WEBVTT

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 We hope that you enjoy this teaching from Christchurch.

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 This material is copyrighted and no unauthorized duplication, redistribution, or any other use of any part is permitted without prior consent from Christchurch.

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 Please consider donating to this work in the San Francisco Bay Area online at ChristChurchEastBay.org.

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 Good morning, I'm Hannah Sue and I'm a member of the North Berkeley Community Group.

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 This morning's reading is a reading from the Acts of Apostles, chapter 18, verses 1-11,

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 and a reading from 1 Corinthians, chapter 1, 18-25, and chapter 2, 1-5.

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 A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.

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 After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.

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 There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla,

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 because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome.

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 Paul went to see them, and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them.

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 Every Sabbath, he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.

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 When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching,

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 testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah.

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 But when they opposed Paul and became abusive,

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 he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them,

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 Your blood be on your own heads.

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 I am innocent of it.

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 From now on, I will go to the Gentiles.

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 Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Tidious Justice, a worshiper of God.

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 Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his entire household believed in the Lord,

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 and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized.

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 One night, the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision,

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 Do not be afraid.

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 Keep on speaking.

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 Do not be silent.

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 For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you,

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 because I have many people in this city.

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 So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.

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 A reading from Paul's first letter to the Corinthians.

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 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing,

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 but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

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 For it is written,

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 I will destroy the wisdom of the wise.

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 The intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.

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 Where is the wise person?

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 Where is the teacher of the law?

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 Where is the philosopher of this age?

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 Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

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 For since in the wisdom of God,

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 the world through its wisdom did not know him,

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 God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached,

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 to save those who believe.

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 Jews demand signs, and Greeks look for wisdom,

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 but we preach Christ crucified,

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 a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles,

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 but to those whom God has called,

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 both Jews and Greeks,

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 Christ, the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

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 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom,

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 and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

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 And so it was with me, brothers and sisters.

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 When I came to you,

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 I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom

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 as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.

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 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you

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 except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

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 I came to you in weakness,

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 with great fear and trembling.

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 My message and my preaching

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 were not with wise and persuasive words,

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 but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power,

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 so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom,

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 but on God's power.

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 This is the word of the Lord.

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 Good morning.

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 We are continuing today in a sermon series

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 that we started back in May.

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 And we're looking at the life and the letters

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 of the Apostle Paul.

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 Particularly, we've been in the Acts of the Apostles,

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 chapters 16 through 19,

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 looking at the way that the greatest Christian theologian,

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 the Apostle Paul,

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 was driven by this urgency

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 to get the gospel out there,

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 to inject the gospel into the heart

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 of every city center in the Roman Empire

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 between Jerusalem and Rome and beyond.

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 And he wants to be sure

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 that within his lifetime,

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 within his generation,

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 he establishes as many Jew plus Gentile churches

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 as he possibly can

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 in all the major metropolitan areas.

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 And as we've been looking at these different texts,

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 a pattern has begun to emerge,

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 at least for me,

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 and I'd like to show you the pattern,

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 is that Paul takes the gospel

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 to these Greek cities

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 that are not very unlike the Bay Area.

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 He takes the gospel,

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 this word of the cross,

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 this message of Christ crucified,

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 and every time,

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 he gets a mixed reception.

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 Reception.

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 There's a small minority of people

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 who are persuaded,

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 they believe,

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 they're baptized,

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 they become vital members of the church,

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 and then there's really

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 a vast majority of people

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 who are opposed.

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 They don't believe.

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 They revile Paul.

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 They even, as we saw in this text,

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 they abuse Paul.

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 And you might remember back to Philippi,

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 when Paul went to Philippi,

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 he was,

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 we're told he was seized,

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 he was dragged before the authorities,

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 he was accused of,

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 quote unquote,

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 throwing the city into an uproar,

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 he was stripped,

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 he was beaten,

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 he was put in prison,

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 and then he was exiled from the city.

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 And then Paul just kept going.

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 He goes on to the city of Thessalonica

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 that we saw last week,

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 and we saw how a mob formed,

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 and they started a riot,

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 and Paul was forced out of the city,

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 other Christians were dragged

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 before the officials,

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 and they had to pay a fine,

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 and they said,

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 hey, these people are turning

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 the world upside down.

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 They're defying the decrees of Caesar,

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 they're claiming that there's another king

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 whose name is Jesus.

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 And we have a map,

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 just to kind of remind you

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 of where all this stuff is in the world,

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 and what's happening where,

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 but Paul goes from Philippi

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 to Thessalonica,

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 and then he goes to Athens,

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 the cultural capital of Greece.

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 And when he arrives there,

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 most people sneer at Paul.

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 They say he's a babbler of strange ideas.

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 And Paul decides,

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 okay, well, now I'm going to go to Corinth,

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 the commercial capital of Greece.

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 And when he arrives there,

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 he meets all the same opportunities

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 and challenges.

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 All the basic stuff that's been happening

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 keeps happening.

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 It's been said that history

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 may not repeat itself,

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 but it often rhymes.

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 And you can see that

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 in Paul's ministry.

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 What's the result of his gospel mission

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 in the city of Corinth?

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 It's this,

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 that a vast majority

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 of Jews and Greeks

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 hear this message of Christ crucified,

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 and they reject it

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 as either a stumbling block

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 or foolishness,

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 as something that's just deeply,

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 offensively stupid

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 in their eyes.

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 But, for some people,

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 the word of the cross

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 is the power of God

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 and the wisdom of God,

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 and so they believe it

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 and they're baptized into it.

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 And you would think

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 when Paul sees

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 the conversion of Crispus,

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 the leader of the synagogue,

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 his entire household,

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 he'd be massively encouraged

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 by that breakthrough

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 and by these conversions.

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 And I think that he was,

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 but if you ask

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 any Christian leader

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 who's been doing this

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 for any amount of time,

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 they'll tell you that

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 you have to learn

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 how to live in the paradox

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 between encouragement

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 and discouragement,

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 between hope and fear,

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 between, you know,

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 a confidence in the Lord

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 and a real sense of insecurity

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 about yourself

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 and your circumstances.

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 And that's why the Apostle Paul,

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 when he's afraid,

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 he has this vision in Corinth

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 and the Lord Jesus

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 comes to him at night

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 and he speaks to him

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 in this vision

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 to address the fears

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 and the discouragement

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 that Paul has

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 and to give him

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 some reassurance.

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 So we're going to look at that.

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 We're going to look at that vision

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 and then we're also going to look

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 at Paul's opening words

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 and the letter

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 that he then writes

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 to this church

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 that he's planted

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 in the city of Corinth.

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 So, three headings.

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 First of all,

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 what keeps us going

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 in our mission for the city?

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 Second question,

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 what is the heart

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 of our message?

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 And third question,

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 how can we live

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 with real power

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 and wisdom?

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 What keeps us going

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 in our mission for the city?

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 What's the heart

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 of our message?

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 And how can we live

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 with real power

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 and wisdom?

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 First of all,

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 what keeps us going

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 in our mission for the city?

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 This is now my 20th year

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 as a missionary

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 to Berkeley,

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 a church planter

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 and a pastor

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 in the Bay Area,

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 which is still

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 what it was

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 when I came here.

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 It's still

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 the least religious,

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 most unchurched

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 metropolitan area

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 in the entire United States.

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 And it feels a lot

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 like Acts chapter 16

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 to 19,

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 which is why

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 we're preaching this.

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 There are very similar dynamics,

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 similar patterns

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 of the rejection

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 of the gospel,

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 the acceptance

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 of the gospel,

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 and similar feelings

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 of encouragement

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 about that

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 and discouragement

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 about that.

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 And the Apostle Paul,

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 it seems,

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 is sufficiently

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 discouraged.

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 He's sufficiently

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 afraid

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 such that he needs

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 this visitation

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 in the night.

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 And here's what it says

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 in Acts chapter 18,

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 verse 9.

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 One night,

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 the Lord spoke

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 to Paul in a vision,

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 do not be afraid,

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 keep on speaking,

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 do not be silent,

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 for I am with you,

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 and no one is going

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 to attack you

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 and harm you

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 because I have many people

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 in this city.

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 So Paul stayed

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 in Corinth

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 for a year and a half

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 teaching them

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 the word of God.

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 Paul had experienced

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 so many setbacks

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 at this point,

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 so much opposition,

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 so many beatings,

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 so many riots,

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 so much rejection,

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 that he needed

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 a word from the Lord

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 to calm his fears

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 and to encourage

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 his heart

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 and to steal

00:10:41.200 --> 00:10:42.600
 his nerves

00:10:42.600 --> 00:10:43.480
 and to keep him going

00:10:43.480 --> 00:10:44.080
 in his mission

00:10:44.080 --> 00:10:45.740
 for the city.

00:10:45.860 --> 00:10:46.539
 And in some way,

00:10:46.639 --> 00:10:48.060
 I hope that Paul's fear

00:10:48.059 --> 00:10:49.239
 and Paul's discouragement

00:10:49.239 --> 00:10:51.119
 is a comfort to us

00:10:51.119 --> 00:10:53.319
 because we've met

00:10:53.319 --> 00:10:53.959
 this guy

00:10:53.959 --> 00:10:55.759
 who's the most

00:10:55.759 --> 00:10:57.559
 courageous,

00:10:57.839 --> 00:10:58.679
 least fearful,

00:10:59.159 --> 00:11:00.599
 most resilient,

00:11:00.779 --> 00:11:01.779
 unflappable person

00:11:01.779 --> 00:11:03.139
 who's probably

00:11:03.139 --> 00:11:03.879
 ever existed.

00:11:05.239 --> 00:11:06.479
 What does he do?

00:11:07.079 --> 00:11:07.299
 Right?

00:11:07.459 --> 00:11:08.439
 Remember in Philippi

00:11:08.439 --> 00:11:09.399
 when he's shamefully

00:11:09.399 --> 00:11:10.259
 stripped

00:11:10.259 --> 00:11:11.519
 and he's unjustly beaten

00:11:11.519 --> 00:11:13.339
 and then he's wrongfully

00:11:13.339 --> 00:11:13.719
 in prison

00:11:13.719 --> 00:11:14.359
 and he's horribly

00:11:14.359 --> 00:11:15.079
 mistreated

00:11:15.079 --> 00:11:15.699
 in that prison.

00:11:15.700 --> 00:11:17.440
 What does Paul do?

00:11:17.560 --> 00:11:18.360
 He prays

00:11:18.360 --> 00:11:18.980
 and he sings

00:11:18.980 --> 00:11:19.480
 at night

00:11:19.480 --> 00:11:20.740
 to the Lord

00:11:20.740 --> 00:11:21.680
 in the darkness

00:11:21.680 --> 00:11:22.800
 at midnight.

00:11:24.620 --> 00:11:25.420
 His motto,

00:11:25.560 --> 00:11:26.220
 remember he's sitting

00:11:26.220 --> 00:11:26.820
 in a jail

00:11:26.820 --> 00:11:28.420
 writing that letter

00:11:28.420 --> 00:11:29.460
 to the Philippians

00:11:29.460 --> 00:11:30.460
 that we studied

00:11:30.460 --> 00:11:31.600
 and his motto

00:11:31.600 --> 00:11:32.980
 is in Philippians 1.21,

00:11:33.100 --> 00:11:33.340
 he says,

00:11:33.480 --> 00:11:33.980
 for me to live

00:11:33.980 --> 00:11:34.440
 is Christ

00:11:34.440 --> 00:11:34.920
 and to die

00:11:34.920 --> 00:11:35.420
 is gain.

00:11:36.440 --> 00:11:37.120
 He seems to be

00:11:37.120 --> 00:11:38.540
 completely fearless.

00:11:38.800 --> 00:11:39.440
 Philippians 4,

00:11:39.520 --> 00:11:39.759
 he said,

00:11:39.879 --> 00:11:40.960
 don't be anxious

00:11:40.960 --> 00:11:42.680
 about anything

00:11:42.680 --> 00:11:43.740
 but present your request

00:11:43.740 --> 00:11:44.160
 to God.

00:11:44.320 --> 00:11:44.600
 He says,

00:11:44.600 --> 00:11:45.560
 I've learned the secret

00:11:45.560 --> 00:11:46.480
 of being content

00:11:46.480 --> 00:11:48.519
 in any and every situation

00:11:48.519 --> 00:11:49.000
 and yet,

00:11:49.980 --> 00:11:50.620
 he says here

00:11:50.620 --> 00:11:51.279
 in this text

00:11:51.279 --> 00:11:52.580
 in 1 Corinthians 2.3,

00:11:52.700 --> 00:11:52.879
 he says,

00:11:52.980 --> 00:11:53.519
 I came to you

00:11:53.519 --> 00:11:54.180
 in weakness

00:11:54.180 --> 00:11:56.399
 and with great fear

00:11:56.399 --> 00:11:57.500
 and trembling.

00:11:58.840 --> 00:12:00.519
 And he's in such a state

00:12:00.519 --> 00:12:01.740
 that he needs a vision

00:12:01.740 --> 00:12:02.680
 and he needs a word

00:12:02.680 --> 00:12:03.220
 from the Lord

00:12:03.220 --> 00:12:03.639
 that says,

00:12:03.779 --> 00:12:04.840
 do not be afraid.

00:12:05.960 --> 00:12:06.860
 One of my favorite

00:12:06.860 --> 00:12:07.960
 of Paul's letters

00:12:07.960 --> 00:12:09.139
 is 2 Corinthians

00:12:09.139 --> 00:12:10.840
 because it's written

00:12:10.840 --> 00:12:11.379
 out of a place

00:12:11.379 --> 00:12:12.279
 of deep pain

00:12:12.279 --> 00:12:13.539
 and deep darkness.

00:12:14.539 --> 00:12:15.100
 And Paul says

00:12:15.100 --> 00:12:16.339
 in 2 Corinthians 1,

00:12:16.579 --> 00:12:17.000
 he says,

00:12:17.159 --> 00:12:17.740
 we are under

00:12:17.740 --> 00:12:19.019
 great pressure

00:12:19.019 --> 00:12:19.720
 far beyond

00:12:19.720 --> 00:12:20.240
 our ability

00:12:20.240 --> 00:12:20.819
 to endure

00:12:20.819 --> 00:12:21.339
 so that we

00:12:21.339 --> 00:12:22.379
 despaired of life

00:12:22.379 --> 00:12:23.199
 itself.

00:12:24.259 --> 00:12:24.539
 Now,

00:12:24.579 --> 00:12:25.519
 if you came to me

00:12:25.519 --> 00:12:26.179
 and you said,

00:12:26.759 --> 00:12:27.059
 Jonathan,

00:12:27.319 --> 00:12:28.539
 I don't think

00:12:28.539 --> 00:12:29.299
 I can go on.

00:12:30.360 --> 00:12:31.179
 I'm in such,

00:12:31.519 --> 00:12:32.079
 I'm experiencing

00:12:32.079 --> 00:12:33.519
 such excruciating

00:12:33.519 --> 00:12:34.399
 discouragement

00:12:34.399 --> 00:12:36.759
 and I'm despairing

00:12:36.759 --> 00:12:37.220
 of life.

00:12:37.220 --> 00:12:38.480
 I'm heading

00:12:38.480 --> 00:12:39.279
 into a deep

00:12:39.279 --> 00:12:39.720
 depression

00:12:39.720 --> 00:12:40.180
 and maybe

00:12:40.180 --> 00:12:41.019
 toward a breakdown,

00:12:41.660 --> 00:12:42.500
 I would say

00:12:42.500 --> 00:12:43.320
 and think to myself,

00:12:43.720 --> 00:12:44.500
 you need special

00:12:44.500 --> 00:12:44.820
 help.

00:12:45.980 --> 00:12:48.100
 And that's exactly

00:12:48.100 --> 00:12:49.320
 what the Apostle

00:12:49.320 --> 00:12:49.779
 Paul needs.

00:12:49.860 --> 00:12:51.080
 He needs special

00:12:51.080 --> 00:12:51.480
 help.

00:12:51.700 --> 00:12:52.480
 He often needs

00:12:52.480 --> 00:12:53.580
 special help.

00:12:55.160 --> 00:12:55.680
 Again,

00:12:55.779 --> 00:12:56.560
 in 2 Corinthians 4,

00:12:56.620 --> 00:12:56.860
 he says,

00:12:56.960 --> 00:12:57.740
 we're hard-pressed

00:12:57.740 --> 00:12:58.620
 on every side,

00:12:58.700 --> 00:12:59.500
 we're perplexed,

00:12:59.540 --> 00:13:00.200
 we're persecuted,

00:13:00.440 --> 00:13:01.920
 we're struck down.

00:13:03.100 --> 00:13:04.500
 He says in 2 Corinthians 7,

00:13:04.560 --> 00:13:04.860
 he says,

00:13:04.860 --> 00:13:05.960
 there were fightings

00:13:05.960 --> 00:13:06.879
 without and fears

00:13:06.879 --> 00:13:07.879
 within constantly

00:13:07.879 --> 00:13:09.019
 in my ministry.

00:13:10.440 --> 00:13:11.120
 And so how does he

00:13:11.120 --> 00:13:12.399
 keep going in the

00:13:12.399 --> 00:13:13.519
 Lord's mission

00:13:13.519 --> 00:13:14.320
 for the city

00:13:14.320 --> 00:13:15.320
 when it's so physically

00:13:15.320 --> 00:13:16.639
 and emotionally taxing

00:13:16.639 --> 00:13:18.060
 and so spiritually

00:13:18.060 --> 00:13:19.519
 discouraging?

00:13:20.500 --> 00:13:21.419
 And how do we

00:13:21.419 --> 00:13:22.120
 keep going?

00:13:22.320 --> 00:13:23.180
 How do I keep going?

00:13:24.320 --> 00:13:24.539
 Well,

00:13:25.460 --> 00:13:25.680
 yeah,

00:13:25.840 --> 00:13:26.320
 how do we

00:13:26.320 --> 00:13:28.399
 do this ministry

00:13:28.399 --> 00:13:28.920
 in Berkeley

00:13:28.920 --> 00:13:29.779
 in the Bay Area

00:13:29.779 --> 00:13:31.480
 when it can feel

00:13:31.480 --> 00:13:32.860
 sometimes appropriately

00:13:32.860 --> 00:13:34.019
 overwhelming?

00:13:34.860 --> 00:13:35.720
 when you think

00:13:35.720 --> 00:13:36.300
 about the mission

00:13:36.300 --> 00:13:37.300
 we actually have

00:13:37.300 --> 00:13:38.399
 to share the gospel?

00:13:39.519 --> 00:13:39.700
 Well,

00:13:39.740 --> 00:13:40.480
 I think this vision

00:13:40.480 --> 00:13:41.560
 in Corinth

00:13:41.560 --> 00:13:42.580
 is kind of a

00:13:42.580 --> 00:13:43.720
 clue and a help

00:13:43.720 --> 00:13:45.379
 because the risen

00:13:45.379 --> 00:13:45.919
 Lord Jesus,

00:13:46.039 --> 00:13:46.820
 he comes to Paul

00:13:46.820 --> 00:13:48.800
 who keeps experiencing

00:13:48.800 --> 00:13:49.800
 serious opposition

00:13:49.800 --> 00:13:51.180
 and hostile receptions

00:13:51.180 --> 00:13:52.200
 in city after city

00:13:52.200 --> 00:13:54.100
 and what does he say

00:13:54.100 --> 00:13:54.519
 to Paul

00:13:54.519 --> 00:13:55.100
 in the darkness

00:13:55.100 --> 00:13:55.560
 of night?

00:13:56.159 --> 00:13:56.680
 What does he say?

00:13:56.759 --> 00:13:57.039
 He says,

00:13:57.620 --> 00:13:59.519
 do not be afraid.

00:13:59.519 --> 00:14:02.220
 How many of us

00:14:02.220 --> 00:14:02.740
 are beginning

00:14:02.740 --> 00:14:04.539
 our days

00:14:04.539 --> 00:14:05.600
 and ending our days

00:14:05.600 --> 00:14:06.500
 in 2025

00:14:06.500 --> 00:14:08.659
 listening to that

00:14:08.659 --> 00:14:09.559
 voice of fear

00:14:09.559 --> 00:14:11.879
 with all of his

00:14:11.879 --> 00:14:12.840
 dark lies

00:14:12.840 --> 00:14:14.259
 and dark temptations?

00:14:14.480 --> 00:14:14.740
 It says,

00:14:14.960 --> 00:14:15.399
 be afraid.

00:14:18.500 --> 00:14:19.019
 Jesus,

00:14:19.559 --> 00:14:21.259
 risen from the dead,

00:14:22.079 --> 00:14:23.679
 comes to his apostle

00:14:23.679 --> 00:14:24.759
 and he commands him,

00:14:25.759 --> 00:14:26.740
 stop being afraid.

00:14:26.740 --> 00:14:26.820
 afraid.

00:14:28.940 --> 00:14:29.940
 Fear no longer.

00:14:31.519 --> 00:14:32.340
 Take your fears

00:14:32.340 --> 00:14:33.019
 and look at them

00:14:33.019 --> 00:14:33.399
 and say,

00:14:33.919 --> 00:14:34.200
 no.

00:14:36.060 --> 00:14:36.899
 He says,

00:14:37.100 --> 00:14:37.860
 do not be afraid.

00:14:38.440 --> 00:14:39.340
 Keep on speaking.

00:14:40.180 --> 00:14:41.000
 Do not be silent

00:14:41.000 --> 00:14:41.840
 for I am with you

00:14:41.840 --> 00:14:42.680
 and no one is going

00:14:42.680 --> 00:14:43.700
 to attack and harm you

00:14:43.700 --> 00:14:44.879
 because I have many people

00:14:44.879 --> 00:14:46.279
 in this city.

00:14:47.340 --> 00:14:47.500
 See,

00:14:47.560 --> 00:14:48.139
 the apostle Paul

00:14:48.139 --> 00:14:48.700
 needs to know

00:14:48.700 --> 00:14:49.480
 three things

00:14:49.480 --> 00:14:50.879
 all of which I think

00:14:50.879 --> 00:14:52.560
 apply to us

00:14:52.560 --> 00:14:53.560
 here at Christ Church.

00:14:53.659 --> 00:14:54.019
 He says,

00:14:54.100 --> 00:14:54.460
 first of all,

00:14:54.519 --> 00:14:55.100
 I'm with you.

00:14:55.800 --> 00:14:56.540
 I'm with you.

00:14:57.860 --> 00:14:58.940
 You're not as alone

00:14:58.940 --> 00:14:59.519
 as you feel

00:14:59.519 --> 00:15:02.040
 because I'm with you.

00:15:03.100 --> 00:15:04.200
 You're not as weak

00:15:04.200 --> 00:15:04.920
 and defenseless

00:15:04.920 --> 00:15:05.600
 as you feel

00:15:05.600 --> 00:15:06.500
 because I'm here

00:15:06.500 --> 00:15:07.700
 to protect you.

00:15:09.279 --> 00:15:09.540
 You see,

00:15:09.600 --> 00:15:10.700
 what drives our mission

00:15:10.700 --> 00:15:11.519
 for the city,

00:15:11.700 --> 00:15:12.759
 it's not us.

00:15:13.360 --> 00:15:14.120
 It's not our gifts.

00:15:14.240 --> 00:15:15.879
 It's not our skills,

00:15:16.000 --> 00:15:16.480
 our passions,

00:15:16.620 --> 00:15:17.320
 our experiences,

00:15:17.639 --> 00:15:18.340
 our vision,

00:15:18.580 --> 00:15:19.240
 our resources,

00:15:19.700 --> 00:15:20.779
 our sense of confidence

00:15:20.779 --> 00:15:21.480
 in ourselves.

00:15:21.480 --> 00:15:23.360
 what drives our mission

00:15:23.360 --> 00:15:24.100
 for the city

00:15:24.100 --> 00:15:25.940
 is Jesus Christ

00:15:25.940 --> 00:15:26.820
 risen from the dead

00:15:26.820 --> 00:15:29.480
 who's living and active

00:15:29.480 --> 00:15:31.019
 who says,

00:15:31.240 --> 00:15:32.000
 I'm right here

00:15:32.000 --> 00:15:33.240
 with you

00:15:33.240 --> 00:15:36.060
 and he's promised

00:15:36.060 --> 00:15:38.139
 to not just be with us

00:15:38.139 --> 00:15:39.320
 but to build his church.

00:15:39.920 --> 00:15:40.920
 He's promised to

00:15:40.920 --> 00:15:42.560
 protect us

00:15:42.560 --> 00:15:43.100
 in such a way

00:15:43.100 --> 00:15:43.940
 that the gates of hell

00:15:43.940 --> 00:15:44.600
 will not prevail

00:15:44.600 --> 00:15:45.600
 against his church.

00:15:45.600 --> 00:15:48.820
 our gospel mission

00:15:48.820 --> 00:15:50.440
 to our city

00:15:50.440 --> 00:15:52.300
 is completely reliant,

00:15:52.399 --> 00:15:53.420
 it's totally dependent

00:15:53.420 --> 00:15:54.340
 on the presence

00:15:54.340 --> 00:15:55.019
 and the power

00:15:55.019 --> 00:15:56.980
 of the resurrected Lord Jesus

00:15:56.980 --> 00:15:58.680
 and if he is not with us

00:15:58.680 --> 00:16:01.000
 then whatever we purpose

00:16:01.000 --> 00:16:01.600
 this year

00:16:01.600 --> 00:16:02.560
 will come to naught.

00:16:02.680 --> 00:16:03.259
 It'll be nothing.

00:16:04.320 --> 00:16:05.659
 But if he is with us

00:16:05.659 --> 00:16:06.940
 then we can keep going

00:16:06.940 --> 00:16:08.100
 with confidence.

00:16:09.240 --> 00:16:10.019
 So first of all,

00:16:10.580 --> 00:16:11.240
 I'm with you,

00:16:11.320 --> 00:16:11.759
 he says.

00:16:12.000 --> 00:16:12.340
 Secondly,

00:16:13.060 --> 00:16:14.019
 I have many people

00:16:14.019 --> 00:16:14.620
 in this city

00:16:14.620 --> 00:16:16.919
 not only am I with you

00:16:16.919 --> 00:16:17.940
 but I have many people

00:16:17.940 --> 00:16:19.179
 in this city.

00:16:19.299 --> 00:16:20.279
 Jesus is saying to Paul,

00:16:20.460 --> 00:16:21.360
 I own this city.

00:16:22.320 --> 00:16:23.659
 I sovereignly rule

00:16:23.659 --> 00:16:25.580
 and reign over this city.

00:16:25.679 --> 00:16:26.360
 I'm at work here

00:16:26.360 --> 00:16:26.860
 in the lives

00:16:26.860 --> 00:16:27.879
 of all the people

00:16:27.879 --> 00:16:29.080
 in this city.

00:16:29.220 --> 00:16:30.539
 They owe their very existence

00:16:30.539 --> 00:16:31.480
 to me.

00:16:32.759 --> 00:16:34.159
 And he says to Paul

00:16:34.159 --> 00:16:35.000
 and to the church

00:16:35.000 --> 00:16:35.600
 through Paul,

00:16:35.720 --> 00:16:36.120
 he's saying,

00:16:36.480 --> 00:16:37.139
 I've sent you

00:16:37.139 --> 00:16:38.379
 to gather a people

00:16:38.379 --> 00:16:40.180
 who will willingly

00:16:40.180 --> 00:16:41.519
 and self-consciously

00:16:41.519 --> 00:16:43.419
 belong to me.

00:16:43.419 --> 00:16:44.639
 a people

00:16:44.639 --> 00:16:45.279
 who will live

00:16:45.279 --> 00:16:45.919
 for my name

00:16:45.919 --> 00:16:47.360
 and for my glory.

00:16:48.579 --> 00:16:49.539
 And because I have

00:16:49.539 --> 00:16:50.519
 so many people

00:16:50.519 --> 00:16:51.360
 in this city

00:16:51.360 --> 00:16:52.479
 and because I'm

00:16:52.479 --> 00:16:53.479
 at work in this city,

00:16:54.179 --> 00:16:55.559
 my church therefore

00:16:55.559 --> 00:16:56.959
 has a great work

00:16:56.959 --> 00:16:58.059
 that remains to be done.

00:16:58.899 --> 00:17:00.059
 A great task

00:17:00.059 --> 00:17:01.459
 that remains unfinished.

00:17:01.620 --> 00:17:02.399
 A great commission

00:17:02.399 --> 00:17:04.299
 that remains to be

00:17:04.299 --> 00:17:05.319
 worked out.

00:17:06.579 --> 00:17:06.980
 And friends,

00:17:07.019 --> 00:17:08.000
 this encourages me

00:17:08.000 --> 00:17:09.920
 that Jesus has many people

00:17:09.920 --> 00:17:10.680
 here in the city

00:17:10.680 --> 00:17:11.099
 of Berkeley.

00:17:11.099 --> 00:17:13.000
 He has many people

00:17:13.000 --> 00:17:13.799
 in the city of Oakland.

00:17:13.939 --> 00:17:14.659
 He has many people

00:17:14.659 --> 00:17:15.199
 in the city,

00:17:15.659 --> 00:17:16.319
 all the cities

00:17:16.319 --> 00:17:17.000
 of the East Bay.

00:17:17.099 --> 00:17:18.159
 A people out there

00:17:18.159 --> 00:17:20.599
 whom he wants to reach.

00:17:20.779 --> 00:17:21.639
 A people whom he wants

00:17:21.639 --> 00:17:22.279
 to save

00:17:22.279 --> 00:17:23.419
 by the power

00:17:23.419 --> 00:17:24.059
 of his grace.

00:17:24.119 --> 00:17:24.859
 A people that he wants

00:17:24.859 --> 00:17:26.139
 to add to his church.

00:17:26.240 --> 00:17:26.939
 A people that he wants

00:17:26.939 --> 00:17:27.439
 to gather

00:17:27.439 --> 00:17:28.559
 for his glory.

00:17:28.699 --> 00:17:29.339
 A people that he wants

00:17:29.339 --> 00:17:29.959
 to conform

00:17:29.959 --> 00:17:32.399
 into his love

00:17:32.399 --> 00:17:33.359
 and to his image.

00:17:34.319 --> 00:17:35.139
 And this is why

00:17:35.139 --> 00:17:36.879
 he wants us

00:17:36.879 --> 00:17:38.019
 to keep going.

00:17:38.019 --> 00:17:40.019
 To keep initiating

00:17:40.019 --> 00:17:41.519
 relationships with people.

00:17:41.599 --> 00:17:43.019
 To keep finding

00:17:43.019 --> 00:17:44.039
 people of peace.

00:17:44.160 --> 00:17:45.019
 To keep saying

00:17:45.019 --> 00:17:46.559
 to our co-workers

00:17:46.559 --> 00:17:47.359
 in our office

00:17:47.359 --> 00:17:48.299
 and the people

00:17:48.299 --> 00:17:49.359
 that are living

00:17:49.359 --> 00:17:50.000
 on our streets

00:17:50.000 --> 00:17:50.900
 and in our schools.

00:17:51.200 --> 00:17:52.879
 The people with whom

00:17:52.879 --> 00:17:53.859
 we've developed

00:17:53.859 --> 00:17:54.539
 a friendship

00:17:54.539 --> 00:17:55.960
 around common interests.

00:17:56.579 --> 00:17:56.639
 Right?

00:17:56.740 --> 00:17:57.480
 The members

00:17:57.480 --> 00:17:58.059
 of our families.

00:17:58.160 --> 00:17:59.099
 He wants us

00:17:59.099 --> 00:17:59.619
 to bring them

00:17:59.619 --> 00:18:00.400
 around our table

00:18:00.400 --> 00:18:01.759
 and listen to them.

00:18:03.160 --> 00:18:04.460
 And to love them.

00:18:05.379 --> 00:18:06.400
 And to ask them

00:18:06.400 --> 00:18:07.400
 great questions

00:18:07.400 --> 00:18:07.680
 to say,

00:18:07.780 --> 00:18:07.940
 you know,

00:18:08.019 --> 00:18:08.620
 what is it

00:18:08.620 --> 00:18:09.220
 that gives your life

00:18:09.220 --> 00:18:09.560
 meaning?

00:18:12.080 --> 00:18:13.140
 Where do you turn

00:18:13.140 --> 00:18:13.820
 for help

00:18:13.820 --> 00:18:14.540
 and for strength

00:18:14.540 --> 00:18:15.600
 when life inevitably

00:18:15.600 --> 00:18:16.320
 gets hard?

00:18:17.740 --> 00:18:18.500
 Do you ever have

00:18:18.500 --> 00:18:19.280
 a sense that God

00:18:19.280 --> 00:18:20.140
 is real?

00:18:22.040 --> 00:18:22.340
 You see,

00:18:22.400 --> 00:18:22.820
 if the Lord

00:18:22.820 --> 00:18:23.480
 has people

00:18:23.480 --> 00:18:24.120
 in the city,

00:18:25.200 --> 00:18:26.240
 then one of our

00:18:26.240 --> 00:18:27.180
 primary tasks

00:18:27.180 --> 00:18:28.600
 is to go and find them.

00:18:29.620 --> 00:18:30.780
 And to befriend them.

00:18:31.620 --> 00:18:32.620
 To listen to them

00:18:32.620 --> 00:18:33.259
 and to love them

00:18:33.259 --> 00:18:33.840
 into the kingdom.

00:18:35.360 --> 00:18:35.880
 Jesus says,

00:18:35.880 --> 00:18:36.600
 I'm with you.

00:18:37.460 --> 00:18:38.640
 And I have many people

00:18:38.640 --> 00:18:39.140
 in the city.

00:18:39.240 --> 00:18:39.860
 And then he says,

00:18:39.960 --> 00:18:40.840
 keep on speaking.

00:18:41.260 --> 00:18:42.440
 Do not be silent.

00:18:43.600 --> 00:18:44.260
 That's the way

00:18:44.260 --> 00:18:45.060
 my great commission

00:18:45.060 --> 00:18:45.780
 will be worked out

00:18:45.780 --> 00:18:46.380
 is if you

00:18:46.380 --> 00:18:47.920
 keep on speaking

00:18:47.920 --> 00:18:49.420
 this simple message

00:18:49.420 --> 00:18:51.080
 of Christ crucified

00:18:51.080 --> 00:18:52.780
 so that as many people

00:18:52.780 --> 00:18:53.960
 can hear the gospel

00:18:53.960 --> 00:18:54.580
 as possible.

00:18:55.560 --> 00:18:56.320
 This is why

00:18:56.320 --> 00:18:57.200
 we're looking forward

00:18:57.200 --> 00:18:57.760
 to running our

00:18:57.760 --> 00:18:58.480
 Alpha course

00:18:58.480 --> 00:19:00.540
 again in January.

00:19:00.720 --> 00:19:01.460
 It's why we're hoping

00:19:01.460 --> 00:19:03.000
 that you all

00:19:03.000 --> 00:19:03.640
 will be praying

00:19:03.640 --> 00:19:04.200
 for the people

00:19:04.200 --> 00:19:04.840
 that God has put

00:19:04.839 --> 00:19:05.419
 in your life

00:19:05.419 --> 00:19:06.059
 that they would

00:19:06.059 --> 00:19:07.339
 begin to explore faith

00:19:07.339 --> 00:19:08.720
 and we can create

00:19:08.720 --> 00:19:09.759
 spaces for people

00:19:09.759 --> 00:19:11.879
 to do that very thing.

00:19:13.119 --> 00:19:14.119
 Our risen Lord

00:19:14.119 --> 00:19:15.079
 Jesus says,

00:19:15.559 --> 00:19:16.099
 I'm with you.

00:19:16.500 --> 00:19:17.159
 I have many people

00:19:17.159 --> 00:19:17.659
 in the city

00:19:17.659 --> 00:19:19.439
 and keep speaking.

00:19:20.899 --> 00:19:21.359
 And the Lord,

00:19:21.519 --> 00:19:21.679
 I think,

00:19:21.759 --> 00:19:22.439
 made good on that

00:19:22.439 --> 00:19:23.339
 promise to Paul.

00:19:23.519 --> 00:19:23.799
 Paul,

00:19:24.480 --> 00:19:25.220
 unlike all the other

00:19:25.220 --> 00:19:25.799
 cities before,

00:19:25.919 --> 00:19:26.539
 he's not forced

00:19:26.539 --> 00:19:27.159
 out of the city.

00:19:27.279 --> 00:19:28.119
 He's enabled to

00:19:28.119 --> 00:19:29.299
 stay in Corinth

00:19:29.299 --> 00:19:30.480
 for about 18 months.

00:19:30.480 --> 00:19:31.000
 His heart

00:19:31.000 --> 00:19:32.579
 is now encouraged.

00:19:32.940 --> 00:19:33.360
 His faith

00:19:33.360 --> 00:19:33.960
 is strengthened.

00:19:34.440 --> 00:19:34.940
 His nerves

00:19:34.940 --> 00:19:35.759
 are steeled.

00:19:36.099 --> 00:19:36.980
 He has a newfound

00:19:36.980 --> 00:19:37.860
 assurance

00:19:37.860 --> 00:19:38.700
 and confidence

00:19:38.700 --> 00:19:40.519
 to stay the course

00:19:40.519 --> 00:19:41.480
 until his work

00:19:41.480 --> 00:19:43.120
 is completed

00:19:43.120 --> 00:19:43.940
 in spite of

00:19:43.940 --> 00:19:45.680
 inevitable opposition.

00:19:46.960 --> 00:19:47.599
 And my hope

00:19:47.599 --> 00:19:48.880
 is that all of us

00:19:48.880 --> 00:19:50.140
 would be able

00:19:50.140 --> 00:19:50.720
 to operate

00:19:50.720 --> 00:19:51.579
 out of that same

00:19:51.579 --> 00:19:52.259
 encouragement,

00:19:53.240 --> 00:19:54.160
 that same strength,

00:19:54.259 --> 00:19:55.559
 that same confidence

00:19:55.559 --> 00:19:57.299
 as we enter

00:19:57.299 --> 00:19:58.000
 into a new

00:19:58.000 --> 00:19:58.779
 school year,

00:19:58.859 --> 00:19:59.879
 a new ministry

00:19:59.879 --> 00:20:00.379
 year together.

00:20:02.759 --> 00:20:03.200
 So,

00:20:03.319 --> 00:20:03.940
 what keeps us

00:20:03.940 --> 00:20:04.460
 going in our

00:20:04.460 --> 00:20:05.659
 mission for the city?

00:20:06.579 --> 00:20:07.460
 It's not us,

00:20:07.519 --> 00:20:07.960
 it's Jesus.

00:20:09.319 --> 00:20:09.759
 Secondly,

00:20:09.899 --> 00:20:10.460
 what is the heart

00:20:10.460 --> 00:20:10.980
 of our message?

00:20:12.159 --> 00:20:13.000
 What is the heart

00:20:13.000 --> 00:20:13.519
 of our message

00:20:13.519 --> 00:20:14.659
 for our city?

00:20:15.720 --> 00:20:15.859
 Well,

00:20:15.899 --> 00:20:16.799
 Corinth was a lot

00:20:16.799 --> 00:20:17.779
 like the Bay Area.

00:20:18.319 --> 00:20:19.279
 The Apostle Paul

00:20:19.279 --> 00:20:21.839
 came here to Corinth

00:20:21.839 --> 00:20:22.659
 because it's the best

00:20:22.659 --> 00:20:24.059
 place to make contact

00:20:24.059 --> 00:20:24.879
 with all sorts

00:20:24.879 --> 00:20:25.379
 of people.

00:20:26.500 --> 00:20:27.819
 It was this crossroads

00:20:27.819 --> 00:20:28.759
 between the eastern

00:20:28.759 --> 00:20:29.299
 and the western

00:20:29.299 --> 00:20:29.879
 Mediterranean

00:20:29.879 --> 00:20:31.039
 and between northern

00:20:31.039 --> 00:20:32.319
 and southern Greece

00:20:32.319 --> 00:20:33.519
 and so Paul could

00:20:33.519 --> 00:20:34.000
 meet here

00:20:34.000 --> 00:20:35.279
 people of varying

00:20:35.279 --> 00:20:37.539
 social statuses

00:20:37.539 --> 00:20:38.759
 and spiritual orientations

00:20:38.759 --> 00:20:39.940
 and that's exactly

00:20:39.940 --> 00:20:40.539
 what he did

00:20:40.539 --> 00:20:41.919
 for the next 18 months.

00:20:42.019 --> 00:20:42.440
 He would talk

00:20:42.440 --> 00:20:42.919
 to people

00:20:42.919 --> 00:20:44.619
 while he was working

00:20:44.619 --> 00:20:45.399
 in his leather shop,

00:20:45.480 --> 00:20:46.179
 while he was selling

00:20:46.179 --> 00:20:47.079
 tents in the marketplace,

00:20:47.319 --> 00:20:48.019
 before work,

00:20:48.359 --> 00:20:48.899
 after work,

00:20:48.980 --> 00:20:49.799
 Paul's talking to people

00:20:49.799 --> 00:20:50.500
 up and down

00:20:50.500 --> 00:20:51.960
 the social ladder

00:20:51.960 --> 00:20:53.200
 and across the spectrum

00:20:53.200 --> 00:20:54.839
 of all the ideologies

00:20:54.839 --> 00:20:55.919
 out there on offer

00:20:55.919 --> 00:20:58.819
 primarily represented

00:20:58.819 --> 00:21:00.059
 by the ideologies

00:21:00.059 --> 00:21:01.659
 of Jew and Greek.

00:21:02.720 --> 00:21:03.439
 And Paul says

00:21:03.439 --> 00:21:05.740
 in 1 Corinthians 1, 22,

00:21:05.939 --> 00:21:06.539
 he says this,

00:21:06.599 --> 00:21:06.939
 he says,

00:21:07.099 --> 00:21:08.419
 Jews demand signs

00:21:08.419 --> 00:21:09.579
 or signs of power

00:21:09.579 --> 00:21:11.019
 and Greeks look

00:21:11.019 --> 00:21:12.279
 for wisdom.

00:21:13.459 --> 00:21:13.819
 And of course,

00:21:13.879 --> 00:21:14.779
 the Bible for Jews

00:21:14.779 --> 00:21:16.220
 is the Moses

00:21:16.220 --> 00:21:17.039
 and the prophets,

00:21:17.279 --> 00:21:17.480
 you know,

00:21:17.539 --> 00:21:18.879
 from Elijah to Ezekiel

00:21:18.880 --> 00:21:20.240
 and in interpreting

00:21:20.240 --> 00:21:20.900
 that Bible,

00:21:21.060 --> 00:21:21.720
 people were then

00:21:21.720 --> 00:21:23.160
 valuing signs

00:21:23.160 --> 00:21:25.100
 of supernatural power

00:21:25.100 --> 00:21:27.340
 and all the wonderful

00:21:27.340 --> 00:21:28.100
 works of God

00:21:28.100 --> 00:21:28.540
 that you see

00:21:28.540 --> 00:21:29.120
 in the plagues

00:21:29.120 --> 00:21:29.580
 in Egypt

00:21:29.580 --> 00:21:30.840
 and the parting

00:21:30.840 --> 00:21:31.480
 of the Red Sea,

00:21:31.600 --> 00:21:32.460
 they were focused

00:21:32.460 --> 00:21:33.440
 on the power.

00:21:34.880 --> 00:21:36.220
 And of course,

00:21:36.460 --> 00:21:37.400
 for Greeks,

00:21:37.540 --> 00:21:38.220
 the sacred text

00:21:38.220 --> 00:21:38.720
 for the Greeks

00:21:38.720 --> 00:21:39.240
 was Homer

00:21:39.240 --> 00:21:40.300
 and Plato

00:21:40.300 --> 00:21:41.100
 and Aristotle

00:21:41.100 --> 00:21:43.060
 and they valued

00:21:43.060 --> 00:21:44.240
 not so much power

00:21:44.240 --> 00:21:44.880
 but wisdom.

00:21:44.880 --> 00:21:47.420
 They valued the logos

00:21:47.420 --> 00:21:48.340
 and ethos

00:21:48.340 --> 00:21:49.140
 and pathos

00:21:49.140 --> 00:21:50.400
 of rhetoric

00:21:50.400 --> 00:21:51.880
 and masterful,

00:21:52.000 --> 00:21:53.220
 skillful dialogue.

00:21:54.560 --> 00:21:55.140
 And in some ways,

00:21:55.240 --> 00:21:55.900
 these cultures

00:21:55.900 --> 00:21:56.640
 of Jew and Greek

00:21:56.640 --> 00:21:57.840
 represent our

00:21:57.840 --> 00:21:59.200
 modern desires today.

00:21:59.200 --> 00:22:01.100
 We desire power.

00:22:01.280 --> 00:22:02.320
 We desire the power

00:22:02.320 --> 00:22:03.280
 of an active life,

00:22:03.420 --> 00:22:03.900
 the power

00:22:03.900 --> 00:22:05.600
 to get stuff done,

00:22:05.660 --> 00:22:06.020
 the power

00:22:06.020 --> 00:22:06.940
 to change the world.

00:22:07.840 --> 00:22:09.140
 We desire wisdom.

00:22:09.260 --> 00:22:10.000
 We desire the wisdom

00:22:10.000 --> 00:22:11.100
 of a contemplative life,

00:22:11.200 --> 00:22:11.620
 the wisdom

00:22:11.620 --> 00:22:12.760
 of reflecting

00:22:12.760 --> 00:22:13.480
 on what we've done,

00:22:13.600 --> 00:22:14.240
 the wisdom

00:22:14.240 --> 00:22:15.059
 of explaining

00:22:15.059 --> 00:22:15.819
 and understanding

00:22:15.819 --> 00:22:16.759
 the world.

00:22:18.120 --> 00:22:18.599
 But Paul,

00:22:18.740 --> 00:22:20.279
 he comes to these two

00:22:20.279 --> 00:22:22.819
 alternate visions

00:22:22.819 --> 00:22:23.720
 of reality

00:22:23.720 --> 00:22:25.700
 and he outflanks

00:22:25.700 --> 00:22:26.200
 them both.

00:22:26.480 --> 00:22:27.299
 To quote

00:22:27.299 --> 00:22:28.420
 some popular

00:22:28.420 --> 00:22:29.339
 Berkeley bumper stickers,

00:22:29.640 --> 00:22:31.220
 Paul questions authority.

00:22:32.779 --> 00:22:33.000
 Right?

00:22:33.039 --> 00:22:33.579
 He subverts

00:22:33.579 --> 00:22:34.160
 the popular,

00:22:34.440 --> 00:22:35.680
 the dominant paradigms.

00:22:36.539 --> 00:22:37.620
 And he shows up

00:22:37.620 --> 00:22:38.259
 with a totally

00:22:38.259 --> 00:22:39.099
 different message.

00:22:40.480 --> 00:22:41.660
 He comes to the city

00:22:41.660 --> 00:22:42.359
 and he says

00:22:42.359 --> 00:22:43.900
 he comes in verse 18

00:22:43.900 --> 00:22:44.820
 with the message

00:22:44.820 --> 00:22:45.420
 of the cross,

00:22:45.480 --> 00:22:45.980
 of the word

00:22:45.980 --> 00:22:46.660
 of the cross.

00:22:48.320 --> 00:22:49.280
 In verse 23,

00:22:49.360 --> 00:22:49.540
 he says,

00:22:49.640 --> 00:22:50.580
 we preach Christ

00:22:50.580 --> 00:22:51.420
 crucified.

00:22:52.880 --> 00:22:54.519
 He says in 1 Corinthians 2.2,

00:22:54.580 --> 00:22:55.600
 I resolved to know

00:22:55.600 --> 00:22:56.360
 nothing while I was

00:22:56.360 --> 00:22:56.660
 with you

00:22:56.660 --> 00:22:57.740
 except Jesus Christ

00:22:57.740 --> 00:22:59.400
 and him crucified.

00:23:00.580 --> 00:23:01.480
 He says

00:23:01.480 --> 00:23:02.620
 to these visions

00:23:02.620 --> 00:23:03.240
 of reality

00:23:03.240 --> 00:23:04.380
 that are on offer

00:23:04.380 --> 00:23:05.360
 and are most popular

00:23:05.360 --> 00:23:06.200
 to all the people,

00:23:06.259 --> 00:23:06.600
 he says,

00:23:06.720 --> 00:23:07.380
 these visions

00:23:07.380 --> 00:23:08.080
 of reality

00:23:08.080 --> 00:23:09.980
 are insufficient.

00:23:09.980 --> 00:23:12.360
 your vision

00:23:12.360 --> 00:23:12.980
 of God

00:23:12.980 --> 00:23:14.039
 and of the world

00:23:14.039 --> 00:23:15.279
 is incomplete.

00:23:16.860 --> 00:23:17.620
 And let me see

00:23:17.620 --> 00:23:18.640
 if I can illustrate

00:23:18.640 --> 00:23:19.759
 this with Superman.

00:23:19.900 --> 00:23:20.500
 Have you guys seen

00:23:20.500 --> 00:23:21.240
 the movie yet?

00:23:22.279 --> 00:23:22.620
 Okay,

00:23:22.660 --> 00:23:23.360
 you need to repent

00:23:23.360 --> 00:23:25.539
 and go

00:23:25.539 --> 00:23:26.759
 and see this movie.

00:23:27.160 --> 00:23:28.079
 I think it's probably

00:23:28.079 --> 00:23:28.539
 the best

00:23:28.539 --> 00:23:29.339
 of all the Superman.

00:23:30.599 --> 00:23:31.360
 Of course,

00:23:31.779 --> 00:23:32.920
 it's an immigrant story.

00:23:33.299 --> 00:23:33.819
 It's a story

00:23:33.819 --> 00:23:34.319
 of an alien

00:23:34.319 --> 00:23:34.819
 who comes

00:23:34.819 --> 00:23:35.720
 to the United States.

00:23:36.299 --> 00:23:36.720
 He's committed

00:23:36.720 --> 00:23:37.299
 to truth,

00:23:37.539 --> 00:23:37.960
 justice,

00:23:37.960 --> 00:23:39.180
 in the American way.

00:23:40.000 --> 00:23:41.019
 These bedrock principles

00:23:41.019 --> 00:23:42.180
 that you defend

00:23:42.180 --> 00:23:42.840
 the defenseless

00:23:42.840 --> 00:23:43.980
 and you help

00:23:43.980 --> 00:23:44.640
 people in need,

00:23:44.700 --> 00:23:44.880
 right?

00:23:45.819 --> 00:23:46.480
 And these

00:23:46.480 --> 00:23:48.200
 essential aspects

00:23:48.200 --> 00:23:49.340
 and attributes

00:23:49.340 --> 00:23:49.980
 of Superman

00:23:49.980 --> 00:23:52.200
 are what define

00:23:52.200 --> 00:23:53.200
 how he deals

00:23:53.200 --> 00:23:53.759
 with evil.

00:23:55.640 --> 00:23:56.620
 How he deals

00:23:56.620 --> 00:23:57.700
 with corrupt politicians

00:23:57.700 --> 00:23:58.980
 and unscrupulous

00:23:58.980 --> 00:24:00.279
 businessmen.

00:24:01.279 --> 00:24:01.920
 And in this particular,

00:24:02.279 --> 00:24:02.799
 this isn't,

00:24:03.039 --> 00:24:03.779
 these aren't spoilers

00:24:03.779 --> 00:24:04.319
 by the way,

00:24:04.539 --> 00:24:06.240
 but in this particular

00:24:06.240 --> 00:24:07.579
 version of the movie,

00:24:07.579 --> 00:24:09.139
 Superman is battling

00:24:09.139 --> 00:24:10.119
 tech billionaires

00:24:10.119 --> 00:24:10.859
 who hang out

00:24:10.859 --> 00:24:12.099
 in shadowy lairs

00:24:12.099 --> 00:24:12.699
 beyond,

00:24:13.079 --> 00:24:14.319
 you know,

00:24:14.759 --> 00:24:16.500
 real authorities

00:24:16.500 --> 00:24:17.139
 who are trying

00:24:17.139 --> 00:24:17.879
 to control

00:24:17.879 --> 00:24:18.699
 the universe.

00:24:19.339 --> 00:24:20.720
 And Superman's

00:24:20.720 --> 00:24:21.480
 taking on mass

00:24:21.480 --> 00:24:22.079
 bad guys

00:24:22.079 --> 00:24:22.599
 with guns

00:24:22.599 --> 00:24:23.259
 who are dragging

00:24:23.259 --> 00:24:24.359
 random people

00:24:24.359 --> 00:24:25.139
 away to be

00:24:25.139 --> 00:24:25.980
 imprisoned in cages

00:24:25.980 --> 00:24:26.539
 where nobody

00:24:26.539 --> 00:24:27.299
 can find them.

00:24:28.139 --> 00:24:29.179
 And the central

00:24:29.179 --> 00:24:30.139
 bad guy in the movie,

00:24:30.319 --> 00:24:30.799
 you know him,

00:24:31.019 --> 00:24:31.559
 Lex Luthor,

00:24:32.279 --> 00:24:33.359
 he believes himself

00:24:33.359 --> 00:24:34.019
 to be a genius

00:24:34.019 --> 00:24:35.099
 and yet he's jealous

00:24:35.099 --> 00:24:35.939
 of anyone

00:24:35.939 --> 00:24:36.480
 that makes him

00:24:36.480 --> 00:24:37.259
 feel weak.

00:24:37.259 --> 00:24:38.119
 Okay, so

00:24:38.119 --> 00:24:39.519
 does any of this

00:24:39.519 --> 00:24:40.599
 sound vaguely familiar

00:24:40.599 --> 00:24:44.240
 or remotely relevant

00:24:44.240 --> 00:24:45.019
 to our time?

00:24:46.240 --> 00:24:47.119
 And Superman's there

00:24:47.119 --> 00:24:47.940
 to protect the little

00:24:47.940 --> 00:24:48.660
 guys and pummel

00:24:48.660 --> 00:24:49.299
 the bad guys,

00:24:49.339 --> 00:24:49.539
 right?

00:24:50.259 --> 00:24:51.200
 Well, there's this

00:24:51.200 --> 00:24:51.839
 great book by

00:24:51.839 --> 00:24:52.400
 Glenn Weldon

00:24:52.400 --> 00:24:53.339
 called Superman,

00:24:54.059 --> 00:24:55.160
 the Unauthorized

00:24:55.160 --> 00:24:55.640
 Biography,

00:24:55.819 --> 00:24:56.660
 and here's his thesis.

00:24:56.799 --> 00:24:57.140
 He says,

00:24:58.059 --> 00:24:58.519
 there are two

00:24:58.519 --> 00:24:59.500
 central definitive

00:24:59.500 --> 00:25:00.660
 attributes to

00:25:00.660 --> 00:25:02.140
 any good Superman

00:25:02.140 --> 00:25:03.240
 story to tell you

00:25:03.240 --> 00:25:03.920
 that it's legit,

00:25:04.019 --> 00:25:04.539
 that it's real.

00:25:04.539 --> 00:25:05.720
 He says,

00:25:05.960 --> 00:25:06.759
 the real Superman

00:25:06.759 --> 00:25:08.480
 is always selfless

00:25:08.480 --> 00:25:10.519
 and he always

00:25:10.519 --> 00:25:11.680
 operates by resolve.

00:25:12.659 --> 00:25:12.779
 Right?

00:25:12.819 --> 00:25:13.519
 He's known by his

00:25:13.519 --> 00:25:15.139
 selflessness and his

00:25:15.139 --> 00:25:15.879
 resolve.

00:25:17.119 --> 00:25:18.700
 Superman must always

00:25:18.700 --> 00:25:20.119
 put the needs of

00:25:20.119 --> 00:25:20.879
 other people before

00:25:20.879 --> 00:25:23.059
 himself and refuse

00:25:23.059 --> 00:25:23.960
 to give up.

00:25:24.759 --> 00:25:25.299
 And he says,

00:25:25.399 --> 00:25:26.099
 if either of those

00:25:26.099 --> 00:25:27.039
 factors is missing

00:25:27.039 --> 00:25:27.639
 from the story,

00:25:27.720 --> 00:25:28.579
 then our minds just

00:25:28.579 --> 00:25:29.460
 rebel against it.

00:25:29.519 --> 00:25:30.139
 We reject it.

00:25:30.140 --> 00:25:30.460
 We say,

00:25:30.780 --> 00:25:31.840
 this is simply not

00:25:31.840 --> 00:25:33.040
 the real Superman.

00:25:34.160 --> 00:25:34.340
 Right?

00:25:34.380 --> 00:25:35.160
 The real Superman

00:25:35.160 --> 00:25:37.480
 places himself between

00:25:37.480 --> 00:25:38.420
 vulnerable citizens

00:25:38.420 --> 00:25:39.220
 and mortal danger

00:25:39.220 --> 00:25:40.160
 and he's resolutely

00:25:40.160 --> 00:25:41.420
 saving lives.

00:25:41.540 --> 00:25:41.840
 He even,

00:25:42.220 --> 00:25:42.900
 this is a spoiler,

00:25:43.259 --> 00:25:44.000
 he saves the life

00:25:44.000 --> 00:25:45.160
 of a single squirrel.

00:25:45.800 --> 00:25:45.920
 Okay?

00:25:48.460 --> 00:25:49.300
 And you might be

00:25:49.300 --> 00:25:49.880
 wondering at this point,

00:25:50.220 --> 00:25:51.040
 what are you talking

00:25:51.040 --> 00:25:51.360
 about?

00:25:52.360 --> 00:25:53.180
 What does this have

00:25:53.180 --> 00:25:53.740
 to do with Jesus?

00:25:53.880 --> 00:25:54.540
 Well, I want to pull

00:25:54.540 --> 00:25:56.259
 up a slide that

00:25:56.259 --> 00:25:57.180
 captures everything

00:25:57.180 --> 00:25:58.180
 Paul's trying to say.

00:25:58.180 --> 00:26:00.060
 And at the heart

00:26:00.060 --> 00:26:01.519
 of the apostles' message

00:26:01.519 --> 00:26:03.060
 to every major city

00:26:03.060 --> 00:26:04.019
 throughout the Roman

00:26:04.019 --> 00:26:05.279
 Empire, he says to

00:26:05.279 --> 00:26:06.820
 Jews who value power

00:26:06.820 --> 00:26:08.100
 and to Greeks who

00:26:08.100 --> 00:26:09.140
 value wisdom, he says,

00:26:09.500 --> 00:26:11.019
 if your vision of God,

00:26:11.100 --> 00:26:12.200
 if your narrative of

00:26:12.200 --> 00:26:13.660
 God does not include

00:26:13.660 --> 00:26:15.880
 two central definitive

00:26:15.880 --> 00:26:18.000
 truths, then it's

00:26:18.000 --> 00:26:19.080
 simply not God.

00:26:20.500 --> 00:26:21.420
 And what are those two

00:26:21.420 --> 00:26:22.700
 central definitive truths?

00:26:22.840 --> 00:26:24.019
 Number one, there must

00:26:24.019 --> 00:26:25.180
 be a divinely appointed

00:26:25.180 --> 00:26:26.720
 Messiah and number two,

00:26:27.039 --> 00:26:27.960
 he must be crucified.

00:26:28.180 --> 00:26:30.600
 He says,

00:26:30.740 --> 00:26:31.580
 if the story that

00:26:31.580 --> 00:26:32.500
 you're telling yourself

00:26:32.500 --> 00:26:33.539
 about reality,

00:26:33.660 --> 00:26:34.620
 if the story you're

00:26:34.620 --> 00:26:35.519
 telling yourself about

00:26:35.519 --> 00:26:37.400
 God does not include

00:26:37.400 --> 00:26:38.299
 a heaven-sent

00:26:38.299 --> 00:26:39.420
 messianic king,

00:26:39.799 --> 00:26:40.860
 then it's not God.

00:26:42.140 --> 00:26:43.080
 And if that story

00:26:43.080 --> 00:26:43.640
 that you're telling

00:26:43.640 --> 00:26:44.720
 yourself about God

00:26:44.720 --> 00:26:46.279
 doesn't have at its

00:26:46.279 --> 00:26:47.200
 center a Messiah

00:26:47.200 --> 00:26:48.940
 who's laying out

00:26:48.940 --> 00:26:49.740
 his life in

00:26:49.740 --> 00:26:51.019
 sacrificial self-giving

00:26:51.019 --> 00:26:52.779
 love as the

00:26:52.779 --> 00:26:53.900
 substitute for sinners

00:26:53.900 --> 00:26:55.640
 in need of this

00:26:55.640 --> 00:26:56.700
 most shocking

00:26:56.700 --> 00:26:58.100
 intervention in

00:26:58.099 --> 00:26:59.099
 order to be saved,

00:26:59.779 --> 00:27:00.859
 then it's simply

00:27:00.859 --> 00:27:02.199
 not God.

00:27:03.579 --> 00:27:04.480
 Paul says in

00:27:04.480 --> 00:27:05.219
 verse 22,

00:27:05.359 --> 00:27:06.339
 Jews demand signs

00:27:06.339 --> 00:27:06.719
 of power,

00:27:06.859 --> 00:27:07.519
 Greeks look for

00:27:07.519 --> 00:27:08.179
 wisdom, but we

00:27:08.179 --> 00:27:09.139
 preach Christ

00:27:09.139 --> 00:27:10.339
 crucified, a

00:27:10.339 --> 00:27:11.199
 stumbling block to

00:27:11.199 --> 00:27:12.459
 Jews and foolishness

00:27:12.459 --> 00:27:13.539
 to Gentiles.

00:27:13.619 --> 00:27:14.719
 You see, Jews heard

00:27:14.719 --> 00:27:15.959
 this message of the

00:27:15.959 --> 00:27:16.779
 cross through their

00:27:16.779 --> 00:27:17.980
 cultural value of

00:27:17.980 --> 00:27:19.740
 power, and in the

00:27:19.740 --> 00:27:20.959
 cross they do not see

00:27:20.959 --> 00:27:22.519
 power, and so it's a

00:27:22.519 --> 00:27:23.399
 stumbling block.

00:27:24.279 --> 00:27:25.359
 The word Paul uses

00:27:25.359 --> 00:27:26.179
 there, it's a

00:27:26.179 --> 00:27:27.159
 scandal on, it's a

00:27:27.159 --> 00:27:27.539
 scandal.

00:27:28.979 --> 00:27:29.919
 The Greeks heard

00:27:29.919 --> 00:27:30.679
 this message of the

00:27:30.679 --> 00:27:31.579
 cross through their

00:27:31.579 --> 00:27:32.599
 cultural value of

00:27:32.599 --> 00:27:34.219
 wisdom, and in the

00:27:34.219 --> 00:27:35.079
 cross they could not

00:27:35.079 --> 00:27:36.439
 see wisdom, and so

00:27:36.439 --> 00:27:36.979
 they called it

00:27:36.979 --> 00:27:37.859
 foolishness, they

00:27:37.859 --> 00:27:38.979
 called it morion,

00:27:39.079 --> 00:27:39.559
 where we get our

00:27:39.559 --> 00:27:40.599
 word moron.

00:27:42.240 --> 00:27:43.419
 This message did not

00:27:43.419 --> 00:27:43.939
 meet their

00:27:43.939 --> 00:27:45.219
 preconceived criteria

00:27:45.219 --> 00:27:47.199
 and conditions for

00:27:47.199 --> 00:27:48.099
 what was culturally

00:27:48.099 --> 00:27:49.179
 acceptable.

00:27:49.180 --> 00:27:51.779
 Why?

00:27:53.220 --> 00:27:55.039
 Why was the cross of

00:27:55.039 --> 00:27:55.840
 Christ, and why does

00:27:55.840 --> 00:27:56.560
 the cross of Christ

00:27:56.560 --> 00:27:57.940
 continue to remain so

00:27:57.940 --> 00:27:59.759
 weak and so foolish

00:27:59.759 --> 00:28:01.220
 in the eyes of so

00:28:01.220 --> 00:28:02.019
 many people?

00:28:03.259 --> 00:28:04.400
 Why is it seen as

00:28:04.400 --> 00:28:04.799
 madness?

00:28:05.019 --> 00:28:05.640
 Why is it seen as

00:28:05.640 --> 00:28:07.640
 nonsense and absurd?

00:28:07.820 --> 00:28:08.560
 Why is it seen as the

00:28:08.560 --> 00:28:09.560
 craziest message that

00:28:09.560 --> 00:28:10.420
 anyone could imagine?

00:28:11.320 --> 00:28:12.480
 Well, because it is.

00:28:16.539 --> 00:28:17.920
 Sometimes we've been

00:28:17.920 --> 00:28:19.160
 so domesticated to the

00:28:19.160 --> 00:28:19.960
 cross that we've

00:28:19.960 --> 00:28:22.620
 forgotten how awful it

00:28:22.620 --> 00:28:23.440
 truly is.

00:28:25.180 --> 00:28:26.660
 Death on a cross in

00:28:26.660 --> 00:28:27.640
 Roman society was

00:28:27.640 --> 00:28:28.720
 regarded as brutal,

00:28:29.519 --> 00:28:31.000
 disgusting, and

00:28:31.000 --> 00:28:31.500
 abhorrent.

00:28:32.779 --> 00:28:33.840
 It was reserved for

00:28:33.840 --> 00:28:34.660
 hardened criminals,

00:28:35.360 --> 00:28:36.460
 incorrigible slaves, and

00:28:36.460 --> 00:28:37.779
 convicted terrorists.

00:28:39.160 --> 00:28:43.259
 To shamefully die on

00:28:43.259 --> 00:28:45.900
 a rubbish heap at the

00:28:45.900 --> 00:28:48.120
 wrong end of the

00:28:48.119 --> 00:28:49.919
 empire, that's just, it's

00:28:49.919 --> 00:28:50.619
 humiliating.

00:28:51.639 --> 00:28:51.799
 Right?

00:28:51.859 --> 00:28:53.079
 It's a disastrous

00:28:53.079 --> 00:28:54.599
 defeat of unspeakable

00:28:54.599 --> 00:28:56.059
 shame and stigma.

00:28:57.419 --> 00:28:58.919
 It means that, if that

00:28:58.919 --> 00:28:59.759
 happens to you, it means

00:28:59.759 --> 00:29:00.719
 that you've been reduced,

00:29:00.839 --> 00:29:02.259
 you've been erased as a

00:29:02.259 --> 00:29:03.479
 nothing and as a

00:29:03.479 --> 00:29:03.979
 nobody.

00:29:06.179 --> 00:29:07.739
 So look at Jesus in that

00:29:07.739 --> 00:29:08.199
 place.

00:29:09.799 --> 00:29:10.879
 He's spread-eagled,

00:29:11.839 --> 00:29:13.139
 he's skewered on his

00:29:13.139 --> 00:29:14.919
 cross, he's robbed of all

00:29:14.920 --> 00:29:16.140
 freedom of movement,

00:29:17.320 --> 00:29:18.519
 strung up with nails,

00:29:19.720 --> 00:29:20.920
 pinned there, absolutely

00:29:20.920 --> 00:29:23.300
 powerless, totally

00:29:23.300 --> 00:29:24.380
 defeated.

00:29:26.240 --> 00:29:27.300
 You see, the Greeks who

00:29:27.300 --> 00:29:28.940
 imagined a divine savior

00:29:28.940 --> 00:29:30.920
 figure robed in wisdom,

00:29:31.720 --> 00:29:34.880
 and for Jews who expected a

00:29:34.880 --> 00:29:36.660
 Messiah anointed in power and

00:29:36.660 --> 00:29:37.920
 crowned with majesty,

00:29:37.920 --> 00:29:40.240
 Paul says, look, if

00:29:40.240 --> 00:29:42.160
 your sacred story about

00:29:42.160 --> 00:29:44.080
 what's really real,

00:29:45.279 --> 00:29:46.539
 right, the truest truths of

00:29:46.539 --> 00:29:47.380
 the universe, if your

00:29:47.380 --> 00:29:50.220
 sacred story does not at

00:29:50.220 --> 00:29:52.980
 the center have God's king

00:29:52.980 --> 00:29:53.980
 bearing all the

00:29:53.980 --> 00:29:55.240
 inhumanity and the

00:29:55.240 --> 00:29:57.340
 brutality of the world and

00:29:57.340 --> 00:29:59.039
 of your heart as

00:29:59.039 --> 00:30:00.279
 symbolized in this cross,

00:30:01.060 --> 00:30:03.019
 then it's simply not God.

00:30:05.539 --> 00:30:06.779
 You see, this is a front,

00:30:06.779 --> 00:30:08.180
 it was an outrage, it was

00:30:08.180 --> 00:30:10.200
 madness, and it still is,

00:30:10.299 --> 00:30:10.539
 frankly.

00:30:10.660 --> 00:30:12.899
 Many people want to change

00:30:12.899 --> 00:30:13.539
 the message.

00:30:15.079 --> 00:30:16.480
 They want to minimize and

00:30:16.480 --> 00:30:17.920
 remove the weakness and the

00:30:17.920 --> 00:30:19.139
 foolishness of the cross and

00:30:19.139 --> 00:30:21.440
 insert something at the

00:30:21.440 --> 00:30:22.599
 center that is more

00:30:22.599 --> 00:30:25.099
 relevant, more attractive,

00:30:25.639 --> 00:30:27.559
 more triumphant, more

00:30:27.559 --> 00:30:28.480
 pragmatic.

00:30:30.039 --> 00:30:31.440
 But Paul says in verse 24,

00:30:31.559 --> 00:30:32.940
 to those whom God has

00:30:32.940 --> 00:30:34.099
 called, both Jews and

00:30:34.099 --> 00:30:35.319
 Greeks, the cross of Christ

00:30:35.319 --> 00:30:36.500
 is the power of God,

00:30:36.500 --> 00:30:37.819
 God and the wisdom of

00:30:37.819 --> 00:30:38.099
 God.

00:30:39.400 --> 00:30:40.460
 What he's saying is there

00:30:40.460 --> 00:30:42.000
 is that only if God

00:30:42.000 --> 00:30:43.900
 calls you can he enable

00:30:43.900 --> 00:30:46.000
 you to see that the

00:30:46.000 --> 00:30:47.259
 reality is actually the

00:30:47.259 --> 00:30:48.259
 opposite of the

00:30:48.259 --> 00:30:48.940
 appearance.

00:30:50.460 --> 00:30:51.980
 That what appears to be

00:30:51.980 --> 00:30:53.579
 the defeat of goodness

00:30:53.579 --> 00:30:54.859
 by evil at the cross is

00:30:54.859 --> 00:30:56.019
 exactly the opposite.

00:30:57.559 --> 00:30:59.980
 It seems as if Jesus is

00:30:59.980 --> 00:31:00.859
 overcome, but he's

00:31:00.859 --> 00:31:01.500
 actually overcoming.

00:31:01.500 --> 00:31:02.140
 overcoming.

00:31:04.779 --> 00:31:06.279
 It seems as if Jesus is

00:31:06.279 --> 00:31:07.359
 being crushed by all the

00:31:07.359 --> 00:31:08.119
 powers and the

00:31:08.119 --> 00:31:09.319
 principalities, but he's

00:31:09.319 --> 00:31:11.660
 actually crushing the head

00:31:11.660 --> 00:31:12.500
 of evil itself.

00:31:14.200 --> 00:31:16.500
 You see, the victim is the

00:31:16.500 --> 00:31:18.460
 victor, and the cross is the

00:31:18.460 --> 00:31:19.980
 throne from which Jesus is

00:31:19.980 --> 00:31:21.680
 still ruling the world.

00:31:21.680 --> 00:31:21.740
 world.

00:31:24.259 --> 00:31:26.080
 And only God can enable you

00:31:26.080 --> 00:31:27.460
 to look at the weakness of

00:31:27.460 --> 00:31:28.960
 the cross and to see God's

00:31:28.960 --> 00:31:30.240
 power there that's forgiving

00:31:30.240 --> 00:31:32.019
 sin and overthrowing death.

00:31:33.660 --> 00:31:35.140
 Only God can enable you to

00:31:35.140 --> 00:31:36.220
 look at the foolishness of

00:31:36.220 --> 00:31:37.279
 the cross and see there

00:31:37.279 --> 00:31:38.560
 God's wisdom that's brought

00:31:38.560 --> 00:31:40.060
 both his justice and his

00:31:40.060 --> 00:31:41.600
 mercy together, his wisdom

00:31:41.600 --> 00:31:43.340
 that has launched from that

00:31:43.340 --> 00:31:45.220
 very place of foolishness and

00:31:45.220 --> 00:31:46.600
 weakness, a kingdom of

00:31:46.600 --> 00:31:47.680
 righteousness and life.

00:31:47.680 --> 00:31:52.259
 You see, when Paul spoke

00:31:52.259 --> 00:31:53.779
 about this man who was

00:31:53.779 --> 00:31:55.440
 crucified by the Romans and

00:31:55.440 --> 00:31:56.640
 all the powers behind the

00:31:56.640 --> 00:32:00.039
 Romans, and yet that God

00:32:00.039 --> 00:32:01.720
 had raised up from the dead

00:32:01.720 --> 00:32:02.960
 and who is now the Lord of

00:32:02.960 --> 00:32:03.840
 the world and who is

00:32:03.840 --> 00:32:05.039
 summoning all people

00:32:05.039 --> 00:32:06.140
 everywhere to faithful

00:32:06.140 --> 00:32:07.500
 obedience to him, he knew

00:32:07.500 --> 00:32:08.360
 what people were going to

00:32:08.360 --> 00:32:10.779
 think when he talked about

00:32:10.779 --> 00:32:11.100
 that.

00:32:12.279 --> 00:32:13.720
 But he also knew that every

00:32:13.720 --> 00:32:14.880
 time he talked about it,

00:32:14.920 --> 00:32:15.940
 every time he told that

00:32:15.940 --> 00:32:17.660
 story, it would be

00:32:17.660 --> 00:32:19.300
 reveal God's power beside

00:32:19.300 --> 00:32:21.340
 which human power looks

00:32:21.340 --> 00:32:24.480
 like weakness, and it

00:32:24.480 --> 00:32:25.560
 would reveal God's wisdom

00:32:25.560 --> 00:32:26.960
 beside which all human

00:32:26.960 --> 00:32:29.720
 wisdom looks like foolishness.

00:32:31.460 --> 00:32:33.080
 And this has to remain the

00:32:33.080 --> 00:32:35.000
 heart of the church's

00:32:35.000 --> 00:32:35.779
 message.

00:32:36.440 --> 00:32:38.720
 We cannot change the

00:32:38.720 --> 00:32:39.100
 message.

00:32:41.120 --> 00:32:42.060
 Okay, so what keeps us

00:32:42.060 --> 00:32:42.960
 going in our mission for

00:32:42.960 --> 00:32:43.320
 the city?

00:32:43.500 --> 00:32:44.580
 It's not us, it's Jesus.

00:32:45.700 --> 00:32:46.700
 What is the heart of our

00:32:46.700 --> 00:32:46.940
 message?

00:32:46.940 --> 00:32:48.000
 It's not about worldly

00:32:48.000 --> 00:32:49.320
 power or worldly wisdom,

00:32:49.320 --> 00:32:50.620
 it's about God's power and

00:32:50.620 --> 00:32:52.279
 God's wisdom in Christ

00:32:52.279 --> 00:32:52.740
 crucified.

00:32:54.259 --> 00:32:55.279
 And I'll end with this, how

00:32:55.279 --> 00:32:56.759
 can we live with real power

00:32:56.759 --> 00:32:57.559
 and real wisdom?

00:32:57.680 --> 00:32:58.420
 Don't you want to live with

00:32:58.420 --> 00:32:59.180
 power and wisdom?

00:33:00.700 --> 00:33:02.259
 Who's not seeking that that

00:33:02.259 --> 00:33:02.680
 you know?

00:33:03.360 --> 00:33:05.279
 Who's not going after power

00:33:05.279 --> 00:33:05.779
 and wisdom?

00:33:06.860 --> 00:33:08.019
 But what is real power?

00:33:08.120 --> 00:33:08.880
 What does it mean to live

00:33:08.880 --> 00:33:10.160
 with real power and real

00:33:10.160 --> 00:33:10.480
 wisdom?

00:33:10.480 --> 00:33:14.380
 The philosopher Alistair

00:33:14.380 --> 00:33:16.039
 McIntyre died this past

00:33:16.039 --> 00:33:17.799
 May and he had this famous

00:33:17.799 --> 00:33:20.360
 line, it's so good, he says

00:33:20.360 --> 00:33:21.920
 this, he says, I can only

00:33:21.920 --> 00:33:23.940
 answer the question, what am I

00:33:23.940 --> 00:33:26.559
 to do if I can answer the

00:33:26.559 --> 00:33:28.120
 prior question of what story

00:33:28.120 --> 00:33:29.500
 do I find myself apart?

00:33:31.099 --> 00:33:32.220
 I can only answer the

00:33:32.220 --> 00:33:33.640
 question of what am I to do if

00:33:33.640 --> 00:33:35.059
 I can answer the prior question

00:33:35.059 --> 00:33:37.000
 of what story do I find myself

00:33:37.000 --> 00:33:37.819
 apart?

00:33:38.419 --> 00:33:39.439
 He says, you will not know

00:33:39.439 --> 00:33:40.579
 who you are, you will not

00:33:40.579 --> 00:33:42.059
 know what you're to do, you

00:33:42.059 --> 00:33:43.179
 will not know your identity

00:33:43.179 --> 00:33:44.960
 and your purpose in this

00:33:44.960 --> 00:33:46.279
 world apart from a story

00:33:46.279 --> 00:33:47.720
 that's bigger than yourself.

00:33:47.939 --> 00:33:49.119
 So the question is, what is

00:33:49.119 --> 00:33:49.799
 that story?

00:33:51.000 --> 00:33:53.500
 And for most people, they say,

00:33:53.619 --> 00:33:54.519
 well, I'm part of the story

00:33:54.519 --> 00:33:56.919
 of my family, I'm part of the

00:33:56.919 --> 00:33:58.460
 story of my tribe, my race,

00:33:58.559 --> 00:33:59.899
 my class, my gender, I'm part

00:33:59.899 --> 00:34:01.779
 of the story of my nation and

00:34:01.779 --> 00:34:03.240
 that is the thing that's

00:34:03.240 --> 00:34:04.259
 driving my life.

00:34:05.419 --> 00:34:07.000
 And in a lot of ways that

00:34:07.000 --> 00:34:08.239
 can be good, right?

00:34:08.900 --> 00:34:10.539
 But if you are waking up in

00:34:10.539 --> 00:34:11.599
 the morning these days and

00:34:11.599 --> 00:34:13.059
 you set your thoughts and

00:34:13.059 --> 00:34:15.199
 your mind on our nation,

00:34:15.460 --> 00:34:15.719
 right?

00:34:16.659 --> 00:34:18.059
 And the first thing you

00:34:18.059 --> 00:34:18.800
 think about is how the

00:34:18.800 --> 00:34:19.679
 President of the United

00:34:19.679 --> 00:34:21.059
 States is disappointing

00:34:21.059 --> 00:34:21.500
 you.

00:34:22.639 --> 00:34:23.920
 Or if the first thing you

00:34:23.920 --> 00:34:24.539
 think about in the morning

00:34:24.539 --> 00:34:25.659
 is how your family of

00:34:25.659 --> 00:34:26.639
 origin, someone, your

00:34:26.639 --> 00:34:27.619
 sibling, your parents,

00:34:27.980 --> 00:34:28.800
 you're thinking about the

00:34:28.800 --> 00:34:29.559
 things that you've not

00:34:29.559 --> 00:34:30.800
 forgiven from your past.

00:34:31.980 --> 00:34:33.400
 Or you're thinking about

00:34:33.400 --> 00:34:34.559
 your boss, your colleagues

00:34:34.559 --> 00:34:35.599
 that you disagree with.

00:34:35.599 --> 00:34:37.440
 You're thinking about your

00:34:37.440 --> 00:34:38.519
 tribe and all of its

00:34:38.519 --> 00:34:39.799
 grievances, all of its

00:34:39.799 --> 00:34:40.460
 resentments.

00:34:41.239 --> 00:34:42.460
 I'm here to tell you that is

00:34:42.460 --> 00:34:44.619
 a recipe not just to be

00:34:44.619 --> 00:34:45.059
 unhappy.

00:34:45.259 --> 00:34:46.099
 You will be unhappy.

00:34:46.839 --> 00:34:48.599
 But it's a recipe also to be

00:34:48.599 --> 00:34:49.759
 unhelpful.

00:34:51.460 --> 00:34:52.739
 You won't be helpful to other

00:34:52.739 --> 00:34:53.900
 people if that's how you're

00:34:53.900 --> 00:34:54.639
 starting your day.

00:34:55.799 --> 00:34:56.699
 Because what Alistair

00:34:56.699 --> 00:34:58.360
 McIntyre says is your story

00:34:58.360 --> 00:35:00.059
 will direct your thoughts and

00:35:00.059 --> 00:35:01.019
 your thoughts will direct what

00:35:01.019 --> 00:35:01.960
 you do and what you do

00:35:01.960 --> 00:35:02.920
 becomes your life.

00:35:05.880 --> 00:35:06.699
 And so what I want to

00:35:06.699 --> 00:35:07.820
 challenge us with today is

00:35:07.820 --> 00:35:08.960
 what if we were to wake up

00:35:08.960 --> 00:35:10.780
 every morning this week and

00:35:10.780 --> 00:35:12.079
 think about the cross?

00:35:13.980 --> 00:35:15.880
 What if our first thing in

00:35:15.880 --> 00:35:17.460
 our minds that we sort of

00:35:17.460 --> 00:35:20.119
 coded our neural pathways

00:35:20.119 --> 00:35:23.280
 with was meditating on God's

00:35:23.280 --> 00:35:24.780
 sacrificial self-giving love

00:35:24.780 --> 00:35:27.599
 for me, for you?

00:35:27.599 --> 00:35:31.179
 And what if we saw the cross

00:35:31.179 --> 00:35:31.940
 and we saw this great

00:35:31.940 --> 00:35:33.460
 demonstration of the love of

00:35:33.460 --> 00:35:34.420
 God for us and we said,

00:35:34.799 --> 00:35:36.380
 oh, now I remember the story

00:35:36.380 --> 00:35:37.299
 of which I'm a part.

00:35:38.500 --> 00:35:40.139
 Now I know who I am and what

00:35:40.139 --> 00:35:40.679
 I'm to do.

00:35:40.759 --> 00:35:42.679
 Now I know my identity and my

00:35:42.679 --> 00:35:43.139
 purpose.

00:35:44.759 --> 00:35:46.299
 Paul says, look, if you do the

00:35:46.299 --> 00:35:47.759
 most counterintuitive thing and

00:35:47.759 --> 00:35:49.739
 you seek power in the weakest

00:35:49.739 --> 00:35:52.539
 place and you seek wisdom in the

00:35:52.539 --> 00:35:53.980
 most foolish place, then you're

00:35:53.980 --> 00:35:55.360
 going to find in that most

00:35:55.360 --> 00:35:57.519
 unlikely place the ultimate

00:35:57.519 --> 00:35:59.079
 expression and fulfillment of

00:35:59.079 --> 00:36:00.440
 power and wisdom.

00:36:02.120 --> 00:36:03.640
 And then you will know how to

00:36:03.640 --> 00:36:04.880
 live not according to the

00:36:04.880 --> 00:36:06.019
 power of this world and the

00:36:06.019 --> 00:36:06.840
 wisdom of this world.

00:36:07.920 --> 00:36:10.340
 You'll know how to embody the

00:36:10.340 --> 00:36:12.519
 power and the wisdom in the

00:36:12.519 --> 00:36:14.079
 way in which Jesus has

00:36:14.079 --> 00:36:14.900
 redefined them.

00:36:16.380 --> 00:36:17.539
 And I'll close with this.

00:36:17.660 --> 00:36:21.840
 If God came in person, if he

00:36:21.840 --> 00:36:23.240
 came in the person of Jesus not

00:36:23.239 --> 00:36:24.839
 to get power over other

00:36:24.839 --> 00:36:26.619
 people to be served by them,

00:36:27.459 --> 00:36:29.019
 but rather to show us the

00:36:29.019 --> 00:36:30.819
 power of becoming small and

00:36:30.819 --> 00:36:33.239
 getting low and serving people

00:36:33.239 --> 00:36:34.719
 that are quote unquote beneath

00:36:34.719 --> 00:36:35.279
 us.

00:36:35.759 --> 00:36:37.739
 And if that's the story that I'm

00:36:37.739 --> 00:36:40.079
 a part of, then I know what I'm

00:36:40.079 --> 00:36:40.919
 supposed to do today.

00:36:43.039 --> 00:36:45.879
 If Jesus' story is the way of

00:36:45.879 --> 00:36:48.659
 downward mobility, of humbling

00:36:48.659 --> 00:36:50.659
 himself in vulnerability and

00:36:50.659 --> 00:36:51.779
 weakness for the sake of

00:36:51.780 --> 00:36:53.680
 forgiving others and reconciling

00:36:53.680 --> 00:36:55.720
 others and that's, and I'm part

00:36:55.720 --> 00:36:57.540
 of that larger story, then I

00:36:57.540 --> 00:36:59.040
 know what I'm supposed to do

00:36:59.040 --> 00:36:59.360
 today.

00:37:02.540 --> 00:37:04.400
 If in the cross of Christ God

00:37:04.400 --> 00:37:06.320
 became a nothing and he became

00:37:06.320 --> 00:37:09.320
 a nobody to give himself away in

00:37:09.320 --> 00:37:11.140
 sacrificial love that seemed like

00:37:11.140 --> 00:37:14.420
 a foolish waste of time and an

00:37:14.420 --> 00:37:17.280
 unwise use of his life.

00:37:18.800 --> 00:37:20.300
 And if I'm part of that larger

00:37:20.300 --> 00:37:21.940
 story of who God is, then I know

00:37:21.940 --> 00:37:23.519
 what I'm supposed to do today.

00:37:25.260 --> 00:37:27.960
 If Jesus used his smarts, he's the

00:37:27.960 --> 00:37:29.140
 smartest person who ever lived.

00:37:29.940 --> 00:37:31.680
 If he used his smarts and his

00:37:31.680 --> 00:37:32.980
 learning and his knowledge not to

00:37:32.980 --> 00:37:34.680
 impress other people or to get

00:37:34.680 --> 00:37:36.820
 approval or to get ahead, but

00:37:36.820 --> 00:37:38.500
 rather use them to draw people to

00:37:38.500 --> 00:37:38.860
 God.

00:37:40.240 --> 00:37:42.200
 If he exercises wisdom for the

00:37:42.200 --> 00:37:43.700
 well-being and the flourishing and

00:37:43.700 --> 00:37:45.300
 peace, not of just the people that

00:37:45.300 --> 00:37:47.440
 he liked, but even for his enemies,

00:37:47.440 --> 00:37:49.220
 and I'm a part of that larger story,

00:37:49.619 --> 00:37:51.179
 then I know what I'm supposed to do

00:37:51.179 --> 00:37:51.480
 today.

00:37:53.760 --> 00:37:55.420
 We've got to ask ourselves in our

00:37:55.420 --> 00:37:57.099
 work, in our dating, in our money,

00:37:57.220 --> 00:37:58.760
 with our spouse and our kids and our

00:37:58.760 --> 00:38:00.079
 community groups and all of our free

00:38:00.079 --> 00:38:03.820
 time, does this choice look like Jesus

00:38:03.820 --> 00:38:04.619
 on the cross?

00:38:05.940 --> 00:38:09.260
 And if it does not, it's not God's

00:38:09.260 --> 00:38:12.780
 power and it's not God's wisdom.

00:38:12.780 --> 00:38:18.620
 See, God is calling us to operate in

00:38:18.620 --> 00:38:19.700
 an alternative reality.

00:38:21.340 --> 00:38:23.980
 He's calling us to operate in this

00:38:23.980 --> 00:38:26.580
 counter-cultural way of living that

00:38:26.580 --> 00:38:29.180
 makes no sense to the world around us.

00:38:29.220 --> 00:38:30.000
 It looks like weakness.

00:38:30.200 --> 00:38:31.960
 It looks like foolishness.

00:38:33.460 --> 00:38:36.140
 But in the eyes of God, it's real

00:38:36.140 --> 00:38:36.600
 power.

00:38:37.980 --> 00:38:39.640
 In the eyes of God, it's real

00:38:39.640 --> 00:38:40.700
 wisdom.

00:38:40.699 --> 00:38:43.699
 And so I want you to think about

00:38:43.699 --> 00:38:43.879
 that.

00:38:43.960 --> 00:38:45.679
 I want you to just fix your eyes.

00:38:45.759 --> 00:38:46.879
 If you could just close your eyes

00:38:46.879 --> 00:38:51.859
 and meditate for a moment on the

00:38:51.859 --> 00:38:52.699
 cross of Christ.

00:38:55.799 --> 00:38:57.339
 And let's just think about this as we

00:38:57.339 --> 00:39:01.159
 come to this table with his body

00:39:01.159 --> 00:39:03.599
 broken and his blood poured out.

00:39:04.639 --> 00:39:06.079
 And let's just prepare ourselves to

00:39:06.079 --> 00:39:09.179
 receive from Christ all the power and

00:39:09.179 --> 00:39:11.759
 all the wisdom that he has to give us.

00:39:12.519 --> 00:39:13.779
 In the name of the Father, Son, and

00:39:13.779 --> 00:39:14.279
 Holy Spirit.

00:39:14.619 --> 00:39:14.819
 Amen.

00:39:14.820 --> 00:39:15.980
 Amen.

00:39:15.980 --> 00:39:15.980


00:39:15.980 --> 00:39:15.980


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