WEBVTT

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 We'll spend some time today in Ephesians chapter 5, verses 11 through 17.

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 But you may have noticed, perhaps you have a bulletin,

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 that instead of a text for today's sermon, which is normative for us, there is a title,

00:00:17.440 --> 00:00:21.199
 Building a Resilient Church Culture, Part One.

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 A little over a year ago, I preached this sermon, and your elders now, a year later,

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 thought it wise to revisit the idea and develop it further.

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 So today, I'll re-preach that sermon, some small edits,

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 and then in the coming five weeks, Lord willing, we will think together about each of my five sub-points,

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 which I'll cover in brief this morning.

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 Before we get started, I want to note a few things.

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 Number one, as a general practice, we preach expositional sermons.

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 Most simply put, this means that we take for the sermon's point or points,

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 the main point or points of that week's text.

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 We exegete the text, right?

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 The text drives what we're doing together, it speaks to us.

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 We read it, explain it, and we give application from it.

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 But we are careful not to eisegete a text or read into the text what we want to see in the text.

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 And this is why we tend to preach verse by verse,

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 because it lends itself toward good exegesis and away from eisegesis,

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 although it's still possible to do so.

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 However, from time to time, a topical sermon has its place,

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 which is what I will be doing this morning.

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 And I just want you to know that you should be especially discerning sitting under topical preaching.

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 Number two, I am not trying to be an alarmist this morning.

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 The elders of the church don't want to come off as alarmists.

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 That said, we feel a burden to prepare you for challenges that we believe are coming.

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 It's our hope that you know us well enough to know that we love you very much,

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 and we want good for you,

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 and above that, we want glory for our God.

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 And thirdly, I will not have nearly enough time this morning or in the coming five weeks to exhaust this topic.

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 So we will need to talk more about it,

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 both in our formal gather times and in our informal day-to-day gathering.

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 This needs to be a primer for more conversation.

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 I've thought a lot about this, but my thinking is not done.

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 I do hope that you will ask questions,

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 that you will push at my thinking,

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 and that you will spend time with the Lord and His Word

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 as you consider the days in which we live.

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 So, Ephesians chapter 5, beginning in verse 11 and following,

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 before I read it, let me remind you, beloved, that this is God's Word to us,

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 that it was written for His glory and our good.

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 And so we would all do well to listen to it in order to believe its promises

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 and to obey its commands.

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 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness,

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 but instead expose them.

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 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret.

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 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible.

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 For anything that becomes visible is light.

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 Therefore it says,

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 Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead,

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 and Christ will shine on you.

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 Look carefully then how you walk,

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 not as unwise but as wise,

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 making the best use of the time because the days are evil.

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 Therefore do not be foolish,

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 but understand what the will of the Lord is.

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 So we are exhorted in this text

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 to not participate in the unfruitful works of darkness,

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 but rather to expose them.

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 By which he means to expose them as unfruitful works of darkness.

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 Show them for what they are.

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 Paul has previously given a sampling of the unfruitful works

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 that he is referring to beginning in chapter 5 and verse 3.

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 Sexual immorality, impurity, covetousness, idolatry,

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 filthy talk, foolish talk, crude joking.

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 I don't think that Paul means for us to understand this list as exhaustive,

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 but to give us an idea of those things that we are meant to avoid and to expose.

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 He juxtaposes this kind of unfruitful living

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 with a living that we must assume would be fruitful,

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 if it's to be the opposite of the unfruitful living.

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 Verse 15,

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 Look carefully then how you walk,

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 not as unwise,

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 but as wise,

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 making the best use of the time because the days are evil.

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 Therefore do not be foolish,

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 but understand what the will of the Lord is.

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 So the fruitful life,

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 Paul tells us,

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 is in part

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 careful

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 and wise

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 and efficient

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 and informed.

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 And he is exhorting this kind of caution

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 because our time is limited

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 and because the days are

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 evil.

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 By God's divine appointing,

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 he has made us Christians

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 in the 21st century,

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 assuming that you are

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 in Christ.

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 He has made us

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 for this time.

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 So to be clear,

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 these are

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 our evil days.

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 This text,

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 originally written to these Ephesian believers,

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 was also written for us

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 and has bearing on our lives

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 today.

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 So we must ask,

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 what are the particular evils

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 of our day?

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 What unfruitful works of darkness

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 are we meant

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 to be exposing?

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 And to be clear,

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 there are so

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 many.

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 The list goes on

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 and on.

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 Today,

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 I want us to consider

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 a particular

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 rising tide

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 as we think about

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 this need

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 to build a resilient

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 church culture.

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 It's a rising tide

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 that is making

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 ground inland

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 at a steady rate.

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 One that we will have

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 to build a resilient

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 church children

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 to stand against.

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 We're going to have to do it

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 if we're going to

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 survive.

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 And this particular evil

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 is the evil

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 of the redefinition

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 of our

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 anthropology.

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 Who we are

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 and why

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 we exist.

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 This redefinition

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 is happening

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 on multiple fronts

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 and I'm sure

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 this is not

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 exhaustive.

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 It's happening

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 as it concerns

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 the unborn.

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 Unborn children

00:07:06.559 --> 00:07:07.239
 are defined as

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 babies if they are

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 wanted,

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 fetuses if they are

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 unwanted.

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 And praise be to God

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 that Roe and Casey

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 have been overturned,

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 but this cultural evil

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 still

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 exists.

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 This is happening

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 in the case of

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 men and women.

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 It's fine,

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 gender as social

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 constructs and not

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 biological

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 definitions.

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 This happens

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 as it concerns

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 minorities,

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 which these days

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 seems to be any

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 human who is

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 not white

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 and straight.

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 And these minorities

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 are necessarily

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 viewed as

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 oppressed.

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 Now,

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 we certainly

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 don't have time

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 today to explore

00:07:45.980 --> 00:07:46.960
 each of these ideas

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 and look to the

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 scripture for the

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 answers,

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 although it does

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 have the answers.

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 But we need to

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 have our eyes

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 open to the fact

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 that each of

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 these ideologies

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 stand in

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 contradiction

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 to the scripture.

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 To hold a

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 Christian worldview

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 of the sanctity

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 of human life,

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 the biological

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 assignment of

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 gender by our

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 God,

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 the proper

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 exercise of

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 sexuality within

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 a biblical

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 marriage,

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 and a God-ordered

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 justice,

00:08:13.480 --> 00:08:14.740
 will make us

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 more uncomfortable

00:08:15.740 --> 00:08:16.400
 in the coming

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 years than I

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 think most of

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 us are ready

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 for.

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 I think things

00:08:20.860 --> 00:08:21.100
 are going to

00:08:21.100 --> 00:08:21.819
 be tougher

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 than you might

00:08:22.980 --> 00:08:23.720
 imagine.

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 Your elders'

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 concern for the

00:08:27.139 --> 00:08:28.579
 church is that

00:08:28.579 --> 00:08:29.180
 we will have to

00:08:29.180 --> 00:08:29.879
 be deliberate

00:08:29.879 --> 00:08:30.780
 in our efforts

00:08:30.780 --> 00:08:31.819
 to build a

00:08:31.819 --> 00:08:33.060
 resilient church

00:08:33.060 --> 00:08:34.860
 culture as our

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 society swiftly

00:08:35.879 --> 00:08:37.120
 moves toward

00:08:37.120 --> 00:08:38.879
 totalitarianism.

00:08:40.080 --> 00:08:40.480
 Now,

00:08:41.139 --> 00:08:42.100
 totalitarianism

00:08:42.100 --> 00:08:43.600
 is a system

00:08:43.600 --> 00:08:44.580
 requiring

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 complete

00:08:45.700 --> 00:08:46.800
 subservience.

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 It has

00:08:48.120 --> 00:08:49.120
 at its head

00:08:49.120 --> 00:08:49.720
 some set of

00:08:49.720 --> 00:08:50.200
 ideas,

00:08:50.460 --> 00:08:50.820
 and if you

00:08:50.820 --> 00:08:51.860
 don't fall in

00:08:51.860 --> 00:08:52.180
 line with

00:08:52.180 --> 00:08:52.580
 every one of

00:08:52.580 --> 00:08:53.220
 those ideas,

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 then you do

00:08:54.360 --> 00:08:54.980
 not belong.

00:08:56.040 --> 00:08:56.639
 You will,

00:08:57.019 --> 00:08:57.659
 in the case of

00:08:57.659 --> 00:08:58.899
 hard totalitarianism,

00:08:59.279 --> 00:09:00.560
 be put in the

00:09:00.560 --> 00:09:01.899
 gulags of

00:09:01.899 --> 00:09:03.980
 communist Russia.

00:09:04.860 --> 00:09:05.019
 So,

00:09:05.220 --> 00:09:06.180
 hard totalitarianism

00:09:06.180 --> 00:09:06.940
 comes in the form

00:09:06.940 --> 00:09:07.600
 of these kind of

00:09:07.600 --> 00:09:08.180
 regimes,

00:09:08.360 --> 00:09:08.620
 right,

00:09:08.620 --> 00:09:09.899
 that rule and

00:09:09.899 --> 00:09:11.539
 reign over a

00:09:11.539 --> 00:09:11.860
 people.

00:09:12.399 --> 00:09:13.139
 You step out of

00:09:13.139 --> 00:09:13.480
 line,

00:09:13.940 --> 00:09:14.519
 you're punished.

00:09:16.659 --> 00:09:17.759
 Soft totalitarianism

00:09:17.759 --> 00:09:19.700
 is what we're

00:09:19.700 --> 00:09:20.379
 going to experience

00:09:20.379 --> 00:09:21.159
 in our day,

00:09:21.240 --> 00:09:21.940
 at least for

00:09:21.940 --> 00:09:22.600
 some time,

00:09:22.679 --> 00:09:23.480
 and probably

00:09:23.480 --> 00:09:24.700
 just soft

00:09:24.700 --> 00:09:25.580
 totalitarianism.

00:09:26.100 --> 00:09:26.799
 Those of you who

00:09:26.799 --> 00:09:27.179
 know me know

00:09:27.179 --> 00:09:27.879
 that I'm not

00:09:27.879 --> 00:09:28.200
 much of an

00:09:28.200 --> 00:09:28.560
 optimist,

00:09:28.620 --> 00:09:28.919
 but in this

00:09:28.919 --> 00:09:29.220
 case,

00:09:29.600 --> 00:09:31.340
 I'll say it'll

00:09:31.340 --> 00:09:32.419
 likely come just

00:09:32.419 --> 00:09:33.039
 in the form of

00:09:33.039 --> 00:09:34.379
 soft totalitarianism,

00:09:34.539 --> 00:09:35.940
 which means it

00:09:35.940 --> 00:09:36.799
 will be coerced

00:09:36.799 --> 00:09:37.840
 by the economy

00:09:37.840 --> 00:09:39.200
 and will be

00:09:39.200 --> 00:09:40.240
 policed on

00:09:40.240 --> 00:09:41.540
 social media.

00:09:42.440 --> 00:09:43.060
 Just as an

00:09:43.060 --> 00:09:43.399
 example,

00:09:43.560 --> 00:09:44.060
 think for a

00:09:44.060 --> 00:09:44.379
 moment,

00:09:44.580 --> 00:09:45.000
 since the

00:09:45.000 --> 00:09:45.639
 overturning of

00:09:45.639 --> 00:09:46.340
 Roe and Casey,

00:09:46.560 --> 00:09:46.879
 how many

00:09:46.879 --> 00:09:47.740
 companies have

00:09:47.740 --> 00:09:49.560
 morally postured

00:09:49.560 --> 00:09:51.040
 themselves as

00:09:51.040 --> 00:09:52.200
 being for

00:09:52.200 --> 00:09:54.399
 quote-unquote

00:09:54.399 --> 00:09:56.040
 feminine rights,

00:09:56.440 --> 00:09:56.720
 right?

00:09:57.740 --> 00:09:58.379
 We have to be

00:09:58.379 --> 00:09:59.500
 thinking about

00:09:59.500 --> 00:10:00.879
 what brand of

00:10:00.879 --> 00:10:01.660
 pants we wear.

00:10:01.840 --> 00:10:02.320
 I don't want to

00:10:02.320 --> 00:10:02.820
 think about what

00:10:02.820 --> 00:10:03.519
 brand of pants I

00:10:03.519 --> 00:10:03.639
 wear.

00:10:03.660 --> 00:10:03.960
 I just want to

00:10:03.960 --> 00:10:04.680
 wear the pants.

00:10:05.940 --> 00:10:06.420
 I just want a

00:10:06.420 --> 00:10:07.120
 pant company to be

00:10:07.120 --> 00:10:07.820
 a pant company

00:10:07.820 --> 00:10:08.500
 and not be

00:10:08.500 --> 00:10:09.919
 politically and

00:10:09.919 --> 00:10:11.720
 socially engaged,

00:10:12.139 --> 00:10:12.360
 right?

00:10:13.700 --> 00:10:14.360
 But in a

00:10:14.360 --> 00:10:15.200
 growing sense,

00:10:15.539 --> 00:10:16.460
 if you're not

00:10:16.460 --> 00:10:16.940
 on board,

00:10:17.039 --> 00:10:17.720
 then you're

00:10:17.720 --> 00:10:19.060
 canceled,

00:10:19.519 --> 00:10:19.659
 right?

00:10:19.899 --> 00:10:20.539
 Cut out of

00:10:20.539 --> 00:10:21.080
 society,

00:10:21.480 --> 00:10:23.279
 ostracized as

00:10:23.279 --> 00:10:23.779
 a result.

00:10:25.159 --> 00:10:25.919
 I think,

00:10:26.019 --> 00:10:26.539
 just as a

00:10:26.539 --> 00:10:27.259
 kind of high

00:10:27.259 --> 00:10:27.899
 view observation,

00:10:28.240 --> 00:10:28.940
 that the highest

00:10:28.940 --> 00:10:29.679
 value of

00:10:29.679 --> 00:10:30.740
 Americans is

00:10:30.740 --> 00:10:31.460
 comfort.

00:10:32.440 --> 00:10:32.759
 It's what

00:10:32.759 --> 00:10:33.840
 Americans generally,

00:10:34.060 --> 00:10:34.720
 it's true of us

00:10:34.720 --> 00:10:34.899
 too.

00:10:34.899 --> 00:10:35.439
 What we like

00:10:35.439 --> 00:10:35.840
 more than

00:10:35.840 --> 00:10:37.059
 anything is

00:10:37.059 --> 00:10:38.439
 our comfort.

00:10:39.600 --> 00:10:40.279
 Our second

00:10:40.279 --> 00:10:41.039
 highest value,

00:10:41.679 --> 00:10:42.259
 until it gets

00:10:42.259 --> 00:10:43.139
 in the way of

00:10:43.139 --> 00:10:43.480
 the highest

00:10:43.480 --> 00:10:43.840
 value,

00:10:43.919 --> 00:10:44.159
 is our

00:10:44.159 --> 00:10:44.620
 autonomy.

00:10:44.980 --> 00:10:45.379
 We want to

00:10:45.379 --> 00:10:45.779
 do what we

00:10:45.779 --> 00:10:46.139
 want to do,

00:10:46.199 --> 00:10:46.639
 when we want

00:10:46.639 --> 00:10:47.000
 to do it,

00:10:47.019 --> 00:10:47.699
 unless we're

00:10:47.699 --> 00:10:48.079
 uncomfortable,

00:10:48.360 --> 00:10:48.980
 and then you

00:10:48.980 --> 00:10:49.360
 can tell us

00:10:49.360 --> 00:10:49.699
 whatever you

00:10:49.699 --> 00:10:50.019
 want us to

00:10:50.019 --> 00:10:50.220
 do.

00:10:51.480 --> 00:10:52.199
 We saw this

00:10:52.199 --> 00:10:52.759
 play out

00:10:52.759 --> 00:10:54.000
 across a

00:10:54.000 --> 00:10:54.720
 recent pandemic,

00:10:55.240 --> 00:10:55.399
 right?

00:10:55.759 --> 00:10:56.419
 Able to give

00:10:56.419 --> 00:10:57.259
 up so much

00:10:57.259 --> 00:10:57.899
 if you just

00:10:57.899 --> 00:10:58.779
 keep me

00:10:58.779 --> 00:10:59.779
 comfortable,

00:11:00.120 --> 00:11:00.299
 right?

00:11:00.639 --> 00:11:01.340
 Don't cast

00:11:01.340 --> 00:11:01.740
 me out.

00:11:01.879 --> 00:11:02.519
 Don't cancel

00:11:02.519 --> 00:11:02.759
 me.

00:11:04.079 --> 00:11:04.659
 Don't call

00:11:04.659 --> 00:11:05.199
 me out on

00:11:05.199 --> 00:11:05.539
 the streets

00:11:05.539 --> 00:11:05.819
 or in the

00:11:05.819 --> 00:11:06.419
 grocery store.

00:11:08.259 --> 00:11:08.939
 We are going

00:11:08.939 --> 00:11:09.179
 to get

00:11:09.179 --> 00:11:10.220
 pressed more

00:11:10.220 --> 00:11:10.679
 and more

00:11:10.679 --> 00:11:11.059
 and more

00:11:11.059 --> 00:11:11.460
 by this

00:11:11.460 --> 00:11:12.220
 society to

00:11:12.220 --> 00:11:13.039
 toe a line

00:11:13.039 --> 00:11:14.000
 that if we're

00:11:14.000 --> 00:11:14.460
 to be biblical

00:11:14.460 --> 00:11:14.879
 Christians,

00:11:14.879 --> 00:11:15.559
 we will not

00:11:15.559 --> 00:11:16.240
 be able to

00:11:16.240 --> 00:11:16.439
 toe.

00:11:16.919 --> 00:11:17.500
 It just

00:11:17.500 --> 00:11:17.879
 won't be

00:11:17.879 --> 00:11:19.100
 possible to

00:11:19.100 --> 00:11:19.559
 do so.

00:11:20.860 --> 00:11:21.519
 If we are

00:11:21.519 --> 00:11:21.840
 to be a

00:11:21.840 --> 00:11:22.399
 people who

00:11:22.399 --> 00:11:22.620
 have been

00:11:22.620 --> 00:11:23.340
 awakened by

00:11:23.340 --> 00:11:23.919
 the gospel

00:11:23.919 --> 00:11:24.379
 of Jesus

00:11:24.379 --> 00:11:24.939
 Christ,

00:11:25.939 --> 00:11:26.679
 then we're

00:11:26.679 --> 00:11:27.199
 going to need

00:11:27.199 --> 00:11:27.939
 to look

00:11:27.939 --> 00:11:29.279
 carefully how

00:11:29.279 --> 00:11:30.220
 we walk.

00:11:30.840 --> 00:11:31.259
 We're going

00:11:31.259 --> 00:11:32.720
 to be wise,

00:11:32.819 --> 00:11:33.700
 verse 15.

00:11:34.460 --> 00:11:34.960
 We're going

00:11:34.960 --> 00:11:35.220
 to need

00:11:35.220 --> 00:11:35.919
 to make

00:11:35.919 --> 00:11:36.399
 the best

00:11:36.399 --> 00:11:36.740
 use of

00:11:36.740 --> 00:11:37.319
 the time.

00:11:37.659 --> 00:11:37.919
 Why?

00:11:38.919 --> 00:11:39.460
 Because the

00:11:39.460 --> 00:11:39.819
 days are

00:11:39.819 --> 00:11:40.419
 evil.

00:11:41.419 --> 00:11:41.960
 We ought

00:11:41.960 --> 00:11:42.460
 not be

00:11:42.460 --> 00:11:43.539
 foolish.

00:11:44.120 --> 00:11:44.659
 We need

00:11:44.659 --> 00:11:45.159
 to understand

00:11:45.159 --> 00:11:45.779
 the way

00:11:45.779 --> 00:11:46.960
 of our

00:11:46.960 --> 00:11:47.240
 Lord.

00:11:48.519 --> 00:11:48.939
 We ought

00:11:48.939 --> 00:11:49.539
 to be wise

00:11:49.539 --> 00:11:50.460
 and unfoolish

00:11:50.460 --> 00:11:51.220
 because God

00:11:51.220 --> 00:11:51.799
 has saved

00:11:51.799 --> 00:11:53.360
 us from

00:11:53.360 --> 00:11:54.519
 our foolishness.

00:11:56.059 --> 00:11:57.159
 Verse 13,

00:11:57.519 --> 00:11:57.960
 when anything

00:11:57.960 --> 00:11:58.559
 is exposed

00:11:58.559 --> 00:11:59.120
 by the light,

00:11:59.200 --> 00:11:59.659
 it becomes

00:11:59.659 --> 00:12:00.679
 visible.

00:12:01.259 --> 00:12:01.720
 For anything

00:12:01.720 --> 00:12:02.120
 that becomes

00:12:02.120 --> 00:12:02.700
 visible is

00:12:02.700 --> 00:12:02.980
 light.

00:12:03.100 --> 00:12:03.360
 Therefore,

00:12:03.480 --> 00:12:04.299
 it says,

00:12:05.179 --> 00:12:05.639
 Awake,

00:12:05.740 --> 00:12:06.439
 O sleeper,

00:12:06.539 --> 00:12:07.220
 and arise

00:12:07.220 --> 00:12:07.559
 from the

00:12:07.559 --> 00:12:07.819
 dead,

00:12:07.860 --> 00:12:08.419
 and Christ

00:12:08.419 --> 00:12:09.200
 will shine

00:12:09.200 --> 00:12:10.500
 on you.

00:12:11.819 --> 00:12:12.139
 And this

00:12:12.139 --> 00:12:12.539
 is a

00:12:12.539 --> 00:12:13.100
 citation

00:12:13.100 --> 00:12:13.840
 from Isaiah

00:12:13.840 --> 00:12:14.960
 chapter 60

00:12:14.960 --> 00:12:15.679
 and verse

00:12:15.679 --> 00:12:16.539
 1,

00:12:17.139 --> 00:12:17.720
 loosely,

00:12:18.240 --> 00:12:18.879
 which says,

00:12:19.039 --> 00:12:19.600
 Arise,

00:12:19.819 --> 00:12:20.200
 shine,

00:12:20.340 --> 00:12:20.679
 for your

00:12:20.679 --> 00:12:21.259
 light has

00:12:21.259 --> 00:12:21.679
 come,

00:12:21.919 --> 00:12:22.600
 and the

00:12:22.600 --> 00:12:23.299
 glory of

00:12:23.299 --> 00:12:23.759
 the Lord

00:12:23.759 --> 00:12:24.379
 has risen

00:12:24.379 --> 00:12:25.340
 upon you.

00:12:26.360 --> 00:12:26.659
 Now,

00:12:26.700 --> 00:12:27.340
 this citation

00:12:27.340 --> 00:12:29.259
 in Ephesians

00:12:29.259 --> 00:12:30.179
 chapter 5,

00:12:30.220 --> 00:12:31.080
 verse 14,

00:12:31.259 --> 00:12:32.340
 many commentators

00:12:32.340 --> 00:12:32.860
 believe,

00:12:33.059 --> 00:12:34.039
 was a hymn sung

00:12:34.039 --> 00:12:34.600
 by the early

00:12:34.600 --> 00:12:35.580
 church calling

00:12:35.580 --> 00:12:36.559
 anyone in their

00:12:36.559 --> 00:12:37.659
 midst who had

00:12:37.659 --> 00:12:38.580
 not yet believed

00:12:38.580 --> 00:12:39.700
 in Christ to

00:12:39.700 --> 00:12:40.480
 repent and

00:12:40.480 --> 00:12:40.879
 place their

00:12:40.879 --> 00:12:42.500
 faith in him.

00:12:43.259 --> 00:12:44.120
 Because it's a

00:12:44.120 --> 00:12:46.220
 gospel summary.

00:12:47.100 --> 00:12:47.700
 Awake,

00:12:48.100 --> 00:12:49.299
 O sleeper,

00:12:49.439 --> 00:12:50.600
 you who are

00:12:50.600 --> 00:12:51.139
 dead in your

00:12:51.139 --> 00:12:51.500
 sin,

00:12:52.059 --> 00:12:52.519
 who have yet

00:12:52.519 --> 00:12:53.319
 to be awakened

00:12:53.319 --> 00:12:54.179
 to the light

00:12:54.179 --> 00:12:54.740
 of Christ.

00:12:54.980 --> 00:12:56.000
 Arise from

00:12:56.000 --> 00:12:56.600
 the dead

00:12:56.600 --> 00:12:57.960
 through repentance

00:12:57.960 --> 00:12:59.540
 and faith.

00:13:00.159 --> 00:13:00.779
 And God's

00:13:00.779 --> 00:13:01.680
 grace in

00:13:01.680 --> 00:13:02.700
 Christ will

00:13:02.700 --> 00:13:03.180
 shine

00:13:03.180 --> 00:13:04.480
 on you.

00:13:05.820 --> 00:13:06.639
 Because God

00:13:06.639 --> 00:13:07.360
 has saved us

00:13:07.360 --> 00:13:07.740
 from our

00:13:07.740 --> 00:13:08.320
 foolishness,

00:13:08.399 --> 00:13:08.779
 we are to be

00:13:08.779 --> 00:13:09.480
 a people who

00:13:09.480 --> 00:13:10.060
 pursue

00:13:10.060 --> 00:13:11.700
 that which is

00:13:11.700 --> 00:13:12.620
 good

00:13:12.620 --> 00:13:14.100
 and true

00:13:14.100 --> 00:13:15.860
 and beautiful.

00:13:15.860 --> 00:13:17.220
 and we are

00:13:17.220 --> 00:13:18.019
 to do so

00:13:18.019 --> 00:13:19.240
 for our

00:13:19.240 --> 00:13:19.639
 good,

00:13:20.600 --> 00:13:21.539
 loving,

00:13:21.659 --> 00:13:21.940
 kind

00:13:21.940 --> 00:13:22.399
 instructions

00:13:22.399 --> 00:13:22.840
 from our

00:13:22.840 --> 00:13:23.680
 God and

00:13:23.680 --> 00:13:24.800
 for the

00:13:24.800 --> 00:13:25.300
 glory

00:13:25.300 --> 00:13:26.399
 of our

00:13:26.399 --> 00:13:26.659
 God.

00:13:27.820 --> 00:13:28.779
 And this is

00:13:28.779 --> 00:13:29.220
 going to

00:13:29.220 --> 00:13:29.639
 cause

00:13:29.639 --> 00:13:31.019
 discomfort.

00:13:32.200 --> 00:13:32.940
 This is going

00:13:32.940 --> 00:13:33.779
 to cause

00:13:33.779 --> 00:13:35.539
 persecution.

00:13:35.539 --> 00:13:35.659
 persecution.

00:13:37.559 --> 00:13:38.379
 I have

00:13:38.379 --> 00:13:39.120
 wrongly said

00:13:39.120 --> 00:13:39.759
 in the past

00:13:39.759 --> 00:13:40.599
 that the

00:13:40.599 --> 00:13:41.740
 church has

00:13:41.740 --> 00:13:42.980
 always thrived

00:13:42.980 --> 00:13:43.959
 in the midst

00:13:43.959 --> 00:13:44.539
 of persecution.

00:13:45.839 --> 00:13:46.500
 And broadly

00:13:46.500 --> 00:13:47.159
 that's true,

00:13:47.399 --> 00:13:47.539
 right?

00:13:47.699 --> 00:13:48.399
 Capital C

00:13:48.399 --> 00:13:48.799
 church,

00:13:48.879 --> 00:13:49.159
 the church

00:13:49.159 --> 00:13:49.659
 has always

00:13:49.659 --> 00:13:50.539
 pressed on

00:13:50.539 --> 00:13:50.959
 throughout

00:13:50.959 --> 00:13:52.519
 space and

00:13:52.519 --> 00:13:52.959
 time.

00:13:53.759 --> 00:13:54.480
 But in

00:13:54.480 --> 00:13:54.860
 particular

00:13:54.860 --> 00:13:55.419
 locations,

00:13:55.419 --> 00:13:55.980
 that hasn't

00:13:55.980 --> 00:13:56.360
 always been

00:13:56.360 --> 00:13:56.699
 true.

00:13:57.860 --> 00:13:58.039
 There have

00:13:58.039 --> 00:13:58.459
 been places

00:13:58.459 --> 00:13:59.079
 in history,

00:13:59.379 --> 00:14:00.079
 in the world,

00:14:00.719 --> 00:14:01.240
 that persecution

00:14:01.240 --> 00:14:03.120
 has altogether

00:14:03.120 --> 00:14:04.039
 stamped out

00:14:04.039 --> 00:14:04.899
 the Christian

00:14:04.899 --> 00:14:05.959
 witness.

00:14:07.019 --> 00:14:07.899
 We want

00:14:07.899 --> 00:14:08.240
 this to

00:14:08.240 --> 00:14:08.679
 not be

00:14:08.679 --> 00:14:09.759
 true of

00:14:09.759 --> 00:14:10.120
 us.

00:14:11.039 --> 00:14:11.639
 We want

00:14:11.639 --> 00:14:12.220
 rather

00:14:12.220 --> 00:14:14.079
 what Thomas

00:14:14.079 --> 00:14:14.579
 Watson

00:14:14.579 --> 00:14:15.720
 once said,

00:14:15.819 --> 00:14:16.259
 this is on

00:14:16.259 --> 00:14:16.819
 your bulletin,

00:14:17.079 --> 00:14:17.779
 this is what

00:14:17.779 --> 00:14:18.139
 we want to

00:14:18.139 --> 00:14:18.639
 be true of

00:14:18.639 --> 00:14:18.840
 us.

00:14:18.899 --> 00:14:19.159
 He said,

00:14:19.240 --> 00:14:19.519
 how much

00:14:19.519 --> 00:14:20.360
 good comes

00:14:20.360 --> 00:14:21.059
 to the

00:14:21.059 --> 00:14:21.459
 saints

00:14:21.459 --> 00:14:22.759
 by affliction.

00:14:23.600 --> 00:14:24.079
 When they

00:14:24.079 --> 00:14:24.939
 are pounded,

00:14:25.039 --> 00:14:25.480
 they send

00:14:25.480 --> 00:14:26.179
 forth their

00:14:26.179 --> 00:14:26.759
 sweetest

00:14:26.759 --> 00:14:27.259
 smell.

00:14:28.159 --> 00:14:28.639
 Affliction

00:14:28.639 --> 00:14:29.519
 is a

00:14:29.519 --> 00:14:30.100
 bitter root,

00:14:30.579 --> 00:14:31.120
 but it

00:14:31.120 --> 00:14:31.500
 bears

00:14:31.500 --> 00:14:32.899
 sweet fruit.

00:14:32.899 --> 00:14:34.959
 we want

00:14:34.959 --> 00:14:35.220
 this to

00:14:35.220 --> 00:14:35.799
 be true

00:14:35.799 --> 00:14:36.579
 of us,

00:14:36.740 --> 00:14:37.379
 of Christ's

00:14:37.379 --> 00:14:37.659
 family

00:14:37.659 --> 00:14:39.059
 church.

00:14:40.220 --> 00:14:40.879
 So how

00:14:40.879 --> 00:14:41.100
 do we

00:14:41.100 --> 00:14:41.860
 build a

00:14:41.860 --> 00:14:42.860
 resilient

00:14:42.860 --> 00:14:43.779
 church

00:14:43.779 --> 00:14:44.159
 culture,

00:14:44.259 --> 00:14:44.559
 a church

00:14:44.559 --> 00:14:44.840
 that will

00:14:44.840 --> 00:14:45.620
 stand against

00:14:45.620 --> 00:14:46.120
 the rising

00:14:46.120 --> 00:14:46.659
 tide of

00:14:46.659 --> 00:14:47.100
 soft

00:14:47.100 --> 00:14:48.159
 totalitarianism?

00:14:48.819 --> 00:14:49.299
 And to

00:14:49.299 --> 00:14:49.679
 be clear,

00:14:49.779 --> 00:14:50.079
 we will

00:14:50.079 --> 00:14:50.639
 have to

00:14:50.639 --> 00:14:51.679
 build it.

00:14:52.019 --> 00:14:52.600
 It won't

00:14:52.600 --> 00:14:53.360
 just happen.

00:14:54.199 --> 00:14:54.759
 We will

00:14:54.759 --> 00:14:55.039
 have to

00:14:55.039 --> 00:14:55.899
 be strong

00:14:55.899 --> 00:14:56.299
 because the

00:14:56.299 --> 00:14:56.759
 tide will

00:14:56.759 --> 00:14:58.240
 be destructive.

00:14:59.360 --> 00:14:59.819
 It will

00:14:59.819 --> 00:15:00.079
 have to

00:15:00.079 --> 00:15:01.480
 be cultural,

00:15:01.480 --> 00:15:02.320
 not to

00:15:02.320 --> 00:15:03.039
 be ingrained

00:15:03.039 --> 00:15:03.700
 into who

00:15:03.700 --> 00:15:04.759
 we are

00:15:04.759 --> 00:15:06.000
 as a

00:15:06.000 --> 00:15:06.480
 church.

00:15:07.039 --> 00:15:07.860
 Not a

00:15:07.860 --> 00:15:09.019
 six-week

00:15:09.019 --> 00:15:10.360
 series and

00:15:10.360 --> 00:15:10.600
 we all

00:15:10.600 --> 00:15:11.139
 move on,

00:15:11.220 --> 00:15:11.399
 but we

00:15:11.399 --> 00:15:11.539
 have to

00:15:11.539 --> 00:15:12.039
 be thinking

00:15:12.039 --> 00:15:12.639
 about these

00:15:12.639 --> 00:15:13.180
 things

00:15:13.180 --> 00:15:14.460
 together.

00:15:15.879 --> 00:15:16.259
 And so I

00:15:16.259 --> 00:15:16.440
 want to

00:15:16.440 --> 00:15:17.019
 briefly outline

00:15:17.019 --> 00:15:17.519
 for you

00:15:17.519 --> 00:15:19.080
 five overlapping

00:15:19.080 --> 00:15:19.899
 areas that

00:15:19.899 --> 00:15:20.620
 we believe

00:15:20.620 --> 00:15:21.060
 we will

00:15:21.060 --> 00:15:21.759
 need to

00:15:21.759 --> 00:15:22.200
 work on.

00:15:23.019 --> 00:15:23.440
 This is

00:15:23.440 --> 00:15:23.840
 probably not

00:15:23.840 --> 00:15:24.180
 all of

00:15:24.180 --> 00:15:24.360
 it.

00:15:24.860 --> 00:15:25.259
 Much of

00:15:25.259 --> 00:15:25.519
 this could

00:15:25.519 --> 00:15:26.039
 be exhausted

00:15:26.039 --> 00:15:26.759
 more,

00:15:26.860 --> 00:15:27.019
 it could

00:15:27.019 --> 00:15:27.500
 be worked

00:15:27.500 --> 00:15:27.800
 out,

00:15:27.879 --> 00:15:28.019
 it could

00:15:28.019 --> 00:15:28.379
 be talked

00:15:28.379 --> 00:15:28.740
 about,

00:15:29.420 --> 00:15:29.840
 but I

00:15:29.840 --> 00:15:30.080
 think this

00:15:30.080 --> 00:15:30.480
 is a very

00:15:30.480 --> 00:15:31.139
 good place

00:15:31.139 --> 00:15:32.240
 for us

00:15:32.240 --> 00:15:32.819
 to start.

00:15:34.080 --> 00:15:34.600
 Before I

00:15:34.600 --> 00:15:34.879
 get into

00:15:34.879 --> 00:15:35.000
 them,

00:15:35.039 --> 00:15:35.259
 as a

00:15:35.259 --> 00:15:35.559
 note,

00:15:36.039 --> 00:15:36.960
 it's already

00:15:36.960 --> 00:15:37.279
 been pointed

00:15:37.279 --> 00:15:37.699
 out to me

00:15:37.699 --> 00:15:38.259
 that there's

00:15:38.259 --> 00:15:38.899
 an acronym

00:15:38.899 --> 00:15:39.199
 here,

00:15:39.299 --> 00:15:39.720
 CRASH,

00:15:39.860 --> 00:15:40.199
 and that's

00:15:40.199 --> 00:15:40.460
 not on

00:15:40.460 --> 00:15:40.819
 purpose.

00:15:45.279 --> 00:15:46.039
 Although in

00:15:46.039 --> 00:15:46.899
 thinking these

00:15:46.899 --> 00:15:47.419
 things through

00:15:47.419 --> 00:15:48.240
 and having

00:15:48.240 --> 00:15:48.860
 these particular

00:15:48.860 --> 00:15:49.279
 points,

00:15:49.419 --> 00:15:50.059
 I did notice

00:15:50.059 --> 00:15:50.419
 that they

00:15:50.419 --> 00:15:50.840
 spelled out

00:15:50.840 --> 00:15:51.159
 CRASH,

00:15:51.259 --> 00:15:51.600
 and I put

00:15:51.600 --> 00:15:51.899
 it in that

00:15:51.899 --> 00:15:52.299
 order because

00:15:52.299 --> 00:15:52.580
 it helps

00:15:52.580 --> 00:15:53.019
 me remember

00:15:53.019 --> 00:15:53.240
 it,

00:15:53.500 --> 00:15:53.740
 and I've

00:15:53.740 --> 00:15:54.059
 been talking

00:15:54.059 --> 00:15:54.460
 about this

00:15:54.460 --> 00:15:54.819
 now for

00:15:54.819 --> 00:15:55.179
 a year.

00:15:55.419 --> 00:15:56.799
 So that's

00:15:56.799 --> 00:15:57.039
 the order

00:15:57.039 --> 00:15:57.439
 that I put

00:15:57.439 --> 00:15:57.840
 them in,

00:15:57.939 --> 00:15:58.539
 but I don't

00:15:58.539 --> 00:15:58.919
 know that they

00:15:58.919 --> 00:15:59.819
 necessarily need

00:15:59.819 --> 00:16:00.399
 to build in

00:16:00.399 --> 00:16:00.799
 this order,

00:16:00.799 --> 00:16:01.179
 and I'm

00:16:01.179 --> 00:16:01.620
 not trying,

00:16:01.740 --> 00:16:02.019
 you know,

00:16:02.419 --> 00:16:02.859
 I mean,

00:16:03.179 --> 00:16:05.000
 somebody probably

00:16:05.000 --> 00:16:05.379
 would have had

00:16:05.379 --> 00:16:05.899
 some cool

00:16:05.899 --> 00:16:06.579
 graphic made,

00:16:06.679 --> 00:16:07.139
 but that's

00:16:07.139 --> 00:16:07.859
 not me.

00:16:08.059 --> 00:16:08.159
 So,

00:16:08.659 --> 00:16:11.019
 number one,

00:16:12.219 --> 00:16:12.500
 and we'll

00:16:12.500 --> 00:16:12.979
 take these in

00:16:12.979 --> 00:16:13.240
 the coming

00:16:13.240 --> 00:16:13.959
 weeks in this

00:16:13.959 --> 00:16:14.659
 order as well.

00:16:15.120 --> 00:16:15.240
 So,

00:16:15.620 --> 00:16:16.120
 number one,

00:16:17.579 --> 00:16:18.319
 clear mission.

00:16:19.659 --> 00:16:20.339
 The church

00:16:20.339 --> 00:16:21.219
 needs to know

00:16:21.219 --> 00:16:21.939
 why it

00:16:21.939 --> 00:16:22.459
 exists.

00:16:22.639 --> 00:16:23.620
 What is the

00:16:23.620 --> 00:16:24.279
 church,

00:16:24.779 --> 00:16:25.379
 and what is

00:16:25.379 --> 00:16:26.439
 the mission

00:16:26.440 --> 00:16:27.220
 meaning of

00:16:27.220 --> 00:16:27.760
 the church?

00:16:28.960 --> 00:16:29.660
 If we are

00:16:29.660 --> 00:16:30.200
 not crystal

00:16:30.200 --> 00:16:30.840
 clear on

00:16:30.840 --> 00:16:31.540
 why we

00:16:31.540 --> 00:16:32.180
 exist,

00:16:32.880 --> 00:16:33.400
 then we

00:16:33.400 --> 00:16:34.040
 will always

00:16:34.040 --> 00:16:34.760
 be distracted

00:16:34.760 --> 00:16:35.420
 by some

00:16:35.420 --> 00:16:35.960
 lesser

00:16:35.960 --> 00:16:37.220
 purpose.

00:16:38.060 --> 00:16:38.880
 Perhaps by

00:16:38.880 --> 00:16:39.400
 a gospel

00:16:39.400 --> 00:16:40.180
 implication,

00:16:40.840 --> 00:16:41.520
 but not the

00:16:41.520 --> 00:16:42.680
 gospel itself.

00:16:42.920 --> 00:16:43.720
 Why does

00:16:43.720 --> 00:16:44.360
 the church

00:16:44.360 --> 00:16:45.900
 exist?

00:16:47.600 --> 00:16:48.160
 What Jesus

00:16:48.160 --> 00:16:48.560
 said in

00:16:48.560 --> 00:16:48.760
 Matthew

00:16:48.760 --> 00:16:49.540
 chapter 28,

00:16:49.820 --> 00:16:50.480
 verse 18,

00:16:50.620 --> 00:16:51.060
 and following,

00:16:51.059 --> 00:16:52.699
 all authority

00:16:52.699 --> 00:16:53.199
 in heaven

00:16:53.199 --> 00:16:53.539
 and on

00:16:53.539 --> 00:16:53.919
 earth has

00:16:53.919 --> 00:16:54.319
 been given

00:16:54.319 --> 00:16:55.619
 to me.

00:16:56.599 --> 00:16:57.059
 Go,

00:16:57.179 --> 00:16:57.399
 therefore,

00:16:57.619 --> 00:16:57.939
 and make

00:16:57.939 --> 00:16:58.719
 disciples of

00:16:58.719 --> 00:16:59.719
 all nations,

00:17:00.419 --> 00:17:01.439
 baptizing them,

00:17:01.459 --> 00:17:01.959
 this is how I

00:17:01.959 --> 00:17:02.359
 know that this

00:17:02.359 --> 00:17:02.719
 is a work of

00:17:02.719 --> 00:17:03.099
 the church,

00:17:03.559 --> 00:17:03.859
 because that's

00:17:03.859 --> 00:17:04.079
 a church

00:17:04.079 --> 00:17:04.480
 ordinance,

00:17:05.200 --> 00:17:05.980
 baptizing them

00:17:05.980 --> 00:17:06.240
 in the name

00:17:06.240 --> 00:17:06.720
 of the Father

00:17:06.720 --> 00:17:07.099
 and of the

00:17:07.099 --> 00:17:08.200
 Son and

00:17:08.200 --> 00:17:08.599
 of the Holy

00:17:08.599 --> 00:17:08.980
 Spirit,

00:17:09.500 --> 00:17:10.119
 teaching them

00:17:10.119 --> 00:17:10.659
 to observe

00:17:10.659 --> 00:17:11.579
 all that I

00:17:11.579 --> 00:17:12.159
 have commanded

00:17:12.159 --> 00:17:12.559
 you.

00:17:13.159 --> 00:17:13.759
 And behold,

00:17:13.859 --> 00:17:14.179
 I am with

00:17:14.179 --> 00:17:14.919
 you always

00:17:14.919 --> 00:17:16.240
 to the end

00:17:16.240 --> 00:17:16.879
 of the age.

00:17:18.319 --> 00:17:18.599
 I'm going

00:17:18.599 --> 00:17:18.919
 to develop

00:17:18.919 --> 00:17:20.019
 this next

00:17:20.019 --> 00:17:20.899
 week more.

00:17:21.720 --> 00:17:22.279
 Why does

00:17:22.279 --> 00:17:22.740
 the church

00:17:22.740 --> 00:17:23.339
 exist?

00:17:23.639 --> 00:17:24.119
 To be

00:17:24.119 --> 00:17:24.859
 heralds of

00:17:24.859 --> 00:17:25.159
 the good

00:17:25.159 --> 00:17:26.519
 news of

00:17:26.519 --> 00:17:27.240
 Jesus Christ.

00:17:28.079 --> 00:17:28.960
 We attach

00:17:28.960 --> 00:17:29.339
 some things

00:17:29.339 --> 00:17:29.740
 to that

00:17:29.740 --> 00:17:30.299
 as we carry

00:17:30.299 --> 00:17:31.000
 that message

00:17:31.000 --> 00:17:31.619
 forth,

00:17:31.960 --> 00:17:32.460
 but this

00:17:32.460 --> 00:17:32.700
 is the

00:17:32.700 --> 00:17:33.059
 thing we

00:17:33.059 --> 00:17:33.319
 need to

00:17:33.319 --> 00:17:34.039
 stay clear

00:17:34.039 --> 00:17:34.419
 about.

00:17:34.659 --> 00:17:35.179
 We have

00:17:35.179 --> 00:17:36.000
 a mission

00:17:36.000 --> 00:17:36.960
 in this

00:17:36.960 --> 00:17:37.279
 world.

00:17:38.519 --> 00:17:39.159
 We will

00:17:39.159 --> 00:17:39.619
 need to

00:17:39.619 --> 00:17:40.619
 readily identify

00:17:40.619 --> 00:17:41.700
 what battles

00:17:41.700 --> 00:17:42.200
 we ought to

00:17:42.200 --> 00:17:42.919
 engage in

00:17:42.919 --> 00:17:43.859
 and what

00:17:43.859 --> 00:17:44.419
 the war

00:17:44.419 --> 00:17:45.200
 is that

00:17:45.200 --> 00:17:45.639
 we cannot

00:17:45.639 --> 00:17:46.039
 avoid.

00:17:46.859 --> 00:17:47.440
 We need

00:17:47.440 --> 00:17:48.099
 to understand

00:17:48.099 --> 00:17:48.419
 what it

00:17:48.419 --> 00:17:48.879
 means to

00:17:48.879 --> 00:17:49.319
 be the

00:17:49.319 --> 00:17:49.740
 church

00:17:49.740 --> 00:17:50.899
 militant,

00:17:51.059 --> 00:17:51.960
 and the

00:17:51.960 --> 00:17:52.339
 church

00:17:52.339 --> 00:17:53.940
 victorious.

00:17:55.099 --> 00:17:55.359
 So that's

00:17:55.359 --> 00:17:55.839
 number one,

00:17:56.059 --> 00:17:56.619
 clear mission.

00:17:56.839 --> 00:17:57.220
 Number two,

00:17:58.460 --> 00:17:58.879
 robust

00:17:58.879 --> 00:17:59.419
 theology.

00:18:01.000 --> 00:18:01.919
 If we

00:18:01.919 --> 00:18:02.299
 do not

00:18:02.299 --> 00:18:03.139
 have a

00:18:03.139 --> 00:18:03.960
 robust,

00:18:04.759 --> 00:18:05.259
 think a

00:18:05.259 --> 00:18:06.079
 well-developed,

00:18:06.079 --> 00:18:06.559
 a thick

00:18:06.559 --> 00:18:07.079
 theology,

00:18:07.639 --> 00:18:08.240
 we will

00:18:08.240 --> 00:18:08.819
 fail to

00:18:08.819 --> 00:18:09.519
 understand

00:18:09.519 --> 00:18:10.480
 cosmology,

00:18:11.299 --> 00:18:11.879
 anthology,

00:18:12.279 --> 00:18:13.339
 and certainly

00:18:13.339 --> 00:18:13.799
 even

00:18:13.799 --> 00:18:15.079
 biology.

00:18:15.079 --> 00:18:15.139
 theology.

00:18:16.139 --> 00:18:17.039
 All other

00:18:17.039 --> 00:18:17.740
 studies are

00:18:17.740 --> 00:18:18.899
 subservient to

00:18:18.899 --> 00:18:19.460
 the study

00:18:19.460 --> 00:18:20.740
 of God.

00:18:21.519 --> 00:18:22.379
 Proverbs 1

00:18:22.379 --> 00:18:23.019
 and verse 7,

00:18:23.099 --> 00:18:23.519
 the fear of

00:18:23.519 --> 00:18:23.960
 the Lord is

00:18:23.960 --> 00:18:24.339
 the beginning

00:18:24.339 --> 00:18:24.960
 of knowledge.

00:18:25.639 --> 00:18:26.359
 Fools despise

00:18:26.359 --> 00:18:28.059
 wisdom and

00:18:28.059 --> 00:18:28.559
 instruction.

00:18:29.240 --> 00:18:29.980
 We must

00:18:29.980 --> 00:18:30.299
 humble

00:18:30.299 --> 00:18:31.500
 ourselves under

00:18:31.500 --> 00:18:32.519
 God's

00:18:32.519 --> 00:18:33.240
 word,

00:18:33.359 --> 00:18:33.960
 and we must

00:18:33.960 --> 00:18:34.599
 be a people

00:18:34.599 --> 00:18:35.279
 of it.

00:18:35.759 --> 00:18:36.460
 We have to

00:18:36.460 --> 00:18:37.179
 be thick

00:18:37.179 --> 00:18:37.799
 in our

00:18:37.799 --> 00:18:39.179
 theology.

00:18:40.379 --> 00:18:40.759
 In a

00:18:40.759 --> 00:18:40.980
 highly

00:18:40.980 --> 00:18:41.619
 psychologized

00:18:41.619 --> 00:18:42.019
 age,

00:18:42.019 --> 00:18:42.660
 we are

00:18:42.660 --> 00:18:43.019
 being

00:18:43.019 --> 00:18:43.960
 inundated

00:18:43.960 --> 00:18:44.819
 with the

00:18:44.819 --> 00:18:45.420
 message that

00:18:45.420 --> 00:18:45.980
 we are the

00:18:45.980 --> 00:18:46.279
 center of

00:18:46.279 --> 00:18:46.619
 the universe

00:18:46.619 --> 00:18:47.079
 and that

00:18:47.079 --> 00:18:47.720
 our feelings

00:18:47.720 --> 00:18:48.379
 dictate

00:18:48.379 --> 00:18:49.480
 our reality.

00:18:50.920 --> 00:18:51.480
 Feelings

00:18:51.480 --> 00:18:52.379
 seem to

00:18:52.379 --> 00:18:53.139
 rule the

00:18:53.139 --> 00:18:53.460
 day.

00:18:54.180 --> 00:18:54.420
 And beloved,

00:18:54.519 --> 00:18:54.859
 I will tell

00:18:54.859 --> 00:18:55.139
 you, this

00:18:55.139 --> 00:18:55.680
 is true in

00:18:55.680 --> 00:18:56.259
 our church

00:18:56.259 --> 00:18:56.759
 as well.

00:18:57.680 --> 00:18:58.839
 Your feelings

00:18:58.839 --> 00:19:00.099
 may or may

00:19:00.099 --> 00:19:00.680
 not be

00:19:00.680 --> 00:19:01.059
 consistent

00:19:01.059 --> 00:19:01.539
 with the

00:19:01.539 --> 00:19:01.819
 truth.

00:19:03.599 --> 00:19:04.279
 But your

00:19:04.279 --> 00:19:05.240
 feelings never

00:19:05.240 --> 00:19:06.900
 define the

00:19:06.900 --> 00:19:07.220
 truth.

00:19:07.900 --> 00:19:08.980
 God defines

00:19:08.980 --> 00:19:10.240
 the truth.

00:19:10.579 --> 00:19:11.039
 But we live

00:19:11.039 --> 00:19:11.579
 in a culture

00:19:11.579 --> 00:19:12.000
 that is

00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:12.519
 telling us

00:19:12.519 --> 00:19:13.279
 that opposite

00:19:13.279 --> 00:19:14.220
 thing all

00:19:14.220 --> 00:19:15.619
 the time.

00:19:16.559 --> 00:19:17.319
 Define your

00:19:17.319 --> 00:19:17.599
 truth.

00:19:17.700 --> 00:19:18.059
 What's good

00:19:18.059 --> 00:19:18.480
 for you

00:19:18.480 --> 00:19:19.200
 must be

00:19:19.200 --> 00:19:19.779
 good.

00:19:21.319 --> 00:19:21.660
 But our

00:19:21.660 --> 00:19:22.420
 creator knows

00:19:22.420 --> 00:19:23.539
 what's good,

00:19:23.700 --> 00:19:24.380
 what's best

00:19:24.380 --> 00:19:25.579
 for us.

00:19:26.779 --> 00:19:27.160
 Many

00:19:27.160 --> 00:19:27.539
 churches

00:19:27.539 --> 00:19:28.079
 peddle what

00:19:28.079 --> 00:19:28.680
 sociologists

00:19:28.680 --> 00:19:29.400
 Christian Smith

00:19:29.400 --> 00:19:29.880
 and Melinda

00:19:29.880 --> 00:19:30.359
 Lundquist

00:19:30.359 --> 00:19:31.279
 Denton called

00:19:31.279 --> 00:19:32.680
 therapeutic,

00:19:33.640 --> 00:19:34.359
 moralistic

00:19:34.359 --> 00:19:35.480
 deism.

00:19:36.380 --> 00:19:37.160
 And this

00:19:37.160 --> 00:19:37.619
 is not

00:19:37.619 --> 00:19:38.180
 good for

00:19:38.180 --> 00:19:38.640
 the souls

00:19:38.640 --> 00:19:39.799
 of mankind.

00:19:40.599 --> 00:19:41.420
 We do

00:19:41.420 --> 00:19:42.000
 not need

00:19:42.000 --> 00:19:42.680
 a high

00:19:42.680 --> 00:19:43.500
 view of

00:19:43.500 --> 00:19:44.100
 man.

00:19:44.779 --> 00:19:45.120
 We need

00:19:45.120 --> 00:19:45.460
 a high

00:19:45.460 --> 00:19:46.600
 view of

00:19:46.600 --> 00:19:46.960
 God.

00:19:49.060 --> 00:19:49.620
 We are

00:19:49.620 --> 00:19:49.779
 going to

00:19:49.779 --> 00:19:50.060
 have to

00:19:50.060 --> 00:19:50.500
 learn to

00:19:50.500 --> 00:19:50.800
 do

00:19:50.800 --> 00:19:51.560
 theological

00:19:51.560 --> 00:19:52.340
 triage

00:19:52.340 --> 00:19:53.039
 on the

00:19:53.039 --> 00:19:53.500
 fly.

00:19:53.700 --> 00:19:53.900
 I'm not

00:19:53.900 --> 00:19:54.019
 going to

00:19:54.019 --> 00:19:54.279
 explain

00:19:54.279 --> 00:19:54.720
 theological

00:19:54.720 --> 00:19:55.259
 triage to

00:19:55.259 --> 00:19:55.560
 you this

00:19:55.560 --> 00:19:55.840
 morning.

00:19:56.100 --> 00:19:56.240
 There's

00:19:56.240 --> 00:19:56.519
 people in the

00:19:56.519 --> 00:19:56.800
 room going,

00:19:56.900 --> 00:19:57.120
 okay,

00:19:57.220 --> 00:19:57.400
 good.

00:19:58.019 --> 00:19:58.320
 Good.

00:19:59.600 --> 00:20:00.080
 But you

00:20:00.080 --> 00:20:00.420
 need to know

00:20:00.420 --> 00:20:00.840
 how to do

00:20:00.840 --> 00:20:01.360
 it, right?

00:20:01.960 --> 00:20:02.680
 We need to

00:20:02.680 --> 00:20:03.240
 know what

00:20:03.240 --> 00:20:03.800
 to encounter,

00:20:03.900 --> 00:20:04.160
 what not

00:20:04.160 --> 00:20:04.700
 to encounter,

00:20:04.940 --> 00:20:05.779
 what battles

00:20:05.779 --> 00:20:06.180
 to fight,

00:20:06.259 --> 00:20:06.580
 what hills

00:20:06.580 --> 00:20:06.940
 we ought to

00:20:06.940 --> 00:20:07.279
 die on,

00:20:07.300 --> 00:20:07.600
 and what

00:20:07.600 --> 00:20:08.580
 things don't

00:20:08.579 --> 00:20:09.179
 matter.

00:20:10.279 --> 00:20:10.839
 It's part

00:20:10.839 --> 00:20:11.740
 of developing

00:20:11.740 --> 00:20:12.439
 a robust

00:20:12.439 --> 00:20:13.099
 theology.

00:20:13.980 --> 00:20:14.679
 We're going

00:20:14.679 --> 00:20:15.220
 to need to

00:20:15.220 --> 00:20:15.740
 develop the

00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:16.960
 ability to

00:20:16.960 --> 00:20:18.039
 hold and

00:20:18.039 --> 00:20:18.879
 communicate

00:20:18.879 --> 00:20:19.919
 nuanced

00:20:19.919 --> 00:20:21.039
 positions.

00:20:22.500 --> 00:20:23.099
 We don't

00:20:23.099 --> 00:20:23.419
 need to be

00:20:23.419 --> 00:20:23.679
 the kind

00:20:23.679 --> 00:20:24.019
 of people

00:20:24.019 --> 00:20:24.399
 that try

00:20:24.399 --> 00:20:24.799
 to sort

00:20:24.799 --> 00:20:25.119
 out the

00:20:25.119 --> 00:20:25.379
 world's

00:20:25.379 --> 00:20:25.819
 problems

00:20:25.819 --> 00:20:27.299
 in 240

00:20:27.299 --> 00:20:27.799
 characters

00:20:27.799 --> 00:20:28.259
 on Twitter.

00:20:30.879 --> 00:20:31.359
 So,

00:20:31.539 --> 00:20:31.939
 clear mission,

00:20:33.039 --> 00:20:33.439
 robust

00:20:33.439 --> 00:20:33.939
 theology.

00:20:35.019 --> 00:20:35.419
 Third,

00:20:35.899 --> 00:20:36.359
 accurate

00:20:36.359 --> 00:20:37.279
 histories.

00:20:38.579 --> 00:20:40.439
 I must

00:20:40.439 --> 00:20:40.859
 admit that

00:20:40.859 --> 00:20:41.259
 accurate

00:20:41.259 --> 00:20:42.139
 was the

00:20:42.139 --> 00:20:42.319
 A.

00:20:42.419 --> 00:20:42.759
 I actually

00:20:42.759 --> 00:20:43.079
 put it in

00:20:43.079 --> 00:20:43.379
 there because

00:20:43.379 --> 00:20:43.720
 it made

00:20:43.720 --> 00:20:44.039
 crash.

00:20:45.779 --> 00:20:46.179
 Accurate

00:20:46.179 --> 00:20:46.659
 histories.

00:20:47.759 --> 00:20:48.359
 If we

00:20:48.359 --> 00:20:48.639
 do not

00:20:48.639 --> 00:20:49.159
 understand

00:20:49.159 --> 00:20:49.720
 where we

00:20:49.720 --> 00:20:50.079
 have come

00:20:50.079 --> 00:20:50.399
 from,

00:20:50.500 --> 00:20:50.980
 we will

00:20:50.980 --> 00:20:51.539
 not see

00:20:51.539 --> 00:20:51.939
 clearly

00:20:51.939 --> 00:20:52.480
 where we

00:20:52.480 --> 00:20:53.000
 are going

00:20:53.000 --> 00:20:53.399
 and we

00:20:53.399 --> 00:20:53.720
 will be

00:20:53.720 --> 00:20:54.339
 doomed to

00:20:54.339 --> 00:20:54.839
 repeat the

00:20:54.839 --> 00:20:55.259
 mistakes

00:20:55.259 --> 00:20:56.379
 of the

00:20:56.379 --> 00:20:56.799
 past.

00:20:57.359 --> 00:20:57.639
 We're

00:20:57.639 --> 00:20:57.679
 going to

00:20:57.679 --> 00:20:57.859
 have to

00:20:57.859 --> 00:20:58.259
 be a

00:20:58.259 --> 00:20:58.519
 people

00:20:58.519 --> 00:20:59.500
 who have

00:20:59.500 --> 00:21:00.299
 knowledge

00:21:00.299 --> 00:21:02.039
 of our

00:21:02.039 --> 00:21:02.379
 history,

00:21:02.500 --> 00:21:02.819
 local,

00:21:03.059 --> 00:21:03.359
 national,

00:21:03.579 --> 00:21:03.960
 world,

00:21:04.539 --> 00:21:05.079
 most

00:21:05.079 --> 00:21:05.659
 particularly

00:21:05.659 --> 00:21:06.379
 church

00:21:06.379 --> 00:21:06.759
 history.

00:21:07.240 --> 00:21:07.899
 Who are

00:21:07.900 --> 00:21:08.200
 we as

00:21:08.200 --> 00:21:08.880
 God's

00:21:08.880 --> 00:21:09.240
 people?

00:21:09.720 --> 00:21:10.000
 What

00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:10.519
 mistakes

00:21:10.519 --> 00:21:11.120
 have

00:21:11.120 --> 00:21:11.420
 God's

00:21:11.420 --> 00:21:11.560
 people

00:21:11.560 --> 00:21:11.940
 made

00:21:11.940 --> 00:21:12.420
 in

00:21:12.420 --> 00:21:13.000
 the

00:21:13.000 --> 00:21:13.400
 past?

00:21:13.820 --> 00:21:14.040
 I'll

00:21:14.040 --> 00:21:14.259
 tell you

00:21:14.259 --> 00:21:14.680
 right now,

00:21:14.759 --> 00:21:15.040
 we have

00:21:15.040 --> 00:21:15.940
 such a

00:21:15.940 --> 00:21:16.900
 place to

00:21:16.900 --> 00:21:17.660
 observe

00:21:17.660 --> 00:21:18.880
 soft

00:21:18.880 --> 00:21:19.580
 totalitarianism

00:21:19.580 --> 00:21:20.080
 at play

00:21:20.080 --> 00:21:20.720
 in Europe

00:21:20.720 --> 00:21:21.200
 and what's

00:21:21.200 --> 00:21:21.640
 happening to

00:21:21.640 --> 00:21:22.019
 the church

00:21:22.019 --> 00:21:22.380
 there.

00:21:23.500 --> 00:21:23.980
 Churches

00:21:23.980 --> 00:21:24.180
 that are

00:21:24.180 --> 00:21:24.560
 thriving

00:21:24.560 --> 00:21:24.820
 there,

00:21:24.920 --> 00:21:25.280
 how have

00:21:25.280 --> 00:21:25.700
 they stood

00:21:25.700 --> 00:21:26.019
 against

00:21:26.019 --> 00:21:26.700
 that tide

00:21:26.700 --> 00:21:27.580
 and those

00:21:27.580 --> 00:21:28.180
 that haven't,

00:21:28.360 --> 00:21:28.600
 how have

00:21:28.600 --> 00:21:29.080
 they failed

00:21:29.080 --> 00:21:29.740
 to do

00:21:29.740 --> 00:21:30.019
 so?

00:21:30.280 --> 00:21:30.600
 We have

00:21:30.600 --> 00:21:31.100
 much to

00:21:31.100 --> 00:21:31.420
 observe

00:21:31.420 --> 00:21:31.920
 and much

00:21:31.920 --> 00:21:32.400
 to learn

00:21:32.400 --> 00:21:33.740
 about this.

00:21:34.240 --> 00:21:34.440
 And I

00:21:34.440 --> 00:21:34.880
 will say,

00:21:35.240 --> 00:21:36.120
 as Baptists,

00:21:36.119 --> 00:21:36.959
 we need to

00:21:36.959 --> 00:21:37.500
 especially pay

00:21:37.500 --> 00:21:38.219
 attention to

00:21:38.219 --> 00:21:39.539
 Baptist church

00:21:39.539 --> 00:21:40.239
 history.

00:21:40.639 --> 00:21:41.039
 We need to

00:21:41.039 --> 00:21:42.279
 be steeped

00:21:42.279 --> 00:21:42.599
 in it.

00:21:43.639 --> 00:21:43.799
 Now,

00:21:44.500 --> 00:21:46.039
 less than

00:21:46.039 --> 00:21:46.319
 the other

00:21:46.319 --> 00:21:46.759
 things,

00:21:47.219 --> 00:21:47.819
 you may not

00:21:47.819 --> 00:21:48.079
 have to

00:21:48.079 --> 00:21:48.779
 participate in

00:21:48.779 --> 00:21:49.139
 this quite

00:21:49.139 --> 00:21:49.579
 as much,

00:21:50.199 --> 00:21:50.699
 but we'll

00:21:50.699 --> 00:21:51.039
 work to

00:21:51.039 --> 00:21:51.239
 do it

00:21:51.239 --> 00:21:51.659
 for you.

00:21:51.779 --> 00:21:51.979
 We'll

00:21:51.979 --> 00:21:52.239
 work to

00:21:52.239 --> 00:21:52.759
 bring these

00:21:52.759 --> 00:21:53.319
 things together

00:21:53.319 --> 00:21:53.819
 for you and

00:21:53.819 --> 00:21:54.279
 help you to

00:21:54.279 --> 00:21:55.619
 understand the

00:21:55.619 --> 00:21:56.119
 mistakes of the

00:21:56.119 --> 00:21:56.719
 past that we

00:21:56.719 --> 00:21:57.459
 might be better

00:21:57.459 --> 00:21:58.119
 in the future.

00:21:59.379 --> 00:21:59.799
 So,

00:22:00.019 --> 00:22:00.399
 clear mission,

00:22:00.859 --> 00:22:01.500
 robust theology,

00:22:02.500 --> 00:22:03.399
 accurate histories,

00:22:03.400 --> 00:22:04.480
 fourth,

00:22:05.000 --> 00:22:05.780
 sacrificial

00:22:05.780 --> 00:22:07.440
 hospitality.

00:22:08.500 --> 00:22:09.259
 If we do

00:22:09.259 --> 00:22:09.880
 not love

00:22:09.880 --> 00:22:10.340
 one another

00:22:10.340 --> 00:22:10.700
 as we

00:22:10.700 --> 00:22:11.140
 should,

00:22:11.759 --> 00:22:12.300
 and if we

00:22:12.300 --> 00:22:12.600
 do not

00:22:12.600 --> 00:22:13.019
 love our

00:22:13.019 --> 00:22:13.720
 neighbors as

00:22:13.720 --> 00:22:14.340
 we should,

00:22:15.100 --> 00:22:15.580
 then we

00:22:15.580 --> 00:22:15.880
 will not

00:22:15.880 --> 00:22:16.360
 have a

00:22:16.360 --> 00:22:16.880
 foundation

00:22:16.880 --> 00:22:17.400
 from which

00:22:17.400 --> 00:22:17.980
 to say

00:22:17.980 --> 00:22:18.700
 difficult

00:22:18.700 --> 00:22:19.440
 things

00:22:19.440 --> 00:22:20.120
 into a

00:22:20.120 --> 00:22:20.680
 confused

00:22:20.680 --> 00:22:21.580
 culture.

00:22:22.759 --> 00:22:23.340
 It's

00:22:23.340 --> 00:22:23.660
 important

00:22:23.660 --> 00:22:23.980
 that we

00:22:23.980 --> 00:22:24.519
 build

00:22:24.519 --> 00:22:25.280
 equity

00:22:25.280 --> 00:22:25.600
 with

00:22:25.600 --> 00:22:25.960
 people

00:22:25.960 --> 00:22:26.900
 as we

00:22:26.900 --> 00:22:27.200
 bring

00:22:27.200 --> 00:22:27.860
 correction

00:22:27.860 --> 00:22:28.480
 to

00:22:28.480 --> 00:22:28.780
 people.

00:22:29.840 --> 00:22:30.200
 John

00:22:30.200 --> 00:22:30.620
 13,

00:22:30.700 --> 00:22:31.160
 35,

00:22:31.820 --> 00:22:32.040
 Jesus

00:22:32.040 --> 00:22:32.340
 says,

00:22:32.339 --> 00:22:32.859
 by this

00:22:32.859 --> 00:22:33.619
 all people

00:22:33.619 --> 00:22:34.079
 will know

00:22:34.079 --> 00:22:34.879
 that you

00:22:34.879 --> 00:22:35.459
 are my

00:22:35.459 --> 00:22:36.019
 disciples.

00:22:37.579 --> 00:22:38.359
 If you

00:22:38.359 --> 00:22:39.079
 love to

00:22:39.079 --> 00:22:39.279
 debate

00:22:39.279 --> 00:22:39.539
 reform

00:22:39.539 --> 00:22:39.939
 theology,

00:22:41.599 --> 00:22:43.699
 if you

00:22:43.699 --> 00:22:44.220
 have love

00:22:44.220 --> 00:22:45.139
 for one

00:22:45.139 --> 00:22:45.399
 another,

00:22:46.199 --> 00:22:46.899
 the way

00:22:46.899 --> 00:22:47.199
 we love

00:22:47.199 --> 00:22:47.639
 one another

00:22:47.639 --> 00:22:48.500
 is a

00:22:48.500 --> 00:22:48.740
 witness

00:22:48.740 --> 00:22:49.139
 to the

00:22:49.139 --> 00:22:49.399
 world

00:22:49.399 --> 00:22:50.500
 around

00:22:50.500 --> 00:22:50.879
 us.

00:22:52.139 --> 00:22:52.639
 Jesus

00:22:52.639 --> 00:22:52.839
 said,

00:22:52.919 --> 00:22:53.059
 Matthew

00:22:53.059 --> 00:22:53.500
 5,

00:22:53.559 --> 00:22:54.079
 verse 43

00:22:54.079 --> 00:22:54.639
 and following,

00:22:54.779 --> 00:22:54.959
 you have

00:22:54.959 --> 00:22:55.199
 heard that

00:22:55.199 --> 00:22:55.379
 it was

00:22:55.379 --> 00:22:55.599
 said,

00:22:55.699 --> 00:22:55.899
 you shall

00:22:55.899 --> 00:22:56.279
 love your

00:22:56.279 --> 00:22:56.539
 neighbor

00:22:56.539 --> 00:22:57.059
 and hate

00:22:57.059 --> 00:22:57.240
 your

00:22:57.240 --> 00:22:57.519
 enemy.

00:22:58.279 --> 00:22:58.699
 But I

00:22:58.699 --> 00:22:59.099
 say to

00:22:59.099 --> 00:22:59.399
 you,

00:23:00.399 --> 00:23:00.859
 love your

00:23:00.859 --> 00:23:01.279
 enemies

00:23:01.279 --> 00:23:02.460
 and pray

00:23:02.460 --> 00:23:03.160
 for those

00:23:03.160 --> 00:23:04.180
 who persecute

00:23:04.180 --> 00:23:04.420
 you.

00:23:05.859 --> 00:23:06.619
 For God's

00:23:06.619 --> 00:23:06.980
 church to

00:23:06.980 --> 00:23:08.399
 stand in

00:23:08.399 --> 00:23:09.119
 this age

00:23:09.119 --> 00:23:09.720
 of people

00:23:09.720 --> 00:23:10.259
 who will

00:23:10.259 --> 00:23:10.940
 hate us,

00:23:11.819 --> 00:23:12.440
 our response

00:23:12.440 --> 00:23:12.799
 is going to

00:23:12.799 --> 00:23:13.139
 have to be

00:23:13.139 --> 00:23:13.680
 a response

00:23:13.680 --> 00:23:15.119
 of love.

00:23:15.980 --> 00:23:16.139
 And we

00:23:16.139 --> 00:23:16.359
 have to

00:23:16.359 --> 00:23:16.940
 show that

00:23:16.940 --> 00:23:17.440
 to people

00:23:17.440 --> 00:23:17.920
 through

00:23:17.920 --> 00:23:18.680
 sacrificial

00:23:18.680 --> 00:23:19.720
 hospitality.

00:23:19.899 --> 00:23:20.160
 It means it

00:23:20.160 --> 00:23:20.819
 requires something

00:23:20.819 --> 00:23:21.119
 of us.

00:23:21.200 --> 00:23:21.440
 We have to

00:23:21.440 --> 00:23:21.960
 give something

00:23:21.960 --> 00:23:22.480
 to make it

00:23:22.480 --> 00:23:23.079
 possible.

00:23:23.339 --> 00:23:23.559
 We have to

00:23:23.559 --> 00:23:24.139
 be uncomfortable

00:23:24.139 --> 00:23:24.859
 at times.

00:23:25.299 --> 00:23:25.740
 We have to

00:23:25.740 --> 00:23:26.379
 give of our

00:23:26.379 --> 00:23:27.160
 resources to

00:23:27.160 --> 00:23:28.019
 have people

00:23:28.019 --> 00:23:29.700
 feel welcome.

00:23:29.700 --> 00:23:30.080
 And this

00:23:30.080 --> 00:23:30.340
 word

00:23:30.340 --> 00:23:30.680
 hospitality

00:23:30.680 --> 00:23:31.680
 means a

00:23:31.680 --> 00:23:31.980
 welcome

00:23:31.980 --> 00:23:33.140
 to the

00:23:33.140 --> 00:23:33.500
 stranger.

00:23:34.140 --> 00:23:34.759
 We have to

00:23:34.759 --> 00:23:35.019
 do this

00:23:35.019 --> 00:23:35.319
 amongst

00:23:35.319 --> 00:23:35.980
 ourselves,

00:23:36.360 --> 00:23:36.860
 that we

00:23:36.860 --> 00:23:37.220
 know we

00:23:37.220 --> 00:23:37.440
 have a

00:23:37.440 --> 00:23:37.680
 people,

00:23:37.799 --> 00:23:38.120
 a place

00:23:38.120 --> 00:23:38.340
 that we

00:23:38.340 --> 00:23:38.759
 belong,

00:23:39.100 --> 00:23:39.360
 and we're

00:23:39.360 --> 00:23:39.460
 going to

00:23:39.460 --> 00:23:39.660
 have to

00:23:39.660 --> 00:23:40.039
 do this

00:23:40.039 --> 00:23:40.620
 to others

00:23:40.620 --> 00:23:41.100
 as well.

00:23:41.559 --> 00:23:41.880
 If the

00:23:41.880 --> 00:23:42.480
 church is

00:23:42.480 --> 00:23:43.259
 to survive

00:23:43.259 --> 00:23:44.140
 in a

00:23:44.140 --> 00:23:44.779
 secularizing

00:23:44.779 --> 00:23:45.240
 age,

00:23:45.380 --> 00:23:45.559
 we're going

00:23:45.559 --> 00:23:45.660
 to have

00:23:45.660 --> 00:23:46.039
 to show

00:23:46.039 --> 00:23:46.799
 sacrificial

00:23:46.799 --> 00:23:47.980
 hospitality.

00:23:49.539 --> 00:23:49.940
 Clear

00:23:49.940 --> 00:23:50.220
 mission,

00:23:50.400 --> 00:23:50.680
 robust

00:23:50.680 --> 00:23:51.500
 theology,

00:23:51.819 --> 00:23:52.100
 accurate

00:23:52.100 --> 00:23:52.620
 histories,

00:23:53.980 --> 00:23:54.360
 sacrificial

00:23:54.360 --> 00:23:54.680
 hospitality.

00:23:54.799 --> 00:23:54.880
 See,

00:23:54.900 --> 00:23:55.000
 I don't

00:23:55.000 --> 00:23:55.200
 know if I

00:23:55.200 --> 00:23:55.420
 could do

00:23:55.420 --> 00:23:55.700
 this if

00:23:55.700 --> 00:23:55.799
 it

00:23:55.799 --> 00:23:56.440
 wasn't in

00:23:56.440 --> 00:23:56.920
 an acronym

00:23:56.920 --> 00:23:57.259
 that spelled

00:23:57.259 --> 00:23:57.600
 crash.

00:23:59.700 --> 00:23:59.960
 Fifth,

00:24:00.519 --> 00:24:00.840
 healthy

00:24:00.840 --> 00:24:01.140
 family.

00:24:02.740 --> 00:24:03.519
 If we

00:24:03.519 --> 00:24:03.819
 do not

00:24:03.819 --> 00:24:04.200
 have

00:24:04.200 --> 00:24:04.740
 healthy

00:24:04.740 --> 00:24:05.240
 families,

00:24:05.559 --> 00:24:06.440
 then our

00:24:06.440 --> 00:24:06.920
 church will

00:24:06.920 --> 00:24:07.319
 not hold

00:24:07.319 --> 00:24:07.720
 together,

00:24:08.259 --> 00:24:09.000
 because the

00:24:09.000 --> 00:24:09.580
 family is

00:24:09.580 --> 00:24:10.200
 the first

00:24:10.200 --> 00:24:11.220
 and foundational

00:24:11.220 --> 00:24:12.380
 institution of

00:24:12.380 --> 00:24:13.019
 all societies.

00:24:14.080 --> 00:24:15.100
 This is why

00:24:15.100 --> 00:24:15.460
 the evil

00:24:15.460 --> 00:24:16.259
 one is so

00:24:16.259 --> 00:24:17.180
 bent on

00:24:17.180 --> 00:24:17.720
 destroying

00:24:17.720 --> 00:24:19.059
 families.

00:24:20.100 --> 00:24:21.019
 Think about

00:24:21.019 --> 00:24:21.920
 the direction

00:24:21.920 --> 00:24:22.620
 from which

00:24:22.620 --> 00:24:23.420
 attacks on

00:24:23.420 --> 00:24:23.819
 the church

00:24:23.819 --> 00:24:24.700
 most readily

00:24:24.700 --> 00:24:25.380
 come in

00:24:25.380 --> 00:24:25.740
 our day.

00:24:26.480 --> 00:24:27.480
 In almost

00:24:27.480 --> 00:24:28.319
 all cases,

00:24:28.839 --> 00:24:29.160
 it's the

00:24:29.160 --> 00:24:29.440
 family.

00:24:31.019 --> 00:24:31.799
 We need

00:24:31.799 --> 00:24:32.240
 to have

00:24:32.240 --> 00:24:33.839
 healthy

00:24:33.839 --> 00:24:34.860
 biological

00:24:34.860 --> 00:24:35.880
 families.

00:24:36.640 --> 00:24:37.380
 We need

00:24:37.380 --> 00:24:37.620
 to have

00:24:37.620 --> 00:24:37.980
 healthy

00:24:37.980 --> 00:24:38.900
 adoptive

00:24:38.900 --> 00:24:39.980
 families,

00:24:40.079 --> 00:24:40.839
 both formally

00:24:40.839 --> 00:24:41.640
 and informally,

00:24:41.700 --> 00:24:41.960
 that we

00:24:41.960 --> 00:24:42.799
 would pull

00:24:42.799 --> 00:24:43.519
 people into

00:24:43.519 --> 00:24:44.099
 our family

00:24:44.099 --> 00:24:44.799
 life in

00:24:44.799 --> 00:24:45.180
 informal

00:24:45.180 --> 00:24:45.740
 ways and

00:24:45.740 --> 00:24:46.079
 also

00:24:46.079 --> 00:24:46.940
 officially,

00:24:47.240 --> 00:24:47.539
 formally,

00:24:48.460 --> 00:24:49.180
 be an

00:24:49.180 --> 00:24:49.779
 adoptive

00:24:49.779 --> 00:24:50.980
 culture.

00:24:52.299 --> 00:24:53.039
 So these

00:24:53.039 --> 00:24:53.480
 things are

00:24:53.480 --> 00:24:53.960
 things we

00:24:53.960 --> 00:24:54.240
 need to be

00:24:54.240 --> 00:24:54.740
 thinking about

00:24:54.740 --> 00:24:55.079
 and talking

00:24:55.079 --> 00:24:55.279
 about,

00:24:55.339 --> 00:24:55.460
 and we're

00:24:55.460 --> 00:24:55.680
 going to do

00:24:55.680 --> 00:24:56.039
 that over

00:24:56.039 --> 00:24:56.440
 the next

00:24:56.440 --> 00:24:57.879
 five weeks,

00:24:58.200 --> 00:24:58.680
 Lord willing,

00:24:59.299 --> 00:24:59.579
 that we

00:24:59.579 --> 00:24:59.980
 would have

00:24:59.980 --> 00:25:00.220
 as a

00:25:00.220 --> 00:25:00.559
 church,

00:25:01.339 --> 00:25:01.559
 clear

00:25:01.559 --> 00:25:01.879
 mission,

00:25:02.559 --> 00:25:02.779
 robust

00:25:02.779 --> 00:25:03.159
 theology,

00:25:03.519 --> 00:25:03.759
 accurate

00:25:03.759 --> 00:25:04.180
 histories,

00:25:05.119 --> 00:25:05.460
 sacrificial

00:25:05.460 --> 00:25:05.960
 hospitality,

00:25:06.799 --> 00:25:07.579
 and healthy

00:25:07.579 --> 00:25:08.460
 families.

00:25:09.480 --> 00:25:10.379
 It is our

00:25:10.379 --> 00:25:11.019
 prayer that

00:25:11.019 --> 00:25:11.519
 we will be

00:25:11.519 --> 00:25:12.359
 a resilient

00:25:12.359 --> 00:25:13.200
 church culture

00:25:13.200 --> 00:25:14.319
 and that we

00:25:14.319 --> 00:25:14.899
 will stand

00:25:14.899 --> 00:25:15.440
 against the

00:25:15.440 --> 00:25:16.159
 rising tide

00:25:16.159 --> 00:25:16.420
 of the

00:25:16.420 --> 00:25:16.639
 soft

00:25:16.639 --> 00:25:18.680
 totalitarianism

00:25:18.680 --> 00:25:19.019
 of our

00:25:19.019 --> 00:25:19.700
 evil age,

00:25:19.920 --> 00:25:20.819
 and that we

00:25:20.819 --> 00:25:21.099
 will do

00:25:21.099 --> 00:25:22.059
 so for

00:25:22.059 --> 00:25:22.579
 our good

00:25:22.579 --> 00:25:23.740
 and for

00:25:23.740 --> 00:25:24.019
 the glory

00:25:24.019 --> 00:25:24.440
 of God.

00:25:24.440 --> 00:25:26.380
 So in

00:25:26.380 --> 00:25:26.660
 closing,

00:25:27.160 --> 00:25:27.600
 let me read

00:25:27.600 --> 00:25:28.279
 today's text

00:25:28.279 --> 00:25:28.640
 one more

00:25:28.640 --> 00:25:30.140
 time and

00:25:30.140 --> 00:25:30.600
 ask that you

00:25:30.600 --> 00:25:31.220
 consider how

00:25:31.220 --> 00:25:31.700
 you might

00:25:31.700 --> 00:25:32.360
 be wise,

00:25:33.200 --> 00:25:33.940
 perhaps with

00:25:33.940 --> 00:25:34.660
 us in

00:25:34.660 --> 00:25:36.019
 our evil

00:25:36.019 --> 00:25:37.240
 days.

00:25:37.940 --> 00:25:38.440
 And then I'll

00:25:38.440 --> 00:25:38.640
 pray.

00:25:39.920 --> 00:25:41.080
 Take no part

00:25:41.080 --> 00:25:41.880
 in the

00:25:41.880 --> 00:25:42.759
 unfruitful works

00:25:42.759 --> 00:25:43.279
 of darkness,

00:25:43.420 --> 00:25:44.019
 but instead

00:25:44.019 --> 00:25:45.019
 expose them.

00:25:45.980 --> 00:25:46.460
 For it is

00:25:46.460 --> 00:25:47.100
 shameful even to

00:25:47.100 --> 00:25:47.559
 speak of the

00:25:47.559 --> 00:25:48.000
 things that they

00:25:48.000 --> 00:25:48.640
 do in secret.

00:25:49.500 --> 00:25:49.960
 But when

00:25:49.960 --> 00:25:50.480
 anything is

00:25:50.480 --> 00:25:51.299
 exposed by the

00:25:51.299 --> 00:25:51.840
 light, it

00:25:51.840 --> 00:25:52.600
 becomes visible.

00:25:52.599 --> 00:25:54.039
 for anything

00:25:54.039 --> 00:25:54.500
 that becomes

00:25:54.500 --> 00:25:55.539
 visible is

00:25:55.539 --> 00:25:55.859
 light.

00:25:57.019 --> 00:25:57.579
 Therefore it

00:25:57.579 --> 00:25:59.179
 says, awake,

00:25:59.299 --> 00:26:00.719
 O sleeper, and

00:26:00.719 --> 00:26:01.559
 arise from the

00:26:01.559 --> 00:26:02.019
 dead, and

00:26:02.019 --> 00:26:02.639
 Christ will

00:26:02.639 --> 00:26:03.779
 shine on

00:26:03.779 --> 00:26:04.119
 you.

00:26:05.359 --> 00:26:06.119
 Look carefully

00:26:06.119 --> 00:26:06.879
 then how you

00:26:06.879 --> 00:26:07.639
 walk, not as

00:26:07.639 --> 00:26:09.039
 unwise, but as

00:26:09.039 --> 00:26:10.879
 wise, making the

00:26:10.879 --> 00:26:11.519
 best use of the

00:26:11.519 --> 00:26:12.799
 time, because the

00:26:12.799 --> 00:26:14.259
 days are evil.

00:26:15.399 --> 00:26:16.079
 Therefore do not

00:26:16.079 --> 00:26:17.599
 be foolish, but

00:26:17.599 --> 00:26:18.379
 understand what the

00:26:18.379 --> 00:26:18.959
 will of the Lord

00:26:18.959 --> 00:26:19.859
 is.

00:26:20.359 --> 00:26:20.939
 Let's pray

00:26:20.939 --> 00:26:21.259
 together.

00:26:21.259 --> 00:26:23.660
 Thank you.

00:26:23.660 --> 00:26:23.660


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