WEBVTT

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 To you who are new or visiting today, thank you for spending your time with us.

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 I recognize that it can be a scary thing to come to a new church.

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 And you might feel like you have better things to do than come to a church on Sunday morning.

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 There's mountains to go to, Labor Day weekend, all of these things.

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 So we're really grateful that you're here.

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 I'm grateful that you're here.

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 I work for the college ministry that is the wing of this church,

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 the Presbyterian Church in America.

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 It's called Reformed University Fellowship.

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 We are a ministry that works on your behalf as a ministry of the Presbyterian Church.

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 And so in many ways, I am sent out by you through the giving,

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 through the prayers to minister to college students.

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 And so it is a real treat to come and always see you all, report to you all the work.

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 The fall season is a really busy time for college ministry.

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 It's the time where we're relaunching and meeting freshmen, meeting new students.

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 And I thought I'd give a real quick report.

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 The goal of RUF is to reach students for Christ and equip them to serve.

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 So there's two parts in that.

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 There's reaching, there's finding students and exposing them,

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 welcoming them into the gospel of Jesus Christ, the saving news of his death and resurrection.

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 And then there's discipling them, equipping them to walk with Jesus in the church

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 for the rest of their lives or until Christ comes.

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 And we've had a really great start.

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 It's hard.

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 Campus ministry is challenging these days, but it's also really, really fun.

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 We have a student who this summer, she first, well, she first started coming to RUF last year

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 and grew up nominally Catholic.

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 And then a couple of, mid-June, she sits down with me over coffee and says,

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 I don't think I've understood the Christian faith before, but I think I'm in.

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 How do I do it?

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 And so right then and there, I said, well, do you want to ask Jesus to be your Savior

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 and your Lord and your King?

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 And she said, yes, how?

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 And so we sat down and we prayed.

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 And she says, yes, I'm in.

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 Jesus saved me.

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 And then she said, how can I do more?

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 And can I come and serve RUF more?

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 And how do I come to church and all these things?

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 And so right now I'm working with her this semester to sort of train her a little bit more,

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 but then she's going to come on to our servant team.

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 But already she's been meeting new students who've been coming in and welcoming them.

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 On the other side of things, on Friday, this is wild, I had a conversation with a witch,

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 a druid pagan, and that's what she calls herself.

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 And I was very curious about her spirituality.

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 And I said, I'd like to talk with you more about it.

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 How can we set up a standing coffee?

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 And she said, I'd love that.

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 And so please pray for me.

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 As I get to know, well, paganism is the fastest growing religion in the U.S. right now.

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 And there's lots of students who would say that they are pagans.

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 At the end of the day, it's very legalistic.

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 There's a bunch of things that she has to do so that spiritual forces will be kind to her.

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 So it's very much earn and deserve and prove.

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 Obviously, there's a lot of spiritual forces at play in that.

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 So please pray for me.

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 On the other side of equipping, we've added 12 new students to our servant leadership team,

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 including a student from this church who are, and they are killing it.

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 They are meeting students, getting phone numbers, texting them, inviting them to our Labor Day picnic tomorrow,

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 asking them to join small group Bible studies.

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 I find myself either doing less ministry, which is a good thing,

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 or being able to reach more broadly because the students are being equipped to do ministry.

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 And so it's a fun time.

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 It's a really exciting thing.

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 If you're curious about my work, I'd love to get you on my email thread.

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 If you're interested in helping me through prayer or through giving of resources financially or otherwise,

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 please come talk to me.

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 Turn in your Bibles now, if you would, to Psalm 23.

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 Psalm 23, probably one of the most famous passages in all of literature, certainly in the Bible.

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 Maybe only second to John 3.16, which we see on football signs through the end zone.

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 Other than that, this might be the top.

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 It's the passage that I first learned growing up in the church.

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 The Lord is my shepherd.

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 And there's good reason for that.

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 This passage has been comfort to billions of Christians across thousands of years.

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 It has strengthened so many people.

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 And it seems like it's always appropriate,

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 from deathbeds to morning devotionals to evening prayer to Sunday worship.

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 It does it all.

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 It does it all.

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 And today, we're only going to look at half of one verse.

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 Half of one verse and see how it cares for us today.

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 We're just going to look at verse 3, part B.

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 But before we do that, let me read us the first three verses and pray,

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 and then we will dive in.

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 So this is God's word, Psalm 23, verse 1.

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 The Lord is my shepherd.

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 I shall not want.

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 He makes me lie down in green pastures.

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 He leads me beside still waters.

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 He restores my soul.

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 He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

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 This is God's word.

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 Would you pray with me?

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 Father in heaven, we are grateful to come into your presence,

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 to be around other Christians,

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 to be in the presence of your Holy Spirit,

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 to join with thousands of millions of Christians around time and this earth,

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 to worship you.

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 We know that our hearts are pulled to adore many other things,

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 and so we need this course correction this day.

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 We need your Holy Spirit to rightly comfort those who are afflicted

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 and afflict those who are comforted.

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 We need you to send your Spirit to show us Jesus.

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 So we pray now that as we look at your words,

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 as we prepare to take the sacrament of the Lord's Supper,

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 that you would be with us,

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 and it's in Jesus' name that we pray.

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 Amen.

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 I'm reading the Chronicles of Narnia with my seven-year-old daughter right now,

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 and we just finished the second,

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 well, I think it's the second book.

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 There's debate about whether or not Prince Caspian,

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 what order it's in.

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 I think it's the second one.

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 But we're reading the story of Prince Caspian.

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 In book one, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,

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 probably the most famous of the Narnia stories,

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 four children, the Pevensie children,

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 are pulled away magically into an alternative world, Narnia,

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 and they have an incredible adventure.

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 You're probably familiar with this story.

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 And they grow up,

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 and they become the great kings and queens of Narnia,

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 and then at the end of their reign,

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 they're pulled back to their homeland in England.

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 And they spend a year reminiscing

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 and sort of recovering to being children again

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 and to their story.

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 And a year has passed.

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 But in that one year,

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 hundreds of years pass in Narnia,

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 and Narnia comes to need them again.

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 And so you remember, if you've read the story,

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 they're at a train station,

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 and they hear a horn blow,

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 and they think it's the train,

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 but then they're whisked back to Narnia.

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 And they find themselves in what they once,

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 they thought, is this Narnia?

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 It looks completely different.

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 It's a completely different landscape.

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 They no longer know their way around.

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 A river has cut a new canyon

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 where there was once a small creek bed.

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 And they're trying to navigate their way through Narnia,

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 and they know that they're called to rescue

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 or assist King, well, Prince Caspian

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 to becoming the king.

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 And so they need to find Caspian.

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 And they're trying to find their way to Caspian's camp.

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 And they find themselves hopelessly lost,

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 if you remember the story.

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 And Peter and Edmund, the two brothers,

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 think they can figure out their way,

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 navigate their way,

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 particularly through a very rough canyon.

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 And so they try to go through the canyon on their own,

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 and it leads them straight into King Miraz's camp,

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 the bad king, who has taken over Narnia.

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 And they have a very close encounter with death,

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 and they retreat back up into the canyon.

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 And they're at their wit's end.

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 And if you remember the story,

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 they're eating boiled apples again,

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 and they're hungry, and they're tired,

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 and they don't know what to do.

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 And then Lucy, who's the most faithful of the children,

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 falls asleep,

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 and she starts awake in the middle of the night.

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 And she sees Aslan, who is the guardian lion,

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 the divine figure,

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 telling her to follow him.

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 And he leads them.

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 She wakes up their siblings and says,

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 I've seen Aslan, and they can't see him.

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 They say, he's not there.

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 And she says, trust me, would you follow me down?

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 And they look, and they start to see,

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 actually, there might be a hidden path

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 through the canyon that they had not noticed.

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 And they follow the path,

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 and slowly as they go through,

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 they see the path become more and more clear,

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 and they begin to see Aslan more and more clearly.

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 And at the end, they reach the place

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 that they were trying to reach safely,

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 the place they'd been trying to get to the whole time,

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 and they realize that Aslan had been leading them

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 the entire time.

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 Even when they weren't aware of it,

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 even when they hadn't seen him,

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 even when they had strong trust or weak trust, doubts.

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 And that part of the story is a picture

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 of what our text tells us.

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 In fact, I've often, I've thought,

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 as I've thought through this passage,

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 if C.S. Lewis had this in mind

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 as he wrote that part of the story,

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 that Psalm 23 tells us what that story was,

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 which is this.

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 God guides our lives,

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 guides the lives of Christians for their good,

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 and his glory all their lives.

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 That is the simple truth

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 that this passage shows us today.

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 The one thing that I would ask you to try and remember

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 as you walk away from church today

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 and seek to follow Jesus this coming week

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 is that God guides Christians

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 for their good and his glory all their lives.

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 And the way that I want us to consider this simple truth

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 is to look at it in three ways.

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 And the first thing I want to do

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 is almost do a word-by-word study

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 through this short phrase, sentence.

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 Look at what each word means.

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 And then second is to make some pastoral applications

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 or reflections on it.

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 And third, to see how it applies to our lives.

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 So let's, shall we, if you would, come along with me.

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 Let's dig in to this verse and see what it says.

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 It says here, verse three, part B,

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 he leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

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 Now the first three verses of Psalm 23

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 are a metaphor of God's care for Christian lives.

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 And it uses the image of a shepherd caring for his sheep.

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 And it's a shepherd who is walking his sheep

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 on, in this last phrase, paths of righteousness.

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 But let's look at the first word.

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 It says, he leads me in paths of righteousness.

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 Who is this he that is referring here?

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 Well, it's very clear.

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 You can go up to the very first sentence

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 and it says, the Lord is my shepherd.

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 But it's more than that.

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 Notice here that in your translation,

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 it has the word Lord in all capitalizations.

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 That word is capitalized and it says,

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 the Lord is my shepherd.

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 And whenever we see that, we need to be cued off

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 to a whole new, our minds need to telescope

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 and expand to a whole rich story

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 that the Christian faith teaches.

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 And it's this, that that word Lord

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 is God's personal name.

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 It's his personal name.

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 And it's the name that God reveals to Moses

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 all the way back in Exodus 3.

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 And it's God's personal name, Yahweh.

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 I will be what I will be.

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 And if you remember, in Exodus 3,

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 God comes to Moses out of the blue,

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 who is not exactly walking with the Lord,

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 who had grown up a pagan in the middle of Egypt.

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 And he says, I am the God of your fathers

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 and I am going to rescue the children of your fathers.

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 And Moses says, who are you?

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 Who should I say is this God that's going to,

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 and he says, I will tell you who I am.

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 And it's very famous.

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 You know it.

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 He says, I am what I am, Yahweh.

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 And that name, God's personal name,

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 means something.

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 Just like your name,

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 if you've probably done a little bit of Googling,

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 means it's something.

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 Well, what does God's name mean?

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 God's name means this.

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 I will be what I will be,

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 or I am what I am.

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 Or I will be what I am,

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 or I am what I will be.

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 What it means is that God's name

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 is consistency, continuity.

00:12:46.679 --> 00:12:48.399
 Really what it means is that he is,

00:12:48.579 --> 00:12:50.079
 at the very core of his being,

00:12:50.339 --> 00:12:51.199
 a promise keeper.

00:12:52.579 --> 00:12:54.179
 He will do what he says,

00:12:54.179 --> 00:12:55.659
 and what he says he will do.

00:12:56.539 --> 00:12:57.219
 God's name,

00:12:57.339 --> 00:12:59.139
 baked into the very character of him,

00:12:59.539 --> 00:13:00.439
 is stability,

00:13:01.779 --> 00:13:02.519
 reliability,

00:13:03.939 --> 00:13:04.939
 trustworthiness.

00:13:06.399 --> 00:13:07.899
 Perhaps you're here today,

00:13:08.299 --> 00:13:10.659
 and you're curious about the Christian faith.

00:13:11.399 --> 00:13:12.479
 For whatever reason,

00:13:12.559 --> 00:13:14.079
 maybe you've been here your whole life,

00:13:14.439 --> 00:13:16.120
 and you're curious about the Christian faith.

00:13:16.219 --> 00:13:17.579
 Maybe you stumbled in here,

00:13:17.620 --> 00:13:18.859
 and you don't know why you're here.

00:13:19.079 --> 00:13:20.199
 What do Christians believe?

00:13:20.639 --> 00:13:21.679
 Let me tell you this.

00:13:21.679 --> 00:13:23.120
 At the very core,

00:13:23.219 --> 00:13:25.000
 the center of the Christian faith

00:13:25.000 --> 00:13:27.439
 is the belief that a personal God

00:13:27.439 --> 00:13:30.919
 reveals himself to human beings,

00:13:31.139 --> 00:13:32.879
 and that he is consistent.

00:13:33.659 --> 00:13:35.620
 He is a promise-keeping God,

00:13:35.679 --> 00:13:38.359
 that his character is reliable.

00:13:40.139 --> 00:13:43.319
 He is a personality who is able to be trusted,

00:13:43.719 --> 00:13:47.000
 and it is this he who leads us.

00:13:47.000 --> 00:13:49.320
 This is the next word.

00:13:49.919 --> 00:13:51.379
 He leads me.

00:13:51.919 --> 00:13:52.580
 What does this mean?

00:13:52.620 --> 00:13:53.559
 That this character,

00:13:53.740 --> 00:13:54.460
 this personality,

00:13:54.679 --> 00:13:55.320
 this God,

00:13:55.720 --> 00:13:56.279
 guides,

00:13:56.700 --> 00:13:57.379
 directs,

00:13:57.720 --> 00:13:59.759
 plans the trajectory of our lives.

00:14:01.139 --> 00:14:01.539
 Now,

00:14:01.639 --> 00:14:03.639
 this might feel a little obvious,

00:14:04.100 --> 00:14:06.000
 but I want to pause and say,

00:14:06.080 --> 00:14:07.379
 what are the counter stories

00:14:07.379 --> 00:14:09.679
 that our world tells us about our lives?

00:14:09.679 --> 00:14:12.279
 One of the stories that you can hear regularly

00:14:12.279 --> 00:14:13.839
 is that our lives

00:14:13.839 --> 00:14:16.439
 are just the products

00:14:16.439 --> 00:14:18.859
 of cosmic blind evolutionary forces.

00:14:19.939 --> 00:14:20.919
 You are the product

00:14:20.919 --> 00:14:23.479
 of blind biological forces

00:14:23.479 --> 00:14:24.620
 that somehow

00:14:24.620 --> 00:14:27.559
 led you to be in this place.

00:14:28.620 --> 00:14:29.899
 You are just the product

00:14:29.899 --> 00:14:31.579
 of biology.

00:14:32.239 --> 00:14:33.039
 It's blind,

00:14:33.159 --> 00:14:33.639
 it's random,

00:14:33.799 --> 00:14:34.559
 it's even chaotic.

00:14:35.539 --> 00:14:36.559
 That's one story.

00:14:36.559 --> 00:14:37.619
 Another story,

00:14:37.839 --> 00:14:38.559
 which is frankly

00:14:38.559 --> 00:14:40.659
 at the source of paganism,

00:14:41.239 --> 00:14:42.799
 the resurgence of paganism

00:14:42.799 --> 00:14:43.779
 that we see in our world today,

00:14:43.859 --> 00:14:44.779
 the fastest growing religion,

00:14:44.919 --> 00:14:45.399
 which says this,

00:14:45.699 --> 00:14:47.559
 our lives are the pawns

00:14:48.159 --> 00:14:50.059
 of greater spiritual forces.

00:14:51.500 --> 00:14:51.859
 Gods,

00:14:52.339 --> 00:14:52.699
 spirits,

00:14:52.879 --> 00:14:53.159
 whatever,

00:14:53.899 --> 00:14:55.739
 are using us as pawns,

00:14:56.659 --> 00:14:58.559
 and we are just their playthings.

00:15:00.859 --> 00:15:02.039
 Often when we think about

00:15:02.039 --> 00:15:03.099
 the trajectory of our lives,

00:15:03.159 --> 00:15:04.679
 we're faced with two different stories,

00:15:04.679 --> 00:15:06.519
 and actually both of them

00:15:06.519 --> 00:15:07.919
 appear in the movie The Odyssey.

00:15:08.039 --> 00:15:08.659
 How many of y'all saw

00:15:08.659 --> 00:15:09.539
 The Odyssey this summer?

00:15:09.679 --> 00:15:10.139
 Great movie,

00:15:10.299 --> 00:15:11.039
 really enjoyed it.

00:15:12.139 --> 00:15:13.399
 Both of them are in this movie,

00:15:13.500 --> 00:15:14.679
 so you know the story of The Odyssey,

00:15:14.759 --> 00:15:15.620
 even if you didn't see it.

00:15:15.979 --> 00:15:17.099
 The Odyssey is about

00:15:17.099 --> 00:15:19.139
 a great hero of the Trojan War

00:15:19.139 --> 00:15:20.299
 named Odysseus,

00:15:20.339 --> 00:15:21.419
 and he's trying to get home,

00:15:21.959 --> 00:15:24.620
 and he gets to Poseidon's son,

00:15:25.179 --> 00:15:26.319
 who's a cyclops,

00:15:26.399 --> 00:15:28.219
 and he gouges his eye out,

00:15:28.299 --> 00:15:29.899
 and just as he gouges his eye out,

00:15:30.219 --> 00:15:30.939
 Poseidon's son,

00:15:31.019 --> 00:15:31.639
 the cyclops,

00:15:31.639 --> 00:15:35.620
 and he calls down a curse

00:15:35.620 --> 00:15:36.659
 from his father Poseidon

00:15:36.659 --> 00:15:36.980
 and says,

00:15:37.220 --> 00:15:38.179
 would you have struggles

00:15:38.179 --> 00:15:38.779
 getting home?

00:15:38.860 --> 00:15:39.580
 Would you not get home?

00:15:39.919 --> 00:15:41.179
 Poseidon hears this

00:15:41.179 --> 00:15:43.059
 and swears that he will buffet

00:15:43.059 --> 00:15:44.519
 and afflict Odysseus

00:15:44.519 --> 00:15:45.460
 all his way home.

00:15:46.179 --> 00:15:47.319
 On the other side

00:15:47.319 --> 00:15:48.179
 is Athena,

00:15:48.600 --> 00:15:50.699
 who is Odysseus' patron goddess,

00:15:51.299 --> 00:15:52.319
 and she says,

00:15:52.600 --> 00:15:53.779
 I will help you get home.

00:15:54.519 --> 00:15:55.860
 And so the rest of the story

00:15:55.860 --> 00:15:56.500
 of The Odyssey,

00:15:56.639 --> 00:15:58.159
 what makes the story so exciting,

00:15:58.159 --> 00:15:59.779
 is that Odysseus

00:15:59.779 --> 00:16:01.159
 and his men

00:16:01.159 --> 00:16:02.539
 are essentially

00:16:02.539 --> 00:16:04.659
 thrown about

00:16:04.659 --> 00:16:06.039
 by two warring gods,

00:16:06.759 --> 00:16:08.000
 Poseidon and Athena,

00:16:08.259 --> 00:16:09.139
 and they're just getting

00:16:09.139 --> 00:16:09.939
 tossed about.

00:16:11.159 --> 00:16:12.559
 They are thrown around

00:16:12.559 --> 00:16:13.899
 by spiritual forces

00:16:13.899 --> 00:16:15.120
 greater than themselves.

00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:17.519
 At the same time,

00:16:17.559 --> 00:16:18.339
 there's another narrative

00:16:18.339 --> 00:16:18.819
 in the movie,

00:16:18.919 --> 00:16:19.399
 The Odyssey,

00:16:20.299 --> 00:16:21.339
 that's this,

00:16:21.439 --> 00:16:22.159
 that Odysseus

00:16:22.159 --> 00:16:23.319
 is a strong man.

00:16:23.419 --> 00:16:24.399
 He's a pivotal man,

00:16:24.579 --> 00:16:25.559
 and at one point

00:16:25.559 --> 00:16:26.179
 in the story,

00:16:26.439 --> 00:16:26.939
 he says,

00:16:27.100 --> 00:16:27.600
 and you remember,

00:16:27.600 --> 00:16:28.360
 if you saw the movie,

00:16:28.440 --> 00:16:29.100
 he growls,

00:16:29.220 --> 00:16:30.180
 someone says,

00:16:30.460 --> 00:16:31.940
 it's fated by the gods,

00:16:31.980 --> 00:16:32.620
 and what does he growl?

00:16:32.680 --> 00:16:33.019
 He says,

00:16:33.100 --> 00:16:34.800
 then I defy the gods.

00:16:35.519 --> 00:16:35.700
 Right?

00:16:35.840 --> 00:16:36.340
 And in fact,

00:16:36.420 --> 00:16:36.899
 that line,

00:16:37.000 --> 00:16:37.860
 defy the gods,

00:16:38.019 --> 00:16:41.040
 that was the banner line

00:16:41.040 --> 00:16:41.800
 for the whole movie.

00:16:41.899 --> 00:16:43.019
 It was defy the gods.

00:16:43.060 --> 00:16:43.800
 It was the tagline

00:16:43.800 --> 00:16:44.779
 of the promotional trailers.

00:16:45.379 --> 00:16:45.920
 And so this is

00:16:45.920 --> 00:16:46.920
 the conflicting stories

00:16:46.920 --> 00:16:47.460
 that we hear

00:16:47.460 --> 00:16:48.200
 in our world today.

00:16:48.580 --> 00:16:48.960
 One,

00:16:49.200 --> 00:16:50.019
 on one side,

00:16:50.139 --> 00:16:51.320
 is that our lives

00:16:51.320 --> 00:16:52.420
 are our own to lead.

00:16:52.580 --> 00:16:53.360
 Defy the gods.

00:16:53.440 --> 00:16:54.160
 Whatever forces

00:16:54.160 --> 00:16:54.899
 are out there,

00:16:55.580 --> 00:16:56.120
 whatever's trying

00:16:56.120 --> 00:16:56.740
 to tell you

00:16:56.740 --> 00:16:57.779
 to do or be

00:16:57.779 --> 00:16:59.840
 or act in some way,

00:17:00.000 --> 00:17:00.639
 defy it.

00:17:00.740 --> 00:17:01.740
 Be your own person.

00:17:02.720 --> 00:17:04.140
 Challenge the status quo.

00:17:04.880 --> 00:17:05.839
 We set the trajectory

00:17:05.839 --> 00:17:06.599
 of our lives,

00:17:06.700 --> 00:17:07.440
 large and small.

00:17:08.160 --> 00:17:08.799
 Here's what it is.

00:17:08.900 --> 00:17:10.240
 We decide where we live.

00:17:10.620 --> 00:17:11.440
 We get to decide

00:17:11.440 --> 00:17:12.120
 where we work.

00:17:12.440 --> 00:17:13.180
 We get to decide

00:17:13.180 --> 00:17:13.960
 what our hobbies are.

00:17:14.180 --> 00:17:14.940
 We get to decide

00:17:14.940 --> 00:17:15.779
 who our friends

00:17:15.779 --> 00:17:17.120
 or our spouses are.

00:17:17.119 --> 00:17:19.759
 And even if there is

00:17:19.759 --> 00:17:20.939
 some greater force,

00:17:21.039 --> 00:17:22.179
 spiritual or otherwise,

00:17:22.339 --> 00:17:23.539
 that seeks to manipulate

00:17:23.539 --> 00:17:24.199
 or control,

00:17:24.519 --> 00:17:25.119
 we rebel,

00:17:25.339 --> 00:17:26.279
 defy the gods.

00:17:26.579 --> 00:17:27.539
 But on the other side,

00:17:27.599 --> 00:17:28.519
 we have another story

00:17:28.519 --> 00:17:29.500
 that we often hear

00:17:29.500 --> 00:17:30.039
 and are told,

00:17:30.119 --> 00:17:30.659
 which is this,

00:17:30.779 --> 00:17:31.919
 that we are pawns

00:17:31.919 --> 00:17:32.559
 tossed about

00:17:32.559 --> 00:17:34.000
 by impersonal forces

00:17:34.000 --> 00:17:35.399
 or personal forces

00:17:35.399 --> 00:17:36.299
 greater than ourselves.

00:17:37.299 --> 00:17:38.559
 Fate is inevitable,

00:17:38.839 --> 00:17:39.459
 unavoidable.

00:17:40.459 --> 00:17:41.000
 You're poor

00:17:41.000 --> 00:17:42.139
 because you were born poor.

00:17:43.479 --> 00:17:44.659
 You're kept down

00:17:44.659 --> 00:17:45.919
 because of your race.

00:17:47.119 --> 00:17:47.899
 In the Odyssey,

00:17:48.059 --> 00:17:48.939
 the whole crew

00:17:48.939 --> 00:17:49.859
 of Odysseus

00:17:49.859 --> 00:17:50.979
 is fated to die

00:17:50.979 --> 00:17:52.279
 and as try as he can,

00:17:52.379 --> 00:17:53.339
 try as hard as he can,

00:17:53.639 --> 00:17:54.579
 Odysseus can't stop

00:17:54.579 --> 00:17:55.399
 his men from dying.

00:17:57.099 --> 00:17:58.279
 Sometimes this story

00:17:58.279 --> 00:17:59.219
 takes the form

00:17:59.219 --> 00:18:00.199
 of social science,

00:18:00.799 --> 00:18:01.379
 our class,

00:18:01.500 --> 00:18:01.979
 our family,

00:18:02.099 --> 00:18:02.619
 our upbringing.

00:18:04.299 --> 00:18:05.059
 Either way,

00:18:05.139 --> 00:18:06.219
 the stories we tell

00:18:06.219 --> 00:18:07.659
 say that either

00:18:07.659 --> 00:18:08.979
 I'm on my own

00:18:08.979 --> 00:18:11.059
 or there's nothing

00:18:11.059 --> 00:18:11.639
 I can do.

00:18:12.639 --> 00:18:13.199
 Do you see that?

00:18:13.519 --> 00:18:13.719
 Now,

00:18:14.239 --> 00:18:15.159
 contrast that,

00:18:15.259 --> 00:18:15.679
 dear friends,

00:18:15.779 --> 00:18:16.219
 with what

00:18:16.219 --> 00:18:17.099
 Psalm 29

00:18:17.099 --> 00:18:17.779
 says,

00:18:18.339 --> 00:18:19.980
 the Lord

00:18:19.980 --> 00:18:21.519
 is my shepherd.

00:18:22.759 --> 00:18:24.139
 He guides me

00:18:24.139 --> 00:18:25.079
 on paths

00:18:25.079 --> 00:18:25.719
 of righteousness.

00:18:26.919 --> 00:18:27.919
 We are neither

00:18:27.919 --> 00:18:28.639
 the captains

00:18:28.639 --> 00:18:29.599
 of our own destiny

00:18:29.599 --> 00:18:30.879
 nor

00:18:30.879 --> 00:18:32.839
 mere manipulated

00:18:32.839 --> 00:18:33.839
 pawns

00:18:33.839 --> 00:18:34.879
 of impersonal forces.

00:18:35.759 --> 00:18:36.159
 Here,

00:18:36.439 --> 00:18:37.679
 a consistent

00:18:37.679 --> 00:18:39.559
 promise-keeping

00:18:39.559 --> 00:18:41.359
 God

00:18:41.359 --> 00:18:42.779
 who's in control

00:18:42.779 --> 00:18:43.279
 of everything.

00:18:43.439 --> 00:18:44.219
 This is what we said

00:18:44.219 --> 00:18:44.879
 in our confession

00:18:44.880 --> 00:18:45.440
 of faith,

00:18:45.900 --> 00:18:46.900
 providentially working

00:18:46.900 --> 00:18:47.740
 all things out

00:18:47.740 --> 00:18:48.820
 for our good,

00:18:49.760 --> 00:18:50.700
 leads us.

00:18:51.760 --> 00:18:53.480
 A divine shepherd

00:18:53.480 --> 00:18:55.620
 cares for us,

00:18:56.420 --> 00:18:57.440
 directs our lives.

00:18:57.440 --> 00:18:59.940
 your life is neither

00:18:59.940 --> 00:19:01.080
 up to you

00:19:01.080 --> 00:19:02.120
 to control

00:19:02.120 --> 00:19:03.360
 on your own

00:19:03.360 --> 00:19:03.860
 nor

00:19:03.860 --> 00:19:05.820
 are you a victim

00:19:05.820 --> 00:19:07.279
 of fate.

00:19:08.720 --> 00:19:09.779
 A heavenly shepherd

00:19:09.779 --> 00:19:10.640
 who has affection

00:19:10.640 --> 00:19:11.700
 and even love

00:19:11.700 --> 00:19:12.940
 leads you.

00:19:12.940 --> 00:19:15.980
 but how does he lead us?

00:19:16.460 --> 00:19:17.200
 How does he lead us?

00:19:17.259 --> 00:19:17.340
 Well,

00:19:17.380 --> 00:19:18.039
 the next phrase,

00:19:18.360 --> 00:19:19.059
 he leads me

00:19:19.059 --> 00:19:19.980
 in paths

00:19:19.980 --> 00:19:20.820
 of righteousness.

00:19:21.799 --> 00:19:22.420
 In paths

00:19:22.420 --> 00:19:23.000
 of righteousness.

00:19:23.440 --> 00:19:23.880
 When God,

00:19:23.960 --> 00:19:24.380
 our shepherd,

00:19:24.539 --> 00:19:25.039
 leads us

00:19:25.039 --> 00:19:26.180
 in righteousness,

00:19:26.519 --> 00:19:27.559
 he takes us,

00:19:27.620 --> 00:19:28.539
 and this is what

00:19:28.539 --> 00:19:28.820
 it means,

00:19:29.059 --> 00:19:30.000
 he takes us

00:19:30.000 --> 00:19:31.120
 in life directions

00:19:31.120 --> 00:19:32.460
 that will shape us

00:19:32.460 --> 00:19:33.539
 to be more like him.

00:19:34.799 --> 00:19:35.840
 Paths of righteousness

00:19:35.840 --> 00:19:37.920
 are directions,

00:19:38.480 --> 00:19:39.019
 events,

00:19:39.880 --> 00:19:40.920
 parts of our lives

00:19:40.920 --> 00:19:41.680
 that will shape us

00:19:41.680 --> 00:19:42.500
 to be more like him.

00:19:42.700 --> 00:19:43.340
 And all of this

00:19:43.340 --> 00:19:43.940
 is captured

00:19:43.940 --> 00:19:45.100
 in the word righteousness.

00:19:45.340 --> 00:19:45.720
 It's a very,

00:19:45.720 --> 00:19:47.060
 it's a very Christian word,

00:19:47.120 --> 00:19:47.300
 right?

00:19:47.360 --> 00:19:48.019
 We hear this word

00:19:48.019 --> 00:19:48.920
 tossed around a lot.

00:19:49.880 --> 00:19:50.560
 What does it mean?

00:19:52.360 --> 00:19:53.759
 In this context,

00:19:53.860 --> 00:19:55.100
 it does not necessarily

00:19:55.100 --> 00:19:56.080
 mean what Paul,

00:19:56.279 --> 00:19:57.539
 how Paul uses the word

00:19:57.539 --> 00:19:58.620
 when he talks about

00:19:58.620 --> 00:19:59.960
 Christ's perfection

00:19:59.960 --> 00:20:01.440
 given or imputed

00:20:01.440 --> 00:20:03.080
 to us by faith.

00:20:03.259 --> 00:20:04.720
 That's a beautiful truth

00:20:04.720 --> 00:20:05.440
 in the Christian faith

00:20:05.440 --> 00:20:06.480
 and I would love

00:20:06.480 --> 00:20:07.420
 to talk with you about it

00:20:07.420 --> 00:20:08.360
 if you're curious about it,

00:20:08.460 --> 00:20:09.120
 but that's not

00:20:09.120 --> 00:20:09.380
 what is,

00:20:09.500 --> 00:20:10.620
 what's being referred to here.

00:20:11.519 --> 00:20:12.420
 In Psalm 23,

00:20:12.560 --> 00:20:13.940
 the paths that lead us,

00:20:14.160 --> 00:20:15.060
 that God leads us on,

00:20:15.140 --> 00:20:16.180
 the righteous paths

00:20:16.180 --> 00:20:17.100
 are marked by

00:20:17.100 --> 00:20:18.180
 two characteristics,

00:20:19.259 --> 00:20:19.940
 two things.

00:20:20.120 --> 00:20:21.380
 First, holiness.

00:20:22.360 --> 00:20:23.720
 Second, purity.

00:20:24.420 --> 00:20:25.300
 Paths of righteousness

00:20:25.300 --> 00:20:26.480
 are marked by holiness

00:20:26.480 --> 00:20:27.480
 and purity.

00:20:28.800 --> 00:20:30.340
 First thing is they write

00:20:30.340 --> 00:20:31.259
 that righteous paths

00:20:31.259 --> 00:20:31.820
 are holy,

00:20:31.820 --> 00:20:34.320
 another common Christian word.

00:20:35.560 --> 00:20:36.759
 What is a holy path?

00:20:37.460 --> 00:20:38.800
 Well, when something is holy,

00:20:38.799 --> 00:20:41.339
 we mean that is separate,

00:20:42.180 --> 00:20:43.379
 it's distinct,

00:20:43.919 --> 00:20:45.259
 it's set apart

00:20:45.259 --> 00:20:46.079
 from the rest.

00:20:46.779 --> 00:20:48.519
 It has its special purpose.

00:20:50.359 --> 00:20:51.220
 Think of it this way.

00:20:51.440 --> 00:20:52.359
 In my house,

00:20:52.440 --> 00:20:53.519
 we have a lot of brushes.

00:20:53.759 --> 00:20:54.779
 Yesterday was cleaning day

00:20:54.779 --> 00:20:55.279
 in my house

00:20:55.279 --> 00:20:56.559
 and so I was scrubbing

00:20:56.559 --> 00:20:57.339
 my whole house.

00:20:57.579 --> 00:20:58.599
 I scrubbed the floors,

00:20:58.899 --> 00:21:00.000
 I scrubbed the stairs,

00:21:00.399 --> 00:21:01.379
 I vacuumed the carpet

00:21:01.379 --> 00:21:02.619
 with this special brush,

00:21:02.940 --> 00:21:04.279
 I scrubbed the toilets.

00:21:04.279 --> 00:21:06.440
 because there's lots of brushes

00:21:06.440 --> 00:21:08.259
 for cleaning in my house.

00:21:09.279 --> 00:21:10.799
 But there's one brush

00:21:10.799 --> 00:21:12.700
 that has a very special purpose.

00:21:13.359 --> 00:21:13.940
 My toothbrush.

00:21:14.879 --> 00:21:17.359
 And my toothbrush is set apart

00:21:17.359 --> 00:21:19.019
 for a very special task.

00:21:19.559 --> 00:21:21.059
 And as soon as my toothbrush

00:21:21.059 --> 00:21:22.660
 scrubs anything other

00:21:22.660 --> 00:21:23.700
 than my teeth,

00:21:23.859 --> 00:21:25.000
 it is no longer my toothbrush.

00:21:25.660 --> 00:21:27.059
 It then suddenly has

00:21:27.059 --> 00:21:28.180
 a whole new task.

00:21:28.180 --> 00:21:30.480
 It is a holy brush.

00:21:31.360 --> 00:21:33.039
 It is set apart

00:21:33.039 --> 00:21:35.920
 for a very special task.

00:21:36.799 --> 00:21:38.140
 God sets us apart

00:21:38.140 --> 00:21:39.960
 in a holy way

00:21:39.960 --> 00:21:41.460
 for a special path.

00:21:42.420 --> 00:21:43.600
 The second characteristic

00:21:43.600 --> 00:21:44.640
 of righteousness

00:21:44.640 --> 00:21:45.980
 and it's connected

00:21:45.980 --> 00:21:46.740
 is purity.

00:21:47.600 --> 00:21:48.960
 Righteous paths are purity

00:21:48.960 --> 00:21:49.680
 and these mean

00:21:49.680 --> 00:21:51.240
 that they are marked

00:21:51.240 --> 00:21:52.920
 by a special cleanliness

00:21:52.920 --> 00:21:54.880
 that aligns with God's character

00:21:54.880 --> 00:21:55.860
 and with his law.

00:21:55.859 --> 00:21:58.039
 When something is holy,

00:21:58.219 --> 00:21:59.000
 it's clean.

00:21:59.379 --> 00:22:00.859
 It's not spoiled.

00:22:01.259 --> 00:22:02.019
 It's pure.

00:22:02.399 --> 00:22:03.299
 It's the difference

00:22:03.299 --> 00:22:05.479
 between a clear mountain creek

00:22:05.479 --> 00:22:06.939
 that you can dip a cup into

00:22:06.939 --> 00:22:07.899
 and drink

00:22:07.899 --> 00:22:09.199
 and a river

00:22:09.199 --> 00:22:10.379
 that's full of industrial

00:22:10.379 --> 00:22:11.939
 toxic dump sludge.

00:22:13.559 --> 00:22:14.539
 It's a clean,

00:22:14.679 --> 00:22:15.559
 there's a cleanliness

00:22:15.559 --> 00:22:16.139
 to holiness.

00:22:16.879 --> 00:22:17.859
 And it's a cleanliness

00:22:17.859 --> 00:22:18.779
 that is not something

00:22:18.779 --> 00:22:20.159
 that we get to decide,

00:22:20.399 --> 00:22:20.979
 but it's something

00:22:20.979 --> 00:22:22.779
 that is aligned with God,

00:22:22.879 --> 00:22:23.859
 with who he is,

00:22:23.859 --> 00:22:25.219
 the very center

00:22:25.219 --> 00:22:27.399
 of holy purity.

00:22:29.619 --> 00:22:31.319
 So when God takes us

00:22:31.319 --> 00:22:32.719
 on paths of righteousness,

00:22:32.979 --> 00:22:34.199
 it means that the paths

00:22:34.199 --> 00:22:35.359
 that he takes us on

00:22:35.359 --> 00:22:36.659
 may not be easy,

00:22:36.959 --> 00:22:38.479
 may not always be fun,

00:22:38.599 --> 00:22:39.879
 but they will be marked

00:22:39.879 --> 00:22:41.939
 by purity and holiness.

00:22:42.899 --> 00:22:44.240
 And that makes them righteous.

00:22:46.519 --> 00:22:48.799
 David Calhoun is an old,

00:22:49.039 --> 00:22:50.259
 was, he's now with the Lord,

00:22:50.259 --> 00:22:52.119
 an old seminary professor

00:22:52.119 --> 00:22:54.299
 who writes what I think

00:22:54.299 --> 00:22:55.359
 is the best meditation

00:22:55.359 --> 00:22:56.240
 on Psalm 23.

00:22:56.440 --> 00:22:57.180
 I haven't read them all.

00:22:57.279 --> 00:22:57.940
 There's thousands.

00:22:58.160 --> 00:22:59.319
 But the best one I've read,

00:22:59.460 --> 00:23:00.720
 it's called A Sheep Remembers.

00:23:01.259 --> 00:23:02.819
 I highly recommend the book.

00:23:03.319 --> 00:23:04.740
 David Calhoun is an old professor.

00:23:04.879 --> 00:23:05.940
 He taught at Covenant Seminary

00:23:05.940 --> 00:23:06.559
 where Matthew and I

00:23:06.559 --> 00:23:07.140
 went to seminary.

00:23:07.720 --> 00:23:08.839
 He's dying of cancer

00:23:08.839 --> 00:23:09.420
 as he writes

00:23:09.420 --> 00:23:10.220
 A Sheep Remembers.

00:23:10.319 --> 00:23:11.440
 He's 84 years old

00:23:11.440 --> 00:23:12.599
 and he's meditating

00:23:12.599 --> 00:23:13.839
 on this line,

00:23:14.019 --> 00:23:15.059
 he leads me on paths

00:23:15.059 --> 00:23:15.619
 of righteousness.

00:23:17.119 --> 00:23:18.180
 Listen to what he says.

00:23:18.700 --> 00:23:19.400
 He says this,

00:23:19.400 --> 00:23:20.980
 I went to Bible college

00:23:20.980 --> 00:23:22.600
 at Columbia Bible College

00:23:22.600 --> 00:23:23.700
 where there was only

00:23:23.700 --> 00:23:25.300
 one major, Bible.

00:23:26.160 --> 00:23:27.160
 Sometimes I wish

00:23:27.160 --> 00:23:27.720
 that I had gone

00:23:27.720 --> 00:23:28.380
 to the University

00:23:28.380 --> 00:23:29.320
 of South Carolina

00:23:29.320 --> 00:23:30.700
 and studied English.

00:23:31.480 --> 00:23:32.540
 After Bible college,

00:23:32.640 --> 00:23:33.800
 I went to Covenant Seminary

00:23:33.800 --> 00:23:34.460
 and I learned

00:23:34.460 --> 00:23:35.340
 all about the Bible

00:23:35.340 --> 00:23:36.920
 from Genesis to Revelation.

00:23:37.560 --> 00:23:38.060
 And I learned

00:23:38.060 --> 00:23:38.800
 that all the Bible

00:23:38.800 --> 00:23:40.080
 is about one thing,

00:23:40.400 --> 00:23:40.660
 Jesus.

00:23:41.680 --> 00:23:42.580
 After seminary,

00:23:42.660 --> 00:23:43.400
 I went to Labrie

00:23:43.400 --> 00:23:44.060
 in Switzerland

00:23:44.060 --> 00:23:45.720
 and I talked about the Bible

00:23:45.720 --> 00:23:47.140
 with many wounded souls.

00:23:47.140 --> 00:23:49.520
 Bible college taught me Bible.

00:23:50.140 --> 00:23:50.860
 Covenant Seminary

00:23:50.860 --> 00:23:51.980
 deepened my understanding

00:23:51.980 --> 00:23:52.680
 of the Bible.

00:23:53.320 --> 00:23:54.860
 Labrie widened my view

00:23:54.860 --> 00:23:55.700
 of God's world.

00:23:56.440 --> 00:23:57.820
 Then I taught Bible

00:23:57.820 --> 00:23:59.400
 at Jamaica Bible College

00:23:59.400 --> 00:24:00.000
 where I learned

00:24:00.000 --> 00:24:00.720
 to follow Jesus

00:24:00.720 --> 00:24:01.780
 with Jamaican Christians

00:24:01.780 --> 00:24:03.640
 who were utterly unlike me.

00:24:04.340 --> 00:24:05.900
 Then I went to Princeton Seminary

00:24:05.900 --> 00:24:07.600
 and got a PhD in history.

00:24:08.280 --> 00:24:09.700
 Then I taught theology

00:24:09.700 --> 00:24:12.240
 at Galilee Baptist Church,

00:24:12.440 --> 00:24:13.280
 a black church

00:24:13.280 --> 00:24:14.580
 in inner city St. Louis.

00:24:14.579 --> 00:24:17.139
 And now I find myself

00:24:17.139 --> 00:24:18.359
 in my last years

00:24:18.359 --> 00:24:19.359
 in Chicago.

00:24:20.579 --> 00:24:21.579
 And my wife and I

00:24:21.579 --> 00:24:22.379
 ask ourselves,

00:24:22.659 --> 00:24:24.079
 what would you have done differently?

00:24:25.279 --> 00:24:26.119
 What choices

00:24:26.119 --> 00:24:27.539
 other than what we did

00:24:27.539 --> 00:24:28.279
 would we have made?

00:24:28.879 --> 00:24:29.919
 Pay attention to what he says.

00:24:30.000 --> 00:24:31.199
 Listen to what David Calhoun says.

00:24:31.579 --> 00:24:33.460
 Looking back over our lives,

00:24:33.699 --> 00:24:35.319
 we see that the Lord

00:24:35.319 --> 00:24:36.379
 has led us

00:24:36.379 --> 00:24:38.119
 in the right paths.

00:24:38.859 --> 00:24:39.799
 And though at times

00:24:39.799 --> 00:24:40.759
 one or both of us

00:24:40.759 --> 00:24:42.399
 hesitated to turn aside,

00:24:42.400 --> 00:24:44.400
 he always brought us

00:24:44.400 --> 00:24:45.280
 to the paths

00:24:45.280 --> 00:24:45.860
 of righteousness.

00:24:46.720 --> 00:24:48.080
 They were not the paths

00:24:48.080 --> 00:24:49.060
 we would have chosen,

00:24:49.500 --> 00:24:50.800
 but they were the right paths

00:24:50.800 --> 00:24:51.420
 for us.

00:24:52.980 --> 00:24:53.900
 What is he saying?

00:24:53.960 --> 00:24:54.920
 This man looks back

00:24:54.920 --> 00:24:56.000
 over his whole life,

00:24:56.440 --> 00:24:57.320
 a full life,

00:24:58.140 --> 00:24:59.200
 traveling the world,

00:24:59.880 --> 00:25:00.960
 full of education,

00:25:01.800 --> 00:25:02.660
 full of places

00:25:02.660 --> 00:25:03.560
 where he could have done

00:25:03.560 --> 00:25:04.340
 something different.

00:25:04.900 --> 00:25:05.720
 Studied English

00:25:05.720 --> 00:25:06.759
 instead of theology,

00:25:07.920 --> 00:25:08.480
 taught,

00:25:08.680 --> 00:25:09.680
 not gotten a PhD,

00:25:09.900 --> 00:25:10.940
 taught it in a different place,

00:25:10.940 --> 00:25:11.600
 and he says,

00:25:12.019 --> 00:25:12.720
 through it all,

00:25:13.140 --> 00:25:13.980
 like Aslan,

00:25:14.740 --> 00:25:16.120
 leading the Pevensey children,

00:25:16.279 --> 00:25:17.340
 he discerns

00:25:17.340 --> 00:25:18.299
 someone

00:25:18.299 --> 00:25:20.059
 was leading him

00:25:20.059 --> 00:25:22.019
 on paths

00:25:22.019 --> 00:25:23.000
 that made him

00:25:23.000 --> 00:25:23.759
 more like Jesus,

00:25:24.620 --> 00:25:25.600
 on paths

00:25:25.600 --> 00:25:26.299
 that made him

00:25:26.299 --> 00:25:27.320
 know Jesus more.

00:25:28.880 --> 00:25:30.299
 This was the right path

00:25:30.299 --> 00:25:31.299
 that God took us on.

00:25:32.920 --> 00:25:33.840
 Here's the point.

00:25:34.480 --> 00:25:35.620
 Here's the point, friends.

00:25:36.320 --> 00:25:38.279
 When you follow God,

00:25:38.279 --> 00:25:39.660
 when you follow

00:25:39.660 --> 00:25:40.500
 the God of the Bible,

00:25:40.680 --> 00:25:41.759
 he will lead you,

00:25:42.399 --> 00:25:44.720
 not always on easy paths,

00:25:45.079 --> 00:25:45.819
 but paths

00:25:45.819 --> 00:25:46.960
 that are like him,

00:25:48.299 --> 00:25:49.579
 paths that are righteous,

00:25:50.019 --> 00:25:50.940
 holy, and pure,

00:25:51.099 --> 00:25:52.519
 and they will make us

00:25:52.519 --> 00:25:53.440
 like him,

00:25:54.960 --> 00:25:55.720
 holy and pure.

00:25:57.500 --> 00:25:58.480
 Paths of righteousness

00:25:58.480 --> 00:26:00.019
 are life directions

00:26:00.019 --> 00:26:00.779
 that will make you

00:26:00.779 --> 00:26:01.839
 trust God more,

00:26:02.399 --> 00:26:04.000
 make you see God more,

00:26:04.779 --> 00:26:06.480
 make you more like him,

00:26:06.480 --> 00:26:08.059
 more like Jesus.

00:26:09.660 --> 00:26:10.839
 Now, to what end?

00:26:11.079 --> 00:26:12.500
 Why does he do this for us?

00:26:13.700 --> 00:26:14.539
 Well, it tells us,

00:26:15.180 --> 00:26:16.180
 he leads me in paths

00:26:16.180 --> 00:26:16.819
 of righteousness

00:26:16.819 --> 00:26:19.440
 for his name's sake.

00:26:20.240 --> 00:26:21.319
 For his name's sake.

00:26:21.400 --> 00:26:22.299
 Why does God do this?

00:26:22.360 --> 00:26:23.299
 Why does he shepherd us

00:26:23.299 --> 00:26:24.079
 on green pastures

00:26:24.079 --> 00:26:25.279
 or quiet streams

00:26:25.279 --> 00:26:26.220
 or paths of righteousness?

00:26:27.900 --> 00:26:29.120
 Well, it's not for our good.

00:26:30.240 --> 00:26:31.620
 It's not for our pleasure.

00:26:31.619 --> 00:26:34.079
 It's not so that we have

00:26:34.079 --> 00:26:36.759
 nice experiences in life.

00:26:37.799 --> 00:26:39.659
 It's for his name's sake.

00:26:40.419 --> 00:26:42.379
 Namely, so that his name,

00:26:42.779 --> 00:26:44.219
 a name of consistency,

00:26:44.599 --> 00:26:46.019
 a name of trustworthiness,

00:26:46.299 --> 00:26:47.359
 a name of I will be

00:26:47.359 --> 00:26:48.279
 what I will be,

00:26:49.079 --> 00:26:51.339
 is made what the Christian,

00:26:51.479 --> 00:26:52.159
 what the old Christians

00:26:52.159 --> 00:26:53.439
 have called glorified,

00:26:53.679 --> 00:26:55.039
 what I call the college students

00:26:55.039 --> 00:26:56.059
 big and beautiful.

00:26:56.799 --> 00:26:58.479
 It's so that God is made

00:26:58.479 --> 00:27:00.419
 big and beautiful in our lives.

00:27:00.420 --> 00:27:01.500
 God shepherds us

00:27:01.500 --> 00:27:03.700
 so that God is the main character

00:27:03.700 --> 00:27:04.660
 in our lives.

00:27:05.360 --> 00:27:06.720
 Everything that God does

00:27:06.720 --> 00:27:07.460
 in this world,

00:27:07.759 --> 00:27:08.900
 everything that God does

00:27:08.900 --> 00:27:09.380
 in this world

00:27:09.380 --> 00:27:11.500
 is so that he will receive

00:27:11.500 --> 00:27:12.380
 more attention,

00:27:12.840 --> 00:27:13.580
 more adoration,

00:27:13.820 --> 00:27:14.460
 more affection.

00:27:15.759 --> 00:27:16.680
 Isaiah 48 says,

00:27:17.019 --> 00:27:17.440
 God says,

00:27:17.640 --> 00:27:19.279
 I don't act for my people's sake.

00:27:19.380 --> 00:27:20.039
 Here's Israel

00:27:20.039 --> 00:27:22.120
 who has wandered far astray

00:27:22.120 --> 00:27:23.759
 in the book of Isaiah

00:27:23.759 --> 00:27:26.759
 and they deserve to be wiped out

00:27:26.759 --> 00:27:27.519
 and yet God says,

00:27:27.680 --> 00:27:28.759
 I will save a remnant

00:27:28.759 --> 00:27:30.380
 but not for their sake.

00:27:31.080 --> 00:27:32.320
 But for his fame,

00:27:32.640 --> 00:27:33.600
 for his character

00:27:33.600 --> 00:27:35.100
 to be shown into the universe.

00:27:35.480 --> 00:27:36.560
 And there's a challenge

00:27:36.560 --> 00:27:37.420
 built into this,

00:27:37.500 --> 00:27:39.300
 one that frankly

00:27:39.300 --> 00:27:41.180
 chastens my heart.

00:27:42.300 --> 00:27:42.840
 And it's this,

00:27:42.900 --> 00:27:43.620
 that our lives

00:27:43.620 --> 00:27:45.019
 are not about us.

00:27:46.380 --> 00:27:47.360
 Our lives,

00:27:47.460 --> 00:27:48.220
 this church,

00:27:48.360 --> 00:27:48.920
 your family,

00:27:49.039 --> 00:27:49.580
 your marriage

00:27:49.580 --> 00:27:50.660
 is not fundamentally,

00:27:50.820 --> 00:27:51.460
 your work,

00:27:51.840 --> 00:27:52.460
 your hobbies

00:27:52.460 --> 00:27:53.820
 are not about us.

00:27:53.920 --> 00:27:55.960
 They are about his fame,

00:27:56.400 --> 00:27:58.279
 about God being glorified,

00:27:58.279 --> 00:28:00.660
 about his fatherly care

00:28:00.660 --> 00:28:02.119
 and his tender compassion

00:28:02.119 --> 00:28:03.379
 being displayed.

00:28:04.139 --> 00:28:05.299
 If there's anything

00:28:05.299 --> 00:28:06.160
 that's about us,

00:28:06.200 --> 00:28:07.200
 it's so that we are made

00:28:07.200 --> 00:28:08.059
 more like him.

00:28:08.220 --> 00:28:09.240
 And this is hard

00:28:09.240 --> 00:28:11.180
 because as a college minister,

00:28:11.180 --> 00:28:12.539
 I want to grow

00:28:12.539 --> 00:28:13.619
 a campus ministry

00:28:13.619 --> 00:28:14.899
 that might get written

00:28:14.899 --> 00:28:15.500
 about someday

00:28:15.500 --> 00:28:16.279
 in 50 years.

00:28:16.279 --> 00:28:19.839
 you as a parent

00:28:19.839 --> 00:28:20.700
 might want to have

00:28:20.700 --> 00:28:21.279
 a child

00:28:21.279 --> 00:28:22.259
 who appears

00:28:22.259 --> 00:28:23.379
 on dean's lists

00:28:23.379 --> 00:28:24.619
 in school one day.

00:28:25.940 --> 00:28:27.440
 You as a married person

00:28:27.440 --> 00:28:28.259
 might want to have

00:28:28.259 --> 00:28:29.139
 the younger couples

00:28:29.139 --> 00:28:30.259
 come and consult you

00:28:30.259 --> 00:28:31.379
 on marriage one day.

00:28:31.740 --> 00:28:32.799
 You as a worker

00:28:32.799 --> 00:28:33.899
 might want to be

00:28:33.899 --> 00:28:34.619
 nominated

00:28:34.619 --> 00:28:36.359
 for employee of the month

00:28:36.359 --> 00:28:38.319
 or for the big bonus.

00:28:38.319 --> 00:28:40.059
 And those things

00:28:40.059 --> 00:28:40.980
 are all well

00:28:40.980 --> 00:28:41.399
 and good

00:28:41.399 --> 00:28:41.740
 and true

00:28:41.740 --> 00:28:42.159
 and beautiful

00:28:42.159 --> 00:28:43.259
 but those are not

00:28:43.259 --> 00:28:44.319
 why God

00:28:44.319 --> 00:28:45.000
 leads us

00:28:45.000 --> 00:28:45.480
 on paths

00:28:45.480 --> 00:28:46.039
 of righteousness.

00:28:46.279 --> 00:28:47.619
 It's for his reputation

00:28:47.619 --> 00:28:49.019
 and his honor.

00:28:51.079 --> 00:28:52.079
 Where are the places

00:28:52.079 --> 00:28:52.859
 in your heart

00:28:52.859 --> 00:28:54.099
 where you are

00:28:54.099 --> 00:28:55.439
 in this Christian thing

00:28:55.439 --> 00:28:56.579
 for the perks?

00:28:58.759 --> 00:28:59.579
 For the things

00:28:59.579 --> 00:29:00.139
 that you think

00:29:00.139 --> 00:29:00.919
 would get out of it?

00:29:02.460 --> 00:29:03.439
 Where are the places

00:29:03.439 --> 00:29:04.200
 where you can

00:29:04.200 --> 00:29:05.659
 maybe need to

00:29:05.659 --> 00:29:06.740
 repent and say,

00:29:06.839 --> 00:29:06.939
 Lord,

00:29:06.940 --> 00:29:07.660
 I've done this

00:29:07.660 --> 00:29:08.440
 for my sake.

00:29:10.440 --> 00:29:10.840
 Okay,

00:29:10.880 --> 00:29:11.340
 let's summarize.

00:29:11.620 --> 00:29:13.259
 What does this verse mean?

00:29:13.320 --> 00:29:14.180
 This verse means,

00:29:14.240 --> 00:29:15.059
 this half a line

00:29:15.059 --> 00:29:16.580
 means that a personal

00:29:16.580 --> 00:29:17.660
 God of the universe

00:29:17.660 --> 00:29:19.519
 directs our lives

00:29:19.519 --> 00:29:20.420
 personally

00:29:20.420 --> 00:29:21.519
 and powerly

00:29:21.519 --> 00:29:22.100
 in directions

00:29:22.100 --> 00:29:23.259
 that are good for us

00:29:23.259 --> 00:29:25.340
 to make us more like him

00:29:25.340 --> 00:29:26.340
 and to bring him glory.

00:29:26.500 --> 00:29:26.700
 Now,

00:29:26.820 --> 00:29:27.460
 let me give us

00:29:27.460 --> 00:29:28.680
 some pastoral reflections

00:29:28.680 --> 00:29:29.360
 on this.

00:29:30.340 --> 00:29:30.740
 First,

00:29:30.860 --> 00:29:31.340
 and I've hinted

00:29:31.340 --> 00:29:31.900
 at this already,

00:29:32.360 --> 00:29:33.259
 a personal God

00:29:33.259 --> 00:29:34.059
 leads our lives

00:29:34.059 --> 00:29:35.279
 not impersonal forces.

00:29:35.700 --> 00:29:36.460
 Think about karma.

00:29:36.460 --> 00:29:37.539
 It's a very popular

00:29:37.539 --> 00:29:38.220
 idea today.

00:29:38.779 --> 00:29:39.360
 I promise you

00:29:39.360 --> 00:29:40.100
 that your neighbors,

00:29:40.620 --> 00:29:41.380
 if not you,

00:29:42.759 --> 00:29:43.340
 have some

00:29:43.340 --> 00:29:44.059
 either implicit

00:29:44.059 --> 00:29:44.799
 or explicit

00:29:44.799 --> 00:29:45.860
 sense of karma.

00:29:46.360 --> 00:29:47.279
 Karma says

00:29:47.279 --> 00:29:48.019
 that something,

00:29:48.200 --> 00:29:49.059
 a personal force

00:29:49.059 --> 00:29:49.980
 or an impersonal force,

00:29:50.140 --> 00:29:51.400
 balances all things out

00:29:51.400 --> 00:29:52.660
 and that what comes around

00:29:52.660 --> 00:29:53.319
 goes around.

00:29:53.920 --> 00:29:54.799
 That's not here.

00:29:55.500 --> 00:29:56.180
 That's not what

00:29:56.180 --> 00:29:56.840
 this is saying.

00:29:57.120 --> 00:29:58.100
 A personal God

00:29:58.100 --> 00:29:58.900
 has a plan

00:29:58.900 --> 00:29:59.680
 for our lives

00:29:59.680 --> 00:30:01.059
 and he is disposed

00:30:01.059 --> 00:30:02.200
 towards his people

00:30:02.200 --> 00:30:03.380
 as a shepherd.

00:30:05.000 --> 00:30:05.460
 Stu on this

00:30:05.460 --> 00:30:05.720
 for a minute.

00:30:05.860 --> 00:30:06.960
 Imagine if we viewed

00:30:06.960 --> 00:30:07.880
 hiking the way

00:30:07.880 --> 00:30:09.400
 karma would say.

00:30:09.620 --> 00:30:10.519
 If we viewed hiking

00:30:10.519 --> 00:30:10.880
 that way,

00:30:10.940 --> 00:30:11.559
 we would just say,

00:30:11.819 --> 00:30:12.559
 I'm going to walk

00:30:12.559 --> 00:30:13.640
 that way

00:30:13.640 --> 00:30:14.720
 and hope I reach

00:30:14.720 --> 00:30:15.400
 a mountaintop.

00:30:16.279 --> 00:30:16.579
 No,

00:30:16.680 --> 00:30:17.180
 that's not how

00:30:17.180 --> 00:30:18.100
 we live our lives.

00:30:18.539 --> 00:30:19.759
 We study a map.

00:30:20.240 --> 00:30:21.220
 We gather information

00:30:21.220 --> 00:30:21.759
 from people

00:30:21.759 --> 00:30:23.079
 who have gone before us.

00:30:23.579 --> 00:30:24.759
 We pick a place

00:30:24.759 --> 00:30:25.200
 that says

00:30:25.200 --> 00:30:25.759
 this is going

00:30:25.759 --> 00:30:26.400
 to be beautiful.

00:30:26.860 --> 00:30:27.880
 We do not just

00:30:27.880 --> 00:30:28.940
 start walking.

00:30:29.039 --> 00:30:29.160
 No,

00:30:29.220 --> 00:30:29.819
 a guide

00:30:29.819 --> 00:30:30.660
 who wants

00:30:30.660 --> 00:30:31.480
 to lead you,

00:30:31.660 --> 00:30:32.100
 shepherd you,

00:30:32.200 --> 00:30:32.759
 care for you,

00:30:32.980 --> 00:30:33.660
 take you to see

00:30:33.660 --> 00:30:34.600
 the best sites

00:30:34.600 --> 00:30:35.279
 that this state

00:30:35.279 --> 00:30:36.000
 has to offer

00:30:36.000 --> 00:30:37.560
 on the best routes.

00:30:37.820 --> 00:30:38.740
 That is what

00:30:38.740 --> 00:30:39.980
 our shepherd does.

00:30:40.680 --> 00:30:41.620
 You are not

00:30:41.620 --> 00:30:42.480
 tossed around,

00:30:42.860 --> 00:30:43.500
 your friends

00:30:43.500 --> 00:30:44.640
 are not tossed around

00:30:44.640 --> 00:30:45.900
 by blind forces,

00:30:46.340 --> 00:30:47.740
 but by a shepherding God.

00:30:49.120 --> 00:30:50.140
 Second application

00:30:50.140 --> 00:30:50.759
 is this.

00:30:51.000 --> 00:30:51.820
 The Christian life

00:30:51.820 --> 00:30:52.660
 is not a

00:30:52.660 --> 00:30:53.580
 choose your own adventure.

00:30:54.720 --> 00:30:55.460
 The Christian life

00:30:55.460 --> 00:30:56.120
 is not choose

00:30:56.120 --> 00:30:56.680
 your own adventure.

00:30:57.060 --> 00:30:58.160
 One of the greatest lies

00:30:58.160 --> 00:30:58.779
 that we believe

00:30:58.779 --> 00:30:59.519
 is that we get

00:30:59.519 --> 00:31:00.240
 to follow God

00:31:00.240 --> 00:31:01.100
 the way we want.

00:31:01.099 --> 00:31:02.879
 This is what

00:31:02.879 --> 00:31:03.740
 the Pevensey children

00:31:03.740 --> 00:31:04.119
 wanted.

00:31:04.399 --> 00:31:04.980
 They wanted to go

00:31:04.980 --> 00:31:05.519
 down the canyon

00:31:05.519 --> 00:31:06.500
 on their own terms

00:31:06.500 --> 00:31:08.059
 and it went very poorly

00:31:08.059 --> 00:31:08.599
 for them.

00:31:09.419 --> 00:31:10.319
 And all of us

00:31:10.319 --> 00:31:10.959
 have places

00:31:10.959 --> 00:31:12.099
 and ways in our lives

00:31:12.099 --> 00:31:12.980
 where we want

00:31:12.980 --> 00:31:14.079
 to do what we want

00:31:14.079 --> 00:31:14.599
 to do.

00:31:16.859 --> 00:31:17.639
 Perhaps it's with

00:31:17.639 --> 00:31:18.119
 our money.

00:31:18.339 --> 00:31:19.059
 We get to set

00:31:19.059 --> 00:31:20.199
 how we use our finances.

00:31:20.519 --> 00:31:21.059
 Perhaps it's with

00:31:21.059 --> 00:31:21.699
 our career.

00:31:22.240 --> 00:31:23.839
 I will force myself

00:31:23.839 --> 00:31:25.199
 to work in this job.

00:31:26.059 --> 00:31:26.859
 Perhaps it's in our

00:31:26.859 --> 00:31:27.939
 romantic relationships

00:31:27.939 --> 00:31:28.799
 or in our habits.

00:31:28.799 --> 00:31:30.539
 We will assume

00:31:30.539 --> 00:31:31.639
 what Odysseus says

00:31:31.639 --> 00:31:32.220
 when he says

00:31:32.220 --> 00:31:33.440
 defy the gods.

00:31:33.740 --> 00:31:34.819
 I'll do what I want.

00:31:36.159 --> 00:31:37.139
 Being a sheep

00:31:37.139 --> 00:31:38.319
 is not being scattered

00:31:38.319 --> 00:31:39.319
 in any way we want

00:31:39.319 --> 00:31:40.519
 but we follow a shepherd

00:31:40.519 --> 00:31:42.559
 who directs us

00:31:42.559 --> 00:31:43.879
 through his word.

00:31:45.139 --> 00:31:46.339
 The paths of righteousness

00:31:46.339 --> 00:31:46.940
 are not

00:31:46.940 --> 00:31:47.879
 choose your own adventure.

00:31:48.839 --> 00:31:49.460
 You do not

00:31:49.460 --> 00:31:51.119
 frankly get to follow

00:31:51.119 --> 00:31:51.799
 God any way

00:31:51.799 --> 00:31:52.519
 that you want

00:31:52.519 --> 00:31:54.659
 but as he has revealed

00:31:54.659 --> 00:31:55.799
 to us in his word.

00:31:55.799 --> 00:32:00.000
 And if you find

00:32:00.000 --> 00:32:00.839
 yourself living

00:32:00.839 --> 00:32:01.839
 some way in your life

00:32:01.839 --> 00:32:02.539
 that is contrary

00:32:02.539 --> 00:32:03.039
 to this

00:32:03.039 --> 00:32:03.879
 then with all the love

00:32:03.879 --> 00:32:04.220
 in the world

00:32:04.220 --> 00:32:04.859
 that is not

00:32:04.859 --> 00:32:05.799
 the path of righteousness.

00:32:07.419 --> 00:32:07.839
 Third,

00:32:08.980 --> 00:32:09.599
 the paths

00:32:09.599 --> 00:32:10.539
 of righteousness

00:32:10.539 --> 00:32:12.200
 are not always easy.

00:32:13.859 --> 00:32:15.419
 The next line

00:32:15.419 --> 00:32:16.619
 even though I what

00:32:16.619 --> 00:32:17.759
 walk through the valley

00:32:17.759 --> 00:32:19.059
 of the shadow of death

00:32:19.059 --> 00:32:22.039
 the paths of righteousness

00:32:22.039 --> 00:32:22.980
 are not easy.

00:32:23.319 --> 00:32:24.259
 It's not always lucrative.

00:32:24.259 --> 00:32:26.799
 Late in the book of Acts

00:32:26.799 --> 00:32:28.879
 Paul very clearly tells

00:32:28.879 --> 00:32:30.299
 I mean God very clearly

00:32:30.299 --> 00:32:31.059
 tells Paul

00:32:31.059 --> 00:32:32.460
 go back to Jerusalem.

00:32:33.200 --> 00:32:34.379
 Go back to Jerusalem

00:32:34.379 --> 00:32:35.299
 and preach the gospel.

00:32:36.039 --> 00:32:36.539
 And Paul says

00:32:36.539 --> 00:32:37.319
 okay I'll go.

00:32:37.740 --> 00:32:38.480
 And immediately

00:32:38.480 --> 00:32:39.400
 all of his friends

00:32:39.400 --> 00:32:40.240
 start saying

00:32:40.240 --> 00:32:41.539
 all of the apostles say

00:32:41.539 --> 00:32:42.680
 you know what's going to happen

00:32:42.680 --> 00:32:43.500
 if you go back there.

00:32:43.879 --> 00:32:45.339
 They're going to arrest you.

00:32:46.279 --> 00:32:47.319
 And then another prophet

00:32:47.319 --> 00:32:48.379
 comes and binds

00:32:48.379 --> 00:32:49.259
 Paul's wrists

00:32:49.259 --> 00:32:49.839
 and says

00:32:49.839 --> 00:32:51.460
 the man who owns this belt

00:32:51.460 --> 00:32:52.279
 will be arrested

00:32:52.279 --> 00:32:52.859
 in Jerusalem.

00:32:52.859 --> 00:32:53.519
 and they say

00:32:53.519 --> 00:32:55.000
 please Paul don't do this.

00:32:55.240 --> 00:32:56.359
 You're our best player.

00:32:56.679 --> 00:32:57.079
 You've planted

00:32:57.079 --> 00:32:58.179
 dozens of churches

00:32:58.179 --> 00:32:59.459
 all around the Mediterranean.

00:32:59.979 --> 00:33:00.479
 Please don't.

00:33:00.539 --> 00:33:00.799
 And he says

00:33:00.799 --> 00:33:01.939
 I have to go.

00:33:02.879 --> 00:33:03.719
 And so what does he do?

00:33:03.899 --> 00:33:04.679
 He goes

00:33:04.679 --> 00:33:06.319
 and immediately

00:33:06.319 --> 00:33:07.000
 is arrested.

00:33:07.699 --> 00:33:08.359
 Immediately gets

00:33:08.359 --> 00:33:09.519
 the snot beat out of him

00:33:09.519 --> 00:33:10.679
 three to four times.

00:33:11.059 --> 00:33:12.240
 Gets shipped

00:33:12.240 --> 00:33:13.219
 all the way to Rome

00:33:13.219 --> 00:33:14.519
 in a very unpleasant

00:33:14.519 --> 00:33:15.539
 series of crashes

00:33:15.539 --> 00:33:16.399
 and shipwrecks

00:33:16.399 --> 00:33:17.639
 and getting bit by a snake.

00:33:17.799 --> 00:33:18.719
 And then he's killed.

00:33:18.720 --> 00:33:21.779
 That's God's path

00:33:21.779 --> 00:33:22.299
 of righteousness

00:33:22.299 --> 00:33:22.880
 for Paul.

00:33:23.339 --> 00:33:24.120
 We would look at that

00:33:24.120 --> 00:33:24.519
 and say

00:33:24.519 --> 00:33:25.400
 not the win

00:33:25.400 --> 00:33:26.920
 not what we would have

00:33:26.920 --> 00:33:27.579
 had in mind.

00:33:28.400 --> 00:33:29.420
 Following a shepherd

00:33:29.420 --> 00:33:30.039
 at work

00:33:30.039 --> 00:33:31.600
 can be costly.

00:33:32.380 --> 00:33:33.440
 It will cost you

00:33:33.440 --> 00:33:34.259
 as Jesus says

00:33:34.259 --> 00:33:34.920
 everything.

00:33:35.480 --> 00:33:36.600
 Take up your cross

00:33:36.600 --> 00:33:37.420
 and follow me.

00:33:39.059 --> 00:33:39.779
 And this means

00:33:39.779 --> 00:33:40.360
 the death

00:33:40.360 --> 00:33:41.240
 of something

00:33:41.240 --> 00:33:42.059
 in your life.

00:33:42.360 --> 00:33:43.519
 Probably multiple things.

00:33:43.839 --> 00:33:44.440
 For some of you

00:33:44.440 --> 00:33:45.759
 it's your view of money.

00:33:45.900 --> 00:33:46.420
 For some of you

00:33:46.420 --> 00:33:46.819
 it's your view

00:33:46.819 --> 00:33:47.519
 of relationships

00:33:47.519 --> 00:33:48.319
 or what you can do

00:33:48.319 --> 00:33:48.940
 with your body

00:33:48.940 --> 00:33:50.119
 or your sexuality.

00:33:50.400 --> 00:33:52.200
 Something will have to die

00:33:52.200 --> 00:33:53.559
 on the path of righteousness

00:33:53.559 --> 00:33:54.759
 and that will be unpleasant.

00:33:54.940 --> 00:33:55.480
 It will hurt.

00:33:56.379 --> 00:33:57.079
 But we trust

00:33:57.079 --> 00:33:57.879
 that it is a good

00:33:57.879 --> 00:33:58.619
 shepherdly

00:33:58.619 --> 00:34:00.359
 righteous path.

00:34:01.980 --> 00:34:03.019
 Third application

00:34:03.019 --> 00:34:04.079
 righteous paths

00:34:04.079 --> 00:34:05.279
 are God's direction

00:34:05.279 --> 00:34:06.960
 and our cooperation.

00:34:08.300 --> 00:34:08.920
 Righteous paths

00:34:08.920 --> 00:34:09.880
 are God's direction

00:34:09.880 --> 00:34:10.920
 and our cooperation.

00:34:11.360 --> 00:34:12.019
 The New Testament

00:34:12.019 --> 00:34:13.380
 picks up on this theme

00:34:13.380 --> 00:34:14.519
 of paths of righteousness

00:34:14.519 --> 00:34:16.559
 with the word walk.

00:34:17.519 --> 00:34:18.039
 Walk.

00:34:18.320 --> 00:34:19.320
 And Paul uses this

00:34:19.320 --> 00:34:20.000
 all the time

00:34:20.000 --> 00:34:20.800
 in his epistles

00:34:20.800 --> 00:34:21.320
 in his letters

00:34:21.320 --> 00:34:21.960
 when he says

00:34:21.960 --> 00:34:24.440
 walk in a manner

00:34:24.440 --> 00:34:25.739
 worthy of your calling.

00:34:26.259 --> 00:34:27.480
 Walk by the spirit

00:34:27.480 --> 00:34:28.159
 and you will not

00:34:28.159 --> 00:34:29.159
 gratify the desires

00:34:29.159 --> 00:34:29.739
 of the flesh.

00:34:29.840 --> 00:34:30.559
 Or 1 John

00:34:30.559 --> 00:34:31.539
 where he tells

00:34:31.539 --> 00:34:33.039
 little children

00:34:33.039 --> 00:34:34.440
 walk in the light.

00:34:36.719 --> 00:34:38.400
 We have to trust

00:34:38.400 --> 00:34:39.519
 that God will direct us

00:34:39.519 --> 00:34:40.300
 but then we also

00:34:40.300 --> 00:34:41.759
 have to make choices

00:34:41.759 --> 00:34:42.820
 wisely

00:34:42.820 --> 00:34:43.780
 under the counsel

00:34:43.780 --> 00:34:44.579
 of God's word

00:34:44.579 --> 00:34:45.420
 and of his church

00:34:45.420 --> 00:34:47.220
 in a way that cooperates

00:34:47.220 --> 00:34:48.220
 obeys

00:34:48.220 --> 00:34:49.740
 our good shepherd.

00:34:49.940 --> 00:34:50.700
 God directs

00:34:50.700 --> 00:34:51.659
 and yet we obey.

00:34:52.280 --> 00:34:52.940
 Very practically

00:34:52.940 --> 00:34:53.680
 what does this mean?

00:34:54.700 --> 00:34:55.460
 What does this mean?

00:34:55.500 --> 00:34:56.360
 It means that you

00:34:56.360 --> 00:34:57.760
 must be a person

00:34:57.760 --> 00:34:59.159
 who is putting yourself

00:34:59.159 --> 00:34:59.880
 in places

00:34:59.880 --> 00:35:00.900
 where you will receive

00:35:00.900 --> 00:35:01.480
 the counsel

00:35:01.480 --> 00:35:02.180
 and the care

00:35:02.180 --> 00:35:02.780
 of the shepherd.

00:35:03.900 --> 00:35:04.780
 Put yourself

00:35:04.780 --> 00:35:05.280
 in places

00:35:05.280 --> 00:35:06.079
 where you will be

00:35:06.079 --> 00:35:06.539
 shepherded.

00:35:08.880 --> 00:35:09.380
 Namely

00:35:09.380 --> 00:35:10.539
 this place.

00:35:11.260 --> 00:35:11.760
 Come back

00:35:11.760 --> 00:35:12.440
 next week.

00:35:12.440 --> 00:35:14.720
 find yourself

00:35:14.720 --> 00:35:15.240
 friends

00:35:15.240 --> 00:35:16.240
 who have been

00:35:16.240 --> 00:35:17.139
 walking with Jesus

00:35:17.139 --> 00:35:18.099
 for a long time

00:35:18.099 --> 00:35:19.360
 and ask them

00:35:19.360 --> 00:35:20.159
 would you help me?

00:35:21.099 --> 00:35:22.099
 Join the men's group.

00:35:22.300 --> 00:35:23.200
 Join the women's group.

00:35:23.360 --> 00:35:24.360
 Join a home group.

00:35:25.300 --> 00:35:25.960
 Find places

00:35:25.960 --> 00:35:26.740
 where you can

00:35:26.740 --> 00:35:27.860
 and will be shepherded.

00:35:29.539 --> 00:35:30.440
 Ask yourself

00:35:30.440 --> 00:35:31.840
 which of the two stories

00:35:31.840 --> 00:35:32.800
 are you tempted

00:35:32.800 --> 00:35:33.559
 to believe

00:35:33.559 --> 00:35:34.079
 that either

00:35:34.079 --> 00:35:34.960
 defy the gods

00:35:34.960 --> 00:35:35.559
 I'm the master

00:35:35.559 --> 00:35:36.280
 of my own fate

00:35:36.280 --> 00:35:37.099
 I can do whatever

00:35:37.099 --> 00:35:37.740
 I want

00:35:37.740 --> 00:35:39.280
 or it is fated.

00:35:39.280 --> 00:35:41.200
 Which of those two

00:35:41.200 --> 00:35:42.200
 do you

00:35:42.200 --> 00:35:43.360
 incline to be?

00:35:43.700 --> 00:35:44.200
 For me

00:35:44.200 --> 00:35:44.960
 it depends on the day.

00:35:45.200 --> 00:35:45.660
 Some days

00:35:45.660 --> 00:35:46.140
 I'm like

00:35:46.140 --> 00:35:46.600
 I'm going to do

00:35:46.600 --> 00:35:47.100
 whatever I want

00:35:47.100 --> 00:35:47.660
 with my life.

00:35:48.420 --> 00:35:48.900
 I'm going to be

00:35:48.900 --> 00:35:50.260
 what's really bad

00:35:50.260 --> 00:35:50.600
 about me

00:35:50.600 --> 00:35:51.300
 is I'll baptize

00:35:51.300 --> 00:35:51.920
 it with ministry.

00:35:52.400 --> 00:35:52.700
 I'll say

00:35:52.700 --> 00:35:53.240
 I'm going to be

00:35:53.240 --> 00:35:54.220
 this kind of a pastor.

00:35:55.200 --> 00:35:55.800
 There's other days

00:35:55.800 --> 00:35:56.240
 where I'll say

00:35:56.240 --> 00:35:56.580
 there's nothing

00:35:56.580 --> 00:35:57.120
 I can do.

00:35:58.240 --> 00:35:59.100
 It's too big.

00:35:59.340 --> 00:35:59.800
 It's too big

00:35:59.800 --> 00:36:00.000
 of a

00:36:00.000 --> 00:36:00.700
 I can't

00:36:00.700 --> 00:36:01.500
 I can't do anything.

00:36:02.340 --> 00:36:03.080
 Which one

00:36:03.080 --> 00:36:04.600
 are you tempted

00:36:04.600 --> 00:36:05.040
 to believe?

00:36:05.120 --> 00:36:05.840
 And I would invite

00:36:05.840 --> 00:36:06.280
 you

00:36:06.280 --> 00:36:08.300
 to repent.

00:36:09.280 --> 00:36:10.280
 I would invite

00:36:10.280 --> 00:36:10.620
 you

00:36:10.620 --> 00:36:11.460
 to see

00:36:11.460 --> 00:36:11.820
 that there's

00:36:11.820 --> 00:36:12.880
 a better story

00:36:12.880 --> 00:36:14.060
 that Psalm 23

00:36:14.060 --> 00:36:15.140
 verse 3 says.

00:36:17.660 --> 00:36:18.700
 And I would invite

00:36:18.700 --> 00:36:19.440
 you to

00:36:19.440 --> 00:36:19.980
 imitate

00:36:19.980 --> 00:36:21.519
 Psalm 1.

00:36:22.240 --> 00:36:22.580
 Blessed

00:36:22.580 --> 00:36:23.380
 is the man

00:36:23.380 --> 00:36:23.900
 who does not

00:36:23.900 --> 00:36:24.380
 walk

00:36:24.380 --> 00:36:25.360
 in the counsel

00:36:25.360 --> 00:36:25.820
 of the wicked

00:36:25.820 --> 00:36:26.900
 or stand

00:36:26.900 --> 00:36:27.220
 in the way

00:36:27.220 --> 00:36:27.600
 of sinners

00:36:27.600 --> 00:36:28.080
 or sit

00:36:28.080 --> 00:36:28.480
 in the seat

00:36:28.480 --> 00:36:29.019
 of scoffers

00:36:29.019 --> 00:36:30.160
 but his delight

00:36:30.160 --> 00:36:31.100
 is in the law

00:36:31.100 --> 00:36:31.600
 of what?

00:36:31.760 --> 00:36:32.200
 Yahweh.

00:36:33.420 --> 00:36:34.519
 A personal God.

00:36:35.100 --> 00:36:35.820
 God leads us

00:36:35.820 --> 00:36:36.519
 but we follow.

00:36:37.760 --> 00:36:38.160
 And so how do

00:36:38.160 --> 00:36:38.740
 we do this?

00:36:39.860 --> 00:36:40.320
 I've already

00:36:40.320 --> 00:36:40.800
 hinted at it

00:36:40.800 --> 00:36:41.280
 but we listen

00:36:41.280 --> 00:36:41.760
 to the shepherd

00:36:41.760 --> 00:36:42.260
 and we stay

00:36:42.260 --> 00:36:42.780
 in the flock.

00:36:43.560 --> 00:36:44.480
 Very practically

00:36:44.480 --> 00:36:45.080
 we listen

00:36:45.080 --> 00:36:45.660
 to the shepherd

00:36:45.660 --> 00:36:46.500
 and we stay

00:36:46.500 --> 00:36:47.019
 in the flock.

00:36:47.160 --> 00:36:47.800
 Our New Testament

00:36:47.800 --> 00:36:48.820
 reading was

00:36:48.820 --> 00:36:49.720
 from John 10

00:36:49.720 --> 00:36:50.840
 where Jesus

00:36:50.840 --> 00:36:51.820
 comes and says

00:36:51.820 --> 00:36:52.519
 what does he say?

00:36:52.920 --> 00:36:53.960
 I am

00:36:53.960 --> 00:36:55.860
 the good shepherd.

00:36:57.740 --> 00:36:58.519
 And immediately

00:36:58.519 --> 00:36:59.640
 he is relating

00:36:59.640 --> 00:37:00.600
 his attribute

00:37:00.600 --> 00:37:01.400
 goodness to

00:37:01.400 --> 00:37:02.019
 the character

00:37:02.019 --> 00:37:02.640
 of God

00:37:02.640 --> 00:37:04.440
 keeping promises

00:37:04.440 --> 00:37:05.640
 steadfast

00:37:05.640 --> 00:37:06.240
 trustworthy

00:37:06.239 --> 00:37:07.239
 I am

00:37:07.239 --> 00:37:07.859
 the good shepherd.

00:37:07.859 --> 00:37:08.679
 I know

00:37:08.679 --> 00:37:09.419
 my sheep

00:37:09.419 --> 00:37:10.219
 and my sheep

00:37:10.219 --> 00:37:10.679
 know me

00:37:10.679 --> 00:37:11.599
 and they will

00:37:11.599 --> 00:37:12.359
 listen to

00:37:12.359 --> 00:37:13.259
 my voice.

00:37:14.939 --> 00:37:16.219
 The application

00:37:16.219 --> 00:37:16.979
 for this

00:37:16.979 --> 00:37:18.179
 is to listen

00:37:18.179 --> 00:37:20.159
 to the good shepherd.

00:37:21.359 --> 00:37:22.579
 Put yourself

00:37:22.579 --> 00:37:23.259
 in places

00:37:23.259 --> 00:37:24.179
 where you can

00:37:24.179 --> 00:37:24.759
 be led

00:37:24.759 --> 00:37:25.319
 in paths

00:37:25.319 --> 00:37:25.939
 of righteousness.

00:37:26.739 --> 00:37:27.779
 Stay in the word.

00:37:28.439 --> 00:37:29.279
 This is an invitation

00:37:29.279 --> 00:37:30.539
 not to have

00:37:30.539 --> 00:37:31.479
 to read your Bible

00:37:31.480 --> 00:37:32.539
 but to get

00:37:32.539 --> 00:37:33.719
 to read your Bible.

00:37:34.619 --> 00:37:35.179
 An invitation

00:37:35.179 --> 00:37:36.059
 not to have

00:37:36.059 --> 00:37:36.960
 to come to church

00:37:36.960 --> 00:37:37.820
 but to get

00:37:37.820 --> 00:37:38.820
 to come to church.

00:37:39.440 --> 00:37:40.159
 Not to have

00:37:40.159 --> 00:37:40.980
 to fill your schedule

00:37:40.980 --> 00:37:41.740
 with one more

00:37:41.740 --> 00:37:42.400
 small group

00:37:42.400 --> 00:37:42.880
 that you have

00:37:42.880 --> 00:37:43.139
 to do

00:37:43.139 --> 00:37:43.900
 one more errand

00:37:43.900 --> 00:37:44.400
 that you have

00:37:44.400 --> 00:37:45.099
 to take your kids

00:37:45.099 --> 00:37:45.300
 to

00:37:45.300 --> 00:37:46.260
 but to get

00:37:46.260 --> 00:37:46.920
 to do it

00:37:46.920 --> 00:37:48.059
 because we have

00:37:48.059 --> 00:37:49.039
 a fatherly shepherd

00:37:49.039 --> 00:37:50.820
 who is guiding us.

00:37:52.400 --> 00:37:52.960
 And then the second

00:37:52.960 --> 00:37:53.719
 application is

00:37:53.719 --> 00:37:54.619
 to stay in the flock.

00:37:56.159 --> 00:37:57.280
 To stay in the flock.

00:37:57.400 --> 00:37:58.019
 The temptation

00:37:58.019 --> 00:37:58.880
 always

00:37:58.880 --> 00:37:59.980
 is to

00:37:59.980 --> 00:38:01.119
 well John tells us

00:38:01.119 --> 00:38:01.839
 scatter.

00:38:04.239 --> 00:38:04.679
 Scatter.

00:38:05.000 --> 00:38:05.779
 John 10

00:38:05.779 --> 00:38:06.599
 the wolf

00:38:06.599 --> 00:38:07.179
 and the thief

00:38:07.179 --> 00:38:08.279
 come to scatter

00:38:08.279 --> 00:38:08.859
 the sheep.

00:38:09.420 --> 00:38:09.960
 The world

00:38:09.960 --> 00:38:10.480
 the flesh

00:38:10.480 --> 00:38:10.900
 and the devil

00:38:10.900 --> 00:38:12.000
 want to isolate

00:38:12.000 --> 00:38:13.139
 you from the visible

00:38:13.139 --> 00:38:14.000
 body of believers

00:38:14.000 --> 00:38:14.819
 in any

00:38:14.819 --> 00:38:15.759
 and every

00:38:15.759 --> 00:38:16.420
 distraction.

00:38:18.339 --> 00:38:19.199
 Colorado Springs

00:38:19.199 --> 00:38:20.079
 is particularly

00:38:20.079 --> 00:38:21.119
 prone to this.

00:38:21.400 --> 00:38:21.940
 I'm learning this

00:38:21.940 --> 00:38:23.019
 from my wife.

00:38:23.139 --> 00:38:23.539
 She grew up

00:38:23.539 --> 00:38:23.940
 in a place

00:38:23.940 --> 00:38:24.460
 where she says

00:38:24.460 --> 00:38:25.719
 people don't scatter

00:38:25.719 --> 00:38:26.380
 in other places

00:38:26.380 --> 00:38:27.279
 like they do here.

00:38:27.819 --> 00:38:28.420
 We scatter

00:38:28.420 --> 00:38:29.519
 with mountains.

00:38:29.819 --> 00:38:30.339
 We scatter

00:38:30.339 --> 00:38:30.779
 with

00:38:30.780 --> 00:38:31.960
 sports activities.

00:38:32.280 --> 00:38:32.760
 We scatter

00:38:32.760 --> 00:38:33.120
 with

00:38:33.120 --> 00:38:34.420
 all of our hobbies.

00:38:36.000 --> 00:38:37.240
 And I would invite you

00:38:37.240 --> 00:38:38.220
 I would encourage you

00:38:38.220 --> 00:38:39.320
 to don't buy it.

00:38:40.680 --> 00:38:41.040
 Stay

00:38:41.040 --> 00:38:41.980
 in the flock

00:38:41.980 --> 00:38:43.920
 when you move

00:38:43.920 --> 00:38:44.360
 and I know

00:38:44.360 --> 00:38:44.800
 this church

00:38:44.800 --> 00:38:45.600
 has a lot of people

00:38:45.600 --> 00:38:46.100
 who move.

00:38:46.280 --> 00:38:47.220
 Matthew always tells me

00:38:47.220 --> 00:38:47.620
 it's a church

00:38:47.620 --> 00:38:48.680
 that receives

00:38:48.680 --> 00:38:49.180
 and sends.

00:38:49.600 --> 00:38:50.640
 Find a new church.

00:38:51.040 --> 00:38:52.160
 Make it a top priority.

00:38:53.019 --> 00:38:53.580
 If you're not

00:38:53.580 --> 00:38:54.460
 a member of this church

00:38:54.460 --> 00:38:55.400
 consider joining it.

00:38:55.500 --> 00:38:56.140
 Matthew just says

00:38:56.140 --> 00:38:56.940
 it's not too late

00:38:56.940 --> 00:38:57.540
 to join the new

00:38:57.540 --> 00:38:58.260
 members class.

00:38:58.260 --> 00:38:59.600
 Talk to him

00:38:59.600 --> 00:39:00.100
 about it.

00:39:02.600 --> 00:39:03.000
 Lastly

00:39:03.000 --> 00:39:04.320
 as you go out

00:39:04.320 --> 00:39:04.860
 this week

00:39:04.860 --> 00:39:05.500
 as you go out

00:39:05.500 --> 00:39:06.000
 tomorrow

00:39:06.000 --> 00:39:07.800
 take great assurance

00:39:07.800 --> 00:39:08.820
 that this is so

00:39:08.820 --> 00:39:09.480
 beautiful but so

00:39:09.480 --> 00:39:09.780
 simple.

00:39:09.940 --> 00:39:10.500
 Everything's going to

00:39:10.500 --> 00:39:11.200
 turn out all right.

00:39:12.780 --> 00:39:13.360
 Everything's going to

00:39:13.360 --> 00:39:14.140
 turn out all right.

00:39:15.480 --> 00:39:16.240
 Tim Keller always

00:39:16.240 --> 00:39:17.060
 said famously

00:39:17.060 --> 00:39:18.220
 if the Christian

00:39:18.220 --> 00:39:19.000
 faith is true

00:39:19.000 --> 00:39:20.740
 three things are

00:39:20.740 --> 00:39:21.020
 certain.

00:39:21.200 --> 00:39:21.360
 A.

00:39:21.400 --> 00:39:22.040
 The bad things

00:39:22.040 --> 00:39:22.520
 in your life

00:39:22.520 --> 00:39:23.260
 cannot last.

00:39:23.600 --> 00:39:23.780
 B.

00:39:23.840 --> 00:39:24.420
 The good things

00:39:24.420 --> 00:39:25.400
 cannot be taken away.

00:39:25.400 --> 00:39:26.240
 And see the best

00:39:26.240 --> 00:39:26.920
 is yet to come.

00:39:28.000 --> 00:39:28.660
 The bad things

00:39:28.660 --> 00:39:29.360
 cannot last.

00:39:29.539 --> 00:39:30.039
 The good things

00:39:30.039 --> 00:39:30.720
 can't be taken away

00:39:30.720 --> 00:39:31.099
 and the best

00:39:31.099 --> 00:39:31.639
 is yet to come.

00:39:31.760 --> 00:39:31.980
 Why?

00:39:32.280 --> 00:39:33.119
 Because the Lord

00:39:33.119 --> 00:39:34.920
 is your shepherd.

00:39:35.880 --> 00:39:36.980
 Take comfort in that.

00:39:37.420 --> 00:39:38.440
 Listen to the shepherd

00:39:38.440 --> 00:39:39.940
 and stay in the flock.

00:39:41.099 --> 00:39:42.059
 And he will lead you

00:39:42.059 --> 00:39:43.139
 as the very end

00:39:43.139 --> 00:39:44.240
 of Psalm 23 says

00:39:44.240 --> 00:39:45.820
 he will lead you

00:39:45.820 --> 00:39:46.800
 to the house

00:39:46.800 --> 00:39:47.639
 of the Lord

00:39:47.639 --> 00:39:48.220
 forever.

00:39:48.860 --> 00:39:49.579
 Let me pray for us.

00:39:50.039 --> 00:39:50.960
 Lord we pray

00:39:50.960 --> 00:39:51.760
 that you would

00:39:51.760 --> 00:39:52.840
 indeed shepherd us.

00:39:53.000 --> 00:39:53.579
 You've promised

00:39:53.579 --> 00:39:54.160
 that you will.

00:39:54.159 --> 00:39:55.359
 You've sent your son

00:39:55.359 --> 00:39:56.980
 to show us

00:39:56.980 --> 00:39:59.519
 your great love

00:39:59.519 --> 00:40:00.739
 for us on the cross.

00:40:01.420 --> 00:40:02.199
 You've committed

00:40:02.199 --> 00:40:04.299
 that you will not

00:40:04.299 --> 00:40:05.399
 one will fall away.

00:40:06.659 --> 00:40:08.000
 Help us to trust that.

00:40:08.460 --> 00:40:09.319
 Help us to repent

00:40:09.319 --> 00:40:09.899
 of the places

00:40:09.899 --> 00:40:10.639
 where we want to

00:40:10.639 --> 00:40:11.539
 set our own path

00:40:11.539 --> 00:40:12.099
 where we either

00:40:12.099 --> 00:40:13.139
 defy the gods

00:40:13.139 --> 00:40:14.799
 or despair.

00:40:15.779 --> 00:40:16.379
 Help us to be

00:40:16.379 --> 00:40:17.639
 help this to be a church

00:40:17.639 --> 00:40:19.239
 that is marked

00:40:19.239 --> 00:40:21.019
 by obedience

00:40:21.019 --> 00:40:22.339
 and listening to

00:40:22.339 --> 00:40:22.899
 the shepherd

00:40:22.899 --> 00:40:23.859
 in all of it.

00:40:23.860 --> 00:40:24.500
 And we will give

00:40:24.500 --> 00:40:25.160
 you the glory

00:40:25.160 --> 00:40:25.860
 because it is all

00:40:25.860 --> 00:40:26.800
 for your name's sake.

00:40:27.200 --> 00:40:27.740
 It's in Jesus' name

00:40:27.740 --> 00:40:28.039
 we pray.

00:40:28.160 --> 00:40:28.340
 Amen.

00:40:28.340 --> 00:40:28.460
 Amen.

00:40:28.460 --> 00:40:28.460


00:40:28.460 --> 00:40:28.460


00:40:28.460 --> 00:40:28.460


00:40:28.460 --> 00:40:28.460


00:40:28.460 --> 00:40:28.460


00:40:28.460 --> 00:40:28.460


00:40:28.460 --> 00:40:28.460


00:40:28.460 --> 00:40:28.460


00:40:28.460 --> 00:40:28.460


00:40:28.460 --> 00:40:28.460


00:40:28.460 --> 00:40:28.460


00:40:28.460 --> 00:40:28.460


00:40:28.460 --> 00:40:28.460


00:40:28.460 --> 00:40:28.460


00:40:28.460 --> 00:40:28.460


00:40:28.460 --> 00:40:28.460


00:40:28.460 --> 00:40:28.460


00:40:28.460 --> 00:40:28.460


00:40:28.460 --> 00:40:28.460