WEBVTT

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 You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama.

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 Our passion is to experience and express grace.

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 Join us.

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 Thank you all.

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 Beautiful, beautiful reminder of our hope.

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 We started talking last Sunday about being a biblical community, the things that God's

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 Word tells us about a church that God would use to storm the gates of hell, to bring revival,

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 renewal.

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 And we saw last week that it must begin with our being Christ-centered, focused on Jesus,

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 His person, His cross, His Word, His body.

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 That's our first core commitment as a church, committed to being Christ-centered.

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 It has implications for us.

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 We're going to talk about those over the next few weeks.

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 What does it mean when you're Christ-centered?

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 What else does that look like?

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 This morning, talking about being a missional community, a community on mission together.

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 Now, when you think about it, most groups of people have a mission that brings them together

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 and unites them.

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 A sense of purpose.

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 A definition of success that the group kind of unites around.

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 In fact, you know, as we speak, there are football teams across the country beginning

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 to practice with national championship aspirations in mind.

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 All right?

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 That's where we want to go.

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 Every player on the team is working toward that goal of standing there in January, holding

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 the trophy with the confetti coming down around them.

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 That's what they're working towards.

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 Many of you work for businesses where being successful means making money, paying off for

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 shareholders, perhaps other things too.

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 But the bottom line is the bottom line.

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 You've got to make money to keep going.

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 Like my family, many of you are members of a neighborhood pool or a club of some sort or another

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 where the goal, the purpose of its existence is to provide benefits, services to those who are members of that club.

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 Right?

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 That purpose, that's what's going on, why they get together.

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 And that goal of benefiting those who are a part of a group is so normal to us, whether it's a team or a club or a business.

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 How can we benefit each other?

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 That's often the way we approach church too, isn't it?

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 It's the consumer mentality of how is the church making me feel?

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 What services does the church provide my family?

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 How does it reflect on me or contribute to my personal success in life?

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 Can we admit that those are often the things we think of as the mission of the church?

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 We might not call it the mission of the church, but we think that's the purpose.

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 That's why I would want to be a part of the church.

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 That's what I'm looking for in a church.

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 Don't we often look at it that way?

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 No, we're talking about being a community, a group, connecting relationally with each other.

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 And that's valuable, isn't it?

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 Having those relationships, but not merely community for community's sake.

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 That's not the mission of the church of Jesus Christ.

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 And in fact, the Bible says it's quite the opposite.

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 Did you know, for instance, that we could keep every single one of our members happy

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 and still not accomplish the mission of the church?

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 Did you know that we could meet budget 30 years in a row and fail to achieve the mission

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 of the church?

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 Did you know that we could grow numerically, double in size, and look like we're doing

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 great things and still not achieve the mission God has given to us as His church?

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 We see the mission of the church all over the place in God's Word.

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 But I want to read us just a couple verses from 1 Peter as we get started and then we'll

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 pray.

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 Peter is writing in chapter 2 of his letter about the church that God is building on the

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 cornerstone of Jesus.

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 And in verse 9, he gives us this clear statement of our identity and mission as those following

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 Jesus.

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 This is God's holy Word.

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 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession

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 that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous

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 light.

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 Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people.

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 Once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

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 Let's pray.

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 Jesus, would you be with us this morning?

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 Would you, as we have just prayed in song, would you abide with your church?

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 Your church everywhere and especially, Father, would you abide here in our presence this morning

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 with this church for the sake of your kingdom?

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 God, would you abide with us?

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 Show us what you would have for us.

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 Show us Jesus by your Holy Spirit.

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 We ask in His name.

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 Amen.

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 Here's the bottom line this morning.

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 I'm not going to trick you or hide it from you.

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 For this aspect of being a biblical community, a church God uses.

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 Last week we said that the church God uses must remain focused on the person of Jesus.

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 Now, today, as we are, a church centered on Jesus, what does it look like?

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 It must be on the mission of God together.

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 Now, that's very simple, but it's a harder mission than you think.

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 And it's a more glorious mission than you could even imagine that we are called to and put here for.

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 So, before we come back to 1 Peter 2 and other passages that tell us about that,

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 let's remember briefly what God's mission in this world is.

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 We must be on His mission, not just whatever we want to do.

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 We must be on His mission together.

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 And the Bible tells us that God is up to something from the very beginning.

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 In the very beginning, God creates a world to display His glory,

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 to give Himself in relationship to people,

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 and those people then in turn are to reflect His glory over the whole creation.

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 That's God's mission, His glory being known in relationship and shared everywhere,

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 filling the earth.

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 But we messed that up, didn't we?

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 Looking at ourselves, we didn't reflect His image,

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 but instead rebelled against Him and wanted to do things our own way.

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 Brought a curse on the entire creation that was intended to display His great glory.

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 And so, God sets about, from early in the Bible,

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 a mission of redeeming and restoring all of His glorious,

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 now broken, creation.

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 Especially those broken people that He made in His image.

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 God is on a restoration mission.

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 He is making all things new, Revelation 21.

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 Bringing us back into relationship with Him that we were created for

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 and renovating all of creation, Romans 8,

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 so that it reflects His glory perfectly again.

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 His kingdom coming on earth as He always intended.

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 And just as God first created people to live in relationship with Him

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 and then to reflect His glory to the whole creation,

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 in that same way, God on His restoration mission is up to the same thing.

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 giving Himself for people in relationship,

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 to restore that relationship with them,

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 and then giving them to others

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 to restore those people in relationship.

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 Everyone and everything restored to the glory that He intended for it at first.

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 You can see this pattern in the story of Abraham.

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 Peter read for us earlier as we confessed.

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 God says, I will bless you.

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 We'll have this special relationship

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 and then you will be a blessing to others, to the nations.

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 And perhaps the clearest Old Testament image of this

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 is the entire nation of Israel.

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 All of them told in Exodus 19

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 what their mission is as God's people.

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 Verse 4,

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 You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians,

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 how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself.

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 Now therefore, if you'll indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant,

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 you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples.

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 That's who they are.

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 They have this special relationship with God, right?

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 As His treasured possession.

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 God's brought them into that relationship,

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 but then they have this glorious mission.

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 All the earth is mine,

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 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests

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 and a holy nation.

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 They have a glorious mission to be priests,

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 to restore relationship with the rest of creation,

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 to represent God and pass along His glory to everyone around them.

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 That's what that means.

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 You don't see it there maybe in that verse,

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 but that's what priests do.

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 They stand between God and the people.

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 In the nation of Israel,

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 there was one tribe out of the twelve.

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 They were the priests, right?

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 They stood between God and the rest of the nation.

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 Sacrifices,

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 prayers,

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 speaking for God to the people.

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 That was their function.

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 They represented Him to the rest of the nation.

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 But then God says here

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 that the entire nation

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 will be a kingdom of priests.

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 It's not Israel alone

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 that God wants to have relationship with.

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 Who's He interested in?

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 The whole earth.

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 All the earth is mine,

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 and so I need a group of you to be priests

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 to represent me to them.

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 You be priests, Israel.

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 Passing along the glory of restored relationship.

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 Restoring every person,

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 every plant,

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 every policy that's gone wrong

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 to the way I intended this world to be.

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 Israel struggled with that.

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 But that restoration mission reached its climax,

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 of course,

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 in the life,

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 death,

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 and resurrection of Jesus,

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 who restored relationship with God

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 ultimately through His cross.

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 He died to see us restored

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 in our relationship with God.

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 And He sends His followers,

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 His people,

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 out on that glorious mission of restoration,

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 doesn't He?

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 1 Peter 2 is just one great picture of that.

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 It actually quotes that Exodus 19 passage.

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 Who are we?

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 We, like Israel,

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 have this special relationship with God

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 because He restored it by His mercy.

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 That's the cross.

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 And now we have not only the relationship,

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 we have this mission as priests

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 to carry that on with everyone else.

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 To proclaim His excellencies.

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 To tell His glory, right?

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 Everywhere.

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 That's why we're priests.

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 We're a special people

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 in order that something might happen,

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 that we have a purpose and a mission

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 proclaiming His excellencies everywhere

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 so God's mission can be accomplished.

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 In other places,

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 the church is called ministers of reconciliation,

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 ambassadors of the King.

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 Jesus tells His followers before He ascends,

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 you will be my witnesses

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 to the ends of the earth.

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 And as you go throughout all creation,

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 what are you going to do?

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 Make disciples of all nations.

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 Others who reflect the glory of God

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 all over His creation.

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 Do you begin to see why it's not enough for us

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 as a community just to be about ourselves?

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 It's not enough, is it?

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 It's not enough just to exist

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 for making each other happy

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 and enjoying life together.

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 All of these descriptions that I just read

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 of the church's calling

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 turn us outward toward the rest of creation.

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 God's got a glorious mission

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 that He calls us into.

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 It's a mission of restoration.

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 That as we know His glories,

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 we declare His glories to others.

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 As we experience His justice,

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 we share His justice with others.

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 As we taste the wonder of His grace,

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 we offer grace to others.

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 Experience and express grace.

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 That's our shorthand mission statement here.

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 God gives Himself in relationship with you

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 over and over when you don't deserve it.

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 Experience grace.

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 And then God sends you to give yourself

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 in relationship with others

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 over and over again

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 when they don't deserve it.

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 That's what we're called to.

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 Being Christ-centered

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 means we must be outward-facing,

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 priests who represent God to others,

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 proclaiming His excellencies

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 so that the earth is filled with His glory.

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 See, that's why God created you.

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 It's why God called you into this community.

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 Did you know you were created

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 for greatness like that?

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 For glory?

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 For being a part of something that's eternal?

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 That will always matter?

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 Don't you want that?

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 It's what He made you for.

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 It's why He's in relationship with you

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 and loves you and cares about you.

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 He has something great and glorious for you.

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 Bishop William Temple said,

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 the church is the only society

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 that exists for the benefit

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 of those who are not its members.

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 Dietrich Bonhoeffer said it this way,

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 the church is the church

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 only when it exists for others.

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 The sad thing is that through history,

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 the story of church history

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 is one of Christians and churches

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 forgetting this over and over

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 and needing to remember it

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 and come back to it.

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 They've neglected this mission

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 that God gives them.

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 But when a rekindling of love for Christ

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 has happened in the church,

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 it inevitably and invariably

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 involves the church being on this mission

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 as a result.

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 If you go back to the early church

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 and read through the book of Acts,

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 they go off on this mission

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 that Jesus has sent them on

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 with great passion, right?

00:16:11.019 --> 00:16:13.320
 Sharing the good news of a risen Savior.

00:16:13.320 --> 00:16:17.520
 Caring for each other in incredible ways

00:16:17.520 --> 00:16:19.700
 and as one Roman emperor even noticed,

00:16:20.080 --> 00:16:21.700
 caring for their poor too.

00:16:24.600 --> 00:16:26.160
 But as you study church history,

00:16:26.340 --> 00:16:27.620
 time and time again,

00:16:27.740 --> 00:16:29.260
 that's been forgotten.

00:16:29.500 --> 00:16:31.879
 What usually happens is something like this.

00:16:31.940 --> 00:16:34.740
 The church gets some cultural influence.

00:16:35.220 --> 00:16:37.040
 Having shared some of that good news,

00:16:37.100 --> 00:16:38.120
 it begins to take root

00:16:38.120 --> 00:16:39.760
 and they begin to feel comfortable

00:16:39.759 --> 00:16:42.100
 and see their impact on the society

00:16:42.100 --> 00:16:45.519
 and that missionary impulse fades.

00:16:46.600 --> 00:16:49.019
 It doesn't seem nearly as important anymore.

00:16:49.460 --> 00:16:50.539
 The church settles in

00:16:50.539 --> 00:16:51.899
 and gets comfortable

00:16:51.899 --> 00:16:54.080
 pursuing the same goals

00:16:54.080 --> 00:16:56.360
 and missions as everyone else.

00:16:57.819 --> 00:16:59.779
 Existing for themselves.

00:17:01.179 --> 00:17:05.019
 Personal success, wealth, power, comfort, fame

00:17:05.019 --> 00:17:07.960
 becomes the driving mission

00:17:07.960 --> 00:17:09.059
 for which individuals

00:17:09.059 --> 00:17:11.539
 and the church together exists

00:17:11.539 --> 00:17:13.920
 and with that as the driving mission

00:17:13.920 --> 00:17:14.900
 of people's lives,

00:17:15.039 --> 00:17:16.619
 the church is relegated

00:17:16.619 --> 00:17:19.920
 to spiritualizing birth and death

00:17:19.920 --> 00:17:22.619
 and maybe some occasional moral guidance

00:17:22.619 --> 00:17:24.539
 for how I'm supposed to live

00:17:24.539 --> 00:17:26.339
 while I run the same rat race

00:17:26.339 --> 00:17:27.599
 everybody else is running.

00:17:30.039 --> 00:17:32.119
 Church historian Richard Loveless

00:17:32.119 --> 00:17:34.079
 explains that this was exactly

00:17:34.079 --> 00:17:36.019
 what Jonathan Edwards found in America

00:17:36.019 --> 00:17:37.759
 in the early 1700s.

00:17:38.379 --> 00:17:39.619
 The people in his congregation

00:17:39.619 --> 00:17:40.579
 were respectable

00:17:40.579 --> 00:17:43.279
 and had a rote orthodoxy.

00:17:44.720 --> 00:17:44.980
 Quote,

00:17:45.119 --> 00:17:46.759
 but their ultimate concerns

00:17:46.759 --> 00:17:48.639
 were not God and His kingdom

00:17:48.639 --> 00:17:52.299
 but land and the pursuit of affluence.

00:17:54.579 --> 00:17:55.960
 Skip that, it's too convicting.

00:17:56.939 --> 00:17:57.740
 Let's see.

00:17:59.159 --> 00:18:01.039
 Actually, what he's describing

00:18:01.039 --> 00:18:02.899
 is an approach to life

00:18:02.900 --> 00:18:04.100
 that if we're honest,

00:18:04.220 --> 00:18:05.759
 most of us can identify with

00:18:05.759 --> 00:18:06.900
 pretty quickly, can't we?

00:18:07.500 --> 00:18:09.640
 It looks something like this.

00:18:10.759 --> 00:18:11.900
 An approach to life

00:18:11.900 --> 00:18:13.320
 where at the center of everything

00:18:13.320 --> 00:18:14.500
 is myself.

00:18:15.860 --> 00:18:18.600
 And everything else in my life

00:18:18.600 --> 00:18:21.259
 works to make me feel

00:18:21.259 --> 00:18:23.180
 like a successful self.

00:18:23.380 --> 00:18:24.400
 What I want to be,

00:18:24.460 --> 00:18:26.460
 this idealized version of myself.

00:18:26.600 --> 00:18:28.720
 Everything contributes to that

00:18:28.720 --> 00:18:30.039
 and it revolves around

00:18:30.039 --> 00:18:32.279
 that idea of me being successful

00:18:32.279 --> 00:18:34.100
 however I define that.

00:18:34.400 --> 00:18:35.420
 In Huntsville, Alabama,

00:18:35.539 --> 00:18:36.500
 you've got to acknowledge

00:18:36.500 --> 00:18:38.180
 that many people

00:18:38.180 --> 00:18:39.539
 have spirituality

00:18:39.539 --> 00:18:40.900
 as a key part of that.

00:18:40.960 --> 00:18:41.880
 Even Jesus.

00:18:42.660 --> 00:18:43.500
 It's important

00:18:43.500 --> 00:18:44.839
 to their overall image

00:18:44.839 --> 00:18:47.079
 of what a good self is.

00:18:47.180 --> 00:18:48.140
 You've got to sprinkle

00:18:48.140 --> 00:18:49.900
 some going to church

00:18:49.900 --> 00:18:51.880
 and some knowing some phrases

00:18:51.880 --> 00:18:53.640
 and being with the right kind of people

00:18:53.640 --> 00:18:55.579
 in order to be who you want to be.

00:18:55.579 --> 00:18:58.480
 But the biblical picture

00:18:58.480 --> 00:19:00.199
 is actually quite different.

00:19:00.319 --> 00:19:01.500
 It's just a small change

00:19:01.500 --> 00:19:03.639
 but Jesus actually

00:19:03.639 --> 00:19:06.379
 moves into the center.

00:19:06.559 --> 00:19:07.599
 His mission,

00:19:08.199 --> 00:19:09.279
 His glory

00:19:09.279 --> 00:19:10.659
 is what I'm about

00:19:10.659 --> 00:19:11.740
 and why I exist

00:19:11.740 --> 00:19:14.079
 and that defines my identity.

00:19:14.579 --> 00:19:16.879
 That changes how I spend my time.

00:19:17.319 --> 00:19:19.119
 Rearranges what relationships

00:19:19.119 --> 00:19:20.139
 I invest in.

00:19:20.259 --> 00:19:21.939
 It transforms my purpose

00:19:21.939 --> 00:19:22.679
 in the workplace.

00:19:22.680 --> 00:19:28.120
 It's an entirely reoriented life.

00:19:29.100 --> 00:19:30.840
 When Jesus is the hub

00:19:30.840 --> 00:19:33.320
 not merely a spoke on the wheel.

00:19:34.160 --> 00:19:35.380
 It makes all the difference.

00:19:35.640 --> 00:19:37.240
 It actually drives and changes

00:19:37.240 --> 00:19:38.680
 all the rest of

00:19:38.680 --> 00:19:40.200
 what I'm involved in.

00:19:40.840 --> 00:19:42.340
 And when what we call

00:19:42.340 --> 00:19:43.220
 the Great Awakening

00:19:43.220 --> 00:19:45.820
 came to Jonathan Edwards' congregation

00:19:45.820 --> 00:19:47.480
 the Holy Spirit

00:19:47.480 --> 00:19:49.500
 used the doctrines of sin

00:19:49.500 --> 00:19:51.100
 and Jesus' death on the cross

00:19:51.100 --> 00:19:52.519
 as we talked about last week

00:19:52.519 --> 00:19:53.980
 to show them

00:19:53.980 --> 00:19:55.879
 the glory of God

00:19:55.879 --> 00:19:57.259
 afresh.

00:19:57.940 --> 00:19:58.920
 They'd lost sight of it.

00:20:00.319 --> 00:20:01.359
 Here's what he writes.

00:20:02.079 --> 00:20:04.480
 The gravity of covetousness

00:20:04.480 --> 00:20:06.420
 which had drawn their hearts

00:20:06.420 --> 00:20:07.799
 to earthly concerns

00:20:07.799 --> 00:20:08.900
 was reversed

00:20:08.900 --> 00:20:10.579
 and merchants began

00:20:10.579 --> 00:20:11.940
 to neglect their business

00:20:11.940 --> 00:20:13.139
 to talk about God

00:20:13.139 --> 00:20:13.900
 and their souls.

00:20:14.599 --> 00:20:15.339
 The Word of God

00:20:15.339 --> 00:20:16.539
 suddenly had free course

00:20:16.539 --> 00:20:17.799
 in congregational worship

00:20:17.799 --> 00:20:18.700
 since the laity

00:20:18.700 --> 00:20:19.539
 were now in touch

00:20:19.539 --> 00:20:20.980
 with the reasons described

00:20:20.980 --> 00:20:22.119
 in the minister's sermons.

00:20:23.220 --> 00:20:24.240
 Hymns were now a delight

00:20:24.240 --> 00:20:25.059
 rather than a habit

00:20:25.059 --> 00:20:25.639
 and a duty.

00:20:26.160 --> 00:20:27.359
 The lay people's passivity

00:20:27.359 --> 00:20:27.940
 and witness

00:20:27.940 --> 00:20:29.559
 gave way to a new concern

00:20:29.559 --> 00:20:30.519
 for others.

00:20:31.519 --> 00:20:32.099
 You hear that?

00:20:32.359 --> 00:20:33.859
 Their restored relationship

00:20:33.859 --> 00:20:34.400
 with God

00:20:34.400 --> 00:20:35.099
 that they'd never really

00:20:35.099 --> 00:20:36.519
 experienced like this before

00:20:36.519 --> 00:20:38.039
 created a passion

00:20:38.039 --> 00:20:39.740
 to spread that restoration

00:20:39.740 --> 00:20:41.420
 to others around them.

00:20:41.680 --> 00:20:42.339
 And what happened?

00:20:42.339 --> 00:20:44.559
 the great awakening

00:20:44.559 --> 00:20:45.859
 was born.

00:20:45.859 --> 00:20:47.379
 A great revival

00:20:47.379 --> 00:20:48.919
 across a whole region

00:20:48.919 --> 00:20:49.879
 of this country.

00:20:51.439 --> 00:20:52.740
 Stop and think about that.

00:20:52.959 --> 00:20:53.939
 That may seem crazy.

00:20:54.039 --> 00:20:54.259
 You may think

00:20:54.259 --> 00:20:55.199
 that doesn't happen anymore.

00:20:55.539 --> 00:20:56.240
 Can you imagine

00:20:56.240 --> 00:20:56.939
 the impact

00:20:56.939 --> 00:20:59.179
 when not just one person

00:20:59.179 --> 00:21:01.559
 but a whole community

00:21:01.559 --> 00:21:02.539
 of people together

00:21:02.539 --> 00:21:04.079
 see Jesus move

00:21:04.079 --> 00:21:05.879
 from a spoke to the hub?

00:21:06.379 --> 00:21:07.339
 See Jesus move

00:21:07.339 --> 00:21:08.379
 from being something nice

00:21:08.379 --> 00:21:09.379
 to sprinkle on the top

00:21:09.380 --> 00:21:10.440
 to being what drives

00:21:10.440 --> 00:21:12.160
 everything that I do?

00:21:13.460 --> 00:21:14.000
 Can you imagine

00:21:14.000 --> 00:21:14.600
 how it impacts

00:21:14.600 --> 00:21:15.680
 not just a Sunday morning

00:21:15.680 --> 00:21:16.520
 worship service

00:21:16.520 --> 00:21:18.380
 but lots of your neighbors

00:21:18.380 --> 00:21:19.800
 and the city's business

00:21:19.800 --> 00:21:21.200
 and schools

00:21:21.200 --> 00:21:22.240
 and government?

00:21:22.240 --> 00:21:25.420
 we now see our homes

00:21:25.420 --> 00:21:27.660
 as mission outposts.

00:21:27.859 --> 00:21:28.500
 Our money

00:21:28.500 --> 00:21:30.099
 as mission ammunition.

00:21:30.339 --> 00:21:31.140
 Our jobs

00:21:31.140 --> 00:21:32.019
 and our free time

00:21:32.019 --> 00:21:33.519
 as mission opportunities

00:21:33.519 --> 00:21:34.680
 for Jesus.

00:21:36.000 --> 00:21:38.279
 It's all for Jesus.

00:21:40.539 --> 00:21:41.599
 The Bible says

00:21:41.599 --> 00:21:42.480
 God has made you

00:21:42.480 --> 00:21:43.740
 for so much more

00:21:43.740 --> 00:21:45.240
 than merely seeing

00:21:45.240 --> 00:21:45.940
 how much money

00:21:45.940 --> 00:21:47.000
 you can make.

00:21:48.440 --> 00:21:49.640
 Seeing how many people

00:21:49.640 --> 00:21:50.500
 you can impress

00:21:50.500 --> 00:21:51.819
 and get to think

00:21:51.819 --> 00:21:52.339
 you're great.

00:21:53.420 --> 00:21:54.299
 Seeing how early

00:21:54.299 --> 00:21:55.039
 you can retire

00:21:55.039 --> 00:21:56.240
 and with how many toys.

00:21:58.180 --> 00:21:59.480
 He's got more

00:21:59.480 --> 00:22:00.720
 in mind for you

00:22:00.720 --> 00:22:01.779
 than that.

00:22:02.140 --> 00:22:03.019
 He's made you

00:22:03.019 --> 00:22:04.039
 to know

00:22:04.039 --> 00:22:05.240
 and share

00:22:05.240 --> 00:22:07.079
 His glory.

00:22:08.420 --> 00:22:09.000
 And we haven't even

00:22:09.000 --> 00:22:10.339
 touched what it's like.

00:22:10.700 --> 00:22:11.460
 We're just getting

00:22:11.460 --> 00:22:12.279
 to know Him

00:22:12.279 --> 00:22:13.299
 and more and more

00:22:13.299 --> 00:22:14.019
 growing in that.

00:22:14.220 --> 00:22:14.960
 He's got that.

00:22:15.140 --> 00:22:16.160
 He wants you to continue

00:22:16.160 --> 00:22:17.740
 growing in that.

00:22:17.960 --> 00:22:19.119
 His word tells each of us

00:22:19.119 --> 00:22:20.140
 to offer our bodies

00:22:20.140 --> 00:22:21.660
 as living sacrifices.

00:22:22.080 --> 00:22:22.820
 Romans 12.

00:22:23.140 --> 00:22:23.940
 That whether we eat

00:22:23.940 --> 00:22:24.320
 or drink

00:22:24.320 --> 00:22:25.240
 or whatever we do

00:22:25.240 --> 00:22:26.160
 we should do it all

00:22:26.160 --> 00:22:27.520
 for the glory of God.

00:22:27.620 --> 00:22:28.840
 1 Corinthians 10.

00:22:29.360 --> 00:22:30.300
 That whatever we do

00:22:30.300 --> 00:22:31.200
 in word or deed

00:22:31.200 --> 00:22:32.040
 we should do it

00:22:32.040 --> 00:22:33.680
 as unto the Lord.

00:22:34.000 --> 00:22:35.000
 Colossians 3.

00:22:36.600 --> 00:22:37.420
 And when a community

00:22:37.420 --> 00:22:38.060
 of people

00:22:38.060 --> 00:22:40.320
 facing outward

00:22:40.320 --> 00:22:42.280
 on mission like that

00:22:42.280 --> 00:22:43.800
 gathers together

00:22:43.800 --> 00:22:45.360
 it is a force

00:22:45.360 --> 00:22:46.980
 on God's mission

00:22:46.980 --> 00:22:48.660
 for God's glory.

00:22:48.660 --> 00:22:48.720
 glory.

00:22:49.060 --> 00:22:49.540
 That's

00:22:49.540 --> 00:22:51.080
 what He's creating

00:22:51.080 --> 00:22:51.480
 here.

00:22:54.040 --> 00:22:54.759
 And one of the

00:22:54.759 --> 00:22:55.560
 greatest challenges

00:22:55.560 --> 00:22:56.200
 to this

00:22:56.200 --> 00:22:56.620
 is that

00:22:56.620 --> 00:22:58.220
 God calls us

00:22:58.220 --> 00:22:59.060
 to stay

00:22:59.060 --> 00:22:59.920
 in many of the

00:22:59.920 --> 00:23:01.080
 same places

00:23:01.080 --> 00:23:02.900
 while we have

00:23:02.900 --> 00:23:04.259
 this uncommon mission

00:23:04.259 --> 00:23:06.019
 that we're pursuing.

00:23:06.600 --> 00:23:07.480
 He calls us

00:23:07.480 --> 00:23:08.540
 to very normal

00:23:08.540 --> 00:23:09.420
 jobs

00:23:09.420 --> 00:23:11.019
 to engage

00:23:11.019 --> 00:23:11.720
 with normal

00:23:11.720 --> 00:23:12.440
 people

00:23:12.440 --> 00:23:13.279
 to participate

00:23:13.279 --> 00:23:14.700
 in many normal

00:23:14.700 --> 00:23:15.720
 activities

00:23:15.720 --> 00:23:15.900
 activities

00:23:15.900 --> 00:23:16.799
 and y'all

00:23:16.799 --> 00:23:18.019
 can we just be honest

00:23:18.019 --> 00:23:18.980
 it's simply

00:23:18.980 --> 00:23:19.799
 hard

00:23:19.799 --> 00:23:21.539
 to engage

00:23:21.539 --> 00:23:22.579
 in normal life

00:23:22.579 --> 00:23:23.779
 without normal

00:23:23.779 --> 00:23:25.019
 goals and motivations

00:23:25.019 --> 00:23:26.279
 isn't it?

00:23:26.759 --> 00:23:27.900
 It's really hard

00:23:27.900 --> 00:23:28.960
 to be a part

00:23:28.960 --> 00:23:29.620
 of a community

00:23:29.620 --> 00:23:30.440
 and a culture

00:23:30.440 --> 00:23:31.579
 where you're doing

00:23:31.579 --> 00:23:32.019
 everything

00:23:32.019 --> 00:23:32.880
 that everybody else

00:23:32.880 --> 00:23:33.319
 is doing

00:23:33.319 --> 00:23:34.079
 but your goals

00:23:34.079 --> 00:23:34.779
 and motivations

00:23:34.779 --> 00:23:35.660
 and the way

00:23:35.660 --> 00:23:36.220
 you go about it

00:23:36.220 --> 00:23:36.720
 is different.

00:23:37.000 --> 00:23:38.160
 That's just not easy.

00:23:39.019 --> 00:23:39.259
 And yet

00:23:39.259 --> 00:23:40.220
 it would in a sense

00:23:40.220 --> 00:23:40.839
 be easier

00:23:40.839 --> 00:23:41.779
 to find a mountain

00:23:41.779 --> 00:23:42.259
 somewhere

00:23:42.259 --> 00:23:42.880
 to go live

00:23:42.880 --> 00:23:43.319
 on the top

00:23:43.319 --> 00:23:43.819
 of that mountain

00:23:43.819 --> 00:23:44.339
 and just think

00:23:44.339 --> 00:23:44.859
 about Jesus

00:23:44.859 --> 00:23:45.319
 all day

00:23:45.319 --> 00:23:45.700
 every day

00:23:45.700 --> 00:23:46.059
 wouldn't it?

00:23:46.439 --> 00:23:46.919
 If Jesus

00:23:46.919 --> 00:23:47.419
 was going to be

00:23:47.419 --> 00:23:48.039
 at the center

00:23:48.039 --> 00:23:48.700
 it would be easier

00:23:48.700 --> 00:23:49.559
 up on a mountaintop

00:23:49.559 --> 00:23:49.960
 somewhere

00:23:49.960 --> 00:23:50.879
 and God

00:23:50.879 --> 00:23:51.399
 has put you

00:23:51.399 --> 00:23:51.679
 where?

00:23:53.679 --> 00:23:54.419
 Right here

00:23:54.419 --> 00:23:56.539
 in Huntsville

00:23:56.539 --> 00:23:58.759
 and he's called

00:23:58.759 --> 00:23:59.339
 you actually

00:23:59.339 --> 00:23:59.939
 to have

00:23:59.939 --> 00:24:01.039
 Jesus

00:24:01.039 --> 00:24:02.579
 and his mission

00:24:02.579 --> 00:24:03.879
 shape every moment

00:24:03.879 --> 00:24:04.939
 of every day

00:24:04.939 --> 00:24:06.279
 right where you are.

00:24:08.480 --> 00:24:09.259
 One of the most

00:24:09.259 --> 00:24:10.019
 important things

00:24:10.019 --> 00:24:10.619
 to remember

00:24:10.619 --> 00:24:11.579
 in that

00:24:11.579 --> 00:24:12.919
 is that it's

00:24:12.920 --> 00:24:13.500
 it's a mission

00:24:13.500 --> 00:24:14.000
 of word

00:24:14.000 --> 00:24:15.519
 and deed.

00:24:16.480 --> 00:24:17.240
 Whatever we do

00:24:17.240 --> 00:24:17.980
 in word

00:24:17.980 --> 00:24:19.240
 or in deed

00:24:19.240 --> 00:24:20.560
 those things

00:24:20.560 --> 00:24:21.240
 must stay

00:24:21.240 --> 00:24:22.800
 connected to each other.

00:24:23.120 --> 00:24:23.900
 We proclaim

00:24:23.900 --> 00:24:25.140
 his excellencies

00:24:25.140 --> 00:24:26.259
 with our words

00:24:26.259 --> 00:24:28.259
 and our actions.

00:24:29.560 --> 00:24:30.360
 Jesus did it

00:24:30.360 --> 00:24:30.759
 the Bible

00:24:30.759 --> 00:24:31.779
 teaches it

00:24:31.779 --> 00:24:32.279
 we say it

00:24:32.279 --> 00:24:32.700
 in our core

00:24:32.700 --> 00:24:33.259
 commitments

00:24:33.259 --> 00:24:34.000
 you can see

00:24:34.000 --> 00:24:35.140
 there in your bulletin

00:24:35.140 --> 00:24:37.519
 but what does that mean?

00:24:38.360 --> 00:24:38.980
 What does it mean

00:24:38.980 --> 00:24:39.600
 that we're about

00:24:39.600 --> 00:24:40.400
 God's mission

00:24:40.400 --> 00:24:41.300
 every time we speak

00:24:41.300 --> 00:24:42.400
 and act?

00:24:42.400 --> 00:24:42.840
 Well

00:24:42.840 --> 00:24:43.740
 think of it

00:24:43.740 --> 00:24:44.180
 this way

00:24:44.180 --> 00:24:45.840
 there's a reason

00:24:45.840 --> 00:24:46.980
 that grocery stores

00:24:46.980 --> 00:24:48.040
 give you samples

00:24:48.040 --> 00:24:49.040
 you know

00:24:49.040 --> 00:24:50.519
 you've had them before

00:24:50.519 --> 00:24:51.080
 don't act like

00:24:51.080 --> 00:24:51.519
 you haven't been

00:24:51.519 --> 00:24:51.980
 to Sam's

00:24:51.980 --> 00:24:52.500
 or Costco

00:24:52.500 --> 00:24:54.220
 there's a reason

00:24:54.220 --> 00:24:54.620
 they do that

00:24:54.620 --> 00:24:55.120
 it's not just

00:24:55.120 --> 00:24:55.759
 to keep you there

00:24:55.759 --> 00:24:56.500
 shopping longer

00:24:56.500 --> 00:24:57.140
 so you'll spend

00:24:57.140 --> 00:24:57.640
 more money

00:24:57.640 --> 00:24:59.120
 why do they do it?

00:24:59.440 --> 00:25:00.480
 Because they know

00:25:00.480 --> 00:25:01.500
 that you're more likely

00:25:01.500 --> 00:25:02.420
 to buy something

00:25:02.420 --> 00:25:03.440
 that you've tasted

00:25:03.440 --> 00:25:05.120
 and enjoyed.

00:25:05.640 --> 00:25:06.720
 One of our favorite

00:25:06.720 --> 00:25:07.380
 dinners that

00:25:07.380 --> 00:25:08.140
 Christy makes

00:25:08.140 --> 00:25:08.680
 our family

00:25:08.680 --> 00:25:09.820
 is a shrimp pasta

00:25:09.819 --> 00:25:11.659
 she may never

00:25:11.659 --> 00:25:12.299
 have tried

00:25:12.299 --> 00:25:12.980
 making it

00:25:12.980 --> 00:25:13.460
 but she

00:25:13.460 --> 00:25:14.379
 sampled it

00:25:14.379 --> 00:25:15.439
 at the grocery store

00:25:15.439 --> 00:25:15.960
 one day

00:25:15.960 --> 00:25:17.179
 and when she

00:25:17.179 --> 00:25:17.799
 tasted it

00:25:17.799 --> 00:25:18.399
 and loved it

00:25:18.399 --> 00:25:19.119
 she turned around

00:25:19.119 --> 00:25:19.779
 and walked back

00:25:19.779 --> 00:25:20.339
 to the counter

00:25:20.339 --> 00:25:20.899
 and did what?

00:25:20.899 --> 00:25:22.939
 Do you have a recipe

00:25:22.939 --> 00:25:23.439
 for that?

00:25:24.159 --> 00:25:25.359
 What did you use

00:25:25.359 --> 00:25:26.139
 to make this?

00:25:26.639 --> 00:25:28.139
 Can I have that recipe?

00:25:29.319 --> 00:25:30.059
 You see the recipe

00:25:30.059 --> 00:25:30.799
 tells people

00:25:30.799 --> 00:25:32.399
 how they find

00:25:32.399 --> 00:25:32.980
 the life

00:25:32.980 --> 00:25:33.899
 that God intended

00:25:33.900 --> 00:25:34.880
 for them

00:25:34.880 --> 00:25:37.620
 but the taste

00:25:37.620 --> 00:25:38.640
 makes them

00:25:38.640 --> 00:25:40.220
 long for it.

00:25:41.300 --> 00:25:42.500
 We are to declare

00:25:42.500 --> 00:25:43.920
 that true significance

00:25:43.920 --> 00:25:44.680
 is found

00:25:44.680 --> 00:25:45.440
 in the glory

00:25:45.440 --> 00:25:45.920
 of God

00:25:45.920 --> 00:25:46.759
 that's the recipe

00:25:46.759 --> 00:25:49.300
 and we are to

00:25:49.300 --> 00:25:49.980
 demonstrate

00:25:49.980 --> 00:25:50.840
 the glory

00:25:50.840 --> 00:25:51.600
 of His kingdom

00:25:51.600 --> 00:25:52.900
 in how we work

00:25:52.900 --> 00:25:53.580
 and love

00:25:53.580 --> 00:25:54.460
 and serve

00:25:54.460 --> 00:25:56.920
 that's the taste.

00:25:58.640 --> 00:25:59.580
 Think about it

00:25:59.580 --> 00:26:00.240
 people don't want

00:26:00.240 --> 00:26:00.900
 to hear about

00:26:00.900 --> 00:26:01.740
 a holy God

00:26:01.740 --> 00:26:02.280
 who's worthy

00:26:02.280 --> 00:26:03.000
 of everything

00:26:03.000 --> 00:26:03.940
 from someone

00:26:03.940 --> 00:26:04.720
 who lives

00:26:04.720 --> 00:26:06.019
 to please Himself.

00:26:07.339 --> 00:26:08.039
 People don't want

00:26:08.039 --> 00:26:08.519
 to hear about

00:26:08.519 --> 00:26:09.480
 a God of grace

00:26:09.480 --> 00:26:10.279
 and forgiveness

00:26:10.279 --> 00:26:11.079
 from someone

00:26:11.079 --> 00:26:12.440
 who condemns them

00:26:12.440 --> 00:26:13.200
 and looks down

00:26:13.200 --> 00:26:13.680
 on them.

00:26:14.819 --> 00:26:15.460
 People don't want

00:26:15.460 --> 00:26:15.980
 to hear about

00:26:15.980 --> 00:26:16.420
 a God

00:26:16.420 --> 00:26:17.359
 who loves

00:26:17.359 --> 00:26:17.880
 the poor

00:26:17.880 --> 00:26:18.599
 and the oppressed

00:26:18.599 --> 00:26:19.819
 from rich people

00:26:19.819 --> 00:26:20.579
 who try hard

00:26:20.579 --> 00:26:21.420
 to avoid them.

00:26:22.539 --> 00:26:23.359
 It doesn't

00:26:23.359 --> 00:26:24.680
 match up

00:26:24.680 --> 00:26:25.099
 does it?

00:26:25.720 --> 00:26:26.579
 The taste

00:26:26.579 --> 00:26:27.519
 and the recipe

00:26:27.519 --> 00:26:28.099
 the word

00:26:28.099 --> 00:26:29.420
 and the deed

00:26:29.420 --> 00:26:30.960
 churches that God

00:26:30.960 --> 00:26:31.380
 has used

00:26:31.380 --> 00:26:32.359
 in bringing revival

00:26:32.359 --> 00:26:33.399
 have kept both

00:26:33.399 --> 00:26:34.539
 aspects of that

00:26:34.539 --> 00:26:35.599
 restoration mission

00:26:35.599 --> 00:26:36.159
 together.

00:26:36.699 --> 00:26:37.240
 That both are

00:26:37.240 --> 00:26:38.679
 vitally important

00:26:38.679 --> 00:26:39.740
 word and deed

00:26:39.740 --> 00:26:40.639
 the recipe

00:26:40.639 --> 00:26:41.599
 and the sample

00:26:41.599 --> 00:26:42.459
 you could say

00:26:42.459 --> 00:26:43.339
 the blueprint

00:26:43.339 --> 00:26:44.599
 of your new home

00:26:44.599 --> 00:26:45.299
 that tells you

00:26:45.299 --> 00:26:46.299
 how to build it

00:26:46.299 --> 00:26:49.019
 and the model home

00:26:49.019 --> 00:26:50.019
 in that new neighborhood

00:26:50.019 --> 00:26:50.839
 that you walk through

00:26:50.839 --> 00:26:51.399
 and it makes you

00:26:51.399 --> 00:26:53.019
 long to live there

00:26:53.019 --> 00:26:53.579
 right?

00:26:55.259 --> 00:26:56.339
 The church

00:26:56.339 --> 00:26:56.959
 is to be

00:26:56.959 --> 00:26:58.759
 that model home

00:26:58.759 --> 00:27:00.859
 a taste

00:27:00.859 --> 00:27:01.720
 of heaven

00:27:01.720 --> 00:27:03.019
 on earth

00:27:03.019 --> 00:27:03.319
 and that

00:27:03.319 --> 00:27:04.940
 requires a community

00:27:04.940 --> 00:27:06.160
 living and loving

00:27:06.160 --> 00:27:07.339
 together.

00:27:09.759 --> 00:27:11.039
 That great work

00:27:11.039 --> 00:27:11.879
 that God is doing

00:27:11.879 --> 00:27:12.599
 is global

00:27:12.599 --> 00:27:13.119
 it's happening

00:27:13.119 --> 00:27:14.779
 all over the place

00:27:14.779 --> 00:27:16.539
 but he has placed us

00:27:16.539 --> 00:27:18.119
 right here in Huntsville.

00:27:18.779 --> 00:27:19.920
 We use this image

00:27:19.920 --> 00:27:20.660
 as a reminder

00:27:20.660 --> 00:27:21.819
 of that

00:27:21.819 --> 00:27:22.180
 that

00:27:22.180 --> 00:27:23.900
 Southwood S

00:27:23.900 --> 00:27:24.879
 in the middle of

00:27:24.879 --> 00:27:26.980
 Huntsville community

00:27:26.980 --> 00:27:29.039
 for the sake of

00:27:29.039 --> 00:27:30.360
 the city.

00:27:31.500 --> 00:27:32.440
 God's put us here

00:27:32.440 --> 00:27:32.980
 for a reason.

00:27:33.180 --> 00:27:34.480
 That olive branch

00:27:34.480 --> 00:27:35.680
 that you see up top

00:27:35.680 --> 00:27:36.339
 there and you see

00:27:36.339 --> 00:27:36.920
 in our logo

00:27:36.920 --> 00:27:38.140
 all over the place

00:27:38.140 --> 00:27:39.599
 is to be a visual

00:27:39.599 --> 00:27:41.299
 reminder to us

00:27:41.299 --> 00:27:42.759
 that we are here

00:27:42.759 --> 00:27:43.839
 to extend

00:27:43.839 --> 00:27:44.839
 God's peace

00:27:44.839 --> 00:27:46.339
 to share

00:27:46.339 --> 00:27:47.279
 God's restoration

00:27:47.279 --> 00:27:47.799
 mission.

00:27:48.000 --> 00:27:48.660
 We're not here

00:27:48.660 --> 00:27:49.680
 for ourselves.

00:27:51.200 --> 00:27:51.860
 We're here

00:27:51.860 --> 00:27:52.759
 to extend

00:27:52.759 --> 00:27:53.920
 God's grace

00:27:53.920 --> 00:27:55.000
 with all of creation

00:27:55.000 --> 00:27:55.940
 and every person

00:27:55.940 --> 00:27:56.380
 in it.

00:27:56.980 --> 00:27:57.779
 How can we do that

00:27:57.779 --> 00:27:58.519
 together here?

00:27:58.819 --> 00:27:59.380
 Mostly you're going to

00:27:59.380 --> 00:28:00.319
 get to talk about that

00:28:00.319 --> 00:28:01.220
 outside of this room

00:28:01.220 --> 00:28:02.720
 but just to whet

00:28:02.720 --> 00:28:03.240
 your appetite.

00:28:04.299 --> 00:28:04.860
 Turn and look out

00:28:04.860 --> 00:28:05.299
 those windows

00:28:05.299 --> 00:28:05.799
 for a minute.

00:28:06.740 --> 00:28:06.860
 Just

00:28:06.860 --> 00:28:07.960
 you're not going to

00:28:07.960 --> 00:28:08.640
 say anything unusual

00:28:08.640 --> 00:28:09.920
 but just so you'll

00:28:09.920 --> 00:28:10.240
 remember

00:28:10.240 --> 00:28:12.319
 outside

00:28:12.319 --> 00:28:13.579
 there's cars

00:28:13.579 --> 00:28:14.299
 driving by

00:28:14.299 --> 00:28:15.440
 right now

00:28:15.440 --> 00:28:16.460
 a bunch of them

00:28:16.460 --> 00:28:17.019
 just in these

00:28:17.019 --> 00:28:18.059
 few seconds

00:28:18.059 --> 00:28:19.640
 lonely neighbor

00:28:19.640 --> 00:28:21.799
 after lonely neighbor

00:28:21.799 --> 00:28:23.319
 drives by.

00:28:23.720 --> 00:28:24.099
 Some of them

00:28:24.099 --> 00:28:24.839
 have visibly

00:28:24.839 --> 00:28:26.440
 broken lives.

00:28:26.980 --> 00:28:28.019
 Some of them

00:28:28.019 --> 00:28:28.799
 look really

00:28:28.799 --> 00:28:29.539
 successful

00:28:29.539 --> 00:28:31.000
 when they drive

00:28:31.000 --> 00:28:31.559
 by or when you

00:28:31.559 --> 00:28:32.200
 drive by their

00:28:32.200 --> 00:28:32.620
 home but

00:28:32.620 --> 00:28:33.620
 they have broken

00:28:33.620 --> 00:28:34.440
 hearts.

00:28:36.480 --> 00:28:37.500
 People in our

00:28:37.500 --> 00:28:38.440
 city suffer from

00:28:38.440 --> 00:28:39.940
 generational poverty.

00:28:40.759 --> 00:28:41.420
 Schools in our

00:28:41.420 --> 00:28:42.440
 city struggle

00:28:42.440 --> 00:28:43.400
 with systemic

00:28:43.400 --> 00:28:44.960
 racial injustice.

00:28:46.160 --> 00:28:46.880
 Neighbors on

00:28:46.880 --> 00:28:47.720
 the street you

00:28:47.720 --> 00:28:48.380
 live on

00:28:48.380 --> 00:28:49.660
 battle addiction

00:28:49.660 --> 00:28:51.559
 and depression

00:28:51.559 --> 00:28:52.919
 and an eternal

00:28:52.919 --> 00:28:53.559
 sense of

00:28:53.559 --> 00:28:54.200
 emptiness

00:28:54.200 --> 00:28:54.759
 even though

00:28:54.759 --> 00:28:55.480
 life seems to

00:28:55.480 --> 00:28:55.819
 be going

00:28:55.819 --> 00:28:56.539
 really well.

00:29:00.339 --> 00:29:01.279
 And we are

00:29:01.279 --> 00:29:01.659
 sent.

00:29:02.339 --> 00:29:03.000
 We who know

00:29:03.000 --> 00:29:03.679
 what it's like

00:29:03.679 --> 00:29:04.179
 to battle

00:29:04.179 --> 00:29:04.619
 addiction

00:29:04.619 --> 00:29:05.799
 and suffer

00:29:05.799 --> 00:29:06.379
 depression

00:29:06.379 --> 00:29:07.359
 and feel

00:29:07.359 --> 00:29:07.839
 empty.

00:29:08.679 --> 00:29:09.659
 We who've been

00:29:09.659 --> 00:29:10.299
 oppressed

00:29:10.299 --> 00:29:11.339
 and poor

00:29:11.339 --> 00:29:12.299
 and who've

00:29:12.299 --> 00:29:12.639
 struggled

00:29:12.639 --> 00:29:13.440
 and still don't

00:29:13.440 --> 00:29:13.960
 quite know

00:29:13.960 --> 00:29:14.379
 how to make

00:29:14.379 --> 00:29:14.879
 life work

00:29:14.879 --> 00:29:15.339
 the way we'd

00:29:15.339 --> 00:29:15.679
 like to.

00:29:16.000 --> 00:29:16.899
 We are actually

00:29:16.899 --> 00:29:18.500
 called and sent

00:29:18.500 --> 00:29:19.259
 on a mission

00:29:19.259 --> 00:29:20.240
 of restoration

00:29:20.240 --> 00:29:21.640
 to them.

00:29:22.279 --> 00:29:22.900
 We have the

00:29:22.900 --> 00:29:23.519
 good news

00:29:23.519 --> 00:29:24.200
 of a kingdom

00:29:24.200 --> 00:29:25.299
 and a king

00:29:25.299 --> 00:29:26.259
 who will right

00:29:26.259 --> 00:29:28.039
 every wrong.

00:29:28.539 --> 00:29:28.900
 Y'all,

00:29:29.240 --> 00:29:30.460
 God sends us

00:29:30.460 --> 00:29:31.160
 to this city.

00:29:31.539 --> 00:29:32.140
 How can we

00:29:32.140 --> 00:29:32.940
 drive by and

00:29:32.940 --> 00:29:33.519
 slip behind

00:29:33.519 --> 00:29:34.380
 our garage doors

00:29:34.380 --> 00:29:36.099
 when Huntsville

00:29:36.099 --> 00:29:37.700
 cries out

00:29:37.700 --> 00:29:38.799
 for restoration?

00:29:39.339 --> 00:29:40.099
 They don't know

00:29:40.099 --> 00:29:40.779
 those words

00:29:40.779 --> 00:29:41.519
 to use.

00:29:42.339 --> 00:29:43.079
 Many don't know

00:29:43.079 --> 00:29:43.660
 who it is

00:29:43.660 --> 00:29:44.140
 they're looking

00:29:44.140 --> 00:29:44.819
 for but they're

00:29:44.819 --> 00:29:45.980
 desperate for hope,

00:29:46.460 --> 00:29:47.339
 for healing,

00:29:47.339 --> 00:29:49.539
 and you

00:29:49.539 --> 00:29:50.659
 know

00:29:50.659 --> 00:29:51.839
 the king.

00:29:54.339 --> 00:29:55.159
 I know you

00:29:55.159 --> 00:29:56.159
 can't combat

00:29:56.159 --> 00:29:57.099
 all this alone.

00:29:57.480 --> 00:29:58.159
 You can't go out

00:29:58.159 --> 00:29:59.220
 and fix

00:29:59.220 --> 00:29:59.639
 Huntsville,

00:29:59.759 --> 00:30:00.339
 save the city.

00:30:01.480 --> 00:30:02.359
 That's why God

00:30:02.359 --> 00:30:03.199
 gives us each other.

00:30:04.419 --> 00:30:05.599
 It's why we must

00:30:05.599 --> 00:30:06.859
 lock arms

00:30:06.859 --> 00:30:07.720
 in community

00:30:07.720 --> 00:30:08.720
 together

00:30:08.720 --> 00:30:09.519
 and be on

00:30:09.519 --> 00:30:09.939
 mission.

00:30:11.259 --> 00:30:11.599
 You need

00:30:11.599 --> 00:30:12.099
 brothers and

00:30:12.099 --> 00:30:12.839
 sisters with a

00:30:12.839 --> 00:30:13.500
 range of

00:30:13.500 --> 00:30:14.099
 different gifts

00:30:14.099 --> 00:30:14.579
 to run a

00:30:14.579 --> 00:30:15.220
 Jobs for Life

00:30:15.220 --> 00:30:15.699
 program.

00:30:17.339 --> 00:30:18.039
 You need

00:30:18.039 --> 00:30:18.519
 a small

00:30:18.519 --> 00:30:19.319
 group to

00:30:19.319 --> 00:30:20.639
 pray with

00:30:20.639 --> 00:30:21.039
 you through

00:30:21.039 --> 00:30:21.379
 how to

00:30:21.379 --> 00:30:22.000
 impact your

00:30:22.000 --> 00:30:22.459
 neighborhood

00:30:22.459 --> 00:30:23.319
 and labor

00:30:23.319 --> 00:30:24.279
 alongside you

00:30:24.279 --> 00:30:24.720
 for the

00:30:24.720 --> 00:30:25.359
 kingdom as

00:30:25.359 --> 00:30:26.500
 you do that.

00:30:27.500 --> 00:30:28.059
 You need

00:30:28.059 --> 00:30:28.740
 a connect

00:30:28.740 --> 00:30:29.339
 community

00:30:29.339 --> 00:30:30.059
 starting in a

00:30:30.059 --> 00:30:30.599
 few weeks

00:30:30.599 --> 00:30:31.659
 to spur

00:30:31.659 --> 00:30:32.399
 you on to

00:30:32.399 --> 00:30:33.480
 Christ-centered

00:30:33.480 --> 00:30:34.359
 missional

00:30:34.359 --> 00:30:35.299
 living and

00:30:35.299 --> 00:30:35.959
 equip you with

00:30:35.959 --> 00:30:36.639
 God's word

00:30:36.639 --> 00:30:37.459
 to know how

00:30:37.459 --> 00:30:37.959
 to love your

00:30:37.959 --> 00:30:38.439
 coworkers.

00:30:38.440 --> 00:30:38.740
 workers.

00:30:39.980 --> 00:30:40.700
 We're not

00:30:40.700 --> 00:30:41.240
 doing these

00:30:41.240 --> 00:30:41.860
 relational

00:30:41.860 --> 00:30:42.860
 community

00:30:42.860 --> 00:30:43.320
 building

00:30:43.320 --> 00:30:44.460
 things to

00:30:44.460 --> 00:30:45.340
 play church

00:30:45.340 --> 00:30:47.180
 or just to

00:30:47.180 --> 00:30:48.000
 make each

00:30:48.000 --> 00:30:48.480
 other feel

00:30:48.480 --> 00:30:49.140
 good for an

00:30:49.140 --> 00:30:49.700
 hour every

00:30:49.700 --> 00:30:50.600
 Sunday so we

00:30:50.600 --> 00:30:51.059
 can go back

00:30:51.059 --> 00:30:51.640
 to life.

00:30:52.799 --> 00:30:53.700
 We're diving

00:30:53.700 --> 00:30:54.140
 in here

00:30:54.140 --> 00:30:54.860
 together because

00:30:54.860 --> 00:30:55.700
 we can't

00:30:55.700 --> 00:30:57.000
 accomplish this

00:30:57.000 --> 00:30:57.940
 mission alone.

00:30:58.299 --> 00:30:59.259
 Community is a

00:30:59.259 --> 00:31:00.500
 catalyst for

00:31:00.500 --> 00:31:01.640
 this mission.

00:31:02.220 --> 00:31:03.320
 We need

00:31:03.320 --> 00:31:04.259
 each other.

00:31:04.460 --> 00:31:04.680
 Amen?

00:31:04.680 --> 00:31:04.820
 Amen?

00:31:04.820 --> 00:31:04.880
 Amen?

00:31:04.880 --> 00:31:04.900
 Amen?

00:31:04.900 --> 00:31:04.920
 Amen?

00:31:04.920 --> 00:31:04.940
 Amen?

00:31:04.940 --> 00:31:04.960
 Amen?

00:31:04.960 --> 00:31:04.980
 Amen?

00:31:04.980 --> 00:31:06.900
 Amen?

00:31:06.900 --> 00:31:07.340
 Amen?

00:31:07.340 --> 00:31:07.900
 Amen?

00:31:07.900 --> 00:31:08.540
 Amen?

00:31:08.540 --> 00:31:08.880
 And the mission

00:31:08.880 --> 00:31:09.540
 is so big

00:31:09.540 --> 00:31:11.519
 that it must

00:31:11.519 --> 00:31:12.620
 drive us

00:31:12.620 --> 00:31:13.800
 to our knees

00:31:13.800 --> 00:31:15.220
 which is where

00:31:15.220 --> 00:31:15.680
 we'll pick up

00:31:15.680 --> 00:31:16.460
 the conversation

00:31:16.460 --> 00:31:17.880
 next Sunday.

00:31:18.140 --> 00:31:19.000
 We need

00:31:19.000 --> 00:31:19.900
 our Father's

00:31:19.900 --> 00:31:20.180
 help.

00:31:20.960 --> 00:31:21.759
 But as we

00:31:21.759 --> 00:31:23.120
 reorient our

00:31:23.120 --> 00:31:23.880
 lives around

00:31:23.880 --> 00:31:24.560
 our Savior

00:31:24.560 --> 00:31:26.480
 and His glory

00:31:26.480 --> 00:31:27.340
 and His

00:31:27.340 --> 00:31:27.900
 mission

00:31:27.900 --> 00:31:29.920
 we must be

00:31:29.920 --> 00:31:30.820
 on God's

00:31:30.820 --> 00:31:31.340
 mission

00:31:31.340 --> 00:31:32.640
 together.

00:31:33.840 --> 00:31:34.259
 Matter of

00:31:34.259 --> 00:31:34.420
 fact,

00:31:34.420 --> 00:31:35.400
 Jesus doesn't

00:31:35.400 --> 00:31:36.500
 just tell us

00:31:36.500 --> 00:31:37.579
 that that's

00:31:37.579 --> 00:31:37.920
 what we

00:31:37.920 --> 00:31:38.359
 must do.

00:31:38.519 --> 00:31:39.240
 He shows

00:31:39.240 --> 00:31:40.539
 us that,

00:31:40.640 --> 00:31:41.019
 doesn't He?

00:31:42.259 --> 00:31:43.339
 He keeps

00:31:43.339 --> 00:31:44.380
 word and

00:31:44.380 --> 00:31:45.559
 deed perfectly

00:31:45.559 --> 00:31:46.720
 connected to

00:31:46.720 --> 00:31:47.220
 each other.

00:31:48.420 --> 00:31:49.599
 Jesus comes

00:31:49.599 --> 00:31:50.559
 and calls

00:31:50.559 --> 00:31:51.160
 us to a

00:31:51.160 --> 00:31:51.680
 mission of

00:31:51.680 --> 00:31:52.839
 giving ourselves

00:31:52.839 --> 00:31:54.420
 away and

00:31:54.420 --> 00:31:55.720
 He demonstrates

00:31:55.720 --> 00:31:56.559
 for us what

00:31:56.559 --> 00:31:57.319
 that looks like

00:31:57.319 --> 00:31:58.140
 and empowers

00:31:58.140 --> 00:31:59.200
 us to give

00:31:59.200 --> 00:31:59.680
 our lives

00:31:59.680 --> 00:32:00.500
 away by

00:32:00.500 --> 00:32:01.579
 giving His

00:32:01.579 --> 00:32:03.119
 for us.

00:32:04.680 --> 00:32:05.539
 Jesus lays

00:32:05.539 --> 00:32:07.460
 down the

00:32:07.460 --> 00:32:08.019
 comforts of

00:32:08.019 --> 00:32:08.259
 heaven.

00:32:08.579 --> 00:32:09.200
 He takes a

00:32:09.200 --> 00:32:09.940
 hit to His

00:32:09.940 --> 00:32:11.159
 bottom line

00:32:11.159 --> 00:32:12.039
 so to speak.

00:32:12.159 --> 00:32:13.259
 He operates

00:32:13.259 --> 00:32:14.220
 on a schedule

00:32:14.220 --> 00:32:14.680
 that wasn't

00:32:14.680 --> 00:32:15.519
 His preferred

00:32:15.519 --> 00:32:17.099
 schedule for

00:32:17.099 --> 00:32:18.779
 us to

00:32:18.779 --> 00:32:20.159
 restore our

00:32:20.159 --> 00:32:20.940
 relationship

00:32:20.940 --> 00:32:22.180
 with our

00:32:22.180 --> 00:32:22.519
 Father.

00:32:23.960 --> 00:32:25.079
 If your house

00:32:25.079 --> 00:32:26.000
 is a mission

00:32:26.000 --> 00:32:27.559
 outpost and

00:32:27.559 --> 00:32:28.299
 your money is

00:32:28.299 --> 00:32:29.460
 mission ammunition,

00:32:29.659 --> 00:32:30.420
 if it's all

00:32:30.420 --> 00:32:31.139
 about Jesus,

00:32:31.399 --> 00:32:32.720
 His body and

00:32:32.720 --> 00:32:33.720
 blood is

00:32:33.720 --> 00:32:34.779
 mission fuel

00:32:34.779 --> 00:32:36.799
 for you as

00:32:36.799 --> 00:32:37.980
 you go out

00:32:37.980 --> 00:32:39.019
 where He

00:32:39.019 --> 00:32:39.600
 sends you.

00:32:41.279 --> 00:32:42.200
 He empowers

00:32:42.200 --> 00:32:44.140
 us for

00:32:44.140 --> 00:32:44.380
 what He

00:32:44.380 --> 00:32:44.839
 calls us

00:32:44.839 --> 00:32:45.039
 to.

00:32:45.539 --> 00:32:46.200
 That's what

00:32:46.200 --> 00:32:47.019
 this body

00:32:47.019 --> 00:32:47.460
 and blood

00:32:47.460 --> 00:32:47.960
 is about.

00:32:48.500 --> 00:32:49.059
 That as we

00:32:49.059 --> 00:32:49.600
 go out on

00:32:49.600 --> 00:32:50.240
 the glorious

00:32:50.240 --> 00:32:51.039
 mission of

00:32:51.039 --> 00:32:51.620
 restoration,

00:32:52.120 --> 00:32:52.440
 He goes

00:32:52.440 --> 00:32:53.000
 with us

00:32:53.000 --> 00:32:53.880
 and in us

00:32:53.880 --> 00:32:55.100
 as we live

00:32:55.100 --> 00:32:55.620
 for Him.

00:32:56.940 --> 00:32:57.480
 Remember what

00:32:57.480 --> 00:32:58.299
 Jesus said to

00:32:58.299 --> 00:32:58.940
 His disciples

00:32:58.940 --> 00:32:59.680
 the night that

00:32:59.680 --> 00:32:59.960
 He was

00:32:59.960 --> 00:33:00.400
 betrayed.

00:33:00.400 --> 00:33:01.280
 He sat

00:33:01.280 --> 00:33:01.580
 with them.

00:33:01.660 --> 00:33:01.940
 He took

00:33:01.940 --> 00:33:02.320
 bread.

00:33:02.780 --> 00:33:03.259
 He broke

00:33:03.259 --> 00:33:03.460
 it.

00:33:04.220 --> 00:33:04.600
 He gave

00:33:04.600 --> 00:33:05.200
 it to them

00:33:05.200 --> 00:33:05.740
 as I,

00:33:06.100 --> 00:33:06.640
 ministering in

00:33:06.640 --> 00:33:07.040
 His name,

00:33:07.120 --> 00:33:07.480
 give this

00:33:07.480 --> 00:33:07.940
 bread to

00:33:07.940 --> 00:33:08.180
 you.

00:33:08.920 --> 00:33:09.259
 He said,

00:33:09.360 --> 00:33:09.620
 take,

00:33:09.780 --> 00:33:09.940
 eat.

00:33:10.300 --> 00:33:10.680
 This is

00:33:10.680 --> 00:33:11.320
 my body

00:33:11.320 --> 00:33:12.240
 broken

00:33:12.240 --> 00:33:13.580
 for you.

00:33:14.660 --> 00:33:15.080
 Do this

00:33:15.080 --> 00:33:15.620
 in remembrance

00:33:15.620 --> 00:33:16.080
 of me.

00:33:16.140 --> 00:33:16.980
 Remember how

00:33:16.980 --> 00:33:17.320
 I've loved

00:33:17.320 --> 00:33:17.540
 you.

00:33:18.880 --> 00:33:19.380
 And in the

00:33:19.380 --> 00:33:20.019
 same manner

00:33:20.019 --> 00:33:20.980
 after giving

00:33:20.980 --> 00:33:21.580
 thanks He

00:33:21.580 --> 00:33:22.019
 took the

00:33:22.019 --> 00:33:23.380
 cup saying

00:33:23.380 --> 00:33:24.060
 this cup

00:33:24.060 --> 00:33:24.640
 is the new

00:33:24.640 --> 00:33:25.040
 covenant

00:33:25.040 --> 00:33:25.880
 in my

00:33:25.880 --> 00:33:26.259
 blood.

00:33:26.660 --> 00:33:27.080
 Shed for

00:33:27.080 --> 00:33:27.580
 many for

00:33:27.580 --> 00:33:28.640
 the forgiveness

00:33:28.640 --> 00:33:29.380
 of sins.

00:33:29.540 --> 00:33:30.320
 Drink from

00:33:30.319 --> 00:33:30.519
 it.

00:33:31.119 --> 00:33:31.519
 All of

00:33:31.519 --> 00:33:31.720
 you.

00:33:35.279 --> 00:33:35.759
 Jesus

00:33:35.759 --> 00:33:36.819
 gives us

00:33:36.819 --> 00:33:37.439
 Himself.

00:33:38.639 --> 00:33:38.980
 And so if

00:33:38.980 --> 00:33:39.480
 you've trusted

00:33:39.480 --> 00:33:40.119
 Jesus and

00:33:40.119 --> 00:33:40.700
 if you've

00:33:40.700 --> 00:33:41.179
 connected

00:33:41.179 --> 00:33:42.439
 with a

00:33:42.439 --> 00:33:43.019
 branch of

00:33:43.019 --> 00:33:44.000
 His church,

00:33:44.059 --> 00:33:44.319
 it doesn't

00:33:44.319 --> 00:33:44.859
 have to be

00:33:44.859 --> 00:33:45.859
 this particular

00:33:45.859 --> 00:33:46.319
 one.

00:33:46.579 --> 00:33:47.179
 This is His

00:33:47.179 --> 00:33:47.559
 table,

00:33:47.819 --> 00:33:48.639
 not ours.

00:33:48.879 --> 00:33:49.539
 Then come

00:33:49.539 --> 00:33:50.259
 and celebrate

00:33:50.259 --> 00:33:51.220
 together the

00:33:51.220 --> 00:33:51.720
 Savior who

00:33:51.720 --> 00:33:52.439
 goes with us

00:33:52.439 --> 00:33:53.019
 as He calls

00:33:53.019 --> 00:33:53.679
 us to join

00:33:53.679 --> 00:33:54.179
 Him in His

00:33:54.179 --> 00:33:54.559
 mission.

00:33:55.960 --> 00:33:56.500
 And if you

00:33:56.500 --> 00:33:57.079
 don't know

00:33:57.079 --> 00:33:57.319
 Jesus,

00:33:57.460 --> 00:33:58.279
 if you haven't

00:33:58.279 --> 00:33:59.000
 trusted Him

00:33:59.000 --> 00:33:59.500
 yourself,

00:33:59.740 --> 00:34:00.539
 I invite you

00:34:00.539 --> 00:34:01.319
 too to come

00:34:01.319 --> 00:34:01.839
 in just a

00:34:01.839 --> 00:34:02.440
 minute as we

00:34:02.440 --> 00:34:03.339
 gather around

00:34:03.339 --> 00:34:04.000
 these tables.

00:34:04.339 --> 00:34:04.880
 You're welcome

00:34:04.880 --> 00:34:05.559
 to come

00:34:05.559 --> 00:34:05.980
 too,

00:34:06.359 --> 00:34:07.220
 to pray with

00:34:07.220 --> 00:34:07.519
 us,

00:34:07.640 --> 00:34:08.460
 to watch

00:34:08.460 --> 00:34:09.400
 and consider

00:34:09.400 --> 00:34:10.039
 what Jesus

00:34:10.039 --> 00:34:11.119
 has said.

00:34:11.519 --> 00:34:12.059
 But I invite

00:34:12.059 --> 00:34:12.599
 you not to

00:34:12.599 --> 00:34:13.320
 take His

00:34:13.320 --> 00:34:14.159
 body and

00:34:14.159 --> 00:34:14.519
 blood.

00:34:15.739 --> 00:34:16.260
 Don't take

00:34:16.260 --> 00:34:16.739
 the bread

00:34:16.739 --> 00:34:17.420
 and the juice

00:34:17.420 --> 00:34:18.139
 as you come,

00:34:18.559 --> 00:34:19.039
 but rather

00:34:19.039 --> 00:34:20.300
 consider what

00:34:20.300 --> 00:34:20.960
 Jesus has

00:34:20.960 --> 00:34:21.820
 offered you.

00:34:22.340 --> 00:34:22.840
 Consider the

00:34:22.840 --> 00:34:23.440
 mission that

00:34:23.440 --> 00:34:24.039
 He says,

00:34:24.099 --> 00:34:24.460
 this is what

00:34:24.460 --> 00:34:24.699
 you were

00:34:24.699 --> 00:34:25.380
 created for

00:34:25.380 --> 00:34:25.639
 and how

00:34:25.639 --> 00:34:26.519
 significant you

00:34:26.519 --> 00:34:26.860
 are.

00:34:27.179 --> 00:34:27.519
 And you

00:34:27.519 --> 00:34:28.179
 have to

00:34:28.179 --> 00:34:28.960
 have me

00:34:28.960 --> 00:34:29.599
 to be

00:34:29.599 --> 00:34:30.420
 restored to

00:34:30.420 --> 00:34:30.840
 what God

00:34:30.840 --> 00:34:31.559
 intended for

00:34:31.559 --> 00:34:31.820
 you.

00:34:32.699 --> 00:34:33.380
 Consider that.

00:34:33.440 --> 00:34:33.840
 We'd love to

00:34:33.840 --> 00:34:34.320
 talk with you

00:34:34.320 --> 00:34:34.880
 and pray with

00:34:34.880 --> 00:34:36.259
 you about

00:34:36.259 --> 00:34:36.639
 that.

00:34:37.199 --> 00:34:37.699
 Let me pray

00:34:37.699 --> 00:34:38.019
 and then we'll

00:34:38.019 --> 00:34:38.480
 come to this

00:34:38.480 --> 00:34:39.179
 table together.

00:34:42.059 --> 00:34:42.880
 Jesus, thank

00:34:42.880 --> 00:34:45.360
 You for not

00:34:45.360 --> 00:34:45.860
 leaving us

00:34:45.860 --> 00:34:46.440
 alone to do

00:34:46.440 --> 00:34:47.380
 something too

00:34:47.380 --> 00:34:48.579
 big for us.

00:34:50.920 --> 00:34:51.639
 Thank You for

00:34:51.639 --> 00:34:52.519
 giving Yourself

00:34:52.519 --> 00:34:53.599
 for us and

00:34:53.599 --> 00:34:55.039
 for empowering

00:34:55.039 --> 00:34:56.000
 us for what

00:34:56.000 --> 00:34:56.440
 You have

00:34:56.440 --> 00:34:57.059
 called us

00:34:57.059 --> 00:34:57.320
 to.

00:34:57.679 --> 00:34:58.099
 Would You

00:34:58.099 --> 00:34:58.679
 set aside

00:34:58.679 --> 00:34:59.159
 these very

00:34:59.159 --> 00:35:00.079
 common elements

00:35:00.079 --> 00:35:01.579
 to a special

00:35:01.579 --> 00:35:02.480
 purpose in our

00:35:02.480 --> 00:35:03.079
 hearts that

00:35:03.079 --> 00:35:04.880
 we would be

00:35:04.880 --> 00:35:05.980
 strengthened to

00:35:05.980 --> 00:35:07.239
 live even

00:35:07.239 --> 00:35:08.460
 this afternoon

00:35:08.460 --> 00:35:10.360
 and then beyond

00:35:10.360 --> 00:35:12.159
 that for Your

00:35:12.159 --> 00:35:12.539
 glory.

00:35:13.539 --> 00:35:14.460
 We ask in

00:35:14.460 --> 00:35:15.199
 Your name.

00:35:15.820 --> 00:35:16.059
 Amen.

00:35:19.619 --> 00:35:20.519
 For more

00:35:20.519 --> 00:35:21.039
 information,

00:35:21.420 --> 00:35:22.340
 visit us online

00:35:22.340 --> 00:35:22.739
 at

00:35:22.739 --> 00:35:23.619
 southwood.org.

00:35:26.000 --> 00:35:27.519
 enter

00:35:44.599 --> 00:35:45.780
 in the

00:35:45.780 --> 00:35:47.320
 glimpse of the

00:35:47.320 --> 00:35:48.500
 eye see and

00:35:48.500 --> 00:35:49.099
ämän

00:35:49.099 --> 00:35:50.059
 enter

00:35:50.059 --> 00:35:50.599
 into song