WEBVTT

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 Good morning. The scripture reading this morning comes from Romans chapter 12.

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 Please follow along on the screen, the bulletin, or your own Bible.

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 Starting in verse 1 we read,

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 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God,

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 to present your bodies as a living sacrifice,

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 holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

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 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,

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 that by testing you may discern what is the will of God,

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 what is good and acceptable and perfect.

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 Then in verse 9 we read,

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 Let love be genuine.

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 Abhor what is evil.

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 Hope fast to what is good.

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 Love one another with brotherly affection.

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 Outdo one another in showing honor.

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 Do not be slothful in zeal.

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 Be fervent in spirit.

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 Serve the Lord.

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 Rejoice in hope.

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 Be patient in tribulation.

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 Be constant in prayer.

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 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

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 This is the word of God.

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 Amen.

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 Thank you so much, Angeline.

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 Welcome again.

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 My name is Chris, if you don't know me.

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 And if you're here for the baptism as well, you're just super welcome.

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 Really, really excited that you can join us this morning.

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 Let me just pray for us as we begin to look into God's word.

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 Father, thank you that whatever week we've had, wherever we come from, however our circumstances, you are still God.

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 Lord, I pray that you're the one who loves us.

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 And you're the one who is with us.

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 And you're the one who is faithful.

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 And you're the one who never lets us go.

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 And Lord, I pray that this morning you would speak to us.

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 I pray, Lord, even as we celebrate the baptism later, we would just remember your goodness.

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 And the fact that you are the one who does immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine.

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 Lord, fill our hearts with a real deep hope in you.

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 So that we can be a people who don't just say the right things, but live with a real deep confidence in the mercies of God in our lives.

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 We pray this morning you'd open our ears to hear your word.

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 I pray that you would just speak through me, but I pray your spirit would take your word and just bury it into our hearts, we pray.

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 In Jesus' name.

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 Amen.

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 Great.

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 The Washington Post, they had an article a few years ago which headline was,

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 Too Many Celebrities, Not Enough Heroes.

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 And as I read the article, Fiona was just talking to me this week, telling me about in Hong Kong there is this new sensational boy band called Mirror.

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 Does anyone know Mirror?

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 Okay, there's a few fans out here.

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 Well, you can find out from them.

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 And she was telling me that many husbands have started complaining that they've lost their wives to infatuation with members of this boy band.

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 This is what you might call celebrity love.

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 It's a kind of love which is based on appearances.

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 It's based on feelings and attractions.

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 But it's superficial.

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 You don't actually know what they're like.

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 It's a mirage.

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 It's celebrity love.

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 But then there is another kind of love which I like to call heroic love.

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 It's the kind of love where heroes are willing to lay down their lives for others in the hard realities of life.

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 They're ordinary, not glamorous.

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 They're sacrificial, not self-focused.

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 They're purpose-driven, not feeling-driven.

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 You know, it's the kind of love of parents for their children, not fans for their celebrities.

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 And the book of Romans, which we've been going through over the last few weeks,

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 and Paul, the apostle who's been writing it, has been painting this picture of Jesus as the ultimate heroic lover.

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 However, his sacrificial love for us goes beyond all other heroes that we might have.

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 While we were not just friends of God, but even enemies of God,

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 he came and died for us, sacrificing his life for us.

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 To bring us back, to reconcile us into the relationship we were always made for with the creator God.

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 And to draw us into his family.

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 And to bring us to be part of a cosmic redemption story that God is writing, even right now.

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 And all of this, Paul has been saying, we receive by faith.

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 It's not by being religious.

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 It's not by being moral.

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 It's a gift of grace to us.

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 It's by the mercies of God.

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 And Paul has then said, in the light of this, his family, the church,

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 in the light of his mercies and empowered by his mercies,

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 are to live and to reflect that same love, to be a community, not of celebrity love,

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 but of heroic love like Jesus' love.

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 A love that doesn't just look nice on the outside, but is genuine,

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 even in, excuse me, genuine in whatever circumstances we go through.

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 It's a heroic love like Jesus.

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 And last week, we looked, we began to see how Paul starts in verse 9,

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 he says, let love be genuine.

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 And then he goes through and tells us what this love begins to look like.

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 It's a love that hates evil.

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 It loves good.

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 It's a love that is honoring other people before ourselves.

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 It's a love that is fervent, self-forgetful, serving God in every area of our lives.

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 But as you think about those things that he's been telling us in verses 9 through to 11,

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 you can actually do a lot of those things when life's going okay,

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 when the seas are calm.

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 But today's passage, where we're going to look particularly at verses 12 and 13,

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 is about how do you love when life gets tough,

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 when the waves are crashing against the boat of your life.

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 How do you be in a community of ordinary heroic love at that point?

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 And so I'm going to go through two points,

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 which are basically the two verses that we're going to look at.

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 The first point is hope in turbulence.

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 And the second is hope that fuels love.

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 So let's look at hope in turbulence.

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 And just have your bulletin looking at those two particular verses.

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 So verse 9 has said,

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 let love be genuine.

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 And now in verse 12, he tells you another way that love can be genuine.

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 He says,

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 And the middle command of that,

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 being patient in tribulation,

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 tells you that the context for this is painful,

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 it's messy,

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 and the kind of love that we're to show,

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 is not just when everything's going well.

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 Because the word tribulation in scripture

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 actually has a lot of different meanings of

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 the way different kinds of suffering can come.

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 It can mean persecution.

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 It can mean financial hardship.

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 It can mean heartache at the decisions of other people.

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 It can mean even childbirth.

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 So it can mean all kinds of suffering that we experience in this world.

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 And when he says be patient,

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 be patient, that's actually the word for to endure.

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 It means, you know,

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 it's kind of like the image of a speaker who's speaking,

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 and they're just getting heckled,

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 and people throwing things at them,

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 and they just keep going in spite of everything being thrown at them.

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 They continue, and they just keep going,

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 no matter how many tomatoes are thrown at them.

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 They endure.

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 They persevere.

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 They continue.

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 It's what, you know,

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 1 Corinthians tells us,

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 love perseveres.

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 It doesn't back down when the going gets tough.

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 It keeps to its commitments and its promises.

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 But how does it do that?

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 Well, this is where the first and the last of that trio of commands shows us.

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 So the first one is rejoice in hope,

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 and I'm going to spend a bit more time on this one.

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 Because I don't know what you think about the word hope,

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 but hope is actually vital for life.

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 Hope is actually a desire for heaven.

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 I don't know if you realize that,

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 because hope is a desire for a better world,

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 for a better life,

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 for a better future.

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 That's what hope is.

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 Hope is what gets you out of bed in the morning,

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 thinking that you could be different,

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 your life could be different,

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 or you can make a difference in the world in some way.

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 You know,

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 I hoped that England would win last week,

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 so I got up at 3 a.m.

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 I never do that.

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 I am still hoping that that might happen in the future.

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 But when people lose hope,

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 like England supporters often do,

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 or like actually a lot of young people in Hong Kong have,

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 right,

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 what happens is you give up.

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 You get depressed.

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 You lose the joy of life when you have no hope.

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 And so secular hope,

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 the hope out there,

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 is actually looking for heaven on earth now.

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 You're looking for it in promotion,

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 or in early retirement,

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 or in a comfortable life,

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 or in a great body.

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 That's why you go to the gym all the time.

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 But Christian hope is actually different from all of that.

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 So let me explore what Christian hope is.

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 Romans 5 says,

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 we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

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 That's an amazing statement.

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 That's a statement that should get Christians out of bed every morning

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 with a sense of purpose.

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 Because Christian hope is that you and I were made

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 for a personal relationship

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 with the glorious, majestic creator of the universe.

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 And every believer who puts their trust in him,

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 you can experience that relationship even right now with him.

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 But right now, if you're a Christian,

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 you know that a relationship with God

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 is still a little bit like being on Zoom.

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 It's real,

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 but there's something not quite all there.

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 Right?

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 There's something missing.

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 But the hope of the glory of God

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 is one day,

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 that even though we see glimpses of his glory,

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 though we experience the realness of his relationship right now,

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 one day,

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 you won't be on Zoom with him,

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 you'll see him face to face.

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 In his majestic beauty and majesty.

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 I mean, just look at the sunset,

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 look at the stars,

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 and those are just a glimpse

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 of the majesty of who he is.

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 And scripture says,

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 when you see the glory of God,

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 then you and I will be home.

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 Because he is actually the place

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 where every desire and every longing

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 that you have ever had

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 is ultimately satisfied.

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 Because he and we were made for him.

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 We have hope that we will see the glory of God.

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 But not only that,

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 Paul also says,

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 don't we all know deep down

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 that there's something in us

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 that's not what we should be?

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 Right?

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 We know that we're not all that we want to be.

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 And we know that this world

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 is not all that it should be.

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 And the hope of the glory of God

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 is like the Japanese art of kintsugi.

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 Do you know kintsugi?

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 Well, you know,

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 where they take this broken pottery

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 and what they do,

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 they put it together with gold.

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 You've got a picture of it.

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 I think there's a picture here.

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 And they put it together with gold.

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 So actually what gets happened is

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 the brokenness gets transformed

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 into this glorious masterpiece.

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 And so what God is saying,

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 he will not only transform our broken lives

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 from shame into glory

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 so that we reflect his loving,

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 perfect kindness and graciousness,

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 but this world will also be freed

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 from all the stuff you see on the news

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 of the suffering,

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 of the injustice,

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 of the exploitation,

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 of the pain.

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 And some of you feel that pain today.

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 And he says,

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 there will be a time

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 where there will be no more tears.

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 There will be no more pain

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 because we will be home

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 with the one who created us.

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 Heaven on earth.

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 We have a hope in a good God

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 who regrets glory out of brokenness.

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 That is what Christian hope is.

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 And you might say,

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 well, I hope that's true.

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 But you know when we say I hope,

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 generally that's just kind of a wish, right?

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 It's like, I hope England will win.

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 Like, good chance.

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 It's not a certainty.

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 But when the Bible talks about hope,

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 it's saying three things.

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 First thing it's saying,

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 hope is certain for Christians.

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 Romans tells us,

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 hope does not disappoint us

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 because God's poured his love

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 into our hearts.

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 You know,

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 every hope you have placed in this world

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 can be taken away from you.

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 But Christian hope

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 is a hope outside of this world.

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 And it's in the safe hands of God.

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 And do you know what?

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 God's never let go.

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 God can never let you down.

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 It cannot be taken away

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 by COVID or an economic crisis

00:15:00.639 --> 00:15:02.360
 because God's bigger than all of that.

00:15:02.360 --> 00:15:05.379
 And so it's a bit like this.

00:15:06.240 --> 00:15:06.399
 You know,

00:15:06.840 --> 00:15:07.960
 secular hope

00:15:07.960 --> 00:15:09.200
 is like,

00:15:09.440 --> 00:15:11.360
 did you see those flights to nowhere

00:15:11.360 --> 00:15:12.300
 during COVID?

00:15:13.580 --> 00:15:13.800
 Right?

00:15:13.899 --> 00:15:15.180
 Where basically

00:15:15.180 --> 00:15:17.180
 there is no destination.

00:15:17.680 --> 00:15:19.240
 The whole purpose of the flight

00:15:19.240 --> 00:15:20.120
 is to get on the flight

00:15:20.120 --> 00:15:21.120
 and just enjoy the ride

00:15:21.120 --> 00:15:22.200
 and then come back down again.

00:15:22.940 --> 00:15:23.180
 Okay?

00:15:24.340 --> 00:15:25.300
 Now imagine

00:15:25.300 --> 00:15:27.460
 if you've bought business class tickets.

00:15:28.259 --> 00:15:29.600
 It's been a hard few months.

00:15:29.600 --> 00:15:30.639
 You want to relax.

00:15:31.399 --> 00:15:32.820
 You want to watch some movies.

00:15:32.960 --> 00:15:33.920
 Just get away from it all.

00:15:34.680 --> 00:15:34.920
 Okay?

00:15:35.759 --> 00:15:36.500
 Good idea.

00:15:37.060 --> 00:15:37.960
 So you take off.

00:15:38.019 --> 00:15:38.560
 Everything's great.

00:15:38.639 --> 00:15:40.019
 You start watching your favorite movie.

00:15:40.279 --> 00:15:41.040
 You're just getting

00:15:41.040 --> 00:15:42.259
 to the really good scene

00:15:42.259 --> 00:15:44.480
 and then the entertainment system stops.

00:15:45.500 --> 00:15:45.940
 Freezes.

00:15:46.620 --> 00:15:47.080
 And you're like,

00:15:47.139 --> 00:15:48.159
 oh my goodness me.

00:15:48.980 --> 00:15:49.879
 You're mad.

00:15:50.540 --> 00:15:50.779
 And you're like,

00:15:50.800 --> 00:15:51.019
 oh,

00:15:51.120 --> 00:15:52.279
 it's just that good scene.

00:15:52.940 --> 00:15:53.620
 But then

00:15:53.620 --> 00:15:55.200
 as you try and desperately

00:15:55.200 --> 00:15:55.899
 try and get someone

00:15:55.899 --> 00:15:56.820
 to fix the issue

00:15:56.820 --> 00:15:58.160
 and it takes some time

00:15:58.160 --> 00:15:58.720
 because they're busy

00:15:58.720 --> 00:15:59.640
 with everybody else

00:15:59.640 --> 00:16:00.040
 but then

00:16:00.040 --> 00:16:02.160
 after 30 minutes of frustration

00:16:02.160 --> 00:16:03.020
 and they just tell you

00:16:03.020 --> 00:16:03.240
 sorry,

00:16:03.300 --> 00:16:03.900
 it's not working

00:16:03.900 --> 00:16:04.160
 you go,

00:16:04.280 --> 00:16:04.480
 okay.

00:16:05.660 --> 00:16:06.940
 Let me try and get some sleep.

00:16:07.620 --> 00:16:08.660
 I need a bit of rest.

00:16:09.240 --> 00:16:10.640
 So you just start nodding off

00:16:10.640 --> 00:16:13.820
 and then turbulence hits

00:16:13.820 --> 00:16:16.940
 and it's really bad turbulence.

00:16:17.960 --> 00:16:19.040
 Have you seen that turbulence?

00:16:19.540 --> 00:16:19.620
 You,

00:16:19.840 --> 00:16:20.860
 where everyone around you,

00:16:20.880 --> 00:16:21.780
 you know when you've been in turbulence

00:16:21.780 --> 00:16:22.580
 and it's like this

00:16:22.580 --> 00:16:23.360
 and it goes on

00:16:23.360 --> 00:16:24.160
 not just for one minute

00:16:24.160 --> 00:16:25.000
 but it's two minutes,

00:16:25.080 --> 00:16:25.560
 five minutes,

00:16:25.660 --> 00:16:26.180
 ten minutes

00:16:26.179 --> 00:16:27.559
 and everyone's panicking.

00:16:27.679 --> 00:16:28.559
 Everyone thinks the plane's

00:16:28.559 --> 00:16:29.199
 going to go down.

00:16:31.319 --> 00:16:32.239
 That's what actually

00:16:32.239 --> 00:16:33.439
 a secular hope is like

00:16:33.439 --> 00:16:33.879
 because

00:16:33.879 --> 00:16:35.779
 in a flight to nowhere

00:16:35.779 --> 00:16:37.299
 all your hopes,

00:16:37.439 --> 00:16:38.019
 whatever you're putting

00:16:38.019 --> 00:16:38.759
 your life on

00:16:38.759 --> 00:16:39.859
 can be taken away

00:16:39.859 --> 00:16:40.679
 from you

00:16:40.679 --> 00:16:41.799
 in one instance

00:16:41.799 --> 00:16:42.620
 of tribulation.

00:16:44.479 --> 00:16:44.919
 Money,

00:16:45.239 --> 00:16:45.620
 jobs,

00:16:45.879 --> 00:16:46.359
 relationships,

00:16:46.879 --> 00:16:47.699
 it's all uncertain.

00:16:49.399 --> 00:16:50.539
 But Christian hope

00:16:50.539 --> 00:16:51.039
 is different.

00:16:51.279 --> 00:16:52.179
 It's a different flight.

00:16:53.039 --> 00:16:53.839
 It's a flight

00:16:53.839 --> 00:16:54.740
 with a destination.

00:16:55.179 --> 00:16:55.359
 You know,

00:16:55.399 --> 00:16:56.159
 like the Maldives.

00:16:56.179 --> 00:16:57.179
 It's actually

00:16:57.179 --> 00:16:57.899
 a destination

00:16:57.899 --> 00:16:59.199
 to the glory of God.

00:17:00.299 --> 00:17:01.899
 And if everything's smooth

00:17:01.899 --> 00:17:02.479
 in life,

00:17:02.559 --> 00:17:03.419
 we enjoy the flight.

00:17:03.559 --> 00:17:04.539
 We enjoy the blessings

00:17:04.539 --> 00:17:05.559
 God gives us.

00:17:06.259 --> 00:17:07.919
 But if turbulence hits,

00:17:09.299 --> 00:17:10.460
 it's unpleasant.

00:17:10.819 --> 00:17:11.539
 We don't kind of

00:17:11.539 --> 00:17:12.980
 love the turbulence

00:17:12.980 --> 00:17:14.559
 but it doesn't crush us

00:17:14.559 --> 00:17:15.980
 because our hope

00:17:15.980 --> 00:17:17.279
 isn't on the flight,

00:17:17.379 --> 00:17:18.359
 it's in the destination.

00:17:20.319 --> 00:17:21.059
 You see,

00:17:21.559 --> 00:17:22.659
 nothing can take away

00:17:22.659 --> 00:17:23.179
 this hope

00:17:23.180 --> 00:17:23.920
 because the fact

00:17:23.920 --> 00:17:25.460
 that Jesus died

00:17:25.460 --> 00:17:27.320
 and rose again

00:17:27.320 --> 00:17:28.539
 from the dead

00:17:28.539 --> 00:17:29.900
 means for Christians

00:17:29.900 --> 00:17:30.720
 the Christian plane

00:17:30.720 --> 00:17:31.759
 will not crash.

00:17:33.560 --> 00:17:34.299
 Then there's one

00:17:34.299 --> 00:17:35.539
 who's waiting for us

00:17:35.539 --> 00:17:36.840
 at the airport

00:17:36.840 --> 00:17:38.620
 who's going to welcome us.

00:17:38.680 --> 00:17:39.180
 It's our lover

00:17:39.180 --> 00:17:39.820
 and our saviour,

00:17:39.900 --> 00:17:40.660
 Jesus Christ.

00:17:41.019 --> 00:17:42.420
 The one who's sacrificed

00:17:42.420 --> 00:17:44.160
 his entire life for us.

00:17:44.840 --> 00:17:45.779
 And whether the flight

00:17:45.779 --> 00:17:46.320
 is smooth

00:17:46.320 --> 00:17:47.080
 or whether the flight

00:17:47.080 --> 00:17:47.799
 is tough,

00:17:47.799 --> 00:17:49.180
 all of it

00:17:49.180 --> 00:17:49.859
 is actually still

00:17:49.859 --> 00:17:50.359
 getting you

00:17:50.359 --> 00:17:51.480
 towards the destination.

00:17:53.680 --> 00:17:54.240
 You know,

00:17:54.319 --> 00:17:55.960
 I know from personal experience

00:17:55.960 --> 00:17:57.539
 in the face of death,

00:17:57.879 --> 00:18:00.019
 there's no greater certainty

00:18:00.019 --> 00:18:02.720
 than a resurrected saviour

00:18:02.720 --> 00:18:03.579
 who you know

00:18:03.579 --> 00:18:04.720
 has already gone before you

00:18:04.720 --> 00:18:05.740
 and is waiting for you.

00:18:06.639 --> 00:18:07.839
 That's Christian hope.

00:18:07.919 --> 00:18:08.460
 It's certain.

00:18:09.519 --> 00:18:10.339
 But Christian hope

00:18:10.339 --> 00:18:11.139
 is not just certain,

00:18:11.220 --> 00:18:12.919
 it's also transformational.

00:18:13.419 --> 00:18:14.579
 Because what does Paul say?

00:18:14.579 --> 00:18:15.299
 He says,

00:18:15.679 --> 00:18:18.240
 we rejoice in hope.

00:18:19.819 --> 00:18:20.699
 Now just think about

00:18:20.699 --> 00:18:23.539
 how you rejoice in a baby.

00:18:24.099 --> 00:18:25.659
 We had one four months ago.

00:18:26.799 --> 00:18:27.599
 And so what happens is

00:18:27.599 --> 00:18:29.059
 you spend time,

00:18:29.159 --> 00:18:30.679
 you gaze at your child

00:18:30.679 --> 00:18:31.279
 in the cot

00:18:31.279 --> 00:18:32.199
 kind of longingly

00:18:32.199 --> 00:18:32.439
 going,

00:18:32.579 --> 00:18:33.639
 wow, isn't she amazing?

00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:35.659
 You show everybody your baby

00:18:35.659 --> 00:18:36.740
 and then other people say,

00:18:36.799 --> 00:18:37.599
 oh, isn't she lovely?

00:18:37.859 --> 00:18:38.799
 And you do all of that

00:18:38.799 --> 00:18:40.199
 and you post a gazillion photos

00:18:40.199 --> 00:18:42.359
 on Instagram and Facebook.

00:18:42.519 --> 00:18:43.220
 You talk about her

00:18:43.220 --> 00:18:44.279
 all the time to everyone.

00:18:44.279 --> 00:18:44.960
 You go, oh,

00:18:45.059 --> 00:18:46.220
 she farted today.

00:18:46.299 --> 00:18:46.920
 It was amazing.

00:18:47.160 --> 00:18:48.019
 You do all of these

00:18:48.019 --> 00:18:48.879
 kind of things.

00:18:49.639 --> 00:18:51.019
 You rejoice in your baby.

00:18:52.519 --> 00:18:54.339
 How do you rejoice in hope?

00:18:55.079 --> 00:18:55.980
 Well, you rehearse

00:18:55.980 --> 00:18:56.839
 and you gaze

00:18:56.839 --> 00:18:57.799
 and you talk about

00:18:57.799 --> 00:18:59.539
 the hope you have

00:18:59.539 --> 00:19:00.720
 to yourself

00:19:00.720 --> 00:19:01.539
 and in community

00:19:01.539 --> 00:19:03.220
 we remind each other of that.

00:19:03.799 --> 00:19:05.759
 Because if drawing close to Jesus

00:19:05.759 --> 00:19:07.240
 and being transformed

00:19:07.240 --> 00:19:08.160
 to be like him

00:19:08.160 --> 00:19:09.099
 is our hope,

00:19:09.539 --> 00:19:10.899
 then we know that actually

00:19:10.899 --> 00:19:12.059
 the trials

00:19:12.059 --> 00:19:12.819
 and the turbulence

00:19:12.819 --> 00:19:14.139
 we go through right now

00:19:14.140 --> 00:19:14.880
 are actually

00:19:14.880 --> 00:19:16.540
 the refining fire

00:19:16.540 --> 00:19:17.320
 which is actually

00:19:17.320 --> 00:19:18.360
 drawing us

00:19:18.360 --> 00:19:19.180
 and shaping us

00:19:19.180 --> 00:19:20.040
 towards that goal

00:19:20.040 --> 00:19:20.759
 even today.

00:19:22.400 --> 00:19:22.840
 You know,

00:19:22.940 --> 00:19:25.460
 I have a stomach condition

00:19:25.460 --> 00:19:26.360
 which reoccurs

00:19:26.360 --> 00:19:27.320
 from time to time.

00:19:28.220 --> 00:19:28.660
 And you know

00:19:28.660 --> 00:19:29.960
 when you just feel rough,

00:19:30.220 --> 00:19:31.880
 you don't feel like rejoicing at all,

00:19:32.020 --> 00:19:32.380
 do you?

00:19:33.660 --> 00:19:35.140
 And you actually feel like

00:19:35.140 --> 00:19:36.140
 having a pity party.

00:19:36.600 --> 00:19:37.560
 Oh, woe is me.

00:19:38.500 --> 00:19:40.179
 But rejoicing in hope

00:19:40.179 --> 00:19:41.859
 means right at those moments

00:19:41.859 --> 00:19:43.859
 what God is trying to teach me

00:19:43.859 --> 00:19:44.720
 and is what God wants

00:19:44.720 --> 00:19:45.659
 to teach all of us

00:19:45.659 --> 00:19:46.659
 who really know

00:19:46.659 --> 00:19:47.559
 what it is to go through

00:19:47.559 --> 00:19:48.720
 turbulence in these times

00:19:48.720 --> 00:19:50.579
 is that we load

00:19:50.579 --> 00:19:52.079
 our gospel shotgun

00:19:52.079 --> 00:19:53.559
 with the promises of God.

00:19:54.379 --> 00:19:55.259
 That right now

00:19:55.259 --> 00:19:56.419
 I have Christ in me

00:19:56.419 --> 00:19:57.460
 the hope of glory.

00:19:57.879 --> 00:19:59.379
 That I can do all things

00:19:59.379 --> 00:20:00.000
 through Christ

00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:01.099
 who gives me strength.

00:20:01.240 --> 00:20:02.720
 That he is renewing me

00:20:02.720 --> 00:20:03.839
 and transforming me

00:20:03.839 --> 00:20:05.179
 from one degree of glory

00:20:05.180 --> 00:20:06.759
 to another right now

00:20:06.759 --> 00:20:07.519
 in this moment.

00:20:08.500 --> 00:20:09.539
 And as I rehearse

00:20:09.539 --> 00:20:10.180
 that scripture

00:20:10.180 --> 00:20:11.140
 and other people

00:20:11.140 --> 00:20:11.779
 in the community

00:20:11.779 --> 00:20:13.140
 remind me of the hope

00:20:13.140 --> 00:20:13.740
 that we have.

00:20:13.820 --> 00:20:14.580
 Do you know what happens?

00:20:17.640 --> 00:20:18.120
 Immediately,

00:20:18.640 --> 00:20:19.620
 not a lot.

00:20:20.840 --> 00:20:21.640
 But actually

00:20:21.640 --> 00:20:22.440
 as I battle

00:20:22.440 --> 00:20:23.160
 and I wrestle

00:20:23.160 --> 00:20:25.940
 hope rises

00:20:25.940 --> 00:20:28.000
 and I discover

00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:29.500
 God in new ways

00:20:29.500 --> 00:20:30.160
 that I never thought

00:20:30.160 --> 00:20:30.720
 were possible.

00:20:31.940 --> 00:20:32.980
 And he gives me

00:20:32.980 --> 00:20:33.640
 the strength

00:20:33.640 --> 00:20:34.900
 to persevere

00:20:34.900 --> 00:20:36.620
 in the midst of them.

00:20:37.160 --> 00:20:37.920
 And my soul

00:20:37.920 --> 00:20:39.400
 actually finds joy

00:20:39.400 --> 00:20:41.500
 even in those hard moments

00:20:41.500 --> 00:20:43.560
 because there is a purpose

00:20:43.560 --> 00:20:45.420
 and I have a certain hope

00:20:45.420 --> 00:20:46.140
 at that moment

00:20:46.140 --> 00:20:47.360
 and he is beginning

00:20:47.360 --> 00:20:48.580
 to transform me

00:20:48.580 --> 00:20:49.720
 and transform us

00:20:49.720 --> 00:20:52.100
 right at that place

00:20:52.100 --> 00:20:53.460
 towards the hope

00:20:53.460 --> 00:20:54.620
 that he has for us.

00:20:56.440 --> 00:20:56.759
 You see,

00:20:56.860 --> 00:20:58.000
 hope is not just certain.

00:20:58.160 --> 00:20:58.880
 Hope is also

00:20:58.880 --> 00:21:00.240
 transformational.

00:21:02.320 --> 00:21:03.600
 But the third thing

00:21:03.599 --> 00:21:04.740
 that Christian hope is,

00:21:05.399 --> 00:21:06.719
 it's also personal.

00:21:09.099 --> 00:21:09.319
 And

00:21:09.319 --> 00:21:11.399
 because though it's not,

00:21:11.539 --> 00:21:12.959
 it's a certain destination,

00:21:13.819 --> 00:21:14.919
 Paul actually says

00:21:14.919 --> 00:21:17.000
 be constant

00:21:17.000 --> 00:21:18.740
 in prayer.

00:21:20.419 --> 00:21:21.019
 You know,

00:21:21.079 --> 00:21:22.240
 prayer is communicating

00:21:22.240 --> 00:21:22.819
 with God.

00:21:24.039 --> 00:21:25.059
 Constant means

00:21:25.059 --> 00:21:26.459
 stubbornly,

00:21:26.819 --> 00:21:27.619
 persistently,

00:21:27.779 --> 00:21:29.059
 in a disciplined way,

00:21:29.399 --> 00:21:30.000
 carrying on

00:21:30.000 --> 00:21:30.659
 and doing it.

00:21:30.660 --> 00:21:31.320
 You know,

00:21:31.360 --> 00:21:32.240
 the early disciples

00:21:32.240 --> 00:21:33.400
 met constantly

00:21:33.400 --> 00:21:34.340
 in the temple

00:21:34.340 --> 00:21:35.640
 in the book of Acts.

00:21:35.759 --> 00:21:36.560
 It's a regular,

00:21:36.900 --> 00:21:38.400
 habitual discipline.

00:21:39.120 --> 00:21:40.600
 Like talking to your wife,

00:21:40.880 --> 00:21:41.259
 actually.

00:21:42.120 --> 00:21:43.519
 For a healthy relationship,

00:21:43.920 --> 00:21:44.380
 communication

00:21:44.380 --> 00:21:45.740
 needs to be

00:21:45.740 --> 00:21:46.500
 constant,

00:21:46.820 --> 00:21:47.100
 right?

00:21:47.460 --> 00:21:48.519
 Regular habit.

00:21:49.900 --> 00:21:51.200
 But here's the point.

00:21:52.940 --> 00:21:53.700
 In turbulence,

00:21:54.460 --> 00:21:55.460
 if your hope

00:21:55.460 --> 00:21:55.880
 is getting

00:21:55.880 --> 00:21:57.100
 the entertainment system

00:21:57.100 --> 00:21:57.840
 of your life

00:21:57.840 --> 00:21:58.960
 fixed and working,

00:21:58.960 --> 00:22:01.620
 you'll get stressed

00:22:01.620 --> 00:22:02.940
 just trying to

00:22:02.940 --> 00:22:03.920
 get it all to work.

00:22:04.140 --> 00:22:05.039
 You'll get frustrated.

00:22:06.500 --> 00:22:07.680
 When all along,

00:22:08.240 --> 00:22:08.680
 there's someone

00:22:08.680 --> 00:22:09.900
 who's sitting next to you

00:22:09.900 --> 00:22:11.000
 on the flight,

00:22:11.460 --> 00:22:12.799
 but he's not just

00:22:12.799 --> 00:22:13.759
 an ordinary passenger.

00:22:14.740 --> 00:22:15.880
 He's God himself.

00:22:16.579 --> 00:22:17.380
 He's the one

00:22:17.380 --> 00:22:17.960
 who is

00:22:17.960 --> 00:22:18.860
 the pilot

00:22:18.860 --> 00:22:19.720
 of the plane,

00:22:20.100 --> 00:22:20.880
 but he's also

00:22:20.880 --> 00:22:21.259
 the one

00:22:21.259 --> 00:22:21.799
 who's owned

00:22:21.799 --> 00:22:22.319
 and designed

00:22:22.319 --> 00:22:22.920
 the aircraft.

00:22:24.079 --> 00:22:24.559
 And

00:22:24.559 --> 00:22:25.500
 he's the one

00:22:25.500 --> 00:22:25.980
 who created

00:22:25.980 --> 00:22:26.400
 the laws

00:22:26.400 --> 00:22:27.279
 of thermodynamics.

00:22:27.279 --> 00:22:29.519
 and he's the one

00:22:29.519 --> 00:22:31.440
 who's holding up

00:22:31.440 --> 00:22:32.619
 the plane of your life

00:22:32.619 --> 00:22:33.299
 right now.

00:22:34.200 --> 00:22:35.799
 And if he is with you,

00:22:36.619 --> 00:22:38.019
 if he is with you,

00:22:38.859 --> 00:22:40.160
 then that means

00:22:40.160 --> 00:22:42.160
 you don't just have

00:22:42.160 --> 00:22:42.700
 an abstract,

00:22:42.980 --> 00:22:43.720
 distant hope

00:22:43.720 --> 00:22:44.720
 somewhere over there.

00:22:45.440 --> 00:22:47.220
 You have a present place

00:22:47.220 --> 00:22:48.160
 where you can run.

00:22:48.519 --> 00:22:49.500
 You have a place

00:22:49.500 --> 00:22:50.480
 where you can cry.

00:22:50.819 --> 00:22:51.519
 You have a place

00:22:51.519 --> 00:22:52.180
 where you can find

00:22:52.180 --> 00:22:53.440
 refuge and strength

00:22:53.440 --> 00:22:54.379
 no matter how hard

00:22:54.379 --> 00:22:55.180
 it is for you,

00:22:55.440 --> 00:22:56.399
 even right now.

00:22:56.400 --> 00:22:59.840
 because he

00:22:59.840 --> 00:23:01.080
 is not abstract.

00:23:01.360 --> 00:23:02.240
 He is a person,

00:23:02.960 --> 00:23:03.759
 Jesus Christ,

00:23:03.860 --> 00:23:04.380
 with you.

00:23:06.540 --> 00:23:06.900
 You see,

00:23:07.000 --> 00:23:08.060
 constant prayer

00:23:08.060 --> 00:23:10.200
 is an obligation

00:23:10.200 --> 00:23:10.960
 for Christians

00:23:10.960 --> 00:23:12.259
 just like breathing

00:23:12.259 --> 00:23:13.400
 is an obligation

00:23:13.400 --> 00:23:14.960
 for human beings.

00:23:16.960 --> 00:23:17.700
 You see,

00:23:17.820 --> 00:23:18.540
 in the turbulence,

00:23:19.740 --> 00:23:20.980
 we don't just need

00:23:20.980 --> 00:23:21.560
 a solution.

00:23:22.360 --> 00:23:23.560
 We need a person

00:23:23.560 --> 00:23:24.400
 to cling to.

00:23:24.400 --> 00:23:26.160
 And in prayer,

00:23:26.300 --> 00:23:26.780
 what we do

00:23:26.780 --> 00:23:27.840
 is we turn to Jesus

00:23:27.840 --> 00:23:29.580
 and we remember,

00:23:29.700 --> 00:23:30.019
 he says,

00:23:30.100 --> 00:23:31.240
 I'm with you always.

00:23:31.820 --> 00:23:32.440
 I'll get you

00:23:32.440 --> 00:23:33.400
 to the destination.

00:23:34.460 --> 00:23:35.640
 I've got this.

00:23:36.720 --> 00:23:37.240
 I don't know

00:23:37.240 --> 00:23:37.640
 what you're going

00:23:37.640 --> 00:23:38.360
 through right now,

00:23:38.440 --> 00:23:38.980
 but some of you

00:23:38.980 --> 00:23:39.660
 need to hear

00:23:39.660 --> 00:23:40.540
 him saying,

00:23:40.759 --> 00:23:41.500
 run to me

00:23:41.500 --> 00:23:42.560
 because I want you

00:23:42.560 --> 00:23:43.259
 to experience

00:23:43.259 --> 00:23:43.820
 the fact that

00:23:43.820 --> 00:23:44.640
 I have got

00:23:44.640 --> 00:23:45.540
 your situation

00:23:45.540 --> 00:23:46.240
 right now.

00:23:46.880 --> 00:23:48.400
 You can trust me.

00:23:48.400 --> 00:23:51.880
 because he knows

00:23:51.880 --> 00:23:52.860
 how the plane works

00:23:52.860 --> 00:23:53.800
 even when we have

00:23:53.800 --> 00:23:54.340
 no idea.

00:23:57.000 --> 00:23:57.680
 He says,

00:23:57.780 --> 00:23:58.720
 rejoice in hope,

00:23:59.259 --> 00:23:59.820
 be patient

00:23:59.820 --> 00:24:00.640
 in tribulation,

00:24:00.960 --> 00:24:01.840
 be constant

00:24:01.840 --> 00:24:02.759
 in prayer.

00:24:03.340 --> 00:24:03.980
 And by the way,

00:24:04.019 --> 00:24:04.780
 if you are struggling

00:24:04.780 --> 00:24:05.220
 right now,

00:24:05.259 --> 00:24:06.060
 don't go it alone.

00:24:07.060 --> 00:24:07.740
 Come and speak

00:24:07.740 --> 00:24:08.580
 to one of us,

00:24:08.640 --> 00:24:09.060
 myself,

00:24:09.180 --> 00:24:09.940
 a CG member,

00:24:10.640 --> 00:24:12.040
 because we're

00:24:12.040 --> 00:24:12.820
 to be a community

00:24:12.820 --> 00:24:13.860
 who walks

00:24:13.860 --> 00:24:14.400
 on this road

00:24:14.400 --> 00:24:14.800
 together.

00:24:14.799 --> 00:24:18.399
 So what does

00:24:18.399 --> 00:24:19.359
 that all have

00:24:19.359 --> 00:24:20.539
 to do with love,

00:24:21.200 --> 00:24:23.220
 this verse 12?

00:24:23.659 --> 00:24:23.879
 Well,

00:24:24.700 --> 00:24:26.319
 I want to move

00:24:26.319 --> 00:24:27.220
 on to verse 13,

00:24:28.119 --> 00:24:28.940
 which is the second

00:24:28.940 --> 00:24:29.279
 point,

00:24:29.359 --> 00:24:30.119
 which is hope

00:24:30.119 --> 00:24:32.279
 fuels love.

00:24:33.940 --> 00:24:34.299
 You see,

00:24:34.579 --> 00:24:35.419
 when your hope

00:24:35.419 --> 00:24:36.139
 is in now,

00:24:37.659 --> 00:24:40.259
 you will become

00:24:40.259 --> 00:24:41.079
 stressed and

00:24:41.079 --> 00:24:42.059
 frustrated with

00:24:42.059 --> 00:24:42.519
 the turbulence

00:24:42.519 --> 00:24:43.139
 of life.

00:24:43.140 --> 00:24:44.840
 you'll become

00:24:44.840 --> 00:24:45.440
 anxious,

00:24:45.759 --> 00:24:46.580
 because if

00:24:46.580 --> 00:24:47.220
 everything is

00:24:47.220 --> 00:24:48.000
 about now,

00:24:48.780 --> 00:24:49.140
 man,

00:24:49.200 --> 00:24:49.520
 that's a lot

00:24:49.520 --> 00:24:50.240
 of pressure on.

00:24:52.460 --> 00:24:53.920
 But can anyone

00:24:53.920 --> 00:24:54.340
 tell me,

00:24:54.380 --> 00:24:54.980
 has anyone

00:24:54.980 --> 00:24:55.600
 who's been

00:24:55.600 --> 00:24:56.620
 really stressed

00:24:56.620 --> 00:24:57.660
 ever been

00:24:57.660 --> 00:24:58.340
 more loving

00:24:58.340 --> 00:24:58.800
 when you're

00:24:58.800 --> 00:24:59.320
 stressed?

00:25:00.140 --> 00:25:00.540
 Anyone?

00:25:01.920 --> 00:25:02.840
 I don't think

00:25:02.840 --> 00:25:03.200
 so.

00:25:03.580 --> 00:25:04.160
 Because what

00:25:04.160 --> 00:25:04.740
 happens when

00:25:04.740 --> 00:25:05.180
 we're stressed,

00:25:05.259 --> 00:25:05.660
 we tend to

00:25:05.660 --> 00:25:06.380
 turn inwards,

00:25:06.460 --> 00:25:07.100
 we tend to

00:25:07.100 --> 00:25:08.120
 try and preserve

00:25:08.120 --> 00:25:08.759
 ourselves.

00:25:10.140 --> 00:25:11.020
 Some of us

00:25:11.020 --> 00:25:11.980
 do that by

00:25:11.980 --> 00:25:12.920
 escaping into

00:25:12.920 --> 00:25:14.100
 alcohol or

00:25:14.100 --> 00:25:14.779
 binge-watching

00:25:14.779 --> 00:25:15.200
 Netflix.

00:25:15.779 --> 00:25:16.380
 We just try

00:25:16.380 --> 00:25:16.840
 and cope

00:25:16.840 --> 00:25:17.160
 with the

00:25:17.160 --> 00:25:17.779
 situation.

00:25:18.620 --> 00:25:20.140
 Others of us

00:25:20.140 --> 00:25:20.960
 keep calm

00:25:20.960 --> 00:25:21.800
 and carry on.

00:25:22.640 --> 00:25:23.140
 And then you

00:25:23.140 --> 00:25:23.519
 look around

00:25:23.519 --> 00:25:23.920
 at everybody

00:25:23.920 --> 00:25:24.440
 else who's

00:25:24.440 --> 00:25:24.800
 worrying,

00:25:24.920 --> 00:25:25.180
 whether it's

00:25:25.180 --> 00:25:25.740
 about COVID

00:25:25.740 --> 00:25:26.279
 or other

00:25:26.279 --> 00:25:26.640
 things,

00:25:26.700 --> 00:25:27.140
 and you go,

00:25:27.380 --> 00:25:28.539
 why are they

00:25:28.539 --> 00:25:29.120
 all worrying?

00:25:29.220 --> 00:25:29.500
 Why are they

00:25:29.500 --> 00:25:30.240
 all so weak

00:25:30.240 --> 00:25:30.900
 and emotional

00:25:30.900 --> 00:25:31.560
 about these

00:25:31.560 --> 00:25:31.820
 things?

00:25:31.840 --> 00:25:32.019
 You should

00:25:32.019 --> 00:25:32.740
 be like me.

00:25:34.560 --> 00:25:35.840
 And you

00:25:35.840 --> 00:25:36.100
 have very

00:25:36.100 --> 00:25:36.900
 little compassion

00:25:36.900 --> 00:25:37.259
 on other

00:25:37.259 --> 00:25:37.700
 people who

00:25:37.700 --> 00:25:38.160
 are struggling.

00:25:38.160 --> 00:25:38.300
 doing.

00:25:39.560 --> 00:25:40.180
 But when

00:25:40.180 --> 00:25:40.420
 you've got

00:25:40.420 --> 00:25:40.840
 a hope

00:25:40.840 --> 00:25:41.360
 beyond the

00:25:41.360 --> 00:25:41.740
 flight,

00:25:42.380 --> 00:25:42.940
 when the

00:25:42.940 --> 00:25:43.320
 turbulence

00:25:43.320 --> 00:25:43.920
 hits and

00:25:43.920 --> 00:25:44.460
 the Spirit

00:25:44.460 --> 00:25:45.279
 reminds you

00:25:45.279 --> 00:25:45.840
 to turn in

00:25:45.840 --> 00:25:46.680
 prayer to

00:25:46.680 --> 00:25:47.600
 your all-powerful

00:25:47.600 --> 00:25:48.160
 Savior by

00:25:48.160 --> 00:25:48.720
 your side,

00:25:49.080 --> 00:25:50.880
 remind yourself

00:25:50.880 --> 00:25:51.340
 of the

00:25:51.340 --> 00:25:51.700
 scripture

00:25:51.700 --> 00:25:52.660
 promises of

00:25:52.660 --> 00:25:53.000
 hope,

00:25:53.240 --> 00:25:53.560
 and you

00:25:53.560 --> 00:25:54.180
 find that

00:25:54.180 --> 00:25:55.120
 over time

00:25:55.120 --> 00:25:55.560
 he brings

00:25:55.560 --> 00:25:56.540
 peace and

00:25:56.540 --> 00:25:57.420
 a joy into

00:25:57.420 --> 00:25:58.000
 your heart,

00:25:58.120 --> 00:25:58.620
 then what

00:25:58.620 --> 00:25:59.180
 happens is

00:25:59.180 --> 00:25:59.940
 that hope-filled

00:25:59.940 --> 00:26:00.600
 joy begins

00:26:00.600 --> 00:26:01.140
 to take your

00:26:01.140 --> 00:26:01.560
 eyes off

00:26:01.560 --> 00:26:02.000
 yourself.

00:26:03.460 --> 00:26:03.920
 And you

00:26:03.920 --> 00:26:04.480
 start looking

00:26:04.480 --> 00:26:05.160
 around and

00:26:05.160 --> 00:26:05.580
 you see the

00:26:05.580 --> 00:26:06.380
 other passengers

00:26:06.380 --> 00:26:07.019
 around and

00:26:07.019 --> 00:26:07.500
 you see their

00:26:07.500 --> 00:26:07.960
 needs and

00:26:07.960 --> 00:26:08.420
 you see their

00:26:08.420 --> 00:26:09.140
 anxieties and

00:26:09.140 --> 00:26:09.799
 their worries,

00:26:10.400 --> 00:26:11.740
 not just your

00:26:11.740 --> 00:26:12.039
 own.

00:26:13.319 --> 00:26:13.799
 And Paul

00:26:13.799 --> 00:26:14.599
 says this,

00:26:15.220 --> 00:26:16.019
 with hope,

00:26:16.380 --> 00:26:17.079
 what you can

00:26:17.079 --> 00:26:17.640
 start to do

00:26:17.640 --> 00:26:17.960
 is you can

00:26:17.960 --> 00:26:18.299
 start to

00:26:18.299 --> 00:26:19.019
 contribute to

00:26:19.019 --> 00:26:19.599
 the needs

00:26:19.599 --> 00:26:20.579
 of the

00:26:20.579 --> 00:26:20.880
 saints.

00:26:23.019 --> 00:26:23.299
 You see,

00:26:23.400 --> 00:26:23.700
 contribute

00:26:23.700 --> 00:26:24.279
 doesn't just

00:26:24.279 --> 00:26:24.579
 mean,

00:26:24.799 --> 00:26:25.019
 okay,

00:26:25.180 --> 00:26:25.759
 throw in some

00:26:25.759 --> 00:26:26.119
 money into

00:26:26.119 --> 00:26:26.539
 the offering

00:26:26.539 --> 00:26:26.960
 and then go

00:26:26.960 --> 00:26:27.279
 back to

00:26:27.279 --> 00:26:27.559
 your own

00:26:27.559 --> 00:26:27.980
 problems.

00:26:29.019 --> 00:26:29.660
 The word

00:26:29.660 --> 00:26:30.279
 contribute,

00:26:31.420 --> 00:26:31.859
 actually,

00:26:32.140 --> 00:26:32.619
 it's the

00:26:32.619 --> 00:26:33.460
 word fellowship,

00:26:33.940 --> 00:26:34.420
 which means

00:26:34.420 --> 00:26:35.180
 to share

00:26:35.180 --> 00:26:36.380
 life with.

00:26:36.720 --> 00:26:37.039
 He says,

00:26:37.039 --> 00:26:37.659
 share life

00:26:37.659 --> 00:26:38.180
 with the

00:26:38.180 --> 00:26:38.519
 saints.

00:26:38.639 --> 00:26:38.920
 That means

00:26:38.920 --> 00:26:40.139
 other believers

00:26:40.139 --> 00:26:41.180
 in church.

00:26:41.639 --> 00:26:42.079
 It means

00:26:42.079 --> 00:26:43.059
 entering into

00:26:43.059 --> 00:26:44.599
 partnership with

00:26:44.599 --> 00:26:45.379
 their struggles

00:26:45.379 --> 00:26:46.240
 so their

00:26:46.240 --> 00:26:47.279
 burden becomes

00:26:47.279 --> 00:26:47.940
 your burden.

00:26:48.259 --> 00:26:49.039
 You feel

00:26:49.039 --> 00:26:49.619
 their struggles,

00:26:49.740 --> 00:26:50.059
 not just

00:26:50.059 --> 00:26:50.579
 your own.

00:26:52.240 --> 00:26:52.659
 And I've

00:26:52.659 --> 00:26:53.059
 been so

00:26:53.059 --> 00:26:53.440
 encouraged,

00:26:53.500 --> 00:26:53.759
 because in

00:26:53.759 --> 00:26:54.119
 Watermark,

00:26:54.259 --> 00:26:54.819
 I know there

00:26:54.819 --> 00:26:55.359
 are families

00:26:55.359 --> 00:26:55.720
 who are

00:26:55.720 --> 00:26:56.460
 struggling with

00:26:56.460 --> 00:26:57.559
 young kids,

00:26:58.099 --> 00:26:58.500
 and there are

00:26:58.500 --> 00:26:59.200
 CG members,

00:26:59.299 --> 00:26:59.659
 you've just

00:26:59.659 --> 00:27:00.299
 stepped up,

00:27:00.359 --> 00:27:00.779
 you're providing

00:27:00.779 --> 00:27:01.220
 meals,

00:27:01.339 --> 00:27:01.700
 you're providing

00:27:01.700 --> 00:27:02.399
 babysitting,

00:27:02.500 --> 00:27:02.799
 you're providing

00:27:02.799 --> 00:27:03.279
 toys,

00:27:03.399 --> 00:27:04.099
 all kinds of

00:27:04.099 --> 00:27:04.399
 things.

00:27:04.400 --> 00:27:05.060
 I know

00:27:05.060 --> 00:27:05.340
 that there

00:27:05.340 --> 00:27:06.019
 are families

00:27:06.019 --> 00:27:07.160
 here who

00:27:07.160 --> 00:27:08.080
 are reaching

00:27:08.080 --> 00:27:08.480
 out to

00:27:08.480 --> 00:27:09.019
 singles who

00:27:09.019 --> 00:27:09.460
 are struggling

00:27:09.460 --> 00:27:10.040
 with loneliness,

00:27:10.280 --> 00:27:10.540
 and you're

00:27:10.540 --> 00:27:11.140
 inviting them

00:27:11.140 --> 00:27:11.780
 in to spend

00:27:11.780 --> 00:27:12.800
 meals so that

00:27:12.800 --> 00:27:13.100
 they can

00:27:13.100 --> 00:27:14.000
 experience family

00:27:14.000 --> 00:27:14.620
 life in this

00:27:14.620 --> 00:27:15.400
 difficult season.

00:27:16.620 --> 00:27:17.500
 Hope opens

00:27:17.500 --> 00:27:18.060
 you up to

00:27:18.060 --> 00:27:18.420
 love other

00:27:18.420 --> 00:27:18.860
 people,

00:27:18.960 --> 00:27:19.440
 and I see

00:27:19.440 --> 00:27:19.920
 that in our

00:27:19.920 --> 00:27:20.380
 community.

00:27:22.360 --> 00:27:22.940
 But you

00:27:22.940 --> 00:27:23.140
 know,

00:27:23.560 --> 00:27:24.460
 you will only

00:27:24.460 --> 00:27:25.740
 see the

00:27:25.740 --> 00:27:26.200
 needs of

00:27:26.200 --> 00:27:26.840
 others when

00:27:26.840 --> 00:27:27.320
 you're actually

00:27:27.320 --> 00:27:28.220
 investing in

00:27:28.220 --> 00:27:29.100
 relationships with

00:27:29.100 --> 00:27:29.480
 people.

00:27:30.120 --> 00:27:30.300
 Do you know,

00:27:30.340 --> 00:27:30.940
 that's why we

00:27:30.940 --> 00:27:32.019
 encourage everyone

00:27:32.019 --> 00:27:33.059
 in Watermark to

00:27:33.059 --> 00:27:33.519
 get into

00:27:33.519 --> 00:27:34.059
 CGs,

00:27:34.319 --> 00:27:34.940
 or if you're

00:27:34.940 --> 00:27:35.920
 in a stage

00:27:35.920 --> 00:27:36.599
 of life as a

00:27:36.599 --> 00:27:36.920
 family,

00:27:37.019 --> 00:27:37.379
 to get into

00:27:37.379 --> 00:27:38.460
 family groups

00:27:38.460 --> 00:27:39.339
 where you can

00:27:39.339 --> 00:27:40.319
 actually begin to

00:27:40.319 --> 00:27:40.940
 walk with one

00:27:40.940 --> 00:27:41.339
 another,

00:27:42.339 --> 00:27:43.259
 and when you

00:27:43.259 --> 00:27:43.779
 do that,

00:27:43.920 --> 00:27:44.599
 you'll begin to

00:27:44.599 --> 00:27:46.299
 see the needs

00:27:46.299 --> 00:27:47.059
 of other people.

00:27:48.440 --> 00:27:49.359
 So my question

00:27:49.359 --> 00:27:49.759
 is,

00:27:50.319 --> 00:27:51.440
 do you see the

00:27:51.440 --> 00:27:52.180
 needs of people

00:27:52.180 --> 00:27:53.039
 in your CG?

00:27:54.240 --> 00:27:55.200
 Do you see the

00:27:55.200 --> 00:27:55.759
 needs of people

00:27:55.759 --> 00:27:56.299
 in Watermark

00:27:56.299 --> 00:27:57.039
 around you?

00:27:57.819 --> 00:27:58.259
 Or,

00:27:58.400 --> 00:27:58.859
 and here's the

00:27:58.859 --> 00:27:59.200
 challenge,

00:27:59.359 --> 00:27:59.980
 are you wrapped

00:27:59.980 --> 00:28:00.960
 up with all of

00:28:00.960 --> 00:28:01.700
 your own problems

00:28:01.700 --> 00:28:02.500
 that you can't

00:28:02.500 --> 00:28:03.000
 see beyond

00:28:03.000 --> 00:28:03.380
 them?

00:28:04.019 --> 00:28:04.660
 Because if

00:28:04.660 --> 00:28:05.160
 that's the

00:28:05.160 --> 00:28:05.440
 case,

00:28:05.500 --> 00:28:06.080
 that may be

00:28:06.080 --> 00:28:06.720
 an indication

00:28:06.720 --> 00:28:07.799
 to you that

00:28:07.799 --> 00:28:08.940
 your hope is

00:28:08.940 --> 00:28:09.640
 in the flight

00:28:09.640 --> 00:28:10.580
 rather than

00:28:10.580 --> 00:28:10.819
 in the

00:28:10.819 --> 00:28:11.480
 destination.

00:28:13.100 --> 00:28:13.460
 And God

00:28:13.460 --> 00:28:14.180
 may be calling

00:28:14.180 --> 00:28:14.559
 you,

00:28:14.960 --> 00:28:15.640
 come back to

00:28:15.640 --> 00:28:15.900
 me and

00:28:15.900 --> 00:28:16.319
 place your

00:28:16.319 --> 00:28:16.779
 hope in

00:28:16.779 --> 00:28:17.019
 me,

00:28:17.200 --> 00:28:17.559
 and let

00:28:17.559 --> 00:28:18.100
 me free

00:28:18.100 --> 00:28:19.600
 you to

00:28:19.600 --> 00:28:20.120
 see others

00:28:20.120 --> 00:28:20.880
 around you.

00:28:22.680 --> 00:28:23.120
 But you

00:28:23.120 --> 00:28:23.279
 see,

00:28:23.380 --> 00:28:23.720
 it's not

00:28:23.720 --> 00:28:24.240
 just,

00:28:24.319 --> 00:28:24.779
 he says,

00:28:25.319 --> 00:28:26.420
 hope opens

00:28:26.420 --> 00:28:26.860
 you to see

00:28:26.860 --> 00:28:27.539
 the church

00:28:27.539 --> 00:28:28.080
 community

00:28:28.080 --> 00:28:28.500
 around.

00:28:28.680 --> 00:28:29.019
 He then

00:28:29.019 --> 00:28:29.340
 says it

00:28:29.340 --> 00:28:29.940
 opens you to

00:28:29.940 --> 00:28:30.900
 see the

00:28:30.900 --> 00:28:31.340
 community

00:28:31.339 --> 00:28:32.299
 outside the

00:28:32.299 --> 00:28:33.039
 church too.

00:28:33.599 --> 00:28:33.980
 Because he

00:28:33.980 --> 00:28:34.740
 says next,

00:28:35.339 --> 00:28:35.899
 seek to

00:28:35.899 --> 00:28:36.399
 show

00:28:36.399 --> 00:28:37.539
 hospitality.

00:28:39.139 --> 00:28:39.679
 And again,

00:28:40.299 --> 00:28:40.619
 the word

00:28:40.619 --> 00:28:41.639
 hospitality doesn't

00:28:41.639 --> 00:28:42.099
 mean dinner

00:28:42.099 --> 00:28:42.839
 parties or

00:28:42.839 --> 00:28:43.519
 fine dining.

00:28:44.459 --> 00:28:45.119
 The word

00:28:45.119 --> 00:28:46.220
 literally means

00:28:46.220 --> 00:28:46.819
 in Greek,

00:28:47.379 --> 00:28:48.359
 love for

00:28:48.359 --> 00:28:49.159
 strangers.

00:28:50.480 --> 00:28:51.699
 Love for

00:28:51.699 --> 00:28:52.399
 strangers.

00:28:53.799 --> 00:28:54.199
 And he

00:28:54.199 --> 00:28:54.500
 says,

00:28:55.500 --> 00:28:55.939
 pursue,

00:28:56.879 --> 00:28:57.519
 seek,

00:28:57.779 --> 00:28:58.299
 pursue,

00:28:58.299 --> 00:28:59.379
 actively,

00:28:59.379 --> 00:29:01.079
 pursue loving

00:29:01.079 --> 00:29:01.639
 strangers.

00:29:01.859 --> 00:29:02.319
 Not just

00:29:02.319 --> 00:29:02.779
 kind of wait

00:29:02.779 --> 00:29:03.220
 till some

00:29:03.220 --> 00:29:03.879
 show up.

00:29:04.440 --> 00:29:04.559
 No,

00:29:04.619 --> 00:29:05.279
 actually be

00:29:05.279 --> 00:29:05.940
 looking for

00:29:05.940 --> 00:29:06.639
 opportunities

00:29:06.639 --> 00:29:07.180
 where you

00:29:07.180 --> 00:29:07.839
 can open

00:29:07.839 --> 00:29:08.500
 up your

00:29:08.500 --> 00:29:08.980
 life,

00:29:09.339 --> 00:29:10.000
 your home,

00:29:10.339 --> 00:29:11.099
 your heart,

00:29:11.259 --> 00:29:12.019
 not just

00:29:12.019 --> 00:29:12.319
 for the

00:29:12.319 --> 00:29:12.680
 people in

00:29:12.680 --> 00:29:13.039
 the church

00:29:13.039 --> 00:29:13.419
 community,

00:29:13.599 --> 00:29:14.039
 but also

00:29:14.039 --> 00:29:14.619
 for those

00:29:14.619 --> 00:29:15.740
 outside who

00:29:15.740 --> 00:29:16.419
 can experience

00:29:16.419 --> 00:29:16.919
 the love of

00:29:16.919 --> 00:29:17.619
 Christ through

00:29:17.619 --> 00:29:17.980
 us.

00:29:19.339 --> 00:29:19.899
 That's actually

00:29:19.899 --> 00:29:20.299
 what,

00:29:20.539 --> 00:29:21.180
 you know,

00:29:21.220 --> 00:29:21.539
 some of you

00:29:21.539 --> 00:29:21.680
 did.

00:29:21.779 --> 00:29:22.299
 Who went

00:29:22.299 --> 00:29:22.639
 on loving

00:29:22.639 --> 00:29:23.099
 the city?

00:29:24.700 --> 00:29:25.119
 Okay,

00:29:25.180 --> 00:29:25.579
 a few of you

00:29:25.579 --> 00:29:25.819
 did.

00:29:26.419 --> 00:29:26.859
 That's why

00:29:26.859 --> 00:29:27.859
 we want to

00:29:27.859 --> 00:29:28.279
 call people

00:29:28.279 --> 00:29:28.939
 to see the

00:29:28.939 --> 00:29:29.259
 city,

00:29:29.779 --> 00:29:30.099
 the loving

00:29:30.099 --> 00:29:30.399
 the city.

00:29:30.460 --> 00:29:30.740
 Some of us

00:29:30.740 --> 00:29:31.619
 went out to

00:29:31.619 --> 00:29:33.099
 pour tea for

00:29:33.099 --> 00:29:33.899
 refuse collectors

00:29:33.899 --> 00:29:34.599
 and just get to

00:29:34.599 --> 00:29:35.059
 know them.

00:29:35.579 --> 00:29:36.159
 Some of us

00:29:36.159 --> 00:29:37.059
 are with the

00:29:37.059 --> 00:29:37.700
 Young Lives,

00:29:37.799 --> 00:29:38.439
 teen ministry

00:29:38.439 --> 00:29:39.279
 that Oscar

00:29:39.279 --> 00:29:39.899
 mentioned,

00:29:40.319 --> 00:29:40.539
 you know,

00:29:40.700 --> 00:29:41.859
 we're befriending

00:29:41.859 --> 00:29:43.000
 vulnerable mothers.

00:29:43.319 --> 00:29:43.799
 I know there's a

00:29:43.799 --> 00:29:44.899
 couple of CGs here

00:29:44.899 --> 00:29:45.659
 who are tutoring

00:29:45.659 --> 00:29:46.819
 refugee kids.

00:29:48.740 --> 00:29:49.259
 And God is

00:29:49.259 --> 00:29:50.079
 calling us as we

00:29:50.079 --> 00:29:50.779
 have this hope

00:29:50.779 --> 00:29:51.279
 that we don't

00:29:51.279 --> 00:29:51.919
 have to cling

00:29:51.919 --> 00:29:52.599
 to our life

00:29:52.599 --> 00:29:53.319
 right now,

00:29:53.519 --> 00:29:54.339
 but we can see

00:29:54.339 --> 00:29:54.939
 other people.

00:29:54.940 --> 00:29:56.980
 You know,

00:29:57.039 --> 00:29:57.400
 one of the

00:29:57.400 --> 00:29:57.759
 things I've

00:29:57.759 --> 00:29:58.380
 realized being

00:29:58.380 --> 00:29:59.240
 in Hong Kong,

00:30:00.360 --> 00:30:01.740
 and my wife

00:30:01.740 --> 00:30:02.400
 has also shared

00:30:02.400 --> 00:30:02.960
 this with me

00:30:02.960 --> 00:30:03.799
 about her life,

00:30:04.100 --> 00:30:04.920
 that growing up,

00:30:05.519 --> 00:30:06.360
 many of us are

00:30:06.360 --> 00:30:06.960
 taught to be

00:30:06.960 --> 00:30:07.580
 very private.

00:30:08.539 --> 00:30:09.140
 We're taught

00:30:09.140 --> 00:30:09.700
 to be very

00:30:09.700 --> 00:30:11.559
 suspicious of

00:30:11.559 --> 00:30:12.380
 strangers and

00:30:12.380 --> 00:30:13.100
 people you don't

00:30:13.100 --> 00:30:13.460
 know.

00:30:14.840 --> 00:30:15.200
 You know,

00:30:15.640 --> 00:30:16.200
 they could do

00:30:16.200 --> 00:30:16.820
 things.

00:30:17.100 --> 00:30:17.600
 You can be

00:30:17.600 --> 00:30:18.120
 dangerous.

00:30:20.019 --> 00:30:20.820
 And one of the

00:30:20.820 --> 00:30:21.400
 things that I've

00:30:21.400 --> 00:30:22.100
 seen, both with

00:30:22.100 --> 00:30:22.840
 people here in

00:30:22.840 --> 00:30:23.539
 Watermark, but also

00:30:23.539 --> 00:30:24.360
 with my wife as

00:30:24.359 --> 00:30:25.679
 well, is that as

00:30:25.679 --> 00:30:26.740
 the gospel has

00:30:26.740 --> 00:30:28.039
 grown and shaped

00:30:28.039 --> 00:30:28.639
 and worked in

00:30:28.639 --> 00:30:29.519
 their life, what

00:30:29.519 --> 00:30:30.119
 it's done, it's

00:30:30.119 --> 00:30:30.819
 actually opened

00:30:30.819 --> 00:30:32.839
 them up to be

00:30:32.839 --> 00:30:35.339
 less fearful and

00:30:35.339 --> 00:30:36.059
 to open up their

00:30:36.059 --> 00:30:36.299
 lives.

00:30:36.359 --> 00:30:37.199
 I've seen opening

00:30:37.199 --> 00:30:38.019
 up our home for

00:30:38.019 --> 00:30:39.199
 refugees, troubled

00:30:39.199 --> 00:30:39.659
 kids.

00:30:40.399 --> 00:30:41.379
 I've seen people

00:30:41.379 --> 00:30:42.159
 just serving the

00:30:42.159 --> 00:30:42.819
 homeless who a

00:30:42.819 --> 00:30:44.240
 million, like in

00:30:44.240 --> 00:30:44.659
 their childhood,

00:30:44.740 --> 00:30:45.319
 they would never

00:30:45.319 --> 00:30:45.859
 have done it.

00:30:46.000 --> 00:30:46.319
 Why?

00:30:46.419 --> 00:30:47.119
 Because the hope

00:30:47.119 --> 00:30:47.799
 of the gospel

00:30:47.799 --> 00:30:48.919
 changes you to go,

00:30:49.219 --> 00:30:49.899
 I don't have to

00:30:49.899 --> 00:30:50.379
 cling to my

00:30:50.379 --> 00:30:51.359
 privacy right now.

00:30:51.419 --> 00:30:51.919
 I don't have to

00:30:51.919 --> 00:30:52.399
 cling to my

00:30:52.399 --> 00:30:53.399
 comfort right now

00:30:53.400 --> 00:30:54.200
 because my hope

00:30:54.200 --> 00:30:54.960
 is not in right

00:30:54.960 --> 00:30:56.080
 now, because I

00:30:56.080 --> 00:30:56.740
 can be messy

00:30:56.740 --> 00:30:58.019
 right now and

00:30:58.019 --> 00:30:58.600
 it's okay.

00:30:59.280 --> 00:31:00.200
 I can be a

00:31:00.200 --> 00:31:00.940
 little bit risky

00:31:00.940 --> 00:31:01.720
 right now because

00:31:01.720 --> 00:31:02.519
 actually God's got

00:31:02.519 --> 00:31:04.519
 me and he's my

00:31:04.519 --> 00:31:05.440
 security and he's

00:31:05.440 --> 00:31:06.120
 my protection.

00:31:08.019 --> 00:31:09.380
 Here's a challenge

00:31:09.380 --> 00:31:10.040
 from Rosaria

00:31:10.040 --> 00:31:10.660
 Butterfield.

00:31:11.700 --> 00:31:12.759
 She says this,

00:31:13.480 --> 00:31:14.440
 Christians who

00:31:14.440 --> 00:31:16.160
 have too much are

00:31:16.160 --> 00:31:17.280
 the ones prohibited

00:31:17.280 --> 00:31:18.220
 from practicing

00:31:18.220 --> 00:31:18.900
 hospitality.

00:31:19.800 --> 00:31:20.940
 They have so many

00:31:20.940 --> 00:31:22.440
 cluttered idols that

00:31:22.440 --> 00:31:22.940
 they can give

00:31:22.940 --> 00:31:23.680
 nothing at all.

00:31:24.580 --> 00:31:25.320
 For this reason,

00:31:25.460 --> 00:31:25.940
 it's often the

00:31:25.940 --> 00:31:26.799
 well-heeled and

00:31:26.799 --> 00:31:27.400
 rich who are

00:31:27.400 --> 00:31:27.900
 known for their

00:31:27.900 --> 00:31:28.779
 lack of hospitality

00:31:28.779 --> 00:31:30.539
 and the meager and

00:31:30.539 --> 00:31:31.680
 even poor who are

00:31:31.680 --> 00:31:32.200
 known for their

00:31:32.200 --> 00:31:33.340
 plentiful hospitality.

00:31:34.240 --> 00:31:35.019
 So Christian,

00:31:35.900 --> 00:31:36.759
 kill your idols.

00:31:39.019 --> 00:31:39.799
 I was really

00:31:39.799 --> 00:31:40.740
 challenged by that.

00:31:41.620 --> 00:31:42.440
 Really challenged

00:31:42.440 --> 00:31:43.059
 by that.

00:31:43.720 --> 00:31:44.519
 Because you know,

00:31:44.620 --> 00:31:45.340
 as Watermark,

00:31:46.039 --> 00:31:46.680
 we're not the

00:31:46.680 --> 00:31:47.299
 poorest of the

00:31:47.299 --> 00:31:47.580
 poor.

00:31:47.579 --> 00:31:49.579
 people who

00:31:49.579 --> 00:31:50.639
 want to do in

00:31:50.639 --> 00:31:51.419
 our lives and

00:31:51.419 --> 00:31:52.559
 in our church is

00:31:52.559 --> 00:31:53.759
 that in an anxious

00:31:53.759 --> 00:31:55.139
 world, in an anxious

00:31:55.139 --> 00:31:56.779
 city, that as

00:31:56.779 --> 00:31:57.899
 Christian hope gets

00:31:57.899 --> 00:31:59.000
 hold of us into our

00:31:59.000 --> 00:32:01.439
 hearts, it begins to

00:32:01.439 --> 00:32:02.579
 change us into this

00:32:02.579 --> 00:32:05.019
 community which is

00:32:05.019 --> 00:32:06.319
 willing to sacrifice

00:32:06.319 --> 00:32:07.099
 our in-flight

00:32:07.099 --> 00:32:09.500
 comforts and the

00:32:09.500 --> 00:32:11.039
 desires that we have

00:32:11.039 --> 00:32:13.539
 to spend time with the

00:32:13.539 --> 00:32:15.000
 Filipino community on a

00:32:15.000 --> 00:32:15.740
 Sunday afternoon.

00:32:16.339 --> 00:32:17.220
 For those who can

00:32:17.220 --> 00:32:18.119
 afford it, renting

00:32:18.119 --> 00:32:19.380
 larger properties so

00:32:19.380 --> 00:32:20.240
 that you can host

00:32:20.240 --> 00:32:21.299
 people more.

00:32:21.380 --> 00:32:21.980
 And I know many of

00:32:21.980 --> 00:32:22.740
 you do this.

00:32:23.220 --> 00:32:24.000
 People from different

00:32:24.000 --> 00:32:24.500
 backgrounds.

00:32:25.000 --> 00:32:25.940
 It means sacrificing

00:32:25.940 --> 00:32:27.079
 your free time to be

00:32:27.079 --> 00:32:28.099
 willing to accompany a

00:32:28.099 --> 00:32:28.920
 teen mom to a

00:32:28.920 --> 00:32:29.740
 hospital appointment.

00:32:30.420 --> 00:32:31.400
 It looks like inviting

00:32:31.400 --> 00:32:32.640
 the receptionist or a

00:32:32.640 --> 00:32:33.700
 colleague in your

00:32:33.700 --> 00:32:35.140
 workplace, even when

00:32:35.140 --> 00:32:36.119
 you're busy out for

00:32:36.119 --> 00:32:37.920
 lunch, or taking the

00:32:37.920 --> 00:32:39.099
 time to pray and talk

00:32:39.099 --> 00:32:40.119
 with the security guard

00:32:40.119 --> 00:32:40.740
 that you have.

00:32:43.140 --> 00:32:44.900
 You see, as a

00:32:44.900 --> 00:32:45.820
 community, God wants

00:32:45.820 --> 00:32:47.660
 us to be known as

00:32:47.660 --> 00:32:49.240
 people who are lovers

00:32:49.240 --> 00:32:50.019
 of strangers.

00:32:50.460 --> 00:32:51.420
 Not because we do it

00:32:51.420 --> 00:32:52.180
 in our own strength,

00:32:52.259 --> 00:32:52.960
 but because we know

00:32:52.960 --> 00:32:54.040
 the mercies of God to

00:32:54.040 --> 00:32:54.400
 us.

00:32:55.080 --> 00:32:57.440
 Because we know that

00:32:57.440 --> 00:32:58.600
 Christ was the most

00:32:58.600 --> 00:33:00.240
 hospitable person ever.

00:33:01.759 --> 00:33:02.560
 You know, didn't he

00:33:02.560 --> 00:33:05.240
 eat and drink with the

00:33:05.240 --> 00:33:06.660
 despised, with the

00:33:06.660 --> 00:33:07.940
 outcast, with the

00:33:07.940 --> 00:33:10.040
 shamed, but also with

00:33:10.040 --> 00:33:11.100
 the religious hypocrites

00:33:11.100 --> 00:33:12.160
 like the Pharisees?

00:33:14.900 --> 00:33:16.840
 He eats and drinks with

00:33:16.840 --> 00:33:18.060
 those who feel your

00:33:18.060 --> 00:33:19.740
 brokenness the most.

00:33:20.440 --> 00:33:21.880
 For those of us who

00:33:21.880 --> 00:33:23.120
 need a hope beyond

00:33:23.120 --> 00:33:23.680
 ourselves.

00:33:24.700 --> 00:33:26.460
 And he opens his arms,

00:33:27.120 --> 00:33:28.280
 welcoming people like

00:33:28.280 --> 00:33:31.240
 you and me to his table

00:33:31.240 --> 00:33:33.940
 to eat with him, the

00:33:33.940 --> 00:33:34.980
 king of all creation,

00:33:35.620 --> 00:33:37.580
 without condemnation,

00:33:37.720 --> 00:33:39.840
 without judgment, to

00:33:39.840 --> 00:33:41.060
 come home to be with

00:33:41.060 --> 00:33:41.380
 him.

00:33:41.380 --> 00:33:43.900
 And if you're not a

00:33:43.900 --> 00:33:46.140
 Christian today, Jesus

00:33:46.140 --> 00:33:48.420
 is pursuing strangers

00:33:48.420 --> 00:33:49.080
 like you.

00:33:50.420 --> 00:33:51.700
 And he's calling you

00:33:51.700 --> 00:33:54.980
 today not just to keep

00:33:54.980 --> 00:33:56.660
 the door shut and bolted

00:33:56.660 --> 00:33:58.680
 on the inside, but as

00:33:58.680 --> 00:33:59.640
 he knocks on the door

00:33:59.640 --> 00:34:00.440
 of your heart, he's

00:34:00.440 --> 00:34:01.300
 saying, will you open

00:34:01.300 --> 00:34:02.540
 up your heart to me?

00:34:06.160 --> 00:34:07.400
 Don't be so private,

00:34:07.540 --> 00:34:08.380
 don't be so self-reliant

00:34:08.900 --> 00:34:10.260
 that the king of kings

00:34:10.260 --> 00:34:12.120
 can't enter and show

00:34:12.120 --> 00:34:13.280
 you what it really

00:34:13.280 --> 00:34:14.380
 means to have hope.

00:34:15.580 --> 00:34:16.920
 Will you shut out the

00:34:16.920 --> 00:34:18.340
 pilot of your life

00:34:18.340 --> 00:34:19.060
 because you want to

00:34:19.060 --> 00:34:20.080
 pilot your own life?

00:34:22.240 --> 00:34:22.900
 You know, that's the

00:34:22.900 --> 00:34:23.960
 way to a plane crash.

00:34:26.160 --> 00:34:27.140
 Will you pray today,

00:34:27.220 --> 00:34:29.340
 Jesus, if you are who

00:34:29.340 --> 00:34:31.240
 you say you are, then I

00:34:31.240 --> 00:34:33.300
 want you to come into

00:34:33.300 --> 00:34:33.740
 my life.

00:34:33.840 --> 00:34:35.320
 I want to find this hope

00:34:35.320 --> 00:34:35.920
 in you.

00:34:36.680 --> 00:34:37.520
 Pilot my life.

00:34:37.600 --> 00:34:38.480
 I want a relationship

00:34:38.480 --> 00:34:39.119
 with you.

00:34:39.599 --> 00:34:41.400
 That's the offer today.

00:34:42.039 --> 00:34:43.079
 Will you take it?

00:34:44.400 --> 00:34:45.539
 And if you are a

00:34:45.539 --> 00:34:48.380
 Christian, do you know,

00:34:48.740 --> 00:34:50.980
 in our city, the most

00:34:50.980 --> 00:34:52.539
 persuasive argument for

00:34:52.539 --> 00:34:55.340
 the truth of the gospel is

00:34:55.340 --> 00:34:56.159
 not a great sermon.

00:34:56.940 --> 00:34:58.119
 It's not a great

00:34:58.119 --> 00:34:59.679
 intellectual conversation,

00:34:59.940 --> 00:35:00.639
 though those things are

00:35:00.639 --> 00:35:00.940
 good.

00:35:01.639 --> 00:35:04.260
 It's a community of hope-

00:35:04.260 --> 00:35:06.220
 fulfilled, heroic love.

00:35:08.180 --> 00:35:09.240
 Who, because of the

00:35:09.240 --> 00:35:11.920
 mercies of Jesus, we learn

00:35:11.920 --> 00:35:13.340
 to kill our idols, whether

00:35:13.340 --> 00:35:14.720
 it's of comfort, privacy,

00:35:14.960 --> 00:35:15.920
 self-reliance, whatever

00:35:15.920 --> 00:35:16.480
 they are.

00:35:17.720 --> 00:35:18.900
 And in the midst of

00:35:18.900 --> 00:35:20.200
 tribulation, we learn how

00:35:20.200 --> 00:35:21.480
 to rejoice in the hope

00:35:21.480 --> 00:35:22.120
 that we have.

00:35:22.580 --> 00:35:23.540
 We learn how to be

00:35:23.540 --> 00:35:25.880
 patient and just keep

00:35:25.880 --> 00:35:27.960
 going constantly in

00:35:27.960 --> 00:35:30.320
 prayer, contributing and

00:35:30.320 --> 00:35:32.420
 sharing our lives with the

00:35:32.420 --> 00:35:33.300
 needs of those in our

00:35:33.300 --> 00:35:34.840
 church community, opening

00:35:34.840 --> 00:35:36.480
 our hopes, opening our

00:35:36.480 --> 00:35:37.659
 homes and our hearts and

00:35:37.659 --> 00:35:38.940
 our lives to those around

00:35:38.940 --> 00:35:40.579
 us, and setting our

00:35:40.579 --> 00:35:42.960
 sights on Christ, the hope

00:35:42.960 --> 00:35:43.460
 of glory.

00:35:45.539 --> 00:35:46.340
 Let me pray.

00:35:46.340 --> 00:35:55.660
 I want you just to think

00:35:55.660 --> 00:35:56.960
 where you are up to right

00:35:56.960 --> 00:35:57.640
 now with Jesus.

00:36:01.579 --> 00:36:03.360
 And some of us need to

00:36:03.360 --> 00:36:04.920
 actually just rejoice again

00:36:04.920 --> 00:36:06.160
 in the hope that we have

00:36:06.160 --> 00:36:07.200
 in Christ.

00:36:07.300 --> 00:36:07.920
 Some of us, we've

00:36:07.920 --> 00:36:08.280
 forgotten.

00:36:08.920 --> 00:36:12.740
 We haven't gazed on Christ

00:36:12.740 --> 00:36:13.300
 recently.

00:36:13.400 --> 00:36:14.100
 We've gazed on our

00:36:14.100 --> 00:36:14.680
 problems.

00:36:14.679 --> 00:36:16.799
 But some of you just

00:36:16.799 --> 00:36:17.719
 need to come and thank

00:36:17.719 --> 00:36:18.980
 him for who he is and

00:36:18.980 --> 00:36:20.359
 what he's done and where

00:36:20.359 --> 00:36:21.279
 he's taking us.

00:36:21.819 --> 00:36:23.000
 Some of us need to repent

00:36:23.000 --> 00:36:23.960
 that actually we're putting

00:36:23.960 --> 00:36:26.980
 our hope in so many other

00:36:26.980 --> 00:36:27.579
 things.

00:36:28.799 --> 00:36:30.319
 And Jesus calls you to his

00:36:30.319 --> 00:36:31.639
 table to find hope in him.

00:36:33.339 --> 00:36:34.440
 And some of us, God is

00:36:34.440 --> 00:36:36.000
 calling you to actually take

00:36:36.000 --> 00:36:37.960
 a step of faith, to reach

00:36:37.960 --> 00:36:40.599
 out to someone, to pray for

00:36:40.599 --> 00:36:42.559
 someone, to look beyond

00:36:42.559 --> 00:36:44.579
 yourself and let Jesus

00:36:44.579 --> 00:36:45.679
 work in your heart.

00:36:47.179 --> 00:36:48.519
 So as the band comes up

00:36:48.519 --> 00:36:49.739
 and we're going to sing our

00:36:49.739 --> 00:36:50.880
 next song, just take a few

00:36:50.880 --> 00:36:53.599
 seconds to just pray

00:36:53.599 --> 00:36:55.539
 wherever you're up to with

00:36:55.539 --> 00:36:55.840
 God.

00:37:01.119 --> 00:37:03.420
 Some of us need, in the

00:37:03.420 --> 00:37:04.380
 struggles that we're going

00:37:04.380 --> 00:37:06.980
 through, to just cling to

00:37:06.980 --> 00:37:08.380
 Jesus and just to pray to him

00:37:08.380 --> 00:37:08.900
 right now.

00:37:10.800 --> 00:37:11.800
 He's with you.

00:37:16.000 --> 00:37:17.000
 He's with you.

00:37:18.500 --> 00:37:19.740
 Father, we just want to thank

00:37:19.740 --> 00:37:20.000
 you.

00:37:20.000 --> 00:37:23.460
 that with you there's a hope

00:37:23.460 --> 00:37:26.019
 that is utterly, utterly

00:37:26.019 --> 00:37:26.699
 unshakable.

00:37:28.059 --> 00:37:28.940
 Thank you that your

00:37:28.940 --> 00:37:30.300
 resurrection means that we

00:37:30.300 --> 00:37:31.239
 are never left alone.

00:37:32.940 --> 00:37:34.460
 That you walk with us.

00:37:35.400 --> 00:37:37.960
 Teach us to love because we

00:37:37.960 --> 00:37:39.219
 have a true hope in you.

00:37:40.260 --> 00:37:41.360
 In Jesus' name.

00:37:43.099 --> 00:37:43.539
 Amen.