WEBVTT

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 Good morning, Watermark. Let us turn our Bible, or you may refer to your bulletins.

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 The passage for today is Romans chapter 12, verse 1 to 8. We will read about our bodies and worship.

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 Starting in verse 1,

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 I appeal to you, therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God,

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 to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

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 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,

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 that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

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 For by the grace given to me, I say to everyone among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think,

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 but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith God has assigned.

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 For as in one body, we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function.

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 So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of one another.

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 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them,

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 if prophecy in proportion to our faith,

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 if service in our serving,

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 the one who teaches in his teaching,

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 the one who exhorts in his exhortation,

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 the one who contributes in generosity,

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 the one who leads with zeal,

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 the one who does acts of mercy with cheerfulness.

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 This is the word of God.

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 Great. Thank you, CK.

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 Good morning, everybody.

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 Great to see you.

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 Eric and Dora, great to see you guys.

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 Welcome back from L.A.

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 And if you are new to Watermark, my name is Kevin.

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 Great to have you with us this morning.

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 We've been away for the last two weeks,

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 so it's really great to be back with the Watermark family.

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 I don't know about you,

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 but I wonder, how good are you at handyman stuff?

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 My description of handyman stuff should give away that I'm not very good at it.

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 I'm what you could describe a handyman hack,

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 which means I don't really know what I'm doing,

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 but if something is wrong at home or something is broken,

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 rather than calling somebody,

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 trying to find the right person,

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 trying to find someone that speaks English,

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 and then waiting for them,

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 and then paying for them,

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 I'd rather just attempt it myself.

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 And so I have about four tools at home.

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 Most of them came with IKEA furniture.

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 And those four tools solve most of the problems in our home,

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 whether it's fixing a shower,

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 or stripping paint,

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 or painting something,

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 or fixing a hole in the door,

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 or sorting out the buzz in some appliance.

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 Those four tools will be hacked one way or another

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 to fix the problem, right?

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 And if those four tools don't do it,

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 a good just whack to the side will sort out whatever is wrong in the house.

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 Now you may say,

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 well, why don't you just go to a hardware store?

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 You know, one of those five element stores?

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 They have all the tools you need.

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 Well, the problem is,

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 if I went there,

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 I wouldn't even know what to do with those tools.

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 You could show me all the tools in the world,

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 and I wouldn't know what they are for,

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 or what their purpose is.

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 They all just look the same to me.

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 Knowing what something's purpose is

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 really helps to know what you should do with it, right?

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 If you are presented something,

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 and you have no idea what its purpose is,

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 chances are you're going to misuse it.

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 I wonder how many husbands,

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 and maybe a few ladies,

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 have caused far more problems than they needed,

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 not to mention far more injuries themselves,

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 by using some tool incorrectly.

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 using a spanner to try and fix something

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 that needs a hammer, right?

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 Just whack it and jam it,

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 and then you end up damaging yourself.

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 Mike and Greta,

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 why are you looking at yourselves like this?

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 It sounds like a familiar story in your household.

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 Well, here's the question.

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 What about our bodies?

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 What about our bodies?

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 What are our bodies used for?

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 What is the purpose of your body?

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 Why didn't God just make you a soul

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 in a box?

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 Why didn't God just make you

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 a brain or a mind in a laboratory?

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 God has made us embodied beings.

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 What is the purpose,

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 the goal,

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 His design for our bodies?

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 That's the question we're going to be

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 looking at a little bit this morning.

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 Why is it that we are physical beings

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 in physical bodies?

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 If you are new to church this morning,

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 I wonder if you've ever considered that.

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 What is the spiritual significance

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 of your physical body?

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 We live in a time

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 where we are very confused

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 about how to think about our bodies.

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 On the one hand,

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 we are enamored with our bodies.

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 We love to think about how we look.

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 On the other hand,

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 we're very confused.

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 But God is not confused.

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 God has lots to say

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 about our physical bodies.

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 And so,

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 today we're looking at the question,

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 what is the purpose of our bodies?

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 And we're going to be looking at

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 Romans chapter 12,

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 this passage that CK read for us.

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 If you have your bulletin,

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 keep it open in front of you.

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 We're going to be looking at this passage.

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 And in this passage,

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 the Apostle Paul writes to these Christians,

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 and he gives us two purposes

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 for our physical bodies.

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 Two functions that God intends

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 should inform how we view our physicality.

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 And the two purposes of this,

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 our bodies and God,

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 and our bodies and others.

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 Okay, very simple.

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 Our bodies and God,

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 our bodies and one another.

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 So, let's dive in

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 and take a look at it.

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 Firstly,

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 our bodies and God.

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 Look at this verse with me again.

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 Look at verse one.

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 Paul writes this.

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 He says,

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 I appeal to you therefore,

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 brothers and sisters,

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 by the mercies of God,

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 to present your bodies,

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 your physical bodies,

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 as a living sacrifice,

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 holy and acceptable to God,

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 for this is your spiritual worship.

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 Okay, the Apostle Paul here

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 clearly wants,

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 spells out for us

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 how God wants us to think

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 and understand about His purpose,

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 His design for our physical bodies.

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 What purpose do they serve?

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 What are they to be used for?

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 Well, here he tells us.

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 Look at what he says.

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 He says they are to be seen

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 as instruments of worship.

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 Present your bodies

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 as a living sacrifice,

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 holy and pleasing to the Lord,

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 for this is true or spiritual worship.

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 Now, we know that in the Bible,

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 worship is the sincere giving of yourself

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 to God for His pleasure and His praise.

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 That's what worship is, right?

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 Worship is not just mouthing things

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 or singing some songs on the screen.

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 It's giving of yourself to God.

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 Saying, God, here I am.

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 I give myself to you.

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 But Paul here clearly has in mind

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 the Old Testament system of worship.

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 If you're familiar with the Old Testament,

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 every Jew or Israelite

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 had to regularly come before God

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 as a form of worship

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 and bring an offering,

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 a sacrifice.

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 And what they would do

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 is they'd bring an animal

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 to the priest,

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 to the temple,

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 they'd present it to the priest

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 and offer it as a sacrifice,

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 an offering of worship to God.

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 That's why he says,

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 present, same word,

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 present your bodies

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 as a sacrifice to God.

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 This is worship.

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 Now, in the Bible,

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 when people bring something to God

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 as an offering,

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 an act of worship,

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 Scripture's understanding is

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 that is always meant to be seen

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 as a representative

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 of the entirety of our lives.

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 When someone comes to God and says,

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 God, I give this to you,

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 that's not the totality of our worship.

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 That's just a representation.

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 So, for instance, right,

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 Claire spoke earlier

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 about our financial offering,

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 our worship to God,

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 our tithes and offerings.

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 When someone comes

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 and brings their tithe to God,

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 it's not saying,

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 okay, God, you get 10%

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 and the other 90% is mine.

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 I get to do what I want to do.

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 In a way, it's saying,

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 God, this is representing

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 the fact that all that I have,

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 all that I am,

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 belongs to you.

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 Or if someone gives their time to God,

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 you come to church

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 on a Sunday morning,

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 you say, okay, God,

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 I'll give you two hours

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 on a Sunday morning.

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 It's not that God gets two hours

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 and we get the other,

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 you know, 168 hours or something.

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 Actually, that's representative

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 of the fact that God,

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 all that I am,

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 all my time,

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 my Monday to Sunday,

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 whether I'm in the office

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 or at church or at home,

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 all of my time,

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 I belong to you.

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 And so when the Bible says here,

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 present your bodies to God

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 as an act of worship,

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 it's a representative of the fact

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 that all that we have,

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 the Christian knows

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 that our entire lives,

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 every aspect of our being,

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 mind, soul, body,

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 all of our lives,

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 belong to God.

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 Now, we know that God

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 is not just interested

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 in mechanical,

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 going through the motions worship,

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 right?

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 Where you kind of just

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 go through the motions,

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 you burn the incense,

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 you put it before God,

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 you just do what you need to do.

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 No, no,

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 we know that God

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 is interested in our hearts,

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 in our motives,

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 in what's really going on.

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 Remember,

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 Jesus meets a lady at a well

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 and he's talking to her

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 about worship

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 and he says,

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 the kind of worship

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 that our Father desires

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 is worship that is

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 in spirit and in truth.

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 In other words,

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 in sincerity and heart genuineness.

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 That's the kind of worship

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 that God wants,

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 right?

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 So God is interested

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 in our hearts

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 and our motives,

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 what's really going inside,

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 not just the motions.

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 But on the other hand,

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 there's the temptation

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 to swing to the other side

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 and create this false dichotomy

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 that God is only interested

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 in our hearts

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 and he doesn't care

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 what to do with our bodies.

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 But here,

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 Paul tells us

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 that actually the kind of worship

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 that God wants

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 is the entirety of our lives.

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 Yes,

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 our hearts,

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 our motives,

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 what's going on inside of us,

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 but also,

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 what to do with our bodies,

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 our physicality.

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 Paul says,

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 this is proper worship

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 or the ESV says,

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 spiritual worship.

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 The Greek word is logiken,

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 from which we get

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 the word logical.

00:10:42.940 --> 00:10:43.240
 He says,

00:10:43.299 --> 00:10:44.700
 this is logical worship,

00:10:44.779 --> 00:10:45.740
 this is reasonable,

00:10:45.879 --> 00:10:47.340
 this is rational worship

00:10:47.340 --> 00:10:48.980
 to bring our entire lives

00:10:48.980 --> 00:10:49.240
 and say,

00:10:49.299 --> 00:10:49.460
 God,

00:10:49.539 --> 00:10:50.440
 all that I am

00:10:50.440 --> 00:10:51.560
 is a declaration

00:10:51.560 --> 00:10:52.659
 of your kingship,

00:10:52.740 --> 00:10:53.399
 your majesty,

00:10:54.220 --> 00:10:54.940
 your worth.

00:10:55.940 --> 00:10:56.139
 Okay?

00:10:56.680 --> 00:10:57.259
 So Paul says,

00:10:57.639 --> 00:10:58.840
 what is God's plan

00:10:58.840 --> 00:10:59.340
 for our lives?

00:10:59.340 --> 00:11:00.420
 It's worship.

00:11:00.560 --> 00:11:01.540
 Our bodies are to be

00:11:01.540 --> 00:11:02.340
 given to God

00:11:02.340 --> 00:11:03.160
 as worship.

00:11:04.080 --> 00:11:04.600
 Except,

00:11:05.139 --> 00:11:06.600
 there's two differences

00:11:06.600 --> 00:11:08.960
 between the Old Testament

00:11:08.960 --> 00:11:10.259
 understanding of worship

00:11:10.259 --> 00:11:11.860
 and the New Testament

00:11:11.860 --> 00:11:12.440
 understanding.

00:11:12.940 --> 00:11:13.940
 Did you notice

00:11:13.940 --> 00:11:14.500
 what they are?

00:11:15.460 --> 00:11:16.460
 The first one here

00:11:16.460 --> 00:11:17.080
 is he says,

00:11:17.379 --> 00:11:18.600
 we are to offer us bodies

00:11:18.600 --> 00:11:20.500
 as living sacrifices.

00:11:21.139 --> 00:11:22.220
 In the Old Testament,

00:11:22.379 --> 00:11:23.440
 when you offer

00:11:23.440 --> 00:11:24.960
 a sacrifice to God,

00:11:25.400 --> 00:11:26.220
 you generally would

00:11:26.220 --> 00:11:26.920
 bring an animal,

00:11:27.120 --> 00:11:27.720
 maybe a goat

00:11:27.720 --> 00:11:28.700
 or a lamb or something,

00:11:28.960 --> 00:11:30.120
 and you come to the temple

00:11:30.120 --> 00:11:30.820
 to the priest,

00:11:31.080 --> 00:11:31.560
 and you say,

00:11:31.800 --> 00:11:33.080
 here is my offering.

00:11:33.500 --> 00:11:34.300
 And they would

00:11:34.300 --> 00:11:35.340
 slaughter,

00:11:35.560 --> 00:11:36.200
 kill the animal,

00:11:36.540 --> 00:11:37.160
 and they would put it

00:11:37.160 --> 00:11:37.620
 on the altar,

00:11:37.759 --> 00:11:38.980
 and they would burn it

00:11:38.980 --> 00:11:41.160
 as an offering

00:11:41.160 --> 00:11:41.759
 of a sacrifice,

00:11:41.940 --> 00:11:42.120
 right?

00:11:42.580 --> 00:11:43.320
 In other words,

00:11:43.620 --> 00:11:45.120
 it's a once-off,

00:11:45.379 --> 00:11:46.399
 done-and-dusted deal.

00:11:46.779 --> 00:11:47.460
 It's done,

00:11:47.519 --> 00:11:48.680
 and then you go home.

00:11:50.340 --> 00:11:51.519
 When God wants us

00:11:51.519 --> 00:11:52.700
 to bring our bodies,

00:11:52.980 --> 00:11:54.180
 we don't burn them

00:11:54.180 --> 00:11:54.600
 on the altar,

00:11:54.600 --> 00:11:56.120
 we don't kill ourselves.

00:11:56.679 --> 00:11:57.560
 He says here,

00:11:58.000 --> 00:12:00.100
 they are living sacrifices.

00:12:01.019 --> 00:12:01.519
 In other words,

00:12:01.840 --> 00:12:02.620
 it's not just

00:12:02.620 --> 00:12:03.759
 a once-off decision

00:12:03.759 --> 00:12:04.620
 when I was back

00:12:04.620 --> 00:12:05.220
 in college,

00:12:05.340 --> 00:12:06.580
 back in 1985,

00:12:07.139 --> 00:12:07.840
 I made a decision,

00:12:08.000 --> 00:12:08.480
 okay, God,

00:12:08.580 --> 00:12:09.620
 I'll become a Christian,

00:12:09.700 --> 00:12:10.320
 I'll follow you.

00:12:10.759 --> 00:12:11.940
 And then from there on out,

00:12:12.000 --> 00:12:12.940
 I live for myself.

00:12:13.840 --> 00:12:15.940
 No, it's a day-by-day

00:12:15.940 --> 00:12:18.779
 we are to live for God.

00:12:19.500 --> 00:12:20.279
 Present your bodies

00:12:20.279 --> 00:12:21.759
 as a living sacrifice,

00:12:21.960 --> 00:12:23.620
 week in and week out.

00:12:23.620 --> 00:12:24.419
 So,

00:12:24.620 --> 00:12:25.440
 whether you're at church

00:12:25.440 --> 00:12:26.320
 on a Sunday morning,

00:12:27.060 --> 00:12:28.019
 and you're worshiping God

00:12:28.019 --> 00:12:28.720
 and praising Him

00:12:28.720 --> 00:12:30.200
 and declaring His majesty

00:12:30.200 --> 00:12:30.919
 and His kingship,

00:12:31.539 --> 00:12:32.460
 or whether you are

00:12:32.460 --> 00:12:33.799
 at the office on Wednesday,

00:12:34.720 --> 00:12:35.259
 or whether you're

00:12:35.259 --> 00:12:36.299
 at the trading desk

00:12:36.299 --> 00:12:37.519
 on a Tuesday morning,

00:12:38.240 --> 00:12:39.240
 or whether you're at home

00:12:39.240 --> 00:12:40.220
 on a Friday evening,

00:12:41.120 --> 00:12:42.379
 or whether you are

00:12:42.379 --> 00:12:43.539
 out on a date

00:12:43.539 --> 00:12:44.299
 with somebody

00:12:44.299 --> 00:12:45.379
 or at the gym,

00:12:46.740 --> 00:12:47.960
 Christians think about

00:12:47.960 --> 00:12:48.740
 their bodies

00:12:48.740 --> 00:12:49.340
 as saying,

00:12:49.539 --> 00:12:50.639
 in all of life,

00:12:50.639 --> 00:12:51.759
 in every day,

00:12:51.860 --> 00:12:52.879
 every sphere of life,

00:12:53.679 --> 00:12:54.899
 God, I bring my body,

00:12:55.019 --> 00:12:55.600
 I offer it,

00:12:55.919 --> 00:12:57.259
 I present it to you,

00:12:57.720 --> 00:12:59.379
 be glorified and honored

00:12:59.379 --> 00:13:01.720
 in the way that I hand on

00:13:01.720 --> 00:13:02.519
 and steward my body.

00:13:05.000 --> 00:13:05.980
 Here I am.

00:13:06.159 --> 00:13:07.039
 All that I am

00:13:07.039 --> 00:13:08.019
 belongs to you.

00:13:08.519 --> 00:13:09.559
 All of my life,

00:13:09.720 --> 00:13:10.939
 heart, soul, mind,

00:13:11.100 --> 00:13:12.100
 body, will, emotions,

00:13:12.799 --> 00:13:13.720
 everything I am

00:13:13.720 --> 00:13:14.439
 belongs to you.

00:13:15.399 --> 00:13:15.879
 In other words,

00:13:16.000 --> 00:13:16.620
 Christians are those

00:13:16.620 --> 00:13:17.259
 who have decided

00:13:17.259 --> 00:13:18.779
 to live for God,

00:13:18.779 --> 00:13:20.159
 not just decided

00:13:20.159 --> 00:13:20.759
 to follow Him

00:13:20.759 --> 00:13:21.519
 once upon a time.

00:13:22.439 --> 00:13:23.339
 But here's the second

00:13:23.339 --> 00:13:24.159
 distinction.

00:13:24.919 --> 00:13:25.839
 In the Old Testament,

00:13:26.199 --> 00:13:26.860
 broadly speaking,

00:13:26.959 --> 00:13:27.759
 there were two kinds

00:13:27.759 --> 00:13:28.220
 of offerings

00:13:28.220 --> 00:13:28.879
 that people brought.

00:13:28.980 --> 00:13:29.839
 There were sin offerings

00:13:29.839 --> 00:13:31.279
 and free will offerings.

00:13:32.199 --> 00:13:32.620
 Typically,

00:13:32.740 --> 00:13:33.319
 when we think

00:13:33.319 --> 00:13:34.019
 of the Old Testament,

00:13:34.500 --> 00:13:36.100
 we think of sin offerings,

00:13:36.220 --> 00:13:36.379
 right?

00:13:36.459 --> 00:13:37.779
 So, somebody comes

00:13:37.779 --> 00:13:38.559
 to the priest

00:13:38.559 --> 00:13:39.019
 and they say,

00:13:39.159 --> 00:13:40.299
 okay, I'll bring

00:13:40.299 --> 00:13:41.839
 a lamb or a goat

00:13:41.839 --> 00:13:43.179
 or a bull or something

00:13:43.179 --> 00:13:44.220
 and offer it

00:13:44.220 --> 00:13:45.019
 on the altar

00:13:45.019 --> 00:13:47.059
 to atone for my sins,

00:13:47.519 --> 00:13:48.720
 to make right

00:13:48.720 --> 00:13:50.420
 for my many transgressions.

00:13:52.120 --> 00:13:52.940
 The other kind

00:13:52.940 --> 00:13:53.379
 of offering

00:13:53.379 --> 00:13:55.200
 is a free will offering

00:13:55.200 --> 00:13:55.639
 where somebody

00:13:55.639 --> 00:13:56.279
 comes to God

00:13:56.279 --> 00:13:56.500
 and says,

00:13:56.580 --> 00:13:57.660
 God, out of gratitude

00:13:57.660 --> 00:13:58.820
 for who you are,

00:13:59.160 --> 00:14:00.240
 I bring this

00:14:00.240 --> 00:14:00.779
 as an offering

00:14:00.779 --> 00:14:01.700
 of praise to you.

00:14:02.519 --> 00:14:02.840
 Now,

00:14:03.600 --> 00:14:04.480
 when Paul

00:14:04.480 --> 00:14:05.840
 is talking here

00:14:05.840 --> 00:14:06.320
 and says,

00:14:07.080 --> 00:14:08.040
 in view of God's mercy,

00:14:08.220 --> 00:14:08.940
 offer your bodies

00:14:08.940 --> 00:14:10.160
 as a living sacrifice

00:14:10.160 --> 00:14:10.720
 to God,

00:14:11.019 --> 00:14:12.259
 what is he thinking about?

00:14:13.080 --> 00:14:14.060
 He's not thinking

00:14:14.060 --> 00:14:15.060
 about a sin offering.

00:14:15.980 --> 00:14:16.940
 How do we know that?

00:14:17.279 --> 00:14:17.580
 Well,

00:14:17.660 --> 00:14:18.440
 a couple of reasons.

00:14:18.760 --> 00:14:19.640
 One is this.

00:14:20.020 --> 00:14:20.800
 Paul's writing this

00:14:20.800 --> 00:14:22.360
 in Romans chapter 12,

00:14:22.580 --> 00:14:22.860
 right?

00:14:24.180 --> 00:14:24.880
 In other words,

00:14:24.980 --> 00:14:26.440
 there are 11 chapters

00:14:26.440 --> 00:14:27.720
 of the book of Romans

00:14:27.720 --> 00:14:29.600
 before Paul writes this.

00:14:30.240 --> 00:14:31.600
 And he says here,

00:14:32.180 --> 00:14:32.660
 he says,

00:14:33.180 --> 00:14:34.020
 I appeal to you,

00:14:34.080 --> 00:14:34.740
 brothers and sisters,

00:14:34.940 --> 00:14:36.160
 by the mercies of God,

00:14:36.220 --> 00:14:36.520
 he says,

00:14:36.700 --> 00:14:37.260
 therefore,

00:14:38.040 --> 00:14:39.000
 offer your bodies

00:14:39.000 --> 00:14:40.060
 as living sacrifices.

00:14:40.740 --> 00:14:41.660
 He connects

00:14:41.660 --> 00:14:43.060
 everything that he's written

00:14:43.060 --> 00:14:45.120
 with this injunction

00:14:45.120 --> 00:14:46.560
 to bring our bodies

00:14:46.559 --> 00:14:46.919
 to God

00:14:46.919 --> 00:14:48.299
 as worship.

00:14:48.979 --> 00:14:49.819
 And the injunction

00:14:49.819 --> 00:14:51.079
 uses is therefore.

00:14:51.719 --> 00:14:51.779
 Okay?

00:14:52.319 --> 00:14:53.139
 He connects

00:14:53.139 --> 00:14:54.859
 everything he's been writing

00:14:54.859 --> 00:14:55.319
 and saying,

00:14:55.639 --> 00:14:55.839
 therefore,

00:14:55.979 --> 00:14:56.959
 in light of this,

00:14:57.419 --> 00:14:58.179
 present your bodies

00:14:58.179 --> 00:14:58.519
 to God

00:14:58.519 --> 00:14:59.000
 as worship

00:14:59.000 --> 00:15:01.139
 and to the praise

00:15:01.139 --> 00:15:01.639
 of his name.

00:15:02.419 --> 00:15:03.699
 If I say to you,

00:15:04.539 --> 00:15:06.479
 I've come down

00:15:06.479 --> 00:15:06.979
 with the flu,

00:15:07.519 --> 00:15:07.899
 therefore,

00:15:08.019 --> 00:15:08.519
 I won't be able

00:15:08.519 --> 00:15:09.019
 to meet you.

00:15:09.939 --> 00:15:11.120
 The second half

00:15:11.120 --> 00:15:12.259
 is obviously predicated

00:15:12.259 --> 00:15:13.000
 on the first half,

00:15:13.059 --> 00:15:13.259
 right?

00:15:14.059 --> 00:15:15.059
 Paul says here,

00:15:15.759 --> 00:15:17.439
 in view of God's mercies,

00:15:17.740 --> 00:15:18.379
 therefore,

00:15:19.480 --> 00:15:20.340
 offer your bodies

00:15:20.340 --> 00:15:20.879
 to God

00:15:20.879 --> 00:15:21.399
 as worship.

00:15:22.179 --> 00:15:22.579
 Now,

00:15:22.819 --> 00:15:24.340
 what is the first 11 chapters

00:15:24.340 --> 00:15:25.539
 of the book of Romans about?

00:15:25.720 --> 00:15:25.899
 Well,

00:15:26.299 --> 00:15:28.039
 if you're new to church,

00:15:28.100 --> 00:15:28.620
 if you don't know,

00:15:29.120 --> 00:15:30.059
 the book of Romans

00:15:30.059 --> 00:15:31.659
 is all about

00:15:31.659 --> 00:15:33.000
 how the Christian life

00:15:33.000 --> 00:15:33.939
 is grounded

00:15:33.939 --> 00:15:35.740
 in the radical,

00:15:36.299 --> 00:15:37.460
 extravagant,

00:15:37.460 --> 00:15:38.700
 undeserved,

00:15:38.960 --> 00:15:40.519
 unearned mercy

00:15:40.519 --> 00:15:42.240
 and kindness of God.

00:15:42.740 --> 00:15:44.259
 That though we deserve

00:15:44.259 --> 00:15:45.240
 God's judgment

00:15:45.240 --> 00:15:46.360
 and his wrath,

00:15:46.500 --> 00:15:47.300
 sinners though we are,

00:15:47.879 --> 00:15:49.820
 Jesus died on the cross

00:15:49.820 --> 00:15:51.639
 as a sin offering

00:15:51.639 --> 00:15:53.160
 in our place

00:15:53.160 --> 00:15:54.680
 to take upon himself

00:15:54.680 --> 00:15:57.080
 the sin that we have.

00:15:57.680 --> 00:15:59.460
 Jesus was punished for us

00:15:59.460 --> 00:16:00.879
 so that we can now

00:16:00.879 --> 00:16:02.040
 live for God

00:16:02.040 --> 00:16:02.940
 and know him

00:16:02.940 --> 00:16:04.560
 and be accepted by him.

00:16:04.960 --> 00:16:05.280
 So,

00:16:05.420 --> 00:16:06.300
 look at a couple of verses

00:16:06.300 --> 00:16:07.019
 in Romans.

00:16:07.019 --> 00:16:08.340
 Look at what Paul writes here.

00:16:08.379 --> 00:16:09.579
 This is chapter 5.

00:16:09.659 --> 00:16:09.919
 He says,

00:16:10.340 --> 00:16:11.899
 while we were still weak,

00:16:11.939 --> 00:16:12.299
 in other words,

00:16:12.360 --> 00:16:14.899
 while we didn't have it all together,

00:16:15.439 --> 00:16:16.439
 at the right time,

00:16:16.639 --> 00:16:18.639
 Christ died for the ungodly.

00:16:18.740 --> 00:16:19.360
 That's me.

00:16:19.899 --> 00:16:20.340
 That's you.

00:16:20.419 --> 00:16:20.819
 That's us.

00:16:20.980 --> 00:16:21.960
 Jesus died for us

00:16:21.960 --> 00:16:22.519
 when we were sinners.

00:16:23.100 --> 00:16:24.860
 But God shows his love for us

00:16:24.860 --> 00:16:26.840
 that while we were still sinners,

00:16:27.259 --> 00:16:29.079
 Christ died for us.

00:16:29.340 --> 00:16:31.519
 While we were enemies of God,

00:16:31.899 --> 00:16:33.480
 we were reconciled,

00:16:33.579 --> 00:16:34.419
 brought back to God

00:16:34.419 --> 00:16:36.120
 by the death of his son Jesus.

00:16:36.120 --> 00:16:37.860
 Much more now

00:16:37.860 --> 00:16:39.440
 that we are reconciled,

00:16:39.440 --> 00:16:41.240
 let us live for him.

00:16:41.320 --> 00:16:43.159
 We shall be saved by his life.

00:16:43.899 --> 00:16:44.440
 In other words,

00:16:44.919 --> 00:16:46.019
 Jesus on the cross

00:16:46.019 --> 00:16:47.460
 allowed his body

00:16:47.460 --> 00:16:48.580
 to be broken,

00:16:49.419 --> 00:16:50.299
 ripped in two,

00:16:51.019 --> 00:16:51.940
 torn apart,

00:16:52.580 --> 00:16:53.019
 shamed,

00:16:53.220 --> 00:16:53.539
 beaten,

00:16:53.779 --> 00:16:54.179
 crushed,

00:16:54.320 --> 00:16:54.600
 mocked.

00:16:54.940 --> 00:16:57.340
 Jesus gave himself up

00:16:57.340 --> 00:17:00.700
 as the ultimate sin offering.

00:17:00.700 --> 00:17:04.319
 And now he says,

00:17:04.980 --> 00:17:06.779
 in light of that,

00:17:07.340 --> 00:17:08.860
 bring your bodies

00:17:08.860 --> 00:17:10.259
 and offer them to God,

00:17:10.319 --> 00:17:11.160
 not as a sin offering,

00:17:11.299 --> 00:17:14.000
 not to earn God's mercy

00:17:14.000 --> 00:17:14.860
 or his grace,

00:17:15.440 --> 00:17:17.059
 but as a free will offering,

00:17:17.160 --> 00:17:17.319
 saying,

00:17:17.400 --> 00:17:17.580
 God,

00:17:17.660 --> 00:17:19.460
 in light of all that you've done for me,

00:17:20.279 --> 00:17:21.620
 here I am,

00:17:22.140 --> 00:17:22.880
 have your way.

00:17:24.160 --> 00:17:24.380
 See,

00:17:25.440 --> 00:17:25.900
 amazing,

00:17:26.059 --> 00:17:27.380
 Jesus Christ

00:17:27.380 --> 00:17:28.220
 was the sin offering

00:17:28.220 --> 00:17:29.420
 that ends all sin offerings.

00:17:29.420 --> 00:17:31.900
 Jesus died in our place

00:17:31.900 --> 00:17:33.240
 and now God the Father

00:17:33.240 --> 00:17:34.779
 can look at you and I,

00:17:34.900 --> 00:17:35.720
 sin as though we are,

00:17:36.019 --> 00:17:36.480
 and say,

00:17:36.800 --> 00:17:38.140
 your sin has been paid for,

00:17:38.660 --> 00:17:39.320
 expiated,

00:17:39.500 --> 00:17:40.080
 atoned for,

00:17:40.140 --> 00:17:40.680
 it's done,

00:17:40.900 --> 00:17:41.620
 it's gone.

00:17:42.160 --> 00:17:42.900
 And now,

00:17:43.300 --> 00:17:44.320
 in light of that,

00:17:44.900 --> 00:17:46.400
 offer your bodies to God

00:17:46.400 --> 00:17:47.620
 in worship.

00:17:48.720 --> 00:17:48.980
 You see,

00:17:49.060 --> 00:17:49.240
 friends,

00:17:51.160 --> 00:17:52.600
 worship for the Christian

00:17:52.600 --> 00:17:54.700
 is never a means

00:17:54.700 --> 00:17:56.259
 to earn God's acceptance

00:17:56.259 --> 00:17:56.860
 or his love

00:17:56.860 --> 00:17:57.400
 or his forgiveness.

00:17:57.400 --> 00:17:58.280
 Never.

00:17:58.700 --> 00:17:59.400
 It's always done

00:17:59.400 --> 00:18:00.100
 in response

00:18:00.100 --> 00:18:01.160
 to what God has done.

00:18:01.780 --> 00:18:02.640
 Jesus died

00:18:02.640 --> 00:18:04.080
 to earn God's acceptance

00:18:04.080 --> 00:18:04.780
 for us

00:18:04.780 --> 00:18:06.240
 and now in response

00:18:06.240 --> 00:18:06.920
 that we say,

00:18:07.340 --> 00:18:08.200
 with all that I am,

00:18:08.280 --> 00:18:09.420
 I give myself to you.

00:18:09.500 --> 00:18:10.680
 Sam Albury says it like this,

00:18:11.220 --> 00:18:12.220
 we don't offer ourselves

00:18:12.220 --> 00:18:12.880
 to God

00:18:12.880 --> 00:18:14.560
 so that he might love us

00:18:14.560 --> 00:18:15.880
 or forgive us

00:18:15.880 --> 00:18:16.980
 or accept us.

00:18:17.440 --> 00:18:18.580
 We offer ourselves

00:18:18.580 --> 00:18:19.100
 to God

00:18:19.100 --> 00:18:20.900
 because he has loved us

00:18:20.900 --> 00:18:22.360
 and accepted us

00:18:22.360 --> 00:18:24.060
 and loved us.

00:18:24.059 --> 00:18:25.639
 friends,

00:18:25.779 --> 00:18:26.639
 Jesus died

00:18:26.639 --> 00:18:28.019
 the sin offering

00:18:28.019 --> 00:18:29.039
 to end all sin offerings.

00:18:30.240 --> 00:18:31.980
 Jesus never asks us

00:18:31.980 --> 00:18:32.599
 to come

00:18:32.599 --> 00:18:33.819
 and to worship him

00:18:33.819 --> 00:18:35.139
 and to sing praise to him

00:18:35.139 --> 00:18:36.940
 in order to earn his love

00:18:36.940 --> 00:18:38.720
 but in response.

00:18:39.899 --> 00:18:40.339
 So,

00:18:40.480 --> 00:18:41.259
 what is God's purpose

00:18:41.259 --> 00:18:42.039
 for our lives,

00:18:42.139 --> 00:18:42.720
 for our bodies,

00:18:42.859 --> 00:18:43.399
 for our souls,

00:18:43.519 --> 00:18:44.379
 for all that we are?

00:18:44.899 --> 00:18:46.359
 What is his purpose for us?

00:18:46.839 --> 00:18:47.240
 Worship,

00:18:47.379 --> 00:18:48.679
 to glorify him,

00:18:48.799 --> 00:18:50.079
 to live our lives

00:18:50.079 --> 00:18:50.759
 to the praise

00:18:50.759 --> 00:18:52.079
 of his great name.

00:18:53.039 --> 00:18:53.299
 Okay,

00:18:53.619 --> 00:18:54.299
 so what does that

00:18:54.299 --> 00:18:55.299
 actually mean?

00:18:55.419 --> 00:18:55.799
 How does that,

00:18:55.879 --> 00:18:56.839
 what do we do with that

00:18:56.839 --> 00:18:57.419
 this week?

00:18:58.220 --> 00:18:58.500
 Well,

00:18:58.939 --> 00:19:00.019
 give thought to your

00:19:00.019 --> 00:19:00.699
 physical body.

00:19:00.859 --> 00:19:01.759
 Think about how you

00:19:01.759 --> 00:19:03.159
 steward your body.

00:19:03.879 --> 00:19:04.799
 What does the way

00:19:04.799 --> 00:19:05.619
 that you handle

00:19:05.619 --> 00:19:06.559
 your physicality

00:19:06.559 --> 00:19:08.179
 say about who God is

00:19:08.179 --> 00:19:09.439
 or who you belong to?

00:19:10.179 --> 00:19:10.559
 So,

00:19:10.679 --> 00:19:11.679
 obviously this means

00:19:11.679 --> 00:19:12.159
 that we should

00:19:12.159 --> 00:19:13.339
 automatically challenge

00:19:13.339 --> 00:19:14.279
 patterns of sinful

00:19:14.279 --> 00:19:15.279
 behavior in our lives.

00:19:15.539 --> 00:19:16.359
 Obviously we don't

00:19:16.359 --> 00:19:17.279
 steward our bodies

00:19:17.279 --> 00:19:17.899
 towards sin.

00:19:18.519 --> 00:19:19.679
 But think more generally,

00:19:19.799 --> 00:19:20.879
 think about your eyes,

00:19:20.960 --> 00:19:21.179
 right?

00:19:21.180 --> 00:19:22.360
 Think about

00:19:22.360 --> 00:19:23.200
 what do you do

00:19:23.200 --> 00:19:23.860
 with your eyes?

00:19:24.299 --> 00:19:25.519
 What do you feast

00:19:25.519 --> 00:19:26.480
 your eyes upon?

00:19:26.600 --> 00:19:27.539
 What does that say

00:19:27.539 --> 00:19:28.500
 about what is

00:19:28.500 --> 00:19:29.680
 most important to you?

00:19:30.360 --> 00:19:31.340
 What do you look at?

00:19:32.100 --> 00:19:33.420
 Those Netflix shows

00:19:33.420 --> 00:19:34.060
 that you watch,

00:19:34.720 --> 00:19:35.240
 the websites

00:19:35.240 --> 00:19:36.039
 that you visit,

00:19:36.840 --> 00:19:37.860
 the way you view

00:19:37.860 --> 00:19:38.600
 people of the

00:19:38.600 --> 00:19:39.320
 opposite sex

00:19:39.320 --> 00:19:39.820
 and gender,

00:19:40.680 --> 00:19:41.580
 the amount of time

00:19:41.580 --> 00:19:42.460
 we are scrolling

00:19:42.460 --> 00:19:43.680
 on our phones

00:19:43.680 --> 00:19:44.620
 and social media.

00:19:45.340 --> 00:19:46.240
 How much of that

00:19:46.240 --> 00:19:47.000
 is done as an

00:19:47.000 --> 00:19:47.740
 act of worship?

00:19:47.860 --> 00:19:48.380
 How much of that

00:19:48.380 --> 00:19:49.080
 is done saying,

00:19:49.079 --> 00:19:50.799
 God be glorified

00:19:50.799 --> 00:19:51.359
 with what I do

00:19:51.359 --> 00:19:52.119
 with my eyes?

00:19:53.139 --> 00:19:53.319
 Well,

00:19:53.359 --> 00:19:53.980
 think about something

00:19:53.980 --> 00:19:54.759
 as simple as

00:19:54.759 --> 00:19:55.779
 when you're talking

00:19:55.779 --> 00:19:56.179
 with someone,

00:19:56.259 --> 00:19:56.899
 are you engaging

00:19:56.899 --> 00:19:57.759
 in eye contact?

00:19:58.720 --> 00:19:59.879
 Are you communicating,

00:20:00.379 --> 00:20:01.099
 you are really

00:20:01.099 --> 00:20:02.000
 important to me

00:20:02.000 --> 00:20:04.240
 and I value my time?

00:20:04.319 --> 00:20:05.299
 Why are you thinking

00:20:05.299 --> 00:20:05.919
 about all those

00:20:05.919 --> 00:20:06.500
 around you?

00:20:07.139 --> 00:20:07.359
 Well,

00:20:07.359 --> 00:20:08.399
 think about your ears.

00:20:08.980 --> 00:20:09.799
 What podcast

00:20:09.799 --> 00:20:10.559
 are you listening to?

00:20:11.339 --> 00:20:12.039
 What music

00:20:12.039 --> 00:20:12.799
 are you listening to?

00:20:13.480 --> 00:20:14.299
 Is it fueling

00:20:14.299 --> 00:20:14.859
 a passion

00:20:14.859 --> 00:20:15.759
 for the supremacy

00:20:15.759 --> 00:20:16.480
 of Christ

00:20:16.480 --> 00:20:17.039
 and to live

00:20:17.039 --> 00:20:17.420
 for Him?

00:20:18.279 --> 00:20:18.900
 Or is it

00:20:18.900 --> 00:20:19.720
 numbing you

00:20:19.720 --> 00:20:20.279
 to the wonder

00:20:20.279 --> 00:20:20.779
 of Jesus?

00:20:21.920 --> 00:20:22.579
 If all we listen

00:20:22.579 --> 00:20:23.339
 to a podcast

00:20:23.339 --> 00:20:23.879
 about how to

00:20:23.879 --> 00:20:24.980
 grow our portfolio

00:20:24.980 --> 00:20:26.559
 and make more money

00:20:26.559 --> 00:20:27.819
 and become more wealthy,

00:20:28.339 --> 00:20:29.079
 is that fueling

00:20:29.079 --> 00:20:30.099
 an idol in our lives?

00:20:30.859 --> 00:20:31.660
 Or is it fueling

00:20:31.660 --> 00:20:32.220
 a passion

00:20:32.220 --> 00:20:33.039
 for Christ?

00:20:34.119 --> 00:20:34.299
 Well,

00:20:34.319 --> 00:20:35.339
 think about your hands.

00:20:35.720 --> 00:20:36.240
 What do you do

00:20:36.240 --> 00:20:37.099
 with your hands?

00:20:37.700 --> 00:20:38.379
 Are your hands

00:20:38.379 --> 00:20:39.240
 instruments of

00:20:39.240 --> 00:20:40.960
 comfort and encouragement?

00:20:41.660 --> 00:20:42.160
 Or are they

00:20:42.160 --> 00:20:42.839
 instruments of

00:20:42.839 --> 00:20:43.400
 aggression

00:20:43.400 --> 00:20:44.700
 and anger?

00:20:44.700 --> 00:20:46.259
 Do you lift

00:20:46.259 --> 00:20:46.740
 your hands

00:20:46.740 --> 00:20:47.860
 to intimidate people,

00:20:48.059 --> 00:20:49.180
 a spouse or a child?

00:20:49.500 --> 00:20:49.920
 Do you lift

00:20:49.920 --> 00:20:50.299
 your hands

00:20:50.299 --> 00:20:50.720
 in anger?

00:20:51.500 --> 00:20:52.059
 Or do you lift

00:20:52.059 --> 00:20:52.519
 your hands

00:20:52.519 --> 00:20:53.519
 to comfort,

00:20:54.100 --> 00:20:55.160
 to encourage,

00:20:55.740 --> 00:20:56.799
 to show compassion,

00:20:57.720 --> 00:20:58.519
 to show sympathy?

00:20:59.340 --> 00:21:00.140
 Do you use

00:21:00.140 --> 00:21:00.559
 your hands

00:21:00.559 --> 00:21:01.460
 to touch people

00:21:01.460 --> 00:21:02.240
 inappropriately,

00:21:02.779 --> 00:21:03.920
 to seduce people,

00:21:04.400 --> 00:21:05.799
 to exploit people,

00:21:05.880 --> 00:21:06.759
 to take advantage

00:21:06.759 --> 00:21:07.539
 of them?

00:21:08.279 --> 00:21:09.019
 Do you use

00:21:09.019 --> 00:21:09.380
 your hands

00:21:09.380 --> 00:21:09.920
 to make people

00:21:09.920 --> 00:21:10.720
 feel safe

00:21:10.720 --> 00:21:11.940
 and secure?

00:21:12.900 --> 00:21:13.759
 Every part

00:21:13.759 --> 00:21:14.259
 of our body

00:21:14.259 --> 00:21:14.559
 is God,

00:21:14.879 --> 00:21:15.440
 how do we

00:21:15.440 --> 00:21:16.319
 use our

00:21:16.319 --> 00:21:17.319
 physical bodies?

00:21:18.559 --> 00:21:19.279
 I think Romans,

00:21:19.660 --> 00:21:20.200
 or think about

00:21:20.200 --> 00:21:20.640
 your mouth,

00:21:20.779 --> 00:21:21.200
 think about the

00:21:21.200 --> 00:21:21.759
 words that come

00:21:21.759 --> 00:21:22.319
 out of your mouth.

00:21:22.420 --> 00:21:23.160
 Do they encourage

00:21:23.160 --> 00:21:24.200
 and build people up?

00:21:24.640 --> 00:21:25.680
 Do they praise God

00:21:25.680 --> 00:21:26.480
 or do they bring

00:21:26.480 --> 00:21:27.119
 people down?

00:21:27.599 --> 00:21:28.079
 Do we engage

00:21:28.079 --> 00:21:28.539
 in gossip?

00:21:28.720 --> 00:21:29.099
 Do we speak

00:21:29.099 --> 00:21:29.619
 the truth?

00:21:30.079 --> 00:21:30.720
 Do we fetch

00:21:30.720 --> 00:21:31.180
 the truth

00:21:31.180 --> 00:21:32.079
 with how we speak?

00:21:33.000 --> 00:21:34.039
 I think Romans 12

00:21:34.039 --> 00:21:35.279
 is not specifically

00:21:35.279 --> 00:21:36.160
 talking about this,

00:21:36.259 --> 00:21:37.140
 but at the very least

00:21:37.140 --> 00:21:38.000
 we should think

00:21:38.000 --> 00:21:38.940
 about how do we

00:21:38.940 --> 00:21:39.720
 use our bodies

00:21:39.720 --> 00:21:40.819
 in sung worship

00:21:40.819 --> 00:21:41.420
 on a Sunday?

00:21:41.420 --> 00:21:41.519
 today?

00:21:42.519 --> 00:21:43.480
 I often think

00:21:43.480 --> 00:21:43.980
 about this,

00:21:45.019 --> 00:21:45.320
 you know,

00:21:45.620 --> 00:21:47.000
 I quite like

00:21:47.000 --> 00:21:47.940
 to watch sport

00:21:47.940 --> 00:21:49.740
 and when my

00:21:49.740 --> 00:21:50.420
 sports team

00:21:50.420 --> 00:21:51.279
 is doing well,

00:21:51.600 --> 00:21:52.519
 I demonstrate

00:21:52.519 --> 00:21:53.240
 it physically,

00:21:53.400 --> 00:21:53.640
 right?

00:21:54.140 --> 00:21:55.080
 That winning goal

00:21:55.080 --> 00:21:56.440
 in the 95th minute

00:21:56.440 --> 00:21:57.300
 of the World Cup,

00:21:57.460 --> 00:21:58.120
 come on,

00:21:58.240 --> 00:21:58.519
 yeah!

00:21:59.340 --> 00:22:00.100
 Let's do it,

00:22:00.140 --> 00:22:00.380
 right?

00:22:01.700 --> 00:22:01.980
 Okay,

00:22:02.019 --> 00:22:02.400
 only Claire

00:22:02.400 --> 00:22:03.120
 finds that funny,

00:22:03.259 --> 00:22:03.460
 right?

00:22:04.220 --> 00:22:05.279
 None of you do that,

00:22:05.360 --> 00:22:05.480
 okay,

00:22:05.539 --> 00:22:05.940
 only me,

00:22:05.980 --> 00:22:06.360
 only me,

00:22:06.420 --> 00:22:06.860
 that's fine.

00:22:06.859 --> 00:22:09.819
 When I watch sport,

00:22:09.959 --> 00:22:10.639
 it's very hard

00:22:10.639 --> 00:22:11.299
 for me to say,

00:22:12.000 --> 00:22:12.439
 nice goal,

00:22:12.599 --> 00:22:12.819
 chap,

00:22:13.219 --> 00:22:13.759
 good job,

00:22:14.000 --> 00:22:14.139
 well,

00:22:14.179 --> 00:22:14.799
 I'm scoring the goal,

00:22:15.179 --> 00:22:15.459
 right?

00:22:16.159 --> 00:22:16.879
 But sometimes

00:22:16.879 --> 00:22:17.419
 when we come to

00:22:17.419 --> 00:22:18.099
 church on Sunday,

00:22:18.159 --> 00:22:18.740
 how do we use

00:22:18.740 --> 00:22:19.199
 our bodies?

00:22:20.139 --> 00:22:20.519
 We say,

00:22:20.659 --> 00:22:21.459
 praise God,

00:22:21.959 --> 00:22:22.839
 praise God,

00:22:23.659 --> 00:22:24.099
 oh,

00:22:24.240 --> 00:22:25.959
 praise God,

00:22:27.039 --> 00:22:27.579
 but do we actually

00:22:27.579 --> 00:22:28.879
 engage our bodies

00:22:28.879 --> 00:22:30.419
 in our worship?

00:22:31.240 --> 00:22:31.979
 We are embodied

00:22:31.979 --> 00:22:32.579
 beings.

00:22:33.619 --> 00:22:34.259
 You don't have

00:22:34.259 --> 00:22:34.740
 to do this,

00:22:34.799 --> 00:22:35.359
 but one of the

00:22:35.359 --> 00:22:35.979
 things I like to do

00:22:35.979 --> 00:22:36.659
 is I like to raise

00:22:36.660 --> 00:22:37.140
 my hands

00:22:37.140 --> 00:22:37.880
 as a way of saying,

00:22:38.259 --> 00:22:38.460
 yes,

00:22:38.480 --> 00:22:39.220
 I believe this,

00:22:39.480 --> 00:22:40.460
 this is true.

00:22:40.920 --> 00:22:41.480
 When I say,

00:22:41.640 --> 00:22:41.920
 God,

00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:42.660
 you're glorious,

00:22:42.759 --> 00:22:43.240
 I'm saying,

00:22:43.700 --> 00:22:43.960
 God,

00:22:44.040 --> 00:22:44.519
 this is true,

00:22:44.880 --> 00:22:45.440
 yes,

00:22:45.580 --> 00:22:46.019
 come on.

00:22:47.000 --> 00:22:47.140
 Well,

00:22:47.160 --> 00:22:48.240
 sometimes I'll

00:22:48.240 --> 00:22:49.000
 just stand like this

00:22:49.000 --> 00:22:49.440
 and say,

00:22:50.240 --> 00:22:50.620
 God,

00:22:50.660 --> 00:22:51.220
 I need you.

00:22:51.940 --> 00:22:52.160
 Lord,

00:22:52.200 --> 00:22:53.300
 I come before you

00:22:53.300 --> 00:22:54.800
 with nothing in my hands.

00:22:55.700 --> 00:22:55.900
 Lord,

00:22:55.900 --> 00:22:57.040
 I need you.

00:22:58.240 --> 00:22:58.440
 Well,

00:22:58.480 --> 00:22:59.140
 sometimes even

00:22:59.140 --> 00:23:01.060
 to maybe get on our knees

00:23:01.060 --> 00:23:02.200
 and say,

00:23:02.560 --> 00:23:02.960
 Father,

00:23:03.800 --> 00:23:05.180
 I have nothing.

00:23:05.580 --> 00:23:05.720
 God,

00:23:05.720 --> 00:23:07.700
 I bow before you

00:23:07.700 --> 00:23:08.860
 and surrender.

00:23:10.059 --> 00:23:10.319
 God,

00:23:10.420 --> 00:23:11.059
 you have my,

00:23:11.160 --> 00:23:11.539
 Jesus,

00:23:11.700 --> 00:23:12.700
 you are my king.

00:23:13.600 --> 00:23:13.819
 God,

00:23:13.900 --> 00:23:14.900
 come and have your way.

00:23:16.259 --> 00:23:16.440
 You see,

00:23:16.500 --> 00:23:17.200
 the Psalms tell us

00:23:17.200 --> 00:23:18.839
 often to worship God

00:23:18.839 --> 00:23:20.319
 with our entire being,

00:23:21.259 --> 00:23:22.819
 to clap in his presence,

00:23:23.319 --> 00:23:24.839
 to kneel down before him,

00:23:24.900 --> 00:23:25.860
 to raise our hands.

00:23:25.940 --> 00:23:26.620
 The Psalms tell us

00:23:26.620 --> 00:23:28.120
 with all that we have,

00:23:28.160 --> 00:23:28.880
 not just the words

00:23:28.880 --> 00:23:29.259
 of our mouth,

00:23:29.360 --> 00:23:31.319
 but with our entire being,

00:23:31.319 --> 00:23:31.799
 heart,

00:23:32.000 --> 00:23:32.240
 soul,

00:23:32.400 --> 00:23:32.700
 mind,

00:23:32.700 --> 00:23:33.600
 body strength,

00:23:34.259 --> 00:23:34.440
 say,

00:23:34.500 --> 00:23:34.720
 God,

00:23:34.819 --> 00:23:36.039
 all that I am

00:23:36.039 --> 00:23:37.500
 is given to you

00:23:37.500 --> 00:23:38.620
 as a declaration

00:23:38.620 --> 00:23:39.700
 of your majesty

00:23:39.700 --> 00:23:41.039
 and your kingship

00:23:41.039 --> 00:23:42.500
 and your worst.

00:23:44.080 --> 00:23:45.200
 I appeal to you,

00:23:45.259 --> 00:23:45.519
 therefore,

00:23:45.680 --> 00:23:46.720
 brothers and sisters,

00:23:47.480 --> 00:23:48.660
 in view of

00:23:48.660 --> 00:23:49.720
 Jesus'

00:23:50.120 --> 00:23:50.980
 mercy,

00:23:51.920 --> 00:23:52.559
 in view of what

00:23:52.559 --> 00:23:53.680
 Christ has done

00:23:53.680 --> 00:23:54.299
 on the cross,

00:23:55.180 --> 00:23:55.819
 in view of the fact

00:23:55.819 --> 00:23:57.200
 that Jesus died

00:23:57.200 --> 00:23:57.880
 and was broken

00:23:57.880 --> 00:23:58.319
 and beaten

00:23:58.319 --> 00:23:58.600
 and said,

00:23:58.700 --> 00:23:59.819
 you can know God.

00:24:00.400 --> 00:24:02.440
 Bring your whole selves,

00:24:02.580 --> 00:24:03.080
 your body,

00:24:03.180 --> 00:24:03.620
 your mind,

00:24:03.720 --> 00:24:04.080
 your soul,

00:24:04.200 --> 00:24:05.299
 your strength,

00:24:05.799 --> 00:24:06.240
 your will,

00:24:06.319 --> 00:24:06.840
 your emotions,

00:24:07.000 --> 00:24:08.539
 bring your self

00:24:08.539 --> 00:24:09.360
 and offer it to God

00:24:09.360 --> 00:24:10.440
 as a living sacrifice.

00:24:10.700 --> 00:24:12.160
 This is spiritual worship.

00:24:13.779 --> 00:24:14.960
 You see how radically

00:24:14.960 --> 00:24:15.880
 different this is?

00:24:16.600 --> 00:24:16.860
 You see,

00:24:17.019 --> 00:24:18.000
 most religions,

00:24:18.120 --> 00:24:19.160
 in the ancient world,

00:24:19.279 --> 00:24:19.600
 certainly,

00:24:19.759 --> 00:24:21.620
 but even in modern culture,

00:24:22.120 --> 00:24:23.400
 most religious traditions,

00:24:23.900 --> 00:24:24.680
 worship is something

00:24:24.680 --> 00:24:25.539
 that you just give

00:24:25.539 --> 00:24:26.159
 to the gods

00:24:26.159 --> 00:24:27.740
 to appease the gods,

00:24:28.099 --> 00:24:29.680
 to curry their favor

00:24:29.680 --> 00:24:31.200
 so that you can get

00:24:31.200 --> 00:24:31.879
 their blessings

00:24:31.879 --> 00:24:32.940
 so that you can go on

00:24:32.940 --> 00:24:33.480
 with your life

00:24:33.480 --> 00:24:34.200
 doing what you really

00:24:34.200 --> 00:24:34.920
 want to do, right?

00:24:35.359 --> 00:24:36.639
 So you will burn

00:24:36.639 --> 00:24:37.579
 some incense sticks

00:24:37.579 --> 00:24:38.279
 and just put them

00:24:38.279 --> 00:24:39.399
 at the shrine

00:24:39.399 --> 00:24:40.420
 or you'll put some fruit

00:24:40.420 --> 00:24:41.319
 in front of the shrine

00:24:41.319 --> 00:24:43.039
 and you'll offer

00:24:43.039 --> 00:24:43.980
 something to God

00:24:43.980 --> 00:24:45.299
 and then He will bless you

00:24:45.299 --> 00:24:45.720
 in return

00:24:45.720 --> 00:24:46.500
 and you can go on

00:24:46.500 --> 00:24:47.079
 with your life.

00:24:47.680 --> 00:24:49.000
 But what Jesus says here

00:24:49.000 --> 00:24:50.319
 is all of the world

00:24:50.319 --> 00:24:50.740
 is mine.

00:24:50.920 --> 00:24:51.879
 It all belongs to me.

00:24:52.379 --> 00:24:53.139
 And if you're going

00:24:53.139 --> 00:24:53.960
 to follow me,

00:24:54.059 --> 00:24:54.579
 says Jesus,

00:24:54.579 --> 00:24:55.419
 you need to bring

00:24:55.419 --> 00:24:56.779
 your entire life,

00:24:57.500 --> 00:24:59.000
 mind, body, soul,

00:24:59.199 --> 00:24:59.699
 will, strength,

00:25:00.039 --> 00:25:01.319
 all that you are,

00:25:01.939 --> 00:25:02.659
 everything,

00:25:03.059 --> 00:25:03.960
 bring it to me.

00:25:04.500 --> 00:25:05.759
 And this is a radically

00:25:05.759 --> 00:25:07.099
 new way of thinking.

00:25:08.139 --> 00:25:09.419
 Now the question is this,

00:25:09.899 --> 00:25:10.220
 how,

00:25:10.439 --> 00:25:11.039
 before we get to our

00:25:11.039 --> 00:25:11.480
 second point,

00:25:11.579 --> 00:25:12.799
 how should we respond

00:25:12.799 --> 00:25:13.359
 to that?

00:25:14.419 --> 00:25:14.859
 How should,

00:25:15.079 --> 00:25:15.619
 how are you going

00:25:15.619 --> 00:25:16.439
 to respond to that?

00:25:17.159 --> 00:25:17.500
 You see,

00:25:17.539 --> 00:25:18.220
 you could go home

00:25:18.220 --> 00:25:18.579
 and say,

00:25:18.939 --> 00:25:19.960
 well that was quite interesting.

00:25:20.819 --> 00:25:21.000
 No,

00:25:21.039 --> 00:25:21.399
 I hadn't thought

00:25:21.399 --> 00:25:21.919
 of that before.

00:25:22.379 --> 00:25:23.279
 And then just go on

00:25:23.279 --> 00:25:23.859
 with your life,

00:25:24.059 --> 00:25:24.319
 right?

00:25:24.579 --> 00:25:25.059
 Tomorrow you go

00:25:25.059 --> 00:25:25.539
 to the office

00:25:25.539 --> 00:25:26.220
 and you completely

00:25:26.220 --> 00:25:26.960
 forget about it.

00:25:27.759 --> 00:25:28.939
 You could go home

00:25:28.939 --> 00:25:29.740
 and say,

00:25:30.019 --> 00:25:30.539
 well that wasn't

00:25:30.539 --> 00:25:31.059
 very interesting,

00:25:31.319 --> 00:25:32.119
 what a waste

00:25:32.119 --> 00:25:32.899
 of a Sunday morning.

00:25:33.419 --> 00:25:34.019
 But at least I've

00:25:34.019 --> 00:25:34.439
 done church

00:25:34.439 --> 00:25:35.139
 for one more week,

00:25:35.240 --> 00:25:35.399
 okay,

00:25:35.480 --> 00:25:36.399
 now I can really

00:25:36.399 --> 00:25:37.259
 get on to what

00:25:37.259 --> 00:25:37.779
 I want to do.

00:25:39.500 --> 00:25:40.399
 Maybe you're here

00:25:40.399 --> 00:25:41.099
 and you're not

00:25:41.099 --> 00:25:41.599
 a Christian.

00:25:42.599 --> 00:25:43.099
 And so maybe

00:25:43.099 --> 00:25:43.599
 you go home

00:25:43.599 --> 00:25:44.000
 and you think,

00:25:44.139 --> 00:25:44.259
 wow,

00:25:44.339 --> 00:25:45.039
 that's quite interesting.

00:25:45.159 --> 00:25:45.819
 I've never heard

00:25:45.819 --> 00:25:46.299
 of the idea

00:25:46.299 --> 00:25:47.199
 that Jesus wants

00:25:47.199 --> 00:25:47.899
 me to follow him

00:25:47.899 --> 00:25:48.639
 with everything

00:25:48.639 --> 00:25:49.240
 that I am,

00:25:49.319 --> 00:25:49.859
 to lay down

00:25:49.859 --> 00:25:50.439
 my life with.

00:25:51.139 --> 00:25:51.939
 That's pretty new,

00:25:52.000 --> 00:25:52.519
 I need to think

00:25:52.519 --> 00:25:53.259
 about that some more.

00:25:53.259 --> 00:25:54.180
 Okay,

00:25:54.259 --> 00:25:54.759
 that's a better

00:25:54.759 --> 00:25:55.379
 response.

00:25:56.079 --> 00:25:56.839
 But here's what

00:25:56.839 --> 00:25:57.619
 the Bible wants us

00:25:57.619 --> 00:25:57.980
 to see.

00:25:58.900 --> 00:25:59.980
 Christians believe

00:25:59.980 --> 00:26:01.119
 that God's word

00:26:01.119 --> 00:26:01.839
 is true

00:26:01.839 --> 00:26:03.599
 and because it's

00:26:03.599 --> 00:26:04.140
 true,

00:26:04.359 --> 00:26:04.779
 it's always

00:26:04.779 --> 00:26:05.539
 liberating.

00:26:06.079 --> 00:26:07.000
 It's freeing.

00:26:08.180 --> 00:26:08.920
 It's often

00:26:08.920 --> 00:26:09.440
 challenging,

00:26:09.779 --> 00:26:10.500
 but it's freeing,

00:26:10.539 --> 00:26:11.140
 it's liberating.

00:26:11.819 --> 00:26:12.779
 But here's the thing,

00:26:13.259 --> 00:26:14.779
 it's only liberating

00:26:14.779 --> 00:26:15.900
 to the degree

00:26:15.900 --> 00:26:17.620
 to which you engage

00:26:17.620 --> 00:26:18.120
 with it

00:26:18.120 --> 00:26:20.100
 or respond to it

00:26:20.100 --> 00:26:21.660
 or accept it,

00:26:21.840 --> 00:26:22.500
 receive it,

00:26:22.519 --> 00:26:22.740
 right?

00:26:23.320 --> 00:26:23.759
 In other words,

00:26:23.800 --> 00:26:24.320
 if you go home

00:26:24.320 --> 00:26:24.620
 and say,

00:26:25.000 --> 00:26:25.120
 oh,

00:26:25.140 --> 00:26:25.759
 that was interesting

00:26:25.759 --> 00:26:27.340
 and then ignore it,

00:26:27.580 --> 00:26:29.340
 it has zero impact

00:26:29.340 --> 00:26:29.820
 on your life,

00:26:29.940 --> 00:26:30.660
 zero bearing

00:26:30.660 --> 00:26:31.259
 on your life.

00:26:31.900 --> 00:26:33.340
 But if you will say,

00:26:33.980 --> 00:26:34.440
 okay,

00:26:35.019 --> 00:26:35.940
 God wants me

00:26:35.940 --> 00:26:37.320
 to give everything

00:26:37.320 --> 00:26:38.160
 that I have to him,

00:26:38.160 --> 00:26:38.980
 to follow him

00:26:38.980 --> 00:26:40.780
 with all that I am,

00:26:41.500 --> 00:26:41.820
 do you know

00:26:41.820 --> 00:26:42.420
 what you'll find?

00:26:43.259 --> 00:26:44.240
 You'll find

00:26:44.240 --> 00:26:45.900
 it'll start to change you.

00:26:46.640 --> 00:26:47.640
 It'll start to change you

00:26:47.640 --> 00:26:48.539
 and transform you.

00:26:49.120 --> 00:26:50.000
 It'll change the way

00:26:50.000 --> 00:26:50.539
 you live.

00:26:51.060 --> 00:26:51.700
 And that's what

00:26:51.700 --> 00:26:52.700
 verse 2 says

00:26:52.700 --> 00:26:53.300
 in our Bible.

00:26:53.380 --> 00:26:54.160
 Look at verse 2

00:26:54.160 --> 00:26:54.539
 with me.

00:26:54.880 --> 00:26:55.980
 This is a tricky passage,

00:26:56.100 --> 00:26:56.700
 a tricky verse,

00:26:56.779 --> 00:26:57.440
 but he says this,

00:26:58.060 --> 00:26:59.279
 do not be conformed

00:26:59.279 --> 00:27:00.019
 to the ways

00:27:00.019 --> 00:27:00.740
 of this world,

00:27:01.259 --> 00:27:02.960
 but be transformed

00:27:02.960 --> 00:27:04.519
 by the renewal

00:27:04.519 --> 00:27:05.560
 of your mind.

00:27:05.660 --> 00:27:05.820
 Okay,

00:27:05.820 --> 00:27:07.019
 that's an interesting phrase.

00:27:07.779 --> 00:27:09.180
 That by testing

00:27:09.180 --> 00:27:10.300
 or learning

00:27:10.300 --> 00:27:11.480
 or examining,

00:27:11.480 --> 00:27:13.299
 you may discern

00:27:13.299 --> 00:27:15.099
 what is the will of God,

00:27:15.460 --> 00:27:16.319
 what is his good,

00:27:16.440 --> 00:27:16.860
 acceptable,

00:27:17.039 --> 00:27:17.880
 and perfect will.

00:27:18.360 --> 00:27:18.559
 Okay,

00:27:18.620 --> 00:27:19.620
 so this is a difficult verse,

00:27:19.720 --> 00:27:20.960
 but essentially Paul says this,

00:27:22.620 --> 00:27:23.519
 the word of God,

00:27:23.819 --> 00:27:24.519
 the gospel

00:27:24.519 --> 00:27:26.519
 of the Lord Jesus Christ

00:27:26.519 --> 00:27:28.900
 reframes the way

00:27:28.900 --> 00:27:30.059
 we think about life

00:27:30.059 --> 00:27:30.460
 and the way

00:27:30.460 --> 00:27:31.380
 we approach life,

00:27:31.400 --> 00:27:31.620
 right?

00:27:31.880 --> 00:27:32.640
 We used to live

00:27:32.640 --> 00:27:33.259
 for ourselves

00:27:33.259 --> 00:27:34.120
 and Jesus says,

00:27:34.259 --> 00:27:34.900
 I am God,

00:27:35.000 --> 00:27:35.740
 now you live for me.

00:27:36.259 --> 00:27:37.220
 We used to live

00:27:37.220 --> 00:27:38.360
 according to the values

00:27:38.360 --> 00:27:39.460
 and the principles

00:27:39.460 --> 00:27:40.279
 of our culture

00:27:40.279 --> 00:27:41.240
 and Jesus says,

00:27:41.319 --> 00:27:41.440
 no,

00:27:41.500 --> 00:27:41.599
 no,

00:27:41.660 --> 00:27:42.200
 I am God,

00:27:42.259 --> 00:27:42.619
 now I live

00:27:42.619 --> 00:27:43.779
 according to my values,

00:27:43.879 --> 00:27:44.480
 my principles.

00:27:45.299 --> 00:27:45.920
 Jesus Christ

00:27:45.920 --> 00:27:46.920
 used to be an accessory

00:27:46.920 --> 00:27:47.720
 to our lives,

00:27:48.019 --> 00:27:48.720
 something we just,

00:27:49.039 --> 00:27:49.259
 you know,

00:27:49.339 --> 00:27:50.000
 honored a little bit

00:27:50.000 --> 00:27:50.579
 on Sundays

00:27:50.579 --> 00:27:51.240
 and then got on

00:27:51.240 --> 00:27:51.759
 with our lives.

00:27:52.099 --> 00:27:52.839
 Now Jesus says,

00:27:52.940 --> 00:27:53.399
 I want to be

00:27:53.399 --> 00:27:54.420
 the center of your lives.

00:27:54.920 --> 00:27:55.700
 So Jesus makes

00:27:55.700 --> 00:27:56.579
 a radical claim

00:27:56.579 --> 00:27:57.119
 on our lives,

00:27:57.160 --> 00:27:57.339
 right?

00:27:58.119 --> 00:27:59.279
 And Paul says

00:27:59.279 --> 00:28:01.000
 that when you

00:28:01.000 --> 00:28:03.000
 accept his claim,

00:28:03.420 --> 00:28:04.579
 when you receive him,

00:28:04.619 --> 00:28:05.180
 what he calls

00:28:05.180 --> 00:28:06.879
 a renewal of your mind

00:28:06.879 --> 00:28:07.759
 or a renewal

00:28:07.759 --> 00:28:08.599
 of your thinking,

00:28:08.599 --> 00:28:10.619
 when you accept this

00:28:10.619 --> 00:28:11.439
 and receive it

00:28:11.439 --> 00:28:12.339
 and respond to it

00:28:12.339 --> 00:28:13.179
 and believe it

00:28:13.179 --> 00:28:14.599
 and trust him

00:28:14.599 --> 00:28:15.079
 and take him

00:28:15.079 --> 00:28:15.559
 as word,

00:28:15.679 --> 00:28:16.480
 what does he say

00:28:16.480 --> 00:28:16.980
 will happen?

00:28:17.559 --> 00:28:18.859
 He will transform

00:28:18.859 --> 00:28:19.799
 your life.

00:28:20.599 --> 00:28:21.240
 He has to,

00:28:21.319 --> 00:28:21.500
 right?

00:28:21.839 --> 00:28:22.459
 He'll change

00:28:22.459 --> 00:28:23.240
 the way you live.

00:28:24.359 --> 00:28:25.740
 The word transformation

00:28:25.740 --> 00:28:27.000
 there is the word

00:28:27.000 --> 00:28:29.000
 metamorphoster,

00:28:29.399 --> 00:28:30.119
 something like that.

00:28:30.639 --> 00:28:31.079
 Metamorphoster,

00:28:31.259 --> 00:28:31.480
 okay?

00:28:31.859 --> 00:28:32.359
 It's where we get

00:28:32.359 --> 00:28:33.000
 the English word

00:28:33.000 --> 00:28:33.980
 metamorphosis.

00:28:34.539 --> 00:28:34.719
 You know,

00:28:34.779 --> 00:28:35.579
 metamorphosis is

00:28:35.579 --> 00:28:36.720
 a radical change

00:28:36.720 --> 00:28:37.960
 like a silkworm

00:28:37.960 --> 00:28:39.419
 changes into a butterfly.

00:28:39.839 --> 00:28:40.740
 It's a metamorphosis.

00:28:40.839 --> 00:28:41.819
 It's a radical change.

00:28:42.819 --> 00:28:43.599
 God says here

00:28:43.599 --> 00:28:44.339
 that when you

00:28:44.339 --> 00:28:45.399
 take his word

00:28:45.399 --> 00:28:45.879
 and you say,

00:28:46.519 --> 00:28:46.859
 okay,

00:28:47.679 --> 00:28:48.379
 you God,

00:28:48.500 --> 00:28:48.779
 Jesus,

00:28:48.939 --> 00:28:49.539
 our king

00:28:49.539 --> 00:28:50.139
 and Lord,

00:28:50.259 --> 00:28:51.079
 I will follow you

00:28:51.079 --> 00:28:51.980
 with all that I have.

00:28:52.519 --> 00:28:53.480
 When you change

00:28:53.480 --> 00:28:54.019
 your thinking

00:28:54.019 --> 00:28:55.000
 and accept that,

00:28:55.379 --> 00:28:56.779
 he will transform

00:28:56.779 --> 00:28:58.199
 your life.

00:28:59.419 --> 00:29:00.779
 And then what happens?

00:29:01.899 --> 00:29:02.819
 What will happen?

00:29:03.019 --> 00:29:04.279
 The more you do that,

00:29:04.279 --> 00:29:05.460
 the more you learn

00:29:05.460 --> 00:29:06.519
 to understand

00:29:06.519 --> 00:29:07.359
 and know

00:29:07.359 --> 00:29:08.259
 God's will

00:29:08.259 --> 00:29:09.099
 for your life

00:29:09.099 --> 00:29:10.119
 and to walk

00:29:10.119 --> 00:29:10.859
 according to it.

00:29:11.359 --> 00:29:11.879
 So I don't know

00:29:11.879 --> 00:29:12.299
 if you're someone

00:29:12.299 --> 00:29:13.720
 that often wonders,

00:29:13.920 --> 00:29:14.759
 what is God's will

00:29:14.759 --> 00:29:15.379
 for my life?

00:29:16.319 --> 00:29:17.259
 What is God's will?

00:29:17.440 --> 00:29:18.180
 What is his will?

00:29:18.240 --> 00:29:19.119
 What does he want me to do?

00:29:19.819 --> 00:29:21.079
 Well, here the Bible says

00:29:21.079 --> 00:29:22.559
 the way to discover

00:29:22.559 --> 00:29:23.299
 God's will

00:29:23.299 --> 00:29:25.440
 is to shift your thinking

00:29:25.440 --> 00:29:26.660
 according to God's thinking.

00:29:27.139 --> 00:29:28.379
 To think God's thoughts

00:29:28.379 --> 00:29:28.740
 often.

00:29:29.139 --> 00:29:30.099
 When you start

00:29:30.099 --> 00:29:31.379
 to renew your mind

00:29:31.379 --> 00:29:32.420
 and renew your thinking

00:29:32.420 --> 00:29:33.500
 by accepting

00:29:33.500 --> 00:29:34.779
 what God's word says,

00:29:35.120 --> 00:29:35.740
 do you know what happens?

00:29:36.100 --> 00:29:36.960
 You discover

00:29:36.960 --> 00:29:38.380
 or here it says

00:29:38.380 --> 00:29:39.480
 you discern,

00:29:40.000 --> 00:29:40.660
 you learn

00:29:40.660 --> 00:29:41.720
 what God's will is,

00:29:42.039 --> 00:29:43.180
 you walk in that will

00:29:43.180 --> 00:29:44.160
 and you find

00:29:44.160 --> 00:29:45.000
 the liberating,

00:29:45.279 --> 00:29:46.680
 freeing power of God.

00:29:47.340 --> 00:29:48.320
 It'll change your life.

00:29:49.120 --> 00:29:50.039
 It'll change your life.

00:29:51.080 --> 00:29:51.400
 So,

00:29:52.060 --> 00:29:53.360
 what is Paul saying to us?

00:29:53.900 --> 00:29:54.779
 Our bodies

00:29:54.779 --> 00:29:56.600
 are gifts from God.

00:29:57.440 --> 00:29:58.480
 They are an integral part

00:29:58.480 --> 00:29:59.240
 of who you are.

00:30:00.059 --> 00:30:00.799
 And in light

00:30:00.799 --> 00:30:01.720
 of what Jesus did

00:30:01.720 --> 00:30:02.180
 on the cross,

00:30:02.420 --> 00:30:03.480
 giving up his body,

00:30:03.559 --> 00:30:04.980
 his body broken for you

00:30:04.980 --> 00:30:06.319
 that you might be saved,

00:30:06.799 --> 00:30:07.819
 now you bring

00:30:07.819 --> 00:30:09.039
 your entire life

00:30:09.039 --> 00:30:09.980
 into God

00:30:09.980 --> 00:30:11.200
 with all that I am

00:30:11.200 --> 00:30:12.059
 and all that I have,

00:30:12.400 --> 00:30:13.660
 I offer myself to you

00:30:13.660 --> 00:30:14.819
 to the praise

00:30:14.819 --> 00:30:15.660
 of your great name.

00:30:16.299 --> 00:30:17.019
 Does that make sense?

00:30:17.880 --> 00:30:18.240
 Okay.

00:30:18.779 --> 00:30:19.900
 Our bodies and God.

00:30:20.299 --> 00:30:20.599
 Secondly,

00:30:20.720 --> 00:30:21.500
 this will be very quick.

00:30:21.680 --> 00:30:22.779
 Our bodies and one another.

00:30:23.380 --> 00:30:24.240
 Look at what Paul says

00:30:24.240 --> 00:30:26.380
 in verses 4 to 8 here.

00:30:26.380 --> 00:30:28.360
 Here Paul says

00:30:28.360 --> 00:30:29.080
 that by virtue

00:30:29.080 --> 00:30:30.420
 of our union with Christ,

00:30:30.500 --> 00:30:31.180
 if you're a Christian,

00:30:31.340 --> 00:30:32.360
 you're united to Christ,

00:30:32.840 --> 00:30:33.800
 he says our lives

00:30:33.800 --> 00:30:35.000
 are not just individualistic,

00:30:35.120 --> 00:30:36.060
 it's not just me and Jesus,

00:30:36.580 --> 00:30:37.320
 actually our lives

00:30:37.320 --> 00:30:39.060
 also impact those around us.

00:30:39.360 --> 00:30:40.100
 And so look what he says

00:30:40.100 --> 00:30:41.100
 here in verse 4.

00:30:41.740 --> 00:30:42.200
 He says,

00:30:42.800 --> 00:30:44.220
 for as in one body,

00:30:44.380 --> 00:30:44.680
 he's talking about

00:30:44.680 --> 00:30:45.900
 a physical human body,

00:30:46.180 --> 00:30:47.300
 we have many members,

00:30:47.400 --> 00:30:47.560
 right?

00:30:47.620 --> 00:30:48.280
 You have an arm,

00:30:48.400 --> 00:30:49.080
 you have a nose,

00:30:49.180 --> 00:30:49.760
 you have an ear,

00:30:50.000 --> 00:30:51.440
 you have an appendix,

00:30:51.560 --> 00:30:52.360
 maybe not anymore,

00:30:52.640 --> 00:30:53.220
 but okay,

00:30:53.220 --> 00:30:54.700
 we have many members

00:30:54.700 --> 00:30:55.360
 in our bodies.

00:30:55.359 --> 00:30:56.719
 And the members

00:30:56.719 --> 00:30:57.839
 do not all have

00:30:57.839 --> 00:30:59.000
 the same function.

00:31:00.139 --> 00:31:00.500
 So,

00:31:01.000 --> 00:31:01.439
 we,

00:31:01.659 --> 00:31:02.199
 now he's talking about

00:31:02.199 --> 00:31:02.979
 the body of Christ,

00:31:03.419 --> 00:31:04.219
 though many

00:31:04.219 --> 00:31:06.059
 are one body

00:31:06.059 --> 00:31:06.819
 in Christ

00:31:06.819 --> 00:31:08.279
 and individually

00:31:08.279 --> 00:31:09.299
 members

00:31:09.299 --> 00:31:10.039
 one of another.

00:31:10.579 --> 00:31:11.439
 So he's comparing

00:31:11.439 --> 00:31:12.399
 the church family

00:31:12.399 --> 00:31:13.439
 to a human body.

00:31:13.899 --> 00:31:14.119
 He's saying,

00:31:14.179 --> 00:31:14.619
 your body's got

00:31:14.619 --> 00:31:15.639
 lots of body parts,

00:31:15.919 --> 00:31:16.799
 the church family's

00:31:16.799 --> 00:31:17.479
 lots of parts,

00:31:17.659 --> 00:31:18.459
 and we are all

00:31:18.459 --> 00:31:19.399
 distinct and different.

00:31:20.259 --> 00:31:21.319
 And then he says,

00:31:21.719 --> 00:31:22.719
 each one of us

00:31:22.719 --> 00:31:23.819
 are to use

00:31:23.819 --> 00:31:24.659
 our gifts

00:31:24.659 --> 00:31:25.559
 and our abilities

00:31:25.559 --> 00:31:27.139
 to serve

00:31:27.139 --> 00:31:28.220
 the wider body.

00:31:28.339 --> 00:31:28.899
 Look what he says,

00:31:28.980 --> 00:31:29.500
 verse six.

00:31:30.159 --> 00:31:30.339
 So,

00:31:30.500 --> 00:31:31.200
 having gifts

00:31:31.200 --> 00:31:31.839
 that differ

00:31:31.839 --> 00:31:33.240
 according to the grace

00:31:33.240 --> 00:31:34.019
 that's given to us,

00:31:34.500 --> 00:31:35.339
 let us use them.

00:31:35.740 --> 00:31:36.399
 If your gift

00:31:36.399 --> 00:31:37.099
 is prophecy,

00:31:37.659 --> 00:31:38.619
 prophesy in proportion

00:31:38.619 --> 00:31:39.299
 to your faith.

00:31:39.639 --> 00:31:40.339
 If your gift

00:31:40.339 --> 00:31:41.059
 is service,

00:31:41.460 --> 00:31:42.159
 in our serving.

00:31:42.679 --> 00:31:43.259
 If your gift

00:31:43.259 --> 00:31:43.919
 is teaching,

00:31:44.200 --> 00:31:44.939
 to the one who teaches.

00:31:45.500 --> 00:31:46.099
 If your gift

00:31:46.099 --> 00:31:46.579
 is the one

00:31:46.579 --> 00:31:47.399
 who exhorts

00:31:47.399 --> 00:31:48.019
 or encourages,

00:31:48.539 --> 00:31:49.139
 do that.

00:31:49.439 --> 00:31:50.000
 To the one

00:31:50.000 --> 00:31:51.179
 who contributes

00:31:51.180 --> 00:31:51.920
 and generosity,

00:31:52.180 --> 00:31:52.660
 do that.

00:31:52.920 --> 00:31:53.480
 To the one

00:31:53.480 --> 00:31:54.120
 who leads,

00:31:54.420 --> 00:31:55.200
 do it with passion.

00:31:55.600 --> 00:31:55.900
 The one

00:31:55.900 --> 00:31:56.700
 who does acts

00:31:56.700 --> 00:31:57.259
 of mercy

00:31:57.259 --> 00:31:57.860
 and kindness,

00:31:58.299 --> 00:31:59.259
 do it with cheerfulness.

00:32:00.060 --> 00:32:01.000
 What's his point here?

00:32:01.660 --> 00:32:02.680
 His point is,

00:32:03.120 --> 00:32:04.320
 you are not your own.

00:32:04.960 --> 00:32:06.140
 You belong to Christ,

00:32:06.299 --> 00:32:06.600
 yes,

00:32:06.920 --> 00:32:07.820
 but in a sense,

00:32:07.920 --> 00:32:08.940
 you also belong

00:32:08.940 --> 00:32:09.779
 to one another.

00:32:10.360 --> 00:32:10.600
 Now,

00:32:10.700 --> 00:32:11.440
 not in a weird

00:32:11.440 --> 00:32:12.240
 cultish way,

00:32:12.539 --> 00:32:12.779
 okay,

00:32:13.100 --> 00:32:13.920
 but in a way,

00:32:14.240 --> 00:32:15.039
 when you're saved

00:32:15.039 --> 00:32:15.920
 and united with Christ,

00:32:16.060 --> 00:32:16.740
 you're also part

00:32:16.740 --> 00:32:17.640
 of Christ's body,

00:32:17.920 --> 00:32:19.160
 and now we use

00:32:19.160 --> 00:32:20.220
 our physical bodies

00:32:20.220 --> 00:32:21.259
 to serve one another.

00:32:22.019 --> 00:32:22.299
 So,

00:32:22.460 --> 00:32:23.319
 my gifts

00:32:23.319 --> 00:32:24.240
 and my talents

00:32:24.240 --> 00:32:24.860
 are not given

00:32:24.860 --> 00:32:25.559
 to me alone,

00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:27.019
 they're given also

00:32:27.019 --> 00:32:28.000
 to the church family

00:32:28.000 --> 00:32:28.900
 to serve the family.

00:32:29.539 --> 00:32:30.519
 And your gifts

00:32:30.519 --> 00:32:31.360
 and your talents

00:32:31.360 --> 00:32:32.200
 and your abilities

00:32:32.200 --> 00:32:32.960
 aren't just given

00:32:32.960 --> 00:32:33.700
 to you alone,

00:32:34.140 --> 00:32:34.980
 they're given to you

00:32:34.980 --> 00:32:35.940
 to serve the person

00:32:35.940 --> 00:32:36.720
 across the aisle

00:32:36.720 --> 00:32:38.079
 or behind you

00:32:38.079 --> 00:32:39.680
 or in front of you.

00:32:41.299 --> 00:32:41.799
 So,

00:32:41.920 --> 00:32:42.460
 your body

00:32:42.460 --> 00:32:43.360
 is an instrument

00:32:43.360 --> 00:32:44.500
 of worship to God

00:32:44.500 --> 00:32:45.319
 but also an instrument

00:32:45.319 --> 00:32:46.120
 of service

00:32:46.120 --> 00:32:47.420
 to one another.

00:32:48.160 --> 00:32:48.720
 And you know

00:32:48.720 --> 00:32:49.220
 what happens

00:32:49.220 --> 00:32:50.220
 when you have an injury?

00:32:50.759 --> 00:32:51.259
 What happens

00:32:51.259 --> 00:32:51.920
 when you're injured,

00:32:52.019 --> 00:32:52.240
 right?

00:32:52.900 --> 00:32:53.700
 The other parts

00:32:53.700 --> 00:32:54.160
 of the body

00:32:54.160 --> 00:32:55.100
 have to compensate

00:32:55.100 --> 00:32:55.920
 for your injury,

00:32:56.039 --> 00:32:56.180
 right?

00:32:56.220 --> 00:32:56.339
 So,

00:32:56.420 --> 00:32:57.299
 you break your leg

00:32:57.299 --> 00:32:58.460
 and you're now in crutches

00:32:58.460 --> 00:32:59.579
 and now your arms

00:32:59.579 --> 00:33:00.120
 need to carry

00:33:00.120 --> 00:33:01.100
 the weight of your body,

00:33:01.259 --> 00:33:01.559
 right?

00:33:02.259 --> 00:33:03.559
 In a church family,

00:33:03.940 --> 00:33:04.680
 all of us

00:33:04.680 --> 00:33:05.559
 from time to time

00:33:05.559 --> 00:33:06.380
 are going to be injured.

00:33:07.059 --> 00:33:07.519
 All of us

00:33:07.519 --> 00:33:07.960
 are going to go

00:33:07.960 --> 00:33:08.620
 through suffering

00:33:08.620 --> 00:33:09.259
 and hardship,

00:33:10.000 --> 00:33:10.500
 difficulty,

00:33:10.779 --> 00:33:11.019
 right?

00:33:11.660 --> 00:33:11.940
 And so,

00:33:12.000 --> 00:33:12.440
 what do we do?

00:33:12.839 --> 00:33:13.519
 The body

00:33:13.519 --> 00:33:14.480
 comes around us

00:33:14.480 --> 00:33:15.360
 and compensates.

00:33:15.940 --> 00:33:16.680
 The body

00:33:16.680 --> 00:33:18.960
 strengthens one another

00:33:18.960 --> 00:33:19.779
 to help us

00:33:19.779 --> 00:33:20.320
 in our time

00:33:20.320 --> 00:33:20.860
 of weakness.

00:33:21.480 --> 00:33:22.640
 I think a great example

00:33:22.640 --> 00:33:23.580
 of this is Jack.

00:33:23.680 --> 00:33:24.440
 Where's Jack?

00:33:24.519 --> 00:33:25.060
 I saw Jack.

00:33:25.640 --> 00:33:25.900
 There you go.

00:33:25.900 --> 00:33:26.120
 There you go.

00:33:26.120 --> 00:33:26.400
 There you go.

00:33:26.400 --> 00:33:26.460
 There you go.

00:33:26.460 --> 00:33:26.500
 There you go.

00:33:26.500 --> 00:33:26.600
 There you go.

00:33:26.759 --> 00:33:27.000
 There you go.

00:33:27.000 --> 00:33:27.200
 So,

00:33:27.420 --> 00:33:28.100
 a few months ago,

00:33:28.180 --> 00:33:29.060
 Jack's playing badminton

00:33:29.060 --> 00:33:31.940
 and raptures his Achilles tendon,

00:33:32.160 --> 00:33:32.400
 right?

00:33:32.860 --> 00:33:33.960
 And a CG is there

00:33:33.960 --> 00:33:34.580
 with him.

00:33:35.039 --> 00:33:35.440
 Is that right?

00:33:35.500 --> 00:33:36.160
 I think they were with you?

00:33:36.320 --> 00:33:36.480
 Yeah?

00:33:36.620 --> 00:33:36.779
 Okay?

00:33:37.180 --> 00:33:37.380
 So,

00:33:37.600 --> 00:33:38.019
 the CG

00:33:38.019 --> 00:33:39.600
 gets him off to hospital.

00:33:40.060 --> 00:33:40.960
 I saw some photos

00:33:40.960 --> 00:33:41.640
 of Alfred

00:33:41.640 --> 00:33:42.460
 in the ambulance

00:33:42.460 --> 00:33:42.980
 with him,

00:33:43.060 --> 00:33:43.840
 making sure Jack

00:33:43.840 --> 00:33:44.539
 gets to hospital

00:33:44.539 --> 00:33:45.500
 and they make sure

00:33:45.500 --> 00:33:46.500
 he's all safe

00:33:46.500 --> 00:33:47.039
 and secure

00:33:47.039 --> 00:33:48.240
 and the doctors see him

00:33:48.240 --> 00:33:50.019
 and then a few days later,

00:33:50.299 --> 00:33:50.960
 there's his CG

00:33:50.960 --> 00:33:51.940
 at the hospital,

00:33:52.119 --> 00:33:52.339
 right?

00:33:52.440 --> 00:33:53.539
 And they bring him gifts

00:33:53.539 --> 00:33:54.059
 and food

00:33:54.059 --> 00:33:54.680
 and flowers

00:33:54.680 --> 00:33:55.779
 and then

00:33:55.779 --> 00:33:56.839
 for the next few months,

00:33:57.339 --> 00:33:58.039
 he's in a wheelchair

00:33:58.039 --> 00:33:59.200
 and it's really hard

00:33:59.200 --> 00:33:59.940
 to get to church.

00:34:00.259 --> 00:34:00.500
 So,

00:34:00.659 --> 00:34:01.759
 CG goes and meets him

00:34:01.759 --> 00:34:02.420
 and picks him up

00:34:02.420 --> 00:34:02.839
 and makes sure

00:34:02.839 --> 00:34:04.480
 that he gets to church here.

00:34:05.099 --> 00:34:06.980
 He has one part

00:34:06.980 --> 00:34:07.579
 of the body

00:34:07.579 --> 00:34:09.259
 helping another part

00:34:09.259 --> 00:34:09.779
 of the body

00:34:09.779 --> 00:34:11.179
 with their physical strength

00:34:11.179 --> 00:34:12.119
 in a very physical way.

00:34:13.079 --> 00:34:13.400
 Now,

00:34:13.440 --> 00:34:14.039
 maybe you say,

00:34:14.579 --> 00:34:14.759
 oh,

00:34:14.840 --> 00:34:14.980
 well,

00:34:15.000 --> 00:34:15.599
 I don't have much

00:34:15.599 --> 00:34:15.980
 to offer,

00:34:16.079 --> 00:34:16.219
 right?

00:34:16.239 --> 00:34:17.239
 I'm just like,

00:34:17.519 --> 00:34:18.500
 what can I do?

00:34:18.659 --> 00:34:19.279
 I'm very weak,

00:34:19.360 --> 00:34:19.800
 I'm very poor,

00:34:19.900 --> 00:34:20.420
 I'm sickly,

00:34:20.480 --> 00:34:20.960
 I'm old,

00:34:21.119 --> 00:34:22.420
 my body can't do anything.

00:34:23.119 --> 00:34:24.119
 I once heard a story

00:34:24.119 --> 00:34:25.099
 of an old lady

00:34:25.099 --> 00:34:26.599
 in her 80s

00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:28.239
 and she was housebound

00:34:28.239 --> 00:34:29.380
 in a wheelchair,

00:34:29.880 --> 00:34:31.000
 couldn't leave the house.

00:34:31.659 --> 00:34:32.360
 But she figured

00:34:32.360 --> 00:34:33.460
 the one thing I can do

00:34:33.460 --> 00:34:34.579
 is I can pick up the phone

00:34:34.579 --> 00:34:36.440
 and so every day

00:34:36.440 --> 00:34:37.059
 she decided

00:34:37.059 --> 00:34:38.059
 I'm going to phone

00:34:38.059 --> 00:34:39.079
 one person

00:34:39.079 --> 00:34:40.019
 in my church

00:34:40.019 --> 00:34:40.940
 and I'm just going

00:34:40.940 --> 00:34:41.559
 to talk to them.

00:34:42.059 --> 00:34:43.000
 I'm going to encourage them.

00:34:43.579 --> 00:34:44.639
 I'm going to listen to them.

00:34:45.039 --> 00:34:45.880
 I'm going to ask them

00:34:45.880 --> 00:34:46.440
 how they're doing.

00:34:47.039 --> 00:34:47.699
 I'm going to ask them

00:34:47.699 --> 00:34:48.500
 what their fears are.

00:34:48.900 --> 00:34:50.039
 I'm going to pray for them.

00:34:50.539 --> 00:34:52.039
 So here's a little old lady

00:34:52.039 --> 00:34:53.340
 in her 80s

00:34:53.340 --> 00:34:54.599
 sitting in some cottage

00:34:54.599 --> 00:34:55.599
 in a nursing home

00:34:55.599 --> 00:34:57.219
 and using her body

00:34:57.219 --> 00:34:58.460
 to serve and strengthen

00:34:58.460 --> 00:34:59.860
 the body of Christ.

00:35:00.400 --> 00:35:00.780
 Friends,

00:35:00.840 --> 00:35:01.500
 what's the point?

00:35:01.500 --> 00:35:03.619
 in view of God's mercy.

00:35:04.340 --> 00:35:05.719
 Jesus offering up

00:35:05.719 --> 00:35:07.119
 His body for us.

00:35:07.579 --> 00:35:09.239
 Now we get to offer up

00:35:09.239 --> 00:35:09.860
 our bodies

00:35:09.860 --> 00:35:11.079
 to Christ's offering

00:35:11.079 --> 00:35:12.480
 and to one another

00:35:12.480 --> 00:35:13.619
 in service.

00:35:14.320 --> 00:35:15.119
 So friends,

00:35:15.219 --> 00:35:16.260
 you are an embodied being.

00:35:16.780 --> 00:35:17.800
 You're not just a soul

00:35:17.800 --> 00:35:18.320
 in a box.

00:35:18.880 --> 00:35:19.760
 You're not just a mind

00:35:19.760 --> 00:35:20.500
 in a laboratory.

00:35:22.099 --> 00:35:23.380
 You're a human being,

00:35:23.460 --> 00:35:24.260
 an embodied being

00:35:24.260 --> 00:35:25.480
 made to know

00:35:25.480 --> 00:35:26.840
 and love

00:35:26.840 --> 00:35:28.200
 and serve

00:35:28.200 --> 00:35:29.280
 and worship

00:35:29.280 --> 00:35:30.300
 the creator God,

00:35:30.380 --> 00:35:31.380
 the sovereign God

00:35:31.380 --> 00:35:32.840
 of all creation

00:35:32.840 --> 00:35:34.500
 to be in relationship

00:35:34.500 --> 00:35:34.900
 with Him.

00:35:35.440 --> 00:35:36.740
 Not just with your heart

00:35:36.740 --> 00:35:38.760
 but with all that you are.

00:35:39.420 --> 00:35:39.860
 Mind,

00:35:40.640 --> 00:35:40.980
 soul,

00:35:41.840 --> 00:35:42.780
 body as well.

00:35:43.620 --> 00:35:44.440
 Let's do that now

00:35:44.440 --> 00:35:45.240
 as we come to Him

00:35:45.240 --> 00:35:45.760
 in prayer.

00:35:46.740 --> 00:35:47.539
 Let's pray together.

00:35:47.539 --> 00:35:50.579
 Father God,

00:35:50.699 --> 00:35:53.480
 we do want to do that.

00:35:54.420 --> 00:35:55.199
 We do, God,

00:35:55.219 --> 00:35:55.739
 want to bring

00:35:55.739 --> 00:35:56.539
 our entire bodies

00:35:56.539 --> 00:35:57.099
 before you.

00:35:57.179 --> 00:35:57.800
 We want to bring

00:35:57.800 --> 00:35:58.579
 our hands,

00:36:00.079 --> 00:36:00.779
 our mouths,

00:36:01.300 --> 00:36:02.059
 our eyes,

00:36:03.119 --> 00:36:04.659
 the words of our mouth,

00:36:04.739 --> 00:36:04.880
 God,

00:36:04.940 --> 00:36:05.559
 the meditation

00:36:05.559 --> 00:36:06.400
 of our hearts,

00:36:06.840 --> 00:36:07.860
 the actions

00:36:07.860 --> 00:36:08.659
 of our hands,

00:36:08.820 --> 00:36:09.719
 the things we look at

00:36:09.719 --> 00:36:10.179
 online,

00:36:10.300 --> 00:36:11.380
 the websites we visit,

00:36:12.579 --> 00:36:16.079
 the way we listen

00:36:16.079 --> 00:36:16.659
 to people.

00:36:17.940 --> 00:36:18.380
 God,

00:36:18.460 --> 00:36:19.400
 we want our

00:36:19.400 --> 00:36:20.380
 physical bodies

00:36:20.380 --> 00:36:21.119
 to be an act

00:36:21.119 --> 00:36:21.900
 of worship to you.

00:36:23.059 --> 00:36:23.340
 God,

00:36:23.400 --> 00:36:23.820
 I pray,

00:36:23.940 --> 00:36:24.840
 help us as a church

00:36:24.840 --> 00:36:26.759
 not just to worship you

00:36:26.759 --> 00:36:27.219
 in word,

00:36:27.320 --> 00:36:27.900
 not just to go

00:36:27.900 --> 00:36:28.559
 through the motions

00:36:28.559 --> 00:36:29.860
 but to bring

00:36:29.860 --> 00:36:30.779
 our entire lives

00:36:30.779 --> 00:36:31.779
 and say with all

00:36:31.779 --> 00:36:32.440
 that we are

00:36:32.440 --> 00:36:33.559
 and all that we have,

00:36:34.259 --> 00:36:35.320
 let them be an offering

00:36:35.320 --> 00:36:36.940
 that is pleasing,

00:36:37.759 --> 00:36:38.099
 holy,

00:36:38.940 --> 00:36:39.900
 acceptable to you.

00:36:40.739 --> 00:36:42.139
 This is our true

00:36:42.139 --> 00:36:43.420
 and logical,

00:36:43.679 --> 00:36:44.340
 our rational,

00:36:45.059 --> 00:36:46.099
 our reasonable worship.

00:36:46.840 --> 00:36:47.179
 God,

00:36:47.179 --> 00:36:47.659
 we pray,

00:36:48.139 --> 00:36:48.339
 Lord,

00:36:48.399 --> 00:36:49.559
 I pray for our youth,

00:36:49.699 --> 00:36:49.879
 God,

00:36:50.000 --> 00:36:51.039
 I pray for the teenagers,

00:36:51.259 --> 00:36:52.579
 those who are particularly

00:36:52.579 --> 00:36:54.299
 in a time that is so confusing

00:36:54.299 --> 00:36:55.899
 and where our culture

00:36:55.899 --> 00:36:57.079
 has so much to say

00:36:57.079 --> 00:36:57.819
 about our bodies.

00:36:58.039 --> 00:36:58.299
 God,

00:36:58.359 --> 00:36:59.159
 I pray

00:36:59.159 --> 00:37:00.559
 that our youth,

00:37:00.619 --> 00:37:01.219
 our teenagers,

00:37:01.419 --> 00:37:01.619
 God,

00:37:02.319 --> 00:37:03.960
 will more than anything

00:37:03.960 --> 00:37:06.119
 be radically secure

00:37:06.119 --> 00:37:07.519
 in who you say they are.

00:37:08.059 --> 00:37:08.639
 That they won't try

00:37:08.639 --> 00:37:09.659
 and find their identity

00:37:09.659 --> 00:37:10.619
 in what culture says

00:37:10.619 --> 00:37:10.960
 but they,

00:37:11.119 --> 00:37:11.219
 God,

00:37:11.279 --> 00:37:12.639
 even at a young age,

00:37:12.639 --> 00:37:13.699
 even in their teens

00:37:13.699 --> 00:37:14.679
 will say,

00:37:14.799 --> 00:37:15.039
 God,

00:37:15.099 --> 00:37:16.019
 with all that I am

00:37:16.019 --> 00:37:17.059
 and all that I have,

00:37:17.639 --> 00:37:19.179
 I give myself to you.

00:37:20.019 --> 00:37:20.359
 God,

00:37:20.400 --> 00:37:21.239
 I pray for all of us.

00:37:21.299 --> 00:37:21.420
 God,

00:37:21.519 --> 00:37:21.940
 I pray,

00:37:22.079 --> 00:37:22.159
 Lord,

00:37:22.159 --> 00:37:22.659
 for those of us

00:37:22.659 --> 00:37:23.339
 that are struggling

00:37:23.339 --> 00:37:23.960
 with our bodies.

00:37:24.699 --> 00:37:25.659
 Maybe we struggle

00:37:25.659 --> 00:37:26.639
 with physical health.

00:37:27.759 --> 00:37:28.639
 Maybe we struggle

00:37:28.639 --> 00:37:29.579
 with how we feel

00:37:29.579 --> 00:37:30.279
 about our bodies.

00:37:31.319 --> 00:37:32.319
 Maybe we struggle,

00:37:32.519 --> 00:37:32.679
 God,

00:37:32.759 --> 00:37:34.319
 with how we look.

00:37:34.320 --> 00:37:35.820
 God,

00:37:35.880 --> 00:37:37.580
 I pray that each one of us

00:37:37.580 --> 00:37:38.260
 in this room

00:37:38.260 --> 00:37:39.800
 will bring ourselves

00:37:39.800 --> 00:37:40.519
 before you

00:37:40.519 --> 00:37:42.320
 and offer ourselves

00:37:42.320 --> 00:37:42.800
 to you

00:37:42.800 --> 00:37:45.280
 and that our offering

00:37:45.280 --> 00:37:46.220
 will be pleasing

00:37:46.220 --> 00:37:48.140
 and delightful to you.

00:37:48.740 --> 00:37:49.760
 I pray this in your

00:37:49.760 --> 00:37:50.920
 great and glorious name.

00:37:51.820 --> 00:37:52.140
 Amen.