WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.000 Good morning, church. 00:00:07.179 --> 00:00:11.960 Would you turn with me in your Bibles to Colossians chapter 1. 00:00:12.480 --> 00:00:15.919 That's page 981 in the Pew Bible. 00:00:23.440 --> 00:00:26.440 Page 981, Colossians chapter 1. 00:00:26.440 --> 00:00:31.300 As we come to God's Word together, let's pray. 00:00:35.060 --> 00:00:42.060 Father, we remember during the earthly ministry of Jesus that moment when so many were turning away. 00:00:43.320 --> 00:00:46.400 And Lord Jesus, you turned to your disciples and said, will you turn away also? 00:00:46.680 --> 00:00:49.620 And they said to you, Lord, where else would we go? 00:00:50.060 --> 00:00:51.420 You have the words of life. 00:00:52.420 --> 00:00:57.960 So we come to you this morning, God, acknowledging that you have the words of life. 00:00:58.120 --> 00:01:05.500 And we ask that by your Spirit you would open our hearts and our minds to really hear and receive and be changed by your words this morning. 00:01:06.640 --> 00:01:08.500 We pray this in the name of Jesus. 00:01:08.799 --> 00:01:09.040 Amen. 00:01:10.799 --> 00:01:14.960 So this morning we're looking at Colossians chapter 1, verses 1 through 8. 00:01:15.500 --> 00:01:18.060 Let me read these verses for us. 00:01:18.060 --> 00:01:22.820 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God. 00:01:23.460 --> 00:01:24.840 And Timothy, our brother. 00:01:25.859 --> 00:01:28.540 To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae. 00:01:29.560 --> 00:01:32.060 Grace to you and peace from God our Father. 00:01:33.200 --> 00:01:37.180 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you. 00:01:38.120 --> 00:01:45.340 Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. 00:01:45.340 --> 00:01:56.240 Of this you have heard before in the word of truth, the gospel, which has come to you as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing. 00:01:56.800 --> 00:02:03.680 As it also does among you since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth. 00:02:03.680 --> 00:02:08.180 Just as you learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow servant. 00:02:08.300 --> 00:02:14.219 He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf and has made known to us your love in the spirit. 00:02:14.219 --> 00:02:19.099 So, just this week, did you see this? 00:02:19.159 --> 00:02:25.360 Google released the results of a study in which they found that, quote, 00:02:25.460 --> 00:02:38.039 social media, email, and news apps were creating a constant sense of obligation and generating unintended personal stress on our smartphones. 00:02:38.039 --> 00:02:42.539 They did an entire study to basically tell us the obvious. 00:02:43.719 --> 00:02:52.419 In other words, this media giant is admitting that their own devices play a huge role in what we've all come to know as FOMO. 00:02:53.199 --> 00:02:55.699 The fear of missing out. 00:02:56.959 --> 00:02:59.759 Which I think is in the Oxford English Dictionary now. 00:03:00.899 --> 00:03:07.120 Defined as something like the anxiety that an exciting or interesting event might currently be happening somewhere else. 00:03:07.120 --> 00:03:09.719 And we're not a part of it. 00:03:11.439 --> 00:03:18.060 So, in response to this research, what Google wants to do is to promote what it's now calling JOMO. 00:03:19.039 --> 00:03:20.819 The joy of missing out. 00:03:21.719 --> 00:03:28.340 In other words, they want to help users have regular disconnection from their devices and from their apps. 00:03:29.000 --> 00:03:32.319 So that we can actually enjoy whatever it is we're doing. 00:03:32.620 --> 00:03:33.640 Talking with a friend. 00:03:34.219 --> 00:03:35.280 Walking across campus. 00:03:35.439 --> 00:03:36.700 Playing soccer with our kids. 00:03:37.120 --> 00:03:39.840 So that we can actually enjoy these things without worry. 00:03:40.680 --> 00:03:44.420 Without the worry that we're missing out on something important or exciting. 00:03:46.800 --> 00:03:47.939 Well, that would be a good thing. 00:03:49.280 --> 00:03:52.879 But honestly, as I've been thinking about this for the last couple of days. 00:03:52.879 --> 00:04:02.060 I think our FOMO runs a little too deep to be solved simply by turning off our smartphones for an hour a day. 00:04:02.560 --> 00:04:05.579 Or cutting down on the number of notifications we receive. 00:04:05.819 --> 00:04:07.799 As healthy and as good as that all would be. 00:04:07.800 --> 00:04:09.140 The fear of missing out. 00:04:09.140 --> 00:04:11.420 The fear of missing out. 00:04:11.480 --> 00:04:15.760 The idea that there's something better out there somewhere and I don't have it. 00:04:15.980 --> 00:04:18.220 That there's an experience of fullness. 00:04:18.680 --> 00:04:22.580 Of real life and meaning that's slipping away from me. 00:04:22.579 --> 00:04:29.439 I mean, that's a bigger spiritual problem than our smartphones. 00:04:31.079 --> 00:04:33.839 Even if our phones seem to be exacerbating the problem, right? 00:04:33.839 --> 00:04:37.919 And interestingly, it's not a new problem. 00:04:38.919 --> 00:04:44.539 In fact, the book of Colossians was written to a group of Christians who, from one way of looking at it, 00:04:44.579 --> 00:04:47.759 were undergoing deep spiritual FOMO. 00:04:48.759 --> 00:04:50.879 They had heard the message about Jesus. 00:04:51.279 --> 00:04:52.639 They had come to believe it. 00:04:52.639 --> 00:04:57.539 But now, other teachers and other thought currents were sweeping into the church that said, 00:04:58.019 --> 00:05:00.719 you need something more. 00:05:03.479 --> 00:05:05.899 Jesus is a good start, they were saying. 00:05:06.519 --> 00:05:09.019 But there's a fullness that you can have. 00:05:09.379 --> 00:05:12.120 There's something more that you're actually missing out on. 00:05:12.219 --> 00:05:13.759 Jesus isn't really enough. 00:05:14.139 --> 00:05:14.939 You need Jesus. 00:05:15.399 --> 00:05:18.259 And fill in the blank. 00:05:20.099 --> 00:05:22.159 The next new spiritual thing. 00:05:22.639 --> 00:05:25.680 I wonder if you've ever felt that. 00:05:26.459 --> 00:05:30.479 Maybe this Jesus thing isn't really enough. 00:05:31.560 --> 00:05:36.339 Maybe I really need Jesus and a really meaningful career. 00:05:37.459 --> 00:05:41.659 Maybe I need Jesus and powerful, charismatic experiences. 00:05:42.919 --> 00:05:47.219 Maybe I need Jesus and ancient church tradition and practices. 00:05:47.220 --> 00:05:49.220 Maybe I need Jesus and... 00:05:49.220 --> 00:05:58.980 Maybe someone somewhere has something that just might work a little better. 00:05:59.980 --> 00:06:02.480 And the fear of missing out takes over. 00:06:03.520 --> 00:06:05.380 And sometimes it feels like emptiness. 00:06:06.660 --> 00:06:08.280 Sometimes anxiety. 00:06:08.279 --> 00:06:16.479 And sometimes just annoying discontent that there must be more to life. 00:06:16.480 --> 00:06:24.360 Now, the whole letter to Colossians is going to address this problem. 00:06:25.200 --> 00:06:32.080 And by the time we're done, we will have soared to the mind-blowing heights of Jesus' person 00:06:32.080 --> 00:06:36.660 and work and the reality of living in His kingdom in the present age. 00:06:36.660 --> 00:06:44.860 But it starts first and foremost in verses 3 through 8 with thanksgiving. 00:06:44.860 --> 00:06:51.540 Of course, it was customary for letters in the ancient world to start with a brief word of thanks. 00:06:52.040 --> 00:06:55.879 But what Paul is doing here goes way beyond what's customary. 00:06:56.520 --> 00:07:00.759 This thanksgiving section is actually sort of carefully designed and written by Paul 00:07:00.759 --> 00:07:03.740 to help us see that what we have in the gospel, 00:07:03.900 --> 00:07:07.000 what we have in the good news about Jesus' life, death, and resurrection 00:07:07.000 --> 00:07:10.100 is the fullness that we've been looking for. 00:07:10.600 --> 00:07:13.139 And the act of thanksgiving, of gratitude, 00:07:13.139 --> 00:07:16.379 is the way to start healing the emptiness, 00:07:17.040 --> 00:07:21.620 the anxiety, and the discontent that drives our fear of missing out. 00:07:23.560 --> 00:07:25.620 So, as Christians, what are we to be thankful for? 00:07:25.899 --> 00:07:27.879 And this text points us to three things. 00:07:28.600 --> 00:07:30.420 The fruit of the gospel first, 00:07:31.160 --> 00:07:32.800 the power of the gospel next, 00:07:32.879 --> 00:07:34.600 and then last, the mission of the gospel. 00:07:34.600 --> 00:07:37.900 In other words, Paul's going to say, 00:07:38.000 --> 00:07:38.840 what should we be thankful for? 00:07:38.879 --> 00:07:40.820 We should be thankful for what the gospel does. 00:07:41.160 --> 00:07:41.860 It's fruit. 00:07:42.620 --> 00:07:45.020 And then we should be thankful for how the gospel does it. 00:07:45.080 --> 00:07:45.620 It's power. 00:07:46.600 --> 00:07:49.240 And then we should be thankful for where the gospel takes us, 00:07:49.700 --> 00:07:50.080 the mission. 00:07:51.640 --> 00:07:52.920 So that's what we're going to do this morning. 00:07:52.980 --> 00:07:54.860 We're going to walk through this thanksgiving section 00:07:54.860 --> 00:07:56.560 looking at each one of these things 00:07:56.560 --> 00:07:58.360 which ought to spur our gratitude 00:07:58.360 --> 00:08:01.680 and help us realize that in Christ, 00:08:01.879 --> 00:08:02.939 we're never missing out. 00:08:04.600 --> 00:08:06.980 So first, we must thank God for the fruit of the gospel. 00:08:07.120 --> 00:08:08.360 Look again at verses three through five. 00:08:08.660 --> 00:08:10.860 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 00:08:10.920 --> 00:08:11.740 when we pray for you. 00:08:12.560 --> 00:08:13.960 Maybe I should just pause there and say, 00:08:15.200 --> 00:08:16.720 because of what God has done in Jesus, 00:08:17.120 --> 00:08:19.879 we can no longer think of God apart from Jesus. 00:08:20.280 --> 00:08:21.040 Who is God? 00:08:21.439 --> 00:08:23.080 The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:08:24.220 --> 00:08:24.820 That's an aside. 00:08:24.980 --> 00:08:25.379 Let's keep going. 00:08:25.460 --> 00:08:27.920 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 00:08:27.980 --> 00:08:28.879 when we pray for you. 00:08:29.100 --> 00:08:31.040 Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus 00:08:31.040 --> 00:08:33.360 and of the love that you have for all the saints, 00:08:33.420 --> 00:08:35.600 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. 00:08:35.740 --> 00:08:38.420 Of this, you've heard before in the word of truth, 00:08:38.779 --> 00:08:39.259 the gospel. 00:08:39.360 --> 00:08:40.379 So we see here the gospel, 00:08:40.539 --> 00:08:42.060 the royal announcement about Jesus 00:08:42.060 --> 00:08:44.920 is producing a threefold fruit among the Colossians. 00:08:45.000 --> 00:08:45.840 Did you catch what it is? 00:08:46.659 --> 00:08:49.560 Faith and love and hope. 00:08:50.920 --> 00:08:53.700 This is a familiar triad in Paul's letters 00:08:53.700 --> 00:08:55.340 and across the rest of the New Testament. 00:08:55.500 --> 00:08:57.300 Sometimes it's faith and love and hope. 00:08:57.299 --> 00:08:58.979 Sometimes it's faith, hope, and love. 00:08:59.179 --> 00:09:00.519 The order sometimes changes, 00:09:00.620 --> 00:09:02.240 but the three are often found together 00:09:02.240 --> 00:09:05.859 almost as a summary of complete, rich, deep, 00:09:06.139 --> 00:09:07.120 biblical spirituality. 00:09:08.959 --> 00:09:10.359 And first, there's faith. 00:09:12.079 --> 00:09:15.039 But, you know, faith here isn't just sort of faith in general. 00:09:16.019 --> 00:09:19.919 Sort of, you know, the latest Nike ad. 00:09:20.279 --> 00:09:22.179 Believe in something. 00:09:22.819 --> 00:09:23.159 Anything. 00:09:23.919 --> 00:09:25.099 And maybe it'll cost you everything. 00:09:25.100 --> 00:09:30.040 Faith isn't just a general willingness to believe anything. 00:09:30.220 --> 00:09:31.500 Actually, the Bible doesn't sort of commend 00:09:31.500 --> 00:09:32.460 that sort of superstition 00:09:32.460 --> 00:09:34.379 that we're just sort of gullible and open to anything. 00:09:34.519 --> 00:09:34.720 No. 00:09:35.060 --> 00:09:37.580 This is faith in Christ Jesus. 00:09:39.960 --> 00:09:42.600 Faith in the Bible is essentially trust. 00:09:43.860 --> 00:09:45.540 Not just knowing the facts, 00:09:45.960 --> 00:09:47.940 but resting your life in something. 00:09:47.940 --> 00:09:53.280 If you've ever done a high ropes course, 00:09:53.380 --> 00:09:54.420 you know what it's like 00:09:54.420 --> 00:09:57.080 to be 20 or 30 feet off the ground 00:09:57.080 --> 00:09:59.540 and to be clipped into a safety rope 00:09:59.540 --> 00:10:01.420 that will catch you if you fall. 00:10:02.400 --> 00:10:03.560 At least that's what they say it'll do 00:10:03.560 --> 00:10:04.500 if you fall, right? 00:10:05.520 --> 00:10:06.780 And then there's that moment 00:10:06.780 --> 00:10:08.640 when you reach one of the landings 00:10:08.640 --> 00:10:10.240 and to keep going on the course, 00:10:10.340 --> 00:10:12.000 you have to switch your harness rope 00:10:12.000 --> 00:10:13.060 that's sort of connected to your harness 00:10:13.060 --> 00:10:14.580 from one lead line to another. 00:10:14.580 --> 00:10:17.900 You have to transfer your trust 00:10:17.900 --> 00:10:21.420 from one safety to another safety. 00:10:24.300 --> 00:10:25.780 And in many ways, 00:10:26.020 --> 00:10:27.360 that's what it means 00:10:27.360 --> 00:10:29.960 to have faith in Christ Jesus. 00:10:30.740 --> 00:10:32.759 To transfer your trust. 00:10:33.220 --> 00:10:35.420 No longer is this thing 00:10:35.420 --> 00:10:37.700 my safety, my security. 00:10:37.900 --> 00:10:40.400 This thing isn't what I'm going to trust 00:10:40.400 --> 00:10:42.780 to hold the weight of my person anymore. 00:10:42.779 --> 00:10:46.959 Now, it's the living Lord Jesus. 00:10:49.539 --> 00:10:53.079 Imagine the wealthy Colossian business owner 00:10:53.079 --> 00:10:54.019 in the ancient world 00:10:54.019 --> 00:10:56.360 having spent his whole life 00:10:56.360 --> 00:10:58.000 trusting his business savvy, 00:10:58.939 --> 00:11:00.659 trusting in his instincts for profit. 00:11:00.799 --> 00:11:01.579 Imagine himself, 00:11:01.919 --> 00:11:03.079 imagine him introducing himself 00:11:03.079 --> 00:11:03.799 at dinner parties. 00:11:04.500 --> 00:11:05.759 How his financial success 00:11:05.759 --> 00:11:06.799 is the pride of his life, 00:11:06.899 --> 00:11:08.139 the thing that gives him confidence 00:11:08.139 --> 00:11:09.000 and hope or, 00:11:09.839 --> 00:11:10.959 and maybe he doesn't come right out 00:11:10.959 --> 00:11:11.600 and say it, 00:11:11.600 --> 00:11:11.940 but you know, 00:11:11.980 --> 00:11:13.139 as he measures up the room, 00:11:13.639 --> 00:11:15.519 he realizes that he's probably 00:11:15.519 --> 00:11:17.000 the most successful person there 00:11:17.000 --> 00:11:18.800 and if not, 00:11:19.639 --> 00:11:21.240 he'll figure out how to become it. 00:11:24.300 --> 00:11:26.720 But now imagine that same business owner 00:11:26.720 --> 00:11:29.420 hearing the message about Jesus 00:11:29.420 --> 00:11:32.560 from a colleague, perhaps, 00:11:33.080 --> 00:11:34.519 with a newfound joy, 00:11:34.519 --> 00:11:37.659 a joy that is with him 00:11:37.659 --> 00:11:39.539 regardless of the ups and downs 00:11:39.539 --> 00:11:40.779 of his business life. 00:11:42.139 --> 00:11:42.960 And over time, 00:11:43.059 --> 00:11:45.480 our wealthy Colossian business owner 00:11:45.480 --> 00:11:46.079 realizes 00:11:46.079 --> 00:11:48.679 that the gods of commerce 00:11:48.679 --> 00:11:51.319 can't really hold his weight 00:11:51.319 --> 00:11:55.559 until eventually in prayer 00:11:55.559 --> 00:11:58.220 and in an act of decision, 00:11:59.019 --> 00:12:01.079 he transfers the trust of his heart 00:12:01.080 --> 00:12:02.820 to the one Lord 00:12:02.820 --> 00:12:04.040 who can hold his weight, 00:12:04.660 --> 00:12:05.759 the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:12:09.139 --> 00:12:10.400 Now maybe you're not trusting 00:12:10.400 --> 00:12:11.820 in your business success. 00:12:12.240 --> 00:12:12.860 For you, 00:12:12.940 --> 00:12:13.759 maybe it's something else. 00:12:15.780 --> 00:12:16.360 But you know, 00:12:16.400 --> 00:12:16.900 many of you here 00:12:16.900 --> 00:12:17.879 could tell your own story 00:12:17.879 --> 00:12:18.680 similar to this, 00:12:19.259 --> 00:12:21.720 a story of trust transfer 00:12:21.720 --> 00:12:23.700 and of the freedom 00:12:23.700 --> 00:12:25.020 and the joy 00:12:25.020 --> 00:12:25.920 that that brings 00:12:25.919 --> 00:12:27.659 to know that now 00:12:27.659 --> 00:12:29.059 you're trusting in someone 00:12:29.059 --> 00:12:31.179 that can actually hold your weight. 00:12:33.000 --> 00:12:34.839 And according to what Paul says here, 00:12:35.360 --> 00:12:36.559 coming to faith in Christ 00:12:36.559 --> 00:12:37.500 isn't something 00:12:37.500 --> 00:12:39.559 we can thank ourselves for. 00:12:40.979 --> 00:12:41.899 It's something 00:12:41.899 --> 00:12:45.039 we shouldn't take for granted. 00:12:45.679 --> 00:12:46.199 It's something 00:12:46.199 --> 00:12:47.620 we ought to thank God for. 00:12:48.919 --> 00:12:50.419 Because this transfer of trust 00:12:50.419 --> 00:12:51.019 is more than just 00:12:51.019 --> 00:12:51.659 a sort of private 00:12:51.659 --> 00:12:52.419 religious decision. 00:12:52.539 --> 00:12:52.740 No, 00:12:52.919 --> 00:12:54.120 it's actually a movement 00:12:54.120 --> 00:12:54.959 from one kingdom 00:12:54.960 --> 00:12:55.820 in one realm 00:12:55.820 --> 00:12:56.720 to a whole new one. 00:12:56.780 --> 00:12:57.660 A little later in this chapter, 00:12:57.780 --> 00:12:58.720 Paul will describe it 00:12:58.720 --> 00:12:59.920 as being delivered 00:12:59.920 --> 00:13:01.320 out of the domain of darkness 00:13:01.320 --> 00:13:02.580 and being transferred 00:13:02.580 --> 00:13:03.300 to the kingdom 00:13:03.300 --> 00:13:04.540 of his beloved son. 00:13:05.639 --> 00:13:07.780 When we take Christ as king, 00:13:08.000 --> 00:13:09.259 we become citizens 00:13:09.259 --> 00:13:11.040 of a whole new world. 00:13:12.600 --> 00:13:13.920 A whole new kingdom 00:13:13.920 --> 00:13:15.540 where Jesus is Lord. 00:13:16.420 --> 00:13:17.540 It's a radical 00:13:17.540 --> 00:13:19.759 reorientation of our life. 00:13:21.759 --> 00:13:23.480 And what does that kingdom look like? 00:13:23.480 --> 00:13:27.560 Well, as Paul's thanksgiving continues, 00:13:27.740 --> 00:13:29.139 we see that it's a kingdom of love. 00:13:29.759 --> 00:13:30.940 The second fruit of the gospel 00:13:30.940 --> 00:13:31.800 that Paul expresses 00:13:31.800 --> 00:13:32.940 thanksgiving for here 00:13:32.940 --> 00:13:33.620 is love. 00:13:33.860 --> 00:13:34.300 But again, 00:13:34.360 --> 00:13:35.139 this isn't just a sort of 00:13:35.139 --> 00:13:36.320 general fuzzy feeling 00:13:36.320 --> 00:13:37.220 of affirmation, 00:13:37.539 --> 00:13:38.379 but a concrete, 00:13:38.740 --> 00:13:39.899 practical love 00:13:39.899 --> 00:13:41.399 for all the saints, 00:13:42.000 --> 00:13:42.460 Paul says. 00:13:43.659 --> 00:13:44.440 And saints here 00:13:44.440 --> 00:13:46.019 refers to all Christians, 00:13:46.080 --> 00:13:46.940 as you see in verse two 00:13:46.940 --> 00:13:48.300 in the opening remarks 00:13:48.300 --> 00:13:49.460 when Paul greets the church. 00:13:50.420 --> 00:13:51.180 So imagine again, 00:13:51.259 --> 00:13:52.340 our Colossian businessman 00:13:52.340 --> 00:13:53.720 newly come to faith in Christ 00:13:53.720 --> 00:13:54.860 and he gathers 00:13:54.860 --> 00:13:55.980 with his fellow Christians, 00:13:56.160 --> 00:13:56.759 those who have also 00:13:56.759 --> 00:13:58.060 transferred their trust 00:13:58.060 --> 00:13:58.780 to King Jesus 00:13:58.780 --> 00:14:00.100 and now live under his lordship 00:14:00.100 --> 00:14:00.540 and his kingdom. 00:14:00.660 --> 00:14:01.700 And as he gathers with them 00:14:01.700 --> 00:14:02.940 in maybe a home 00:14:02.940 --> 00:14:04.320 of a fellow Christian, 00:14:04.379 --> 00:14:05.360 he realizes that, 00:14:06.320 --> 00:14:06.460 man, 00:14:06.500 --> 00:14:07.280 there are some people here 00:14:07.280 --> 00:14:08.860 who are very different from him. 00:14:10.820 --> 00:14:12.379 People of different nationalities, 00:14:13.500 --> 00:14:15.420 some of different professions, 00:14:16.340 --> 00:14:17.740 some of different social classes, 00:14:17.740 --> 00:14:20.039 some of different ethnicities, 00:14:20.659 --> 00:14:22.759 and outside of Christ, 00:14:22.820 --> 00:14:23.419 some of these people 00:14:23.419 --> 00:14:24.360 he would have never 00:14:24.360 --> 00:14:25.480 spent time with. 00:14:26.440 --> 00:14:28.060 Some may have even been 00:14:28.060 --> 00:14:29.799 his sworn enemy. 00:14:31.799 --> 00:14:32.840 But now, 00:14:33.299 --> 00:14:36.259 what they once used to be, 00:14:36.799 --> 00:14:37.299 divided, 00:14:38.440 --> 00:14:38.919 indifferent, 00:14:39.639 --> 00:14:40.940 even antagonistic, 00:14:41.680 --> 00:14:42.419 now, 00:14:42.419 --> 00:14:44.919 they are no longer. 00:14:46.360 --> 00:14:46.899 Now, 00:14:47.099 --> 00:14:47.879 they are sisters 00:14:47.879 --> 00:14:48.879 and brothers, 00:14:49.299 --> 00:14:51.379 one in the family of God, 00:14:51.779 --> 00:14:53.679 the father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:14:53.799 --> 00:14:54.719 And in this family, 00:14:55.740 --> 00:14:56.879 the family mark 00:14:56.879 --> 00:14:58.439 is love. 00:14:59.099 --> 00:15:00.479 A real concern 00:15:00.479 --> 00:15:01.360 for one another's needs, 00:15:01.419 --> 00:15:02.519 a real sacrifice 00:15:02.519 --> 00:15:04.059 to meet one another's needs. 00:15:06.519 --> 00:15:08.000 And this kind of love, 00:15:08.079 --> 00:15:08.799 this love that transcends 00:15:09.459 --> 00:15:10.480 the dividing walls 00:15:10.480 --> 00:15:11.800 of hostility between us, 00:15:11.860 --> 00:15:12.480 the dividing walls 00:15:12.480 --> 00:15:13.060 of race, 00:15:13.320 --> 00:15:14.000 and gender, 00:15:14.340 --> 00:15:14.980 and class, 00:15:15.039 --> 00:15:15.899 and on and on. 00:15:15.980 --> 00:15:16.759 This kind of love 00:15:16.759 --> 00:15:17.460 in verse 8 00:15:17.460 --> 00:15:18.360 is what Paul calls 00:15:18.360 --> 00:15:20.159 love in the Spirit. 00:15:20.759 --> 00:15:21.259 That is, 00:15:21.759 --> 00:15:22.600 the Holy Spirit, 00:15:22.740 --> 00:15:23.440 the third person 00:15:23.440 --> 00:15:23.899 of the Trinity, 00:15:24.060 --> 00:15:24.659 God Himself. 00:15:24.960 --> 00:15:25.720 This is a love 00:15:25.720 --> 00:15:26.560 that can only be 00:15:26.560 --> 00:15:28.080 the fruit of God 00:15:28.080 --> 00:15:29.060 working in us, 00:15:29.139 --> 00:15:30.039 working in our hearts, 00:15:30.180 --> 00:15:31.220 working in our priorities, 00:15:31.779 --> 00:15:32.620 working in our time, 00:15:32.720 --> 00:15:33.680 working in our resources, 00:15:33.680 --> 00:15:35.740 so that we might have love 00:15:35.740 --> 00:15:37.820 for all the saints. 00:15:38.879 --> 00:15:39.779 Not just those 00:15:39.779 --> 00:15:40.600 fellow believers 00:15:40.600 --> 00:15:41.480 who are like us, 00:15:41.559 --> 00:15:42.120 but those who are 00:15:42.120 --> 00:15:43.279 not like us too. 00:15:46.559 --> 00:15:47.379 For here, 00:15:48.319 --> 00:15:49.259 as Paul will say 00:15:49.259 --> 00:15:49.980 in chapter 3, 00:15:50.079 --> 00:15:51.279 verse 11 of this book, 00:15:51.600 --> 00:15:51.939 here, 00:15:52.839 --> 00:15:53.799 here in the church, 00:15:54.000 --> 00:15:55.439 here in the inbreaking 00:15:55.439 --> 00:15:56.379 of the kingdom of God, 00:15:56.500 --> 00:15:56.899 here, 00:15:57.720 --> 00:15:58.559 there is not Greek 00:15:58.559 --> 00:15:59.319 and Jew, 00:16:00.079 --> 00:16:00.659 circumcised 00:16:00.659 --> 00:16:01.639 and uncircumcised, 00:16:01.779 --> 00:16:02.339 barbarian, 00:16:02.480 --> 00:16:02.779 Scythian, 00:16:02.899 --> 00:16:03.559 slave and free, 00:16:03.559 --> 00:16:05.059 but Christ is all 00:16:05.059 --> 00:16:06.539 and in all. 00:16:06.539 --> 00:16:09.899 And that kind of love, 00:16:10.480 --> 00:16:11.439 we know, 00:16:12.759 --> 00:16:13.620 is something we ought 00:16:13.620 --> 00:16:14.459 to be thankful for, 00:16:14.519 --> 00:16:14.959 is it not? 00:16:18.360 --> 00:16:19.319 But what is it 00:16:19.319 --> 00:16:21.539 that fuels this love? 00:16:22.639 --> 00:16:24.159 What keeps the engine 00:16:24.159 --> 00:16:26.039 of Spirit-given love 00:16:26.039 --> 00:16:27.159 for all the saints 00:16:27.159 --> 00:16:28.500 burning and churning 00:16:28.500 --> 00:16:29.259 in our hearts, 00:16:29.360 --> 00:16:30.319 even when it's hard, 00:16:30.639 --> 00:16:31.519 because it is hard, 00:16:32.079 --> 00:16:32.719 and even when, 00:16:32.860 --> 00:16:34.179 humanly speaking, 00:16:34.179 --> 00:16:34.859 we want to quit, 00:16:35.239 --> 00:16:36.139 and sometimes we do. 00:16:38.399 --> 00:16:39.459 In verse 5, 00:16:40.759 --> 00:16:41.139 Paul says, 00:16:41.259 --> 00:16:42.120 it's because of the hope 00:16:42.120 --> 00:16:43.659 laid up for you in heaven. 00:16:44.799 --> 00:16:45.419 And notice here 00:16:45.419 --> 00:16:46.239 that the word hope 00:16:46.239 --> 00:16:47.519 isn't speaking about 00:16:47.519 --> 00:16:49.219 our subjective action, 00:16:49.399 --> 00:16:50.279 our feelings 00:16:50.279 --> 00:16:51.739 or acts of hoping. 00:16:51.859 --> 00:16:52.159 Rather, 00:16:52.500 --> 00:16:53.259 Paul's talking about 00:16:53.259 --> 00:16:54.620 the objective reality 00:16:54.620 --> 00:16:55.899 of what's in store, 00:16:55.979 --> 00:16:56.479 the hope, 00:16:56.599 --> 00:16:57.419 the content 00:16:57.419 --> 00:16:58.279 of what God 00:16:58.279 --> 00:16:59.299 has prepared for us. 00:16:59.539 --> 00:17:01.019 And because it's laid up 00:17:01.019 --> 00:17:02.199 for you in heaven, 00:17:02.419 --> 00:17:03.399 that doesn't make it 00:17:03.399 --> 00:17:04.420 pie in the sky, 00:17:04.539 --> 00:17:05.039 by and by. 00:17:05.139 --> 00:17:05.339 Rather, 00:17:05.440 --> 00:17:07.039 it means that our future hope 00:17:07.039 --> 00:17:08.559 cannot be shaken 00:17:08.559 --> 00:17:09.720 or stolen 00:17:09.720 --> 00:17:11.059 by earthly circumstances. 00:17:11.599 --> 00:17:12.879 It's totally secure 00:17:12.879 --> 00:17:14.740 and completely certain, 00:17:15.119 --> 00:17:15.720 and one day 00:17:15.720 --> 00:17:16.639 it will erupt 00:17:16.639 --> 00:17:17.259 into the present 00:17:17.259 --> 00:17:18.119 when God brings 00:17:18.119 --> 00:17:19.539 His saving purposes 00:17:19.539 --> 00:17:20.299 to completion. 00:17:21.799 --> 00:17:23.839 And that certain reality 00:17:23.839 --> 00:17:24.720 of the future 00:17:24.720 --> 00:17:26.000 is what stokes 00:17:26.000 --> 00:17:27.139 the engine of love 00:17:27.139 --> 00:17:27.680 in the present. 00:17:28.180 --> 00:17:29.099 Do you see the connection 00:17:29.099 --> 00:17:30.440 between verses 4 and 5? 00:17:30.740 --> 00:17:31.460 In verse 4, 00:17:31.559 --> 00:17:32.400 there's love 00:17:32.400 --> 00:17:32.880 that you show 00:17:32.880 --> 00:17:33.800 for all the saints. 00:17:34.140 --> 00:17:34.800 And in verse 5, 00:17:34.860 --> 00:17:35.720 we see that that love 00:17:35.720 --> 00:17:36.920 is because of 00:17:36.920 --> 00:17:38.259 the hope 00:17:38.259 --> 00:17:39.220 laid up for you 00:17:39.220 --> 00:17:39.759 in heaven. 00:17:42.560 --> 00:17:43.259 Love, of course, 00:17:43.300 --> 00:17:43.920 is costly, 00:17:44.200 --> 00:17:44.660 isn't it? 00:17:46.560 --> 00:17:47.740 Love will take your time 00:17:47.740 --> 00:17:48.820 and your money 00:17:48.820 --> 00:17:49.920 and your energy. 00:17:51.360 --> 00:17:52.060 Love might even 00:17:52.060 --> 00:17:53.100 cost you your reputation. 00:17:55.700 --> 00:17:56.720 It will take time 00:17:56.720 --> 00:17:57.400 on your schedule 00:17:57.400 --> 00:17:59.740 that you might have used 00:17:59.740 --> 00:18:00.960 for your own recreation. 00:18:00.960 --> 00:18:03.420 It will take money 00:18:03.420 --> 00:18:04.279 from your bank account 00:18:04.279 --> 00:18:05.039 that you might have used 00:18:05.039 --> 00:18:05.620 to get nicer, 00:18:05.720 --> 00:18:06.720 newer things for yourself. 00:18:08.240 --> 00:18:09.279 It will take energy 00:18:09.279 --> 00:18:10.180 from your strength 00:18:10.180 --> 00:18:10.940 that you might have used 00:18:10.940 --> 00:18:11.759 to promote yourself 00:18:11.759 --> 00:18:12.759 and your own success. 00:18:13.460 --> 00:18:14.740 Love is costly, 00:18:14.740 --> 00:18:18.140 but the hope in store 00:18:18.140 --> 00:18:18.759 for us 00:18:18.759 --> 00:18:21.720 vastly outweighs 00:18:21.720 --> 00:18:22.819 the cost. 00:18:25.559 --> 00:18:26.299 One metaphor 00:18:26.299 --> 00:18:27.079 the Bible uses 00:18:27.079 --> 00:18:28.160 for our future hope 00:18:28.160 --> 00:18:29.099 is that of 00:18:29.099 --> 00:18:30.019 an inheritance. 00:18:31.200 --> 00:18:31.859 Paul himself 00:18:31.859 --> 00:18:32.579 will use that metaphor 00:18:32.579 --> 00:18:33.339 in verse 12 00:18:33.339 --> 00:18:34.279 of this very chapter 00:18:34.279 --> 00:18:35.099 of Colossians. 00:18:36.700 --> 00:18:37.220 Inheritance. 00:18:37.960 --> 00:18:38.240 Now, 00:18:38.720 --> 00:18:39.299 imagine, 00:18:39.480 --> 00:18:40.039 what if 00:18:40.039 --> 00:18:41.140 all of us 00:18:41.140 --> 00:18:41.960 in this room, 00:18:41.960 --> 00:18:43.360 when we reached 00:18:43.360 --> 00:18:44.539 retirement age, 00:18:44.940 --> 00:18:45.779 what if all of us 00:18:45.779 --> 00:18:46.340 would become 00:18:46.340 --> 00:18:47.079 inheritors 00:18:47.079 --> 00:18:48.860 of individual estates 00:18:48.860 --> 00:18:49.819 worth well over 00:18:49.819 --> 00:18:50.720 a billion dollars? 00:18:53.120 --> 00:18:53.600 Now, 00:18:53.660 --> 00:18:54.279 for some of us, 00:18:54.779 --> 00:18:55.779 age 65 00:18:55.779 --> 00:18:57.140 might feel like 00:18:57.140 --> 00:18:58.039 a long way off. 00:18:59.259 --> 00:19:00.140 Others of us, 00:19:00.740 --> 00:19:01.840 maybe not so far off. 00:19:03.799 --> 00:19:04.720 But imagine 00:19:04.720 --> 00:19:05.700 what it would do 00:19:05.700 --> 00:19:07.039 for your financial 00:19:07.039 --> 00:19:07.880 generosity 00:19:07.880 --> 00:19:08.940 now 00:19:08.940 --> 00:19:10.799 if you knew 00:19:10.799 --> 00:19:11.940 that in a few 00:19:11.940 --> 00:19:12.960 short decades 00:19:12.960 --> 00:19:13.740 or years, 00:19:15.019 --> 00:19:15.460 money 00:19:15.460 --> 00:19:16.580 would be 00:19:16.580 --> 00:19:17.200 no object 00:19:17.200 --> 00:19:17.660 for you. 00:19:21.000 --> 00:19:21.759 Of course, 00:19:21.860 --> 00:19:22.440 that would give you 00:19:22.440 --> 00:19:23.200 the freedom 00:19:23.200 --> 00:19:25.140 to be radically 00:19:25.140 --> 00:19:26.059 generous now, 00:19:26.180 --> 00:19:26.580 wouldn't it? 00:19:28.400 --> 00:19:29.440 You'd be so liberal 00:19:29.440 --> 00:19:30.180 in your generosity 00:19:30.180 --> 00:19:30.820 that your friends 00:19:30.820 --> 00:19:31.420 would probably think 00:19:31.420 --> 00:19:32.019 you're crazy 00:19:32.019 --> 00:19:32.840 or at least 00:19:32.840 --> 00:19:33.539 irresponsible. 00:19:34.500 --> 00:19:35.039 That is, 00:19:35.080 --> 00:19:35.920 if they didn't know 00:19:35.920 --> 00:19:36.880 about your future 00:19:36.880 --> 00:19:37.340 inheritance. 00:19:38.019 --> 00:19:38.860 But in fact, 00:19:38.940 --> 00:19:40.440 knowing what you know, 00:19:40.480 --> 00:19:41.460 it makes perfect sense. 00:19:42.880 --> 00:19:43.160 You see, 00:19:43.220 --> 00:19:44.080 that's the dynamic. 00:19:44.240 --> 00:19:46.160 Our future assured hope 00:19:46.160 --> 00:19:47.660 fuels our present 00:19:47.660 --> 00:19:48.720 sacrificial love. 00:19:49.039 --> 00:19:49.620 But the Bible 00:19:49.620 --> 00:19:50.400 doesn't just speak 00:19:50.400 --> 00:19:51.120 of our future hope 00:19:51.120 --> 00:19:52.220 as an inheritance 00:19:52.220 --> 00:19:53.440 of unfading wealth, 00:19:53.920 --> 00:19:55.320 but it also uses 00:19:55.320 --> 00:19:55.720 the metaphor 00:19:55.720 --> 00:19:56.519 of a feast 00:19:56.519 --> 00:19:58.000 of rich foods 00:19:58.000 --> 00:19:59.120 and well-mixed wine. 00:20:00.279 --> 00:20:01.400 It speaks in terms 00:20:01.400 --> 00:20:02.100 of a home 00:20:02.100 --> 00:20:03.380 where we will dwell 00:20:03.380 --> 00:20:04.039 in safety 00:20:04.039 --> 00:20:05.360 or a city 00:20:05.360 --> 00:20:05.980 alive 00:20:05.980 --> 00:20:06.720 with celebration 00:20:06.720 --> 00:20:07.200 and joy. 00:20:07.299 --> 00:20:07.500 In short, 00:20:07.500 --> 00:20:08.140 the hope 00:20:08.140 --> 00:20:08.740 that God 00:20:08.740 --> 00:20:09.339 has in store 00:20:09.339 --> 00:20:09.900 for us 00:20:09.900 --> 00:20:11.099 is a new heavens 00:20:11.099 --> 00:20:11.880 and a new earth 00:20:11.880 --> 00:20:13.220 where sorrow 00:20:13.220 --> 00:20:13.859 and suffering 00:20:13.859 --> 00:20:14.539 are no more 00:20:14.539 --> 00:20:16.000 and of resurrection 00:20:16.000 --> 00:20:16.859 bodies free 00:20:16.859 --> 00:20:17.359 from sin 00:20:17.359 --> 00:20:17.759 and death 00:20:17.759 --> 00:20:18.859 brilliant with glory. 00:20:20.240 --> 00:20:21.299 And most of all, 00:20:21.339 --> 00:20:21.759 our hope 00:20:21.759 --> 00:20:22.640 to come 00:20:22.640 --> 00:20:23.380 consists 00:20:23.380 --> 00:20:24.160 in union 00:20:24.160 --> 00:20:25.619 with God Himself, 00:20:26.279 --> 00:20:26.660 Father, 00:20:26.880 --> 00:20:27.019 Son, 00:20:27.079 --> 00:20:27.779 and Holy Spirit, 00:20:27.900 --> 00:20:28.380 the lover 00:20:28.380 --> 00:20:29.579 of our souls 00:20:29.579 --> 00:20:30.700 for all eternity. 00:20:30.700 --> 00:20:33.519 the magnitude 00:20:33.519 --> 00:20:35.080 of what's in store 00:20:35.080 --> 00:20:37.259 for those in Christ 00:20:37.259 --> 00:20:40.259 makes any costly sacrifice 00:20:40.259 --> 00:20:41.319 of love in the present 00:20:41.319 --> 00:20:43.840 utterly reasonable. 00:20:43.839 --> 00:20:48.639 So this is the fruit 00:20:48.639 --> 00:20:49.240 of the gospel, 00:20:49.439 --> 00:20:50.779 faith in Christ Jesus, 00:20:50.980 --> 00:20:52.480 love for all the saints, 00:20:52.799 --> 00:20:54.279 and a hope unshakable 00:20:54.279 --> 00:20:55.220 that fuels it all. 00:20:57.859 --> 00:20:58.599 So friends, 00:20:58.679 --> 00:20:59.699 are we giving thanks 00:20:59.699 --> 00:21:01.439 when we see this fruit 00:21:01.439 --> 00:21:02.939 growing up 00:21:02.939 --> 00:21:03.720 in the church, 00:21:03.859 --> 00:21:04.639 when faith 00:21:04.639 --> 00:21:05.519 in Christ 00:21:05.519 --> 00:21:06.439 is exercised, 00:21:06.519 --> 00:21:07.220 when love 00:21:07.220 --> 00:21:08.139 is shown, 00:21:08.439 --> 00:21:09.179 when hope 00:21:09.179 --> 00:21:10.319 is held on to? 00:21:10.319 --> 00:21:11.980 That's the real fruit 00:21:11.980 --> 00:21:12.639 of the gospel. 00:21:15.659 --> 00:21:16.740 Too often 00:21:16.740 --> 00:21:18.159 we're disappointed 00:21:18.159 --> 00:21:20.720 or discontent 00:21:20.720 --> 00:21:21.819 with our spiritual life 00:21:21.819 --> 00:21:22.899 or our church experience 00:21:22.899 --> 00:21:24.599 when right under our noses 00:21:24.599 --> 00:21:25.700 is the fruit 00:21:25.700 --> 00:21:27.579 of God's almighty work 00:21:27.579 --> 00:21:28.500 in our midst, 00:21:29.220 --> 00:21:30.559 supernatural faith 00:21:30.559 --> 00:21:31.779 and love 00:21:31.779 --> 00:21:32.779 and hope. 00:21:36.839 --> 00:21:38.200 And rather than 00:21:38.200 --> 00:21:39.139 complaining, 00:21:39.139 --> 00:21:39.679 Paul says, 00:21:39.680 --> 00:21:40.880 we ought to be giving thanks. 00:21:43.539 --> 00:21:44.500 And we ought not just 00:21:44.500 --> 00:21:45.000 to give thanks 00:21:45.000 --> 00:21:45.720 for our own church 00:21:45.720 --> 00:21:46.620 but for other churches 00:21:46.620 --> 00:21:47.320 across the city. 00:21:47.900 --> 00:21:48.420 After all, 00:21:48.519 --> 00:21:49.580 Paul wasn't the one 00:21:49.580 --> 00:21:50.460 who started this church 00:21:50.460 --> 00:21:51.019 in Colossae. 00:21:51.299 --> 00:21:52.380 He had never even been there. 00:21:53.720 --> 00:21:54.220 And yet, 00:21:55.019 --> 00:21:55.980 hearing about the work, 00:21:56.080 --> 00:21:57.180 he still abounds 00:21:57.180 --> 00:21:58.279 in thanksgiving for them. 00:21:59.259 --> 00:21:59.640 And you know, 00:21:59.700 --> 00:22:00.519 we should do the same. 00:22:01.640 --> 00:22:02.440 Wherever the gospel 00:22:02.440 --> 00:22:03.200 is being preached 00:22:03.200 --> 00:22:04.060 and bearing fruit, 00:22:04.160 --> 00:22:05.560 we ought to give thanks 00:22:05.560 --> 00:22:06.880 whether we're directly 00:22:06.880 --> 00:22:07.740 involved in the work 00:22:07.740 --> 00:22:08.299 or not. 00:22:09.680 --> 00:22:13.000 But where does this fruit 00:22:13.000 --> 00:22:13.519 come from? 00:22:15.259 --> 00:22:15.940 This brings us 00:22:15.940 --> 00:22:17.200 to the second big area 00:22:17.200 --> 00:22:18.019 of thanksgiving 00:22:18.019 --> 00:22:19.580 that Paul points out here. 00:22:19.660 --> 00:22:20.500 We must give thanks 00:22:20.500 --> 00:22:22.019 not just for the fruit 00:22:22.019 --> 00:22:22.519 of the gospel 00:22:22.519 --> 00:22:23.360 but also, 00:22:23.640 --> 00:22:24.600 Paul goes on to say, 00:22:24.680 --> 00:22:26.220 the power of the gospel. 00:22:26.320 --> 00:22:27.320 Look again at our passage. 00:22:27.460 --> 00:22:28.400 Pick up halfway 00:22:28.400 --> 00:22:29.259 through verse 5 00:22:29.259 --> 00:22:30.039 and on to verse 6. 00:22:30.039 --> 00:22:30.539 Of this, 00:22:30.899 --> 00:22:31.720 you've heard before 00:22:31.720 --> 00:22:32.779 in the word of truth, 00:22:33.039 --> 00:22:33.599 the gospel, 00:22:34.319 --> 00:22:35.359 which has come to you 00:22:35.359 --> 00:22:36.379 as indeed 00:22:36.379 --> 00:22:37.559 in the whole world 00:22:37.559 --> 00:22:38.599 it is bearing fruit 00:22:38.599 --> 00:22:39.240 and increasing 00:22:39.240 --> 00:22:40.680 as it also does 00:22:40.680 --> 00:22:41.180 among you 00:22:41.180 --> 00:22:41.619 since the day 00:22:41.619 --> 00:22:42.279 you heard it 00:22:42.279 --> 00:22:43.259 and understood 00:22:43.259 --> 00:22:44.339 the grace of God 00:22:44.339 --> 00:22:45.180 in truth. 00:22:46.500 --> 00:22:47.359 Now in the middle 00:22:47.359 --> 00:22:48.659 of this packed sentence, 00:22:48.839 --> 00:22:49.859 Paul speaks of what? 00:22:50.799 --> 00:22:53.059 Of the worldwide growth 00:22:53.059 --> 00:22:53.819 of the gospel, 00:22:54.119 --> 00:22:54.920 bearing fruit 00:22:54.920 --> 00:22:55.680 and increasing. 00:22:55.680 --> 00:22:59.120 Many commentators 00:22:59.120 --> 00:23:00.279 have heard an echo here 00:23:00.279 --> 00:23:01.880 of Genesis chapter 1. 00:23:01.960 --> 00:23:02.240 Do you remember 00:23:02.240 --> 00:23:02.900 when God tells 00:23:02.900 --> 00:23:03.880 our first human parents 00:23:03.880 --> 00:23:04.680 there to be fruitful 00:23:04.680 --> 00:23:05.440 and multiply? 00:23:05.700 --> 00:23:06.080 That's sort of 00:23:06.080 --> 00:23:07.259 the mandate in creation. 00:23:07.440 --> 00:23:07.960 Go forth, 00:23:08.039 --> 00:23:08.580 be fruitful 00:23:08.580 --> 00:23:09.620 and multiply. 00:23:10.259 --> 00:23:10.640 Now, 00:23:11.320 --> 00:23:11.740 Paul says, 00:23:11.820 --> 00:23:12.400 it's the gospel 00:23:12.400 --> 00:23:13.320 that's bearing fruit 00:23:13.320 --> 00:23:13.840 and increasing. 00:23:14.000 --> 00:23:14.620 It's as if Paul 00:23:14.620 --> 00:23:15.240 is saying that 00:23:15.240 --> 00:23:17.080 this message about Jesus 00:23:17.080 --> 00:23:17.860 brings with it 00:23:17.860 --> 00:23:18.519 the power 00:23:18.519 --> 00:23:20.220 of new creation 00:23:20.220 --> 00:23:23.360 to bring new life 00:23:23.360 --> 00:23:24.440 in the midst of the old. 00:23:25.680 --> 00:23:28.440 What makes the gospel 00:23:28.440 --> 00:23:29.440 so powerful? 00:23:29.620 --> 00:23:31.039 What makes it so powerful 00:23:31.039 --> 00:23:31.560 that it can bring 00:23:31.560 --> 00:23:33.019 new life out of the old? 00:23:33.299 --> 00:23:34.299 New creation 00:23:34.299 --> 00:23:35.120 out of the broken 00:23:35.120 --> 00:23:35.900 old creation 00:23:35.900 --> 00:23:36.660 that we live in? 00:23:36.900 --> 00:23:37.720 What makes the gospel 00:23:37.720 --> 00:23:38.460 so powerful 00:23:38.460 --> 00:23:39.500 that it can actually 00:23:39.500 --> 00:23:40.980 transfer our trust, 00:23:41.080 --> 00:23:41.600 our faith 00:23:41.600 --> 00:23:42.380 from ourselves 00:23:42.380 --> 00:23:43.060 to Christ? 00:23:44.060 --> 00:23:45.120 What makes it so powerful 00:23:45.120 --> 00:23:46.480 that it can create love 00:23:46.480 --> 00:23:48.460 across our human differences? 00:23:49.400 --> 00:23:50.420 What makes the gospel 00:23:50.420 --> 00:23:51.299 so powerful 00:23:51.299 --> 00:23:51.900 that it creates 00:23:51.900 --> 00:23:53.860 an unshakable hope? 00:23:54.320 --> 00:23:55.560 Not just for some people, 00:23:55.680 --> 00:23:57.539 but for the whole world. 00:24:00.299 --> 00:24:00.860 I mean, 00:24:00.900 --> 00:24:02.019 we hear a lot of news today, 00:24:02.200 --> 00:24:02.600 don't we? 00:24:04.220 --> 00:24:05.200 Some of it fake, 00:24:05.420 --> 00:24:06.200 most of it bad. 00:24:06.700 --> 00:24:07.720 But sometimes 00:24:07.720 --> 00:24:09.580 we hear good news, 00:24:09.940 --> 00:24:10.259 right? 00:24:11.840 --> 00:24:12.480 And yet, 00:24:12.620 --> 00:24:13.279 none of even 00:24:13.279 --> 00:24:14.200 our good news 00:24:14.200 --> 00:24:15.980 has the power 00:24:15.980 --> 00:24:16.360 to do 00:24:16.360 --> 00:24:17.279 what the good news 00:24:17.279 --> 00:24:18.019 about Jesus 00:24:18.019 --> 00:24:19.220 is able to do 00:24:19.220 --> 00:24:20.720 and has done 00:24:20.720 --> 00:24:21.720 and will continue 00:24:21.720 --> 00:24:22.160 to do 00:24:22.160 --> 00:24:23.640 the whole world over. 00:24:23.640 --> 00:24:27.440 what makes the gospel 00:24:27.440 --> 00:24:28.700 so different 00:24:28.700 --> 00:24:29.880 than everything else? 00:24:32.020 --> 00:24:32.440 Well, 00:24:32.480 --> 00:24:33.300 it's because the gospel, 00:24:33.440 --> 00:24:34.360 as verses 5 and 6 00:24:34.360 --> 00:24:34.920 tell us, 00:24:35.440 --> 00:24:36.360 is a word of truth 00:24:36.360 --> 00:24:38.400 and it's a word of grace. 00:24:40.040 --> 00:24:40.920 Think about it. 00:24:41.640 --> 00:24:42.860 At the end of verse 5, 00:24:42.860 --> 00:24:43.180 it says, 00:24:43.320 --> 00:24:44.080 it's the word 00:24:44.080 --> 00:24:45.080 of the truth. 00:24:45.180 --> 00:24:46.300 The message about Jesus 00:24:46.300 --> 00:24:47.200 is a word of truth. 00:24:47.320 --> 00:24:47.840 It's something that 00:24:47.840 --> 00:24:49.400 actually happened 00:24:49.400 --> 00:24:50.520 in history. 00:24:50.519 --> 00:24:52.879 Jesus lived 00:24:52.879 --> 00:24:53.599 and walked 00:24:53.599 --> 00:24:54.200 and taught 00:24:54.200 --> 00:24:54.720 and ate 00:24:54.720 --> 00:24:55.319 and slept 00:24:55.319 --> 00:24:56.599 in first century Palestine. 00:24:56.779 --> 00:24:57.619 People saw him 00:24:57.619 --> 00:24:58.639 and talked with him 00:24:58.639 --> 00:24:59.700 and followed him 00:24:59.700 --> 00:25:00.660 and when the authorities 00:25:00.660 --> 00:25:01.420 grew tired 00:25:01.420 --> 00:25:02.339 and threatened by him, 00:25:02.379 --> 00:25:03.359 they crucified him 00:25:03.359 --> 00:25:03.960 in history 00:25:03.960 --> 00:25:05.420 with real nails 00:25:05.420 --> 00:25:06.639 and on the third day 00:25:06.639 --> 00:25:07.539 he rose bodily 00:25:07.539 --> 00:25:08.240 from the dead 00:25:08.240 --> 00:25:09.579 and the tomb 00:25:09.579 --> 00:25:10.599 where they buried him 00:25:10.599 --> 00:25:11.980 was then really empty 00:25:11.980 --> 00:25:13.160 and he appeared 00:25:13.160 --> 00:25:13.940 to his disciples 00:25:13.940 --> 00:25:15.559 living and in the flesh 00:25:15.559 --> 00:25:17.039 and for 40 days 00:25:17.039 --> 00:25:17.859 he taught them 00:25:17.859 --> 00:25:18.980 and ate with them 00:25:18.980 --> 00:25:20.259 until the time came 00:25:20.259 --> 00:25:21.200 for him to ascend 00:25:21.200 --> 00:25:22.120 to his throne 00:25:22.120 --> 00:25:23.759 and of course 00:25:23.759 --> 00:25:24.460 at that moment 00:25:24.460 --> 00:25:25.579 he could have ascended 00:25:25.579 --> 00:25:27.120 to any earthly kingdom, 00:25:27.220 --> 00:25:27.900 the throne of any 00:25:27.900 --> 00:25:28.980 earthly kingdom he wanted. 00:25:29.400 --> 00:25:30.200 He could have ascended 00:25:30.200 --> 00:25:31.180 to the throne in Jerusalem 00:25:31.180 --> 00:25:32.019 and he could have ascended 00:25:32.019 --> 00:25:33.000 to the throne in Rome. 00:25:33.259 --> 00:25:33.980 He certainly had 00:25:33.980 --> 00:25:34.940 the authority to do it 00:25:34.940 --> 00:25:36.120 but instead 00:25:36.120 --> 00:25:36.799 he ascended 00:25:36.799 --> 00:25:38.200 to an even better throne 00:25:38.200 --> 00:25:40.180 straight to the right hand 00:25:40.180 --> 00:25:40.779 of the Father 00:25:40.779 --> 00:25:42.920 where he not only sits 00:25:42.920 --> 00:25:43.660 to reign 00:25:43.660 --> 00:25:45.039 but to intercede 00:25:45.039 --> 00:25:45.660 for us 00:25:45.660 --> 00:25:47.259 and to send 00:25:47.259 --> 00:25:48.160 the Holy Spirit 00:25:48.160 --> 00:25:49.360 to empower us 00:25:49.360 --> 00:25:49.980 the church 00:25:49.980 --> 00:25:51.480 to go out 00:25:51.480 --> 00:25:52.259 into all nations 00:25:52.259 --> 00:25:53.400 and draw people 00:25:53.400 --> 00:25:54.200 from all nations 00:25:54.200 --> 00:25:54.900 to himself. 00:25:57.540 --> 00:25:57.980 Friends, 00:25:58.040 --> 00:25:58.900 this is what the gospel 00:25:58.900 --> 00:25:59.960 the good news about Jesus 00:25:59.960 --> 00:26:00.700 tells us happened 00:26:00.700 --> 00:26:01.900 in history. 00:26:02.100 --> 00:26:03.240 It's not a nice story 00:26:03.240 --> 00:26:04.360 or a myth 00:26:04.360 --> 00:26:05.160 that you can take 00:26:05.160 --> 00:26:06.160 or leave 00:26:06.160 --> 00:26:07.040 or modify 00:26:07.040 --> 00:26:07.779 or change 00:26:07.779 --> 00:26:09.140 or take some parts out 00:26:09.140 --> 00:26:09.800 that you don't like 00:26:09.800 --> 00:26:10.680 or put other parts in 00:26:10.680 --> 00:26:11.180 that you do. 00:26:13.340 --> 00:26:14.680 It's a word of truth 00:26:14.680 --> 00:26:17.519 and isn't that 00:26:17.519 --> 00:26:18.620 such good news 00:26:18.620 --> 00:26:20.440 in a world 00:26:20.440 --> 00:26:20.940 of so much 00:26:20.940 --> 00:26:21.980 half-truths 00:26:21.980 --> 00:26:23.000 and fake news 00:26:23.000 --> 00:26:24.240 that God's done 00:26:24.240 --> 00:26:25.220 something real 00:26:25.220 --> 00:26:25.840 for you 00:26:25.840 --> 00:26:26.460 and for me 00:26:26.460 --> 00:26:28.700 and because it's 00:26:28.700 --> 00:26:29.259 a word of truth 00:26:29.259 --> 00:26:29.860 that means you can 00:26:29.860 --> 00:26:30.779 investigate it. 00:26:31.580 --> 00:26:32.320 Read the accounts 00:26:32.320 --> 00:26:32.840 about Jesus 00:26:32.840 --> 00:26:33.460 for yourself 00:26:33.460 --> 00:26:34.140 in the New Testament. 00:26:34.580 --> 00:26:35.440 The first four books 00:26:35.440 --> 00:26:36.060 in the New Testament 00:26:36.060 --> 00:26:36.920 which we sometimes call 00:26:36.920 --> 00:26:37.720 the Gospels 00:26:37.720 --> 00:26:39.680 give us first-hand 00:26:39.680 --> 00:26:40.180 accounts 00:26:40.180 --> 00:26:41.180 of the life of Jesus. 00:26:41.640 --> 00:26:42.360 If you're exploring 00:26:42.359 --> 00:26:42.879 Christianity 00:26:42.879 --> 00:26:44.240 that's where I would 00:26:44.240 --> 00:26:44.879 tell you to start. 00:26:45.699 --> 00:26:46.779 Read the Gospel of Luke. 00:26:47.179 --> 00:26:47.719 Read the Gospel 00:26:47.719 --> 00:26:48.579 according to Mark. 00:26:49.759 --> 00:26:50.559 Take the Pew Bible 00:26:50.559 --> 00:26:51.059 with you 00:26:51.059 --> 00:26:51.679 and read it. 00:26:51.979 --> 00:26:52.599 We've got plenty. 00:26:52.719 --> 00:26:53.839 We can replace them. 00:26:53.879 --> 00:26:54.259 It's okay. 00:26:55.479 --> 00:26:56.219 That would be a good 00:26:56.219 --> 00:26:56.859 place to start 00:26:56.859 --> 00:26:57.699 and I think 00:26:57.699 --> 00:26:58.539 what you'll see 00:26:58.539 --> 00:27:00.359 even if there's a lot 00:27:00.359 --> 00:27:01.459 there that challenges you 00:27:01.459 --> 00:27:02.139 I think you'll start 00:27:02.139 --> 00:27:03.000 to see that the evidence 00:27:03.000 --> 00:27:03.859 for Jesus' life 00:27:03.859 --> 00:27:04.639 doesn't read 00:27:04.639 --> 00:27:05.619 like a myth 00:27:05.619 --> 00:27:07.379 or a cleverly devised 00:27:07.379 --> 00:27:08.339 spiritual story 00:27:08.339 --> 00:27:10.159 but it starts to read 00:27:10.159 --> 00:27:11.219 like Luke says 00:27:11.219 --> 00:27:11.619 in the beginning 00:27:11.619 --> 00:27:12.339 of his Gospel 00:27:12.339 --> 00:27:13.659 as an account 00:27:13.659 --> 00:27:14.839 of the things 00:27:14.839 --> 00:27:15.740 that have actually 00:27:15.740 --> 00:27:16.339 been done 00:27:16.339 --> 00:27:17.059 and fulfilled 00:27:17.059 --> 00:27:17.779 among us. 00:27:20.799 --> 00:27:21.740 But it's not just 00:27:21.740 --> 00:27:22.539 a word of truth 00:27:22.539 --> 00:27:24.779 it's also a word 00:27:24.779 --> 00:27:25.379 of grace. 00:27:27.199 --> 00:27:27.819 Paul says 00:27:27.819 --> 00:27:28.139 at the end 00:27:28.139 --> 00:27:28.639 of verse 6 00:27:28.639 --> 00:27:29.359 that in the Gospel 00:27:29.359 --> 00:27:30.500 we've come to understand 00:27:30.500 --> 00:27:31.720 the grace of God 00:27:31.720 --> 00:27:32.819 in truth. 00:27:34.139 --> 00:27:34.799 The Gospel 00:27:34.799 --> 00:27:35.559 isn't just 00:27:35.559 --> 00:27:37.699 intellectually coherent 00:27:37.699 --> 00:27:39.720 it also brings 00:27:39.720 --> 00:27:40.579 a power 00:27:40.579 --> 00:27:42.179 to change your life. 00:27:42.339 --> 00:27:46.079 Now think for a moment 00:27:46.079 --> 00:27:46.699 as we think 00:27:46.699 --> 00:27:47.519 about this grace 00:27:47.519 --> 00:27:48.220 think for a moment 00:27:48.220 --> 00:27:49.159 about the relationship 00:27:49.159 --> 00:27:50.159 between hope 00:27:50.159 --> 00:27:51.139 and love 00:27:51.139 --> 00:27:51.839 that we looked at 00:27:51.839 --> 00:27:52.659 back in verses 4 00:27:52.659 --> 00:27:53.079 and 5. 00:27:54.839 --> 00:27:55.679 Now the longer 00:27:55.679 --> 00:27:56.759 you stare at that 00:27:56.759 --> 00:27:57.899 the more you realize 00:27:57.899 --> 00:27:58.480 that something 00:27:58.480 --> 00:27:59.879 is very different here. 00:28:01.079 --> 00:28:01.799 That the Gospel 00:28:01.799 --> 00:28:02.759 is saying something 00:28:02.759 --> 00:28:03.679 utterly unique. 00:28:04.639 --> 00:28:04.939 You see 00:28:04.939 --> 00:28:05.639 in nearly every other 00:28:05.639 --> 00:28:06.859 spiritual or religious system 00:28:06.859 --> 00:28:07.480 the relationship 00:28:07.480 --> 00:28:08.480 between love 00:28:08.480 --> 00:28:09.539 and hope 00:28:09.539 --> 00:28:10.579 goes like this. 00:28:11.180 --> 00:28:12.619 If you love 00:28:12.619 --> 00:28:13.220 others well 00:28:13.220 --> 00:28:13.740 now 00:28:13.740 --> 00:28:14.859 then 00:28:14.859 --> 00:28:15.980 your hope 00:28:15.980 --> 00:28:16.960 will possibly 00:28:16.960 --> 00:28:17.599 be secure. 00:28:19.039 --> 00:28:19.619 In other words 00:28:19.619 --> 00:28:20.399 the certainty 00:28:20.399 --> 00:28:21.480 of your future hope 00:28:21.480 --> 00:28:23.279 depends on how well 00:28:23.279 --> 00:28:24.119 you love 00:28:24.119 --> 00:28:25.019 in the present. 00:28:26.299 --> 00:28:27.700 If you're a loving person 00:28:27.700 --> 00:28:28.599 if you put others 00:28:28.599 --> 00:28:29.220 before yourself 00:28:29.220 --> 00:28:29.899 if you're generous 00:28:29.899 --> 00:28:30.339 and kind 00:28:30.339 --> 00:28:30.779 then 00:28:30.779 --> 00:28:32.440 you'll get rewarded 00:28:32.440 --> 00:28:33.440 with a good hope. 00:28:33.440 --> 00:28:36.480 Now for some of you 00:28:36.480 --> 00:28:37.860 you might be thinking 00:28:37.860 --> 00:28:38.759 well yeah 00:28:38.759 --> 00:28:39.320 I thought that's 00:28:39.320 --> 00:28:40.460 what Christianity says. 00:28:40.759 --> 00:28:41.200 I thought that's 00:28:41.200 --> 00:28:41.660 what Christianity 00:28:41.660 --> 00:28:42.320 is all about. 00:28:42.860 --> 00:28:43.480 It's about being 00:28:43.480 --> 00:28:44.059 a good person 00:28:44.059 --> 00:28:44.900 being a loving person 00:28:44.900 --> 00:28:45.880 so you can get a hope 00:28:45.880 --> 00:28:46.519 for the future 00:28:46.519 --> 00:28:47.019 with God. 00:28:48.900 --> 00:28:49.440 But friends 00:28:49.440 --> 00:28:49.900 that's actually 00:28:49.900 --> 00:28:51.480 not Christianity. 00:28:54.600 --> 00:28:55.299 Other religions 00:28:55.299 --> 00:28:56.059 say if you love 00:28:56.059 --> 00:28:56.900 others well now 00:28:56.900 --> 00:28:58.000 then your hope 00:28:58.000 --> 00:28:58.680 will be secure. 00:28:59.759 --> 00:29:00.759 Christianity says 00:29:00.759 --> 00:29:01.960 God 00:29:01.960 --> 00:29:03.299 has made your hope 00:29:03.299 --> 00:29:04.299 secure in Christ 00:29:04.299 --> 00:29:05.259 for you. 00:29:06.000 --> 00:29:06.380 Therefore 00:29:06.380 --> 00:29:08.079 you can love 00:29:08.079 --> 00:29:08.860 others well now. 00:29:10.039 --> 00:29:10.920 Do you see the difference? 00:29:11.740 --> 00:29:13.140 It's a complete reversal. 00:29:14.140 --> 00:29:14.720 One says 00:29:14.720 --> 00:29:15.519 if you love well 00:29:15.519 --> 00:29:16.460 God will accept you. 00:29:17.559 --> 00:29:18.319 Christianity says 00:29:18.319 --> 00:29:19.519 God has accepted you 00:29:19.519 --> 00:29:20.579 in Christ by grace. 00:29:20.860 --> 00:29:21.819 Your future is secure. 00:29:22.200 --> 00:29:23.220 Now go love 00:29:23.220 --> 00:29:23.860 in the freedom 00:29:23.860 --> 00:29:24.620 and the confidence 00:29:24.620 --> 00:29:25.380 that that brings. 00:29:27.059 --> 00:29:28.380 And if you get that 00:29:28.380 --> 00:29:29.920 if you see 00:29:29.920 --> 00:29:30.519 how that's something 00:29:30.519 --> 00:29:31.579 radically different 00:29:31.579 --> 00:29:32.379 then you're starting 00:29:32.379 --> 00:29:33.079 to understand 00:29:33.079 --> 00:29:33.679 what Christianity 00:29:33.679 --> 00:29:35.099 means by grace. 00:29:36.960 --> 00:29:37.819 That God saves us 00:29:37.819 --> 00:29:38.659 not on the basis 00:29:38.659 --> 00:29:40.599 of our loving performance 00:29:40.599 --> 00:29:41.659 but on the basis 00:29:41.659 --> 00:29:43.599 of Christ's loving performance. 00:29:45.179 --> 00:29:46.259 Because the reality is 00:29:46.259 --> 00:29:46.879 none of us 00:29:46.879 --> 00:29:48.159 loves well enough 00:29:48.159 --> 00:29:48.799 to secure 00:29:48.799 --> 00:29:49.639 a future hope 00:29:49.639 --> 00:29:50.099 with God. 00:29:50.539 --> 00:29:51.099 Deep down 00:29:51.099 --> 00:29:52.500 we know we should 00:29:52.500 --> 00:29:53.220 love our neighbors 00:29:53.220 --> 00:29:53.939 as ourselves 00:29:53.939 --> 00:29:54.919 and deep down 00:29:54.919 --> 00:29:55.359 we know 00:29:55.359 --> 00:29:56.519 we don't. 00:29:58.419 --> 00:29:59.379 So what do we do? 00:29:59.380 --> 00:30:00.720 What are our options 00:30:00.720 --> 00:30:01.640 in light of those 00:30:01.640 --> 00:30:02.220 two realities? 00:30:03.220 --> 00:30:03.780 Option one 00:30:03.780 --> 00:30:05.460 we can keep on saying 00:30:05.460 --> 00:30:06.040 that we actually 00:30:06.040 --> 00:30:06.740 do love our neighbors 00:30:06.740 --> 00:30:07.280 as ourselves 00:30:07.280 --> 00:30:08.000 all the while 00:30:08.000 --> 00:30:09.160 hiding our flaws 00:30:09.160 --> 00:30:09.680 and our faults 00:30:09.680 --> 00:30:11.920 which is a terribly 00:30:11.920 --> 00:30:13.060 inauthentic way to live 00:30:13.060 --> 00:30:14.420 and ends up breeding 00:30:14.420 --> 00:30:15.140 hypocrisy. 00:30:16.680 --> 00:30:17.480 Option two 00:30:17.480 --> 00:30:19.480 we can say that 00:30:19.480 --> 00:30:20.240 God doesn't really 00:30:20.240 --> 00:30:21.120 require us 00:30:21.120 --> 00:30:22.000 to love our neighbors 00:30:22.000 --> 00:30:22.620 as ourselves 00:30:22.620 --> 00:30:24.200 and that he'll accept us 00:30:24.200 --> 00:30:24.680 if we just 00:30:24.680 --> 00:30:25.820 do the best we can. 00:30:25.819 --> 00:30:29.500 But how do you know 00:30:29.500 --> 00:30:29.919 if you've done 00:30:29.919 --> 00:30:30.639 the best you can? 00:30:32.399 --> 00:30:33.659 How good is good enough? 00:30:35.019 --> 00:30:35.899 And while we're at it 00:30:35.899 --> 00:30:37.240 who are we to say 00:30:37.240 --> 00:30:37.639 that God 00:30:37.639 --> 00:30:38.919 what God ought to require 00:30:38.919 --> 00:30:40.480 or not require? 00:30:41.539 --> 00:30:42.279 Maybe God really 00:30:42.279 --> 00:30:43.000 does mean it 00:30:43.000 --> 00:30:43.819 when he says 00:30:43.819 --> 00:30:44.339 we ought to love 00:30:44.339 --> 00:30:44.679 our neighbors 00:30:44.679 --> 00:30:45.299 as ourselves. 00:30:48.039 --> 00:30:48.619 So is there 00:30:48.619 --> 00:30:49.480 a third option here? 00:30:50.379 --> 00:30:51.179 Other than sort of 00:30:51.179 --> 00:30:51.879 maximizing 00:30:51.879 --> 00:30:52.679 our own goodness 00:30:52.679 --> 00:30:55.000 at the expense 00:30:55.000 --> 00:30:55.420 of hiding 00:30:55.420 --> 00:30:56.299 all of our flaws 00:30:56.299 --> 00:30:57.500 or minimizing 00:30:57.500 --> 00:30:58.220 God's goodness 00:30:58.220 --> 00:30:59.039 at the expense 00:30:59.039 --> 00:31:00.160 of losing God 00:31:00.160 --> 00:31:00.599 altogether? 00:31:03.660 --> 00:31:04.599 In the gospel 00:31:04.599 --> 00:31:06.599 there is a third option. 00:31:07.960 --> 00:31:09.319 You see what Jesus did 00:31:09.319 --> 00:31:10.200 in history 00:31:10.200 --> 00:31:11.420 in truth 00:31:11.420 --> 00:31:13.160 he did for 00:31:13.160 --> 00:31:13.900 you and me 00:31:13.900 --> 00:31:15.259 in grace. 00:31:16.339 --> 00:31:17.579 He lived the life 00:31:17.579 --> 00:31:18.720 that we should have lived 00:31:18.720 --> 00:31:20.960 and the death he died 00:31:20.960 --> 00:31:21.700 was the one 00:31:21.700 --> 00:31:22.819 that we deserve to die 00:31:22.819 --> 00:31:24.759 so that united to him 00:31:24.759 --> 00:31:25.500 by faith 00:31:25.500 --> 00:31:26.779 we can have 00:31:26.779 --> 00:31:27.779 his record 00:31:27.779 --> 00:31:29.180 counted to us 00:31:29.180 --> 00:31:30.099 as our own 00:31:30.099 --> 00:31:31.460 and have a secure 00:31:31.460 --> 00:31:32.619 hope for the future 00:31:32.619 --> 00:31:33.200 that's dependent 00:31:33.200 --> 00:31:33.900 on him 00:31:33.900 --> 00:31:34.879 and not me. 00:31:38.059 --> 00:31:38.779 We've been watching 00:31:38.779 --> 00:31:39.400 a lot of tennis 00:31:39.400 --> 00:31:40.140 lately at home. 00:31:41.700 --> 00:31:42.440 The U.S. Open 00:31:42.440 --> 00:31:43.140 has been going on. 00:31:43.279 --> 00:31:43.839 Did you all know that? 00:31:45.119 --> 00:31:45.379 No? 00:31:45.859 --> 00:31:46.339 The U.S. Open 00:31:46.339 --> 00:31:47.379 is happening 00:31:47.379 --> 00:31:48.900 like an hour 00:31:48.900 --> 00:31:49.519 down the street. 00:31:49.519 --> 00:31:52.079 So the U.S. Open 00:31:52.079 --> 00:31:52.519 has been on 00:31:52.519 --> 00:31:52.960 it seems like 00:31:52.960 --> 00:31:53.420 non-stop 00:31:53.420 --> 00:31:54.079 at the Lauer House 00:31:54.079 --> 00:31:54.779 for the past week 00:31:54.779 --> 00:31:56.960 and tennis 00:31:56.960 --> 00:31:57.460 is a very 00:31:57.460 --> 00:31:58.579 individual game 00:31:58.579 --> 00:31:59.700 even when you're 00:31:59.700 --> 00:32:00.319 playing doubles 00:32:00.319 --> 00:32:01.000 then it's sort of 00:32:01.000 --> 00:32:02.059 a doubly individual game. 00:32:02.599 --> 00:32:02.700 You know 00:32:02.700 --> 00:32:03.519 you take the court 00:32:03.519 --> 00:32:05.279 and you have to win 00:32:05.279 --> 00:32:06.000 in the strength 00:32:06.000 --> 00:32:07.160 of your own performance. 00:32:07.480 --> 00:32:08.299 You are the one 00:32:08.299 --> 00:32:09.200 who has to stand up 00:32:09.200 --> 00:32:09.980 and beat your opponent 00:32:09.980 --> 00:32:10.799 and there's no one else 00:32:10.799 --> 00:32:11.319 who can help you. 00:32:11.619 --> 00:32:12.460 They won't even let people 00:32:12.460 --> 00:32:14.039 carry your bags out for you. 00:32:14.940 --> 00:32:15.559 Your coach 00:32:15.559 --> 00:32:16.079 can't even 00:32:16.079 --> 00:32:17.559 flash you a little signal 00:32:17.559 --> 00:32:18.159 during the game 00:32:18.159 --> 00:32:18.639 or else you get 00:32:18.639 --> 00:32:19.599 disqualified, right? 00:32:20.940 --> 00:32:21.899 It's up to you. 00:32:22.419 --> 00:32:23.200 You've got to beat 00:32:23.200 --> 00:32:23.659 the opponent. 00:32:25.279 --> 00:32:26.339 But not every sport 00:32:26.339 --> 00:32:26.960 is like that. 00:32:29.220 --> 00:32:30.259 When a soccer game 00:32:30.259 --> 00:32:30.779 comes down 00:32:30.779 --> 00:32:31.720 to penalty kicks 00:32:31.720 --> 00:32:34.259 there's one player 00:32:34.259 --> 00:32:35.279 that takes the field 00:32:35.279 --> 00:32:36.440 for all the rest 00:32:36.440 --> 00:32:38.599 and if that player 00:32:38.599 --> 00:32:39.579 can overcome 00:32:39.579 --> 00:32:41.960 then the whole team wins. 00:32:42.859 --> 00:32:43.799 The victory 00:32:43.799 --> 00:32:44.819 of the one 00:32:44.819 --> 00:32:46.079 is counted 00:32:46.079 --> 00:32:47.259 to the many. 00:32:48.460 --> 00:32:48.799 And friends 00:32:48.799 --> 00:32:50.119 that is what God 00:32:50.119 --> 00:32:51.039 has done for us 00:32:51.039 --> 00:32:51.700 in Christ. 00:32:52.240 --> 00:32:53.159 The victory 00:32:53.159 --> 00:32:54.259 of the one man 00:32:54.259 --> 00:32:55.079 Christ Jesus 00:32:55.079 --> 00:32:56.480 his perfect life 00:32:56.480 --> 00:32:57.899 and his sin bearing death 00:32:57.899 --> 00:32:58.919 is counted 00:32:58.919 --> 00:32:59.599 to the many 00:32:59.599 --> 00:33:00.460 who trust in him. 00:33:02.859 --> 00:33:03.799 He's done it 00:33:03.799 --> 00:33:06.019 for those who believe 00:33:06.019 --> 00:33:07.700 in the whole world 00:33:07.700 --> 00:33:08.980 and he's done it 00:33:08.980 --> 00:33:09.419 for you. 00:33:12.159 --> 00:33:12.619 Friends 00:33:12.619 --> 00:33:13.059 if you come 00:33:13.059 --> 00:33:13.879 to understand 00:33:13.879 --> 00:33:15.399 the grace of God 00:33:15.400 --> 00:33:16.380 in truth 00:33:16.380 --> 00:33:17.720 as it says here 00:33:17.720 --> 00:33:18.420 in verse 6. 00:33:19.700 --> 00:33:20.640 In the whole world 00:33:20.640 --> 00:33:21.500 it's bearing fruit 00:33:21.500 --> 00:33:22.180 and increasing 00:33:22.180 --> 00:33:22.780 because there's 00:33:22.780 --> 00:33:23.740 nothing else 00:33:23.740 --> 00:33:24.400 like it. 00:33:25.180 --> 00:33:26.680 And it's no property 00:33:26.680 --> 00:33:27.480 of one particular 00:33:27.480 --> 00:33:28.259 people group 00:33:28.259 --> 00:33:29.540 or one particular nation. 00:33:29.540 --> 00:33:31.500 It's for all nations. 00:33:31.680 --> 00:33:32.380 We could sit here 00:33:32.380 --> 00:33:33.160 and tell stories 00:33:33.160 --> 00:33:33.960 of gospel growth 00:33:33.960 --> 00:33:34.440 in Asia 00:33:34.440 --> 00:33:35.060 and in Africa 00:33:35.060 --> 00:33:35.600 and in Europe 00:33:35.600 --> 00:33:36.580 and in the Middle East 00:33:36.580 --> 00:33:37.360 and in New England. 00:33:37.359 --> 00:33:40.179 But what about 00:33:40.179 --> 00:33:40.559 the garden 00:33:40.559 --> 00:33:41.479 of your own heart 00:33:41.479 --> 00:33:42.000 friends? 00:33:43.379 --> 00:33:44.139 Has the truth 00:33:44.139 --> 00:33:44.679 of the gospel 00:33:44.679 --> 00:33:45.359 sunk in 00:33:45.359 --> 00:33:46.219 and has the grace 00:33:46.219 --> 00:33:46.819 of the gospel 00:33:46.819 --> 00:33:47.559 taken root? 00:33:48.399 --> 00:33:49.859 If it hasn't 00:33:49.859 --> 00:33:52.599 keep asking questions 00:33:52.599 --> 00:33:54.000 and keep searching out 00:33:54.000 --> 00:33:55.039 the grace and truth 00:33:55.039 --> 00:33:55.859 of who Jesus is 00:33:55.859 --> 00:33:56.679 and what he's done. 00:33:57.359 --> 00:33:58.799 The stakes are too high 00:33:58.799 --> 00:33:59.599 to ignore it. 00:34:01.459 --> 00:34:03.299 And if it has sunk in 00:34:03.299 --> 00:34:06.819 then start by giving thanks. 00:34:06.819 --> 00:34:08.460 Just like Paul does here. 00:34:08.719 --> 00:34:09.759 Thank God 00:34:09.759 --> 00:34:10.539 for the power 00:34:10.539 --> 00:34:11.239 of the gospel. 00:34:11.380 --> 00:34:11.900 And if you're starting 00:34:11.900 --> 00:34:13.159 to see it for the first time 00:34:13.159 --> 00:34:14.199 let someone else know 00:34:14.199 --> 00:34:15.159 how thankful you are. 00:34:15.960 --> 00:34:16.840 Let your gratitude 00:34:16.840 --> 00:34:17.679 be public. 00:34:19.000 --> 00:34:20.219 And if you've transferred 00:34:20.219 --> 00:34:21.199 your trust to Christ 00:34:21.199 --> 00:34:22.159 and become a Christian 00:34:22.159 --> 00:34:24.559 then talk to one of us pastors 00:34:24.559 --> 00:34:25.400 or talk to a friend 00:34:25.400 --> 00:34:26.179 about getting baptized. 00:34:26.579 --> 00:34:28.000 That is the first step 00:34:28.000 --> 00:34:29.380 in giving public thanks 00:34:29.380 --> 00:34:30.500 for your new relationship 00:34:30.500 --> 00:34:31.759 with the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:34:33.480 --> 00:34:34.199 But if you've been 00:34:34.199 --> 00:34:34.960 a follower of Jesus 00:34:34.960 --> 00:34:35.619 for a while 00:34:35.619 --> 00:34:37.219 what does ongoing 00:34:37.219 --> 00:34:38.219 thanksgiving look like 00:34:38.219 --> 00:34:38.639 for you? 00:34:41.500 --> 00:34:42.699 Paul ends by giving thanks 00:34:42.699 --> 00:34:43.480 not just for the fruit 00:34:43.480 --> 00:34:44.380 and the power of the gospel 00:34:44.380 --> 00:34:45.000 but finally 00:34:45.000 --> 00:34:46.059 for the mission 00:34:46.059 --> 00:34:46.659 of the gospel. 00:34:47.440 --> 00:34:48.679 And this is verses 7 and 8 00:34:48.679 --> 00:34:49.400 our last point. 00:34:50.039 --> 00:34:50.599 He continues, 00:34:50.739 --> 00:34:50.980 he says, 00:34:51.079 --> 00:34:51.940 just as you learned it 00:34:51.940 --> 00:34:52.759 from Epaphras 00:34:52.759 --> 00:34:54.239 our beloved fellow servant 00:34:54.239 --> 00:34:55.719 he's a faithful minister 00:34:55.719 --> 00:34:56.859 of Christ on your behalf 00:34:56.859 --> 00:34:58.099 and has made known to us 00:34:58.099 --> 00:34:58.659 your love 00:34:58.659 --> 00:34:59.559 in the spirit. 00:35:00.619 --> 00:35:01.279 Paul here wants 00:35:01.279 --> 00:35:02.380 the Colossians to know 00:35:02.380 --> 00:35:03.559 that they've received 00:35:03.559 --> 00:35:04.780 the genuine gospel 00:35:04.780 --> 00:35:06.900 from a genuine gospel messenger. 00:35:08.619 --> 00:35:09.920 Now it's probably the case 00:35:09.920 --> 00:35:11.619 that Epaphras was from Colossae. 00:35:11.780 --> 00:35:12.660 It was probably his hometown 00:35:12.660 --> 00:35:14.579 and he probably met Paul 00:35:14.579 --> 00:35:15.400 in the city of Ephesus 00:35:15.400 --> 00:35:16.840 during Paul's third missionary journey. 00:35:16.980 --> 00:35:17.579 Ephesus was sort of 00:35:17.579 --> 00:35:18.420 a center city 00:35:18.420 --> 00:35:19.460 in that region. 00:35:20.500 --> 00:35:21.180 And at Ephesus 00:35:21.180 --> 00:35:22.559 Epaphras would have heard 00:35:22.559 --> 00:35:23.960 the message of grace 00:35:23.960 --> 00:35:24.640 and truth 00:35:24.640 --> 00:35:26.059 in Jesus from Paul. 00:35:26.700 --> 00:35:27.680 And as it took root 00:35:27.680 --> 00:35:28.079 in his heart 00:35:28.079 --> 00:35:28.840 Epaphras would have then 00:35:28.840 --> 00:35:29.619 taken it home 00:35:29.619 --> 00:35:30.680 to Colossae with him. 00:35:30.679 --> 00:35:32.359 And there among his own people 00:35:32.359 --> 00:35:33.000 in his own city 00:35:33.000 --> 00:35:33.879 he would have taught them 00:35:33.879 --> 00:35:34.519 all that he learned 00:35:34.519 --> 00:35:35.440 about the grace of God 00:35:35.440 --> 00:35:36.440 and truth in Christ. 00:35:37.179 --> 00:35:38.460 And as his fellow Colossians 00:35:38.460 --> 00:35:39.679 understood that grace 00:35:39.679 --> 00:35:40.259 and truth 00:35:40.259 --> 00:35:42.219 then the fruit began to grow 00:35:42.219 --> 00:35:42.819 the faith 00:35:42.819 --> 00:35:44.259 and the love 00:35:44.259 --> 00:35:45.279 and the hope. 00:35:46.039 --> 00:35:47.139 And it grew so much 00:35:47.139 --> 00:35:47.819 that Epaphras 00:35:47.819 --> 00:35:49.079 could later return to Paul 00:35:49.079 --> 00:35:50.139 and report to him 00:35:50.139 --> 00:35:51.819 all that he had seen God do 00:35:51.819 --> 00:35:53.399 as they heard 00:35:53.399 --> 00:35:54.239 the word of truth 00:35:54.239 --> 00:35:56.599 and come to understand it. 00:35:57.719 --> 00:35:58.639 And especially 00:35:58.639 --> 00:36:00.239 their love 00:36:00.239 --> 00:36:00.819 in the Spirit. 00:36:03.259 --> 00:36:03.639 Trinity 00:36:03.639 --> 00:36:04.579 we like to say 00:36:04.579 --> 00:36:05.440 that we're gathered 00:36:05.440 --> 00:36:06.799 transformed 00:36:06.799 --> 00:36:08.440 and sent forth 00:36:08.440 --> 00:36:09.099 by the gospel 00:36:09.099 --> 00:36:09.960 of Jesus Christ. 00:36:10.159 --> 00:36:10.879 And that's exactly 00:36:10.879 --> 00:36:11.259 what we see 00:36:11.259 --> 00:36:11.779 in this passage 00:36:11.779 --> 00:36:12.159 isn't it? 00:36:12.420 --> 00:36:13.199 In verse 6 00:36:13.199 --> 00:36:14.319 we see the gospel 00:36:14.319 --> 00:36:15.119 gathering us 00:36:15.119 --> 00:36:16.319 it's this global message 00:36:16.319 --> 00:36:17.339 of grace and truth. 00:36:17.900 --> 00:36:18.859 And in verses 4 and 5 00:36:18.859 --> 00:36:20.319 we see that it transforms us 00:36:20.319 --> 00:36:20.859 in faith 00:36:20.859 --> 00:36:21.299 and love 00:36:21.299 --> 00:36:21.779 and hope 00:36:21.779 --> 00:36:22.679 and finally 00:36:22.679 --> 00:36:23.279 in 7 and 8 00:36:23.279 --> 00:36:24.219 it sends us out 00:36:24.219 --> 00:36:25.279 just like it sent out 00:36:25.279 --> 00:36:25.920 Epaphras. 00:36:25.920 --> 00:36:29.400 And know where Epaphras went. 00:36:31.420 --> 00:36:32.400 He went home. 00:36:34.599 --> 00:36:35.440 Often we think 00:36:35.440 --> 00:36:35.900 that the mission 00:36:35.900 --> 00:36:36.420 of the gospel 00:36:36.420 --> 00:36:37.200 means traveling 00:36:37.200 --> 00:36:38.599 to some far away land 00:36:38.599 --> 00:36:39.519 where we don't know anyone 00:36:39.519 --> 00:36:40.980 and have to eat 00:36:40.980 --> 00:36:41.700 strange foods. 00:36:43.820 --> 00:36:44.940 But more often friends 00:36:44.940 --> 00:36:45.360 the mission 00:36:45.360 --> 00:36:46.019 of the gospel 00:36:46.019 --> 00:36:47.519 is to take the truth 00:36:47.519 --> 00:36:48.619 and grace of Christ 00:36:48.619 --> 00:36:49.380 to our families 00:36:49.380 --> 00:36:50.139 and our friends 00:36:50.139 --> 00:36:51.099 and our co-workers. 00:36:52.900 --> 00:36:53.260 Indeed 00:36:53.260 --> 00:36:54.300 the gospel mission 00:36:54.300 --> 00:36:55.180 does extend 00:36:55.180 --> 00:36:56.100 to the ends of the earth. 00:36:56.200 --> 00:36:58.019 The gospel is for the whole world 00:36:58.019 --> 00:36:59.000 but the ends of the earth 00:36:59.000 --> 00:36:59.640 are sometimes 00:36:59.640 --> 00:37:00.900 right in your own backyard 00:37:00.900 --> 00:37:03.060 or down your dormitory hall 00:37:03.060 --> 00:37:04.640 or across the street 00:37:04.640 --> 00:37:06.019 or in the cubicle 00:37:06.019 --> 00:37:06.860 next to yours. 00:37:09.660 --> 00:37:10.500 And note too 00:37:10.500 --> 00:37:11.220 that Epaphras 00:37:11.220 --> 00:37:12.120 wasn't an apostle. 00:37:12.660 --> 00:37:14.200 He wasn't a superstar 00:37:14.200 --> 00:37:15.300 of the early church. 00:37:15.780 --> 00:37:16.740 He wasn't a Paul 00:37:16.740 --> 00:37:17.700 or an Apollos 00:37:17.700 --> 00:37:18.300 or a Peter. 00:37:19.300 --> 00:37:20.039 He was just 00:37:20.039 --> 00:37:21.060 an ordinary guy 00:37:21.059 --> 00:37:23.739 who encountered 00:37:23.739 --> 00:37:24.639 the extraordinary 00:37:24.639 --> 00:37:26.199 grace of Christ 00:37:26.199 --> 00:37:27.759 and he was faithful 00:37:27.759 --> 00:37:28.519 to serve Christ 00:37:28.519 --> 00:37:29.380 and take the gospel 00:37:29.380 --> 00:37:30.039 to his hometown. 00:37:31.579 --> 00:37:32.360 And his name 00:37:32.360 --> 00:37:33.079 got etched 00:37:33.079 --> 00:37:33.900 into the New Testament 00:37:33.900 --> 00:37:34.900 and we're still talking 00:37:34.900 --> 00:37:35.219 about him 00:37:35.219 --> 00:37:36.659 2,000 years later. 00:37:39.599 --> 00:37:40.820 And God says elsewhere 00:37:40.820 --> 00:37:41.579 in the New Testament 00:37:41.579 --> 00:37:42.980 that all of us 00:37:42.980 --> 00:37:44.279 who persevere 00:37:44.279 --> 00:37:45.539 will have our names 00:37:45.539 --> 00:37:46.079 etched 00:37:46.079 --> 00:37:47.059 in the temple 00:37:47.059 --> 00:37:47.820 of God in heaven. 00:37:47.820 --> 00:37:51.059 Brothers and sisters, 00:37:51.580 --> 00:37:53.140 the global movement 00:37:53.140 --> 00:37:54.080 of the gospel 00:37:54.080 --> 00:37:55.180 is bearing fruit 00:37:55.180 --> 00:37:55.900 and increasing 00:37:55.900 --> 00:37:57.340 right now. 00:37:58.140 --> 00:37:59.700 And God is calling us, 00:37:59.820 --> 00:38:00.480 calling you 00:38:00.480 --> 00:38:01.960 to join in 00:38:01.960 --> 00:38:02.539 the mission. 00:38:03.840 --> 00:38:05.140 So thank God 00:38:05.140 --> 00:38:06.580 for the Epaphrases 00:38:06.580 --> 00:38:07.380 in your life, 00:38:07.820 --> 00:38:08.780 those faithful ministers 00:38:08.780 --> 00:38:09.380 and pastors 00:38:09.380 --> 00:38:10.240 who first taught you 00:38:10.240 --> 00:38:10.680 the gospel 00:38:10.680 --> 00:38:11.880 even if they aren't famous 00:38:11.880 --> 00:38:13.200 and then take up 00:38:13.200 --> 00:38:13.980 your place 00:38:13.980 --> 00:38:14.820 in the mission too. 00:38:15.620 --> 00:38:16.480 And for some of you 00:38:16.480 --> 00:38:17.360 the global movement 00:38:17.360 --> 00:38:17.900 of the gospel 00:38:17.900 --> 00:38:18.880 will take you 00:38:18.880 --> 00:38:19.420 to the other side 00:38:19.420 --> 00:38:19.860 of the world. 00:38:20.780 --> 00:38:21.679 Some of you right here 00:38:21.679 --> 00:38:22.579 have been to the other side 00:38:22.579 --> 00:38:22.940 of the world 00:38:22.940 --> 00:38:23.619 and come back 00:38:23.619 --> 00:38:24.420 and some of you 00:38:24.420 --> 00:38:25.380 can't wait to get there 00:38:25.380 --> 00:38:26.800 and that is incredible 00:38:26.800 --> 00:38:27.420 and awesome 00:38:27.420 --> 00:38:28.219 and you should go. 00:38:28.539 --> 00:38:29.400 But for some of you 00:38:29.400 --> 00:38:31.039 the global movement 00:38:31.039 --> 00:38:31.539 of the gospel 00:38:31.539 --> 00:38:32.179 will take you 00:38:32.179 --> 00:38:33.019 to the glories 00:38:33.019 --> 00:38:34.400 of the mission field 00:38:34.400 --> 00:38:35.579 right at home. 00:38:38.280 --> 00:38:39.199 And either way 00:38:39.199 --> 00:38:40.780 in this mission 00:38:40.780 --> 00:38:41.420 of the gospel 00:38:41.420 --> 00:38:44.519 there can be no fear 00:38:44.519 --> 00:38:45.820 of missing out. 00:38:46.480 --> 00:38:47.519 What are you 00:38:47.519 --> 00:38:49.240 possibly missing out on? 00:38:49.980 --> 00:38:50.519 For here 00:38:50.519 --> 00:38:51.420 the power 00:38:51.420 --> 00:38:52.719 of God's grace 00:38:52.719 --> 00:38:53.300 and truth 00:38:53.300 --> 00:38:53.780 in Christ 00:38:53.780 --> 00:38:54.480 is breaking 00:38:54.480 --> 00:38:55.260 into the world 00:38:55.260 --> 00:38:56.719 and the new creation 00:38:56.719 --> 00:38:57.760 fruit of faith 00:38:57.760 --> 00:38:58.619 and hope 00:38:58.619 --> 00:38:59.340 and love 00:38:59.340 --> 00:39:00.460 is bursting forth 00:39:00.460 --> 00:39:00.940 in the midst 00:39:00.940 --> 00:39:01.579 of the old. 00:39:03.460 --> 00:39:04.019 What could be 00:39:04.019 --> 00:39:04.679 more thrilling 00:39:04.679 --> 00:39:05.360 than that? 00:39:07.340 --> 00:39:07.920 So brothers 00:39:07.920 --> 00:39:08.420 and sisters 00:39:08.420 --> 00:39:09.679 live your life 00:39:09.679 --> 00:39:10.800 in the gratitude 00:39:10.800 --> 00:39:12.240 of the gospel. 00:39:12.539 --> 00:39:13.800 Give thanks 00:39:13.800 --> 00:39:15.099 for God 00:39:15.099 --> 00:39:15.820 is at work 00:39:15.820 --> 00:39:16.420 in power 00:39:16.420 --> 00:39:17.480 and the fruit 00:39:17.480 --> 00:39:18.519 is coming forth 00:39:18.519 --> 00:39:20.059 and you have 00:39:20.059 --> 00:39:20.980 a role to play. 00:39:23.140 --> 00:39:23.800 Let's pray. 00:39:28.559 --> 00:39:29.240 God we want 00:39:29.240 --> 00:39:29.920 to do that this morning. 00:39:30.019 --> 00:39:30.440 We want to give you 00:39:30.440 --> 00:39:30.940 thanks 00:39:30.940 --> 00:39:32.880 for how we have seen 00:39:32.880 --> 00:39:34.600 the message 00:39:34.600 --> 00:39:35.340 of your grace 00:39:35.340 --> 00:39:36.000 in Christ 00:39:36.000 --> 00:39:38.580 produce good fruit 00:39:38.580 --> 00:39:39.200 in our midst. 00:39:39.820 --> 00:39:40.440 God thank you 00:39:40.440 --> 00:39:41.039 for faith 00:39:41.039 --> 00:39:42.220 for those 00:39:42.220 --> 00:39:43.559 in this room 00:39:43.559 --> 00:39:44.019 who have come 00:39:44.019 --> 00:39:44.360 to place 00:39:44.360 --> 00:39:44.940 their trust 00:39:44.940 --> 00:39:45.639 in Christ. 00:39:46.279 --> 00:39:46.840 God thank you 00:39:46.840 --> 00:39:47.619 for the love 00:39:47.619 --> 00:39:49.559 that is shared 00:39:49.559 --> 00:39:50.079 between us 00:39:50.079 --> 00:39:50.440 and thank you 00:39:50.440 --> 00:39:51.000 for the hope 00:39:51.000 --> 00:39:51.779 that we have. 00:39:52.380 --> 00:39:52.920 God help us 00:39:52.920 --> 00:39:53.719 to abound 00:39:53.719 --> 00:39:54.579 in thanksgiving 00:39:54.579 --> 00:39:55.179 the more 00:39:55.179 --> 00:39:55.940 we see you 00:39:55.940 --> 00:39:56.440 at work. 00:39:57.079 --> 00:39:57.719 Give us eyes 00:39:57.719 --> 00:39:58.519 to see it God 00:39:58.519 --> 00:39:59.539 and give us hearts 00:39:59.539 --> 00:40:00.519 that overflow 00:40:00.519 --> 00:40:01.179 with it. 00:40:02.699 --> 00:40:03.400 Lord would we 00:40:03.400 --> 00:40:04.019 be a people 00:40:04.019 --> 00:40:04.920 full of gratitude 00:40:04.920 --> 00:40:06.440 because of what 00:40:06.440 --> 00:40:06.759 you've done 00:40:06.759 --> 00:40:07.279 for us 00:40:07.280 --> 00:40:08.900 and we pray 00:40:08.900 --> 00:40:10.180 that we as a church 00:40:10.180 --> 00:40:11.100 would be a beacon 00:40:11.100 --> 00:40:12.880 of hope 00:40:12.880 --> 00:40:14.540 and joy 00:40:14.540 --> 00:40:15.220 in the midst 00:40:15.220 --> 00:40:15.880 of our city. 00:40:17.080 --> 00:40:18.440 Would people wonder 00:40:18.440 --> 00:40:19.340 what it is 00:40:19.340 --> 00:40:20.360 that makes us different 00:40:20.360 --> 00:40:22.100 and come to know 00:40:22.100 --> 00:40:23.519 with thanksgiving 00:40:23.519 --> 00:40:24.519 the grace of Christ 00:40:24.519 --> 00:40:24.920 as well. 00:40:25.480 --> 00:40:26.000 We pray this 00:40:26.000 --> 00:40:26.800 in his name Father. 00:40:27.060 --> 00:40:27.280 Amen. 00:40:27.280 --> 00:40:27.420 Amen.