WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.320 Welcome to Ontario Community Church, where we are encouraging, equipping, and engaging lives for Christ. 00:00:06.320 --> 00:00:14.740 ! I'm Pastor Patrick Daly, and each week I share sermons that balance the grace and love of Jesus Christ with the truth of the Word of God. 00:00:15.300 --> 00:00:21.179 Together, we'll explore Scripture using observation, interpretation, and application. 00:00:21.839 --> 00:00:26.039 This helps us discover practical ways to live out our faith every single day. 00:00:26.460 --> 00:00:29.039 Let's dive in together into God's Word. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:34.060 All right, well, good morning, everyone. Sorry that took a second to set all of that up. 00:00:35.200 --> 00:00:41.500 How many of you have heard the parable of the children in the marketplace before? 00:00:41.980 --> 00:00:42.840 Show of hands. 00:00:44.620 --> 00:00:46.340 It's an uncommon parable. 00:00:47.120 --> 00:00:57.700 I did some research as I was preparing for the sermon, and it's a very unusual, a very rare parable that's often overlooked. 00:00:57.700 --> 00:01:03.140 And when you read it, you're like, okay, these children are sitting. 00:01:04.760 --> 00:01:05.920 What does it mean? 00:01:06.939 --> 00:01:15.100 Very similarly, as we find not only with this parable, but with other parables, there's a lot of meaning that is much deeper. 00:01:15.099 --> 00:01:19.259 It's just like that saying that there is more than meets the eye. 00:01:20.059 --> 00:01:25.140 We find that there is much depth, much that we can learn. 00:01:25.739 --> 00:01:34.099 As we are to read the Word of God, we are to look at what it says, learn from it, grow from it, and respond. 00:01:34.099 --> 00:01:50.719 I found that in a lot of sermon databases, some of the most common parables that you find are the Good Samaritan, the four soils, but not a lot of the children in the marketplace. 00:01:50.979 --> 00:01:52.579 And I just found that to be very interesting. 00:01:52.579 --> 00:02:02.039 Out of the thousands of sermons on example of the Good Samaritan, there was less than 300 that I could find in active sermon databases. 00:02:02.519 --> 00:02:04.140 I found that to be very interesting. 00:02:05.259 --> 00:02:09.780 But like any part of the Word of God, it is important for us to read. 00:02:09.879 --> 00:02:10.000 Amen. 00:02:10.800 --> 00:02:12.439 It's important for us to study. 00:02:12.800 --> 00:02:15.240 It's important for us to learn and for us to grow. 00:02:15.360 --> 00:02:18.060 And it's only four verses long. 00:02:18.060 --> 00:02:31.840 For those of you that might have been raised more with a lectionary, I found it interesting that this verse only appears once in a three-year lectionary in year A, in the proper nine. 00:02:32.780 --> 00:02:36.560 Which I found to be also not a common reading in here. 00:02:37.740 --> 00:02:43.980 But what we find is this scene where we have children that are sitting there. 00:02:44.080 --> 00:02:45.759 There are instruments that are being played. 00:02:45.759 --> 00:02:48.340 There's times of joy and times of sorrow. 00:02:48.959 --> 00:02:51.780 But yet there is no response. 00:02:52.759 --> 00:02:57.599 And what I'd like to do, I have actually a video that I'd like for you guys to watch. 00:02:57.899 --> 00:02:59.120 Kind of as a representation. 00:02:59.120 --> 00:03:25.420 Just a short few seconds here. 00:03:26.500 --> 00:03:27.740 Children are just sitting there. 00:03:27.740 --> 00:03:30.020 Not really a care in the world. 00:03:31.040 --> 00:03:35.159 There's these instruments that are playing and no response. 00:03:36.120 --> 00:03:41.100 And even when you look at, well, this was what the text said. 00:03:41.159 --> 00:03:43.680 We played the flute for you and you did not dance. 00:03:43.780 --> 00:03:46.219 We sang a dirge and you did not weep. 00:03:46.219 --> 00:03:55.860 So you have this older woman representing the, you know, a time of sorrow, a time of weeping and no response. 00:03:56.000 --> 00:03:59.020 And I can't help but think for a moment here when I'm reading this. 00:03:59.020 --> 00:04:04.500 You want to have children participate in activities, right? 00:04:04.500 --> 00:04:07.160 Like birthdays, anniversaries, celebrations. 00:04:08.080 --> 00:04:13.200 In the same way that you want children to participate in times of mourning and times of sadness. 00:04:13.700 --> 00:04:19.660 And what a horrible scenario you can think of when children are not responding at all. 00:04:19.660 --> 00:04:22.040 Now, don't raise your hand. 00:04:22.140 --> 00:04:26.260 I hope none of you have ever done this before or none of your children have done this either. 00:04:26.259 --> 00:04:33.560 But to me, it seems like these children are just, well, shall we say spoiled, unappreciative. 00:04:33.839 --> 00:04:35.719 They're not present in the moment. 00:04:35.719 --> 00:04:40.000 And we can think that there's situations where that happens to children. 00:04:40.379 --> 00:04:42.740 But it also can happen even to us. 00:04:42.740 --> 00:04:49.180 And so when we look at this, we see this very interesting situation. 00:04:49.180 --> 00:04:51.139 And I want to go back to the text real quick. 00:04:52.660 --> 00:05:00.500 You know, you had these verses that Kathy was reading that was leading up to this parable. 00:05:01.019 --> 00:05:03.939 Where it had to do with John the Baptist, right? 00:05:04.040 --> 00:05:08.800 Behold, I send my messenger before your face who will prepare your way before you. 00:05:08.800 --> 00:05:13.819 In verse 28, I tell you, among these born of women, none is greater than John. 00:05:13.879 --> 00:05:15.740 I used to struggle with that verse a great deal. 00:05:16.280 --> 00:05:21.000 But keep going when it says the one who is least in the kingdom is greater than he. 00:05:21.160 --> 00:05:26.019 Which is talking about the importance that we need to be a part of the kingdom. 00:05:26.199 --> 00:05:26.340 Amen? 00:05:27.180 --> 00:05:29.840 That if you are the least or the smallest, right? 00:05:29.879 --> 00:05:31.019 You just made it in. 00:05:31.840 --> 00:05:33.340 Well, you made it in. 00:05:33.920 --> 00:05:35.759 That's what matters is you make it to heaven. 00:05:35.759 --> 00:05:36.960 That you're a part of the kingdom. 00:05:36.959 --> 00:05:38.919 That's what's so important. 00:05:39.060 --> 00:05:41.519 It's like, okay, okay, that makes a lot more sense. 00:05:42.699 --> 00:05:44.079 But it goes on in verse 29. 00:05:44.379 --> 00:05:48.039 When all the people heard this, the tax collectors too, they declared God just. 00:05:48.719 --> 00:05:50.839 Having been baptized with the baptism of John. 00:05:51.439 --> 00:05:55.599 But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose for themselves. 00:05:55.839 --> 00:05:57.519 Not having been baptized by him. 00:05:58.399 --> 00:06:03.759 And this is where Christ is saying to what then shall I compare people of this generation? 00:06:03.759 --> 00:06:04.719 And what are they like? 00:06:04.720 --> 00:06:08.400 Well, it's almost like Christ is saying they're like spoiled children. 00:06:08.900 --> 00:06:09.740 As it were. 00:06:10.820 --> 00:06:14.100 They're like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another. 00:06:14.180 --> 00:06:18.000 Maybe just talking amongst themselves and not a care in the world. 00:06:19.000 --> 00:06:23.320 And that language where it's saying we played the flute for you and you did not dance. 00:06:23.900 --> 00:06:26.620 We sang a dirge and you did not weep. 00:06:26.620 --> 00:06:36.439 And so Jesus is addressing people who are not only rejecting John the Baptist, but they're rejecting Christ. 00:06:36.879 --> 00:06:45.920 And he is using the image of children passively sitting, refusing to participate in any sort of life. 00:06:45.920 --> 00:06:47.340 I don't know about you. 00:06:47.439 --> 00:06:49.980 I don't want to be called a spoiled child by the Lord. 00:06:50.220 --> 00:06:50.939 Do you? 00:06:51.480 --> 00:06:52.400 Say no, please. 00:06:52.819 --> 00:06:53.300 Right? 00:06:53.699 --> 00:06:55.580 You don't want to be called a spoiled child. 00:06:55.740 --> 00:06:57.840 Or you're unappreciative. 00:06:57.839 --> 00:07:02.679 But their minds were not open. 00:07:02.779 --> 00:07:03.899 Their eyes were not open. 00:07:04.000 --> 00:07:05.759 Their ears were not ready as it were. 00:07:05.859 --> 00:07:10.099 And we find this just like we have found in many patterns within scripture. 00:07:10.519 --> 00:07:12.859 The parable of the sower, for example. 00:07:12.979 --> 00:07:16.620 Where we have the seeds and the soil being ready to receive. 00:07:16.620 --> 00:07:19.699 Just as one example. 00:07:20.699 --> 00:07:24.100 You know what's so interesting is when we think of John the Baptist. 00:07:25.600 --> 00:07:27.220 So Bible question for you. 00:07:27.319 --> 00:07:29.000 Who is the last prophet? 00:07:33.160 --> 00:07:35.280 Some of you may say Malachi, right? 00:07:36.540 --> 00:07:37.019 Maybe. 00:07:37.259 --> 00:07:37.540 No. 00:07:37.660 --> 00:07:37.860 Okay. 00:07:38.000 --> 00:07:38.740 That's all right. 00:07:39.459 --> 00:07:42.360 It's very interesting when we think of John the Baptist. 00:07:42.360 --> 00:07:47.379 That he being the last prophet before Christ. 00:07:47.600 --> 00:07:51.720 A lot of us, if you're asked the question, who's the last prophet? 00:07:51.860 --> 00:07:52.840 You would say Malachi. 00:07:53.600 --> 00:07:56.860 But when you think of the Old Testament, it's Malachi. 00:07:57.439 --> 00:08:02.360 When you're looking at the text of John the Baptist who's saying, repent, right? 00:08:02.439 --> 00:08:04.199 Prepare the way of the Lord. 00:08:04.259 --> 00:08:06.120 That's very prophetic language. 00:08:06.720 --> 00:08:08.780 And I just find it very interesting when we go. 00:08:08.780 --> 00:08:10.420 If we can go back to the text here. 00:08:12.360 --> 00:08:17.300 When Christ is saying, John messengers had gone out. 00:08:17.360 --> 00:08:18.080 What did you see? 00:08:19.720 --> 00:08:20.540 A prophet? 00:08:20.720 --> 00:08:22.400 Yes, I tell you, more than a prophet. 00:08:22.520 --> 00:08:23.720 This is of whom it is written. 00:08:24.080 --> 00:08:28.819 I'm sending a messenger before your face who will prepare your way before you. 00:08:30.100 --> 00:08:35.340 But I think sometimes we just forget that John the Baptist is, well, he's a prophet. 00:08:35.340 --> 00:08:37.800 But he's more than a prophet as the text is saying. 00:08:37.799 --> 00:08:47.779 So what's happening here then is these people, this generation, the Pharisees, the lawyers, 00:08:48.219 --> 00:08:50.259 are rejecting both of them. 00:08:50.859 --> 00:08:56.299 When you find in scripture any sort of rejection of two, that's very bad. 00:08:56.299 --> 00:09:01.699 If you remember the parable of the persistent widow and the wicked judge. 00:09:02.359 --> 00:09:08.819 Well, that wicked judge, he neither feared God nor respected man. 00:09:08.939 --> 00:09:10.000 Now, that's a horrible person. 00:09:10.120 --> 00:09:11.399 I don't know about you, right? 00:09:12.120 --> 00:09:13.159 Not fearing God. 00:09:13.240 --> 00:09:14.219 He doesn't believe in the Lord. 00:09:14.240 --> 00:09:16.199 And he doesn't respect people as well. 00:09:16.200 --> 00:09:22.820 And here you're having a rejection of the prophet, John the Baptist, and Christ. 00:09:24.320 --> 00:09:25.400 And so we have these. 00:09:25.600 --> 00:09:29.379 I want to go to the symbolism slide, if that's all right. 00:09:29.759 --> 00:09:35.580 The marketplace here is a representation of just everyday life. 00:09:36.780 --> 00:09:41.879 When you think of back in Jewish times and Jewish culture, the marketplace is where everything 00:09:41.879 --> 00:09:42.500 was happening. 00:09:42.500 --> 00:09:44.720 So you have that. 00:09:44.840 --> 00:09:48.740 You have the children representing this generation or people. 00:09:49.580 --> 00:09:51.779 And sitting is refusing to respond. 00:09:51.980 --> 00:09:57.240 And what's interesting when you saw that little clip was the playing of an instrument, the flute. 00:09:58.539 --> 00:10:01.700 There's the dancing and the clapping, a time of celebration. 00:10:01.700 --> 00:10:06.600 And it's actually a representation of what Christ is doing by providing grace. 00:10:06.600 --> 00:10:13.840 And dirge, then, is representing mourning and repentance, just as with John the Baptist. 00:10:14.620 --> 00:10:15.440 Here's what I mean. 00:10:15.820 --> 00:10:17.560 Go to verse 33, then. 00:10:19.320 --> 00:10:25.920 In your Bibles, John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine. 00:10:27.060 --> 00:10:28.680 And you say, what do they say? 00:10:29.300 --> 00:10:30.440 He has a demon. 00:10:31.399 --> 00:10:32.019 Now, wait a minute. 00:10:32.100 --> 00:10:33.320 What did John the Baptist eat? 00:10:33.340 --> 00:10:33.899 Do you guys remember? 00:10:33.899 --> 00:10:36.199 There you go. 00:10:36.459 --> 00:10:36.740 Right? 00:10:37.059 --> 00:10:37.279 Okay. 00:10:37.299 --> 00:10:38.860 We got some Bible trivia here. 00:10:38.939 --> 00:10:39.139 Okay? 00:10:40.399 --> 00:10:42.720 So he's not eating and drinking. 00:10:42.899 --> 00:10:46.279 He's very restrictive, as it were, with his diet. 00:10:46.480 --> 00:10:47.699 I mean, I don't know about you. 00:10:47.759 --> 00:10:48.899 I don't want to eat locusts. 00:10:49.000 --> 00:10:51.399 But imagine having a steady diet of that. 00:10:51.759 --> 00:10:54.500 But he has this more restrictive type of diet. 00:10:54.500 --> 00:11:01.080 And yet, in all of that, these people are saying, he's demonic. 00:11:01.519 --> 00:11:02.500 He's got a demon. 00:11:02.980 --> 00:11:03.860 Get him out of here. 00:11:04.700 --> 00:11:05.840 They're rejecting that. 00:11:06.600 --> 00:11:13.360 So then you see, in verse 34, the Son of Man has come eating and drinking. 00:11:13.639 --> 00:11:15.419 And what do they say, church? 00:11:15.419 --> 00:11:17.879 Look at him. 00:11:18.159 --> 00:11:18.839 A glutton. 00:11:19.439 --> 00:11:20.179 A drunkard. 00:11:20.979 --> 00:11:22.839 A friend of tax collectors. 00:11:23.759 --> 00:11:24.620 And sinners. 00:11:25.039 --> 00:11:30.059 This is one of the only times in Scripture where you see Jesus being quoted as a friend of sinners. 00:11:30.879 --> 00:11:33.679 But we know he is, Jesus is a friend of sinners. 00:11:33.679 --> 00:11:36.519 But I just find it very interesting when it's showing in there. 00:11:37.219 --> 00:11:42.120 So you have the most restrictive of people, respectfully so. 00:11:43.239 --> 00:11:48.939 And then you have Christ who is, well, eating and drinking. 00:11:49.479 --> 00:11:51.459 And yet they still reject him. 00:11:52.519 --> 00:11:55.919 So you have, I guess, both extremes, as it were. 00:11:56.399 --> 00:11:59.199 And there's still that rejection. 00:12:00.639 --> 00:12:02.059 Talk about foolish. 00:12:02.059 --> 00:12:05.239 Talk about spoiled children, as it were. 00:12:06.839 --> 00:12:11.019 And we have to think, are there people like that today? 00:12:12.659 --> 00:12:16.479 Certainly, we find in the text that there were people like that back then. 00:12:17.179 --> 00:12:25.099 Who rejected even the most rigid of believers to those that were providing grace. 00:12:25.179 --> 00:12:28.839 So you have actually the symbolism of law or truth. 00:12:29.179 --> 00:12:30.859 And then grace and love. 00:12:30.860 --> 00:12:33.039 Both being rejected. 00:12:33.180 --> 00:12:37.279 I cannot help but think of how there are people like that even today. 00:12:38.360 --> 00:12:39.759 Who reject Christ. 00:12:40.139 --> 00:12:41.480 Who reject the word. 00:12:41.600 --> 00:12:43.379 Who reject the words of the prophets. 00:12:43.600 --> 00:12:45.360 Who reject the Old Testament even. 00:12:45.580 --> 00:12:46.800 Who reject the New Testament. 00:12:46.879 --> 00:12:49.860 How many of you have heard, for example, people that say, 00:12:50.100 --> 00:12:53.300 I like the God of the New Testament. 00:12:54.100 --> 00:12:56.159 And say, I don't like the God of the Old Testament. 00:12:56.159 --> 00:12:58.879 It's too harsh of language. 00:12:59.339 --> 00:13:01.959 And certainly, it's much more challenging, for sure. 00:13:02.699 --> 00:13:07.199 But it's showing that all of Scripture is all together for us. 00:13:07.200 --> 00:13:11.340 There's a lot of parts to who God is. 00:13:11.379 --> 00:13:13.900 Much like there's parts of who we are. 00:13:14.520 --> 00:13:19.920 I know for a lot of us, we try to put our best foot forward when we're at school or at work. 00:13:20.040 --> 00:13:22.160 But there's other sides to us, right? 00:13:22.580 --> 00:13:23.560 Say yes, please. 00:13:23.660 --> 00:13:25.620 I hope there's more sides to you. 00:13:26.020 --> 00:13:26.540 Right? 00:13:26.539 --> 00:13:30.740 There's many parts of what make who we are as people. 00:13:30.860 --> 00:13:33.399 So why would God be any different than that? 00:13:34.000 --> 00:13:41.860 God being the God of love, grace, mercy, peace, but justice, truth, and even wrath. 00:13:42.959 --> 00:13:45.099 Somehow that all works together. 00:13:45.659 --> 00:13:47.259 And it's hard to wrap your mind around. 00:13:47.779 --> 00:13:48.620 For sure. 00:13:49.259 --> 00:13:50.579 It definitely is. 00:13:50.580 --> 00:14:01.200 And I pray that anyone here, please don't be like those, well, if you're a lawyer here, you can still love the Lord, okay? 00:14:02.900 --> 00:14:09.720 If you're a Pharisee or one that studies the law, I pray that you don't have a hardened heart. 00:14:10.100 --> 00:14:13.020 Or you're not being a spoiled child, as it were. 00:14:13.700 --> 00:14:17.200 And so we see in here, what is the interpretation? 00:14:17.200 --> 00:14:22.259 What are the lessons then we can learn from this short parable? 00:14:22.360 --> 00:14:23.920 Let's go to that next slide then. 00:14:24.780 --> 00:14:26.879 Is number one, don't be a sitting child. 00:14:26.960 --> 00:14:28.580 Do I mean you can't sit down? 00:14:30.000 --> 00:14:30.600 No. 00:14:31.340 --> 00:14:36.160 But don't just be sitting there and letting life pass by. 00:14:37.660 --> 00:14:44.379 God gives you an opportunity to come to him in salvation and responding to the message of the gospel. 00:14:45.100 --> 00:14:46.820 Don't just idly sit by. 00:14:47.820 --> 00:14:53.600 Much like how God calls each and every one of us to grow and to be transformed by him. 00:14:55.040 --> 00:14:56.740 Don't sit idly by. 00:14:57.360 --> 00:14:59.020 So you can think of that image. 00:14:59.560 --> 00:15:01.440 I like to think for a second here. 00:15:02.220 --> 00:15:05.840 How many of you, we were all children once, right? 00:15:06.280 --> 00:15:08.280 How many of you have had those moments? 00:15:08.920 --> 00:15:09.740 You just want to sit? 00:15:10.520 --> 00:15:11.800 You ain't going to budge. 00:15:12.780 --> 00:15:15.300 Don't be like that when it comes to the Lord. 00:15:15.299 --> 00:15:17.500 You don't want to sit. 00:15:18.379 --> 00:15:18.759 I know. 00:15:19.219 --> 00:15:21.039 I was throwing a tantrum right there. 00:15:21.199 --> 00:15:21.319 Okay. 00:15:22.279 --> 00:15:22.439 But. 00:15:23.439 --> 00:15:24.079 Right. 00:15:24.080 --> 00:15:27.900 We all have our moments, don't we? 00:15:28.700 --> 00:15:33.580 And so these children that are sitting, it's revealing this passivity. 00:15:33.580 --> 00:15:35.840 This indifference. 00:15:36.200 --> 00:15:38.480 This indifferent attitude towards God. 00:15:39.480 --> 00:15:46.759 And so the ramification then of being passive is, well, it could be a hardened heart. 00:15:46.759 --> 00:15:48.299 It could be ignorance to God. 00:15:49.580 --> 00:15:51.819 Let that not be the case for you. 00:15:51.980 --> 00:15:58.879 May you have an open mind and open heart to the Lord and that invitation. 00:15:58.879 --> 00:16:01.799 Because time is flying by, amen? 00:16:02.939 --> 00:16:03.899 How quickly. 00:16:04.600 --> 00:16:06.059 We're already in June now. 00:16:07.139 --> 00:16:07.740 What? 00:16:08.679 --> 00:16:11.799 I remember the end of the year last year. 00:16:12.240 --> 00:16:15.340 Some of you may even remember like, wait, it was a couple years ago. 00:16:15.580 --> 00:16:16.700 And here I am. 00:16:17.340 --> 00:16:20.399 So don't let life pass you by. 00:16:20.399 --> 00:16:20.480 Okay. 00:16:22.439 --> 00:16:28.459 The second thing is that some will reject law and grace. 00:16:29.679 --> 00:16:35.000 John represented discipline, seriousness of the law. 00:16:35.360 --> 00:16:39.720 When he's saying to repent and prepare the way from the Lord. 00:16:40.179 --> 00:16:47.019 Isn't there an importance for us to change our minds and to prepare for the Lord? 00:16:47.019 --> 00:16:50.980 We think of his first coming, but what about his second coming? 00:16:51.740 --> 00:16:55.079 Living a life that is in preparation for the Lord. 00:16:55.799 --> 00:17:02.639 We can think of that as John's approach and then Christ representing grace, joy, and openness. 00:17:03.620 --> 00:17:06.839 Now, for a lot of us, we may gravitate towards one or the other. 00:17:06.940 --> 00:17:07.819 I get that. 00:17:08.460 --> 00:17:10.259 But they're both important here. 00:17:10.259 --> 00:17:17.279 And there are some people that will reject any sort of openness to the Lord. 00:17:18.240 --> 00:17:19.920 And it's very unfortunate. 00:17:20.160 --> 00:17:29.619 And if you know someone that is rejecting or sitting passively like a spoiled child, pray for them. 00:17:30.180 --> 00:17:34.980 And have that door open for conversation. 00:17:34.980 --> 00:17:41.519 You never know when someone will contact you, call you, email you, text you. 00:17:42.220 --> 00:17:43.620 And they just want to talk. 00:17:44.599 --> 00:17:46.819 And sometimes we don't even know what to say. 00:17:47.440 --> 00:17:51.259 But what we can do is be present with every single person. 00:17:53.200 --> 00:17:56.960 Exhibiting the light, love, and truth of Christ to others. 00:17:56.960 --> 00:18:01.480 And so, pray that their eyes may be opened. 00:18:02.180 --> 00:18:03.740 Their hearts may be softened. 00:18:03.819 --> 00:18:06.840 And their ears, maybe you got a little earwax, right? 00:18:08.059 --> 00:18:09.559 Maybe they need a little cleaning. 00:18:10.620 --> 00:18:14.380 Just as scripture says, he who has ears, let him hear. 00:18:15.559 --> 00:18:17.100 Well, their ears have got to be ready. 00:18:18.240 --> 00:18:20.039 Pray for their ears to be ready. 00:18:20.039 --> 00:18:26.619 And the third thing is that wisdom is shown by fruitfulness, right? 00:18:26.700 --> 00:18:29.799 It's scripture says, you shall know them by their fruit. 00:18:29.940 --> 00:18:34.279 And wisdom is shown by this sense of transformation. 00:18:35.940 --> 00:18:42.259 Don't be that idle child, but be like that tree that is bearing fruit. 00:18:42.379 --> 00:18:48.019 And very often we see that Christ is wisdom, as it were. 00:18:50.039 --> 00:18:54.119 And we can think of the importance of exhibiting fruit. 00:18:55.099 --> 00:18:57.700 May you be rooted in the Lord. 00:18:58.180 --> 00:19:01.460 May you continue to grow and bear fruit. 00:19:02.819 --> 00:19:07.720 And when we think of this then, we go then into the application is, 00:19:08.039 --> 00:19:09.539 what can I do about this? 00:19:09.559 --> 00:19:11.500 And how can I live out this parable? 00:19:12.799 --> 00:19:18.139 Well, number one is to check your heart. 00:19:18.140 --> 00:19:24.280 Are you someone who is just sitting in the marketplace? 00:19:25.020 --> 00:19:26.940 I don't literally mean sitting in Walmart. 00:19:29.259 --> 00:19:29.900 Okay? 00:19:30.640 --> 00:19:33.620 So if you didn't get that up until now, 00:19:33.900 --> 00:19:39.600 don't sit passively and let life pass by. 00:19:40.420 --> 00:19:43.680 How is your heart towards the Lord? 00:19:43.680 --> 00:19:48.440 Just like we have time to examine our hearts before the Lord in communion, 00:19:48.840 --> 00:19:51.480 we should be thinking of, 00:19:51.600 --> 00:19:55.039 is our faith active or is it passive? 00:19:56.000 --> 00:20:00.620 And it's a call for us to embrace the seriousness of the gospel, 00:20:00.660 --> 00:20:02.900 but also the joy that comes from it. 00:20:03.519 --> 00:20:05.920 It's that great balance that I talk about 00:20:05.920 --> 00:20:10.799 when we think of the truth of God's word and the love of Christ. 00:20:10.799 --> 00:20:13.519 It's very important. 00:20:14.579 --> 00:20:17.059 So you're going to hear it from me again. 00:20:17.259 --> 00:20:18.740 Don't sit passively. 00:20:19.720 --> 00:20:22.539 May your heart be softened and may you respond. 00:20:22.960 --> 00:20:24.680 That actually goes to the second one. 00:20:24.859 --> 00:20:28.500 Check your heart and respond to God's invitation. 00:20:29.119 --> 00:20:29.879 Can you imagine? 00:20:30.319 --> 00:20:33.539 We go back to this idea of the children that are sitting there. 00:20:33.539 --> 00:20:40.539 I'd like to think in this parable that maybe some people might come by and say, 00:20:40.779 --> 00:20:42.039 Hey kids, what are you doing? 00:20:42.859 --> 00:20:43.639 Sitting here. 00:20:44.399 --> 00:20:46.799 I mean, that's how I feel when I'm reading this text. 00:20:47.379 --> 00:20:50.839 I don't want to be like children in the marketplace that are just sitting there. 00:20:51.319 --> 00:20:53.099 I would say, come on, kids get up. 00:20:53.180 --> 00:20:55.079 Let's join in the dancing. 00:20:55.259 --> 00:20:57.099 Or there's this time of mourning. 00:20:58.159 --> 00:20:58.980 Participate in it. 00:20:58.980 --> 00:21:05.140 And that feeling that you have, that thought of they need to act. 00:21:06.200 --> 00:21:07.519 It's so important. 00:21:07.980 --> 00:21:12.880 Not only for literally our own children, but also for us. 00:21:13.120 --> 00:21:16.339 When we consider our brothers and sisters in Christ. 00:21:17.220 --> 00:21:18.900 Encouraging them to grow, right? 00:21:18.940 --> 00:21:20.740 To know the Lord, to continue to grow. 00:21:22.220 --> 00:21:24.120 Are we not all learning and growing? 00:21:24.759 --> 00:21:26.940 Are we not all works in progress? 00:21:26.940 --> 00:21:29.100 Are we not all being molded by the Lord? 00:21:29.160 --> 00:21:30.259 We certainly should be. 00:21:32.279 --> 00:21:36.960 And so recognize that there's an importance of repentance. 00:21:37.559 --> 00:21:40.259 And the seriousness of sin. 00:21:40.400 --> 00:21:42.740 The seriousness of responding to the gospel. 00:21:43.420 --> 00:21:47.640 But also the grace and love of Christ. 00:21:49.180 --> 00:21:55.559 And so may you receive and respond to God's full invitation. 00:21:55.559 --> 00:22:03.579 And then finally, it is show wisdom through your new life in Christ. 00:22:04.319 --> 00:22:06.919 Let your words and let your deeds. 00:22:07.539 --> 00:22:10.339 Let they demonstrate wisdom. 00:22:11.720 --> 00:22:15.779 It's just like how scripture says that we are to put on the new self. 00:22:16.480 --> 00:22:20.379 That we are to be not conformed to the patterns of this world. 00:22:20.380 --> 00:22:23.780 But to be transformed by the renewal of your mind. 00:22:25.480 --> 00:22:27.060 We are to be transformed. 00:22:27.720 --> 00:22:31.340 And we are to continue on this trajectory in this new life. 00:22:32.640 --> 00:22:33.780 Be saved. 00:22:34.500 --> 00:22:34.980 Respond. 00:22:35.720 --> 00:22:38.360 But begin on your journey in Christ. 00:22:38.359 --> 00:22:43.379 Think of the words that you say. 00:22:43.579 --> 00:22:45.039 And the actions that you do. 00:22:45.619 --> 00:22:47.699 Now, we're not going to be perfect. 00:22:48.159 --> 00:22:51.259 But God is going to mold us to be more like him. 00:22:52.179 --> 00:22:57.079 And let your life mirror the light of Christ. 00:22:57.799 --> 00:23:02.299 Let your life exhibit the love of Christ. 00:23:02.299 --> 00:23:05.480 I've said it before and I'll say it again. 00:23:06.200 --> 00:23:07.680 It's just like that song. 00:23:08.359 --> 00:23:12.579 They'll know that we are Christians by our love. 00:23:13.819 --> 00:23:18.659 They'll know we are Christians by the words that we speak and the actions that we do. 00:23:19.059 --> 00:23:21.319 Which should be an invitation in of itself. 00:23:22.059 --> 00:23:24.099 That there's something different about you. 00:23:24.319 --> 00:23:28.659 And if you're an unbeliever and you meet a Christian for the first time. 00:23:28.660 --> 00:23:35.279 It's saying, wow, there's really something different about John or whoever. 00:23:35.720 --> 00:23:37.700 If I start throwing names, I might name somebody. 00:23:37.800 --> 00:23:38.820 I apologize if I do. 00:23:39.720 --> 00:23:41.500 There's something different about you. 00:23:42.500 --> 00:23:43.759 I want to know more. 00:23:44.580 --> 00:23:49.220 How can you be calm when there's so much chaos? 00:23:49.740 --> 00:23:55.680 How can you be filled with joy despite the fact that bad things are happening in your own life? 00:23:55.680 --> 00:23:58.799 There's strength in the Lord. 00:23:59.640 --> 00:24:00.720 There's wisdom. 00:24:00.920 --> 00:24:01.580 There's healing. 00:24:01.720 --> 00:24:02.500 There's transformation. 00:24:03.759 --> 00:24:04.980 That is a testimony. 00:24:05.960 --> 00:24:12.680 And to know that you are being transformed by the Lord is a call for you to share in the gospel for other people. 00:24:13.960 --> 00:24:15.220 For other people to see. 00:24:15.960 --> 00:24:19.120 Because there are a lot of people that are still in darkness. 00:24:21.600 --> 00:24:24.660 There are children in the marketplace. 00:24:24.660 --> 00:24:27.279 May we not be like those children. 00:24:28.060 --> 00:24:30.460 And may we celebrate. 00:24:31.660 --> 00:24:33.779 In times of celebration. 00:24:34.040 --> 00:24:34.480 May we. 00:24:35.000 --> 00:24:36.560 We think of Ecclesiastes. 00:24:36.759 --> 00:24:38.420 That there's a season for everything. 00:24:39.100 --> 00:24:42.480 We think of how we need to bear one another's up. 00:24:43.000 --> 00:24:45.460 Being present for our brothers and sisters. 00:24:46.200 --> 00:24:47.920 Let us continue to do that. 00:24:48.019 --> 00:24:50.100 And pray that lives will be transformed. 00:24:50.099 --> 00:24:59.759 Being available for those children that may eventually see why sitting passively is not good. 00:25:00.399 --> 00:25:03.539 So don't remain spiritually sitting. 00:25:04.539 --> 00:25:06.480 Respond in repentance. 00:25:06.719 --> 00:25:07.919 The changing of the mind. 00:25:08.059 --> 00:25:09.859 Receiving salvation. 00:25:10.559 --> 00:25:13.019 And living and loving like Christ. 00:25:13.019 --> 00:25:16.639 And let your life be a testimony to God. 00:25:17.440 --> 00:25:20.859 Your life can speak to other people. 00:25:21.400 --> 00:25:25.160 In ways that the person next to you might not be able to. 00:25:25.480 --> 00:25:26.379 And that's okay. 00:25:27.119 --> 00:25:29.980 We all have our own unique story. 00:25:30.519 --> 00:25:32.519 May we share it with other people. 00:25:32.519 --> 00:25:36.539 So may we respond to God's full invitation. 00:25:37.420 --> 00:25:39.740 Not being like this generation. 00:25:40.859 --> 00:25:42.799 Not being like that generation. 00:25:43.680 --> 00:25:45.839 May we not sit idly. 00:25:46.240 --> 00:25:48.879 But may we respond to Christ's call. 00:25:49.139 --> 00:25:50.059 Let's pray together. 00:25:51.200 --> 00:25:53.700 And Father we thank you for this time. 00:25:53.779 --> 00:25:57.000 And this opportunity for us to go through the text. 00:25:57.000 --> 00:26:03.819 And we realize that there were these people who were rejecting John the Baptist. 00:26:03.819 --> 00:26:05.319 And rejecting Christ. 00:26:05.480 --> 00:26:08.380 And we just pray that we are not like that. 00:26:08.819 --> 00:26:11.259 We pray for those who are like that. 00:26:12.460 --> 00:26:14.240 Whether they have a hardened heart. 00:26:14.380 --> 00:26:15.079 Or they're ignorant. 00:26:15.240 --> 00:26:16.039 Or whatever it is. 00:26:16.099 --> 00:26:17.740 We pray that there will be transformation. 00:26:17.980 --> 00:26:19.660 Divine intervention as it were. 00:26:20.660 --> 00:26:26.119 And may we as Christians be ready to be able to speak truth and deal in love. 00:26:27.000 --> 00:26:29.480 With those who we may encounter. 00:26:30.380 --> 00:26:32.400 Father we don't know everybody's story. 00:26:32.680 --> 00:26:33.400 And that's alright. 00:26:33.539 --> 00:26:34.160 You sure do. 00:26:34.720 --> 00:26:36.779 May you give us wisdom, strength and comfort. 00:26:37.140 --> 00:26:41.400 To be able to speak to those who enter into our lives. 00:26:42.359 --> 00:26:45.220 We thank you so much for your son Jesus Christ. 00:26:46.140 --> 00:26:49.339 May we learn this lesson. 00:26:50.119 --> 00:26:54.880 To not be like children who are sitting in the marketplace. 00:26:54.880 --> 00:26:55.360 Instead. 00:26:56.360 --> 00:26:59.820 May we partake in the joy of salvation. 00:27:00.260 --> 00:27:01.420 May we repent. 00:27:02.500 --> 00:27:03.620 And see the seriousness. 00:27:04.160 --> 00:27:06.000 Of why we are to believe. 00:27:07.020 --> 00:27:08.660 And may we fully respond. 00:27:09.540 --> 00:27:10.920 To your salvation. 00:27:11.480 --> 00:27:13.100 And the plan that you have for us. 00:27:13.180 --> 00:27:14.220 And may we be moved. 00:27:14.540 --> 00:27:16.640 To live and love like Jesus. 00:27:17.320 --> 00:27:19.100 It is in the name of Jesus Christ. 00:27:19.180 --> 00:27:19.760 That we pray. 00:27:19.940 --> 00:27:20.880 And we all say together. 00:27:20.940 --> 00:27:21.300 Amen. 00:27:21.720 --> 00:27:22.280 Amen. 00:27:22.279 --> 00:27:27.980 Thank you for listening for this week's message from Ontario Community Church. 00:27:28.339 --> 00:27:32.759 I pray that you are encouraged and strengthened in your walk with Christ. 00:27:33.319 --> 00:27:34.799 For more sermons and resources. 00:27:35.440 --> 00:27:38.099 Visit OntarioCommunityChurch.org 00:27:38.099 --> 00:27:43.119 May God bless you as you live out his grace and truth every single day. 00:27:43.119 --> 00:27:44.059 May God bless you as you live out my life. 00:27:44.059 --> 00:27:44.059 00:27:44.059 --> 00:27:44.059 00:27:44.059 --> 00:27:44.059 00:27:44.059 --> 00:27:44.059 00:27:44.059 --> 00:27:44.059 00:27:44.059 --> 00:27:44.059 00:27:44.059 --> 00:27:44.059 00:27:44.059 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