WEBVTT

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 Good morning.

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 It is an honor and a privilege to be here this morning.

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!

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 Imagine that you had come to Hilliard to start a church.

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 So you come to Hilliard and your plan is to share Jesus with some people and see them believe and start a new church.

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 And you start by going to Walmart to buy some gum.

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 It's always good to have fresh breath when you're going to start a church.

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 And so you go into Walmart and you're buying your gum.

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 You're talking to your cashier, Susan, and making some small talk with her.

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 And finally you say, you know, Susan, do you know anything about Jesus?

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 And much to your surprise, her eyes light up and she says, yeah, yeah.

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 You know what?

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 I've heard all about what Jesus is doing at Maranatha Baptist Church.

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 And it really has motivated me to try and find out more.

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 I bought a Bible and I've been reading it.

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 And you're kind of taken back.

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 You didn't think it would go that way, but you're happy.

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 And, you know, you finish talking with her.

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 You say, you know, that's great, Susan.

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 I'll be praying for you.

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 I'm glad to hear that.

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 And so you leave there and you go over to Starbucks.

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 And you sit down at Starbucks with your vanilla bean frappuccino.

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 And you're kind of sizing up the room, think, okay, I could probably meet some people here.

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 And there's a group in the back sitting around a table.

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 And you're kind of eavesdropping in on them.

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 And they're talking about Maranatha Baptist Church and what God's doing there.

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 You're kind of listening in.

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 You think, this is interesting, two times in a row.

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 But then a lady gets up from a table at the front of the store and walks back there and says,

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 Hey, you know what?

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 That's nothing.

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 Let me tell you this story that a friend of mine who goes to Maranatha was sharing about what God was doing there.

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 Again, you're delightfully surprised.

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 And you think, well, that's great.

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 That's great news.

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 So you leave there and you head out to the gas station.

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 You've got to get gas.

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 You're trying to share with the cashier there.

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 And she starts talking about what God's doing at Maranatha.

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 Okay?

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 You go to a park.

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 Well, maybe not a park in the winter.

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 But you go and you sit down.

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 You're trying to share.

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 They're talking about Maranatha.

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 You're kind of surprised.

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 You go by one of the high schools and you're talking to some students as they're getting out of class.

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 And they're talking about what God's doing at Maranatha.

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 You think, well, praise the Lord.

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 Guess Hilliard's okay.

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 You head down to Galloway and you're trying to share with people there.

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 And they're talking about what Jesus is doing at Maranatha Baptist Church.

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 Go to Lincoln Village.

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 People are talking about Maranatha.

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 Go to Grove City.

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 And people there are talking about what God's doing at Maranatha.

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 You think, okay, I just got to move out a little further.

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 You go out to Plain City and to Marysville, to Delaware.

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 And all of those places, everyone you engage and start talking to them about Jesus says,

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 I've heard what Jesus is doing at Maranatha Baptist Church.

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 I mean, that would be awesome.

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 Wouldn't that be awesome?

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 That would be amazing.

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 I mean, the truth is, as long as Maranatha has been here such a long time,

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 it would be amazing still to see that kind of influence pervading all of the people,

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 even in the surrounding area.

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 But yet, what if Maranatha was just a new church?

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 Let's say a year old.

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 How amazing would that be to see God working in that way?

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 And that's exactly what we're going to see in 1 Thessalonians this morning.

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 But before we begin, would you join me and let's pray.

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 Heavenly Father, we come to you.

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 And Father, we ask for your grace.

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 Lord, I pray that you would direct this time,

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 that you would have me speak your words,

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 that your spirit would come and dwell among us.

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 You would minister your word to our lives,

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 that you would challenge us, that you would convict us.

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 You would encourage us,

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 and that you would compel us to be more like Christ.

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 Father, we confess if you do not move in power,

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 then our time will be spent in vain.

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 So we just ask, we beg you, please,

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 to do a work that Christ might be exalted,

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 and we might love you as we should.

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 In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

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 If you want to turn to 1 Thessalonians 1,

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 that's what we're going to look at.

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 If you're using one of the Bibles here,

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 it's page 986.

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 Page 986.

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 1 Thessalonians 1.

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 And as you're doing that,

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 let me give you a little background information.

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 Paul and Silas were in Philippi,

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 and you probably remember,

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 as things went in Philippi,

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 you know, God was working,

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 everybody got upset,

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 they got thrown in jail,

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 and you remember the Philippian jailer,

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 his household comes to Christ,

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 and then finally Paul and Silas get let out of jail,

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 and the brothers and sisters in Philippi

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 urged them to leave,

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 and so they do, they leave,

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 and when they leave there,

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 they end up in Thessalonica.

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 Now, at that time,

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 Thessalonica is the largest city in Macedonia.

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 They estimate about 200,000 people.

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 I don't know how they know that,

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 but about 200,000 people at that time,

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 and the majority of those people are Greek,

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 and a large population of Romans,

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 but even there,

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 a strong minority of Jews are also living there,

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 and as Paul normally does,

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 he comes in,

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 and Acts 17, 2 says that for three Sabbaths,

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 he's ministering to the Jews.

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 So some people think Paul's ministry in Thessalonica

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 was only three weeks.

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 Other people say,

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 no, no,

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 that probably was just his ministry to the Jews,

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 but you know how he is.

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 He goes to the Jews first,

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 then he goes to the Gentiles,

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 so, you know,

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 maybe he was there longer,

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 but the bottom line is,

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 everybody agrees he was in Thessalonica

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 a short time,

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 several weeks,

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 several months,

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 but again,

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 as God moves,

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 and the church is started,

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 the Jews get jealous,

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 and then persecution begins again,

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 and the church encourages them to leave.

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 So Paul and Silas leave,

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 they travel on from there,

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 ending up in Corinth,

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 and in Corinth,

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 and in Corinth,

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 eventually,

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 sometime later,

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 Timothy comes and meets them in Corinth,

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 and brings a report to them about the church in Thessalonica,

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 and after he gives them that report,

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 how the church is still facing persecution,

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 and what's going on with them,

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 Paul writes this letter back to the church at Thessalonica,

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 and so that's the background of what's happening,

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 is Paul writes to them,

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 to this young church,

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 in the middle of persecution,

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 and if you would,

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 follow along,

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 I'm going to read to you,

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 really the whole first chapter,

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 starting in 1 Thessalonians chapter 1,

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 starting with verse 1,

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 and it says,

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 Paul,

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 Silvanus,

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 and Timothy,

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 to the church of the Thessalonians,

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 and God,

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 the Father,

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 and the Lord Jesus Christ,

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 grace to you,

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 and peace.

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 We give thanks to God always,

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 for all of you,

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 constantly mentioning you in our prayers,

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 remembering before our God and Father,

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 your work of faith,

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 and labor of love,

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 and steadfastness of hope,

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 in our Lord Jesus Christ.

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 For we know,

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 brothers loved by God,

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 that he has chosen you,

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 because our gospel came to you,

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 not only in word,

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 but also in power,

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 and in the Holy Spirit,

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 and with full conviction.

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 You know what kind of men we prove to be among you,

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 for your sake.

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 And you became imitators of us,

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 and of the Lord,

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 for you received the word in much affliction,

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 with the joy of the Holy Spirit,

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 so that you became an example,

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 to all the believers in Macedonia,

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 and Achaia.

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 And for not only has the word of the Lord

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 sounded forth from you into Macedonia and Achaia,

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 but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere,

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 so that we need not say anything.

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 For they themselves report concerning us

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 the kind of reception we had among you,

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 and how you turned to God from idols,

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 to serve the living and true God,

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 and to wait for his Son from heaven,

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 whom he raised from the dead,

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 Jesus,

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 who delivers us from the wrath to come.

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 So did you catch it?

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 Did you see it in there?

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 Paul talking about this church,

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 this young church,

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 and he says,

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 you've become examples to all the believers

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 in Macedonia and Achaia.

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 Now, Macedonia,

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 just to give you kind of a frame of reference,

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 is about the same mass,

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 land mass size,

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 maybe as the state of Vermont,

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 a little bigger than that.

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 And so,

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 he's saying,

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 you've become an example to all of them,

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 but also,

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 notice he says,

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 the word of the Lord

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 sounded forth from them

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 into Macedonia and Achaia,

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 and that everybody has heard

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 about the faith in God.

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 So Paul's trying to share with them,

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 trying to talk to these new people

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 about what God's doing

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 and Thessalonica,

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 and they're saying,

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 no, wait, wait, no,

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 we know,

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 we know how this story ends.

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 We've heard.

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 And so Paul is encouraging them.

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 And in short,

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 what we see

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 is this young church

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 has already made

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 an eternal impact

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 on its community

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 and on really

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 much of the known world

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 at that time.

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 The gospel's spreading out from them.

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 Well, if you're like me,

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 at this point

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 in the story,

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 you start going,

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 wow.

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 Wow,

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 how is that happening?

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 How is this young church

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 making such a big impact?

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 How are they having such influence?

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 And that's what we're going to look at.

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 I think we see here

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 in verses 2 and 3,

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 Paul lay out for us

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 three characteristics

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 that God was using

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 for them to impact eternally

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 their surrounding community

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 and country.

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 Look at verses 2 and 3 again.

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 It says,

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 we give thanks to God always

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 for all of you,

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 constantly mentioning you

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 in our prayers,

00:11:29.200 --> 00:11:30.580
 remembering before our God

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 and Father

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 your work of faith,

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 your labor of love,

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 and steadfastness of hope

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 in our Lord Jesus Christ.

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 And those are the three key points

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 that I think Paul's bringing up here

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 and in many ways

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 lays out the outline

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 for the rest of the book

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 of 1 Thessalonians.

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 He talks about their work of faith,

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 their labor of love,

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 and their steadfastness of hope

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 in Jesus Christ.

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 And let's look at these three things.

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 First, the work of faith.

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 The work of faith.

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 I think we see a picture

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 of what Paul is referring to

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 lower in the chapter

00:12:08.920 --> 00:12:09.980
 where he talks about

00:12:09.980 --> 00:12:12.060
 in verses 4 through 6.

00:12:12.060 --> 00:12:13.220
 We know, brothers,

00:12:13.320 --> 00:12:13.879
 loved by God,

00:12:13.920 --> 00:12:14.700
 He's chosen you

00:12:14.700 --> 00:12:16.860
 because our gospel came to you

00:12:16.860 --> 00:12:17.900
 not only in word

00:12:17.900 --> 00:12:19.040
 but in power

00:12:19.039 --> 00:12:20.379
 and in the Holy Spirit

00:12:20.379 --> 00:12:21.699
 with full conviction

00:12:21.699 --> 00:12:22.959
 that you knew

00:12:22.959 --> 00:12:23.620
 what kind of men

00:12:23.620 --> 00:12:25.000
 we proved to be among you

00:12:25.000 --> 00:12:25.620
 for your sake,

00:12:25.879 --> 00:12:27.620
 you became imitators of us

00:12:27.620 --> 00:12:28.339
 and of the Lord

00:12:28.339 --> 00:12:30.079
 for you received the word

00:12:30.079 --> 00:12:31.019
 in much affliction

00:12:31.019 --> 00:12:32.959
 with joy of the Holy Spirit.

00:12:33.419 --> 00:12:35.679
 We see his talking here

00:12:35.679 --> 00:12:36.740
 is reminding them

00:12:36.740 --> 00:12:37.899
 of how they had heard

00:12:37.899 --> 00:12:39.240
 the truth about Jesus

00:12:39.240 --> 00:12:40.659
 but that not only

00:12:40.659 --> 00:12:41.199
 had they heard it

00:12:41.199 --> 00:12:42.279
 but they believed it.

00:12:42.579 --> 00:12:43.599
 That in faith

00:12:43.599 --> 00:12:44.759
 they accepted

00:12:44.759 --> 00:12:46.779
 what Paul had told them

00:12:46.779 --> 00:12:47.639
 about Christ

00:12:47.639 --> 00:12:50.159
 and grasped onto it.

00:12:50.419 --> 00:12:51.860
 They held to it in faith.

00:12:52.840 --> 00:12:53.840
 And if we look down

00:12:53.840 --> 00:12:54.860
 in chapter 2

00:12:54.860 --> 00:12:56.019
 he says it a different way.

00:12:56.100 --> 00:12:57.439
 Chapter 2 verse 13

00:12:57.439 --> 00:12:58.419
 says,

00:12:58.419 --> 00:12:59.939
 We also thank God

00:12:59.939 --> 00:13:01.139
 constantly for this

00:13:01.139 --> 00:13:02.759
 that when you received

00:13:02.759 --> 00:13:03.840
 the word of God

00:13:03.840 --> 00:13:05.120
 which you heard from us

00:13:05.120 --> 00:13:06.759
 you accepted it

00:13:06.759 --> 00:13:08.259
 not as the word of men

00:13:08.259 --> 00:13:10.240
 but as what it really is.

00:13:10.340 --> 00:13:11.720
 The word of God

00:13:11.720 --> 00:13:12.879
 which is at work

00:13:12.879 --> 00:13:14.399
 and you believers.

00:13:15.500 --> 00:13:16.759
 And so this work of faith

00:13:16.759 --> 00:13:17.759
 he talks about

00:13:17.759 --> 00:13:19.259
 this first step is

00:13:19.259 --> 00:13:20.299
 they had heard

00:13:20.299 --> 00:13:21.159
 the word of God

00:13:21.159 --> 00:13:22.500
 and they'd received it

00:13:22.500 --> 00:13:22.879
 in faith.

00:13:23.059 --> 00:13:23.860
 They believed it.

00:13:24.639 --> 00:13:25.460
 You know they had no

00:13:25.460 --> 00:13:28.059
 definite assurances.

00:13:28.299 --> 00:13:29.439
 They just had to accept

00:13:29.439 --> 00:13:30.120
 in faith

00:13:30.120 --> 00:13:31.879
 what the Holy Spirit

00:13:31.879 --> 00:13:32.779
 was bringing about

00:13:32.779 --> 00:13:34.059
 in power in their lives.

00:13:34.159 --> 00:13:35.120
 And they believed

00:13:35.120 --> 00:13:36.179
 what God had said.

00:13:36.419 --> 00:13:37.000
 They believed

00:13:37.000 --> 00:13:38.080
 who Jesus was.

00:13:38.399 --> 00:13:39.120
 But not only

00:13:39.120 --> 00:13:40.000
 do they believe it

00:13:40.000 --> 00:13:41.860
 it's not an intellectual pursuit

00:13:41.860 --> 00:13:43.019
 but you remember

00:13:43.019 --> 00:13:43.840
 in verse 6

00:13:43.840 --> 00:13:44.220
 it said

00:13:44.220 --> 00:13:46.240
 you became imitators

00:13:46.240 --> 00:13:46.960
 of us

00:13:46.960 --> 00:13:48.080
 and of the Lord.

00:13:49.120 --> 00:13:49.620
 They just

00:13:49.620 --> 00:13:50.419
 weren't saying

00:13:50.419 --> 00:13:50.840
 oh yeah

00:13:50.840 --> 00:13:51.379
 I think

00:13:51.379 --> 00:13:51.940
 you know

00:13:51.940 --> 00:13:52.240
 Jesus

00:13:52.240 --> 00:13:52.879
 son of God

00:13:52.879 --> 00:13:54.019
 I think that's true.

00:13:54.659 --> 00:13:54.800
 No

00:13:54.800 --> 00:13:56.039
 they had accepted it

00:13:56.039 --> 00:13:56.539
 in faith

00:13:56.539 --> 00:13:57.460
 such that it was

00:13:57.460 --> 00:13:59.080
 changing how they lived.

00:13:59.539 --> 00:14:00.220
 They were walking

00:14:00.220 --> 00:14:01.899
 in obedience to it.

00:14:02.740 --> 00:14:02.840
 And

00:14:02.840 --> 00:14:04.060
 in verse 9

00:14:04.060 --> 00:14:04.480
 it said

00:14:04.480 --> 00:14:05.440
 they themselves

00:14:05.440 --> 00:14:06.639
 report concerning us

00:14:06.639 --> 00:14:07.519
 the kind of reception

00:14:07.519 --> 00:14:08.560
 we had among you

00:14:08.560 --> 00:14:10.240
 how you turn to God

00:14:10.240 --> 00:14:11.019
 from idols

00:14:11.019 --> 00:14:12.299
 to serve

00:14:12.299 --> 00:14:12.919
 the living

00:14:12.919 --> 00:14:13.860
 and true God.

00:14:14.460 --> 00:14:14.659
 You know

00:14:14.659 --> 00:14:15.360
 their acceptance

00:14:15.360 --> 00:14:16.120
 in faith

00:14:16.120 --> 00:14:17.299
 was changing

00:14:17.299 --> 00:14:18.060
 how they lived

00:14:18.060 --> 00:14:18.759
 their lives.

00:14:19.080 --> 00:14:19.659
 It wasn't just

00:14:19.659 --> 00:14:20.740
 an intellectual knowledge

00:14:20.740 --> 00:14:21.440
 it wasn't just

00:14:21.440 --> 00:14:21.919
 doctrine

00:14:21.919 --> 00:14:23.379
 it was about life.

00:14:23.700 --> 00:14:24.500
 Their theology

00:14:24.500 --> 00:14:25.299
 their beliefs

00:14:25.299 --> 00:14:25.759
 about God

00:14:25.759 --> 00:14:26.899
 was compelling

00:14:26.899 --> 00:14:27.720
 them to live

00:14:27.720 --> 00:14:28.740
 in a certain way.

00:14:29.399 --> 00:14:30.460
 If we look down

00:14:30.460 --> 00:14:31.519
 in chapter 4

00:14:31.519 --> 00:14:32.759
 verse 1

00:14:32.759 --> 00:14:33.820
 Paul says it

00:14:33.820 --> 00:14:34.320
 this way

00:14:34.320 --> 00:14:35.640
 finally then

00:14:35.640 --> 00:14:35.980
 brothers

00:14:35.980 --> 00:14:36.920
 we ask

00:14:36.920 --> 00:14:37.879
 and urge you

00:14:37.879 --> 00:14:38.600
 in the Lord Jesus

00:14:38.600 --> 00:14:40.100
 that as you receive

00:14:40.100 --> 00:14:40.540
 from us

00:14:40.540 --> 00:14:41.580
 how you ought to walk

00:14:41.580 --> 00:14:42.540
 and to please God

00:14:42.540 --> 00:14:44.500
 just as you are doing

00:14:44.500 --> 00:14:45.879
 that you do so

00:14:45.879 --> 00:14:47.600
 more and more.

00:14:48.480 --> 00:14:49.860
 So this work of faith

00:14:49.860 --> 00:14:51.820
 hearing the good news

00:14:51.820 --> 00:14:52.440
 about Jesus

00:14:52.440 --> 00:14:53.900
 hearing all that

00:14:53.900 --> 00:14:55.260
 Paul was teaching them

00:14:55.260 --> 00:14:56.520
 from the word of God

00:14:56.520 --> 00:14:58.380
 and believing it

00:14:58.380 --> 00:15:00.260
 accepting it in faith

00:15:00.260 --> 00:15:01.840
 and living it out

00:15:01.840 --> 00:15:03.520
 is this picture we have

00:15:03.520 --> 00:15:04.240
 where he says

00:15:04.240 --> 00:15:05.060
 I remember

00:15:05.060 --> 00:15:06.320
 the work of faith

00:15:06.320 --> 00:15:06.899
 among you.

00:15:08.259 --> 00:15:09.560
 Now that brings me

00:15:09.560 --> 00:15:10.560
 to the first point

00:15:10.560 --> 00:15:11.399
 of application.

00:15:12.180 --> 00:15:13.139
 The first point

00:15:13.139 --> 00:15:13.820
 of application

00:15:13.820 --> 00:15:14.299
 is this

00:15:14.299 --> 00:15:15.620
 has there been

00:15:15.620 --> 00:15:16.860
 a work of faith

00:15:16.860 --> 00:15:17.879
 in your life?

00:15:19.299 --> 00:15:19.860
 Has there been

00:15:19.860 --> 00:15:20.799
 a work of faith

00:15:20.799 --> 00:15:21.700
 in your life?

00:15:22.080 --> 00:15:23.639
 Now most importantly

00:15:23.639 --> 00:15:25.399
 have you believed

00:15:25.399 --> 00:15:26.779
 what the Bible says

00:15:26.779 --> 00:15:27.779
 about Jesus?

00:15:28.779 --> 00:15:29.779
 Have you turned

00:15:29.779 --> 00:15:31.879
 from your self-centered life

00:15:31.879 --> 00:15:33.320
 and set your heart

00:15:33.320 --> 00:15:34.660
 on living in a way

00:15:34.660 --> 00:15:35.740
 that honors him?

00:15:36.580 --> 00:15:37.020
 You see

00:15:37.020 --> 00:15:38.160
 the Bible is

00:15:38.160 --> 00:15:39.640
 very clear.

00:15:40.640 --> 00:15:41.940
 There is a God.

00:15:42.940 --> 00:15:44.100
 He's the creator

00:15:44.100 --> 00:15:45.220
 and the sustainer

00:15:45.220 --> 00:15:46.320
 of all things

00:15:46.320 --> 00:15:49.720
 and your sinful

00:15:49.720 --> 00:15:51.440
 self-centered heart

00:15:51.440 --> 00:15:53.160
 that you were born with

00:15:53.160 --> 00:15:55.200
 and the selfish way

00:15:55.200 --> 00:15:56.400
 you have lived your life

00:15:56.400 --> 00:15:57.580
 has shattered

00:15:57.580 --> 00:15:58.820
 your relationship

00:15:58.820 --> 00:15:59.780
 with the God

00:15:59.780 --> 00:16:00.480
 who made you.

00:16:02.360 --> 00:16:03.200
 But God

00:16:03.200 --> 00:16:04.860
 in his grace

00:16:04.860 --> 00:16:05.660
 and his mercy

00:16:05.660 --> 00:16:06.200
 and his love

00:16:06.200 --> 00:16:07.500
 has made a way

00:16:07.500 --> 00:16:09.340
 to forgive you

00:16:09.340 --> 00:16:10.700
 and restore

00:16:10.700 --> 00:16:11.480
 or renew

00:16:11.480 --> 00:16:12.480
 that relationship

00:16:12.480 --> 00:16:13.240
 with you

00:16:13.240 --> 00:16:14.740
 through Jesus.

00:16:15.780 --> 00:16:16.340
 Now this

00:16:16.340 --> 00:16:19.140
 this new life

00:16:19.140 --> 00:16:19.860
 in Christ

00:16:19.860 --> 00:16:20.800
 this new life

00:16:20.800 --> 00:16:21.740
 through Jesus

00:16:21.740 --> 00:16:23.100
 is a free gift.

00:16:23.200 --> 00:16:23.780
 There's nothing

00:16:23.780 --> 00:16:24.380
 you can do

00:16:24.380 --> 00:16:25.120
 to earn it.

00:16:25.600 --> 00:16:26.380
 There's no way

00:16:26.379 --> 00:16:27.679
 you can do anything

00:16:27.679 --> 00:16:29.820
 to deserve

00:16:29.820 --> 00:16:30.779
 this new life

00:16:30.779 --> 00:16:32.740
 but it also

00:16:32.740 --> 00:16:33.980
 costs you everything.

00:16:35.100 --> 00:16:35.299
 You see

00:16:35.299 --> 00:16:36.059
 you have to be willing

00:16:36.059 --> 00:16:36.779
 to give up

00:16:36.779 --> 00:16:38.019
 your self-centered life

00:16:38.019 --> 00:16:39.059
 and live a life

00:16:39.059 --> 00:16:39.919
 that's focused

00:16:39.919 --> 00:16:40.740
 on reflecting

00:16:40.740 --> 00:16:42.240
 Jesus' love

00:16:42.240 --> 00:16:43.019
 and grace

00:16:43.019 --> 00:16:43.820
 and mercy

00:16:43.820 --> 00:16:44.740
 and beauty.

00:16:46.279 --> 00:16:46.939
 Now of course

00:16:46.939 --> 00:16:48.399
 if you truly know Jesus

00:16:48.399 --> 00:16:49.600
 it's a decision

00:16:49.600 --> 00:16:50.820
 that you're more

00:16:50.820 --> 00:16:51.580
 than willing

00:16:51.580 --> 00:16:53.399
 to make.

00:16:53.399 --> 00:16:55.100
 you know

00:16:55.100 --> 00:16:56.240
 the first step

00:16:56.240 --> 00:16:56.899
 towards making

00:16:56.899 --> 00:16:58.259
 an eternal impact

00:16:58.259 --> 00:16:59.819
 is realizing

00:16:59.819 --> 00:17:00.579
 the universe

00:17:00.579 --> 00:17:01.620
 isn't all about you.

00:17:03.899 --> 00:17:04.180
 You know

00:17:04.180 --> 00:17:05.440
 and let me

00:17:05.440 --> 00:17:06.579
 just add

00:17:06.579 --> 00:17:07.700
 a loving warning

00:17:07.700 --> 00:17:08.700
 at the end of this

00:17:08.700 --> 00:17:11.079
 if you choose

00:17:11.079 --> 00:17:12.759
 to not make Jesus

00:17:12.759 --> 00:17:13.319
 the center

00:17:13.319 --> 00:17:14.160
 of your life now

00:17:14.160 --> 00:17:15.240
 if you prefer

00:17:15.240 --> 00:17:16.359
 to live your life

00:17:16.359 --> 00:17:17.180
 without Jesus

00:17:17.180 --> 00:17:17.619
 now

00:17:17.619 --> 00:17:19.240
 God will give you

00:17:19.240 --> 00:17:19.960
 what you want.

00:17:20.319 --> 00:17:21.119
 You can have life

00:17:21.119 --> 00:17:22.059
 without Jesus now

00:17:22.059 --> 00:17:23.399
 but you will also

00:17:23.399 --> 00:17:24.200
 have eternity

00:17:24.200 --> 00:17:24.919
 without Jesus

00:17:24.919 --> 00:17:25.960
 after you die.

00:17:26.579 --> 00:17:27.619
 So you won't

00:17:27.619 --> 00:17:28.460
 be looking forward

00:17:28.460 --> 00:17:29.059
 to heaven

00:17:29.059 --> 00:17:30.039
 spending eternity

00:17:30.039 --> 00:17:30.559
 with him

00:17:30.559 --> 00:17:31.700
 but only towards

00:17:31.700 --> 00:17:32.819
 having to face

00:17:32.819 --> 00:17:33.700
 the eternal wrath

00:17:33.700 --> 00:17:34.279
 of God.

00:17:35.339 --> 00:17:36.460
 So if you haven't

00:17:36.460 --> 00:17:37.819
 had this experience

00:17:37.819 --> 00:17:38.659
 if you haven't

00:17:38.659 --> 00:17:39.539
 had a life changing

00:17:39.539 --> 00:17:40.460
 experience with Jesus

00:17:40.460 --> 00:17:41.779
 don't leave

00:17:41.779 --> 00:17:42.500
 here today

00:17:42.500 --> 00:17:43.299
 without talking

00:17:43.299 --> 00:17:44.399
 to somebody around you

00:17:44.399 --> 00:17:45.839
 or to one of the pastors

00:17:45.839 --> 00:17:46.500
 or to me.

00:17:47.019 --> 00:17:47.200
 You know

00:17:47.200 --> 00:17:48.619
 there's no better way

00:17:48.619 --> 00:17:49.659
 to start a new year

00:17:49.659 --> 00:17:50.779
 than with a new life.

00:17:50.779 --> 00:17:52.960
 So please

00:17:52.960 --> 00:17:54.119
 please hear me.

00:17:54.460 --> 00:17:55.139
 That's the first

00:17:55.139 --> 00:17:56.319
 important question

00:17:56.319 --> 00:17:56.920
 to ask.

00:17:57.519 --> 00:17:58.680
 Now assuming

00:17:58.680 --> 00:17:59.720
 you have had

00:17:59.720 --> 00:18:01.299
 this new experience

00:18:01.299 --> 00:18:02.399
 this new life

00:18:02.399 --> 00:18:03.599
 that you've received

00:18:03.599 --> 00:18:04.379
 in faith

00:18:04.379 --> 00:18:05.399
 what the Bible

00:18:05.399 --> 00:18:06.319
 says about Jesus

00:18:06.319 --> 00:18:08.240
 the next question is

00:18:08.240 --> 00:18:10.180
 are you an imitator

00:18:10.180 --> 00:18:10.980
 of Christ?

00:18:12.180 --> 00:18:13.420
 And if you are

00:18:13.420 --> 00:18:14.359
 an imitator of Christ

00:18:14.359 --> 00:18:15.599
 in this coming year

00:18:15.599 --> 00:18:16.879
 what's your plan

00:18:16.879 --> 00:18:17.680
 to become

00:18:17.680 --> 00:18:18.980
 a better imitator

00:18:18.980 --> 00:18:19.599
 of Christ?

00:18:19.599 --> 00:18:20.719
 or as it says

00:18:20.719 --> 00:18:22.279
 in chapter 4

00:18:22.279 --> 00:18:23.179
 how are you going

00:18:23.179 --> 00:18:23.959
 to live

00:18:23.959 --> 00:18:24.740
 or walk in a way

00:18:24.740 --> 00:18:25.719
 pleasing to God

00:18:25.719 --> 00:18:26.819
 and do so more

00:18:26.819 --> 00:18:27.639
 and more

00:18:27.639 --> 00:18:29.339
 in this coming year?

00:18:30.319 --> 00:18:31.359
 Now the only way

00:18:31.359 --> 00:18:31.799
 I know

00:18:31.799 --> 00:18:32.839
 to be a better

00:18:32.839 --> 00:18:34.119
 imitator of Christ

00:18:34.119 --> 00:18:35.579
 is spending time

00:18:35.579 --> 00:18:36.139
 with Him.

00:18:37.240 --> 00:18:37.919
 And I'm

00:18:37.919 --> 00:18:38.779
 going to

00:18:38.779 --> 00:18:40.279
 make a confession

00:18:40.279 --> 00:18:41.079
 to you guys

00:18:41.079 --> 00:18:42.039
 you might as well

00:18:42.039 --> 00:18:42.619
 know this now

00:18:42.619 --> 00:18:43.659
 sometimes when I'm

00:18:43.659 --> 00:18:44.500
 studying I kind of

00:18:44.500 --> 00:18:45.219
 get caught

00:18:45.219 --> 00:18:46.959
 on a rabbit trail

00:18:46.959 --> 00:18:47.819
 and I go off

00:18:47.819 --> 00:18:48.379
 and something

00:18:48.379 --> 00:18:49.339
 sparks my thinking

00:18:49.339 --> 00:18:49.980
 and I read

00:18:49.980 --> 00:18:50.639
 some more on it

00:18:50.639 --> 00:18:52.139
 and as I was

00:18:52.139 --> 00:18:53.019
 reading about this

00:18:53.019 --> 00:18:54.099
 I kind of started

00:18:54.099 --> 00:18:54.639
 thinking about

00:18:54.639 --> 00:18:55.679
 Elvis impersonators.

00:18:58.119 --> 00:18:59.079
 I know you might

00:18:59.079 --> 00:19:00.099
 not see the connection

00:19:00.099 --> 00:19:00.720
 but you're talking

00:19:00.720 --> 00:19:01.659
 about imitating

00:19:01.659 --> 00:19:02.720
 and you know

00:19:02.720 --> 00:19:03.939
 and so I started

00:19:03.939 --> 00:19:04.879
 reading on that

00:19:04.879 --> 00:19:05.839
 what does it take

00:19:05.839 --> 00:19:06.819
 to be a good

00:19:06.819 --> 00:19:08.119
 impersonator?

00:19:08.960 --> 00:19:09.939
 And there's really

00:19:09.939 --> 00:19:10.759
 a lot of information

00:19:10.759 --> 00:19:11.139
 out there

00:19:11.139 --> 00:19:11.799
 if you need to know

00:19:11.799 --> 00:19:15.839
 but I'm just

00:19:15.839 --> 00:19:16.379
 going to give you

00:19:16.379 --> 00:19:17.000
 one quote

00:19:17.000 --> 00:19:17.480
 that I thought

00:19:17.480 --> 00:19:18.319
 was a good summary

00:19:18.319 --> 00:19:18.839
 of the things

00:19:18.839 --> 00:19:19.359
 I read.

00:19:20.079 --> 00:19:20.680
 This was the

00:19:20.680 --> 00:19:21.519
 expert advice

00:19:21.519 --> 00:19:22.279
 on being an

00:19:22.279 --> 00:19:22.899
 impersonator.

00:19:23.579 --> 00:19:24.039
 It said

00:19:24.039 --> 00:19:26.019
 listen to recordings

00:19:26.019 --> 00:19:28.180
 obtain recordings

00:19:28.180 --> 00:19:29.299
 of those celebrities

00:19:29.299 --> 00:19:30.500
 and public figures

00:19:30.500 --> 00:19:31.220
 you are learning

00:19:31.220 --> 00:19:32.200
 to impersonate.

00:19:32.779 --> 00:19:33.519
 If possible

00:19:33.519 --> 00:19:34.659
 watch videos

00:19:34.659 --> 00:19:36.139
 to learn mannerisms

00:19:36.139 --> 00:19:38.159
 listen for tone

00:19:38.159 --> 00:19:39.480
 and inflections

00:19:39.480 --> 00:19:40.859
 in specific words.

00:19:40.859 --> 00:19:42.419
 keep practicing.

00:19:43.259 --> 00:19:44.339
 Becoming an impersonator

00:19:44.339 --> 00:19:45.839
 takes repeated practice.

00:19:46.519 --> 00:19:47.539
 Try out new voices

00:19:47.539 --> 00:19:48.299
 to determine

00:19:48.299 --> 00:19:48.979
 which ones

00:19:48.979 --> 00:19:50.559
 sound the most authentic.

00:19:51.339 --> 00:19:51.799
 Record

00:19:51.799 --> 00:19:53.279
 and listen to yourself

00:19:53.279 --> 00:19:54.740
 and to your impersonations

00:19:54.740 --> 00:19:55.599
 to determine

00:19:55.599 --> 00:19:56.519
 what areas

00:19:56.519 --> 00:19:57.740
 you need to work on.

00:20:00.439 --> 00:20:01.419
 Now folks

00:20:01.419 --> 00:20:02.319
 if it takes

00:20:02.319 --> 00:20:04.019
 that much work

00:20:04.019 --> 00:20:05.000
 to become

00:20:05.000 --> 00:20:06.219
 an Elvis impersonator

00:20:06.219 --> 00:20:08.459
 how much more

00:20:08.459 --> 00:20:09.759
 work

00:20:09.759 --> 00:20:10.539
 should we be

00:20:10.539 --> 00:20:11.099
 putting into

00:20:11.099 --> 00:20:11.980
 being imitators

00:20:11.980 --> 00:20:12.559
 of Christ?

00:20:13.639 --> 00:20:14.399
 How much more

00:20:14.399 --> 00:20:15.319
 should we be

00:20:15.319 --> 00:20:16.240
 spending time

00:20:16.240 --> 00:20:17.420
 listening to him

00:20:17.420 --> 00:20:18.599
 studying him

00:20:18.599 --> 00:20:19.599
 looking at how

00:20:19.599 --> 00:20:20.240
 is our life

00:20:20.240 --> 00:20:21.180
 a reflection of him?

00:20:21.480 --> 00:20:22.059
 What areas

00:20:22.059 --> 00:20:23.119
 do we need to change?

00:20:23.440 --> 00:20:24.500
 What is it that we're saying

00:20:24.500 --> 00:20:25.859
 that's not a proper

00:20:25.859 --> 00:20:27.299
 imitation of him?

00:20:27.500 --> 00:20:28.599
 What is it we're doing

00:20:28.599 --> 00:20:29.960
 that is not a reflection

00:20:29.960 --> 00:20:30.740
 of his love

00:20:30.740 --> 00:20:31.299
 and his grace

00:20:31.299 --> 00:20:31.859
 and his beauty?

00:20:32.099 --> 00:20:33.339
 And how should we be

00:20:33.339 --> 00:20:33.920
 laboring

00:20:33.920 --> 00:20:35.620
 to become

00:20:35.620 --> 00:20:37.340
 a clear reflection

00:20:37.340 --> 00:20:38.160
 of Christ?

00:20:40.300 --> 00:20:41.560
 And so this year

00:20:41.560 --> 00:20:43.580
 as things are starting

00:20:43.580 --> 00:20:44.460
 you know

00:20:44.460 --> 00:20:46.300
 I'm sure you guys

00:20:46.300 --> 00:20:47.080
 have already thought

00:20:47.080 --> 00:20:47.600
 through this

00:20:47.600 --> 00:20:48.320
 it's a good time

00:20:48.320 --> 00:20:49.000
 to start a new

00:20:49.000 --> 00:20:50.240
 Bible reading plan

00:20:50.240 --> 00:20:50.880
 you know

00:20:50.880 --> 00:20:51.759
 read through the Bible

00:20:51.759 --> 00:20:52.240
 this year

00:20:52.240 --> 00:20:53.000
 or you know

00:20:53.000 --> 00:20:53.560
 start a new

00:20:53.560 --> 00:20:54.460
 prayer journal

00:20:54.460 --> 00:20:56.539
 start a new time

00:20:56.539 --> 00:20:56.900
 you know

00:20:56.900 --> 00:20:57.759
 your old time

00:20:57.759 --> 00:20:58.759
 for spending time

00:20:58.759 --> 00:20:59.039
 with Jesus

00:20:59.039 --> 00:20:59.500
 wasn't good

00:20:59.500 --> 00:21:00.080
 maybe you need to

00:21:00.080 --> 00:21:00.820
 change your schedule

00:21:00.819 --> 00:21:01.259
 some

00:21:01.259 --> 00:21:02.759
 and I'm confident

00:21:02.759 --> 00:21:03.279
 you've thought

00:21:03.279 --> 00:21:04.099
 through those things

00:21:04.099 --> 00:21:05.439
 but let me challenge

00:21:05.439 --> 00:21:06.500
 you to step further

00:21:06.500 --> 00:21:06.939
 than that

00:21:06.939 --> 00:21:07.939
 and realize

00:21:07.939 --> 00:21:09.119
 it's not just

00:21:09.119 --> 00:21:09.819
 about checking

00:21:09.819 --> 00:21:10.419
 the box

00:21:10.419 --> 00:21:11.240
 off of your

00:21:11.240 --> 00:21:12.759
 Bible reading schedule

00:21:12.759 --> 00:21:14.839
 it's about being

00:21:14.839 --> 00:21:16.359
 with Jesus

00:21:16.359 --> 00:21:18.179
 you see

00:21:18.179 --> 00:21:19.500
 you want to be

00:21:19.500 --> 00:21:20.779
 in his presence

00:21:20.779 --> 00:21:21.679
 you want to take

00:21:21.679 --> 00:21:22.700
 time with him

00:21:22.700 --> 00:21:23.859
 you want to make sure

00:21:23.859 --> 00:21:25.019
 just like the other

00:21:25.019 --> 00:21:26.619
 relationships in your life

00:21:26.619 --> 00:21:28.299
 that it's a priority

00:21:28.299 --> 00:21:29.740
 to spend time

00:21:29.740 --> 00:21:30.579
 listening

00:21:30.579 --> 00:21:31.720
 talking

00:21:31.720 --> 00:21:33.279
 intimately with him

00:21:33.279 --> 00:21:34.519
 with his word

00:21:34.519 --> 00:21:35.879
 with his people

00:21:35.879 --> 00:21:36.919
 you know

00:21:36.919 --> 00:21:38.579
 it makes perfect sense

00:21:38.579 --> 00:21:40.419
 if I talked about

00:21:40.419 --> 00:21:41.099
 my relationship

00:21:41.099 --> 00:21:41.799
 with my wife

00:21:41.799 --> 00:21:42.059
 and that

00:21:42.059 --> 00:21:42.519
 you know

00:21:42.519 --> 00:21:43.240
 this new year

00:21:43.240 --> 00:21:44.319
 I've worked out a plan

00:21:44.319 --> 00:21:44.759
 I'm going to spend

00:21:44.759 --> 00:21:45.759
 30 minutes a day

00:21:45.759 --> 00:21:47.119
 I'm going to sit down

00:21:47.119 --> 00:21:47.759
 with my wife

00:21:47.759 --> 00:21:48.779
 I'm going to tell her

00:21:48.779 --> 00:21:49.379
 what I need

00:21:49.379 --> 00:21:50.279
 I'm going to ask her

00:21:50.279 --> 00:21:51.220
 if she needs anything

00:21:51.220 --> 00:21:52.899
 maybe we can have

00:21:52.899 --> 00:21:53.899
 some quick conversation

00:21:53.899 --> 00:21:54.859
 and then I'm

00:21:54.859 --> 00:21:56.099
 going to check that off

00:21:56.099 --> 00:21:57.359
 did wife today

00:21:57.359 --> 00:21:57.859
 done

00:21:57.859 --> 00:22:01.299
 there would be

00:22:01.299 --> 00:22:01.939
 some discussion

00:22:01.939 --> 00:22:02.559
 about that

00:22:02.559 --> 00:22:03.240
 in my house

00:22:03.240 --> 00:22:04.199
 okay

00:22:04.199 --> 00:22:05.359
 but so often

00:22:05.359 --> 00:22:06.839
 that's how we approach

00:22:06.839 --> 00:22:08.539
 this work of faith

00:22:08.539 --> 00:22:09.719
 is that we can just

00:22:09.719 --> 00:22:10.299
 schedule it

00:22:10.299 --> 00:22:11.059
 and check it off

00:22:11.059 --> 00:22:12.039
 and we don't take

00:22:12.039 --> 00:22:12.659
 the time

00:22:12.659 --> 00:22:13.579
 like Jesus

00:22:13.579 --> 00:22:14.459
 is a live

00:22:14.459 --> 00:22:15.539
 living person

00:22:15.539 --> 00:22:16.339
 and coming into

00:22:16.339 --> 00:22:17.000
 his presence

00:22:17.000 --> 00:22:18.619
 and being with him

00:22:18.619 --> 00:22:20.500
 so this year

00:22:20.500 --> 00:22:21.619
 let me challenge you

00:22:21.619 --> 00:22:22.219
 you know

00:22:22.219 --> 00:22:23.679
 the first thing to do

00:22:23.679 --> 00:22:24.559
 if you want to

00:22:24.559 --> 00:22:25.419
 impact eternity

00:22:25.420 --> 00:22:27.340
 is be with Jesus

00:22:27.340 --> 00:22:29.860
 accept his word

00:22:29.860 --> 00:22:30.420
 and faith

00:22:30.420 --> 00:22:31.640
 and let it change

00:22:31.640 --> 00:22:32.480
 who you are

00:22:32.480 --> 00:22:34.700
 that's the first point

00:22:34.700 --> 00:22:37.140
 the second thing

00:22:37.140 --> 00:22:39.279
 that we see Paul

00:22:39.279 --> 00:22:40.060
 say here is

00:22:40.060 --> 00:22:41.259
 he remembers

00:22:41.259 --> 00:22:42.800
 the church at

00:22:42.800 --> 00:22:43.740
 Thessalonica's

00:22:43.740 --> 00:22:45.320
 labor of love

00:22:45.320 --> 00:22:46.900
 labor of love

00:22:46.900 --> 00:22:47.640
 now

00:22:47.640 --> 00:22:49.620
 I want you to

00:22:49.620 --> 00:22:50.660
 turn with me

00:22:50.660 --> 00:22:52.340
 to this passage

00:22:52.340 --> 00:22:53.279
 I think it's one of

00:22:53.279 --> 00:22:54.559
 the most amazing

00:22:54.559 --> 00:22:56.059
 descriptions of a church

00:22:56.059 --> 00:22:56.660
 in the Bible

00:22:56.660 --> 00:22:58.000
 it's in chapter 4

00:22:58.000 --> 00:22:58.940
 1 Thessalonians

00:22:58.940 --> 00:22:59.619
 chapter 4

00:22:59.619 --> 00:23:01.079
 verses 9 and 10

00:23:01.079 --> 00:23:02.339
 I just want you

00:23:02.339 --> 00:23:03.379
 to see it with your own eyes

00:23:03.379 --> 00:23:04.160
 I'm going to read it

00:23:04.160 --> 00:23:05.980
 but it's such an amazing

00:23:05.980 --> 00:23:07.200
 description of the church

00:23:07.200 --> 00:23:08.299
 I want you to see it

00:23:08.299 --> 00:23:08.899
 for yourself

00:23:08.899 --> 00:23:09.539
 okay

00:23:09.539 --> 00:23:11.879
 1 Thessalonians

00:23:11.879 --> 00:23:12.639
 chapter 4

00:23:12.639 --> 00:23:14.940
 verses 9 and 10

00:23:14.940 --> 00:23:16.720
 it says

00:23:16.720 --> 00:23:37.640
 wouldn't that be

00:23:37.640 --> 00:23:39.059
 an amazing thing

00:23:39.059 --> 00:23:40.299
 to have written

00:23:40.299 --> 00:23:41.940
 about Maranatha

00:23:41.940 --> 00:23:44.059
 as far as loving each other

00:23:44.059 --> 00:23:45.220
 I really don't have

00:23:45.220 --> 00:23:45.839
 anything to say

00:23:45.839 --> 00:23:47.000
 from the Apostle Paul

00:23:47.000 --> 00:23:48.700
 you know

00:23:48.700 --> 00:23:49.359
 you guys

00:23:49.359 --> 00:23:50.339
 have been taught

00:23:50.339 --> 00:23:51.759
 by God

00:23:51.759 --> 00:23:53.079
 to love one another

00:23:53.079 --> 00:23:55.079
 just keep going

00:23:55.079 --> 00:23:56.599
 you're doing it

00:23:56.599 --> 00:23:58.000
 just keep doing it

00:23:58.000 --> 00:23:59.139
 more and more

00:23:59.139 --> 00:23:59.679
 I mean

00:23:59.679 --> 00:24:01.079
 how amazing is that

00:24:01.079 --> 00:24:02.839
 when I got to this point

00:24:02.839 --> 00:24:03.980
 in Thessalonians

00:24:03.980 --> 00:24:04.799
 I thought

00:24:04.799 --> 00:24:06.179
 surely

00:24:06.179 --> 00:24:08.339
 this is the key

00:24:08.339 --> 00:24:10.200
 surely this

00:24:10.200 --> 00:24:11.359
 is why

00:24:11.359 --> 00:24:11.879
 the church

00:24:11.880 --> 00:24:12.580
 at Thessalonica

00:24:12.580 --> 00:24:13.480
 was making

00:24:13.480 --> 00:24:14.780
 such a big impact

00:24:14.780 --> 00:24:15.800
 because not only

00:24:15.800 --> 00:24:16.720
 is it talking about

00:24:16.720 --> 00:24:17.900
 them loving each other

00:24:17.900 --> 00:24:19.160
 but loving all the

00:24:19.160 --> 00:24:20.360
 brothers in Macedonia

00:24:20.360 --> 00:24:21.580
 they just didn't love

00:24:21.580 --> 00:24:22.680
 their own church

00:24:22.680 --> 00:24:24.760
 but every opportunity

00:24:24.760 --> 00:24:26.100
 they were loving

00:24:26.100 --> 00:24:27.500
 those around them

00:24:27.500 --> 00:24:28.480
 and

00:24:28.480 --> 00:24:29.800
 you guys know

00:24:29.800 --> 00:24:30.700
 John 13

00:24:30.700 --> 00:24:32.340
 34 and 35

00:24:32.340 --> 00:24:32.920
 says

00:24:32.920 --> 00:24:33.960
 a new commandment

00:24:33.960 --> 00:24:34.800
 Jesus speaking

00:24:34.800 --> 00:24:35.860
 a new commandment

00:24:35.860 --> 00:24:36.380
 I give to you

00:24:36.380 --> 00:24:37.780
 that you love one another

00:24:37.780 --> 00:24:39.620
 just as I have loved you

00:24:39.619 --> 00:24:41.479
 you also are to love

00:24:41.479 --> 00:24:42.000
 one another

00:24:42.000 --> 00:24:43.619
 by this all people

00:24:43.619 --> 00:24:44.459
 will know that you're

00:24:44.459 --> 00:24:45.199
 my disciples

00:24:45.199 --> 00:24:46.479
 if you have love

00:24:46.479 --> 00:24:47.219
 for one another

00:24:47.219 --> 00:24:49.000
 so it's not really

00:24:49.000 --> 00:24:50.199
 surprising to think

00:24:50.199 --> 00:24:51.899
 as the church

00:24:51.899 --> 00:24:52.759
 at Thessalonica

00:24:52.759 --> 00:24:54.659
 was loving each other

00:24:54.659 --> 00:24:56.500
 in such a powerful way

00:24:56.500 --> 00:24:57.879
 it was impacting

00:24:57.879 --> 00:24:58.639
 their community

00:24:58.639 --> 00:24:59.599
 and their world

00:24:59.599 --> 00:25:01.559
 but I think

00:25:01.559 --> 00:25:02.519
 we need to stop

00:25:02.519 --> 00:25:04.359
 and define love

00:25:04.359 --> 00:25:05.319
 you see

00:25:05.319 --> 00:25:06.719
 because in our culture

00:25:06.720 --> 00:25:08.620
 love is a very

00:25:08.620 --> 00:25:09.620
 loosely

00:25:09.620 --> 00:25:11.120
 used word

00:25:11.120 --> 00:25:12.480
 I can love my wife

00:25:12.480 --> 00:25:14.140
 and I can love my car

00:25:14.140 --> 00:25:15.500
 and I can love pizza

00:25:15.500 --> 00:25:17.200
 and if my wife ever thinks

00:25:17.200 --> 00:25:18.059
 I'm referring to her

00:25:18.059 --> 00:25:19.200
 in the same manner as pizza

00:25:19.200 --> 00:25:19.819
 there's going to be

00:25:19.819 --> 00:25:20.640
 another discussion

00:25:20.640 --> 00:25:21.500
 right

00:25:21.500 --> 00:25:22.220
 and so

00:25:22.220 --> 00:25:23.200
 let's talk about

00:25:23.200 --> 00:25:24.339
 what does it mean here

00:25:24.339 --> 00:25:25.460
 when Paul is talking

00:25:25.460 --> 00:25:26.920
 about their labor of love

00:25:26.920 --> 00:25:28.720
 I think

00:25:28.720 --> 00:25:29.759
 the first thing

00:25:29.759 --> 00:25:30.600
 we can do

00:25:30.600 --> 00:25:32.319
 to define that

00:25:32.319 --> 00:25:34.360
 is look at the ways

00:25:34.359 --> 00:25:36.879
 Paul has loved them

00:25:36.879 --> 00:25:39.500
 how has Paul shown love

00:25:39.500 --> 00:25:40.459
 to the church

00:25:40.459 --> 00:25:41.259
 at Thessalonica

00:25:41.259 --> 00:25:42.479
 because we know

00:25:42.479 --> 00:25:43.319
 he's already said

00:25:43.319 --> 00:25:45.159
 they're imitators of him

00:25:45.159 --> 00:25:47.159
 and Paul's very clear

00:25:47.159 --> 00:25:49.699
 in chapter 2 verse 7

00:25:49.699 --> 00:25:51.139
 Paul describes his love

00:25:51.139 --> 00:25:51.419
 for them

00:25:51.419 --> 00:25:53.259
 like a nursing mother

00:25:53.259 --> 00:25:55.879
 in chapter 2 verse 8

00:25:55.879 --> 00:25:56.439
 he says

00:25:56.439 --> 00:25:58.099
 being affectionately

00:25:58.099 --> 00:25:59.399
 desirous of you

00:25:59.399 --> 00:26:00.319
 we were ready

00:26:00.319 --> 00:26:01.079
 to share with you

00:26:01.079 --> 00:26:02.179
 not only the gospel

00:26:02.179 --> 00:26:02.659
 of God

00:26:02.660 --> 00:26:04.700
 but also our own selves

00:26:04.700 --> 00:26:05.759
 because you had become

00:26:05.759 --> 00:26:07.300
 very dear to us

00:26:07.300 --> 00:26:09.380
 chapter 2 verse 11

00:26:09.380 --> 00:26:09.779
 he says

00:26:09.779 --> 00:26:10.820
 like a father

00:26:10.820 --> 00:26:12.220
 with his children

00:26:12.220 --> 00:26:14.820
 chapter 2 verse 12

00:26:14.820 --> 00:26:15.360
 he says

00:26:15.360 --> 00:26:16.820
 we exhorted each of you

00:26:16.820 --> 00:26:17.900
 and encouraged you

00:26:17.900 --> 00:26:18.920
 and charged you

00:26:18.920 --> 00:26:20.019
 to walk in a manner

00:26:20.019 --> 00:26:21.240
 worthy of God

00:26:21.240 --> 00:26:22.240
 so we see

00:26:22.240 --> 00:26:23.380
 Paul is talking about

00:26:23.380 --> 00:26:25.000
 a very passionate love

00:26:25.000 --> 00:26:27.340
 it's very heartfelt

00:26:27.340 --> 00:26:29.240
 it's the kind of love

00:26:29.240 --> 00:26:31.240
 that explodes out

00:26:31.240 --> 00:26:32.440
 like for your children

00:26:32.440 --> 00:26:35.620
 but we also see

00:26:35.620 --> 00:26:36.700
 Paul talking about

00:26:36.700 --> 00:26:38.500
 very practical things

00:26:38.500 --> 00:26:40.420
 if we were to turn down

00:26:40.420 --> 00:26:41.480
 to chapter 5

00:26:41.480 --> 00:26:42.720
 1 Thessalonians 5

00:26:42.720 --> 00:26:44.519
 starting in verse 12

00:26:44.519 --> 00:26:48.539
 1 Thessalonians 5

00:26:48.539 --> 00:26:49.000
 12

00:26:49.000 --> 00:26:50.700
 Paul says

00:26:50.700 --> 00:26:51.980
 we ask you brothers

00:26:51.980 --> 00:26:53.400
 to respect those

00:26:53.400 --> 00:26:54.460
 who labor among you

00:26:54.460 --> 00:26:55.559
 and are over you

00:26:55.559 --> 00:26:56.100
 in the Lord

00:26:56.100 --> 00:26:57.039
 and admonish you

00:26:57.039 --> 00:26:58.220
 to esteem them

00:26:58.220 --> 00:26:59.340
 very highly in love

00:26:59.340 --> 00:27:00.440
 because of their work

00:27:00.440 --> 00:27:01.799
 be at peace

00:27:01.799 --> 00:27:02.660
 among yourselves

00:27:02.660 --> 00:27:04.059
 we urge you brothers

00:27:04.059 --> 00:27:05.360
 admonish the idle

00:27:05.360 --> 00:27:07.180
 encourage the faint hearted

00:27:07.180 --> 00:27:08.299
 help the weak

00:27:08.299 --> 00:27:09.320
 be patient

00:27:09.320 --> 00:27:10.240
 with them all

00:27:10.240 --> 00:27:11.240
 see that no one

00:27:11.240 --> 00:27:12.160
 repays anyone

00:27:12.160 --> 00:27:13.779
 evil for evil

00:27:13.779 --> 00:27:15.620
 but always seeks

00:27:15.620 --> 00:27:16.539
 to do good

00:27:16.539 --> 00:27:17.580
 to one another

00:27:17.580 --> 00:27:18.900
 and to everyone

00:27:18.900 --> 00:27:21.000
 and so we see

00:27:21.000 --> 00:27:22.299
 this description

00:27:22.299 --> 00:27:23.820
 of love

00:27:23.820 --> 00:27:24.559
 that is both

00:27:24.559 --> 00:27:25.340
 passionate

00:27:25.340 --> 00:27:26.900
 and practical

00:27:26.900 --> 00:27:28.340
 it's not just

00:27:28.340 --> 00:27:28.880
 emotional

00:27:28.880 --> 00:27:29.380
 see we

00:27:29.380 --> 00:27:30.920
 we have a tendency

00:27:30.920 --> 00:27:31.860
 in our culture

00:27:31.860 --> 00:27:32.780
 to use love

00:27:32.780 --> 00:27:33.400
 in that way

00:27:33.400 --> 00:27:34.240
 it's a feeling

00:27:34.240 --> 00:27:35.080
 you know

00:27:35.080 --> 00:27:36.120
 I just

00:27:36.120 --> 00:27:37.259
 I have this feeling

00:27:37.259 --> 00:27:38.400
 young people

00:27:38.400 --> 00:27:39.400
 young people

00:27:39.400 --> 00:27:40.240
 have that feeling

00:27:40.240 --> 00:27:41.360
 and then they want

00:27:41.360 --> 00:27:41.820
 to get married

00:27:41.820 --> 00:27:42.320
 because they have

00:27:42.320 --> 00:27:42.940
 this feeling

00:27:42.940 --> 00:27:44.460
 it is passionate

00:27:44.460 --> 00:27:45.280
 but it's also

00:27:45.280 --> 00:27:46.300
 very practical

00:27:46.300 --> 00:27:47.420
 it's about how

00:27:47.420 --> 00:27:48.820
 you live your life

00:27:48.820 --> 00:27:50.200
 love is a verb

00:27:50.200 --> 00:27:51.300
 it's an action

00:27:51.300 --> 00:27:52.320
 and so

00:27:52.320 --> 00:27:53.320
 Paul's description

00:27:53.320 --> 00:27:53.920
 here

00:27:53.920 --> 00:27:55.040
 in talking about

00:27:55.039 --> 00:27:56.240
 the church at Thessalonica

00:27:56.240 --> 00:27:57.599
 gives us that view

00:27:57.599 --> 00:27:58.339
 passionate

00:27:58.339 --> 00:27:59.279
 and practical

00:27:59.279 --> 00:28:00.059
 love

00:28:00.059 --> 00:28:01.420
 and so

00:28:01.420 --> 00:28:02.339
 the second point

00:28:02.339 --> 00:28:02.879
 of application

00:28:02.879 --> 00:28:03.319
 is

00:28:03.319 --> 00:28:04.740
 how is your

00:28:04.740 --> 00:28:05.700
 labor of love

00:28:05.700 --> 00:28:08.079
 how is your

00:28:08.079 --> 00:28:08.740
 labor of love

00:28:08.740 --> 00:28:09.759
 now

00:28:09.759 --> 00:28:10.819
 if you

00:28:10.819 --> 00:28:12.079
 are like me

00:28:12.079 --> 00:28:12.720
 we'll just

00:28:12.720 --> 00:28:13.720
 I'll take all the

00:28:13.720 --> 00:28:14.399
 blame in this

00:28:14.399 --> 00:28:15.500
 sometimes

00:28:15.500 --> 00:28:16.940
 you may think

00:28:16.940 --> 00:28:18.339
 and maybe

00:28:18.339 --> 00:28:19.299
 even say

00:28:19.299 --> 00:28:20.920
 I love them

00:28:20.920 --> 00:28:21.940
 I just don't

00:28:21.940 --> 00:28:22.539
 like them

00:28:22.539 --> 00:28:24.379
 now I'm not

00:28:24.380 --> 00:28:24.880
 going to ask

00:28:24.880 --> 00:28:25.340
 for a show

00:28:25.340 --> 00:28:25.820
 of hands

00:28:25.820 --> 00:28:27.780
 but I'll

00:28:27.780 --> 00:28:28.260
 confess

00:28:28.260 --> 00:28:28.860
 there have

00:28:28.860 --> 00:28:29.300
 been times

00:28:29.300 --> 00:28:29.760
 in my life

00:28:29.760 --> 00:28:30.500
 where I have

00:28:30.500 --> 00:28:31.040
 had those

00:28:31.040 --> 00:28:31.400
 thoughts

00:28:31.400 --> 00:28:32.040
 and probably

00:28:32.040 --> 00:28:32.520
 have said

00:28:32.520 --> 00:28:32.840
 them out

00:28:32.840 --> 00:28:33.100
 loud

00:28:33.100 --> 00:28:33.660
 I do that

00:28:33.660 --> 00:28:33.920
 often

00:28:33.920 --> 00:28:34.860
 I love

00:28:34.860 --> 00:28:35.280
 them

00:28:35.280 --> 00:28:35.980
 I just

00:28:35.980 --> 00:28:36.360
 don't

00:28:36.360 --> 00:28:36.780
 like

00:28:36.780 --> 00:28:37.240
 them

00:28:37.240 --> 00:28:37.860
 and we

00:28:37.860 --> 00:28:38.500
 think

00:28:38.500 --> 00:28:39.420
 that somehow

00:28:39.420 --> 00:28:40.360
 we can

00:28:40.360 --> 00:28:41.020
 have this

00:28:41.020 --> 00:28:42.080
 intellectual

00:28:42.080 --> 00:28:43.080
 love

00:28:43.080 --> 00:28:43.740
 for each

00:28:43.740 --> 00:28:44.060
 other

00:28:44.060 --> 00:28:44.560
 and we're

00:28:44.560 --> 00:28:45.180
 fulfilling

00:28:45.180 --> 00:28:46.240
 the biblical

00:28:46.240 --> 00:28:46.840
 mandate

00:28:46.840 --> 00:28:47.560
 what God

00:28:47.560 --> 00:28:48.300
 is asking

00:28:48.300 --> 00:28:49.260
 of us

00:28:49.260 --> 00:28:49.900
 but that's

00:28:49.900 --> 00:28:50.240
 not the

00:28:50.240 --> 00:28:50.540
 picture

00:28:50.540 --> 00:28:50.900
 that we

00:28:50.900 --> 00:28:51.580
 see here

00:28:51.580 --> 00:28:52.320
 when Paul's

00:28:52.320 --> 00:28:52.800
 talking about

00:28:52.800 --> 00:28:53.660
 like a nursing

00:28:53.660 --> 00:28:54.340
 mother being

00:28:54.340 --> 00:28:56.080
 very desirous

00:28:56.080 --> 00:28:56.460
 of you

00:28:56.460 --> 00:28:56.900
 you know

00:28:56.900 --> 00:28:57.300
 there's a

00:28:57.300 --> 00:28:57.860
 passion

00:28:57.860 --> 00:28:58.900
 it's not

00:28:58.900 --> 00:28:59.380
 just

00:28:59.380 --> 00:29:00.259
 intellectual

00:29:00.259 --> 00:29:00.940
 assent

00:29:00.940 --> 00:29:01.320
 okay I

00:29:01.320 --> 00:29:01.640
 have to

00:29:01.640 --> 00:29:02.080
 love them

00:29:02.080 --> 00:29:03.960
 it's a

00:29:03.960 --> 00:29:04.519
 heartfelt

00:29:04.519 --> 00:29:05.920
 explosion

00:29:05.920 --> 00:29:06.820
 that I'm

00:29:06.820 --> 00:29:07.400
 committed

00:29:07.400 --> 00:29:07.920
 to them

00:29:07.920 --> 00:29:08.500
 I will

00:29:08.500 --> 00:29:09.100
 give of

00:29:09.100 --> 00:29:09.440
 myself

00:29:09.440 --> 00:29:09.860
 to them

00:29:09.860 --> 00:29:10.340
 I will

00:29:10.340 --> 00:29:11.000
 open my

00:29:11.000 --> 00:29:11.519
 life to

00:29:11.519 --> 00:29:11.680
 them

00:29:11.680 --> 00:29:12.040
 you remember

00:29:12.040 --> 00:29:12.540
 Paul says

00:29:12.540 --> 00:29:12.800
 that we

00:29:12.800 --> 00:29:13.180
 didn't share

00:29:13.180 --> 00:29:13.600
 just the

00:29:13.600 --> 00:29:13.900
 gospel

00:29:13.900 --> 00:29:14.420
 but our

00:29:14.420 --> 00:29:14.840
 very

00:29:14.840 --> 00:29:15.700
 selves

00:29:15.700 --> 00:29:16.860
 and that's

00:29:16.860 --> 00:29:17.340
 the view

00:29:17.340 --> 00:29:18.000
 we're called

00:29:18.000 --> 00:29:18.380
 to in the

00:29:18.380 --> 00:29:18.779
 body of

00:29:18.779 --> 00:29:19.100
 Christ

00:29:19.100 --> 00:29:19.840
 how is

00:29:19.840 --> 00:29:20.259
 your labor

00:29:20.259 --> 00:29:20.920
 of love

00:29:20.920 --> 00:29:21.519
 are you

00:29:21.519 --> 00:29:22.019
 loving

00:29:22.019 --> 00:29:23.000
 passionately

00:29:23.000 --> 00:29:24.339
 the challenge

00:29:24.339 --> 00:29:24.819
 is it's

00:29:24.819 --> 00:29:25.460
 inconvenient

00:29:25.460 --> 00:29:26.720
 it's hard

00:29:26.720 --> 00:29:27.640
 it's hard

00:29:27.640 --> 00:29:28.119
 to deal

00:29:28.119 --> 00:29:28.579
 with

00:29:28.579 --> 00:29:29.619
 matter of

00:29:29.619 --> 00:29:29.839
 fact

00:29:29.839 --> 00:29:30.799
 I would

00:29:30.799 --> 00:29:31.259
 say for

00:29:31.259 --> 00:29:31.680
 us to

00:29:31.680 --> 00:29:32.240
 genuinely

00:29:32.240 --> 00:29:33.319
 love each

00:29:33.319 --> 00:29:33.660
 other

00:29:33.660 --> 00:29:34.839
 is not

00:29:34.839 --> 00:29:35.440
 just hard

00:29:35.440 --> 00:29:35.660
 it's

00:29:35.660 --> 00:29:36.319
 impossible

00:29:36.319 --> 00:29:37.960
 it's

00:29:37.960 --> 00:29:38.400
 impossible

00:29:38.400 --> 00:29:39.299
 but I

00:29:39.299 --> 00:29:39.599
 think

00:29:39.599 --> 00:29:40.400
 that's

00:29:40.400 --> 00:29:40.779
 why we

00:29:40.779 --> 00:29:41.220
 read

00:29:41.220 --> 00:29:42.039
 in chapter

00:29:42.039 --> 00:29:42.660
 4 verse

00:29:42.660 --> 00:29:43.140
 9 where

00:29:43.140 --> 00:29:43.799
 Paul said

00:29:43.799 --> 00:29:45.180
 you yourselves

00:29:45.180 --> 00:29:45.559
 have been

00:29:45.559 --> 00:29:46.140
 taught by

00:29:46.140 --> 00:29:46.700
 God

00:29:46.700 --> 00:29:47.619
 to love

00:29:47.619 --> 00:29:48.259
 one another

00:29:48.259 --> 00:29:49.500
 you know

00:29:49.500 --> 00:29:49.700
 we

00:29:49.700 --> 00:29:50.879
 need

00:29:50.879 --> 00:29:51.740
 an

00:29:51.740 --> 00:29:52.519
 external

00:29:52.519 --> 00:29:53.720
 influence

00:29:53.720 --> 00:29:55.099
 to love

00:29:55.099 --> 00:29:55.440
 the way

00:29:55.440 --> 00:29:55.660
 we're

00:29:55.660 --> 00:29:55.900
 called

00:29:55.900 --> 00:29:56.379
 to love

00:29:56.379 --> 00:29:56.920
 God

00:29:56.920 --> 00:29:57.379
 has to

00:29:57.379 --> 00:29:57.519
 do

00:29:57.519 --> 00:29:57.960
 a work

00:29:57.960 --> 00:29:58.519
 the

00:29:58.519 --> 00:29:58.740
 Holy

00:29:58.740 --> 00:29:59.279
 Spirit

00:29:59.279 --> 00:30:00.000
 has to

00:30:00.000 --> 00:30:00.400
 move

00:30:00.400 --> 00:30:01.200
 in our

00:30:01.200 --> 00:30:01.599
 hearts

00:30:01.599 --> 00:30:02.200
 if we're

00:30:02.200 --> 00:30:02.619
 really

00:30:02.619 --> 00:30:02.960
 going to

00:30:02.960 --> 00:30:03.200
 love

00:30:03.200 --> 00:30:03.660
 each other

00:30:03.660 --> 00:30:04.359
 and not

00:30:04.359 --> 00:30:04.579
 just

00:30:04.579 --> 00:30:04.839
 each

00:30:04.839 --> 00:30:05.160
 other

00:30:05.160 --> 00:30:05.660
 you know

00:30:05.660 --> 00:30:06.000
 we've

00:30:06.000 --> 00:30:06.480
 been around

00:30:06.480 --> 00:30:06.819
 since

00:30:06.819 --> 00:30:07.400
 Thursday

00:30:07.400 --> 00:30:08.599
 and we've

00:30:08.599 --> 00:30:08.920
 gotten to

00:30:08.920 --> 00:30:09.279
 be with

00:30:09.279 --> 00:30:10.059
 many of

00:30:10.059 --> 00:30:10.240
 you

00:30:10.240 --> 00:30:11.079
 and hear

00:30:11.079 --> 00:30:11.339
 your

00:30:11.339 --> 00:30:11.879
 stories

00:30:11.879 --> 00:30:12.879
 and everybody

00:30:12.879 --> 00:30:13.500
 constantly

00:30:13.500 --> 00:30:14.079
 talks about

00:30:14.079 --> 00:30:14.680
 how much

00:30:14.680 --> 00:30:14.980
 you guys

00:30:14.980 --> 00:30:15.500
 love each

00:30:15.500 --> 00:30:15.819
 other

00:30:15.819 --> 00:30:16.720
 that's

00:30:16.720 --> 00:30:17.279
 awesome

00:30:17.279 --> 00:30:18.819
 we love

00:30:18.819 --> 00:30:19.720
 that you

00:30:19.720 --> 00:30:20.259
 love each

00:30:20.259 --> 00:30:20.559
 other

00:30:20.559 --> 00:30:21.879
 that was a

00:30:21.879 --> 00:30:22.099
 lot of

00:30:22.099 --> 00:30:22.359
 loving

00:30:22.359 --> 00:30:22.599
 but

00:30:22.599 --> 00:30:23.960
 you know

00:30:23.960 --> 00:30:24.759
 that's

00:30:24.759 --> 00:30:25.099
 great

00:30:25.099 --> 00:30:25.859
 but remember

00:30:25.859 --> 00:30:26.439
 the picture

00:30:26.439 --> 00:30:26.740
 that we

00:30:26.740 --> 00:30:27.339
 see here

00:30:27.339 --> 00:30:28.019
 is not

00:30:28.019 --> 00:30:28.859
 just that

00:30:28.859 --> 00:30:29.299
 it's not

00:30:29.299 --> 00:30:29.720
 just a

00:30:29.720 --> 00:30:30.079
 love for

00:30:30.079 --> 00:30:30.419
 each other

00:30:30.419 --> 00:30:30.960
 but it's

00:30:30.960 --> 00:30:31.319
 a love

00:30:31.319 --> 00:30:31.799
 for those

00:30:31.799 --> 00:30:32.339
 outside

00:30:32.339 --> 00:30:32.980
 the walls

00:30:32.980 --> 00:30:33.279
 here

00:30:33.279 --> 00:30:33.819
 it's in

00:30:33.819 --> 00:30:33.960
 our

00:30:33.960 --> 00:30:34.539
 communities

00:30:34.539 --> 00:30:34.879
 it's

00:30:34.879 --> 00:30:35.039
 our

00:30:35.039 --> 00:30:35.460
 neighbors

00:30:35.460 --> 00:30:35.879
 it's

00:30:35.879 --> 00:30:36.000
 the

00:30:36.000 --> 00:30:36.279
 brothers

00:30:36.279 --> 00:30:36.559
 and

00:30:36.559 --> 00:30:36.899
 sisters

00:30:36.899 --> 00:30:37.139
 at

00:30:37.139 --> 00:30:37.439
 other

00:30:37.439 --> 00:30:38.000
 churches

00:30:38.000 --> 00:30:38.700
 throughout

00:30:38.700 --> 00:30:39.240
 Columbus

00:30:39.240 --> 00:30:39.480
 and

00:30:39.480 --> 00:30:39.759
 throughout

00:30:39.759 --> 00:30:40.059
 the

00:30:40.059 --> 00:30:40.419
 world

00:30:40.419 --> 00:30:41.039
 and it's

00:30:41.039 --> 00:30:41.259
 not

00:30:41.259 --> 00:30:41.559
 just

00:30:41.559 --> 00:30:42.039
 oh yeah

00:30:42.039 --> 00:30:42.439
 we should

00:30:42.439 --> 00:30:42.700
 help

00:30:42.700 --> 00:30:42.879
 them

00:30:42.879 --> 00:30:43.059
 out

00:30:43.059 --> 00:30:43.720
 but it's

00:30:43.720 --> 00:30:43.939
 this

00:30:43.939 --> 00:30:44.559
 passionate

00:30:44.559 --> 00:30:45.379
 love

00:30:45.380 --> 00:30:47.200
 and so

00:30:47.200 --> 00:30:47.560
 how are

00:30:47.560 --> 00:30:48.060
 you doing

00:30:48.060 --> 00:30:48.800
 we need

00:30:48.800 --> 00:30:49.140
 the Holy

00:30:49.140 --> 00:30:49.560
 Spirit

00:30:49.560 --> 00:30:50.000
 to do

00:30:50.000 --> 00:30:50.460
 that

00:30:50.460 --> 00:30:51.460
 and I

00:30:51.460 --> 00:30:51.640
 would

00:30:51.640 --> 00:30:52.360
 I challenge

00:30:52.360 --> 00:30:52.840
 you this

00:30:52.840 --> 00:30:53.080
 year

00:30:53.080 --> 00:30:53.320
 okay

00:30:53.320 --> 00:30:54.060
 this year

00:30:54.060 --> 00:30:55.800
 try

00:30:55.800 --> 00:30:56.400
 I'm trying

00:30:56.400 --> 00:30:56.740
 I'm not

00:30:56.740 --> 00:30:57.120
 doing very

00:30:57.120 --> 00:30:57.760
 well so

00:30:57.760 --> 00:30:57.940
 far

00:30:57.940 --> 00:30:58.200
 and I've

00:30:58.200 --> 00:30:58.440
 had more

00:30:58.440 --> 00:30:58.740
 time to

00:30:58.740 --> 00:30:59.060
 practice

00:30:59.060 --> 00:30:59.380
 than you

00:30:59.380 --> 00:30:59.640
 guys

00:30:59.640 --> 00:31:00.920
 but trying

00:31:00.920 --> 00:31:01.940
 every day

00:31:01.940 --> 00:31:02.480
 to pray

00:31:02.480 --> 00:31:03.180
 this simple

00:31:03.180 --> 00:31:03.500
 prayer

00:31:03.500 --> 00:31:03.740
 okay

00:31:03.740 --> 00:31:04.080
 it's a

00:31:04.080 --> 00:31:04.480
 very simple

00:31:04.480 --> 00:31:04.800
 prayer

00:31:04.800 --> 00:31:05.380
 I tried

00:31:05.380 --> 00:31:05.600
 to make

00:31:05.600 --> 00:31:05.920
 it simple

00:31:05.920 --> 00:31:06.240
 so I'd

00:31:06.240 --> 00:31:06.520
 remember

00:31:06.520 --> 00:31:06.660
 it

00:31:06.660 --> 00:31:06.840
 but I

00:31:06.840 --> 00:31:07.020
 still

00:31:07.020 --> 00:31:07.340
 forget

00:31:07.339 --> 00:31:08.240
 it

00:31:08.240 --> 00:31:08.599
 says

00:31:08.599 --> 00:31:09.919
 father

00:31:09.919 --> 00:31:10.759
 help me

00:31:10.759 --> 00:31:11.659
 to overflow

00:31:11.659 --> 00:31:12.399
 with love

00:31:12.399 --> 00:31:12.959
 for you

00:31:12.959 --> 00:31:14.259
 and for

00:31:14.259 --> 00:31:14.919
 your children

00:31:14.919 --> 00:31:15.720
 and for

00:31:15.720 --> 00:31:16.359
 all those

00:31:16.359 --> 00:31:17.059
 around me

00:31:17.059 --> 00:31:19.059
 and let

00:31:19.059 --> 00:31:19.480
 me challenge

00:31:19.480 --> 00:31:19.639
 you

00:31:19.639 --> 00:31:20.500
 you don't

00:31:20.500 --> 00:31:20.699
 have to

00:31:20.699 --> 00:31:21.059
 pray those

00:31:21.059 --> 00:31:21.679
 exact words

00:31:21.679 --> 00:31:22.000
 it's not

00:31:22.000 --> 00:31:22.299
 a magic

00:31:22.299 --> 00:31:22.740
 formula

00:31:22.740 --> 00:31:23.179
 or anything

00:31:23.179 --> 00:31:24.259
 but that

00:31:24.259 --> 00:31:24.659
 concept

00:31:24.659 --> 00:31:25.259
 that every

00:31:25.259 --> 00:31:25.720
 day

00:31:25.720 --> 00:31:26.379
 you are

00:31:26.379 --> 00:31:26.859
 coming

00:31:26.859 --> 00:31:27.619
 before

00:31:27.619 --> 00:31:28.359
 God

00:31:28.359 --> 00:31:28.879
 and you

00:31:28.879 --> 00:31:29.459
 are asking

00:31:29.459 --> 00:31:29.839
 him

00:31:29.839 --> 00:31:30.299
 through

00:31:30.299 --> 00:31:30.639
 his

00:31:30.639 --> 00:31:31.079
 spirit

00:31:31.079 --> 00:31:31.899
 to give

00:31:31.899 --> 00:31:32.119
 you

00:31:32.119 --> 00:31:32.720
 supernatural

00:31:32.720 --> 00:31:33.480
 love

00:31:33.480 --> 00:31:34.000
 if we

00:31:34.000 --> 00:31:34.240
 know

00:31:34.240 --> 00:31:34.439
 it's

00:31:34.439 --> 00:31:34.959
 impossible

00:31:34.960 --> 00:31:35.460
 for us

00:31:35.460 --> 00:31:35.819
 to do

00:31:35.819 --> 00:31:36.019
 it

00:31:36.019 --> 00:31:36.600
 then

00:31:36.600 --> 00:31:37.640
 we

00:31:37.640 --> 00:31:38.279
 also

00:31:38.279 --> 00:31:38.960
 need

00:31:38.960 --> 00:31:39.180
 to

00:31:39.180 --> 00:31:39.720
 realize

00:31:39.720 --> 00:31:40.160
 that

00:31:40.160 --> 00:31:40.380
 we

00:31:40.380 --> 00:31:40.680
 should

00:31:40.680 --> 00:31:40.960
 be

00:31:40.960 --> 00:31:41.660
 diligently

00:31:41.660 --> 00:31:42.380
 asking

00:31:42.380 --> 00:31:42.980
 him

00:31:42.980 --> 00:31:43.620
 to do

00:31:43.620 --> 00:31:43.840
 what

00:31:43.840 --> 00:31:44.039
 we

00:31:44.039 --> 00:31:44.400
 can't

00:31:44.400 --> 00:31:44.759
 do

00:31:44.759 --> 00:31:46.880
 you

00:31:46.880 --> 00:31:47.120
 see

00:31:47.120 --> 00:31:47.700
 so

00:31:47.700 --> 00:31:48.240
 first

00:31:48.240 --> 00:31:48.539
 let me

00:31:48.539 --> 00:31:49.000
 challenge

00:31:49.000 --> 00:31:49.279
 you

00:31:49.279 --> 00:31:49.880
 in your

00:31:49.880 --> 00:31:50.160
 labor

00:31:50.160 --> 00:31:50.620
 of love

00:31:50.620 --> 00:31:51.500
 pray

00:31:51.500 --> 00:31:52.200
 daily

00:31:52.200 --> 00:31:52.920
 for

00:31:52.920 --> 00:31:54.000
 his

00:31:54.000 --> 00:31:54.500
 work

00:31:54.500 --> 00:31:55.400
 of love

00:31:55.400 --> 00:31:55.740
 in your

00:31:55.740 --> 00:31:56.059
 life

00:31:56.059 --> 00:31:57.539
 the

00:31:57.539 --> 00:31:57.860
 second

00:31:57.860 --> 00:31:58.180
 thing

00:31:58.180 --> 00:31:58.799
 as I

00:31:58.799 --> 00:31:59.160
 worked

00:31:59.160 --> 00:31:59.440
 through

00:31:59.440 --> 00:31:59.759
 this

00:31:59.759 --> 00:32:00.240
 and

00:32:00.240 --> 00:32:01.440
 contemplated

00:32:01.440 --> 00:32:01.779
 how

00:32:01.779 --> 00:32:02.019
 does

00:32:02.019 --> 00:32:02.180
 this

00:32:02.180 --> 00:32:02.340
 need

00:32:02.340 --> 00:32:02.460
 to

00:32:02.460 --> 00:32:02.680
 work

00:32:02.680 --> 00:32:02.860
 out

00:32:02.860 --> 00:32:03.140
 in my

00:32:03.140 --> 00:32:03.460
 life

00:32:03.460 --> 00:32:04.100
 is

00:32:04.100 --> 00:32:04.620
 I

00:32:04.619 --> 00:32:05.219
 thought

00:32:05.219 --> 00:32:05.479
 about

00:32:05.479 --> 00:32:05.859
 one

00:32:05.859 --> 00:32:06.079
 of the

00:32:06.079 --> 00:32:06.299
 ways

00:32:06.299 --> 00:32:06.599
 I

00:32:06.599 --> 00:32:06.939
 need

00:32:06.939 --> 00:32:07.119
 to

00:32:07.119 --> 00:32:07.399
 help

00:32:07.399 --> 00:32:07.899
 myself

00:32:07.899 --> 00:32:08.259
 love

00:32:08.259 --> 00:32:08.479
 this

00:32:08.479 --> 00:32:08.719
 way

00:32:08.719 --> 00:32:09.299
 is

00:32:09.299 --> 00:32:10.179
 regularly

00:32:10.179 --> 00:32:11.339
 reminding

00:32:11.339 --> 00:32:11.959
 myself

00:32:11.959 --> 00:32:12.579
 of how

00:32:12.579 --> 00:32:13.000
 God

00:32:13.000 --> 00:32:13.359
 loves

00:32:13.359 --> 00:32:13.739
 me

00:32:13.739 --> 00:32:14.659
 and

00:32:14.659 --> 00:32:15.319
 we

00:32:15.319 --> 00:32:15.619
 see

00:32:15.619 --> 00:32:15.979
 throughout

00:32:15.979 --> 00:32:16.199
 the

00:32:16.199 --> 00:32:16.519
 Bible

00:32:16.519 --> 00:32:17.039
 many

00:32:17.039 --> 00:32:17.299
 ways

00:32:17.299 --> 00:32:17.439
 that

00:32:17.439 --> 00:32:17.619
 God

00:32:17.619 --> 00:32:17.919
 talks

00:32:17.919 --> 00:32:18.139
 about

00:32:18.139 --> 00:32:18.299
 his

00:32:18.299 --> 00:32:18.559
 love

00:32:18.559 --> 00:32:18.799
 for

00:32:18.799 --> 00:32:19.059
 us

00:32:19.059 --> 00:32:19.500
 many

00:32:19.500 --> 00:32:19.759
 ways

00:32:19.759 --> 00:32:19.899
 that

00:32:19.899 --> 00:32:20.059
 God

00:32:20.059 --> 00:32:20.519
 shows

00:32:20.519 --> 00:32:20.759
 his

00:32:20.759 --> 00:32:21.079
 love

00:32:21.079 --> 00:32:21.559
 to

00:32:21.559 --> 00:32:21.899
 us

00:32:21.899 --> 00:32:22.399
 we

00:32:22.399 --> 00:32:22.639
 see

00:32:22.639 --> 00:32:22.959
 many

00:32:22.959 --> 00:32:23.219
 ways

00:32:23.219 --> 00:32:23.399
 that

00:32:23.399 --> 00:32:23.739
 Jesus

00:32:23.739 --> 00:32:24.319
 loves

00:32:24.319 --> 00:32:25.000
 others

00:32:25.000 --> 00:32:25.500
 and

00:32:25.500 --> 00:32:25.639
 I

00:32:25.639 --> 00:32:25.919
 think

00:32:25.919 --> 00:32:26.459
 that

00:32:26.459 --> 00:32:27.000
 I

00:32:27.000 --> 00:32:27.379
 need

00:32:27.379 --> 00:32:27.579
 and

00:32:27.579 --> 00:32:27.779
 I'll

00:32:27.779 --> 00:32:27.979
 just

00:32:27.979 --> 00:32:28.159
 be

00:32:28.159 --> 00:32:28.339
 bold

00:32:28.339 --> 00:32:28.439
 and

00:32:28.439 --> 00:32:28.579
 say

00:32:28.579 --> 00:32:28.719
 I

00:32:28.719 --> 00:32:28.899
 think

00:32:28.899 --> 00:32:29.059
 you

00:32:29.059 --> 00:32:29.239
 need

00:32:29.239 --> 00:32:29.359
 it

00:32:29.359 --> 00:32:29.579
 too

00:32:34.619 --> 00:32:35.239
 how

00:32:35.239 --> 00:32:35.439
 do

00:32:35.439 --> 00:32:35.619
 we

00:32:35.619 --> 00:32:36.099
 live

00:32:36.099 --> 00:32:36.419
 that

00:32:36.419 --> 00:32:36.719
 love

00:32:36.719 --> 00:32:37.179
 out

00:32:37.179 --> 00:32:38.000
 so

00:32:38.000 --> 00:32:38.899
 spend

00:32:38.899 --> 00:32:39.339
 time

00:32:39.339 --> 00:32:40.039
 reflecting

00:32:40.039 --> 00:32:40.559
 on

00:32:40.559 --> 00:32:40.759
 the

00:32:40.759 --> 00:32:41.079
 love

00:32:41.079 --> 00:32:41.359
 of

00:32:41.359 --> 00:32:41.739
 Christ

00:32:41.739 --> 00:32:41.939
 and

00:32:41.939 --> 00:32:42.139
 on

00:32:42.139 --> 00:32:42.479
 God's

00:32:42.479 --> 00:32:42.699
 love

00:32:42.699 --> 00:32:42.879
 for

00:32:42.879 --> 00:32:43.059
 you

00:32:43.059 --> 00:32:43.259
 so

00:32:43.259 --> 00:32:43.439
 you

00:32:43.439 --> 00:32:43.619
 can

00:32:43.619 --> 00:32:43.959
 love

00:32:43.959 --> 00:32:44.099
 in

00:32:44.099 --> 00:32:44.319
 that

00:32:44.319 --> 00:32:44.739
 way

00:32:44.739 --> 00:32:46.139
 and

00:32:46.139 --> 00:32:46.399
 look

00:32:46.399 --> 00:32:46.599
 for

00:32:46.599 --> 00:32:47.239
 practical

00:32:47.239 --> 00:32:48.179
 opportunities

00:32:48.179 --> 00:32:49.439
 to

00:32:49.439 --> 00:32:50.239
 express

00:32:50.239 --> 00:32:50.539
 that

00:32:50.539 --> 00:32:50.819
 love

00:32:50.819 --> 00:32:52.000
 I

00:32:52.000 --> 00:32:52.399
 started

00:32:52.399 --> 00:32:52.619
 a

00:32:52.619 --> 00:32:52.979
 list

00:32:52.979 --> 00:32:53.239
 for

00:32:53.239 --> 00:32:53.419
 you

00:32:53.419 --> 00:32:54.619
 things

00:32:54.619 --> 00:32:54.819
 that

00:32:54.819 --> 00:32:54.939
 you

00:32:54.939 --> 00:32:55.099
 can

00:32:55.099 --> 00:32:55.359
 do

00:32:55.359 --> 00:32:57.539
 number

00:32:57.539 --> 00:32:57.839
 one

00:32:57.839 --> 00:32:59.399
 notice

00:32:59.399 --> 00:33:00.479
 when

00:33:00.479 --> 00:33:00.979
 people

00:33:00.979 --> 00:33:01.399
 aren't

00:33:01.399 --> 00:33:01.779
 here

00:33:01.779 --> 00:33:02.619
 and

00:33:02.619 --> 00:33:02.979
 contact

00:33:02.979 --> 00:33:03.399
 them

00:33:03.399 --> 00:33:04.019
 okay

00:33:04.019 --> 00:33:04.339
 that's

00:33:04.339 --> 00:33:04.539
 good

00:33:04.539 --> 00:33:04.599
 you

00:33:04.599 --> 00:33:04.839
 probably

00:33:04.839 --> 00:33:04.980
 do

00:33:04.980 --> 00:33:05.200
 that

00:33:05.200 --> 00:33:05.619
 okay

00:33:05.619 --> 00:33:05.819
 number

00:33:05.819 --> 00:33:06.079
 two

00:33:06.079 --> 00:33:06.619
 make

00:33:06.619 --> 00:33:06.819
 a

00:33:06.819 --> 00:33:07.339
 schedule

00:33:07.339 --> 00:33:07.920
 to

00:33:07.920 --> 00:33:08.440
 connect

00:33:08.440 --> 00:33:08.740
 with

00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:08.899
 a

00:33:08.899 --> 00:33:09.200
 different

00:33:09.200 --> 00:33:09.659
 person

00:33:09.659 --> 00:33:09.920
 and

00:33:09.920 --> 00:33:10.359
 family

00:33:10.359 --> 00:33:10.799
 each

00:33:10.799 --> 00:33:11.240
 week

00:33:11.240 --> 00:33:12.159
 you

00:33:12.159 --> 00:33:12.279
 could

00:33:12.279 --> 00:33:12.399
 do

00:33:12.399 --> 00:33:12.619
 that

00:33:12.619 --> 00:33:13.399
 look

00:33:13.399 --> 00:33:13.619
 for

00:33:13.619 --> 00:33:14.019
 those

00:33:14.019 --> 00:33:14.220
 with

00:33:14.220 --> 00:33:14.399
 a

00:33:14.399 --> 00:33:14.759
 need

00:33:14.759 --> 00:33:15.079
 and

00:33:15.079 --> 00:33:15.720
 secretly

00:33:15.720 --> 00:33:16.180
 meet

00:33:16.180 --> 00:33:16.460
 it

00:33:16.460 --> 00:33:17.539
 okay

00:33:17.539 --> 00:33:17.879
 that

00:33:17.879 --> 00:33:18.019
 one

00:33:18.019 --> 00:33:18.180
 might

00:33:18.180 --> 00:33:18.319
 be

00:33:18.319 --> 00:33:18.599
 harder

00:33:18.599 --> 00:33:19.440
 plan

00:33:19.440 --> 00:33:19.819
 ways

00:33:19.819 --> 00:33:20.019
 to

00:33:20.019 --> 00:33:20.279
 show

00:33:20.279 --> 00:33:21.220
 hospitality

00:33:21.220 --> 00:33:22.180
 several

00:33:22.180 --> 00:33:22.619
 times

00:33:22.619 --> 00:33:22.799
 a

00:33:22.799 --> 00:33:23.079
 week

00:33:23.079 --> 00:33:23.779
 now

00:33:23.779 --> 00:33:24.259
 I

00:33:24.259 --> 00:33:24.980
 was

00:33:24.980 --> 00:33:25.599
 making

00:33:25.599 --> 00:33:25.839
 a

00:33:25.839 --> 00:33:26.039
 much

00:33:26.039 --> 00:33:26.399
 longer

00:33:26.399 --> 00:33:26.639
 list

00:33:26.639 --> 00:33:26.759
 and

00:33:26.759 --> 00:33:26.819
 I

00:33:26.819 --> 00:33:26.980
 thought

00:33:26.980 --> 00:33:27.420
 nobody

00:33:27.420 --> 00:33:27.559
 is

00:33:27.559 --> 00:33:27.680
 going

00:33:27.680 --> 00:33:27.740
 to

00:33:27.740 --> 00:33:27.940
 listen

00:33:27.940 --> 00:33:28.119
 to

00:33:28.119 --> 00:33:28.259
 your

00:33:28.259 --> 00:33:28.639
 stupid

00:33:28.639 --> 00:33:29.000
 list

00:33:29.000 --> 00:33:29.139
 and

00:33:29.139 --> 00:33:29.279
 they're

00:33:29.279 --> 00:33:29.440
 not

00:33:29.440 --> 00:33:29.539
 going

00:33:29.539 --> 00:33:29.639
 to

00:33:29.639 --> 00:33:29.940
 remember

00:33:29.940 --> 00:33:30.180
 that

00:33:30.180 --> 00:33:30.539
 stuff

00:33:30.539 --> 00:33:31.059
 so

00:33:31.059 --> 00:33:31.200
 I

00:33:31.200 --> 00:33:31.339
 thought

00:33:31.339 --> 00:33:31.480
 I

00:33:31.480 --> 00:33:31.680
 better

00:33:31.680 --> 00:33:32.119
 summarize

00:33:32.119 --> 00:33:32.440
 it

00:33:32.440 --> 00:33:32.819
 so

00:33:32.819 --> 00:33:33.180
 I

00:33:33.180 --> 00:33:33.500
 got

00:33:33.500 --> 00:33:33.980
 something

00:33:33.980 --> 00:33:34.379
 quick

00:33:34.379 --> 00:33:34.559
 and

00:33:34.559 --> 00:33:34.759
 easy

00:33:34.759 --> 00:33:34.960
 for

00:33:34.960 --> 00:33:35.139
 you

00:33:35.139 --> 00:33:35.720
 Romans

00:33:35.720 --> 00:33:36.119
 chapter

00:33:36.119 --> 00:33:36.599
 12

00:33:36.599 --> 00:33:36.940
 verse

00:33:36.940 --> 00:33:37.519
 10

00:33:37.519 --> 00:33:38.299
 Romans

00:33:38.299 --> 00:33:38.659
 chapter

00:33:38.659 --> 00:33:39.039
 12

00:33:39.039 --> 00:33:39.299
 verse

00:33:39.299 --> 00:33:39.579
 10

00:33:39.579 --> 00:33:40.159
 you

00:33:40.159 --> 00:33:40.299
 can

00:33:40.299 --> 00:33:40.500
 turn

00:33:40.500 --> 00:33:40.659
 there

00:33:40.659 --> 00:33:40.759
 if

00:33:40.759 --> 00:33:40.839
 you

00:33:40.839 --> 00:33:41.000
 want

00:33:41.000 --> 00:33:41.180
 but

00:33:41.180 --> 00:33:41.359
 it's

00:33:41.359 --> 00:33:41.619
 short

00:33:41.619 --> 00:33:41.940
 you'll

00:33:41.940 --> 00:33:42.240
 remember

00:33:42.240 --> 00:33:42.500
 it

00:33:42.500 --> 00:33:42.859
 it

00:33:42.859 --> 00:33:43.079
 says

00:33:43.079 --> 00:33:43.740
 love

00:33:43.740 --> 00:33:44.039
 one

00:33:44.039 --> 00:33:44.500
 another

00:33:44.500 --> 00:33:44.819
 with

00:33:44.819 --> 00:33:45.399
 brotherly

00:33:45.399 --> 00:33:45.940
 affection

00:33:45.940 --> 00:33:47.319
 outdo

00:33:47.319 --> 00:33:47.599
 one

00:33:47.599 --> 00:33:48.059
 another

00:33:48.059 --> 00:33:48.379
 in

00:33:48.379 --> 00:33:48.779
 showing

00:33:48.779 --> 00:33:49.379
 honor

00:33:49.380 --> 00:34:00.040
 when

00:34:00.040 --> 00:34:00.140
 I

00:34:00.140 --> 00:34:00.320
 got

00:34:00.320 --> 00:34:00.460
 to

00:34:00.460 --> 00:34:00.580
 that

00:34:00.580 --> 00:34:00.780
 point

00:34:00.780 --> 00:34:00.880
 I

00:34:00.880 --> 00:34:01.020
 had

00:34:01.020 --> 00:34:01.140
 to

00:34:01.140 --> 00:34:01.340
 take

00:34:01.340 --> 00:34:01.460
 a

00:34:01.460 --> 00:34:01.580
 few

00:34:01.580 --> 00:34:01.860
 minutes

00:34:01.860 --> 00:34:02.040
 and

00:34:02.040 --> 00:34:02.520
 ponder

00:34:02.520 --> 00:34:02.920
 that

00:34:02.920 --> 00:34:04.420
 could

00:34:04.420 --> 00:34:04.800
 you

00:34:04.800 --> 00:34:05.540
 imagine

00:34:05.540 --> 00:34:06.500
 try

00:34:06.500 --> 00:34:06.660
 to

00:34:06.660 --> 00:34:07.000
 imagine

00:34:07.000 --> 00:34:08.200
 imagine

00:34:08.200 --> 00:34:08.559
 with

00:34:08.559 --> 00:34:08.840
 me

00:34:08.840 --> 00:34:10.200
 what

00:34:10.200 --> 00:34:11.140
 the

00:34:11.140 --> 00:34:11.519
 body

00:34:11.519 --> 00:34:11.740
 of

00:34:11.740 --> 00:34:12.300
 Christ

00:34:12.300 --> 00:34:13.000
 would

00:34:13.000 --> 00:34:13.220
 be

00:34:13.220 --> 00:34:13.740
 like

00:34:13.740 --> 00:34:15.039
 and

00:34:15.039 --> 00:34:15.640
 our

00:34:15.640 --> 00:34:16.539
 communities

00:34:16.539 --> 00:34:18.200
 if

00:34:18.199 --> 00:34:19.419
 we

00:34:19.419 --> 00:34:20.239
 really

00:34:20.239 --> 00:34:20.799
 came

00:34:20.799 --> 00:34:21.159
 to

00:34:21.159 --> 00:34:21.639
 each

00:34:21.639 --> 00:34:22.619
 situation

00:34:22.619 --> 00:34:24.439
 actively

00:34:24.439 --> 00:34:25.099
 trying

00:34:25.099 --> 00:34:25.399
 to

00:34:25.399 --> 00:34:25.719
 out

00:34:25.719 --> 00:34:26.059
 love

00:34:26.059 --> 00:34:26.319
 each

00:34:26.319 --> 00:34:26.639
 other

00:34:26.639 --> 00:34:29.099
 I

00:34:29.099 --> 00:34:29.259
 mean

00:34:29.259 --> 00:34:29.619
 really

00:34:29.619 --> 00:34:30.059
 think

00:34:30.059 --> 00:34:30.259
 about

00:34:30.259 --> 00:34:30.399
 it

00:34:30.399 --> 00:34:30.679
 if

00:34:30.679 --> 00:34:30.939
 that

00:34:30.939 --> 00:34:31.279
 was

00:34:31.279 --> 00:34:31.559
 your

00:34:31.559 --> 00:34:32.139
 intentional

00:34:32.139 --> 00:34:32.619
 goal

00:34:32.619 --> 00:34:33.019
 when

00:34:33.019 --> 00:34:33.139
 you

00:34:33.139 --> 00:34:33.339
 came

00:34:33.339 --> 00:34:33.439
 to

00:34:33.439 --> 00:34:33.559
 your

00:34:33.559 --> 00:34:33.879
 small

00:34:33.879 --> 00:34:34.219
 group

00:34:34.219 --> 00:34:34.539
 when

00:34:34.539 --> 00:34:34.639
 you

00:34:34.639 --> 00:34:34.799
 got

00:34:34.799 --> 00:34:35.099
 together

00:34:35.099 --> 00:34:35.259
 with

00:34:35.259 --> 00:34:35.519
 somebody

00:34:35.519 --> 00:34:35.739
 else

00:34:35.739 --> 00:34:35.879
 from

00:34:35.879 --> 00:34:36.019
 the

00:34:36.019 --> 00:34:36.219
 church

00:34:36.219 --> 00:34:36.559
 when

00:34:36.559 --> 00:34:36.679
 you

00:34:36.679 --> 00:34:36.799
 were

00:34:36.799 --> 00:34:37.000
 with

00:34:37.000 --> 00:34:37.139
 your

00:34:37.139 --> 00:34:37.519
 neighbors

00:34:37.519 --> 00:34:37.879
 when

00:34:37.879 --> 00:34:37.960
 you

00:34:37.960 --> 00:34:38.039
 were

00:34:38.039 --> 00:34:38.199
 in

00:34:38.199 --> 00:34:38.339
 your

00:34:38.339 --> 00:34:38.839
 community

00:34:38.839 --> 00:34:39.259
 that

00:34:39.259 --> 00:34:39.460
 you

00:34:39.460 --> 00:34:39.639
 were

00:34:39.639 --> 00:34:40.139
 actively

00:34:40.139 --> 00:34:40.739
 looking

00:34:40.739 --> 00:34:41.099
 to

00:34:41.099 --> 00:34:41.919
 outdo

00:34:41.919 --> 00:34:42.239
 them

00:34:42.239 --> 00:34:42.439
 and

00:34:42.439 --> 00:34:42.939
 honoring

00:34:42.939 --> 00:34:43.379
 them

00:34:43.379 --> 00:34:44.439
 if

00:34:44.439 --> 00:34:44.579
 you

00:34:44.579 --> 00:34:44.719
 are

00:34:44.719 --> 00:34:45.079
 looking

00:34:45.079 --> 00:34:45.339
 to

00:34:45.339 --> 00:34:45.659
 love

00:34:45.659 --> 00:34:45.859
 them

00:34:45.859 --> 00:34:46.559
 passionately

00:34:46.559 --> 00:34:47.079
 and

00:34:47.079 --> 00:34:47.380
 with

00:34:47.380 --> 00:34:47.539
 your

00:34:47.539 --> 00:34:47.799
 brothers

00:34:47.799 --> 00:34:48.000
 and

00:34:48.000 --> 00:34:48.320
 sisters

00:34:48.320 --> 00:34:48.699
 to

00:34:48.699 --> 00:34:49.239
 out

00:34:49.239 --> 00:34:49.719
 love

00:34:49.719 --> 00:34:50.199
 them

00:34:50.199 --> 00:34:53.099
 I

00:34:53.099 --> 00:34:53.880
 contend

00:34:53.880 --> 00:34:55.679
 that the

00:34:55.679 --> 00:34:55.940
 church

00:34:55.940 --> 00:34:56.239
 would be

00:34:56.239 --> 00:34:56.920
 transformed

00:34:56.920 --> 00:34:58.139
 and along

00:34:58.139 --> 00:34:58.539
 with it

00:34:58.539 --> 00:34:58.679
 the

00:34:58.679 --> 00:34:59.139
 community

00:34:59.139 --> 00:35:00.079
 if we

00:35:00.079 --> 00:35:00.619
 merely

00:35:00.619 --> 00:35:01.039
 did

00:35:01.039 --> 00:35:01.340
 that

00:35:01.340 --> 00:35:01.619
 one

00:35:01.619 --> 00:35:02.019
 thing

00:35:02.019 --> 00:35:03.579
 if we

00:35:03.579 --> 00:35:03.900
 loved

00:35:03.900 --> 00:35:04.139
 the way

00:35:04.139 --> 00:35:04.500
 Jesus

00:35:04.500 --> 00:35:04.940
 loved

00:35:04.940 --> 00:35:05.299
 us

00:35:05.299 --> 00:35:05.820
 and

00:35:05.820 --> 00:35:06.420
 sought

00:35:06.420 --> 00:35:06.719
 to

00:35:06.719 --> 00:35:07.079
 out

00:35:07.079 --> 00:35:07.360
 love

00:35:07.360 --> 00:35:07.920
 everybody

00:35:07.920 --> 00:35:08.340
 else

00:35:08.340 --> 00:35:08.519
 that

00:35:08.519 --> 00:35:08.659
 was

00:35:08.659 --> 00:35:08.799
 our

00:35:08.799 --> 00:35:09.059
 goal

00:35:09.059 --> 00:35:09.460
 whenever

00:35:09.460 --> 00:35:09.659
 we're

00:35:09.659 --> 00:35:09.759
 going

00:35:09.759 --> 00:35:09.799
 to

00:35:09.799 --> 00:35:09.880
 get

00:35:09.880 --> 00:35:10.159
 together

00:35:10.159 --> 00:35:10.539
 I'm

00:35:10.539 --> 00:35:10.619
 going

00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:10.639
 to

00:35:10.639 --> 00:35:10.840
 out

00:35:10.840 --> 00:35:11.059
 love

00:35:11.059 --> 00:35:11.239
 that

00:35:11.239 --> 00:35:11.500
 guy

00:35:11.500 --> 00:35:13.079
 our

00:35:13.079 --> 00:35:13.380
 lives

00:35:13.380 --> 00:35:13.500
 would

00:35:13.500 --> 00:35:13.639
 be

00:35:13.639 --> 00:35:14.139
 changed

00:35:14.139 --> 00:35:14.539
 our

00:35:14.539 --> 00:35:14.920
 churches

00:35:14.920 --> 00:35:15.139
 would

00:35:15.139 --> 00:35:15.299
 be

00:35:15.299 --> 00:35:15.699
 changed

00:35:15.699 --> 00:35:16.039
 our

00:35:16.039 --> 00:35:16.639
 communities

00:35:16.639 --> 00:35:16.940
 would

00:35:16.940 --> 00:35:17.099
 be

00:35:17.099 --> 00:35:17.539
 changed

00:35:17.539 --> 00:35:18.059
 people

00:35:18.059 --> 00:35:18.480
 really

00:35:18.480 --> 00:35:18.840
 would

00:35:18.840 --> 00:35:19.179
 know

00:35:19.179 --> 00:35:19.480
 we

00:35:19.480 --> 00:35:19.820
 are

00:35:19.820 --> 00:35:20.579
 disciples

00:35:20.579 --> 00:35:20.880
 of

00:35:20.880 --> 00:35:21.320
 Christ

00:35:21.320 --> 00:35:21.800
 because

00:35:21.800 --> 00:35:22.119
 of

00:35:22.119 --> 00:35:22.239
 our

00:35:22.239 --> 00:35:22.500
 love

00:35:22.500 --> 00:35:22.679
 for

00:35:22.679 --> 00:35:22.860
 each

00:35:22.860 --> 00:35:23.199
 other

00:35:23.199 --> 00:35:24.079
 so

00:35:24.079 --> 00:35:24.300
 you

00:35:24.300 --> 00:35:24.440
 can

00:35:24.440 --> 00:35:24.619
 make

00:35:24.619 --> 00:35:24.739
 your

00:35:24.739 --> 00:35:24.920
 own

00:35:24.920 --> 00:35:25.139
 list

00:35:25.139 --> 00:35:25.279
 I

00:35:25.279 --> 00:35:25.380
 don't

00:35:25.380 --> 00:35:25.539
 need

00:35:25.539 --> 00:35:25.639
 to

00:35:25.639 --> 00:35:25.800
 do

00:35:25.800 --> 00:35:26.059
 that

00:35:26.059 --> 00:35:26.639
 you

00:35:26.639 --> 00:35:26.940
 just

00:35:26.940 --> 00:35:27.440
 remember

00:35:27.440 --> 00:35:28.400
 that

00:35:28.400 --> 00:35:28.840
 this

00:35:28.840 --> 00:35:30.079
 this

00:35:30.079 --> 00:35:30.619
 challenge

00:35:30.619 --> 00:35:31.699
 is

00:35:31.699 --> 00:35:32.259
 in our

00:35:32.259 --> 00:35:32.460
 new

00:35:32.460 --> 00:35:32.759
 year

00:35:32.759 --> 00:35:33.340
 to

00:35:33.340 --> 00:35:33.699
 out

00:35:33.699 --> 00:35:34.000
 love

00:35:34.000 --> 00:35:34.259
 each

00:35:34.259 --> 00:35:34.559
 other

00:35:34.559 --> 00:35:35.519
 and

00:35:35.519 --> 00:35:35.860
 through

00:35:35.860 --> 00:35:36.139
 that

00:35:36.139 --> 00:35:36.420
 labor

00:35:36.420 --> 00:35:36.639
 of

00:35:36.639 --> 00:35:36.940
 love

00:35:36.940 --> 00:35:37.179
 to

00:35:37.179 --> 00:35:37.420
 make

00:35:37.420 --> 00:35:37.539
 an

00:35:37.539 --> 00:35:37.880
 eternal

00:35:37.880 --> 00:35:38.559
 impact

00:35:38.559 --> 00:35:40.300
 number

00:35:40.300 --> 00:35:40.639
 three

00:35:40.639 --> 00:35:42.739
 Paul

00:35:42.739 --> 00:35:43.279
 talks

00:35:43.279 --> 00:35:43.659
 about

00:35:43.659 --> 00:35:44.659
 remembering

00:35:44.659 --> 00:35:45.839
 their

00:35:45.839 --> 00:35:47.659
 steadfastness

00:35:47.659 --> 00:35:49.819
 of hope

00:35:49.819 --> 00:35:50.440
 in Jesus

00:35:50.440 --> 00:35:50.960
 Christ

00:35:50.960 --> 00:35:51.599
 their

00:35:51.599 --> 00:35:52.659
 steadfastness

00:35:52.659 --> 00:35:53.420
 of hope

00:35:53.420 --> 00:35:54.500
 in Jesus

00:35:54.500 --> 00:35:55.000
 Christ

00:35:55.000 --> 00:35:55.899
 I think

00:35:55.899 --> 00:35:56.500
 we need to

00:35:56.500 --> 00:35:58.079
 stop for a second

00:35:58.079 --> 00:35:58.779
 as well

00:35:58.779 --> 00:36:00.399
 and define hope

00:36:00.399 --> 00:36:01.739
 because it's also a word

00:36:01.739 --> 00:36:02.779
 that has gotten

00:36:02.779 --> 00:36:03.480
 diluted

00:36:03.480 --> 00:36:05.679
 and we talk about hope

00:36:05.679 --> 00:36:06.399
 in our culture

00:36:06.399 --> 00:36:07.739
 in our ways

00:36:07.739 --> 00:36:09.519
 as kind of like a wishful

00:36:09.519 --> 00:36:10.019
 thinking

00:36:10.019 --> 00:36:10.679
 you know

00:36:10.679 --> 00:36:12.299
 I'm

00:36:12.299 --> 00:36:13.099
 not sure

00:36:13.099 --> 00:36:13.719
 what's for lunch

00:36:13.719 --> 00:36:14.019
 but

00:36:14.019 --> 00:36:14.719
 I hope

00:36:14.719 --> 00:36:14.960
 it's

00:36:14.960 --> 00:36:15.379
 cheesecake

00:36:15.379 --> 00:36:17.739
 you know

00:36:17.739 --> 00:36:18.079
 what I'm saying

00:36:18.079 --> 00:36:19.839
 if it's not

00:36:19.839 --> 00:36:20.139
 cheesecake

00:36:20.139 --> 00:36:20.699
 it's okay

00:36:20.699 --> 00:36:20.919
 but

00:36:20.919 --> 00:36:21.359
 man

00:36:21.359 --> 00:36:21.679
 if it's

00:36:21.679 --> 00:36:22.119
 cheesecake

00:36:22.119 --> 00:36:23.259
 that'd be

00:36:23.259 --> 00:36:23.699
 great

00:36:23.699 --> 00:36:24.059
 you know

00:36:24.059 --> 00:36:24.879
 and we

00:36:24.879 --> 00:36:25.339
 think of

00:36:25.339 --> 00:36:25.519
 hope

00:36:25.519 --> 00:36:25.839
 that way

00:36:25.839 --> 00:36:26.179
 it's kind

00:36:26.179 --> 00:36:26.440
 of this

00:36:26.440 --> 00:36:26.839
 wishful

00:36:26.839 --> 00:36:27.099
 thinking

00:36:27.099 --> 00:36:27.500
 I hope

00:36:27.500 --> 00:36:27.879
 it works

00:36:27.879 --> 00:36:28.099
 out

00:36:28.099 --> 00:36:28.419
 probably

00:36:28.419 --> 00:36:28.839
 won't

00:36:28.839 --> 00:36:29.419
 I hope

00:36:29.419 --> 00:36:30.019
 it happens

00:36:30.019 --> 00:36:30.379
 if it

00:36:30.379 --> 00:36:30.659
 doesn't

00:36:30.659 --> 00:36:30.859
 it's

00:36:30.859 --> 00:36:31.119
 okay

00:36:31.119 --> 00:36:31.599
 but

00:36:31.599 --> 00:36:32.339
 biblically

00:36:32.339 --> 00:36:32.940
 that is

00:36:32.940 --> 00:36:33.460
 not the

00:36:33.460 --> 00:36:33.659
 way

00:36:33.659 --> 00:36:34.039
 the word

00:36:34.039 --> 00:36:34.339
 hope

00:36:34.339 --> 00:36:34.559
 is

00:36:34.559 --> 00:36:35.079
 used

00:36:35.079 --> 00:36:35.699
 you need

00:36:35.699 --> 00:36:35.819
 to

00:36:35.819 --> 00:36:36.199
 understand

00:36:36.199 --> 00:36:36.799
 that

00:36:36.799 --> 00:36:37.399
 you probably

00:36:37.399 --> 00:36:37.659
 know

00:36:37.659 --> 00:36:37.960
 that

00:36:37.960 --> 00:36:38.259
 but let

00:36:38.259 --> 00:36:38.339
 me

00:36:38.339 --> 00:36:38.539
 just

00:36:38.539 --> 00:36:38.879
 remind

00:36:38.879 --> 00:36:39.000
 you

00:36:39.000 --> 00:36:40.260
 in

00:36:40.260 --> 00:36:40.920
 scripture

00:36:40.920 --> 00:36:41.699
 hope

00:36:41.699 --> 00:36:42.199
 is a

00:36:42.199 --> 00:36:42.400
 much

00:36:42.400 --> 00:36:42.920
 stronger

00:36:42.920 --> 00:36:43.280
 word

00:36:43.280 --> 00:36:43.639
 it's

00:36:43.639 --> 00:36:43.820
 this

00:36:43.820 --> 00:36:44.079
 sense

00:36:44.079 --> 00:36:44.239
 of

00:36:44.239 --> 00:36:44.820
 trust

00:36:44.820 --> 00:36:45.500
 it's

00:36:45.500 --> 00:36:45.659
 this

00:36:45.659 --> 00:36:45.960
 sense

00:36:45.960 --> 00:36:46.219
 of

00:36:46.219 --> 00:36:47.519
 eager

00:36:47.519 --> 00:36:48.239
 longing

00:36:48.239 --> 00:36:48.800
 it's

00:36:48.800 --> 00:36:48.980
 this

00:36:48.980 --> 00:36:49.900
 expectation

00:36:49.900 --> 00:36:50.179
 that

00:36:50.179 --> 00:36:50.539
 something

00:36:50.539 --> 00:36:51.019
 will

00:36:51.019 --> 00:36:51.639
 happen

00:36:51.639 --> 00:36:52.260
 it's

00:36:52.260 --> 00:36:52.659
 far

00:36:52.659 --> 00:36:53.380
 stronger

00:36:53.380 --> 00:36:53.699
 than

00:36:53.699 --> 00:36:54.179
 our

00:36:54.179 --> 00:36:54.860
 use

00:36:54.860 --> 00:36:55.000
 of

00:36:55.000 --> 00:36:55.119
 the

00:36:55.119 --> 00:36:55.300
 word

00:36:55.300 --> 00:36:55.579
 hope

00:36:55.579 --> 00:36:56.019
 now

00:36:56.019 --> 00:36:56.440
 and

00:36:56.440 --> 00:36:56.579
 so

00:36:56.579 --> 00:36:56.780
 when

00:36:56.780 --> 00:36:57.039
 Paul

00:36:57.039 --> 00:36:57.579
 talks

00:36:57.579 --> 00:36:58.119
 here

00:36:58.119 --> 00:36:58.780
 about

00:36:58.780 --> 00:36:59.039
 their

00:36:59.039 --> 00:36:59.920
 steadfastness

00:36:59.920 --> 00:37:00.079
 in

00:37:00.079 --> 00:37:00.500
 hope

00:37:00.500 --> 00:37:00.920
 it's

00:37:00.920 --> 00:37:01.079
 not

00:37:01.079 --> 00:37:01.260
 like

00:37:01.260 --> 00:37:01.420
 they're

00:37:01.420 --> 00:37:01.559
 sitting

00:37:01.559 --> 00:37:01.739
 around

00:37:01.739 --> 00:37:01.860
 going

00:37:01.860 --> 00:37:02.039
 man

00:37:02.039 --> 00:37:02.159
 I

00:37:02.159 --> 00:37:02.340
 hope

00:37:02.340 --> 00:37:02.619
 everything

00:37:02.619 --> 00:37:02.960
 works

00:37:02.960 --> 00:37:03.340
 out

00:37:03.340 --> 00:37:03.820
 no

00:37:03.820 --> 00:37:04.099
 they

00:37:04.099 --> 00:37:04.579
 are

00:37:04.579 --> 00:37:05.179
 set

00:37:05.179 --> 00:37:05.619
 they

00:37:05.619 --> 00:37:06.260
 know

00:37:06.260 --> 00:37:06.800
 everything

00:37:06.800 --> 00:37:07.079
 is

00:37:07.079 --> 00:37:07.239
 going

00:37:07.239 --> 00:37:07.619
 to work

00:37:07.619 --> 00:37:07.980
 out

00:37:07.980 --> 00:37:08.519
 and

00:37:08.519 --> 00:37:09.000
 see

00:37:09.000 --> 00:37:09.460
 the

00:37:09.460 --> 00:37:09.980
 foundation

00:37:09.980 --> 00:37:10.199
 of

00:37:10.199 --> 00:37:10.319
 their

00:37:10.319 --> 00:37:10.659
 hope

00:37:10.659 --> 00:37:11.039
 you

00:37:11.039 --> 00:37:11.359
 remember

00:37:11.359 --> 00:37:11.559
 we

00:37:11.559 --> 00:37:12.039
 read

00:37:12.039 --> 00:37:12.400
 in

00:37:12.400 --> 00:37:12.599
 1

00:37:12.599 --> 00:37:13.239
 Thessalonians

00:37:13.239 --> 00:37:13.539
 1

00:37:13.539 --> 00:37:13.799
 9

00:37:13.799 --> 00:37:13.940
 and

00:37:13.940 --> 00:37:14.380
 10

00:37:14.380 --> 00:37:15.279
 it said

00:37:15.279 --> 00:37:15.699
 they

00:37:15.699 --> 00:37:16.159
 themselves

00:37:16.159 --> 00:37:16.519
 report

00:37:16.519 --> 00:37:17.019
 concerning

00:37:17.019 --> 00:37:17.359
 us

00:37:17.359 --> 00:37:17.500
 the

00:37:17.500 --> 00:37:17.739
 kind

00:37:17.739 --> 00:37:17.839
 of

00:37:17.839 --> 00:37:18.219
 reception

00:37:18.219 --> 00:37:18.440
 we

00:37:18.440 --> 00:37:18.639
 had

00:37:18.639 --> 00:37:18.900
 among

00:37:18.900 --> 00:37:19.139
 you

00:37:19.139 --> 00:37:19.599
 and

00:37:19.599 --> 00:37:19.739
 how

00:37:19.739 --> 00:37:19.900
 you

00:37:19.900 --> 00:37:20.139
 turn

00:37:20.139 --> 00:37:20.299
 to

00:37:20.299 --> 00:37:20.500
 god

00:37:20.500 --> 00:37:20.699
 from

00:37:20.699 --> 00:37:21.079
 idols

00:37:21.079 --> 00:37:21.579
 to

00:37:21.579 --> 00:37:21.799
 serve

00:37:21.799 --> 00:37:21.980
 the

00:37:21.980 --> 00:37:22.279
 living

00:37:22.279 --> 00:37:22.480
 and

00:37:22.480 --> 00:37:22.659
 true

00:37:22.659 --> 00:37:23.019
 god

00:37:23.019 --> 00:37:23.500
 and

00:37:23.500 --> 00:37:23.659
 to

00:37:23.659 --> 00:37:24.099
 wait

00:37:24.099 --> 00:37:24.440
 for

00:37:24.440 --> 00:37:24.659
 his

00:37:24.659 --> 00:37:25.099
 son

00:37:25.099 --> 00:37:25.619
 from

00:37:25.619 --> 00:37:26.119
 heaven

00:37:26.119 --> 00:37:26.900
 whom

00:37:26.900 --> 00:37:27.039
 he

00:37:27.039 --> 00:37:27.400
 raised

00:37:27.400 --> 00:37:27.599
 from

00:37:27.599 --> 00:37:27.739
 the

00:37:27.739 --> 00:37:27.960
 dead

00:37:27.960 --> 00:37:28.679
 Jesus

00:37:28.679 --> 00:37:29.159
 who

00:37:29.159 --> 00:37:29.599
 delivers

00:37:29.599 --> 00:37:30.039
 us

00:37:30.039 --> 00:37:30.400
 from

00:37:30.400 --> 00:37:30.559
 the

00:37:30.559 --> 00:37:30.880
 wrath

00:37:30.880 --> 00:37:31.159
 to

00:37:31.159 --> 00:37:31.579
 come

00:37:31.579 --> 00:37:32.359
 you

00:37:32.360 --> 00:37:34.980
 You see, the foundation of their hope is clear.

00:37:35.340 --> 00:37:37.480
 Their eyes are set on Jesus.

00:37:37.880 --> 00:37:39.720
 Their eyes are set on eternity.

00:37:40.280 --> 00:37:45.980
 If we look down in chapter 5, 1 Thessalonians 5, 8 through 11, we see it again.

00:37:47.019 --> 00:37:49.099
 1 Thessalonians 5, 8 through 11 says,

00:37:49.099 --> 00:37:59.360
 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.

00:37:59.360 --> 00:38:06.400
 For God has not destined us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us,

00:38:06.579 --> 00:38:09.880
 so that whether we are awake or asleep, we might live with Him.

00:38:10.240 --> 00:38:14.880
 Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

00:38:15.780 --> 00:38:17.559
 You see, their hope is set on Jesus.

00:38:17.860 --> 00:38:19.400
 Their eyes are set on eternity.

00:38:19.700 --> 00:38:24.059
 Remember, we talked about they're in the middle of persecution and affliction right now,

00:38:24.160 --> 00:38:27.440
 but they know that there's something good coming.

00:38:27.440 --> 00:38:29.500
 Or as 1 Peter 1, 4 says,

00:38:29.780 --> 00:38:35.500
 They have an inheritance that's imperishable, undefiled, unfading, kept in heaven for them.

00:38:35.760 --> 00:38:37.679
 Their eyes are set on eternity.

00:38:38.059 --> 00:38:41.860
 And that's the foundation of this steadfast hope.

00:38:42.860 --> 00:38:50.059
 So whatever's happening, they look beyond it to Christ and know there is something more.

00:38:51.019 --> 00:38:52.619
 So that's the foundation of their hope.

00:38:52.619 --> 00:38:56.739
 But what we also see here is the fruit of their hope.

00:38:57.539 --> 00:38:58.599
 The fruit of their hope.

00:38:59.259 --> 00:39:01.440
 You've read already, we've read it several times.

00:39:01.940 --> 00:39:03.480
 1 Thessalonians 1, 6.

00:39:03.799 --> 00:39:04.059
 He said,

00:39:04.139 --> 00:39:08.019
 You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction,

00:39:08.579 --> 00:39:10.779
 with the joy of the Holy Spirit.

00:39:11.759 --> 00:39:16.000
 You see, they were in the middle of affliction, but their hope enabled them to have joy.

00:39:16.000 --> 00:39:22.000
 They could face this trial, this trouble, this hurt, this brokenness, this persecution,

00:39:22.420 --> 00:39:27.500
 and still be rejoicing because they were waiting for something more.

00:39:27.960 --> 00:39:30.380
 They knew something good was coming.

00:39:30.380 --> 00:39:36.380
 Something else we see as a fruit of their hope is in 1 Thessalonians 4.

00:39:36.840 --> 00:39:40.500
 I didn't tell Pastor Andrew that we were preaching all of 1 Thessalonians.

00:39:40.559 --> 00:39:44.220
 I thought he cut me off, but I just said the first chapter, but it's all connected.

00:39:45.079 --> 00:39:49.660
 1 Thessalonians 4, 13 through 18 says,

00:39:49.659 --> 00:39:55.599
 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep,

00:39:56.099 --> 00:40:00.379
 that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.

00:40:01.219 --> 00:40:04.039
 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again,

00:40:04.339 --> 00:40:08.539
 even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.

00:40:09.119 --> 00:40:11.779
 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord,

00:40:12.000 --> 00:40:14.819
 we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord,

00:40:14.940 --> 00:40:17.359
 will not precede those who have fallen asleep.

00:40:17.360 --> 00:40:20.740
 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command,

00:40:20.960 --> 00:40:23.940
 with the voice of an archangel, with the sound of the trumpet of God,

00:40:24.039 --> 00:40:26.200
 and the dead in Christ will rise first.

00:40:26.519 --> 00:40:28.180
 Then we who are alive, who are left,

00:40:28.400 --> 00:40:31.420
 will be caught up together with him in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air,

00:40:31.640 --> 00:40:33.380
 so we will always be with the Lord.

00:40:33.700 --> 00:40:36.980
 Therefore, encourage one another with these words.

00:40:38.280 --> 00:40:42.019
 You see, their hope was set on the foundation of Christ,

00:40:42.280 --> 00:40:46.860
 and the fruit of it was that they could endure all of these things that were happening

00:40:46.860 --> 00:40:51.920
 with a sense of joy, with an awareness that good is coming.

00:40:52.740 --> 00:40:56.200
 At the very worst, it could only hurt for a lifetime.

00:40:58.420 --> 00:41:03.220
 And so, they were able, even in that, to grieve with hope.

00:41:04.680 --> 00:41:07.780
 So, third point of application is this.

00:41:07.780 --> 00:41:10.760
 How is your hope?

00:41:11.320 --> 00:41:12.480
 And what is it set on?

00:41:13.240 --> 00:41:17.880
 If it's set on worldly things, your new job, your new car,

00:41:18.120 --> 00:41:20.040
 the house you always wanted that you now have,

00:41:20.320 --> 00:41:23.040
 all of those things are going to disappoint you.

00:41:23.860 --> 00:41:25.120
 They're going to let you down.

00:41:25.300 --> 00:41:30.340
 If they're set on Jesus, though, then nothing can take away your hope.

00:41:30.400 --> 00:41:32.340
 Your hope becomes indestructible.

00:41:32.340 --> 00:41:36.000
 Whatever happens in your life, in your family,

00:41:36.300 --> 00:41:40.760
 you can step back and say, yeah, this is really bad, but Jesus still wins.

00:41:41.680 --> 00:41:43.079
 Because, see, we know the end.

00:41:43.620 --> 00:41:44.480
 Jesus wins.

00:41:46.000 --> 00:41:50.720
 And it gives us the ability to endure everything with joy.

00:41:51.720 --> 00:41:56.059
 Now, I know I'm already too long.

00:41:57.200 --> 00:41:58.600
 Thank you for your patience.

00:41:58.599 --> 00:42:00.579
 I have to add this point.

00:42:02.039 --> 00:42:03.420
 Hope is not fake.

00:42:04.940 --> 00:42:06.259
 Hope is not fake.

00:42:07.159 --> 00:42:13.839
 And what I mean by that is sometimes we get the idea that Christian hope,

00:42:14.279 --> 00:42:16.339
 being a Christian, being a good Christian,

00:42:16.659 --> 00:42:19.460
 is putting on this facade that we're okay.

00:42:21.059 --> 00:42:22.079
 You know, come to church.

00:42:22.139 --> 00:42:22.679
 How you doing?

00:42:23.019 --> 00:42:23.699
 I'm okay.

00:42:24.239 --> 00:42:26.239
 Because you don't really care anyway.

00:42:26.239 --> 00:42:31.539
 You know, and we just have this sense that we have to be okay on the outside.

00:42:31.859 --> 00:42:34.839
 But notice, here it talks about grieving with hope,

00:42:35.099 --> 00:42:37.179
 and that presumes we grieve.

00:42:38.559 --> 00:42:40.879
 We can't grieve with hope without grieving.

00:42:41.759 --> 00:42:44.239
 And I think one area that we make the mistake in

00:42:44.239 --> 00:42:46.479
 is not suffering together,

00:42:47.179 --> 00:42:49.039
 being open, being transparent,

00:42:49.399 --> 00:42:52.459
 and being willing to admit our struggles

00:42:52.460 --> 00:42:54.400
 so we can grieve with hope

00:42:54.400 --> 00:42:58.699
 so the world can see it's different than what they have.

00:42:59.780 --> 00:43:02.500
 So, here's the challenge for hope for this year.

00:43:03.400 --> 00:43:05.039
 This year, let me challenge you.

00:43:06.500 --> 00:43:10.380
 Find one person in the church

00:43:10.380 --> 00:43:12.320
 that you are going to be transparent with,

00:43:12.480 --> 00:43:13.539
 with your struggles,

00:43:13.539 --> 00:43:17.659
 and together seek to grieve with hope.

00:43:18.960 --> 00:43:22.000
 But let me give you a further challenge

00:43:22.000 --> 00:43:25.860
 and find somebody in your life,

00:43:25.940 --> 00:43:26.920
 could be a co-worker,

00:43:27.079 --> 00:43:27.940
 could be a neighbor,

00:43:28.340 --> 00:43:30.320
 that you are going to prayerfully seek

00:43:30.320 --> 00:43:33.880
 to open up the struggles of your life to

00:43:33.880 --> 00:43:38.420
 so that they can see you grieve with hope as well

00:43:38.420 --> 00:43:40.920
 and know that you serve a living God.

00:43:43.500 --> 00:43:46.260
 Here's three things to change the world.

00:43:46.860 --> 00:43:47.740
 A work of faith,

00:43:48.240 --> 00:43:49.400
 a labor of love,

00:43:49.920 --> 00:43:51.900
 and a steadfast hope in Christ.

00:43:54.260 --> 00:43:57.200
 I pray that you will commit with me this year

00:43:57.200 --> 00:43:58.880
 to pursue those things

00:43:58.880 --> 00:44:02.300
 until all the world has heard

00:44:02.300 --> 00:44:05.300
 that Maranatha has a living God.

00:44:05.920 --> 00:44:06.559
 Let's pray.

00:44:06.559 --> 00:44:08.360
 Father, we thank you.

00:44:08.420 --> 00:44:09.579
 We thank you for your word

00:44:09.579 --> 00:44:12.219
 and that by your word you bring life.

00:44:14.099 --> 00:44:16.380
 Father, we thank you that you have given us faith,

00:44:16.980 --> 00:44:19.259
 that you have shown us your love,

00:44:19.659 --> 00:44:22.619
 and that you have given us something to hope in.

00:44:24.840 --> 00:44:25.759
 Father, I pray

00:44:25.759 --> 00:44:28.719
 that by your spirit

00:44:28.719 --> 00:44:31.619
 we would live those things out

00:44:31.619 --> 00:44:34.179
 and show the world

00:44:34.179 --> 00:44:36.440
 that we serve

00:44:36.440 --> 00:44:37.899
 a living God

00:44:37.899 --> 00:44:39.539
 and that we have

00:44:39.539 --> 00:44:40.960
 a risen Savior

00:44:40.960 --> 00:44:42.440
 who is worth it.

00:44:43.239 --> 00:44:44.739
 In Jesus' name we pray.

00:44:45.159 --> 00:44:45.559
 Amen.

00:44:49.039 --> 00:44:50.059
 Let's stand together.

00:44:50.059 --> 00:45:07.039
 Sing together.

00:45:07.039 --> 00:45:11.000
 I am thine, O Lord.

00:45:11.000 --> 00:45:13.960
 I have heard your voice

00:45:13.960 --> 00:45:18.920
 and it told your love to me.

00:45:19.759 --> 00:45:22.579
 But I long to rise

00:45:22.579 --> 00:45:25.420
 in the arms of faith

00:45:25.420 --> 00:45:29.340
 and be closer drawn to thee.

00:45:29.340 --> 00:45:31.000
 And you are holy holy