WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:00.740 Good morning. 00:00:02.859 --> 00:00:03.740 Wow, it's beautiful. 00:00:03.919 --> 00:00:09.839 Almost times like that with the, before the Lord and just listening and worshiping, 00:00:09.939 --> 00:00:14.519 you just want to almost just keep it going, right? 00:00:14.900 --> 00:00:16.980 Keep focusing on Him and why we're here. 00:00:18.640 --> 00:00:21.820 If you're here for the first time, my name is Tobin Miller. 00:00:21.980 --> 00:00:24.080 I'm one of the staff here. 00:00:24.179 --> 00:00:26.780 I'm one of the pastors here at Watermark. 00:00:26.780 --> 00:00:33.219 We're really glad that you're here visiting with us for this time of worshiping the Lord. 00:00:34.920 --> 00:00:36.520 I have a confession to make. 00:00:37.020 --> 00:00:41.420 So my wife and my family are back, and I figured I'd better confess in front of a lot of people 00:00:41.420 --> 00:00:43.840 instead of just her. 00:00:43.939 --> 00:00:45.540 That way I won't get in too much trouble. 00:00:45.659 --> 00:00:47.079 She'll give me more grace that way. 00:00:48.900 --> 00:00:53.719 You know, this summer I just realized, I realized that I was getting old. 00:00:53.719 --> 00:00:57.640 I just did that. 00:00:57.699 --> 00:01:02.460 There was something in my mind that designated youth in old age, 00:01:02.579 --> 00:01:05.640 and that something was Wheel of Fortune. 00:01:07.980 --> 00:01:11.780 Wheel of Fortune is this game show, and they spin a wheel, and you get money, 00:01:11.960 --> 00:01:14.879 and you have this word up there, and you're trying to guess what the word is 00:01:14.879 --> 00:01:17.420 and calling out numbers, and you get points and all this stuff. 00:01:17.420 --> 00:01:23.379 And in my mind, I always felt like that was what old people did when they had nothing else to do. 00:01:23.460 --> 00:01:24.519 They watched Wheel of Fortune. 00:01:24.780 --> 00:01:27.480 Now, if you love Wheel of Fortune, please, I'm not picking on you. 00:01:27.960 --> 00:01:29.620 It's okay to like Wheel of Fortune. 00:01:30.180 --> 00:01:35.780 But I realized that it was 6.30 on a Monday night back in Texas, 00:01:35.960 --> 00:01:40.200 and I found myself sitting down watching Wheel of Fortune. 00:01:40.879 --> 00:01:44.420 Not only did I watch it, I remembered when it was going to be on 00:01:44.420 --> 00:01:46.960 because my father-in-law was watching it with me. 00:01:47.040 --> 00:01:49.780 And in the middle of watching Wheel of Fortune saying, 00:01:49.980 --> 00:01:52.939 no bankrupt, no bankrupt, 2,000, 2,000, 00:01:53.240 --> 00:01:54.780 oh, you've got to be able to see that. 00:01:54.960 --> 00:01:56.000 That word is so easy. 00:01:56.079 --> 00:01:56.920 What's wrong with you? 00:01:57.240 --> 00:01:58.460 Everyone knows it's this. 00:01:59.320 --> 00:02:01.020 I looked at myself and said, 00:02:01.900 --> 00:02:02.659 I'm old. 00:02:04.379 --> 00:02:05.540 I'm getting old. 00:02:06.260 --> 00:02:09.280 Now, I realized I was kind of getting old when I was 40, 00:02:09.379 --> 00:02:10.699 and I had to get these reading glasses. 00:02:10.699 --> 00:02:14.979 It actually happened on the trip back from Dallas to Hong Kong, 00:02:15.060 --> 00:02:17.639 and about halfway through the flight, I was 40 years old, 00:02:17.799 --> 00:02:19.819 and I'm reading this article, and all of a sudden I'm like, 00:02:20.639 --> 00:02:22.000 I can't. 00:02:22.019 --> 00:02:22.979 I can't see. 00:02:23.919 --> 00:02:25.339 It's going to happen if you're not 40. 00:02:25.419 --> 00:02:25.799 Just wait. 00:02:25.839 --> 00:02:27.959 It will happen if you're normal. 00:02:28.599 --> 00:02:30.719 And I always prided myself on great eyes, 00:02:30.819 --> 00:02:32.759 but I just couldn't see, and I was like, oh, my gosh, 00:02:32.819 --> 00:02:34.199 I need some glasses. 00:02:34.299 --> 00:02:35.239 And so I got these glasses. 00:02:35.240 --> 00:02:39.420 But last year, I started losing my memory. 00:02:41.840 --> 00:02:44.000 And this is the thing I want to confess. 00:02:45.140 --> 00:02:48.480 So Christina was back in Dallas helping her mom go through chemo, 00:02:48.520 --> 00:02:50.340 and we were here for church on Sunday, 00:02:51.500 --> 00:02:53.700 and I forgot a kid. 00:02:55.719 --> 00:02:58.080 I mean, I have, we have four kids, right? 00:02:58.200 --> 00:03:00.080 That's the last time I counted, we have four kids. 00:03:00.520 --> 00:03:02.160 And church ended, and everything was perfect, 00:03:02.159 --> 00:03:04.400 and so I grabbed the kids, and we got in the car, 00:03:04.460 --> 00:03:05.579 and we drove home, and we got home, 00:03:05.639 --> 00:03:06.900 and we were walking through the house, 00:03:06.939 --> 00:03:08.740 and all of a sudden my phone rang, 00:03:08.859 --> 00:03:11.439 and it's, hello? 00:03:11.759 --> 00:03:12.919 I said, Dad, where are you? 00:03:13.979 --> 00:03:15.840 And I'm counting, one, two, three. 00:03:16.460 --> 00:03:17.259 One, two, three. 00:03:17.500 --> 00:03:18.280 Where are you? 00:03:19.460 --> 00:03:21.280 She goes, well, I'm back at church. 00:03:22.039 --> 00:03:23.479 I'm like, oh, okay, yeah. 00:03:23.979 --> 00:03:26.180 Okay, well, just come walking back, you know. 00:03:26.579 --> 00:03:28.699 And I realized that I'm getting old. 00:03:28.800 --> 00:03:31.139 I'm forgetting important things. 00:03:31.139 --> 00:03:35.359 I'm forgetting important people in my life, you know. 00:03:36.439 --> 00:03:38.579 I remember growing up, I read this story, 00:03:38.659 --> 00:03:39.299 and it stuck with me. 00:03:39.359 --> 00:03:41.239 I think I must have been about 13 or 14, 00:03:41.359 --> 00:03:42.919 because I loved history, and I was reading this book, 00:03:43.399 --> 00:03:45.019 and it was a story of in the 1600s, 00:03:45.039 --> 00:03:49.239 how this very famous emperor, this ruler, 00:03:49.979 --> 00:03:51.719 his wife died in childbirth. 00:03:51.719 --> 00:03:59.439 And he was so grieved that he committed to build this amazing mausoleum and tomb to her, 00:03:59.939 --> 00:04:01.419 to which he went straight to work, 00:04:01.479 --> 00:04:07.060 and he ordered the famous, the most famous marble and stone and workers and woodcutters, 00:04:07.240 --> 00:04:10.460 and he just got totally into this project, 00:04:10.680 --> 00:04:11.800 and this project went on. 00:04:11.800 --> 00:04:14.000 So he had his wife and his body in her casket, 00:04:14.100 --> 00:04:16.079 and he put the casket in the middle of the room, 00:04:16.139 --> 00:04:18.699 where they were going to build this big temple around her. 00:04:19.040 --> 00:04:23.079 And he just got totally absorbed into this building project, 00:04:23.199 --> 00:04:26.379 and 10 years passed, and 11 years passed, and 12 years passed. 00:04:26.840 --> 00:04:28.400 And then one day, he was walking around, 00:04:28.460 --> 00:04:30.900 and he was surveying everything that he was building, 00:04:30.980 --> 00:04:32.199 and all this great monument, 00:04:32.199 --> 00:04:35.899 and he bumped into these old dusty boxes that were in the way, 00:04:36.000 --> 00:04:37.459 and they were just causing trouble. 00:04:37.740 --> 00:04:39.819 And he asked his guys to take the boxes out, 00:04:39.979 --> 00:04:41.819 and to throw them out to make more room, 00:04:41.879 --> 00:04:43.539 because they needed to continue the project. 00:04:43.639 --> 00:04:44.639 They needed to continue to work. 00:04:44.699 --> 00:04:47.980 They needed to build this amazing tomb, this mausoleum. 00:04:48.120 --> 00:04:50.219 They needed all these dirty boxes out of the way. 00:04:52.379 --> 00:04:53.919 And 20 years after the project, 00:04:54.399 --> 00:04:55.879 20 years later when the project was completed, 00:04:56.019 --> 00:04:58.579 he didn't realize that what he had actually done was 00:04:58.579 --> 00:05:01.180 he threw his wife out. 00:05:02.759 --> 00:05:06.120 His wife's body was in that casket, 00:05:06.199 --> 00:05:07.439 in those dirty boxes. 00:05:08.079 --> 00:05:10.579 Everything that he was focusing his life on, 00:05:10.879 --> 00:05:13.139 his whole project, 00:05:13.379 --> 00:05:14.819 everything that he was sacrificing for, 00:05:14.879 --> 00:05:15.759 20 years of his life, 00:05:15.819 --> 00:05:17.939 he was building this huge monument 00:05:17.939 --> 00:05:20.079 that was supposed to have his wife at the center of it, 00:05:20.379 --> 00:05:24.899 and he forgot who he was building it for. 00:05:26.579 --> 00:05:27.500 And he threw her away. 00:05:29.579 --> 00:05:31.099 So if you go to the Taj Mahal today, 00:05:32.199 --> 00:05:33.800 his wife isn't there. 00:05:35.180 --> 00:05:36.639 She was thrown out with the trash. 00:05:37.719 --> 00:05:38.819 There's a fake tomb there. 00:05:38.899 --> 00:05:39.360 He's there. 00:05:40.379 --> 00:05:41.879 But the wife he built it for isn't there. 00:05:43.360 --> 00:05:44.699 And I thought about that in my life, 00:05:44.779 --> 00:05:45.939 growing old and forgetting things, 00:05:45.939 --> 00:05:49.339 and I realized that sometimes we do that, 00:05:49.399 --> 00:05:49.719 don't we? 00:05:53.079 --> 00:05:55.279 Sometimes we forget why we're doing what we're doing. 00:05:57.100 --> 00:05:59.100 Sometimes we forget who's at the center 00:05:59.100 --> 00:06:00.720 of what we're building. 00:06:02.399 --> 00:06:06.480 Sometimes we become so enamored, 00:06:06.480 --> 00:06:08.140 so entwined, 00:06:08.300 --> 00:06:11.480 so focused on things 00:06:11.480 --> 00:06:12.879 that we forget 00:06:12.879 --> 00:06:15.920 who's at the center of the thing. 00:06:16.819 --> 00:06:18.060 Sometimes we become too busy, 00:06:18.200 --> 00:06:19.600 and our businesses become overwhelming, 00:06:19.759 --> 00:06:21.120 and our families become overwhelming, 00:06:21.360 --> 00:06:23.840 and our pathway becomes overwhelming, 00:06:24.200 --> 00:06:25.080 and busy, 00:06:25.480 --> 00:06:27.960 and our life becomes overwhelming, 00:06:27.959 --> 00:06:30.479 and sometimes as Christians, 00:06:30.739 --> 00:06:31.879 often as Christians, 00:06:32.019 --> 00:06:35.239 we forget about Christ. 00:06:37.159 --> 00:06:38.579 We forget why we're doing it. 00:06:38.620 --> 00:06:40.539 We forget what the purpose of the building is. 00:06:40.579 --> 00:06:43.639 We forget what the purpose of our life is for. 00:06:43.719 --> 00:06:45.719 And this is what Peter is writing to for 00:06:45.719 --> 00:06:47.419 in 1 Peter 2. 00:06:48.620 --> 00:06:49.899 I mean, it's the same thing. 00:06:50.000 --> 00:06:52.299 He's writing to Christians in Turkey, 00:06:53.299 --> 00:06:53.879 Asia Minor, 00:06:54.000 --> 00:06:55.979 who've lost their focus. 00:06:55.980 --> 00:06:57.340 They've lost their meaning. 00:06:57.500 --> 00:06:58.980 They've lost the stone. 00:06:59.879 --> 00:07:01.740 They've lost why they do everything. 00:07:03.700 --> 00:07:05.600 But he's also writing to us 00:07:05.600 --> 00:07:08.920 because sometimes we just lose it 00:07:08.920 --> 00:07:09.720 because we get busy. 00:07:10.960 --> 00:07:11.860 They're losing it 00:07:11.860 --> 00:07:14.900 because they're being persecuted for their faith, 00:07:14.980 --> 00:07:16.080 and they're being killed 00:07:16.080 --> 00:07:16.939 because they're Christians. 00:07:17.360 --> 00:07:18.280 But in either side, 00:07:18.720 --> 00:07:20.040 Peter wants us to know 00:07:20.040 --> 00:07:22.560 why we're building our life, 00:07:22.620 --> 00:07:23.860 and why we're building stuff, 00:07:23.860 --> 00:07:25.660 and what we're doing it for. 00:07:26.900 --> 00:07:28.420 And so very briefly today, 00:07:28.500 --> 00:07:29.439 because we're going to have a special, 00:07:29.580 --> 00:07:31.720 hopefully a reflection time on this, 00:07:32.060 --> 00:07:33.280 I want to talk about 00:07:33.280 --> 00:07:35.439 who we are as God's people. 00:07:36.700 --> 00:07:37.220 Now if you're here 00:07:37.220 --> 00:07:39.020 and you're not in the family of God, 00:07:39.120 --> 00:07:40.200 listen and ask questions 00:07:40.200 --> 00:07:42.420 because this is a teaching moment for you 00:07:42.420 --> 00:07:44.060 just as much as it's a teaching moment for us. 00:07:44.379 --> 00:07:46.180 I want to talk about who we are, 00:07:46.300 --> 00:07:47.580 and then I want to talk about what we do, 00:07:47.680 --> 00:07:49.640 and I want to talk about why we do it. 00:07:50.140 --> 00:07:51.300 So who we are as God's people, 00:07:51.300 --> 00:07:53.060 what we do as God's people, 00:07:53.140 --> 00:07:54.180 and why are we doing it? 00:07:54.180 --> 00:07:55.819 What is the purpose behind it? 00:07:56.500 --> 00:07:57.639 And remember Peter's talking 00:07:57.639 --> 00:07:59.079 to these Christians 00:07:59.079 --> 00:08:00.220 who are being scattered, 00:08:00.360 --> 00:08:01.040 and they're being beat up, 00:08:01.060 --> 00:08:01.860 and they're being persecuted, 00:08:02.480 --> 00:08:03.860 and he said here, 00:08:03.920 --> 00:08:05.079 as he said in previous weeks, 00:08:05.180 --> 00:08:07.480 that when we become God's people, 00:08:07.579 --> 00:08:10.280 when you and I invite Christ into our life, 00:08:10.300 --> 00:08:11.519 when we repent of our sin, 00:08:11.579 --> 00:08:12.460 we see our neediness, 00:08:12.579 --> 00:08:13.420 we see our brokenness, 00:08:13.699 --> 00:08:14.439 when we do that, 00:08:14.639 --> 00:08:15.860 the Bible says that the Holy Spirit 00:08:15.860 --> 00:08:16.939 comes into us, 00:08:17.460 --> 00:08:20.319 and God's Spirit comes into us, 00:08:20.319 --> 00:08:21.340 and God's Spirit, 00:08:21.339 --> 00:08:22.239 the Holy Spirit, 00:08:22.339 --> 00:08:23.500 the third person of the Trinity, 00:08:23.659 --> 00:08:23.979 God, 00:08:24.319 --> 00:08:25.319 he begins to, 00:08:25.719 --> 00:08:26.919 he changes us. 00:08:28.579 --> 00:08:29.399 Peter says, 00:08:29.479 --> 00:08:30.379 and the rest of the scripture says, 00:08:30.419 --> 00:08:31.019 that when that happens, 00:08:31.079 --> 00:08:32.120 we start to think differently. 00:08:32.980 --> 00:08:34.259 We start to act differently. 00:08:34.419 --> 00:08:35.459 We start to talk differently. 00:08:35.579 --> 00:08:36.720 We start to walk differently. 00:08:36.879 --> 00:08:38.419 We start to value different things. 00:08:38.919 --> 00:08:39.740 We become different 00:08:39.740 --> 00:08:40.659 than the people around us 00:08:40.659 --> 00:08:42.579 who don't know Christ, 00:08:42.659 --> 00:08:43.839 those who aren't yet 00:08:43.839 --> 00:08:45.539 in the family of God. 00:08:45.659 --> 00:08:46.500 We think differently 00:08:46.500 --> 00:08:47.360 than the culture, 00:08:47.360 --> 00:08:49.000 and he says that 00:08:49.000 --> 00:08:50.139 when we start thinking differently 00:08:50.139 --> 00:08:50.919 than the culture, 00:08:51.360 --> 00:08:53.960 then we're going to experience tension, 00:08:55.639 --> 00:08:57.659 that when we live out our faith, 00:08:57.740 --> 00:08:58.879 we live out who we are 00:08:58.879 --> 00:08:59.680 as God's people, 00:08:59.840 --> 00:09:02.460 we will feel tension. 00:09:03.940 --> 00:09:05.600 We're going to rub against each other. 00:09:05.720 --> 00:09:06.960 We're going to rub against our bosses. 00:09:07.080 --> 00:09:08.340 We're going to rub against society. 00:09:08.480 --> 00:09:10.539 We're going to rub against everything 00:09:10.539 --> 00:09:12.220 because we're different, 00:09:12.220 --> 00:09:17.379 and God's spirit continues to change us 00:09:17.379 --> 00:09:19.200 and to make us different. 00:09:20.320 --> 00:09:21.399 And Peter shares with us 00:09:21.399 --> 00:09:23.040 some ideas of how we're different now 00:09:23.040 --> 00:09:23.940 than what we were before. 00:09:24.279 --> 00:09:25.360 Well, he says it in verse nine. 00:09:25.440 --> 00:09:26.360 He says the first thing we do 00:09:26.360 --> 00:09:28.580 is that we've become a royal priesthood. 00:09:29.680 --> 00:09:30.820 Royal, it means holy. 00:09:30.940 --> 00:09:31.660 It means above. 00:09:31.779 --> 00:09:34.139 It means set aside for a perfect purpose. 00:09:34.720 --> 00:09:35.980 And when he said this, 00:09:36.060 --> 00:09:37.080 people went, whoa. 00:09:38.580 --> 00:09:40.120 Because the priesthood in Jesus' day 00:09:40.120 --> 00:09:41.560 and the priesthood in Peter's day, 00:09:41.559 --> 00:09:42.379 it was everything. 00:09:43.319 --> 00:09:44.919 I mean, the priest served in the temple. 00:09:45.039 --> 00:09:46.939 The priest kept the sacrifices. 00:09:47.079 --> 00:09:48.359 The priest did the sacrifices. 00:09:48.799 --> 00:09:50.759 The priest brought the people to God. 00:09:51.219 --> 00:09:53.319 The priest's job was to reconcile 00:09:53.319 --> 00:09:57.279 broken people to a holy God. 00:09:58.059 --> 00:09:59.019 I mean, in the Old Testament, 00:09:59.099 --> 00:10:00.500 it says you were born into the priesthood. 00:10:00.519 --> 00:10:01.319 You didn't become a priest. 00:10:01.379 --> 00:10:02.419 Even if you wanted to be a priest, 00:10:02.479 --> 00:10:03.239 you couldn't be a priest 00:10:03.239 --> 00:10:04.559 because you were born into it 00:10:04.559 --> 00:10:05.479 because out of the 12 tribes, 00:10:05.539 --> 00:10:06.379 there was one tribe, Levi. 00:10:06.759 --> 00:10:07.799 And out of that Levi tribe, 00:10:07.839 --> 00:10:09.399 there was about 14 different families in it. 00:10:09.719 --> 00:10:11.199 But out of those 14 families, 00:10:11.200 --> 00:10:12.280 there was only about four of them 00:10:12.280 --> 00:10:14.400 served in the temple. 00:10:16.420 --> 00:10:18.280 And everybody wanted to be a part 00:10:18.280 --> 00:10:19.240 of those four families, 00:10:19.340 --> 00:10:19.940 but they couldn't 00:10:19.940 --> 00:10:21.580 because you had to be born into it. 00:10:23.000 --> 00:10:24.960 And what Peter says to us now 00:10:24.960 --> 00:10:26.000 is that as God's people, 00:10:26.140 --> 00:10:26.700 don't forget, 00:10:26.840 --> 00:10:28.420 because before you weren't priests, 00:10:28.980 --> 00:10:30.340 before you needed help, 00:10:30.580 --> 00:10:31.759 but now you're royal, 00:10:31.920 --> 00:10:32.640 you're set aside, 00:10:32.920 --> 00:10:33.960 and you're the priest. 00:10:34.080 --> 00:10:35.180 You're God's priest. 00:10:35.179 --> 00:10:40.419 Your job is to bring people to him. 00:10:41.459 --> 00:10:43.239 The word in Latin is very interesting. 00:10:43.319 --> 00:10:44.000 One of the words for priest 00:10:44.000 --> 00:10:45.259 actually means bridge builder. 00:10:46.579 --> 00:10:47.059 Ponticut. 00:10:47.879 --> 00:10:48.879 It means you're a bridge builder. 00:10:49.639 --> 00:10:50.839 And so what Peter is saying here 00:10:50.839 --> 00:10:52.439 is that you and I, 00:10:52.719 --> 00:10:53.620 as God's people, 00:10:53.939 --> 00:10:55.019 with God's spirit in us, 00:10:55.379 --> 00:10:55.959 changing us, 00:10:56.199 --> 00:10:57.019 we're bridge builders. 00:10:57.159 --> 00:10:58.079 We're building bridges 00:10:58.079 --> 00:11:00.019 between the world that doesn't know God, 00:11:00.019 --> 00:11:02.399 the world that doesn't not yet know God, 00:11:03.399 --> 00:11:04.460 to God. 00:11:05.579 --> 00:11:06.500 He says as priests, 00:11:06.620 --> 00:11:07.480 we use our time, 00:11:07.939 --> 00:11:08.759 we use our talents, 00:11:08.960 --> 00:11:09.819 we use our gifts, 00:11:10.019 --> 00:11:10.980 we use our resources, 00:11:11.340 --> 00:11:13.139 and our main focus is to build bridges. 00:11:14.399 --> 00:11:15.179 Did you know that? 00:11:16.860 --> 00:11:17.559 As God's people, 00:11:17.639 --> 00:11:18.620 one of your main purposes, 00:11:18.759 --> 00:11:19.279 and you're always talking about 00:11:19.279 --> 00:11:20.120 what's my purpose in life, 00:11:20.179 --> 00:11:21.019 why does God have me here, 00:11:21.120 --> 00:11:22.159 what am I supposed to be doing? 00:11:22.519 --> 00:11:23.079 Here are the passages. 00:11:23.159 --> 00:11:23.980 This passage tells us 00:11:23.980 --> 00:11:24.720 what our purpose is. 00:11:25.039 --> 00:11:26.620 He says our main purpose 00:11:26.620 --> 00:11:28.259 is to build bridges. 00:11:28.259 --> 00:11:30.799 We build bridges to people 00:11:30.799 --> 00:11:31.899 who don't know God 00:11:31.899 --> 00:11:33.340 and bring them to the Savior. 00:11:34.600 --> 00:11:35.439 Peter goes on 00:11:35.439 --> 00:11:36.480 and he describes in verse nine, 00:11:36.539 --> 00:11:38.179 he says you're a holy nation. 00:11:38.679 --> 00:11:39.319 Now remember before 00:11:39.319 --> 00:11:40.360 we weren't a holy nation. 00:11:40.480 --> 00:11:41.879 We were unholy. 00:11:41.980 --> 00:11:43.000 We were walking in darkness. 00:11:43.139 --> 00:11:44.179 We didn't want to even know God. 00:11:44.480 --> 00:11:45.439 But here he says holy. 00:11:45.539 --> 00:11:46.340 Remember last week we said 00:11:46.340 --> 00:11:47.000 that word holy. 00:11:47.139 --> 00:11:48.779 It means you belong to God. 00:11:50.700 --> 00:11:52.460 When God calls us his holy people, 00:11:52.559 --> 00:11:54.019 it means that above all else, 00:11:54.059 --> 00:11:56.279 it means we belong to him. 00:11:56.279 --> 00:11:57.559 And so what he's saying now 00:11:57.559 --> 00:12:00.099 is that we're no longer Americans 00:12:00.099 --> 00:12:01.839 or Australians or Germans 00:12:01.839 --> 00:12:05.039 or Hong Kongese or Chinese or Texans. 00:12:05.359 --> 00:12:06.679 We're no longer those things. 00:12:06.819 --> 00:12:08.619 Now we're a holy people, 00:12:08.779 --> 00:12:09.500 a holy nation. 00:12:11.119 --> 00:12:12.419 That when you look at our passport, 00:12:12.539 --> 00:12:14.399 it doesn't say whatever country 00:12:14.399 --> 00:12:15.739 yours thinks you say, 00:12:15.899 --> 00:12:17.199 but what it says as God's people 00:12:17.199 --> 00:12:18.039 is heaven. 00:12:19.579 --> 00:12:20.679 And when you go to the embassy, 00:12:20.839 --> 00:12:21.719 you don't go to a consul, 00:12:21.759 --> 00:12:22.500 you don't go to the embassy, 00:12:22.719 --> 00:12:23.779 but you go to God. 00:12:23.779 --> 00:12:23.819 God. 00:12:24.639 --> 00:12:25.500 And what he's saying here 00:12:25.500 --> 00:12:27.899 is that now as God's holy nation, 00:12:28.259 --> 00:12:30.600 there's nothing that can come through to you 00:12:30.600 --> 00:12:32.279 unless it first goes through 00:12:32.279 --> 00:12:33.079 to your representative. 00:12:35.039 --> 00:12:37.259 It means that God is the leader. 00:12:37.480 --> 00:12:38.339 He's the head. 00:12:38.419 --> 00:12:39.100 He's the figure. 00:12:39.360 --> 00:12:40.919 He's standing over your nation. 00:12:41.059 --> 00:12:41.839 He's watching you. 00:12:41.899 --> 00:12:42.480 He's guarding you. 00:12:42.539 --> 00:12:43.220 He's protecting you. 00:12:43.339 --> 00:12:44.299 And there's nothing today 00:12:44.299 --> 00:12:45.360 that's going to happen in your life 00:12:45.360 --> 00:12:47.039 that God does not allow to happen 00:12:47.039 --> 00:12:49.159 if you're hitting his people. 00:12:49.159 --> 00:12:52.179 Does that make sense? 00:12:53.600 --> 00:12:54.719 I mean, that was really comforting 00:12:54.719 --> 00:12:56.219 for the people in Peter's day 00:12:56.219 --> 00:12:58.319 because they were being killed 00:12:58.319 --> 00:13:00.059 for their faith. 00:13:00.980 --> 00:13:01.379 And he says, 00:13:01.480 --> 00:13:02.339 there's nothing today 00:13:02.339 --> 00:13:03.219 that can happen to you 00:13:03.219 --> 00:13:05.439 that God does not vent that out, 00:13:05.839 --> 00:13:07.399 that God does not stop, 00:13:07.519 --> 00:13:08.139 that God says, 00:13:08.299 --> 00:13:09.600 okay, yes, they can handle this. 00:13:09.899 --> 00:13:10.799 Okay, they need this. 00:13:11.100 --> 00:13:11.919 Okay, this can happen. 00:13:12.279 --> 00:13:13.079 He's our representative. 00:13:13.299 --> 00:13:13.899 We're his people. 00:13:14.319 --> 00:13:15.339 Our passport says heaven. 00:13:15.720 --> 00:13:17.259 Remember, our passport says heaven. 00:13:17.720 --> 00:13:19.120 Hong Kong is not our home. 00:13:19.159 --> 00:13:23.459 Australia is not our home. 00:13:24.819 --> 00:13:26.360 Canada is not our home. 00:13:27.980 --> 00:13:29.419 As much as most of you wish 00:13:29.419 --> 00:13:30.600 that Texas was your home, 00:13:30.779 --> 00:13:31.919 Texas is not your home. 00:13:35.439 --> 00:13:36.179 Heaven's our home. 00:13:37.799 --> 00:13:39.120 And Peter wants us to remember 00:13:39.120 --> 00:13:40.319 that we're new people, 00:13:40.919 --> 00:13:41.879 that we're different, 00:13:42.639 --> 00:13:43.860 that we're a royal priesthood, 00:13:43.939 --> 00:13:45.179 that we're a holy nation, 00:13:45.319 --> 00:13:46.159 that we're bridge builders. 00:13:46.620 --> 00:13:48.100 And finally, he uses this word, 00:13:48.100 --> 00:13:49.800 and it's a very powerful word. 00:13:49.860 --> 00:13:50.519 And it would probably take me 00:13:50.519 --> 00:13:51.620 three sermons to unpack it. 00:13:51.659 --> 00:13:52.600 It starts in verse four. 00:13:53.000 --> 00:13:53.920 It goes to verse five, 00:13:53.940 --> 00:13:54.759 and then it talks about it. 00:13:54.759 --> 00:13:55.080 And he says, 00:13:55.139 --> 00:13:56.700 what we are is we're living stones. 00:13:58.879 --> 00:14:00.360 But each one of us in here, 00:14:00.840 --> 00:14:02.879 we're living stones. 00:14:04.240 --> 00:14:04.800 And do you notice 00:14:04.800 --> 00:14:05.500 what he's been saying 00:14:05.500 --> 00:14:06.080 in this passage? 00:14:06.159 --> 00:14:06.720 He doesn't say, 00:14:06.800 --> 00:14:07.300 Tobin you, 00:14:07.420 --> 00:14:07.899 Tobin this, 00:14:07.980 --> 00:14:08.320 Tobin this, 00:14:08.320 --> 00:14:10.000 but he's talking about community. 00:14:11.040 --> 00:14:11.840 He's talking about 00:14:11.840 --> 00:14:12.500 a group of people. 00:14:12.620 --> 00:14:13.480 He's not talking about 00:14:13.480 --> 00:14:14.879 God changing us 00:14:14.879 --> 00:14:15.440 as individuals. 00:14:15.580 --> 00:14:16.100 What he's doing is 00:14:16.100 --> 00:14:16.760 he's talking about 00:14:16.760 --> 00:14:17.560 God changing us 00:14:17.560 --> 00:14:18.360 as a family. 00:14:19.900 --> 00:14:20.480 I mean, Peter 00:14:20.480 --> 00:14:21.500 and all of the gospels 00:14:21.500 --> 00:14:23.200 talk about how we change, 00:14:23.300 --> 00:14:24.420 how we grow closer to God, 00:14:24.720 --> 00:14:25.760 how all that takes place 00:14:25.760 --> 00:14:26.840 is it takes place 00:14:26.840 --> 00:14:27.420 in a community, 00:14:28.480 --> 00:14:29.580 takes place in a family. 00:14:30.379 --> 00:14:31.060 It doesn't take place 00:14:31.060 --> 00:14:31.720 by yourself. 00:14:32.940 --> 00:14:33.160 I mean, 00:14:33.240 --> 00:14:33.740 they wouldn't have 00:14:33.740 --> 00:14:34.260 all those commandments 00:14:34.260 --> 00:14:35.220 about be nice to each other 00:14:35.220 --> 00:14:36.180 and take care of each other 00:14:36.179 --> 00:14:37.579 and shed off all these things 00:14:37.579 --> 00:14:38.500 and get rid of malice 00:14:38.500 --> 00:14:38.919 and deceit 00:14:38.919 --> 00:14:39.539 and hypocrisy 00:14:39.539 --> 00:14:40.379 and envy and slander. 00:14:40.679 --> 00:14:41.399 All of those things 00:14:41.399 --> 00:14:42.599 are things that break community. 00:14:43.759 --> 00:14:44.559 All of those things 00:14:44.559 --> 00:14:45.639 are focused on yourself. 00:14:46.479 --> 00:14:47.000 And Peter says, 00:14:47.319 --> 00:14:47.439 no, 00:14:47.539 --> 00:14:48.199 we are called now 00:14:48.199 --> 00:14:48.919 as living stones 00:14:48.919 --> 00:14:50.019 and we've been brought together 00:14:50.019 --> 00:14:50.899 as these living stones 00:14:50.899 --> 00:14:52.059 and these living stones 00:14:52.059 --> 00:14:52.759 huddle together 00:14:52.759 --> 00:14:53.819 and living stones 00:14:53.819 --> 00:14:54.359 are rough 00:14:54.359 --> 00:14:55.639 and they're different 00:14:55.639 --> 00:14:57.059 and they rub each other 00:14:57.059 --> 00:14:58.199 and they hurt each other 00:14:58.199 --> 00:14:59.679 but God allows that to happen 00:14:59.679 --> 00:15:01.500 because he's shaping us. 00:15:04.079 --> 00:15:05.240 And it's like this big monolith 00:15:05.240 --> 00:15:05.620 that's there, 00:15:05.620 --> 00:15:07.700 Christ and he's this living stone 00:15:07.700 --> 00:15:09.100 and the imagery goes way back 00:15:09.100 --> 00:15:09.779 to the Old Testament 00:15:09.779 --> 00:15:11.000 and it means that Jesus 00:15:11.000 --> 00:15:11.720 is personal, 00:15:13.320 --> 00:15:14.320 that he cares for you, 00:15:14.399 --> 00:15:15.039 he's alive, 00:15:15.139 --> 00:15:15.700 he's spiritual, 00:15:16.039 --> 00:15:17.200 he's a solid foundation 00:15:17.200 --> 00:15:18.200 that he can take care of you, 00:15:18.480 --> 00:15:19.019 he's true, 00:15:19.120 --> 00:15:19.919 he never changes, 00:15:20.259 --> 00:15:20.840 he's holy, 00:15:21.759 --> 00:15:23.080 we can depend upon him. 00:15:24.820 --> 00:15:26.519 That he's bringing us to him 00:15:26.519 --> 00:15:27.720 so that we as his people 00:15:27.720 --> 00:15:29.340 can rest on him. 00:15:30.759 --> 00:15:31.440 And the imagery 00:15:31.440 --> 00:15:32.560 that he uses here 00:15:32.560 --> 00:15:33.500 is this idea 00:15:33.500 --> 00:15:34.620 of this foundation, 00:15:34.620 --> 00:15:35.639 this stone, 00:15:36.519 --> 00:15:37.399 this is my son's, 00:15:37.399 --> 00:15:38.419 this is the best I could get, 00:15:39.220 --> 00:15:40.000 but if you go to Israel 00:15:40.000 --> 00:15:40.919 with us in two years, 00:15:40.980 --> 00:15:41.820 you're going to the temple 00:15:41.820 --> 00:15:43.139 and when you go 00:15:43.139 --> 00:15:44.060 underneath the temple 00:15:44.060 --> 00:15:44.740 and these tunnels, 00:15:44.840 --> 00:15:46.100 you see this foundation stone 00:15:46.100 --> 00:15:47.279 that Jesus was talking about. 00:15:48.139 --> 00:15:49.220 And this stone was like 00:15:49.220 --> 00:15:50.840 30 feet wide 00:15:50.840 --> 00:15:53.620 and like 80 feet long 00:15:53.620 --> 00:15:55.960 and about 20 feet tall 00:15:55.960 --> 00:15:57.840 and it was the capstone, 00:15:57.960 --> 00:15:59.019 it was the cornerstone, 00:15:59.019 --> 00:16:00.579 it was the most perfect stone, 00:16:00.899 --> 00:16:02.620 it weighed like 500 tons. 00:16:03.740 --> 00:16:04.500 And you look at it 00:16:04.500 --> 00:16:05.419 because all the rest 00:16:05.419 --> 00:16:05.860 of the temple 00:16:05.860 --> 00:16:07.039 rested on that 00:16:07.039 --> 00:16:08.419 and you're wondering 00:16:08.419 --> 00:16:09.539 how in the heck 00:16:09.539 --> 00:16:10.319 did they cut that? 00:16:10.460 --> 00:16:11.620 How did they get that there? 00:16:11.819 --> 00:16:12.960 What's going on there? 00:16:13.299 --> 00:16:14.319 And what Peter is saying 00:16:14.319 --> 00:16:14.840 is there's even 00:16:14.840 --> 00:16:15.879 a much greater stone 00:16:15.879 --> 00:16:16.620 that we rest on. 00:16:16.620 --> 00:16:20.019 And that stone is Christ. 00:16:22.100 --> 00:16:23.060 And not only is that stone 00:16:23.060 --> 00:16:24.580 the center of our lives, 00:16:24.620 --> 00:16:25.519 but he says it's also 00:16:25.519 --> 00:16:26.580 the foundation that 00:16:26.580 --> 00:16:27.820 he builds us 00:16:27.820 --> 00:16:29.060 on top of each other. 00:16:30.460 --> 00:16:32.299 Now the imagery is scary, 00:16:32.560 --> 00:16:33.919 the imagery is powerful, 00:16:34.240 --> 00:16:34.899 but the imagery 00:16:34.899 --> 00:16:35.740 of the cornerstone 00:16:35.740 --> 00:16:36.620 is this thing 00:16:36.620 --> 00:16:37.460 that basically says 00:16:37.460 --> 00:16:39.600 Jesus is the most perfect stone, 00:16:39.700 --> 00:16:40.560 it's the biggest stone, 00:16:40.639 --> 00:16:41.460 it's the true stone, 00:16:41.840 --> 00:16:43.320 it's the holy stone, 00:16:43.600 --> 00:16:44.879 it's a never changing stone, 00:16:44.879 --> 00:16:45.899 the cornerstone 00:16:45.899 --> 00:16:47.340 was the most important thing 00:16:47.340 --> 00:16:47.860 in a building. 00:16:48.600 --> 00:16:49.959 It was the most precious, 00:16:50.120 --> 00:16:50.819 the most precise, 00:16:51.039 --> 00:16:51.679 it was the thing 00:16:51.679 --> 00:16:53.179 that determined your building. 00:16:54.159 --> 00:16:55.519 If you had a crappy cornerstone, 00:16:55.620 --> 00:16:56.500 you had a crappy building. 00:16:57.360 --> 00:16:58.659 It was made out of sandstone, 00:16:58.759 --> 00:16:59.439 it fell apart. 00:16:59.740 --> 00:17:01.220 But usually you wanted 00:17:01.220 --> 00:17:02.980 a great, amazing structure. 00:17:03.360 --> 00:17:04.759 You had the best material. 00:17:05.759 --> 00:17:08.079 It was the straightest piece of rock. 00:17:08.160 --> 00:17:09.900 It determined how you built. 00:17:10.240 --> 00:17:11.400 If the cornerstone was crooked, 00:17:11.519 --> 00:17:12.259 your house was crooked. 00:17:12.539 --> 00:17:13.599 If the cornerstone was straight, 00:17:13.599 --> 00:17:14.779 your house would be going to be great 00:17:14.779 --> 00:17:16.119 and it determined everything. 00:17:16.519 --> 00:17:17.639 And what Peter is saying here 00:17:17.639 --> 00:17:19.160 is that Jesus now 00:17:19.160 --> 00:17:20.160 is this cornerstone 00:17:20.160 --> 00:17:21.119 in our lives. 00:17:22.200 --> 00:17:23.079 He's this cornerstone 00:17:23.079 --> 00:17:24.139 in our church. 00:17:25.139 --> 00:17:25.579 And he says, 00:17:25.779 --> 00:17:27.119 if you build on this stone, 00:17:27.660 --> 00:17:29.440 you'll never need 00:17:29.440 --> 00:17:30.259 to be ashamed. 00:17:32.680 --> 00:17:34.099 If you build on the stone 00:17:34.099 --> 00:17:35.359 of Christ in your life, 00:17:35.420 --> 00:17:36.079 in his word, 00:17:36.299 --> 00:17:37.139 you're never going to have 00:17:37.139 --> 00:17:37.720 to come back and go, 00:17:37.899 --> 00:17:38.799 oh, I just messed up. 00:17:38.839 --> 00:17:39.240 Oh, wow, 00:17:39.279 --> 00:17:39.879 I shouldn't have done that. 00:17:39.880 --> 00:17:40.420 He's saying, 00:17:40.560 --> 00:17:41.980 if you build on this cornerstone, 00:17:42.280 --> 00:17:44.140 if you lay your life 00:17:44.140 --> 00:17:44.920 on Christ, 00:17:45.680 --> 00:17:48.040 your life will always 00:17:48.040 --> 00:17:49.560 turn out straight 00:17:49.560 --> 00:17:51.500 and right. 00:17:54.900 --> 00:17:56.300 So here's a question for us 00:17:56.300 --> 00:17:57.500 as God's living stones. 00:18:00.240 --> 00:18:01.180 What cornerstone 00:18:01.180 --> 00:18:01.840 are we building on? 00:18:05.660 --> 00:18:06.520 If you're going to draw 00:18:06.520 --> 00:18:07.500 out a map of your life 00:18:07.500 --> 00:18:08.580 and your life is this house 00:18:08.579 --> 00:18:09.019 you're building, 00:18:10.399 --> 00:18:11.519 what's that foundation 00:18:11.519 --> 00:18:12.639 in your life? 00:18:14.199 --> 00:18:15.319 What's that foundation 00:18:15.319 --> 00:18:16.220 that you're building on? 00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:19.179 If you go to San Jose, 00:18:19.359 --> 00:18:20.539 there's an amazing house there. 00:18:21.119 --> 00:18:22.199 It's the Winchester house, 00:18:22.339 --> 00:18:23.119 Elizabeth Winchester. 00:18:23.439 --> 00:18:24.179 Her husband died 00:18:24.179 --> 00:18:25.039 like in 1880. 00:18:25.939 --> 00:18:26.059 I mean, 00:18:26.079 --> 00:18:26.759 it's a crazy, 00:18:26.919 --> 00:18:27.559 crazy house. 00:18:27.599 --> 00:18:29.019 It's like a crazy person house. 00:18:29.799 --> 00:18:30.699 And so she received 00:18:30.699 --> 00:18:31.559 about $20 million 00:18:31.559 --> 00:18:32.779 part of the Winchester, 00:18:33.220 --> 00:18:34.519 or I just know this 00:18:34.519 --> 00:18:34.980 because I'm a hunter, 00:18:35.579 --> 00:18:36.899 the gun factory. 00:18:37.000 --> 00:18:37.639 So she received 00:18:37.639 --> 00:18:38.199 $20 million 00:18:38.200 --> 00:18:39.440 as her inheritance 00:18:39.440 --> 00:18:40.019 from her husband 00:18:40.019 --> 00:18:41.059 and then she received 00:18:41.059 --> 00:18:41.980 which would have been 00:18:41.980 --> 00:18:42.900 like hundreds of millions 00:18:42.900 --> 00:18:43.620 of dollars today 00:18:43.620 --> 00:18:45.240 and then she received 00:18:45.240 --> 00:18:46.420 $1,000 a day 00:18:46.420 --> 00:18:47.480 as her salary 00:18:47.480 --> 00:18:48.460 which would be 00:18:48.460 --> 00:18:50.240 about $50,000 a day today. 00:18:51.039 --> 00:18:51.940 So this was her salary. 00:18:52.080 --> 00:18:53.019 So she went to San Jose 00:18:53.019 --> 00:18:53.779 and she built this, 00:18:54.519 --> 00:18:55.200 she bought this 00:18:55.200 --> 00:18:56.080 six bedroom house 00:18:56.080 --> 00:18:57.500 and she just started 00:18:57.500 --> 00:18:58.160 building on it. 00:18:59.700 --> 00:19:00.559 And she hired 00:19:00.559 --> 00:19:01.580 like two or three groups 00:19:01.580 --> 00:19:02.380 of laborers 00:19:02.380 --> 00:19:03.220 and constructioners 00:19:03.220 --> 00:19:03.680 and architects 00:19:03.680 --> 00:19:04.820 and if you go there 00:19:04.820 --> 00:19:05.320 it's amazing. 00:19:05.500 --> 00:19:06.259 It'll take you forever 00:19:06.259 --> 00:19:06.920 to go through it. 00:19:07.539 --> 00:19:07.700 I mean, 00:19:07.740 --> 00:19:08.440 it costs you like $30 00:19:08.440 --> 00:19:09.799 but it's worth the $30 00:19:09.799 --> 00:19:10.960 if you have a good tour guide. 00:19:11.360 --> 00:19:11.820 But it's like, 00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:13.220 it's like she just kept 00:19:13.220 --> 00:19:14.320 building for 30 years. 00:19:15.539 --> 00:19:16.400 For 30 years 00:19:16.400 --> 00:19:17.380 she's built on this house 00:19:17.380 --> 00:19:17.799 and there's just 00:19:17.799 --> 00:19:18.820 no rhyme or reason. 00:19:19.420 --> 00:19:20.160 There's like 00:19:20.160 --> 00:19:21.640 160 bedrooms. 00:19:22.519 --> 00:19:23.620 There's like 500 rooms. 00:19:23.799 --> 00:19:25.140 There's like 58 bathrooms 00:19:25.140 --> 00:19:26.000 which is great 00:19:26.000 --> 00:19:27.220 if you're a woman 00:19:27.220 --> 00:19:28.019 but as a guy. 00:19:28.019 --> 00:19:31.839 there's like 60 staircases. 00:19:32.160 --> 00:19:33.119 There's three elevators. 00:19:33.279 --> 00:19:33.879 There's two that are, 00:19:34.000 --> 00:19:34.639 they go up, 00:19:34.940 --> 00:19:35.160 you know, 00:19:35.660 --> 00:19:36.200 what do you call that? 00:19:36.480 --> 00:19:36.839 Horizontally. 00:19:37.119 --> 00:19:37.619 But there's actually 00:19:37.619 --> 00:19:38.160 one elevator, 00:19:38.259 --> 00:19:38.940 the first of its kind 00:19:38.940 --> 00:19:39.400 ever in America 00:19:39.400 --> 00:19:40.180 that goes vertically. 00:19:41.400 --> 00:19:41.839 It's kind of like 00:19:41.839 --> 00:19:42.759 Willy Wonka, right? 00:19:42.879 --> 00:19:43.940 I've always wanted to see 00:19:43.940 --> 00:19:45.940 that horizontal, vertical. 00:19:46.119 --> 00:19:46.720 Right, right, okay. 00:19:46.940 --> 00:19:47.579 My wife is going. 00:19:49.759 --> 00:19:50.980 I'm so glad you're back. 00:19:52.839 --> 00:19:53.480 So, you know, 00:19:53.519 --> 00:19:54.500 so she builds this house 00:19:54.500 --> 00:19:55.559 and you go there 00:19:55.559 --> 00:19:56.000 and you're like, 00:19:56.099 --> 00:19:56.700 wow, this is, 00:19:56.980 --> 00:19:57.240 you know, 00:19:57.240 --> 00:19:58.980 it's seven stories tall 00:19:58.980 --> 00:20:00.500 and it's out of control. 00:20:00.599 --> 00:20:01.720 47 fireplaces 00:20:01.720 --> 00:20:02.980 and 60 stairwells 00:20:02.980 --> 00:20:04.720 and it's just crazy 00:20:04.720 --> 00:20:06.140 and you look at her house 00:20:06.140 --> 00:20:06.859 and you say, 00:20:07.059 --> 00:20:08.200 what was she thinking? 00:20:12.839 --> 00:20:13.400 You know, 00:20:13.420 --> 00:20:14.500 sometimes that's 00:20:14.500 --> 00:20:15.880 like some of our lives. 00:20:20.460 --> 00:20:21.359 If we're honest 00:20:21.359 --> 00:20:22.900 and we look at the map 00:20:22.900 --> 00:20:23.519 that we're building 00:20:23.519 --> 00:20:24.079 and the house 00:20:24.079 --> 00:20:24.660 that we're building 00:20:24.660 --> 00:20:25.880 and we have somebody 00:20:25.880 --> 00:20:26.539 who loves us 00:20:26.539 --> 00:20:27.200 and cares enough 00:20:27.200 --> 00:20:28.000 enough about us 00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:28.779 to come alongside of us, 00:20:28.840 --> 00:20:29.980 they look at our lives 00:20:29.980 --> 00:20:30.200 and say, 00:20:30.279 --> 00:20:31.640 what were you thinking? 00:20:34.680 --> 00:20:35.740 You cannot find 00:20:35.740 --> 00:20:36.519 the cornerstone 00:20:36.519 --> 00:20:37.480 in the Winchester house 00:20:37.480 --> 00:20:38.500 because there's not one 00:20:38.500 --> 00:20:40.980 because it's this craziness 00:20:40.980 --> 00:20:43.519 and the hard thing 00:20:43.519 --> 00:20:43.980 is that sometimes 00:20:43.980 --> 00:20:44.819 for us 00:20:44.819 --> 00:20:46.019 as God's children, 00:20:46.240 --> 00:20:48.160 it's the same thing. 00:20:49.740 --> 00:20:50.600 We started off 00:20:50.600 --> 00:20:51.340 with the cornerstone, 00:20:51.700 --> 00:20:51.960 Jesus, 00:20:53.100 --> 00:20:53.900 but then we just started 00:20:53.900 --> 00:20:55.319 building our own little kingdom 00:20:55.319 --> 00:20:56.099 and our world 00:20:56.099 --> 00:20:57.339 and things that we want 00:20:57.339 --> 00:20:57.899 and things that are 00:20:57.899 --> 00:20:58.679 important to us 00:20:58.679 --> 00:21:00.159 and no one ever said, 00:21:00.240 --> 00:21:00.279 well, 00:21:00.319 --> 00:21:01.099 how does that fit into 00:21:01.099 --> 00:21:02.559 the house that God 00:21:02.559 --> 00:21:03.159 has you building 00:21:03.159 --> 00:21:03.919 and we didn't even 00:21:03.919 --> 00:21:04.439 think about that, 00:21:04.460 --> 00:21:05.119 we just kept building. 00:21:05.119 --> 00:21:08.919 Peter says, 00:21:08.919 --> 00:21:10.219 if you build on Jesus, 00:21:11.659 --> 00:21:12.539 this amazing, 00:21:13.199 --> 00:21:15.459 precious cornerstone, 00:21:16.139 --> 00:21:18.399 you'll never be ashamed. 00:21:18.400 --> 00:21:21.800 You know, 00:21:21.840 --> 00:21:22.480 the scary thing, 00:21:22.560 --> 00:21:22.700 I think, 00:21:22.759 --> 00:21:23.759 for me about this passage 00:21:23.759 --> 00:21:24.320 and for us 00:21:24.320 --> 00:21:25.820 is that he talks about it 00:21:25.820 --> 00:21:26.460 in the plural. 00:21:27.340 --> 00:21:27.820 He says, 00:21:27.960 --> 00:21:29.380 we and we and we 00:21:29.380 --> 00:21:30.440 and what he's saying 00:21:30.440 --> 00:21:31.160 over and over 00:21:31.160 --> 00:21:32.080 is it's a community, 00:21:32.280 --> 00:21:32.940 it's a church, 00:21:33.360 --> 00:21:34.740 it's what he has planned for us. 00:21:34.820 --> 00:21:36.259 We live through the church 00:21:36.259 --> 00:21:36.900 and his people 00:21:36.900 --> 00:21:37.560 and you know, 00:21:37.640 --> 00:21:38.680 my experience in Hong Kong 00:21:38.680 --> 00:21:40.000 is most people think of church 00:21:40.000 --> 00:21:42.540 just like another club. 00:21:44.519 --> 00:21:45.420 I remember before 00:21:45.420 --> 00:21:46.280 when we moved to Hong Kong, 00:21:46.360 --> 00:21:47.380 Christina's dad grew up here 00:21:47.380 --> 00:21:48.640 and lived here in his 60s 00:21:48.640 --> 00:21:49.340 and I said, 00:21:49.380 --> 00:21:50.060 so what's your experience 00:21:50.060 --> 00:21:50.920 of Hong Kong? 00:21:51.000 --> 00:21:51.240 And he said, 00:21:51.260 --> 00:21:51.360 well, 00:21:51.380 --> 00:21:52.020 Hong Kong is a place 00:21:52.020 --> 00:21:52.940 you can get clubbed to death 00:21:52.940 --> 00:21:55.260 and what he meant was, 00:21:55.260 --> 00:21:55.660 think about it, 00:21:55.660 --> 00:21:55.720 you know, 00:21:55.740 --> 00:21:56.440 there's clubs everywhere 00:21:56.440 --> 00:21:58.140 and I think that it's true, 00:21:58.220 --> 00:21:59.340 we can get clubbed to death 00:21:59.340 --> 00:22:01.020 and sometimes we live life 00:22:01.020 --> 00:22:01.960 in the Christian life 00:22:01.960 --> 00:22:02.460 in Hong Kong 00:22:02.460 --> 00:22:03.840 and we think that church 00:22:03.840 --> 00:22:05.940 is just like a club. 00:22:07.300 --> 00:22:09.140 We do it and we leave 00:22:09.140 --> 00:22:11.640 but what Peter says is no, 00:22:11.720 --> 00:22:12.280 he says no, 00:22:12.380 --> 00:22:14.500 you are the church. 00:22:17.380 --> 00:22:18.900 And if God wants us 00:22:18.900 --> 00:22:20.160 to fix the brokenness 00:22:20.160 --> 00:22:21.060 in each other 00:22:21.060 --> 00:22:22.880 and in Hong Kong 00:22:22.880 --> 00:22:23.500 and the world, 00:22:23.660 --> 00:22:24.720 he doesn't do it 00:22:24.720 --> 00:22:25.520 through one person, 00:22:25.620 --> 00:22:26.280 he does it through 00:22:26.280 --> 00:22:28.440 the stones coming together 00:22:28.440 --> 00:22:30.160 and resting on him. 00:22:32.420 --> 00:22:32.680 I mean, 00:22:32.820 --> 00:22:33.700 we as priests, 00:22:33.780 --> 00:22:34.620 he says here, 00:22:34.960 --> 00:22:35.940 and the idea is, 00:22:36.120 --> 00:22:36.960 to me it's scary 00:22:36.960 --> 00:22:37.840 because what he's saying 00:22:37.840 --> 00:22:38.720 is that each one of us 00:22:38.720 --> 00:22:39.120 in here 00:22:39.120 --> 00:22:40.700 is unique, 00:22:41.900 --> 00:22:42.520 different, 00:22:44.080 --> 00:22:44.440 gifted, 00:22:44.440 --> 00:22:46.059 talented 00:22:46.059 --> 00:22:47.200 and that God 00:22:47.200 --> 00:22:48.340 has brought all of us 00:22:48.340 --> 00:22:49.100 here together 00:22:49.100 --> 00:22:50.160 as his church 00:22:50.160 --> 00:22:52.759 for the purpose 00:22:52.759 --> 00:22:53.980 of verse five, 00:22:55.220 --> 00:22:55.860 offering up 00:22:55.860 --> 00:22:57.220 spiritual sacrifices. 00:22:58.700 --> 00:22:59.759 So what Peter here 00:22:59.759 --> 00:23:00.059 is saying, 00:23:00.100 --> 00:23:00.580 now listen to me 00:23:00.580 --> 00:23:00.940 because I'm going 00:23:00.940 --> 00:23:01.580 to offend you 00:23:01.580 --> 00:23:02.820 because I offend myself 00:23:02.820 --> 00:23:03.720 because it's taken me 00:23:03.720 --> 00:23:04.220 a long time 00:23:04.220 --> 00:23:04.860 to get around this. 00:23:05.140 --> 00:23:05.980 What he's saying here 00:23:05.980 --> 00:23:07.000 is that you and I, 00:23:07.420 --> 00:23:08.259 everyone in this room, 00:23:08.340 --> 00:23:08.799 if you're within 00:23:08.799 --> 00:23:09.580 the family of God, 00:23:09.940 --> 00:23:10.720 that it's no mistake 00:23:10.720 --> 00:23:11.360 that God brought you 00:23:11.360 --> 00:23:11.799 here today. 00:23:14.440 --> 00:23:15.320 It's no mistake 00:23:15.320 --> 00:23:15.980 that you're sitting here 00:23:15.980 --> 00:23:16.600 in this church 00:23:16.600 --> 00:23:18.680 because the passage 00:23:18.680 --> 00:23:19.519 says that God 00:23:19.519 --> 00:23:21.019 brings us 00:23:21.019 --> 00:23:23.100 his living stones 00:23:23.100 --> 00:23:25.380 to the cornerstone 00:23:25.380 --> 00:23:27.620 because he has something 00:23:27.620 --> 00:23:28.420 he wants to do 00:23:28.420 --> 00:23:29.019 in us 00:23:29.019 --> 00:23:31.680 and he has something 00:23:31.680 --> 00:23:32.779 he wants to do 00:23:32.779 --> 00:23:33.900 through us. 00:23:36.900 --> 00:23:37.660 It means that 00:23:37.660 --> 00:23:38.279 every one of us 00:23:38.279 --> 00:23:38.700 in here, 00:23:40.500 --> 00:23:41.420 if we're God's people, 00:23:41.420 --> 00:23:44.500 we're called to serve, 00:23:46.500 --> 00:23:47.680 we're called to pray, 00:23:49.420 --> 00:23:50.300 we're called to give 00:23:50.300 --> 00:23:50.980 and tithe, 00:23:52.000 --> 00:23:53.360 we're called to invest 00:23:53.360 --> 00:23:54.160 our life 00:23:54.160 --> 00:23:55.140 and the people around us 00:23:55.140 --> 00:23:55.860 and build bridges 00:23:55.860 --> 00:23:57.180 to bring them 00:23:57.180 --> 00:23:58.440 to God's family. 00:24:00.160 --> 00:24:01.820 And if you walk in here 00:24:01.820 --> 00:24:06.000 and you don't do that, 00:24:06.000 --> 00:24:08.880 what that means 00:24:08.880 --> 00:24:09.779 is there's a piece 00:24:09.779 --> 00:24:11.839 of God's church 00:24:11.839 --> 00:24:14.440 that's not functioning. 00:24:16.359 --> 00:24:17.599 And if there's a piece 00:24:17.599 --> 00:24:18.819 of the church 00:24:18.819 --> 00:24:20.200 that's not functioning, 00:24:21.660 --> 00:24:23.339 it means the church 00:24:23.339 --> 00:24:25.640 isn't functioning. 00:24:28.880 --> 00:24:30.380 It means the church 00:24:30.380 --> 00:24:31.960 isn't what God 00:24:31.960 --> 00:24:33.720 meant for it to be. 00:24:33.720 --> 00:24:37.600 I'm a Calvinist 00:24:37.600 --> 00:24:37.940 when it comes 00:24:37.940 --> 00:24:38.680 to God's sovereignty 00:24:38.680 --> 00:24:41.900 and God has us here 00:24:41.900 --> 00:24:44.059 and if you're here 00:24:44.059 --> 00:24:44.880 as his people, 00:24:46.160 --> 00:24:47.259 it means he's calling you 00:24:47.259 --> 00:24:48.100 to a community 00:24:48.100 --> 00:24:49.900 to pray, 00:24:51.019 --> 00:24:52.500 to serve, 00:24:53.120 --> 00:24:54.539 to give, 00:24:55.900 --> 00:24:57.000 and to build bridges to. 00:24:58.360 --> 00:24:59.500 And that if you don't 00:24:59.500 --> 00:25:00.299 do that, 00:25:00.940 --> 00:25:02.759 if you just come 00:25:02.759 --> 00:25:03.680 and go 00:25:03.680 --> 00:25:04.859 and walk away, 00:25:04.980 --> 00:25:06.660 you don't do these things 00:25:06.660 --> 00:25:07.160 and the church 00:25:07.160 --> 00:25:08.359 misses out on you serving, 00:25:08.759 --> 00:25:09.640 the church misses out 00:25:09.640 --> 00:25:10.200 on you teaching, 00:25:10.420 --> 00:25:11.180 the church misses out 00:25:11.180 --> 00:25:11.740 on you praying, 00:25:12.059 --> 00:25:12.819 the church misses out 00:25:12.819 --> 00:25:13.460 on you volunteering, 00:25:13.819 --> 00:25:14.539 the church misses out 00:25:14.539 --> 00:25:15.000 on you giving, 00:25:15.379 --> 00:25:16.140 the church misses out 00:25:16.140 --> 00:25:16.839 and there's all these 00:25:16.839 --> 00:25:17.900 little pieces in this church 00:25:17.900 --> 00:25:19.039 that aren't going to be 00:25:19.039 --> 00:25:19.980 the way they should be 00:25:19.980 --> 00:25:20.819 and what that means 00:25:20.819 --> 00:25:21.879 is the rest of us here, 00:25:22.879 --> 00:25:25.160 we're worse off 00:25:25.160 --> 00:25:29.660 because we're dependent 00:25:29.660 --> 00:25:30.299 upon each other. 00:25:30.299 --> 00:25:32.759 And I think that's 00:25:32.759 --> 00:25:33.419 the scary thing 00:25:33.419 --> 00:25:34.460 about church for us 00:25:34.460 --> 00:25:37.039 because we're type A people, 00:25:37.240 --> 00:25:38.019 we're motivated, 00:25:38.240 --> 00:25:38.899 we're getting it done, 00:25:38.960 --> 00:25:39.700 let's get it going on 00:25:39.700 --> 00:25:40.079 and we don't want 00:25:40.079 --> 00:25:40.419 to be dependent 00:25:40.419 --> 00:25:41.059 upon anybody, 00:25:41.200 --> 00:25:41.960 we just want to do it, 00:25:42.019 --> 00:25:42.259 do it, 00:25:42.319 --> 00:25:42.619 do it, 00:25:42.619 --> 00:25:43.619 but what Peter here 00:25:43.619 --> 00:25:44.220 is saying is that 00:25:44.220 --> 00:25:45.180 he's brought us together 00:25:45.180 --> 00:25:48.039 because we need each other. 00:25:48.039 --> 00:25:52.879 And if we just come and go, 00:25:54.480 --> 00:25:55.899 then the rest of the body 00:25:55.899 --> 00:25:57.240 of Christ is hurt 00:25:57.240 --> 00:26:00.240 and the church is hurt 00:26:00.240 --> 00:26:02.899 and the church can't do 00:26:02.899 --> 00:26:04.099 all the things that God 00:26:04.099 --> 00:26:05.139 has in store for it 00:26:05.139 --> 00:26:06.279 because not all the pieces 00:26:06.279 --> 00:26:07.059 are working together. 00:26:09.059 --> 00:26:10.039 Does that make sense? 00:26:13.139 --> 00:26:13.680 You know, 00:26:13.740 --> 00:26:14.700 when we started the church, 00:26:14.700 --> 00:26:16.960 we had 33 people 00:26:16.960 --> 00:26:20.259 and we had 33 people 00:26:20.259 --> 00:26:21.140 and they signed a covenant. 00:26:22.980 --> 00:26:24.240 We are looking at these passages 00:26:24.240 --> 00:26:25.539 like 1 Peter 2 00:26:25.539 --> 00:26:27.240 and we're looking at this idea 00:26:27.240 --> 00:26:28.019 of coming together 00:26:28.019 --> 00:26:29.480 as living stones 00:26:29.480 --> 00:26:30.840 and being built upon 00:26:30.840 --> 00:26:32.100 the living stone 00:26:32.100 --> 00:26:33.039 and giving up 00:26:33.039 --> 00:26:33.700 our spiritual sacrifices 00:26:34.299 --> 00:26:35.920 and building on the capstone 00:26:35.920 --> 00:26:37.460 and when these 33 people 00:26:37.460 --> 00:26:37.940 came together, 00:26:38.039 --> 00:26:38.279 we said, 00:26:38.360 --> 00:26:38.420 okay, 00:26:38.500 --> 00:26:39.720 we're a priest, 00:26:40.200 --> 00:26:41.539 we're living stones, 00:26:41.940 --> 00:26:43.000 we're a new nation, 00:26:43.000 --> 00:26:44.220 God has called us 00:26:44.220 --> 00:26:44.660 to come here 00:26:44.660 --> 00:26:45.400 and what we said is 00:26:45.400 --> 00:26:46.039 when we came in, 00:26:46.079 --> 00:26:46.839 we signed this agreement, 00:26:47.240 --> 00:26:47.660 this covenant, 00:26:47.859 --> 00:26:48.599 33 of us 00:26:48.599 --> 00:26:48.980 and we said, 00:26:49.299 --> 00:26:49.400 hey, 00:26:49.500 --> 00:26:50.559 God has called us all 00:26:50.559 --> 00:26:51.859 to pray 00:26:51.859 --> 00:26:57.579 and we all wrote 00:26:57.579 --> 00:26:58.680 that we have to do that. 00:26:59.339 --> 00:26:59.680 Then we said, 00:26:59.740 --> 00:26:59.839 hey, 00:26:59.900 --> 00:27:00.799 God has called us all 00:27:00.799 --> 00:27:02.640 to give 00:27:02.640 --> 00:27:06.299 and we realized 00:27:06.299 --> 00:27:07.180 we had to do that too 00:27:07.180 --> 00:27:07.960 because of course, 00:27:08.119 --> 00:27:09.259 Hong Kong is an expensive place 00:27:09.259 --> 00:27:11.059 and just even to make our rent here, 00:27:11.180 --> 00:27:11.740 we had to give 00:27:11.740 --> 00:27:12.440 and do these things 00:27:12.440 --> 00:27:13.539 and it's something we had to do. 00:27:13.799 --> 00:27:14.059 We said, 00:27:14.140 --> 00:27:15.259 God has called us all 00:27:15.259 --> 00:27:17.720 to serve. 00:27:22.759 --> 00:27:23.140 You know, 00:27:23.279 --> 00:27:24.440 we realized that was going to happen 00:27:24.440 --> 00:27:25.600 because we were just 33 people, 00:27:25.660 --> 00:27:26.620 we didn't have hundreds of people, 00:27:26.720 --> 00:27:27.700 we didn't have the people 00:27:27.700 --> 00:27:28.259 we have today 00:27:28.259 --> 00:27:28.860 but we just knew 00:27:28.860 --> 00:27:29.900 each one of us here, 00:27:29.960 --> 00:27:30.460 we had to serve 00:27:30.460 --> 00:27:31.279 because we're the priest, 00:27:31.440 --> 00:27:32.820 we're the living stones, 00:27:33.000 --> 00:27:33.840 we're the temple. 00:27:33.920 --> 00:27:34.240 Then we said, 00:27:34.480 --> 00:27:35.640 God has called us to invest 00:27:35.640 --> 00:27:38.960 and invite 00:27:38.960 --> 00:27:41.900 because we knew 00:27:41.900 --> 00:27:42.860 that's what we were called to do. 00:27:44.299 --> 00:27:45.420 We're called to be bridge builders. 00:27:46.340 --> 00:27:47.440 Now we might not be totally gifted 00:27:47.440 --> 00:27:48.400 in sharing our faith 00:27:48.400 --> 00:27:50.100 but it doesn't take a lot 00:27:50.100 --> 00:27:50.680 to invite people 00:27:50.680 --> 00:27:51.480 to a community group 00:27:51.480 --> 00:27:53.660 or to a church 00:27:53.660 --> 00:27:56.000 or to be nice to people 00:27:56.000 --> 00:27:57.660 or to care for him. 00:27:58.940 --> 00:28:00.299 This is what God has called us to do 00:28:00.299 --> 00:28:01.740 when we started. 00:28:01.740 --> 00:28:06.120 And I realized 00:28:06.120 --> 00:28:07.259 that it's easy for us 00:28:07.259 --> 00:28:08.220 to come into Watermark 00:28:08.220 --> 00:28:08.960 and we look at everything 00:28:08.960 --> 00:28:09.259 and we go, 00:28:09.339 --> 00:28:09.799 wow, this church, 00:28:09.859 --> 00:28:09.960 you know, 00:28:09.960 --> 00:28:10.660 we're only four years old. 00:28:10.700 --> 00:28:11.460 We get four years old 00:28:11.460 --> 00:28:12.140 in three weeks. 00:28:12.599 --> 00:28:13.319 So we're only four years old 00:28:13.319 --> 00:28:14.099 but for me, 00:28:14.259 --> 00:28:17.000 it seems like a lot of neat things 00:28:17.000 --> 00:28:17.440 are happening 00:28:17.440 --> 00:28:18.019 with the sharing 00:28:18.019 --> 00:28:18.740 and the outreach 00:28:18.740 --> 00:28:19.299 and all the things 00:28:19.299 --> 00:28:20.279 that God's bringing into our midst 00:28:20.279 --> 00:28:20.839 and people are saying, 00:28:20.960 --> 00:28:21.519 let's make that happen, 00:28:21.559 --> 00:28:22.160 let's do that thing 00:28:22.160 --> 00:28:23.279 and I realize 00:28:23.279 --> 00:28:24.019 it's easy for you 00:28:24.019 --> 00:28:24.660 to come in here 00:28:24.660 --> 00:28:25.180 and say, 00:28:25.259 --> 00:28:25.380 well, 00:28:25.420 --> 00:28:26.180 they don't need me 00:28:26.180 --> 00:28:29.500 because it's already happening. 00:28:29.500 --> 00:28:31.559 I mean, 00:28:31.619 --> 00:28:32.240 they don't need me. 00:28:32.259 --> 00:28:33.500 They don't need me to, 00:28:33.599 --> 00:28:34.599 they don't need me to pray, 00:28:34.839 --> 00:28:35.240 you know. 00:28:36.220 --> 00:28:36.859 But you know that 00:28:36.859 --> 00:28:37.880 every Sunday 00:28:37.880 --> 00:28:38.819 we don't even know 00:28:38.819 --> 00:28:40.599 where we're going to meet for sure. 00:28:42.940 --> 00:28:43.319 I mean, 00:28:43.359 --> 00:28:44.059 the fact that you guys 00:28:44.059 --> 00:28:44.700 are sitting right here 00:28:44.700 --> 00:28:46.859 is a huge answer prayer for us. 00:28:47.819 --> 00:28:48.460 We don't know 00:28:48.460 --> 00:28:49.400 if Cyberport's going to have 00:28:49.400 --> 00:28:50.759 a wine convention 00:28:50.759 --> 00:28:52.140 or a convention of lawyers 00:28:52.140 --> 00:28:52.940 or a wedding 00:28:52.940 --> 00:28:54.579 and they're going to pay 00:28:54.579 --> 00:28:55.559 a lot more than we're going to pay 00:28:55.559 --> 00:28:57.000 because they're giving us a discount. 00:28:58.640 --> 00:28:58.920 You know, 00:28:58.920 --> 00:28:59.800 we're doing outreaches 00:28:59.800 --> 00:29:01.279 in Hong Kong U right now 00:29:01.279 --> 00:29:03.800 and we need to see people praying. 00:29:04.800 --> 00:29:05.420 We have people praying 00:29:05.420 --> 00:29:05.960 for offices 00:29:05.960 --> 00:29:07.000 and businesses 00:29:07.000 --> 00:29:08.360 and things like that 00:29:08.360 --> 00:29:09.220 but it's easy to come in 00:29:09.220 --> 00:29:09.420 and say, 00:29:09.539 --> 00:29:09.600 well, 00:29:09.680 --> 00:29:10.440 you don't need me. 00:29:12.300 --> 00:29:12.620 Give. 00:29:13.300 --> 00:29:13.480 I mean, 00:29:13.500 --> 00:29:14.080 it's easy when you come 00:29:14.080 --> 00:29:14.759 into a church like this 00:29:14.759 --> 00:29:14.940 and you go, 00:29:15.039 --> 00:29:15.060 well, 00:29:15.060 --> 00:29:16.039 they're doing pretty good. 00:29:16.160 --> 00:29:17.420 They have a white guy 00:29:17.420 --> 00:29:18.180 with four kids, 00:29:18.240 --> 00:29:18.519 you know, 00:29:18.660 --> 00:29:19.600 or there's a pastor 00:29:19.600 --> 00:29:20.700 or they have the staff 00:29:20.700 --> 00:29:21.180 and they don't need, 00:29:21.400 --> 00:29:21.860 but you know, 00:29:22.039 --> 00:29:22.259 it's, 00:29:22.620 --> 00:29:23.620 unless we all give, 00:29:23.680 --> 00:29:24.680 it doesn't work. 00:29:26.640 --> 00:29:27.320 If you're not 00:29:27.320 --> 00:29:28.500 in the family of God here, 00:29:28.500 --> 00:29:29.420 you can clog your ears 00:29:29.420 --> 00:29:29.660 right now, 00:29:29.700 --> 00:29:30.859 but just to share with you, 00:29:30.960 --> 00:29:30.980 you know, 00:29:31.019 --> 00:29:32.160 the last four months, 00:29:33.380 --> 00:29:35.019 we haven't even had half 00:29:35.019 --> 00:29:35.519 come in 00:29:35.519 --> 00:29:36.140 of tithing 00:29:36.140 --> 00:29:36.599 that we need 00:29:36.599 --> 00:29:37.279 to even survive 00:29:37.279 --> 00:29:39.880 and so the staff 00:29:39.880 --> 00:29:40.460 are coming together 00:29:40.460 --> 00:29:40.660 and go, 00:29:40.740 --> 00:29:40.799 okay, 00:29:40.799 --> 00:29:41.240 what are we going to do? 00:29:41.259 --> 00:29:41.700 We have all these 00:29:41.700 --> 00:29:42.400 outreach planned. 00:29:43.240 --> 00:29:43.880 We have all these things 00:29:43.880 --> 00:29:44.299 we need to do. 00:29:44.339 --> 00:29:45.119 Are we going to stop them? 00:29:45.119 --> 00:29:47.799 And by faith, 00:29:47.839 --> 00:29:48.119 we said, 00:29:48.199 --> 00:29:48.479 no, 00:29:48.579 --> 00:29:48.759 no, 00:29:48.799 --> 00:29:49.719 we're going to keep doing it. 00:29:50.779 --> 00:29:51.979 But the family needs to know 00:29:51.979 --> 00:29:53.079 that we haven't been giving 00:29:53.079 --> 00:29:53.559 the way 00:29:53.559 --> 00:29:55.379 that the church needs, 00:29:56.379 --> 00:29:58.879 but the rents are increasing 00:29:58.879 --> 00:30:00.419 and the costs are increasing. 00:30:02.179 --> 00:30:03.399 Do things are increasing, 00:30:03.579 --> 00:30:04.639 so we need people to give, 00:30:05.539 --> 00:30:05.939 serve. 00:30:06.759 --> 00:30:07.500 When you walk in here 00:30:07.500 --> 00:30:08.439 and it looks really organized 00:30:08.439 --> 00:30:09.419 and there's signs everywhere, 00:30:10.319 --> 00:30:10.519 but you know, 00:30:10.559 --> 00:30:11.719 it takes 30 to 50 people 00:30:11.719 --> 00:30:12.679 every Sunday to serve, 00:30:13.399 --> 00:30:14.099 to be teachers 00:30:14.099 --> 00:30:15.099 and make things happen. 00:30:16.639 --> 00:30:17.539 It doesn't just happen, 00:30:17.619 --> 00:30:18.559 but before you come in here 00:30:18.559 --> 00:30:19.000 there's been people 00:30:19.000 --> 00:30:19.559 who have been praying, 00:30:19.719 --> 00:30:19.879 giving, 00:30:20.000 --> 00:30:20.399 and serving 00:30:20.399 --> 00:30:21.959 and thinking through everything. 00:30:23.159 --> 00:30:23.919 And if we as a body 00:30:23.919 --> 00:30:24.639 don't do that, 00:30:24.719 --> 00:30:27.179 then the family doesn't work. 00:30:29.319 --> 00:30:30.199 Invest and invite. 00:30:31.339 --> 00:30:31.519 I mean, 00:30:31.559 --> 00:30:32.519 if you walk out of here 00:30:32.519 --> 00:30:33.639 and you don't do that, 00:30:34.480 --> 00:30:35.019 there are people 00:30:35.019 --> 00:30:35.859 in your office space 00:30:35.859 --> 00:30:36.619 that I'll never have 00:30:36.619 --> 00:30:37.419 a chance to talk to. 00:30:38.919 --> 00:30:39.579 There are people 00:30:39.579 --> 00:30:40.579 when I walk up to them 00:30:40.579 --> 00:30:40.939 and they learn 00:30:40.939 --> 00:30:41.579 that I'm a pastor, 00:30:41.679 --> 00:30:41.879 they go, 00:30:42.079 --> 00:30:42.099 oh, 00:30:42.419 --> 00:30:44.019 but you can go 00:30:44.019 --> 00:30:44.460 up to them and say, 00:30:44.519 --> 00:30:44.660 hey, 00:30:44.720 --> 00:30:45.319 I'm working with you 00:30:45.319 --> 00:30:45.720 every day 00:30:45.720 --> 00:30:46.519 and yeah, 00:30:46.559 --> 00:30:47.180 I go to church. 00:30:48.639 --> 00:30:50.299 And if you don't do that 00:30:50.299 --> 00:30:51.839 like the saints 00:30:51.839 --> 00:30:52.500 are called to do, 00:30:52.579 --> 00:30:53.139 like the rocks 00:30:53.139 --> 00:30:53.779 are called to do, 00:30:53.859 --> 00:30:54.539 like the new nation 00:30:54.539 --> 00:30:55.059 is called to do, 00:30:55.319 --> 00:30:55.960 then we're not, 00:30:56.059 --> 00:30:57.259 we're not the church. 00:30:59.500 --> 00:31:00.259 We're not being 00:31:00.259 --> 00:31:01.420 who God has called us 00:31:01.420 --> 00:31:02.220 to be. 00:31:02.339 --> 00:31:03.859 We're not living out 00:31:03.859 --> 00:31:04.720 His glory. 00:31:04.859 --> 00:31:05.579 We're not making 00:31:05.579 --> 00:31:06.879 His name great. 00:31:06.960 --> 00:31:07.480 When it says 00:31:07.480 --> 00:31:09.259 proclaim His excellencies 00:31:09.259 --> 00:31:10.559 in verse 9, 00:31:10.559 --> 00:31:11.279 what it says 00:31:11.279 --> 00:31:12.859 is to retort, 00:31:13.299 --> 00:31:14.859 to evangelize 00:31:14.859 --> 00:31:16.000 His excellencies, 00:31:16.339 --> 00:31:17.259 all that is good, 00:31:17.440 --> 00:31:18.419 all that is wonderful, 00:31:18.599 --> 00:31:19.419 all that is true, 00:31:19.759 --> 00:31:20.679 all that is beautiful, 00:31:20.859 --> 00:31:21.679 all that is faithful 00:31:21.679 --> 00:31:22.119 of God, 00:31:22.399 --> 00:31:23.359 we as a church 00:31:23.359 --> 00:31:24.519 are called 00:31:24.519 --> 00:31:25.839 to do that. 00:31:28.919 --> 00:31:29.240 Now, 00:31:29.299 --> 00:31:29.919 I know what you're thinking 00:31:29.919 --> 00:31:32.159 because there's so many 00:31:32.159 --> 00:31:32.679 who are going to go, 00:31:32.799 --> 00:31:32.879 ah, 00:31:33.220 --> 00:31:34.019 and you're going to walk 00:31:34.019 --> 00:31:34.419 out here and go, 00:31:34.539 --> 00:31:35.940 I can't do that. 00:31:36.000 --> 00:31:36.720 I'm just too busy. 00:31:37.519 --> 00:31:38.299 I can't do any 00:31:38.299 --> 00:31:38.880 of those things 00:31:38.880 --> 00:31:39.299 and yeah, 00:31:39.360 --> 00:31:40.240 I like coming on Sunday 00:31:40.240 --> 00:31:41.019 but I just can't, 00:31:41.279 --> 00:31:42.259 I can't be the church, 00:31:42.339 --> 00:31:43.339 I can't be the living stone, 00:31:43.440 --> 00:31:44.960 I can't be the priesthood, 00:31:45.019 --> 00:31:46.799 I can't lay on the foundation 00:31:46.799 --> 00:31:47.660 with these other rocks, 00:31:47.700 --> 00:31:48.319 I'd rather just do it 00:31:48.319 --> 00:31:48.960 by myself. 00:31:51.100 --> 00:31:52.259 You know what Peter says? 00:31:56.700 --> 00:31:57.519 He says the church 00:31:57.519 --> 00:31:58.140 is worse off 00:31:58.140 --> 00:31:58.740 because of that. 00:32:02.360 --> 00:32:03.299 You know what I say? 00:32:03.299 --> 00:32:06.919 I say that the things 00:32:06.919 --> 00:32:07.480 we're trying to do 00:32:07.480 --> 00:32:08.619 in Hong Kong and beyond 00:32:08.619 --> 00:32:10.339 are worse off 00:32:10.339 --> 00:32:12.240 because your gifts 00:32:12.240 --> 00:32:12.899 and your talents 00:32:12.899 --> 00:32:13.720 aren't being used 00:32:13.720 --> 00:32:14.240 and helping us 00:32:14.240 --> 00:32:14.839 and there's some things 00:32:14.839 --> 00:32:15.519 you guys see 00:32:15.519 --> 00:32:16.379 that we don't even see 00:32:16.379 --> 00:32:16.859 and you're going, 00:32:17.240 --> 00:32:17.339 hey, 00:32:17.399 --> 00:32:18.159 we need to fix this 00:32:18.159 --> 00:32:18.519 and all of a sudden 00:32:18.519 --> 00:32:19.000 we see it, 00:32:19.039 --> 00:32:19.220 we go, 00:32:19.299 --> 00:32:19.399 yeah, 00:32:19.440 --> 00:32:19.720 you're right, 00:32:19.740 --> 00:32:20.619 we need to fix this 00:32:20.619 --> 00:32:22.740 but if you just come 00:32:22.740 --> 00:32:23.279 and go, 00:32:25.279 --> 00:32:26.139 we'll never see 00:32:26.139 --> 00:32:26.879 those things. 00:32:29.799 --> 00:32:30.659 As your friend, 00:32:30.660 --> 00:32:33.460 what I want to say to you 00:32:33.460 --> 00:32:35.720 is ultimately 00:32:35.720 --> 00:32:36.620 you're worse off. 00:32:40.019 --> 00:32:41.500 I have the incredible privilege 00:32:41.500 --> 00:32:42.620 of counseling people 00:32:42.620 --> 00:32:43.340 in this church 00:32:43.340 --> 00:32:44.140 and in Hong Kong 00:32:44.140 --> 00:32:45.400 probably more 00:32:45.400 --> 00:32:46.100 than I want to 00:32:46.100 --> 00:32:48.200 and one of the things 00:32:48.200 --> 00:32:48.779 I realize, 00:32:48.940 --> 00:32:49.740 especially as I counsel 00:32:49.740 --> 00:32:50.180 Christians, 00:32:50.340 --> 00:32:50.960 that there's a lot 00:32:50.960 --> 00:32:51.380 of Christians 00:32:51.380 --> 00:32:53.120 that feel dissatisfied 00:32:53.120 --> 00:32:55.340 and purposeless 00:32:55.340 --> 00:32:57.680 and not doing 00:32:57.680 --> 00:32:58.420 what they feel like 00:32:58.420 --> 00:32:59.560 God has called them to do. 00:33:01.220 --> 00:33:02.060 And what always 00:33:02.060 --> 00:33:02.800 comes back to me 00:33:02.800 --> 00:33:03.920 is there's a realization 00:33:03.920 --> 00:33:04.540 that they have been 00:33:04.540 --> 00:33:05.580 building their lives 00:33:05.580 --> 00:33:08.560 on a capstone, 00:33:09.340 --> 00:33:11.060 on a cornerstone, 00:33:11.660 --> 00:33:12.960 on a hope, 00:33:13.740 --> 00:33:15.140 on a truth 00:33:15.140 --> 00:33:17.300 that isn't Christ. 00:33:19.519 --> 00:33:20.019 And all of a sudden, 00:33:20.120 --> 00:33:21.259 20 years into their career 00:33:21.259 --> 00:33:22.040 or their marriage 00:33:22.040 --> 00:33:22.660 or their life, 00:33:22.740 --> 00:33:23.259 they look back 00:33:23.259 --> 00:33:23.860 at their life 00:33:23.860 --> 00:33:24.360 and the house 00:33:24.360 --> 00:33:24.980 that's being built 00:33:24.980 --> 00:33:25.500 and they feel 00:33:25.500 --> 00:33:27.060 very, very, very sad 00:33:27.060 --> 00:33:27.660 and disappointed. 00:33:27.660 --> 00:33:32.680 What Peter says here 00:33:32.680 --> 00:33:33.660 is the reason for that 00:33:33.660 --> 00:33:34.279 is because 00:33:34.279 --> 00:33:37.420 we've become so busy 00:33:37.420 --> 00:33:40.300 we forgot who we're 00:33:40.300 --> 00:33:40.840 building upon, 00:33:41.600 --> 00:33:43.840 who we are, 00:33:44.259 --> 00:33:44.940 what we do, 00:33:45.980 --> 00:33:46.640 why we do it. 00:33:46.980 --> 00:33:47.840 Why we do it's real easy. 00:33:48.620 --> 00:33:49.240 It's in the last part 00:33:49.240 --> 00:33:49.700 of the passage. 00:33:50.560 --> 00:33:51.279 It says this, 00:33:51.279 --> 00:33:52.660 you were once 00:33:52.660 --> 00:33:53.319 not a people, 00:33:54.319 --> 00:33:55.299 but now 00:33:55.299 --> 00:33:57.299 you are the people 00:33:57.299 --> 00:33:57.740 of God. 00:34:00.740 --> 00:34:02.279 You once had no mercy, 00:34:02.279 --> 00:34:04.920 but now 00:34:04.920 --> 00:34:08.219 God has given you 00:34:08.219 --> 00:34:08.840 mercy. 00:34:11.840 --> 00:34:12.539 Why do we do 00:34:12.539 --> 00:34:12.960 what we do? 00:34:15.440 --> 00:34:16.259 Because Jesus 00:34:16.259 --> 00:34:18.199 was his cornerstone 00:34:18.199 --> 00:34:20.420 and the passage says 00:34:20.420 --> 00:34:21.099 that he was deemed 00:34:21.099 --> 00:34:21.739 unworthy 00:34:21.739 --> 00:34:23.719 so people threw him away. 00:34:24.539 --> 00:34:25.840 They hung him on a cross. 00:34:26.880 --> 00:34:27.440 He died 00:34:27.440 --> 00:34:29.460 for you and me 00:34:29.460 --> 00:34:31.460 so that we might 00:34:31.460 --> 00:34:32.820 lay on this foundation 00:34:32.820 --> 00:34:36.179 and receive life. 00:34:40.099 --> 00:34:41.139 That's why we do it. 00:34:43.840 --> 00:34:44.860 We do it because 00:34:44.860 --> 00:34:45.619 we have a Savior 00:34:45.619 --> 00:34:46.840 who is deemed 00:34:46.840 --> 00:34:47.460 unworthy, 00:34:48.159 --> 00:34:48.699 unlovable, 00:34:49.699 --> 00:34:51.159 not good. 00:34:52.099 --> 00:34:53.019 He was discarded 00:34:53.019 --> 00:34:54.460 and in his discarding 00:34:55.000 --> 00:34:56.559 he brings us life. 00:34:56.559 --> 00:34:59.699 He brings us hope. 00:35:01.739 --> 00:35:02.860 Hope when we get old. 00:35:04.480 --> 00:35:05.400 Hope when we become 00:35:05.400 --> 00:35:06.079 nearsighted. 00:35:07.159 --> 00:35:08.039 Hope when we lose 00:35:08.039 --> 00:35:08.559 our memory. 00:35:09.799 --> 00:35:10.380 Hope in whatever 00:35:10.380 --> 00:35:11.380 happens in our life. 00:35:12.960 --> 00:35:13.659 That's why we're 00:35:13.659 --> 00:35:14.139 God's people.