WEBVTT

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 Okay, we're going to have the Bible reading.

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 Hebrews chapter 12, verses 18 to 29.

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 For you have not come to what may be touched,

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 a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest,

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 and the sound of a trumpet and a voice

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 whose words made the hearers beg

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 that no further messages be spoken to them.

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 For they could not endure the order that was given.

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 If even a beast touches the mountain,

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 it shall be stoned.

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 Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said,

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 I tremble with fear.

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 But you have come to Mount Zion

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 and to the city of the living God,

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 the heavenly Jerusalem,

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 and to the innumerable angels in the festal gathering,

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 and to the assembly of the firstborn

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 who are enrolled in heaven,

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 and to God, the judge of all,

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 and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,

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 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant,

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 and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word

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 than the blood of Abel.

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 See that you do not refuse him who is speaking,

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 for if they did not escape when they refused him

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 who warned them on earth,

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 much less will we escape if we reject him

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 who warns from heaven.

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 At that time, his voice shook the earth,

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 but now he has promised,

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 yet once more I will shake not only the earth,

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 but also the heavens.

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 This phrase, yet once more,

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 indicates the removal of things that are shaken,

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 that is, things that have been made,

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 in order that the things that cannot be shaken

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 may remain.

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 Therefore, let us be grateful for receiving

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 a kingdom that cannot be shaken,

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 and thus let us offer to God

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 acceptable worship with reverence and awe,

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 for our God is a consuming fire.

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 Well, there's two things we crave as people,

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 more than other things.

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 That is, one's identity,

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 and one's community.

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 So, identity is a sense of who I am,

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 and how I fit into the world.

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 But because we're relational beings,

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 we also crave community.

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 And these two things actually create

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 a curious tangle for us,

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 as we try to pursue both of them.

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 See, our sense of identity

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 is oftentimes very individualistic.

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 It's often expressed in what I do.

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 So, I'm a mechanic, I'm an engineer,

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 I'm a doctor, I'm a pastor,

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 and so on and so forth.

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 Or even more individualistic these days

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 is that my own expression of who I am.

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 That is, I am me.

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 What more is there to say?

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 I am David Calderwood.

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 And coming with that,

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 then my individualistic notion

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 is that I have a sense of entitlement

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 to be what I want to be,

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 and expect others to respond to me

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 as I should be responded to.

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 But here's the problem, you see,

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 because that sort of individualism

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 doesn't fit easily with community.

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 Because community is about being

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 part of something bigger than self.

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 It's not easy to be part of something

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 bigger than self

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 when you're driven by your own sense of entitlement.

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 And so we're torn.

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 We really are torn.

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 We want to be in a relational community,

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 but we don't want to do that

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 which is necessary to protect

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 and build the community we crave in the first place.

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 Because to build community,

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 that calls for loyalty and commitment,

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 and putting others ahead of our own sense of entitlement.

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 And so I think we get ourselves,

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 as I say, in a curious tangle.

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 We speak, and as Christians,

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 we speak very loudly

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 about the importance of community.

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 What we are here this morning.

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 But,

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 we act individualistically.

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 And so,

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 I think oftentimes,

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 community just becomes a tool

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 to get what we want,

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 or to get what we think we deserve,

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 as we engage in that community.

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 And,

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 I think so many Christians

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 are caught in the same tangle

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 in thinking about church,

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 which is what we're going to be doing

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 over the next nine weeks.

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 And,

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 at the heart of this series

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 on the church,

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 which we're calling

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 the Fortes of Heaven,

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 at the heart of this series

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 is

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 identity

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 in community.

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 So,

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 there are those two words.

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 We're going to have to work out

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 how they fit together.

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 Identity

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 in community.

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 You see,

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 as a Christian,

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 I am an individual.

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 I'm using the word individual

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 as opposed to individualistic.

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 The two are quite different.

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 As a Christian,

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 I'm an individual.

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 I'm saved and renewed

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 entirely by God's grace to me

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 in Christ's death and resurrection.

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 And so,

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 therefore,

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 my identity is now

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 entirely shaped

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 by relationship with Jesus.

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 I am his died-for person,

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 and he is my Savior and Lord.

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 Lord,

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 but then much of the language

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 of the Bible

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 is plural

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 and corporate.

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 And so,

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 I have to say,

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 I am a died-for person

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 as an individual

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 in a died-for community.

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 The family of God.

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 What we're calling

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 Christ's church.

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 And here's the heart

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 of this series.

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 God's word

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 doesn't allow for

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 identity in Christ

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 individualistically

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 with only lip service

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 given to identity

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 in Christ's community,

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 the church.

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 I'll say that again.

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 God's word

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 doesn't allow for identity

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 in Christ individualistically

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 individualistically

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 with only lip service

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 given to identity

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 in Christ's community,

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 the church.

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 And that's hard for us,

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 I think,

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 to grasp that

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 because we are naturally

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 inclined

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 to individualistic thinking.

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 You can reference

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 the second page

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 of the bulletin.

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 We're naturally inclined

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 to what's called

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 their solo flying

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 as Christians.

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 While God's word

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 is constantly pushing us

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 to community

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 or formation flying.

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 And as it says

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 in the bulletin there,

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 and I think rightly,

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 even our stints

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 of formation flying

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 as of this morning,

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 even that

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 can be very individualistic.

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 That is,

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 I will fly

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 loosely associated

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 with formation

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 because at that moment

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 I perceive

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 some benefit to me

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 in doing so.

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 Otherwise,

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 I will just naturally

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 do my own thing,

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 fly solo.

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 So,

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 what that means is

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 that this series

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 is going to be hard

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 to hear

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 and engage with,

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 I think,

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 for many of us.

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 But before we get there,

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 let's jump into the text.

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 Let's jump into the series

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 by asking,

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 what picture

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 or idea,

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 therefore,

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 do you have in mind

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 when you think

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 about church?

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 Now,

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 picking up some

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 of the pictures,

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 most Australians

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 would say

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 that the church

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 is that

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 weird old building

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 down the road

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 that's got a cross

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 stuck on top of it.

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 or they might say,

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 well,

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 actually,

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 the church

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 is just a really

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 outdated institution

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 in our society,

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 well past its use-by date

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 even though it doesn't

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 realize it.

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 Or perhaps even more

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 viciously,

00:08:21.860 --> 00:08:22.360
 people would say,

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 well,

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 the church

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 is just a hunting

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 ground for pedophiles.

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 What about you?

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 What would you say?

00:08:35.480 --> 00:08:36.379
 Perhaps you might say,

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 well,

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 actually,

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 church is,

00:08:38.460 --> 00:08:39.080
 the church

00:08:39.080 --> 00:08:39.540
 is the place

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 you go to worship

00:08:40.460 --> 00:08:41.420
 God on a Sunday.

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 So you think of the church

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 as a building.

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 It's a location.

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 I'm going to church.

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 You might think

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 church is about

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 identifying with

00:08:53.259 --> 00:08:54.420
 a particular doctrine

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 or denomination.

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 So I'm a Baptist

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 or Presbyterian

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 or an Anglican

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 or a Charismatic

00:09:01.340 --> 00:09:03.360
 or an Independent Reformer

00:09:03.360 --> 00:09:04.379
 or so on and so forth.

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 Or perhaps

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 church for you

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 has just been

00:09:09.659 --> 00:09:10.539
 a lifetime habit

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 or something you learned

00:09:11.799 --> 00:09:14.240
 to do when you were a child.

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 Your parents always

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 say that's what you do

00:09:16.579 --> 00:09:17.159
 on a Sunday morning.

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 You go to church.

00:09:18.139 --> 00:09:19.000
 That's what our family does.

00:09:19.039 --> 00:09:19.679
 We go to church.

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 So therefore,

00:09:21.139 --> 00:09:22.500
 after a lifetime,

00:09:22.659 --> 00:09:23.079
 you turn up

00:09:23.079 --> 00:09:23.939
 on a Sunday morning

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 but don't really

00:09:26.519 --> 00:09:27.480
 think too much about it.

00:09:27.519 --> 00:09:28.139
 You don't see it

00:09:28.139 --> 00:09:29.179
 as a family community.

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 You don't think of it

00:09:31.199 --> 00:09:32.279
 as something really good

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 but costly

00:09:33.399 --> 00:09:35.299
 because it requires

00:09:35.299 --> 00:09:36.259
 loyalty and commitment

00:09:36.259 --> 00:09:37.299
 and engagement

00:09:37.299 --> 00:09:38.000
 at every level.

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 That's well beyond you.

00:09:40.399 --> 00:09:41.539
 You just go to church.

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 Or perhaps maybe

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 church is your social club

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 and your attraction

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 into a group like this

00:09:50.759 --> 00:09:51.819
 is common interests,

00:09:51.820 --> 00:09:55.180
 perhaps similar likes.

00:09:56.780 --> 00:09:58.420
 You want to be around

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 nice people

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 and you perceive that

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 well at least there's

00:10:01.160 --> 00:10:02.140
 some nice people

00:10:02.140 --> 00:10:02.980
 in a group like this.

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 Or you might have

00:10:05.879 --> 00:10:06.620
 similar needs.

00:10:07.780 --> 00:10:09.020
 So I want my children

00:10:09.020 --> 00:10:09.600
 to be exposed

00:10:09.600 --> 00:10:10.340
 to the values

00:10:10.340 --> 00:10:12.400
 that this group holds

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 or whatever.

00:10:14.360 --> 00:10:20.940
 similar stages in life.

00:10:22.759 --> 00:10:24.180
 Similar causes to fight.

00:10:25.659 --> 00:10:26.600
 And the danger

00:10:26.600 --> 00:10:27.419
 of those sorts of things

00:10:27.419 --> 00:10:28.180
 is that sometimes

00:10:28.180 --> 00:10:29.980
 people can be drawn

00:10:29.980 --> 00:10:30.919
 into a community

00:10:30.919 --> 00:10:31.740
 like ours

00:10:31.740 --> 00:10:32.580
 through those things

00:10:32.580 --> 00:10:34.060
 and they're far,

00:10:34.180 --> 00:10:35.360
 far more important

00:10:35.360 --> 00:10:36.519
 than the hearing

00:10:36.519 --> 00:10:37.180
 of God's word

00:10:37.180 --> 00:10:37.779
 or the gospel.

00:10:37.960 --> 00:10:39.080
 And so they could be

00:10:39.080 --> 00:10:39.600
 in the community,

00:10:39.720 --> 00:10:40.920
 the gospel could be removed

00:10:40.919 --> 00:10:41.899
 but as far as they're concerned

00:10:41.899 --> 00:10:43.079
 the community continues.

00:10:49.779 --> 00:10:50.639
 And perhaps

00:10:50.639 --> 00:10:52.479
 you're already writing

00:10:52.479 --> 00:10:53.299
 off this series,

00:10:53.419 --> 00:10:54.179
 this teaching series

00:10:54.179 --> 00:10:55.139
 because of the name

00:10:55.139 --> 00:10:56.120
 Church,

00:10:56.419 --> 00:10:57.479
 A Foretaste of Heaven.

00:10:58.819 --> 00:10:59.939
 I wouldn't be at all

00:10:59.939 --> 00:11:00.799
 surprised if some here

00:11:00.799 --> 00:11:01.120
 are thinking,

00:11:01.599 --> 00:11:02.120
 seriously?

00:11:03.559 --> 00:11:05.259
 That is so out of touch

00:11:05.259 --> 00:11:05.899
 with reality.

00:11:07.339 --> 00:11:08.519
 My experience of church

00:11:08.519 --> 00:11:09.219
 has been anything

00:11:09.219 --> 00:11:10.379
 but A Foretaste of Heaven

00:11:10.379 --> 00:11:11.059
 or if it is

00:11:11.059 --> 00:11:11.840
 A Foretaste of Heaven

00:11:11.840 --> 00:11:12.419
 I don't want to be

00:11:12.419 --> 00:11:12.980
 part of Heaven.

00:11:15.620 --> 00:11:17.700
 So some are so

00:11:17.700 --> 00:11:21.299
 hurt

00:11:21.299 --> 00:11:22.779
 by their experience

00:11:22.779 --> 00:11:23.279
 of church

00:11:23.279 --> 00:11:24.460
 that the whole notion

00:11:24.460 --> 00:11:25.120
 of the church

00:11:25.120 --> 00:11:26.519
 as a family of God

00:11:26.519 --> 00:11:28.600
 is just,

00:11:28.840 --> 00:11:29.080
 well,

00:11:29.360 --> 00:11:30.039
 at best

00:11:30.039 --> 00:11:30.980
 a nice theory

00:11:30.980 --> 00:11:33.240
 but it sure

00:11:33.240 --> 00:11:33.759
 doesn't work

00:11:33.759 --> 00:11:34.320
 in practice

00:11:34.320 --> 00:11:37.679
 because your

00:11:37.679 --> 00:11:38.799
 experience of church

00:11:38.799 --> 00:11:39.340
 has left you

00:11:39.340 --> 00:11:39.940
 disappointed

00:11:39.940 --> 00:11:41.400
 disillusioned

00:11:41.400 --> 00:11:43.400
 and seriously

00:11:43.400 --> 00:11:44.660
 wounded and damaged

00:11:44.660 --> 00:11:46.780
 and fearful

00:11:46.780 --> 00:11:48.820
 because some of the

00:11:48.820 --> 00:11:50.220
 most nasty behavior

00:11:50.220 --> 00:11:51.220
 you've ever been

00:11:51.220 --> 00:11:52.680
 subject to

00:11:52.680 --> 00:11:53.400
 has been from

00:11:53.400 --> 00:11:54.780
 church-going people.

00:11:54.779 --> 00:12:00.000
 And so I think

00:12:00.000 --> 00:12:00.699
 what that does

00:12:00.699 --> 00:12:01.179
 for people

00:12:01.179 --> 00:12:01.939
 and there's a huge

00:12:01.939 --> 00:12:02.799
 community like this

00:12:02.799 --> 00:12:03.480
 in Newcastle

00:12:03.480 --> 00:12:05.279
 we have lots

00:12:05.279 --> 00:12:06.019
 and lots of people

00:12:06.019 --> 00:12:07.000
 who wander

00:12:07.000 --> 00:12:09.240
 between churches,

00:12:09.360 --> 00:12:10.539
 between church communities

00:12:10.539 --> 00:12:12.639
 longing for community,

00:12:13.860 --> 00:12:14.740
 longing for a place

00:12:14.740 --> 00:12:15.500
 to belong

00:12:15.500 --> 00:12:18.699
 but keeping people

00:12:18.699 --> 00:12:19.639
 at arm's length,

00:12:20.240 --> 00:12:22.379
 not willing

00:12:22.379 --> 00:12:23.100
 to be committed

00:12:23.100 --> 00:12:26.059
 except

00:12:26.059 --> 00:12:26.960
 in their own terms

00:12:26.960 --> 00:12:27.559
 and in response

00:12:27.559 --> 00:12:28.419
 to their own fears

00:12:28.419 --> 00:12:29.179
 and ideas

00:12:29.179 --> 00:12:29.580
 of what will

00:12:29.580 --> 00:12:30.200
 make them happy.

00:12:31.659 --> 00:12:32.559
 And so people

00:12:32.559 --> 00:12:33.139
 drift in

00:12:33.139 --> 00:12:33.820
 and they drift out

00:12:33.820 --> 00:12:34.100
 again,

00:12:34.639 --> 00:12:36.000
 always searching

00:12:36.000 --> 00:12:36.580
 for that

00:12:36.580 --> 00:12:38.539
 happy community.

00:12:43.220 --> 00:12:43.700
 Friends,

00:12:43.899 --> 00:12:44.500
 that's a long

00:12:44.500 --> 00:12:44.919
 introduction

00:12:44.919 --> 00:12:45.799
 but let me

00:12:45.799 --> 00:12:46.679
 say this,

00:12:46.679 --> 00:12:49.419
 if we're to have

00:12:49.419 --> 00:12:50.779
 a correct picture

00:12:50.779 --> 00:12:51.399
 of church

00:12:51.399 --> 00:12:52.279
 in our mind

00:12:52.279 --> 00:12:54.459
 and correct

00:12:54.459 --> 00:12:55.479
 practice

00:12:55.479 --> 00:12:56.099
 and commitment

00:12:56.099 --> 00:12:56.699
 within this

00:12:56.699 --> 00:12:57.679
 local church family

00:12:57.679 --> 00:12:59.819
 then we need

00:12:59.819 --> 00:13:00.319
 to see

00:13:00.319 --> 00:13:01.479
 church,

00:13:01.679 --> 00:13:02.159
 the church

00:13:02.159 --> 00:13:03.059
 with God's eyes

00:13:03.059 --> 00:13:04.019
 and through God's eyes

00:13:04.019 --> 00:13:04.939
 and that's what

00:13:04.939 --> 00:13:05.699
 we're about this morning.

00:13:08.799 --> 00:13:09.939
 And as I said before

00:13:09.939 --> 00:13:10.899
 that might mean

00:13:10.899 --> 00:13:11.419
 I think

00:13:11.419 --> 00:13:12.339
 that this series

00:13:12.339 --> 00:13:13.359
 will be hard to hear

00:13:13.359 --> 00:13:14.519
 and engage with

00:13:14.519 --> 00:13:15.500
 for many here

00:13:15.500 --> 00:13:15.939
 this morning.

00:13:16.679 --> 00:13:19.559
 it may require

00:13:19.559 --> 00:13:20.219
 a massive

00:13:20.219 --> 00:13:21.739
 change

00:13:21.739 --> 00:13:22.739
 in your thinking

00:13:22.739 --> 00:13:25.519
 and priorities

00:13:25.519 --> 00:13:26.559
 and behaviour

00:13:26.559 --> 00:13:30.339
 especially when we

00:13:30.339 --> 00:13:31.419
 jump into passages

00:13:31.419 --> 00:13:32.120
 like Hebrews

00:13:32.120 --> 00:13:32.799
 which in spite

00:13:32.799 --> 00:13:33.500
 of its difficulties

00:13:33.500 --> 00:13:34.799
 has actually

00:13:34.799 --> 00:13:36.120
 a fairly simple message

00:13:36.120 --> 00:13:37.059
 and the simple message

00:13:37.059 --> 00:13:39.139
 is that God's church

00:13:39.139 --> 00:13:40.039
 is something

00:13:40.039 --> 00:13:40.699
 that God

00:13:40.699 --> 00:13:41.519
 has established

00:13:41.519 --> 00:13:43.299
 and it is

00:13:43.299 --> 00:13:44.039
 glorious.

00:13:46.679 --> 00:13:47.879
 as God

00:13:47.879 --> 00:13:48.359
 sees it

00:13:48.359 --> 00:13:51.539
 and so

00:13:51.539 --> 00:13:53.179
 the gap

00:13:53.179 --> 00:13:53.739
 opens up

00:13:53.739 --> 00:13:54.259
 I think

00:13:54.259 --> 00:13:54.759
 between what

00:13:54.759 --> 00:13:55.379
 we might

00:13:55.379 --> 00:13:56.259
 think of church

00:13:56.259 --> 00:13:57.079
 how we might

00:13:57.079 --> 00:13:57.379
 see it

00:13:57.379 --> 00:13:58.199
 through our eyes

00:13:58.199 --> 00:13:59.419
 and what we're

00:13:59.419 --> 00:13:59.779
 going to hear

00:13:59.779 --> 00:14:00.579
 from God's word

00:14:00.579 --> 00:14:01.639
 about how

00:14:01.639 --> 00:14:02.379
 God sees it

00:14:02.379 --> 00:14:03.120
 through his eyes

00:14:03.120 --> 00:14:04.439
 and there's

00:14:04.439 --> 00:14:04.919
 our challenge

00:14:04.919 --> 00:14:05.339
 over the next

00:14:05.339 --> 00:14:05.739
 weeks

00:14:05.739 --> 00:14:07.699
 to realign

00:14:07.699 --> 00:14:08.419
 our thinking

00:14:08.419 --> 00:14:09.699
 to God's thinking

00:14:09.700 --> 00:14:11.560
 but first

00:14:11.560 --> 00:14:11.980
 let me give you

00:14:11.980 --> 00:14:12.540
 some background

00:14:12.540 --> 00:14:13.440
 before we jump

00:14:13.440 --> 00:14:14.240
 into Hebrews 12

00:14:14.240 --> 00:14:14.900
 and have a look

00:14:14.900 --> 00:14:15.440
 at the details

00:14:15.440 --> 00:14:15.840
 in there

00:14:15.840 --> 00:14:17.259
 the background

00:14:17.259 --> 00:14:18.240
 context

00:14:18.240 --> 00:14:18.700
 to the letter

00:14:18.700 --> 00:14:19.200
 with which

00:14:19.200 --> 00:14:20.160
 we won't

00:14:20.160 --> 00:14:20.740
 understand

00:14:20.740 --> 00:14:21.759
 the beauty

00:14:21.759 --> 00:14:22.520
 of what's

00:14:22.520 --> 00:14:22.980
 been taught

00:14:22.980 --> 00:14:23.600
 in these verses

00:14:23.600 --> 00:14:26.080
 so the letter

00:14:26.080 --> 00:14:27.019
 as a whole

00:14:27.019 --> 00:14:27.540
 was written

00:14:27.540 --> 00:14:28.360
 to encourage

00:14:28.360 --> 00:14:28.980
 Christians

00:14:28.980 --> 00:14:30.740
 who had been

00:14:30.740 --> 00:14:31.240
 converted

00:14:31.240 --> 00:14:32.860
 from a

00:14:32.860 --> 00:14:33.759
 Jewish heritage

00:14:33.759 --> 00:14:36.740
 they'd been

00:14:36.740 --> 00:14:37.040
 converted

00:14:37.040 --> 00:14:37.960
 into small

00:14:37.960 --> 00:14:38.800
 church family

00:14:38.800 --> 00:14:39.180
 units

00:14:39.180 --> 00:14:40.019
 scattered

00:14:40.019 --> 00:14:40.720
 variously

00:14:40.720 --> 00:14:41.139
 around the

00:14:41.139 --> 00:14:41.740
 Roman Empire

00:14:41.740 --> 00:14:43.960
 and the letter

00:14:43.960 --> 00:14:44.440
 was written

00:14:44.440 --> 00:14:45.240
 to assure

00:14:45.240 --> 00:14:45.600
 them

00:14:45.600 --> 00:14:46.279
 of this

00:14:46.279 --> 00:14:48.680
 that to be

00:14:48.680 --> 00:14:49.440
 in Christ

00:14:49.440 --> 00:14:50.779
 as an individual

00:14:50.779 --> 00:14:51.279
 believer

00:14:51.279 --> 00:14:53.519
 was to be

00:14:53.519 --> 00:14:54.699
 in his church

00:14:54.699 --> 00:14:57.259
 which was

00:14:57.259 --> 00:14:57.620
 to be

00:14:57.620 --> 00:14:58.379
 in community

00:14:58.379 --> 00:14:59.620
 with all

00:14:59.620 --> 00:15:00.100
 believers

00:15:00.100 --> 00:15:01.679
 and that

00:15:01.679 --> 00:15:02.139
 was

00:15:02.139 --> 00:15:02.939
 very much

00:15:02.939 --> 00:15:04.299
 a foretaste

00:15:04.299 --> 00:15:04.759
 of heaven

00:15:04.759 --> 00:15:06.319
 beautiful

00:15:06.319 --> 00:15:07.220
 precious

00:15:07.220 --> 00:15:07.879
 to the Lord

00:15:07.879 --> 00:15:08.959
 and totally

00:15:08.959 --> 00:15:09.439
 secure

00:15:09.439 --> 00:15:11.819
 now

00:15:11.819 --> 00:15:12.860
 why was that

00:15:12.860 --> 00:15:13.319
 necessary

00:15:13.319 --> 00:15:13.819
 well

00:15:13.819 --> 00:15:14.639
 because

00:15:14.639 --> 00:15:15.740
 for these

00:15:15.740 --> 00:15:16.360
 Christians

00:15:16.360 --> 00:15:17.199
 having become

00:15:17.199 --> 00:15:18.120
 Christians

00:15:18.120 --> 00:15:18.879
 with the joy

00:15:18.879 --> 00:15:19.600
 of being freed

00:15:19.600 --> 00:15:20.339
 from sin

00:15:20.340 --> 00:15:21.460
 and been renewed

00:15:21.460 --> 00:15:22.160
 into wonderful

00:15:22.160 --> 00:15:23.019
 new relationship

00:15:23.019 --> 00:15:23.780
 and the good

00:15:23.780 --> 00:15:24.480
 life with God

00:15:24.480 --> 00:15:26.080
 it seems

00:15:26.080 --> 00:15:26.580
 that many

00:15:26.580 --> 00:15:27.200
 were totally

00:15:27.200 --> 00:15:27.879
 shocked

00:15:27.879 --> 00:15:29.100
 to find

00:15:29.100 --> 00:15:30.040
 that having

00:15:30.040 --> 00:15:30.460
 become

00:15:30.460 --> 00:15:31.080
 Christians

00:15:31.080 --> 00:15:31.879
 life

00:15:31.879 --> 00:15:32.639
 became

00:15:32.639 --> 00:15:32.980
 heaps

00:15:32.980 --> 00:15:33.440
 harder

00:15:33.440 --> 00:15:34.940
 not easier

00:15:34.940 --> 00:15:36.460
 and it

00:15:36.460 --> 00:15:36.680
 became

00:15:36.680 --> 00:15:36.940
 heaps

00:15:36.940 --> 00:15:37.280
 harder

00:15:37.280 --> 00:15:37.879
 because

00:15:37.879 --> 00:15:38.440
 they were

00:15:38.440 --> 00:15:38.759
 facing

00:15:38.759 --> 00:15:39.420
 persecution

00:15:39.420 --> 00:15:39.960
 from the

00:15:39.960 --> 00:15:40.360
 Romans

00:15:40.360 --> 00:15:41.399
 and from

00:15:41.399 --> 00:15:42.160
 the Jewish

00:15:42.160 --> 00:15:44.060
 authorities

00:15:44.060 --> 00:15:44.560
 as well

00:15:44.560 --> 00:15:47.180
 and the

00:15:47.180 --> 00:15:47.560
 result of

00:15:47.560 --> 00:15:47.980
 that was

00:15:47.980 --> 00:15:48.440
 that so

00:15:48.440 --> 00:15:48.960
 many of

00:15:48.960 --> 00:15:49.120
 these

00:15:49.120 --> 00:15:49.560
 Christians

00:15:49.559 --> 00:15:49.919
 were being

00:15:49.919 --> 00:15:50.299
 tempted

00:15:50.299 --> 00:15:50.699
 to go

00:15:50.699 --> 00:15:50.939
 back

00:15:50.939 --> 00:15:51.239
 to the

00:15:51.239 --> 00:15:51.739
 old

00:15:51.739 --> 00:15:52.339
 Jewish

00:15:52.339 --> 00:15:52.679
 faith

00:15:52.679 --> 00:15:53.139
 the old

00:15:53.139 --> 00:15:53.479
 Jewish

00:15:53.479 --> 00:15:53.739
 way

00:15:53.739 --> 00:15:54.179
 of doing

00:15:54.179 --> 00:15:54.639
 things

00:15:54.639 --> 00:15:55.279
 with

00:15:55.279 --> 00:15:55.439
 its

00:15:55.439 --> 00:15:55.819
 system

00:15:55.819 --> 00:15:56.039
 of

00:15:56.039 --> 00:15:56.639
 priests

00:15:56.639 --> 00:15:57.839
 and temples

00:15:57.839 --> 00:15:58.879
 and sacrifices

00:15:58.879 --> 00:15:59.399
 and holy

00:15:59.399 --> 00:15:59.739
 days

00:15:59.739 --> 00:16:01.179
 it had

00:16:01.179 --> 00:16:01.539
 served

00:16:01.539 --> 00:16:01.759
 their

00:16:01.759 --> 00:16:02.299
 ancestors

00:16:02.299 --> 00:16:02.759
 well

00:16:02.759 --> 00:16:05.579
 and even

00:16:05.579 --> 00:16:06.500
 more importantly

00:16:06.500 --> 00:16:07.359
 it was

00:16:07.359 --> 00:16:07.879
 accepted

00:16:07.879 --> 00:16:08.500
 by the Roman

00:16:08.500 --> 00:16:08.979
 authorities

00:16:08.979 --> 00:16:09.439
 so that

00:16:09.439 --> 00:16:10.039
 would mean

00:16:10.039 --> 00:16:10.539
 going back

00:16:10.539 --> 00:16:10.819
 to that

00:16:10.819 --> 00:16:11.159
 would mean

00:16:11.159 --> 00:16:13.139
 an avoidance

00:16:13.139 --> 00:16:13.419
 of any

00:16:13.419 --> 00:16:13.599
 more

00:16:13.599 --> 00:16:14.219
 persecution

00:16:14.219 --> 00:16:14.879
 and suffering

00:16:14.879 --> 00:16:22.340
 their

00:16:22.340 --> 00:16:22.620
 little

00:16:22.620 --> 00:16:23.080
 church

00:16:23.080 --> 00:16:23.820
 families

00:16:23.820 --> 00:16:24.460
 their

00:16:24.460 --> 00:16:24.659
 little

00:16:24.659 --> 00:16:25.100
 church

00:16:25.100 --> 00:16:25.679
 communities

00:16:25.679 --> 00:16:26.080
 looked

00:16:26.080 --> 00:16:27.019
 insignificant

00:16:27.019 --> 00:16:28.059
 compared

00:16:28.059 --> 00:16:28.600
 to the

00:16:28.600 --> 00:16:28.939
 Jewish

00:16:28.939 --> 00:16:29.700
 synagogues

00:16:29.700 --> 00:16:30.620
 compared

00:16:30.620 --> 00:16:30.919
 to the

00:16:30.919 --> 00:16:31.080
 other

00:16:31.080 --> 00:16:31.500
 pagan

00:16:31.500 --> 00:16:32.019
 religions

00:16:32.019 --> 00:16:32.340
 with their

00:16:32.340 --> 00:16:32.740
 massive

00:16:32.740 --> 00:16:33.259
 temples

00:16:33.259 --> 00:16:33.679
 and their

00:16:33.679 --> 00:16:33.960
 holy

00:16:33.960 --> 00:16:34.439
 days

00:16:34.439 --> 00:16:34.799
 and their

00:16:34.799 --> 00:16:35.480
 holy

00:16:35.480 --> 00:16:35.879
 people

00:16:35.879 --> 00:16:36.179
 and their

00:16:36.179 --> 00:16:36.460
 fancy

00:16:36.460 --> 00:16:36.960
 rituals

00:16:36.960 --> 00:16:38.700
 the

00:16:38.700 --> 00:16:39.040
 church

00:16:39.040 --> 00:16:39.300
 just

00:16:39.300 --> 00:16:39.720
 didn't

00:16:39.720 --> 00:16:39.960
 look

00:16:39.960 --> 00:16:40.220
 as if

00:16:40.220 --> 00:16:40.300
 it

00:16:40.300 --> 00:16:40.440
 was

00:16:40.440 --> 00:16:40.759
 cutting

00:16:40.759 --> 00:16:41.000
 it

00:16:41.000 --> 00:16:44.840
 and

00:16:44.840 --> 00:16:45.040
 how

00:16:45.040 --> 00:16:45.280
 does

00:16:45.280 --> 00:16:45.620
 the

00:16:45.620 --> 00:16:45.840
 writer

00:16:45.840 --> 00:16:46.379
 encourage

00:16:46.379 --> 00:16:46.540
 them

00:16:46.540 --> 00:16:46.740
 then

00:16:46.740 --> 00:16:46.980
 in

00:16:46.980 --> 00:16:47.120
 their

00:16:47.120 --> 00:16:47.379
 daily

00:16:47.379 --> 00:16:48.040
 experience

00:16:48.040 --> 00:16:48.200
 of

00:16:48.200 --> 00:16:48.540
 awful

00:16:48.540 --> 00:16:49.220
 persecution

00:16:49.220 --> 00:16:49.540
 and

00:16:49.540 --> 00:16:49.920
 suffering

00:16:49.920 --> 00:16:50.240
 from

00:16:50.240 --> 00:16:50.600
 Jews

00:16:50.600 --> 00:16:50.820
 and

00:16:50.820 --> 00:16:51.100
 Romans

00:16:51.100 --> 00:16:51.500
 alike

00:16:51.500 --> 00:16:53.720
 well

00:16:53.720 --> 00:16:55.180
 he

00:16:55.180 --> 00:16:55.700
 presents

00:16:55.700 --> 00:16:55.960
 a

00:16:55.960 --> 00:16:56.320
 picture

00:16:56.320 --> 00:16:56.639
 of

00:16:56.639 --> 00:16:57.040
 God's

00:16:57.040 --> 00:16:57.540
 church

00:16:57.540 --> 00:16:58.460
 as

00:16:58.460 --> 00:16:58.700
 seen

00:16:58.700 --> 00:16:58.980
 through

00:16:58.980 --> 00:16:59.360
 God's

00:16:59.360 --> 00:16:59.700
 eyes

00:16:59.700 --> 00:17:01.980
 beautiful

00:17:01.980 --> 00:17:03.420
 precious

00:17:03.420 --> 00:17:04.600
 built

00:17:04.600 --> 00:17:04.960
 around

00:17:04.960 --> 00:17:05.500
 Jesus

00:17:05.500 --> 00:17:07.500
 and

00:17:07.500 --> 00:17:08.380
 unshakable

00:17:08.380 --> 00:17:17.339
 so

00:17:17.339 --> 00:17:18.460
 diving

00:17:18.460 --> 00:17:18.700
 into

00:17:18.700 --> 00:17:18.880
 some

00:17:18.880 --> 00:17:19.079
 of the

00:17:19.079 --> 00:17:19.380
 points

00:17:19.380 --> 00:17:19.579
 then

00:17:19.579 --> 00:17:19.839
 I want

00:17:19.839 --> 00:17:20.279
 to make

00:17:20.279 --> 00:17:20.619
 this morning

00:17:20.619 --> 00:17:21.380
 primarily

00:17:21.380 --> 00:17:22.240
 from these

00:17:22.240 --> 00:17:22.759
 verses

00:17:22.759 --> 00:17:23.339
 primarily

00:17:23.339 --> 00:17:23.619
 the

00:17:23.619 --> 00:17:24.079
 church

00:17:24.079 --> 00:17:24.440
 is

00:17:24.440 --> 00:17:24.900
 God's

00:17:24.900 --> 00:17:25.440
 gathering

00:17:25.440 --> 00:17:26.259
 of his

00:17:26.259 --> 00:17:26.720
 saved

00:17:26.720 --> 00:17:27.000
 or

00:17:27.000 --> 00:17:27.579
 redeemed

00:17:27.579 --> 00:17:28.279
 people

00:17:28.279 --> 00:17:29.119
 and

00:17:29.119 --> 00:17:29.480
 the

00:17:29.480 --> 00:17:30.000
 Greek

00:17:30.000 --> 00:17:30.259
 word

00:17:30.259 --> 00:17:30.539
 for

00:17:30.539 --> 00:17:30.900
 church

00:17:30.900 --> 00:17:31.099
 is

00:17:31.099 --> 00:17:31.680
 ekklesia

00:17:31.680 --> 00:17:33.940
 now

00:17:33.940 --> 00:17:34.079
 if you

00:17:34.079 --> 00:17:34.299
 look at

00:17:34.299 --> 00:17:34.480
 some

00:17:34.480 --> 00:17:34.700
 of these

00:17:34.700 --> 00:17:35.059
 verses

00:17:35.059 --> 00:17:36.379
 18

00:17:36.379 --> 00:17:37.119
 and

00:17:37.119 --> 00:17:37.279
 then

00:17:37.279 --> 00:17:37.519
 verse

00:17:37.519 --> 00:17:38.019
 22

00:17:38.019 --> 00:17:38.960
 the

00:17:38.960 --> 00:17:39.720
 passage

00:17:39.720 --> 00:17:40.179
 is put

00:17:40.179 --> 00:17:40.579
 together

00:17:40.579 --> 00:17:41.159
 with

00:17:41.159 --> 00:17:41.480
 lots

00:17:41.480 --> 00:17:41.779
 of

00:17:41.779 --> 00:17:42.519
 Old

00:17:42.519 --> 00:17:43.039
 Testament

00:17:43.039 --> 00:17:43.619
 pictures

00:17:43.619 --> 00:17:43.919
 to

00:17:43.919 --> 00:17:44.379
 describe

00:17:44.379 --> 00:17:44.659
 things

00:17:44.659 --> 00:17:44.819
 but

00:17:44.819 --> 00:17:45.200
 essentially

00:17:45.200 --> 00:17:45.419
 the

00:17:45.419 --> 00:17:45.720
 passage

00:17:45.720 --> 00:17:45.899
 is

00:17:45.899 --> 00:17:46.059
 just

00:17:46.059 --> 00:17:46.220
 a

00:17:46.220 --> 00:17:46.500
 series

00:17:46.500 --> 00:17:46.679
 of

00:17:46.679 --> 00:17:47.179
 really

00:17:47.179 --> 00:17:47.819
 strong

00:17:47.819 --> 00:17:49.059
 contrasts

00:17:49.059 --> 00:17:51.480
 verse

00:17:51.480 --> 00:17:51.940
 18

00:17:51.940 --> 00:17:53.220
 powerful

00:17:53.220 --> 00:17:53.819
 contrast

00:17:53.819 --> 00:17:54.179
 between

00:17:54.179 --> 00:17:54.700
 God's

00:17:54.700 --> 00:17:55.240
 gathering

00:17:55.240 --> 00:17:56.099
 or

00:17:56.099 --> 00:17:56.799
 assembling

00:17:56.799 --> 00:17:57.179
 or

00:17:57.179 --> 00:17:57.819
 churching

00:17:57.819 --> 00:17:58.039
 of his

00:17:58.039 --> 00:17:58.279
 people

00:17:58.279 --> 00:17:58.480
 at

00:17:58.480 --> 00:17:58.740
 Mount

00:17:58.740 --> 00:17:59.339
 Sinai

00:17:59.339 --> 00:18:01.959
 and

00:18:01.959 --> 00:18:02.459
 verse

00:18:02.459 --> 00:18:02.879
 22

00:18:02.879 --> 00:18:03.159
 his

00:18:03.159 --> 00:18:03.759
 gathering

00:18:03.759 --> 00:18:04.599
 assembling

00:18:04.599 --> 00:18:04.899
 or

00:18:04.899 --> 00:18:05.339
 church

00:18:05.339 --> 00:18:05.599
 of his

00:18:05.599 --> 00:18:06.740
 people

00:18:06.740 --> 00:18:08.059
 in the

00:18:08.059 --> 00:18:08.339
 heavenly

00:18:08.339 --> 00:18:08.839
 Jerusalem

00:18:08.839 --> 00:18:11.539
 it's a

00:18:11.539 --> 00:18:11.980
 before and

00:18:11.980 --> 00:18:12.259
 after

00:18:12.259 --> 00:18:12.659
 picture

00:18:12.659 --> 00:18:15.639
 but

00:18:15.639 --> 00:18:16.019
 before we

00:18:16.019 --> 00:18:16.259
 get into

00:18:16.259 --> 00:18:16.379
 the

00:18:16.379 --> 00:18:16.639
 detail

00:18:16.639 --> 00:18:17.079
 I just

00:18:17.079 --> 00:18:17.339
 want to

00:18:17.339 --> 00:18:17.799
 pick up

00:18:17.799 --> 00:18:18.079
 then the

00:18:18.079 --> 00:18:18.459
 fact that

00:18:18.459 --> 00:18:19.019
 churching

00:18:19.019 --> 00:18:19.459
 is about

00:18:19.459 --> 00:18:20.000
 gathering

00:18:20.000 --> 00:18:20.359
 that's

00:18:20.359 --> 00:18:20.679
 the

00:18:20.679 --> 00:18:21.059
 essential

00:18:21.059 --> 00:18:21.819
 concept

00:18:21.819 --> 00:18:22.839
 of

00:18:22.839 --> 00:18:23.339
 the

00:18:23.339 --> 00:18:23.599
 church

00:18:23.599 --> 00:18:23.959
 it's

00:18:23.959 --> 00:18:24.199
 God

00:18:24.199 --> 00:18:24.959
 gathering

00:18:24.959 --> 00:18:25.279
 or

00:18:25.279 --> 00:18:26.000
 assembling

00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:26.720
 or

00:18:26.720 --> 00:18:27.259
 calling

00:18:27.259 --> 00:18:27.640
 out

00:18:27.640 --> 00:18:28.480
 or

00:18:28.480 --> 00:18:29.400
 congregating

00:18:29.400 --> 00:18:29.759
 that's

00:18:29.759 --> 00:18:30.200
 where we

00:18:30.200 --> 00:18:30.440
 get the

00:18:30.440 --> 00:18:30.839
 idea of

00:18:30.839 --> 00:18:31.140
 the word

00:18:31.140 --> 00:18:31.799
 congregation

00:18:31.799 --> 00:18:32.180
 from

00:18:32.180 --> 00:18:32.740
 it's

00:18:32.740 --> 00:18:32.940
 God

00:18:32.940 --> 00:18:33.779
 congregating

00:18:33.779 --> 00:18:33.940
 or

00:18:33.940 --> 00:18:34.420
 bringing

00:18:34.420 --> 00:18:34.940
 together

00:18:34.940 --> 00:18:35.539
 assembling

00:18:35.539 --> 00:18:36.900
 his

00:18:36.900 --> 00:18:37.480
 people

00:18:37.480 --> 00:18:42.920
 and

00:18:42.920 --> 00:18:43.440
 God's

00:18:43.440 --> 00:18:43.980
 commitment

00:18:43.980 --> 00:18:44.240
 to

00:18:44.240 --> 00:18:44.759
 churching

00:18:44.759 --> 00:18:44.960
 his

00:18:44.960 --> 00:18:45.339
 people

00:18:45.339 --> 00:18:45.720
 is

00:18:45.720 --> 00:18:46.180
 evident

00:18:46.180 --> 00:18:46.799
 right

00:18:46.799 --> 00:18:47.240
 across

00:18:47.240 --> 00:18:47.440
 the

00:18:47.440 --> 00:18:47.759
 Bible

00:18:47.759 --> 00:18:49.279
 the

00:18:49.279 --> 00:18:49.500
 Bible

00:18:49.500 --> 00:18:50.099
 starts

00:18:50.099 --> 00:18:50.420
 and

00:18:50.420 --> 00:18:50.880
 finishes

00:18:50.880 --> 00:18:52.019
 with

00:18:52.019 --> 00:18:52.299
 God

00:18:52.299 --> 00:18:52.859
 speaking

00:18:52.859 --> 00:18:53.380
 about

00:18:53.380 --> 00:18:54.380
 gathering

00:18:54.380 --> 00:18:54.759
 his

00:18:54.759 --> 00:18:55.220
 church

00:18:55.220 --> 00:18:55.619
 around

00:18:55.619 --> 00:18:55.920
 him

00:18:55.920 --> 00:18:56.700
 it

00:18:56.700 --> 00:18:57.140
 starts

00:18:57.140 --> 00:18:57.340
 the

00:18:57.340 --> 00:18:57.539
 first

00:18:57.539 --> 00:18:57.880
 picture

00:18:57.880 --> 00:18:58.039
 of

00:18:58.039 --> 00:18:58.480
 churches

00:18:58.480 --> 00:18:58.700
 in

00:18:58.700 --> 00:18:58.980
 Genesis

00:18:58.980 --> 00:18:59.320
 2

00:18:59.320 --> 00:19:00.200
 Adam

00:19:00.200 --> 00:19:00.360
 and

00:19:00.360 --> 00:19:00.539
 Eve

00:19:00.539 --> 00:19:00.720
 were

00:19:00.720 --> 00:19:01.060
 gathered

00:19:01.060 --> 00:19:01.300
 from

00:19:01.300 --> 00:19:01.440
 the

00:19:01.440 --> 00:19:01.680
 world

00:19:01.680 --> 00:19:01.840
 in

00:19:01.840 --> 00:19:02.180
 general

00:19:02.180 --> 00:19:02.380
 as it

00:19:02.380 --> 00:19:02.620
 were

00:19:02.620 --> 00:19:03.380
 into

00:19:03.380 --> 00:19:03.820
 God's

00:19:03.820 --> 00:19:04.420
 special

00:19:04.420 --> 00:19:04.940
 place

00:19:04.940 --> 00:19:05.440
 at

00:19:05.440 --> 00:19:05.539
 the

00:19:05.539 --> 00:19:05.779
 Garden

00:19:05.779 --> 00:19:05.900
 of

00:19:05.900 --> 00:19:06.060
 Eden

00:19:06.060 --> 00:19:06.759
 into

00:19:06.759 --> 00:19:07.279
 special

00:19:07.279 --> 00:19:08.000
 relationship

00:19:08.000 --> 00:19:08.340
 with

00:19:08.340 --> 00:19:08.660
 God

00:19:08.660 --> 00:19:11.000
 which

00:19:11.000 --> 00:19:11.300
 was

00:19:11.300 --> 00:19:11.480
 the

00:19:11.480 --> 00:19:11.660
 good

00:19:11.660 --> 00:19:12.160
 life

00:19:12.160 --> 00:19:16.160
 the

00:19:16.160 --> 00:19:16.360
 good

00:19:16.360 --> 00:19:16.620
 life

00:19:16.620 --> 00:19:16.779
 that

00:19:16.779 --> 00:19:16.940
 God

00:19:16.940 --> 00:19:17.420
 intended

00:19:17.420 --> 00:19:18.180
 but

00:19:18.180 --> 00:19:18.300
 of

00:19:18.300 --> 00:19:18.440
 course

00:19:18.440 --> 00:19:18.620
 then

00:19:18.620 --> 00:19:18.720
 we

00:19:18.720 --> 00:19:18.880
 know

00:19:18.880 --> 00:19:19.080
 from

00:19:19.080 --> 00:19:19.340
 Genesis

00:19:19.340 --> 00:19:19.620
 3

00:19:19.620 --> 00:19:19.800
 that

00:19:19.800 --> 00:19:20.019
 sin

00:19:20.019 --> 00:19:20.400
 wrecked

00:19:20.400 --> 00:19:20.539
 all

00:19:20.539 --> 00:19:20.680
 of

00:19:20.680 --> 00:19:20.980
 that

00:19:20.980 --> 00:19:22.279
 forcing

00:19:22.279 --> 00:19:22.680
 God

00:19:22.680 --> 00:19:22.860
 to

00:19:22.860 --> 00:19:23.340
 disperse

00:19:23.340 --> 00:19:23.480
 his

00:19:23.480 --> 00:19:23.759
 people

00:19:23.759 --> 00:19:24.420
 but

00:19:24.420 --> 00:19:24.600
 as

00:19:24.600 --> 00:19:24.700
 he

00:19:24.700 --> 00:19:25.220
 dispersed

00:19:25.220 --> 00:19:25.420
 his

00:19:25.420 --> 00:19:25.580
 people

00:19:25.580 --> 00:19:25.759
 from

00:19:25.759 --> 00:19:25.900
 the

00:19:25.900 --> 00:19:26.279
 Garden

00:19:26.279 --> 00:19:27.299
 he

00:19:27.299 --> 00:19:27.720
 dispersed

00:19:27.720 --> 00:19:27.940
 them

00:19:27.940 --> 00:19:28.100
 with

00:19:28.100 --> 00:19:28.240
 the

00:19:28.240 --> 00:19:28.680
 promise

00:19:28.680 --> 00:19:28.960
 that

00:19:28.960 --> 00:19:29.200
 in

00:19:29.200 --> 00:19:29.360
 the

00:19:29.360 --> 00:19:29.640
 future

00:19:29.640 --> 00:19:29.819
 he

00:19:29.819 --> 00:19:29.980
 would

00:19:29.980 --> 00:19:30.400
 act

00:19:30.400 --> 00:19:30.960
 to

00:19:30.960 --> 00:19:31.400
 gather

00:19:31.400 --> 00:19:31.700
 them

00:19:31.700 --> 00:19:32.059
 back

00:19:32.059 --> 00:19:32.480
 into

00:19:32.480 --> 00:19:32.860
 that

00:19:32.860 --> 00:19:33.240
 same

00:19:33.240 --> 00:19:33.720
 condition

00:19:33.720 --> 00:19:34.019
 again

00:19:34.019 --> 00:19:34.180
 as

00:19:34.180 --> 00:19:34.539
 in

00:19:34.539 --> 00:19:34.860
 Genesis

00:19:34.860 --> 00:19:35.240
 2

00:19:35.240 --> 00:19:35.559
 2

00:19:35.559 --> 00:19:36.640
 that

00:19:36.640 --> 00:19:36.680
 he

00:19:36.680 --> 00:19:36.799
 would

00:19:36.799 --> 00:19:37.259
 fix

00:19:37.259 --> 00:19:37.480
 the

00:19:37.480 --> 00:19:37.819
 problem

00:19:37.819 --> 00:19:38.000
 and

00:19:38.000 --> 00:19:38.220
 once

00:19:38.220 --> 00:19:38.640
 again

00:19:38.640 --> 00:19:39.620
 call

00:19:39.620 --> 00:19:39.859
 or

00:19:39.859 --> 00:19:40.240
 summon

00:19:40.240 --> 00:19:40.480
 or

00:19:40.480 --> 00:19:40.799
 gather

00:19:40.799 --> 00:19:41.039
 his

00:19:41.039 --> 00:19:41.359
 people

00:19:41.359 --> 00:19:41.700
 into

00:19:41.700 --> 00:19:41.960
 a

00:19:41.960 --> 00:19:42.259
 special

00:19:42.259 --> 00:19:42.720
 place

00:19:42.720 --> 00:19:43.240
 in

00:19:43.240 --> 00:19:43.539
 new

00:19:43.539 --> 00:19:44.120
 relationship

00:19:44.120 --> 00:19:44.440
 with

00:19:44.440 --> 00:19:44.579
 them

00:19:44.579 --> 00:19:46.079
 and

00:19:46.079 --> 00:19:46.299
 with

00:19:46.299 --> 00:19:46.519
 the

00:19:46.519 --> 00:19:47.079
 internal

00:19:47.079 --> 00:19:48.039
 inheritance

00:19:48.039 --> 00:19:48.279
 of

00:19:48.279 --> 00:19:48.539
 heaven

00:19:48.539 --> 00:19:52.279
 and

00:19:52.279 --> 00:19:52.519
 that's

00:19:52.519 --> 00:19:52.859
 exactly

00:19:52.859 --> 00:19:53.160
 what we

00:19:53.160 --> 00:19:53.380
 see

00:19:53.380 --> 00:19:53.740
 when we

00:19:53.740 --> 00:19:53.920
 jump

00:19:53.920 --> 00:19:54.279
 across

00:19:54.279 --> 00:19:54.440
 then

00:19:54.440 --> 00:19:54.620
 from

00:19:54.620 --> 00:19:54.960
 Genesis

00:19:54.960 --> 00:19:55.480
 2

00:19:55.480 --> 00:19:55.660
 and

00:19:55.660 --> 00:19:55.880
 3

00:19:55.880 --> 00:19:56.279
 to

00:19:56.279 --> 00:19:56.700
 Exodus

00:19:56.700 --> 00:19:57.279
 19

00:19:57.279 --> 00:20:01.399
 God gathers his people out of Egypt

00:20:01.399 --> 00:20:02.579
 where they'd been in slavery

00:20:02.579 --> 00:20:06.279
 and he brings them to himself at Mount Sinai.

00:20:09.299 --> 00:20:11.619
 Gathers them to himself, new relationship,

00:20:11.819 --> 00:20:13.899
 I will be your God and you will be my people.

00:20:15.139 --> 00:20:17.819
 And once again, it's a picture of the life of blessing.

00:20:18.740 --> 00:20:21.940
 The life that God intended his people to have

00:20:21.940 --> 00:20:25.720
 as they were gathered around him and enjoying his blessing.

00:20:27.279 --> 00:20:35.759
 And that means then also that God's gathering of his people

00:20:35.759 --> 00:20:37.980
 has always been central to his purpose

00:20:37.980 --> 00:20:41.740
 and finally achieved in Christ.

00:20:42.399 --> 00:20:43.539
 If you look at verse 23,

00:20:45.200 --> 00:20:49.559
 this is the verse that Matt helpfully focused on

00:20:49.559 --> 00:20:51.220
 and made me really nervous to start with.

00:20:52.399 --> 00:20:54.500
 Verse 22, you've come to Mount Zion

00:20:54.500 --> 00:20:56.019
 unto the city of the living God,

00:20:56.200 --> 00:20:57.180
 the heavenly Jerusalem,

00:20:57.279 --> 00:20:59.799
 unto innumerable ages in festal gathering,

00:21:00.799 --> 00:21:03.339
 unto the assembly of the firstborn, and so on and so forth.

00:21:03.559 --> 00:21:06.799
 Now there's a lot of remote pictures in there

00:21:06.799 --> 00:21:08.019
 that are Old Testament pictures

00:21:08.019 --> 00:21:11.079
 coming from the time of the Exodus.

00:21:15.019 --> 00:21:17.220
 But the main thing, just start with the main thing

00:21:17.220 --> 00:21:18.700
 and then we'll say a couple of things

00:21:18.700 --> 00:21:19.980
 about the other, the detailed pictures.

00:21:20.059 --> 00:21:22.660
 The main thing is that the focus of that verse

00:21:22.660 --> 00:21:27.320
 is on what Jesus has done to establish the church,

00:21:27.560 --> 00:21:29.480
 to gather God's people.

00:21:34.880 --> 00:21:36.500
 God's purpose has never changed.

00:21:38.620 --> 00:21:39.759
 Right through the Bible,

00:21:39.860 --> 00:21:41.460
 his purpose has been to gather his people,

00:21:41.460 --> 00:21:44.680
 but now the end point has been achieved.

00:21:45.980 --> 00:21:47.940
 God's people are now gathered,

00:21:48.620 --> 00:21:49.819
 are now churched,

00:21:49.880 --> 00:21:51.900
 are now finally and completely

00:21:51.900 --> 00:21:53.840
 around Jesus.

00:21:53.839 --> 00:21:58.159
 It is what he has done

00:21:58.159 --> 00:22:01.459
 that has actually brought God's purpose

00:22:01.459 --> 00:22:02.199
 to fruition.

00:22:03.459 --> 00:22:05.500
 What he has done through his death

00:22:05.500 --> 00:22:05.959
 and resurrection.

00:22:06.539 --> 00:22:07.799
 The rest of those things in there,

00:22:07.879 --> 00:22:08.839
 I don't have time to gain to,

00:22:08.939 --> 00:22:10.119
 but I can talk to anybody

00:22:10.119 --> 00:22:10.980
 who wants to talk about it.

00:22:11.199 --> 00:22:12.419
 They're just pictures,

00:22:12.679 --> 00:22:14.119
 different pictures from the Old Testament

00:22:14.119 --> 00:22:16.879
 of what Christians are

00:22:16.879 --> 00:22:21.599
 as viewed through God's eyes.

00:22:25.059 --> 00:22:26.399
 The main point being

00:22:26.399 --> 00:22:28.319
 that Jesus is the one

00:22:28.319 --> 00:22:30.779
 who has finally brought this assembly,

00:22:30.939 --> 00:22:32.339
 this church in God's people

00:22:32.339 --> 00:22:33.099
 to completion.

00:22:34.139 --> 00:22:35.279
 And verse, the end of verse 22,

00:22:35.459 --> 00:22:36.559
 second part of verse 22,

00:22:37.019 --> 00:22:38.759
 it's a festal gathering.

00:22:38.759 --> 00:22:40.939
 That is, it's a joyful,

00:22:41.859 --> 00:22:43.559
 triumphant celebratory.

00:22:44.739 --> 00:22:45.899
 Gathering and community.

00:22:46.779 --> 00:22:47.419
 Why is it that?

00:22:47.799 --> 00:22:49.019
 Because it's complete.

00:22:49.199 --> 00:22:50.000
 Because it's finally,

00:22:50.099 --> 00:22:51.119
 it is the end point

00:22:51.119 --> 00:22:52.459
 that God has been working for

00:22:52.459 --> 00:22:53.959
 right throughout history.

00:22:56.779 --> 00:22:58.459
 His people are gathered now

00:22:58.459 --> 00:23:01.299
 in Jesus around him.

00:23:02.919 --> 00:23:04.319
 It's Christ's death,

00:23:04.879 --> 00:23:05.559
 verse 24,

00:23:05.719 --> 00:23:07.639
 that achieves God's purposes

00:23:07.639 --> 00:23:09.739
 because it deals with sin

00:23:09.739 --> 00:23:11.399
 and restores his people

00:23:11.399 --> 00:23:12.839
 to perfect relationship with God

00:23:12.839 --> 00:23:15.339
 and secures the ultimate community

00:23:15.339 --> 00:23:17.779
 or inheritance of God's people

00:23:17.779 --> 00:23:18.779
 which is heaven.

00:23:20.179 --> 00:23:21.980
 Heaven tested now

00:23:21.980 --> 00:23:25.139
 in Christ died for

00:23:25.139 --> 00:23:26.839
 resurrection community

00:23:26.839 --> 00:23:28.119
 of church families.

00:23:30.019 --> 00:23:30.279
 Now,

00:23:30.839 --> 00:23:32.919
 that's complicated

00:23:32.919 --> 00:23:33.939
 in the way it's put there

00:23:33.939 --> 00:23:36.319
 but it's exactly in line

00:23:36.319 --> 00:23:37.980
 with what Jesus himself says

00:23:37.980 --> 00:23:39.879
 back in Matthew chapter 16,

00:23:39.880 --> 00:23:40.440
 verse 18.

00:23:40.560 --> 00:23:40.660
 So,

00:23:40.860 --> 00:23:42.040
 if you want to turn back,

00:23:42.100 --> 00:23:42.460
 if not,

00:23:42.540 --> 00:23:43.500
 just mark it and check it

00:23:43.500 --> 00:23:44.680
 at home sometime for yourself.

00:23:45.480 --> 00:23:46.800
 We looked at that a few weeks ago

00:23:46.800 --> 00:23:47.880
 when we were looking through Matthew.

00:23:50.300 --> 00:23:51.260
 It's a very,

00:23:51.380 --> 00:23:52.500
 very profound statement

00:23:52.500 --> 00:23:53.200
 of church

00:23:53.200 --> 00:23:55.400
 in Matthew chapter 16,

00:23:55.500 --> 00:23:56.040
 verse 18.

00:23:56.039 --> 00:23:59.819
 The first 16 chapters

00:23:59.819 --> 00:24:00.480
 of Matthew

00:24:00.480 --> 00:24:01.899
 has been given over

00:24:01.899 --> 00:24:03.059
 to establishing

00:24:03.059 --> 00:24:04.039
 and nurturing,

00:24:04.480 --> 00:24:05.480
 Jesus establishing

00:24:05.480 --> 00:24:06.659
 and nurturing disciples

00:24:06.659 --> 00:24:08.259
 into that final point

00:24:08.259 --> 00:24:08.680
 of saying,

00:24:09.139 --> 00:24:09.379
 okay,

00:24:09.839 --> 00:24:10.720
 who am I?

00:24:11.559 --> 00:24:12.879
 And they get to that point

00:24:12.879 --> 00:24:13.799
 where the disciples say,

00:24:14.619 --> 00:24:14.980
 wow,

00:24:15.200 --> 00:24:16.940
 you are God.

00:24:17.539 --> 00:24:18.519
 You are Messiah.

00:24:18.639 --> 00:24:19.720
 You are God's King and Savior.

00:24:19.819 --> 00:24:20.740
 The one who had been promised.

00:24:21.079 --> 00:24:22.559
 The one who had been promised

00:24:22.559 --> 00:24:23.119
 to come

00:24:23.119 --> 00:24:25.839
 and bring God's people back

00:24:25.839 --> 00:24:27.339
 into relationship with him,

00:24:27.459 --> 00:24:28.519
 into community with him.

00:24:31.399 --> 00:24:32.559
 And with that,

00:24:33.199 --> 00:24:34.299
 now that it's been established

00:24:34.299 --> 00:24:35.239
 who he is,

00:24:36.239 --> 00:24:37.259
 Jesus immediately

00:24:37.259 --> 00:24:38.959
 goes on to say

00:24:38.959 --> 00:24:40.239
 what he has come to do.

00:24:40.679 --> 00:24:41.239
 Verse 18,

00:24:43.019 --> 00:24:43.899
 he has come to

00:24:43.899 --> 00:24:45.879
 build his church,

00:24:46.059 --> 00:24:47.500
 establish and build his church.

00:24:47.500 --> 00:24:50.680
 In Matthew chapter 4,

00:24:51.299 --> 00:24:51.720
 it was saying

00:24:51.720 --> 00:24:52.180
 that he had come

00:24:52.180 --> 00:24:52.819
 to establish

00:24:52.819 --> 00:24:53.859
 and build the kingdom of heaven.

00:24:54.140 --> 00:24:55.400
 The two are interchangeable.

00:24:59.440 --> 00:25:00.240
 Jesus has come

00:25:00.240 --> 00:25:01.460
 to build his church.

00:25:03.240 --> 00:25:04.019
 And it would be

00:25:04.019 --> 00:25:04.859
 a precious,

00:25:05.960 --> 00:25:06.859
 unshaggable

00:25:06.859 --> 00:25:08.900
 community.

00:25:08.900 --> 00:25:16.180
 The means to that end,

00:25:16.759 --> 00:25:18.120
 Matthew chapter 16,

00:25:18.200 --> 00:25:18.780
 verse 21.

00:25:20.160 --> 00:25:21.080
 Jesus then goes on

00:25:21.080 --> 00:25:21.759
 to speak about

00:25:21.759 --> 00:25:22.360
 his death

00:25:22.360 --> 00:25:23.120
 and resurrection

00:25:23.120 --> 00:25:24.280
 coming up

00:25:24.280 --> 00:25:24.860
 in Jerusalem.

00:25:26.300 --> 00:25:26.780
 The order

00:25:26.780 --> 00:25:27.580
 is very important.

00:25:28.940 --> 00:25:30.220
 The end point

00:25:30.220 --> 00:25:31.440
 that Jesus comes for

00:25:31.440 --> 00:25:32.700
 is the establishing

00:25:32.700 --> 00:25:33.660
 of the church.

00:25:34.560 --> 00:25:35.620
 That's the community.

00:25:36.460 --> 00:25:37.900
 The means to that end

00:25:37.900 --> 00:25:39.780
 is people being saved

00:25:39.780 --> 00:25:40.660
 individually

00:25:40.660 --> 00:25:42.100
 through the death

00:25:42.100 --> 00:25:42.640
 of Christ.

00:25:51.780 --> 00:25:52.800
 So the church,

00:25:52.940 --> 00:25:53.380
 my friends,

00:25:53.519 --> 00:25:54.980
 is God's big idea.

00:25:57.320 --> 00:25:58.920
 The notion of the church

00:25:58.920 --> 00:26:00.519
 spans the whole

00:26:00.519 --> 00:26:01.320
 of the Bible,

00:26:01.720 --> 00:26:02.280
 the whole

00:26:02.280 --> 00:26:03.460
 of biblical history,

00:26:04.360 --> 00:26:04.840
 the whole

00:26:04.840 --> 00:26:05.740
 of world history.

00:26:07.240 --> 00:26:07.440
 Now,

00:26:07.440 --> 00:26:08.240
 why do I say that?

00:26:08.360 --> 00:26:08.559
 Well,

00:26:09.640 --> 00:26:10.420
 you might think

00:26:10.420 --> 00:26:10.920
 I'm being a bit

00:26:10.920 --> 00:26:11.580
 defensive here,

00:26:11.660 --> 00:26:12.779
 but I've come across

00:26:12.779 --> 00:26:14.120
 it so many times

00:26:14.120 --> 00:26:15.420
 that Christians think

00:26:15.420 --> 00:26:16.320
 that the notion

00:26:16.320 --> 00:26:16.920
 of church

00:26:16.920 --> 00:26:18.160
 is just a notion

00:26:18.160 --> 00:26:19.200
 that's been beat up

00:26:19.200 --> 00:26:20.120
 by pastors

00:26:20.120 --> 00:26:22.000
 as a means

00:26:22.000 --> 00:26:23.000
 of controlling people

00:26:23.000 --> 00:26:25.000
 and getting them

00:26:25.000 --> 00:26:25.559
 to be committed

00:26:25.559 --> 00:26:26.100
 to things.

00:26:27.400 --> 00:26:27.600
 Now,

00:26:27.600 --> 00:26:28.500
 I'm sure pastors

00:26:28.500 --> 00:26:29.380
 have used it that way.

00:26:30.420 --> 00:26:31.580
 No question at all.

00:26:31.900 --> 00:26:32.799
 Perhaps even I've done it.

00:26:32.920 --> 00:26:33.539
 Hopefully I haven't.

00:26:33.600 --> 00:26:33.960
 If I have,

00:26:34.039 --> 00:26:34.820
 come and tell me afterwards.

00:26:34.819 --> 00:26:35.899
 Don't stand up

00:26:35.899 --> 00:26:36.899
 and wave your hand now

00:26:36.899 --> 00:26:37.379
 because that would be

00:26:37.379 --> 00:26:38.059
 terribly embarrassing

00:26:38.059 --> 00:26:38.960
 if you all stood up.

00:26:41.700 --> 00:26:42.639
 You shouldn't have been laughing.

00:26:42.720 --> 00:26:43.619
 That was a serious point.

00:26:44.960 --> 00:26:45.319
 Yeah,

00:26:45.480 --> 00:26:45.679
 okay,

00:26:45.740 --> 00:26:45.899
 anyway,

00:26:45.899 --> 00:26:46.539
 let's just move on.

00:26:46.759 --> 00:26:46.839
 Yeah,

00:26:47.000 --> 00:26:47.980
 so no doubt

00:26:47.980 --> 00:26:48.679
 some pastors

00:26:48.679 --> 00:26:49.359
 have used it like that,

00:26:49.480 --> 00:26:50.099
 but the point is

00:26:50.099 --> 00:26:51.460
 the church is God's idea,

00:26:51.939 --> 00:26:53.019
 has been from the beginning,

00:26:54.059 --> 00:26:54.439
 and it's been

00:26:54.439 --> 00:26:55.839
 such a costly idea.

00:26:56.240 --> 00:26:56.779
 It cost him

00:26:56.779 --> 00:26:57.720
 the life of his son,

00:26:57.720 --> 00:26:59.799
 and that was what

00:26:59.799 --> 00:27:00.980
 Jesus had in mind

00:27:00.980 --> 00:27:01.620
 when he died,

00:27:02.779 --> 00:27:04.180
 that he was establishing,

00:27:04.640 --> 00:27:05.559
 he was doing that

00:27:05.559 --> 00:27:06.299
 which was necessary

00:27:06.299 --> 00:27:07.319
 to bring together

00:27:07.319 --> 00:27:07.900
 a community

00:27:07.900 --> 00:27:08.640
 of God's people

00:27:08.640 --> 00:27:10.019
 as it had been

00:27:10.019 --> 00:27:10.920
 in Genesis 2

00:27:10.920 --> 00:27:14.400
 and as God had promised

00:27:14.400 --> 00:27:15.519
 it would be once again.

00:27:21.680 --> 00:27:22.600
 God's purpose

00:27:22.600 --> 00:27:24.420
 in his world

00:27:24.420 --> 00:27:25.980
 has never simply been

00:27:25.980 --> 00:27:27.559
 to save people

00:27:27.559 --> 00:27:28.259
 from their sin

00:27:28.259 --> 00:27:29.339
 as a solitary,

00:27:30.519 --> 00:27:32.180
 individualistic experience.

00:27:34.000 --> 00:27:34.380
 Yes,

00:27:34.599 --> 00:27:35.680
 every single person

00:27:35.680 --> 00:27:36.860
 here as a Christian

00:27:36.860 --> 00:27:38.380
 has been saved

00:27:38.380 --> 00:27:39.279
 as an individual.

00:27:39.460 --> 00:27:39.980
 There's no question

00:27:39.980 --> 00:27:40.420
 about that,

00:27:40.660 --> 00:27:41.339
 but God's purpose

00:27:41.339 --> 00:27:42.299
 has never been

00:27:42.299 --> 00:27:43.259
 to save people

00:27:43.259 --> 00:27:45.319
 as an individualistic experience.

00:27:47.640 --> 00:27:48.660
 People are saved

00:27:48.660 --> 00:27:49.620
 one by one,

00:27:50.000 --> 00:27:51.059
 but ultimately

00:27:51.059 --> 00:27:52.019
 this is God

00:27:52.019 --> 00:27:53.660
 gathering his church,

00:27:55.259 --> 00:27:55.960
 building

00:27:55.980 --> 00:27:56.839
 the community

00:27:56.839 --> 00:27:58.799
 of died-for people.

00:27:59.200 --> 00:28:00.440
 That is his end point.

00:28:05.099 --> 00:28:05.940
 And the church,

00:28:06.059 --> 00:28:06.259
 therefore,

00:28:06.440 --> 00:28:06.920
 point three

00:28:06.920 --> 00:28:08.180
 is also the display

00:28:08.180 --> 00:28:08.980
 of God's glory

00:28:08.980 --> 00:28:12.299
 or the verifying data

00:28:12.299 --> 00:28:13.640
 of God's grace

00:28:13.640 --> 00:28:14.339
 and salvation.

00:28:16.799 --> 00:28:17.599
 This is a,

00:28:17.640 --> 00:28:18.380
 that's a quotation

00:28:18.380 --> 00:28:18.920
 from somewhere,

00:28:19.019 --> 00:28:19.860
 but I didn't write down

00:28:19.860 --> 00:28:20.860
 who the quotation

00:28:20.860 --> 00:28:21.360
 was from,

00:28:21.480 --> 00:28:22.579
 so I have no idea

00:28:22.579 --> 00:28:23.339
 where I got it from.

00:28:23.400 --> 00:28:23.819
 I've stolen it

00:28:23.819 --> 00:28:24.240
 from somebody.

00:28:24.240 --> 00:28:25.440
 It's the verifying data

00:28:25.440 --> 00:28:26.319
 of God's grace

00:28:26.319 --> 00:28:27.019
 in salvation.

00:28:28.160 --> 00:28:28.620
 Again,

00:28:28.700 --> 00:28:29.480
 another strong

00:28:29.480 --> 00:28:30.319
 before and after

00:28:30.319 --> 00:28:31.299
 picture in these verses.

00:28:31.880 --> 00:28:32.579
 Look at verses

00:28:32.579 --> 00:28:34.180
 18 through to 21.

00:28:35.000 --> 00:28:35.920
 For you have come,

00:28:36.339 --> 00:28:37.680
 for you have not come

00:28:37.680 --> 00:28:39.140
 to what may be touched,

00:28:39.740 --> 00:28:40.920
 a blazing fire

00:28:40.920 --> 00:28:41.819
 and darkness

00:28:41.819 --> 00:28:42.680
 and gloom

00:28:42.680 --> 00:28:43.620
 and tempest,

00:28:44.299 --> 00:28:44.799
 and the sound

00:28:44.799 --> 00:28:45.259
 of a trumpet

00:28:45.259 --> 00:28:45.779
 and the voice

00:28:45.779 --> 00:28:46.299
 whose words

00:28:46.299 --> 00:28:47.400
 made the hearers beg,

00:28:47.400 --> 00:28:48.800
 no further messages

00:28:48.800 --> 00:28:49.660
 be spoken to them,

00:28:49.980 --> 00:28:50.900
 for they could not

00:28:50.900 --> 00:28:51.840
 endure the order

00:28:51.840 --> 00:28:52.400
 that was given.

00:28:53.720 --> 00:28:55.100
 If even a beast

00:28:55.100 --> 00:28:56.120
 touches the mountain,

00:28:56.380 --> 00:28:57.140
 it shall be stoned.

00:28:58.500 --> 00:28:58.720
 Indeed,

00:28:58.860 --> 00:28:59.560
 so terrifying

00:28:59.560 --> 00:29:00.240
 was the sight

00:29:00.240 --> 00:29:01.259
 that Moses said,

00:29:01.519 --> 00:29:02.600
 I tremble with fear.

00:29:04.820 --> 00:29:05.940
 Before and after picture.

00:29:06.940 --> 00:29:07.860
 It used to be,

00:29:07.920 --> 00:29:08.540
 before Christ,

00:29:08.620 --> 00:29:09.180
 it used to be

00:29:09.180 --> 00:29:10.000
 that God's people

00:29:10.000 --> 00:29:11.500
 gathered before him

00:29:11.500 --> 00:29:14.440
 in the context

00:29:14.440 --> 00:29:15.680
 of his holiness

00:29:15.680 --> 00:29:18.940
 and their unresolved sin.

00:29:20.940 --> 00:29:21.880
 And so quite naturally,

00:29:22.319 --> 00:29:24.720
 it was a terrifying context.

00:29:27.099 --> 00:29:28.859
 And God spoke his word

00:29:28.859 --> 00:29:29.519
 and his holiness

00:29:29.519 --> 00:29:30.660
 became even more evident.

00:29:30.980 --> 00:29:32.039
 If even a beast

00:29:32.039 --> 00:29:32.900
 touches this mountain,

00:29:32.980 --> 00:29:33.359
 I tell you,

00:29:33.420 --> 00:29:34.859
 it will be burned,

00:29:35.019 --> 00:29:35.519
 consumed.

00:29:38.299 --> 00:29:38.920
 Moses said,

00:29:38.960 --> 00:29:39.859
 I tremble with fear.

00:29:41.500 --> 00:29:44.980
 The scrutiny

00:29:44.980 --> 00:29:46.000
 of God's word,

00:29:47.119 --> 00:29:48.099
 threatening judgment

00:29:48.099 --> 00:29:48.740
 for his sin,

00:29:48.960 --> 00:29:49.940
 just left people

00:29:49.940 --> 00:29:51.539
 debilitated before God.

00:29:54.740 --> 00:29:55.740
 But now,

00:29:56.299 --> 00:29:58.200
 verses 22 and 23 and 24,

00:29:58.759 --> 00:29:59.660
 but you have come

00:29:59.660 --> 00:30:00.519
 to Mount Zion

00:30:00.519 --> 00:30:01.460
 and to the city

00:30:01.460 --> 00:30:02.140
 of the living God.

00:30:02.220 --> 00:30:02.720
 And then it goes on

00:30:02.720 --> 00:30:03.279
 to speak about

00:30:03.279 --> 00:30:04.720
 the gathering,

00:30:04.839 --> 00:30:05.319
 the difference

00:30:05.319 --> 00:30:05.920
 in the gathering

00:30:05.920 --> 00:30:07.500
 now in Christ.

00:30:10.180 --> 00:30:11.480
 Because of the word

00:30:11.480 --> 00:30:12.140
 of Christ

00:30:12.140 --> 00:30:12.980
 on our behalf,

00:30:13.720 --> 00:30:14.799
 God's gathered people,

00:30:14.920 --> 00:30:15.779
 God's church,

00:30:16.099 --> 00:30:16.759
 meets now

00:30:16.759 --> 00:30:18.299
 in a totally

00:30:18.299 --> 00:30:19.480
 different context.

00:30:21.319 --> 00:30:22.559
 Now it's perfect.

00:30:22.960 --> 00:30:23.960
 Now it's personal.

00:30:24.360 --> 00:30:25.360
 Now it's unbreakable.

00:30:25.759 --> 00:30:26.900
 Now it's a family

00:30:26.900 --> 00:30:28.200
 relationship with God

00:30:28.200 --> 00:30:29.660
 that's governed by joy

00:30:29.660 --> 00:30:32.740
 and assurance

00:30:32.740 --> 00:30:33.519
 and comfort

00:30:33.519 --> 00:30:35.000
 and confidence,

00:30:35.420 --> 00:30:36.140
 not fear.

00:30:36.140 --> 00:30:40.980
 God's word

00:30:40.980 --> 00:30:42.220
 no longer creates fear

00:30:42.220 --> 00:30:44.640
 but brings grace

00:30:44.640 --> 00:30:46.340
 and comfort

00:30:46.340 --> 00:30:46.980
 and mercy

00:30:46.980 --> 00:30:48.500
 to God's people.

00:30:49.900 --> 00:30:50.320
 And so therefore,

00:30:50.420 --> 00:30:51.980
 the before and after picture

00:30:51.980 --> 00:30:53.640
 with regard to church

00:30:53.640 --> 00:30:54.920
 and church itself

00:30:54.920 --> 00:30:55.640
 there becomes

00:30:55.640 --> 00:30:58.320
 a wonderful testimony

00:30:58.320 --> 00:30:59.860
 to God's grace,

00:31:00.860 --> 00:31:02.980
 to God's character.

00:31:02.980 --> 00:31:07.620
 It's in the church,

00:31:08.099 --> 00:31:10.059
 this community here,

00:31:10.539 --> 00:31:11.720
 it's in the church

00:31:11.720 --> 00:31:12.799
 that we see

00:31:12.799 --> 00:31:15.640
 God's delivery

00:31:15.640 --> 00:31:17.620
 on his promise

00:31:17.620 --> 00:31:19.059
 that he would act

00:31:19.059 --> 00:31:20.059
 to undo the effects

00:31:20.059 --> 00:31:20.480
 of sin

00:31:20.480 --> 00:31:22.400
 and bring people

00:31:22.400 --> 00:31:23.839
 into a special place

00:31:23.839 --> 00:31:25.279
 in special relationship

00:31:25.279 --> 00:31:26.759
 gathered around

00:31:26.759 --> 00:31:27.559
 the Lord Jesus.

00:31:28.539 --> 00:31:29.160
 Perfect

00:31:29.160 --> 00:31:31.600
 community

00:31:31.600 --> 00:31:33.000
 that worships him.

00:31:36.019 --> 00:31:36.860
 And when you look

00:31:36.860 --> 00:31:37.540
 around this community

00:31:37.540 --> 00:31:38.220
 and you see

00:31:38.220 --> 00:31:39.660
 the ragtag bunch

00:31:39.660 --> 00:31:40.560
 of people we are

00:31:40.560 --> 00:31:41.920
 broken,

00:31:42.300 --> 00:31:43.080
 dysfunctional

00:31:43.080 --> 00:31:43.920
 in a hundred,

00:31:44.140 --> 00:31:45.200
 thousand different ways,

00:31:45.980 --> 00:31:47.120
 that speaks

00:31:47.120 --> 00:31:48.500
 of God's grace,

00:31:48.620 --> 00:31:48.940
 doesn't it?

00:31:49.240 --> 00:31:49.960
 God's character.

00:31:57.480 --> 00:31:58.300
 And so

00:31:58.299 --> 00:31:59.859
 the title

00:31:59.859 --> 00:32:00.299
 of the series

00:32:00.299 --> 00:32:00.779
 is right.

00:32:01.240 --> 00:32:02.779
 Church is a wonderful

00:32:02.779 --> 00:32:03.740
 foretaste

00:32:03.740 --> 00:32:04.299
 of heaven.

00:32:08.399 --> 00:32:09.639
 And in this passage

00:32:09.639 --> 00:32:10.680
 the writer moves

00:32:10.680 --> 00:32:11.460
 seamlessly

00:32:11.460 --> 00:32:13.599
 between heaven,

00:32:14.480 --> 00:32:15.519
 which is the ultimate

00:32:15.519 --> 00:32:16.480
 headquarters

00:32:16.480 --> 00:32:18.139
 of God's church

00:32:18.139 --> 00:32:18.879
 or God's died

00:32:18.879 --> 00:32:19.539
 for community,

00:32:20.319 --> 00:32:21.460
 and the immediate

00:32:21.460 --> 00:32:22.779
 context of his writing.

00:32:23.940 --> 00:32:25.319
 These ordinary believers,

00:32:25.519 --> 00:32:26.099
 men and women,

00:32:26.259 --> 00:32:26.919
 boys and girls,

00:32:27.460 --> 00:32:28.139
 scattered around

00:32:28.140 --> 00:32:29.620
 the Roman Empire,

00:32:30.060 --> 00:32:31.120
 suffering daily,

00:32:32.520 --> 00:32:33.820
 bending under

00:32:33.820 --> 00:32:34.420
 persecution,

00:32:35.460 --> 00:32:36.220
 just struggling

00:32:36.220 --> 00:32:36.720
 to get through

00:32:36.720 --> 00:32:37.480
 one day

00:32:37.480 --> 00:32:38.320
 after the next.

00:32:41.700 --> 00:32:42.400
 What's said

00:32:42.400 --> 00:32:43.080
 about heaven

00:32:43.080 --> 00:32:44.340
 is said

00:32:44.340 --> 00:32:44.900
 about that

00:32:44.900 --> 00:32:46.259
 motley group

00:32:46.259 --> 00:32:46.640
 of people.

00:32:47.800 --> 00:32:48.680
 The community

00:32:48.680 --> 00:32:49.100
 have died

00:32:49.100 --> 00:32:49.620
 for people.

00:32:49.619 --> 00:32:52.199
 God's church

00:32:52.199 --> 00:32:56.899
 is expressed

00:32:56.899 --> 00:32:57.379
 in the

00:32:57.379 --> 00:32:59.039
 picture of God's

00:32:59.039 --> 00:32:59.479
 church

00:32:59.479 --> 00:33:00.919
 is expressed

00:33:00.919 --> 00:33:02.179
 in local church

00:33:02.179 --> 00:33:03.119
 families like this one.

00:33:03.799 --> 00:33:04.519
 But that comes in

00:33:04.519 --> 00:33:05.379
 Ephesians 2 and 3,

00:33:05.459 --> 00:33:05.879
 and as I say,

00:33:05.939 --> 00:33:06.539
 we'll dig into that

00:33:06.539 --> 00:33:07.099
 a little bit more

00:33:07.099 --> 00:33:07.699
 next week.

00:33:09.399 --> 00:33:10.359
 But the point I just

00:33:10.359 --> 00:33:10.799
 want to make

00:33:10.799 --> 00:33:11.719
 in passing this morning

00:33:11.719 --> 00:33:12.199
 is that

00:33:12.199 --> 00:33:13.039
 as the writer

00:33:13.039 --> 00:33:14.019
 moves seamlessly

00:33:14.019 --> 00:33:15.599
 from heaven,

00:33:16.459 --> 00:33:17.019
 the ultimate

00:33:17.019 --> 00:33:17.739
 headquarters of

00:33:17.740 --> 00:33:18.599
 God's church,

00:33:19.759 --> 00:33:21.120
 to the daily

00:33:21.120 --> 00:33:22.660
 work-a-day world

00:33:22.660 --> 00:33:23.960
 context

00:33:23.960 --> 00:33:25.579
 of God's church,

00:33:26.099 --> 00:33:26.740
 with all its

00:33:26.740 --> 00:33:27.200
 failings,

00:33:27.319 --> 00:33:28.259
 with all its fears,

00:33:28.720 --> 00:33:29.299
 with all its

00:33:29.299 --> 00:33:29.940
 imperfections,

00:33:30.339 --> 00:33:31.200
 as the writer

00:33:31.200 --> 00:33:32.140
 moves between

00:33:32.140 --> 00:33:33.000
 those two,

00:33:33.059 --> 00:33:33.559
 then what we can

00:33:33.559 --> 00:33:34.220
 say is this,

00:33:35.220 --> 00:33:36.259
 that church

00:33:36.259 --> 00:33:36.880
 for us

00:33:36.880 --> 00:33:37.940
 is not like

00:33:37.940 --> 00:33:39.099
 a third-class

00:33:39.099 --> 00:33:39.920
 waiting room

00:33:39.920 --> 00:33:42.440
 while we wait

00:33:42.440 --> 00:33:42.900
 for our

00:33:42.900 --> 00:33:43.799
 first-class

00:33:43.799 --> 00:33:44.220
 accommodation

00:33:44.220 --> 00:33:44.799
 in heaven

00:33:44.799 --> 00:33:45.500
 when we die.

00:33:48.720 --> 00:33:49.360
 I think

00:33:49.360 --> 00:33:49.759
 that's how

00:33:49.759 --> 00:33:50.839
 many Christians

00:33:50.839 --> 00:33:51.640
 view the church.

00:33:54.299 --> 00:33:54.940
 It's something

00:33:54.940 --> 00:33:55.660
 I'd prefer not

00:33:55.660 --> 00:33:56.259
 to be in,

00:33:56.339 --> 00:33:57.960
 but this is

00:33:57.960 --> 00:33:58.519
 the waiting room.

00:33:59.779 --> 00:34:00.640
 But one day

00:34:00.640 --> 00:34:01.160
 I'll be in the

00:34:01.160 --> 00:34:01.779
 real place.

00:34:03.880 --> 00:34:04.600
 There's a sense

00:34:04.600 --> 00:34:05.220
 in which that's

00:34:05.220 --> 00:34:05.519
 true,

00:34:05.940 --> 00:34:06.480
 but there's another

00:34:06.480 --> 00:34:07.039
 sense in which

00:34:07.039 --> 00:34:07.940
 it's terribly

00:34:07.940 --> 00:34:08.519
 untrue.

00:34:11.519 --> 00:34:12.720
 We are now

00:34:12.719 --> 00:34:13.599
 gathered in

00:34:13.599 --> 00:34:14.279
 this place,

00:34:15.279 --> 00:34:16.219
 God's YouTube

00:34:16.219 --> 00:34:17.039
 clip,

00:34:17.259 --> 00:34:17.879
 God's YouTube

00:34:17.879 --> 00:34:18.599
 video,

00:34:19.719 --> 00:34:20.500
 demonstrating

00:34:20.500 --> 00:34:21.579
 God's wisdom

00:34:21.579 --> 00:34:22.519
 and glory

00:34:22.519 --> 00:34:23.359
 in salvation

00:34:23.359 --> 00:34:25.980
 as we live

00:34:25.980 --> 00:34:26.819
 out in practice

00:34:26.819 --> 00:34:27.919
 the life-changing

00:34:27.919 --> 00:34:28.559
 power of the

00:34:28.559 --> 00:34:28.859
 gospel.

00:34:32.719 --> 00:34:33.480
 That's what

00:34:33.480 --> 00:34:33.899
 God,

00:34:34.019 --> 00:34:34.379
 that's how

00:34:34.379 --> 00:34:34.879
 God views

00:34:34.879 --> 00:34:35.439
 his church.

00:34:37.119 --> 00:34:37.939
 Do we do

00:34:37.939 --> 00:34:38.319
 it well?

00:34:38.559 --> 00:34:38.839
 No.

00:34:39.959 --> 00:34:40.879
 Do we struggle

00:34:40.879 --> 00:34:41.419
 to do it well?

00:34:41.500 --> 00:34:41.639
 Well,

00:34:41.659 --> 00:34:42.399
 I hope we do.

00:34:42.719 --> 00:34:45.139
 Either of those

00:34:45.139 --> 00:34:45.659
 two things are

00:34:45.659 --> 00:34:46.439
 irrelevant because

00:34:46.439 --> 00:34:48.480
 that's to God's

00:34:48.480 --> 00:34:48.899
 view of his

00:34:48.899 --> 00:34:49.239
 church.

00:34:50.779 --> 00:34:51.500
 And the final

00:34:51.500 --> 00:34:51.959
 point I want to

00:34:51.959 --> 00:34:52.459
 make then is

00:34:52.459 --> 00:34:53.399
 that God's

00:34:53.399 --> 00:34:54.199
 church is a

00:34:54.199 --> 00:34:54.559
 permanent

00:34:54.559 --> 00:34:55.079
 gathering.

00:34:56.339 --> 00:34:57.039
 In fact,

00:34:57.799 --> 00:34:58.500
 it's not too

00:34:58.500 --> 00:34:59.039
 much to say

00:34:59.039 --> 00:35:00.119
 it's the only

00:35:00.119 --> 00:35:01.259
 unshakable

00:35:01.259 --> 00:35:02.219
 reality in

00:35:02.219 --> 00:35:02.719
 this world.

00:35:03.939 --> 00:35:04.139
 Now,

00:35:04.159 --> 00:35:04.519
 that's a big

00:35:04.519 --> 00:35:04.799
 call,

00:35:04.879 --> 00:35:05.179
 isn't it?

00:35:07.219 --> 00:35:07.899
 But I believe

00:35:07.899 --> 00:35:08.579
 that's what's

00:35:08.579 --> 00:35:09.239
 been said here.

00:35:11.119 --> 00:35:11.459
 If you look

00:35:11.460 --> 00:35:11.980
 again at

00:35:11.980 --> 00:35:12.659
 verse 26,

00:35:12.740 --> 00:35:13.119
 27,

00:35:13.220 --> 00:35:13.559
 28,

00:35:14.179 --> 00:35:14.659
 there's a

00:35:14.659 --> 00:35:15.240
 contrast.

00:35:17.559 --> 00:35:18.320
 Contrast in

00:35:18.320 --> 00:35:19.360
 the imagery

00:35:19.360 --> 00:35:20.300
 of shaking.

00:35:22.980 --> 00:35:23.579
 So you

00:35:23.579 --> 00:35:24.139
 remember back

00:35:24.139 --> 00:35:25.300
 in Exodus,

00:35:26.099 --> 00:35:26.880
 Mount Sinai

00:35:26.880 --> 00:35:27.920
 is said to

00:35:27.920 --> 00:35:28.539
 have shaken

00:35:28.539 --> 00:35:30.420
 when God

00:35:30.420 --> 00:35:31.320
 gathered his

00:35:31.320 --> 00:35:31.599
 people.

00:35:31.800 --> 00:35:31.980
 Why?

00:35:31.980 --> 00:35:33.440
 It was a

00:35:33.440 --> 00:35:33.820
 sign of

00:35:33.820 --> 00:35:34.139
 God's

00:35:34.139 --> 00:35:34.579
 presence,

00:35:34.719 --> 00:35:35.119
 of God's

00:35:35.119 --> 00:35:35.579
 holiness,

00:35:37.159 --> 00:35:38.019
 God's

00:35:38.019 --> 00:35:38.780
 awesomeness

00:35:38.780 --> 00:35:40.800
 in his

00:35:40.800 --> 00:35:41.320
 world and

00:35:41.320 --> 00:35:41.719
 among his

00:35:41.719 --> 00:35:42.019
 people.

00:35:45.300 --> 00:35:46.019
 But that

00:35:46.019 --> 00:35:46.780
 shaking back

00:35:46.780 --> 00:35:47.099
 at Mount

00:35:47.099 --> 00:35:47.740
 Sinai was

00:35:47.740 --> 00:35:49.559
 nothing to

00:35:49.559 --> 00:35:50.059
 the shake

00:35:50.059 --> 00:35:51.139
 up that was

00:35:51.139 --> 00:35:51.800
 experienced in

00:35:51.800 --> 00:35:52.360
 the world when

00:35:52.360 --> 00:35:53.219
 Jesus died and

00:35:53.219 --> 00:35:53.860
 was resurrected.

00:35:53.860 --> 00:35:57.539
 because in

00:35:57.539 --> 00:35:58.160
 the death and

00:35:58.160 --> 00:35:58.920
 resurrection of

00:35:58.920 --> 00:35:59.320
 Jesus,

00:36:00.220 --> 00:36:00.940
 God, as it

00:36:00.940 --> 00:36:01.440
 were, has

00:36:01.440 --> 00:36:02.260
 put a massive

00:36:02.260 --> 00:36:03.059
 condemned

00:36:03.059 --> 00:36:05.079
 sticker on

00:36:05.079 --> 00:36:05.740
 all the

00:36:05.740 --> 00:36:06.320
 apparently

00:36:06.320 --> 00:36:07.440
 strong and

00:36:07.440 --> 00:36:08.460
 lasting things

00:36:08.460 --> 00:36:09.140
 in this

00:36:09.140 --> 00:36:09.500
 world.

00:36:12.900 --> 00:36:13.599
 And he's

00:36:13.599 --> 00:36:13.880
 put an

00:36:13.880 --> 00:36:14.539
 unbreakable

00:36:14.539 --> 00:36:17.140
 sticker on

00:36:17.140 --> 00:36:17.680
 his kingdom,

00:36:17.840 --> 00:36:18.320
 the church.

00:36:20.860 --> 00:36:21.420
 So

00:36:21.420 --> 00:36:22.140
 Torah may

00:36:22.140 --> 00:36:22.860
 think their

00:36:22.860 --> 00:36:23.220
 youth are

00:36:23.220 --> 00:36:23.760
 unbreakable,

00:36:23.860 --> 00:36:25.780
 but they're

00:36:25.780 --> 00:36:26.140
 not.

00:36:28.940 --> 00:36:29.420
 At least

00:36:29.420 --> 00:36:29.720
 that's not

00:36:29.720 --> 00:36:29.960
 true.

00:36:30.200 --> 00:36:30.300
 Yep.

00:36:31.559 --> 00:36:32.079
 The only

00:36:32.079 --> 00:36:32.400
 thing that's

00:36:32.400 --> 00:36:33.440
 unbreakable in

00:36:33.440 --> 00:36:35.460
 this world is

00:36:35.460 --> 00:36:36.420
 God's church.

00:36:38.260 --> 00:36:39.000
 So there's

00:36:39.000 --> 00:36:40.280
 shaking at

00:36:40.280 --> 00:36:40.700
 Sinai,

00:36:40.880 --> 00:36:41.579
 shaking when

00:36:41.579 --> 00:36:42.700
 Jesus died and

00:36:42.700 --> 00:36:43.240
 was resurrected,

00:36:43.599 --> 00:36:44.000
 but there's

00:36:44.000 --> 00:36:44.680
 another shaking

00:36:44.680 --> 00:36:45.620
 to come in

00:36:45.620 --> 00:36:46.700
 these verses at

00:36:46.700 --> 00:36:47.039
 the end of

00:36:47.039 --> 00:36:47.380
 the world.

00:36:48.760 --> 00:36:49.000
 And the

00:36:49.000 --> 00:36:49.539
 picture there

00:36:49.539 --> 00:36:50.220
 is one of,

00:36:51.340 --> 00:36:52.120
 well, I

00:36:52.120 --> 00:36:52.460
 don't know if

00:36:52.460 --> 00:36:53.539
 you see, I've

00:36:53.539 --> 00:36:53.920
 never been

00:36:53.920 --> 00:36:54.300
 through a

00:36:54.300 --> 00:36:54.559
 serious

00:36:54.559 --> 00:36:54.920
 earthquake,

00:36:55.179 --> 00:36:56.579
 so you

00:36:56.579 --> 00:36:57.159
 see everything

00:36:57.159 --> 00:36:58.039
 just jangling,

00:36:58.259 --> 00:36:59.199
 buildings crumbling.

00:36:59.320 --> 00:37:00.119
 Well, that's

00:37:00.119 --> 00:37:00.679
 the picture here.

00:37:00.860 --> 00:37:02.000
 The shaking of

00:37:02.000 --> 00:37:02.639
 God's world is

00:37:02.639 --> 00:37:03.420
 going to be so

00:37:03.420 --> 00:37:04.519
 severe and so

00:37:04.519 --> 00:37:06.019
 continuous that

00:37:06.019 --> 00:37:06.460
 when it

00:37:06.460 --> 00:37:08.159
 finishes, when

00:37:08.159 --> 00:37:08.679
 the dust

00:37:08.679 --> 00:37:09.920
 settles, the

00:37:09.920 --> 00:37:10.820
 only thing that's

00:37:10.820 --> 00:37:11.099
 going to be

00:37:11.099 --> 00:37:12.699
 left is God's

00:37:12.699 --> 00:37:13.059
 church.

00:37:13.059 --> 00:37:13.099
 church.

00:37:21.159 --> 00:37:21.759
 All the

00:37:21.759 --> 00:37:22.320
 things in the

00:37:22.320 --> 00:37:22.699
 world that

00:37:22.699 --> 00:37:23.539
 look strong

00:37:23.539 --> 00:37:24.340
 and lasting

00:37:24.340 --> 00:37:24.960
 and worthwhile

00:37:24.960 --> 00:37:25.739
 will one day

00:37:25.739 --> 00:37:26.759
 crumble and

00:37:26.759 --> 00:37:27.079
 fade.

00:37:29.039 --> 00:37:29.920
 It's a big

00:37:29.920 --> 00:37:30.699
 thing today to

00:37:30.699 --> 00:37:31.320
 talk about being

00:37:31.320 --> 00:37:31.840
 on the right

00:37:31.840 --> 00:37:32.259
 side of

00:37:32.259 --> 00:37:32.539
 history.

00:37:32.840 --> 00:37:33.480
 I get sick

00:37:33.480 --> 00:37:33.940
 and tired of

00:37:33.940 --> 00:37:34.259
 hearing it.

00:37:34.320 --> 00:37:34.880
 Everybody wants

00:37:34.880 --> 00:37:35.279
 to be on the

00:37:35.279 --> 00:37:35.779
 right side of

00:37:35.779 --> 00:37:36.179
 history, but

00:37:36.179 --> 00:37:36.880
 nobody has any

00:37:36.880 --> 00:37:37.480
 idea of how to

00:37:37.480 --> 00:37:37.860
 get on the

00:37:37.860 --> 00:37:38.320
 right side of

00:37:38.320 --> 00:37:38.559
 history.

00:37:39.059 --> 00:37:39.460
 And here it

00:37:39.460 --> 00:37:39.840
 is here.

00:37:39.840 --> 00:37:40.620
 If you want

00:37:40.620 --> 00:37:40.940
 to be on the

00:37:40.940 --> 00:37:41.420
 right side of

00:37:41.420 --> 00:37:44.700
 history, be in

00:37:44.700 --> 00:37:45.680
 God's church

00:37:45.680 --> 00:37:49.019
 through salvation

00:37:49.019 --> 00:37:50.200
 by grace alone

00:37:50.200 --> 00:37:50.720
 in the Lord

00:37:50.720 --> 00:37:51.420
 Jesus Christ.

00:37:56.680 --> 00:37:57.660
 Christ's church

00:37:57.660 --> 00:38:00.519
 currently despised

00:38:00.519 --> 00:38:01.059
 from those on

00:38:01.059 --> 00:38:01.620
 the outside,

00:38:02.880 --> 00:38:03.900
 apparently weak

00:38:03.900 --> 00:38:04.960
 and unstable

00:38:04.960 --> 00:38:06.220
 and even

00:38:06.220 --> 00:38:06.960
 despised by

00:38:06.960 --> 00:38:07.579
 those on the

00:38:07.579 --> 00:38:08.320
 inside.

00:38:09.840 --> 00:38:11.980
 will last

00:38:11.980 --> 00:38:12.460
 forever.

00:38:13.380 --> 00:38:13.860
 Why?

00:38:14.900 --> 00:38:15.680
 Because that's

00:38:15.680 --> 00:38:16.380
 God's plan and

00:38:16.380 --> 00:38:16.720
 purpose.

00:38:18.960 --> 00:38:19.840
 When God has

00:38:19.840 --> 00:38:20.600
 finished shaking

00:38:20.600 --> 00:38:21.340
 his world in

00:38:21.340 --> 00:38:21.880
 judgment, there

00:38:21.880 --> 00:38:22.740
 will only be

00:38:22.740 --> 00:38:23.559
 the church.

00:38:25.460 --> 00:38:26.400
 Maybe hard for

00:38:26.400 --> 00:38:27.039
 us to believe,

00:38:27.180 --> 00:38:27.760
 maybe hard for

00:38:27.760 --> 00:38:28.420
 us to grasp,

00:38:29.480 --> 00:38:31.420
 but the only

00:38:31.420 --> 00:38:32.300
 really secure

00:38:32.300 --> 00:38:33.039
 thing in God's

00:38:33.039 --> 00:38:33.660
 world is being

00:38:33.660 --> 00:38:34.519
 part of God's

00:38:34.519 --> 00:38:35.480
 glorious church.

00:38:36.500 --> 00:38:37.039
 So let me

00:38:37.039 --> 00:38:37.880
 wrap up then by

00:38:37.880 --> 00:38:38.740
 two or three

00:38:38.740 --> 00:38:39.220
 questions.

00:38:40.539 --> 00:38:41.280
 One question

00:38:41.280 --> 00:38:41.680
 really in a

00:38:41.680 --> 00:38:41.940
 couple of

00:38:41.940 --> 00:38:42.340
 illustrations.

00:38:43.220 --> 00:38:43.860
 The question

00:38:43.860 --> 00:38:44.140
 then is,

00:38:44.300 --> 00:38:45.079
 whose eyes

00:38:45.079 --> 00:38:45.519
 are you

00:38:45.519 --> 00:38:46.079
 viewing the

00:38:46.079 --> 00:38:46.380
 church

00:38:46.380 --> 00:38:46.660
 through?

00:38:50.740 --> 00:38:51.440
 Is it our

00:38:51.440 --> 00:38:52.240
 society's eyes?

00:38:52.760 --> 00:38:53.519
 Is the

00:38:53.519 --> 00:38:54.320
 church past its

00:38:54.320 --> 00:38:55.039
 use-by-date,

00:38:55.860 --> 00:38:56.519
 as it is often

00:38:56.519 --> 00:38:56.920
 portrayed?

00:38:57.740 --> 00:38:58.300
 Well, I think the

00:38:58.300 --> 00:38:59.160
 answer is yes.

00:39:00.940 --> 00:39:01.920
 If we think of

00:39:01.920 --> 00:39:02.820
 the church as

00:39:02.820 --> 00:39:03.519
 some sort of

00:39:03.519 --> 00:39:04.400
 antiquated

00:39:04.400 --> 00:39:05.320
 organization,

00:39:05.320 --> 00:39:08.580
 expression, or

00:39:08.580 --> 00:39:09.180
 as buildings.

00:39:10.000 --> 00:39:11.260
 Yeah, absolutely

00:39:11.260 --> 00:39:12.360
 past their use-by-date,

00:39:12.720 --> 00:39:13.620
 if that's where

00:39:13.620 --> 00:39:14.300
 people's confidence

00:39:14.300 --> 00:39:14.680
 is.

00:39:15.800 --> 00:39:16.940
 But if you're

00:39:16.940 --> 00:39:17.600
 speaking about

00:39:17.600 --> 00:39:18.440
 God's living

00:39:18.440 --> 00:39:20.780
 organism, God's

00:39:20.780 --> 00:39:23.340
 community, the

00:39:23.340 --> 00:39:24.280
 gathering of God's

00:39:24.280 --> 00:39:25.100
 people around the

00:39:25.100 --> 00:39:26.980
 Lord and His Word,

00:39:27.380 --> 00:39:28.360
 then nothing could

00:39:28.360 --> 00:39:29.059
 be further from the

00:39:29.059 --> 00:39:29.380
 truth.

00:39:29.380 --> 00:39:32.260
 in spite of

00:39:32.260 --> 00:39:33.200
 appearances

00:39:33.200 --> 00:39:33.780
 sometimes.

00:39:37.380 --> 00:39:38.260
 So for my

00:39:38.260 --> 00:39:38.800
 friends, the

00:39:38.800 --> 00:39:39.260
 size of the

00:39:39.260 --> 00:39:41.160
 congregation, the

00:39:41.160 --> 00:39:41.840
 state of the

00:39:41.840 --> 00:39:42.400
 building and the

00:39:42.400 --> 00:39:43.059
 carpets even,

00:39:44.260 --> 00:39:45.700
 has no relevance

00:39:45.700 --> 00:39:47.360
 to the health of a

00:39:47.360 --> 00:39:47.780
 church.

00:39:47.780 --> 00:39:56.460
 or working

00:39:56.460 --> 00:39:57.019
 out how we

00:39:57.019 --> 00:39:57.760
 think about and

00:39:57.760 --> 00:39:58.440
 value the church

00:39:58.440 --> 00:39:58.760
 of God.

00:39:59.420 --> 00:39:59.900
 And can I say

00:39:59.900 --> 00:40:00.519
 that even our

00:40:00.519 --> 00:40:01.060
 own lived

00:40:01.060 --> 00:40:04.019
 experience of

00:40:04.019 --> 00:40:04.780
 church with its

00:40:04.780 --> 00:40:05.640
 failures and

00:40:05.640 --> 00:40:07.180
 hurts, even

00:40:07.180 --> 00:40:08.320
 that is irrelevant

00:40:08.320 --> 00:40:09.600
 to how we think

00:40:09.600 --> 00:40:10.740
 about and value

00:40:10.740 --> 00:40:12.120
 God's church.

00:40:16.080 --> 00:40:16.780
 Saying the

00:40:16.780 --> 00:40:17.700
 church with

00:40:17.699 --> 00:40:18.679
 God's eye is to

00:40:18.679 --> 00:40:19.779
 have a great

00:40:19.779 --> 00:40:20.299
 sense of

00:40:20.299 --> 00:40:21.159
 privilege in

00:40:21.159 --> 00:40:22.039
 being part of

00:40:22.039 --> 00:40:23.480
 that which God

00:40:23.480 --> 00:40:24.179
 has planned and

00:40:24.179 --> 00:40:24.960
 acted to make

00:40:24.960 --> 00:40:27.379
 glorious and

00:40:27.379 --> 00:40:28.139
 permanent in

00:40:28.139 --> 00:40:28.779
 heaven and which

00:40:28.779 --> 00:40:29.679
 has given real

00:40:29.679 --> 00:40:30.839
 visible expression

00:40:30.839 --> 00:40:31.779
 in local church

00:40:31.779 --> 00:40:32.639
 assemblies like

00:40:32.639 --> 00:40:32.960
 ours.

00:40:35.419 --> 00:40:36.199
 Seeing the

00:40:36.199 --> 00:40:36.619
 church with

00:40:36.619 --> 00:40:37.399
 God's eyes,

00:40:38.079 --> 00:40:38.659
 through God's

00:40:38.659 --> 00:40:39.119
 eyes, is to

00:40:39.119 --> 00:40:40.719
 act passionately,

00:40:41.359 --> 00:40:42.539
 to show the

00:40:42.539 --> 00:40:44.000
 watching world

00:40:44.000 --> 00:40:45.399
 through how we

00:40:45.399 --> 00:40:46.159
 relate together

00:40:46.159 --> 00:40:46.939
 and live together

00:40:46.939 --> 00:40:47.319
 here.

00:40:47.699 --> 00:40:49.799
 that we are

00:40:49.799 --> 00:40:50.679
 God's renewed

00:40:50.679 --> 00:40:52.599
 people, to

00:40:52.599 --> 00:40:53.279
 show people the

00:40:53.279 --> 00:40:54.259
 changing power of

00:40:54.259 --> 00:40:54.879
 the gospel, that

00:40:54.879 --> 00:40:55.599
 the gospel actually

00:40:55.599 --> 00:40:57.859
 works, and that

00:40:57.859 --> 00:40:58.939
 people who crave

00:40:58.939 --> 00:40:59.659
 identity and

00:40:59.659 --> 00:41:00.579
 community can find

00:41:00.579 --> 00:41:01.679
 both in such a

00:41:01.679 --> 00:41:03.799
 harmonious and

00:41:03.799 --> 00:41:05.519
 meaningful way in

00:41:05.519 --> 00:41:06.000
 the Lord Jesus

00:41:06.000 --> 00:41:06.519
 Christ.

00:41:11.159 --> 00:41:11.859
 Seeing the

00:41:11.859 --> 00:41:12.579
 church through

00:41:12.579 --> 00:41:13.460
 God's eyes is

00:41:13.460 --> 00:41:14.679
 recognizing that

00:41:14.679 --> 00:41:15.500
 God has brought

00:41:15.500 --> 00:41:16.179
 you into this

00:41:16.179 --> 00:41:16.800
 local church

00:41:16.800 --> 00:41:17.800
 family, and

00:41:17.800 --> 00:41:18.260
 he has.

00:41:18.599 --> 00:41:19.059
 If you're here

00:41:19.059 --> 00:41:19.659
 this morning, God

00:41:19.659 --> 00:41:20.320
 has brought you

00:41:20.320 --> 00:41:20.579
 here.

00:41:21.360 --> 00:41:22.000
 Why has he brought

00:41:22.000 --> 00:41:22.260
 you here?

00:41:22.539 --> 00:41:23.480
 Because it's a

00:41:23.480 --> 00:41:24.719
 good and necessary

00:41:24.719 --> 00:41:25.699
 place for you to

00:41:25.699 --> 00:41:26.019
 be.

00:41:28.099 --> 00:41:28.940
 And like any

00:41:28.940 --> 00:41:30.820
 family community,

00:41:31.219 --> 00:41:31.679
 it therefore

00:41:31.679 --> 00:41:32.559
 requires, it will

00:41:32.559 --> 00:41:33.300
 be costly, it

00:41:33.300 --> 00:41:34.280
 will require loyalty

00:41:34.280 --> 00:41:35.519
 and commitment and

00:41:35.519 --> 00:41:37.119
 hard work, because

00:41:37.119 --> 00:41:38.400
 family members always

00:41:38.400 --> 00:41:39.599
 manage to annoy each

00:41:39.599 --> 00:41:40.960
 other to varying

00:41:40.960 --> 00:41:41.460
 degrees.

00:41:46.019 --> 00:41:46.860
 Now, seeing God's

00:41:46.860 --> 00:41:48.039
 church through God's

00:41:48.039 --> 00:41:48.799
 eyes doesn't mean

00:41:48.799 --> 00:41:49.980
 we're blind to sin

00:41:49.980 --> 00:41:53.139
 or the reality of

00:41:53.139 --> 00:41:53.619
 failure.

00:41:53.940 --> 00:41:55.039
 No, that's

00:41:55.039 --> 00:41:56.239
 everywhere around us.

00:41:56.360 --> 00:41:57.199
 It's part of me, it's

00:41:57.199 --> 00:41:57.779
 part of you.

00:42:02.619 --> 00:42:03.860
 But it does mean

00:42:03.860 --> 00:42:05.139
 that we'll see in

00:42:05.139 --> 00:42:06.559
 Christ that we have

00:42:06.559 --> 00:42:08.199
 far more in common

00:42:08.199 --> 00:42:10.559
 than we ever have

00:42:10.559 --> 00:42:13.279
 at odds, even when

00:42:13.279 --> 00:42:14.239
 we fail one another

00:42:14.239 --> 00:42:16.299
 and hurt one

00:42:16.299 --> 00:42:16.579
 another.

00:42:19.059 --> 00:42:19.860
 Now, my friends,

00:42:20.079 --> 00:42:21.579
 perhaps this is

00:42:21.579 --> 00:42:22.219
 pretty new to you,

00:42:22.259 --> 00:42:23.039
 perhaps you've never

00:42:23.039 --> 00:42:24.179
 ever thought of

00:42:24.179 --> 00:42:25.039
 church like this.

00:42:27.579 --> 00:42:28.539
 Perhaps you have in

00:42:28.539 --> 00:42:29.320
 the past, but you've

00:42:29.320 --> 00:42:30.599
 just grown weary or

00:42:30.599 --> 00:42:32.019
 just been worn down

00:42:32.019 --> 00:42:32.759
 by hurt and

00:42:32.759 --> 00:42:34.340
 disappointment, bad

00:42:34.340 --> 00:42:34.900
 experience.

00:42:34.900 --> 00:42:36.539
 And perhaps you

00:42:36.539 --> 00:42:37.160
 now have just been

00:42:37.160 --> 00:42:38.059
 reduced to seeing

00:42:38.059 --> 00:42:39.260
 the church through

00:42:39.260 --> 00:42:40.099
 your own eyes of

00:42:40.099 --> 00:42:41.200
 past experience and

00:42:41.200 --> 00:42:44.160
 hurt, rather than

00:42:44.160 --> 00:42:44.639
 seeing it through

00:42:44.639 --> 00:42:45.260
 God's eyes.

00:42:46.500 --> 00:42:47.420
 So I'll just finish

00:42:47.420 --> 00:42:48.380
 by reminding you,

00:42:48.780 --> 00:42:49.800
 the Lord views his

00:42:49.800 --> 00:42:50.880
 church as his

00:42:50.880 --> 00:42:52.579
 precious community.

00:42:53.720 --> 00:42:54.820
 He's died for a

00:42:54.820 --> 00:42:55.440
 community of those

00:42:55.440 --> 00:42:56.539
 made new in Christ

00:42:56.539 --> 00:42:57.700
 at great cost.

00:42:59.000 --> 00:42:59.780
 It's a good

00:42:59.780 --> 00:43:01.480
 community that he

00:43:01.480 --> 00:43:02.360
 has always wanted

00:43:02.360 --> 00:43:03.579
 his people to be

00:43:03.579 --> 00:43:05.519
 in because it's a

00:43:05.519 --> 00:43:06.440
 testimony to his

00:43:06.440 --> 00:43:07.779
 character and his

00:43:07.779 --> 00:43:08.799
 grace.

00:43:11.059 --> 00:43:13.400
 And from there, we

00:43:13.400 --> 00:43:14.159
 can say that God

00:43:14.159 --> 00:43:16.599
 wants us to have the

00:43:16.599 --> 00:43:18.420
 same view towards

00:43:18.420 --> 00:43:18.900
 one another.

00:43:21.179 --> 00:43:22.199
 We should have the

00:43:22.199 --> 00:43:23.340
 same eyes for our

00:43:23.340 --> 00:43:24.380
 brothers and sisters

00:43:24.380 --> 00:43:25.519
 in Christ as God

00:43:25.519 --> 00:43:26.420
 has for his church.

00:43:26.420 --> 00:43:26.460
 others.

00:43:28.059 --> 00:43:29.360
 And those eyes should

00:43:29.360 --> 00:43:30.539
 be through the

00:43:30.539 --> 00:43:32.200
 filter of by grace

00:43:32.200 --> 00:43:32.519
 alone.

00:43:34.860 --> 00:43:35.720
 All right, let me

00:43:35.720 --> 00:43:36.900
 pray and I'm done.

00:43:41.539 --> 00:43:42.700
 Lord, so often your

00:43:42.700 --> 00:43:45.220
 word is hard, not so

00:43:45.220 --> 00:43:45.860
 much because it's

00:43:45.860 --> 00:43:46.900
 difficult to understand,

00:43:47.059 --> 00:43:48.039
 but Lord, because the

00:43:48.039 --> 00:43:49.800
 concepts are

00:43:49.800 --> 00:43:51.079
 inconvenient to our

00:43:51.079 --> 00:43:52.940
 own personal thinking.

00:43:52.940 --> 00:43:55.300
 And so, Lord, I pray

00:43:55.300 --> 00:43:56.039
 that we might not

00:43:56.039 --> 00:43:59.619
 stumble over our

00:43:59.619 --> 00:44:00.519
 own thinking, our

00:44:00.519 --> 00:44:01.420
 own fears, our

00:44:01.420 --> 00:44:04.480
 own past hurts, our

00:44:04.480 --> 00:44:05.320
 own preferences, but

00:44:05.320 --> 00:44:06.139
 we might be able to

00:44:06.139 --> 00:44:07.960
 see what your word is

00:44:07.960 --> 00:44:09.740
 saying and align

00:44:09.740 --> 00:44:10.519
 ourselves, Lord, that

00:44:10.519 --> 00:44:12.200
 we might also view

00:44:12.200 --> 00:44:14.240
 this church family

00:44:14.240 --> 00:44:16.639
 here through the

00:44:16.639 --> 00:44:17.619
 eyes that you view

00:44:17.619 --> 00:44:19.960
 us and have it

00:44:19.960 --> 00:44:21.019
 revolutionize us,

00:44:21.300 --> 00:44:22.460
 Lord, ourselves and

00:44:22.460 --> 00:44:23.500
 revolutionize others

00:44:23.500 --> 00:44:24.199
 here as well.

00:44:25.179 --> 00:44:26.079
 I pray this in Jesus'

00:44:26.260 --> 00:44:26.400
 name.

00:44:26.679 --> 00:44:26.920
 Amen.