WEBVTT

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 Good morning.

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 This morning, in honor of our Chinese friends, I would like to start with a Chinese story.

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! It's the story of Liang Shanbo yu Juyingtai.

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 Now, in English, you can call it the story of the butterfly lovers.

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 Juyingtai, who let's call Julie, okay?

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 Julie was the only daughter of a wealthy family.

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 And at that time, young women were not encouraged to take up scholarly pursuits.

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 But Julie convinces her father to let her go to school disguised as a young man.

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 And so, Julie, on her way to school, which was pretty far from her home,

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 meets a young man along the way, Liang Shanbo.

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 Let's call him Leon, okay?

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 So, Julie meets Leon, and they begin to talk.

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 And they find out they're going to be classmates.

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 And so, they talk as they walk along the way.

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 And very quickly, their hearts are drawn to each other.

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 They actually stop on the way and take an oath of brotherhood.

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 For three years, Julie and Leon study together.

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 Now, Leon was very focused on his studies.

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 And so, he doesn't even notice that Julie is a young lady.

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 Julie, though, very soon finds herself falling in love with Leon.

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 Then, suddenly, one day, she gets a letter.

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 Julie gets a letter from her father saying she must come home right away.

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 And so, she has no choice but to pack everything up and say goodbye to Leon.

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 But she's already decided in her heart that she loves him and wants to be with him forever.

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 Now, Leon, being the good friend he is, decides to walk about 18 miles with Julie to see her off.

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 All along the way, Julie is trying to subtly reveal to Leon that she's a young lady.

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 But Leon doesn't pick up on any of the clues.

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 So, finally, her last effort, as they're about to part, is she says,

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 Leon, when you finish school, come visit me and I will be a matchmaker and set you up with my sister.

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 Well, Leon's very excited because he thinks, well, he'll get a wife and his close friend.

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 And they can be family.

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 So, about a year passes until Leon's finally able to come and visit Julie.

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 But when he arrives, Julie quickly runs out and confesses to him,

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 It's me. I'm really a woman.

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 Well, Leon suddenly is kind of overwhelmed with a sense of love for her.

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 And he thinks, this is the best possibility.

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 And they make this commitment to each other, kind of like until death do us part.

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 And so, they hurry quickly to Julie's father so that Leon can ask for her hand in marriage.

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 Unfortunately, their excitement is very short-lived because Julie's father reveals to both of them that he has already promised her in marriage to a wealthy merchant.

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 Leon is depressed and brokenhearted.

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 He goes home and over time his health gets worse and finally he dies from a broken heart.

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 And Julie agrees to marry the wealthy merchant.

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 But there's one condition.

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 She will only marry him if her wedding processional can pass by Leon's grave.

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 And so, it's agreed to.

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 And on the day of her wedding, her wedding processional is passing by Leon's grave.

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 When suddenly, there's a strong wind that causes them to stop.

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 And Julie sees her chance.

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 She runs from the wedding party to Leon's grave.

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 And she falls down and begs that the grave would open up.

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 And miraculously, the grave splits open.

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 Without a second thought, Julie throws herself into the grave.

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 And all of the wedding party runs up and looks into the grave.

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 And all they see is Leon and Julie's spirits emerge as a pair of butterflies.

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 To fly off and be together, never to be separated again.

00:05:38.699 --> 00:05:48.500
 Isn't it interesting how every culture has its own set of love stories?

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 I'm sure probably none of you had heard that story before.

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 But all of you have, right?

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 You know, every culture has love stories.

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 And often, there are love stories that are about sacrificial love or tragic things happening.

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 But our hearts are so easily caught up in the story that we really don't care if it makes sense or if it's impossible.

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 It doesn't matter to us if it's immoral or foolish.

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 Our hearts are so moved that we quickly find some beauty in the story.

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 You guys know that.

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 You can think about plenty of stories.

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 Whether it's like Mark Anthony and Cleopatra or Romeo and Juliet.

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 The hunchback of Notre Dame.

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 Sir Lancelot, Queen Guinevere.

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 Even more modern, like Jack and Rose from the Titanic, right?

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 You see, there's just something in us that connects with these love stories.

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 And I think it's because in all of our hearts, we desire to be loved that way.

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 To find someone that will love us sacrificially.

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 Someone that is willing to give up everything, even life itself, because they love us so much.

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 This morning, we're going to talk about the world's greatest love story.

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 And the good news is, it's true.

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 We're looking at 1 John chapter 4, verses 7 through 12.

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 In 2024, verse 24, verse 24, verse 24, verse 24, verse 24.

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 4, 7 through 12.

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 It says,

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 Beloved, let us love one another.

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 For love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.

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 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

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 In this, the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world,

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 so that we might live through him.

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 In this is love.

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 Not that we have loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

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 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

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 No one has ever seen God.

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 If we love one another, God abides in us, and his love is perfected in us.

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 Let's pray.

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 Father, we thank you that you have written us a love story,

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 that you have shown us your love.

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 Father, I ask that you would open our hearts and our minds

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 to see the beauty of your word,

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 to see the beauty of this love story before us,

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 and that our hearts would be caught,

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 and that we would rejoice in the fact that we are loved by you.

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 In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

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 We're going to look at this love story,

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 and on the back of your bulletin,

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 you can take notes if you want to. It might help.

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 The first thing we're going to look at is the characters in this love story.

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 The characters in this love story.

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 And the main character you'll see very quickly is God.

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 If you read that passage,

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 it's a huge number of times that we see the word God.

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 If you count up all the pronouns and everything,

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 I think it's about 13 times.

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 God is the main character,

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 and if you include his son, it's even more than that.

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 And notice what we learn in these verses about God.

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 It tells us God is the source of love.

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 In verse 7, we see it says love is from God.

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 God is the source of love.

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 It also tells us something even bigger than that.

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 That God is love.

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 In verse 8, God is love.

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 Now, I think we should stop for a minute and clarify.

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 There really are two kinds of love.

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 There are two kinds of love.

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 The first is self-centered love.

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 Now, think about it.

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 We say, I love pizza.

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 Or, I love sleeping.

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 I love my job.

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 Even, I love you.

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 But think about when you say that,

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 what does it really mean?

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 It means, I really enjoy eating pizza.

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 I really like the way sleeping makes me feel.

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 I find my job is very satisfying.

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 Or, I like my colleagues.

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 Or, it pays me a lot of money.

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 And, even when we say, I love you,

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 much of the time, what we really mean is,

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 I love the way you make me feel.

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 You see, at the center of all of those uses of love

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 is myself.

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 It's all about me.

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 Right?

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 Doe, but doe.

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 Doe.

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 But, there's a second kind of love.

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 It's God-centered love.

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 It's God-centered love.

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 And, if we looked at this in the original language,

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 which is Greek,

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 it was written in Greek,

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 we would see the word here is agape.

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 That's the Greek word used for love.

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 Agape.

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 Agape.

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 And, agape is a very special word for Bible writers.

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 They used the word agape to talk about the love that God has.

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 It's a love that's focused on others, not on self.

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 Probably the best description we find of that kind of love

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 is in 1 Corinthians 13, verses 4 through 8.

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 1 Corinthians 13, verses 4 through 8.

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 It says,

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 And, when we're talking about love today,

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 that's the kind of love we're talking about.

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 A God-centered love.

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 A love that is not focused on me,

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 and what do I get,

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 but a love that is focused on others,

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 and on doing whatever is best for others,

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 no matter what the cost.

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 We also see about God in verses 10 and 11,

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 that God loves us.

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 Or, we see in 10 through 12,

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 that God desires an intimate relationship with us.

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 But God's not the only character in this story.

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 Let's look at the secondary characters.

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 That would be you and me.

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 You and me.

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 Notice it talks a lot in this verse about you or us or we.

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 And it shows us several things that are important.

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 We see one,

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 we need help loving.

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 We need help loving.

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 In verses 7 and 8,

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 it tells us God is the source of love,

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 and that we can only love this way

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 if we get that love from God.

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 We can't love that way on our own.

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 It also shows us that we need help living.

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 In verse 9,

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 Notice it talks about that God sent His only Son into the world

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 so that we might live through Him.

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 We need help living.

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 We can't even live right on our own.

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 Notice in verse 10,

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 it says,

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 We don't love God.

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 We don't love God.

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 Verse 10,

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 In this is love,

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 not that we loved God.

00:16:18.820 --> 00:16:24.300
 Let's look at another passage in Romans chapter 3.

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 Romans chapter 3,

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 verses 10 through 18.

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 Romans 3, 10 through 18.

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 And it says,

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 As the scriptures say,

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 No one is righteous,

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 not even one.

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 No one is truly wise.

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 No one is seeking God.

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 All have turned away.

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 All have become useless.

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 No one does good,

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 not a single one.

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 Their talk is foul,

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 like the stench from an open grave.

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 Their tongues are filled with lies.

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 Snake venom drips from their lips.

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 Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.

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 They rush to commit murder.

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 Destruction and misery always follow them.

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 They don't know where to find peace,

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 for they have no fear of God at all.

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 You see, we don't love God.

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 We also see, in verse 10,

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 that we have sin that has separated us from God.

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 We have sin that has separated us from God.

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 It says,

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 But God loved us and sent his Son

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 to be the propitiation for our sins.

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 Now, propitiation is a big word.

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 But what it basically means

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 is that we have done something wrong

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 and caused someone to be angry.

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 And something must be done

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 to take away that anger

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 and restore our relationship,

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 to fix our guanxi.

00:18:12.480 --> 00:18:15.259
 Let's look at Romans chapter 1,

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 verses 18 through 32.

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 It says,

00:18:32.359 --> 00:18:35.939
 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven

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 against all ungodliness

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 and unrighteousness of men,

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 who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.

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 For what can be known about God is plain to them,

00:18:48.979 --> 00:18:51.019
 because God has shown it to them.

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 For his invisible attributes,

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 namely, his eternal power and divine nature,

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 have been clearly perceived

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 ever since the creation of the world

00:19:03.640 --> 00:19:05.980
 in the things that have been made.

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 So they are without excuse.

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 For although they knew God,

00:19:12.200 --> 00:19:14.059
 they did not honor him as God

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 or give thanks to him,

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 but they became futile in their thinking.

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 And their foolish hearts were darkened.

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 Claiming to be wise,

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 they became fools

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 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God

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 for images resembling mortal man

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 and birds and animals

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 and creeping things.

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 Therefore God gave them up

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 in the lusts of their hearts

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 to impurity,

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 to the dishonoring of their bodies

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 among themselves,

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 because they exchanged the truth about God

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 for a lie

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 and worshiped and served the creature

00:19:51.319 --> 00:19:52.900
 rather than the creator,

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 who is blessed forever.

00:19:55.880 --> 00:19:56.680
 For this reason,

00:19:57.000 --> 00:19:57.900
 God gave them up

00:19:57.900 --> 00:19:59.600
 to dishonorable passions,

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 for their women exchanged natural relations

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 for those that are contrary to nature.

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 And the men likewise

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 gave up natural relations with women

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 and were consumed with passion

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 for one another,

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 men committing shameless acts with men

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 and receiving in themselves

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 the due penalty for their error.

00:20:18.000 --> 00:20:19.780
 And since they did not see fit

00:20:19.780 --> 00:20:21.400
 to acknowledge God,

00:20:21.400 --> 00:20:23.100
 God gave them up

00:20:23.100 --> 00:20:24.420
 to a debased mind

00:20:24.420 --> 00:20:26.380
 to do what ought not to be done.

00:20:27.060 --> 00:20:28.640
 They were filled with all manners

00:20:28.640 --> 00:20:29.660
 of unrighteousness,

00:20:30.019 --> 00:20:30.440
 evil,

00:20:30.940 --> 00:20:31.800
 covetousness,

00:20:31.960 --> 00:20:32.480
 malice.

00:20:33.040 --> 00:20:34.060
 They're full of envy,

00:20:34.580 --> 00:20:34.960
 murder,

00:20:35.460 --> 00:20:36.120
 strife,

00:20:36.560 --> 00:20:37.180
 deceit,

00:20:37.740 --> 00:20:38.780
 maliciousness.

00:20:39.380 --> 00:20:40.060
 They're gossips,

00:20:40.420 --> 00:20:41.180
 slanderers,

00:20:41.660 --> 00:20:42.740
 haters of God,

00:20:43.400 --> 00:20:44.060
 insolent,

00:20:44.519 --> 00:20:45.060
 haughty,

00:20:45.580 --> 00:20:46.060
 boastful,

00:20:46.180 --> 00:20:47.360
 inventors of evil,

00:20:47.920 --> 00:20:49.380
 disobedient to parents,

00:20:49.380 --> 00:20:50.340
 foolish,

00:20:50.960 --> 00:20:51.580
 faithless,

00:20:51.880 --> 00:20:52.460
 heartless,

00:20:52.780 --> 00:20:53.200
 ruthless.

00:20:53.200 --> 00:20:56.520
 Though they know God's righteous decree

00:20:56.520 --> 00:21:00.020
 that those who practice such things

00:21:00.020 --> 00:21:01.540
 deserve to die,

00:21:02.060 --> 00:21:03.960
 they not only do them,

00:21:04.500 --> 00:21:07.900
 but give approval to those who practice them.

00:21:08.920 --> 00:21:12.380
 So our sin has separated us from God.

00:21:12.380 --> 00:21:14.620
 So that's the characters.

00:21:15.020 --> 00:21:16.880
 We have God and his son.

00:21:17.640 --> 00:21:19.200
 He is the source of love.

00:21:19.540 --> 00:21:20.460
 He is love.

00:21:21.360 --> 00:21:23.080
 He wants to pour that love out

00:21:23.080 --> 00:21:25.100
 and be in relationship with us.

00:21:25.140 --> 00:21:26.320
 And we have us.

00:21:27.100 --> 00:21:29.760
 We are in need of help loving,

00:21:29.920 --> 00:21:30.600
 of help living.

00:21:31.260 --> 00:21:33.980
 We are not lovers of God

00:21:33.980 --> 00:21:37.420
 and our sin has separated us from him.

00:21:37.420 --> 00:21:41.140
 Now let's talk about the plot of the story.

00:21:42.120 --> 00:21:44.080
 The plot of this love story

00:21:44.080 --> 00:21:47.300
 is summarized in verses 9 through 10.

00:21:48.420 --> 00:21:49.620
 9 through 10,

00:21:49.800 --> 00:21:50.320
 where it says,

00:21:50.680 --> 00:21:52.080
 In this the love of God

00:21:52.080 --> 00:21:53.920
 was made manifest among us,

00:21:54.120 --> 00:21:56.640
 that God sent his only son into the world

00:21:56.640 --> 00:21:58.560
 so we might live through him.

00:21:59.320 --> 00:22:00.200
 In this is love,

00:22:00.420 --> 00:22:01.680
 not that we've loved God,

00:22:01.759 --> 00:22:03.680
 but he loved us and sent his son

00:22:03.680 --> 00:22:06.140
 to be the propitiation for our sins.

00:22:06.140 --> 00:22:08.160
 The truth is,

00:22:08.460 --> 00:22:09.920
 even in these two verses,

00:22:10.340 --> 00:22:12.280
 we find probably

00:22:12.280 --> 00:22:15.440
 one of the most clear summaries

00:22:15.440 --> 00:22:16.820
 of the entire Bible.

00:22:17.620 --> 00:22:18.660
 In those two verses,

00:22:19.100 --> 00:22:23.660
 all of the essence of God's love story to us

00:22:23.660 --> 00:22:24.860
 is there.

00:22:25.240 --> 00:22:27.420
 Very short, very quick,

00:22:27.980 --> 00:22:29.140
 but it's all there.

00:22:29.660 --> 00:22:32.460
 The best way to understand God's love story

00:22:32.460 --> 00:22:34.020
 is to read the whole book.

00:22:34.019 --> 00:22:37.220
 It will take us 80 hours.

00:22:37.400 --> 00:22:37.960
 Let's begin.

00:22:40.900 --> 00:22:43.139
 Since we don't have 80 hours,

00:22:43.799 --> 00:22:46.440
 I thought the best thing I could do

00:22:46.440 --> 00:22:48.039
 is to tell you a story.

00:22:49.200 --> 00:22:51.019
 A story that will give you

00:22:51.019 --> 00:22:53.079
 a little more summary

00:22:53.079 --> 00:22:56.539
 of God's love story to us.

00:22:56.539 --> 00:23:00.200
 It's the story of the great emperor.

00:23:01.700 --> 00:23:04.639
 There was a great and glorious emperor,

00:23:05.299 --> 00:23:05.819
 Shang Di,

00:23:06.240 --> 00:23:09.639
 who ruled over a perfect and wonderful kingdom.

00:23:10.599 --> 00:23:13.000
 He provided everything his people needed.

00:23:13.279 --> 00:23:16.759
 He treated them like they were all his own children.

00:23:17.759 --> 00:23:19.460
 Even the laws that he had

00:23:19.460 --> 00:23:22.059
 were written for the good of the people.

00:23:22.059 --> 00:23:27.159
 However, the people chose to be selfish.

00:23:28.279 --> 00:23:30.539
 They wanted more than perfection.

00:23:31.240 --> 00:23:33.240
 You see, they believed in themselves,

00:23:33.720 --> 00:23:35.500
 and they thought they should be able

00:23:35.500 --> 00:23:36.940
 to be their own emperor.

00:23:37.720 --> 00:23:40.119
 They wanted to do whatever they wanted,

00:23:40.440 --> 00:23:41.919
 anytime they wanted.

00:23:43.339 --> 00:23:44.779
 Well, the emperor told them,

00:23:45.319 --> 00:23:46.659
 if you want to live this way,

00:23:46.700 --> 00:23:47.839
 it's not good for you,

00:23:48.299 --> 00:23:49.839
 and you'll have to leave the kingdom.

00:23:49.839 --> 00:23:53.339
 So the rebellious people left.

00:23:53.779 --> 00:23:55.799
 They moved out to the place

00:23:55.799 --> 00:23:58.639
 where the kingdom dumped all of its trash

00:23:58.639 --> 00:24:02.000
 and lived on a giant pile of trash.

00:24:03.379 --> 00:24:04.500
 And without the emperor

00:24:04.500 --> 00:24:06.959
 to lovingly rule over them,

00:24:07.339 --> 00:24:09.299
 the people began to use each other.

00:24:09.839 --> 00:24:11.319
 They would lie to each other

00:24:11.319 --> 00:24:12.919
 and steal from each other.

00:24:13.500 --> 00:24:15.119
 They actually would find ways

00:24:15.119 --> 00:24:16.000
 to hurt each other

00:24:16.000 --> 00:24:17.779
 in any way imagined.

00:24:17.779 --> 00:24:20.579
 And not only that,

00:24:20.639 --> 00:24:22.279
 but living on the trash pile

00:24:22.279 --> 00:24:24.399
 caused them to get sicknesses

00:24:24.399 --> 00:24:25.639
 and diseases

00:24:25.639 --> 00:24:28.240
 and many other problems started.

00:24:30.000 --> 00:24:32.279
 The emperor could see all of this

00:24:32.279 --> 00:24:33.200
 from his palace.

00:24:34.480 --> 00:24:36.079
 Even though he was angry

00:24:36.079 --> 00:24:38.000
 because of their actions,

00:24:38.680 --> 00:24:40.119
 he still loved them

00:24:40.119 --> 00:24:41.039
 and cared for him.

00:24:41.700 --> 00:24:43.119
 He would send out food,

00:24:43.539 --> 00:24:44.680
 water, medicine,

00:24:44.680 --> 00:24:46.120
 and other things

00:24:46.120 --> 00:24:46.820
 that they needed.

00:24:48.000 --> 00:24:49.380
 And even though

00:24:49.380 --> 00:24:50.460
 the people

00:24:50.460 --> 00:24:52.240
 should have been thankful

00:24:52.240 --> 00:24:54.620
 for all the emperor was doing,

00:24:55.220 --> 00:24:56.320
 they ignored him.

00:24:57.220 --> 00:24:57.580
 Instead,

00:24:57.900 --> 00:24:59.740
 they chose new rulers,

00:25:00.759 --> 00:25:01.740
 new leaders,

00:25:02.100 --> 00:25:03.279
 and they thanked

00:25:03.279 --> 00:25:04.259
 these new leaders

00:25:04.259 --> 00:25:05.160
 and they worshipped

00:25:05.160 --> 00:25:06.060
 these new leaders

00:25:06.060 --> 00:25:07.940
 even for the very things

00:25:07.940 --> 00:25:08.940
 that the emperor

00:25:08.940 --> 00:25:10.140
 was sending to them.

00:25:10.140 --> 00:25:14.820
 The way that the people lived

00:25:14.820 --> 00:25:16.680
 dishonored and shamed

00:25:16.680 --> 00:25:17.240
 the emperor.

00:25:18.300 --> 00:25:19.200
 And the emperor

00:25:19.200 --> 00:25:20.160
 would send out

00:25:20.160 --> 00:25:21.780
 workers from the palace

00:25:21.780 --> 00:25:23.620
 to remind the people

00:25:23.620 --> 00:25:25.060
 of all the good

00:25:25.060 --> 00:25:26.360
 the emperor offered them,

00:25:26.660 --> 00:25:27.840
 to challenge them,

00:25:28.000 --> 00:25:28.759
 to turn away

00:25:28.759 --> 00:25:30.120
 from their selfish living,

00:25:30.480 --> 00:25:31.620
 and to restore

00:25:31.620 --> 00:25:32.580
 their relationship

00:25:32.580 --> 00:25:33.620
 with the emperor,

00:25:33.800 --> 00:25:35.180
 to return to his kingdom.

00:25:35.180 --> 00:25:36.680
 Yet,

00:25:36.860 --> 00:25:37.720
 every time

00:25:37.720 --> 00:25:39.060
 one of the emperor's people

00:25:39.060 --> 00:25:39.720
 came out

00:25:39.720 --> 00:25:40.880
 to the trash people,

00:25:41.259 --> 00:25:42.000
 the trash people

00:25:42.000 --> 00:25:42.840
 would grab them

00:25:42.840 --> 00:25:44.060
 and torture them

00:25:44.060 --> 00:25:44.880
 and kill them.

00:25:46.519 --> 00:25:47.440
 One day,

00:25:47.980 --> 00:25:49.779
 the emperor's only son,

00:25:50.140 --> 00:25:50.759
 the prince,

00:25:51.500 --> 00:25:52.240
 came to him

00:25:52.240 --> 00:25:52.640
 and said,

00:25:53.440 --> 00:25:53.700
 Father,

00:25:53.940 --> 00:25:55.360
 I know that you love

00:25:55.360 --> 00:25:56.039
 these people,

00:25:56.720 --> 00:25:57.440
 even though

00:25:57.440 --> 00:25:58.779
 they turned away from you.

00:25:59.340 --> 00:26:00.640
 They've lived selfish,

00:26:01.000 --> 00:26:02.019
 terrible lives.

00:26:02.660 --> 00:26:03.580
 They've brought shame

00:26:03.580 --> 00:26:04.160
 on you

00:26:04.160 --> 00:26:04.960
 and your kingdom.

00:26:06.140 --> 00:26:07.539
 I know that you love them.

00:26:08.480 --> 00:26:08.920
 So,

00:26:09.100 --> 00:26:10.299
 I want to go out

00:26:10.299 --> 00:26:11.660
 and live with them.

00:26:12.140 --> 00:26:13.640
 I will spend my life

00:26:13.640 --> 00:26:14.580
 teaching them

00:26:14.580 --> 00:26:15.539
 the truths

00:26:15.539 --> 00:26:16.539
 about you

00:26:16.539 --> 00:26:17.700
 and your love

00:26:17.700 --> 00:26:18.840
 that they have forgotten.

00:26:20.060 --> 00:26:21.440
 And in the end,

00:26:21.960 --> 00:26:22.820
 I will take

00:26:22.820 --> 00:26:23.720
 the punishment

00:26:23.720 --> 00:26:24.680
 that they deserve

00:26:24.680 --> 00:26:26.420
 for their actions

00:26:26.420 --> 00:26:27.900
 so that they can be

00:26:27.900 --> 00:26:29.480
 restored to our kingdom.

00:26:31.640 --> 00:26:32.560
 Even though

00:26:32.560 --> 00:26:33.080
 the emperor

00:26:33.080 --> 00:26:34.120
 loved his son,

00:26:34.119 --> 00:26:36.719
 more than can be described,

00:26:37.419 --> 00:26:36.799
 more than can be described,

00:26:37.419 --> 00:26:38.819
 he honored

00:26:38.819 --> 00:26:40.079
 his son's desire

00:26:40.079 --> 00:26:41.399
 and let him go

00:26:41.399 --> 00:26:42.239
 to live among

00:26:42.239 --> 00:26:43.219
 the trash people.

00:26:44.519 --> 00:26:45.299
 Every day,

00:26:45.579 --> 00:26:46.619
 the emperor would watch

00:26:46.619 --> 00:26:47.459
 from the palace

00:26:47.459 --> 00:26:48.619
 as his son

00:26:48.619 --> 00:26:49.579
 lived among

00:26:49.579 --> 00:26:50.500
 the trash people.

00:26:50.919 --> 00:26:51.879
 He watched

00:26:51.879 --> 00:26:52.679
 as the prince

00:26:52.679 --> 00:26:53.579
 would love them

00:26:53.579 --> 00:26:54.939
 and care for them

00:26:54.939 --> 00:26:56.179
 and teach them

00:26:56.179 --> 00:26:57.479
 about the emperor's kingdom.

00:26:57.480 --> 00:26:59.319
 And every day

00:26:59.319 --> 00:27:00.059
 that passed,

00:27:00.559 --> 00:27:01.660
 more and more

00:27:01.660 --> 00:27:02.740
 of the trash people

00:27:02.740 --> 00:27:04.259
 became sorry

00:27:04.259 --> 00:27:05.079
 for the way

00:27:05.079 --> 00:27:05.680
 they had treated

00:27:05.680 --> 00:27:06.220
 the emperor,

00:27:06.880 --> 00:27:07.759
 how they had

00:27:07.759 --> 00:27:08.579
 dishonored him

00:27:08.579 --> 00:27:09.900
 and brought shame

00:27:09.900 --> 00:27:11.099
 upon themselves

00:27:11.099 --> 00:27:12.500
 and their kingdom

00:27:12.500 --> 00:27:14.460
 and wanted to change

00:27:14.460 --> 00:27:15.380
 how they were living.

00:27:16.779 --> 00:27:17.500
 However,

00:27:18.500 --> 00:27:19.860
 the trash people's

00:27:19.860 --> 00:27:21.279
 hearts were changing

00:27:21.279 --> 00:27:23.039
 and the leaders

00:27:23.039 --> 00:27:23.980
 saw that.

00:27:24.740 --> 00:27:25.920
 They began to hate

00:27:25.920 --> 00:27:26.599
 the prince

00:27:26.599 --> 00:27:28.379
 even more

00:27:28.379 --> 00:27:29.000
 than they hated

00:27:29.000 --> 00:27:29.579
 the emperor.

00:27:30.420 --> 00:27:31.440
 And as their hatred

00:27:31.440 --> 00:27:31.920
 grew,

00:27:32.220 --> 00:27:33.240
 they began to plan

00:27:33.240 --> 00:27:33.879
 how they would

00:27:33.879 --> 00:27:35.200
 destroy the prince,

00:27:35.720 --> 00:27:36.440
 the emperor's

00:27:36.440 --> 00:27:37.319
 precious son.

00:27:38.759 --> 00:27:39.559
 The emperor

00:27:39.559 --> 00:27:40.460
 watched all of

00:27:40.460 --> 00:27:41.339
 these things happen

00:27:41.339 --> 00:27:42.759
 day by day.

00:27:43.279 --> 00:27:43.720
 And then

00:27:43.720 --> 00:27:45.099
 at the perfect moment,

00:27:45.940 --> 00:27:46.460
 the emperor

00:27:46.460 --> 00:27:47.839
 went to the trash pile.

00:27:47.839 --> 00:27:50.519
 Everyone gathered

00:27:50.519 --> 00:27:51.039
 together

00:27:51.039 --> 00:27:52.279
 and the emperor

00:27:52.279 --> 00:27:53.179
 said to them,

00:27:54.220 --> 00:27:55.179
 I am a good,

00:27:55.599 --> 00:27:56.139
 honest,

00:27:56.659 --> 00:27:57.019
 righteous,

00:27:57.299 --> 00:27:58.500
 and just emperor.

00:28:00.039 --> 00:28:00.559
 Shame

00:28:00.559 --> 00:28:01.859
 and dishonor

00:28:01.859 --> 00:28:02.659
 has been brought

00:28:02.659 --> 00:28:03.399
 upon me

00:28:03.399 --> 00:28:04.439
 and my kingdom

00:28:04.439 --> 00:28:06.000
 by your actions.

00:28:06.659 --> 00:28:07.519
 You must all

00:28:07.519 --> 00:28:08.899
 be justly punished

00:28:08.899 --> 00:28:10.039
 for your crimes.

00:28:12.319 --> 00:28:13.439
 At this,

00:28:14.000 --> 00:28:14.539
 the prince

00:28:14.539 --> 00:28:15.740
 stepped forward

00:28:15.740 --> 00:28:16.579
 and said,

00:28:17.119 --> 00:28:17.500
 Father,

00:28:17.839 --> 00:28:18.839
 I am willing

00:28:18.839 --> 00:28:19.539
 to take

00:28:19.539 --> 00:28:20.519
 the punishment

00:28:20.519 --> 00:28:21.959
 for these people.

00:28:23.379 --> 00:28:24.299
 The emperor

00:28:24.299 --> 00:28:24.859
 asked,

00:28:25.480 --> 00:28:26.240
 Who will hold

00:28:26.240 --> 00:28:26.779
 the prince

00:28:26.779 --> 00:28:27.759
 while he is punished?

00:28:28.579 --> 00:28:28.759
 Well,

00:28:28.779 --> 00:28:29.819
 with great excitement,

00:28:30.179 --> 00:28:30.899
 all the leaders

00:28:30.899 --> 00:28:31.879
 of the trash pile

00:28:31.879 --> 00:28:32.939
 rushed forward

00:28:32.939 --> 00:28:33.480
 and grabbed

00:28:33.480 --> 00:28:34.019
 the prince.

00:28:34.199 --> 00:28:35.419
 They stripped him

00:28:35.419 --> 00:28:36.559
 of his royal coat

00:28:36.559 --> 00:28:37.539
 and forced him

00:28:37.539 --> 00:28:38.319
 to his knees.

00:28:39.559 --> 00:28:40.459
 The emperor

00:28:40.459 --> 00:28:41.299
 took out

00:28:41.299 --> 00:28:42.579
 a powerful whip

00:28:42.579 --> 00:28:43.819
 and began

00:28:43.819 --> 00:28:44.379
 to whip

00:28:44.379 --> 00:28:45.099
 the prince.

00:28:45.819 --> 00:28:47.019
 And each strike

00:28:47.019 --> 00:28:48.279
 sounded like thunder.

00:28:49.339 --> 00:28:50.019
 Every time

00:28:50.019 --> 00:28:50.559
 he would whip

00:28:50.559 --> 00:28:51.099
 the prince,

00:28:51.440 --> 00:28:51.819
 the emperor

00:28:51.819 --> 00:28:52.700
 would call out

00:28:52.700 --> 00:28:53.960
 one of the names

00:28:53.960 --> 00:28:54.779
 of the people

00:28:54.779 --> 00:28:56.240
 on the trash pile

00:28:56.240 --> 00:28:57.039
 and say,

00:28:57.400 --> 00:28:58.039
 Your crimes

00:28:58.039 --> 00:28:59.599
 have been paid for.

00:29:00.039 --> 00:29:01.019
 This went on

00:29:01.019 --> 00:29:02.339
 for the longest time.

00:29:03.400 --> 00:29:04.420
 David Bout,

00:29:04.759 --> 00:29:05.559
 Your crimes

00:29:05.559 --> 00:29:06.619
 have been paid for.

00:29:07.559 --> 00:29:08.660
 Titus Mahaffey,

00:29:09.059 --> 00:29:09.740
 Your crimes

00:29:09.740 --> 00:29:10.799
 have been paid for.

00:29:11.519 --> 00:29:12.660
 Mark Rugsager,

00:29:13.019 --> 00:29:13.700
 Your crimes

00:29:13.700 --> 00:29:14.799
 have been paid for.

00:29:14.799 --> 00:29:16.359
 Blake Murphy,

00:29:16.740 --> 00:29:17.379
 Your crimes

00:29:17.379 --> 00:29:18.440
 have been paid for.

00:29:18.919 --> 00:29:19.599
 Huang Dandan,

00:29:20.099 --> 00:29:20.759
 Your crimes

00:29:20.759 --> 00:29:21.799
 have been paid for.

00:29:22.240 --> 00:29:22.659
 Lan Yi,

00:29:23.159 --> 00:29:23.919
 Your crimes

00:29:23.919 --> 00:29:24.940
 have been paid for.

00:29:25.359 --> 00:29:26.019
 Liu Chunya,

00:29:26.399 --> 00:29:27.079
 Your crimes

00:29:27.079 --> 00:29:28.039
 have been paid for.

00:29:28.440 --> 00:29:30.099
 Name after name,

00:29:30.879 --> 00:29:32.480
 lash after lash,

00:29:33.019 --> 00:29:33.559
 the blood

00:29:33.559 --> 00:29:34.319
 of the prince

00:29:34.319 --> 00:29:35.460
 filled the street.

00:29:36.319 --> 00:29:37.480
 No one really knew

00:29:37.480 --> 00:29:38.599
 how long it lasted.

00:29:39.740 --> 00:29:40.619
 All they remembered

00:29:40.619 --> 00:29:42.119
 was the moment

00:29:42.119 --> 00:29:43.440
 they heard their name.

00:29:43.440 --> 00:29:45.140
 the moment

00:29:45.140 --> 00:29:46.100
 they heard

00:29:46.100 --> 00:29:47.200
 their name

00:29:47.200 --> 00:29:48.740
 and that their crimes

00:29:48.740 --> 00:29:50.080
 have been paid for.

00:29:50.620 --> 00:29:51.539
 At that moment,

00:29:51.960 --> 00:29:53.299
 their hard hearts

00:29:53.299 --> 00:29:54.820
 melted within them.

00:29:55.820 --> 00:29:56.779
 When the emperor

00:29:56.779 --> 00:29:57.539
 was finished

00:29:57.539 --> 00:29:58.860
 and the prince

00:29:58.860 --> 00:29:59.740
 was dead,

00:30:00.460 --> 00:30:01.000
 the emperor

00:30:01.000 --> 00:30:01.660
 cried out,

00:30:02.019 --> 00:30:02.759
 All of you

00:30:02.759 --> 00:30:03.580
 that have had

00:30:03.580 --> 00:30:04.779
 your crimes paid for,

00:30:05.039 --> 00:30:06.000
 I forgive you

00:30:06.000 --> 00:30:07.180
 and you may return

00:30:07.180 --> 00:30:07.860
 to the kingdom

00:30:07.860 --> 00:30:09.480
 and live as my children

00:30:09.480 --> 00:30:10.259
 once again.

00:30:11.320 --> 00:30:12.559
 Well, large people,

00:30:12.559 --> 00:30:13.879
 large groups of people

00:30:13.879 --> 00:30:15.299
 immediately ran

00:30:15.299 --> 00:30:16.539
 from the trash pile

00:30:16.539 --> 00:30:17.679
 into the kingdom

00:30:17.679 --> 00:30:19.119
 and their lives

00:30:19.119 --> 00:30:20.619
 were completely changed.

00:30:21.279 --> 00:30:22.919
 They became new people

00:30:22.919 --> 00:30:25.720
 and the new people's hearts

00:30:25.720 --> 00:30:27.859
 were so overflowing

00:30:27.859 --> 00:30:29.000
 with the love

00:30:29.000 --> 00:30:29.679
 they'd received

00:30:29.679 --> 00:30:30.379
 from the emperor

00:30:30.379 --> 00:30:31.399
 that they began

00:30:31.399 --> 00:30:33.139
 to love those around them

00:30:33.139 --> 00:30:33.980
 even more

00:30:33.980 --> 00:30:35.299
 than they loved themselves.

00:30:36.220 --> 00:30:37.919
 They even found themselves

00:30:37.919 --> 00:30:38.940
 loving the people

00:30:38.940 --> 00:30:39.819
 that were still

00:30:39.819 --> 00:30:41.200
 on the trash pile.

00:30:41.200 --> 00:30:43.140
 And so they would go out

00:30:43.140 --> 00:30:44.420
 and take care of them

00:30:44.420 --> 00:30:45.519
 and tell them

00:30:45.519 --> 00:30:47.059
 about all of the love

00:30:47.059 --> 00:30:47.860
 they'd received

00:30:47.860 --> 00:30:48.539
 from the emperor

00:30:48.539 --> 00:30:49.600
 and invite them

00:30:49.600 --> 00:30:50.420
 to come back

00:30:50.420 --> 00:30:51.759
 and be one of the emperor's

00:30:51.759 --> 00:30:52.559
 children too.

00:30:53.559 --> 00:30:54.740
 As the trash people

00:30:54.740 --> 00:30:56.000
 saw the way

00:30:56.000 --> 00:30:56.960
 the new people

00:30:56.960 --> 00:30:57.920
 loved each other

00:30:57.920 --> 00:30:58.860
 and loved them,

00:30:59.340 --> 00:31:00.500
 more and more of them

00:31:00.500 --> 00:31:01.900
 wanted to become

00:31:01.900 --> 00:31:03.080
 children of the emperor.

00:31:04.580 --> 00:31:06.100
 After several days,

00:31:06.380 --> 00:31:07.240
 the emperor showed

00:31:07.240 --> 00:31:09.059
 he was even more glorious

00:31:09.059 --> 00:31:10.400
 and powerful

00:31:10.400 --> 00:31:12.160
 than the people realized.

00:31:13.099 --> 00:31:13.620
 The emperor

00:31:13.620 --> 00:31:14.620
 gave the prince

00:31:14.620 --> 00:31:15.440
 life again.

00:31:16.400 --> 00:31:17.200
 All of the people

00:31:17.200 --> 00:31:17.900
 that had returned

00:31:17.900 --> 00:31:18.480
 to the kingdom

00:31:18.480 --> 00:31:19.579
 celebrated

00:31:19.579 --> 00:31:21.299
 the prince's return,

00:31:21.400 --> 00:31:22.240
 his resurrection.

00:31:23.299 --> 00:31:23.900
 And their hearts

00:31:23.900 --> 00:31:24.440
 were filled

00:31:24.440 --> 00:31:25.640
 with even more love

00:31:25.640 --> 00:31:26.500
 because of what

00:31:26.500 --> 00:31:27.460
 the prince had done

00:31:27.460 --> 00:31:27.900
 for them.

00:31:28.660 --> 00:31:29.799
 The prince continued

00:31:29.799 --> 00:31:30.859
 to lead the people

00:31:30.859 --> 00:31:31.720
 to go out

00:31:31.720 --> 00:31:32.680
 to the trash pile

00:31:32.680 --> 00:31:33.559
 and to share

00:31:33.559 --> 00:31:34.460
 the good news

00:31:34.460 --> 00:31:35.779
 with all who would listen.

00:31:35.779 --> 00:31:37.579
 and the story

00:31:37.579 --> 00:31:39.720
 continues even today.

00:31:41.440 --> 00:31:42.160
 You see,

00:31:42.259 --> 00:31:43.619
 the best news

00:31:43.619 --> 00:31:44.500
 about the world's

00:31:44.500 --> 00:31:45.539
 greatest love story

00:31:45.539 --> 00:31:46.940
 is that it's continuing.

00:31:47.299 --> 00:31:48.899
 It's a continuing story.

00:31:49.720 --> 00:31:50.680
 And everyone

00:31:50.680 --> 00:31:52.059
 has a chapter

00:31:52.059 --> 00:31:52.960
 in this story.

00:31:54.019 --> 00:31:55.339
 Everyone in this room,

00:31:55.759 --> 00:31:56.879
 everyone in the world,

00:31:57.440 --> 00:31:59.440
 everyone that's ever lived

00:31:59.440 --> 00:32:00.940
 has a chapter

00:32:00.940 --> 00:32:02.079
 in the world's

00:32:02.079 --> 00:32:03.180
 greatest love story.

00:32:03.180 --> 00:32:05.720
 Each of us

00:32:05.720 --> 00:32:06.539
 is responsible

00:32:06.539 --> 00:32:08.259
 for our own chapter.

00:32:09.519 --> 00:32:10.840
 The question is,

00:32:11.240 --> 00:32:12.000
 will you choose

00:32:12.000 --> 00:32:12.580
 a life

00:32:12.580 --> 00:32:14.240
 of self-centered love?

00:32:15.700 --> 00:32:16.820
 Will you choose

00:32:16.820 --> 00:32:17.740
 to keep living

00:32:17.740 --> 00:32:18.980
 on the trash pile,

00:32:19.420 --> 00:32:20.380
 letting your life

00:32:20.380 --> 00:32:21.180
 be filled

00:32:21.180 --> 00:32:22.440
 with selfish love

00:32:22.440 --> 00:32:24.200
 where every relationship,

00:32:24.620 --> 00:32:25.680
 every decision,

00:32:26.100 --> 00:32:27.160
 every action

00:32:27.160 --> 00:32:28.560
 is focused

00:32:28.560 --> 00:32:29.380
 on your own

00:32:29.380 --> 00:32:30.640
 comfort and pleasure?

00:32:30.640 --> 00:32:32.360
 always looking

00:32:32.360 --> 00:32:33.220
 for something

00:32:33.220 --> 00:32:34.520
 to satisfy you

00:32:34.520 --> 00:32:35.680
 in your job

00:32:35.680 --> 00:32:37.020
 or your relationships,

00:32:37.380 --> 00:32:38.220
 your family,

00:32:39.220 --> 00:32:41.100
 but never finding it.

00:32:41.560 --> 00:32:42.460
 Forever living

00:32:42.460 --> 00:32:43.240
 with that feeling

00:32:43.240 --> 00:32:44.100
 that there's something

00:32:44.100 --> 00:32:45.520
 more that you are missing.

00:32:47.220 --> 00:32:48.860
 Or will you accept

00:32:48.860 --> 00:32:50.140
 a life

00:32:50.140 --> 00:32:51.680
 of God-centered love?

00:32:52.380 --> 00:32:53.600
 Will you accept

00:32:53.600 --> 00:32:54.160
 a life

00:32:54.160 --> 00:32:55.380
 of God-centered love?

00:32:55.380 --> 00:32:56.540
 Are you willing

00:32:56.540 --> 00:32:57.440
 to hear

00:32:57.440 --> 00:32:58.080
 the truth

00:32:58.080 --> 00:32:58.800
 about God?

00:32:59.180 --> 00:32:59.800
 Realize

00:32:59.800 --> 00:33:00.700
 the truth

00:33:00.700 --> 00:33:01.300
 of how

00:33:01.300 --> 00:33:02.100
 you have been

00:33:02.100 --> 00:33:03.560
 living a self-centered

00:33:03.560 --> 00:33:05.280
 life that dishonors

00:33:05.280 --> 00:33:06.440
 and shames God

00:33:06.440 --> 00:33:07.460
 and accept

00:33:07.460 --> 00:33:08.580
 the love

00:33:08.580 --> 00:33:09.140
 that Jesus

00:33:09.140 --> 00:33:09.980
 has shown

00:33:09.980 --> 00:33:11.300
 to you

00:33:11.300 --> 00:33:12.200
 in paying

00:33:12.200 --> 00:33:13.640
 for your sin?

00:33:14.920 --> 00:33:16.000
 Will you turn

00:33:16.000 --> 00:33:16.360
 away

00:33:16.360 --> 00:33:17.480
 from self-centered

00:33:17.480 --> 00:33:18.580
 living on the trash

00:33:18.580 --> 00:33:19.440
 pile outside

00:33:19.440 --> 00:33:20.400
 of God's kingdom?

00:33:21.340 --> 00:33:22.200
 Are you willing

00:33:22.200 --> 00:33:22.840
 to let

00:33:22.839 --> 00:33:24.480
 God-centered love

00:33:24.480 --> 00:33:25.959
 rule your life

00:33:25.959 --> 00:33:27.019
 and make you

00:33:27.019 --> 00:33:28.000
 a new person?

00:33:29.859 --> 00:33:31.099
 If you're willing,

00:33:31.319 --> 00:33:32.519
 if you're willing

00:33:32.519 --> 00:33:33.619
 to accept

00:33:33.619 --> 00:33:34.939
 God's love,

00:33:35.539 --> 00:33:36.079
 there are such

00:33:36.079 --> 00:33:37.319
 beautiful results.

00:33:37.720 --> 00:33:38.179
 The results

00:33:38.179 --> 00:33:39.259
 of accepting

00:33:39.259 --> 00:33:39.879
 God's love

00:33:39.879 --> 00:33:40.299
 are this.

00:33:40.659 --> 00:33:40.919
 One,

00:33:41.299 --> 00:33:42.399
 we have an intimate

00:33:42.399 --> 00:33:43.579
 relationship

00:33:43.579 --> 00:33:44.759
 with God

00:33:44.759 --> 00:33:45.699
 as our Father.

00:33:46.779 --> 00:33:47.359
 Look at

00:33:47.359 --> 00:33:48.419
 1 John 4

00:33:48.419 --> 00:33:50.439
 verse 12.

00:33:50.440 --> 00:33:57.880
 It says,

00:33:58.420 --> 00:33:59.080
 No one has ever

00:33:59.080 --> 00:33:59.880
 seen God,

00:34:00.080 --> 00:34:00.759
 but if we love

00:34:00.759 --> 00:34:01.299
 one another,

00:34:01.759 --> 00:34:02.860
 God abides

00:34:02.860 --> 00:34:03.840
 in us.

00:34:04.380 --> 00:34:05.600
 God abides

00:34:05.600 --> 00:34:06.160
 in us.

00:34:06.440 --> 00:34:07.299
 God lives

00:34:07.299 --> 00:34:08.000
 in us.

00:34:08.380 --> 00:34:09.599
 God becomes

00:34:09.599 --> 00:34:11.200
 an intimate

00:34:11.200 --> 00:34:13.240
 part of our lives.

00:34:13.960 --> 00:34:14.860
 He is our Father.

00:34:15.000 --> 00:34:16.039
 We are His children.

00:34:17.079 --> 00:34:18.179
 So if you accept

00:34:18.179 --> 00:34:19.000
 God's love,

00:34:19.000 --> 00:34:19.760
 you'll have

00:34:19.760 --> 00:34:20.400
 an intimate

00:34:20.400 --> 00:34:21.280
 relationship

00:34:21.280 --> 00:34:22.179
 with Him.

00:34:23.519 --> 00:34:24.199
 But the second

00:34:24.199 --> 00:34:25.420
 result is

00:34:25.420 --> 00:34:26.400
 we will truly

00:34:26.400 --> 00:34:27.619
 love one another.

00:34:28.500 --> 00:34:29.679
 When we accept

00:34:29.679 --> 00:34:31.539
 God-centered love,

00:34:31.960 --> 00:34:32.880
 our hearts

00:34:32.880 --> 00:34:33.480
 are changed

00:34:33.480 --> 00:34:34.199
 so that we can

00:34:34.199 --> 00:34:35.159
 love each other

00:34:35.159 --> 00:34:36.579
 as we should.

00:34:37.579 --> 00:34:38.260
 No longer

00:34:38.260 --> 00:34:39.579
 being selfish

00:34:39.579 --> 00:34:40.460
 in our thoughts.

00:34:40.639 --> 00:34:41.599
 What do I get?

00:34:41.739 --> 00:34:42.400
 How does it make

00:34:42.400 --> 00:34:42.940
 me feel?

00:34:43.199 --> 00:34:43.960
 Why is this

00:34:43.960 --> 00:34:44.739
 good for me?

00:34:45.380 --> 00:34:46.139
 But our hearts

00:34:46.139 --> 00:34:46.639
 are changed

00:34:46.639 --> 00:34:47.300
 so that we can

00:34:47.300 --> 00:34:48.199
 love others

00:34:48.199 --> 00:34:49.059
 and we can

00:34:49.059 --> 00:34:49.799
 think most

00:34:49.799 --> 00:34:50.659
 about them.

00:34:50.960 --> 00:34:51.599
 What's best

00:34:51.599 --> 00:34:52.099
 for them?

00:34:52.339 --> 00:34:52.839
 How can I

00:34:52.839 --> 00:34:53.559
 serve them?

00:34:53.799 --> 00:34:54.319
 How can I

00:34:54.319 --> 00:34:55.079
 help them?

00:34:56.659 --> 00:34:57.539
 The third

00:34:57.539 --> 00:34:57.960
 benefit

00:34:57.960 --> 00:34:59.179
 is if we

00:34:59.179 --> 00:35:00.019
 accept God's

00:35:00.019 --> 00:35:00.419
 love,

00:35:00.939 --> 00:35:01.519
 the world

00:35:01.519 --> 00:35:02.759
 will see God

00:35:02.759 --> 00:35:03.659
 through our

00:35:03.659 --> 00:35:04.339
 true love

00:35:04.339 --> 00:35:05.119
 for one another.

00:35:05.759 --> 00:35:06.500
 The world

00:35:06.500 --> 00:35:07.480
 will see God

00:35:07.480 --> 00:35:08.299
 through our

00:35:08.299 --> 00:35:09.139
 true love

00:35:09.139 --> 00:35:09.899
 for one another.

00:35:10.879 --> 00:35:11.259
 Again,

00:35:11.359 --> 00:35:12.319
 in verse 12,

00:35:12.579 --> 00:35:13.819
 it talks about

00:35:13.819 --> 00:35:14.899
 how no one

00:35:14.899 --> 00:35:15.919
 has seen God,

00:35:15.920 --> 00:35:16.900
 but if we

00:35:16.900 --> 00:35:17.740
 love one another,

00:35:18.059 --> 00:35:18.980
 God abides

00:35:18.980 --> 00:35:19.380
 in us

00:35:19.380 --> 00:35:20.420
 and his love

00:35:20.420 --> 00:35:21.480
 is perfected

00:35:21.480 --> 00:35:22.019
 in us.

00:35:22.500 --> 00:35:23.099
 It's made

00:35:23.099 --> 00:35:23.599
 perfect,

00:35:23.780 --> 00:35:24.220
 it's made

00:35:24.220 --> 00:35:24.900
 complete,

00:35:25.320 --> 00:35:26.200
 and the world

00:35:26.200 --> 00:35:27.139
 will see it.

00:35:27.860 --> 00:35:28.659
 In John

00:35:28.659 --> 00:35:30.000
 chapter 13,

00:35:30.099 --> 00:35:30.940
 verses 34

00:35:30.940 --> 00:35:31.740
 and 35,

00:35:32.400 --> 00:35:33.380
 Jesus tells

00:35:33.380 --> 00:35:34.840
 us that

00:35:34.840 --> 00:35:35.900
 by this

00:35:35.900 --> 00:35:36.619
 all people

00:35:36.619 --> 00:35:37.079
 will know

00:35:37.079 --> 00:35:37.480
 you're my

00:35:37.480 --> 00:35:38.019
 disciples

00:35:38.019 --> 00:35:39.159
 if you have

00:35:39.159 --> 00:35:40.139
 love for

00:35:40.139 --> 00:35:41.099
 one another.

00:35:41.099 --> 00:35:43.639
 So we have

00:35:43.639 --> 00:35:44.360
 a responsibility.

00:35:44.819 --> 00:35:45.599
 We decide

00:35:45.599 --> 00:35:46.579
 how do we

00:35:46.579 --> 00:35:47.440
 want the

00:35:47.440 --> 00:35:48.719
 chapter of

00:35:48.719 --> 00:35:49.579
 our lives

00:35:49.579 --> 00:35:50.059
 in this

00:35:50.059 --> 00:35:50.639
 great love

00:35:50.639 --> 00:35:51.299
 story to

00:35:51.299 --> 00:35:51.599
 look.

00:35:52.799 --> 00:35:53.519
 How is it

00:35:53.519 --> 00:35:54.559
 you will

00:35:54.559 --> 00:35:55.400
 let your

00:35:55.400 --> 00:35:56.299
 story end?

00:35:56.380 --> 00:35:56.819
 Will it be

00:35:56.819 --> 00:35:57.839
 a story

00:35:57.839 --> 00:35:59.099
 of self-centered

00:35:59.099 --> 00:35:59.880
 love or

00:35:59.880 --> 00:36:00.719
 God-centered

00:36:00.719 --> 00:36:01.259
 love?

00:36:01.839 --> 00:36:02.360
 Today,

00:36:02.579 --> 00:36:03.679
 I encourage

00:36:03.679 --> 00:36:04.380
 you to

00:36:04.380 --> 00:36:05.940
 choose wisely.

00:36:07.360 --> 00:36:08.339
 Let's pray.

00:36:08.339 --> 00:36:08.400
 Amen.

00:36:08.400 --> 00:36:08.400


00:36:08.400 --> 00:36:08.400


00:36:08.400 --> 00:36:08.400


00:36:08.400 --> 00:36:08.400


00:36:08.400 --> 00:36:08.400


00:36:08.400 --> 00:36:08.400


00:36:08.400 --> 00:36:08.400


00:36:08.400 --> 00:36:08.400


00:36:08.400 --> 00:36:08.400


00:36:08.400 --> 00:36:08.400


00:36:08.400 --> 00:36:08.400


00:36:08.400 --> 00:36:08.400


00:36:08.400 --> 00:36:08.400


00:36:08.400 --> 00:36:08.400


00:36:08.400 --> 00:36:08.400


00:36:08.400 --> 00:36:08.400