WEBVTT 00:00:00.660 --> 00:00:06.780 Good morning, everyone. My name is James. It's nice to be with you this morning. Let me pray for us. 00:00:06.940 --> 00:00:14.280 Heavenly Father, I thank you for your word to us. Thank you for that part of Romans 12, which Flora has just read. 00:00:14.359 --> 00:00:18.260 Be with us this morning as we look at your word for us today. Amen. 00:00:20.900 --> 00:00:27.320 There is a man here whose insecurity causes him to question his place before God. 00:00:27.320 --> 00:00:31.339 And so he acts to please people and to please God. 00:00:32.259 --> 00:00:39.859 There's a sister here who questions her value and feels the need to talk herself up in front of other people and before God. 00:00:40.659 --> 00:00:47.179 There's a mom here who sees her sin and thinks that she is the very worst mom. 00:00:47.340 --> 00:00:49.840 And she's constantly comparing herself to others. 00:00:49.840 --> 00:00:58.960 And there's a brother here who feels that God is so awesome and is so good that God is demanding more and more of him. 00:00:59.300 --> 00:01:04.640 And he feels like he should be doing more as a Christian, but ends up feeling guilty. 00:01:06.280 --> 00:01:09.100 We have a distorted view of God. 00:01:09.320 --> 00:01:14.460 And it distorts our view of ourselves and our relationship with other people. 00:01:14.459 --> 00:01:25.500 One of my temptations, one of the things that I do personally is that it can lead me to, my view of myself can lead me to question my value. 00:01:25.979 --> 00:01:28.199 It can lead me to think, does God really want me? 00:01:29.099 --> 00:01:30.739 Do people actually want to hang out with me? 00:01:30.780 --> 00:01:32.979 Do my friends really want to hang out to me? 00:01:33.000 --> 00:01:34.819 Or am I just a burden on them? 00:01:37.039 --> 00:01:38.979 We are in the book of Romans. 00:01:38.980 --> 00:01:43.159 We're in a series called Made New and we're up to chapter 12. 00:01:43.280 --> 00:01:48.040 We've seen over the last number of weeks how good God has been. 00:01:48.140 --> 00:01:54.280 That God shows his goodness and his love and mercy to a people who are undeserving. 00:01:55.359 --> 00:02:02.359 And now we see at the start of chapter 12, the first word that Flora read for us before was therefore. 00:02:02.359 --> 00:02:09.199 Therefore, what is the impact of all that God has done through us in Jesus? 00:02:09.479 --> 00:02:11.259 How does it change our lives? 00:02:12.560 --> 00:02:15.219 Paul is going to start with our relationships with God. 00:02:15.719 --> 00:02:17.919 And then our view of ourselves and then others. 00:02:18.099 --> 00:02:23.759 Because we have a distorted view of our God. 00:02:24.539 --> 00:02:27.280 And it impacts all of our relationships. 00:02:27.280 --> 00:02:35.140 And the challenge will be today to see how when we have a clear view of our relationship with God, 00:02:35.439 --> 00:02:38.439 it helps us to see ourselves right. 00:02:39.340 --> 00:02:41.560 And it shapes every relationship we have. 00:02:42.520 --> 00:02:47.379 There are three points this morning that you'll be able to find in the St. Paul's app. 00:02:47.900 --> 00:02:50.939 And if you don't have that app, you can scan the QR code in front of you. 00:02:51.599 --> 00:02:56.340 The three points, new life, a new view of ourselves and new service. 00:02:56.340 --> 00:03:00.560 But I'm going to spend the majority of our time together on that first point. 00:03:00.960 --> 00:03:05.219 Those first two verses, I was tempted to just preach on just those two verses. 00:03:05.819 --> 00:03:08.480 Because I think it has so much there for us. 00:03:08.800 --> 00:03:10.840 I'm going to spend the majority of our time in those first two verses 00:03:10.840 --> 00:03:14.060 before I quickly move through the second and third point. 00:03:14.379 --> 00:03:20.439 So have Romans 12 open with you this morning on a phone or in your Bible. 00:03:20.560 --> 00:03:21.439 Be taking notes. 00:03:21.500 --> 00:03:22.379 That is good for us. 00:03:22.379 --> 00:03:26.639 This passage starts with that word that I mentioned, therefore. 00:03:28.139 --> 00:03:30.960 And you always need to question what the therefore is. 00:03:31.560 --> 00:03:31.960 Therefore. 00:03:32.599 --> 00:03:39.079 Paul has told us about the good news which comes to a people who don't deserve it. 00:03:39.819 --> 00:03:44.359 How we can totally trust in God, the one who makes salvation possible. 00:03:44.360 --> 00:03:46.680 And now he says, therefore. 00:03:47.460 --> 00:03:50.780 Because of God's great love for you, therefore. 00:03:51.080 --> 00:03:53.980 Because of salvation by faith, therefore. 00:03:54.280 --> 00:03:58.100 Because of justification by grace alone, therefore. 00:03:59.600 --> 00:04:01.280 Live differently. 00:04:01.280 --> 00:04:08.060 The next two verses, verse 1 and 2, are a summary of the entire Christian life 00:04:08.060 --> 00:04:11.319 following all that God has done in these last 11 chapters. 00:04:11.560 --> 00:04:12.759 So, verse 1. 00:04:15.400 --> 00:04:21.279 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, 00:04:21.720 --> 00:04:27.620 to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. 00:04:27.620 --> 00:04:31.079 This is your true and proper worship. 00:04:31.800 --> 00:04:35.759 Therefore, because of all that Paul has said about what God has done, 00:04:36.480 --> 00:04:39.079 live a radical life as a Christian. 00:04:40.040 --> 00:04:43.620 And the motivation is God's mercy. 00:04:44.680 --> 00:04:49.280 It's the only sufficient motivation for a life of gratitude. 00:04:50.420 --> 00:04:55.060 Back in Romans 8, Paul argued that a Christian cannot lose their salvation. 00:04:55.060 --> 00:05:02.600 And so mercy and grace is our only motivation to have a radically different life. 00:05:03.600 --> 00:05:06.019 If a Christian could lose their salvation, 00:05:06.780 --> 00:05:09.959 then our motivation would be fear or guilt. 00:05:10.740 --> 00:05:11.560 I'm not living right. 00:05:12.160 --> 00:05:13.620 I'm not living as God wants me to. 00:05:13.740 --> 00:05:16.600 I need to work harder so I can make sure I'm saved. 00:05:16.600 --> 00:05:21.760 And then, how does that work out in other relationships? 00:05:23.160 --> 00:05:26.540 I feel guilty before God that I'm not working hard enough. 00:05:26.939 --> 00:05:29.000 And then I see the people around me. 00:05:29.379 --> 00:05:30.420 Well, they're still sinning. 00:05:30.860 --> 00:05:33.000 You know, I need to tell my kids. 00:05:33.280 --> 00:05:35.420 I need to tell people around you, you need to be doing better. 00:05:36.120 --> 00:05:37.480 You need to be reading your Bible more. 00:05:38.260 --> 00:05:40.620 Aren't you worried about this sin that you're still holding on to? 00:05:40.620 --> 00:05:45.959 This is where religious guilt comes in. 00:05:46.519 --> 00:05:49.699 This inner view that I'm not accepted and loved by God 00:05:49.699 --> 00:05:52.280 and I always need to do more and more. 00:05:52.879 --> 00:05:54.100 It leads to anxiety. 00:05:55.500 --> 00:05:56.840 It leads to fear. 00:05:57.720 --> 00:06:00.319 And the person who relates to God out of fear 00:06:00.319 --> 00:06:03.699 believes that they will get what they deserve in a season. 00:06:03.699 --> 00:06:10.379 Have you ever had that thought, you know, that kind of calmer thought? 00:06:10.500 --> 00:06:11.139 Ah, do you know what? 00:06:11.240 --> 00:06:13.879 I haven't really gone to church recently. 00:06:14.219 --> 00:06:15.240 And, you know, I've gotten sick. 00:06:15.319 --> 00:06:16.099 I've gotten COVID. 00:06:16.279 --> 00:06:20.539 Maybe this is God punishing me because I haven't been obeying Him. 00:06:22.899 --> 00:06:27.199 Fear leads us to think that we get what we deserve in a season. 00:06:27.399 --> 00:06:30.419 It leads to anxiety before God and other people. 00:06:31.099 --> 00:06:32.860 But this is not the gospel. 00:06:33.740 --> 00:06:36.740 God has already given us mercy. 00:06:36.900 --> 00:06:39.080 He already chooses to love us. 00:06:40.580 --> 00:06:45.280 And so Paul encourages us that we are motivated by mercy, 00:06:45.400 --> 00:06:48.259 not by fear, not by guilt, not by needing to do anything. 00:06:48.360 --> 00:06:50.840 That's been the point of the last 11 chapters. 00:06:51.280 --> 00:06:52.879 We're motivated not by that. 00:06:52.939 --> 00:06:54.400 We're motivated by God's mercy. 00:06:55.240 --> 00:06:56.259 Live differently. 00:06:56.259 --> 00:06:59.960 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, 00:07:00.100 --> 00:07:01.080 in view of God's mercy, 00:07:01.079 --> 00:07:03.219 in view of God's wonderful mercy, 00:07:03.959 --> 00:07:07.319 offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, 00:07:08.000 --> 00:07:09.719 holy and pleasing to God. 00:07:10.339 --> 00:07:12.459 This is your true and proper worship. 00:07:13.599 --> 00:07:16.240 Offer your body as a living sacrifice. 00:07:16.240 --> 00:07:23.699 The first call for us in view of God's mercy is to live as a living sacrifice. 00:07:24.300 --> 00:07:28.079 Paul is using Old Testament language here of sacrifice. 00:07:28.660 --> 00:07:32.560 It's the image of a worshiper coming in and bringing an offering. 00:07:32.560 --> 00:07:35.500 It's not an offering that would deal with sin. 00:07:35.600 --> 00:07:36.379 We already have that. 00:07:36.439 --> 00:07:37.079 That's Jesus. 00:07:38.180 --> 00:07:40.600 But this offering was a burnt offering. 00:07:41.879 --> 00:07:44.740 This was the best a person had. 00:07:44.819 --> 00:07:47.600 They would bring their very best animal, 00:07:47.699 --> 00:07:48.899 the one without blemish, 00:07:49.399 --> 00:07:50.540 the one without defect. 00:07:50.540 --> 00:07:54.040 It was the most expensive and best they had. 00:07:54.100 --> 00:07:55.140 It was not their leftovers. 00:07:56.100 --> 00:07:59.080 And this offering was always completely burnt. 00:07:59.860 --> 00:08:03.540 And it represented a complete devotion to God. 00:08:04.180 --> 00:08:06.540 And so what Paul is saying for our lives is 00:08:06.540 --> 00:08:09.740 that we ought to be offering everything. 00:08:10.000 --> 00:08:13.600 We ought to be offering every aspect of our lives. 00:08:13.600 --> 00:08:14.600 We ought to be offering everything. 00:08:14.600 --> 00:08:14.620 We ought to be offering everything. 00:08:14.620 --> 00:08:16.600 We ought to be offering everything. 00:08:16.600 --> 00:08:17.600 We ought to be offering everything. 00:08:17.600 --> 00:08:18.600 We ought to be offering everything. 00:08:18.600 --> 00:08:19.840 We ought to be offering everything. 00:08:21.020 --> 00:08:22.840 And he specifically mentions bodies. 00:08:23.840 --> 00:08:26.500 Now for us that might seem fairly normal, 00:08:26.760 --> 00:08:29.980 but this is into a Greco-Roman context. 00:08:31.100 --> 00:08:33.420 And they believed that what happened in the body 00:08:33.420 --> 00:08:35.240 did not actually matter. 00:08:36.080 --> 00:08:38.540 The religious and philosophical Romans and Greeks, 00:08:38.960 --> 00:08:42.180 what they pursued was purity of the mind. 00:08:42.179 --> 00:08:44.639 And so they thought that, 00:08:44.719 --> 00:08:44.979 you know what, 00:08:44.979 --> 00:08:46.459 what happens with the body doesn't matter. 00:08:46.799 --> 00:08:49.679 If I choose to pursue anything I like with my body, 00:08:50.120 --> 00:08:51.000 sexual depravity, 00:08:51.039 --> 00:08:54.859 it doesn't matter as long as I'm pursuing purity of the mind. 00:08:55.879 --> 00:08:58.799 But Paul is being inclusive of everything. 00:09:00.159 --> 00:09:04.019 We are to offer everything to God as living sacrifices. 00:09:04.159 --> 00:09:07.139 We don't just divide parts of our lives out. 00:09:08.099 --> 00:09:11.399 We're not to think like the ancient Romans and Greeks 00:09:11.399 --> 00:09:12.840 and separate what happens. 00:09:13.399 --> 00:09:15.240 I'll offer some of my life, 00:09:15.360 --> 00:09:15.840 my money, 00:09:15.959 --> 00:09:17.419 my Sunday mornings to God, 00:09:17.480 --> 00:09:19.579 but I'm going to pursue the job that I want. 00:09:19.779 --> 00:09:22.500 I'm going to pursue the sexual experiences that I want. 00:09:22.740 --> 00:09:24.799 I'll parent as I fit. 00:09:26.699 --> 00:09:28.000 Paul calls us, 00:09:28.259 --> 00:09:30.799 in view of God's mercies, 00:09:31.860 --> 00:09:33.639 to offer our bodies, 00:09:34.039 --> 00:09:34.399 our minds, 00:09:35.360 --> 00:09:36.100 our thoughts, 00:09:36.100 --> 00:09:37.159 our hopes, 00:09:37.159 --> 00:09:40.000 and our dreams to God. 00:09:41.320 --> 00:09:43.600 God wants everything. 00:09:44.940 --> 00:09:47.620 Now it sounds a bit greedy for God to want everything. 00:09:48.820 --> 00:09:55.680 But when we remember how deep God's mercies are for us, 00:09:57.100 --> 00:09:58.740 that his mercy in Jesus, 00:09:59.120 --> 00:10:02.399 we only have anything because of God's mercy to us. 00:10:02.399 --> 00:10:06.279 And so the most obvious response to God's mercy 00:10:06.279 --> 00:10:09.779 is to offer everything as a living sacrifice. 00:10:10.679 --> 00:10:11.459 And it's living. 00:10:12.459 --> 00:10:13.639 It's not just a once-off, 00:10:13.740 --> 00:10:14.699 I have done that. 00:10:14.860 --> 00:10:15.759 It is a living thing. 00:10:15.840 --> 00:10:17.220 We continue to offer it. 00:10:17.620 --> 00:10:18.779 It's a daily giving. 00:10:19.919 --> 00:10:21.740 As we continue to read God's word, 00:10:21.840 --> 00:10:23.840 we are reminded of his mercy. 00:10:24.399 --> 00:10:27.879 And we continue to bring our whole lives before him. 00:10:27.879 --> 00:10:31.600 On Wednesday afternoon this week, 00:10:32.439 --> 00:10:33.980 of the week just past, 00:10:34.220 --> 00:10:36.059 I had to take my youngest to soccer. 00:10:37.580 --> 00:10:38.139 I know, 00:10:38.600 --> 00:10:41.059 and it's this 45-minute thing 00:10:41.059 --> 00:10:42.639 that happens on a Wednesday afternoon. 00:10:43.179 --> 00:10:44.259 And Wednesdays, 00:10:44.379 --> 00:10:45.340 as we all know, 00:10:45.419 --> 00:10:46.419 is the worst day of the week. 00:10:46.480 --> 00:10:47.019 It's hump day. 00:10:47.480 --> 00:10:51.100 And I feel tired by five o'clock on a Wednesday. 00:10:52.039 --> 00:10:53.080 And I had to take him. 00:10:53.299 --> 00:10:55.039 And I have this 45-minute window 00:10:55.039 --> 00:10:55.720 where I thought, 00:10:55.820 --> 00:10:56.240 do you know what? 00:10:56.240 --> 00:10:58.820 Do you know what would be really good to do right now? 00:10:59.340 --> 00:11:00.960 It would be really good to just drop Micah 00:11:00.960 --> 00:11:02.799 and then go and sit in the car and have a nap. 00:11:03.539 --> 00:11:04.840 That would be so delightful. 00:11:05.460 --> 00:11:06.560 Or maybe even read a book 00:11:06.560 --> 00:11:07.840 or just do anything I like. 00:11:08.019 --> 00:11:08.879 That would be really good. 00:11:08.980 --> 00:11:09.419 And do you know what? 00:11:09.659 --> 00:11:10.759 If I chose to do that, 00:11:10.879 --> 00:11:12.259 if I needed to rest, 00:11:12.320 --> 00:11:13.899 that would be a good thing as well. 00:11:14.180 --> 00:11:15.960 Rest is a good thing that God gives us. 00:11:17.299 --> 00:11:18.220 But on Wednesday morning, 00:11:18.340 --> 00:11:20.600 I'd also been reading my Bible 00:11:20.600 --> 00:11:24.320 and I'd been praying for a dad from soccer. 00:11:24.320 --> 00:11:28.120 I've had a couple of little conversations with him 00:11:28.120 --> 00:11:28.800 about religion. 00:11:29.980 --> 00:11:32.220 And I'd be praying that I'd have an opportunity 00:11:32.220 --> 00:11:35.240 to talk to him on Wednesday afternoon about Jesus. 00:11:35.900 --> 00:11:38.300 And there's this really dangerous thing 00:11:38.300 --> 00:11:39.540 that happens when you pray. 00:11:40.600 --> 00:11:41.900 God answers our prayers. 00:11:43.040 --> 00:11:44.220 So sometimes it's just easier. 00:11:44.300 --> 00:11:45.300 Maybe I shouldn't pray that 00:11:45.300 --> 00:11:47.860 because God might actually put that situation before me. 00:11:48.200 --> 00:11:48.980 So Wednesday afternoon, 00:11:48.980 --> 00:11:49.480 I'm thinking, 00:11:49.480 --> 00:11:51.159 it would really be good 00:11:51.159 --> 00:11:52.920 to do whatever I like right now, 00:11:52.980 --> 00:11:54.759 to have that little piece of rest. 00:11:56.580 --> 00:11:57.879 But I made the decision, 00:11:58.019 --> 00:11:58.560 actually, do you know what? 00:11:58.580 --> 00:11:59.200 I should go. 00:11:59.659 --> 00:12:01.480 I should see if I can stand there 00:12:01.480 --> 00:12:04.039 and encourage my son while he plays soccer 00:12:04.039 --> 00:12:06.600 and maybe even see if I can have 00:12:06.600 --> 00:12:08.920 a little conversation with this other dad. 00:12:09.820 --> 00:12:12.159 And I ended up having a 45-minute conversation 00:12:12.159 --> 00:12:14.820 about life, religion, Jesus, 00:12:15.340 --> 00:12:17.820 his religion, his background, his thoughts, 00:12:17.820 --> 00:12:19.500 and we're catching up this Wednesday for lunch. 00:12:20.379 --> 00:12:23.660 Now, you might expect me to do that 00:12:23.660 --> 00:12:24.620 as the missions pastor. 00:12:25.620 --> 00:12:28.300 I really didn't want to do that. 00:12:28.800 --> 00:12:32.720 And it was also a very easy and simple thing. 00:12:34.560 --> 00:12:37.379 Now, this is just a very small example 00:12:37.379 --> 00:12:40.040 of what it means to be a living sacrifice. 00:12:41.340 --> 00:12:42.760 There is the living sacrifice 00:12:42.760 --> 00:12:45.360 of offering our lives 00:12:45.360 --> 00:12:46.960 and choosing to put our pride 00:12:46.960 --> 00:12:48.100 and our lust 00:12:48.100 --> 00:12:50.419 and our greed away 00:12:50.419 --> 00:12:53.019 and offering ourselves to God. 00:12:53.200 --> 00:12:54.419 But there is also 00:12:54.419 --> 00:12:56.200 those small things. 00:12:56.600 --> 00:12:58.100 Because we can make our lives 00:12:58.100 --> 00:12:59.060 look pretty Christian, 00:12:59.919 --> 00:13:02.899 but also continue to be self-centered. 00:13:04.659 --> 00:13:06.620 Will I sacrifice my hopes 00:13:06.620 --> 00:13:07.899 and my dreams 00:13:07.899 --> 00:13:09.360 and my rest 00:13:09.360 --> 00:13:12.379 and that little 45 minutes I had? 00:13:12.379 --> 00:13:14.759 There is that inner battle. 00:13:15.600 --> 00:13:16.639 Because rest in that moment 00:13:16.639 --> 00:13:17.639 would have been good, 00:13:18.740 --> 00:13:20.000 but God actually said 00:13:20.000 --> 00:13:21.759 there is something better here. 00:13:25.139 --> 00:13:26.419 Here, Paul says, 00:13:26.539 --> 00:13:28.120 this living sacrifice, 00:13:28.399 --> 00:13:29.600 this life that we have, 00:13:30.100 --> 00:13:30.980 we can live it 00:13:30.980 --> 00:13:33.179 and it's pleasing to God. 00:13:33.879 --> 00:13:34.860 Pleasing to God. 00:13:35.279 --> 00:13:36.500 I think this is amazing. 00:13:37.620 --> 00:13:39.539 God is already pleased with us. 00:13:39.600 --> 00:13:41.039 He said to Jesus at his baptism, 00:13:41.039 --> 00:13:42.980 this is my son 00:13:42.980 --> 00:13:44.879 in whom I am well pleased. 00:13:45.299 --> 00:13:45.939 And God 00:13:45.939 --> 00:13:48.360 makes us his children 00:13:48.360 --> 00:13:50.839 and he is pleased with us. 00:13:52.199 --> 00:13:53.039 It's a delight 00:13:53.039 --> 00:13:55.240 to be pleased with my kids 00:13:55.240 --> 00:13:56.019 and to enjoy them 00:13:56.019 --> 00:13:56.559 and see that 00:13:56.559 --> 00:13:58.279 they are enjoying me 00:13:58.279 --> 00:13:59.279 being pleased with them. 00:13:59.459 --> 00:14:00.099 But can you imagine 00:14:00.099 --> 00:14:00.659 that we can actually 00:14:00.659 --> 00:14:01.839 enjoy this 00:14:01.839 --> 00:14:03.259 with the God of the universe? 00:14:03.919 --> 00:14:04.919 The God of the universe 00:14:04.919 --> 00:14:06.719 is actually already 00:14:06.719 --> 00:14:08.179 pleased with us. 00:14:08.699 --> 00:14:09.899 Not because of us, 00:14:09.899 --> 00:14:11.500 but because of him. 00:14:13.319 --> 00:14:14.319 Speaking of soccer, 00:14:14.819 --> 00:14:15.799 as I go to soccer 00:14:15.799 --> 00:14:16.819 on a Saturday morning, 00:14:17.199 --> 00:14:18.639 there are some parents 00:14:18.639 --> 00:14:20.579 who look pleased 00:14:20.579 --> 00:14:21.399 with their kids. 00:14:22.100 --> 00:14:23.720 And there are some parents 00:14:23.720 --> 00:14:24.899 who are only pleased 00:14:24.899 --> 00:14:25.799 with their kids 00:14:25.799 --> 00:14:28.579 when they're scoring goals, 00:14:28.759 --> 00:14:29.340 when they're, you know, 00:14:29.399 --> 00:14:30.019 kicking the ball 00:14:30.019 --> 00:14:30.919 in the right direction 00:14:30.919 --> 00:14:31.439 and not going 00:14:31.439 --> 00:14:32.299 in the wrong direction. 00:14:33.139 --> 00:14:34.299 You know, this is under sixes, 00:14:34.419 --> 00:14:36.620 so any small win is a win. 00:14:36.620 --> 00:14:38.639 I work hard 00:14:38.639 --> 00:14:39.460 to be the parent 00:14:39.460 --> 00:14:41.100 shouting encouragement. 00:14:42.200 --> 00:14:43.440 There are some parents 00:14:43.440 --> 00:14:45.779 who are shouting 00:14:45.779 --> 00:14:47.060 abusive encouragement 00:14:47.060 --> 00:14:48.000 on the sidelines. 00:14:48.879 --> 00:14:50.419 God is the parent 00:14:50.419 --> 00:14:51.460 who is pleased 00:14:51.460 --> 00:14:52.039 with their children 00:14:52.039 --> 00:14:52.600 whether they are 00:14:52.600 --> 00:14:53.519 scoring a goal 00:14:53.519 --> 00:14:54.440 or whether they are 00:14:54.440 --> 00:14:55.299 chasing butterflies 00:14:55.299 --> 00:14:56.560 in the wrong direction. 00:14:56.559 --> 00:14:59.539 God is already 00:14:59.539 --> 00:15:00.439 pleased with us 00:15:00.439 --> 00:15:01.699 and he invites us 00:15:01.699 --> 00:15:03.959 to be in a relationship 00:15:03.959 --> 00:15:04.479 with him 00:15:04.479 --> 00:15:05.519 where we continue 00:15:05.519 --> 00:15:06.639 to follow him, 00:15:06.839 --> 00:15:07.419 where we offer 00:15:07.419 --> 00:15:08.599 our entire lives 00:15:08.599 --> 00:15:09.659 as a living sacrifice 00:15:09.659 --> 00:15:11.359 because it is pleasing 00:15:11.359 --> 00:15:11.799 to him. 00:15:12.859 --> 00:15:14.219 What a wonderful delight 00:15:14.219 --> 00:15:14.719 that is. 00:15:15.859 --> 00:15:17.059 The second aspect 00:15:17.059 --> 00:15:17.819 of this radical 00:15:17.819 --> 00:15:18.539 Christian life 00:15:18.539 --> 00:15:19.419 is that 00:15:19.419 --> 00:15:21.399 as we go through 00:15:21.399 --> 00:15:22.659 life as a living sacrifice, 00:15:22.659 --> 00:15:24.399 it is to be transformed 00:15:24.399 --> 00:15:26.379 but not conformed. 00:15:26.459 --> 00:15:26.939 Verse 2. 00:15:29.939 --> 00:15:30.799 Do not conform 00:15:30.799 --> 00:15:31.419 to the pattern 00:15:31.419 --> 00:15:32.120 of this world 00:15:32.120 --> 00:15:33.779 but be transformed 00:15:33.779 --> 00:15:34.959 by the renewing 00:15:34.959 --> 00:15:35.799 of your mind. 00:15:36.519 --> 00:15:37.439 Then you will be able 00:15:37.439 --> 00:15:38.600 to test and approve 00:15:38.600 --> 00:15:39.559 what God's will is, 00:15:39.860 --> 00:15:40.559 his good, 00:15:41.139 --> 00:15:41.500 pleasing 00:15:41.500 --> 00:15:42.699 and perfect will. 00:15:43.600 --> 00:15:44.459 Paul holds up 00:15:44.459 --> 00:15:45.439 two ways to live, 00:15:46.620 --> 00:15:47.959 two patterns of life, 00:15:48.120 --> 00:15:48.579 the pattern 00:15:48.579 --> 00:15:49.419 of the world 00:15:49.419 --> 00:15:51.600 and the pattern 00:15:51.600 --> 00:15:52.519 of God's will 00:15:52.519 --> 00:15:54.480 and they are always 00:15:54.480 --> 00:15:56.259 set against each other. 00:15:57.379 --> 00:15:58.980 Living a pleasing, 00:15:59.379 --> 00:16:00.399 sacrificial life 00:16:00.399 --> 00:16:00.980 to God 00:16:00.980 --> 00:16:02.019 means to see 00:16:02.019 --> 00:16:02.539 the patterns 00:16:02.539 --> 00:16:03.039 of thinking 00:16:03.039 --> 00:16:04.039 of the world 00:16:04.039 --> 00:16:07.659 and not conform 00:16:07.659 --> 00:16:08.059 to them 00:16:08.059 --> 00:16:08.879 but to see 00:16:08.879 --> 00:16:09.419 the patterns 00:16:09.419 --> 00:16:09.860 and thinking 00:16:09.860 --> 00:16:10.360 of God 00:16:10.360 --> 00:16:11.360 and be transformed 00:16:11.360 --> 00:16:12.360 to live in that way. 00:16:13.059 --> 00:16:13.720 The world 00:16:13.720 --> 00:16:14.699 says to us, 00:16:15.779 --> 00:16:16.899 you deserve this, 00:16:17.399 --> 00:16:18.139 treat yourself. 00:16:19.279 --> 00:16:19.679 The world 00:16:19.679 --> 00:16:20.740 says you are 00:16:20.740 --> 00:16:21.879 the most important. 00:16:22.940 --> 00:16:23.659 Everyone else 00:16:23.659 --> 00:16:24.259 is wrong. 00:16:25.039 --> 00:16:25.539 Don't listen 00:16:25.539 --> 00:16:25.960 to them. 00:16:26.460 --> 00:16:26.779 The world 00:16:26.779 --> 00:16:27.500 says you can 00:16:27.500 --> 00:16:28.200 be whatever 00:16:28.200 --> 00:16:28.759 you want 00:16:28.759 --> 00:16:29.139 and you can 00:16:29.139 --> 00:16:29.600 do whatever 00:16:29.600 --> 00:16:30.240 you want. 00:16:31.060 --> 00:16:31.680 The world 00:16:31.680 --> 00:16:33.279 says that 00:16:33.279 --> 00:16:33.779 we should 00:16:33.779 --> 00:16:35.019 celebrate this 00:16:35.019 --> 00:16:36.259 and if you 00:16:36.259 --> 00:16:37.019 don't, 00:16:37.159 --> 00:16:37.600 well we will 00:16:37.600 --> 00:16:38.259 reject you. 00:16:39.139 --> 00:16:39.620 You should 00:16:39.620 --> 00:16:40.500 chase the dream, 00:16:40.840 --> 00:16:41.419 put yourself 00:16:41.419 --> 00:16:42.799 first and be 00:16:42.799 --> 00:16:43.639 the best version 00:16:43.639 --> 00:16:44.100 of whoever 00:16:44.100 --> 00:16:44.840 you want to be. 00:16:45.539 --> 00:16:46.259 That is the 00:16:46.259 --> 00:16:46.919 pattern of the 00:16:46.919 --> 00:16:47.539 world that we 00:16:47.539 --> 00:16:48.080 live in at the 00:16:48.080 --> 00:16:48.340 moment. 00:16:49.039 --> 00:16:49.659 But the gospel 00:16:49.659 --> 00:16:50.539 tells us 00:16:50.539 --> 00:16:51.980 that we 00:16:51.980 --> 00:16:52.719 don't deserve 00:16:52.719 --> 00:16:53.899 anything good 00:16:53.899 --> 00:16:55.419 but God 00:16:55.419 --> 00:16:55.959 gives us 00:16:55.959 --> 00:16:56.899 mercy and 00:16:56.899 --> 00:16:57.519 grace. 00:16:59.059 --> 00:17:00.259 We don't 00:17:00.259 --> 00:17:01.620 deserve anything 00:17:01.620 --> 00:17:02.600 good but we 00:17:02.600 --> 00:17:03.659 are loved 00:17:03.659 --> 00:17:04.799 and valued. 00:17:06.159 --> 00:17:07.119 We can do 00:17:07.119 --> 00:17:07.659 whatever we 00:17:07.659 --> 00:17:08.799 want because 00:17:08.799 --> 00:17:10.920 we are 00:17:10.920 --> 00:17:11.359 forgiven 00:17:11.359 --> 00:17:12.859 but we can 00:17:12.859 --> 00:17:13.799 choose to 00:17:13.799 --> 00:17:14.460 love and 00:17:14.460 --> 00:17:15.460 obey Jesus 00:17:15.460 --> 00:17:16.299 out of love 00:17:16.299 --> 00:17:17.019 and thanks to 00:17:17.019 --> 00:17:17.539 God in his 00:17:17.539 --> 00:17:17.879 mercy. 00:17:17.880 --> 00:17:19.400 being the 00:17:19.400 --> 00:17:20.080 best version 00:17:20.080 --> 00:17:21.220 of me is 00:17:21.220 --> 00:17:21.900 not actually 00:17:21.900 --> 00:17:22.960 whatever is 00:17:22.960 --> 00:17:23.300 in me, 00:17:23.400 --> 00:17:24.000 it is Jesus. 00:17:24.800 --> 00:17:25.320 That is the 00:17:25.320 --> 00:17:25.780 best version 00:17:25.780 --> 00:17:26.220 of me so 00:17:26.220 --> 00:17:27.160 that is the 00:17:27.160 --> 00:17:28.180 version I 00:17:28.180 --> 00:17:28.620 pursue. 00:17:30.500 --> 00:17:31.300 That is an 00:17:31.300 --> 00:17:31.960 identity that 00:17:31.960 --> 00:17:32.780 will stand the 00:17:32.780 --> 00:17:33.800 test of time 00:17:33.800 --> 00:17:34.580 that will not 00:17:34.580 --> 00:17:35.300 be shaken by 00:17:35.300 --> 00:17:35.960 the changing 00:17:35.960 --> 00:17:36.760 shifting pattern 00:17:36.760 --> 00:17:37.260 of the world 00:17:37.260 --> 00:17:37.800 around me. 00:17:39.080 --> 00:17:39.840 When our 00:17:39.840 --> 00:17:40.900 identity is 00:17:40.900 --> 00:17:42.080 first found 00:17:42.080 --> 00:17:42.900 and defined 00:17:42.900 --> 00:17:43.660 by God, 00:17:44.260 --> 00:17:45.060 it helps us 00:17:45.060 --> 00:17:45.720 to see everything 00:17:45.720 --> 00:17:46.279 else clearly. 00:17:46.460 --> 00:17:47.640 We can see 00:17:47.640 --> 00:17:48.240 the patterns 00:17:48.240 --> 00:17:49.120 of the world 00:17:49.120 --> 00:17:50.640 and we can 00:17:50.640 --> 00:17:51.740 test them. 00:17:52.079 --> 00:17:52.799 Is it actually 00:17:52.799 --> 00:17:53.480 going to help 00:17:53.480 --> 00:17:54.120 me to conform 00:17:54.120 --> 00:17:54.660 to this pattern 00:17:54.660 --> 00:17:55.240 of the world 00:17:55.240 --> 00:17:57.779 or am I 00:17:57.779 --> 00:17:58.500 going to be 00:17:58.500 --> 00:17:59.240 transformed 00:17:59.240 --> 00:18:01.279 to live and 00:18:01.279 --> 00:18:01.880 follow God's 00:18:01.880 --> 00:18:02.319 good and 00:18:02.319 --> 00:18:02.920 perfect will? 00:18:04.339 --> 00:18:04.740 And so, 00:18:05.519 --> 00:18:06.559 we see God's 00:18:06.559 --> 00:18:07.519 mercy to us. 00:18:08.019 --> 00:18:08.740 We dwell on 00:18:08.740 --> 00:18:09.480 God's mercy. 00:18:10.140 --> 00:18:10.860 It helps us 00:18:10.860 --> 00:18:11.440 understand how 00:18:11.440 --> 00:18:13.180 good he is to 00:18:13.180 --> 00:18:14.259 us, how he 00:18:14.259 --> 00:18:15.019 is pleased 00:18:15.019 --> 00:18:15.600 with us in 00:18:15.600 --> 00:18:17.000 Jesus, how 00:18:17.000 --> 00:18:17.779 we choose to 00:18:17.779 --> 00:18:18.680 live for him. 00:18:19.640 --> 00:18:20.340 And then it 00:18:20.340 --> 00:18:21.019 helps us to 00:18:21.019 --> 00:18:22.200 see ourselves 00:18:22.200 --> 00:18:23.200 for who we 00:18:23.200 --> 00:18:23.799 truly are. 00:18:24.279 --> 00:18:24.539 It's our 00:18:24.539 --> 00:18:25.080 second point 00:18:25.080 --> 00:18:25.400 today. 00:18:27.019 --> 00:18:27.860 If I can get 00:18:27.860 --> 00:18:28.279 the buttons 00:18:28.279 --> 00:18:28.840 to work, 00:18:29.000 --> 00:18:29.380 Wendy, I 00:18:29.380 --> 00:18:29.799 might get you 00:18:29.799 --> 00:18:30.259 to push the 00:18:30.259 --> 00:18:30.440 button. 00:18:30.620 --> 00:18:30.960 Thank you, 00:18:31.019 --> 00:18:31.279 sister. 00:18:32.560 --> 00:18:33.680 Now we can 00:18:33.680 --> 00:18:34.160 have a new 00:18:34.160 --> 00:18:34.600 view of 00:18:34.600 --> 00:18:35.060 ourself. 00:18:36.740 --> 00:18:37.320 Our primary 00:18:37.320 --> 00:18:38.039 relationship is 00:18:38.039 --> 00:18:38.539 with God. 00:18:38.759 --> 00:18:39.279 That is the 00:18:39.279 --> 00:18:39.940 most important 00:18:39.940 --> 00:18:41.259 one with us. 00:18:41.519 --> 00:18:42.420 When we have 00:18:42.420 --> 00:18:43.200 that primary 00:18:43.200 --> 00:18:43.740 relationship, 00:18:44.060 --> 00:18:44.640 we can 00:18:44.640 --> 00:18:45.420 understand who 00:18:45.420 --> 00:18:45.840 we are. 00:18:46.320 --> 00:18:46.560 And so, 00:18:46.720 --> 00:18:47.220 verse 3, 00:18:48.000 --> 00:18:48.779 by the grace 00:18:48.779 --> 00:18:49.480 given me, 00:18:49.560 --> 00:18:50.120 I say to 00:18:50.120 --> 00:18:50.759 every one of 00:18:50.759 --> 00:18:51.800 you, do not 00:18:51.800 --> 00:18:52.220 think of 00:18:52.220 --> 00:18:53.039 yourselves more 00:18:53.039 --> 00:18:53.779 highly than 00:18:53.779 --> 00:18:54.320 you ought, 00:18:54.860 --> 00:18:55.400 but rather 00:18:55.400 --> 00:18:55.840 think of 00:18:55.840 --> 00:18:56.360 yourself with 00:18:56.360 --> 00:18:57.120 sober judgment 00:18:57.120 --> 00:18:58.259 in accordance 00:18:58.259 --> 00:18:58.700 with the 00:18:58.700 --> 00:18:59.360 faith God 00:18:59.360 --> 00:19:00.259 has distributed 00:19:00.259 --> 00:19:01.160 to each of 00:19:01.160 --> 00:19:01.420 you. 00:19:02.380 --> 00:19:02.880 Do not 00:19:02.880 --> 00:19:03.120 think of 00:19:03.120 --> 00:19:03.420 your health 00:19:03.420 --> 00:19:04.039 more highly 00:19:04.039 --> 00:19:04.360 than you 00:19:04.360 --> 00:19:05.360 ought, but 00:19:05.360 --> 00:19:05.720 think of 00:19:05.720 --> 00:19:06.500 yourself with 00:19:06.500 --> 00:19:07.240 sober judgment. 00:19:08.340 --> 00:19:08.860 Paul has 00:19:08.860 --> 00:19:09.480 shown us 00:19:09.480 --> 00:19:10.740 that we 00:19:10.740 --> 00:19:11.519 are to 00:19:11.519 --> 00:19:12.619 live in 00:19:12.619 --> 00:19:13.039 light of 00:19:13.039 --> 00:19:13.359 God's 00:19:13.359 --> 00:19:13.839 mercies. 00:19:15.079 --> 00:19:15.759 That's how 00:19:15.759 --> 00:19:16.279 we live in 00:19:16.279 --> 00:19:17.059 right relationship 00:19:17.059 --> 00:19:17.480 with him. 00:19:17.700 --> 00:19:18.139 You only need 00:19:18.139 --> 00:19:18.579 to be reading 00:19:18.579 --> 00:19:18.940 the Old 00:19:18.940 --> 00:19:19.539 Testament to 00:19:19.539 --> 00:19:20.079 see how 00:19:20.079 --> 00:19:21.440 constantly the 00:19:21.440 --> 00:19:22.259 people would 00:19:22.259 --> 00:19:22.779 remember, 00:19:23.200 --> 00:19:23.539 this is what 00:19:23.539 --> 00:19:24.059 God has done 00:19:24.059 --> 00:19:24.440 for us. 00:19:24.639 --> 00:19:25.319 This is the 00:19:25.319 --> 00:19:26.059 God who has 00:19:26.059 --> 00:19:27.160 saved us from 00:19:27.160 --> 00:19:28.279 Egypt, living 00:19:28.279 --> 00:19:28.779 in light of 00:19:28.779 --> 00:19:29.480 God's mercies, 00:19:30.220 --> 00:19:32.099 living sacrificially, 00:19:32.480 --> 00:19:33.200 transformed by 00:19:33.200 --> 00:19:33.759 his mercy. 00:19:34.599 --> 00:19:35.480 And now he 00:19:35.480 --> 00:19:36.119 shows us how 00:19:36.119 --> 00:19:36.460 we are to 00:19:36.460 --> 00:19:36.859 relate to 00:19:36.859 --> 00:19:37.500 ourselves. 00:19:38.579 --> 00:19:39.000 And he 00:19:39.000 --> 00:19:39.460 uses the 00:19:39.460 --> 00:19:40.039 language of 00:19:40.039 --> 00:19:41.039 sober judgment. 00:19:41.519 --> 00:19:43.299 Think of 00:19:43.299 --> 00:19:43.819 a person 00:19:43.819 --> 00:19:44.519 who is 00:19:44.519 --> 00:19:45.180 not sober, 00:19:45.759 --> 00:19:46.500 who is 00:19:46.500 --> 00:19:47.000 under the 00:19:47.000 --> 00:19:47.799 influence of 00:19:47.799 --> 00:19:48.759 alcohol or 00:19:48.759 --> 00:19:49.220 drugs, 00:19:49.799 --> 00:19:50.420 someone who 00:19:50.420 --> 00:19:50.799 is not 00:19:50.799 --> 00:19:51.200 thinking 00:19:51.200 --> 00:19:51.660 clearly. 00:19:53.039 --> 00:19:53.579 They will 00:19:53.579 --> 00:19:54.420 often, in 00:19:54.420 --> 00:19:55.420 my limited 00:19:55.420 --> 00:19:56.059 experience, 00:19:56.579 --> 00:19:57.619 act in one 00:19:57.619 --> 00:19:57.980 of two 00:19:57.980 --> 00:19:58.420 ways. 00:19:59.599 --> 00:20:00.660 They will 00:20:00.660 --> 00:20:02.079 either become 00:20:02.079 --> 00:20:03.180 very boastful, 00:20:03.799 --> 00:20:04.259 they will 00:20:04.259 --> 00:20:04.779 think that they 00:20:04.779 --> 00:20:05.099 can do 00:20:05.099 --> 00:20:05.740 anything, I 00:20:05.740 --> 00:20:06.799 can jump 00:20:06.799 --> 00:20:07.240 over that 00:20:07.240 --> 00:20:08.119 wall, I 00:20:08.119 --> 00:20:08.720 can fight 00:20:08.720 --> 00:20:09.420 that crocodile, 00:20:09.960 --> 00:20:10.700 I can drive 00:20:10.700 --> 00:20:11.759 a car, I 00:20:11.759 --> 00:20:12.080 can do 00:20:12.080 --> 00:20:12.460 anything. 00:20:14.039 --> 00:20:14.559 None of 00:20:14.559 --> 00:20:14.960 these are 00:20:14.960 --> 00:20:16.340 good decisions, 00:20:16.980 --> 00:20:17.600 but also 00:20:17.600 --> 00:20:20.860 impacted by 00:20:20.860 --> 00:20:21.759 alcohol or 00:20:21.759 --> 00:20:22.519 drugs, the 00:20:22.519 --> 00:20:23.039 opposite can 00:20:23.039 --> 00:20:23.319 happen. 00:20:24.819 --> 00:20:25.580 Alcohol is a 00:20:25.580 --> 00:20:26.620 depressant, and 00:20:26.620 --> 00:20:27.740 so people can be 00:20:27.740 --> 00:20:28.720 depressed, unwilling 00:20:28.720 --> 00:20:29.660 to do anything, 00:20:30.340 --> 00:20:30.860 or thinking 00:20:30.860 --> 00:20:31.400 lowly of 00:20:31.400 --> 00:20:31.759 themselves. 00:20:32.779 --> 00:20:33.340 And so Paul 00:20:33.340 --> 00:20:33.759 is saying, 00:20:34.160 --> 00:20:35.200 don't react in 00:20:35.200 --> 00:20:35.940 either of those 00:20:35.940 --> 00:20:37.100 ways, think 00:20:37.100 --> 00:20:38.400 clearly of 00:20:38.400 --> 00:20:39.060 yourself. 00:20:40.320 --> 00:20:40.660 Think of 00:20:40.660 --> 00:20:41.180 yourself with 00:20:41.180 --> 00:20:42.140 sober judgment, 00:20:42.420 --> 00:20:42.980 in accordance 00:20:42.980 --> 00:20:43.360 with the 00:20:43.360 --> 00:20:43.840 faith given 00:20:43.840 --> 00:20:44.160 you by 00:20:44.160 --> 00:20:44.580 God. 00:20:45.160 --> 00:20:45.600 We only 00:20:45.600 --> 00:20:45.980 need to go 00:20:45.980 --> 00:20:46.400 back to 00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:47.460 Romans 3, 00:20:47.759 --> 00:20:48.360 which has a 00:20:48.360 --> 00:20:49.320 wonderful contrast 00:20:49.320 --> 00:20:49.880 that demonstrates 00:20:49.880 --> 00:20:50.420 this. 00:20:51.519 --> 00:20:52.440 We have 00:20:52.440 --> 00:20:53.640 all sinned and 00:20:53.640 --> 00:20:54.300 fallen short of 00:20:54.300 --> 00:20:54.780 God's glory. 00:20:55.080 --> 00:20:55.380 Think of 00:20:55.380 --> 00:20:56.220 yourselves as 00:20:56.220 --> 00:20:57.220 incredibly low. 00:20:58.920 --> 00:20:59.700 We all 00:20:59.700 --> 00:21:00.240 deserve his 00:21:00.240 --> 00:21:00.640 punishment. 00:21:01.040 --> 00:21:01.460 It would be 00:21:01.460 --> 00:21:02.140 right to think 00:21:02.140 --> 00:21:03.140 of ourselves as 00:21:03.140 --> 00:21:03.820 the lowest of 00:21:03.820 --> 00:21:04.280 the lows. 00:21:05.000 --> 00:21:05.460 And yet the 00:21:05.460 --> 00:21:06.040 very next 00:21:06.039 --> 00:21:07.180 verse, we 00:21:07.180 --> 00:21:07.899 are all 00:21:07.899 --> 00:21:08.720 justified 00:21:08.720 --> 00:21:09.559 freely by 00:21:09.559 --> 00:21:10.279 his grace 00:21:10.279 --> 00:21:11.059 through the 00:21:11.059 --> 00:21:11.579 redemption that 00:21:11.579 --> 00:21:12.039 came in 00:21:12.039 --> 00:21:12.680 Christ Jesus. 00:21:13.259 --> 00:21:13.799 How can we 00:21:13.799 --> 00:21:14.399 think lowly of 00:21:14.399 --> 00:21:15.240 ourselves when 00:21:15.240 --> 00:21:15.899 God has said 00:21:15.899 --> 00:21:16.700 that his son 00:21:16.700 --> 00:21:17.460 has died for 00:21:17.460 --> 00:21:18.000 us and that 00:21:18.000 --> 00:21:18.799 he values us 00:21:18.799 --> 00:21:19.420 so highly? 00:21:20.579 --> 00:21:21.220 It is this 00:21:21.220 --> 00:21:22.159 wonderful 00:21:22.159 --> 00:21:24.039 contradiction of 00:21:24.039 --> 00:21:24.639 holding these 00:21:24.639 --> 00:21:25.259 two together. 00:21:26.119 --> 00:21:26.799 We have 00:21:26.799 --> 00:21:27.220 sinned and 00:21:27.220 --> 00:21:27.799 fallen far 00:21:27.799 --> 00:21:28.180 short of the 00:21:28.180 --> 00:21:28.519 glory of 00:21:28.519 --> 00:21:29.159 God, and 00:21:29.159 --> 00:21:29.799 yet in 00:21:29.799 --> 00:21:30.359 Jesus he 00:21:30.359 --> 00:21:31.119 redeems us 00:21:31.119 --> 00:21:31.859 and values 00:21:31.859 --> 00:21:32.240 us. 00:21:34.000 --> 00:21:34.420 And so we 00:21:34.420 --> 00:21:34.799 need to hold 00:21:34.799 --> 00:21:35.200 these two 00:21:35.200 --> 00:21:36.079 together because 00:21:36.079 --> 00:21:36.720 Paul has 00:21:36.720 --> 00:21:37.500 warned us 00:21:37.500 --> 00:21:38.279 of the 00:21:38.279 --> 00:21:39.559 danger of 00:21:39.559 --> 00:21:40.419 conforming 00:21:40.419 --> 00:21:40.919 ourselves to 00:21:40.919 --> 00:21:41.220 the pattern 00:21:41.220 --> 00:21:41.440 of the 00:21:41.440 --> 00:21:41.779 world. 00:21:42.879 --> 00:21:43.480 Our culture 00:21:43.480 --> 00:21:44.399 gives warnings 00:21:44.399 --> 00:21:45.519 to low 00:21:45.519 --> 00:21:46.159 self-esteem. 00:21:47.319 --> 00:21:48.220 But really 00:21:48.220 --> 00:21:48.700 the biggest 00:21:48.700 --> 00:21:49.539 issue of 00:21:49.539 --> 00:21:49.919 the world 00:21:49.919 --> 00:21:51.279 is egocentrism 00:21:51.279 --> 00:21:53.159 and self-centeredness. 00:21:53.940 --> 00:21:54.879 Having an 00:21:54.879 --> 00:21:55.799 inflated ego, 00:21:56.599 --> 00:21:57.480 thinking too 00:21:57.480 --> 00:21:58.279 highly of 00:21:58.279 --> 00:21:58.859 ourselves. 00:22:00.619 --> 00:22:01.500 But we are 00:22:01.500 --> 00:22:02.019 called to have 00:22:02.019 --> 00:22:02.720 sober judgment, 00:22:03.000 --> 00:22:03.500 to think 00:22:03.500 --> 00:22:04.539 clearly about 00:22:04.539 --> 00:22:04.920 who we 00:22:04.920 --> 00:22:06.299 are, in 00:22:06.299 --> 00:22:07.019 accordance with 00:22:07.019 --> 00:22:07.480 the faith 00:22:07.480 --> 00:22:08.099 given us. 00:22:08.940 --> 00:22:09.920 Now, when I 00:22:09.920 --> 00:22:10.920 first read this, 00:22:11.000 --> 00:22:11.740 I thought, in 00:22:11.740 --> 00:22:12.359 accordance with 00:22:12.359 --> 00:22:13.460 the faith, it 00:22:13.460 --> 00:22:14.359 seems like it's 00:22:14.359 --> 00:22:15.160 about the amount 00:22:15.160 --> 00:22:16.220 of faith that 00:22:16.220 --> 00:22:16.880 God has given 00:22:16.880 --> 00:22:17.339 to me. 00:22:17.599 --> 00:22:18.240 And so if God 00:22:18.240 --> 00:22:18.859 has given me 00:22:18.859 --> 00:22:20.240 much faith, I 00:22:20.240 --> 00:22:21.000 can think highly 00:22:21.000 --> 00:22:21.700 of myself. 00:22:22.180 --> 00:22:22.960 I'm so 00:22:22.960 --> 00:22:24.380 faithful, I'm 00:22:24.380 --> 00:22:25.019 really great 00:22:25.019 --> 00:22:25.619 because of how 00:22:25.619 --> 00:22:26.380 much faith God 00:22:26.380 --> 00:22:27.079 has given me. 00:22:28.339 --> 00:22:28.940 But if you've 00:22:28.940 --> 00:22:30.079 been with us over 00:22:30.079 --> 00:22:30.839 the last three 00:22:30.839 --> 00:22:32.519 weeks, Paul has 00:22:32.519 --> 00:22:33.119 been talking 00:22:33.119 --> 00:22:33.639 about the 00:22:33.639 --> 00:22:34.680 Christians and 00:22:34.680 --> 00:22:35.539 the Jews and 00:22:35.539 --> 00:22:36.879 the Gentiles and 00:22:36.879 --> 00:22:37.700 how salvation 00:22:37.700 --> 00:22:39.220 works for these 00:22:39.220 --> 00:22:39.819 groups coming 00:22:39.819 --> 00:22:40.119 in. 00:22:41.160 --> 00:22:41.539 And so it's 00:22:41.539 --> 00:22:42.099 not about how 00:22:42.099 --> 00:22:43.920 much faith I 00:22:43.920 --> 00:22:44.480 have. 00:22:45.480 --> 00:22:46.460 Paul is calling 00:22:46.460 --> 00:22:47.779 on the Jews not 00:22:47.779 --> 00:22:48.379 to think too 00:22:48.379 --> 00:22:48.920 highly of 00:22:48.920 --> 00:22:49.299 themselves. 00:22:49.740 --> 00:22:50.319 They have come 00:22:50.319 --> 00:22:50.859 from a long 00:22:50.859 --> 00:22:51.879 lineage of people 00:22:51.879 --> 00:22:53.019 following God. 00:22:53.359 --> 00:22:54.240 Don't think that 00:22:54.240 --> 00:22:55.059 you're better because 00:22:55.059 --> 00:22:55.779 you have this. 00:22:56.160 --> 00:22:57.299 And Gentiles, just 00:22:57.299 --> 00:22:57.980 because you've been 00:22:57.980 --> 00:22:58.720 Christian for about 00:22:58.720 --> 00:22:59.400 half an hour, 00:22:59.759 --> 00:23:00.319 don't think of 00:23:00.319 --> 00:23:00.980 yourselves too 00:23:00.980 --> 00:23:02.819 lowly, God 00:23:02.819 --> 00:23:03.960 has given the 00:23:03.960 --> 00:23:06.000 same faith to 00:23:06.000 --> 00:23:06.679 each of you. 00:23:07.659 --> 00:23:08.659 God is the one 00:23:08.659 --> 00:23:09.480 who gives faith, 00:23:10.179 --> 00:23:10.919 regardless of 00:23:10.919 --> 00:23:12.119 background, regardless 00:23:12.119 --> 00:23:13.059 of abilities and 00:23:13.059 --> 00:23:13.659 giftings. 00:23:14.279 --> 00:23:15.119 God loves us 00:23:15.119 --> 00:23:16.179 equally in Jesus. 00:23:17.700 --> 00:23:18.019 And so the 00:23:18.019 --> 00:23:20.179 gospel prevents us 00:23:20.179 --> 00:23:21.539 from thinking more 00:23:21.539 --> 00:23:22.879 lowly of ourselves 00:23:22.879 --> 00:23:24.399 and more highly 00:23:24.399 --> 00:23:25.179 of ourselves. 00:23:26.159 --> 00:23:27.299 It's a call to 00:23:27.299 --> 00:23:28.119 remember who we 00:23:28.119 --> 00:23:28.879 are in the gospel, 00:23:29.819 --> 00:23:30.759 valued and loved 00:23:30.759 --> 00:23:31.319 by God. 00:23:32.339 --> 00:23:34.039 And so when we 00:23:34.039 --> 00:23:34.859 are sitting in 00:23:34.859 --> 00:23:35.539 God's mercy, 00:23:36.299 --> 00:23:37.339 understanding of 00:23:37.339 --> 00:23:38.859 who we are, 00:23:39.439 --> 00:23:40.759 undeserved and 00:23:40.759 --> 00:23:41.719 yet valued and 00:23:41.719 --> 00:23:44.459 loved, we 00:23:44.459 --> 00:23:45.579 understand how we 00:23:45.579 --> 00:23:46.299 relate to other 00:23:46.299 --> 00:23:46.619 people. 00:23:47.399 --> 00:23:48.199 Because we are 00:23:48.199 --> 00:23:49.000 not saved to be 00:23:49.000 --> 00:23:49.539 an island. 00:23:50.879 --> 00:23:51.919 Christians have 00:23:51.919 --> 00:23:53.319 an interdependent 00:23:53.319 --> 00:23:54.059 relationship with 00:23:54.059 --> 00:23:54.319 others. 00:23:54.739 --> 00:23:55.659 We have a new 00:23:55.659 --> 00:23:56.119 service. 00:23:56.319 --> 00:23:57.519 Verse 4 and 5. 00:23:57.519 --> 00:23:58.799 For just as 00:23:58.799 --> 00:23:59.839 each of us has 00:23:59.839 --> 00:24:01.119 one body with 00:24:01.119 --> 00:24:01.859 many members, 00:24:02.379 --> 00:24:02.819 and these 00:24:02.819 --> 00:24:03.639 members do not 00:24:03.639 --> 00:24:04.279 all have the 00:24:04.279 --> 00:24:04.920 same function, 00:24:05.680 --> 00:24:06.879 so in Christ 00:24:06.879 --> 00:24:08.259 we though many 00:24:08.259 --> 00:24:09.460 form one body 00:24:09.460 --> 00:24:10.759 and each member 00:24:10.759 --> 00:24:11.839 belongs to all 00:24:11.839 --> 00:24:12.299 the others. 00:24:13.059 --> 00:24:13.619 We have 00:24:13.619 --> 00:24:14.180 different gifts, 00:24:14.759 --> 00:24:14.960 different 00:24:14.960 --> 00:24:15.619 personalities, 00:24:15.960 --> 00:24:16.579 different histories 00:24:16.579 --> 00:24:17.379 and abilities 00:24:17.379 --> 00:24:18.799 that equip us 00:24:18.799 --> 00:24:19.700 to serve each 00:24:19.700 --> 00:24:20.379 other differently. 00:24:21.460 --> 00:24:22.180 God has 00:24:22.180 --> 00:24:23.139 deliberately 00:24:23.139 --> 00:24:24.119 created his 00:24:24.119 --> 00:24:25.500 church to be 00:24:25.500 --> 00:24:26.319 a beautiful 00:24:26.319 --> 00:24:27.179 tapestry of 00:24:27.179 --> 00:24:28.039 uniqueness and 00:24:28.039 --> 00:24:28.579 difference. 00:24:29.740 --> 00:24:30.879 A place where 00:24:30.879 --> 00:24:31.460 that difference 00:24:31.460 --> 00:24:32.939 is needed and 00:24:32.939 --> 00:24:34.220 celebrated and 00:24:34.220 --> 00:24:35.359 not just ironed 00:24:35.359 --> 00:24:36.200 out so everybody 00:24:36.200 --> 00:24:37.099 would look like 00:24:37.099 --> 00:24:38.740 me because that 00:24:38.740 --> 00:24:39.200 would be a 00:24:39.200 --> 00:24:39.899 terrible thing. 00:24:40.980 --> 00:24:41.439 And then verse 00:24:41.439 --> 00:24:41.759 6. 00:24:42.179 --> 00:24:42.779 We have 00:24:42.779 --> 00:24:44.279 different gifts 00:24:44.279 --> 00:24:46.200 according to the 00:24:46.200 --> 00:24:47.559 grace God gives 00:24:47.559 --> 00:24:47.899 us. 00:24:48.899 --> 00:24:50.259 God is the one 00:24:50.259 --> 00:24:50.960 who makes us 00:24:50.960 --> 00:24:51.759 righteous by his 00:24:51.759 --> 00:24:53.079 grace and he 00:24:53.079 --> 00:24:53.960 gives us gifts 00:24:53.960 --> 00:24:55.039 by that same 00:24:55.039 --> 00:24:55.519 grace. 00:24:56.660 --> 00:24:57.180 But these 00:24:57.180 --> 00:24:58.160 aren't for our 00:24:58.160 --> 00:24:59.120 benefit, these 00:24:59.120 --> 00:25:00.799 are to be given 00:25:00.799 --> 00:25:01.519 to others. 00:25:02.000 --> 00:25:02.460 They are for 00:25:02.460 --> 00:25:02.779 others. 00:25:03.519 --> 00:25:04.660 We all have a 00:25:04.660 --> 00:25:05.920 role to play in 00:25:05.920 --> 00:25:06.460 the church. 00:25:07.120 --> 00:25:08.299 We need others 00:25:08.299 --> 00:25:09.539 and others 00:25:09.539 --> 00:25:10.559 need us. 00:25:11.440 --> 00:25:12.180 When we see 00:25:12.180 --> 00:25:12.900 ourselves with 00:25:12.900 --> 00:25:13.700 sober judgment, 00:25:14.240 --> 00:25:14.860 when we see 00:25:14.860 --> 00:25:15.900 ourselves rightly, 00:25:16.900 --> 00:25:18.539 we see that we 00:25:18.539 --> 00:25:19.259 are not to be on 00:25:19.259 --> 00:25:19.620 our own. 00:25:19.740 --> 00:25:21.039 We belong to God 00:25:21.039 --> 00:25:21.980 as his children, 00:25:22.839 --> 00:25:23.460 but we also 00:25:23.460 --> 00:25:24.240 belong to the 00:25:24.240 --> 00:25:24.700 church. 00:25:25.920 --> 00:25:26.440 And Paul goes 00:25:26.440 --> 00:25:27.200 on to list a 00:25:27.200 --> 00:25:27.980 number of gifts. 00:25:28.339 --> 00:25:28.960 It's similar to 00:25:28.960 --> 00:25:29.639 the list in 1 00:25:29.639 --> 00:25:30.700 Corinthians 12 and 00:25:30.700 --> 00:25:31.420 Ephesians 4. 00:25:31.599 --> 00:25:32.279 I'm not going to 00:25:32.279 --> 00:25:33.259 extensively look at 00:25:33.259 --> 00:25:34.099 this list today, 00:25:34.920 --> 00:25:35.700 but you can see 00:25:35.700 --> 00:25:36.680 that as we go 00:25:36.680 --> 00:25:37.059 through this, 00:25:37.359 --> 00:25:38.460 these are gifts 00:25:38.460 --> 00:25:39.519 for others. 00:25:40.019 --> 00:25:40.759 These are other 00:25:40.759 --> 00:25:41.519 person-centered. 00:25:42.599 --> 00:25:43.139 And so if your 00:25:43.139 --> 00:25:44.240 gift is prophesying, 00:25:44.859 --> 00:25:45.740 then prophesy in 00:25:45.740 --> 00:25:46.240 accordance with 00:25:46.240 --> 00:25:46.740 your faith. 00:25:46.960 --> 00:25:47.759 If it's serving, 00:25:47.879 --> 00:25:48.240 then serve. 00:25:48.319 --> 00:25:48.960 If it's teaching, 00:25:49.079 --> 00:25:49.619 then teach. 00:25:49.619 --> 00:25:50.959 If it's to 00:25:50.959 --> 00:25:51.399 encourage, 00:25:51.539 --> 00:25:52.079 then give 00:25:52.079 --> 00:25:52.859 encouragement. 00:25:53.719 --> 00:25:54.519 If it's giving, 00:25:54.639 --> 00:25:55.359 then give generously. 00:25:56.039 --> 00:25:56.719 If it's to lead, 00:25:56.799 --> 00:25:57.379 do it diligently. 00:25:57.659 --> 00:25:58.239 If it's to show 00:25:58.239 --> 00:25:59.959 mercy, do it 00:25:59.959 --> 00:26:00.579 cheerfully. 00:26:02.279 --> 00:26:03.939 I recently did a 00:26:03.939 --> 00:26:04.699 gifts assessment. 00:26:05.719 --> 00:26:06.479 It's one of the 00:26:06.479 --> 00:26:08.059 things that we are 00:26:08.059 --> 00:26:08.879 working on as a 00:26:08.879 --> 00:26:09.159 church. 00:26:09.899 --> 00:26:11.379 I have done these 00:26:11.379 --> 00:26:12.179 gifts assessment in 00:26:12.179 --> 00:26:12.699 the past. 00:26:12.879 --> 00:26:13.799 If you don't know 00:26:13.799 --> 00:26:14.399 of them, what you 00:26:14.399 --> 00:26:15.779 do is you go 00:26:15.779 --> 00:26:16.419 through a bunch of 00:26:16.419 --> 00:26:18.479 questions just to 00:26:18.480 --> 00:26:19.960 see and help you 00:26:19.960 --> 00:26:23.019 identify how God 00:26:23.019 --> 00:26:24.420 has gifted you 00:26:24.420 --> 00:26:25.319 because he has 00:26:25.319 --> 00:26:26.559 gifted us all very 00:26:26.559 --> 00:26:27.000 differently. 00:26:27.920 --> 00:26:28.579 And two of the 00:26:28.579 --> 00:26:29.420 main gifts that 00:26:29.420 --> 00:26:30.779 stuck out to me 00:26:30.779 --> 00:26:31.720 this time as I 00:26:31.720 --> 00:26:33.559 did it was hosting 00:26:33.559 --> 00:26:35.380 and evangelism. 00:26:36.360 --> 00:26:37.000 And I think that's, 00:26:37.400 --> 00:26:37.860 it was really 00:26:37.860 --> 00:26:38.559 helpful for me to 00:26:38.559 --> 00:26:39.319 do that because it's 00:26:39.319 --> 00:26:40.240 reminded me of one 00:26:40.240 --> 00:26:41.519 of my great loves, 00:26:42.059 --> 00:26:43.380 being part of the 00:26:43.380 --> 00:26:45.019 church, having people 00:26:45.019 --> 00:26:46.279 at my house and 00:26:46.279 --> 00:26:47.559 eating food together. 00:26:47.559 --> 00:26:48.679 I'm not sure if 00:26:48.679 --> 00:26:49.299 you've done that 00:26:49.299 --> 00:26:49.799 with me. 00:26:50.039 --> 00:26:50.480 I'm not going to 00:26:50.480 --> 00:26:51.200 ask for a show of 00:26:51.200 --> 00:26:51.480 hands. 00:26:51.599 --> 00:26:52.659 If you haven't been 00:26:52.659 --> 00:26:53.279 to my house and 00:26:53.279 --> 00:26:54.480 eaten food, I'd love 00:26:54.480 --> 00:26:55.119 you to come to my 00:26:55.119 --> 00:26:55.980 house and eat food. 00:26:56.779 --> 00:26:57.500 Hosting is one of 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:58.339 my favorite things. 00:26:59.419 --> 00:27:00.799 I saw these two 00:27:00.799 --> 00:27:01.960 gifts, hosting and 00:27:01.960 --> 00:27:02.819 evangelism, and I 00:27:02.819 --> 00:27:04.240 thought, yes, this 00:27:04.240 --> 00:27:05.099 is something I love 00:27:05.099 --> 00:27:05.599 to do. 00:27:07.139 --> 00:27:08.940 And I saw this as 00:27:08.940 --> 00:27:09.720 also a wonderful 00:27:09.720 --> 00:27:11.339 combination in a way 00:27:11.339 --> 00:27:11.980 that I haven't really 00:27:11.980 --> 00:27:12.940 done it, done it in 00:27:12.940 --> 00:27:13.980 an evangelistic way. 00:27:14.399 --> 00:27:15.079 And so as I 00:27:15.079 --> 00:27:15.619 mentioned, I'm having 00:27:15.619 --> 00:27:16.359 lunch with this guy 00:27:16.359 --> 00:27:17.240 on Wednesday, I 00:27:17.240 --> 00:27:17.879 really want to have 00:27:17.879 --> 00:27:18.939 him and his family 00:27:18.939 --> 00:27:21.000 over and eat food 00:27:21.000 --> 00:27:22.939 with them and share 00:27:22.939 --> 00:27:25.399 not just bread, but 00:27:25.399 --> 00:27:26.799 also the good news 00:27:26.799 --> 00:27:27.240 of Jesus. 00:27:28.519 --> 00:27:29.500 And so that's one 00:27:29.500 --> 00:27:29.939 thing that's 00:27:29.939 --> 00:27:31.319 encouraging me, this 00:27:31.319 --> 00:27:32.119 other person 00:27:32.119 --> 00:27:33.139 centeredness of these 00:27:33.139 --> 00:27:33.399 gifts. 00:27:34.539 --> 00:27:35.539 Do you know what 00:27:35.539 --> 00:27:36.500 your gifts are? 00:27:38.519 --> 00:27:39.539 Do you know how 00:27:39.539 --> 00:27:40.559 God has uniquely 00:27:40.559 --> 00:27:42.699 created you as part 00:27:42.699 --> 00:27:43.879 of the church to 00:27:43.879 --> 00:27:45.699 love and serve other 00:27:45.700 --> 00:27:46.100 people? 00:27:47.680 --> 00:27:49.000 Now, I know 00:27:49.000 --> 00:27:49.700 because I've done 00:27:49.700 --> 00:27:50.620 these in the past. 00:27:51.400 --> 00:27:52.440 I know how God 00:27:52.440 --> 00:27:53.940 has gifted me and 00:27:53.940 --> 00:27:54.779 it's led me into 00:27:54.779 --> 00:27:55.920 pastoral ministry. 00:27:57.420 --> 00:27:58.640 But I still needed 00:27:58.640 --> 00:28:00.600 that reminder to 00:28:00.600 --> 00:28:01.840 encourage me to lean 00:28:01.840 --> 00:28:03.019 into that, to be 00:28:03.019 --> 00:28:03.940 doing that more. 00:28:05.640 --> 00:28:06.700 Come and talk with me 00:28:06.700 --> 00:28:07.400 after church. 00:28:08.120 --> 00:28:09.720 I've got a test that 00:28:09.720 --> 00:28:10.559 I can get you to do 00:28:10.559 --> 00:28:11.680 if you would like to 00:28:11.680 --> 00:28:12.759 do that. 00:28:12.980 --> 00:28:13.319 That would be 00:28:13.319 --> 00:28:14.299 wonderful and helpful 00:28:14.299 --> 00:28:14.899 to be thinking 00:28:14.899 --> 00:28:15.579 about this. 00:28:17.319 --> 00:28:18.740 A reordered view 00:28:18.740 --> 00:28:20.879 of God, a reordered 00:28:20.879 --> 00:28:22.019 view of ourselves, 00:28:22.799 --> 00:28:24.059 helps us to have a 00:28:24.059 --> 00:28:25.159 healthy Christian life 00:28:25.159 --> 00:28:26.720 to serve others as 00:28:26.720 --> 00:28:27.500 part of the church. 00:28:28.539 --> 00:28:29.460 It presents a 00:28:29.460 --> 00:28:30.700 wonderful picture of 00:28:30.700 --> 00:28:31.839 the church's family, 00:28:32.899 --> 00:28:34.720 where we know our 00:28:34.720 --> 00:28:36.200 place, we know our 00:28:36.200 --> 00:28:37.460 roles, and know the 00:28:37.460 --> 00:28:38.619 one who is directing 00:28:38.619 --> 00:28:39.299 things. 00:28:39.299 --> 00:28:42.200 And the key to all of 00:28:42.200 --> 00:28:43.399 it is our relationship 00:28:43.399 --> 00:28:44.839 with the head, with 00:28:44.839 --> 00:28:46.819 God, the one who is 00:28:46.819 --> 00:28:47.819 directing all things. 00:28:49.099 --> 00:28:50.159 Because when we don't 00:28:50.159 --> 00:28:51.279 have that relationship 00:28:51.279 --> 00:28:53.019 first, it all falls 00:28:53.019 --> 00:28:53.339 apart. 00:28:54.299 --> 00:28:55.899 I did a funeral last 00:28:55.899 --> 00:28:56.159 week. 00:28:56.639 --> 00:28:57.779 I haven't done funerals 00:28:57.779 --> 00:28:59.700 for a while, but I was 00:28:59.700 --> 00:29:00.500 involved in a funeral, 00:29:00.639 --> 00:29:02.559 and it reminded me of the 00:29:02.559 --> 00:29:04.180 impact that happens on a 00:29:04.180 --> 00:29:06.700 family when a patriarch or 00:29:06.700 --> 00:29:08.299 a matriarch dies. 00:29:08.860 --> 00:29:09.960 I'm not sure if you've 00:29:09.960 --> 00:29:10.980 seen this before, but 00:29:10.980 --> 00:29:12.620 there's often in families 00:29:12.620 --> 00:29:14.319 one key person that's 00:29:14.319 --> 00:29:15.680 holding things together. 00:29:16.340 --> 00:29:16.680 You know, you think 00:29:16.680 --> 00:29:17.519 about Christmas time, 00:29:17.779 --> 00:29:18.740 all of the different 00:29:18.740 --> 00:29:19.620 families get together 00:29:19.620 --> 00:29:20.519 because they have to 00:29:20.519 --> 00:29:21.500 spend time with that 00:29:21.500 --> 00:29:23.059 one key person. 00:29:23.519 --> 00:29:24.580 It's the grandmother 00:29:24.580 --> 00:29:25.840 who's making sure that 00:29:25.840 --> 00:29:27.019 everybody brings the 00:29:27.019 --> 00:29:27.860 food and everybody 00:29:27.860 --> 00:29:28.299 gathers. 00:29:29.680 --> 00:29:31.039 But what can happen is 00:29:31.039 --> 00:29:33.059 that when that person 00:29:33.059 --> 00:29:35.980 passes, there can be 00:29:35.980 --> 00:29:37.940 bickering and infighting. 00:29:38.200 --> 00:29:39.039 People don't know how 00:29:39.039 --> 00:29:39.900 to relate to each other 00:29:39.900 --> 00:29:40.940 anymore because there 00:29:40.940 --> 00:29:42.180 is that one person 00:29:42.180 --> 00:29:43.259 holding everything 00:29:43.259 --> 00:29:43.900 together. 00:29:45.539 --> 00:29:47.380 And slowly the families 00:29:47.380 --> 00:29:48.200 pull apart. 00:29:49.299 --> 00:29:50.680 What used to hold them 00:29:50.680 --> 00:29:53.640 together now has gone 00:29:53.640 --> 00:29:54.440 and so they're just 00:29:54.440 --> 00:29:54.920 divided. 00:29:55.880 --> 00:29:57.920 I wonder if we can view 00:29:57.920 --> 00:29:59.200 Christianity as just 00:29:59.200 --> 00:30:01.680 people who are similar 00:30:01.680 --> 00:30:02.900 and so we just spend 00:30:02.900 --> 00:30:05.160 time together, but other 00:30:05.160 --> 00:30:06.200 than a Sunday, you 00:30:06.200 --> 00:30:07.060 know, we're not really 00:30:07.060 --> 00:30:08.420 in each other's lives 00:30:08.420 --> 00:30:09.180 and that's not 00:30:09.180 --> 00:30:09.640 important. 00:30:10.440 --> 00:30:11.700 We can try and hold 00:30:11.700 --> 00:30:12.800 our Christianity 00:30:12.800 --> 00:30:16.220 together without God 00:30:16.220 --> 00:30:17.180 at the centre. 00:30:19.080 --> 00:30:20.100 It's going to be useless 00:30:20.100 --> 00:30:21.220 to try and do that as a 00:30:21.220 --> 00:30:21.860 Christian community 00:30:21.860 --> 00:30:23.220 without God at the 00:30:23.220 --> 00:30:23.440 centre. 00:30:23.580 --> 00:30:24.420 He is the key. 00:30:24.779 --> 00:30:25.680 He is the one who 00:30:25.680 --> 00:30:27.480 defines our relationships. 00:30:28.300 --> 00:30:29.259 And thankfully, he'll 00:30:29.259 --> 00:30:30.100 never pass away because 00:30:30.100 --> 00:30:30.700 he's eternal. 00:30:30.700 --> 00:30:33.880 But he is the one who 00:30:33.880 --> 00:30:34.680 is over all our 00:30:34.680 --> 00:30:35.120 relationships. 00:30:35.259 --> 00:30:35.960 He is the one who 00:30:35.960 --> 00:30:38.000 gives shape to who we 00:30:38.000 --> 00:30:39.539 are and who we are as a 00:30:39.539 --> 00:30:39.900 church. 00:30:41.279 --> 00:30:42.920 Knowing how good he has 00:30:42.920 --> 00:30:45.539 been through much sin 00:30:45.539 --> 00:30:47.299 and much rebellion 00:30:47.299 --> 00:30:49.840 shapes us and calls us 00:30:49.840 --> 00:30:51.019 to forgive one another. 00:30:52.019 --> 00:30:53.720 Knowing his undeserved 00:30:53.720 --> 00:30:55.860 loves give shape to our 00:30:55.860 --> 00:30:56.460 identity. 00:30:56.460 --> 00:30:56.519 mercy. 00:30:58.019 --> 00:30:59.900 And so, brothers and 00:30:59.900 --> 00:31:01.920 sisters, tonight, 00:31:02.440 --> 00:31:04.259 tomorrow, sometime this 00:31:04.259 --> 00:31:06.400 week, let me call you to 00:31:06.400 --> 00:31:08.340 do what Paul did in verse 00:31:08.340 --> 00:31:11.680 one, to meditate on God's 00:31:11.680 --> 00:31:12.140 mercies. 00:31:12.880 --> 00:31:14.240 When we meditate on God's 00:31:14.240 --> 00:31:15.660 mercies, it gives shape to 00:31:15.660 --> 00:31:16.680 our relationship with him. 00:31:16.940 --> 00:31:18.340 It gives shape to who we 00:31:18.340 --> 00:31:20.039 are as his people and how we 00:31:20.039 --> 00:31:20.960 serve everyone else. 00:31:21.860 --> 00:31:24.240 And so this week, sit in 00:31:24.240 --> 00:31:25.000 his mercies. 00:31:25.599 --> 00:31:26.519 Read a psalm. 00:31:27.400 --> 00:31:28.980 Go through the last 11 00:31:28.980 --> 00:31:29.819 chapters of Romans. 00:31:29.920 --> 00:31:30.720 Just flick through them. 00:31:31.539 --> 00:31:32.039 Find a heading. 00:31:32.180 --> 00:31:32.859 Read a part. 00:31:33.220 --> 00:31:34.319 And just remind yourself of 00:31:34.319 --> 00:31:36.859 how good God has been to 00:31:36.859 --> 00:31:37.140 you. 00:31:38.920 --> 00:31:40.500 Even remember your story. 00:31:41.420 --> 00:31:43.519 Sit in your story as a 00:31:43.519 --> 00:31:45.259 Christian and meditate on 00:31:45.259 --> 00:31:46.620 his mercies and love to 00:31:46.620 --> 00:31:46.819 you. 00:31:47.299 --> 00:31:48.240 Let me pray for us. 00:31:48.240 --> 00:31:53.920 Heavenly Father, we thank 00:31:53.920 --> 00:31:56.559 you for your love and your 00:31:56.559 --> 00:31:57.579 mercy in Jesus. 00:31:58.059 --> 00:31:59.480 That while we were still 00:31:59.480 --> 00:32:02.440 far off, you sent Jesus to 00:32:02.440 --> 00:32:05.380 die, to come to life, to 00:32:05.380 --> 00:32:06.480 give us life in you. 00:32:07.279 --> 00:32:08.960 Father, help us never be far 00:32:08.960 --> 00:32:09.400 from you. 00:32:10.720 --> 00:32:12.900 Help us to draw close to you 00:32:12.900 --> 00:32:14.960 by remembering your mercy so 00:32:14.960 --> 00:32:16.019 that it would shape our 00:32:16.019 --> 00:32:17.160 relationship with you. 00:32:17.960 --> 00:32:19.420 Shape who we are as your 00:32:19.420 --> 00:32:21.200 people and us as your 00:32:21.200 --> 00:32:21.599 church. 00:32:22.400 --> 00:32:24.240 We pray this in Jesus' name. 00:32:24.759 --> 00:32:25.079 Amen.