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. Join us.

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 Amen.

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 Turn with me, if you will, to John chapter 1.

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 John 1 will be on the screen behind me or on page 886 of the Bible in the pew in front of you,

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 if you want to follow along there.

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 The new year is a great time to examine some of your core commitments, isn't it?

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 Some of the values that are foundational to who you are as a person or as a church as well.

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 It's an important thing for us corporately to do.

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 As a church that seeks to see God's kingdom advanced,

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 Southwood's particular mission statement is to experience and express grace.

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 If you've been here a little while, you've probably heard or read that somewhere.

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 We tend to talk about it quite a bit.

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 But it's only helpful to us if we actually know what we mean.

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 It's cute to be able to say something like that, but if you don't know what you mean,

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 when you say it, it doesn't help you very much, does it?

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 I mentioned earlier that next weekend is our Express Grace Conference.

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 So the second half of Experience and Express Grace, we're going to talk a lot about next weekend

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 to focus on what it means for us to share God's goodness with others, with those around us.

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 But I thought this morning we would look for a few minutes at what we mean when we say experience grace,

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 the first part of the mission statement.

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 Experience grace.

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 Is that something that happens in some kind of out-of-body, mountaintop experience?

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 I have this experience of grace and I don't even know what happened.

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 How often does it happen?

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 How would I know if I've experienced grace?

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 What's it all about?

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 And there are a lot of angles we could take on that,

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 but this morning I want to look at John 1, beginning at verse 14.

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 And we'll read a few verses here and then talk about the experience of God's grace together

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 from this passage and a few others as well.

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 God's holy word in John 1,

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 where John has up to this point introduced the word of God,

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 who has been with God since before time began.

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 And John says he is in fact truly God himself.

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 Then in verse 14 he says this about the word.

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 And the word became flesh and dwelt among us.

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 And we have seen his glory.

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 Glory as of the only Son from the Father,

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 full of grace and truth.

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 John bore witness about him and cried out,

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 This was he of whom I said,

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 He who comes after me ranks before me because he was before me.

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 And from his fullness we have all received grace upon grace.

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 For the law was given through Moses.

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 Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

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 No one has ever seen God.

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 The only God who is at the Father's side,

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 He has made him known.

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 Will you pray with me?

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 Father, our desire as we have rejoiced this morning in your love for us

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 is that we would know you more.

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 We want to know more of who you are and what you are like,

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 of the things that you love and the desires you have for us.

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 And we rejoice that Jesus is the one who has made you known to us.

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 Who has been the perfect image of God in the flesh.

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 Who has made the Father we have not seen known to us.

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 And so as we open your word this morning,

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 would we see him clearly.

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 Would we know more of who you are

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 and of what your heart is for us from your word.

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 Would you teach us by your spirit, we pray in Jesus' name.

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 Amen.

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 When I say kindness,

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 whose face pops into your mind?

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 Is there someone you know who oozes the sugary sweetness

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 and you feel like when you've left a conversation with that person,

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 you've just experienced the essence of kindness.

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 The kindest person I've ever met.

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 What if I said prideful?

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 Or stuck up?

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 Or snooty?

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 Would you have a different face come to mind?

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 Does somebody else pop into your head?

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 He's everything that's wrong with people who think that they're wonderful and amazing

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 and drive me crazy.

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 His face pops into my mind.

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 The essence of pride and arrogance.

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 When we talk about grace,

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 we don't merely mean an abstract theological concept.

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 That something we would vaguely sense or experience in some unusual way.

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 Rather, we're talking about a person.

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 The word become flesh.

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 Jesus himself.

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 Jesus is described here in verse 14 as full of grace and truth.

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 And he's so full of grace that from his fullness,

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 the very essence of who he is and his character,

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 overflows to us what?

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 Grace upon grace.

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 Like they were just singing for us.

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 From who Jesus is, that's what oozes out of him.

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 Another version translates this verse.

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 Grace upon grace.

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 From the fullness of his grace,

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 we have all received one blessing after another.

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 One blessing after another.

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 Grace upon grace from Jesus.

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 In fact, the grace of God in the flesh, right?

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 Where God gave his people the good gift of the law through Moses.

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 Grace upon grace.

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 And then he sent in the very person of Jesus his grace again.

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 Grace in the flesh.

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 Grace is God's goodness and favor that we could never deserve or earn.

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 But that Jesus embodied and brought to us when he took on flesh.

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 His coming to us brought grace to us.

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 Grace.

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 Grace.

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 Grace.

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 So grace then is a person.

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 It's a person who in the first chapter of John's gospel alone,

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 if you just read through the rest of this chapter,

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 we find out he did many things for us that we could never deserve or earn.

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 He brought light into our darkness.

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 Made those of us who were God's enemies his children.

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 That's grace.

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 He accomplished what mankind had failed to do for centuries in living a life of obedience to God.

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 And he also died for the sins of the world.

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 Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

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 That's grace.

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 So when we talk about experiencing grace,

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 it's not just some mystical intangible concept.

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 We're talking about being near Jesus.

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 He himself is grace.

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 And it overflows from him to us over and over.

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 Grace upon grace.

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 And that's actually the idea that this passage has

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 and that is in many other places in the Scripture.

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 That we don't just need a quick exposure to Jesus.

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 A one-time dose of grace that fixes us forever.

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 However, this passage and many others teach that we live all our lives

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 in moment-by-moment dependence on the grace of God in Jesus Christ.

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 That's why we say our mission is to experience grace.

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 That's where we start.

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 Not that we would have a goal of one day, someday,

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 maybe finally experiencing God's grace for the first time.

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 But that every day, not just once,

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 not once in the future, not once in the past,

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 but every day present,

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 I need to experience His amazing grace to me.

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 To be overwhelmed by the kindness and favor of God

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 poured into my life in ways I could never earn or deserve.

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 I need to be filled and fueled by the grace of Jesus.

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 By God's unending and undeserving love for me.

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 That's what the Bible says it means to continue to live in Christ.

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 Experiencing His grace.

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 And that seems pretty simple to say

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 that experiencing grace is just be near Jesus

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 and grace overflows into you.

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 Just be near Jesus.

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 Why don't we find ourselves drinking from that fountain,

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 so to speak, more regularly?

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 Why is it not your experience and my experience

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 that I'm constantly being filled up and fueled and driven

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 and every thought shaped by the amazing love

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 that God has for me in Jesus?

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 Why is that not the way we live all the time?

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 I think one primary reason

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 is that we don't always feel and remember

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 our need to be near Jesus.

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 Here's a definition for experiencing grace

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 you can write down if you want.

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 Constant needs constantly met in Christ.

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 It's not real complicated.

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 I don't intend it to be profound.

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 But think of people who clearly experience

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 the grace of Jesus during His earthly ministry.

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 Over and over again,

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 these are people who have very clear needs

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 that Jesus meets with His grace.

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 Think of blind Bartimaeus in Mark chapter 10

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 who stands by the side of the road

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 and hears Jesus is coming down the road

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 and cries out,

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 Son of David, have mercy on me!

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 And Jesus stops and comes over and asks him,

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 What do you want me to do for you?

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 And the grace of Jesus overflows to Bartimaeus

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 and he receives His sight, doesn't he?

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 Think of the sinful woman in Luke 7

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 who's so aware of her need for forgiveness

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 that she comes to be near Jesus

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 and sit at His feet.

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 She does more than that.

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 She pours expensive perfume on Him

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 and wipes His feet with her hair

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 as she cries over Him.

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 And grace overflows to her

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 as Jesus tells her what?

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 Your sins are forgiven.

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 Think of the paralytic in Mark chapter 2.

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 You may have heard the story in Sunday school.

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 He's so desperate to be near Jesus

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 that when he can't get in the house,

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 what do his friends do for him?

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 They take him outside,

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 they climb up,

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 cut a hole in the roof

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 and lower him down right in front of Jesus.

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 And the grace of Jesus overflows to him

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 and Jesus says,

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 your sins are forgiven

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 and He heals His body.

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 Constant needs,

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 constantly met in Christ.

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 All of these,

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 and there are many others we could cite,

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 all of these people

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 are deeply aware of their need for Jesus,

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 aren't they?

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 They know that they need Him.

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 They know they're desperate.

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 A blind man,

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 a sinful woman,

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 a paralytic,

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 desperate to be near Jesus.

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 So here's the point for us.

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 You won't experience grace

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 to meet your needs

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 if you don't have any.

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 You won't experience grace

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 to forgive your sin

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 if you don't have any.

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 You won't experience grace

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 for your failures

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 if you don't have any.

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 You won't experience grace

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 to give direction in your confusion

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 if you never have any.

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 You won't experience grace

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 to be sufficient in your weakness

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 if you don't have any.

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 Do you regularly think of yourself

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 as needy?

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 Sinful?

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 Confused?

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 Weak?

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 Is that how you think of yourself?

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 Is your relationship with God

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 one in which you're constantly telling Him

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 how much you need His direction?

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 How much you need His strength for that day?

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 How much you need His forgiveness

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 for your sin?

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 God have mercy on me, a sinner.

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 Like the tax collector

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 praying in the temple,

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 crying out to God

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 and Jesus says,

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 that man went home

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 in a right relationship with God.

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 That's how you relate to God.

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 God have mercy on me, a sinner.

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 I need your help.

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 For many of us,

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 that doesn't sound like our

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 day in and day out relationship with God, does it?

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 Doesn't sound like your prayer life

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 constantly crying out,

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 God have mercy on me,

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 a sinner.

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 I need you so desperately.

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 I'm weak.

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 I'm needy.

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 I'm confused.

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 I need you.

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 For many of us,

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 our day in, day out relationship with God

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 is based on merit,

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 worthiness,

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 performance,

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 strength.

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 God was gracious to me

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 once upon a time.

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 I talk about grace,

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 but now I relate to God

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 based on how well I'm doing.

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 God, I'm a pretty good person.

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 I mean, I'm better than the next guy,

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 so I expect some pretty good things to happen.

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 God, I thank you.

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 I'm moral and not like this other guy

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 or these people I read about.

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 Sounds like the Pharisee

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 praying opposite the tax collector

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 who says those things

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 and Jesus says of him

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 he had a wrong kind of relationship with God.

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 He didn't know how to relate to God.

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 He said,

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 I'm more spiritual than they are.

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 I'm more moral than she is.

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 More faithful than he is.

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 And Jesus said,

00:14:16.279 --> 00:14:19.379
 that's not how you relate to God.

00:14:20.819 --> 00:14:22.139
 Quick side note

00:14:22.139 --> 00:14:24.159
 and preview of next weekend

00:14:24.159 --> 00:14:25.620
 and expressing grace.

00:14:26.799 --> 00:14:29.120
 When that's what our relationship with God

00:14:29.120 --> 00:14:29.979
 is based on,

00:14:29.980 --> 00:14:32.800
 that's what our relationship with others

00:14:32.800 --> 00:14:34.539
 is based on too.

00:14:35.740 --> 00:14:37.420
 Is he performing well enough

00:14:37.420 --> 00:14:39.200
 to earn my favor today?

00:14:39.700 --> 00:14:42.240
 Is she worthy of my love today?

00:14:42.759 --> 00:14:45.159
 And if you're not experiencing grace

00:14:45.159 --> 00:14:48.039
 for needy, sinful, failing,

00:14:48.399 --> 00:14:50.440
 confused, weak you,

00:14:51.200 --> 00:14:52.960
 you'll have no grace

00:14:52.960 --> 00:14:54.740
 and very little time

00:14:54.740 --> 00:14:58.120
 for the needy, sinful failures

00:14:58.120 --> 00:14:59.480
 in your life.

00:15:00.080 --> 00:15:01.700
 For those who are confused

00:15:01.700 --> 00:15:04.440
 and weak in your circles of influence.

00:15:04.779 --> 00:15:06.240
 If none of that grace

00:15:06.240 --> 00:15:07.879
 is being poured into you,

00:15:08.080 --> 00:15:09.560
 none of it will be overflowing

00:15:09.560 --> 00:15:10.799
 to anyone around you.

00:15:12.779 --> 00:15:15.019
 That's a preview of next weekend.

00:15:16.539 --> 00:15:18.639
 It's a sad reality to imagine

00:15:18.639 --> 00:15:19.899
 not having any grace

00:15:19.899 --> 00:15:21.399
 for people like that in our lives.

00:15:21.679 --> 00:15:23.340
 Nothing to pour through us

00:15:23.340 --> 00:15:24.960
 and flow over into them

00:15:24.960 --> 00:15:26.600
 in their great need.

00:15:26.600 --> 00:15:30.019
 But perhaps if you can imagine

00:15:30.019 --> 00:15:31.420
 this morning even sadder

00:15:31.420 --> 00:15:33.580
 than not having grace for others

00:15:33.580 --> 00:15:35.899
 is that you will not merely

00:15:35.899 --> 00:15:36.980
 have missed grace.

00:15:38.180 --> 00:15:40.379
 You will have missed Jesus.

00:15:41.399 --> 00:15:42.820
 The grace of God

00:15:42.820 --> 00:15:45.120
 expressed in a person.

00:15:46.060 --> 00:15:47.879
 Jesus didn't come for the healthy

00:15:47.879 --> 00:15:49.980
 who have no need of a doctor.

00:15:51.019 --> 00:15:52.660
 For the successful

00:15:52.660 --> 00:15:55.759
 who have no need of His strength.

00:15:55.759 --> 00:15:57.620
 For those who figured it out

00:15:57.620 --> 00:15:59.439
 and have no need of His wisdom.

00:15:59.580 --> 00:16:00.539
 For the put together

00:16:00.539 --> 00:16:02.460
 who have no need of His help.

00:16:03.720 --> 00:16:04.819
 Jesus came

00:16:04.819 --> 00:16:06.799
 not for those.

00:16:06.919 --> 00:16:08.039
 He came for those

00:16:08.039 --> 00:16:08.759
 who are poor

00:16:08.759 --> 00:16:10.120
 in spirit.

00:16:10.899 --> 00:16:11.720
 Who don't think

00:16:11.720 --> 00:16:12.799
 they can handle life

00:16:12.799 --> 00:16:13.460
 on their own.

00:16:13.539 --> 00:16:14.939
 Who know how desperately

00:16:14.939 --> 00:16:15.939
 they need Him.

00:16:16.519 --> 00:16:17.519
 And that reality

00:16:17.519 --> 00:16:18.919
 should be unsettling

00:16:18.919 --> 00:16:19.819
 to those of us

00:16:19.819 --> 00:16:21.240
 who largely are

00:16:21.240 --> 00:16:22.659
 are part of a strong

00:16:22.659 --> 00:16:23.820
 and capable

00:16:23.820 --> 00:16:26.100
 and successful culture.

00:16:27.220 --> 00:16:28.279
 People in a church

00:16:28.279 --> 00:16:29.320
 where we can look

00:16:29.320 --> 00:16:30.419
 strong and capable

00:16:30.419 --> 00:16:31.740
 and successful.

00:16:32.080 --> 00:16:33.279
 And the reality is

00:16:33.279 --> 00:16:34.440
 that it should shake us up

00:16:34.440 --> 00:16:34.980
 a little bit.

00:16:35.500 --> 00:16:36.539
 Because those aren't just

00:16:36.539 --> 00:16:37.259
 my words

00:16:37.259 --> 00:16:38.740
 trying to make you feel bad.

00:16:39.000 --> 00:16:40.159
 Those are the words of Jesus

00:16:40.159 --> 00:16:41.320
 about who He came for

00:16:41.320 --> 00:16:41.740
 aren't they?

00:16:42.279 --> 00:16:43.180
 It's not the healthy

00:16:43.180 --> 00:16:43.980
 who need a doctor

00:16:43.980 --> 00:16:44.680
 but the sick.

00:16:45.019 --> 00:16:46.139
 I've come not to call

00:16:46.139 --> 00:16:46.600
 righteous

00:16:46.600 --> 00:16:48.060
 but sinners.

00:16:49.940 --> 00:16:52.519
 Jesus came for sinners.

00:16:53.100 --> 00:16:54.480
 He came to save them.

00:16:54.620 --> 00:16:55.840
 To rescue them.

00:16:55.960 --> 00:16:56.879
 For those who know

00:16:56.879 --> 00:16:58.200
 they need to experience

00:16:58.200 --> 00:16:59.120
 His grace.

00:17:00.879 --> 00:17:02.220
 You and I need

00:17:02.220 --> 00:17:04.640
 to be near Jesus.

00:17:05.420 --> 00:17:07.380
 For today we need Him.

00:17:08.480 --> 00:17:11.220
 For tomorrow we need Him.

00:17:11.799 --> 00:17:13.400
 For parenting we need

00:17:13.400 --> 00:17:14.180
 His patience.

00:17:14.819 --> 00:17:16.019
 For engaging with

00:17:16.019 --> 00:17:17.619
 co-workers we need

00:17:17.619 --> 00:17:18.139
 His wisdom.

00:17:19.379 --> 00:17:20.500
 For relationships

00:17:20.500 --> 00:17:21.900
 we need His forgiveness.

00:17:22.720 --> 00:17:24.059
 For all of these things

00:17:24.059 --> 00:17:24.980
 and many more

00:17:24.980 --> 00:17:26.220
 we need to experience

00:17:26.220 --> 00:17:28.059
 His grace.

00:17:29.379 --> 00:17:31.480
 We need to be crying out to Him.

00:17:31.879 --> 00:17:32.960
 Drawing near to Him

00:17:32.960 --> 00:17:34.039
 in prayer, right?

00:17:34.519 --> 00:17:36.099
 That's moment by moment

00:17:36.099 --> 00:17:37.720
 experiencing His grace.

00:17:38.099 --> 00:17:39.079
 Seeking for God

00:17:39.079 --> 00:17:40.500
 to give us His sustaining

00:17:40.500 --> 00:17:41.680
 and directing grace

00:17:41.680 --> 00:17:42.960
 for our lives.

00:17:43.599 --> 00:17:44.400
 We ought to be

00:17:44.400 --> 00:17:45.879
 regularly repenting.

00:17:46.019 --> 00:17:47.119
 Of our sin.

00:17:47.220 --> 00:17:48.400
 Where we turn back

00:17:48.400 --> 00:17:49.799
 and come near to Jesus

00:17:49.799 --> 00:17:52.000
 and seek His forgiving grace.

00:17:53.000 --> 00:17:54.000
 We need to be reading

00:17:54.000 --> 00:17:54.660
 His word

00:17:54.660 --> 00:17:56.039
 and talking about Him

00:17:56.039 --> 00:17:56.779
 with our friends.

00:17:57.139 --> 00:17:58.240
 Having Him near us

00:17:58.240 --> 00:17:59.900
 in every aspect of life.

00:18:00.680 --> 00:18:02.160
 Every relationship we have

00:18:02.160 --> 00:18:04.099
 so that His overflowing grace

00:18:04.099 --> 00:18:05.539
 is our greatest joy.

00:18:05.759 --> 00:18:06.859
 Our highest desire.

00:18:06.980 --> 00:18:07.700
 The thing that we

00:18:07.700 --> 00:18:08.960
 can't stop thinking

00:18:08.960 --> 00:18:09.960
 and talking about.

00:18:09.960 --> 00:18:12.160
 And that would be

00:18:12.160 --> 00:18:13.059
 a really good sermon

00:18:13.059 --> 00:18:14.519
 especially around New Year's

00:18:14.519 --> 00:18:14.880
 wouldn't it?

00:18:15.680 --> 00:18:17.480
 Be near Jesus more.

00:18:19.160 --> 00:18:19.900
 Read the Bible.

00:18:20.819 --> 00:18:21.180
 Pray.

00:18:21.799 --> 00:18:22.579
 Come to church.

00:18:23.799 --> 00:18:24.860
 Have Jesus impact

00:18:24.860 --> 00:18:25.759
 all of your life.

00:18:26.559 --> 00:18:27.420
 And we should

00:18:27.420 --> 00:18:28.480
 and all of those things

00:18:28.480 --> 00:18:29.120
 are good.

00:18:30.319 --> 00:18:31.819
 We need more time with Him.

00:18:31.900 --> 00:18:34.180
 We need to be near Jesus.

00:18:34.180 --> 00:18:36.980
 But it's even better

00:18:36.980 --> 00:18:37.580
 than that.

00:18:38.360 --> 00:18:40.580
 Our hope is even better

00:18:40.580 --> 00:18:42.200
 and more exciting

00:18:42.200 --> 00:18:42.660
 than just

00:18:42.660 --> 00:18:44.400
 you need to be with Jesus

00:18:44.400 --> 00:18:45.080
 more

00:18:45.080 --> 00:18:46.320
 although we do.

00:18:47.299 --> 00:18:48.320
 The good news is

00:18:48.320 --> 00:18:49.340
 that Jesus

00:18:49.340 --> 00:18:50.840
 comes to us.

00:18:50.920 --> 00:18:51.980
 That's part of His

00:18:51.980 --> 00:18:53.240
 overflowing grace.

00:18:53.500 --> 00:18:54.460
 Is that Jesus

00:18:54.460 --> 00:18:55.539
 actually comes

00:18:55.539 --> 00:18:56.660
 to be near us.

00:18:56.940 --> 00:18:57.600
 Have you forgotten

00:18:57.600 --> 00:18:58.600
 Christmas already?

00:18:59.440 --> 00:19:00.279
 Isn't that what we

00:19:00.279 --> 00:19:01.000
 just celebrated?

00:19:01.279 --> 00:19:02.420
 What about verse 14?

00:19:02.420 --> 00:19:03.740
 What does it say?

00:19:04.160 --> 00:19:07.039
 The Word became flesh

00:19:07.039 --> 00:19:08.400
 and made His dwelling

00:19:08.400 --> 00:19:10.160
 among us.

00:19:11.160 --> 00:19:12.880
 Among needy,

00:19:13.620 --> 00:19:14.660
 weak,

00:19:15.420 --> 00:19:16.900
 failing people.

00:19:17.440 --> 00:19:17.980
 Jesus said

00:19:17.980 --> 00:19:19.420
 I will live there.

00:19:19.560 --> 00:19:21.340
 I will come to them.

00:19:22.000 --> 00:19:23.680
 The Word became flesh

00:19:23.680 --> 00:19:25.080
 and made His dwelling

00:19:25.080 --> 00:19:26.140
 among us.

00:19:26.300 --> 00:19:27.180
 He wanted to get

00:19:27.180 --> 00:19:28.920
 so near to us

00:19:28.920 --> 00:19:29.720
 that His grace

00:19:29.720 --> 00:19:31.320
 would spill onto us

00:19:31.319 --> 00:19:32.279
 so that we could

00:19:32.279 --> 00:19:33.500
 experience His grace.

00:19:33.799 --> 00:19:34.799
 That's why He came.

00:19:35.139 --> 00:19:36.159
 He wants to spill

00:19:36.159 --> 00:19:37.059
 His grace onto you

00:19:37.059 --> 00:19:37.939
 even more than you

00:19:37.939 --> 00:19:38.579
 want to run

00:19:38.579 --> 00:19:39.939
 and get it from Him.

00:19:41.939 --> 00:19:42.919
 He came

00:19:42.919 --> 00:19:44.779
 so that His grace

00:19:44.779 --> 00:19:45.500
 would overflow

00:19:45.500 --> 00:19:46.759
 to you.

00:19:48.079 --> 00:19:48.700
 In Memphis

00:19:48.700 --> 00:19:49.639
 where I grew up

00:19:49.639 --> 00:19:50.220
 there's this

00:19:50.220 --> 00:19:51.379
 wonderful place

00:19:51.379 --> 00:19:52.319
 called St. Jude

00:19:52.319 --> 00:19:53.939
 Children's Research Hospital.

00:19:54.299 --> 00:19:54.759
 You've probably

00:19:54.759 --> 00:19:55.240
 heard of it.

00:19:55.240 --> 00:19:57.579
 They treat their children

00:19:57.579 --> 00:19:58.500
 who are suffering

00:19:58.500 --> 00:19:59.720
 with cancer.

00:20:00.200 --> 00:20:01.180
 Children from all

00:20:01.180 --> 00:20:02.099
 over the globe.

00:20:03.000 --> 00:20:03.480
 In fact,

00:20:03.660 --> 00:20:04.920
 one from our

00:20:04.920 --> 00:20:05.880
 Southwood family

00:20:05.880 --> 00:20:06.980
 just this past year

00:20:06.980 --> 00:20:07.900
 that they took

00:20:07.900 --> 00:20:08.799
 great care of.

00:20:10.059 --> 00:20:10.980
 Every December

00:20:10.980 --> 00:20:12.240
 there's a college

00:20:12.240 --> 00:20:13.400
 football bowl game

00:20:13.400 --> 00:20:13.839
 in Memphis

00:20:13.839 --> 00:20:15.079
 called the Liberty Bowl.

00:20:15.839 --> 00:20:16.660
 And so two teams

00:20:16.660 --> 00:20:17.140
 come in,

00:20:17.200 --> 00:20:17.839
 different teams

00:20:17.839 --> 00:20:18.380
 each time,

00:20:18.440 --> 00:20:19.200
 to play perhaps

00:20:19.200 --> 00:20:20.299
 the biggest football game

00:20:20.299 --> 00:20:21.039
 played in Memphis

00:20:21.039 --> 00:20:22.339
 all year.

00:20:22.579 --> 00:20:23.339
 And lots of kids

00:20:23.339 --> 00:20:23.939
 are excited

00:20:23.939 --> 00:20:24.859
 to go to the game.

00:20:25.500 --> 00:20:26.139
 They want to go

00:20:26.139 --> 00:20:27.279
 see their favorite

00:20:27.279 --> 00:20:27.740
 players,

00:20:27.879 --> 00:20:28.919
 see these two teams

00:20:28.919 --> 00:20:30.139
 play football

00:20:30.139 --> 00:20:31.039
 against each other.

00:20:31.899 --> 00:20:32.759
 And every year,

00:20:33.399 --> 00:20:34.519
 ahead of the Liberty Bowl

00:20:34.519 --> 00:20:35.119
 itself,

00:20:36.399 --> 00:20:37.019
 those teams

00:20:37.019 --> 00:20:38.240
 would visit St. Jude

00:20:38.240 --> 00:20:39.359
 and they would

00:20:39.359 --> 00:20:40.459
 bring the game

00:20:40.459 --> 00:20:41.319
 to the kids

00:20:41.319 --> 00:20:42.419
 who were too sick

00:20:42.419 --> 00:20:43.939
 to come to the game

00:20:43.939 --> 00:20:44.759
 themselves.

00:20:45.159 --> 00:20:46.159
 You'd always see

00:20:46.159 --> 00:20:46.720
 in the paper

00:20:46.720 --> 00:20:47.379
 every year

00:20:47.379 --> 00:20:48.459
 a picture of the quarterback

00:20:48.459 --> 00:20:49.599
 with his arm

00:20:49.599 --> 00:20:51.119
 around a five-year-old

00:20:51.119 --> 00:20:52.079
 bald-headed

00:20:52.079 --> 00:20:53.000
 cancer

00:20:53.000 --> 00:20:53.680
 patient

00:20:53.680 --> 00:20:55.019
 from St. Jude.

00:20:55.720 --> 00:20:57.160
 The guy who perhaps

00:20:57.160 --> 00:20:58.539
 embodied the essence

00:20:58.539 --> 00:20:59.220
 of football

00:20:59.220 --> 00:21:00.759
 and all the excitement

00:21:00.759 --> 00:21:01.740
 about this game

00:21:01.740 --> 00:21:03.259
 that was coming to town

00:21:03.259 --> 00:21:03.839
 in the mind

00:21:03.839 --> 00:21:04.660
 of this kid

00:21:04.660 --> 00:21:06.240
 actually coming

00:21:06.240 --> 00:21:07.700
 to bring the experience

00:21:07.700 --> 00:21:08.759
 of the Liberty Bowl

00:21:08.759 --> 00:21:10.640
 into the hospital room

00:21:10.640 --> 00:21:12.359
 of a young kid.

00:21:14.160 --> 00:21:15.480
 And that's what Jesus

00:21:15.480 --> 00:21:17.519
 has done for us.

00:21:17.920 --> 00:21:18.220
 Jesus,

00:21:18.220 --> 00:21:19.619
 the embodiment

00:21:19.619 --> 00:21:20.980
 of grace himself,

00:21:20.980 --> 00:21:23.259
 has come to you

00:21:23.259 --> 00:21:24.920
 and brought grace

00:21:24.920 --> 00:21:26.839
 to your hospital room

00:21:26.839 --> 00:21:28.039
 that you couldn't leave

00:21:28.039 --> 00:21:29.240
 because you were too sick.

00:21:30.440 --> 00:21:32.059
 When you couldn't leave

00:21:32.059 --> 00:21:33.339
 the shackles

00:21:33.339 --> 00:21:35.220
 of what you've done,

00:21:35.799 --> 00:21:37.380
 of the terrible things

00:21:37.380 --> 00:21:38.759
 that rack your memories

00:21:38.759 --> 00:21:39.900
 and you can't get away

00:21:39.900 --> 00:21:40.380
 from them

00:21:40.380 --> 00:21:41.599
 to come to Jesus,

00:21:41.740 --> 00:21:43.819
 he came to you.

00:21:44.620 --> 00:21:45.559
 Maybe for you

00:21:45.559 --> 00:21:46.880
 it's the shackles

00:21:46.880 --> 00:21:47.580
 of your own

00:21:47.580 --> 00:21:49.000
 self-obsession.

00:21:50.040 --> 00:21:51.040
 The success

00:21:51.040 --> 00:21:52.340
 that you've experienced

00:21:52.340 --> 00:21:53.080
 and you realize

00:21:53.080 --> 00:21:54.420
 you only think

00:21:54.420 --> 00:21:55.260
 about yourself

00:21:55.260 --> 00:21:56.640
 and you can't get away

00:21:56.640 --> 00:21:57.120
 from that

00:21:57.120 --> 00:21:57.720
 to come

00:21:57.720 --> 00:21:59.020
 and cry out to Jesus

00:21:59.020 --> 00:21:59.640
 and Jesus

00:21:59.640 --> 00:22:01.920
 comes to you.

00:22:02.640 --> 00:22:03.340
 This table

00:22:03.340 --> 00:22:04.300
 reminds us

00:22:04.300 --> 00:22:05.140
 that he didn't just

00:22:05.140 --> 00:22:06.060
 do that once.

00:22:06.940 --> 00:22:08.300
 That he is still

00:22:08.300 --> 00:22:10.080
 coming to us.

00:22:10.600 --> 00:22:11.600
 That he knows

00:22:11.599 --> 00:22:13.480
 we still need him.

00:22:13.719 --> 00:22:15.159
 That he still needs

00:22:15.159 --> 00:22:16.359
 to bring his grace

00:22:16.359 --> 00:22:17.259
 to us.

00:22:17.480 --> 00:22:18.359
 His grace is for you

00:22:18.359 --> 00:22:19.659
 to experience again

00:22:19.659 --> 00:22:20.799
 this morning.

00:22:21.259 --> 00:22:21.919
 That's why he said

00:22:21.919 --> 00:22:22.759
 we should do this

00:22:22.759 --> 00:22:23.740
 so often.

00:22:24.059 --> 00:22:25.139
 Because we continue

00:22:25.139 --> 00:22:25.699
 to need him.

00:22:25.839 --> 00:22:26.719
 Because we continue

00:22:26.719 --> 00:22:28.359
 to need to be filled up

00:22:28.359 --> 00:22:30.240
 with his grace.

00:22:30.759 --> 00:22:32.419
 We declare at this table

00:22:32.419 --> 00:22:34.179
 that we are still

00:22:34.179 --> 00:22:35.639
 not strong enough.

00:22:36.480 --> 00:22:37.319
 That we're still

00:22:37.319 --> 00:22:38.619
 not smart enough.

00:22:38.619 --> 00:22:40.419
 That we're still

00:22:40.419 --> 00:22:41.939
 not successful enough

00:22:41.939 --> 00:22:43.439
 on our own

00:22:43.439 --> 00:22:45.279
 to come to Jesus.

00:22:45.899 --> 00:22:46.759
 But we declare

00:22:46.759 --> 00:22:48.000
 at the same time

00:22:48.000 --> 00:22:49.500
 that he has come

00:22:49.500 --> 00:22:50.419
 to us.

00:22:50.519 --> 00:22:51.379
 And we taste

00:22:51.379 --> 00:22:52.079
 as we come

00:22:52.079 --> 00:22:53.799
 his grace for us again.

00:22:54.059 --> 00:22:55.119
 We experience

00:22:55.119 --> 00:22:56.039
 his grace

00:22:56.039 --> 00:22:57.299
 again this morning.

00:22:58.699 --> 00:22:59.799
 Constant needs

00:22:59.799 --> 00:23:01.299
 to you and me.

00:23:01.739 --> 00:23:02.799
 Constantly met

00:23:02.799 --> 00:23:04.119
 in Christ.

00:23:06.439 --> 00:23:07.859
 Paul tells us

00:23:07.859 --> 00:23:09.619
 of the words

00:23:09.619 --> 00:23:10.299
 of institution

00:23:10.299 --> 00:23:11.359
 that Jesus gave

00:23:11.359 --> 00:23:11.839
 on the night

00:23:11.839 --> 00:23:12.619
 he was betrayed.

00:23:12.759 --> 00:23:13.599
 He took bread

00:23:13.599 --> 00:23:14.759
 and when he'd given

00:23:14.759 --> 00:23:16.219
 thanks he broke it

00:23:16.219 --> 00:23:18.199
 and said this is my body

00:23:18.199 --> 00:23:19.299
 which is for you.

00:23:20.139 --> 00:23:21.259
 Do this in remembrance

00:23:21.259 --> 00:23:21.979
 of me.

00:23:22.459 --> 00:23:23.639
 In the same way also

00:23:23.639 --> 00:23:24.599
 he took the cup

00:23:24.599 --> 00:23:25.419
 after supper

00:23:25.419 --> 00:23:26.839
 saying this cup

00:23:26.839 --> 00:23:27.740
 is the new covenant

00:23:27.740 --> 00:23:28.559
 in my blood.

00:23:28.939 --> 00:23:29.819
 Do this as often

00:23:29.819 --> 00:23:30.619
 as you drink it

00:23:30.619 --> 00:23:31.899
 in remembrance of me.

00:23:32.240 --> 00:23:32.939
 For as often

00:23:32.939 --> 00:23:34.159
 as you eat this bread

00:23:34.159 --> 00:23:35.519
 and drink the cup

00:23:35.519 --> 00:23:36.459
 you proclaim

00:23:36.459 --> 00:23:37.539
 the Lord's death.

00:23:37.859 --> 00:23:39.299
 until he comes.

00:23:40.419 --> 00:23:41.879
 This is not the table

00:23:41.879 --> 00:23:43.259
 of Southwood

00:23:43.259 --> 00:23:45.479
 or the Presbyterian church.

00:23:46.219 --> 00:23:47.719
 This is the Lord's table.

00:23:48.839 --> 00:23:50.119
 And Jesus has

00:23:50.119 --> 00:23:51.179
 set it before us

00:23:51.179 --> 00:23:51.779
 this morning

00:23:51.779 --> 00:23:52.779
 so that we would

00:23:52.779 --> 00:23:54.000
 taste and experience

00:23:54.000 --> 00:23:55.799
 his grace again.

00:23:56.559 --> 00:23:57.619
 And he invites

00:23:57.619 --> 00:23:58.359
 he's the one

00:23:58.359 --> 00:23:59.439
 extending the invitation

00:23:59.439 --> 00:24:00.000
 to you

00:24:00.000 --> 00:24:00.959
 to everyone

00:24:00.959 --> 00:24:01.899
 who has truly

00:24:01.899 --> 00:24:03.059
 trusted in him

00:24:03.059 --> 00:24:04.359
 for their salvation.

00:24:04.359 --> 00:24:05.539
 who's made a public

00:24:05.539 --> 00:24:06.859
 profession of that faith

00:24:06.859 --> 00:24:08.379
 by joining a church

00:24:08.379 --> 00:24:10.319
 a body of Christ.

00:24:10.319 --> 00:24:11.839
 he invites you

00:24:11.839 --> 00:24:13.039
 to come

00:24:13.039 --> 00:24:14.159
 and to feast

00:24:14.159 --> 00:24:14.819
 this morning.

00:24:15.879 --> 00:24:16.539
 Come and eat.

00:24:17.259 --> 00:24:18.639
 If you don't know him

00:24:18.639 --> 00:24:19.559
 if you've never

00:24:19.559 --> 00:24:20.539
 trusted Jesus

00:24:20.539 --> 00:24:21.419
 for yourself

00:24:21.419 --> 00:24:22.819
 don't come

00:24:22.819 --> 00:24:23.559
 to this table

00:24:23.559 --> 00:24:24.740
 don't come

00:24:24.740 --> 00:24:25.599
 and proclaim

00:24:25.599 --> 00:24:26.500
 outwardly

00:24:26.500 --> 00:24:27.139
 something that's

00:24:27.139 --> 00:24:27.859
 not true

00:24:27.859 --> 00:24:28.319
 inwardly.

00:24:29.500 --> 00:24:30.000
 Instead

00:24:30.000 --> 00:24:31.119
 we would love

00:24:31.119 --> 00:24:31.819
 to invite you

00:24:31.819 --> 00:24:32.419
 to come

00:24:32.419 --> 00:24:33.359
 and to know

00:24:33.359 --> 00:24:34.539
 Jesus himself.

00:24:35.119 --> 00:24:36.059
 The one who would

00:24:36.059 --> 00:24:37.279
 come toward you

00:24:37.279 --> 00:24:37.899
 this morning.

00:24:37.900 --> 00:24:39.280
 I'd ask you

00:24:39.280 --> 00:24:39.960
 to consider

00:24:39.960 --> 00:24:41.000
 are you

00:24:41.000 --> 00:24:41.880
 this morning

00:24:41.880 --> 00:24:42.280
 okay

00:24:42.280 --> 00:24:43.300
 on your own?

00:24:44.040 --> 00:24:44.440
 Are you

00:24:44.440 --> 00:24:45.220
 good enough?

00:24:46.380 --> 00:24:47.280
 Strong enough?

00:24:47.600 --> 00:24:48.280
 Wise enough?

00:24:48.400 --> 00:24:49.340
 Capable enough

00:24:49.340 --> 00:24:50.580
 to handle

00:24:50.580 --> 00:24:51.740
 life

00:24:51.740 --> 00:24:52.480
 on your own?

00:24:53.040 --> 00:24:53.580
 Or

00:24:53.580 --> 00:24:54.420
 do you

00:24:54.420 --> 00:24:55.160
 need

00:24:55.160 --> 00:24:56.480
 someone else?

00:24:56.720 --> 00:24:57.420
 Do you need

00:24:57.420 --> 00:24:58.060
 the help

00:24:58.060 --> 00:24:58.780
 of another?

00:24:58.940 --> 00:24:59.480
 Someone who would

00:24:59.480 --> 00:25:00.080
 come to you

00:25:00.080 --> 00:25:01.040
 and offer himself

00:25:01.040 --> 00:25:02.300
 for you?

00:25:03.060 --> 00:25:03.700
 Do you need

00:25:03.700 --> 00:25:04.519
 his grace?

00:25:05.320 --> 00:25:05.700
 Perhaps

00:25:05.700 --> 00:25:06.259
 this morning

00:25:06.259 --> 00:25:06.820
 what it could be

00:25:06.820 --> 00:25:07.460
 is a chance

00:25:07.460 --> 00:25:08.400
 to realize

00:25:08.400 --> 00:25:09.079
 that you can

00:25:09.079 --> 00:25:10.100
 stop exhausting

00:25:10.100 --> 00:25:10.640
 yourself

00:25:10.640 --> 00:25:11.279
 trying to make

00:25:11.279 --> 00:25:11.920
 God happy

00:25:11.920 --> 00:25:13.579
 and for the first

00:25:13.579 --> 00:25:14.039
 time

00:25:14.039 --> 00:25:15.120
 know that someone

00:25:15.120 --> 00:25:15.759
 else has done

00:25:15.759 --> 00:25:16.539
 that for you

00:25:16.539 --> 00:25:17.440
 that Jesus

00:25:17.440 --> 00:25:18.200
 has done that

00:25:18.200 --> 00:25:18.940
 in your place

00:25:18.940 --> 00:25:19.360
 and you can

00:25:19.360 --> 00:25:20.519
 come near to him

00:25:20.519 --> 00:25:21.059
 and experience

00:25:21.059 --> 00:25:21.880
 his grace

00:25:21.880 --> 00:25:23.039
 in a person

00:25:23.039 --> 00:25:24.220
 in Jesus

00:25:24.220 --> 00:25:24.960
 himself

00:25:24.960 --> 00:25:25.860
 nothing would

00:25:25.860 --> 00:25:26.400
 make us more

00:25:26.400 --> 00:25:27.079
 excited than to

00:25:27.079 --> 00:25:27.620
 get to talk

00:25:27.620 --> 00:25:28.220
 with you about

00:25:28.220 --> 00:25:28.600
 him

00:25:28.600 --> 00:25:29.600
 to tell you

00:25:29.600 --> 00:25:30.059
 about his

00:25:30.059 --> 00:25:31.059
 grace for you

00:25:31.059 --> 00:25:32.620
 let's pray

00:25:32.620 --> 00:25:32.920
 and then we'll

00:25:32.920 --> 00:25:33.380
 come to this

00:25:33.380 --> 00:25:34.200
 table together

00:25:34.200 --> 00:25:37.039
 father we

00:25:37.039 --> 00:25:37.640
 thank you

00:25:37.640 --> 00:25:40.279
 that you

00:25:40.279 --> 00:25:41.059
 know our

00:25:41.059 --> 00:25:41.460
 need

00:25:41.460 --> 00:25:42.960
 we are

00:25:42.960 --> 00:25:43.740
 needy

00:25:43.740 --> 00:25:44.400
 people

00:25:44.400 --> 00:25:46.740
 and so our

00:25:46.740 --> 00:25:47.900
 hope and our

00:25:47.900 --> 00:25:48.759
 joy is that

00:25:48.759 --> 00:25:49.340
 our needs

00:25:49.340 --> 00:25:49.840
 have been

00:25:49.840 --> 00:25:51.259
 fully met

00:25:51.259 --> 00:25:52.759
 in Jesus

00:25:52.759 --> 00:25:53.660
 would this

00:25:53.660 --> 00:25:54.240
 table be a

00:25:54.240 --> 00:25:54.720
 reminder

00:25:54.720 --> 00:25:55.920
 of that

00:25:55.920 --> 00:25:56.680
 to us

00:25:56.680 --> 00:25:58.140
 as we

00:25:58.140 --> 00:25:58.840
 sit and

00:25:58.840 --> 00:25:59.519
 meditate on

00:25:59.519 --> 00:26:00.360
 our own

00:26:00.360 --> 00:26:01.000
 need

00:26:01.000 --> 00:26:03.279
 we equally

00:26:03.279 --> 00:26:03.799
 and even

00:26:03.799 --> 00:26:04.619
 more so

00:26:04.619 --> 00:26:05.259
 see your

00:26:05.259 --> 00:26:05.779
 abundant

00:26:05.779 --> 00:26:06.299
 provision

00:26:06.299 --> 00:26:06.859
 for that

00:26:06.859 --> 00:26:07.279
 need

00:26:07.279 --> 00:26:08.640
 through your

00:26:08.640 --> 00:26:08.940
 son

00:26:08.940 --> 00:26:09.980
 we ask in

00:26:09.980 --> 00:26:10.500
 his name

00:26:10.500 --> 00:26:11.539
 amen

00:26:11.539 --> 00:26:16.460
 for more

00:26:16.460 --> 00:26:16.980
 information

00:26:16.980 --> 00:26:17.759
 visit us

00:26:17.759 --> 00:26:18.279
 online

00:26:18.279 --> 00:26:18.660
 at

00:26:18.660 --> 00:26:19.579
 southwood.org

00:26:19.579 --> 00:26:23.579
 you