:50.000 --> 00:10:50.119 Right? 00:10:50.199 --> 00:10:54.659 So that the poor, the marginalized, widows, orphans, and the elderly 00:10:54.659 --> 00:10:57.099 would always be taken care of in Israel. 00:10:57.199 --> 00:11:00.599 If you just look at the Torah, the first five books of the Bible, right? 00:11:00.699 --> 00:11:03.079 Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. 00:11:03.279 --> 00:11:07.919 You'll find these amazing laws there that you don't really find in any other ancient cultures. 00:11:07.919 --> 00:11:11.519 There's laws about leveret marriage and the kinsmen redeemer 00:11:11.519 --> 00:11:16.379 so that widows would have the opportunity to stay in their family and not lose their inheritance. 00:11:17.500 --> 00:11:22.079 There are laws telling people not to harvest all the way to the edge of their property, 00:11:22.559 --> 00:11:24.939 but to leave some margin on the edge of their field 00:11:24.939 --> 00:11:28.519 so that the poor can come and glean off of their extra. 00:11:28.519 --> 00:11:36.539 There are laws there, usury laws that strictly regulate lending practices 00:11:36.539 --> 00:11:39.399 so that no one in Israel would ever get stuck in debt. 00:11:40.319 --> 00:11:43.279 There's an amazing law about sabbatical years 00:11:43.279 --> 00:11:47.980 where vulnerable people were protected from overwork and exploitation. 00:11:49.259 --> 00:11:52.819 There's this one particular law called the Year of Jubilee 00:11:52.820 --> 00:11:58.879 that made sure that no one in Israel ever, ever, ever got stuck in generational poverty. 00:11:59.580 --> 00:12:04.400 And all of these amazing laws were designed to keep people out of debt bondage 00:12:04.400 --> 00:12:07.280 and keep them within the care of their family unit. 00:12:08.220 --> 00:12:10.580 But this widow, for some reason, we're not told, 00:12:10.580 --> 00:12:17.560 for some reason she drops through that elaborate social safety net, right? 00:12:17.660 --> 00:12:22.160 It's kind of to be assumed that this time in Israel was so dark spiritually 00:12:22.159 --> 00:12:25.980 that this safety net has fallen apart socially. 00:12:27.039 --> 00:12:31.120 And perhaps she doesn't have any relatives, any close kin that could protect her, 00:12:31.159 --> 00:12:31.879 or maybe both. 00:12:32.019 --> 00:12:37.579 But in this story, there's none of the debt forgiveness that you would expect. 00:12:38.539 --> 00:12:41.120 And you kind of look at this creditor as, 00:12:41.240 --> 00:12:43.799 I think of him as kind of this unsavory guy 00:12:43.799 --> 00:12:47.799 who in this vulnerable moment comes to take advantage of this woman 00:12:47.799 --> 00:12:51.439 who's poor financially in that she has no money. 00:12:52.159 --> 00:12:54.740 She's poor socially in that she has no family. 00:12:55.539 --> 00:12:59.139 She's poor relationally in that her two sons are about to be taken away from her. 00:12:59.199 --> 00:13:02.860 And she's poor spiritually because she's being stripped of her dignity 00:13:02.860 --> 00:13:05.120 as somebody who's made in the image of God. 00:13:06.399 --> 00:13:08.179 Do you see that fourfold poverty? 00:13:08.379 --> 00:13:09.500 It's not just one-dimensional. 00:13:09.759 --> 00:13:11.519 It's four dimensions of poverty. 00:13:12.379 --> 00:13:17.819 And how does the prophet Elisha respond to that four-dimensional poverty? 00:13:18.780 --> 00:13:21.000 Does he come along as somebody on the left, 00:13:21.080 --> 00:13:22.220 somebody part of the blue team, 00:13:22.280 --> 00:13:24.760 and says, well, ma'am, I can see that your poverty 00:13:24.760 --> 00:13:27.240 is the result of social forces beyond your control. 00:13:27.360 --> 00:13:30.440 There's obviously some prejudice, some oppression here, 00:13:30.520 --> 00:13:34.879 some inequities in the system, economic deprivation. 00:13:35.700 --> 00:13:37.360 And so what we need is more socialism, 00:13:37.600 --> 00:13:40.120 more taxation, more redistribution of goods, right? 00:13:40.280 --> 00:13:41.040 Does he say that? 00:13:41.039 --> 00:13:44.099 No, he doesn't say that. 00:13:44.559 --> 00:13:46.679 Does he come along as somebody on the right, 00:13:46.839 --> 00:13:48.039 somebody part of the red team, 00:13:48.120 --> 00:13:52.000 and say, well, ma'am, your poverty is really the result of individual choices? 00:13:52.879 --> 00:13:56.339 It's most likely your lack of clarity and character 00:13:56.339 --> 00:13:58.039 that's led to poor moral decisions, 00:13:59.360 --> 00:14:01.899 unwise practices, and a breakdown of your family. 00:14:02.000 --> 00:14:04.019 And so what we need here is more capitalism, 00:14:04.579 --> 00:14:06.399 more innovation, more bootstrapping. 00:14:06.459 --> 00:14:07.559 Is that what he says to her? 00:14:08.459 --> 00:14:09.919 No, I'm having fun. 00:14:10.039 --> 00:14:11.600 I'm having more fun than you are, I think. 00:14:13.980 --> 00:14:14.860 Lighten up, folks. 00:14:17.100 --> 00:14:19.120 Those categories obviously didn't exist. 00:14:19.240 --> 00:14:21.500 Red, blue, left, right, in Elisha's day. 00:14:22.459 --> 00:14:23.959 But what I want to point out is that 00:14:23.959 --> 00:14:27.340 he's not so much concerned with how she got to be poor. 00:14:28.360 --> 00:14:31.039 He's not talking about whatever bad harvests happen, 00:14:31.500 --> 00:14:33.980 whatever bad decisions were made in business, 00:14:33.980 --> 00:14:36.460 whatever bad creditor this is, 00:14:36.500 --> 00:14:39.039 it's part of this maybe larger broken system. 00:14:39.659 --> 00:14:43.200 What he simply is concerned about is that she is poor. 00:14:44.240 --> 00:14:46.800 And he can see that she's financially, socially, 00:14:47.000 --> 00:14:49.800 relationally, spiritually destitute and desperate. 00:14:50.340 --> 00:14:52.320 And so what does he say to her in verse two? 00:14:52.620 --> 00:14:54.399 He says, how can I help you? 00:14:55.800 --> 00:14:57.379 How can I help you? 00:14:57.399 --> 00:14:59.620 In fact, let's say, how can I help you together? 00:14:59.980 --> 00:15:02.200 How can I help you? 00:15:02.200 --> 00:15:05.320 Now, verse seven says that the prophet Elisha 00:15:05.320 --> 00:15:06.400 is a man of God. 00:15:07.300 --> 00:15:09.180 And to be a man or a woman of God 00:15:09.180 --> 00:15:10.879 means that you understand and know 00:15:10.879 --> 00:15:13.360 that God is the burning center of reality. 00:15:14.379 --> 00:15:18.160 And it's to know and to agree with the prophet Jeremiah 00:15:18.160 --> 00:15:22.780 that we're not gonna let the wise boast of their wisdom 00:15:22.780 --> 00:15:24.620 or the strong boast of their strength 00:15:24.620 --> 00:15:26.660 or the rich boast of their riches. 00:15:27.060 --> 00:15:28.500 That's not what godliness is about. 00:15:28.500 --> 00:15:31.779 That triad of wisdom and strength and riches 00:15:31.779 --> 00:15:33.480 represents the fundamental grounds 00:15:33.480 --> 00:15:36.360 and primary avenues for self-enhancement 00:15:36.360 --> 00:15:37.240 and self-security. 00:15:38.379 --> 00:15:41.220 No, he says, let the one who boasts about this, 00:15:41.299 --> 00:15:43.940 that they have the understanding to know me, 00:15:44.580 --> 00:15:47.519 that I am the Lord who exercises kindness, 00:15:48.159 --> 00:15:50.159 justice, and righteousness where? 00:15:50.399 --> 00:15:53.720 On the earth, for in these things I delight. 00:15:53.720 --> 00:15:57.620 And that triad of kindness or compassion, 00:15:58.440 --> 00:15:59.800 justice, and righteousness, 00:16:00.000 --> 00:16:02.940 that represents not only the chief characteristics 00:16:02.940 --> 00:16:04.160 of the Lord's way, 00:16:04.720 --> 00:16:07.259 but it also represents the chief expectations 00:16:07.259 --> 00:16:09.560 that the Lord has for his people. 00:16:10.920 --> 00:16:14.680 And so because Elisha is a man of God, 00:16:15.500 --> 00:16:18.040 because he understands and knows the Lord, 00:16:18.160 --> 00:16:20.100 he wants to live and act in alignment 00:16:20.100 --> 00:16:22.800 with who the Lord is and what the Lord does. 00:16:22.860 --> 00:16:25.580 He wants to put kindness, justice, and righteousness 00:16:25.580 --> 00:16:28.820 to work in the very place where God puts it to work, 00:16:28.960 --> 00:16:30.180 that is on the earth, 00:16:30.879 --> 00:16:32.519 in real time, in real history, 00:16:32.560 --> 00:16:34.440 in the lives of real people. 00:16:35.580 --> 00:16:38.040 And so if we want to be men of God 00:16:38.040 --> 00:16:39.259 and women of God, 00:16:39.820 --> 00:16:42.019 and to live a life that's lined up 00:16:42.019 --> 00:16:44.840 with what the Lord delights in, 00:16:45.519 --> 00:16:47.560 we simply need to learn to respond 00:16:47.559 --> 00:16:49.979 to people's complex poverty 00:16:49.979 --> 00:16:52.099 with five simple words. 00:16:53.199 --> 00:16:57.319 How can I help you? 00:16:59.239 --> 00:17:01.159 That's the plight of the poor, okay? 00:17:02.000 --> 00:17:04.759 I also want to talk about the compassion of God. 00:17:05.740 --> 00:17:07.279 The compassion of God. 00:17:08.379 --> 00:17:10.179 In verse two, Elisha replied to her, 00:17:10.259 --> 00:17:11.059 how can I help you? 00:17:11.240 --> 00:17:11.740 And then he says, 00:17:11.819 --> 00:17:14.299 tell me what do you have in your house? 00:17:15.159 --> 00:17:18.359 And so instead of focusing on what she does not have, 00:17:18.579 --> 00:17:20.700 he says, well, let's take a look at what you do have 00:17:20.700 --> 00:17:22.039 and let's work with that. 00:17:22.059 --> 00:17:22.759 And how does she respond? 00:17:22.819 --> 00:17:25.159 She says, well, your servant has nothing at all. 00:17:25.299 --> 00:17:28.240 Like, I am, like, desperately poor. 00:17:28.859 --> 00:17:30.139 But then she says, well, wait a second, 00:17:30.220 --> 00:17:32.220 I do have a little bit of olive oil. 00:17:33.079 --> 00:17:34.559 And so Elisha, this man of God, 00:17:34.599 --> 00:17:35.299 he says, yes, 00:17:35.399 --> 00:17:37.319 and actually you have even a little bit more than that. 00:17:37.379 --> 00:17:38.299 You've got this faith community. 00:17:39.240 --> 00:17:42.359 You've got this Israelite neighborhood around you. 00:17:42.359 --> 00:17:43.759 And so he says in verse three, 00:17:43.899 --> 00:17:44.779 he says, Elisha, 00:17:45.159 --> 00:17:47.399 Elisha said, go around and ask all your neighbors 00:17:47.399 --> 00:17:48.279 for empty jars. 00:17:49.259 --> 00:17:50.759 Don't ask for just a few. 00:17:51.979 --> 00:17:53.240 These neighbors of yours, 00:17:53.339 --> 00:17:54.359 they should know the Torah. 00:17:54.479 --> 00:17:55.619 They should know the Lord's command 00:17:55.619 --> 00:17:58.259 that there are to be no poor people in the land. 00:17:58.339 --> 00:18:01.679 And in fact, your problem is their problem. 00:18:02.219 --> 00:18:05.000 And so I want you to go vulnerably ask for help. 00:18:05.199 --> 00:18:08.819 Ask them to put their resources at your disposal 00:18:08.819 --> 00:18:11.559 because what is going to most humanize them? 00:18:11.559 --> 00:18:14.659 What's going to most bring out the image of God in them 00:18:14.659 --> 00:18:17.000 is to help someone in need. 00:18:18.500 --> 00:18:20.079 And so it says in verse four, 00:18:21.220 --> 00:18:22.579 then I want you to go inside 00:18:22.579 --> 00:18:24.679 and shut the door behind you and your sons. 00:18:24.859 --> 00:18:26.339 Pour oil into all the jars, 00:18:26.659 --> 00:18:29.139 and as each is filled, put it to one side. 00:18:30.079 --> 00:18:31.480 It says that I don't want you to be passive. 00:18:31.579 --> 00:18:32.419 I want you to be active. 00:18:32.519 --> 00:18:35.379 I want you to work with the little, meager, 00:18:35.919 --> 00:18:37.440 insufficient amount of oil 00:18:37.440 --> 00:18:39.460 that's just clinging to the bottom of that jar. 00:18:39.460 --> 00:18:42.240 And I want you to start pouring it with faith 00:18:42.240 --> 00:18:44.240 in God's compassion for you. 00:18:45.539 --> 00:18:49.279 And how does she respond to this prophetic word from God? 00:18:50.160 --> 00:18:52.440 Does she say, ah, it's impossible. 00:18:53.579 --> 00:18:56.140 That's the most ridiculous thing I've heard all week. 00:18:57.319 --> 00:18:59.299 This does not fit with my theology. 00:18:59.460 --> 00:19:01.480 That is not how God operates. 00:19:01.480 --> 00:19:06.000 I love this verse in the epistle of James. 00:19:06.140 --> 00:19:08.839 James is a writer of the New Testament. 00:19:08.960 --> 00:19:10.180 He's actually the brother of Jesus, 00:19:10.360 --> 00:19:11.339 and he wrote this letter, 00:19:11.779 --> 00:19:13.740 and he says in James chapter two, verse five, 00:19:13.799 --> 00:19:15.779 he says, listen, my dear brothers and sisters, 00:19:16.299 --> 00:19:18.579 has not God chosen those who are poor 00:19:18.579 --> 00:19:21.559 in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith 00:19:21.559 --> 00:19:23.940 and to inherit the kingdom he promised 00:19:23.940 --> 00:19:25.779 to those who love him? 00:19:25.779 --> 00:19:28.000 And I think this woman is someone 00:19:28.000 --> 00:19:30.019 who's poor in the eyes of the world 00:19:30.019 --> 00:19:31.039 but rich in faith. 00:19:32.139 --> 00:19:34.299 And so it says that she left him, in verse five, 00:19:34.379 --> 00:19:36.019 and shut the door behind her and her sons. 00:19:36.680 --> 00:19:38.819 They brought the jars to her, and she kept pouring. 00:19:39.480 --> 00:19:40.720 And when all the jars were full, 00:19:40.819 --> 00:19:42.940 she said to her son, bring me another one. 00:19:42.960 --> 00:19:45.359 But he replied, there was not a jar left. 00:19:45.759 --> 00:19:47.759 Then the oil stopped flowing. 00:19:49.539 --> 00:19:51.639 Now this is an amazing thing, 00:19:52.319 --> 00:19:54.539 this abundant overflow of oil. 00:19:54.539 --> 00:19:57.680 And what does this abundant overflow of oil 00:19:57.680 --> 00:20:01.920 reveal about God, about who God is and what God does? 00:20:03.079 --> 00:20:04.839 The first thing it reveals to me 00:20:04.839 --> 00:20:08.559 is that God could have done a much more efficient miracle. 00:20:10.200 --> 00:20:12.259 Couldn't he have done a much more efficient miracle? 00:20:13.399 --> 00:20:16.899 Like he could have said, okay, go home, 00:20:17.539 --> 00:20:19.819 open the door, and inside you're gonna find 00:20:19.819 --> 00:20:22.359 all the oil that you need prepackaged. 00:20:22.359 --> 00:20:25.179 Or he could have, even better than that, 00:20:25.219 --> 00:20:26.039 he could have said, go home, 00:20:26.099 --> 00:20:27.599 you're gonna find a pile of money, 00:20:27.699 --> 00:20:29.279 and you can take that to the creditor, 00:20:29.399 --> 00:20:31.179 and that's gonna save you from all this jarring, 00:20:31.379 --> 00:20:33.459 storing, transporting, and selling 00:20:33.459 --> 00:20:34.779 of all of this oil. 00:20:35.959 --> 00:20:38.059 Or even better, he could have said, 00:20:38.119 --> 00:20:39.819 you know what, your creditor's gonna wake up 00:20:39.819 --> 00:20:41.979 tomorrow morning and find a pile of money 00:20:41.979 --> 00:20:45.039 on his doorstep, a huge bag of cash 00:20:45.039 --> 00:20:46.219 with a note on it that says, 00:20:46.579 --> 00:20:48.799 love Elisha the widow and her two sons. 00:20:48.799 --> 00:20:51.639 Now that would be an efficient miracle. 00:20:52.720 --> 00:20:54.200 So the question for me is, 00:20:54.339 --> 00:20:56.339 why is God's compassion so inefficient? 00:20:58.000 --> 00:21:01.759 Why is this act of compassion from God 00:21:01.759 --> 00:21:04.259 so protracted and so elaborate? 00:21:04.460 --> 00:21:07.919 Why is he involving the community of God's people 00:21:07.919 --> 00:21:09.299 in the giving of these jars? 00:21:09.419 --> 00:21:10.859 And why is he involving this woman 00:21:10.859 --> 00:21:13.519 and these two sons in the pouring of the oil? 00:21:13.819 --> 00:21:15.180 It's precisely because of this. 00:21:15.180 --> 00:21:18.460 He wants them to see how God provides. 00:21:19.340 --> 00:21:22.039 He wants them to see that the oil comes, 00:21:22.180 --> 00:21:24.240 and it just keeps coming and coming 00:21:24.240 --> 00:21:25.880 and coming and coming. 00:21:25.960 --> 00:21:28.820 The jars keep showing up and showing up 00:21:28.820 --> 00:21:31.660 and showing up, and the oil just keeps pouring out. 00:21:31.740 --> 00:21:34.460 There's this abundant, overflowing compassion 00:21:34.460 --> 00:21:36.759 that's coming from God for you. 00:21:38.060 --> 00:21:39.279 And so in verse seven, it says, 00:21:39.400 --> 00:21:40.860 she went and told the man of God, 00:21:40.940 --> 00:21:44.680 and he said, go sell the oil and pay your debts. 00:21:44.680 --> 00:21:47.660 You and your sons can live on what is left. 00:21:48.660 --> 00:21:50.480 You see, God took this small amount, 00:21:50.620 --> 00:21:53.759 and he turned their scarcity into an abundance. 00:21:53.940 --> 00:21:56.600 He took that financial, relational, social, 00:21:56.820 --> 00:21:59.500 spiritual poverty, and he reversed it completely. 00:22:00.880 --> 00:22:03.000 Right, financially, the proceeds of the sale 00:22:03.000 --> 00:22:04.820 are enough to pay all of their debts. 00:22:06.120 --> 00:22:10.060 Relationally, the surplus will allow her to support 00:22:10.060 --> 00:22:11.820 her sons and to have a family. 00:22:11.819 --> 00:22:15.519 Socially, all the borrowing of these jars 00:22:15.519 --> 00:22:19.220 have connected her back with the community of faith, 00:22:19.359 --> 00:22:22.000 and spiritually, her dignity and her humanity 00:22:22.000 --> 00:22:23.539 have been restored. 00:22:24.899 --> 00:22:27.179 And you see, God's compassion here 00:22:27.179 --> 00:22:29.859 in this abundant, overflowing oil 00:22:29.859 --> 00:22:33.679 is not just a cool moment for us to marvel at, 00:22:33.680 --> 00:22:38.080 but really, it's a signpost to what God intends to do 00:22:38.080 --> 00:22:39.700 on a cosmic scale. 00:22:40.880 --> 00:22:42.860 Right, when you read the Old Testament prophets, 00:22:43.220 --> 00:22:45.600 they talk about the coming day of the Lord. 00:22:45.680 --> 00:22:48.500 They talk about the coming of God's Messiah. 00:22:49.519 --> 00:22:51.279 And when they talk about that day, 00:22:51.620 --> 00:22:55.240 they talk about it in terms of abundance and overflow. 00:22:56.600 --> 00:22:58.420 Joel, the prophet Joel says this. 00:22:58.500 --> 00:23:00.039 He says, I am sending you grain, 00:23:00.039 --> 00:23:04.000 new wine, and olive oil enough to satisfy you fully. 00:23:05.159 --> 00:23:06.980 The Lord says, the threshing floors 00:23:06.980 --> 00:23:08.119 will be filled with grain, 00:23:08.200 --> 00:23:11.399 and the vats will overflow with new wine and oil. 00:23:12.099 --> 00:23:15.099 And in that day, the mountains will drip new wine, 00:23:15.200 --> 00:23:16.899 and the hills will flow with milk, 00:23:17.099 --> 00:23:20.680 and all the ravines of Judah will run with water. 00:23:21.960 --> 00:23:24.039 In other words, when Messiah comes, 00:23:24.379 --> 00:23:27.899 God's compassion will be embodied. 00:23:27.900 --> 00:23:30.840 God's compassion will come in the flesh, 00:23:31.019 --> 00:23:34.340 and there is going to be, in that day, an enoughness. 00:23:35.160 --> 00:23:36.820 There's going to be a fullness. 00:23:37.060 --> 00:23:38.320 There's going to be an overflow 00:23:38.320 --> 00:23:41.200 and a wide-scale satisfaction. 00:23:42.360 --> 00:23:45.580 And is that not what we begin to see in the Gospels, 00:23:45.680 --> 00:23:48.080 in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ? 00:23:49.040 --> 00:23:51.360 When he comes along to these hungry people, 00:23:51.400 --> 00:23:54.980 and he takes five little hoes and two measly fish, 00:23:54.980 --> 00:23:59.500 and he begins to multiply them so that everyone who was hungry ate, 00:23:59.759 --> 00:24:01.000 and it says they were satisfied, 00:24:01.420 --> 00:24:02.940 and there was plenty left over. 00:24:04.599 --> 00:24:07.980 Jesus cries out in the temple. 00:24:08.660 --> 00:24:10.200 He says in John 7, he says, 00:24:10.380 --> 00:24:13.940 let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 00:24:14.680 --> 00:24:17.039 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, 00:24:17.440 --> 00:24:20.579 rivers of living water will flow from within them. 00:24:20.579 --> 00:24:26.960 He's suggesting that there's an abundant, overflowing, unending, inexhaustible supply 00:24:26.960 --> 00:24:30.419 that comes from God through Jesus. 00:24:31.919 --> 00:24:34.220 And, you know, the question for us is, 00:24:34.379 --> 00:24:36.899 why exactly did Jesus come? 00:24:38.199 --> 00:24:42.139 Was it to satisfy our hunger? 00:24:43.159 --> 00:24:44.480 Was it to quench our thirst? 00:24:44.579 --> 00:24:47.019 Was it to meet all of our physical needs? 00:24:47.019 --> 00:24:50.180 Or was it to address our spiritual poverty? 00:24:51.339 --> 00:24:55.059 And what I see in the story is that the same God of compassion, 00:24:55.720 --> 00:25:00.599 who paid off the debts of this widow so that she would not have to give up her sons, 00:25:00.680 --> 00:25:03.859 that same God gave up his son. 00:25:04.839 --> 00:25:08.220 Gave up his son, Jesus, to pay off our debt of sin 00:25:08.220 --> 00:25:11.879 that we could never, ever pay on our own. 00:25:11.880 --> 00:25:18.320 And that, that moment in history is the ultimate act of God's compassion. 00:25:19.720 --> 00:25:19.880 Right? 00:25:20.000 --> 00:25:22.140 Jesus left the riches of heaven. 00:25:23.200 --> 00:25:25.320 He entered into the scarcity of this world. 00:25:25.400 --> 00:25:28.960 And on the cross, he experienced a spiritual impoverishment 00:25:28.960 --> 00:25:31.980 beyond what any of us could ever dare to imagine. 00:25:33.240 --> 00:25:36.940 Jesus became utterly destitute and utterly desperate 00:25:36.940 --> 00:25:40.680 to bring about a debt forgiveness of our sins 00:25:40.680 --> 00:25:45.660 and to accomplish the total reversal of our spiritual and moral poverty, 00:25:45.779 --> 00:25:49.279 to purchase our freedom and to restore our lives. 00:25:50.259 --> 00:25:53.080 The Apostle Paul says it like this in 2 Corinthians 8. 00:25:53.160 --> 00:25:53.380 He says, 00:25:53.380 --> 00:25:56.500 For you know that the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, 00:25:56.660 --> 00:26:00.299 though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor 00:26:00.299 --> 00:26:04.259 so that you, through his poverty, might become rich. 00:26:04.259 --> 00:26:09.059 And Jesus' empty tomb, Jesus' resurrected body, 00:26:09.220 --> 00:26:11.420 is itself also a signpost 00:26:11.420 --> 00:26:15.119 that a day is coming where there's going to be no more poverty. 00:26:15.259 --> 00:26:18.099 There's going to be no more scarcity or emptiness or death, 00:26:18.099 --> 00:26:22.539 but all will be riches and abundance and fullness and life. 00:26:22.599 --> 00:26:24.460 That's what the resurrection tells us. 00:26:24.500 --> 00:26:26.359 That day is coming. 00:26:27.660 --> 00:26:30.940 And so the question, in light of Jesus Christ, 00:26:31.059 --> 00:26:32.660 in light of his death and his resurrection, 00:26:32.660 --> 00:26:37.019 the question is not how much compassion can God give 00:26:37.019 --> 00:26:40.100 and can God provide enough of it for us? 00:26:41.019 --> 00:26:45.120 The question, rather, is are there enough empty jars? 00:26:45.380 --> 00:26:48.080 Are there enough empty vessels for us to receive 00:26:48.080 --> 00:26:50.200 the endless supply of God's compassion? 00:26:51.160 --> 00:26:56.500 And will we be able to hold all that God has and wants to give us? 00:26:56.500 --> 00:27:09.819 Does that make sense? 00:27:09.819 --> 00:27:19.859 Does that make sense? 00:27:20.819 --> 00:27:23.179 So this story tells us about the plight of the poor. 00:27:23.299 --> 00:27:26.559 It tells us something about the great compassion of God 00:27:26.559 --> 00:27:29.319 that we see made flesh in Jesus Christ. 00:27:30.019 --> 00:27:34.200 And finally, it tells us something about the generosity of God's people. 00:27:34.200 --> 00:27:41.539 And I want to just close with this by saying that my hope and our prayer 00:27:41.539 --> 00:27:47.960 is that Christ's church will be a family that's full of men and women of God 00:27:47.960 --> 00:27:51.759 who have been changed by the compassion of God in Jesus Christ. 00:27:51.759 --> 00:27:57.599 So that our boast is not in the wisdom that we have 00:27:57.599 --> 00:28:00.079 and the strength that we have and the riches that we have, 00:28:00.480 --> 00:28:02.400 though those things abound among us. 00:28:03.319 --> 00:28:06.200 But that our boast would be that we know the Lord. 00:28:07.279 --> 00:28:10.900 And therefore, our deepest longing is to imitate him 00:28:10.900 --> 00:28:15.819 and to embody his kindness and justice and righteousness on the earth. 00:28:15.819 --> 00:28:20.480 So that we, like Elisha, say, how can I help you? 00:28:21.119 --> 00:28:25.700 So that we, like those neighbors, say, do you need another jar? 00:28:26.519 --> 00:28:28.579 Could you use my jar? 00:28:29.639 --> 00:28:33.879 And so what I want to do in closing is just to ask for your help 00:28:33.879 --> 00:28:38.559 and really ask for your jar on behalf of these kids 00:28:38.559 --> 00:28:42.220 that don't have a voice to ask for it that you see around you right now. 00:28:42.220 --> 00:28:45.960 There's 180 kids represented in these packets. 00:28:46.100 --> 00:28:48.640 We have 20 more kids on our website. 00:28:49.380 --> 00:28:51.440 And I just want to talk about them for a moment. 00:28:52.600 --> 00:28:57.140 UNICEF tells us that there are 1 billion children globally 00:28:57.140 --> 00:28:58.920 who are multidimensionally poor, 00:28:59.579 --> 00:29:04.319 meaning that they're without access to education, health, housing, nutrition, 00:29:04.559 --> 00:29:05.559 sanitation, or water. 00:29:06.200 --> 00:29:08.380 And out of those 1 billion children, 00:29:08.380 --> 00:29:12.000 365 million of them live in extreme poverty, 00:29:12.000 --> 00:29:16.480 which is that they live on less than $1.25 per day. 00:29:17.360 --> 00:29:21.980 So over 40% of the global population is under the age of 25, 00:29:22.680 --> 00:29:27.240 and 85% of the world's youth are living in low-income countries. 00:29:28.360 --> 00:29:31.140 And this is why I love Compassion International. 00:29:31.300 --> 00:29:33.440 This is why I hope that you'll come to love them too, 00:29:33.520 --> 00:29:34.980 because they look at that. 00:29:34.980 --> 00:29:39.039 They look at the fact that of all the impoverished people in the world, 00:29:39.319 --> 00:29:40.799 about half of them are kids. 00:29:41.799 --> 00:29:44.720 They're the most vulnerable and dependent people on the planet, 00:29:44.880 --> 00:29:47.440 and yet they're the least able to fend for themselves. 00:29:47.579 --> 00:29:48.720 And so Compassion has said, 00:29:49.120 --> 00:29:51.940 well, there's something not right about that. 00:29:52.680 --> 00:29:56.240 We should do something as God's people in response to that. 00:29:56.319 --> 00:29:57.779 And so this past year alone, 00:29:57.920 --> 00:30:02.599 Compassion has served 2.3 million children in 29 countries. 00:30:02.599 --> 00:30:08.539 They've empowered 8,200 local churches to care for those kids. 00:30:09.199 --> 00:30:12.619 They've given $11.5 million in medical interventions, 00:30:13.059 --> 00:30:16.240 surgeries, injury treatment, and trauma counseling. 00:30:17.319 --> 00:30:21.679 They've given $21.2 million in relief for families, 00:30:21.799 --> 00:30:24.740 including food packages and cash transfers 00:30:24.740 --> 00:30:26.619 in response to the global food crisis. 00:30:26.619 --> 00:30:32.399 And they've also given $47.5 million in disaster relief. 00:30:32.579 --> 00:30:34.000 And when they do that, 00:30:34.319 --> 00:30:37.779 they're doing that year over year in Jesus' name, 00:30:38.579 --> 00:30:42.479 because they know that children matter to Jesus, 00:30:43.279 --> 00:30:46.359 and because they believe, like we believe, 00:30:46.459 --> 00:30:49.199 that Jesus is the one person in the whole universe 00:30:49.199 --> 00:30:52.439 that has the power to release these kids from poverty, 00:30:52.440 --> 00:30:54.860 and to nourish them and to nurture them 00:30:54.860 --> 00:30:57.360 and to transform their lives for eternity. 00:30:58.279 --> 00:30:58.519 Amen? 00:30:59.400 --> 00:31:02.320 So maybe you're asking, how can I help today? 00:31:02.460 --> 00:31:04.920 How can I sponsor a child? 00:31:05.519 --> 00:31:09.720 I simply want to call upon you to do for one 00:31:09.720 --> 00:31:11.420 what you wish you could do for everyone. 00:31:12.460 --> 00:31:12.600 Right? 00:31:12.660 --> 00:31:13.900 Don't we wish we could do something 00:31:13.900 --> 00:31:16.440 for every one of those children that we just heard about? 00:31:16.440 --> 00:31:19.860 But what I want to do is call you to do for one child 00:31:19.860 --> 00:31:21.840 what you wish you could do for every child. 00:31:22.480 --> 00:31:23.960 And I just want to show you real quick, 00:31:24.059 --> 00:31:28.059 we should have a slide with three kids. 00:31:28.500 --> 00:31:29.680 Constance mentioned this earlier, 00:31:29.799 --> 00:31:31.200 three kids that we've supported. 00:31:32.620 --> 00:31:35.460 Miriam and Adriana and Stephen. 00:31:35.680 --> 00:31:39.160 We also had a child in Jali in India, 00:31:39.320 --> 00:31:42.740 but the Indian government shut that program down. 00:31:43.360 --> 00:31:46.140 And so we are, in fact, Walter just gave me this, 00:31:46.140 --> 00:31:47.060 like a few minutes ago. 00:31:47.520 --> 00:31:50.080 Today we're going to be sponsoring Juan. 00:31:50.980 --> 00:31:52.460 And I don't know if he chose this kid 00:31:52.460 --> 00:31:54.580 because it's like my name, but that's pretty cool. 00:31:55.100 --> 00:31:56.980 You know, so I'm excited about Juan. 00:31:57.020 --> 00:31:58.220 I don't know anything about him yet, 00:31:58.340 --> 00:32:00.020 but this is who we're going to sponsor today. 00:32:00.700 --> 00:32:02.880 And, you know, I love for each household 00:32:02.880 --> 00:32:05.460 at Christchurch to sponsor one child, 00:32:05.560 --> 00:32:06.900 but I also want to say you don't just need 00:32:06.900 --> 00:32:08.120 to limit yourself to one. 00:32:09.820 --> 00:32:12.160 Kids and youth, I hope that you'll beg your parents 00:32:12.160 --> 00:32:16.380 to sponsor a child your same age 00:32:16.380 --> 00:32:19.700 and ask them to download the app this afternoon. 00:32:19.820 --> 00:32:22.180 It's a great place where you can share letters 00:32:22.180 --> 00:32:24.600 and pictures with your kids. 00:32:24.840 --> 00:32:27.120 There are, as I said, 180 packets here, 00:32:27.220 --> 00:32:28.200 20 on our website. 00:32:28.600 --> 00:32:30.940 All these kids are waking up tomorrow morning going, 00:32:31.500 --> 00:32:32.620 do I have a sponsor yet? 00:32:33.340 --> 00:32:34.600 Do I have a sponsor yet? 00:32:34.599 --> 00:32:37.399 And what I want to say is that we could do it. 00:32:38.139 --> 00:32:41.199 We could do it because we spend money on coffee, 00:32:41.379 --> 00:32:42.839 we spend money on lunch out, 00:32:42.959 --> 00:32:46.059 we spend money on entertainment, at least I do. 00:32:46.419 --> 00:32:47.959 And I don't need all those things. 00:32:48.699 --> 00:32:52.279 And if we would just find $43 a month, 00:32:52.819 --> 00:32:55.359 we could provide food, clean water, 00:32:55.740 --> 00:32:58.980 medical care, education, life skills, 00:32:59.099 --> 00:33:01.299 and most importantly, the opportunity for these kids 00:33:01.299 --> 00:33:04.059 to learn about Jesus, to learn the Bible, 00:33:04.180 --> 00:33:06.579 to learn how to have a relationship with God, 00:33:06.619 --> 00:33:09.000 which is the thing they most need in this world. 00:33:09.759 --> 00:33:10.639 And some of you might be like, 00:33:10.700 --> 00:33:11.799 man, this is kind of uncomfortable. 00:33:12.559 --> 00:33:15.720 I'm feeling a little pressure from the pastor right now, 00:33:15.839 --> 00:33:18.359 and this is why I never really come to church. 00:33:19.399 --> 00:33:22.859 But, you know, it would be a great compliment to me 00:33:22.859 --> 00:33:24.980 if you went out from here today and you said, 00:33:24.980 --> 00:33:26.799 man, I went to church today, 00:33:26.879 --> 00:33:29.879 and can you believe the pastor asked me 00:33:29.880 --> 00:33:32.340 to change the life of a child for eternity. 00:33:32.640 --> 00:33:33.440 What nerve. 00:33:34.380 --> 00:33:35.640 I mean, who is this guy? 00:33:36.360 --> 00:33:38.420 I would love it if you complained about that. 00:33:39.140 --> 00:33:40.440 So here's some instructions 00:33:40.440 --> 00:33:42.120 for what we're gonna do next, 00:33:42.380 --> 00:33:44.200 and pay very close attention 00:33:44.200 --> 00:33:45.540 because this is super important. 00:33:46.000 --> 00:33:48.180 We're gonna take five to seven minutes now, 00:33:48.440 --> 00:33:50.280 and in just a minute, you're gonna stand, 00:33:50.560 --> 00:33:52.240 and it's gonna be a little awkward 00:33:52.240 --> 00:33:53.480 getting in and out of our pews, 00:33:53.560 --> 00:33:54.560 but we're gonna move around. 00:33:54.700 --> 00:33:56.180 You can go look at packets. 00:33:56.340 --> 00:33:56.880 They're in the back. 00:33:56.980 --> 00:33:57.520 They're up front. 00:33:57.519 --> 00:33:58.440 They're on the sides, 00:33:58.900 --> 00:34:01.420 and I wanna encourage some of you, 00:34:01.480 --> 00:34:02.119 because I know you, 00:34:02.279 --> 00:34:03.339 don't overthink this. 00:34:03.819 --> 00:34:05.139 Don't create an algorithm 00:34:05.139 --> 00:34:06.740 trying to figure out the best match 00:34:06.740 --> 00:34:08.320 between you and the child. 00:34:08.440 --> 00:34:10.920 Just pick one and trust God and do it. 00:34:11.099 --> 00:34:12.519 You don't need to take time to pray 00:34:12.519 --> 00:34:14.759 and say, God, should I lift this child out of poverty? 00:34:14.980 --> 00:34:16.280 The answer is yes. 00:34:16.539 --> 00:34:18.059 The answer is yes. 00:34:18.500 --> 00:34:21.539 Now, parents, I would encourage you to look now, 00:34:21.619 --> 00:34:22.679 and you can come, you know, 00:34:22.739 --> 00:34:23.639 get your child later 00:34:23.639 --> 00:34:25.460 and involve them in that process if you'd like, 00:34:25.460 --> 00:34:27.480 but once you choose a packet, 00:34:27.960 --> 00:34:29.159 you're gonna fill it out 00:34:29.159 --> 00:34:32.000 with the sponsorship card on the back, 00:34:32.420 --> 00:34:34.420 and if you wanna use the QR code, 00:34:34.480 --> 00:34:35.099 you can do that, 00:34:35.139 --> 00:34:37.460 but please still fill out this sponsorship card 00:34:37.460 --> 00:34:38.880 with your name and just write QR, 00:34:39.480 --> 00:34:40.519 and once you've done that, 00:34:40.579 --> 00:34:41.900 there are pins all over the sanctuary. 00:34:42.199 --> 00:34:42.860 Once you've done that, 00:34:42.920 --> 00:34:44.539 you can drop it at the welcome table 00:34:44.539 --> 00:34:45.780 here in the back. 00:34:45.860 --> 00:34:47.079 Our youth, thank you so much, 00:34:47.139 --> 00:34:48.539 youth, for manning our table. 00:34:48.539 --> 00:34:53.860 You can give them your sponsorship card. 00:34:53.960 --> 00:34:55.360 They're gonna give you a raffle ticket 00:34:55.360 --> 00:34:57.539 because we have a Guatemalan-themed lunch 00:34:57.539 --> 00:34:59.139 in our community hall in a few minutes, 00:34:59.340 --> 00:35:01.019 and if you stick around till 12.30, 00:35:01.059 --> 00:35:02.800 we're gonna raffle off some cool stuff. 00:35:03.719 --> 00:35:05.019 After the service, parents, 00:35:05.099 --> 00:35:06.079 you can get your kids, 00:35:06.119 --> 00:35:07.340 and you can bring them back in 00:35:07.340 --> 00:35:09.119 to look at whatever packets are remaining, 00:35:09.820 --> 00:35:11.940 and as I said, if you're online, 00:35:12.039 --> 00:35:13.659 there are 20 packets on our website 00:35:13.659 --> 00:35:14.860 if you'd like to use that. 00:35:15.420 --> 00:35:16.719 In three to four weeks' time, 00:35:16.719 --> 00:35:17.919 you're gonna receive a letter, 00:35:18.379 --> 00:35:20.899 and then you can begin writing to your child. 00:35:20.980 --> 00:35:23.659 Now, very important, do not take this home. 00:35:24.679 --> 00:35:25.759 Do not take this home 00:35:25.759 --> 00:35:27.679 because this is this child's only packet, 00:35:27.980 --> 00:35:30.359 and they're gonna get completely lost in the shuffle, 00:35:31.159 --> 00:35:34.539 and you're gonna make life really hard for them 00:35:34.539 --> 00:35:35.639 in trying to help them, 00:35:35.679 --> 00:35:38.879 so just decide today and leave all the packets, 00:35:39.019 --> 00:35:41.980 and especially the sponsorship cards here, 00:35:42.759 --> 00:35:44.659 and leave your sponsorship card here. 00:35:44.659 --> 00:35:46.199 Take the rest of the packet home with you. 00:35:46.719 --> 00:35:47.739 But here's my prayer. 00:35:48.480 --> 00:35:49.959 My prayer is that through us, 00:35:50.439 --> 00:35:54.919 these kids that have only one jar of oil, 00:35:55.039 --> 00:35:58.139 and maybe even just only a little bit of oil in that jar, 00:35:58.799 --> 00:36:00.779 that many of them would wake up tomorrow morning 00:36:00.779 --> 00:36:01.299 and see, 00:36:02.119 --> 00:36:06.359 God filled many, many more jars for me, 00:36:06.360 --> 00:36:08.120 and he did it. 00:36:08.180 --> 00:36:11.360 He showed us his compassion through his people. 00:36:12.519 --> 00:36:13.240 That's my prayer. 00:36:14.360 --> 00:36:16.059 And may God make it so. 00:36:16.519 --> 00:36:18.300 In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 00:36:19.079 --> 00:36:19.360 Amen. 00:36:19.840 --> 00:36:20.519 Let's stand, 00:36:20.680 --> 00:36:23.420 and you can feel free to walk around the sanctuary 00:36:23.420 --> 00:36:24.740 as we listen to music. 00:36:24.779 --> 00:36:26.459 Holy Spirit. 00:36:26.459 --> 00:36:45.899 family Eric.