WEBVTT

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 Well, again, let me welcome you this morning.

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 If you're new, especially joining us either in person or online, my name's Tommy.

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 I'm the rector here, and I'm excited to continue a series in Paul's letter to the Corinthians,

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 what we call 2 Corinthians.

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 And this is really a series about power.

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 It's a series about power, and it's a series about how the gospel transforms power.

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 It turns power and weakness upside down.

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 That's the theme that we're going to be following for the next several months, actually.

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 And this week, we're going to be looking at this in the context of Christian ministry.

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 And I don't just mean professional Christian ministry, people who have a career in Christian

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 ministry.

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 Every single Christian is a Christian minister.

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 We're all Christian ministers.

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 And so, if you're here this morning and you're a Christian, we're talking about you.

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 If you're here this morning and you're not a Christian, you're going to have the opportunity

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 to sit in as we do a little self-reflection, as we think about how we define success in

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 the church.

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 What does a successful Christian ministry look like?

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 And should we define success in the same way that other institutions in our society define

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 success?

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 It's interesting being in a place like D.C. when we're out at social gatherings or whatever,

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 and the conversation almost always arises when you meet somebody.

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 Well, what do you do for a living?

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 And I say, well, I'm a pastor.

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 And invariably, if I get to the next question before the person politely excuses themselves

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 from conversation, the question will be some form of, well, how many people go to your

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 church?

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 And it's a kind of way, and I don't think that people always mean it this way, but for

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 me, maybe it's my own issues, but it always feels like they're trying to decide how important

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 I am or if I'm worth continuing a conversation with, right?

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 And Advent's been around for 14 years, and we started as a house church in a living room.

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 And so, it's been interesting to see the evolution of people's responses over the years.

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 What's more disconcerting is that when I go to pastor conferences or diocesan gatherings,

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 I get the same question, right?

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 And so, there is a question to be asked, how do we define success in Christian ministry?

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 Should it look like other institutions in our society?

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 So, we're going to be doing a little bit of self-reflection, which I think, given the

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 fact that this is the first Sunday in Lent, is very appropriate, very appropriate.

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 And we're going to be looking at this section that we just heard Chris read, and we're going

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 to be looking at Paul's ministry as an apostle.

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 And Paul gives us three metaphors for Christian ministry.

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 Each of these metaphors tells us something about Christian ministry, and all along the

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 way, we're going to be asking ourselves, how do we think about success?

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 How do we define our calling as Christian ministers, which again, we all are Christian ministers,

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 and how different is that?

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 How countercultural is it from the surrounding culture?

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 So, we're going to be looking at these three images to guide us.

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 Christian ministry, a triumphal procession, an aroma of life and death, living letters.

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 What does each of these images tell us about Christian ministry?

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 Let's pray.

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 Lord, we thank you for your word, and we thank you that it is not just ink and paper.

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 Your word is living and active because you are living and active.

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 You're not a deaf, dumb, mute idol.

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 You're a living God in our midst, here now speaking to us, offering yourself to us.

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 And before we come to this table and are nourished by your body and blood, Lord, we pray that we

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 would be nourished by your word, and that in the sacraments and the preaching, we would

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 experience the gospel in stereo.

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 We pray this, Lord, for our good and our blessing, but ultimately that you would be glorified in

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 our midst.

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 We pray this in your Son's holy name.

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 Amen.

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 So, let's look at this passage together.

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 I want to give you a little context so it makes sense where we are.

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 We're kind of dropping into the middle.

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 I think it was Jeff who said when he introduced this series that when you read 2 Corinthians,

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 it's like dropping into the middle of a pastor's inbox, and that's essentially what we're doing.

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 So, let me give you a little context.

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 Paul is writing this letter to address criticism that he's received from some of the Corinthians,

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 including some of the leaders in Corinth, who he later refers to as the super apostles.

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 And the reason is because he has had some hard words for the Corinthians in terms of how

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 they've been living.

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 He's tried to correct them as their pastor, and they've responded by delegitimizing his

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 ministry.

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 And they're essentially saying that he's not a legitimate apostle.

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 And the reason is because he's not very apostle-like.

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 He's not very apostle-y in his behavior.

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 In their minds, you know, if you were to ask one of the Corinthians, what is an apostle?

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 Here's what they would say.

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 Well, number one, an apostle is someone who is uniquely blessed by God.

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 That's true.

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 Therefore, they would say a true apostle should be a paragon of success because blessing by

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 God means that you're successful, right?

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 Then you look at Paul.

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 Paul's ministry is filled with failure.

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 It's filled with evidence of Paul's weakness, including the fact that Paul had changed his

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 mind several times, including one which we see referenced in verses 12 and 13.

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 He's there in Troas.

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 He's waiting for Titus to come and tell him whether or not the Corinthians have repented from

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 their rebellion.

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 And he has this explosion, this response to the gospel.

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 It says a door was opened for me there for the gospel.

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 But he's so anxious to know how the Corinthians have responded to his letter that he can't

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 wait in Troas.

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 And so he leaves.

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 He's got people lining up to be baptized.

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 And he's like, I can't stay.

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 I got to know what's happening with the Corinthians.

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 So he goes on to Macedonia to try to find Titus.

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 They're like, no real apostle of Jesus would abandon Troas when everybody's coming to

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 faith.

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 This is a huge opportunity.

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 Pentecost part two, and you just left.

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 You obviously don't have your priorities in order.

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 Not a real apostle.

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 Then they would say, you know, well, an apostle is a messenger commissioned personally by Jesus.

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 That's also true.

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 But they assumed, well, therefore, a true apostle should be very eloquent, very winsome, very

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 compelling as a public speaker.

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 We established last week Paul is anything but that.

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 He's a rather boring public speaker, very uninteresting.

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 Third, an apostle is a leader over the church.

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 Therefore, they would say a true apostle should have the most impressive credentials.

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 Paul didn't have impressive credentials as a Christian leader.

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 In fact, his only credential prior to his conversion is that he built his entire early career persecuting

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 Christians.

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 So not a very qualified leader of the church, right?

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 So Paul's critics are saying, look at all of these aspects of Paul's ministry.

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 Paul's ministry lacks all of the marks of true Christian ministry.

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 Therefore, Paul is obviously a fraud.

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 This is the context that we're dropping into.

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 Here's Paul's response that we're going to unpack.

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 It's essentially this.

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 You have completely misunderstood the nature of Christian ministry.

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 You've completely misunderstood the nature of Christian ministry.

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 And then he uses three metaphors to refute their assumptions one by one and show us what

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 true Christian looks like.

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 So the first image or metaphor that Paul uses is the image of the triumphal procession in verses

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 12 to 14, part A.

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 He says this, but thanks be to God who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession.

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 Now at first glance, what does this seem to imply?

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 It seems to imply that all Christian ministry is like traipsing around the world, being celebrated,

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 people clapping and cheering as we just sort of go from one place to the next, sort of spreading

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 gospel cheer, right?

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 We're following Jesus in a triumphal procession.

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 We have triumphed over the world.

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 People are happy to see us.

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 Crowds, people line up to hear what we have to say.

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 Not true, right?

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 In order to understand this, we need to know that the word that Paul uses for triumphal procession

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 is actually a technical term referring to the Roman institution of the triumphal procession.

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 One of my former professors, Scott Hafeman, wrote a fantastic commentary on 2 Corinthians,

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 and here's what he says.

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 The triumphal procession was a lavish parade conducted in Rome to celebrate great victories

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 in significant military campaigns.

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 These were ostentatious celebrations filled with valiant soldiers, the spoils of war, and

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 the most theatrical pomp and circumstance Rome could muster.

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 There were over 350 recorded victories in Rome's history, and they were all celebrated this way.

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 And here's the key detail.

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 In order to demonstrate Rome's prowess as the victor, their utter unquestioned dominance,

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 a prominent feature of these celebrations was that you would have the chariot where the person

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 who was leading the procession would be celebrated, and then you would have a long train of prisoners.

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 Right?

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 The rival kings, the rival generals, the enemies.

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 Right?

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 Imagine, this is probably what Putin fantasizes about doing with Zelensky, right?

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 Marching him back in chains to Moscow, right?

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 We have been victorious.

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 This is the kind of thing that Rome would do.

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 They would take the rival leader, the rival king, and they would march them and all of their

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 generals in chains to humiliate them, which was a testament to the power and the glory of

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 Rome, right?

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 The highest honor that any Roman Caesar or general could receive would be to lead one of these

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 processions.

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 Conversely, to be led as a prisoner in such a procession was the most humiliating sign of defeat

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 you could experience, short of death.

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 And the prisoners would ultimately be marched to a place where they would be executed.

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 They would be executed to bring glory and honor to Rome and glory and honor to Rome's gods.

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 So here's the key to understanding what Paul is saying about Christian ministry.

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 In this metaphor, Paul is not the one leading the procession.

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 Paul is the prisoner in chains, following behind Jesus, who leads the procession.

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 Paul's entire life exists to bring glory and honor to Jesus.

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 Now, we might hear this and be disturbed by the idea of being a prisoner for Christ.

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 That's kind of a brutal image.

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 But all throughout Paul's letters, he delights in referring to himself as a prisoner of Christ,

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 even a slave to Christ.

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 That was his favorite title for himself as an apostle.

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 And the reason is because Paul had realized the truth about the human condition.

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 He had realized in his earlier life that, listen, guess what?

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 Like it or not, we are all slaves to something or to someone.

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 We are all slaves to something or someone.

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 If you can't stop overeating, you're a slave to food.

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 If you can't stop losing your temper, you're a slave to anger.

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 If you can't stop conforming to what others expect of you,

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 if you can't say no to people,

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 if you can't draw boundaries that need to be drawn,

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 then you're a slave to the approval of other people.

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 If you're dating and you can't stop conforming and shifting and compromising in your values and standards

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 so that that other man or woman will be more attracted to you

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 and be more likely to want to date you,

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 you're making that person your master.

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 You're their slave.

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 They're calling the shots about the most important things in your life.

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 And so the gospel says, and this is what Paul had realized,

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 the only way for us to be free from the things that enslave us in the world

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 is to become slaves of Christ.

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 Paul had discovered, I, as a slave to Christ, am free

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 because Christ as my master desires my freedom.

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 In Him, I'm free in a way that I never was before as a Pharisee.

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 Right, so this is Paul's realization.

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 Now let's just think of the implications of this for this broader question of Christian ministry

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 and how we think about it.

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 This is the first metaphor we're given.

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 The nature of Christian ministry is this,

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 following Jesus in a triumphal procession,

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 which is, now that we know what that means,

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 a death march where we are prisoners.

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 Right?

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 We need to understand the implications of this for Paul's critics and for us.

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 Paul's critics assumed that being a successful Christian minister

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 means success and prosperity, maybe even celebrity status.

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 And there were first century church leaders who were very much like celebrities.

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 But in truth, Paul is saying,

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 the nature of Christian ministry is not that you're a celebrity.

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 It's not that you have a massive following.

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 It's not that you are celebrated everywhere you go.

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 The nature of Christian ministry is that we're like prisoners following behind Jesus.

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 In other words, it is not about us.

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 It's about Him.

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 It's not about us.

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 It's about Him.

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 And I think that, and this is just me talking,

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 but I think that one of the main ways that the church in the United States has gone off the rails

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 is because we desperately want to be the ones leading the procession.

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 We want to be the ones who are celebrated.

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 We want to be the ones who have the prestige and the respectability.

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 We want cultural and political power and influence.

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 And I think that we have made extraordinarily grievous compromises

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 in order to grab and to hold on to these things.

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 And maybe, if we want a ministry that looks like Paul's ministry,

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 we need to be reminded that we were never meant to be the ones leading the procession.

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 We are prisoners for Christ's sake.

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 You know, over the last century, many Christians have been praying for revival in our country,

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 like the great revivals of past centuries.

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 We've been praying for revival in the church right now.

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 Some of us are praying for that right now.

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 We need another revival in our country, right?

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 But what do we see happening?

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 The church is having to reckon with its culture of celebrity worship

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 as more and more celebrity pastors are toppled from their pedestals

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 because of narcissism and sin and scandal.

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 Right?

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 We're praying for revival,

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 and yet what we see is the church having to reckon with its complicity

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 in sexual abuse, covering up grievous sin,

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 as well as complicity in racism and injustice.

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 Right?

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 We're praying for revival,

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 and yet what we see is the church is having to reckon

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 with all of the ways it has compromised its integrity

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 in order to gain and hold political power.

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 Right?

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 We're praying for revival,

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 and yet the church is having to reckon

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 with all of the ways it has compromised its doctrines

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 in order to appeal to the culture,

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 only to then die out.

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 Right?

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 So you may look at this,

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 and you may say,

00:16:27.860 --> 00:16:30.520
 well, God has failed to answer our prayer

00:16:30.519 --> 00:16:31.679
 for revival.

00:16:31.919 --> 00:16:34.079
 But what if God is answering our prayer?

00:16:35.419 --> 00:16:37.319
 What if God is answering our prayer?

00:16:37.379 --> 00:16:37.840
 In other words,

00:16:38.179 --> 00:16:40.279
 what if before revival can come,

00:16:40.379 --> 00:16:41.559
 there has to be a reckoning?

00:16:43.319 --> 00:16:45.179
 What if this is the road to revival?

00:16:46.659 --> 00:16:48.779
 What if before revival can come,

00:16:48.860 --> 00:16:49.720
 we have to remember

00:16:49.720 --> 00:16:52.360
 who is leading the triumphal procession?

00:16:53.720 --> 00:16:54.199
 Right?

00:16:54.200 --> 00:16:55.220
 We have to be reminded

00:16:55.220 --> 00:16:56.960
 that it's not about us.

00:16:57.500 --> 00:16:58.520
 It's about Him.

00:16:59.879 --> 00:17:01.720
 So this first metaphor shows us

00:17:01.720 --> 00:17:03.200
 the nature of Christian ministry.

00:17:03.320 --> 00:17:04.940
 We're like prisoners following Jesus

00:17:04.940 --> 00:17:06.640
 in a triumphal procession.

00:17:07.600 --> 00:17:10.140
 This leads us to the second metaphor,

00:17:10.400 --> 00:17:12.940
 the aroma of life and death.

00:17:13.680 --> 00:17:15.120
 The aroma of life and death.

00:17:15.920 --> 00:17:17.340
 Roman triumphal processions

00:17:17.340 --> 00:17:19.039
 would often include incense,

00:17:19.039 --> 00:17:21.259
 and as the procession passed by,

00:17:21.359 --> 00:17:23.139
 the incense would waft out

00:17:23.139 --> 00:17:24.159
 into the streets

00:17:24.159 --> 00:17:26.420
 for everybody to smell.

00:17:27.059 --> 00:17:28.399
 And as Paul says

00:17:28.399 --> 00:17:30.440
 in verses 14 through 16,

00:17:30.879 --> 00:17:32.139
 wherever he goes,

00:17:32.460 --> 00:17:35.039
 the aroma of Christ goes with him.

00:17:36.139 --> 00:17:37.099
 What he says is

00:17:37.099 --> 00:17:38.519
 that some people out there

00:17:38.519 --> 00:17:40.119
 see Paul's life

00:17:40.119 --> 00:17:41.460
 and they hear his message

00:17:41.460 --> 00:17:43.220
 and their hearts are immediately

00:17:43.220 --> 00:17:44.619
 open to the gospel

00:17:44.619 --> 00:17:46.779
 because God is already at work in them.

00:17:46.859 --> 00:17:48.000
 They're compelled by it.

00:17:49.000 --> 00:17:51.299
 Other people see the same life,

00:17:51.579 --> 00:17:52.740
 hear the same message,

00:17:52.880 --> 00:17:54.839
 and their hearts are closed off.

00:17:54.940 --> 00:17:55.819
 They don't respond.

00:17:57.200 --> 00:17:58.500
 You know, it's like some people

00:17:58.500 --> 00:17:59.559
 who get COVID

00:17:59.559 --> 00:18:00.619
 and then after COVID,

00:18:00.700 --> 00:18:01.559
 long after COVID,

00:18:01.660 --> 00:18:03.700
 they have this sense of smell

00:18:03.700 --> 00:18:05.259
 that's totally out of whack,

00:18:05.640 --> 00:18:06.380
 right, where they're like,

00:18:06.440 --> 00:18:07.420
 I know that this thing

00:18:07.420 --> 00:18:08.559
 should smell good to me,

00:18:08.619 --> 00:18:09.779
 but it smells rancid.

00:18:09.859 --> 00:18:11.920
 It smells rotten, right?

00:18:12.160 --> 00:18:13.720
 The way you know

00:18:13.720 --> 00:18:16.819
 you are being spiritually renewed

00:18:16.819 --> 00:18:18.980
 the way that you know

00:18:18.980 --> 00:18:20.879
 actually first in the case of COVID

00:18:20.879 --> 00:18:22.519
 that you are healing

00:18:22.519 --> 00:18:24.119
 is when your sense of smell

00:18:24.119 --> 00:18:25.299
 starts to be put right,

00:18:25.399 --> 00:18:26.619
 when things that should smell good

00:18:26.619 --> 00:18:27.159
 smell good

00:18:27.159 --> 00:18:28.799
 and things that should smell bad

00:18:28.799 --> 00:18:29.399
 smell bad.

00:18:29.919 --> 00:18:31.200
 And so one of the signs

00:18:31.200 --> 00:18:32.099
 that we're experiencing

00:18:32.099 --> 00:18:33.059
 spiritual renewal

00:18:33.059 --> 00:18:33.939
 is when the gospel

00:18:33.939 --> 00:18:35.299
 begins to smell good,

00:18:36.240 --> 00:18:37.439
 when there's something in you

00:18:37.439 --> 00:18:38.339
 that even if you're not a Christian,

00:18:38.439 --> 00:18:38.980
 you're curious.

00:18:39.240 --> 00:18:39.740
 And there are people,

00:18:39.799 --> 00:18:40.740
 some of you are here this morning

00:18:40.740 --> 00:18:41.639
 and you're here

00:18:41.639 --> 00:18:43.059
 and you're not necessarily a Christian,

00:18:43.059 --> 00:18:44.559
 but there's something about this

00:18:44.559 --> 00:18:45.619
 that is attractive to you.

00:18:45.700 --> 00:18:46.440
 There's something about this

00:18:46.440 --> 00:18:47.399
 that is drawing you.

00:18:47.519 --> 00:18:48.200
 You're curious.

00:18:48.639 --> 00:18:49.859
 You're wanting to learn more.

00:18:50.379 --> 00:18:51.480
 You know, many times

00:18:51.480 --> 00:18:52.679
 in our foundations class,

00:18:52.740 --> 00:18:54.759
 which is our church membership class,

00:18:54.839 --> 00:18:55.819
 it's a 13-week class

00:18:55.819 --> 00:18:57.299
 that we do a couple of times a year,

00:18:57.460 --> 00:18:59.000
 we'll have one or two people in there

00:18:59.000 --> 00:18:59.759
 who are not Christians,

00:18:59.899 --> 00:19:00.700
 but they're just curious.

00:19:00.839 --> 00:19:01.659
 They want to learn more

00:19:01.659 --> 00:19:04.339
 because something about this smells good.

00:19:04.619 --> 00:19:05.779
 It's attractive to them.

00:19:06.720 --> 00:19:07.700
 And Paul's saying,

00:19:07.799 --> 00:19:09.259
 listen, when people come to faith

00:19:09.259 --> 00:19:10.480
 in places like Troas,

00:19:10.559 --> 00:19:11.259
 where I was,

00:19:11.259 --> 00:19:13.160
 it's not because of my eloquence

00:19:13.160 --> 00:19:14.379
 or my brilliance.

00:19:14.720 --> 00:19:15.559
 They come to faith

00:19:15.559 --> 00:19:16.980
 because God is already at work

00:19:16.980 --> 00:19:17.500
 in their hearts.

00:19:17.640 --> 00:19:19.039
 Christ is working through me.

00:19:19.339 --> 00:19:20.279
 And I don't often know

00:19:20.279 --> 00:19:21.240
 who those people are.

00:19:23.119 --> 00:19:24.599
 So if the first metaphor

00:19:24.599 --> 00:19:25.900
 showed us the nature

00:19:25.900 --> 00:19:26.779
 of Christian ministry,

00:19:26.879 --> 00:19:28.039
 this metaphor shows us

00:19:28.039 --> 00:19:30.440
 the power in Christian ministry.

00:19:30.559 --> 00:19:31.660
 And that power comes

00:19:31.660 --> 00:19:32.579
 from the Holy Spirit,

00:19:33.539 --> 00:19:34.220
 not us.

00:19:35.079 --> 00:19:35.279
 Right?

00:19:35.460 --> 00:19:36.359
 The Holy Spirit,

00:19:36.519 --> 00:19:37.059
 not us.

00:19:37.359 --> 00:19:38.680
 And so you have Paul's critics,

00:19:38.859 --> 00:19:40.299
 they think that Christian ministry

00:19:40.299 --> 00:19:42.000
 depends on our gifts.

00:19:42.579 --> 00:19:43.559
 And they think it depends

00:19:43.559 --> 00:19:44.379
 on our talents

00:19:44.379 --> 00:19:45.779
 and our natural ability

00:19:45.779 --> 00:19:46.579
 and our charisma,

00:19:46.960 --> 00:19:47.680
 our good looks,

00:19:47.799 --> 00:19:48.460
 our techniques,

00:19:48.799 --> 00:19:49.559
 our strategies,

00:19:49.700 --> 00:19:50.779
 that we have to be impressive

00:19:50.779 --> 00:19:53.000
 in order to bring people to faith.

00:19:54.759 --> 00:19:56.480
 But the power of Christian ministry

00:19:56.480 --> 00:19:57.599
 comes from the Holy Spirit,

00:19:58.440 --> 00:19:59.159
 not us.

00:20:00.419 --> 00:20:00.619
 You know,

00:20:00.680 --> 00:20:01.259
 for most of us,

00:20:01.319 --> 00:20:02.299
 the whole concept of evangelism

00:20:03.039 --> 00:20:05.539
 makes us deeply uncomfortable

00:20:05.539 --> 00:20:07.639
 because it's so hard

00:20:07.639 --> 00:20:08.859
 to admit to our non-Christian

00:20:08.859 --> 00:20:09.920
 friends and co-workers

00:20:09.920 --> 00:20:11.259
 that we are even Christians,

00:20:11.440 --> 00:20:13.139
 much less share our faith.

00:20:13.879 --> 00:20:14.000
 Right?

00:20:14.059 --> 00:20:15.000
 Most of us feel like

00:20:15.000 --> 00:20:15.960
 we're just trying to get by

00:20:15.960 --> 00:20:16.599
 and the idea of actually

00:20:16.599 --> 00:20:18.119
 sharing our faith with somebody,

00:20:18.819 --> 00:20:20.680
 it just feels way beyond

00:20:20.680 --> 00:20:21.920
 what we're capable of.

00:20:22.680 --> 00:20:23.960
 And so I hope this is actually

00:20:23.960 --> 00:20:24.779
 a great comfort

00:20:24.779 --> 00:20:26.859
 to be reminded

00:20:26.859 --> 00:20:29.200
 that it actually doesn't depend on us,

00:20:29.819 --> 00:20:31.599
 but on the work of the Holy Spirit.

00:20:31.659 --> 00:20:32.440
 Now, does that mean that we,

00:20:32.819 --> 00:20:33.799
 doesn't matter if we share our faith?

00:20:33.799 --> 00:20:34.119
 No.

00:20:34.740 --> 00:20:35.559
 What it means is

00:20:35.559 --> 00:20:36.720
 there are people around you

00:20:36.720 --> 00:20:37.799
 in your life right now

00:20:37.799 --> 00:20:39.220
 in whom the Spirit is working,

00:20:40.200 --> 00:20:41.659
 who are open,

00:20:42.279 --> 00:20:43.740
 who do want to know more,

00:20:43.819 --> 00:20:44.619
 who are curious.

00:20:46.500 --> 00:20:46.720
 You know,

00:20:46.779 --> 00:20:48.799
 I think about my own experience

00:20:48.799 --> 00:20:51.200
 as a kid growing up,

00:20:51.519 --> 00:20:52.619
 sometimes going to church,

00:20:53.000 --> 00:20:53.619
 sometimes not.

00:20:53.680 --> 00:20:55.039
 My dad wanted us to go to church,

00:20:55.119 --> 00:20:55.819
 my mom didn't,

00:20:56.200 --> 00:20:56.960
 so their compromise

00:20:56.960 --> 00:20:58.399
 was to go once or twice a month.

00:20:59.500 --> 00:20:59.859
 And so,

00:21:00.079 --> 00:21:00.740
 but we would go

00:21:00.740 --> 00:21:01.259
 and I probably,

00:21:01.399 --> 00:21:01.559
 you know,

00:21:01.599 --> 00:21:02.440
 it was a good church

00:21:02.440 --> 00:21:03.099
 and I probably heard

00:21:03.099 --> 00:21:03.879
 the gospel presented

00:21:03.879 --> 00:21:04.899
 thousands of times

00:21:04.899 --> 00:21:06.299
 in a thousand different ways.

00:21:06.659 --> 00:21:07.699
 I had friends who knew

00:21:07.699 --> 00:21:08.679
 I wasn't really a believer

00:21:08.679 --> 00:21:09.799
 and so they would invite me

00:21:09.799 --> 00:21:10.439
 to their churches

00:21:10.439 --> 00:21:11.139
 to come to their church,

00:21:11.199 --> 00:21:12.639
 their evangelistic events.

00:21:13.259 --> 00:21:13.899
 And I would sit through

00:21:13.899 --> 00:21:15.039
 their gospel presentations

00:21:15.039 --> 00:21:15.639
 and still,

00:21:15.779 --> 00:21:16.379
 it's like my heart

00:21:16.379 --> 00:21:17.359
 was just like Teflon.

00:21:18.079 --> 00:21:18.899
 It was like Teflon.

00:21:19.539 --> 00:21:21.240
 My heart was a non-stick surface

00:21:21.240 --> 00:21:22.379
 and just nothing stuck.

00:21:22.980 --> 00:21:24.199
 Just totally apathetic

00:21:24.199 --> 00:21:24.740
 when it came to really,

00:21:24.779 --> 00:21:26.079
 I did not care at all.

00:21:26.079 --> 00:21:28.740
 And then one day

00:21:28.740 --> 00:21:29.699
 when I was about 22,

00:21:30.359 --> 00:21:31.759
 for no discernible reason

00:21:31.759 --> 00:21:32.240
 whatsoever,

00:21:32.460 --> 00:21:33.639
 I started to

00:21:33.639 --> 00:21:36.199
 be open to it.

00:21:37.539 --> 00:21:38.599
 I started meeting with a guy,

00:21:38.720 --> 00:21:39.220
 talking to him

00:21:39.220 --> 00:21:40.699
 about Christian things

00:21:40.699 --> 00:21:41.659
 and he's a great guy,

00:21:41.799 --> 00:21:42.319
 very well meaning,

00:21:42.399 --> 00:21:42.799
 but he wasn't

00:21:42.799 --> 00:21:43.559
 particularly articulate,

00:21:43.740 --> 00:21:44.899
 he wasn't versed

00:21:44.899 --> 00:21:45.699
 in apologetics.

00:21:46.480 --> 00:21:46.639
 You know,

00:21:46.679 --> 00:21:47.699
 I would ask my kind of

00:21:47.699 --> 00:21:48.899
 stinger gotcha questions

00:21:48.899 --> 00:21:49.359
 and he'd be like,

00:21:49.399 --> 00:21:50.079
 that's a great question,

00:21:50.119 --> 00:21:50.679
 I have no idea.

00:21:50.680 --> 00:21:55.440
 And yet somehow

00:21:55.440 --> 00:21:56.640
 I was drawn to it.

00:21:57.420 --> 00:21:57.600
 You know,

00:21:57.660 --> 00:21:58.840
 I read a couple of books

00:21:58.840 --> 00:22:00.039
 that he had given me

00:22:00.039 --> 00:22:00.560
 and frankly,

00:22:00.680 --> 00:22:01.380
 they were cheesy.

00:22:01.940 --> 00:22:03.240
 They were cheesy books.

00:22:04.080 --> 00:22:04.400
 You know,

00:22:04.600 --> 00:22:05.740
 I love a good book

00:22:05.740 --> 00:22:06.860
 and these were not good books.

00:22:06.980 --> 00:22:07.460
 They were cheesy.

00:22:07.860 --> 00:22:08.759
 But there was something

00:22:08.759 --> 00:22:09.220
 in my heart

00:22:09.220 --> 00:22:09.840
 that was open.

00:22:10.860 --> 00:22:11.740
 And I came to faith.

00:22:12.000 --> 00:22:12.340
 Why?

00:22:12.460 --> 00:22:14.160
 Because of the amazing apologetics

00:22:14.160 --> 00:22:16.180
 and the incredible books

00:22:16.180 --> 00:22:17.519
 that just spoke to my heart?

00:22:17.620 --> 00:22:17.860
 No,

00:22:17.960 --> 00:22:18.880
 it's because the Holy Spirit

00:22:18.880 --> 00:22:20.060
 was at work in me

00:22:20.059 --> 00:22:21.379
 that I was going to come to faith

00:22:21.379 --> 00:22:22.279
 one way or another.

00:22:23.099 --> 00:22:23.919
 It was going to happen.

00:22:25.339 --> 00:22:26.220
 And so that's how

00:22:26.220 --> 00:22:27.220
 the Holy Spirit works.

00:22:28.200 --> 00:22:28.539
 So for,

00:22:28.659 --> 00:22:28.779
 listen,

00:22:28.919 --> 00:22:29.639
 for those of us

00:22:29.639 --> 00:22:30.419
 who have friends

00:22:30.419 --> 00:22:31.019
 or family

00:22:31.019 --> 00:22:31.720
 or co-workers

00:22:31.720 --> 00:22:32.519
 or children

00:22:32.519 --> 00:22:35.440
 and we are so anxious

00:22:35.440 --> 00:22:36.019
 wondering,

00:22:36.339 --> 00:22:37.460
 are they ever going

00:22:37.460 --> 00:22:38.119
 to come to faith?

00:22:39.899 --> 00:22:40.259
 Yes,

00:22:40.279 --> 00:22:41.200
 it's important to know

00:22:41.200 --> 00:22:43.279
 how to phrase things well.

00:22:43.379 --> 00:22:44.119
 It's important to know

00:22:44.119 --> 00:22:45.099
 some apologetics.

00:22:45.299 --> 00:22:46.539
 It's helpful as a Christian

00:22:46.539 --> 00:22:47.599
 to know some of those things.

00:22:47.700 --> 00:22:48.839
 It's important to understand

00:22:48.839 --> 00:22:50.559
 winsome ways

00:22:50.559 --> 00:22:51.619
 of presenting the gospel.

00:22:51.759 --> 00:22:52.159
 Absolutely.

00:22:52.500 --> 00:22:54.059
 But the most important thing

00:22:54.059 --> 00:22:54.720
 we can do

00:22:54.720 --> 00:22:55.480
 is to pray

00:22:55.480 --> 00:22:57.619
 because it is the Holy Spirit

00:22:57.619 --> 00:22:59.139
 that will do that work,

00:22:59.439 --> 00:23:00.139
 not us.

00:23:01.439 --> 00:23:01.720
 Right?

00:23:01.759 --> 00:23:02.699
 So that's the power

00:23:02.699 --> 00:23:04.459
 in Christian ministry.

00:23:04.559 --> 00:23:05.659
 The nature of Christian ministry,

00:23:05.779 --> 00:23:06.959
 we're in a triumphal processional

00:23:06.959 --> 00:23:07.759
 and we are prisoners.

00:23:08.599 --> 00:23:09.779
 The power in Christian ministry,

00:23:09.939 --> 00:23:10.279
 guess what?

00:23:10.319 --> 00:23:11.119
 It's not us.

00:23:11.980 --> 00:23:12.819
 It is the work

00:23:12.819 --> 00:23:13.480
 of the Holy Spirit.

00:23:13.480 --> 00:23:15.599
 And then lastly,

00:23:15.900 --> 00:23:17.200
 we have this third image,

00:23:17.440 --> 00:23:18.099
 living letters.

00:23:18.220 --> 00:23:18.920
 What's that all about?

00:23:19.059 --> 00:23:20.519
 Chapter 3, verses 1 through 6.

00:23:20.839 --> 00:23:22.180
 To drive his point home,

00:23:23.180 --> 00:23:23.980
 Paul says this,

00:23:24.360 --> 00:23:25.360
 and there is definitely

00:23:25.360 --> 00:23:26.519
 a note of sarcasm here.

00:23:27.440 --> 00:23:28.579
 Definitely sarcasm.

00:23:28.960 --> 00:23:29.160
 He says,

00:23:29.279 --> 00:23:29.539
 okay,

00:23:30.579 --> 00:23:32.000
 are we beginning

00:23:32.000 --> 00:23:33.339
 to commend ourselves again?

00:23:33.420 --> 00:23:34.059
 Do you want proof?

00:23:35.559 --> 00:23:36.700
 Is my word not enough?

00:23:36.759 --> 00:23:37.480
 You want some proof

00:23:38.180 --> 00:23:39.019
 of my legitimacy?

00:23:39.660 --> 00:23:40.799
 You want some evidence

00:23:40.799 --> 00:23:41.640
 of my credibility?

00:23:41.920 --> 00:23:42.480
 Do you want a letter

00:23:42.480 --> 00:23:43.020
 of recommendation?

00:23:43.740 --> 00:23:44.380
 Should I go out

00:23:44.380 --> 00:23:44.960
 and get a letter

00:23:44.960 --> 00:23:45.360
 of recommendation?

00:23:45.620 --> 00:23:46.620
 Or do you want to write me

00:23:46.620 --> 00:23:47.680
 a letter of recommendation?

00:23:48.660 --> 00:23:48.840
 Right?

00:23:48.980 --> 00:23:49.980
 What do I need

00:23:49.980 --> 00:23:50.680
 to demonstrate

00:23:50.680 --> 00:23:51.800
 my credibility to you?

00:23:53.620 --> 00:23:54.700
 And then what does he say?

00:23:55.600 --> 00:23:55.880
 He says,

00:23:55.940 --> 00:23:56.380
 guess what?

00:23:57.700 --> 00:23:58.920
 You are my letter

00:23:58.920 --> 00:23:59.680
 of recommendation.

00:24:00.780 --> 00:24:01.440
 You want to know

00:24:01.440 --> 00:24:01.940
 my credentials?

00:24:02.720 --> 00:24:03.900
 You are my credentials.

00:24:04.600 --> 00:24:05.700
 What does he mean by that?

00:24:05.700 --> 00:24:07.340
 The people who are

00:24:07.340 --> 00:24:08.740
 criticizing Paul

00:24:08.740 --> 00:24:10.100
 and delegitimizing

00:24:10.100 --> 00:24:10.860
 his ministry

00:24:10.859 --> 00:24:12.599
 all came to faith

00:24:12.599 --> 00:24:15.419
 through Paul's ministry.

00:24:16.299 --> 00:24:16.899
 So he's like,

00:24:16.959 --> 00:24:18.199
 you're delegitimizing me

00:24:18.199 --> 00:24:18.679
 as an apostle.

00:24:18.819 --> 00:24:19.359
 You're saying that I'm

00:24:19.359 --> 00:24:20.039
 a fake and a fraud

00:24:20.039 --> 00:24:20.439
 and a phony

00:24:20.439 --> 00:24:21.679
 and yet your own faith

00:24:21.679 --> 00:24:23.539
 came about

00:24:23.539 --> 00:24:24.459
 through God's work

00:24:24.459 --> 00:24:25.099
 in me

00:24:25.099 --> 00:24:26.279
 and through me

00:24:26.279 --> 00:24:27.019
 in your life.

00:24:28.139 --> 00:24:28.979
 And then he says,

00:24:29.059 --> 00:24:29.279
 listen,

00:24:29.379 --> 00:24:30.439
 you just need to understand

00:24:30.439 --> 00:24:31.619
 this is nothing like

00:24:31.619 --> 00:24:32.819
 the old covenant

00:24:32.819 --> 00:24:34.799
 religion of Judaism.

00:24:34.799 --> 00:24:37.159
 Some of us knew

00:24:37.159 --> 00:24:37.839
 that religion,

00:24:38.000 --> 00:24:38.240
 right?

00:24:38.700 --> 00:24:39.859
 Where we would write

00:24:39.859 --> 00:24:41.460
 God's laws down

00:24:41.460 --> 00:24:42.259
 on tablets

00:24:42.259 --> 00:24:43.419
 and do our best

00:24:43.419 --> 00:24:44.579
 to follow those laws.

00:24:44.680 --> 00:24:45.919
 This is nothing like that.

00:24:46.259 --> 00:24:47.440
 The apostolic ministry

00:24:47.440 --> 00:24:49.039
 is a new covenant ministry.

00:24:49.180 --> 00:24:49.859
 What does that mean?

00:24:50.099 --> 00:24:50.919
 The Holy Spirit

00:24:50.919 --> 00:24:51.980
 is at work right now

00:24:51.980 --> 00:24:52.740
 opening hearts

00:24:52.740 --> 00:24:53.700
 to the truth of the gospel

00:24:53.700 --> 00:24:55.480
 and writing God's laws

00:24:55.480 --> 00:24:56.980
 on our hearts.

00:24:56.980 --> 00:25:00.160
 God has written

00:25:00.160 --> 00:25:00.940
 his law

00:25:00.940 --> 00:25:01.960
 on your heart.

00:25:02.180 --> 00:25:02.860
 You're my letter

00:25:02.860 --> 00:25:03.680
 of recommendation.

00:25:03.940 --> 00:25:04.680
 You're proof

00:25:04.680 --> 00:25:06.220
 that despite however

00:25:06.220 --> 00:25:06.980
 foolish or weak

00:25:06.980 --> 00:25:07.440
 I may look,

00:25:07.559 --> 00:25:09.039
 God is working through me

00:25:09.039 --> 00:25:10.299
 and your hearts

00:25:10.299 --> 00:25:11.120
 have changed

00:25:11.120 --> 00:25:12.000
 as a result.

00:25:13.819 --> 00:25:14.500
 So, you know,

00:25:14.559 --> 00:25:15.579
 we've seen the nature

00:25:15.579 --> 00:25:16.620
 of Christian ministry,

00:25:17.299 --> 00:25:18.140
 triumphal procession.

00:25:18.220 --> 00:25:18.920
 We've seen the power

00:25:18.920 --> 00:25:19.640
 of Christian ministry,

00:25:19.740 --> 00:25:20.380
 the Holy Spirit.

00:25:20.660 --> 00:25:21.680
 This is the evidence

00:25:21.680 --> 00:25:23.539
 for Christian ministry.

00:25:24.140 --> 00:25:24.839
 The evidence

00:25:24.839 --> 00:25:25.400
 for the fact

00:25:25.400 --> 00:25:26.440
 that there is something

00:25:26.440 --> 00:25:27.180
 to the gospel

00:25:27.180 --> 00:25:28.420
 that we cannot explain.

00:25:29.779 --> 00:25:31.019
 There are many churches

00:25:31.019 --> 00:25:31.799
 in our society

00:25:31.799 --> 00:25:32.620
 and I would probably

00:25:32.620 --> 00:25:34.100
 put us in that category

00:25:34.100 --> 00:25:35.000
 with all due respect

00:25:35.000 --> 00:25:36.559
 that have an overblown

00:25:36.559 --> 00:25:37.720
 love of credentials.

00:25:38.500 --> 00:25:39.320
 Have an overblown

00:25:39.320 --> 00:25:40.019
 love of credentials.

00:25:40.320 --> 00:25:41.559
 As though the gospel

00:25:41.559 --> 00:25:43.200
 is more credible

00:25:43.200 --> 00:25:44.180
 if it's coming

00:25:44.180 --> 00:25:44.759
 from someone

00:25:44.759 --> 00:25:45.460
 with a PhD

00:25:45.460 --> 00:25:46.420
 after their name.

00:25:47.180 --> 00:25:48.340
 Now listen, listen.

00:25:49.440 --> 00:25:50.360
 Am I saying

00:25:50.360 --> 00:25:51.000
 that the answer

00:25:51.000 --> 00:25:51.640
 is to become

00:25:51.640 --> 00:25:52.680
 anti-intellectual?

00:25:52.820 --> 00:25:53.500
 Hopefully you know

00:25:53.500 --> 00:25:53.980
 me well enough

00:25:53.980 --> 00:25:54.580
 to know that is

00:25:54.580 --> 00:25:55.279
 absolutely not

00:25:55.279 --> 00:25:55.799
 what I'm saying.

00:25:57.279 --> 00:25:57.420
 Right?

00:25:57.519 --> 00:25:58.039
 And there's a huge

00:25:58.039 --> 00:25:59.160
 I love to study.

00:25:59.279 --> 00:26:00.080
 I love to read.

00:26:00.200 --> 00:26:01.200
 Honestly, there's a big part

00:26:01.200 --> 00:26:01.900
 of me that would love

00:26:01.900 --> 00:26:02.559
 to spend the rest

00:26:02.559 --> 00:26:03.080
 of my life

00:26:03.080 --> 00:26:04.480
 holed up in a university

00:26:04.480 --> 00:26:05.279
 library somewhere.

00:26:05.380 --> 00:26:06.580
 That is like my happy place.

00:26:07.160 --> 00:26:08.220
 So I love it.

00:26:09.200 --> 00:26:10.299
 But part of me

00:26:10.299 --> 00:26:11.920
 also recognizes

00:26:11.920 --> 00:26:12.539
 the truth

00:26:12.539 --> 00:26:13.400
 that we're seeing here.

00:26:13.500 --> 00:26:14.299
 The most compelling

00:26:14.299 --> 00:26:15.259
 evidence for the truth

00:26:15.259 --> 00:26:15.820
 of the gospel

00:26:15.820 --> 00:26:17.059
 is not the letters

00:26:17.059 --> 00:26:18.120
 after someone's name.

00:26:19.180 --> 00:26:20.360
 It is the lives

00:26:20.360 --> 00:26:21.480
 that have been transformed.

00:26:21.480 --> 00:26:23.640
 In particular,

00:26:24.079 --> 00:26:24.920
 lives that have been

00:26:24.920 --> 00:26:25.539
 transformed

00:26:25.539 --> 00:26:26.799
 through ministries

00:26:26.799 --> 00:26:27.599
 that don't seem like

00:26:27.599 --> 00:26:28.700
 they could do anything.

00:26:29.339 --> 00:26:30.079
 Much less

00:26:30.079 --> 00:26:31.740
 transform lives.

00:26:31.860 --> 00:26:32.980
 Ministries that look weak,

00:26:33.079 --> 00:26:33.720
 that look foolish,

00:26:33.839 --> 00:26:34.759
 that are poorly run,

00:26:34.960 --> 00:26:36.160
 the finances are a mess,

00:26:36.240 --> 00:26:37.559
 they seem to have no idea

00:26:37.559 --> 00:26:38.200
 what they're doing.

00:26:38.559 --> 00:26:39.180
 And yet somehow

00:26:39.180 --> 00:26:40.460
 they're producing people

00:26:40.460 --> 00:26:40.779
 that have been

00:26:40.779 --> 00:26:41.880
 completely transformed.

00:26:42.819 --> 00:26:43.960
 So what Paul is saying

00:26:43.960 --> 00:26:44.900
 is the more foolish

00:26:44.900 --> 00:26:45.240
 I look,

00:26:45.279 --> 00:26:46.180
 the more weak I look,

00:26:46.180 --> 00:26:48.240
 the more I seem to lack

00:26:48.240 --> 00:26:48.840
 all the credentials

00:26:48.840 --> 00:26:49.840
 that you care about,

00:26:50.779 --> 00:26:52.360
 the more it glorifies who?

00:26:52.440 --> 00:26:52.940
 Not me,

00:26:53.140 --> 00:26:53.539
 God.

00:26:53.640 --> 00:26:54.440
 Because look at you,

00:26:54.519 --> 00:26:55.039
 look at the fruit

00:26:55.039 --> 00:26:55.500
 in your life.

00:26:55.880 --> 00:26:56.900
 You think I could do this?

00:26:56.940 --> 00:26:57.740
 This is why at one point

00:26:57.740 --> 00:26:58.560
 in this letter he says,

00:26:58.840 --> 00:26:59.500
 who's sufficient

00:26:59.500 --> 00:27:00.519
 for these things?

00:27:01.500 --> 00:27:02.299
 You think a PhD

00:27:02.299 --> 00:27:02.820
 is going to make

00:27:02.820 --> 00:27:03.539
 any difference

00:27:03.539 --> 00:27:04.000
 when it comes

00:27:04.000 --> 00:27:05.080
 to changing lives?

00:27:06.000 --> 00:27:06.259
 You know,

00:27:06.320 --> 00:27:06.940
 over the years

00:27:06.940 --> 00:27:08.039
 I have seen people

00:27:08.039 --> 00:27:08.779
 who were passing

00:27:08.779 --> 00:27:09.539
 through D.C.

00:27:09.620 --> 00:27:10.400
 on their way,

00:27:10.519 --> 00:27:11.820
 totally focused on career.

00:27:12.240 --> 00:27:12.980
 I've seen them

00:27:12.980 --> 00:27:15.340
 make a 90 degree turn

00:27:15.339 --> 00:27:16.720
 and stop in D.C.

00:27:16.919 --> 00:27:17.459
 and say,

00:27:17.539 --> 00:27:17.659
 you know,

00:27:17.720 --> 00:27:18.759
 I'm going to root down here

00:27:18.759 --> 00:27:19.519
 and I'm going to live here

00:27:19.519 --> 00:27:20.099
 because I want to be

00:27:20.099 --> 00:27:20.919
 a part of a community.

00:27:22.299 --> 00:27:23.079
 Completely change

00:27:23.079 --> 00:27:23.599
 their life plans.

00:27:23.899 --> 00:27:24.939
 I've seen marriages

00:27:24.939 --> 00:27:26.059
 that I knew

00:27:26.059 --> 00:27:27.159
 that was on the brink

00:27:27.159 --> 00:27:27.819
 of collapse

00:27:27.819 --> 00:27:30.859
 be completely restored

00:27:30.859 --> 00:27:32.339
 and renewed

00:27:32.339 --> 00:27:34.159
 and marriages

00:27:34.159 --> 00:27:34.879
 that are an entirely

00:27:34.879 --> 00:27:35.539
 different place.

00:27:35.639 --> 00:27:35.720
 Now,

00:27:35.779 --> 00:27:36.319
 some of you

00:27:36.319 --> 00:27:37.220
 are the people

00:27:37.220 --> 00:27:38.000
 that I'm talking about.

00:27:38.459 --> 00:27:39.419
 I've seen people

00:27:39.419 --> 00:27:40.039
 set free

00:27:40.039 --> 00:27:41.359
 from patterns of addiction

00:27:41.359 --> 00:27:43.539
 and cycles of abuse

00:27:43.539 --> 00:27:45.379
 and generational sin.

00:27:45.599 --> 00:27:46.440
 I've seen people

00:27:46.440 --> 00:27:48.399
 go from having

00:27:48.399 --> 00:27:49.359
 years and years

00:27:49.359 --> 00:27:50.700
 of stored up anger

00:27:50.700 --> 00:27:52.420
 and bitterness.

00:27:53.359 --> 00:27:54.659
 I've seen that anger

00:27:54.659 --> 00:27:55.839
 dissipate.

00:27:56.460 --> 00:27:57.139
 I've seen them

00:27:57.139 --> 00:27:58.000
 forgive people

00:27:58.000 --> 00:27:58.680
 they once hated.

00:27:59.659 --> 00:28:00.700
 I've seen people

00:28:00.700 --> 00:28:01.980
 that have overcome

00:28:01.980 --> 00:28:03.019
 massive,

00:28:03.200 --> 00:28:04.339
 deep political division

00:28:04.339 --> 00:28:05.740
 and embrace

00:28:05.740 --> 00:28:06.339
 and love one another

00:28:06.339 --> 00:28:06.960
 like family.

00:28:07.920 --> 00:28:08.139
 Right?

00:28:08.200 --> 00:28:08.879
 When you see things

00:28:08.879 --> 00:28:09.399
 like this,

00:28:10.039 --> 00:28:11.200
 life change,

00:28:11.200 --> 00:28:13.039
 there is no degree

00:28:13.039 --> 00:28:13.720
 in the world

00:28:13.720 --> 00:28:14.640
 that can change lives.

00:28:16.440 --> 00:28:17.519
 This is the kind of thing

00:28:17.519 --> 00:28:18.420
 only God can do.

00:28:20.180 --> 00:28:20.620
 Right?

00:28:20.700 --> 00:28:20.819
 So,

00:28:20.980 --> 00:28:21.880
 this is how we need

00:28:21.880 --> 00:28:22.420
 to be thinking

00:28:22.420 --> 00:28:24.440
 about Christian ministry

00:28:24.440 --> 00:28:26.440
 at least if we want

00:28:26.440 --> 00:28:26.860
 our ministry

00:28:26.860 --> 00:28:27.799
 to look like the ministry

00:28:27.799 --> 00:28:29.140
 that Paul had

00:28:29.140 --> 00:28:29.920
 in Corinth.

00:28:30.319 --> 00:28:30.940
 This is Paul's

00:28:30.940 --> 00:28:31.799
 countercultural ministry.

00:28:32.360 --> 00:28:33.460
 The question remains,

00:28:34.720 --> 00:28:35.920
 what gave Paul

00:28:35.920 --> 00:28:36.460
 the courage

00:28:36.460 --> 00:28:37.380
 to be so radically

00:28:37.380 --> 00:28:38.039
 countercultural

00:28:38.039 --> 00:28:38.819
 in the first place?

00:28:38.819 --> 00:28:40.279
 You know,

00:28:40.319 --> 00:28:41.299
 when Paul realized

00:28:41.299 --> 00:28:42.159
 what he was signing up

00:28:42.159 --> 00:28:42.339
 for,

00:28:42.399 --> 00:28:43.339
 a life of following

00:28:43.339 --> 00:28:44.039
 behind Jesus

00:28:44.039 --> 00:28:45.039
 like a prisoner

00:28:45.039 --> 00:28:46.519
 on his way

00:28:46.519 --> 00:28:47.259
 to an execution,

00:28:47.980 --> 00:28:48.859
 what was the thing

00:28:48.859 --> 00:28:49.759
 that compelled Paul

00:28:49.759 --> 00:28:50.059
 to say,

00:28:50.200 --> 00:28:50.859
 that's what I want

00:28:50.859 --> 00:28:51.779
 my life to be about?

00:28:52.259 --> 00:28:53.019
 And what's the thing

00:28:53.019 --> 00:28:54.079
 that might compel us

00:28:54.079 --> 00:28:54.359
 to say,

00:28:54.439 --> 00:28:55.119
 that's what I want

00:28:55.119 --> 00:28:55.980
 my life to be about?

00:28:56.399 --> 00:28:57.159
 Why would Paul

00:28:57.159 --> 00:28:57.960
 sign up for this?

00:28:58.960 --> 00:29:00.099
 It's because he realized

00:29:00.099 --> 00:29:00.700
 that with Jesus

00:29:00.700 --> 00:29:01.659
 there was one crucial

00:29:01.659 --> 00:29:02.059
 difference

00:29:02.059 --> 00:29:03.439
 from the Roman practice.

00:29:04.599 --> 00:29:05.819
 In the Roman practice,

00:29:06.159 --> 00:29:06.799
 the one leading

00:29:06.799 --> 00:29:07.439
 the procession

00:29:07.439 --> 00:29:07.879
 would get to

00:29:07.880 --> 00:29:08.780
 the final destination,

00:29:08.900 --> 00:29:09.260
 they would take

00:29:09.260 --> 00:29:10.020
 all the prisoners,

00:29:10.340 --> 00:29:11.200
 they would execute

00:29:11.200 --> 00:29:12.460
 those prisoners

00:29:12.460 --> 00:29:13.640
 to bring glory

00:29:13.640 --> 00:29:14.960
 to the leader

00:29:14.960 --> 00:29:15.780
 of the procession

00:29:15.780 --> 00:29:16.800
 and to the gods

00:29:16.800 --> 00:29:17.700
 that Rome worshipped.

00:29:18.360 --> 00:29:19.300
 But in Jesus'

00:29:19.540 --> 00:29:20.580
 triumphal procession,

00:29:20.980 --> 00:29:21.640
 the prisoners

00:29:21.640 --> 00:29:22.640
 are not the ones

00:29:22.640 --> 00:29:23.300
 who were executed.

00:29:24.640 --> 00:29:25.400
 In Jesus'

00:29:25.720 --> 00:29:26.900
 triumphal procession,

00:29:27.440 --> 00:29:28.720
 when they finally

00:29:28.720 --> 00:29:29.780
 arrive at that place

00:29:29.780 --> 00:29:30.580
 at Golgotha,

00:29:32.380 --> 00:29:33.480
 Jesus is the one

00:29:33.480 --> 00:29:36.000
 who gets down

00:29:36.000 --> 00:29:37.019
 off of the chariot,

00:29:37.920 --> 00:29:38.839
 takes off all

00:29:38.839 --> 00:29:40.660
 of the symbols

00:29:40.660 --> 00:29:41.900
 of glory and power

00:29:41.900 --> 00:29:42.440
 and majesty,

00:29:42.559 --> 00:29:43.140
 he's stripped down

00:29:43.140 --> 00:29:43.640
 to nothing,

00:29:44.359 --> 00:29:44.880
 allows himself

00:29:44.880 --> 00:29:45.839
 to be humiliated,

00:29:46.500 --> 00:29:46.940
 allows himself

00:29:46.940 --> 00:29:47.559
 to be tortured

00:29:47.559 --> 00:29:49.339
 like the worst criminal,

00:29:50.359 --> 00:29:51.559
 like the worst prisoner,

00:29:52.299 --> 00:29:53.079
 and then ultimately

00:29:53.079 --> 00:29:53.960
 allows himself

00:29:53.960 --> 00:29:54.759
 to be executed

00:29:54.759 --> 00:29:57.359
 in place of the prisoners.

00:29:58.380 --> 00:29:59.259
 And what that means

00:29:59.259 --> 00:29:59.859
 is that those

00:29:59.859 --> 00:30:01.099
 who were once in chains,

00:30:01.539 --> 00:30:02.500
 the chains come off

00:30:02.500 --> 00:30:03.119
 and they're invited

00:30:03.119 --> 00:30:03.639
 to come in

00:30:03.639 --> 00:30:04.839
 and share in the glory

00:30:04.839 --> 00:30:07.259
 and share in the honor

00:30:07.259 --> 00:30:08.319
 and share in the privilege

00:30:08.319 --> 00:30:10.619
 that Jesus enjoys

00:30:10.619 --> 00:30:11.879
 in the throne room

00:30:11.879 --> 00:30:12.399
 of heaven.

00:30:14.119 --> 00:30:14.939
 Countercultural ministry

00:30:14.939 --> 00:30:15.939
 is only possible

00:30:15.939 --> 00:30:17.239
 because of the

00:30:17.239 --> 00:30:18.399
 countercultural truth

00:30:18.399 --> 00:30:20.719
 of the gospel itself.

00:30:21.539 --> 00:30:23.019
 And a gospel-centered ministry

00:30:23.019 --> 00:30:24.399
 is therefore going to be,

00:30:24.559 --> 00:30:25.199
 by definition,

00:30:25.619 --> 00:30:27.579
 a countercultural ministry.

00:30:28.279 --> 00:30:28.959
 Let's pray.

00:30:28.960 --> 00:30:32.259
 Lord, we thank you

00:30:32.259 --> 00:30:32.880
 for your word

00:30:32.880 --> 00:30:34.220
 and we know we need

00:30:34.220 --> 00:30:36.420
 more than to hear it.

00:30:36.480 --> 00:30:37.980
 Lord, we need you

00:30:37.980 --> 00:30:38.740
 to work in us

00:30:38.740 --> 00:30:40.000
 as we've said

00:30:40.000 --> 00:30:40.500
 over and over

00:30:40.500 --> 00:30:41.220
 and over this morning.

00:30:41.860 --> 00:30:42.799
 So I pray that

00:30:42.799 --> 00:30:43.940
 as we come to you

00:30:43.940 --> 00:30:44.519
 in prayer,

00:30:44.700 --> 00:30:45.480
 as we come to you

00:30:45.480 --> 00:30:45.960
 in worship,

00:30:46.279 --> 00:30:46.759
 in singing,

00:30:47.000 --> 00:30:47.940
 as we come to you

00:30:47.940 --> 00:30:49.860
 around your table,

00:30:50.279 --> 00:30:51.180
 I pray that you would do

00:30:51.180 --> 00:30:52.340
 in us what we cannot

00:30:52.340 --> 00:30:53.559
 accomplish on our own.

00:30:55.279 --> 00:30:56.920
 And that is to show us

00:30:56.920 --> 00:30:57.440
 the freedom

00:30:57.440 --> 00:30:58.279
 that can be found

00:30:58.279 --> 00:31:00.220
 by following you,

00:31:01.059 --> 00:31:02.980
 to remind us

00:31:02.980 --> 00:31:03.839
 of the power

00:31:03.839 --> 00:31:04.500
 and the presence

00:31:04.500 --> 00:31:05.420
 of the Holy Spirit

00:31:05.420 --> 00:31:06.099
 in our midst.

00:31:06.980 --> 00:31:08.259
 Awaken us to the Spirit.

00:31:10.000 --> 00:31:10.759
 And then, Lord,

00:31:10.839 --> 00:31:11.740
 to remind us

00:31:11.740 --> 00:31:12.220
 that only you

00:31:12.220 --> 00:31:13.000
 can change lives.

00:31:13.059 --> 00:31:13.740
 And I pray that we would

00:31:13.740 --> 00:31:14.940
 lay our lives down

00:31:14.940 --> 00:31:16.259
 to be changed,

00:31:16.420 --> 00:31:17.119
 to be transformed.

00:31:17.460 --> 00:31:18.240
 That as we will

00:31:18.240 --> 00:31:19.039
 take this bread

00:31:19.039 --> 00:31:19.680
 and bless it

00:31:19.680 --> 00:31:20.220
 and break it

00:31:20.220 --> 00:31:20.819
 and give it out,

00:31:21.019 --> 00:31:22.099
 that you would take us

00:31:22.099 --> 00:31:23.319
 and bless us

00:31:23.319 --> 00:31:24.259
 and break us

00:31:24.259 --> 00:31:25.240
 and give us to the world.

00:31:25.779 --> 00:31:26.619
 That we might bring

00:31:26.619 --> 00:31:27.460
 glory to you, Lord.

00:31:27.460 --> 00:31:28.360
 And it's in the name

00:31:28.360 --> 00:31:29.180
 of your Son,

00:31:29.259 --> 00:31:29.740
 Jesus Christ,

00:31:29.779 --> 00:31:30.140
 we pray.

00:31:30.500 --> 00:31:30.759
 Amen.

00:31:30.840 --> 00:31:31.579
 .

00:31:31.579 --> 00:31:51.240
 you