WEBVTT

00:00:00.700 --> 00:00:02.660
 It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

00:00:04.339 --> 00:00:06.500
 Amen, and good morning once again.

00:00:06.640 --> 00:00:11.480
 It's that time of year again to get ready for a new year.

00:00:11.480 --> 00:00:15.759
 And so we're passing from 2025 and we're moving into 2026,

00:00:15.980 --> 00:00:20.920
 and it's a great time to kind of reflect on what is taking place in 2025

00:00:20.920 --> 00:00:24.600
 and to anticipate what is going to happen in 2026.

00:00:25.240 --> 00:00:29.820
 And so maybe some of your highlights from 2025 have been some movies you've seen

00:00:29.820 --> 00:00:32.560
 maybe it's some music you've listened to,

00:00:32.859 --> 00:00:35.380
 maybe it's a vacation that you went on,

00:00:35.560 --> 00:00:40.780
 or maybe there are some lowlights to 2025 that you're just so glad you're moving on from.

00:00:41.620 --> 00:00:42.960
 Maybe you've got some bad news.

00:00:44.520 --> 00:00:49.100
 And as we turn to 2026, we move from reflection to anticipation,

00:00:50.100 --> 00:00:52.260
 maybe there's some things that you're looking forward to.

00:00:52.439 --> 00:00:54.579
 Maybe there's a movie coming out.

00:00:54.659 --> 00:00:56.240
 Maybe there's a show that's going to drop.

00:00:56.380 --> 00:00:59.240
 Maybe that you've got a book that you're wanting to read.

00:00:59.240 --> 00:01:01.560
 I've been given a book that I can't help.

00:01:02.320 --> 00:01:04.120
 I am really looking forward to cutting through it.

00:01:05.480 --> 00:01:08.560
 2026, what does it hold, right?

00:01:09.240 --> 00:01:16.799
 Maybe there's things that are going to happen where something's going to be painful in 2026.

00:01:17.060 --> 00:01:18.099
 Maybe it's a move.

00:01:18.640 --> 00:01:20.659
 Maybe it's someone who's ill right now.

00:01:20.740 --> 00:01:22.159
 It's going to go from bad to worse.

00:01:22.159 --> 00:01:31.579
 What I want to help you do this morning is just not reflect and anticipate 2026.

00:01:31.920 --> 00:01:35.420
 I want to help move your gaze Godward.

00:01:36.159 --> 00:01:38.759
 But I also need some new artwork in my office.

00:01:39.340 --> 00:01:40.840
 So here's the plan.

00:01:42.000 --> 00:01:43.739
 Everybody, I hope you have a bulletin.

00:01:44.140 --> 00:01:45.400
 The bulletin is this.

00:01:45.400 --> 00:01:48.900
 As you can see, I'm going to be using the whiteboard this morning.

00:01:49.980 --> 00:01:51.320
 I'm going to draw a diagram.

00:01:52.140 --> 00:01:54.280
 And there's two reasons why I'm drawing this diagram.

00:01:54.480 --> 00:01:56.340
 I need artwork in my office.

00:01:57.040 --> 00:01:59.500
 And so it's just kind of bland.

00:02:00.560 --> 00:02:02.439
 It's kind of blasé.

00:02:02.439 --> 00:02:09.840
 And so what I'm going to have you do is kind of follow my lead, write this diagram, and then give it to me afterwards.

00:02:10.020 --> 00:02:13.859
 I'm going to have you sign it and either leave it in your pew or hand it to me.

00:02:14.400 --> 00:02:16.659
 If you want to keep it, take a picture of it with your phone.

00:02:17.840 --> 00:02:24.259
 But if you're a child in the room, you're not going to King's Kids today, I need you to draw this picture with me and then give it to me.

00:02:24.500 --> 00:02:24.759
 Okay?

00:02:25.300 --> 00:02:29.180
 So this is very much I am in need of artwork in my office.

00:02:29.180 --> 00:02:32.400
 If you need a bulletin, would you raise your hand?

00:02:32.439 --> 00:02:32.960
 Or you need a pen?

00:02:33.319 --> 00:02:34.020
 Would you raise your hand?

00:02:34.080 --> 00:02:37.000
 We've got some people from our Connect team to help out with that.

00:02:37.040 --> 00:02:37.219
 Anybody?

00:02:38.280 --> 00:02:38.599
 Okay.

00:02:39.920 --> 00:02:40.319
 All right.

00:02:40.719 --> 00:02:48.680
 But the primary reason why we're doing this is to move your gaze towards your God and move from manger to mission.

00:02:48.680 --> 00:03:01.920
 And so this morning, the way I'm going to do that is going to highlight five distinct features of God's glory plan to make disciples of all the nations.

00:03:02.219 --> 00:03:03.939
 So five distinct features.

00:03:04.200 --> 00:03:07.439
 I'm going to draw them so that you can follow with me.

00:03:07.500 --> 00:03:10.040
 I hope they'll kind of sink in for you.

00:03:10.300 --> 00:03:11.719
 So here's what I'm going to be arguing.

00:03:11.719 --> 00:03:22.979
 The triune God is presently, actively at work in our world making disciples, gathering for him worshipers of his name.

00:03:23.419 --> 00:03:24.800
 He's doing that right now.

00:03:25.060 --> 00:03:25.900
 So here's the argument.

00:03:26.099 --> 00:03:27.259
 Here's what I'm trying to convince you of.

00:03:28.079 --> 00:03:28.939
 Let's join him.

00:03:30.099 --> 00:03:32.159
 Let's join him in what he is doing.

00:03:33.000 --> 00:03:34.879
 Let's do this together as a church.

00:03:34.879 --> 00:03:43.060
 Let's join our great triune God in his global work of gathering worshipers in his name.

00:03:43.599 --> 00:03:50.280
 And so with all that said, let's move to the first feature of this.

00:03:51.019 --> 00:03:57.840
 And it is, this is a, number one, this is a triune plan.

00:03:58.400 --> 00:04:02.579
 This big plan for the fullness of time is a triune plan.

00:04:02.580 --> 00:04:05.300
 So I'm going to ask, what's distinct feature number one?

00:04:05.480 --> 00:04:06.680
 And you're going to say triune.

00:04:06.800 --> 00:04:08.160
 What's distinct feature number one?

00:04:08.840 --> 00:04:10.300
 It's a triune plan.

00:04:10.660 --> 00:04:14.740
 So when we're talking about triune, we're talking about the triune God over all things.

00:04:15.060 --> 00:04:24.439
 Father, Son, Holy Spirit, three distinct persons, each are fully God, one God.

00:04:24.720 --> 00:04:30.280
 So three eternally existent people of the Godhead, each are fully God.

00:04:30.279 --> 00:04:36.459
 There is one God, there is one God, that is kind of the biblical idea of what the Trinity is.

00:04:36.799 --> 00:04:43.779
 And in Ephesians chapter 1, verses 3 through 14, we have the Trinity.

00:04:45.259 --> 00:04:47.339
 In verse 3, you might not have seen it.

00:04:47.339 --> 00:04:59.599
 Blessed be the God and Father, first person of the Trinity, of our Lord Jesus Christ, second person of the Trinity,

00:05:00.120 --> 00:05:04.719
 who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.

00:05:04.799 --> 00:05:09.779
 That spiritual blessing, it's probably better translated, spirit blessing.

00:05:10.500 --> 00:05:11.939
 Spirit given blessing.

00:05:11.939 --> 00:05:16.180
 So here in verse 3, we have a Trinity sighting.

00:05:16.759 --> 00:05:18.000
 But it doesn't stop there.

00:05:18.680 --> 00:05:19.319
 There's more.

00:05:20.199 --> 00:05:22.259
 And so if you look at verses 4 through 6,

00:05:22.980 --> 00:05:25.800
 even as He, God the Father, first person of the Trinity,

00:05:26.920 --> 00:05:29.360
 chose us in Him before the foundation of the world,

00:05:29.500 --> 00:05:32.459
 that we should be holy and blameless before Him in love,

00:05:32.560 --> 00:05:33.879
 He predestined to us.

00:05:33.879 --> 00:05:38.920
 So here we have God the Father who is ordaining our salvation,

00:05:39.980 --> 00:05:43.079
 choosing us and predestining us,

00:05:43.860 --> 00:05:45.100
 electing us.

00:05:45.540 --> 00:05:49.259
 It is His glorious work in our salvation.

00:05:49.399 --> 00:05:55.500
 So God the Father ordains our salvation from before the foundation of the world.

00:05:55.620 --> 00:05:57.500
 This is deep waters theologically.

00:05:58.339 --> 00:06:00.060
 It's a beauty to it.

00:06:00.060 --> 00:06:02.959
 It's His sovereign grace at work.

00:06:03.879 --> 00:06:05.680
 So in verses 4 through 6,

00:06:05.779 --> 00:06:09.459
 we see the first person of the Trinity getting,

00:06:09.719 --> 00:06:11.000
 kind of getting some air time.

00:06:11.180 --> 00:06:13.100
 And then in verses 7 through 12,

00:06:13.439 --> 00:06:16.560
 the focus shifts from God the Father to God the Son.

00:06:17.860 --> 00:06:20.420
 And in verses 7 through 12,

00:06:20.500 --> 00:06:23.519
 we see the Son accomplishing what God has ordained,

00:06:23.620 --> 00:06:24.980
 God the Father has ordained.

00:06:25.240 --> 00:06:27.000
 And so we have phrases like this.

00:06:27.620 --> 00:06:28.740
 In verse 7,

00:06:28.740 --> 00:06:30.000
 in Him,

00:06:30.319 --> 00:06:30.879
 the beloved,

00:06:31.040 --> 00:06:31.660
 verse 6,

00:06:32.280 --> 00:06:33.939
 we have redemption through His blood.

00:06:35.300 --> 00:06:41.240
 So it's the Son accomplishing what God the Father has ordained.

00:06:42.400 --> 00:06:43.079
 The word redemption,

00:06:43.220 --> 00:06:43.660
 by the way,

00:06:43.879 --> 00:06:49.680
 means to purchase someone from slavery at a price,

00:06:49.759 --> 00:06:50.819
 at a ransom price.

00:06:50.920 --> 00:06:53.579
 Do you remember what Jesus said in Mark 10, 45?

00:06:53.579 --> 00:06:55.359
 I came not to be served,

00:06:55.479 --> 00:06:59.279
 but to serve and to give my life as a ransom for many,

00:06:59.539 --> 00:07:03.659
 to buy sinners back from slavery to sin,

00:07:03.899 --> 00:07:05.359
 to set them free.

00:07:06.379 --> 00:07:08.319
 And so what we see in verses 7 through 12

00:07:08.319 --> 00:07:15.180
 is this time and again emphasis on what the Son has done.

00:07:15.180 --> 00:07:21.780
 And so Jesus has accomplished our salvation by ransoming us.

00:07:22.840 --> 00:07:24.740
 And so another way to talk about it is

00:07:24.740 --> 00:07:27.340
 those who are living in the domain of darkness

00:07:27.340 --> 00:07:30.960
 have been transferred into the kingdom of the beloved Son

00:07:30.960 --> 00:07:33.540
 through the redemption that's in His blood,

00:07:34.000 --> 00:07:35.519
 through the forgiveness that comes through Him.

00:07:36.280 --> 00:07:39.879
 And so the Son has accomplished what God the Father has ordained.

00:07:40.199 --> 00:07:41.920
 And then in verses 13 through 14,

00:07:41.920 --> 00:07:44.139
 the focus shifts to the Holy Spirit.

00:07:45.180 --> 00:07:47.199
 And so in verses 13 and 14,

00:07:47.360 --> 00:07:49.400
 we see in Him you also,

00:07:49.560 --> 00:07:51.360
 when you heard the word of the truth,

00:07:51.519 --> 00:07:53.280
 the gospel of your salvation,

00:07:53.420 --> 00:07:54.240
 and believed in Him,

00:07:54.540 --> 00:07:56.920
 you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,

00:07:57.019 --> 00:07:58.400
 who is the guarantee of our inheritance

00:07:58.400 --> 00:08:01.259
 until we acquire possession of it.

00:08:02.199 --> 00:08:03.899
 Now there is a little bit of a risk

00:08:03.899 --> 00:08:06.800
 when you hear the word sealed by the Holy Spirit,

00:08:07.139 --> 00:08:09.800
 you start thinking like silicone caulk

00:08:09.800 --> 00:08:12.240
 and kind of doing kind of window work

00:08:12.240 --> 00:08:14.699
 or kind of sealing your kitchen sink

00:08:14.699 --> 00:08:16.680
 onto your kind of cabinet top.

00:08:16.819 --> 00:08:19.019
 That's not the kind of sealing we're talking about.

00:08:19.699 --> 00:08:23.000
 What we're talking about is a signet ring sealing

00:08:23.000 --> 00:08:25.259
 from God Himself.

00:08:25.560 --> 00:08:27.939
 The Holy Spirit is sealing you,

00:08:28.300 --> 00:08:32.240
 marking you as belonging to the triune God.

00:08:32.360 --> 00:08:33.139
 You're His.

00:08:33.139 --> 00:08:35.159
 And so it's a guarantee

00:08:35.159 --> 00:08:38.019
 that we are His possession,

00:08:38.419 --> 00:08:39.539
 that we belong to Him.

00:08:39.819 --> 00:08:43.000
 And that guarantees not only who we belong to,

00:08:43.559 --> 00:08:46.120
 but it guarantees the inheritance to come.

00:08:46.199 --> 00:08:47.620
 And that's the work of the Holy Spirit.

00:08:48.100 --> 00:08:49.500
 So what the Holy Spirit is doing,

00:08:49.879 --> 00:08:51.679
 the Holy Spirit is applying

00:08:51.679 --> 00:08:54.159
 the finished work of Christ,

00:08:54.240 --> 00:08:55.080
 that Christ accomplished,

00:08:56.080 --> 00:08:58.360
 to us in order to fulfill

00:08:58.360 --> 00:08:59.799
 what God His Father has ordained.

00:08:59.799 --> 00:09:04.099
 So it is a whole kind of triune working of salvation.

00:09:04.240 --> 00:09:06.000
 This plan, it's a triune plan.

00:09:06.059 --> 00:09:06.500
 You see it?

00:09:08.000 --> 00:09:08.699
 Is there a little amen?

00:09:10.279 --> 00:09:10.620
 Okay.

00:09:10.979 --> 00:09:11.939
 Who likes jazz?

00:09:13.959 --> 00:09:14.699
 All right.

00:09:14.899 --> 00:09:16.359
 Imagine a jazz trio.

00:09:16.819 --> 00:09:18.259
 Joodle-le-peep-ba-peep.

00:09:18.439 --> 00:09:20.299
 A saxophonist like Ryan Cook's.

00:09:20.539 --> 00:09:22.139
 Wee-da-peep-beep.

00:09:22.299 --> 00:09:22.799
 Wee-da-peep-beep.

00:09:23.519 --> 00:09:26.139
 And then you have a guy on the drums.

00:09:26.259 --> 00:09:27.799
 T-t-t-pa-te-te-te-peep-erp.

00:09:27.799 --> 00:09:29.019
 And then you have a guy on the bass.

00:09:29.120 --> 00:09:30.199
 B-ga-jig-a-de-ba-ga-jig-a-doo.

00:09:30.740 --> 00:09:33.579
 And so these three musicians

00:09:33.579 --> 00:09:35.159
 are working together,

00:09:36.359 --> 00:09:38.079
 bringing about jazz music.

00:09:38.079 --> 00:09:40.419
 The thing about jazz music is it's spontaneous.

00:09:41.539 --> 00:09:43.399
 The working of the triune God

00:09:43.399 --> 00:09:45.859
 is a plan that was established

00:09:45.859 --> 00:09:47.359
 before the foundation of the world.

00:09:48.339 --> 00:09:50.719
 And they are working together in harmony

00:09:50.719 --> 00:09:53.019
 in order to bring about

00:09:53.019 --> 00:09:55.779
 the rescuing of sinners

00:09:55.779 --> 00:09:57.899
 for the glory of God.

00:09:58.019 --> 00:10:01.500
 It is music to our souls.

00:10:02.439 --> 00:10:03.620
 This is the good news.

00:10:04.419 --> 00:10:05.559
 This is gospel good.

00:10:06.019 --> 00:10:09.220
 So we start with this big plan of God, right?

00:10:09.360 --> 00:10:11.679
 This God's plan for the fullness of time.

00:10:11.799 --> 00:10:12.879
 And the first thing you need to do,

00:10:13.039 --> 00:10:14.740
 it's a triune plan.

00:10:15.799 --> 00:10:16.059
 All right.

00:10:16.859 --> 00:10:17.299
 Second.

00:10:17.879 --> 00:10:18.199
 Second.

00:10:20.099 --> 00:10:21.679
 I need you to turn now.

00:10:21.899 --> 00:10:22.979
 Oh, I should have told you this.

00:10:23.799 --> 00:10:25.159
 I'm sorry to do this to you.

00:10:25.879 --> 00:10:26.799
 You're going to want to make sure

00:10:26.799 --> 00:10:27.619
 this is sideways.

00:10:31.339 --> 00:10:31.739
 Yes.

00:10:34.379 --> 00:10:37.099
 So I don't want you to, like,

00:10:37.339 --> 00:10:39.559
 cross out the Trinity in a bad way.

00:10:40.079 --> 00:10:41.500
 But think about this

00:10:41.500 --> 00:10:43.359
 as the triune God up here.

00:10:43.559 --> 00:10:44.619
 And now I'm going to have you

00:10:44.619 --> 00:10:46.799
 put an arrow like this.

00:10:47.179 --> 00:10:48.879
 You want to leave room on either side.

00:10:49.479 --> 00:10:49.699
 Okay?

00:10:49.879 --> 00:10:52.879
 So the second feature

00:10:52.879 --> 00:10:54.519
 is that this is a big plan.

00:10:58.619 --> 00:11:01.019
 And do a big arrow like that.

00:11:01.439 --> 00:11:04.539
 Sorry about messing up your diagram.

00:11:04.539 --> 00:11:10.379
 Now when I draw a picture like that

00:11:10.379 --> 00:11:11.419
 and say it's a big plan,

00:11:12.059 --> 00:11:13.740
 you say how big is it?

00:11:13.799 --> 00:11:14.399
 It's a big plan.

00:11:16.360 --> 00:11:18.099
 It's a God-sized big plan.

00:11:18.759 --> 00:11:20.980
 It's not a Mike-sized big plan.

00:11:21.759 --> 00:11:23.919
 It's a God-sized big plan.

00:11:24.579 --> 00:11:25.519
 This is a big plan.

00:11:26.099 --> 00:11:28.039
 And it's big in two ways.

00:11:28.799 --> 00:11:30.459
 Scope of it, it's all time.

00:11:30.579 --> 00:11:32.399
 And the scale of it is all things.

00:11:32.399 --> 00:11:35.220
 So it's scope and scale big.

00:11:35.519 --> 00:11:37.779
 Bigger than you, bigger than me.

00:11:37.939 --> 00:11:38.759
 And let me just show you

00:11:38.759 --> 00:11:41.220
 where I find that in Ephesians chapter 1.

00:11:41.299 --> 00:11:42.100
 It's in verse 10.

00:11:43.519 --> 00:11:44.740
 Nine, making known to us

00:11:44.740 --> 00:11:46.079
 the mystery of his will

00:11:46.079 --> 00:11:47.360
 according to his purpose

00:11:47.360 --> 00:11:49.259
 which he set forth in Christ

00:11:49.259 --> 00:11:52.279
 as a plan for the fullness of time.

00:11:52.860 --> 00:11:53.480
 All of time.

00:11:54.439 --> 00:11:56.480
 To unite all things in him.

00:11:57.139 --> 00:11:57.980
 In Christ.

00:11:59.679 --> 00:12:01.279
 Things in heaven and things on earth.

00:12:01.279 --> 00:12:03.240
 So this is a big plan.

00:12:04.439 --> 00:12:06.399
 And it's a big plan

00:12:06.399 --> 00:12:08.679
 in terms of scope and scale.

00:12:08.759 --> 00:12:09.740
 The fullness of time.

00:12:12.019 --> 00:12:14.299
 When you think of your time

00:12:14.299 --> 00:12:17.659
 like I was born in 1991.

00:12:19.659 --> 00:12:20.639
 It's a joke.

00:12:20.839 --> 00:12:23.079
 I was born in 71.

00:12:23.080 --> 00:12:29.100
 And I have a start date.

00:12:30.520 --> 00:12:32.060
 God and his plan

00:12:32.060 --> 00:12:33.120
 doesn't have a start date.

00:12:33.759 --> 00:12:34.379
 It is,

00:12:34.800 --> 00:12:36.680
 this plan is from eternity to eternity.

00:12:37.060 --> 00:12:38.360
 It's a big plan.

00:12:39.300 --> 00:12:44.500
 And it begins and ends with God.

00:12:45.080 --> 00:12:46.460
 And this plan,

00:12:46.780 --> 00:12:49.700
 it encapsulates all of human history.

00:12:49.700 --> 00:12:51.540
 And you can sum up human history

00:12:51.540 --> 00:12:52.580
 in three words.

00:12:53.379 --> 00:12:53.900
 Creation,

00:12:54.980 --> 00:12:56.000
 fall,

00:12:57.280 --> 00:12:57.800
 redemption,

00:13:00.180 --> 00:13:01.800
 consummation.

00:13:01.980 --> 00:13:04.140
 When God brings everything together

00:13:04.140 --> 00:13:04.640
 in the end.

00:13:05.460 --> 00:13:05.820
 Creation,

00:13:06.020 --> 00:13:06.180
 fall,

00:13:06.340 --> 00:13:06.600
 redemption,

00:13:06.800 --> 00:13:07.220
 consummation.

00:13:07.980 --> 00:13:10.540
 God's plan for the fullness of time

00:13:10.540 --> 00:13:11.720
 captures it all.

00:13:12.140 --> 00:13:13.560
 And so the whole Bible

00:13:13.560 --> 00:13:16.120
 captures God's plan

00:13:16.120 --> 00:13:17.500
 for the fullness of time

00:13:17.500 --> 00:13:19.519
 from Genesis to Revelation.

00:13:19.779 --> 00:13:21.659
 And so God's plan

00:13:21.659 --> 00:13:24.580
 to gather disciples for himself

00:13:24.580 --> 00:13:26.159
 for the glory of his name,

00:13:26.360 --> 00:13:28.360
 it's a big plan.

00:13:29.120 --> 00:13:29.840
 All time.

00:13:31.000 --> 00:13:31.799
 Eternity past,

00:13:31.940 --> 00:13:32.720
 eternity future,

00:13:33.200 --> 00:13:33.480
 creation,

00:13:33.639 --> 00:13:33.779
 fall,

00:13:33.879 --> 00:13:34.220
 redemption,

00:13:34.840 --> 00:13:35.399
 consummation.

00:13:35.659 --> 00:13:36.899
 And the scale of it

00:13:36.899 --> 00:13:38.879
 involves all things.

00:13:40.460 --> 00:13:43.100
 In heaven and on earth,

00:13:43.340 --> 00:13:44.100
 God has a plan

00:13:44.100 --> 00:13:45.279
 for all time

00:13:45.279 --> 00:13:46.600
 to unite all things.

00:13:47.240 --> 00:13:48.179
 That includes

00:13:48.179 --> 00:13:49.759
 all eight plus billion people

00:13:49.759 --> 00:13:50.620
 on the earth right now.

00:13:51.539 --> 00:13:53.279
 And God will be glorified

00:13:53.279 --> 00:13:55.759
 when a number

00:13:55.759 --> 00:13:57.319
 of those eight billion people

00:13:57.319 --> 00:13:58.639
 are worshiping him

00:13:58.639 --> 00:13:59.319
 for eternity.

00:13:59.980 --> 00:14:01.379
 And then he will also

00:14:01.379 --> 00:14:02.639
 be glorified

00:14:02.639 --> 00:14:04.059
 when a portion

00:14:04.059 --> 00:14:05.199
 of that eight billion people

00:14:05.199 --> 00:14:06.360
 on the planet right now

00:14:06.360 --> 00:14:08.220
 are under his torment,

00:14:08.379 --> 00:14:09.019
 under his wrath

00:14:09.019 --> 00:14:09.500
 for eternity.

00:14:09.659 --> 00:14:10.819
 God will be glorified

00:14:10.819 --> 00:14:11.860
 regardless.

00:14:12.779 --> 00:14:13.659
 He'll be exalted.

00:14:13.659 --> 00:14:15.919
 He'll be praised.

00:14:16.419 --> 00:14:17.159
 He'll be honored.

00:14:18.539 --> 00:14:19.819
 His justice will prevail.

00:14:20.959 --> 00:14:21.639
 And this idea

00:14:21.639 --> 00:14:22.799
 of uniting all things

00:14:22.799 --> 00:14:23.339
 in his name,

00:14:23.459 --> 00:14:24.279
 there's this sense

00:14:24.279 --> 00:14:26.899
 of bringing it together.

00:14:28.799 --> 00:14:30.000
 There being this sense

00:14:30.000 --> 00:14:31.459
 of reconciliation.

00:14:31.939 --> 00:14:32.679
 There being this sense

00:14:32.679 --> 00:14:33.559
 of full and final

00:14:33.559 --> 00:14:34.819
 and forever shalom.

00:14:35.500 --> 00:14:36.959
 Our relationship with God

00:14:36.959 --> 00:14:37.879
 and with ourselves

00:14:37.879 --> 00:14:39.480
 and each other

00:14:39.480 --> 00:14:41.120
 and with all of creation.

00:14:41.120 --> 00:14:44.139
 This plan ultimately

00:14:44.139 --> 00:14:46.440
 is aimed at bringing shalom

00:14:46.440 --> 00:14:47.919
 as far as the curse is found.

00:14:48.659 --> 00:14:50.200
 It's to unite all things

00:14:50.200 --> 00:14:51.480
 in him.

00:14:52.779 --> 00:14:54.519
 Now, when you think about

00:14:54.519 --> 00:14:56.200
 big plans for your life,

00:14:57.179 --> 00:14:58.080
 you might be thinking

00:14:58.080 --> 00:14:58.980
 marriage.

00:15:00.240 --> 00:15:00.860
 Our marriages

00:15:00.860 --> 00:15:02.720
 typically span decades.

00:15:03.720 --> 00:15:04.879
 You might be thinking

00:15:04.879 --> 00:15:07.039
 about raising children

00:15:07.039 --> 00:15:08.980
 because raising children

00:15:08.980 --> 00:15:11.399
 isn't just about 18 years.

00:15:11.539 --> 00:15:11.819
 We all,

00:15:12.099 --> 00:15:12.919
 if you're beyond that,

00:15:12.959 --> 00:15:13.439
 you know that.

00:15:14.519 --> 00:15:15.199
 And then there's

00:15:15.199 --> 00:15:16.679
 grandchildren, right?

00:15:18.039 --> 00:15:18.879
 Maybe you're thinking

00:15:18.879 --> 00:15:19.679
 about your career.

00:15:20.599 --> 00:15:22.319
 Your career will span decades.

00:15:23.699 --> 00:15:24.379
 Maybe you're thinking

00:15:24.379 --> 00:15:25.480
 about your retirement.

00:15:26.199 --> 00:15:27.860
 So when you hit that,

00:15:27.879 --> 00:15:28.219
 you know,

00:15:28.699 --> 00:15:30.039
 68, 70,

00:15:30.240 --> 00:15:31.500
 70-something mark,

00:15:31.579 --> 00:15:32.339
 you're able to say,

00:15:32.399 --> 00:15:32.679
 you know what,

00:15:32.679 --> 00:15:33.360
 we were saving

00:15:33.360 --> 00:15:34.459
 for the last 50 years

00:15:34.460 --> 00:15:35.019
 and we were just

00:15:35.019 --> 00:15:36.519
 putting away things

00:15:36.519 --> 00:15:37.900
 year after year after year

00:15:37.900 --> 00:15:40.100
 and over those five decades,

00:15:40.100 --> 00:15:41.240
 we just kind of built,

00:15:41.379 --> 00:15:42.560
 built, built our nest egg

00:15:42.560 --> 00:15:43.519
 and maybe you're

00:15:43.519 --> 00:15:44.340
 on the other side of it

00:15:44.340 --> 00:15:45.519
 in your retirement right now

00:15:45.519 --> 00:15:46.180
 and you're kind of like,

00:15:46.300 --> 00:15:47.240
 we're benefiting

00:15:47.240 --> 00:15:48.100
 from that saving

00:15:48.100 --> 00:15:48.820
 or you're like,

00:15:49.180 --> 00:15:50.200
 I'm doing my best

00:15:50.200 --> 00:15:51.560
 to catch up right now

00:15:51.560 --> 00:15:52.259
 or maybe you're like,

00:15:52.300 --> 00:15:53.100
 I'm not even thinking

00:15:53.100 --> 00:15:54.680
 about my retirement right now.

00:15:54.900 --> 00:15:55.700
 But what we can do

00:15:55.700 --> 00:15:58.020
 is we can frame our lives

00:15:58.020 --> 00:16:00.060
 around our retirements

00:16:00.060 --> 00:16:02.960
 but you got to understand

00:16:02.960 --> 00:16:04.980
 that's just a drop

00:16:04.980 --> 00:16:05.520
 in the bucket

00:16:05.520 --> 00:16:08.759
 compared to God's eternal plan

00:16:08.759 --> 00:16:09.720
 for the fullness of time.

00:16:11.160 --> 00:16:12.740
 It starts to beg the question,

00:16:12.879 --> 00:16:13.680
 who are you living for?

00:16:15.340 --> 00:16:18.960
 Are you living for your 70 to 80 years

00:16:18.960 --> 00:16:20.100
 or are you living in light

00:16:20.100 --> 00:16:20.980
 of eternity,

00:16:21.680 --> 00:16:23.140
 God's plan for the fullness of time?

00:16:23.139 --> 00:16:25.139
 Are you living in light

00:16:25.139 --> 00:16:27.460
 of not just the scope of all things

00:16:27.460 --> 00:16:29.299
 but the scale of all things?

00:16:30.740 --> 00:16:33.039
 Is that in your mindset?

00:16:34.319 --> 00:16:35.679
 And so what we're talking about here

00:16:35.679 --> 00:16:38.379
 is God's big plan

00:16:38.379 --> 00:16:40.779
 and it's way bigger than any of us.

00:16:42.279 --> 00:16:45.179
 We'll live 70, 80 years, maybe.

00:16:46.960 --> 00:16:50.379
 This plan has been happening,

00:16:50.539 --> 00:16:51.519
 unfolding before us

00:16:51.519 --> 00:16:54.360
 and it'll unfold after us.

00:16:55.860 --> 00:16:57.159
 Whose plan are you living for?

00:16:59.620 --> 00:17:01.939
 Whose plan is central

00:17:01.939 --> 00:17:03.439
 to your thinking

00:17:03.439 --> 00:17:05.480
 and organizing your life around?

00:17:06.539 --> 00:17:08.500
 So this is a big plan.

00:17:09.859 --> 00:17:11.059
 So, so far,

00:17:11.619 --> 00:17:13.279
 this plan of God

00:17:13.279 --> 00:17:14.480
 for the fullness of time

00:17:14.480 --> 00:17:15.980
 to gather from self-worshippers

00:17:15.980 --> 00:17:17.259
 for the glory of His name,

00:17:17.599 --> 00:17:19.079
 we've learned it's triune,

00:17:19.519 --> 00:17:20.639
 Father, Son, Holy Spirit,

00:17:20.640 --> 00:17:21.560
 and we learned

00:17:21.560 --> 00:17:23.880
 it is a big plan,

00:17:24.040 --> 00:17:25.960
 bigger than any one of us.

00:17:26.180 --> 00:17:27.180
 And that should cause us

00:17:27.180 --> 00:17:28.259
 to step back a little bit

00:17:28.259 --> 00:17:28.740
 and say,

00:17:29.200 --> 00:17:29.360
 whoa,

00:17:30.360 --> 00:17:33.640
 I'm not that big.

00:17:35.060 --> 00:17:37.020
 This is God-sized big,

00:17:37.140 --> 00:17:38.259
 not Mike-sized big,

00:17:38.600 --> 00:17:40.080
 not fill in your name

00:17:40.080 --> 00:17:40.980
 in the blank big.

00:17:41.240 --> 00:17:42.660
 It's bigger than you.

00:17:42.660 --> 00:17:43.620
 Okay,

00:17:43.620 --> 00:17:48.779
 the third distinctive feature

00:17:48.779 --> 00:17:50.840
 right here.

00:17:51.600 --> 00:17:52.019
 In fact,

00:17:52.420 --> 00:17:54.620
 this third distinctive feature

00:17:54.620 --> 00:17:55.980
 is so significant,

00:17:56.160 --> 00:17:57.500
 I think there are three people

00:17:57.500 --> 00:17:58.580
 in the room

00:17:58.580 --> 00:18:01.620
 who have this particular symbol

00:18:01.620 --> 00:18:02.820
 tattooed on their bodies.

00:18:03.720 --> 00:18:04.779
 Okay, so here it is.

00:18:04.779 --> 00:18:10.720
 This is a Christocentric plan.

00:18:13.519 --> 00:18:15.059
 In the middle of this plan

00:18:15.059 --> 00:18:16.399
 is Jesus.

00:18:17.279 --> 00:18:18.399
 So you see the J,

00:18:19.399 --> 00:18:20.619
 do you see the cross?

00:18:22.960 --> 00:18:25.259
 And this little arrow

00:18:25.259 --> 00:18:26.559
 is not a roof,

00:18:26.879 --> 00:18:28.339
 it points to the resurrection

00:18:28.339 --> 00:18:29.259
 of Jesus Christ.

00:18:29.660 --> 00:18:30.680
 So Jesus Christ,

00:18:30.879 --> 00:18:32.019
 crucified and raised.

00:18:32.019 --> 00:18:34.920
 This is a Christocentric,

00:18:35.180 --> 00:18:37.259
 gospel-centered plan

00:18:37.259 --> 00:18:39.599
 for the fullness of time.

00:18:39.960 --> 00:18:41.740
 We also know that Jesus,

00:18:42.240 --> 00:18:44.420
 we saw this in John 1,

00:18:44.440 --> 00:18:45.359
 1 through 3,

00:18:45.639 --> 00:18:47.819
 is the creator of all things.

00:18:48.139 --> 00:18:49.379
 And we also know that

00:18:49.379 --> 00:18:51.759
 in Matthew 25,

00:18:52.379 --> 00:18:55.559
 as well as in Revelation chapter 20,

00:18:56.119 --> 00:18:58.420
 it's Jesus who's going to be

00:18:58.420 --> 00:19:00.700
 the judge of all things.

00:19:00.700 --> 00:19:02.240
 And so this is a Christocentric plan.

00:19:04.960 --> 00:19:06.539
 And what I love about this

00:19:06.539 --> 00:19:08.039
 is how it gets carried out

00:19:08.039 --> 00:19:09.100
 in this passage

00:19:09.100 --> 00:19:10.259
 in Ephesians chapter 1.

00:19:11.700 --> 00:19:12.920
 It's a triune plan, yes,

00:19:13.920 --> 00:19:16.340
 but the focus is on Jesus.

00:19:17.200 --> 00:19:18.620
 Right now we are living

00:19:18.620 --> 00:19:20.740
 between the first advent of Jesus

00:19:20.740 --> 00:19:23.200
 and the second advent of Jesus.

00:19:23.460 --> 00:19:24.880
 We're living in between

00:19:24.880 --> 00:19:26.080
 here and here,

00:19:26.500 --> 00:19:28.319
 if you will.

00:19:28.319 --> 00:19:32.799
 in terms of a linear timeline.

00:19:34.919 --> 00:19:36.179
 In verse 7,

00:19:36.379 --> 00:19:37.000
 we read,

00:19:37.679 --> 00:19:38.099
 in Him,

00:19:38.419 --> 00:19:38.700
 Jesus,

00:19:38.939 --> 00:19:39.619
 we have redemption

00:19:39.619 --> 00:19:40.700
 through His,

00:19:41.019 --> 00:19:41.339
 Jesus,

00:19:41.919 --> 00:19:42.700
 Jesus' blood,

00:19:43.139 --> 00:19:43.720
 according to the riches

00:19:43.720 --> 00:19:44.379
 of His grace.

00:19:44.700 --> 00:19:46.319
 And if you keep going down,

00:19:47.159 --> 00:19:47.799
 you'll see

00:19:47.799 --> 00:19:49.460
 Him, Him, Him, Him,

00:19:49.460 --> 00:19:50.700
 Him, Him, Him, Him, Him,

00:19:51.099 --> 00:19:52.819
 Him, Him, Him, Him, Him, Him.

00:19:52.819 --> 00:19:55.960
 In verses 3, 4, and 5,

00:19:56.039 --> 00:19:57.819
 there's a lot of hymns.

00:19:59.419 --> 00:20:01.299
 Even as He chose us in Him

00:20:01.299 --> 00:20:03.519
 before the foundation of the world.

00:20:04.179 --> 00:20:04.519
 In love,

00:20:04.579 --> 00:20:05.679
 He predestined us for adoption

00:20:05.679 --> 00:20:07.159
 to Himself as sons

00:20:07.159 --> 00:20:08.000
 through Jesus Christ,

00:20:08.059 --> 00:20:08.679
 according to the purpose

00:20:08.679 --> 00:20:09.179
 of His will,

00:20:09.500 --> 00:20:10.419
 to the praise of His glory

00:20:10.419 --> 00:20:10.859
 of grace,

00:20:10.939 --> 00:20:12.399
 which He has blessed us

00:20:12.399 --> 00:20:13.059
 in the beloved,

00:20:13.240 --> 00:20:13.960
 in Him,

00:20:14.720 --> 00:20:15.819
 which He lavished upon us.

00:20:15.899 --> 00:20:16.519
 Verse 8,

00:20:16.779 --> 00:20:17.720
 in all wisdom and light,

00:20:17.799 --> 00:20:18.679
 making known to us

00:20:18.679 --> 00:20:19.619
 the mystery of His will,

00:20:19.679 --> 00:20:20.539
 according to His purpose,

00:20:20.539 --> 00:20:22.299
 which He sent forth in Christ

00:20:22.299 --> 00:20:23.559
 in a plan for the fullness of time

00:20:23.559 --> 00:20:25.299
 to unite all things in Him,

00:20:25.539 --> 00:20:26.180
 Jesus Christ,

00:20:26.259 --> 00:20:28.039
 to unite all things in Him.

00:20:28.740 --> 00:20:29.299
 In Him,

00:20:29.379 --> 00:20:30.539
 we have obtained an inheritance.

00:20:30.759 --> 00:20:31.359
 That's 11.

00:20:31.960 --> 00:20:33.019
 That's Jesus' hymn.

00:20:34.500 --> 00:20:36.180
 So this is just full

00:20:36.180 --> 00:20:38.420
 of references to Jesus.

00:20:38.940 --> 00:20:40.180
 7, 3, 4, and 5,

00:20:40.259 --> 00:20:41.339
 there's a number of them.

00:20:41.680 --> 00:20:42.579
 Verse 9, verse 10,

00:20:42.659 --> 00:20:43.740
 verse 11, verse 12,

00:20:44.059 --> 00:20:44.759
 verse 13,

00:20:44.899 --> 00:20:45.920
 in Him, in Him, in Him, in Him.

00:20:46.480 --> 00:20:47.859
 So this redemption,

00:20:47.859 --> 00:20:52.039
 that this whole plan is about

00:20:52.039 --> 00:20:54.459
 is accomplished

00:20:54.459 --> 00:20:56.179
 through Jesus Christ,

00:20:56.859 --> 00:20:58.079
 through His death

00:20:58.079 --> 00:20:59.740
 and through His resurrection.

00:21:01.119 --> 00:21:03.039
 Jesus is the hero

00:21:03.039 --> 00:21:06.299
 of God's story

00:21:06.299 --> 00:21:09.119
 for the fullness of time.

00:21:11.619 --> 00:21:12.839
 In Luke 24,

00:21:13.379 --> 00:21:14.599
 after Jesus has been raised

00:21:14.599 --> 00:21:15.219
 from the dead,

00:21:15.220 --> 00:21:18.900
 He appears to two different groups

00:21:18.900 --> 00:21:19.720
 of His disciples.

00:21:20.700 --> 00:21:21.680
 And on both occasions,

00:21:21.680 --> 00:21:22.539
 it's really interesting

00:21:22.539 --> 00:21:23.279
 what He tells them.

00:21:24.259 --> 00:21:25.900
 He tells both of them,

00:21:26.259 --> 00:21:27.720
 both sets, both situations,

00:21:29.100 --> 00:21:32.279
 that His coming,

00:21:32.460 --> 00:21:33.240
 that His death

00:21:33.240 --> 00:21:34.660
 and His resurrection,

00:21:35.720 --> 00:21:37.400
 they were in the fulfillment

00:21:37.400 --> 00:21:41.019
 of these full

00:21:41.019 --> 00:21:42.280
 and frequent

00:21:42.280 --> 00:21:43.720
 Old Testament passages

00:21:43.720 --> 00:21:44.460
 anticipating

00:21:44.460 --> 00:21:46.400
 the Messiah to come.

00:21:47.060 --> 00:21:48.620
 That what He was saying

00:21:48.620 --> 00:21:49.860
 is that the Old Testament

00:21:49.860 --> 00:21:51.280
 was pointing to Him

00:21:51.280 --> 00:21:52.320
 in very specific,

00:21:52.900 --> 00:21:53.240
 unique,

00:21:53.440 --> 00:21:54.759
 and frequent ways,

00:21:55.180 --> 00:21:56.280
 and not just to Him,

00:21:56.540 --> 00:21:57.300
 to His death

00:21:57.300 --> 00:21:58.220
 and His resurrection.

00:21:58.700 --> 00:21:59.640
 And so what Jesus says

00:21:59.640 --> 00:22:00.380
 in Luke 24

00:22:00.380 --> 00:22:02.540
 is a Christocentric

00:22:02.540 --> 00:22:03.720
 understanding

00:22:03.720 --> 00:22:04.920
 of the Old Testament.

00:22:04.920 --> 00:22:06.360
 that the Old Testament,

00:22:06.519 --> 00:22:08.039
 many very unique

00:22:08.039 --> 00:22:08.820
 and frequent ways

00:22:08.820 --> 00:22:09.800
 are pointing to Him.

00:22:10.900 --> 00:22:12.080
 And so what this means

00:22:12.080 --> 00:22:13.820
 is that our Bibles,

00:22:14.300 --> 00:22:15.320
 all of it,

00:22:15.600 --> 00:22:16.600
 is some way,

00:22:16.800 --> 00:22:17.440
 somehow,

00:22:17.940 --> 00:22:19.779
 pointing to Jesus Christ

00:22:19.779 --> 00:22:21.259
 because He is

00:22:21.259 --> 00:22:23.620
 the center of God's plan

00:22:23.620 --> 00:22:25.160
 for the fullness of time,

00:22:25.259 --> 00:22:26.100
 His plan of salvation.

00:22:26.560 --> 00:22:27.380
 He's the hero

00:22:27.380 --> 00:22:29.680
 of God's story.

00:22:30.660 --> 00:22:31.860
 When we read in 10,

00:22:31.960 --> 00:22:32.840
 as a plan for the fullness

00:22:32.839 --> 00:22:33.740
 of time to unite

00:22:33.740 --> 00:22:35.199
 all things in Him,

00:22:35.279 --> 00:22:37.179
 it's the Christ,

00:22:37.379 --> 00:22:37.639
 Jesus,

00:22:37.819 --> 00:22:40.419
 who is the shalom maker

00:22:40.419 --> 00:22:41.459
 on earth.

00:22:41.659 --> 00:22:42.879
 He's the unifier

00:22:42.879 --> 00:22:44.779
 of all things.

00:22:44.959 --> 00:22:46.799
 He brings it all together.

00:22:47.419 --> 00:22:48.079
 God's plan

00:22:48.079 --> 00:22:49.599
 of salvation

00:22:49.599 --> 00:22:51.419
 centers on the person

00:22:51.419 --> 00:22:53.099
 and work of Jesus Christ

00:22:53.099 --> 00:22:54.379
 to accomplish it.

00:22:55.259 --> 00:22:56.099
 That's why we call it

00:22:56.099 --> 00:22:56.720
 Christocentric.

00:22:57.939 --> 00:22:58.879
 Christ-centered.

00:23:00.359 --> 00:23:02.659
 Jesus is the controlling center,

00:23:02.839 --> 00:23:04.240
 of God's plan

00:23:04.240 --> 00:23:05.699
 for the fullness of time.

00:23:06.379 --> 00:23:07.240
 That's why He becomes

00:23:07.240 --> 00:23:08.339
 our controlling center

00:23:08.339 --> 00:23:09.759
 when we become Christians,

00:23:09.879 --> 00:23:10.779
 when we become followers

00:23:10.779 --> 00:23:11.259
 of Him.

00:23:13.939 --> 00:23:15.059
 This is good news.

00:23:17.279 --> 00:23:19.939
 This is what happens.

00:23:21.519 --> 00:23:23.259
 This is what's been happening,

00:23:23.519 --> 00:23:24.579
 whether you've been conscious

00:23:24.579 --> 00:23:25.659
 of it or not.

00:23:26.000 --> 00:23:27.119
 God has this plan

00:23:27.119 --> 00:23:28.359
 for the fullness of time,

00:23:28.559 --> 00:23:30.519
 and Jesus is at the center of it.

00:23:30.519 --> 00:23:32.139
 You know,

00:23:32.680 --> 00:23:33.619
 in pretty much

00:23:33.619 --> 00:23:34.539
 every organization,

00:23:34.660 --> 00:23:35.299
 you think about

00:23:35.299 --> 00:23:36.639
 a football team,

00:23:36.720 --> 00:23:38.059
 football teams have quarterbacks,

00:23:39.519 --> 00:23:42.039
 orchestras have a lead chair,

00:23:43.200 --> 00:23:43.940
 a first chair,

00:23:44.299 --> 00:23:45.019
 theater has,

00:23:45.359 --> 00:23:47.200
 they have a lead actor

00:23:47.200 --> 00:23:48.099
 or actress,

00:23:48.579 --> 00:23:49.879
 a business has a CEO,

00:23:50.759 --> 00:23:52.599
 and so all of these organizations,

00:23:52.839 --> 00:23:54.359
 you have a leader.

00:23:54.359 --> 00:23:56.459
 And then we,

00:23:56.539 --> 00:23:57.519
 we as a culture,

00:23:57.619 --> 00:23:58.939
 we love our superheroes,

00:23:59.119 --> 00:23:59.500
 don't we?

00:24:00.199 --> 00:24:01.799
 We love Superman,

00:24:02.219 --> 00:24:02.559
 Batman,

00:24:02.859 --> 00:24:03.399
 and Wonder Woman.

00:24:04.240 --> 00:24:06.139
 I'm personally a big Aquaman fan.

00:24:07.500 --> 00:24:08.919
 We love our superheroes.

00:24:11.139 --> 00:24:12.579
 There's a reason why

00:24:12.579 --> 00:24:14.539
 we have this thing in us

00:24:14.539 --> 00:24:18.259
 for a perfect human being

00:24:18.259 --> 00:24:20.059
 to save us.

00:24:20.059 --> 00:24:22.879
 And Jesus is better

00:24:22.879 --> 00:24:23.919
 than any superhero.

00:24:24.759 --> 00:24:25.960
 He is the hero of heroes

00:24:25.960 --> 00:24:28.259
 because he's 100% man,

00:24:28.339 --> 00:24:29.319
 100% God,

00:24:29.559 --> 00:24:31.119
 and he has never sinned.

00:24:31.159 --> 00:24:32.240
 He has no weaknesses.

00:24:33.019 --> 00:24:34.899
 There's no kryptonite for Jesus.

00:24:36.339 --> 00:24:38.419
 He is all glorious

00:24:38.419 --> 00:24:39.379
 and all powerful.

00:24:39.579 --> 00:24:41.200
 He is the hero,

00:24:41.700 --> 00:24:44.099
 the center of God's plan

00:24:44.099 --> 00:24:45.319
 for the fullness of time.

00:24:45.740 --> 00:24:48.240
 This is a Christocentric plan.

00:24:48.240 --> 00:24:49.500
 So it's a big plan.

00:24:49.920 --> 00:24:52.299
 It's Christocentric.

00:24:53.420 --> 00:24:54.339
 Okay, everybody,

00:24:54.500 --> 00:24:54.960
 how are you doing

00:24:54.960 --> 00:24:55.759
 on your diagram?

00:24:55.880 --> 00:24:56.579
 So far, so good?

00:24:57.539 --> 00:24:58.120
 All right.

00:24:58.180 --> 00:24:59.180
 Do I have some good artwork

00:24:59.180 --> 00:25:00.740
 coming from my office?

00:25:01.559 --> 00:25:02.500
 I hope so.

00:25:02.640 --> 00:25:02.839
 Okay.

00:25:03.940 --> 00:25:05.880
 Okay, so we've moved this way.

00:25:06.940 --> 00:25:08.200
 This Christocentric plan,

00:25:08.279 --> 00:25:09.220
 what it does is

00:25:09.220 --> 00:25:11.019
 it changes people.

00:25:12.259 --> 00:25:14.299
 And so the fourth

00:25:14.299 --> 00:25:21.159
 distinctive feature

00:25:21.159 --> 00:25:22.119
 is that this is

00:25:22.119 --> 00:25:25.720
 a disciple-making plan.

00:25:26.519 --> 00:25:28.259
 It's a people-moving plan.

00:25:29.059 --> 00:25:30.940
 It's a Matthew 16, 18

00:25:30.940 --> 00:25:33.180
 church-building plan

00:25:33.180 --> 00:25:34.240
 in the words of Jesus.

00:25:35.079 --> 00:25:37.639
 And so it's moving people

00:25:37.639 --> 00:25:40.059
 from one domain

00:25:40.059 --> 00:25:41.419
 into another domain.

00:25:41.420 --> 00:25:43.039
 It's a movement

00:25:43.039 --> 00:25:44.779
 from eternity to eternity.

00:25:45.500 --> 00:25:46.160
 And so let me try

00:25:46.160 --> 00:25:48.320
 to illustrate that for you.

00:25:48.880 --> 00:25:50.019
 I'm grounding this,

00:25:50.160 --> 00:25:50.620
 by the way,

00:25:50.900 --> 00:25:51.800
 in a word.

00:25:53.539 --> 00:25:54.759
 It's the word we

00:25:54.759 --> 00:25:56.000
 in verse three.

00:25:56.740 --> 00:25:57.460
 Blessed be the God

00:25:57.460 --> 00:25:57.800
 and Father

00:25:57.800 --> 00:25:58.920
 of our Lord Jesus Christ

00:25:58.920 --> 00:26:00.120
 who has blessed us,

00:26:00.759 --> 00:26:01.940
 it's actually the word us,

00:26:02.060 --> 00:26:02.519
 in Christ

00:26:02.519 --> 00:26:03.960
 with every spiritual blessing

00:26:03.960 --> 00:26:04.860
 in the heavenly places.

00:26:04.860 --> 00:26:05.259
 You see,

00:26:06.240 --> 00:26:07.259
 we who are blessed

00:26:07.259 --> 00:26:08.400
 in Christ

00:26:08.400 --> 00:26:09.220
 were once

00:26:09.220 --> 00:26:10.700
 under God's curse.

00:26:10.700 --> 00:26:13.039
 and that dramatically

00:26:13.039 --> 00:26:14.100
 changed because of

00:26:14.100 --> 00:26:15.100
 what Jesus has done.

00:26:15.759 --> 00:26:17.460
 So here's the disciple-making,

00:26:17.620 --> 00:26:18.559
 people-moving plan.

00:26:19.600 --> 00:26:20.160
 Before,

00:26:20.580 --> 00:26:22.140
 we became aware

00:26:22.140 --> 00:26:22.920
 of who Jesus is

00:26:22.920 --> 00:26:23.980
 and what he's done for us.

00:26:24.400 --> 00:26:25.380
 We are living

00:26:25.380 --> 00:26:26.700
 in the DOD,

00:26:28.100 --> 00:26:29.640
 not the Department of Defense,

00:26:30.740 --> 00:26:32.200
 the domain of darkness,

00:26:32.420 --> 00:26:33.299
 Colossians 1, 13.

00:26:33.840 --> 00:26:34.180
 Okay?

00:26:34.180 --> 00:26:38.640
 And we were running.

00:26:39.640 --> 00:26:41.360
 This is very powerful

00:26:41.360 --> 00:26:42.460
 artistry right here.

00:26:43.500 --> 00:26:45.220
 We were running

00:26:45.220 --> 00:26:48.940
 not to God

00:26:48.940 --> 00:26:50.060
 but away from him.

00:26:50.900 --> 00:26:52.700
 And the Bible describes this

00:26:52.700 --> 00:26:53.660
 as living in darkness.

00:26:55.759 --> 00:26:56.320
 We were,

00:26:56.640 --> 00:26:57.400
 Ephesians 2,

00:26:57.519 --> 00:26:59.660
 1 through 3,

00:26:59.940 --> 00:27:00.920
 we were dead

00:27:00.920 --> 00:27:01.759
 in our trespasses

00:27:01.759 --> 00:27:02.359
 and sins.

00:27:02.480 --> 00:27:03.339
 We were following

00:27:03.339 --> 00:27:04.099
 the prince of the power

00:27:04.099 --> 00:27:04.539
 of the air.

00:27:04.839 --> 00:27:06.480
 We were children of wrath

00:27:06.480 --> 00:27:07.579
 just like everybody else.

00:27:07.960 --> 00:27:08.759
 We were dead

00:27:08.759 --> 00:27:09.599
 in our sins.

00:27:10.440 --> 00:27:11.579
 We had no desire

00:27:11.579 --> 00:27:12.519
 to live for God.

00:27:13.140 --> 00:27:13.539
 In fact,

00:27:13.799 --> 00:27:14.700
 before you became

00:27:14.700 --> 00:27:15.079
 a Christian,

00:27:15.319 --> 00:27:17.119
 if you wanted God,

00:27:17.379 --> 00:27:18.099
 it was usually

00:27:18.099 --> 00:27:19.799
 because you were trying

00:27:19.799 --> 00:27:20.599
 to use God

00:27:20.599 --> 00:27:21.720
 for yourself.

00:27:22.240 --> 00:27:23.640
 And so we were all living

00:27:23.640 --> 00:27:24.500
 in the domain

00:27:24.500 --> 00:27:25.240
 of darkness

00:27:25.240 --> 00:27:26.960
 and we were dead

00:27:26.960 --> 00:27:27.500
 in our sins.

00:27:27.660 --> 00:27:27.920
 We were,

00:27:28.059 --> 00:27:28.700
 at this point,

00:27:28.700 --> 00:27:30.500
 underneath the wrath

00:27:30.500 --> 00:27:31.840
 of the triune God

00:27:31.840 --> 00:27:33.000
 justly.

00:27:34.000 --> 00:27:35.580
 And then something happened.

00:27:37.019 --> 00:27:37.380
 And so,

00:27:37.759 --> 00:27:38.920
 this disciple making

00:27:38.920 --> 00:27:41.360
 is a,

00:27:43.259 --> 00:27:45.299
 not bigger than God.

00:27:45.460 --> 00:27:46.980
 God is bigger than this.

00:27:47.460 --> 00:27:48.900
 And what God does

00:27:48.900 --> 00:27:51.440
 is he brings people

00:27:51.440 --> 00:27:53.340
 from the domain

00:27:53.340 --> 00:27:53.900
 of darkness.

00:27:54.100 --> 00:27:55.580
 He calls them to himself

00:27:55.579 --> 00:27:56.399
 through Christ,

00:27:57.460 --> 00:27:58.919
 Holy Spirit drawing them,

00:27:59.819 --> 00:28:01.599
 and he flips them.

00:28:03.759 --> 00:28:06.019
 He repose them.

00:28:07.619 --> 00:28:09.279
 He transforms them.

00:28:09.399 --> 00:28:11.939
 He gives them new life.

00:28:13.099 --> 00:28:13.579
 And now,

00:28:13.859 --> 00:28:16.079
 instead of living

00:28:16.079 --> 00:28:18.099
 apart from God

00:28:18.099 --> 00:28:19.559
 and running away from him,

00:28:20.039 --> 00:28:21.119
 God in his grace

00:28:21.119 --> 00:28:22.199
 calls us to him

00:28:22.199 --> 00:28:23.039
 through Christ,

00:28:23.039 --> 00:28:23.099
 Christ,

00:28:23.500 --> 00:28:25.259
 and because of Christ's

00:28:25.259 --> 00:28:26.460
 finished work,

00:28:27.299 --> 00:28:28.980
 he radically changes us

00:28:28.980 --> 00:28:29.440
 from within.

00:28:30.299 --> 00:28:31.359
 He gives us new hearts

00:28:31.359 --> 00:28:33.539
 that actually want

00:28:33.539 --> 00:28:34.559
 to live for God now.

00:28:35.519 --> 00:28:37.180
 And he makes us,

00:28:37.220 --> 00:28:38.639
 he gives us new life.

00:28:39.700 --> 00:28:41.079
 And it's by believing

00:28:41.079 --> 00:28:43.220
 in the person and work

00:28:43.220 --> 00:28:43.920
 of Jesus Christ.

00:28:43.960 --> 00:28:45.000
 That's the only way

00:28:45.000 --> 00:28:46.059
 you go from living

00:28:46.059 --> 00:28:46.579
 in darkness

00:28:46.579 --> 00:28:47.639
 to being brought

00:28:47.639 --> 00:28:48.180
 into the kingdom

00:28:48.180 --> 00:28:49.059
 of the beloved son.

00:28:49.299 --> 00:28:51.079
 It's simply by trusting

00:28:51.079 --> 00:28:53.039
 in the person and work

00:28:53.039 --> 00:28:53.799
 of Jesus Christ.

00:28:53.899 --> 00:28:54.859
 That's all that it is.

00:28:55.419 --> 00:28:56.119
 It's a gift.

00:28:57.240 --> 00:28:58.419
 You don't work for it.

00:28:58.439 --> 00:28:59.079
 You can't.

00:28:59.599 --> 00:29:00.559
 It's by faith.

00:29:01.379 --> 00:29:02.839
 And the moment that happens,

00:29:03.500 --> 00:29:05.139
 you're a new creation.

00:29:06.500 --> 00:29:07.419
 You've been changed.

00:29:07.519 --> 00:29:08.099
 You've been flipped.

00:29:09.199 --> 00:29:09.480
 Now,

00:29:09.919 --> 00:29:12.039
 in another kind of presentation

00:29:12.039 --> 00:29:12.720
 I do,

00:29:13.319 --> 00:29:14.720
 I talk about this

00:29:14.720 --> 00:29:16.559
 as the Copernican revolution

00:29:16.559 --> 00:29:17.220
 of the soul.

00:29:17.220 --> 00:29:21.720
 We were once believers

00:29:21.720 --> 00:29:23.660
 like in the old days

00:29:23.660 --> 00:29:25.539
 when people thought

00:29:25.539 --> 00:29:28.539
 that instead of the earth

00:29:28.539 --> 00:29:29.519
 orbiting the sun,

00:29:29.660 --> 00:29:31.460
 people thought the sun

00:29:31.460 --> 00:29:32.420
 orbited the earth.

00:29:33.160 --> 00:29:35.039
 It was a geocentric view

00:29:35.039 --> 00:29:36.120
 of the solar system.

00:29:36.620 --> 00:29:37.640
 But Copernicus helped us

00:29:37.640 --> 00:29:38.720
 realize that we live

00:29:38.720 --> 00:29:41.700
 in a heliocentric solar system,

00:29:41.819 --> 00:29:42.660
 that the earth actually

00:29:42.660 --> 00:29:43.539
 orbits the sun.

00:29:44.140 --> 00:29:45.880
 And what happens here is

00:29:45.880 --> 00:29:47.480
 when we're living this way,

00:29:47.640 --> 00:29:48.880
 we think that all things

00:29:48.880 --> 00:29:49.560
 orbit us,

00:29:49.940 --> 00:29:50.680
 that we're the center

00:29:50.680 --> 00:29:51.380
 of all things.

00:29:51.740 --> 00:29:52.780
 But praise be to God,

00:29:52.820 --> 00:29:53.720
 he gives us new eyes

00:29:53.720 --> 00:29:54.340
 and a new heart.

00:29:54.620 --> 00:29:55.180
 And now,

00:29:55.400 --> 00:29:56.860
 we have Jesus Christ

00:29:56.860 --> 00:29:58.060
 as the controlling center

00:29:58.060 --> 00:29:58.800
 of our lives.

00:29:59.160 --> 00:29:59.540
 And so,

00:29:59.820 --> 00:30:00.860
 this is what this means.

00:30:01.240 --> 00:30:02.020
 This is the part

00:30:02.020 --> 00:30:02.860
 of the illustration

00:30:02.860 --> 00:30:04.440
 I'm trying to develop

00:30:04.440 --> 00:30:05.360
 more for us.

00:30:06.040 --> 00:30:06.340
 And so,

00:30:06.400 --> 00:30:07.260
 here's what happens.

00:30:08.440 --> 00:30:10.480
 On this side of Jesus,

00:30:11.740 --> 00:30:12.920
 someone is living

00:30:12.920 --> 00:30:14.900
 with Jesus

00:30:14.900 --> 00:30:16.279
 as the controlling center

00:30:16.279 --> 00:30:17.019
 of their life.

00:30:17.720 --> 00:30:17.840
 So,

00:30:17.940 --> 00:30:19.740
 they're in Jesus' orbit now.

00:30:20.840 --> 00:30:21.960
 Jesus has always been

00:30:21.960 --> 00:30:22.440
 at the center.

00:30:23.200 --> 00:30:24.140
 It's just now that they are

00:30:24.140 --> 00:30:25.279
 actually functionally

00:30:25.279 --> 00:30:26.140
 trying to live that out.

00:30:26.800 --> 00:30:27.039
 Now,

00:30:27.080 --> 00:30:28.480
 when you have multiple people

00:30:28.480 --> 00:30:31.000
 living with Jesus

00:30:31.000 --> 00:30:31.860
 at the center

00:30:31.860 --> 00:30:32.900
 of their lives,

00:30:33.460 --> 00:30:35.080
 in the same time,

00:30:35.279 --> 00:30:36.140
 in the same place,

00:30:36.259 --> 00:30:37.180
 under the same leadership,

00:30:37.519 --> 00:30:38.360
 you've got a church.

00:30:39.359 --> 00:30:39.859
 So,

00:30:39.959 --> 00:30:40.740
 we are a people

00:30:40.740 --> 00:30:41.439
 with Jesus

00:30:41.439 --> 00:30:42.740
 as the controlling center

00:30:42.740 --> 00:30:44.039
 because we've been

00:30:44.039 --> 00:30:45.479
 flipped by Jesus.

00:30:45.639 --> 00:30:46.299
 We've been repoed

00:30:46.299 --> 00:30:46.859
 by Jesus

00:30:46.859 --> 00:30:48.339
 and placed together

00:30:48.339 --> 00:30:49.879
 by the living God.

00:30:50.939 --> 00:30:52.500
 I've been saying repo a lot.

00:30:52.679 --> 00:30:52.879
 Do you know

00:30:52.879 --> 00:30:54.379
 what a repo man is?

00:30:56.199 --> 00:30:57.839
 A repo man is someone

00:30:57.839 --> 00:30:59.019
 who's hired by a bank.

00:30:59.759 --> 00:31:00.459
 Let's say that

00:31:00.459 --> 00:31:01.519
 this has never happened

00:31:01.519 --> 00:31:01.959
 in the room,

00:31:02.019 --> 00:31:02.399
 I'm sure.

00:31:03.719 --> 00:31:04.659
 You fall behind

00:31:04.659 --> 00:31:05.119
 on your payments

00:31:05.119 --> 00:31:05.639
 for your car.

00:31:07.299 --> 00:31:07.919
 A repo man,

00:31:07.920 --> 00:31:08.640
 what he does is

00:31:08.640 --> 00:31:10.200
 he actually steals back

00:31:10.200 --> 00:31:10.660
 the car

00:31:10.660 --> 00:31:12.539
 because it belongs

00:31:12.539 --> 00:31:13.180
 to the bank.

00:31:14.660 --> 00:31:14.840
 You know,

00:31:15.000 --> 00:31:15.920
 you default

00:31:15.920 --> 00:31:17.779
 on your payments

00:31:17.779 --> 00:31:20.340
 and you get reclaimed

00:31:20.340 --> 00:31:22.200
 by the bank

00:31:22.200 --> 00:31:23.160
 and the bank

00:31:23.160 --> 00:31:24.320
 sends out the repo man.

00:31:26.320 --> 00:31:27.920
 Jesus is the great repo man.

00:31:28.640 --> 00:31:29.880
 You defaulted on God,

00:31:30.259 --> 00:31:31.060
 giving him the glory

00:31:31.060 --> 00:31:31.860
 that he deserved.

00:31:32.880 --> 00:31:33.519
 And so God,

00:31:33.680 --> 00:31:34.940
 in his love for you,

00:31:35.380 --> 00:31:37.180
 wanted you to be in,

00:31:37.180 --> 00:31:38.320
 right relationship

00:31:38.320 --> 00:31:38.600
 with him.

00:31:38.640 --> 00:31:39.420
 So he sent Jesus

00:31:39.420 --> 00:31:40.460
 to steal you back

00:31:40.460 --> 00:31:41.080
 to himself

00:31:41.080 --> 00:31:42.299
 out of his love

00:31:42.299 --> 00:31:42.700
 for you.

00:31:43.160 --> 00:31:43.980
 You got repoed.

00:31:44.759 --> 00:31:45.360
 If you're a Christian

00:31:45.360 --> 00:31:45.640
 in the room,

00:31:45.700 --> 00:31:46.340
 you got repoed.

00:31:47.380 --> 00:31:48.500
 Repoed by the risen

00:31:48.500 --> 00:31:49.420
 and reigning Christ.

00:31:49.799 --> 00:31:50.700
 And so now we live

00:31:50.700 --> 00:31:51.259
 for him

00:31:51.259 --> 00:31:52.640
 and we don't do

00:31:52.640 --> 00:31:53.299
 that individually.

00:31:53.640 --> 00:31:55.140
 We do that as a church

00:31:55.140 --> 00:31:57.000
 and we do that together,

00:31:57.100 --> 00:31:58.180
 together following

00:31:58.180 --> 00:31:59.120
 our repo man,

00:31:59.840 --> 00:32:00.140
 Jesus.

00:32:01.120 --> 00:32:02.200
 And so what we have here,

00:32:02.279 --> 00:32:03.799
 this people moving plan

00:32:03.799 --> 00:32:05.940
 is part of God's plan

00:32:05.940 --> 00:32:06.960
 for the fullness of time.

00:32:07.079 --> 00:32:09.019
 We are making disciples.

00:32:10.379 --> 00:32:13.019
 That's why Jesus commands us

00:32:13.019 --> 00:32:14.700
 to go make disciples

00:32:14.700 --> 00:32:15.839
 in Matthew 28.

00:32:16.980 --> 00:32:18.980
 It's not just an original idea.

00:32:20.259 --> 00:32:21.940
 It's him making a command

00:32:21.940 --> 00:32:22.779
 because this has been

00:32:22.779 --> 00:32:24.299
 God's plan all along

00:32:24.299 --> 00:32:26.299
 to go make disciples

00:32:26.299 --> 00:32:27.279
 of all nations,

00:32:27.799 --> 00:32:28.799
 to gather worshipers

00:32:29.440 --> 00:32:30.019
 for yourself.

00:32:30.019 --> 00:32:31.240
 So the question becomes,

00:32:31.920 --> 00:32:34.460
 are you aware of the plan?

00:32:36.539 --> 00:32:38.859
 Are you joining

00:32:38.859 --> 00:32:40.559
 in what God is doing

00:32:40.559 --> 00:32:42.240
 in moving people

00:32:42.240 --> 00:32:43.359
 from the domain of darkness

00:32:43.359 --> 00:32:44.200
 into the kingdom

00:32:44.200 --> 00:32:45.200
 of the beloved son?

00:32:45.639 --> 00:32:47.240
 Now this process here

00:32:47.240 --> 00:32:49.960
 is also called sanctification

00:32:49.960 --> 00:32:52.119
 of growing in Christlikeness

00:32:52.119 --> 00:32:52.859
 and we're all helping

00:32:52.859 --> 00:32:53.680
 each other do that.

00:32:54.539 --> 00:32:55.400
 But this is part

00:32:55.400 --> 00:32:56.900
 of discipleship.

00:32:57.059 --> 00:32:57.799
 This is all part

00:32:57.799 --> 00:32:59.859
 of following Jesus.

00:33:00.019 --> 00:33:02.619
 How are you presently

00:33:02.619 --> 00:33:03.500
 participating

00:33:03.500 --> 00:33:05.180
 in this aspect

00:33:05.180 --> 00:33:06.119
 of God's plan?

00:33:06.779 --> 00:33:07.519
 Right now,

00:33:08.000 --> 00:33:09.339
 how are you

00:33:09.339 --> 00:33:10.559
 participating

00:33:10.559 --> 00:33:12.879
 in moving people

00:33:12.879 --> 00:33:13.799
 towards Jesus?

00:33:14.900 --> 00:33:15.579
 It's a good question

00:33:15.579 --> 00:33:16.079
 to ask,

00:33:16.480 --> 00:33:17.579
 to reflect on,

00:33:18.259 --> 00:33:19.259
 and then to anticipate

00:33:19.259 --> 00:33:20.559
 for 2026.

00:33:22.480 --> 00:33:23.819
 So we've covered

00:33:23.819 --> 00:33:25.259
 four of the five.

00:33:25.660 --> 00:33:26.539
 Will you repeat after me?

00:33:26.980 --> 00:33:28.059
 Distinct feature number one

00:33:28.059 --> 00:33:30.519
 is a triune plan.

00:33:31.259 --> 00:33:32.279
 Distinct feature number two,

00:33:32.419 --> 00:33:34.179
 it's a big plan.

00:33:34.779 --> 00:33:35.460
 Number three,

00:33:35.579 --> 00:33:37.859
 it's a Christocentric plan.

00:33:38.279 --> 00:33:41.379
 Number four is a disciple-making plan.

00:33:41.879 --> 00:33:42.819
 And number five,

00:33:43.659 --> 00:33:45.019
 and this tends to be my favorite,

00:33:47.379 --> 00:33:49.799
 it's a glory plan.

00:33:51.799 --> 00:33:53.539
 You know how we were singing Gloria

00:33:53.539 --> 00:33:54.579
 just a little bit ago?

00:33:56.319 --> 00:33:57.680
 It's a glory plan.

00:33:58.779 --> 00:33:59.819
 This is really cool

00:33:59.819 --> 00:34:00.480
 in this passage.

00:34:02.799 --> 00:34:03.819
 Look at verse six.

00:34:05.559 --> 00:34:07.539
 To the praise of His glorious grace.

00:34:08.139 --> 00:34:09.900
 To the praise of God the Father,

00:34:09.980 --> 00:34:11.880
 the first person of the Trinity,

00:34:12.259 --> 00:34:13.440
 for ordaining salvation,

00:34:13.960 --> 00:34:16.279
 praise to His glorious grace.

00:34:16.280 --> 00:34:17.440
 You see the word glorious?

00:34:19.120 --> 00:34:19.560
 Now,

00:34:20.320 --> 00:34:21.840
 look at verse 12.

00:34:22.640 --> 00:34:24.060
 After talking about

00:34:24.060 --> 00:34:25.260
 the work of Jesus,

00:34:25.900 --> 00:34:26.940
 the second person of the Trinity,

00:34:27.400 --> 00:34:28.580
 so that we who are the first

00:34:28.580 --> 00:34:29.360
 to hope in Christ

00:34:29.360 --> 00:34:31.440
 might be to the praise

00:34:31.440 --> 00:34:32.040
 of His glory.

00:34:32.360 --> 00:34:33.700
 There's that word glory again,

00:34:34.300 --> 00:34:34.940
 but this time,

00:34:35.019 --> 00:34:35.860
 after referencing

00:34:35.860 --> 00:34:37.920
 the work of the second person

00:34:37.920 --> 00:34:38.360
 of the Trinity.

00:34:38.700 --> 00:34:39.040
 And then,

00:34:39.140 --> 00:34:40.740
 after referencing the work

00:34:40.740 --> 00:34:41.480
 of the third person

00:34:41.480 --> 00:34:42.040
 of the Trinity,

00:34:42.400 --> 00:34:43.200
 in verse 14,

00:34:43.740 --> 00:34:44.840
 to the praise of His glory.

00:34:44.840 --> 00:34:44.960
 Glory.

00:34:45.960 --> 00:34:46.480
 Glory.

00:34:47.880 --> 00:34:48.440
 Glory.

00:34:49.620 --> 00:34:51.559
 Glory is a wonderful word

00:34:51.559 --> 00:34:52.079
 in your Bible.

00:34:52.780 --> 00:34:54.059
 The Greek word is doxa,

00:34:54.220 --> 00:34:55.740
 D-O-X-A.

00:34:56.240 --> 00:34:58.380
 And the Hebrew word is kabod.

00:34:58.500 --> 00:34:59.059
 Just say it.

00:34:59.559 --> 00:34:59.980
 Kabod.

00:35:01.059 --> 00:35:01.720
 Doesn't it come up?

00:35:01.760 --> 00:35:02.019
 He said,

00:35:02.180 --> 00:35:02.900
 Kabod.

00:35:03.920 --> 00:35:04.480
 Now,

00:35:04.640 --> 00:35:05.300
 the word kabod

00:35:05.300 --> 00:35:06.019
 actually has,

00:35:06.140 --> 00:35:06.700
 as its root,

00:35:06.800 --> 00:35:07.460
 it means heavy.

00:35:08.120 --> 00:35:08.960
 It means weighty.

00:35:09.860 --> 00:35:10.200
 And so,

00:35:10.280 --> 00:35:11.500
 to give God

00:35:11.500 --> 00:35:12.620
 His kabod,

00:35:13.059 --> 00:35:13.800
 His weight,

00:35:13.800 --> 00:35:15.320
 is to give Him glory.

00:35:15.480 --> 00:35:16.360
 It's to give Him worship.

00:35:16.840 --> 00:35:17.820
 It's to recognize

00:35:17.820 --> 00:35:18.700
 who He is

00:35:18.700 --> 00:35:19.980
 and what He's doing.

00:35:20.200 --> 00:35:21.960
 It's to see His

00:35:21.960 --> 00:35:23.180
 kind of like

00:35:23.180 --> 00:35:25.060
 accumulative

00:35:25.060 --> 00:35:26.480
 kind of weight

00:35:26.480 --> 00:35:28.320
 and majesty

00:35:28.320 --> 00:35:29.880
 across all of who He is.

00:35:30.360 --> 00:35:30.880
 John Piper,

00:35:30.960 --> 00:35:31.360
 in his book,

00:35:31.480 --> 00:35:31.880
 Providence,

00:35:32.000 --> 00:35:32.780
 talks about

00:35:32.780 --> 00:35:33.920
 God's glory

00:35:33.920 --> 00:35:35.800
 as not a distinct feature

00:35:36.380 --> 00:35:37.640
 of His character,

00:35:37.639 --> 00:35:39.719
 but it is the

00:35:39.719 --> 00:35:41.519
 accumulative

00:35:41.519 --> 00:35:42.960
 kind of

00:35:42.960 --> 00:35:44.559
 effect

00:35:44.559 --> 00:35:46.440
 of all

00:35:46.440 --> 00:35:46.960
 of His

00:35:46.960 --> 00:35:47.920
 perfections

00:35:47.920 --> 00:35:48.599
 when they are

00:35:48.599 --> 00:35:49.839
 seen and valued.

00:35:50.819 --> 00:35:51.639
 It's when you

00:35:51.639 --> 00:35:52.400
 start to understand

00:35:52.400 --> 00:35:53.359
 that God is big

00:35:53.359 --> 00:35:53.920
 and He is

00:35:53.920 --> 00:35:54.739
 wonderful

00:35:54.739 --> 00:35:55.739
 and you start

00:35:55.739 --> 00:35:56.779
 understanding

00:35:56.779 --> 00:35:57.579
 these different

00:35:57.579 --> 00:35:58.059
 kind of

00:35:58.059 --> 00:35:59.000
 perfections

00:35:59.000 --> 00:35:59.759
 or characteristics

00:35:59.759 --> 00:36:00.339
 of God

00:36:00.339 --> 00:36:01.339
 and how He has

00:36:01.339 --> 00:36:01.940
 been acting

00:36:01.940 --> 00:36:02.759
 in human history

00:36:02.759 --> 00:36:04.119
 and in your history.

00:36:04.119 --> 00:36:05.539
 when you start

00:36:05.539 --> 00:36:06.799
 understanding

00:36:06.799 --> 00:36:07.839
 who God is

00:36:07.839 --> 00:36:08.699
 and what He's doing

00:36:08.699 --> 00:36:09.699
 and He's greater

00:36:09.699 --> 00:36:10.279
 than you,

00:36:11.279 --> 00:36:12.319
 you want to give Him

00:36:12.319 --> 00:36:13.179
 kabod.

00:36:13.920 --> 00:36:14.920
 You want to give Him

00:36:14.920 --> 00:36:15.400
 doxa.

00:36:16.179 --> 00:36:16.819
 You want to give Him

00:36:16.819 --> 00:36:17.339
 glory.

00:36:18.500 --> 00:36:19.679
 And when that glory

00:36:19.679 --> 00:36:20.699
 gets visibly

00:36:20.699 --> 00:36:21.619
 manifested,

00:36:22.480 --> 00:36:23.539
 it's spectacular.

00:36:24.659 --> 00:36:25.859
 It can be blinding.

00:36:27.199 --> 00:36:28.500
 It's about glory.

00:36:29.739 --> 00:36:30.599
 This plan

00:36:30.599 --> 00:36:31.599
 is a glory plan.

00:36:32.719 --> 00:36:33.539
 It's about making

00:36:33.539 --> 00:36:35.159
 worshipers.

00:36:36.460 --> 00:36:37.159
 The Westminster

00:36:37.159 --> 00:36:38.000
 Catechism

00:36:38.000 --> 00:36:38.900
 says it this way,

00:36:40.360 --> 00:36:40.920
 the chief end

00:36:40.920 --> 00:36:41.360
 of man

00:36:41.360 --> 00:36:42.219
 is to glorify

00:36:42.219 --> 00:36:42.719
 God

00:36:42.719 --> 00:36:44.440
 and enjoy

00:36:44.440 --> 00:36:44.920
 Him

00:36:44.920 --> 00:36:46.400
 forever.

00:36:48.159 --> 00:36:49.039
 Not to us,

00:36:49.099 --> 00:36:49.279
 O Lord,

00:36:49.340 --> 00:36:50.079
 not to us,

00:36:50.500 --> 00:36:51.960
 but to Your name

00:36:51.960 --> 00:36:52.659
 give kabod,

00:36:52.779 --> 00:36:53.400
 give glory

00:36:53.400 --> 00:36:54.539
 because of Your

00:36:54.539 --> 00:36:55.599
 steadfast love

00:36:55.599 --> 00:36:56.699
 and faithfulness.

00:36:58.460 --> 00:36:59.239
 We're seeing

00:36:59.239 --> 00:37:00.400
 God's glory a lot.

00:37:01.480 --> 00:37:02.099
 There's a reason

00:37:02.099 --> 00:37:02.440
 for that

00:37:02.440 --> 00:37:03.420
 because He is

00:37:03.420 --> 00:37:04.400
 majestic

00:37:04.400 --> 00:37:05.820
 and He is

00:37:05.820 --> 00:37:06.320
 wonderful.

00:37:07.400 --> 00:37:09.059
 This plan

00:37:09.059 --> 00:37:10.099
 for the fullness

00:37:10.099 --> 00:37:10.960
 of time

00:37:10.960 --> 00:37:12.659
 through Christ

00:37:12.659 --> 00:37:14.340
 delivers image

00:37:14.340 --> 00:37:14.980
 bearers who

00:37:14.980 --> 00:37:15.599
 are in the domain

00:37:15.599 --> 00:37:16.139
 of darkness

00:37:16.139 --> 00:37:17.320
 and transfers

00:37:17.320 --> 00:37:18.059
 them into the

00:37:18.059 --> 00:37:18.559
 kingdom of the

00:37:18.559 --> 00:37:19.240
 beloved Son

00:37:19.240 --> 00:37:19.900
 and it

00:37:19.900 --> 00:37:20.900
 results

00:37:20.900 --> 00:37:22.980
 in God's glory.

00:37:23.940 --> 00:37:24.539
 So let me try

00:37:24.539 --> 00:37:25.380
 to illustrate it

00:37:25.380 --> 00:37:26.320
 this way for you.

00:37:26.320 --> 00:37:29.600
 when you have

00:37:29.600 --> 00:37:32.600
 people who are

00:37:32.600 --> 00:37:33.559
 spiritually dead

00:37:33.559 --> 00:37:35.820
 made spiritually

00:37:35.820 --> 00:37:36.460
 alive,

00:37:36.940 --> 00:37:37.740
 their eternities

00:37:37.740 --> 00:37:38.460
 change,

00:37:39.120 --> 00:37:40.200
 you're populating.

00:37:42.280 --> 00:37:43.820
 You're populating

00:37:43.820 --> 00:37:44.220
 heaven

00:37:44.220 --> 00:37:46.180
 with worshipers.

00:37:46.179 --> 00:37:46.299
 believers.

00:37:48.960 --> 00:37:49.539
 And so right

00:37:49.539 --> 00:37:49.980
 now,

00:37:50.419 --> 00:37:51.339
 we know this

00:37:51.339 --> 00:37:52.239
 from Revelation

00:37:52.239 --> 00:37:53.599
 chapter 7,

00:37:53.799 --> 00:37:54.419
 all around

00:37:54.419 --> 00:37:55.179
 God's throne,

00:37:55.960 --> 00:37:56.379
 you have

00:37:56.379 --> 00:37:57.399
 myriads of

00:37:57.399 --> 00:37:58.099
 people from

00:37:58.099 --> 00:37:58.779
 every tribe,

00:37:58.899 --> 00:37:59.099
 tongue,

00:37:59.139 --> 00:37:59.619
 and nation

00:37:59.619 --> 00:38:01.539
 who are giving

00:38:01.539 --> 00:38:03.059
 praise and glory

00:38:03.059 --> 00:38:04.960
 to our God.

00:38:05.699 --> 00:38:06.779
 They're worshiping

00:38:06.779 --> 00:38:07.000
 Him.

00:38:07.559 --> 00:38:08.039
 They're making

00:38:08.039 --> 00:38:08.819
 much of Him.

00:38:09.940 --> 00:38:10.239
 And so,

00:38:10.519 --> 00:38:10.759
 you know,

00:38:10.839 --> 00:38:11.539
 it all starts,

00:38:12.099 --> 00:38:12.759
 and we don't

00:38:12.759 --> 00:38:13.359
 wait to start

00:38:13.359 --> 00:38:13.919
 singing to God

00:38:13.919 --> 00:38:14.440
 until glory.

00:38:14.440 --> 00:38:16.360
 We're worshiping

00:38:16.360 --> 00:38:16.780
 Him now,

00:38:16.860 --> 00:38:17.079
 right?

00:38:18.280 --> 00:38:19.519
 We're delighting

00:38:19.519 --> 00:38:20.599
 in things that

00:38:20.599 --> 00:38:21.340
 are very different

00:38:21.340 --> 00:38:21.880
 than when we were

00:38:21.880 --> 00:38:22.260
 living in the

00:38:22.260 --> 00:38:22.940
 domain of darkness

00:38:22.940 --> 00:38:24.780
 because our hearts

00:38:24.780 --> 00:38:25.599
 have been changed.

00:38:26.619 --> 00:38:27.039
 That's what the

00:38:27.039 --> 00:38:27.659
 gospel does.

00:38:27.760 --> 00:38:28.240
 It radically

00:38:28.240 --> 00:38:29.880
 changes our hearts.

00:38:29.980 --> 00:38:30.460
 It radically

00:38:30.460 --> 00:38:32.139
 changes us.

00:38:33.900 --> 00:38:34.639
 God gets the

00:38:34.639 --> 00:38:36.179
 glory for what

00:38:36.179 --> 00:38:36.960
 He's been doing

00:38:36.960 --> 00:38:37.840
 in us.

00:38:39.780 --> 00:38:40.119
 You know,

00:38:40.340 --> 00:38:42.039
 whenever you

00:38:42.039 --> 00:38:44.039
 have an

00:38:44.039 --> 00:38:44.719
 organization,

00:38:45.679 --> 00:38:46.840
 a team,

00:38:47.039 --> 00:38:47.759
 a band,

00:38:48.619 --> 00:38:48.980
 you have

00:38:48.980 --> 00:38:49.599
 objectives.

00:38:50.679 --> 00:38:51.320
 You're trying

00:38:51.320 --> 00:38:52.559
 to accomplish

00:38:52.559 --> 00:38:53.119
 something.

00:38:53.820 --> 00:38:54.619
 There's an aim.

00:38:55.039 --> 00:38:57.059
 There is a goal.

00:38:57.199 --> 00:38:58.219
 There's a telos,

00:38:58.800 --> 00:38:59.539
 a reason for

00:38:59.539 --> 00:39:00.199
 your being.

00:39:00.880 --> 00:39:01.739
 And this is our

00:39:01.739 --> 00:39:02.440
 reason for our

00:39:02.440 --> 00:39:02.739
 being.

00:39:03.639 --> 00:39:04.500
 God's glory,

00:39:04.900 --> 00:39:05.519
 His worship,

00:39:05.739 --> 00:39:06.519
 His praise.

00:39:07.340 --> 00:39:07.759
 I was telling

00:39:07.759 --> 00:39:08.480
 someone yesterday

00:39:08.480 --> 00:39:09.119
 on the phone

00:39:09.119 --> 00:39:10.920
 that worship

00:39:10.920 --> 00:39:11.840
 actually comes from

00:39:11.840 --> 00:39:12.920
 an old English word

00:39:12.920 --> 00:39:13.320
 that means

00:39:13.320 --> 00:39:14.599
 worth-ship,

00:39:14.920 --> 00:39:15.480
 giving God

00:39:15.480 --> 00:39:16.139
 His weight,

00:39:16.740 --> 00:39:17.320
 giving Him His

00:39:17.320 --> 00:39:17.800
 due,

00:39:18.760 --> 00:39:19.300
 helping people

00:39:19.300 --> 00:39:20.099
 see Him.

00:39:21.300 --> 00:39:22.019
 Imagine this.

00:39:22.680 --> 00:39:23.119
 Has anybody

00:39:23.119 --> 00:39:23.760
 been on a night

00:39:23.760 --> 00:39:24.000
 flight?

00:39:26.280 --> 00:39:26.760
 Yeah,

00:39:26.880 --> 00:39:27.420
 you're flying over

00:39:27.420 --> 00:39:28.059
 the United States

00:39:28.059 --> 00:39:28.500
 at night.

00:39:29.659 --> 00:39:31.320
 It's a lot of fun

00:39:31.320 --> 00:39:31.740
 because you're

00:39:31.740 --> 00:39:32.200
 looking out the

00:39:32.200 --> 00:39:33.500
 window and you

00:39:33.500 --> 00:39:34.559
 are going through

00:39:34.559 --> 00:39:36.260
 just big sections

00:39:36.260 --> 00:39:37.099
 of darkness

00:39:37.099 --> 00:39:38.199
 darkness and then

00:39:38.199 --> 00:39:39.579
 you hit this

00:39:39.579 --> 00:39:40.500
 concentrated,

00:39:41.259 --> 00:39:42.259
 brilliant light.

00:39:42.360 --> 00:39:43.000
 It's a city of

00:39:43.000 --> 00:39:43.559
 some sort.

00:39:44.019 --> 00:39:44.719
 And big cities

00:39:44.719 --> 00:39:45.779
 shine real bright.

00:39:46.880 --> 00:39:47.920
 Think of that

00:39:47.920 --> 00:39:49.659
 as the worship

00:39:49.659 --> 00:39:51.039
 lens with which

00:39:51.039 --> 00:39:52.000
 God sees the

00:39:52.000 --> 00:39:52.400
 world.

00:39:53.259 --> 00:39:54.420
 Not in terms of

00:39:54.420 --> 00:39:55.259
 kind of night

00:39:55.259 --> 00:39:55.960
 and day,

00:39:56.319 --> 00:39:57.299
 but in terms of

00:39:57.299 --> 00:39:58.759
 spiritually alive

00:39:58.759 --> 00:39:59.900
 or spiritually dead,

00:40:00.019 --> 00:40:00.480
 people who are

00:40:00.480 --> 00:40:01.000
 giving God

00:40:01.000 --> 00:40:02.179
 worship or not.

00:40:03.119 --> 00:40:03.759
 When God looks

00:40:03.759 --> 00:40:04.960
 down on this

00:40:04.960 --> 00:40:05.400
 planet,

00:40:05.400 --> 00:40:06.360
 He is seeing

00:40:06.360 --> 00:40:07.500
 the brightness,

00:40:07.820 --> 00:40:08.800
 the light of

00:40:08.800 --> 00:40:09.619
 those He's made

00:40:09.619 --> 00:40:10.900
 alive in worshiping

00:40:10.900 --> 00:40:12.360
 Him among this

00:40:12.360 --> 00:40:13.579
 darkness of dead.

00:40:14.360 --> 00:40:15.039
 People who are

00:40:15.039 --> 00:40:15.780
 worshiping things

00:40:15.780 --> 00:40:16.400
 other than Him.

00:40:16.780 --> 00:40:17.320
 And so what God

00:40:17.320 --> 00:40:18.760
 is doing is He's

00:40:18.760 --> 00:40:19.820
 radically changing

00:40:19.820 --> 00:40:20.400
 people's hearts

00:40:20.400 --> 00:40:21.039
 through the gospel

00:40:21.039 --> 00:40:22.000
 to make worshipers

00:40:22.000 --> 00:40:22.639
 for His name.

00:40:23.539 --> 00:40:24.480
 And what it sounds

00:40:24.480 --> 00:40:25.260
 like is that,

00:40:25.380 --> 00:40:26.320
 man, God is very

00:40:26.320 --> 00:40:27.079
 self-centered.

00:40:28.360 --> 00:40:29.500
 And He is.

00:40:29.860 --> 00:40:30.480
 And He has every

00:40:30.480 --> 00:40:31.240
 right to be

00:40:31.240 --> 00:40:32.200
 because He's God.

00:40:33.240 --> 00:40:34.200
 We get to give

00:40:34.200 --> 00:40:34.740
 Him the glory

00:40:34.740 --> 00:40:35.380
 that's due His

00:40:35.380 --> 00:40:35.700
 name.

00:40:36.280 --> 00:40:36.619
 One of my

00:40:36.619 --> 00:40:37.220
 favorite quotes,

00:40:37.320 --> 00:40:37.720
 this is probably

00:40:37.720 --> 00:40:38.760
 my favorite quote

00:40:38.760 --> 00:40:39.420
 on why there's

00:40:39.420 --> 00:40:40.000
 mission is by

00:40:40.000 --> 00:40:40.539
 John Piper.

00:40:41.099 --> 00:40:41.920
 And he says,

00:40:43.039 --> 00:40:45.300
 missions exists

00:40:45.300 --> 00:40:46.320
 because the

00:40:46.320 --> 00:40:47.099
 worship of God

00:40:47.099 --> 00:40:47.820
 does not.

00:40:48.640 --> 00:40:49.240
 It's a beautiful

00:40:49.240 --> 00:40:49.820
 way to think

00:40:49.820 --> 00:40:50.400
 about this.

00:40:51.380 --> 00:40:52.740
 And so the idea

00:40:52.740 --> 00:40:54.220
 here is we

00:40:54.220 --> 00:40:56.440
 mobilize and we

00:40:56.440 --> 00:40:57.559
 reach out to

00:40:57.559 --> 00:40:58.960
 our neighbors and

00:40:58.960 --> 00:41:00.420
 friends and families

00:41:00.420 --> 00:41:02.360
 ultimately for the

00:41:02.360 --> 00:41:03.300
 worship of God,

00:41:03.920 --> 00:41:04.760
 for the glory of

00:41:04.760 --> 00:41:05.300
 His name,

00:41:05.500 --> 00:41:07.080
 for populating

00:41:07.080 --> 00:41:08.300
 the heavenlies

00:41:08.300 --> 00:41:09.500
 with worshipers.

00:41:10.460 --> 00:41:11.200
 It's a wonder.

00:41:13.980 --> 00:41:14.960
 It's a wonder.

00:41:16.720 --> 00:41:17.760
 God's plan for the

00:41:17.760 --> 00:41:18.500
 fullness of time

00:41:18.500 --> 00:41:20.060
 is a glory plan.

00:41:22.060 --> 00:41:22.300
 Okay.

00:41:23.840 --> 00:41:24.700
 Triune, big,

00:41:25.020 --> 00:41:25.920
 Christocentric,

00:41:26.120 --> 00:41:26.800
 disciple-making,

00:41:27.360 --> 00:41:27.760
 glory.

00:41:27.920 --> 00:41:28.780
 These are the five

00:41:28.780 --> 00:41:29.740
 distinct features of

00:41:29.740 --> 00:41:30.560
 God's plan for the

00:41:30.560 --> 00:41:31.280
 fullness of time.

00:41:31.280 --> 00:41:32.660
 It moves us from

00:41:32.660 --> 00:41:33.840
 manger to mission.

00:41:34.060 --> 00:41:35.140
 And so just a few

00:41:35.140 --> 00:41:36.140
 questions for you

00:41:36.140 --> 00:41:37.240
 and then we'll wrap

00:41:37.240 --> 00:41:37.580
 it up.

00:41:38.300 --> 00:41:39.200
 Question number one.

00:41:41.440 --> 00:41:42.260
 Looking back on

00:41:42.260 --> 00:41:42.840
 2025,

00:41:44.600 --> 00:41:48.640
 what has God

00:41:48.640 --> 00:41:49.500
 personally done in

00:41:49.500 --> 00:41:50.900
 your life that you

00:41:50.900 --> 00:41:51.600
 can thank Him for?

00:41:53.260 --> 00:41:54.320
 What has God done

00:41:54.320 --> 00:41:55.420
 in your life in 2025

00:41:55.420 --> 00:41:56.280
 that you can thank

00:41:56.280 --> 00:41:56.560
 Him for?

00:41:56.559 --> 00:41:57.400
 I would say,

00:41:57.519 --> 00:41:58.279
 take some time today.

00:41:58.940 --> 00:41:59.539
 Go for a walk.

00:42:00.840 --> 00:42:01.940
 And if you're having

00:42:01.940 --> 00:42:02.539
 a hard time thinking

00:42:02.539 --> 00:42:02.960
 about things,

00:42:03.079 --> 00:42:04.239
 ask God to show you.

00:42:04.980 --> 00:42:06.639
 God, how have you

00:42:06.639 --> 00:42:07.340
 worked in my life

00:42:07.340 --> 00:42:08.059
 this past year?

00:42:08.840 --> 00:42:09.579
 And then when you

00:42:09.579 --> 00:42:10.460
 are shown that,

00:42:10.679 --> 00:42:11.619
 give Him thanks for

00:42:11.619 --> 00:42:11.860
 that.

00:42:12.360 --> 00:42:14.099
 So this exercise is

00:42:14.099 --> 00:42:15.059
 one towards

00:42:15.059 --> 00:42:16.239
 thankfulness to God.

00:42:16.820 --> 00:42:17.599
 God, thank you so

00:42:17.599 --> 00:42:18.779
 much for getting me

00:42:18.779 --> 00:42:19.679
 through that hard time.

00:42:20.320 --> 00:42:21.039
 Thank you so much,

00:42:21.159 --> 00:42:22.219
 God, for showing me

00:42:22.219 --> 00:42:23.659
 that sin in my life

00:42:23.659 --> 00:42:25.420
 and helping me

00:42:25.420 --> 00:42:26.139
 take a step to

00:42:26.139 --> 00:42:26.779
 become more like

00:42:26.779 --> 00:42:27.059
 Jesus.

00:42:27.259 --> 00:42:27.759
 Thank you, God,

00:42:27.799 --> 00:42:28.460
 for my friends.

00:42:29.019 --> 00:42:29.519
 Thank you, God,

00:42:29.539 --> 00:42:30.199
 for the support.

00:42:30.319 --> 00:42:30.839
 Thank you for my

00:42:30.839 --> 00:42:31.099
 church.

00:42:31.239 --> 00:42:31.899
 Thank you for saving

00:42:31.899 --> 00:42:32.500
 this person.

00:42:32.859 --> 00:42:33.500
 So there's so much

00:42:33.500 --> 00:42:34.039
 that we can be

00:42:34.039 --> 00:42:34.599
 thankful for.

00:42:35.000 --> 00:42:36.559
 So take some time

00:42:36.559 --> 00:42:37.379
 to ask the question,

00:42:37.480 --> 00:42:38.359
 God, what have you

00:42:38.359 --> 00:42:39.519
 done for me this

00:42:39.519 --> 00:42:40.159
 past year?

00:42:40.219 --> 00:42:40.899
 So that's reflection.

00:42:42.839 --> 00:42:43.579
 Question number two.

00:42:44.619 --> 00:42:45.399
 This is a prayerful

00:42:45.399 --> 00:42:45.799
 question.

00:42:46.899 --> 00:42:47.480
 Looking forward

00:42:47.480 --> 00:42:48.619
 into 2026,

00:42:49.619 --> 00:42:52.519
 here's what you pray.

00:42:53.659 --> 00:42:55.879
 God, would you

00:42:55.879 --> 00:42:56.359
 change me?

00:42:58.839 --> 00:42:59.960
 No qualifications,

00:43:00.699 --> 00:43:01.599
 no limits,

00:43:02.339 --> 00:43:03.299
 no reservations,

00:43:04.059 --> 00:43:05.500
 no conditions.

00:43:06.339 --> 00:43:07.839
 Would you change me?

00:43:08.679 --> 00:43:09.619
 Would you conform me

00:43:09.619 --> 00:43:10.980
 to the image of Jesus?

00:43:11.199 --> 00:43:12.379
 Would you make me

00:43:12.379 --> 00:43:13.679
 holy as he is holy?

00:43:14.079 --> 00:43:15.019
 Would you do a work

00:43:15.019 --> 00:43:16.399
 in me in 2026

00:43:16.399 --> 00:43:17.759
 that I can look back

00:43:17.759 --> 00:43:17.920
 on?

00:43:18.019 --> 00:43:19.339
 If you don't return,

00:43:20.480 --> 00:43:21.839
 I can look back on

00:43:21.839 --> 00:43:22.779
 and say, all glory be

00:43:22.779 --> 00:43:23.179
 to your name.

00:43:23.179 --> 00:43:23.779
 Thank you for doing

00:43:23.779 --> 00:43:24.399
 this in my life.

00:43:24.559 --> 00:43:25.099
 God, would you do

00:43:25.099 --> 00:43:25.739
 this work in me?

00:43:26.859 --> 00:43:27.399
 Looking forward

00:43:27.399 --> 00:43:28.299
 to 2026,

00:43:28.819 --> 00:43:30.719
 make it a glory prayer.

00:43:31.019 --> 00:43:31.719
 God, help me to bring

00:43:31.719 --> 00:43:33.099
 glory to you

00:43:33.099 --> 00:43:34.000
 through a changed life.

00:43:34.460 --> 00:43:35.019
 And question number

00:43:35.019 --> 00:43:35.859
 three is this.

00:43:37.500 --> 00:43:38.059
 It's another

00:43:38.059 --> 00:43:39.199
 prayerful question.

00:43:41.579 --> 00:43:42.319
 Where are you

00:43:42.319 --> 00:43:43.059
 working, God,

00:43:43.759 --> 00:43:45.019
 that you would

00:43:45.019 --> 00:43:46.379
 have me join you in?

00:43:47.339 --> 00:43:48.339
 Where are you

00:43:48.339 --> 00:43:49.799
 working that I can

00:43:49.799 --> 00:43:50.440
 join you,

00:43:50.559 --> 00:43:52.319
 that I can step in

00:43:52.320 --> 00:43:52.840
 and be a part

00:43:52.840 --> 00:43:53.600
 of what you're doing?

00:43:54.840 --> 00:43:56.380
 If you're married,

00:43:57.160 --> 00:43:58.580
 the answer starts here.

00:43:59.160 --> 00:43:59.600
 God, what are you

00:43:59.600 --> 00:44:00.120
 doing in my,

00:44:00.200 --> 00:44:00.820
 the question is,

00:44:00.860 --> 00:44:01.180
 what are you doing

00:44:01.180 --> 00:44:02.320
 in my spouse's life

00:44:02.320 --> 00:44:03.860
 and how can I join you

00:44:03.860 --> 00:44:04.380
 in what you're doing

00:44:04.380 --> 00:44:05.260
 in my spouse's life?

00:44:06.920 --> 00:44:08.240
 Or your parent,

00:44:08.760 --> 00:44:09.960
 God, in each of your

00:44:09.960 --> 00:44:10.539
 children, God,

00:44:10.580 --> 00:44:11.180
 what are you doing

00:44:11.180 --> 00:44:12.720
 in this child's life

00:44:12.720 --> 00:44:13.820
 and how can I join you

00:44:13.820 --> 00:44:14.640
 in what you're doing

00:44:14.640 --> 00:44:16.360
 in his or her life?

00:44:16.360 --> 00:44:18.539
 These are the questions.

00:44:18.640 --> 00:44:19.120
 God, what are you

00:44:19.120 --> 00:44:20.099
 doing in my midst,

00:44:20.440 --> 00:44:21.099
 in my orbit,

00:44:21.440 --> 00:44:22.440
 that I can be part

00:44:22.440 --> 00:44:23.360
 of what you are doing?

00:44:23.960 --> 00:44:24.900
 If you're a student

00:44:24.900 --> 00:44:25.460
 in the room,

00:44:26.920 --> 00:44:27.760
 you're middle school

00:44:27.760 --> 00:44:28.820
 and you're in high school,

00:44:30.099 --> 00:44:31.559
 here's a question to ask.

00:44:32.500 --> 00:44:33.579
 Think about your friends.

00:44:34.039 --> 00:44:34.920
 They're extremely

00:44:34.920 --> 00:44:35.720
 important to you.

00:44:36.720 --> 00:44:37.539
 God, what are you doing

00:44:37.539 --> 00:44:38.599
 in my friend's life

00:44:38.599 --> 00:44:40.820
 and how can I join you

00:44:40.820 --> 00:44:41.460
 in what you're doing

00:44:41.460 --> 00:44:41.780
 in them?

00:44:42.680 --> 00:44:43.539
 It changes the way

00:44:43.539 --> 00:44:44.240
 you think about

00:44:44.239 --> 00:44:44.739
 your friendships.

00:44:45.819 --> 00:44:46.879
 How can I be a part

00:44:46.879 --> 00:44:47.679
 of what you're doing

00:44:47.679 --> 00:44:48.579
 in my friends?

00:44:48.919 --> 00:44:49.579
 Our church,

00:44:50.239 --> 00:44:50.979
 God, what are you doing

00:44:50.979 --> 00:44:52.219
 in and through our church

00:44:52.219 --> 00:44:53.179
 and how can I be

00:44:53.179 --> 00:44:54.239
 a part of that?

00:44:54.699 --> 00:44:55.599
 God, I want to join

00:44:55.599 --> 00:44:57.219
 in what you are doing.

00:44:58.739 --> 00:45:00.479
 So, we end 2025

00:45:00.479 --> 00:45:02.159
 and we start 2026

00:45:02.159 --> 00:45:04.459
 with a Godward gaze.

00:45:06.099 --> 00:45:06.959
 God has a plan

00:45:06.959 --> 00:45:08.039
 for the fullness of time

00:45:08.039 --> 00:45:09.899
 to make disciples of Jesus.

00:45:09.899 --> 00:45:11.219
 It's a glory plan.

00:45:12.479 --> 00:45:13.479
 Now, here's what

00:45:13.479 --> 00:45:14.039
 I'd like you to do.

00:45:14.759 --> 00:45:15.619
 That little diagram

00:45:15.619 --> 00:45:16.179
 you just did,

00:45:17.099 --> 00:45:17.839
 would you sign it?

00:45:19.239 --> 00:45:19.799
 Date it?

00:45:20.919 --> 00:45:22.259
 And after we're wrapped up,

00:45:22.339 --> 00:45:23.279
 either bring it to me

00:45:23.279 --> 00:45:25.179
 or just put it in your pew.

00:45:25.379 --> 00:45:26.019
 We'll collect it

00:45:26.019 --> 00:45:26.819
 and I'll hang them

00:45:26.819 --> 00:45:27.699
 this week in my office

00:45:27.699 --> 00:45:28.559
 because I need artwork.

00:45:30.319 --> 00:45:31.779
 But we all also need

00:45:31.779 --> 00:45:34.359
 to have our gaze renewed

00:45:34.359 --> 00:45:37.199
 from manger to mission

00:45:37.199 --> 00:45:40.500
 and it is a glorious mission.

00:45:41.399 --> 00:45:41.899
 I mean, that's why

00:45:41.899 --> 00:45:42.859
 Jesus went to the manger.

00:45:42.860 --> 00:45:43.960
 God, I'm going to pray

00:45:43.960 --> 00:45:44.980
 so that you hang on a cross

00:45:44.980 --> 00:45:47.160
 so that he would gather

00:45:47.160 --> 00:45:48.559
 worshipers for his name

00:45:48.559 --> 00:45:49.160
 for eternity.

00:45:50.000 --> 00:45:50.880
 Let's pray together.

00:45:52.579 --> 00:45:53.300
 God in heaven,

00:45:53.420 --> 00:45:54.220
 thank you so much

00:45:54.220 --> 00:45:55.480
 for giving us eyes

00:45:55.480 --> 00:45:57.840
 to see this plan.

00:45:59.140 --> 00:46:01.300
 We are delighted

00:46:01.300 --> 00:46:02.240
 to be part of what

00:46:02.240 --> 00:46:03.059
 you are doing.

00:46:04.099 --> 00:46:06.120
 God, we confess this morning

00:46:06.119 --> 00:46:08.019
 that you don't exist

00:46:08.019 --> 00:46:09.159
 for us.

00:46:09.779 --> 00:46:11.659
 We exist for you

00:46:11.659 --> 00:46:13.839
 and we want to bring you

00:46:13.839 --> 00:46:15.159
 honor and glory

00:46:15.159 --> 00:46:16.599
 in all that we do.

00:46:17.960 --> 00:46:19.719
 God, we don't know

00:46:19.719 --> 00:46:20.699
 what you have for us

00:46:20.699 --> 00:46:21.739
 in 2026,

00:46:22.739 --> 00:46:24.420
 but we would ask

00:46:24.420 --> 00:46:26.159
 that you would

00:46:26.159 --> 00:46:28.000
 continue to

00:46:28.000 --> 00:46:29.420
 make your presence

00:46:29.420 --> 00:46:30.440
 known to us,

00:46:30.779 --> 00:46:32.539
 that you would grow us,

00:46:32.960 --> 00:46:33.659
 that you would grow us

00:46:33.659 --> 00:46:34.399
 individually,

00:46:34.599 --> 00:46:35.599
 make us more like Jesus

00:46:35.599 --> 00:46:36.759
 and you'd grow us

00:46:36.759 --> 00:46:37.399
 numerically.

00:46:38.399 --> 00:46:39.899
 Not for numbers,

00:46:40.579 --> 00:46:41.759
 but for worshipers,

00:46:42.119 --> 00:46:43.559
 that you would get

00:46:43.559 --> 00:46:44.679
 all praise and glory

00:46:44.679 --> 00:46:45.299
 and honor.

00:46:46.699 --> 00:46:47.519
 God, would you

00:46:47.519 --> 00:46:48.719
 fill us

00:46:48.719 --> 00:46:49.879
 with your spirit

00:46:49.879 --> 00:46:51.940
 that we would make

00:46:51.940 --> 00:46:53.599
 much of Jesus

00:46:53.599 --> 00:46:54.619
 in all that we do

00:46:54.619 --> 00:46:56.059
 for the glory

00:46:56.059 --> 00:46:56.779
 of your name.

00:46:57.279 --> 00:46:57.480
 Amen.

00:46:57.480 --> 00:46:57.619
 Amen.