WEBVTT

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 You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama.

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 Our passion is to experience and express grace.

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 Join us.

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 Turn with me, if you will, to Ephesians chapter 3, Ephesians 3.

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 After a brief detour last week, we're back in Ephesians again this morning.

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 We're going to be talking about a mystery Paul writes about in these verses.

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 There's very little I love more than a good mystery.

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 I grew up on the Hardy Boys, read all of those that I could find,

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 and I still love a good intriguing drama with the suspense of whodunit and how's everything going to turn out.

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 The mystery Paul talks about is a little different from those,

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 but it's really good news for us.

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 Listen as he mentions this mystery three times in these six verses.

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 Ephesians 3 at verse 1, hear God's holy word.

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 For this reason, I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles,

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 surely you have heard about the administration of God's grace that was given to me for you.

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 That is the mystery made known to me by revelation as I've already written briefly.

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 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,

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 which was not made known to men and other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit

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 to God's holy apostles and prophets.

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 This mystery is that through the gospel, the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel,

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 members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.

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 The grass withers and the flowers fade, but these words of our God will stand forever.

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 Let's pray together.

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 Father, our hope is that because these are your words,

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 because they indeed are living and active,

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 that you will be at work in our hearts this morning.

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 That's why we've come to put ourselves under your word,

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 to submit our hearts to it,

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 and we would pray, Father,

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 open our eyes that we might behold wonderful things in your word.

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 Do that by your Spirit, we ask in Jesus' name.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Our nation has been horrified this week

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 as stories have come from Oklahoma University

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 about a fraternity on a bus

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 singing and chanting very disgraceful racist words.

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 We've been horrified.

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 Rightfully so.

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 As new information has come out and new videos have leaked,

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 just can't believe that this is happening.

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 Most of the interviews I've seen say something like that.

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 I mean, it's 2015.

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 I can't believe that stuff like this is still going on.

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 And I can relate to that feeling.

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 At one level, I agree.

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 You'd think we could have left hatred like that behind by now.

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 But on the other hand,

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 it's not just one group of young people

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 that struggles with separating from others

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 based on a unique aspect of their identity, is it?

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 For others, it may not be skin color.

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 Think about the increasingly polarized state of our politics in this country.

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 Where identifying as Democrat or Republican

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 or actually neither but any other name you want to use

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 means that I'm not likely to work alongside you,

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 someone else of a different political commitment or affiliation.

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 But it distances me from you.

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 It identifies me as against you.

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 I can't work with you in many cases.

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 We see it to some extent with our country in general.

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 That we're Americans and so there's us and the rest of the world.

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 Some of them we even have names like Third World.

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 Two steps removed.

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 We're defined as Americans.

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 We find our identity often in our success.

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 Be that our lifestyle, our morality, our power.

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 Something that we feel sets us apart from everybody else.

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 And what you realize very quickly is that

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 we as people have a natural tendency to find our identity

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 in some aspect of ourselves that distances us from others.

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 From those who don't share that particular trait.

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 It can be race, politics, or nationality.

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 It can equally be many other things.

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 I remember when I was a child and desperately wanting to fit in.

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 To belong somewhere.

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 That the best way to do that was to find a group

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 that I could be a part of

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 and belong there where others didn't belong.

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 You could say things like,

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 I'm an athlete

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 and therefore I'm distinguished from others who aren't.

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 But I belong in the we're the athletes group.

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 That doesn't work for me anymore.

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 Unfortunately.

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 But I've just gotten more creative as an adult.

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 I think of other things that can set me apart.

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 Things that we look at that give us value.

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 That help us belong somewhere.

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 It could be our parenting philosophy.

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 We're good moms and dads who do things like this

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 and would never do that or say this.

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 Our educational level.

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 We honestly feel we're above some others

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 who don't know what we do

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 or talk as we do

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 or think the way we do.

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 Even our theological persuasion.

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 We've got it right and others don't.

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 Presbyterians are really good at that.

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 But regardless of what it is,

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 we see this tendency to find our identity,

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 our sense of belonging

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 in something about ourselves

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 and thereby separate or distance ourselves

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 from others who aren't described the same way.

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 Who don't have that trait.

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 And Jesus says,

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 not so among my people.

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 Jesus says the way it's supposed to work

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 is like this.

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 That the defining identity of my people

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 is not something particular about them at all.

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 It's that they're connected to me.

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 They belong because they are in Christ,

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 Ephesians has been saying.

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 And that that shared reality of being in Christ

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 connects them also to each other.

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 Even otherwise very different people

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 connected by that.

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 Go back and remember chapter 1.

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 Do you remember talking about

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 everything that happens in Christ?

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 Every spiritual blessing that is ours in Christ?

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 The new identity that Jesus gives us

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 because of what He has done?

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 Because He has given His life for us?

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 Now as we get to chapter 2,

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 what Paul says is,

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 it's not just a new identity for you.

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 That new identity in Christ connects you.

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 The fact that you're connected to Him

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 connects you to many others.

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 All His people are connected in Christ.

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 That's why we've been using this image

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 for this sermon series.

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 It's not just an image of saying

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 we're connected to God in Christ,

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 although that's certainly true.

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 But that reality connects us also to each other.

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 And so that arm in arm and hand in hand,

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 because of Jesus,

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 that's what His people are to look like.

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 And that's actually the mystery

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 that Paul is unfolding here in chapter 3.

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 That previously separated and disconnected enemies

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 like Jews and Gentiles

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 are now connected together

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 because of Jesus.

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 Look how he says it in verse 6.

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 The mystery,

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 he's going to tell us what it is,

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 the mystery is that through the gospel,

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 the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel,

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 members together of one body,

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 and sharers together in the promise

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 in Christ Jesus.

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 That's the mystery.

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 He tells us when Paul uses the word mystery,

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 it's actually different from the things

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 the Hardy Boys solve.

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 He actually is talking,

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 when he uses that word,

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 of something that is now apparent

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 and understood,

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 but that has been more hidden in the past.

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 Something that was less clear

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 than it is now,

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 and now it's more fully revealed.

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 In particular, when Paul uses it,

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 it means the truth revealed in a new way

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 in Jesus the Messiah.

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 That was previously less clear

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 in the Old Testament.

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 Look at verses 4 and 5.

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 In reading this,

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 you'll be able to understand

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 my insight into the mystery of Christ.

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 That's the Greek word for Messiah.

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 The one who's promised to come.

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 That's the mystery.

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 The mystery was not made known

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 to men and other generations

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 in the way that it has now been revealed

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 by the Spirit.

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 In other words,

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 something has come into focus better.

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 Something has been more fully revealed

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 than it was,

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 and it's something that happens in Jesus.

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 Now you know the Jews and Gentiles

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 had a great distaste for each other.

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 Jews viewing Gentiles as unclean

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 and unworthy.

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 Greeks largely viewing Jews

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 and any non-Greeks as barbaric

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 and not civilized like they were.

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 The animosity between these groups

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 was every bit as strong

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 as the racial tensions in this country

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 that I alluded to earlier.

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 It was race, ethnicity,

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 and religious heritage

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 all tied up in one.

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 Defining their basic identity

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 against the others

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 who were clearly not like them.

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 But you may also be thinking,

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 what does Paul mean?

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 This is a new revelation

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 of this mystery.

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 I thought the Old Testament

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 already talked about

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 the salvation of the Gentiles

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 and that that was part of God's plan.

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 And it was.

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 And it absolutely does

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 talk about that.

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 There are clues, so to speak,

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 all the way back to Abraham

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 where the nations are to be blessed

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 through God's people.

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 But the promised Messiah

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 is always pointed to

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 as the time things will really change.

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 Things are really going to be different.

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 And Paul's saying

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 it's even more dramatic a shift

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 than the Jews had realized.

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 Let me explain what I mean by that

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 by talking about the temple

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 for just a few minutes.

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 The temple's a huge issue in Ephesians

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 and the temple in Jerusalem

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 is a marvelous structure

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 in any iteration of it.

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 A wonderful work.

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 And this is one picture of it.

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 You see the big central location

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 there in the middle?

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 I'll describe that in a minute.

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 And then the courtyard

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 around the outside.

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 I'm going to show you a diagram

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 so we can talk a little bit more clearly

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 in just a minute.

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 But I want you to see the picture

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 because the diagram's going to lose

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 a lot of the grandeur and beauty

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 of this temple.

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 But there's the temple in Jerusalem.

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 And then let's look at the diagram

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 for a second.

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 Here's a diagram of the temple.

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 That large center structure

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 that you see is right at the center

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 of this diagram

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 with a dark black line around it.

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 It's called the Holy of Holies.

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 The very center of the temple.

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 The place where God dwelled.

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 It was holy because God lived there.

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 In the Old Testament,

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 that was where He took up residence

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 among His people

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 in the Holy of Holies.

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 And so that was the center

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 of the entire temple complex.

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 And near it,

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 surrounding that,

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 you had the court of the priests.

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 That next little block around it

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 where only the priests could go.

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 And beyond that,

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 you had what was called

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 the court of Israel.

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 Places where Jewish men

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 and women could come.

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 They could offer sacrifices.

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 There were altars there.

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 The worship of God happened there.

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 And Gentiles did not.

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 No Gentiles.

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 Too close to the presence of God

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 for Gentiles.

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 They couldn't come

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 into the court of Israel

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 where the Jews could come.

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 They can't get near God.

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 And so it's the outer courtyard,

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 the court of the Gentiles,

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 where they stop.

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 That's as close as they can get.

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 They're unclean.

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 They're unworthy.

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 They can't approach any closer.

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 They can't go in with the Jews

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 to worship their God,

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 to be near Him.

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 They're separated by walls

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 and stairs from the presence of God.

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 Unclean.

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 Unworthy to enter any closer.

00:13:21.080 --> 00:13:21.980
 Look back at the picture.

00:13:22.980 --> 00:13:23.879
 You see the walls

00:13:23.879 --> 00:13:25.160
 around that center area?

00:13:25.580 --> 00:13:26.240
 Do you see now

00:13:26.240 --> 00:13:27.399
 that this outer courtyard

00:13:27.399 --> 00:13:28.779
 is where the Gentiles were?

00:13:29.160 --> 00:13:31.160
 And huge, beautiful walls

00:13:31.159 --> 00:13:32.339
 and stairs saying,

00:13:32.799 --> 00:13:34.139
 you stay out there

00:13:34.139 --> 00:13:35.759
 in the courtyard.

00:13:35.980 --> 00:13:37.839
 That's where the Gentiles were

00:13:37.839 --> 00:13:38.379
 in the temple.

00:13:38.699 --> 00:13:40.399
 And they took this very seriously.

00:13:41.120 --> 00:13:42.879
 The penalty for a Gentile

00:13:42.879 --> 00:13:44.159
 entering the court of Israel

00:13:44.159 --> 00:13:45.379
 was death.

00:13:46.839 --> 00:13:47.939
 Paul, a Jew,

00:13:49.279 --> 00:13:50.980
 experienced this firsthand.

00:13:51.759 --> 00:13:53.219
 He says at the beginning

00:13:53.219 --> 00:13:54.759
 of our passage this morning

00:13:54.759 --> 00:13:56.299
 that he is in prison

00:13:56.299 --> 00:13:58.539
 for the sake of the Gentiles.

00:13:58.539 --> 00:13:59.439
 Verse 1.

00:14:00.579 --> 00:14:01.699
 What does he mean by that?

00:14:02.559 --> 00:14:03.699
 How's Paul in prison

00:14:03.699 --> 00:14:05.559
 for the sake of the Gentiles?

00:14:05.719 --> 00:14:06.879
 Look back at Acts.

00:14:08.000 --> 00:14:10.480
 Paul actually went through a lot

00:14:10.480 --> 00:14:12.819
 that had to do with the temple

00:14:12.819 --> 00:14:14.199
 to end up in prison.

00:14:14.740 --> 00:14:16.279
 If you look in Acts,

00:14:16.339 --> 00:14:17.439
 you'll find out that Paul

00:14:17.439 --> 00:14:18.740
 was in this very temple

00:14:18.740 --> 00:14:19.879
 we've been talking about

00:14:19.879 --> 00:14:20.500
 in Jerusalem

00:14:20.500 --> 00:14:22.339
 doing some purification.

00:14:23.179 --> 00:14:24.139
 And look at what happens.

00:14:24.259 --> 00:14:25.519
 Acts chapter 21,

00:14:25.659 --> 00:14:26.620
 verse 27.

00:14:26.620 --> 00:14:28.360
 The Jews from Asia,

00:14:28.480 --> 00:14:29.639
 from places like Ephesus,

00:14:29.840 --> 00:14:31.080
 saw Paul in the temple

00:14:31.080 --> 00:14:32.840
 and stirred up the whole crowd

00:14:32.840 --> 00:14:33.960
 and laid hands on him,

00:14:34.299 --> 00:14:34.840
 crying out,

00:14:34.940 --> 00:14:36.000
 Men of Israel, help!

00:14:36.700 --> 00:14:37.500
 This is the man

00:14:37.500 --> 00:14:39.299
 who's teaching everyone everywhere

00:14:39.299 --> 00:14:40.360
 against the people

00:14:40.360 --> 00:14:41.519
 and the law

00:14:41.519 --> 00:14:42.580
 and this place.

00:14:42.960 --> 00:14:43.799
 Against the Jews

00:14:43.799 --> 00:14:44.659
 and our law

00:14:44.659 --> 00:14:45.460
 and this temple.

00:14:46.539 --> 00:14:46.860
 Moreover,

00:14:47.100 --> 00:14:48.299
 he even brought Greeks

00:14:48.299 --> 00:14:49.120
 into the temple

00:14:49.120 --> 00:14:50.580
 and has defiled

00:14:50.580 --> 00:14:51.759
 this holy place.

00:14:52.279 --> 00:14:53.100
 They get stirred up

00:14:53.100 --> 00:14:53.620
 against Paul

00:14:53.620 --> 00:14:54.259
 to the point of,

00:14:54.419 --> 00:14:55.139
 look at verse 30,

00:14:55.220 --> 00:14:55.759
 what happens?

00:14:56.620 --> 00:14:58.139
 All the city was stirred up.

00:14:58.480 --> 00:14:59.560
 The people ran together,

00:14:59.720 --> 00:15:00.299
 seized Paul,

00:15:00.419 --> 00:15:01.399
 dragged him out of the temple,

00:15:02.000 --> 00:15:02.679
 shut the gates

00:15:02.679 --> 00:15:03.659
 and as they were seeking

00:15:03.659 --> 00:15:05.320
 to kill him,

00:15:06.019 --> 00:15:06.840
 the death penalty

00:15:06.840 --> 00:15:08.539
 for bringing a Gentile

00:15:08.539 --> 00:15:09.799
 into the court of Israel,

00:15:10.480 --> 00:15:11.460
 word came to the tribune

00:15:11.460 --> 00:15:12.060
 of the cohort

00:15:12.060 --> 00:15:13.200
 that all Jerusalem

00:15:13.200 --> 00:15:14.240
 was in confusion.

00:15:14.519 --> 00:15:15.620
 This is no small city.

00:15:16.100 --> 00:15:17.100
 The temple's big enough.

00:15:17.179 --> 00:15:19.360
 The whole city in confusion.

00:15:19.679 --> 00:15:21.360
 An uproar over this man,

00:15:21.700 --> 00:15:22.039
 Paul.

00:15:22.039 --> 00:15:24.099
 Now it turns out

00:15:24.099 --> 00:15:25.159
 that Paul hadn't actually

00:15:25.159 --> 00:15:26.299
 brought a Gentile

00:15:26.299 --> 00:15:28.039
 into the court of Israel.

00:15:28.279 --> 00:15:29.879
 But the message

00:15:29.879 --> 00:15:30.719
 that he's preaching,

00:15:30.899 --> 00:15:32.039
 they still can't stomach.

00:15:33.099 --> 00:15:35.019
 He's going to the Gentiles.

00:15:36.079 --> 00:15:37.719
 And that lands him in prison.

00:15:38.079 --> 00:15:39.259
 The prison, in fact,

00:15:39.319 --> 00:15:40.480
 from which he writes Ephesians.

00:15:41.059 --> 00:15:42.279
 They're still angry

00:15:42.279 --> 00:15:43.099
 at what they hear

00:15:43.099 --> 00:15:43.980
 he's been teaching

00:15:43.980 --> 00:15:46.159
 in places like Ephesians 2.

00:15:46.459 --> 00:15:48.059
 The message to the Gentiles

00:15:48.059 --> 00:15:48.919
 that the barriers

00:15:48.919 --> 00:15:50.740
 between Jew and Gentile

00:15:50.740 --> 00:15:51.740
 have been broken down

00:15:51.740 --> 00:15:52.720
 and that together

00:15:52.720 --> 00:15:53.500
 they're being built

00:15:53.500 --> 00:15:54.799
 into a holy temple

00:15:54.799 --> 00:15:56.340
 in which God lives

00:15:56.340 --> 00:15:57.240
 by His Spirit.

00:15:58.019 --> 00:15:58.580
 You remember that

00:15:58.580 --> 00:15:59.860
 from the end of chapter 2?

00:16:00.399 --> 00:16:01.340
 Jew and Gentile

00:16:01.340 --> 00:16:02.120
 now together

00:16:02.120 --> 00:16:04.180
 built into a holy temple

00:16:04.180 --> 00:16:05.360
 where God lives

00:16:05.360 --> 00:16:06.539
 by His Spirit.

00:16:07.279 --> 00:16:08.360
 And the Jews say,

00:16:08.720 --> 00:16:09.560
 Ridiculous!

00:16:10.019 --> 00:16:10.560
 Never!

00:16:11.180 --> 00:16:12.360
 Take His life!

00:16:13.180 --> 00:16:14.580
 Paul, you're removing

00:16:14.580 --> 00:16:16.440
 our very distinctiveness.

00:16:17.440 --> 00:16:18.860
 There's going to be nothing

00:16:18.860 --> 00:16:20.019
 that separates us

00:16:20.019 --> 00:16:21.000
 from them anymore.

00:16:21.320 --> 00:16:22.120
 You're destroying

00:16:22.120 --> 00:16:23.259
 our unique identity.

00:16:24.720 --> 00:16:25.919
 Maybe some of them, Paul,

00:16:26.000 --> 00:16:26.600
 could become

00:16:26.600 --> 00:16:28.360
 a little bit more like us,

00:16:28.560 --> 00:16:30.779
 but never this.

00:16:31.300 --> 00:16:32.379
 Wipe the temple out

00:16:32.379 --> 00:16:33.320
 and build a new one?

00:16:34.100 --> 00:16:34.940
 No way.

00:16:36.139 --> 00:16:36.700
 No way.

00:16:38.399 --> 00:16:39.600
 Do you hear what Paul's saying

00:16:39.600 --> 00:16:41.440
 in a passage like this one

00:16:41.440 --> 00:16:42.460
 in Ephesians 2?

00:16:43.360 --> 00:16:45.000
 Where at the end

00:16:45.000 --> 00:16:45.820
 of that chapter

00:16:45.820 --> 00:16:46.440
 he's saying

00:16:46.440 --> 00:16:48.280
 the whole group,

00:16:48.440 --> 00:16:49.740
 Jew and Gentile alike,

00:16:50.340 --> 00:16:50.800
 are going to be

00:16:50.800 --> 00:16:52.020
 a holy temple

00:16:52.020 --> 00:16:53.680
 to the Lord.

00:16:53.760 --> 00:16:54.500
 And he's going to dwell

00:16:54.500 --> 00:16:55.360
 there by His Spirit.

00:16:55.720 --> 00:16:56.940
 Do you hear what he's saying

00:16:56.940 --> 00:16:57.740
 when he says that?

00:16:58.200 --> 00:16:58.840
 He's saying

00:16:58.840 --> 00:17:00.040
 that the mystery

00:17:00.040 --> 00:17:00.900
 is not merely

00:17:00.900 --> 00:17:01.720
 that Gentiles

00:17:01.720 --> 00:17:02.640
 could now be invited

00:17:02.640 --> 00:17:03.920
 into the Jewish part

00:17:03.920 --> 00:17:04.480
 of the temple

00:17:04.480 --> 00:17:07.100
 near to God,

00:17:08.180 --> 00:17:09.000
 but that Jesus

00:17:09.000 --> 00:17:09.620
 was building

00:17:09.620 --> 00:17:11.200
 an entirely new temple

00:17:11.200 --> 00:17:12.039
 altogether.

00:17:12.400 --> 00:17:13.440
 A new structure

00:17:13.440 --> 00:17:14.180
 completely

00:17:14.180 --> 00:17:15.200
 with Jesus

00:17:15.200 --> 00:17:16.320
 as the cornerstone.

00:17:17.240 --> 00:17:18.039
 Now God dwells

00:17:18.039 --> 00:17:18.920
 not in Jerusalem,

00:17:19.400 --> 00:17:20.580
 not in a building

00:17:20.580 --> 00:17:21.600
 where He's contained,

00:17:21.779 --> 00:17:22.420
 but His presence

00:17:22.420 --> 00:17:23.660
 shows up in His people

00:17:23.660 --> 00:17:24.320
 who are connected

00:17:24.320 --> 00:17:24.940
 to Jesus.

00:17:25.380 --> 00:17:26.539
 Jews and Gentiles.

00:17:26.700 --> 00:17:27.140
 Amazing.

00:17:27.640 --> 00:17:29.200
 Something completely new.

00:17:30.299 --> 00:17:30.759
 The mystery

00:17:30.759 --> 00:17:31.580
 of the new temple

00:17:31.580 --> 00:17:32.420
 is solved,

00:17:32.660 --> 00:17:33.240
 Paul says.

00:17:33.920 --> 00:17:35.259
 It's fully unfolded.

00:17:35.860 --> 00:17:36.759
 The presence of God

00:17:36.759 --> 00:17:37.700
 used to be contained

00:17:37.700 --> 00:17:38.360
 in this temple

00:17:38.360 --> 00:17:39.500
 and now Jews

00:17:39.500 --> 00:17:40.180
 and Gentiles

00:17:40.180 --> 00:17:41.320
 and all sorts of people

00:17:41.320 --> 00:17:42.860
 are connected to Jesus

00:17:42.860 --> 00:17:44.080
 and are being built

00:17:44.080 --> 00:17:45.299
 into a new temple.

00:17:45.299 --> 00:17:47.399
 because the presence

00:17:47.399 --> 00:17:48.339
 of God

00:17:48.339 --> 00:17:49.139
 will be there.

00:17:49.519 --> 00:17:50.319
 And that's what

00:17:50.319 --> 00:17:51.419
 made the temple special.

00:17:52.099 --> 00:17:53.419
 That's why it was holy.

00:17:54.059 --> 00:17:55.700
 Because God was there.

00:17:55.799 --> 00:17:57.059
 Because He lived there

00:17:57.059 --> 00:17:57.700
 and now

00:17:57.700 --> 00:17:58.740
 He lives

00:17:58.740 --> 00:17:59.799
 with them.

00:18:00.259 --> 00:18:00.899
 And that makes

00:18:00.899 --> 00:18:01.700
 all the difference.

00:18:02.740 --> 00:18:03.680
 Being connected

00:18:03.680 --> 00:18:04.299
 to Jesus,

00:18:04.759 --> 00:18:05.579
 having the presence

00:18:05.579 --> 00:18:06.779
 of God show up

00:18:06.779 --> 00:18:08.019
 is now the thing

00:18:08.019 --> 00:18:08.639
 in common

00:18:08.639 --> 00:18:10.720
 that so supersedes

00:18:10.720 --> 00:18:11.819
 all the differences

00:18:11.819 --> 00:18:12.500
 you thought

00:18:12.500 --> 00:18:13.339
 were so important.

00:18:14.700 --> 00:18:15.600
 Now Paul says

00:18:15.600 --> 00:18:16.700
 the mystery is

00:18:16.700 --> 00:18:17.600
 that together,

00:18:18.240 --> 00:18:18.680
 together,

00:18:19.380 --> 00:18:19.900
 together,

00:18:21.220 --> 00:18:22.799
 Jews and Gentiles.

00:18:23.620 --> 00:18:24.319
 We don't even have

00:18:24.319 --> 00:18:25.140
 English words

00:18:25.140 --> 00:18:26.420
 for what he says

00:18:26.420 --> 00:18:27.220
 in verse 6.

00:18:27.819 --> 00:18:28.140
 In fact,

00:18:28.240 --> 00:18:28.839
 Paul's probably

00:18:28.839 --> 00:18:29.519
 making up

00:18:29.519 --> 00:18:30.680
 some Greek words.

00:18:31.200 --> 00:18:31.660
 What he does

00:18:31.660 --> 00:18:32.279
 is he takes

00:18:32.279 --> 00:18:33.120
 a prefix

00:18:33.120 --> 00:18:33.799
 for with

00:18:33.799 --> 00:18:34.400
 or together

00:18:34.400 --> 00:18:35.140
 and just throws it

00:18:35.140 --> 00:18:35.559
 on the front

00:18:35.559 --> 00:18:36.640
 of three different nouns.

00:18:37.380 --> 00:18:38.240
 So that Jews

00:18:38.240 --> 00:18:38.900
 and Gentiles

00:18:38.900 --> 00:18:39.359
 are now

00:18:39.359 --> 00:18:40.480
 heirs together

00:18:40.480 --> 00:18:41.900
 and members together

00:18:41.900 --> 00:18:43.420
 and sharers together.

00:18:43.559 --> 00:18:44.039
 How could you not

00:18:44.039 --> 00:18:45.039
 be a sharer together?

00:18:45.279 --> 00:18:46.359
 It's redundant.

00:18:46.539 --> 00:18:47.259
 It's for emphasis.

00:18:47.500 --> 00:18:48.240
 They're together.

00:18:49.400 --> 00:18:50.620
 Jews and Gentiles,

00:18:50.779 --> 00:18:51.920
 no distinction.

00:18:53.220 --> 00:18:54.380
 All of God's riches,

00:18:54.960 --> 00:18:56.000
 all the privileges

00:18:56.000 --> 00:18:56.819
 of membership

00:18:56.819 --> 00:18:57.819
 in God's people,

00:18:58.000 --> 00:18:58.759
 all the benefits

00:18:58.759 --> 00:18:59.640
 of His promises

00:18:59.640 --> 00:19:01.480
 now held jointly,

00:19:01.779 --> 00:19:02.200
 together,

00:19:03.019 --> 00:19:05.180
 in Christ Jesus.

00:19:06.880 --> 00:19:08.120
 That new identity

00:19:08.119 --> 00:19:09.979
 is so redefining

00:19:09.979 --> 00:19:11.519
 that the differences fade.

00:19:12.679 --> 00:19:13.759
 And what most matters,

00:19:13.959 --> 00:19:15.500
 what most defines us

00:19:15.500 --> 00:19:16.339
 is shared.

00:19:17.319 --> 00:19:18.000
 The Gentiles

00:19:18.000 --> 00:19:18.559
 aren't just

00:19:18.559 --> 00:19:19.500
 in the temple,

00:19:20.119 --> 00:19:20.779
 they're stones

00:19:20.779 --> 00:19:21.539
 making up

00:19:21.539 --> 00:19:22.399
 the temple,

00:19:22.739 --> 00:19:23.699
 right up alongside

00:19:23.699 --> 00:19:25.239
 the purest Jew

00:19:25.239 --> 00:19:26.319
 with no distinction.

00:19:27.959 --> 00:19:28.659
 You don't have

00:19:28.659 --> 00:19:29.839
 to be circumcised,

00:19:30.079 --> 00:19:30.799
 purified,

00:19:31.019 --> 00:19:31.779
 catechized

00:19:31.779 --> 00:19:32.500
 to be a part

00:19:32.500 --> 00:19:33.179
 of this temple,

00:19:33.319 --> 00:19:33.619
 do you?

00:19:35.159 --> 00:19:35.679
 Do you feel

00:19:35.679 --> 00:19:36.619
 the scandal in that?

00:19:36.619 --> 00:19:39.219
 Probably not a lot.

00:19:40.059 --> 00:19:40.739
 You're not a

00:19:40.739 --> 00:19:41.819
 first century Jew.

00:19:43.819 --> 00:19:45.000
 But that was radical.

00:19:46.000 --> 00:19:47.379
 That was a dramatic shift.

00:19:47.459 --> 00:19:47.899
 In fact,

00:19:48.299 --> 00:19:49.139
 I'll say it this way,

00:19:49.179 --> 00:19:49.859
 you don't have to be

00:19:49.859 --> 00:19:50.319
 American,

00:19:51.479 --> 00:19:51.799
 Southern,

00:19:53.139 --> 00:19:53.899
 Presbyterian,

00:19:54.579 --> 00:19:55.879
 or Republican,

00:19:56.399 --> 00:19:57.079
 do you?

00:19:58.339 --> 00:19:59.579
 It's a little less friendly,

00:19:59.679 --> 00:19:59.979
 isn't it?

00:20:00.879 --> 00:20:01.879
 We're just getting started.

00:20:02.700 --> 00:20:04.120
 Your religious heritage

00:20:04.120 --> 00:20:05.780
 doesn't define you

00:20:05.780 --> 00:20:07.260
 in God's temple.

00:20:07.960 --> 00:20:08.700
 You're not a more

00:20:08.700 --> 00:20:09.560
 honored stone

00:20:09.560 --> 00:20:10.620
 because your theology

00:20:10.620 --> 00:20:11.560
 is more accurate.

00:20:12.020 --> 00:20:13.280
 Your past is more pure

00:20:13.280 --> 00:20:14.380
 or your worship style

00:20:14.380 --> 00:20:15.220
 is more relevant.

00:20:15.600 --> 00:20:16.240
 You're not.

00:20:17.480 --> 00:20:18.500
 That needs to rattle

00:20:18.500 --> 00:20:19.260
 some of us

00:20:19.260 --> 00:20:20.820
 so that we see

00:20:20.820 --> 00:20:21.340
 where we've made

00:20:21.340 --> 00:20:21.740
 an idol

00:20:21.740 --> 00:20:22.760
 of something good.

00:20:23.460 --> 00:20:24.400
 Where we've found

00:20:24.400 --> 00:20:25.460
 something that's important

00:20:25.460 --> 00:20:26.320
 and we've used it

00:20:26.320 --> 00:20:27.840
 to find our sense

00:20:27.840 --> 00:20:28.380
 of identity

00:20:28.380 --> 00:20:29.000
 and belonging

00:20:29.000 --> 00:20:30.299
 and keep others

00:20:30.299 --> 00:20:31.140
 at a distance.

00:20:33.259 --> 00:20:34.460
 We find our identity

00:20:34.460 --> 00:20:35.440
 over and against

00:20:35.440 --> 00:20:36.259
 someone else.

00:20:37.259 --> 00:20:38.059
 But guess what else

00:20:38.059 --> 00:20:38.460
 is true?

00:20:38.980 --> 00:20:40.319
 You're not left out

00:20:40.319 --> 00:20:41.200
 or disconnected

00:20:41.200 --> 00:20:43.220
 or a less honored stone

00:20:43.220 --> 00:20:44.319
 because of the reverse

00:20:44.319 --> 00:20:45.200
 of these things.

00:20:45.700 --> 00:20:46.400
 Your history,

00:20:46.859 --> 00:20:47.859
 the past sins

00:20:47.859 --> 00:20:48.599
 you've committed

00:20:48.599 --> 00:20:50.400
 or sins that have been

00:20:50.400 --> 00:20:51.579
 committed against you,

00:20:51.740 --> 00:20:53.019
 they don't define you

00:20:53.019 --> 00:20:53.920
 in God's temple.

00:20:55.400 --> 00:20:56.720
 You're not left out.

00:20:56.819 --> 00:20:58.299
 You're not a second class

00:20:58.299 --> 00:20:59.000
 Christian.

00:20:59.919 --> 00:21:01.119
 There are no

00:21:01.119 --> 00:21:02.919
 second class Christians.

00:21:03.359 --> 00:21:04.680
 What defines all of us

00:21:04.680 --> 00:21:05.700
 is that because we are

00:21:05.700 --> 00:21:06.720
 connected to Jesus,

00:21:07.259 --> 00:21:08.019
 God is there.

00:21:08.639 --> 00:21:09.240
 God is willing

00:21:09.240 --> 00:21:10.180
 to dwell with you

00:21:10.180 --> 00:21:11.619
 despite the shame

00:21:11.619 --> 00:21:12.940
 you have from your past

00:21:12.940 --> 00:21:14.159
 or your present.

00:21:15.259 --> 00:21:16.220
 Isn't that good news?

00:21:16.960 --> 00:21:19.419
 God will dwell with you

00:21:19.419 --> 00:21:20.740
 and that makes

00:21:20.740 --> 00:21:21.680
 all the difference.

00:21:22.240 --> 00:21:22.960
 You belong.

00:21:23.940 --> 00:21:24.559
 Your identity

00:21:24.559 --> 00:21:25.659
 is found in someone

00:21:25.659 --> 00:21:26.799
 beyond yourself.

00:21:26.799 --> 00:21:27.819
 in your connection

00:21:27.819 --> 00:21:28.359
 to Jesus

00:21:28.359 --> 00:21:29.319
 and God's dwelling

00:21:29.319 --> 00:21:30.500
 in you by His Spirit.

00:21:31.579 --> 00:21:32.539
 He's in each of us

00:21:32.539 --> 00:21:33.059
 individually

00:21:33.059 --> 00:21:33.960
 and there are passages

00:21:33.960 --> 00:21:35.119
 that talk about that

00:21:35.119 --> 00:21:36.220
 but the idea

00:21:36.220 --> 00:21:36.859
 in these verses

00:21:36.859 --> 00:21:38.200
 is of the corporate temple.

00:21:39.299 --> 00:21:40.639
 All of us diverse people

00:21:40.639 --> 00:21:41.779
 together in Christ

00:21:41.779 --> 00:21:44.079
 are in one unified building

00:21:44.079 --> 00:21:46.000
 to house the very presence

00:21:46.000 --> 00:21:46.700
 of God

00:21:46.700 --> 00:21:48.740
 where God dwells

00:21:48.740 --> 00:21:49.919
 by His Spirit.

00:21:51.139 --> 00:21:53.220
 God dwells there.

00:21:53.220 --> 00:21:54.900
 Oh, if God dwells there

00:21:54.900 --> 00:21:56.980
 what sorts of amazing things

00:21:56.980 --> 00:21:57.620
 might happen?

00:21:57.960 --> 00:21:58.620
 Things we couldn't

00:21:58.620 --> 00:22:00.039
 otherwise predict

00:22:00.039 --> 00:22:01.140
 or expect.

00:22:02.160 --> 00:22:03.160
 I love it when we see

00:22:03.160 --> 00:22:03.740
 evidence

00:22:03.740 --> 00:22:05.860
 of these beautiful realities

00:22:05.860 --> 00:22:07.299
 in our local community

00:22:07.299 --> 00:22:08.140
 here at Southwood

00:22:08.140 --> 00:22:09.059
 in our relationships.

00:22:10.220 --> 00:22:11.100
 You can catch a glimpse

00:22:11.100 --> 00:22:11.839
 of it week in

00:22:11.839 --> 00:22:12.420
 and week out

00:22:12.420 --> 00:22:13.500
 in small groups.

00:22:14.559 --> 00:22:15.400
 Let me read you a comment

00:22:15.400 --> 00:22:16.700
 made by a Southwood member

00:22:16.700 --> 00:22:17.339
 last week

00:22:17.339 --> 00:22:18.579
 on our small group blog.

00:22:19.799 --> 00:22:20.660
 She wrote this,

00:22:20.660 --> 00:22:22.500
 Coming from a place

00:22:22.500 --> 00:22:23.700
 where commonalities

00:22:23.700 --> 00:22:24.940
 brought people together

00:22:24.940 --> 00:22:27.279
 I had my share of complaints

00:22:27.279 --> 00:22:29.060
 when I first came to Southwood

00:22:29.060 --> 00:22:30.840
 and felt so deeply

00:22:30.840 --> 00:22:32.580
 that these are not my people

00:22:32.580 --> 00:22:34.840
 but I've been astounded

00:22:34.840 --> 00:22:36.000
 at the grace of God

00:22:36.000 --> 00:22:37.100
 that unites those

00:22:37.100 --> 00:22:38.340
 who confess their need

00:22:38.340 --> 00:22:38.920
 and delight

00:22:38.920 --> 00:22:39.940
 in a Savior

00:22:39.940 --> 00:22:41.160
 who has rescued us.

00:22:41.700 --> 00:22:42.540
 When I look around

00:22:42.540 --> 00:22:43.480
 on Communion Sunday

00:22:43.480 --> 00:22:45.279
 I ponder this amazing gift.

00:22:45.779 --> 00:22:47.160
 People from different backgrounds,

00:22:47.440 --> 00:22:48.519
 ages, stages

00:22:48.519 --> 00:22:50.560
 and perhaps even understanding

00:22:50.559 --> 00:22:51.419
 of the Gospel

00:22:51.419 --> 00:22:52.799
 and I think

00:22:52.799 --> 00:22:53.899
 with humbling gratitude

00:22:53.899 --> 00:22:56.299
 these are my people.

00:22:57.379 --> 00:22:58.339
 We're brought together

00:22:58.339 --> 00:22:59.240
 because of Jesus

00:22:59.240 --> 00:23:00.799
 regardless of our differences.

00:23:02.079 --> 00:23:02.539
 Small groups

00:23:02.539 --> 00:23:03.619
 have been a valuable place

00:23:03.619 --> 00:23:04.460
 for me to discover

00:23:04.460 --> 00:23:05.559
 what true unity

00:23:05.559 --> 00:23:06.339
 is all about.

00:23:07.419 --> 00:23:07.720
 Amen.

00:23:09.579 --> 00:23:11.019
 We get a glimpse of it

00:23:11.019 --> 00:23:11.940
 in working alongside

00:23:11.940 --> 00:23:13.039
 our ministry partners

00:23:13.039 --> 00:23:14.059
 both locally

00:23:14.059 --> 00:23:14.720
 and globally

00:23:14.720 --> 00:23:16.059
 praying for someone

00:23:16.059 --> 00:23:17.500
 in South Sudan.

00:23:17.500 --> 00:23:19.559
 I was reminded

00:23:19.559 --> 00:23:21.000
 of this again

00:23:21.000 --> 00:23:21.759
 at the work day

00:23:21.759 --> 00:23:22.740
 last weekend

00:23:22.740 --> 00:23:23.579
 as I had the joy

00:23:23.579 --> 00:23:24.619
 of shoveling mulch

00:23:24.619 --> 00:23:26.000
 and pulling weeds

00:23:26.000 --> 00:23:27.000
 alongside brothers

00:23:27.000 --> 00:23:27.599
 and sisters

00:23:27.599 --> 00:23:28.500
 who live in different

00:23:28.500 --> 00:23:29.319
 parts of town

00:23:29.319 --> 00:23:31.299
 who have different

00:23:31.299 --> 00:23:33.000
 perspectives on life

00:23:33.000 --> 00:23:33.799
 and how they think

00:23:33.799 --> 00:23:34.440
 about things

00:23:34.440 --> 00:23:35.720
 who have different

00:23:35.720 --> 00:23:36.500
 skin colors

00:23:36.500 --> 00:23:37.839
 and who are part

00:23:37.839 --> 00:23:38.599
 of the temple

00:23:38.599 --> 00:23:39.880
 that God's included

00:23:39.880 --> 00:23:41.160
 me in too.

00:23:41.160 --> 00:23:44.360
 I got a glimpse of it

00:23:44.360 --> 00:23:45.160
 at Bible school

00:23:45.160 --> 00:23:46.279
 last summer

00:23:46.279 --> 00:23:47.860
 when I saw a video

00:23:47.860 --> 00:23:49.720
 of a retired

00:23:49.720 --> 00:23:51.440
 submarine captain

00:23:51.440 --> 00:23:53.740
 washing the feet

00:23:53.740 --> 00:23:55.420
 of young kids.

00:23:56.840 --> 00:23:57.980
 An elder in the church

00:23:57.980 --> 00:24:00.340
 but kneeling down

00:24:00.340 --> 00:24:01.700
 to those

00:24:01.700 --> 00:24:02.779
 I don't know

00:24:02.779 --> 00:24:05.560
 a lot of years

00:24:05.560 --> 00:24:06.400
 younger than he is.

00:24:07.440 --> 00:24:08.220
 Anything else

00:24:08.220 --> 00:24:09.100
 gives away his age.

00:24:11.160 --> 00:24:11.759
 Beautiful.

00:24:13.440 --> 00:24:14.640
 What connects us

00:24:14.640 --> 00:24:15.480
 is not age

00:24:15.480 --> 00:24:17.759
 or intelligence

00:24:17.759 --> 00:24:19.820
 hobby

00:24:19.820 --> 00:24:22.420
 or household income

00:24:22.420 --> 00:24:24.240
 it's Jesus

00:24:24.240 --> 00:24:26.160
 and so God

00:24:26.160 --> 00:24:27.240
 builds us together

00:24:27.240 --> 00:24:28.220
 and shows up

00:24:28.220 --> 00:24:29.540
 in remarkable ways

00:24:29.540 --> 00:24:30.580
 right in the midst

00:24:30.580 --> 00:24:31.100
 of us.

00:24:31.880 --> 00:24:32.779
 Imagine what God

00:24:32.779 --> 00:24:33.160
 might do

00:24:33.160 --> 00:24:34.240
 if he was really there

00:24:34.240 --> 00:24:35.800
 not just in these moments

00:24:35.800 --> 00:24:37.200
 not just in a few examples

00:24:37.200 --> 00:24:38.100
 I can give you

00:24:38.100 --> 00:24:39.019
 but through us

00:24:39.019 --> 00:24:39.560
 corporately

00:24:39.560 --> 00:24:40.560
 all the time

00:24:40.559 --> 00:24:42.139
 if he was there

00:24:42.139 --> 00:24:43.019
 where and how

00:24:43.019 --> 00:24:44.000
 are you experiencing

00:24:44.000 --> 00:24:44.759
 his presence

00:24:44.759 --> 00:24:45.819
 among his people

00:24:45.819 --> 00:24:47.919
 it's good isn't it

00:24:47.919 --> 00:24:48.720
 when you're a part

00:24:48.720 --> 00:24:49.139
 of that.

00:24:50.839 --> 00:24:52.000
 We've also got to ask

00:24:52.000 --> 00:24:52.859
 ourselves the question

00:24:52.859 --> 00:24:53.399
 this morning

00:24:53.399 --> 00:24:54.399
 not just where are we

00:24:54.399 --> 00:24:55.319
 experiencing it

00:24:55.319 --> 00:24:56.419
 but where are we

00:24:56.419 --> 00:24:57.879
 missing these opportunities?

00:24:59.079 --> 00:24:59.960
 Where is diversity

00:24:59.960 --> 00:25:00.500
 lacking

00:25:00.500 --> 00:25:02.879
 or a barrier

00:25:02.879 --> 00:25:03.839
 coming up?

00:25:05.059 --> 00:25:05.639
 Where are we

00:25:05.639 --> 00:25:06.859
 separating ourselves

00:25:06.859 --> 00:25:08.279
 from brothers and sisters

00:25:08.279 --> 00:25:08.940
 we should be

00:25:08.940 --> 00:25:10.039
 celebrating with?

00:25:10.559 --> 00:25:12.099
 Here's the rub

00:25:12.099 --> 00:25:12.679
 for us

00:25:12.679 --> 00:25:13.859
 God says

00:25:13.859 --> 00:25:15.200
 if I've taken up

00:25:15.200 --> 00:25:16.159
 residence there

00:25:16.159 --> 00:25:17.519
 if I've connected

00:25:17.519 --> 00:25:18.639
 them to my son

00:25:18.639 --> 00:25:19.559
 you dare not

00:25:19.559 --> 00:25:20.240
 back away

00:25:20.240 --> 00:25:21.139
 and disconnect

00:25:21.139 --> 00:25:21.799
 from them

00:25:21.799 --> 00:25:23.980
 if I'm willing

00:25:23.980 --> 00:25:25.159
 to dwell with them

00:25:25.159 --> 00:25:26.460
 you dare not

00:25:26.460 --> 00:25:27.279
 move further

00:25:27.279 --> 00:25:28.019
 away

00:25:28.019 --> 00:25:29.279
 don't rebuild

00:25:29.279 --> 00:25:29.819
 a barrier

00:25:29.819 --> 00:25:31.519
 Jesus has torn down

00:25:31.519 --> 00:25:34.619
 that's Paul's warning

00:25:34.619 --> 00:25:35.179
 to the Jews

00:25:35.179 --> 00:25:35.940
 and Gentiles

00:25:35.940 --> 00:25:36.720
 in Ephesus

00:25:36.720 --> 00:25:38.159
 with whom has your heart

00:25:38.159 --> 00:25:39.000
 built a barrier

00:25:39.000 --> 00:25:39.700
 that shouldn't

00:25:39.700 --> 00:25:40.539
 separate you

00:25:40.539 --> 00:25:41.700
 who doesn't

00:25:41.700 --> 00:25:42.660
 perform up to

00:25:42.660 --> 00:25:43.460
 your standards

00:25:43.460 --> 00:25:45.059
 who doesn't

00:25:45.059 --> 00:25:46.039
 get the gospel

00:25:46.039 --> 00:25:48.259
 the way you think

00:25:48.259 --> 00:25:48.779
 they should

00:25:48.779 --> 00:25:51.880
 I encourage you

00:25:51.880 --> 00:25:52.539
 to dig down

00:25:52.539 --> 00:25:53.500
 just a little there

00:25:53.500 --> 00:25:54.200
 when you think

00:25:54.200 --> 00:25:55.099
 about those questions

00:25:55.099 --> 00:25:56.039
 you don't have to

00:25:56.039 --> 00:25:56.740
 go far

00:25:56.740 --> 00:25:57.980
 what you'll likely

00:25:57.980 --> 00:25:58.680
 find

00:25:58.680 --> 00:26:00.799
 is the thing

00:26:00.799 --> 00:26:02.240
 or one of the things

00:26:02.240 --> 00:26:03.339
 you're using

00:26:03.339 --> 00:26:04.539
 to define yourself

00:26:04.539 --> 00:26:07.339
 so that you belong

00:26:07.339 --> 00:26:08.700
 and they don't

00:26:08.700 --> 00:26:09.799
 quite fit in

00:26:09.799 --> 00:26:11.339
 or measure up

00:26:11.339 --> 00:26:12.759
 you wouldn't

00:26:12.759 --> 00:26:13.420
 you wouldn't say

00:26:13.420 --> 00:26:13.980
 it that way

00:26:13.980 --> 00:26:15.359
 you're not

00:26:15.359 --> 00:26:16.399
 trying to kick

00:26:16.399 --> 00:26:17.139
 them out of heaven

00:26:17.139 --> 00:26:19.240
 or even the church

00:26:19.240 --> 00:26:21.759
 but be honest

00:26:21.759 --> 00:26:22.480
 with yourself

00:26:22.480 --> 00:26:24.379
 you think you're

00:26:24.379 --> 00:26:25.000
 a little better

00:26:25.000 --> 00:26:26.420
 than they are

00:26:26.420 --> 00:26:28.619
 a little worthier

00:26:28.619 --> 00:26:30.359
 a little more

00:26:30.359 --> 00:26:31.659
 important in the kingdom

00:26:31.660 --> 00:26:33.960
 you say I'm

00:26:33.960 --> 00:26:34.940
 I'm just more

00:26:34.940 --> 00:26:35.519
 mature

00:26:35.519 --> 00:26:36.300
 and you mean

00:26:36.300 --> 00:26:37.140
 I'm I'm more

00:26:37.140 --> 00:26:37.660
 valuable

00:26:37.660 --> 00:26:40.420
 others of you say

00:26:40.420 --> 00:26:41.360
 I'm more real

00:26:41.360 --> 00:26:42.460
 or transparent

00:26:42.460 --> 00:26:44.480
 you mean more

00:26:44.480 --> 00:26:44.980
 important

00:26:44.980 --> 00:26:47.620
 what's the thing

00:26:47.620 --> 00:26:48.180
 you're basing

00:26:48.180 --> 00:26:48.700
 that on

00:26:48.700 --> 00:26:49.840
 what's the thing

00:26:49.840 --> 00:26:50.420
 when you feel

00:26:50.420 --> 00:26:51.279
 that in your heart

00:26:51.279 --> 00:26:52.279
 that that's what

00:26:52.279 --> 00:26:53.240
 allows you to feel

00:26:53.240 --> 00:26:53.800
 that way

00:26:53.800 --> 00:26:54.900
 what makes you

00:26:54.900 --> 00:26:56.460
 belong more

00:26:56.460 --> 00:26:57.640
 or be

00:26:57.640 --> 00:26:58.460
 better

00:26:58.460 --> 00:27:03.120
 on the positive

00:27:03.120 --> 00:27:04.140
 proactive side

00:27:04.140 --> 00:27:04.480
 who are you

00:27:04.480 --> 00:27:05.220
 connecting with

00:27:05.220 --> 00:27:06.000
 moving toward

00:27:06.000 --> 00:27:07.319
 developing relationship

00:27:07.319 --> 00:27:08.019
 with who's

00:27:08.019 --> 00:27:09.180
 not like you

00:27:09.180 --> 00:27:10.360
 in age

00:27:10.360 --> 00:27:11.579
 perspective

00:27:11.579 --> 00:27:13.220
 marital status

00:27:13.220 --> 00:27:14.259
 race

00:27:14.259 --> 00:27:15.559
 church background

00:27:15.559 --> 00:27:16.660
 what barrier

00:27:16.660 --> 00:27:17.960
 are you proactively

00:27:17.960 --> 00:27:19.920
 continuing to push down

00:27:19.920 --> 00:27:20.819
 that tries to

00:27:20.819 --> 00:27:21.680
 creep up

00:27:21.680 --> 00:27:22.720
 remember

00:27:22.720 --> 00:27:23.400
 it's not just

00:27:23.400 --> 00:27:23.840
 okay

00:27:23.840 --> 00:27:25.079
 if a few of them

00:27:25.079 --> 00:27:25.940
 become a little

00:27:25.940 --> 00:27:27.519
 more like us

00:27:27.519 --> 00:27:29.839
 the gospel

00:27:29.839 --> 00:27:30.799
 says we have to

00:27:30.799 --> 00:27:31.599
 deal actively

00:27:31.599 --> 00:27:32.519
 with the thing

00:27:32.519 --> 00:27:33.559
 that makes us

00:27:33.559 --> 00:27:34.579
 feel we belong

00:27:34.579 --> 00:27:35.359
 and gives us

00:27:35.359 --> 00:27:36.359
 unique identity

00:27:36.359 --> 00:27:37.920
 and separates us

00:27:37.920 --> 00:27:38.500
 from them

00:27:38.500 --> 00:27:39.480
 that's an issue

00:27:39.480 --> 00:27:40.859
 in our hearts

00:27:40.859 --> 00:27:41.960
 that we must

00:27:41.960 --> 00:27:42.539
 deal with

00:27:42.539 --> 00:27:43.759
 I assure you

00:27:43.759 --> 00:27:44.839
 that Jews and Gentiles

00:27:44.839 --> 00:27:45.619
 didn't immediately

00:27:45.619 --> 00:27:46.740
 look and act

00:27:46.740 --> 00:27:47.220
 the same

00:27:47.220 --> 00:27:47.940
 just because

00:27:47.940 --> 00:27:48.519
 they all met

00:27:48.519 --> 00:27:48.940
 Jesus

00:27:48.940 --> 00:27:50.079
 in fact

00:27:50.079 --> 00:27:50.619
 Paul says

00:27:50.619 --> 00:27:51.240
 in some ways

00:27:51.240 --> 00:27:51.940
 they shouldn't

00:27:51.940 --> 00:27:53.680
 there are things

00:27:53.680 --> 00:27:54.299
 they shouldn't

00:27:54.299 --> 00:27:55.319
 do the same

00:27:55.319 --> 00:27:56.660
 people with

00:27:56.660 --> 00:27:57.500
 different backgrounds

00:27:57.500 --> 00:27:58.319
 and experiences

00:27:58.319 --> 00:27:59.180
 may dress

00:27:59.180 --> 00:28:00.660
 parent

00:28:00.660 --> 00:28:02.259
 act

00:28:02.259 --> 00:28:02.779
 speak

00:28:02.779 --> 00:28:03.519
 and so forth

00:28:03.519 --> 00:28:04.079
 differently

00:28:04.079 --> 00:28:05.299
 from you

00:28:05.299 --> 00:28:06.119
 but they may

00:28:06.119 --> 00:28:06.920
 well be rescued

00:28:06.920 --> 00:28:07.599
 by the same

00:28:07.599 --> 00:28:08.059
 Savior

00:28:08.059 --> 00:28:08.980
 and indwelt

00:28:08.980 --> 00:28:09.819
 by the same

00:28:09.819 --> 00:28:10.359
 Spirit

00:28:10.359 --> 00:28:11.460
 as you

00:28:11.460 --> 00:28:12.480
 and if we're

00:28:12.480 --> 00:28:12.980
 going to let

00:28:12.980 --> 00:28:14.099
 God tell us

00:28:14.099 --> 00:28:15.059
 what matters

00:28:15.059 --> 00:28:16.900
 what really

00:28:16.900 --> 00:28:17.680
 defines us

00:28:17.680 --> 00:28:18.279
 and makes us

00:28:18.279 --> 00:28:18.660
 belong

00:28:18.660 --> 00:28:19.259
 if he gets

00:28:19.259 --> 00:28:19.980
 to be in charge

00:28:19.980 --> 00:28:20.420
 of that

00:28:20.420 --> 00:28:22.339
 I hope he does

00:28:22.339 --> 00:28:24.319
 that's it

00:28:24.319 --> 00:28:26.279
 that's all

00:28:26.279 --> 00:28:28.399
 where he shows

00:28:28.399 --> 00:28:29.220
 up and dwells

00:28:29.220 --> 00:28:29.920
 that's what

00:28:29.920 --> 00:28:30.440
 matters

00:28:30.440 --> 00:28:31.940
 that's what

00:28:31.940 --> 00:28:32.339
 brings you

00:28:32.339 --> 00:28:32.639
 together

00:28:32.639 --> 00:28:33.619
 and he dwells

00:28:33.619 --> 00:28:34.359
 in the temple

00:28:34.359 --> 00:28:35.619
 the temple

00:28:35.619 --> 00:28:36.639
 built of those

00:28:36.639 --> 00:28:37.160
 connected

00:28:37.160 --> 00:28:38.299
 to his son

00:28:38.299 --> 00:28:39.799
 that's the only

00:28:39.799 --> 00:28:40.759
 thing that defines

00:28:40.759 --> 00:28:41.420
 them or makes

00:28:41.420 --> 00:28:42.480
 them belong

00:28:42.480 --> 00:28:43.399
 don't you make

00:28:43.399 --> 00:28:44.319
 a higher standard

00:28:44.319 --> 00:28:45.379
 than God has

00:28:45.379 --> 00:28:46.779
 we belong

00:28:46.779 --> 00:28:47.819
 with him

00:28:47.819 --> 00:28:48.879
 he says

00:28:48.879 --> 00:28:50.079
 we don't need

00:28:50.079 --> 00:28:51.160
 another club

00:28:51.160 --> 00:28:52.759
 to include us

00:28:52.759 --> 00:28:55.839
 one last thing

00:28:55.839 --> 00:28:56.400
 before we're done

00:28:56.400 --> 00:28:56.879
 this morning

00:28:56.879 --> 00:28:59.579
 for those of you

00:28:59.579 --> 00:29:00.279
 who are here

00:29:00.279 --> 00:29:01.220
 and thinking

00:29:01.220 --> 00:29:02.039
 to yourself

00:29:02.039 --> 00:29:04.000
 this just

00:29:04.000 --> 00:29:05.039
 confirms everything

00:29:05.039 --> 00:29:06.619
 that I thought

00:29:06.619 --> 00:29:08.519
 about the church

00:29:08.519 --> 00:29:09.519
 already

00:29:09.519 --> 00:29:11.700
 they're just

00:29:11.700 --> 00:29:12.519
 one more club

00:29:12.519 --> 00:29:14.539
 like all the rest

00:29:14.539 --> 00:29:16.859
 just one more

00:29:16.859 --> 00:29:17.700
 click with a

00:29:17.700 --> 00:29:18.440
 different set

00:29:18.440 --> 00:29:19.079
 of things

00:29:19.079 --> 00:29:20.619
 that set them

00:29:20.619 --> 00:29:20.980
 apart

00:29:20.980 --> 00:29:22.220
 separate them

00:29:22.220 --> 00:29:23.519
 from others

00:29:23.519 --> 00:29:25.600
 I hear that

00:29:25.600 --> 00:29:26.180
 concern

00:29:26.180 --> 00:29:27.779
 and understand

00:29:27.779 --> 00:29:28.240
 it

00:29:28.240 --> 00:29:29.500
 in fact

00:29:29.500 --> 00:29:30.299
 I've watched

00:29:30.299 --> 00:29:30.559
 it

00:29:30.559 --> 00:29:31.940
 and I've done

00:29:31.940 --> 00:29:32.220
 it

00:29:32.220 --> 00:29:34.000
 a lot of

00:29:34.000 --> 00:29:34.480
 times

00:29:34.480 --> 00:29:37.279
 found a way

00:29:37.279 --> 00:29:38.279
 to make myself

00:29:38.279 --> 00:29:38.940
 feel good

00:29:38.940 --> 00:29:39.460
 and thereby

00:29:39.460 --> 00:29:40.220
 separate

00:29:40.220 --> 00:29:41.900
 from others

00:29:41.900 --> 00:29:43.160
 a lot of times

00:29:43.160 --> 00:29:43.600
 churches

00:29:43.600 --> 00:29:45.100
 and Christians

00:29:45.100 --> 00:29:46.960
 act like that

00:29:46.960 --> 00:29:48.600
 separating

00:29:48.600 --> 00:29:49.120
 ourselves

00:29:49.120 --> 00:29:49.759
 from others

00:29:49.759 --> 00:29:51.079
 saying you

00:29:51.079 --> 00:29:51.539
 need to be

00:29:51.539 --> 00:29:52.599
 more like us

00:29:52.599 --> 00:29:53.539
 to belong

00:29:53.539 --> 00:29:54.319
 here

00:29:54.319 --> 00:29:55.039
 and be a part

00:29:55.039 --> 00:29:55.539
 of our

00:29:55.539 --> 00:29:56.200
 community

00:29:56.200 --> 00:29:56.740
 we've said it

00:29:56.740 --> 00:29:57.000
 with our

00:29:57.000 --> 00:29:57.440
 words

00:29:57.440 --> 00:29:58.819
 and with our

00:29:58.819 --> 00:29:59.339
 actions

00:29:59.339 --> 00:30:01.539
 and we need

00:30:01.539 --> 00:30:02.159
 to ask your

00:30:02.159 --> 00:30:02.700
 forgiveness

00:30:02.700 --> 00:30:05.839
 because among

00:30:05.839 --> 00:30:06.759
 other things

00:30:06.759 --> 00:30:07.779
 when we've done

00:30:07.779 --> 00:30:08.139
 that

00:30:08.139 --> 00:30:09.119
 we've lied

00:30:09.119 --> 00:30:09.680
 to you

00:30:09.680 --> 00:30:10.940
 about Christianity

00:30:10.940 --> 00:30:12.480
 we have

00:30:12.480 --> 00:30:14.440
 there's actually

00:30:14.440 --> 00:30:15.259
 a difference

00:30:15.259 --> 00:30:16.319
 with Jesus

00:30:16.319 --> 00:30:18.240
 from all the

00:30:18.240 --> 00:30:18.939
 other clubs

00:30:18.939 --> 00:30:20.159
 you'd lump

00:30:20.159 --> 00:30:20.659
 us in

00:30:20.659 --> 00:30:20.960
 with

00:30:20.960 --> 00:30:22.019
 there's actually

00:30:22.019 --> 00:30:22.740
 a difference

00:30:22.740 --> 00:30:24.019
 with Jesus

00:30:24.019 --> 00:30:25.079
 instead of

00:30:25.079 --> 00:30:25.899
 pushing away

00:30:25.899 --> 00:30:27.159
 and separating

00:30:27.159 --> 00:30:27.899
 from you

00:30:27.899 --> 00:30:29.079
 Jesus draws

00:30:29.079 --> 00:30:29.879
 near and

00:30:29.879 --> 00:30:30.839
 invites you

00:30:30.839 --> 00:30:31.619
 in

00:30:31.619 --> 00:30:33.240
 all of you

00:30:33.240 --> 00:30:34.679
 that's what the

00:30:34.679 --> 00:30:35.319
 incarnation

00:30:35.319 --> 00:30:36.439
 Christmas

00:30:36.439 --> 00:30:38.599
 is all about

00:30:38.599 --> 00:30:39.839
 and reminds us

00:30:39.839 --> 00:30:40.179
 of

00:30:40.179 --> 00:30:40.960
 that Jesus

00:30:40.960 --> 00:30:41.919
 moves towards

00:30:41.919 --> 00:30:42.439
 us and

00:30:42.439 --> 00:30:43.339
 enters into

00:30:43.339 --> 00:30:44.200
 relationship

00:30:44.200 --> 00:30:45.380
 he doesn't

00:30:45.380 --> 00:30:46.140
 stand far

00:30:46.140 --> 00:30:46.600
 off and

00:30:46.600 --> 00:30:47.420
 demand that

00:30:47.420 --> 00:30:48.140
 you be

00:30:48.140 --> 00:30:48.940
 better and

00:30:48.940 --> 00:30:50.680
 change to

00:30:50.680 --> 00:30:51.200
 get into his

00:30:51.200 --> 00:30:51.660
 club

00:30:51.660 --> 00:30:53.100
 he invites you

00:30:53.100 --> 00:30:53.920
 to come into

00:30:53.920 --> 00:30:54.620
 his family

00:30:54.620 --> 00:30:55.580
 where we're all

00:30:55.580 --> 00:30:56.140
 defined

00:30:56.140 --> 00:30:57.700
 not by something

00:30:57.700 --> 00:30:58.700
 about us

00:30:58.700 --> 00:30:59.779
 but by being

00:30:59.779 --> 00:31:00.400
 loved

00:31:00.400 --> 00:31:01.640
 by him

00:31:01.640 --> 00:31:03.580
 not by how

00:31:03.580 --> 00:31:04.120
 well we've

00:31:04.120 --> 00:31:04.779
 cleaned up

00:31:04.779 --> 00:31:05.960
 but by how

00:31:05.960 --> 00:31:06.920
 wonderful our

00:31:06.920 --> 00:31:07.720
 savior is

00:31:07.720 --> 00:31:08.779
 where we're

00:31:08.779 --> 00:31:09.580
 all dressed

00:31:09.580 --> 00:31:10.360
 in rags

00:31:10.360 --> 00:31:12.220
 until he

00:31:12.220 --> 00:31:12.960
 gives us

00:31:12.960 --> 00:31:14.559
 the perfect

00:31:14.559 --> 00:31:15.340
 robes of

00:31:15.340 --> 00:31:15.740
 his

00:31:15.740 --> 00:31:16.640
 righteousness

00:31:16.640 --> 00:31:19.279
 welcoming

00:31:19.279 --> 00:31:21.019
 inviting

00:31:21.019 --> 00:31:22.660
 safe

00:31:22.660 --> 00:31:24.160
 that's the

00:31:24.160 --> 00:31:24.579
 kind of

00:31:24.579 --> 00:31:25.019
 community

00:31:25.019 --> 00:31:25.620
 you should

00:31:25.620 --> 00:31:26.680
 find in

00:31:26.680 --> 00:31:27.000
 Jesus

00:31:27.000 --> 00:31:27.559
 followers

00:31:27.559 --> 00:31:29.340
 even though

00:31:29.340 --> 00:31:29.779
 you often

00:31:29.779 --> 00:31:30.299
 don't

00:31:30.299 --> 00:31:32.059
 and I would

00:31:32.059 --> 00:31:32.519
 say to you

00:31:32.519 --> 00:31:32.980
 this morning

00:31:32.980 --> 00:31:33.900
 don't let

00:31:33.900 --> 00:31:34.860
 that be

00:31:34.860 --> 00:31:36.500
 a reason

00:31:36.500 --> 00:31:37.340
 that keeps

00:31:37.340 --> 00:31:37.940
 you from

00:31:37.940 --> 00:31:38.700
 Jesus

00:31:38.700 --> 00:31:40.299
 instead

00:31:40.299 --> 00:31:41.039
 come help

00:31:41.039 --> 00:31:41.440
 us

00:31:41.440 --> 00:31:42.500
 help us

00:31:42.500 --> 00:31:43.279
 live and

00:31:43.279 --> 00:31:43.759
 love

00:31:43.759 --> 00:31:44.420
 others

00:31:44.420 --> 00:31:45.299
 more like

00:31:45.299 --> 00:31:45.980
 he does

00:31:45.980 --> 00:31:47.460
 may we

00:31:47.460 --> 00:31:47.820
 be a

00:31:47.820 --> 00:31:48.220
 community

00:31:48.220 --> 00:31:48.580
 where

00:31:48.580 --> 00:31:49.380
 finding our

00:31:49.380 --> 00:31:49.779
 identity

00:31:49.779 --> 00:31:50.460
 only in

00:31:50.460 --> 00:31:50.799
 Christ

00:31:50.799 --> 00:31:51.460
 binds us

00:31:51.460 --> 00:31:52.299
 to each

00:31:52.299 --> 00:31:52.559
 other

00:31:52.559 --> 00:31:53.100
 deeply

00:31:53.100 --> 00:31:54.240
 and moves

00:31:54.240 --> 00:31:55.000
 us towards

00:31:55.000 --> 00:31:55.580
 others

00:31:55.580 --> 00:31:56.460
 constantly

00:31:56.460 --> 00:31:58.279
 let's pray

00:31:58.279 --> 00:31:58.980
 to that end

00:31:58.980 --> 00:32:03.240
 father if

00:32:03.240 --> 00:32:03.660
 that's really

00:32:03.660 --> 00:32:04.259
 going to be

00:32:04.259 --> 00:32:05.220
 true of

00:32:05.220 --> 00:32:06.200
 me

00:32:06.200 --> 00:32:07.460
 if that's

00:32:07.460 --> 00:32:07.880
 really going

00:32:07.880 --> 00:32:08.180
 to be

00:32:08.180 --> 00:32:08.720
 true of

00:32:08.720 --> 00:32:09.799
 Southwood

00:32:09.799 --> 00:32:11.840
 if that's

00:32:11.840 --> 00:32:12.100
 really going

00:32:12.100 --> 00:32:12.279
 to be

00:32:12.279 --> 00:32:12.779
 true of

00:32:12.779 --> 00:32:13.460
 the church

00:32:13.460 --> 00:32:13.819
 of Jesus

00:32:13.819 --> 00:32:14.480
 Christ in

00:32:14.480 --> 00:32:15.100
 Huntsville

00:32:15.100 --> 00:32:16.279
 and around

00:32:16.279 --> 00:32:16.840
 the world

00:32:16.840 --> 00:32:18.740
 your spirit

00:32:18.740 --> 00:32:19.900
 is going to

00:32:19.900 --> 00:32:20.420
 have to

00:32:20.420 --> 00:32:21.440
 convince us

00:32:21.440 --> 00:32:22.759
 it's safe

00:32:22.759 --> 00:32:24.640
 to be defined

00:32:24.640 --> 00:32:25.539
 by being in

00:32:25.539 --> 00:32:25.900
 Jesus

00:32:25.900 --> 00:32:27.360
 not by all

00:32:27.360 --> 00:32:27.779
 the other

00:32:27.779 --> 00:32:28.420
 things we

00:32:28.420 --> 00:32:30.080
 love to

00:32:30.080 --> 00:32:30.600
 take credit

00:32:30.600 --> 00:32:30.980
 for

00:32:30.980 --> 00:32:32.200
 things about

00:32:32.200 --> 00:32:32.940
 us that we

00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:33.660
 feel like would

00:32:33.660 --> 00:32:34.600
 distinguish us

00:32:34.599 --> 00:32:35.899
 Holy Spirit

00:32:35.899 --> 00:32:36.879
 would you do

00:32:36.879 --> 00:32:37.599
 that work

00:32:37.599 --> 00:32:38.439
 would you

00:32:38.439 --> 00:32:39.579
 start here

00:32:39.579 --> 00:32:40.099
 in our

00:32:40.099 --> 00:32:40.659
 hearts and

00:32:40.659 --> 00:32:41.079
 in this

00:32:41.079 --> 00:32:41.579
 church and

00:32:41.579 --> 00:32:42.159
 would we be

00:32:42.159 --> 00:32:42.919
 a place that

00:32:42.919 --> 00:32:44.519
 indeed reflects

00:32:44.519 --> 00:32:45.559
 the welcoming

00:32:45.559 --> 00:32:46.419
 and inviting

00:32:46.419 --> 00:32:48.039
 heart of

00:32:48.039 --> 00:32:48.639
 our Savior

00:32:48.639 --> 00:32:50.379
 would we

00:32:50.379 --> 00:32:51.480
 find ourselves

00:32:51.480 --> 00:32:52.519
 completely

00:32:52.519 --> 00:32:53.980
 dependent upon

00:32:53.980 --> 00:32:54.419
 him

00:32:54.419 --> 00:32:55.459
 and on

00:32:55.459 --> 00:32:56.240
 nothing else

00:32:56.240 --> 00:32:58.219
 father send

00:32:58.219 --> 00:32:58.779
 your spirit

00:32:58.779 --> 00:32:59.779
 here do that

00:32:59.779 --> 00:33:00.779
 work in new

00:33:00.779 --> 00:33:01.359
 and different

00:33:01.359 --> 00:33:02.719
 ways moment

00:33:02.719 --> 00:33:03.519
 by moment in

00:33:03.519 --> 00:33:04.000
 each of our

00:33:04.000 --> 00:33:04.379
 hearts

00:33:04.380 --> 00:33:05.500
 we ask in

00:33:05.500 --> 00:33:06.120
 Jesus name

00:33:06.120 --> 00:33:07.040
 amen

00:33:07.040 --> 00:33:12.140
 for more

00:33:12.140 --> 00:33:12.660
 information

00:33:12.660 --> 00:33:13.460
 visit us

00:33:13.460 --> 00:33:14.360
 online at

00:33:14.360 --> 00:33:15.260
 southwood.org