WEBVTT

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 When we get confronted with an impossible task, we have kind of three options with what we can do

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 with it. We can just reject it, decide it is impossible, it's too hard, leave it behind,

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 move on, find something else to do. We can, of course, take the reality check, recognise that

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 this is something beyond us and maybe get the help that we need to get the task done. Or we can just

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 somehow adjust the task, to lower the bar a little bit so that what's impossible can become something

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 that's achievable for us. And I think if I'm honest, the third one is the one that I'm most

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 likely to do. When I was in high school, I had a maths teacher who was actually a really good maths

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 teacher in hindsight, I can now see that, but she had this style of teaching where she would spend

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 the entire lesson teaching us how to do something without letting us actually start doing it.

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 And so then that meant that all the exercises that we had to cover for that particular thing

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 had to be done as homework. So after 45 minutes of explanation, she would take the last few minutes

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 just to let us know that for homework that night, we will be doing chapters 8, 9, 10, second half of

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 11 and 15. And I'm looking at the textbook, and the maths textbook is always the thickest textbook,

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 and I'm looking at it, just looking at page after page of confusing X's and numbers and stuff like

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 and just thinking, the amount of time it's going to take to do this is going to seriously clash with

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 the amount of time that I've already committed to watching TV later this afternoon. It's potentially

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 impossible for me to do all of this maths and all the things that I want to do. I mean, I've got to

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 squeeze in dinner at some point. What if I have to ring somebody or update my Facebook status? There are

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 things that need to happen tonight, and it is going to be impossible for me to do this maths work.

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 And so in that moment, I would entertain, you know, just rejecting that task, just not doing it,

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 just kind of hoping that I didn't get found out. But, you know, let's be honest, I might have got

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 away with it occasionally, but I wasn't going to make it through all of high school with that

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 approach to maths homework. So I had to shelve that possible response. Second response was reality

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 check, maybe I'm watching too much TV and I need to commit this time to maths. That wasn't going to

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 happen either. Third response, and just to be clear, since some of you are in high school, some of you

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 are probably maths teachers in here, I can't see properly, but just to be clear, this is not an

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 endorsement or a recommendation. But the third response, and my response was, to adjust the task

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 sufficiently that I could make it something achievable. So my philosophy with maths exercises was

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 to do the first three questions in the first exercise, the last three questions in the last

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 exercise, and if I got at least a couple of those right, I figured that I could in good conscience

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 say that I'd covered the work that was required for homework, and so I wouldn't have to acknowledge

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 in class the next day that I hadn't done it. I did survive maths in high school, if you're wondering.

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 When we're confronted by a task that feels impossible, by a standard that feels unattainable,

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 we have these three potential responses. And sometimes when it comes to following Jesus,

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 it can feel like he puts up requests of us, demands of us, commands that we read in scripture,

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 like this one, and it can feel impossible. And so we're faced with these options. Do we just reject

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 following Jesus and put it in the too hard basket, do something else with our time? Do we take the

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 reality check that, yes, it is too hard? On one level, it is impossible for us to fully live up

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 to the standards that God's putting in front of us, and maybe we need some help? Or do we lower the bar?

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 Do we take what God puts in front of us as what we're supposed to do and how we're supposed to live

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 and rationalise it? Make the demand slightly more achievable. Now, not explicitly, no one is walking

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 around going, I'm following Jesus, I'm a Christian, but I've just lowered the bar a bit to make it easier.

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 But subtly, we like to reinterpret what God wants from us. We like to listen to the commands and just

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 adjust so that it will fit a bit more neatly, so that it's something I can actually do,

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 something I can tick the box for. And option three is where we find our expert in the law

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 in Luke 10 that Deb just read out for us. He comes to Jesus with this question. Now, it's not a genuine

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 question. We know it's not a genuine question because we're told that he's just trying to test

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 Jesus, but he asks, what must I do to inherit eternal life? But the reason we know this is a test,

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 apart from the fact that it says it, is that he knows the answer. Because Jesus flips it and goes,

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 well, what does the law say? I'm not trying to trick you here, I'm not trying to make it difficult,

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 I've told you exactly what is required if you want eternal life, if you want to go to heaven.

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 It's written there. And the expert in the law answers really correctly. He says, you've got to love the

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 Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, with all your mind,

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 and you've got to love your neighbor as yourself. And Jesus is like, see, there it is. It's obvious,

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 it's clear. Just love God with everything you've got all of the time, no exceptions, and love your

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 neighbor as yourself. That's it. That sums up everything that God requires of you in all of

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 his law, all of his rules. That's all you have to do to go to heaven. And so Jesus looks this guy in

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 the eyes and says, do this and you will live. Just do that. Simple. But the problem for this guy was

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 never that he didn't know the answer. The problem wasn't that he was ignorant of what was required.

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 The problem was he didn't like what he was hearing. The problem was what God was asking of him sounded

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 too difficult. The problem was he looked at that standard, love God with everything, love your

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 neighbor, and he correctly read that, I can't do that. I can't deliver. Even me, an expert in the law,

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 cannot live up to that standard. And so he tries to lower the bar. It says there in verse 29, he wanted

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 to justify himself. He wants to find a way to tick the box. So he asks Jesus, who is my neighbor?

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 He's trying to clarify. He's like, Jesus, clearly that's impossible. Sounds nice. But let's narrow it

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 down to something that, you know, I can have a real red hot go at. To which Jesus responds with

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 what is a really well-known story, the Good Samaritan. Now before we jump into this story and

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 what you think you know about this story, we need to remember the first question that the expert in

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 the law asked. We've got to remember that he's interested in eternal life. That's what he wants.

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 That's what matters to him. He wants heaven. He wants to be with God forever. And so as we go

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 through the story now, you need to keep asking yourself this question, what does this story have

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 to do with getting eternal life? You ready? It's been read. Let's give you a recap. You've got that

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 question in your head. What does this story have to do with eternal life? Now I'll give you the very

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 fast recap. A man is walking down the road. All we know about him is he's a man. He's heading towards

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 Jericho. He's on a road called the Jericho Road. He gets attacked. He gets beaten. He gets robbed. He

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 gets left for dead. One man, a priest, comes along, sees him, looks the other way, keeps walking.

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 Another man, a Levite, walks down the road, sees him bloodied, beaten, laying there, needing help,

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 looks the other way, keeps going. Now they're supposed to be the holy people. Now when Jesus is

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 telling this story, everyone there would have expected one of them to be the hero in this story.

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 Like he was going to lift them up and say, be like the Levite, be like the priest. But they just

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 keep going and leave the guy lying in the ditch. And then you get to your third guy, a Samaritan

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 who takes pity on him. A Samaritan who bandages his wounds, who puts him on his donkey. So now the

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 Samaritan has to walk the rest of the way. The Samaritan who takes him to the inn, who looks after

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 him, who pays for him to continue getting care from the innkeeper, who then plans to return just to make

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 sure that he can pay any extra costs, to make sure that this guy is actually getting looked after.

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 Now you've got to understand that Jews who were hearing this story and Samaritans who lived kind

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 of next to them, hated each other. And not like just a, I don't like you hatred. It was this ingrained

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 sense of we're better than you. And not like better at sports, we're better people than you.

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 It was absolutely inconceivable for a Jew to imagine that a Samaritan could have been, let alone would

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 have been, more compassionate than a Jew. It just did not enter their frame of thinking. And yet Jesus

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 tells this story where a Samaritan endangers himself. I mean, just think about this for a second.

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 It's like there's a dark alleyway and there's a bloody beaten person and you notice it.

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 Just a little bit of thinking tells you that somebody beat them up. And so to walk into that

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 alleyway is to put yourself in danger. There's a small part of us that's got to have a little bit

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 of grace for the Levite and the priest who kept walking. We might even call that worldly wisdom,

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 avoiding a dangerous situation. But yet the Samaritan endangers himself, puts himself in harm's way,

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 helps the man physically, pays for his accommodation, comes back to check on the man,

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 goes above and beyond, bears the financial cost, follows it through to the end. I mean,

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 the Samaritan could have dropped the guy off at the inn, never come back, and he still would have

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 looked golden in this story. The other two guys ignored him simply by stopping, giving him a bottle

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 of water. He would have looked like the hero, but he goes above and beyond. He does what is needed and

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 more. He commits to loving his neighbour no matter how costly it's going to be. It's kind of like the

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 difference between being friendly and being a friend here at church. We're a church that has guests come

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 in here every week. People who are sitting in these seats for the very first time, every single time

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 we gather. God is really good to us. And sometimes we think, I'll be really friendly, and so we smile

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 and we wave. And maybe if there's that moment where we have to talk to one another, we'll kind of say,

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 hi, how are you? Nice to see you. And then we'll quickly make our way back to our seat. And we kind

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 of walk away going, we're friendly. I'm friendly. But a friend is the person who actually wants to get to

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 know that person, who doesn't just say hello and run back to safety, but introduces themselves,

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 sits with them, checks out how they found church, maybe invites them to dinner afterwards,

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 spends some time with them, gets to know them, goes above and beyond because the person matters,

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 not the task. It's not about, I've got to tick friendliness. It's, I need to care for this person,

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 this individual. The Samaritan goes above and beyond because he's not trying to just be merciful.

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 He's having compassion and pity on this individual that he sees.

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 And so the story ends with Jesus' words, go and do likewise, which should sound familiar.

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 Jesus is clearly echoing the thing that he said after the first question, do this and you will live.

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 The point being that this story is supposed to illustrate the commandments that came before.

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 This call to be a neighbor like the Samaritan, to love your neighbor like the Samaritan,

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 has to do with inheriting eternal life, has to do with getting to heaven, with being saved.

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 Loving your neighbor is not a secondary, subsequent point after loving God.

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 Mercy to people and worship to God stay connected.

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 Our vertical relationship with God and our horizontal relationships with one another can't be separated.

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 They're connected.

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 Mercy or love for your neighbor is part of what it looks like to love God with all of your heart, soul,

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 mind and strength.

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 We get a definition for what mercy and love for neighbor looks like in this Samaritan story.

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 At the end, the expert in the law, the one who's kind of set himself up to look stupid in this story,

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 describes what the Samaritan did as mercy, which means mercy includes caring for his physical needs,

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 includes paying his financial costs, includes giving up his own time, putting himself in danger.

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 That's mercy.

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 That's the kind of love for people that has to go with love for God.

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 Because Jesus never separates them.

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 Jesus never says they're two different things.

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 His mission on earth was to bring people back into a relationship with God.

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 That was his agenda.

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 He came to fix what was wrong.

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 But clearly, high priority for him, part of what it looked like to show God's love to the world,

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 was to spend time with and care for those in need.

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 For the poor, for the lonely, for the outcast, for the widow, for the sick.

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 That's who he spent his time with.

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 Because they mattered to him.

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 Jesus' very first sermon, in Luke chapter 4, he gets up and he reads out of the book of Isaiah in the Old Testament.

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 And he reads this.

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 He says,

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 Jesus comes to undo what is wrong with the world, to undo the effects of sin,

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 to declare that God cares for the needy,

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 and that his love for them is not just a sentiment.

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 It's not just an idea.

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 It's an action that he embodies by spending time with them.

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 The Bible makes it clear that loving God is loving your neighbour.

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 Jesus shows us what it looks like.

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 James 2 makes it explicit.

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 Deborah read it out for us in James 2.15.

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 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.

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 If one of you says to them,

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 Go in peace.

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 Keep warm and well fed.

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 But does nothing about their physical needs.

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 What good is it?

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 In the same way,

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 Faith by itself,

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 if it is not accompanied by action,

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 is dead.

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 Love is more than words.

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 Love demands concrete,

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 practical action and care.

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 The action of loving God is the action of loving your neighbour.

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 There's a passage in Matthew 25,

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 which is a really scary passage of scripture.

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 It's Jesus describing the final day,

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 when those who are genuinely his,

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 genuine followers of God,

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 genuine lovers of God,

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 will be shown as genuine.

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 And those who speak the words that they love God,

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 but don't actually love him,

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 don't live it out,

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 will be shown to be not genuine.

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 And do you know what the measure will be?

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 To separate them out?

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 Let me read to you from Matthew 25.

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 It'll be on the screen as well.

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 When the Son of Man comes in his glory,

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 and all the angels with him,

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 he will sit on his glorious throne.

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 All the nations will be gathered before him,

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 and he will separate the people one from another,

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 as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

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 He will put the sheep on his right,

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 and the goats on his left.

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 Then the king will say to those on his right,

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 come you who are blessed by my father,

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 take your inheritance,

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 the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.

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 For I was hungry,

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 and you gave me something to eat.

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 I was thirsty,

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 and you gave me something to drink.

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 I was a stranger,

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 and you invited me in.

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 I needed clothes,

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 and you clothed me.

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 I was sick,

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 and you looked after me.

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 I was in prison,

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 and you came to visit me.

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 Then the righteous will answer him,

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 Lord,

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 when did we see you hungry,

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 and feed you,

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 or thirsty,

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 and give you something to drink?

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 When did we see you a stranger,

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 and invite you in,

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 or needing clothes,

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 and clothe you?

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 When did we see you sick,

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 or in prison,

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 and go to visit you?

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 The king will reply,

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 truly I tell you,

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 whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine,

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 you did for me.

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 And then the scary warning.

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 To those on his left,

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 depart from me,

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 you who are cursed,

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 into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

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 For I was hungry,

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 and you gave me nothing to eat.

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 I was thirsty,

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 and you gave me nothing to drink.

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 I was a stranger,

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 and you did not invite me in.

00:17:50.299 --> 00:17:51.319
 I needed clothes,

00:17:51.419 --> 00:17:52.539
 and you did not clothe me.

00:17:52.799 --> 00:17:53.639
 I was sick,

00:17:53.759 --> 00:17:54.299
 and in prison,

00:17:54.439 --> 00:17:55.679
 and you did not look after me.

00:17:57.359 --> 00:17:58.500
 They also will answer,

00:17:58.619 --> 00:17:58.819
 Lord,

00:17:58.899 --> 00:18:00.960
 when did we see you hungry,

00:18:01.099 --> 00:18:01.599
 or thirsty,

00:18:01.720 --> 00:18:02.379
 or a stranger,

00:18:02.500 --> 00:18:03.279
 or needing clothes,

00:18:03.339 --> 00:18:03.720
 or sick,

00:18:03.779 --> 00:18:04.259
 or in prison,

00:18:04.319 --> 00:18:05.319
 and did not help you?

00:18:06.819 --> 00:18:07.819
 And he will reply,

00:18:09.200 --> 00:18:10.679
 truly I tell you,

00:18:10.819 --> 00:18:14.240
 whatever you did not do,

00:18:14.700 --> 00:18:16.319
 for one of the least of these,

00:18:16.939 --> 00:18:18.439
 you did not do for me.

00:18:21.779 --> 00:18:23.079
 To love God,

00:18:23.559 --> 00:18:25.519
 is to love your neighbor.

00:18:27.720 --> 00:18:29.279
 Because loving God,

00:18:29.379 --> 00:18:31.399
 includes loving what he loves,

00:18:31.759 --> 00:18:33.299
 caring about what matters to him,

00:18:33.359 --> 00:18:35.039
 and he loves those he has made.

00:18:36.159 --> 00:18:37.319
 Rich or poor,

00:18:37.319 --> 00:18:39.579
 he cares for his creation,

00:18:39.679 --> 00:18:41.019
 even the ones that our culture,

00:18:41.119 --> 00:18:41.740
 and our society,

00:18:41.839 --> 00:18:43.159
 has long since given up on.

00:18:45.240 --> 00:18:47.139
 The call to follow God,

00:18:47.240 --> 00:18:49.059
 is a call to care practically,

00:18:49.059 --> 00:18:50.119
 for those in need.

00:18:50.559 --> 00:18:51.720
 Whatever their need is.

00:18:56.299 --> 00:18:57.579
 So where is our problem?

00:18:59.159 --> 00:19:00.720
 Because this isn't a news flash.

00:19:01.259 --> 00:19:02.159
 We're not ignorant.

00:19:02.160 --> 00:19:03.320
 We've all heard this before.

00:19:04.880 --> 00:19:07.000
 We know we're supposed to love our neighbor.

00:19:10.759 --> 00:19:11.640
 Could it be,

00:19:12.640 --> 00:19:14.240
 that the issue is not ignorance,

00:19:14.600 --> 00:19:16.100
 but like the expert,

00:19:16.380 --> 00:19:18.279
 it's that it just seems too hard?

00:19:19.660 --> 00:19:20.800
 It's the difficulty.

00:19:21.040 --> 00:19:21.580
 We look at this,

00:19:21.620 --> 00:19:22.540
 and it's just intimidating,

00:19:22.779 --> 00:19:23.140
 and we think,

00:19:23.220 --> 00:19:24.180
 how could I ever do that?

00:19:26.120 --> 00:19:27.720
 Do we think it's just too big a task,

00:19:27.779 --> 00:19:28.759
 so why bother trying?

00:19:28.759 --> 00:19:31.220
 I mean,

00:19:31.240 --> 00:19:31.839
 even for us,

00:19:31.900 --> 00:19:33.960
 we live in one of the most affluent parts,

00:19:34.039 --> 00:19:35.420
 of one of the most affluent cities,

00:19:35.519 --> 00:19:37.039
 in one of the most affluent countries,

00:19:37.160 --> 00:19:37.839
 in the world.

00:19:39.240 --> 00:19:39.759
 And yet,

00:19:39.819 --> 00:19:40.759
 you don't have to look far,

00:19:40.839 --> 00:19:42.200
 if you walk through the mall in Chatswood,

00:19:42.259 --> 00:19:43.519
 to see homelessness,

00:19:44.859 --> 00:19:45.279
 poverty,

00:19:46.200 --> 00:19:47.099
 people struggling,

00:19:48.019 --> 00:19:49.319
 mental health issues.

00:19:51.160 --> 00:19:51.339
 I mean,

00:19:51.420 --> 00:19:51.640
 just,

00:19:52.140 --> 00:19:52.779
 does it feel,

00:19:52.900 --> 00:19:54.160
 too difficult?

00:19:55.920 --> 00:19:57.099
 Just in the past week,

00:19:57.140 --> 00:19:58.480
 in the space of a couple of hours,

00:19:58.759 --> 00:20:00.559
 I was engaged by two different people,

00:20:00.740 --> 00:20:02.119
 who were both doing it tough.

00:20:03.019 --> 00:20:03.779
 One man,

00:20:03.839 --> 00:20:04.400
 and one woman,

00:20:04.900 --> 00:20:06.259
 in need of friendship,

00:20:06.759 --> 00:20:07.180
 money,

00:20:07.680 --> 00:20:08.480
 someone to listen,

00:20:08.680 --> 00:20:09.440
 somewhere to stay,

00:20:10.259 --> 00:20:11.019
 someone to care.

00:20:12.660 --> 00:20:13.539
 And if I'm honest,

00:20:13.579 --> 00:20:14.559
 in both situations,

00:20:14.700 --> 00:20:15.900
 I felt horribly inadequate.

00:20:18.059 --> 00:20:20.019
 I knew I was supposed to care for them,

00:20:20.200 --> 00:20:22.619
 I even kind of did care for them,

00:20:22.640 --> 00:20:24.259
 I was in the middle of preparing this sermon.

00:20:24.259 --> 00:20:31.039
 So I fumbled out some words,

00:20:31.099 --> 00:20:31.859
 I tried to listen,

00:20:31.920 --> 00:20:32.879
 I gave a few dollars,

00:20:33.240 --> 00:20:34.059
 I prayed for them,

00:20:34.099 --> 00:20:35.879
 and I walked away fairly confident that

00:20:35.879 --> 00:20:38.119
 I hadn't really done a whole lot

00:20:38.119 --> 00:20:39.279
 to actually love them.

00:20:40.879 --> 00:20:43.180
 I hadn't really made much of a difference for them.

00:20:45.400 --> 00:20:47.079
 It can just kind of feel overwhelming,

00:20:47.240 --> 00:20:47.559
 can't it?

00:20:47.559 --> 00:20:50.899
 We know we're supposed to do it,

00:20:51.859 --> 00:20:52.740
 but do you ever feel like

00:20:52.740 --> 00:20:55.259
 you can't make any difference anyway?

00:20:57.759 --> 00:20:58.319
 And so,

00:20:58.700 --> 00:21:00.460
 faced by an impossible task,

00:21:00.579 --> 00:21:01.599
 the temptation is

00:21:01.599 --> 00:21:03.839
 to just lower the bar.

00:21:05.899 --> 00:21:07.759
 To make the call to love your neighbour

00:21:07.759 --> 00:21:09.059
 a little bit more palatable.

00:21:09.059 --> 00:21:12.839
 Maybe you lower the bar

00:21:12.839 --> 00:21:14.679
 by focusing on the first commandment.

00:21:15.399 --> 00:21:16.460
 Just love God

00:21:16.460 --> 00:21:17.139
 with all your heart,

00:21:17.259 --> 00:21:18.259
 soul, mind and strength.

00:21:19.419 --> 00:21:20.460
 Focus on worship,

00:21:20.659 --> 00:21:21.779
 that's what really matters.

00:21:24.039 --> 00:21:24.740
 And let's be honest,

00:21:24.819 --> 00:21:25.919
 that's harder to fail at.

00:21:27.039 --> 00:21:28.059
 It's harder to tell

00:21:28.059 --> 00:21:28.940
 if you're failing anyway.

00:21:29.039 --> 00:21:29.899
 It's harder to pin down

00:21:29.899 --> 00:21:31.039
 whether or not you're getting it right.

00:21:31.119 --> 00:21:31.879
 It's spiritual.

00:21:32.899 --> 00:21:33.879
 It's ethereal.

00:21:33.880 --> 00:21:39.520
 Or maybe you lower the bar

00:21:39.520 --> 00:21:40.740
 by kind of narrowing

00:21:40.740 --> 00:21:41.520
 loving your neighbour

00:21:41.520 --> 00:21:42.880
 down to evangelising

00:21:42.880 --> 00:21:44.660
 or just telling people about Jesus.

00:21:45.540 --> 00:21:47.320
 That's what love is, we say.

00:21:47.620 --> 00:21:49.320
 I've just got to tell them about Jesus.

00:21:50.660 --> 00:21:51.680
 And the best bit is

00:21:51.680 --> 00:21:52.440
 it's not our problem

00:21:52.440 --> 00:21:53.360
 how they respond.

00:21:54.220 --> 00:21:54.880
 Just tell them.

00:21:55.840 --> 00:21:56.780
 Then I've ticked the box

00:21:56.780 --> 00:21:57.400
 of loving them.

00:21:59.000 --> 00:22:00.260
 Again, it's harder to fail

00:22:00.260 --> 00:22:00.880
 if all you've got to do

00:22:00.880 --> 00:22:01.940
 is just say some words.

00:22:03.880 --> 00:22:06.020
 And so we make the commandment

00:22:06.020 --> 00:22:07.320
 more palatable,

00:22:07.520 --> 00:22:08.140
 more realistic.

00:22:10.800 --> 00:22:12.640
 Churches and individuals

00:22:12.640 --> 00:22:14.920
 tend to focus on one or the other.

00:22:15.000 --> 00:22:17.380
 Either the words of speaking about Jesus

00:22:17.380 --> 00:22:18.760
 or the actions

00:22:18.760 --> 00:22:20.980
 of physically meeting needs.

00:22:22.900 --> 00:22:23.860
 Providing clothing,

00:22:24.960 --> 00:22:26.100
 friendship, mercy.

00:22:26.720 --> 00:22:28.320
 You tend to get one or the other

00:22:28.320 --> 00:22:29.800
 and both sides tend to look

00:22:29.800 --> 00:22:31.040
 down on the other one

00:22:31.040 --> 00:22:32.720
 as if they're better at loving.

00:22:32.880 --> 00:22:33.720
 They're more holy.

00:22:33.880 --> 00:22:37.580
 But the reality is

00:22:37.580 --> 00:22:39.160
 both sides of those

00:22:39.160 --> 00:22:40.740
 are a convenient delusion.

00:22:43.800 --> 00:22:44.900
 Both of them are missing

00:22:44.900 --> 00:22:46.840
 a huge part of who God is,

00:22:47.300 --> 00:22:48.440
 how God loves,

00:22:48.560 --> 00:22:49.480
 what God's done.

00:22:52.780 --> 00:22:54.360
 We as an Anglican church

00:22:54.360 --> 00:22:55.800
 live in the end

00:22:55.800 --> 00:22:57.380
 that has traditionally focused

00:22:57.380 --> 00:22:58.300
 on speaking

00:22:58.300 --> 00:22:59.280
 rather than acting.

00:23:01.380 --> 00:23:02.840
 We're caring for the soul,

00:23:02.980 --> 00:23:03.700
 we like to say.

00:23:03.880 --> 00:23:08.520
 But the God that we follow

00:23:08.520 --> 00:23:09.740
 cares for whole people.

00:23:11.700 --> 00:23:12.760
 Spiritual, physical.

00:23:13.780 --> 00:23:15.160
 He created them with dignity.

00:23:16.900 --> 00:23:18.280
 And he carries a burden

00:23:18.280 --> 00:23:19.540
 for those who are needy.

00:23:21.100 --> 00:23:22.640
 We need to be people who,

00:23:23.140 --> 00:23:25.100
 as well as speaking about Jesus,

00:23:25.280 --> 00:23:27.200
 which is invaluable and important,

00:23:27.200 --> 00:23:28.840
 also seek to know

00:23:28.840 --> 00:23:29.660
 also seek to know

00:23:29.660 --> 00:23:30.900
 what their needs are

00:23:30.900 --> 00:23:35.500
 and then seek to meet those needs

00:23:35.500 --> 00:23:37.559
 with our God-given resources.

00:23:41.340 --> 00:23:42.920
 Yeah, the task is massive.

00:23:44.200 --> 00:23:45.360
 It is intimidating.

00:23:45.359 --> 00:23:48.740
 But it's not supposed to be hopeless.

00:23:49.740 --> 00:23:51.439
 It's not supposed to be crippling.

00:23:51.679 --> 00:23:52.879
 It's not supposed to make us

00:23:52.879 --> 00:23:53.639
 not do anything.

00:23:54.599 --> 00:23:56.259
 Jesus is not trying to make this guy

00:23:56.259 --> 00:23:57.479
 who's asking him a question,

00:23:57.639 --> 00:23:59.139
 even though he's trying to trick Jesus,

00:23:59.479 --> 00:24:00.979
 Jesus is not trying to turn him away

00:24:00.979 --> 00:24:01.879
 and make him give up.

00:24:02.659 --> 00:24:04.119
 Jesus is trying to humble him.

00:24:05.299 --> 00:24:06.119
 He's trying to show him

00:24:06.119 --> 00:24:07.259
 that he can't do it himself,

00:24:07.259 --> 00:24:09.099
 but that God will offer him help.

00:24:09.779 --> 00:24:11.619
 Whenever we come to law in the Bible,

00:24:11.799 --> 00:24:12.619
 like love thy neighbor,

00:24:12.740 --> 00:24:13.399
 like love God

00:24:13.399 --> 00:24:14.519
 with everything that you've got,

00:24:14.819 --> 00:24:16.439
 there's always two functions

00:24:16.439 --> 00:24:17.519
 of a law like that.

00:24:17.619 --> 00:24:18.939
 It is always impossible

00:24:18.939 --> 00:24:20.759
 for us to do in our own strength.

00:24:21.379 --> 00:24:22.539
 We're seeing it right

00:24:22.539 --> 00:24:24.199
 if we recognize that it's impossible.

00:24:24.339 --> 00:24:25.779
 That's a good starting point,

00:24:26.099 --> 00:24:27.139
 but it's actually there

00:24:27.139 --> 00:24:28.339
 to do something for us.

00:24:28.399 --> 00:24:29.559
 Two things specifically.

00:24:29.859 --> 00:24:32.480
 Firstly, it's revealing God to us.

00:24:33.219 --> 00:24:34.059
 It's trying to show us

00:24:34.059 --> 00:24:35.439
 who he is and what he's like.

00:24:35.559 --> 00:24:36.359
 And these commandments

00:24:36.359 --> 00:24:37.619
 that we're looking at right now

00:24:37.619 --> 00:24:39.419
 show us that God is worthy

00:24:39.419 --> 00:24:41.219
 of absolute, single-minded,

00:24:41.459 --> 00:24:43.379
 exclusive devotion and worship.

00:24:44.739 --> 00:24:45.919
 Loving with everything,

00:24:46.000 --> 00:24:46.619
 all the time.

00:24:46.699 --> 00:24:48.000
 That's the God

00:24:48.000 --> 00:24:49.079
 that we're dealing with.

00:24:49.979 --> 00:24:51.319
 But also it shows us

00:24:51.319 --> 00:24:52.939
 that God cares for his creation

00:24:52.939 --> 00:24:54.359
 and the people in his creation.

00:24:55.939 --> 00:24:57.099
 Us loving one another

00:24:57.099 --> 00:24:58.299
 was significant enough

00:24:58.299 --> 00:24:59.799
 to get a specific mention

00:24:59.799 --> 00:25:01.479
 in the two laws

00:25:01.479 --> 00:25:02.819
 that encapsulate everything

00:25:02.819 --> 00:25:03.859
 that God commands.

00:25:05.079 --> 00:25:07.359
 So these impossible laws

00:25:07.359 --> 00:25:09.139
 are showing us a big bit

00:25:09.139 --> 00:25:10.299
 of what God is like.

00:25:11.500 --> 00:25:12.899
 But the second thing

00:25:12.899 --> 00:25:13.919
 that the law does,

00:25:14.519 --> 00:25:15.459
 the second thing

00:25:15.459 --> 00:25:17.039
 that impossible commands do,

00:25:17.459 --> 00:25:18.719
 is they point us to Jesus.

00:25:19.779 --> 00:25:21.059
 They humble us

00:25:21.059 --> 00:25:22.159
 because we look at them

00:25:22.159 --> 00:25:22.359
 and go,

00:25:22.399 --> 00:25:23.299
 I can't do that.

00:25:23.339 --> 00:25:23.799
 And God's like,

00:25:23.839 --> 00:25:24.399
 that's right.

00:25:24.400 --> 00:25:28.480
 But I can do it for you.

00:25:30.360 --> 00:25:32.140
 Jesus comes to perfectly

00:25:32.140 --> 00:25:33.720
 live out every one

00:25:33.720 --> 00:25:34.500
 of those commands,

00:25:35.000 --> 00:25:36.580
 to perfectly love God

00:25:36.580 --> 00:25:37.360
 at every step

00:25:37.360 --> 00:25:38.160
 and every decision,

00:25:38.440 --> 00:25:39.220
 to perfectly

00:25:39.220 --> 00:25:40.420
 and sacrificially

00:25:40.420 --> 00:25:42.320
 and in costly ways

00:25:42.320 --> 00:25:43.240
 love his neighbor.

00:25:45.340 --> 00:25:46.380
 Jesus comes

00:25:46.380 --> 00:25:47.420
 to take the punishment

00:25:47.420 --> 00:25:48.420
 that we deserve

00:25:48.420 --> 00:25:49.200
 for not meeting

00:25:49.200 --> 00:25:49.900
 these standards.

00:25:49.900 --> 00:25:52.759
 He pays the price.

00:25:54.300 --> 00:25:55.900
 He makes it possible

00:25:55.900 --> 00:25:56.860
 for us to have

00:25:56.860 --> 00:25:58.280
 the relationship

00:25:58.280 --> 00:25:59.759
 with this incredible God

00:25:59.759 --> 00:26:01.040
 who cares for us.

00:26:02.960 --> 00:26:04.380
 The law points us

00:26:04.380 --> 00:26:05.000
 to Jesus

00:26:05.000 --> 00:26:07.420
 who has been

00:26:07.420 --> 00:26:08.480
 the good neighbor

00:26:08.480 --> 00:26:09.160
 to us,

00:26:09.720 --> 00:26:11.440
 who does not

00:26:11.440 --> 00:26:12.660
 turn and look away,

00:26:13.920 --> 00:26:14.640
 who does not

00:26:14.640 --> 00:26:15.140
 blame us

00:26:15.140 --> 00:26:16.140
 for our situation,

00:26:16.140 --> 00:26:18.940
 but who stops

00:26:18.940 --> 00:26:19.540
 and not only

00:26:19.540 --> 00:26:20.540
 risks his life

00:26:20.540 --> 00:26:22.460
 but gives his life

00:26:22.460 --> 00:26:24.500
 so that we might

00:26:24.500 --> 00:26:25.540
 be restored.

00:26:28.000 --> 00:26:29.200
 Because of Jesus,

00:26:29.920 --> 00:26:31.060
 the command

00:26:31.060 --> 00:26:31.860
 to love God

00:26:31.860 --> 00:26:32.800
 and to love your neighbor

00:26:32.800 --> 00:26:33.660
 is fulfilled.

00:26:34.980 --> 00:26:36.040
 Because of Jesus,

00:26:36.200 --> 00:26:37.500
 we have the approval

00:26:37.500 --> 00:26:38.520
 that we crave.

00:26:39.660 --> 00:26:41.000
 We have the welcome.

00:26:41.160 --> 00:26:41.980
 We have the guarantee

00:26:41.980 --> 00:26:42.580
 of heaven.

00:26:42.720 --> 00:26:43.920
 We have the eternal life

00:26:43.920 --> 00:26:45.000
 that the expert

00:26:45.000 --> 00:26:45.400
 in the law

00:26:45.400 --> 00:26:46.060
 is desiring.

00:26:47.140 --> 00:26:48.040
 We have that

00:26:48.040 --> 00:26:48.680
 given to us

00:26:48.680 --> 00:26:49.259
 as a gift.

00:26:49.420 --> 00:26:50.180
 That's the grace

00:26:50.180 --> 00:26:50.840
 that Jared was

00:26:50.840 --> 00:26:51.600
 telling us about.

00:26:52.620 --> 00:26:53.640
 It is handed over

00:26:53.640 --> 00:26:54.480
 unconditionally,

00:26:54.740 --> 00:26:55.560
 free of charge

00:26:55.560 --> 00:26:56.460
 and so now

00:26:56.460 --> 00:26:57.120
 these laws

00:26:57.120 --> 00:26:58.180
 are transformed.

00:26:59.600 --> 00:27:00.240
 They become

00:27:00.240 --> 00:27:00.880
 an invitation

00:27:00.880 --> 00:27:01.960
 to us,

00:27:02.500 --> 00:27:03.440
 to those of us

00:27:03.440 --> 00:27:04.060
 who are already

00:27:04.060 --> 00:27:05.240
 securely loved

00:27:05.240 --> 00:27:05.860
 by God,

00:27:05.960 --> 00:27:06.720
 irreversibly,

00:27:06.880 --> 00:27:07.620
 unconditionally,

00:27:07.940 --> 00:27:08.920
 to love

00:27:08.920 --> 00:27:10.620
 like we've been loved.

00:27:11.780 --> 00:27:12.580
 To love

00:27:12.580 --> 00:27:13.600
 because we've

00:27:13.600 --> 00:27:14.300
 been loved.

00:27:14.299 --> 00:27:17.579
 to love

00:27:17.579 --> 00:27:18.279
 with words

00:27:18.279 --> 00:27:18.940
 and action.

00:27:21.159 --> 00:27:21.940
 To point

00:27:21.940 --> 00:27:22.839
 people to Jesus

00:27:22.839 --> 00:27:23.839
 with our words

00:27:23.839 --> 00:27:25.119
 and with our actions

00:27:25.119 --> 00:27:26.319
 because there's

00:27:26.319 --> 00:27:27.099
 no distinction

00:27:27.099 --> 00:27:27.680
 here.

00:27:28.519 --> 00:27:28.960
 They're one

00:27:28.960 --> 00:27:29.480
 and the same.

00:27:29.559 --> 00:27:30.139
 You can't dodge

00:27:30.139 --> 00:27:30.339
 these.

00:27:30.419 --> 00:27:31.139
 You can't separate

00:27:31.139 --> 00:27:31.460
 these.

00:27:31.460 --> 00:27:32.319
 To love God

00:27:32.319 --> 00:27:32.659
 rightly

00:27:32.659 --> 00:27:33.500
 is to love

00:27:33.500 --> 00:27:34.119
 your neighbor

00:27:34.119 --> 00:27:35.720
 practically,

00:27:36.220 --> 00:27:36.980
 concretely,

00:27:36.980 --> 00:27:38.720
 by speaking

00:27:38.720 --> 00:27:39.339
 of the one

00:27:39.339 --> 00:27:40.360
 who saves you

00:27:40.360 --> 00:27:42.420
 and by embodying

00:27:42.420 --> 00:27:43.140
 his love

00:27:43.140 --> 00:27:44.779
 by caring

00:27:44.779 --> 00:27:45.339
 for people,

00:27:46.180 --> 00:27:47.120
 feeding them,

00:27:49.039 --> 00:27:49.500
 befriending

00:27:49.500 --> 00:27:49.860
 them,

00:27:51.360 --> 00:27:52.000
 helping them

00:27:52.000 --> 00:27:54.599
 by fighting

00:27:54.599 --> 00:27:55.599
 for their dignity

00:27:55.599 --> 00:27:57.360
 because it matters

00:27:57.360 --> 00:27:58.000
 to the one

00:27:58.000 --> 00:27:59.940
 who made you,

00:28:00.640 --> 00:28:01.160
 the one

00:28:01.160 --> 00:28:01.759
 who made them.

00:28:01.759 --> 00:28:03.640
 we need

00:28:03.640 --> 00:28:04.440
 both.

00:28:05.279 --> 00:28:05.879
 We need

00:28:05.879 --> 00:28:06.279
 words

00:28:06.279 --> 00:28:06.779
 and we need

00:28:06.779 --> 00:28:07.379
 actions

00:28:07.379 --> 00:28:08.940
 because God

00:28:08.940 --> 00:28:09.879
 demands it.

00:28:10.599 --> 00:28:11.200
 We need

00:28:11.200 --> 00:28:11.819
 both because

00:28:11.819 --> 00:28:12.359
 our vision

00:28:12.359 --> 00:28:12.980
 as a church

00:28:12.980 --> 00:28:13.920
 calls for both.

00:28:14.779 --> 00:28:15.440
 We're desperate

00:28:15.440 --> 00:28:16.059
 as a church

00:28:16.059 --> 00:28:16.599
 for the world

00:28:16.599 --> 00:28:17.099
 around us

00:28:17.099 --> 00:28:17.879
 to encounter

00:28:17.879 --> 00:28:18.759
 Jesus,

00:28:19.500 --> 00:28:20.240
 for people

00:28:20.240 --> 00:28:21.339
 to encounter

00:28:21.339 --> 00:28:21.680
 Jesus,

00:28:21.680 --> 00:28:22.240
 not to just

00:28:22.240 --> 00:28:22.980
 hear about him

00:28:22.980 --> 00:28:23.940
 but for them

00:28:23.940 --> 00:28:24.660
 to encounter

00:28:24.660 --> 00:28:25.079
 him,

00:28:26.220 --> 00:28:27.079
 for them

00:28:27.079 --> 00:28:28.059
 to experience

00:28:28.059 --> 00:28:29.759
 his free,

00:28:30.000 --> 00:28:31.099
 unconditional love

00:28:31.099 --> 00:28:31.879
 as we pay

00:28:31.879 --> 00:28:32.199
 a bill

00:28:32.199 --> 00:28:32.579
 for them,

00:28:33.219 --> 00:28:33.939
 as we

00:28:33.939 --> 00:28:35.199
 provide groceries

00:28:35.199 --> 00:28:35.799
 for them,

00:28:36.919 --> 00:28:37.359
 for them

00:28:37.359 --> 00:28:37.939
 to experience

00:28:37.939 --> 00:28:38.559
 his grace

00:28:38.559 --> 00:28:39.159
 as we teach

00:28:39.159 --> 00:28:39.799
 them English

00:28:39.799 --> 00:28:40.279
 and make it

00:28:40.279 --> 00:28:40.879
 easier for them

00:28:40.879 --> 00:28:41.359
 to function

00:28:41.359 --> 00:28:42.059
 in the community

00:28:42.059 --> 00:28:42.819
 that they live in.

00:28:43.799 --> 00:28:44.559
 We want them

00:28:44.559 --> 00:28:45.199
 to encounter

00:28:45.199 --> 00:28:46.259
 Jesus in such

00:28:46.259 --> 00:28:46.659
 a way

00:28:46.659 --> 00:28:47.639
 that they beg

00:28:47.639 --> 00:28:48.839
 us to introduce

00:28:48.839 --> 00:28:49.719
 them to the one

00:28:49.719 --> 00:28:50.659
 who could enable

00:28:50.659 --> 00:28:51.279
 us to love

00:28:51.279 --> 00:28:51.899
 like this.

00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:55.699
 That's why

00:28:55.699 --> 00:28:56.599
 we've got a

00:28:56.599 --> 00:28:57.699
 ministry dedicated

00:28:57.699 --> 00:28:59.119
 to loving those

00:28:59.119 --> 00:28:59.859
 who work in the

00:28:59.859 --> 00:29:00.379
 brothels in

00:29:00.379 --> 00:29:00.779
 Chatswood.

00:29:01.099 --> 00:29:04.740
 Because God

00:29:04.740 --> 00:29:05.199
 loves them.

00:29:06.759 --> 00:29:07.659
 And we want

00:29:07.659 --> 00:29:08.279
 them to know

00:29:08.279 --> 00:29:09.039
 his love.

00:29:09.639 --> 00:29:10.219
 We're dropping

00:29:10.219 --> 00:29:11.099
 off cakes to

00:29:11.099 --> 00:29:11.299
 them.

00:29:11.500 --> 00:29:12.159
 We're praying

00:29:12.159 --> 00:29:12.879
 for opportunities

00:29:12.879 --> 00:29:13.659
 to befriend

00:29:13.659 --> 00:29:13.959
 them.

00:29:15.379 --> 00:29:16.139
 It's why we

00:29:16.139 --> 00:29:16.919
 welcome anyone

00:29:16.919 --> 00:29:17.759
 in our gatherings.

00:29:18.500 --> 00:29:19.039
 Whether they're

00:29:19.039 --> 00:29:19.699
 a Christian or

00:29:19.699 --> 00:29:20.219
 not doesn't

00:29:20.219 --> 00:29:20.439
 matter.

00:29:20.579 --> 00:29:21.179
 Anyone is

00:29:21.179 --> 00:29:21.759
 welcome here

00:29:21.759 --> 00:29:22.579
 because people

00:29:22.579 --> 00:29:23.399
 matter to God.

00:29:23.500 --> 00:29:23.879
 This is not

00:29:23.879 --> 00:29:24.759
 a holy club.

00:29:24.759 --> 00:29:24.819
 God.

00:29:28.400 --> 00:29:29.200
 This is a

00:29:29.200 --> 00:29:29.759
 space where

00:29:29.759 --> 00:29:30.460
 anyone can

00:29:30.460 --> 00:29:31.220
 discover the

00:29:31.220 --> 00:29:31.980
 love that God

00:29:31.980 --> 00:29:32.640
 has for them

00:29:32.640 --> 00:29:33.539
 in Jesus.

00:29:33.759 --> 00:29:34.339
 The love that

00:29:34.339 --> 00:29:34.839
 we have

00:29:34.839 --> 00:29:35.359
 received.

00:29:35.700 --> 00:29:36.200
 The love that

00:29:36.200 --> 00:29:36.700
 means that

00:29:36.700 --> 00:29:37.740
 impossible laws

00:29:37.740 --> 00:29:38.059
 are not

00:29:38.059 --> 00:29:38.500
 oppressive

00:29:38.500 --> 00:29:39.000
 anymore.

00:29:39.000 --> 00:29:41.759
 but they're

00:29:41.759 --> 00:29:42.180
 gifts to

00:29:42.180 --> 00:29:42.859
 remind us of

00:29:42.859 --> 00:29:43.500
 the God who

00:29:43.500 --> 00:29:44.180
 loves us,

00:29:44.559 --> 00:29:45.279
 the God who

00:29:45.279 --> 00:29:45.880
 sent his son

00:29:45.880 --> 00:29:46.319
 for us,

00:29:46.359 --> 00:29:46.880
 and the God

00:29:46.880 --> 00:29:47.740
 who is marking

00:29:47.740 --> 00:29:48.519
 out a path of

00:29:48.519 --> 00:29:48.940
 what it looks

00:29:48.940 --> 00:29:49.619
 like to live

00:29:49.619 --> 00:29:50.460
 in that love.

00:29:52.799 --> 00:29:53.880
 Love is costly.

00:29:54.960 --> 00:29:55.819
 It's not easy.

00:29:55.819 --> 00:29:57.200
 It's not

00:29:57.200 --> 00:29:58.359
 compartmentalised

00:29:58.359 --> 00:29:59.000
 into a section

00:29:59.000 --> 00:29:59.579
 of our life

00:29:59.579 --> 00:30:00.259
 or a task

00:30:00.259 --> 00:30:00.899
 that we do.

00:30:01.579 --> 00:30:02.579
 It comes from

00:30:02.579 --> 00:30:03.179
 the core,

00:30:03.299 --> 00:30:04.039
 from your heart.

00:30:04.659 --> 00:30:05.200
 You can't just

00:30:05.200 --> 00:30:05.939
 switch it on

00:30:05.939 --> 00:30:06.519
 or off.

00:30:09.259 --> 00:30:10.119
 What's required

00:30:10.119 --> 00:30:10.759
 is a heart

00:30:10.759 --> 00:30:11.279
 change.

00:30:14.039 --> 00:30:14.899
 And what God

00:30:14.899 --> 00:30:15.819
 does in sending

00:30:15.819 --> 00:30:17.519
 Jesus is give

00:30:17.519 --> 00:30:18.159
 us the pass

00:30:18.159 --> 00:30:18.740
 mark that we

00:30:18.740 --> 00:30:19.139
 can't get

00:30:19.139 --> 00:30:19.599
 ourselves,

00:30:20.559 --> 00:30:21.240
 give us the

00:30:21.240 --> 00:30:21.960
 approval that

00:30:21.960 --> 00:30:22.720
 says he loves

00:30:22.720 --> 00:30:23.200
 us no matter

00:30:23.200 --> 00:30:23.579
 what,

00:30:24.579 --> 00:30:25.619
 and then begins

00:30:25.619 --> 00:30:26.279
 the process

00:30:26.279 --> 00:30:26.879
 of changing

00:30:26.879 --> 00:30:27.500
 our hearts

00:30:27.500 --> 00:30:27.919
 so that we

00:30:27.919 --> 00:30:28.539
 can actually

00:30:28.539 --> 00:30:29.339
 live out this

00:30:29.339 --> 00:30:30.079
 kind of love.

00:30:32.019 --> 00:30:32.219
 I mean,

00:30:32.339 --> 00:30:33.119
 costly love

00:30:33.119 --> 00:30:33.519
 for other

00:30:33.519 --> 00:30:33.839
 people,

00:30:34.019 --> 00:30:34.559
 costly love

00:30:34.559 --> 00:30:34.859
 for our

00:30:34.859 --> 00:30:35.299
 neighbours is

00:30:35.299 --> 00:30:36.219
 only possible

00:30:36.219 --> 00:30:37.139
 because we

00:30:37.139 --> 00:30:37.539
 have the

00:30:37.539 --> 00:30:38.759
 security of

00:30:38.759 --> 00:30:40.119
 first being

00:30:40.119 --> 00:30:41.519
 loved unconditionally,

00:30:41.839 --> 00:30:42.639
 irreversibly,

00:30:42.779 --> 00:30:43.659
 and abundantly

00:30:43.659 --> 00:30:44.859
 by God in

00:30:44.859 --> 00:30:45.219
 Jesus.

00:30:48.139 --> 00:30:49.079
 It's only

00:30:49.079 --> 00:30:49.879
 possible because

00:30:49.879 --> 00:30:50.319
 of that.

00:30:51.439 --> 00:30:52.179
 But because

00:30:52.179 --> 00:30:52.679
 of that,

00:30:53.059 --> 00:30:53.579
 it is

00:30:53.579 --> 00:30:54.079
 possible.

00:30:55.619 --> 00:30:57.199
 So rest

00:30:57.199 --> 00:30:57.579
 in that

00:30:57.579 --> 00:30:58.179
 security.

00:31:00.339 --> 00:31:01.059
 Rest in

00:31:01.059 --> 00:31:01.439
 the fact

00:31:01.439 --> 00:31:01.979
 that Jesus

00:31:01.979 --> 00:31:02.539
 has done

00:31:02.539 --> 00:31:03.179
 everything that

00:31:03.179 --> 00:31:03.739
 needs to be

00:31:03.739 --> 00:31:04.039
 done.

00:31:06.000 --> 00:31:06.879
 That God

00:31:06.879 --> 00:31:07.359
 loves you

00:31:07.359 --> 00:31:08.199
 unconditionally,

00:31:09.199 --> 00:31:11.119
 and then hear

00:31:11.119 --> 00:31:11.699
 God's call

00:31:11.699 --> 00:31:12.019
 again.

00:31:14.019 --> 00:31:15.199
 Love your

00:31:15.199 --> 00:31:15.500
 neighbour.

00:31:15.859 --> 00:31:16.259
 Ciasta.

00:31:16.259 --> 00:31:25.500
 Let's

00:31:28.319 --> 00:31:28.920
 tell him

00:31:28.920 --> 00:31:29.420
 about

00:31:29.420 --> 00:31:29.700
 the