WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.480 You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama. 00:00:06.980 --> 00:00:10.620 Our passion is to experience and express grace. Join us. 00:00:12.400 --> 00:00:19.760 Well, good morning. It is good to be with you. Not only have we had a long association awareness of Southwood, 00:00:20.120 --> 00:00:24.260 Jean LaRue and I have been in a pastor's group for a long time. 00:00:24.379 --> 00:00:29.240 I always told him, I said, you are the most interesting man in the world from the Dos Equis commercial. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:34.320 And by contrast, I feel like the least interesting man in the world. 00:00:34.880 --> 00:00:39.679 We have learned and wept and walked with each other through a lot. 00:00:39.840 --> 00:00:44.159 So I'm grateful to be a part here with you this morning. 00:00:44.480 --> 00:00:51.760 I asked Will, knowing you're going through the study of Ephesians, if I should just step in right where you left off. 00:00:51.799 --> 00:00:56.000 He says, please don't. So he said, maybe it'd be good to do something different. 00:00:56.000 --> 00:01:00.500 So we're going to do something really different and step into an Old Testament narrative. 00:01:01.119 --> 00:01:04.920 The challenge is going to be we're going to step into the middle of the book. 00:01:05.340 --> 00:01:11.739 So if I just had to stand up and read it right now, your brain would be mush by the end of the passage. 00:01:11.739 --> 00:01:17.839 So it will help if we kind of approach it like a play and do a scene at a time. 00:01:17.979 --> 00:01:20.699 So we'll look at the scripture in the body of the message. 00:01:20.859 --> 00:01:21.019 Okay. 00:01:21.959 --> 00:01:23.780 We'll be in Esther chapter 8. 00:01:23.839 --> 00:01:27.319 If you want to turn here, turn there, it'll also be on the screen. 00:01:27.579 --> 00:01:29.619 Let me pray for us as we come to God's word. 00:01:29.620 --> 00:01:48.939 Father, you've been wooing and drawing our hearts through words penned by people weak and wounded by the fall of a hope that takes our breath away. 00:01:48.939 --> 00:01:59.319 We've celebrated the sacraments, that mystery of your presence being manifest in an unusual way that we don't even fully understand. 00:02:00.280 --> 00:02:08.300 Your scripture tells us that when we gather here, what's happening here, though much is pressing in on us from outside this room, 00:02:08.520 --> 00:02:09.500 that it's a picture. 00:02:09.639 --> 00:02:16.659 It's the closest that we get to the heavenly courts and the presence of Christ, the fullness of Christ's body, 00:02:16.659 --> 00:02:22.800 worshiping in patterns that have been long established that mirror what's happening in heaven. 00:02:24.099 --> 00:02:34.879 As we live in this already-not-yet season, would you touch and woo and take our breath away and melt our hearts by your story? 00:02:35.280 --> 00:02:39.219 As we step into an ancient story, would we find ourselves there? 00:02:39.419 --> 00:02:42.460 Would the dots connect to our lives? 00:02:42.460 --> 00:02:51.620 And may we have a sense that you're wooing and calling, whether we've never believed before or have heard this story over and over again. 00:02:51.960 --> 00:02:59.240 Oh, Spirit, would you be so present as to exalt Jesus in this story and meet us, we pray. 00:02:59.500 --> 00:03:01.420 In Jesus' name, amen. 00:03:01.419 --> 00:03:01.619 Amen. 00:03:04.799 --> 00:03:06.199 Crazy busy pace. 00:03:08.000 --> 00:03:10.039 24-7 connectivity. 00:03:10.799 --> 00:03:13.500 Aren't you glad how technology has saved you so much time? 00:03:15.699 --> 00:03:22.000 The insecurity, financial and otherwise, in a post-11 world equals overwhelmed. 00:03:22.000 --> 00:03:32.580 Culturally, more than any other time that I've been an adult, I just sense, I'm here not just busy, I'm here, I'm completely overwhelmed. 00:03:33.199 --> 00:03:41.400 Young families, young moms show up on this door just so glad to be in the doors because life can feel so overwhelming. 00:03:41.860 --> 00:03:44.780 The pace just keeps ramping up. 00:03:44.780 --> 00:03:48.719 And then you turn on Fox News or MSNBC. 00:03:49.620 --> 00:03:56.920 And you discover we live in such a polarized culture, they're so afraid of one another, we can't even hear one another talk. 00:03:57.800 --> 00:04:03.379 We're just screaming over one another and missing one another, and there's this huge cultural divide. 00:04:03.379 --> 00:04:13.680 And then you think about being the church, where you know a big part of what we're called to be is outward facing, impacting our culture. 00:04:14.319 --> 00:04:26.420 And overwhelm in the midst of a culture where we cannot hear one another leaves us feeling guilty and often not knowing where to turn as the people of God. 00:04:26.420 --> 00:04:39.660 But what we're going to unfold as we step into this ancient story this morning is how an overwhelmed people of God live missionally in a culture where we can barely hear one another. 00:04:40.500 --> 00:04:49.819 How can an already overwhelmed people who are called to live missional lives live missional lives in a culture where we can't hear one another? 00:04:50.740 --> 00:04:55.160 Esther chapter 8 will unfold the story in four scenes. 00:04:55.160 --> 00:05:02.300 It's a scene, just to help you remember, of a ring, a plea, a decree, and a party. 00:05:02.840 --> 00:05:06.760 A ring, a plea, a decree, and a party. 00:05:07.280 --> 00:05:08.960 Here's scene one. 00:05:10.880 --> 00:05:12.379 Esther chapter 8 verse 1. 00:05:13.160 --> 00:05:20.920 On that day, King Ahasuerus gave to Queen Esther the house of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. 00:05:20.920 --> 00:05:25.800 And Mordecai came before the king, for Esther had told what he was to her. 00:05:26.480 --> 00:05:32.160 And the king took off his signerine for which he had taken from Haman and gave it to Mordecai. 00:05:32.460 --> 00:05:36.319 And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman. 00:05:36.420 --> 00:05:40.220 Now there's a tremendous backstory that's been going on. 00:05:40.600 --> 00:05:44.680 Let me help you fill it in if you've heard it before or maybe have not heard it before. 00:05:44.680 --> 00:05:50.579 Ahasuerus was king of Persia about 450 years before Jesus came to earth. 00:05:51.000 --> 00:05:52.840 It's in present-day Iraq, Iran. 00:05:52.980 --> 00:05:55.220 It was kind of his area, massive territory. 00:05:55.620 --> 00:05:57.740 And he was the king on the block. 00:05:58.019 --> 00:06:01.139 With incredible wealth, they had captured from all the nations. 00:06:01.139 --> 00:06:10.240 And he decides to throw an incredible, world's most raucous fraternity party for six months. 00:06:10.240 --> 00:06:12.519 And they don't go to class. 00:06:13.000 --> 00:06:16.360 I know some of you went to school like that too, but probably not so much in Huntsville. 00:06:17.740 --> 00:06:19.600 They partied for six months. 00:06:20.120 --> 00:06:24.060 At the end of the six months, during the last week, he says, 00:06:24.139 --> 00:06:27.680 let's let everybody in on this party because he was just kind of throwing a party 00:06:27.680 --> 00:06:31.900 for his inner circle buddies who extended his role around his empire. 00:06:32.439 --> 00:06:34.660 But they have a party for the whole people. 00:06:34.660 --> 00:06:39.660 And he gets this great idea as he and everyone else is completely sloshed. 00:06:40.240 --> 00:06:49.600 Let's have my, according to Ricky Bobby, smoking hot wife Vashti come and perform for us. 00:06:49.900 --> 00:06:52.120 I mean, every girl's dream, right? 00:06:52.620 --> 00:06:57.100 To come before a room full of drunken men and dance. 00:06:58.000 --> 00:07:00.060 Queen Vashti says, I'm not coming. 00:07:00.579 --> 00:07:04.019 I've got my own party with my own girls. 00:07:04.160 --> 00:07:05.139 We're staying here. 00:07:05.660 --> 00:07:08.639 See, you didn't tell kings no back then. 00:07:08.639 --> 00:07:12.360 Telling a king no meant you're gone. 00:07:13.199 --> 00:07:15.180 And that's what happened with Vashti. 00:07:15.360 --> 00:07:17.899 She was smoking hot, but she was no more. 00:07:19.019 --> 00:07:23.459 The king, to fill her place, decides, you know what we're going to do? 00:07:24.019 --> 00:07:27.139 The first episode of The Bachelor. 00:07:27.139 --> 00:07:35.939 We're going to invite the most beautiful women from all over my empire to come and try out to be my wife. 00:07:36.500 --> 00:07:43.099 In the midst of these women from all over the empire coming like in all bachelor-like, you know, craziness, 00:07:43.500 --> 00:07:45.699 to try out to be the queen. 00:07:46.219 --> 00:07:48.039 There is one who is discovered. 00:07:48.659 --> 00:07:51.620 She's a little bit undercover, but she is stunning. 00:07:51.620 --> 00:07:54.160 Her name is Esther. 00:07:55.040 --> 00:07:55.620 She's orphaned. 00:07:56.840 --> 00:08:01.220 This is a time where the Israelites had come back to the land, 00:08:01.379 --> 00:08:05.220 but she is still a part of a small minority who live abroad, 00:08:05.579 --> 00:08:07.899 having been taken in the Babylonian empire. 00:08:08.879 --> 00:08:11.280 She's being raised by an uncle who we saw about. 00:08:11.340 --> 00:08:12.800 Her uncle is Mordecai. 00:08:12.800 --> 00:08:16.579 Mordecai had great respect as a servant of the king, 00:08:16.720 --> 00:08:21.740 but he instructed Esther to keep it quiet that they were Jews. 00:08:22.980 --> 00:08:26.560 But Esther's beauty was such that she could not be ignored, 00:08:26.819 --> 00:08:28.540 and she was invited into the contest, 00:08:28.800 --> 00:08:36.100 and she replaces Vashti as this beautiful queen of King Ahasuerus. 00:08:37.139 --> 00:08:39.659 Meanwhile, there's a prime minister that gets appointed. 00:08:39.799 --> 00:08:40.740 His name is Haman. 00:08:40.740 --> 00:08:45.340 Haman loved his power, and it was driven by pride, 00:08:45.560 --> 00:08:48.779 and the king issued an edict at his request 00:08:48.779 --> 00:08:51.840 that wherever he would go, people would have to bow. 00:08:52.720 --> 00:08:54.940 Mordecai was a servant in the king's court, 00:08:55.019 --> 00:08:58.180 and he was at the city gate one day when Haman walks by, 00:08:58.259 --> 00:09:01.279 and he doesn't bow, and Haman could not get over it. 00:09:01.740 --> 00:09:04.200 As his wealth and his stature and his power grew, 00:09:04.299 --> 00:09:09.180 he still couldn't deal with the fact that Mordecai would not bow. 00:09:09.179 --> 00:09:11.019 So he came up with a plot. 00:09:11.599 --> 00:09:14.679 He came up with a plea that became an edict of the king 00:09:14.679 --> 00:09:18.019 because he had discovered that Mordecai was a Jew. 00:09:18.939 --> 00:09:24.899 And the edict with the king's signet ring that went out across the empire was this. 00:09:25.559 --> 00:09:32.639 Every Jewish man, woman, and child were to be killed because they were a threat to the empire. 00:09:32.639 --> 00:09:39.759 Mordecai hears about the plot and comes out dressed in sackcloth and public weeping, 00:09:39.879 --> 00:09:44.259 and then he goes privately to Esther, who the king still does not know is a Jew. 00:09:44.720 --> 00:09:45.360 And he says, 00:09:45.519 --> 00:09:51.399 It is for such a time as this that God has appointed for you to go before the king. 00:09:51.759 --> 00:09:58.039 Esther protested because she had kind of kept undercover Christian or undercover Jew working up till this point, 00:09:58.039 --> 00:10:03.259 but also culturally working against her was for you could not request to come to the king's presence. 00:10:03.799 --> 00:10:05.459 The king had to request you. 00:10:06.099 --> 00:10:10.159 The only exception was if a golden scepter was extended, 00:10:10.439 --> 00:10:12.599 then your life would not be taken. 00:10:12.839 --> 00:10:14.099 Otherwise, it would. 00:10:14.500 --> 00:10:16.399 She risks and she goes. 00:10:16.399 --> 00:10:35.419 Meanwhile, Haman is thinking of all the glory he's going to receive because one night, 00:10:36.539 --> 00:10:41.079 King Ahasuerus falls asleep and can't stay asleep, 00:10:41.080 --> 00:10:46.620 wakes up and reads his chronicles where he discovers that Mordecai, his servant, 00:10:47.080 --> 00:10:52.100 had exposed an assassination attempt against him and saved his life, 00:10:52.280 --> 00:10:54.500 but Mordecai was never awarded. 00:10:56.180 --> 00:10:59.400 Meanwhile, King Ahasuerus is planning to award him. 00:10:59.620 --> 00:11:00.700 Haman is not knowing it. 00:11:00.840 --> 00:11:05.800 Haman has a way to take the life by building a gallows to take Mordecai's life. 00:11:05.799 --> 00:11:11.599 But at the second feast, when Esther comes clean on her identity as a Jew, 00:11:11.759 --> 00:11:13.579 the edict that Haman has proclaimed, 00:11:14.079 --> 00:11:19.439 his participation in a plot that would erase her people, 00:11:19.959 --> 00:11:21.120 he's exposed. 00:11:21.679 --> 00:11:26.219 And the very gallows upon which Mordecai was to die, 00:11:27.259 --> 00:11:28.779 Haman is executed. 00:11:29.879 --> 00:11:35.379 And so what we find here as we open up the storyline in this first scene in chapter 8, 00:11:35.799 --> 00:11:38.439 is Mordecai becomes prime minister. 00:11:39.240 --> 00:11:42.019 It's marked by receiving a signet ring. 00:11:42.519 --> 00:11:47.259 Two Jews oppressed in the land with a signet ring, 00:11:47.559 --> 00:11:54.699 a position of influence to do redemptive things in the kingdom for their people. 00:11:55.120 --> 00:11:56.199 Scene 1. 00:11:56.979 --> 00:11:57.559 Scene 2. 00:11:58.000 --> 00:11:59.759 Let's look at the passage, the plea. 00:12:00.359 --> 00:12:02.339 It's a ring, a plea, verse 3. 00:12:02.340 --> 00:12:05.280 Then Esther spoke again to the king. 00:12:05.440 --> 00:12:08.300 She fell at his feet and wept, 00:12:08.980 --> 00:12:11.519 and pleaded with him to avert the evil plan, 00:12:11.940 --> 00:12:13.800 Haman the Agagite. 00:12:13.980 --> 00:12:14.960 That's easy for you to say. 00:12:15.060 --> 00:12:15.800 The Agagite. 00:12:16.240 --> 00:12:18.660 And the plot that he had devised against the Jews. 00:12:18.759 --> 00:12:19.600 Here's what's interesting. 00:12:19.899 --> 00:12:22.019 Agagite also means Amalekite. 00:12:22.899 --> 00:12:25.940 Now if you, like, paid attention in Sunday school growing up, 00:12:25.940 --> 00:12:29.140 you may have a little distant memory of Amalekites. 00:12:29.140 --> 00:12:33.360 When Israel was going in the wilderness to enter the land, 00:12:33.800 --> 00:12:40.280 they opposed Israel so dramatically that God had to show up through Moses holding his hands up. 00:12:41.000 --> 00:12:43.200 And when King Saul came into power, 00:12:43.340 --> 00:12:48.360 he was commissioned to completely, completely annihilate the Amalekites. 00:12:48.480 --> 00:12:49.540 But you remember what happens? 00:12:49.980 --> 00:12:52.060 It's where God's favor falls from him. 00:12:52.059 --> 00:12:57.139 God's favor falls because he did not completely wipe out the Amalekites. 00:12:57.659 --> 00:13:01.899 And here we have Mordecai, a Jew, a descendant of Saul, 00:13:02.939 --> 00:13:07.019 facing an Amalekite in a foreign land again. 00:13:07.759 --> 00:13:13.659 Interesting thing, Herod, who was in charge when Jesus was born, 00:13:13.759 --> 00:13:15.459 was an Amalekite as well. 00:13:15.699 --> 00:13:16.959 This ongoing conflict. 00:13:17.219 --> 00:13:17.919 Look at verse 4. 00:13:17.919 --> 00:13:21.839 When the king held out the golden scepter to Esther, 00:13:22.000 --> 00:13:23.199 okay, she's going to be alive, 00:13:23.959 --> 00:13:25.919 Esther rose and stood before the king, 00:13:26.339 --> 00:13:27.019 and she said, 00:13:27.259 --> 00:13:28.419 If it please the king, 00:13:28.679 --> 00:13:30.679 and if I have found favor in his sight, 00:13:30.959 --> 00:13:33.139 and if the thing seems right before him, 00:13:33.179 --> 00:13:34.699 and I'm pleasing in his eyes, 00:13:34.759 --> 00:13:36.139 boy, she's building a case, isn't she, 00:13:36.839 --> 00:13:42.980 let an order be written to revoke or reverse the letters devised by Haman the Agagite, 00:13:42.980 --> 00:13:44.720 the son of Hamadathah, 00:13:45.360 --> 00:13:49.180 which he wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the provinces of the king. 00:13:49.300 --> 00:13:54.279 For how can I bear to see the calamity that is coming to my people? 00:13:54.779 --> 00:13:58.080 Or how can I bear to see the destruction of my kindred? 00:13:58.879 --> 00:14:02.600 Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, 00:14:02.759 --> 00:14:05.639 Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, 00:14:06.060 --> 00:14:08.159 and they have hanged him on the gallows, 00:14:08.200 --> 00:14:10.580 because he intended to lay hands on the Jews. 00:14:10.580 --> 00:14:15.820 But you may write as you please with regard to the Jews in the name of the king, 00:14:16.060 --> 00:14:18.620 and seal it with the king's ring. 00:14:18.900 --> 00:14:24.879 For an edict written in the name of the king and sealed with the king's ring cannot be revoked. 00:14:24.980 --> 00:14:26.720 He's actually saying two things. 00:14:27.200 --> 00:14:30.460 I can't make Haman's edict go away. 00:14:31.300 --> 00:14:34.900 But if you can figure out a way, Mordecai and Esther, 00:14:35.460 --> 00:14:39.220 to preserve the lives of the people in light of that edict going out, 00:14:39.220 --> 00:14:41.540 I will let you take my signet green. 00:14:42.139 --> 00:14:44.920 And in her plea for her people, 00:14:45.279 --> 00:14:47.720 because of the great effect of the curse, 00:14:48.040 --> 00:14:49.480 living in a fallen world, 00:14:49.920 --> 00:14:51.940 perpetrated by a fallen man, Haman, 00:14:52.040 --> 00:14:53.720 she intervenes with a plea, 00:14:54.680 --> 00:14:58.580 a need that moves her to tears at the feet of the king, 00:14:59.139 --> 00:15:02.240 to intercede not just on her welfare, 00:15:02.759 --> 00:15:05.960 but on behalf of the welfare of the entire people. 00:15:05.960 --> 00:15:08.700 In response to her plea, 00:15:09.120 --> 00:15:13.960 King Ahasuerus gives an okay for an alternate decree to be made. 00:15:14.280 --> 00:15:16.960 In scene three, we see that decree. 00:15:17.620 --> 00:15:18.160 Verse nine. 00:15:18.159 --> 00:15:23.579 The king's scribes were summoned at that time in the third month, 00:15:23.819 --> 00:15:26.860 which is the month of Sivan, on the 23rd day. 00:15:27.679 --> 00:15:32.139 And an edict was written according to all that Mordecai commanded concerning the Jews. 00:15:32.279 --> 00:15:37.480 So the satraps and the governors and the officials of the provinces from India to Ethiopia, 00:15:37.799 --> 00:15:38.620 that's a stretch, 00:15:39.379 --> 00:15:43.839 127 provinces to each province in its own script. 00:15:43.980 --> 00:15:45.899 Can you imagine the translation work? 00:15:45.899 --> 00:15:48.299 And to each people in its own language, 00:15:48.439 --> 00:15:52.059 and also to the Jews in their script and their language. 00:15:52.240 --> 00:15:57.519 And he wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed it with the king's signet ring. 00:15:58.360 --> 00:16:00.939 Then he sent letters by mounted couriers, 00:16:01.039 --> 00:16:03.740 riding on swift horses that were used in the king's service, 00:16:04.079 --> 00:16:05.699 bred from the royal stud. 00:16:05.860 --> 00:16:06.500 I like that. 00:16:07.079 --> 00:16:11.879 Saying that the king allowed the Jews who were in every city to gather and defend their lives, 00:16:11.879 --> 00:16:14.659 to destroy, kill, and to annihilate. 00:16:14.799 --> 00:16:16.820 That's in Esther chapter three. 00:16:17.519 --> 00:16:19.539 That's a reversal of the command. 00:16:20.320 --> 00:16:23.720 Israel, Jews were supposed to be destroyed, killed, annihilated. 00:16:24.460 --> 00:16:30.200 And that they could do that against any armed force of any people or province that might attack them, 00:16:30.600 --> 00:16:32.220 children and women included, 00:16:32.500 --> 00:16:34.539 and to plunder their goods. 00:16:34.539 --> 00:16:38.899 On one day throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, 00:16:39.000 --> 00:16:41.059 on the 13th day of the 12th month, 00:16:41.500 --> 00:16:42.919 which is the month of Adair, 00:16:43.480 --> 00:16:47.759 a copy of what was written was to be issued as a decree in every province, 00:16:48.120 --> 00:16:50.480 being publicly displayed to all peoples. 00:16:51.159 --> 00:16:56.159 And the Jews were to be ready on that day to take vengeance on their enemies. 00:16:56.159 --> 00:17:01.500 So the couriers, mounted on their swift horses that were used in the king's service, 00:17:01.699 --> 00:17:04.839 rode out and hurriedly, urged by the king's command, 00:17:05.139 --> 00:17:09.059 and the decree was issued in Susa, the citadel or the capital. 00:17:09.539 --> 00:17:10.359 You see what happened? 00:17:10.480 --> 00:17:15.259 Esther and Mordecai penned a decree that would give Jews the right to defend themselves, 00:17:15.599 --> 00:17:18.359 to thwart the decree that was made by Haman. 00:17:18.460 --> 00:17:19.159 What are they doing? 00:17:19.480 --> 00:17:20.940 They're reversing the curse. 00:17:21.779 --> 00:17:24.639 The curse that had been pronounced upon the Jews, 00:17:24.640 --> 00:17:29.080 that intersected their lives in a very profound, real way, 00:17:29.220 --> 00:17:35.680 not just for them, but for all their kindred spread throughout the kingdom of Ahasuerus. 00:17:35.840 --> 00:17:37.580 They reversed the curse. 00:17:38.280 --> 00:17:41.320 So that instead of a decree of death, 00:17:41.920 --> 00:17:47.180 the Jews, the people of God, could experience a decree that would bring life. 00:17:48.480 --> 00:17:49.300 It's a ring. 00:17:50.040 --> 00:17:50.840 It's a plea. 00:17:50.839 --> 00:17:55.699 It's a decree that turns into the foreseen a party. 00:17:56.419 --> 00:17:59.179 Look at verses 15 through 17. 00:18:00.519 --> 00:18:04.959 Then Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal robes of blue and white, 00:18:05.099 --> 00:18:08.059 with a golden crown and a robe of fine linen and purple. 00:18:08.639 --> 00:18:11.779 The city of Susa shouted and rejoiced. 00:18:11.919 --> 00:18:13.939 This is how Haman thought he was going to dress. 00:18:13.940 --> 00:18:18.559 And now we find Mordecai as the curse has been reversed in his place. 00:18:19.420 --> 00:18:19.840 Verse 16, 00:18:19.920 --> 00:18:24.299 The Jews had light and gladness and joy and honor. 00:18:24.539 --> 00:18:27.340 They're restored from shame, restored from the curse. 00:18:28.059 --> 00:18:30.559 And in every province and in every city, 00:18:31.200 --> 00:18:34.100 wherever the king's command and his edict reached, 00:18:34.519 --> 00:18:38.799 there was gladness and joy among the Jews, a feast and a holiday. 00:18:38.799 --> 00:18:40.720 And get this, 00:18:40.819 --> 00:18:46.480 And many from the peoples of the country declared themselves Jews they wanted in the party, 00:18:46.819 --> 00:18:50.720 for fear of the Jews had fallen all on them. 00:18:51.899 --> 00:18:53.779 You see the wonder of a story, 00:18:54.619 --> 00:18:58.440 of a ring for such a time as this, 00:18:58.720 --> 00:19:01.659 a plea that met the woundedness, 00:19:01.660 --> 00:19:02.940 the fears, 00:19:02.940 --> 00:19:07.519 and yet the hope for a reversal by a decree 00:19:07.519 --> 00:19:11.040 that turned into a party for the whole country 00:19:11.040 --> 00:19:14.440 to celebrate a reversal of the curse 00:19:14.440 --> 00:19:17.060 so everyone else wanted in. 00:19:17.940 --> 00:19:20.900 You see the beauty of this story in those four scenes 00:19:20.900 --> 00:19:24.640 is it really helps us understand the whole gospel storyline 00:19:24.640 --> 00:19:27.500 that's woven throughout the pages of scripture. 00:19:28.400 --> 00:19:31.000 The ring corresponds to the story of creation 00:19:31.000 --> 00:19:35.059 where we're made to flourish and exercise benevolent rule 00:19:35.059 --> 00:19:39.420 that brings flourishing and shalom and wholeness to all of earth. 00:19:39.740 --> 00:19:43.059 But the fall means we're all broken and wounded. 00:19:43.720 --> 00:19:46.619 Despite having the image of glory in us, 00:19:46.799 --> 00:19:48.779 we limp big time 00:19:48.779 --> 00:19:52.559 because of the effects of the curse in our world. 00:19:53.000 --> 00:19:55.440 The biblical story goes on from the fall though 00:19:55.440 --> 00:19:58.279 as you open the pages of the New Testament to redemption. 00:19:58.279 --> 00:20:02.660 of one who came to issue an edict and a decree 00:20:02.660 --> 00:20:04.940 that would make all things new 00:20:04.940 --> 00:20:06.879 and the good news of the gospel. 00:20:07.440 --> 00:20:10.019 And one day there will be a party 00:20:10.019 --> 00:20:12.200 like no other party before 00:20:12.200 --> 00:20:15.019 when every tear will be wiped away from our eyes 00:20:15.019 --> 00:20:18.240 and everything is made new. 00:20:18.779 --> 00:20:19.819 Heaven comes down 00:20:19.819 --> 00:20:23.259 and everything that's sad becomes untrue. 00:20:24.059 --> 00:20:27.160 Esther's story was the gospel story. 00:20:27.160 --> 00:20:30.580 Mordecai's involvement with Esther 00:20:30.580 --> 00:20:32.220 in reversing the curse 00:20:32.220 --> 00:20:34.920 pictures the gospel storyline. 00:20:35.820 --> 00:20:37.540 And it pictures the storyline 00:20:37.540 --> 00:20:39.779 of each of our lives as well. 00:20:42.160 --> 00:20:44.279 Connect to that feeling of overwhelm. 00:20:45.400 --> 00:20:47.620 Connect to that sense of awareness 00:20:47.620 --> 00:20:49.420 if you're a part of Christ's church 00:20:49.420 --> 00:20:51.960 and probably even if you're not a part of church, 00:20:52.080 --> 00:20:54.380 you know the church is called to mission. 00:20:54.380 --> 00:20:58.880 What does missional living mean 00:20:58.880 --> 00:21:01.820 for an overwhelmed people 00:21:01.820 --> 00:21:05.280 in a culture where we can't even hear one another? 00:21:06.800 --> 00:21:07.940 Based on this story, 00:21:08.040 --> 00:21:09.960 I would suggest missional living is this. 00:21:10.640 --> 00:21:11.480 Missional living 00:21:11.480 --> 00:21:14.460 is reversing the curse 00:21:14.460 --> 00:21:18.320 right where you feel the need for it most. 00:21:18.319 --> 00:21:23.460 Missional living is reversing the curse 00:21:23.460 --> 00:21:27.399 right where you feel the need for it most. 00:21:29.319 --> 00:21:31.379 Now because the church I'm at 00:21:31.379 --> 00:21:32.619 at Oak Mountain Prez 00:21:32.619 --> 00:21:34.679 and this church really treasure 00:21:34.679 --> 00:21:36.259 the gospel, 00:21:36.619 --> 00:21:38.879 we probably share some similarities. 00:21:39.579 --> 00:21:41.319 Here's what we're finding out at Oak Mountain 00:21:41.319 --> 00:21:43.399 that you may have experienced as well. 00:21:43.980 --> 00:21:45.720 Coming to Oak Mountain for many people 00:21:45.720 --> 00:21:48.140 has offered and I've just been there a year and a half 00:21:48.140 --> 00:21:51.059 so I have like zilch contribution to this hardly at all. 00:21:51.500 --> 00:21:53.740 It's just the faithfulness of the free gospel 00:21:53.740 --> 00:21:55.799 being preached powerfully. 00:21:56.420 --> 00:21:59.200 Most people have found in the church 00:21:59.200 --> 00:22:00.799 a fresh drink of the gospel 00:22:00.799 --> 00:22:02.579 that makes their souls say yes 00:22:02.579 --> 00:22:05.779 after having been beat up and bruised 00:22:05.779 --> 00:22:08.519 by the legalistic church for a long time. 00:22:09.160 --> 00:22:12.160 Then we've also experienced real safe community 00:22:12.160 --> 00:22:14.740 where you don't really have to pretend 00:22:14.740 --> 00:22:17.740 and can come clean about the struggles in your life. 00:22:18.240 --> 00:22:20.540 I mean, a fresh drink of the gospel, 00:22:20.880 --> 00:22:22.900 a safe community where I can come clean 00:22:22.900 --> 00:22:24.060 and hope in the gospel 00:22:24.060 --> 00:22:26.080 and we're like, home run. 00:22:26.900 --> 00:22:27.779 We're done. 00:22:28.279 --> 00:22:28.880 We're here. 00:22:29.380 --> 00:22:30.900 Ah, yes. 00:22:31.920 --> 00:22:33.560 It's kind of like we've hit a triple 00:22:33.560 --> 00:22:36.440 and hitting a triple is really exciting. 00:22:37.080 --> 00:22:38.920 The whole crowd cheers. 00:22:38.920 --> 00:22:40.160 You dust yourself off, 00:22:40.320 --> 00:22:41.860 but you still got to get home. 00:22:43.120 --> 00:22:45.840 The richness of the gospel that we experience 00:22:45.840 --> 00:22:47.440 between us and Christ 00:22:47.440 --> 00:22:49.620 and in community with one another 00:22:49.620 --> 00:22:51.720 is the same power 00:22:51.720 --> 00:22:54.440 that needs to bubble over in our lives 00:22:54.440 --> 00:22:56.400 with the needs that we experience 00:22:56.400 --> 00:23:00.140 right alongside real and normal people 00:23:00.140 --> 00:23:02.340 with whom we do life. 00:23:03.560 --> 00:23:04.460 Missional living 00:23:04.460 --> 00:23:08.900 is where you feel the weight of the curse the most 00:23:08.900 --> 00:23:10.920 and you begin dreaming 00:23:10.920 --> 00:23:13.420 and moving to reverse it. 00:23:14.620 --> 00:23:16.880 If you've read Jeremiah 29 before, 00:23:17.079 --> 00:23:18.380 it talks about the commission 00:23:18.380 --> 00:23:19.240 to the people of God 00:23:19.240 --> 00:23:20.880 prior to the story of Esther 00:23:20.880 --> 00:23:22.960 when the people were in captivity 00:23:22.960 --> 00:23:24.380 and Jeremiah's in Jerusalem 00:23:24.380 --> 00:23:25.319 and riding back. 00:23:25.400 --> 00:23:26.860 I won't turn there for the sake of time, 00:23:27.240 --> 00:23:27.720 but he says, 00:23:27.799 --> 00:23:29.539 hey, people are saying 00:23:29.539 --> 00:23:30.440 you're about out of here, 00:23:30.440 --> 00:23:34.299 so don't invest in the city. 00:23:34.420 --> 00:23:36.660 He's saying you're going to be there for 70 years. 00:23:37.039 --> 00:23:38.320 You are exiles, 00:23:38.519 --> 00:23:39.900 but here's how I want you to function. 00:23:40.960 --> 00:23:41.920 Get jobs. 00:23:43.580 --> 00:23:44.759 Build homes. 00:23:46.160 --> 00:23:47.180 Cultivate gardens. 00:23:48.160 --> 00:23:49.240 Have children. 00:23:50.140 --> 00:23:51.279 Give away children. 00:23:52.019 --> 00:23:54.400 And in the midst of just the normal stuff in life 00:23:54.400 --> 00:23:55.960 that you're already doing, 00:23:56.720 --> 00:23:58.299 seek the welfare, 00:23:58.740 --> 00:23:59.860 the Hebrew word actually, 00:24:00.059 --> 00:24:01.039 seek the shalom, 00:24:01.620 --> 00:24:02.440 the fullness, 00:24:02.640 --> 00:24:03.319 the wholeness, 00:24:03.420 --> 00:24:03.860 the peace, 00:24:03.940 --> 00:24:05.360 the world as it should ought to be. 00:24:05.779 --> 00:24:06.680 Seek the welfare 00:24:06.680 --> 00:24:08.380 or the shalom of the city 00:24:08.380 --> 00:24:10.039 and you know what the promise is next? 00:24:10.860 --> 00:24:11.880 And in it, 00:24:12.500 --> 00:24:13.600 you will find 00:24:13.600 --> 00:24:14.799 your welfare, 00:24:15.799 --> 00:24:16.460 your shalom. 00:24:17.960 --> 00:24:18.920 For a people 00:24:18.920 --> 00:24:20.180 who have experienced 00:24:20.180 --> 00:24:22.140 a fresh drink of the gospel 00:24:22.140 --> 00:24:24.900 in a way that's transforming your lives 00:24:24.900 --> 00:24:26.360 and the contents of your friendships 00:24:26.360 --> 00:24:27.440 and families, 00:24:27.920 --> 00:24:29.340 that good news 00:24:29.340 --> 00:24:31.360 in the midst of your brokenness 00:24:31.360 --> 00:24:33.240 is extended to those 00:24:33.240 --> 00:24:35.360 outside the walls of this church 00:24:35.360 --> 00:24:38.220 in breathtaking ways, 00:24:38.360 --> 00:24:40.380 but in the normal stuff of life. 00:24:41.780 --> 00:24:42.560 Thursday night, 00:24:42.620 --> 00:24:43.400 I got together with a group 00:24:43.400 --> 00:24:44.240 of college students 00:24:44.240 --> 00:24:45.380 from our church 00:24:45.380 --> 00:24:46.840 and we watched way, way back. 00:24:47.640 --> 00:24:48.440 It's really weird 00:24:48.440 --> 00:24:49.519 anytime Steve Carell 00:24:49.519 --> 00:24:50.700 is in a serious movie. 00:24:50.700 --> 00:24:53.240 the first line, 00:24:53.480 --> 00:24:54.259 the first scene 00:24:54.259 --> 00:24:55.400 slayed me. 00:24:56.420 --> 00:24:57.480 Steve Carell's character, 00:24:57.580 --> 00:24:58.460 I think he's Trent, 00:24:59.080 --> 00:24:59.940 is dating 00:24:59.940 --> 00:25:01.440 a woman 00:25:01.440 --> 00:25:02.580 who has two kids. 00:25:03.059 --> 00:25:03.500 I don't know 00:25:03.500 --> 00:25:04.279 where they found 00:25:04.279 --> 00:25:05.279 an old station wagon, 00:25:05.400 --> 00:25:05.840 but do you remember 00:25:05.840 --> 00:25:06.799 old station wagons? 00:25:07.039 --> 00:25:07.940 If you saw the movie, 00:25:08.059 --> 00:25:08.980 there's a back seat 00:25:08.980 --> 00:25:10.039 that faces back 00:25:10.039 --> 00:25:12.259 and there's a little boy 00:25:12.259 --> 00:25:13.039 named Duncan 00:25:13.039 --> 00:25:14.200 who's about 13, 00:25:14.340 --> 00:25:15.080 as awkward 00:25:15.080 --> 00:25:17.059 as he can possibly be, 00:25:17.319 --> 00:25:19.059 shoulders slumped over, 00:25:19.059 --> 00:25:20.919 who's just trying 00:25:20.919 --> 00:25:21.639 to look out 00:25:21.639 --> 00:25:22.379 to get away 00:25:22.379 --> 00:25:22.980 from what else 00:25:22.980 --> 00:25:24.059 is happening in the car. 00:25:24.799 --> 00:25:26.460 He wants nothing of it. 00:25:27.899 --> 00:25:29.220 Trent refuses 00:25:29.220 --> 00:25:30.839 to let him be disengaged 00:25:30.839 --> 00:25:31.579 and so he begins 00:25:31.579 --> 00:25:33.139 conversation like this, 00:25:33.539 --> 00:25:33.839 Duncan, 00:25:34.099 --> 00:25:35.379 what are you? 00:25:35.799 --> 00:25:37.539 On a scale of one to ten, 00:25:37.779 --> 00:25:38.339 what are you? 00:25:39.899 --> 00:25:40.299 Duncan, 00:25:40.500 --> 00:25:41.679 like most adolescent boys, 00:25:41.819 --> 00:25:41.960 says, 00:25:42.059 --> 00:25:42.740 I don't know. 00:25:43.079 --> 00:25:44.259 He doesn't want to answer, 00:25:44.379 --> 00:25:45.819 comes up with a grunt. 00:25:46.639 --> 00:25:47.519 Trent keeps pressing, 00:25:47.599 --> 00:25:48.359 no, what are you? 00:25:48.359 --> 00:25:50.359 Like ten being really good, 00:25:50.539 --> 00:25:51.679 one being nothing, 00:25:52.099 --> 00:25:52.679 what are you 00:25:52.679 --> 00:25:54.619 on a scale of one to ten? 00:25:56.079 --> 00:25:57.539 Duncan finally relents 00:25:57.539 --> 00:25:58.099 and says, 00:25:58.279 --> 00:25:58.819 I don't know, 00:25:58.939 --> 00:26:00.939 like six or a seven? 00:26:03.079 --> 00:26:03.679 Trent goes, 00:26:04.099 --> 00:26:04.779 no, 00:26:05.500 --> 00:26:06.099 no, 00:26:07.019 --> 00:26:08.079 you're not a six 00:26:08.079 --> 00:26:08.599 or a seven, 00:26:08.859 --> 00:26:09.959 that's way too high. 00:26:11.519 --> 00:26:12.559 You're a three. 00:26:14.799 --> 00:26:15.899 That's what you are. 00:26:16.979 --> 00:26:17.959 You're a three. 00:26:18.359 --> 00:26:21.659 I'm undone. 00:26:23.819 --> 00:26:26.519 I know the feeling of shame 00:26:26.519 --> 00:26:28.079 so powerful 00:26:28.079 --> 00:26:29.299 where people treat you 00:26:29.299 --> 00:26:31.439 as if you're a three. 00:26:32.159 --> 00:26:33.459 It's like I may as well 00:26:33.459 --> 00:26:34.759 have been in the back seat 00:26:34.759 --> 00:26:35.699 with Duncan. 00:26:37.139 --> 00:26:39.019 As the storyline goes on, 00:26:39.099 --> 00:26:40.039 he finds his way 00:26:40.039 --> 00:26:41.419 to a water park, 00:26:42.099 --> 00:26:43.879 which is run by a guy 00:26:43.879 --> 00:26:45.399 who probably did not win, 00:26:45.400 --> 00:26:46.600 most likely to succeed 00:26:46.600 --> 00:26:47.300 in high school. 00:26:47.640 --> 00:26:48.780 His name is Owen. 00:26:50.220 --> 00:26:51.320 Owen leads a group 00:26:51.320 --> 00:26:51.800 of people 00:26:51.800 --> 00:26:52.980 who are like an island 00:26:52.980 --> 00:26:54.259 of misfit toys 00:26:54.259 --> 00:26:57.560 at this little water park. 00:26:58.120 --> 00:26:59.820 But every life 00:26:59.820 --> 00:27:01.019 that Owen touches, 00:27:01.800 --> 00:27:03.320 even in their awkwardness 00:27:03.320 --> 00:27:04.040 where the world 00:27:04.040 --> 00:27:05.060 would bring shame, 00:27:05.180 --> 00:27:06.480 you know what Owen does? 00:27:06.480 --> 00:27:08.940 he lifts their heads. 00:27:10.220 --> 00:27:11.700 He treats them 00:27:11.700 --> 00:27:13.819 as the image bearers 00:27:13.819 --> 00:27:14.680 that they are. 00:27:15.180 --> 00:27:16.440 His own story 00:27:16.440 --> 00:27:17.819 filled with shame, 00:27:18.079 --> 00:27:20.279 but wherever Owen goes, 00:27:20.779 --> 00:27:22.539 he lifts people's heads 00:27:22.539 --> 00:27:24.039 from the shame. 00:27:25.480 --> 00:27:26.599 That's what the people 00:27:26.599 --> 00:27:28.339 of God are called to do. 00:27:28.339 --> 00:27:30.179 In a world 00:27:30.179 --> 00:27:31.579 that feels like a three, 00:27:32.939 --> 00:27:34.659 we lift their heads 00:27:34.659 --> 00:27:36.039 to see the beauty 00:27:36.039 --> 00:27:36.779 and wonder 00:27:36.779 --> 00:27:38.159 of being created 00:27:38.159 --> 00:27:39.379 in the image of God. 00:27:39.740 --> 00:27:40.699 Here's what I've found 00:27:40.699 --> 00:27:42.119 within the evangelical church 00:27:42.119 --> 00:27:43.179 is we're really strong 00:27:43.179 --> 00:27:45.959 on two of the four movements 00:27:45.959 --> 00:27:47.339 of the gospel storyline. 00:27:47.559 --> 00:27:48.539 We're big on sin 00:27:48.539 --> 00:27:50.699 and the reality of that, 00:27:50.819 --> 00:27:52.220 sometimes in really healthy ways, 00:27:52.339 --> 00:27:53.919 sometimes in very judgmental ways, 00:27:54.019 --> 00:27:55.240 and we're really big 00:27:55.240 --> 00:27:56.980 on redemption as well. 00:27:56.980 --> 00:27:58.740 But you know what we forget 00:27:58.740 --> 00:28:00.059 in relating to people? 00:28:00.299 --> 00:28:01.940 We forget stage one, 00:28:02.180 --> 00:28:03.400 scene one, creation. 00:28:04.400 --> 00:28:05.339 That everyone, 00:28:05.519 --> 00:28:06.700 whether they name the name 00:28:06.700 --> 00:28:08.400 of Jesus or not, 00:28:08.860 --> 00:28:10.440 are image bearers, 00:28:10.799 --> 00:28:12.680 but who are also fallen, 00:28:13.339 --> 00:28:15.240 living with this deep-seated unease 00:28:15.240 --> 00:28:16.779 of I'm not okay 00:28:16.779 --> 00:28:18.339 with who I am. 00:28:19.240 --> 00:28:20.620 The people of God 00:28:20.620 --> 00:28:22.220 in every age 00:28:22.220 --> 00:28:23.319 and every sphere 00:28:23.319 --> 00:28:25.599 are people who bear the image 00:28:25.599 --> 00:28:27.240 and treat people to the image 00:28:27.240 --> 00:28:28.139 so that we are people 00:28:28.139 --> 00:28:30.099 who call out the glory 00:28:30.099 --> 00:28:31.959 and the wonder 00:28:31.959 --> 00:28:33.359 of how one another 00:28:33.359 --> 00:28:34.179 are made 00:28:34.179 --> 00:28:35.639 in the midst of the world 00:28:35.639 --> 00:28:36.719 that just presses 00:28:36.719 --> 00:28:37.939 their shame, 00:28:38.279 --> 00:28:39.359 calling you a three. 00:28:41.299 --> 00:28:42.480 A people on mission 00:28:42.480 --> 00:28:43.639 lift the heads 00:28:43.639 --> 00:28:45.899 right in the normal stuff of life 00:28:45.899 --> 00:28:48.159 from the place of shame 00:28:48.159 --> 00:28:50.259 to a place of honor 00:28:50.259 --> 00:28:50.900 and glory 00:28:50.900 --> 00:28:52.019 so that that curse 00:28:52.019 --> 00:28:53.720 is reversed. 00:28:55.539 --> 00:28:56.799 There's a sociologist 00:28:56.799 --> 00:28:57.960 from UVA, 00:28:58.279 --> 00:28:58.920 Charlottesville, 00:28:59.099 --> 00:29:00.559 who's really a fascinating man. 00:29:00.599 --> 00:29:01.140 I've had a chance 00:29:01.140 --> 00:29:02.119 to interact with him. 00:29:02.160 --> 00:29:04.359 His name is James Davison Hunter. 00:29:05.460 --> 00:29:06.680 He came out, 00:29:06.779 --> 00:29:08.039 he's a follower of Christ, 00:29:08.140 --> 00:29:08.579 he came out 00:29:08.579 --> 00:29:09.920 of the evangelical movement, 00:29:10.519 --> 00:29:11.599 but grew disappointed 00:29:11.599 --> 00:29:12.640 in his development 00:29:12.640 --> 00:29:14.460 at two main projects 00:29:14.460 --> 00:29:16.099 of the evangelical church 00:29:16.099 --> 00:29:17.640 in the past 30 years. 00:29:18.180 --> 00:29:19.100 One was, 00:29:19.500 --> 00:29:20.780 we're going to change the world 00:29:20.780 --> 00:29:22.560 through sharing the gospel 00:29:22.560 --> 00:29:23.480 with individuals, 00:29:23.980 --> 00:29:24.740 and eventually 00:29:24.740 --> 00:29:25.960 the grassroots of that 00:29:25.960 --> 00:29:26.960 will just bubble up 00:29:26.960 --> 00:29:27.980 and change our culture. 00:29:28.820 --> 00:29:30.300 The other project 00:29:30.300 --> 00:29:31.980 at work in evangelicalism 00:29:31.980 --> 00:29:33.180 was the Christian right, 00:29:33.660 --> 00:29:35.380 which had a political agenda 00:29:35.380 --> 00:29:37.640 and created a huge culture war 00:29:37.640 --> 00:29:39.380 that created and helped fuel 00:29:39.380 --> 00:29:41.180 an MSNBC, Fox News 00:29:41.180 --> 00:29:42.880 kind of culture today. 00:29:43.960 --> 00:29:45.040 I might make you mad, 00:29:45.520 --> 00:29:46.259 he said it, 00:29:46.340 --> 00:29:47.080 offers research, 00:29:47.079 --> 00:29:47.799 you get the book, 00:29:47.939 --> 00:29:48.519 you read it, 00:29:48.579 --> 00:29:49.299 weigh his arguments. 00:29:49.899 --> 00:29:50.299 He's saying, 00:29:50.299 --> 00:29:51.659 neither are ways, 00:29:52.079 --> 00:29:53.379 neither are ways 00:29:53.379 --> 00:29:54.939 to change the world 00:29:54.939 --> 00:29:56.359 and change our culture. 00:29:56.720 --> 00:29:57.699 Now he's not saying, 00:29:57.980 --> 00:29:59.299 not arguing against evangelism, 00:30:00.199 --> 00:30:00.460 okay? 00:30:01.159 --> 00:30:02.339 He's not arguing against 00:30:02.339 --> 00:30:03.159 some of the values 00:30:03.159 --> 00:30:04.419 that the religious right 00:30:04.419 --> 00:30:05.539 have advanced. 00:30:06.019 --> 00:30:07.079 He's just saying 00:30:07.079 --> 00:30:08.159 those approaches 00:30:08.159 --> 00:30:09.179 on their own 00:30:09.179 --> 00:30:11.359 will not reverse the curse. 00:30:13.399 --> 00:30:15.019 Instead he argues, 00:30:15.259 --> 00:30:16.240 what would? 00:30:17.079 --> 00:30:18.439 which he terms 00:30:18.439 --> 00:30:21.119 faithful presence 00:30:21.119 --> 00:30:24.519 in key places 00:30:24.519 --> 00:30:26.079 that God has called us 00:30:26.079 --> 00:30:29.599 for such a time as this. 00:30:30.299 --> 00:30:31.659 Faithful presence, 00:30:31.939 --> 00:30:33.939 just in the normal arenas 00:30:33.939 --> 00:30:34.500 in life 00:30:34.500 --> 00:30:35.339 and platforms 00:30:35.339 --> 00:30:37.359 that God has entrusted to you, 00:30:37.619 --> 00:30:38.579 where you're CEO 00:30:38.579 --> 00:30:39.859 of a company 00:30:39.859 --> 00:30:41.319 or you're wiping bottoms 00:30:41.319 --> 00:30:41.859 at home. 00:30:41.859 --> 00:30:43.639 whatever the place, 00:30:44.579 --> 00:30:45.719 faithful presence 00:30:45.719 --> 00:30:47.079 over time 00:30:47.079 --> 00:30:48.500 for such a time 00:30:48.500 --> 00:30:49.159 as this 00:30:49.159 --> 00:30:50.319 to reverse 00:30:50.319 --> 00:30:51.500 the curse 00:30:51.500 --> 00:30:53.039 wherever we are. 00:30:55.639 --> 00:30:56.839 As I've been trying 00:30:56.839 --> 00:30:57.719 to help people 00:30:57.719 --> 00:30:59.159 flesh out 00:30:59.159 --> 00:31:00.559 what this looks like, 00:31:00.919 --> 00:31:01.899 I've thought of it 00:31:01.899 --> 00:31:02.979 in three phases. 00:31:03.619 --> 00:31:04.059 Normally, 00:31:04.179 --> 00:31:04.719 if you think about 00:31:04.719 --> 00:31:05.199 moving out, 00:31:05.259 --> 00:31:06.439 you think of the third phase 00:31:06.439 --> 00:31:07.219 of where you have to 00:31:07.219 --> 00:31:08.299 announce good news. 00:31:08.299 --> 00:31:08.779 Who, 00:31:08.940 --> 00:31:10.019 if you're a church person, 00:31:10.519 --> 00:31:11.599 has heard before 00:31:11.599 --> 00:31:12.579 that you should 00:31:12.579 --> 00:31:13.680 announce the good news 00:31:13.680 --> 00:31:14.259 to others? 00:31:14.839 --> 00:31:15.419 You heard that? 00:31:16.919 --> 00:31:17.980 Who here feels 00:31:17.980 --> 00:31:18.599 really guilty 00:31:18.599 --> 00:31:19.980 for how little you do it? 00:31:21.099 --> 00:31:22.059 And it's because 00:31:22.059 --> 00:31:22.720 we think we've got 00:31:22.720 --> 00:31:23.980 to start right here. 00:31:24.839 --> 00:31:25.919 A great way 00:31:25.919 --> 00:31:26.539 to think 00:31:26.539 --> 00:31:28.480 in light of the story 00:31:28.480 --> 00:31:29.359 in which we're 00:31:29.359 --> 00:31:30.639 stepping into 00:31:30.639 --> 00:31:31.299 in the gospel storyline 00:31:31.299 --> 00:31:33.299 is to remember 00:31:33.299 --> 00:31:34.720 the creation story 00:31:34.720 --> 00:31:36.539 and to live 00:31:36.539 --> 00:31:37.659 for the flourishing 00:31:37.659 --> 00:31:38.819 of shalom 00:31:38.819 --> 00:31:40.659 right where you are, 00:31:40.799 --> 00:31:42.200 where you seek 00:31:42.200 --> 00:31:44.440 the common good. 00:31:45.639 --> 00:31:46.559 My experience 00:31:46.559 --> 00:31:47.000 has been 00:31:47.000 --> 00:31:47.919 that when I seek 00:31:47.919 --> 00:31:48.859 the common good, 00:31:49.019 --> 00:31:49.759 locked arms 00:31:49.759 --> 00:31:51.019 with people in the city, 00:31:51.440 --> 00:31:52.480 that because they have 00:31:52.480 --> 00:31:53.299 the image of God 00:31:53.299 --> 00:31:53.799 within them, 00:31:53.899 --> 00:31:54.680 they're aspiring 00:31:54.680 --> 00:31:55.700 for the same kind 00:31:55.700 --> 00:31:56.299 of things 00:31:56.299 --> 00:31:57.299 that we would want 00:31:57.299 --> 00:31:58.259 to see when all things 00:31:58.259 --> 00:31:58.899 are renewed. 00:31:59.639 --> 00:32:00.319 And oftentimes, 00:32:00.319 --> 00:32:01.119 the church 00:32:01.119 --> 00:32:01.779 has not been 00:32:01.779 --> 00:32:02.579 in the game, 00:32:03.059 --> 00:32:04.200 but linking arms 00:32:04.200 --> 00:32:04.839 where we're seeking 00:32:04.839 --> 00:32:06.079 right where we are 00:32:06.079 --> 00:32:07.099 the common good 00:32:07.099 --> 00:32:08.559 creates an incredible 00:32:08.559 --> 00:32:10.299 dynamic for establishing 00:32:10.299 --> 00:32:11.819 common ground. 00:32:13.059 --> 00:32:14.019 I had a friend 00:32:14.019 --> 00:32:14.879 who I was on the 00:32:14.879 --> 00:32:15.500 North Chattanooga 00:32:15.500 --> 00:32:16.500 Chamber of Commerce 00:32:16.500 --> 00:32:17.279 with who had 00:32:17.279 --> 00:32:17.899 kind of one of the 00:32:17.899 --> 00:32:19.039 wildest reputations 00:32:19.039 --> 00:32:19.679 in town, 00:32:20.079 --> 00:32:21.359 even in his mid-50s, 00:32:21.399 --> 00:32:21.919 he was a handsome 00:32:21.919 --> 00:32:22.619 looking guy, 00:32:22.779 --> 00:32:23.919 and he went for it 00:32:23.919 --> 00:32:25.079 big time in the city. 00:32:26.119 --> 00:32:26.980 In the midst 00:32:26.980 --> 00:32:28.939 of me just participating 00:32:28.939 --> 00:32:30.039 and dreaming big dreams 00:32:30.039 --> 00:32:31.139 for North Chattanooga, 00:32:31.799 --> 00:32:33.079 we began to have 00:32:33.079 --> 00:32:34.200 heart dialogue 00:32:34.200 --> 00:32:35.519 that we could never 00:32:35.519 --> 00:32:36.159 have had 00:32:36.159 --> 00:32:37.059 if I had started 00:32:37.059 --> 00:32:37.940 over here. 00:32:39.000 --> 00:32:39.519 In fact, 00:32:39.559 --> 00:32:40.200 he wanted to change 00:32:40.200 --> 00:32:40.740 the motto 00:32:40.740 --> 00:32:41.759 of the North Chattanooga 00:32:41.759 --> 00:32:42.579 Chamber of Commerce 00:32:42.579 --> 00:32:43.399 from where you live, 00:32:43.500 --> 00:32:44.259 work, and play 00:32:44.259 --> 00:32:45.359 to where you live, 00:32:45.559 --> 00:32:46.740 work, play, and pray. 00:32:46.839 --> 00:32:47.059 I said, 00:32:47.119 --> 00:32:48.559 I'm not asking for that. 00:32:49.259 --> 00:32:50.200 But his heart 00:32:50.200 --> 00:32:50.779 was moving. 00:32:50.879 --> 00:32:51.500 We were finding 00:32:51.500 --> 00:32:52.420 common ground 00:32:52.420 --> 00:32:53.119 as we began 00:32:53.119 --> 00:32:53.759 to dream 00:32:53.759 --> 00:32:54.559 for reversing 00:32:54.559 --> 00:32:55.079 the curse 00:32:55.079 --> 00:32:55.940 kinds of things 00:32:55.940 --> 00:32:57.019 that he knew 00:32:57.019 --> 00:32:58.259 his heart longed for 00:32:58.259 --> 00:32:59.299 because he was 00:32:59.299 --> 00:33:00.240 an image bearer. 00:33:00.579 --> 00:33:01.220 And when we're 00:33:01.220 --> 00:33:02.359 able to connect 00:33:02.359 --> 00:33:03.019 and pursue 00:33:03.019 --> 00:33:03.859 people's hearts 00:33:03.859 --> 00:33:04.920 in common ground, 00:33:05.440 --> 00:33:07.700 then we can unfold 00:33:07.700 --> 00:33:08.799 the good news. 00:33:10.359 --> 00:33:12.359 In every sphere 00:33:12.359 --> 00:33:13.019 of life, 00:33:13.400 --> 00:33:14.119 vocation, 00:33:14.480 --> 00:33:14.839 neighborhood, 00:33:15.460 --> 00:33:16.140 recreation, 00:33:16.599 --> 00:33:17.359 just social 00:33:17.359 --> 00:33:18.240 kind of things, 00:33:18.359 --> 00:33:19.519 the gospel storyline 00:33:19.519 --> 00:33:20.339 infuses it 00:33:20.339 --> 00:33:20.879 with meaning. 00:33:21.640 --> 00:33:22.319 I've been working 00:33:22.319 --> 00:33:22.799 with a group 00:33:22.799 --> 00:33:23.379 of lawyers 00:33:23.379 --> 00:33:24.180 and trying to say, 00:33:24.259 --> 00:33:24.339 okay, 00:33:24.379 --> 00:33:25.220 what's the worldview 00:33:25.220 --> 00:33:25.900 at work 00:33:25.900 --> 00:33:27.299 within the 00:33:27.299 --> 00:33:28.440 lawyering profession 00:33:28.440 --> 00:33:29.420 right now? 00:33:29.500 --> 00:33:30.380 Here was essentially 00:33:30.380 --> 00:33:31.240 what it was. 00:33:31.980 --> 00:33:33.200 Win at all costs, 00:33:33.640 --> 00:33:35.640 now, 00:33:36.180 --> 00:33:38.460 and build the most hours 00:33:38.460 --> 00:33:39.620 was the worldview 00:33:39.620 --> 00:33:40.579 in which many 00:33:40.579 --> 00:33:41.559 who practice law 00:33:41.559 --> 00:33:42.019 function. 00:33:42.460 --> 00:33:42.740 I said, 00:33:42.819 --> 00:33:43.860 how does that compare 00:33:43.860 --> 00:33:45.200 to the gospel storyline? 00:33:45.819 --> 00:33:46.380 I said this, 00:33:46.819 --> 00:33:47.519 do you know 00:33:47.519 --> 00:33:48.360 you're made to win? 00:33:49.740 --> 00:33:50.880 Like to flourish 00:33:50.880 --> 00:33:51.600 as a lawyer 00:33:51.600 --> 00:33:53.079 in your vocation 00:33:53.079 --> 00:33:54.140 pleases God? 00:33:54.140 --> 00:33:54.580 It's the, 00:33:54.940 --> 00:33:55.400 when I run, 00:33:55.520 --> 00:33:56.480 I feel his pleasure 00:33:56.480 --> 00:33:57.580 of your vocation. 00:33:57.780 --> 00:33:58.680 It's great 00:33:58.680 --> 00:33:59.680 to want to flourish 00:33:59.680 --> 00:34:00.620 for the power 00:34:00.620 --> 00:34:01.360 of justice, 00:34:01.640 --> 00:34:02.520 for the welfare 00:34:02.520 --> 00:34:03.880 of your clients, 00:34:04.180 --> 00:34:04.980 for the welfare 00:34:04.980 --> 00:34:05.900 of your family. 00:34:05.980 --> 00:34:06.900 It's wonderful 00:34:06.900 --> 00:34:08.860 to think of flourishing. 00:34:09.599 --> 00:34:11.340 But the at all cost part, 00:34:11.460 --> 00:34:12.079 that's fall. 00:34:12.900 --> 00:34:14.539 Like the at all cost 00:34:14.539 --> 00:34:15.960 really says, 00:34:16.320 --> 00:34:17.140 justice is not 00:34:17.140 --> 00:34:18.039 our ultimate goal. 00:34:18.680 --> 00:34:20.460 The bottom line is. 00:34:21.180 --> 00:34:21.920 And then build 00:34:21.920 --> 00:34:22.920 the most hours now 00:34:22.920 --> 00:34:24.099 essentially says this, 00:34:24.139 --> 00:34:25.259 you're your own redeemer. 00:34:25.900 --> 00:34:26.679 Go for it. 00:34:27.679 --> 00:34:28.960 And the now says 00:34:28.960 --> 00:34:30.019 there is no future. 00:34:30.960 --> 00:34:32.099 So go for it now. 00:34:32.500 --> 00:34:33.039 You know what 00:34:33.039 --> 00:34:33.940 the gospel storyline 00:34:33.940 --> 00:34:34.960 for law would be? 00:34:35.500 --> 00:34:36.739 It's simply this, 00:34:36.819 --> 00:34:37.819 we're made to flourish 00:34:37.819 --> 00:34:38.539 with justice. 00:34:38.659 --> 00:34:39.039 You know why 00:34:39.039 --> 00:34:39.920 they're lawyer jokes? 00:34:40.559 --> 00:34:41.579 Because everyone 00:34:41.579 --> 00:34:42.819 deep down knows 00:34:42.819 --> 00:34:43.539 that we were made 00:34:43.539 --> 00:34:44.339 for justice. 00:34:45.239 --> 00:34:45.980 You're traffic, 00:34:46.079 --> 00:34:46.619 as a lawyer, 00:34:46.779 --> 00:34:47.400 you're trafficking 00:34:47.400 --> 00:34:48.440 in a commodity 00:34:48.440 --> 00:34:49.900 of justice. 00:34:50.219 --> 00:34:51.139 You're made 00:34:51.139 --> 00:34:52.440 for it to flourish. 00:34:53.679 --> 00:34:55.059 But you're redemptive. 00:34:55.179 --> 00:34:55.599 You're not 00:34:55.599 --> 00:34:56.819 when at all cost. 00:34:57.619 --> 00:34:58.279 What you're trying 00:34:58.279 --> 00:34:58.839 to do 00:34:58.839 --> 00:35:00.299 is picture for people 00:35:00.299 --> 00:35:01.719 justice 00:35:01.719 --> 00:35:03.460 that's just 00:35:03.460 --> 00:35:04.500 breathtaking 00:35:04.500 --> 00:35:06.420 because it honors 00:35:06.420 --> 00:35:07.799 both parties 00:35:07.799 --> 00:35:09.259 as image bearers. 00:35:10.099 --> 00:35:11.339 And you're picturing 00:35:11.339 --> 00:35:13.039 what full justice 00:35:13.039 --> 00:35:14.599 one day will be 00:35:14.599 --> 00:35:16.420 when Jesus' reign 00:35:16.420 --> 00:35:17.639 is fully established. 00:35:17.639 --> 00:35:18.219 You see, 00:35:18.319 --> 00:35:19.099 in our vocations, 00:35:19.699 --> 00:35:21.000 in our neighborhoods, 00:35:21.480 --> 00:35:22.379 we're to think 00:35:22.379 --> 00:35:23.639 of the gospel storyline 00:35:23.639 --> 00:35:24.379 to see how 00:35:24.379 --> 00:35:25.839 our spheres of influence 00:35:25.839 --> 00:35:26.960 are infused 00:35:26.960 --> 00:35:29.179 with vibrant color 00:35:29.179 --> 00:35:31.659 and rich content 00:35:31.659 --> 00:35:32.679 that reverses 00:35:32.679 --> 00:35:33.579 the curse 00:35:33.579 --> 00:35:35.159 to take people's 00:35:35.159 --> 00:35:36.039 breath away 00:35:36.039 --> 00:35:37.940 with what they know 00:35:37.940 --> 00:35:39.239 that they were made for. 00:35:40.480 --> 00:35:41.339 When you get 00:35:41.339 --> 00:35:42.359 from seeking 00:35:42.359 --> 00:35:43.339 the common good 00:35:43.339 --> 00:35:44.900 to establishing 00:35:44.900 --> 00:35:45.839 the common ground, 00:35:45.980 --> 00:35:47.000 what I'm trying to do 00:35:47.000 --> 00:35:47.659 as I'm pursuing 00:35:47.659 --> 00:35:48.400 people's hearts, 00:35:48.559 --> 00:35:49.739 I'm trying to do 00:35:49.739 --> 00:35:50.619 gospel storyline 00:35:50.619 --> 00:35:51.559 in their lives 00:35:51.559 --> 00:35:53.420 of what they were made for, 00:35:54.139 --> 00:35:55.340 how they're weak 00:35:55.340 --> 00:35:55.860 and wounded 00:35:55.860 --> 00:35:56.780 by the fall, 00:35:57.800 --> 00:35:59.260 what redemption 00:35:59.260 --> 00:36:00.280 would look like 00:36:00.280 --> 00:36:01.019 if Jesus 00:36:01.019 --> 00:36:02.579 were to come vibrant 00:36:02.579 --> 00:36:04.139 in that area 00:36:04.139 --> 00:36:05.820 of their woundedness, 00:36:06.079 --> 00:36:07.500 and what might 00:36:07.500 --> 00:36:08.739 they look like 00:36:08.739 --> 00:36:09.480 one day 00:36:09.480 --> 00:36:10.780 fully redeemed 00:36:10.780 --> 00:36:11.599 and glorified. 00:36:12.860 --> 00:36:13.840 And then I share 00:36:13.840 --> 00:36:14.619 my story 00:36:14.619 --> 00:36:15.900 of how God 00:36:15.900 --> 00:36:16.559 made me 00:36:16.559 --> 00:36:18.019 of how I'm 00:36:18.019 --> 00:36:18.840 weak and wounded 00:36:18.840 --> 00:36:19.719 with shame 00:36:19.719 --> 00:36:20.579 by the fall, 00:36:21.019 --> 00:36:21.920 but how Christ 00:36:21.920 --> 00:36:23.299 is redeeming, 00:36:24.019 --> 00:36:25.360 and one day 00:36:25.360 --> 00:36:26.380 those tears 00:36:26.380 --> 00:36:27.119 and that shame 00:36:27.119 --> 00:36:28.460 will be completely gone, 00:36:28.619 --> 00:36:29.779 and then I can 00:36:29.779 --> 00:36:31.039 unfold God's story 00:36:31.039 --> 00:36:32.420 of creation, 00:36:32.940 --> 00:36:33.279 fall, 00:36:33.799 --> 00:36:34.159 redemption, 00:36:34.519 --> 00:36:35.480 and the restoration 00:36:35.480 --> 00:36:36.860 of all things. 00:36:38.320 --> 00:36:39.360 Missional living 00:36:39.360 --> 00:36:41.219 is seeking 00:36:41.219 --> 00:36:41.980 to reverse 00:36:41.980 --> 00:36:42.699 the curse 00:36:42.699 --> 00:36:44.099 right where you feel 00:36:44.099 --> 00:36:45.699 it the most. 00:36:47.559 --> 00:36:48.679 Think about 00:36:48.679 --> 00:36:49.659 Jesus' 00:36:50.380 --> 00:36:51.099 embodiment 00:36:51.099 --> 00:36:52.539 of the truth 00:36:52.539 --> 00:36:53.619 of this passage. 00:36:54.079 --> 00:36:55.380 Look at Colossians 2, 00:36:55.920 --> 00:36:57.880 13-15. 00:36:58.480 --> 00:36:59.339 When you were dead 00:36:59.339 --> 00:37:00.619 in your transgressions 00:37:00.619 --> 00:37:02.299 and the uncircumcision 00:37:02.299 --> 00:37:03.179 of your flesh, 00:37:03.380 --> 00:37:04.460 he made you alive 00:37:04.460 --> 00:37:05.380 together with him, 00:37:05.719 --> 00:37:06.779 having forgiven us 00:37:06.779 --> 00:37:08.440 all our transgressions, 00:37:08.759 --> 00:37:09.960 having canceled out 00:37:09.960 --> 00:37:11.380 the certificate of debt, 00:37:11.559 --> 00:37:12.119 that decree, 00:37:12.239 --> 00:37:13.059 consisting of decrees 00:37:13.059 --> 00:37:13.900 against us, 00:37:14.019 --> 00:37:15.199 which was hostile 00:37:15.199 --> 00:37:15.820 to us, 00:37:15.920 --> 00:37:17.259 and he has taken it 00:37:17.259 --> 00:37:18.099 out of the way, 00:37:18.219 --> 00:37:19.039 having nailed it 00:37:19.039 --> 00:37:19.739 to the cross. 00:37:19.980 --> 00:37:21.480 When he had disarmed 00:37:21.480 --> 00:37:22.199 the rulers 00:37:22.199 --> 00:37:22.900 and authorities, 00:37:23.000 --> 00:37:23.880 he made a public 00:37:23.880 --> 00:37:24.759 display of them, 00:37:24.860 --> 00:37:26.340 having triumphed 00:37:26.340 --> 00:37:27.159 over them 00:37:27.159 --> 00:37:28.539 through him. 00:37:29.079 --> 00:37:30.299 What a beautiful summary 00:37:30.299 --> 00:37:31.519 of a picture 00:37:31.519 --> 00:37:32.340 of the ultimate 00:37:32.340 --> 00:37:33.000 fulfillment 00:37:33.000 --> 00:37:34.940 of the Esther story. 00:37:35.539 --> 00:37:36.139 You have, 00:37:36.579 --> 00:37:37.079 in essence, 00:37:37.500 --> 00:37:38.440 an overwhelmed, 00:37:40.179 --> 00:37:40.639 weeping, 00:37:40.920 --> 00:37:42.199 and pleading son, 00:37:43.059 --> 00:37:46.019 who gave his very life 00:37:46.019 --> 00:37:48.299 to reverse the curse 00:37:48.299 --> 00:37:50.579 so that you and I 00:37:50.579 --> 00:37:52.059 might be invited 00:37:52.059 --> 00:37:52.860 to the party. 00:37:54.440 --> 00:37:55.199 What do you think 00:37:55.199 --> 00:37:56.159 with me as we think 00:37:56.159 --> 00:37:56.980 about the richness 00:37:56.980 --> 00:37:58.400 of Christ 00:37:58.400 --> 00:37:59.719 embodying this, 00:38:00.139 --> 00:38:00.920 of what this might 00:38:00.920 --> 00:38:01.820 mean for us? 00:38:03.420 --> 00:38:04.659 What's the ring, 00:38:05.519 --> 00:38:06.139 the station, 00:38:06.320 --> 00:38:06.799 and life 00:38:06.799 --> 00:38:08.440 that God has given you? 00:38:08.440 --> 00:38:10.280 right where you are, 00:38:10.400 --> 00:38:11.420 not signing up 00:38:11.420 --> 00:38:12.240 for one more thing 00:38:12.240 --> 00:38:12.940 in an already 00:38:12.940 --> 00:38:14.059 overstuffed life. 00:38:15.179 --> 00:38:16.179 What's the stamp 00:38:16.179 --> 00:38:16.760 of glory 00:38:16.760 --> 00:38:18.139 and the position 00:38:18.139 --> 00:38:19.559 in life he's given you 00:38:19.559 --> 00:38:21.340 in which you're called 00:38:21.340 --> 00:38:22.480 to bring about 00:38:22.480 --> 00:38:22.960 shalom 00:38:22.960 --> 00:38:23.880 in the place 00:38:23.880 --> 00:38:24.500 of shame? 00:38:25.679 --> 00:38:26.700 What's the ring? 00:38:26.900 --> 00:38:27.679 What's the place? 00:38:27.940 --> 00:38:28.599 What's the place 00:38:28.599 --> 00:38:29.780 of honor and position 00:38:29.780 --> 00:38:30.599 that God 00:38:30.599 --> 00:38:31.720 is burdening 00:38:31.720 --> 00:38:32.360 your heart 00:38:32.360 --> 00:38:33.619 with the most? 00:38:33.619 --> 00:38:34.420 Second, 00:38:35.219 --> 00:38:36.599 what's your plea? 00:38:38.039 --> 00:38:40.199 How is the shame 00:38:40.199 --> 00:38:41.000 of the fall 00:38:41.000 --> 00:38:42.299 pressing in? 00:38:43.339 --> 00:38:44.099 Like if you're 00:38:44.099 --> 00:38:44.659 in survival 00:38:44.659 --> 00:38:45.659 young mom mode, 00:38:45.719 --> 00:38:46.699 it just might mean 00:38:46.699 --> 00:38:47.639 you think you're 00:38:47.639 --> 00:38:48.559 going to go crazy 00:38:48.559 --> 00:38:49.420 if you don't have 00:38:49.420 --> 00:38:50.239 a play group. 00:38:51.420 --> 00:38:52.559 That would count. 00:38:53.199 --> 00:38:54.920 The weak and woundedness 00:38:54.920 --> 00:38:55.579 of the fall 00:38:55.579 --> 00:38:56.319 and the station 00:38:56.319 --> 00:38:57.019 in life you're in. 00:38:57.119 --> 00:38:58.199 Maybe there's 00:38:58.199 --> 00:38:59.219 an injustice 00:38:59.219 --> 00:39:00.139 at work. 00:39:00.299 --> 00:39:01.259 Maybe there's a need 00:39:01.259 --> 00:39:02.039 in your neighborhood. 00:39:02.039 --> 00:39:03.360 Maybe there's lack 00:39:03.360 --> 00:39:03.900 of community 00:39:03.900 --> 00:39:04.699 in your neighborhood 00:39:04.699 --> 00:39:06.340 or in your kid's school. 00:39:06.619 --> 00:39:07.699 What is a need 00:39:07.699 --> 00:39:09.480 that would give you 00:39:09.480 --> 00:39:10.860 great joy 00:39:10.860 --> 00:39:12.000 to move towards it? 00:39:12.039 --> 00:39:12.360 You know what 00:39:12.360 --> 00:39:13.219 Frederick Buechner 00:39:13.219 --> 00:39:13.860 called call? 00:39:14.820 --> 00:39:15.840 It's where your 00:39:15.840 --> 00:39:16.599 greatest joy 00:39:16.599 --> 00:39:18.599 and culture's 00:39:18.599 --> 00:39:19.579 greatest need 00:39:19.579 --> 00:39:20.699 meet. 00:39:21.779 --> 00:39:22.539 I think you could 00:39:22.539 --> 00:39:23.320 also say it. 00:39:23.639 --> 00:39:24.860 Call is where 00:39:24.860 --> 00:39:26.119 your greatest wounds 00:39:26.119 --> 00:39:28.019 and culture's 00:39:28.019 --> 00:39:28.940 your sphere 00:39:28.940 --> 00:39:29.559 of influence 00:39:29.559 --> 00:39:30.460 greatest need 00:39:30.460 --> 00:39:31.099 kiss. 00:39:32.039 --> 00:39:33.259 It's not different 00:39:33.259 --> 00:39:33.759 than that. 00:39:33.920 --> 00:39:34.659 It's right 00:39:34.659 --> 00:39:35.539 in that place. 00:39:36.559 --> 00:39:36.860 And then 00:39:36.860 --> 00:39:37.880 what's the decree? 00:39:38.380 --> 00:39:39.340 How can the decree 00:39:39.340 --> 00:39:40.699 of God's good news, 00:39:40.840 --> 00:39:41.420 the decree 00:39:41.420 --> 00:39:42.259 of the gospel, 00:39:42.820 --> 00:39:44.159 go at work 00:39:44.159 --> 00:39:45.440 in that particular 00:39:45.440 --> 00:39:46.480 sphere of influence 00:39:46.480 --> 00:39:47.420 that you're in 00:39:47.420 --> 00:39:49.000 to reverse the curse? 00:39:49.880 --> 00:39:50.779 What needs 00:39:50.779 --> 00:39:51.480 reversing? 00:39:52.400 --> 00:39:53.099 What if 00:39:53.099 --> 00:39:54.779 if I approached 00:39:54.779 --> 00:39:55.179 it 00:39:55.179 --> 00:39:56.659 and brought 00:39:56.659 --> 00:39:57.360 life, 00:39:58.039 --> 00:39:58.500 would put 00:39:58.500 --> 00:39:59.039 defenses 00:39:59.039 --> 00:39:59.900 down 00:39:59.900 --> 00:40:01.000 so that we 00:40:01.000 --> 00:40:01.360 could hear 00:40:01.360 --> 00:40:01.960 one another 00:40:01.960 --> 00:40:03.119 and take 00:40:03.119 --> 00:40:04.860 someone else's 00:40:04.860 --> 00:40:05.680 breath away 00:40:05.680 --> 00:40:07.800 as that need 00:40:07.800 --> 00:40:08.539 was met, 00:40:08.760 --> 00:40:10.280 both in my life 00:40:10.280 --> 00:40:11.340 and those 00:40:11.340 --> 00:40:12.000 I'm trying 00:40:12.000 --> 00:40:12.800 to serve? 00:40:13.320 --> 00:40:14.220 And then finally, 00:40:14.780 --> 00:40:15.740 have a party. 00:40:17.200 --> 00:40:18.260 Invite others 00:40:18.260 --> 00:40:19.660 in to the beauty 00:40:19.660 --> 00:40:20.559 and the wonder 00:40:20.559 --> 00:40:21.639 of reversing 00:40:21.639 --> 00:40:22.240 the curse 00:40:22.240 --> 00:40:23.240 because when we 00:40:23.240 --> 00:40:24.280 move to reverse 00:40:24.280 --> 00:40:24.820 the curse, 00:40:25.079 --> 00:40:26.240 right where we feel 00:40:26.240 --> 00:40:26.960 it the most, 00:40:27.420 --> 00:40:28.320 others want 00:40:28.320 --> 00:40:29.360 to enter in. 00:40:30.880 --> 00:40:31.700 Missional living 00:40:31.700 --> 00:40:34.440 is reversing 00:40:34.440 --> 00:40:35.080 the curse 00:40:35.080 --> 00:40:36.720 where you feel 00:40:36.720 --> 00:40:37.539 life's 00:40:37.539 --> 00:40:38.700 hardness 00:40:38.700 --> 00:40:39.880 pressing 00:40:39.880 --> 00:40:41.140 most in. 00:40:41.980 --> 00:40:42.640 Let me pray 00:40:42.640 --> 00:40:43.960 that this story 00:40:43.960 --> 00:40:44.559 would become 00:40:44.559 --> 00:40:45.640 true of us as well. 00:40:45.840 --> 00:40:46.460 Would you join me? 00:40:52.460 --> 00:40:53.260 Spirit of God, 00:40:53.320 --> 00:40:53.780 at the beginning, 00:40:53.940 --> 00:40:54.500 I ask that you 00:40:54.500 --> 00:40:55.500 would connect the dots. 00:40:56.460 --> 00:40:57.100 Would you? 00:40:57.099 --> 00:40:59.380 Would you move 00:40:59.380 --> 00:41:00.199 the story? 00:41:01.139 --> 00:41:02.079 Would you move 00:41:02.079 --> 00:41:03.860 the conceptual 00:41:03.860 --> 00:41:05.219 things that I 00:41:05.219 --> 00:41:06.019 argued for? 00:41:06.699 --> 00:41:07.639 Not just to 00:41:07.639 --> 00:41:08.420 stay there, 00:41:08.679 --> 00:41:09.199 but would you 00:41:09.199 --> 00:41:10.000 cause them 00:41:10.000 --> 00:41:10.900 to intersect 00:41:10.900 --> 00:41:12.039 where we live? 00:41:13.279 --> 00:41:14.079 Would you help us 00:41:14.079 --> 00:41:15.199 see just the 00:41:15.199 --> 00:41:16.199 relational spheres 00:41:16.199 --> 00:41:17.119 in which we're 00:41:17.119 --> 00:41:18.259 already engaged 00:41:18.259 --> 00:41:19.880 and yet we're 00:41:19.880 --> 00:41:20.539 experiencing 00:41:20.539 --> 00:41:22.099 great need? 00:41:22.739 --> 00:41:23.880 Would you give us 00:41:23.880 --> 00:41:24.759 ridiculous 00:41:24.759 --> 00:41:25.880 spirit-led 00:41:25.880 --> 00:41:26.619 creativity 00:41:26.619 --> 00:41:28.180 to move 00:41:28.180 --> 00:41:28.760 towards those 00:41:28.760 --> 00:41:29.519 simple needs 00:41:29.519 --> 00:41:30.320 in ways that 00:41:30.320 --> 00:41:31.380 reverse the curse 00:41:31.380 --> 00:41:32.140 and take the 00:41:32.140 --> 00:41:32.740 breath away 00:41:32.740 --> 00:41:33.940 of us as we 00:41:33.940 --> 00:41:34.400 do it 00:41:34.400 --> 00:41:35.240 and those 00:41:35.240 --> 00:41:35.980 to whom we 00:41:35.980 --> 00:41:36.380 do it 00:41:36.380 --> 00:41:37.099 so that many 00:41:37.099 --> 00:41:37.640 others 00:41:37.640 --> 00:41:38.519 can be 00:41:38.519 --> 00:41:39.180 invited 00:41:39.180 --> 00:41:40.140 to the party 00:41:40.140 --> 00:41:41.380 where they 00:41:41.380 --> 00:41:41.820 can know 00:41:41.820 --> 00:41:42.420 the restoration 00:41:42.420 --> 00:41:43.440 that's only 00:41:43.440 --> 00:41:44.460 found in the 00:41:44.460 --> 00:41:45.480 gospel story? 00:41:45.920 --> 00:41:46.420 Would you 00:41:46.420 --> 00:41:47.200 continue to 00:41:47.200 --> 00:41:47.940 grow and 00:41:47.940 --> 00:41:48.260 nurture 00:41:48.260 --> 00:41:48.980 Southwood 00:41:48.980 --> 00:41:49.559 Prez 00:41:49.559 --> 00:41:51.139 to be a 00:41:51.139 --> 00:41:52.079 people who 00:41:52.079 --> 00:41:53.460 do life 00:41:53.460 --> 00:41:54.779 missionally? 00:41:55.019 --> 00:41:55.539 Not just 00:41:55.539 --> 00:41:56.400 absorbed in 00:41:56.400 --> 00:41:56.860 themselves, 00:41:57.440 --> 00:41:58.139 but on the 00:41:58.139 --> 00:41:58.599 move. 00:41:59.159 --> 00:41:59.719 Not just 00:41:59.719 --> 00:42:00.340 overwhelmed, 00:42:00.679 --> 00:42:01.400 but diving 00:42:01.400 --> 00:42:01.880 into the 00:42:01.880 --> 00:42:02.420 midst of the 00:42:02.420 --> 00:42:02.900 things that 00:42:02.900 --> 00:42:03.539 overwhelm 00:42:03.539 --> 00:42:05.340 others too, 00:42:05.820 --> 00:42:06.860 so that gospel 00:42:06.860 --> 00:42:08.000 hope might 00:42:08.000 --> 00:42:08.860 dawn and 00:42:08.860 --> 00:42:10.279 shalom might 00:42:10.279 --> 00:42:10.860 be known in 00:42:10.860 --> 00:42:11.299 Huntsville. 00:42:11.619 --> 00:42:12.380 We pray this 00:42:12.380 --> 00:42:13.199 in Jesus, 00:42:13.480 --> 00:42:14.019 King Jesus' 00:42:14.299 --> 00:42:15.599 powerful name. 00:42:16.199 --> 00:42:16.480 Amen. 00:42:16.480 --> 00:42:21.139 For more 00:42:21.139 --> 00:42:21.659 information, 00:42:22.039 --> 00:42:22.460 visit us 00:42:22.460 --> 00:42:23.360 online at 00:42:23.360 --> 00:42:24.260 southwood.org.