WEBVTT

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 The scripture reading today is found in Romans 12.

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 Please follow along in your bulletin.

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 I appeal to you, therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God,

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 to present your bodies as a living sacrifice,

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 holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

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 Do not be conformed to this world,

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 but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,

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 that by testing you may discern what is the will of God,

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 what is good and acceptable and perfect.

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 For by the grace given to me, I say to everyone among you,

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 not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think,

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 but to think with sober judgment,

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 each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

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 For us in one body we have many members,

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 and the members do not all have the same function.

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 So we, though many, are one body in Christ

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 and individually members one of another.

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 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us,

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 let us use them.

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 If prophecy in proportion to our faith,

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 if service in our serving,

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 the one who teaches in his teaching,

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 the one who exhorts in his exhortation,

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 the one who contributes in generosity,

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 the one who leads with zeal,

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 the one who does acts of mercy with cheerfulness.

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 Let our love be genuine.

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 Abhor what is evil.

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 Hold fast to what is good.

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 Love one another with brotherly affection.

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 Outdo one another in showing honor.

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 Do not be slothful in zeal.

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 Be fervent in spirit.

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 Serve the Lord.

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 Rejoice in hope.

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 Be patient in tribulation.

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 Be constant in prayer.

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 Contribute to the needs of the saints

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 and seek to show hospitality.

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 Bless those who persecute you.

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 Bless and do not curse them.

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 Rejoice with those who rejoice.

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 Weep with those who weep.

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 Live in harmony with one another.

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 Do not be haughty,

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 but associate with the lowly.

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 Never be wise in your own sight.

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 Repay no one evil for evil,

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 but give thought to do what is honorable

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 in the sight of all.

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 If possible,

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 so far as it depends on you,

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 live peaceably with all.

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 Beloved,

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 never avenge yourselves,

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 but leave it to the wrath of God,

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 for it is written,

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 vengeance is mine,

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 I will repay,

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 says the Lord.

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 To the contrary,

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 if your enemy is hungry,

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 feed him.

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 If he is thirsty,

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 give him something to drink,

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 for by so doing,

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 you will heap burning coals on his head.

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 Do not be overcome by evil,

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 but overcome evil with good.

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 This is the reading of God's word.

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 If you don't know me,

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 my name is Chris.

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 I help oversee the community groups

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 here in Watermark.

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 And it's great to see you all.

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 And we're starting a three-part series,

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 having a short break from the Romans series

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 that we've been doing.

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 But we're going to come back to looking at Romans

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 at the end of the month.

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 But we're going to do a three-part series

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 looking at generosity.

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 Generosity is one of our values,

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 one of the principles that we want to be,

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 as a church,

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 characterized by generosity.

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 And I don't know what you think

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 when you hear that word generosity.

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 Maybe you're thinking,

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 oh no, they're going to ask me to do something.

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 Or, oh no, it's about money again.

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 Or something like that.

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 But over these next three weeks,

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 we want to see that actually

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 the gospel that we've been hearing about

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 in Romans

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 has to flow out into our lives

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 in an extravagant way.

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 which affects every part of our lives.

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 So we're going to look at,

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 today we're going to look at generosity

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 and gifts and talents that God has given us.

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 We're going to look at money

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 and we're going to look at time

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 over the next three weeks.

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 Now if you think about it,

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 generosity isn't just a Christian idea.

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 People in Hong Kong do generosity.

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 But I think in society,

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 there can be a number of different ways

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 that we do generosity.

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 One of the ways I think we can do generosity

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 is we do generosity for show.

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 You know, some very rich people in Hong Kong,

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 they donate money to build hospital buildings

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 and to build university buildings.

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 And then just to show you

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 how incredibly generous they are,

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 they write their name on the building

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 so that you know it was them who gave it.

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 Or what about when people fight for the bill

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 at a restaurant when you're paying?

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 I mean, what's that about?

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 Why?

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 Because we want to be shown to be generous.

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 I want people to see that I'm a generous person.

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 I think another way we can sometimes

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 do generosity in society

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 is we can do it out of guilt.

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 You know, if you're a parent

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 and you haven't spent a lot of time

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 with your kids recently,

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 and to kind of make up for it,

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 what do you do?

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 You buy an expensive present.

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 You have to do a fantastic day out

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 because you feel guilty.

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 And so you've got to be generous out of guilt.

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 Another way we can do it

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 is we can just do it

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 to make ourselves feel good about myself,

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 to prove that I'm okay.

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 Okay, my aunt,

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 she is one of the most sacrificial

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 serving people that I know.

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 She's not a Christian,

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 but she has dedicated the whole of her life

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 to serving people who are handicapped

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 and vulnerable in society.

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 And one day, just a couple of weeks ago,

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 my mom was talking to her.

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 And my mom said to her,

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 okay, how are you going to work

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 on improving your relationship?

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 They had a bad relationship

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 with your neighbors.

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 And my aunt's response was,

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 well, I don't have to

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 because it's their problem.

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 I'm perfect.

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 I have lived a perfect life.

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 You see, all the acts of generosity

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 that had done had made her feel

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 that she was good,

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 that she was okay,

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 that she was worth something in life.

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 Generosity can sometimes

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 be about making ourselves

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 feel good about ourselves.

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 Now, the one thing

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 all those ways have in common is this.

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 They're all about me.

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 They're all about me.

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 And what Paul is going to say

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 as we look into this passage

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 is that Christian generosity

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 has a totally different foundation.

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 So we're going to look at

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 just a few things.

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 We're going to look at

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 the heart of generosity.

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 We're going to look at

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 how grace and this generous gift

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 that God gives us

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 transforms the way we view

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 the gifts and talents we've got.

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 And then we're going to look at

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 how we know what our gifts are

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 and how we use them.

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 Okay, so that's where we're going.

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 We're thinking about generosity,

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 but particularly with gifts

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 and talents.

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 So let's start off

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 looking at the passage.

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 Verse 1 says,

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 I appeal to you, therefore, brothers,

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 by the mercies of God

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 to present your bodies

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 as a living sacrifice,

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 holy and acceptable to God,

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 which is your spiritual worship.

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 Paul says, I appeal to you.

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 I want you to get this.

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 This is what I really want you

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 to understand

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 at this particular moment.

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 And he says, by God's mercies.

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 I appeal to you by God's mercies.

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 Another translation says,

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 in view of God's mercies,

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 in view of everything

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 that I've been telling you

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 all about in the previous chapters

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 in Romans,

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 the fact that even though

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 we had turned away from God,

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 we'd rejected him,

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 we'd trampled on his children,

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 we'd abused his creation,

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 we were in the dock with God,

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 God comes down,

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 he takes our punishment,

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 he says,

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 not only do I declare you innocent

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 of what you have done against me,

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 I welcome you into my family

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 and I bless you

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 with so many gifts,

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 so many blessings,

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 that I just want you to know

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 how generous I am.

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 And in light,

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 in view of that incredible

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 generosity of God,

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 we've got to respond.

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 That's what Paul's saying.

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 We've got to respond.

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 And the way,

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 and the only way

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 that is a right way

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 to respond to the way

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 God has generously

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 given himself to us

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 is that we worship him.

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 We worship him.

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 Now the image that Paul uses here

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 is that of the temple

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 where worshipers

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 used to bring offerings,

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 maybe a bull or an animal,

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 and they used to sacrifice it

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 on the altar.

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 They used to burn it

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 and that was a way,

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 a sign of their worship to God,

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 their dedication to God.

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 They're saying to God,

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 thank you,

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 this is for who you are.

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 Now here,

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 Paul is not saying

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 you've got to bring an animal.

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 You've not got to bring

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 a few bits of chicken

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 or an orange

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 or some apples

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 like some people do

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 in Hong Kong

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 where you offer up

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 those things

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 to your ancestors

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 or whatever.

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 He's saying

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 there's a bigger offering

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 that you're to bring.

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 He's saying

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 the only appropriate response

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 to what God has done

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 is not partial

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 giving something else

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 but is actually

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 giving yourself

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 to God.

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 It's actually saying

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 in light of what God

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 has done for me,

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 God,

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 I'm at your disposal.

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 My life

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 is for you.

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 I'm so grateful

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 for what you've done

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 for me.

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 Out of gratitude

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 for your grace,

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 here I am.

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 Use me.

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 You see,

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 gratitude overflows

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 in worship to God

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 and then it says

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 putting everything

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 at God's disposal

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 and saying,

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 I want to be generous

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 with my life.

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 I want to be generous

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 with my life.

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 It's a bit like

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 the person

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 who meets

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 the person

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 who dived

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 into the water

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 and saved

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 their drowning kid

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 risking his life,

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 brings them back,

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 hands them to the parent

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 and the parent

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 says to them,

00:11:31.299 --> 00:11:31.860
 oh, well,

00:11:32.039 --> 00:11:32.700
 thanks so much

00:11:32.700 --> 00:11:33.259
 for what you did.

00:11:33.539 --> 00:11:34.759
 Here's a $20 coupon

00:11:34.759 --> 00:11:35.759
 for Park and Shop.

00:11:36.759 --> 00:11:37.299
 He's not,

00:11:37.399 --> 00:11:38.419
 that's not an appropriate

00:11:38.419 --> 00:11:38.980
 response

00:11:38.980 --> 00:11:39.500
 because you haven't

00:11:39.500 --> 00:11:40.419
 understood the cost.

00:11:40.639 --> 00:11:41.159
 No, he's saying

00:11:41.159 --> 00:11:42.060
 the appropriate response

00:11:42.060 --> 00:11:42.240
 is,

00:11:43.080 --> 00:11:43.600
 wow,

00:11:44.320 --> 00:11:45.259
 I can't,

00:11:45.259 --> 00:11:46.460
 I can't say

00:11:46.460 --> 00:11:47.340
 thank you enough.

00:11:48.059 --> 00:11:48.919
 I can't say

00:11:48.919 --> 00:11:49.700
 thank you enough.

00:11:50.279 --> 00:11:50.779
 What,

00:11:50.899 --> 00:11:51.840
 what can I do

00:11:51.840 --> 00:11:53.600
 to say thank you?

00:11:55.139 --> 00:11:56.100
 And so it's

00:11:56.100 --> 00:11:57.279
 that demonstration.

00:11:57.799 --> 00:11:58.000
 It's,

00:11:58.240 --> 00:11:59.299
 worship isn't just

00:11:59.299 --> 00:12:00.679
 about kind of

00:12:00.679 --> 00:12:01.319
 humming a nice

00:12:01.319 --> 00:12:02.200
 spiritual song

00:12:02.200 --> 00:12:03.100
 to God

00:12:03.100 --> 00:12:03.980
 or kind of

00:12:03.980 --> 00:12:05.100
 meditating in your heart

00:12:05.100 --> 00:12:05.819
 on just something,

00:12:06.100 --> 00:12:06.879
 contemplation.

00:12:07.259 --> 00:12:07.519
 That's,

00:12:07.700 --> 00:12:07.919
 that's,

00:12:08.000 --> 00:12:08.399
 it's about,

00:12:08.480 --> 00:12:09.340
 it's about the whole

00:12:09.340 --> 00:12:10.200
 of your life.

00:12:10.500 --> 00:12:10.860
 It's saying,

00:12:11.120 --> 00:12:11.700
 my hands,

00:12:11.840 --> 00:12:12.360
 my mind,

00:12:12.480 --> 00:12:13.000
 my body,

00:12:13.200 --> 00:12:13.740
 my mouth,

00:12:14.080 --> 00:12:14.939
 everything of your,

00:12:14.940 --> 00:12:15.660
 is yours.

00:12:16.320 --> 00:12:16.860
 Use me.

00:12:17.200 --> 00:12:18.160
 I'm at your disposal.

00:12:19.920 --> 00:12:20.260
 And,

00:12:20.480 --> 00:12:22.700
 the thing is,

00:12:22.760 --> 00:12:23.780
 we can sometimes

00:12:23.780 --> 00:12:25.020
 do generosity

00:12:25.020 --> 00:12:26.240
 with maybe

00:12:26.240 --> 00:12:26.940
 our money,

00:12:27.500 --> 00:12:28.660
 but we can be stingy

00:12:28.660 --> 00:12:29.280
 with our time.

00:12:29.960 --> 00:12:31.180
 We can be generous

00:12:31.180 --> 00:12:32.500
 with certain people,

00:12:32.820 --> 00:12:33.700
 but stingy

00:12:33.700 --> 00:12:34.520
 with other people.

00:12:35.300 --> 00:12:36.120
 And God is saying

00:12:36.120 --> 00:12:36.720
 generosity

00:12:36.720 --> 00:12:38.000
 is to flow

00:12:38.000 --> 00:12:39.780
 from a heart attitude

00:12:39.780 --> 00:12:42.180
 in all of our lives.

00:12:43.340 --> 00:12:44.620
 So let's have a think

00:12:44.620 --> 00:12:46.000
 about what that means

00:12:46.000 --> 00:12:46.779
 in relationship

00:12:46.779 --> 00:12:48.279
 to our gifts

00:12:48.279 --> 00:12:49.100
 and the talents

00:12:49.100 --> 00:12:50.080
 that God gives us.

00:12:51.039 --> 00:12:51.759
 So that's the second thing

00:12:51.759 --> 00:12:52.299
 we're going to look at.

00:12:53.039 --> 00:12:53.179
 So,

00:12:53.980 --> 00:12:55.240
 grace transforms

00:12:55.240 --> 00:12:55.899
 our view

00:12:55.899 --> 00:12:56.879
 of gifts and talents

00:12:56.879 --> 00:12:57.240
 because,

00:12:57.940 --> 00:12:58.120
 you see,

00:12:58.179 --> 00:12:59.039
 the word gift

00:12:59.039 --> 00:13:01.340
 in the New Testament

00:13:01.340 --> 00:13:02.060
 is actually

00:13:02.060 --> 00:13:03.220
 the same root word

00:13:03.220 --> 00:13:04.320
 as the word grace.

00:13:04.600 --> 00:13:04.840
 It's the word,

00:13:05.039 --> 00:13:06.060
 grace is charis,

00:13:06.200 --> 00:13:07.419
 gifts are charismata.

00:13:07.980 --> 00:13:08.960
 They're the same thing.

00:13:09.000 --> 00:13:09.940
 So what we're saying here

00:13:09.940 --> 00:13:11.120
 is that the gifts

00:13:11.120 --> 00:13:11.800
 and abilities

00:13:11.800 --> 00:13:13.840
 that God has given you

00:13:13.840 --> 00:13:15.840
 are gifts

00:13:15.840 --> 00:13:17.320
 of his grace

00:13:17.320 --> 00:13:18.180
 to you.

00:13:18.760 --> 00:13:19.780
 They're an evidence

00:13:19.780 --> 00:13:21.200
 of his generosity

00:13:21.200 --> 00:13:22.260
 to you.

00:13:24.680 --> 00:13:25.940
 But they're given

00:13:25.940 --> 00:13:27.340
 so that

00:13:27.340 --> 00:13:28.240
 you can be

00:13:28.240 --> 00:13:29.320
 generous to others,

00:13:29.380 --> 00:13:30.680
 so you can extend

00:13:30.680 --> 00:13:31.740
 that grace

00:13:31.740 --> 00:13:32.760
 to other people.

00:13:32.759 --> 00:13:35.120
 Now,

00:13:35.200 --> 00:13:35.879
 when you consider

00:13:35.879 --> 00:13:36.939
 gifts,

00:13:37.299 --> 00:13:38.399
 some people get confused

00:13:38.399 --> 00:13:40.000
 with their spiritual gifts.

00:13:40.159 --> 00:13:40.299
 You know,

00:13:40.340 --> 00:13:41.319
 there's a list of gifts

00:13:41.319 --> 00:13:41.899
 that are mentioned

00:13:41.899 --> 00:13:43.019
 later on in this passage

00:13:43.019 --> 00:13:45.019
 and we all have

00:13:45.019 --> 00:13:46.439
 natural talents as well

00:13:46.439 --> 00:13:47.139
 and sometimes we get

00:13:47.139 --> 00:13:48.319
 a bit confused with them.

00:13:49.620 --> 00:13:51.120
 But there is a difference

00:13:51.120 --> 00:13:52.200
 between natural talents

00:13:52.200 --> 00:13:52.779
 and the gifts

00:13:52.779 --> 00:13:54.220
 that are mentioned

00:13:54.220 --> 00:13:55.019
 in the Bible.

00:13:55.379 --> 00:13:55.919
 But actually,

00:13:56.399 --> 00:13:56.639
 you see,

00:13:56.720 --> 00:13:57.419
 the spiritual gifts

00:13:57.419 --> 00:13:58.039
 are really about

00:13:58.039 --> 00:13:59.240
 edifying and building up

00:13:59.240 --> 00:13:59.980
 other people

00:13:59.980 --> 00:14:01.080
 within the body

00:14:01.080 --> 00:14:01.899
 and outside

00:14:01.899 --> 00:14:02.799
 for God's kingdom

00:14:02.799 --> 00:14:04.480
 and for his purposes.

00:14:05.000 --> 00:14:06.059
 Your natural talents

00:14:06.059 --> 00:14:08.240
 can also be that as well.

00:14:08.539 --> 00:14:09.240
 So there's a lot

00:14:09.240 --> 00:14:10.059
 of overlap

00:14:10.059 --> 00:14:11.879
 between your spiritual gifts

00:14:11.879 --> 00:14:13.159
 and your natural talents.

00:14:13.579 --> 00:14:14.419
 So you don't have

00:14:14.419 --> 00:14:15.159
 to get wrapped up

00:14:15.159 --> 00:14:15.399
 in, oh,

00:14:15.439 --> 00:14:15.860
 is it a gift

00:14:15.860 --> 00:14:16.459
 or is it a talent?

00:14:17.340 --> 00:14:18.240
 Everything that God

00:14:18.240 --> 00:14:19.019
 has given you

00:14:19.019 --> 00:14:20.379
 is to be used

00:14:20.379 --> 00:14:21.299
 by him,

00:14:22.000 --> 00:14:22.840
 for him.

00:14:24.019 --> 00:14:24.419
 So now,

00:14:24.559 --> 00:14:26.139
 as we think about this,

00:14:26.759 --> 00:14:27.720
 I think Paul says

00:14:27.720 --> 00:14:28.639
 there are a couple of ways

00:14:28.639 --> 00:14:29.480
 you can think about

00:14:29.480 --> 00:14:30.159
 the things that God

00:14:30.159 --> 00:14:30.659
 has given you.

00:14:30.720 --> 00:14:31.159
 Those gifts,

00:14:31.279 --> 00:14:31.799
 those talents,

00:14:31.899 --> 00:14:33.120
 that God has given you.

00:14:33.860 --> 00:14:34.480
 One is,

00:14:35.120 --> 00:14:36.199
 you can conform.

00:14:36.379 --> 00:14:36.620
 He says,

00:14:36.840 --> 00:14:38.399
 do not be conformed

00:14:38.399 --> 00:14:39.220
 to this world

00:14:39.220 --> 00:14:41.039
 but be transformed

00:14:41.039 --> 00:14:42.179
 by the renewal

00:14:42.179 --> 00:14:43.079
 of your mind.

00:14:44.559 --> 00:14:44.959
 You see,

00:14:46.000 --> 00:14:47.019
 one way you can do,

00:14:47.539 --> 00:14:48.679
 you think about your gifts

00:14:48.679 --> 00:14:49.419
 is conforming.

00:14:49.459 --> 00:14:50.240
 How do we conform?

00:14:50.439 --> 00:14:50.579
 Well,

00:14:51.600 --> 00:14:52.840
 we conform

00:14:52.840 --> 00:14:53.759
 when we fit

00:14:53.759 --> 00:14:54.819
 into the mold

00:14:54.819 --> 00:14:56.379
 or the pattern

00:14:56.379 --> 00:14:57.600
 of the way

00:14:57.600 --> 00:14:58.240
 that the rest

00:14:58.240 --> 00:14:58.960
 of society

00:14:58.960 --> 00:14:59.759
 does things.

00:14:59.759 --> 00:15:01.779
 it's the form

00:15:01.779 --> 00:15:02.279
 that's kind of

00:15:02.279 --> 00:15:03.620
 fixed for you.

00:15:04.779 --> 00:15:05.059
 Now,

00:15:05.220 --> 00:15:06.039
 remember what we said

00:15:06.039 --> 00:15:07.220
 earlier about generosity

00:15:07.220 --> 00:15:08.179
 and the way society

00:15:08.179 --> 00:15:09.259
 often does generosity.

00:15:10.720 --> 00:15:12.860
 And the German reformer,

00:15:13.100 --> 00:15:13.740
 Martin Luther,

00:15:13.840 --> 00:15:14.379
 once said,

00:15:15.139 --> 00:15:15.720
 sin

00:15:15.720 --> 00:15:17.819
 is man

00:15:17.819 --> 00:15:18.819
 curled in

00:15:18.819 --> 00:15:19.460
 on himself.

00:15:20.899 --> 00:15:21.419
 And you know,

00:15:21.460 --> 00:15:22.120
 when you're curled in

00:15:22.120 --> 00:15:22.500
 on yourself,

00:15:22.580 --> 00:15:23.360
 you actually can't see

00:15:23.360 --> 00:15:24.080
 anybody else

00:15:24.080 --> 00:15:25.920
 because you're

00:15:25.920 --> 00:15:26.840
 wrapped up in yourself.

00:15:28.000 --> 00:15:28.360
 Now,

00:15:28.400 --> 00:15:29.320
 I think in Hong Kong,

00:15:29.560 --> 00:15:30.580
 we can sometimes

00:15:30.580 --> 00:15:31.740
 do this a bit like this.

00:15:34.480 --> 00:15:35.160
 And you know

00:15:35.160 --> 00:15:36.180
 how annoying it is

00:15:36.180 --> 00:15:36.720
 when somebody's

00:15:36.720 --> 00:15:37.340
 in front of you

00:15:37.340 --> 00:15:37.940
 trying to do that

00:15:37.940 --> 00:15:38.379
 and you want to

00:15:38.379 --> 00:15:39.139
 get past them.

00:15:42.240 --> 00:15:43.160
 But the thing is,

00:15:43.300 --> 00:15:44.420
 when you're wrapped up,

00:15:44.540 --> 00:15:45.379
 you're distracted.

00:15:45.500 --> 00:15:46.460
 We're so distracted

00:15:46.460 --> 00:15:47.000
 in Hong Kong.

00:15:47.080 --> 00:15:47.860
 We've got so many things

00:15:47.860 --> 00:15:49.120
 that even if I'm

00:15:49.120 --> 00:15:49.640
 using my gifts,

00:15:49.720 --> 00:15:50.379
 they're all about me.

00:15:50.420 --> 00:15:51.540
 I'm just so wrapped up

00:15:51.539 --> 00:15:52.879
 in it that I can't

00:15:52.879 --> 00:15:54.179
 see anybody else.

00:15:55.379 --> 00:15:56.219
 I can't see

00:15:56.219 --> 00:15:57.059
 anybody else.

00:15:58.240 --> 00:15:59.159
 And I can't see

00:15:59.159 --> 00:15:59.860
 how I can use

00:15:59.860 --> 00:16:00.819
 the gifts and talents

00:16:00.819 --> 00:16:02.839
 to serve other people

00:16:02.839 --> 00:16:03.980
 other than myself.

00:16:05.899 --> 00:16:06.419
 You see,

00:16:06.519 --> 00:16:06.799
 for example,

00:16:06.879 --> 00:16:07.219
 for me,

00:16:07.699 --> 00:16:10.219
 if I was to

00:16:10.219 --> 00:16:11.139
 invite somebody

00:16:11.139 --> 00:16:11.899
 over for food,

00:16:12.000 --> 00:16:12.539
 hospitality,

00:16:13.679 --> 00:16:14.199
 and you know,

00:16:14.559 --> 00:16:15.879
 I'm cooking some fish

00:16:15.879 --> 00:16:16.599
 and the fish is

00:16:16.599 --> 00:16:17.959
 burning in the corner,

00:16:18.759 --> 00:16:19.819
 at that moment,

00:16:19.919 --> 00:16:20.919
 I'm beginning to panic.

00:16:21.980 --> 00:16:22.299
 Now,

00:16:22.500 --> 00:16:23.500
 as I'm panicking,

00:16:23.740 --> 00:16:25.079
 I am not thinking,

00:16:26.120 --> 00:16:26.899
 it's so sad

00:16:26.899 --> 00:16:27.519
 that the people

00:16:27.519 --> 00:16:28.179
 that I've invited,

00:16:28.299 --> 00:16:28.719
 they're going to have

00:16:28.719 --> 00:16:29.779
 to taste burnt fish.

00:16:30.480 --> 00:16:31.299
 I'm thinking,

00:16:31.719 --> 00:16:32.459
 what are they going

00:16:32.459 --> 00:16:33.599
 to think about me?

00:16:33.980 --> 00:16:34.699
 They're going to think

00:16:34.699 --> 00:16:35.519
 I'm a terrible cook,

00:16:35.579 --> 00:16:36.039
 they're going to tell

00:16:36.039 --> 00:16:36.980
 everybody else,

00:16:37.139 --> 00:16:38.199
 and nobody's ever

00:16:38.199 --> 00:16:39.019
 going to want to come.

00:16:39.959 --> 00:16:40.139
 Now,

00:16:40.199 --> 00:16:41.039
 just by way of warning,

00:16:41.139 --> 00:16:42.179
 if I ever invite you

00:16:42.179 --> 00:16:43.240
 to my house,

00:16:43.539 --> 00:16:44.299
 bring McDonald's

00:16:44.299 --> 00:16:44.879
 or something else

00:16:44.879 --> 00:16:45.219
 with you,

00:16:45.279 --> 00:16:46.459
 because you just want to,

00:16:46.519 --> 00:16:46.959
 you never know

00:16:46.959 --> 00:16:47.639
 what's going to happen.

00:16:47.639 --> 00:16:52.139
 So we can be wrapped up

00:16:52.139 --> 00:16:53.539
 in ourselves in that way,

00:16:53.740 --> 00:16:55.419
 or you can sometimes

00:16:55.419 --> 00:16:56.620
 be wrapped up in yourself

00:16:56.620 --> 00:16:57.220
 when, you know,

00:16:57.319 --> 00:16:58.039
 I actually think

00:16:58.039 --> 00:16:58.819
 I'm good at something.

00:16:59.279 --> 00:16:59.439
 You know,

00:16:59.659 --> 00:17:00.720
 maybe people come to me

00:17:00.720 --> 00:17:01.439
 for advice,

00:17:02.240 --> 00:17:02.899
 and you know,

00:17:02.939 --> 00:17:03.659
 lots of people come

00:17:03.659 --> 00:17:04.160
 for advice,

00:17:04.279 --> 00:17:04.519
 and you know,

00:17:04.519 --> 00:17:05.220
 after a while,

00:17:05.700 --> 00:17:06.359
 you begin to think,

00:17:06.460 --> 00:17:06.599
 well,

00:17:08.079 --> 00:17:08.480
 you know,

00:17:08.980 --> 00:17:10.279
 if you want to come

00:17:10.279 --> 00:17:10.660
 to advice,

00:17:10.740 --> 00:17:11.579
 just come to me,

00:17:11.579 --> 00:17:14.019
 because I'm Dr. Wise,

00:17:14.639 --> 00:17:14.899
 you know,

00:17:14.960 --> 00:17:16.059
 just give me a call.

00:17:16.639 --> 00:17:17.740
 I'll sort you out,

00:17:17.779 --> 00:17:18.399
 no problems.

00:17:19.419 --> 00:17:19.839
 You see,

00:17:21.339 --> 00:17:22.759
 when I get to that point

00:17:22.759 --> 00:17:23.339
 where it's actually

00:17:23.339 --> 00:17:24.539
 become all about me,

00:17:25.439 --> 00:17:27.740
 if somebody actually

00:17:27.740 --> 00:17:29.899
 gives me any criticism

00:17:29.899 --> 00:17:31.579
 or suggestions

00:17:31.579 --> 00:17:33.059
 on ways I could do it better,

00:17:33.399 --> 00:17:35.299
 I feel they're attacking me

00:17:35.299 --> 00:17:37.359
 because my worth

00:17:37.359 --> 00:17:38.099
 and my value

00:17:38.099 --> 00:17:38.899
 is wrapped up

00:17:38.899 --> 00:17:39.359
 in me thinking

00:17:39.359 --> 00:17:40.319
 that I'm good about it.

00:17:40.319 --> 00:17:41.179
 or if someone

00:17:41.179 --> 00:17:42.480
 doesn't appreciate me

00:17:42.480 --> 00:17:42.960
 and say,

00:17:43.119 --> 00:17:43.819
 thank you for what

00:17:43.819 --> 00:17:44.460
 you did there,

00:17:45.619 --> 00:17:47.399
 then I feel hurt

00:17:47.399 --> 00:17:48.740
 and I feel neglected

00:17:48.740 --> 00:17:51.599
 because I've made it

00:17:51.599 --> 00:17:52.419
 all about me.

00:17:53.859 --> 00:17:54.319
 And you know,

00:17:54.639 --> 00:17:56.240
 sometimes I make

00:17:56.240 --> 00:17:58.099
 being a good teacher,

00:17:58.619 --> 00:18:00.579
 being a good leader,

00:18:01.039 --> 00:18:02.259
 giving good advice,

00:18:03.039 --> 00:18:05.339
 not about the people

00:18:05.339 --> 00:18:05.980
 I'm serving,

00:18:06.939 --> 00:18:08.700
 but actually about me.

00:18:09.500 --> 00:18:10.299
 And Paul says,

00:18:10.319 --> 00:18:12.159
 if you're a Christian,

00:18:13.200 --> 00:18:15.079
 don't be conformed

00:18:15.079 --> 00:18:15.639
 to the way

00:18:15.639 --> 00:18:16.679
 that everybody else

00:18:16.679 --> 00:18:17.720
 does it.

00:18:18.299 --> 00:18:19.460
 I want you to be

00:18:19.460 --> 00:18:20.799
 transformed.

00:18:22.240 --> 00:18:22.720
 Transformed.

00:18:23.619 --> 00:18:25.159
 That word transformed,

00:18:25.339 --> 00:18:26.639
 it's the word metamorpho,

00:18:26.679 --> 00:18:28.319
 where we get metamorphosis from.

00:18:28.659 --> 00:18:28.879
 You know,

00:18:28.919 --> 00:18:30.279
 where like a caterpillar

00:18:30.279 --> 00:18:32.980
 changes into a butterfly.

00:18:32.980 --> 00:18:35.079
 And you know,

00:18:35.299 --> 00:18:36.660
 a caterpillar was never meant

00:18:36.660 --> 00:18:38.099
 to stay as a caterpillar.

00:18:38.920 --> 00:18:40.819
 A caterpillar was meant

00:18:40.819 --> 00:18:42.299
 to spread their wings

00:18:42.299 --> 00:18:43.259
 and fly.

00:18:46.259 --> 00:18:47.259
 And you see,

00:18:47.579 --> 00:18:49.299
 God wants to change us

00:18:49.299 --> 00:18:52.599
 from being like caterpillars

00:18:52.599 --> 00:18:55.019
 in a process of metamorphosis.

00:18:55.019 --> 00:18:58.900
 He wants to transform us.

00:18:58.980 --> 00:18:59.779
 It's not instantaneous,

00:19:00.180 --> 00:19:01.059
 it's a process.

00:19:02.059 --> 00:19:03.160
 But he wants to

00:19:03.160 --> 00:19:04.559
 metamorphosize us

00:19:04.559 --> 00:19:08.639
 into those butterflies

00:19:08.639 --> 00:19:10.500
 where we can fly

00:19:10.500 --> 00:19:11.400
 to be everything

00:19:11.400 --> 00:19:13.259
 God has called us to be

00:19:13.259 --> 00:19:14.400
 and has given us

00:19:14.400 --> 00:19:15.599
 the gifts and talents

00:19:15.599 --> 00:19:16.119
 to be

00:19:16.119 --> 00:19:17.740
 with generous hearts

00:19:17.740 --> 00:19:19.200
 because that's what

00:19:19.200 --> 00:19:20.200
 God made us to be.

00:19:20.200 --> 00:19:22.799
 How does it happen?

00:19:23.200 --> 00:19:24.759
 How do you get transformed?

00:19:25.500 --> 00:19:25.799
 Well,

00:19:25.980 --> 00:19:26.900
 through the renewal

00:19:26.900 --> 00:19:28.080
 of your mind.

00:19:29.200 --> 00:19:30.460
 Through God's word

00:19:30.460 --> 00:19:32.360
 constantly changing

00:19:32.360 --> 00:19:33.340
 your perspective

00:19:33.340 --> 00:19:34.100
 of yourself,

00:19:34.740 --> 00:19:35.600
 your perspective

00:19:35.600 --> 00:19:36.880
 of others

00:19:36.880 --> 00:19:38.080
 and the situations

00:19:38.080 --> 00:19:38.840
 around you.

00:19:40.299 --> 00:19:41.220
 And it's a journey.

00:19:41.580 --> 00:19:42.400
 Step by step,

00:19:42.539 --> 00:19:43.100
 it's a journey.

00:19:44.240 --> 00:19:46.039
 So let me read

00:19:46.039 --> 00:19:47.220
 the next part.

00:19:47.740 --> 00:19:48.039
 It says,

00:19:48.039 --> 00:19:50.460
 For by the grace

00:19:50.460 --> 00:19:51.599
 given to me,

00:19:52.759 --> 00:19:53.920
 I said every one of you

00:19:53.920 --> 00:19:54.940
 not to think of himself

00:19:54.940 --> 00:19:55.539
 more highly

00:19:55.539 --> 00:19:56.399
 than he ought to think,

00:19:57.579 --> 00:19:59.059
 but with sober judgment,

00:19:59.779 --> 00:20:00.460
 each according

00:20:00.460 --> 00:20:01.680
 to the measure of faith

00:20:01.680 --> 00:20:03.299
 that God has assigned.

00:20:04.399 --> 00:20:04.960
 You see,

00:20:05.379 --> 00:20:06.619
 here's how transformation

00:20:06.619 --> 00:20:08.319
 works in this situation.

00:20:09.399 --> 00:20:10.159
 He says,

00:20:10.339 --> 00:20:11.220
 God has assigned

00:20:11.220 --> 00:20:12.599
 a measure of faith.

00:20:12.859 --> 00:20:13.019
 Now,

00:20:13.180 --> 00:20:14.319
 there's two possible

00:20:14.319 --> 00:20:15.460
 interpretations of that.

00:20:15.539 --> 00:20:15.899
 One is,

00:20:16.180 --> 00:20:17.159
 he gives each person

00:20:17.160 --> 00:20:18.140
 their own kind of

00:20:18.140 --> 00:20:18.980
 bit of faith

00:20:18.980 --> 00:20:20.160
 connected to their gifts.

00:20:20.519 --> 00:20:20.940
 But the other,

00:20:21.080 --> 00:20:21.960
 what I think Paul

00:20:21.960 --> 00:20:22.840
 is saying is here

00:20:22.840 --> 00:20:25.440
 that in the context

00:20:25.440 --> 00:20:26.100
 of Romans,

00:20:26.400 --> 00:20:27.300
 there is a standard

00:20:27.300 --> 00:20:28.060
 of faith,

00:20:28.540 --> 00:20:29.240
 the gospel,

00:20:29.720 --> 00:20:30.460
 the word of God

00:20:30.460 --> 00:20:31.720
 that God has put forward

00:20:31.720 --> 00:20:32.900
 and you are to judge

00:20:32.900 --> 00:20:33.460
 yourself,

00:20:33.620 --> 00:20:34.080
 your gifts,

00:20:34.220 --> 00:20:34.720
 your talents

00:20:34.720 --> 00:20:35.420
 in line

00:20:35.420 --> 00:20:37.100
 with God's word

00:20:37.100 --> 00:20:37.700
 and what he says

00:20:37.700 --> 00:20:38.200
 about you.

00:20:39.240 --> 00:20:39.580
 You know,

00:20:39.680 --> 00:20:40.540
 the gospel says,

00:20:41.060 --> 00:20:41.940
 you are more sinful

00:20:41.940 --> 00:20:42.519
 and broken

00:20:42.519 --> 00:20:43.540
 than you could possibly

00:20:43.540 --> 00:20:43.980
 imagine,

00:20:44.100 --> 00:20:45.120
 but you are more loved

00:20:45.120 --> 00:20:46.100
 than you could possibly

00:20:46.100 --> 00:20:46.980
 dare to believe.

00:20:47.819 --> 00:20:49.960
 You are sinful

00:20:49.960 --> 00:20:50.819
 yet forgiven,

00:20:51.900 --> 00:20:53.220
 broken yet accepted.

00:20:54.240 --> 00:20:55.420
 And when you see

00:20:55.420 --> 00:20:56.259
 that the gifts

00:20:56.259 --> 00:20:57.000
 that you've given

00:20:57.000 --> 00:20:58.539
 are not because

00:20:58.539 --> 00:20:59.220
 you're any better

00:20:59.220 --> 00:21:00.480
 or any worse,

00:21:00.900 --> 00:21:02.039
 it's just grace,

00:21:02.420 --> 00:21:03.400
 undeserved,

00:21:03.640 --> 00:21:04.680
 that he's given you

00:21:04.680 --> 00:21:05.319
 these talents

00:21:05.319 --> 00:21:06.059
 and gifts,

00:21:06.620 --> 00:21:07.559
 it transforms

00:21:07.559 --> 00:21:08.380
 the way you view

00:21:08.380 --> 00:21:08.940
 yourself.

00:21:10.839 --> 00:21:11.759
 Because sometimes

00:21:11.759 --> 00:21:13.440
 you can,

00:21:13.700 --> 00:21:14.599
 and I can,

00:21:14.599 --> 00:21:16.519
 overvalue myself.

00:21:16.599 --> 00:21:17.399
 I often do this.

00:21:17.719 --> 00:21:17.859
 You know,

00:21:17.919 --> 00:21:18.740
 I think the world

00:21:18.740 --> 00:21:20.039
 won't revolve.

00:21:20.119 --> 00:21:20.240
 You know,

00:21:20.279 --> 00:21:20.959
 the solar system

00:21:20.959 --> 00:21:22.639
 will come to an end

00:21:22.639 --> 00:21:24.319
 if I'm not involved

00:21:24.319 --> 00:21:25.539
 in this situation.

00:21:25.859 --> 00:21:26.019
 You know,

00:21:26.059 --> 00:21:27.500
 I think I'm so essential

00:21:27.500 --> 00:21:28.059
 at times

00:21:28.059 --> 00:21:29.339
 that I become over busy.

00:21:29.819 --> 00:21:30.419
 Do you know that kind of,

00:21:30.539 --> 00:21:31.579
 I've got to lead this,

00:21:31.679 --> 00:21:32.539
 I've got to do this,

00:21:32.779 --> 00:21:34.559
 I've got to lead the Bible,

00:21:34.639 --> 00:21:35.379
 so I've got to sort

00:21:35.379 --> 00:21:36.399
 everybody else's problems

00:21:36.399 --> 00:21:37.240
 and I'm running around

00:21:37.240 --> 00:21:38.199
 like a headless chicken

00:21:38.199 --> 00:21:39.439
 thinking I've got to

00:21:39.439 --> 00:21:40.240
 save the world

00:21:40.240 --> 00:21:41.559
 because I've actually

00:21:41.559 --> 00:21:42.660
 overvalued myself,

00:21:42.819 --> 00:21:43.460
 I've made me

00:21:43.460 --> 00:21:44.319
 the center of it

00:21:44.319 --> 00:21:45.259
 and I've not got

00:21:45.259 --> 00:21:46.099
 right perspective.

00:21:48.599 --> 00:21:49.039
 Or,

00:21:49.339 --> 00:21:50.900
 you can undervalue yourself

00:21:50.900 --> 00:21:51.400
 and you look at

00:21:51.400 --> 00:21:52.240
 everybody else

00:21:52.240 --> 00:21:52.839
 and you think,

00:21:53.480 --> 00:21:53.799
 wow,

00:21:53.880 --> 00:21:54.359
 they're so much

00:21:54.359 --> 00:21:55.019
 better than me.

00:21:55.559 --> 00:21:56.339
 Look at all the gifts

00:21:56.339 --> 00:21:56.799
 they've got.

00:21:57.259 --> 00:21:57.480
 Listen,

00:21:57.680 --> 00:21:59.120
 I can't speak

00:21:59.120 --> 00:22:00.319
 like he can,

00:22:00.440 --> 00:22:01.200
 I can't sing

00:22:01.200 --> 00:22:01.859
 like Jeremy

00:22:01.859 --> 00:22:02.620
 or Wing can.

00:22:04.160 --> 00:22:05.039
 I've got nothing

00:22:05.039 --> 00:22:05.640
 to offer.

00:22:07.700 --> 00:22:08.700
 Or we become jealous

00:22:08.700 --> 00:22:09.279
 of the people

00:22:09.279 --> 00:22:10.059
 who've got other things

00:22:10.059 --> 00:22:10.859
 that we really want

00:22:10.859 --> 00:22:11.779
 but we don't have.

00:22:12.779 --> 00:22:13.039
 You know,

00:22:13.180 --> 00:22:13.420
 it's,

00:22:14.339 --> 00:22:15.680
 when you're transformed,

00:22:16.519 --> 00:22:18.559
 you see that you

00:22:18.559 --> 00:22:20.039
 have been given grace.

00:22:21.559 --> 00:22:23.059
 It's undeserved gift.

00:22:23.299 --> 00:22:24.139
 You don't have to be

00:22:24.139 --> 00:22:25.279
 like everybody else.

00:22:26.759 --> 00:22:28.099
 God's given you grace,

00:22:28.579 --> 00:22:29.720
 so it's not about you,

00:22:29.899 --> 00:22:31.240
 it's about how you serve

00:22:31.240 --> 00:22:32.920
 generously with what

00:22:32.920 --> 00:22:33.759
 you have been given

00:22:33.759 --> 00:22:34.399
 to others.

00:22:36.879 --> 00:22:38.680
 Because being transformed

00:22:38.680 --> 00:22:39.460
 as well,

00:22:40.180 --> 00:22:40.980
 it's another thing,

00:22:41.299 --> 00:22:42.500
 it means you also

00:22:42.500 --> 00:22:44.500
 see others differently.

00:22:44.700 --> 00:22:45.640
 You see yourself

00:22:45.640 --> 00:22:47.160
 as part of a body.

00:22:47.539 --> 00:22:48.420
 You're not just

00:22:48.420 --> 00:22:49.039
 an individual

00:22:49.039 --> 00:22:49.880
 by yourself,

00:22:50.100 --> 00:22:51.820
 you're part of a body.

00:22:52.180 --> 00:22:53.080
 And your gifts

00:22:53.080 --> 00:22:53.900
 are given

00:22:53.900 --> 00:22:56.120
 for the benefit

00:22:56.120 --> 00:22:58.160
 of the people around you.

00:22:59.140 --> 00:23:00.160
 What that means is

00:23:00.160 --> 00:23:01.200
 you value

00:23:01.200 --> 00:23:03.120
 difference in people.

00:23:03.519 --> 00:23:04.600
 Everybody doesn't have

00:23:04.600 --> 00:23:06.259
 to be exactly like you.

00:23:07.059 --> 00:23:07.660
 Some people have

00:23:07.660 --> 00:23:08.339
 upfront gifts,

00:23:08.599 --> 00:23:09.220
 some people have

00:23:09.220 --> 00:23:10.420
 backstage gifts,

00:23:10.740 --> 00:23:11.240
 some people are just

00:23:11.240 --> 00:23:11.819
 great at getting

00:23:11.819 --> 00:23:12.759
 alongside people,

00:23:13.379 --> 00:23:14.099
 going for coffee

00:23:14.099 --> 00:23:14.700
 with people.

00:23:15.220 --> 00:23:15.920
 And we don't seem

00:23:15.920 --> 00:23:16.599
 to notice them,

00:23:16.640 --> 00:23:17.319
 we don't seem to

00:23:17.319 --> 00:23:18.839
 plug them on stage,

00:23:18.920 --> 00:23:20.000
 but actually those

00:23:20.000 --> 00:23:20.879
 are precious,

00:23:21.119 --> 00:23:21.900
 valuable gifts.

00:23:22.960 --> 00:23:24.000
 Everybody has got

00:23:24.000 --> 00:23:25.019
 something to give.

00:23:25.599 --> 00:23:25.940
 Everybody.

00:23:27.039 --> 00:23:27.900
 Now imagine,

00:23:28.240 --> 00:23:28.480
 you see,

00:23:28.599 --> 00:23:29.180
 Paul's using this

00:23:29.180 --> 00:23:29.700
 body image,

00:23:29.819 --> 00:23:31.759
 imagine if the nose

00:23:31.759 --> 00:23:34.000
 says to your finger,

00:23:34.839 --> 00:23:35.059
 man,

00:23:35.140 --> 00:23:35.299
 you know,

00:23:35.339 --> 00:23:35.759
 one day,

00:23:36.319 --> 00:23:37.039
 you could become

00:23:37.039 --> 00:23:37.500
 like me.

00:23:38.200 --> 00:23:39.220
 You could become

00:23:39.220 --> 00:23:40.259
 a nose.

00:23:42.759 --> 00:23:43.059
 I mean,

00:23:43.240 --> 00:23:43.960
 it's ridiculous.

00:23:44.960 --> 00:23:46.240
 Or imagine if the teeth

00:23:46.240 --> 00:23:47.220
 suddenly think,

00:23:47.759 --> 00:23:48.140
 oh,

00:23:48.700 --> 00:23:49.480
 the eyes,

00:23:49.559 --> 00:23:50.339
 you are so beautiful.

00:23:51.039 --> 00:23:52.720
 I wish I could be an eye.

00:23:53.059 --> 00:23:54.000
 I think I'm just

00:23:54.000 --> 00:23:54.819
 rubbish as teeth,

00:23:54.879 --> 00:23:55.440
 I'm just going to

00:23:55.440 --> 00:23:56.379
 stop being teeth.

00:23:56.720 --> 00:23:56.920
 You know,

00:23:56.960 --> 00:23:57.759
 I've even got a filling.

00:23:58.359 --> 00:23:58.519
 You know?

00:23:58.519 --> 00:23:58.799
 Because,

00:24:02.259 --> 00:24:04.759
 it's ridiculous.

00:24:05.559 --> 00:24:06.319
 Each of us

00:24:06.319 --> 00:24:08.259
 has immense value

00:24:08.259 --> 00:24:09.039
 in the body.

00:24:09.660 --> 00:24:10.480
 And each of us,

00:24:10.579 --> 00:24:11.920
 God has graced you

00:24:11.920 --> 00:24:12.740
 with something

00:24:12.740 --> 00:24:13.720
 which the body

00:24:13.720 --> 00:24:14.480
 will lack

00:24:14.480 --> 00:24:15.799
 if you don't use it.

00:24:18.359 --> 00:24:18.960
 Imagine,

00:24:19.519 --> 00:24:21.099
 it's Christmas

00:24:21.099 --> 00:24:21.980
 and someone

00:24:21.980 --> 00:24:23.240
 gives a present

00:24:23.240 --> 00:24:24.500
 to the whole

00:24:24.500 --> 00:24:25.180
 of your family.

00:24:25.879 --> 00:24:26.779
 And you are told

00:24:26.779 --> 00:24:27.440
 that you have

00:24:27.440 --> 00:24:28.180
 the responsibility

00:24:28.180 --> 00:24:29.019
 of opening

00:24:29.019 --> 00:24:29.620
 that present.

00:24:30.340 --> 00:24:31.220
 And you say,

00:24:31.840 --> 00:24:33.920
 I'm not going

00:24:33.920 --> 00:24:34.360
 to open it

00:24:34.360 --> 00:24:35.060
 because everybody

00:24:35.060 --> 00:24:35.460
 else has got

00:24:35.460 --> 00:24:35.960
 better presents

00:24:35.960 --> 00:24:36.299
 than me.

00:24:38.140 --> 00:24:39.080
 I'm going to hide it.

00:24:40.100 --> 00:24:40.799
 I don't want you

00:24:40.799 --> 00:24:41.220
 to have it.

00:24:41.720 --> 00:24:42.220
 I'm going to have it

00:24:42.220 --> 00:24:42.539
 for me.

00:24:47.360 --> 00:24:48.180
 What's the problem?

00:24:48.980 --> 00:24:49.560
 It's actually

00:24:49.560 --> 00:24:50.480
 all become about me.

00:24:51.120 --> 00:24:51.900
 I haven't seen

00:24:51.900 --> 00:24:52.360
 that we're part

00:24:52.360 --> 00:24:52.940
 of a family.

00:24:53.940 --> 00:24:54.640
 But imagine

00:24:54.640 --> 00:24:55.220
 the joy

00:24:55.220 --> 00:24:56.140
 of the family

00:24:56.140 --> 00:24:58.100
 if you open it

00:24:58.100 --> 00:24:59.640
 and you share it

00:24:59.640 --> 00:25:00.500
 with the other people

00:25:00.500 --> 00:25:01.340
 because it's meant

00:25:01.340 --> 00:25:02.240
 to be for the family

00:25:02.240 --> 00:25:04.259
 and you rejoice

00:25:04.259 --> 00:25:04.840
 in the gifts

00:25:04.840 --> 00:25:05.520
 that other people

00:25:05.520 --> 00:25:05.820
 have got.

00:25:05.980 --> 00:25:07.120
 If you can't sing,

00:25:07.240 --> 00:25:08.060
 rejoice in the people

00:25:08.060 --> 00:25:08.560
 who can.

00:25:09.259 --> 00:25:09.460
 Okay?

00:25:09.960 --> 00:25:10.860
 And maybe don't sing

00:25:10.860 --> 00:25:11.680
 as loudly as them.

00:25:12.020 --> 00:25:12.320
 Okay?

00:25:12.800 --> 00:25:13.500
 That's a joke.

00:25:15.580 --> 00:25:15.980
 Okay?

00:25:16.300 --> 00:25:17.360
 Being conformed

00:25:17.360 --> 00:25:18.120
 means we make it

00:25:18.120 --> 00:25:19.000
 all about ourselves.

00:25:19.420 --> 00:25:20.259
 Being transformed

00:25:20.259 --> 00:25:21.640
 means we change

00:25:21.640 --> 00:25:22.240
 perspective.

00:25:22.240 --> 00:25:23.359
 It's not all about us.

00:25:23.819 --> 00:25:24.839
 We're part of a body.

00:25:25.019 --> 00:25:25.920
 We've been given gifts.

00:25:26.099 --> 00:25:26.859
 We can use them

00:25:26.859 --> 00:25:27.720
 to bless and serve

00:25:27.720 --> 00:25:28.220
 other people.

00:25:33.839 --> 00:25:34.880
 The last thing

00:25:34.880 --> 00:25:35.799
 I want to look at

00:25:35.799 --> 00:25:36.279
 and I'm going to just

00:25:36.279 --> 00:25:36.980
 spend a few minutes

00:25:36.980 --> 00:25:37.500
 on this

00:25:37.500 --> 00:25:38.940
 is you may be saying,

00:25:39.079 --> 00:25:39.339
 okay,

00:25:40.259 --> 00:25:41.140
 you say we've got gifts,

00:25:41.259 --> 00:25:41.819
 you say we've got

00:25:41.819 --> 00:25:42.220
 these things,

00:25:42.319 --> 00:25:43.359
 but I don't know

00:25:43.359 --> 00:25:44.279
 what my gifts are.

00:25:44.480 --> 00:25:45.700
 How do I find out

00:25:45.700 --> 00:25:47.160
 what my gifts are

00:25:47.160 --> 00:25:48.339
 and how do I use them?

00:25:48.339 --> 00:25:52.319
 In verse 6 to 8,

00:25:53.439 --> 00:25:55.439
 Paul says this,

00:25:55.559 --> 00:25:56.959
 having gifts that differ,

00:25:57.359 --> 00:25:57.599
 okay,

00:25:57.939 --> 00:25:58.559
 so you have gifts

00:25:58.559 --> 00:25:58.879
 that differ,

00:25:58.939 --> 00:25:59.659
 you're not all the same.

00:26:00.799 --> 00:26:02.139
 According to the grace

00:26:02.139 --> 00:26:03.399
 given to us,

00:26:04.399 --> 00:26:05.819
 let us use them.

00:26:06.679 --> 00:26:07.480
 If prophecy

00:26:07.480 --> 00:26:08.019
 in proportion

00:26:08.019 --> 00:26:08.679
 to our faith

00:26:08.679 --> 00:26:09.519
 is service

00:26:09.519 --> 00:26:10.179
 in our serving,

00:26:10.259 --> 00:26:10.899
 the one who teaches

00:26:10.899 --> 00:26:11.619
 in his teaching,

00:26:11.919 --> 00:26:12.679
 the one who exhorts

00:26:12.679 --> 00:26:13.639
 in his exhortation,

00:26:13.720 --> 00:26:14.539
 the one who contributes

00:26:14.539 --> 00:26:15.379
 in generosity,

00:26:15.839 --> 00:26:16.759
 the one who leads

00:26:16.759 --> 00:26:17.480
 with zeal,

00:26:17.480 --> 00:26:18.839
 the one who does

00:26:18.839 --> 00:26:19.920
 acts of mercy

00:26:19.920 --> 00:26:21.640
 with cheerfulness.

00:26:23.539 --> 00:26:23.940
 See,

00:26:24.000 --> 00:26:24.460
 Paul's giving,

00:26:24.640 --> 00:26:25.740
 this is not an exhaustive

00:26:25.740 --> 00:26:26.579
 list of all the gifts

00:26:26.579 --> 00:26:27.000
 and you're looking

00:26:27.000 --> 00:26:27.180
 and saying,

00:26:27.259 --> 00:26:27.380
 oh,

00:26:27.460 --> 00:26:27.819
 I don't think

00:26:27.819 --> 00:26:28.700
 I've got any of those.

00:26:29.000 --> 00:26:30.539
 This is an example list

00:26:30.539 --> 00:26:31.640
 of what Paul is saying

00:26:31.640 --> 00:26:34.500
 that each of us

00:26:34.500 --> 00:26:35.660
 have things

00:26:35.660 --> 00:26:38.079
 which we can use.

00:26:38.240 --> 00:26:38.799
 How do you know

00:26:38.799 --> 00:26:39.660
 what those gifts are?

00:26:41.460 --> 00:26:42.539
 Look around you

00:26:42.539 --> 00:26:43.200
 at the people

00:26:43.200 --> 00:26:43.960
 who are around you.

00:26:45.319 --> 00:26:46.420
 Look at the community

00:26:46.420 --> 00:26:47.180
 and the needs

00:26:47.180 --> 00:26:48.180
 of people around you.

00:26:49.980 --> 00:26:50.680
 Think about

00:26:50.680 --> 00:26:51.519
 what opportunities

00:26:51.519 --> 00:26:52.640
 there are to serve

00:26:52.640 --> 00:26:54.320
 and think about

00:26:54.320 --> 00:26:55.580
 what are your interests?

00:26:56.220 --> 00:26:57.039
 What are your passions?

00:26:57.259 --> 00:26:58.279
 What things do you enjoy?

00:26:58.660 --> 00:26:59.660
 What things are you good at?

00:27:00.240 --> 00:27:02.240
 Because those might be clues

00:27:02.240 --> 00:27:03.460
 to actually the way

00:27:03.460 --> 00:27:04.400
 you can serve

00:27:04.400 --> 00:27:05.720
 people around you

00:27:05.720 --> 00:27:06.720
 in the body.

00:27:06.720 --> 00:27:08.559
 You see,

00:27:08.920 --> 00:27:10.360
 sometimes you won't find

00:27:10.360 --> 00:27:11.000
 your spiritual gift

00:27:11.000 --> 00:27:11.620
 if you're thinking,

00:27:12.319 --> 00:27:12.559
 okay,

00:27:12.680 --> 00:27:13.380
 I need to find

00:27:13.380 --> 00:27:14.539
 my spiritual gift.

00:27:14.980 --> 00:27:15.200
 Okay,

00:27:15.240 --> 00:27:16.259
 let me just meditate

00:27:16.259 --> 00:27:16.920
 for a while

00:27:16.920 --> 00:27:17.539
 and then I'll have

00:27:17.539 --> 00:27:18.079
 enlightenment

00:27:18.079 --> 00:27:19.279
 on my spiritual gift.

00:27:19.720 --> 00:27:20.860
 You won't actually

00:27:20.860 --> 00:27:21.940
 find your spiritual gift

00:27:21.940 --> 00:27:23.140
 if you just fill in

00:27:23.140 --> 00:27:24.519
 a spiritual gifts questionnaire.

00:27:25.180 --> 00:27:26.259
 Those can be helpful

00:27:26.259 --> 00:27:27.039
 but they rely

00:27:27.039 --> 00:27:28.539
 on past experience.

00:27:29.220 --> 00:27:29.360
 Okay,

00:27:29.559 --> 00:27:30.740
 Jesus with his disciples,

00:27:31.019 --> 00:27:31.600
 I don't think

00:27:31.600 --> 00:27:32.299
 right at the beginning

00:27:32.299 --> 00:27:32.819
 he said,

00:27:32.900 --> 00:27:33.079
 okay,

00:27:33.120 --> 00:27:33.740
 I'm going to call you

00:27:33.740 --> 00:27:34.160
 to myself

00:27:34.160 --> 00:27:35.160
 and then he sat them

00:27:35.160 --> 00:27:35.540
 down and think,

00:27:35.600 --> 00:27:35.900
 I don't know

00:27:35.900 --> 00:27:36.440
 what to do with you.

00:27:36.480 --> 00:27:36.660
 Okay,

00:27:36.720 --> 00:27:37.320
 let's do a spiritual

00:27:37.320 --> 00:27:37.960
 gift questionnaire

00:27:37.960 --> 00:27:38.500
 to find out

00:27:38.500 --> 00:27:39.180
 what you're going to be.

00:27:39.840 --> 00:27:39.980
 Okay,

00:27:40.160 --> 00:27:40.340
 no,

00:27:40.360 --> 00:27:41.040
 he just got on

00:27:41.040 --> 00:27:41.620
 with doing things

00:27:41.620 --> 00:27:43.060
 and as they did things,

00:27:45.019 --> 00:27:45.279
 people,

00:27:45.440 --> 00:27:46.259
 they discover

00:27:46.259 --> 00:27:48.019
 what you're good at,

00:27:48.080 --> 00:27:48.920
 what you're not good at.

00:27:49.320 --> 00:27:50.040
 You discover

00:27:50.040 --> 00:27:52.800
 what are areas

00:27:52.800 --> 00:27:53.640
 where you can serve

00:27:53.640 --> 00:27:54.380
 and bless things.

00:27:54.480 --> 00:27:55.100
 If you don't know

00:27:55.100 --> 00:27:55.980
 what your gifts are,

00:27:56.840 --> 00:27:57.860
 try something.

00:27:58.660 --> 00:27:59.200
 Many of us

00:27:59.200 --> 00:27:59.460
 don't know

00:27:59.460 --> 00:28:00.040
 what our gifts are

00:28:00.040 --> 00:28:00.580
 because we haven't

00:28:00.580 --> 00:28:01.720
 tried enough things.

00:28:04.160 --> 00:28:05.060
 because maybe

00:28:05.060 --> 00:28:05.519
 we're worried

00:28:05.519 --> 00:28:06.100
 we can't do it

00:28:06.100 --> 00:28:06.640
 well enough

00:28:06.640 --> 00:28:07.500
 or all those

00:28:07.500 --> 00:28:07.980
 kind of things

00:28:07.980 --> 00:28:10.100
 but as you try things,

00:28:10.259 --> 00:28:11.000
 what you find is

00:28:11.000 --> 00:28:11.480
 you find what

00:28:11.480 --> 00:28:12.220
 you're interested in.

00:28:12.560 --> 00:28:13.160
 You find what

00:28:13.160 --> 00:28:13.940
 you resonate with.

00:28:14.019 --> 00:28:14.500
 You find what

00:28:14.500 --> 00:28:15.200
 you enjoy doing

00:28:15.200 --> 00:28:16.700
 and then you get on

00:28:16.700 --> 00:28:17.140
 and do it.

00:28:20.320 --> 00:28:21.019
 And I don't know

00:28:21.019 --> 00:28:21.560
 if you noticed

00:28:21.560 --> 00:28:23.340
 that a lot of the gifts

00:28:23.340 --> 00:28:24.140
 that are mentioned here

00:28:24.140 --> 00:28:24.860
 are actually things

00:28:24.860 --> 00:28:25.620
 that every Christian

00:28:25.620 --> 00:28:26.279
 should be doing.

00:28:27.140 --> 00:28:27.820
 Did you notice that?

00:28:27.880 --> 00:28:28.019
 I mean,

00:28:28.120 --> 00:28:28.720
 serving,

00:28:29.540 --> 00:28:30.180
 exhorting,

00:28:30.279 --> 00:28:31.259
 showing acts of mercy,

00:28:31.440 --> 00:28:32.279
 all those kind of things

00:28:32.279 --> 00:28:33.500
 every Christian should do.

00:28:34.160 --> 00:28:35.300
 So what's the difference

00:28:35.300 --> 00:28:36.540
 between a spiritual gift

00:28:36.540 --> 00:28:37.860
 and just doing those things?

00:28:38.140 --> 00:28:39.019
 Well, I think it's that

00:28:39.019 --> 00:28:40.360
 if you have a spiritual gift

00:28:40.360 --> 00:28:41.900
 you are wired in a way

00:28:41.900 --> 00:28:43.180
 where you resonate with it.

00:28:43.420 --> 00:28:44.600
 It's a passion of yours.

00:28:44.680 --> 00:28:45.519
 You enjoy it.

00:28:46.000 --> 00:28:46.720
 It's got something

00:28:46.720 --> 00:28:47.560
 where you get

00:28:47.560 --> 00:28:48.860
 a sense of fulfillment

00:28:48.860 --> 00:28:49.460
 and satisfaction

00:28:49.460 --> 00:28:50.420
 after you've done it.

00:28:52.540 --> 00:28:52.800
 You know,

00:28:52.940 --> 00:28:54.420
 if you're in your community group

00:28:54.420 --> 00:28:56.580
 and you think

00:28:56.580 --> 00:28:58.060
 you see that somebody else

00:28:58.060 --> 00:28:58.620
 is on their own,

00:28:58.720 --> 00:28:59.440
 somebody else hasn't been

00:28:59.440 --> 00:29:00.060
 able to contribute

00:29:00.060 --> 00:29:00.840
 and you're thinking

00:29:00.840 --> 00:29:02.560
 why doesn't anybody else

00:29:02.560 --> 00:29:03.300
 notice them?

00:29:03.299 --> 00:29:03.799
 Listen,

00:29:04.480 --> 00:29:06.299
 maybe it's because

00:29:06.299 --> 00:29:08.359
 it's your spiritual gift

00:29:08.359 --> 00:29:08.960
 and you're the one

00:29:08.960 --> 00:29:09.659
 who's meant to do

00:29:09.659 --> 00:29:10.419
 something about it.

00:29:10.799 --> 00:29:11.379
 Or maybe you think

00:29:11.379 --> 00:29:12.180
 why is everyone

00:29:12.180 --> 00:29:13.940
 so disorganized here?

00:29:15.579 --> 00:29:16.139
 Or maybe

00:29:16.139 --> 00:29:18.559
 it's because you're the one

00:29:18.559 --> 00:29:20.099
 who's meant to start helping,

00:29:21.000 --> 00:29:21.960
 to organize us.

00:29:22.059 --> 00:29:23.240
 If it was down to me,

00:29:24.139 --> 00:29:26.339
 I dread to think

00:29:26.339 --> 00:29:27.000
 what would happen.

00:29:27.359 --> 00:29:27.659
 You see,

00:29:28.079 --> 00:29:29.299
 I lived in my flat

00:29:29.299 --> 00:29:30.319
 for two years

00:29:30.319 --> 00:29:30.939
 and we always had

00:29:30.939 --> 00:29:32.319
 a problem with fruit flies

00:29:32.319 --> 00:29:33.480
 in the rubbish bin.

00:29:33.480 --> 00:29:33.679
 You know,

00:29:33.759 --> 00:29:34.779
 we put food waste

00:29:34.779 --> 00:29:35.220
 in the bin

00:29:35.220 --> 00:29:35.559
 and then,

00:29:36.240 --> 00:29:36.679
 I mean,

00:29:36.859 --> 00:29:37.759
 they were breeding

00:29:37.759 --> 00:29:39.240
 so quickly

00:29:39.240 --> 00:29:40.059
 they were overtaking

00:29:40.059 --> 00:29:41.299
 the population of China.

00:29:41.779 --> 00:29:41.939
 You know,

00:29:42.019 --> 00:29:42.980
 and every day

00:29:42.980 --> 00:29:44.079
 I had to empty

00:29:44.079 --> 00:29:46.159
 the rubbish bin.

00:29:46.160 --> 00:29:48.320
 And it was just

00:29:48.320 --> 00:29:49.279
 so frustrating

00:29:49.279 --> 00:29:49.779
 I didn't know

00:29:49.779 --> 00:29:50.180
 what to do.

00:29:50.600 --> 00:29:51.779
 Fiona moves into

00:29:51.779 --> 00:29:52.580
 her flat

00:29:52.580 --> 00:29:53.480
 after we got married

00:29:53.480 --> 00:29:55.000
 and she says,

00:29:55.340 --> 00:29:56.960
 why don't you put

00:29:56.960 --> 00:29:57.580
 your food waste

00:29:57.580 --> 00:29:58.480
 in a separate bag

00:29:58.480 --> 00:29:59.560
 and just throw it outside

00:29:59.560 --> 00:30:00.320
 so you don't have to

00:30:00.320 --> 00:30:01.400
 put it in the rubbish bin?

00:30:01.400 --> 00:30:03.420
 And I thought,

00:30:04.180 --> 00:30:05.000
 wow.

00:30:08.360 --> 00:30:09.840
 I'd never thought of that.

00:30:10.940 --> 00:30:11.820
 That's genius.

00:30:13.940 --> 00:30:14.360
 You see,

00:30:14.600 --> 00:30:16.060
 she's so much more practical

00:30:16.060 --> 00:30:17.060
 than I am

00:30:17.060 --> 00:30:18.500
 because she solves the issue

00:30:18.500 --> 00:30:19.840
 and she's wired in that way.

00:30:20.940 --> 00:30:21.259
 You see,

00:30:21.900 --> 00:30:23.640
 if everybody in this church

00:30:23.640 --> 00:30:25.360
 had the same gifts as me,

00:30:25.759 --> 00:30:26.900
 it would be chaos.

00:30:27.700 --> 00:30:28.400
 This place would be

00:30:28.400 --> 00:30:29.620
 full of fruit flies

00:30:29.620 --> 00:30:30.280
 everywhere.

00:30:31.400 --> 00:30:34.880
 But you see,

00:30:34.960 --> 00:30:35.420
 you're different.

00:30:35.680 --> 00:30:36.500
 Things you notice,

00:30:36.600 --> 00:30:37.240
 you will notice

00:30:37.240 --> 00:30:38.120
 different things.

00:30:38.420 --> 00:30:38.980
 Those are things

00:30:38.980 --> 00:30:39.840
 you can use.

00:30:40.540 --> 00:30:41.460
 Get on and serve.

00:30:41.640 --> 00:30:42.380
 Use them.

00:30:43.780 --> 00:30:44.840
 Let me give you a scenario

00:30:44.840 --> 00:30:45.759
 to think how this can

00:30:45.759 --> 00:30:46.300
 actually look like

00:30:46.300 --> 00:30:46.780
 practically.

00:30:48.400 --> 00:30:49.380
 Someone in the church

00:30:49.380 --> 00:30:49.940
 says maybe,

00:30:50.080 --> 00:30:50.240
 okay,

00:30:50.320 --> 00:30:51.460
 I'd love to get people together

00:30:51.460 --> 00:30:52.360
 and we could learn

00:30:52.360 --> 00:30:53.519
 how to cook some dishes,

00:30:53.660 --> 00:30:54.220
 for example.

00:30:55.200 --> 00:30:56.360
 And so they invite

00:30:56.360 --> 00:30:57.140
 some different people

00:30:57.140 --> 00:30:58.380
 and one of those people

00:30:58.380 --> 00:30:58.600
 says,

00:30:58.940 --> 00:30:59.080
 oh,

00:30:59.180 --> 00:30:59.600
 I know what,

00:30:59.780 --> 00:31:00.860
 I'll invite Chris

00:31:00.860 --> 00:31:01.340
 because

00:31:01.339 --> 00:31:02.879
 I've heard how bad

00:31:02.879 --> 00:31:03.659
 his cooking is

00:31:03.659 --> 00:31:04.119
 and you know,

00:31:04.359 --> 00:31:05.379
 they might die

00:31:05.379 --> 00:31:06.539
 if he's continued

00:31:06.539 --> 00:31:07.419
 to allow cooking

00:31:07.419 --> 00:31:08.079
 the way he does.

00:31:08.399 --> 00:31:09.339
 Someone else says,

00:31:09.659 --> 00:31:09.899
 you know,

00:31:10.099 --> 00:31:11.819
 I've got a friend

00:31:11.819 --> 00:31:12.559
 who's not a Christian.

00:31:12.659 --> 00:31:13.519
 It would be great to see

00:31:13.519 --> 00:31:14.319
 so they could come

00:31:14.319 --> 00:31:15.659
 and see our community.

00:31:16.019 --> 00:31:16.759
 Somebody else says,

00:31:17.000 --> 00:31:17.759
 I'll organize

00:31:17.759 --> 00:31:18.519
 a WhatsApp group

00:31:18.519 --> 00:31:19.359
 so we can communicate

00:31:19.359 --> 00:31:19.759
 together

00:31:19.759 --> 00:31:20.480
 and we can organize

00:31:20.480 --> 00:31:20.799
 each other.

00:31:20.859 --> 00:31:21.579
 Someone else says,

00:31:22.259 --> 00:31:22.539
 you know,

00:31:22.619 --> 00:31:23.519
 I can babysit

00:31:23.519 --> 00:31:24.240
 for you guys

00:31:24.240 --> 00:31:25.519
 so you can get out

00:31:25.519 --> 00:31:25.980
 and do it.

00:31:27.079 --> 00:31:27.759
 What's happening?

00:31:27.759 --> 00:31:29.099
 You know,

00:31:29.579 --> 00:31:30.079
 someone's taking

00:31:30.079 --> 00:31:30.859
 a natural talent

00:31:30.859 --> 00:31:33.220
 and there are now

00:31:33.220 --> 00:31:34.720
 gifts of leading,

00:31:34.940 --> 00:31:35.660
 taking the initiative,

00:31:36.319 --> 00:31:37.079
 showing mercy

00:31:37.079 --> 00:31:37.779
 to me,

00:31:39.519 --> 00:31:40.420
 evangelism,

00:31:40.579 --> 00:31:41.319
 thinking about those

00:31:41.319 --> 00:31:41.940
 outside,

00:31:42.440 --> 00:31:43.180
 organization,

00:31:43.779 --> 00:31:44.039
 okay,

00:31:44.299 --> 00:31:44.920
 can you see

00:31:44.920 --> 00:31:46.099
 how the body

00:31:46.099 --> 00:31:47.259
 works all together?

00:31:47.900 --> 00:31:48.879
 It's very normal.

00:31:49.880 --> 00:31:51.180
 But we often don't think.

00:31:51.260 --> 00:31:51.700
 We're thinking,

00:31:51.940 --> 00:31:52.860
 my gift has got to be

00:31:52.860 --> 00:31:53.800
 something spectacular.

00:31:55.100 --> 00:31:55.300
 No.

00:31:57.300 --> 00:31:58.700
 You imagine if you are not

00:31:58.700 --> 00:31:59.960
 using your gift in that,

00:32:00.460 --> 00:32:01.720
 if you're the organized one

00:32:01.720 --> 00:32:03.600
 and you're not helping organize,

00:32:03.960 --> 00:32:04.960
 imagine the chaos.

00:32:06.080 --> 00:32:07.040
 You've all got something

00:32:07.040 --> 00:32:07.900
 to contribute.

00:32:08.400 --> 00:32:09.360
 It's not rocket science.

00:32:09.860 --> 00:32:10.920
 So don't focus on

00:32:10.920 --> 00:32:12.400
 finding my gift.

00:32:12.640 --> 00:32:13.040
 Focus on,

00:32:13.140 --> 00:32:13.960
 how can I serve?

00:32:14.680 --> 00:32:15.980
 How can I try something?

00:32:16.260 --> 00:32:17.180
 Where are the opportunities?

00:32:17.340 --> 00:32:18.000
 There are opportunities

00:32:18.000 --> 00:32:19.099
 in the children's ministry

00:32:19.099 --> 00:32:19.599
 this summer.

00:32:19.880 --> 00:32:20.940
 If you've never worked

00:32:20.940 --> 00:32:21.380
 in the children's,

00:32:21.380 --> 00:32:21.740
 you're thinking,

00:32:21.839 --> 00:32:22.960
 I could never do that.

00:32:23.440 --> 00:32:24.359
 Why don't you try it?

00:32:25.519 --> 00:32:26.140
 Try it.

00:32:26.480 --> 00:32:27.339
 There's prayer team.

00:32:27.740 --> 00:32:29.019
 If you have a passion

00:32:29.019 --> 00:32:29.480
 for praying,

00:32:29.700 --> 00:32:30.720
 go and join the prayer team.

00:32:31.680 --> 00:32:32.119
 There's,

00:32:32.279 --> 00:32:33.380
 in your community groups,

00:32:33.799 --> 00:32:34.920
 maybe there are people there

00:32:34.920 --> 00:32:36.660
 who don't connect outside.

00:32:36.779 --> 00:32:37.720
 Maybe you could be the one

00:32:37.720 --> 00:32:39.059
 who just sends a text,

00:32:39.460 --> 00:32:39.700
 says,

00:32:39.819 --> 00:32:39.920
 hey,

00:32:39.980 --> 00:32:40.400
 do you want to meet up

00:32:40.400 --> 00:32:40.940
 for coffee?

00:32:41.500 --> 00:32:42.240
 Very simple,

00:32:42.359 --> 00:32:42.859
 normal things,

00:32:42.920 --> 00:32:44.180
 but that's how the body works.

00:32:46.579 --> 00:32:47.519
 Some of us don't know

00:32:47.519 --> 00:32:47.940
 our gifting,

00:32:48.000 --> 00:32:49.220
 because we're so afraid

00:32:49.220 --> 00:32:51.660
 to try things out,

00:32:51.779 --> 00:32:53.160
 which we don't feel

00:32:53.160 --> 00:32:54.259
 so competent in,

00:32:55.019 --> 00:32:56.259
 because we're afraid

00:32:56.259 --> 00:32:57.119
 we might fail.

00:32:58.920 --> 00:32:59.519
 But you know,

00:33:00.240 --> 00:33:02.039
 in view of God's mercies,

00:33:02.779 --> 00:33:04.480
 your identity is not bound up

00:33:04.480 --> 00:33:05.460
 in whether you succeed

00:33:05.460 --> 00:33:06.119
 or you fail.

00:33:06.339 --> 00:33:07.480
 Your identity is found

00:33:07.480 --> 00:33:08.119
 in Christ.

00:33:08.900 --> 00:33:09.819
 So you can be free

00:33:09.819 --> 00:33:10.880
 to try things.

00:33:12.500 --> 00:33:13.440
 If we're waiting

00:33:13.440 --> 00:33:14.779
 for the perfect opportunity

00:33:14.779 --> 00:33:16.000
 where I can be competent,

00:33:16.000 --> 00:33:16.279
 you know,

00:33:16.339 --> 00:33:17.259
 you're an investor,

00:33:17.339 --> 00:33:18.380
 you're great at investing,

00:33:18.660 --> 00:33:19.420
 and you're waiting

00:33:19.420 --> 00:33:19.980
 for Watermark

00:33:19.980 --> 00:33:21.059
 to have $200 million

00:33:21.059 --> 00:33:22.380
 for you to invest,

00:33:22.900 --> 00:33:23.660
 you're going to be waiting

00:33:23.660 --> 00:33:24.579
 a very long time.

00:33:25.799 --> 00:33:26.759
 So don't wait

00:33:26.759 --> 00:33:27.740
 for something perfect

00:33:27.740 --> 00:33:28.420
 to come along

00:33:28.420 --> 00:33:29.299
 that's just for you.

00:33:29.539 --> 00:33:30.220
 Just get on

00:33:30.220 --> 00:33:31.220
 and look around you,

00:33:31.220 --> 00:33:32.500
 see who the people

00:33:32.500 --> 00:33:33.500
 are around you,

00:33:33.599 --> 00:33:34.539
 see where the needs are,

00:33:34.539 --> 00:33:37.240
 and just try something.

00:33:38.599 --> 00:33:39.619
 That also means

00:33:39.619 --> 00:33:40.319
 that sometimes

00:33:40.319 --> 00:33:42.220
 we also need to operate

00:33:42.220 --> 00:33:44.019
 outside of the area

00:33:44.019 --> 00:33:44.920
 where we're gifted in.

00:33:45.399 --> 00:33:46.700
 You don't always do things

00:33:46.700 --> 00:33:47.279
 you're gifted in.

00:33:47.440 --> 00:33:47.980
 For example,

00:33:48.659 --> 00:33:49.940
 if someone comes to me

00:33:49.940 --> 00:33:51.659
 and, you know,

00:33:51.700 --> 00:33:52.359
 they're crying,

00:33:52.539 --> 00:33:53.519
 they're struggling

00:33:53.519 --> 00:33:54.319
 with their problem,

00:33:54.539 --> 00:33:55.319
 and I say to them,

00:33:55.420 --> 00:33:56.220
 stop right there.

00:33:56.819 --> 00:33:58.200
 I don't have a gift of mercy.

00:33:58.659 --> 00:33:59.379
 You need to go

00:33:59.379 --> 00:34:00.220
 to the lady three doors

00:34:00.220 --> 00:34:00.799
 down over there.

00:34:00.839 --> 00:34:01.799
 She's the mercy one.

00:34:02.200 --> 00:34:02.480
 Okay?

00:34:02.819 --> 00:34:03.480
 It's ridiculous.

00:34:04.539 --> 00:34:05.940
 Sometimes we just have to,

00:34:06.019 --> 00:34:06.740
 because you see,

00:34:06.839 --> 00:34:08.259
 it's not about me.

00:34:08.579 --> 00:34:09.340
 It's not about me

00:34:09.340 --> 00:34:10.420
 just having to do

00:34:10.420 --> 00:34:11.860
 everything that suits me.

00:34:12.099 --> 00:34:13.679
 It's actually about us.

00:34:14.300 --> 00:34:16.400
 How can I serve others?

00:34:20.519 --> 00:34:21.559
 So what have we said?

00:34:21.619 --> 00:34:22.099
 We've said

00:34:22.099 --> 00:34:25.320
 that the heart

00:34:25.320 --> 00:34:27.159
 of a generous person

00:34:27.159 --> 00:34:29.320
 is not making it about me,

00:34:29.619 --> 00:34:30.779
 but it's realizing

00:34:30.779 --> 00:34:33.619
 the amazing generosity of God

00:34:33.619 --> 00:34:34.619
 God.

00:34:34.619 --> 00:34:36.199
 And in light of that,

00:34:36.699 --> 00:34:37.679
 responding by saying,

00:34:37.779 --> 00:34:39.179
 God, just use me

00:34:39.179 --> 00:34:39.839
 where you can.

00:34:40.239 --> 00:34:41.920
 Use me with the people around.

00:34:42.960 --> 00:34:43.500
 Show me,

00:34:43.599 --> 00:34:44.339
 open my eyes

00:34:44.339 --> 00:34:45.420
 so I'm not so wrapped up

00:34:45.420 --> 00:34:45.980
 in myself

00:34:45.980 --> 00:34:47.079
 that I can look around

00:34:47.079 --> 00:34:48.819
 and I can see beyond

00:34:48.819 --> 00:34:50.599
 my sense of pride,

00:34:50.719 --> 00:34:51.380
 my identity,

00:34:51.559 --> 00:34:52.420
 the things that I want

00:34:52.420 --> 00:34:53.039
 so I can see

00:34:53.039 --> 00:34:53.920
 the people around me.

00:34:55.259 --> 00:34:55.659
 Now,

00:34:55.699 --> 00:34:56.659
 every one of us

00:34:56.659 --> 00:34:58.299
 is at a different place.

00:34:59.059 --> 00:35:00.000
 Every one of us

00:35:00.000 --> 00:35:01.920
 has different capacities.

00:35:01.920 --> 00:35:03.599
 Every one of us

00:35:03.599 --> 00:35:05.300
 has different energy levels.

00:35:06.380 --> 00:35:07.059
 That's okay.

00:35:07.980 --> 00:35:08.860
 God has given

00:35:08.860 --> 00:35:10.180
 each of you grace

00:35:10.180 --> 00:35:11.099
 for something.

00:35:12.840 --> 00:35:13.720
 God has given

00:35:13.720 --> 00:35:14.599
 each of you grace

00:35:14.599 --> 00:35:15.340
 for something.

00:35:16.760 --> 00:35:18.039
 And His grace is given

00:35:18.039 --> 00:35:19.059
 so you can extend it

00:35:19.059 --> 00:35:19.579
 to others.

00:35:20.740 --> 00:35:21.039
 Listen,

00:35:21.200 --> 00:35:22.820
 if you know

00:35:22.820 --> 00:35:23.360
 that you're one

00:35:23.360 --> 00:35:24.000
 of those people

00:35:24.000 --> 00:35:25.360
 who are so wrapped up

00:35:25.360 --> 00:35:25.820
 in yourself,

00:35:25.900 --> 00:35:26.480
 in your work,

00:35:26.700 --> 00:35:27.380
 in your family,

00:35:27.460 --> 00:35:28.500
 that you never notice

00:35:28.500 --> 00:35:29.400
 anybody else,

00:35:29.400 --> 00:35:31.260
 here's a suggestion.

00:35:31.400 --> 00:35:32.079
 When you're next

00:35:32.079 --> 00:35:33.260
 on the MTR,

00:35:33.480 --> 00:35:33.860
 the meeting,

00:35:33.960 --> 00:35:34.680
 going to the bathroom,

00:35:35.000 --> 00:35:35.800
 and you're tempted

00:35:35.800 --> 00:35:37.360
 just to get out

00:35:37.360 --> 00:35:37.840
 your phone

00:35:37.840 --> 00:35:38.380
 and you know

00:35:38.380 --> 00:35:39.079
 you're going to play

00:35:39.079 --> 00:35:40.920
 your next Flappy Bird game

00:35:40.920 --> 00:35:42.599
 or you're going to create

00:35:42.599 --> 00:35:43.820
 your mega mind,

00:35:44.200 --> 00:35:45.559
 metrocity,

00:35:45.740 --> 00:35:46.579
 on your phone,

00:35:46.660 --> 00:35:47.780
 this amazing city

00:35:47.780 --> 00:35:48.300
 or whatever,

00:35:49.660 --> 00:35:50.119
 or you're going to go

00:35:50.119 --> 00:35:50.639
 on Facebook

00:35:50.639 --> 00:35:51.800
 and connect

00:35:51.800 --> 00:35:52.660
 with everybody else,

00:35:53.180 --> 00:35:53.780
 stop.

00:35:54.539 --> 00:35:55.720
 Get into the discipline

00:35:55.720 --> 00:35:55.980
 and say,

00:35:56.079 --> 00:35:56.220
 okay,

00:35:56.340 --> 00:35:57.200
 for one minute,

00:35:57.199 --> 00:35:58.879
 one minute every day

00:35:58.879 --> 00:35:59.439
 I'm going to stop

00:35:59.439 --> 00:36:00.239
 and I'm going to think,

00:36:00.739 --> 00:36:02.099
 who can I serve

00:36:02.099 --> 00:36:02.699
 in the community?

00:36:04.239 --> 00:36:05.419
 Who can I pray for?

00:36:06.759 --> 00:36:08.099
 Who can I reach out

00:36:08.099 --> 00:36:08.779
 to this week?

00:36:08.980 --> 00:36:09.279
 Maybe it's,

00:36:09.359 --> 00:36:10.539
 I just send them a text.

00:36:10.699 --> 00:36:12.219
 Maybe that's my capacity.

00:36:12.839 --> 00:36:13.480
 I just say,

00:36:13.639 --> 00:36:14.699
 I can pray for you.

00:36:15.579 --> 00:36:15.839
 And you think,

00:36:15.879 --> 00:36:16.179
 what are they going

00:36:16.179 --> 00:36:16.819
 to think about me

00:36:16.819 --> 00:36:18.079
 if I've never texted

00:36:18.079 --> 00:36:18.619
 them before?

00:36:18.879 --> 00:36:19.399
 Are they going to think

00:36:19.399 --> 00:36:19.960
 I'm strange?

00:36:21.259 --> 00:36:21.659
 Maybe.

00:36:22.099 --> 00:36:22.839
 Who cares?

00:36:24.019 --> 00:36:25.379
 Because you can extend

00:36:25.379 --> 00:36:26.460
 grace to people.

00:36:26.460 --> 00:36:27.679
 It's not about you.

00:36:30.980 --> 00:36:32.440
 Make it a regular discipline

00:36:32.440 --> 00:36:33.440
 if you're that busy.

00:36:34.240 --> 00:36:35.019
 Have disciplines

00:36:35.019 --> 00:36:35.980
 where you stop

00:36:35.980 --> 00:36:36.980
 for one minute

00:36:36.980 --> 00:36:37.740
 and you say,

00:36:37.940 --> 00:36:38.760
 who can I serve?

00:36:38.900 --> 00:36:39.579
 Who can I think?

00:36:40.019 --> 00:36:41.320
 If you're one of those people

00:36:41.320 --> 00:36:43.159
 who rush into church

00:36:43.159 --> 00:36:44.519
 and if your own experience

00:36:44.519 --> 00:36:45.720
 and you're Christian

00:36:45.720 --> 00:36:46.840
 and your own experience

00:36:46.840 --> 00:36:48.460
 of church communities

00:36:48.460 --> 00:36:49.460
 that you come in,

00:36:49.760 --> 00:36:50.380
 you go out,

00:36:50.460 --> 00:36:51.059
 you come to CG,

00:36:51.240 --> 00:36:51.720
 you go out

00:36:51.720 --> 00:36:52.840
 and you have no interaction,

00:36:53.179 --> 00:36:53.820
 nothing else

00:36:53.820 --> 00:36:54.659
 throughout the week,

00:36:54.659 --> 00:36:58.239
 maybe you're conforming

00:36:58.239 --> 00:37:00.179
 to being wrapped up

00:37:00.179 --> 00:37:00.719
 in yourself

00:37:00.719 --> 00:37:02.359
 and maybe God's call

00:37:02.359 --> 00:37:04.799
 is stop for a minute,

00:37:05.139 --> 00:37:06.359
 look at someone around you,

00:37:06.460 --> 00:37:07.259
 go up to someone

00:37:07.259 --> 00:37:08.239
 who's on their own,

00:37:09.199 --> 00:37:10.059
 talk to the person

00:37:10.059 --> 00:37:10.699
 next to you

00:37:10.699 --> 00:37:11.659
 for two minutes

00:37:11.659 --> 00:37:13.079
 because that may be

00:37:13.079 --> 00:37:14.059
 extending grace

00:37:14.059 --> 00:37:14.539
 to them

00:37:14.539 --> 00:37:16.399
 and you may never know

00:37:16.399 --> 00:37:17.299
 the impact

00:37:17.299 --> 00:37:18.539
 that that one thing did.

00:37:18.539 --> 00:37:25.300
 some of you though

00:37:25.300 --> 00:37:26.219
 are serving,

00:37:26.639 --> 00:37:27.579
 some of you though

00:37:27.579 --> 00:37:29.300
 are serving

00:37:29.300 --> 00:37:30.779
 in lots of different ways

00:37:30.779 --> 00:37:34.279
 and some of you

00:37:34.279 --> 00:37:34.940
 may be serving

00:37:34.940 --> 00:37:35.800
 out of duty,

00:37:36.259 --> 00:37:36.400
 you know,

00:37:36.460 --> 00:37:37.079
 you've been doing it

00:37:37.079 --> 00:37:38.119
 for a long time now

00:37:38.119 --> 00:37:39.259
 and you've just grown tired,

00:37:39.820 --> 00:37:40.699
 some of you

00:37:40.699 --> 00:37:41.920
 may have grown discouraged

00:37:41.920 --> 00:37:43.079
 because when you've been serving

00:37:43.079 --> 00:37:43.599
 everyone else

00:37:43.599 --> 00:37:44.320
 has responded

00:37:44.320 --> 00:37:46.259
 not necessarily

00:37:46.259 --> 00:37:47.400
 the way you wanted to,

00:37:47.400 --> 00:37:48.539
 they didn't take up

00:37:48.539 --> 00:37:49.119
 the suggestions

00:37:49.119 --> 00:37:49.900
 you gave them,

00:37:50.639 --> 00:37:52.240
 they didn't answer

00:37:52.240 --> 00:37:52.760
 your emails

00:37:52.760 --> 00:37:53.260
 when you try

00:37:53.260 --> 00:37:54.320
 to organize something

00:37:54.320 --> 00:37:55.280
 and you're tearing

00:37:55.280 --> 00:37:55.940
 your hair out

00:37:55.940 --> 00:37:57.019
 and you're getting frustrated,

00:37:57.440 --> 00:37:59.059
 why isn't anybody else

00:37:59.059 --> 00:38:00.660
 interested in

00:38:00.660 --> 00:38:01.820
 what I'm interested in?

00:38:05.099 --> 00:38:05.579
 You see,

00:38:05.800 --> 00:38:06.380
 Paul says,

00:38:06.579 --> 00:38:07.440
 and it's very challenging,

00:38:07.619 --> 00:38:08.039
 he says,

00:38:08.539 --> 00:38:09.200
 if you lead,

00:38:09.880 --> 00:38:10.860
 lead with zeal,

00:38:11.639 --> 00:38:13.340
 if you show acts of mercy,

00:38:14.160 --> 00:38:15.320
 do it with cheerfulness,

00:38:15.320 --> 00:38:17.400
 how can you

00:38:17.400 --> 00:38:18.940
 use your gifts

00:38:18.940 --> 00:38:20.180
 with that kind of attitude?

00:38:20.420 --> 00:38:21.519
 It's only when you stop

00:38:21.519 --> 00:38:22.240
 and you remember

00:38:22.240 --> 00:38:24.360
 the generosity of God

00:38:24.360 --> 00:38:25.160
 towards you.

00:38:26.460 --> 00:38:27.800
 In view of his mercies,

00:38:27.960 --> 00:38:28.880
 I will persevere

00:38:28.880 --> 00:38:29.600
 with my gifts

00:38:29.600 --> 00:38:30.880
 because Jesus

00:38:30.880 --> 00:38:32.059
 persevered with me.

00:38:32.740 --> 00:38:33.960
 I was ungrateful,

00:38:34.180 --> 00:38:35.519
 I was unresponsive

00:38:35.519 --> 00:38:36.420
 and yet Jesus

00:38:36.420 --> 00:38:37.440
 went to the cross,

00:38:38.260 --> 00:38:39.140
 poured out his life

00:38:39.140 --> 00:38:39.640
 for me.

00:38:40.780 --> 00:38:41.860
 Let his grace

00:38:41.860 --> 00:38:43.220
 capture your heart again

00:38:43.219 --> 00:38:45.039
 so that actually

00:38:45.039 --> 00:38:47.379
 you have that sense

00:38:47.379 --> 00:38:49.319
 of thankfulness.

00:38:49.459 --> 00:38:51.099
 It's not about me,

00:38:51.179 --> 00:38:51.719
 it's not about how

00:38:51.719 --> 00:38:52.739
 people respond to me,

00:38:52.799 --> 00:38:53.559
 it's just about

00:38:53.559 --> 00:38:54.739
 I want to worship you

00:38:54.739 --> 00:38:55.379
 with my life,

00:38:55.779 --> 00:38:56.719
 with my service,

00:38:57.059 --> 00:38:58.079
 with how I can do

00:38:58.079 --> 00:38:58.719
 these things.

00:38:59.379 --> 00:39:00.439
 God's given us gifts,

00:39:00.699 --> 00:39:00.959
 talents,

00:39:01.199 --> 00:39:02.579
 every single one of us.

00:39:03.980 --> 00:39:04.739
 He's given us

00:39:04.739 --> 00:39:05.739
 people around us,

00:39:06.000 --> 00:39:07.019
 he's given us opportunities,

00:39:07.539 --> 00:39:08.559
 he's given us needs.

00:39:09.000 --> 00:39:10.679
 So in view of God's mercies,

00:39:10.679 --> 00:39:12.460
 let us get on

00:39:12.460 --> 00:39:13.119
 and use them

00:39:13.119 --> 00:39:14.839
 and let us build

00:39:14.839 --> 00:39:15.559
 each other up

00:39:15.559 --> 00:39:17.659
 in being his body.

00:39:18.399 --> 00:39:19.139
 Let's pray.

00:39:29.719 --> 00:39:30.279
 Father,

00:39:30.440 --> 00:39:32.480
 I confess that

00:39:32.480 --> 00:39:34.599
 I do often

00:39:34.599 --> 00:39:35.519
 forget about

00:39:35.519 --> 00:39:36.259
 your mercies

00:39:36.260 --> 00:39:39.920
 and I so naturally

00:39:39.920 --> 00:39:41.140
 have that tendency

00:39:41.140 --> 00:39:42.280
 to make it all about me.

00:39:43.420 --> 00:39:44.740
 Forgive me for that.

00:39:45.660 --> 00:39:47.100
 I pray that you would

00:39:47.100 --> 00:39:48.920
 open our eyes

00:39:48.920 --> 00:39:50.720
 to see increasingly,

00:39:51.420 --> 00:39:52.380
 day by day,

00:39:52.620 --> 00:39:53.500
 reminding ourselves

00:39:53.500 --> 00:39:54.780
 of just what you have done,

00:39:54.860 --> 00:39:55.740
 just how generous

00:39:55.740 --> 00:39:56.960
 you have been to us.

00:39:57.820 --> 00:39:58.660
 Help that not just

00:39:58.660 --> 00:39:59.520
 to become an idea

00:39:59.520 --> 00:40:00.420
 in my head,

00:40:00.780 --> 00:40:01.340
 but let that be

00:40:01.340 --> 00:40:02.500
 something in my heart.

00:40:03.440 --> 00:40:04.520
 Pray for us

00:40:04.520 --> 00:40:05.320
 as a congregation

00:40:05.320 --> 00:40:06.019
 that that would

00:40:06.019 --> 00:40:07.559
 become real to us.

00:40:08.180 --> 00:40:08.980
 If we've been

00:40:08.980 --> 00:40:10.480
 using our gifts

00:40:10.480 --> 00:40:11.900
 or if we haven't,

00:40:12.140 --> 00:40:12.340
 Lord,

00:40:12.400 --> 00:40:13.820
 I pray that your mercy

00:40:13.820 --> 00:40:15.860
 would just excite us again,

00:40:16.280 --> 00:40:17.220
 that we realize

00:40:17.220 --> 00:40:18.500
 that the gifts

00:40:18.500 --> 00:40:19.340
 that you've given us

00:40:19.340 --> 00:40:20.420
 are another evidence

00:40:20.420 --> 00:40:21.180
 of your grace

00:40:21.180 --> 00:40:21.920
 towards us.

00:40:22.700 --> 00:40:23.480
 Please help us

00:40:23.480 --> 00:40:24.059
 to be a body

00:40:24.059 --> 00:40:25.519
 where we encourage

00:40:25.519 --> 00:40:26.100
 each other,

00:40:26.559 --> 00:40:27.160
 where we build

00:40:27.160 --> 00:40:27.880
 each other up,

00:40:27.980 --> 00:40:28.640
 where we look out

00:40:28.640 --> 00:40:29.260
 for each other,

00:40:29.600 --> 00:40:30.740
 where we be the people

00:40:30.740 --> 00:40:32.539
 transformed

00:40:32.539 --> 00:40:33.519
 into those

00:40:33.519 --> 00:40:34.500
 beautiful butterflies,

00:40:34.500 --> 00:40:35.199
 into those

00:40:35.199 --> 00:40:36.420
 beautiful creations

00:40:36.420 --> 00:40:37.519
 that we were meant to be.

00:40:38.239 --> 00:40:39.380
 Thank you for what you're doing.

00:40:39.539 --> 00:40:40.199
 Thank you that you're

00:40:40.199 --> 00:40:41.360
 taking us on this journey.

00:40:42.159 --> 00:40:42.699
 I praise you

00:40:42.699 --> 00:40:43.300
 for what you're doing.

00:40:43.940 --> 00:40:44.219
 Amen.