WEBVTT

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 Okay, folks, well, it's lovely to see you today. How are we all doing? Okay. If you have a Bible, come with me to Matthew chapter 5.

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 We've only got two verses this morning, 31 and 32, but so big was the topic, we felt it'd be great to devote a whole sermon just to these two verses.

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 So Matthew chapter 5, 31 and 32. You can use the Pew Bibles or you can scroll on your phone or hopefully you brought your own Bible as well this morning.

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 If you don't have a Bible, we've got plenty of those at the back. That's our gift to you. You can take it when you head this morning.

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 But whatever we need to do to get God's word open in front of us, please let me encourage you to do it.

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 So we're going to read this in about 10 minutes time, but let me just try and get us into what's going on in these couple of verses.

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 There was a song that I was singing in the kitchen recently.

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 And here's the chorus. See if you recognize it. I'm not going to attempt to sing it.

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 Go easy on me, baby. I was still a child.

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 Didn't get the chance to feel the world around me.

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 I had no time to choose.

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 What I choose, what I chose to do, so

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 go easy on me.

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 Anyone recognize the lyrics from Adele?

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 Yeah.

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 So one of my favorite songs from that album, actually one of her best-selling albums of her career, really.

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 But if you know the backstory to that song,

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 it's her explaining to her son

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 why she ended her marriage with his dad.

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 A marriage where she said in an interview with Vogue magazine that she was just going through the motions

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 and she wasn't feeling it anymore.

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 That was her precise line to this interview with Vogue magazine.

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 And I say it because Adele's story,

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 in a sense I kind of feel sorry for her because she's had to kind of live that in the public eye.

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 But her story is so illustrative of the massive shift that's happening right now in our culture.

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 And statistics would tell us this,

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 about how our society views this whole concept of marriage and divorce.

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 So let me try this on with you for size and see if it connects in terms of the generations.

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 A generation above mine and a few above mine,

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 not without their faults when it came to marriage,

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 we'd have talked along the lines of the primary thing being all about faithfulness.

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 Skip to my generation and a few generations below mine,

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 or one generation below mine.

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 We are certainly not without our faults when we talk about marriage and divorce.

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 But we talk a lot more along the lines of fulfillment, don't we?

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 It's kind of what people long for these days, fulfillment.

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 Ours is an age of no-fault divorce.

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 If you remember that phrase that Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow coined just a few years ago,

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 what was their phrase to describe their divorce?

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 It was a conscious uncoupling.

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 So this is the air that we breathe today, living in Scotland in the year 2026.

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 Now here's the point.

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 As you think about that trajectory,

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 In our world today, when it comes to how marriage is viewed and looked upon,

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 is the trajectory, is it higher or is it lower?

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 I think it's lower, isn't it?

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 It's lower.

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 It's so important to think about that when it comes to what Jesus is going to tell us to do as his people

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 in his word this morning.

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 I always love how John Stott, the late John Stott, described the church as it lives in culture.

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 He always had this lovely phrase where he said,

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 just remember it's a lot like fish.

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 It's only dead ones that go with the flow.

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 And that's exactly what we're going to hear Jesus call all of us here today as one church family,

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 as his people living in this city, regardless of what your relationship status is.

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 When it comes to God's wonderful intention for this one man, one woman, for life thing

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 that we read about in the Bible called marriage,

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 in a society that's going lower,

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 Jesus is calling us to go higher.

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 Now we've only got two verses today,

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 which we're just going to read in a few moments time.

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 We're going to get to grips with what Jesus is saying in its context about divorce.

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 And then because this affects all of us,

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 every single one of us in one way or another,

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 I'm just going to try and apply this pastorally in three ways.

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 So hang on for that right at the end.

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 But here's the thing I've been wrestling with all week.

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 In fact, I've known this is coming up for about two months now.

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 Here's what I've been wrestling with.

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 Why not just skip it?

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 Or why not just couch it in amongst kind of four other commands

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 and we'll kind of just give this five minutes and skip on.

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 Can I just tell you two convictions that drive me why we don't skip this?

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 Number one is a conviction about the Bible.

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 That all of this, all of scripture is God breathed, right?

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 We're a church that loves its 316s.

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 We love John 316, for God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son,

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 that whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

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 We're also a church that loves 2 Timothy 316,

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 that all scripture is God breathed and is useful.

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 And so that's why we go towards this.

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 Every single verse in our Bibles is there because God wanted it to be there.

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 And the second conviction is just an experiential one.

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 Having done this gig now for, well, we've been at Brunsford this summer for 14 years.

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 The amount of people that sat in these pews during that time.

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 But here's the conviction.

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 It's an experience.

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 Having walked with people these number of years,

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 that God does the deepest work in our hearts

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 when we go towards the hardest parts of his word.

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 I was thinking of my mom when we were young.

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 She used to make us every morning as kids take cod liver oil tablets.

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 Every single one of those three words is terrifying, isn't it?

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 Cod liver oil tablets.

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 Four words.

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 But here's the thing.

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 It tasted disgusting.

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 It was really hard.

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 But it was so good for me.

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 And I pray, friends, that whatever's going on in your life today,

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 this would be that in your life and in my life.

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 Because just in case you're thinking of checking out at this point,

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 notwithstanding the punch of this,

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 and I won't hold this back,

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 it's good news for us that Jesus speaks into this today.

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 Really good news.

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 And this could well be.

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 It's not like we preach on this every week.

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 This is why we go through the Bible.

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 These things come up.

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 This could be just the light into your darkness that you need this morning.

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 Here's the question I want you to have in your mind as we journey through this today.

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 We're going to come back to it right at the end.

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 Why does Jesus care so much?

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 Will we read it together?

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 It's on the screen.

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 Here we go.

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 It has been said,

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 Remember this is Jesus talking,

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 Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.

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 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife except for sexual immorality makes her the victim of adultery.

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 And anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

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 Let me pray.

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 Lord, we pray that you would just be with us this morning.

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 Lord, I'm so aware of my inadequacy.

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 Lord, I pray that your spirit, where all of our hope is,

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 your spirit would take your words and implant it and apply it deep into our lives.

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 May we leave here with a bigger view and love for Jesus, we pray in his name.

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 Amen.

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 So we're in the Sermon on the Mount.

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 Let's get, we run up to this in the Sermon on the Mount.

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 Remember, Jesus is speaking primarily to his disciples about what life inside the kingdom of God looks like.

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 Remember, this is not an ethical lecture.

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 This is what the spirit of God does in a human heart when the king moves in.

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 This is what life inside the kingdom looks like.

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 And in this sermon, he's doing two things.

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 This is really important for where we're going.

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 Number one, he's challenging the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who are in the background.

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 Who are sticklers for keeping the letter of the law, but totally missing the heart of the law.

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 And two, Jesus is bringing out the true meaning of the law.

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 Now, this is how I've, as a journey with this Sermon on the Mount,

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 we kind of plan these things six months in advance.

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 This is kind of where my thinking has got to.

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 What is Jesus doing here?

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 You know, my favorite news story from a couple of years ago.

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 Do you remember this one?

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 Yeah?

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 Is it, I can't pronounce this, Eke Mono?

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 Was that the painting that was in a really bad way?

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 And this 80-year-old woman, I wrote her name down, Cecilia Jimenez.

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 She volunteered to try and restore it.

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 And she came up with a picture on the right.

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 Remember this?

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 Well, this is kind of what is going on with the Sermon on the Mount.

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 You can imagine people around in Jesus' day.

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 They're looking to the teachers of the law and asking this question.

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 Can you help us see the beauty of the law?

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 Can you help us understand the true meaning of the law so that we can try and live in light of it

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 as we worship the God whose word and instruction this is?

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 Can you help us?

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 And the Pharisees are holding up a completely distorted view of the law.

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 And Jesus, if you like, in the Sermon on the Mount has come to restore and show us the original.

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 Right?

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 This is what's kind of going on here.

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 And that's what Jesus is doing at verse 31.

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 Have a look at it there.

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 Jesus is quoting them, quoting Moses in Deuteronomy 24.

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 Do you see it?

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 He's quoting them, quoting Moses in Deuteronomy 24.

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 Now, it's going to go on the screen in a minute, so don't worry too much about turning there.

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 But this is what you read when you turn there.

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 Just read it to us, right?

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 If a man marries a woman who becomes displeasing to him, we'll come back to this in a minute,

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 because he finds something indecent about her and he writes her a certificate of divorce,

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 gives it to her and sends her from his house.

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 And if after she leaves his house, she becomes the wife of another man.

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 And her second husband dislikes her and writes her a certificate of divorce,

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 gives it to her and sends her from his house.

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 Or if he dies, then the first husband who divorced her is not allowed to marry her again

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 after she has been defiled.

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 That would be detestable in the eyes of the Lord.

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 Now, work with me here.

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 According to Jesus, the Pharisees' interpretation of that law is miles off it.

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 Firstly, because they're failing to teach that divorce is only a thing

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 because of the hardness of the human heart.

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 God gave these measures to his people as a damage limitation exercise,

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 not an excuse for change.

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 Park that thought, we'll come back to it.

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 But secondly, because they've ripped that quote massively out of context.

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 So do you see the certificate of divorce language there?

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 This is where they've got it from.

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 It was there to do two things.

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 Firstly, it was there to stop the man initiating a really hasty divorce.

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 You can understand that one.

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 But two, this is what you might not have thought about.

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 It is there to protect the woman.

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 Now, remember, Jesus is walking and talking not in a 21st century context.

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 He's walking and talking in a 1st century culture.

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 One where so often a woman would be completely dependent on a man for her livelihood.

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 So just remember that.

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 So this law was actually in place to stop the scenario

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 whereby a man divorced his wife, sent her away,

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 and then at a later date decides to try and get her back

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 and treat her a bit like property.

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 So the certificate of divorce, if you can appreciate this,

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 what this is doing is it's bringing a sense of closure to this whole thing.

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 Do you see it?

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 Bringing that sense of closure.

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 Everybody knows where we stand.

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 But in Jesus' day, this certificate of divorce

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 divorce is being treated a bit like a monopoly get-out-of-jail-free card

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 for any unhappy husband to play,

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 and he's got rid of his wife.

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 So see that?

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 This is how this works.

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 Okay, I was a lawyer.

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 I totally remember how this works.

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 This works when you had a contract.

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 You would define your terms before you got into the contract, right?

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 You can talk to me about that afterwards if you want.

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 This is how the game plays.

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 These guys are doing the same thing.

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 See that word displeasing.

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 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law had taken it,

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 and they'd gone concertina on it, right?

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 What they'd done is they'd taken it and just totally broadened it out.

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 So they were making it broad.

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 In fact, they were making it so broad that even if,

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 to give you an example, a wife burnt the cooking one evening,

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 that fell within the scope of displeasing.

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 No joke.

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 So the Pharisees and the teachers of the law

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 weren't honoring the Lord at all as they taught this.

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 All they were doing, in fact,

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 was facilitating an easy divorce culture

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 and leading people straight into sin.

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 So do you see how our generation, our culture,

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 is not the only one to have a pretty low view of marriage.

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 It's exactly the same one here.

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 You with me?

00:14:18.759 --> 00:14:21.539
 So that's precisely what Jesus is challenging

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 if we go back to Matthew at verse 32.

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 What is he saying here?

00:14:30.799 --> 00:14:32.379
 I think he's saying two things.

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 The first big thing is that whilst divorce isn't always necessary,

00:14:39.840 --> 00:14:41.079
 now hear my words here, okay?

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 It isn't always necessary.

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 And reconciliation is always something that we're encouraged to pursue.

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 There are sadly, regrettably occasions when it is permissible.

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 And specifically here he mentions sexual immorality.

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 We're just going to define that as having sex with someone

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 when you're married to someone else

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 as being one of those things.

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 And it's worth saying that that's not all the Bible has to say

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 about valid grounds for divorce.

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 I think you could add, and you can talk to me about this afterwards if you want,

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 come back this evening.

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 There'll be more space to talk and pray about this kind of stuff.

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 Desertion and abuse.

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 And hear me say that when it is valid divorce,

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 then remarriage is valid too.

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 And if you're thinking, I'd love to think a bit more about that.

00:15:39.860 --> 00:15:42.559
 There's a QR code, or you can just Google it,

00:15:42.639 --> 00:15:47.340
 a Kevin DeYoung article in the Gospel Coalition called Divorce and Remarriage.

00:15:47.419 --> 00:15:48.879
 One of the best things I've read on it.

00:15:49.299 --> 00:15:50.980
 We'll take you 20 minutes to read it.

00:15:50.980 --> 00:15:53.259
 I think it's really, really helpful for teasing this out.

00:15:53.320 --> 00:15:56.200
 We don't have the time this morning, but that article is top-notch.

00:15:58.220 --> 00:15:59.320
 But here's the thing.

00:16:00.519 --> 00:16:02.560
 When it comes to divorce, according to Jesus,

00:16:02.700 --> 00:16:05.039
 that list is not long.

00:16:06.800 --> 00:16:07.899
 It's not long.

00:16:08.080 --> 00:16:11.440
 And it's a serious and a hugely traumatic thing

00:16:11.440 --> 00:16:14.460
 for everyone involved when it happens.

00:16:17.340 --> 00:16:20.940
 Here's the second big thing I think Jesus is saying there.

00:16:20.980 --> 00:16:26.800
 Don't mistake the provision that God makes for a sinful world

00:16:26.800 --> 00:16:29.360
 with God being okay with the sin.

00:16:30.220 --> 00:16:31.200
 Say that again.

00:16:33.080 --> 00:16:36.700
 Don't mistake the provision that God makes for a sinful world

00:16:36.700 --> 00:16:38.779
 with God being okay with the sin.

00:16:40.639 --> 00:16:44.320
 They are quick to promote the issuing of certificate of divorces,

00:16:44.700 --> 00:16:46.100
 flying around like confetti.

00:16:46.100 --> 00:16:48.180
 But Jesus is saying to them,

00:16:48.320 --> 00:16:50.120
 bear in mind that at the end of the day

00:16:50.120 --> 00:16:51.600
 is just a bit of paper.

00:16:53.920 --> 00:16:56.019
 And just because a man has issued one

00:16:56.019 --> 00:16:58.379
 doesn't necessarily end the marriage

00:16:58.379 --> 00:17:00.300
 in the sight of an all-seeing,

00:17:00.720 --> 00:17:02.200
 won't be mocked,

00:17:02.480 --> 00:17:04.839
 cares deeply about how we treat one another,

00:17:05.279 --> 00:17:06.259
 holy God.

00:17:06.259 --> 00:17:10.319
 Because remember that livelihood culture?

00:17:10.500 --> 00:17:11.519
 Come back with me there.

00:17:12.839 --> 00:17:13.819
 The livelihood culture.

00:17:13.900 --> 00:17:15.039
 When a woman is divorced,

00:17:15.980 --> 00:17:17.680
 she is almost, as it were,

00:17:17.799 --> 00:17:19.960
 forced into the arms of another man

00:17:19.960 --> 00:17:21.680
 for her livelihood.

00:17:22.940 --> 00:17:25.339
 And in the scenario where her previous divorce

00:17:25.339 --> 00:17:27.220
 from her husband wasn't legit,

00:17:27.220 --> 00:17:32.460
 not only is she led straight into committing adultery,

00:17:32.900 --> 00:17:35.319
 but the man that she goes to

00:17:35.319 --> 00:17:38.440
 is also led into committing adultery.

00:17:38.579 --> 00:17:40.880
 And see this whole sin and shame

00:17:40.880 --> 00:17:44.160
 and guilt and remorse and hurt cycle,

00:17:44.559 --> 00:17:46.220
 it just balloons.

00:17:47.120 --> 00:17:48.039
 It's like a vortex.

00:17:48.420 --> 00:17:50.980
 It just continues to bring in people

00:17:50.980 --> 00:17:53.460
 and the mess gets deeper

00:17:53.460 --> 00:17:56.100
 and more complicated.

00:17:57.220 --> 00:17:59.360
 But see, when you think about that,

00:17:59.500 --> 00:18:02.299
 who is the one who suffers the most

00:18:02.299 --> 00:18:05.779
 emotionally, spiritually,

00:18:06.000 --> 00:18:07.960
 maybe even physically

00:18:07.960 --> 00:18:11.240
 in this whole rinse and repeat project

00:18:11.240 --> 00:18:13.339
 that the Pharisees and the teachers of the law

00:18:13.339 --> 00:18:14.660
 are promoting?

00:18:15.940 --> 00:18:17.740
 Who suffers the most?

00:18:18.880 --> 00:18:19.980
 It's the woman.

00:18:20.980 --> 00:18:21.759
 Isn't it?

00:18:22.660 --> 00:18:24.559
 Who has all the cards here?

00:18:24.660 --> 00:18:27.120
 It's not her in this context.

00:18:27.220 --> 00:18:30.079
 If you know your Bibles,

00:18:30.200 --> 00:18:34.900
 fly a kite here and see if it connects.

00:18:35.180 --> 00:18:36.039
 Friends, could it be,

00:18:36.120 --> 00:18:37.059
 if you know your Bibles,

00:18:38.860 --> 00:18:40.460
 could it be that that is something

00:18:40.460 --> 00:18:41.680
 of the life story

00:18:41.680 --> 00:18:44.600
 of the Samaritan woman

00:18:44.600 --> 00:18:47.339
 that Jesus encounters in John chapter 4?

00:18:47.339 --> 00:18:51.059
 Because we read about her

00:18:51.059 --> 00:18:52.720
 and we automatically assume

00:18:52.720 --> 00:18:55.220
 because we've grown up with Sex and the City

00:18:55.220 --> 00:18:57.099
 and Friends and all those sitcoms,

00:18:57.139 --> 00:18:58.439
 we automatically assume

00:18:58.439 --> 00:18:59.599
 because we view her

00:18:59.599 --> 00:19:01.539
 through 21st century lenses

00:19:01.539 --> 00:19:03.199
 that when Jesus says,

00:19:03.359 --> 00:19:04.500
 you have had five husbands

00:19:04.500 --> 00:19:05.779
 and the man that you're now with

00:19:05.779 --> 00:19:06.539
 is not your husband,

00:19:06.679 --> 00:19:08.379
 we assume, if you like,

00:19:08.439 --> 00:19:09.899
 she's played away five times.

00:19:09.900 --> 00:19:10.540
 Yeah?

00:19:12.540 --> 00:19:14.280
 Now, John doesn't tell us in the text,

00:19:14.360 --> 00:19:15.100
 so don't hear me wrong.

00:19:15.180 --> 00:19:16.980
 We can't be sure of her backstory.

00:19:17.660 --> 00:19:18.840
 And no doubt, listen,

00:19:18.960 --> 00:19:21.300
 she'll have made tons of mistakes in her life.

00:19:21.540 --> 00:19:22.540
 But there is,

00:19:22.820 --> 00:19:24.200
 with this in mind,

00:19:24.259 --> 00:19:25.380
 the distinct possibility

00:19:25.380 --> 00:19:28.200
 that she's been issued

00:19:28.200 --> 00:19:29.740
 with a certificate of divorce

00:19:29.740 --> 00:19:31.540
 by an unhappy husband

00:19:31.540 --> 00:19:33.200
 who's found her displeasing

00:19:33.200 --> 00:19:34.539
 five times.

00:19:36.799 --> 00:19:38.720
 And the man that she's now with

00:19:38.720 --> 00:19:40.559
 wants nothing to do

00:19:40.559 --> 00:19:41.440
 with the marriage thing

00:19:41.440 --> 00:19:42.920
 because there's such a stigma

00:19:42.920 --> 00:19:44.140
 around her.

00:19:45.779 --> 00:19:46.559
 And we don't have time

00:19:46.559 --> 00:19:47.519
 to see the fact

00:19:47.519 --> 00:19:48.819
 that she's had five husbands,

00:19:48.960 --> 00:19:49.840
 there's a man on the scene,

00:19:49.960 --> 00:19:50.620
 five plus one,

00:19:50.680 --> 00:19:51.340
 that makes Jesus

00:19:51.340 --> 00:19:52.660
 the seventh man on the scene,

00:19:52.759 --> 00:19:53.500
 the perfect man.

00:19:53.840 --> 00:19:54.680
 I'd love to go there,

00:19:54.740 --> 00:19:56.019
 but we just don't have time.

00:19:56.460 --> 00:19:57.440
 But here's the thing.

00:19:58.340 --> 00:20:00.080
 What does Jesus say to her?

00:20:01.380 --> 00:20:01.920
 He says,

00:20:02.019 --> 00:20:03.140
 I've come for you.

00:20:03.200 --> 00:20:04.240
 What does he say to her?

00:20:05.140 --> 00:20:07.819
 Samaria's lowest outcast.

00:20:08.000 --> 00:20:08.600
 He says,

00:20:08.759 --> 00:20:10.519
 I've come to offer you

00:20:10.519 --> 00:20:12.160
 living water.

00:20:12.319 --> 00:20:12.980
 And dear friend,

00:20:13.039 --> 00:20:14.200
 if that is you today,

00:20:15.100 --> 00:20:17.059
 if you think you have no idea

00:20:17.059 --> 00:20:18.680
 the darkness of the situation

00:20:18.680 --> 00:20:19.480
 that I am in,

00:20:19.900 --> 00:20:21.220
 know that we have a God

00:20:21.220 --> 00:20:21.759
 and a Savior

00:20:21.759 --> 00:20:23.039
 who specializes

00:20:23.039 --> 00:20:24.220
 in bringing light

00:20:24.220 --> 00:20:25.279
 into the darkest

00:20:25.279 --> 00:20:26.500
 and the most horrific

00:20:26.500 --> 00:20:27.380
 of situations.

00:20:30.680 --> 00:20:31.259
 But see,

00:20:31.299 --> 00:20:32.340
 when you zoom out a little,

00:20:33.200 --> 00:20:36.039
 do you see what's going on

00:20:36.039 --> 00:20:36.960
 in this context?

00:20:38.660 --> 00:20:40.039
 When it comes to divorce,

00:20:40.160 --> 00:20:40.840
 the Pharisees,

00:20:40.940 --> 00:20:41.940
 what game are they playing?

00:20:42.039 --> 00:20:42.259
 Again,

00:20:42.299 --> 00:20:42.880
 I was a lawyer.

00:20:43.039 --> 00:20:43.860
 Know how this works.

00:20:43.980 --> 00:20:45.120
 Your job is to what?

00:20:45.539 --> 00:20:46.620
 Find loopholes.

00:20:48.340 --> 00:20:49.000
 That's the game

00:20:49.000 --> 00:20:49.500
 they're playing

00:20:49.500 --> 00:20:50.400
 with the certificate

00:20:50.400 --> 00:20:51.180
 of divorce stuff.

00:20:51.259 --> 00:20:51.779
 They're just trying

00:20:51.779 --> 00:20:53.460
 to find loopholes.

00:20:53.660 --> 00:20:54.299
 And in so doing,

00:20:54.380 --> 00:20:55.120
 they're leading people

00:20:55.120 --> 00:20:56.620
 towards not a higher view

00:20:56.620 --> 00:20:56.940
 of it,

00:20:56.940 --> 00:20:58.140
 but a lower view

00:20:58.140 --> 00:20:58.779
 of marriage.

00:21:00.720 --> 00:21:01.880
 But Jesus comes

00:21:01.880 --> 00:21:02.480
 on the scene

00:21:02.480 --> 00:21:03.580
 and he wants to talk

00:21:03.580 --> 00:21:04.820
 about the sanctity

00:21:04.820 --> 00:21:05.539
 of marriage.

00:21:06.620 --> 00:21:07.600
 And he's calling

00:21:07.600 --> 00:21:08.080
 his people

00:21:08.080 --> 00:21:10.460
 not to swallow

00:21:10.460 --> 00:21:11.580
 a lower view of it,

00:21:12.279 --> 00:21:14.960
 but to hold his hand,

00:21:15.080 --> 00:21:15.600
 trust him,

00:21:15.680 --> 00:21:16.580
 run to him for healing

00:21:16.580 --> 00:21:17.360
 and adopt

00:21:17.360 --> 00:21:19.440
 a higher view of it.

00:21:19.440 --> 00:21:22.880
 And so here's

00:21:22.880 --> 00:21:23.559
 what I want to do

00:21:23.559 --> 00:21:24.460
 in the time we have

00:21:24.460 --> 00:21:24.840
 remaining.

00:21:24.960 --> 00:21:26.080
 In a room this size,

00:21:26.180 --> 00:21:26.799
 and I recognize

00:21:26.799 --> 00:21:27.519
 there's a ton of people

00:21:27.519 --> 00:21:28.519
 watching this online

00:21:28.519 --> 00:21:30.660
 and there are people

00:21:30.660 --> 00:21:31.340
 who are not here

00:21:31.340 --> 00:21:31.820
 this morning

00:21:31.820 --> 00:21:32.580
 who will also be

00:21:32.580 --> 00:21:33.519
 affected by this.

00:21:33.620 --> 00:21:34.880
 In a room of this size,

00:21:35.900 --> 00:21:36.720
 we're in different

00:21:36.720 --> 00:21:38.080
 seasons of our lives

00:21:38.080 --> 00:21:38.960
 and this will land

00:21:38.960 --> 00:21:39.660
 in all sorts of

00:21:39.660 --> 00:21:40.480
 different places

00:21:40.480 --> 00:21:41.640
 in our lives.

00:21:43.000 --> 00:21:43.860
 Can I just try

00:21:43.860 --> 00:21:44.940
 and apply this

00:21:44.940 --> 00:21:45.799
 pastorally?

00:21:47.440 --> 00:21:48.340
 Because I wonder

00:21:48.339 --> 00:21:49.500
 if one of these

00:21:49.500 --> 00:21:50.299
 three phrases

00:21:50.299 --> 00:21:51.159
 as you encounter

00:21:51.159 --> 00:21:51.899
 this this morning

00:21:51.899 --> 00:21:52.980
 comes to your mind.

00:21:54.659 --> 00:21:55.779
 Just praying for you

00:21:55.779 --> 00:21:56.339
 all this week,

00:21:56.439 --> 00:21:57.199
 praying for all of us

00:21:57.199 --> 00:21:57.639
 this week,

00:21:57.679 --> 00:21:58.359
 and these are just

00:21:58.359 --> 00:21:59.159
 the three things

00:21:59.159 --> 00:21:59.779
 that I felt God

00:21:59.779 --> 00:22:00.480
 lay on my heart.

00:22:00.559 --> 00:22:01.399
 Here's number one.

00:22:02.259 --> 00:22:02.799
 And number one

00:22:02.799 --> 00:22:03.480
 is a lot longer

00:22:03.480 --> 00:22:04.299
 than two of the three,

00:22:04.419 --> 00:22:06.179
 so just bear with me.

00:22:06.279 --> 00:22:07.199
 Okay, here's number one.

00:22:07.379 --> 00:22:08.439
 Maybe you're thinking this.

00:22:09.439 --> 00:22:10.720
 I'm right in the thick of it.

00:22:14.319 --> 00:22:15.579
 Speaking to those of us,

00:22:15.659 --> 00:22:16.699
 let me just play this out.

00:22:16.799 --> 00:22:17.720
 Speaking to those of us

00:22:17.720 --> 00:22:18.500
 who are married,

00:22:19.860 --> 00:22:21.140
 some of us will be here.

00:22:21.319 --> 00:22:21.940
 I know some of you

00:22:21.940 --> 00:22:22.799
 have just got married,

00:22:23.120 --> 00:22:23.299
 right?

00:22:23.360 --> 00:22:24.480
 Some of us will be here

00:22:24.480 --> 00:22:25.839
 and we would describe

00:22:25.839 --> 00:22:26.579
 ourselves as being

00:22:26.579 --> 00:22:27.500
 happily married.

00:22:28.579 --> 00:22:29.360
 And if that's you,

00:22:29.460 --> 00:22:29.559
 friend,

00:22:29.600 --> 00:22:30.299
 I want you to see

00:22:30.299 --> 00:22:31.000
 that you give God

00:22:31.000 --> 00:22:32.160
 all the praise for that.

00:22:32.920 --> 00:22:33.680
 All the praise

00:22:33.680 --> 00:22:34.319
 for his kindness

00:22:34.319 --> 00:22:34.799
 and goodness.

00:22:34.920 --> 00:22:35.759
 It's why we started

00:22:35.759 --> 00:22:39.019
 our service

00:22:39.019 --> 00:22:40.140
 by singing about

00:22:40.140 --> 00:22:41.059
 the goodness of God.

00:22:42.059 --> 00:22:42.240
 Okay,

00:22:42.279 --> 00:22:42.960
 we give him

00:22:42.960 --> 00:22:43.920
 all the praise for that.

00:22:44.019 --> 00:22:44.759
 And let me encourage you

00:22:44.759 --> 00:22:45.700
 to keep investing

00:22:45.700 --> 00:22:46.220
 in the health

00:22:46.220 --> 00:22:46.779
 of your marriage.

00:22:46.880 --> 00:22:47.240
 Some of you

00:22:47.240 --> 00:22:49.579
 are really early years

00:22:49.579 --> 00:22:50.960
 and you need to put

00:22:50.960 --> 00:22:51.900
 the foundations

00:22:51.900 --> 00:22:54.000
 in your marriage

00:22:54.000 --> 00:22:54.700
 at this stage

00:22:54.700 --> 00:22:55.440
 because you will reap

00:22:55.440 --> 00:22:56.440
 the benefit down the line.

00:22:56.519 --> 00:22:57.620
 If you are happily married,

00:22:57.779 --> 00:22:58.880
 praise God for that.

00:23:00.259 --> 00:23:01.500
 And yet for others of us,

00:23:01.500 --> 00:23:03.039
 you might hear me

00:23:03.039 --> 00:23:04.180
 talk about this

00:23:04.180 --> 00:23:04.700
 this morning

00:23:04.700 --> 00:23:05.660
 and you think to yourself,

00:23:05.720 --> 00:23:06.799
 I'm not happily married.

00:23:06.900 --> 00:23:07.600
 I'm actually

00:23:07.600 --> 00:23:09.799
 unhappily married.

00:23:09.799 --> 00:23:13.019
 And even maybe

00:23:13.019 --> 00:23:14.019
 you're slowly beginning

00:23:14.019 --> 00:23:15.500
 to entertain the thought,

00:23:16.919 --> 00:23:18.559
 maybe,

00:23:19.279 --> 00:23:20.319
 just maybe,

00:23:21.200 --> 00:23:21.819
 change

00:23:21.819 --> 00:23:23.319
 is exactly

00:23:23.319 --> 00:23:24.019
 what I need.

00:23:26.500 --> 00:23:27.539
 Maybe your thoughts

00:23:27.539 --> 00:23:28.139
 have begun

00:23:28.139 --> 00:23:29.139
 to wonder.

00:23:29.240 --> 00:23:29.859
 Maybe there's someone

00:23:29.859 --> 00:23:30.480
 at the office

00:23:30.480 --> 00:23:31.359
 who you're beginning

00:23:31.359 --> 00:23:32.119
 to look upon

00:23:32.119 --> 00:23:33.000
 in a different light.

00:23:33.079 --> 00:23:33.659
 Can I just say

00:23:33.659 --> 00:23:34.319
 as your pastor,

00:23:35.220 --> 00:23:36.000
 deep breath,

00:23:36.119 --> 00:23:37.399
 gently yet clearly,

00:23:38.519 --> 00:23:38.980
 kill it.

00:23:39.799 --> 00:23:41.379
 kill it.

00:23:42.500 --> 00:23:43.619
 Because if you don't

00:23:43.619 --> 00:23:44.180
 kill it,

00:23:44.319 --> 00:23:45.819
 it will kill you.

00:23:47.619 --> 00:23:49.039
 Do not let

00:23:49.039 --> 00:23:50.659
 discontentment

00:23:50.659 --> 00:23:52.539
 be the torpedo

00:23:52.539 --> 00:23:54.019
 in your marriage.

00:23:56.220 --> 00:23:57.000
 Kill it.

00:23:59.539 --> 00:24:00.839
 The devil is the

00:24:00.839 --> 00:24:01.779
 absolute master

00:24:01.779 --> 00:24:04.079
 of the bait and switch.

00:24:05.379 --> 00:24:06.240
 Promises you

00:24:06.240 --> 00:24:06.919
 everything

00:24:06.919 --> 00:24:08.579
 and will take

00:24:08.579 --> 00:24:08.980
 from you

00:24:08.980 --> 00:24:09.579
 everything.

00:24:09.799 --> 00:24:12.799
 He is the

00:24:12.799 --> 00:24:13.359
 master of

00:24:13.359 --> 00:24:13.659
 whispering

00:24:13.659 --> 00:24:14.740
 into our hearts

00:24:14.740 --> 00:24:15.879
 that red flags

00:24:15.879 --> 00:24:17.599
 are in fact

00:24:17.599 --> 00:24:18.619
 harmless bunting.

00:24:19.819 --> 00:24:20.079
 And friend,

00:24:20.119 --> 00:24:20.819
 if you are there

00:24:20.819 --> 00:24:21.059
 today,

00:24:21.139 --> 00:24:21.779
 can I plead

00:24:21.779 --> 00:24:22.240
 with you?

00:24:23.379 --> 00:24:23.899
 Kill it.

00:24:26.299 --> 00:24:27.000
 Kill it.

00:24:30.000 --> 00:24:30.819
 It is not

00:24:30.819 --> 00:24:31.299
 harmless,

00:24:31.419 --> 00:24:32.379
 it is serious

00:24:32.379 --> 00:24:33.960
 in the eyes

00:24:33.960 --> 00:24:34.899
 of a holy God.

00:24:34.900 --> 00:24:35.900
 discontentment.

00:24:35.900 --> 00:24:36.880
 And maybe this

00:24:36.880 --> 00:24:37.440
 morning you need

00:24:37.440 --> 00:24:38.140
 to wake up to

00:24:38.140 --> 00:24:38.700
 two things

00:24:38.700 --> 00:24:39.740
 about discontentment.

00:24:40.180 --> 00:24:40.960
 One is a

00:24:40.960 --> 00:24:43.019
 good thing.

00:24:43.960 --> 00:24:44.140
 Okay?

00:24:44.720 --> 00:24:45.519
 Maybe you need

00:24:45.519 --> 00:24:46.040
 to know in your

00:24:46.040 --> 00:24:46.700
 discontentment

00:24:46.700 --> 00:24:47.340
 that this is just

00:24:47.340 --> 00:24:48.519
 a season of your

00:24:48.519 --> 00:24:49.000
 life.

00:24:50.280 --> 00:24:51.000
 Don't let it

00:24:51.000 --> 00:24:51.980
 question whether

00:24:51.980 --> 00:24:52.480
 you're in the

00:24:52.480 --> 00:24:53.080
 right marriage.

00:24:53.180 --> 00:24:53.680
 Maybe it's just

00:24:53.680 --> 00:24:54.320
 a season

00:24:54.320 --> 00:24:55.640
 of your life.

00:24:55.780 --> 00:24:55.980
 Listen,

00:24:56.080 --> 00:24:56.920
 I have been there,

00:24:56.980 --> 00:24:57.600
 a really busy

00:24:57.600 --> 00:24:58.640
 season at work,

00:24:59.180 --> 00:25:00.000
 a run of night

00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:00.340
 shifts,

00:25:00.460 --> 00:25:01.180
 middle of exam

00:25:01.180 --> 00:25:01.700
 season.

00:25:02.180 --> 00:25:02.600
 Maybe you're

00:25:02.600 --> 00:25:03.059
 looking after

00:25:03.059 --> 00:25:04.059
 family members

00:25:04.059 --> 00:25:04.759
 that's taking

00:25:04.759 --> 00:25:06.240
 its toll on you.

00:25:06.319 --> 00:25:06.620
 Maybe you're

00:25:06.620 --> 00:25:07.059
 looking after

00:25:07.059 --> 00:25:07.720
 young children

00:25:07.720 --> 00:25:08.380
 and you cannot

00:25:08.380 --> 00:25:09.299
 get baby brain

00:25:09.299 --> 00:25:09.819
 out of your

00:25:09.819 --> 00:25:10.240
 head.

00:25:11.380 --> 00:25:12.019
 Can I just

00:25:12.019 --> 00:25:12.600
 say to you,

00:25:12.680 --> 00:25:13.000
 if you're in

00:25:13.000 --> 00:25:13.960
 that period

00:25:13.960 --> 00:25:14.559
 of life,

00:25:14.700 --> 00:25:16.019
 it will pass.

00:25:16.539 --> 00:25:17.519
 Do not let

00:25:17.519 --> 00:25:18.160
 it cause you

00:25:18.160 --> 00:25:18.620
 to doubt

00:25:18.620 --> 00:25:19.259
 whether you're

00:25:19.259 --> 00:25:19.680
 in the right

00:25:19.680 --> 00:25:20.580
 marriage or not.

00:25:21.380 --> 00:25:22.080
 Come up for

00:25:22.080 --> 00:25:22.440
 air.

00:25:23.259 --> 00:25:24.059
 It's okay

00:25:24.059 --> 00:25:24.920
 to struggle

00:25:24.920 --> 00:25:25.440
 in these

00:25:25.440 --> 00:25:25.779
 seasons,

00:25:25.880 --> 00:25:26.500
 but it will

00:25:26.500 --> 00:25:27.980
 pass.

00:25:27.980 --> 00:25:31.720
 But maybe

00:25:31.720 --> 00:25:32.519
 that discontentment,

00:25:32.559 --> 00:25:33.160
 here's the second

00:25:33.160 --> 00:25:33.400
 thing,

00:25:33.460 --> 00:25:33.900
 you need to

00:25:33.900 --> 00:25:34.380
 think about

00:25:34.380 --> 00:25:35.180
 perhaps the

00:25:35.180 --> 00:25:35.900
 things that

00:25:35.900 --> 00:25:36.440
 are feeding

00:25:36.440 --> 00:25:37.120
 that sense

00:25:37.120 --> 00:25:38.120
 of discontentment.

00:25:40.440 --> 00:25:40.880
 Friends,

00:25:40.940 --> 00:25:41.460
 have an honest

00:25:41.460 --> 00:25:42.099
 thing to

00:25:42.099 --> 00:25:42.460
 yourself.

00:25:42.539 --> 00:25:43.240
 What programs

00:25:43.240 --> 00:25:43.640
 are you

00:25:43.640 --> 00:25:44.079
 watching?

00:25:45.460 --> 00:25:46.220
 What books

00:25:46.220 --> 00:25:46.640
 are you

00:25:46.640 --> 00:25:47.059
 reading?

00:25:48.200 --> 00:25:48.860
 Whose pictures

00:25:48.860 --> 00:25:49.420
 are you looking

00:25:49.420 --> 00:25:50.099
 at on social

00:25:50.099 --> 00:25:50.819
 media and

00:25:50.819 --> 00:25:51.099
 think,

00:25:51.180 --> 00:25:51.500
 actually,

00:25:51.640 --> 00:25:52.240
 I deserve

00:25:52.240 --> 00:25:52.740
 a bit of

00:25:52.740 --> 00:25:53.019
 that.

00:25:53.980 --> 00:25:54.620
 Why am I

00:25:54.620 --> 00:25:54.980
 not having

00:25:54.980 --> 00:25:55.539
 the Kodak

00:25:55.539 --> 00:25:55.920
 moments?

00:25:55.980 --> 00:25:56.319
 Why are we

00:25:56.319 --> 00:25:56.819
 not going to

00:25:56.819 --> 00:25:57.480
 Disneyland with

00:25:57.480 --> 00:25:57.799
 the kids

00:25:57.799 --> 00:25:58.079
 and getting

00:25:58.079 --> 00:25:58.579
 the selfies?

00:25:58.759 --> 00:26:00.099
 Why is my

00:26:00.099 --> 00:26:00.720
 experience of

00:26:00.720 --> 00:26:01.240
 this different

00:26:01.240 --> 00:26:01.660
 to the one

00:26:01.660 --> 00:26:02.000
 I'm seeing

00:26:02.000 --> 00:26:02.400
 in social

00:26:02.400 --> 00:26:02.640
 media?

00:26:02.720 --> 00:26:03.000
 We know

00:26:03.000 --> 00:26:03.519
 social media

00:26:03.519 --> 00:26:03.940
 enough to

00:26:03.940 --> 00:26:04.680
 know that

00:26:04.680 --> 00:26:05.220
 it's one

00:26:05.220 --> 00:26:06.620
 side of

00:26:06.620 --> 00:26:07.099
 the story.

00:26:07.220 --> 00:26:07.680
 You pop

00:26:07.680 --> 00:26:08.360
 the bonnet

00:26:08.360 --> 00:26:08.740
 of those

00:26:08.740 --> 00:26:09.380
 pictures and

00:26:09.380 --> 00:26:09.620
 it would

00:26:09.620 --> 00:26:10.140
 tell a very

00:26:10.140 --> 00:26:10.599
 different thing.

00:26:10.680 --> 00:26:10.960
 Don't be

00:26:10.960 --> 00:26:11.400
 duped into

00:26:11.400 --> 00:26:11.599
 that.

00:26:11.759 --> 00:26:12.140
 Think about

00:26:12.140 --> 00:26:12.539
 the things

00:26:12.539 --> 00:26:12.799
 that are

00:26:12.799 --> 00:26:13.779
 feeding your

00:26:13.779 --> 00:26:14.500
 discontentment

00:26:14.500 --> 00:26:15.240
 and distracting

00:26:15.240 --> 00:26:15.680
 you from

00:26:15.680 --> 00:26:16.140
 Christ.

00:26:20.299 --> 00:26:21.079
 All those

00:26:21.079 --> 00:26:21.400
 are just

00:26:21.400 --> 00:26:22.160
 petri dishes

00:26:22.160 --> 00:26:23.620
 that are

00:26:23.620 --> 00:26:24.519
 the perfect

00:26:24.519 --> 00:26:25.380
 breeding ground

00:26:25.380 --> 00:26:25.740
 for the

00:26:25.740 --> 00:26:26.559
 bacteria of

00:26:26.559 --> 00:26:27.440
 discontentment

00:26:27.440 --> 00:26:28.080
 to grow.

00:26:28.519 --> 00:26:28.759
 So maybe

00:26:28.759 --> 00:26:29.259
 think about

00:26:29.259 --> 00:26:29.759
 that today.

00:26:29.860 --> 00:26:30.200
 What is

00:26:30.200 --> 00:26:30.920
 feeding that

00:26:30.920 --> 00:26:31.580
 sense of

00:26:31.580 --> 00:26:32.620
 discontentment?

00:26:33.720 --> 00:26:34.740
 Maybe today

00:26:34.740 --> 00:26:35.279
 you need to

00:26:35.279 --> 00:26:35.779
 take the

00:26:35.779 --> 00:26:37.279
 action of

00:26:37.279 --> 00:26:38.019
 just turning

00:26:38.019 --> 00:26:38.820
 back to

00:26:38.820 --> 00:26:39.320
 the Lord

00:26:39.320 --> 00:26:41.160
 and turning

00:26:41.160 --> 00:26:41.680
 back to

00:26:41.680 --> 00:26:42.420
 your spouse.

00:26:43.539 --> 00:26:44.220
 Maybe going

00:26:44.220 --> 00:26:44.779
 away for the

00:26:44.779 --> 00:26:45.340
 weekend is

00:26:45.340 --> 00:26:46.140
 exactly the

00:26:46.140 --> 00:26:46.700
 thing that you

00:26:46.700 --> 00:26:47.720
 need to do.

00:26:49.000 --> 00:26:49.539
 However,

00:26:50.539 --> 00:26:51.460
 that said,

00:26:51.960 --> 00:26:52.880
 all of that,

00:26:52.880 --> 00:26:53.500
 if you

00:26:53.500 --> 00:26:54.200
 hear me

00:26:54.200 --> 00:26:55.300
 and you

00:26:55.300 --> 00:26:55.600
 think to

00:26:55.600 --> 00:26:56.040
 yourself,

00:26:56.360 --> 00:26:57.720
 it's more

00:26:57.720 --> 00:26:58.260
 than that,

00:26:59.260 --> 00:27:02.180
 can I

00:27:02.180 --> 00:27:02.660
 encourage you

00:27:02.660 --> 00:27:03.240
 to talk

00:27:03.240 --> 00:27:03.780
 about it?

00:27:04.840 --> 00:27:05.420
 I always

00:27:05.420 --> 00:27:05.900
 love what

00:27:05.900 --> 00:27:06.300
 C.S.

00:27:06.360 --> 00:27:06.900
 Lewis said

00:27:06.900 --> 00:27:07.120
 about

00:27:07.120 --> 00:27:07.540
 friendship,

00:27:07.720 --> 00:27:07.980
 and I think

00:27:07.980 --> 00:27:08.280
 this is

00:27:08.280 --> 00:27:08.580
 great.

00:27:09.100 --> 00:27:09.720
 Friendship is

00:27:09.720 --> 00:27:10.220
 born at the

00:27:10.220 --> 00:27:10.660
 moment when

00:27:10.660 --> 00:27:11.200
 one person

00:27:11.200 --> 00:27:11.660
 says to

00:27:11.660 --> 00:27:11.920
 another,

00:27:12.060 --> 00:27:12.260
 what,

00:27:12.360 --> 00:27:12.760
 you two?

00:27:13.900 --> 00:27:14.460
 I thought

00:27:14.460 --> 00:27:14.760
 I was the

00:27:14.760 --> 00:27:15.320
 only one.

00:27:17.400 --> 00:27:18.320
 If that's you

00:27:18.319 --> 00:27:18.759
 here today,

00:27:18.859 --> 00:27:19.139
 can I

00:27:19.139 --> 00:27:19.960
 encourage you

00:27:19.960 --> 00:27:21.639
 to seek

00:27:21.639 --> 00:27:22.240
 out another

00:27:22.240 --> 00:27:22.720
 person?

00:27:22.799 --> 00:27:23.099
 Just be

00:27:23.099 --> 00:27:23.679
 honest with

00:27:23.679 --> 00:27:23.859
 them.

00:27:24.960 --> 00:27:25.579
 We're here

00:27:25.579 --> 00:27:26.179
 to help,

00:27:26.259 --> 00:27:27.099
 not to judge,

00:27:27.220 --> 00:27:27.960
 not to comment,

00:27:28.099 --> 00:27:28.579
 we're here to

00:27:28.579 --> 00:27:28.939
 listen,

00:27:29.039 --> 00:27:29.299
 I don't know

00:27:29.299 --> 00:27:29.720
 what a good

00:27:29.720 --> 00:27:30.439
 friend does.

00:27:31.099 --> 00:27:31.559
 Maybe even

00:27:31.559 --> 00:27:32.000
 seek out

00:27:32.000 --> 00:27:32.700
 another couple

00:27:32.700 --> 00:27:33.159
 in this

00:27:33.159 --> 00:27:33.639
 church who

00:27:33.639 --> 00:27:34.079
 you can be

00:27:34.079 --> 00:27:35.339
 really honest

00:27:35.339 --> 00:27:35.779
 with.

00:27:37.779 --> 00:27:38.319
 So there's

00:27:38.319 --> 00:27:38.779
 words here

00:27:38.779 --> 00:27:39.220
 for you if

00:27:39.220 --> 00:27:39.639
 you're married,

00:27:39.740 --> 00:27:39.859
 there are

00:27:39.859 --> 00:27:40.339
 also words

00:27:40.339 --> 00:27:40.700
 here for

00:27:40.700 --> 00:27:41.000
 you if

00:27:41.000 --> 00:27:41.480
 you're not

00:27:41.480 --> 00:27:41.980
 married.

00:27:42.099 --> 00:27:42.299
 Can I

00:27:42.299 --> 00:27:42.579
 just say

00:27:42.579 --> 00:27:43.299
 don't buy

00:27:43.299 --> 00:27:44.019
 the lie

00:27:44.019 --> 00:27:45.539
 that somehow

00:27:45.539 --> 00:27:46.259
 getting married

00:27:46.259 --> 00:27:46.740
 is going to

00:27:46.740 --> 00:27:47.240
 solve all

00:27:47.240 --> 00:27:47.960
 your problems.

00:27:48.319 --> 00:27:50.319
 speaking as

00:27:50.319 --> 00:27:50.779
 one who

00:27:50.779 --> 00:27:53.139
 is happily

00:27:53.139 --> 00:27:53.599
 married,

00:27:53.720 --> 00:27:54.319
 love being

00:27:54.319 --> 00:27:54.619
 married,

00:27:54.720 --> 00:27:54.980
 but let's

00:27:54.980 --> 00:27:55.339
 be honest,

00:27:55.399 --> 00:27:55.859
 I'm punching

00:27:55.859 --> 00:27:56.919
 well above

00:27:56.919 --> 00:27:57.460
 my weight.

00:27:57.799 --> 00:27:57.960
 Do you know,

00:27:57.980 --> 00:27:58.319
 I remember

00:27:58.319 --> 00:27:59.619
 when I got

00:27:59.619 --> 00:28:00.159
 married just

00:28:00.159 --> 00:28:00.859
 discovering a

00:28:00.859 --> 00:28:01.859
 whole host

00:28:01.859 --> 00:28:02.359
 of different

00:28:02.359 --> 00:28:03.019
 problems in

00:28:03.019 --> 00:28:03.619
 my life that

00:28:03.619 --> 00:28:04.039
 I didn't even

00:28:04.039 --> 00:28:04.379
 know were

00:28:04.379 --> 00:28:04.619
 there.

00:28:04.740 --> 00:28:05.579
 90% were

00:28:05.579 --> 00:28:05.960
 all about

00:28:05.960 --> 00:28:06.319
 me and

00:28:06.319 --> 00:28:06.779
 my stubborn

00:28:06.779 --> 00:28:07.179
 heart.

00:28:09.220 --> 00:28:10.000
 Don't think

00:28:10.000 --> 00:28:10.579
 that marriage

00:28:10.579 --> 00:28:11.379
 is going to

00:28:11.379 --> 00:28:13.119
 solve all

00:28:13.119 --> 00:28:13.599
 your problems,

00:28:13.679 --> 00:28:13.960
 but I want

00:28:13.960 --> 00:28:14.220
 you to

00:28:14.220 --> 00:28:14.700
 appreciate that

00:28:14.700 --> 00:28:15.059
 you've got

00:28:15.059 --> 00:28:16.799
 such a stake

00:28:16.799 --> 00:28:17.899
 in the

00:28:17.900 --> 00:28:18.740
 married people

00:28:18.740 --> 00:28:19.180
 in this

00:28:19.180 --> 00:28:19.460
 church,

00:28:19.580 --> 00:28:20.019
 their marriage

00:28:20.019 --> 00:28:20.620
 is continuing

00:28:20.620 --> 00:28:21.440
 to flourish.

00:28:22.640 --> 00:28:23.019
 Could you

00:28:23.019 --> 00:28:23.440
 offer to

00:28:23.440 --> 00:28:24.360
 babysit one

00:28:24.360 --> 00:28:24.560
 night?

00:28:24.640 --> 00:28:25.180
 There's so

00:28:25.180 --> 00:28:25.500
 many people

00:28:25.500 --> 00:28:25.740
 here that

00:28:25.740 --> 00:28:26.280
 babysit for

00:28:26.280 --> 00:28:26.740
 us to let

00:28:26.740 --> 00:28:27.120
 us go out.

00:28:27.200 --> 00:28:27.700
 It's gold

00:28:27.700 --> 00:28:28.200
 for us.

00:28:28.780 --> 00:28:29.120
 Could you

00:28:29.120 --> 00:28:29.500
 offer to

00:28:29.500 --> 00:28:30.160
 babysit for

00:28:30.160 --> 00:28:30.519
 somebody?

00:28:31.100 --> 00:28:31.720
 How can you

00:28:31.720 --> 00:28:32.280
 go up to

00:28:32.280 --> 00:28:32.880
 someone today

00:28:32.880 --> 00:28:33.200
 who is

00:28:33.200 --> 00:28:33.560
 married and

00:28:33.560 --> 00:28:33.860
 ask them

00:28:33.860 --> 00:28:34.160
 how you

00:28:34.160 --> 00:28:34.759
 can pray

00:28:34.759 --> 00:28:35.380
 for them?

00:28:35.720 --> 00:28:36.100
 Those of

00:28:36.100 --> 00:28:36.400
 us who

00:28:36.400 --> 00:28:36.920
 are married,

00:28:37.019 --> 00:28:37.280
 can I just

00:28:37.280 --> 00:28:37.700
 say this is

00:28:37.700 --> 00:28:38.100
 not an

00:28:38.100 --> 00:28:38.840
 excuse as

00:28:38.840 --> 00:28:39.519
 important as

00:28:39.519 --> 00:28:40.240
 family time

00:28:40.240 --> 00:28:40.480
 is?

00:28:40.560 --> 00:28:41.100
 This is not

00:28:41.100 --> 00:28:41.580
 an excuse

00:28:41.580 --> 00:28:42.019
 just to

00:28:42.019 --> 00:28:42.540
 close our

00:28:42.540 --> 00:28:42.980
 doors.

00:28:44.320 --> 00:28:44.580
 Can I

00:28:44.580 --> 00:28:45.100
 encourage us

00:28:45.099 --> 00:28:46.539
 who have

00:28:46.539 --> 00:28:47.000
 been blessed

00:28:47.000 --> 00:28:47.500
 with families

00:28:47.500 --> 00:28:48.199
 open our

00:28:48.199 --> 00:28:48.579
 doors,

00:28:49.939 --> 00:28:50.559
 let people

00:28:50.559 --> 00:28:51.179
 in because

00:28:51.179 --> 00:28:51.819
 we are one

00:28:51.819 --> 00:28:52.480
 church family

00:28:52.480 --> 00:28:53.079
 here today

00:28:53.079 --> 00:28:54.079
 regardless of

00:28:54.079 --> 00:28:54.839
 our relationship

00:28:54.839 --> 00:28:55.879
 status.

00:28:58.779 --> 00:28:59.359
 Maybe that's

00:28:59.359 --> 00:29:00.000
 exactly where

00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:00.679
 you are.

00:29:00.879 --> 00:29:01.579
 I'm right in

00:29:01.579 --> 00:29:02.039
 the thick of

00:29:02.039 --> 00:29:02.139
 it.

00:29:02.219 --> 00:29:02.599
 Can I just

00:29:02.599 --> 00:29:03.799
 say God

00:29:03.799 --> 00:29:05.079
 in his

00:29:05.079 --> 00:29:05.699
 mercy has

00:29:05.699 --> 00:29:06.159
 words for

00:29:06.159 --> 00:29:06.719
 you here.

00:29:06.839 --> 00:29:07.159
 Here's the

00:29:07.159 --> 00:29:07.599
 other two

00:29:07.599 --> 00:29:07.819
 and these

00:29:07.819 --> 00:29:08.139
 are much

00:29:08.139 --> 00:29:08.480
 quicker.

00:29:09.679 --> 00:29:10.279
 Maybe you're

00:29:10.279 --> 00:29:10.779
 thinking to

00:29:10.779 --> 00:29:11.519
 yourself right

00:29:11.519 --> 00:29:12.619
 now, I've

00:29:12.619 --> 00:29:13.059
 been really

00:29:13.059 --> 00:29:13.899
 hurt by it.

00:29:15.099 --> 00:29:17.119
 maybe you've

00:29:17.119 --> 00:29:17.579
 watched this

00:29:17.579 --> 00:29:18.119
 happen to

00:29:18.119 --> 00:29:18.659
 someone you

00:29:18.659 --> 00:29:19.179
 know from

00:29:19.179 --> 00:29:19.699
 afar.

00:29:21.339 --> 00:29:22.039
 Maybe this

00:29:22.039 --> 00:29:22.500
 has happened

00:29:22.500 --> 00:29:23.439
 to you and

00:29:23.439 --> 00:29:23.980
 your family.

00:29:24.240 --> 00:29:24.740
 Maybe this

00:29:24.740 --> 00:29:25.079
 has even

00:29:25.079 --> 00:29:25.619
 happened to

00:29:25.619 --> 00:29:26.480
 you personally.

00:29:27.779 --> 00:29:28.119
 And I'm

00:29:28.119 --> 00:29:29.019
 so deeply

00:29:29.019 --> 00:29:29.679
 sorry that

00:29:29.679 --> 00:29:30.059
 that has

00:29:30.059 --> 00:29:30.480
 been your

00:29:30.480 --> 00:29:31.240
 experience.

00:29:34.219 --> 00:29:34.939
 Know that

00:29:34.939 --> 00:29:35.939
 God has

00:29:35.939 --> 00:29:36.819
 not missed

00:29:36.819 --> 00:29:38.539
 any of

00:29:38.539 --> 00:29:38.719
 it.

00:29:41.439 --> 00:29:42.379
 He knows

00:29:42.379 --> 00:29:43.139
 every tear,

00:29:43.259 --> 00:29:44.000
 he sees

00:29:44.000 --> 00:29:44.959
 every prayer,

00:29:45.099 --> 00:29:47.159
 nothing has

00:29:47.159 --> 00:29:48.079
 escaped his

00:29:48.079 --> 00:29:48.980
 gaze.

00:29:49.459 --> 00:29:50.159
 But can I

00:29:50.159 --> 00:29:50.779
 encourage you

00:29:50.779 --> 00:29:51.759
 to speak up

00:29:51.759 --> 00:29:52.639
 this morning,

00:29:52.839 --> 00:29:53.519
 particularly if

00:29:53.519 --> 00:29:54.159
 you're struggling

00:29:54.159 --> 00:29:55.179
 silently and

00:29:55.179 --> 00:29:55.859
 particularly if

00:29:55.859 --> 00:29:56.619
 that issue is

00:29:56.619 --> 00:29:57.119
 abuse.

00:29:59.859 --> 00:30:00.519
 Make no

00:30:00.519 --> 00:30:01.119
 mistake that we

00:30:01.119 --> 00:30:01.459
 want our

00:30:01.459 --> 00:30:02.059
 church culture

00:30:02.059 --> 00:30:02.679
 to be a

00:30:02.679 --> 00:30:03.500
 safe place for

00:30:03.500 --> 00:30:04.699
 sinners, but

00:30:04.699 --> 00:30:05.319
 we don't want

00:30:05.319 --> 00:30:05.879
 it to be a

00:30:05.879 --> 00:30:06.659
 safe place for

00:30:06.659 --> 00:30:07.039
 sin.

00:30:08.919 --> 00:30:09.819
 If that is

00:30:09.819 --> 00:30:10.079
 you, you

00:30:10.079 --> 00:30:10.679
 need to speak

00:30:10.679 --> 00:30:11.000
 up.

00:30:11.980 --> 00:30:12.699
 Again, seek

00:30:12.699 --> 00:30:13.279
 someone out,

00:30:13.399 --> 00:30:14.079
 find a friend,

00:30:14.079 --> 00:30:14.980
 but particularly

00:30:14.980 --> 00:30:15.359
 if that is

00:30:15.359 --> 00:30:15.839
 abuse, come

00:30:15.839 --> 00:30:16.339
 and speak to

00:30:16.339 --> 00:30:16.839
 the elders.

00:30:17.839 --> 00:30:18.119
 But the

00:30:18.119 --> 00:30:18.699
 other person I

00:30:18.699 --> 00:30:19.099
 thought of in

00:30:19.099 --> 00:30:19.659
 my mind this

00:30:19.659 --> 00:30:20.599
 week is maybe

00:30:20.599 --> 00:30:21.059
 you've given

00:30:21.059 --> 00:30:21.579
 up on the

00:30:21.579 --> 00:30:22.220
 whole thing

00:30:22.220 --> 00:30:24.059
 because you've

00:30:24.059 --> 00:30:24.579
 been so hurt

00:30:24.579 --> 00:30:24.879
 by it.

00:30:24.879 --> 00:30:25.259
 You've given

00:30:25.259 --> 00:30:25.759
 up on the

00:30:25.759 --> 00:30:26.339
 whole thing.

00:30:27.439 --> 00:30:28.199
 It's not for

00:30:28.199 --> 00:30:28.399
 me.

00:30:28.539 --> 00:30:29.119
 I'm not doing

00:30:29.119 --> 00:30:29.359
 it.

00:30:29.759 --> 00:30:30.039
 I want to

00:30:30.039 --> 00:30:30.460
 pick another

00:30:30.460 --> 00:30:30.899
 option.

00:30:32.779 --> 00:30:33.439
 My prayer for

00:30:33.439 --> 00:30:33.980
 you this week

00:30:33.980 --> 00:30:34.500
 has been,

00:30:35.500 --> 00:30:35.639
 you know,

00:30:35.659 --> 00:30:36.179
 we've had a

00:30:36.179 --> 00:30:37.179
 humble brag

00:30:37.179 --> 00:30:37.319
 here.

00:30:37.399 --> 00:30:37.899
 I took down a

00:30:37.899 --> 00:30:38.579
 tree this week

00:30:38.579 --> 00:30:39.159
 in our garden.

00:30:40.259 --> 00:30:40.799
 I remember

00:30:40.799 --> 00:30:41.339
 getting up the

00:30:41.339 --> 00:30:41.980
 next morning and

00:30:41.980 --> 00:30:42.619
 looking out and

00:30:42.619 --> 00:30:43.359
 seeing the sun

00:30:43.359 --> 00:30:45.559
 shining on

00:30:45.559 --> 00:30:46.179
 this area of

00:30:46.179 --> 00:30:46.719
 our garden

00:30:46.719 --> 00:30:47.219
 where it

00:30:47.219 --> 00:30:48.559
 never shone

00:30:48.559 --> 00:30:49.039
 before.

00:30:50.599 --> 00:30:51.119
 And where

00:30:51.119 --> 00:30:51.859
 the bits of

00:30:51.859 --> 00:30:52.319
 our garden

00:30:52.319 --> 00:30:52.839
 where I'm

00:30:52.839 --> 00:30:53.619
 thinking in

00:30:53.619 --> 00:30:53.919
 my head

00:30:53.919 --> 00:30:54.599
 thinking they've

00:30:54.599 --> 00:30:54.979
 just never

00:30:54.979 --> 00:30:55.599
 seen light.

00:30:57.179 --> 00:30:57.719
 And my

00:30:57.719 --> 00:30:58.299
 prayer for you

00:30:58.299 --> 00:30:58.599
 in your

00:30:58.599 --> 00:30:59.359
 darkest moments

00:30:59.359 --> 00:31:01.000
 is that you

00:31:01.000 --> 00:31:01.659
 would see the

00:31:01.659 --> 00:31:02.299
 light shining

00:31:02.299 --> 00:31:02.799
 into that

00:31:02.799 --> 00:31:03.219
 problem.

00:31:06.259 --> 00:31:06.879
 And I want

00:31:06.879 --> 00:31:07.259
 you to hang

00:31:07.259 --> 00:31:07.759
 on for two

00:31:07.759 --> 00:31:08.379
 minutes to see

00:31:08.379 --> 00:31:08.859
 why this

00:31:08.859 --> 00:31:09.539
 means so much

00:31:09.539 --> 00:31:10.119
 to Jesus.

00:31:10.119 --> 00:31:11.299
 because as

00:31:11.299 --> 00:31:11.939
 we gaze at

00:31:11.939 --> 00:31:12.419
 him we've

00:31:12.419 --> 00:31:12.819
 got to see

00:31:12.819 --> 00:31:13.279
 that he is

00:31:13.279 --> 00:31:13.639
 one who

00:31:13.639 --> 00:31:14.699
 specializes

00:31:14.699 --> 00:31:15.839
 in going

00:31:15.839 --> 00:31:16.719
 towards people.

00:31:16.859 --> 00:31:17.139
 He's the

00:31:17.139 --> 00:31:17.399
 one who

00:31:17.399 --> 00:31:18.159
 specializes

00:31:18.159 --> 00:31:18.839
 in grace,

00:31:19.359 --> 00:31:19.559
 new

00:31:19.559 --> 00:31:20.179
 tomorrows

00:31:20.179 --> 00:31:21.299
 and in

00:31:21.299 --> 00:31:21.619
 healing.

00:31:21.759 --> 00:31:21.879
 You know

00:31:21.879 --> 00:31:22.259
 when Alex

00:31:22.259 --> 00:31:22.439
 and I

00:31:22.439 --> 00:31:22.699
 have had a

00:31:22.699 --> 00:31:23.279
 really rough

00:31:23.279 --> 00:31:23.579
 day as

00:31:23.579 --> 00:31:24.199
 parents we

00:31:24.199 --> 00:31:24.739
 sit in bed

00:31:24.739 --> 00:31:25.139
 at night.

00:31:26.399 --> 00:31:27.059
 Often she's

00:31:27.059 --> 00:31:27.439
 lifting me

00:31:27.439 --> 00:31:27.939
 off the floor

00:31:27.939 --> 00:31:28.219
 or I'm

00:31:28.219 --> 00:31:28.619
 lifting her

00:31:28.619 --> 00:31:28.959
 off the

00:31:28.959 --> 00:31:29.219
 floor.

00:31:29.459 --> 00:31:29.739
 And we

00:31:29.739 --> 00:31:30.079
 always say

00:31:30.079 --> 00:31:30.379
 this thing

00:31:30.379 --> 00:31:30.719
 to each

00:31:30.719 --> 00:31:30.919
 other.

00:31:31.019 --> 00:31:31.359
 Tomorrow

00:31:31.359 --> 00:31:32.000
 is a new

00:31:32.000 --> 00:31:32.299
 day.

00:31:33.839 --> 00:31:34.319
 Got it

00:31:34.319 --> 00:31:34.659
 wrong as a

00:31:34.659 --> 00:31:34.859
 parent.

00:31:34.959 --> 00:31:35.500
 Tomorrow is

00:31:35.500 --> 00:31:35.779
 a new

00:31:35.779 --> 00:31:36.059
 day.

00:31:36.439 --> 00:31:36.599
 His

00:31:36.599 --> 00:31:37.079
 mercies

00:31:37.079 --> 00:31:37.500
 are fresh

00:31:37.500 --> 00:31:37.939
 to us.

00:31:40.119 --> 00:31:41.919
 But here's

00:31:41.919 --> 00:31:42.219
 the third

00:31:42.219 --> 00:31:42.619
 phrase.

00:31:43.579 --> 00:31:43.939
 Maybe you're

00:31:43.939 --> 00:31:44.319
 thinking to

00:31:44.319 --> 00:31:44.739
 yourself,

00:31:45.039 --> 00:31:46.199
 I'm not in

00:31:46.199 --> 00:31:46.479
 the thick

00:31:46.479 --> 00:31:46.819
 of it.

00:31:46.959 --> 00:31:47.339
 I'm not

00:31:47.339 --> 00:31:47.819
 hugely hurt

00:31:47.819 --> 00:31:48.119
 by it.

00:31:48.139 --> 00:31:48.359
 But you

00:31:48.359 --> 00:31:48.779
 know what?

00:31:48.879 --> 00:31:49.319
 I've made

00:31:49.319 --> 00:31:49.579
 a real

00:31:49.579 --> 00:31:49.979
 mess of

00:31:49.979 --> 00:31:50.179
 it.

00:31:51.619 --> 00:31:52.139
 And I

00:31:52.139 --> 00:31:52.419
 don't know

00:31:52.419 --> 00:31:52.719
 friends,

00:31:52.819 --> 00:31:53.259
 maybe you

00:31:53.259 --> 00:31:53.679
 have.

00:31:55.219 --> 00:31:55.679
 Maybe you

00:31:55.679 --> 00:31:56.059
 know that

00:31:56.059 --> 00:31:56.539
 you have.

00:31:56.899 --> 00:31:57.139
 Can I

00:31:57.139 --> 00:31:57.519
 just say

00:31:57.519 --> 00:31:58.039
 that Jesus

00:31:58.039 --> 00:31:58.719
 is wooing

00:31:58.719 --> 00:31:59.179
 you here

00:31:59.179 --> 00:31:59.739
 towards

00:31:59.739 --> 00:32:00.319
 repentance?

00:32:01.779 --> 00:32:02.059
 And maybe

00:32:02.059 --> 00:32:02.639
 this slices

00:32:02.639 --> 00:32:03.539
 two ways.

00:32:03.759 --> 00:32:04.279
 Number one,

00:32:04.419 --> 00:32:04.819
 maybe you

00:32:04.819 --> 00:32:05.359
 have never

00:32:05.359 --> 00:32:06.139
 acted on

00:32:06.139 --> 00:32:06.279
 it.

00:32:07.979 --> 00:32:08.239
 Maybe

00:32:08.239 --> 00:32:08.519
 you've

00:32:08.519 --> 00:32:09.019
 never

00:32:09.019 --> 00:32:09.839
 fessed

00:32:09.839 --> 00:32:10.139
 up.

00:32:12.240 --> 00:32:12.680
 The

00:32:12.680 --> 00:32:13.119
 challenge

00:32:13.119 --> 00:32:13.539
 here from

00:32:13.539 --> 00:32:14.059
 Jesus is

00:32:14.059 --> 00:32:14.680
 for you

00:32:14.680 --> 00:32:15.039
 to think

00:32:15.039 --> 00:32:15.460
 about what

00:32:15.460 --> 00:32:15.720
 are some

00:32:15.720 --> 00:32:15.940
 of the

00:32:15.940 --> 00:32:16.779
 really hard

00:32:16.779 --> 00:32:17.460
 conversations

00:32:17.460 --> 00:32:17.859
 that you

00:32:17.859 --> 00:32:18.240
 maybe need

00:32:18.240 --> 00:32:18.759
 to have?

00:32:19.900 --> 00:32:20.460
 What do

00:32:20.460 --> 00:32:20.720
 you need

00:32:20.720 --> 00:32:21.079
 to hold

00:32:21.079 --> 00:32:21.539
 your hands

00:32:21.539 --> 00:32:22.059
 up for

00:32:22.059 --> 00:32:22.460
 and say

00:32:22.460 --> 00:32:22.680
 I've

00:32:22.680 --> 00:32:23.099
 massively

00:32:23.099 --> 00:32:23.680
 got it

00:32:23.680 --> 00:32:24.000
 wrong?

00:32:24.400 --> 00:32:24.740
 Who do

00:32:24.740 --> 00:32:25.039
 you need

00:32:25.039 --> 00:32:25.539
 to seek

00:32:25.539 --> 00:32:26.359
 out for

00:32:26.359 --> 00:32:26.980
 forgiveness

00:32:26.980 --> 00:32:27.579
 and being

00:32:27.579 --> 00:32:27.960
 able to

00:32:27.960 --> 00:32:28.599
 start a

00:32:28.599 --> 00:32:29.200
 conversation?

00:32:30.839 --> 00:32:31.220
 What is

00:32:31.220 --> 00:32:31.579
 it that you

00:32:31.579 --> 00:32:32.099
 maybe this

00:32:32.099 --> 00:32:32.500
 morning are

00:32:32.500 --> 00:32:33.139
 being called

00:32:33.139 --> 00:32:34.819
 to turn

00:32:34.819 --> 00:32:36.579
 and first

00:32:36.579 --> 00:32:37.059
 and foremost

00:32:37.059 --> 00:32:37.639
 before the

00:32:37.639 --> 00:32:37.980
 Lord?

00:32:39.019 --> 00:32:40.619
 Confess.

00:32:42.759 --> 00:32:43.420
 But here's

00:32:43.420 --> 00:32:43.680
 the other

00:32:43.680 --> 00:32:44.160
 angle on

00:32:44.160 --> 00:32:44.799
 this slice.

00:32:45.559 --> 00:32:45.980
 Maybe you

00:32:45.980 --> 00:32:46.539
 think actually

00:32:46.539 --> 00:32:47.019
 the last

00:32:47.019 --> 00:32:47.400
 place I

00:32:47.400 --> 00:32:47.920
 feel like I

00:32:47.920 --> 00:32:48.539
 can go

00:32:48.539 --> 00:32:49.359
 is to

00:32:49.359 --> 00:32:49.660
 God.

00:32:51.039 --> 00:32:51.299
 Maybe

00:32:51.299 --> 00:32:52.480
 shame is

00:32:52.480 --> 00:32:53.119
 the thing

00:32:53.119 --> 00:32:53.519
 that is

00:32:53.519 --> 00:32:54.240
 keeping you

00:32:54.240 --> 00:32:54.819
 from running

00:32:54.819 --> 00:32:55.500
 to the cross

00:32:55.500 --> 00:32:55.960
 of Jesus

00:32:55.960 --> 00:32:56.839
 for forgiveness.

00:32:57.400 --> 00:32:57.980
 You think

00:32:57.980 --> 00:32:58.359
 I've messed

00:32:58.359 --> 00:32:58.940
 it up so

00:32:58.940 --> 00:32:59.319
 bad.

00:32:59.799 --> 00:33:00.079
 You have

00:33:00.079 --> 00:33:00.619
 no idea.

00:33:00.700 --> 00:33:00.960
 I've messed

00:33:00.960 --> 00:33:01.480
 it up so

00:33:01.480 --> 00:33:01.759
 bad.

00:33:01.900 --> 00:33:02.160
 Surely

00:33:02.160 --> 00:33:02.740
 this time

00:33:02.740 --> 00:33:05.039
 I've gone

00:33:05.039 --> 00:33:05.559
 too far.

00:33:05.559 --> 00:33:07.559
 And friends

00:33:07.559 --> 00:33:08.259
 I beg of

00:33:08.259 --> 00:33:08.579
 you to

00:33:08.579 --> 00:33:08.899
 look at

00:33:08.899 --> 00:33:09.419
 Jesus on

00:33:09.419 --> 00:33:09.859
 the cross

00:33:09.859 --> 00:33:10.339
 and see

00:33:10.339 --> 00:33:10.679
 that you

00:33:10.679 --> 00:33:11.119
 cannot

00:33:11.119 --> 00:33:11.779
 out sin

00:33:11.779 --> 00:33:12.539
 the cross.

00:33:14.779 --> 00:33:15.379
 And if

00:33:15.379 --> 00:33:15.740
 you think

00:33:15.740 --> 00:33:16.179
 you can

00:33:16.179 --> 00:33:16.759
 Jesus would

00:33:16.759 --> 00:33:17.399
 say try

00:33:17.399 --> 00:33:17.679
 me.

00:33:19.279 --> 00:33:20.000
 Run there

00:33:20.000 --> 00:33:20.659
 for forgiveness.

00:33:21.019 --> 00:33:21.639
 Run there

00:33:21.639 --> 00:33:22.399
 for restoration.

00:33:22.919 --> 00:33:23.339
 Run there

00:33:23.339 --> 00:33:24.099
 for redemption.

00:33:24.679 --> 00:33:25.299
 You cannot

00:33:25.299 --> 00:33:26.139
 out sin

00:33:26.139 --> 00:33:27.319
 the cross.

00:33:27.319 --> 00:33:29.960
 Are you

00:33:29.960 --> 00:33:30.339
 doing okay?

00:33:31.899 --> 00:33:32.299
 Right.

00:33:33.000 --> 00:33:33.539
 Coming into

00:33:33.539 --> 00:33:33.879
 land.

00:33:34.960 --> 00:33:35.639
 Just as I

00:33:35.639 --> 00:33:35.980
 close.

00:33:36.179 --> 00:33:36.399
 And if

00:33:36.399 --> 00:33:36.879
 you've lost

00:33:36.879 --> 00:33:37.419
 me over

00:33:37.419 --> 00:33:37.779
 the last

00:33:37.779 --> 00:33:38.259
 20 minutes

00:33:38.259 --> 00:33:38.639
 this has

00:33:38.639 --> 00:33:38.960
 been too

00:33:38.960 --> 00:33:39.359
 hard.

00:33:39.740 --> 00:33:39.919
 I want

00:33:39.919 --> 00:33:40.159
 you to

00:33:40.159 --> 00:33:40.500
 come back

00:33:40.500 --> 00:33:40.740
 in for

00:33:40.740 --> 00:33:41.039
 the last

00:33:41.039 --> 00:33:41.559
 two minutes.

00:33:41.759 --> 00:33:41.859
 Okay.

00:33:44.139 --> 00:33:44.819
 Just as we

00:33:44.819 --> 00:33:45.399
 close 17

00:33:45.399 --> 00:33:46.099
 years ago

00:33:46.099 --> 00:33:47.779
 I was an

00:33:47.779 --> 00:33:48.359
 usher at

00:33:48.359 --> 00:33:50.000
 a friend's

00:33:50.000 --> 00:33:50.539
 wedding in

00:33:50.539 --> 00:33:51.059
 Vancouver,

00:33:51.299 --> 00:33:51.700
 Canada.

00:33:52.019 --> 00:33:52.419
 Check that

00:33:52.419 --> 00:33:52.659
 out.

00:33:52.819 --> 00:33:53.000
 A place

00:33:53.000 --> 00:33:53.179
 called

00:33:53.179 --> 00:33:53.619
 Thetis

00:33:53.619 --> 00:33:53.980
 Island.

00:33:54.179 --> 00:33:54.399
 I was

00:33:54.399 --> 00:33:54.639
 one of

00:33:54.639 --> 00:33:55.000
 its best

00:33:55.000 --> 00:33:55.319
 men.

00:33:56.019 --> 00:33:56.299
 To this

00:33:56.299 --> 00:33:56.579
 day the

00:33:56.579 --> 00:33:57.200
 most stunning

00:33:57.200 --> 00:33:57.640
 wedding

00:33:57.640 --> 00:33:58.019
 backdrop

00:33:58.019 --> 00:33:58.640
 I have

00:33:58.640 --> 00:33:59.840
 ever seen.

00:34:01.000 --> 00:34:01.620
 The weather

00:34:01.620 --> 00:34:02.140
 was everything

00:34:02.140 --> 00:34:02.960
 you'd expect.

00:34:03.220 --> 00:34:03.620
 Everyone was

00:34:03.620 --> 00:34:04.360
 looking fabulous.

00:34:04.539 --> 00:34:05.200
 Canadians were

00:34:05.200 --> 00:34:05.960
 dazzled by the

00:34:05.960 --> 00:34:06.440
 fact that we

00:34:06.440 --> 00:34:06.779
 were in

00:34:06.779 --> 00:34:07.240
 kilts.

00:34:07.740 --> 00:34:07.940
 And there

00:34:07.940 --> 00:34:08.300
 wasn't a

00:34:08.300 --> 00:34:09.500
 dry eye in

00:34:09.500 --> 00:34:09.820
 the house

00:34:09.820 --> 00:34:10.099
 as the

00:34:10.099 --> 00:34:10.539
 couple made

00:34:10.539 --> 00:34:11.039
 their vows

00:34:11.039 --> 00:34:12.079
 to one

00:34:12.079 --> 00:34:12.440
 another.

00:34:12.760 --> 00:34:13.260
 But the

00:34:13.260 --> 00:34:13.860
 pastor stood

00:34:13.860 --> 00:34:14.559
 up to speak

00:34:14.559 --> 00:34:14.840
 and he

00:34:14.840 --> 00:34:15.720
 started with

00:34:15.720 --> 00:34:16.420
 this line.

00:34:17.559 --> 00:34:17.980
 He said

00:34:17.980 --> 00:34:18.420
 Dave and

00:34:18.420 --> 00:34:19.099
 Amanda as

00:34:19.099 --> 00:34:19.760
 you set out

00:34:19.760 --> 00:34:20.079
 on your

00:34:20.079 --> 00:34:20.760
 married life

00:34:20.760 --> 00:34:21.260
 today I

00:34:21.260 --> 00:34:21.740
 want you to

00:34:21.740 --> 00:34:22.079
 know at

00:34:22.079 --> 00:34:22.519
 the start

00:34:22.519 --> 00:34:22.860
 that there

00:34:22.860 --> 00:34:23.240
 are two

00:34:23.240 --> 00:34:23.860
 things wrong

00:34:23.860 --> 00:34:24.280
 with this

00:34:24.280 --> 00:34:24.740
 marriage.

00:34:26.139 --> 00:34:26.440
 And he

00:34:26.440 --> 00:34:26.920
 pointed to

00:34:26.920 --> 00:34:27.360
 them both

00:34:27.360 --> 00:34:27.639
 and he

00:34:27.639 --> 00:34:28.159
 went you

00:34:28.159 --> 00:34:29.420
 and you.

00:34:32.760 --> 00:34:33.019
 And we

00:34:33.019 --> 00:34:33.300
 all had a

00:34:33.300 --> 00:34:33.840
 laugh because

00:34:33.840 --> 00:34:34.220
 he kind of

00:34:34.220 --> 00:34:34.800
 killed the

00:34:34.800 --> 00:34:35.460
 Disney-esque

00:34:35.460 --> 00:34:36.840
 moment that

00:34:36.840 --> 00:34:37.420
 we were in.

00:34:39.139 --> 00:34:39.740
 But he

00:34:39.740 --> 00:34:40.260
 did it out

00:34:40.260 --> 00:34:40.539
 of a

00:34:40.539 --> 00:34:41.059
 pastoral

00:34:41.059 --> 00:34:41.599
 love for

00:34:41.599 --> 00:34:42.240
 those two.

00:34:43.360 --> 00:34:44.200
 As if to

00:34:44.200 --> 00:34:44.840
 say here

00:34:44.840 --> 00:34:45.720
 is what

00:34:45.720 --> 00:34:46.480
 your married

00:34:46.480 --> 00:34:47.440
 life will

00:34:47.440 --> 00:34:48.360
 be like.

00:34:48.559 --> 00:34:49.260
 Don't let

00:34:49.260 --> 00:34:50.159
 this decorated

00:34:50.159 --> 00:34:51.180
 doorway of a

00:34:51.180 --> 00:34:51.960
 day lull

00:34:51.960 --> 00:34:52.579
 you into

00:34:52.579 --> 00:34:53.280
 thinking that

00:34:53.280 --> 00:34:53.980
 married life is

00:34:53.980 --> 00:34:54.179
 going to

00:34:54.179 --> 00:34:54.480
 be this

00:34:54.480 --> 00:34:54.940
 constant

00:34:54.940 --> 00:34:55.980
 stream of

00:34:55.980 --> 00:34:56.699
 bliss and

00:34:56.699 --> 00:34:57.400
 happiness.

00:34:58.940 --> 00:34:59.300
 Slow

00:34:59.300 --> 00:34:59.840
 dancing in

00:34:59.840 --> 00:35:00.219
 the kitchen

00:35:00.219 --> 00:35:00.740
 to Michael

00:35:00.740 --> 00:35:01.159
 Buble.

00:35:01.320 --> 00:35:01.740
 Roses

00:35:01.740 --> 00:35:02.539
 arriving every

00:35:02.539 --> 00:35:02.940
 day from

00:35:02.940 --> 00:35:03.619
 Interflora.

00:35:03.920 --> 00:35:04.400
 Valentine's

00:35:04.400 --> 00:35:05.500
 Day becoming

00:35:05.500 --> 00:35:05.900
 the new

00:35:05.900 --> 00:35:06.679
 groundhog day.

00:35:07.079 --> 00:35:07.699
 Don't buy

00:35:07.699 --> 00:35:07.980
 it.

00:35:08.980 --> 00:35:09.500
 But here's

00:35:09.500 --> 00:35:10.199
 what he also

00:35:10.199 --> 00:35:10.900
 went on to

00:35:10.900 --> 00:35:11.219
 say.

00:35:11.599 --> 00:35:11.860
 Do you know

00:35:11.860 --> 00:35:12.380
 the only way

00:35:12.380 --> 00:35:12.860
 this is going

00:35:12.860 --> 00:35:13.400
 to work and

00:35:13.400 --> 00:35:13.920
 flourish?

00:35:14.920 --> 00:35:15.740
 Is if you

00:35:15.740 --> 00:35:16.840
 keep remembering

00:35:16.840 --> 00:35:17.780
 what this is

00:35:17.780 --> 00:35:18.820
 pointing you

00:35:18.820 --> 00:35:19.380
 to.

00:35:19.380 --> 00:35:22.300
 And here's

00:35:22.300 --> 00:35:22.740
 where we

00:35:22.740 --> 00:35:23.079
 end.

00:35:23.240 --> 00:35:23.780
 Back to that

00:35:23.780 --> 00:35:24.420
 question at

00:35:24.420 --> 00:35:24.880
 the top.

00:35:25.039 --> 00:35:25.700
 Why does

00:35:25.700 --> 00:35:26.760
 Jesus care

00:35:26.760 --> 00:35:28.119
 so much?

00:35:31.440 --> 00:35:32.140
 And the

00:35:32.140 --> 00:35:32.599
 reason he

00:35:32.599 --> 00:35:33.160
 cares so

00:35:33.160 --> 00:35:34.700
 much is

00:35:34.700 --> 00:35:35.579
 because marriage

00:35:35.579 --> 00:35:36.220
 is baked

00:35:36.220 --> 00:35:36.920
 into the

00:35:36.920 --> 00:35:37.900
 very purposes

00:35:37.900 --> 00:35:38.619
 of God.

00:35:40.820 --> 00:35:41.740
 In Genesis

00:35:41.740 --> 00:35:42.280
 1 and

00:35:42.280 --> 00:35:43.019
 Genesis 2

00:35:43.019 --> 00:35:43.720
 God creates

00:35:43.720 --> 00:35:44.280
 Adam and

00:35:44.280 --> 00:35:45.300
 Eve and his

00:35:45.300 --> 00:35:45.980
 intention is

00:35:45.980 --> 00:35:46.460
 for them to

00:35:46.460 --> 00:35:47.160
 become one

00:35:47.160 --> 00:35:47.780
 flesh.

00:35:48.220 --> 00:35:48.599
 We've got to

00:35:48.599 --> 00:35:48.900
 see in the

00:35:48.900 --> 00:35:49.360
 Bible story

00:35:49.360 --> 00:35:49.780
 that is

00:35:49.780 --> 00:35:50.740
 before Genesis

00:35:50.740 --> 00:35:51.140
 3.

00:35:52.079 --> 00:35:52.380
 You can do

00:35:52.380 --> 00:35:52.920
 the maths.

00:35:53.280 --> 00:35:53.400
 Right?

00:35:53.740 --> 00:35:54.599
 Before Genesis

00:35:54.599 --> 00:35:55.200
 3.

00:35:55.579 --> 00:35:56.200
 So it is

00:35:56.200 --> 00:35:56.820
 baked into

00:35:56.820 --> 00:35:57.400
 God's good

00:35:57.400 --> 00:35:58.300
 design for

00:35:58.300 --> 00:35:58.980
 creation.

00:35:59.519 --> 00:36:00.120
 Why has

00:36:00.120 --> 00:36:00.440
 he done

00:36:00.440 --> 00:36:00.660
 it?

00:36:03.620 --> 00:36:04.500
 The answer

00:36:04.500 --> 00:36:05.099
 the Apostle

00:36:05.099 --> 00:36:05.599
 Paul gives

00:36:05.599 --> 00:36:06.120
 in Ephesians

00:36:06.120 --> 00:36:08.320
 5 is that

00:36:08.320 --> 00:36:09.360
 so that in

00:36:09.360 --> 00:36:10.380
 the generations

00:36:10.380 --> 00:36:12.620
 to come we

00:36:12.620 --> 00:36:13.660
 would understand

00:36:13.660 --> 00:36:15.480
 why Jesus

00:36:15.480 --> 00:36:16.380
 came.

00:36:17.820 --> 00:36:18.519
 That we'd

00:36:18.519 --> 00:36:18.880
 understand why

00:36:18.880 --> 00:36:20.260
 he went to

00:36:20.260 --> 00:36:20.860
 the cross.

00:36:20.860 --> 00:36:21.079
 We'd

00:36:21.079 --> 00:36:22.059
 understand why

00:36:22.059 --> 00:36:22.660
 he shed

00:36:22.660 --> 00:36:23.220
 his blood.

00:36:23.619 --> 00:36:23.760
 We'd

00:36:23.760 --> 00:36:24.720
 understand where

00:36:24.720 --> 00:36:25.579
 all history

00:36:25.579 --> 00:36:26.599
 is going.

00:36:27.119 --> 00:36:27.420
 Now listen,

00:36:27.500 --> 00:36:28.019
 in the church

00:36:28.019 --> 00:36:28.400
 I think over

00:36:28.400 --> 00:36:29.079
 the last 10

00:36:29.079 --> 00:36:29.660
 years we've

00:36:29.660 --> 00:36:30.320
 made much of

00:36:30.320 --> 00:36:30.940
 the fact that

00:36:30.940 --> 00:36:31.720
 Jesus was a

00:36:31.720 --> 00:36:32.420
 single man.

00:36:33.300 --> 00:36:33.860
 And that is

00:36:33.860 --> 00:36:35.180
 absolutely right.

00:36:35.380 --> 00:36:35.780
 And I think

00:36:35.780 --> 00:36:36.480
 that he is the

00:36:36.480 --> 00:36:37.000
 stone in the

00:36:37.000 --> 00:36:37.420
 shoe to the

00:36:37.420 --> 00:36:38.160
 sexual revolution

00:36:38.160 --> 00:36:38.900
 that's going on

00:36:38.900 --> 00:36:39.880
 today that says

00:36:39.880 --> 00:36:40.380
 you have to

00:36:40.380 --> 00:36:41.140
 find someone to

00:36:41.140 --> 00:36:42.700
 be contented.

00:36:42.860 --> 00:36:43.380
 You have to

00:36:43.380 --> 00:36:44.420
 find someone to

00:36:44.420 --> 00:36:45.039
 do life with.

00:36:45.039 --> 00:36:45.360
 And Jesus

00:36:45.360 --> 00:36:45.920
 says no.

00:36:48.500 --> 00:36:48.980
 God,

00:36:49.980 --> 00:36:51.440
 that is what

00:36:51.440 --> 00:36:52.059
 life is all

00:36:52.059 --> 00:36:52.300
 about.

00:36:52.380 --> 00:36:52.980
 We've rightly

00:36:52.980 --> 00:36:53.639
 made much of

00:36:53.639 --> 00:36:53.840
 that.

00:36:54.059 --> 00:36:55.500
 But on the

00:36:55.500 --> 00:36:56.699
 other side,

00:36:57.420 --> 00:36:58.739
 it is also

00:36:58.739 --> 00:36:59.539
 absolutely true

00:36:59.539 --> 00:37:00.219
 to say that

00:37:00.219 --> 00:37:01.559
 Jesus is a

00:37:01.559 --> 00:37:02.099
 deeply,

00:37:03.019 --> 00:37:03.440
 holy,

00:37:04.199 --> 00:37:04.599
 fully

00:37:04.599 --> 00:37:06.019
 betrothed

00:37:06.019 --> 00:37:06.420
 man.

00:37:06.420 --> 00:37:10.440
 and the

00:37:10.440 --> 00:37:11.380
 apple of

00:37:11.380 --> 00:37:12.200
 his eye

00:37:12.200 --> 00:37:13.539
 is his

00:37:13.539 --> 00:37:14.960
 blood-bought

00:37:14.960 --> 00:37:16.000
 church.

00:37:18.340 --> 00:37:19.320
 And we

00:37:19.320 --> 00:37:19.980
 fail

00:37:19.980 --> 00:37:22.500
 and we

00:37:22.500 --> 00:37:23.240
 stumble

00:37:23.240 --> 00:37:24.539
 and it

00:37:24.539 --> 00:37:25.220
 feels at

00:37:25.220 --> 00:37:25.780
 times like

00:37:25.780 --> 00:37:26.680
 we barely

00:37:26.680 --> 00:37:27.579
 put one

00:37:27.579 --> 00:37:28.180
 step

00:37:28.180 --> 00:37:30.059
 ahead of

00:37:30.059 --> 00:37:30.599
 another in

00:37:30.599 --> 00:37:31.079
 this journey

00:37:31.079 --> 00:37:31.780
 of faith.

00:37:32.500 --> 00:37:33.559
 We're barely

00:37:33.559 --> 00:37:34.400
 keeping going.

00:37:34.500 --> 00:37:35.039
 It feels like

00:37:35.039 --> 00:37:35.840
 each day is

00:37:35.840 --> 00:37:36.340
 harder.

00:37:36.420 --> 00:37:37.039
 than the

00:37:37.039 --> 00:37:37.539
 rest.

00:37:39.260 --> 00:37:39.700
 And of

00:37:39.700 --> 00:37:39.840
 course,

00:37:39.900 --> 00:37:40.240
 it's true in

00:37:40.240 --> 00:37:40.480
 the Bible

00:37:40.480 --> 00:37:40.900
 story that

00:37:40.900 --> 00:37:41.260
 his people

00:37:41.260 --> 00:37:41.619
 have given

00:37:41.619 --> 00:37:42.400
 him every

00:37:42.400 --> 00:37:43.440
 single reason

00:37:43.440 --> 00:37:44.139
 for God

00:37:44.139 --> 00:37:44.800
 to issue

00:37:44.800 --> 00:37:45.639
 us the

00:37:45.639 --> 00:37:46.400
 certificate of

00:37:46.400 --> 00:37:47.000
 divorce.

00:37:48.980 --> 00:37:49.599
 And yet

00:37:49.599 --> 00:37:50.139
 Christ goes

00:37:50.139 --> 00:37:50.480
 to that

00:37:50.480 --> 00:37:50.960
 cross to

00:37:50.960 --> 00:37:51.240
 win his

00:37:51.240 --> 00:37:51.539
 bride.

00:37:52.659 --> 00:37:52.960
 And if

00:37:52.960 --> 00:37:53.440
 your faith

00:37:53.440 --> 00:37:53.760
 is in

00:37:53.760 --> 00:37:54.220
 him today,

00:37:54.340 --> 00:37:54.800
 he goes

00:37:54.800 --> 00:37:55.099
 to the

00:37:55.099 --> 00:37:55.820
 cross for

00:37:55.820 --> 00:37:56.159
 you.

00:37:58.980 --> 00:37:59.680
 We are

00:37:59.680 --> 00:38:00.300
 unfaithful,

00:38:00.400 --> 00:38:01.000
 but he is

00:38:01.000 --> 00:38:01.400
 faithful.

00:38:02.480 --> 00:38:03.039
 And one

00:38:03.039 --> 00:38:03.539
 day soon,

00:38:03.599 --> 00:38:03.840
 he will

00:38:03.840 --> 00:38:04.240
 come for

00:38:04.240 --> 00:38:04.760
 his bride.

00:38:04.760 --> 00:38:06.320
 And do

00:38:06.320 --> 00:38:06.480
 you know

00:38:06.480 --> 00:38:06.760
 what?

00:38:07.160 --> 00:38:07.440
 Our

00:38:07.440 --> 00:38:09.060
 groom is

00:38:09.060 --> 00:38:09.460
 going

00:38:09.460 --> 00:38:10.680
 nowhere.

00:38:13.020 --> 00:38:13.640
 What do I

00:38:13.640 --> 00:38:13.920
 pray?

00:38:15.080 --> 00:38:15.440
 And let's

00:38:15.440 --> 00:38:15.700
 just be

00:38:15.700 --> 00:38:16.440
 quiet before

00:38:16.440 --> 00:38:16.960
 the Lord.

00:38:18.640 --> 00:38:19.340
 And friends,

00:38:19.420 --> 00:38:19.940
 just bring

00:38:19.940 --> 00:38:20.340
 your own

00:38:20.340 --> 00:38:20.900
 prayers and

00:38:20.900 --> 00:38:21.380
 your thoughts

00:38:21.380 --> 00:38:22.020
 before him

00:38:22.020 --> 00:38:22.480
 this morning,

00:38:22.560 --> 00:38:23.020
 wherever this

00:38:23.020 --> 00:38:23.540
 has fallen

00:38:23.540 --> 00:38:24.000
 on you.

00:38:24.000 --> 00:38:30.760
 the Samaritan

00:38:30.760 --> 00:38:31.300
 woman said

00:38:31.300 --> 00:38:31.619
 to him,

00:38:31.699 --> 00:38:32.179
 you're a

00:38:32.179 --> 00:38:32.539
 Jew and

00:38:32.539 --> 00:38:32.860
 I am a

00:38:32.860 --> 00:38:33.320
 Samaritan

00:38:33.320 --> 00:38:33.659
 woman.

00:38:34.079 --> 00:38:34.480
 How can

00:38:34.480 --> 00:38:34.920
 you ask

00:38:34.920 --> 00:38:35.219
 me for

00:38:35.219 --> 00:38:35.760
 a drink?

00:38:36.679 --> 00:38:36.920
 For

00:38:36.920 --> 00:38:37.360
 Jews do

00:38:37.360 --> 00:38:37.500
 not

00:38:37.500 --> 00:38:37.980
 associate

00:38:37.980 --> 00:38:38.260
 with

00:38:38.260 --> 00:38:39.079
 Samaritans.

00:38:40.119 --> 00:38:40.559
 Jesus

00:38:40.559 --> 00:38:41.599
 answered

00:38:41.599 --> 00:38:42.079
 her,

00:38:42.800 --> 00:38:43.760
 if you

00:38:43.760 --> 00:38:44.340
 knew the

00:38:44.340 --> 00:38:44.760
 gift of

00:38:44.760 --> 00:38:45.119
 God,

00:38:45.920 --> 00:38:46.320
 and who

00:38:46.320 --> 00:38:47.019
 is it

00:38:47.019 --> 00:38:48.199
 that asks

00:38:48.199 --> 00:38:49.119
 you for

00:38:49.119 --> 00:38:49.639
 a drink?

00:38:50.280 --> 00:38:50.800
 You would

00:38:50.800 --> 00:38:51.199
 have asked

00:38:51.199 --> 00:38:52.099
 him and

00:38:52.099 --> 00:38:52.440
 he would

00:38:52.440 --> 00:38:52.880
 have given

00:38:52.880 --> 00:38:54.460
 you living

00:38:54.460 --> 00:38:55.519
 water.

00:38:57.380 --> 00:38:58.059
 And so

00:38:58.059 --> 00:38:58.539
 Lord, I

00:38:58.539 --> 00:38:59.159
 just thank

00:38:59.159 --> 00:38:59.519
 you for

00:38:59.519 --> 00:38:59.960
 Jesus.

00:39:02.739 --> 00:39:03.219
 Father,

00:39:03.319 --> 00:39:03.619
 thank you

00:39:03.619 --> 00:39:03.980
 that whatever

00:39:03.980 --> 00:39:04.400
 is going

00:39:04.400 --> 00:39:04.719
 on in

00:39:04.719 --> 00:39:05.139
 our lives

00:39:05.139 --> 00:39:05.579
 today,

00:39:08.460 --> 00:39:09.079
 all maybe

00:39:09.079 --> 00:39:10.440
 the hurt

00:39:10.440 --> 00:39:10.960
 or the

00:39:10.960 --> 00:39:11.860
 regrets or

00:39:11.860 --> 00:39:12.319
 maybe the

00:39:12.319 --> 00:39:13.079
 worries or

00:39:13.079 --> 00:39:13.599
 the people

00:39:13.599 --> 00:39:14.099
 that are on

00:39:14.099 --> 00:39:14.480
 our minds

00:39:14.480 --> 00:39:14.920
 right now,

00:39:14.980 --> 00:39:15.480
 we bring

00:39:15.480 --> 00:39:15.819
 them to

00:39:15.819 --> 00:39:16.119
 you.

00:39:17.639 --> 00:39:18.219
 Thank you

00:39:18.219 --> 00:39:18.719
 that nothing

00:39:18.719 --> 00:39:19.279
 takes you

00:39:19.279 --> 00:39:20.099
 by surprise.

00:39:21.259 --> 00:39:21.960
 And thank

00:39:21.960 --> 00:39:22.800
 you in

00:39:22.800 --> 00:39:23.179
 Jesus,

00:39:23.500 --> 00:39:24.119
 we have

00:39:24.119 --> 00:39:25.900
 one who

00:39:25.900 --> 00:39:26.599
 comes to

00:39:26.599 --> 00:39:27.000
 us,

00:39:27.639 --> 00:39:28.420
 offering us

00:39:28.420 --> 00:39:29.699
 grace and

00:39:29.699 --> 00:39:30.099
 truth.

00:39:31.519 --> 00:39:32.039
 So may

00:39:32.039 --> 00:39:32.699
 we leave

00:39:32.699 --> 00:39:33.440
 here today

00:39:33.440 --> 00:39:35.199
 not with

00:39:35.199 --> 00:39:35.920
 a sense

00:39:35.920 --> 00:39:36.699
 of our

00:39:36.699 --> 00:39:37.220
 guilt,

00:39:37.400 --> 00:39:37.720
 but with

00:39:37.720 --> 00:39:39.340
 a lifting

00:39:39.340 --> 00:39:39.940
 our eyes

00:39:39.940 --> 00:39:40.280
 to the

00:39:40.280 --> 00:39:40.760
 greatness of

00:39:40.760 --> 00:39:41.240
 his grace.

00:39:42.619 --> 00:39:42.900
 So Father,

00:39:43.000 --> 00:39:43.519
 be with us

00:39:43.519 --> 00:39:44.119
 as we finish

00:39:44.119 --> 00:39:44.519
 our time

00:39:44.519 --> 00:39:45.000
 this morning.

00:39:45.099 --> 00:39:45.320
 Would you

00:39:45.320 --> 00:39:45.860
 be in our

00:39:45.860 --> 00:39:46.480
 conversations

00:39:46.480 --> 00:39:47.059
 afterwards?

00:39:47.980 --> 00:39:48.179
 Lord,

00:39:48.199 --> 00:39:48.440
 would you

00:39:48.440 --> 00:39:48.860
 help us

00:39:48.860 --> 00:39:49.679
 to respond

00:39:49.679 --> 00:39:50.280
 in ways

00:39:50.280 --> 00:39:50.820
 this morning

00:39:50.820 --> 00:39:51.480
 that glorify

00:39:51.480 --> 00:39:52.600
 you and

00:39:52.600 --> 00:39:52.940
 are for

00:39:52.940 --> 00:39:53.620
 our good?

00:39:54.519 --> 00:39:54.820
 And we

00:39:54.820 --> 00:39:55.320
 pray all of

00:39:55.320 --> 00:39:55.800
 these things

00:39:55.800 --> 00:39:56.300
 in Jesus'

00:39:56.519 --> 00:39:56.740
 name.

00:39:57.539 --> 00:39:57.960
 Amen.

00:39:57.960 --> 00:39:58.019
 Amen.

00:39:58.600 --> 00:39:59.059
 Amen.