WEBVTT

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 Good morning, my name's Tommy.

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 I'm the rector of Church of the Advent.

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 So on behalf of our church, welcome.

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 Especially if you're joining us for the first time,

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 welcome to you.

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 I have heard reports from the women's retreat

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 that's currently underway.

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 I think many of our, some have come back,

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 but many are still there.

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 But I've just heard rave reports,

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 just incredible times spent in the Psalms,

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 incredible times of prayer and fellowship.

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 So we should just give thanks for that,

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 be praying for them as they make their way

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 back today, but I think it's just been

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 an extraordinary time.

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 My wife is there.

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 She just said it was fantastic.

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 So next time there's an opportunity,

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 if you didn't go this year,

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 I strongly encourage you to go

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 the next time there is an opportunity.

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 Once we go beyond the essentials,

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 like food, water, shelter,

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 there's a growing consensus

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 that perhaps our greatest need as human beings

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 is the need for meaning.

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 The need for purpose.

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 Viktor Frankl famously discovered this

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 in his experiences in a concentration camp

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 during the Holocaust.

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 He discovered that the thing that made the difference,

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 the thing that determined whether or not

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 people could endure the horrors of the concentration camp

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 was whether or not they were able to find meaning.

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 Was there something that gave their life meaning

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 in the midst of that meaningless suffering?

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 Carl Jung, not a Christian,

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 discovered something similar.

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 He famously wrote that out of the hundreds of patients,

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 adult patients he treated,

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 he says every single one of them

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 had problems stemming from the fact

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 that they had lost what he called

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 a religious outlook on life.

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 And by that he means

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 they had lost any sense of greater meaning

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 or purpose.

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 He said every single patient

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 had problems stemming from that

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 and every single patient required a solution

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 that included recovering

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 that sense of meaning in life.

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 The point is this,

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 if we want to be resilient,

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 if we want to psychologically

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 and emotionally thrive and flourish,

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 we need a sense of meaning.

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 We need something to aim our lives at,

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 something bigger than ourselves.

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 Now, of course, people find meaning

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 in all kinds of things,

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 in social causes, in politics,

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 family, kids.

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 But the reason that we have this longing for meaning,

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 the underlying reason,

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 is because God created us

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 with a purpose in mind.

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 And our problem as human beings

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 is that we have become disconnected

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 from God's purposes for our lives.

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 All of that leads us to the account

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 that we're looking at this morning

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 in Luke chapter 5.

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 Because when we see a conversion story

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 in the Bible,

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 like the one we see here in Luke chapter 5,

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 we need to understand

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 that this is about much more

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 than just someone adopting a new belief system

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 or a new way of life.

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 It's about much more

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 than someone simply getting saved individually.

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 This is what it looks like

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 when someone regains their sense of purpose.

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 It looks like,

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 this is what it looks like

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 when someone is reconnected

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 to their God-given purpose.

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 This is a story of a normal,

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 sinful human being

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 who gets swept up

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 into the great unfolding story

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 of God's renewal of all things.

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 And the New Testament writers

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 include stories like this

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 in their accounts

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 partly to show us

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 what is possible

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 for people like us.

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 So we're gonna look at this account

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 this morning

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 and we're gonna focus on

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 aspects of this experience,

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 this encounter,

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 that would apply

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 to anyone in this room.

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 Four aspects of Peter's call

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 that would apply

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 to every single person

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 in this room.

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 So let's pray

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 and ask God to help us

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 as we seek to understand his word.

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 Lord, we thank you for your word

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 and we thank you

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 that we're not just dealing

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 with human wisdom here.

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 We're not just looking

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 at good advice.

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 These are the words

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 of the living God.

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 These are words

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 that you as our creator

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 speak to us

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 and that because of your Holy Spirit,

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 through your son Jesus Christ,

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 Lord,

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 these words have the ability

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 to recreate us,

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 to remake us

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 and renew us

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 from the inside out

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 and to bring us face to face

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 with the living word,

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 Jesus Christ.

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 That's what we need

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 this morning, Lord.

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 We pray that by your spirit

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 it would happen.

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 In Jesus' name,

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 amen.

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 So the first thing

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 that I want us to notice

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 as we look at this encounter

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 between Jesus and Peter

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 is this.

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 Now this is a quick point,

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 but I think it's

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 an extremely important one.

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 This is not Peter's

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 first encounter with Jesus.

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 It's easy to miss that

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 because what you have to do

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 is you have to line up

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 the chronology

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 between the four gospels,

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 between the synoptic gospels

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 and the gospel of John.

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 And when you line them up,

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 you realize that actually

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 Jesus and Peter

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 met a year earlier.

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 We read about that

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 in chapter one

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 of John's gospel.

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 Peter's brother Andrew

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 gets to spend

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 a full day with Jesus.

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 At the end of that day,

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 he's freaking out.

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 He's like,

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 I've never met anybody

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 like this.

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 And he runs

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 and he finds his brother,

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 Peter,

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 who's at this time

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 going by the name Simon.

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 And he says,

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 Simon, you got to come

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 meet this guy.

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 He's going to change your life.

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 And he brings Peter

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 to meet Jesus.

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 And when Jesus sees him,

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 he says,

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 you are Simon,

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 son of John.

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 You shall,

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 and then he says,

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 from now on,

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 you shall be called Cephas,

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 which means Peter,

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 rock, right?

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 He renames him.

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 And at that encounter,

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 it's very clear

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 that Jesus is speaking

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 prophetically

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 about Peter's future

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 as a leader

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 among the apostles.

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 apostles.

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 And there's clearly

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 an invitation

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 to follow him there.

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 But from everything

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 that we know,

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 Peter doesn't respond

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 right away.

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 And a full year passes.

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 And then Jesus

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 comes back into town.

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 He goes to Simon Peter's

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 mother-in-law's house.

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 She's sick.

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 He heals her.

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 And then he comes down

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 to the shore

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 where Peter

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 has just wrapped up

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 a long,

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 fruitless night

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 of fishing.

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 encounters him

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 once again.

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 And then he gets

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 into his boat.

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 Right?

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 A year has passed.

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 So it's no coincidence

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 that it's Peter's boat

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 that Jesus gets into.

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 Jesus is pursuing Peter.

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 He's gently,

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 graciously

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 pursuing him.

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 And so the first thing

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 that we want to notice

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 about Peter's call

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 is this,

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 is that when someone

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 comes to faith in Jesus,

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 when someone is converted,

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 as we say,

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 that is always

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 a response

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 to God's gracious pursuit.

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 It is always

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 a response

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 to God's gracious pursuit.

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 What we need

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 to understand is

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 even though Peter

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 commits to following

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 Jesus here,

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 he leaves everything

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 to follow him.

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 If you look down

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 the road in Peter's life

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 to Jesus' crucifixion,

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 Peter abandons him

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 once more.

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 He abandons him

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 once more.

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 He goes back

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 to his old life.

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 He denies knowing him.

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 But even then,

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 Jesus doesn't give up

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 on Peter.

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 He appears after his resurrection

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 on the beach

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 after another long,

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 fruitless night

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 of fishing

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 and catching nothing.

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 And then Jesus does what?

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 He reenacts

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 the exact same miracle.

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 The parallels

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 are striking.

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 And he forgives Peter

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 and he reinstates him

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 as an apostle.

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 So here's what this means

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 and why it's so important.

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 I think this gives

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 tremendous hope,

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 at least to people like me

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 and maybe people like you.

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 Some people have

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 dramatic conversion stories

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 like Paul on the road

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 to Damascus

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 where Jesus appears,

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 blinding, flashing light.

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 Entire life changes

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 in a moment.

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 And if you have had

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 that kind of experience

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 and I know people who have,

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 then praise God.

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 That is amazing for you.

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 But quite honestly,

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 that has not been my experience.

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 My own journey

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 has been a bit of a mess

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 to be totally honest.

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 It's been a lot of switchbacks,

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 a lot of curves,

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 a lot of fits and starts.

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 I grew up

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 and as a young child,

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 I considered myself a Christian,

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 was baptized at age 12,

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 but then I walked away

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 from the faith.

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 I lived and called myself

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 an agnostic

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 all through high school,

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 all through college.

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 Then I came back to faith.

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 God brought me back to faith

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 in a very powerful way.

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 But even since then,

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 you know,

00:08:47.879 --> 00:08:48.620
 I've had times

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 where God felt

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 unbearably real and close

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 and I've had long periods

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 of doubt,

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 dark nights of the soul

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 as we call them,

00:08:59.439 --> 00:09:00.779
 where frankly,

00:09:00.939 --> 00:09:01.799
 I had times

00:09:01.799 --> 00:09:02.579
 where I wasn't sure

00:09:02.579 --> 00:09:03.079
 what I believed.

00:09:04.199 --> 00:09:05.319
 Now I'm a priest.

00:09:05.399 --> 00:09:06.039
 I can't imagine

00:09:06.039 --> 00:09:06.879
 doing anything else

00:09:06.879 --> 00:09:07.519
 with my life.

00:09:07.740 --> 00:09:08.699
 I love what I do.

00:09:09.720 --> 00:09:11.019
 But as I look back,

00:09:11.019 --> 00:09:13.919
 no matter how far

00:09:13.919 --> 00:09:14.860
 I drifted,

00:09:14.919 --> 00:09:16.340
 no matter how many doubts

00:09:16.340 --> 00:09:17.000
 crept in,

00:09:17.460 --> 00:09:18.100
 no matter how much

00:09:18.100 --> 00:09:18.759
 I struggled

00:09:18.759 --> 00:09:20.699
 to figure out

00:09:20.699 --> 00:09:21.500
 what I believed

00:09:21.500 --> 00:09:22.500
 in the face of something

00:09:22.500 --> 00:09:23.559
 that I had experienced,

00:09:24.919 --> 00:09:26.460
 Jesus was always there.

00:09:27.579 --> 00:09:29.439
 He was always with me.

00:09:29.539 --> 00:09:31.679
 He has always pursued me

00:09:31.679 --> 00:09:32.579
 and he has always

00:09:32.579 --> 00:09:33.360
 called me back

00:09:33.360 --> 00:09:34.340
 to himself.

00:09:34.679 --> 00:09:35.659
 And here's the point

00:09:35.659 --> 00:09:36.279
 I want to make.

00:09:36.879 --> 00:09:38.019
 Unlike other religions

00:09:38.019 --> 00:09:39.159
 and philosophies,

00:09:39.299 --> 00:09:41.039
 our hope as Christians

00:09:41.039 --> 00:09:41.939
 doesn't rest

00:09:41.939 --> 00:09:42.759
 in the strength

00:09:42.759 --> 00:09:43.679
 of our commitment

00:09:43.679 --> 00:09:44.199
 to Jesus.

00:09:46.600 --> 00:09:47.519
 All of our hope

00:09:47.519 --> 00:09:49.000
 rests in his

00:09:49.000 --> 00:09:50.059
 unwavering commitment

00:09:50.059 --> 00:09:50.639
 to us.

00:09:52.039 --> 00:09:52.480
 Right?

00:09:52.559 --> 00:09:53.360
 So if you're here

00:09:53.360 --> 00:09:54.399
 and you're not a Christian,

00:09:55.879 --> 00:09:57.019
 like it or not,

00:09:57.759 --> 00:09:59.019
 Jesus is pursuing you.

00:10:00.159 --> 00:10:01.019
 If you're here

00:10:01.019 --> 00:10:02.159
 and you were a Christian

00:10:02.159 --> 00:10:04.480
 but you're leaving the faith,

00:10:04.559 --> 00:10:05.240
 you're deconstructing,

00:10:05.279 --> 00:10:05.720
 you're not sure

00:10:05.720 --> 00:10:06.319
 what you believe,

00:10:06.399 --> 00:10:06.860
 you're in a period

00:10:06.860 --> 00:10:07.320
 of doubt,

00:10:07.620 --> 00:10:08.480
 a dark night of the soul,

00:10:08.740 --> 00:10:09.659
 Jesus is pursuing.

00:10:11.440 --> 00:10:13.019
 And he will not give up.

00:10:13.120 --> 00:10:14.840
 Even if you've rejected him,

00:10:15.019 --> 00:10:16.220
 he's not going to reject you.

00:10:17.159 --> 00:10:18.539
 Even if you've given up on him,

00:10:18.580 --> 00:10:19.539
 he's never going to give up

00:10:19.539 --> 00:10:20.000
 on you.

00:10:21.200 --> 00:10:22.460
 He's going to continue pursuing.

00:10:24.440 --> 00:10:25.539
 Anytime somebody comes

00:10:25.539 --> 00:10:26.320
 to faith in Jesus,

00:10:26.480 --> 00:10:27.399
 it's a response

00:10:27.399 --> 00:10:29.080
 to God's gracious pursuit

00:10:29.080 --> 00:10:30.340
 of us.

00:10:30.379 --> 00:10:31.039
 That's the first thing

00:10:31.039 --> 00:10:32.019
 we want to see here.

00:10:33.539 --> 00:10:34.340
 The second thing

00:10:34.340 --> 00:10:35.220
 we see in this account

00:10:35.220 --> 00:10:36.300
 flows out of that.

00:10:37.560 --> 00:10:38.519
 At some point,

00:10:38.620 --> 00:10:40.639
 a response from us

00:10:40.639 --> 00:10:43.000
 is called forth.

00:10:43.740 --> 00:10:44.840
 Verse one tells us

00:10:44.840 --> 00:10:45.759
 that the reason Jesus

00:10:45.759 --> 00:10:46.600
 gets into the boat

00:10:46.600 --> 00:10:47.300
 to teach

00:10:47.300 --> 00:10:47.980
 is because people

00:10:47.980 --> 00:10:48.899
 are pressing in

00:10:48.899 --> 00:10:50.120
 all around him.

00:10:50.200 --> 00:10:50.980
 They want to hear his words.

00:10:51.120 --> 00:10:52.019
 Imagine he's down

00:10:52.019 --> 00:10:53.639
 on the shore of the lake

00:10:53.639 --> 00:10:55.080
 and people are pushing in

00:10:55.080 --> 00:10:55.800
 so much

00:10:55.800 --> 00:10:56.919
 that he's starting

00:10:56.919 --> 00:10:57.919
 to get into the water.

00:10:58.039 --> 00:10:58.519
 There's no room

00:10:58.519 --> 00:10:59.300
 to stand on the shore

00:10:59.300 --> 00:10:59.840
 because everybody

00:10:59.840 --> 00:11:00.500
 wants to hear.

00:11:00.580 --> 00:11:01.740
 There's no microphones

00:11:01.740 --> 00:11:02.240
 back then

00:11:02.240 --> 00:11:02.899
 and everybody wants

00:11:02.899 --> 00:11:03.759
 to hear what he's saying.

00:11:03.759 --> 00:11:04.679
 And so,

00:11:04.799 --> 00:11:05.840
 for very practical reasons,

00:11:05.939 --> 00:11:06.840
 he gets into the boat

00:11:06.840 --> 00:11:07.879
 and turns it into

00:11:07.879 --> 00:11:08.779
 a floating pulpit,

00:11:08.899 --> 00:11:09.779
 goes out in the lake

00:11:09.779 --> 00:11:10.879
 so he can teach

00:11:10.879 --> 00:11:12.200
 from the lake.

00:11:13.299 --> 00:11:14.299
 But what we see

00:11:14.299 --> 00:11:14.980
 in these crowds

00:11:14.980 --> 00:11:16.539
 is interesting here.

00:11:17.399 --> 00:11:18.200
 These crowds

00:11:18.200 --> 00:11:19.000
 kind of represent,

00:11:19.379 --> 00:11:20.000
 these are people

00:11:20.000 --> 00:11:20.700
 who are curious,

00:11:20.899 --> 00:11:21.439
 these are people,

00:11:21.919 --> 00:11:22.759
 they've heard things

00:11:22.759 --> 00:11:23.759
 that Jesus has done,

00:11:24.279 --> 00:11:24.860
 they're wanting

00:11:24.860 --> 00:11:25.860
 to see for themselves.

00:11:25.860 --> 00:11:27.860
 But we know

00:11:27.860 --> 00:11:28.759
 the context

00:11:28.759 --> 00:11:29.100
 if you look

00:11:29.100 --> 00:11:29.899
 at the broader story

00:11:29.899 --> 00:11:30.360
 and we know

00:11:30.360 --> 00:11:31.019
 that these crowds

00:11:31.019 --> 00:11:31.980
 are very fickle.

00:11:33.620 --> 00:11:34.360
 And as soon

00:11:34.360 --> 00:11:35.120
 as Jesus begins

00:11:35.120 --> 00:11:35.820
 to say things

00:11:35.820 --> 00:11:36.220
 that they don't

00:11:36.220 --> 00:11:36.680
 want to hear,

00:11:36.820 --> 00:11:37.259
 many of them

00:11:37.259 --> 00:11:37.840
 are going to leave

00:11:37.840 --> 00:11:38.480
 and turn on him.

00:11:40.240 --> 00:11:41.419
 So after Jesus

00:11:41.419 --> 00:11:42.220
 is done teaching,

00:11:42.340 --> 00:11:43.279
 he turns to Peter

00:11:43.279 --> 00:11:45.259
 and he wants to know

00:11:45.259 --> 00:11:46.980
 what is Peter's response

00:11:46.980 --> 00:11:47.980
 to my word going to be?

00:11:48.759 --> 00:11:49.740
 So he tells Peter,

00:11:49.879 --> 00:11:50.800
 put out into the deep

00:11:50.800 --> 00:11:52.200
 and let down your nets

00:11:52.200 --> 00:11:53.240
 for a catch.

00:11:54.300 --> 00:11:55.159
 Now this is daytime.

00:11:56.100 --> 00:11:57.200
 Everybody who knew

00:11:57.200 --> 00:11:57.860
 anything about fishing

00:11:57.860 --> 00:11:58.700
 knew that nighttime

00:11:58.700 --> 00:11:59.360
 was the best time

00:11:59.360 --> 00:12:00.419
 to catch fish.

00:12:00.500 --> 00:12:01.060
 By this time,

00:12:01.120 --> 00:12:01.860
 Peter is discouraged,

00:12:02.080 --> 00:12:02.680
 he's exhausted,

00:12:03.039 --> 00:12:03.700
 he's been out fishing

00:12:03.700 --> 00:12:04.180
 all night,

00:12:04.240 --> 00:12:04.680
 he's not caught

00:12:04.680 --> 00:12:05.600
 a single fish.

00:12:07.220 --> 00:12:07.879
 Now I'll tell you this,

00:12:07.919 --> 00:12:08.740
 I love to fish.

00:12:10.220 --> 00:12:11.419
 I'm not good at fishing,

00:12:11.620 --> 00:12:12.240
 but I love it.

00:12:12.399 --> 00:12:13.340
 I love going out there,

00:12:13.480 --> 00:12:14.240
 I love throwing a line

00:12:14.240 --> 00:12:14.639
 in the water.

00:12:15.980 --> 00:12:17.320
 But I can tell you this,

00:12:18.039 --> 00:12:19.180
 if you ever encounter

00:12:19.180 --> 00:12:20.779
 someone who has been

00:12:20.779 --> 00:12:21.779
 fishing for hours

00:12:21.779 --> 00:12:23.100
 and caught nothing,

00:12:23.600 --> 00:12:24.960
 the absolute worst thing

00:12:24.960 --> 00:12:25.639
 that you can do

00:12:25.639 --> 00:12:26.539
 is to offer them

00:12:26.539 --> 00:12:27.819
 unsolicited advice

00:12:27.819 --> 00:12:29.980
 about how to catch a fish.

00:12:30.519 --> 00:12:31.819
 The worst thing you can do,

00:12:31.980 --> 00:12:33.159
 especially if you're talking

00:12:33.159 --> 00:12:34.199
 to a career fisherman

00:12:34.199 --> 00:12:36.120
 and you're not

00:12:36.120 --> 00:12:36.779
 a career fisherman,

00:12:37.240 --> 00:12:37.759
 right?

00:12:37.840 --> 00:12:38.659
 You're a carpenter,

00:12:39.100 --> 00:12:39.860
 you're a rabbi,

00:12:40.340 --> 00:12:41.080
 you're not a fisherman.

00:12:41.980 --> 00:12:43.299
 So Jesus offers

00:12:43.299 --> 00:12:44.620
 this unsolicited advice

00:12:44.620 --> 00:12:45.639
 and based on everything

00:12:45.639 --> 00:12:46.279
 Peter knows

00:12:46.279 --> 00:12:47.100
 as a career fisherman,

00:12:47.220 --> 00:12:47.980
 Jesus' request

00:12:47.980 --> 00:12:49.679
 makes absolutely no sense.

00:12:50.100 --> 00:12:50.759
 It's the worst time

00:12:50.759 --> 00:12:51.419
 to catch a fish

00:12:51.419 --> 00:12:51.980
 and you want me

00:12:51.980 --> 00:12:52.240
 to go out

00:12:52.240 --> 00:12:52.939
 in the deepest part

00:12:52.939 --> 00:12:53.240
 of the lake

00:12:53.240 --> 00:12:54.019
 and drop my net

00:12:54.019 --> 00:12:54.440
 down there.

00:12:54.639 --> 00:12:55.820
 These are heavy nets,

00:12:55.919 --> 00:12:57.159
 at least 100 feet long,

00:12:57.320 --> 00:12:57.919
 super heavy.

00:12:58.120 --> 00:12:59.460
 This is backbreaking work.

00:13:01.060 --> 00:13:02.680
 This makes no sense.

00:13:03.159 --> 00:13:03.340
 You know,

00:13:03.419 --> 00:13:03.899
 in fishing,

00:13:04.019 --> 00:13:05.240
 there's the 90-10 rule,

00:13:05.399 --> 00:13:05.620
 right?

00:13:06.080 --> 00:13:07.580
 90% of the feeding fish

00:13:07.580 --> 00:13:08.759
 are in 10% of the water,

00:13:09.200 --> 00:13:10.180
 meaning most of the water

00:13:10.180 --> 00:13:11.060
 out there is empty.

00:13:11.139 --> 00:13:11.820
 There are no fish.

00:13:11.820 --> 00:13:14.100
 And Jesus is like,

00:13:14.160 --> 00:13:15.420
 go right there.

00:13:17.360 --> 00:13:18.220
 Makes no sense.

00:13:18.280 --> 00:13:19.360
 But look what Peter says.

00:13:20.060 --> 00:13:20.300
 He says,

00:13:20.379 --> 00:13:20.640
 Master,

00:13:20.700 --> 00:13:21.740
 we toiled all night long

00:13:21.740 --> 00:13:22.440
 and took nothing.

00:13:23.600 --> 00:13:23.960
 But,

00:13:24.379 --> 00:13:25.360
 at your word,

00:13:26.260 --> 00:13:27.720
 I'll let down the nets.

00:13:28.440 --> 00:13:29.460
 And then end up

00:13:29.460 --> 00:13:30.240
 catching more fish

00:13:30.240 --> 00:13:31.340
 than they can possibly handle.

00:13:31.400 --> 00:13:32.200
 Takes multiple boats.

00:13:33.300 --> 00:13:33.500
 See,

00:13:33.600 --> 00:13:34.680
 there comes a time

00:13:34.680 --> 00:13:35.680
 when if you want

00:13:35.680 --> 00:13:36.680
 to grow in your faith,

00:13:37.800 --> 00:13:39.400
 if you want to go beyond

00:13:39.399 --> 00:13:41.500
 what you see in the crowds,

00:13:42.959 --> 00:13:44.799
 this kind of fickle interest

00:13:44.799 --> 00:13:45.840
 in Jesus' words,

00:13:46.039 --> 00:13:47.419
 this noncommittal,

00:13:47.779 --> 00:13:48.620
 fair-weather faith,

00:13:50.019 --> 00:13:51.059
 you have to recognize

00:13:51.059 --> 00:13:52.220
 that the words of Jesus

00:13:52.220 --> 00:13:54.340
 are not simply advice.

00:13:54.480 --> 00:13:56.120
 They're not just food for thought

00:13:56.120 --> 00:13:57.759
 to go into the hopper

00:13:57.759 --> 00:13:59.299
 along with all of the other

00:13:59.299 --> 00:14:00.480
 input we get

00:14:00.480 --> 00:14:01.939
 about how to live our lives.

00:14:02.600 --> 00:14:04.019
 You have to begin to recognize

00:14:04.019 --> 00:14:04.980
 these are the words

00:14:04.980 --> 00:14:06.779
 of the one who made us,

00:14:07.639 --> 00:14:09.100
 the author of history,

00:14:09.399 --> 00:14:10.379
 the one who knows

00:14:10.379 --> 00:14:11.720
 infinitely more than we do

00:14:11.720 --> 00:14:13.699
 about what we need.

00:14:14.079 --> 00:14:15.019
 And so there comes a point

00:14:15.019 --> 00:14:15.799
 when you have to decide,

00:14:16.000 --> 00:14:17.159
 am I willing to say yes

00:14:17.159 --> 00:14:17.600
 to Jesus

00:14:17.600 --> 00:14:19.240
 even when it doesn't

00:14:19.240 --> 00:14:20.299
 make sense to me?

00:14:20.840 --> 00:14:22.439
 Even when what he's asking me

00:14:22.439 --> 00:14:22.899
 to do

00:14:22.899 --> 00:14:24.519
 doesn't make sense

00:14:24.519 --> 00:14:26.259
 from my perspective at all?

00:14:26.879 --> 00:14:28.100
 Even when it's inconvenient,

00:14:28.319 --> 00:14:29.240
 even when it's costly.

00:14:30.559 --> 00:14:32.100
 Am I willing to say yes anyway?

00:14:32.439 --> 00:14:32.679
 Now,

00:14:32.779 --> 00:14:33.579
 that can look a lot

00:14:33.579 --> 00:14:34.360
 of different ways.

00:14:35.519 --> 00:14:36.439
 Maybe it means

00:14:36.439 --> 00:14:38.980
 you forgive somebody

00:14:38.980 --> 00:14:40.019
 who has not asked

00:14:40.019 --> 00:14:40.600
 for your forgiveness

00:14:40.600 --> 00:14:44.440
 simply because Jesus says,

00:14:44.620 --> 00:14:45.279
 I've forgiven you

00:14:45.279 --> 00:14:46.300
 and I want you to go

00:14:46.300 --> 00:14:46.820
 and do the same.

00:14:47.200 --> 00:14:48.039
 Doesn't make sense,

00:14:48.539 --> 00:14:48.899
 but Jesus,

00:14:49.019 --> 00:14:49.440
 if you only knew

00:14:49.440 --> 00:14:50.039
 what they did to me.

00:14:51.539 --> 00:14:52.379
 But you do it.

00:14:53.120 --> 00:14:53.399
 You say,

00:14:53.480 --> 00:14:53.980
 at your word,

00:14:54.180 --> 00:14:54.879
 I will forgive.

00:14:55.080 --> 00:14:55.200
 You know,

00:14:55.440 --> 00:14:56.039
 maybe it means

00:14:56.039 --> 00:14:57.259
 giving money to somebody

00:14:57.259 --> 00:14:59.360
 who needs help

00:14:59.360 --> 00:15:01.220
 when it puts you

00:15:01.220 --> 00:15:02.480
 at greater financial risk

00:15:02.480 --> 00:15:03.680
 simply because Jesus

00:15:03.680 --> 00:15:04.860
 calls us to do that.

00:15:04.860 --> 00:15:06.879
 You know,

00:15:06.919 --> 00:15:07.919
 we were talking this morning

00:15:07.919 --> 00:15:09.120
 in our adult Sunday school class

00:15:09.120 --> 00:15:09.759
 about the fact

00:15:09.759 --> 00:15:10.300
 that there are people

00:15:10.300 --> 00:15:10.860
 in our community

00:15:10.860 --> 00:15:12.139
 who are gay

00:15:12.139 --> 00:15:13.519
 and because of their

00:15:13.519 --> 00:15:14.580
 relationship with Jesus

00:15:14.580 --> 00:15:16.019
 have committed themselves

00:15:16.019 --> 00:15:17.320
 to living a celibate life.

00:15:18.659 --> 00:15:20.259
 And we were talking about this

00:15:20.259 --> 00:15:20.919
 and we were saying,

00:15:20.960 --> 00:15:21.060
 you know,

00:15:21.100 --> 00:15:21.840
 in the eyes of the world,

00:15:21.899 --> 00:15:23.399
 that doesn't make sense at all.

00:15:24.279 --> 00:15:25.700
 It sounds crazy.

00:15:27.580 --> 00:15:29.100
 And it's incredibly costly.

00:15:29.100 --> 00:15:31.680
 But you know,

00:15:31.800 --> 00:15:33.580
 a person who has made that kind of,

00:15:33.659 --> 00:15:35.540
 said that kind of yes to Jesus,

00:15:35.659 --> 00:15:36.379
 quite frankly,

00:15:37.000 --> 00:15:38.560
 knows a heck of a lot more

00:15:38.560 --> 00:15:39.240
 about what it means

00:15:39.240 --> 00:15:40.360
 to follow and trust Jesus

00:15:40.360 --> 00:15:41.379
 than most pastors.

00:15:44.019 --> 00:15:45.000
 Now sometimes,

00:15:45.120 --> 00:15:46.200
 saying yes to Jesus,

00:15:46.399 --> 00:15:48.399
 that leads to immediate blessing.

00:15:48.659 --> 00:15:48.820
 Right?

00:15:48.860 --> 00:15:49.720
 You say yes to Jesus

00:15:49.720 --> 00:15:50.759
 and immediately you get

00:15:50.759 --> 00:15:51.580
 the big catch of fish.

00:15:52.000 --> 00:15:52.920
 Many times though,

00:15:53.160 --> 00:15:54.700
 it's not so easy.

00:15:55.740 --> 00:15:56.860
 Many times that blessing

00:15:56.860 --> 00:15:58.279
 that comes from saying yes to Jesus,

00:15:58.279 --> 00:15:59.720
 it doesn't come for a long time.

00:16:00.360 --> 00:16:01.019
 In some cases,

00:16:01.019 --> 00:16:02.620
 it may not come in this lifetime.

00:16:04.259 --> 00:16:06.539
 But if you have never said yes to Jesus,

00:16:07.179 --> 00:16:08.559
 even when it didn't make sense,

00:16:08.759 --> 00:16:09.980
 if you look back on your time

00:16:09.980 --> 00:16:10.439
 as a Christian,

00:16:10.579 --> 00:16:11.639
 for those of you who are Christians,

00:16:12.039 --> 00:16:14.299
 and there was never a point

00:16:14.299 --> 00:16:15.120
 where you said yes,

00:16:15.179 --> 00:16:16.480
 not because it also aligned

00:16:16.480 --> 00:16:17.519
 with what you wanted to do,

00:16:18.439 --> 00:16:19.679
 but you simply said yes,

00:16:19.819 --> 00:16:20.480
 even though you didn't

00:16:20.480 --> 00:16:21.379
 understand the command.

00:16:22.139 --> 00:16:23.799
 If you've never experienced that,

00:16:23.839 --> 00:16:24.579
 then I guarantee you

00:16:24.579 --> 00:16:25.740
 have never experienced

00:16:25.740 --> 00:16:28.179
 that kind of profound peace

00:16:28.179 --> 00:16:31.379
 that comes from letting go

00:16:31.379 --> 00:16:32.859
 of our attempts to control

00:16:32.859 --> 00:16:34.199
 what we can't control

00:16:34.199 --> 00:16:36.719
 and handing our lives over

00:16:36.719 --> 00:16:39.799
 to the one we can trust.

00:16:40.479 --> 00:16:40.819
 Right?

00:16:40.879 --> 00:16:41.959
 Even better than ourselves

00:16:41.959 --> 00:16:43.620
 to know what we need.

00:16:44.259 --> 00:16:45.419
 There's a peace that comes

00:16:45.419 --> 00:16:47.159
 with stopping the attempts

00:16:47.159 --> 00:16:49.439
 to control the uncontrollable

00:16:49.439 --> 00:16:51.959
 that can only be found

00:16:51.959 --> 00:16:54.459
 when you say yes to him.

00:16:54.460 --> 00:16:57.200
 So following Jesus

00:16:57.200 --> 00:16:58.360
 is a response

00:16:58.360 --> 00:16:59.379
 to God's gracious,

00:16:59.639 --> 00:17:00.780
 gentle pursuit of us.

00:17:01.920 --> 00:17:03.740
 And it means saying yes

00:17:03.740 --> 00:17:05.519
 even in the cases

00:17:05.519 --> 00:17:06.759
 where it doesn't make sense

00:17:06.759 --> 00:17:07.480
 to say yes.

00:17:08.759 --> 00:17:09.840
 And then along with this,

00:17:09.900 --> 00:17:10.779
 the third thing that we see

00:17:10.779 --> 00:17:12.259
 in Peter's journey

00:17:12.259 --> 00:17:14.600
 is that as we get

00:17:14.600 --> 00:17:15.880
 into relationship with Jesus,

00:17:17.039 --> 00:17:18.620
 as we follow Jesus,

00:17:19.240 --> 00:17:20.079
 part of the journey

00:17:20.079 --> 00:17:22.000
 means a growing awareness of sin.

00:17:22.000 --> 00:17:24.759
 You know, Peter says yes to Jesus.

00:17:24.900 --> 00:17:26.000
 He ends up catching more fish

00:17:26.000 --> 00:17:27.180
 than he's ever caught in his life.

00:17:27.400 --> 00:17:28.700
 And his reaction is fascinating.

00:17:28.819 --> 00:17:30.240
 See, I would be jumping up and down,

00:17:30.380 --> 00:17:31.039
 cheering, yelling,

00:17:31.779 --> 00:17:32.720
 taking a bunch of pictures,

00:17:32.859 --> 00:17:33.839
 telling everybody I know.

00:17:34.319 --> 00:17:35.079
 That's what you think

00:17:35.079 --> 00:17:35.619
 he'd be doing,

00:17:35.680 --> 00:17:36.359
 but he's terrified.

00:17:37.880 --> 00:17:39.039
 He falls to his knees

00:17:39.039 --> 00:17:39.480
 and he says,

00:17:39.559 --> 00:17:40.279
 depart from me

00:17:40.279 --> 00:17:41.420
 for I'm a sinful man,

00:17:41.460 --> 00:17:41.779
 oh Lord.

00:17:43.380 --> 00:17:44.519
 This is the same reaction,

00:17:44.660 --> 00:17:44.920
 by the way,

00:17:44.960 --> 00:17:46.220
 that we see in the Old Testament reading.

00:17:46.299 --> 00:17:47.000
 If you remember

00:17:47.000 --> 00:17:47.920
 a little while ago,

00:17:48.740 --> 00:17:49.779
 we read about Gideon

00:17:49.779 --> 00:17:52.559
 when he sees a manifestation of God

00:17:52.559 --> 00:17:55.119
 and he recognizes

00:17:55.119 --> 00:17:56.980
 that this isn't just a prophet,

00:17:57.099 --> 00:17:57.799
 this is actually

00:17:57.799 --> 00:18:00.319
 a manifestation of God's presence.

00:18:00.940 --> 00:18:02.240
 His response is to say,

00:18:02.339 --> 00:18:04.180
 alas, oh Lord God,

00:18:04.240 --> 00:18:05.240
 for now I have seen

00:18:05.240 --> 00:18:06.940
 the angel of the Lord face to face.

00:18:07.119 --> 00:18:07.779
 He's terrified.

00:18:07.920 --> 00:18:08.859
 He thinks he's gonna die.

00:18:09.619 --> 00:18:10.539
 And God responds,

00:18:10.980 --> 00:18:12.500
 peace, you're not gonna die.

00:18:14.019 --> 00:18:15.440
 Think of the prophet Isaiah,

00:18:15.559 --> 00:18:16.099
 same thing.

00:18:16.099 --> 00:18:17.220
 Isaiah sees God

00:18:17.220 --> 00:18:17.980
 and then cries out,

00:18:18.139 --> 00:18:18.619
 woe is me

00:18:18.619 --> 00:18:19.399
 for I'm lost,

00:18:19.799 --> 00:18:21.319
 for I'm a man of unclean lips

00:18:21.319 --> 00:18:22.279
 and I dwell in the midst

00:18:22.279 --> 00:18:24.339
 of a people of unclean lips.

00:18:25.159 --> 00:18:26.759
 For my eyes have seen the King,

00:18:26.839 --> 00:18:27.619
 the Lord of hosts.

00:18:28.339 --> 00:18:29.519
 He thinks he's gonna die.

00:18:31.679 --> 00:18:32.739
 The point is this,

00:18:33.719 --> 00:18:35.019
 the holiness of God

00:18:35.019 --> 00:18:37.599
 illuminates

00:18:37.599 --> 00:18:39.319
 the truth about our sin.

00:18:40.919 --> 00:18:41.739
 In the presence

00:18:41.739 --> 00:18:42.699
 of that kind of holiness,

00:18:42.959 --> 00:18:44.279
 everything about us

00:18:44.279 --> 00:18:45.259
 is exposed.

00:18:45.259 --> 00:18:48.059
 and that is terrifying.

00:18:49.240 --> 00:18:50.160
 It's terrifying

00:18:50.160 --> 00:18:51.160
 to be in the presence

00:18:51.160 --> 00:18:51.960
 of a holy God.

00:18:52.720 --> 00:18:53.460
 Peter realizes

00:18:53.460 --> 00:18:54.400
 he's in the presence

00:18:54.400 --> 00:18:56.619
 of someone far,

00:18:56.940 --> 00:18:57.720
 far beyond

00:18:57.720 --> 00:18:58.839
 a mere human

00:18:58.839 --> 00:18:59.980
 and he's terrified.

00:19:00.839 --> 00:19:01.640
 Only God

00:19:01.640 --> 00:19:02.700
 has that kind of authority

00:19:02.700 --> 00:19:03.319
 over nature.

00:19:05.400 --> 00:19:06.640
 The holiness of God

00:19:06.640 --> 00:19:07.539
 illuminates the truth

00:19:07.539 --> 00:19:08.140
 about our sin,

00:19:08.240 --> 00:19:08.799
 which means

00:19:08.799 --> 00:19:09.960
 the more we grow

00:19:09.960 --> 00:19:10.900
 in our relationship

00:19:10.900 --> 00:19:11.640
 with Jesus,

00:19:11.640 --> 00:19:13.480
 the more clearly

00:19:13.480 --> 00:19:14.620
 we see his holiness,

00:19:15.440 --> 00:19:16.900
 the more clearly

00:19:16.900 --> 00:19:17.640
 we see our sin.

00:19:18.620 --> 00:19:19.420
 See, it goes together.

00:19:20.160 --> 00:19:21.000
 The more you see the holiness,

00:19:21.140 --> 00:19:21.820
 the more you see

00:19:21.820 --> 00:19:22.800
 your own sin.

00:19:22.960 --> 00:19:23.520
 And what you begin

00:19:23.520 --> 00:19:24.680
 to realize is that sin

00:19:24.680 --> 00:19:25.640
 is a lot like an onion.

00:19:27.200 --> 00:19:28.280
 When you become aware

00:19:28.280 --> 00:19:29.320
 of sin in your life,

00:19:30.400 --> 00:19:31.120
 you become aware

00:19:31.120 --> 00:19:31.660
 of some way

00:19:31.660 --> 00:19:32.240
 that you're rebelling

00:19:32.240 --> 00:19:33.000
 against God,

00:19:33.560 --> 00:19:34.460
 then ideally

00:19:34.460 --> 00:19:35.160
 if you're a Christian,

00:19:35.300 --> 00:19:35.800
 you repent.

00:19:35.920 --> 00:19:37.120
 You turn away from it.

00:19:38.119 --> 00:19:39.959
 You give it up

00:19:39.959 --> 00:19:41.339
 and you embrace

00:19:41.339 --> 00:19:42.219
 the grace of Jesus.

00:19:42.399 --> 00:19:43.079
 So ideally,

00:19:43.199 --> 00:19:44.179
 that's how you respond.

00:19:45.099 --> 00:19:45.979
 When you do that,

00:19:46.039 --> 00:19:46.959
 you're peeling back

00:19:46.959 --> 00:19:47.659
 a layer of the onion.

00:19:48.879 --> 00:19:49.899
 But in time,

00:19:50.359 --> 00:19:51.399
 the holiness of Jesus

00:19:51.399 --> 00:19:52.439
 begins to expose

00:19:52.439 --> 00:19:52.919
 the fact that

00:19:52.919 --> 00:19:53.859
 there's more sin

00:19:53.859 --> 00:19:54.419
 underneath.

00:19:54.579 --> 00:19:55.039
 There's another

00:19:55.039 --> 00:19:55.739
 deeper layer.

00:19:57.259 --> 00:19:57.979
 And that's where

00:19:57.979 --> 00:19:58.579
 you need to go.

00:19:58.899 --> 00:19:59.439
 And there's more

00:19:59.439 --> 00:20:00.519
 repenting that's required.

00:20:00.859 --> 00:20:01.399
 So I'll give you

00:20:01.399 --> 00:20:01.859
 an example,

00:20:02.539 --> 00:20:03.459
 not from our church,

00:20:04.479 --> 00:20:05.739
 from some other church.

00:20:06.019 --> 00:20:06.559
 Here's an example

00:20:06.559 --> 00:20:07.440
 from another church.

00:20:08.000 --> 00:20:09.119
 A guy who,

00:20:09.339 --> 00:20:09.879
 not a Christian,

00:20:10.019 --> 00:20:10.940
 but friends with some people

00:20:10.940 --> 00:20:11.779
 who go to the church.

00:20:12.339 --> 00:20:13.440
 And he's kind of known

00:20:13.440 --> 00:20:14.079
 as a player,

00:20:14.519 --> 00:20:14.899
 womanizer.

00:20:15.559 --> 00:20:16.319
 He has this pattern

00:20:16.319 --> 00:20:17.019
 of pursuing,

00:20:17.299 --> 00:20:17.539
 flirting,

00:20:17.700 --> 00:20:18.460
 giving lots of attention

00:20:18.460 --> 00:20:19.000
 to a woman.

00:20:19.460 --> 00:20:20.899
 Then he physically

00:20:20.899 --> 00:20:21.599
 hooks up with her.

00:20:21.899 --> 00:20:23.059
 And then once that happens,

00:20:23.119 --> 00:20:23.659
 he ghosts her.

00:20:23.960 --> 00:20:24.639
 And he moves on.

00:20:25.039 --> 00:20:26.119
 And he has a pretty

00:20:26.119 --> 00:20:26.899
 bad reputation

00:20:26.899 --> 00:20:28.879
 for this kind of behavior.

00:20:29.980 --> 00:20:30.740
 Then this guy

00:20:30.740 --> 00:20:31.519
 comes to faith.

00:20:32.519 --> 00:20:34.720
 And almost immediately,

00:20:34.720 --> 00:20:36.200
 he repents

00:20:36.200 --> 00:20:37.339
 of all of that behavior.

00:20:37.579 --> 00:20:38.079
 I shouldn't have been

00:20:38.079 --> 00:20:38.880
 treating women that way.

00:20:38.940 --> 00:20:39.360
 I shouldn't have been

00:20:39.360 --> 00:20:39.920
 doing that.

00:20:40.339 --> 00:20:41.079
 And he repents of it.

00:20:41.200 --> 00:20:42.480
 So all the hooking up,

00:20:42.559 --> 00:20:44.339
 all the sexual stuff,

00:20:44.420 --> 00:20:45.519
 he repents of all of that.

00:20:46.140 --> 00:20:47.240
 And he gets really involved

00:20:47.240 --> 00:20:47.640
 in the church.

00:20:47.720 --> 00:20:48.440
 He gets really involved

00:20:48.440 --> 00:20:48.960
 in the ministries

00:20:48.960 --> 00:20:49.360
 of the church.

00:20:49.440 --> 00:20:50.039
 Gets really involved,

00:20:50.140 --> 00:20:51.039
 dives fully in,

00:20:51.579 --> 00:20:52.480
 joins a small group.

00:20:53.220 --> 00:20:54.339
 But then over time,

00:20:54.579 --> 00:20:55.200
 people in the church

00:20:55.200 --> 00:20:56.019
 begin to realize,

00:20:56.160 --> 00:20:56.680
 people who are friends

00:20:56.680 --> 00:20:57.100
 with this guy

00:20:57.100 --> 00:20:57.700
 begin to realize,

00:20:57.799 --> 00:20:57.980
 you know,

00:20:58.120 --> 00:20:58.660
 he's given up

00:20:58.660 --> 00:20:59.480
 all the sexual stuff.

00:20:59.559 --> 00:20:59.960
 He's given up

00:20:59.960 --> 00:21:00.920
 all the hooking up

00:21:00.920 --> 00:21:01.819
 and all that's gone

00:21:01.819 --> 00:21:02.539
 now that he's a Christian.

00:21:03.099 --> 00:21:03.779
 But they start to notice

00:21:03.779 --> 00:21:04.359
 that every time

00:21:04.359 --> 00:21:05.379
 this guy gets into a group,

00:21:05.480 --> 00:21:06.319
 whether it's a ministry team

00:21:06.319 --> 00:21:06.899
 or a small group,

00:21:07.200 --> 00:21:08.399
 he always has to dominate.

00:21:09.960 --> 00:21:11.420
 He talks the most.

00:21:12.519 --> 00:21:14.079
 He always has the answers.

00:21:14.659 --> 00:21:14.759
 Right?

00:21:14.779 --> 00:21:16.339
 He always wants to be the one

00:21:16.339 --> 00:21:17.299
 to come up with a plan.

00:21:17.659 --> 00:21:19.159
 He tries to force himself

00:21:19.159 --> 00:21:19.759
 into leadership

00:21:19.759 --> 00:21:20.500
 at every opportunity.

00:21:20.960 --> 00:21:22.180
 And these people

00:21:22.180 --> 00:21:22.759
 begin to realize,

00:21:22.859 --> 00:21:23.059
 you know,

00:21:24.019 --> 00:21:25.159
 it was never really

00:21:25.159 --> 00:21:25.980
 about the sex

00:21:25.980 --> 00:21:27.220
 and the hooking up.

00:21:28.519 --> 00:21:29.259
 Under that,

00:21:29.379 --> 00:21:30.539
 there was an idolatry

00:21:30.539 --> 00:21:31.619
 of power and control.

00:21:32.539 --> 00:21:32.779
 Right?

00:21:32.819 --> 00:21:33.839
 You peel back one layer,

00:21:33.940 --> 00:21:34.299
 but underneath,

00:21:34.519 --> 00:21:34.920
 you realize,

00:21:35.099 --> 00:21:35.859
 all that behavior

00:21:35.859 --> 00:21:36.299
 with women,

00:21:36.379 --> 00:21:37.359
 it was about conquest.

00:21:38.500 --> 00:21:39.740
 It was about control.

00:21:40.940 --> 00:21:41.920
 And you begin to realize,

00:21:42.039 --> 00:21:43.399
 this guy has a deeper layer.

00:21:44.139 --> 00:21:44.759
 He peeled away

00:21:44.759 --> 00:21:45.379
 an outer layer,

00:21:45.460 --> 00:21:46.220
 but there's a deeper

00:21:46.220 --> 00:21:47.779
 idolatry of power

00:21:47.779 --> 00:21:49.359
 that needs to be torn down.

00:21:49.420 --> 00:21:50.420
 It needs to be torn out.

00:21:51.619 --> 00:21:52.000
 Now,

00:21:52.000 --> 00:21:53.220
 that kind of thing

00:21:53.220 --> 00:21:54.259
 is true for all of us.

00:21:54.339 --> 00:21:55.319
 The specifics differ.

00:21:55.440 --> 00:21:56.220
 The idols differ.

00:21:56.319 --> 00:21:57.259
 The behaviors differ.

00:21:58.879 --> 00:22:00.700
 But that kind of thing,

00:22:00.700 --> 00:22:02.360
 the layer

00:22:02.360 --> 00:22:03.759
 that you peel back

00:22:03.759 --> 00:22:04.940
 and you see a deeper layer

00:22:04.940 --> 00:22:05.759
 and you peel that back

00:22:05.759 --> 00:22:06.860
 and you see a deeper layer,

00:22:07.140 --> 00:22:08.299
 that dynamic is true

00:22:08.299 --> 00:22:09.160
 of every human being.

00:22:10.840 --> 00:22:12.620
 So the more we follow Jesus,

00:22:12.900 --> 00:22:14.920
 which means seeing more

00:22:14.920 --> 00:22:15.400
 of his holiness

00:22:15.400 --> 00:22:16.100
 and more of our sin,

00:22:16.160 --> 00:22:17.500
 the more we have to peel back

00:22:17.500 --> 00:22:17.960
 the layers

00:22:17.960 --> 00:22:19.000
 and go deeper and deeper

00:22:19.000 --> 00:22:20.259
 into the reality of our sin.

00:22:20.740 --> 00:22:21.759
 This is why the great

00:22:21.759 --> 00:22:23.960
 Frederica Matthews Green,

00:22:24.319 --> 00:22:24.980
 Eastern Orthodox

00:22:24.980 --> 00:22:27.620
 spiritual leader,

00:22:28.059 --> 00:22:28.720
 says this,

00:22:28.720 --> 00:22:30.559
 the first time Jesus appears

00:22:30.559 --> 00:22:31.960
 in the first gospel,

00:22:32.680 --> 00:22:33.819
 the first instruction

00:22:33.819 --> 00:22:35.620
 he gives is repent.

00:22:36.519 --> 00:22:37.319
 From then on,

00:22:37.579 --> 00:22:39.839
 it's his most consistent message.

00:22:40.339 --> 00:22:41.380
 In all times

00:22:41.380 --> 00:22:42.660
 and every situation,

00:22:42.839 --> 00:22:44.680
 his advice is to repent.

00:22:45.380 --> 00:22:46.400
 Not just the scribes

00:22:46.400 --> 00:22:47.059
 and Pharisees,

00:22:47.360 --> 00:22:48.339
 not just the powerful,

00:22:48.720 --> 00:22:49.940
 he tells even the poor

00:22:49.940 --> 00:22:50.559
 and oppressed

00:22:50.559 --> 00:22:51.519
 that repentance

00:22:51.519 --> 00:22:52.779
 is the key

00:22:52.779 --> 00:22:53.920
 to eternal life.

00:22:55.720 --> 00:22:56.980
 The more we see

00:22:56.980 --> 00:22:57.940
 the holiness of Christ,

00:22:57.940 --> 00:22:58.740
 the more we see

00:22:58.740 --> 00:22:59.400
 our own sin.

00:23:00.259 --> 00:23:01.279
 The more we see

00:23:01.279 --> 00:23:02.120
 our own sin,

00:23:02.320 --> 00:23:03.480
 the more we repent.

00:23:04.440 --> 00:23:05.299
 And that means

00:23:05.299 --> 00:23:06.000
 we experience

00:23:06.000 --> 00:23:07.220
 more and more

00:23:07.220 --> 00:23:09.320
 of the grace of Christ.

00:23:10.620 --> 00:23:10.759
 Right?

00:23:10.820 --> 00:23:11.820
 That's how we grow.

00:23:12.779 --> 00:23:13.700
 We see sin,

00:23:13.820 --> 00:23:14.320
 we repent,

00:23:14.400 --> 00:23:15.360
 we experience grace.

00:23:16.059 --> 00:23:16.960
 And then it goes deeper

00:23:16.960 --> 00:23:17.900
 and deeper and deeper.

00:23:17.980 --> 00:23:18.340
 And guess what?

00:23:18.400 --> 00:23:19.600
 The grace goes deeper

00:23:19.600 --> 00:23:20.660
 and deeper and deeper

00:23:20.660 --> 00:23:21.440
 as well.

00:23:21.440 --> 00:23:23.860
 So mature Christians

00:23:23.860 --> 00:23:24.680
 who have been at this

00:23:24.680 --> 00:23:25.539
 for a long time

00:23:25.539 --> 00:23:27.519
 are eager to repent

00:23:27.519 --> 00:23:29.120
 because there is nothing

00:23:29.120 --> 00:23:30.140
 like that experience

00:23:30.140 --> 00:23:30.660
 of grace

00:23:30.660 --> 00:23:31.680
 on the other side

00:23:31.680 --> 00:23:32.100
 of repentance.

00:23:34.100 --> 00:23:34.960
 So we see

00:23:34.960 --> 00:23:36.600
 that this is a response.

00:23:36.799 --> 00:23:37.840
 Peter is responding

00:23:37.840 --> 00:23:39.180
 to God's gracious pursuit.

00:23:40.240 --> 00:23:41.220
 Peter reaches a point

00:23:41.220 --> 00:23:42.160
 in his relationship

00:23:42.160 --> 00:23:42.640
 with Jesus

00:23:42.640 --> 00:23:43.100
 where he's willing

00:23:43.100 --> 00:23:43.620
 to say yes

00:23:43.620 --> 00:23:44.340
 even when it doesn't

00:23:44.340 --> 00:23:44.799
 make sense.

00:23:45.000 --> 00:23:45.940
 And then in the presence

00:23:45.940 --> 00:23:46.500
 of the holiness

00:23:46.500 --> 00:23:47.119
 of Jesus,

00:23:48.019 --> 00:23:49.720
 he grows in his awareness

00:23:49.720 --> 00:23:50.299
 of sin

00:23:50.299 --> 00:23:52.960
 which prepares him

00:23:52.960 --> 00:23:53.700
 to be a recipient

00:23:53.700 --> 00:23:54.920
 of grace.

00:23:55.119 --> 00:23:55.799
 Jesus responds

00:23:55.799 --> 00:23:56.880
 with tremendous grace.

00:23:58.220 --> 00:23:59.359
 And in Jesus' response,

00:23:59.460 --> 00:24:00.000
 he doesn't just

00:24:00.000 --> 00:24:00.799
 forgive him,

00:24:00.880 --> 00:24:01.420
 say peace,

00:24:02.039 --> 00:24:02.880
 say don't be afraid.

00:24:03.920 --> 00:24:05.039
 We see the fourth thing.

00:24:05.140 --> 00:24:06.440
 Jesus then gives him

00:24:06.440 --> 00:24:08.339
 an entirely new understanding

00:24:08.339 --> 00:24:09.519
 of his purpose in life.

00:24:10.039 --> 00:24:10.779
 What we might call

00:24:10.779 --> 00:24:12.420
 a kingdom-centered vocation.

00:24:13.039 --> 00:24:14.480
 A kingdom-centered vocation.

00:24:15.119 --> 00:24:16.000
 See, this encounter

00:24:16.000 --> 00:24:17.779
 ends with Jesus saying

00:24:17.779 --> 00:24:18.579
 do not be afraid.

00:24:19.299 --> 00:24:20.099
 From now on,

00:24:20.160 --> 00:24:21.900
 you will be catching men.

00:24:22.880 --> 00:24:23.960
 Or he literally says

00:24:23.960 --> 00:24:24.599
 you will be catching

00:24:24.599 --> 00:24:25.700
 people alive.

00:24:25.980 --> 00:24:27.220
 You will be catching lives.

00:24:28.579 --> 00:24:30.599
 And Peter, James, and John

00:24:30.599 --> 00:24:31.240
 leave everything

00:24:31.240 --> 00:24:31.880
 and follow him.

00:24:32.819 --> 00:24:33.519
 And we need to be

00:24:33.519 --> 00:24:34.440
 really careful here

00:24:34.440 --> 00:24:35.839
 that we don't miss

00:24:35.839 --> 00:24:36.420
 the meaning

00:24:36.420 --> 00:24:39.000
 of what's happening here.

00:24:39.779 --> 00:24:41.200
 This doesn't mean

00:24:41.200 --> 00:24:43.380
 that when you become

00:24:43.380 --> 00:24:44.119
 a follower of Jesus,

00:24:44.220 --> 00:24:44.700
 you have to leave

00:24:44.700 --> 00:24:45.400
 your career behind

00:24:45.400 --> 00:24:45.920
 and go become

00:24:45.920 --> 00:24:46.800
 a full-time missionary.

00:24:47.980 --> 00:24:48.500
 Now, some people

00:24:48.500 --> 00:24:49.220
 read it that way.

00:24:49.800 --> 00:24:50.680
 But there's nothing

00:24:50.680 --> 00:24:51.120
 in the Bible,

00:24:51.240 --> 00:24:51.680
 I would say,

00:24:51.759 --> 00:24:52.340
 that suggests

00:24:52.340 --> 00:24:53.019
 that that would be

00:24:53.019 --> 00:24:54.880
 normative for Christians.

00:24:56.380 --> 00:24:57.259
 Certainly, all Christians

00:24:57.259 --> 00:24:57.840
 are called to share

00:24:57.840 --> 00:24:58.900
 the gospel, right?

00:24:59.519 --> 00:25:00.460
 But I don't think

00:25:00.460 --> 00:25:00.960
 this is about

00:25:00.960 --> 00:25:02.640
 leaving our career behind.

00:25:03.780 --> 00:25:05.580
 I think this is a challenge

00:25:05.580 --> 00:25:06.680
 and it challenges us

00:25:06.680 --> 00:25:07.460
 to rethink

00:25:07.460 --> 00:25:08.840
 our own vocations

00:25:08.840 --> 00:25:10.840
 in light of the kingdom.

00:25:10.839 --> 00:25:12.500
 Jesus says,

00:25:12.619 --> 00:25:13.059
 I'm here.

00:25:13.740 --> 00:25:14.939
 I am the kingdom of God.

00:25:15.099 --> 00:25:15.339
 Come.

00:25:15.699 --> 00:25:17.139
 I'm breaking into this world.

00:25:17.779 --> 00:25:18.659
 And as a result,

00:25:18.839 --> 00:25:19.500
 your job,

00:25:19.619 --> 00:25:20.159
 your role,

00:25:20.279 --> 00:25:20.819
 your vocation

00:25:20.819 --> 00:25:21.939
 is going to be transformed.

00:25:22.159 --> 00:25:23.199
 It's going to be expanded.

00:25:23.539 --> 00:25:24.639
 It's going to be deepened.

00:25:24.919 --> 00:25:25.859
 You're going to get hitched

00:25:25.859 --> 00:25:26.339
 to something

00:25:26.339 --> 00:25:27.679
 so much bigger than yourself

00:25:27.679 --> 00:25:29.539
 that you're going to have

00:25:29.539 --> 00:25:31.000
 to entirely reimagine

00:25:31.000 --> 00:25:32.000
 your vocation

00:25:32.000 --> 00:25:32.679
 in light of the kingdom.

00:25:32.819 --> 00:25:33.799
 That's what's happening here.

00:25:34.539 --> 00:25:34.699
 You know,

00:25:34.740 --> 00:25:35.559
 God had created

00:25:35.559 --> 00:25:36.279
 and gifted Peter

00:25:36.279 --> 00:25:36.920
 to be a fisherman.

00:25:38.339 --> 00:25:40.039
 But Jesus challenges him

00:25:40.039 --> 00:25:40.759
 to go beyond

00:25:40.759 --> 00:25:42.519
 simply focusing on fish.

00:25:43.619 --> 00:25:44.700
 How can your gifts

00:25:44.700 --> 00:25:45.200
 and talents

00:25:45.200 --> 00:25:45.680
 and abilities

00:25:45.680 --> 00:25:46.740
 be used in service

00:25:46.740 --> 00:25:47.680
 of the kingdom of God?

00:25:48.639 --> 00:25:49.059
 You know,

00:25:49.139 --> 00:25:50.180
 I had lunch with someone

00:25:50.180 --> 00:25:50.759
 just this week

00:25:50.759 --> 00:25:51.299
 in our church.

00:25:52.139 --> 00:25:52.980
 This is a person

00:25:52.980 --> 00:25:53.500
 who's gifted

00:25:53.500 --> 00:25:54.039
 and wired

00:25:54.039 --> 00:25:54.819
 to create

00:25:54.819 --> 00:25:56.279
 and implement systems.

00:25:56.799 --> 00:25:57.899
 A person who's really good

00:25:57.899 --> 00:25:58.920
 at setting goals

00:25:58.920 --> 00:25:59.879
 and then leading teams

00:25:59.879 --> 00:26:00.319
 of people

00:26:00.319 --> 00:26:01.500
 to accomplish

00:26:01.500 --> 00:26:02.480
 those goals.

00:26:02.579 --> 00:26:03.019
 He's done this

00:26:03.019 --> 00:26:03.899
 professionally for years.

00:26:04.240 --> 00:26:04.960
 Now he's asking

00:26:04.960 --> 00:26:05.980
 this amazing question,

00:26:06.279 --> 00:26:07.139
 what would it look like

00:26:07.139 --> 00:26:07.859
 for me to use

00:26:07.859 --> 00:26:08.299
 these gifts

00:26:08.299 --> 00:26:08.740
 and talents

00:26:08.740 --> 00:26:09.259
 and abilities

00:26:09.259 --> 00:26:11.139
 to put them to use

00:26:11.139 --> 00:26:12.319
 creating systems

00:26:12.319 --> 00:26:12.980
 that will help

00:26:12.980 --> 00:26:13.539
 our church

00:26:13.539 --> 00:26:14.799
 become more effective

00:26:14.799 --> 00:26:16.160
 in our mercy ministry

00:26:16.160 --> 00:26:18.319
 once we move to Shaw?

00:26:19.099 --> 00:26:19.339
 Right?

00:26:19.379 --> 00:26:20.160
 That's a wonderful

00:26:20.160 --> 00:26:21.059
 question to ask.

00:26:21.319 --> 00:26:22.039
 God has given me

00:26:22.039 --> 00:26:22.660
 this vocation.

00:26:22.759 --> 00:26:23.440
 What does it look like

00:26:23.440 --> 00:26:25.059
 to think of this vocation

00:26:25.059 --> 00:26:25.899
 in light of the kingdom

00:26:25.899 --> 00:26:26.980
 and what God is doing

00:26:26.980 --> 00:26:27.579
 here in the city?

00:26:29.119 --> 00:26:30.160
 We all have

00:26:30.160 --> 00:26:31.339
 a God-given vocation.

00:26:32.119 --> 00:26:32.759
 Whether or not

00:26:32.759 --> 00:26:33.500
 you have a job,

00:26:34.139 --> 00:26:34.879
 paying job,

00:26:34.940 --> 00:26:35.680
 or a career,

00:26:36.279 --> 00:26:37.359
 you have a vocation.

00:26:38.460 --> 00:26:38.579
 You know,

00:26:38.619 --> 00:26:39.720
 you have a particular way

00:26:39.720 --> 00:26:40.539
 that God has wired

00:26:40.539 --> 00:26:41.399
 and gifted you

00:26:41.399 --> 00:26:42.920
 to serve in this world

00:26:42.920 --> 00:26:43.759
 simply by virtue

00:26:43.759 --> 00:26:44.099
 of the fact

00:26:44.099 --> 00:26:44.940
 that you're a human being.

00:26:46.539 --> 00:26:47.660
 For most of us,

00:26:48.119 --> 00:26:48.899
 I would say

00:26:48.899 --> 00:26:50.099
 that leaving everything

00:26:50.099 --> 00:26:50.920
 to follow Jesus

00:26:50.920 --> 00:26:51.700
 doesn't mean

00:26:51.700 --> 00:26:52.480
 quitting our jobs.

00:26:53.899 --> 00:26:54.819
 It means,

00:26:55.000 --> 00:26:56.200
 here's the leave everything part,

00:26:56.299 --> 00:26:57.660
 it means you no longer

00:26:57.660 --> 00:26:59.200
 focus only on

00:26:59.200 --> 00:27:00.139
 financial security

00:27:00.139 --> 00:27:01.779
 or status

00:27:01.779 --> 00:27:03.480
 or achievement

00:27:03.480 --> 00:27:04.680
 as the goal.

00:27:04.680 --> 00:27:06.340
 it means

00:27:06.340 --> 00:27:07.100
 that you begin

00:27:07.100 --> 00:27:08.340
 to aim higher than that.

00:27:09.140 --> 00:27:09.700
 It means

00:27:09.700 --> 00:27:10.180
 that you begin

00:27:10.180 --> 00:27:11.180
 to see your vocation

00:27:11.180 --> 00:27:12.200
 as a way to serve

00:27:12.200 --> 00:27:13.340
 and bring glory to Jesus,

00:27:14.480 --> 00:27:15.060
 a way to put

00:27:15.060 --> 00:27:16.100
 the gospel on display.

00:27:17.320 --> 00:27:17.480
 You know,

00:27:17.539 --> 00:27:17.980
 this is what

00:27:17.980 --> 00:27:18.880
 the apostle Paul

00:27:18.880 --> 00:27:19.680
 is talking about

00:27:19.680 --> 00:27:20.900
 in Colossians chapter 3.

00:27:21.580 --> 00:27:22.440
 Whatever you do,

00:27:22.640 --> 00:27:23.279
 work heartily.

00:27:23.720 --> 00:27:24.500
 Ask for the Lord

00:27:24.500 --> 00:27:25.180
 and not for men.

00:27:25.860 --> 00:27:26.860
 Knowing that from the Lord

00:27:26.860 --> 00:27:27.519
 you will receive

00:27:27.519 --> 00:27:28.080
 the inheritance

00:27:28.080 --> 00:27:29.039
 as your reward.

00:27:29.460 --> 00:27:30.240
 You are serving

00:27:30.240 --> 00:27:31.460
 the Lord Christ.

00:27:31.460 --> 00:27:33.539
 And listen,

00:27:33.620 --> 00:27:34.420
 I know some of you

00:27:34.420 --> 00:27:35.539
 really need to hear this.

00:27:36.200 --> 00:27:36.700
 Some of you

00:27:36.700 --> 00:27:37.140
 have struggled

00:27:37.140 --> 00:27:38.160
 with unemployment.

00:27:38.380 --> 00:27:38.600
 You're looking

00:27:38.600 --> 00:27:39.360
 for a job right now.

00:27:39.759 --> 00:27:40.799
 And if you don't have a job,

00:27:40.880 --> 00:27:41.380
 especially in a place

00:27:41.380 --> 00:27:42.559
 like D.C.,

00:27:42.559 --> 00:27:43.279
 you can feel like

00:27:43.279 --> 00:27:43.940
 your whole life

00:27:43.940 --> 00:27:45.380
 lacks meaning.

00:27:46.299 --> 00:27:46.440
 You know,

00:27:46.559 --> 00:27:48.039
 regardless of your politics

00:27:48.039 --> 00:27:48.740
 on what's happening

00:27:48.740 --> 00:27:49.059
 right now

00:27:49.059 --> 00:27:49.720
 in the federal government,

00:27:49.799 --> 00:27:50.340
 I know a lot of you

00:27:50.340 --> 00:27:51.180
 work for the federal government.

00:27:51.759 --> 00:27:52.460
 And I know some of you

00:27:52.460 --> 00:27:53.440
 have either lost your jobs

00:27:53.440 --> 00:27:53.819
 or you're worried

00:27:53.819 --> 00:27:54.640
 about losing your job.

00:27:55.400 --> 00:27:56.620
 And I know that some of you

00:27:56.620 --> 00:27:58.880
 have received communications

00:27:58.880 --> 00:28:00.080
 that are calling into question

00:28:00.080 --> 00:28:00.600
 the legitimacy

00:28:00.600 --> 00:28:01.900
 of your vocation.

00:28:02.540 --> 00:28:02.620
 Right?

00:28:02.700 --> 00:28:03.340
 Some of you

00:28:03.340 --> 00:28:04.480
 are weathering people

00:28:04.480 --> 00:28:05.100
 who are asking,

00:28:05.620 --> 00:28:06.460
 questioning whether or not

00:28:06.460 --> 00:28:07.640
 what you've given your life to

00:28:07.640 --> 00:28:08.600
 has any meaning

00:28:08.600 --> 00:28:09.400
 or value whatsoever.

00:28:11.060 --> 00:28:12.240
 And when that happens,

00:28:12.320 --> 00:28:13.620
 regardless of the circumstances,

00:28:13.800 --> 00:28:14.780
 when somebody questions

00:28:14.780 --> 00:28:15.620
 your vocation,

00:28:15.740 --> 00:28:15.880
 right?

00:28:16.180 --> 00:28:16.420
 Somebody,

00:28:16.900 --> 00:28:17.820
 people move to D.C.

00:28:17.840 --> 00:28:18.640
 and work for Peanuts

00:28:18.640 --> 00:28:19.400
 because they want to feel

00:28:19.400 --> 00:28:20.380
 like they're making a difference.

00:28:22.060 --> 00:28:22.880
 And when somebody

00:28:22.880 --> 00:28:24.160
 comes along and says,

00:28:24.540 --> 00:28:25.420
 I don't see any value

00:28:25.420 --> 00:28:26.240
 or worth in anything

00:28:26.240 --> 00:28:27.200
 that you've given your life to,

00:28:27.260 --> 00:28:28.740
 that is extremely wounding.

00:28:29.700 --> 00:28:30.220
 Right?

00:28:30.320 --> 00:28:32.240
 So for anyone here

00:28:32.240 --> 00:28:34.060
 who for any reason

00:28:34.060 --> 00:28:35.120
 doubts the value

00:28:35.120 --> 00:28:36.300
 of the work that you do,

00:28:36.380 --> 00:28:37.800
 the value of your vocation,

00:28:38.300 --> 00:28:39.340
 I want you to know this.

00:28:39.980 --> 00:28:42.000
 God sees everything that you do.

00:28:43.180 --> 00:28:45.100
 God sees everything that you do.

00:28:45.940 --> 00:28:47.320
 And God delights

00:28:47.320 --> 00:28:48.960
 in seeing people do

00:28:48.960 --> 00:28:50.500
 what he created them to do.

00:28:51.340 --> 00:28:52.580
 He delights in that.

00:28:53.500 --> 00:28:54.720
 He delights in that.

00:28:55.340 --> 00:28:55.860
 And by the way,

00:28:55.920 --> 00:28:57.000
 his opinion is the only one

00:28:57.000 --> 00:28:57.620
 that really matters.

00:28:59.700 --> 00:29:01.300
 So this is what it looks like,

00:29:01.660 --> 00:29:01.940
 friends,

00:29:02.120 --> 00:29:03.660
 when someone,

00:29:03.820 --> 00:29:04.320
 a normal,

00:29:04.780 --> 00:29:05.580
 sinful human being,

00:29:06.120 --> 00:29:07.460
 gets caught up

00:29:07.460 --> 00:29:10.180
 in the great unfolding story

00:29:10.180 --> 00:29:11.380
 of God's renewal.

00:29:11.380 --> 00:29:12.380
 It means recognizing

00:29:13.020 --> 00:29:15.380
 that Christ is pursuing us

00:29:15.380 --> 00:29:16.260
 even now,

00:29:16.380 --> 00:29:17.580
 no matter where you are

00:29:17.580 --> 00:29:18.100
 in your faith.

00:29:19.460 --> 00:29:20.820
 It means at some point

00:29:20.820 --> 00:29:21.940
 there has to be a willingness

00:29:21.940 --> 00:29:22.920
 to obey Christ

00:29:22.920 --> 00:29:24.200
 even when it doesn't make sense.

00:29:24.200 --> 00:29:26.940
 It means a growing awareness

00:29:26.940 --> 00:29:27.519
 of sin,

00:29:27.880 --> 00:29:29.500
 which is the hard part,

00:29:30.259 --> 00:29:31.380
 but that also leads

00:29:31.380 --> 00:29:32.539
 to greater experiences

00:29:32.539 --> 00:29:33.100
 of grace.

00:29:33.880 --> 00:29:35.000
 There's nothing like it.

00:29:36.299 --> 00:29:37.000
 And then it means

00:29:37.000 --> 00:29:38.340
 a kingdom-centered vocation,

00:29:38.460 --> 00:29:40.819
 reimagining your vocation

00:29:40.819 --> 00:29:41.519
 in light of the fact

00:29:41.519 --> 00:29:42.539
 that the kingdom is here

00:29:42.539 --> 00:29:43.960
 breaking into this world

00:29:43.960 --> 00:29:45.100
 and Jesus is making

00:29:45.100 --> 00:29:45.840
 all things new.

00:29:46.640 --> 00:29:48.000
 And how are you called

00:29:48.000 --> 00:29:48.660
 to be a part of that?

00:29:48.660 --> 00:29:51.040
 We were made

00:29:51.040 --> 00:29:52.080
 for something bigger

00:29:52.080 --> 00:29:52.740
 than ourselves.

00:29:53.519 --> 00:29:54.519
 And that purpose

00:29:54.519 --> 00:29:55.900
 can only be found in Christ.

00:29:56.720 --> 00:29:57.320
 Let's pray.

00:30:00.279 --> 00:30:00.920
 Our Lord,

00:30:00.980 --> 00:30:01.440
 Heavenly Father,

00:30:01.500 --> 00:30:02.060
 we thank you

00:30:02.060 --> 00:30:05.240
 for these truths.

00:30:05.680 --> 00:30:07.360
 And we ask,

00:30:07.519 --> 00:30:07.640
 Lord,

00:30:07.720 --> 00:30:08.540
 we pray that

00:30:08.540 --> 00:30:11.040
 these wouldn't just be ideas

00:30:11.040 --> 00:30:11.800
 that we consider,

00:30:12.759 --> 00:30:14.900
 but that this would be truth

00:30:14.900 --> 00:30:16.140
 that sinks into our heart,

00:30:16.440 --> 00:30:17.220
 whatever is of you,

00:30:17.220 --> 00:30:19.000
 through your spirit,

00:30:19.779 --> 00:30:21.640
 and that it would renew us

00:30:21.640 --> 00:30:22.460
 from the inside out.

00:30:22.779 --> 00:30:23.059
 Lord,

00:30:23.120 --> 00:30:24.299
 that it would kindle in us

00:30:24.299 --> 00:30:26.039
 a hope and a passion,

00:30:26.720 --> 00:30:28.079
 that it would awaken in us

00:30:28.079 --> 00:30:29.980
 a desire to rethink

00:30:29.980 --> 00:30:30.819
 and reimagine

00:30:30.819 --> 00:30:31.900
 all of our lives.

00:30:32.860 --> 00:30:33.299
 Lord,

00:30:33.400 --> 00:30:34.920
 to see what it means

00:30:34.920 --> 00:30:35.920
 to be enfolded

00:30:35.920 --> 00:30:37.120
 into your great purposes,

00:30:37.940 --> 00:30:39.100
 to be connected in,

00:30:39.720 --> 00:30:40.740
 to rediscover

00:30:40.740 --> 00:30:42.200
 why human beings are here

00:30:42.200 --> 00:30:43.480
 and what we were made for.

00:30:44.240 --> 00:30:44.480
 Lord,

00:30:44.519 --> 00:30:45.380
 we pray that in that

00:30:45.380 --> 00:30:46.180
 we would find

00:30:46.180 --> 00:30:47.700
 our deepest,

00:30:47.960 --> 00:30:48.539
 truest meaning.

00:30:49.420 --> 00:30:49.779
 Lord,

00:30:49.840 --> 00:30:50.680
 I pray that you would give us

00:30:50.680 --> 00:30:51.440
 each a vision

00:30:51.440 --> 00:30:52.480
 for what it looks like

00:30:52.480 --> 00:30:53.580
 for us to participate

00:30:53.580 --> 00:30:54.480
 in your renewal.

00:30:54.900 --> 00:30:55.259
 Lord,

00:30:55.320 --> 00:30:55.860
 in our lives,

00:30:55.940 --> 00:30:56.420
 here and now,

00:30:56.500 --> 00:30:57.100
 in this place.

00:30:57.460 --> 00:30:58.279
 I pray that you would give us

00:30:58.279 --> 00:30:58.960
 a clear vision

00:30:58.960 --> 00:30:59.820
 of what that means.

00:31:00.779 --> 00:31:01.400
 We pray this,

00:31:01.519 --> 00:31:02.480
 that not only for our good,

00:31:02.539 --> 00:31:04.039
 but that we might glorify you,

00:31:05.100 --> 00:31:06.440
 that we might bring praise

00:31:06.440 --> 00:31:06.840
 to your name.

00:31:07.560 --> 00:31:08.500
 And it's in the name of Jesus

00:31:08.500 --> 00:31:09.100
 that we pray.

00:31:09.420 --> 00:31:09.640
 Amen.

00:31:09.640 --> 00:31:09.720
 Amen.

00:31:09.720 --> 00:31:09.740
 Amen.

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00:31:09.740 --> 00:31:11.200
 Amen.

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