WEBVTT

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 Father, thank you that your son has overcome the world.

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 Thank you that we can take courage in him.

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 Thank you, Father, that we can pray to you in the name of Jesus.

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 Thank you, Father, that for us who are in Jesus, that you love us,

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 that you care for us, that we can share in Jesus's triumph.

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 We ask, Father, that your Holy Spirit would gently but deeply work in us,

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 a work of healing in our body, a work of healing in our soul,

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 a work of healing in our spirit, so that we might be encouraged by the gospel

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 and learn to encourage others to their good and your great glory.

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 This we ask in Jesus's name, your son and our savior. Amen.

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 Please be seated.

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 I don't want to worry you.

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 I know how congregations can get very worried when the minister does something out of the usual.

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 I'm going to begin my sermon here and then I'm going to move to up there.

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 And the reason is obvious because I have to watch the screen for the first couple of minutes.

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 If you saw in the bulletin, the theme, the title of the sermon today is

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 Choose Encouragement or Choose to Encourage.

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 And those of you who know me know that I'm a little bit weak in the gift of encouragement.

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 And so I actually thought I would go to the Internet to get some resources to encourage you.

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 So maybe what we'll just do is we'll look at these different images and then I'll just say amen and then we'll move on.

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 But maybe we'll need to actually open the word.

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 So these are some of the posters and sayings that I found to encourage you this morning.

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 Uh-oh, maybe the screen.

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 Oh, there it is.

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 Just because you've always done it that way doesn't mean it's not incredibly stupid.

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 It could be that the purpose of your life is only to serve as a warning to others.

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 That's a ship sinking.

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 That's a bike flying off a cliff if you can't see it from the back.

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 Keep living life like there's no tomorrow and you'll be right sooner than you think.

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 When people are free to do as they please, they usually imitate each other.

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 Hipsters, take note.

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 There you go.

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 Looking sharp is easy when you haven't done any work.

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 Some of you might want to take that to your office.

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 That's somebody climbing up a steep hill.

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 I expected times like this but never thought they'd be so bad, so long, and so frequent.

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 There we go.

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 There we go.

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 There's somebody losing their surfing board there if you can see that.

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 When good fortune often eludes you, this kind never misses.

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 There you go.

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 Big winners.

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 Because nothing says you're a loser more than owning a motivational poster about being a winner.

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 There's a bear about to eat a fish climbing the rapids.

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 The journey of a thousand miles sometimes ends very, very badly.

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 So I hope you all feel deeply encouraged by those particular posters.

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 And I hope I didn't offend anybody here who happens to have a poster that says winner in your house or in your office.

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 So I hope I didn't offend you by that.

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 But here's the thing.

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 Actually, I think I can say this.

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 Andrew, who looked up the images for me, I gave him the ones I wanted.

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 And he actually, I mean, some of you probably work in offices where people are always putting posters like that or telling you these little, you know, normally would say ambition and something else about how you just have to dream big or think big or whatever.

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 And you'll succeed.

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 And so many of us sort of labor under those types of encouragement.

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 Here's the problem with some of this stuff.

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 As we all know, that's why we can relate to this.

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 On one hand, we do know that sometimes we need encouragement, we need hope.

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 We're in difficult situations.

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 And I don't want to start to undermine that, especially things that happen to work for you.

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 But the problem with a lot of encouragement and a lot of motivation is that, first of all, posters like that, if they said the normal thing you'd see in the doctor's office or maybe where you work,

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 is that they often just seem to be there to manipulate you.

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 They're just there to manipulate you.

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 And it's as if people will say, you know, you're the most valued employee we have.

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 What you're doing is unbelievably important.

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 And then the next day they lay you off.

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 Or that there's things going on in your workplace.

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 And rather than the employers wanting to hear some helpful comments or feedback,

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 they use posters or sayings like this to try to silence things, silence the people who have some insight about problems, silence bad things that are going on.

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 And so often these words of encouragement or these types of posters are used to manipulate, to ignore problems,

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 or to try to tell us something which just isn't true.

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 And so while on one hand, some of us have a bit of a, I mean, we like the pictures of some of them and we hope that the sentiments or the cliches are true,

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 but at the same time we also sort of know that there's just something not quite right with it.

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 When I was in university, one of my friends, his mother went in for some simple surgery.

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 She was going to be, she had to be put out for it.

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 And, you know, of course we're all, I wasn't, but, you know, everybody was telling him how it's all going to work out good, et cetera, et cetera.

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 And, you know, I don't know what the statistics are for this particular surgery.

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 Maybe it is that only like, you know, 0.0001% of people who go through this surgery have serious complications that lead to your death.

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 But for my friend's mother, she was that 0.0001%.

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 And in something which should have been very routine, she died on the operating table.

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 And it was very, very, very devastating, as you can imagine, to my friend

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 and to all the other people who'd been just so glibly telling him that everything was going to be great and perfect and work out.

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 And so we all know, on one hand, we want sort of the Disney view of the world to be true.

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 But at another level, we know that the Disney view of the world is not true.

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 And often when Christians want to try to help each other learn how to encourage,

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 we revert, not to John Paul Sartre, who Jeremiah was talking about earlier,

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 but we revert to Disney and motivational posters.

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 So we, as Christians, were a little bit caught.

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 If you listened to Helen speak earlier, when she was reading from 1 Thessalonians 5,

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 and that's what we're going to be looking at.

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 Hopefully you can get your Bibles out and turn in them to 1 Thessalonians 5, verses 9 and following.

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 The Bible here very clearly tells us that we have to encourage one another.

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 But on the other hand, we might not always really know how to do it

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 because our right-handedness of encouragement is to go into the Disney world and to motivational posters.

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 So let's actually, what we're going to do, if Andrew, if you could put the Bible text up,

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 what we're going to do is we're going to read the text together that we're going to look at.

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 If you look in the bulletin in the pastor's blog, I lay out how we're going to spend eight weeks

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 on 1 Thessalonians 5, 9 to 28, looking at different exhortations there.

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 And today we're just looking at the first exhortation, which is to encourage.

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 And so why don't you join with me in reading this text?

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 Here's what this text, here's the first thing that this text is bringing home to us.

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 Through the cross of Christ, God knows me perfectly and still offers me a salvation

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 which is immediate, complete, full, whole, eternal, and irrevocable.

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 That's what this text of Scripture is teaching me and teaching us,

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 that through the cross of Christ, God knows me perfectly and still offers me a salvation

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 which is immediate, complete, full, whole, eternal, and irrevocable.

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 It's really, really quite amazing.

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 This book that we're going to be spending eight weeks in, Thessalonica was the second city in Europe,

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 the second place in Europe to have the Christian faith come.

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 And if you go back later on and you read Acts chapter 16 and Acts chapter 17,

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 you'll see an historical account of something momentous.

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 The Christian faith didn't enter Europe with armies.

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 It didn't enter Europe with thousands and thousands of people flooding

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 to do all sorts of remarkable, amazing things.

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 It didn't enter with all sorts of technology and wealth.

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 There were three or four guys who got off a boat in Philippi,

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 and as their feet touch the ground, as described in Acts chapter 16,

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 the first Christians enter Europe.

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 And the first person to respond to the Christian faith is a woman by the name of Lydia.

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 And she becomes the first European Christian.

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 And if you read Acts 16, you'll see that things go badly for Paul.

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 I mean, he ends up leaving a small church, but he's beaten with rods, thrown in jail.

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 God does something miraculous.

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 And Paul and his small missionary team go to their next city,

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 and the next city down the road is Thessalonica.

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 And Paul starts to speak about Jesus in Thessalonica.

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 And first he speaks to Jewish people.

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 And then as a result of his sharing about Jesus, three groups of people,

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 ordinary people from three types of groups respond to the gospel and become followers of Jesus.

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 People who are Jewish, pagans who had become Jewish.

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 So they've taken the trip from paganism to Judaism,

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 but now they take another step and become Christians.

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 And the third group are people who were pagans and hadn't become Jews first.

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 And these three different groups are part of this very, very early church in Thessalonica.

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 And then a great persecution comes upon the church in Thessalonica and upon Paul once again.

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 And after some things he has to leave.

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 And when we read 1 Thessalonians,

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 what we're reading is a copy of a letter that Paul wrote,

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 probably about 17 years after the death and resurrection of Jesus.

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 It's one of the first parts in the New Testament that were written.

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 And about 17 years after the death and resurrection of Jesus,

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 Paul, just a few months after he's left Thessalonica,

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 sends a letter to the Thessalonians, to the church,

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 to talk to them about important things to do with the Christian faith.

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 And one of the things that all three of those groups had in common,

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 whether it's the Judaism as it was practiced at that time,

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 or whether it was pagans who had become Jewish,

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 or whether it was pagans,

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 is that their mindset was influenced,

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 they were basically practicing different forms of what I call common human religion.

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 And in common human religion,

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 basically,

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 you do more good things than bad things.

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 And,

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 or maybe the weight of certain good things are enough to outweigh a lot of small bad things.

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 Maybe one,

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 you know,

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 one afternoon spent,

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 you know,

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 with your,

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 with your father-in-law,

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 who's really grumpy and mean,

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 outweighs the fact that you cheated on your taxes,

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 and you've been telling a whole pile of small lies to your,

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 your girlfriend or your wife.

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 So,

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 it doesn't necessarily mean you do more good things than bad things,

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 because,

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 you know,

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 and we all like to sort of inflate the weight,

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 so to speak,

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 of our good things,

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 and under-inflate the weight of our bad things.

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 But at the end of the day,

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 common human religion is that if you do more good things than bad things,

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 or the weight of your good things outweigh the bad things,

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 then God,

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 in a sense,

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 has an obligation to you,

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 to put you in a better place when you die.

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 And,

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 and so maybe those good things will involve making a trip to Mecca,

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 and keeping Ramadan.

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 Maybe those good things will involve learning how,

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 the 39 articles,

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 and how to do traditional Anglicanism.

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 Maybe it will involve spending time in church on a Sunday morning,

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 when it's sunny outside,

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 and you could be doing something different.

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 Maybe it's having a bar mitzvah.

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 Maybe it's learning spells.

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 Maybe it's learning spells and voting NDP.

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 Like,

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 whatever it is.

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 No,

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 I just say,

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 like,

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 you know,

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 whatever it is.

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 Whether it's,

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 like,

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 whatever we would call New Age,

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 or whether it's Hindu,

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 or whether it's Buddhist,

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 that there's this common human religion,

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 that if you do more good things than bad things,

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 that God has an obligation to you,

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 to,

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 to,

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 to send you to a better place when you die.

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 And,

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 the amazing thing about Jesus,

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 is that Jesus,

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 Jesus,

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 and the message of Jesus,

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 does not fit into any,

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 it does not fit into the common human religion.

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 And,

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 and the fact of the matter is,

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 is that we are naturally drawn to common human religion.

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 Actually,

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 what we have is,

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 we have a love-hate relationship,

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 with common human religion.

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 At certain times in our life,

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 maybe,

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 we,

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 we sort of have a,

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 a,

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 a drawing to it,

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 and doing more good things than bad things.

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 And,

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 and others of us respond,

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 maybe by just,

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 throwing up our hands at any of that,

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 and just say,

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 you know what,

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 when you die,

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 that's it,

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 let's have a beer.

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 Or,

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 you know,

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 when you die,

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 that's it,

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 let's make some money,

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 have some fun,

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 and then you die,

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 that's it.

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 And so,

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 some people tend to just,

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 throw their,

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 turn their back on common human religion,

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 some sort of keep their foot in the door with it,

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 some completely and utterly embrace it.

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 But,

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 the gospel is completely and utterly different.

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 The gospel says,

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 that God is never in our debt.

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 Never,

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 ever,

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 ever,

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 ever in our debt.

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 And the remarkable thing,

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 is that Jesus,

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 by his death upon the cross,

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 when Jesus looks at you,

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 and looks at me,

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 when he thinks of you,

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 and thinks of me,

00:15:03.779 --> 00:15:06.319
 he knows every single thing there is to know about us,

00:15:06.500 --> 00:15:07.819
 and still he dies for us.

00:15:08.139 --> 00:15:09.740
 And that when he dies upon the cross,

00:15:09.819 --> 00:15:11.840
 he doesn't just die for the me that's lived,

00:15:12.200 --> 00:15:14.080
 from when I was born to now,

00:15:14.399 --> 00:15:16.639
 and deals with the things that I've done in my life,

00:15:16.639 --> 00:15:18.419
 from the time I was born to now,

00:15:18.559 --> 00:15:21.159
 but he sees the entire length of my life.

00:15:21.240 --> 00:15:23.199
 He sees me from the moment of my conception,

00:15:23.460 --> 00:15:24.840
 to the moment of my death.

00:15:25.179 --> 00:15:26.939
 He sees me in all of my depth,

00:15:27.199 --> 00:15:28.720
 in all of my angularity,

00:15:28.819 --> 00:15:30.299
 in all of my particularity,

00:15:30.559 --> 00:15:32.259
 and seeing all that there is to see,

00:15:32.360 --> 00:15:32.679
 to know,

00:15:32.740 --> 00:15:33.740
 to know about me.

00:15:34.019 --> 00:15:34.600
 He dies,

00:15:34.720 --> 00:15:36.179
 he takes my place,

00:15:36.279 --> 00:15:37.399
 that full place,

00:15:37.500 --> 00:15:39.120
 and dies upon the cross for me.

00:15:39.860 --> 00:15:41.019
 And so that in the gospel,

00:15:41.519 --> 00:15:43.620
 God offers something to us,

00:15:43.840 --> 00:15:47.320
 that we can never possibly accomplish by ourselves.

00:15:47.980 --> 00:15:49.259
 Because the gospel says,

00:15:49.399 --> 00:15:50.799
 we delude ourselves to think,

00:15:50.860 --> 00:15:51.700
 that we can ever,

00:15:51.860 --> 00:15:55.240
 ever possibly put the living God in our debt.

00:15:56.019 --> 00:15:57.139
 What we do not need,

00:15:57.220 --> 00:15:59.299
 is a quest to put God in our debt.

00:15:59.659 --> 00:16:00.500
 What we need,

00:16:00.779 --> 00:16:02.899
 is a humility to recognize,

00:16:02.899 --> 00:16:06.019
 that God has to show mercy upon us,

00:16:06.019 --> 00:16:07.399
 or we have no hope.

00:16:07.799 --> 00:16:08.980
 And the gospel is,

00:16:09.500 --> 00:16:10.500
 that there is,

00:16:10.679 --> 00:16:12.419
 a living God who does exist,

00:16:12.799 --> 00:16:14.000
 who hears our prayers,

00:16:14.379 --> 00:16:15.500
 that hope can be real,

00:16:16.100 --> 00:16:17.519
 and that God does in Jesus,

00:16:17.659 --> 00:16:19.139
 what no human being can do,

00:16:19.240 --> 00:16:20.159
 in and of themselves.

00:16:20.740 --> 00:16:22.960
 And what is accomplished on the cross,

00:16:23.519 --> 00:16:24.860
 is that,

00:16:25.299 --> 00:16:26.399
 through the cross of Christ,

00:16:26.519 --> 00:16:27.919
 God knowing me perfectly,

00:16:28.340 --> 00:16:29.000
 and still,

00:16:29.319 --> 00:16:30.720
 he offers me a salvation,

00:16:30.720 --> 00:16:31.659
 which is immediate,

00:16:32.100 --> 00:16:34.019
 when we put our faith and trust in Jesus,

00:16:34.480 --> 00:16:35.439
 that's complete,

00:16:36.019 --> 00:16:37.519
 which is full,

00:16:37.740 --> 00:16:38.039
 whole,

00:16:38.199 --> 00:16:38.559
 eternal,

00:16:38.720 --> 00:16:39.579
 and irrevocable.

00:16:39.699 --> 00:16:40.220
 It means,

00:16:40.500 --> 00:16:42.439
 that no amount of failure,

00:16:42.579 --> 00:16:44.240
 whether it's a financial failure,

00:16:44.519 --> 00:16:45.860
 a physical failure,

00:16:46.779 --> 00:16:48.039
 emotional,

00:16:48.460 --> 00:16:48.980
 relational,

00:16:49.379 --> 00:16:49.819
 intellectual,

00:16:50.740 --> 00:16:51.659
 whatever that,

00:16:51.740 --> 00:16:53.399
 no amount of failure tomorrow,

00:16:54.679 --> 00:16:56.199
 will make Jesus reconsider,

00:16:56.319 --> 00:16:57.579
 his relationship with me,

00:16:57.620 --> 00:16:58.519
 and his dying for me.

00:16:58.519 --> 00:17:00.120
 We'll catch him by surprise.

00:17:01.360 --> 00:17:02.419
 And I can do,

00:17:02.639 --> 00:17:03.539
 all sorts of good works,

00:17:03.679 --> 00:17:04.960
 but all of those good works,

00:17:04.960 --> 00:17:05.980
 are not something,

00:17:05.980 --> 00:17:07.880
 that adds to what Jesus has done,

00:17:08.420 --> 00:17:10.299
 because what Jesus does for us,

00:17:10.319 --> 00:17:11.000
 on the cross,

00:17:11.620 --> 00:17:12.740
 is perfect,

00:17:13.180 --> 00:17:13.700
 complete,

00:17:14.019 --> 00:17:14.500
 full,

00:17:14.940 --> 00:17:15.500
 eternal,

00:17:16.840 --> 00:17:17.400
 completely,

00:17:17.600 --> 00:17:18.720
 and utterly sufficient,

00:17:19.600 --> 00:17:20.660
 all done,

00:17:20.860 --> 00:17:21.420
 by Jesus,

00:17:21.680 --> 00:17:22.480
 for us.

00:17:24.420 --> 00:17:25.079
 And you see,

00:17:25.200 --> 00:17:25.840
 this is really,

00:17:25.920 --> 00:17:26.180
 really,

00:17:26.180 --> 00:17:26.700
 really,

00:17:26.700 --> 00:17:27.519
 really important.

00:17:27.519 --> 00:17:28.839
 many of us,

00:17:28.879 --> 00:17:29.740
 walk around,

00:17:29.900 --> 00:17:31.119
 thinking to ourselves,

00:17:32.779 --> 00:17:35.339
 no one will love me,

00:17:35.379 --> 00:17:36.200
 as I really am.

00:17:38.879 --> 00:17:39.359
 And,

00:17:39.420 --> 00:17:40.680
 that's a heavy thing,

00:17:40.740 --> 00:17:41.259
 to carry.

00:17:41.680 --> 00:17:42.619
 It's a funny thing,

00:17:42.799 --> 00:17:43.160
 but many,

00:17:43.259 --> 00:17:44.359
 many people will carry it,

00:17:44.400 --> 00:17:45.299
 even though they're dating,

00:17:45.440 --> 00:17:46.440
 or even though they're married.

00:17:47.139 --> 00:17:48.500
 Many people will carry that,

00:17:48.579 --> 00:17:49.559
 even though they've been married,

00:17:49.619 --> 00:17:50.059
 for many,

00:17:50.160 --> 00:17:50.759
 many decades.

00:17:51.700 --> 00:17:51.960
 That,

00:17:52.160 --> 00:17:53.139
 underneath it all,

00:17:53.240 --> 00:17:54.720
 they have this basic sense,

00:17:54.799 --> 00:17:55.400
 that no one,

00:17:55.400 --> 00:17:56.380
 will love me,

00:17:56.440 --> 00:17:57.259
 as I really am.

00:17:58.220 --> 00:17:58.880
 And to them,

00:17:59.220 --> 00:18:00.180
 the gospel says,

00:18:00.360 --> 00:18:01.840
 that Jesus knew us perfectly,

00:18:02.060 --> 00:18:03.180
 and still he offers me,

00:18:03.240 --> 00:18:03.780
 a salvation,

00:18:03.940 --> 00:18:04.540
 which is immediate,

00:18:04.800 --> 00:18:05.120
 complete,

00:18:05.340 --> 00:18:05.560
 full,

00:18:05.700 --> 00:18:05.940
 whole,

00:18:06.060 --> 00:18:06.420
 eternal,

00:18:06.560 --> 00:18:07.460
 and irrevocable.

00:18:08.519 --> 00:18:09.440
 Many people,

00:18:09.660 --> 00:18:10.620
 worry that,

00:18:10.800 --> 00:18:12.259
 if people got closer to us,

00:18:12.340 --> 00:18:13.440
 they'd like us less.

00:18:15.440 --> 00:18:16.120
 And so,

00:18:16.220 --> 00:18:16.960
 we can become,

00:18:17.259 --> 00:18:18.780
 either reclusive types,

00:18:18.920 --> 00:18:19.720
 or we can become,

00:18:19.780 --> 00:18:20.820
 very good at jokes,

00:18:20.940 --> 00:18:22.040
 and other types of things,

00:18:22.100 --> 00:18:23.320
 to keep people at a distance,

00:18:23.440 --> 00:18:23.720
 because,

00:18:23.860 --> 00:18:24.759
 internally,

00:18:24.759 --> 00:18:25.799
 we worry,

00:18:25.900 --> 00:18:27.039
 that if people got to know,

00:18:27.140 --> 00:18:28.319
 if they got closer to me,

00:18:28.379 --> 00:18:29.420
 they'd like me less.

00:18:30.799 --> 00:18:31.160
 Jesus,

00:18:31.539 --> 00:18:32.220
 the Bible says,

00:18:32.319 --> 00:18:32.799
 that Jesus,

00:18:33.480 --> 00:18:34.319
 knows me,

00:18:34.759 --> 00:18:36.220
 better than I know myself.

00:18:36.960 --> 00:18:37.440
 And still,

00:18:37.519 --> 00:18:38.460
 he died on the cross,

00:18:38.460 --> 00:18:38.920
 for me.

00:18:39.619 --> 00:18:40.980
 And what he offers me,

00:18:41.119 --> 00:18:41.519
 is something,

00:18:41.720 --> 00:18:42.019
 which is,

00:18:42.259 --> 00:18:42.680
 complete,

00:18:42.900 --> 00:18:43.140
 full,

00:18:43.299 --> 00:18:43.559
 whole,

00:18:43.680 --> 00:18:44.059
 eternal,

00:18:44.279 --> 00:18:45.879
 and irrevocable.

00:18:48.400 --> 00:18:49.140
 Many of us,

00:18:49.220 --> 00:18:49.839
 worry that,

00:18:50.920 --> 00:18:52.160
 we have things,

00:18:52.240 --> 00:18:52.799
 in our past,

00:18:52.900 --> 00:18:53.519
 that if people,

00:18:53.519 --> 00:18:54.559
 were to find out about it,

00:18:54.599 --> 00:18:55.160
 they'd leave.

00:18:57.279 --> 00:18:58.119
 They'd leave us.

00:18:59.299 --> 00:19:00.139
 But the Bible says,

00:19:00.259 --> 00:19:01.039
 that Jesus knows,

00:19:01.119 --> 00:19:01.839
 everything there is,

00:19:01.879 --> 00:19:02.440
 to know about us,

00:19:02.460 --> 00:19:03.099
 and still he died,

00:19:03.139 --> 00:19:04.240
 on the cross for us.

00:19:05.039 --> 00:19:06.200
 And what he offers us,

00:19:07.019 --> 00:19:07.599
 is something,

00:19:07.799 --> 00:19:08.460
 which is immediate,

00:19:08.700 --> 00:19:09.039
 complete,

00:19:09.220 --> 00:19:09.420
 full,

00:19:09.539 --> 00:19:09.779
 whole,

00:19:09.900 --> 00:19:10.220
 eternal,

00:19:10.359 --> 00:19:11.180
 and irrevocable.

00:19:12.019 --> 00:19:12.799
 Some of us worry,

00:19:12.879 --> 00:19:13.359
 that no one,

00:19:13.440 --> 00:19:14.799
 will ever care for us,

00:19:15.019 --> 00:19:16.119
 or help us,

00:19:16.180 --> 00:19:17.599
 or meet our deepest needs.

00:19:18.299 --> 00:19:19.139
 The Bible says,

00:19:19.240 --> 00:19:20.119
 that Jesus knows,

00:19:20.119 --> 00:19:21.239
 our deepest need,

00:19:21.339 --> 00:19:21.699
 which is,

00:19:21.919 --> 00:19:22.599
 that we have been,

00:19:22.599 --> 00:19:24.039
 separated from the living God,

00:19:24.119 --> 00:19:24.599
 the creator,

00:19:24.719 --> 00:19:26.139
 the source of all life,

00:19:26.639 --> 00:19:27.199
 that we are,

00:19:27.199 --> 00:19:28.279
 alienated,

00:19:28.399 --> 00:19:29.159
 and separate,

00:19:29.359 --> 00:19:30.059
 from the source,

00:19:30.159 --> 00:19:31.059
 of all life,

00:19:31.399 --> 00:19:31.979
 that we are,

00:19:32.099 --> 00:19:32.559
 in fact,

00:19:32.799 --> 00:19:33.839
 cut flowers,

00:19:34.079 --> 00:19:34.919
 so to speak,

00:19:35.759 --> 00:19:36.559
 and that we can't,

00:19:36.559 --> 00:19:37.319
 leave ourselves,

00:19:37.439 --> 00:19:38.539
 to fix ourselves,

00:19:38.939 --> 00:19:40.319
 and our deepest,

00:19:40.459 --> 00:19:41.179
 alienation,

00:19:41.179 --> 00:19:42.139
 from our creator,

00:19:42.500 --> 00:19:43.419
 helps to cause,

00:19:43.619 --> 00:19:44.299
 alienation,

00:19:44.299 --> 00:19:45.019
 with all sorts,

00:19:45.019 --> 00:19:45.739
 of relationships,

00:19:45.879 --> 00:19:46.799
 outside of ourselves,

00:19:46.919 --> 00:19:47.559
 and to the world,

00:19:47.639 --> 00:19:48.699
 and even to ourselves,

00:19:48.700 --> 00:19:50.019
 and the Bible says,

00:19:50.140 --> 00:19:50.480
 that Jesus,

00:19:50.720 --> 00:19:51.519
 knowing all of that,

00:19:51.559 --> 00:19:52.059
 about us,

00:19:52.279 --> 00:19:53.539
 still he died for us,

00:19:53.559 --> 00:19:54.200
 and he deals,

00:19:54.420 --> 00:19:55.880
 with our deepest need,

00:19:56.620 --> 00:19:58.120
 which is to be reconciled,

00:19:58.240 --> 00:19:59.039
 to the living God,

00:19:59.120 --> 00:19:59.700
 the source,

00:20:00.059 --> 00:20:01.059
 of all health,

00:20:01.180 --> 00:20:01.720
 and life,

00:20:02.420 --> 00:20:03.120
 our creator,

00:20:03.600 --> 00:20:04.860
 and that what he offers us,

00:20:05.779 --> 00:20:06.779
 is complete,

00:20:06.980 --> 00:20:07.440
 and full,

00:20:07.580 --> 00:20:08.019
 and whole,

00:20:08.120 --> 00:20:08.600
 and eternal,

00:20:08.840 --> 00:20:09.960
 and irrevocable,

00:20:10.640 --> 00:20:11.400
 and many of us,

00:20:11.400 --> 00:20:12.059
 walk around,

00:20:12.200 --> 00:20:13.160
 believing that there is,

00:20:13.160 --> 00:20:14.740
 something so fundamentally,

00:20:14.740 --> 00:20:15.900
 broken or wrong,

00:20:15.940 --> 00:20:16.360
 about us,

00:20:16.420 --> 00:20:17.080
 that we're doomed,

00:20:17.400 --> 00:20:18.680
 that whatever we touch,

00:20:18.700 --> 00:20:20.759
 we will wreck,

00:20:23.160 --> 00:20:24.440
 and the Bible passage here,

00:20:24.480 --> 00:20:25.680
 even uses the language,

00:20:25.860 --> 00:20:26.900
 of doom and destiny,

00:20:27.620 --> 00:20:28.200
 and it says,

00:20:28.340 --> 00:20:29.380
 that when we put our faith,

00:20:29.440 --> 00:20:30.460
 and trust in Jesus,

00:20:31.460 --> 00:20:32.779
 that what is written,

00:20:33.059 --> 00:20:33.960
 on our foreheads,

00:20:33.960 --> 00:20:34.900
 is not doomed,

00:20:35.340 --> 00:20:36.400
 but destined,

00:20:37.360 --> 00:20:38.580
 for union with Christ,

00:20:39.500 --> 00:20:41.100
 and that what is offered,

00:20:41.100 --> 00:20:42.340
 to us in Jesus,

00:20:42.580 --> 00:20:43.380
 is whole,

00:20:43.539 --> 00:20:44.100
 and full,

00:20:44.299 --> 00:20:45.100
 and complete,

00:20:45.259 --> 00:20:45.759
 and eternal,

00:20:46.160 --> 00:20:47.380
 and irrevocable,

00:20:47.380 --> 00:20:51.000
 and that is,

00:20:51.000 --> 00:20:51.900
 what Jesus does,

00:20:51.900 --> 00:20:53.000
 for us on the cross,

00:20:53.160 --> 00:20:54.060
 could you put the text,

00:20:54.060 --> 00:20:54.480
 up again,

00:20:54.580 --> 00:20:55.360
 let's read it together,

00:20:55.460 --> 00:20:55.780
 again,

00:20:55.779 --> 00:20:58.279
 for God,

00:20:58.279 --> 00:20:59.839
 has not destined us,

00:20:59.839 --> 00:21:00.539
 for wrath,

00:21:01.019 --> 00:21:02.639
 but to obtain salvation,

00:21:02.639 --> 00:21:03.579
 through our Lord,

00:21:03.700 --> 00:21:04.519
 Jesus Christ,

00:21:05.019 --> 00:21:06.339
 who died for us,

00:21:06.460 --> 00:21:08.180
 so that whether we are awake,

00:21:08.240 --> 00:21:08.879
 or asleep,

00:21:09.399 --> 00:21:10.879
 we might live with him,

00:21:11.460 --> 00:21:11.940
 therefore,

00:21:12.200 --> 00:21:13.480
 encourage one another,

00:21:13.899 --> 00:21:15.519
 and build one another up,

00:21:15.839 --> 00:21:17.119
 just as you are doing,

00:21:17.119 --> 00:21:18.579
 if you go back,

00:21:18.659 --> 00:21:19.059
 and read,

00:21:19.219 --> 00:21:20.459
 first Thessalonians,

00:21:20.639 --> 00:21:21.479
 five chapters,

00:21:21.559 --> 00:21:22.799
 I think it's only 89 verses,

00:21:22.899 --> 00:21:23.519
 it doesn't take you,

00:21:23.599 --> 00:21:24.399
 very long to read,

00:21:24.839 --> 00:21:25.799
 you'll see that Paul,

00:21:25.799 --> 00:21:26.939
 uses a sleep,

00:21:27.299 --> 00:21:28.199
 as sort of a metaphor,

00:21:28.379 --> 00:21:28.819
 of death,

00:21:29.459 --> 00:21:30.579
 and so it's saying here,

00:21:30.639 --> 00:21:31.379
 whether we die,

00:21:31.479 --> 00:21:32.419
 or whether we are awake,

00:21:32.799 --> 00:21:32.899
 we,

00:21:33.319 --> 00:21:34.219
 whether we're alive,

00:21:34.299 --> 00:21:35.079
 or whether we die,

00:21:35.599 --> 00:21:36.759
 when we're in Jesus,

00:21:36.919 --> 00:21:37.979
 and have union with him,

00:21:38.399 --> 00:21:40.139
 we are with him,

00:21:41.059 --> 00:21:42.739
 it's irrevocable,

00:21:42.740 --> 00:21:46.240
 a couple of years ago,

00:21:46.279 --> 00:21:47.120
 I was in the Starbucks,

00:21:47.200 --> 00:21:47.799
 not as surprised,

00:21:47.900 --> 00:21:48.680
 that I was in the Starbucks,

00:21:48.759 --> 00:21:49.620
 a couple of years ago,

00:21:50.220 --> 00:21:51.339
 those of you who know me,

00:21:51.539 --> 00:21:53.039
 and I overheard a conversation,

00:21:53.559 --> 00:21:54.980
 of two young women,

00:21:55.440 --> 00:21:56.940
 just sitting sort of beside me,

00:21:57.240 --> 00:21:58.240
 and they were talking about,

00:21:58.339 --> 00:21:59.279
 the upcoming marriage,

00:21:59.700 --> 00:22:00.819
 one of them was getting married,

00:22:01.079 --> 00:22:02.240
 and the other one was their friend,

00:22:02.299 --> 00:22:03.120
 they were talking about it,

00:22:03.759 --> 00:22:05.599
 and you know,

00:22:05.759 --> 00:22:07.980
 I guess it was bridesmaid,

00:22:08.019 --> 00:22:10.279
 or something said to the future bride,

00:22:10.400 --> 00:22:11.740
 he seems like a really nice guy,

00:22:11.839 --> 00:22:12.120
 but you know,

00:22:12.119 --> 00:22:12.679
 are you really sure,

00:22:12.739 --> 00:22:13.739
 about getting married to him,

00:22:14.139 --> 00:22:14.979
 and the bride said,

00:22:15.079 --> 00:22:15.979
 I always remember this,

00:22:16.119 --> 00:22:17.739
 I get the words slightly mixed up,

00:22:17.779 --> 00:22:18.199
 but she said,

00:22:18.239 --> 00:22:19.419
 no I really love him,

00:22:19.459 --> 00:22:20.619
 I think we'll spend our life together,

00:22:20.719 --> 00:22:21.000
 but you know,

00:22:21.059 --> 00:22:21.799
 if it doesn't work out,

00:22:21.839 --> 00:22:22.639
 I just divorce him,

00:22:23.019 --> 00:22:26.199
 and she said it just like that,

00:22:26.359 --> 00:22:27.179
 like if it doesn't work out,

00:22:27.219 --> 00:22:28.059
 I'll just divorce him,

00:22:28.659 --> 00:22:29.679
 and then she went on to say,

00:22:29.759 --> 00:22:30.739
 like no my mom and dad,

00:22:30.799 --> 00:22:31.659
 have both been divorced,

00:22:32.059 --> 00:22:33.259
 more than once,

00:22:33.599 --> 00:22:34.159
 and you know,

00:22:34.239 --> 00:22:35.119
 my aunts and uncles,

00:22:35.339 --> 00:22:36.679
 and my grandparents,

00:22:36.919 --> 00:22:40.379
 so here's the thing,

00:22:40.379 --> 00:22:41.919
 if you could put up the next point Andrew,

00:22:42.119 --> 00:22:46.399
 when Jesus takes me as his own,

00:22:46.739 --> 00:22:48.579
 he has no exit strategy,

00:22:48.579 --> 00:22:52.000
 when Jesus takes me as his own,

00:22:52.119 --> 00:22:53.799
 he has no exit strategy,

00:22:53.799 --> 00:22:56.119
 see one of the things,

00:22:56.220 --> 00:22:58.180
 which makes it so hard for us in life,

00:22:58.419 --> 00:23:00.599
 is that so many things,

00:23:00.680 --> 00:23:01.619
 break trust,

00:23:02.519 --> 00:23:04.200
 institutions break trust,

00:23:04.839 --> 00:23:06.139
 families break trust,

00:23:06.299 --> 00:23:07.779
 relationships break trust,

00:23:08.379 --> 00:23:09.359
 and that seems to be,

00:23:09.619 --> 00:23:10.659
 such a common feature,

00:23:10.759 --> 00:23:11.700
 in our society today,

00:23:11.799 --> 00:23:13.659
 that whether we're conscious of it or not,

00:23:13.759 --> 00:23:15.619
 often we enter into relationships,

00:23:15.980 --> 00:23:17.500
 with an exit strategy,

00:23:17.500 --> 00:23:18.700
 already in our mind,

00:23:18.700 --> 00:23:22.940
 and when we live,

00:23:23.019 --> 00:23:23.840
 in a world,

00:23:23.840 --> 00:23:25.220
 where trust is very,

00:23:25.340 --> 00:23:26.160
 very fragile,

00:23:28.019 --> 00:23:30.220
 when we live in a world,

00:23:30.980 --> 00:23:32.980
 where things break down,

00:23:33.640 --> 00:23:35.180
 we just sort of assume,

00:23:35.380 --> 00:23:36.299
 that exit strategies,

00:23:36.640 --> 00:23:37.840
 are always wise,

00:23:38.519 --> 00:23:40.460
 and we also sort of assume,

00:23:40.580 --> 00:23:41.420
 that that's how God,

00:23:41.480 --> 00:23:42.279
 will relate to us,

00:23:42.279 --> 00:23:43.559
 and what happens is,

00:23:43.639 --> 00:23:45.359
 we end up going one of two ways,

00:23:45.399 --> 00:23:46.420
 when we think about that,

00:23:46.740 --> 00:23:48.299
 we either start to go towards,

00:23:48.859 --> 00:23:51.180
 a religious form of Christianity,

00:23:51.440 --> 00:23:53.339
 like a common human religious form,

00:23:53.420 --> 00:23:54.220
 of Christianity,

00:23:54.779 --> 00:23:56.639
 where we start to become obsessed,

00:23:57.099 --> 00:23:58.259
 with being religious,

00:23:59.079 --> 00:24:00.899
 and obsessed with being spiritual,

00:24:01.660 --> 00:24:02.819
 in the sense that if we can,

00:24:03.059 --> 00:24:04.059
 just do enough of these,

00:24:04.399 --> 00:24:06.259
 Christian type things,

00:24:06.680 --> 00:24:08.700
 that God will be in our debt,

00:24:09.099 --> 00:24:10.980
 and he will not have an exit strategy,

00:24:10.980 --> 00:24:11.660
 with us,

00:24:11.660 --> 00:24:14.140
 or we say,

00:24:14.420 --> 00:24:15.440
 to heck with it all,

00:24:16.680 --> 00:24:17.880
 let's go have a beer,

00:24:19.380 --> 00:24:21.960
 let's not bother,

00:24:22.120 --> 00:24:23.740
 let's just forget about it all,

00:24:24.740 --> 00:24:25.980
 and it's because we bring,

00:24:26.080 --> 00:24:27.800
 an exit strategy understanding,

00:24:27.980 --> 00:24:28.540
 into hearing,

00:24:29.620 --> 00:24:32.480
 chapter five verses nine to 11,

00:24:33.340 --> 00:24:35.400
 but here's one of the wonderful things,

00:24:35.460 --> 00:24:36.480
 one of the reasons I've chosen,

00:24:36.620 --> 00:24:37.880
 first Thessalonians five,

00:24:37.980 --> 00:24:38.620
 nine to 11,

00:24:38.620 --> 00:24:39.880
 nine to 28,

00:24:40.019 --> 00:24:41.600
 for these series of exhortations,

00:24:41.660 --> 00:24:42.900
 is the way,

00:24:43.100 --> 00:24:44.600
 that Paul brackets,

00:24:44.600 --> 00:24:45.900
 these exhortations,

00:24:46.480 --> 00:24:47.540
 it's not up on the screen,

00:24:47.600 --> 00:24:48.640
 you have to actually use your Bibles,

00:24:48.720 --> 00:24:49.380
 if you have them with you,

00:24:49.400 --> 00:24:50.560
 if you don't have your Bibles with you,

00:24:50.600 --> 00:24:51.240
 I'll read it out loud,

00:24:51.320 --> 00:24:52.259
 but if you look at the end,

00:24:52.279 --> 00:24:53.120
 of the exhortations,

00:24:53.220 --> 00:24:54.040
 it's verse 23,

00:24:54.240 --> 00:24:55.380
 first Thessalonians five,

00:24:55.440 --> 00:24:56.080
 verse 23,

00:24:56.079 --> 00:24:58.939
 after Paul gives these list of exhortations,

00:24:59.019 --> 00:25:00.220
 here's what he says,

00:25:01.019 --> 00:25:03.299
 now may the God of peace himself,

00:25:03.299 --> 00:25:05.759
 sanctify you completely,

00:25:05.759 --> 00:25:08.059
 and may your whole spirit,

00:25:08.259 --> 00:25:08.759
 and soul,

00:25:08.879 --> 00:25:09.319
 and body,

00:25:09.439 --> 00:25:10.319
 be kept blameless,

00:25:10.399 --> 00:25:12.079
 at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,

00:25:12.439 --> 00:25:14.419
 he who calls you as faithful,

00:25:15.019 --> 00:25:18.039
 he will surely do it,

00:25:18.039 --> 00:25:22.119
 he will surely do it,

00:25:23.259 --> 00:25:24.139
 you see,

00:25:24.740 --> 00:25:26.859
 it's so easy for us as Christians,

00:25:26.980 --> 00:25:27.220
 say okay,

00:25:27.279 --> 00:25:27.539
 we have to,

00:25:27.579 --> 00:25:28.700
 I'm going to have to talk about encouragement,

00:25:29.200 --> 00:25:29.379
 okay,

00:25:29.399 --> 00:25:31.379
 I'm going to go find out those motivational posters,

00:25:31.680 --> 00:25:33.940
 and I'll just give you a few little motivational thoughts,

00:25:34.639 --> 00:25:36.259
 and it's all about us,

00:25:36.259 --> 00:25:37.480
 but Paul,

00:25:38.160 --> 00:25:40.759
 go back up to the scripture text,

00:25:41.200 --> 00:25:41.460
 Andrew,

00:25:42.220 --> 00:25:43.259
 notice the therefore,

00:25:44.660 --> 00:25:46.660
 it's something about the gospel,

00:25:48.319 --> 00:25:49.960
 that the therefore encourage,

00:25:50.099 --> 00:25:50.519
 and in fact,

00:25:50.819 --> 00:25:51.839
 in a sense,

00:25:52.079 --> 00:25:55.339
 the therefore is going to follow every one of the next seven weeks,

00:25:55.460 --> 00:25:56.920
 that therefore is there,

00:25:57.480 --> 00:25:57.920
 and so,

00:25:58.259 --> 00:25:59.119
 Paul goes,

00:25:59.279 --> 00:26:00.839
 the Bible goes from the cross,

00:26:00.960 --> 00:26:01.680
 the gospel,

00:26:02.539 --> 00:26:05.119
 to the fact that it will start to lead naturally,

00:26:05.119 --> 00:26:06.819
 into a certain type of choosing,

00:26:06.939 --> 00:26:08.219
 and a certain type of discipline,

00:26:08.699 --> 00:26:09.579
 and at the end of it,

00:26:09.679 --> 00:26:12.079
 just in case you've forgotten about the cross,

00:26:12.439 --> 00:26:14.099
 and how it is that on the cross,

00:26:14.219 --> 00:26:16.519
 what the salvation that God offers us is whole,

00:26:16.639 --> 00:26:17.099
 and full,

00:26:17.199 --> 00:26:17.799
 and complete,

00:26:18.339 --> 00:26:19.339
 and eternal,

00:26:19.599 --> 00:26:20.439
 and irrevocable,

00:26:20.500 --> 00:26:21.000
 at the end,

00:26:21.039 --> 00:26:23.779
 he reminds you that it's not only us choosing,

00:26:23.959 --> 00:26:27.019
 that it's not just that as the gospel grips us,

00:26:27.559 --> 00:26:29.079
 that as the gospel grips us,

00:26:29.079 --> 00:26:32.279
 rather than it starting to lead us to be just like couch potatoes,

00:26:32.479 --> 00:26:34.319
 in terms of virtues and change,

00:26:34.319 --> 00:26:36.439
 that as the gospel grips us,

00:26:36.480 --> 00:26:37.519
 without us realizing this,

00:26:37.779 --> 00:26:40.759
 we get nudged into certain types of behaviors,

00:26:40.899 --> 00:26:42.019
 without us realizing it,

00:26:42.079 --> 00:26:43.359
 as the gospel grips us,

00:26:43.559 --> 00:26:47.359
 we get drawn to certain types of changes in behavior,

00:26:47.480 --> 00:26:47.879
 that as,

00:26:48.139 --> 00:26:49.099
 without realizing it,

00:26:49.159 --> 00:26:51.000
 as the gospel grips us,

00:26:51.299 --> 00:26:54.579
 it starts to shape us in a certain type of way that we live,

00:26:54.759 --> 00:26:56.799
 and as the gospel grips us,

00:26:57.139 --> 00:26:58.740
 it also grounds us,

00:26:58.740 --> 00:27:02.079
 that certain types of behavior make sense.

00:27:02.079 --> 00:27:05.419
 It makes sense.

00:27:07.039 --> 00:27:08.519
 And here we see that,

00:27:08.740 --> 00:27:11.659
 that when Jesus takes me as his own,

00:27:11.939 --> 00:27:15.339
 he has no exit strategy.

00:27:17.740 --> 00:27:21.319
 There's several people that I'm talking to in Starbucks lately,

00:27:21.699 --> 00:27:24.019
 and it's very obvious that,

00:27:25.019 --> 00:27:26.740
 they haven't specifically said it,

00:27:26.740 --> 00:27:30.160
 but I can sort of catch a bit of a subtext behind their questions,

00:27:30.319 --> 00:27:31.460
 and they're relating to me.

00:27:32.079 --> 00:27:34.120
 They have a very common worry,

00:27:34.500 --> 00:27:36.140
 that coming close to Jesus,

00:27:36.599 --> 00:27:37.940
 they have no sense,

00:27:39.039 --> 00:27:40.440
 they really have this sense,

00:27:40.480 --> 00:27:41.980
 that the only choices between them,

00:27:41.980 --> 00:27:44.400
 are some form of common human religion,

00:27:45.440 --> 00:27:46.519
 whether that's,

00:27:47.279 --> 00:27:50.359
 or being completely and utterly irreligious,

00:27:50.359 --> 00:27:53.000
 and their worry about it,

00:27:53.079 --> 00:27:54.519
 is that if they become Christian,

00:27:55.179 --> 00:27:57.419
 they're going to have to start wearing weird clothes,

00:27:57.759 --> 00:28:00.359
 because that's what religious people do,

00:28:00.419 --> 00:28:00.819
 don't they?

00:28:01.179 --> 00:28:02.500
 Like real religious people,

00:28:02.799 --> 00:28:03.039
 I mean,

00:28:03.240 --> 00:28:03.559
 actually,

00:28:03.759 --> 00:28:04.099
 you know,

00:28:04.459 --> 00:28:05.119
 like they sort of,

00:28:05.259 --> 00:28:07.399
 they should be going long facial hair if they're men,

00:28:08.139 --> 00:28:09.039
 because for some reason,

00:28:09.119 --> 00:28:11.159
 having a beard always makes you more like Jesus.

00:28:11.359 --> 00:28:11.500
 I mean,

00:28:11.619 --> 00:28:11.919
 sorry,

00:28:12.119 --> 00:28:14.259
 I'm not making any comment,

00:28:14.259 --> 00:28:14.959
 I used to have a big,

00:28:15.019 --> 00:28:16.159
 I used to have a big long beard,

00:28:16.279 --> 00:28:16.619
 by the way,

00:28:16.619 --> 00:28:16.939
 but I,

00:28:17.099 --> 00:28:17.459
 you know,

00:28:17.719 --> 00:28:18.639
 but here's the thing,

00:28:18.899 --> 00:28:19.839
 having a beard right now,

00:28:19.879 --> 00:28:20.799
 would just make you a hipster,

00:28:20.899 --> 00:28:21.799
 not weird,

00:28:22.379 --> 00:28:22.579
 but,

00:28:22.759 --> 00:28:26.239
 the thing about it is,

00:28:26.279 --> 00:28:27.599
 is that many of us have a worry,

00:28:27.679 --> 00:28:29.719
 I can tell when I'm talking to these different people,

00:28:29.799 --> 00:28:30.679
 that they have a worry,

00:28:31.359 --> 00:28:32.319
 that if they,

00:28:32.719 --> 00:28:34.659
 come to Jesus,

00:28:35.859 --> 00:28:37.500
 that they're going to have to start,

00:28:37.579 --> 00:28:39.379
 being weird,

00:28:40.279 --> 00:28:42.279
 do a whole pile of odd,

00:28:42.759 --> 00:28:44.079
 religious activities,

00:28:44.259 --> 00:28:45.799
 and pretend that they like it,

00:28:46.619 --> 00:28:47.139
 and,

00:28:47.259 --> 00:28:49.839
 they're going to end up becoming intolerant,

00:28:50.099 --> 00:28:51.479
 they're going to end up hating women,

00:28:51.839 --> 00:28:52.759
 hating gays,

00:28:53.439 --> 00:28:54.619
 loving violence,

00:28:56.079 --> 00:28:58.459
 and that's a,

00:28:58.500 --> 00:28:59.199
 like that's a very,

00:28:59.359 --> 00:29:00.439
 very real worry,

00:29:00.819 --> 00:29:01.779
 for a lot of people,

00:29:03.559 --> 00:29:03.879
 and,

00:29:04.019 --> 00:29:07.039
 and I,

00:29:07.079 --> 00:29:07.659
 I try to have,

00:29:07.739 --> 00:29:09.239
 I'm trying to have this conversation,

00:29:09.239 --> 00:29:10.299
 with a couple of them,

00:29:11.119 --> 00:29:12.959
 to try to get them to see,

00:29:13.179 --> 00:29:13.819
 that somehow,

00:29:14.059 --> 00:29:15.119
 some of these things,

00:29:15.119 --> 00:29:15.719
 like,

00:29:15.719 --> 00:29:16.739
 hating women,

00:29:16.859 --> 00:29:17.839
 or hating gays,

00:29:18.339 --> 00:29:20.159
 or loving violence,

00:29:20.339 --> 00:29:21.919
 is a human problem,

00:29:21.920 --> 00:29:25.440
 and that the real question,

00:29:25.440 --> 00:29:28.039
 isn't whether Christianity causes it,

00:29:28.700 --> 00:29:30.060
 the real question is,

00:29:30.640 --> 00:29:31.460
 that if in fact,

00:29:31.519 --> 00:29:32.880
 it's a human problem,

00:29:33.300 --> 00:29:34.259
 and agnostics,

00:29:34.380 --> 00:29:35.620
 also have problems,

00:29:35.700 --> 00:29:36.759
 with intolerance,

00:29:37.060 --> 00:29:38.180
 atheists have problems,

00:29:38.259 --> 00:29:39.140
 with intolerance,

00:29:39.240 --> 00:29:39.740
 and hatred,

00:29:40.700 --> 00:29:41.420
 and bigotry,

00:29:41.420 --> 00:29:44.360
 but if it's a human problem,

00:29:44.580 --> 00:29:45.680
 how does your system,

00:29:45.680 --> 00:29:46.200
 of thought,

00:29:46.300 --> 00:29:47.740
 help you to deal with it,

00:29:49.140 --> 00:29:49.720
 and it's a,

00:29:49.779 --> 00:29:50.440
 it's been a hard,

00:29:50.660 --> 00:29:51.519
 you can pray for me,

00:29:51.560 --> 00:29:52.900
 it's a hard slog,

00:29:53.019 --> 00:29:54.120
 for me to try to get them,

00:29:54.180 --> 00:29:55.060
 to see,

00:29:55.200 --> 00:29:55.800
 that somehow,

00:29:56.940 --> 00:29:57.880
 their position,

00:29:58.880 --> 00:29:59.100
 like,

00:29:59.200 --> 00:30:00.360
 what grounds it,

00:30:00.359 --> 00:30:01.799
 here's the thing,

00:30:02.059 --> 00:30:02.339
 say,

00:30:02.500 --> 00:30:03.000
 say,

00:30:03.000 --> 00:30:04.879
 say this text again,

00:30:05.219 --> 00:30:05.659
 with me,

00:30:06.179 --> 00:30:07.359
 say verses 9 to 11,

00:30:07.439 --> 00:30:08.039
 with me again,

00:30:08.619 --> 00:30:10.679
 for God has not destined us,

00:30:10.859 --> 00:30:11.419
 for wrath,

00:30:11.659 --> 00:30:13.399
 but to obtain salvation,

00:30:13.399 --> 00:30:15.299
 through our Lord Jesus Christ,

00:30:15.619 --> 00:30:17.079
 who died for us,

00:30:17.259 --> 00:30:18.779
 so that whether we are awake,

00:30:18.819 --> 00:30:19.419
 or asleep,

00:30:19.839 --> 00:30:21.299
 we might live with him,

00:30:21.819 --> 00:30:22.279
 therefore,

00:30:22.559 --> 00:30:23.779
 encourage one another,

00:30:24.139 --> 00:30:25.719
 and build one another up,

00:30:26.019 --> 00:30:27.199
 just as you are doing,

00:30:27.979 --> 00:30:28.799
 here's the thing,

00:30:28.799 --> 00:30:30.000
 this text,

00:30:30.399 --> 00:30:31.299
 you can put up the point,

00:30:31.440 --> 00:30:31.599
 Andrew,

00:30:31.720 --> 00:30:32.519
 day by day,

00:30:33.119 --> 00:30:35.019
 I am learning to follow the one,

00:30:35.480 --> 00:30:36.639
 who died for me,

00:30:37.200 --> 00:30:39.159
 and for everyone else,

00:30:39.299 --> 00:30:40.779
 who trusts in him,

00:30:43.180 --> 00:30:44.399
 day by day,

00:30:45.079 --> 00:30:46.579
 the gospel is calling me,

00:30:46.659 --> 00:30:48.399
 to learn to follow the one,

00:30:48.500 --> 00:30:49.539
 who died for me,

00:30:49.980 --> 00:30:51.779
 and for everyone else,

00:30:51.839 --> 00:30:53.000
 who trusts in him,

00:30:54.559 --> 00:30:55.720
 it's very struck,

00:30:55.839 --> 00:30:56.159
 it's very,

00:30:56.279 --> 00:30:56.940
 very striking,

00:30:57.200 --> 00:30:57.819
 that Paul,

00:30:57.819 --> 00:30:58.799
 is a former,

00:30:59.079 --> 00:30:59.319
 I mean,

00:30:59.460 --> 00:31:00.500
 he was a,

00:31:01.039 --> 00:31:01.599
 religious,

00:31:02.339 --> 00:31:03.460
 with a capital R,

00:31:03.619 --> 00:31:04.240
 capital E,

00:31:04.379 --> 00:31:04.960
 capital L,

00:31:05.000 --> 00:31:06.039
 I'm not going to spell the rest of it,

00:31:06.079 --> 00:31:07.240
 because I'm not that good at spelling,

00:31:07.379 --> 00:31:08.099
 and I might mess it up,

00:31:08.139 --> 00:31:09.079
 and it would be very embarrassing,

00:31:09.460 --> 00:31:10.539
 if I couldn't spell religious,

00:31:10.700 --> 00:31:11.099
 in public,

00:31:11.439 --> 00:31:11.939
 but you get,

00:31:12.019 --> 00:31:13.480
 every letter is capitalized,

00:31:13.939 --> 00:31:15.339
 and he met Jesus,

00:31:15.700 --> 00:31:16.519
 and here he is,

00:31:16.579 --> 00:31:17.839
 it's the same guy,

00:31:18.359 --> 00:31:19.599
 who's now speaking,

00:31:19.740 --> 00:31:20.919
 to pagans,

00:31:21.720 --> 00:31:23.819
 about what it is,

00:31:23.879 --> 00:31:25.079
 that Jesus has done for them,

00:31:25.079 --> 00:31:25.539
 and how,

00:31:25.579 --> 00:31:26.259
 what Jesus,

00:31:26.659 --> 00:31:27.419
 how Jesus,

00:31:27.419 --> 00:31:28.339
 is completely,

00:31:28.500 --> 00:31:29.179
 and utterly different,

00:31:29.179 --> 00:31:30.579
 from common human religion,

00:31:30.579 --> 00:31:33.119
 and,

00:31:33.720 --> 00:31:34.439
 you know,

00:31:34.599 --> 00:31:35.759
 I was thinking about this,

00:31:35.819 --> 00:31:36.240
 this week,

00:31:36.480 --> 00:31:37.740
 as I was biking around,

00:31:37.839 --> 00:31:38.679
 and stuff like that,

00:31:38.779 --> 00:31:38.980
 that,

00:31:39.639 --> 00:31:40.019
 you know,

00:31:40.059 --> 00:31:41.740
 there's a lot of valid complaints,

00:31:41.740 --> 00:31:42.740
 about missionaries,

00:31:43.019 --> 00:31:43.819
 throughout history,

00:31:44.419 --> 00:31:44.799
 and,

00:31:44.859 --> 00:31:47.299
 and some of the cultural prejudices,

00:31:47.419 --> 00:31:47.980
 and other things,

00:31:48.039 --> 00:31:49.199
 that they brought along with them,

00:31:49.200 --> 00:31:50.980
 but here's the thing,

00:31:51.080 --> 00:31:52.559
 that people don't often think about,

00:31:53.420 --> 00:31:55.380
 like in movies,

00:31:55.500 --> 00:31:56.059
 and novels,

00:31:56.860 --> 00:31:57.100
 okay,

00:31:57.220 --> 00:31:58.580
 you have a missionary,

00:31:59.420 --> 00:31:59.920
 and in,

00:32:00.000 --> 00:32:01.240
 in the 19th century,

00:32:01.360 --> 00:32:02.100
 many missionaries,

00:32:02.180 --> 00:32:02.980
 who went to Africa,

00:32:03.100 --> 00:32:03.460
 did you know,

00:32:03.539 --> 00:32:04.620
 that when they went to Africa,

00:32:04.660 --> 00:32:05.960
 they brought their caskets,

00:32:06.039 --> 00:32:06.400
 with them,

00:32:07.200 --> 00:32:10.600
 they brought their possessions,

00:32:11.019 --> 00:32:11.960
 and a casket,

00:32:12.319 --> 00:32:13.920
 because they knew,

00:32:13.980 --> 00:32:14.600
 they were going there,

00:32:14.600 --> 00:32:15.120
 to die,

00:32:15.840 --> 00:32:17.180
 they weren't going there,

00:32:17.180 --> 00:32:18.340
 for fame and fortune,

00:32:18.339 --> 00:32:19.480
 but to die,

00:32:21.279 --> 00:32:21.599
 and,

00:32:21.919 --> 00:32:24.199
 and,

00:32:24.279 --> 00:32:24.759
 and so they,

00:32:24.839 --> 00:32:25.459
 they go,

00:32:25.579 --> 00:32:26.959
 and they leave the comfort of,

00:32:27.099 --> 00:32:28.399
 it's in this particular case,

00:32:28.559 --> 00:32:28.879
 England,

00:32:29.339 --> 00:32:30.759
 and they go,

00:32:30.939 --> 00:32:31.959
 and they start to learn,

00:32:32.059 --> 00:32:33.019
 the language of China,

00:32:33.139 --> 00:32:34.639
 or the language of the Maasai,

00:32:34.839 --> 00:32:34.939
 in,

00:32:34.939 --> 00:32:35.859
 in Kenya,

00:32:35.980 --> 00:32:36.159
 or the,

00:32:36.159 --> 00:32:37.079
 the language of,

00:32:37.659 --> 00:32:39.159
 of some other people group,

00:32:39.980 --> 00:32:41.339
 and some of their prejudices,

00:32:41.339 --> 00:32:42.659
 get revealed,

00:32:42.939 --> 00:32:44.399
 in this whole process,

00:32:44.399 --> 00:32:45.799
 of living amongst these people,

00:32:45.899 --> 00:32:46.959
 and learning their languages,

00:32:47.459 --> 00:32:48.319
 and telling them about,

00:32:48.339 --> 00:32:48.799
 about Jesus,

00:32:49.619 --> 00:32:51.240
 but what about,

00:32:51.419 --> 00:32:51.939
 all the people,

00:32:52.099 --> 00:32:52.839
 who stayed behind,

00:32:52.939 --> 00:32:53.819
 just to make money,

00:32:54.819 --> 00:32:56.159
 the books,

00:32:56.220 --> 00:32:56.740
 and the movies,

00:32:56.859 --> 00:32:57.839
 and the history courses,

00:32:57.839 --> 00:32:58.679
 at the university,

00:32:59.039 --> 00:33:00.079
 they just assume,

00:33:00.159 --> 00:33:00.399
 that what,

00:33:00.439 --> 00:33:01.119
 all the people,

00:33:01.279 --> 00:33:01.980
 back in England,

00:33:02.139 --> 00:33:02.659
 that they're all,

00:33:02.720 --> 00:33:03.459
 unbelievable,

00:33:03.720 --> 00:33:04.740
 universalists,

00:33:04.819 --> 00:33:05.339
 that they're all,

00:33:05.339 --> 00:33:06.139
 just loving,

00:33:06.959 --> 00:33:07.980
 the African,

00:33:08.119 --> 00:33:08.859
 and the Chinese,

00:33:09.639 --> 00:33:10.339
 that they don't have,

00:33:10.339 --> 00:33:11.099
 any prejudice,

00:33:11.099 --> 00:33:11.299
 prejudice,

00:33:11.779 --> 00:33:13.879
 they're not even,

00:33:13.980 --> 00:33:14.480
 in a place,

00:33:14.559 --> 00:33:15.500
 to have their prejudice,

00:33:15.699 --> 00:33:16.099
 revealed,

00:33:16.699 --> 00:33:18.299
 and they care,

00:33:18.439 --> 00:33:19.559
 so little for those,

00:33:19.639 --> 00:33:20.159
 far away,

00:33:20.259 --> 00:33:20.899
 that they stay,

00:33:21.000 --> 00:33:21.480
 in the comfort,

00:33:21.559 --> 00:33:22.139
 of their home,

00:33:22.140 --> 00:33:25.340
 but there's,

00:33:25.340 --> 00:33:26.240
 a dynamism,

00:33:26.400 --> 00:33:27.180
 and energy,

00:33:27.180 --> 00:33:28.020
 in the gospel,

00:33:28.160 --> 00:33:28.920
 that if God,

00:33:29.160 --> 00:33:30.100
 has so,

00:33:30.259 --> 00:33:31.780
 accepted me,

00:33:32.100 --> 00:33:32.840
 in Jesus,

00:33:33.140 --> 00:33:33.720
 in something,

00:33:33.900 --> 00:33:34.660
 which is immediate,

00:33:35.420 --> 00:33:36.040
 full,

00:33:36.520 --> 00:33:36.960
 whole,

00:33:37.360 --> 00:33:37.920
 complete,

00:33:38.400 --> 00:33:38.880
 eternal,

00:33:39.100 --> 00:33:40.360
 and irrevocable,

00:33:40.359 --> 00:33:43.000
 and that Jesus,

00:33:43.199 --> 00:33:44.299
 isn't just the savior,

00:33:44.919 --> 00:33:46.139
 of the people,

00:33:46.240 --> 00:33:46.879
 in the Middle East,

00:33:46.979 --> 00:33:47.799
 or of Europe,

00:33:48.059 --> 00:33:49.039
 or of North America,

00:33:49.159 --> 00:33:49.599
 but of,

00:33:49.719 --> 00:33:50.479
 potentially,

00:33:50.779 --> 00:33:51.799
 every single,

00:33:51.799 --> 00:33:52.759
 people group,

00:33:53.379 --> 00:33:54.039
 that in fact,

00:33:54.119 --> 00:33:55.099
 there's a dynamism,

00:33:55.240 --> 00:33:56.019
 in the gospel,

00:33:56.439 --> 00:33:57.779
 not just to stay,

00:33:58.000 --> 00:33:58.939
 in your group,

00:33:59.319 --> 00:34:01.199
 with like-minded people,

00:34:02.419 --> 00:34:03.899
 but to walk,

00:34:04.000 --> 00:34:05.299
 across the room,

00:34:05.419 --> 00:34:06.359
 from your group,

00:34:07.359 --> 00:34:08.839
 to meet the person,

00:34:09.139 --> 00:34:10.299
 who identifies themselves,

00:34:10.360 --> 00:34:10.860
 as gay,

00:34:11.579 --> 00:34:12.340
 or the immigrant,

00:34:13.160 --> 00:34:13.800
 or the person,

00:34:13.880 --> 00:34:14.420
 who hasn't come,

00:34:14.480 --> 00:34:15.120
 to this country,

00:34:16.099 --> 00:34:16.620
 and yes,

00:34:16.680 --> 00:34:17.320
 in the process,

00:34:17.320 --> 00:34:18.200
 of doing that,

00:34:18.380 --> 00:34:19.220
 encounter,

00:34:19.420 --> 00:34:20.480
 there will be things,

00:34:20.539 --> 00:34:21.700
 revealed about ourselves,

00:34:21.840 --> 00:34:23.099
 that we did not know,

00:34:23.500 --> 00:34:24.240
 but those,

00:34:24.340 --> 00:34:25.200
 who never go,

00:34:25.340 --> 00:34:26.720
 will never even know,

00:34:26.840 --> 00:34:27.660
 that those things,

00:34:27.780 --> 00:34:28.559
 are in them,

00:34:29.079 --> 00:34:30.220
 that those common,

00:34:30.559 --> 00:34:31.740
 human problems,

00:34:31.860 --> 00:34:32.360
 are there,

00:34:33.280 --> 00:34:34.700
 and the profound,

00:34:34.980 --> 00:34:35.440
 resource,

00:34:35.700 --> 00:34:36.640
 of the gospel,

00:34:39.079 --> 00:34:40.079
 is that day,

00:34:40.079 --> 00:34:40.699
 day by day,

00:34:40.759 --> 00:34:41.539
 I am learning,

00:34:41.539 --> 00:34:42.799
 to follow the one,

00:34:42.880 --> 00:34:44.199
 who died for me,

00:34:45.000 --> 00:34:46.279
 who died for me,

00:34:47.099 --> 00:34:47.539
 why,

00:34:47.880 --> 00:34:49.119
 shouldn't I follow,

00:34:49.119 --> 00:34:50.319
 one who loves me,

00:34:50.380 --> 00:34:51.819
 enough to die for me,

00:34:52.199 --> 00:34:53.579
 who has no exit,

00:34:53.579 --> 00:34:55.119
 strategy for me,

00:34:55.659 --> 00:34:57.299
 and I am learning,

00:34:57.380 --> 00:34:58.380
 to follow the one,

00:34:58.440 --> 00:34:59.819
 who died for me,

00:34:59.880 --> 00:35:01.619
 and for everyone else,

00:35:01.679 --> 00:35:03.079
 who trusts in him,

00:35:03.799 --> 00:35:05.199
 everyone else,

00:35:05.199 --> 00:35:06.919
 who trusts in him,

00:35:07.919 --> 00:35:10.679
 now some of you,

00:35:10.679 --> 00:35:11.039
 might say,

00:35:11.119 --> 00:35:11.419
 George,

00:35:12.279 --> 00:35:13.079
 I'm sort of glad,

00:35:13.239 --> 00:35:14.079
 that you shared with us,

00:35:14.159 --> 00:35:14.839
 that you're not very good,

00:35:14.919 --> 00:35:15.439
 at encouragement,

00:35:15.659 --> 00:35:16.199
 we've been trying,

00:35:16.279 --> 00:35:17.079
 to tell you about this,

00:35:17.159 --> 00:35:17.639
 for a while,

00:35:18.019 --> 00:35:20.759
 now it's sort of out,

00:35:21.879 --> 00:35:22.079
 this,

00:35:22.199 --> 00:35:22.539
 by the way,

00:35:22.679 --> 00:35:23.779
 I know that not being,

00:35:23.879 --> 00:35:24.960
 as good as encouragement,

00:35:25.199 --> 00:35:25.819
 is something,

00:35:26.059 --> 00:35:26.899
 like I really should,

00:35:27.039 --> 00:35:27.859
 please pray for me,

00:35:27.899 --> 00:35:28.739
 that I'm better at encouragement,

00:35:28.859 --> 00:35:29.919
 this has been a very challenging,

00:35:29.919 --> 00:35:31.000
 sermon for me this week,

00:35:31.039 --> 00:35:31.559
 I've been praying,

00:35:31.799 --> 00:35:32.639
 at least once a day,

00:35:32.719 --> 00:35:33.019
 every day,

00:35:33.019 --> 00:35:33.880
 that God would make me,

00:35:33.880 --> 00:35:34.639
 a better encourager,

00:35:35.559 --> 00:35:36.460
 some of you might know,

00:35:36.539 --> 00:35:37.219
 a couple of years ago,

00:35:37.400 --> 00:35:38.440
 at part of the sermon,

00:35:38.519 --> 00:35:39.699
 I shared that I was an introvert,

00:35:40.360 --> 00:35:42.699
 and so after the sermon,

00:35:42.820 --> 00:35:43.300
 after I shared,

00:35:43.420 --> 00:35:44.039
 that I was an introvert,

00:35:44.079 --> 00:35:44.400
 and I said,

00:35:44.460 --> 00:35:44.719
 by the way,

00:35:44.739 --> 00:35:45.599
 I don't think introversion,

00:35:45.840 --> 00:35:47.159
 like being extroverted,

00:35:47.259 --> 00:35:48.199
 is not making you closer,

00:35:48.280 --> 00:35:48.780
 to Jesus,

00:35:49.960 --> 00:35:50.639
 just some people,

00:35:50.719 --> 00:35:51.019
 are extroverted,

00:35:51.119 --> 00:35:51.639
 some are introverted,

00:35:51.739 --> 00:35:52.400
 I'm introverted,

00:35:53.019 --> 00:35:54.699
 and I'm not making this up,

00:35:54.719 --> 00:35:55.619
 a woman after the service,

00:35:55.719 --> 00:35:55.780
 said,

00:35:55.780 --> 00:35:55.900
 oh,

00:35:56.320 --> 00:35:56.559
 oh,

00:35:56.719 --> 00:35:57.739
 Pastor George,

00:35:58.219 --> 00:35:59.360
 that was so brave,

00:35:59.360 --> 00:36:00.119
 of you to share,

00:36:00.239 --> 00:36:01.199
 that you're an introvert,

00:36:01.480 --> 00:36:02.820
 can I pray for you,

00:36:03.019 --> 00:36:04.480
 and I said,

00:36:04.619 --> 00:36:05.820
 I always need more purse,

00:36:05.860 --> 00:36:06.000
 said,

00:36:06.059 --> 00:36:06.280
 sure,

00:36:06.659 --> 00:36:07.840
 and then she wrapped,

00:36:07.960 --> 00:36:09.639
 her big arm around me,

00:36:10.259 --> 00:36:12.159
 clutched me to her chest,

00:36:12.259 --> 00:36:13.039
 in a headlock,

00:36:13.300 --> 00:36:14.079
 and started to pray,

00:36:14.159 --> 00:36:15.000
 for me to be delivered,

00:36:15.099 --> 00:36:15.960
 from introversion,

00:36:16.460 --> 00:36:18.880
 never dawning,

00:36:19.000 --> 00:36:19.860
 that an introvert,

00:36:19.920 --> 00:36:20.840
 might not like,

00:36:20.920 --> 00:36:22.000
 having an arm,

00:36:22.199 --> 00:36:23.099
 thrown around them,

00:36:23.940 --> 00:36:24.679
 clutched,

00:36:24.679 --> 00:36:25.639
 to their breast,

00:36:25.920 --> 00:36:26.679
 while they pray,

00:36:26.739 --> 00:36:27.699
 in a loud voice,

00:36:28.159 --> 00:36:29.099
 for me to be delivered,

00:36:29.219 --> 00:36:29.639
 of something,

00:36:29.800 --> 00:36:30.219
 which I think,

00:36:30.280 --> 00:36:31.820
 is just neutral,

00:36:31.820 --> 00:36:32.640
 there'll be introverts,

00:36:32.700 --> 00:36:33.200
 and extroverts,

00:36:33.280 --> 00:36:33.580
 in heaven,

00:36:33.700 --> 00:36:34.660
 but I would like,

00:36:34.820 --> 00:36:35.440
 to be better,

00:36:35.559 --> 00:36:36.320
 at encouraging,

00:36:36.559 --> 00:36:37.280
 and some of you,

00:36:37.380 --> 00:36:37.640
 might say,

00:36:37.720 --> 00:36:37.940
 George,

00:36:38.000 --> 00:36:38.440
 you can probably,

00:36:38.440 --> 00:36:39.059
 relate to me,

00:36:39.620 --> 00:36:39.960
 you know,

00:36:39.980 --> 00:36:40.640
 it's very hard,

00:36:40.740 --> 00:36:41.340
 for some of us,

00:36:41.420 --> 00:36:42.360
 because of our backgrounds,

00:36:42.460 --> 00:36:43.480
 to actually encourage,

00:36:43.539 --> 00:36:44.120
 other people,

00:36:44.260 --> 00:36:44.700
 because,

00:36:45.360 --> 00:36:45.519
 boy,

00:36:45.620 --> 00:36:45.760
 you know,

00:36:45.800 --> 00:36:46.400
 if you just knew,

00:36:46.460 --> 00:36:47.260
 my parents,

00:36:48.220 --> 00:36:48.720
 if you knew,

00:36:48.820 --> 00:36:50.059
 what my husband was like,

00:36:50.080 --> 00:36:51.400
 or what my wife was like,

00:36:51.440 --> 00:36:52.380
 or my ex-husband,

00:36:52.480 --> 00:36:53.300
 or my ex-wife,

00:36:53.500 --> 00:36:54.140
 or if you knew,

00:36:54.180 --> 00:36:55.260
 what my kids were like,

00:36:55.340 --> 00:36:55.600
 you'd know,

00:36:55.660 --> 00:36:56.820
 how hard it'd be for me,

00:36:56.880 --> 00:36:57.240
 if you knew,

00:36:57.320 --> 00:36:58.240
 what my boss was like,

00:36:58.300 --> 00:36:58.500
 if you knew,

00:36:58.500 --> 00:36:59.579
 what my job was like,

00:37:00.019 --> 00:37:00.579
 you'd understand,

00:37:00.659 --> 00:37:01.579
 that it's very hard,

00:37:01.579 --> 00:37:01.940
 for me,

00:37:02.000 --> 00:37:02.739
 it's easy for me,

00:37:02.760 --> 00:37:03.739
 to discourage people,

00:37:03.820 --> 00:37:04.599
 and it's hard for me,

00:37:04.659 --> 00:37:05.639
 to encourage people,

00:37:06.219 --> 00:37:07.099
 and the fact of the matter,

00:37:07.219 --> 00:37:08.239
 is that Jesus knows,

00:37:08.320 --> 00:37:09.440
 all this about us,

00:37:10.199 --> 00:37:12.199
 he knows our context,

00:37:12.960 --> 00:37:14.460
 he knows our context,

00:37:14.920 --> 00:37:16.079
 when he calls us,

00:37:16.219 --> 00:37:17.159
 to encouragement,

00:37:17.639 --> 00:37:18.940
 but listen to this again,

00:37:19.059 --> 00:37:19.699
 put up the scripture,

00:37:20.000 --> 00:37:20.199
 Andrew,

00:37:20.260 --> 00:37:21.260
 let's read it together again,

00:37:22.500 --> 00:37:24.000
 for God,

00:37:24.059 --> 00:37:25.420
 has not destined us,

00:37:25.539 --> 00:37:26.119
 for wrath,

00:37:26.380 --> 00:37:27.980
 but to obtain salvation,

00:37:27.980 --> 00:37:29.800
 through our Lord Jesus Christ,

00:37:30.260 --> 00:37:31.500
 who died for us,

00:37:31.559 --> 00:37:33.380
 so that whether we are awake,

00:37:33.440 --> 00:37:34.039
 or asleep,

00:37:34.519 --> 00:37:35.960
 we might live with him,

00:37:36.519 --> 00:37:38.440
 therefore encourage one another,

00:37:38.820 --> 00:37:40.300
 and build one another up,

00:37:40.579 --> 00:37:41.800
 just as you are doing,

00:37:42.280 --> 00:37:43.619
 in our culture,

00:37:43.900 --> 00:37:46.199
 we often seem to think,

00:37:46.559 --> 00:37:47.420
 that there are these,

00:37:47.420 --> 00:37:49.420
 historical forces,

00:37:49.800 --> 00:37:51.260
 and biological forces,

00:37:51.360 --> 00:37:52.360
 and personal forces,

00:37:52.360 --> 00:37:54.139
 which determine,

00:37:54.139 --> 00:37:55.300
 the way we are,

00:37:56.039 --> 00:37:57.559
 and often we're just a victim,

00:37:57.559 --> 00:37:59.420
 of these powerful forces,

00:37:59.900 --> 00:38:00.840
 but at the heart,

00:38:00.920 --> 00:38:01.579
 of the gospel,

00:38:01.719 --> 00:38:02.480
 is this sense,

00:38:02.559 --> 00:38:03.139
 that not only,

00:38:03.219 --> 00:38:04.000
 do we have the power,

00:38:04.059 --> 00:38:04.920
 to choose,

00:38:06.019 --> 00:38:07.360
 within our context,

00:38:07.860 --> 00:38:09.159
 but that as we come,

00:38:09.279 --> 00:38:09.860
 to Jesus,

00:38:10.079 --> 00:38:11.239
 what Jesus gives us,

00:38:11.320 --> 00:38:12.059
 is freedom,

00:38:12.400 --> 00:38:13.400
 greater freedom,

00:38:13.400 --> 00:38:14.559
 to choose,

00:38:15.299 --> 00:38:15.860
 some of us,

00:38:15.900 --> 00:38:17.380
 will always have context,

00:38:17.480 --> 00:38:18.179
 which are very,

00:38:18.340 --> 00:38:18.900
 very difficult,

00:38:19.159 --> 00:38:19.699
 context,

00:38:20.039 --> 00:38:20.799
 which truly,

00:38:21.279 --> 00:38:22.699
 will always shape,

00:38:23.239 --> 00:38:23.900
 the form,

00:38:23.900 --> 00:38:25.139
 of our discipleship,

00:38:25.139 --> 00:38:26.779
 but the Bible,

00:38:26.779 --> 00:38:28.019
 rejects this idea,

00:38:28.019 --> 00:38:29.639
 that we are purely victims,

00:38:30.099 --> 00:38:30.539
 purely,

00:38:30.799 --> 00:38:31.299
 and utterly,

00:38:31.299 --> 00:38:32.239
 pushed around,

00:38:32.379 --> 00:38:33.799
 by forces of biology,

00:38:33.960 --> 00:38:34.699
 or economics,

00:38:35.019 --> 00:38:35.839
 or ideology,

00:38:36.319 --> 00:38:37.239
 or culture,

00:38:37.440 --> 00:38:38.339
 or class,

00:38:38.819 --> 00:38:39.879
 but that there's a power,

00:38:40.000 --> 00:38:40.759
 to choose,

00:38:41.319 --> 00:38:42.420
 I express it this way,

00:38:42.480 --> 00:38:43.460
 if you could put it up Andrew,

00:38:44.119 --> 00:38:45.339
 I am not doomed,

00:38:45.539 --> 00:38:46.739
 by my circumstances,

00:38:47.480 --> 00:38:48.539
 but I am destined,

00:38:48.779 --> 00:38:49.319
 by God,

00:38:49.599 --> 00:38:50.839
 for union with Christ,

00:38:51.279 --> 00:38:51.960
 this day,

00:38:52.239 --> 00:38:53.179
 and every day,

00:38:53.179 --> 00:38:54.440
 for all eternity,

00:38:55.119 --> 00:38:57.099
 I am not doomed,

00:38:57.319 --> 00:38:58.819
 by my circumstances,

00:38:59.079 --> 00:39:00.000
 but I am destined,

00:39:00.199 --> 00:39:00.619
 by God,

00:39:00.719 --> 00:39:01.659
 for union with Christ,

00:39:01.779 --> 00:39:02.259
 this day,

00:39:02.359 --> 00:39:03.079
 and every day,

00:39:03.419 --> 00:39:04.319
 for all eternity,

00:39:05.440 --> 00:39:06.239
 you'll notice,

00:39:06.460 --> 00:39:07.639
 that in all of my points,

00:39:07.919 --> 00:39:08.679
 most of my points,

00:39:08.739 --> 00:39:09.539
 I either use I,

00:39:09.599 --> 00:39:09.980
 or me,

00:39:10.419 --> 00:39:11.539
 and I don't use that,

00:39:11.619 --> 00:39:13.019
 because I'm trying to hold myself up,

00:39:13.059 --> 00:39:13.619
 as a model,

00:39:14.259 --> 00:39:15.480
 but that if you write them down,

00:39:15.539 --> 00:39:16.199
 as points,

00:39:16.199 --> 00:39:17.379
 then you're writing it down,

00:39:17.519 --> 00:39:17.819
 as I,

00:39:18.339 --> 00:39:20.119
 that's why I put I,

00:39:21.259 --> 00:39:22.500
 that if you write that down,

00:39:22.500 --> 00:39:23.579
 as an insight for you,

00:39:23.679 --> 00:39:24.940
 and as you read it over later,

00:39:25.139 --> 00:39:25.900
 you're reading it,

00:39:26.039 --> 00:39:26.920
 not as George,

00:39:27.019 --> 00:39:27.739
 but as I,

00:39:27.960 --> 00:39:28.539
 as me.

00:39:32.780 --> 00:39:33.179
 So,

00:39:33.699 --> 00:39:34.780
 the Bible is saying,

00:39:34.900 --> 00:39:35.920
 it's going to maybe be very,

00:39:36.059 --> 00:39:36.920
 very hard,

00:39:37.059 --> 00:39:37.699
 for some of us,

00:39:37.780 --> 00:39:38.340
 to encourage,

00:39:40.420 --> 00:39:41.480
 because of,

00:39:41.820 --> 00:39:42.960
 our circumstances,

00:39:43.159 --> 00:39:43.900
 and maybe for some,

00:39:43.960 --> 00:39:44.739
 it will be easy,

00:39:45.880 --> 00:39:47.500
 but that we can begin today,

00:39:47.619 --> 00:39:48.820
 to choose to encourage,

00:39:48.920 --> 00:39:49.820
 our brothers and sisters,

00:39:49.960 --> 00:39:50.480
 in Christ,

00:39:50.980 --> 00:39:52.039
 in Church of the Messiah,

00:39:52.039 --> 00:39:53.139
 and our brothers and sisters,

00:39:53.239 --> 00:39:53.679
 in Christ,

00:39:54.000 --> 00:39:55.320
 in other Christian communities,

00:39:55.460 --> 00:39:55.860
 in Ottawa,

00:39:55.960 --> 00:39:57.239
 that we can begin today,

00:39:57.400 --> 00:39:58.239
 to choose,

00:39:58.619 --> 00:39:59.320
 to encourage,

00:40:00.320 --> 00:40:01.320
 we can begin,

00:40:01.480 --> 00:40:02.320
 to choose,

00:40:02.779 --> 00:40:03.579
 to encourage,

00:40:04.099 --> 00:40:06.279
 I'm just going to put up,

00:40:06.699 --> 00:40:07.139
 I'm going to sort of,

00:40:07.179 --> 00:40:07.960
 bring this to a close,

00:40:08.039 --> 00:40:08.779
 a couple of things,

00:40:08.860 --> 00:40:09.360
 to sort of maybe,

00:40:09.559 --> 00:40:10.539
 help you and I,

00:40:10.639 --> 00:40:11.279
 with encouragement,

00:40:11.480 --> 00:40:12.400
 and the fundamental thing,

00:40:12.440 --> 00:40:13.579
 to help you with encouragement,

00:40:13.779 --> 00:40:14.679
 is to maybe pray,

00:40:14.759 --> 00:40:15.679
 a prayer like this,

00:40:16.179 --> 00:40:17.099
 which is how actually,

00:40:17.460 --> 00:40:18.759
 how I would word it,

00:40:18.760 --> 00:40:19.860
 the next point,

00:40:19.960 --> 00:40:20.180
 Andrew,

00:40:22.600 --> 00:40:23.360
 help Jesus,

00:40:24.080 --> 00:40:25.340
 please help me this day,

00:40:25.480 --> 00:40:26.480
 to receive every day,

00:40:26.860 --> 00:40:28.360
 to both receive encouragement,

00:40:28.880 --> 00:40:30.200
 and to encourage others,

00:40:30.620 --> 00:40:31.700
 to their true good,

00:40:32.140 --> 00:40:33.180
 and your true glory,

00:40:33.179 --> 00:40:35.460
 Jesus,

00:40:35.779 --> 00:40:37.219
 please help me this day,

00:40:37.559 --> 00:40:38.379
 and every day,

00:40:38.879 --> 00:40:40.359
 to both receive encouragement,

00:40:40.960 --> 00:40:42.659
 and to encourage others,

00:40:43.059 --> 00:40:44.379
 to their true good,

00:40:44.779 --> 00:40:46.699
 and your true glory,

00:40:47.219 --> 00:40:49.279
 and I've been,

00:40:49.399 --> 00:40:50.980
 sort of praying my way,

00:40:51.139 --> 00:40:52.039
 through to that prayer,

00:40:52.179 --> 00:40:52.859
 throughout the week,

00:40:53.559 --> 00:40:54.279
 you can pray,

00:40:54.379 --> 00:40:55.079
 that I would continue,

00:40:55.079 --> 00:40:55.739
 to pray it,

00:40:56.059 --> 00:40:57.219
 and that God would answer it,

00:40:57.219 --> 00:40:57.659
 in my life,

00:40:57.739 --> 00:40:58.599
 that I would be better,

00:40:58.719 --> 00:41:00.239
 encouraging others,

00:41:00.239 --> 00:41:02.939
 and pray it for yourself,

00:41:03.639 --> 00:41:04.399
 whether you're good,

00:41:04.439 --> 00:41:05.379
 at encouragement or not,

00:41:05.500 --> 00:41:05.719
 it's a,

00:41:05.719 --> 00:41:06.119
 it's a,

00:41:06.279 --> 00:41:07.579
 things begin to change,

00:41:07.579 --> 00:41:08.199
 with prayer,

00:41:09.199 --> 00:41:10.319
 one of the things,

00:41:10.379 --> 00:41:10.679
 you can do,

00:41:10.719 --> 00:41:11.699
 to be a better encourager,

00:41:11.799 --> 00:41:12.599
 is maybe to ask somebody,

00:41:12.639 --> 00:41:13.439
 to pray for you,

00:41:13.719 --> 00:41:14.459
 that you'd be better,

00:41:14.559 --> 00:41:15.119
 at encouragement,

00:41:15.979 --> 00:41:16.879
 hopefully they will not,

00:41:16.879 --> 00:41:17.459
 discourage you,

00:41:17.500 --> 00:41:18.239
 by saying no,

00:41:18.759 --> 00:41:21.579
 but they'll,

00:41:21.879 --> 00:41:23.059
 please pray,

00:41:23.119 --> 00:41:23.759
 that I would be better,

00:41:23.879 --> 00:41:24.199
 encouragement,

00:41:24.319 --> 00:41:24.500
 no,

00:41:24.579 --> 00:41:25.259
 I'm not going to do that,

00:41:25.359 --> 00:41:25.639
 for you,

00:41:25.759 --> 00:41:26.239
 good grief,

00:41:26.539 --> 00:41:27.719
 hopefully you'll say yes,

00:41:27.759 --> 00:41:29.039
 that's part of your own learning,

00:41:29.119 --> 00:41:30.159
 to be more encouraging,

00:41:30.339 --> 00:41:31.339
 that if they ask you to pray,

00:41:31.799 --> 00:41:32.659
 that you'll actually,

00:41:32.839 --> 00:41:34.199
 try to do it,

00:41:34.699 --> 00:41:34.979
 and,

00:41:35.099 --> 00:41:36.899
 another thing,

00:41:37.159 --> 00:41:38.119
 is I'm going to ask,

00:41:38.299 --> 00:41:39.019
 I'm going to invite you,

00:41:39.059 --> 00:41:39.539
 to do something,

00:41:39.619 --> 00:41:40.099
 to help me,

00:41:40.459 --> 00:41:41.079
 I'm going to do this,

00:41:41.079 --> 00:41:42.339
 every week after the sermon,

00:41:42.559 --> 00:41:43.479
 as part of the sermon,

00:41:44.019 --> 00:41:45.439
 I would really appreciate it,

00:41:45.479 --> 00:41:46.119
 if this week,

00:41:46.239 --> 00:41:46.939
 you emailed,

00:41:47.099 --> 00:41:47.539
 either me,

00:41:47.599 --> 00:41:49.079
 and my personal email address,

00:41:49.319 --> 00:41:50.739
 or the church office,

00:41:50.819 --> 00:41:51.399
 email address,

00:41:51.479 --> 00:41:52.439
 with your pointers,

00:41:53.319 --> 00:41:54.379
 about how to encourage,

00:41:55.959 --> 00:41:56.239
 and,

00:41:56.479 --> 00:41:57.419
 or your don'ts,

00:41:57.479 --> 00:41:58.239
 about encouragement,

00:41:58.239 --> 00:41:58.339
 encouragement,

00:41:59.139 --> 00:41:59.399
 and,

00:41:59.519 --> 00:42:00.479
 I will,

00:42:01.039 --> 00:42:01.619
 Amy and I,

00:42:01.919 --> 00:42:02.899
 Amy doesn't know this yet,

00:42:03.219 --> 00:42:04.299
 but I'll,

00:42:04.299 --> 00:42:05.339
 I'll take some of them,

00:42:05.500 --> 00:42:06.619
 and we'll sort of,

00:42:06.659 --> 00:42:07.039
 just,

00:42:07.259 --> 00:42:07.479
 you know,

00:42:07.519 --> 00:42:09.199
 maybe smooth up the grammar,

00:42:09.339 --> 00:42:09.619
 or whatever,

00:42:09.759 --> 00:42:10.459
 or if there's several,

00:42:10.539 --> 00:42:11.159
 that are all the same,

00:42:11.219 --> 00:42:12.219
 maybe merge them into one,

00:42:12.219 --> 00:42:13.199
 and next week,

00:42:13.239 --> 00:42:13.459
 I'll have,

00:42:13.500 --> 00:42:14.399
 we'll have an insert,

00:42:14.519 --> 00:42:15.980
 with some practical pointers,

00:42:15.980 --> 00:42:16.719
 about encouragement,

00:42:16.719 --> 00:42:17.779
 that have come from you,

00:42:18.419 --> 00:42:19.179
 not me,

00:42:19.939 --> 00:42:20.559
 maybe I'll,

00:42:20.559 --> 00:42:21.319
 I'll add a couple,

00:42:21.359 --> 00:42:21.839
 of my own,

00:42:22.319 --> 00:42:22.899
 but you know,

00:42:22.919 --> 00:42:23.679
 it begins,

00:42:24.000 --> 00:42:25.379
 it begins with asking,

00:42:25.539 --> 00:42:26.399
 that Jesus would,

00:42:26.539 --> 00:42:27.619
 work in us,

00:42:28.039 --> 00:42:28.699
 so that we can,

00:42:28.819 --> 00:42:30.139
 I can receive encouragement,

00:42:30.559 --> 00:42:31.319
 from him,

00:42:31.359 --> 00:42:32.019
 and from others,

00:42:32.559 --> 00:42:33.179
 because some of us,

00:42:33.199 --> 00:42:34.019
 aren't good at receiving,

00:42:34.019 --> 00:42:34.659
 encouragement,

00:42:35.199 --> 00:42:36.439
 or hearing encouragement,

00:42:37.239 --> 00:42:37.939
 and others,

00:42:38.319 --> 00:42:39.259
 and it will also learn,

00:42:39.260 --> 00:42:41.140
 to actually be active,

00:42:41.320 --> 00:42:42.720
 in encouraging others,

00:42:42.880 --> 00:42:43.600
 to their good,

00:42:44.060 --> 00:42:45.100
 and to God's glory,

00:42:46.000 --> 00:42:47.640
 and so,

00:42:48.080 --> 00:42:49.340
 I encourage you folks,

00:42:50.300 --> 00:42:51.480
 to think about Jesus,

00:42:52.000 --> 00:42:52.680
 to be gripped,

00:42:52.880 --> 00:42:53.600
 by the gospel,

00:42:54.220 --> 00:42:55.320
 if you are here today,

00:42:55.420 --> 00:42:56.260
 and you haven't given,

00:42:56.400 --> 00:42:57.180
 your life to Jesus,

00:42:57.340 --> 00:42:57.980
 if you thought,

00:42:58.120 --> 00:42:58.920
 that coming to Jesus,

00:42:59.060 --> 00:43:00.400
 is just another form,

00:43:00.660 --> 00:43:02.320
 of common human religion,

00:43:02.840 --> 00:43:04.140
 that's going to make you,

00:43:04.400 --> 00:43:05.380
 push you into all sorts,

00:43:05.420 --> 00:43:06.380
 of weird things,

00:43:06.460 --> 00:43:07.120
 or bigotry,

00:43:07.180 --> 00:43:08.360
 it's far from that,

00:43:08.360 --> 00:43:09.180
 completely,

00:43:09.420 --> 00:43:09.920
 and utterly,

00:43:10.280 --> 00:43:11.539
 far from that,

00:43:12.140 --> 00:43:13.640
 that what Jesus offers you,

00:43:13.700 --> 00:43:14.440
 is completely,

00:43:14.599 --> 00:43:15.440
 and utterly different,

00:43:15.440 --> 00:43:17.059
 from common human religion,

00:43:17.420 --> 00:43:18.860
 he offers you grace,

00:43:19.280 --> 00:43:20.000
 and he offers,

00:43:20.180 --> 00:43:21.000
 he has done something,

00:43:21.120 --> 00:43:22.059
 on the cross for you,

00:43:22.160 --> 00:43:23.079
 which is full,

00:43:23.320 --> 00:43:23.820
 complete,

00:43:24.420 --> 00:43:25.460
 that you can receive,

00:43:25.539 --> 00:43:26.200
 immediately,

00:43:26.720 --> 00:43:27.579
 that is perfect,

00:43:27.920 --> 00:43:28.539
 is whole,

00:43:28.760 --> 00:43:29.400
 is eternal,

00:43:29.620 --> 00:43:31.220
 and is irrevocable,

00:43:31.500 --> 00:43:32.240
 and that when Jesus,

00:43:32.240 --> 00:43:33.340
 takes you as his own,

00:43:33.420 --> 00:43:35.059
 he has no exit strategy,

00:43:35.440 --> 00:43:36.440
 and as you follow,

00:43:36.539 --> 00:43:37.579
 the one who loved you,

00:43:37.660 --> 00:43:38.059
 so much,

00:43:38.059 --> 00:43:39.380
 that he died for you,

00:43:40.079 --> 00:43:40.880
 he will push,

00:43:40.960 --> 00:43:42.199
 and pull you naturally,

00:43:42.340 --> 00:43:43.059
 into things,

00:43:43.139 --> 00:43:44.239
 that will reveal things,

00:43:44.259 --> 00:43:44.860
 about yourself,

00:43:45.000 --> 00:43:45.599
 that aren't good,

00:43:46.519 --> 00:43:47.639
 but at the same time,

00:43:47.699 --> 00:43:48.579
 it will provide,

00:43:48.699 --> 00:43:49.960
 resources for you,

00:43:50.019 --> 00:43:50.559
 to realize,

00:43:50.699 --> 00:43:51.519
 that Jesus died,

00:43:51.599 --> 00:43:52.420
 for this other person,

00:43:52.480 --> 00:43:52.880
 as well,

00:43:53.039 --> 00:43:54.360
 and that your obligation,

00:43:54.519 --> 00:43:55.119
 is to pray,

00:43:55.239 --> 00:43:56.000
 that they too,

00:43:56.460 --> 00:43:57.299
 will give up,

00:43:57.380 --> 00:43:58.039
 the choice of,

00:43:58.159 --> 00:43:59.420
 common human religion,

00:43:59.519 --> 00:44:00.159
 and irreligion,

00:44:00.239 --> 00:44:00.840
 but come,

00:44:00.840 --> 00:44:01.500
 to the,

00:44:01.500 --> 00:44:02.699
 come to the savior,

00:44:02.900 --> 00:44:04.099
 who loves them so much,

00:44:04.139 --> 00:44:05.000
 that he died for them,

00:44:05.239 --> 00:44:05.980
 on the cross,

00:44:05.980 --> 00:44:07.820
 if you have not,

00:44:07.880 --> 00:44:08.699
 yet come to Jesus,

00:44:08.840 --> 00:44:10.099
 there's no better time,

00:44:10.199 --> 00:44:10.639
 than today,

00:44:11.159 --> 00:44:12.500
 to call out to Jesus,

00:44:12.880 --> 00:44:13.219
 and say,

00:44:13.320 --> 00:44:14.280
 Jesus please,

00:44:14.679 --> 00:44:15.659
 all that stuff,

00:44:15.740 --> 00:44:16.880
 that George has talked about,

00:44:17.240 --> 00:44:17.340
 I,

00:44:17.480 --> 00:44:17.800
 I,

00:44:17.800 --> 00:44:19.079
 I reject,

00:44:19.179 --> 00:44:20.139
 common human religion,

00:44:20.260 --> 00:44:21.300
 I reject irreligion,

00:44:21.360 --> 00:44:22.039
 I come to you,

00:44:22.159 --> 00:44:22.840
 please Jesus,

00:44:22.980 --> 00:44:23.679
 be in my life,

00:44:23.980 --> 00:44:24.460
 as savior,

00:44:24.460 --> 00:44:25.679
 no better time,

00:44:26.019 --> 00:44:26.780
 than right today,

00:44:27.079 --> 00:44:27.920
 to say such prayer,

00:44:28.059 --> 00:44:28.559
 let's stand,

00:44:30.260 --> 00:44:36.039
 let's pray,

00:44:36.039 --> 00:44:36.059
 let's pray,

00:44:36.059 --> 00:44:36.079
 let's pray,

00:44:36.079 --> 00:44:36.119
 let's pray,

00:44:36.119 --> 00:44:44.920
 let's pray,

00:44:44.920 --> 00:44:45.679
 first and foremost,

00:44:46.679 --> 00:44:47.119
 father,

00:44:47.260 --> 00:44:47.639
 we ask,

00:44:47.760 --> 00:44:48.699
 that your holy spirit,

00:44:48.860 --> 00:44:49.199
 would move,

00:44:49.280 --> 00:44:49.900
 in our lives,

00:44:49.960 --> 00:44:50.500
 that we will be,

00:44:50.500 --> 00:44:51.699
 gripped by the gospel,

00:44:52.179 --> 00:44:53.019
 that we will be,

00:44:53.019 --> 00:44:54.239
 disciples of Jesus,

00:44:54.500 --> 00:44:55.619
 gripped by the gospel,

00:44:56.179 --> 00:44:57.179
 living for your glory,

00:44:58.280 --> 00:44:58.639
 father,

00:44:58.820 --> 00:44:59.619
 help us to be,

00:44:59.619 --> 00:45:00.719
 gripped by the gospel,

00:45:00.840 --> 00:45:01.460
 that what Jesus,

00:45:01.679 --> 00:45:02.460
 has done for us,

00:45:02.519 --> 00:45:04.159
 is done for us,

00:45:04.659 --> 00:45:05.400
 and we can add,

00:45:05.400 --> 00:45:06.179
 nothing to it,

00:45:06.280 --> 00:45:08.099
 that it is done for us,

00:45:08.759 --> 00:45:09.699
 and is complete,

00:45:09.880 --> 00:45:10.440
 and perfect,

00:45:10.739 --> 00:45:11.300
 and eternal,

00:45:11.619 --> 00:45:12.139
 and full,

00:45:12.300 --> 00:45:12.940
 and whole,

00:45:13.360 --> 00:45:14.400
 and irrevocable,

00:45:15.099 --> 00:45:15.360
 father,

00:45:15.519 --> 00:45:16.820
 grip us with the gospel,

00:45:17.039 --> 00:45:18.679
 that there is no exit strategy,

00:45:18.679 --> 00:45:20.059
 on Jesus's behalf,

00:45:20.360 --> 00:45:21.199
 towards us,

00:45:21.900 --> 00:45:22.199
 father,

00:45:22.199 --> 00:45:23.679
 grip us by the gospel,

00:45:24.339 --> 00:45:25.259
 that this is something,

00:45:25.419 --> 00:45:26.980
 that Jesus has done for us,

00:45:27.079 --> 00:45:27.939
 can do for us,

00:45:28.039 --> 00:45:28.980
 will do for us,

00:45:29.079 --> 00:45:30.460
 and will do for others,

00:45:30.460 --> 00:45:31.019
 that we meet,

00:45:31.079 --> 00:45:32.019
 when they put their faith,

00:45:32.059 --> 00:45:32.859
 and trust in him,

00:45:33.839 --> 00:45:34.139
 father,

00:45:34.259 --> 00:45:35.099
 lead us to prayer,

00:45:35.699 --> 00:45:36.980
 grip us with the gospel,

00:45:37.859 --> 00:45:39.099
 help us to encourage,

00:45:39.919 --> 00:45:40.779
 in this we ask,

00:45:40.839 --> 00:45:41.619
 in the name of Jesus,

00:45:41.779 --> 00:45:42.319
 your son,

00:45:42.519 --> 00:45:43.179
 and our savior,

00:45:43.779 --> 00:45:44.019
 amen.

00:45:44.019 --> 00:45:44.159
 Amen.