WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.540 Good morning, everyone. 00:00:06.240 --> 00:00:13.040 It's really good to come to be at worship with you on this memorable Sunday, the second 00:00:13.040 --> 00:00:17.539 Lord's Day of Advent, as together we prepare the way. 00:00:19.519 --> 00:00:26.480 And I say thank you to the team that has welcomed us as we came through, and also to my colleague 00:00:26.480 --> 00:00:33.280 Russell, who has been keeping me a breath of what's going on, how the service is likely 00:00:33.280 --> 00:00:35.700 to go, and so far it is as planned. 00:00:36.579 --> 00:00:40.960 And I thank God that again this morning I don't have to lead the service. 00:00:42.079 --> 00:00:49.620 Someone, Alex, has been leading for us, and the band has been doing a marvelous job. 00:00:49.900 --> 00:00:51.420 Could you put your hand together for the band? 00:00:51.500 --> 00:00:52.280 They did a good job. 00:00:52.400 --> 00:00:52.980 They did this morning. 00:00:54.040 --> 00:00:54.260 Yeah. 00:00:56.479 --> 00:01:02.419 Now, I'd like you to share with me, this morning you asked me two questions. 00:01:02.719 --> 00:01:04.620 I'd like to ask you one question. 00:01:05.420 --> 00:01:05.959 Is that okay? 00:01:05.959 --> 00:01:06.060 Okay. 00:01:08.259 --> 00:01:17.640 I am visiting, and I'm driving around, and I see this building, and on the board you have 00:01:17.640 --> 00:01:18.939 Christ Church. 00:01:20.000 --> 00:01:21.879 And I'd love to come and worship with you. 00:01:21.879 --> 00:01:28.739 So give me three things you do that will encourage me to come and be part of this worship experience. 00:01:29.439 --> 00:01:30.340 Remember, I'm visiting. 00:01:32.179 --> 00:01:42.179 Three things you do, or you are, that will encourage me to be part of this fellowship. 00:01:42.379 --> 00:01:43.000 Here we go. 00:01:44.039 --> 00:01:46.000 A warm welcome. 00:01:46.000 --> 00:01:50.299 And what does that mean, a warm welcome in Christ Church? 00:01:53.000 --> 00:01:53.840 Good coffee. 00:01:55.780 --> 00:01:57.620 Good coffee. 00:01:58.000 --> 00:01:58.340 Fine. 00:01:59.159 --> 00:02:01.879 There is something to take in, yes? 00:02:02.700 --> 00:02:04.659 Good coffee in terms of welcome. 00:02:04.780 --> 00:02:07.819 Anything else in terms of good welcome, wonderful welcome? 00:02:07.960 --> 00:02:09.520 Say that again. 00:02:09.759 --> 00:02:10.620 Friendly faces. 00:02:10.620 --> 00:02:13.680 Friendly faces are being part of the welcome. 00:02:16.740 --> 00:02:23.080 We want to know you as we welcome you into the community. 00:02:24.780 --> 00:02:26.900 A smile greets us. 00:02:27.520 --> 00:02:30.939 I got it this morning as I was parking the car. 00:02:32.000 --> 00:02:32.620 That's number one. 00:02:32.680 --> 00:02:32.960 Welcome. 00:02:33.400 --> 00:02:34.219 We haven't finished yet. 00:02:34.319 --> 00:02:34.879 Number two. 00:02:38.719 --> 00:02:39.840 Home groups. 00:02:40.620 --> 00:02:45.120 Can you say what that means to Christ Church? 00:02:45.200 --> 00:02:45.879 Home groups. 00:02:48.460 --> 00:02:50.520 Small groups of fellowship. 00:02:51.520 --> 00:02:53.180 And talking about Jesus. 00:02:53.379 --> 00:03:01.900 So there is fellowship within, which inhabits small groups scattered across the church, the community. 00:03:02.659 --> 00:03:03.680 Are we there so far, yeah? 00:03:04.340 --> 00:03:06.620 So as soon as I come, you say welcome. 00:03:06.620 --> 00:03:16.520 And as I get going into the church, immediately the possibility of joining a small group is available. 00:03:17.520 --> 00:03:18.520 Am I getting it right? 00:03:20.120 --> 00:03:21.379 Am I getting it right? 00:03:22.580 --> 00:03:23.840 Oh, I'm not hearing you. 00:03:25.620 --> 00:03:26.980 Nevertheless, number three. 00:03:26.979 --> 00:03:29.259 We get a good welcome. 00:03:29.259 --> 00:03:30.739 We have small groups. 00:03:30.840 --> 00:03:31.739 And number three is? 00:03:32.239 --> 00:03:35.099 Loving our community and joining in with the work of God. 00:03:36.099 --> 00:03:44.879 Joining our community and joining in wherever God is working. 00:03:44.879 --> 00:03:48.120 I can see social witness here. 00:03:48.219 --> 00:03:50.180 I can see outreach here. 00:03:50.280 --> 00:03:52.519 I can see attending to the community. 00:03:53.000 --> 00:03:57.620 I can see the community attending to us in many ways. 00:03:57.780 --> 00:03:59.139 So is that okay? 00:04:00.060 --> 00:04:01.240 You want me to stay still? 00:04:01.240 --> 00:04:05.740 Because I get welcome. 00:04:06.820 --> 00:04:07.939 I got fellowship. 00:04:09.040 --> 00:04:13.520 And I get something about the community. 00:04:13.520 --> 00:04:15.880 May I ask one more question? 00:04:17.259 --> 00:04:17.740 Yes. 00:04:17.740 --> 00:04:23.660 Someone to come and sit in the room and sit alone and also to one prayer. 00:04:24.420 --> 00:04:27.019 And I think I can't really want to go. 00:04:27.259 --> 00:04:28.660 Like, you're welcome. 00:04:29.360 --> 00:04:30.379 But I don't know. 00:04:30.379 --> 00:04:31.639 So, you're welcome. 00:04:32.639 --> 00:04:40.360 Oh, as part of the welcome, someone accompanies you to usher you into your seat 00:04:40.360 --> 00:04:44.520 and ensures that you are part of the service. 00:04:45.840 --> 00:04:46.500 That's wonderful. 00:04:48.160 --> 00:04:49.580 You want me to stop there, yeah? 00:04:52.699 --> 00:05:03.620 Now, the significance of Advent is an invitation to prepare the way 00:05:06.400 --> 00:05:09.980 as we attend to the reading that you have listened to this morning. 00:05:10.360 --> 00:05:14.560 But before we do so, that is, attending to the reading, 00:05:15.139 --> 00:05:21.400 I'd like to go briefly to how this Holy Bible, the Scriptures, 00:05:23.340 --> 00:05:26.400 to how it is structured. 00:05:27.960 --> 00:05:33.900 There are four main themes, and I'd like to focus on one as we prepare the way. 00:05:33.899 --> 00:05:42.179 The very first theme of this wonderful book, key theme, 00:05:42.839 --> 00:05:51.419 is the glory of God's creation in its splendor and perfection. 00:05:52.819 --> 00:05:57.919 You find that in Genesis chapters 1 and 2. 00:05:57.920 --> 00:06:06.580 It was good, God said, after every step of the way in the creation process, 00:06:06.699 --> 00:06:08.640 God declares it was good. 00:06:09.660 --> 00:06:13.860 That was Genesis chapters 1 and 2. 00:06:13.860 --> 00:06:24.580 We move on to the second theme in the entire Bible as it is structured and recorded here. 00:06:25.000 --> 00:06:32.740 The second theme is evidence of dysfunctionality in God's creation. 00:06:32.740 --> 00:06:44.120 We have the glorified creation of God in Genesis chapters 1 and 2. 00:06:44.620 --> 00:06:49.759 Then now there is evidence of dysfunctionality in God's creation 00:06:49.759 --> 00:06:55.000 from Genesis chapters 3 to Genesis chapter 11. 00:06:55.000 --> 00:06:59.339 This is a mess there. 00:07:01.139 --> 00:07:02.639 We're killing each other. 00:07:04.579 --> 00:07:08.019 Dysfunctionality of God's creation and God got to a point, 00:07:08.439 --> 00:07:11.779 I wonder, I wonder why I created these people. 00:07:14.680 --> 00:07:20.379 Canculeble, the Tower of Babel, challenging God. 00:07:20.379 --> 00:07:25.420 God said, I'm not having it. 00:07:29.019 --> 00:07:35.540 And that takes us to the third theme of the Scriptures or the Bible as it is structured here. 00:07:36.620 --> 00:07:40.420 It is the momentous intervention. 00:07:40.420 --> 00:07:53.439 The momentous intervention starts or is to be within chapters or the books that I'm going to call 00:07:53.439 --> 00:08:01.420 from Genesis chapter 12, church, to Revelation chapter 20. 00:08:02.400 --> 00:08:03.480 It's all about Advent. 00:08:03.480 --> 00:08:15.520 So the momentous intervention is about God's intervening in the history of humankind, 00:08:15.900 --> 00:08:24.120 in the history of God's creation to redeem that creation from Genesis chapters 3 to 11 00:08:24.120 --> 00:08:26.720 back to Genesis chapters 1 and 2. 00:08:28.040 --> 00:08:30.259 That's why we have Advent. 00:08:32.000 --> 00:08:33.440 God's is a plan. 00:08:33.480 --> 00:08:41.300 In that redemption plan, which is made manifest in the coming of Jesus Christ, 00:08:41.940 --> 00:08:44.100 history was split into two. 00:08:46.980 --> 00:08:50.120 Do you recall this bit? 00:08:50.220 --> 00:08:56.320 That is B.C., the B.C. era, 00:08:56.320 --> 00:09:03.620 and the E.A.D. era, B.C. before Christ, 00:09:05.379 --> 00:09:10.320 and A.D., the time that comes after the year of our Lord, 00:09:10.420 --> 00:09:11.860 the year of Christ's birth, 00:09:12.020 --> 00:09:19.000 or the years or the era that follow birth of Christ, 00:09:19.780 --> 00:09:21.480 ministry of Christ, 00:09:21.480 --> 00:09:22.779 Christ, the cross, 00:09:22.779 --> 00:09:22.800 the cross, 00:09:22.800 --> 00:09:24.700 the ascension, 00:09:26.300 --> 00:09:28.460 history was split into two 00:09:28.460 --> 00:09:34.539 as a result of the momentous intervention of God. 00:09:34.539 --> 00:09:37.219 In the fullness of time, Galatians says, 00:09:37.419 --> 00:09:40.659 God sent his son, born of a woman. 00:09:41.059 --> 00:09:41.360 Why? 00:09:41.899 --> 00:09:46.639 There was a mission to redeem the world from, 00:09:47.399 --> 00:09:49.419 I know it's difficult to remember for some of us, 00:09:49.819 --> 00:09:54.360 Genesis chapters 3 to 11, 00:09:54.360 --> 00:10:00.500 back to Genesis chapters 1 and 2, 00:10:00.879 --> 00:10:09.180 or looking forward to Revelation chapters 21 and 22. 00:10:12.680 --> 00:10:14.320 In the fourth, 00:10:15.320 --> 00:10:20.300 the fourth theme is God's creation, 00:10:20.299 --> 00:10:25.279 the glorified nature of God's creation 00:10:25.279 --> 00:10:27.579 is fulfilled through Christ. 00:10:27.939 --> 00:10:31.979 Because in Revelation from chapter 21 onward, 00:10:32.259 --> 00:10:33.519 there was a new creation. 00:10:33.979 --> 00:10:35.219 There was a new earth. 00:10:35.419 --> 00:10:36.539 There is a new heaven. 00:10:37.120 --> 00:10:39.039 The old have passed away, 00:10:39.299 --> 00:10:40.959 and behold, all has become new. 00:10:41.419 --> 00:10:43.159 The momentous intervention 00:10:43.159 --> 00:10:47.279 has recreated the world in Christ, 00:10:47.279 --> 00:10:49.639 by Christ, for Christ. 00:10:50.299 --> 00:10:51.120 And through Christ. 00:10:54.039 --> 00:10:54.639 Now, 00:10:55.740 --> 00:10:57.500 I invite you to reflect on 00:10:57.500 --> 00:11:01.879 your life BC. 00:11:03.120 --> 00:11:03.699 In other words, 00:11:03.959 --> 00:11:05.459 before Christ came, 00:11:05.879 --> 00:11:07.419 before the birth of Christ, 00:11:07.539 --> 00:11:09.019 what kind of life did you have? 00:11:09.399 --> 00:11:09.759 Or, 00:11:09.919 --> 00:11:12.719 before the birth of Christ in your own life, 00:11:13.219 --> 00:11:14.779 what life did you have? 00:11:16.059 --> 00:11:17.059 And now, 00:11:17.299 --> 00:11:19.979 I want you to reflect on the life AD, 00:11:20.299 --> 00:11:21.839 you have after Christ. 00:11:22.179 --> 00:11:23.620 The world has changed. 00:11:24.899 --> 00:11:26.019 Are you changing? 00:11:26.839 --> 00:11:28.620 Because you have met, 00:11:29.620 --> 00:11:30.240 encountered, 00:11:31.059 --> 00:11:32.839 received the gospel of truth. 00:11:32.840 --> 00:11:39.519 So God is saying to you and to me, 00:11:41.320 --> 00:11:43.840 the monotonous reality of life in terms of, 00:11:44.160 --> 00:11:44.560 by the way, 00:11:44.620 --> 00:11:46.720 can you help me remembering, 00:11:47.160 --> 00:11:49.340 to remember the different seasons of the year? 00:11:51.720 --> 00:11:53.120 What season are we in? 00:11:53.120 --> 00:11:55.500 And what follows? 00:11:55.500 --> 00:11:55.600 And? 00:11:56.659 --> 00:11:57.060 And? 00:12:00.659 --> 00:12:01.600 You sure, yeah? 00:12:03.139 --> 00:12:04.500 But I learned in England, 00:12:04.639 --> 00:12:06.220 you can't have all four in one day. 00:12:08.720 --> 00:12:09.220 Yeah. 00:12:09.220 --> 00:12:13.440 I want you to realize what's going on here. 00:12:13.759 --> 00:12:15.820 We have all the four seasons, 00:12:16.019 --> 00:12:16.720 every year, 00:12:16.800 --> 00:12:17.660 we don't miss anyone. 00:12:17.899 --> 00:12:19.379 Life will be just boring, 00:12:20.180 --> 00:12:21.080 monotonous, 00:12:21.399 --> 00:12:23.340 without God's intervention. 00:12:23.879 --> 00:12:23.980 So, 00:12:24.160 --> 00:12:24.680 that is, 00:12:25.060 --> 00:12:26.660 the chronos of time 00:12:26.660 --> 00:12:28.440 means little 00:12:28.440 --> 00:12:30.540 until God intervenes 00:12:30.540 --> 00:12:31.440 in terms of 00:12:31.440 --> 00:12:32.100 kairos, 00:12:32.100 --> 00:12:35.200 k-a-i-r-o-s. 00:12:35.500 --> 00:12:36.940 In the Greek terminology, 00:12:37.240 --> 00:12:37.600 it means 00:12:37.600 --> 00:12:39.440 God's appointed time, 00:12:39.860 --> 00:12:40.879 God's own time 00:12:40.879 --> 00:12:41.720 to do something. 00:12:42.320 --> 00:12:42.480 So, 00:12:42.659 --> 00:12:44.720 at the chaotic moment of life, 00:12:44.960 --> 00:12:46.519 in the fullness of time, 00:12:46.960 --> 00:12:48.639 God sent his son. 00:12:49.019 --> 00:12:49.759 And that's 00:12:49.759 --> 00:12:51.500 the momentous intervention 00:12:51.500 --> 00:12:52.620 in the world. 00:12:54.560 --> 00:12:56.060 That momentous intervention 00:12:56.060 --> 00:12:56.899 unites 00:12:56.899 --> 00:12:58.440 humanity, 00:12:58.779 --> 00:13:00.160 creation to God 00:13:00.159 --> 00:13:02.199 in Christ, 00:13:02.919 --> 00:13:03.459 in the power 00:13:03.459 --> 00:13:04.299 of the Holy Spirit. 00:13:07.659 --> 00:13:09.620 But let's move forward a bit 00:13:09.620 --> 00:13:12.740 because I'd like to stay 00:13:12.740 --> 00:13:13.679 at 00:13:13.679 --> 00:13:14.980 point 00:13:14.980 --> 00:13:16.559 theme number three. 00:13:18.439 --> 00:13:18.719 So, 00:13:18.939 --> 00:13:19.259 God, 00:13:19.399 --> 00:13:21.539 according to the momentous intervention, 00:13:21.899 --> 00:13:23.199 had been preparing 00:13:23.199 --> 00:13:24.299 the way 00:13:24.299 --> 00:13:27.559 in 00:13:27.559 --> 00:13:28.980 his son, 00:13:28.980 --> 00:13:30.240 or God's son, 00:13:30.460 --> 00:13:30.920 being 00:13:30.920 --> 00:13:32.759 the way, 00:13:33.000 --> 00:13:33.379 the truth, 00:13:33.440 --> 00:13:33.980 and the life. 00:13:35.340 --> 00:13:35.560 So, 00:13:35.659 --> 00:13:36.139 long before 00:13:36.139 --> 00:13:37.039 John the Baptist 00:13:37.039 --> 00:13:38.879 was the voice 00:13:38.879 --> 00:13:39.560 in the wilderness 00:13:39.560 --> 00:13:40.420 crying out, 00:13:40.539 --> 00:13:41.519 preparing the way, 00:13:43.820 --> 00:13:44.440 God 00:13:44.440 --> 00:13:45.759 had already 00:13:45.759 --> 00:13:46.600 prepared the way 00:13:46.600 --> 00:13:47.720 in Jesus Christ. 00:13:49.659 --> 00:13:50.560 You find that 00:13:50.560 --> 00:13:51.019 in Genesis 00:13:51.019 --> 00:13:51.860 chapter 3, 00:13:51.899 --> 00:13:52.539 verse 15. 00:13:54.440 --> 00:13:55.139 While the mess 00:13:55.139 --> 00:13:55.879 was going on, 00:13:55.940 --> 00:13:56.300 God said, 00:13:56.639 --> 00:13:57.480 I have a plan 00:13:57.480 --> 00:13:58.680 to redeem humanity, 00:13:58.679 --> 00:13:59.819 to redeem creation, 00:14:00.120 --> 00:14:00.879 to redeem my 00:14:00.879 --> 00:14:02.379 beloved glorified world. 00:14:06.539 --> 00:14:07.139 So, 00:14:08.139 --> 00:14:11.139 if God has had a plan, 00:14:12.699 --> 00:14:14.519 and God's plan is about 00:14:14.519 --> 00:14:15.679 prosperity, 00:14:16.379 --> 00:14:16.799 redemption, 00:14:17.379 --> 00:14:17.919 salvation, 00:14:18.419 --> 00:14:19.859 and that plan, 00:14:20.199 --> 00:14:21.559 let's travel with me, 00:14:21.879 --> 00:14:23.359 takes me to a second 00:14:23.359 --> 00:14:24.519 point I want you to focus 00:14:24.519 --> 00:14:24.840 with, 00:14:25.500 --> 00:14:27.199 to focus on with me, 00:14:28.139 --> 00:14:29.519 it's defining 00:14:29.519 --> 00:14:30.899 moment. 00:14:31.720 --> 00:14:31.939 Wait, 00:14:32.059 --> 00:14:32.899 let's look at it 00:14:32.899 --> 00:14:33.240 differently. 00:14:33.579 --> 00:14:34.539 If you're moving 00:14:34.539 --> 00:14:36.279 from the momentous 00:14:36.279 --> 00:14:37.120 intervention, 00:14:37.379 --> 00:14:38.480 that is too big 00:14:38.480 --> 00:14:38.840 for me, 00:14:38.899 --> 00:14:39.039 Mark, 00:14:39.039 --> 00:14:40.120 break it down. 00:14:40.340 --> 00:14:40.480 I say, 00:14:40.559 --> 00:14:40.699 okay, 00:14:40.779 --> 00:14:41.259 you want me to 00:14:41.259 --> 00:14:41.860 break it down? 00:14:42.579 --> 00:14:44.379 Every time God 00:14:44.379 --> 00:14:45.699 comes to you 00:14:45.699 --> 00:14:47.379 in your times 00:14:47.379 --> 00:14:48.319 of needs 00:14:48.319 --> 00:14:49.179 and concerns 00:14:49.179 --> 00:14:50.879 and frustrations, 00:14:51.979 --> 00:14:53.000 you're experiencing 00:14:53.000 --> 00:14:55.120 a defining moment. 00:14:55.539 --> 00:14:56.559 Jesus comes. 00:14:58.099 --> 00:14:59.239 It's not just 00:14:59.239 --> 00:15:00.319 Christ had come. 00:15:00.939 --> 00:15:02.059 Jesus comes. 00:15:02.339 --> 00:15:03.519 He comes now 00:15:03.519 --> 00:15:04.319 to those 00:15:04.319 --> 00:15:05.259 who are suffering. 00:15:05.259 --> 00:15:09.919 and his 00:15:09.919 --> 00:15:10.559 intervention, 00:15:10.779 --> 00:15:10.980 I mean, 00:15:11.059 --> 00:15:12.200 Jesus' intervention 00:15:12.200 --> 00:15:13.639 in our suffering, 00:15:13.879 --> 00:15:14.879 in our frustration, 00:15:15.860 --> 00:15:16.480 is 00:15:16.480 --> 00:15:18.840 a defining 00:15:18.840 --> 00:15:19.500 moment, 00:15:20.159 --> 00:15:21.039 which is a 00:15:21.039 --> 00:15:21.860 moment 00:15:21.860 --> 00:15:23.620 you claim 00:15:23.620 --> 00:15:24.340 or God 00:15:24.340 --> 00:15:25.319 makes real 00:15:25.319 --> 00:15:26.059 to you 00:15:26.059 --> 00:15:26.779 in the 00:15:26.779 --> 00:15:27.799 momentous 00:15:27.799 --> 00:15:29.600 intervention. 00:15:35.259 --> 00:15:36.039 at creation, 00:15:36.240 --> 00:15:36.960 we had a moment 00:15:36.960 --> 00:15:37.919 of orientation. 00:15:40.659 --> 00:15:42.200 When this creation 00:15:42.200 --> 00:15:42.879 was infected 00:15:42.879 --> 00:15:43.460 by sin, 00:15:43.580 --> 00:15:44.419 we had a moment 00:15:44.419 --> 00:15:46.279 of disorientation. 00:15:46.919 --> 00:15:48.000 And this current 00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:48.639 moment with 00:15:48.639 --> 00:15:49.419 Advent, 00:15:49.779 --> 00:15:50.960 Christ is ushering 00:15:50.960 --> 00:15:51.399 a moment 00:15:51.399 --> 00:15:52.919 of reorientation 00:15:52.919 --> 00:15:53.720 to this world 00:15:53.720 --> 00:15:55.340 and that moment 00:15:55.340 --> 00:15:57.360 of reorientation, 00:15:57.679 --> 00:15:59.080 that new moment 00:15:59.080 --> 00:16:00.460 of Advent 00:16:00.460 --> 00:16:02.740 is being 00:16:02.740 --> 00:16:03.500 made real, 00:16:04.000 --> 00:16:04.960 is being made 00:16:04.960 --> 00:16:06.200 real to you 00:16:06.200 --> 00:16:07.860 in your concerns 00:16:07.860 --> 00:16:09.320 about how 00:16:09.320 --> 00:16:09.900 to live. 00:16:10.259 --> 00:16:10.660 Let's 00:16:10.660 --> 00:16:11.780 get some 00:16:11.780 --> 00:16:12.300 examples 00:16:12.300 --> 00:16:13.040 across. 00:16:14.180 --> 00:16:14.820 Do you recall 00:16:14.820 --> 00:16:15.540 when you first 00:16:15.540 --> 00:16:16.280 met the Lord? 00:16:19.240 --> 00:16:20.019 Do you recall 00:16:20.019 --> 00:16:20.259 that? 00:16:22.940 --> 00:16:23.460 Oh, 00:16:23.639 --> 00:16:24.060 have you ever 00:16:24.060 --> 00:16:25.700 met the Lord? 00:16:28.960 --> 00:16:29.740 That was 00:16:29.740 --> 00:16:30.259 a defining 00:16:30.259 --> 00:16:30.720 moment. 00:16:31.800 --> 00:16:32.340 Christ didn't 00:16:32.340 --> 00:16:32.980 just come, 00:16:33.080 --> 00:16:33.360 okay, 00:16:33.460 --> 00:16:34.000 he's come 00:16:34.000 --> 00:16:34.460 for the 00:16:34.460 --> 00:16:34.920 Chinese. 00:16:35.060 --> 00:16:35.480 He's come 00:16:35.480 --> 00:16:35.840 for the 00:16:35.840 --> 00:16:36.259 Americans. 00:16:36.580 --> 00:16:37.000 He's come 00:16:37.000 --> 00:16:37.300 for the 00:16:37.300 --> 00:16:37.740 Europeans. 00:16:38.040 --> 00:16:38.480 He's come 00:16:38.480 --> 00:16:39.180 for you 00:16:39.180 --> 00:16:39.879 individually. 00:16:40.259 --> 00:16:40.600 And that 00:16:40.600 --> 00:16:41.420 is the 00:16:41.420 --> 00:16:42.780 momentous 00:16:42.780 --> 00:16:43.860 intervention 00:16:43.860 --> 00:16:44.900 becoming 00:16:44.900 --> 00:16:46.379 your individual 00:16:46.379 --> 00:16:47.560 reality when 00:16:47.560 --> 00:16:48.200 Jesus Christ 00:16:48.200 --> 00:16:48.940 comes into 00:16:48.940 --> 00:16:49.560 your life 00:16:49.560 --> 00:16:50.139 and says, 00:16:50.280 --> 00:16:50.980 there is room 00:16:50.980 --> 00:16:51.620 in my heart 00:16:51.620 --> 00:16:52.019 for you, 00:16:52.120 --> 00:16:52.500 Lord. 00:16:53.460 --> 00:16:54.060 That's a 00:16:54.060 --> 00:16:54.820 defining moment 00:16:54.820 --> 00:16:55.300 for you. 00:16:55.960 --> 00:16:56.780 When I became 00:16:56.780 --> 00:16:57.400 a child of 00:16:57.400 --> 00:16:57.780 God, 00:16:58.220 --> 00:16:59.080 I would have 00:16:59.080 --> 00:16:59.580 been quite 00:16:59.580 --> 00:17:00.000 young, 00:17:00.120 --> 00:17:00.460 14. 00:17:00.460 --> 00:17:01.420 I never 00:17:01.420 --> 00:17:04.019 looked back. 00:17:04.019 --> 00:17:05.700 that was a 00:17:05.700 --> 00:17:06.400 defining moment 00:17:06.400 --> 00:17:07.220 in my life. 00:17:09.220 --> 00:17:10.240 When I had a 00:17:10.240 --> 00:17:11.059 critical accident, 00:17:11.599 --> 00:17:12.639 having studied 00:17:12.639 --> 00:17:14.279 quite well as a 00:17:14.279 --> 00:17:14.779 young man, 00:17:14.920 --> 00:17:15.740 24, 00:17:17.119 --> 00:17:17.619 25, 00:17:18.019 --> 00:17:18.660 moving on, 00:17:18.740 --> 00:17:19.200 I had a 00:17:19.200 --> 00:17:19.960 critical accident. 00:17:20.299 --> 00:17:21.039 I love riding 00:17:21.039 --> 00:17:22.039 back in those 00:17:22.039 --> 00:17:22.879 old good days 00:17:22.879 --> 00:17:23.339 as a young 00:17:23.339 --> 00:17:23.599 man. 00:17:23.879 --> 00:17:24.319 I had a 00:17:24.319 --> 00:17:25.059 critical accident 00:17:25.059 --> 00:17:25.400 as a 00:17:25.400 --> 00:17:25.879 Methodist 00:17:25.879 --> 00:17:27.019 local preacher. 00:17:27.019 --> 00:17:31.480 and the 00:17:31.480 --> 00:17:32.339 message was 00:17:32.339 --> 00:17:32.819 clear. 00:17:34.019 --> 00:17:34.559 When are 00:17:34.559 --> 00:17:34.960 you going 00:17:34.960 --> 00:17:35.740 to stand 00:17:35.740 --> 00:17:36.220 in the 00:17:36.220 --> 00:17:36.839 pulpit and 00:17:36.839 --> 00:17:37.279 preach my 00:17:37.279 --> 00:17:38.079 word and 00:17:38.079 --> 00:17:38.460 be a 00:17:38.460 --> 00:17:38.740 missionary? 00:17:39.519 --> 00:17:40.019 I didn't 00:17:40.019 --> 00:17:40.619 understand. 00:17:41.039 --> 00:17:41.500 In that 00:17:41.500 --> 00:17:42.420 critical and 00:17:42.420 --> 00:17:43.200 terrible accident, 00:17:43.579 --> 00:17:44.240 there was a 00:17:44.240 --> 00:17:45.019 defining moment. 00:17:45.160 --> 00:17:45.900 Christ came 00:17:45.900 --> 00:17:46.539 and rescued 00:17:46.539 --> 00:17:46.839 me. 00:17:49.339 --> 00:17:49.980 Have you 00:17:49.980 --> 00:17:50.559 ever had a 00:17:50.559 --> 00:17:50.940 defining 00:17:50.940 --> 00:17:51.559 moment, 00:17:51.559 --> 00:17:55.519 an occasion 00:17:55.519 --> 00:17:56.679 when your 00:17:56.679 --> 00:17:57.500 life has 00:17:57.500 --> 00:17:58.079 changed 00:17:58.079 --> 00:17:58.799 forever? 00:17:59.919 --> 00:18:00.619 Take a 00:18:00.619 --> 00:18:01.279 moment to 00:18:01.279 --> 00:18:02.359 remember. 00:18:04.259 --> 00:18:04.720 And that 00:18:04.720 --> 00:18:05.399 defining 00:18:05.399 --> 00:18:06.319 moment 00:18:06.319 --> 00:18:08.099 is an 00:18:08.099 --> 00:18:08.639 element 00:18:08.639 --> 00:18:12.099 in terms 00:18:12.099 --> 00:18:13.599 of God's 00:18:13.599 --> 00:18:15.259 momentous 00:18:15.259 --> 00:18:16.480 intervention 00:18:16.480 --> 00:18:17.480 cascades 00:18:17.480 --> 00:18:18.220 into your 00:18:18.220 --> 00:18:19.259 little world, 00:18:19.599 --> 00:18:20.139 my little 00:18:20.139 --> 00:18:20.899 world. 00:18:21.559 --> 00:18:25.279 Mary 00:18:25.279 --> 00:18:25.940 Magdalene 00:18:25.940 --> 00:18:26.619 approached 00:18:26.619 --> 00:18:27.099 the tomb. 00:18:28.200 --> 00:18:28.720 All that 00:18:28.720 --> 00:18:29.480 she knew 00:18:29.480 --> 00:18:31.179 became of 00:18:31.179 --> 00:18:31.579 a different 00:18:31.579 --> 00:18:32.419 reality when 00:18:32.419 --> 00:18:32.980 Jesus Christ 00:18:32.980 --> 00:18:33.240 said, 00:18:33.319 --> 00:18:33.559 woman, 00:18:33.859 --> 00:18:34.200 whom are 00:18:34.200 --> 00:18:34.519 you looking 00:18:34.519 --> 00:18:34.960 for? 00:18:35.119 --> 00:18:35.500 She said, 00:18:35.539 --> 00:18:35.940 I'm looking 00:18:35.940 --> 00:18:36.440 for Jesus 00:18:36.440 --> 00:18:37.179 of Nazareth. 00:18:37.839 --> 00:18:38.220 You and 00:18:38.220 --> 00:18:38.799 the gardener, 00:18:38.839 --> 00:18:39.200 where have 00:18:39.200 --> 00:18:39.539 you put 00:18:39.539 --> 00:18:39.799 him? 00:18:41.319 --> 00:18:41.659 And what 00:18:41.659 --> 00:18:42.000 did Jesus 00:18:42.000 --> 00:18:42.379 say? 00:18:43.639 --> 00:18:44.619 He moved 00:18:44.619 --> 00:18:45.319 from woman 00:18:45.319 --> 00:18:46.440 to Mary. 00:18:47.399 --> 00:18:48.159 That was 00:18:48.159 --> 00:18:48.659 a defining 00:18:48.659 --> 00:18:50.379 moment in 00:18:50.379 --> 00:18:50.779 Mary's 00:18:50.779 --> 00:18:51.220 life. 00:18:51.220 --> 00:18:51.819 from that 00:18:51.819 --> 00:18:52.220 time, 00:18:52.299 --> 00:18:52.500 Mary 00:18:52.500 --> 00:18:52.880 couldn't 00:18:52.880 --> 00:18:53.680 be held 00:18:53.680 --> 00:18:54.339 back. 00:18:57.339 --> 00:18:57.940 Even the 00:18:57.940 --> 00:18:58.559 great Peter 00:18:58.559 --> 00:18:59.000 and John 00:18:59.000 --> 00:18:59.319 couldn't 00:18:59.319 --> 00:18:59.839 believe that 00:18:59.839 --> 00:19:00.140 woman. 00:19:02.600 --> 00:19:03.279 Have you 00:19:03.279 --> 00:19:03.819 ever had 00:19:03.819 --> 00:19:06.460 a defining 00:19:06.460 --> 00:19:06.920 moment? 00:19:08.279 --> 00:19:08.880 Maybe 00:19:08.880 --> 00:19:09.740 defining 00:19:09.740 --> 00:19:10.400 moment in 00:19:10.400 --> 00:19:10.819 terms of 00:19:10.819 --> 00:19:11.160 healing. 00:19:12.460 --> 00:19:12.920 Defining 00:19:12.920 --> 00:19:13.440 moment in 00:19:13.440 --> 00:19:13.779 terms of 00:19:13.779 --> 00:19:14.140 a new 00:19:14.140 --> 00:19:14.720 start. 00:19:15.920 --> 00:19:16.380 Defining 00:19:16.380 --> 00:19:17.279 moment in 00:19:17.279 --> 00:19:17.920 terms of 00:19:17.920 --> 00:19:18.680 this church 00:19:18.680 --> 00:19:19.299 being what 00:19:19.299 --> 00:19:19.639 it is 00:19:19.639 --> 00:19:20.019 today. 00:19:20.159 --> 00:19:20.240 There 00:19:20.240 --> 00:19:20.619 was a 00:19:20.619 --> 00:19:21.399 time you 00:19:21.399 --> 00:19:21.740 were not 00:19:21.740 --> 00:19:22.119 what you 00:19:22.119 --> 00:19:22.419 are. 00:19:22.680 --> 00:19:23.119 There have 00:19:23.119 --> 00:19:23.839 been defining 00:19:23.839 --> 00:19:24.680 moments in 00:19:24.680 --> 00:19:25.159 this church. 00:19:25.299 --> 00:19:25.779 And again, 00:19:25.859 --> 00:19:26.299 I repeat, 00:19:26.720 --> 00:19:28.099 every defining 00:19:28.099 --> 00:19:29.539 moment is 00:19:29.539 --> 00:19:30.759 Advent coming 00:19:30.759 --> 00:19:31.519 to you in 00:19:31.519 --> 00:19:32.000 Christ. 00:19:33.000 --> 00:19:33.619 It's Christ 00:19:33.619 --> 00:19:34.519 being born in 00:19:34.519 --> 00:19:34.720 you. 00:19:34.980 --> 00:19:35.779 We encounter 00:19:35.779 --> 00:19:37.059 Christ in 00:19:37.059 --> 00:19:39.059 small measures 00:19:39.059 --> 00:19:40.740 as we say 00:19:40.740 --> 00:19:41.359 to him. 00:19:41.359 --> 00:19:41.440 Amen. 00:19:41.440 --> 00:19:41.460 Amen. 00:19:41.460 --> 00:19:41.480 Amen. 00:19:41.480 --> 00:19:41.519 Amen. 00:19:41.519 --> 00:19:41.559 Amen. 00:19:41.559 --> 00:19:41.579 Amen. 00:19:41.579 --> 00:19:41.639 Amen. 00:19:41.639 --> 00:19:41.680 Amen. 00:19:41.680 --> 00:19:41.700 Amen. 00:19:41.700 --> 00:19:41.720 Amen. 00:19:41.720 --> 00:19:41.740 Amen. 00:19:41.740 --> 00:19:41.759 Amen. 00:19:41.759 --> 00:19:41.779 Amen. 00:19:41.779 --> 00:19:42.519 Amen. 00:19:42.519 --> 00:19:42.559 Amen. 00:19:42.559 --> 00:19:42.639 Amen. 00:19:42.639 --> 00:19:43.480 Amen. 00:19:43.480 --> 00:19:44.480 Amen. 00:19:44.480 --> 00:19:44.559 Amen. 00:19:44.559 --> 00:19:45.559 Amen. 00:19:45.559 --> 00:19:46.559 Amen. 00:19:46.559 --> 00:19:46.599 Amen. 00:19:46.599 --> 00:19:46.619 Amen. 00:19:46.619 --> 00:19:47.559 Amen. 00:19:47.559 --> 00:19:49.519 Amen. 00:19:49.519 --> 00:19:49.940 Amen. 00:19:49.940 --> 00:19:49.980 Amen. 00:19:49.980 --> 00:19:50.099 Amen. 00:19:50.200 --> 00:19:51.279 Amen. 00:19:52.579 --> 00:19:53.460 Amen. 00:19:53.460 --> 00:19:53.740 Amen. 00:19:53.740 --> 00:19:55.179 Amen. 00:19:55.179 --> 00:19:55.399 Amen. 00:19:55.399 --> 00:19:55.599 Amen. 00:19:55.599 --> 00:19:56.839 Amen. 00:19:56.839 --> 00:19:57.539 Amen. 00:19:59.539 --> 00:20:00.659 Amen. 00:20:00.659 --> 00:20:01.079 Amen. 00:20:01.079 --> 00:20:01.539 Amen. 00:20:01.539 --> 00:20:03.079 Amen. 00:20:03.079 --> 00:20:03.539 Amen. 00:20:03.639 --> 00:20:03.700 Amen. 00:20:03.980 --> 00:20:05.119 Amen. 00:20:05.119 --> 00:20:06.679 Amen. 00:20:07.440 --> 00:20:08.039 Amen. 00:20:08.039 --> 00:20:09.039 Amen. 00:20:09.159 --> 00:20:09.359 Amen. 00:20:09.359 --> 00:20:09.519 Amen. 00:20:09.619 --> 00:20:09.639 Amen. 00:20:09.639 --> 00:20:10.319 Amen. 00:20:10.319 --> 00:20:10.639 Amen. 00:20:10.679 --> 00:20:12.079 Amen. 00:20:12.700 --> 00:20:14.960 Amen. 00:20:14.980 --> 00:20:15.779 Amen. 00:20:15.779 --> 00:20:16.879 Amen. 00:20:16.879 --> 00:20:17.539 Amen. 00:20:17.539 --> 00:20:28.000 we prepare our way to meet the Lord, to welcome him into our hearts, I want you to remember 00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:42.240 something. As Advent people, we are called to be adventurous. Now let's start from the 00:20:42.240 --> 00:20:52.559 beginning. There is a momentous intervention, all right? It's all over the world. But God has tailored, 00:20:53.039 --> 00:21:01.720 customized that momentous orientation to my own world, is mine when I experience a very significant 00:21:01.720 --> 00:21:09.339 moment in my life. Having received that, having been an Advent person or Advent people that we are, 00:21:09.339 --> 00:21:16.459 God is saying, I'm not having you sitting here in Christ's church, you know. You must be adventurous. 00:21:17.839 --> 00:21:23.899 Oh. If you look at what John the Baptist did, 00:21:25.039 --> 00:21:34.139 if you continue to read, his job was to prepare the way. So we are now replacing John the Baptist 00:21:34.140 --> 00:21:41.040 to enable the current community to prepare the way for the second coming of Christ. We have a, 00:21:41.300 --> 00:21:51.660 our job is well, well outlined. I ask you from the beginning, at the beginning rather, 00:21:52.620 --> 00:21:59.320 give me three things that you do well in this church. Would you like to believe this is part 00:21:59.319 --> 00:22:06.599 of your adventure? It's not easy to welcome someone. You don't know what the person has come for. 00:22:07.480 --> 00:22:12.419 You don't know what is driving this person. You don't know whether if you say good morning, 00:22:12.519 --> 00:22:18.339 the person will say, good morning. Or you don't know. It's an adventure there. 00:22:18.339 --> 00:22:25.359 In some cases, if you say to someone, where are you from, the person takes it the wrong way, 00:22:25.599 --> 00:22:28.459 then you're in trouble. Are you with me? 00:22:31.039 --> 00:22:38.519 You smile, and the person should smile. But the person doesn't smile because the person is going 00:22:38.519 --> 00:22:47.439 through a turmoil. Inside of that person, there is a war. He comes, she comes, they come to church, 00:22:47.440 --> 00:22:54.799 they can't sing, because the moment of disorientation is real. They come to see, 00:22:55.400 --> 00:23:02.640 to experience an advent. Sometimes the welcome process can take time. Be patient with one another. 00:23:07.980 --> 00:23:15.420 And you mentioned our fellowships and your work in the community. But I'd like you to remember this 00:23:15.420 --> 00:23:23.240 as I end, because I need to end, yeah? Is that okay? Because otherwise you will not have me back. 00:23:23.380 --> 00:23:31.880 It's all right. But I need to end by reminding you that God has you, has all of us here as advent 00:23:31.880 --> 00:23:38.960 people to be adventurous in this world. Let the sick find comfort and care within the context of the 00:23:38.960 --> 00:23:43.279 church. Let those who are seeking justice, let those who are seeking justice find it 00:23:43.279 --> 00:23:54.380 within our fellowship, within our adventurous initiatives. Let those who are in need of peace 00:23:54.380 --> 00:23:57.779 find us as channels of peace. 00:23:57.779 --> 00:24:09.399 But you know, some of us, we do not want to experience the adventure of advent. 00:24:13.740 --> 00:24:17.720 When God said to Moses, I'm going to send you back to Egypt, 00:24:19.319 --> 00:24:25.720 you're going to be there at vent. Be adventurous among your people. Redeem them. Bring them out of 00:24:25.720 --> 00:24:33.940 Egypt. What did Moses say? I don't speak too well, you know. I don't think I'm the right person. 00:24:34.779 --> 00:24:39.220 God said, I'm not having it, Moses. I'll give you a one. You go in anyhow. 00:24:42.420 --> 00:24:50.500 In terms of Isaiah, Isaiah had a message to be adventurous. In the temple, a glorious temple like 00:24:50.500 --> 00:24:58.000 yours, he saw what he couldn't believe. God seated on the throne. Things were majestic. 00:24:59.920 --> 00:25:06.480 And all of a sudden, you know what he said? Oh, I sit among people whose lips are unclean. I myself, 00:25:06.599 --> 00:25:11.400 my lips are unclean. In other words, I'm not going anywhere with this message. God said, 00:25:11.400 --> 00:25:22.280 I'm not having it, it's Isaiah. God used a cherubim to actually burn the unclipped, to remove, 00:25:22.420 --> 00:25:30.780 to declutter the space that his heart was holding things that were not of him. And all of a sudden, 00:25:30.920 --> 00:25:39.540 the lips, the heart of Isaiah was ready to go. And what did he say? When God, the council of heaven 00:25:39.539 --> 00:25:48.420 said, whom shall I send? What did he say? Here I am, Lord. Send me. At the end of Jesus' ministry, 00:25:49.220 --> 00:25:56.019 he called the disciples in Galilee, said to them, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them 00:25:56.019 --> 00:26:02.420 in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. And behold, I am with you always to 00:26:02.420 --> 00:26:11.019 the end of the age. They all, and Christ ascended. They all stood up there, gazing. An angel of the 00:26:11.019 --> 00:26:16.600 Lord turned up and said, guys, you can't be standing up here gazing. There is work for you in the valley. 00:26:16.720 --> 00:26:26.100 Get going. Sometimes as adventurous people, we need a push. We need Christ to come back again and again 00:26:26.099 --> 00:26:34.059 and again and again to remind us of the significance of Advent. The defining moment we have experienced, 00:26:34.740 --> 00:26:43.240 the adventurous reality we need to engage in. Maybe I'm here to remind you of what you are doing. 00:26:43.919 --> 00:26:51.439 You know what it is. Continue to be adventurous in this community, in this church. 00:26:51.440 --> 00:27:01.799 I, in ending, I remember having heard a preacher give, it's an illustration of someone struggling 00:27:01.799 --> 00:27:11.580 to know what to do because the situation was such that he couldn't see any defining moment and he didn't 00:27:11.580 --> 00:27:21.420 know what to do. He had a small business, it was a hardware business and the business was 00:27:21.420 --> 00:27:27.320 doing well as a church person, a church leader. And all of a sudden, someone from somewhere turned 00:27:27.320 --> 00:27:34.779 up and said, well, I need to buy your business because my future is really shaky unless I have 00:27:34.779 --> 00:27:40.080 something, a private business to go with. But the man said, no, I cannot sell you my business. This is 00:27:40.080 --> 00:27:45.060 my livelihood. He said, I hear what you're saying. He offered as much money as possible. The man said, 00:27:45.059 --> 00:27:58.419 no. So what the rich man did was to buy a property next to that lovely guy, lovely guy's business and 00:27:58.419 --> 00:28:04.859 then he established another hardware there. Sophisticated. You can't buy online. Everything 00:28:04.859 --> 00:28:12.939 was doing well. Three months later, he bought another property next on the right side of that 00:28:12.939 --> 00:28:20.119 building. And imagine what's going on now. The building of the lovely child of God was going down 00:28:20.119 --> 00:28:26.859 and down and down and down. He get to a point where he said, Lord, why am I in this faith? I can't feed 00:28:26.859 --> 00:28:32.299 my children. Things are getting tough. I need a breakthrough right now. I need to hear from you. 00:28:34.759 --> 00:28:42.699 And said, okay, you will experience an Advent moment, a defining moment. And when you experience 00:28:42.699 --> 00:28:50.039 that, be adventurous in your business. You got a revelation from God now. Let me see if I can picture 00:28:50.039 --> 00:28:55.979 it that way. Remember, there is a hardware on the left side, yeah? There is another hardware on the right 00:28:55.980 --> 00:29:02.140 side and all, both of them are doing well. And the lovely man of God, he's at where we're in the middle, 00:29:02.559 --> 00:29:09.819 was in the middle. Things were really a bit dark there. He got a revelation from God to say, 00:29:09.819 --> 00:29:13.880 on top of your building there, put main entrance. 00:29:13.880 --> 00:29:27.140 So over here, he put main entrance and he painted the building, his own building, in the same color 00:29:27.140 --> 00:29:36.280 with the other two. Are you there with me? His defining moment came and he said to the Lord, 00:29:36.279 --> 00:29:43.500 God, now maybe I was a bit stingy with you. I'll give you more of my time, more of my money, 00:29:43.859 --> 00:29:50.200 more of my resources, more of my expertise, more of my knowledge, the riches of God in me. 00:29:50.339 --> 00:29:56.139 I'm prepared to share because I need to be more adventurous. You have established for me 00:29:56.139 --> 00:30:04.899 a defining moment. What was the moment about? Can we say it together? Main entrance, your life, 00:30:04.900 --> 00:30:12.120 may it be the main entrance for Jesus' intervention. Amen.