WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.080 We hope that you enjoy this teaching from Christ Church. 00:00:05.719 --> 00:00:15.280 This material is copyrighted and no unauthorized duplication, redistribution, or any other 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. 00:00:27.359 --> 00:00:28.280 Good morning. 00:00:28.280 --> 00:00:32.340 This is a reading from the Acts of the Apostles. 00:00:33.420 --> 00:00:41.980 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven. 00:00:42.600 --> 00:00:46.960 After giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 00:00:48.120 --> 00:00:54.299 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. 00:00:54.299 --> 00:01:00.039 He appeared to them over a period of 40 days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 00:01:00.039 --> 00:01:04.900 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command. 00:01:04.900 --> 00:01:09.719 Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift. 00:01:10.359 --> 00:01:13.520 My father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 00:01:14.260 --> 00:01:20.040 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. 00:01:20.040 --> 00:01:27.380 Then they gathered around him and asked him, Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom of Israel? 00:01:28.060 --> 00:01:34.740 He said to them, it is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 00:01:34.739 --> 00:01:38.839 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you. 00:01:39.280 --> 00:01:45.899 And you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth. 00:01:46.859 --> 00:01:53.699 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes and a cloud hid him from their sight. 00:01:54.319 --> 00:02:02.140 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 00:02:02.140 --> 00:02:07.000 Men of Galilee, they said, why do you stand here looking into the sky? 00:02:07.680 --> 00:02:15.000 This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven. 00:02:15.800 --> 00:02:22.939 Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day's walk from the city. 00:02:23.680 --> 00:02:27.099 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. 00:02:27.099 --> 00:02:40.319 Those present were Peter, John, James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James, son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas, the son of James. 00:02:40.799 --> 00:02:48.219 They all joined together constantly in prayer along with the women and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. 00:02:49.180 --> 00:02:50.599 This is the word of the Lord. 00:02:50.599 --> 00:02:51.799 Amen. 00:02:51.799 --> 00:02:51.879 Amen. 00:02:57.099 --> 00:02:59.719 Thank you for that scripture reading, Emily. 00:03:00.159 --> 00:03:00.919 Good morning, Christ Church. 00:03:01.000 --> 00:03:01.680 My name is Andrew. 00:03:01.799 --> 00:03:03.560 I'm the director of pastoral care here. 00:03:04.159 --> 00:03:07.319 And just to let you know, Jonathan had spring break this week. 00:03:07.400 --> 00:03:10.439 And his family's here, but he wanted to visit one of our friend churches in Oakland. 00:03:10.939 --> 00:03:11.699 And that's where he is. 00:03:11.740 --> 00:03:14.219 He might show up later if he can make it on time. 00:03:14.599 --> 00:03:18.019 So we're glad that our pastor can rest and rejuvenate. 00:03:18.079 --> 00:03:19.919 And we hope that that happened this week, you guys. 00:03:20.739 --> 00:03:23.459 Will you join me in prayer as we come and listen to God's word? 00:03:23.579 --> 00:03:27.919 Father, like I asked earlier, what are we doing? 00:03:29.359 --> 00:03:33.560 Show us what it means to be the church as we open up this series in the book of Acts. 00:03:33.560 --> 00:03:41.139 To be a provocative church that's filled with your spirit, that bears witness to the kingdom of God that is here, and yet that we also await. 00:03:42.019 --> 00:03:46.019 We give you praise this morning and ask that you would accomplish much in the preaching of your word. 00:03:46.099 --> 00:03:47.699 And we pray these things in the name of Jesus. 00:03:48.379 --> 00:03:48.679 Amen. 00:03:48.680 --> 00:03:56.520 So again, today is the third Sunday of Easter, and we're here to continue celebrating that Christ is risen. 00:03:57.240 --> 00:04:02.159 But I imagine that for many of us coming into worship today, we feel this tension, right? 00:04:02.180 --> 00:04:06.000 The tension of celebrating the resurrection as the first fruits of new creation, 00:04:06.219 --> 00:04:11.400 while also acknowledging the rotten fruits of fallen creation that we still taste here. 00:04:11.840 --> 00:04:18.180 Christ is risen, and Dante Wright and Adam Toledo, two more people of color have just been killed. 00:04:18.180 --> 00:04:20.199 By law enforcement officers. 00:04:21.360 --> 00:04:24.680 And then there was that mass shooting in Indianapolis as well this week. 00:04:24.740 --> 00:04:28.400 And many of us probably feel like the disciples in this text, right? 00:04:28.400 --> 00:04:32.360 Who witnessed this amazing resurrection, this amazing ascension. 00:04:32.800 --> 00:04:37.899 They believed that Jesus was their king, and yet they still found themselves wondering. 00:04:37.899 --> 00:04:44.120 And overwhelmed and just staring into the sky, unsure about what to do next. 00:04:44.859 --> 00:04:48.319 Like Christ's disciples, many of us are probably wondering, Christ has risen great. 00:04:48.959 --> 00:04:49.919 But now what? 00:04:50.739 --> 00:04:51.379 What now? 00:04:52.179 --> 00:04:58.899 Talking to many of you here at Christ Church, I know many of us, even as we believe this gospel truth with all of our hearts, 00:04:58.899 --> 00:05:02.539 that Christ has risen, we also feel rather helpless, don't we? 00:05:03.019 --> 00:05:09.639 And limited in light of this world's injustices, and frustrated with ourselves, and with our society, 00:05:09.819 --> 00:05:14.919 and with the broader American church, and maybe even frustrated with Christ Church in particular. 00:05:14.920 --> 00:05:21.360 And we're perplexed and looking for answers to the question of what are we supposed to be doing as the church 00:05:21.360 --> 00:05:23.800 in response to all this brokenness. 00:05:24.360 --> 00:05:29.920 What are we doing to fight racial and economic and environmental, gender inequality and injustice? 00:05:30.160 --> 00:05:35.360 What are we doing to defend and support and uplift the unsheltered, and the orphans, and the widows, 00:05:35.439 --> 00:05:40.540 and the foster children, and immigrants, and this or that marginalized or minority people group? 00:05:41.520 --> 00:05:45.379 Well, today we're going to continue to follow Luke's orderly account of Jesus, 00:05:45.780 --> 00:05:49.480 into his orderly account of the earliest followers of Jesus, 00:05:49.640 --> 00:05:52.000 as we open up this new series in the book of Acts. 00:05:52.020 --> 00:05:53.720 We're titling this series, The Provocative Church, 00:05:53.780 --> 00:05:56.120 and it's our prayer that we would be that provocative church, 00:05:56.120 --> 00:06:02.879 that in the months ahead, as we give our attention to the acts of the Holy Spirit in and through the early church, 00:06:03.420 --> 00:06:07.600 that this same Spirit would give us a clearer vision for how we, 00:06:07.600 --> 00:06:15.100 how Christ's church East Bay might be the provocative and Spirit-empowered church that God wants us to be. 00:06:15.760 --> 00:06:18.900 And it's going to start with an acceptance that God's plan for us, 00:06:18.900 --> 00:06:23.620 it might be different and better than ours, and it definitely is better than ours. 00:06:24.000 --> 00:06:26.140 And it also starts with prayer, as we will see here. 00:06:26.200 --> 00:06:30.460 It's going to be covered in prayer, and we also want to be led by the Spirit with clarity 00:06:30.459 --> 00:06:35.620 about how exactly, how concretely are we going to be witnesses of Christ in this season ahead. 00:06:36.419 --> 00:06:37.759 So let's take a look at this text. 00:06:37.859 --> 00:06:43.039 Luke kicks off this account in verses 1 to 3 by mentioning that in this surreal 40 days 00:06:43.039 --> 00:06:46.079 between Jesus' resurrection and his ascension, 00:06:46.639 --> 00:06:51.879 one thing in particular that he spoke to them about was his kingdom, it says in verse 3. 00:06:51.959 --> 00:06:53.299 He spoke to them about his kingdom. 00:06:54.299 --> 00:06:58.299 But now try to imagine those 40 days as one of his Jewish disciples. 00:06:58.300 --> 00:07:02.040 Yes, you've just witnessed the most amazing thing that you've ever seen in your life, 00:07:02.100 --> 00:07:06.900 the resurrection of the Messiah, the one who was to fulfill all the promises of God to Israel 00:07:06.900 --> 00:07:09.020 and to establish the everlasting kingdom. 00:07:09.560 --> 00:07:13.220 But then imagine waiting for over a month, right? 00:07:13.259 --> 00:07:16.759 40 days as this Messiah speaks about the kingdom of God, 00:07:17.400 --> 00:07:21.019 and yet King Herod is still sitting on his throne, right? 00:07:21.340 --> 00:07:23.060 Pontius Pilate's authority is still intact. 00:07:23.160 --> 00:07:24.980 You're still paying taxes to Caesar, 00:07:24.980 --> 00:07:27.180 and you, a follower of the risen Lord, 00:07:27.420 --> 00:07:31.460 still find yourself hiding behind closed doors from the Roman soldiers 00:07:31.460 --> 00:07:33.840 and from the Jewish religious establishment. 00:07:34.680 --> 00:07:36.939 So imagine the expectation, the anticipation, 00:07:37.259 --> 00:07:41.259 even the confusion and frustration that these Jewish disciples probably felt 00:07:41.259 --> 00:07:44.840 over a month, for over a month after the resurrection. 00:07:45.120 --> 00:07:47.780 Jesus the Christ is risen, but now what? 00:07:48.360 --> 00:07:52.840 And so what if I'm still subjected to the oppressive forces of this world? 00:07:52.839 --> 00:07:55.459 Now they're waiting, and they're waiting, right? 00:07:55.939 --> 00:07:58.219 But toward the end of this 40-day period, 00:07:58.299 --> 00:08:01.879 Jesus says something quite interesting that Luke wants us to pay attention to 00:08:01.879 --> 00:08:02.779 in verses 4 and 5. 00:08:02.859 --> 00:08:04.539 They're gathered together, they're eating, 00:08:04.939 --> 00:08:06.819 and then Jesus issues this command. 00:08:07.259 --> 00:08:07.519 He says, 00:08:07.519 --> 00:08:24.759 And in this moment, Jesus' disciples probably started to perk up, 00:08:24.819 --> 00:08:28.419 maybe even grin and rub their hands in excited anticipation, 00:08:28.560 --> 00:08:29.019 this is it. 00:08:29.439 --> 00:08:30.159 This is it. 00:08:30.219 --> 00:08:31.019 All right, here we go. 00:08:31.120 --> 00:08:34.480 Here comes the revolution starting in the holy city, Jerusalem. 00:08:34.480 --> 00:08:38.600 In just a few days, Jesus says, we'll receive the ultimate gift, 00:08:38.860 --> 00:08:43.000 the ultimate power, the baptism of the Holy Spirit of God. 00:08:43.100 --> 00:08:44.700 See, throughout the Old Testament prophets, 00:08:45.200 --> 00:08:48.019 God had foretold of a time and a day when His Spirit, 00:08:48.139 --> 00:08:52.440 His personal divine power would be poured out upon His servant Israel. 00:08:52.960 --> 00:08:55.960 It would be poured out upon their barren land and their people and their offspring, 00:08:56.100 --> 00:08:58.200 even on their young and their old and their daughters, 00:08:58.300 --> 00:09:00.060 and even their servants in Israel. 00:09:00.059 --> 00:09:04.579 Upon their barren land and it would bring fruit. 00:09:04.959 --> 00:09:07.599 It would make their land fruitful and their enemies would be defeated 00:09:07.599 --> 00:09:09.959 and their sins forgiven and their shame removed, 00:09:10.179 --> 00:09:12.399 and ultimately their kingdom would be restored. 00:09:13.079 --> 00:09:18.159 So you can imagine how much they longed for God to pour the Spirit out upon them, 00:09:18.199 --> 00:09:19.339 to receive that power. 00:09:19.459 --> 00:09:20.199 Oh boy, right? 00:09:20.259 --> 00:09:21.359 I can't wait. 00:09:21.619 --> 00:09:24.859 Oh, what I'm going to do when I finally get that power. 00:09:24.860 --> 00:09:28.340 Roman soldiers, Roman Empire, watch out. 00:09:28.740 --> 00:09:30.159 The revolution is coming. 00:09:31.300 --> 00:09:34.180 And so imagine them all leaning in, as it says in verse 6, 00:09:34.259 --> 00:09:36.200 maybe putting down their pita bread and falafels 00:09:36.200 --> 00:09:39.440 and huddling even closer to Jesus to hear more. 00:09:40.220 --> 00:09:46.080 And they ask, Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel? 00:09:46.700 --> 00:09:48.779 They want to know if this time has come, 00:09:48.840 --> 00:09:51.759 because in their minds, the time has not yet come. 00:09:51.840 --> 00:09:53.740 The kingdom has not yet come in their minds. 00:09:53.740 --> 00:09:56.039 They look around and they see the resurrected king, 00:09:56.399 --> 00:09:58.419 but they don't see the kingdom of Israel. 00:09:59.340 --> 00:10:00.899 And so with butterflies in their stomachs, 00:10:00.919 --> 00:10:03.740 they eagerly lean in to hear Jesus tell them 00:10:03.740 --> 00:10:06.460 what they'd long been waiting for him to say, 00:10:06.519 --> 00:10:07.980 ever since the day he said to them, 00:10:08.080 --> 00:10:09.220 come, follow me. 00:10:09.600 --> 00:10:11.440 They longed to hear that they, 00:10:11.919 --> 00:10:13.560 endowed with the Spirit's divine power, 00:10:13.639 --> 00:10:16.200 would lead a triumphant political revolution 00:10:16.200 --> 00:10:17.419 like the world has never seen, 00:10:17.519 --> 00:10:20.200 restoring the everlasting kingdom of Israel 00:10:20.200 --> 00:10:22.560 to its glory and to its splendor and prosperity. 00:10:22.559 --> 00:10:27.179 And with all their Gentile enemies subjected underneath them. 00:10:28.099 --> 00:10:33.139 But of course, as we've seen time and time again from Jesus in the Gospel of Luke, 00:10:33.219 --> 00:10:37.099 he has an answer for them that they never would have expected, right? 00:10:37.599 --> 00:10:39.119 First, he replies in verse 7, 00:10:39.120 --> 00:10:44.580 He basically says, 00:10:44.659 --> 00:10:48.659 He says, 00:10:48.659 --> 00:10:56.539 He says, 00:10:56.539 --> 00:11:00.659 He says, 00:11:00.659 --> 00:11:04.539 Verse 8, 00:11:04.539 --> 00:11:07.299 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you. 00:11:07.360 --> 00:11:08.039 But he even says, 00:11:08.539 --> 00:11:09.240 This power though, 00:11:09.620 --> 00:11:10.620 even this power, guys, 00:11:10.699 --> 00:11:14.039 I'm not empowering you to be the warriors that you wanted to be. 00:11:14.740 --> 00:11:17.519 I'm empowering you to be my witnesses. 00:11:18.779 --> 00:11:19.259 Witnesses, 00:11:19.399 --> 00:11:20.879 not warriors, he says. 00:11:21.719 --> 00:11:22.319 And then notice, 00:11:22.419 --> 00:11:23.279 he says in verse 8, 00:11:23.500 --> 00:11:25.279 Witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea, 00:11:25.339 --> 00:11:26.099 they're cool with that. 00:11:26.579 --> 00:11:27.500 But then he says what? 00:11:27.500 --> 00:11:28.700 And Samaria, 00:11:29.059 --> 00:11:32.500 even to those half-breed Samaritans you so hate, 00:11:33.039 --> 00:11:35.500 you will bear witness to them about me and my kingdom. 00:11:36.000 --> 00:11:38.379 And not only to the mixed-race Samaritans, 00:11:38.440 --> 00:11:40.139 but also to the ends of the earth. 00:11:40.259 --> 00:11:40.460 Yes, 00:11:40.539 --> 00:11:43.259 even to India and to Spain and Africa 00:11:43.259 --> 00:11:45.899 and even in the very hearts of the Roman Empire, 00:11:46.019 --> 00:11:48.059 to those who hate and oppress you 00:11:48.059 --> 00:11:50.559 and persecute me and you and all of Israel, 00:11:50.939 --> 00:11:52.419 those godless, unclean people 00:11:52.419 --> 00:11:53.879 who you want nothing to do with, 00:11:53.919 --> 00:11:56.319 whose destruction you probably even pray for, 00:11:56.980 --> 00:11:57.159 yes, 00:11:57.220 --> 00:11:57.899 even to them, 00:11:58.679 --> 00:12:00.980 you will be my witnesses. 00:12:02.100 --> 00:12:04.159 So in response to the disciples' question 00:12:04.159 --> 00:12:06.080 about whether Jesus would at this time 00:12:06.080 --> 00:12:07.720 restore the kingdom to Israel, 00:12:07.840 --> 00:12:09.519 Jesus responds by revealing to them 00:12:09.519 --> 00:12:11.879 just how off-base their whole conception 00:12:11.879 --> 00:12:14.179 of the kingdom of God really was. 00:12:14.220 --> 00:12:14.659 He says, 00:12:15.080 --> 00:12:16.200 you're missing the point, guys. 00:12:16.299 --> 00:12:17.100 You're missing the point 00:12:17.100 --> 00:12:19.659 with your nationalistic preoccupation 00:12:19.659 --> 00:12:21.580 with the timing of Israel's restoration. 00:12:21.799 --> 00:12:22.620 You're missing the point 00:12:22.620 --> 00:12:24.559 about the Spirit's power on you 00:12:24.559 --> 00:12:25.379 and you're missing the point 00:12:25.379 --> 00:12:27.519 about the scope of my kingdom 00:12:27.519 --> 00:12:28.779 and your role in it. 00:12:29.279 --> 00:12:30.820 You will be my witnesses, 00:12:31.600 --> 00:12:33.919 not your own warriors, he says. 00:12:33.980 --> 00:12:34.240 He says, 00:12:34.320 --> 00:12:34.639 guys, 00:12:35.240 --> 00:12:37.740 this isn't gonna be the kingdom you envisioned. 00:12:38.379 --> 00:12:39.700 It's gonna be even better. 00:12:39.779 --> 00:12:40.500 It's gonna be the kingdom 00:12:40.500 --> 00:12:42.039 I envisioned. 00:12:42.919 --> 00:12:44.100 And the question the disciples 00:12:44.100 --> 00:12:45.320 are forced to reckon with here, 00:12:45.539 --> 00:12:47.059 the question that we are forced 00:12:47.059 --> 00:12:47.659 to reckon with 00:12:47.659 --> 00:12:49.580 as we observe the words of Jesus, 00:12:50.259 --> 00:12:52.139 as we all consider what he said to them, 00:12:52.460 --> 00:12:53.500 is could it be, 00:12:54.200 --> 00:12:55.899 could it be that God's kingdom plan 00:12:55.899 --> 00:12:57.840 is both different and better 00:12:58.379 --> 00:12:59.919 than the kingdom plans 00:12:59.919 --> 00:13:01.600 that we've set our hearts upon? 00:13:01.700 --> 00:13:04.139 Could it be that God's kingdom plan 00:13:04.139 --> 00:13:05.059 is better and different 00:13:05.059 --> 00:13:06.019 than the kingdom plans 00:13:06.019 --> 00:13:07.320 we've set our hearts upon? 00:13:07.320 --> 00:13:08.420 You know, these kingdom plans 00:13:08.420 --> 00:13:09.780 that we have for the world 00:13:09.780 --> 00:13:10.680 and for this nation 00:13:10.680 --> 00:13:11.820 and for this church 00:13:11.820 --> 00:13:12.600 and for our families 00:13:12.600 --> 00:13:13.420 and for ourselves. 00:13:13.820 --> 00:13:15.400 These made-up kingdoms, right? 00:13:15.740 --> 00:13:16.420 These made-up kingdoms 00:13:16.420 --> 00:13:18.040 that we've all idealized, 00:13:18.120 --> 00:13:19.040 that we've all pictured 00:13:19.040 --> 00:13:20.100 and planned for, 00:13:20.300 --> 00:13:21.160 about how we would like 00:13:21.160 --> 00:13:22.680 our world and our lives 00:13:22.680 --> 00:13:23.520 and our families 00:13:23.520 --> 00:13:24.440 to turn out. 00:13:24.580 --> 00:13:25.900 This idealized vision 00:13:25.900 --> 00:13:27.180 of serenity and bliss 00:13:27.180 --> 00:13:28.200 and paradise 00:13:28.200 --> 00:13:29.900 and this sense of safety 00:13:29.900 --> 00:13:30.780 and security. 00:13:31.360 --> 00:13:32.540 I mean, call it the American dream. 00:13:32.700 --> 00:13:33.860 I talk about it in my PhD. 00:13:33.960 --> 00:13:36.240 I talk about the Asian-American dream, right? 00:13:36.320 --> 00:13:38.200 You know, complete with degrees 00:13:38.200 --> 00:13:39.860 from respectable universities, 00:13:40.399 --> 00:13:42.340 high-paying and secure careers, 00:13:42.480 --> 00:13:43.600 homeownership in a nice 00:13:43.600 --> 00:13:45.480 upper-middle-class suburb, 00:13:45.639 --> 00:13:46.960 and then the ability to honor, 00:13:47.180 --> 00:13:49.840 treat, and care for our immigrant parents 00:13:49.840 --> 00:13:50.620 or grandparents, 00:13:51.200 --> 00:13:53.039 and then to have that consumer lifestyle 00:13:53.039 --> 00:13:54.419 where you can have boba dates 00:13:54.419 --> 00:13:55.460 whenever you want, right? 00:13:55.639 --> 00:13:57.879 And you can go on that destination vacation 00:13:57.879 --> 00:13:59.500 and you can have that Tesla 00:13:59.500 --> 00:14:00.659 or at least a Prius, 00:14:00.659 --> 00:14:01.779 and then your children 00:14:01.779 --> 00:14:03.539 just follow that same pattern 00:14:03.539 --> 00:14:04.439 over and over again 00:14:04.439 --> 00:14:06.019 but to even greater heights 00:14:06.019 --> 00:14:07.519 of advancement. 00:14:08.719 --> 00:14:09.679 And maybe for you, 00:14:09.779 --> 00:14:11.159 the crown of your kingdom dream 00:14:11.159 --> 00:14:11.699 is something else. 00:14:11.779 --> 00:14:12.939 Maybe it's a certain professional 00:14:12.939 --> 00:14:14.899 or economic status, right? 00:14:15.059 --> 00:14:16.579 You're longing for that promotion 00:14:16.579 --> 00:14:18.639 or that financial independence 00:14:18.639 --> 00:14:20.139 so you can retire early, 00:14:20.259 --> 00:14:21.299 that fire life, right? 00:14:21.759 --> 00:14:23.659 Or maybe it's a certain relational 00:14:23.659 --> 00:14:25.980 or familial or marital status, 00:14:26.120 --> 00:14:27.720 longing for that romantic partner, 00:14:28.319 --> 00:14:29.399 longing for that child, 00:14:29.399 --> 00:14:30.779 that marriage, that nuclear family 00:14:30.779 --> 00:14:32.679 with two and a half prodigy children, right? 00:14:33.899 --> 00:14:36.139 Or maybe I'm just showing my cards. 00:14:36.199 --> 00:14:37.139 That's kind of what I want, right? 00:14:38.399 --> 00:14:40.100 Or maybe for some of us, 00:14:40.659 --> 00:14:41.639 you know, maybe for some of us, 00:14:41.659 --> 00:14:42.139 it's bigger. 00:14:42.299 --> 00:14:43.419 It's a certain vision 00:14:43.419 --> 00:14:45.100 of a public justice and peace 00:14:45.100 --> 00:14:46.919 where this or that political 00:14:46.919 --> 00:14:48.220 or religious tribe 00:14:48.220 --> 00:14:50.279 is finally dominant and in control 00:14:50.279 --> 00:14:51.959 where certain kinds of people 00:14:51.959 --> 00:14:54.679 who believe and behave differently than us 00:14:54.679 --> 00:14:56.620 are shut up and humiliated 00:14:56.620 --> 00:14:58.419 and put in their place, right? 00:14:58.419 --> 00:15:00.719 And certain policies and laws and values 00:15:00.719 --> 00:15:02.439 that we think will make for a better world 00:15:02.439 --> 00:15:04.019 are finally reinforced. 00:15:05.219 --> 00:15:07.279 Well, again, Jesus' question to us today 00:15:07.279 --> 00:15:09.559 is what if my kingdom, 00:15:10.039 --> 00:15:12.079 what if my kingdom is even better 00:15:12.079 --> 00:15:13.279 than all of that? 00:15:13.899 --> 00:15:14.959 And this is not to say 00:15:14.959 --> 00:15:16.459 that we shouldn't pursue that promotion 00:15:16.459 --> 00:15:17.919 or pursue that family 00:15:17.919 --> 00:15:19.599 or that political legislation 00:15:19.599 --> 00:15:21.279 or act in ways that we truly believe 00:15:21.279 --> 00:15:22.679 will make for a better world, 00:15:22.679 --> 00:15:24.419 but Jesus wanted his disciples to know 00:15:24.419 --> 00:15:26.120 and he wants us to know 00:15:26.120 --> 00:15:28.879 that his glorious and his perfect kingdom 00:15:28.879 --> 00:15:31.679 is not dependent upon the arrival 00:15:31.679 --> 00:15:34.459 of whatever myopic visions of the kingdom 00:15:34.459 --> 00:15:36.339 we may have conjured up on our own. 00:15:37.819 --> 00:15:38.579 See, the disciples, 00:15:38.839 --> 00:15:40.659 they thought that they had it all figured out. 00:15:40.859 --> 00:15:42.979 They thought that they had it all figured out. 00:15:43.120 --> 00:15:44.039 They thought that they knew 00:15:44.039 --> 00:15:47.439 exactly what kind of kingdom the world needed. 00:15:47.440 --> 00:15:50.020 And they gladly called Jesus Lord 00:15:50.020 --> 00:15:51.060 of these small kingdoms 00:15:51.060 --> 00:15:53.200 that they imagined in their minds. 00:15:53.280 --> 00:15:55.260 He was the risen king to them, no doubt. 00:15:55.720 --> 00:15:56.900 And they loved the idea 00:15:56.900 --> 00:15:58.500 of this risen Jesus from Galilee 00:15:58.500 --> 00:16:00.280 conquering the Romans for them 00:16:00.280 --> 00:16:02.580 and restoring their nation to power. 00:16:03.500 --> 00:16:04.800 But the true test came 00:16:04.800 --> 00:16:06.420 when their king revealed 00:16:06.420 --> 00:16:07.840 a different kind of kingdom 00:16:07.840 --> 00:16:09.800 than the nationalistic one 00:16:09.800 --> 00:16:10.620 that they'd envisioned. 00:16:11.140 --> 00:16:13.300 When he revealed a different purpose 00:16:13.300 --> 00:16:15.020 for the power he was about to give them 00:16:15.019 --> 00:16:16.159 with the spirit, yes, 00:16:16.419 --> 00:16:17.879 the resurrection power of the spirit 00:16:17.879 --> 00:16:19.500 was indeed about to come upon them 00:16:19.500 --> 00:16:21.019 and it was the mightiest power 00:16:21.019 --> 00:16:22.299 the world had ever seen. 00:16:22.879 --> 00:16:23.939 But it wasn't for them 00:16:23.939 --> 00:16:26.240 to just do whatever they wanted with it. 00:16:27.100 --> 00:16:28.460 It wasn't for them to manipulate. 00:16:28.559 --> 00:16:30.419 I love how a Yale professor 00:16:30.419 --> 00:16:31.480 of systematic theology, 00:16:31.659 --> 00:16:32.639 Africana Studies, 00:16:33.179 --> 00:16:34.179 Willie James Jennings, 00:16:34.240 --> 00:16:34.960 he says this, 00:16:35.639 --> 00:16:38.139 Jesus, Jesus will define 00:16:38.139 --> 00:16:39.199 resurrection's meaning 00:16:39.199 --> 00:16:40.740 and resurrection's purpose. 00:16:41.360 --> 00:16:43.519 It will not be used by these disciples 00:16:43.519 --> 00:16:45.259 as a tool for statecraft, 00:16:45.559 --> 00:16:47.039 nor will it constitute them 00:16:47.039 --> 00:16:47.939 the winner's circle. 00:16:48.500 --> 00:16:49.460 Such ways of thinking 00:16:49.460 --> 00:16:50.460 produces disciples 00:16:50.460 --> 00:16:51.480 who follow Jesus 00:16:51.480 --> 00:16:52.879 only because 00:16:52.879 --> 00:16:54.860 they actually worship power. 00:16:54.919 --> 00:16:55.600 And what he's saying 00:16:55.600 --> 00:16:56.779 is that the kingdom of God 00:16:56.779 --> 00:16:58.279 and the lordship of Christ 00:16:58.279 --> 00:17:00.019 and the power of the Holy Spirit 00:17:00.019 --> 00:17:01.220 that raised him from the dead, 00:17:01.480 --> 00:17:02.860 it will not be manipulated. 00:17:03.319 --> 00:17:05.000 It will not be appropriated. 00:17:05.119 --> 00:17:06.940 It will not be weaponized 00:17:06.940 --> 00:17:07.839 for our small 00:17:07.839 --> 00:17:09.819 and short-sighted purposes. 00:17:10.839 --> 00:17:11.839 So the hard question 00:17:11.839 --> 00:17:13.079 for Jesus' disciples, 00:17:13.240 --> 00:17:14.019 the hard question 00:17:14.019 --> 00:17:15.879 for all of us today 00:17:15.879 --> 00:17:17.599 is will we still follow Jesus 00:17:17.599 --> 00:17:19.159 as lord and king 00:17:19.159 --> 00:17:21.419 when the messianic kingdom's arrival 00:17:21.419 --> 00:17:22.439 does not conform 00:17:22.439 --> 00:17:25.500 to our myopic kingdom's aims? 00:17:26.439 --> 00:17:27.519 Can we accept a king 00:17:27.519 --> 00:17:28.339 who empowers us 00:17:28.339 --> 00:17:29.379 not as warriors 00:17:29.379 --> 00:17:30.099 on our way 00:17:30.099 --> 00:17:31.319 to a victory 00:17:31.319 --> 00:17:32.339 of our own design, 00:17:33.240 --> 00:17:34.559 but as his witnesses, 00:17:34.759 --> 00:17:36.199 witnesses of his victory 00:17:36.199 --> 00:17:37.619 that's already been won? 00:17:37.619 --> 00:17:39.339 Are we willing 00:17:39.339 --> 00:17:40.699 to resign ourselves 00:17:40.699 --> 00:17:41.459 to witness 00:17:41.459 --> 00:17:43.419 rather than to war? 00:17:44.339 --> 00:17:45.679 But now you may be wondering, 00:17:46.039 --> 00:17:47.519 what does that even mean? 00:17:47.819 --> 00:17:48.939 What does that look like 00:17:48.939 --> 00:17:50.079 to be witnesses, 00:17:50.219 --> 00:17:51.699 to be Christ's witnesses? 00:17:51.879 --> 00:17:52.939 As you might imagine 00:17:52.939 --> 00:17:54.359 and gather from this episode, 00:17:54.719 --> 00:17:56.379 after Jesus confounded 00:17:56.379 --> 00:17:57.719 his disciples' expectations 00:17:57.719 --> 00:17:58.859 with his answer 00:17:58.859 --> 00:18:00.019 to their question 00:18:00.019 --> 00:18:00.679 about the kingdom, 00:18:01.219 --> 00:18:01.779 and then he kind of, 00:18:01.799 --> 00:18:01.939 you know, 00:18:01.959 --> 00:18:02.799 just dropped the mic 00:18:02.799 --> 00:18:03.859 and then he, you know, 00:18:03.899 --> 00:18:04.519 said peace out 00:18:04.519 --> 00:18:05.099 and he bounced 00:18:05.099 --> 00:18:06.339 or he floated, right, 00:18:06.339 --> 00:18:07.000 up into heaven. 00:18:07.679 --> 00:18:08.799 The disciples were just 00:18:08.799 --> 00:18:10.159 kind of stunned, right? 00:18:10.299 --> 00:18:11.539 Left there quite stunned 00:18:11.539 --> 00:18:13.480 and gazing into the heavens 00:18:13.480 --> 00:18:14.399 and kind of like, 00:18:14.980 --> 00:18:15.619 oh, wait, 00:18:16.159 --> 00:18:17.459 what just happened? 00:18:18.519 --> 00:18:19.139 He said we're going 00:18:19.139 --> 00:18:19.859 to receive power 00:18:19.859 --> 00:18:20.480 from the Spirit 00:18:20.480 --> 00:18:21.559 but not to be warriors 00:18:21.559 --> 00:18:22.079 of Israel 00:18:22.079 --> 00:18:23.720 but to simply be witnesses 00:18:23.720 --> 00:18:24.259 of Christ 00:18:24.259 --> 00:18:25.199 and then to the ends 00:18:25.199 --> 00:18:25.639 of the earth? 00:18:26.439 --> 00:18:27.079 That's all he said? 00:18:27.819 --> 00:18:28.759 What does that mean? 00:18:28.839 --> 00:18:29.399 What are we supposed 00:18:29.399 --> 00:18:30.519 to do now? 00:18:30.659 --> 00:18:32.599 And paralyzed in astonishment, 00:18:32.819 --> 00:18:34.559 they had to be shaken up, 00:18:34.919 --> 00:18:35.839 shaken up from their stupor. 00:18:35.839 --> 00:18:36.619 Men of Galilee, 00:18:37.139 --> 00:18:38.319 why do you stand here 00:18:38.319 --> 00:18:39.939 looking into the sky? 00:18:40.839 --> 00:18:41.579 So there they were 00:18:41.579 --> 00:18:42.299 with, you know, 00:18:42.359 --> 00:18:44.059 a mix of emotions. 00:18:44.720 --> 00:18:45.480 The one they believed 00:18:45.480 --> 00:18:46.119 to be the Messiah 00:18:46.119 --> 00:18:47.699 had just risen from the dead 00:18:47.699 --> 00:18:48.439 and they'd seen him 00:18:48.439 --> 00:18:49.220 ascend into heaven 00:18:49.220 --> 00:18:50.819 right before their eyes 00:18:50.819 --> 00:18:51.299 and they knew 00:18:51.299 --> 00:18:51.879 that their lives 00:18:51.879 --> 00:18:52.659 would never be the same 00:18:52.659 --> 00:18:53.240 and they were filled 00:18:53.240 --> 00:18:54.519 with joy and excitement 00:18:54.519 --> 00:18:55.639 and yet in another sense, 00:18:56.039 --> 00:18:57.459 not much had changed 00:18:57.459 --> 00:18:58.139 in Israel. 00:18:59.000 --> 00:18:59.779 The Roman Empire 00:18:59.779 --> 00:19:00.639 was still intact. 00:19:00.759 --> 00:19:01.599 They still paid taxes 00:19:01.599 --> 00:19:02.019 to Caesar 00:19:02.019 --> 00:19:03.220 and the threat of death 00:19:03.220 --> 00:19:04.039 upon their lives 00:19:04.039 --> 00:19:06.079 was still very real to them. 00:19:07.160 --> 00:19:08.059 And so not knowing 00:19:08.059 --> 00:19:10.059 exactly when the Spirit's 00:19:10.059 --> 00:19:10.860 power would come 00:19:10.860 --> 00:19:12.299 or what that would 00:19:12.299 --> 00:19:13.200 even mean for them 00:19:13.200 --> 00:19:14.220 or what it meant 00:19:14.220 --> 00:19:14.980 to be witnesses 00:19:14.980 --> 00:19:15.779 of this king 00:19:15.779 --> 00:19:17.240 who wasn't there anymore, 00:19:17.579 --> 00:19:18.539 witnesses of this kingdom 00:19:18.539 --> 00:19:19.680 which seemed to be 00:19:19.680 --> 00:19:20.600 imaginary, right, 00:19:20.660 --> 00:19:21.600 compared to all the other 00:19:21.600 --> 00:19:23.000 kingdoms that they'd ever seen, 00:19:23.160 --> 00:19:23.940 what did they do? 00:19:24.660 --> 00:19:25.299 What did they do? 00:19:26.299 --> 00:19:28.259 Verse 13 and 14 says, 00:19:28.259 --> 00:19:29.259 they all joined together 00:19:29.259 --> 00:19:30.460 constantly, it says, 00:19:30.920 --> 00:19:32.440 and devoted themselves 00:19:32.440 --> 00:19:33.480 to prayer. 00:19:34.400 --> 00:19:35.200 They got together 00:19:35.200 --> 00:19:36.099 and they prayed. 00:19:36.240 --> 00:19:36.619 Christ Church, 00:19:36.700 --> 00:19:37.359 what do we do 00:19:37.359 --> 00:19:38.119 when we don't know 00:19:38.119 --> 00:19:38.619 what to do? 00:19:39.160 --> 00:19:40.119 We get together 00:19:40.119 --> 00:19:40.819 in community 00:19:40.819 --> 00:19:42.119 and we pray 00:19:42.119 --> 00:19:43.359 and we ask God 00:19:43.359 --> 00:19:43.839 what to do 00:19:43.839 --> 00:19:44.700 until he tells us 00:19:44.700 --> 00:19:45.839 what to do. 00:19:46.660 --> 00:19:47.240 The disciples 00:19:47.240 --> 00:19:48.079 couldn't have known 00:19:48.079 --> 00:19:49.039 what lay ahead for them 00:19:49.039 --> 00:19:49.960 and the church. 00:19:50.420 --> 00:19:50.859 Like us, 00:19:50.920 --> 00:19:51.500 they didn't have 00:19:51.500 --> 00:19:52.299 a clear sense 00:19:52.299 --> 00:19:53.180 of how to answer 00:19:53.180 --> 00:19:55.099 that now what question 00:19:55.099 --> 00:19:56.140 facing them. 00:19:56.140 --> 00:19:57.740 But what the disciples 00:19:57.740 --> 00:19:58.720 did know 00:19:58.720 --> 00:20:00.040 was that God 00:20:00.040 --> 00:20:00.940 was up to something 00:20:00.940 --> 00:20:02.400 and it was only 00:20:02.400 --> 00:20:03.220 a matter of time. 00:20:03.300 --> 00:20:04.100 So in the meantime, 00:20:04.280 --> 00:20:05.140 they devoted themselves 00:20:05.140 --> 00:20:05.720 to prayer 00:20:05.720 --> 00:20:06.540 and they prayed 00:20:06.540 --> 00:20:07.140 for clarity 00:20:07.140 --> 00:20:07.800 and direction 00:20:07.800 --> 00:20:08.620 and this power 00:20:08.620 --> 00:20:09.780 that God promised them 00:20:09.780 --> 00:20:10.680 because they trusted 00:20:10.680 --> 00:20:12.000 that this would come 00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:13.140 when they were baptized 00:20:13.140 --> 00:20:14.000 in the power 00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:14.740 of the Holy Spirit. 00:20:14.840 --> 00:20:15.440 And as they say, 00:20:15.540 --> 00:20:17.120 the rest is history, right? 00:20:17.500 --> 00:20:18.540 And you and I 00:20:18.540 --> 00:20:19.700 are here today, 00:20:19.800 --> 00:20:20.580 2,000 years later, 00:20:20.660 --> 00:20:21.460 sitting halfway 00:20:21.460 --> 00:20:22.540 across the world 00:20:22.540 --> 00:20:23.360 from where 00:20:23.360 --> 00:20:24.300 the early church's 00:20:24.300 --> 00:20:25.400 first prayer meeting 00:20:25.400 --> 00:20:26.400 took place in Jerusalem. 00:20:27.259 --> 00:20:28.759 And we are all here 00:20:28.759 --> 00:20:30.720 along with the countless 00:20:30.720 --> 00:20:32.040 multitude that's gone 00:20:32.040 --> 00:20:32.640 before us 00:20:32.640 --> 00:20:33.560 as an answer 00:20:33.560 --> 00:20:34.980 to these prayers 00:20:34.980 --> 00:20:36.000 right here 00:20:36.000 --> 00:20:37.180 in Acts chapter 1. 00:20:37.259 --> 00:20:37.660 They're prayers 00:20:37.660 --> 00:20:38.180 that the Spirit 00:20:38.180 --> 00:20:38.700 would come 00:20:38.700 --> 00:20:39.780 and empower them 00:20:39.780 --> 00:20:40.660 as witnesses 00:20:40.660 --> 00:20:42.080 to the ends of the earth 00:20:42.080 --> 00:20:43.040 and to make Jesus 00:20:43.040 --> 00:20:43.920 and His kingdom known. 00:20:44.960 --> 00:20:45.720 So my question 00:20:45.720 --> 00:20:46.759 for us Christ churches, 00:20:47.420 --> 00:20:48.140 do we believe 00:20:48.140 --> 00:20:49.080 that God will answer 00:20:49.080 --> 00:20:50.259 our prayers too? 00:20:51.180 --> 00:20:51.940 In this season 00:20:51.940 --> 00:20:52.900 where we ourselves 00:20:52.900 --> 00:20:53.580 are discerning 00:20:53.579 --> 00:20:54.259 as a church, 00:20:54.699 --> 00:20:55.579 what now? 00:20:56.039 --> 00:20:56.779 What's next? 00:20:57.319 --> 00:20:58.339 What do we do now 00:20:58.339 --> 00:20:59.240 in the season ahead? 00:20:59.960 --> 00:21:00.960 Are we praying? 00:21:01.279 --> 00:21:02.419 Are we a praying church? 00:21:02.720 --> 00:21:03.439 Are we gathering 00:21:03.439 --> 00:21:04.740 with our families? 00:21:05.059 --> 00:21:06.079 Or as a church body 00:21:06.079 --> 00:21:06.980 like we did last night 00:21:06.980 --> 00:21:07.559 with Tonya, 00:21:07.639 --> 00:21:07.899 Maria, 00:21:08.039 --> 00:21:08.339 Leanne, 00:21:08.399 --> 00:21:08.879 we prayed 00:21:08.879 --> 00:21:10.159 on our third Saturday 00:21:10.159 --> 00:21:11.199 prayers for justice. 00:21:11.859 --> 00:21:13.119 Are we lifting up prayers 00:21:13.119 --> 00:21:14.079 like this to God? 00:21:14.220 --> 00:21:14.500 Lord, 00:21:15.220 --> 00:21:16.500 fill us with Your Spirit 00:21:16.500 --> 00:21:18.039 and let us be powerful 00:21:18.039 --> 00:21:18.779 witnesses 00:21:18.779 --> 00:21:20.019 of Your kingdom. 00:21:20.659 --> 00:21:21.399 And show us, 00:21:21.519 --> 00:21:21.619 God, 00:21:21.619 --> 00:21:22.419 this has been my prayer, 00:21:22.659 --> 00:21:23.959 show us concretely, 00:21:24.459 --> 00:21:25.059 concretely 00:21:25.059 --> 00:21:26.500 what this looks like. 00:21:27.159 --> 00:21:27.619 Show us 00:21:27.619 --> 00:21:28.619 what we can do 00:21:28.619 --> 00:21:29.259 with the resources 00:21:29.259 --> 00:21:30.059 that we have here 00:21:30.059 --> 00:21:31.799 as Christ Church East Bay 00:21:31.799 --> 00:21:32.799 with our Berkeley 00:21:32.799 --> 00:21:33.459 and our Oakland 00:21:33.459 --> 00:21:34.239 and our Albany, 00:21:34.359 --> 00:21:34.500 you know, 00:21:34.539 --> 00:21:35.699 our Richmond communities, 00:21:35.939 --> 00:21:36.500 me and Castro Valley. 00:21:36.579 --> 00:21:37.859 Show us what it looks like 00:21:37.859 --> 00:21:39.639 to be the church, 00:21:39.759 --> 00:21:40.779 to be witnesses 00:21:40.779 --> 00:21:42.359 of the kingdom of God. 00:21:43.459 --> 00:21:43.679 Today, 00:21:43.759 --> 00:21:44.000 Christ Church, 00:21:44.039 --> 00:21:44.919 I just want to invite you 00:21:44.919 --> 00:21:46.259 to join me in this prayer. 00:21:47.039 --> 00:21:47.899 Join me in this prayer. 00:21:47.900 --> 00:21:50.380 There's a Sri Lankan commentator 00:21:50.380 --> 00:21:51.280 that I'm reading 00:21:51.280 --> 00:21:52.620 for this series in Acts. 00:21:52.660 --> 00:21:53.880 His name is Ajit Fernando. 00:21:54.720 --> 00:21:55.940 And he would remind us of this. 00:21:56.040 --> 00:21:56.320 He says, 00:21:56.940 --> 00:21:58.259 often great prayer movements 00:21:58.259 --> 00:21:59.440 start with one 00:21:59.440 --> 00:22:00.700 or more individuals 00:22:00.700 --> 00:22:02.640 with simply a burden to pray, 00:22:03.240 --> 00:22:04.680 who share this burden 00:22:04.680 --> 00:22:05.200 with others 00:22:05.200 --> 00:22:06.519 and then keep on praying 00:22:06.519 --> 00:22:07.460 with them 00:22:07.460 --> 00:22:09.800 until the blessing comes. 00:22:10.240 --> 00:22:10.720 Simple, 00:22:11.380 --> 00:22:12.340 but we need this. 00:22:12.920 --> 00:22:13.720 We need this, 00:22:13.800 --> 00:22:14.100 Christ Church. 00:22:14.160 --> 00:22:15.320 We need to hear from God 00:22:15.320 --> 00:22:15.960 and to be led 00:22:15.960 --> 00:22:16.700 by His Spirit 00:22:16.700 --> 00:22:17.440 because, you know, 00:22:17.519 --> 00:22:19.579 we are in a significant 00:22:19.579 --> 00:22:21.019 and complicated moment 00:22:21.019 --> 00:22:22.500 in the history of our church 00:22:22.500 --> 00:22:23.620 and in the history 00:22:23.620 --> 00:22:24.500 of our world. 00:22:25.259 --> 00:22:25.779 For our church, 00:22:25.860 --> 00:22:27.140 we've gone from one 00:22:27.140 --> 00:22:28.059 to two to three 00:22:28.059 --> 00:22:29.000 and now back to one 00:22:29.000 --> 00:22:30.160 location and congregation. 00:22:30.860 --> 00:22:31.000 You know, 00:22:31.019 --> 00:22:32.500 we've gone from six pastors 00:22:32.500 --> 00:22:33.940 and 17 staff 00:22:33.940 --> 00:22:34.720 to two pastors 00:22:34.720 --> 00:22:35.759 and six staff 00:22:35.759 --> 00:22:37.059 and having seen 00:22:37.059 --> 00:22:38.180 even more turnover 00:22:38.180 --> 00:22:39.279 and transition 00:22:39.279 --> 00:22:39.900 than already, 00:22:40.140 --> 00:22:40.400 you know, 00:22:40.460 --> 00:22:41.360 the already huge amount 00:22:41.360 --> 00:22:42.240 that we typically see 00:22:42.240 --> 00:22:42.759 in the Bay, 00:22:43.240 --> 00:22:44.960 we just are trying 00:22:44.960 --> 00:22:45.900 to keep going, right? 00:22:46.620 --> 00:22:47.340 And then, you know, 00:22:47.380 --> 00:22:48.559 with our church family 00:22:48.559 --> 00:22:49.819 slowly trying to figure out 00:22:49.819 --> 00:22:50.600 how to come back 00:22:50.600 --> 00:22:51.539 to worship in person 00:22:51.539 --> 00:22:53.120 after a global pandemic 00:22:53.120 --> 00:22:54.559 that's kept us apart. 00:22:55.759 --> 00:22:57.059 And then you also have 00:22:57.059 --> 00:22:58.059 the injustice 00:22:58.059 --> 00:22:59.240 and the heartbreak 00:22:59.240 --> 00:23:00.019 and the division 00:23:00.019 --> 00:23:01.759 that we see multiplying, 00:23:01.900 --> 00:23:02.420 it seems like, 00:23:02.460 --> 00:23:03.100 in our society 00:23:03.100 --> 00:23:03.680 and our nation 00:23:03.680 --> 00:23:04.200 and our world. 00:23:04.279 --> 00:23:04.500 Christ Church, 00:23:04.559 --> 00:23:06.039 we are at a huge 00:23:06.039 --> 00:23:07.140 now what moment 00:23:07.140 --> 00:23:08.500 in the history 00:23:08.500 --> 00:23:09.660 of the world 00:23:09.660 --> 00:23:10.340 and particularly 00:23:10.340 --> 00:23:11.180 in the history 00:23:11.180 --> 00:23:12.640 of Christ Church East Bay. 00:23:13.400 --> 00:23:14.340 And to be honest 00:23:14.340 --> 00:23:15.079 with everyone here, 00:23:15.079 --> 00:23:16.779 it's incredibly intimidating 00:23:16.779 --> 00:23:19.079 to lead at a time 00:23:19.079 --> 00:23:19.799 like this, 00:23:19.839 --> 00:23:20.539 to lead this church 00:23:20.539 --> 00:23:21.480 at a time like this. 00:23:22.339 --> 00:23:22.659 But you know, 00:23:22.720 --> 00:23:24.319 I'm also absolutely convinced 00:23:24.319 --> 00:23:26.039 that it's also a time 00:23:26.039 --> 00:23:27.139 that's pregnant 00:23:27.139 --> 00:23:28.559 with opportunity 00:23:28.559 --> 00:23:29.879 to see 00:23:29.879 --> 00:23:31.179 and to experience 00:23:31.179 --> 00:23:32.579 the Spirit of God 00:23:32.579 --> 00:23:33.980 in and through 00:23:33.980 --> 00:23:34.919 our church 00:23:34.919 --> 00:23:35.759 as witnesses 00:23:35.759 --> 00:23:36.559 of Christ. 00:23:37.519 --> 00:23:38.079 But again, 00:23:38.240 --> 00:23:39.019 what does that mean? 00:23:39.559 --> 00:23:40.579 How are we to 00:23:40.579 --> 00:23:41.899 bear witness to Christ 00:23:41.899 --> 00:23:43.019 in the season ahead? 00:23:43.019 --> 00:23:43.960 And to be honest, 00:23:44.059 --> 00:23:44.680 I don't have 00:23:44.680 --> 00:23:45.279 all the answers. 00:23:45.819 --> 00:23:46.759 Our session of elders, 00:23:46.900 --> 00:23:47.440 they don't have 00:23:47.440 --> 00:23:48.119 all the answers. 00:23:48.720 --> 00:23:49.859 And Jonathan St. Clair, 00:23:49.920 --> 00:23:50.579 even Jonathan 00:23:50.579 --> 00:23:51.779 doesn't have 00:23:51.779 --> 00:23:52.619 all the answers. 00:23:52.700 --> 00:23:53.519 You might be surprised. 00:23:54.920 --> 00:23:56.099 So we gotta be in prayer. 00:23:56.980 --> 00:23:57.900 And what I wanna do today 00:23:57.900 --> 00:23:58.440 is I wanna share 00:23:58.440 --> 00:23:59.259 a couple guidelines 00:23:59.259 --> 00:23:59.680 for us 00:23:59.680 --> 00:24:00.200 as we consider 00:24:00.200 --> 00:24:00.779 what it means 00:24:00.779 --> 00:24:01.420 to be witnesses 00:24:01.420 --> 00:24:02.160 as we go through 00:24:02.160 --> 00:24:02.819 this book of Acts 00:24:02.819 --> 00:24:04.059 to hang our hats on 00:24:04.059 --> 00:24:05.359 and to really consider 00:24:05.359 --> 00:24:06.200 for our own lives 00:24:06.200 --> 00:24:07.740 and for our own church body, 00:24:07.900 --> 00:24:09.019 how are we gonna be witnesses 00:24:09.019 --> 00:24:10.559 Christ Church East Bay? 00:24:11.379 --> 00:24:12.759 In addition to accepting 00:24:12.759 --> 00:24:13.859 that God's kingdom plan 00:24:13.859 --> 00:24:14.539 can and may 00:24:14.539 --> 00:24:15.379 very well be different 00:24:15.379 --> 00:24:15.899 than ours, 00:24:16.240 --> 00:24:17.099 and in addition to 00:24:17.099 --> 00:24:17.839 our constant 00:24:17.839 --> 00:24:20.079 and devoted prayers, 00:24:20.619 --> 00:24:21.980 I think Jesus' words 00:24:21.980 --> 00:24:22.339 here today 00:24:22.339 --> 00:24:23.039 offer a lot of 00:24:23.039 --> 00:24:23.839 helpful guidelines 00:24:23.839 --> 00:24:24.700 as we seek to 00:24:24.700 --> 00:24:25.599 bear witness 00:24:25.599 --> 00:24:26.740 to the kingdom of God. 00:24:26.799 --> 00:24:27.359 And the first thing 00:24:27.359 --> 00:24:27.980 I want you to notice 00:24:27.980 --> 00:24:28.819 is that Jesus says, 00:24:29.139 --> 00:24:29.460 He says, 00:24:29.839 --> 00:24:30.440 you will be 00:24:30.440 --> 00:24:31.759 my witnesses. 00:24:32.720 --> 00:24:33.339 You will be 00:24:33.339 --> 00:24:34.299 my witnesses. 00:24:34.480 --> 00:24:35.099 And this means 00:24:35.099 --> 00:24:35.940 that our witness, 00:24:36.480 --> 00:24:37.039 our witness, 00:24:37.200 --> 00:24:38.220 it has to be 00:24:38.220 --> 00:24:39.119 thoroughly 00:24:39.119 --> 00:24:40.419 Christ-centered, 00:24:41.000 --> 00:24:41.839 Christ-oriented, 00:24:42.279 --> 00:24:43.519 Christ-motivated, 00:24:43.659 --> 00:24:44.579 and Christ-exalting. 00:24:45.039 --> 00:24:45.579 See, because 00:24:45.579 --> 00:24:46.479 if our witness 00:24:46.479 --> 00:24:47.599 isn't tightly bound 00:24:47.599 --> 00:24:48.219 with Christ, 00:24:48.299 --> 00:24:48.979 if we aren't 00:24:48.979 --> 00:24:50.239 Christ's witnesses, 00:24:50.759 --> 00:24:51.559 but someone else 00:24:51.559 --> 00:24:52.959 or something else's 00:24:52.959 --> 00:24:53.479 witnesses, 00:24:53.619 --> 00:24:54.319 we will always 00:24:54.319 --> 00:24:55.239 end up pursuing 00:24:55.239 --> 00:24:56.339 a vision 00:24:56.339 --> 00:24:57.259 of a kingdom 00:24:57.259 --> 00:24:58.399 that isn't 00:24:58.399 --> 00:24:59.579 actually Christ's. 00:25:00.299 --> 00:25:01.099 And we'll be doomed 00:25:01.099 --> 00:25:01.839 and disappointed 00:25:01.839 --> 00:25:02.939 and we'll become 00:25:02.939 --> 00:25:03.519 failures. 00:25:04.699 --> 00:25:05.500 I also want us 00:25:05.500 --> 00:25:06.079 to notice that 00:25:06.079 --> 00:25:06.579 He says, 00:25:06.839 --> 00:25:07.119 you will be 00:25:07.119 --> 00:25:07.779 my witnesses. 00:25:08.139 --> 00:25:09.019 It's plural. 00:25:09.979 --> 00:25:10.159 See, 00:25:10.239 --> 00:25:11.039 this is a huge 00:25:11.039 --> 00:25:11.459 calling, 00:25:11.619 --> 00:25:12.099 Christ-church. 00:25:12.379 --> 00:25:12.799 This calling 00:25:12.799 --> 00:25:13.359 to be Christ's 00:25:13.359 --> 00:25:13.919 witness is, 00:25:14.199 --> 00:25:15.199 it's a huge 00:25:15.199 --> 00:25:15.479 calling. 00:25:15.599 --> 00:25:16.119 It's not an 00:25:16.119 --> 00:25:17.019 individualistic 00:25:17.019 --> 00:25:17.679 endeavor, 00:25:18.399 --> 00:25:19.000 but it's something 00:25:19.000 --> 00:25:19.639 to be done 00:25:19.639 --> 00:25:20.539 in community 00:25:20.539 --> 00:25:22.059 with each other. 00:25:22.839 --> 00:25:23.699 And no one 00:25:23.699 --> 00:25:24.399 witness can do 00:25:24.399 --> 00:25:24.799 it all 00:25:24.799 --> 00:25:25.839 and bear witness 00:25:25.839 --> 00:25:26.419 to all the 00:25:26.419 --> 00:25:27.239 glorious richness 00:25:27.239 --> 00:25:27.819 of the kingdom 00:25:27.819 --> 00:25:28.239 of God 00:25:28.239 --> 00:25:28.879 to the ends 00:25:28.879 --> 00:25:29.539 of the earth, 00:25:29.599 --> 00:25:30.179 especially not 00:25:30.179 --> 00:25:30.659 in a single 00:25:30.659 --> 00:25:31.079 lifetime. 00:25:32.359 --> 00:25:33.039 I also want you 00:25:33.039 --> 00:25:33.639 to notice that 00:25:33.639 --> 00:25:34.319 the plurality 00:25:34.319 --> 00:25:34.879 of witnesses 00:25:34.879 --> 00:25:35.959 spanning, 00:25:36.099 --> 00:25:36.259 you know, 00:25:36.319 --> 00:25:37.219 church history even, 00:25:37.220 --> 00:25:38.279 it implies 00:25:38.279 --> 00:25:39.680 also a diversity 00:25:39.680 --> 00:25:40.640 of witness 00:25:40.640 --> 00:25:41.400 bearing amongst 00:25:41.400 --> 00:25:42.380 Christians and 00:25:42.380 --> 00:25:42.700 churches. 00:25:43.860 --> 00:25:44.759 Some people, 00:25:44.980 --> 00:25:45.559 some churches 00:25:45.559 --> 00:25:46.400 will be doing 00:25:46.400 --> 00:25:47.259 very different 00:25:47.259 --> 00:25:48.759 things than us 00:25:48.759 --> 00:25:50.140 and that's okay 00:25:50.140 --> 00:25:50.799 and that's good. 00:25:51.240 --> 00:25:52.019 And others even 00:25:52.019 --> 00:25:52.559 who are trying 00:25:52.559 --> 00:25:53.100 to do the same 00:25:53.100 --> 00:25:53.900 things might go 00:25:53.900 --> 00:25:54.480 about it in 00:25:54.480 --> 00:25:54.839 very, 00:25:55.079 --> 00:25:55.799 very different 00:25:55.799 --> 00:25:56.319 ways. 00:25:57.339 --> 00:25:57.900 And what we need 00:25:57.900 --> 00:25:58.480 to hear is, 00:25:58.720 --> 00:25:59.200 that's okay, 00:25:59.319 --> 00:25:59.900 we need to accept 00:25:59.900 --> 00:26:00.600 that that's good 00:26:00.600 --> 00:26:01.259 and that that's 00:26:01.259 --> 00:26:02.039 right and it's 00:26:02.039 --> 00:26:03.140 according to God's 00:26:03.140 --> 00:26:04.140 sovereign plan. 00:26:05.140 --> 00:26:05.300 You know, 00:26:05.380 --> 00:26:06.320 some will bear 00:26:06.320 --> 00:26:07.420 especially powerful 00:26:07.420 --> 00:26:08.700 witness to Christ's 00:26:08.700 --> 00:26:09.360 heart for racial 00:26:09.360 --> 00:26:10.000 justice, 00:26:10.640 --> 00:26:11.680 others to his 00:26:11.680 --> 00:26:12.180 heart for the 00:26:12.180 --> 00:26:12.640 fatherless, 00:26:12.759 --> 00:26:13.300 others to his 00:26:13.300 --> 00:26:14.100 heart for the 00:26:14.100 --> 00:26:15.000 unborn or the 00:26:15.000 --> 00:26:15.540 sick or the 00:26:15.540 --> 00:26:16.320 poor or for 00:26:16.320 --> 00:26:17.320 creation care 00:26:17.320 --> 00:26:17.700 and the list, 00:26:18.000 --> 00:26:18.840 it goes on, 00:26:18.940 --> 00:26:19.220 guys. 00:26:19.600 --> 00:26:20.340 It goes on 00:26:20.340 --> 00:26:20.980 because God's 00:26:20.980 --> 00:26:22.360 heart is huge 00:26:22.360 --> 00:26:23.520 and his kingdom 00:26:23.520 --> 00:26:24.840 is expansive 00:26:24.840 --> 00:26:26.200 and yes, 00:26:26.280 --> 00:26:26.800 we want to be 00:26:26.800 --> 00:26:27.540 about all those 00:26:27.540 --> 00:26:28.120 things as much 00:26:28.120 --> 00:26:28.540 as we can. 00:26:28.620 --> 00:26:29.280 We must always 00:26:29.280 --> 00:26:30.100 strive to pursue 00:26:30.100 --> 00:26:31.180 God's heart 00:26:31.180 --> 00:26:32.240 and to bear witness 00:26:32.240 --> 00:26:32.900 to his intentions 00:26:32.900 --> 00:26:33.480 for this world 00:26:33.480 --> 00:26:34.059 to the fullest 00:26:34.059 --> 00:26:34.960 extent that we 00:26:34.960 --> 00:26:36.680 can but we 00:26:36.680 --> 00:26:37.400 also need to 00:26:37.400 --> 00:26:38.420 be humble. 00:26:39.640 --> 00:26:40.079 We need to 00:26:40.079 --> 00:26:40.779 humbly accept 00:26:40.779 --> 00:26:41.620 that none of 00:26:41.620 --> 00:26:43.099 us will equal, 00:26:43.360 --> 00:26:43.599 you know, 00:26:43.660 --> 00:26:44.839 with equal strength 00:26:44.839 --> 00:26:46.779 and with just 00:26:46.779 --> 00:26:47.539 as loud of a 00:26:47.539 --> 00:26:48.140 voice and with 00:26:48.140 --> 00:26:48.620 just as much 00:26:48.620 --> 00:26:49.980 influence do 00:26:49.980 --> 00:26:50.660 every single 00:26:50.660 --> 00:26:52.400 thing that God 00:26:52.400 --> 00:26:53.279 wants all of 00:26:53.279 --> 00:26:54.740 us, all witnesses 00:26:54.740 --> 00:26:55.740 across the history 00:26:55.740 --> 00:26:56.420 of the church 00:26:56.420 --> 00:26:57.240 to do. 00:26:58.160 --> 00:26:58.819 So right now, 00:26:58.880 --> 00:26:59.420 that's why I say 00:26:59.420 --> 00:27:00.019 we've got to pray 00:27:00.019 --> 00:27:00.700 Christ's church. 00:27:01.220 --> 00:27:02.220 Right now, 00:27:02.220 --> 00:27:02.940 it's so important 00:27:02.940 --> 00:27:04.039 for us as this 00:27:04.039 --> 00:27:04.960 one little local 00:27:04.960 --> 00:27:05.920 church in the 00:27:05.920 --> 00:27:07.620 East Bay to pray 00:27:07.620 --> 00:27:09.059 and discern the 00:27:09.059 --> 00:27:10.079 ways God is calling 00:27:10.079 --> 00:27:11.140 us to serve him 00:27:11.140 --> 00:27:12.319 as witnesses in 00:27:12.319 --> 00:27:13.279 this particular 00:27:13.279 --> 00:27:14.700 season now. 00:27:15.559 --> 00:27:15.680 You know, 00:27:15.700 --> 00:27:16.180 and that may have 00:27:16.180 --> 00:27:16.640 been different, 00:27:16.720 --> 00:27:17.100 that may be 00:27:17.100 --> 00:27:17.700 different than what 00:27:17.700 --> 00:27:18.140 it was in the 00:27:18.140 --> 00:27:18.960 past for Christ's 00:27:18.960 --> 00:27:20.319 church and it 00:27:20.319 --> 00:27:21.200 probably will change 00:27:21.200 --> 00:27:22.299 later in the future 00:27:22.299 --> 00:27:23.140 of Christ's church 00:27:23.140 --> 00:27:24.559 but that's good 00:27:24.559 --> 00:27:25.700 and that's okay 00:27:25.700 --> 00:27:26.860 and that's part of 00:27:26.860 --> 00:27:28.480 God's intricate plan. 00:27:28.480 --> 00:27:30.380 I also want you 00:27:30.380 --> 00:27:31.299 to notice when 00:27:31.299 --> 00:27:32.039 Jesus tells us to 00:27:32.039 --> 00:27:32.460 be witnesses, 00:27:32.599 --> 00:27:33.079 he says you're to 00:27:33.079 --> 00:27:33.839 be witnesses from 00:27:33.839 --> 00:27:35.019 Jerusalem to all 00:27:35.019 --> 00:27:36.339 Judea to Samaria 00:27:36.339 --> 00:27:37.319 and even to the 00:27:37.319 --> 00:27:37.860 ends of the earth 00:27:37.860 --> 00:27:38.420 and I see two 00:27:38.420 --> 00:27:38.980 things here. 00:27:39.500 --> 00:27:40.120 The first thing I 00:27:40.120 --> 00:27:40.759 mentioned earlier is 00:27:40.759 --> 00:27:41.319 that we're to bear 00:27:41.319 --> 00:27:43.240 witness to everyone, 00:27:43.839 --> 00:27:44.440 to everyone, 00:27:44.759 --> 00:27:45.420 not just the people 00:27:45.420 --> 00:27:46.140 we want to, 00:27:46.180 --> 00:27:46.819 even those we don't 00:27:46.819 --> 00:27:48.099 like, even those we 00:27:48.099 --> 00:27:49.440 wouldn't expect to 00:27:49.440 --> 00:27:50.279 appreciate our 00:27:50.279 --> 00:27:51.539 testimony about Christ. 00:27:51.799 --> 00:27:52.819 He says to the 00:27:52.819 --> 00:27:53.920 ends of the earth, 00:27:54.360 --> 00:27:54.920 to the ends of the 00:27:54.920 --> 00:27:55.160 earth. 00:27:55.779 --> 00:27:56.579 But the other thing I 00:27:56.579 --> 00:27:57.220 see here is that, 00:27:57.299 --> 00:27:58.039 well, yes, we want to 00:27:58.039 --> 00:27:58.720 bear witness to 00:27:58.720 --> 00:27:59.859 Christ's power and 00:27:59.859 --> 00:28:00.839 his liberation and 00:28:00.839 --> 00:28:01.839 his abundance and 00:28:01.839 --> 00:28:03.099 his compassion and 00:28:03.099 --> 00:28:04.159 we want to change the 00:28:04.159 --> 00:28:04.859 world with this 00:28:04.859 --> 00:28:06.220 witness and we want 00:28:06.220 --> 00:28:07.079 to do it, you know, 00:28:07.139 --> 00:28:08.259 by ending world 00:28:08.259 --> 00:28:09.480 poverty, right, and 00:28:09.480 --> 00:28:11.319 by ending international 00:28:11.319 --> 00:28:12.899 human trafficking and 00:28:12.899 --> 00:28:13.740 then securing clean 00:28:13.740 --> 00:28:14.920 water for the entire 00:28:14.920 --> 00:28:15.379 world. 00:28:16.099 --> 00:28:17.180 But if you're like me, 00:28:17.299 --> 00:28:18.240 you probably feel quite 00:28:18.240 --> 00:28:20.299 overwhelmed by these 00:28:20.299 --> 00:28:21.899 demands, by all the 00:28:21.899 --> 00:28:22.819 things that need to 00:28:22.819 --> 00:28:23.539 happen in this world 00:28:23.539 --> 00:28:24.379 and if you're like me, 00:28:24.440 --> 00:28:25.399 you probably have been 00:28:25.399 --> 00:28:26.079 struggling with where 00:28:26.079 --> 00:28:27.019 do we start? 00:28:28.039 --> 00:28:28.700 Well, I want us to 00:28:28.700 --> 00:28:30.119 look at Jesus' blueprint. 00:28:30.420 --> 00:28:32.680 He says, Jerusalem, to 00:28:32.680 --> 00:28:35.079 Judea, to Samaria, to 00:28:35.079 --> 00:28:36.599 the ends of the earth, 00:28:37.019 --> 00:28:37.440 Christchurch. 00:28:37.500 --> 00:28:38.659 He's saying it's okay to 00:28:38.659 --> 00:28:40.599 start local, but keep 00:28:40.599 --> 00:28:40.960 going. 00:28:41.259 --> 00:28:42.379 Start local, but keep 00:28:42.379 --> 00:28:42.819 going. 00:28:42.940 --> 00:28:43.720 Keep making your way 00:28:43.720 --> 00:28:43.859 out. 00:28:43.980 --> 00:28:45.519 Consider what spheres of 00:28:45.519 --> 00:28:47.379 influence has God gifted 00:28:47.379 --> 00:28:49.359 me with right now and how 00:28:49.359 --> 00:28:51.180 can I leverage my influence 00:28:51.180 --> 00:28:52.259 to be a witness for 00:28:52.259 --> 00:28:52.700 Christ? 00:28:53.279 --> 00:28:54.980 Before feeling like we 00:28:54.980 --> 00:28:56.240 have to change the world, 00:28:56.240 --> 00:28:58.460 maybe think about what it 00:28:58.460 --> 00:29:00.000 means to bear witness to 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:02.259 Christ in our home, in 00:29:02.259 --> 00:29:03.660 our family, in our 00:29:03.660 --> 00:29:04.980 neighborhood, in our 00:29:04.980 --> 00:29:05.559 workplace. 00:29:06.420 --> 00:29:07.400 Let's not underestimate, 00:29:07.660 --> 00:29:08.380 Christchurch, let's not 00:29:08.380 --> 00:29:09.740 underestimate the power of 00:29:09.740 --> 00:29:11.099 incremental local 00:29:11.099 --> 00:29:12.440 witness bearing even as we 00:29:12.440 --> 00:29:14.259 pursue and pray for large, 00:29:14.319 --> 00:29:16.940 large-scale ways to bear 00:29:16.940 --> 00:29:19.460 witness for the sake of 00:29:19.460 --> 00:29:20.740 systemic change. 00:29:21.700 --> 00:29:22.420 Another thing I want to 00:29:22.420 --> 00:29:23.420 mention is that to be a 00:29:23.420 --> 00:29:24.380 witness also implies 00:29:24.380 --> 00:29:25.220 testimony. 00:29:25.220 --> 00:29:25.420 testimony. 00:29:26.100 --> 00:29:27.360 When you are a witness, you 00:29:27.360 --> 00:29:28.559 are showing and telling. 00:29:28.720 --> 00:29:30.160 You are communicating a 00:29:30.160 --> 00:29:30.519 message. 00:29:30.940 --> 00:29:32.220 You're giving a verbal 00:29:32.220 --> 00:29:32.940 account. 00:29:33.079 --> 00:29:33.900 And as we will see in the 00:29:33.900 --> 00:29:35.680 book of Acts, the book of 00:29:35.680 --> 00:29:36.900 Acts does indeed contain a 00:29:36.900 --> 00:29:38.420 lot of crazy amazing acts 00:29:38.420 --> 00:29:39.860 that bear witness to the 00:29:39.860 --> 00:29:40.740 kingdom of God and the 00:29:40.740 --> 00:29:41.680 power of God. 00:29:41.839 --> 00:29:43.140 And they wonderfully 00:29:43.140 --> 00:29:44.100 demonstrate that. 00:29:44.640 --> 00:29:46.000 But the primary witness 00:29:46.000 --> 00:29:47.160 bearing activity that we 00:29:47.160 --> 00:29:48.460 will see in the book of 00:29:48.460 --> 00:29:50.839 Acts is highlighted in the 00:29:50.839 --> 00:29:52.559 messages and the speeches 00:29:52.559 --> 00:29:54.339 and the sermons that are 00:29:54.339 --> 00:29:54.599 given. 00:29:54.599 --> 00:29:55.579 In Acts, there's a strong 00:29:55.579 --> 00:29:56.619 theme of the word of God 00:29:56.619 --> 00:29:58.480 increasing and going out 00:29:58.480 --> 00:30:00.439 and moving and stirring 00:30:00.439 --> 00:30:01.419 this whole world up and 00:30:01.419 --> 00:30:03.839 provoking cities and then 00:30:03.839 --> 00:30:05.099 being confirmed by the 00:30:05.099 --> 00:30:06.220 mighty acts of the 00:30:06.220 --> 00:30:06.439 Spirit. 00:30:06.500 --> 00:30:07.639 Our witness, Christchurch, 00:30:07.699 --> 00:30:09.679 it has to be in word and 00:30:09.679 --> 00:30:09.859 deed. 00:30:09.939 --> 00:30:11.139 It's not simply enough to do 00:30:11.139 --> 00:30:12.919 justice, but we must also 00:30:12.919 --> 00:30:13.419 preach. 00:30:13.779 --> 00:30:15.039 We must preach justice and 00:30:15.039 --> 00:30:16.059 preach the basis of 00:30:16.059 --> 00:30:17.359 justice, which is the 00:30:17.359 --> 00:30:18.839 kingdom of God in Christ. 00:30:19.119 --> 00:30:21.819 And lastly, lastly, what it's 00:30:21.819 --> 00:30:22.619 going to take for us to be 00:30:22.619 --> 00:30:23.639 these witnesses, I want us 00:30:23.639 --> 00:30:25.219 to see how liberating this 00:30:25.219 --> 00:30:27.079 call is to be a witness 00:30:27.079 --> 00:30:28.259 rather than a warrior. 00:30:29.119 --> 00:30:30.039 I'm also reading this 00:30:30.039 --> 00:30:31.359 Cuban-American commentator, 00:30:31.439 --> 00:30:33.259 Justo Gonzalez, and he 00:30:33.259 --> 00:30:34.399 reminds us that the call to 00:30:34.399 --> 00:30:35.859 be a witness is not a call 00:30:35.859 --> 00:30:37.679 to be just a peddler of 00:30:37.679 --> 00:30:39.899 ideas, but simply to provide 00:30:39.899 --> 00:30:42.299 testimony regarding an event 00:30:42.299 --> 00:30:43.559 that's already occurred. 00:30:43.659 --> 00:30:45.559 See, witnesses aren't 00:30:45.559 --> 00:30:47.119 people who have to go and 00:30:47.119 --> 00:30:49.099 make the victory happen or 00:30:49.099 --> 00:30:50.539 people who have to go and 00:30:50.539 --> 00:30:51.579 actualize the kingdom. 00:30:51.579 --> 00:30:53.019 To be a witness means that 00:30:53.019 --> 00:30:54.039 we've already witnessed, 00:30:54.179 --> 00:30:55.339 we've already experienced 00:30:55.339 --> 00:30:56.699 the victorious establishment 00:30:56.699 --> 00:30:57.359 of the kingdom. 00:30:58.359 --> 00:31:00.799 In Christ's church, this is 00:31:00.799 --> 00:31:01.299 the gospel. 00:31:01.919 --> 00:31:02.819 This is the gospel that we 00:31:02.819 --> 00:31:03.599 don't have to be the 00:31:03.599 --> 00:31:05.139 warriors of God, but simply 00:31:05.139 --> 00:31:06.679 spirit-empowered witnesses 00:31:06.679 --> 00:31:08.359 of a victory that's already 00:31:08.359 --> 00:31:10.399 been won by Christ in the 00:31:10.399 --> 00:31:10.699 resurrection. 00:31:10.960 --> 00:31:11.879 This is the gospel that the 00:31:11.879 --> 00:31:13.619 establishment and the full 00:31:13.619 --> 00:31:16.220 and actualization, the final 00:31:16.220 --> 00:31:17.419 realization of God's kingdom 00:31:17.420 --> 00:31:19.620 kingdom is neither limited by 00:31:19.620 --> 00:31:21.380 our finite imaginations nor 00:31:21.380 --> 00:31:23.160 dependent upon us winning on 00:31:23.160 --> 00:31:23.880 behalf of Christ. 00:31:24.019 --> 00:31:25.980 Rather, the kingdom of God has 00:31:25.980 --> 00:31:28.539 already been inaugurated in the 00:31:28.539 --> 00:31:29.360 resurrection of Christ. 00:31:29.440 --> 00:31:30.640 And our job is simply to bear 00:31:30.640 --> 00:31:31.960 witness to this present 00:31:31.960 --> 00:31:32.480 reality. 00:31:33.220 --> 00:31:34.480 You know, to those of us who 00:31:34.480 --> 00:31:36.860 are tempted to go warrior mode, 00:31:36.920 --> 00:31:38.120 right, in pursuit of fulfilling 00:31:38.120 --> 00:31:40.259 our own self-imagined kingdom 00:31:40.259 --> 00:31:42.700 visions, Jesus' word to us, just 00:31:42.700 --> 00:31:43.860 like it was to his disciples, is 00:31:43.859 --> 00:31:46.240 no, you're actually thinking far 00:31:46.240 --> 00:31:47.299 too small. 00:31:47.939 --> 00:31:49.019 He said to his disciples, you're 00:31:49.019 --> 00:31:50.279 just thinking about a political, 00:31:50.699 --> 00:31:51.899 material, and earthly kingdom, 00:31:52.019 --> 00:31:53.219 but that's not the whole of my 00:31:53.219 --> 00:31:53.500 kingdom. 00:31:54.000 --> 00:31:55.199 I'm talking something much 00:31:55.199 --> 00:31:56.479 bigger, much wider, much 00:31:56.479 --> 00:31:57.099 deeper. 00:31:57.259 --> 00:31:58.799 You're just thinking about the 00:31:58.799 --> 00:32:00.399 shalom of this little land and 00:32:00.399 --> 00:32:01.619 this little nation of Israel, but 00:32:01.619 --> 00:32:02.959 I'm talking about the shalom of 00:32:02.959 --> 00:32:05.240 the entire cosmos and all the 00:32:05.240 --> 00:32:07.219 nations, every tribe, tongue, and 00:32:07.219 --> 00:32:08.899 language to the ends of the 00:32:08.899 --> 00:32:09.059 earth. 00:32:09.119 --> 00:32:10.240 You thought that this power was 00:32:10.240 --> 00:32:11.879 going to help you destroy the 00:32:11.879 --> 00:32:13.819 nations and conquer the world, but 00:32:13.819 --> 00:32:15.159 I'm giving you an even better 00:32:15.159 --> 00:32:16.000 power, he says. 00:32:16.439 --> 00:32:18.119 A power that will include and 00:32:18.119 --> 00:32:19.779 engraft the nations rather than 00:32:19.779 --> 00:32:21.099 destroy and dominate. 00:32:21.960 --> 00:32:23.319 Think about that kind of power, a 00:32:23.319 --> 00:32:24.839 power that wins and persuades 00:32:24.839 --> 00:32:26.859 rather than wars and punishes. 00:32:27.799 --> 00:32:28.720 What is the greater power? 00:32:28.799 --> 00:32:29.220 Think about this. 00:32:29.299 --> 00:32:30.079 What is the greater power? 00:32:30.179 --> 00:32:31.700 What is the greater challenge? 00:32:32.720 --> 00:32:34.339 Dominating and destroying one's 00:32:34.339 --> 00:32:35.439 enemies like all the world 00:32:35.439 --> 00:32:37.720 empires that have gone before, or 00:32:37.720 --> 00:32:40.079 winning them as friends and 00:32:40.079 --> 00:32:42.119 family with extravagant compassion 00:32:42.119 --> 00:32:44.839 and love, sacrificial love, divine 00:32:44.839 --> 00:32:46.799 forgiveness secured by the blood of 00:32:46.799 --> 00:32:47.379 Christ's cross. 00:32:47.519 --> 00:32:48.779 What's the greater power? 00:32:49.259 --> 00:32:50.059 What's the greater power? 00:32:50.119 --> 00:32:52.259 The power of destruction or the 00:32:52.259 --> 00:32:53.559 power of resurrection? 00:32:54.859 --> 00:32:56.219 What is the greater miracle? 00:32:56.639 --> 00:32:58.139 The death of our enemies or the 00:32:58.139 --> 00:33:00.339 death of death and the death of 00:33:00.339 --> 00:33:00.799 Christ? 00:33:01.839 --> 00:33:04.039 See, from the get-go in the book of 00:33:04.039 --> 00:33:06.379 Acts, Jesus says to us, Jesus says, 00:33:06.380 --> 00:33:07.320 don't you see? 00:33:08.060 --> 00:33:10.400 The powerful kingdom of heaven is 00:33:10.400 --> 00:33:13.040 already upon us because I've come 00:33:13.040 --> 00:33:16.380 and I'm risen and the beauty of my 00:33:16.380 --> 00:33:18.000 kingdom is that it doesn't need 00:33:18.000 --> 00:33:18.360 warriors. 00:33:19.260 --> 00:33:20.320 That's the true power. 00:33:21.020 --> 00:33:22.740 This is the sovereign grace of God. 00:33:23.160 --> 00:33:24.420 We don't have to be his warriors. 00:33:25.100 --> 00:33:26.640 We can simply be his witnesses, 00:33:26.920 --> 00:33:28.660 witnesses of the only story, the 00:33:28.660 --> 00:33:30.660 only king, the only kingdom really 00:33:30.660 --> 00:33:33.080 worth bearing witness about to the 00:33:33.080 --> 00:33:34.060 ends of the earth, Christ. 00:33:34.059 --> 00:33:36.619 So will you join me in prayer and 00:33:36.619 --> 00:33:38.019 being these witnesses to the glory 00:33:38.019 --> 00:33:39.220 of God and for the good of our 00:33:39.220 --> 00:33:39.559 cities? 00:33:40.079 --> 00:33:40.599 Let's pray. 00:33:44.299 --> 00:33:46.879 God, we're here seeking clarity 00:33:46.879 --> 00:33:47.359 from you. 00:33:48.279 --> 00:33:49.579 We want to be your witnesses. 00:33:50.079 --> 00:33:52.139 We know that you have woven into 00:33:52.139 --> 00:33:53.679 history the greatest story ever 00:33:53.679 --> 00:33:55.759 told and we ask that you would show 00:33:55.759 --> 00:33:58.019 us how to embody that story, how to 00:33:58.019 --> 00:34:00.460 live that story out, to bear witness 00:34:00.460 --> 00:34:01.839 to the beauty of this story. 00:34:01.839 --> 00:34:04.399 For the glory of your name and for 00:34:04.399 --> 00:34:05.639 the good of our neighbors, we pray. 00:34:06.399 --> 00:34:06.720 Amen. 00:34:09.799 --> 00:34:11.420 Christ Church, part of bearing 00:34:11.420 --> 00:34:13.500 witness, part of showing forth the 00:34:13.500 --> 00:34:15.259 incredible value of the kingdom of 00:34:15.259 --> 00:34:17.500 God is by offering our lives and our 00:34:17.500 --> 00:34:18.000 gifts to him. 00:34:18.079 --> 00:34:18.900 So will you join me in this 00:34:18.900 --> 00:34:19.739 offertory prayer? 00:34:21.000 --> 00:34:24.079 Mighty God of resurrection power, we 00:34:24.079 --> 00:34:25.980 know that you have been with us through 00:34:25.980 --> 00:34:28.019 all that the past year has brought us. 00:34:28.019 --> 00:34:30.280 And we have seen you in the generosity 00:34:30.280 --> 00:34:31.820 of heart that has brought us through 00:34:31.820 --> 00:34:32.500 these days. 00:34:33.139 --> 00:34:35.179 As we offer ourselves back to you now, 00:34:35.659 --> 00:34:37.780 may we do so as those convinced that 00:34:37.780 --> 00:34:40.159 light will always wash away darkness and 00:34:40.159 --> 00:34:41.759 life will always defeat death. 00:34:42.219 --> 00:34:44.219 In the name of our risen Savior, we pray. 00:34:44.739 --> 00:34:45.079 Amen. 00:34:45.079 --> 00:34:45.159 Amen. 00:34:45.159 --> 00:34:45.199 Amen. 00:34:45.199 --> 00:34:45.239 Amen. 00:34:45.239 --> 00:34:45.259 Amen. 00:34:45.259 --> 00:34:45.280 Amen. 00:34:45.280 --> 00:34:45.300 Amen. 00:34:45.300 --> 00:34:45.320 Amen. 00:34:45.320 --> 00:34:45.380 Amen. 00:34:45.380 --> 00:34:45.400 Amen. 00:34:45.400 --> 00:34:47.280 Amen. 00:34:47.280 --> 00:34:47.320 Amen. 00:34:47.320 --> 00:34:47.380 Amen. 00:34:47.380 --> 00:34:49.280 Amen. 00:34:49.280 --> 00:34:49.380 Amen. 00:34:49.380 --> 00:34:49.420 Amen. 00:34:49.420 --> 00:34:49.480 Amen. 00:34:49.480 --> 00:34:49.960 Amen. 00:34:49.960 --> 00:34:49.980 Amen. 00:34:49.980 --> 00:34:50.019 Amen.