WEBVTT

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 You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama.

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 Our passion is to experience and express grace.

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 Join us.

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 As we begin our sermon this morning, I'd like to invite the kids to come up here and sit

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 on the stairs with me for a couple of minutes.

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 I want to talk with you.

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 Look, you can sit with Miss Angela too.

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 It's going to be fun.

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 All right.

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 Just come on up here.

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 See if you can get where you can see me.

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 There's some seats down here in front of the steps.

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 I want to tell you all how glad we are that you all are in here worshiping God with us

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 every week.

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 Isn't it fun to be in here and get to celebrate how much God loves us?

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 That's awesome, isn't it?

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 You get to sing with us and pray with us and get to be a part of the baptism.

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 We're just really glad that you all are in here with us.

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 Sometimes, at this part of the service, Pastor Will talks for a long time, doesn't he?

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 Does anybody think sometimes Pastor Will talks too long?

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 That's not very nice.

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 Put your hands down.

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 Okay.

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 It's true.

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 It's true.

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 Sometimes, it's a little bit too long.

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 But some of y'all haven't usually been in here when we're having the sermon, when we're studying

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 God's Word together.

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 And this summer may be the first time that you're staying in here with us.

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 And we want you to know how important that is because we love God's Word.

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 Because God tells us in it how much He loves us and tells us what it means for us to be

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 His people, right?

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 And so, we want to listen to it together.

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 And so, Miss Angela has been thinking with lots of other friends really hard about how we can

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 help y'all be a part of that.

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 And so, we have these new bags for y'all.

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 Did some of y'all get one of these bags on the way in?

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 These are worship bags.

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 If you didn't, we have a whole bucket of them right there on the front.

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 And you can get one when you go back to your seat, okay?

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 But there's lots of stuff in here.

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 It's not stuff to distract you from the preaching.

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 It's stuff to help you.

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 Sometimes, is there any adults that it helps your hands to be doing something while you listen?

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 Or you like to color or draw a picture?

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 Have your parents ever colored on their bulletin?

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 Yes.

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 That's okay, isn't it?

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 And so, we've got some crafts and some crayons and lots of fun things.

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 I don't even know what you would do with something like this.

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 Pastor Will's not very crafty or creative.

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 But y'all could probably make really cool things with this.

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 There's also something in here that I want to tell you about.

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 It's called the Sermon Word Challenge.

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 You see this little piece of paper?

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 It has six words on it this week.

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 It says mercy, moon, Jesus, belonging.

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 That's a big word.

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 Exodus and grace.

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 And you can get this out of your bag.

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 And while Mr. Will is preaching this morning, you can listen for these words.

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 And when you hear them, just mark in the circle right there next to it.

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 Some of them you have to listen really closely because you might only hear them one time.

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 And you don't want to miss them, okay?

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 But some of them, your circle might get really full because I might say them a lot of times.

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 Do I sometimes say some of these words a lot?

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 Jesus a lot, I know.

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 I know, that one might get a lot of marks.

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 I hope it does.

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 So, this is for you.

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 And you can take it and maybe even get a treat in your Connect class afterwards.

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 Wouldn't that be awesome?

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 So, we do get prizes if we do it right.

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 You do get a prize.

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 Yeah, just bring your card up with you and see your small group leader.

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 Yeah, and then Miss Angela, what do we do with these bags at the end of the service?

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 Do not take them home.

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 They don't go home.

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 If you guys, when you get finished with the service, if you'll put everything back in your bag,

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 and you can take it and put it right back in the silver bins that are outside,

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 then we can refill them and then they will be here for you next Sunday.

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 Does that sound good?

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 Does that sound good?

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 I want to tell you all one more thing before you go back and sit down and listen.

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 We're going to, God's Word is so important and we want you to learn to listen to God's Word

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 and to understand God's Word.

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 And so, we have a new slide that we're going to use every Sunday when we're reading the Bible.

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 And today, our passage is from 1 Peter.

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 Do you see that?

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 Do you see that?

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 The book of 1 Peter, chapter 2, verses 9 and 10.

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 And if you don't have a Bible with you, you can get one out of the pews that are out there.

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 There are red Bibles in there.

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 And that's the page to turn to if you don't know where 1 Peter is.

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 Somebody can help you find it, okay?

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 And so, when I read it, you'll be able to follow along with us.

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 And then you can keep it open there if you want to be able to look during the sermon, okay?

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 It'll help your parents, too.

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 Some of them may read that on their phone or they may read it out of their Bible or a Bible from the pew.

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 But we want to be looking at God's Word not just when we're together in the worship service, but all week.

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 So, we want to be having God's Word in our hands and learning how to read it.

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 And that's important for you and your parents and for me.

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 So, can you all do that with me this morning?

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 All right.

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 Grab a bag if you don't have one and you can go back to your seats and we're going to listen to God's Word.

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 Thanks, Pastor Will.

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 Adults, if you need a bag to help you for the next 30 minutes,

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 please feel free to come forward.

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 Nobody will embarrass you.

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 I might call your name.

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 That's okay.

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 I am really excited about this new sermon series,

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 One Another.

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 A very creative title, I know,

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 since we'll be looking at some of the about 60 places in the New Testament

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 where that phrase is used

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 to help us learn

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 what relating to each other

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 in gospel community

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 looks like.

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 You can think of

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 some of the one another's already, I'm sure.

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 Love one another.

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 That's in there a lot.

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 That's next week.

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 Confess your sins to one another.

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 Forgive one another.

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 Carry one another's burdens.

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 Spur one another on to love and good deeds.

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 If we get really excited,

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 we may even talk about

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 greet one another with a holy kiss,

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 which is in there more than once.

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 We're going to spend this summer

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 asking the Holy Spirit to teach us

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 and honestly more than teach us

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 to shape us

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 and mold us

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 and change us

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 into what God has designed

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 His church to be.

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 It is His design.

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 That's why His Word talks so much

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 about how we relate

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 to one another.

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 The church is to be

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 this unique community

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 where the good news

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 of our Savior

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 and our connection to Him

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 binds us to each other

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 in this unique way.

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 God answering our loneliness,

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 the loneliness of this world

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 with this unique community

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 and these life-giving relationships

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 that we all need.

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 it's going to be encouraging

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 and it's going to be convicting

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 because we don't naturally

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 and normally live these ways.

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 All of us struggle with it.

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 But if you want to be

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 part of a church,

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 part of a community

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 that's increasingly learning

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 to relate to one another

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 in these ways,

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 then come on.

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 Let's be a part of this together.

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 Pray with me

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 and dive in with me.

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 Be a part of this community.

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 Now having said all of that,

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 embarrassingly,

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 I want to start this Sunday

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 by looking at a passage

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 that doesn't have

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 any one another in it at all.

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 That's terrible, isn't it?

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 But here's why.

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 There's something that's so important

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 that I want us to start here

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 before we dive into

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 all of these

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 one another passages.

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 When you spend time

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 focusing on

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 how we relate to one another,

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 the temptation there

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 is to think

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 that how we relate

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 to each other

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 as God's people

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 is the reason we exist.

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 It's the goal of life.

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 It's the essence of our mission.

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 And it's just not.

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 God does not design the church

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 to be a holy huddle,

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 so to speak,

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 focused only on one another.

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 So before we talk about

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 how we relate to each other,

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 I want us to listen

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 to God's Word

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 remind us

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 who we are

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 as His people

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 and why we are here,

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 what our mission is.

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 And then at the end

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 of this morning,

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 we're going to reflect briefly

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 on how one anothering

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 is a vital part

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 of that mission.

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 Not a distraction,

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 but a vital part of it.

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 And yes,

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 one anothering

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 will be used repeatedly

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 as a verb

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 throughout this summer,

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 so just, you know,

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 get used to it.

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 Grab a Bible

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 of some form,

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 if you will.

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 Turn toward the back

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 to 1 Peter.

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 We're reading

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 just two verses

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 this morning

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 and then we'll pray together.

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 Peter's writing

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 to Jew

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 and Gentile Christians

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 scattered throughout

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 Asia Minor,

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 modern-day Turkey,

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 and He reminds them

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 of their glorious

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 identity

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 and mission.

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 1 Peter chapter 2

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 at verse 9.

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 This is God's Holy Word.

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 But you

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 are a chosen race,

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 a royal priesthood,

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 a holy nation,

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 a people

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 for His own possession,

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 that you may proclaim

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 the excellencies

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 of Him

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 who called you

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 out of darkness

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 into His marvelous light.

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 Once you were not

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 a people,

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 but now you are

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 God's people.

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 Once you had not

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 received mercy,

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 mercy,

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 but now you have

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 received mercy.

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 Mercy, kids,

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 you get that?

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 Mercy?

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 Yeah, got it.

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 Let's pray together.

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 Holy Spirit,

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 we do need You.

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 We ask

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 for Your help.

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 Challenge our hearts,

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 convict us,

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 show us Jesus,

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 show us the beauty

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 of relationships

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 for Your glory.

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 We ask in Jesus' name.

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 Amen.

00:11:04.360 --> 00:11:05.899
 If you walked into a

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 building on Redstone Arsenal

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 and you saw a bunch

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 of these pieces

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 lying around

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 on the ground,

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 you might not

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 think very much

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 of them, right?

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 Some nuts and bolts

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 and screws

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 and wires

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 and sheets of metal,

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 perhaps,

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 and they seem like

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 pretty insignificant.

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 They really couldn't do

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 anything very important.

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 You might just walk

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 on by.

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 However,

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 when they

00:11:31.259 --> 00:11:32.200
 and some other things

00:11:32.200 --> 00:11:33.460
 get connected together

00:11:33.460 --> 00:11:34.700
 in the right ways,

00:11:34.820 --> 00:11:35.879
 these random bits

00:11:35.879 --> 00:11:36.340
 of metal

00:11:36.340 --> 00:11:37.320
 and plastic

00:11:37.320 --> 00:11:38.220
 and technology

00:11:38.220 --> 00:11:39.200
 may become

00:11:39.200 --> 00:11:40.539
 a rocket.

00:11:41.240 --> 00:11:42.139
 A rocket

00:11:42.139 --> 00:11:43.800
 that accomplishes

00:11:43.800 --> 00:11:44.940
 a really great mission

00:11:44.940 --> 00:11:46.000
 like putting a man

00:11:46.000 --> 00:11:47.060
 on the moon, right?

00:11:47.059 --> 00:11:49.979
 That's a picture

00:11:49.979 --> 00:11:53.199
 of that rocket.

00:11:53.579 --> 00:11:54.199
 Things that

00:11:54.199 --> 00:11:55.500
 didn't seem

00:11:55.500 --> 00:11:56.219
 significant

00:11:56.219 --> 00:11:58.319
 but are now

00:11:58.319 --> 00:11:58.859
 put together

00:11:58.859 --> 00:11:59.659
 and become something

00:11:59.659 --> 00:12:01.119
 that really accomplishes

00:12:01.119 --> 00:12:01.799
 something great

00:12:01.799 --> 00:12:02.339
 and glorious.

00:12:02.519 --> 00:12:03.000
 It's a picture

00:12:03.000 --> 00:12:04.659
 of the proverbial reality

00:12:04.659 --> 00:12:06.119
 that the whole

00:12:06.119 --> 00:12:07.619
 is greater

00:12:07.619 --> 00:12:08.459
 than the sum

00:12:08.459 --> 00:12:09.399
 of its parts.

00:12:09.879 --> 00:12:10.559
 You've heard that

00:12:10.559 --> 00:12:11.059
 before,

00:12:11.199 --> 00:12:11.659
 probably.

00:12:12.119 --> 00:12:13.459
 Individual things

00:12:13.459 --> 00:12:15.099
 collected into a group

00:12:15.100 --> 00:12:16.120
 may become

00:12:16.120 --> 00:12:17.100
 something entirely

00:12:17.100 --> 00:12:17.720
 different

00:12:17.720 --> 00:12:18.580
 and accomplish

00:12:18.580 --> 00:12:20.279
 a greater mission

00:12:20.279 --> 00:12:21.259
 than they could

00:12:21.259 --> 00:12:21.879
 separately.

00:12:23.779 --> 00:12:24.639
 That's part

00:12:24.639 --> 00:12:25.139
 of the picture

00:12:25.139 --> 00:12:25.639
 that Peter

00:12:25.639 --> 00:12:26.159
 is painting

00:12:26.159 --> 00:12:26.680
 for us

00:12:26.680 --> 00:12:27.159
 this morning

00:12:27.159 --> 00:12:28.060
 in this passage.

00:12:28.300 --> 00:12:28.899
 He's using

00:12:28.899 --> 00:12:29.259
 all these

00:12:29.259 --> 00:12:30.759
 collective nouns,

00:12:31.180 --> 00:12:31.899
 words that talk

00:12:31.899 --> 00:12:32.899
 about groups

00:12:32.899 --> 00:12:33.940
 of people,

00:12:34.360 --> 00:12:34.980
 a race,

00:12:35.420 --> 00:12:36.399
 a priesthood,

00:12:36.680 --> 00:12:37.420
 a nation,

00:12:37.560 --> 00:12:38.420
 a people

00:12:38.419 --> 00:12:40.099
 that are brought

00:12:40.099 --> 00:12:40.539
 together

00:12:40.539 --> 00:12:41.099
 to become

00:12:41.099 --> 00:12:42.079
 something new

00:12:42.079 --> 00:12:43.659
 with a new

00:12:43.659 --> 00:12:44.519
 and significant

00:12:44.519 --> 00:12:45.339
 purpose.

00:12:46.719 --> 00:12:47.279
 He's talking

00:12:47.279 --> 00:12:48.339
 about Christians

00:12:48.339 --> 00:12:49.559
 as a group.

00:12:50.699 --> 00:12:51.240
 There are a lot

00:12:51.240 --> 00:12:51.699
 of places

00:12:51.699 --> 00:12:52.219
 in the Bible

00:12:52.219 --> 00:12:53.120
 that talk about

00:12:53.120 --> 00:12:54.259
 God's personal

00:12:54.259 --> 00:12:55.459
 love for individuals.

00:12:55.740 --> 00:12:56.199
 That's true

00:12:56.199 --> 00:12:56.939
 and it's important

00:12:56.939 --> 00:12:58.120
 but this is actually

00:12:58.120 --> 00:12:58.860
 talking about

00:12:58.860 --> 00:12:59.459
 God's love

00:12:59.459 --> 00:13:00.519
 for his people

00:13:00.519 --> 00:13:02.159
 as a group.

00:13:03.120 --> 00:13:03.860
 We'll focus

00:13:03.860 --> 00:13:05.039
 on the collective

00:13:05.039 --> 00:13:05.579
 mission

00:13:05.579 --> 00:13:06.579
 this morning

00:13:06.580 --> 00:13:08.200
 but the mission

00:13:08.200 --> 00:13:09.160
 is fueled

00:13:09.160 --> 00:13:10.200
 by the collective

00:13:10.200 --> 00:13:11.240
 identity.

00:13:12.300 --> 00:13:13.120
 Who is

00:13:13.120 --> 00:13:14.259
 this new

00:13:14.259 --> 00:13:14.900
 people?

00:13:16.520 --> 00:13:17.100
 Verse 10

00:13:17.100 --> 00:13:18.280
 says it's

00:13:18.280 --> 00:13:19.360
 God's

00:13:19.360 --> 00:13:20.000
 people.

00:13:20.800 --> 00:13:21.400
 That's really

00:13:21.400 --> 00:13:22.379
 the bottom

00:13:22.379 --> 00:13:22.879
 line.

00:13:23.379 --> 00:13:23.800
 That's what

00:13:23.800 --> 00:13:24.960
 unites them

00:13:24.960 --> 00:13:26.040
 into one

00:13:26.040 --> 00:13:26.600
 group.

00:13:27.639 --> 00:13:28.240
 Verse 9

00:13:28.240 --> 00:13:29.040
 has several

00:13:29.040 --> 00:13:29.740
 things it says

00:13:29.740 --> 00:13:30.160
 about them.

00:13:30.520 --> 00:13:31.100
 They're God's

00:13:31.100 --> 00:13:31.780
 because he

00:13:31.780 --> 00:13:32.700
 chose them

00:13:32.700 --> 00:13:33.500
 first.

00:13:34.360 --> 00:13:34.840
 You are a

00:13:34.840 --> 00:13:35.400
 chosen

00:13:35.400 --> 00:13:36.560
 race.

00:13:36.580 --> 00:13:38.360
 brothers

00:13:38.360 --> 00:13:39.040
 and sisters

00:13:39.040 --> 00:13:40.639
 we love

00:13:40.639 --> 00:13:42.300
 because God

00:13:42.300 --> 00:13:43.040
 first

00:13:43.040 --> 00:13:43.860
 loved

00:13:43.860 --> 00:13:45.040
 us.

00:13:45.200 --> 00:13:45.520
 That's why

00:13:45.520 --> 00:13:46.139
 we love him.

00:13:46.800 --> 00:13:47.440
 Because he

00:13:47.440 --> 00:13:48.300
 first loved

00:13:48.300 --> 00:13:48.540
 us.

00:13:48.740 --> 00:13:49.639
 We're his

00:13:49.639 --> 00:13:50.220
 because he

00:13:50.220 --> 00:13:50.800
 made us

00:13:50.800 --> 00:13:51.379
 and because

00:13:51.379 --> 00:13:52.000
 he sent

00:13:52.000 --> 00:13:52.639
 his son

00:13:52.639 --> 00:13:53.700
 for us.

00:13:54.400 --> 00:13:55.280
 He picked

00:13:55.280 --> 00:13:56.080
 you.

00:13:56.620 --> 00:13:57.460
 Even knowing

00:13:57.460 --> 00:13:57.860
 all your

00:13:57.860 --> 00:13:58.780
 failures and

00:13:58.780 --> 00:13:59.520
 flaws like

00:13:59.520 --> 00:14:00.120
 Pastor Peter

00:14:00.120 --> 00:14:00.700
 was talking

00:14:00.700 --> 00:14:01.740
 about earlier.

00:14:02.100 --> 00:14:02.640
 He picked

00:14:02.640 --> 00:14:03.120
 you to be

00:14:03.120 --> 00:14:03.800
 on his team.

00:14:03.900 --> 00:14:04.160
 In fact

00:14:04.160 --> 00:14:04.759
 to be in

00:14:04.759 --> 00:14:05.700
 his family.

00:14:06.580 --> 00:14:07.320
 Because of

00:14:07.320 --> 00:14:08.060
 his gracious

00:14:08.060 --> 00:14:08.900
 heart.

00:14:08.960 --> 00:14:09.259
 Isn't that

00:14:09.259 --> 00:14:09.720
 amazing?

00:14:10.379 --> 00:14:10.900
 Praise the

00:14:10.900 --> 00:14:11.540
 Lord, right?

00:14:12.220 --> 00:14:12.900
 He loves

00:14:12.900 --> 00:14:14.300
 you like

00:14:14.300 --> 00:14:14.700
 that.

00:14:16.060 --> 00:14:16.660
 This passage

00:14:16.660 --> 00:14:17.060
 in first

00:14:17.060 --> 00:14:17.920
 Peter mirrors

00:14:17.920 --> 00:14:18.780
 what God

00:14:18.780 --> 00:14:19.220
 tells his

00:14:19.220 --> 00:14:20.000
 people Israel

00:14:20.000 --> 00:14:20.440
 all the way

00:14:20.440 --> 00:14:20.879
 back in

00:14:20.879 --> 00:14:21.820
 Exodus chapter

00:14:21.820 --> 00:14:22.360
 19.

00:14:22.860 --> 00:14:23.780
 Before telling

00:14:23.780 --> 00:14:24.220
 them in the

00:14:24.220 --> 00:14:24.780
 next chapter

00:14:24.780 --> 00:14:25.660
 how to live

00:14:25.660 --> 00:14:26.139
 as his

00:14:26.139 --> 00:14:26.759
 people in

00:14:26.759 --> 00:14:27.080
 what we

00:14:27.080 --> 00:14:27.460
 call the

00:14:27.460 --> 00:14:27.700
 Ten

00:14:27.700 --> 00:14:28.379
 Commandments.

00:14:28.860 --> 00:14:29.120
 God

00:14:29.120 --> 00:14:29.860
 tells them

00:14:29.860 --> 00:14:30.680
 what he's

00:14:30.680 --> 00:14:31.379
 done to

00:14:31.379 --> 00:14:32.540
 make them

00:14:32.540 --> 00:14:33.360
 his

00:14:33.360 --> 00:14:34.160
 people.

00:14:34.159 --> 00:14:35.459
 Exodus

00:14:35.459 --> 00:14:35.860
 chapter

00:14:35.860 --> 00:14:36.399
 19

00:14:36.399 --> 00:14:37.179
 at

00:14:37.179 --> 00:14:37.439
 verse

00:14:37.439 --> 00:14:37.799
 4.

00:14:38.139 --> 00:14:38.419
 I think

00:14:38.419 --> 00:14:38.579
 it's

00:14:38.579 --> 00:14:38.699
 the

00:14:38.699 --> 00:14:38.899
 next

00:14:38.899 --> 00:14:39.279
 slide.

00:14:41.019 --> 00:14:41.379
 There it

00:14:41.379 --> 00:14:41.579
 is.

00:14:42.139 --> 00:14:42.299
 You

00:14:42.299 --> 00:14:42.839
 yourselves

00:14:42.839 --> 00:14:44.139
 have seen

00:14:44.139 --> 00:14:44.579
 what I

00:14:44.579 --> 00:14:44.899
 did to

00:14:44.899 --> 00:14:45.039
 the

00:14:45.039 --> 00:14:45.500
 Egyptians.

00:14:46.179 --> 00:14:46.659
 How I

00:14:46.659 --> 00:14:47.199
 bore you

00:14:47.199 --> 00:14:47.379
 on

00:14:47.379 --> 00:14:47.659
 eagles

00:14:47.659 --> 00:14:48.319
 wings and

00:14:48.319 --> 00:14:48.779
 brought you

00:14:48.779 --> 00:14:48.959
 to

00:14:48.959 --> 00:14:49.500
 myself.

00:14:49.899 --> 00:14:50.219
 Now

00:14:50.219 --> 00:14:50.579
 therefore

00:14:50.579 --> 00:14:51.199
 if you'll

00:14:51.199 --> 00:14:51.399
 indeed

00:14:51.399 --> 00:14:51.899
 obey my

00:14:51.899 --> 00:14:52.379
 voice and

00:14:52.379 --> 00:14:52.799
 keep my

00:14:52.799 --> 00:14:53.120
 covenant

00:14:53.120 --> 00:14:54.100
 you shall

00:14:54.100 --> 00:14:54.699
 be my

00:14:54.699 --> 00:14:55.959
 treasured

00:14:55.959 --> 00:14:56.539
 possession

00:14:56.539 --> 00:14:58.019
 among all

00:14:58.019 --> 00:14:58.519
 peoples.

00:14:59.000 --> 00:14:59.419
 This is

00:14:59.419 --> 00:14:59.860
 what I've

00:14:59.860 --> 00:15:00.639
 done for

00:15:00.639 --> 00:15:00.759
 you.

00:15:00.839 --> 00:15:01.039
 I've

00:15:01.039 --> 00:15:01.699
 loved you

00:15:01.700 --> 00:15:02.020
 and I've

00:15:02.020 --> 00:15:02.500
 come and

00:15:02.500 --> 00:15:02.740
 I've

00:15:02.740 --> 00:15:03.120
 brought

00:15:03.120 --> 00:15:04.240
 you to

00:15:04.240 --> 00:15:05.379
 myself.

00:15:06.540 --> 00:15:07.220
 I chose

00:15:07.220 --> 00:15:07.600
 you.

00:15:07.920 --> 00:15:08.400
 Not because

00:15:08.400 --> 00:15:08.620
 you were

00:15:08.620 --> 00:15:09.080
 great or

00:15:09.080 --> 00:15:09.860
 amazing or

00:15:09.860 --> 00:15:10.620
 impressive or

00:15:10.620 --> 00:15:11.180
 in charge.

00:15:11.379 --> 00:15:11.960
 You weren't.

00:15:12.960 --> 00:15:13.540
 But because

00:15:13.540 --> 00:15:14.140
 I loved

00:15:14.140 --> 00:15:14.600
 you and

00:15:14.600 --> 00:15:15.320
 brought you

00:15:15.320 --> 00:15:16.120
 to myself.

00:15:17.280 --> 00:15:17.840
 And now

00:15:17.840 --> 00:15:19.540
 God's

00:15:19.540 --> 00:15:20.200
 applying this

00:15:20.200 --> 00:15:20.940
 to Jews

00:15:20.940 --> 00:15:22.100
 and

00:15:22.100 --> 00:15:23.840
 Gentiles.

00:15:24.320 --> 00:15:24.720
 Chosen

00:15:24.720 --> 00:15:25.379
 race is not

00:15:25.379 --> 00:15:26.660
 some ethnic

00:15:26.660 --> 00:15:27.379
 superiority.

00:15:27.800 --> 00:15:28.140
 That's an

00:15:28.140 --> 00:15:29.259
 evil twisting

00:15:29.259 --> 00:15:30.040
 of this.

00:15:30.500 --> 00:15:30.800
 May it

00:15:30.800 --> 00:15:31.400
 never be.

00:15:32.560 --> 00:15:32.920
 He's

00:15:32.920 --> 00:15:33.180
 saying

00:15:33.180 --> 00:15:34.080
 you're

00:15:34.080 --> 00:15:34.800
 a chosen

00:15:34.800 --> 00:15:35.200
 race

00:15:35.200 --> 00:15:35.759
 connected

00:15:35.759 --> 00:15:36.700
 spiritually

00:15:36.700 --> 00:15:38.160
 because

00:15:38.160 --> 00:15:39.740
 God has

00:15:39.740 --> 00:15:40.520
 chosen you

00:15:40.520 --> 00:15:41.259
 and brought

00:15:41.259 --> 00:15:41.940
 you together.

00:15:42.440 --> 00:15:42.820
 We're also

00:15:42.820 --> 00:15:43.460
 a royal

00:15:43.460 --> 00:15:45.040
 priesthood.

00:15:46.420 --> 00:15:47.100
 Friends

00:15:47.100 --> 00:15:48.560
 of God.

00:15:49.220 --> 00:15:49.960
 Those who

00:15:49.960 --> 00:15:50.740
 can come

00:15:50.740 --> 00:15:51.400
 near into

00:15:51.400 --> 00:15:51.860
 God's

00:15:51.860 --> 00:15:52.280
 presence.

00:15:52.540 --> 00:15:52.900
 That's who

00:15:52.900 --> 00:15:53.660
 the priests

00:15:53.660 --> 00:15:54.440
 are.

00:15:55.100 --> 00:15:55.440
 No one

00:15:55.440 --> 00:15:56.140
 comes into

00:15:56.140 --> 00:15:57.140
 the king's

00:15:57.140 --> 00:15:57.820
 presence on

00:15:57.820 --> 00:15:58.060
 their own

00:15:58.060 --> 00:15:58.680
 but a royal

00:15:58.680 --> 00:15:59.300
 priesthood.

00:15:59.420 --> 00:15:59.800
 Those that

00:15:59.800 --> 00:16:00.759
 can walk

00:16:00.759 --> 00:16:01.160
 into

00:16:01.159 --> 00:16:02.059
 serve the

00:16:02.059 --> 00:16:02.259
 king.

00:16:02.339 --> 00:16:02.539
 And they

00:16:02.539 --> 00:16:02.839
 even

00:16:02.839 --> 00:16:03.379
 represent

00:16:03.379 --> 00:16:03.860
 him to

00:16:03.860 --> 00:16:04.379
 others.

00:16:04.839 --> 00:16:05.419
 And represent

00:16:05.419 --> 00:16:06.000
 others to

00:16:06.000 --> 00:16:06.319
 him.

00:16:06.419 --> 00:16:06.639
 Right?

00:16:07.740 --> 00:16:08.179
 All the way

00:16:08.179 --> 00:16:08.620
 back in

00:16:08.620 --> 00:16:09.699
 Exodus 19

00:16:09.699 --> 00:16:10.139
 again.

00:16:10.600 --> 00:16:11.199
 All the

00:16:11.199 --> 00:16:11.799
 earth is

00:16:11.799 --> 00:16:12.360
 mine,

00:16:12.480 --> 00:16:13.159
 God says.

00:16:13.439 --> 00:16:13.879
 And you,

00:16:14.019 --> 00:16:14.240
 Israel,

00:16:14.379 --> 00:16:14.980
 shall be to

00:16:14.980 --> 00:16:15.480
 me a

00:16:15.480 --> 00:16:15.959
 kingdom

00:16:15.959 --> 00:16:16.699
 of

00:16:16.699 --> 00:16:17.620
 priests.

00:16:18.579 --> 00:16:18.879
 What's

00:16:18.879 --> 00:16:19.439
 God saying?

00:16:20.159 --> 00:16:20.980
 I own

00:16:20.980 --> 00:16:21.679
 the whole

00:16:21.679 --> 00:16:22.100
 earth.

00:16:22.379 --> 00:16:22.799
 I want

00:16:22.799 --> 00:16:23.719
 every nation

00:16:23.719 --> 00:16:24.240
 to know

00:16:24.240 --> 00:16:24.439
 me.

00:16:24.439 --> 00:16:25.480
 And so you,

00:16:25.639 --> 00:16:25.860
 Israel,

00:16:25.939 --> 00:16:26.259
 are going to

00:16:26.259 --> 00:16:27.039
 be priests

00:16:27.039 --> 00:16:27.740
 the ones

00:16:27.740 --> 00:16:28.500
 who know

00:16:28.500 --> 00:16:29.340
 Yahweh,

00:16:30.120 --> 00:16:30.620
 who have a

00:16:30.620 --> 00:16:31.220
 relationship

00:16:31.220 --> 00:16:31.779
 with him

00:16:31.779 --> 00:16:32.659
 and then

00:16:32.659 --> 00:16:33.620
 share of

00:16:33.620 --> 00:16:34.100
 him with

00:16:34.100 --> 00:16:34.679
 all the

00:16:34.679 --> 00:16:35.379
 nations around

00:16:35.379 --> 00:16:36.039
 you so that

00:16:36.039 --> 00:16:36.539
 the whole

00:16:36.539 --> 00:16:37.860
 earth knows

00:16:37.860 --> 00:16:38.899
 who he is.

00:16:40.019 --> 00:16:41.439
 All of us

00:16:41.439 --> 00:16:43.399
 then are

00:16:43.399 --> 00:16:44.819
 priests who

00:16:44.819 --> 00:16:45.919
 know God,

00:16:46.419 --> 00:16:47.480
 who have

00:16:47.480 --> 00:16:48.240
 God dwelling

00:16:48.240 --> 00:16:49.279
 in us and

00:16:49.279 --> 00:16:50.340
 therefore bring

00:16:50.340 --> 00:16:51.120
 his presence

00:16:51.120 --> 00:16:52.240
 to all around

00:16:52.240 --> 00:16:52.860
 us.

00:16:53.860 --> 00:16:54.539
 Especially,

00:16:55.320 --> 00:16:55.840
 Peter says,

00:16:55.879 --> 00:16:56.180
 as we're

00:16:56.180 --> 00:16:56.539
 gathered

00:16:56.539 --> 00:16:57.200
 together,

00:16:58.259 --> 00:16:58.639
 offering

00:16:58.639 --> 00:16:59.180
 spiritual

00:16:59.180 --> 00:16:59.940
 sacrifices

00:16:59.940 --> 00:17:01.100
 to God

00:17:01.100 --> 00:17:02.259
 as priests.

00:17:02.539 --> 00:17:02.840
 And then

00:17:02.840 --> 00:17:04.599
 we're a

00:17:04.599 --> 00:17:05.559
 holy nation.

00:17:06.279 --> 00:17:06.880
 The exact

00:17:06.880 --> 00:17:08.460
 same words

00:17:08.460 --> 00:17:09.400
 used in

00:17:09.400 --> 00:17:10.299
 Exodus 19.

00:17:11.220 --> 00:17:11.680
 But what

00:17:11.680 --> 00:17:12.519
 makes a

00:17:12.519 --> 00:17:13.960
 people or

00:17:13.960 --> 00:17:14.720
 a place

00:17:14.720 --> 00:17:15.660
 holy?

00:17:17.099 --> 00:17:17.920
 There's

00:17:17.920 --> 00:17:18.319
 really only

00:17:18.319 --> 00:17:18.920
 one thing.

00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:20.819
 God's

00:17:20.819 --> 00:17:21.180
 presence.

00:17:22.240 --> 00:17:23.519
 we're set

00:17:23.519 --> 00:17:25.039
 apart for

00:17:25.039 --> 00:17:26.259
 him as

00:17:26.259 --> 00:17:26.940
 a group

00:17:26.940 --> 00:17:28.259
 different from

00:17:28.259 --> 00:17:28.980
 others around

00:17:28.980 --> 00:17:29.759
 you, called

00:17:29.759 --> 00:17:30.440
 out to be

00:17:30.440 --> 00:17:31.660
 marked by the

00:17:31.660 --> 00:17:32.440
 presence of

00:17:32.440 --> 00:17:33.019
 the living

00:17:33.019 --> 00:17:33.799
 God.

00:17:35.460 --> 00:17:35.940
 Do you see

00:17:35.940 --> 00:17:36.880
 how in all

00:17:36.880 --> 00:17:37.319
 of these

00:17:37.319 --> 00:17:38.099
 things Peter's

00:17:38.099 --> 00:17:38.880
 describing what

00:17:38.880 --> 00:17:39.539
 makes the

00:17:39.539 --> 00:17:40.240
 group a

00:17:40.240 --> 00:17:41.400
 group is

00:17:41.400 --> 00:17:41.839
 God?

00:17:42.819 --> 00:17:43.740
 He chooses

00:17:43.740 --> 00:17:44.099
 us.

00:17:44.400 --> 00:17:45.120
 He is the

00:17:45.120 --> 00:17:45.859
 king whom

00:17:45.859 --> 00:17:46.359
 we represent

00:17:46.359 --> 00:17:47.220
 as priests.

00:17:47.539 --> 00:17:48.220
 He is the

00:17:48.220 --> 00:17:49.140
 one present

00:17:49.140 --> 00:17:50.099
 with us that

00:17:50.099 --> 00:17:50.799
 makes us

00:17:50.799 --> 00:17:51.519
 holy.

00:17:52.240 --> 00:17:53.380
 What unites

00:17:53.380 --> 00:17:54.180
 those rocket

00:17:54.180 --> 00:17:55.759
 parts is the

00:17:55.759 --> 00:17:56.859
 identity as

00:17:56.859 --> 00:17:57.420
 a rocket.

00:17:58.079 --> 00:17:58.380
 Right?

00:17:58.980 --> 00:17:59.359
 That's what

00:17:59.359 --> 00:17:59.779
 makes them

00:17:59.779 --> 00:18:00.660
 rocket parts.

00:18:02.039 --> 00:18:03.120
 What unites

00:18:03.120 --> 00:18:04.720
 Christians is

00:18:04.720 --> 00:18:05.740
 their identity

00:18:05.740 --> 00:18:07.980
 belonging to

00:18:07.980 --> 00:18:08.500
 God.

00:18:10.579 --> 00:18:12.819
 Once, we

00:18:12.819 --> 00:18:13.579
 were not a

00:18:13.579 --> 00:18:13.980
 people.

00:18:15.920 --> 00:18:16.660
 You know

00:18:16.660 --> 00:18:16.880
 what that

00:18:16.880 --> 00:18:17.519
 feels like?

00:18:17.519 --> 00:18:18.779
 not to

00:18:18.779 --> 00:18:19.420
 belong

00:18:19.420 --> 00:18:20.139
 anywhere,

00:18:20.740 --> 00:18:21.859
 not to be a

00:18:21.859 --> 00:18:22.559
 part of any

00:18:22.559 --> 00:18:23.000
 group.

00:18:23.139 --> 00:18:23.299
 Have you

00:18:23.299 --> 00:18:24.079
 felt that

00:18:24.079 --> 00:18:24.519
 before?

00:18:25.639 --> 00:18:26.339
 It's not a

00:18:26.339 --> 00:18:26.879
 good feeling,

00:18:26.980 --> 00:18:27.259
 is it?

00:18:27.579 --> 00:18:28.059
 Alone,

00:18:29.259 --> 00:18:29.900
 insignificant,

00:18:31.339 --> 00:18:32.139
 left out,

00:18:33.519 --> 00:18:33.940
 ignored.

00:18:35.259 --> 00:18:35.980
 Once you

00:18:35.980 --> 00:18:37.539
 were not a

00:18:37.539 --> 00:18:38.279
 people, you

00:18:38.279 --> 00:18:39.619
 were bits of

00:18:39.619 --> 00:18:40.139
 metal,

00:18:40.579 --> 00:18:41.900
 plastic scattered

00:18:41.900 --> 00:18:43.240
 about, but

00:18:43.240 --> 00:18:44.200
 now you are

00:18:44.200 --> 00:18:45.700
 God's

00:18:45.700 --> 00:18:46.660
 people.

00:18:47.559 --> 00:18:48.380
 You belong

00:18:48.380 --> 00:18:48.860
 to your

00:18:48.860 --> 00:18:49.539
 heavenly

00:18:49.539 --> 00:18:50.100
 father.

00:18:50.940 --> 00:18:51.440
 Once you

00:18:51.440 --> 00:18:52.080
 had not

00:18:52.080 --> 00:18:53.319
 received mercy,

00:18:54.059 --> 00:18:54.920
 you were

00:18:54.920 --> 00:18:55.600
 hopeless,

00:18:56.400 --> 00:18:57.100
 undeserving,

00:18:57.759 --> 00:18:58.340
 discarded,

00:18:58.559 --> 00:18:58.960
 worthless.

00:18:58.960 --> 00:19:01.740
 But now you

00:19:01.740 --> 00:19:03.960
 have received

00:19:03.960 --> 00:19:05.079
 mercy.

00:19:05.500 --> 00:19:06.160
 Just like God

00:19:06.160 --> 00:19:06.740
 told his

00:19:06.740 --> 00:19:07.220
 people through

00:19:07.220 --> 00:19:07.680
 the prophet

00:19:07.680 --> 00:19:08.700
 Hosea, that's

00:19:08.700 --> 00:19:09.900
 what makes you

00:19:09.900 --> 00:19:10.819
 significant.

00:19:11.039 --> 00:19:11.579
 That's what makes

00:19:11.579 --> 00:19:12.759
 you his.

00:19:13.819 --> 00:19:14.640
 What is it

00:19:14.640 --> 00:19:15.299
 that makes

00:19:15.299 --> 00:19:16.380
 God's people

00:19:16.380 --> 00:19:18.059
 God's people?

00:19:19.319 --> 00:19:19.880
 He is.

00:19:20.100 --> 00:19:21.480
 He graciously,

00:19:22.079 --> 00:19:23.660
 mercifully gives

00:19:23.660 --> 00:19:24.579
 us an identity

00:19:24.579 --> 00:19:26.299
 together, calls

00:19:26.299 --> 00:19:26.920
 us his own,

00:19:27.279 --> 00:19:28.220
 loves us as

00:19:28.220 --> 00:19:29.079
 his children.

00:19:29.240 --> 00:19:30.019
 He sends his

00:19:30.019 --> 00:19:30.940
 son to make

00:19:30.940 --> 00:19:32.240
 us his.

00:19:33.220 --> 00:19:33.900
 Southwood, I

00:19:33.900 --> 00:19:34.700
 know you know

00:19:34.700 --> 00:19:35.180
 this.

00:19:35.660 --> 00:19:37.380
 This is 101, I

00:19:37.380 --> 00:19:37.839
 get it.

00:19:38.140 --> 00:19:38.620
 But do you

00:19:38.620 --> 00:19:39.339
 realize the

00:19:39.339 --> 00:19:40.480
 significance of

00:19:40.480 --> 00:19:41.420
 that for us?

00:19:42.360 --> 00:19:42.860
 Do you

00:19:42.860 --> 00:19:43.720
 understand what

00:19:43.720 --> 00:19:44.640
 it means that

00:19:44.640 --> 00:19:45.440
 our identity

00:19:45.440 --> 00:19:46.779
 comes from

00:19:46.779 --> 00:19:47.799
 belonging to

00:19:47.799 --> 00:19:48.180
 God?

00:19:48.500 --> 00:19:49.180
 Can you stop

00:19:49.180 --> 00:19:49.579
 and think of

00:19:49.579 --> 00:19:50.339
 the implications

00:19:50.339 --> 00:19:51.380
 of that for

00:19:51.380 --> 00:19:51.960
 us as a

00:19:51.960 --> 00:19:52.339
 church?

00:19:53.200 --> 00:19:53.839
 If who you

00:19:53.839 --> 00:19:54.299
 are and your

00:19:54.299 --> 00:19:55.579
 identity comes

00:19:55.579 --> 00:19:56.279
 from belonging

00:19:56.279 --> 00:19:57.720
 to God, we're

00:19:57.720 --> 00:19:58.700
 a people, Peter

00:19:58.700 --> 00:19:59.900
 says, for his

00:19:59.900 --> 00:20:01.299
 own possession.

00:20:02.819 --> 00:20:03.519
 We should be a

00:20:03.519 --> 00:20:04.460
 possessed people

00:20:04.460 --> 00:20:05.799
 in the best

00:20:05.799 --> 00:20:06.420
 possible way.

00:20:06.920 --> 00:20:08.200
 We are his.

00:20:08.640 --> 00:20:10.039
 What a privilege.

00:20:11.440 --> 00:20:12.620
 We're his.

00:20:14.400 --> 00:20:15.740
 Which means our

00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:18.440
 purpose is what?

00:20:18.440 --> 00:20:18.940
 God.

00:20:18.940 --> 00:20:21.200
 If that's our

00:20:21.200 --> 00:20:22.380
 identity as

00:20:22.380 --> 00:20:23.600
 people belonging

00:20:23.600 --> 00:20:24.880
 to God for his

00:20:24.880 --> 00:20:25.640
 own possession,

00:20:25.779 --> 00:20:26.460
 then what's our

00:20:26.460 --> 00:20:26.880
 purpose?

00:20:27.160 --> 00:20:27.880
 It's got to be

00:20:27.880 --> 00:20:28.440
 about him,

00:20:28.500 --> 00:20:28.940
 doesn't it?

00:20:29.980 --> 00:20:30.960
 Peter says it

00:20:30.960 --> 00:20:31.820
 in verse 9.

00:20:34.080 --> 00:20:34.700
 We're a people

00:20:34.700 --> 00:20:35.559
 for his own

00:20:35.559 --> 00:20:37.360
 possession that

00:20:37.360 --> 00:20:38.779
 you may proclaim

00:20:38.779 --> 00:20:39.820
 the excellencies

00:20:39.820 --> 00:20:42.820
 of him.

00:20:42.819 --> 00:20:45.079
 not yourself.

00:20:46.059 --> 00:20:46.839
 It's not about

00:20:46.839 --> 00:20:47.319
 you.

00:20:47.579 --> 00:20:48.139
 We're to

00:20:48.139 --> 00:20:49.500
 proclaim his

00:20:49.500 --> 00:20:50.639
 excellencies.

00:20:50.799 --> 00:20:51.339
 That's our

00:20:51.339 --> 00:20:52.519
 new purpose.

00:20:53.779 --> 00:20:54.359
 Now, maybe

00:20:54.359 --> 00:20:55.519
 not new in

00:20:55.519 --> 00:20:56.460
 the sense that

00:20:56.460 --> 00:20:57.439
 it's what God

00:20:57.439 --> 00:20:58.279
 originally created

00:20:58.279 --> 00:20:59.000
 us for, isn't

00:20:59.000 --> 00:20:59.200
 it?

00:21:00.980 --> 00:21:01.559
 But we've been

00:21:01.559 --> 00:21:02.139
 living for

00:21:02.139 --> 00:21:03.119
 ourselves for a

00:21:03.119 --> 00:21:03.960
 long time,

00:21:04.039 --> 00:21:04.480
 haven't we?

00:21:05.460 --> 00:21:06.200
 I'm pretty

00:21:06.200 --> 00:21:06.799
 used to it.

00:21:09.539 --> 00:21:10.439
 But this is

00:21:10.439 --> 00:21:11.419
 why God calls

00:21:11.419 --> 00:21:12.099
 people to

00:21:12.099 --> 00:21:13.399
 himself because

00:21:13.399 --> 00:21:14.240
 what's best for

00:21:14.240 --> 00:21:14.699
 them is not

00:21:14.699 --> 00:21:15.480
 actually living

00:21:15.480 --> 00:21:16.319
 for themselves.

00:21:17.639 --> 00:21:18.879
 And he calls

00:21:18.879 --> 00:21:19.480
 us to himself.

00:21:19.579 --> 00:21:20.359
 Even with Old

00:21:20.359 --> 00:21:21.179
 Testament Israel,

00:21:21.339 --> 00:21:22.359
 this is what God

00:21:22.359 --> 00:21:23.199
 says to them,

00:21:23.319 --> 00:21:24.500
 his chosen

00:21:24.500 --> 00:21:25.879
 people, the

00:21:25.879 --> 00:21:26.939
 people whom I

00:21:26.939 --> 00:21:27.879
 formed for

00:21:27.879 --> 00:21:29.279
 myself that

00:21:29.279 --> 00:21:30.000
 they might

00:21:30.000 --> 00:21:31.679
 declare my

00:21:31.679 --> 00:21:32.980
 praise.

00:21:33.879 --> 00:21:35.959
 Chosen for

00:21:35.959 --> 00:21:37.279
 him to

00:21:37.279 --> 00:21:38.819
 declare his

00:21:38.819 --> 00:21:40.079
 praise.

00:21:40.519 --> 00:21:41.339
 God then

00:21:41.339 --> 00:21:42.279
 sends his

00:21:42.279 --> 00:21:43.159
 son not

00:21:43.159 --> 00:21:44.379
 primarily to

00:21:44.379 --> 00:21:44.919
 make us

00:21:44.919 --> 00:21:46.000
 happy but

00:21:46.000 --> 00:21:46.819
 to make us

00:21:46.819 --> 00:21:47.679
 his.

00:21:48.819 --> 00:21:49.519
 Let's be very

00:21:49.519 --> 00:21:50.579
 clear about this

00:21:50.579 --> 00:21:51.159
 because we get

00:21:51.159 --> 00:21:51.819
 confused.

00:21:52.399 --> 00:21:53.519
 Jesus didn't go

00:21:53.519 --> 00:21:54.679
 to the cross so

00:21:54.679 --> 00:21:55.439
 you and I could

00:21:55.439 --> 00:21:56.000
 have a more

00:21:56.000 --> 00:21:57.059
 comfortable life

00:21:57.059 --> 00:21:58.299
 with nice

00:21:58.299 --> 00:21:59.379
 neighbors and

00:21:59.379 --> 00:22:00.039
 good church

00:22:00.039 --> 00:22:00.459
 friends.

00:22:00.460 --> 00:22:01.720
 God's

00:22:01.720 --> 00:22:02.460
 God's

00:22:02.460 --> 00:22:03.299
 friends.

00:22:03.299 --> 00:22:03.799
 Our mission is

00:22:03.799 --> 00:22:04.740
 not merely to

00:22:04.740 --> 00:22:05.340
 make each other

00:22:05.340 --> 00:22:06.460
 feel good and

00:22:06.460 --> 00:22:07.600
 enjoy life with as

00:22:07.600 --> 00:22:08.620
 little discomfort and

00:22:08.620 --> 00:22:09.440
 loneliness as

00:22:09.440 --> 00:22:10.039
 possible.

00:22:12.380 --> 00:22:15.059
 Jesus came so

00:22:15.059 --> 00:22:16.779
 that everyone in

00:22:16.779 --> 00:22:18.380
 all nations would

00:22:18.380 --> 00:22:20.000
 know the glory of

00:22:20.000 --> 00:22:21.500
 the one true and

00:22:21.500 --> 00:22:22.759
 living God no

00:22:22.759 --> 00:22:23.620
 matter what it

00:22:23.620 --> 00:22:24.360
 cost him.

00:22:24.940 --> 00:22:26.380
 God sent him.

00:22:26.579 --> 00:22:27.600
 He was a sent

00:22:27.600 --> 00:22:28.819
 savior for that

00:22:28.819 --> 00:22:30.240
 purpose and so we

00:22:30.240 --> 00:22:31.419
 are here so that

00:22:31.419 --> 00:22:32.539
 everyone in all

00:22:32.539 --> 00:22:33.599
 nations would know

00:22:33.599 --> 00:22:34.659
 the glory of the

00:22:34.659 --> 00:22:35.539
 one true and

00:22:35.539 --> 00:22:36.579
 living God no

00:22:36.579 --> 00:22:37.299
 matter what it

00:22:37.299 --> 00:22:38.599
 costs us including

00:22:38.599 --> 00:22:39.919
 our comfort and

00:22:39.919 --> 00:22:40.319
 our nice

00:22:40.319 --> 00:22:41.319
 neighborhoods and

00:22:41.319 --> 00:22:42.220
 our good friends.

00:22:43.079 --> 00:22:44.179
 We are a sent

00:22:44.179 --> 00:22:46.419
 church as he is a

00:22:46.419 --> 00:22:47.939
 sent savior.

00:22:49.439 --> 00:22:50.299
 It's not

00:22:50.299 --> 00:22:51.539
 complicated because

00:22:51.539 --> 00:22:53.000
 we are God's.

00:22:53.439 --> 00:22:54.399
 We are to live for

00:22:54.399 --> 00:22:55.799
 God's glory.

00:22:55.799 --> 00:22:55.899
 God's glory.

00:22:57.440 --> 00:22:58.700
 It's that simple but

00:22:58.700 --> 00:23:00.519
 it's hard for us

00:23:00.519 --> 00:23:00.960
 isn't it?

00:23:02.299 --> 00:23:03.539
 It's hard for us to

00:23:03.539 --> 00:23:04.200
 live like that.

00:23:04.279 --> 00:23:04.980
 It's even hard when

00:23:04.980 --> 00:23:05.940
 we come to church.

00:23:06.460 --> 00:23:07.059
 You think you maybe

00:23:07.059 --> 00:23:08.159
 spend an hour a week

00:23:08.159 --> 00:23:09.480
 you know doing that

00:23:09.480 --> 00:23:11.639
 but Jack Miller in

00:23:11.639 --> 00:23:12.599
 his classic book

00:23:12.599 --> 00:23:13.440
 Outgrowing the

00:23:13.440 --> 00:23:15.460
 Ingrown Church, yes

00:23:15.460 --> 00:23:16.399
 you should read it,

00:23:17.359 --> 00:23:18.720
 says this, many

00:23:18.720 --> 00:23:19.759
 church members do

00:23:19.759 --> 00:23:20.859
 not seem to come to

00:23:20.859 --> 00:23:21.759
 church on Sunday

00:23:21.759 --> 00:23:23.220
 with strong intent to

00:23:23.220 --> 00:23:24.819
 meet with Christ and

00:23:24.819 --> 00:23:25.919
 be transformed in

00:23:25.919 --> 00:23:27.200
 motivation and values

00:23:27.200 --> 00:23:28.240
 by his glory.

00:23:29.859 --> 00:23:31.279
 So honesty requires

00:23:31.279 --> 00:23:32.879
 us to begin where

00:23:32.879 --> 00:23:34.119
 we are to confess

00:23:34.119 --> 00:23:35.339
 forthrightly that we

00:23:35.339 --> 00:23:36.679
 have sinned and

00:23:36.679 --> 00:23:38.200
 fallen short of the

00:23:38.200 --> 00:23:39.159
 divine glory.

00:23:40.759 --> 00:23:41.500
 Then he says the

00:23:41.500 --> 00:23:42.839
 great American church

00:23:42.839 --> 00:23:44.960
 tragedy is the local

00:23:44.960 --> 00:23:45.919
 church with an

00:23:45.919 --> 00:23:47.339
 abundance of resources

00:23:47.339 --> 00:23:48.859
 and spiritual gifts

00:23:48.859 --> 00:23:50.379
 held back by

00:23:50.379 --> 00:23:52.799
 unbelieving apathy and

00:23:52.799 --> 00:23:53.759
 blinded by the

00:23:53.759 --> 00:23:55.079
 strange notion that

00:23:55.079 --> 00:23:55.720
 the work of

00:23:55.720 --> 00:23:57.079
 missionary outreach is

00:23:57.079 --> 00:23:58.480
 the domain of a few

00:23:58.480 --> 00:24:00.259
 highly trained

00:24:00.259 --> 00:24:01.160
 leaders.

00:24:02.359 --> 00:24:03.879
 You don't have to be a

00:24:03.879 --> 00:24:05.160
 pastor or a formal

00:24:05.160 --> 00:24:06.940
 missionary to have

00:24:06.940 --> 00:24:08.180
 your purpose be

00:24:08.180 --> 00:24:09.460
 proclaiming the

00:24:09.460 --> 00:24:11.160
 excellencies of God.

00:24:11.359 --> 00:24:13.059
 We're all priests.

00:24:13.619 --> 00:24:14.920
 That's our job.

00:24:15.180 --> 00:24:16.759
 Together that's our job

00:24:16.759 --> 00:24:17.599
 as a church.

00:24:17.599 --> 00:24:17.719
 church.

00:24:19.919 --> 00:24:21.839
 We need to start by

00:24:21.839 --> 00:24:22.599
 saying Father

00:24:22.599 --> 00:24:25.459
 forgive us for our

00:24:25.459 --> 00:24:27.459
 apathy to your

00:24:27.459 --> 00:24:28.699
 glory.

00:24:30.379 --> 00:24:33.159
 Being God's means we

00:24:33.159 --> 00:24:35.419
 live for his glory

00:24:35.419 --> 00:24:38.219
 and we declare his

00:24:38.219 --> 00:24:38.599
 grace.

00:24:39.980 --> 00:24:41.759
 It's the second part

00:24:41.759 --> 00:24:43.199
 of verse 9 that we

00:24:43.199 --> 00:24:44.319
 would proclaim the

00:24:44.319 --> 00:24:45.659
 excellencies of him

00:24:45.660 --> 00:24:47.680
 who called you out of

00:24:47.680 --> 00:24:49.640
 darkness into his

00:24:49.640 --> 00:24:51.779
 marvelous light.

00:24:51.980 --> 00:24:53.340
 What's the story we

00:24:53.340 --> 00:24:54.820
 have to tell and

00:24:54.820 --> 00:24:55.259
 share?

00:24:55.680 --> 00:24:58.160
 It's God's story of his

00:24:58.160 --> 00:25:00.340
 rescuing the undeserving.

00:25:01.080 --> 00:25:01.660
 We have experienced

00:25:02.540 --> 00:25:04.140
 God's grace that we

00:25:04.140 --> 00:25:05.660
 might express God's

00:25:06.220 --> 00:25:06.759
 grace.

00:25:06.900 --> 00:25:08.300
 That many others as

00:25:08.300 --> 00:25:10.240
 undeserving as we are

00:25:10.240 --> 00:25:12.540
 may hear and see and

00:25:12.539 --> 00:25:14.319
 trust that God brings

00:25:14.319 --> 00:25:16.519
 them from darkness to

00:25:16.519 --> 00:25:18.519
 light just as he does

00:25:18.519 --> 00:25:19.519
 us.

00:25:20.039 --> 00:25:22.119
 We are defined by

00:25:22.119 --> 00:25:23.359
 receiving mercy.

00:25:24.299 --> 00:25:25.440
 We need his help.

00:25:26.519 --> 00:25:27.279
 That's who we are.

00:25:27.420 --> 00:25:29.440
 We became a people by

00:25:29.440 --> 00:25:30.920
 receiving mercy so it

00:25:30.920 --> 00:25:31.859
 must be that thy

00:25:31.859 --> 00:25:33.279
 mercy my God is the

00:25:33.279 --> 00:25:34.460
 theme of my song.

00:25:34.779 --> 00:25:35.879
 The joy of my heart

00:25:35.879 --> 00:25:36.839
 and the boast of my

00:25:36.839 --> 00:25:37.379
 tongue.

00:25:38.159 --> 00:25:39.759
 Thy free grace alone

00:25:39.759 --> 00:25:41.079
 must be what moves my

00:25:41.079 --> 00:25:42.980
 heart and my tongue to

00:25:42.980 --> 00:25:44.639
 proclaim his

00:25:44.639 --> 00:25:45.619
 excellencies.

00:25:46.279 --> 00:25:47.559
 Our purpose is not to

00:25:47.559 --> 00:25:48.879
 have God's grace stop

00:25:48.879 --> 00:25:49.819
 with us and say how

00:25:49.819 --> 00:25:51.000
 great and wonderful it

00:25:51.000 --> 00:25:51.419
 is.

00:25:52.419 --> 00:25:53.579
 But to have it flow

00:25:53.579 --> 00:25:55.299
 through us to

00:25:55.299 --> 00:25:55.799
 others.

00:25:56.279 --> 00:25:58.379
 We are not here for

00:25:58.379 --> 00:25:58.939
 ourselves.

00:25:59.339 --> 00:26:00.379
 We are not even here

00:26:00.379 --> 00:26:01.879
 merely for each other

00:26:01.879 --> 00:26:03.699
 as important as that is.

00:26:03.899 --> 00:26:05.859
 We are here also for

00:26:05.859 --> 00:26:07.279
 those who are not here

00:26:07.279 --> 00:26:07.779
 yet.

00:26:07.779 --> 00:26:12.299
 Edmund Clowney in his

00:26:12.299 --> 00:26:14.440
 book The Church writes

00:26:14.440 --> 00:26:16.299
 mission is not an

00:26:16.299 --> 00:26:18.319
 optional activity for

00:26:18.319 --> 00:26:19.240
 Christ's disciples.

00:26:20.579 --> 00:26:22.940
 The gospel itself is the

00:26:22.940 --> 00:26:24.119
 story of the seeking

00:26:24.119 --> 00:26:25.839
 savior who knows the

00:26:25.839 --> 00:26:26.859
 father's love.

00:26:26.980 --> 00:26:28.859
 He goes out looking for

00:26:28.859 --> 00:26:29.359
 people right?

00:26:29.460 --> 00:26:30.279
 We have read about it in

00:26:30.279 --> 00:26:30.519
 Luke.

00:26:31.319 --> 00:26:32.920
 So if mission is lost

00:26:32.920 --> 00:26:36.620
 the gospel is lost.

00:26:37.539 --> 00:26:38.759
 That's the story.

00:26:38.980 --> 00:26:41.140
 The story of a sent

00:26:41.140 --> 00:26:42.000
 savior.

00:26:45.340 --> 00:26:47.480
 We must be about what

00:26:47.480 --> 00:26:48.960
 Jesus was about.

00:26:49.420 --> 00:26:51.039
 Having the love of God

00:26:51.039 --> 00:26:52.779
 that we know that is in

00:26:52.779 --> 00:26:54.840
 us overflow to those

00:26:54.840 --> 00:26:56.200
 around us.

00:26:56.400 --> 00:26:57.160
 You've heard me say

00:26:57.160 --> 00:26:58.820
 before if that's not our

00:26:58.820 --> 00:27:00.100
 heart for those around us

00:27:00.099 --> 00:27:01.279
 in Huntsville and

00:27:01.279 --> 00:27:02.719
 beyond we ought to

00:27:02.719 --> 00:27:03.539
 close the doors.

00:27:04.259 --> 00:27:04.740
 We should.

00:27:06.259 --> 00:27:06.879
 And send the money

00:27:06.879 --> 00:27:07.579
 somewhere else.

00:27:07.839 --> 00:27:09.199
 To someone who will

00:27:09.199 --> 00:27:11.339
 have that be their

00:27:11.339 --> 00:27:11.859
 purpose.

00:27:13.399 --> 00:27:15.319
 We are God's people

00:27:15.319 --> 00:27:17.199
 to follow Jesus in

00:27:17.199 --> 00:27:19.339
 declaring his grace in

00:27:19.339 --> 00:27:20.619
 word and deed.

00:27:20.899 --> 00:27:22.399
 Speaking unbelievable

00:27:22.399 --> 00:27:24.699
 hope to the hopeless.

00:27:24.980 --> 00:27:26.019
 That's the message of

00:27:26.019 --> 00:27:26.759
 the gospel right?

00:27:27.539 --> 00:27:29.159
 Showing undeserved

00:27:29.160 --> 00:27:30.680
 kindness to the least

00:27:30.680 --> 00:27:31.340
 of these.

00:27:31.940 --> 00:27:32.519
 That's what we've

00:27:32.519 --> 00:27:32.920
 received.

00:27:33.040 --> 00:27:34.100
 Undeserved kindness.

00:27:34.100 --> 00:27:35.200
 And we're to show

00:27:35.200 --> 00:27:35.680
 that.

00:27:37.259 --> 00:27:38.420
 So that one

00:27:38.420 --> 00:27:39.620
 relationship at a

00:27:39.620 --> 00:27:40.040
 time.

00:27:41.140 --> 00:27:43.519
 All may see how

00:27:43.519 --> 00:27:44.720
 excellent and

00:27:44.720 --> 00:27:46.180
 glorious and

00:27:46.180 --> 00:27:48.420
 gracious our God

00:27:48.420 --> 00:27:48.860
 is.

00:27:49.220 --> 00:27:50.640
 God's glory and

00:27:50.640 --> 00:27:52.000
 grace here and

00:27:52.000 --> 00:27:54.000
 everywhere must be

00:27:54.000 --> 00:27:55.519
 the driving passion

00:27:55.519 --> 00:27:57.580
 of our lives and our

00:27:57.580 --> 00:27:57.980
 church.

00:27:59.160 --> 00:28:00.400
 God's glory.

00:28:01.680 --> 00:28:02.700
 That's great.

00:28:03.200 --> 00:28:03.600
 Wonderful.

00:28:03.820 --> 00:28:04.259
 Exciting.

00:28:06.720 --> 00:28:07.779
 Now I'm frustrated.

00:28:09.060 --> 00:28:09.920
 Why, Pastor?

00:28:10.160 --> 00:28:10.900
 Why are we going to

00:28:10.900 --> 00:28:11.759
 waste the next ten

00:28:11.759 --> 00:28:12.940
 weeks one anothering?

00:28:14.900 --> 00:28:15.660
 Isn't that going to

00:28:15.660 --> 00:28:16.720
 distract us from our

00:28:16.720 --> 00:28:16.980
 mission?

00:28:17.480 --> 00:28:18.200
 Let's get going.

00:28:18.279 --> 00:28:18.960
 There's a world out

00:28:18.960 --> 00:28:19.100
 there.

00:28:19.180 --> 00:28:19.779
 There's a mission to

00:28:19.779 --> 00:28:20.240
 accomplish.

00:28:20.480 --> 00:28:22.000
 And when we focus on

00:28:22.000 --> 00:28:23.000
 relationships with one

00:28:23.000 --> 00:28:23.580
 another, aren't we going

00:28:23.580 --> 00:28:24.500
 to lose sight of that

00:28:24.500 --> 00:28:24.860
 mission?

00:28:26.120 --> 00:28:27.540
 I love that question.

00:28:27.539 --> 00:28:28.879
 Thanks for asking.

00:28:31.879 --> 00:28:33.139
 The best questions to

00:28:33.139 --> 00:28:33.460
 answer.

00:28:34.000 --> 00:28:34.619
 The ones you ask

00:28:34.619 --> 00:28:34.980
 yourself.

00:28:35.940 --> 00:28:36.680
 Let me tell you.

00:28:37.339 --> 00:28:39.079
 Let's go back to the

00:28:39.079 --> 00:28:39.960
 rocket mission to the

00:28:39.960 --> 00:28:40.740
 moon for a second.

00:28:42.079 --> 00:28:44.220
 Imagine you heard that

00:28:44.220 --> 00:28:45.259
 for a few weeks,

00:28:45.440 --> 00:28:46.920
 everyone on the launch

00:28:46.920 --> 00:28:49.119
 team was focused on the

00:28:49.119 --> 00:28:50.960
 fins there at the

00:28:50.960 --> 00:28:51.839
 bottom of the rocket.

00:28:51.839 --> 00:28:51.939
 rocket.

00:28:52.659 --> 00:28:53.579
 They had to get them

00:28:53.579 --> 00:28:54.519
 figured out.

00:28:55.439 --> 00:28:56.419
 They turned their

00:28:56.419 --> 00:28:57.539
 attention towards that

00:28:57.539 --> 00:28:58.819
 because they wanted them

00:28:58.819 --> 00:29:00.059
 to be aerodynamic so

00:29:00.059 --> 00:29:00.799
 they'd go just right.

00:29:00.980 --> 00:29:02.119
 They needed to make sure

00:29:02.119 --> 00:29:03.079
 that the temperature

00:29:03.079 --> 00:29:04.199
 control was there for

00:29:04.199 --> 00:29:05.179
 when they go through the

00:29:05.179 --> 00:29:06.119
 Earth's atmosphere.

00:29:06.659 --> 00:29:07.299
 I guess some of you all

00:29:07.299 --> 00:29:08.079
 know way more than I do.

00:29:08.139 --> 00:29:08.740
 Don't critique me.

00:29:09.119 --> 00:29:10.919
 They wanted it to be just

00:29:10.919 --> 00:29:12.059
 right so it would smooth

00:29:12.059 --> 00:29:13.259
 attachment to the rocket

00:29:13.259 --> 00:29:14.000
 body, right?

00:29:14.399 --> 00:29:15.659
 And they had to, if you

00:29:15.659 --> 00:29:16.959
 heard that was going on,

00:29:17.179 --> 00:29:18.279
 would you say they've

00:29:18.279 --> 00:29:19.119
 lost focus?

00:29:19.119 --> 00:29:21.639
 No, you would say

00:29:21.639 --> 00:29:23.239
 that's a vital part of

00:29:23.239 --> 00:29:23.699
 the mission.

00:29:24.059 --> 00:29:25.879
 I'm so glad that they're

00:29:25.879 --> 00:29:27.039
 paying attention to those

00:29:27.039 --> 00:29:27.919
 because if they're going

00:29:27.919 --> 00:29:28.599
 to get to the moon,

00:29:28.939 --> 00:29:29.719
 those fins are going to

00:29:29.719 --> 00:29:31.259
 have to work right.

00:29:32.519 --> 00:29:35.199
 The same is true for

00:29:35.199 --> 00:29:36.179
 gospel community.

00:29:37.139 --> 00:29:38.439
 Not on my authority.

00:29:39.079 --> 00:29:40.079
 On the authority of

00:29:40.079 --> 00:29:40.879
 God's word.

00:29:41.199 --> 00:29:42.359
 This same book that

00:29:42.359 --> 00:29:43.939
 tells us the purpose of

00:29:43.939 --> 00:29:45.159
 the people possessed by

00:29:45.159 --> 00:29:46.899
 God is to proclaim God's

00:29:46.899 --> 00:29:49.000
 excellencies says we must

00:29:49.000 --> 00:29:50.420
 live in humility with one

00:29:50.420 --> 00:29:50.720
 another.

00:29:51.319 --> 00:29:52.680
 We must love one another

00:29:52.680 --> 00:29:54.319
 earnestly and so forth.

00:29:54.359 --> 00:29:54.960
 There's a lot of them.

00:29:55.299 --> 00:29:57.099
 It's not either love the

00:29:57.099 --> 00:29:59.480
 world or love the people

00:29:59.480 --> 00:30:00.740
 in your church, love one

00:30:00.740 --> 00:30:01.079
 another.

00:30:01.440 --> 00:30:01.839
 No.

00:30:02.400 --> 00:30:03.920
 It's both and.

00:30:06.259 --> 00:30:07.099
 Okay, why?

00:30:08.380 --> 00:30:11.660
 Why is the people vital for

00:30:11.660 --> 00:30:12.240
 the purpose?

00:30:13.380 --> 00:30:15.660
 Why do we need one another

00:30:15.660 --> 00:30:17.900
 for God's mission?

00:30:17.900 --> 00:30:21.200
 Why invest time and energy

00:30:21.200 --> 00:30:22.820
 in relationships with

00:30:22.820 --> 00:30:24.040
 brothers and sisters that

00:30:24.040 --> 00:30:25.360
 aren't easy?

00:30:26.019 --> 00:30:27.400
 And with people who don't

00:30:27.400 --> 00:30:28.440
 have anything in common

00:30:28.440 --> 00:30:30.019
 with me except Jesus.

00:30:30.400 --> 00:30:31.420
 And it's so frustrating.

00:30:33.640 --> 00:30:34.100
 Well, there are many

00:30:34.100 --> 00:30:35.240
 reasons we'll see through

00:30:35.240 --> 00:30:35.820
 the summer.

00:30:36.120 --> 00:30:37.940
 But to give us a start,

00:30:38.840 --> 00:30:40.620
 it's because when you want

00:30:40.620 --> 00:30:42.120
 another someone you don't

00:30:42.120 --> 00:30:43.420
 have anything in common

00:30:43.420 --> 00:30:46.340
 with except Jesus, it

00:30:46.340 --> 00:30:48.440
 demonstrates the excellencies

00:30:48.440 --> 00:30:51.259
 of Jesus, doesn't it?

00:30:51.580 --> 00:30:54.539
 That the power of his love

00:30:54.539 --> 00:30:56.860
 is the only explanation for

00:30:56.860 --> 00:30:58.440
 this relationship.

00:30:59.600 --> 00:31:00.779
 I love the way Dr.

00:31:00.860 --> 00:31:02.300
 Clowney frames this for us,

00:31:02.380 --> 00:31:03.360
 but it's really convicting.

00:31:04.960 --> 00:31:06.800
 American evangelicals have a

00:31:06.800 --> 00:31:07.900
 tradition, we like

00:31:07.900 --> 00:31:10.420
 traditions, of individualism

00:31:10.420 --> 00:31:12.100
 individualism that sees the

00:31:12.100 --> 00:31:13.680
 church as a voluntary club

00:31:13.680 --> 00:31:14.480
 for the converted.

00:31:16.180 --> 00:31:17.039
 And this is his warning.

00:31:17.500 --> 00:31:18.620
 Until we have a deep

00:31:18.620 --> 00:31:20.480
 biblical sense of the

00:31:20.480 --> 00:31:22.480
 corporate identity of the

00:31:22.480 --> 00:31:24.400
 new people of God, we will

00:31:24.400 --> 00:31:25.779
 not be able to present the

00:31:25.779 --> 00:31:27.720
 gospel of peace on the front

00:31:27.720 --> 00:31:29.820
 lines of our culture wars.

00:31:30.519 --> 00:31:32.259
 The true drawing power of the

00:31:32.259 --> 00:31:34.120
 church transcends the

00:31:34.120 --> 00:31:35.600
 cultural enclaves of

00:31:35.600 --> 00:31:37.519
 contemporary society to

00:31:37.519 --> 00:31:39.759
 dissolve the hatreds of a

00:31:39.759 --> 00:31:42.079
 fallen world in the love

00:31:42.079 --> 00:31:43.539
 of Christ.

00:31:44.359 --> 00:31:46.259
 And there's a lot to chew on

00:31:46.259 --> 00:31:48.240
 there, but the relationships

00:31:48.240 --> 00:31:50.900
 we are supposed to share,

00:31:51.639 --> 00:31:52.720
 but often don't,

00:31:54.500 --> 00:31:55.539
 are the ones the world is

00:31:55.539 --> 00:31:56.799
 longing for.

00:31:57.359 --> 00:32:00.240
 Unity and peace among those

00:32:00.240 --> 00:32:02.299
 normally divided and in

00:32:02.299 --> 00:32:02.839
 conflict.

00:32:03.019 --> 00:32:04.039
 Let me try to say it in a more

00:32:04.039 --> 00:32:05.319
 pedestrian way than the

00:32:05.319 --> 00:32:07.139
 beautiful professorial language

00:32:07.140 --> 00:32:07.200
 church.

00:32:08.200 --> 00:32:10.740
 When a young black

00:32:10.740 --> 00:32:14.259
 Republican, a middle-aged

00:32:14.259 --> 00:32:17.660
 Hispanic libertarian, and an

00:32:17.660 --> 00:32:19.600
 elderly white Democrat

00:32:19.600 --> 00:32:23.160
 give themselves to a shared

00:32:23.160 --> 00:32:26.320
 mission and pour their lives

00:32:26.320 --> 00:32:29.100
 into each other, into actually

00:32:29.100 --> 00:32:30.900
 caring for and listening to and

00:32:30.900 --> 00:32:32.080
 understanding and loving one

00:32:32.080 --> 00:32:34.600
 another, it testifies to the

00:32:34.599 --> 00:32:37.319
 excellencies of the king who

00:32:37.319 --> 00:32:38.679
 unites them, doesn't it?

00:32:39.000 --> 00:32:41.079
 It says that there's somebody

00:32:41.079 --> 00:32:42.740
 more compellingly worthy than

00:32:42.740 --> 00:32:44.459
 anything else that they're

00:32:44.459 --> 00:32:44.779
 about.

00:32:45.219 --> 00:32:46.919
 And it says that their mission

00:32:46.919 --> 00:32:48.959
 is more compelling and

00:32:48.959 --> 00:32:50.699
 valuable than any other

00:32:50.699 --> 00:32:53.659
 single political or racial or

00:32:53.659 --> 00:32:55.139
 generational issue that they

00:32:55.139 --> 00:32:55.759
 care about.

00:32:56.039 --> 00:32:57.099
 That there's something else

00:32:57.099 --> 00:32:57.919
 that's more important.

00:32:59.179 --> 00:33:00.319
 And Jesus is that.

00:33:00.319 --> 00:33:05.039
 This gospel community that we're

00:33:05.039 --> 00:33:06.579
 to nurture and develop is what

00:33:06.579 --> 00:33:09.179
 we're inviting a lonely and

00:33:09.179 --> 00:33:12.919
 broken and divided world into.

00:33:13.919 --> 00:33:16.220
 Ask yourself, who would want to be a

00:33:16.220 --> 00:33:18.299
 part of any group that's

00:33:18.299 --> 00:33:21.679
 consistently hypocritical, holier than

00:33:21.679 --> 00:33:25.659
 thou, neglectful, abusive, stubborn,

00:33:25.660 --> 00:33:27.420
 and fake.

00:33:27.820 --> 00:33:28.600
 You want to be in that group?

00:33:30.840 --> 00:33:35.580
 Often the church, we are guilty of

00:33:35.580 --> 00:33:36.440
 all those things.

00:33:37.480 --> 00:33:39.620
 We must start with our own

00:33:39.620 --> 00:33:42.759
 repentance and pray for God to

00:33:42.759 --> 00:33:45.220
 bring revival that would transform

00:33:45.220 --> 00:33:45.980
 us.

00:33:46.060 --> 00:33:47.080
 We're praying for revival.

00:33:47.420 --> 00:33:49.180
 We need to pray it starts in our

00:33:49.180 --> 00:33:52.680
 hearts and then transforms our

00:33:52.680 --> 00:33:54.340
 community around us.

00:33:55.620 --> 00:33:56.759
 We need one another.

00:33:57.420 --> 00:33:58.740
 We need one another for

00:33:58.740 --> 00:34:00.560
 encouragement and help because

00:34:00.560 --> 00:34:02.500
 the mission is hard and the

00:34:02.500 --> 00:34:03.680
 opposition is real.

00:34:04.720 --> 00:34:05.500
 We need one another.

00:34:06.080 --> 00:34:08.260
 We need one another because God

00:34:08.260 --> 00:34:09.820
 says it's actually in relationship

00:34:09.820 --> 00:34:12.300
 with each other that we see the

00:34:12.300 --> 00:34:14.760
 glory of his love most fully.

00:34:14.880 --> 00:34:18.099
 We get this view of his love in

00:34:18.099 --> 00:34:20.240
 all its dimensions as we point each

00:34:20.239 --> 00:34:22.519
 other to the glory and grace of

00:34:22.519 --> 00:34:25.159
 Jesus in our lives.

00:34:25.699 --> 00:34:30.839
 We must be a people with a

00:34:30.839 --> 00:34:31.359
 purpose.

00:34:32.339 --> 00:34:34.799
 We are focusing on one another this

00:34:34.799 --> 00:34:37.179
 summer not to lose sight of the

00:34:37.179 --> 00:34:40.139
 glory of God and the declaration of

00:34:40.139 --> 00:34:44.339
 his grace but rather to propel us

00:34:44.339 --> 00:34:47.899
 more effectively and more powerfully on

00:34:47.900 --> 00:34:51.680
 that mission with a big view of our

00:34:51.680 --> 00:34:52.019
 Savior.

00:34:52.519 --> 00:34:52.760
 Amen.

00:34:53.280 --> 00:34:53.860
 Let's pray.

00:34:59.240 --> 00:35:00.720
 God we ask for your help.

00:35:01.900 --> 00:35:05.519
 We confess that we are not the

00:35:05.519 --> 00:35:08.579
 people that you would have us to be

00:35:08.579 --> 00:35:12.119
 and yet you love us.

00:35:14.059 --> 00:35:16.400
 And yet you promise to make us that.

00:35:16.400 --> 00:35:19.840
 There's hope for us not because we do

00:35:19.840 --> 00:35:22.360
 this today perfectly but because our

00:35:22.360 --> 00:35:26.500
 Savior is perfect because he loves us

00:35:26.500 --> 00:35:28.900
 because he will see this mission

00:35:28.900 --> 00:35:31.980
 accomplished and what a delight that

00:35:31.980 --> 00:35:33.160
 he includes us in it.

00:35:33.320 --> 00:35:34.079
 Thank you Father.

00:35:35.840 --> 00:35:40.000
 Give us joy and your mercy to us that

00:35:40.000 --> 00:35:40.940
 makes us yours.

00:35:41.980 --> 00:35:44.220
 Help our hearts delight in being your

00:35:44.219 --> 00:35:48.019
 people and to live like that day by day.

00:35:48.279 --> 00:35:49.719
 We ask it in Jesus name.

00:35:50.299 --> 00:35:50.539
 Amen.

00:35:50.539 --> 00:35:50.659
 Amen.

00:35:55.500 --> 00:35:58.659
 For more information visit us online at

00:35:58.659 --> 00:35:59.559
 southwood.org

00:35:59.559 --> 00:36:01.119
 단arly for videos on YouTube through the

00:36:01.119 --> 00:36:01.799
 route.

00:36:04.799 --> 00:36:06.460
 Thank you for sharing your

00:36:06.559 --> 00:36:07.380
悔

00:36:07.380 --> 00:36:07.719
 students

00:36:07.719 --> 00:36:09.380
 um

00:36:09.860 --> 00:36:10.579
 to

00:36:10.579 --> 00:36:10.840
 dennis

00:36:13.480 --> 00:36:13.840
 olha

00:36:13.840 --> 00:36:14.239
 Let's one

00:36:16.239 --> 00:36:18.039
 care of

00:36:18.039 --> 00:36:19.000
 dear

00:36:19.000 --> 00:36:19.659
媽

00:36:19.659 --> 00:36:19.980
 to

00:36:19.980 --> 00:36:20.539
 of

00:36:20.880 --> 00:36:21.860
...

00:36:21.880 --> 00:36:22.679
 iPhone

00:36:22.679 --> 00:36:23.460
动

00:36:23.539 --> 00:36:23.880
 can

00:36:23.880 --> 00:36:24.360
 it's