WEBVTT

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 Chapter 9, starting at verse 30. If you are looking at one of the Pew Bibles, that is page 845.

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 So, you can turn there if you want to follow along, or I think it will also be up on the screen.

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 Do whichever one works best for you.

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 So, let me begin by reading the passage, and then I'll give some teaching on it, and then we'll have a song of reflection, and then there's going to be a time of open question and answer.

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 So, if you have questions along the way, feel free to jot those down or keep them in mind, because you'll have a chance to ask them, and we can interact over them at the end.

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 All right, Mark chapter 9, beginning at verse 30.

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 It says,

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 And they came to Capernaum.

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 And when he was in the house, he asked them,

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 What were you discussing on the way?

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 But they kept silent.

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 For on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest.

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 And he sat down and called the twelve.

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 And he said to them,

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 If anyone would be first, he must be last of all, and servant of all.

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 And he took a child and put him in the midst of them.

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 And taking him in his arms, he said to them,

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 Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me.

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 And whoever receives me receives not me, but him who sent me.

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 John said to him,

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 Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name,

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 and we tried to stop him because he was not following us.

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 But Jesus said,

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 Do not stop him.

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 For no one who does a mighty work in my name

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 will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me.

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 For the one who is not against us is for us.

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 For truly I say to you,

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 Whoever gives you a cup of water to drink

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 because you belong to Christ

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 will by no means lose his reward.

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 Whoever causes one of these little ones

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 who believe in me to sin.

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 It would be better for him

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 if a great millstone were hung around his neck

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 and he were thrown in the sea.

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 And if your hand causes you to sin,

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 cut it off.

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 It is better for you to enter life crippled

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 than with two hands to go to hell,

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 to the unquenchable fire.

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 And if your foot causes you to sin,

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 cut it off.

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 It is better for you to enter life lame

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 than with two feet to be thrown into hell.

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 And if your eye causes you to sin,

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 tear it out.

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 It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God

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 with one eye

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 than with two eyes to be thrown into hell

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 where their worm does not die

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 and the fire is not quenched.

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 For everyone will be salted with fire.

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 Salt is good,

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 but if the salt has lost its saltiness,

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 how will you make it salty again?

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 Have salt in yourselves

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 and be at peace with one another.

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 Let's pray together.

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 Amen.

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 Lord, high and holy,

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 meek and lowly,

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 let me learn that the way down

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 is the way up,

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 that to be low

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 is to be high,

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 that the broken heart

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 is the healed heart,

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 that to bear the cross

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 is to wear the crown.

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 Let me find your light

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 in my darkness,

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 your life

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 in my death,

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 your joy

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 in my sorrow,

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 your grace

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 in my sin,

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 your riches

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 in my poverty,

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 your glory

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 in my valley.

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 Amen.

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 So how would you define

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 your life purpose?

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 If you go online,

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 you can find several websites

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 devoted to helping you craft

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 your very own life purpose statement

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 or personal mission statement

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 in 20 minutes or less,

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 summarizing what you're all about

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 and what success looks like to you.

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 I won't ask you to raise your hand

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 if you have one of these statements,

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 but one website lists 15 questions

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 that you should ask

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 to craft one of these purpose statements

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 or mission statements,

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 including these.

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 Number one,

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 what makes you smile?

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 Number two,

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 what makes you feel great about yourself?

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 Number three,

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 what are you naturally good at?

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 Number four,

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 what do people ask you for help in?

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 Number five,

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 what are your deepest values?

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 Number six,

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 imagine you're 90 years old

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 looking back over your life.

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 What memories or accomplishments

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 will matter most to you.

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 I won't go through all 15,

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 but you get the idea.

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 Now,

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 here are a few examples

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 of personal mission statements

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 that people have posted.

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 Number one,

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 my mission is to create,

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 nurture,

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 and maintain

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 an environment of growth,

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 challenge,

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 and unlimited potential

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 for all those around me.

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 Second one,

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 my purpose in life

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 is to be a mom,

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 to empower independence,

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 self-reliance,

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 and confidence in others

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 through being a positive,

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 supportive role model.

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 Third,

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 what matters most

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 is my connection with myself,

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 being present

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 and feeling blissful.

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 Now,

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 at the beginning of this passage,

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 Jesus

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 gives his disciples

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 something like

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 a personal mission statement

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 in verse 31.

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 And it goes like this.

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 He says,

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 the Son of Man

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 is going to be delivered

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 into the hands of men

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 and they will kill him.

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 And when he is killed,

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 after three days,

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 he will rise.

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 Now,

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 by almost any standard,

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 that's a really weird

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 personal mission statement

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 or life purpose statement

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 for two reasons,

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 really.

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 First,

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 Jesus defines himself

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 in a very odd way.

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 He refers to himself

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 as the Son of Man.

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 Not just a Son of Man,

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 but the Son of Man.

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 In other words,

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 it's like somebody

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 identified themselves

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 and said,

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 I am the human being.

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 I am the perfect expression

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 of true humanity

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 as God always intended it to be.

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 I am the perfect expression

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 of bearing the image of God

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 and ruling over the earth.

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 I am the human being.

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 destined to rule

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 over the world.

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 And you think,

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 boy,

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 that's a little unusual way

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 to describe yourself.

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 But then he says,

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 I'll be handed over

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 to human beings

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 and killed by them.

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 And my purpose in life

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 will be achieved

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 through my suffering

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 and through my death.

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 Now,

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 this isn't the only time

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 Jesus said something like this.

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 He already said this

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 if you look back

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 in chapter 8,

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 verse 31 and 32.

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 It says,

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 He began to teach

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 his disciples

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 that the Son of Man

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 must suffer

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 and be rejected

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 and killed

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 and after three days

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 rise again.

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 In other words,

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 this isn't just an accident,

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 a bad accident

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 that's going to happen

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 to him.

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 He says,

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 I must do this.

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 In other words,

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 this is part of

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 my divinely ordained destiny.

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 This is the way

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 I will fulfill

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 my God-appointed mission

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 through suffering

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 and death

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 and then rising again.

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 I mean,

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 just think of it.

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 How would you react

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 if your best friend

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 said to you,

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 I'm the perfect expression

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 of humanity

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 and I'm going to fulfill

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 my purpose in life

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 by being handed over

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 to people

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 unjustly accused

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 suffering and dying

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 and only through that

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 fulfilling my purpose

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 in life.

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 Well,

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 verse 32 says

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 the disciples

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 didn't get it either.

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 Right?

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 You sort of think,

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 are you making a bad joke?

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 Are you having a bad day?

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 Like,

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 what's going on?

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 See,

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 the disciples,

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 they were starting

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 to get this idea

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 that Jesus is the Messiah.

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 Peter had said it

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 back in chapter 8

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 in the last chapter

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 and they liked that idea.

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 He was the king.

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 He was going to

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 rule the world

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 and bring them

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 with him to glory

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 and bring them

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 to victory.

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 It's like

00:09:06.539 --> 00:09:07.840
 getting a star player

00:09:07.840 --> 00:09:08.659
 joining your team

00:09:08.659 --> 00:09:09.120
 and you think,

00:09:09.440 --> 00:09:09.860
 we're going to win

00:09:09.860 --> 00:09:10.919
 the championship this year

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 because we've got

00:09:11.620 --> 00:09:12.899
 the star player.

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 And then he says,

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 I'm going to totally lose it.

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 I'm going to lose it all.

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 And you think,

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 what?

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 The other thing

00:09:25.360 --> 00:09:26.080
 Jesus says

00:09:26.080 --> 00:09:27.039
 is not only

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 is this

00:09:27.580 --> 00:09:28.940
 his personal mission,

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 but he says,

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 if you follow me,

00:09:31.240 --> 00:09:31.899
 my mission

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 becomes yours.

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 Your mission

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 or my mission

00:09:36.759 --> 00:09:38.100
 shapes yours.

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 That's really

00:09:39.620 --> 00:09:40.440
 what this whole passage

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 tonight is about.

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 How Jesus'

00:09:42.560 --> 00:09:43.399
 mission on earth,

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 in particular,

00:09:44.980 --> 00:09:45.259
 his mission

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 to suffer and die

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 and then rise again,

00:09:48.299 --> 00:09:49.340
 how that shapes

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 our mission

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 and our lives

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 if we follow him.

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 In other words,

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 if we follow Jesus,

00:09:58.340 --> 00:09:59.600
 our personal mission

00:09:59.600 --> 00:10:00.879
 becomes replaced

00:10:00.879 --> 00:10:02.360
 with his mission

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 for us

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 and his purpose

00:10:04.720 --> 00:10:05.319
 for us.

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 And instead of being

00:10:06.799 --> 00:10:07.699
 defined by

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 what makes me smile

00:10:10.559 --> 00:10:12.399
 or what I'm good at

00:10:12.399 --> 00:10:13.939
 or what I like

00:10:13.940 --> 00:10:15.060
 or what I envision

00:10:15.060 --> 00:10:15.760
 for my future,

00:10:15.860 --> 00:10:17.760
 we become defined by

00:10:17.760 --> 00:10:19.860
 how Jesus sees us

00:10:19.860 --> 00:10:22.240
 and what he has

00:10:22.240 --> 00:10:23.520
 in store for us.

00:10:26.220 --> 00:10:27.360
 Instead of being

00:10:27.360 --> 00:10:28.060
 self-centered

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 and self-defined,

00:10:29.420 --> 00:10:30.060
 we become

00:10:30.060 --> 00:10:31.080
 self-sacrificially

00:10:31.080 --> 00:10:31.980
 identified with Jesus.

00:10:32.080 --> 00:10:33.300
 That's the main theme

00:10:33.300 --> 00:10:34.620
 that we'll see

00:10:34.620 --> 00:10:35.540
 running through this passage

00:10:35.540 --> 00:10:35.840
 is that

00:10:35.840 --> 00:10:37.480
 the cross of Jesus

00:10:37.480 --> 00:10:38.800
 makes us

00:10:38.800 --> 00:10:39.740
 self-sacrificial

00:10:39.740 --> 00:10:41.560
 instead of self-centered.

00:10:41.559 --> 00:10:44.059
 And the passage

00:10:44.059 --> 00:10:44.759
 fleshes out

00:10:44.759 --> 00:10:45.539
 what that looks like

00:10:45.539 --> 00:10:46.839
 in three specific areas.

00:10:47.659 --> 00:10:48.159
 So first,

00:10:48.239 --> 00:10:49.479
 verse 33 to 37.

00:10:50.639 --> 00:10:51.679
 And in these verses,

00:10:51.979 --> 00:10:52.579
 we see that

00:10:52.579 --> 00:10:53.339
 instead of seeking

00:10:53.339 --> 00:10:54.359
 to be the greatest,

00:10:55.199 --> 00:10:57.079
 we seek to serve people

00:10:57.079 --> 00:10:58.619
 who are the least.

00:10:59.919 --> 00:11:00.119
 You know,

00:11:00.139 --> 00:11:00.719
 it's very natural

00:11:00.719 --> 00:11:02.119
 for us to define ourselves

00:11:02.119 --> 00:11:03.439
 by comparing ourselves

00:11:03.439 --> 00:11:04.319
 to somebody else

00:11:04.319 --> 00:11:05.959
 and by seeking

00:11:05.959 --> 00:11:07.379
 to be great

00:11:07.379 --> 00:11:08.659
 in comparison

00:11:08.659 --> 00:11:09.299
 to others.

00:11:10.119 --> 00:11:10.659
 Maybe that's

00:11:10.659 --> 00:11:11.539
 what motivates you

00:11:11.539 --> 00:11:12.740
 to study every day

00:11:12.740 --> 00:11:14.980
 and to pull all-nighters

00:11:14.980 --> 00:11:16.539
 is because you want

00:11:16.539 --> 00:11:17.339
 to get a certain

00:11:17.339 --> 00:11:18.240
 class rank

00:11:18.240 --> 00:11:19.860
 so that when you graduate,

00:11:20.120 --> 00:11:20.419
 you can have

00:11:20.419 --> 00:11:21.219
 a certain GPA

00:11:21.219 --> 00:11:22.860
 on your resume

00:11:22.860 --> 00:11:24.099
 and then you'll have

00:11:24.099 --> 00:11:24.819
 a better chance

00:11:24.819 --> 00:11:25.799
 than others

00:11:25.799 --> 00:11:27.139
 who have a lower GPA

00:11:27.139 --> 00:11:28.139
 to get the job

00:11:28.139 --> 00:11:28.779
 that you want.

00:11:31.000 --> 00:11:31.819
 Or maybe that's

00:11:31.819 --> 00:11:32.399
 what motivates you

00:11:32.399 --> 00:11:32.839
 to work

00:11:32.839 --> 00:11:33.519
 because you want

00:11:33.519 --> 00:11:33.959
 to advance

00:11:33.959 --> 00:11:34.819
 to a certain level

00:11:34.819 --> 00:11:35.639
 in your career field

00:11:35.639 --> 00:11:36.159
 and you know

00:11:36.159 --> 00:11:37.039
 that to get there,

00:11:37.199 --> 00:11:37.959
 you're going to have

00:11:37.959 --> 00:11:39.379
 to surpass everybody else.

00:11:39.379 --> 00:11:42.019
 And so you work hard,

00:11:42.100 --> 00:11:42.720
 you're motivated

00:11:42.720 --> 00:11:43.460
 by this desire

00:11:43.460 --> 00:11:44.179
 to excel

00:11:44.179 --> 00:11:45.960
 compared to

00:11:45.960 --> 00:11:47.460
 the norm,

00:11:47.820 --> 00:11:48.320
 compared to

00:11:48.320 --> 00:11:49.120
 everyone else

00:11:49.120 --> 00:11:49.659
 around you.

00:11:51.000 --> 00:11:51.559
 Maybe that's why

00:11:51.559 --> 00:11:52.259
 you play sports

00:11:52.259 --> 00:11:53.220
 or play music

00:11:53.220 --> 00:11:54.200
 or exercise

00:11:54.200 --> 00:11:54.860
 or diet

00:11:54.860 --> 00:11:56.139
 or all kinds

00:11:56.139 --> 00:11:56.679
 of things.

00:11:58.100 --> 00:11:59.019
 We want to

00:11:59.019 --> 00:11:59.899
 feel better

00:11:59.899 --> 00:12:00.759
 about ourselves

00:12:00.759 --> 00:12:01.879
 because

00:12:01.879 --> 00:12:03.919
 we pursue

00:12:03.919 --> 00:12:04.360
 some kind

00:12:04.360 --> 00:12:04.840
 of greatness

00:12:04.840 --> 00:12:06.120
 and we define

00:12:06.120 --> 00:12:06.620
 that greatness

00:12:06.620 --> 00:12:07.240
 in comparison

00:12:07.240 --> 00:12:07.840
 to others.

00:12:09.240 --> 00:12:09.940
 Now maybe you feel

00:12:09.940 --> 00:12:10.680
 satisfied because

00:12:10.680 --> 00:12:11.259
 you've achieved

00:12:11.259 --> 00:12:12.040
 a certain level

00:12:12.040 --> 00:12:12.700
 of excellence

00:12:12.700 --> 00:12:14.780
 and you feel

00:12:14.780 --> 00:12:16.899
 gratified by that.

00:12:17.940 --> 00:12:18.620
 Maybe you feel

00:12:18.620 --> 00:12:19.080
 discouraged.

00:12:20.259 --> 00:12:20.960
 Maybe every day

00:12:20.960 --> 00:12:21.639
 you wake up

00:12:21.639 --> 00:12:23.160
 and you know

00:12:23.160 --> 00:12:23.960
 you haven't made it

00:12:23.960 --> 00:12:25.759
 and you look around

00:12:25.759 --> 00:12:26.500
 at everybody else

00:12:26.500 --> 00:12:27.240
 and everybody else

00:12:27.240 --> 00:12:28.259
 seems really successful

00:12:28.259 --> 00:12:29.680
 and you feel

00:12:29.680 --> 00:12:30.259
 like a failure.

00:12:30.259 --> 00:12:34.120
 See, both of those

00:12:34.120 --> 00:12:34.879
 ways we're defining

00:12:34.879 --> 00:12:36.019
 ourselves in comparison

00:12:36.019 --> 00:12:37.580
 to other people

00:12:37.580 --> 00:12:38.439
 around us.

00:12:40.700 --> 00:12:41.639
 Now the disciples,

00:12:42.120 --> 00:12:43.580
 they were the

00:12:43.580 --> 00:12:44.220
 ambitious types.

00:12:44.299 --> 00:12:44.860
 They were arguing

00:12:44.860 --> 00:12:45.460
 about who was

00:12:45.460 --> 00:12:45.799
 the greatest.

00:12:47.080 --> 00:12:47.700
 They were ashamed

00:12:47.700 --> 00:12:48.179
 to admit it

00:12:48.179 --> 00:12:49.039
 when Jesus asked them.

00:12:50.039 --> 00:12:50.340
 Jesus says,

00:12:50.379 --> 00:12:50.720
 what were you

00:12:50.720 --> 00:12:51.360
 talking about?

00:12:52.279 --> 00:12:52.779
 They all sort of

00:12:52.779 --> 00:12:53.399
 look at one another.

00:12:54.220 --> 00:12:54.879
 I'm not telling.

00:12:55.139 --> 00:12:55.740
 I'm not telling.

00:12:55.980 --> 00:12:56.600
 I'm not telling.

00:12:58.240 --> 00:12:59.319
 But Jesus knows

00:12:59.320 --> 00:13:01.140
 he had heard them.

00:13:03.340 --> 00:13:03.660
 Right?

00:13:04.840 --> 00:13:05.379
 So he says,

00:13:05.480 --> 00:13:06.260
 if you want to be first,

00:13:06.320 --> 00:13:06.860
 if you want to be

00:13:06.860 --> 00:13:07.440
 the greatest,

00:13:08.740 --> 00:13:09.780
 you have to be the last.

00:13:10.160 --> 00:13:10.540
 You have to be

00:13:10.540 --> 00:13:11.500
 the servant of all.

00:13:12.900 --> 00:13:13.280
 He says,

00:13:13.320 --> 00:13:14.120
 if you want an example

00:13:14.120 --> 00:13:15.100
 of what that looks like,

00:13:15.320 --> 00:13:16.120
 think about what it means

00:13:16.120 --> 00:13:17.620
 to receive a child.

00:13:18.379 --> 00:13:19.580
 Now if you're a parent

00:13:19.580 --> 00:13:21.260
 or if you've been

00:13:21.260 --> 00:13:22.960
 around parents a lot,

00:13:22.960 --> 00:13:23.640
 you know that

00:13:23.640 --> 00:13:24.480
 receiving a child

00:13:24.480 --> 00:13:25.340
 into your life

00:13:25.340 --> 00:13:26.440
 does not make

00:13:26.440 --> 00:13:27.100
 your life easier.

00:13:27.100 --> 00:13:29.680
 It will not help you

00:13:29.680 --> 00:13:30.399
 advance faster

00:13:30.399 --> 00:13:31.500
 along your career path.

00:13:32.060 --> 00:13:33.120
 It will not give you

00:13:33.120 --> 00:13:34.080
 more free time

00:13:34.080 --> 00:13:35.759
 to pursue your hobbies

00:13:35.759 --> 00:13:36.600
 and hang out

00:13:36.600 --> 00:13:37.379
 with your friends.

00:13:37.800 --> 00:13:39.240
 A child will slow you down

00:13:39.240 --> 00:13:40.720
 and interrupt your plans

00:13:40.720 --> 00:13:41.860
 and make your life a mess.

00:13:42.879 --> 00:13:44.320
 And make your house a mess.

00:13:46.759 --> 00:13:48.200
 And make your sleep patterns

00:13:48.200 --> 00:13:48.680
 a mess.

00:13:49.220 --> 00:13:50.000
 There's no such thing

00:13:50.000 --> 00:13:50.779
 as sleeping peacefully

00:13:50.779 --> 00:13:51.379
 through the night

00:13:51.379 --> 00:13:52.040
 with a baby

00:13:52.040 --> 00:13:53.379
 in your house.

00:13:53.379 --> 00:13:54.379
 Or sleeping in

00:13:54.379 --> 00:13:55.440
 on a Saturday morning

00:13:55.440 --> 00:13:57.400
 with toddlers.

00:13:59.480 --> 00:14:00.080
 Right?

00:14:00.140 --> 00:14:00.780
 There's no such thing

00:14:00.780 --> 00:14:01.560
 as a quiet,

00:14:01.740 --> 00:14:02.440
 leisurely dinner.

00:14:04.760 --> 00:14:05.820
 When you receive

00:14:05.820 --> 00:14:07.140
 a child into your family,

00:14:08.140 --> 00:14:09.580
 whether by birth

00:14:09.580 --> 00:14:10.200
 or adoption,

00:14:11.160 --> 00:14:12.040
 your life isn't

00:14:12.040 --> 00:14:13.560
 your own anymore.

00:14:15.180 --> 00:14:16.400
 It's not just

00:14:16.400 --> 00:14:18.560
 you and your spouse.

00:14:19.120 --> 00:14:19.640
 Right?

00:14:20.480 --> 00:14:21.700
 It's not just you.

00:14:22.240 --> 00:14:23.420
 If your kid gets sick,

00:14:23.419 --> 00:14:25.000
 you have to take care of them.

00:14:26.299 --> 00:14:27.039
 And half the time

00:14:27.039 --> 00:14:27.759
 you get sick too

00:14:27.759 --> 00:14:28.579
 because you're around them

00:14:28.579 --> 00:14:29.059
 so much.

00:14:30.099 --> 00:14:30.740
 Every winter

00:14:30.740 --> 00:14:32.059
 you get sick a lot more

00:14:32.059 --> 00:14:32.659
 than you used to.

00:14:33.779 --> 00:14:34.079
 Right?

00:14:34.099 --> 00:14:34.959
 If your kid grows up,

00:14:35.000 --> 00:14:35.699
 if they need clothes,

00:14:35.779 --> 00:14:36.699
 if they need school supplies,

00:14:37.240 --> 00:14:38.039
 I could go on and on.

00:14:38.099 --> 00:14:38.219
 Right?

00:14:38.279 --> 00:14:39.039
 Children are helpless

00:14:39.039 --> 00:14:39.879
 and needy

00:14:39.879 --> 00:14:40.819
 and they make a mess

00:14:40.819 --> 00:14:41.479
 all the time.

00:14:44.039 --> 00:14:44.919
 And Jesus says

00:14:44.919 --> 00:14:45.679
 true greatness

00:14:45.679 --> 00:14:46.439
 looks like

00:14:46.439 --> 00:14:47.259
 receiving someone

00:14:47.259 --> 00:14:48.139
 into your life

00:14:48.139 --> 00:14:49.199
 who's helpless

00:14:49.199 --> 00:14:50.259
 and needy

00:14:50.259 --> 00:14:51.059
 and makes a mess

00:14:51.059 --> 00:14:51.739
 all the time.

00:14:53.619 --> 00:14:54.359
 And not just

00:14:54.359 --> 00:14:54.879
 serving them

00:14:54.879 --> 00:14:55.579
 grudgingly

00:14:55.579 --> 00:14:56.419
 from a distance,

00:14:57.419 --> 00:14:59.779
 but welcoming them.

00:15:00.339 --> 00:15:00.959
 That's what that word

00:15:00.959 --> 00:15:01.579
 receives means.

00:15:01.639 --> 00:15:02.299
 To welcome them,

00:15:02.359 --> 00:15:03.219
 to embrace them

00:15:03.219 --> 00:15:04.500
 self-sacrificially.

00:15:05.319 --> 00:15:06.379
 To love them.

00:15:09.859 --> 00:15:10.500
 Now maybe,

00:15:10.619 --> 00:15:10.839
 you know,

00:15:11.059 --> 00:15:13.119
 this could look like

00:15:13.119 --> 00:15:14.500
 if you're married,

00:15:14.799 --> 00:15:15.739
 having a child.

00:15:16.579 --> 00:15:17.339
 Or if you have a child

00:15:17.340 --> 00:15:18.780
 seeking to be

00:15:18.780 --> 00:15:20.220
 the parent,

00:15:20.360 --> 00:15:20.660
 as much,

00:15:20.920 --> 00:15:22.500
 as involved in your life,

00:15:22.700 --> 00:15:23.720
 in their life as you can.

00:15:25.060 --> 00:15:26.120
 And caring for them.

00:15:27.280 --> 00:15:28.460
 And seeking to love them.

00:15:28.820 --> 00:15:29.920
 And making the sacrifices

00:15:29.920 --> 00:15:30.980
 necessary

00:15:30.980 --> 00:15:32.740
 in whatever situation

00:15:32.740 --> 00:15:33.240
 you're in

00:15:33.240 --> 00:15:35.120
 to seek to raise them

00:15:35.120 --> 00:15:36.320
 as well as you can.

00:15:37.100 --> 00:15:38.240
 Even if it holds you back

00:15:38.240 --> 00:15:38.860
 in other ways.

00:15:39.620 --> 00:15:40.480
 Or if you're single,

00:15:41.019 --> 00:15:42.200
 or if you're not at a point

00:15:42.200 --> 00:15:43.060
 where you're having children,

00:15:43.740 --> 00:15:44.500
 it might mean

00:15:44.500 --> 00:15:45.660
 taking someone else

00:15:45.659 --> 00:15:46.319
 into your home

00:15:46.319 --> 00:15:48.179
 who needs a place to stay.

00:15:48.279 --> 00:15:49.579
 Or meeting up with someone

00:15:49.579 --> 00:15:50.259
 once a week

00:15:50.259 --> 00:15:52.120
 who needs help.

00:15:54.219 --> 00:15:54.919
 It could look

00:15:54.919 --> 00:15:55.879
 all different ways.

00:15:57.819 --> 00:15:58.179
 But Jesus,

00:15:58.480 --> 00:16:00.459
 but when you think about it,

00:16:00.559 --> 00:16:01.379
 this is why

00:16:01.379 --> 00:16:02.980
 Jesus came into the world.

00:16:04.199 --> 00:16:04.519
 He says,

00:16:04.639 --> 00:16:05.600
 I came to be

00:16:05.600 --> 00:16:06.879
 the servant of all.

00:16:07.539 --> 00:16:09.419
 I came to receive you

00:16:09.419 --> 00:16:12.079
 as my children.

00:16:12.519 --> 00:16:14.279
 As my brothers and sisters.

00:16:14.279 --> 00:16:15.740
 As children of God the Father.

00:16:17.639 --> 00:16:18.679
 Jesus was the greatest,

00:16:18.839 --> 00:16:19.600
 but he didn't come

00:16:19.600 --> 00:16:20.379
 into the world

00:16:20.379 --> 00:16:21.519
 to gain greatness

00:16:21.519 --> 00:16:23.019
 in comparison to others.

00:16:23.100 --> 00:16:24.480
 He came to humble himself

00:16:24.480 --> 00:16:25.279
 to the point of death

00:16:25.279 --> 00:16:26.399
 on a cross as a servant.

00:16:26.639 --> 00:16:27.980
 So that he could welcome us

00:16:27.980 --> 00:16:28.980
 into his family.

00:16:29.480 --> 00:16:30.539
 I mean, think of it this way.

00:16:32.120 --> 00:16:33.699
 Jesus had the Father

00:16:33.699 --> 00:16:35.079
 and the Holy Spirit

00:16:35.079 --> 00:16:36.399
 from all eternity.

00:16:37.720 --> 00:16:38.759
 He was the Son.

00:16:39.839 --> 00:16:41.079
 He had the perfect family.

00:16:41.699 --> 00:16:42.220
 If you want to think

00:16:42.220 --> 00:16:43.060
 about it that way,

00:16:44.320 --> 00:16:45.800
 nothing ever came between

00:16:45.800 --> 00:16:46.680
 the Father,

00:16:47.000 --> 00:16:47.460
 the Son,

00:16:47.580 --> 00:16:48.540
 and the Holy Spirit.

00:16:49.180 --> 00:16:49.960
 They were united

00:16:49.960 --> 00:16:50.860
 in perfect love.

00:16:50.940 --> 00:16:51.940
 They perfectly understood

00:16:51.940 --> 00:16:52.440
 one another.

00:16:52.600 --> 00:16:54.139
 They carried out their plans

00:16:54.139 --> 00:16:55.100
 in perfect harmony.

00:16:55.680 --> 00:16:56.360
 They ruled over

00:16:56.360 --> 00:16:57.340
 the whole universe.

00:16:57.980 --> 00:16:59.019
 Unlimited in power

00:16:59.019 --> 00:16:59.600
 and glory.

00:17:00.160 --> 00:17:01.100
 They were completely

00:17:01.100 --> 00:17:02.320
 satisfied in one another.

00:17:02.399 --> 00:17:03.340
 They didn't need anybody

00:17:03.340 --> 00:17:04.180
 outside of them.

00:17:04.740 --> 00:17:05.620
 They had everything

00:17:05.620 --> 00:17:06.680
 that they could ever desire.

00:17:06.799 --> 00:17:07.539
 All the glory

00:17:07.539 --> 00:17:09.420
 was contained in them.

00:17:09.420 --> 00:17:12.120
 But for some

00:17:12.120 --> 00:17:13.380
 unfathomable reason

00:17:13.380 --> 00:17:16.519
 that I still don't understand,

00:17:17.960 --> 00:17:18.539
 the Father,

00:17:19.000 --> 00:17:19.279
 Son,

00:17:19.380 --> 00:17:20.220
 and Holy Spirit

00:17:20.220 --> 00:17:22.940
 chose to create

00:17:22.940 --> 00:17:23.960
 beings

00:17:23.960 --> 00:17:25.100
 outside themselves.

00:17:26.380 --> 00:17:27.220
 And then when

00:17:27.220 --> 00:17:28.380
 they had created us,

00:17:29.279 --> 00:17:31.460
 they saw us.

00:17:32.800 --> 00:17:33.880
 They saw the human race

00:17:33.880 --> 00:17:35.940
 after we had rebelled

00:17:35.940 --> 00:17:37.039
 against God.

00:17:39.580 --> 00:17:40.019
 Creatures,

00:17:40.880 --> 00:17:41.140
 right?

00:17:41.660 --> 00:17:42.240
 What do you see

00:17:42.240 --> 00:17:42.920
 when you look around

00:17:42.920 --> 00:17:44.000
 at the human race?

00:17:44.340 --> 00:17:45.400
 Creatures who are not only

00:17:45.400 --> 00:17:46.259
 weak and helpless,

00:17:47.039 --> 00:17:48.299
 but also rebellious

00:17:48.299 --> 00:17:49.460
 and proud

00:17:49.460 --> 00:17:50.660
 and jealous

00:17:50.660 --> 00:17:51.960
 and divisive.

00:17:54.480 --> 00:17:55.480
 Compared to God,

00:17:56.200 --> 00:17:57.539
 we have nothing to add

00:17:57.539 --> 00:17:58.400
 to Him.

00:17:59.759 --> 00:18:00.720
 We don't bring Him

00:18:00.720 --> 00:18:01.320
 anything that He

00:18:01.320 --> 00:18:01.980
 didn't have already.

00:18:01.980 --> 00:18:04.279
 We don't add anything

00:18:04.279 --> 00:18:05.039
 to His life,

00:18:05.200 --> 00:18:05.980
 to His glory,

00:18:06.299 --> 00:18:07.460
 to His satisfaction.

00:18:08.860 --> 00:18:09.680
 But the message

00:18:09.680 --> 00:18:10.200
 of the Bible

00:18:10.200 --> 00:18:10.980
 is that the Father

00:18:10.980 --> 00:18:11.579
 and the Son

00:18:11.579 --> 00:18:12.400
 and the Holy Spirit,

00:18:12.599 --> 00:18:13.220
 God Himself

00:18:13.220 --> 00:18:13.960
 chose

00:18:13.960 --> 00:18:15.799
 to reach out to us

00:18:15.799 --> 00:18:16.400
 and bring us

00:18:16.400 --> 00:18:16.799
 into

00:18:16.799 --> 00:18:19.360
 His fellowship.

00:18:20.720 --> 00:18:21.960
 And that Jesus Christ,

00:18:22.319 --> 00:18:23.680
 the eternal Son of God,

00:18:24.420 --> 00:18:24.620
 said,

00:18:24.880 --> 00:18:25.880
 I am going to share

00:18:25.880 --> 00:18:27.180
 my glory

00:18:27.180 --> 00:18:29.019
 and my righteousness

00:18:29.019 --> 00:18:31.220
 and my status

00:18:31.220 --> 00:18:32.639
 and my honor

00:18:32.639 --> 00:18:34.240
 with these people

00:18:34.240 --> 00:18:36.559
 so that they too

00:18:36.559 --> 00:18:37.180
 can be called

00:18:37.180 --> 00:18:37.920
 sons and daughters

00:18:37.920 --> 00:18:38.460
 of God.

00:18:39.000 --> 00:18:39.519
 And I'll pay

00:18:39.519 --> 00:18:40.299
 whatever price

00:18:40.299 --> 00:18:40.940
 it takes

00:18:40.940 --> 00:18:42.480
 to bring them in

00:18:42.480 --> 00:18:44.599
 and adopt them

00:18:44.599 --> 00:18:45.720
 and keep them

00:18:45.720 --> 00:18:46.220
 all the way

00:18:46.220 --> 00:18:46.839
 to the end,

00:18:47.400 --> 00:18:48.299
 even if that price

00:18:48.299 --> 00:18:48.839
 is me

00:18:48.839 --> 00:18:50.900
 being rejected

00:18:50.900 --> 00:18:51.759
 and killed by them.

00:18:54.559 --> 00:18:55.079
 You see,

00:18:55.139 --> 00:18:55.720
 that's why

00:18:55.720 --> 00:18:57.519
 Jesus had to come

00:18:57.519 --> 00:18:58.400
 and suffer and die.

00:18:59.019 --> 00:19:01.559
 is to pay the price

00:19:01.559 --> 00:19:02.819
 to bring us home

00:19:02.819 --> 00:19:03.879
 with Him.

00:19:06.779 --> 00:19:07.299
 You see,

00:19:07.359 --> 00:19:08.139
 Jesus is the greatest,

00:19:08.299 --> 00:19:08.879
 but He displayed

00:19:08.879 --> 00:19:09.420
 His greatness

00:19:09.420 --> 00:19:10.799
 by becoming

00:19:10.799 --> 00:19:11.700
 the last of all

00:19:11.700 --> 00:19:12.480
 and the servant of all,

00:19:12.539 --> 00:19:13.139
 by receiving

00:19:13.139 --> 00:19:14.500
 and welcoming us

00:19:14.500 --> 00:19:16.180
 when we had nothing

00:19:16.180 --> 00:19:16.940
 to offer Him

00:19:16.940 --> 00:19:20.279
 at great cost

00:19:20.279 --> 00:19:20.720
 to Himself,

00:19:20.819 --> 00:19:21.619
 at a great sacrifice

00:19:21.619 --> 00:19:22.220
 to Himself.

00:19:23.160 --> 00:19:23.680
 But He did it

00:19:23.680 --> 00:19:24.079
 with great,

00:19:24.559 --> 00:19:25.859
 for He considered

00:19:25.859 --> 00:19:26.400
 it a joy

00:19:26.400 --> 00:19:29.700
 to receive us.

00:19:31.340 --> 00:19:32.140
 So Jesus says,

00:19:32.259 --> 00:19:32.700
 instead of seeking

00:19:32.700 --> 00:19:33.540
 to be the greatest,

00:19:34.019 --> 00:19:34.960
 if you follow Me,

00:19:35.680 --> 00:19:36.660
 seek to love people

00:19:36.660 --> 00:19:37.800
 who are the least,

00:19:39.080 --> 00:19:39.960
 since I've loved you

00:19:39.960 --> 00:19:40.780
 and welcomed you.

00:19:41.940 --> 00:19:43.140
 So that's the first contrast.

00:19:44.140 --> 00:19:44.980
 The second one

00:19:44.980 --> 00:19:46.620
 is in verse 38

00:19:46.620 --> 00:19:47.200
 through 41.

00:19:47.200 --> 00:19:50.759
 And I'd summarize it

00:19:50.759 --> 00:19:51.140
 this way.

00:19:51.259 --> 00:19:52.220
 Instead of assuming

00:19:52.220 --> 00:19:53.180
 that God's kingdom

00:19:53.180 --> 00:19:54.180
 is centered around

00:19:54.180 --> 00:19:55.200
 us,

00:19:55.819 --> 00:19:57.059
 we seek to encourage

00:19:57.059 --> 00:19:57.920
 anyone else

00:19:57.920 --> 00:19:58.460
 who is centered

00:19:58.460 --> 00:19:59.660
 around Jesus.

00:20:00.660 --> 00:20:01.580
 So John says,

00:20:01.660 --> 00:20:01.920
 Teacher,

00:20:02.500 --> 00:20:03.880
 we saw someone

00:20:03.880 --> 00:20:05.420
 casting out demons

00:20:05.420 --> 00:20:06.340
 in your name

00:20:06.340 --> 00:20:07.660
 and we tried

00:20:07.660 --> 00:20:08.480
 to stop him

00:20:08.480 --> 00:20:09.920
 because he wasn't

00:20:09.920 --> 00:20:10.640
 following us.

00:20:10.700 --> 00:20:10.860
 Now,

00:20:11.019 --> 00:20:11.680
 there are several

00:20:11.680 --> 00:20:12.640
 ironic things

00:20:12.640 --> 00:20:13.380
 about this statement.

00:20:13.380 --> 00:20:13.940
 First,

00:20:14.800 --> 00:20:15.380
 if you were here

00:20:15.380 --> 00:20:16.140
 last week,

00:20:17.100 --> 00:20:18.220
 or if you look

00:20:18.220 --> 00:20:18.940
 in verse 14

00:20:18.940 --> 00:20:19.440
 through 29

00:20:19.440 --> 00:20:20.040
 of this chapter,

00:20:20.160 --> 00:20:20.800
 Jesus' disciples

00:20:20.800 --> 00:20:21.740
 just failed

00:20:21.740 --> 00:20:23.060
 to cast out a demon.

00:20:24.260 --> 00:20:24.780
 So,

00:20:24.940 --> 00:20:25.580
 they're trying

00:20:25.580 --> 00:20:26.940
 to stop someone else

00:20:26.940 --> 00:20:28.000
 from doing

00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:28.900
 what they just

00:20:28.900 --> 00:20:29.840
 failed to do.

00:20:31.640 --> 00:20:32.180
 Second,

00:20:32.700 --> 00:20:34.140
 they want these people

00:20:34.140 --> 00:20:34.900
 who are doing

00:20:34.900 --> 00:20:35.800
 what they can't

00:20:35.800 --> 00:20:36.780
 to follow them

00:20:36.780 --> 00:20:37.820
 and get behind them.

00:20:39.120 --> 00:20:39.680
 Third,

00:20:39.840 --> 00:20:40.200
 it says,

00:20:40.320 --> 00:20:41.460
 we tried to stop him,

00:20:41.600 --> 00:20:42.320
 which implies

00:20:42.319 --> 00:20:43.000
 we tried

00:20:43.000 --> 00:20:43.819
 and we failed.

00:20:46.879 --> 00:20:47.839
 They weren't able

00:20:47.839 --> 00:20:48.539
 to stop him

00:20:48.539 --> 00:20:48.939
 even though

00:20:48.939 --> 00:20:49.619
 they tried.

00:20:51.460 --> 00:20:52.159
 When you think

00:20:52.159 --> 00:20:52.359
 of it,

00:20:52.379 --> 00:20:52.960
 this is a very

00:20:52.960 --> 00:20:53.859
 foolish statement.

00:20:57.879 --> 00:20:58.279
 Now,

00:20:58.519 --> 00:20:59.419
 why did they say,

00:20:59.559 --> 00:21:00.220
 why did John say

00:21:00.220 --> 00:21:01.220
 something so foolish?

00:21:01.339 --> 00:21:02.220
 Why do we say things

00:21:02.220 --> 00:21:02.799
 that are sometimes

00:21:02.799 --> 00:21:03.359
 very foolish?

00:21:03.720 --> 00:21:04.679
 The problem was,

00:21:05.059 --> 00:21:06.099
 the disciples saw

00:21:06.099 --> 00:21:07.179
 doing mighty works

00:21:07.179 --> 00:21:08.019
 in Jesus' name

00:21:08.019 --> 00:21:09.179
 as a mark

00:21:09.179 --> 00:21:10.000
 of their own greatness.

00:21:10.720 --> 00:21:11.679
 And they didn't want

00:21:11.680 --> 00:21:12.660
 to share their greatness

00:21:12.660 --> 00:21:14.060
 with anybody else.

00:21:15.180 --> 00:21:15.759
 They thought

00:21:15.759 --> 00:21:16.860
 the kingdom of God

00:21:16.860 --> 00:21:18.960
 revolves around us.

00:21:20.480 --> 00:21:21.480
 And as a result,

00:21:22.759 --> 00:21:23.259
 they ended up

00:21:23.259 --> 00:21:24.259
 saying and doing

00:21:24.259 --> 00:21:25.580
 some pretty foolish things.

00:21:26.539 --> 00:21:27.120
 And you know,

00:21:27.160 --> 00:21:27.900
 we can fall into

00:21:27.900 --> 00:21:29.519
 the same trap.

00:21:30.940 --> 00:21:31.980
 Things like envy

00:21:31.980 --> 00:21:33.220
 or jealousy

00:21:33.220 --> 00:21:33.900
 or pride

00:21:33.900 --> 00:21:34.860
 or divisiveness

00:21:34.860 --> 00:21:36.120
 can be just as much

00:21:36.120 --> 00:21:36.640
 of a problem

00:21:36.640 --> 00:21:37.320
 for us.

00:21:39.120 --> 00:21:40.060
 We can fall into

00:21:40.059 --> 00:21:40.759
 the trap of thinking

00:21:40.759 --> 00:21:41.779
 the kingdom of God

00:21:41.779 --> 00:21:43.599
 depends on me

00:21:43.599 --> 00:21:45.079
 or it depends on

00:21:45.079 --> 00:21:46.220
 my church

00:21:46.220 --> 00:21:47.480
 and nobody else.

00:21:49.159 --> 00:21:49.599
 Now,

00:21:49.639 --> 00:21:50.059
 this can be a

00:21:50.059 --> 00:21:50.960
 particular temptation

00:21:50.960 --> 00:21:51.960
 for church leaders

00:21:51.960 --> 00:21:52.940
 and ministry leaders.

00:21:53.059 --> 00:21:53.179
 So,

00:21:53.279 --> 00:21:54.200
 if you're thinking

00:21:54.200 --> 00:21:54.960
 of going into

00:21:54.960 --> 00:21:56.139
 full-time Christian ministry

00:21:56.139 --> 00:21:57.519
 or becoming a leader

00:21:57.519 --> 00:21:58.220
 in the church,

00:21:58.539 --> 00:21:58.980
 beware.

00:22:00.179 --> 00:22:01.259
 Because I can guarantee

00:22:01.259 --> 00:22:01.480
 you,

00:22:01.500 --> 00:22:01.980
 you will face

00:22:01.980 --> 00:22:02.559
 this temptation.

00:22:04.099 --> 00:22:04.899
 Sometimes we want

00:22:04.899 --> 00:22:06.139
 to judge our success

00:22:06.139 --> 00:22:07.179
 by how much

00:22:07.179 --> 00:22:08.039
 our church

00:22:08.039 --> 00:22:09.279
 or our ministry

00:22:09.279 --> 00:22:09.799
 is growing.

00:22:10.700 --> 00:22:11.480
 And we don't think

00:22:11.480 --> 00:22:12.879
 about how are we

00:22:12.879 --> 00:22:13.440
 contributing

00:22:13.440 --> 00:22:14.659
 to the work

00:22:14.659 --> 00:22:15.519
 of God's kingdom

00:22:15.519 --> 00:22:16.659
 more broadly.

00:22:17.940 --> 00:22:18.420
 So,

00:22:18.500 --> 00:22:18.859
 example.

00:22:21.220 --> 00:22:22.059
 You hear through

00:22:22.059 --> 00:22:22.700
 the grapevine

00:22:22.700 --> 00:22:24.039
 that someone is

00:22:24.039 --> 00:22:24.980
 starting a new church

00:22:24.980 --> 00:22:26.180
 in town.

00:22:27.259 --> 00:22:27.759
 What is our,

00:22:28.000 --> 00:22:29.200
 what is the immediate

00:22:29.200 --> 00:22:29.700
 reaction?

00:22:30.799 --> 00:22:31.240
 Suspicion.

00:22:32.139 --> 00:22:32.339
 Right?

00:22:32.420 --> 00:22:33.019
 They must be trying

00:22:33.019 --> 00:22:33.980
 to compete with us.

00:22:34.700 --> 00:22:35.740
 They must not recognize

00:22:35.740 --> 00:22:36.539
 the good ministry

00:22:36.539 --> 00:22:37.700
 that we're already doing.

00:22:38.039 --> 00:22:39.079
 They must be

00:22:39.079 --> 00:22:40.319
 naive and foolish

00:22:40.319 --> 00:22:40.859
 outsiders.

00:22:41.579 --> 00:22:42.460
 Maybe their ministry

00:22:42.460 --> 00:22:43.139
 will fail.

00:22:43.759 --> 00:22:44.639
 Maybe it should fail.

00:22:45.359 --> 00:22:46.039
 They didn't bother

00:22:46.039 --> 00:22:47.139
 to reach out to us,

00:22:47.339 --> 00:22:48.440
 so we shouldn't bother

00:22:48.440 --> 00:22:49.240
 to reach out to them.

00:22:51.319 --> 00:22:52.059
 Or maybe,

00:22:52.279 --> 00:22:53.119
 on the other hand,

00:22:53.200 --> 00:22:54.319
 maybe you're the one

00:22:54.319 --> 00:22:55.480
 wanting to start

00:22:55.480 --> 00:22:56.099
 a new ministry

00:22:56.099 --> 00:22:57.519
 or plant a new church

00:22:57.519 --> 00:22:58.519
 or go to a new area

00:22:58.519 --> 00:22:59.019
 and you think,

00:22:59.279 --> 00:23:00.720
 God is going to use me

00:23:00.720 --> 00:23:02.500
 to save

00:23:02.500 --> 00:23:03.759
 this city,

00:23:04.420 --> 00:23:05.420
 to change

00:23:05.420 --> 00:23:06.099
 the world.

00:23:06.099 --> 00:23:09.679
 But,

00:23:09.879 --> 00:23:11.159
 do you take the time

00:23:11.159 --> 00:23:12.659
 to do research

00:23:12.659 --> 00:23:13.199
 beforehand

00:23:13.199 --> 00:23:13.619
 to see,

00:23:13.819 --> 00:23:14.240
 what is God

00:23:14.240 --> 00:23:14.980
 already doing?

00:23:16.000 --> 00:23:16.859
 Who are the people

00:23:16.859 --> 00:23:18.039
 that God's already using?

00:23:19.019 --> 00:23:19.919
 What are the ministries

00:23:19.919 --> 00:23:20.379
 or churches

00:23:20.379 --> 00:23:21.299
 that are already here

00:23:21.299 --> 00:23:23.279
 that are teaching

00:23:23.279 --> 00:23:24.219
 the truth about Jesus?

00:23:25.079 --> 00:23:25.980
 How can we

00:23:25.980 --> 00:23:27.099
 work together

00:23:27.099 --> 00:23:28.719
 and come alongside

00:23:28.719 --> 00:23:29.359
 one another?

00:23:30.719 --> 00:23:31.039
 You see,

00:23:31.099 --> 00:23:31.939
 whichever side you're on,

00:23:32.019 --> 00:23:33.539
 we can fall into this trap

00:23:33.539 --> 00:23:34.940
 or on an individual level.

00:23:35.019 --> 00:23:35.720
 Sometimes we can be

00:23:35.720 --> 00:23:37.440
 very focused on

00:23:37.440 --> 00:23:38.839
 how is God

00:23:38.839 --> 00:23:39.659
 using me?

00:23:40.139 --> 00:23:41.000
 I want to use

00:23:41.000 --> 00:23:41.839
 my gifts.

00:23:42.879 --> 00:23:43.259
 We think,

00:23:43.359 --> 00:23:43.960
 if I'm not using

00:23:43.960 --> 00:23:45.019
 all my gifts,

00:23:45.700 --> 00:23:46.539
 then

00:23:46.539 --> 00:23:48.220
 my church

00:23:48.220 --> 00:23:49.359
 must be wrong

00:23:49.359 --> 00:23:50.839
 because they're not

00:23:50.839 --> 00:23:51.700
 using all the gifts

00:23:51.700 --> 00:23:52.899
 that I know I have.

00:23:52.900 --> 00:23:56.940
 But sometimes

00:23:56.940 --> 00:23:57.460
 we need to,

00:23:57.880 --> 00:23:58.580
 sometimes God

00:23:58.580 --> 00:23:59.320
 allows us

00:23:59.320 --> 00:24:00.860
 to take a back seat

00:24:00.860 --> 00:24:02.940
 and play the role

00:24:02.940 --> 00:24:03.560
 of encouraging

00:24:03.560 --> 00:24:04.800
 other people

00:24:04.800 --> 00:24:05.900
 in using their gifts.

00:24:07.019 --> 00:24:07.300
 So,

00:24:07.400 --> 00:24:08.120
 I had an experience

00:24:08.120 --> 00:24:09.280
 after my freshman year

00:24:09.280 --> 00:24:09.800
 in college.

00:24:10.160 --> 00:24:11.519
 I was a camp counselor

00:24:11.519 --> 00:24:12.220
 for one week

00:24:12.220 --> 00:24:13.519
 at a Christian camp

00:24:13.519 --> 00:24:14.519
 on Martha's Vineyard.

00:24:15.360 --> 00:24:16.360
 And I felt like

00:24:16.360 --> 00:24:17.380
 a total misfit

00:24:17.380 --> 00:24:18.940
 the whole week.

00:24:18.940 --> 00:24:21.140
 I felt like

00:24:21.140 --> 00:24:22.400
 all the other counselors,

00:24:22.960 --> 00:24:23.980
 it was my first time there,

00:24:24.039 --> 00:24:25.039
 I'd never been there before,

00:24:25.580 --> 00:24:25.960
 it seemed like

00:24:25.960 --> 00:24:26.680
 all the other counselors

00:24:26.680 --> 00:24:27.720
 had been there before

00:24:27.720 --> 00:24:29.559
 and knew the students

00:24:29.559 --> 00:24:30.279
 who were there

00:24:30.279 --> 00:24:31.080
 and the campers

00:24:31.080 --> 00:24:31.880
 and they were all

00:24:31.880 --> 00:24:32.559
 more talented,

00:24:33.220 --> 00:24:34.160
 all the other counselors

00:24:34.160 --> 00:24:34.980
 seemed more talented,

00:24:35.120 --> 00:24:36.279
 more exciting to be around,

00:24:36.600 --> 00:24:38.019
 had better speaking skills,

00:24:38.400 --> 00:24:39.200
 connected more deeply

00:24:39.200 --> 00:24:39.920
 with the kids,

00:24:40.259 --> 00:24:41.400
 and I felt like

00:24:41.400 --> 00:24:42.660
 God was doing

00:24:42.660 --> 00:24:43.940
 some really neat things

00:24:43.940 --> 00:24:44.880
 in people's lives

00:24:44.880 --> 00:24:45.900
 during that week.

00:24:45.900 --> 00:24:48.440
 but I felt like

00:24:48.440 --> 00:24:49.140
 none of it was going

00:24:49.140 --> 00:24:49.519
 through me.

00:24:50.380 --> 00:24:51.420
 I felt like I was

00:24:51.420 --> 00:24:52.820
 relatively useless.

00:24:54.820 --> 00:24:55.980
 And it forced me to ask,

00:24:56.220 --> 00:24:57.300
 do I compare myself

00:24:57.300 --> 00:24:58.480
 with other people

00:24:58.480 --> 00:24:59.860
 and feel frustrated

00:24:59.860 --> 00:25:02.540
 or can I rejoice

00:25:02.540 --> 00:25:04.360
 in what God's doing

00:25:04.360 --> 00:25:05.700
 through the other people

00:25:05.700 --> 00:25:06.320
 around me

00:25:06.320 --> 00:25:08.000
 and think,

00:25:08.100 --> 00:25:08.580
 how can I

00:25:08.580 --> 00:25:09.900
 encourage them

00:25:09.900 --> 00:25:10.980
 or just

00:25:10.980 --> 00:25:12.060
 pray for them

00:25:12.060 --> 00:25:14.019
 and just

00:25:14.019 --> 00:25:15.480
 get behind them?

00:25:15.900 --> 00:25:19.220
 You see,

00:25:19.300 --> 00:25:19.820
 we often get it

00:25:19.820 --> 00:25:20.380
 upside down.

00:25:20.460 --> 00:25:20.820
 Jesus says,

00:25:20.940 --> 00:25:21.680
 the kingdom of God

00:25:21.680 --> 00:25:23.320
 is not centered around us,

00:25:23.440 --> 00:25:24.660
 it's centered around Jesus.

00:25:25.380 --> 00:25:26.300
 Jesus is the king

00:25:26.300 --> 00:25:28.240
 and his kingdom

00:25:28.240 --> 00:25:29.200
 is bigger than

00:25:29.200 --> 00:25:30.200
 us.

00:25:31.180 --> 00:25:31.980
 It's bigger than

00:25:31.980 --> 00:25:32.980
 any one church

00:25:32.980 --> 00:25:34.100
 or any one

00:25:34.100 --> 00:25:34.900
 denomination

00:25:34.900 --> 00:25:35.580
 or any one

00:25:35.580 --> 00:25:36.360
 network.

00:25:37.360 --> 00:25:37.940
 And so we should

00:25:37.940 --> 00:25:38.720
 never do anything

00:25:38.720 --> 00:25:39.340
 to hinder

00:25:39.340 --> 00:25:40.420
 someone else

00:25:40.420 --> 00:25:41.380
 who's doing ministry

00:25:41.380 --> 00:25:42.300
 in Jesus' name.

00:25:43.440 --> 00:25:44.160
 Now what does that mean

00:25:44.160 --> 00:25:44.759
 in Jesus' name?

00:25:44.800 --> 00:25:45.700
 That doesn't just mean

00:25:45.700 --> 00:25:46.779
 anybody who says

00:25:46.779 --> 00:25:47.559
 the name of Jesus,

00:25:48.200 --> 00:25:49.180
 but in Jesus' name

00:25:49.180 --> 00:25:50.700
 means doing things

00:25:50.700 --> 00:25:52.319
 under the authority

00:25:52.319 --> 00:25:52.900
 of Jesus

00:25:52.900 --> 00:25:54.279
 and according

00:25:54.279 --> 00:25:55.420
 to the word of Jesus

00:25:55.420 --> 00:25:56.660
 and in line

00:25:56.660 --> 00:25:57.340
 with the character

00:25:57.340 --> 00:25:57.860
 of Jesus.

00:25:58.940 --> 00:25:59.960
 So when we see

00:25:59.960 --> 00:26:00.480
 someone

00:26:00.480 --> 00:26:01.900
 serving other people

00:26:01.900 --> 00:26:03.220
 or even doing

00:26:03.220 --> 00:26:04.680
 powerful things

00:26:04.680 --> 00:26:05.400
 that maybe

00:26:05.400 --> 00:26:05.960
 you've never,

00:26:06.160 --> 00:26:06.880
 maybe we've never

00:26:06.880 --> 00:26:07.600
 experienced

00:26:07.600 --> 00:26:08.240
 ourselves,

00:26:09.240 --> 00:26:12.000
 we shouldn't become

00:26:12.000 --> 00:26:12.940
 jealous or envious,

00:26:12.940 --> 00:26:13.140
 Jesus,

00:26:13.940 --> 00:26:14.380
 but we should

00:26:14.380 --> 00:26:15.100
 come behind them

00:26:15.100 --> 00:26:16.940
 as long as it's

00:26:16.940 --> 00:26:17.820
 proclaiming the truth

00:26:17.820 --> 00:26:18.360
 about Jesus

00:26:18.360 --> 00:26:19.160
 and bringing glory

00:26:19.160 --> 00:26:19.779
 to Jesus.

00:26:21.220 --> 00:26:22.259
 Now Jesus tells us

00:26:22.259 --> 00:26:22.900
 in other places

00:26:22.900 --> 00:26:23.980
 that we should

00:26:23.980 --> 00:26:25.059
 exercise discernment

00:26:25.059 --> 00:26:26.940
 because he warns

00:26:26.940 --> 00:26:27.660
 that some people

00:26:27.660 --> 00:26:29.140
 will go around,

00:26:29.400 --> 00:26:30.140
 he says some people

00:26:30.140 --> 00:26:31.019
 are false prophets.

00:26:31.840 --> 00:26:32.539
 In other words,

00:26:32.580 --> 00:26:33.059
 they're preaching

00:26:33.059 --> 00:26:34.400
 a false message

00:26:34.400 --> 00:26:36.480
 or a confused message

00:26:36.480 --> 00:26:37.180
 that doesn't

00:26:37.180 --> 00:26:38.279
 clearly reflect

00:26:38.279 --> 00:26:39.340
 the biblical picture

00:26:39.340 --> 00:26:39.840
 of Jesus.

00:26:39.839 --> 00:26:41.419
 And so Jesus says

00:26:41.419 --> 00:26:42.039
 be careful,

00:26:42.500 --> 00:26:43.199
 be discerning,

00:26:43.759 --> 00:26:44.839
 don't just support

00:26:44.839 --> 00:26:45.859
 anyone and everyone

00:26:45.859 --> 00:26:46.919
 who's a religious

00:26:46.919 --> 00:26:47.439
 teacher.

00:26:48.659 --> 00:26:50.119
 But he says

00:26:50.119 --> 00:26:51.259
 it's not about,

00:26:51.799 --> 00:26:52.459
 in this passage

00:26:52.459 --> 00:26:53.519
 his emphasis is

00:26:53.519 --> 00:26:54.579
 it's not about you.

00:26:54.659 --> 00:26:55.240
 We should rejoice

00:26:55.240 --> 00:26:56.839
 whenever someone else

00:26:56.839 --> 00:26:57.980
 does a mighty work

00:26:57.980 --> 00:26:58.759
 in Jesus' name

00:26:58.759 --> 00:27:00.299
 and to encourage them.

00:27:00.379 --> 00:27:01.099
 Verse 41 says

00:27:01.099 --> 00:27:02.039
 whoever gives you

00:27:02.039 --> 00:27:03.240
 a cup of cold water

00:27:03.240 --> 00:27:04.679
 because you belong

00:27:04.679 --> 00:27:05.339
 to Christ

00:27:05.339 --> 00:27:06.539
 will by no means

00:27:06.539 --> 00:27:07.419
 lose their reward.

00:27:08.500 --> 00:27:08.980
 In other words,

00:27:09.039 --> 00:27:09.599
 doing something

00:27:09.599 --> 00:27:10.379
 as small

00:27:10.379 --> 00:27:11.459
 as bringing someone

00:27:11.459 --> 00:27:12.439
 a glass of water

00:27:12.439 --> 00:27:14.339
 to quench their thirst

00:27:14.339 --> 00:27:17.119
 because they love Jesus

00:27:17.119 --> 00:27:17.799
 and because you want

00:27:17.799 --> 00:27:18.939
 to support them

00:27:18.939 --> 00:27:20.299
 in what they're doing

00:27:20.299 --> 00:27:21.359
 to love others

00:27:21.359 --> 00:27:22.259
 in Jesus' name,

00:27:23.399 --> 00:27:23.799
 Jesus says

00:27:23.799 --> 00:27:24.279
 you won't lose

00:27:24.279 --> 00:27:24.799
 your reward.

00:27:26.299 --> 00:27:27.359
 That's an important

00:27:27.359 --> 00:27:28.539
 ministry in itself.

00:27:31.299 --> 00:27:32.079
 Sometimes God

00:27:32.079 --> 00:27:32.839
 will put you up front

00:27:32.839 --> 00:27:33.919
 and sometimes

00:27:33.919 --> 00:27:34.319
 he'll have you

00:27:34.319 --> 00:27:34.879
 sitting back.

00:27:35.439 --> 00:27:36.079
 And you know what?

00:27:36.599 --> 00:27:37.559
 It's all the same

00:27:37.559 --> 00:27:38.299
 in God's eyes.

00:27:38.299 --> 00:27:40.899
 if you're focused

00:27:40.899 --> 00:27:41.339
 on him.

00:27:45.019 --> 00:27:45.859
 When my wife

00:27:45.859 --> 00:27:46.519
 Jane

00:27:46.519 --> 00:27:47.460
 was in

00:27:47.460 --> 00:27:48.680
 Boston

00:27:48.680 --> 00:27:49.460
 in seminary

00:27:49.460 --> 00:27:50.799
 she went to

00:27:50.799 --> 00:27:51.359
 a little church

00:27:51.359 --> 00:27:51.859
 in Boston

00:27:51.859 --> 00:27:52.779
 called

00:27:52.779 --> 00:27:53.359
 South End

00:27:53.359 --> 00:27:54.159
 Neighborhood Church

00:27:54.159 --> 00:27:55.500
 and it was a

00:27:55.500 --> 00:27:56.399
 it's a really neat

00:27:56.399 --> 00:27:56.680
 church.

00:27:56.759 --> 00:27:57.480
 If you go to Boston

00:27:57.480 --> 00:27:58.740
 if you have a Sunday

00:27:58.740 --> 00:27:59.339
 and you have to visit

00:27:59.339 --> 00:27:59.779
 somewhere

00:27:59.779 --> 00:28:01.079
 it's a neat place

00:28:01.079 --> 00:28:01.419
 to visit.

00:28:01.619 --> 00:28:02.099
 It's been around

00:28:02.099 --> 00:28:03.119
 for about 40 years.

00:28:03.119 --> 00:28:04.599
 it meets in

00:28:04.599 --> 00:28:05.299
 a rented

00:28:05.299 --> 00:28:06.219
 building space

00:28:06.219 --> 00:28:07.299
 that about

00:28:07.299 --> 00:28:07.799
 three other

00:28:07.799 --> 00:28:08.579
 churches use

00:28:08.579 --> 00:28:09.819
 and it's never

00:28:09.819 --> 00:28:10.579
 grown more

00:28:10.579 --> 00:28:11.339
 than 100 people.

00:28:12.119 --> 00:28:12.819
 But it has

00:28:12.819 --> 00:28:13.219
 all kinds

00:28:13.219 --> 00:28:13.819
 of people there.

00:28:14.599 --> 00:28:15.159
 There's homeless

00:28:15.159 --> 00:28:15.639
 people,

00:28:16.079 --> 00:28:16.519
 there's people

00:28:16.519 --> 00:28:17.500
 with drug

00:28:17.500 --> 00:28:17.939
 addictions

00:28:17.939 --> 00:28:18.699
 and recovering

00:28:18.699 --> 00:28:19.119
 from drug

00:28:19.119 --> 00:28:19.479
 addictions,

00:28:19.659 --> 00:28:20.059
 there's Harvard

00:28:20.059 --> 00:28:20.899
 students and MIT

00:28:20.899 --> 00:28:21.439
 students,

00:28:21.599 --> 00:28:22.939
 there's couples

00:28:22.939 --> 00:28:24.079
 and families

00:28:24.079 --> 00:28:24.579
 who have

00:28:24.579 --> 00:28:25.959
 been doing

00:28:25.959 --> 00:28:26.459
 ministry in

00:28:26.459 --> 00:28:26.899
 Boston all

00:28:26.899 --> 00:28:27.419
 their lives.

00:28:27.719 --> 00:28:28.379
 There's the

00:28:28.379 --> 00:28:28.919
 whole range,

00:28:29.039 --> 00:28:29.339
 young,

00:28:29.459 --> 00:28:29.819
 old,

00:28:31.039 --> 00:28:31.799
 any racial

00:28:31.799 --> 00:28:32.259
 group you can

00:28:32.259 --> 00:28:33.440
 think of,

00:28:33.440 --> 00:28:35.399
 rich,

00:28:35.559 --> 00:28:35.799
 poor,

00:28:37.039 --> 00:28:37.680
 but it's

00:28:37.680 --> 00:28:38.980
 never grown

00:28:38.980 --> 00:28:39.240
 to be a

00:28:39.240 --> 00:28:39.579
 large church.

00:28:39.659 --> 00:28:40.099
 But in

00:28:40.099 --> 00:28:41.319
 40 years

00:28:41.319 --> 00:28:42.299
 they have

00:28:42.299 --> 00:28:42.779
 planted

00:28:42.779 --> 00:28:43.779
 six other

00:28:43.779 --> 00:28:44.159
 churches.

00:28:45.599 --> 00:28:46.279
 They've started

00:28:46.279 --> 00:28:46.759
 six other

00:28:46.759 --> 00:28:47.000
 churches.

00:28:47.079 --> 00:28:47.460
 One of them

00:28:47.460 --> 00:28:47.720
 is a

00:28:47.720 --> 00:28:48.220
 Spanish-speaking

00:28:48.220 --> 00:28:48.619
 church that

00:28:48.619 --> 00:28:48.899
 now has

00:28:48.899 --> 00:28:49.339
 several hundred

00:28:49.339 --> 00:28:49.680
 people.

00:28:50.159 --> 00:28:50.579
 So almost

00:28:50.579 --> 00:28:51.059
 all the other

00:28:51.059 --> 00:28:51.539
 churches they've

00:28:51.539 --> 00:28:52.019
 planted are

00:28:52.019 --> 00:28:52.519
 bigger than

00:28:52.519 --> 00:28:52.740
 them.

00:28:53.220 --> 00:28:53.759
 But they've

00:28:53.759 --> 00:28:54.279
 sent people

00:28:54.279 --> 00:28:54.659
 out,

00:28:55.339 --> 00:28:55.619
 they've

00:28:55.619 --> 00:28:56.000
 supported

00:28:56.000 --> 00:28:56.539
 pastors,

00:28:57.599 --> 00:28:58.119
 they've

00:28:58.119 --> 00:28:59.639
 encouraged

00:28:59.639 --> 00:29:00.899
 other people

00:29:00.899 --> 00:29:01.299
 to go into

00:29:01.299 --> 00:29:01.859
 other parts

00:29:01.859 --> 00:29:02.419
 of the city

00:29:02.419 --> 00:29:05.539
 to be

00:29:05.539 --> 00:29:06.500
 doing ministry

00:29:06.500 --> 00:29:06.859
 in Jesus'

00:29:07.019 --> 00:29:07.180
 name.

00:29:09.000 --> 00:29:09.539
 Now their

00:29:09.539 --> 00:29:10.119
 annual church

00:29:10.119 --> 00:29:10.619
 budget is

00:29:10.619 --> 00:29:11.000
 less than

00:29:11.000 --> 00:29:11.319
 a hundred

00:29:11.319 --> 00:29:11.680
 thousand

00:29:11.680 --> 00:29:12.119
 dollars.

00:29:13.399 --> 00:29:13.639
 It's a,

00:29:14.159 --> 00:29:15.059
 it's not

00:29:15.059 --> 00:29:16.599
 a power,

00:29:16.720 --> 00:29:16.980
 you know,

00:29:17.099 --> 00:29:17.899
 if you look

00:29:17.899 --> 00:29:18.319
 up, if you

00:29:18.319 --> 00:29:18.740
 look them up

00:29:18.740 --> 00:29:18.940
 on the

00:29:18.940 --> 00:29:19.200
 website,

00:29:19.299 --> 00:29:19.559
 they have a

00:29:19.559 --> 00:29:20.079
 very simple

00:29:20.079 --> 00:29:20.579
 website,

00:29:20.899 --> 00:29:21.460
 they're not

00:29:21.460 --> 00:29:21.919
 part of any

00:29:21.919 --> 00:29:22.139
 of the

00:29:22.139 --> 00:29:23.000
 flashy networks,

00:29:23.519 --> 00:29:23.919
 you won't

00:29:23.919 --> 00:29:24.220
 see the

00:29:24.220 --> 00:29:24.819
 pastor speaking

00:29:24.819 --> 00:29:25.259
 at a big

00:29:25.259 --> 00:29:26.799
 conference that

00:29:26.799 --> 00:29:27.579
 thousands of

00:29:27.579 --> 00:29:28.240
 people go to,

00:29:28.440 --> 00:29:28.980
 but he's a

00:29:28.980 --> 00:29:30.119
 faithful pastor,

00:29:30.440 --> 00:29:31.220
 and he loves

00:29:31.220 --> 00:29:31.700
 the people,

00:29:31.900 --> 00:29:32.579
 and he teaches

00:29:32.579 --> 00:29:33.019
 them God's

00:29:33.019 --> 00:29:33.380
 word every

00:29:33.380 --> 00:29:34.240
 week, and

00:29:34.240 --> 00:29:34.559
 he spends

00:29:34.559 --> 00:29:35.000
 time in

00:29:35.000 --> 00:29:35.539
 their lives,

00:29:35.880 --> 00:29:36.700
 and God's

00:29:36.700 --> 00:29:37.180
 used him,

00:29:37.380 --> 00:29:37.680
 he's been

00:29:37.680 --> 00:29:38.000
 there for

00:29:38.000 --> 00:29:38.500
 thirty years,

00:29:38.559 --> 00:29:38.900
 he and his

00:29:38.900 --> 00:29:40.299
 wife have

00:29:40.299 --> 00:29:41.059
 ministered

00:29:41.059 --> 00:29:42.759
 together to

00:29:42.759 --> 00:29:43.640
 people in

00:29:43.640 --> 00:29:44.180
 that church,

00:29:44.620 --> 00:29:45.059
 and raised

00:29:45.059 --> 00:29:45.539
 their kids in

00:29:45.539 --> 00:29:46.079
 that church,

00:29:46.799 --> 00:29:47.160
 and it's

00:29:47.160 --> 00:29:47.660
 been hard,

00:29:47.779 --> 00:29:48.440
 but God's

00:29:48.440 --> 00:29:48.940
 used them,

00:29:49.400 --> 00:29:49.839
 because they

00:29:49.839 --> 00:29:50.279
 have this

00:29:50.279 --> 00:29:50.579
 kind of

00:29:50.579 --> 00:29:51.360
 humble attitude,

00:29:52.279 --> 00:29:52.839
 saying we

00:29:52.839 --> 00:29:53.740
 want to be

00:29:53.740 --> 00:29:54.759
 about Jesus,

00:29:55.240 --> 00:29:55.860
 and not about

00:29:55.860 --> 00:29:56.259
 us.

00:29:57.960 --> 00:29:58.660
 So that's the

00:29:58.660 --> 00:29:59.079
 second thing,

00:29:59.200 --> 00:29:59.860
 instead of assuming

00:29:59.860 --> 00:30:00.319
 that God's

00:30:00.319 --> 00:30:00.920
 kingdom is centered

00:30:00.920 --> 00:30:01.640
 around us,

00:30:02.000 --> 00:30:02.279
 seek to

00:30:02.279 --> 00:30:02.980
 encourage anyone

00:30:02.980 --> 00:30:03.840
 else who's

00:30:03.840 --> 00:30:04.340
 centered around

00:30:04.340 --> 00:30:04.980
 Jesus.

00:30:05.640 --> 00:30:06.300
 Third, the

00:30:06.300 --> 00:30:06.880
 third contrast

00:30:06.880 --> 00:30:08.060
 is in verse

00:30:08.060 --> 00:30:08.620
 42 through

00:30:08.620 --> 00:30:09.580
 50, instead

00:30:09.580 --> 00:30:10.060
 of doing

00:30:10.060 --> 00:30:10.740
 whatever feels

00:30:10.740 --> 00:30:11.519
 good to us,

00:30:11.880 --> 00:30:12.279
 we make

00:30:12.279 --> 00:30:13.640
 sacrifices to

00:30:13.640 --> 00:30:14.140
 fight against

00:30:14.140 --> 00:30:14.980
 sin in our

00:30:14.980 --> 00:30:15.380
 lives.

00:30:16.360 --> 00:30:16.740
 Now if you

00:30:16.740 --> 00:30:17.100
 read verse

00:30:17.100 --> 00:30:17.640
 42 through

00:30:17.640 --> 00:30:18.080
 50, it

00:30:18.080 --> 00:30:19.080
 sounds sort

00:30:19.080 --> 00:30:19.560
 of harsh at

00:30:19.560 --> 00:30:21.519
 first, and

00:30:21.519 --> 00:30:21.759
 there are

00:30:21.759 --> 00:30:22.420
 strong words,

00:30:22.740 --> 00:30:23.180
 if your hand

00:30:23.180 --> 00:30:23.800
 causes you to

00:30:23.800 --> 00:30:24.700
 sin, cut it

00:30:24.700 --> 00:30:26.019
 off, if your

00:30:26.019 --> 00:30:26.640
 foot causes you

00:30:26.640 --> 00:30:27.580
 to sin, cut it

00:30:27.580 --> 00:30:28.720
 off, if your

00:30:28.720 --> 00:30:29.320
 eye causes you

00:30:29.320 --> 00:30:30.200
 to sin, cut it

00:30:30.200 --> 00:30:30.559
 off.

00:30:31.240 --> 00:30:31.400
 And you

00:30:31.400 --> 00:30:31.660
 think, what

00:30:31.660 --> 00:30:31.920
 does that

00:30:31.920 --> 00:30:32.220
 mean?

00:30:32.539 --> 00:30:33.319
 Now obviously,

00:30:33.819 --> 00:30:34.400
 Jesus isn't

00:30:34.400 --> 00:30:35.480
 speaking literally,

00:30:36.279 --> 00:30:37.160
 okay, so don't

00:30:37.160 --> 00:30:37.720
 go home and

00:30:37.720 --> 00:30:38.740
 amputate yourself.

00:30:41.039 --> 00:30:41.799
 There's been a

00:30:41.799 --> 00:30:42.500
 couple people in

00:30:42.500 --> 00:30:43.920
 church history who've

00:30:43.920 --> 00:30:45.019
 gone a little

00:30:45.019 --> 00:30:45.940
 overboard on this

00:30:45.940 --> 00:30:46.259
 verse.

00:30:46.920 --> 00:30:47.920
 I won't go into

00:30:47.920 --> 00:30:48.500
 details.

00:30:50.740 --> 00:30:51.539
 But what he's

00:30:51.539 --> 00:30:52.700
 saying here is,

00:30:53.900 --> 00:30:55.600
 kill sin, or

00:30:55.600 --> 00:30:56.200
 sin will be

00:30:56.200 --> 00:30:56.799
 killing you.

00:30:58.539 --> 00:31:00.100
 Sin is like a

00:31:00.100 --> 00:31:02.120
 deadly virus or

00:31:02.120 --> 00:31:04.120
 an infection, and

00:31:04.120 --> 00:31:05.180
 unless you deal

00:31:05.180 --> 00:31:06.920
 with it, it will

00:31:06.920 --> 00:31:09.460
 spread and infect

00:31:09.460 --> 00:31:10.360
 the rest of your

00:31:10.360 --> 00:31:11.259
 body and your

00:31:11.259 --> 00:31:12.740
 relationships, and

00:31:12.740 --> 00:31:13.600
 so deal with it

00:31:13.600 --> 00:31:14.299
 seriously.

00:31:15.900 --> 00:31:16.240
 You know, in

00:31:16.240 --> 00:31:18.319
 order to, just

00:31:18.319 --> 00:31:18.960
 like a doctor,

00:31:19.120 --> 00:31:19.600
 might have to

00:31:19.600 --> 00:31:21.200
 amputate a leg to

00:31:21.200 --> 00:31:23.140
 save a life if you

00:31:23.140 --> 00:31:23.700
 have a terrible

00:31:23.700 --> 00:31:25.200
 infection or

00:31:25.200 --> 00:31:25.980
 gangrene in your

00:31:25.980 --> 00:31:26.279
 leg.

00:31:26.740 --> 00:31:27.259
 And so Jesus is

00:31:27.259 --> 00:31:27.720
 saying it's better

00:31:27.720 --> 00:31:29.000
 to be alive with

00:31:29.000 --> 00:31:31.120
 one leg instead of

00:31:31.120 --> 00:31:31.640
 dead with two.

00:31:33.279 --> 00:31:33.779
 So what might,

00:31:33.920 --> 00:31:34.880
 now what might this

00:31:34.880 --> 00:31:35.340
 look like?

00:31:35.860 --> 00:31:37.279
 Well, some

00:31:37.279 --> 00:31:37.680
 examples.

00:31:38.680 --> 00:31:40.319
 You might need to

00:31:40.319 --> 00:31:41.819
 cut off an

00:31:41.819 --> 00:31:42.640
 unhealthy dating

00:31:42.640 --> 00:31:44.240
 relationship if it's

00:31:44.240 --> 00:31:45.160
 leading you into

00:31:45.160 --> 00:31:46.059
 emotional

00:31:46.059 --> 00:31:47.420
 codependence and

00:31:47.420 --> 00:31:48.240
 sexual compromise.

00:31:49.720 --> 00:31:50.840
 Or you might need

00:31:50.840 --> 00:31:52.200
 to cancel your

00:31:52.200 --> 00:31:53.140
 Facebook account,

00:31:53.140 --> 00:31:54.960
 account, or your

00:31:54.960 --> 00:31:57.160
 internet access if

00:31:57.160 --> 00:31:58.740
 it's, if the web is

00:31:58.740 --> 00:31:59.500
 sucking up all your

00:31:59.500 --> 00:32:02.280
 free time in vain

00:32:02.280 --> 00:32:02.980
 pursuits.

00:32:04.060 --> 00:32:04.900
 You might need to

00:32:04.900 --> 00:32:05.560
 cut up your credit

00:32:05.560 --> 00:32:06.600
 cards and throw them

00:32:06.600 --> 00:32:07.240
 away if you're

00:32:07.240 --> 00:32:08.080
 spending money

00:32:08.080 --> 00:32:09.840
 unwisely and getting

00:32:09.840 --> 00:32:10.600
 yourself into a

00:32:10.600 --> 00:32:11.160
 hole of debt.

00:32:12.480 --> 00:32:13.320
 You might need to

00:32:13.320 --> 00:32:14.340
 go to someone else

00:32:14.340 --> 00:32:15.700
 and say, I'm

00:32:15.700 --> 00:32:16.720
 struggling in this

00:32:16.720 --> 00:32:18.340
 area, I need you to

00:32:18.340 --> 00:32:19.140
 help keep me

00:32:19.140 --> 00:32:20.100
 accountable because I

00:32:20.100 --> 00:32:21.020
 can't fight this

00:32:21.020 --> 00:32:21.860
 battle on my own.

00:32:21.859 --> 00:32:23.559
 Now all those

00:32:23.559 --> 00:32:25.199
 things are painful

00:32:25.199 --> 00:32:26.139
 to do at first.

00:32:27.519 --> 00:32:28.579
 But in the long

00:32:28.579 --> 00:32:30.199
 run, it's the only

00:32:30.199 --> 00:32:32.059
 way that you can be

00:32:32.059 --> 00:32:33.240
 truly free.

00:32:35.000 --> 00:32:37.079
 The alternative is

00:32:37.079 --> 00:32:37.759
 far worse.

00:32:40.459 --> 00:32:42.459
 It's painful now or

00:32:42.459 --> 00:32:43.459
 it's much more

00:32:43.459 --> 00:32:44.539
 painful later.

00:32:44.539 --> 00:32:46.799
 You know, Jesus' words

00:32:46.799 --> 00:32:48.579
 may sound harsh, but

00:32:48.579 --> 00:32:50.579
 he says, sin is

00:32:50.579 --> 00:32:51.839
 destined for hell.

00:32:53.099 --> 00:32:54.019
 Now the word Jesus

00:32:54.019 --> 00:32:55.559
 used for hell was

00:32:55.559 --> 00:32:56.039
 Gehenna.

00:32:56.779 --> 00:32:57.680
 And that was the name

00:32:57.680 --> 00:32:58.700
 of the garbage dump

00:32:58.700 --> 00:32:59.899
 outside the city of

00:32:59.899 --> 00:33:00.339
 Jerusalem.

00:33:01.139 --> 00:33:01.980
 It was a place where

00:33:01.980 --> 00:33:03.440
 the fire was

00:33:03.440 --> 00:33:04.319
 perpetually burning,

00:33:05.159 --> 00:33:06.420
 where worms and

00:33:06.420 --> 00:33:07.859
 maggots fed on

00:33:07.859 --> 00:33:08.920
 decaying flesh, and

00:33:08.920 --> 00:33:10.319
 where the stench was

00:33:10.319 --> 00:33:10.700
 horrible.

00:33:10.700 --> 00:33:12.080
 It's not a

00:33:12.080 --> 00:33:12.779
 pleasant image.

00:33:13.460 --> 00:33:14.240
 But Jesus is saying

00:33:14.240 --> 00:33:15.580
 this is a reality to

00:33:15.580 --> 00:33:16.640
 be avoided at all

00:33:16.640 --> 00:33:17.420
 costs.

00:33:17.960 --> 00:33:19.140
 It's much better to

00:33:19.140 --> 00:33:20.160
 suffer terribly in

00:33:20.160 --> 00:33:22.900
 this life than have a

00:33:22.900 --> 00:33:23.799
 pain-free life on

00:33:23.799 --> 00:33:25.120
 earth and suffer for

00:33:25.120 --> 00:33:25.799
 all eternity.

00:33:29.319 --> 00:33:31.059
 And Jesus spoke more

00:33:31.059 --> 00:33:31.740
 than any other

00:33:31.740 --> 00:33:32.700
 biblical author about

00:33:33.440 --> 00:33:33.720
 hell.

00:33:35.160 --> 00:33:36.340
 It's a hard teaching.

00:33:37.480 --> 00:33:38.140
 You may have

00:33:38.140 --> 00:33:39.000
 questions about it.

00:33:39.000 --> 00:33:39.980
 We may need to

00:33:39.980 --> 00:33:40.759
 grapple with that.

00:33:41.660 --> 00:33:42.920
 But Jesus said these

00:33:42.920 --> 00:33:43.880
 things very seriously.

00:33:44.279 --> 00:33:45.299
 And he said them

00:33:45.299 --> 00:33:46.960
 because he doesn't

00:33:46.960 --> 00:33:48.940
 want this to happen

00:33:48.940 --> 00:33:49.539
 to us.

00:33:51.700 --> 00:33:53.140
 And Jesus also said

00:33:53.140 --> 00:33:54.480
 this because he knew

00:33:54.480 --> 00:33:55.259
 better than anyone

00:33:55.259 --> 00:33:55.960
 else what he was

00:33:55.960 --> 00:33:56.640
 talking about.

00:33:58.200 --> 00:33:59.000
 Because you know

00:33:59.000 --> 00:33:59.119
 what?

00:33:59.140 --> 00:33:59.940
 When Jesus came to

00:33:59.940 --> 00:34:01.559
 earth, he didn't

00:34:01.559 --> 00:34:03.099
 just come to suffer

00:34:03.099 --> 00:34:04.880
 by having his leg

00:34:04.880 --> 00:34:06.839
 amputated or having

00:34:06.839 --> 00:34:07.759
 his hand cut off.

00:34:07.759 --> 00:34:09.820
 He didn't just have

00:34:09.820 --> 00:34:10.760
 his eye gouged out.

00:34:11.579 --> 00:34:12.840
 He had his hands and

00:34:12.840 --> 00:34:14.360
 feet nailed to a

00:34:14.360 --> 00:34:14.739
 cross.

00:34:15.719 --> 00:34:17.179
 And his head was

00:34:17.179 --> 00:34:18.400
 bleeding from a

00:34:18.400 --> 00:34:19.380
 crown of thorns

00:34:19.380 --> 00:34:20.800
 pressed into his head.

00:34:20.860 --> 00:34:22.119
 His back was

00:34:22.119 --> 00:34:23.280
 scourged by a whip

00:34:23.280 --> 00:34:25.039
 containing pieces of

00:34:25.039 --> 00:34:25.920
 bone and metal.

00:34:26.760 --> 00:34:27.679
 He was mocked by the

00:34:27.679 --> 00:34:29.179
 crowds and abandoned

00:34:29.179 --> 00:34:30.059
 by his friends.

00:34:30.460 --> 00:34:31.579
 And on the cross he

00:34:31.579 --> 00:34:32.159
 cried out,

00:34:32.159 --> 00:34:34.579
 my God, my God,

00:34:35.119 --> 00:34:37.219
 why have you forsaken

00:34:37.219 --> 00:34:37.940
 me?

00:34:40.699 --> 00:34:41.699
 When Jesus was

00:34:41.699 --> 00:34:42.659
 hanging on the cross,

00:34:43.039 --> 00:34:45.019
 he literally went

00:34:45.019 --> 00:34:46.199
 through hell

00:34:46.199 --> 00:34:49.679
 to save us from it.

00:34:51.440 --> 00:34:52.500
 When he was on the

00:34:52.500 --> 00:34:53.159
 cross, he offered

00:34:53.159 --> 00:34:54.239
 himself as a sacrifice

00:34:54.239 --> 00:34:55.819
 on our behalf

00:34:55.819 --> 00:34:57.239
 so that we

00:34:57.239 --> 00:34:58.420
 might be

00:34:58.420 --> 00:34:59.159
 cleansed

00:34:59.159 --> 00:34:59.819
 cleansed

00:34:59.819 --> 00:35:01.159
 and forgiven

00:35:01.159 --> 00:35:02.559
 and made whole

00:35:02.559 --> 00:35:04.019
 and made complete

00:35:04.019 --> 00:35:04.399
 in him.

00:35:07.039 --> 00:35:08.079
 You see, Jesus

00:35:08.079 --> 00:35:09.879
 knows what he's

00:35:09.879 --> 00:35:10.559
 talking about

00:35:10.559 --> 00:35:12.139
 when he speaks

00:35:12.139 --> 00:35:12.759
 about hell

00:35:12.759 --> 00:35:14.799
 because he actually

00:35:14.799 --> 00:35:15.539
 went through that.

00:35:16.679 --> 00:35:17.879
 He went through that

00:35:17.879 --> 00:35:18.940
 to pay the penalty

00:35:18.940 --> 00:35:20.619
 that we could not

00:35:20.619 --> 00:35:20.899
 pay.

00:35:22.159 --> 00:35:23.339
 He went through that

00:35:23.339 --> 00:35:24.639
 so that we might

00:35:24.639 --> 00:35:26.599
 become part of

00:35:26.599 --> 00:35:27.119
 his family

00:35:27.119 --> 00:35:28.599
 and be with him

00:35:28.599 --> 00:35:28.980
 forever.

00:35:31.579 --> 00:35:32.500
 You see, when that

00:35:32.500 --> 00:35:33.380
 hits home,

00:35:34.859 --> 00:35:35.619
 when we realize

00:35:35.619 --> 00:35:37.420
 that that is

00:35:37.420 --> 00:35:37.920
 the extent,

00:35:38.059 --> 00:35:38.980
 that is how far

00:35:38.980 --> 00:35:39.839
 Jesus has gone

00:35:39.839 --> 00:35:42.239
 to love us

00:35:42.239 --> 00:35:43.619
 and serve us

00:35:43.619 --> 00:35:45.539
 and rescue us

00:35:45.539 --> 00:35:46.420
 and bring us

00:35:46.420 --> 00:35:47.179
 into his family,

00:35:49.779 --> 00:35:50.059
 you see,

00:35:50.099 --> 00:35:50.679
 then we start to

00:35:50.679 --> 00:35:51.179
 look at life

00:35:51.179 --> 00:35:52.019
 in a whole new way

00:35:52.019 --> 00:35:53.819
 and this passage

00:35:53.819 --> 00:35:54.920
 starts to make sense

00:35:54.920 --> 00:35:57.059
 and we realize

00:35:57.059 --> 00:35:57.940
 that when Jesus

00:35:57.940 --> 00:35:58.639
 calls us to

00:35:58.639 --> 00:35:59.139
 sacrifice,

00:35:59.740 --> 00:36:01.300
 it's not because

00:36:01.300 --> 00:36:01.920
 he wants to take

00:36:01.920 --> 00:36:02.820
 away our joy

00:36:02.820 --> 00:36:03.880
 or our happiness

00:36:03.880 --> 00:36:05.000
 but because he

00:36:05.000 --> 00:36:05.900
 wants us to have

00:36:05.900 --> 00:36:08.240
 true and pure

00:36:08.240 --> 00:36:09.119
 and eternal

00:36:09.119 --> 00:36:10.539
 joy and happiness

00:36:10.539 --> 00:36:11.920
 in him.

00:36:14.940 --> 00:36:15.880
 And when we see

00:36:15.880 --> 00:36:17.400
 the great promise

00:36:17.400 --> 00:36:18.460
 that he has for us,

00:36:19.460 --> 00:36:21.440
 then we're set free

00:36:21.440 --> 00:36:21.900
 to become

00:36:21.900 --> 00:36:22.780
 self-sacrificial

00:36:22.780 --> 00:36:23.340
 instead of

00:36:23.340 --> 00:36:23.860
 self-centered.

00:36:23.860 --> 00:36:26.320
 Because it's not

00:36:26.320 --> 00:36:26.760
 just about

00:36:26.760 --> 00:36:27.640
 getting as much

00:36:27.640 --> 00:36:28.099
 as we can

00:36:28.099 --> 00:36:28.780
 in this life

00:36:28.780 --> 00:36:29.740
 or becoming

00:36:29.740 --> 00:36:30.380
 the greatest

00:36:30.380 --> 00:36:31.320
 or being better

00:36:31.320 --> 00:36:32.240
 than someone else.

00:36:35.420 --> 00:36:36.220
 But it's about

00:36:36.220 --> 00:36:36.920
 living for him

00:36:36.920 --> 00:36:39.000
 who loved us

00:36:39.000 --> 00:36:39.900
 so much

00:36:39.900 --> 00:36:41.980
 and who promises

00:36:41.980 --> 00:36:46.280
 that just as he died

00:36:46.280 --> 00:36:47.480
 and rose again,

00:36:48.760 --> 00:36:49.260
 that whatever

00:36:49.260 --> 00:36:51.220
 we have to suffer

00:36:51.220 --> 00:36:52.220
 or die to

00:36:52.220 --> 00:36:53.000
 for his sake,

00:36:53.000 --> 00:36:55.099
 he'll restore it

00:36:55.099 --> 00:36:56.300
 many times over

00:36:56.300 --> 00:36:58.079
 either in this life

00:36:58.079 --> 00:36:58.539
 or in the life

00:36:58.539 --> 00:36:58.920
 to come.

00:36:59.860 --> 00:37:00.980
 He promises that

00:37:00.980 --> 00:37:01.619
 at the end of the

00:37:01.619 --> 00:37:02.159
 next chapter.

00:37:02.400 --> 00:37:03.059
 We'll get there

00:37:03.059 --> 00:37:03.619
 in two weeks.

00:37:04.199 --> 00:37:04.519
 He says,

00:37:04.579 --> 00:37:05.360
 whatever you give up

00:37:05.360 --> 00:37:06.059
 for my sake,

00:37:06.460 --> 00:37:07.659
 I'll restore it

00:37:07.659 --> 00:37:08.440
 many times over.

00:37:08.880 --> 00:37:09.699
 You won't lose it

00:37:09.699 --> 00:37:10.000
 forever.

00:37:15.460 --> 00:37:16.059
 That's how we

00:37:16.059 --> 00:37:16.880
 can become

00:37:16.880 --> 00:37:17.679
 self-sacrificial

00:37:17.679 --> 00:37:18.639
 instead of self-centered.

00:37:18.739 --> 00:37:19.599
 And that's what

00:37:19.599 --> 00:37:20.380
 the last two verses

00:37:20.380 --> 00:37:20.880
 are about.

00:37:20.980 --> 00:37:21.960
 Verse 49 and 50

00:37:21.960 --> 00:37:22.860
 talk about fire

00:37:22.860 --> 00:37:23.720
 and salt.

00:37:24.220 --> 00:37:24.780
 You might think,

00:37:24.880 --> 00:37:25.320
 what in the world

00:37:25.320 --> 00:37:25.840
 is that?

00:37:26.840 --> 00:37:27.480
 Well, it's about

00:37:27.480 --> 00:37:28.260
 a sacrifice.

00:37:29.300 --> 00:37:30.039
 Because all the

00:37:30.039 --> 00:37:31.000
 sacrifices in the

00:37:31.000 --> 00:37:32.260
 temple were burnt

00:37:32.260 --> 00:37:33.320
 on the altar,

00:37:33.480 --> 00:37:34.220
 on the fire,

00:37:34.380 --> 00:37:35.280
 and all of them

00:37:35.280 --> 00:37:36.559
 had salt sprinkled

00:37:36.559 --> 00:37:37.019
 on them.

00:37:37.680 --> 00:37:38.880
 Leviticus 2.13

00:37:38.880 --> 00:37:39.940
 says that.

00:37:40.420 --> 00:37:41.240
 With all your

00:37:41.240 --> 00:37:41.920
 offerings,

00:37:41.920 --> 00:37:42.820
 you shall offer

00:37:42.820 --> 00:37:43.240
 salt.

00:37:43.239 --> 00:37:46.439
 So the point

00:37:46.439 --> 00:37:47.099
 about these verses

00:37:47.099 --> 00:37:47.959
 about salt and

00:37:47.959 --> 00:37:49.039
 fire is about

00:37:49.039 --> 00:37:50.339
 offering our

00:37:50.339 --> 00:37:51.439
 lives as a

00:37:51.439 --> 00:37:52.159
 sacrifice that

00:37:52.159 --> 00:37:53.179
 is pleasing to

00:37:53.179 --> 00:37:54.000
 God through

00:37:54.000 --> 00:37:55.039
 Jesus in

00:37:55.039 --> 00:37:56.019
 response to

00:37:56.019 --> 00:37:58.099
 the unique

00:37:58.099 --> 00:37:58.879
 sacrifice that

00:37:58.879 --> 00:37:59.379
 he made for

00:37:59.379 --> 00:37:59.699
 us.

00:38:01.699 --> 00:38:02.739
 So instead of

00:38:02.739 --> 00:38:03.419
 pursuing greatness

00:38:03.419 --> 00:38:04.219
 for ourselves,

00:38:05.219 --> 00:38:06.359
 we love those

00:38:06.359 --> 00:38:06.719
 who are the

00:38:06.719 --> 00:38:08.059
 least because

00:38:08.059 --> 00:38:09.899
 Jesus came as

00:38:09.899 --> 00:38:11.000
 a servant of

00:38:11.000 --> 00:38:11.339
 all.

00:38:11.799 --> 00:38:12.239
 Instead of

00:38:12.239 --> 00:38:12.779
 assuming that

00:38:12.779 --> 00:38:13.199
 God's kingdom

00:38:13.199 --> 00:38:13.559
 is centered

00:38:13.559 --> 00:38:14.339
 around us,

00:38:14.559 --> 00:38:15.159
 we seek to

00:38:15.159 --> 00:38:15.839
 encourage anyone

00:38:15.839 --> 00:38:16.239
 else who's

00:38:16.239 --> 00:38:16.659
 centered around

00:38:16.659 --> 00:38:17.819
 Jesus because

00:38:17.819 --> 00:38:18.659
 it's about him

00:38:18.659 --> 00:38:19.500
 and not about

00:38:19.500 --> 00:38:19.959
 us.

00:38:20.359 --> 00:38:20.899
 And instead of

00:38:20.899 --> 00:38:21.599
 doing what feels

00:38:21.599 --> 00:38:22.379
 good to us,

00:38:22.799 --> 00:38:23.399
 we're willing to

00:38:23.399 --> 00:38:24.199
 make sacrifices

00:38:24.199 --> 00:38:24.979
 to fight sin

00:38:24.979 --> 00:38:26.199
 in our lives

00:38:26.199 --> 00:38:27.139
 because Jesus

00:38:27.139 --> 00:38:27.839
 made the ultimate

00:38:27.839 --> 00:38:30.259
 sacrifice to

00:38:30.259 --> 00:38:31.319
 free us from

00:38:31.319 --> 00:38:31.899
 sin and its

00:38:31.899 --> 00:38:32.500
 consequences.

00:38:33.619 --> 00:38:34.039
 So let me

00:38:34.039 --> 00:38:34.559
 close with a

00:38:34.559 --> 00:38:34.899
 verse from

00:38:34.899 --> 00:38:36.679
 Romans that I

00:38:36.679 --> 00:38:37.539
 think captures

00:38:37.539 --> 00:38:38.119
 the message of

00:38:38.119 --> 00:38:38.739
 this passage.

00:38:39.459 --> 00:38:39.939
 And the

00:38:39.939 --> 00:38:40.739
 apostle Paul says

00:38:40.739 --> 00:38:41.239
 this, he says,

00:38:41.239 --> 00:38:41.879
 therefore I

00:38:41.879 --> 00:38:42.519
 urge you,

00:38:42.919 --> 00:38:43.379
 brothers and

00:38:43.379 --> 00:38:44.379
 sisters, in

00:38:44.379 --> 00:38:45.639
 view of God's

00:38:45.639 --> 00:38:47.359
 mercy, offer

00:38:47.359 --> 00:38:48.079
 your bodies as

00:38:48.079 --> 00:38:49.199
 a living sacrifice,

00:38:49.859 --> 00:38:50.319
 holy and

00:38:50.319 --> 00:38:51.019
 acceptable to

00:38:51.019 --> 00:38:52.239
 God, for this

00:38:52.239 --> 00:38:52.919
 is your reasonable

00:38:52.919 --> 00:38:53.500
 service.

00:38:54.159 --> 00:38:54.619
 Do not be

00:38:54.619 --> 00:38:55.279
 conformed to the

00:38:55.279 --> 00:38:55.839
 pattern of this

00:38:55.839 --> 00:38:56.379
 world, but be

00:38:56.379 --> 00:38:57.699
 transformed by the

00:38:57.699 --> 00:38:58.259
 renewing of your

00:38:58.259 --> 00:38:58.559
 mind.

00:38:58.839 --> 00:38:59.259
 Let's pray.

00:39:04.779 --> 00:39:05.639
 Lord Jesus, we

00:39:05.639 --> 00:39:07.439
 thank you for the

00:39:07.439 --> 00:39:10.199
 price you paid to

00:39:10.199 --> 00:39:11.980
 reclaim us, to

00:39:11.980 --> 00:39:12.839
 adopt us, and to

00:39:12.839 --> 00:39:13.519
 take us in as

00:39:13.519 --> 00:39:15.000
 your children with

00:39:15.000 --> 00:39:16.739
 all the mess and

00:39:16.739 --> 00:39:18.299
 all the sin and

00:39:18.299 --> 00:39:19.859
 all the weakness and

00:39:19.859 --> 00:39:20.599
 all the neediness

00:39:20.599 --> 00:39:21.319
 that we bring with

00:39:21.319 --> 00:39:21.659
 us.

00:39:22.699 --> 00:39:24.399
 We thank you for

00:39:24.399 --> 00:39:25.339
 the love and joy

00:39:25.339 --> 00:39:27.279
 that you have in

00:39:27.279 --> 00:39:28.159
 bringing us near to

00:39:28.159 --> 00:39:29.599
 you and in

00:39:29.599 --> 00:39:30.339
 welcoming us into

00:39:30.339 --> 00:39:30.819
 your family.

00:39:31.579 --> 00:39:32.199
 We thank you for

00:39:32.199 --> 00:39:33.019
 the great sacrifice

00:39:33.019 --> 00:39:33.980
 you made for us.

00:39:34.939 --> 00:39:36.480
 Lord, we pray that

00:39:36.480 --> 00:39:38.280
 what you have done

00:39:38.280 --> 00:39:39.260
 for us would

00:39:39.260 --> 00:39:40.840
 shape us and

00:39:40.840 --> 00:39:41.559
 change us.

00:39:42.519 --> 00:39:43.400
 For your sake.

00:39:43.719 --> 00:39:43.920
 Amen.

00:39:43.920 --> 00:39:44.039
 Amen.

00:40:01.320 --> 00:40:01.880
 Mindy.

00:40:01.880 --> 00:40:02.519
 Yes.

00:40:11.880 --> 00:40:12.099
 Yes.

00:40:12.099 --> 00:40:14.240
 So the word

00:40:14.240 --> 00:40:15.800
 translated hell here

00:40:15.800 --> 00:40:17.660
 is a Greek word

00:40:17.660 --> 00:40:19.280
 Gehenna, which is

00:40:19.280 --> 00:40:22.340
 from the, it's a

00:40:22.340 --> 00:40:23.220
 word that referred,

00:40:23.660 --> 00:40:25.200
 that was used to

00:40:25.200 --> 00:40:26.119
 refer to the garbage

00:40:26.119 --> 00:40:27.480
 dump outside the

00:40:27.480 --> 00:40:28.500
 city of Jerusalem in

00:40:28.500 --> 00:40:29.320
 what's called the

00:40:29.320 --> 00:40:30.740
 Valley of Ben-Hinnom.

00:40:30.739 --> 00:40:33.139
 So the Hebrew

00:40:33.139 --> 00:40:35.259
 Hinnom and

00:40:35.259 --> 00:40:36.099
 Gehenna, that sort

00:40:36.099 --> 00:40:37.099
 of came, the words

00:40:37.099 --> 00:40:37.519
 are related.

00:40:38.119 --> 00:40:39.359
 It was an image

00:40:39.359 --> 00:40:40.939
 that was common in

00:40:40.939 --> 00:40:42.539
 Jesus' day for

00:40:42.539 --> 00:40:44.919
 hell as a place of

00:40:44.919 --> 00:40:46.299
 punishment and

00:40:46.299 --> 00:40:47.759
 separation from

00:40:47.759 --> 00:40:48.439
 God's presence.

00:40:49.179 --> 00:40:50.319
 So he was using a

00:40:50.319 --> 00:40:51.859
 familiar image that

00:40:51.859 --> 00:40:53.839
 would have brought

00:40:53.839 --> 00:40:56.439
 up these images in

00:40:56.439 --> 00:40:57.379
 people's minds of

00:40:57.379 --> 00:40:59.339
 a stinky, rotting,

00:40:59.959 --> 00:41:00.259
 burning,

00:41:00.739 --> 00:41:01.339
 dump.

00:41:06.099 --> 00:41:06.500
 So.

00:41:06.639 --> 00:41:07.419
 Should we take him

00:41:07.419 --> 00:41:07.759
 literally?

00:41:08.000 --> 00:41:08.519
 Is that what hell

00:41:08.519 --> 00:41:09.299
 was going to be like?

00:41:10.559 --> 00:41:11.279
 Should we take him

00:41:11.279 --> 00:41:11.559
 literally?

00:41:11.859 --> 00:41:12.259
 Yeah.

00:41:12.959 --> 00:41:13.799
 Yeah, that's a good

00:41:13.799 --> 00:41:14.119
 question.

00:41:14.359 --> 00:41:14.819
 No, that's a good

00:41:14.819 --> 00:41:15.159
 question.

00:41:17.279 --> 00:41:18.939
 I think, so I think

00:41:18.939 --> 00:41:20.099
 there's several, there's

00:41:20.099 --> 00:41:21.079
 a few different images

00:41:21.079 --> 00:41:22.359
 that come up in

00:41:22.359 --> 00:41:23.399
 scripture for hell.

00:41:24.899 --> 00:41:25.819
 Some are related to

00:41:25.819 --> 00:41:26.179
 fire.

00:41:26.179 --> 00:41:28.699
 some are related to

00:41:28.699 --> 00:41:30.399
 darkness, being the

00:41:30.399 --> 00:41:31.139
 outer darkness.

00:41:33.619 --> 00:41:35.000
 Some are related to

00:41:35.000 --> 00:41:36.500
 anguish and frustration

00:41:36.500 --> 00:41:38.259
 that's never resolved.

00:41:40.599 --> 00:41:42.639
 And hell is described

00:41:42.639 --> 00:41:43.539
 as a place where

00:41:43.539 --> 00:41:45.059
 there's, where things

00:41:45.059 --> 00:41:45.819
 are never made right

00:41:45.819 --> 00:41:46.299
 with God.

00:41:46.300 --> 00:41:49.380
 where people continue

00:41:49.380 --> 00:41:50.820
 in their

00:41:50.820 --> 00:41:51.880
 rebellious

00:41:51.880 --> 00:41:53.400
 attitude toward God

00:41:53.400 --> 00:41:53.760
 and

00:41:53.760 --> 00:41:55.220
 don't.

00:41:56.760 --> 00:41:57.519
 That there's

00:41:57.519 --> 00:41:58.840
 sort of a

00:41:58.840 --> 00:42:00.360
 point of no return.

00:42:02.400 --> 00:42:03.120
 How literally

00:42:03.120 --> 00:42:03.760
 should we take those

00:42:03.760 --> 00:42:04.039
 things?

00:42:04.160 --> 00:42:04.740
 I think if

00:42:04.740 --> 00:42:06.640
 if they're not

00:42:06.640 --> 00:42:07.200
 literal,

00:42:07.600 --> 00:42:08.200
 they're meant to

00:42:08.200 --> 00:42:08.980
 point to something

00:42:08.980 --> 00:42:11.219
 if, so if it's a

00:42:11.219 --> 00:42:13.440
 metaphor, the reason

00:42:13.440 --> 00:42:13.860
 why we have

00:42:13.860 --> 00:42:14.760
 metaphors is because

00:42:14.760 --> 00:42:15.659
 it's a reality that's

00:42:15.659 --> 00:42:16.579
 greater than we can

00:42:16.579 --> 00:42:18.940
 literally describe.

00:42:19.659 --> 00:42:21.139
 And so, if it's

00:42:21.139 --> 00:42:22.000
 metaphorical, I think

00:42:22.000 --> 00:42:22.820
 it's basically saying,

00:42:23.280 --> 00:42:24.860
 it's not saying it's

00:42:24.860 --> 00:42:26.880
 not that bad, it's

00:42:26.880 --> 00:42:27.519
 saying it's worse.

00:42:29.480 --> 00:42:32.059
 So, the point is, I

00:42:32.059 --> 00:42:32.840
 think in all the

00:42:32.840 --> 00:42:33.480
 descriptions of hell,

00:42:33.539 --> 00:42:34.240
 the point is not to

00:42:34.240 --> 00:42:35.059
 figure out exactly what

00:42:35.059 --> 00:42:35.699
 hell is like.

00:42:36.159 --> 00:42:38.019
 It's to realize you

00:42:38.019 --> 00:42:38.400
 don't want to be

00:42:38.400 --> 00:42:38.659
 there.

00:42:39.539 --> 00:42:41.880
 And thank God that

00:42:41.880 --> 00:42:43.420
 Jesus has been

00:42:43.420 --> 00:42:44.119
 willing to go through

00:42:44.119 --> 00:42:45.320
 that to provide a

00:42:45.320 --> 00:42:45.639
 way out.

00:42:47.780 --> 00:42:49.340
 And I think it puts

00:42:49.340 --> 00:42:50.119
 some of our

00:42:50.119 --> 00:42:50.740
 sufferings in this

00:42:50.740 --> 00:42:51.480
 life in perspective

00:42:51.480 --> 00:42:54.659
 where Jesus is

00:42:54.659 --> 00:42:55.619
 saying, you know,

00:42:55.659 --> 00:42:56.159
 consider the

00:42:56.159 --> 00:42:56.599
 alternative.

00:42:56.800 --> 00:42:57.599
 Yeah, is it hard to

00:42:57.599 --> 00:42:58.079
 follow me?

00:42:58.380 --> 00:42:58.719
 Yes.

00:42:59.440 --> 00:43:00.000
 Does it require

00:43:00.000 --> 00:43:01.079
 sacrifices to follow

00:43:01.079 --> 00:43:02.579
 me of things that

00:43:02.579 --> 00:43:03.880
 feel like giving up

00:43:03.880 --> 00:43:04.240
 a lot?

00:43:04.599 --> 00:43:04.960
 Yes.

00:43:05.920 --> 00:43:07.440
 But when we think

00:43:07.440 --> 00:43:08.240
 in light of eternity,

00:43:08.239 --> 00:43:09.239
 both in light of

00:43:09.239 --> 00:43:09.959
 hell, but also in

00:43:09.959 --> 00:43:11.079
 light of what he

00:43:11.079 --> 00:43:12.339
 promises in heaven.

00:43:13.039 --> 00:43:16.079
 And I think we'd

00:43:16.079 --> 00:43:17.219
 see our lives

00:43:17.219 --> 00:43:18.099
 differently and be

00:43:18.099 --> 00:43:19.859
 free to sacrifice

00:43:19.859 --> 00:43:26.079
 some things now for

00:43:26.079 --> 00:43:28.259
 a good purpose instead

00:43:28.259 --> 00:43:29.159
 of holding on to them

00:43:29.159 --> 00:43:30.119
 because we feel like

00:43:30.119 --> 00:43:31.000
 this is all we've got

00:43:31.000 --> 00:43:32.199
 and this is what we're

00:43:32.199 --> 00:43:33.679
 living for in this

00:43:33.679 --> 00:43:33.919
 life.

00:43:33.920 --> 00:43:36.800
 more questions.

00:43:36.980 --> 00:43:37.079
 Yes.

00:43:37.079 --> 00:43:38.079
 Yes.

00:44:07.079 --> 00:44:09.299
 That's a very good question.

00:44:09.440 --> 00:44:13.319
 How do you know what to take literally versus figuratively in the Bible?

00:44:14.719 --> 00:44:20.219
 And what are the criteria that we would use to, you know, responsibly determine that?

00:44:21.779 --> 00:44:23.059
 That's a great question.

00:44:23.119 --> 00:44:23.840
 So it's a big question.

00:44:24.940 --> 00:44:33.299
 So some parts of the Bible, so if you take one of the Psalms, the Psalms are poetry.

00:44:33.300 --> 00:44:39.060
 And in other parts of the Bible, some of the prophetic literature is poetic literature.

00:44:39.280 --> 00:44:42.400
 And so when you're reading poetry, you look for symbols.

00:44:42.560 --> 00:44:43.340
 You look for metaphors.

00:44:43.460 --> 00:44:51.960
 You look for things that are describing things, not in a scientifically precise way, but in an evocative way,

00:44:52.000 --> 00:44:56.480
 in a way that engages your emotions and conveys some of the reality of what they're talking about.

00:44:57.760 --> 00:45:02.200
 When you're reading some of the narratives, say some of the gospel narratives about Jesus,

00:45:02.199 --> 00:45:07.159
 they're written in a very historical narrative format.

00:45:08.139 --> 00:45:15.619
 And, you know, if you can compare them to other literature, they're not written in the same way as, you know,

00:45:15.919 --> 00:45:18.299
 myths about Greek gods or something like that.

00:45:19.659 --> 00:45:25.699
 It's a different form of literature that's rooted in history.

00:45:25.699 --> 00:45:34.079
 So I think some of it is the kind of literature sort of looking at what kind of book are we reading.

00:45:34.879 --> 00:45:40.859
 So that's why it's always helpful when you face a particular verse or a paragraph or passage

00:45:40.859 --> 00:45:42.839
 and you're thinking, how do I interpret this?

00:45:44.639 --> 00:45:48.199
 We have to step back and say, well, what book am I reading this in?

00:45:48.199 --> 00:45:54.039
 And what's the main point of this book and how does this passage fit into the larger point of this book?

00:45:55.559 --> 00:46:01.199
 So, and then also comparing it to other passages that are teaching similar things here.

00:46:01.199 --> 00:46:14.559
 So I think whenever the Bible is describing things that haven't happened yet or that are in the future in our experience.

00:46:16.480 --> 00:46:21.659
 So in the Old Testament, when there are prophecies about the Messiah, there were descriptions,

00:46:21.960 --> 00:46:27.839
 but a lot of it is, it's something that people hadn't yet experienced and so they couldn't fully put it into words.

00:46:27.840 --> 00:46:32.880
 So in the same way in the New Testament, when there's descriptions of heaven or descriptions of hell,

00:46:33.840 --> 00:46:41.400
 they are metaphorical because we haven't yet experienced them fully and so we can't fully put them into words,

00:46:42.079 --> 00:46:47.400
 which is different than writings about things that have happened, like writings about what happened in Jesus' life.

00:46:47.460 --> 00:46:51.579
 Well, that had already happened, they'd experienced it, so they're putting it into words in a historical way.

00:46:51.579 --> 00:46:58.619
 Looking towards something in the future, I think God is giving us a picture of what it's going to be like,

00:46:59.420 --> 00:47:05.559
 but it's, but it is, there's a metaphor involved in that we haven't yet been there.

00:47:06.699 --> 00:47:11.679
 But he's giving us a description of what it's going to be like so that we can live our life in light of that.

00:47:11.679 --> 00:47:17.819
 It's, how would I put it?

00:47:17.879 --> 00:47:24.319
 It's, I mean, it's like if you're trying, I mean, it's like if you're trying to tell someone, you know, where you're going on a road trip,

00:47:24.399 --> 00:47:27.059
 and they've never been, it's like if you're trying to tell someone about the Grand Canyon,

00:47:27.519 --> 00:47:32.099
 and they've never been there, and let's say you don't have any photographs, you know,

00:47:32.319 --> 00:47:35.919
 and you have to describe it, and you're trying to describe this amazing thing.

00:47:35.920 --> 00:47:40.340
 If you've been there, if you've seen it, or if you've been to any sort of natural wonder,

00:47:40.940 --> 00:47:44.200
 it's almost beyond what you can describe in words.

00:47:44.280 --> 00:47:47.700
 Even if you, like, draw a little diagram, that doesn't quite do it.

00:47:48.960 --> 00:47:54.019
 And so you're trying to describe this great reality so that, so the person will be like,

00:47:54.539 --> 00:47:56.920
 yeah, like, it's worth the road trip to get there.

00:47:57.139 --> 00:48:01.220
 It's worth driving all the way across the country through the desert for days and days,

00:48:01.740 --> 00:48:04.119
 and hiking down to the bottom of it, or something.

00:48:04.119 --> 00:48:06.579
 Whatever you want, you know, you get the idea.

00:48:09.099 --> 00:48:10.339
 But this is a very good question.

00:48:10.440 --> 00:48:15.019
 We could talk more about that, but maybe that's a beginning to it.

00:48:16.239 --> 00:48:18.819
 All right, well, if you have more questions, stick around.

00:48:18.980 --> 00:48:19.719
 Talk with one another.

00:48:20.679 --> 00:48:21.679
 Talk with me if you want.

00:48:22.420 --> 00:48:24.480
 But there's snacks in the back.

00:48:25.299 --> 00:48:26.920
 Get a bulletin as you go out.