WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.740 12 through 49. That's page 862 in the Pew Bible. Go ahead and turn there with me. Luke chapter 6 00:00:09.740 --> 00:00:17.940 verses 12 through 49. We're looking this morning at a large block of Jesus's teaching. 00:00:19.140 --> 00:00:24.160 People will often acknowledge that Jesus was a great moral or spiritual teacher, 00:00:25.060 --> 00:00:29.460 but how often have we actually taken a close look at what he actually taught? 00:00:30.920 --> 00:00:37.340 Well, that's what we're going to do just here in Luke chapter 6. Since this is a long text, 00:00:37.399 --> 00:00:40.980 I won't read it all at first like we normally do. Instead, we'll just kind of walk through the text 00:00:40.980 --> 00:00:45.960 this morning section by section, and we'll see together here what Jesus taught. So let's pray 00:00:45.960 --> 00:00:50.039 as we turn to God's word, and then we'll pick up in verses 12 through 16. Let's pray. 00:00:53.719 --> 00:00:59.060 Our Lord Jesus, indeed you are a good shepherd. You lead us, you feed us, 00:00:59.060 --> 00:01:07.500 you protect us. And we know that you do that all by your Holy Spirit through your word. So we ask, 00:01:08.040 --> 00:01:13.140 Lord, that you would indeed teach us and shepherd us and guide us this morning as your church, 00:01:13.200 --> 00:01:18.439 as your flock, as we gather around your word. Hungry, Lord, to hear a word from you. 00:01:19.579 --> 00:01:26.900 Lord, wanting to know what direction our lives as your people should take. God, thank you for the gift 00:01:26.900 --> 00:01:34.160 of your speaking word, of your speaking voice that continues to be the Lord of the church today. 00:01:34.680 --> 00:01:38.240 Lord, we acknowledge you as such. Pray that you would meet with us this morning 00:01:38.240 --> 00:01:45.460 and guide our thoughts as we walk through this text together. For your sake, amen. 00:01:45.459 --> 00:01:53.219 Amen. All right. Luke chapter six. Let's start with verses 12 through 19. 00:01:55.439 --> 00:02:01.179 In those days, he, Jesus, went out to the mountain to pray. And all night, he continued in prayer to God. 00:02:02.039 --> 00:02:07.439 And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them 12 whom he named apostles. 00:02:07.439 --> 00:02:15.199 Simon, whom he named Peter and Andrew, his brother, and James and John and Philip and Bartholomew and 00:02:15.199 --> 00:02:20.139 Matthew and Thomas and James, the son of Alphaeus and Simon, who was called the Zealot and Judas, 00:02:20.240 --> 00:02:26.639 the son of James and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor. And he came down with them and stood on a 00:02:26.639 --> 00:02:31.079 level place with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and 00:02:31.079 --> 00:02:35.419 Jerusalem and the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. 00:02:35.419 --> 00:02:40.379 And those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured and all the crowd sought to touch him 00:02:40.379 --> 00:02:43.219 for power came out from him and healed them all. 00:02:45.719 --> 00:02:51.280 Now, before we dive into the block of Jesus's teaching, starting in verse 20, we have to get 00:02:51.280 --> 00:02:56.979 this context that we just read because Jesus isn't just going to sort of lay out some general 00:02:56.979 --> 00:03:02.799 moral and spiritual principles here. No, he's doing something much more specific. And what is that? 00:03:02.800 --> 00:03:07.260 Well, think of it this way. One writer put it this way. He said, imagine you're a school teacher 00:03:07.260 --> 00:03:13.820 and you're out on the playground after school and a large crowd of kids are there and they're 00:03:13.820 --> 00:03:20.880 throwing a football around, a whole group of them. And then you walk over and you start counting them 00:03:20.880 --> 00:03:27.100 off. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, 10, 11. And you gather them in a group. 00:03:27.099 --> 00:03:36.159 Well, what have you just done? What are you doing? Obviously you just counted off a football team, 00:03:36.199 --> 00:03:41.359 right? There they are. 11 players. You're ready to go. You're organizing a team. You're starting a game 00:03:41.359 --> 00:03:44.979 time to turn this mess into an actual organized sport. 00:03:44.979 --> 00:03:54.519 And you see, when Jews, when Jesus chooses out 12 of his disciples and gives them a unique role as 00:03:54.519 --> 00:04:00.319 apostles, you see, it would have been just as clear to his contemporaries, what he was doing as that 00:04:00.319 --> 00:04:05.479 playground example is to us. Of course, he wasn't sort of putting together a football team or a sports 00:04:05.479 --> 00:04:11.459 team. No, Jesus was reestablishing and renewing the people of God. 00:04:11.460 --> 00:04:21.519 12, of course, wasn't just a nice, even number. It was the number of the ancient tribes of Israel. 00:04:22.720 --> 00:04:31.759 Jesus appoints 12 apostles as a sign of what he's come to do, that he's come to renew God's people, 00:04:32.600 --> 00:04:39.120 that this group of 12 is going to be the seed, the representative start of the new people of God 00:04:39.120 --> 00:04:45.959 around him and his ministry. And in renewing God's people, Jesus is going to bring God's blessing 00:04:45.959 --> 00:04:53.300 to the world. And sure enough, in verse 17, that's exactly what happens, isn't it? He brings the 12 00:04:53.300 --> 00:04:58.139 down with him and along with a great crowd of his disciples, they minister to the multitude of the 00:04:58.139 --> 00:05:05.360 people who've come at this point in Luke's gospel from all over, Jews and Gentiles. 00:05:05.360 --> 00:05:11.400 Now, as we approach a passage like this, it's sometimes good to ask, who are we? 00:05:11.680 --> 00:05:14.540 Who are you and I in a passage like this? Where are we in this story? 00:05:15.600 --> 00:05:21.800 Well, I hope you would agree that we're obviously not Jesus in this story, right? Okay. And you know, 00:05:21.860 --> 00:05:27.720 we're not even the 12, really. They had a unique role in redemptive history. 00:05:27.720 --> 00:05:36.260 But we are like this large crowd of disciples gathering around Jesus in the 12, ready to hear 00:05:36.260 --> 00:05:41.860 his instructions to us, asking and learning from Jesus, what does it mean to be his people, to be 00:05:41.860 --> 00:05:49.400 on mission with him? How are we to be his followers? How are we to be the church that Jesus at this point 00:05:49.399 --> 00:05:59.219 in his ministry is launching out? That's where we are. Or maybe some of us, maybe we're not quite in 00:05:59.219 --> 00:06:05.099 the group of disciples yet. Maybe some of us are in the multitude, curious about Jesus. You've heard 00:06:05.099 --> 00:06:10.679 some rumors about him. Your friends seem to keep talking about him and they keep coming to this 00:06:10.680 --> 00:06:18.740 weird thing called church. So you've decided to come along and listen in. And you're considering 00:06:18.740 --> 00:06:26.019 for yourself whether you too will take up his call to follow him, to be a part of his new people. 00:06:28.980 --> 00:06:34.079 So the teaching here in Luke six, then when we put it in context, is really about what it means to be 00:06:34.079 --> 00:06:43.839 the church called by Jesus to head into the world after him on mission, to be the renewed people of 00:06:43.839 --> 00:06:52.680 God. And so then as we do the same, even today here in New Haven, what does it mean? What does Jesus 00:06:52.680 --> 00:07:00.579 have to say to us as Trinity Baptist church? What does it look like for us to be the church on mission? 00:07:00.579 --> 00:07:08.639 That's what Luke six is about. And the first thing that Jesus has to say to us in this regard, 00:07:09.240 --> 00:07:14.800 as we think about being the church on mission, following Jesus, our King, the first thing that Jesus 00:07:14.800 --> 00:07:27.639 says to us is, don't be afraid to lose everything. Lose everything. This is verses 20 through 26. And he 00:07:27.639 --> 00:07:33.319 lifted up his eyes on his disciples and said, blessed are you who are poor for yours is the 00:07:33.319 --> 00:07:39.279 kingdom of God. Blessed are you who are hungry now for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you 00:07:39.279 --> 00:07:44.459 who weep now for you shall laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and 00:07:44.459 --> 00:07:48.659 revile you and spurn your name as evil on account of the son of man. Rejoice in that day and leap for 00:07:48.659 --> 00:07:52.839 joy for behold, your reward is great in heaven for so their fathers did to the prophets. 00:07:52.839 --> 00:07:59.779 But woe to you who are rich for you have received your consolation. Woe to you who are full now 00:07:59.779 --> 00:08:07.439 for you shall be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now for you shall mourn and weep. Woe to you when all 00:08:07.439 --> 00:08:11.259 people speak well of you for so their fathers did to the false prophets. 00:08:14.559 --> 00:08:17.199 Not a bad way to grab attention at the beginning of a sermon, is it? 00:08:17.199 --> 00:08:26.599 Now to understand what Jesus is saying here, notice first his audience. Who is Jesus speaking to? 00:08:27.639 --> 00:08:31.560 Not just anyone who happens to be poor in verse 20. No, he's speaking to his disciples, 00:08:32.019 --> 00:08:39.159 to those who have already responded to his call to follow him. And notice second in verse 22, 00:08:39.159 --> 00:08:47.399 why they're in this condition. Why are they poor and hungry and sorrowful and rejected? 00:08:49.240 --> 00:08:52.240 Verse 22 says that it's on account of the son of man. 00:08:54.439 --> 00:09:01.600 So Jesus is painting a picture of discipleship here. That to genuinely follow him, to really be 00:09:01.600 --> 00:09:06.059 the church, to be his people on mission is going to be genuinely costly. 00:09:06.059 --> 00:09:17.559 But Jesus says, if you're poor and hungry, if you become sad and rejected on my account, 00:09:18.239 --> 00:09:25.479 if you find that following me puts you on the margins, socially excluded, financially strained, 00:09:26.119 --> 00:09:33.500 emotionally taxed, if that's true of you because you're following me, then in reality, 00:09:33.500 --> 00:09:46.039 you're blessed. You've got the good life. In other words, if you have me, even though you have 00:09:46.039 --> 00:09:54.419 nothing else, the reality is you ultimately have everything. Yours is the kingdom of God. 00:09:54.419 --> 00:10:03.479 And then Jesus puts it in stark relief for us by flipping it around. Let's say you have everything 00:10:03.479 --> 00:10:09.899 worldly speaking, wealth, food, laughter, acceptance, and yet to hang on to those things, 00:10:10.419 --> 00:10:18.259 you forsake him. Instead of him pushing you to the margins of society, you push him to the margins 00:10:18.259 --> 00:10:29.039 of your life. In that case, Jesus says, woe to you. Which was how the Old Testament prophets would 00:10:29.039 --> 00:10:34.700 announce the coming disaster of living apart from the living God. Woe to you. 00:10:38.720 --> 00:10:45.340 And so you see, friends, the church on mission, you and I, we are meant to have a whole new set of 00:10:45.340 --> 00:10:54.100 priorities. No longer does financial security or relational comfort or social acceptance drive our 00:10:54.100 --> 00:11:01.639 decisions. That's not our agenda anymore. We can hold those things with a loose grip. In fact, 00:11:01.680 --> 00:11:06.399 we can even give those things up for the sake of being faithful to Christ and his kingdom. 00:11:06.399 --> 00:11:15.939 And I hope you see that that means we will treat others very differently. How we treat others will 00:11:15.939 --> 00:11:23.340 be very different. After all, if worldly status and wealth aren't what matter in God's kingdom, 00:11:23.740 --> 00:11:30.879 if that's not what drives our agenda, why would we end up then showing favoritism toward those who are 00:11:30.879 --> 00:11:39.779 more wealthy or socially connected? In fact, Luke's gospel has shown us more often than not 00:11:39.779 --> 00:11:45.860 that it's the socially marginalized whom God seems most often to call and to use. 00:11:47.240 --> 00:11:52.220 Just think of the first two chapters of Luke's gospel. Who does God choose to work through? 00:11:52.220 --> 00:12:03.019 You ready? A barren woman, a poor virgin, a bunch of working class shepherds out in the fields, 00:12:03.820 --> 00:12:10.139 an elderly man, an elderly widow. That's just the first two chapters. 00:12:12.680 --> 00:12:15.940 Through whom does God's kingdom break into the world? 00:12:15.940 --> 00:12:21.220 Not exactly the rich and powerful, are they? 00:12:23.640 --> 00:12:29.560 Friends, God often delights to display his grace and power through human weakness. 00:12:32.260 --> 00:12:36.400 Not many of you were wise or powerful or of noble birth when God called you, 00:12:36.480 --> 00:12:38.000 Paul says in 1 Corinthians chapter 1, 00:12:39.080 --> 00:12:43.400 so that our boast might not be in ourselves, but in the Lord. 00:12:43.399 --> 00:12:51.500 Now, of course, that's not to say that being wealthy or socially connected is a bad thing. 00:12:52.639 --> 00:12:54.980 Because, friends, we all have to admit that compared to the rest of the world, 00:12:55.079 --> 00:12:57.120 all of us sitting in this room are fabulously wealthy. 00:12:58.399 --> 00:12:59.059 Are we not? 00:13:03.399 --> 00:13:05.959 Abraham and Job, Old Testament saints, were both wealthy men. 00:13:09.039 --> 00:13:10.259 What is Jesus showing us? 00:13:10.259 --> 00:13:13.460 He's showing us that these things aren't ultimate. 00:13:15.759 --> 00:13:19.840 They aren't the driving and deciding factor in God's kingdom. 00:13:19.960 --> 00:13:21.259 They don't drive our agenda. 00:13:21.740 --> 00:13:23.279 And they don't drive who we favor. 00:13:25.939 --> 00:13:30.399 If following Christ, if being the church means giving up wealth and social status, 00:13:31.100 --> 00:13:34.679 giving it away so that others can flourish, 00:13:34.679 --> 00:13:41.559 if being the church means giving up wealth and status for Christ's sake, for others' sake, 00:13:42.439 --> 00:13:43.239 then so be it. 00:13:45.120 --> 00:13:48.179 Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of heaven. 00:13:54.500 --> 00:13:56.399 But that is much easier said than done, isn't it? 00:13:56.399 --> 00:14:05.059 Of course, there are many parts of the world today where allegiance to Christ does result in very obvious poverty and hunger, 00:14:05.819 --> 00:14:08.120 in being disowned from one's family, 00:14:09.179 --> 00:14:10.139 fired from your work, 00:14:10.360 --> 00:14:11.639 even physically persecuted. 00:14:11.639 --> 00:14:16.899 But even for us here in our part of the world, 00:14:16.980 --> 00:14:20.240 what if your commitment to Christ in your job field, in your workplace, for instance, 00:14:20.879 --> 00:14:23.240 also means walking a very narrow road? 00:14:25.559 --> 00:14:33.179 Maybe there are widespread practices in your particular field that you won't engage in. 00:14:33.179 --> 00:14:37.739 Maybe you're in the medical field, 00:14:38.319 --> 00:14:43.019 and you won't perform procedures that compromise the dignity of human life, 00:14:43.599 --> 00:14:46.039 whether at the beginning or at the end. 00:14:48.919 --> 00:14:50.259 Maybe you're in the business world, 00:14:50.319 --> 00:14:55.739 and you won't round the numbers to make things look just a little bit better at the end of the quarter. 00:15:00.219 --> 00:15:02.859 These are incredibly hard decisions to face, aren't they? 00:15:03.179 --> 00:15:08.059 When everyone around you, supervisor included, 00:15:08.179 --> 00:15:12.779 is simply expecting certain actions, certain behaviors, certain attitudes, 00:15:12.899 --> 00:15:14.620 because this is how the world works. 00:15:16.620 --> 00:15:21.779 And to go against the grain means not just that your reputation is at stake, 00:15:22.659 --> 00:15:24.979 and whether people invite you to happy hour after work. 00:15:26.199 --> 00:15:30.799 To go against the grain could possibly cost you your very job itself. 00:15:33.179 --> 00:15:37.399 And might even come to a crisis point, 00:15:38.059 --> 00:15:41.139 where we have to decide between faithfulness to Christ 00:15:41.139 --> 00:15:45.379 and the prospect of rejection, exclusion, 00:15:46.500 --> 00:15:48.559 maybe even hunger and financial loss. 00:15:48.559 --> 00:15:55.299 And friends, it's at moments like these when we need to hear 00:15:55.299 --> 00:15:59.839 the comforting voice of our Savior saying, 00:16:00.239 --> 00:16:01.899 blessed are you who are poor, 00:16:02.279 --> 00:16:04.439 for yours is the kingdom of God. 00:16:04.440 --> 00:16:10.540 blessed are you who are poor, 00:16:10.540 --> 00:16:14.000 and hungry, and sorrowful, and rejected on my account. 00:16:15.660 --> 00:16:18.500 For you will be full, 00:16:19.060 --> 00:16:20.820 and you will laugh, 00:16:21.320 --> 00:16:23.420 and you will be in my kingdom. 00:16:23.419 --> 00:16:27.679 Even if you lose it all, 00:16:27.799 --> 00:16:29.559 you are a part of a kingdom that cannot fail. 00:16:30.179 --> 00:16:32.159 And whatever you lose here for his sake 00:16:32.159 --> 00:16:35.860 will be nothing compared to what you gain on that day. 00:16:39.939 --> 00:16:42.639 So Jesus' words here are meant to actually be a comfort 00:16:42.639 --> 00:16:44.439 and an encouragement to us. 00:16:45.019 --> 00:16:47.439 That even if discipleship is costly, 00:16:47.719 --> 00:16:48.480 don't be afraid. 00:16:48.480 --> 00:16:48.519 Don't be afraid. 00:16:48.779 --> 00:16:51.060 Don't be afraid even to lose everything. 00:16:53.240 --> 00:16:55.039 That's the first thing Jesus is teaching us here. 00:16:57.300 --> 00:16:58.460 But he doesn't stop there. 00:16:59.820 --> 00:17:02.080 If following him means rejection or exclusion, 00:17:02.759 --> 00:17:04.740 how are we going to respond to those 00:17:04.740 --> 00:17:06.079 who reject and exclude us? 00:17:07.319 --> 00:17:08.500 How should we treat those 00:17:08.500 --> 00:17:10.000 who will inevitably come against us, 00:17:10.079 --> 00:17:11.880 possibly even hate us on account of Christ? 00:17:13.680 --> 00:17:15.779 And that's why Jesus continues his second big point 00:17:15.779 --> 00:17:17.660 in verse 27 with the word, but. 00:17:19.299 --> 00:17:20.259 You'll be rejected, 00:17:20.720 --> 00:17:23.339 but here's how you're going to respond. 00:17:24.400 --> 00:17:25.539 But I say to you who hear, 00:17:26.759 --> 00:17:27.620 love your enemies. 00:17:30.140 --> 00:17:31.360 Do you see what Jesus is saying? 00:17:32.200 --> 00:17:34.360 What does it mean to be the church on mission? 00:17:35.180 --> 00:17:36.839 Not just to lose everything, 00:17:37.620 --> 00:17:40.740 but then to love those who take it from you. 00:17:43.420 --> 00:17:45.140 Look at verses 27 through 38. 00:17:45.240 --> 00:17:46.319 But I say to you who hear, 00:17:46.480 --> 00:17:47.259 love your enemies. 00:17:47.259 --> 00:17:49.079 Do good to those who hate you. 00:17:49.579 --> 00:17:50.559 Bless those who curse you. 00:17:50.680 --> 00:17:51.799 Pray for those who abuse you. 00:17:51.839 --> 00:17:53.099 To the one who strikes you on the cheek, 00:17:53.599 --> 00:17:54.480 offer the other also. 00:17:54.839 --> 00:17:56.339 And from the one who takes away your cloak, 00:17:56.420 --> 00:17:57.720 do not withhold your tunic either. 00:17:58.359 --> 00:17:59.940 Give to everyone who begs from you. 00:18:00.240 --> 00:18:01.539 And from one who takes away your goods, 00:18:01.619 --> 00:18:02.779 do not demand them back. 00:18:02.980 --> 00:18:04.680 And as you wish that others would do to you, 00:18:04.779 --> 00:18:05.500 do so to them. 00:18:06.779 --> 00:18:07.879 If you love those who love you, 00:18:07.940 --> 00:18:08.920 what benefit is that to you? 00:18:09.900 --> 00:18:11.539 For even sinners love those who love them. 00:18:11.539 --> 00:18:13.799 And if you do good to those who do good to you, 00:18:13.879 --> 00:18:14.899 what benefit is that to you? 00:18:14.940 --> 00:18:16.159 For even sinners do the same. 00:18:16.960 --> 00:18:19.659 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, 00:18:19.759 --> 00:18:20.940 what credit is that to you? 00:18:21.319 --> 00:18:24.299 Even sinners lend to sinners to get back the same amount. 00:18:24.420 --> 00:18:27.440 But love your enemies and do good and lend, 00:18:27.579 --> 00:18:29.099 expecting nothing in return. 00:18:29.480 --> 00:18:31.059 And your reward will be great. 00:18:31.440 --> 00:18:33.299 And you will be sons of the Most High, 00:18:33.480 --> 00:18:35.940 for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 00:18:35.940 --> 00:18:37.480 Be merciful, be merciful, 00:18:37.980 --> 00:18:39.660 even as your Father is merciful. 00:18:40.160 --> 00:18:42.080 Judge not, and you will not be judged. 00:18:42.620 --> 00:18:44.299 Condemn not, and you will not be condemned. 00:18:44.960 --> 00:18:46.220 Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 00:18:46.400 --> 00:18:47.519 Give, and it will be given to you. 00:18:47.640 --> 00:18:50.340 Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, 00:18:50.720 --> 00:18:52.960 running over will be put into your lap. 00:18:53.480 --> 00:18:54.960 For with the measure you use, 00:18:55.259 --> 00:18:56.820 it will be measured back to you. 00:19:01.160 --> 00:19:02.779 So this section of Jesus' teaching 00:19:02.779 --> 00:19:04.000 breaks down into two parts. 00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:06.180 First, the command. 00:19:06.880 --> 00:19:07.799 Second, the motivation. 00:19:09.539 --> 00:19:12.339 The command's obviously found in verse 27 through 31, isn't it? 00:19:12.859 --> 00:19:13.799 Love your enemies. 00:19:16.859 --> 00:19:19.480 And then, lest we're uncertain what that looks like, 00:19:20.619 --> 00:19:21.619 if it just sort of means 00:19:21.619 --> 00:19:23.619 having a nice fuzzy feeling in our heart, 00:19:25.480 --> 00:19:27.160 Jesus immediately gives us some examples. 00:19:28.940 --> 00:19:30.200 Think of someone who hates you. 00:19:31.700 --> 00:19:32.420 Do good to them. 00:19:34.000 --> 00:19:35.839 Think of someone who's cursing you. 00:19:36.940 --> 00:19:37.619 Bless them. 00:19:38.960 --> 00:19:39.960 Who's abusing you? 00:19:40.079 --> 00:19:40.660 Pray for them. 00:19:40.920 --> 00:19:42.140 Who's slapping you on the cheek 00:19:42.140 --> 00:19:43.500 because they're so offended by you? 00:19:43.859 --> 00:19:45.359 Who's taking the clothes off your back? 00:19:45.420 --> 00:19:46.900 Who's greedily demanding your goods, 00:19:46.960 --> 00:19:48.500 even forcefully taking them from you? 00:19:48.539 --> 00:19:49.480 How should you respond? 00:19:51.720 --> 00:19:54.140 Our natural response is to retaliate, isn't it? 00:19:56.039 --> 00:19:57.660 You hate me, I'll hate you. 00:19:57.660 --> 00:19:59.779 You hurt me, I'll hurt you. 00:20:00.279 --> 00:20:01.300 We pay them back. 00:20:02.100 --> 00:20:03.220 It's justice, right? 00:20:06.040 --> 00:20:07.360 But no, Jesus says, 00:20:08.019 --> 00:20:10.940 that's not how you're going to respond. 00:20:13.180 --> 00:20:14.600 You're not going to be a victim 00:20:14.600 --> 00:20:18.440 and get sucked down into the cycle of retaliation. 00:20:18.440 --> 00:20:21.539 You're actually going to break the cycle. 00:20:22.400 --> 00:20:23.940 In exchange for their evil, 00:20:24.080 --> 00:20:25.740 you're going to return good. 00:20:29.559 --> 00:20:30.539 Now, this doesn't mean 00:20:30.539 --> 00:20:32.120 that you should never remove yourself 00:20:32.120 --> 00:20:33.680 from physical harm or abuse. 00:20:36.080 --> 00:20:37.720 Think of the example of the Apostle Paul. 00:20:37.720 --> 00:20:42.519 Paul was often secretly snuck out of town 00:20:42.519 --> 00:20:43.480 to safety, wasn't he, 00:20:43.519 --> 00:20:44.299 when he was in danger 00:20:44.299 --> 00:20:45.400 of being harmed or persecuted. 00:20:46.860 --> 00:20:48.360 So it's okay to remove yourself 00:20:48.360 --> 00:20:49.500 from being physically harmed. 00:20:51.579 --> 00:20:52.460 And it doesn't mean 00:20:52.460 --> 00:20:53.259 that the right response 00:20:53.259 --> 00:20:54.519 to someone harming you 00:20:54.519 --> 00:20:56.059 can't be involving the police 00:20:56.059 --> 00:20:56.839 or the legal system. 00:20:58.579 --> 00:21:00.200 Again, the Apostle Paul's a helpful example. 00:21:00.339 --> 00:21:01.039 When necessary, 00:21:01.720 --> 00:21:03.160 Paul used his legal status 00:21:03.160 --> 00:21:04.079 as a Roman citizen 00:21:04.079 --> 00:21:06.000 to help fledgling churches 00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:07.700 to get protection under Roman law. 00:21:07.720 --> 00:21:09.019 from physical harm 00:21:09.019 --> 00:21:09.920 and legal persecution. 00:21:11.700 --> 00:21:13.600 So, physically removing yourself 00:21:13.600 --> 00:21:14.779 from an abusive relationship, 00:21:14.960 --> 00:21:16.279 involving the legal authorities 00:21:16.279 --> 00:21:16.920 when necessary, 00:21:16.980 --> 00:21:17.819 these are completely 00:21:17.819 --> 00:21:18.839 legitimate, 00:21:19.480 --> 00:21:20.880 Christ-like responses. 00:21:22.299 --> 00:21:22.860 But, 00:21:23.500 --> 00:21:25.319 in line with what Jesus 00:21:25.319 --> 00:21:26.279 is commanding us here, 00:21:26.380 --> 00:21:28.019 as far as we are able, 00:21:28.620 --> 00:21:29.480 even if we decide 00:21:29.480 --> 00:21:30.900 to respond in those ways, 00:21:30.980 --> 00:21:32.240 it should never be done 00:21:32.240 --> 00:21:34.059 with a spiteful heart, 00:21:35.299 --> 00:21:36.720 an attitude that makes 00:21:36.720 --> 00:21:37.460 the other person 00:21:37.460 --> 00:21:38.039 want to pay. 00:21:42.160 --> 00:21:43.340 What might that look like? 00:21:45.579 --> 00:21:46.840 Just this week in small group, 00:21:47.180 --> 00:21:47.960 someone mentioned 00:21:47.960 --> 00:21:48.519 how at work, 00:21:48.700 --> 00:21:49.460 a colleague of hers 00:21:49.460 --> 00:21:51.360 had been sending text messages 00:21:51.360 --> 00:21:52.220 around the office, 00:21:52.740 --> 00:21:53.620 basically maligning 00:21:53.620 --> 00:21:54.279 her character 00:21:54.279 --> 00:21:55.880 for no good reason. 00:21:57.120 --> 00:21:58.000 And these messages 00:21:58.000 --> 00:21:59.140 eventually fell into the hands 00:21:59.140 --> 00:22:00.299 of their mutual supervisor. 00:22:01.220 --> 00:22:01.500 Oops. 00:22:01.500 --> 00:22:04.819 And the supervisor 00:22:04.819 --> 00:22:05.400 was actually ready 00:22:05.400 --> 00:22:06.099 to fire the person 00:22:06.099 --> 00:22:06.799 who sent the messages. 00:22:08.039 --> 00:22:08.619 So, they called 00:22:08.619 --> 00:22:09.200 our small group member 00:22:09.200 --> 00:22:09.700 into her office 00:22:09.700 --> 00:22:10.059 and said, 00:22:10.160 --> 00:22:10.319 look, 00:22:10.819 --> 00:22:12.019 what this person done 00:22:12.019 --> 00:22:13.900 is a terminable offense. 00:22:14.660 --> 00:22:15.359 Do you want me to fire her? 00:22:18.279 --> 00:22:19.200 Now, what would you have done? 00:22:19.200 --> 00:22:27.480 What would it look like 00:22:27.480 --> 00:22:28.519 for you to bless those 00:22:28.519 --> 00:22:29.700 who curse you 00:22:29.700 --> 00:22:30.620 in this instance? 00:22:33.620 --> 00:22:34.880 Well, I think by God's grace, 00:22:34.980 --> 00:22:36.220 she decided to not recommend 00:22:36.220 --> 00:22:37.799 the supervisor fire this person. 00:22:37.799 --> 00:22:39.899 And rather, 00:22:40.039 --> 00:22:40.680 she showed 00:22:40.680 --> 00:22:42.440 radical mercy. 00:22:47.180 --> 00:22:48.279 How about you, friends? 00:22:49.619 --> 00:22:50.579 Is there a neighbor 00:22:50.579 --> 00:22:53.240 or a roommate 00:22:53.240 --> 00:22:55.799 or a family member, 00:22:55.899 --> 00:22:56.460 a spouse, 00:22:56.680 --> 00:22:58.180 maybe even a fellow church member 00:22:58.180 --> 00:23:01.779 that Jesus is calling you 00:23:01.779 --> 00:23:04.419 to show this kind of radical 00:23:04.419 --> 00:23:06.559 mercy toward? 00:23:07.799 --> 00:23:12.000 Of course, at first, 00:23:12.079 --> 00:23:12.859 this sort of behavior 00:23:12.859 --> 00:23:14.619 always seems impractical 00:23:14.619 --> 00:23:16.279 and absurd and weak. 00:23:19.279 --> 00:23:20.139 And yet, 00:23:21.779 --> 00:23:22.940 doesn't the 20th century 00:23:22.940 --> 00:23:23.839 show us examples 00:23:23.839 --> 00:23:26.200 where the church acting 00:23:26.200 --> 00:23:27.539 in this kind of weakness 00:23:27.539 --> 00:23:29.319 is actually true strength? 00:23:32.059 --> 00:23:33.279 Martin Luther King Jr. 00:23:33.440 --> 00:23:34.399 stands up to racism 00:23:34.399 --> 00:23:35.779 and segregation in America. 00:23:37.799 --> 00:23:40.099 The truth and reconciliation movement 00:23:40.099 --> 00:23:40.819 in South Africa 00:23:40.819 --> 00:23:42.119 responds to apartheid. 00:23:43.379 --> 00:23:44.779 Not through violence 00:23:44.779 --> 00:23:45.619 or retribution, 00:23:46.299 --> 00:23:47.619 but through actions 00:23:47.619 --> 00:23:50.180 that stop the downward cycle 00:23:50.180 --> 00:23:51.919 and even reverse it. 00:23:55.759 --> 00:23:56.919 We see the power 00:23:56.919 --> 00:23:57.740 of this sort of response 00:23:57.740 --> 00:23:58.519 in the earliest days 00:23:58.519 --> 00:23:59.299 of the church as well. 00:24:00.399 --> 00:24:01.579 After Stephen gives 00:24:01.579 --> 00:24:03.059 his groundbreaking speech 00:24:03.059 --> 00:24:03.799 in Acts 7, 00:24:04.259 --> 00:24:05.079 do you remember what happens? 00:24:05.079 --> 00:24:09.259 Jerusalem doesn't repent 00:24:09.259 --> 00:24:10.819 and the leaders 00:24:10.819 --> 00:24:11.839 don't all become Christians. 00:24:11.980 --> 00:24:12.720 No, what do they do? 00:24:13.579 --> 00:24:14.460 They grab him 00:24:14.460 --> 00:24:16.220 and they drag him out of town 00:24:16.220 --> 00:24:17.500 and they pick up stones 00:24:17.500 --> 00:24:18.359 to execute him. 00:24:22.799 --> 00:24:23.980 And Stephen responds 00:24:23.980 --> 00:24:25.079 not by cursing them, 00:24:25.519 --> 00:24:26.319 but by praying. 00:24:27.359 --> 00:24:27.759 Do you remember 00:24:27.759 --> 00:24:28.240 what he prayed? 00:24:28.240 --> 00:24:29.559 Lord, 00:24:29.859 --> 00:24:31.279 do not hold this sin 00:24:31.279 --> 00:24:31.859 against them. 00:24:33.880 --> 00:24:35.259 Just as Jesus commands, 00:24:35.420 --> 00:24:36.160 Stephen prays 00:24:36.160 --> 00:24:37.420 for those who persecute him. 00:24:38.440 --> 00:24:39.680 And what's the result? 00:24:42.519 --> 00:24:43.400 A young, 00:24:43.740 --> 00:24:45.400 zealous Pharisee 00:24:45.400 --> 00:24:46.099 named Saul 00:24:46.099 --> 00:24:47.339 is present 00:24:47.339 --> 00:24:49.700 approving Stephen's death. 00:24:51.420 --> 00:24:52.940 But in no short time, 00:24:54.200 --> 00:24:55.400 Jesus will reveal himself 00:24:55.400 --> 00:24:55.839 to Paul. 00:24:55.839 --> 00:24:58.419 And what Saul 00:24:58.419 --> 00:24:59.319 originally witnessed 00:24:59.319 --> 00:25:00.159 in Stephen, 00:25:01.500 --> 00:25:02.459 Saul comes to taste 00:25:02.459 --> 00:25:03.199 for himself 00:25:03.199 --> 00:25:04.559 when he finally 00:25:04.559 --> 00:25:05.240 gets a glimpse 00:25:05.240 --> 00:25:06.039 of the risen Lord. 00:25:08.839 --> 00:25:10.419 He comes to a personal 00:25:10.419 --> 00:25:11.279 knowledge 00:25:11.279 --> 00:25:12.220 of Christ's mercy 00:25:12.220 --> 00:25:12.639 and grace. 00:25:12.759 --> 00:25:13.000 You see, 00:25:13.099 --> 00:25:14.599 Stephen's radical love 00:25:14.599 --> 00:25:17.059 became part 00:25:17.059 --> 00:25:18.439 of what actually 00:25:18.439 --> 00:25:19.259 converts 00:25:19.259 --> 00:25:20.639 the church's 00:25:20.639 --> 00:25:21.359 greatest missionary 00:25:21.359 --> 00:25:22.139 and theologian, 00:25:22.839 --> 00:25:23.519 the apostle Paul. 00:25:23.519 --> 00:25:28.740 So what's the command? 00:25:29.819 --> 00:25:30.819 Love your enemies. 00:25:32.720 --> 00:25:33.900 And what's the motivation? 00:25:35.700 --> 00:25:36.079 Again, 00:25:36.160 --> 00:25:36.700 Jesus mentions 00:25:36.700 --> 00:25:37.779 a great reward 00:25:37.779 --> 00:25:38.720 in verse 35. 00:25:39.740 --> 00:25:40.839 And in verse 38, 00:25:40.920 --> 00:25:41.779 that great reward 00:25:41.779 --> 00:25:42.400 is described 00:25:42.400 --> 00:25:43.000 with an image 00:25:43.000 --> 00:25:43.700 from the marketplace. 00:25:44.180 --> 00:25:45.639 A giant heaping 00:25:45.639 --> 00:25:46.819 measure of grain 00:25:46.819 --> 00:25:47.539 that's been shaken 00:25:47.539 --> 00:25:49.059 and pressed down 00:25:49.059 --> 00:25:50.240 and it's spilling over 00:25:50.240 --> 00:25:50.900 and then poured 00:25:50.900 --> 00:25:51.559 into your lap. 00:25:51.559 --> 00:25:53.659 In the ancient world, 00:25:53.720 --> 00:25:54.299 you would sometimes 00:25:54.299 --> 00:25:55.579 fold up sort of 00:25:55.579 --> 00:25:56.119 the front layer 00:25:56.119 --> 00:25:56.759 of your robe 00:25:56.759 --> 00:25:57.679 to create a bit 00:25:57.679 --> 00:25:58.559 of a carrying sack 00:25:58.559 --> 00:25:59.399 and then they would 00:25:59.399 --> 00:25:59.940 just dump stuff 00:25:59.940 --> 00:26:00.220 into it 00:26:00.220 --> 00:26:00.480 and you could 00:26:00.480 --> 00:26:00.940 carry it home. 00:26:01.259 --> 00:26:01.819 That's what Jesus 00:26:01.819 --> 00:26:02.960 is talking about here. 00:26:03.000 --> 00:26:03.419 That's the image 00:26:03.419 --> 00:26:03.899 he's using. 00:26:05.919 --> 00:26:06.379 And isn't this 00:26:06.379 --> 00:26:08.019 a very earthy image 00:26:08.019 --> 00:26:11.720 for what heavenly reward 00:26:11.720 --> 00:26:12.559 will be like? 00:26:14.019 --> 00:26:14.419 Grain 00:26:14.419 --> 00:26:15.960 spilling over 00:26:15.960 --> 00:26:16.399 the edges 00:26:16.399 --> 00:26:17.019 of the cup, 00:26:18.059 --> 00:26:19.000 weighing down 00:26:19.000 --> 00:26:20.720 your robe. 00:26:21.559 --> 00:26:24.379 It's no surprise 00:26:24.379 --> 00:26:25.200 that Jesus uses 00:26:25.200 --> 00:26:26.460 such an earthy image 00:26:26.460 --> 00:26:28.279 because what do we know 00:26:28.279 --> 00:26:29.319 about the kingdom of God? 00:26:30.399 --> 00:26:31.500 The kingdom of God 00:26:31.500 --> 00:26:32.139 holds out 00:26:32.139 --> 00:26:33.259 a new creation, 00:26:33.460 --> 00:26:33.759 friends. 00:26:35.200 --> 00:26:36.179 It's not leaving 00:26:36.179 --> 00:26:37.740 behind this material life 00:26:37.740 --> 00:26:38.339 but it's God 00:26:38.339 --> 00:26:39.659 eventually healing it 00:26:39.659 --> 00:26:41.220 and transforming it 00:26:41.220 --> 00:26:42.700 and transfiguring it 00:26:42.700 --> 00:26:43.079 in the way 00:26:43.079 --> 00:26:43.579 it was always 00:26:43.579 --> 00:26:44.279 meant to be. 00:26:44.279 --> 00:26:48.460 You see, 00:26:48.559 --> 00:26:49.299 living against 00:26:49.299 --> 00:26:50.240 the grain now 00:26:50.240 --> 00:26:52.160 is really living 00:26:52.160 --> 00:26:53.019 with the grain 00:26:53.019 --> 00:26:54.399 of the age 00:26:54.399 --> 00:26:54.940 that's coming 00:26:54.940 --> 00:26:56.119 and cannot be stopped. 00:26:58.799 --> 00:26:59.559 I didn't even 00:26:59.559 --> 00:26:59.960 intend that 00:26:59.960 --> 00:27:01.359 to be a pun 00:27:01.359 --> 00:27:01.859 by the way. 00:27:03.180 --> 00:27:03.899 The grain 00:27:03.899 --> 00:27:04.440 of the... 00:27:04.440 --> 00:27:04.839 Never mind. 00:27:08.619 --> 00:27:09.339 But in addition 00:27:09.339 --> 00:27:09.899 to the great reward 00:27:09.899 --> 00:27:10.379 he had something 00:27:10.379 --> 00:27:10.899 even more 00:27:10.899 --> 00:27:11.839 in verse 35. 00:27:11.839 --> 00:27:12.519 What does he say? 00:27:13.299 --> 00:27:13.859 He says, 00:27:13.980 --> 00:27:14.599 you will be 00:27:14.599 --> 00:27:16.259 sons of the most high. 00:27:19.059 --> 00:27:19.819 In other words, 00:27:19.879 --> 00:27:20.599 your status 00:27:20.599 --> 00:27:21.199 as the children 00:27:21.199 --> 00:27:21.639 of God 00:27:21.639 --> 00:27:22.379 will be confirmed. 00:27:23.459 --> 00:27:24.899 Your family likeness 00:27:24.899 --> 00:27:25.699 will come shining through 00:27:25.699 --> 00:27:27.339 just as God's kindness 00:27:27.339 --> 00:27:28.059 extends 00:27:28.059 --> 00:27:28.799 to the ungrateful 00:27:28.799 --> 00:27:29.299 and evil 00:27:29.299 --> 00:27:30.000 so you 00:27:30.000 --> 00:27:30.799 when you love 00:27:30.799 --> 00:27:31.279 your enemies 00:27:31.279 --> 00:27:32.019 will be acting 00:27:32.019 --> 00:27:32.659 like the children 00:27:32.659 --> 00:27:33.039 of God 00:27:33.039 --> 00:27:33.740 that you are. 00:27:36.179 --> 00:27:36.699 Of course, 00:27:36.740 --> 00:27:37.379 Jesus isn't saying 00:27:37.379 --> 00:27:37.919 that these actions 00:27:37.919 --> 00:27:39.119 are going to make you 00:27:39.119 --> 00:27:39.939 sons and daughters 00:27:39.940 --> 00:27:40.480 of God, right? 00:27:40.559 --> 00:27:41.500 Only the gracious 00:27:41.500 --> 00:27:42.779 regenerating work 00:27:42.779 --> 00:27:43.400 of the Holy Spirit 00:27:43.400 --> 00:27:43.940 can do that 00:27:43.940 --> 00:27:44.740 as we respond 00:27:44.740 --> 00:27:45.240 in faith 00:27:45.240 --> 00:27:45.880 to Christ's death 00:27:45.880 --> 00:27:46.360 and resurrection. 00:27:46.840 --> 00:27:47.160 However, 00:27:47.400 --> 00:27:48.259 as those who have been 00:27:48.259 --> 00:27:49.559 made God's children 00:27:49.559 --> 00:27:52.460 there's a deep joy 00:27:52.460 --> 00:27:53.340 that comes 00:27:53.340 --> 00:27:54.940 in pleasing 00:27:54.940 --> 00:27:56.900 and in resembling 00:27:56.900 --> 00:27:58.480 our Heavenly Father. 00:28:00.720 --> 00:28:01.880 What's the motivation 00:28:01.880 --> 00:28:02.960 to love our enemies 00:28:02.960 --> 00:28:04.080 in this radical 00:28:04.080 --> 00:28:06.059 non-reciprocal way? 00:28:06.059 --> 00:28:09.819 that we get to be 00:28:09.819 --> 00:28:10.879 like our Heavenly Father. 00:28:13.059 --> 00:28:13.879 That we get to be 00:28:13.879 --> 00:28:14.859 imitators of God. 00:28:14.960 --> 00:28:15.859 That we get to display 00:28:15.859 --> 00:28:16.559 His character 00:28:16.559 --> 00:28:17.099 and mercy 00:28:17.099 --> 00:28:17.759 to the world. 00:28:18.319 --> 00:28:19.039 That we get to 00:28:19.039 --> 00:28:20.299 participate a little more 00:28:20.299 --> 00:28:20.960 in His being 00:28:20.960 --> 00:28:21.720 and likeness. 00:28:22.720 --> 00:28:24.159 That we get to live out 00:28:24.159 --> 00:28:25.559 the life of the sons 00:28:25.559 --> 00:28:26.000 and daughters 00:28:26.000 --> 00:28:26.700 that we are. 00:28:31.059 --> 00:28:31.899 So this is Jesus' 00:28:32.019 --> 00:28:32.500 second point. 00:28:32.579 --> 00:28:33.139 What does it look like 00:28:33.139 --> 00:28:33.980 to be the church? 00:28:36.059 --> 00:28:36.859 Don't be afraid 00:28:36.859 --> 00:28:37.740 to lose everything. 00:28:39.559 --> 00:28:40.319 And then 00:28:40.319 --> 00:28:41.559 even to love those 00:28:41.559 --> 00:28:42.399 who take it from you. 00:28:45.879 --> 00:28:47.039 But Jesus isn't done. 00:28:49.099 --> 00:28:50.019 There's one more thing 00:28:50.019 --> 00:28:50.779 we need to get straight. 00:28:51.940 --> 00:28:52.980 And perhaps you've already 00:28:52.980 --> 00:28:53.759 started to feel it. 00:28:55.339 --> 00:28:56.440 I have walking through 00:28:56.440 --> 00:28:57.240 this passage again 00:28:57.240 --> 00:28:57.919 this morning. 00:29:00.079 --> 00:29:00.980 Listen to what Jesus 00:29:00.980 --> 00:29:01.480 is saying. 00:29:02.240 --> 00:29:02.779 Blessed are you 00:29:02.779 --> 00:29:03.419 who are poor. 00:29:04.259 --> 00:29:05.440 Love your enemies. 00:29:06.059 --> 00:29:08.299 Friends, I don't know 00:29:08.299 --> 00:29:08.700 about you, 00:29:08.779 --> 00:29:09.480 but hasn't your heart 00:29:09.480 --> 00:29:10.059 been saying, 00:29:10.619 --> 00:29:11.940 but I don't want 00:29:11.940 --> 00:29:12.440 to be poor. 00:29:14.659 --> 00:29:15.200 I don't want 00:29:15.200 --> 00:29:16.019 to love my enemies. 00:29:18.159 --> 00:29:18.759 That's a bridge 00:29:18.759 --> 00:29:19.299 too far. 00:29:24.679 --> 00:29:25.579 But Jesus' sermon 00:29:25.579 --> 00:29:26.319 ends without any 00:29:26.319 --> 00:29:27.240 possibility of letting 00:29:27.240 --> 00:29:27.919 us off the hook. 00:29:28.679 --> 00:29:29.899 He ends with actually 00:29:29.899 --> 00:29:31.200 three interlocking 00:29:31.200 --> 00:29:32.379 parables or images 00:29:32.380 --> 00:29:34.200 that drive us 00:29:34.200 --> 00:29:35.540 to the very end 00:29:35.540 --> 00:29:36.200 of ourselves. 00:29:38.540 --> 00:29:39.340 And that becomes 00:29:39.340 --> 00:29:40.020 the last point. 00:29:40.860 --> 00:29:41.580 Lose everything. 00:29:42.580 --> 00:29:43.580 Love those who take it. 00:29:44.460 --> 00:29:45.520 And through it all, 00:29:46.240 --> 00:29:47.100 humbly acknowledge 00:29:47.100 --> 00:29:47.840 your need 00:29:47.840 --> 00:29:48.800 for grace. 00:29:50.580 --> 00:29:51.240 Let's pick up 00:29:51.240 --> 00:29:51.980 in verse 39. 00:29:53.540 --> 00:29:54.220 Jesus starts 00:29:54.220 --> 00:29:54.760 bringing things 00:29:54.760 --> 00:29:55.300 to a conclusion. 00:29:55.440 --> 00:29:55.620 He says, 00:29:55.700 --> 00:29:56.320 He also told them 00:29:56.320 --> 00:29:56.760 a parable. 00:29:57.520 --> 00:29:58.180 Can a blind man 00:29:58.180 --> 00:29:58.860 lead a blind man? 00:29:58.920 --> 00:29:59.480 Will they not both 00:29:59.480 --> 00:30:00.140 fall into a pit? 00:30:00.720 --> 00:30:01.500 A disciple's not 00:30:01.500 --> 00:30:02.120 above his teacher, 00:30:02.200 --> 00:30:02.600 but everyone, 00:30:02.720 --> 00:30:03.400 when he's fully trained, 00:30:03.440 --> 00:30:04.240 will be like his teacher. 00:30:05.320 --> 00:30:06.340 Why do you see the speck 00:30:06.340 --> 00:30:07.320 that is in your brother's eye, 00:30:07.360 --> 00:30:07.920 but do not notice 00:30:07.920 --> 00:30:08.540 the log that is 00:30:08.540 --> 00:30:09.160 in your own eye? 00:30:09.660 --> 00:30:10.320 How can you say 00:30:10.320 --> 00:30:10.740 to your brother, 00:30:10.820 --> 00:30:10.980 Brother, 00:30:11.060 --> 00:30:12.000 let me take the speck, 00:30:12.480 --> 00:30:13.440 let me take out the speck 00:30:13.440 --> 00:30:14.180 that is in your eye, 00:30:14.280 --> 00:30:15.140 when you yourself 00:30:15.140 --> 00:30:16.380 do not see the log 00:30:16.380 --> 00:30:17.400 that is in your own eye? 00:30:18.000 --> 00:30:19.140 You hypocrite. 00:30:19.520 --> 00:30:20.400 First take the log 00:30:20.400 --> 00:30:21.420 out of your own eye, 00:30:21.600 --> 00:30:22.700 and then you will see 00:30:22.700 --> 00:30:23.860 clearly to take the speck 00:30:23.860 --> 00:30:25.340 out that is in your 00:30:25.340 --> 00:30:25.860 brother's eye. 00:30:27.080 --> 00:30:28.060 For no good tree 00:30:28.060 --> 00:30:29.140 bears bad fruit, 00:30:29.140 --> 00:30:30.240 nor again does a bad tree 00:30:30.240 --> 00:30:30.920 bear good fruit. 00:30:31.380 --> 00:30:32.420 For each tree is known 00:30:32.420 --> 00:30:33.340 by its own fruit, 00:30:33.400 --> 00:30:34.280 for figs are not gathered 00:30:34.280 --> 00:30:35.080 from thorn bushes, 00:30:35.520 --> 00:30:36.400 nor are grapes picked 00:30:36.400 --> 00:30:37.320 from a bramble bush. 00:30:37.780 --> 00:30:38.500 The good person 00:30:38.500 --> 00:30:39.360 out of the good treasure 00:30:39.360 --> 00:30:39.840 of his heart 00:30:39.840 --> 00:30:40.540 produces good, 00:30:41.120 --> 00:30:42.100 and the evil person 00:30:42.100 --> 00:30:43.520 out of the evil treasure 00:30:43.520 --> 00:30:44.759 produces evil. 00:30:45.420 --> 00:30:46.460 For out of the abundance 00:30:46.460 --> 00:30:47.020 of the heart 00:30:47.020 --> 00:30:47.880 his mouth speaks. 00:30:49.080 --> 00:30:50.100 Why do you call me 00:30:50.100 --> 00:30:50.780 Lord, Lord, 00:30:51.580 --> 00:30:52.980 and not do what I tell you? 00:30:55.860 --> 00:30:56.820 Everyone who comes to me 00:30:56.820 --> 00:30:57.500 and hears my words 00:30:57.500 --> 00:30:57.980 and does them, 00:30:58.000 --> 00:30:58.480 I will show you 00:30:58.480 --> 00:30:59.039 what he's like. 00:30:59.799 --> 00:31:00.500 He's like a man 00:31:00.500 --> 00:31:01.220 building a house 00:31:01.220 --> 00:31:01.880 who dug deep 00:31:01.880 --> 00:31:02.599 and laid the foundation 00:31:02.599 --> 00:31:03.160 on the rock, 00:31:03.559 --> 00:31:04.619 and when a flood arose, 00:31:04.720 --> 00:31:05.359 a stream broke 00:31:05.359 --> 00:31:06.119 against that house 00:31:06.119 --> 00:31:06.960 and could not shake it 00:31:06.960 --> 00:31:07.500 because it had been 00:31:07.500 --> 00:31:08.000 well built. 00:31:08.900 --> 00:31:10.099 But the one who hears 00:31:10.099 --> 00:31:11.660 and does not do them 00:31:11.660 --> 00:31:13.099 is like a man 00:31:13.099 --> 00:31:13.720 who built a house 00:31:13.720 --> 00:31:14.200 on the ground 00:31:14.200 --> 00:31:15.079 without a foundation. 00:31:15.859 --> 00:31:16.680 When the stream 00:31:16.680 --> 00:31:17.420 broke against it, 00:31:17.460 --> 00:31:18.319 immediately it fell, 00:31:19.180 --> 00:31:19.680 and the ruin 00:31:19.680 --> 00:31:20.160 of that house 00:31:20.160 --> 00:31:20.779 was great. 00:31:20.779 --> 00:31:25.700 These images 00:31:25.700 --> 00:31:26.779 increase in gravity, 00:31:27.139 --> 00:31:27.559 don't they? 00:31:28.899 --> 00:31:29.460 The first, 00:31:29.539 --> 00:31:29.940 you have to admit, 00:31:29.980 --> 00:31:30.599 is a bit comical. 00:31:32.059 --> 00:31:32.660 It assumes 00:31:32.660 --> 00:31:33.259 that the disciples 00:31:33.259 --> 00:31:34.259 will be leading others 00:31:34.259 --> 00:31:34.980 and teaching others 00:31:34.980 --> 00:31:35.619 and training others. 00:31:35.700 --> 00:31:36.180 That's good. 00:31:36.660 --> 00:31:37.559 And yet there's a problem. 00:31:38.599 --> 00:31:39.019 Jesus says, 00:31:39.099 --> 00:31:39.680 how can the blind 00:31:39.680 --> 00:31:40.299 lead the blind? 00:31:41.119 --> 00:31:42.160 How can a student 00:31:42.160 --> 00:31:42.899 get above 00:31:42.899 --> 00:31:44.059 their faulty teacher? 00:31:45.240 --> 00:31:45.839 How are you going 00:31:45.839 --> 00:31:46.779 to get that speck 00:31:46.779 --> 00:31:47.879 out of your student's eye 00:31:47.879 --> 00:31:49.180 when you have a beam 00:31:49.180 --> 00:31:49.980 swinging around 00:31:49.980 --> 00:31:50.660 out of yours? 00:31:51.819 --> 00:31:52.140 I mean, 00:31:52.200 --> 00:31:53.480 imagine walking around 00:31:53.480 --> 00:31:54.160 with a giant piece 00:31:54.160 --> 00:31:54.660 of lumber 00:31:54.660 --> 00:31:55.960 protruding out of your face. 00:31:58.000 --> 00:32:00.140 And it's not just me, 00:32:00.279 --> 00:32:01.220 it's all of us. 00:32:03.740 --> 00:32:04.420 Church becomes 00:32:04.420 --> 00:32:05.259 a pretty dangerous place 00:32:05.259 --> 00:32:05.839 to hang out. 00:32:06.640 --> 00:32:07.539 You just might get 00:32:07.539 --> 00:32:08.099 hit in the head. 00:32:09.500 --> 00:32:09.860 Watch out. 00:32:12.079 --> 00:32:13.039 So we need some help, 00:32:13.140 --> 00:32:13.420 don't we? 00:32:14.220 --> 00:32:14.940 We need to do 00:32:14.940 --> 00:32:16.000 some self-examination. 00:32:16.620 --> 00:32:17.680 And we need to be open 00:32:17.680 --> 00:32:18.700 to each other's correction. 00:32:19.980 --> 00:32:22.099 But the next image 00:32:22.099 --> 00:32:23.059 is a little more serious. 00:32:25.079 --> 00:32:25.940 A good tree 00:32:25.940 --> 00:32:26.620 doesn't produce 00:32:26.620 --> 00:32:27.220 bad fruit, 00:32:27.319 --> 00:32:27.839 Jesus says. 00:32:29.099 --> 00:32:30.259 How often do we think 00:32:30.259 --> 00:32:31.460 that my bad actions, 00:32:32.220 --> 00:32:33.640 that slip of the tongue here, 00:32:34.180 --> 00:32:35.360 that burst of anger there, 00:32:35.460 --> 00:32:36.680 that small revenge 00:32:36.680 --> 00:32:37.339 over here, 00:32:38.140 --> 00:32:38.599 ah, well, 00:32:38.640 --> 00:32:39.000 those are just 00:32:39.000 --> 00:32:39.740 little slip-ups, 00:32:39.900 --> 00:32:40.259 you see. 00:32:40.799 --> 00:32:41.279 Deep down, 00:32:41.339 --> 00:32:42.360 I'm really a good person. 00:32:43.059 --> 00:32:43.779 That's me acting 00:32:43.779 --> 00:32:44.480 out of character. 00:32:44.480 --> 00:32:48.539 But friends, 00:32:48.599 --> 00:32:49.099 if the fruit 00:32:49.099 --> 00:32:50.599 coming off the tree 00:32:50.599 --> 00:32:51.160 is bad, 00:32:52.480 --> 00:32:53.620 then that tells you 00:32:53.620 --> 00:32:54.140 that something 00:32:54.140 --> 00:32:55.319 is wrong with the tree, 00:32:55.740 --> 00:32:56.240 doesn't it? 00:32:59.339 --> 00:33:00.480 The evil person 00:33:00.480 --> 00:33:01.880 out of his evil treasure 00:33:01.880 --> 00:33:03.079 produces evil. 00:33:05.279 --> 00:33:06.019 And suddenly, 00:33:06.140 --> 00:33:06.839 Jesus has stopped 00:33:06.839 --> 00:33:07.460 being funny. 00:33:09.460 --> 00:33:10.299 No more beams 00:33:10.299 --> 00:33:11.160 sticking out of eyes, 00:33:11.220 --> 00:33:11.640 now we're getting 00:33:11.640 --> 00:33:12.319 down to the heart. 00:33:12.319 --> 00:33:15.379 You need more 00:33:15.379 --> 00:33:16.299 than just a little push. 00:33:17.220 --> 00:33:18.000 You need more 00:33:18.000 --> 00:33:18.579 than just 00:33:18.579 --> 00:33:19.960 some remediation. 00:33:21.980 --> 00:33:22.700 What you need 00:33:22.700 --> 00:33:23.279 is a new heart, 00:33:23.379 --> 00:33:23.899 Jesus says. 00:33:26.460 --> 00:33:27.279 Third image. 00:33:28.500 --> 00:33:29.119 Two houses, 00:33:30.000 --> 00:33:30.779 one flood, 00:33:31.919 --> 00:33:32.879 one house stands, 00:33:33.779 --> 00:33:34.439 the other comes 00:33:34.439 --> 00:33:35.119 crashing down 00:33:35.119 --> 00:33:35.539 in ruin. 00:33:37.159 --> 00:33:38.099 And that's the image 00:33:38.099 --> 00:33:39.159 Jesus leaves us with. 00:33:41.159 --> 00:33:42.000 A house. 00:33:42.980 --> 00:33:43.539 Devastated. 00:33:44.480 --> 00:33:45.460 Utterly in shambles. 00:33:47.599 --> 00:33:48.480 And why? 00:33:50.740 --> 00:33:51.720 Because they heard 00:33:51.720 --> 00:33:52.559 Jesus' words, 00:33:53.500 --> 00:33:54.480 but didn't actually 00:33:54.480 --> 00:33:55.339 do what he said. 00:33:58.480 --> 00:33:59.279 By the way, 00:33:59.319 --> 00:33:59.899 it's quite a claim 00:33:59.899 --> 00:34:00.419 Jesus makes, 00:34:00.500 --> 00:34:00.759 isn't it? 00:34:01.559 --> 00:34:02.619 The only way 00:34:02.619 --> 00:34:03.779 to avoid 00:34:03.779 --> 00:34:05.259 utter spiritual ruin 00:34:05.259 --> 00:34:06.779 is to build your life 00:34:06.779 --> 00:34:07.759 on his words. 00:34:07.759 --> 00:34:11.400 anything or anyone 00:34:11.400 --> 00:34:12.159 else will simply 00:34:12.159 --> 00:34:12.719 not do 00:34:12.719 --> 00:34:15.320 shocking. 00:34:18.639 --> 00:34:19.179 And yet, 00:34:19.219 --> 00:34:19.599 how should we 00:34:19.599 --> 00:34:20.320 respond to this 00:34:20.320 --> 00:34:20.960 string of images 00:34:20.960 --> 00:34:21.420 that Jesus 00:34:21.420 --> 00:34:21.960 ends with? 00:34:24.320 --> 00:34:24.960 There's really 00:34:24.960 --> 00:34:25.440 only one way 00:34:25.440 --> 00:34:25.940 to respond. 00:34:27.780 --> 00:34:28.179 Humility. 00:34:30.679 --> 00:34:31.340 Doesn't Jesus 00:34:31.340 --> 00:34:32.400 remove any ground 00:34:32.400 --> 00:34:33.340 for spiritual pride 00:34:33.340 --> 00:34:34.360 in this final movement 00:34:34.360 --> 00:34:34.860 of the sermon? 00:34:34.860 --> 00:34:36.460 This is the most 00:34:36.460 --> 00:34:37.300 uncomfortable sermon 00:34:37.300 --> 00:34:38.180 conclusion I've ever 00:34:38.180 --> 00:34:38.480 heard. 00:34:41.880 --> 00:34:42.519 Who of us 00:34:42.519 --> 00:34:43.380 doesn't fall short? 00:34:44.240 --> 00:34:44.660 Who of us 00:34:44.660 --> 00:34:45.360 really does 00:34:45.360 --> 00:34:46.440 love our enemy 00:34:46.440 --> 00:34:47.680 exactly as we 00:34:47.680 --> 00:34:48.440 ourselves would like 00:34:48.440 --> 00:34:48.860 to be loved, 00:34:48.920 --> 00:34:49.840 as verse 31 says? 00:34:50.320 --> 00:34:51.099 This is how you're 00:34:51.099 --> 00:34:51.760 supposed to love them, 00:34:51.800 --> 00:34:52.599 exactly like you'd 00:34:52.599 --> 00:34:53.099 want to be loved. 00:34:54.140 --> 00:34:54.539 I mean, 00:34:54.599 --> 00:34:55.440 I can get loving 00:34:55.440 --> 00:34:56.579 my neighbor as myself, 00:34:56.900 --> 00:34:57.260 perhaps, 00:34:57.260 --> 00:34:59.400 but I'm not so sure 00:34:59.400 --> 00:34:59.920 about loving my 00:34:59.920 --> 00:35:00.800 enemy as myself. 00:35:03.440 --> 00:35:04.000 You see, 00:35:04.060 --> 00:35:04.220 friends, 00:35:04.280 --> 00:35:05.540 Jesus is pushing 00:35:05.540 --> 00:35:06.120 us here, 00:35:07.040 --> 00:35:07.880 pushing us 00:35:07.880 --> 00:35:09.100 to acknowledge 00:35:09.100 --> 00:35:09.960 our need 00:35:09.960 --> 00:35:10.660 for grace. 00:35:13.760 --> 00:35:14.880 Because the church 00:35:14.880 --> 00:35:15.660 on mission 00:35:15.660 --> 00:35:17.040 ceases 00:35:17.040 --> 00:35:18.400 to be the church 00:35:18.400 --> 00:35:19.240 at all 00:35:19.240 --> 00:35:21.340 when it forgets 00:35:21.340 --> 00:35:21.980 that it lives 00:35:21.980 --> 00:35:22.960 solely by 00:35:22.960 --> 00:35:24.140 and through 00:35:24.140 --> 00:35:24.980 grace. 00:35:24.980 --> 00:35:28.980 friends, 00:35:29.099 --> 00:35:29.800 our logs 00:35:29.800 --> 00:35:30.940 are wide 00:35:30.940 --> 00:35:32.760 and our hearts 00:35:32.760 --> 00:35:33.460 are dark 00:35:33.460 --> 00:35:34.980 and our house 00:35:34.980 --> 00:35:35.960 is built on sand. 00:35:37.400 --> 00:35:38.280 And at the end 00:35:38.280 --> 00:35:38.780 of the day, 00:35:38.920 --> 00:35:40.039 we need more 00:35:40.039 --> 00:35:40.659 than a teacher. 00:35:42.159 --> 00:35:42.920 We need a 00:35:42.920 --> 00:35:43.300 redeemer. 00:35:46.539 --> 00:35:47.240 And that's 00:35:47.240 --> 00:35:48.000 who Jesus is. 00:35:49.400 --> 00:35:49.920 Look at this 00:35:49.920 --> 00:35:50.199 sermon. 00:35:51.880 --> 00:35:52.639 Who does it 00:35:52.639 --> 00:35:53.500 really describe? 00:35:53.500 --> 00:35:55.400 Whose character 00:35:55.400 --> 00:35:56.199 is on display 00:35:56.199 --> 00:35:56.559 here? 00:35:58.179 --> 00:35:59.079 Blessed are you 00:35:59.079 --> 00:35:59.739 who are poor. 00:36:01.780 --> 00:36:02.719 Jesus Christ 00:36:02.719 --> 00:36:03.159 was the one 00:36:03.159 --> 00:36:03.639 who truly 00:36:03.639 --> 00:36:04.400 became poor, 00:36:04.539 --> 00:36:04.820 friends. 00:36:06.239 --> 00:36:06.960 He left 00:36:06.960 --> 00:36:07.400 heaven 00:36:07.400 --> 00:36:08.239 to become 00:36:08.239 --> 00:36:08.699 poor 00:36:08.699 --> 00:36:09.519 and despised 00:36:09.519 --> 00:36:10.179 and rejected 00:36:10.179 --> 00:36:11.380 so that through 00:36:11.380 --> 00:36:11.760 him, 00:36:11.880 --> 00:36:12.820 we might gain 00:36:12.820 --> 00:36:13.079 heaven, 00:36:13.139 --> 00:36:13.659 though we deserve 00:36:13.659 --> 00:36:14.659 no part in it. 00:36:16.559 --> 00:36:17.760 Love your enemies, 00:36:17.940 --> 00:36:18.420 Jesus says 00:36:18.420 --> 00:36:19.119 to his disciples. 00:36:21.199 --> 00:36:21.820 And on the cross, 00:36:21.920 --> 00:36:22.659 Jesus died 00:36:22.659 --> 00:36:23.340 for his enemies. 00:36:23.500 --> 00:36:25.139 for you and me 00:36:25.139 --> 00:36:27.099 so that we could 00:36:27.099 --> 00:36:27.920 become his friends. 00:36:30.619 --> 00:36:31.280 Do you see 00:36:31.280 --> 00:36:31.760 what he's done 00:36:31.760 --> 00:36:32.159 for you? 00:36:34.679 --> 00:36:35.360 Have you let 00:36:35.360 --> 00:36:36.260 that sink in? 00:36:38.820 --> 00:36:39.460 Do you see 00:36:39.460 --> 00:36:40.139 that he's the only 00:36:40.139 --> 00:36:40.940 one who's lived 00:36:40.940 --> 00:36:41.480 this sermon 00:36:41.480 --> 00:36:42.159 perfectly 00:36:42.159 --> 00:36:44.360 and he lived 00:36:44.360 --> 00:36:44.800 it perfectly 00:36:44.800 --> 00:36:45.360 for you? 00:36:45.360 --> 00:36:52.440 how are we going 00:36:52.440 --> 00:36:53.099 to be ultimately 00:36:53.099 --> 00:36:53.640 the church 00:36:53.640 --> 00:36:54.300 on mission? 00:36:55.640 --> 00:36:56.160 Only 00:36:56.160 --> 00:36:57.500 when we live 00:36:57.500 --> 00:36:58.000 in humble 00:36:58.000 --> 00:36:58.640 dependence 00:36:58.640 --> 00:36:59.700 on grace. 00:37:03.120 --> 00:37:03.980 But if we do 00:37:03.980 --> 00:37:04.340 that 00:37:04.340 --> 00:37:05.960 by his spirit, 00:37:06.960 --> 00:37:08.559 if we live 00:37:08.559 --> 00:37:09.220 in constant 00:37:09.220 --> 00:37:09.700 dependence 00:37:09.700 --> 00:37:10.360 on grace, 00:37:10.360 --> 00:37:13.120 then we won't 00:37:13.120 --> 00:37:13.460 be afraid 00:37:13.460 --> 00:37:13.820 to lose 00:37:13.820 --> 00:37:14.260 anything. 00:37:17.900 --> 00:37:18.260 Reputation, 00:37:18.760 --> 00:37:19.099 wealth, 00:37:19.599 --> 00:37:20.019 status. 00:37:21.260 --> 00:37:21.420 Friends, 00:37:21.480 --> 00:37:21.780 if God 00:37:21.780 --> 00:37:22.079 did not 00:37:22.079 --> 00:37:22.559 spare his 00:37:22.559 --> 00:37:23.120 own son, 00:37:24.120 --> 00:37:24.599 how will 00:37:24.599 --> 00:37:24.980 he not 00:37:24.980 --> 00:37:25.440 graciously 00:37:25.440 --> 00:37:25.860 with him 00:37:25.860 --> 00:37:26.200 give us 00:37:26.200 --> 00:37:26.780 all things? 00:37:26.780 --> 00:37:31.060 And if we 00:37:31.060 --> 00:37:31.600 live 00:37:31.600 --> 00:37:33.100 in Christ's 00:37:33.100 --> 00:37:33.680 grace, 00:37:33.780 --> 00:37:34.019 we'll even 00:37:34.019 --> 00:37:34.360 find the 00:37:34.360 --> 00:37:34.580 strength 00:37:34.580 --> 00:37:34.840 to love 00:37:34.840 --> 00:37:35.360 our enemies. 00:37:38.160 --> 00:37:38.680 Because we 00:37:38.680 --> 00:37:39.100 see that in 00:37:39.100 --> 00:37:39.340 the light 00:37:39.340 --> 00:37:39.800 of the cross 00:37:39.800 --> 00:37:40.280 that I was 00:37:40.280 --> 00:37:40.620 once an 00:37:40.620 --> 00:37:40.880 enemy. 00:37:42.380 --> 00:37:42.860 And he 00:37:42.860 --> 00:37:43.400 loved me 00:37:43.400 --> 00:37:44.460 and gave 00:37:44.460 --> 00:37:44.920 himself for 00:37:44.920 --> 00:37:45.200 me. 00:37:48.760 --> 00:37:49.160 Friends, 00:37:49.180 --> 00:37:49.580 this is the 00:37:49.580 --> 00:37:49.980 church that 00:37:49.980 --> 00:37:50.320 the world 00:37:50.320 --> 00:37:50.740 desperately 00:37:50.740 --> 00:37:51.220 needs. 00:37:54.980 --> 00:37:55.600 Paul says 00:37:55.600 --> 00:37:56.019 in Romans 00:37:56.019 --> 00:37:56.200 8, 00:37:56.199 --> 00:37:56.739 the creation 00:37:56.739 --> 00:37:57.419 is groaning 00:37:57.419 --> 00:37:57.859 for the 00:37:57.859 --> 00:37:58.299 revelation 00:37:58.299 --> 00:37:58.819 of the 00:37:58.819 --> 00:37:59.179 sons of 00:37:59.179 --> 00:37:59.519 God. 00:38:00.419 --> 00:38:00.960 Speaking 00:38:00.960 --> 00:38:01.399 ultimately 00:38:01.399 --> 00:38:01.879 about the 00:38:01.879 --> 00:38:02.139 kingdom 00:38:02.139 --> 00:38:03.299 coming in 00:38:03.299 --> 00:38:03.679 fullness. 00:38:04.960 --> 00:38:05.679 But isn't 00:38:05.679 --> 00:38:05.939 it true 00:38:05.939 --> 00:38:06.259 now? 00:38:07.719 --> 00:38:08.419 Isn't our 00:38:08.419 --> 00:38:09.399 city groaning 00:38:09.399 --> 00:38:11.179 for the 00:38:11.179 --> 00:38:11.599 church to 00:38:11.599 --> 00:38:11.899 be the 00:38:11.899 --> 00:38:12.279 church? 00:38:13.539 --> 00:38:14.259 Willing to 00:38:14.259 --> 00:38:14.659 lose, 00:38:15.679 --> 00:38:16.199 willing to 00:38:16.199 --> 00:38:16.579 love, 00:38:17.359 --> 00:38:18.119 and permeated 00:38:18.119 --> 00:38:18.739 with grace? 00:38:21.519 --> 00:38:22.159 That's what 00:38:22.159 --> 00:38:22.619 it looks like 00:38:22.619 --> 00:38:23.000 to be the 00:38:23.000 --> 00:38:23.339 church. 00:38:23.340 --> 00:38:23.380 church. 00:38:25.440 --> 00:38:25.900 In just 00:38:25.900 --> 00:38:26.200 a second, 00:38:26.300 --> 00:38:26.480 we're going 00:38:26.480 --> 00:38:26.780 to go to 00:38:26.780 --> 00:38:27.200 the table 00:38:27.200 --> 00:38:27.700 and we're 00:38:27.700 --> 00:38:27.860 going to 00:38:27.860 --> 00:38:28.440 remember what 00:38:28.440 --> 00:38:28.880 Jesus did 00:38:28.880 --> 00:38:29.260 for us on 00:38:29.260 --> 00:38:29.740 the cross. 00:38:30.740 --> 00:38:31.579 And this, 00:38:31.800 --> 00:38:32.360 around the 00:38:32.360 --> 00:38:32.960 cross of 00:38:32.960 --> 00:38:33.200 Jesus, 00:38:33.280 --> 00:38:33.720 is where we 00:38:33.720 --> 00:38:34.140 find the 00:38:34.140 --> 00:38:34.840 strength and 00:38:34.840 --> 00:38:35.500 the power 00:38:35.500 --> 00:38:36.100 and the 00:38:36.100 --> 00:38:37.300 resource to 00:38:37.300 --> 00:38:37.880 actually do 00:38:37.880 --> 00:38:38.220 this. 00:38:41.360 --> 00:38:42.000 So as we 00:38:42.000 --> 00:38:42.280 do so, 00:38:42.320 --> 00:38:42.860 let's pray that 00:38:42.860 --> 00:38:43.539 God makes us 00:38:43.539 --> 00:38:44.019 into this kind 00:38:44.019 --> 00:38:44.460 of church. 00:38:45.880 --> 00:38:46.519 Not so that 00:38:46.519 --> 00:38:46.920 people think 00:38:46.920 --> 00:38:47.600 much of us, 00:38:47.599 --> 00:38:49.199 but so that 00:38:49.199 --> 00:38:49.480 they think 00:38:49.480 --> 00:38:49.799 much of 00:38:49.799 --> 00:38:50.239 Jesus, 00:38:51.420 --> 00:38:51.960 who's not 00:38:51.960 --> 00:38:52.319 just our 00:38:52.319 --> 00:38:52.659 teacher, 00:38:54.059 --> 00:38:54.819 but who's 00:38:54.819 --> 00:38:54.940 our 00:38:54.940 --> 00:38:55.259 redeemer. 00:38:56.599 --> 00:38:57.279 Let's pray 00:38:57.279 --> 00:38:57.579 together. 00:39:01.099 --> 00:39:01.900 Lord Jesus, 00:39:02.099 --> 00:39:04.099 what shocking, 00:39:04.839 --> 00:39:05.500 startling, 00:39:06.059 --> 00:39:07.119 and seemingly 00:39:07.119 --> 00:39:08.239 impossible commands 00:39:08.239 --> 00:39:08.619 you've given 00:39:08.619 --> 00:39:08.920 us. 00:39:10.119 --> 00:39:10.659 Lord, this 00:39:10.659 --> 00:39:11.339 way of life 00:39:11.339 --> 00:39:12.079 we confess 00:39:12.079 --> 00:39:13.199 in our own 00:39:13.199 --> 00:39:13.699 strength, 00:39:13.860 --> 00:39:14.259 in our own 00:39:14.259 --> 00:39:14.639 power, 00:39:14.799 --> 00:39:15.219 in our own 00:39:15.219 --> 00:39:15.880 thinking is 00:39:15.880 --> 00:39:16.420 beyond our 00:39:16.420 --> 00:39:16.739 reach. 00:39:17.599 --> 00:39:18.539 And yet, 00:39:18.659 --> 00:39:18.839 Lord, 00:39:19.179 --> 00:39:19.699 and yet, 00:39:20.759 --> 00:39:23.440 you have 00:39:23.440 --> 00:39:23.860 given us 00:39:23.860 --> 00:39:24.239 your own 00:39:24.239 --> 00:39:24.619 spirit. 00:39:25.719 --> 00:39:26.279 You have 00:39:26.279 --> 00:39:26.759 come, 00:39:27.420 --> 00:39:27.819 and you've 00:39:27.819 --> 00:39:28.460 gone before 00:39:28.460 --> 00:39:28.920 us, 00:39:29.659 --> 00:39:30.279 becoming poor 00:39:30.279 --> 00:39:30.819 for us, 00:39:31.440 --> 00:39:31.940 loving us 00:39:31.940 --> 00:39:32.219 in our 00:39:32.219 --> 00:39:32.759 hatred of 00:39:32.759 --> 00:39:32.940 you, 00:39:33.779 --> 00:39:34.460 changing our 00:39:34.460 --> 00:39:34.900 hearts, 00:39:35.319 --> 00:39:36.059 releasing us 00:39:36.059 --> 00:39:36.420 from a 00:39:36.420 --> 00:39:38.079 love of 00:39:38.079 --> 00:39:38.699 this world. 00:39:42.920 --> 00:39:43.360 Lord, 00:39:43.420 --> 00:39:43.759 you've given 00:39:43.759 --> 00:39:44.199 us what we 00:39:44.199 --> 00:39:44.500 need, 00:39:45.019 --> 00:39:46.400 depending on 00:39:46.400 --> 00:39:46.860 your grace, 00:39:46.980 --> 00:39:47.480 dependent on 00:39:47.480 --> 00:39:47.880 your grace 00:39:47.880 --> 00:39:48.199 to go 00:39:48.199 --> 00:39:48.619 forth and 00:39:48.619 --> 00:39:48.940 live this 00:39:48.940 --> 00:39:49.119 way. 00:39:49.199 --> 00:39:49.519 So help 00:39:49.519 --> 00:39:49.800 us to 00:39:49.800 --> 00:39:50.099 do it, 00:39:50.139 --> 00:39:50.559 Lord Jesus. 00:39:52.179 --> 00:39:52.639 Help us 00:39:52.639 --> 00:39:53.019 to be your 00:39:53.019 --> 00:39:53.480 church on 00:39:53.480 --> 00:39:53.760 mission, 00:39:54.019 --> 00:39:54.240 for your 00:39:54.240 --> 00:39:54.760 name's sake. 00:39:55.119 --> 00:39:55.340 Amen. 00:39:56.800 --> 00:39:57.219 I wonder 00:39:57.219 --> 00:39:57.460 if those 00:39:57.460 --> 00:39:57.679 who are 00:39:57.679 --> 00:39:58.619 helping with 00:39:58.619 --> 00:39:58.960 the Lord's 00:39:58.960 --> 00:39:59.260 Supper would 00:39:59.260 --> 00:39:59.659 come up. 00:40:01.880 --> 00:40:02.880 In 1 Corinthians, 00:40:03.760 --> 00:40:05.679 Paul says, 00:40:05.760 --> 00:40:06.019 for you know 00:40:06.019 --> 00:40:06.519 the grace of 00:40:06.519 --> 00:40:07.039 our Lord Jesus 00:40:07.039 --> 00:40:07.420 Christ, 00:40:07.519 --> 00:40:07.860 that though he 00:40:07.860 --> 00:40:08.340 was rich, 00:40:08.400 --> 00:40:08.960 yet for your 00:40:08.960 --> 00:40:09.300 sake he 00:40:09.300 --> 00:40:09.960 became poor, 00:40:10.559 --> 00:40:11.099 so that you 00:40:11.099 --> 00:40:11.500 by his 00:40:11.500 --> 00:40:12.119 poverty might 00:40:12.119 --> 00:40:12.679 become rich. 00:40:12.760 --> 00:40:13.019 Friends, 00:40:13.260 --> 00:40:13.780 when we come 00:40:13.780 --> 00:40:14.320 to the Lord's 00:40:14.320 --> 00:40:14.579 Supper, 00:40:15.000 --> 00:40:15.740 we're coming 00:40:15.739 --> 00:40:16.679 again to 00:40:16.679 --> 00:40:17.219 remember the 00:40:17.219 --> 00:40:17.699 cross of 00:40:17.699 --> 00:40:18.399 Jesus Christ, 00:40:19.059 --> 00:40:19.739 where he 00:40:19.739 --> 00:40:20.979 spent literally 00:40:20.979 --> 00:40:22.839 everything in 00:40:22.839 --> 00:40:23.699 order to pay 00:40:23.699 --> 00:40:24.299 your debt in 00:40:24.299 --> 00:40:25.739 full and to 00:40:25.739 --> 00:40:27.039 earn for you a 00:40:27.039 --> 00:40:27.859 righteous record 00:40:27.859 --> 00:40:28.299 with the 00:40:28.299 --> 00:40:29.279 Father that is 00:40:29.279 --> 00:40:30.119 perfect in every 00:40:30.119 --> 00:40:30.359 way. 00:40:31.519 --> 00:40:32.199 This is what 00:40:32.199 --> 00:40:32.879 Christ has done 00:40:32.879 --> 00:40:33.519 and this is why 00:40:33.519 --> 00:40:34.119 we come to the 00:40:34.119 --> 00:40:34.579 table, to 00:40:34.579 --> 00:40:35.639 remember it and 00:40:35.639 --> 00:40:36.539 to take hold of 00:40:36.539 --> 00:40:36.979 it again. 00:40:36.980 --> 00:40:39.099 And to 00:40:39.099 --> 00:40:40.800 confess sin in 00:40:40.800 --> 00:40:41.260 ways in which 00:40:41.260 --> 00:40:41.619 we've fallen 00:40:41.619 --> 00:40:42.340 short, but to 00:40:42.340 --> 00:40:44.679 receive again and 00:40:44.679 --> 00:40:45.440 remember again is 00:40:45.440 --> 00:40:46.219 grace for us. 00:40:47.760 --> 00:40:48.460 So friends, if 00:40:48.460 --> 00:40:49.000 you're here and 00:40:49.000 --> 00:40:49.659 you've turned from 00:40:49.659 --> 00:40:50.260 sin and placed 00:40:50.260 --> 00:40:50.820 your trust in 00:40:50.820 --> 00:40:52.420 Christ, then 00:40:52.420 --> 00:40:52.860 you're welcome to 00:40:52.860 --> 00:40:53.940 take this bread and 00:40:53.940 --> 00:40:54.980 take this cup and 00:40:54.980 --> 00:40:55.920 to remember Christ's 00:40:55.920 --> 00:40:56.679 death with us 00:40:56.679 --> 00:40:57.039 together. 00:40:58.260 --> 00:40:59.159 If you're here and 00:40:59.159 --> 00:41:00.000 you're not a 00:41:00.000 --> 00:41:00.800 follower of Jesus, 00:41:01.579 --> 00:41:02.159 then instead of 00:41:02.159 --> 00:41:02.679 taking the bread and 00:41:02.679 --> 00:41:03.460 cup, just pass them 00:41:03.460 --> 00:41:05.199 by and use this as a 00:41:05.199 --> 00:41:05.960 time to pray. 00:41:06.079 --> 00:41:06.639 What would it look 00:41:06.639 --> 00:41:08.259 like for you to 00:41:08.259 --> 00:41:10.539 build your life on 00:41:10.539 --> 00:41:11.039 the words of 00:41:11.039 --> 00:41:11.460 Jesus? 00:41:12.920 --> 00:41:13.759 And not just on 00:41:13.759 --> 00:41:14.239 the words of 00:41:14.239 --> 00:41:14.940 Jesus, but on the 00:41:14.940 --> 00:41:15.779 work of Jesus. 00:41:17.239 --> 00:41:18.059 What's keeping you 00:41:18.059 --> 00:41:18.719 from stepping over 00:41:18.719 --> 00:41:19.139 that line? 00:41:19.219 --> 00:41:20.719 Use this time to 00:41:20.719 --> 00:41:21.239 do some soul 00:41:21.239 --> 00:41:22.980 searching and take 00:41:22.980 --> 00:41:23.460 hold of him. 00:41:24.819 --> 00:41:25.679 So let's take the 00:41:25.679 --> 00:41:26.219 bread first. 00:41:26.699 --> 00:41:27.079 James, would you 00:41:27.079 --> 00:41:27.339 pray first?