WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.480 You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama. 00:00:06.980 --> 00:00:09.540 Our passion is to experience and express grace. 00:00:10.080 --> 00:00:10.620 Join us. 00:00:12.320 --> 00:00:12.919 Amen. 00:00:13.120 --> 00:00:15.040 What a great, great hymn. 00:00:15.679 --> 00:00:21.960 One of the great themes that we've been talking about, the name and power of Jesus overall. 00:00:21.960 --> 00:00:30.280 In the coming weeks, you'll be able to watch on television, if you enjoy this sort of thing, 00:00:30.340 --> 00:00:32.980 a lot of year-in-review shows. 00:00:33.359 --> 00:00:38.019 They start happening usually this week, I think, and you may be able to find the year 00:00:38.019 --> 00:00:45.679 2015 in the news, or 2015 in sports, or in entertainment, or whatever it is you enjoy. 00:00:45.840 --> 00:00:48.439 I really like watching those shows. 00:00:48.439 --> 00:00:52.079 But what happens to me as I watch them is usually this. 00:00:52.339 --> 00:00:54.579 I think, that was this year? 00:00:55.939 --> 00:00:58.119 You mean that was just six months ago? 00:00:58.859 --> 00:01:00.519 I'd forgotten about that. 00:01:01.119 --> 00:01:06.159 I mean, it was in the headlines the day it happened, but it seems to me like I didn't 00:01:06.159 --> 00:01:07.439 even remember that going on. 00:01:07.719 --> 00:01:10.299 And I sit there and watch and think, well, it couldn't have been more than, you know, 00:01:10.340 --> 00:01:12.599 11 and a half months ago or something like that. 00:01:12.659 --> 00:01:14.879 And I've forgotten already. 00:01:15.900 --> 00:01:18.060 We move on from things so quickly, don't we? 00:01:18.439 --> 00:01:20.079 Life is very fast-paced. 00:01:20.459 --> 00:01:21.759 There's a lot going on. 00:01:21.840 --> 00:01:27.019 And things that seem like the most important thing in the world one day, we forget just 00:01:27.019 --> 00:01:28.200 a few weeks later. 00:01:28.859 --> 00:01:36.560 Many of us struggle to slow down and to process deeply things that are really meaningful, that 00:01:36.560 --> 00:01:41.700 we think, oh, man, that's a really significant event or something important that I've learned. 00:01:41.700 --> 00:01:46.879 And we struggle to slow down and consider, what does this actually mean for me? 00:01:47.680 --> 00:01:49.379 How should it impact me? 00:01:49.439 --> 00:01:52.000 How would I be different in light of that? 00:01:52.960 --> 00:01:56.460 And I don't want us to be guilty of that with God's word. 00:01:56.459 --> 00:02:00.500 Some of you are thinking, Will, you never rush through anything. 00:02:00.959 --> 00:02:02.500 We're not going to be guilty of that. 00:02:02.699 --> 00:02:05.939 Listen, we've spent most of a year and 25 sermons. 00:02:06.039 --> 00:02:09.060 I know some of you were counting in the book of Ephesians. 00:02:09.959 --> 00:02:15.840 And I want us to take the chance to slow down and do Ephesians in review, to look back and 00:02:15.840 --> 00:02:18.759 to ask ourselves, what's God teaching me? 00:02:19.379 --> 00:02:20.459 What have I learned? 00:02:20.460 --> 00:02:23.760 What would he be doing in me and in us? 00:02:24.439 --> 00:02:29.540 So this is going to be a different kind of sermon, covering a lot of ground. 00:02:29.760 --> 00:02:32.439 It'll be different for me, so it'll feel different for you, I'm sure. 00:02:32.980 --> 00:02:36.560 But pray with me, and we're going to read from all over Ephesians as we go. 00:02:36.719 --> 00:02:37.300 Pray with me. 00:02:39.580 --> 00:02:48.620 Father, because I know these people and their faith in the Lord Jesus and their love for each 00:02:48.620 --> 00:02:53.680 other, their love for all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for them. 00:02:54.759 --> 00:02:56.259 Thank you for this body. 00:02:56.960 --> 00:02:58.819 Thank you for these people. 00:02:58.819 --> 00:03:07.040 And Father, we pray this morning that you, God, the Father of glory, would give us a spirit 00:03:07.040 --> 00:03:13.879 of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of you, that we would know you, that we'd have 00:03:13.879 --> 00:03:18.840 the eyes of our hearts enlightened, that we would know the hope to which you've called 00:03:18.840 --> 00:03:27.479 us, the riches of your glorious inheritance for us, and the immeasurable greatness of your 00:03:27.479 --> 00:03:29.799 power towards us who believe. 00:03:31.319 --> 00:03:32.879 That's Paul's prayer. 00:03:33.079 --> 00:03:34.740 That's our prayer. 00:03:34.859 --> 00:03:38.199 And we ask it now as we open your word in Jesus' name. 00:03:39.180 --> 00:03:39.500 Amen. 00:03:39.500 --> 00:03:39.659 Amen. 00:03:41.560 --> 00:03:46.180 We looked last week at the letter to the church in Ephesus in the book of Revelation. 00:03:47.039 --> 00:03:51.719 Stepped out of the book of Ephesians for a week, and we were reminded in that letter 00:03:51.719 --> 00:03:56.319 the importance of keeping our doctrine and our life connected. 00:03:57.039 --> 00:04:01.920 That what we believe must drive how we behave, right? 00:04:02.000 --> 00:04:03.460 That it makes a difference. 00:04:03.960 --> 00:04:06.180 And that's the way the book of Ephesians is laid out. 00:04:06.180 --> 00:04:13.719 Three chapters of glorious gospel truths, and three chapters applying those truths to every 00:04:13.719 --> 00:04:14.879 aspect of our lives. 00:04:15.140 --> 00:04:20.639 So we're going to look back this morning first at those wonderful truths that this letter teaches 00:04:20.639 --> 00:04:22.920 us as Paul writes it to the Ephesian church. 00:04:23.079 --> 00:04:27.780 We're going to be asking as we look back through Ephesians first, what should we believe? 00:04:27.960 --> 00:04:32.160 What is it, Paul, that's important for us to know and to believe? 00:04:32.160 --> 00:04:36.980 I've put the answers to that question in two categories. 00:04:37.920 --> 00:04:45.020 The first of those being that we have a new identity, a new identity connected in Christ 00:04:45.020 --> 00:04:46.780 to our Father. 00:04:47.280 --> 00:04:49.260 That's been a theme of Ephesians. 00:04:49.420 --> 00:04:56.200 Over and over again, Paul says, let me tell you how important it is that you understand your 00:04:56.199 --> 00:05:01.519 union with Christ, the value of being connected to him. 00:05:02.459 --> 00:05:04.459 And that's what we've talked about over and over. 00:05:04.579 --> 00:05:12.039 He uses phrases like in Christ, in him, in Christ, in the beloved, through Christ, in Christ 00:05:12.039 --> 00:05:16.539 again, over and over and over in the letter because he wants to remind us how important 00:05:16.539 --> 00:05:20.279 that is, the new identity that we have in relationship with Christ. 00:05:20.480 --> 00:05:21.819 Remember how he started the letter? 00:05:21.819 --> 00:05:27.079 Back in the beginning, this beautiful passage, what happens in Christ? 00:05:27.180 --> 00:05:28.040 Where's our identity? 00:05:29.219 --> 00:05:32.360 He's blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing. 00:05:33.259 --> 00:05:42.279 Blessings like choosing us in him, like adopting us as sons through Jesus Christ, giving us redemption 00:05:42.279 --> 00:05:48.899 and forgiveness in him, in him obtaining an inheritance, and in him being sealed with the promised 00:05:48.899 --> 00:05:51.459 Holy Spirit over and over and over. 00:05:51.459 --> 00:05:57.579 All of these things in our lives because we're connected to Christ, in Christ. 00:05:57.759 --> 00:06:00.979 There's been a remarkable change, Paul is telling the Ephesians. 00:06:01.239 --> 00:06:03.500 Something different about you. 00:06:03.719 --> 00:06:07.339 You've gone from being enemies to sons. 00:06:07.919 --> 00:06:10.919 You've gone from being left out to welcomed in. 00:06:12.259 --> 00:06:16.099 You're dearly loved children now when you didn't deserve it at all. 00:06:16.100 --> 00:06:17.800 And all of that, why? 00:06:19.140 --> 00:06:20.060 Because of Jesus. 00:06:21.360 --> 00:06:28.200 We pull up a seat at the Father's table, so to speak, because our name tag reads, guest 00:06:28.200 --> 00:06:29.000 of Jesus. 00:06:29.460 --> 00:06:34.160 Our access to God, our seat at his table is earned by Christ. 00:06:35.379 --> 00:06:41.820 So our relationship is based on what God has done for us, not on what we do for him, right? 00:06:41.819 --> 00:06:44.560 That's the tenor of our relationship. 00:06:45.000 --> 00:06:48.719 Our relationship with the Father is in Christ. 00:06:48.959 --> 00:06:53.459 Every spiritual blessing in Christ because of what he has done. 00:06:53.719 --> 00:06:58.500 We've said it, in fact, it's the Trinity, the triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit that 00:06:58.500 --> 00:07:03.279 works together for our salvation from eternity past into eternity future. 00:07:03.920 --> 00:07:09.459 Those verses we were just looking at, the Father's love chose us in him before the foundation 00:07:09.459 --> 00:07:12.139 of the world to be holy and blameless in love. 00:07:12.180 --> 00:07:15.620 He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ. 00:07:16.419 --> 00:07:21.500 In eternity past, the Father's love for us before we've done anything to deserve it. 00:07:22.219 --> 00:07:24.079 And then the Son comes. 00:07:24.680 --> 00:07:29.979 In human history, the cross purchasing our redemption and forgiveness by his blood. 00:07:30.419 --> 00:07:34.699 And it's not just something that happens once and God just lets us go and says, I hope you 00:07:34.699 --> 00:07:37.019 play this out well, it's forever. 00:07:37.240 --> 00:07:39.839 There's an eternity future that's already secure. 00:07:39.979 --> 00:07:40.240 How? 00:07:40.479 --> 00:07:41.740 Because of the Holy Spirit. 00:07:42.699 --> 00:07:45.479 A stake in eternity future that we've been sealed. 00:07:46.019 --> 00:07:50.459 He's the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it. 00:07:51.019 --> 00:07:55.039 Father, Son, and Holy Spirit working for your salvation. 00:07:56.860 --> 00:07:58.419 It's not what we've done, is it? 00:07:58.699 --> 00:08:00.879 It's not the basis of our relationship with him. 00:08:00.879 --> 00:08:04.180 He's connected us to himself in Christ. 00:08:05.159 --> 00:08:11.519 And so as a result of that, our relationship with God is all about his grace and his glory. 00:08:12.560 --> 00:08:17.439 You remember the but God that Russell shared at the end of the confession? 00:08:17.879 --> 00:08:19.879 You were dead in your trespasses and sins. 00:08:20.000 --> 00:08:21.480 You lived this way. 00:08:21.719 --> 00:08:26.300 And then that great phrase in Ephesians 2 verse 4, but God. 00:08:27.439 --> 00:08:29.699 But God had something to do with that. 00:08:29.699 --> 00:08:31.479 He came to change your situation. 00:08:31.879 --> 00:08:34.819 He's rich in mercy because of the great love that he has. 00:08:34.860 --> 00:08:36.120 He makes you alive. 00:08:37.000 --> 00:08:43.240 That great love that we learn about in chapter 3, how wide and long and high and deep is the 00:08:43.240 --> 00:08:46.259 love of Christ for us. 00:08:46.299 --> 00:08:47.819 It's beyond measure, right? 00:08:47.860 --> 00:08:51.600 We can't comprehend how much God loves us. 00:08:51.600 --> 00:08:59.759 So that as a result of that, as a result of God's love for us moving towards us, we're saved by grace alone. 00:09:00.899 --> 00:09:03.800 For by grace you have been saved through faith. 00:09:04.180 --> 00:09:05.620 This is not your own doing. 00:09:05.779 --> 00:09:06.759 Don't be confused. 00:09:07.279 --> 00:09:08.840 This is a gift from God. 00:09:08.920 --> 00:09:11.980 It's not a result of works so that no one may boast. 00:09:13.180 --> 00:09:15.120 All of it is of God. 00:09:15.120 --> 00:09:18.560 From the beginning, Paul is clear who the whole story is about, isn't he? 00:09:19.279 --> 00:09:22.919 That it's chapter 1 to the praise of his glory. 00:09:23.440 --> 00:09:25.580 To the praise of his glorious grace. 00:09:25.659 --> 00:09:28.940 That even we would be to the praise of his glory. 00:09:29.220 --> 00:09:30.539 Even our salvation. 00:09:31.299 --> 00:09:38.560 When we think of our salvation, we think of that moment that we trusted Christ and we believed in him and accepted him. 00:09:38.559 --> 00:09:43.099 The time we walked an aisle or prayed a prayer. 00:09:43.659 --> 00:09:48.000 And that's oftentimes in our minds what we remember in terms of our salvation. 00:09:49.019 --> 00:09:51.459 God says it's so much bigger than that. 00:09:51.539 --> 00:09:53.919 It's not about you or what you've done. 00:09:54.099 --> 00:09:56.699 It's about what I'm doing in your life. 00:09:56.799 --> 00:09:58.419 It's amazing grace. 00:09:58.559 --> 00:09:59.599 It's a gift. 00:10:00.019 --> 00:10:04.000 So he deserves all the credit and the praise for all of it. 00:10:04.659 --> 00:10:06.319 None of it goes to us. 00:10:06.320 --> 00:10:08.800 We could stop right there, couldn't we? 00:10:09.180 --> 00:10:17.160 And have reason for rejoicing and thanking God and praising him and worship for the rest of our lives. 00:10:17.740 --> 00:10:22.780 That he has come to us and given us a new identity by what he has done. 00:10:23.140 --> 00:10:26.820 We're united to Christ and loved by the heavenly father. 00:10:27.900 --> 00:10:29.120 What an amazing gift. 00:10:30.060 --> 00:10:31.860 But there's actually more. 00:10:32.640 --> 00:10:34.460 Paul says there's more than that. 00:10:34.460 --> 00:10:38.940 The book of Ephesians is not merely about individual salvation. 00:10:40.040 --> 00:10:42.460 Paul is writing to a church here. 00:10:42.980 --> 00:10:49.200 And he says your new identity, this change that God has brought in your life, connecting you to Jesus, 00:10:49.840 --> 00:10:55.240 is more significant, is farther reaching than you might have thought. 00:10:55.240 --> 00:11:01.600 Because of the power of that new identity in Christ, God establishes a new community. 00:11:02.879 --> 00:11:07.120 That we're connected in Christ not only to the father, but to each other. 00:11:07.519 --> 00:11:09.680 People who otherwise are disconnected. 00:11:10.200 --> 00:11:11.200 People who are very different. 00:11:11.320 --> 00:11:13.120 Different religious backgrounds. 00:11:13.419 --> 00:11:14.180 Different races. 00:11:14.419 --> 00:11:16.120 Different political perspectives. 00:11:16.120 --> 00:11:22.159 They come together because Jesus is what's most important. 00:11:22.759 --> 00:11:22.980 Right? 00:11:23.580 --> 00:11:24.500 I say it this way. 00:11:24.960 --> 00:11:34.639 God's presence in us outweighs our differences and unites previously disconnected enemies in the church. 00:11:35.340 --> 00:11:37.940 The church is that new community. 00:11:38.299 --> 00:11:39.500 Do you remember chapter 2? 00:11:39.899 --> 00:11:41.159 What he says in verse 13? 00:11:41.159 --> 00:11:46.740 Now in Christ Jesus, you who were far off, who were distant, have been brought near. 00:11:46.939 --> 00:11:54.319 Because Jesus is our peace who's made us both one and broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility. 00:11:54.379 --> 00:11:54.980 What's he saying? 00:11:55.579 --> 00:12:00.100 That Jesus is bringing into one people who are otherwise separate. 00:12:00.480 --> 00:12:01.759 Who are otherwise distant. 00:12:02.019 --> 00:12:06.839 That he's breaking down the barriers between us and making us one. 00:12:07.039 --> 00:12:07.399 How? 00:12:08.419 --> 00:12:10.139 Just by wishing it were so? 00:12:10.139 --> 00:12:17.419 No, because all of us are defined primarily by the fact that we're connected to Jesus. 00:12:18.080 --> 00:12:23.360 By the new identity that transforms each of us, we're now a new community. 00:12:24.059 --> 00:12:26.319 Gentiles and Jews here in Ephesians, right? 00:12:26.559 --> 00:12:28.120 Paul's talking a lot about those. 00:12:28.439 --> 00:12:30.919 Those who were far off and those who were near. 00:12:31.139 --> 00:12:33.220 The outsiders and the insiders. 00:12:33.539 --> 00:12:38.259 The ones who've always gone to church and the ones who showed up for the first time today 00:12:38.259 --> 00:12:39.960 and never felt like they belong. 00:12:40.139 --> 00:12:47.720 All of those are together because the cross destroys the barriers between us. 00:12:47.720 --> 00:12:55.840 It humbles all of us, brings us all together to the same point in our need for him and in our finding what we need in him. 00:12:57.360 --> 00:12:59.560 Look what he says as he goes on in chapter 2. 00:12:59.559 --> 00:13:08.599 Jesus came and preached peace to the far off and peace to the near because through him we both have access in one spirit to the father. 00:13:08.600 --> 00:13:14.180 So now instead of being strangers, we're part of the household of God. 00:13:14.180 --> 00:13:22.920 The household where Jesus himself is the chief cornerstone and there's this structure being joined together, growing into a holy temple in the Lord. 00:13:23.779 --> 00:13:29.840 In Jesus you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by his spirit. 00:13:29.840 --> 00:13:32.120 You see the new community Jesus is creating? 00:13:32.800 --> 00:13:35.019 He's making one family, isn't he? 00:13:35.019 --> 00:13:36.540 How do you get people into the same family? 00:13:37.460 --> 00:13:39.100 Because they have the same father. 00:13:39.980 --> 00:13:45.899 He brings them into the same family because he gives them the same father through adoption. 00:13:46.259 --> 00:13:51.019 He makes us one temple where together with Jesus as the cornerstone, 00:13:51.019 --> 00:13:55.480 there's this new identity that we have in Jesus that unites us, right? 00:13:55.879 --> 00:13:59.379 Jesus is the cornerstone of this temple and God's building us into something. 00:13:59.740 --> 00:14:04.980 And not just any structure, not just a random building, but a temple where what's going to happen? 00:14:05.519 --> 00:14:09.240 Where God dwells by his spirit. 00:14:09.539 --> 00:14:10.980 Isn't that what makes all the difference? 00:14:11.299 --> 00:14:13.559 Isn't that what makes the place holy? 00:14:14.100 --> 00:14:20.139 That's what makes the temple significant, that God dwells there, that he's determined to live with his people. 00:14:20.139 --> 00:14:22.000 That's what defines us. 00:14:22.399 --> 00:14:25.199 God is determined to live among us. 00:14:26.279 --> 00:14:31.639 And it's his presence that makes the new community so exciting. 00:14:32.519 --> 00:14:40.360 Because God is there and present, it's not just this group of people who kind of are part of the same list somewhere, 00:14:40.539 --> 00:14:44.100 or occasionally, maybe once a week, show up in the same building. 00:14:44.600 --> 00:14:46.460 It's much more than that, isn't it? 00:14:47.100 --> 00:14:49.679 It's not just a static, silent group of people. 00:14:49.679 --> 00:14:56.479 God's resurrection power works on behalf of the church enraptured by his love. 00:14:57.519 --> 00:14:59.219 That's the promise of Ephesians. 00:14:59.279 --> 00:15:01.479 Do you remember the power that's on our side? 00:15:01.559 --> 00:15:04.579 Do you remember the way Paul talks about it in chapter 1? 00:15:05.259 --> 00:15:06.219 Look at verse 19. 00:15:06.579 --> 00:15:10.079 The immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, 00:15:10.459 --> 00:15:13.839 the working of his great might that he used, 00:15:14.019 --> 00:15:17.620 it's resurrection power when Christ was raised from the dead. 00:15:17.620 --> 00:15:18.740 And seated where? 00:15:19.740 --> 00:15:20.860 Does Christ have power? 00:15:21.340 --> 00:15:23.840 Is it really all hail the power of Jesus' name? 00:15:24.039 --> 00:15:24.539 It is. 00:15:24.620 --> 00:15:25.080 Look at that. 00:15:25.480 --> 00:15:31.700 That he's over everything, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion. 00:15:31.919 --> 00:15:35.600 And every name that is named, not only in this age, but in the one to come. 00:15:35.960 --> 00:15:40.980 And he put all things under his feet because he's powerful over all. 00:15:40.980 --> 00:15:45.560 Resurrection power for those who believe. 00:15:45.899 --> 00:15:48.500 Head over all things for the church. 00:15:49.500 --> 00:15:50.840 That's the good news. 00:15:51.300 --> 00:15:54.180 That he is powerful and we are his. 00:15:54.620 --> 00:15:56.519 That's the gospel in Ephesians. 00:15:56.940 --> 00:16:00.139 Jesus is powerful and we are his. 00:16:00.360 --> 00:16:01.259 His people. 00:16:02.960 --> 00:16:04.920 So how do we access that power? 00:16:04.919 --> 00:16:07.519 Or is it just something that just kind of shows up? 00:16:07.599 --> 00:16:08.099 It's magical? 00:16:08.839 --> 00:16:09.839 It just happens? 00:16:10.919 --> 00:16:14.740 How is it that in a church we see God working powerfully? 00:16:15.179 --> 00:16:17.059 We saw it's the love of God, isn't it? 00:16:17.459 --> 00:16:21.759 Having a vision of the incredible love of God. 00:16:22.079 --> 00:16:26.579 The size of his love beyond what we can comprehend that does that. 00:16:26.759 --> 00:16:27.699 That brings his power. 00:16:27.899 --> 00:16:33.459 It's God's love and a vision of that rather than a focus on our own gifts or agendas. 00:16:33.460 --> 00:16:38.200 Rather than any pastor or program that you could come up with. 00:16:38.379 --> 00:16:43.480 It's seeing his love that's the fuel for the church. 00:16:44.460 --> 00:16:46.060 That's what empowers us. 00:16:46.620 --> 00:16:47.620 Ephesians chapter 3. 00:16:47.700 --> 00:16:48.259 What does he say? 00:16:49.180 --> 00:16:53.900 I pray that you being rooted and established in love would have power, all of you together, 00:16:54.639 --> 00:17:00.620 all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ. 00:17:00.620 --> 00:17:03.100 To know that love that surpasses knowledge. 00:17:03.740 --> 00:17:07.000 That's what allows you to be filled with the fullness of God. 00:17:07.160 --> 00:17:12.839 That's when he starts doing beyond all you can ask or imagine according to his power at work within us. 00:17:12.980 --> 00:17:15.940 It's when we see his love as magnanimous. 00:17:16.279 --> 00:17:18.220 As beyond what we could comprehend. 00:17:18.759 --> 00:17:18.880 Right? 00:17:18.880 --> 00:17:23.520 That glorious 4D love we talked about. 00:17:23.900 --> 00:17:25.520 That chases us down. 00:17:25.620 --> 00:17:27.920 Reaches even to those who are running away from him. 00:17:28.260 --> 00:17:34.840 That stoops down to the lowest and the most hurting and depressed and downtrodden. 00:17:34.940 --> 00:17:37.040 Those who thought they could never be worthy. 00:17:37.500 --> 00:17:40.660 And exalts all of us to heaven. 00:17:41.800 --> 00:17:43.600 That's what drives the church. 00:17:43.680 --> 00:17:45.260 That's what fuels the church. 00:17:45.259 --> 00:17:51.519 A great vision of the love of God is what enables great actions for God. 00:17:53.339 --> 00:17:58.420 And that's true because it's his power that we're dependent on. 00:17:58.480 --> 00:17:58.640 Right? 00:17:59.140 --> 00:18:00.660 He's the one with the power. 00:18:00.859 --> 00:18:02.720 Both individually and corporately. 00:18:03.359 --> 00:18:07.539 This dramatic reality change that has happened in our lives. 00:18:08.019 --> 00:18:11.680 That we have a new identity connected to Jesus. 00:18:11.680 --> 00:18:16.220 That we're connected in him to the father and to each other. 00:18:16.460 --> 00:18:19.420 It's not just something to believe and rejoice in. 00:18:19.840 --> 00:18:20.860 Although it is that. 00:18:21.360 --> 00:18:23.840 And Ephesians says just stop and praise God for that. 00:18:25.240 --> 00:18:26.799 But it's not only that. 00:18:27.120 --> 00:18:30.360 It's actually what gives us the power to live in a new way. 00:18:30.660 --> 00:18:33.600 It's what transforms the way we live now, isn't it? 00:18:34.980 --> 00:18:36.180 Let me see if I can explain. 00:18:36.640 --> 00:18:40.519 We've talked this year about several images of our union with Christ. 00:18:40.519 --> 00:18:42.240 It's hard to get our hands around that, isn't it? 00:18:42.519 --> 00:18:45.500 What does it mean, Will, that I'm connected to Jesus? 00:18:45.720 --> 00:18:51.180 What does that actually feel like and look like in my life that I'm somehow connected to Jesus? 00:18:52.059 --> 00:18:54.480 We've talked about a lot of images to describe that. 00:18:54.539 --> 00:18:55.819 This one may be my favorite. 00:18:56.740 --> 00:18:59.279 You may have seen or heard of Team Hoyt. 00:19:00.240 --> 00:19:02.480 Team Hoyt is a father-son duo. 00:19:02.759 --> 00:19:07.599 They love doing triathlons and marathons together. 00:19:08.019 --> 00:19:09.660 And they've competed in many of them. 00:19:09.660 --> 00:19:10.660 And Dick is the father. 00:19:11.680 --> 00:19:13.019 Rick is the son. 00:19:13.759 --> 00:19:17.960 And so there's this father and son doing triathlons and marathons together. 00:19:18.040 --> 00:19:22.180 Except they're a little different from a lot of father-son duos. 00:19:23.180 --> 00:19:25.880 Rick, the son, has cerebral palsy. 00:19:26.900 --> 00:19:30.640 So Rick's not really able to do much in a marathon. 00:19:31.480 --> 00:19:33.100 Much less in a triathlon. 00:19:33.099 --> 00:19:37.519 So here's how Team Hoyt does triathlons. 00:19:38.619 --> 00:19:40.319 It starts with a bike race. 00:19:40.559 --> 00:19:50.099 And so Dick, the father, straps Rick into this chair on the front of the bike before riding mile after mile after mile. 00:19:50.099 --> 00:19:51.879 And they get to the end of the bike race. 00:19:52.019 --> 00:19:52.980 He picks him up. 00:19:53.259 --> 00:19:56.759 He carries him over to a boat, a raft. 00:19:57.279 --> 00:20:03.799 And he lays him in there, straps it, connects it to himself and starts swimming mile after mile after mile. 00:20:03.799 --> 00:20:05.960 Then he has to run. 00:20:06.079 --> 00:20:18.159 So he picks Rick up out of the boat, puts him in this stroller-type contraption, and runs, pushing Rick ahead of him mile after mile after mile. 00:20:18.220 --> 00:20:19.299 They get to the finish line. 00:20:19.539 --> 00:20:20.980 They finished a lot of them, by the way. 00:20:21.220 --> 00:20:23.339 Ironman triathlons multiple times. 00:20:23.339 --> 00:20:27.579 And there they are, Team Hoyt, crossing the finish line together. 00:20:28.839 --> 00:20:31.379 The power source driving it. 00:20:32.220 --> 00:20:33.459 The father, Dick. 00:20:34.179 --> 00:20:39.079 But what a beautiful picture of our connection in Christ. 00:20:39.579 --> 00:20:47.839 As we go through the race of life, so to speak, as we have things to accomplish, challenges that we face, 00:20:48.839 --> 00:20:51.299 but our power source doesn't change. 00:20:51.299 --> 00:20:52.960 We're connected to Jesus. 00:20:53.359 --> 00:20:58.940 Rick couldn't run, much less do a marathon or a triathlon. 00:20:59.259 --> 00:21:02.700 But he's vitally connected to his father, isn't he? 00:21:03.480 --> 00:21:06.919 He's got to be connected to him if he's going to make it to the finish line. 00:21:07.099 --> 00:21:14.019 If anything impressive is going to happen in that race, it's going to be because Rick stays connected to his father. 00:21:15.579 --> 00:21:20.940 So all the wonderful things we've learned, the things we're to believe, 00:21:20.940 --> 00:21:23.860 they have to transform how we live each day. 00:21:24.180 --> 00:21:26.820 It actually, it's not just that Rick would think, 00:21:27.160 --> 00:21:31.460 well, it would be nice if I had a good relationship with dad today during this triathlon. 00:21:32.000 --> 00:21:35.460 Rick must stay connected to his father. 00:21:35.720 --> 00:21:37.820 And it has practical benefits. 00:21:38.259 --> 00:21:42.100 It makes a difference in how he runs the race, doesn't it? 00:21:42.099 --> 00:21:48.459 So we've got to ask not only what glorious things we should believe, 00:21:49.159 --> 00:21:51.779 but what should believing these things look like? 00:21:52.519 --> 00:21:54.119 Sometimes that's a little harder question. 00:21:54.819 --> 00:21:57.319 We are not too bad on what we're supposed to believe. 00:21:57.439 --> 00:22:01.879 I can write some things down and remember them and nod and say that's what I believe. 00:22:02.019 --> 00:22:04.259 But Paul pushes in Ephesians. 00:22:04.399 --> 00:22:06.159 He transitions in the middle of the book. 00:22:06.160 --> 00:22:07.360 He says, 00:22:07.880 --> 00:22:10.759 Therefore, in light of the first three chapters, 00:22:10.980 --> 00:22:14.240 Therefore, walk in a manner worthy of the calling you've received. 00:22:14.720 --> 00:22:19.440 Live in a way that fits these things you believe, the things God has done for you. 00:22:20.800 --> 00:22:24.080 And so personally, that means living out our new identity. 00:22:24.620 --> 00:22:26.759 Living as God's child. 00:22:27.840 --> 00:22:32.180 There's something that changes in us when God begins renewing us. 00:22:32.180 --> 00:22:34.299 And we don't live the same way anymore. 00:22:34.840 --> 00:22:35.960 I'd say it this way. 00:22:36.960 --> 00:22:40.180 Freed to respond to a smiling father, 00:22:41.360 --> 00:22:47.080 our actions must reflect God's glory in every area of life. 00:22:48.779 --> 00:22:50.100 Chapter 5 starts with, 00:22:50.400 --> 00:22:55.799 Therefore, be imitators of God as beloved children. 00:22:56.400 --> 00:22:59.980 Having his love and smile already secured, 00:23:01.039 --> 00:23:01.500 love. 00:23:02.180 --> 00:23:07.039 Knowing how he's loved you and continues to love you, 00:23:07.120 --> 00:23:09.000 go love others like that. 00:23:09.180 --> 00:23:11.539 He created and redeemed us for good works 00:23:11.539 --> 00:23:14.320 and prepared them beforehand for each of us to do. 00:23:14.420 --> 00:23:15.220 That's chapter 2. 00:23:16.180 --> 00:23:18.279 So that as someone given a new life, 00:23:18.360 --> 00:23:20.980 we would live in a new way. 00:23:21.279 --> 00:23:24.080 In a way that's fitting with that new life. 00:23:24.180 --> 00:23:25.660 Like someone in witness protection 00:23:25.660 --> 00:23:27.920 who's given a new identity and a new home 00:23:27.920 --> 00:23:29.000 and a new life. 00:23:29.000 --> 00:23:32.740 We must live in a way that fits the new life. 00:23:33.660 --> 00:23:35.579 In fact, the hope in the midst of that 00:23:35.579 --> 00:23:37.680 is that God is constantly working in us 00:23:37.680 --> 00:23:40.160 to restore us to what he intended for us. 00:23:40.359 --> 00:23:41.720 How does chapter 4 describe it? 00:23:42.740 --> 00:23:44.819 We're being renewed in the spirit of our minds, 00:23:44.940 --> 00:23:48.500 putting on the new self created after the likeness of God 00:23:48.500 --> 00:23:51.400 in true righteousness and holiness. 00:23:51.400 --> 00:23:52.800 He's committed to that. 00:23:53.600 --> 00:23:55.460 That's the way he's making you. 00:23:56.259 --> 00:24:00.820 And that reality has implications for every arena of life. 00:24:01.040 --> 00:24:04.340 The fact that God is making you into somebody new, 00:24:04.620 --> 00:24:06.400 giving you a new life to live, 00:24:06.680 --> 00:24:09.420 it's not just a new life on Sunday morning, is it? 00:24:09.420 --> 00:24:12.560 Sometimes that's easier to picture. 00:24:13.000 --> 00:24:14.900 I will now start to go somewhere different 00:24:14.900 --> 00:24:16.320 on Sunday morning than I used to. 00:24:16.420 --> 00:24:17.759 It's much more than that. 00:24:18.740 --> 00:24:20.620 Paul says what's different, what's new, 00:24:21.300 --> 00:24:22.160 the way you speak, 00:24:23.580 --> 00:24:24.880 how you deal with your anger, 00:24:26.039 --> 00:24:28.100 how you approach your work. 00:24:29.779 --> 00:24:31.480 He especially spends a lot of time 00:24:31.480 --> 00:24:32.880 focusing on relationships 00:24:32.880 --> 00:24:35.460 and relationships within the family 00:24:35.460 --> 00:24:38.779 and how you treat your children and your spouse. 00:24:39.420 --> 00:24:40.920 In marriage, he says, 00:24:40.980 --> 00:24:42.340 you've got this great chance 00:24:42.340 --> 00:24:45.460 to tell the story of my relationship 00:24:45.460 --> 00:24:48.860 between Christ and the church in your marriage. 00:24:49.000 --> 00:24:51.059 The story of the prince, right, 00:24:51.160 --> 00:24:52.700 who steps off his throne 00:24:52.700 --> 00:24:56.279 and steps down to rescue the one that he loves 00:24:56.279 --> 00:24:58.019 at great cost to himself, 00:24:58.819 --> 00:25:00.279 who would love like that. 00:25:00.920 --> 00:25:02.259 And so that the one who is loved 00:25:02.259 --> 00:25:04.880 desires to respond with respect 00:25:04.880 --> 00:25:07.240 and joy and trust. 00:25:09.000 --> 00:25:10.520 All those areas of our life 00:25:10.520 --> 00:25:11.900 that are changed 00:25:11.900 --> 00:25:14.220 by what God has done. 00:25:15.300 --> 00:25:16.820 And so we're living a new life. 00:25:17.260 --> 00:25:18.460 Everything's different, right? 00:25:18.560 --> 00:25:20.780 And it's all just the way it was supposed to be 00:25:20.780 --> 00:25:23.260 except that at the same time 00:25:23.260 --> 00:25:25.400 as we're embracing this new life 00:25:25.400 --> 00:25:26.280 God has given us, 00:25:26.360 --> 00:25:28.080 we're reminded it's not always so easy. 00:25:29.560 --> 00:25:30.940 At the same time, 00:25:31.020 --> 00:25:33.520 we must remain aware of our spiritual warfare. 00:25:33.519 --> 00:25:36.160 We must battle against sin 00:25:36.160 --> 00:25:38.220 by abiding actively in Christ. 00:25:38.319 --> 00:25:39.619 We can't think we're all right now 00:25:39.619 --> 00:25:40.759 just to go off on our own. 00:25:41.480 --> 00:25:42.559 That we've got the strength, 00:25:42.619 --> 00:25:43.779 that we've got this under control, 00:25:43.859 --> 00:25:44.379 this is easy, 00:25:44.460 --> 00:25:45.879 there's no more challenges left. 00:25:46.420 --> 00:25:48.579 Sin still wars against us, right? 00:25:49.839 --> 00:25:50.480 And so Paul says, 00:25:50.700 --> 00:25:53.440 don't live like peace in the midst of war. 00:25:53.700 --> 00:25:55.480 Don't act like there's peace all around 00:25:55.480 --> 00:25:57.019 in the middle of a war. 00:25:57.099 --> 00:25:58.940 Don't declare a truce with an enemy 00:25:58.940 --> 00:26:01.019 Jesus died to defeat. 00:26:01.660 --> 00:26:02.559 Instead, fight. 00:26:03.460 --> 00:26:05.019 Fight against falsehood, 00:26:06.100 --> 00:26:07.259 against idolatry, 00:26:07.440 --> 00:26:09.380 against seeking fulfillment in wine 00:26:09.380 --> 00:26:11.600 or anywhere else other than Jesus. 00:26:12.900 --> 00:26:15.480 Fight against the spiritual forces of evil, right? 00:26:15.480 --> 00:26:15.559 Fight. 00:26:17.400 --> 00:26:18.440 Over and over again, 00:26:18.500 --> 00:26:20.120 he's calling us to fight. 00:26:20.220 --> 00:26:20.680 And how? 00:26:22.160 --> 00:26:24.900 We do it by trusting day by day in Christ 00:26:24.900 --> 00:26:27.720 and his power to which we are connected. 00:26:28.240 --> 00:26:29.039 It's what he's saying. 00:26:29.120 --> 00:26:29.799 In chapter six, 00:26:29.839 --> 00:26:31.220 he gets to the armor of God, right? 00:26:31.740 --> 00:26:32.640 What's he gonna tell us? 00:26:32.640 --> 00:26:33.440 How are we gonna fight? 00:26:33.720 --> 00:26:35.099 Tell me how strong I am 00:26:35.099 --> 00:26:36.000 and what I'm gonna do. 00:26:36.039 --> 00:26:36.420 And he says, 00:26:36.500 --> 00:26:37.799 be strong in the Lord 00:26:37.799 --> 00:26:40.120 and in the strength of his might. 00:26:40.460 --> 00:26:41.440 Put on not your armor, 00:26:41.539 --> 00:26:42.839 the armor of God 00:26:42.839 --> 00:26:44.740 that you may be able to stand 00:26:44.740 --> 00:26:45.980 against the schemes of the devil. 00:26:46.220 --> 00:26:47.759 Don't try to do it on your own. 00:26:48.379 --> 00:26:50.679 Don't try to run in your own strength. 00:26:51.480 --> 00:26:52.740 Stay connected to Christ. 00:26:53.459 --> 00:26:55.279 Jesus is the strong one, right? 00:26:55.399 --> 00:26:56.419 It's his power, 00:26:56.519 --> 00:26:57.939 the strength of his might. 00:26:58.259 --> 00:27:00.259 And we stand only in him 00:27:00.259 --> 00:27:02.779 and actively arming ourselves 00:27:02.779 --> 00:27:04.179 by depending on him, 00:27:04.740 --> 00:27:05.699 having faith in him, 00:27:05.819 --> 00:27:06.980 believing his promises. 00:27:08.139 --> 00:27:08.939 That's how we're, 00:27:09.159 --> 00:27:09.559 each of us, 00:27:09.599 --> 00:27:11.039 called to live the new life 00:27:11.039 --> 00:27:12.980 God has called us to. 00:27:15.500 --> 00:27:16.720 But there's another area 00:27:16.720 --> 00:27:19.079 that our connection to Jesus transforms. 00:27:19.759 --> 00:27:21.119 And that's our corporate lives 00:27:21.119 --> 00:27:22.039 as a body. 00:27:23.180 --> 00:27:24.740 So there's also a new community 00:27:24.740 --> 00:27:26.599 where we need to figure out 00:27:26.599 --> 00:27:27.799 what does it mean to live 00:27:27.799 --> 00:27:29.279 as God's church? 00:27:31.240 --> 00:27:33.039 Now that Jesus has connected us 00:27:33.039 --> 00:27:33.599 to each other, 00:27:33.680 --> 00:27:34.519 we've established that, 00:27:34.559 --> 00:27:35.440 we believe that, 00:27:35.700 --> 00:27:37.359 Jesus has broken those barriers down, 00:27:37.359 --> 00:27:38.359 what does that mean 00:27:38.359 --> 00:27:40.059 for how the church operates? 00:27:41.039 --> 00:27:44.079 First, we must passionately pursue unity 00:27:44.079 --> 00:27:45.500 with each other, 00:27:46.539 --> 00:27:48.319 crossing any barriers to love 00:27:48.319 --> 00:27:49.480 and partner with people 00:27:49.480 --> 00:27:50.859 different from us. 00:27:52.079 --> 00:27:54.359 We saw Jesus brought enemies together, right? 00:27:54.899 --> 00:27:56.180 He did that. 00:27:56.299 --> 00:27:58.059 He made them a part of the same group, 00:27:58.119 --> 00:27:58.659 but that doesn't mean 00:27:58.659 --> 00:27:59.339 they're gonna get along. 00:28:00.259 --> 00:28:01.659 Now that they're there, 00:28:01.779 --> 00:28:03.619 we actually have to love each other 00:28:03.619 --> 00:28:06.200 because of his love for us. 00:28:06.200 --> 00:28:08.840 So chapter four, verse two says, 00:28:09.059 --> 00:28:10.840 with all humility and gentleness, 00:28:11.319 --> 00:28:12.140 with patience, 00:28:12.279 --> 00:28:13.640 bearing with one another in love, 00:28:14.059 --> 00:28:15.539 being eager to maintain 00:28:15.539 --> 00:28:16.860 the unity of the Spirit 00:28:16.860 --> 00:28:18.259 in the bond of peace. 00:28:18.559 --> 00:28:20.140 Notice, eager to maintain 00:28:20.140 --> 00:28:21.819 the unity of the Spirit, 00:28:22.039 --> 00:28:24.460 not the unity of the people like me. 00:28:25.360 --> 00:28:27.200 Not the unity of those of us 00:28:27.200 --> 00:28:28.740 who are easy to get along with, 00:28:28.980 --> 00:28:30.019 the ones I prefer. 00:28:30.259 --> 00:28:32.319 The unity of the Spirit, rather. 00:28:32.319 --> 00:28:35.220 All of us who have the same Savior 00:28:35.220 --> 00:28:37.099 and therefore the same Father. 00:28:37.519 --> 00:28:40.359 It's that unity we're to be seeking. 00:28:41.419 --> 00:28:45.639 Humbly, gently, patiently, 00:28:46.700 --> 00:28:48.339 lovingly, moving toward 00:28:48.339 --> 00:28:50.059 different relationships, 00:28:50.259 --> 00:28:52.119 cross-cultural relationships 00:28:52.119 --> 00:28:54.079 with people who love Jesus 00:28:54.079 --> 00:28:56.559 but who are different in their ages, 00:28:57.619 --> 00:28:59.240 in their income levels, 00:28:59.899 --> 00:29:01.519 in their skin colors, 00:29:01.519 --> 00:29:04.279 in their moral values, 00:29:05.180 --> 00:29:06.779 in their political perspectives, 00:29:07.099 --> 00:29:10.019 celebrating our differences, actually. 00:29:10.279 --> 00:29:12.579 Finding the beauty in the diversity 00:29:12.579 --> 00:29:13.599 within the body. 00:29:13.960 --> 00:29:15.960 Repenting of our self-righteousness 00:29:15.960 --> 00:29:17.859 that actually we believe 00:29:17.859 --> 00:29:19.940 my way is actually better than yours. 00:29:21.039 --> 00:29:22.220 And repenting of that 00:29:22.220 --> 00:29:24.819 and eagerly pursuing each other, 00:29:24.920 --> 00:29:25.980 moving toward the other, 00:29:26.059 --> 00:29:26.980 the one who's different. 00:29:28.559 --> 00:29:29.819 Partnering, right? 00:29:29.819 --> 00:29:30.679 We need each other. 00:29:30.759 --> 00:29:32.679 Partnering with all sorts of people 00:29:32.679 --> 00:29:34.000 for the sake of the gospel. 00:29:34.339 --> 00:29:36.200 That's what God has for His church 00:29:36.200 --> 00:29:37.679 for this new community. 00:29:38.919 --> 00:29:39.879 And as they do that, 00:29:40.000 --> 00:29:43.700 we must connect truth and love 00:29:43.700 --> 00:29:46.639 so that we reflect God's heart 00:29:46.639 --> 00:29:47.299 to the world. 00:29:48.720 --> 00:29:50.539 Remember what a mature church looks like? 00:29:51.220 --> 00:29:52.599 What does God say this new community 00:29:52.599 --> 00:29:53.859 is gonna be when it grows up 00:29:53.859 --> 00:29:55.079 and gets to be real mature? 00:29:55.079 --> 00:29:57.619 Sure, speaking the truth in love, 00:29:57.939 --> 00:29:59.819 we're to grow up in every way 00:29:59.819 --> 00:30:01.059 into Him who's the head, 00:30:01.259 --> 00:30:02.339 into Christ. 00:30:02.639 --> 00:30:04.099 That's what Christ is like. 00:30:04.179 --> 00:30:05.619 Truth and love connected. 00:30:06.720 --> 00:30:08.619 Truthing in love, we said. 00:30:09.119 --> 00:30:11.379 We've got to hold on to both of them. 00:30:11.759 --> 00:30:13.839 And that's gonna cost us, isn't it? 00:30:14.220 --> 00:30:15.000 How do we know that? 00:30:15.859 --> 00:30:17.859 When Jesus held on most tightly 00:30:17.859 --> 00:30:19.599 to truth and love at the cross, 00:30:19.639 --> 00:30:20.419 it cost Him. 00:30:21.220 --> 00:30:21.740 When He said, 00:30:21.820 --> 00:30:23.700 your sin, I'm not gonna sugarcoat it. 00:30:23.700 --> 00:30:24.320 It's serious. 00:30:24.420 --> 00:30:25.180 That's the truth. 00:30:25.560 --> 00:30:26.940 Your sin needs to be addressed. 00:30:27.019 --> 00:30:27.360 And He said, 00:30:27.400 --> 00:30:28.100 I'm gonna do it 00:30:28.100 --> 00:30:29.100 and it's gonna cost me. 00:30:30.140 --> 00:30:32.240 I'm gonna love you at the same time. 00:30:32.240 --> 00:30:34.420 And so He does that at the cross. 00:30:34.620 --> 00:30:36.120 And we're to be like Him, 00:30:36.259 --> 00:30:38.420 truthing in love. 00:30:38.920 --> 00:30:41.580 What a great opportunity for Southwood 00:30:41.580 --> 00:30:44.740 to hold passionately to the truth 00:30:44.740 --> 00:30:48.240 at the same time holding to the rejected 00:30:48.240 --> 00:30:49.720 and the marginalized 00:30:49.720 --> 00:30:52.259 and those who are outsiders 00:30:52.259 --> 00:30:54.779 to hold tightly to both of those things 00:30:54.779 --> 00:30:55.380 at the same time 00:30:55.380 --> 00:30:56.460 and actually bring them together. 00:30:57.460 --> 00:30:59.819 Absolute truth without compromise 00:30:59.819 --> 00:31:03.079 and amazing grace without end. 00:31:03.740 --> 00:31:05.319 That's what God offers us. 00:31:05.380 --> 00:31:07.480 It's what He calls us to as His church 00:31:07.480 --> 00:31:09.120 because that's His heart, right? 00:31:09.700 --> 00:31:11.319 It's the way He treats us. 00:31:11.420 --> 00:31:12.400 And so how are we gonna do it? 00:31:12.440 --> 00:31:15.359 We tap into Him, rely on His power, 00:31:15.720 --> 00:31:18.220 pray for Him to continue pouring out His grace 00:31:18.220 --> 00:31:19.600 as He has promised 00:31:19.600 --> 00:31:21.920 so that His character increasingly 00:31:21.920 --> 00:31:23.480 overflows from His church 00:31:23.480 --> 00:31:25.380 so that we love the way He does 00:31:25.380 --> 00:31:29.440 so people recognize Him when they see us. 00:31:32.819 --> 00:31:33.940 Slow down this morning. 00:31:36.440 --> 00:31:38.420 I have to take a drink to make me slow down. 00:31:39.759 --> 00:31:42.039 Slow down and ask what God has taught you. 00:31:43.900 --> 00:31:45.759 How is He renewing you? 00:31:45.759 --> 00:31:49.319 How is He renewing us? 00:31:52.220 --> 00:31:53.960 I think it'd be great to write something down. 00:31:54.039 --> 00:31:54.960 That always helps me. 00:31:55.980 --> 00:31:58.259 He promises to do both of those things. 00:31:58.779 --> 00:32:01.460 He promises to be making you a new person 00:32:01.460 --> 00:32:04.920 and to be making us a new church. 00:32:06.559 --> 00:32:08.039 So think about those questions. 00:32:08.579 --> 00:32:09.319 In light of Ephesians, 00:32:09.379 --> 00:32:10.779 this may be the first Ephesians sermon 00:32:10.779 --> 00:32:11.460 you've heard all year. 00:32:11.500 --> 00:32:12.660 That's all right, you got the whole thing 00:32:12.660 --> 00:32:14.440 in one sitting, good strategy. 00:32:15.759 --> 00:32:17.279 You may have heard all 26. 00:32:18.080 --> 00:32:19.640 What's God teaching you? 00:32:20.380 --> 00:32:22.519 Where's He challenging your heart? 00:32:23.779 --> 00:32:24.920 How's He renewing you? 00:32:25.259 --> 00:32:26.700 How is He renewing us? 00:32:27.180 --> 00:32:28.420 Think not just of yourself, 00:32:28.560 --> 00:32:31.040 but of the church God has called you into. 00:32:32.500 --> 00:32:33.940 Encourage you to think about those, 00:32:34.019 --> 00:32:35.060 to write something down. 00:32:36.120 --> 00:32:36.980 In the meantime, 00:32:36.980 --> 00:32:38.559 I got to think ahead. 00:32:39.380 --> 00:32:41.559 So I asked myself those questions. 00:32:42.740 --> 00:32:44.759 God has changed me so much 00:32:44.759 --> 00:32:46.640 through this study this year. 00:32:47.460 --> 00:32:49.559 I'll just mention a couple of things 00:32:49.559 --> 00:32:50.120 that He's done 00:32:50.120 --> 00:32:51.259 because y'all don't want my whole list. 00:32:53.240 --> 00:32:54.620 A couple of things on mine. 00:32:54.759 --> 00:32:55.339 My view, 00:32:55.599 --> 00:32:57.200 and I think a little more slowly, 00:32:57.720 --> 00:32:59.900 my practice of prayer. 00:32:59.900 --> 00:33:03.140 I've seen the need for it, 00:33:03.600 --> 00:33:04.820 the need for myself, 00:33:05.560 --> 00:33:06.780 for my family, 00:33:07.360 --> 00:33:09.140 for my church family, 00:33:09.759 --> 00:33:12.420 the need for being dependent 00:33:12.420 --> 00:33:14.000 on God's power. 00:33:14.200 --> 00:33:15.580 How much I need that, 00:33:15.640 --> 00:33:16.500 I've seen it more. 00:33:16.820 --> 00:33:17.780 And at the same time, 00:33:17.840 --> 00:33:19.200 the beautiful thing about prayer 00:33:19.200 --> 00:33:20.400 that I've loved this year 00:33:20.400 --> 00:33:21.980 is God's provision 00:33:21.980 --> 00:33:23.180 that's equal to our need. 00:33:23.519 --> 00:33:25.220 We see more of our need for it. 00:33:25.259 --> 00:33:26.700 We also have greater confidence 00:33:26.700 --> 00:33:28.080 in Him and in His power. 00:33:28.079 --> 00:33:28.199 However, 00:33:29.319 --> 00:33:30.379 I'd ask you, 00:33:30.419 --> 00:33:31.819 are you more dependent on Him? 00:33:31.899 --> 00:33:33.379 Not just theoretically, 00:33:34.119 --> 00:33:35.199 would you say you were, 00:33:35.299 --> 00:33:36.899 but do you pray 00:33:36.899 --> 00:33:38.359 like you're more dependent on Him? 00:33:38.419 --> 00:33:39.139 Do you pray 00:33:39.139 --> 00:33:40.759 like you're more confident in Him? 00:33:41.220 --> 00:33:43.079 Like you really expect His power 00:33:43.079 --> 00:33:44.919 to come through for you? 00:33:47.579 --> 00:33:49.119 I think God is molded 00:33:49.119 --> 00:33:51.359 and is molding my view of the church 00:33:51.359 --> 00:33:53.879 through this book. 00:33:54.220 --> 00:33:56.059 I've seen more of the beauty 00:33:56.059 --> 00:33:57.960 of this church family. 00:33:58.939 --> 00:34:00.879 There's so much love here. 00:34:01.359 --> 00:34:03.279 So much that I'd love for us 00:34:03.279 --> 00:34:04.079 to be able to share 00:34:04.079 --> 00:34:05.799 with more and more people. 00:34:06.379 --> 00:34:07.839 And I've seen more of the barriers 00:34:07.839 --> 00:34:09.400 that can separate us from others 00:34:09.400 --> 00:34:11.239 and those who need to experience 00:34:11.239 --> 00:34:13.299 the love and grace of God 00:34:13.299 --> 00:34:14.739 that He's shown to us. 00:34:15.779 --> 00:34:17.019 As I've thought about it, 00:34:17.039 --> 00:34:18.699 I've realized the nearest schools 00:34:18.699 --> 00:34:19.519 to our building 00:34:19.519 --> 00:34:22.000 are noticeably more diverse 00:34:22.000 --> 00:34:22.880 in many ways 00:34:22.880 --> 00:34:23.840 than our sanctuary. 00:34:23.840 --> 00:34:27.200 And that that's true 00:34:27.200 --> 00:34:28.519 in no small part 00:34:28.519 --> 00:34:30.500 because they're more diverse 00:34:30.500 --> 00:34:32.280 than my circle of friends. 00:34:33.539 --> 00:34:34.980 And one of those 00:34:34.980 --> 00:34:36.780 is likely to drive the other. 00:34:37.300 --> 00:34:39.100 Who am I in relationship with? 00:34:39.300 --> 00:34:40.440 Listen, we have the message 00:34:40.440 --> 00:34:41.320 of the gospel, 00:34:41.760 --> 00:34:44.019 the hope for all kinds of people, 00:34:44.519 --> 00:34:46.019 the good news for those 00:34:46.019 --> 00:34:47.120 who are very different 00:34:47.120 --> 00:34:48.720 and don't look like us 00:34:48.719 --> 00:34:50.299 or live like us 00:34:50.299 --> 00:34:51.939 and we actually have 00:34:51.939 --> 00:34:53.159 the good news 00:34:53.159 --> 00:34:54.639 that they need to hear. 00:34:55.519 --> 00:34:56.519 Are we actually 00:34:56.519 --> 00:34:57.980 moving towards them? 00:34:58.799 --> 00:34:59.379 Who do you, 00:34:59.579 --> 00:35:00.379 who can you think of 00:35:00.379 --> 00:35:01.059 that would expect 00:35:01.059 --> 00:35:02.559 to be held at arm's length 00:35:02.559 --> 00:35:03.439 by Christians, 00:35:03.679 --> 00:35:04.419 by the church, 00:35:04.959 --> 00:35:07.059 that's gonna find a welcome 00:35:07.059 --> 00:35:08.139 at your dinner table? 00:35:08.839 --> 00:35:10.500 Maybe before they ever sit in here. 00:35:12.500 --> 00:35:13.879 Which brother or sister 00:35:13.880 --> 00:35:14.760 have you allowed 00:35:14.760 --> 00:35:16.000 your relationship 00:35:16.000 --> 00:35:17.360 to stay at arm's length 00:35:17.360 --> 00:35:19.519 rather than healing 00:35:19.519 --> 00:35:21.119 and bringing them in? 00:35:22.119 --> 00:35:23.420 I'm so excited 00:35:23.420 --> 00:35:24.619 about what God's gonna do 00:35:24.619 --> 00:35:25.220 at Southwood 00:35:25.220 --> 00:35:26.119 in the years ahead. 00:35:26.519 --> 00:35:27.780 It is so exciting 00:35:27.780 --> 00:35:28.539 to imagine 00:35:28.539 --> 00:35:30.220 what God will do. 00:35:30.700 --> 00:35:31.760 I believe part of 00:35:31.760 --> 00:35:32.300 what He's gonna do 00:35:32.300 --> 00:35:33.059 is He's gonna make us 00:35:33.059 --> 00:35:34.880 a refuge for people 00:35:34.880 --> 00:35:35.800 who are hurting, 00:35:36.559 --> 00:35:38.240 who are in a sense shipwrecked, 00:35:38.300 --> 00:35:39.980 whose lives have crashed. 00:35:40.660 --> 00:35:41.400 And we'll be able 00:35:41.400 --> 00:35:42.200 to be a refuge 00:35:42.200 --> 00:35:43.440 not because we're so great 00:35:43.440 --> 00:35:44.420 but because we're anchored 00:35:44.420 --> 00:35:45.139 to the rock. 00:35:46.119 --> 00:35:47.079 That we're gonna, 00:35:47.400 --> 00:35:48.280 by God's grace, 00:35:48.400 --> 00:35:49.380 hold on to truth. 00:35:49.420 --> 00:35:50.280 I believe that. 00:35:50.780 --> 00:35:52.000 I pray for that. 00:35:52.480 --> 00:35:53.980 But at the same time, 00:35:54.119 --> 00:35:55.220 not just hold on to the truth, 00:35:55.240 --> 00:35:55.980 we're gonna live out 00:35:55.980 --> 00:35:57.360 the unending, 00:35:57.840 --> 00:36:00.300 sacrificial love of God 00:36:00.300 --> 00:36:01.860 to all sorts of people 00:36:01.860 --> 00:36:03.480 because that's what's happening 00:36:03.480 --> 00:36:04.639 in our culture right now, 00:36:04.679 --> 00:36:05.019 isn't it? 00:36:05.220 --> 00:36:07.260 People are looking for safety. 00:36:07.500 --> 00:36:08.780 They're looking for fulfillment. 00:36:09.619 --> 00:36:10.059 They're looking 00:36:10.059 --> 00:36:11.260 in all sorts of places. 00:36:11.599 --> 00:36:13.139 They've got different worldviews. 00:36:13.139 --> 00:36:14.319 They've got different answers 00:36:14.319 --> 00:36:15.579 to the questions you ask. 00:36:15.819 --> 00:36:16.460 They're trying out 00:36:16.460 --> 00:36:17.239 different behaviors. 00:36:17.599 --> 00:36:18.199 They're trying out 00:36:18.199 --> 00:36:18.940 different beliefs. 00:36:19.059 --> 00:36:20.599 They think about things differently. 00:36:21.659 --> 00:36:22.500 And they're looking 00:36:22.500 --> 00:36:23.779 in all sorts of places 00:36:23.779 --> 00:36:26.799 to find what God provides 00:36:26.799 --> 00:36:28.039 through Jesus, 00:36:28.319 --> 00:36:29.879 to provide the relationship 00:36:29.879 --> 00:36:31.819 that is ours in Him. 00:36:32.059 --> 00:36:33.000 And what's gonna happen 00:36:33.000 --> 00:36:33.960 is that the world's going 00:36:33.960 --> 00:36:34.879 to let them down. 00:36:34.880 --> 00:36:37.800 they'll end up disappointed 00:36:37.800 --> 00:36:39.240 and hurting 00:36:39.240 --> 00:36:41.559 and distressed, 00:36:42.019 --> 00:36:42.579 fearful, 00:36:42.900 --> 00:36:44.800 not able to find the answers. 00:36:45.240 --> 00:36:46.440 And they'll be hopeless. 00:36:48.059 --> 00:36:49.920 And the great opportunity for us 00:36:49.920 --> 00:36:50.920 is to be found 00:36:50.920 --> 00:36:52.099 not shaking our heads, 00:36:53.680 --> 00:36:55.700 looking in all the wrong places. 00:36:56.200 --> 00:36:57.260 Wish you would've looked 00:36:57.260 --> 00:36:57.880 where I looked. 00:36:57.880 --> 00:37:00.780 not in shaking our heads, 00:37:01.619 --> 00:37:03.539 but in showing them grace, 00:37:04.300 --> 00:37:06.240 in welcoming them in, 00:37:06.480 --> 00:37:07.420 in pointing them 00:37:07.420 --> 00:37:08.780 to a God of truth 00:37:08.780 --> 00:37:09.960 and love 00:37:09.960 --> 00:37:11.260 that they've been looking for 00:37:11.260 --> 00:37:12.720 and didn't even realize it. 00:37:14.840 --> 00:37:15.519 Don't you want 00:37:15.519 --> 00:37:16.180 to be a part of that? 00:37:17.300 --> 00:37:18.059 Isn't that something 00:37:18.059 --> 00:37:19.460 that you'd love 00:37:19.460 --> 00:37:20.760 not just to see 00:37:20.760 --> 00:37:21.380 from a distance, 00:37:21.519 --> 00:37:22.539 but actually get to 00:37:22.539 --> 00:37:23.599 be a part of, 00:37:23.760 --> 00:37:24.900 to get engaged in, 00:37:24.900 --> 00:37:27.260 that as the flood of people 00:37:27.260 --> 00:37:28.680 would come running in, 00:37:28.880 --> 00:37:30.920 as the Spirit moves, 00:37:31.220 --> 00:37:32.880 as Jesus is lifted up 00:37:32.880 --> 00:37:34.460 and people find Him 00:37:34.460 --> 00:37:35.720 as their place of refuge 00:37:35.720 --> 00:37:36.200 and say, 00:37:36.500 --> 00:37:37.400 oh, that's what my heart 00:37:37.400 --> 00:37:38.539 has been longing for. 00:37:38.880 --> 00:37:39.800 Don't you want to be there 00:37:39.800 --> 00:37:40.820 and be a part of that? 00:37:41.079 --> 00:37:41.800 Don't you want to be 00:37:41.800 --> 00:37:42.820 bandaging their wounds? 00:37:44.059 --> 00:37:44.960 Don't you want to be 00:37:44.960 --> 00:37:46.180 giving hugs, 00:37:46.720 --> 00:37:47.760 sharing smiles, 00:37:47.920 --> 00:37:48.980 offering hope? 00:37:51.099 --> 00:37:52.200 Getting to actually 00:37:52.200 --> 00:37:53.599 be a part of the 00:37:53.599 --> 00:37:54.740 incredible things 00:37:54.739 --> 00:37:56.139 God is going to do 00:37:56.139 --> 00:37:57.179 because He is 00:37:57.179 --> 00:37:58.019 and He lets us 00:37:58.019 --> 00:37:58.739 be a part of it. 00:37:59.899 --> 00:38:00.419 I want to leave you 00:38:00.419 --> 00:38:01.399 with one last image. 00:38:02.679 --> 00:38:03.459 One more picture 00:38:03.459 --> 00:38:04.659 of Team Hoyt. 00:38:06.439 --> 00:38:07.359 When you see them 00:38:07.359 --> 00:38:08.739 crossing the finish line, 00:38:08.879 --> 00:38:10.299 you almost always see 00:38:10.299 --> 00:38:11.759 Rick, the son's 00:38:11.759 --> 00:38:13.539 excitement. 00:38:14.319 --> 00:38:15.139 Usually he's pumping 00:38:15.139 --> 00:38:16.219 his fist like that. 00:38:16.339 --> 00:38:17.319 They're finishing 00:38:17.319 --> 00:38:18.439 a race here. 00:38:18.699 --> 00:38:19.219 Yeah! 00:38:19.959 --> 00:38:21.000 I did it! 00:38:21.659 --> 00:38:22.659 Finished the marathon! 00:38:22.659 --> 00:38:24.579 The joy, 00:38:24.779 --> 00:38:25.819 the excitement, 00:38:26.539 --> 00:38:27.299 the celebrating. 00:38:27.599 --> 00:38:28.759 I look at him 00:38:28.759 --> 00:38:29.940 and I see myself 00:38:29.940 --> 00:38:30.859 in Rick. 00:38:32.119 --> 00:38:33.420 I see us in Rick. 00:38:34.279 --> 00:38:34.839 Aren't you going to be 00:38:34.839 --> 00:38:35.299 celebrating? 00:38:35.879 --> 00:38:37.019 Wouldn't that be so exciting 00:38:37.019 --> 00:38:37.940 that God starts to 00:38:37.940 --> 00:38:39.199 do things 00:38:39.199 --> 00:38:40.099 and continues 00:38:40.099 --> 00:38:41.279 to do things 00:38:41.279 --> 00:38:41.980 in Huntsville 00:38:41.980 --> 00:38:43.219 and we get to be 00:38:43.219 --> 00:38:43.859 a part of it? 00:38:44.759 --> 00:38:45.980 And we'll be so excited 00:38:45.980 --> 00:38:46.859 and we'll be celebrating 00:38:46.859 --> 00:38:47.639 and high-fiving 00:38:47.639 --> 00:38:48.759 and pumping our fists. 00:38:48.760 --> 00:38:52.740 And yet at the same time 00:38:52.740 --> 00:38:53.540 realizing that 00:38:53.540 --> 00:38:56.280 we really didn't 00:38:56.280 --> 00:38:57.680 have a lot to do with it. 00:38:57.820 --> 00:38:58.720 Who deserves 00:38:58.720 --> 00:38:59.320 all the credit? 00:38:59.760 --> 00:39:01.040 Is anybody confused 00:39:01.040 --> 00:39:01.760 at the end of the race 00:39:01.760 --> 00:39:02.720 who gets the credit here? 00:39:03.840 --> 00:39:04.420 Who's been 00:39:04.420 --> 00:39:05.780 the power source 00:39:05.780 --> 00:39:06.840 of this whole operation? 00:39:09.260 --> 00:39:09.960 God says, 00:39:10.060 --> 00:39:10.300 listen, 00:39:11.460 --> 00:39:12.540 stay connected 00:39:12.540 --> 00:39:13.580 to Christ. 00:39:14.740 --> 00:39:15.880 Press into him. 00:39:16.600 --> 00:39:17.380 Stay there. 00:39:17.380 --> 00:39:19.000 Don't move past it. 00:39:19.200 --> 00:39:20.400 I've got great things 00:39:20.400 --> 00:39:20.820 for you. 00:39:21.039 --> 00:39:21.400 In fact, 00:39:21.500 --> 00:39:22.300 beyond anything 00:39:22.300 --> 00:39:23.079 you could ask 00:39:23.079 --> 00:39:23.820 or imagine, 00:39:24.360 --> 00:39:25.180 we're going to make 00:39:25.180 --> 00:39:26.300 triathlons seem 00:39:26.300 --> 00:39:27.380 like child's play. 00:39:28.260 --> 00:39:29.260 He's absolutely 00:39:29.260 --> 00:39:30.200 committed to that. 00:39:30.559 --> 00:39:31.599 To doing things 00:39:31.599 --> 00:39:32.200 that are beyond 00:39:32.200 --> 00:39:33.059 what we could ask 00:39:33.059 --> 00:39:33.660 or imagine. 00:39:34.599 --> 00:39:35.000 Isn't that how 00:39:35.000 --> 00:39:36.180 he's always related to us? 00:39:36.900 --> 00:39:37.960 That we get to have 00:39:37.960 --> 00:39:38.539 this joy. 00:39:38.660 --> 00:39:40.320 Our joy becomes great. 00:39:40.440 --> 00:39:41.019 We love it. 00:39:41.280 --> 00:39:42.240 We experience it 00:39:42.240 --> 00:39:43.000 and at the same time 00:39:43.000 --> 00:39:44.780 his glory is great. 00:39:45.480 --> 00:39:46.420 He gets the glory 00:39:46.420 --> 00:39:47.180 and we get to be 00:39:47.180 --> 00:39:47.920 a part of it. 00:39:48.240 --> 00:39:49.680 He's always treated us 00:39:49.680 --> 00:39:50.240 like that. 00:39:50.599 --> 00:39:51.400 He poured out 00:39:51.400 --> 00:39:52.300 his grace to us 00:39:52.300 --> 00:39:53.639 to overflowing 00:39:53.639 --> 00:39:54.599 in our salvation. 00:39:55.539 --> 00:39:56.559 To the praise 00:39:56.559 --> 00:39:58.039 of his glorious grace, 00:39:58.139 --> 00:39:58.380 right? 00:39:58.800 --> 00:39:59.320 That it would be 00:39:59.320 --> 00:40:00.320 all about him 00:40:00.320 --> 00:40:02.659 even when he saved us. 00:40:03.340 --> 00:40:03.900 And he's going 00:40:03.900 --> 00:40:05.480 to keep pouring it out. 00:40:05.720 --> 00:40:06.880 To keep working 00:40:06.880 --> 00:40:08.119 in and through us 00:40:08.119 --> 00:40:08.740 and we'll get 00:40:08.740 --> 00:40:09.360 to enjoy it. 00:40:09.539 --> 00:40:10.180 We'll get to pump 00:40:10.180 --> 00:40:10.800 our fists. 00:40:11.159 --> 00:40:11.800 Don't you love that? 00:40:11.800 --> 00:40:12.480 Yes! 00:40:13.120 --> 00:40:13.820 We did it! 00:40:14.340 --> 00:40:15.380 We finished! 00:40:15.620 --> 00:40:16.360 It happened! 00:40:20.360 --> 00:40:21.160 And there will be 00:40:21.160 --> 00:40:21.560 the Father. 00:40:23.519 --> 00:40:24.360 He'll be there. 00:40:25.120 --> 00:40:26.480 The one without whom 00:40:26.480 --> 00:40:27.380 we couldn't have 00:40:27.380 --> 00:40:29.019 entered the race. 00:40:30.500 --> 00:40:32.200 The one who's carried us 00:40:32.200 --> 00:40:34.560 all the way along. 00:40:35.000 --> 00:40:36.340 Every step of the way 00:40:36.340 --> 00:40:37.460 the one who's 00:40:37.460 --> 00:40:39.019 done the work. 00:40:39.760 --> 00:40:40.820 And he'll always be there. 00:40:40.820 --> 00:40:41.120 Why? 00:40:41.580 --> 00:40:42.320 Why do we know that? 00:40:43.180 --> 00:40:43.900 Why when he does 00:40:43.900 --> 00:40:44.820 those great things? 00:40:45.440 --> 00:40:46.220 When he even lets us 00:40:46.220 --> 00:40:47.000 be a part of it? 00:40:47.360 --> 00:40:47.840 Why do we know 00:40:47.840 --> 00:40:48.500 he's going to be there? 00:40:48.580 --> 00:40:49.640 Because we're connected 00:40:49.640 --> 00:40:51.880 to him in Christ. 00:40:53.280 --> 00:40:54.360 Connected in Christ 00:40:54.360 --> 00:40:55.720 forever 00:40:55.720 --> 00:40:58.300 to the praise 00:40:58.300 --> 00:41:01.039 of his glorious grace. 00:41:01.760 --> 00:41:02.300 Pray with me. 00:41:02.300 --> 00:41:10.980 Father, we want 00:41:10.980 --> 00:41:12.660 to see that happen. 00:41:12.760 --> 00:41:13.360 We want to be 00:41:13.360 --> 00:41:14.100 a part of that. 00:41:15.640 --> 00:41:16.320 Would we, 00:41:16.420 --> 00:41:16.980 your church, 00:41:17.840 --> 00:41:19.980 being rooted 00:41:19.980 --> 00:41:21.060 and established 00:41:21.060 --> 00:41:21.680 in love, 00:41:22.780 --> 00:41:23.660 have power 00:41:23.660 --> 00:41:25.280 together with 00:41:25.280 --> 00:41:26.280 all the saints 00:41:26.280 --> 00:41:27.680 to grasp 00:41:27.680 --> 00:41:28.620 how wide 00:41:28.619 --> 00:41:29.920 and long 00:41:29.920 --> 00:41:31.139 and high 00:41:31.139 --> 00:41:32.179 and deep 00:41:32.179 --> 00:41:33.099 is the love 00:41:33.099 --> 00:41:33.719 of Christ. 00:41:34.559 --> 00:41:35.359 And to know 00:41:35.359 --> 00:41:36.319 that love 00:41:36.319 --> 00:41:37.579 that surpasses 00:41:37.579 --> 00:41:38.099 knowledge 00:41:38.099 --> 00:41:39.079 that we would be 00:41:39.079 --> 00:41:40.219 filled to the measure 00:41:40.219 --> 00:41:41.619 of all the fullness 00:41:41.619 --> 00:41:43.539 of God. 00:41:43.619 --> 00:41:44.619 Would you do that 00:41:44.619 --> 00:41:45.400 for the glory 00:41:45.400 --> 00:41:46.199 of your name? 00:41:47.199 --> 00:41:47.500 Amen. 00:41:47.500 --> 00:41:47.619 Amen. 00:41:51.619 --> 00:41:53.159 For more information, 00:41:53.539 --> 00:41:54.460 visit us online 00:41:54.460 --> 00:41:55.760 at southwood.org.