WEBVTT

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 so if you have your bibles perhaps you can turn again to Matthew's gospel and this time Matthew

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 chapter 20 so our focus is going to be this parable often known as the parable of the workers

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 in the vineyard but I want to read beyond that as well to set it in its context so let's again

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 hear God's word for the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning

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 to hire workers for his vineyard he agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his

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 vineyard about nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing

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 nothing he told them you also go and work in my vineyard and I will pay you whatever is right

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 so they went he went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing

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 about five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around he asked them why

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 have you been standing here all day long doing nothing because no one has hired us they answered

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 he said to them you also go and work in my vineyard when evening came the owner of the vineyard said to

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 his foreman call the workers and pay them their wages beginning with the last ones hired and going

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 on to the first the workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a

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 denarius so when those came who were hired first they expected to receive more but each one of them

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 also received a denarius when they received it they began to grumble against the landowner these who

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 were hired last worked only one hour they said and you have made them equal to us who have borne the

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 burden of the work in the heat of the day but he answered one of them I'm not being unfair to you

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 friend didn't you agree to work for a denarius take your pay and go I want to give the one who

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 was hired last the same as I gave you don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money

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 or are you envious because I am generous so the last will be first and the first will be last

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 now Jesus was going up to Jerusalem on the way he took the 12 aside and said to them we are going up

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 to Jerusalem and the son of man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law

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 they will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and

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 crucified on the third day he will be raised to life then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to

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 Jesus with her sons and kneeling down asked a favor of him what is it you want he asked she said

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 grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your

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 kingdom you don't know what you're asking Jesus said to them can you drink the cup I am going to

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 drink we can they answered Jesus said to them you will indeed drink from my cup but to sit at my right

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 or left is not for me to grant these places belong to those for whom they've been prepared by my father

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 when the ten heard about this they were indignant with the two brothers Jesus called them together

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 and said you know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord over them and their high officials exercise

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 authority over them not so with you instead whoever wants to become great among you must be your

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 servant and whoever wants to be first must be your slave just as the son of man did not come to be

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 served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many amen this is God's word

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 so this is our last parable from Matthew's gospel these stories with purpose that Jesus tells

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 this one the parable of the workers in the vineyard perhaps the question that we can ask ourselves is

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 how does Jesus turn our natural value system upside down because this is one of those parables where I

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 think our instinct is to sympathize with those grumblers it offends our sense of justice it's very easy to

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 read this parable and say that's not fair if you imagine in our own workplace setting if the new guy who's

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 straight in the door is promoted to the same pay and benefits as someone with years of experience

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 we would find ourselves probably saying that doesn't seem fair so so instinctively we get

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 those first workers and I think in a sense that's the point this parable is meant to shock us here's

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 our normal value system here's the values in the kingdom of heaven and they're so very very different

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 the world applies rank and status in so many different ways so next weekend Scotland will be on

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 their journey we hope towards the world cup when we get there if we get there we will be in not pot one

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 two or three we will be in lowly pot four we apply rank status matters we know this the words of a colleague

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 doesn't always hold the same weight as the words of our boss and we instinctively have that understanding

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 that time served brings a measure of entitlement that's something that can even creep into our

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 churches but Jesus story says it's not like that in his kingdom he invites us to reject what what

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 kirkagar called the sin of comparison and leads to either pride or envy and to respond gladly

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 to when someone else has success and has shown kindness it's an invitation indeed for us to reflect

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 the mercy and goodness of God so let's dive into our text we've got four things to look at together

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 the first we can say timing is everything in this parable so so all the way along when we'll be looking

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 at the parables we said one way to understand what's going on is to look for the surprising parts

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 and the two big surprises in this parable both have to do with timing at first to do with the

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 hiring process and then the payment process so just to go back to the first couple of verses we have a

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 very familiar scene from Jesus day we have a landowner going out early in the morning to the marketplace

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 to hire day laborers for his vineyard and he agreed to pay them a denarius normal day's wage

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 everything is as we would expect but then surprise begins to emerge this owner makes multiple return

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 visits and so we have two choices so either we can think well this is a very disorganized landowner

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 this is someone who's failing to plan well or if we understand as Jesus teaches us this is about the

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 kingdom of heaven this landowner represents a surprisingly generous and compassionate landowner

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 who keeps going out in order to meet the needs of others so in verse four after three hours of the

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 working day have already begun he meets some others standing in the marketplace doing nothing and he says

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 you go and work and i'll pay you whatever is right and they trust him and that goes all the way until

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 five in the afternoon so eleven hours of the working day have already been done but these guys are still

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 here

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 he asked the question why been standing here all day long doing nothing because no one has hired us

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 and so he responds by inviting them to to go and work in his vineyard

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 these 11th hour workers you imagine standing desperately hoping against hope by this stage in the day that

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 someone will take pity on them the sense of despair as they congregated as other people got hired

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 it makes me think of i read an article a number of years ago but the japanese salaryman you know very

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 famous japanese businessmen well um they did an article uh where it where it turns out there's a lot of

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 these salary men who have lost their jobs but they're too ashamed to admit that to their family they have

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 no prospects of finding future employment because of their age so what they they had been doing

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 is they've been dressing up for work getting on the tube and then sitting in the park all day

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 a hopeless situation makes me think of these these 5 p.m workers you know if the landowner doesn't come

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 there's no bread on the table there's no dignity for them and work to do and so this mercy from the

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 owner is good news so that's one surprise the surprise of the hirings the second surprise

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 is to do with the payment process so we get to six o'clock we get to clocking off time verse eight

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 and the owner calls the foreman call the workers and pay them their wages beginning with the last

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 ones hired and going on to the first so there's a bit that's normal you get to the end of the day

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 old testament law says you must pay a day laborer at the end of their day's work so they will have bread

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 to feed their family the usual order of course first one in would be the first one paid

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 but our owner reverses that timing now why does he do that he does it to draw attention to his mercy

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 his compassion and his generosity if he paid everyone an order everybody else wouldn't get to

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 see this is a generous merciful owner and that's what he wants people to know but what happens and we see

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 this is that the payment process produces tension you know how will the other workers feel about this

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 how will they feel about this guy who's worked for less than an hour getting a full day's wage and what

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 we see is grumbling what we see is jealousy but that's set against the delight of our owner it gives him joy

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 it's what he wants to do to show mercy and kindness and he wants these other workers to see and to share in that

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 joy i think there's a couple of lessons that we can draw as we think about the timings in the parable the

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 first lesson and we find all through the bible is that salvation is a free gift of god's grace

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 we do not contribute to it we do not earn it

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 one of the ways people go wrong when approaching christian faith is to approach it like work well if

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 i do enough religion and if i do enough good living surely that's what i need to earn eternal life

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 and the bible says said no it's not about earning rather we need to see ourselves in the story as these

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 eleventh hour workers we're standing hopeless and helpless because of our sin we stand under the just

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 judgment of god there's nothing that we can do to change that status what we need is that the free

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 grace of god we need god to send his son and that's what he has done so salvation is a free gift and and

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 and the second lesson that we can draw from from this parable i think is that god's mercy

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 is right on time mercy god's mercy comes in a way that brings him glory and brings us joy

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 paul spoke about that in galatians galatians chapter 4 verses 4 and 5 when the set time had fully come

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 god's set time when the set time had fully come god sent his son born of a woman born under the law

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 to redeem those under the law that we might receive adoption to sonship the son of god entered history

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 took our humanity went under the law at god's right time to redeem us and adopt us as an expression of his

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 great mercy so this parable stands again as a reminder to us that the mercy of god is open to us all

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 we hear that the words of of the gospel today is the day of salvation the time is right for any of us and

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 all of us to enjoy god's grace in jesus if we will hear that invitation and respond in faith

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 so timing is everything the second theme that we see in our parable and in the wider section is that of

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 first and last the idea that jesus reverses our values and we can think in some ways of the parable

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 being the meat in the sandwich and what's on either side of this parable chapter 19 verse 30

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 many who are first will be last and many who are last will be first verse 16 of chapter 20 so the last

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 will be first and the first will be last jesus is driving home the point through all of his ministry

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 and here now we see it again god's kingdom is not like the world it's not about competing and comparing

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 and striving to get ahead

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 wealth status time served achievement beauty power those are not what counts in god's kingdom

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 and jesus is inviting us to recognize that we can expect surprises in his kingdom there will be

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 these reversals that are unexpected now how does jesus show it in our parable well we saw it didn't we in

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 verse 8 even the words of the story that jesus tells i had the payment policy begin with the last

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 one's hired going on to the first so the last or first these last workers are deliberately

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 honored publicly honored they don't receive performance related pay and that's good news that's grace

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 that's goodness and generosity that's unexpected

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 there was no discussion am i going to get a denarius nobody would be hoping at that stage to get a full

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 day's wage but they do so the payment policy shows reversal but you know we can also see it can't we in

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 the character of the owner so think about how this man is presented he's he's obviously a landowner with

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 significant wealth and resources he's able to hire many people he has standing in society

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 but where's his heart his heart is for these poor guys that nobody else is going to hire

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 he is for the down and out jesus comes as good news to the poor this parable presents hope for the

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 hopeless for those who have been pushed aside and marginalized jesus says that's not how our kingdom works

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 think about the words that the that the that jesus uses for the landowner as well in response to the

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 grumbling look at verse 14 when he talks about what he wants i want to give the one who was hired last the

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 same as you and he talks about his rights don't i have the right to do what i want with my own money

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 and to be generous with it that's where his heart is mercy generosity grace reversal of values in the

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 kingdom of heaven but we see that same idea in the wider section that's why we read in chapter 19 and

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 chapter 20 where do we see those reversals we see it with the the little children remember the disciples

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 don't bother bringing the children to jesus he's far too busy and important children were regarded as

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 nobodies in society and the disciples had picked up on that and jesus what does he do he welcomes them

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 and blesses kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these those who depend those who trust

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 straight after that we meet the rich man and again the disciples they're presuming well if god has blessed

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 anyone he's certainly blessed this guy wealth is a sign of blessing so they thought

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 but the way matthew writes this story we're almost invited to imagine this man with his hands full of

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 money he's coming to jesus looking for life but he will not let go of that money so he can welcome

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 jesus everybody thought he was inside but he's outside the kingdom of heaven

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 immediately after our parable we find jesus is on his way to jerusalem jerusalem the place where you would

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 expect god's king to be honored but there is reversal there too because jesus knows

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 he's going to jerusalem to suffer to die and then we meet a mum and two sons these two disciples

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 and the mum has the request that these two disciples get the seats of honor in the kingdom

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 and jesus talks about how different life is in the kingdom that true greatness

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 isn't about power it's about service and of course the cross is the ultimate demonstration of that

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 so again just to think about this theme of first and last one vital lesson for us to learn

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 is that we should never we can never limit god's grace by applying a human ranking system

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 and if we examine our hearts and if we're honest we probably recognize there are times when we do that

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 god is not just for church types whatever a church type is

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 there's also that constant a reminder in in the gospels

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 let's not give up on our prodigals let's not imagine just because someone has wandered that they are lost and we are done with them

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 i was so encouraged this week to hear the story of of a friend of mine i hadn't heard the story of how he came to faith

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 in detail so i had the chance to talk to him and and he talked about a life of being a former drug dealer

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 a life really just totally messed up and he had a really low point and recognized you know what i need to do i need to read my bible

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 and as he read his bible he said you know what i need to do i need to go back home

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 i need to speak to my my parents and those parents had been praying for him and those parents shared the gospel with him

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 and he came to faith his life was transformed and he's serving god he was a prodigal

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 we don't limit god's grace we don't apply rank and status and think well god likes those kind of people not those kind of people

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 the second lesson to draw is that in god's kingdom the way up is always down

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 the church does not and should not look like our workplace

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 it shouldn't look like our sports club

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 the way to greatness in jesus eyes is through humble service

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 like john the baptist who was wise enough to say jesus must increase i must decrease

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 moving on a third thing for us to think about

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 is response of these first workers let's think about grace and

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 grumbling

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 in verse 15 we find the last phrase from the landowner

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 are you envious

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 because i am generous

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 literally we could read that

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 do you have a bad eye or do you have

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 an evil eye

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 in other words there is something wrong with your vision

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 you know if i take off my glass

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 instantly everybody becomes a blur there is something wrong with my vision i'm going to deal with that

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 um what is jesus talking about here

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 what's wrong with their vision in this story

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 the problem is they do not see mercy as beautiful

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 rather they see it as ugly

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 they don't see mercy as being more precious

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 than them getting more money

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 so we see it in verse 11

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 as soon as they realize that those

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 guys that worked for about an hour

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 got a whole day's ways

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 they're rubbing their hands thinking

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 wow we're going to get a great bonus

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 and they get the same

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 and so they begin grumbling

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 verse 12

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 those who were hired last

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 worked only one hour

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 and you've made them equal to us

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 we worked harder

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 we were more productive

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 our conditions were far tougher

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 how dare you make them equal to us

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 does the owner say

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 i'm not being unfair

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 he reminds them that he's kept to his terms

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 but he also wants them to focus

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 on his mercy

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 you are being envious

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 to the fact that he is being generous

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 and to supply the needs of others

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 that should not be

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 there should not be pride and envy and anger and frustration

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 because of this man's goodness

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 think about it

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 surely

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 they should be glad

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 wouldn't we in our hearts

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 want to be glad

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 here is more families

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 that are going to be fed today

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 here is a group of workers

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 who have had dignity today

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 but instead there's envy

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 and there's grumbling

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 again i wonder

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 if we're honest

00:23:04.059 --> 00:23:05.680
 is this something that at times

00:23:05.680 --> 00:23:07.360
 at least we struggle with

00:23:07.360 --> 00:23:09.820
 how do we deal with

00:23:09.820 --> 00:23:12.279
 the happier circumstances of others

00:23:12.279 --> 00:23:16.200
 what's our heart reaction

00:23:16.200 --> 00:23:18.580
 to the success of others

00:23:18.580 --> 00:23:24.680
 how do we handle the thriving churches

00:23:24.680 --> 00:23:26.279
 of others

00:23:26.279 --> 00:23:30.980
 when we should be singing

00:23:30.980 --> 00:23:33.720
 sometimes we sigh

00:23:33.720 --> 00:23:37.120
 when there should be gratitude

00:23:37.120 --> 00:23:40.600
 sometimes our hearts grumble

00:23:40.600 --> 00:23:45.400
 if you know the story of the Grinch

00:23:45.400 --> 00:23:48.240
 sometimes our heart grows three sizes too small

00:23:48.240 --> 00:23:51.740
 and we're not able to celebrate the grace of God

00:23:51.740 --> 00:23:53.380
 what's happening there

00:23:53.380 --> 00:23:54.880
 our eye is bad

00:23:54.880 --> 00:23:59.140
 when we fail to celebrate God's grace

00:23:59.140 --> 00:24:01.320
 our eye is bad

00:24:01.320 --> 00:24:04.000
 when we fail to treasure God's mercy

00:24:04.000 --> 00:24:05.420
 wherever we see it

00:24:05.420 --> 00:24:08.340
 whether that's to our neighbour

00:24:08.340 --> 00:24:10.720
 whether that's to the family down the road

00:24:10.720 --> 00:24:11.840
 the church down the road

00:24:11.840 --> 00:24:13.600
 whether we hear of what God is doing

00:24:13.600 --> 00:24:14.780
 in other nations

00:24:14.780 --> 00:24:16.700
 that should always make us glad

00:24:16.700 --> 00:24:20.800
 and so one of the key lessons

00:24:20.800 --> 00:24:22.940
 that the disciples needed to learn

00:24:22.940 --> 00:24:24.140
 and we need to learn

00:24:24.140 --> 00:24:26.860
 is to ask for grace

00:24:26.859 --> 00:24:28.299
 to celebrate grace

00:24:28.299 --> 00:24:31.699
 to deal with that instinct

00:24:31.699 --> 00:24:32.259
 in our heart

00:24:32.259 --> 00:24:32.539
 that says

00:24:32.539 --> 00:24:33.599
 I wish that was me

00:24:33.599 --> 00:24:34.719
 that says

00:24:34.719 --> 00:24:35.079
 do you know what

00:24:35.079 --> 00:24:35.979
 that's just not fair

00:24:35.979 --> 00:24:38.339
 whether we see that

00:24:38.339 --> 00:24:39.779
 in our life

00:24:39.779 --> 00:24:40.519
 in our church

00:24:40.519 --> 00:24:41.479
 in the circumstances

00:24:41.479 --> 00:24:42.099
 of other

00:24:42.099 --> 00:24:42.259
 others

00:24:42.259 --> 00:24:43.879
 ask for grace

00:24:43.879 --> 00:24:45.259
 to celebrate grace

00:24:45.259 --> 00:24:47.759
 now you and I know

00:24:47.759 --> 00:24:49.460
 we all have different pressure points

00:24:49.460 --> 00:24:49.960
 for that

00:24:49.960 --> 00:24:53.259
 so I was at General Assembly this week

00:24:53.259 --> 00:24:54.619
 for Christian ministers

00:24:54.619 --> 00:24:55.960
 one of those pressure points

00:24:55.960 --> 00:24:56.180
 like

00:24:56.180 --> 00:24:57.559
 how do we handle it

00:24:57.559 --> 00:24:58.859
 when we hear of growing churches

00:24:58.859 --> 00:25:00.059
 how do we hear of it

00:25:00.059 --> 00:25:01.879
 when there are dramatic conversations

00:25:01.879 --> 00:25:03.640
 happening in other places

00:25:03.640 --> 00:25:04.819
 dramatic conversions

00:25:04.819 --> 00:25:07.379
 can I be glad

00:25:07.379 --> 00:25:09.140
 at what God is doing

00:25:09.140 --> 00:25:13.920
 where are the pressure points for you

00:25:13.920 --> 00:25:16.279
 can we be glad

00:25:16.279 --> 00:25:18.480
 to hear of someone's engagement

00:25:18.480 --> 00:25:20.700
 and their marriage

00:25:20.700 --> 00:25:21.519
 when we are single

00:25:21.519 --> 00:25:22.960
 and we'd love to be married

00:25:22.960 --> 00:25:25.320
 can we be glad

00:25:25.320 --> 00:25:27.259
 when someone has a new child

00:25:27.259 --> 00:25:29.140
 and we find ourselves longing for one

00:25:29.140 --> 00:25:31.019
 can we be glad

00:25:31.019 --> 00:25:33.039
 when someone has a new job

00:25:33.039 --> 00:25:33.880
 and they're enjoying it

00:25:33.880 --> 00:25:35.380
 and we're stuck in a terrible one

00:25:35.380 --> 00:25:37.720
 can we celebrate with others

00:25:37.720 --> 00:25:39.220
 the goodness of God in their life

00:25:39.220 --> 00:25:43.220
 one of the wonderful things

00:25:43.220 --> 00:25:44.460
 about Christian joy

00:25:44.460 --> 00:25:46.680
 is that Christian joy

00:25:46.680 --> 00:25:48.660
 isn't just tied to

00:25:48.660 --> 00:25:50.319
 what's happening to me

00:25:50.319 --> 00:25:51.559
 and my circumstances

00:25:51.559 --> 00:25:53.620
 Christian joy is so much bigger than that

00:25:53.620 --> 00:25:54.240
 it's rooted to

00:25:54.240 --> 00:25:56.420
 what's God's good work

00:25:56.420 --> 00:25:57.339
 in his world

00:25:57.339 --> 00:26:00.880
 where is he saving people

00:26:00.880 --> 00:26:03.279
 where is he maturing faith

00:26:03.279 --> 00:26:04.000
 in people

00:26:04.000 --> 00:26:05.500
 where is he causing people

00:26:05.500 --> 00:26:07.299
 to serve with joy

00:26:07.299 --> 00:26:11.180
 when we see how big

00:26:11.180 --> 00:26:12.899
 God's grace is

00:26:12.899 --> 00:26:14.980
 that's when our heart begins to expand

00:26:14.980 --> 00:26:17.359
 so the lesson from these grumblers

00:26:17.359 --> 00:26:17.619
 is

00:26:17.619 --> 00:26:19.500
 we need to learn to walk

00:26:19.500 --> 00:26:20.460
 in the shoes of others

00:26:20.460 --> 00:26:20.960
 don't we

00:26:20.960 --> 00:26:23.599
 and we certainly need to celebrate

00:26:23.599 --> 00:26:24.819
 God's grace at work

00:26:24.819 --> 00:26:29.759
 last thing to say briefly

00:26:29.759 --> 00:26:31.539
 is to think about

00:26:31.539 --> 00:26:32.220
 what we can call

00:26:32.220 --> 00:26:34.440
 the 11th hour gospel

00:26:34.440 --> 00:26:37.039
 so I think one of the things

00:26:37.039 --> 00:26:37.660
 that Jesus

00:26:37.660 --> 00:26:38.799
 would

00:26:38.799 --> 00:26:40.160
 cause

00:26:40.160 --> 00:26:41.400
 by this parable

00:26:41.400 --> 00:26:43.240
 is a tension in our hearts

00:26:43.240 --> 00:26:44.620
 and a question

00:26:44.620 --> 00:26:46.600
 how do we change

00:26:46.600 --> 00:26:49.539
 so that we can celebrate grace

00:26:49.539 --> 00:26:51.279
 where do we get

00:26:51.279 --> 00:26:52.000
 the power

00:26:52.000 --> 00:26:53.160
 to change

00:26:53.160 --> 00:26:55.039
 to see the world

00:26:55.039 --> 00:26:55.779
 differently

00:26:55.779 --> 00:26:56.820
 how can we choose

00:26:56.820 --> 00:26:57.840
 these different values

00:26:57.840 --> 00:26:59.620
 of the kingdom of heaven

00:26:59.619 --> 00:27:04.659
 the beginning of that answer

00:27:04.659 --> 00:27:05.019
 at least

00:27:05.019 --> 00:27:06.339
 is here in this parable

00:27:06.339 --> 00:27:08.319
 you know with any

00:27:08.319 --> 00:27:09.459
 story

00:27:09.459 --> 00:27:12.039
 that Jesus tells

00:27:12.039 --> 00:27:13.599
 we're always invited

00:27:13.599 --> 00:27:13.859
 to think

00:27:13.859 --> 00:27:14.419
 who do I

00:27:14.419 --> 00:27:15.839
 identify with

00:27:15.839 --> 00:27:16.339
 in this story

00:27:16.339 --> 00:27:17.579
 where do I find myself

00:27:17.579 --> 00:27:18.859
 in this parable

00:27:18.859 --> 00:27:23.139
 Jesus in the first instance

00:27:23.139 --> 00:27:24.719
 says to the disciples

00:27:24.719 --> 00:27:25.599
 and says to us

00:27:25.599 --> 00:27:27.639
 watch out

00:27:27.640 --> 00:27:29.060
 because we can so easily be

00:27:29.060 --> 00:27:30.000
 like those

00:27:30.000 --> 00:27:31.320
 first workers

00:27:31.320 --> 00:27:31.920
 who grumble

00:27:31.920 --> 00:27:33.620
 but he would also

00:27:33.620 --> 00:27:34.540
 have us all

00:27:34.540 --> 00:27:35.060
 to see

00:27:35.060 --> 00:27:36.500
 that in a very real sense

00:27:36.500 --> 00:27:37.620
 we are all

00:27:37.620 --> 00:27:38.100
 those

00:27:38.100 --> 00:27:39.240
 11th hour

00:27:39.240 --> 00:27:40.140
 workers

00:27:40.140 --> 00:27:42.740
 5pm

00:27:42.740 --> 00:27:44.220
 days almost done

00:27:44.220 --> 00:27:45.800
 standing without hope

00:27:45.800 --> 00:27:47.420
 we cannot fix it

00:27:47.420 --> 00:27:50.259
 our great need

00:27:50.259 --> 00:27:52.780
 is not

00:27:52.780 --> 00:27:54.160
 justice

00:27:54.160 --> 00:27:56.600
 our need

00:27:56.600 --> 00:27:58.740
 is God's

00:27:58.740 --> 00:27:59.000
 goodness

00:27:59.000 --> 00:27:59.720
 and grace

00:27:59.720 --> 00:28:01.700
 that he would show us

00:28:01.700 --> 00:28:02.500
 his mercy

00:28:02.500 --> 00:28:03.779
 and his kindness

00:28:03.779 --> 00:28:07.019
 and that's what we see

00:28:07.019 --> 00:28:08.340
 in the sending

00:28:08.340 --> 00:28:09.279
 of the Lord Jesus

00:28:09.279 --> 00:28:11.279
 if anybody

00:28:11.279 --> 00:28:12.640
 is first

00:28:12.640 --> 00:28:14.200
 it's Jesus

00:28:14.200 --> 00:28:15.960
 first in glory

00:28:15.960 --> 00:28:18.040
 eternal son of God

00:28:18.040 --> 00:28:19.279
 king of kings

00:28:19.279 --> 00:28:21.220
 but what does Jesus

00:28:21.220 --> 00:28:22.340
 say to his disciples

00:28:22.339 --> 00:28:24.579
 he is ready

00:28:24.579 --> 00:28:25.199
 and willing

00:28:25.199 --> 00:28:26.319
 to become last

00:28:26.319 --> 00:28:28.459
 to be rejected

00:28:28.459 --> 00:28:29.519
 to suffer

00:28:29.519 --> 00:28:30.799
 to be crucified

00:28:30.799 --> 00:28:31.759
 to die

00:28:31.759 --> 00:28:34.259
 he is ready

00:28:34.259 --> 00:28:35.659
 to serve

00:28:35.659 --> 00:28:36.359
 us

00:28:36.359 --> 00:28:37.980
 to show us

00:28:37.980 --> 00:28:38.980
 generous grace

00:28:38.980 --> 00:28:40.179
 to forgive

00:28:40.179 --> 00:28:40.799
 our sin

00:28:40.799 --> 00:28:41.299
 to give us

00:28:41.299 --> 00:28:42.059
 a new heart

00:28:42.059 --> 00:28:42.519
 to give us

00:28:42.519 --> 00:28:42.980
 the hope

00:28:42.980 --> 00:28:43.939
 of eternal life

00:28:43.939 --> 00:28:45.099
 the greatest man

00:28:45.099 --> 00:28:45.559
 who ever lived

00:28:45.559 --> 00:28:46.319
 the God man

00:28:46.319 --> 00:28:48.099
 chose to serve

00:28:48.099 --> 00:28:49.039
 sinners

00:28:49.039 --> 00:28:50.619
 like us

00:28:50.619 --> 00:28:51.859
 as Jesus said

00:28:51.859 --> 00:28:52.959
 in verse 28

00:28:52.959 --> 00:28:55.039
 just as the son

00:28:55.039 --> 00:28:55.639
 of man

00:28:55.639 --> 00:28:56.399
 that's Jesus

00:28:56.399 --> 00:28:57.319
 did not come

00:28:57.319 --> 00:28:58.459
 to be served

00:28:58.459 --> 00:29:00.299
 but to serve

00:29:00.299 --> 00:29:02.639
 and to give his life

00:29:02.639 --> 00:29:04.239
 as a ransom

00:29:04.239 --> 00:29:04.859
 for many

00:29:04.859 --> 00:29:07.779
 and as we remember

00:29:07.779 --> 00:29:08.219
 that

00:29:08.219 --> 00:29:10.000
 as we remember

00:29:10.000 --> 00:29:11.039
 Jesus the first

00:29:11.039 --> 00:29:11.579
 being ready

00:29:11.579 --> 00:29:12.699
 to become last

00:29:12.699 --> 00:29:13.459
 for us

00:29:13.459 --> 00:29:14.919
 as we remember

00:29:14.919 --> 00:29:16.139
 all that he gives

00:29:16.139 --> 00:29:16.539
 to us

00:29:16.539 --> 00:29:18.239
 by his grace

00:29:18.240 --> 00:29:20.259
 that's where

00:29:20.259 --> 00:29:21.279
 we find the power

00:29:21.279 --> 00:29:22.839
 for our grumbling

00:29:22.839 --> 00:29:23.980
 to become gratitude

00:29:23.980 --> 00:29:26.240
 that's where we'll find

00:29:26.240 --> 00:29:26.759
 we're willing

00:29:26.759 --> 00:29:27.579
 to give up

00:29:27.579 --> 00:29:28.380
 the chase

00:29:28.380 --> 00:29:29.920
 to be first

00:29:29.920 --> 00:29:30.660
 and instead

00:29:30.660 --> 00:29:32.279
 to be like Christ

00:29:32.279 --> 00:29:33.519
 to be ready

00:29:33.519 --> 00:29:34.319
 to serve

00:29:34.319 --> 00:29:35.140
 others

00:29:35.140 --> 00:29:37.480
 let's leave it there

00:29:37.480 --> 00:29:38.680
 and let's pray

00:29:38.680 --> 00:29:39.720
 together

00:29:39.720 --> 00:29:42.920
 Lord

00:29:42.920 --> 00:29:44.319
 our God

00:29:44.319 --> 00:29:45.759
 we thank you

00:29:45.759 --> 00:29:46.279
 for

00:29:46.279 --> 00:29:47.779
 the Lord

00:29:47.779 --> 00:29:48.259
 Jesus

00:29:48.259 --> 00:29:50.879
 even as he

00:29:50.879 --> 00:29:51.859
 told that

00:29:51.859 --> 00:29:52.480
 parable

00:29:52.480 --> 00:29:53.899
 he was also

00:29:53.899 --> 00:29:54.480
 telling

00:29:54.480 --> 00:29:55.720
 of his

00:29:55.720 --> 00:29:56.200
 suffering

00:29:56.200 --> 00:29:57.139
 and his

00:29:57.139 --> 00:29:57.559
 death

00:29:57.559 --> 00:30:01.200
 and he was

00:30:01.200 --> 00:30:02.099
 telling us

00:30:02.099 --> 00:30:03.419
 that he came

00:30:03.419 --> 00:30:04.059
 to be a

00:30:04.059 --> 00:30:04.399
 servant

00:30:04.399 --> 00:30:06.919
 to set us

00:30:06.919 --> 00:30:07.339
 free

00:30:07.339 --> 00:30:08.299
 from sin

00:30:08.299 --> 00:30:09.779
 by taking

00:30:09.779 --> 00:30:10.279
 sin

00:30:10.279 --> 00:30:11.119
 on himself

00:30:11.119 --> 00:30:12.979
 and paying

00:30:12.979 --> 00:30:13.679
 the price

00:30:13.679 --> 00:30:14.459
 in full

00:30:14.459 --> 00:30:16.099
 so we could

00:30:16.099 --> 00:30:16.619
 be forgiven

00:30:16.619 --> 00:30:17.079
 and have

00:30:17.079 --> 00:30:17.699
 new life

00:30:17.699 --> 00:30:19.459
 Lord help us

00:30:19.459 --> 00:30:19.959
 to see

00:30:19.959 --> 00:30:20.439
 that in the

00:30:20.439 --> 00:30:21.019
 kingdom of

00:30:21.019 --> 00:30:21.379
 heaven

00:30:21.379 --> 00:30:22.759
 it's about

00:30:22.759 --> 00:30:23.359
 grace

00:30:23.359 --> 00:30:24.019
 all the way

00:30:24.019 --> 00:30:24.359
 down

00:30:24.359 --> 00:30:26.239
 help us

00:30:26.239 --> 00:30:27.199
 to be

00:30:27.199 --> 00:30:27.639
 on the

00:30:27.639 --> 00:30:28.039
 lookout

00:30:28.039 --> 00:30:28.619
 and to

00:30:28.619 --> 00:30:29.239
 celebrate

00:30:29.239 --> 00:30:31.199
 every

00:30:31.199 --> 00:30:31.819
 evidence

00:30:31.819 --> 00:30:32.179
 of your

00:30:32.179 --> 00:30:32.599
 goodness

00:30:32.599 --> 00:30:33.299
 and mercy

00:30:33.299 --> 00:30:33.899
 whether that's

00:30:33.899 --> 00:30:34.139
 in our

00:30:34.139 --> 00:30:34.639
 own life

00:30:34.639 --> 00:30:35.079
 or in the

00:30:35.079 --> 00:30:35.539
 life of

00:30:35.539 --> 00:30:36.000
 others

00:30:36.000 --> 00:30:37.299
 give us

00:30:37.299 --> 00:30:38.339
 that capacity

00:30:38.339 --> 00:30:40.119
 to rejoice

00:30:40.119 --> 00:30:41.059
 with those

00:30:41.059 --> 00:30:41.879
 who rejoice

00:30:41.879 --> 00:30:43.679
 Lord will you

00:30:43.679 --> 00:30:44.319
 guard our

00:30:44.319 --> 00:30:44.879
 hearts

00:30:44.879 --> 00:30:46.279
 and will you

00:30:46.279 --> 00:30:47.139
 apply the

00:30:47.139 --> 00:30:47.699
 truth of your

00:30:47.699 --> 00:30:48.579
 word to our

00:30:48.579 --> 00:30:49.179
 hearts

00:30:49.179 --> 00:30:50.819
 and that you

00:30:50.819 --> 00:30:51.500
 be changing

00:30:51.500 --> 00:30:52.039
 us

00:30:52.039 --> 00:30:53.719
 in line with

00:30:53.719 --> 00:30:54.319
 its truth

00:30:54.319 --> 00:30:55.319
 we pray in

00:30:55.319 --> 00:30:56.079
 Jesus name

00:30:56.079 --> 00:30:56.979
 Amen

00:30:56.979 --> 00:31:02.179
 Now we're

00:31:02.179 --> 00:31:02.719
 going to

00:31:02.719 --> 00:31:04.519
 finish with

00:31:04.519 --> 00:31:05.839
 what I guess

00:31:05.839 --> 00:31:07.119
 to the world

00:31:07.119 --> 00:31:07.859
 is an old

00:31:07.859 --> 00:31:08.199
 hymn but

00:31:08.199 --> 00:31:09.079
 for us it was

00:31:09.079 --> 00:31:09.639
 something of a

00:31:09.639 --> 00:31:09.979
 new hymn

00:31:09.980 --> 00:31:10.599
 grace greater

00:31:10.599 --> 00:31:11.039
 than all my

00:31:11.039 --> 00:31:11.279
 sin

00:31:11.279 --> 00:31:12.380
 we sang it

00:31:12.380 --> 00:31:13.000
 last Sunday

00:31:13.000 --> 00:31:13.259
 evening

00:31:13.259 --> 00:31:13.579
 we're going to

00:31:13.579 --> 00:31:14.200
 sing it again

00:31:14.200 --> 00:31:15.220
 Kellen's going to

00:31:15.220 --> 00:31:15.720
 sing through the

00:31:15.720 --> 00:31:16.220
 verse and the

00:31:16.220 --> 00:31:16.819
 chorus for us

00:31:16.819 --> 00:31:17.160
 then we'll go

00:31:17.160 --> 00:31:17.720
 back to the

00:31:17.720 --> 00:31:18.079
 beginning

00:31:18.079 --> 00:31:19.120
 join in

00:31:19.120 --> 00:31:19.539
 obviously

00:31:19.539 --> 00:31:20.920
 whenever you

00:31:20.920 --> 00:31:21.279
 know it

00:31:21.279 --> 00:31:21.860
 but let's

00:31:21.860 --> 00:31:22.839
 stand and

00:31:22.839 --> 00:31:23.400
 let's sing

00:31:23.400 --> 00:31:24.240
 these wonderful

00:31:24.240 --> 00:31:24.660
 words

00:31:24.660 --> 00:31:40.480
 things

00:31:40.480 --> 00:31:45.120
 to look forward to the

00:31:45.120 --> 00:31:53.759
 victor القs of my