WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.560 The scripture reading comes from Romans chapter 12. Please follow along on the screen, the bulletin, or your own Bible. 00:00:12.060 --> 00:00:14.080 Starting in verse 1, we read, 00:00:14.080 --> 00:00:26.740 I appeal to you, therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 00:00:26.739 --> 00:00:39.379 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. 00:00:40.979 --> 00:00:55.379 For by the grace given to me, I say to everyone among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 00:00:55.380 --> 00:01:09.280 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 00:01:10.140 --> 00:01:14.900 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them. 00:01:14.900 --> 00:01:39.860 Thank you, Betty. 00:01:39.859 --> 00:01:44.159 Great. Good morning, everybody. 00:01:44.599 --> 00:01:45.340 Good morning. 00:01:46.180 --> 00:01:47.219 My name is Chris. 00:01:47.560 --> 00:01:53.539 This is the day the Lord has made, and we will rejoice in it, because England won last night. 00:01:54.659 --> 00:01:58.760 So, miracles happen. 00:01:59.819 --> 00:02:00.819 Miracles happen. 00:02:01.060 --> 00:02:04.420 So, this is probably the last time you'll see me this happy. 00:02:04.420 --> 00:02:09.120 Let me pray for us as we begin. 00:02:09.860 --> 00:02:19.560 Father, thank you that we stand in the presence of an awesome God. 00:02:22.360 --> 00:02:29.640 And thank you that we come with nothing in our hands, but knowing that you are a good and a gracious king, 00:02:29.639 --> 00:02:38.659 who is so full of mercy and so full of kindness that you continually, every morning, lavish new grace upon us. 00:02:40.419 --> 00:02:42.559 Lord, I pray for us as a church family. 00:02:42.739 --> 00:02:47.019 I pray, Lord, that you would help us to see the grace of each other. 00:02:47.959 --> 00:02:50.839 Help us to see the grace that you have given us in abundance. 00:02:50.840 --> 00:02:56.460 Lord, I pray that even this morning, as I know different people are struggling in different ways. 00:02:56.879 --> 00:02:59.060 I know there are different challenges we're going through. 00:02:59.240 --> 00:03:03.280 Father, I pray that your mercy and your kindness would just minister to us. 00:03:04.259 --> 00:03:06.060 That you come and speak to us. 00:03:06.199 --> 00:03:06.819 Open our ears. 00:03:06.939 --> 00:03:08.060 Open our hearts, Lord. 00:03:09.020 --> 00:03:11.439 That we would see you and not be the same again. 00:03:12.400 --> 00:03:13.219 We love you. 00:03:13.620 --> 00:03:14.659 In Jesus' name. 00:03:14.659 --> 00:03:15.060 Amen. 00:03:15.620 --> 00:03:16.120 Amen. 00:03:17.240 --> 00:03:17.840 Great. 00:03:18.900 --> 00:03:21.120 So we're going through this series in Romans. 00:03:22.460 --> 00:03:33.039 And as I was thinking about this series, I remembered back at a previous church that there was an older lady called, let's call her Jean. 00:03:33.859 --> 00:03:40.699 And she thought that men wearing hats in church was of the devil. 00:03:44.000 --> 00:03:44.519 Edward. 00:03:44.659 --> 00:03:46.439 You'd not be in a good place. 00:03:48.780 --> 00:03:57.300 And one Sunday, a teenager came in to the Sunday service wearing a baseball cap. 00:03:58.919 --> 00:04:00.139 And do you know what happened? 00:04:00.859 --> 00:04:03.780 Jean went straight up to him and said, take it off. 00:04:04.719 --> 00:04:06.240 And the teenager refused. 00:04:06.740 --> 00:04:09.060 And there was this showdown, this kind of standoff. 00:04:09.120 --> 00:04:12.019 And eventually the teenager just kind of stormed out. 00:04:13.019 --> 00:04:14.300 This was Sunday morning. 00:04:14.300 --> 00:04:21.220 And the lady gathered her friends together and started complaining about the youth these days. 00:04:21.980 --> 00:04:25.440 And then the young people gathered together in their tribe 00:04:25.440 --> 00:04:28.160 to complain about how legalistic all these old people were. 00:04:30.880 --> 00:04:32.620 And it's fascinating, isn't it? 00:04:32.660 --> 00:04:34.100 Because I noticed something. 00:04:35.200 --> 00:04:37.100 That diversity is really hard. 00:04:38.340 --> 00:04:40.620 When you have people from different expectations, 00:04:40.880 --> 00:04:42.600 different backgrounds, different traditions 00:04:42.600 --> 00:04:44.640 coming together in one place, 00:04:45.900 --> 00:04:47.620 it's hard work, right? 00:04:47.620 --> 00:04:52.480 And we like to go with people who think like us, 00:04:52.560 --> 00:04:54.459 who act like us, who dress like us, 00:04:54.600 --> 00:04:56.019 who do the same things as us, 00:04:56.060 --> 00:04:57.519 because that feels a little bit safer 00:04:57.519 --> 00:04:59.840 and a little bit easier at times. 00:05:01.040 --> 00:05:05.000 And when we often hit up against the rub of diversity, 00:05:05.500 --> 00:05:08.519 what happens is we often end up looking down 00:05:08.519 --> 00:05:09.939 and judging each other. 00:05:10.199 --> 00:05:11.579 Don't we? Anyone done that? 00:05:12.600 --> 00:05:14.280 Okay, maybe I'm the only one. 00:05:15.360 --> 00:05:17.199 And so what we often tend to do that moment, 00:05:17.199 --> 00:05:19.939 we then retreat into our little tribe, 00:05:20.039 --> 00:05:21.819 whether it's politically, whether it's age, 00:05:21.939 --> 00:05:24.300 whether it's life stage, 00:05:24.319 --> 00:05:27.180 because it's much easier to be uniform than to be diverse. 00:05:28.000 --> 00:05:28.180 Right? 00:05:30.000 --> 00:05:32.079 And, you know, as you look out into the world 00:05:32.079 --> 00:05:35.620 and you see people love talking about diversity in our world, 00:05:35.680 --> 00:05:37.120 but actually the world is as polarized 00:05:37.120 --> 00:05:38.819 into our little tribes as ever. 00:05:40.680 --> 00:05:43.519 And this is actually one of the key issues 00:05:43.519 --> 00:05:45.000 for the church in Rome 00:05:45.000 --> 00:05:47.259 as we're looking in the book of Romans. 00:05:47.979 --> 00:05:50.579 Because the book of Romans was not primarily just written 00:05:50.579 --> 00:05:53.079 to give you some, like a nice theology textbook. 00:05:53.719 --> 00:05:58.240 It was written to help a polarized church 00:05:58.240 --> 00:06:00.199 split into different tribes 00:06:00.199 --> 00:06:02.759 of the minority Jewish Christians 00:06:02.759 --> 00:06:06.219 and the majority Gentile non-Jewish Christians. 00:06:07.500 --> 00:06:09.459 And it was written to show them 00:06:09.459 --> 00:06:12.439 that the gospel and the doctrine of what you believe 00:06:12.439 --> 00:06:15.920 can heal and unite even divided people. 00:06:15.920 --> 00:06:21.220 And it calls us and everyone 00:06:21.220 --> 00:06:23.939 to stop placing our identity in our ethnicity, 00:06:24.360 --> 00:06:25.759 even in our religiosity, 00:06:26.060 --> 00:06:27.420 in anything else. 00:06:29.920 --> 00:06:33.040 Because the only identity that we have now, 00:06:33.160 --> 00:06:34.580 if you are a believer in Christ, 00:06:34.660 --> 00:06:36.680 is a gospel identity in Jesus. 00:06:38.220 --> 00:06:40.060 And he's gone through the book of Romans 00:06:40.060 --> 00:06:41.460 showing how God has taken, 00:06:41.819 --> 00:06:43.280 if you have trusted in him, 00:06:43.360 --> 00:06:45.379 put your faith in Christ's death for you, 00:06:45.379 --> 00:06:47.439 he has taken you from being God's enemies 00:06:47.439 --> 00:06:48.779 to being his friends, 00:06:48.959 --> 00:06:50.459 to being outside the family, 00:06:50.560 --> 00:06:53.139 to being adopted into his multinational, 00:06:53.259 --> 00:06:54.819 multigenerational family. 00:06:56.920 --> 00:06:58.219 And it's all because of Jesus. 00:06:59.259 --> 00:07:00.860 And it's all the glory to him. 00:07:00.920 --> 00:07:02.279 It's all because of his mercy. 00:07:02.719 --> 00:07:04.120 And that's what we've been talking about, isn't it? 00:07:04.139 --> 00:07:05.420 By the mercies of God. 00:07:06.920 --> 00:07:09.620 And you know, a couple of weeks ago, 00:07:09.659 --> 00:07:11.500 we talked about in verse 1 how Paul has said, 00:07:11.659 --> 00:07:13.839 as a response to what God has done for us, 00:07:13.839 --> 00:07:16.039 therefore lay your lives down on the altar 00:07:16.039 --> 00:07:18.459 to live all of life as worship to him. 00:07:19.619 --> 00:07:21.859 And he's then said, we looked at last week, 00:07:22.819 --> 00:07:25.000 and he said, so in light of that, 00:07:25.119 --> 00:07:27.459 don't conform to the way everyone else is thinking, 00:07:27.620 --> 00:07:30.019 but get your minds renewed and transformed 00:07:30.019 --> 00:07:32.799 through the word of God, 00:07:32.959 --> 00:07:35.459 so that you live as this different kind of people 00:07:35.459 --> 00:07:36.579 that I've made you to be. 00:07:36.579 --> 00:07:40.039 So stop judging each other. 00:07:40.139 --> 00:07:41.319 Start loving each other. 00:07:41.399 --> 00:07:43.259 And this is where the rest of Romans 12 00:07:43.259 --> 00:07:47.519 is going to flow out in some very practical ways. 00:07:48.800 --> 00:07:49.659 Because you see, 00:07:50.039 --> 00:07:53.879 the God of the Bible is a Trinitarian God. 00:07:54.419 --> 00:07:56.339 He's a God of unity and diversity. 00:07:56.519 --> 00:07:57.879 One God, three persons. 00:07:58.419 --> 00:08:01.180 And we as his people are supposed to reflect that. 00:08:01.180 --> 00:08:06.439 So how, and here's the big question, 00:08:07.740 --> 00:08:11.860 how do you get unity without crushing diversity? 00:08:12.759 --> 00:08:14.560 Or how do you get diversity 00:08:14.560 --> 00:08:18.800 without creating tribal warfare and destroying unity? 00:08:20.180 --> 00:08:23.100 Well, Paul is going to go into this passage. 00:08:23.780 --> 00:08:24.960 And so if you've got it in front of you, 00:08:25.019 --> 00:08:26.420 we're just going to kind of check it out. 00:08:26.899 --> 00:08:28.800 Romans 12, starting at verse 3. 00:08:28.800 --> 00:08:32.360 He says, and I've got three things. 00:08:32.639 --> 00:08:33.860 He says, think straight. 00:08:34.159 --> 00:08:35.399 Then he's going to say, think team. 00:08:35.460 --> 00:08:36.519 And then think grace. 00:08:37.060 --> 00:08:37.299 Okay? 00:08:37.720 --> 00:08:38.340 So let's start. 00:08:38.460 --> 00:08:39.299 Think straight. 00:08:39.879 --> 00:08:41.000 He starts off saying, 00:08:42.240 --> 00:08:43.820 by the grace given to me, 00:08:43.940 --> 00:08:45.740 I say to everyone among you, 00:08:45.860 --> 00:08:49.039 not to think of himself or herself more highly 00:08:49.039 --> 00:08:50.159 than he ought to think, 00:08:50.220 --> 00:08:53.240 but to think with sober judgment or sober thinking 00:08:53.240 --> 00:08:54.680 is actually what it says in Greek, 00:08:55.080 --> 00:08:56.980 each according to the measure of faith 00:08:56.980 --> 00:08:58.340 that God has assigned. 00:08:59.500 --> 00:09:01.079 Do you notice he says to everyone, 00:09:01.240 --> 00:09:02.039 not just the minority, 00:09:02.179 --> 00:09:02.939 not just the majority, 00:09:03.079 --> 00:09:04.500 he says to everyone 00:09:04.500 --> 00:09:07.279 that the healing process 00:09:07.279 --> 00:09:08.819 is going to start in your community 00:09:08.819 --> 00:09:11.519 when you start renewing your thinking. 00:09:13.019 --> 00:09:15.179 He's saying you've got way too high 00:09:15.179 --> 00:09:16.159 a view of yourselves. 00:09:16.519 --> 00:09:17.899 You've got to sober up. 00:09:17.979 --> 00:09:19.019 You need sober thinking. 00:09:20.359 --> 00:09:22.079 Do you know, when you're drunk, 00:09:22.500 --> 00:09:23.879 what happens to you? 00:09:24.700 --> 00:09:27.700 You start thinking that a lamppost is your best friend. 00:09:28.200 --> 00:09:30.500 You lose touch with reality. 00:09:31.740 --> 00:09:33.539 Have you ever seen like X Factor 00:09:33.539 --> 00:09:34.439 or one of those programs 00:09:34.439 --> 00:09:36.559 where someone really believes 00:09:36.559 --> 00:09:38.259 that they are the next Taylor Swift, 00:09:38.259 --> 00:09:40.919 but they cannot sing to save their lives? 00:09:41.740 --> 00:09:43.960 It's just excruciating, right? 00:09:45.220 --> 00:09:47.679 But you know, I've seen so many marriages 00:09:47.679 --> 00:09:50.319 falling apart where both sides claim 00:09:50.319 --> 00:09:51.860 the other person is the problem. 00:09:53.439 --> 00:09:54.399 And Paul Tripp says, 00:09:54.779 --> 00:09:57.759 two perfectly righteous people 00:09:57.759 --> 00:10:00.059 in a terrible marriage, 00:10:00.220 --> 00:10:01.240 how does that happen? 00:10:01.240 --> 00:10:07.659 It happens when we make our thinking about us 00:10:07.659 --> 00:10:09.360 and our thinking about others 00:10:09.360 --> 00:10:12.159 more important than God's thinking about us 00:10:12.159 --> 00:10:14.240 and God's thinking about others. 00:10:15.659 --> 00:10:17.940 You see, tribalism happens 00:10:17.940 --> 00:10:19.720 when you get stinking thinking, 00:10:20.120 --> 00:10:22.539 which leads you to elevate yourself 00:10:22.539 --> 00:10:23.980 and diminish other people. 00:10:24.700 --> 00:10:25.680 That's what Paul's saying. 00:10:26.360 --> 00:10:27.740 You know, one translation of this verse 00:10:27.740 --> 00:10:28.299 actually says, 00:10:28.299 --> 00:10:31.100 take a sane view of yourself. 00:10:31.240 --> 00:10:34.039 Think straight. 00:10:35.039 --> 00:10:36.279 But how do you do that? 00:10:36.600 --> 00:10:37.379 How do you do that? 00:10:37.700 --> 00:10:38.159 Well, he says, 00:10:38.440 --> 00:10:41.060 according to the measure of faith 00:10:41.060 --> 00:10:42.740 that God has assigned. 00:10:43.840 --> 00:10:46.399 Well, the word measure 00:10:46.399 --> 00:10:48.180 can either mean, 00:10:48.879 --> 00:10:50.940 like if you take this and you go, 00:10:51.139 --> 00:10:53.720 okay, 1.5 meters, 00:10:54.019 --> 00:10:55.279 it can either be your height, 00:10:55.440 --> 00:10:56.120 what you measure, 00:10:56.120 --> 00:10:57.940 so in this case, your faith, 00:10:58.759 --> 00:11:00.519 okay, the amount of faith you've got, 00:11:00.519 --> 00:11:03.860 or it can actually be the tape measure itself. 00:11:05.360 --> 00:11:07.319 And so what I think Paul is saying is, 00:11:07.399 --> 00:11:08.240 he's saying the latter, 00:11:08.340 --> 00:11:10.879 he's saying there is a tape measure, 00:11:11.059 --> 00:11:13.960 there is a measure that God has assigned to you. 00:11:14.519 --> 00:11:17.860 That is, it's the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:11:18.000 --> 00:11:20.980 It's not your own view of your own faith 00:11:20.980 --> 00:11:22.480 because you've got stinking thinking, 00:11:22.579 --> 00:11:23.860 so how are you going to get a right assessment? 00:11:23.860 --> 00:11:24.779 He's saying, 00:11:24.779 --> 00:11:26.779 no, you've got to use God's assessment tool, 00:11:26.940 --> 00:11:28.139 which is his tape measure, 00:11:28.399 --> 00:11:29.200 which is Christ. 00:11:29.539 --> 00:11:30.960 And Christ is like, 00:11:31.080 --> 00:11:32.060 I can't go any higher. 00:11:32.300 --> 00:11:34.560 He's like 25 meters high. 00:11:34.779 --> 00:11:37.100 I mean, just take the image. 00:11:39.440 --> 00:11:42.039 But what does that do to us 00:11:42.039 --> 00:11:44.440 when we come against that measure? 00:11:44.440 --> 00:11:46.980 Well, the first thing it does, 00:11:47.040 --> 00:11:48.660 it actually humbles our pride. 00:11:49.600 --> 00:11:51.760 Because doesn't the world measure us 00:11:51.760 --> 00:11:53.980 according to our status, 00:11:54.420 --> 00:11:55.560 according to our achievements, 00:11:55.880 --> 00:11:57.740 according to how well you've done in your workplace, 00:11:57.900 --> 00:11:58.920 according to your appearance? 00:12:00.800 --> 00:12:02.740 You know, so if you've got a good job, 00:12:02.820 --> 00:12:04.080 say you're a lawyer or a doctor 00:12:04.080 --> 00:12:05.120 or something like that, 00:12:05.320 --> 00:12:06.580 then people might look at you and go, 00:12:06.640 --> 00:12:07.920 oh, you're about five meters. 00:12:07.919 --> 00:12:13.059 And when people say that about us, 00:12:13.079 --> 00:12:14.899 we can begin to own that for ourselves. 00:12:15.039 --> 00:12:15.479 Oh, we can. 00:12:15.899 --> 00:12:16.599 Pretty good. 00:12:18.579 --> 00:12:19.759 You know, even in church, 00:12:19.879 --> 00:12:21.099 you know, if you're the pastor 00:12:21.099 --> 00:12:22.500 or you're serving all the time, 00:12:22.599 --> 00:12:23.659 people can look at you and go, 00:12:23.759 --> 00:12:24.879 oh, five meters. 00:12:29.019 --> 00:12:31.399 But when you look at God's measure in the gospel, 00:12:36.899 --> 00:12:37.899 it's going to get dangerous. 00:12:37.919 --> 00:12:41.979 You see that actually God's measure in the gospel 00:12:41.979 --> 00:12:45.899 says that actually connected to that, 00:12:47.339 --> 00:12:48.639 if I can get this working. 00:12:52.219 --> 00:12:54.139 These things weren't made for sermon illustrations. 00:12:55.459 --> 00:12:58.159 He says, actually, you're more like that. 00:12:59.979 --> 00:13:01.299 You know, you're way smaller, 00:13:01.459 --> 00:13:02.259 you're way more fragile, 00:13:02.500 --> 00:13:04.219 you're way more sinful than you think you are. 00:13:05.939 --> 00:13:07.139 And that humbles us 00:13:07.139 --> 00:13:08.439 from looking down on other people. 00:13:10.319 --> 00:13:12.039 But then it doesn't just do that. 00:13:12.120 --> 00:13:13.120 It does a second thing. 00:13:13.980 --> 00:13:16.559 It also lifts up those who are crushed. 00:13:17.799 --> 00:13:18.379 Because, you know, 00:13:18.439 --> 00:13:20.000 some of us, society tells you, 00:13:20.120 --> 00:13:21.360 you're that small. 00:13:21.819 --> 00:13:24.139 Or you tell yourself you're that small. 00:13:24.879 --> 00:13:26.699 And what the gospel says, 00:13:26.860 --> 00:13:29.259 in Christ, because of his death for you, 00:13:29.319 --> 00:13:31.559 if you put your faith in him, 00:13:31.559 --> 00:13:36.099 you go from that to actually being like this, 00:13:36.159 --> 00:13:37.859 because your measure now is not yourself, 00:13:37.979 --> 00:13:38.639 it's Christ. 00:13:41.039 --> 00:13:42.399 So he says, 00:13:42.699 --> 00:13:44.699 your identity is no longer based on your performance 00:13:44.699 --> 00:13:45.939 and based on my performance, 00:13:46.039 --> 00:13:47.559 and my performance is 25 meters. 00:13:48.939 --> 00:13:50.759 You see, you're now no longer a loser, 00:13:50.899 --> 00:13:51.479 you're a saint. 00:13:51.619 --> 00:13:53.479 You're no longer an outsider and rejected. 00:13:53.480 --> 00:13:56.680 You are welcomed into the family of the king of kings. 00:13:56.779 --> 00:13:57.279 You belong. 00:13:58.960 --> 00:14:00.720 Measure yourself against that. 00:14:01.879 --> 00:14:03.460 So that means in Christ, 00:14:03.639 --> 00:14:05.899 a faithful pastor of 50 years 00:14:05.899 --> 00:14:09.600 has no more personal merit in the kingdom of God 00:14:09.600 --> 00:14:10.980 than somebody who's a new believer. 00:14:10.980 --> 00:14:13.620 Isn't that extraordinary? 00:14:14.440 --> 00:14:15.920 You don't get that out in the world, 00:14:16.019 --> 00:14:17.240 but you get that when you measure it 00:14:17.240 --> 00:14:18.139 against God's measure. 00:14:19.940 --> 00:14:21.259 And that means this. 00:14:22.779 --> 00:14:23.960 It means the same for you, 00:14:24.019 --> 00:14:25.139 and it means the same for the person 00:14:25.139 --> 00:14:27.139 sitting next to you if they're in Christ. 00:14:27.240 --> 00:14:28.480 And that means that grace 00:14:28.480 --> 00:14:31.379 is what brings unity to the church 00:14:31.379 --> 00:14:34.100 because grace levels the playing field of all of us. 00:14:34.600 --> 00:14:35.820 It doesn't matter whether you're black, 00:14:36.180 --> 00:14:38.500 white, green, yellow, pink. 00:14:38.740 --> 00:14:40.259 It doesn't matter whether you're an England fan 00:14:40.259 --> 00:14:41.240 or a Ukraine fan. 00:14:41.919 --> 00:14:43.439 It even doesn't matter about that. 00:14:43.899 --> 00:14:45.939 It doesn't matter whether you're married, 00:14:46.059 --> 00:14:46.899 whether you're single, 00:14:48.139 --> 00:14:49.240 whether you've got a great job, 00:14:49.340 --> 00:14:50.080 whether you're unemployed. 00:14:52.439 --> 00:14:54.179 Grace is the only gateway 00:14:54.179 --> 00:14:56.340 into the family of the kingdom of God. 00:14:58.240 --> 00:15:00.240 It's the only measure of your value 00:15:00.240 --> 00:15:02.759 that doesn't crush others or crush you. 00:15:04.139 --> 00:15:06.840 Grace brings unity to us. 00:15:06.840 --> 00:15:11.240 So what that means is, 00:15:11.399 --> 00:15:12.879 if Christ is our measure, 00:15:13.500 --> 00:15:15.620 and that grace that we have in him 00:15:15.620 --> 00:15:18.879 is the unity which unites us together as one, 00:15:19.280 --> 00:15:21.399 Paul is then going to go and say, 00:15:22.300 --> 00:15:25.180 since we neither elevate ourselves 00:15:25.180 --> 00:15:27.639 nor we just over-diminish ourselves, 00:15:28.080 --> 00:15:29.440 don't think too highly of ourselves, 00:15:29.560 --> 00:15:31.220 don't think too lowly of ourselves, 00:15:31.220 --> 00:15:33.279 then he's going to say, 00:15:33.379 --> 00:15:34.720 grace doesn't just bring unity. 00:15:35.379 --> 00:15:38.580 Grace also brings diversity too. 00:15:39.759 --> 00:15:41.000 And that's my second thing. 00:15:41.139 --> 00:15:42.680 So think straight. 00:15:43.399 --> 00:15:46.940 Think team or body is the next thing. 00:15:47.300 --> 00:15:48.480 For he says in verse four, 00:15:49.139 --> 00:15:49.680 he says, 00:15:49.679 --> 00:16:09.919 What's he saying here? 00:16:10.079 --> 00:16:12.319 It's actually not a difficult point that he's making. 00:16:12.319 --> 00:16:13.539 He's actually saying, 00:16:14.039 --> 00:16:15.819 instead of looking down on each other 00:16:15.819 --> 00:16:16.839 and judging each other, 00:16:16.840 --> 00:16:19.560 there's a shift of direction to see yourself 00:16:19.560 --> 00:16:20.500 as a team, 00:16:20.620 --> 00:16:21.379 as a body, 00:16:21.680 --> 00:16:22.759 united together. 00:16:23.460 --> 00:16:24.820 And there's three things about this. 00:16:24.899 --> 00:16:25.379 One is, yes, 00:16:25.500 --> 00:16:26.420 you are unified. 00:16:27.700 --> 00:16:28.800 You are unified. 00:16:29.360 --> 00:16:29.759 That's what he says. 00:16:29.800 --> 00:16:31.000 We're one body. 00:16:31.680 --> 00:16:33.080 Okay, let me emphasize that again. 00:16:33.399 --> 00:16:35.019 Everyone who trusts in Christ, 00:16:35.519 --> 00:16:37.259 you're united to him vertically 00:16:37.259 --> 00:16:39.240 and you're united to each other 00:16:39.240 --> 00:16:41.240 horizontally in his church family. 00:16:41.240 --> 00:16:46.659 So if your hand slaps your face, 00:16:47.580 --> 00:16:48.639 who suffers? 00:16:51.019 --> 00:16:51.860 You do. 00:16:52.740 --> 00:16:55.039 If somebody looks down, 00:16:55.240 --> 00:16:57.500 if you look down on a brother or sister 00:16:57.500 --> 00:16:59.740 in the body of Christ 00:16:59.740 --> 00:17:01.919 and you just either withdraw to your own circle, 00:17:02.279 --> 00:17:04.019 social circle and complain, 00:17:04.019 --> 00:17:05.160 who suffers? 00:17:07.680 --> 00:17:08.680 We do. 00:17:09.000 --> 00:17:09.759 You do. 00:17:10.140 --> 00:17:11.099 All of us do. 00:17:11.980 --> 00:17:13.400 Do you see the image that he's saying? 00:17:14.240 --> 00:17:15.880 You are not an independent, 00:17:16.079 --> 00:17:16.200 like, 00:17:16.559 --> 00:17:17.900 we're not just an individual, 00:17:18.039 --> 00:17:18.140 like, 00:17:18.200 --> 00:17:19.079 bunch of little toes 00:17:19.079 --> 00:17:20.420 that come together on a Sunday. 00:17:20.559 --> 00:17:20.940 It's one toes 00:17:20.940 --> 00:17:22.359 and then we go and amputate ourselves 00:17:22.359 --> 00:17:23.640 for the rest of the week. 00:17:25.079 --> 00:17:25.940 That's painful. 00:17:26.960 --> 00:17:28.099 That's going to die. 00:17:30.339 --> 00:17:31.799 That's actually one of the reasons, 00:17:31.900 --> 00:17:33.000 and Kevin mentioned it earlier, 00:17:33.000 --> 00:17:35.099 we want to move away from live streaming 00:17:35.099 --> 00:17:36.980 to actually in-person gathering. 00:17:37.860 --> 00:17:40.640 Because church isn't just sitting on your sofa 00:17:40.640 --> 00:17:42.220 and just watching a message. 00:17:42.460 --> 00:17:43.380 Church is living, 00:17:43.640 --> 00:17:45.880 breathing a body together. 00:17:47.299 --> 00:17:49.240 Your absence affects me 00:17:49.240 --> 00:17:51.440 just as your presence, 00:17:51.940 --> 00:17:54.000 your physical presence affects me. 00:17:55.000 --> 00:17:55.799 That's amazing. 00:17:56.620 --> 00:17:56.880 You know, 00:17:56.960 --> 00:17:58.299 it's like if there's two people in a room, 00:17:58.360 --> 00:17:59.380 if there's a hundred people in a room, 00:17:59.440 --> 00:18:00.279 it makes a difference to you, 00:18:00.319 --> 00:18:00.680 doesn't it? 00:18:00.680 --> 00:18:02.900 And actually, 00:18:03.120 --> 00:18:05.220 if you think about it, 00:18:06.920 --> 00:18:09.980 church is then intrinsic to your identity. 00:18:10.600 --> 00:18:12.580 It's intrinsic to who you are. 00:18:13.519 --> 00:18:15.440 So live and make decisions 00:18:15.440 --> 00:18:17.940 as if your church family 00:18:17.940 --> 00:18:19.380 is not an optional extra, 00:18:19.779 --> 00:18:21.140 but actually it's intrinsic 00:18:21.140 --> 00:18:24.080 to who you are as a human being. 00:18:24.079 --> 00:18:26.740 And so, 00:18:27.419 --> 00:18:29.039 that means like things like CGs, 00:18:29.579 --> 00:18:30.399 family groups, 00:18:30.500 --> 00:18:31.159 if you're a family 00:18:31.159 --> 00:18:32.039 and you're struggling to get in, 00:18:32.099 --> 00:18:32.859 come and see me 00:18:32.859 --> 00:18:34.159 so you can actually get connected. 00:18:35.299 --> 00:18:36.319 We're unified, 00:18:36.539 --> 00:18:38.099 but we're also connected with that, 00:18:38.259 --> 00:18:40.339 we're interdependent. 00:18:42.240 --> 00:18:42.859 And so, 00:18:43.039 --> 00:18:44.419 that's kind of the same point 00:18:44.419 --> 00:18:45.019 that I was making. 00:18:45.119 --> 00:18:46.439 As we're interdependent, 00:18:46.480 --> 00:18:47.399 what that means is, 00:18:47.839 --> 00:18:49.299 when you come together 00:18:49.299 --> 00:18:51.059 and I hear you singing, 00:18:51.059 --> 00:18:54.059 that encourages my heart. 00:18:55.000 --> 00:18:56.779 When you pray for me, 00:18:56.899 --> 00:18:58.619 that encourages me. 00:18:59.519 --> 00:18:59.779 Do you know, 00:18:59.859 --> 00:19:02.220 you can't give hugs by live stream, 00:19:03.419 --> 00:19:05.519 but you can do that with each other. 00:19:06.639 --> 00:19:07.700 That is actually, 00:19:08.000 --> 00:19:09.200 when you welcome me, 00:19:09.319 --> 00:19:11.919 I experience the love of Christ through you. 00:19:13.700 --> 00:19:15.200 Do you see how it works? 00:19:15.740 --> 00:19:17.019 And I know how hard this is. 00:19:17.059 --> 00:19:18.019 I've got two kids, 00:19:18.619 --> 00:19:19.399 like young kids, 00:19:19.400 --> 00:19:20.660 and I know coming on Sunday, 00:19:20.759 --> 00:19:21.140 coming to see, 00:19:21.200 --> 00:19:22.259 it's hard work. 00:19:22.880 --> 00:19:23.880 But let me tell you, 00:19:24.140 --> 00:19:26.060 if you know that this is who you are, 00:19:27.100 --> 00:19:28.200 you're going to get here 00:19:28.200 --> 00:19:29.840 and we're going to help you get here 00:19:29.840 --> 00:19:31.019 whatever way possible. 00:19:35.040 --> 00:19:37.060 So we're unified, 00:19:37.820 --> 00:19:39.220 we're interdependent, 00:19:39.980 --> 00:19:41.380 but we're also diverse. 00:19:43.740 --> 00:19:45.720 And by the way, 00:19:46.360 --> 00:19:47.880 that also means that actually, 00:19:47.880 --> 00:19:50.340 you matter, 00:19:51.220 --> 00:19:51.560 right? 00:19:51.960 --> 00:19:53.020 You matter when you're here. 00:19:53.040 --> 00:19:54.380 So don't just rock up for the sermon 00:19:54.380 --> 00:19:55.920 and then just rush out afterwards. 00:19:56.080 --> 00:19:58.680 Actually come to be with your family. 00:19:59.900 --> 00:20:01.540 But we are diverse as well. 00:20:01.840 --> 00:20:02.600 And he says this, 00:20:02.660 --> 00:20:03.060 he says, 00:20:03.240 --> 00:20:03.960 we're not just unified, 00:20:04.080 --> 00:20:04.960 we're not just interdependent, 00:20:05.040 --> 00:20:05.620 we're diverse. 00:20:05.920 --> 00:20:06.120 He says, 00:20:06.200 --> 00:20:08.300 having gifts that differ 00:20:08.300 --> 00:20:10.620 according to the grace given to us. 00:20:10.619 --> 00:20:14.959 And I just want to unpack this a little bit. 00:20:16.379 --> 00:20:18.459 I'm just going to put this under another title, 00:20:18.579 --> 00:20:19.879 which is Think Grace. 00:20:20.259 --> 00:20:20.439 Okay? 00:20:20.859 --> 00:20:21.519 Think Grace. 00:20:21.679 --> 00:20:22.699 So think straight, 00:20:23.079 --> 00:20:23.959 think team, 00:20:24.379 --> 00:20:25.179 think grace. 00:20:25.979 --> 00:20:26.319 Okay. 00:20:27.459 --> 00:20:27.839 He says, 00:20:27.959 --> 00:20:30.679 God has given us different gifts. 00:20:31.299 --> 00:20:32.000 And he says, 00:20:32.539 --> 00:20:33.179 they're grace. 00:20:33.359 --> 00:20:34.899 It's the word charismata, 00:20:35.000 --> 00:20:36.019 which comes from the word charis, 00:20:36.059 --> 00:20:37.000 which is the word for grace. 00:20:37.000 --> 00:20:38.799 It's the same root family. 00:20:39.299 --> 00:20:41.619 And grace is not just for salvation. 00:20:42.220 --> 00:20:44.440 Grace is here for blessing other people. 00:20:46.059 --> 00:20:46.299 You know, 00:20:46.460 --> 00:20:50.240 our gifts are grace to us from God 00:20:50.240 --> 00:20:55.700 and grace from God to others through us. 00:20:56.440 --> 00:20:59.099 They're grace to us and grace through us. 00:21:00.779 --> 00:21:01.339 You see, 00:21:01.519 --> 00:21:04.440 you won't get the full extent of the mercies of God 00:21:04.440 --> 00:21:06.880 by just sitting reading your Bible in your room. 00:21:07.859 --> 00:21:09.640 Reading a Bible is really important. 00:21:09.799 --> 00:21:10.319 It's crucial. 00:21:11.019 --> 00:21:12.220 But it's not enough. 00:21:12.619 --> 00:21:15.380 Because God's design that is alongside his word, 00:21:15.500 --> 00:21:17.960 we experience grace through each other. 00:21:21.400 --> 00:21:22.759 And it's not about us. 00:21:22.960 --> 00:21:24.039 It's not so we get exalted. 00:21:24.200 --> 00:21:25.680 So Jesus gets the glory 00:21:25.680 --> 00:21:28.299 and others experience his goodness through us. 00:21:29.099 --> 00:21:29.740 And so he says, 00:21:30.059 --> 00:21:32.259 use whatever gifts God has given you 00:21:32.259 --> 00:21:33.559 for others. 00:21:34.599 --> 00:21:34.859 You see, 00:21:34.859 --> 00:21:36.039 it's no longer focused on yourself. 00:21:36.160 --> 00:21:36.839 It's for others. 00:21:37.000 --> 00:21:38.819 Now, 00:21:38.880 --> 00:21:41.160 some people get really hung up on that word gift 00:21:41.160 --> 00:21:41.859 because we go, 00:21:41.940 --> 00:21:42.039 oh, 00:21:42.079 --> 00:21:43.220 I don't know what my gifts are. 00:21:43.559 --> 00:21:45.160 I'm not sure I've got any gifts. 00:21:45.619 --> 00:21:46.400 Things like that. 00:21:46.740 --> 00:21:47.279 And Paul would say, 00:21:47.339 --> 00:21:47.420 hey, 00:21:47.440 --> 00:21:48.619 that's not the point. 00:21:49.640 --> 00:21:50.859 This gift list, 00:21:51.059 --> 00:21:51.779 he's basically saying, 00:21:51.920 --> 00:21:53.779 use whatever God has given you. 00:21:55.160 --> 00:21:56.119 And he's just giving you, 00:21:56.259 --> 00:21:56.460 actually, 00:21:56.579 --> 00:21:58.700 and this is not an exhaustive list. 00:21:58.819 --> 00:22:00.420 It's an example list 00:22:00.420 --> 00:22:02.059 of some things that God has given 00:22:02.059 --> 00:22:03.220 to the church in Rome. 00:22:04.220 --> 00:22:05.399 And the reason we know that 00:22:05.399 --> 00:22:06.679 is because there's two other lists 00:22:06.679 --> 00:22:08.159 in the New Testament of gifts 00:22:08.159 --> 00:22:09.619 and none of them are exactly the same. 00:22:10.579 --> 00:22:11.460 These are examples. 00:22:12.559 --> 00:22:13.919 And one of the examples of that 00:22:13.919 --> 00:22:15.419 is to show that diverse grace 00:22:15.419 --> 00:22:17.480 moves us out of tribal thinking, 00:22:18.220 --> 00:22:19.559 individualistic thinking, 00:22:19.559 --> 00:22:21.519 and moves us to unified 00:22:21.519 --> 00:22:23.599 serving and blessing each other 00:22:23.599 --> 00:22:24.759 kind of thinking. 00:22:27.059 --> 00:22:27.379 You know, 00:22:27.480 --> 00:22:28.859 and if you're going, 00:22:28.960 --> 00:22:29.720 I don't know what my gifts are, 00:22:29.759 --> 00:22:32.259 just try stuff out of serving other people 00:22:32.259 --> 00:22:34.379 and you'll find where your sweet spot is 00:22:34.379 --> 00:22:35.679 as you learn how to serve. 00:22:36.579 --> 00:22:36.839 You know, 00:22:36.859 --> 00:22:38.960 and he mentions like practical things. 00:22:39.059 --> 00:22:40.200 He calls serving here 00:22:40.200 --> 00:22:41.720 and that's a very practical thing 00:22:41.720 --> 00:22:43.200 like setting up the sound system, 00:22:43.299 --> 00:22:44.039 those kind of things. 00:22:44.519 --> 00:22:45.960 He mentions relational stuff, 00:22:46.059 --> 00:22:47.299 the exhortation, 00:22:47.299 --> 00:22:48.539 like encouraging, 00:22:48.779 --> 00:22:49.180 listening, 00:22:49.379 --> 00:22:50.019 consoling, 00:22:50.180 --> 00:22:51.059 comforting people. 00:22:52.339 --> 00:22:53.319 But he's using, 00:22:53.460 --> 00:22:54.919 he uses a body analogy. 00:22:55.680 --> 00:22:56.000 Okay? 00:22:56.079 --> 00:22:56.960 We've talked about that. 00:22:57.419 --> 00:22:58.419 But I think many of us 00:22:58.419 --> 00:22:59.379 are actually very familiar 00:22:59.379 --> 00:23:00.839 with the body analogy. 00:23:00.960 --> 00:23:02.319 So I want to change the analogy. 00:23:02.700 --> 00:23:02.960 Okay? 00:23:03.680 --> 00:23:04.940 It's not a perfect analogy. 00:23:06.299 --> 00:23:08.200 But I want to say 00:23:08.200 --> 00:23:09.419 that Christian community 00:23:09.419 --> 00:23:11.139 is actually making 00:23:11.139 --> 00:23:12.379 a beautiful, 00:23:12.599 --> 00:23:13.919 delicious chocolate cake. 00:23:15.579 --> 00:23:16.339 This one, 00:23:16.339 --> 00:23:17.879 if we can have it on the screen, 00:23:18.559 --> 00:23:20.359 this one is gluten-free for me. 00:23:21.740 --> 00:23:24.339 But it's meant to be 00:23:24.339 --> 00:23:26.679 this mouth-watering demonstration 00:23:26.679 --> 00:23:28.339 of the goodness and glory of God 00:23:28.339 --> 00:23:29.379 so that others can see 00:23:29.379 --> 00:23:30.399 and experience it. 00:23:31.720 --> 00:23:32.159 Now, 00:23:32.299 --> 00:23:32.899 and what he does, 00:23:32.980 --> 00:23:35.399 he privileges you and me 00:23:35.399 --> 00:23:36.240 and every believer 00:23:36.240 --> 00:23:38.319 of being a partner 00:23:38.319 --> 00:23:39.279 in him making 00:23:39.279 --> 00:23:40.959 and creating this masterpiece. 00:23:41.480 --> 00:23:42.259 He doesn't have to. 00:23:43.179 --> 00:23:44.519 But he privileges us 00:23:44.519 --> 00:23:45.700 with the opportunity to. 00:23:46.879 --> 00:23:47.339 And so, 00:23:48.099 --> 00:23:49.619 what do you need 00:23:49.619 --> 00:23:52.420 when you make a chocolate cake? 00:23:53.319 --> 00:23:54.720 I've got a few different ingredients. 00:23:57.680 --> 00:23:58.119 Okay. 00:24:00.019 --> 00:24:00.900 I've got some, 00:24:01.139 --> 00:24:02.480 I'm actually missing some ingredients. 00:24:02.480 --> 00:24:02.620 ingredients. 00:24:03.099 --> 00:24:04.000 And by the way, 00:24:04.920 --> 00:24:05.480 you know when you have 00:24:05.480 --> 00:24:06.160 different ingredients 00:24:06.160 --> 00:24:06.839 in a cake, 00:24:06.880 --> 00:24:07.640 if you miss some out, 00:24:07.680 --> 00:24:08.160 what happens? 00:24:10.700 --> 00:24:11.720 It's not good, right? 00:24:12.220 --> 00:24:13.700 They're kind of interdependent, 00:24:13.759 --> 00:24:14.039 right? 00:24:14.160 --> 00:24:15.380 To make something unified, 00:24:15.620 --> 00:24:15.880 right? 00:24:17.480 --> 00:24:17.839 Well, 00:24:18.099 --> 00:24:18.960 I'm actually missing 00:24:18.960 --> 00:24:19.640 cocoa powder 00:24:19.640 --> 00:24:20.860 and I'm missing 00:24:20.860 --> 00:24:21.579 vegetable oil, 00:24:21.660 --> 00:24:22.680 but let's pretend 00:24:22.680 --> 00:24:23.339 that we have them. 00:24:23.480 --> 00:24:23.620 Okay, 00:24:23.759 --> 00:24:24.259 let me give you, 00:24:24.319 --> 00:24:25.099 that's some baking powder 00:24:25.099 --> 00:24:25.839 for you. 00:24:28.039 --> 00:24:28.860 Can I give you, 00:24:29.120 --> 00:24:29.620 there's an egg, 00:24:29.700 --> 00:24:30.599 hold it very carefully, 00:24:30.599 --> 00:24:31.199 okay? 00:24:33.719 --> 00:24:34.159 Donna, 00:24:34.299 --> 00:24:35.000 can I give you, 00:24:35.459 --> 00:24:36.199 that's some sugar. 00:24:37.240 --> 00:24:37.559 More woolly, 00:24:37.639 --> 00:24:38.279 there's some flour 00:24:38.279 --> 00:24:38.899 for you. 00:24:40.039 --> 00:24:40.480 Now, 00:24:41.059 --> 00:24:43.159 did you pay for that? 00:24:45.459 --> 00:24:46.599 Did you earn it? 00:24:48.159 --> 00:24:49.139 What is it? 00:24:49.939 --> 00:24:50.839 It's a gift. 00:24:51.480 --> 00:24:52.240 It's a gift 00:24:52.240 --> 00:24:53.139 of pure grace 00:24:53.139 --> 00:24:53.639 to you. 00:24:54.959 --> 00:24:55.399 Okay? 00:24:56.039 --> 00:24:57.279 And as you got 00:24:57.279 --> 00:24:58.000 the gift, 00:24:58.000 --> 00:25:03.640 you got to go, 00:25:03.779 --> 00:25:04.000 hmm, 00:25:04.380 --> 00:25:05.079 why have I got 00:25:05.079 --> 00:25:05.619 this gift? 00:25:06.660 --> 00:25:07.079 You see, 00:25:07.200 --> 00:25:07.880 you can lead 00:25:07.880 --> 00:25:08.700 a Bible study, 00:25:09.619 --> 00:25:10.700 you can give 00:25:10.700 --> 00:25:11.839 people lifts 00:25:11.839 --> 00:25:12.740 to help others 00:25:12.740 --> 00:25:13.539 and that's grace. 00:25:14.900 --> 00:25:15.660 Do you know that? 00:25:17.059 --> 00:25:17.819 You can work 00:25:17.819 --> 00:25:18.319 at your gifts, 00:25:18.420 --> 00:25:18.920 you can develop 00:25:18.920 --> 00:25:19.339 your gifts, 00:25:19.440 --> 00:25:20.099 but ultimately 00:25:20.099 --> 00:25:21.519 it's all a gift. 00:25:22.420 --> 00:25:22.880 That's why 00:25:22.880 --> 00:25:23.619 it's called a gift. 00:25:24.920 --> 00:25:25.480 And it's glory 00:25:25.480 --> 00:25:25.859 to him, 00:25:25.859 --> 00:25:26.439 it's grace 00:25:26.439 --> 00:25:27.799 which is spring-loaded 00:25:27.799 --> 00:25:28.419 for the worship 00:25:28.419 --> 00:25:28.899 of Jesus. 00:25:29.479 --> 00:25:30.019 That's what 00:25:30.019 --> 00:25:30.819 your gift is. 00:25:32.240 --> 00:25:33.279 But don't we 00:25:33.279 --> 00:25:34.679 often then turn 00:25:34.679 --> 00:25:35.359 what is meant 00:25:35.359 --> 00:25:35.979 to be given 00:25:35.979 --> 00:25:36.719 for the worship 00:25:36.719 --> 00:25:37.259 of Jesus 00:25:37.259 --> 00:25:38.199 into like 00:25:38.199 --> 00:25:39.779 a comparison thing? 00:25:40.539 --> 00:25:40.919 So like 00:25:40.919 --> 00:25:41.740 the eggs, 00:25:42.139 --> 00:25:42.839 look over 00:25:42.839 --> 00:25:44.659 at the other eggs 00:25:44.659 --> 00:25:45.119 and say, 00:25:45.240 --> 00:25:45.879 I'm not like 00:25:45.879 --> 00:25:46.459 other eggs. 00:25:47.119 --> 00:25:48.019 I'm a double yoker. 00:25:49.159 --> 00:25:49.699 You know, 00:25:49.740 --> 00:25:50.459 I got talent. 00:25:50.799 --> 00:25:51.279 I'm not like 00:25:51.279 --> 00:25:52.000 those other ones. 00:25:52.079 --> 00:25:52.179 You know, 00:25:52.219 --> 00:25:53.159 I shouldn't have 00:25:53.159 --> 00:25:53.659 to put up 00:25:53.659 --> 00:25:54.099 with guys 00:25:54.099 --> 00:25:54.459 who are not 00:25:54.459 --> 00:25:55.719 quite as good 00:25:55.719 --> 00:25:56.699 musicians as me 00:25:56.699 --> 00:25:57.359 or quite as 00:25:57.359 --> 00:25:58.119 competent at 00:25:58.119 --> 00:25:58.879 leading Bible study 00:25:58.879 --> 00:25:59.299 as me. 00:26:00.819 --> 00:26:01.859 And then the flower, 00:26:02.740 --> 00:26:03.079 actually no, 00:26:03.139 --> 00:26:03.799 let's not do the flower. 00:26:03.959 --> 00:26:04.799 The vegetable oil, 00:26:04.879 --> 00:26:05.719 which I forgot to bring, 00:26:05.859 --> 00:26:06.159 but hey, 00:26:06.379 --> 00:26:07.379 the vegetable oil 00:26:07.379 --> 00:26:08.439 looks over at the sugar 00:26:08.439 --> 00:26:10.819 and says, 00:26:10.959 --> 00:26:12.939 you're so sweet. 00:26:14.319 --> 00:26:14.679 You know, 00:26:14.719 --> 00:26:15.619 everybody loves you. 00:26:16.480 --> 00:26:17.419 Everybody just talks 00:26:17.419 --> 00:26:18.539 about you all the time. 00:26:19.099 --> 00:26:20.099 But I'm just greasy. 00:26:20.099 --> 00:26:24.039 Nobody notices me. 00:26:24.459 --> 00:26:25.179 I don't get any 00:26:25.179 --> 00:26:26.500 appreciation around here. 00:26:26.559 --> 00:26:27.639 Maybe what's the point 00:26:27.639 --> 00:26:28.879 in me kind of 00:26:28.879 --> 00:26:30.059 coming into this? 00:26:30.219 --> 00:26:30.879 Because what have I 00:26:30.879 --> 00:26:31.259 got to offer? 00:26:31.299 --> 00:26:32.139 No one will miss me. 00:26:33.519 --> 00:26:35.000 And then the baking powder 00:26:35.000 --> 00:26:35.839 pipes up 00:26:35.839 --> 00:26:37.039 and says to the vegetable oil 00:26:37.039 --> 00:26:37.659 and says, 00:26:37.839 --> 00:26:39.359 it's all right for you. 00:26:40.099 --> 00:26:41.639 They get half a cup of you. 00:26:42.379 --> 00:26:43.099 But they only get 00:26:43.099 --> 00:26:44.279 like a half a teaspoon 00:26:44.279 --> 00:26:45.399 kind of girl for me. 00:26:46.519 --> 00:26:47.480 And have you tried 00:26:47.480 --> 00:26:48.299 tasting me? 00:26:48.299 --> 00:26:53.740 I'm not anything special. 00:26:54.960 --> 00:26:56.559 And you see what's happening 00:26:56.559 --> 00:26:58.359 as we do all of this. 00:26:59.500 --> 00:27:01.279 Where does the focus come? 00:27:02.799 --> 00:27:03.279 You see, 00:27:03.359 --> 00:27:04.159 when we lose, 00:27:04.460 --> 00:27:05.619 we start comparing 00:27:05.619 --> 00:27:06.919 and wishing our gifts away 00:27:06.919 --> 00:27:07.139 and going, 00:27:07.240 --> 00:27:07.419 oh, 00:27:07.460 --> 00:27:08.019 they've got something 00:27:08.019 --> 00:27:08.480 better than me 00:27:08.480 --> 00:27:09.299 or I'm better than them. 00:27:09.480 --> 00:27:10.740 When we start doing that, 00:27:10.980 --> 00:27:12.059 our eyes go off 00:27:12.059 --> 00:27:13.059 the worship of Jesus 00:27:13.059 --> 00:27:14.720 and they begin to focus on 00:27:14.720 --> 00:27:16.539 ourselves. 00:27:17.539 --> 00:27:17.980 Right? 00:27:18.299 --> 00:27:19.500 Anyone done that? 00:27:21.480 --> 00:27:22.159 Man, 00:27:22.220 --> 00:27:23.299 I do this all the time. 00:27:24.659 --> 00:27:25.720 And what happens is 00:27:25.720 --> 00:27:26.460 our thinking 00:27:26.460 --> 00:27:27.519 becomes stinking 00:27:27.519 --> 00:27:30.299 because we either 00:27:30.299 --> 00:27:31.279 elevate or diminish 00:27:31.279 --> 00:27:32.240 ourselves in ways 00:27:32.240 --> 00:27:33.539 that we need renewal 00:27:33.539 --> 00:27:34.720 of the gospel 00:27:34.720 --> 00:27:36.279 to transform our minds 00:27:36.279 --> 00:27:37.059 against the measure 00:27:37.059 --> 00:27:37.759 of God. 00:27:39.159 --> 00:27:40.359 And we forget 00:27:40.359 --> 00:27:41.559 the incredible grace 00:27:41.559 --> 00:27:42.599 that God has entrusted 00:27:42.599 --> 00:27:43.339 us with 00:27:43.339 --> 00:27:46.379 because it's not about us. 00:27:46.379 --> 00:27:47.119 It's about the worship 00:27:47.119 --> 00:27:47.639 of Jesus, 00:27:47.640 --> 00:27:47.740 Jesus, 00:27:47.840 --> 00:27:48.060 right? 00:27:49.140 --> 00:27:49.820 And you know, 00:27:49.960 --> 00:27:52.300 so before you come 00:27:52.300 --> 00:27:52.860 and serve, 00:27:53.000 --> 00:27:53.759 before you come 00:27:53.759 --> 00:27:54.920 and whatever you do 00:27:54.920 --> 00:27:56.060 for somebody else, 00:27:56.320 --> 00:27:57.820 I encourage you, 00:27:58.860 --> 00:27:59.259 stop. 00:27:59.320 --> 00:28:00.000 I used to do this 00:28:00.000 --> 00:28:00.740 when I had to clean 00:28:00.740 --> 00:28:01.780 toilets for somebody. 00:28:02.060 --> 00:28:02.740 I used to stop 00:28:02.740 --> 00:28:02.940 and say, 00:28:03.020 --> 00:28:03.400 thank you, 00:28:03.440 --> 00:28:03.759 Jesus, 00:28:04.220 --> 00:28:05.440 that I get the privilege 00:28:05.440 --> 00:28:06.380 of serving you. 00:28:06.380 --> 00:28:07.140 I pray this would be 00:28:07.140 --> 00:28:08.420 worship to you today. 00:28:09.880 --> 00:28:11.460 Every time do that 00:28:11.460 --> 00:28:12.580 because your heart 00:28:12.580 --> 00:28:13.140 is going to get 00:28:13.140 --> 00:28:13.940 tempted 00:28:13.940 --> 00:28:15.800 to start comparing. 00:28:16.740 --> 00:28:17.140 Remember, 00:28:17.260 --> 00:28:17.860 it's gift. 00:28:18.560 --> 00:28:18.960 Worship. 00:28:20.640 --> 00:28:21.540 Don't compare. 00:28:23.220 --> 00:28:24.160 And then third thing, 00:28:24.280 --> 00:28:25.740 check your own heart. 00:28:27.280 --> 00:28:27.700 You see, 00:28:27.760 --> 00:28:28.460 what he says here 00:28:28.460 --> 00:28:29.220 with some of these gifts, 00:28:29.320 --> 00:28:29.680 he says, 00:28:29.680 --> 00:28:31.140 the one who contributes, 00:28:31.779 --> 00:28:32.860 do it in generosity, 00:28:33.779 --> 00:28:34.920 the one who leads 00:28:34.920 --> 00:28:35.840 with zeal, 00:28:36.299 --> 00:28:37.360 the one who with acts 00:28:37.360 --> 00:28:38.100 of mercy, 00:28:38.460 --> 00:28:39.420 with cheerfulness. 00:28:40.779 --> 00:28:41.220 Guys, 00:28:41.299 --> 00:28:41.740 would you like to 00:28:41.740 --> 00:28:43.039 just kind of come up? 00:28:43.440 --> 00:28:43.799 But Donna, 00:28:43.900 --> 00:28:44.960 I'd like you to come up 00:28:44.960 --> 00:28:48.080 really cheerfully. 00:28:48.079 --> 00:28:51.079 And Mawali, 00:28:52.039 --> 00:28:53.919 I'd like you to just 00:28:53.919 --> 00:28:55.359 come up really reluctantly. 00:28:57.220 --> 00:28:57.879 Because, you know, 00:28:57.980 --> 00:28:58.720 if you can do it 00:28:58.720 --> 00:28:59.179 with zeal, 00:28:59.240 --> 00:29:00.399 then why is he telling you that? 00:29:00.460 --> 00:29:01.339 Because you can do it 00:29:01.339 --> 00:29:02.319 reluctantly, right? 00:29:03.259 --> 00:29:05.319 Or you can contribute 00:29:05.319 --> 00:29:06.720 but stingily, right? 00:29:07.339 --> 00:29:10.079 Or you can have compassion 00:29:10.079 --> 00:29:11.399 and listen and care for people 00:29:11.399 --> 00:29:12.319 but just do it out of 00:29:12.319 --> 00:29:13.240 this sense of guilt 00:29:13.240 --> 00:29:14.019 and burden 00:29:14.019 --> 00:29:14.939 and like, oh. 00:29:15.419 --> 00:29:15.699 So, 00:29:16.259 --> 00:29:16.939 could you come up, 00:29:17.079 --> 00:29:17.339 please? 00:29:17.339 --> 00:29:19.299 And can I have the others 00:29:19.299 --> 00:29:20.059 come up as well? 00:29:24.559 --> 00:29:25.079 It's okay, 00:29:25.159 --> 00:29:25.939 it's not too far. 00:29:26.319 --> 00:29:27.240 It's, uh... 00:29:27.240 --> 00:29:28.139 Yes! 00:29:28.599 --> 00:29:28.779 Woo! 00:29:33.139 --> 00:29:33.579 Thank you. 00:29:33.659 --> 00:29:34.099 Do you want to put it 00:29:34.099 --> 00:29:34.379 in the bowl? 00:29:35.279 --> 00:29:35.899 You can open it. 00:29:36.619 --> 00:29:37.399 You can actually put it in. 00:29:38.319 --> 00:29:38.919 Come up, yeah. 00:29:43.599 --> 00:29:43.919 Okay. 00:29:44.919 --> 00:29:45.779 Now the egg's the one 00:29:45.779 --> 00:29:46.179 we're going to have 00:29:46.179 --> 00:29:46.899 to be careful with. 00:29:47.339 --> 00:29:47.619 Okay. 00:29:49.759 --> 00:29:50.119 Ooh! 00:29:51.539 --> 00:29:52.899 Too much watching Jamie Oliver. 00:29:53.379 --> 00:29:53.779 There you go. 00:29:54.759 --> 00:29:55.039 Okay. 00:29:55.559 --> 00:29:55.879 Yeah. 00:29:56.679 --> 00:29:57.519 I put a little bit in. 00:29:58.659 --> 00:29:59.059 Okay. 00:29:59.539 --> 00:29:59.819 Mauli. 00:30:01.240 --> 00:30:01.839 Come on, Mauli. 00:30:01.939 --> 00:30:02.459 You can do it. 00:30:02.539 --> 00:30:03.019 You can do it. 00:30:03.079 --> 00:30:03.379 Come on. 00:30:03.859 --> 00:30:04.359 Put it in. 00:30:04.579 --> 00:30:04.859 Great. 00:30:07.439 --> 00:30:07.959 Thank you. 00:30:08.119 --> 00:30:08.899 You guys can... 00:30:08.899 --> 00:30:09.779 Actually, let me take the flower 00:30:09.779 --> 00:30:11.439 unless you want it. 00:30:11.779 --> 00:30:12.099 Thank you. 00:30:12.099 --> 00:30:13.199 You guys, thank you. 00:30:13.259 --> 00:30:14.000 Give them a round of applause. 00:30:18.740 --> 00:30:20.019 But actually, you know, 00:30:20.079 --> 00:30:21.399 we have so many people. 00:30:21.939 --> 00:30:23.159 And why do we get people involved? 00:30:23.219 --> 00:30:23.639 Because actually, 00:30:23.699 --> 00:30:24.699 we have so many people 00:30:24.699 --> 00:30:26.219 in Watermark doing amazing serving. 00:30:26.480 --> 00:30:27.359 Like, even this morning, 00:30:27.619 --> 00:30:28.559 like, a ton of you 00:30:28.559 --> 00:30:29.399 have just been serving. 00:30:29.519 --> 00:30:30.419 People are serving your kids. 00:30:30.500 --> 00:30:31.439 People are serving everywhere. 00:30:31.440 --> 00:30:33.799 And we just have such an amazing church 00:30:33.799 --> 00:30:34.259 we're serving. 00:30:34.900 --> 00:30:37.080 I think we are so blessed by you guys. 00:30:37.180 --> 00:30:38.019 So blessed. 00:30:38.660 --> 00:30:39.340 It's amazing. 00:30:41.220 --> 00:30:42.360 And I hear people, you know, 00:30:42.420 --> 00:30:43.759 you're serving in just, you know, 00:30:43.820 --> 00:30:45.480 cooking meals for newborns. 00:30:45.539 --> 00:30:46.259 You know, you're serving 00:30:46.259 --> 00:30:47.420 and grabbing coffee 00:30:47.420 --> 00:30:48.500 with people who are struggling. 00:30:49.080 --> 00:30:50.779 You serve by setting up early. 00:30:52.580 --> 00:30:53.920 But I think we have a danger. 00:30:55.700 --> 00:30:56.640 We have a danger 00:30:56.640 --> 00:30:57.640 that when we serve a lot, 00:30:57.700 --> 00:30:58.519 we can get jaded. 00:30:58.519 --> 00:31:01.460 Because sometimes when we serve, 00:31:01.539 --> 00:31:02.420 we can actually expect 00:31:02.420 --> 00:31:04.180 as you put the gifts in the bowl, 00:31:04.740 --> 00:31:08.099 that others are going to appreciate you. 00:31:09.519 --> 00:31:11.279 Or others are going to treat you well. 00:31:11.660 --> 00:31:12.539 And what happens 00:31:12.539 --> 00:31:13.619 when the flour 00:31:13.619 --> 00:31:15.359 just kind of messes up your eggshell? 00:31:18.579 --> 00:31:19.940 You know, some of you 00:31:19.940 --> 00:31:23.099 are, like, 00:31:23.299 --> 00:31:24.740 have been stewarding with the parking. 00:31:24.920 --> 00:31:26.779 Actually, who's been stewarding, 00:31:26.779 --> 00:31:28.160 like, done over the last couple of months, 00:31:28.160 --> 00:31:29.700 just doing parking stewarding? 00:31:30.860 --> 00:31:31.680 Okay, don't be shy. 00:31:31.860 --> 00:31:32.380 Come on, guys. 00:31:32.560 --> 00:31:33.560 Let's give them a round of applause. 00:31:33.660 --> 00:31:34.160 Let's just... 00:31:34.160 --> 00:31:36.960 Thank you. 00:31:37.620 --> 00:31:38.360 Thank you for that. 00:31:38.360 --> 00:31:39.660 That is just an important job. 00:31:39.920 --> 00:31:41.040 It's not a glamorous job. 00:31:41.440 --> 00:31:42.220 It's an important job. 00:31:42.259 --> 00:31:43.060 But just imagine 00:31:43.060 --> 00:31:46.060 that you're showing people 00:31:46.060 --> 00:31:47.000 to their spot, 00:31:47.640 --> 00:31:48.440 the car parks. 00:31:49.279 --> 00:31:50.200 You've got a system 00:31:50.200 --> 00:31:50.680 that's all... 00:31:50.680 --> 00:31:51.440 You've worked it out. 00:31:51.440 --> 00:31:52.440 But then one driver 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:53.580 just ignores you completely 00:31:53.580 --> 00:31:53.900 and says, 00:31:54.019 --> 00:31:54.900 this is my spot. 00:31:57.400 --> 00:31:58.000 And you're, like, 00:31:58.039 --> 00:31:58.940 trying to explain to them. 00:31:58.960 --> 00:31:59.200 And they say, 00:31:59.240 --> 00:31:59.600 no, no, no. 00:31:59.660 --> 00:32:01.080 I've got to get out of here first. 00:32:02.820 --> 00:32:05.440 And they're rude to you afterwards. 00:32:06.500 --> 00:32:07.920 They act a bit more like 00:32:07.920 --> 00:32:09.080 an amputated toe 00:32:09.080 --> 00:32:10.299 than the body of Christ. 00:32:13.160 --> 00:32:14.140 How do you feel 00:32:14.140 --> 00:32:14.820 when you do that? 00:32:14.819 --> 00:32:17.539 And by the way, 00:32:17.599 --> 00:32:18.460 if you are a driver, 00:32:19.579 --> 00:32:20.879 this is not a dig at you, 00:32:20.980 --> 00:32:21.319 but actually, 00:32:21.439 --> 00:32:22.779 just remember to worship God 00:32:22.779 --> 00:32:24.779 and treat and encourage 00:32:24.779 --> 00:32:26.659 the parking stewards well. 00:32:27.339 --> 00:32:27.519 Okay? 00:32:28.639 --> 00:32:29.939 But how do you feel? 00:32:30.599 --> 00:32:31.339 Aren't we tempted to go, 00:32:31.419 --> 00:32:32.200 well, what's the point? 00:32:32.919 --> 00:32:33.439 Aren't we tempted 00:32:33.439 --> 00:32:34.799 to just begin to grumble 00:32:34.799 --> 00:32:36.039 in our own hearts? 00:32:37.480 --> 00:32:38.119 Aren't we tempted 00:32:38.119 --> 00:32:39.119 to just maybe put in 00:32:39.119 --> 00:32:40.299 only half the flour 00:32:40.299 --> 00:32:41.179 the next time 00:32:41.179 --> 00:32:43.200 because we are just... 00:32:43.200 --> 00:32:44.500 Why do I have to deal with this? 00:32:44.819 --> 00:32:47.960 And you know what happens 00:32:47.960 --> 00:32:48.980 is if someone 00:32:48.980 --> 00:32:50.119 that you're serving with, 00:32:50.339 --> 00:32:50.939 that somebody goes 00:32:50.939 --> 00:32:52.000 and thanks them, 00:32:52.159 --> 00:32:52.980 but you've been doing 00:32:52.980 --> 00:32:53.919 exactly the same thing 00:32:53.919 --> 00:32:54.799 and they ignore you. 00:32:56.279 --> 00:32:57.439 How does that feel? 00:32:59.299 --> 00:33:00.679 Can we, at that moment, 00:33:00.799 --> 00:33:02.339 rejoice with those who rejoice? 00:33:02.480 --> 00:33:04.259 Is their success my success? 00:33:06.259 --> 00:33:09.000 Or have we forgotten 00:33:09.000 --> 00:33:09.759 that we're one body? 00:33:12.220 --> 00:33:13.579 And it's hard, right? 00:33:13.579 --> 00:33:16.220 And it can eat away at you. 00:33:16.720 --> 00:33:18.579 Or we can end up serving, 00:33:18.720 --> 00:33:20.119 but it forgets about worship 00:33:20.119 --> 00:33:20.939 and it just becomes 00:33:20.939 --> 00:33:21.779 about obligation. 00:33:24.779 --> 00:33:26.199 Sometimes we just withdraw, 00:33:26.399 --> 00:33:27.379 but the mercies of God 00:33:27.379 --> 00:33:28.339 come to us 00:33:28.339 --> 00:33:29.740 and reminding us, 00:33:30.279 --> 00:33:31.199 serving is grace. 00:33:32.699 --> 00:33:33.299 And you know, 00:33:33.539 --> 00:33:36.539 I delight in your service to me. 00:33:36.539 --> 00:33:39.740 Even if everyone else ignores you, 00:33:39.799 --> 00:33:40.799 I do not ignore. 00:33:41.180 --> 00:33:42.740 I hear, I see, 00:33:42.960 --> 00:33:44.559 and it delights my heart. 00:33:44.680 --> 00:33:45.920 So do it for me. 00:33:47.440 --> 00:33:49.019 And in the midst of that, 00:33:49.579 --> 00:33:51.259 just remember that it is grace 00:33:51.259 --> 00:33:52.740 that you're even part of this family. 00:33:55.680 --> 00:33:57.180 That's what I'm doing for you. 00:33:57.399 --> 00:33:59.079 Don't become tribal and withdraw. 00:33:59.319 --> 00:34:00.940 Receive my love for you. 00:34:00.940 --> 00:34:02.380 And get up again 00:34:02.380 --> 00:34:04.680 and use your gifts to serve. 00:34:06.980 --> 00:34:08.159 So we've said, 00:34:08.559 --> 00:34:09.700 remember it's a gift. 00:34:10.760 --> 00:34:11.720 Worship, don't compare. 00:34:11.860 --> 00:34:12.579 Check your own heart. 00:34:12.720 --> 00:34:13.240 Final thing. 00:34:14.679 --> 00:34:16.900 Find your identity in Christ. 00:34:16.900 --> 00:34:19.800 You see, 00:34:19.880 --> 00:34:21.139 many of us can serve 00:34:21.139 --> 00:34:23.340 because it becomes 00:34:23.340 --> 00:34:24.940 a bit of an identity to serve. 00:34:25.960 --> 00:34:26.700 And some of us, 00:34:26.780 --> 00:34:26.960 you know, 00:34:27.059 --> 00:34:29.400 you've been pouring out 00:34:29.400 --> 00:34:30.340 and pouring out 00:34:30.340 --> 00:34:31.300 and pouring out 00:34:31.300 --> 00:34:32.300 and pouring out 00:34:32.300 --> 00:34:33.180 and pouring out 00:34:33.180 --> 00:34:34.019 and actually you just, 00:34:34.360 --> 00:34:35.360 you feel like you're empty. 00:34:36.320 --> 00:34:36.940 And you feel like 00:34:36.940 --> 00:34:38.280 you're still meant to be pouring out, 00:34:38.360 --> 00:34:38.780 but you feel like 00:34:38.780 --> 00:34:39.619 you've got nothing else. 00:34:39.700 --> 00:34:40.840 You can't even open the bag. 00:34:43.960 --> 00:34:45.240 And the mercies of God 00:34:45.240 --> 00:34:46.220 come to us. 00:34:47.860 --> 00:34:49.019 And sometimes you keep going, 00:34:49.099 --> 00:34:49.300 oh, 00:34:49.380 --> 00:34:50.079 I can't believe 00:34:50.079 --> 00:34:51.220 I've got to keep doing this. 00:34:51.400 --> 00:34:52.500 And the mercies of God 00:34:52.500 --> 00:34:53.340 come to you 00:34:53.340 --> 00:34:54.200 and say, 00:34:55.220 --> 00:34:56.160 humble yourself. 00:34:57.099 --> 00:34:58.300 You're not omnipotent. 00:34:59.820 --> 00:35:01.000 Receive my grace 00:35:01.000 --> 00:35:01.880 through others. 00:35:03.680 --> 00:35:05.180 Some of us don't receive 00:35:05.180 --> 00:35:06.059 the grace of God 00:35:06.059 --> 00:35:07.579 because he's designed grace 00:35:07.579 --> 00:35:08.880 to come through somebody else, 00:35:08.960 --> 00:35:10.400 but we never ask anybody for help. 00:35:11.940 --> 00:35:12.420 Right? 00:35:14.000 --> 00:35:15.260 Some of us go, 00:35:15.260 --> 00:35:15.340 well, 00:35:15.880 --> 00:35:17.240 but I don't want to disturb everyone. 00:35:17.380 --> 00:35:18.100 Everyone's busy. 00:35:18.700 --> 00:35:19.120 But actually, 00:35:19.200 --> 00:35:20.060 sometimes that's because 00:35:20.060 --> 00:35:21.660 our identity is an independence 00:35:21.660 --> 00:35:24.160 rather than actually being willing 00:35:24.160 --> 00:35:25.540 to ask others for help. 00:35:26.500 --> 00:35:27.840 I've just experienced that 00:35:27.840 --> 00:35:28.980 so much in my life. 00:35:29.380 --> 00:35:29.860 When, 00:35:29.980 --> 00:35:30.200 you know, 00:35:30.300 --> 00:35:30.680 he's going, 00:35:30.820 --> 00:35:32.180 I've given grace to Donna 00:35:32.180 --> 00:35:33.400 for you. 00:35:33.800 --> 00:35:34.580 So ask her. 00:35:35.360 --> 00:35:36.100 Ask her. 00:35:36.100 --> 00:35:36.200 Ask her. 00:35:39.300 --> 00:35:40.300 The mercies of God 00:35:40.300 --> 00:35:41.020 give you courage 00:35:41.019 --> 00:35:42.199 to disturb other people. 00:35:43.219 --> 00:35:44.099 But you know what? 00:35:44.840 --> 00:35:45.920 What can sometimes happen 00:35:45.920 --> 00:35:46.679 is maybe the flower 00:35:46.679 --> 00:35:47.340 goes to the egg 00:35:47.340 --> 00:35:48.079 and asks to help, 00:35:48.159 --> 00:35:49.400 but the egg is too busy 00:35:49.400 --> 00:35:51.440 trying to find their identity 00:35:51.440 --> 00:35:54.360 in decorating their own shell 00:35:54.360 --> 00:35:55.759 with their career ambitions, 00:35:56.119 --> 00:35:57.139 with their kids' education, 00:35:57.320 --> 00:35:58.380 with a whole load of other things, 00:35:58.460 --> 00:35:59.139 social calendar, 00:35:59.280 --> 00:35:59.960 packed schedule. 00:36:00.179 --> 00:36:01.300 I've got no time for anyone 00:36:01.300 --> 00:36:02.719 because I've got goals. 00:36:02.719 --> 00:36:03.039 goals. 00:36:05.759 --> 00:36:06.679 And we've forgotten 00:36:06.679 --> 00:36:07.919 that God has invited us 00:36:07.919 --> 00:36:08.859 to be part of the cake 00:36:08.859 --> 00:36:09.539 that he's making. 00:36:10.619 --> 00:36:11.519 So he says, 00:36:11.879 --> 00:36:13.439 in the view of God's mercies, 00:36:13.599 --> 00:36:14.279 offer yourself 00:36:14.279 --> 00:36:15.339 as a living sacrifice 00:36:15.339 --> 00:36:15.939 and be willing 00:36:15.939 --> 00:36:16.759 to be disturbed. 00:36:17.119 --> 00:36:17.899 And put yourself 00:36:17.899 --> 00:36:18.919 in relationships 00:36:18.919 --> 00:36:19.839 in CG 00:36:19.839 --> 00:36:20.679 or in other places 00:36:20.679 --> 00:36:21.219 where you're able 00:36:21.219 --> 00:36:22.399 to see the needs of others 00:36:22.399 --> 00:36:23.059 so you know how 00:36:23.059 --> 00:36:23.939 you can serve them 00:36:23.939 --> 00:36:25.199 and can be disturbed. 00:36:29.699 --> 00:36:30.539 But finally, 00:36:30.539 --> 00:36:32.779 if we're going to find 00:36:32.779 --> 00:36:33.779 our identity in Jesus, 00:36:33.980 --> 00:36:35.719 not actually in what we're doing, 00:36:36.380 --> 00:36:38.059 not in our careers, 00:36:38.880 --> 00:36:40.820 and not in our serving 00:36:40.820 --> 00:36:44.599 because if you can't say no sometimes, 00:36:45.320 --> 00:36:46.860 if you feel guilty 00:36:46.860 --> 00:36:48.159 at saying no all the time, 00:36:48.199 --> 00:36:48.759 and you're somebody 00:36:48.759 --> 00:36:50.279 who's pausing all the time, 00:36:51.079 --> 00:36:52.179 then the mercies of God 00:36:52.179 --> 00:36:53.159 come to you and says, 00:36:53.519 --> 00:36:54.659 take a break. 00:36:55.860 --> 00:36:56.139 Sabbath. 00:36:57.259 --> 00:36:58.360 Enjoy my goodness. 00:36:59.099 --> 00:36:59.960 It's not about you. 00:36:59.960 --> 00:37:01.659 Enjoy worshipping me 00:37:01.659 --> 00:37:03.420 so that you can be refilled, 00:37:03.599 --> 00:37:05.260 that your bag can be replenished 00:37:05.260 --> 00:37:06.579 so that you can pour out again. 00:37:09.280 --> 00:37:10.760 And God, 00:37:10.840 --> 00:37:11.960 in his amazing mercy, 00:37:13.000 --> 00:37:14.240 you know what he does? 00:37:14.300 --> 00:37:15.800 He takes this complete mess. 00:37:16.119 --> 00:37:16.260 I mean, 00:37:16.340 --> 00:37:18.619 I don't know what the recipe was, 00:37:18.679 --> 00:37:19.380 but it wasn't this. 00:37:21.199 --> 00:37:21.840 And you know, 00:37:21.880 --> 00:37:22.579 he has a whisk. 00:37:23.619 --> 00:37:24.559 It's the whisk 00:37:24.559 --> 00:37:26.099 of his spirit of grace, 00:37:26.099 --> 00:37:26.599 forgiveness, 00:37:26.599 --> 00:37:28.380 which is he pours 00:37:28.380 --> 00:37:29.500 and he whisks 00:37:29.500 --> 00:37:31.179 all the messiness together. 00:37:33.239 --> 00:37:34.380 And he brings us 00:37:34.380 --> 00:37:35.900 to remember the gospel again 00:37:35.900 --> 00:37:37.159 and he causes us to repent 00:37:37.159 --> 00:37:38.039 and he reminds us 00:37:38.039 --> 00:37:39.339 of how kind he is. 00:37:41.679 --> 00:37:42.519 It's going to get messier. 00:37:44.839 --> 00:37:46.480 He then puts it in the oven 00:37:46.480 --> 00:37:48.519 of his gracious, 00:37:48.920 --> 00:37:50.599 sovereign plan. 00:37:50.599 --> 00:37:52.440 the circumstances, 00:37:52.739 --> 00:37:53.579 the experiences, 00:37:53.779 --> 00:37:55.059 the things that he just brings 00:37:55.059 --> 00:37:55.980 in life. 00:37:57.400 --> 00:37:58.279 And then, 00:37:59.599 --> 00:38:01.559 miraculously, 00:38:02.799 --> 00:38:05.199 out of just the most incredible, 00:38:05.659 --> 00:38:08.420 incredible mercy and grace, 00:38:09.420 --> 00:38:11.079 you see what appears. 00:38:11.079 --> 00:38:24.579 is this glorious cake. 00:38:25.340 --> 00:38:26.360 And when you look at it 00:38:26.360 --> 00:38:26.599 and you say, 00:38:26.719 --> 00:38:28.440 how did it get from that 00:38:28.440 --> 00:38:29.699 to this? 00:38:30.799 --> 00:38:32.299 And then you look down 00:38:32.299 --> 00:38:34.980 at the baker's hands 00:38:34.980 --> 00:38:38.000 and there are nail prints there. 00:38:39.299 --> 00:38:40.519 There are scars 00:38:40.519 --> 00:38:40.980 and he says, 00:38:41.059 --> 00:38:42.039 this is the fruit 00:38:42.039 --> 00:38:44.480 of what I have done for you. 00:38:45.800 --> 00:38:47.300 And what it means 00:38:47.300 --> 00:38:49.900 is that grace comes to us 00:38:49.900 --> 00:38:52.059 but glory goes to Jesus 00:38:52.059 --> 00:38:53.759 because there is no one else 00:38:53.759 --> 00:38:54.619 who can take that 00:38:54.619 --> 00:38:55.480 and make this. 00:38:56.300 --> 00:38:57.280 And that is what God 00:38:57.280 --> 00:38:58.559 is trying to do with us, 00:38:58.659 --> 00:38:59.539 brothers and sisters. 00:39:00.199 --> 00:39:01.420 Wherever you are, 00:39:02.300 --> 00:39:02.860 some of you, 00:39:02.940 --> 00:39:03.619 he's calling you 00:39:03.619 --> 00:39:04.500 to start serving 00:39:04.500 --> 00:39:06.019 in ways you haven't served before. 00:39:06.380 --> 00:39:07.079 Some of you, 00:39:07.139 --> 00:39:07.980 he's just calling you 00:39:07.980 --> 00:39:09.280 to use your service 00:39:09.280 --> 00:39:09.960 and come back 00:39:09.960 --> 00:39:10.880 to worshiping 00:39:10.880 --> 00:39:13.140 and joy in serving him. 00:39:13.600 --> 00:39:14.200 Some of you, 00:39:14.260 --> 00:39:14.780 he's calling you 00:39:14.780 --> 00:39:15.580 to stop thinking 00:39:15.580 --> 00:39:16.920 it's individualistic 00:39:16.920 --> 00:39:18.060 but actually remember 00:39:18.060 --> 00:39:18.820 you're a body. 00:39:20.700 --> 00:39:22.620 And it's the glory of Jesus 00:39:22.620 --> 00:39:25.440 and it's all fueled by grace. 00:39:26.360 --> 00:39:28.260 It's not this burden on us. 00:39:29.340 --> 00:39:30.660 And he's calling us 00:39:30.660 --> 00:39:32.260 to be a unified 00:39:32.260 --> 00:39:34.340 yet diverse community. 00:39:34.340 --> 00:39:36.860 Let's pray. 00:39:36.860 --> 00:39:36.920 Let's pray. 00:39:48.600 --> 00:39:50.140 Maybe as we pray, 00:39:51.559 --> 00:39:53.620 I just want you to think 00:39:53.620 --> 00:39:54.400 we've been looking 00:39:54.400 --> 00:39:55.820 at the three kind of responses 00:39:55.820 --> 00:39:58.240 that God might be calling you to. 00:39:59.900 --> 00:40:00.559 Some of you, 00:40:00.620 --> 00:40:01.220 God's calling you 00:40:01.220 --> 00:40:02.460 to actually thankfulness 00:40:02.460 --> 00:40:03.880 and praise 00:40:03.880 --> 00:40:04.679 that actually you've 00:40:04.679 --> 00:40:05.679 lost sight 00:40:05.679 --> 00:40:07.340 of the glory 00:40:07.340 --> 00:40:07.940 of the community 00:40:07.940 --> 00:40:08.740 God has given you 00:40:08.740 --> 00:40:10.220 and God just wants to say 00:40:10.220 --> 00:40:11.900 you to worship him 00:40:11.900 --> 00:40:12.820 and thank him 00:40:12.820 --> 00:40:14.199 for the grace 00:40:14.199 --> 00:40:15.099 that he has bestowed 00:40:15.099 --> 00:40:15.860 both upon you 00:40:15.860 --> 00:40:16.519 and his community. 00:40:17.800 --> 00:40:18.420 Some of us, 00:40:18.519 --> 00:40:19.260 we need to repent 00:40:19.260 --> 00:40:20.699 that we've made 00:40:20.699 --> 00:40:21.320 so many things 00:40:21.320 --> 00:40:22.099 about ourselves 00:40:22.099 --> 00:40:24.699 and some of us 00:40:24.699 --> 00:40:25.539 just need to 00:40:25.539 --> 00:40:26.579 step out 00:40:26.579 --> 00:40:28.199 and obey 00:40:28.199 --> 00:40:29.079 what he's calling you 00:40:29.079 --> 00:40:29.460 to do. 00:40:29.460 --> 00:40:31.820 So I want to give you 00:40:31.820 --> 00:40:32.519 just a minute 00:40:32.519 --> 00:40:34.820 to go and work with God 00:40:34.820 --> 00:40:35.940 on what's he calling you 00:40:35.940 --> 00:40:36.699 to right now. 00:40:38.920 --> 00:40:40.139 What's he calling you to? 00:40:41.079 --> 00:40:42.079 Maybe it's the musicians 00:40:42.079 --> 00:40:43.079 just start to play. 00:40:44.059 --> 00:40:45.460 Just respond to God 00:40:45.460 --> 00:40:46.619 to whatever he's calling you 00:40:46.619 --> 00:40:47.220 to right now. 00:40:47.220 --> 00:40:47.420 Amen. 00:40:47.420 --> 00:40:47.780 Amen. 00:40:47.780 --> 00:40:47.840 Amen. 00:40:47.840 --> 00:40:47.920 Amen. 00:40:47.920 --> 00:40:48.380 Amen. 00:40:48.380 --> 00:40:48.420 Amen. 00:40:48.420 --> 00:40:48.519 Amen. 00:40:48.519 --> 00:40:48.920 Amen. 00:40:48.920 --> 00:40:49.420 Amen. 00:40:49.420 --> 00:40:49.480 Amen. 00:40:49.480 --> 00:40:49.519 Amen. 00:40:49.519 --> 00:40:49.920 Amen. 00:40:49.920 --> 00:40:50.519 Amen. 00:40:50.519 --> 00:40:51.519 Amen. 00:40:51.519 --> 00:40:51.599 Amen. 00:40:51.599 --> 00:40:51.639 Amen. 00:40:51.639 --> 00:40:51.679 Amen. 00:40:51.679 --> 00:40:51.720 Amen. 00:40:59.460 --> 00:41:00.000 Amen. 00:41:02.220 --> 00:41:02.639 Amen. 00:41:02.639 --> 00:41:02.940 Amen. 00:41:03.280 --> 00:41:03.599 Amen. 00:41:10.599 --> 00:41:11.619 Amen. 00:41:11.619 --> 00:41:12.179 Amen. 00:41:12.199 --> 00:41:12.639 Amen. 00:41:12.639 --> 00:41:13.019 Amen. 00:41:13.019 --> 00:41:13.659 Amen. 00:41:13.659 --> 00:41:14.460 Father, I just thank you 00:41:14.460 --> 00:41:16.199 for this amazing church, Lord. 00:41:19.139 --> 00:41:20.559 Thank you for your amazing 00:41:20.559 --> 00:41:21.579 mercies to us. 00:41:23.300 --> 00:41:24.780 That we could even be 00:41:24.780 --> 00:41:26.159 a member of your family. 00:41:26.360 --> 00:41:27.400 Lord, what a privilege. 00:41:27.400 --> 00:41:27.679 Amen. 00:41:29.460 --> 00:41:34.579 But Lord, I pray that your mercies would not just be in our heads, but they would thrill our hearts. 00:41:35.159 --> 00:41:46.240 So that as we look around and we see each other, we see ways that we can bring your grace through the gifts that you've given us to serve one another. 00:41:48.240 --> 00:41:49.380 Change us, we pray. 00:41:50.840 --> 00:41:52.659 Fill us with joy, I pray. 00:41:54.960 --> 00:41:56.980 What a wonderful Savior you are. 00:41:56.980 --> 00:42:01.360 In Jesus' name, amen.