WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:12.040 We call the season of Lent, we're taking more time than usual to reflect on all that God has called us to be and to do in our lives. 00:00:12.220 --> 00:00:19.800 And the fact that we need Jesus and we need the power of the Holy Spirit to fulfill that calling. 00:00:20.059 --> 00:00:24.580 So we're thinking about that as individuals and we're also thinking about that as a community. 00:00:24.579 --> 00:00:31.019 And so we're taking time this season over these weeks to reflect as a church on those two questions. 00:00:31.179 --> 00:00:40.840 Who are we and who is the Lord calling us to become in this neighborhood of Brooklyn in the city of Washington, D.C.? 00:00:40.840 --> 00:00:53.239 And for those of you who have been a part of this church or other churches, you know that it's very important from time to time for us to come together as a church and to ask these questions, to reflect on those things. 00:00:53.240 --> 00:01:00.000 If you're not a part of our church, if you're visiting, if you're not a Christian and this sounds maybe like it's not relevant for you, 00:01:00.260 --> 00:01:09.700 I do want to say actually I think this is a great opportunity for you to get a sense of what we're about and what kind of community this is and what we care about. 00:01:09.960 --> 00:01:14.180 And to decide whether or not this could be a community that would become your home. 00:01:14.320 --> 00:01:16.060 And we really hope that it will. 00:01:17.099 --> 00:01:19.079 But I want to put the statement up here. 00:01:19.079 --> 00:01:24.920 This is the way that we would summarize who we are as a church and where we feel like God is calling us to go. 00:01:25.439 --> 00:01:30.920 And this statement has come out of our leadership and a lot of prayer and reflection and conversations in our congregation. 00:01:31.319 --> 00:01:32.359 So I'll just read it to you. 00:01:33.179 --> 00:01:36.319 As a church, we seek the flourishing of Washington, D.C. 00:01:36.900 --> 00:01:44.539 by building gospel-centered communities that practice generous hospitality, spiritual formation, and missionary faithfulness in every neighborhood. 00:01:44.980 --> 00:01:47.120 So this is how we would answer those questions. 00:01:47.120 --> 00:01:55.480 And we want to make sure that we have clarity on this so that we can move forward together in the coming years as a community, move as one. 00:01:55.859 --> 00:01:59.219 And so we're breaking this down and looking at a different piece each week. 00:01:59.320 --> 00:02:03.680 So two weeks ago, we looked at the first part, as a church, that's our identity. 00:02:04.460 --> 00:02:11.460 And then last week, we looked at the second sort of grouping of words, we seek the flourishing of Washington, D.C. 00:02:11.460 --> 00:02:12.599 That's our vision. 00:02:12.599 --> 00:02:16.240 That's what we hope to one day see become a reality here. 00:02:16.240 --> 00:02:18.659 As a part of our church's presence. 00:02:19.540 --> 00:02:24.420 So tonight, or I'm sorry, this morning, we're going to be focusing on this next phrase. 00:02:24.820 --> 00:02:26.620 Building gospel-centered communities. 00:02:26.740 --> 00:02:31.420 And this is the phrase that we would really use to describe the mission of our church. 00:02:31.560 --> 00:02:35.900 What's the core strategy or the core thing that we devote ourselves to? 00:02:36.760 --> 00:02:39.500 Now, different churches define that differently. 00:02:39.500 --> 00:02:47.020 And for us, this is how we would define the core strategy that we pursue in our life together. 00:02:47.500 --> 00:02:53.979 And the first thing I want to say about this, before we get into Scripture, is that this is not a new idea. 00:02:54.639 --> 00:02:57.680 That there's not a single thing that is innovative about this. 00:02:58.199 --> 00:03:00.800 There's not a single thing that is creative about this. 00:03:01.120 --> 00:03:05.280 This is in no way, shape, or form a creation of anything that we have come up with. 00:03:05.280 --> 00:03:13.460 We articulate our mission this way because when we read Scripture, we see that this has been God's approach since the very beginning. 00:03:14.080 --> 00:03:24.479 That from the very beginning, God's way of interacting with and ultimately saving and restoring His world has been through communities. 00:03:24.800 --> 00:03:29.139 Taking a community of people, setting them apart as His covenant community. 00:03:29.460 --> 00:03:32.800 And then using that community to bless the rest of the world. 00:03:32.800 --> 00:03:37.040 That's the way that God does what He does in the world. 00:03:37.140 --> 00:03:39.700 And we see in the Old Testament that happens through Israel. 00:03:40.020 --> 00:03:42.820 But ultimately, they fall short in that role. 00:03:43.160 --> 00:03:47.960 And so Jesus comes, and in the New Testament, we see that this work continues through the church. 00:03:49.640 --> 00:03:55.060 So this is God's mission in the world, to build gospel-centered communities throughout the world. 00:03:55.060 --> 00:04:00.100 And so our mission is to build gospel-centered communities throughout Washington, D.C. 00:04:00.099 --> 00:04:04.639 And so we're going to look at Acts 2, verses 36 to 47. 00:04:04.819 --> 00:04:06.159 David just read it a moment ago. 00:04:06.479 --> 00:04:15.299 And we see here Scripture that helps us understand what gospel-centered communities actually are. 00:04:15.519 --> 00:04:20.980 And so we're going to spend the most of our time looking at gospel-centered communities, what that actually means. 00:04:21.560 --> 00:04:28.779 And then a few minutes at the end, we'll just talk a little bit about the specifics of how we actually go about doing that here as a church. 00:04:28.779 --> 00:04:31.819 So Acts 2, verses 36 to 47. 00:04:32.159 --> 00:04:33.539 Let's pray, and then we'll dive in. 00:04:33.540 --> 00:04:51.280 Our Heavenly Father, as we look at these words, we acknowledge that anything that is built with human hands, human wisdom, is sure to fall apart, is sure to fall short, is sure to one day fail. 00:04:51.279 --> 00:05:00.379 That, Lord, we're here because we believe that you're doing something in the world, that you are here, present, at work in the world that you've made. 00:05:00.619 --> 00:05:03.339 Because you love it and because you want to restore it. 00:05:03.539 --> 00:05:06.319 And, Lord, we want to be a part of that, a part of what you're doing. 00:05:06.319 --> 00:05:14.819 So we ask that all that we do here this morning, including these words, would be a faithful reflection of what you're doing and of who you are. 00:05:15.000 --> 00:05:19.959 That you would bind us together and bind us to yourself, that we would be a part of your great mission in the world. 00:05:20.360 --> 00:05:22.500 We pray this in your Son's holy name. Amen. 00:05:23.839 --> 00:05:26.800 So Acts chapter 2, verses 36 to 47. 00:05:27.000 --> 00:05:29.360 What is a gospel-centered community? 00:05:29.360 --> 00:05:31.900 I want to start by saying this. 00:05:32.759 --> 00:05:38.020 All communities, all communities, are held together by at least two things. 00:05:38.800 --> 00:05:41.500 You have to have some shared identity. 00:05:42.860 --> 00:05:47.300 And then you have to have some kind of or set of shared practices. 00:05:47.520 --> 00:05:49.560 Those are the things that define communities. 00:05:49.639 --> 00:05:51.000 And this can be anything, right? 00:05:51.139 --> 00:05:55.460 So you can have hobby-centered community, right? 00:05:55.500 --> 00:05:57.379 You love to ride bikes, right? 00:05:57.379 --> 00:05:58.459 You're a cyclist. 00:05:58.779 --> 00:06:00.060 And you identify that way. 00:06:00.139 --> 00:06:02.019 And you have friends who are cyclists. 00:06:02.199 --> 00:06:06.180 And on the weekends, you go on long cycling trips out into Virginia. 00:06:06.360 --> 00:06:08.659 So that may be one kind of community. 00:06:09.379 --> 00:06:12.120 You have job-centered communities, right? 00:06:12.180 --> 00:06:13.519 You work in international development. 00:06:13.800 --> 00:06:16.560 And you have all these friends who also work in international development. 00:06:16.560 --> 00:06:21.360 And you go and you do international development things together. 00:06:21.360 --> 00:06:28.160 And so that's a kind of community, right? 00:06:29.040 --> 00:06:35.259 You can have a community that's based on where you live, right? 00:06:35.340 --> 00:06:37.639 A common kind of shared neighborhood. 00:06:38.160 --> 00:06:41.000 These are all platforms for community. 00:06:41.120 --> 00:06:44.319 You can also have a life-stage-centered community. 00:06:44.960 --> 00:06:48.240 This may be one of the more common experiences we have, right? 00:06:48.240 --> 00:06:53.720 You have a group of single people without kids who love going out. 00:06:54.060 --> 00:06:57.600 And they have all of their – and they call everybody, let's go out. 00:06:57.740 --> 00:06:59.800 It's 9 p.m., but let's go out. 00:06:59.939 --> 00:07:01.980 And we're going to stay out super late. 00:07:02.540 --> 00:07:07.079 And all the people that say yes tend to be people who don't have kids. 00:07:07.579 --> 00:07:11.240 And you go out and you have fun and you stay out until 3 o'clock in the morning. 00:07:11.480 --> 00:07:12.480 And it's great, right? 00:07:12.480 --> 00:07:18.400 And then if you're married and you're thinking about, well, if I leave and I have to get a babysitter, 00:07:18.480 --> 00:07:23.040 and that's $100 before I even think about parking or food or anything like that, 00:07:23.379 --> 00:07:26.379 and then my kids are going to be screaming in my face at 6 a.m., 00:07:26.379 --> 00:07:28.120 and you're like, you know, I'm not going to go out. 00:07:29.160 --> 00:07:31.140 99% of the time I don't want to go out. 00:07:31.220 --> 00:07:34.400 I want to stay in and watch Netflix and be asleep by 10, right? 00:07:34.520 --> 00:07:39.900 And so you have a natural segregating around these life stages. 00:07:39.899 --> 00:07:42.839 That's a life stage centered community, right? 00:07:43.039 --> 00:07:47.479 So communities are tied together by a common identity and then shared practices. 00:07:47.899 --> 00:07:48.879 But here's the thing. 00:07:50.219 --> 00:07:52.699 Things change, right? 00:07:53.219 --> 00:07:54.239 Circumstances change. 00:07:54.979 --> 00:07:58.279 You love cycling, but then you get an injury and you're out. 00:07:58.519 --> 00:08:02.439 And your friends keep going on trips without you, and it's hard not to lose touch with them. 00:08:03.060 --> 00:08:06.459 Or you get sick of the field that you're working in and you change jobs, 00:08:06.459 --> 00:08:10.180 and you want to still keep going out with all the friends at your old job, 00:08:10.239 --> 00:08:14.060 but you have less and less to talk about, less and less in common, right? 00:08:14.459 --> 00:08:15.599 And this happens a whole lot. 00:08:15.680 --> 00:08:18.659 You have people who they love going out, and they're single, and they don't have kids, 00:08:18.740 --> 00:08:21.859 and they do it all the time, and then they get married, and then they have kids, 00:08:21.979 --> 00:08:23.839 and then all of a sudden when everybody else is going out, 00:08:23.939 --> 00:08:27.279 they're exhausted, and they don't want to go out, and it's expensive. 00:08:27.279 --> 00:08:32.699 And so naturally, as much as they want to keep everybody together and keep hanging out, 00:08:32.959 --> 00:08:34.519 naturally you begin to grow apart. 00:08:35.339 --> 00:08:36.959 And it's not because people don't care about each other. 00:08:37.139 --> 00:08:41.699 It's because the common platform of your community has shifted. 00:08:43.319 --> 00:08:49.740 And so the principle that we see here is that the strength of any given community, 00:08:49.939 --> 00:08:54.959 the strength of any given community depends on what it's centered around. 00:08:54.960 --> 00:08:59.720 Is it an identity, and are there shared practices that remain, 00:08:59.940 --> 00:09:01.800 or are those things changeable? 00:09:01.900 --> 00:09:03.080 Do they change over time? 00:09:04.460 --> 00:09:07.480 So when we talk about a gospel-centered community, 00:09:07.900 --> 00:09:11.379 what we're saying is you have a community that while we may have common interests 00:09:11.379 --> 00:09:15.220 and similar jobs and similar life stages and all of those things, 00:09:15.780 --> 00:09:20.320 that the thing that actually ties our community together is none of those things. 00:09:20.980 --> 00:09:23.180 The thing that ties our community together 00:09:23.179 --> 00:09:26.479 is the gospel, 00:09:27.319 --> 00:09:32.759 which means the good news of the life and the death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 00:09:32.899 --> 00:09:37.239 which is an eternal, unchanging reality. 00:09:37.639 --> 00:09:40.419 And that that is the center of our community. 00:09:40.839 --> 00:09:43.359 And the gospel gives us a shared identity, 00:09:43.859 --> 00:09:45.979 and it gives us shared practices. 00:09:46.159 --> 00:09:48.379 And that's what we see in Acts chapter 2. 00:09:48.379 --> 00:09:52.179 This is right after Pentecost when the Holy Spirit has come, 00:09:52.519 --> 00:09:56.220 and Peter preaches this spirit-filled sermon, 00:09:56.620 --> 00:09:58.240 and there's this mass conversion. 00:09:58.379 --> 00:10:00.120 All of these people, their hearts are pierced, 00:10:00.240 --> 00:10:01.320 and they come to Christ. 00:10:01.519 --> 00:10:04.840 And this is the beginning of the New Testament church. 00:10:05.019 --> 00:10:08.799 And we see this description of a gospel-centered community 00:10:08.799 --> 00:10:10.779 through identity and shared practices. 00:10:10.779 --> 00:10:16.839 And the first section really talks about a gospel-centered identity. 00:10:17.259 --> 00:10:20.559 I'll just read it to you, these verses here, verses 36 through 38. 00:10:21.299 --> 00:10:24.500 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain 00:10:24.500 --> 00:10:27.600 that God has made him both Lord and Christ, 00:10:27.959 --> 00:10:29.480 this Jesus whom you crucified. 00:10:29.600 --> 00:10:31.939 That's the end of the Apostle Peter's sermon. 00:10:31.940 --> 00:10:35.600 Now, when they heard this, they were cut to the heart 00:10:35.600 --> 00:10:38.220 and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, 00:10:38.440 --> 00:10:40.660 Brothers, what shall we do? 00:10:41.220 --> 00:10:42.620 And Peter said to them, 00:10:43.080 --> 00:10:46.120 Repent and be baptized, every one of you, 00:10:46.460 --> 00:10:49.600 in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of your sins. 00:10:50.680 --> 00:10:55.040 So the first thing we see is that a gospel-centered community 00:10:55.040 --> 00:10:58.960 is made up of people who share this gospel identity. 00:10:58.960 --> 00:11:03.519 In other words, they are people who have had their hearts pierced by the gospel, 00:11:03.620 --> 00:11:05.940 and they have repented, 00:11:06.639 --> 00:11:09.980 and they have been baptized for the forgiveness of their sins. 00:11:10.340 --> 00:11:14.879 And through that baptism, they've become a part of the church body. 00:11:15.340 --> 00:11:18.120 And really, the focus here is on the word repent, 00:11:18.259 --> 00:11:20.280 because the core of Jesus' teaching, 00:11:20.600 --> 00:11:22.759 which is summarized in Mark 1.15, is this. 00:11:22.980 --> 00:11:24.139 Jesus came and he preached. 00:11:24.340 --> 00:11:26.680 This was the core, main idea of his sermons. 00:11:26.679 --> 00:11:30.059 Repent and believe in me. 00:11:31.199 --> 00:11:33.259 Repent and believe in me. 00:11:33.319 --> 00:11:34.439 That's what Jesus preached. 00:11:35.500 --> 00:11:37.620 And I think often we hear the word repent, 00:11:38.359 --> 00:11:40.000 and we have lots of connotations. 00:11:40.239 --> 00:11:42.979 And so the thing I want you to see is that repenting 00:11:42.979 --> 00:11:45.959 is about a lot more than just being sorry 00:11:45.959 --> 00:11:48.879 that you lost your temper or cussed or masturbated last night. 00:11:49.059 --> 00:11:50.679 It's a much bigger phrase. 00:11:51.439 --> 00:11:54.699 That the word repentance actually shows up outside of the Bible. 00:11:54.700 --> 00:11:58.040 And one of the great examples of the use of this word 00:11:58.040 --> 00:11:59.220 comes from the first century. 00:11:59.740 --> 00:12:02.520 There were some Jews who were planning a revolt. 00:12:03.240 --> 00:12:04.900 The Jews were under Roman occupation. 00:12:05.400 --> 00:12:06.120 They hated it. 00:12:06.340 --> 00:12:07.240 And so a group of Jews, 00:12:07.379 --> 00:12:10.980 they were planning a violent military uprising, a revolution. 00:12:11.960 --> 00:12:13.700 And there was a man named Josephus, 00:12:13.740 --> 00:12:16.320 and Josephus knew, he just looked at this situation, 00:12:16.460 --> 00:12:18.420 and he knew that this plan was hopeless, 00:12:18.660 --> 00:12:20.120 that this approach to revolution 00:12:20.120 --> 00:12:23.840 would only end in slaughter and death and failure. 00:12:24.539 --> 00:12:27.080 And he had a different plan for revolution. 00:12:27.320 --> 00:12:29.320 He agreed that there needed to be a revolution, 00:12:29.460 --> 00:12:31.419 but he had a different plan for bringing it about. 00:12:32.259 --> 00:12:34.720 So Josephus goes to the brigand, 00:12:34.860 --> 00:12:39.039 the leader of this kind of planned revolt, 00:12:39.899 --> 00:12:40.919 and he sits down with him, 00:12:41.259 --> 00:12:42.899 and he tries to convince him, 00:12:43.440 --> 00:12:44.840 abandon your strategy. 00:12:45.740 --> 00:12:47.560 Abandon your plan for revolution. 00:12:47.879 --> 00:12:48.879 It's not going to work. 00:12:49.080 --> 00:12:49.860 It's going to fail. 00:12:49.940 --> 00:12:51.320 There's no way that it will succeed. 00:12:51.820 --> 00:12:52.759 And I want you to come, 00:12:53.040 --> 00:12:54.800 and I want you to join my revolution 00:12:54.800 --> 00:12:56.019 and what I'm doing. 00:12:56.840 --> 00:12:59.120 And do you know the words that he literally uses? 00:13:00.920 --> 00:13:02.700 Repent and believe in me. 00:13:03.340 --> 00:13:05.920 The exact same words that Jesus uses. 00:13:06.379 --> 00:13:08.320 And this helps us understand more 00:13:08.320 --> 00:13:10.200 what Jesus actually means 00:13:10.200 --> 00:13:12.060 when he preaches this message. 00:13:12.059 --> 00:13:14.259 Because what he means is so much bigger 00:13:14.259 --> 00:13:15.459 than what we normally think. 00:13:15.739 --> 00:13:19.059 That the gospel is Jesus' plan for revolution. 00:13:20.199 --> 00:13:22.500 The gospel is Jesus looking at the world, 00:13:22.779 --> 00:13:24.319 seeing everything that's wrong with it, 00:13:24.419 --> 00:13:26.279 sin and death and corruption and oppression 00:13:26.279 --> 00:13:28.659 and poverty and disease and all of these things, 00:13:28.939 --> 00:13:30.879 and realizing there needs to be a revolution. 00:13:31.959 --> 00:13:34.079 But it's the revolution that he's bringing about 00:13:34.079 --> 00:13:35.500 through his death and resurrection. 00:13:36.739 --> 00:13:38.039 And so when Jesus says repent, 00:13:38.339 --> 00:13:40.559 he's saying abandon your plan. 00:13:40.559 --> 00:13:43.459 Abandon your whole life project 00:13:43.459 --> 00:13:45.359 that you're doing apart from God. 00:13:46.319 --> 00:13:47.919 However good you think you are, 00:13:48.000 --> 00:13:49.519 whatever difference you think you're making, 00:13:50.039 --> 00:13:51.599 ultimately you are doomed. 00:13:51.859 --> 00:13:54.019 Ultimately this path leads to destruction. 00:13:54.179 --> 00:13:54.939 It's a dead end. 00:13:56.699 --> 00:13:57.599 He says so repent. 00:13:57.799 --> 00:13:58.959 Leave all of that behind. 00:13:59.179 --> 00:14:01.279 Which means don't just stop doing the bad stuff, 00:14:01.679 --> 00:14:04.500 but stop thinking that by doing good apart from God, 00:14:04.599 --> 00:14:06.539 you can somehow be saved 00:14:06.539 --> 00:14:09.779 or somehow bring about everything 00:14:09.779 --> 00:14:10.879 that this world needs. 00:14:11.219 --> 00:14:13.039 He says abandon your plan for revolution. 00:14:13.399 --> 00:14:15.799 Become a part of my plan for revolution. 00:14:18.360 --> 00:14:22.679 So repenting means abandoning our whole life plan 00:14:22.679 --> 00:14:25.159 and becoming a part of what Jesus is doing. 00:14:25.439 --> 00:14:28.419 It means believing that his death pays for our sin. 00:14:28.519 --> 00:14:30.099 It means that believing his righteousness 00:14:30.100 --> 00:14:33.360 makes up for everything we lack in righteousness. 00:14:35.560 --> 00:14:38.220 So this is telling us that our shared identity, 00:14:38.460 --> 00:14:40.200 our shared identity, 00:14:40.659 --> 00:14:43.399 is that we're sinners who have been saved by grace. 00:14:44.440 --> 00:14:46.620 Our shared identity is that we are people 00:14:46.620 --> 00:14:48.480 who looked at our plan 00:14:48.480 --> 00:14:50.659 and looked at God's plan in Jesus 00:14:50.659 --> 00:14:52.700 and we scrapped our plan 00:14:52.700 --> 00:14:54.460 and we said I want to be a part of this. 00:14:54.460 --> 00:14:57.920 And we've joined in through our baptism 00:14:57.920 --> 00:15:00.300 to all that God is doing through Jesus. 00:15:01.540 --> 00:15:03.720 And so because of this common identity, 00:15:03.860 --> 00:15:05.280 our community looks very unique. 00:15:06.820 --> 00:15:09.379 So if you come into a gospel-centered community 00:15:09.379 --> 00:15:15.360 and you're actively committing sin, 00:15:15.600 --> 00:15:19.519 envy or greed or slander or gossip 00:15:19.519 --> 00:15:20.660 or sexual immorality 00:15:20.660 --> 00:15:22.200 or any of the things that the Bible lists, 00:15:22.200 --> 00:15:24.940 a gospel-centered community is going to say 00:15:24.940 --> 00:15:27.120 that's not Jesus' way. 00:15:29.520 --> 00:15:31.940 Abandon your life apart from God. 00:15:33.080 --> 00:15:35.820 Repent and come and follow Jesus. 00:15:36.379 --> 00:15:36.600 Right? 00:15:36.660 --> 00:15:37.379 That's what we'll say 00:15:37.379 --> 00:15:38.379 because that's our identity. 00:15:39.120 --> 00:15:41.520 But also if you come into a gospel-centered community 00:15:41.520 --> 00:15:43.220 and you're self-righteous 00:15:43.220 --> 00:15:46.140 and you're virtue signaling on social media 00:15:46.140 --> 00:15:48.360 and you're letting everybody know 00:15:48.360 --> 00:15:51.020 how moral and upright you are 00:15:51.019 --> 00:15:52.399 and how much you care 00:15:52.399 --> 00:15:54.500 and uniquely understand these issues 00:15:54.500 --> 00:15:55.639 more than anybody else 00:15:55.639 --> 00:15:56.340 and because of that, 00:15:56.439 --> 00:15:56.899 you're righteous. 00:15:57.139 --> 00:15:57.279 Right? 00:15:57.579 --> 00:15:59.039 A gospel-centered community is going to say, 00:15:59.139 --> 00:15:59.399 no. 00:16:01.579 --> 00:16:04.600 That's not Jesus' way. 00:16:05.079 --> 00:16:06.179 Abandon your plan. 00:16:06.480 --> 00:16:08.720 Repent and come and follow Jesus. 00:16:08.879 --> 00:16:09.079 Right? 00:16:10.199 --> 00:16:11.639 So a gospel-centered community 00:16:11.639 --> 00:16:13.220 is going to constantly be pulling us 00:16:13.220 --> 00:16:14.539 out of our own agendas, 00:16:14.699 --> 00:16:15.740 out of our own plans, 00:16:15.860 --> 00:16:16.919 out of our own strategies 00:16:16.919 --> 00:16:19.759 and into what God is doing through Jesus. 00:16:19.899 --> 00:16:21.120 That's what we're about. 00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:22.419 Right? 00:16:22.500 --> 00:16:23.699 So in a gospel-centered community, 00:16:23.699 --> 00:16:25.339 that's incredibly liberating 00:16:25.339 --> 00:16:27.759 because we no longer here have to pretend 00:16:27.759 --> 00:16:31.139 like we do outside of this community. 00:16:31.559 --> 00:16:32.579 You know, you go to your job, 00:16:32.659 --> 00:16:33.699 you meet people at parties, 00:16:33.860 --> 00:16:34.620 and you meet people up, 00:16:34.879 --> 00:16:37.000 and you put the persona out there. 00:16:37.439 --> 00:16:37.639 You know? 00:16:37.759 --> 00:16:39.019 You put your best stuff out there, 00:16:39.039 --> 00:16:40.199 and you try to convince people 00:16:40.199 --> 00:16:42.039 that you're this amazing person. 00:16:42.039 --> 00:16:45.099 And we just get to take that off here 00:16:45.099 --> 00:16:46.779 because that's not our shared identity. 00:16:47.039 --> 00:16:48.500 Our shared identity is that we're sinners 00:16:48.500 --> 00:16:49.419 saved by grace. 00:16:49.599 --> 00:16:50.799 So just by you being here 00:16:50.799 --> 00:16:52.079 is an admission of guilt. 00:16:53.059 --> 00:16:54.099 You didn't know that. 00:16:55.480 --> 00:16:57.279 I assume the worst about people. 00:16:57.980 --> 00:16:59.459 The absolute worst. 00:17:00.199 --> 00:17:01.480 Because I know myself. 00:17:02.159 --> 00:17:03.419 I know the truth about myself. 00:17:03.599 --> 00:17:05.220 I know that you have no idea 00:17:05.220 --> 00:17:06.299 how bad I am. 00:17:06.740 --> 00:17:08.059 And so I assume the same is true of you. 00:17:10.639 --> 00:17:11.859 So here's the gospel. 00:17:12.299 --> 00:17:13.019 Most of the time, 00:17:13.099 --> 00:17:14.180 you're a horrible person. 00:17:14.680 --> 00:17:15.980 You're a horrible person. 00:17:16.339 --> 00:17:18.079 But that's okay because I am too. 00:17:19.019 --> 00:17:20.019 And here's the good news. 00:17:20.519 --> 00:17:23.200 Jesus loves us more than we can possibly fathom. 00:17:23.899 --> 00:17:25.619 And we love each other. 00:17:26.319 --> 00:17:27.240 And you're horrible, 00:17:27.299 --> 00:17:27.779 and I'm horrible, 00:17:27.859 --> 00:17:28.859 but I'm crazy about you, 00:17:28.920 --> 00:17:29.859 and we're in this together. 00:17:30.519 --> 00:17:32.700 And this is what a gospel-centered community is like. 00:17:33.759 --> 00:17:35.240 No lies, no personas. 00:17:36.139 --> 00:17:36.619 Honesty. 00:17:37.119 --> 00:17:38.639 It feels really good, right? 00:17:38.799 --> 00:17:40.240 So this is our shared identity. 00:17:40.240 --> 00:17:42.880 We're people who have abandoned our agendas 00:17:42.880 --> 00:17:43.620 and our personas, 00:17:43.839 --> 00:17:45.680 and we've joined the Jesus revolution. 00:17:47.019 --> 00:17:47.779 And of course, 00:17:47.859 --> 00:17:49.599 this means that we have common practices. 00:17:50.440 --> 00:17:52.380 We have common things that we do together, 00:17:52.500 --> 00:17:54.339 and those practices reinforce 00:17:54.339 --> 00:17:56.200 this gospel-centered identity. 00:17:56.200 --> 00:17:58.039 And you see those in the next section 00:17:58.039 --> 00:18:00.120 of the book of Acts, 00:18:00.180 --> 00:18:02.039 in verse 42 to 47. 00:18:02.380 --> 00:18:03.299 It says this. 00:18:03.340 --> 00:18:04.600 I'll just read this first line. 00:18:06.180 --> 00:18:06.759 Verse 42, 00:18:06.759 --> 00:18:08.140 And they devoted themselves 00:18:08.140 --> 00:18:09.339 to the apostles' teaching 00:18:09.339 --> 00:18:10.240 and the fellowship, 00:18:10.660 --> 00:18:11.859 to the breaking of bread 00:18:11.859 --> 00:18:12.920 and the prayers. 00:18:13.539 --> 00:18:16.220 So you see this language tells us 00:18:16.220 --> 00:18:18.359 that they're regularly coming together 00:18:18.359 --> 00:18:20.319 to hear God's word, 00:18:20.779 --> 00:18:22.500 to be in fellowship with one another, 00:18:23.140 --> 00:18:25.160 to break bread through the Eucharist, 00:18:25.240 --> 00:18:26.879 through celebrating the Lord's Supper, 00:18:27.379 --> 00:18:29.180 and then to pray together, right? 00:18:29.180 --> 00:18:32.120 And this is why we get together every week. 00:18:32.940 --> 00:18:34.759 This is why we come together every week. 00:18:34.820 --> 00:18:35.820 The church has been doing it 00:18:35.820 --> 00:18:38.299 since the very first worship service 00:18:38.299 --> 00:18:39.320 in Acts chapter 2. 00:18:39.759 --> 00:18:40.500 The church has been doing 00:18:40.500 --> 00:18:41.400 what we're doing right now. 00:18:41.920 --> 00:18:43.120 And a lot of the language 00:18:43.120 --> 00:18:44.380 and the prayers that we use here 00:18:44.380 --> 00:18:46.080 come from the first and second century. 00:18:47.000 --> 00:18:48.440 So some of what they're doing there 00:18:48.440 --> 00:18:50.340 is very literally what we're doing here. 00:18:51.640 --> 00:18:52.039 Right? 00:18:52.100 --> 00:18:53.000 So we gather together, 00:18:53.140 --> 00:18:54.580 and of all the reasons that we gather, 00:18:54.660 --> 00:18:56.340 the primary one is to worship God 00:18:56.340 --> 00:18:57.259 and to glorify God. 00:18:57.259 --> 00:18:59.279 But do you know what's also happening here? 00:19:00.960 --> 00:19:02.119 We go out into the world 00:19:02.119 --> 00:19:03.319 and we forget who we are. 00:19:04.720 --> 00:19:06.259 You know, everybody tries to tell you 00:19:06.259 --> 00:19:06.759 who you are. 00:19:07.859 --> 00:19:09.259 You know, your friends try to tell you 00:19:09.259 --> 00:19:09.519 who you are. 00:19:09.579 --> 00:19:10.480 Your family, your parents 00:19:10.480 --> 00:19:11.500 try to tell you who you are. 00:19:11.859 --> 00:19:12.180 Right? 00:19:12.680 --> 00:19:15.059 The people who work over you 00:19:15.059 --> 00:19:15.960 try to tell you who you are. 00:19:16.019 --> 00:19:17.279 The people who work under you 00:19:17.279 --> 00:19:18.240 try to tell you who you are. 00:19:18.279 --> 00:19:19.240 And everybody tries to tell you 00:19:19.240 --> 00:19:19.759 who you are. 00:19:19.920 --> 00:19:21.519 And only God can tell you who you are. 00:19:22.460 --> 00:19:25.180 And God uses us to remind one another, 00:19:25.680 --> 00:19:27.079 this is who you really are. 00:19:28.019 --> 00:19:29.599 You're not that fake person out there. 00:19:29.799 --> 00:19:30.980 This is who you really are. 00:19:31.180 --> 00:19:32.420 This is who you are in Christ. 00:19:32.759 --> 00:19:34.200 And when we come together every Sunday, 00:19:34.319 --> 00:19:36.539 we are being reconstituted, 00:19:37.339 --> 00:19:39.559 regrounded in that core identity. 00:19:39.779 --> 00:19:41.259 Oh, this is who I am 00:19:41.259 --> 00:19:43.160 in Jesus Christ. 00:19:43.859 --> 00:19:46.000 So we're coming together as they did 00:19:46.000 --> 00:19:47.700 for the apostles' teaching 00:19:47.700 --> 00:19:49.559 and the fellowship 00:19:49.559 --> 00:19:51.000 and the breaking of bread 00:19:51.000 --> 00:19:52.079 and the prayers. 00:19:52.079 --> 00:19:54.879 So we see gospel-centered worship 00:19:54.879 --> 00:19:57.460 is a huge practice 00:19:57.460 --> 00:19:58.919 that a gospel-centered community 00:19:58.919 --> 00:19:59.919 engages in. 00:20:00.139 --> 00:20:01.339 And then as we move on in the passage, 00:20:01.460 --> 00:20:03.159 we see that a gospel-centered community 00:20:03.159 --> 00:20:03.879 is generous. 00:20:04.699 --> 00:20:06.399 You have gospel-centered generosity. 00:20:07.659 --> 00:20:09.259 Starting in verse 34, it says, 00:20:09.259 --> 00:20:11.680 And all who believed were together 00:20:11.680 --> 00:20:13.599 and had all things in common. 00:20:14.339 --> 00:20:15.700 And they were selling their possessions 00:20:15.700 --> 00:20:16.420 and belongings 00:20:16.420 --> 00:20:19.000 and distributing the proceeds to all 00:20:19.000 --> 00:20:20.700 as any had need. 00:20:20.759 --> 00:20:22.980 This is not some kind of Christian socialism. 00:20:23.180 --> 00:20:25.019 This is example after example 00:20:25.019 --> 00:20:27.480 after example of generosity. 00:20:27.900 --> 00:20:30.279 And it's gospel-centered generosity. 00:20:30.440 --> 00:20:30.940 How do we know? 00:20:31.019 --> 00:20:32.420 Because the next line tells us, 00:20:32.420 --> 00:20:33.660 And day by day, 00:20:33.759 --> 00:20:34.840 attending the temple together 00:20:34.840 --> 00:20:36.500 and breaking bread in their homes, 00:20:36.640 --> 00:20:38.060 they received their food 00:20:38.060 --> 00:20:40.480 with glad and generous hearts. 00:20:41.980 --> 00:20:43.440 Gospel-centered generosity 00:20:43.440 --> 00:20:46.180 is generosity that's motivated 00:20:46.180 --> 00:20:50.220 not by guilt or shame or obligation. 00:20:50.700 --> 00:20:52.960 It's motivated by gratitude. 00:20:53.660 --> 00:20:55.320 Because the gospel is all about 00:20:55.320 --> 00:20:57.660 God's generosity to us. 00:20:57.759 --> 00:20:58.640 God looking at us, 00:20:58.720 --> 00:20:59.920 looking at our hopelessness. 00:20:59.920 --> 00:21:03.100 and His Son being willing 00:21:03.100 --> 00:21:03.880 to give His life 00:21:03.880 --> 00:21:05.920 to give us everything that we need. 00:21:07.019 --> 00:21:07.300 Right? 00:21:08.060 --> 00:21:08.920 It's generosity. 00:21:09.720 --> 00:21:11.120 And so when you really begin 00:21:11.120 --> 00:21:12.420 to understand the generosity 00:21:12.420 --> 00:21:13.519 that we receive from God, 00:21:13.700 --> 00:21:15.120 it inspires generosity. 00:21:15.240 --> 00:21:16.400 Because it fills you with gratitude. 00:21:16.620 --> 00:21:17.100 Thank you. 00:21:17.259 --> 00:21:18.320 I did not deserve this. 00:21:18.560 --> 00:21:19.320 Thank you so much. 00:21:19.360 --> 00:21:20.240 And you begin to think about 00:21:20.240 --> 00:21:21.519 how can I do the same 00:21:21.519 --> 00:21:22.960 in other people's lives, right? 00:21:23.680 --> 00:21:25.100 That's gospel-centered generosity. 00:21:26.060 --> 00:21:27.500 And in fact, we see that 00:21:27.500 --> 00:21:29.880 happens first and foremost 00:21:29.880 --> 00:21:34.640 among the people in the church. 00:21:34.760 --> 00:21:34.900 Right? 00:21:34.940 --> 00:21:36.000 It's a generosity that's meant 00:21:36.000 --> 00:21:36.640 for everybody. 00:21:36.760 --> 00:21:38.160 But the example we're given here 00:21:38.160 --> 00:21:40.040 is this is how generous 00:21:40.040 --> 00:21:41.020 they were to one another. 00:21:41.140 --> 00:21:42.700 So they're giving of everything 00:21:42.700 --> 00:21:44.840 that they have to the community 00:21:44.840 --> 00:21:46.700 for the sake of the whole. 00:21:46.780 --> 00:21:47.540 They see themselves 00:21:47.540 --> 00:21:49.320 as inextricably linked 00:21:49.320 --> 00:21:51.320 to the welfare of the whole. 00:21:52.260 --> 00:21:53.260 And so this is why, 00:21:53.420 --> 00:21:53.860 as Christians, 00:21:54.060 --> 00:21:55.560 we think about giving. 00:21:55.740 --> 00:21:57.280 This is why we give to the church. 00:21:57.740 --> 00:21:57.940 Right? 00:21:57.940 --> 00:21:59.299 It's not like a non-profit 00:21:59.299 --> 00:22:00.120 where it's just part 00:22:00.120 --> 00:22:01.220 of our charitable contribution. 00:22:01.580 --> 00:22:02.240 We do this because 00:22:02.240 --> 00:22:03.340 it's a core aspect 00:22:03.340 --> 00:22:04.279 of what it means 00:22:04.279 --> 00:22:05.539 to be a recipient 00:22:05.539 --> 00:22:06.720 of the generosity 00:22:06.720 --> 00:22:07.360 of the gospel. 00:22:08.240 --> 00:22:09.360 To see ourselves 00:22:09.360 --> 00:22:10.779 as having a common identity. 00:22:11.259 --> 00:22:11.360 Right? 00:22:11.460 --> 00:22:12.580 We give as a way 00:22:12.580 --> 00:22:13.180 of acknowledging 00:22:13.180 --> 00:22:15.340 God has entrusted this to me. 00:22:15.860 --> 00:22:17.019 I'm a steward of it. 00:22:17.180 --> 00:22:18.299 And I'm meant to use it 00:22:18.299 --> 00:22:19.740 in a way that blesses the whole, 00:22:20.000 --> 00:22:20.940 not just myself. 00:22:21.820 --> 00:22:21.980 Right? 00:22:22.220 --> 00:22:23.259 And so Christians talk 00:22:23.259 --> 00:22:24.000 about tithing. 00:22:24.320 --> 00:22:25.080 And tithing is 00:22:25.079 --> 00:22:25.599 as a kind of 00:22:25.599 --> 00:22:26.859 an Old Testament principle. 00:22:27.359 --> 00:22:27.879 You know, 00:22:27.939 --> 00:22:28.859 giving 10% 00:22:28.859 --> 00:22:29.599 of the first fruits 00:22:29.599 --> 00:22:31.039 and it's an agricultural 00:22:31.039 --> 00:22:32.079 principle primarily. 00:22:32.500 --> 00:22:33.159 And we see that 00:22:33.159 --> 00:22:33.939 as kind of a principle. 00:22:34.079 --> 00:22:34.439 But really, 00:22:34.699 --> 00:22:35.599 I encourage people 00:22:35.599 --> 00:22:36.559 not to be legalistic 00:22:36.559 --> 00:22:37.359 about tithing. 00:22:37.539 --> 00:22:38.059 It's not about 00:22:38.059 --> 00:22:39.379 a hard and fast 10%. 00:22:39.379 --> 00:22:40.579 The principle 00:22:40.579 --> 00:22:41.299 that we see here 00:22:41.299 --> 00:22:42.279 and the underlying principle 00:22:42.279 --> 00:22:44.419 is that we are recipients 00:22:44.419 --> 00:22:45.480 of radical, 00:22:45.939 --> 00:22:47.079 sacrificial generosity. 00:22:47.539 --> 00:22:48.839 And so as a response 00:22:48.839 --> 00:22:49.319 to that, 00:22:49.399 --> 00:22:50.139 we practice 00:22:50.139 --> 00:22:51.000 radical, 00:22:51.439 --> 00:22:52.079 sacrificial generosity. 00:22:52.079 --> 00:22:52.939 sacrificial generosity. 00:22:53.699 --> 00:22:53.799 Right? 00:22:53.859 --> 00:22:54.319 And so we, 00:22:54.619 --> 00:22:55.799 a part of our membership covenant 00:22:55.799 --> 00:22:56.759 is that members 00:22:56.759 --> 00:22:58.119 make a covenant 00:22:58.119 --> 00:22:59.819 to give sacrificially 00:22:59.819 --> 00:23:00.659 to the church body. 00:23:00.759 --> 00:23:01.500 We encourage 00:23:01.500 --> 00:23:02.919 all of our regular attenders 00:23:02.919 --> 00:23:03.619 and people who call 00:23:03.619 --> 00:23:04.359 this church their home 00:23:04.359 --> 00:23:06.179 to give sacrificially 00:23:06.179 --> 00:23:07.859 to the church body, 00:23:07.960 --> 00:23:08.779 to the needs 00:23:08.779 --> 00:23:09.500 of the community. 00:23:09.639 --> 00:23:09.819 Right? 00:23:10.419 --> 00:23:10.799 And yet, 00:23:10.839 --> 00:23:11.679 if you're not a Christian 00:23:11.679 --> 00:23:12.619 or you're not a part 00:23:12.619 --> 00:23:13.019 of this church, 00:23:13.079 --> 00:23:13.539 we would say, 00:23:13.799 --> 00:23:13.899 no, 00:23:14.000 --> 00:23:14.859 please don't give. 00:23:15.559 --> 00:23:16.379 Because the reason 00:23:16.379 --> 00:23:16.899 that we give 00:23:16.899 --> 00:23:18.220 is a direct response 00:23:18.220 --> 00:23:19.299 to the generosity 00:23:19.299 --> 00:23:19.879 of the gospel. 00:23:20.000 --> 00:23:21.019 It flows out of that. 00:23:21.019 --> 00:23:21.779 So if you don't believe 00:23:21.779 --> 00:23:22.220 the gospel, 00:23:23.279 --> 00:23:24.160 you don't have a reason 00:23:24.160 --> 00:23:24.839 to give. 00:23:25.599 --> 00:23:25.859 Right? 00:23:26.000 --> 00:23:26.900 So we don't want you 00:23:26.900 --> 00:23:27.480 to do that 00:23:27.480 --> 00:23:28.500 because it's an outward 00:23:28.500 --> 00:23:29.559 and empty gesture 00:23:29.559 --> 00:23:30.559 that doesn't align 00:23:30.559 --> 00:23:31.480 with something 00:23:31.480 --> 00:23:32.420 that's inward 00:23:32.420 --> 00:23:34.059 and real and true 00:23:34.059 --> 00:23:35.099 in your heart. 00:23:35.799 --> 00:23:37.039 So this is how we think 00:23:37.039 --> 00:23:38.180 about gospel-centered 00:23:38.180 --> 00:23:38.700 generosity. 00:23:39.160 --> 00:23:39.339 Right? 00:23:39.559 --> 00:23:40.440 And then the third thing 00:23:40.440 --> 00:23:41.019 that we see beginning 00:23:41.019 --> 00:23:42.099 in verse 47 00:23:42.099 --> 00:23:43.660 is this community 00:23:43.660 --> 00:23:44.139 is not just 00:23:44.139 --> 00:23:44.859 worshiping together. 00:23:44.980 --> 00:23:45.799 They're not just generous 00:23:45.799 --> 00:23:46.779 and thankful, 00:23:47.240 --> 00:23:48.299 but we see 00:23:48.299 --> 00:23:49.720 gospel-centered evangelism. 00:23:49.720 --> 00:23:51.200 verse 47 00:23:51.200 --> 00:23:51.960 describes them 00:23:51.960 --> 00:23:52.579 as, quote, 00:23:52.839 --> 00:23:53.720 praising God 00:23:53.720 --> 00:23:54.579 and having favor 00:23:54.579 --> 00:23:55.559 with all the people. 00:23:56.100 --> 00:23:56.680 And it says, 00:23:56.779 --> 00:23:57.420 the Lord added 00:23:57.420 --> 00:23:58.000 to their number 00:23:58.000 --> 00:23:58.839 day by day 00:23:58.839 --> 00:23:59.640 those who were 00:23:59.640 --> 00:24:00.400 being saved. 00:24:02.339 --> 00:24:03.079 It's interesting. 00:24:04.079 --> 00:24:05.279 American evangelical 00:24:05.279 --> 00:24:06.000 Christianity 00:24:06.000 --> 00:24:06.819 has, 00:24:07.120 --> 00:24:07.700 over the last 00:24:07.700 --> 00:24:09.720 more than a century, 00:24:09.799 --> 00:24:10.500 century and a half, 00:24:11.279 --> 00:24:12.420 really come to focus 00:24:12.420 --> 00:24:14.559 on individual faith 00:24:14.559 --> 00:24:16.319 and individual evangelism. 00:24:16.319 --> 00:24:17.539 I think about myself 00:24:17.539 --> 00:24:18.659 going and talking 00:24:18.659 --> 00:24:19.539 with my friend Bob 00:24:19.539 --> 00:24:20.179 and saying, 00:24:20.299 --> 00:24:20.919 I would like for you 00:24:20.919 --> 00:24:21.700 to consider the claims 00:24:21.700 --> 00:24:22.119 of Christ. 00:24:23.139 --> 00:24:24.079 And that's okay. 00:24:24.179 --> 00:24:24.980 There's a place for that. 00:24:25.319 --> 00:24:26.159 But what we see here 00:24:26.159 --> 00:24:27.339 is something kind of different. 00:24:27.839 --> 00:24:28.700 We see actually 00:24:28.700 --> 00:24:30.480 an evangelistic community. 00:24:31.960 --> 00:24:32.919 Evangelistic simply, 00:24:33.099 --> 00:24:33.939 basically meaning 00:24:33.939 --> 00:24:34.799 a community 00:24:34.799 --> 00:24:36.000 that sort of emanates 00:24:36.000 --> 00:24:37.000 and embodies 00:24:37.000 --> 00:24:37.779 the gospel 00:24:37.779 --> 00:24:38.659 and invites people 00:24:38.659 --> 00:24:39.659 in to experience it. 00:24:40.079 --> 00:24:40.639 And that's what 00:24:40.639 --> 00:24:41.319 we see here. 00:24:42.500 --> 00:24:43.899 So this is an open, 00:24:44.379 --> 00:24:45.319 welcoming community, 00:24:45.319 --> 00:24:46.099 and as people 00:24:46.099 --> 00:24:46.859 are coming into 00:24:46.859 --> 00:24:47.399 this community, 00:24:47.519 --> 00:24:48.159 they have a public, 00:24:48.399 --> 00:24:49.019 visible presence 00:24:49.019 --> 00:24:49.399 and people are, 00:24:49.599 --> 00:24:50.299 who are those people? 00:24:50.359 --> 00:24:51.319 They seem really 00:24:51.319 --> 00:24:52.439 happy and nice 00:24:52.439 --> 00:24:53.359 and I'm going to go 00:24:53.359 --> 00:24:54.099 see what they're doing. 00:24:54.480 --> 00:24:55.259 And they're really 00:24:55.259 --> 00:24:56.039 doing a good job 00:24:56.039 --> 00:24:56.819 of taking care 00:24:56.819 --> 00:24:57.240 of each other 00:24:57.240 --> 00:24:58.419 and they seem very real 00:24:58.419 --> 00:24:58.899 and they're not 00:24:58.899 --> 00:24:59.799 fake nice. 00:24:59.980 --> 00:25:00.659 They're genuine 00:25:00.659 --> 00:25:01.339 and they're authentic 00:25:01.339 --> 00:25:02.299 and they seem to be 00:25:02.299 --> 00:25:02.799 the kind of people 00:25:02.799 --> 00:25:03.559 who can handle 00:25:03.559 --> 00:25:04.839 my alcoholism 00:25:04.839 --> 00:25:05.439 and my addiction 00:25:05.439 --> 00:25:07.339 and the abuse 00:25:07.339 --> 00:25:08.259 that I've experienced 00:25:08.259 --> 00:25:09.079 and all of these things 00:25:09.079 --> 00:25:09.519 that I don't feel 00:25:09.519 --> 00:25:10.179 like I can talk about. 00:25:10.240 --> 00:25:10.679 This seems like 00:25:10.679 --> 00:25:11.240 the kind of place 00:25:11.240 --> 00:25:11.799 where I can just 00:25:11.799 --> 00:25:12.700 really be honest 00:25:12.700 --> 00:25:13.419 about those things 00:25:13.419 --> 00:25:14.439 and they're coming 00:25:14.440 --> 00:25:15.480 into this community 00:25:15.480 --> 00:25:16.299 and they're experiencing 00:25:16.299 --> 00:25:17.840 life and wonder 00:25:17.840 --> 00:25:18.900 and generosity 00:25:18.900 --> 00:25:20.460 and they're being 00:25:20.460 --> 00:25:21.000 embraced 00:25:21.000 --> 00:25:21.600 and they're being 00:25:21.600 --> 00:25:22.559 loved before people 00:25:22.559 --> 00:25:23.559 even know their story. 00:25:23.759 --> 00:25:24.000 They're being, 00:25:24.220 --> 00:25:25.500 you know, 00:25:25.580 --> 00:25:26.180 people that seem 00:25:26.180 --> 00:25:27.000 glad to see them 00:25:27.000 --> 00:25:29.500 and they say, 00:25:29.600 --> 00:25:29.880 man, 00:25:30.160 --> 00:25:31.059 what is this? 00:25:32.640 --> 00:25:34.080 What's causing this? 00:25:34.079 --> 00:25:37.460 the gospel is always best 00:25:37.460 --> 00:25:38.179 as the answer 00:25:38.179 --> 00:25:38.819 to a question. 00:25:39.919 --> 00:25:41.119 What is the explanation 00:25:41.119 --> 00:25:41.919 for this? 00:25:42.059 --> 00:25:42.740 What I'm tasting 00:25:42.740 --> 00:25:43.399 in this community? 00:25:44.539 --> 00:25:46.000 That's the kind of evangelism 00:25:46.000 --> 00:25:46.559 you see here. 00:25:46.659 --> 00:25:47.480 People are coming 00:25:47.480 --> 00:25:48.139 into this community, 00:25:48.359 --> 00:25:49.539 they're having these experiences 00:25:49.539 --> 00:25:50.359 and they're falling 00:25:50.359 --> 00:25:51.439 head over heels in love. 00:25:53.139 --> 00:25:54.439 So this is what we mean 00:25:54.439 --> 00:25:55.220 when we talk about 00:25:55.220 --> 00:25:56.460 gospel-centered communities. 00:25:56.899 --> 00:25:57.720 Just to kind of 00:25:57.720 --> 00:25:59.359 step out of the big picture, 00:25:59.639 --> 00:26:00.359 we're talking about people 00:26:00.359 --> 00:26:01.740 who share a common identity, 00:26:01.740 --> 00:26:04.180 a gospel-centered identity 00:26:04.180 --> 00:26:05.640 and that we have 00:26:05.640 --> 00:26:06.579 these common practices 00:26:06.579 --> 00:26:07.420 like worship, 00:26:07.859 --> 00:26:08.519 like generosity, 00:26:09.120 --> 00:26:09.880 like evangelism 00:26:09.880 --> 00:26:11.059 as a community, right? 00:26:11.160 --> 00:26:12.099 And that last piece, 00:26:12.200 --> 00:26:12.759 evangelism, 00:26:12.799 --> 00:26:13.519 really makes sense 00:26:13.519 --> 00:26:14.579 because if you think about it, 00:26:14.579 --> 00:26:16.259 when you love something, 00:26:16.400 --> 00:26:17.599 when you see a great movie 00:26:17.599 --> 00:26:18.539 or hear a great song, 00:26:18.720 --> 00:26:19.980 you naturally want to share it 00:26:19.980 --> 00:26:20.559 with other people. 00:26:20.759 --> 00:26:21.720 When you experience 00:26:21.720 --> 00:26:22.940 the gospel in community, 00:26:23.120 --> 00:26:24.599 you naturally want to share that 00:26:24.599 --> 00:26:25.120 with other people. 00:26:25.339 --> 00:26:26.339 You've got to check this out. 00:26:26.539 --> 00:26:27.299 This is incredible. 00:26:27.620 --> 00:26:28.900 I've never seen anything like this. 00:26:29.019 --> 00:26:29.680 It's amazing. 00:26:29.799 --> 00:26:30.960 I've been longing for this. 00:26:32.000 --> 00:26:33.059 That's how evangelism 00:26:33.059 --> 00:26:33.779 is meant to happen. 00:26:35.220 --> 00:26:35.519 Right? 00:26:35.579 --> 00:26:36.980 So this is why we want to build 00:26:36.980 --> 00:26:38.299 these kinds of communities 00:26:38.299 --> 00:26:39.380 all through D.C. 00:26:39.440 --> 00:26:40.579 We don't just want to build 00:26:40.579 --> 00:26:42.799 one central big church. 00:26:42.960 --> 00:26:44.140 We want to spread 00:26:44.140 --> 00:26:45.279 these communities out. 00:26:45.359 --> 00:26:46.319 We want every neighborhood 00:26:46.319 --> 00:26:47.819 in D.C. to have an opportunity. 00:26:48.019 --> 00:26:48.940 We want to take this 00:26:48.940 --> 00:26:49.839 to people. 00:26:50.180 --> 00:26:51.079 Not expecting people 00:26:51.079 --> 00:26:51.680 to drive all the way 00:26:51.680 --> 00:26:52.680 across town to come here. 00:26:52.900 --> 00:26:54.579 We want to take this experience 00:26:54.579 --> 00:26:55.339 and get it out 00:26:55.339 --> 00:26:56.460 as far as we can 00:26:56.460 --> 00:26:57.880 to maximize the chance 00:26:57.880 --> 00:26:59.140 that people have a shot 00:26:59.140 --> 00:27:00.120 at experiencing 00:27:00.120 --> 00:27:01.400 the gospel in community. 00:27:01.400 --> 00:27:02.440 That's what we're about. 00:27:03.280 --> 00:27:04.180 So I just want to say 00:27:04.180 --> 00:27:04.800 a couple of words 00:27:04.800 --> 00:27:05.600 before we end 00:27:05.600 --> 00:27:06.800 on how we go about 00:27:06.800 --> 00:27:08.160 doing this as a church. 00:27:08.259 --> 00:27:09.800 Kind of what are the nuts and bolts? 00:27:11.019 --> 00:27:12.360 And the first thing is this. 00:27:13.220 --> 00:27:14.600 In our own church, 00:27:14.680 --> 00:27:15.259 Church of the Advent, 00:27:15.720 --> 00:27:17.300 we gather together on Sundays. 00:27:17.600 --> 00:27:18.620 And this is the first and foremost 00:27:18.620 --> 00:27:19.320 where it all begins. 00:27:19.440 --> 00:27:20.720 The goal of our gathering right now 00:27:20.720 --> 00:27:21.360 is to experience 00:27:21.360 --> 00:27:22.200 the gospel in community. 00:27:22.700 --> 00:27:23.440 We hear it. 00:27:23.620 --> 00:27:24.160 We see it. 00:27:24.160 --> 00:27:25.180 We even eat it. 00:27:26.600 --> 00:27:27.320 But then outside 00:27:27.320 --> 00:27:28.440 of these gatherings, 00:27:28.600 --> 00:27:29.340 we also have 00:27:29.340 --> 00:27:29.800 what are called 00:27:29.800 --> 00:27:30.620 core groups. 00:27:31.580 --> 00:27:32.540 That's our fancy, 00:27:32.680 --> 00:27:33.200 innovative word 00:27:33.200 --> 00:27:33.860 for small groups. 00:27:34.040 --> 00:27:34.880 And the reason 00:27:34.880 --> 00:27:35.560 that we call them 00:27:35.560 --> 00:27:36.220 core groups 00:27:36.220 --> 00:27:37.080 is because we want 00:27:37.080 --> 00:27:37.759 to remind people 00:27:37.759 --> 00:27:38.580 again and again and again 00:27:38.580 --> 00:27:39.519 that they are 00:27:39.519 --> 00:27:40.519 a core community. 00:27:41.400 --> 00:27:42.060 That the core 00:27:42.060 --> 00:27:42.940 of your Christian life 00:27:42.940 --> 00:27:44.100 is to have people 00:27:44.100 --> 00:27:44.720 around you 00:27:44.720 --> 00:27:45.580 who really know you. 00:27:46.500 --> 00:27:47.700 So Jesus had the three, 00:27:48.340 --> 00:27:49.279 and then he had the twelve, 00:27:49.380 --> 00:27:49.740 and then he had 00:27:49.740 --> 00:27:50.560 the multitudes, 00:27:50.680 --> 00:27:51.240 the seventy. 00:27:51.240 --> 00:27:52.759 And we think 00:27:52.759 --> 00:27:53.660 in similar ways. 00:27:54.400 --> 00:27:55.400 So we encourage people 00:27:55.400 --> 00:27:56.740 outside of Sunday 00:27:56.740 --> 00:27:58.620 have some community 00:27:58.620 --> 00:27:59.680 that's a part of this church 00:27:59.680 --> 00:28:01.000 of people who really know you, 00:28:01.259 --> 00:28:02.740 of people who are really involved 00:28:02.740 --> 00:28:04.500 and invested in your life. 00:28:04.599 --> 00:28:06.500 A core group, right? 00:28:06.819 --> 00:28:08.099 So that's what a core group is. 00:28:08.200 --> 00:28:09.279 And so we encourage everybody 00:28:09.279 --> 00:28:10.279 to be a part of 00:28:10.279 --> 00:28:11.920 Sunday worship 00:28:11.920 --> 00:28:12.779 and core groups. 00:28:14.000 --> 00:28:15.240 The second thing we do, 00:28:15.339 --> 00:28:16.339 as I've already alluded to, 00:28:16.420 --> 00:28:17.359 is we plant churches. 00:28:18.180 --> 00:28:18.339 Right? 00:28:18.880 --> 00:28:19.920 So we see 00:28:19.920 --> 00:28:21.279 we see a couple of things. 00:28:21.420 --> 00:28:22.680 We see these precedents in Acts. 00:28:22.800 --> 00:28:23.000 You know, 00:28:23.180 --> 00:28:24.220 it says in verse 46, 00:28:24.640 --> 00:28:25.279 day by day 00:28:25.279 --> 00:28:26.560 attending the temple together 00:28:26.560 --> 00:28:27.660 and breaking bread 00:28:27.660 --> 00:28:28.259 in their homes. 00:28:28.460 --> 00:28:29.500 And then it goes on. 00:28:29.539 --> 00:28:30.200 And what we see there 00:28:30.200 --> 00:28:30.980 is this rhythm of 00:28:30.980 --> 00:28:32.200 they're getting all together 00:28:32.200 --> 00:28:33.519 and then they're also meeting 00:28:33.519 --> 00:28:34.180 in smaller groups 00:28:34.180 --> 00:28:34.740 in their homes. 00:28:34.940 --> 00:28:35.279 So, 00:28:35.580 --> 00:28:36.380 church, 00:28:36.800 --> 00:28:37.080 Sunday, 00:28:37.380 --> 00:28:38.300 and then core groups. 00:28:38.740 --> 00:28:39.980 But then if you look back 00:28:39.980 --> 00:28:41.259 in Acts chapter 1, 00:28:41.320 --> 00:28:41.800 verse 8, 00:28:42.840 --> 00:28:43.700 Jesus says to them, 00:28:44.019 --> 00:28:45.000 you will receive power 00:28:45.000 --> 00:28:45.740 when the Holy Spirit 00:28:45.740 --> 00:28:46.660 has come upon you 00:28:46.660 --> 00:28:47.920 and you will be my witnesses 00:28:47.920 --> 00:28:48.620 in Jerusalem 00:28:48.619 --> 00:28:49.879 and in all Judea 00:28:49.879 --> 00:28:50.500 and Samaria 00:28:50.500 --> 00:28:51.539 and to the ends of the earth. 00:28:52.359 --> 00:28:53.559 So what does that tell us? 00:28:53.899 --> 00:28:54.379 It tells us 00:28:54.379 --> 00:28:55.199 that it's not enough 00:28:55.199 --> 00:28:55.839 for us to have 00:28:55.839 --> 00:28:56.899 a really good church here 00:28:56.899 --> 00:28:57.939 and to have our small groups 00:28:57.939 --> 00:28:58.959 and to have that rhythm 00:28:58.959 --> 00:28:59.639 and that's enough. 00:28:59.979 --> 00:29:01.099 That we have been commissioned 00:29:01.099 --> 00:29:02.219 by Jesus 00:29:02.219 --> 00:29:04.199 to see this become a reality 00:29:04.199 --> 00:29:05.079 everywhere. 00:29:05.559 --> 00:29:06.459 To the ends of the earth. 00:29:07.179 --> 00:29:07.979 And so that's exactly 00:29:07.979 --> 00:29:09.059 what the apostles do. 00:29:09.139 --> 00:29:10.559 They start in Jerusalem, 00:29:10.719 --> 00:29:10.919 right? 00:29:11.159 --> 00:29:12.199 And then Judea 00:29:12.199 --> 00:29:13.199 and then Samaria 00:29:13.199 --> 00:29:14.419 and then they keep going 00:29:14.419 --> 00:29:15.299 and they keep going 00:29:15.299 --> 00:29:16.099 and what are they doing? 00:29:16.099 --> 00:29:18.000 The entire central thrust 00:29:18.000 --> 00:29:18.519 of their mission 00:29:18.519 --> 00:29:19.740 is church planting. 00:29:21.000 --> 00:29:21.579 And so they begin 00:29:21.579 --> 00:29:22.419 and the apostle Paul 00:29:22.419 --> 00:29:23.779 goes on multiple missionary journeys 00:29:23.779 --> 00:29:25.659 to plant churches, right? 00:29:25.759 --> 00:29:26.559 He tells Titus 00:29:26.559 --> 00:29:26.899 and others 00:29:26.899 --> 00:29:28.699 appoint elders 00:29:28.699 --> 00:29:29.599 over these churches, 00:29:29.740 --> 00:29:30.939 organize them into churches 00:29:30.939 --> 00:29:32.379 and they will then 00:29:32.379 --> 00:29:33.099 plant other churches 00:29:33.099 --> 00:29:33.919 and that's what we see. 00:29:35.319 --> 00:29:36.859 So a core aspect 00:29:36.859 --> 00:29:37.339 of our mission 00:29:37.339 --> 00:29:39.139 is to plant churches, right? 00:29:39.219 --> 00:29:41.199 To build gospel-centered churches 00:29:41.199 --> 00:29:43.379 everywhere we can. 00:29:43.380 --> 00:29:44.340 And so we've been a part 00:29:44.340 --> 00:29:45.500 of a lot of church planting efforts 00:29:45.500 --> 00:29:46.140 over the years. 00:29:46.480 --> 00:29:47.560 We just recently sent 00:29:47.560 --> 00:29:48.580 Brian and Casey Wandel 00:29:48.580 --> 00:29:49.260 up to Buffalo 00:29:49.260 --> 00:29:50.380 and we're supporting them 00:29:50.380 --> 00:29:51.340 to plant a church in Buffalo. 00:29:52.060 --> 00:29:52.760 You may not know 00:29:52.760 --> 00:29:53.520 that right now 00:29:53.520 --> 00:29:54.400 we are financially 00:29:54.400 --> 00:29:55.940 and prayerfully supporting 00:29:55.940 --> 00:29:56.500 missionaries 00:29:56.500 --> 00:29:57.760 who are doing church planting work 00:29:57.760 --> 00:29:59.200 in the Persian Gulf region. 00:30:00.040 --> 00:30:00.860 And we're not able 00:30:00.860 --> 00:30:02.000 to tell you more specifically 00:30:02.000 --> 00:30:02.900 what city they're in 00:30:02.900 --> 00:30:03.580 but I can tell you 00:30:03.580 --> 00:30:05.580 they may be the only right now 00:30:05.580 --> 00:30:07.080 active missionary presence 00:30:07.080 --> 00:30:07.680 in the city. 00:30:08.660 --> 00:30:10.020 That's very exciting, right? 00:30:10.700 --> 00:30:11.579 We're right now 00:30:11.579 --> 00:30:12.259 beginning to move 00:30:12.259 --> 00:30:12.960 towards supporting 00:30:12.960 --> 00:30:14.400 church planting in Crozet 00:30:14.400 --> 00:30:16.059 outside of Charlottesville, Virginia. 00:30:16.220 --> 00:30:16.920 But we want to see 00:30:16.920 --> 00:30:18.220 more churches planted in D.C. 00:30:19.240 --> 00:30:20.220 And so we're hoping 00:30:20.220 --> 00:30:22.000 that in this coming season 00:30:22.000 --> 00:30:22.759 of our life together 00:30:22.759 --> 00:30:23.720 we will celebrate 00:30:23.720 --> 00:30:25.339 more church plants, right? 00:30:27.160 --> 00:30:28.039 And then lastly 00:30:28.039 --> 00:30:29.180 that brings me to Brooklyn. 00:30:29.279 --> 00:30:29.839 The greatest thing 00:30:29.839 --> 00:30:30.460 I think that we have 00:30:30.460 --> 00:30:31.240 right now to celebrate 00:30:31.240 --> 00:30:32.680 is Brooklyn. 00:30:33.160 --> 00:30:33.819 And with Brooklyn 00:30:33.819 --> 00:30:35.539 we are exploring 00:30:35.539 --> 00:30:36.539 and what we're seeing 00:30:36.539 --> 00:30:38.259 is a really exciting opportunity 00:30:38.259 --> 00:30:39.619 to approach church planting 00:30:39.619 --> 00:30:41.160 in a way that's different 00:30:41.160 --> 00:30:42.019 in some ways 00:30:42.019 --> 00:30:42.559 from what we've done 00:30:42.559 --> 00:30:43.079 in the past. 00:30:43.420 --> 00:30:44.019 Because in the past 00:30:44.019 --> 00:30:44.519 we've planted 00:30:44.519 --> 00:30:45.779 stand-alone churches 00:30:45.779 --> 00:30:47.240 but over the almost 00:30:47.240 --> 00:30:48.400 nine or ten years 00:30:48.400 --> 00:30:48.879 that we've been 00:30:48.879 --> 00:30:50.160 a community here 00:30:50.160 --> 00:30:50.940 we've recognized 00:30:50.940 --> 00:30:51.779 that church planting 00:30:51.779 --> 00:30:52.259 in D.C. 00:30:52.299 --> 00:30:53.339 is incredibly expensive. 00:30:54.140 --> 00:30:55.140 Frankly, it just costs 00:30:55.140 --> 00:30:55.680 a lot of money. 00:30:56.180 --> 00:30:57.220 And space is incredibly 00:30:57.220 --> 00:30:57.920 hard to find. 00:30:58.700 --> 00:30:59.619 Advent Columbia Heights 00:30:59.619 --> 00:31:01.079 has in eight years 00:31:01.079 --> 00:31:02.480 been in four different 00:31:02.480 --> 00:31:03.140 worship spaces. 00:31:04.279 --> 00:31:05.279 We've just been forced 00:31:05.279 --> 00:31:06.759 to move that many times, right? 00:31:06.759 --> 00:31:09.319 And there's never 00:31:09.319 --> 00:31:10.140 really any guarantee 00:31:10.140 --> 00:31:10.660 of how long 00:31:10.660 --> 00:31:11.240 we're going to be 00:31:11.240 --> 00:31:12.480 in a given place, right? 00:31:12.619 --> 00:31:13.660 And so from the very beginning 00:31:13.660 --> 00:31:14.519 because of the cost 00:31:14.519 --> 00:31:15.099 and the instability 00:31:15.099 --> 00:31:16.859 we've wanted to find 00:31:16.859 --> 00:31:17.740 ways to collaborate. 00:31:17.920 --> 00:31:18.440 How can we be 00:31:18.440 --> 00:31:19.460 more collaborative? 00:31:19.619 --> 00:31:20.099 How can we be 00:31:20.099 --> 00:31:21.000 better stewards 00:31:21.000 --> 00:31:22.379 of the resources 00:31:22.379 --> 00:31:23.319 that God has given us? 00:31:23.640 --> 00:31:24.359 And so when we saw 00:31:24.359 --> 00:31:24.960 this opportunity 00:31:24.960 --> 00:31:25.440 in Brooklyn 00:31:25.440 --> 00:31:26.619 you have these two 00:31:26.619 --> 00:31:27.180 neighborhoods 00:31:27.180 --> 00:31:27.859 Columbia Heights 00:31:27.859 --> 00:31:28.240 and Brooklyn 00:31:28.240 --> 00:31:29.079 that are less than 00:31:29.079 --> 00:31:29.920 three miles apart. 00:31:30.500 --> 00:31:31.759 You have a large 00:31:31.759 --> 00:31:32.519 community between 00:31:32.519 --> 00:31:33.119 those neighborhoods 00:31:33.119 --> 00:31:33.920 of people who really 00:31:33.920 --> 00:31:34.440 know each other 00:31:34.440 --> 00:31:35.299 and really love each other. 00:31:35.299 --> 00:31:37.019 And then you have 00:31:37.019 --> 00:31:37.480 this kind of 00:31:37.480 --> 00:31:38.720 high population density 00:31:38.720 --> 00:31:40.200 in a highly populated area. 00:31:40.480 --> 00:31:40.899 We said, hey, 00:31:40.940 --> 00:31:41.759 this is a real opportunity 00:31:41.759 --> 00:31:43.279 to explore a long-term 00:31:43.279 --> 00:31:44.019 connection between 00:31:44.019 --> 00:31:44.980 two church communities 00:31:44.980 --> 00:31:46.019 where they can really 00:31:46.019 --> 00:31:47.839 find ways to maximize 00:31:47.839 --> 00:31:48.879 their stewardship 00:31:48.879 --> 00:31:49.960 and make the best use 00:31:49.960 --> 00:31:50.720 of their resources. 00:31:51.359 --> 00:31:52.159 And so our vision 00:31:52.159 --> 00:31:52.659 for Brooklyn 00:31:52.659 --> 00:31:55.099 is that it functions 00:31:55.099 --> 00:31:55.720 as a church 00:31:55.720 --> 00:31:56.299 in many ways 00:31:56.299 --> 00:31:56.980 what we would call 00:31:56.980 --> 00:31:58.480 a parish community. 00:31:59.019 --> 00:32:00.139 And the word parish 00:32:00.139 --> 00:32:01.099 is an Anglican word 00:32:01.099 --> 00:32:02.639 but we love this word 00:32:02.639 --> 00:32:04.119 because parish conveys 00:32:04.119 --> 00:32:05.459 the idea that a church 00:32:05.459 --> 00:32:06.939 takes spiritual responsibility 00:32:06.939 --> 00:32:08.259 for its neighborhood. 00:32:09.079 --> 00:32:09.779 And we think 00:32:09.779 --> 00:32:10.759 that's a beautiful idea. 00:32:11.500 --> 00:32:12.219 And so we want to 00:32:12.219 --> 00:32:13.219 build that into 00:32:13.219 --> 00:32:14.139 our sense of identity 00:32:14.139 --> 00:32:14.759 as a community. 00:32:15.000 --> 00:32:16.859 We want Brooklyn here. 00:32:17.000 --> 00:32:18.279 We're celebrating Brooklyn 00:32:18.279 --> 00:32:18.979 but we really 00:32:18.979 --> 00:32:20.339 the challenge in Brooklyn 00:32:20.339 --> 00:32:21.699 is to take spiritual 00:32:21.699 --> 00:32:22.379 responsibility 00:32:22.379 --> 00:32:23.959 over these neighborhoods 00:32:23.959 --> 00:32:25.139 that are represented 00:32:25.139 --> 00:32:25.959 by this church. 00:32:26.500 --> 00:32:26.599 Right? 00:32:26.859 --> 00:32:27.319 That we want to 00:32:27.319 --> 00:32:27.979 think of ourselves 00:32:27.979 --> 00:32:28.659 as being here 00:32:28.659 --> 00:32:29.519 for the sake 00:32:29.519 --> 00:32:30.259 of these neighborhoods. 00:32:30.479 --> 00:32:31.299 To become deeply 00:32:31.299 --> 00:32:31.739 invested. 00:32:31.879 --> 00:32:32.519 To develop ways 00:32:32.519 --> 00:32:33.139 of serving 00:32:33.139 --> 00:32:34.160 and meeting needs 00:32:34.160 --> 00:32:34.700 in this neighborhood. 00:32:34.879 --> 00:32:35.000 Right? 00:32:35.039 --> 00:32:35.639 To be a home 00:32:35.639 --> 00:32:36.519 for any who want 00:32:36.519 --> 00:32:37.000 to be a part 00:32:37.000 --> 00:32:37.639 of what God 00:32:37.639 --> 00:32:38.240 is doing here. 00:32:38.680 --> 00:32:39.220 And then we want 00:32:39.220 --> 00:32:40.139 to see the same reality 00:32:40.139 --> 00:32:41.019 continue to happen 00:32:41.019 --> 00:32:42.139 in Columbia Heights. 00:32:42.240 --> 00:32:42.900 And we want to see 00:32:42.900 --> 00:32:43.579 what it's like 00:32:43.579 --> 00:32:44.039 to function 00:32:44.039 --> 00:32:44.680 as one church 00:32:44.680 --> 00:32:45.940 with two distinct 00:32:45.940 --> 00:32:47.639 different unique 00:32:47.639 --> 00:32:48.539 parish communities 00:32:48.539 --> 00:32:50.500 that share key resources 00:32:50.500 --> 00:32:51.359 and staff 00:32:51.359 --> 00:32:52.599 and finances 00:32:52.599 --> 00:32:53.960 in ways that more 00:32:53.960 --> 00:32:55.019 enable us to focus 00:32:55.019 --> 00:32:55.619 on mission 00:32:55.619 --> 00:32:57.220 rather than reinventing 00:32:57.220 --> 00:32:57.619 the wheel 00:32:57.619 --> 00:32:58.839 again and again 00:32:58.839 --> 00:32:59.460 and again. 00:32:59.500 --> 00:33:00.039 And we're excited 00:33:00.039 --> 00:33:01.059 about all of the things 00:33:01.059 --> 00:33:01.980 that this allows us 00:33:01.980 --> 00:33:03.039 to do in terms 00:33:03.039 --> 00:33:04.059 of leadership development 00:33:04.059 --> 00:33:04.819 and raising up 00:33:04.819 --> 00:33:05.559 future pastors 00:33:05.559 --> 00:33:06.960 and creating a kind 00:33:06.960 --> 00:33:07.700 of launch pad 00:33:07.700 --> 00:33:08.919 for future church plants. 00:33:09.440 --> 00:33:09.919 And so I think 00:33:09.919 --> 00:33:10.379 that it's going 00:33:10.379 --> 00:33:10.899 to be exciting 00:33:10.899 --> 00:33:11.819 to see what happens. 00:33:12.500 --> 00:33:13.619 But in all of these ways 00:33:13.619 --> 00:33:14.859 what I want to come back to 00:33:14.859 --> 00:33:16.819 is that all of this 00:33:16.819 --> 00:33:18.279 gospel centered 00:33:18.279 --> 00:33:19.179 community talk 00:33:19.179 --> 00:33:21.440 is so important to us 00:33:21.440 --> 00:33:22.279 and here's the thing 00:33:22.279 --> 00:33:22.779 that I kind of 00:33:22.779 --> 00:33:23.740 want to leave you with. 00:33:24.259 --> 00:33:25.079 Because the gospel 00:33:25.079 --> 00:33:26.000 is meant to be 00:33:26.000 --> 00:33:27.059 experienced in community. 00:33:27.839 --> 00:33:29.539 It only makes sense 00:33:29.539 --> 00:33:30.740 in the context 00:33:30.740 --> 00:33:31.619 of community. 00:33:31.740 --> 00:33:33.200 Not as an abstract idea. 00:33:33.680 --> 00:33:34.619 Not as an answer 00:33:34.619 --> 00:33:35.700 to a theology question. 00:33:36.460 --> 00:33:37.779 Not as a Sunday school 00:33:37.779 --> 00:33:38.599 discussion topic. 00:33:39.339 --> 00:33:40.200 But when it's actually 00:33:40.200 --> 00:33:41.159 lived out. 00:33:42.119 --> 00:33:43.119 So here's the challenge 00:33:43.119 --> 00:33:44.519 for everybody here. 00:33:44.680 --> 00:33:45.339 If you're here 00:33:45.339 --> 00:33:46.279 and you're not a Christian 00:33:46.279 --> 00:33:47.480 and you're just 00:33:47.480 --> 00:33:48.379 kind of checking this out 00:33:48.379 --> 00:33:48.859 or a friend 00:33:48.859 --> 00:33:49.960 condoled you into coming 00:33:49.960 --> 00:33:50.879 we're so glad 00:33:50.879 --> 00:33:51.399 that you're here. 00:33:51.920 --> 00:33:52.639 And I just want 00:33:52.639 --> 00:33:53.379 to invite you 00:33:53.379 --> 00:33:55.059 to taste and see. 00:33:56.259 --> 00:33:56.940 Hang around. 00:33:57.960 --> 00:33:58.859 Check out a small group. 00:33:58.859 --> 00:34:00.179 Keep coming here. 00:34:00.740 --> 00:34:01.459 Get a sense 00:34:01.459 --> 00:34:02.879 of what life is like 00:34:02.879 --> 00:34:03.579 in a community. 00:34:03.759 --> 00:34:04.679 Not a perfect community. 00:34:05.099 --> 00:34:05.219 Right? 00:34:05.299 --> 00:34:05.919 Remember we're sinners. 00:34:07.119 --> 00:34:07.899 But we're sinners 00:34:07.899 --> 00:34:08.880 who are saved by grace 00:34:08.880 --> 00:34:10.619 who seek to experience 00:34:10.619 --> 00:34:11.599 the truth of that 00:34:11.599 --> 00:34:12.420 together. 00:34:12.819 --> 00:34:13.639 So come and taste 00:34:13.639 --> 00:34:14.539 and see if there isn't 00:34:14.539 --> 00:34:14.980 something here 00:34:14.980 --> 00:34:16.159 that you've been longing for. 00:34:17.359 --> 00:34:18.679 And if you are a Christian 00:34:18.679 --> 00:34:20.079 and I know I've said 00:34:20.079 --> 00:34:20.639 this before 00:34:20.639 --> 00:34:22.480 if Advent is your home 00:34:22.480 --> 00:34:23.859 then I invite you 00:34:23.859 --> 00:34:24.839 to pour yourself in. 00:34:25.319 --> 00:34:27.059 To invest fully 00:34:27.059 --> 00:34:27.840 in this community. 00:34:29.099 --> 00:34:30.619 It will change your life. 00:34:31.860 --> 00:34:32.539 Give yourself 00:34:32.539 --> 00:34:33.079 to what God 00:34:33.079 --> 00:34:33.679 is doing here. 00:34:33.880 --> 00:34:34.340 Allow God 00:34:34.340 --> 00:34:35.139 to use you 00:34:35.139 --> 00:34:36.199 to meet needs 00:34:36.199 --> 00:34:37.779 and to hold hands 00:34:37.779 --> 00:34:38.860 that only you can hold. 00:34:39.699 --> 00:34:40.380 We need you. 00:34:40.440 --> 00:34:41.159 We want you to be a part 00:34:41.159 --> 00:34:41.739 of what we're doing. 00:34:43.500 --> 00:34:44.440 And we do all this 00:34:44.440 --> 00:34:45.539 with a hopeful expectation 00:34:45.539 --> 00:34:46.739 that God is going to do 00:34:46.739 --> 00:34:47.460 far more 00:34:47.460 --> 00:34:49.000 than we can ever ask 00:34:49.000 --> 00:34:49.880 or imagine. 00:34:50.519 --> 00:34:51.259 It's in his name 00:34:51.259 --> 00:34:52.179 that we say these words 00:34:52.179 --> 00:34:53.419 and now we pray. 00:34:54.500 --> 00:34:55.619 Father we do ask 00:34:55.619 --> 00:34:56.940 that you would make this 00:34:56.940 --> 00:34:58.619 a true living reality 00:34:58.619 --> 00:34:59.719 for us Lord. 00:35:00.279 --> 00:35:01.379 That your gospel 00:35:01.379 --> 00:35:03.159 is you entering in 00:35:03.159 --> 00:35:05.419 forming a community 00:35:05.419 --> 00:35:06.500 and then using 00:35:06.500 --> 00:35:07.219 that community 00:35:07.219 --> 00:35:08.259 through the power 00:35:08.259 --> 00:35:08.739 and the presence 00:35:08.739 --> 00:35:09.559 of your son Jesus 00:35:09.559 --> 00:35:10.779 and the Holy Spirit 00:35:10.779 --> 00:35:11.919 to bless the world. 00:35:12.019 --> 00:35:12.639 We pray that that 00:35:12.639 --> 00:35:13.500 would be true of us. 00:35:13.919 --> 00:35:14.339 That one day 00:35:14.339 --> 00:35:15.000 we would look back 00:35:15.000 --> 00:35:15.919 and see all that you 00:35:15.919 --> 00:35:16.619 have done 00:35:16.619 --> 00:35:18.679 through us Lord. 00:35:18.919 --> 00:35:19.699 We thank you for that. 00:35:19.779 --> 00:35:20.359 We thank you for your 00:35:20.359 --> 00:35:20.940 presence here. 00:35:20.940 --> 00:35:22.079 And we pray your blessing 00:35:22.079 --> 00:35:23.220 as we move forward together. 00:35:23.720 --> 00:35:24.599 In your son's name. 00:35:24.880 --> 00:35:25.099 Amen.