WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:15.599 Hi, my name is George Sinclair. I'm the lead pastor of Church of the Messiah. 00:00:15.599 --> 00:00:20.480 ! It is wonderful that you would like to check out some of the sermons done by Church of the Messiah, 00:00:20.480 --> 00:00:25.679 either by myself or some of the others. Listen, just a couple of things. First of all, would you pray for us 00:00:25.679 --> 00:00:32.159 that we will open God's Word well to His glory and for the good of people like yourself? 00:00:32.159 --> 00:00:37.359 The second thing is, if you aren't connected to a church and if you are a Christian, 00:00:37.359 --> 00:00:42.159 we really, I would really like to encourage you to find a good local church where they believe the 00:00:42.159 --> 00:00:48.799 Bible, they preach the gospel, and if you have some trouble finding that, send us an email. We will do 00:00:48.799 --> 00:00:55.120 what we can to help connect you with a good local church wherever you are. And if you're a non-Christian, 00:00:55.119 --> 00:01:00.320 checking us out, we're really, really, really glad you're doing that. Don't hesitate to send us 00:01:00.320 --> 00:01:05.280 questions. It helps me actually to know, as I'm preaching, how to deal with the types of things 00:01:05.280 --> 00:01:07.759 that you're really struggling with. So God bless. 00:01:07.760 --> 00:01:09.760 God bless. 00:01:12.960 --> 00:01:16.880 Morning, Church. Let's pray together. 00:01:20.320 --> 00:01:27.840 Father, we thank you for this morning and the chance to gather around your Word with your community at your table. 00:01:28.719 --> 00:01:33.200 We thank you for the gift of your Word. We ask that you would help us to 00:01:34.400 --> 00:01:39.439 eat of it this morning and that there we would find life. 00:01:40.560 --> 00:01:42.719 We pray this in Christ's name. Amen. 00:01:44.800 --> 00:01:52.560 So over the last six years, I worked with refugees who were stuck in the middle of the desert, 00:01:52.560 --> 00:02:00.560 in North Africa, many living in tents, extremely limited water resources, and these refugees were 00:02:00.560 --> 00:02:08.000 hosted by another country along the border in settlements. These refugees were waiting, longing, 00:02:08.000 --> 00:02:15.280 and fighting to go home. Their home country, in the meantime, was in fact under the control of 00:02:15.280 --> 00:02:21.360 another authority. Their leaders were operating in the refugee camps as a government in exile. 00:02:22.640 --> 00:02:32.639 So imagine this was you. You wake up each morning in a place that you call home somehow, but in a very 00:02:32.639 --> 00:02:40.560 real sense is not your true home. You live under the laws and customs of a foreign land that you would 00:02:40.560 --> 00:02:50.640 do well to obey, but that do not define you in a deeper sense. You see the signs, you see the flags, 00:02:50.640 --> 00:02:57.360 you see all the signs that point to the fact that you're not in your home and remind you of where your 00:02:57.360 --> 00:03:03.680 home really is. You respect these signs, these flags, but they do not define you. 00:03:03.680 --> 00:03:12.719 Well, this is the life of someone caught up in between two very different stories, two very different 00:03:13.520 --> 00:03:21.120 narratives, living under two sets of rules, living under two sets of customs, and somehow in your day-to-day 00:03:21.120 --> 00:03:28.800 life you have to reconcile these two things together somehow. To stay, to set up your life in the camps 00:03:28.800 --> 00:03:37.120 means to live into one story. To fight to go back or to abandon the cause and seek education and health 00:03:37.120 --> 00:03:44.880 care and whatever you can get outside of the camps is to live into yet another story. And so the people 00:03:44.880 --> 00:03:52.480 that I worked with were caught in between these two stories. In the text we read this morning from 00:03:52.479 --> 00:04:00.799 Matthew, which tells the story of Jesus's birth from Joseph's perspective, we see that Joseph found 00:04:00.799 --> 00:04:08.799 himself in two stories in a sense, two competing narratives, and they're the same two stories that we 00:04:08.799 --> 00:04:16.079 find ourselves in as well this morning. One of these stories was we might call the dominant story of the day, 00:04:16.079 --> 00:04:25.599 the story of his community expectations, the way that society sees things, the values that shaped 00:04:25.599 --> 00:04:32.639 his society. It's the world of common sense, the world that you can touch with your hands and see with 00:04:32.639 --> 00:04:40.319 your eyes. It's a story that we piece together and have the sense of, in our context we might call this 00:04:40.319 --> 00:04:49.680 the Canadian story. And the other story that interposes itself onto this story is the story that God tells. 00:04:50.800 --> 00:04:58.399 It's the story in which God is speaking to us, that he tells us where we came from, who we are, 00:04:59.120 --> 00:05:08.240 where we're going, and how we should live. One story depends on sight, the other story depends on faith. 00:05:08.240 --> 00:05:12.800 One story is the story of our reasoning, the other story of God's revelation. 00:05:14.000 --> 00:05:20.000 Now these stories are not always in contradiction. There are varying degrees in which these stories 00:05:21.040 --> 00:05:28.800 compete and align in every place and culture. But one thing is sure, that just as Joseph, as for us, 00:05:29.360 --> 00:05:36.800 there is a point, probably many points, of time in which these stories come into direct competition 00:05:36.800 --> 00:05:44.960 with each other. That these stories are on a crash-collision course, and we are forced to choose 00:05:45.600 --> 00:05:54.080 which story will shape us, which story do we truly believe in. When the stories contradict one another, 00:05:54.879 --> 00:06:01.680 which story will you find yourself in? And as we'll see this morning, we are invited to join 00:06:01.680 --> 00:06:06.079 the better story, the truer story, the one that will lead to life. 00:06:08.720 --> 00:06:13.840 At the start of our text, I invite you to pull up your Bibles and follow along in Matthew chapter 1. 00:06:14.560 --> 00:06:21.759 At the beginning of the text, we find that Joseph is very much operating within that first story. 00:06:21.759 --> 00:06:28.959 Stuck, you might say, within that first story. He's in a moment of crisis, caught in the middle of this apparent scandal. 00:06:30.560 --> 00:06:37.680 For Mary, his fiancée was found to be pregnant, and it certainly was not of his doing. 00:06:38.719 --> 00:06:41.519 We're not given a lot of details in the text, 00:06:41.519 --> 00:06:47.279 And so we might wonder exactly how Joseph found out about Mary's pregnancy. 00:06:49.039 --> 00:06:51.039 Did it reach him through the grapevine? 00:06:51.839 --> 00:06:54.399 Was it an official family-to-family communique, 00:06:54.959 --> 00:06:59.439 where one father-in-law to another was trying to keep this marriage plan together? 00:07:00.479 --> 00:07:07.819 Did Joseph drop in once and notice that unmistakable pregnancy glow that so many people talk about, 00:07:07.819 --> 00:07:10.159 that I never saw in my wife, but other people did? 00:07:11.519 --> 00:07:17.599 It doesn't seem that Mary told Joseph exactly what happened, what she had heard from the angels, 00:07:17.599 --> 00:07:20.240 from the details of the text. 00:07:20.319 --> 00:07:23.779 It doesn't sound like Joseph was weighing out this report and its accuracy. 00:07:24.639 --> 00:07:31.459 But in any case, however Joseph heard or found out, his fiancée was indeed pregnant. 00:07:32.519 --> 00:07:39.319 There's a song I was listening to this past week from a contemporary Christian singer-songwriter 00:07:39.319 --> 00:07:42.519 that says, singing about Mary, says, 00:07:42.599 --> 00:07:45.579 The day you're getting married and this isn't what you dreamed of, 00:07:45.939 --> 00:07:48.040 walking down the aisle at eight months, 00:07:48.579 --> 00:07:51.579 they'll never understand that this isn't what you planned. 00:07:53.019 --> 00:07:57.959 Now it might be a little anachronistic thinking about an aisle walking 00:07:57.959 --> 00:08:01.899 in first century Judaism and in Palestine, 00:08:01.899 --> 00:08:05.060 but the point is this. 00:08:07.060 --> 00:08:10.240 This marriage, this young love, 00:08:10.319 --> 00:08:15.839 which was supposed to be a pure, good moment of community celebration, 00:08:16.500 --> 00:08:19.399 that it was overshadowed in a sense of shame. 00:08:19.399 --> 00:08:26.639 That Joseph, in order, you know, we know the story of Joseph walking to Bethlehem 00:08:26.639 --> 00:08:29.419 by donkey with his wife, 00:08:29.959 --> 00:08:33.980 that before that, Joseph would have had some sort of arrangement 00:08:33.980 --> 00:08:36.759 where he took Mary, pregnant Mary, 00:08:36.980 --> 00:08:40.419 to come home with him and his wife. 00:08:41.000 --> 00:08:45.399 And we can only imagine what the neighbors would have thought. 00:08:45.399 --> 00:08:49.459 Over the last 10 plus years, 00:08:49.659 --> 00:08:54.139 we've lived in many cultures that are very community-based, 00:08:54.240 --> 00:08:54.899 very traditional, 00:08:55.240 --> 00:08:57.519 and where indeed the neighbors talk. 00:08:58.079 --> 00:09:02.319 We had to be careful about the groceries that we brought home, 00:09:02.519 --> 00:09:04.899 walking home in our bags, 00:09:05.000 --> 00:09:06.840 because if we had too many Western products 00:09:06.840 --> 00:09:09.439 or too many things that would have cost a pretty penny, 00:09:09.500 --> 00:09:10.879 we would have been judged for that. 00:09:11.419 --> 00:09:13.259 It seemed that the people around us, 00:09:13.299 --> 00:09:14.480 our neighbors, the people we lived, 00:09:14.480 --> 00:09:16.200 with and amongst, 00:09:16.420 --> 00:09:20.700 that they would take anything to gossip about 00:09:20.700 --> 00:09:23.940 and talk about and spin a story about you of. 00:09:24.279 --> 00:09:31.320 And I imagine that Mary and Joseph's day was no different, 00:09:31.740 --> 00:09:33.879 that they had to endure the judgment 00:09:33.879 --> 00:09:38.539 and the shame that went along with this moment, 00:09:38.620 --> 00:09:39.920 very unfortunately. 00:09:39.919 --> 00:09:45.500 And so at the start of this, 00:09:45.639 --> 00:09:46.259 our text, 00:09:46.439 --> 00:09:48.360 we find that Joseph was operating 00:09:48.360 --> 00:09:52.819 within this first story, 00:09:53.079 --> 00:09:54.139 and of course, 00:09:54.259 --> 00:09:56.579 it was no simple thing just to call off the engagement. 00:09:57.919 --> 00:09:58.879 There's a friend of mine 00:09:58.879 --> 00:09:59.799 who, 00:10:00.219 --> 00:10:03.919 when he tells the story of his marriage, 00:10:03.919 --> 00:10:04.519 marriage, 00:10:04.919 --> 00:10:07.179 he talks about how he met his wife 00:10:07.179 --> 00:10:10.919 who was engaged to another fellow at the time, 00:10:11.000 --> 00:10:12.019 and long story short, 00:10:12.620 --> 00:10:15.179 he got in there and stole her away. 00:10:15.860 --> 00:10:16.939 And in his words, 00:10:17.019 --> 00:10:17.439 he says, 00:10:17.519 --> 00:10:18.919 it's not over till it's over. 00:10:20.219 --> 00:10:24.919 And whether you may or may not have been so bold 00:10:24.919 --> 00:10:26.539 as to scoop in there 00:10:26.539 --> 00:10:29.339 and end another engagement, 00:10:29.939 --> 00:10:30.099 we, 00:10:30.360 --> 00:10:31.799 I think we mostly think 00:10:31.799 --> 00:10:32.939 that this sort of thing 00:10:32.939 --> 00:10:34.860 is acceptable, 00:10:35.199 --> 00:10:35.480 you know, 00:10:35.639 --> 00:10:37.860 according to our rules 00:10:37.860 --> 00:10:38.299 of dating, 00:10:38.459 --> 00:10:38.839 engagement, 00:10:38.980 --> 00:10:39.519 and marriage. 00:10:40.419 --> 00:10:41.000 You know, 00:10:41.039 --> 00:10:41.799 it's not marriage 00:10:41.799 --> 00:10:43.139 until both parties say, 00:10:43.519 --> 00:10:44.339 I do. 00:10:45.519 --> 00:10:46.039 Well, 00:10:46.120 --> 00:10:47.519 it wasn't so in Joseph's day. 00:10:48.279 --> 00:10:49.339 Engagement and marriage 00:10:49.339 --> 00:10:50.219 were linked together 00:10:50.219 --> 00:10:51.259 such that for Joseph 00:10:51.259 --> 00:10:52.539 to call off the engagement 00:10:52.539 --> 00:10:54.419 was for him to call off 00:10:54.419 --> 00:10:56.179 the marriage 00:10:56.179 --> 00:10:56.919 and a divorce 00:10:56.919 --> 00:10:57.559 was in order. 00:10:59.919 --> 00:11:01.620 And so this is where we find 00:11:01.620 --> 00:11:03.059 Joseph at the start of the story 00:11:03.059 --> 00:11:03.860 not wanting 00:11:03.860 --> 00:11:05.379 to put Mary to shame 00:11:05.379 --> 00:11:06.620 despite his confidence 00:11:06.620 --> 00:11:07.679 of how this baby 00:11:07.679 --> 00:11:08.539 must have come about. 00:11:09.419 --> 00:11:10.539 We find him 00:11:10.539 --> 00:11:11.620 considering, 00:11:12.620 --> 00:11:13.059 reasoning, 00:11:13.860 --> 00:11:14.559 agonizing, 00:11:14.959 --> 00:11:16.039 looking at the facts, 00:11:16.459 --> 00:11:17.439 trying to wrap his mind 00:11:17.439 --> 00:11:18.679 around what is happening, 00:11:19.500 --> 00:11:20.779 what God is doing. 00:11:21.240 --> 00:11:22.099 We read in the text 00:11:22.100 --> 00:11:23.259 that Joseph is described 00:11:23.259 --> 00:11:24.399 as a just man, 00:11:25.019 --> 00:11:26.600 which means that 00:11:26.600 --> 00:11:27.480 he was a good guy. 00:11:27.940 --> 00:11:28.620 He would have followed 00:11:28.620 --> 00:11:29.279 God's law 00:11:29.279 --> 00:11:30.040 and would have had 00:11:30.040 --> 00:11:31.420 a degree of honor 00:11:31.420 --> 00:11:31.980 and respect 00:11:31.980 --> 00:11:33.100 from his community. 00:11:34.480 --> 00:11:35.840 But his reputation, 00:11:36.379 --> 00:11:37.340 the life that he built, 00:11:37.600 --> 00:11:39.340 is all now under attack. 00:11:40.920 --> 00:11:42.120 And all of a sudden, 00:11:42.980 --> 00:11:44.940 upon the angel's visitation 00:11:44.940 --> 00:11:46.200 in a dream at night, 00:11:46.940 --> 00:11:48.879 crashing into Joseph's world 00:11:48.879 --> 00:11:49.860 of predictability 00:11:49.860 --> 00:11:50.980 and common sense 00:11:50.980 --> 00:11:53.139 and community expectations, 00:11:53.519 --> 00:11:55.700 comes God and his word. 00:11:56.879 --> 00:11:58.899 God's story interposing itself 00:11:58.899 --> 00:11:59.560 on his. 00:12:00.080 --> 00:12:00.860 God's story contradicting 00:12:01.480 --> 00:12:02.419 what Joseph saw 00:12:02.419 --> 00:12:03.240 with his eyes. 00:12:04.560 --> 00:12:05.980 And Joseph was at a fork 00:12:05.980 --> 00:12:06.659 in the road, 00:12:06.779 --> 00:12:07.980 a choice before him. 00:12:08.379 --> 00:12:09.720 Which story would he 00:12:09.720 --> 00:12:11.240 play into? 00:12:11.460 --> 00:12:12.820 Which story would he choose 00:12:12.820 --> 00:12:14.259 to be a part of? 00:12:14.259 --> 00:12:18.179 And we read, 00:12:18.340 --> 00:12:19.419 an angel of the Lord 00:12:19.419 --> 00:12:20.179 appears to him 00:12:20.179 --> 00:12:20.720 in a dream. 00:12:21.319 --> 00:12:22.000 Do not fear 00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:22.659 to take Mary 00:12:22.659 --> 00:12:23.299 as your wife, 00:12:23.379 --> 00:12:24.620 for that which is conceived 00:12:24.620 --> 00:12:25.500 in her is from 00:12:25.500 --> 00:12:26.360 the Holy Spirit. 00:12:30.980 --> 00:12:31.879 And so imagine 00:12:31.879 --> 00:12:32.519 waking up 00:12:32.519 --> 00:12:33.539 the next day 00:12:33.539 --> 00:12:35.200 in Joseph's shoes 00:12:35.200 --> 00:12:35.899 or maybe 00:12:35.899 --> 00:12:36.939 in Joseph's bed 00:12:36.939 --> 00:12:39.439 and there's a decision 00:12:39.439 --> 00:12:40.819 hanging over you. 00:12:40.820 --> 00:12:41.460 I think we've all 00:12:41.460 --> 00:12:42.879 had that moment 00:12:42.879 --> 00:12:44.420 where we go to bed 00:12:44.420 --> 00:12:45.440 with an awful decision 00:12:45.440 --> 00:12:46.200 before us. 00:12:46.400 --> 00:12:47.860 Sometimes we wake up 00:12:47.860 --> 00:12:49.560 in this blissful 00:12:49.560 --> 00:12:51.420 state 00:12:51.420 --> 00:12:52.140 where we forget 00:12:52.140 --> 00:12:52.680 the decision 00:12:52.680 --> 00:12:53.460 before us 00:12:53.460 --> 00:12:54.700 and it takes 00:12:54.700 --> 00:12:55.400 a couple seconds 00:12:55.400 --> 00:12:56.300 before we get 00:12:56.300 --> 00:12:56.940 sucker punched 00:12:56.940 --> 00:12:58.720 and wake up 00:12:58.720 --> 00:12:59.360 to reality. 00:13:00.540 --> 00:13:01.660 Sometimes we 00:13:01.660 --> 00:13:03.240 somehow dream 00:13:03.240 --> 00:13:03.720 all night 00:13:03.720 --> 00:13:04.960 about the decision 00:13:04.960 --> 00:13:05.940 and we wake up 00:13:05.940 --> 00:13:06.700 somehow already 00:13:06.700 --> 00:13:07.580 sick to our stomach. 00:13:08.620 --> 00:13:09.340 Whatever it was 00:13:09.340 --> 00:13:09.860 for Joseph, 00:13:10.340 --> 00:13:13.139 he woke up 00:13:13.139 --> 00:13:14.240 and we ask ourselves 00:13:14.240 --> 00:13:14.720 the question 00:13:14.720 --> 00:13:15.600 if you were to wake up 00:13:15.600 --> 00:13:16.700 in his shoes, 00:13:16.840 --> 00:13:17.680 where would your mind go? 00:13:18.360 --> 00:13:19.440 What would you do? 00:13:21.460 --> 00:13:22.379 All that Joseph 00:13:22.379 --> 00:13:23.100 had built up 00:13:23.100 --> 00:13:24.500 flashes before his eyes 00:13:24.500 --> 00:13:25.100 and he might be 00:13:25.100 --> 00:13:26.019 thinking to himself, 00:13:26.460 --> 00:13:27.600 even if the angel, 00:13:28.320 --> 00:13:30.060 even if what the angel 00:13:30.060 --> 00:13:30.879 was telling me 00:13:30.879 --> 00:13:31.480 was true, 00:13:32.000 --> 00:13:32.780 who is going 00:13:32.780 --> 00:13:33.700 to believe this? 00:13:34.780 --> 00:13:35.900 All forever be 00:13:35.900 --> 00:13:36.519 the loser 00:13:36.519 --> 00:13:37.480 that got married 00:13:37.480 --> 00:13:39.120 to a loose wife, 00:13:39.340 --> 00:13:39.879 whose child 00:13:39.879 --> 00:13:40.960 is not my own, 00:13:41.300 --> 00:13:42.060 quite literally, 00:13:42.720 --> 00:13:44.080 shame on me. 00:13:46.320 --> 00:13:48.160 It's remarkable 00:13:48.160 --> 00:13:49.519 what God asks 00:13:49.519 --> 00:13:50.259 of Joseph 00:13:50.259 --> 00:13:53.120 and what he asks 00:13:53.120 --> 00:13:55.460 of me and you. 00:13:57.060 --> 00:13:58.100 So often, 00:13:58.280 --> 00:13:59.259 God's word 00:13:59.259 --> 00:14:00.120 provides us 00:14:00.120 --> 00:14:00.740 with the ability 00:14:00.740 --> 00:14:02.139 to live respectable lives, 00:14:02.800 --> 00:14:03.940 fulfilling lives 00:14:03.940 --> 00:14:04.860 that mark us out 00:14:04.860 --> 00:14:05.580 as good neighbors, 00:14:05.980 --> 00:14:06.320 leaders, 00:14:07.220 --> 00:14:07.580 spouses, 00:14:07.820 --> 00:14:08.120 parents, 00:14:08.120 --> 00:14:08.539 friends, 00:14:08.539 --> 00:14:08.560 friends, 00:14:08.560 --> 00:14:08.720 friends, 00:14:08.799 --> 00:14:09.799 in ways that can be 00:14:09.799 --> 00:14:11.240 appreciated and understood 00:14:11.240 --> 00:14:12.120 by the community 00:14:12.120 --> 00:14:12.779 around us. 00:14:13.700 --> 00:14:14.980 The faith makes us 00:14:14.980 --> 00:14:15.539 into people 00:14:15.539 --> 00:14:16.480 that are serving 00:14:16.480 --> 00:14:17.320 the common good. 00:14:19.060 --> 00:14:20.440 But just as often, 00:14:20.899 --> 00:14:22.220 maybe a little bit more, 00:14:23.100 --> 00:14:23.799 God's word 00:14:23.799 --> 00:14:24.799 has the very opposite 00:14:24.799 --> 00:14:25.500 effect. 00:14:28.080 --> 00:14:28.960 That living 00:14:28.960 --> 00:14:29.899 in his story 00:14:29.899 --> 00:14:30.940 will set us apart 00:14:30.940 --> 00:14:32.080 in ways that 00:14:32.080 --> 00:14:32.759 will be met 00:14:32.759 --> 00:14:33.480 with mocking, 00:14:34.259 --> 00:14:35.480 with incredulity, 00:14:35.620 --> 00:14:37.000 or disbelief. 00:14:38.399 --> 00:14:39.259 And so for Joseph, 00:14:39.439 --> 00:14:40.120 as for us, 00:14:40.259 --> 00:14:41.319 there was no getting 00:14:41.319 --> 00:14:42.399 around this fact. 00:14:42.879 --> 00:14:43.860 To go through 00:14:43.860 --> 00:14:44.500 with what God 00:14:44.500 --> 00:14:45.639 told Joseph to do, 00:14:46.000 --> 00:14:47.960 being misunderstood, 00:14:48.299 --> 00:14:48.960 would have been 00:14:48.960 --> 00:14:50.379 completely unavoidable. 00:14:51.080 --> 00:14:52.600 And this seems to be, 00:14:53.159 --> 00:14:54.299 for whatever reason, 00:14:54.399 --> 00:14:55.279 a part of God's will 00:14:55.279 --> 00:14:55.919 for us. 00:14:56.720 --> 00:14:57.659 To go through 00:14:57.659 --> 00:14:58.259 with lives 00:14:58.259 --> 00:14:58.980 where we, 00:14:59.080 --> 00:14:59.480 at times, 00:14:59.539 --> 00:15:00.419 will be grossly 00:15:00.419 --> 00:15:01.039 misunderstood. 00:15:01.960 --> 00:15:03.080 And we can feel 00:15:03.080 --> 00:15:04.019 the whiplash 00:15:04.019 --> 00:15:05.139 of being jostled 00:15:05.139 --> 00:15:06.620 between our faith 00:15:06.620 --> 00:15:07.259 being received 00:15:07.259 --> 00:15:07.799 as a good 00:15:07.799 --> 00:15:08.580 to society 00:15:08.580 --> 00:15:09.240 and sometimes 00:15:09.240 --> 00:15:09.779 our faith 00:15:09.779 --> 00:15:11.019 being received 00:15:11.019 --> 00:15:12.299 as an ill 00:15:12.299 --> 00:15:13.179 to society. 00:15:13.939 --> 00:15:14.919 I think this is 00:15:14.919 --> 00:15:17.319 a particular challenge 00:15:17.319 --> 00:15:18.340 for those of us 00:15:18.340 --> 00:15:19.019 who live 00:15:19.019 --> 00:15:20.980 in the post-Christian 00:15:20.980 --> 00:15:21.519 culture 00:15:21.519 --> 00:15:22.080 that we find 00:15:22.080 --> 00:15:23.159 ourselves in, 00:15:23.700 --> 00:15:24.720 where faith 00:15:24.720 --> 00:15:26.100 is disputed, 00:15:26.319 --> 00:15:27.220 where we somehow 00:15:27.220 --> 00:15:28.000 need to give 00:15:28.000 --> 00:15:28.740 a justification 00:15:28.740 --> 00:15:31.279 for belief 00:15:31.279 --> 00:15:32.019 of any kind 00:15:32.019 --> 00:15:32.940 in this day and age. 00:15:34.100 --> 00:15:35.460 And I don't know 00:15:35.460 --> 00:15:35.940 about you, 00:15:36.100 --> 00:15:37.379 but being a minority 00:15:37.379 --> 00:15:38.299 in this majority 00:15:38.299 --> 00:15:39.559 type of culture, 00:15:40.000 --> 00:15:41.480 I've spent years 00:15:41.480 --> 00:15:42.600 and much energy 00:15:42.600 --> 00:15:44.220 trying to live out 00:15:44.220 --> 00:15:44.720 my faith 00:15:44.720 --> 00:15:45.080 in a way 00:15:45.080 --> 00:15:45.980 that can be understood 00:15:45.980 --> 00:15:47.340 and appreciated 00:15:47.340 --> 00:15:50.039 by my wider culture. 00:15:50.480 --> 00:15:51.240 I want to show 00:15:51.240 --> 00:15:51.659 the world 00:15:51.659 --> 00:15:52.480 that I have 00:15:52.480 --> 00:15:53.240 in my faith 00:15:53.240 --> 00:15:53.960 the very things 00:15:53.960 --> 00:15:54.720 they long for. 00:15:55.340 --> 00:15:55.659 Hope, 00:15:55.820 --> 00:15:56.080 love, 00:15:56.340 --> 00:15:56.679 forgiveness. 00:15:57.240 --> 00:15:57.720 I want to show 00:15:57.720 --> 00:15:58.420 that my faith 00:15:58.420 --> 00:15:59.500 answers life's 00:15:59.500 --> 00:16:00.379 big questions. 00:16:01.560 --> 00:16:02.040 I want to show 00:16:02.040 --> 00:16:02.500 the world 00:16:02.500 --> 00:16:02.920 that I'm 00:16:02.920 --> 00:16:04.040 intellectually honest, 00:16:04.480 --> 00:16:05.560 that God's law 00:16:05.560 --> 00:16:06.279 is not arbitrary 00:16:06.279 --> 00:16:06.860 or harmful, 00:16:06.980 --> 00:16:07.860 but is freeing, 00:16:08.220 --> 00:16:09.500 that I can bring 00:16:09.500 --> 00:16:10.720 together the methods 00:16:10.720 --> 00:16:11.480 of the enlightenment, 00:16:12.160 --> 00:16:12.899 the impulses 00:16:12.899 --> 00:16:14.259 of romanticism, 00:16:14.940 --> 00:16:15.840 the critiques 00:16:15.840 --> 00:16:17.759 of post-modernity 00:16:17.759 --> 00:16:19.160 into some 00:16:19.160 --> 00:16:20.639 cohesive framework, 00:16:21.240 --> 00:16:21.720 traditional, 00:16:22.519 --> 00:16:24.000 historic and ancient 00:16:24.000 --> 00:16:25.480 and reformed. 00:16:25.480 --> 00:16:27.279 I want to argue 00:16:27.279 --> 00:16:28.000 that the scriptures 00:16:28.000 --> 00:16:28.800 have held up 00:16:28.800 --> 00:16:29.680 against the best 00:16:29.680 --> 00:16:30.680 criticisms of the 00:16:30.680 --> 00:16:31.720 last centuries. 00:16:32.420 --> 00:16:33.039 And while this is 00:16:33.039 --> 00:16:34.920 all very good, 00:16:36.200 --> 00:16:37.320 there's also, 00:16:37.440 --> 00:16:38.039 I've found, 00:16:38.120 --> 00:16:38.759 an unintended 00:16:38.759 --> 00:16:40.399 consequence here. 00:16:41.259 --> 00:16:42.460 As we live 00:16:42.460 --> 00:16:43.759 to be understood, 00:16:44.320 --> 00:16:45.600 as we spend 00:16:45.600 --> 00:16:46.320 great efforts 00:16:46.320 --> 00:16:47.279 to be understood, 00:16:48.279 --> 00:16:49.259 I think it becomes, 00:16:49.600 --> 00:16:50.519 and in my experience, 00:16:50.620 --> 00:16:51.420 it's become harder 00:16:51.420 --> 00:16:51.800 and harder 00:16:51.800 --> 00:16:52.659 to stand out 00:16:52.659 --> 00:16:53.600 and to be different 00:16:53.600 --> 00:16:55.399 when indeed 00:16:55.399 --> 00:16:56.879 this is required 00:16:56.879 --> 00:16:57.259 of me. 00:16:58.459 --> 00:16:59.559 We get quite used 00:16:59.559 --> 00:16:59.980 to living 00:16:59.980 --> 00:17:00.679 by the standards 00:17:00.679 --> 00:17:01.319 and assumptions 00:17:01.319 --> 00:17:02.639 of the prevailing culture. 00:17:03.159 --> 00:17:04.039 We get used 00:17:04.039 --> 00:17:04.639 to living 00:17:04.639 --> 00:17:05.680 defensively, 00:17:05.799 --> 00:17:06.480 apologetically. 00:17:07.980 --> 00:17:09.180 We live in the world 00:17:09.180 --> 00:17:10.099 and while we want, 00:17:10.339 --> 00:17:11.740 while we might want 00:17:11.740 --> 00:17:13.579 to not be of the world, 00:17:13.899 --> 00:17:15.200 we want to somehow 00:17:15.200 --> 00:17:16.480 find our place 00:17:16.480 --> 00:17:17.259 in the world. 00:17:17.259 --> 00:17:18.920 we don't want 00:17:18.920 --> 00:17:19.379 to be seen 00:17:19.379 --> 00:17:20.759 as weirdos, 00:17:21.200 --> 00:17:21.940 extremists, 00:17:22.000 --> 00:17:23.180 or irrelevant. 00:17:23.559 --> 00:17:24.039 And so we do 00:17:24.039 --> 00:17:25.019 everything in our power 00:17:25.019 --> 00:17:25.920 to avoid being 00:17:25.920 --> 00:17:26.440 misunderstood. 00:17:27.019 --> 00:17:27.859 And yet the text 00:17:27.859 --> 00:17:28.740 confronts us 00:17:28.740 --> 00:17:29.200 with something 00:17:29.200 --> 00:17:29.799 this morning 00:17:29.799 --> 00:17:31.200 that at times 00:17:31.200 --> 00:17:32.200 it is God's will 00:17:32.200 --> 00:17:33.099 for you and for me 00:17:33.099 --> 00:17:33.619 at times 00:17:33.619 --> 00:17:34.900 that we will be 00:17:34.900 --> 00:17:36.400 misunderstood. 00:17:41.000 --> 00:17:41.940 We could talk 00:17:41.940 --> 00:17:42.759 about tons 00:17:42.759 --> 00:17:43.460 of examples 00:17:43.460 --> 00:17:44.980 about how this is, 00:17:44.980 --> 00:17:48.660 but maybe a few. 00:17:49.559 --> 00:17:50.539 In our culture 00:17:50.539 --> 00:17:52.160 of the therapeutic 00:17:52.160 --> 00:17:54.140 where self-care 00:17:54.140 --> 00:17:55.799 is everything, 00:17:56.079 --> 00:17:56.599 where shame 00:17:56.599 --> 00:17:58.700 has no place, 00:17:59.039 --> 00:18:00.140 God calls us 00:18:00.140 --> 00:18:00.660 to a life 00:18:00.660 --> 00:18:01.660 of confession, 00:18:02.759 --> 00:18:03.640 to walk 00:18:03.640 --> 00:18:05.500 in repentance. 00:18:06.720 --> 00:18:07.700 As we gather 00:18:07.700 --> 00:18:08.240 as the church 00:18:08.240 --> 00:18:09.019 week in and week out 00:18:09.019 --> 00:18:10.720 and confess our sins 00:18:10.720 --> 00:18:11.200 that we're doing 00:18:11.200 --> 00:18:12.019 something deeply 00:18:12.019 --> 00:18:13.099 counter-cultural 00:18:13.099 --> 00:18:14.539 that will 00:18:14.539 --> 00:18:16.579 very much 00:18:16.579 --> 00:18:17.460 not be appreciated 00:18:17.460 --> 00:18:18.240 by the wider 00:18:18.240 --> 00:18:19.200 culture. 00:18:19.779 --> 00:18:20.579 They'll say 00:18:20.579 --> 00:18:22.619 no need to go there, 00:18:22.759 --> 00:18:22.940 right? 00:18:22.980 --> 00:18:24.299 No need to get 00:18:24.299 --> 00:18:25.299 lost in 00:18:25.299 --> 00:18:26.240 shame 00:18:26.240 --> 00:18:27.359 and this negativity. 00:18:28.119 --> 00:18:28.940 No need 00:18:28.940 --> 00:18:29.859 to be honest 00:18:29.859 --> 00:18:30.440 about 00:18:30.440 --> 00:18:31.940 your sin. 00:18:32.519 --> 00:18:33.460 Just try and 00:18:33.460 --> 00:18:34.480 kind of pretend, 00:18:34.639 --> 00:18:35.440 get past it, 00:18:35.579 --> 00:18:36.539 this sort of thing. 00:18:37.180 --> 00:18:38.200 It's amazing 00:18:38.200 --> 00:18:38.659 when you read 00:18:38.659 --> 00:18:39.379 the Psalms 00:18:39.379 --> 00:18:40.859 how counter-cultural 00:18:40.859 --> 00:18:42.420 these texts are. 00:18:42.420 --> 00:18:43.960 people that are 00:18:43.960 --> 00:18:44.940 lamenting 00:18:44.940 --> 00:18:45.720 their sins, 00:18:46.200 --> 00:18:47.220 grieving over 00:18:47.220 --> 00:18:47.820 their sins 00:18:47.820 --> 00:18:48.180 and there's 00:18:48.180 --> 00:18:48.740 something that 00:18:48.740 --> 00:18:49.200 the world 00:18:49.200 --> 00:18:49.980 sees in us 00:18:49.980 --> 00:18:50.539 and says 00:18:50.539 --> 00:18:51.380 that's not 00:18:51.380 --> 00:18:51.860 the way, 00:18:52.220 --> 00:18:52.880 that's not 00:18:52.880 --> 00:18:53.420 the way up, 00:18:53.539 --> 00:18:53.880 that's not 00:18:53.880 --> 00:18:54.380 the way to 00:18:54.380 --> 00:18:54.700 grow. 00:18:55.300 --> 00:18:55.880 And yet of course 00:18:55.880 --> 00:18:56.660 we know that 00:18:56.660 --> 00:18:57.759 in Christ 00:18:57.759 --> 00:18:59.140 we follow him 00:18:59.140 --> 00:18:59.820 all the way down 00:18:59.820 --> 00:19:00.600 into his death 00:19:00.600 --> 00:19:01.180 in order to 00:19:01.180 --> 00:19:01.620 come up, 00:19:02.039 --> 00:19:02.820 back up with him 00:19:02.820 --> 00:19:03.460 into his 00:19:03.460 --> 00:19:04.560 life. 00:19:04.559 --> 00:19:07.379 in our 00:19:07.379 --> 00:19:08.940 workaholic 00:19:08.940 --> 00:19:09.799 culture 00:19:09.799 --> 00:19:10.480 obsessed with 00:19:10.480 --> 00:19:11.000 advancement 00:19:11.000 --> 00:19:12.139 and materialism 00:19:12.139 --> 00:19:12.919 God has 00:19:12.919 --> 00:19:13.299 called us 00:19:13.299 --> 00:19:13.720 to Sabbath 00:19:13.720 --> 00:19:14.099 rest 00:19:14.099 --> 00:19:15.119 to give up 00:19:15.119 --> 00:19:15.399 of our 00:19:15.399 --> 00:19:15.879 resources 00:19:15.879 --> 00:19:17.799 things that 00:19:17.799 --> 00:19:18.319 others 00:19:18.319 --> 00:19:19.119 will look 00:19:19.119 --> 00:19:19.599 at us 00:19:19.599 --> 00:19:20.079 and say 00:19:20.079 --> 00:19:21.319 you're wasting 00:19:21.319 --> 00:19:21.879 your time, 00:19:22.019 --> 00:19:22.859 you're wasting 00:19:22.859 --> 00:19:23.579 your efforts, 00:19:23.899 --> 00:19:24.859 life is hard 00:19:24.859 --> 00:19:25.200 enough, 00:19:25.339 --> 00:19:25.759 you don't need 00:19:25.759 --> 00:19:26.579 to spend 00:19:26.579 --> 00:19:27.119 your time 00:19:27.119 --> 00:19:28.500 with a 00:19:28.500 --> 00:19:28.960 bunch of 00:19:28.960 --> 00:19:30.399 strangers 00:19:30.399 --> 00:19:30.899 at church 00:19:30.899 --> 00:19:31.519 on a Sunday. 00:19:31.519 --> 00:19:35.139 spend your 00:19:35.139 --> 00:19:35.460 efforts 00:19:35.460 --> 00:19:36.019 climbing the 00:19:36.019 --> 00:19:36.339 ladder, 00:19:36.599 --> 00:19:37.079 the fastest 00:19:37.079 --> 00:19:37.720 way to 00:19:37.720 --> 00:19:38.200 the highest 00:19:38.200 --> 00:19:38.680 pay 00:19:38.680 --> 00:19:40.759 is the 00:19:40.759 --> 00:19:41.420 way to 00:19:41.420 --> 00:19:41.960 the best 00:19:41.960 --> 00:19:42.460 life, 00:19:43.160 --> 00:19:43.599 yet God 00:19:43.599 --> 00:19:44.139 calls us 00:19:44.139 --> 00:19:44.660 to seek 00:19:44.660 --> 00:19:47.480 flourishing 00:19:47.480 --> 00:19:47.779 of the 00:19:47.779 --> 00:19:48.460 places in 00:19:48.460 --> 00:19:49.019 which we 00:19:49.019 --> 00:19:49.299 work, 00:19:49.639 --> 00:19:50.819 to slow 00:19:50.819 --> 00:19:51.139 down, 00:19:51.240 --> 00:19:51.500 to give 00:19:51.500 --> 00:19:51.900 up of our 00:19:51.900 --> 00:19:52.299 time and 00:19:52.299 --> 00:19:53.000 resources in 00:19:53.000 --> 00:19:53.400 all sorts 00:19:53.400 --> 00:19:53.859 of ways. 00:19:54.400 --> 00:19:54.839 This 00:19:54.839 --> 00:19:55.859 often will 00:19:55.859 --> 00:19:56.379 be misunderstood 00:19:56.379 --> 00:19:56.960 by those 00:19:56.960 --> 00:19:57.500 around us. 00:19:59.460 --> 00:19:59.779 We could 00:19:59.779 --> 00:20:00.079 go on. 00:20:00.319 --> 00:20:00.819 Opportunities 00:20:00.819 --> 00:20:01.839 for being 00:20:01.839 --> 00:20:02.480 misunderstood 00:20:02.480 --> 00:20:03.200 abound, 00:20:03.539 --> 00:20:04.240 spending time 00:20:04.240 --> 00:20:04.700 with Jesus' 00:20:04.879 --> 00:20:05.299 kinds of 00:20:05.299 --> 00:20:05.700 people, 00:20:06.879 --> 00:20:07.220 calling 00:20:07.220 --> 00:20:07.879 yourself a 00:20:07.879 --> 00:20:08.359 Christian. 00:20:09.960 --> 00:20:10.819 For many 00:20:10.819 --> 00:20:11.319 people this 00:20:11.319 --> 00:20:12.379 will represent 00:20:12.379 --> 00:20:13.559 the patriarchy, 00:20:13.899 --> 00:20:14.379 colonialism, 00:20:15.379 --> 00:20:15.740 systemic 00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:16.259 oppression. 00:20:16.659 --> 00:20:16.939 You'll be 00:20:16.939 --> 00:20:17.480 seen by 00:20:17.480 --> 00:20:18.200 others to 00:20:18.200 --> 00:20:18.859 represent the 00:20:18.859 --> 00:20:19.419 worst sins 00:20:19.419 --> 00:20:20.159 of the 00:20:20.159 --> 00:20:20.419 church. 00:20:22.579 --> 00:20:23.359 You'll be 00:20:23.359 --> 00:20:23.679 called 00:20:23.679 --> 00:20:24.799 anti-intellectual, 00:20:25.200 --> 00:20:25.539 bigoted, 00:20:26.240 --> 00:20:28.099 and while we 00:20:28.099 --> 00:20:28.539 can do our 00:20:28.539 --> 00:20:29.379 best to 00:20:29.379 --> 00:20:30.480 strive to 00:20:30.480 --> 00:20:31.220 represent 00:20:31.220 --> 00:20:31.980 Christ well 00:20:31.980 --> 00:20:32.559 and to 00:20:32.559 --> 00:20:34.539 explain and 00:20:34.539 --> 00:20:36.299 show a 00:20:36.299 --> 00:20:36.819 better way 00:20:36.819 --> 00:20:37.339 that at the 00:20:37.339 --> 00:20:37.720 end of the 00:20:37.720 --> 00:20:38.079 day we 00:20:38.079 --> 00:20:38.720 can't control 00:20:38.720 --> 00:20:39.400 all of this 00:20:39.400 --> 00:20:40.140 and we 00:20:40.140 --> 00:20:40.460 will be 00:20:40.460 --> 00:20:40.980 marked out 00:20:40.980 --> 00:20:41.380 in some 00:20:41.380 --> 00:20:41.839 of these 00:20:41.839 --> 00:20:42.500 ways. 00:20:46.819 --> 00:20:47.500 And so 00:20:47.500 --> 00:20:49.079 why is it 00:20:49.079 --> 00:20:49.420 that God 00:20:49.420 --> 00:20:50.180 asks us 00:20:50.180 --> 00:20:50.579 of these 00:20:50.579 --> 00:20:50.940 things? 00:20:51.980 --> 00:20:52.660 Why does 00:20:52.660 --> 00:20:53.559 God ask 00:20:53.559 --> 00:20:54.079 us things 00:20:54.079 --> 00:20:54.440 that will 00:20:54.440 --> 00:20:55.299 be unintelligible 00:20:55.299 --> 00:20:55.940 to those 00:20:55.940 --> 00:20:56.559 around us? 00:20:56.700 --> 00:20:57.140 Things that 00:20:57.140 --> 00:20:57.599 will cost 00:20:57.599 --> 00:20:58.200 us friendships, 00:20:58.200 --> 00:20:59.640 things that 00:20:59.640 --> 00:21:00.059 will cost 00:21:00.059 --> 00:21:00.680 us jobs, 00:21:00.840 --> 00:21:01.160 honor, 00:21:01.380 --> 00:21:02.120 and we 00:21:02.120 --> 00:21:02.440 have to 00:21:02.440 --> 00:21:03.080 ask ourselves 00:21:03.080 --> 00:21:03.720 the question, 00:21:03.940 --> 00:21:05.279 is he being 00:21:05.279 --> 00:21:05.640 mean? 00:21:06.600 --> 00:21:07.240 Is he 00:21:07.240 --> 00:21:07.799 wanting us 00:21:07.799 --> 00:21:08.360 to struggle? 00:21:09.799 --> 00:21:10.500 Perhaps this 00:21:10.500 --> 00:21:11.100 is a question 00:21:11.100 --> 00:21:11.660 you're struck 00:21:11.660 --> 00:21:12.100 with, 00:21:13.100 --> 00:21:13.620 disappointed 00:21:13.620 --> 00:21:14.340 with God, 00:21:14.660 --> 00:21:15.180 reflecting on 00:21:15.180 --> 00:21:15.680 the fact that 00:21:15.680 --> 00:21:16.360 this whole 00:21:16.360 --> 00:21:18.319 Christian walk 00:21:18.319 --> 00:21:19.039 is far harder 00:21:19.039 --> 00:21:19.720 than you thought 00:21:19.720 --> 00:21:20.299 it would be. 00:21:20.299 --> 00:21:26.039 reflecting on 00:21:26.039 --> 00:21:26.740 Joseph and 00:21:26.740 --> 00:21:27.339 his story, 00:21:28.339 --> 00:21:28.659 sure, 00:21:29.159 --> 00:21:29.960 Joseph meant, 00:21:30.700 --> 00:21:31.419 obedience for 00:21:31.419 --> 00:21:32.240 Joseph meant 00:21:32.240 --> 00:21:33.379 that being 00:21:33.379 --> 00:21:33.919 misunderstood 00:21:33.919 --> 00:21:34.740 and being 00:21:34.740 --> 00:21:35.339 judged was 00:21:35.339 --> 00:21:36.000 his reality, 00:21:36.339 --> 00:21:37.079 and of course 00:21:37.079 --> 00:21:37.480 there's no 00:21:37.480 --> 00:21:38.419 indication that 00:21:38.419 --> 00:21:39.019 Joseph would 00:21:39.019 --> 00:21:39.319 have been 00:21:39.319 --> 00:21:39.899 vindicated, 00:21:40.879 --> 00:21:41.960 publicly 00:21:41.960 --> 00:21:42.559 vindicated 00:21:42.559 --> 00:21:43.099 within his 00:21:43.099 --> 00:21:43.559 lifetime, 00:21:43.779 --> 00:21:44.799 and yet we 00:21:44.799 --> 00:21:45.419 have to reflect 00:21:45.419 --> 00:21:46.079 on the fact 00:21:46.079 --> 00:21:46.680 that Joseph 00:21:46.680 --> 00:21:48.159 gets to 00:21:48.159 --> 00:21:49.200 father the 00:21:49.200 --> 00:21:50.059 long-awaited 00:21:50.059 --> 00:21:50.500 Messiah, 00:21:51.700 --> 00:21:53.279 that Joseph 00:21:53.279 --> 00:21:54.220 had the 00:21:54.220 --> 00:21:54.720 honor of 00:21:54.720 --> 00:21:55.619 bestowing the 00:21:55.619 --> 00:21:56.559 name spoken 00:21:56.559 --> 00:21:57.339 to him from 00:21:57.339 --> 00:21:57.720 heaven, 00:21:58.519 --> 00:21:58.859 Jesus, 00:21:59.740 --> 00:22:00.440 to his 00:22:00.440 --> 00:22:00.720 son, 00:22:00.799 --> 00:22:01.240 the son of 00:22:01.240 --> 00:22:01.579 God, 00:22:02.179 --> 00:22:02.659 anticipating 00:22:02.659 --> 00:22:03.299 that this 00:22:03.299 --> 00:22:04.500 child will 00:22:04.500 --> 00:22:05.240 save God's 00:22:05.240 --> 00:22:05.740 people from 00:22:05.740 --> 00:22:06.440 their sins, 00:22:07.079 --> 00:22:07.679 that Joseph, 00:22:09.440 --> 00:22:09.700 well, 00:22:09.799 --> 00:22:10.259 taking the 00:22:10.259 --> 00:22:11.139 words of a 00:22:11.139 --> 00:22:12.519 song from 00:22:12.519 --> 00:22:13.159 a few decades 00:22:13.159 --> 00:22:13.539 ago, 00:22:14.240 --> 00:22:15.700 from Joseph's 00:22:15.700 --> 00:22:16.139 perspective, 00:22:16.399 --> 00:22:16.779 it says, 00:22:16.980 --> 00:22:17.220 Lord, 00:22:17.319 --> 00:22:17.759 for all my 00:22:17.759 --> 00:22:18.259 life I've 00:22:18.259 --> 00:22:18.859 been a simple 00:22:18.859 --> 00:22:19.379 carpenter, 00:22:19.380 --> 00:22:20.320 how can I 00:22:20.320 --> 00:22:20.740 raise a 00:22:20.740 --> 00:22:21.000 king? 00:22:22.320 --> 00:22:22.800 For 00:22:22.800 --> 00:22:23.200 Joseph, 00:22:23.720 --> 00:22:25.880 in his 00:22:25.880 --> 00:22:26.240 life, 00:22:26.320 --> 00:22:26.740 in his 00:22:26.740 --> 00:22:27.340 place in 00:22:27.340 --> 00:22:27.920 society, 00:22:28.120 --> 00:22:28.540 that this 00:22:28.540 --> 00:22:29.100 man got 00:22:29.100 --> 00:22:29.780 to raise 00:22:29.780 --> 00:22:30.200 Jesus, 00:22:30.380 --> 00:22:30.760 the Messiah, 00:22:30.860 --> 00:22:31.200 the son of 00:22:31.200 --> 00:22:31.440 God. 00:22:33.340 --> 00:22:34.080 And so we 00:22:34.080 --> 00:22:34.440 find an 00:22:34.440 --> 00:22:34.880 answer to 00:22:34.880 --> 00:22:35.420 our question, 00:22:35.540 --> 00:22:35.820 why does 00:22:35.820 --> 00:22:36.280 God go 00:22:36.280 --> 00:22:36.880 after us 00:22:36.880 --> 00:22:40.000 to live 00:22:40.000 --> 00:22:40.500 these lives 00:22:40.500 --> 00:22:40.800 that are 00:22:40.800 --> 00:22:41.060 quite 00:22:41.060 --> 00:22:41.480 challenging? 00:22:42.240 --> 00:22:42.820 And I 00:22:42.820 --> 00:22:43.060 think the 00:22:43.060 --> 00:22:43.680 answer is 00:22:43.680 --> 00:22:44.000 this, 00:22:44.420 --> 00:22:45.040 that he 00:22:45.040 --> 00:22:45.440 doesn't just 00:22:45.440 --> 00:22:45.920 want us to 00:22:45.920 --> 00:22:46.200 struggle, 00:22:46.200 --> 00:22:46.740 he doesn't 00:22:46.740 --> 00:22:47.080 want us 00:22:47.080 --> 00:22:47.440 just to 00:22:47.440 --> 00:22:47.779 be 00:22:47.779 --> 00:22:49.500 disagreeable 00:22:49.500 --> 00:22:50.400 for the 00:22:50.400 --> 00:22:50.920 sake of 00:22:50.920 --> 00:22:51.120 it, 00:22:51.360 --> 00:22:52.000 he wants 00:22:52.000 --> 00:22:52.400 to lift 00:22:52.400 --> 00:22:52.880 us up 00:22:52.880 --> 00:22:53.279 from our 00:22:53.279 --> 00:22:53.559 small 00:22:53.559 --> 00:22:54.160 stories, 00:22:54.779 --> 00:22:55.080 he wants 00:22:55.080 --> 00:22:55.380 to lift 00:22:55.380 --> 00:22:55.779 us from 00:22:55.779 --> 00:22:56.180 our broken 00:22:56.180 --> 00:22:56.860 stories, 00:22:57.019 --> 00:22:57.740 our self-righteous 00:22:57.740 --> 00:22:58.319 stories, 00:22:58.720 --> 00:22:59.460 and he wants 00:22:59.460 --> 00:23:00.519 us to live 00:23:00.519 --> 00:23:01.180 with him 00:23:01.180 --> 00:23:01.920 and for him, 00:23:02.019 --> 00:23:02.600 unto him, 00:23:03.120 --> 00:23:04.240 for a far 00:23:04.240 --> 00:23:04.940 better story 00:23:04.940 --> 00:23:05.400 than we could 00:23:05.400 --> 00:23:06.080 ever come up 00:23:06.080 --> 00:23:07.740 with ourselves. 00:23:08.000 --> 00:23:09.120 It's because 00:23:09.120 --> 00:23:09.680 of his love 00:23:09.680 --> 00:23:10.140 that he goes 00:23:10.140 --> 00:23:11.880 after us. 00:23:11.880 --> 00:23:14.040 The example 00:23:14.040 --> 00:23:14.500 of Joseph 00:23:14.500 --> 00:23:15.020 is set 00:23:15.020 --> 00:23:15.560 forth as 00:23:15.560 --> 00:23:16.380 an encouragement 00:23:16.380 --> 00:23:17.140 to each 00:23:17.140 --> 00:23:17.640 of us, 00:23:18.200 --> 00:23:18.700 that even 00:23:18.700 --> 00:23:19.380 though Joseph 00:23:19.380 --> 00:23:20.160 does not 00:23:20.160 --> 00:23:20.960 speak a 00:23:20.960 --> 00:23:21.840 single recorded 00:23:21.840 --> 00:23:22.540 word in 00:23:22.540 --> 00:23:23.040 the scripture, 00:23:24.540 --> 00:23:25.280 that this 00:23:25.280 --> 00:23:25.880 Joseph was 00:23:25.880 --> 00:23:26.500 appointed for 00:23:26.500 --> 00:23:27.060 something 00:23:27.060 --> 00:23:28.260 great. 00:23:29.780 --> 00:23:30.560 God's word 00:23:30.560 --> 00:23:31.480 breaks into 00:23:31.480 --> 00:23:32.380 Joseph's story 00:23:32.380 --> 00:23:32.980 and tells him 00:23:32.980 --> 00:23:33.540 what to do. 00:23:33.640 --> 00:23:34.300 Do not fear 00:23:34.300 --> 00:23:35.000 to take Mary 00:23:35.000 --> 00:23:35.600 as your wife, 00:23:35.680 --> 00:23:36.180 for that which 00:23:36.180 --> 00:23:36.760 is conceived 00:23:36.760 --> 00:23:37.460 in her is 00:23:37.460 --> 00:23:37.800 from the 00:23:37.800 --> 00:23:38.360 Holy Spirit. 00:23:38.920 --> 00:23:39.320 She will 00:23:39.320 --> 00:23:40.100 bear a son 00:23:40.100 --> 00:23:40.700 and you shall 00:23:40.700 --> 00:23:41.320 call his name 00:23:41.320 --> 00:23:41.700 Jesus. 00:23:41.880 --> 00:23:42.380 For he will 00:23:42.380 --> 00:23:42.860 save his 00:23:42.860 --> 00:23:43.320 people from 00:23:43.320 --> 00:23:43.980 their sins. 00:23:44.800 --> 00:23:45.460 And we read 00:23:45.460 --> 00:23:46.060 that when 00:23:46.060 --> 00:23:46.860 Joseph woke 00:23:46.860 --> 00:23:48.040 from sleep, 00:23:48.120 --> 00:23:48.720 he did as 00:23:48.720 --> 00:23:49.300 the angel 00:23:49.300 --> 00:23:50.140 of the Lord 00:23:50.140 --> 00:23:50.860 commanded him. 00:23:52.520 --> 00:23:53.420 From agony 00:23:53.420 --> 00:23:54.360 to resolve, 00:23:55.380 --> 00:23:56.420 from his 00:23:56.420 --> 00:23:57.240 small story 00:23:57.240 --> 00:23:57.920 to God's 00:23:57.920 --> 00:23:58.600 big story, 00:23:59.340 --> 00:24:00.340 he took 00:24:00.340 --> 00:24:00.740 the words 00:24:00.740 --> 00:24:01.140 to heart, 00:24:01.220 --> 00:24:01.980 do not fear, 00:24:02.180 --> 00:24:02.900 was the message 00:24:02.900 --> 00:24:04.200 from the angel 00:24:04.200 --> 00:24:04.760 and Joseph 00:24:04.760 --> 00:24:06.060 courageously put 00:24:06.060 --> 00:24:07.240 his full weight 00:24:07.240 --> 00:24:08.180 down on God's 00:24:08.180 --> 00:24:08.520 word. 00:24:09.260 --> 00:24:09.740 He took his 00:24:09.740 --> 00:24:10.720 pregnant fiancee 00:24:10.720 --> 00:24:11.260 to be his 00:24:11.260 --> 00:24:11.620 wife. 00:24:11.880 --> 00:24:12.760 He did 00:24:12.760 --> 00:24:13.100 what was 00:24:13.100 --> 00:24:13.560 asked of 00:24:13.560 --> 00:24:13.820 him, 00:24:14.140 --> 00:24:14.740 despite its 00:24:14.740 --> 00:24:15.120 shame, 00:24:15.360 --> 00:24:16.660 to bring up 00:24:16.660 --> 00:24:17.440 one who 00:24:17.440 --> 00:24:18.260 would himself 00:24:18.260 --> 00:24:18.720 be ready 00:24:18.720 --> 00:24:19.160 to take 00:24:19.160 --> 00:24:19.840 on shame 00:24:19.840 --> 00:24:21.060 and disgrace 00:24:21.060 --> 00:24:21.560 of a much 00:24:21.560 --> 00:24:22.320 greater kind. 00:24:23.580 --> 00:24:24.280 Jesus Christ 00:24:24.280 --> 00:24:24.860 followed the 00:24:24.860 --> 00:24:25.540 pattern set 00:24:25.540 --> 00:24:25.960 by his 00:24:25.960 --> 00:24:26.700 earthly father 00:24:26.700 --> 00:24:28.560 and delivered 00:24:28.560 --> 00:24:29.260 on the plan 00:24:29.260 --> 00:24:30.240 established before 00:24:30.240 --> 00:24:31.220 time with his 00:24:31.220 --> 00:24:31.940 heavenly father 00:24:31.940 --> 00:24:32.580 to take on 00:24:32.580 --> 00:24:33.200 our shame 00:24:33.200 --> 00:24:33.860 and disgrace 00:24:33.860 --> 00:24:34.520 and to save 00:24:34.520 --> 00:24:35.060 us from our 00:24:35.060 --> 00:24:35.440 sins. 00:24:36.020 --> 00:24:36.500 That Jesus 00:24:36.500 --> 00:24:36.940 Christ, 00:24:37.040 --> 00:24:37.440 Emmanuel, 00:24:37.680 --> 00:24:38.440 God with us, 00:24:38.440 --> 00:24:39.220 has done this 00:24:39.220 --> 00:24:40.319 for you 00:24:40.319 --> 00:24:40.819 and for me. 00:24:41.980 --> 00:24:42.339 This, 00:24:42.480 --> 00:24:43.059 Jesus Christ, 00:24:43.160 --> 00:24:43.860 then sets the 00:24:43.860 --> 00:24:44.500 pattern for 00:24:44.500 --> 00:24:45.120 each of us 00:24:45.120 --> 00:24:46.980 to rise above 00:24:46.980 --> 00:24:47.620 our fear 00:24:47.620 --> 00:24:48.559 and to take 00:24:48.559 --> 00:24:49.319 on shame, 00:24:49.640 --> 00:24:50.180 misunderstanding, 00:24:50.720 --> 00:24:51.380 disbelief, 00:24:52.380 --> 00:24:53.000 inviting and 00:24:53.000 --> 00:24:53.799 equipping us 00:24:53.799 --> 00:24:54.519 to partake in 00:24:54.519 --> 00:24:56.559 God's great 00:24:56.559 --> 00:24:57.019 story. 00:24:57.839 --> 00:24:58.259 And so the 00:24:58.259 --> 00:24:58.740 question we're 00:24:58.740 --> 00:24:59.299 asked with this 00:24:59.299 --> 00:24:59.620 morning, 00:24:59.740 --> 00:25:00.079 we're left 00:25:00.079 --> 00:25:00.460 with, 00:25:00.600 --> 00:25:02.960 is will you 00:25:02.960 --> 00:25:03.400 play your 00:25:03.400 --> 00:25:03.660 part? 00:25:03.660 --> 00:25:04.700 will you 00:25:04.700 --> 00:25:05.300 join in 00:25:05.300 --> 00:25:05.800 God's 00:25:05.800 --> 00:25:06.580 story? 00:25:06.980 --> 00:25:07.420 And who 00:25:07.420 --> 00:25:08.140 knows how 00:25:08.140 --> 00:25:08.980 God will 00:25:08.980 --> 00:25:09.500 use it 00:25:09.500 --> 00:25:11.120 in his 00:25:11.120 --> 00:25:11.920 greater story? 00:25:13.100 --> 00:25:14.180 I invite you 00:25:14.180 --> 00:25:14.800 to stand 00:25:14.800 --> 00:25:15.140 and we'll 00:25:15.140 --> 00:25:15.759 pray together. 00:25:20.759 --> 00:25:21.320 Yeah. 00:25:24.500 --> 00:25:25.060 Father, 00:25:25.160 --> 00:25:25.640 we're grateful 00:25:25.640 --> 00:25:26.040 for this, 00:25:26.100 --> 00:25:26.420 your word, 00:25:26.500 --> 00:25:26.860 we're thankful 00:25:26.860 --> 00:25:27.460 for this, 00:25:27.500 --> 00:25:28.240 for this 00:25:28.240 --> 00:25:29.120 familiar story, 00:25:29.440 --> 00:25:30.200 we're grateful 00:25:30.200 --> 00:25:30.960 for this 00:25:30.960 --> 00:25:32.060 example of 00:25:32.060 --> 00:25:32.340 Joseph. 00:25:32.339 --> 00:25:32.459 Joseph, 00:25:33.019 --> 00:25:36.199 who did 00:25:36.199 --> 00:25:36.799 not stop 00:25:36.799 --> 00:25:37.859 at the 00:25:37.859 --> 00:25:38.980 prospect of 00:25:38.980 --> 00:25:39.259 shame, 00:25:39.319 --> 00:25:39.599 but went 00:25:39.599 --> 00:25:40.019 through with 00:25:40.019 --> 00:25:40.279 what you 00:25:40.279 --> 00:25:40.819 were calling 00:25:40.819 --> 00:25:41.659 him to 00:25:41.659 --> 00:25:41.939 do, 00:25:42.659 --> 00:25:42.959 and that 00:25:42.959 --> 00:25:43.299 he was 00:25:43.299 --> 00:25:43.759 blessed, 00:25:43.959 --> 00:25:44.519 and we're 00:25:44.519 --> 00:25:45.359 blessed by 00:25:45.359 --> 00:25:46.220 reflecting and 00:25:46.220 --> 00:25:46.779 being challenged 00:25:46.779 --> 00:25:47.240 by his 00:25:47.240 --> 00:25:47.539 story. 00:25:48.139 --> 00:25:48.859 We ask that 00:25:48.859 --> 00:25:49.359 you, by the 00:25:49.359 --> 00:25:49.759 power of 00:25:49.759 --> 00:25:50.220 your spirit, 00:25:50.419 --> 00:25:51.980 would bring 00:25:51.980 --> 00:25:52.619 these words 00:25:52.619 --> 00:25:53.259 and this 00:25:53.259 --> 00:25:53.839 message into 00:25:53.839 --> 00:25:54.319 our hearts, 00:25:54.419 --> 00:25:54.859 that you'd 00:25:54.859 --> 00:25:55.439 make us 00:25:55.439 --> 00:25:55.799 courageous 00:25:55.799 --> 00:25:56.399 people, 00:25:57.099 --> 00:25:57.639 willing to 00:25:57.639 --> 00:25:58.319 follow you 00:25:58.319 --> 00:25:59.359 in all 00:25:59.359 --> 00:25:59.819 things, 00:26:00.439 --> 00:26:01.139 today and 00:26:01.139 --> 00:26:01.599 all days. 00:26:02.339 --> 00:26:03.319 We pray 00:26:03.319 --> 00:26:03.980 this in 00:26:03.980 --> 00:26:04.419 Christ's 00:26:04.419 --> 00:26:04.579 name. 00:26:05.220 --> 00:26:05.519 Amen.