WEBVTT 00:00:00.320 --> 00:00:05.120 The scripture reading this morning comes from the Gospel of Luke, chapters 20 and 21. 00:00:05.679 --> 00:00:06.960 Please follow in your bulletin. 00:00:09.220 --> 00:00:13.820 Now there came to him some of the Sadducees who say that there is no resurrection, 00:00:14.259 --> 00:00:16.039 and they questioned him saying, 00:00:16.660 --> 00:00:24.300 Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies, having a wife, and he is childless, 00:00:24.560 --> 00:00:29.019 his brother should marry his wife and raise up children to his brother. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:35.039 Now there were seven brothers, and the first one took a wife and died childless, 00:00:35.619 --> 00:00:37.840 and the second and the third married her, 00:00:38.359 --> 00:00:41.679 and in the same way all seven died, leaving no children. 00:00:42.399 --> 00:00:44.719 Finally, the woman died also. 00:00:46.620 --> 00:00:51.120 In the resurrection, therefore, which one's wife will she be? 00:00:52.100 --> 00:00:53.859 For all seven had married her. 00:00:53.859 --> 00:00:56.740 Jesus said to them, 00:00:57.479 --> 00:01:02.480 The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage. 00:01:03.119 --> 00:01:09.840 With those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead, 00:01:10.960 --> 00:01:13.680 neither marry nor are given in marriage. 00:01:13.680 --> 00:01:21.680 For they cannot die even, they cannot even die anymore because they are like angels or sons of God, 00:01:21.840 --> 00:01:23.520 being sons of the resurrection. 00:01:25.520 --> 00:01:27.680 With that, the dead are raised. 00:01:28.500 --> 00:01:34.719 Even Moses showed in the passage about the burning bush where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham, 00:01:35.380 --> 00:01:37.000 the God of Isaac, 00:01:37.760 --> 00:01:39.320 the God of Jacob. 00:01:39.319 --> 00:01:44.579 Now he is not the God of the dead, but the living. 00:01:45.199 --> 00:01:47.539 For all live to him. 00:01:49.139 --> 00:01:51.239 Some of the scribes answered and said, 00:01:51.819 --> 00:01:54.280 Teacher, you have spoken well. 00:01:55.419 --> 00:02:00.079 For they did not have courage to question him any longer about anything. 00:02:00.079 --> 00:02:03.679 Then he said to them, 00:02:04.459 --> 00:02:08.199 How is it that they say that Christ is David's son? 00:02:09.319 --> 00:02:11.659 For David himself says in the book of Psalms, 00:02:12.060 --> 00:02:14.300 The Lord said to my Lord, 00:02:15.139 --> 00:02:19.280 Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet. 00:02:20.259 --> 00:02:22.319 Therefore, David calls him Lord. 00:02:23.300 --> 00:02:25.520 And how is it he is his son? 00:02:25.520 --> 00:02:29.540 And while all the people were listening, 00:02:30.260 --> 00:02:31.340 He said to the disciples, 00:02:32.760 --> 00:02:38.439 Beware of the scribes who like to walk around in long robes 00:02:38.439 --> 00:02:41.800 and love respectful greetings in the marketplaces, 00:02:42.820 --> 00:02:44.700 and chief seats in the synagogues, 00:02:44.780 --> 00:02:46.900 and places of honor at banquets, 00:02:47.300 --> 00:02:50.320 who devour widows' houses. 00:02:50.319 --> 00:02:54.139 And for appearances' sake, offer long prayers. 00:02:55.599 --> 00:02:58.840 These will receive greater condemnation. 00:03:00.719 --> 00:03:02.319 And he looked up, 00:03:02.840 --> 00:03:06.500 and he saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury. 00:03:07.879 --> 00:03:13.319 And he saw a poor widow putting in two small copper coins. 00:03:13.319 --> 00:03:16.500 And he said, 00:03:17.459 --> 00:03:19.439 Truly, I say to you, 00:03:20.500 --> 00:03:23.879 This poor widow put in more than all of them, 00:03:24.639 --> 00:03:27.599 for they all put out of their surplus, 00:03:28.060 --> 00:03:29.659 put into the offering, 00:03:30.659 --> 00:03:33.519 but she, out of her poverty, 00:03:34.439 --> 00:03:37.259 put in all that she had to live on. 00:03:38.199 --> 00:03:39.340 This is God's word. 00:03:39.340 --> 00:03:45.759 We've been in a journey in the Gospel of Luke. 00:03:46.719 --> 00:03:49.060 If you've been with us for three years, 00:03:49.140 --> 00:03:52.740 you've seen us go through 20 chapters up until this point, 00:03:53.000 --> 00:03:55.000 not all at once, just a little at a time. 00:03:55.980 --> 00:03:58.400 And you would see that there are certain themes 00:03:58.400 --> 00:04:01.840 that Christ continues to teach on 00:04:01.840 --> 00:04:04.120 and talk about through the passage. 00:04:05.099 --> 00:04:07.939 One of the biggest themes that we've been talking about 00:04:07.939 --> 00:04:09.180 is the kingdom of God. 00:04:10.080 --> 00:04:14.240 It's a theme that's threaded through the whole Gospel of Luke. 00:04:15.099 --> 00:04:18.240 It's this theme that he's trying to tell us 00:04:18.240 --> 00:04:19.819 or show us as Christ teaches 00:04:19.819 --> 00:04:22.060 that there's a big difference between our kingdom 00:04:22.060 --> 00:04:23.160 that we live in now, 00:04:23.720 --> 00:04:24.680 the things that we value, 00:04:24.819 --> 00:04:25.840 the things that we grab onto, 00:04:25.939 --> 00:04:26.639 the things that we cling, 00:04:26.720 --> 00:04:28.399 the things that we deem important 00:04:28.399 --> 00:04:30.620 in God's kingdom. 00:04:31.300 --> 00:04:33.939 And today, he comes to 00:04:33.939 --> 00:04:36.680 probably the most difficult lesson 00:04:36.680 --> 00:04:37.879 for any of us to learn. 00:04:37.879 --> 00:04:42.360 It's the lesson that often and continually drags us away 00:04:42.360 --> 00:04:43.759 from God's kingdom. 00:04:44.019 --> 00:04:45.319 It's the lesson of our money. 00:04:45.319 --> 00:04:48.980 And what he basically is going to say is, 00:04:49.319 --> 00:04:51.000 if you don't want your stuff 00:04:51.000 --> 00:04:52.439 to have hold of you, 00:04:53.120 --> 00:04:55.599 if you don't want to be controlled by your finances, 00:04:55.680 --> 00:04:57.180 if you don't want to be controlled by your money, 00:04:57.600 --> 00:04:59.959 if you don't want to be controlled by your financial appetite, 00:05:00.060 --> 00:05:00.959 you need to give it away. 00:05:00.959 --> 00:05:04.079 Because the only way you can break a hold of something 00:05:04.079 --> 00:05:05.299 is by releasing it. 00:05:06.339 --> 00:05:07.139 And so what I thought we'd do 00:05:07.139 --> 00:05:09.159 is we'd try a little exercise today in giving away. 00:05:10.579 --> 00:05:12.039 What I would like for you to do is take out your wallet. 00:05:17.479 --> 00:05:18.079 Come on. 00:05:20.579 --> 00:05:21.159 Hold it up. 00:05:21.160 --> 00:05:23.620 It's not like your Bible. 00:05:23.840 --> 00:05:24.780 This is my Bible. 00:05:24.920 --> 00:05:26.060 This is my wallet. 00:05:26.439 --> 00:05:27.240 This is your wallet. 00:05:28.860 --> 00:05:30.840 You know, Christ is going to say today 00:05:30.840 --> 00:05:33.680 that so much trouble and so much difficulty 00:05:33.680 --> 00:05:36.260 comes from this object that we have right here. 00:05:37.460 --> 00:05:39.120 For some of us, it represents power. 00:05:40.879 --> 00:05:42.580 For some of us, it represents security. 00:05:44.140 --> 00:05:46.840 For some of us, it represents popularity and wealth 00:05:46.839 --> 00:05:48.119 and the ability to have freedom 00:05:48.119 --> 00:05:49.279 and to do whatever we want. 00:05:50.839 --> 00:05:53.359 And he says to us that this little object here 00:05:53.359 --> 00:05:54.259 and what it represents 00:05:54.259 --> 00:05:56.459 draws us away from the kingdom of God 00:05:56.459 --> 00:05:57.899 more than anything else. 00:05:59.079 --> 00:06:01.219 And to be broken from the power of this little object, 00:06:01.319 --> 00:06:02.219 we need to give it away. 00:06:03.319 --> 00:06:04.399 So what I want you to do 00:06:04.399 --> 00:06:05.759 is I want you just to hand the wallet 00:06:05.759 --> 00:06:06.699 to the person next to you. 00:06:07.819 --> 00:06:08.639 Go ahead, give to them. 00:06:10.019 --> 00:06:11.599 Here, I'll give mine to my wife 00:06:11.599 --> 00:06:13.379 or I'll give mine to Charles. 00:06:14.299 --> 00:06:16.639 I don't often give my wallet to my wife, 00:06:16.639 --> 00:06:18.459 but this is a step of faith, right? 00:06:21.459 --> 00:06:22.319 Now we're going to do something 00:06:22.319 --> 00:06:23.240 we've never done before. 00:06:23.479 --> 00:06:24.519 We're going to take an offering. 00:06:26.979 --> 00:06:28.699 So what I'm going to ask the offering stewards 00:06:28.699 --> 00:06:29.360 to come forward 00:06:29.360 --> 00:06:32.319 and I want you to open that wallet up deep, right? 00:06:32.539 --> 00:06:33.959 And just grab in there 00:06:33.959 --> 00:06:36.180 and just give till it hurts, right? 00:06:36.180 --> 00:06:37.879 So, no. 00:06:39.319 --> 00:06:40.099 I'm teasing. 00:06:42.740 --> 00:06:45.019 Jesus has been teaching about the kingdom of God. 00:06:45.019 --> 00:06:47.740 He's been showing us that 00:06:47.740 --> 00:06:50.039 His kingdom is very different than ours. 00:06:51.139 --> 00:06:51.979 He's come to Jerusalem. 00:06:52.039 --> 00:06:53.199 You can give the wallet back. 00:06:54.180 --> 00:06:55.939 I know some of you are weirding out 00:06:55.939 --> 00:06:56.979 and freaking out over it, 00:06:57.000 --> 00:06:57.859 so go ahead and give it back. 00:07:00.000 --> 00:07:01.019 He's come to Jerusalem. 00:07:02.099 --> 00:07:02.899 We've heard this 00:07:02.899 --> 00:07:03.819 because His whole life 00:07:03.819 --> 00:07:05.099 has been focused towards Jerusalem. 00:07:05.579 --> 00:07:06.319 And He's coming in. 00:07:06.359 --> 00:07:07.579 He's teaching the kingdom of God. 00:07:07.579 --> 00:07:11.279 He's being followed by maybe 10,000 people. 00:07:12.379 --> 00:07:13.240 Now it's the Sabbath. 00:07:13.439 --> 00:07:14.199 It's the Passover. 00:07:15.079 --> 00:07:16.479 It's the entrance into the Passover. 00:07:17.079 --> 00:07:17.579 So Jerusalem, 00:07:17.740 --> 00:07:19.779 which is usually about 25 or 30,000 people, 00:07:19.860 --> 00:07:22.279 is now 2 million people. 00:07:23.259 --> 00:07:25.360 2 million people are crowded into a space 00:07:25.360 --> 00:07:28.560 that only 25,000 should be living in. 00:07:29.199 --> 00:07:30.579 So it's amazing. 00:07:30.799 --> 00:07:31.240 It's noisy. 00:07:31.399 --> 00:07:31.759 It's dirty. 00:07:32.019 --> 00:07:33.379 It's out of control. 00:07:34.040 --> 00:07:35.399 And Jesus comes up the Temple Mount 00:07:35.399 --> 00:07:36.540 and He walks in 00:07:36.540 --> 00:07:37.779 and He chases out the money chasers 00:07:37.779 --> 00:07:39.180 and He basically takes over the teaching 00:07:39.180 --> 00:07:40.199 within the Temple of God. 00:07:41.420 --> 00:07:42.600 And as He's doing this, 00:07:42.800 --> 00:07:45.819 He is confronted by the religious leaders of His time. 00:07:46.899 --> 00:07:47.819 They have an idea 00:07:47.819 --> 00:07:49.060 of what the kingdom of God should be like 00:07:49.060 --> 00:07:49.839 and so they're holding it 00:07:49.839 --> 00:07:51.199 and they're trying to transpose it 00:07:51.199 --> 00:07:53.439 over what the kingdom of God should be like 00:07:53.439 --> 00:07:55.259 and it's just not working. 00:07:56.000 --> 00:07:57.079 The first group that comes in 00:07:57.079 --> 00:07:58.639 is the Pharisees or the scribes. 00:07:59.240 --> 00:08:00.180 They're the conservatives. 00:08:00.879 --> 00:08:02.699 They would believe in the sovereignty of God. 00:08:02.699 --> 00:08:03.879 They would believe in God's word. 00:08:03.959 --> 00:08:05.399 They would believe in the Torah. 00:08:05.719 --> 00:08:06.779 They took the Ten Commandments 00:08:06.779 --> 00:08:08.819 and they wrote it out to 635 other commandments. 00:08:09.240 --> 00:08:10.240 I mean, they believe in tradition. 00:08:11.159 --> 00:08:12.879 They believe in teaching well. 00:08:13.979 --> 00:08:15.860 I mean, that is all about them. 00:08:16.300 --> 00:08:17.379 And as they hear Jesus teach, 00:08:17.480 --> 00:08:19.419 there is a struggle in their kingdom 00:08:19.419 --> 00:08:21.139 and that struggle is authority and control. 00:08:22.240 --> 00:08:23.740 And they start asking Jesus 00:08:23.740 --> 00:08:25.300 some authority and control questions. 00:08:26.439 --> 00:08:27.860 And Jesus has to remind them 00:08:27.860 --> 00:08:29.959 that their kingdom is not God's kingdom. 00:08:29.959 --> 00:08:33.179 And the things in God's kingdom work differently. 00:08:34.000 --> 00:08:35.360 He goes on and he teaches them 00:08:35.360 --> 00:08:37.120 about the parable of the vineyard 00:08:37.120 --> 00:08:38.819 and the question of the parable of the vineyard 00:08:38.819 --> 00:08:41.439 is ownership and stewardship 00:08:41.439 --> 00:08:43.240 and who owns what. 00:08:44.379 --> 00:08:46.199 And we're told that after this confrontation, 00:08:46.460 --> 00:08:48.139 they try to trick him with this coin. 00:08:48.980 --> 00:08:49.860 And again, he says, you know, 00:08:49.919 --> 00:08:51.740 that's your kingdom. 00:08:51.740 --> 00:08:54.480 But in God's kingdom, 00:08:55.060 --> 00:08:57.200 everything is his. 00:08:59.120 --> 00:09:00.039 Everything is his. 00:09:01.240 --> 00:09:02.820 Verse 26, they shut up. 00:09:03.419 --> 00:09:05.039 They never ask him another question again. 00:09:05.879 --> 00:09:07.060 And then we get to the passage today 00:09:07.060 --> 00:09:08.580 and now the Sadducees come in. 00:09:08.639 --> 00:09:10.399 The Sadducees have never confronted Jesus. 00:09:10.720 --> 00:09:11.799 They've never asked him a question. 00:09:12.100 --> 00:09:13.399 This is the only time in the Gospels 00:09:13.399 --> 00:09:14.919 the Sadducees come in and ask him a question. 00:09:15.379 --> 00:09:16.539 The Sadducees would be the liberals. 00:09:17.580 --> 00:09:19.379 They would be the popular people. 00:09:19.500 --> 00:09:20.700 They would be the wealthy people. 00:09:20.700 --> 00:09:22.500 They would be the founding fathers 00:09:22.500 --> 00:09:23.879 and the founding members of the city. 00:09:24.200 --> 00:09:26.140 They would be the people who were into their looks. 00:09:27.000 --> 00:09:29.000 They would be very sympathetic to Rome. 00:09:29.280 --> 00:09:31.600 They were focused on purity outwardly. 00:09:32.140 --> 00:09:34.980 The Sadducees were always fighting the Pharisees. 00:09:35.060 --> 00:09:36.440 There was this big struggle on the issue 00:09:36.440 --> 00:09:38.000 of purity and holiness. 00:09:38.400 --> 00:09:39.960 And they always won after each other. 00:09:40.420 --> 00:09:41.980 And you never knew really who won 00:09:41.980 --> 00:09:44.360 because the Sadducees had control of the temple. 00:09:44.960 --> 00:09:46.420 The Sadducees believed in free will. 00:09:47.580 --> 00:09:48.440 Do whatever you want. 00:09:48.520 --> 00:09:49.379 There was no angels. 00:09:49.379 --> 00:09:50.899 There's no devils. 00:09:51.340 --> 00:09:52.299 There's no resurrection. 00:09:52.939 --> 00:09:54.840 This life is all there is. 00:09:55.240 --> 00:09:56.500 This is all there is. 00:09:56.700 --> 00:09:57.679 So if this is all there is, 00:09:57.759 --> 00:09:59.019 you've got to make the most of this life. 00:09:59.080 --> 00:09:59.720 This is what you've got to do. 00:09:59.740 --> 00:10:01.620 Make the most of this life. 00:10:01.860 --> 00:10:03.299 It's a lot like people in Hong Kong 00:10:03.299 --> 00:10:04.200 that we run into, right? 00:10:05.100 --> 00:10:05.939 This is all there is. 00:10:05.980 --> 00:10:07.240 How can we make the most of our lives? 00:10:07.600 --> 00:10:08.939 And so the Pharisees come 00:10:08.939 --> 00:10:10.019 and they ask Jesus a question. 00:10:10.480 --> 00:10:11.460 It's in your bulletin. 00:10:11.539 --> 00:10:12.840 It's found in verses 29 through 33. 00:10:13.379 --> 00:10:14.759 It's a very interesting question. 00:10:15.600 --> 00:10:16.840 It's not really a question. 00:10:16.840 --> 00:10:18.960 It's basically a question to make Jesus look stupid 00:10:18.960 --> 00:10:22.060 because they don't even believe in the resurrection, 00:10:22.200 --> 00:10:23.620 but they're asking a question about the resurrection. 00:10:24.460 --> 00:10:25.960 Now we're told through historians 00:10:25.960 --> 00:10:28.780 that the Pharisees have been trying to answer this question 00:10:28.780 --> 00:10:29.720 for 100 years. 00:10:30.720 --> 00:10:32.399 And the Sadducees always ask them this question 00:10:32.399 --> 00:10:33.519 and they can't answer the question 00:10:33.519 --> 00:10:35.300 because it's really starting to bother them. 00:10:36.300 --> 00:10:38.379 It's one of those questions that your friends ask you, right? 00:10:38.860 --> 00:10:39.899 You're talking to them about God 00:10:39.899 --> 00:10:41.579 and they'll say something like, 00:10:42.079 --> 00:10:43.459 you know, if God is all-powerful 00:10:43.459 --> 00:10:45.379 and God is all-loving 00:10:45.379 --> 00:10:47.439 and God knows everything, 00:10:48.279 --> 00:10:49.819 then how can he do this or how can he do that? 00:10:50.559 --> 00:10:51.579 And you'll sit back and you're like, 00:10:51.659 --> 00:10:52.579 oh, it's one of those questions 00:10:52.579 --> 00:10:54.579 that's made to make you look stupid, right? 00:10:55.240 --> 00:10:56.319 They might ask you a question like, 00:10:56.399 --> 00:10:58.360 well, if God is all-powerful, 00:10:59.079 --> 00:11:01.179 can he make a Diet Coke can so big 00:11:01.179 --> 00:11:02.480 that even he can't pick up? 00:11:03.519 --> 00:11:03.840 Right? 00:11:04.500 --> 00:11:06.039 Come on, work with me here. 00:11:06.799 --> 00:11:08.240 It's one of those questions that you know 00:11:08.240 --> 00:11:09.860 that's just a foolish question. 00:11:11.240 --> 00:11:12.720 And Jesus answers it right away. 00:11:13.860 --> 00:11:14.639 And he tells them, 00:11:14.899 --> 00:11:15.519 hey, you guys, 00:11:15.720 --> 00:11:17.519 you don't understand the kingdom of God. 00:11:17.620 --> 00:11:18.820 You're thinking about your kingdom, 00:11:19.180 --> 00:11:20.799 but you're not thinking about God's kingdom 00:11:20.799 --> 00:11:23.240 and things operate very differently 00:11:23.240 --> 00:11:24.659 in God's kingdom. 00:11:25.720 --> 00:11:27.680 Then in verse 40, they shut up. 00:11:28.419 --> 00:11:30.000 I mean, they're afraid to ask him any more questions. 00:11:30.060 --> 00:11:31.000 They don't want to ask him any more questions 00:11:31.000 --> 00:11:31.600 because they look stupid 00:11:31.600 --> 00:11:32.560 when they ask Jesus questions. 00:11:34.820 --> 00:11:37.019 Jesus has one last lesson he wants to teach us. 00:11:37.019 --> 00:11:40.360 I mean, this is his last lesson on the kingdom of God. 00:11:41.220 --> 00:11:42.399 I mean, Jesus spoke about money 00:11:42.399 --> 00:11:45.000 more than anything else in his ministry. 00:11:45.579 --> 00:11:46.960 45% of the time, he's talking about money. 00:11:47.159 --> 00:11:48.240 He's talking about hell and heaven. 00:11:48.279 --> 00:11:48.879 He's talking about those things. 00:11:48.939 --> 00:11:49.860 He's talking about money 00:11:49.860 --> 00:11:51.699 because he knows that it has a pull on our hearts. 00:11:53.079 --> 00:11:54.679 And after this, Jesus is going to go away. 00:11:54.759 --> 00:11:55.939 He's never going to come back to the temple. 00:11:56.720 --> 00:11:57.539 He's going to be on the mountain. 00:11:57.620 --> 00:11:58.340 He's going to be in the upper room. 00:11:58.379 --> 00:12:00.199 He's going to be preparing his disciples for his death. 00:12:00.919 --> 00:12:03.059 But he has one more lesson he wants to teach us. 00:12:03.059 --> 00:12:07.000 And so he's sitting off to the side in the treasury. 00:12:07.819 --> 00:12:08.919 And we're told that the treasury 00:12:08.919 --> 00:12:10.439 was this amazing place in the temple. 00:12:11.059 --> 00:12:12.679 It was this huge, like, you know, 00:12:12.779 --> 00:12:15.039 the biggest place in the convention center 00:12:15.039 --> 00:12:16.159 is bigger than that. 00:12:16.419 --> 00:12:18.479 It's like the meat locker, the big hangar, 00:12:18.579 --> 00:12:19.519 the airplane hangar. 00:12:19.659 --> 00:12:21.619 It's just massive airplane hangar. 00:12:22.619 --> 00:12:23.959 And as you walked into the temple, 00:12:24.199 --> 00:12:27.119 there would be 13 bronze containers. 00:12:27.299 --> 00:12:29.119 They were like a trumpet, a shofar, 00:12:29.339 --> 00:12:30.599 but it was the big part on the bottom 00:12:30.600 --> 00:12:31.759 and it would move up to the top. 00:12:32.159 --> 00:12:33.100 And people would come in 00:12:33.100 --> 00:12:34.000 and they'd give their offerings. 00:12:35.399 --> 00:12:36.580 Now, it was very interesting 00:12:36.580 --> 00:12:37.320 because some of them said 00:12:37.320 --> 00:12:38.480 for offering for doves, 00:12:38.580 --> 00:12:39.320 offering for wood, 00:12:39.460 --> 00:12:40.420 offering for frankincense, 00:12:40.820 --> 00:12:41.779 offering for clothing, 00:12:41.960 --> 00:12:43.360 offering for sin offering, 00:12:43.480 --> 00:12:44.820 old offering for sin offering, 00:12:44.980 --> 00:12:46.019 new offering for sin offering, 00:12:46.300 --> 00:12:47.899 and then there were six free-willed offerings. 00:12:49.120 --> 00:12:51.100 And so before the sermon started, 00:12:51.220 --> 00:12:53.399 or before the time started in the temple, 00:12:53.659 --> 00:12:54.519 the people came in 00:12:54.519 --> 00:12:56.379 and the historians tell us it was amazing. 00:12:57.379 --> 00:12:59.439 I mean, wealth and power 00:12:59.439 --> 00:13:00.840 and kings coming in 00:13:00.840 --> 00:13:03.179 and people are carrying these big bags of gold 00:13:03.179 --> 00:13:04.580 and they're walking in there 00:13:04.580 --> 00:13:06.000 and they're dragging it 00:13:06.000 --> 00:13:06.799 and they're dripping it off 00:13:06.799 --> 00:13:08.679 and they have all this money in their hand, right? 00:13:08.720 --> 00:13:09.200 And they have this money 00:13:09.200 --> 00:13:10.439 and it's kind of drippling 00:13:10.439 --> 00:13:11.840 and they're walking 00:13:11.840 --> 00:13:13.259 so they're drawing attention to themselves 00:13:13.259 --> 00:13:14.480 and people are looking at them. 00:13:16.679 --> 00:13:17.460 And they come up 00:13:17.460 --> 00:13:18.259 and some people say 00:13:18.259 --> 00:13:19.700 that actually the priest would be there 00:13:19.700 --> 00:13:20.659 and they would count the money. 00:13:21.600 --> 00:13:22.440 And then they would say, 00:13:23.080 --> 00:13:26.179 Tobin Miller gave $5,000 a day. 00:13:26.379 --> 00:13:30.480 And people go, ooh. 00:13:35.379 --> 00:13:38.059 Daniel gave $1,000 a day. 00:13:39.700 --> 00:13:40.220 Ooh. 00:13:45.639 --> 00:13:51.700 Howard, he gives $10 in his chariot keys. 00:13:53.379 --> 00:13:53.779 Ooh. 00:13:53.779 --> 00:13:53.980 Ooh. 00:13:55.179 --> 00:13:58.159 And we're told that people made a spectacle of themselves. 00:13:59.139 --> 00:14:00.240 They would pull in 00:14:00.240 --> 00:14:01.339 and sometimes they would go, 00:14:02.120 --> 00:14:07.079 see if anybody was listening. 00:14:08.600 --> 00:14:09.860 Sometimes they would do this 00:14:09.860 --> 00:14:12.779 and no one was listening. 00:14:12.879 --> 00:14:13.220 They'd go, 00:14:14.220 --> 00:14:16.139 and people would wake up. 00:14:16.139 --> 00:14:18.960 And so Jesus is watching 00:14:18.960 --> 00:14:22.779 people give their offering to God. 00:14:23.360 --> 00:14:25.419 And he realizes there's a collision happening 00:14:25.419 --> 00:14:26.879 in their kingdoms. 00:14:27.819 --> 00:14:29.199 But their kingdoms are very different. 00:14:29.960 --> 00:14:31.139 And you see in the text, 00:14:31.199 --> 00:14:31.799 you read it there, 00:14:31.840 --> 00:14:32.399 what he says. 00:14:32.899 --> 00:14:34.179 There's three things 00:14:34.179 --> 00:14:35.819 that I want to challenge us with 00:14:35.819 --> 00:14:36.399 to think about 00:14:36.399 --> 00:14:38.399 as we look at these last four verses. 00:14:39.100 --> 00:14:39.960 There's three things 00:14:39.960 --> 00:14:40.980 I think that Jesus wants 00:14:40.980 --> 00:14:42.740 to tell us about 00:14:42.740 --> 00:14:43.559 what does it look like 00:14:43.559 --> 00:14:44.860 to give in the kingdom of God. 00:14:44.860 --> 00:14:45.960 And the first thing he says 00:14:45.960 --> 00:14:46.759 is in God's kingdom, 00:14:46.860 --> 00:14:47.940 in the inverted kingdom, 00:14:48.820 --> 00:14:50.480 God sees everything. 00:14:53.340 --> 00:14:54.180 Did you know that? 00:14:55.840 --> 00:14:57.039 Verses one and two tell it. 00:14:57.779 --> 00:14:58.879 And he looked up and he saw, 00:14:59.000 --> 00:15:01.300 the word saw is a very special word. 00:15:01.340 --> 00:15:02.139 It means he understood. 00:15:02.360 --> 00:15:03.180 He looked in their soul. 00:15:03.300 --> 00:15:04.860 He understood what was going on in their life. 00:15:05.580 --> 00:15:07.240 And he saw what was going on in their life. 00:15:07.279 --> 00:15:08.120 And the rich came in 00:15:08.120 --> 00:15:09.060 and they're putting, 00:15:09.240 --> 00:15:10.659 and the word is throw, 00:15:11.080 --> 00:15:11.779 let fall, 00:15:12.139 --> 00:15:12.620 let tumble. 00:15:12.620 --> 00:15:13.960 They're throwing all their gifts in there. 00:15:14.320 --> 00:15:15.039 And as they're doing it, 00:15:15.080 --> 00:15:15.879 Jesus sees 00:15:15.879 --> 00:15:17.960 what's going on in their life 00:15:17.960 --> 00:15:19.139 and what's going on in their heart. 00:15:20.740 --> 00:15:22.360 And then this widow comes up. 00:15:22.720 --> 00:15:24.039 Can you imagine what she felt like? 00:15:25.060 --> 00:15:26.539 Following guys with bags of money. 00:15:28.000 --> 00:15:29.379 And this little widow comes up 00:15:29.379 --> 00:15:32.100 and she takes the two smallest coins. 00:15:33.460 --> 00:15:34.179 They're called lepta. 00:15:34.899 --> 00:15:36.639 It's probably the only Jewish coin 00:15:36.639 --> 00:15:37.680 talked about in the Bible. 00:15:37.679 --> 00:15:39.159 It actually, 00:15:39.259 --> 00:15:41.319 the word means peeling or shaving 00:15:41.319 --> 00:15:43.219 or it means feathery. 00:15:43.299 --> 00:15:43.959 It means nothing. 00:15:45.139 --> 00:15:46.120 And you can imagine her 00:15:46.120 --> 00:15:48.019 walking into this temple complex 00:15:48.019 --> 00:15:49.559 and what did the priest do? 00:15:49.620 --> 00:15:50.479 Did they look at her offering 00:15:50.479 --> 00:15:51.219 and yell it out? 00:15:52.239 --> 00:15:53.019 Or did they just look at her 00:15:53.019 --> 00:15:53.179 and go, 00:15:53.319 --> 00:15:53.759 get out of here. 00:15:53.859 --> 00:15:54.539 Go, get out of here. 00:15:55.319 --> 00:15:56.379 And she comes in there 00:15:56.379 --> 00:15:57.919 and she has these two little coins. 00:15:57.919 --> 00:16:05.639 You can't even hear it. 00:16:07.979 --> 00:16:09.299 But the passage says 00:16:09.299 --> 00:16:10.860 that Jesus hears 00:16:10.860 --> 00:16:13.699 and he sees everything. 00:16:14.819 --> 00:16:16.079 I think sometimes we forget that, 00:16:16.139 --> 00:16:16.439 don't we? 00:16:18.419 --> 00:16:19.539 I mean, sometimes we live life 00:16:19.539 --> 00:16:20.559 and we give and we do 00:16:20.559 --> 00:16:21.919 with our resources and our things 00:16:21.919 --> 00:16:23.539 and sometimes we make choices 00:16:23.539 --> 00:16:24.899 and we don't ever think about 00:16:24.899 --> 00:16:27.099 Christ looking at us 00:16:27.100 --> 00:16:28.019 and looking at our hearts 00:16:28.019 --> 00:16:29.259 and what's going on in our hearts. 00:16:30.080 --> 00:16:31.320 But in the kingdom of God, 00:16:31.399 --> 00:16:32.399 in the inverted kingdom, 00:16:32.960 --> 00:16:33.779 he sees everything. 00:16:33.860 --> 00:16:34.879 The kingdom of the Pharisees 00:16:34.879 --> 00:16:35.879 was all about appearance 00:16:35.879 --> 00:16:37.580 and how well you look 00:16:37.580 --> 00:16:38.100 and what you did. 00:16:38.340 --> 00:16:38.560 And you know, 00:16:38.600 --> 00:16:40.040 the Sadducees could care less 00:16:40.040 --> 00:16:41.860 because the Sadducees, 00:16:41.960 --> 00:16:42.680 all that was important 00:16:42.680 --> 00:16:44.420 was here and now 00:16:44.420 --> 00:16:45.240 because when they died, 00:16:45.379 --> 00:16:47.019 there's nothing. 00:16:48.200 --> 00:16:49.279 So the fear of God 00:16:49.279 --> 00:16:50.320 or what God did for them 00:16:50.320 --> 00:16:51.660 didn't mean anything. 00:16:51.879 --> 00:16:52.480 All that mattered 00:16:52.480 --> 00:16:53.940 was here and now. 00:16:53.940 --> 00:16:56.640 But the passage says here 00:16:56.640 --> 00:16:57.580 that in God's kingdom, 00:16:57.840 --> 00:16:59.480 he sees everything 00:16:59.480 --> 00:17:02.400 and how we give 00:17:02.400 --> 00:17:05.279 in our heart 00:17:05.279 --> 00:17:08.539 is very, very important 00:17:08.539 --> 00:17:12.240 because it shows us 00:17:12.240 --> 00:17:14.400 and it shows God 00:17:14.400 --> 00:17:15.759 what kingdom we are actually 00:17:15.759 --> 00:17:17.320 a part of. 00:17:18.779 --> 00:17:19.779 It's called stewardship. 00:17:20.940 --> 00:17:21.860 Jesus preached about it 00:17:21.860 --> 00:17:22.840 over and over and over 00:17:22.839 --> 00:17:23.299 in Luke. 00:17:24.079 --> 00:17:25.319 If you're faithful with this, 00:17:25.500 --> 00:17:26.299 I give you more. 00:17:26.419 --> 00:17:27.399 If you're not faithful with this, 00:17:27.480 --> 00:17:28.480 I take these things away. 00:17:29.459 --> 00:17:30.699 Jesus, God, 00:17:31.259 --> 00:17:32.579 sees everything in his kingdom 00:17:32.579 --> 00:17:34.559 and what we do with it 00:17:34.559 --> 00:17:35.319 is very important. 00:17:36.179 --> 00:17:36.720 The second thing 00:17:36.720 --> 00:17:37.339 that sticks out to me 00:17:37.339 --> 00:17:37.879 in this passage 00:17:37.879 --> 00:17:38.699 of how our kingdoms 00:17:38.699 --> 00:17:39.419 collide in money 00:17:39.419 --> 00:17:40.259 is just basically 00:17:40.259 --> 00:17:41.399 in the inverted kingdom, 00:17:41.679 --> 00:17:42.299 accounting is done 00:17:42.299 --> 00:17:42.879 very differently, 00:17:43.000 --> 00:17:43.379 isn't it? 00:17:44.199 --> 00:17:44.599 I mean, 00:17:44.619 --> 00:17:45.519 you look at this passage 00:17:45.519 --> 00:17:46.539 and you realize 00:17:46.539 --> 00:17:48.480 that God is an accountant 00:17:48.480 --> 00:17:49.980 in a very strange way. 00:17:50.079 --> 00:17:50.199 I mean, 00:17:50.259 --> 00:17:50.720 you and I, 00:17:50.819 --> 00:17:51.519 we judge people 00:17:51.519 --> 00:17:52.639 and we judge ourself 00:17:52.639 --> 00:17:53.519 by how much we give. 00:17:53.599 --> 00:17:53.700 Well, 00:17:53.839 --> 00:17:54.400 how much we give? 00:17:54.440 --> 00:17:55.119 If a wealthy person 00:17:55.119 --> 00:17:55.519 comes in 00:17:55.519 --> 00:17:56.400 and they give a million dollars, 00:17:56.480 --> 00:17:56.619 we go, 00:17:56.700 --> 00:17:56.900 whoa, 00:17:57.420 --> 00:17:58.480 they gave a lot. 00:17:59.779 --> 00:18:00.779 But when someone comes in 00:18:00.779 --> 00:18:02.079 and they bring two lepta, 00:18:03.079 --> 00:18:05.420 you don't even notice them. 00:18:08.079 --> 00:18:09.299 They didn't give anything. 00:18:10.779 --> 00:18:11.039 I mean, 00:18:11.059 --> 00:18:12.180 we look at names 00:18:12.180 --> 00:18:13.099 on buildings 00:18:13.099 --> 00:18:16.059 and things raised up 00:18:16.059 --> 00:18:16.559 as monuments 00:18:16.559 --> 00:18:17.639 to ourself. 00:18:18.899 --> 00:18:20.219 But in God's kingdom, 00:18:20.959 --> 00:18:22.159 what we give 00:18:22.159 --> 00:18:25.559 isn't so important 00:18:25.559 --> 00:18:28.119 as what is left over. 00:18:30.819 --> 00:18:31.559 Do you realize 00:18:31.559 --> 00:18:32.319 that's what he's saying? 00:18:34.399 --> 00:18:35.000 But God's saying 00:18:35.000 --> 00:18:35.759 it's not so important 00:18:35.759 --> 00:18:36.579 what you're giving, 00:18:37.319 --> 00:18:38.459 but the heart behind it, 00:18:38.480 --> 00:18:39.459 and he's asking the question, 00:18:39.879 --> 00:18:41.639 what's left? 00:18:41.640 --> 00:18:45.340 What's left over? 00:18:46.360 --> 00:18:47.680 And why did you leave it over? 00:18:48.000 --> 00:18:48.720 Did you leave it over 00:18:48.720 --> 00:18:49.300 because you didn't think 00:18:49.300 --> 00:18:49.820 God was good? 00:18:49.880 --> 00:18:50.380 Did you leave it over 00:18:50.380 --> 00:18:51.620 because you didn't think 00:18:51.620 --> 00:18:52.660 God was going to take care of you? 00:18:53.560 --> 00:18:54.680 The passage is saying 00:18:54.680 --> 00:18:55.920 that in the inverted kingdom, 00:18:57.080 --> 00:18:57.759 giving is about 00:18:57.759 --> 00:18:59.759 what is left 00:18:59.759 --> 00:19:02.280 and why. 00:19:04.580 --> 00:19:06.020 So what Jesus is saying here 00:19:06.020 --> 00:19:06.560 in his passage 00:19:06.560 --> 00:19:07.440 is that giving 00:19:07.440 --> 00:19:08.500 isn't actually about giving, 00:19:08.600 --> 00:19:10.120 but giving is about our heart. 00:19:11.640 --> 00:19:12.660 And how we feel. 00:19:14.759 --> 00:19:16.500 Now we live in a kingdom today 00:19:16.500 --> 00:19:17.660 that could care less 00:19:17.660 --> 00:19:18.759 about how we feel, right? 00:19:19.400 --> 00:19:20.040 I mean, I've thought 00:19:20.040 --> 00:19:20.620 about this before. 00:19:20.880 --> 00:19:21.480 What would happen 00:19:21.480 --> 00:19:22.400 if you went to the IRS 00:19:22.400 --> 00:19:23.240 or the IRD 00:19:23.240 --> 00:19:23.920 and you said, 00:19:23.980 --> 00:19:24.280 you know what, 00:19:24.600 --> 00:19:25.800 I was going to give taxes 00:19:25.800 --> 00:19:26.259 this year, 00:19:26.920 --> 00:19:27.740 but I just didn't really 00:19:27.740 --> 00:19:28.520 feel like it. 00:19:29.420 --> 00:19:30.700 It was just so inconvenient. 00:19:32.100 --> 00:19:33.200 Maybe next year. 00:19:34.700 --> 00:19:35.060 Or you know, 00:19:35.100 --> 00:19:36.000 I was going to give taxes 00:19:36.000 --> 00:19:36.480 this year, 00:19:36.580 --> 00:19:38.360 but I really wanted 00:19:38.359 --> 00:19:39.059 that car. 00:19:40.279 --> 00:19:40.839 And so I bought 00:19:40.839 --> 00:19:41.839 the car instead. 00:19:42.740 --> 00:19:43.419 Or maybe next year 00:19:43.419 --> 00:19:44.299 if I get more money 00:19:44.299 --> 00:19:44.879 and more bonus, 00:19:44.959 --> 00:19:46.779 then I'll give taxes. 00:19:46.899 --> 00:19:47.399 And the Pharisees 00:19:47.399 --> 00:19:47.979 and the Sadducees 00:19:47.979 --> 00:19:48.240 were going, 00:19:48.299 --> 00:19:48.939 oh, right on. 00:19:49.619 --> 00:19:50.879 Because it was outward appearance 00:19:50.879 --> 00:19:51.579 and what was important. 00:19:52.639 --> 00:19:53.659 But the passage says 00:19:53.659 --> 00:19:56.500 that she gave out of love. 00:19:56.500 --> 00:20:01.759 It was an act of worship. 00:20:04.759 --> 00:20:05.519 So the question 00:20:05.519 --> 00:20:06.380 I have to ask myself 00:20:06.380 --> 00:20:08.539 is how do I give? 00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:12.420 I mean, 00:20:12.460 --> 00:20:13.359 when I give my money, 00:20:13.440 --> 00:20:14.599 what am I thinking? 00:20:14.720 --> 00:20:15.599 Am I thinking that God's 00:20:15.599 --> 00:20:16.700 going to supply all my needs? 00:20:18.480 --> 00:20:19.119 Or do I think 00:20:19.119 --> 00:20:20.119 if I have just enough left over, 00:20:20.180 --> 00:20:20.839 I can do these things 00:20:20.839 --> 00:20:21.400 and do these things 00:20:21.400 --> 00:20:22.039 and that's okay. 00:20:23.599 --> 00:20:25.019 But in God's kingdom, 00:20:25.019 --> 00:20:27.799 sacrifice 00:20:27.799 --> 00:20:31.220 is what is praised. 00:20:33.119 --> 00:20:33.319 I mean, 00:20:33.359 --> 00:20:33.920 if you're like me, 00:20:34.099 --> 00:20:34.779 sacrifice means, 00:20:34.879 --> 00:20:34.900 well, 00:20:34.900 --> 00:20:35.279 I'm not going to eat 00:20:35.279 --> 00:20:35.859 at Ruth Chris 00:20:35.859 --> 00:20:36.920 this weekend, 00:20:36.980 --> 00:20:37.319 but I'm going to eat 00:20:37.319 --> 00:20:38.259 at another steakhouse. 00:20:40.240 --> 00:20:41.440 But in God's kingdom, 00:20:43.200 --> 00:20:44.099 sacrifice means 00:20:44.099 --> 00:20:45.079 not eating steak 00:20:45.079 --> 00:20:46.519 that week. 00:20:48.279 --> 00:20:49.200 And I realize 00:20:49.200 --> 00:20:49.940 if we're honest, 00:20:50.000 --> 00:20:50.680 if I'm honest, 00:20:50.680 --> 00:20:52.180 we don't really 00:20:52.180 --> 00:20:53.500 sacrifice 00:20:53.500 --> 00:20:55.779 very much. 00:20:57.740 --> 00:20:58.319 Do we? 00:21:02.880 --> 00:21:04.160 Jesus says here 00:21:04.160 --> 00:21:05.900 that in the kingdom of God, 00:21:05.980 --> 00:21:06.920 in the inverted kingdom, 00:21:07.480 --> 00:21:09.259 it's not what we give 00:21:09.259 --> 00:21:10.160 that is important, 00:21:10.339 --> 00:21:11.519 but it's the heart behind it 00:21:11.519 --> 00:21:12.579 and what is left over. 00:21:13.359 --> 00:21:13.700 And finally, 00:21:13.779 --> 00:21:14.359 what we see here 00:21:14.359 --> 00:21:15.220 is in God's kingdom, 00:21:15.359 --> 00:21:16.299 in the inverted kingdom, 00:21:17.180 --> 00:21:18.319 that even the smallest 00:21:18.319 --> 00:21:19.339 amount given, 00:21:20.700 --> 00:21:21.940 if it's given in love, 00:21:21.940 --> 00:21:24.539 in faith, 00:21:25.880 --> 00:21:27.380 can do amazing things. 00:21:29.940 --> 00:21:30.200 I mean, 00:21:30.220 --> 00:21:30.779 he says here 00:21:30.779 --> 00:21:31.519 in verses three and four, 00:21:31.860 --> 00:21:32.500 look at this lady, 00:21:32.600 --> 00:21:33.519 she's given more 00:21:33.519 --> 00:21:35.320 than everybody else. 00:21:36.240 --> 00:21:37.140 And if you think about that, 00:21:37.180 --> 00:21:37.320 you know, 00:21:37.340 --> 00:21:37.900 she's given these 00:21:37.900 --> 00:21:38.860 two little coins, 00:21:39.000 --> 00:21:39.420 they're nothing. 00:21:41.700 --> 00:21:43.000 But in God's world, 00:21:44.180 --> 00:21:46.420 he can use these two coins 00:21:46.420 --> 00:21:49.060 to change 00:21:49.060 --> 00:21:50.580 everything. 00:21:53.180 --> 00:21:54.120 Do we believe that? 00:21:56.940 --> 00:21:57.940 In 1966, 00:21:58.380 --> 00:21:59.420 you've heard him speak 00:21:59.420 --> 00:22:00.000 two weeks ago 00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:00.820 and I've seen it happen 00:22:00.820 --> 00:22:01.759 over and over in my life. 00:22:02.120 --> 00:22:02.700 John Bechtel, 00:22:02.779 --> 00:22:03.460 when we had our anniversary, 00:22:03.580 --> 00:22:04.160 John came up 00:22:04.160 --> 00:22:05.740 and his dad was here 00:22:05.740 --> 00:22:06.580 after the occupation 00:22:06.580 --> 00:22:07.279 of World War II 00:22:07.279 --> 00:22:08.320 and he started all the churches 00:22:08.320 --> 00:22:09.380 that basically birthed our church 00:22:09.380 --> 00:22:10.300 and John Bechtel 00:22:10.300 --> 00:22:10.840 told us a story 00:22:10.840 --> 00:22:11.660 about 1966. 00:22:12.160 --> 00:22:13.019 He and Donna come 00:22:13.019 --> 00:22:14.799 and their goal is 00:22:14.799 --> 00:22:16.019 to reach children 00:22:16.019 --> 00:22:16.799 of Hong Kong. 00:22:17.400 --> 00:22:17.900 And he said 00:22:17.900 --> 00:22:18.500 at that time 00:22:18.500 --> 00:22:19.960 there were four million people 00:22:19.960 --> 00:22:20.759 living in Hong Kong. 00:22:21.500 --> 00:22:22.500 Two million of them 00:22:22.500 --> 00:22:24.119 were 18 years or younger. 00:22:25.200 --> 00:22:25.980 And they prayed 00:22:25.980 --> 00:22:27.180 about how can we reach the kids? 00:22:27.240 --> 00:22:27.839 What are we going to do? 00:22:27.900 --> 00:22:28.660 What's going to happen here? 00:22:28.879 --> 00:22:29.819 How can we reach these kids? 00:22:29.859 --> 00:22:30.539 And they got this idea 00:22:30.539 --> 00:22:31.480 we're going to start a camp. 00:22:32.240 --> 00:22:33.400 And so they were looking around 00:22:33.400 --> 00:22:34.319 for almost a year 00:22:34.319 --> 00:22:35.379 and they found this piece 00:22:35.379 --> 00:22:36.299 of property in Fanling 00:22:36.299 --> 00:22:37.660 that was about four acres. 00:22:38.240 --> 00:22:39.139 But the bad thing was 00:22:39.139 --> 00:22:39.960 the government had just built 00:22:39.960 --> 00:22:40.700 this one million dollar 00:22:40.700 --> 00:22:41.359 building on it. 00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:43.000 But it wasn't being used. 00:22:43.920 --> 00:22:45.319 And so John goes 00:22:45.319 --> 00:22:45.859 to the government 00:22:45.859 --> 00:22:46.279 and says hey 00:22:46.279 --> 00:22:47.059 we need this. 00:22:47.160 --> 00:22:48.059 We want to reach. 00:22:48.160 --> 00:22:48.619 We want to minister 00:22:48.619 --> 00:22:49.220 to the youth 00:22:49.220 --> 00:22:50.099 and children of Hong Kong. 00:22:50.299 --> 00:22:51.139 Can you give it to us? 00:22:51.180 --> 00:22:51.819 And the guy's thinking about 00:22:51.819 --> 00:22:53.319 okay I'll tell you what 00:22:53.319 --> 00:22:54.299 this is 1966. 00:22:54.720 --> 00:22:55.720 We can sell it to you 00:22:55.720 --> 00:22:57.099 for $240,000. 00:22:59.099 --> 00:23:00.059 Now John was making 00:23:00.059 --> 00:23:01.279 like $50 a month. 00:23:02.500 --> 00:23:03.000 And he's like 00:23:03.000 --> 00:23:03.900 that's crazy money. 00:23:03.980 --> 00:23:04.259 I can't. 00:23:04.319 --> 00:23:05.079 There's no way I could do that. 00:23:05.099 --> 00:23:05.740 That's impossible. 00:23:06.079 --> 00:23:06.500 He goes well 00:23:06.500 --> 00:23:07.059 we'll sell it to you 00:23:07.059 --> 00:23:08.339 for $240,000. 00:23:09.299 --> 00:23:10.500 And as John was in the office 00:23:10.500 --> 00:23:10.940 there was a guy 00:23:10.940 --> 00:23:11.559 who was in charge 00:23:11.559 --> 00:23:12.119 of fundraising 00:23:12.119 --> 00:23:13.259 for his denomination. 00:23:13.399 --> 00:23:13.839 And he heard it 00:23:13.839 --> 00:23:14.000 and he said 00:23:14.000 --> 00:23:14.679 John that's no problem 00:23:14.679 --> 00:23:15.200 I can do it. 00:23:16.259 --> 00:23:16.720 And so that guy 00:23:16.720 --> 00:23:17.539 went back to America 00:23:17.539 --> 00:23:19.079 and for four months 00:23:19.079 --> 00:23:19.899 he stumped churches 00:23:19.899 --> 00:23:20.700 and talked to people 00:23:20.700 --> 00:23:21.659 and asked for money 00:23:21.659 --> 00:23:22.339 and asked for funding 00:23:22.339 --> 00:23:24.579 and at the end of four months 00:23:24.579 --> 00:23:25.399 John gets his letter. 00:23:25.400 --> 00:23:27.200 and it starts off 00:23:27.200 --> 00:23:27.759 dear John 00:23:27.759 --> 00:23:30.700 it's really bad 00:23:30.700 --> 00:23:31.500 when you start off 00:23:31.500 --> 00:23:31.860 you know even 00:23:31.860 --> 00:23:34.019 I'm sorry 00:23:34.019 --> 00:23:34.620 but we've tried 00:23:34.620 --> 00:23:35.420 for four months 00:23:35.420 --> 00:23:36.759 and we've had 00:23:36.759 --> 00:23:38.240 no response. 00:23:40.140 --> 00:23:41.580 No one's given anything. 00:23:44.240 --> 00:23:45.500 Please find the letter 00:23:45.500 --> 00:23:46.600 that came in 00:23:46.600 --> 00:23:48.740 from little Belinda Holmes. 00:23:49.640 --> 00:23:50.280 And in the package 00:23:50.280 --> 00:23:50.940 there's a little letter 00:23:50.940 --> 00:23:51.700 from Belinda Holmes. 00:23:52.200 --> 00:23:53.040 She's 14 years old. 00:23:53.599 --> 00:23:54.200 She'd heard the guy 00:23:54.200 --> 00:23:55.000 speak at the church 00:23:55.000 --> 00:23:56.200 and she wrote this letter 00:23:56.200 --> 00:23:56.659 out to John 00:23:56.659 --> 00:23:56.920 and she said 00:23:56.920 --> 00:23:57.279 dear John 00:23:57.279 --> 00:23:58.139 I want to be a part 00:23:58.139 --> 00:23:58.680 of reaching kids 00:23:58.680 --> 00:23:59.220 in Hong Kong 00:23:59.220 --> 00:24:00.299 I want to use my money 00:24:00.299 --> 00:24:01.619 I've stopped eating 00:24:01.619 --> 00:24:02.240 ice cream 00:24:02.240 --> 00:24:03.299 for two weeks. 00:24:04.700 --> 00:24:05.579 Here's my one dollar. 00:24:07.379 --> 00:24:08.319 So John's looking there 00:24:08.319 --> 00:24:08.659 and he owes 00:24:08.659 --> 00:24:09.500 $240,000 00:24:09.500 --> 00:24:10.559 he has one dollar. 00:24:11.700 --> 00:24:11.980 He goes 00:24:11.980 --> 00:24:12.539 this is crazy 00:24:12.539 --> 00:24:13.599 nothing's ever 00:24:13.599 --> 00:24:14.440 going to happen to this. 00:24:14.960 --> 00:24:15.220 So he goes 00:24:15.220 --> 00:24:15.639 well this is what 00:24:15.639 --> 00:24:16.159 God gave me 00:24:16.159 --> 00:24:16.920 so I'm going to use it. 00:24:17.019 --> 00:24:17.599 Because God can take 00:24:17.599 --> 00:24:18.139 a small thing 00:24:18.139 --> 00:24:18.759 given in faith 00:24:18.759 --> 00:24:19.579 and he can use it 00:24:19.579 --> 00:24:20.119 in amazing ways 00:24:20.119 --> 00:24:20.899 and he goes to the office 00:24:20.899 --> 00:24:21.500 and he talks to the guy 00:24:21.500 --> 00:24:21.679 he goes 00:24:21.679 --> 00:24:22.979 you have your $240,000 00:24:22.979 --> 00:24:23.339 he goes 00:24:23.339 --> 00:24:24.139 I don't really have 00:24:24.139 --> 00:24:24.739 $240,000 00:24:24.739 --> 00:24:25.479 but I have this. 00:24:27.119 --> 00:24:27.919 The guy reads 00:24:27.919 --> 00:24:28.179 the letter 00:24:28.179 --> 00:24:29.219 from a 14 year old 00:24:29.219 --> 00:24:29.719 who gave up 00:24:29.719 --> 00:24:30.239 her ice cream 00:24:30.239 --> 00:24:31.000 for two weeks 00:24:31.000 --> 00:24:32.199 looks at the one dollar 00:24:32.199 --> 00:24:33.639 he kind of laughs 00:24:33.639 --> 00:24:34.519 and he goes 00:24:34.519 --> 00:24:36.000 okay 00:24:36.000 --> 00:24:37.139 I'll sell it to you 00:24:37.139 --> 00:24:38.839 for one dollar. 00:24:40.500 --> 00:24:41.339 And since that time 00:24:41.339 --> 00:24:43.199 1.3 million 00:24:43.199 --> 00:24:43.859 children 00:24:43.859 --> 00:24:44.759 in Hong Kong 00:24:44.759 --> 00:24:45.779 have gone 00:24:45.779 --> 00:24:46.439 through that camp. 00:24:47.699 --> 00:24:49.779 1.3 million 00:24:49.779 --> 00:24:51.660 and over 00:24:51.660 --> 00:24:52.940 120,000 of them 00:24:52.940 --> 00:24:53.420 have said 00:24:53.420 --> 00:24:53.779 that they have 00:24:53.779 --> 00:24:54.680 come to the Lord 00:24:54.680 --> 00:24:56.019 because of that. 00:24:57.819 --> 00:24:59.200 In God's kingdom 00:24:59.200 --> 00:25:02.160 small amounts 00:25:02.160 --> 00:25:04.539 given in faith 00:25:04.539 --> 00:25:06.599 can do amazing things. 00:25:07.160 --> 00:25:07.839 Now I have a lot 00:25:07.839 --> 00:25:08.420 of other questions 00:25:08.420 --> 00:25:08.960 to ask Jesus 00:25:08.960 --> 00:25:09.539 when I get to heaven 00:25:09.539 --> 00:25:10.200 when I see this. 00:25:10.279 --> 00:25:10.559 You know like 00:25:10.559 --> 00:25:11.339 well why didn't you 00:25:11.339 --> 00:25:11.980 just go up behind 00:25:11.980 --> 00:25:12.599 and take the money 00:25:12.599 --> 00:25:13.160 and give it back to her 00:25:13.160 --> 00:25:13.879 and go here daughter 00:25:13.879 --> 00:25:14.559 you need this more 00:25:14.559 --> 00:25:14.920 than I do. 00:25:15.139 --> 00:25:15.799 But he didn't. 00:25:16.440 --> 00:25:17.299 He allowed her 00:25:17.299 --> 00:25:18.599 to give out of the joy. 00:25:19.259 --> 00:25:19.759 I mean why didn't 00:25:19.759 --> 00:25:20.359 he let her give 00:25:20.359 --> 00:25:20.819 because he knew 00:25:20.819 --> 00:25:21.299 that the temple 00:25:21.299 --> 00:25:21.959 was corrupt. 00:25:23.419 --> 00:25:24.599 You're being a bad steward. 00:25:25.740 --> 00:25:26.579 But he didn't. 00:25:27.859 --> 00:25:28.719 He allowed her 00:25:28.719 --> 00:25:29.919 to give out of joy 00:25:29.919 --> 00:25:31.419 because he knew 00:25:31.419 --> 00:25:32.559 that in God's kingdom 00:25:32.559 --> 00:25:34.240 in God's inverted kingdom 00:25:34.240 --> 00:25:35.619 small things 00:25:35.619 --> 00:25:37.019 can do 00:25:37.019 --> 00:25:38.599 amazing things. 00:25:40.480 --> 00:25:41.639 Listen to what I'm saying. 00:25:42.719 --> 00:25:43.659 I'm not saying 00:25:43.659 --> 00:25:44.859 that God wants your money. 00:25:44.859 --> 00:25:47.399 God does not need 00:25:47.399 --> 00:25:47.779 your money. 00:25:49.240 --> 00:25:51.099 God wants you. 00:25:53.219 --> 00:25:54.119 God wants you. 00:25:55.559 --> 00:25:56.439 He wants a relationship 00:25:56.439 --> 00:25:56.899 with you. 00:25:58.359 --> 00:25:59.319 And he knows 00:25:59.319 --> 00:26:00.039 that money 00:26:00.039 --> 00:26:01.579 has such a strong 00:26:01.579 --> 00:26:02.559 pull on us 00:26:02.559 --> 00:26:04.519 that until we give 00:26:04.519 --> 00:26:05.099 that up 00:26:05.099 --> 00:26:07.519 we're going to have 00:26:07.519 --> 00:26:08.079 a hard time 00:26:08.079 --> 00:26:08.899 living in his kingdom. 00:26:08.900 --> 00:26:11.840 So the question is 00:26:11.840 --> 00:26:14.540 what does our giving 00:26:14.540 --> 00:26:16.320 say about us? 00:26:18.980 --> 00:26:20.720 If Jesus were watching us 00:26:20.720 --> 00:26:21.860 as we came 00:26:21.860 --> 00:26:22.740 to put our money 00:26:22.740 --> 00:26:23.759 in the offering box 00:26:23.759 --> 00:26:26.040 what would he see 00:26:26.040 --> 00:26:26.780 in our heart? 00:26:28.180 --> 00:26:29.420 What would he think 00:26:29.420 --> 00:26:30.860 about us? 00:26:30.859 --> 00:26:33.939 I've often thought 00:26:33.939 --> 00:26:35.119 that Jesus is watching 00:26:35.119 --> 00:26:35.859 this lady 00:26:35.859 --> 00:26:37.259 this poor widow 00:26:37.259 --> 00:26:38.359 come and give her 00:26:38.359 --> 00:26:38.959 everything 00:26:38.959 --> 00:26:41.699 and I wonder 00:26:41.699 --> 00:26:43.259 if Jesus is thinking 00:26:43.259 --> 00:26:44.099 in his mind 00:26:44.099 --> 00:26:46.199 in three days 00:26:46.199 --> 00:26:49.939 I'm going to the cross 00:26:49.939 --> 00:26:52.879 and I'm going to give 00:26:52.879 --> 00:26:53.659 everything for her. 00:26:58.699 --> 00:26:59.339 I'm going to give 00:26:59.339 --> 00:27:00.039 everything for Tobin. 00:27:00.859 --> 00:27:04.119 I'm so thankful 00:27:04.119 --> 00:27:05.219 he didn't look at us 00:27:05.219 --> 00:27:05.439 and say 00:27:05.439 --> 00:27:06.059 well I don't know 00:27:06.059 --> 00:27:06.659 he's a jerk 00:27:06.659 --> 00:27:07.159 and he doesn't 00:27:07.159 --> 00:27:08.199 fall very well 00:27:08.199 --> 00:27:08.519 and he doesn't do 00:27:08.519 --> 00:27:08.959 these things 00:27:08.959 --> 00:27:09.579 and sometimes 00:27:09.579 --> 00:27:10.279 he breaks his promises 00:27:10.279 --> 00:27:11.979 he just gives 00:27:11.979 --> 00:27:13.479 everything 00:27:13.479 --> 00:27:15.299 for us. 00:27:17.059 --> 00:27:17.779 This passage 00:27:17.779 --> 00:27:18.539 is telling us 00:27:18.539 --> 00:27:20.299 that if we have 00:27:20.299 --> 00:27:21.019 a generous 00:27:21.019 --> 00:27:21.679 savior 00:27:21.679 --> 00:27:24.519 that we as his 00:27:24.519 --> 00:27:24.899 followers 00:27:24.899 --> 00:27:25.539 should be generous 00:27:25.539 --> 00:27:25.979 also. 00:27:29.619 --> 00:27:30.519 On December 8th 00:27:30.859 --> 00:27:31.439 we're going to do 00:27:31.439 --> 00:27:31.699 something 00:27:31.699 --> 00:27:33.099 we've never done 00:27:33.099 --> 00:27:34.679 we're going to 00:27:34.679 --> 00:27:35.299 take an offering 00:27:35.299 --> 00:27:37.579 December 8th 00:27:37.579 --> 00:27:38.759 the church 00:27:38.759 --> 00:27:39.619 and the staff 00:27:39.619 --> 00:27:40.219 and the leaders 00:27:40.219 --> 00:27:41.159 have identified 00:27:41.159 --> 00:27:42.419 three or four 00:27:42.419 --> 00:27:42.859 ministries 00:27:42.859 --> 00:27:43.459 that we think 00:27:43.459 --> 00:27:44.539 are doing amazing 00:27:44.539 --> 00:27:45.919 amazing things. 00:27:45.920 --> 00:27:49.140 so on December 8th 00:27:49.140 --> 00:27:50.539 and I don't know 00:27:50.539 --> 00:27:51.279 who gives what 00:27:51.279 --> 00:27:51.660 in here 00:27:51.660 --> 00:27:52.980 I know that the elders 00:27:52.980 --> 00:27:53.560 we talk about 00:27:53.560 --> 00:27:53.980 what we give 00:27:53.980 --> 00:27:54.360 because we want 00:27:54.360 --> 00:27:54.880 to be faithful 00:27:54.880 --> 00:27:55.180 and we want 00:27:55.180 --> 00:27:55.560 to be true 00:27:55.560 --> 00:27:56.060 as we present 00:27:56.060 --> 00:27:56.580 these things 00:27:56.580 --> 00:27:57.720 and so you can 00:27:57.720 --> 00:27:58.140 ask them 00:27:58.140 --> 00:27:59.000 how much they give 00:27:59.000 --> 00:27:59.539 and they'll probably 00:27:59.539 --> 00:28:00.180 ask you how much 00:28:00.180 --> 00:28:00.539 you give 00:28:00.539 --> 00:28:01.180 so that's a fair 00:28:01.180 --> 00:28:01.680 exchange 00:28:01.680 --> 00:28:02.640 but I don't know 00:28:02.640 --> 00:28:03.560 who gives what 00:28:03.559 --> 00:28:05.460 but I do know 00:28:05.460 --> 00:28:06.000 that it takes 00:28:06.000 --> 00:28:07.659 about 200,000 00:28:07.659 --> 00:28:08.579 Hong Kong dollars 00:28:08.579 --> 00:28:09.539 a week 00:28:09.539 --> 00:28:10.379 to keep everything 00:28:10.379 --> 00:28:11.299 going in the church 00:28:11.299 --> 00:28:12.659 and people's salaries 00:28:12.659 --> 00:28:13.440 and outreaches 00:28:13.440 --> 00:28:13.980 that we're doing 00:28:13.980 --> 00:28:15.099 and training pastors 00:28:15.099 --> 00:28:16.399 and all these things 00:28:16.399 --> 00:28:17.960 but on December 8th 00:28:17.960 --> 00:28:18.619 everything 00:28:18.619 --> 00:28:21.159 100% of everything 00:28:21.159 --> 00:28:21.619 that comes in 00:28:21.619 --> 00:28:22.220 for that week 00:28:22.220 --> 00:28:23.919 we're going to give 00:28:23.919 --> 00:28:25.460 to those 00:28:25.460 --> 00:28:26.639 ministries. 00:28:26.640 --> 00:28:28.940 my prayer 00:28:28.940 --> 00:28:30.259 is for all of us 00:28:30.259 --> 00:28:30.940 as a church 00:28:30.940 --> 00:28:32.820 as we reflect 00:28:32.820 --> 00:28:34.280 on this passage 00:28:34.280 --> 00:28:36.320 and we understand 00:28:36.320 --> 00:28:36.920 what God 00:28:36.920 --> 00:28:38.060 has done for us 00:28:38.060 --> 00:28:39.980 if we understand 00:28:39.980 --> 00:28:40.540 how generous 00:28:40.540 --> 00:28:41.960 he is for us 00:28:41.960 --> 00:28:43.340 that we 00:28:43.340 --> 00:28:44.580 as his people 00:28:44.580 --> 00:28:46.780 would be generous 00:28:46.780 --> 00:28:48.259 towards those 00:28:48.259 --> 00:28:48.940 around us 00:28:48.940 --> 00:28:50.240 so that God 00:28:50.240 --> 00:28:50.720 could use it 00:28:50.720 --> 00:28:51.300 for his kingdom. 00:28:52.800 --> 00:28:53.880 In God's kingdom 00:28:53.880 --> 00:28:54.960 money is seen 00:28:54.960 --> 00:28:55.480 very differently 00:28:55.480 --> 00:28:56.080 than ours 00:28:56.079 --> 00:28:58.419 he watches 00:28:58.419 --> 00:28:59.079 everything we do 00:28:59.079 --> 00:28:59.419 with it 00:28:59.419 --> 00:29:01.740 we're not really 00:29:01.740 --> 00:29:02.679 judged by what we give 00:29:02.679 --> 00:29:03.139 but we're judged 00:29:03.139 --> 00:29:03.799 by what we keep 00:29:03.799 --> 00:29:05.259 and why we've kept it 00:29:05.259 --> 00:29:07.939 and he always uses 00:29:07.939 --> 00:29:09.339 little things 00:29:09.339 --> 00:29:11.059 given in faith 00:29:11.059 --> 00:29:13.460 to change lives. 00:29:14.819 --> 00:29:15.639 Father we just 00:29:15.639 --> 00:29:16.559 come to you today 00:29:16.559 --> 00:29:17.220 and we thank you 00:29:17.220 --> 00:29:18.279 for your goodness 00:29:18.279 --> 00:29:18.899 and your grace 00:29:18.899 --> 00:29:19.519 in our life. 00:29:20.279 --> 00:29:21.899 We come as your people 00:29:21.899 --> 00:29:22.500 and we look at this 00:29:22.500 --> 00:29:23.439 passage of this widow 00:29:23.439 --> 00:29:24.779 and we wonder 00:29:24.779 --> 00:29:25.720 how many times 00:29:25.720 --> 00:29:26.460 throughout the last 00:29:26.460 --> 00:29:27.460 2,000 years 00:29:27.460 --> 00:29:29.120 you have multiplied 00:29:29.120 --> 00:29:31.440 those two leptas 00:29:31.440 --> 00:29:33.860 those two slivers 00:29:33.860 --> 00:29:35.559 how many times 00:29:35.559 --> 00:29:36.240 you have multiplied 00:29:36.240 --> 00:29:37.120 them for your kingdom 00:29:37.120 --> 00:29:38.779 and done amazing things. 00:29:39.559 --> 00:29:40.360 Lord help us 00:29:40.360 --> 00:29:40.860 to realize 00:29:40.860 --> 00:29:41.900 that you have been 00:29:41.900 --> 00:29:42.460 so generous 00:29:42.460 --> 00:29:43.039 and gracious 00:29:43.039 --> 00:29:43.759 to us 00:29:43.759 --> 00:29:44.900 for everything 00:29:44.900 --> 00:29:45.779 and then all we have 00:29:45.779 --> 00:29:46.420 is yours. 00:29:47.299 --> 00:29:48.160 The Pharisees 00:29:48.160 --> 00:29:49.120 didn't understand that 00:29:49.120 --> 00:29:50.380 because they were 00:29:50.380 --> 00:29:51.160 legalists. 00:29:51.160 --> 00:29:53.040 the Sadducees 00:29:53.040 --> 00:29:53.759 didn't understand that 00:29:53.759 --> 00:29:54.720 because they just 00:29:54.720 --> 00:29:55.840 couldn't care less 00:29:55.840 --> 00:29:56.320 and they wanted 00:29:56.320 --> 00:29:56.820 to party 00:29:56.820 --> 00:29:58.560 and sometimes 00:29:58.560 --> 00:30:00.200 we bounce back 00:30:00.200 --> 00:30:00.540 and forth 00:30:00.540 --> 00:30:01.140 between both 00:30:01.140 --> 00:30:02.220 of those extremes. 00:30:03.400 --> 00:30:04.180 Lord I pray 00:30:04.180 --> 00:30:05.019 that we would see you 00:30:05.019 --> 00:30:05.940 as you really are 00:30:05.940 --> 00:30:07.980 but I confess 00:30:07.980 --> 00:30:08.820 in my life 00:30:08.820 --> 00:30:09.820 I confess 00:30:09.820 --> 00:30:11.240 you have been 00:30:11.240 --> 00:30:12.380 so abundant 00:30:12.380 --> 00:30:14.100 and many times 00:30:14.100 --> 00:30:14.940 I have squandered 00:30:14.940 --> 00:30:16.060 those things. 00:30:17.320 --> 00:30:18.360 I want to repent 00:30:18.360 --> 00:30:18.820 of that. 00:30:19.940 --> 00:30:20.740 Lord I pray 00:30:20.740 --> 00:30:21.700 for our church 00:30:21.700 --> 00:30:23.380 I pray that you 00:30:23.380 --> 00:30:24.920 would forgive us 00:30:24.920 --> 00:30:26.520 as individuals 00:30:26.520 --> 00:30:27.240 and as groups 00:30:27.240 --> 00:30:27.860 and how often 00:30:27.860 --> 00:30:28.440 we've wasted 00:30:28.440 --> 00:30:29.220 your resources 00:30:29.220 --> 00:30:31.220 when you were waiting 00:30:31.220 --> 00:30:33.140 to do amazing things 00:30:33.140 --> 00:30:35.280 amazing things 00:30:35.280 --> 00:30:37.120 if we were willing 00:30:37.120 --> 00:30:38.000 to step out in faith 00:30:38.000 --> 00:30:38.680 and trust you. 00:30:38.680 --> 00:30:40.400 so we come 00:30:40.400 --> 00:30:41.080 before you now 00:30:41.080 --> 00:30:41.779 and we just pray 00:30:41.779 --> 00:30:42.220 that you would 00:30:42.220 --> 00:30:43.259 change our hearts 00:30:43.259 --> 00:30:44.980 help us to see 00:30:44.980 --> 00:30:45.460 your son 00:30:45.460 --> 00:30:46.420 as he truly is 00:30:46.420 --> 00:30:48.400 help us to understand 00:30:48.400 --> 00:30:49.000 the depth 00:30:49.000 --> 00:30:49.840 and the breadth 00:30:49.840 --> 00:30:50.480 and the width 00:30:50.480 --> 00:30:51.000 of the grace 00:30:51.000 --> 00:30:51.380 and mercy 00:30:51.380 --> 00:30:52.299 you've given to us 00:30:52.299 --> 00:30:53.980 and help us 00:30:53.980 --> 00:30:54.560 to be people 00:30:54.560 --> 00:30:55.480 who are generous 00:30:55.480 --> 00:30:58.180 because we serve 00:30:58.180 --> 00:30:59.039 an amazingly 00:30:59.039 --> 00:31:00.600 generous God. 00:31:01.840 --> 00:31:02.799 We love you 00:31:02.799 --> 00:31:03.900 and we pray 00:31:03.900 --> 00:31:04.299 these things 00:31:04.299 --> 00:31:04.620 in your son 00:31:04.620 --> 00:31:05.279 Jesus name 00:31:05.279 --> 00:31:06.340 Amen.