WEBVTT

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 Good morning, church, and happy Mother's Day.

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 I heard somewhere that this is the 100th anniversary of Mother's Day.

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 Is that right?

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 Has anyone else heard that?

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 One person has.

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 Oh, two have.

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 Okay, great.

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 Well, there you go.

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 Happy anniversary, Mother's Day.

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 The text on which our teaching is based this morning is Hebrews 10, 19 through 25.

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 We're going to focus especially on the last two verses of this paragraph.

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 Hebrews 10, 19 through 25 is page 1007 in the Pew Bible if you want to turn there.

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 Hebrews 10.

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 Let me read this passage for us.

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 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus,

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 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain that is through his flesh.

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 And since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith,

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 with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

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 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.

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 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,

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 not neglecting to meet together as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another.

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 And all the more as you see the day drawing near.

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 In the year 2000, a Harvard political scientist named Robert Putnam wrote a book called Bowling Alone.

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 And the subtitle of that book was The Collapse and Revival of American Community.

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 And one of the key observations of that book is that Americans are becoming less and less involved in civic organizations,

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 that membership in voluntary associations and civic groups is steeply declining.

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 And as an example, he made this really interesting observation.

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 He saw that even though the number of individual bowlers was on the rise across the U.S.,

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 that is, more and more people were out bowling, yes, like nine-pin bowling,

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 the number of bowling leagues, on the other hand, was dropping.

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 And that became a prime example in his study that people are losing their connections

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 and their commitments to one another, that more and more, it seems, we are just bowling alone.

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 Now, since then, other sociologists have pointed out that there are some groups that are actually growing.

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 But they're the ones that require actually very little from their members.

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 After all, in a bowling league, right, your team is counting on you.

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 If you don't show up, you get calls from Frank and Peggy

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 complaining how you let down the phantom strikers in their time of need.

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 I've never been a part of a bowling league.

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 I had to actually Google names of bowling teams.

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 I thought phantom strikers was a pretty good name of a bowling team.

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 But, you know, with organizations like, say, I don't know, the Sierra Club, on the other hand,

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 well, you can have all the pride of knowing that you're helping to protect the earth

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 without any of the hassle of Frank and Peggy calling you on Thursday night telling you you let the team down.

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 And as a bonus, you get a really nice newsletter every once in a while.

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 Now, I don't have anything personally against the Sierra Club.

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 I'm sure they do great work.

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 When Beth and I used to live in Pennsylvania, we were members of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

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 And what did it mean for us to be members of the Philly Art Museum?

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 Honestly, not much.

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 We sent them a check, and they sent us colorful brochures and invitations to art receptions.

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 That was pretty much it.

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 Membership basically required nothing of us.

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 And as it turns out, the Philadelphia Museum of Art still sends us packages periodically,

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 welcoming us back into membership, even though we live like 175 miles away.

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 I'm sure they would love to get our check once again.

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 And of course, all this has more to do with our lives than just bowling leagues and art museums.

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 The bigger and more important point is that our involvement in and our understanding of community,

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 of life together, has become incredibly problematic.

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 Because on the one hand, we long for community, for connection, for life together.

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 Even Putnam's book was not just about the collapse of American community,

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 but about proposals for its revival.

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 And yet, though we want community, and though we feel we rightly were made for such community,

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 we're so often disappointed by it, aren't we?

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 It never quite gives us what we want.

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 And of course, it's not hard to see how all of this affects our spiritual lives.

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 On the one hand, the idea of commitment to a body of believers, to a local church,

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 of membership, seems kind of like a nice extra.

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 Something that's good for some people, but not really a key ingredient of discipleship

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 or an integral part of following Jesus.

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 I mean, after all, right, I can read great Christian books,

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 and I can listen to great sermons online,

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 and I can even catch up with my Christian friends every once in a while,

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 the ones who are like me and who know me, and get some good fellowship,

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 and I can do all of that without tying myself down or committing to a local church, right?

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 So on the one hand, and maybe we don't even realize it,

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 we slip into a practical lone ranger-ism in our spiritual lives.

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 We're going at it alone without any real connection to fellow Christians.

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 But now you see, it's more serious than just a bowling league, isn't it?

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 Now it's our connection to the body of Christ that we're talking about.

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 But you know, I don't think that problem is as persistent as another problem that we have.

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 I think that many of us today wouldn't want to be seen as lone rangers.

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 We would want to acknowledge that community is really important, even essential to Christianity.

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 No one wants to come across as that individualistic, right?

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 But at the same time, there's still a problem.

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 Again, without realizing it, we can begin to approach Christian community

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 in much the same way that Beth and I approached our membership in the Philly Museum of Art.

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 That I'm in it, basically, for what I can get out of it.

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 That I come, basically, as a consumer, ready to consume a spiritual product.

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 That I'm here for what's in it for me, and it's all about me.

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 And when it's not convenient, or I don't need it,

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 then I just don't give it the place or the priority in my life.

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 And I think if we're honest, we all wrestle with this.

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 Myself included.

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 None of us is immune.

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 And yet, what the book of Hebrews is showing us this morning

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 is that what Christ has done for us

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 creates a whole new dynamic for our life together.

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 Over the past two weeks, we've been slowing down in our series in Hebrews

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 and considering verses 19 through 25.

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 Two weeks ago, we talked about drawing near.

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 Do you remember?

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 And the focus there was on faith, on trusting in Christ.

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 And we saw that there's a whole new kind of spirituality, of worship,

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 of relation to God that's opened up for us through faith in Christ.

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 We can now draw near.

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 And last week, we considered holding fast,

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 and we considered what Christian hope is really all about.

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 And there we saw that hope is the certain future of what we have in Christ,

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 not because we're great or because we deserve it,

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 but because He is faithful to His promises.

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 So we've considered faith, hope,

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 and now third and last, we come to love.

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 And in verses 24 through 25, Hebrews is saying that the nature

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 and the practices and the motivation for Christian community

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 are all radically different because of the gospel,

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 because of the good news of Jesus.

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 So in the time that we have together this morning,

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 I want to just unpack each one of those as we see it here,

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 the nature and the practices and the motivation of community

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 that's centered in the gospel, centered in Christ.

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 And I hope that we'll come away from studying this passage

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 with a fresh vision and a fresh desire

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 to want to be this sort of community

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 and want to love in this kind of way,

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 not merely for our own sake,

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 but for our neighbor's sake

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 and ultimately for Christ's sake.

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 So first, let's look at the nature of Christian community.

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 Verse 24 is a command.

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 Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.

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 But did you notice how seamlessly this flows from verses 19 through 23?

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 Since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus,

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 since we have a great high priest over the house of God,

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 let us consider one another.

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 It's a given in the author's mind

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 that a relationship with God in Christ

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 necessarily means a relationship with those who share in Christ.

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 In other words, in Christianity,

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 believing is necessarily belonging.

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 The call to believe in Christ is the call to belong to the people of Christ.

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 And you know, you can't read the Bible and come away with any other idea.

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 Think about who God reveals himself to be in Scripture.

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 One God who eternally exists as three persons,

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 Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

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 And if that's who God is,

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 then relationship and love and community

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 are eternal realities of God himself

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 shared between the eternal persons of the Trinity.

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 And we're told that this God creates us, humans, in his image.

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 And if we're created in the image of a triune God,

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 then surely community and relationship and love

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 is something that you and I were made for.

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 It's part of our design as humans.

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 And Christ has come to redeem us

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 and restore in us that image.

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 But look also at how the story of Scripture unfolds.

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 From the very beginning of God's redemptive plan with Abraham,

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 God is building, what?

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 A family.

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 A people.

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 And that continues through Israel and into the New Testament,

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 into the church,

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 that God's work is not just about saving isolated individuals,

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 but redeeming a whole people who in their life together

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 enjoy and reflect his own glory.

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 Believing is belonging.

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 But there's even more than that.

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 And this is where Hebrews 24 starts to speak

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 a little more explicitly.

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 Not just as believing belonging,

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 but what he's saying here is that membership in this family,

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 membership is ministry.

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 To belong to this people is to have a part to play.

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 Membership in the family of God

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 is less like Beth and I being a part of the Philly Art Museum

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 and more like having a job description.

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 It's having a call.

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 And that call, first and foremost, is what?

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 To consider one another, he says.

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 That's literally how the verse reads.

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 The object of consider is one another.

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 Consider one another.

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 Now, this isn't the first time that Hebrews has used that word consider.

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 Do you remember way back?

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 You probably don't.

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 Maybe you do.

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 Remember way back in Hebrews 3, verse 1.

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 Who are we told to consider there?

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 Consider Jesus,

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 the apostle and high priest of our confession

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 who was faithful to him who appointed him.

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 You see, friends,

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 this is the dynamic of the church.

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 That together we consider Jesus.

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 That he's the object of our focus

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 and our affection and our attention.

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 But the more that we consider him,

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 the more and more it moves me to consider

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 not just myself,

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 in fact, not myself,

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 but others.

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 As I gaze upon Christ

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 and all that he is for me,

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 my eyes come down not on my own needs,

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 but on the needs of those around me.

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 Christ, in other words,

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 heals us from our selfish gaze.

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 After all, for the last ten and a half chapters of this book,

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 what has Hebrews been telling us?

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 He's been showing us how Jesus is our superior high priest

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 who makes the superior sacrifice

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 to establish the superior covenant

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 that at last makes us clean

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 before God.

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 I wonder if you've ever shown up to a party

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 or an event

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 and you're totally wearing the wrong clothes.

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 Has this ever happened to you?

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 You're invited to a wedding

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 and you're like,

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 great, it's a summer wedding.

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 It's probably really casual, right?

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 I'm just going to rock up with,

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 you know, whatever.

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 And you get there

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 and you're like the only one

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 not wearing a dress

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 or not wearing a suit.

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 What happens to you in that moment?

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 Who are you thinking about?

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 You're thinking about yourself, right?

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 You're thinking about,

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 God, how I totally messed up

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 and how other people must be looking at me

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 and thinking,

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 what an idiot,

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 why is he wearing that?

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 But,

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 if you show up with the right clothes on,

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 it's totally different, isn't it?

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 You're not thinking about yourself.

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 You're thinking about the people sitting next to you.

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 You're thinking about the bride and groom.

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 You're thinking about whoever.

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 You see, friends,

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 it's even more that way with Christ.

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 That he's cleansed and clothed you

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 with his perfect life and perfect sacrifice.

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 And you lack nothing in him.

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 You have confidence,

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 Hebrews has just said,

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 to enter the holy places by his blood.

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 The very presence of God.

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 And you have the confidence to go in

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 and not feel shame,

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 but to feel favor

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 and to feel welcome.

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 And so, you see,

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 considering Jesus,

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 your gaze can be lifted from yourself

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 and it can rest on others.

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 And here's where things really get interesting.

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 Because now in Christ,

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 I start to see others

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 not as people who can meet my needs,

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 but as people created in God's image,

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 purchased by Christ's death and love,

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 and for whom God has a glorious future.

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 You see,

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 I start to see my role in their life

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 not as a judge of their performance

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 and not as a consumer of their services,

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 but as a catalyst of their love and good works.

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 I see myself as one who's there to stir them up.

00:15:35.860 --> 00:15:37.600
 And I'm open to receiving the same.

00:15:37.799 --> 00:15:39.159
 I come to the Christian community

00:15:39.159 --> 00:15:41.500
 with blood-bought confidence before God,

00:15:41.779 --> 00:15:42.679
 ready to be stirred

00:15:42.679 --> 00:15:44.139
 because I know that I need it.

00:15:44.799 --> 00:15:46.100
 My heart is sluggish.

00:15:46.620 --> 00:15:47.879
 My dreams are limited.

00:15:48.819 --> 00:15:51.439
 My self-perception is woefully myopic.

00:15:51.440 --> 00:15:54.600
 I need to be stirred up.

00:15:55.720 --> 00:15:58.280
 And that word stir up is a really strong one.

00:15:59.000 --> 00:16:01.120
 It's almost the image of a cattle prod

00:16:01.120 --> 00:16:04.200
 just provoking, inciting,

00:16:05.100 --> 00:16:06.440
 spurring something on.

00:16:07.500 --> 00:16:09.180
 It's like a loving coach

00:16:09.180 --> 00:16:11.100
 who sees so much potential

00:16:11.100 --> 00:16:13.460
 in his middle school basketball team

00:16:13.460 --> 00:16:15.180
 that he'll do anything he can

00:16:15.180 --> 00:16:16.880
 and any technique he can dream of

00:16:16.880 --> 00:16:19.380
 to get them to play well

00:16:19.379 --> 00:16:21.620
 and to do the beautiful thing

00:16:21.620 --> 00:16:24.200
 that is running the flex offense

00:16:24.200 --> 00:16:25.120
 or whatever, you know.

00:16:27.659 --> 00:16:29.080
 Hebrews is saying that we're meant

00:16:29.080 --> 00:16:31.580
 to be a catalyst in each other's lives.

00:16:31.759 --> 00:16:33.139
 That when we come into contact

00:16:33.139 --> 00:16:33.899
 with one another,

00:16:34.080 --> 00:16:36.259
 when we enter into this body,

00:16:36.460 --> 00:16:37.580
 all of a sudden,

00:16:38.539 --> 00:16:41.639
 something dramatic starts to take place.

00:16:41.639 --> 00:16:45.860
 There's a generative effect

00:16:45.860 --> 00:16:47.519
 where we cause each other

00:16:47.519 --> 00:16:49.100
 to burn a little hotter

00:16:49.100 --> 00:16:51.080
 and to burn a little better

00:16:51.080 --> 00:16:53.279
 and to speed each other up

00:16:53.279 --> 00:16:55.460
 towards love and good works.

00:16:58.220 --> 00:16:59.319
 Which is to say

00:16:59.319 --> 00:17:01.299
 that we're meant to stir up one another

00:17:01.299 --> 00:17:05.339
 to reach the Christ-ordained goal

00:17:05.339 --> 00:17:06.539
 of our lives.

00:17:06.539 --> 00:17:09.000
 Again and again,

00:17:09.119 --> 00:17:10.799
 we're told that Jesus saves us

00:17:10.799 --> 00:17:12.159
 not by our good works,

00:17:12.480 --> 00:17:14.000
 but for good works.

00:17:15.000 --> 00:17:16.279
 The passage we read earlier

00:17:16.279 --> 00:17:17.079
 in John 15

00:17:17.079 --> 00:17:18.159
 made just that point.

00:17:19.500 --> 00:17:21.059
 Think also about Ephesians 2.10.

00:17:21.159 --> 00:17:22.279
 We are his workmanship

00:17:22.279 --> 00:17:23.960
 created in Christ Jesus

00:17:23.960 --> 00:17:25.519
 for good works,

00:17:26.019 --> 00:17:27.539
 which God prepared beforehand

00:17:27.539 --> 00:17:28.659
 that we should walk in them.

00:17:29.759 --> 00:17:30.960
 Or again, Titus 2.14.

00:17:30.960 --> 00:17:33.240
 Christ gave himself for us

00:17:33.240 --> 00:17:35.599
 to redeem us from all lawlessness,

00:17:35.599 --> 00:17:38.019
 to purify for himself

00:17:38.019 --> 00:17:39.879
 a people for his own possession

00:17:39.879 --> 00:17:43.439
 who are zealous for good works.

00:17:44.279 --> 00:17:46.259
 Or again, Jesus in Matthew 5.

00:17:47.319 --> 00:17:49.279
 Let your light shine before others

00:17:49.279 --> 00:17:51.779
 so that they may see your good works

00:17:51.779 --> 00:17:53.319
 and do what?

00:17:53.919 --> 00:17:56.939
 Give glory to your Father in heaven.

00:17:59.000 --> 00:18:00.919
 So when we stir up one another

00:18:00.919 --> 00:18:01.559
 in this way,

00:18:02.359 --> 00:18:03.819
 we're helping one another

00:18:03.819 --> 00:18:06.119
 become who Jesus has saved us

00:18:06.119 --> 00:18:06.579
 to become.

00:18:06.659 --> 00:18:07.899
 We're helping one another

00:18:07.899 --> 00:18:08.960
 live into

00:18:08.960 --> 00:18:11.919
 our truly human selves.

00:18:13.359 --> 00:18:15.200
 And I need your stirring

00:18:15.200 --> 00:18:16.480
 ultimately

00:18:16.480 --> 00:18:17.679
 so that the world

00:18:17.679 --> 00:18:19.019
 will see our good works

00:18:19.019 --> 00:18:20.480
 and glorify our Father in heaven.

00:18:22.419 --> 00:18:23.439
 That's the design.

00:18:24.159 --> 00:18:25.619
 Jesus tears the curtain

00:18:25.619 --> 00:18:26.539
 with his own flesh.

00:18:26.819 --> 00:18:27.619
 We're flooded

00:18:27.619 --> 00:18:28.779
 with joyful confidence

00:18:28.779 --> 00:18:30.359
 and we begin doing good works

00:18:30.359 --> 00:18:31.500
 and stirring one another up

00:18:31.500 --> 00:18:32.140
 to do the same

00:18:32.140 --> 00:18:33.440
 and God is glorified

00:18:33.440 --> 00:18:34.940
 as the world sees the difference

00:18:34.940 --> 00:18:35.940
 that Jesus makes

00:18:35.940 --> 00:18:36.920
 in our hearts and lives.

00:18:39.079 --> 00:18:40.000
 That's the nature

00:18:40.000 --> 00:18:41.619
 of Christian community.

00:18:42.559 --> 00:18:43.539
 Considering one another,

00:18:44.539 --> 00:18:45.859
 devoting loving attention

00:18:45.859 --> 00:18:46.599
 to one another,

00:18:47.059 --> 00:18:48.799
 knowing and being deeply known

00:18:48.799 --> 00:18:51.460
 because we want to stir up

00:18:51.460 --> 00:18:52.640
 one another to become

00:18:52.640 --> 00:18:54.319
 who God has made us to become.

00:18:55.819 --> 00:18:56.839
 In other words,

00:18:56.839 --> 00:18:58.879
 the local church

00:18:58.879 --> 00:18:59.879
 is meant to be a place

00:18:59.879 --> 00:19:01.319
 of God-glorifying,

00:19:01.599 --> 00:19:03.359
 catalytic love production

00:19:03.359 --> 00:19:05.259
 for everyone involved.

00:19:07.899 --> 00:19:08.740
 Did you catch that?

00:19:09.419 --> 00:19:10.259
 God-glorifying,

00:19:10.379 --> 00:19:11.559
 catalytic love production

00:19:11.559 --> 00:19:13.099
 and it's eschatologically oriented

00:19:13.099 --> 00:19:13.639
 if we want to throw

00:19:13.639 --> 00:19:14.639
 more words in there, right?

00:19:14.980 --> 00:19:16.039
 This is what it means.

00:19:16.139 --> 00:19:17.159
 This is why you're here.

00:19:19.639 --> 00:19:21.659
 And all this has direct implications

00:19:21.659 --> 00:19:22.619
 before we go on

00:19:22.619 --> 00:19:23.179
 to our second point.

00:19:23.279 --> 00:19:23.599
 First,

00:19:23.799 --> 00:19:25.000
 if you're a believer,

00:19:25.000 --> 00:19:27.500
 maybe you're new to Christ,

00:19:27.619 --> 00:19:28.259
 maybe you've been following

00:19:28.259 --> 00:19:29.039
 Jesus for a while,

00:19:29.140 --> 00:19:29.279
 look,

00:19:29.440 --> 00:19:30.420
 if you're a believer,

00:19:30.599 --> 00:19:32.500
 you need Christian community.

00:19:33.140 --> 00:19:35.079
 You need the local church.

00:19:35.180 --> 00:19:36.519
 God designed it that way.

00:19:37.460 --> 00:19:38.619
 Have you ever made chocolate milk?

00:19:41.500 --> 00:19:43.019
 You pour milk into the glass,

00:19:43.599 --> 00:19:44.920
 you squeeze the chocolate syrup

00:19:44.920 --> 00:19:45.619
 into the glass,

00:19:45.819 --> 00:19:47.039
 and at first,

00:19:47.160 --> 00:19:48.400
 the chocolate just sort of sits there

00:19:48.400 --> 00:19:49.279
 in the bottom of the glass.

00:19:49.920 --> 00:19:50.619
 Until what?

00:19:51.740 --> 00:19:53.279
 Until someone takes a spoon

00:19:53.279 --> 00:19:54.960
 and starts stirring, right?

00:19:55.000 --> 00:19:57.799
 Well, our life in Christ

00:19:57.799 --> 00:19:58.720
 is sort of like that.

00:19:59.660 --> 00:20:00.960
 We need to be stirred.

00:20:02.039 --> 00:20:03.240
 And the church is the place

00:20:03.240 --> 00:20:04.200
 that God set up

00:20:04.200 --> 00:20:04.960
 for it to happen.

00:20:05.599 --> 00:20:06.700
 And to live without the church

00:20:06.700 --> 00:20:07.799
 is to remain forever

00:20:07.799 --> 00:20:09.700
 an unstirred glass of milk

00:20:09.700 --> 00:20:10.759
 with just a bunch of syrup

00:20:10.759 --> 00:20:11.279
 in the bottom.

00:20:12.839 --> 00:20:14.079
 Never really released.

00:20:15.400 --> 00:20:16.720
 No one drinks a cup of milk

00:20:16.720 --> 00:20:17.839
 with Hershey syrup in the bottom

00:20:17.839 --> 00:20:18.119
 and says,

00:20:18.200 --> 00:20:19.559
 that's a good cup of chocolate milk.

00:20:19.960 --> 00:20:20.859
 No, this is gross.

00:20:20.980 --> 00:20:21.680
 Someone stir this up.

00:20:21.680 --> 00:20:24.920
 Don't be a gross glass of milk.

00:20:27.320 --> 00:20:28.100
 But seriously,

00:20:28.340 --> 00:20:29.620
 maybe this is why

00:20:29.620 --> 00:20:31.120
 your walk with God

00:20:31.120 --> 00:20:33.019
 seems a little stagnant.

00:20:34.519 --> 00:20:35.620
 Maybe that's why

00:20:35.620 --> 00:20:36.900
 you don't feel like you're growing.

00:20:38.360 --> 00:20:39.279
 Maybe that's why

00:20:39.279 --> 00:20:41.120
 your friends don't really inquire

00:20:41.120 --> 00:20:42.380
 about God in your life.

00:20:44.019 --> 00:20:44.840
 Maybe you need

00:20:44.840 --> 00:20:46.180
 loving Christian community

00:20:46.180 --> 00:20:47.360
 to stir you up.

00:20:47.359 --> 00:20:50.259
 But second,

00:20:50.399 --> 00:20:51.000
 if it's true

00:20:51.000 --> 00:20:52.179
 that you need the church,

00:20:52.219 --> 00:20:52.939
 it's also true

00:20:52.939 --> 00:20:53.659
 that you

00:20:53.659 --> 00:20:55.879
 have a part to play.

00:20:56.439 --> 00:20:57.519
 That all of us

00:20:57.519 --> 00:20:58.419
 have a part to play.

00:20:59.039 --> 00:21:00.479
 There are no bench warmers

00:21:00.479 --> 00:21:01.019
 in the kingdom,

00:21:01.240 --> 00:21:01.579
 you see.

00:21:02.939 --> 00:21:04.019
 God saves you

00:21:04.019 --> 00:21:05.000
 because he wants you

00:21:05.000 --> 00:21:05.819
 on the court

00:21:05.819 --> 00:21:06.759
 and he's given you

00:21:06.759 --> 00:21:07.699
 everything you need

00:21:07.699 --> 00:21:08.419
 to be a player.

00:21:08.539 --> 00:21:09.539
 He's given you his word

00:21:09.539 --> 00:21:11.139
 and he's put his own spirit

00:21:11.139 --> 00:21:11.839
 within you.

00:21:12.500 --> 00:21:13.799
 Yes, we all have different gifts

00:21:13.799 --> 00:21:14.899
 but we all belong

00:21:14.899 --> 00:21:15.479
 in the game.

00:21:15.480 --> 00:21:18.339
 There's a critical place

00:21:18.339 --> 00:21:19.240
 for you

00:21:19.240 --> 00:21:21.140
 in the community.

00:21:23.019 --> 00:21:23.640
 And that leads

00:21:23.640 --> 00:21:24.279
 to our second point.

00:21:24.360 --> 00:21:24.940
 We've seen the nature

00:21:24.940 --> 00:21:25.680
 of Christian community

00:21:25.680 --> 00:21:26.200
 in verse 24

00:21:26.200 --> 00:21:27.299
 and now in verse 25

00:21:27.299 --> 00:21:27.980
 we start to see

00:21:27.980 --> 00:21:29.099
 the practices.

00:21:29.339 --> 00:21:29.860
 Doesn't all this

00:21:29.860 --> 00:21:31.079
 naturally raise the question

00:21:31.079 --> 00:21:31.660
 of how?

00:21:31.900 --> 00:21:32.839
 How do I go about

00:21:32.839 --> 00:21:33.779
 stirring up my brothers

00:21:33.779 --> 00:21:34.160
 and sisters?

00:21:34.220 --> 00:21:35.180
 It sounds really great.

00:21:35.400 --> 00:21:36.160
 I'd love to be a part

00:21:36.160 --> 00:21:37.059
 of a catalytic community

00:21:37.059 --> 00:21:37.819
 of love production

00:21:37.819 --> 00:21:39.400
 but how do I do that?

00:21:40.160 --> 00:21:41.279
 And here Hebrews points us

00:21:41.279 --> 00:21:43.319
 to two essential practices

00:21:43.319 --> 00:21:44.500
 and we could summarize them

00:21:44.500 --> 00:21:46.099
 pretty simply like this.

00:21:46.900 --> 00:21:47.519
 Showing up

00:21:47.519 --> 00:21:49.559
 and speaking up.

00:21:51.559 --> 00:21:52.240
 Showing up.

00:21:52.440 --> 00:21:53.119
 That's the first part

00:21:53.119 --> 00:21:53.839
 of verse 25.

00:21:54.259 --> 00:21:55.960
 Not neglecting to meet together

00:21:55.960 --> 00:21:57.440
 as is the habit of some.

00:21:58.240 --> 00:21:59.720
 You see there's no substitute

00:21:59.720 --> 00:22:00.819
 for showing up

00:22:00.819 --> 00:22:02.339
 at the weekly assembly,

00:22:02.599 --> 00:22:03.640
 at the weekly gathering

00:22:03.640 --> 00:22:04.220
 of the church.

00:22:04.960 --> 00:22:05.480
 Why?

00:22:07.140 --> 00:22:07.779
 Well friends,

00:22:07.839 --> 00:22:09.180
 at the center of our faith

00:22:09.180 --> 00:22:11.440
 is the claim

00:22:11.440 --> 00:22:14.000
 that God took on human flesh

00:22:14.000 --> 00:22:15.700
 and walked among us

00:22:15.700 --> 00:22:16.480
 face to face.

00:22:17.440 --> 00:22:19.220
 And if our love

00:22:19.220 --> 00:22:20.160
 is going to be

00:22:20.160 --> 00:22:21.340
 a Christ-shaped love

00:22:21.340 --> 00:22:22.180
 then surely

00:22:22.180 --> 00:22:23.240
 it's going to have

00:22:23.240 --> 00:22:24.740
 the same impulse.

00:22:25.140 --> 00:22:26.420
 It'll want to show up

00:22:26.420 --> 00:22:27.920
 in the flesh

00:22:27.920 --> 00:22:29.440
 face to face

00:22:29.440 --> 00:22:31.360
 and be with those

00:22:31.360 --> 00:22:33.720
 for whom Christ

00:22:33.720 --> 00:22:34.380
 has loved

00:22:34.380 --> 00:22:35.060
 and died

00:22:35.060 --> 00:22:35.779
 and risen again.

00:22:35.779 --> 00:22:37.720
 If you're going

00:22:37.720 --> 00:22:38.579
 to stir up

00:22:38.579 --> 00:22:39.779
 Hebrews is saying

00:22:39.779 --> 00:22:40.940
 you've got to show up.

00:22:41.859 --> 00:22:42.119
 And you know

00:22:42.119 --> 00:22:42.859
 your presence

00:22:42.859 --> 00:22:43.940
 in and of itself

00:22:43.940 --> 00:22:45.079
 is a means

00:22:45.079 --> 00:22:45.839
 of stirring up

00:22:45.839 --> 00:22:46.680
 your brothers and sisters.

00:22:47.180 --> 00:22:48.539
 They see you here.

00:22:49.500 --> 00:22:50.619
 They see you've made

00:22:50.619 --> 00:22:51.259
 the commitment

00:22:51.259 --> 00:22:52.180
 to wake up

00:22:52.180 --> 00:22:53.160
 and arrive.

00:22:53.700 --> 00:22:55.039
 And that strengthens them

00:22:55.039 --> 00:22:55.700
 because they know

00:22:55.700 --> 00:22:56.500
 they're not alone.

00:22:56.619 --> 00:22:57.240
 They see

00:22:57.240 --> 00:22:58.139
 that Christ

00:22:58.139 --> 00:22:59.259
 is worth it to you

00:22:59.259 --> 00:22:59.680
 and that

00:22:59.680 --> 00:23:00.799
 stirs them up

00:23:00.799 --> 00:23:02.000
 to consider again

00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:02.980
 that Christ

00:23:02.980 --> 00:23:03.860
 is worth it

00:23:03.860 --> 00:23:05.039
 for them as well.

00:23:07.259 --> 00:23:07.880
 Martin Luther

00:23:07.880 --> 00:23:08.400
 once wrote

00:23:08.400 --> 00:23:10.160
 at home

00:23:10.160 --> 00:23:11.680
 in my own house

00:23:11.680 --> 00:23:13.740
 there's no warmth

00:23:13.740 --> 00:23:14.400
 or vigor

00:23:14.400 --> 00:23:15.079
 in me

00:23:15.079 --> 00:23:16.940
 but in the church

00:23:16.940 --> 00:23:18.579
 when the multitude

00:23:18.579 --> 00:23:19.539
 is gathered

00:23:19.539 --> 00:23:20.279
 together

00:23:20.279 --> 00:23:21.839
 a fire

00:23:21.839 --> 00:23:22.680
 is kindled

00:23:22.680 --> 00:23:23.700
 in my heart

00:23:23.700 --> 00:23:25.319
 and it breaks

00:23:25.319 --> 00:23:26.099
 its way through.

00:23:28.400 --> 00:23:29.380
 You see friends

00:23:29.380 --> 00:23:30.519
 showing up

00:23:30.519 --> 00:23:31.740
 means being part

00:23:31.740 --> 00:23:32.920
 of that multitude

00:23:32.920 --> 00:23:34.160
 gathered together

00:23:34.160 --> 00:23:35.319
 that is lighting

00:23:35.319 --> 00:23:35.960
 a fire

00:23:35.960 --> 00:23:36.599
 in the hearts

00:23:36.599 --> 00:23:37.440
 of those who are called.

00:23:39.539 --> 00:23:40.279
 And you thought

00:23:40.279 --> 00:23:40.880
 you were just here

00:23:40.880 --> 00:23:41.480
 to endure

00:23:41.480 --> 00:23:42.299
 a long sermon.

00:23:43.039 --> 00:23:43.400
 No!

00:23:45.599 --> 00:23:46.160
 Now look

00:23:46.160 --> 00:23:46.839
 Hebrews admits

00:23:46.839 --> 00:23:47.400
 that it's easy

00:23:47.400 --> 00:23:48.339
 to fall into the habit

00:23:48.339 --> 00:23:49.240
 of not meeting together.

00:23:50.059 --> 00:23:50.859
 And there are all sorts

00:23:50.859 --> 00:23:51.279
 of reasons

00:23:51.279 --> 00:23:52.019
 how it can happen

00:23:52.019 --> 00:23:52.299
 right?

00:23:52.740 --> 00:23:53.480
 I've seen some of these

00:23:53.480 --> 00:23:54.200
 in my own heart

00:23:54.200 --> 00:23:55.160
 you maybe seen

00:23:55.160 --> 00:23:55.500
 some of them

00:23:55.500 --> 00:23:56.039
 in yours.

00:23:56.420 --> 00:23:57.120
 There's laziness

00:23:57.120 --> 00:23:57.839
 we just don't

00:23:57.839 --> 00:23:58.660
 make the effort

00:23:58.660 --> 00:23:59.259
 and end up

00:23:59.259 --> 00:24:00.059
 sleeping in instead.

00:24:00.059 --> 00:24:02.159
 there's weariness

00:24:02.159 --> 00:24:03.659
 we're burnt out

00:24:03.659 --> 00:24:04.200
 from life

00:24:04.200 --> 00:24:04.740
 and instead of

00:24:04.740 --> 00:24:05.339
 drawing healthy

00:24:05.339 --> 00:24:05.659
 boundaries

00:24:05.659 --> 00:24:06.259
 we just kind of

00:24:06.259 --> 00:24:06.919
 stop coming.

00:24:08.519 --> 00:24:09.159
 There's a sense

00:24:09.159 --> 00:24:09.859
 of superiority

00:24:09.859 --> 00:24:10.539
 while we just

00:24:10.539 --> 00:24:10.839
 don't think

00:24:10.839 --> 00:24:11.480
 we need it

00:24:11.480 --> 00:24:12.759
 or that we really

00:24:12.759 --> 00:24:13.279
 get anything

00:24:13.279 --> 00:24:13.799
 out of it

00:24:13.799 --> 00:24:14.399
 so we don't

00:24:14.399 --> 00:24:14.720
 come.

00:24:16.460 --> 00:24:17.399
 There's also fear

00:24:17.399 --> 00:24:19.659
 I might be ridiculed

00:24:19.659 --> 00:24:20.319
 or excluded

00:24:20.319 --> 00:24:21.000
 by my friends

00:24:21.000 --> 00:24:21.480
 or family

00:24:21.480 --> 00:24:22.139
 or even in some

00:24:22.139 --> 00:24:22.720
 parts of the world

00:24:22.720 --> 00:24:23.419
 I might be

00:24:23.419 --> 00:24:24.119
 persecuted

00:24:24.119 --> 00:24:25.480
 for publicly

00:24:25.480 --> 00:24:26.359
 identifying as a

00:24:26.359 --> 00:24:26.599
 Christian

00:24:26.599 --> 00:24:27.279
 by coming

00:24:27.279 --> 00:24:28.019
 to the assembly.

00:24:30.200 --> 00:24:30.599
 You know

00:24:30.599 --> 00:24:31.000
 I suppose

00:24:31.000 --> 00:24:31.420
 more often

00:24:31.420 --> 00:24:32.019
 than not

00:24:32.019 --> 00:24:34.000
 it's a matter

00:24:34.000 --> 00:24:34.639
 of indifference.

00:24:36.259 --> 00:24:37.019
 I just

00:24:37.019 --> 00:24:38.339
 slipped away.

00:24:39.420 --> 00:24:40.059
 I got busy

00:24:40.059 --> 00:24:40.960
 with other stuff.

00:24:42.299 --> 00:24:43.220
 Everyday concerns

00:24:43.220 --> 00:24:43.839
 just kind of

00:24:43.839 --> 00:24:45.000
 pulled me away.

00:24:47.759 --> 00:24:48.299
 You know

00:24:48.299 --> 00:24:48.799
 maybe you're here

00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:49.240
 this morning

00:24:49.240 --> 00:24:49.460
 friend

00:24:49.460 --> 00:24:50.019
 and you haven't

00:24:50.019 --> 00:24:50.599
 been to church

00:24:50.599 --> 00:24:51.099
 in a while

00:24:51.099 --> 00:24:53.680
 and you know

00:24:53.680 --> 00:24:54.220
 perhaps it's

00:24:54.220 --> 00:24:55.220
 not an accident

00:24:55.220 --> 00:24:56.940
 that this is

00:24:56.940 --> 00:24:57.539
 the text

00:24:57.539 --> 00:24:58.299
 that we're

00:24:58.299 --> 00:24:58.720
 considering

00:24:58.720 --> 00:24:59.240
 together

00:24:59.240 --> 00:25:01.039
 on the church

00:25:01.039 --> 00:25:01.620
 when you made it

00:25:01.620 --> 00:25:02.120
 on the Sunday

00:25:02.120 --> 00:25:02.960
 when you made it.

00:25:05.059 --> 00:25:05.720
 And as you

00:25:05.720 --> 00:25:06.240
 look at your

00:25:06.240 --> 00:25:06.759
 heart

00:25:06.759 --> 00:25:08.539
 whether it's

00:25:08.539 --> 00:25:09.079
 laziness

00:25:09.079 --> 00:25:09.920
 or weariness

00:25:09.920 --> 00:25:10.920
 or pride

00:25:10.920 --> 00:25:11.740
 or fear

00:25:11.740 --> 00:25:13.079
 or indifference

00:25:13.079 --> 00:25:14.360
 realize

00:25:14.360 --> 00:25:15.600
 this morning

00:25:15.600 --> 00:25:17.360
 that Christ

00:25:17.360 --> 00:25:18.220
 has redeemed

00:25:18.220 --> 00:25:18.620
 you

00:25:18.620 --> 00:25:19.819
 to be a

00:25:19.819 --> 00:25:20.259
 player

00:25:20.259 --> 00:25:21.039
 in the game

00:25:21.039 --> 00:25:23.100
 and to make

00:25:23.100 --> 00:25:24.200
 this gathering

00:25:24.200 --> 00:25:25.080
 a priority

00:25:25.080 --> 00:25:26.460
 because he

00:25:26.460 --> 00:25:26.840
 made it

00:25:26.840 --> 00:25:27.460
 a priority.

00:25:28.460 --> 00:25:28.920
 The eternal

00:25:28.920 --> 00:25:29.539
 son of God

00:25:29.539 --> 00:25:30.559
 emptied himself

00:25:30.559 --> 00:25:31.880
 took on flesh

00:25:31.880 --> 00:25:33.779
 dwelt among us

00:25:33.779 --> 00:25:35.039
 died on a cross

00:25:35.039 --> 00:25:35.799
 rose again

00:25:35.799 --> 00:25:36.279
 so that he could

00:25:36.279 --> 00:25:37.559
 form a people

00:25:37.559 --> 00:25:38.319
 for his glory

00:25:38.319 --> 00:25:38.900
 and now you

00:25:38.900 --> 00:25:39.299
 and I have

00:25:39.299 --> 00:25:39.960
 the privilege

00:25:39.960 --> 00:25:40.960
 to be a part

00:25:40.960 --> 00:25:41.620
 of that people

00:25:41.620 --> 00:25:42.660
 and to come

00:25:42.660 --> 00:25:43.480
 together each week

00:25:43.480 --> 00:25:44.160
 not just to receive

00:25:44.160 --> 00:25:45.039
 but to give

00:25:45.039 --> 00:25:46.080
 and help others

00:25:46.080 --> 00:25:46.600
 become more

00:25:46.600 --> 00:25:47.340
 like Christ.

00:25:51.039 --> 00:25:51.799
 Now maybe you

00:25:51.799 --> 00:25:52.299
 show up here

00:25:52.299 --> 00:25:52.620
 at Trinity

00:25:52.620 --> 00:25:53.240
 every Sunday

00:25:53.240 --> 00:25:55.500
 but you know

00:25:55.500 --> 00:25:56.039
 there are still

00:25:56.039 --> 00:25:56.620
 ways

00:25:56.620 --> 00:25:58.279
 that we can

00:25:58.279 --> 00:25:58.940
 neglect to

00:25:58.940 --> 00:25:59.559
 meet together

00:25:59.559 --> 00:26:01.000
 even if

00:26:01.000 --> 00:26:01.960
 technically we

00:26:01.960 --> 00:26:02.859
 come every

00:26:02.859 --> 00:26:03.220
 week.

00:26:04.900 --> 00:26:06.000
 Think about it.

00:26:06.960 --> 00:26:08.039
 Do you slip

00:26:08.039 --> 00:26:09.359
 in right before

00:26:09.359 --> 00:26:09.799
 the service

00:26:09.799 --> 00:26:10.880
 starts and

00:26:10.880 --> 00:26:12.420
 slip out right

00:26:12.420 --> 00:26:13.140
 before we end

00:26:13.140 --> 00:26:16.900
 or are you

00:26:16.900 --> 00:26:17.460
 making the

00:26:17.460 --> 00:26:18.420
 effort actually

00:26:18.420 --> 00:26:19.460
 to be present

00:26:19.460 --> 00:26:20.640
 and present

00:26:20.640 --> 00:26:21.339
 long enough

00:26:21.339 --> 00:26:21.779
 that someone

00:26:21.779 --> 00:26:22.500
 might actually

00:26:22.500 --> 00:26:23.159
 get to know

00:26:23.159 --> 00:26:24.859
 you and you

00:26:24.859 --> 00:26:25.240
 might get to

00:26:25.240 --> 00:26:25.740
 know them?

00:26:27.579 --> 00:26:28.159
 Are you

00:26:28.159 --> 00:26:28.659
 coming with

00:26:28.659 --> 00:26:29.159
 the mindset

00:26:29.159 --> 00:26:29.740
 of simply

00:26:29.740 --> 00:26:30.480
 getting something

00:26:30.480 --> 00:26:31.119
 out of it

00:26:31.119 --> 00:26:33.259
 or are you

00:26:33.259 --> 00:26:33.939
 thinking about

00:26:33.939 --> 00:26:34.819
 being present

00:26:34.819 --> 00:26:35.359
 for someone

00:26:35.359 --> 00:26:35.939
 else's sake

00:26:35.939 --> 00:26:36.220
 too?

00:26:37.220 --> 00:26:38.039
 Are you aware

00:26:38.039 --> 00:26:38.480
 that God

00:26:38.480 --> 00:26:39.079
 might have you

00:26:39.079 --> 00:26:40.939
 here to meet

00:26:40.939 --> 00:26:41.699
 someone else's

00:26:41.699 --> 00:26:43.259
 needs in

00:26:43.259 --> 00:26:43.759
 addition to

00:26:43.759 --> 00:26:44.139
 your own?

00:26:44.140 --> 00:26:48.240
 of course

00:26:48.240 --> 00:26:48.620
 all this is

00:26:48.620 --> 00:26:49.020
 incredibly

00:26:49.020 --> 00:26:49.660
 countercultural

00:26:49.660 --> 00:26:50.160
 isn't it?

00:26:50.660 --> 00:26:51.120
 It runs

00:26:51.120 --> 00:26:52.120
 right against

00:26:52.120 --> 00:26:53.220
 our consumer

00:26:53.220 --> 00:26:53.660
 mindset

00:26:53.660 --> 00:26:55.860
 but honestly

00:26:55.860 --> 00:26:56.100
 friend

00:26:56.100 --> 00:26:56.500
 aren't you

00:26:56.500 --> 00:26:57.200
 tired of

00:26:57.200 --> 00:26:57.520
 being a

00:26:57.520 --> 00:26:58.000
 consumer?

00:26:59.480 --> 00:27:00.180
 Isn't it

00:27:00.180 --> 00:27:00.640
 boring?

00:27:02.540 --> 00:27:03.360
 Every single

00:27:03.360 --> 00:27:04.060
 advertisement you

00:27:04.060 --> 00:27:04.740
 watch on TV

00:27:04.740 --> 00:27:05.500
 just wants you

00:27:05.500 --> 00:27:06.040
 to consume.

00:27:07.720 --> 00:27:08.160
 Isn't that

00:27:08.160 --> 00:27:08.680
 dull?

00:27:08.680 --> 00:27:10.360
 Instead

00:27:10.360 --> 00:27:11.160
 Christ is

00:27:11.160 --> 00:27:11.920
 saying come

00:27:11.920 --> 00:27:13.019
 be a

00:27:13.019 --> 00:27:13.380
 player

00:27:13.380 --> 00:27:13.900
 take your

00:27:13.900 --> 00:27:14.500
 place in

00:27:14.500 --> 00:27:14.820
 the great

00:27:14.820 --> 00:27:15.460
 drama

00:27:15.460 --> 00:27:16.539
 of redemption

00:27:16.539 --> 00:27:17.400
 that's unfolding

00:27:17.400 --> 00:27:18.180
 before you

00:27:18.180 --> 00:27:18.920
 not as a

00:27:18.920 --> 00:27:19.840
 mere spectator

00:27:19.840 --> 00:27:20.400
 but as an

00:27:20.400 --> 00:27:20.820
 agent

00:27:20.820 --> 00:27:21.560
 as an

00:27:21.560 --> 00:27:21.980
 actor

00:27:21.980 --> 00:27:22.279
 with a

00:27:22.279 --> 00:27:22.700
 part to

00:27:22.700 --> 00:27:23.100
 play

00:27:23.100 --> 00:27:26.460
 and the

00:27:26.460 --> 00:27:27.259
 part that

00:27:27.259 --> 00:27:27.779
 we play

00:27:27.779 --> 00:27:28.519
 is done

00:27:28.519 --> 00:27:28.900
 not just

00:27:28.900 --> 00:27:29.400
 by showing

00:27:29.400 --> 00:27:29.600
 up

00:27:29.600 --> 00:27:30.200
 but also

00:27:30.200 --> 00:27:31.420
 by speaking

00:27:31.420 --> 00:27:31.820
 up.

00:27:32.240 --> 00:27:32.700
 Verse 25

00:27:32.700 --> 00:27:33.080
 continues

00:27:33.080 --> 00:27:33.440
 we're told

00:27:33.440 --> 00:27:33.680
 to be

00:27:33.680 --> 00:27:34.340
 encouraging

00:27:34.340 --> 00:27:35.299
 one another

00:27:35.299 --> 00:27:35.560
 and the

00:27:35.560 --> 00:27:36.220
 primary way

00:27:36.220 --> 00:27:36.420
 that we

00:27:36.420 --> 00:27:36.980
 do this

00:27:36.980 --> 00:27:37.820
 is through

00:27:37.819 --> 00:27:38.819
 words.

00:27:40.439 --> 00:27:41.099
 God after

00:27:41.099 --> 00:27:41.519
 all is a

00:27:41.519 --> 00:27:41.980
 speaking

00:27:41.980 --> 00:27:42.720
 God

00:27:42.720 --> 00:27:43.079
 and isn't

00:27:43.079 --> 00:27:43.559
 it amazing

00:27:43.559 --> 00:27:43.819
 that he

00:27:43.819 --> 00:27:44.339
 gives us

00:27:44.339 --> 00:27:45.019
 the privilege

00:27:45.019 --> 00:27:45.639
 of being

00:27:45.639 --> 00:27:46.220
 speaking

00:27:46.220 --> 00:27:46.740
 creatures

00:27:46.740 --> 00:27:47.419
 and he

00:27:47.419 --> 00:27:47.919
 calls us

00:27:47.919 --> 00:27:48.259
 to use

00:27:48.259 --> 00:27:48.980
 our words

00:27:48.980 --> 00:27:49.960
 to stir

00:27:49.960 --> 00:27:50.339
 up one

00:27:50.339 --> 00:27:50.659
 another.

00:27:51.740 --> 00:27:52.220
 That's what

00:27:52.220 --> 00:27:52.460
 we do

00:27:52.460 --> 00:27:52.639
 when we

00:27:52.639 --> 00:27:52.779
 gather

00:27:52.779 --> 00:27:53.439
 on Sundays

00:27:53.439 --> 00:27:54.319
 the singing

00:27:54.319 --> 00:27:54.919
 and the

00:27:54.919 --> 00:27:55.220
 preaching

00:27:55.220 --> 00:27:55.879
 and the

00:27:55.879 --> 00:27:56.339
 ordinances

00:27:56.339 --> 00:27:56.819
 all of

00:27:56.819 --> 00:27:57.039
 these are

00:27:57.039 --> 00:27:57.359
 ways of

00:27:57.359 --> 00:27:58.099
 speaking

00:27:58.099 --> 00:27:59.419
 the gospel

00:27:59.419 --> 00:27:59.779
 to one

00:27:59.779 --> 00:28:00.019
 another

00:28:00.019 --> 00:28:00.859
 and encouraging

00:28:00.859 --> 00:28:01.519
 one another.

00:28:04.159 --> 00:28:04.659
 Now the

00:28:04.659 --> 00:28:04.799
 verb

00:28:04.799 --> 00:28:05.200
 encourage

00:28:05.200 --> 00:28:05.599
 here has

00:28:05.599 --> 00:28:05.839
 a pretty

00:28:05.839 --> 00:28:06.379
 broad

00:28:06.379 --> 00:28:07.079
 meaning.

00:28:07.819 --> 00:28:07.980
 I think

00:28:07.980 --> 00:28:08.179
 often

00:28:08.179 --> 00:28:08.379
 when we

00:28:08.379 --> 00:28:08.480
 think

00:28:08.480 --> 00:28:08.599
 about

00:28:08.599 --> 00:28:08.839
 the word

00:28:08.839 --> 00:28:09.259
 encouragement

00:28:09.259 --> 00:28:09.639
 it means

00:28:09.639 --> 00:28:10.000
 just sort

00:28:10.000 --> 00:28:10.439
 of like

00:28:10.439 --> 00:28:12.679
 showering

00:28:12.679 --> 00:28:13.759
 empty praise

00:28:13.759 --> 00:28:14.240
 on someone.

00:28:14.419 --> 00:28:14.939
 Good job.

00:28:15.500 --> 00:28:15.700
 Right?

00:28:16.399 --> 00:28:17.079
 But no

00:28:17.079 --> 00:28:17.740
 the biblical

00:28:17.740 --> 00:28:18.179
 idea of

00:28:18.179 --> 00:28:18.819
 encouragement

00:28:18.819 --> 00:28:19.639
 is actually

00:28:19.639 --> 00:28:20.279
 broad.

00:28:20.759 --> 00:28:21.220
 It encompasses

00:28:21.220 --> 00:28:22.019
 encouragement

00:28:22.019 --> 00:28:23.740
 and exhortation

00:28:23.740 --> 00:28:24.679
 and even

00:28:24.679 --> 00:28:26.240
 consolation.

00:28:28.179 --> 00:28:28.539
 I don't know

00:28:28.539 --> 00:28:28.839
 about you

00:28:28.839 --> 00:28:29.319
 but I think

00:28:29.319 --> 00:28:30.339
 speaking in a

00:28:30.339 --> 00:28:31.039
 way to

00:28:31.039 --> 00:28:31.579
 encourage

00:28:31.579 --> 00:28:32.279
 or to

00:28:32.279 --> 00:28:32.899
 exhort

00:28:32.899 --> 00:28:33.480
 or to

00:28:33.480 --> 00:28:34.079
 console

00:28:34.079 --> 00:28:35.179
 doesn't

00:28:35.179 --> 00:28:35.799
 actually come

00:28:35.799 --> 00:28:36.419
 naturally.

00:28:38.019 --> 00:28:38.700
 We all

00:28:38.700 --> 00:28:39.019
 kind of

00:28:39.019 --> 00:28:39.339
 struggle

00:28:39.339 --> 00:28:39.720
 at that

00:28:39.720 --> 00:28:39.940
 don't

00:28:39.940 --> 00:28:40.159
 we?

00:28:41.919 --> 00:28:42.240
 And I

00:28:42.240 --> 00:28:42.379
 think

00:28:42.379 --> 00:28:42.619
 that's

00:28:42.619 --> 00:28:43.000
 why

00:28:43.000 --> 00:28:43.220
 the

00:28:43.220 --> 00:28:43.779
 main

00:28:43.779 --> 00:28:44.319
 command

00:28:44.319 --> 00:28:44.680
 in these

00:28:44.680 --> 00:28:44.839
 two

00:28:44.839 --> 00:28:45.079
 verses

00:28:45.079 --> 00:28:45.319
 is

00:28:45.319 --> 00:28:45.819
 consider.

00:28:46.659 --> 00:28:47.159
 Consider

00:28:47.159 --> 00:28:47.700
 how.

00:28:48.700 --> 00:28:49.019
 We should

00:28:49.019 --> 00:28:49.339
 actually

00:28:49.339 --> 00:28:49.940
 take

00:28:49.940 --> 00:28:50.460
 some

00:28:50.460 --> 00:28:51.019
 time

00:28:51.019 --> 00:28:51.460
 to

00:28:51.460 --> 00:28:51.940
 consider

00:28:51.940 --> 00:28:52.119
 how

00:28:52.119 --> 00:28:52.259
 to

00:28:52.259 --> 00:28:52.659
 use

00:28:52.659 --> 00:28:52.980
 our

00:28:52.980 --> 00:28:53.399
 words

00:28:53.399 --> 00:28:54.240
 well

00:28:54.240 --> 00:28:55.159
 to

00:28:55.159 --> 00:28:55.559
 stir

00:28:55.559 --> 00:28:55.799
 up

00:28:55.799 --> 00:28:56.000
 each

00:28:56.000 --> 00:28:56.259
 other.

00:28:57.960 --> 00:28:58.539
 So

00:28:58.539 --> 00:28:58.859
 consider

00:28:58.859 --> 00:28:59.159
 how to

00:28:59.159 --> 00:28:59.399
 speak

00:28:59.399 --> 00:28:59.659
 words

00:28:59.659 --> 00:28:59.779
 that

00:28:59.779 --> 00:29:00.319
 encourage.

00:29:01.919 --> 00:29:02.539
 Find

00:29:02.539 --> 00:29:02.859
 someone

00:29:02.859 --> 00:29:03.099
 who's

00:29:03.099 --> 00:29:03.359
 doing

00:29:03.359 --> 00:29:03.759
 something

00:29:03.759 --> 00:29:04.319
 well

00:29:04.319 --> 00:29:04.960
 and let

00:29:04.960 --> 00:29:05.119
 them

00:29:05.119 --> 00:29:05.539
 know.

00:29:06.440 --> 00:29:06.740
 Thank

00:29:06.740 --> 00:29:07.099
 them.

00:29:07.980 --> 00:29:08.220
 Tell

00:29:08.220 --> 00:29:08.519
 them to

00:29:08.519 --> 00:29:08.759
 keep

00:29:08.759 --> 00:29:09.000
 on

00:29:09.000 --> 00:29:09.200
 doing

00:29:09.200 --> 00:29:09.339
 it.

00:29:09.440 --> 00:29:09.640
 Most

00:29:09.640 --> 00:29:10.140
 importantly

00:29:10.140 --> 00:29:10.980
 show

00:29:10.980 --> 00:29:11.400
 them

00:29:11.400 --> 00:29:11.759
 the

00:29:11.759 --> 00:29:12.359
 good

00:29:12.359 --> 00:29:12.819
 that

00:29:12.819 --> 00:29:13.000
 you

00:29:13.000 --> 00:29:13.180
 see

00:29:13.180 --> 00:29:13.519
 coming

00:29:13.519 --> 00:29:13.839
 from

00:29:13.839 --> 00:29:14.059
 it.

00:29:14.940 --> 00:29:15.240
 Point

00:29:15.240 --> 00:29:15.440
 out

00:29:15.440 --> 00:29:15.640
 how

00:29:15.640 --> 00:29:15.819
 you

00:29:15.819 --> 00:29:16.019
 see

00:29:16.019 --> 00:29:16.619
 Christ

00:29:16.619 --> 00:29:17.180
 at

00:29:17.180 --> 00:29:17.480
 work

00:29:17.480 --> 00:29:17.799
 in

00:29:17.799 --> 00:29:18.079
 them.

00:29:19.279 --> 00:29:19.559
 For

00:29:19.559 --> 00:29:19.799
 example

00:29:19.799 --> 00:29:19.960
 you

00:29:19.960 --> 00:29:20.079
 could

00:29:20.079 --> 00:29:20.240
 tell

00:29:20.240 --> 00:29:20.379
 the

00:29:20.379 --> 00:29:20.579
 people

00:29:20.579 --> 00:29:20.720
 who

00:29:20.720 --> 00:29:20.900
 serve

00:29:20.900 --> 00:29:21.000
 in

00:29:21.000 --> 00:29:21.559
 hospitality

00:29:21.559 --> 00:29:21.980
 downstairs

00:29:21.980 --> 00:29:22.319
 after

00:29:22.319 --> 00:29:22.480
 the

00:29:22.480 --> 00:29:22.859
 service

00:29:22.859 --> 00:29:23.680
 you

00:29:23.680 --> 00:29:23.879
 know

00:29:23.879 --> 00:29:24.559
 you

00:29:24.559 --> 00:29:24.779
 guys

00:29:24.779 --> 00:29:24.940
 do

00:29:24.940 --> 00:29:25.079
 a

00:29:25.079 --> 00:29:25.460
 great

00:29:25.460 --> 00:29:26.059
 job

00:29:26.059 --> 00:29:26.680
 every

00:29:26.680 --> 00:29:27.039
 week.

00:29:27.980 --> 00:29:28.279
 When

00:29:28.279 --> 00:29:28.400
 I

00:29:28.400 --> 00:29:28.579
 look

00:29:28.579 --> 00:29:28.660
 at

00:29:28.660 --> 00:29:28.740
 all

00:29:28.740 --> 00:29:28.859
 the

00:29:28.859 --> 00:29:29.119
 people

00:29:29.119 --> 00:29:29.299
 who

00:29:29.299 --> 00:29:29.799
 come

00:29:29.799 --> 00:29:30.200
 to

00:29:30.200 --> 00:29:30.359
 the

00:29:30.359 --> 00:29:30.660
 fellowship

00:29:30.660 --> 00:29:30.960
 hall

00:29:30.960 --> 00:29:31.279
 after

00:29:31.279 --> 00:29:31.480
 the

00:29:31.480 --> 00:29:31.900
 service

00:29:31.900 --> 00:29:32.320
 and

00:29:32.320 --> 00:29:32.440
 get

00:29:32.440 --> 00:29:32.560
 to

00:29:32.560 --> 00:29:33.019
 connect

00:29:33.019 --> 00:29:33.200
 with

00:29:33.200 --> 00:29:33.360
 each

00:29:33.360 --> 00:29:33.600
 other

00:29:33.600 --> 00:29:33.940
 and

00:29:33.940 --> 00:29:34.160
 do

00:29:34.160 --> 00:29:34.580
 spiritual

00:29:34.580 --> 00:29:34.980
 good

00:29:34.980 --> 00:29:35.140
 to

00:29:35.140 --> 00:29:35.320
 one

00:29:35.320 --> 00:29:35.620
 another

00:29:35.620 --> 00:29:36.360
 you

00:29:36.360 --> 00:29:36.540
 guys

00:29:36.540 --> 00:29:36.660
 are

00:29:36.660 --> 00:29:37.040
 making

00:29:37.040 --> 00:29:37.360
 that

00:29:37.360 --> 00:29:37.900
 happen.

00:29:38.940 --> 00:29:39.380
 Thank

00:29:39.380 --> 00:29:39.540
 you

00:29:39.540 --> 00:29:39.700
 for

00:29:39.700 --> 00:29:39.900
 what

00:29:39.900 --> 00:29:40.019
 you

00:29:40.019 --> 00:29:40.279
 do.

00:29:40.400 --> 00:29:40.560
 Isn't

00:29:40.560 --> 00:29:40.700
 it

00:29:40.700 --> 00:29:40.980
 just

00:29:40.980 --> 00:29:41.200
 like

00:29:41.200 --> 00:29:41.740
 Christ

00:29:41.740 --> 00:29:42.300
 in

00:29:42.300 --> 00:29:42.600
 us

00:29:42.600 --> 00:29:43.180
 who

00:29:43.180 --> 00:29:43.540
 opened

00:29:43.540 --> 00:29:43.720
 his

00:29:43.720 --> 00:29:43.920
 arms

00:29:43.920 --> 00:29:44.120
 for

00:29:44.120 --> 00:29:44.300
 us

00:29:44.300 --> 00:29:44.640
 that

00:29:44.640 --> 00:29:44.820
 we

00:29:44.820 --> 00:29:45.000
 too

00:29:45.000 --> 00:29:45.140
 would

00:29:45.140 --> 00:29:45.360
 take

00:29:45.360 --> 00:29:45.519
 the

00:29:45.519 --> 00:29:45.759
 time

00:29:45.759 --> 00:29:46.220
 to

00:29:46.220 --> 00:29:46.500
 set

00:29:46.500 --> 00:29:46.640
 a

00:29:46.640 --> 00:29:46.940
 table

00:29:46.940 --> 00:29:47.100
 and

00:29:47.100 --> 00:29:47.360
 open

00:29:47.360 --> 00:29:47.560
 our

00:29:47.560 --> 00:29:47.840
 arms

00:29:47.840 --> 00:29:48.019
 for

00:29:48.019 --> 00:29:48.240
 others

00:29:48.240 --> 00:29:48.400
 to

00:29:48.400 --> 00:29:48.660
 come.

00:29:51.220 --> 00:29:51.700
 Consider

00:29:51.700 --> 00:29:51.900
 how

00:29:51.900 --> 00:29:52.019
 to

00:29:52.019 --> 00:29:52.480
 encourage

00:29:52.480 --> 00:29:52.740
 each

00:29:52.740 --> 00:29:52.980
 other

00:29:52.980 --> 00:29:53.980
 but

00:29:53.980 --> 00:29:54.160
 also

00:29:54.160 --> 00:29:54.519
 consider

00:29:54.519 --> 00:29:54.680
 how

00:29:54.680 --> 00:29:54.799
 to

00:29:54.799 --> 00:29:54.960
 speak

00:29:54.960 --> 00:29:55.180
 words

00:29:55.180 --> 00:29:55.299
 that

00:29:55.299 --> 00:29:55.880
 exhort

00:29:55.880 --> 00:29:56.420
 each

00:29:56.420 --> 00:29:56.700
 other.

00:29:58.440 --> 00:29:58.500
 And

00:29:58.500 --> 00:29:59.539
 exhortation

00:29:59.539 --> 00:30:00.900
 is that

00:30:00.900 --> 00:30:01.480
 loving

00:30:01.480 --> 00:30:02.519
 correction.

00:30:03.759 --> 00:30:04.259
 And we

00:30:04.259 --> 00:30:04.720
 all need

00:30:04.720 --> 00:30:05.019
 it,

00:30:05.140 --> 00:30:05.420
 right?

00:30:06.420 --> 00:30:06.960
 Back in

00:30:06.960 --> 00:30:07.380
 chapter 3

00:30:07.380 --> 00:30:07.640
 Hebrews

00:30:07.640 --> 00:30:07.940
 said,

00:30:08.120 --> 00:30:08.440
 exhort

00:30:08.440 --> 00:30:08.620
 one

00:30:08.620 --> 00:30:08.940
 another

00:30:08.940 --> 00:30:09.440
 every

00:30:09.440 --> 00:30:09.880
 day

00:30:09.880 --> 00:30:11.320
 as long

00:30:11.320 --> 00:30:11.519
 as it

00:30:11.519 --> 00:30:11.900
 is called

00:30:11.900 --> 00:30:12.200
 today

00:30:12.200 --> 00:30:12.740
 that none

00:30:12.740 --> 00:30:12.960
 of you

00:30:12.960 --> 00:30:13.299
 may be

00:30:13.299 --> 00:30:13.720
 hardened

00:30:13.720 --> 00:30:14.640
 by the

00:30:14.640 --> 00:30:15.259
 deceitfulness

00:30:15.259 --> 00:30:15.840
 of sin.

00:30:17.100 --> 00:30:17.640
 Because

00:30:17.640 --> 00:30:18.660
 sin

00:30:18.660 --> 00:30:19.480
 is

00:30:19.480 --> 00:30:20.180
 deceitful

00:30:20.180 --> 00:30:21.560
 aren't

00:30:21.560 --> 00:30:22.019
 we often

00:30:22.019 --> 00:30:22.660
 the last

00:30:22.660 --> 00:30:23.160
 ones

00:30:23.160 --> 00:30:24.039
 to see

00:30:24.039 --> 00:30:24.299
 it in

00:30:24.299 --> 00:30:24.440
 our

00:30:24.440 --> 00:30:24.680
 own

00:30:24.680 --> 00:30:25.159
 lives.

00:30:26.319 --> 00:30:27.039
 So we

00:30:27.039 --> 00:30:27.279
 need

00:30:27.279 --> 00:30:27.680
 fellow

00:30:27.680 --> 00:30:28.119
 believers

00:30:28.119 --> 00:30:28.359
 who

00:30:28.359 --> 00:30:28.500
 will

00:30:28.500 --> 00:30:28.700
 have

00:30:28.700 --> 00:30:28.940
 the

00:30:28.940 --> 00:30:29.599
 courage

00:30:29.599 --> 00:30:30.859
 to

00:30:30.859 --> 00:30:31.240
 exhort

00:30:31.240 --> 00:30:31.599
 us.

00:30:33.019 --> 00:30:33.519
 To

00:30:33.519 --> 00:30:33.680
 say

00:30:33.680 --> 00:30:34.019
 something

00:30:34.019 --> 00:30:34.339
 like,

00:30:34.480 --> 00:30:34.680
 hey,

00:30:35.960 --> 00:30:36.480
 I've

00:30:36.480 --> 00:30:36.700
 noticed

00:30:36.700 --> 00:30:36.960
 this

00:30:36.960 --> 00:30:37.619
 pattern

00:30:37.619 --> 00:30:38.579
 in your

00:30:38.579 --> 00:30:38.940
 life.

00:30:39.879 --> 00:30:40.279
 Am I

00:30:40.279 --> 00:30:40.579
 seeing

00:30:40.579 --> 00:30:40.779
 that

00:30:40.779 --> 00:30:41.139
 rightly?

00:30:42.720 --> 00:30:43.359
 Can I

00:30:43.359 --> 00:30:43.559
 share

00:30:43.559 --> 00:30:43.799
 with you

00:30:43.799 --> 00:30:43.960
 some

00:30:43.960 --> 00:30:44.200
 things

00:30:44.200 --> 00:30:44.619
 that I've

00:30:44.619 --> 00:30:44.779
 learned

00:30:44.779 --> 00:30:45.180
 about this

00:30:45.180 --> 00:30:45.539
 area

00:30:45.539 --> 00:30:46.180
 that have

00:30:46.180 --> 00:30:46.339
 helped

00:30:46.339 --> 00:30:46.740
 me?

00:30:49.480 --> 00:30:50.000
 Of

00:30:50.000 --> 00:30:50.139
 course,

00:30:50.200 --> 00:30:50.500
 this takes

00:30:50.500 --> 00:30:51.200
 a prior

00:30:51.200 --> 00:30:51.779
 relationship

00:30:51.779 --> 00:30:52.159
 to go

00:30:52.159 --> 00:30:52.359
 well,

00:30:52.419 --> 00:30:52.619
 doesn't

00:30:52.619 --> 00:30:52.799
 it?

00:30:52.799 --> 00:30:54.159
 I don't

00:30:54.159 --> 00:30:54.379
 think you

00:30:54.379 --> 00:30:54.639
 should just

00:30:54.639 --> 00:30:54.960
 walk up

00:30:54.960 --> 00:30:55.259
 to someone

00:30:55.259 --> 00:30:55.599
 and start

00:30:55.599 --> 00:30:55.819
 saying,

00:30:55.940 --> 00:30:56.099
 hey,

00:30:56.279 --> 00:30:56.879
 you're

00:30:56.879 --> 00:30:57.039
 messed

00:30:57.039 --> 00:30:57.339
 up.

00:30:57.819 --> 00:30:58.019
 Fix

00:30:58.019 --> 00:30:58.200
 that.

00:30:58.779 --> 00:30:58.960
 That's

00:30:58.960 --> 00:30:59.139
 not how

00:30:59.139 --> 00:30:59.440
 you do

00:30:59.440 --> 00:30:59.680
 this,

00:30:59.740 --> 00:30:59.980
 right?

00:31:00.440 --> 00:31:00.700
 That's

00:31:00.700 --> 00:31:00.940
 not what

00:31:00.940 --> 00:31:01.579
 loving

00:31:01.579 --> 00:31:02.339
 exhortation

00:31:02.339 --> 00:31:02.919
 means.

00:31:04.099 --> 00:31:04.480
 And isn't

00:31:04.480 --> 00:31:04.799
 that why

00:31:04.799 --> 00:31:05.759
 showing up

00:31:05.759 --> 00:31:07.119
 is the

00:31:07.119 --> 00:31:07.399
 critical

00:31:07.399 --> 00:31:08.299
 first step

00:31:08.299 --> 00:31:09.659
 before

00:31:09.659 --> 00:31:10.460
 speaking up?

00:31:12.059 --> 00:31:12.680
 But you

00:31:12.680 --> 00:31:12.759
 know,

00:31:12.839 --> 00:31:13.039
 I think

00:31:13.039 --> 00:31:13.379
 for all

00:31:13.379 --> 00:31:13.700
 that,

00:31:13.919 --> 00:31:14.539
 most of

00:31:14.539 --> 00:31:14.879
 us can

00:31:14.879 --> 00:31:15.399
 look back

00:31:15.399 --> 00:31:15.839
 in our

00:31:15.839 --> 00:31:16.500
 lives

00:31:16.500 --> 00:31:17.059
 and see

00:31:17.059 --> 00:31:17.619
 a time

00:31:17.619 --> 00:31:18.579
 when someone

00:31:18.579 --> 00:31:18.980
 had the

00:31:18.980 --> 00:31:19.559
 courage

00:31:19.559 --> 00:31:20.559
 to exhort

00:31:20.559 --> 00:31:21.700
 us and

00:31:21.700 --> 00:31:21.960
 it made

00:31:21.960 --> 00:31:22.279
 all the

00:31:22.279 --> 00:31:22.779
 difference.

00:31:24.059 --> 00:31:24.859
 It didn't

00:31:24.859 --> 00:31:25.619
 feel great

00:31:25.619 --> 00:31:26.119
 at the

00:31:26.119 --> 00:31:26.480
 time,

00:31:27.139 --> 00:31:27.859
 but it

00:31:27.859 --> 00:31:28.539
 stirred us

00:31:28.539 --> 00:31:29.019
 up in

00:31:29.019 --> 00:31:29.500
 massive ways.

00:31:29.799 --> 00:31:30.079
 Maybe it

00:31:30.079 --> 00:31:31.019
 even changed

00:31:31.019 --> 00:31:31.859
 the direction

00:31:31.859 --> 00:31:32.159
 of your

00:31:32.159 --> 00:31:33.539
 life for

00:31:33.539 --> 00:31:33.960
 Christ's

00:31:33.960 --> 00:31:34.259
 sake.

00:31:36.460 --> 00:31:37.139
 So in

00:31:37.139 --> 00:31:38.679
 addition to

00:31:38.679 --> 00:31:39.139
 encouragement,

00:31:39.379 --> 00:31:40.000
 we need to

00:31:40.000 --> 00:31:40.379
 exhort.

00:31:41.500 --> 00:31:42.039
 But in

00:31:42.039 --> 00:31:42.339
 addition to

00:31:42.339 --> 00:31:42.919
 exhortation,

00:31:42.980 --> 00:31:43.220
 we should

00:31:43.220 --> 00:31:43.899
 also consider

00:31:43.899 --> 00:31:44.179
 how to

00:31:44.179 --> 00:31:44.899
 speak words

00:31:44.899 --> 00:31:46.139
 that console.

00:31:46.140 --> 00:31:48.060
 And this

00:31:48.060 --> 00:31:48.460
 is simply

00:31:48.460 --> 00:31:49.280
 telling someone

00:31:49.280 --> 00:31:50.500
 that I'm

00:31:50.500 --> 00:31:50.940
 here for

00:31:50.940 --> 00:31:51.180
 you.

00:31:52.380 --> 00:31:52.940
 I'm not

00:31:52.940 --> 00:31:53.280
 trying to

00:31:53.280 --> 00:31:53.680
 fix your

00:31:53.680 --> 00:31:54.220
 problems,

00:31:54.740 --> 00:31:56.060
 but I'm

00:31:56.060 --> 00:31:56.280
 here to

00:31:56.280 --> 00:31:56.540
 help you

00:31:56.540 --> 00:31:56.880
 bear your

00:31:56.880 --> 00:31:57.180
 burdens

00:31:57.180 --> 00:31:57.520
 in any

00:31:57.520 --> 00:31:57.780
 way that

00:31:57.780 --> 00:31:58.140
 I can.

00:31:59.820 --> 00:32:00.120
 And you

00:32:00.120 --> 00:32:00.240
 know,

00:32:00.300 --> 00:32:00.759
 often this

00:32:00.759 --> 00:32:01.340
 kind of

00:32:01.340 --> 00:32:02.080
 speaking up,

00:32:02.340 --> 00:32:03.060
 as we

00:32:03.060 --> 00:32:03.200
 know,

00:32:03.240 --> 00:32:03.560
 is really

00:32:03.560 --> 00:32:04.380
 done best

00:32:04.380 --> 00:32:05.640
 by simply

00:32:05.640 --> 00:32:06.240
 showing up

00:32:06.240 --> 00:32:07.560
 and being

00:32:07.560 --> 00:32:07.940
 present.

00:32:09.920 --> 00:32:10.720
 And speaking

00:32:10.720 --> 00:32:11.680
 of hope

00:32:11.680 --> 00:32:11.920
 and the

00:32:11.920 --> 00:32:12.340
 promises

00:32:12.340 --> 00:32:12.720
 and the

00:32:12.720 --> 00:32:12.960
 goodness

00:32:12.960 --> 00:32:13.600
 of Christ.

00:32:13.599 --> 00:32:16.219
 So these

00:32:16.219 --> 00:32:16.419
 are the

00:32:16.419 --> 00:32:16.599
 two

00:32:16.599 --> 00:32:17.139
 practices

00:32:17.139 --> 00:32:17.519
 of

00:32:17.519 --> 00:32:17.779
 Christian

00:32:17.779 --> 00:32:18.219
 community

00:32:18.219 --> 00:32:18.419
 that

00:32:18.419 --> 00:32:18.679
 Hebrews

00:32:18.679 --> 00:32:19.099
 lays out

00:32:19.099 --> 00:32:19.439
 for us.

00:32:19.619 --> 00:32:19.939
 Showing

00:32:19.939 --> 00:32:20.959
 up and

00:32:20.959 --> 00:32:21.219
 speaking

00:32:21.219 --> 00:32:21.579
 up.

00:32:22.139 --> 00:32:22.439
 And we've

00:32:22.439 --> 00:32:22.839
 already started

00:32:22.839 --> 00:32:23.259
 to see how

00:32:23.259 --> 00:32:23.500
 they go

00:32:23.500 --> 00:32:23.939
 hand in

00:32:23.939 --> 00:32:24.179
 hand,

00:32:24.240 --> 00:32:24.419
 right?

00:32:24.539 --> 00:32:24.899
 If you

00:32:24.899 --> 00:32:25.419
 don't show

00:32:25.419 --> 00:32:25.740
 up,

00:32:26.279 --> 00:32:26.699
 it doesn't

00:32:26.699 --> 00:32:26.939
 give you

00:32:26.939 --> 00:32:27.339
 much of a

00:32:27.339 --> 00:32:27.859
 place to

00:32:27.859 --> 00:32:28.399
 speak up.

00:32:29.519 --> 00:32:29.939
 And if you

00:32:29.939 --> 00:32:30.480
 don't speak

00:32:30.480 --> 00:32:30.679
 up,

00:32:30.719 --> 00:32:31.119
 you're often

00:32:31.119 --> 00:32:32.599
 missing the

00:32:32.599 --> 00:32:32.919
 richer

00:32:32.919 --> 00:32:33.559
 opportunity

00:32:33.559 --> 00:32:34.240
 that showing

00:32:34.240 --> 00:32:34.959
 up actually

00:32:34.959 --> 00:32:35.379
 gives you,

00:32:35.439 --> 00:32:35.779
 that showing

00:32:35.779 --> 00:32:36.199
 up actually

00:32:36.199 --> 00:32:36.779
 affords.

00:32:40.480 --> 00:32:41.000
 And that

00:32:41.000 --> 00:32:41.259
 brings us

00:32:41.259 --> 00:32:41.480
 to our

00:32:41.480 --> 00:32:41.980
 third point.

00:32:42.079 --> 00:32:42.319
 You know,

00:32:42.339 --> 00:32:42.899
 as we come

00:32:42.900 --> 00:32:43.240
 to the

00:32:43.240 --> 00:32:44.200
 end of

00:32:44.200 --> 00:32:45.400
 this short

00:32:45.400 --> 00:32:45.920
 text,

00:32:46.700 --> 00:32:47.880
 it's perhaps

00:32:47.880 --> 00:32:48.600
 obvious that

00:32:48.600 --> 00:32:49.160
 this work

00:32:49.160 --> 00:32:50.019
 doesn't come

00:32:50.019 --> 00:32:50.460
 easy.

00:32:51.360 --> 00:32:51.940
 But it's not

00:32:51.940 --> 00:32:52.259
 easy,

00:32:52.320 --> 00:32:52.780
 this work of

00:32:52.780 --> 00:32:53.560
 considering one

00:32:53.560 --> 00:32:53.860
 another.

00:32:54.580 --> 00:32:55.300
 It's not easy,

00:32:55.380 --> 00:32:55.740
 this work of

00:32:55.740 --> 00:32:56.480
 showing up.

00:32:56.560 --> 00:32:57.019
 It's not easy,

00:32:57.100 --> 00:32:57.620
 this work of

00:32:57.620 --> 00:32:58.820
 speaking up.

00:32:59.360 --> 00:32:59.700
 In fact,

00:32:59.720 --> 00:33:00.280
 all of that

00:33:00.280 --> 00:33:00.660
 is pretty

00:33:00.660 --> 00:33:01.220
 hard work.

00:33:02.800 --> 00:33:03.519
 And that's

00:33:03.519 --> 00:33:03.860
 why verse

00:33:03.860 --> 00:33:05.240
 25 ends

00:33:05.240 --> 00:33:06.400
 by pointing

00:33:06.400 --> 00:33:07.160
 us to

00:33:07.160 --> 00:33:09.000
 the motivation

00:33:09.000 --> 00:33:10.540
 of Christian

00:33:10.540 --> 00:33:11.040
 community.

00:33:11.039 --> 00:33:12.220
 and that

00:33:12.220 --> 00:33:12.740
 motivation,

00:33:12.899 --> 00:33:13.220
 according to

00:33:13.220 --> 00:33:13.899
 verse 25,

00:33:14.639 --> 00:33:15.059
 is the

00:33:15.059 --> 00:33:15.500
 day

00:33:15.500 --> 00:33:16.319
 drawing

00:33:16.319 --> 00:33:16.700
 near.

00:33:18.440 --> 00:33:19.039
 And the

00:33:19.039 --> 00:33:19.639
 day he's

00:33:19.639 --> 00:33:20.180
 referring to

00:33:20.180 --> 00:33:20.519
 is what the

00:33:20.519 --> 00:33:20.899
 Old Testament

00:33:20.899 --> 00:33:21.839
 calls the

00:33:21.839 --> 00:33:22.720
 day of the

00:33:22.720 --> 00:33:23.039
 Lord.

00:33:24.019 --> 00:33:24.440
 And according

00:33:24.440 --> 00:33:24.980
 to Hebrews,

00:33:25.099 --> 00:33:25.519
 this is the

00:33:25.519 --> 00:33:26.200
 day when

00:33:26.200 --> 00:33:26.960
 Jesus will

00:33:26.960 --> 00:33:27.619
 reappear.

00:33:29.099 --> 00:33:29.740
 And in so

00:33:29.740 --> 00:33:30.019
 doing,

00:33:30.119 --> 00:33:30.460
 God will

00:33:30.460 --> 00:33:31.339
 complete his

00:33:31.339 --> 00:33:32.440
 work of

00:33:32.440 --> 00:33:33.059
 new creation

00:33:33.059 --> 00:33:33.720
 among us.

00:33:34.259 --> 00:33:34.920
 That that's

00:33:34.920 --> 00:33:35.519
 the day

00:33:35.519 --> 00:33:36.339
 when the

00:33:36.339 --> 00:33:36.920
 glory of

00:33:36.920 --> 00:33:38.099
 God covers

00:33:38.099 --> 00:33:38.659
 the earth

00:33:38.660 --> 00:33:39.279
 like the

00:33:39.279 --> 00:33:39.640
 waters

00:33:39.640 --> 00:33:40.120
 cover the

00:33:40.120 --> 00:33:40.420
 sea.

00:33:41.000 --> 00:33:41.480
 When the

00:33:41.480 --> 00:33:41.960
 kingdom at

00:33:41.960 --> 00:33:42.840
 last comes

00:33:42.840 --> 00:33:43.540
 fully on

00:33:43.540 --> 00:33:44.420
 earth as

00:33:44.420 --> 00:33:44.840
 it is in

00:33:44.840 --> 00:33:45.180
 heaven.

00:33:46.259 --> 00:33:47.440
 And life

00:33:47.440 --> 00:33:49.160
 and liberty

00:33:49.160 --> 00:33:50.560
 break out

00:33:50.560 --> 00:33:52.340
 for all to

00:33:52.340 --> 00:33:52.800
 enjoy.

00:33:54.460 --> 00:33:55.279
 Now how does

00:33:55.279 --> 00:33:56.060
 that day

00:33:56.060 --> 00:33:57.800
 motivate us

00:33:57.800 --> 00:33:58.740
 to do what

00:33:58.740 --> 00:33:58.980
 we've been

00:33:58.980 --> 00:33:59.420
 talking about

00:33:59.420 --> 00:33:59.900
 this morning?

00:34:00.840 --> 00:34:01.400
 Well on the

00:34:01.400 --> 00:34:01.900
 one hand we

00:34:01.900 --> 00:34:02.540
 know that that

00:34:02.540 --> 00:34:03.660
 day will be a

00:34:03.660 --> 00:34:03.920
 day of

00:34:03.920 --> 00:34:04.420
 reckoning.

00:34:05.779 --> 00:34:06.400
 Earlier in

00:34:06.400 --> 00:34:06.820
 Hebrews he

00:34:06.820 --> 00:34:07.060
 said,

00:34:07.140 --> 00:34:07.440
 you know,

00:34:07.440 --> 00:34:09.340
 no one can

00:34:09.340 --> 00:34:09.980
 hide from

00:34:09.980 --> 00:34:10.500
 the gaze of

00:34:10.500 --> 00:34:10.760
 God.

00:34:10.880 --> 00:34:11.460
 We're all

00:34:11.460 --> 00:34:12.440
 exposed before

00:34:12.440 --> 00:34:12.960
 the eyes of

00:34:12.960 --> 00:34:13.980
 him to whom

00:34:13.980 --> 00:34:14.440
 we must give

00:34:14.440 --> 00:34:14.900
 an account.

00:34:16.619 --> 00:34:17.340
 And if that's

00:34:17.340 --> 00:34:18.579
 true, then as

00:34:18.579 --> 00:34:19.200
 we see the

00:34:19.200 --> 00:34:19.700
 day approaching,

00:34:19.860 --> 00:34:21.119
 we want more

00:34:21.119 --> 00:34:22.360
 than anything

00:34:22.360 --> 00:34:23.920
 else for our

00:34:23.920 --> 00:34:24.539
 brothers and

00:34:24.539 --> 00:34:25.099
 sisters, those

00:34:25.099 --> 00:34:25.639
 who gather

00:34:25.639 --> 00:34:26.460
 with us, to

00:34:26.460 --> 00:34:27.599
 be found in

00:34:27.599 --> 00:34:28.519
 Christ on

00:34:28.519 --> 00:34:29.300
 that day.

00:34:30.039 --> 00:34:31.019
 So we show

00:34:31.019 --> 00:34:31.980
 up and we

00:34:31.980 --> 00:34:33.019
 speak up and

00:34:33.019 --> 00:34:33.940
 we stir up

00:34:33.940 --> 00:34:34.700
 with every

00:34:34.700 --> 00:34:35.460
 chance that we

00:34:35.460 --> 00:34:36.200
 get because we

00:34:36.200 --> 00:34:36.539
 don't want to

00:34:36.539 --> 00:34:37.019
 lose any

00:34:37.019 --> 00:34:37.940
 opportunity to

00:34:37.940 --> 00:34:38.980
 encourage someone

00:34:38.980 --> 00:34:40.579
 to persevere in

00:34:40.579 --> 00:34:41.019
 the faith.

00:34:41.219 --> 00:34:42.659
 And we

00:34:42.659 --> 00:34:43.159
 want to put

00:34:43.159 --> 00:34:43.719
 ourselves in

00:34:43.719 --> 00:34:44.400
 positions where

00:34:44.400 --> 00:34:45.039
 others can do

00:34:45.039 --> 00:34:45.599
 the same for

00:34:45.599 --> 00:34:46.039
 us.

00:34:48.739 --> 00:34:49.280
 But you know,

00:34:49.320 --> 00:34:49.699
 the day of the

00:34:49.699 --> 00:34:50.239
 Lord is not

00:34:50.239 --> 00:34:50.719
 just a day of

00:34:50.719 --> 00:34:53.259
 reckoning, but

00:34:53.259 --> 00:34:53.920
 ultimately it's a

00:34:53.920 --> 00:34:54.719
 day of salvation

00:34:54.719 --> 00:34:56.059
 for those who

00:34:56.059 --> 00:34:56.699
 place their faith

00:34:56.699 --> 00:34:57.259
 in Christ.

00:34:58.539 --> 00:34:59.239
 This is the

00:34:59.239 --> 00:35:00.659
 day, the

00:35:00.659 --> 00:35:01.219
 Apostle John

00:35:01.219 --> 00:35:02.000
 says, when

00:35:02.000 --> 00:35:03.199
 we'll be like

00:35:03.199 --> 00:35:04.500
 him because at

00:35:04.500 --> 00:35:05.280
 last we'll see

00:35:05.280 --> 00:35:06.179
 him as he is.

00:35:07.019 --> 00:35:07.719
 This is the

00:35:07.719 --> 00:35:08.259
 day when Jesus

00:35:08.259 --> 00:35:09.239
 will transform

00:35:09.239 --> 00:35:10.219
 our lowly

00:35:10.219 --> 00:35:11.159
 body to be

00:35:11.159 --> 00:35:11.539
 like his

00:35:11.539 --> 00:35:12.460
 glorious body,

00:35:12.659 --> 00:35:13.139
 as Paul says

00:35:13.139 --> 00:35:13.679
 in Ephesians.

00:35:14.239 --> 00:35:14.820
 This is the

00:35:14.820 --> 00:35:15.679
 day when creation

00:35:15.679 --> 00:35:16.739
 itself will be

00:35:16.739 --> 00:35:17.980
 set free from

00:35:17.980 --> 00:35:18.920
 its bondage to

00:35:18.920 --> 00:35:19.519
 corruption and

00:35:19.519 --> 00:35:20.559
 attain the

00:35:20.559 --> 00:35:21.900
 freedom of the

00:35:21.900 --> 00:35:23.300
 glory of the

00:35:23.300 --> 00:35:24.179
 children of God.

00:35:25.360 --> 00:35:25.940
 And friends, if

00:35:25.940 --> 00:35:27.099
 that day is

00:35:27.099 --> 00:35:27.780
 drawing near,

00:35:29.179 --> 00:35:29.739
 when the

00:35:29.739 --> 00:35:30.380
 echoes that we

00:35:30.380 --> 00:35:30.900
 see in our

00:35:30.900 --> 00:35:31.659
 midst will come

00:35:31.659 --> 00:35:32.139
 to full

00:35:32.139 --> 00:35:32.860
 flowering,

00:35:32.860 --> 00:35:35.039
 when the

00:35:35.039 --> 00:35:35.780
 sparks and

00:35:35.780 --> 00:35:36.400
 hints of

00:35:36.400 --> 00:35:36.980
 Christ's

00:35:36.980 --> 00:35:37.620
 presence among

00:35:37.620 --> 00:35:38.340
 us finally

00:35:38.340 --> 00:35:39.980
 come out in

00:35:39.980 --> 00:35:40.820
 full form,

00:35:41.440 --> 00:35:41.940
 friends, if

00:35:41.940 --> 00:35:42.559
 that day is

00:35:42.559 --> 00:35:43.880
 coming near,

00:35:45.140 --> 00:35:45.579
 then none of

00:35:45.579 --> 00:35:46.380
 the hard work

00:35:46.380 --> 00:35:47.700
 of showing up

00:35:47.700 --> 00:35:48.539
 and speaking up

00:35:48.539 --> 00:35:49.180
 will be wasted.

00:35:50.440 --> 00:35:51.240
 It'll all be

00:35:51.240 --> 00:35:51.820
 used to bring

00:35:51.820 --> 00:35:52.400
 about God's

00:35:52.400 --> 00:35:52.940
 good purposes,

00:35:53.160 --> 00:35:53.780
 and if what is

00:35:53.780 --> 00:35:54.400
 coming is the

00:35:54.400 --> 00:35:55.140
 restoration of

00:35:55.140 --> 00:35:55.920
 all things,

00:35:56.059 --> 00:35:56.660
 and if that's

00:35:56.660 --> 00:35:57.720
 my certain

00:35:57.720 --> 00:35:58.660
 future in

00:35:58.660 --> 00:35:59.440
 Christ, the

00:35:59.440 --> 00:36:00.980
 enjoyment of

00:36:00.980 --> 00:36:01.559
 the new heavens

00:36:01.559 --> 00:36:01.880
 and the new

00:36:01.880 --> 00:36:02.719
 earth, then

00:36:02.719 --> 00:36:03.539
 surely I can

00:36:03.539 --> 00:36:04.179
 stand to

00:36:04.179 --> 00:36:05.119
 sacrifice my

00:36:05.119 --> 00:36:05.860
 time and my

00:36:05.860 --> 00:36:06.699
 resources now

00:36:06.699 --> 00:36:07.679
 to help serve

00:36:07.679 --> 00:36:08.099
 my fellow

00:36:08.099 --> 00:36:08.519
 believers.

00:36:10.000 --> 00:36:11.400
 The age to

00:36:11.400 --> 00:36:12.559
 come in God's

00:36:12.559 --> 00:36:13.259
 new creation

00:36:13.259 --> 00:36:14.619
 will outstrip

00:36:14.619 --> 00:36:16.059
 any of the

00:36:16.059 --> 00:36:17.380
 sacrifices that

00:36:17.380 --> 00:36:17.860
 we think we're

00:36:17.860 --> 00:36:18.500
 making here and

00:36:18.500 --> 00:36:18.799
 now.

00:36:20.219 --> 00:36:21.400
 The tighter the

00:36:21.400 --> 00:36:22.000
 grip that we

00:36:22.000 --> 00:36:23.880
 have on the

00:36:23.880 --> 00:36:24.739
 future in

00:36:24.739 --> 00:36:26.279
 Christ, the

00:36:26.279 --> 00:36:26.779
 more we can

00:36:26.779 --> 00:36:27.340
 release our

00:36:27.340 --> 00:36:29.639
 grip on the

00:36:29.639 --> 00:36:30.099
 way in which we

00:36:30.099 --> 00:36:30.759
 try to control

00:36:30.759 --> 00:36:31.400
 our time and

00:36:31.400 --> 00:36:32.039
 our resources

00:36:32.039 --> 00:36:32.440
 and our

00:36:32.440 --> 00:36:32.700
 things.

00:36:33.019 --> 00:36:33.400
 Do you see

00:36:33.400 --> 00:36:33.700
 that?

00:36:36.619 --> 00:36:37.360
 Don Carson

00:36:37.360 --> 00:36:37.800
 tells this

00:36:37.800 --> 00:36:38.079
 story.

00:36:38.180 --> 00:36:38.380
 He says,

00:36:38.440 --> 00:36:39.360
 in 1952, a

00:36:39.360 --> 00:36:39.940
 young woman

00:36:39.940 --> 00:36:40.840
 by the name

00:36:40.840 --> 00:36:41.480
 of Florence

00:36:41.480 --> 00:36:42.559
 Chadwick stepped

00:36:42.559 --> 00:36:43.180
 off the beach

00:36:43.180 --> 00:36:43.800
 at Catalina

00:36:43.800 --> 00:36:45.039
 Island and

00:36:45.039 --> 00:36:45.380
 into the

00:36:45.380 --> 00:36:45.720
 water,

00:36:46.119 --> 00:36:46.920
 determined to

00:36:46.920 --> 00:36:47.860
 swim to the

00:36:47.860 --> 00:36:48.420
 shore of

00:36:48.420 --> 00:36:48.780
 mainland

00:36:48.780 --> 00:36:49.519
 California.

00:36:50.559 --> 00:36:50.920
 She was

00:36:50.920 --> 00:36:51.400
 already an

00:36:51.400 --> 00:36:51.940
 experienced

00:36:51.940 --> 00:36:52.519
 long-distance

00:36:52.519 --> 00:36:53.039
 swimmer.

00:36:53.639 --> 00:36:53.980
 She was the

00:36:53.980 --> 00:36:54.680
 first woman to

00:36:54.680 --> 00:36:55.320
 swim the

00:36:55.320 --> 00:36:55.860
 English Channel

00:36:55.860 --> 00:36:56.559
 both ways.

00:36:58.079 --> 00:36:58.559
 The weather

00:36:58.559 --> 00:36:59.460
 was foggy and

00:36:59.460 --> 00:37:00.039
 chilly on the

00:37:00.039 --> 00:37:00.579
 day she set

00:37:00.579 --> 00:37:00.759
 out.

00:37:00.860 --> 00:37:01.119
 She could

00:37:01.119 --> 00:37:01.880
 scarcely see

00:37:01.880 --> 00:37:02.440
 the boats

00:37:02.440 --> 00:37:03.079
 that would

00:37:03.079 --> 00:37:03.759
 accompany her

00:37:03.759 --> 00:37:05.119
 and for 15

00:37:05.119 --> 00:37:06.199
 hours she

00:37:06.199 --> 00:37:06.639
 swam.

00:37:07.360 --> 00:37:08.019
 She begged

00:37:08.019 --> 00:37:08.579
 to be taken

00:37:08.579 --> 00:37:09.159
 out but her

00:37:09.159 --> 00:37:09.880
 trainer urged

00:37:09.880 --> 00:37:10.440
 persistence,

00:37:10.980 --> 00:37:11.619
 telling her again

00:37:11.619 --> 00:37:12.099
 and again that

00:37:12.099 --> 00:37:12.639
 she could make

00:37:12.639 --> 00:37:13.400
 it, that the

00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:13.940
 shore was not

00:37:13.940 --> 00:37:14.500
 far away.

00:37:15.840 --> 00:37:16.539
 But physically

00:37:16.539 --> 00:37:17.139
 and emotionally

00:37:17.139 --> 00:37:18.759
 exhausted, she

00:37:18.759 --> 00:37:20.059
 finally just stopped

00:37:20.059 --> 00:37:21.159
 swimming and she

00:37:21.159 --> 00:37:21.799
 was pulled out.

00:37:22.960 --> 00:37:23.779
 The boats made

00:37:23.779 --> 00:37:25.219
 for the shore and

00:37:25.219 --> 00:37:26.819
 she discovered that

00:37:26.819 --> 00:37:27.360
 it was a mere

00:37:27.360 --> 00:37:29.120
 half mile away.

00:37:30.900 --> 00:37:31.700
 The next day she

00:37:31.700 --> 00:37:32.079
 gave a news

00:37:32.079 --> 00:37:32.519
 conference.

00:37:33.120 --> 00:37:33.680
 What she said in

00:37:33.680 --> 00:37:34.400
 effect was this,

00:37:35.380 --> 00:37:35.720
 I don't want to

00:37:35.720 --> 00:37:36.519
 make excuses for

00:37:36.519 --> 00:37:38.039
 myself, I'm the

00:37:38.039 --> 00:37:38.599
 one who asked to

00:37:38.599 --> 00:37:40.740
 be pulled out, but

00:37:40.740 --> 00:37:41.460
 I think that if I

00:37:41.460 --> 00:37:42.320
 could have seen the

00:37:42.320 --> 00:37:43.880
 shore, I would

00:37:43.880 --> 00:37:44.420
 have made it.

00:37:46.019 --> 00:37:46.700
 And two months

00:37:46.700 --> 00:37:47.720
 later she proved

00:37:47.720 --> 00:37:48.400
 her point.

00:37:48.920 --> 00:37:49.740
 On a bright and

00:37:49.740 --> 00:37:51.260
 clear day she

00:37:51.260 --> 00:37:52.280
 plunged back into

00:37:52.280 --> 00:37:54.099
 the sea and swam

00:37:54.099 --> 00:37:54.719
 the distance.

00:37:56.900 --> 00:37:57.460
 You see, friends,

00:37:57.599 --> 00:37:59.900
 keep the day in

00:37:59.900 --> 00:38:00.480
 your sights.

00:38:01.739 --> 00:38:04.460
 Keep your eyes

00:38:04.460 --> 00:38:06.860
 fixed on Jesus

00:38:06.860 --> 00:38:08.799
 who is our hope

00:38:08.799 --> 00:38:10.420
 and who is coming

00:38:10.420 --> 00:38:11.380
 to bring in that

00:38:11.380 --> 00:38:11.719
 day.

00:38:13.219 --> 00:38:14.719
 Because it's his

00:38:14.719 --> 00:38:15.799
 glory after all

00:38:15.799 --> 00:38:16.440
 that we'll share.

00:38:17.219 --> 00:38:18.519
 We're united to him

00:38:18.519 --> 00:38:19.179
 by faith.

00:38:21.159 --> 00:38:22.339
 And if we keep our

00:38:22.339 --> 00:38:23.139
 eyes fixed on him,

00:38:23.139 --> 00:38:23.859
 if we keep our

00:38:23.859 --> 00:38:24.900
 eyes clearly

00:38:24.900 --> 00:38:26.400
 focused on the

00:38:26.400 --> 00:38:27.339
 day, on the shore

00:38:27.339 --> 00:38:30.739
 that's there, then

00:38:30.739 --> 00:38:31.659
 our life together

00:38:31.659 --> 00:38:32.259
 will have the

00:38:32.259 --> 00:38:32.980
 vision that it

00:38:32.980 --> 00:38:34.019
 needs to persevere.

00:38:34.980 --> 00:38:35.739
 Then we'll be able

00:38:35.739 --> 00:38:37.579
 to put one arm in

00:38:37.579 --> 00:38:38.219
 front of the other

00:38:38.219 --> 00:38:39.579
 and to do it with

00:38:39.579 --> 00:38:41.960
 gladness as we see

00:38:41.960 --> 00:38:42.679
 the day approaching.

00:38:45.559 --> 00:38:46.400
 So in conclusion

00:38:46.400 --> 00:38:47.119
 over these last few

00:38:47.119 --> 00:38:47.859
 weeks, we've seen

00:38:47.859 --> 00:38:48.900
 that the gospel of

00:38:48.900 --> 00:38:50.099
 Jesus produces in

00:38:50.099 --> 00:38:52.019
 us faith and hope

00:38:52.019 --> 00:38:53.219
 and love.

00:38:54.579 --> 00:38:55.420
 And we've seen

00:38:55.420 --> 00:38:56.360
 how the gospel

00:38:56.360 --> 00:38:57.539
 actually starts to

00:38:57.539 --> 00:38:58.659
 redefine all three

00:38:58.659 --> 00:38:59.420
 of these, haven't we?

00:39:00.139 --> 00:39:00.940
 You know, faith.

00:39:01.199 --> 00:39:02.079
 Faith is no longer

00:39:02.079 --> 00:39:04.039
 just illogical belief,

00:39:04.440 --> 00:39:06.280
 but personal trust

00:39:06.280 --> 00:39:08.199
 in him who died for us.

00:39:08.780 --> 00:39:09.539
 And hope.

00:39:09.619 --> 00:39:10.380
 Hope is no longer

00:39:10.380 --> 00:39:11.840
 just wishful thinking,

00:39:12.380 --> 00:39:14.280
 but confident expectation

00:39:14.280 --> 00:39:15.960
 of the future that he

00:39:15.960 --> 00:39:16.759
 has for us.

00:39:16.760 --> 00:39:17.320
 love.

00:39:17.320 --> 00:39:19.000
 And finally, love.

00:39:20.540 --> 00:39:22.200
 Love's no longer just

00:39:22.200 --> 00:39:23.520
 kind of letting each

00:39:23.520 --> 00:39:24.040
 other be.

00:39:25.280 --> 00:39:26.540
 Love's no longer just

00:39:26.540 --> 00:39:28.280
 merely affirming each

00:39:28.280 --> 00:39:29.820
 other in however we

00:39:29.820 --> 00:39:30.560
 happen to find

00:39:30.560 --> 00:39:31.040
 ourselves.

00:39:33.240 --> 00:39:34.960
 No, love now is

00:39:34.960 --> 00:39:37.620
 actively stirring each

00:39:37.620 --> 00:39:39.180
 other up to become

00:39:39.180 --> 00:39:40.540
 more and more who

00:39:40.540 --> 00:39:41.680
 Christ redeemed us to

00:39:41.680 --> 00:39:41.960
 be.

00:39:41.960 --> 00:39:45.240
 on the basis of

00:39:45.240 --> 00:39:46.920
 Christ's life, death,

00:39:47.019 --> 00:39:47.760
 and resurrection.

00:39:48.240 --> 00:39:49.760
 This is the shape of

00:39:49.760 --> 00:39:50.480
 our Christian life

00:39:50.480 --> 00:39:50.900
 together.

00:39:51.760 --> 00:39:53.599
 A faith, of hope,

00:39:54.099 --> 00:39:55.179
 of love, of drawing

00:39:55.179 --> 00:39:56.780
 near, of holding

00:39:56.780 --> 00:39:59.320
 fast, and of stirring

00:39:59.320 --> 00:39:59.619
 up.

00:40:00.980 --> 00:40:01.740
 Let's pray.

00:40:03.940 --> 00:40:05.079
 Father, we pray that you

00:40:05.079 --> 00:40:06.920
 would indeed stir up in

00:40:06.920 --> 00:40:09.000
 us love and good works.

00:40:09.000 --> 00:40:10.139
 And God, give us the

00:40:10.139 --> 00:40:11.179
 heart and the compassion

00:40:11.179 --> 00:40:12.880
 and the eyes to see how

00:40:12.880 --> 00:40:13.920
 we might be stirring one

00:40:13.920 --> 00:40:15.739
 another up to love and

00:40:15.739 --> 00:40:16.280
 good works.

00:40:17.719 --> 00:40:18.880
 God, grant us the

00:40:18.880 --> 00:40:22.579
 humility to be open to

00:40:22.579 --> 00:40:24.440
 the stirring of our

00:40:24.440 --> 00:40:25.260
 brothers and sisters.

00:40:25.880 --> 00:40:27.159
 God, help us to see how

00:40:27.159 --> 00:40:27.900
 we need it.

00:40:29.800 --> 00:40:30.719
 God, we pray that you

00:40:30.719 --> 00:40:31.960
 would glorify your name

00:40:31.960 --> 00:40:32.880
 in us.

00:40:34.360 --> 00:40:35.539
 Glorify your name in

00:40:35.539 --> 00:40:37.340
 this church and all the

00:40:37.340 --> 00:40:37.940
 churches that are

00:40:37.940 --> 00:40:38.920
 gathering here in New

00:40:38.920 --> 00:40:39.240
 Haven.

00:40:40.280 --> 00:40:41.420
 God, glorify your name

00:40:41.420 --> 00:40:43.059
 in us as we go forth to

00:40:43.059 --> 00:40:44.920
 serve and to love and

00:40:44.920 --> 00:40:47.180
 grant us the

00:40:47.180 --> 00:40:48.460
 perseverance to show up

00:40:48.460 --> 00:40:49.579
 and the courage to speak

00:40:49.579 --> 00:40:49.880
 up.

00:40:50.860 --> 00:40:51.940
 And all the more as we

00:40:51.940 --> 00:40:52.960
 see your great day

00:40:52.960 --> 00:40:53.700
 approaching.

00:40:54.500 --> 00:40:55.460
 The day of our Lord

00:40:55.460 --> 00:40:56.260
 Jesus Christ.

00:40:57.320 --> 00:40:58.500
 In whose name and by

00:40:58.500 --> 00:40:59.559
 whose spirit we pray.

00:41:00.460 --> 00:41:00.780
 Amen.

00:41:00.780 --> 00:41:00.960
 Amen.