WEBVTT

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 Good morning. Today's scripture reading is found in Genesis 11 and Genesis 12.

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 Please follow along in your bulletins as we share these passages with you.

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 This is the account of Terah's family line.

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 Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

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 And Haran became the father of Lot.

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 While his father Terah was still alive, Haran died in Ur of the Chaldeans in the land of his birth.

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 Abram and Nahor both married.

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 The name of Abram's wife was Sarai and the name of Nahor's wife was Milcah.

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 She was the daughter of Haran, the father of both Milcah and Ishka.

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 Now Sarai was childless because she was not able to conceive.

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 Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot, son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, the wife of his son Abram.

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 And together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan.

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 But when they came to Haram, they settled there.

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 Terah lived 205 years and he died in Haran.

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 In Genesis 12, the Lord had said to Abram,

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 Go from your country, your people, and your father's household to the land I will show you.

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 I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you.

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 I will make your name great and you will be a blessing.

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 I will bless those who bless you.

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 And whoever curses you, I will curse.

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 And all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.

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 So Abram went as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him.

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 Abram was 75 years old when he set out from Haran.

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 He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated,

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 and the people they had acquired in Haran,

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 and they set out for the land of Canaan.

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 And they arrived there.

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 Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Morai at Shechem.

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 At the time, the Canaanites were in the land.

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 The Lord appeared to Abram and said,

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 To your offspring I will give this land.

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 So he built an altar there to the Lord who had appeared to him.

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 From there he went on towards the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent,

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 with Bethel on the west and I on the east.

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 There he built an altar to the Lord and called the name of the Lord.

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 Then Abram set out and continued toward Negev.

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 This is the reading of God's word.

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 Good morning, Watermark.

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 My name is Mike, and I'm helping here at the church with the ministry to university students.

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 And if you're new here or maybe some of you have been traveling the past few weeks

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 and you have missed out, let me just get you up to speed with what we have been looking at

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 and what we have been studying at the church here.

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 For the past few months, we've been walking through the first few chapters of the Bible.

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 We looked at the creation story, and then we looked at the story of Adam and Eve in the garden,

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 and then we talked about Noah and the flood,

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 and last week we talked about the Tower of Babel.

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 So all the chapters that we have looked at so far,

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 they all had to do with how humanity, how we,

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 broke our relationship with God and how we reached for greatness,

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 for our own greatness,

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 and how humanity turns their back on God,

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 on this journey to putting me in the center.

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 Now, to illustrate to you

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 this reaching for greatness

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 of humanity, I don't have to go

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 back too far, being a German,

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 I only have to go back about one week.

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 It was the Champions League final in London,

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 but I don't want to start

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 a church hooligan war,

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 and so my Dutch and British friends here are getting a little antsy,

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 and my American friends, I don't want to bore you with more

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 soccer analogies that I like to use.

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 So I'll tell you a different story.

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 I'll tell you a story, a tale of three German villagers,

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 who after a hard day of work, they would usually get together,

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 and these three villagers would then talk about their day.

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 Now, last week, Chris Thornton shared with us about the Tower of Babel,

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 and he talked about how some people like to talk about how great they are,

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 and how they exaggerate,

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 and exactly that, what Chris described,

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 happened with these three people,

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 these three villagers,

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 and one who used to be a fisherman.

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 And this fisherman did exactly,

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 every time he came back, he said,

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 today I caught a fish, and it was so big.

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 But, we have a deal,

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 a way of dealing with that kind of attitude in Germany.

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 So every time this guy came up,

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 they got a little angry, the other two,

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 and so next time he came up,

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 right when he wanted to start telling about his day,

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 they stopped him in his tracks,

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 and they pulled out a pair of handcuffs,

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 and put the handcuffs on his hands,

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 and he looked a little confused and said,

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 don't worry, just tell us about your day.

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 And they were all with a big smile standing there.

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 And so he said,

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 yeah, yeah, today I was out,

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 and I was fishing,

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 and you won't believe,

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 I caught a fish,

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 and it has eyes that big.

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 Anyway, so it shows like it's just in us.

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 The stories of Genesis that we have studied so far

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 have told that story of how

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 this striving for our own greatness

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 is just something that humanity is,

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 it's just in our nature,

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 and we look for our glory,

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 not for God's glory.

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 But then as I'm also reading through these chapters

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 in Genesis,

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 and hear these stories of the Tower of Babel,

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 and so on,

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 I sometimes find it very hard

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 to place myself in these grand stories.

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 Like seriously,

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 when you hear about Adam and Eve,

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 and Noah,

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 and the Babylonians,

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 like do you find it easy to just think,

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 yeah, I could be right there.

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 This is just kind of like my life.

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 And then automatically,

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 like think of like,

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 how does it relate to me?

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 I don't.

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 And I mean,

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 there are these bigger than life characters

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 that grow like 200, 300 years old,

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 and they built like gigantic boats in deserts

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 just because God told them,

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 and they play hoops with angels,

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 and not that,

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 but you know what I mean?

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 Like it's just these out of like

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 real life kind of experiences.

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 It's like these bigger than life characters,

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 and today we look at Abraham.

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 And Abraham is one other

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 of these bigger than life characters.

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 So today,

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 as we look at his story,

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 I want to see

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 how can we actually relate to that?

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 How can we place us in that story?

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 Where am I in that story?

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 Where are you in that story?

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 And what does it have to do with us as a church?

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 I personally,

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 I did not grow up in a church.

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 I actually did not grow up Christian.

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 So for the first 23 years of my life,

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 the Bible and all these stories,

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 they didn't really have a lot of meaning

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 for me,

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 for my journey,

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 and Adam and Eve,

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 they were actually on the same level

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 with Hansel and Gretel.

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 Like they were fairytale characters.

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 I did not think they had anything to do

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 besides like a moral teaching of,

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 I don't know,

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 some fairytale story.

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 I simply lived my life,

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 the normal life.

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 I had a job in banking.

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 I wanted to start my business one day,

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 make money,

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 enjoy my life,

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 just what normal people do.

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 And I could care less about

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 what life lessons Noah had for me.

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 And so in August 2000,

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 that started to shift.

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 That's when I became a Christian.

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 And I started to engage with these stories

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 and I tried to see how these stories

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 in the Bible relate to my life

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 and how they actually tell a story

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 that has something to do with me.

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 Actually, two years into my Christian journey,

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 that desire had grown so much

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 that I actually decided to study a master's in theology

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 instead of continuing my business career.

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 At the time when I went to Bible college,

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 I did not think about becoming a pastor.

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 I actually wanted to go to see

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 how it relates to my life

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 and I just felt this urge to learn and grow.

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 And so my friends would ask me,

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 so are you like in banking?

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 Like what are you doing?

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 Like studying theology,

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 going to Bible college?

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 And I said,

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 I'm thinking about becoming a consultant

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 for business ethics.

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 That was the best way

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 that I felt like I could make sense of these things

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 and maybe it was also because

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 I couldn't make sense of that.

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 It was just,

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 there was this calling

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 that I couldn't resist

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 and that I knew I had to do this.

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 And so I went to seminary

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 and growing up in Germany

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 and then going to seminary in the States

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 has been quite an interesting experience.

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 So especially when you have not grown up

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 in like Sunday school culture

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 and so compared to all my classmates,

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 who most of them came from the American Bible Belt,

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 that was a totally new world for me.

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 My worst class in seminary ever

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 was the introduction to Christian scriptures

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 because I had to memorize

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 and repeat in the exams

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 who was the son of who from the tribe.

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 I couldn't even pronounce.

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 And all around me

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 were these like Sunday school raised people

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 that like in the exam

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 would sing like a What Are My Kids song.

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 And they remembered like all these names

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 and yeah,

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 I was four years old when I learned that.

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 But for me,

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 I had no contact with these stories.

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 And so it all reminded me

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 that kind of, you know,

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 this Bible story,

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 I did not find my place in God's history.

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 I did not connect with this history

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 that he was telling.

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 And I'm sure you here today

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 may feel the same way

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 depending on how you grew up.

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 You may not.

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 You know, when you hear this Bible passage

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 and thanks to the readers

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 going through all these names,

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 you may feel like,

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 I don't connect.

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 I don't know.

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 I don't get this.

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 Like all these strange Old Testament names.

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 And so as we go

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 and now look at the story of Abraham,

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 so how do we not view him

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 as this like superhero

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 of the Christian faith,

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 this out of the,

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 you know,

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 out of real life kind of character?

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 So I hope that

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 when we go on this journey

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 that we can relate to him.

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 So let's have a look at the text

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 and see what it has to say to us today.

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 So the text in your bulletin

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 starts with a genealogy.

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 It's telling who is the son of who

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 and from which tribe

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 and all these complicated names.

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 And if we are honest,

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 most of us,

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 if you do read the Bible,

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 you may just skip that part.

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 At least I have never heard anybody

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 to say Genesis 11, 27, 32

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 when someone asks you

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 for your favorite Bible verse.

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 It just seems to have no meaning,

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 no content.

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 It's just a list of random names

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 and you just go over it.

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 But I want to see

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 whether we can actually make some sense

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 of even the genealogy.

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 And so here are some things

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 that I want to highlight.

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 First,

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 the passage in chapter 11 begins with,

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 this is the account of.

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 And if you have gone through

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 your Genesis devotional

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 or study book,

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 we have the study book

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 that we prepared

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 for the church to go through.

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 So you can pick up a copy outside

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 if you haven't done that yet.

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 But there's a devotional

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 and a study guide.

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 And so if you have gone

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 through that already,

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 then you will see

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 that this is not the first time

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 that this phrase,

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 this is the account of,

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 appears.

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 Actually,

00:11:16.080 --> 00:11:17.480
 it has happened like six times,

00:11:17.519 --> 00:11:17.740
 I think,

00:11:17.779 --> 00:11:18.399
 to this point.

00:11:19.200 --> 00:11:19.419
 So,

00:11:19.980 --> 00:11:22.080
 one of the times

00:11:22.080 --> 00:11:22.639
 that it appears

00:11:22.639 --> 00:11:23.720
 was in chapter 10.

00:11:23.980 --> 00:11:24.939
 And it also started

00:11:24.939 --> 00:11:26.019
 with the same construct

00:11:26.019 --> 00:11:27.419
 introducing the family tree

00:11:27.419 --> 00:11:28.360
 of Noah.

00:11:29.320 --> 00:11:30.500
 So when we see

00:11:30.500 --> 00:11:31.379
 a family tree,

00:11:31.379 --> 00:11:33.799
 this tree seems

00:11:33.799 --> 00:11:34.860
 to introduce

00:11:34.860 --> 00:11:35.820
 something

00:11:35.820 --> 00:11:37.340
 of significance

00:11:37.340 --> 00:11:38.939
 or rather someone

00:11:38.939 --> 00:11:41.519
 that if someone's history

00:11:41.519 --> 00:11:42.159
 is recorded,

00:11:42.639 --> 00:11:43.399
 there must be something

00:11:43.399 --> 00:11:44.759
 that comes out

00:11:44.759 --> 00:11:45.299
 of that story,

00:11:45.379 --> 00:11:46.120
 out of that family

00:11:46.120 --> 00:11:47.720
 that we should

00:11:47.720 --> 00:11:50.259
 pay close attention to.

00:11:50.480 --> 00:11:51.659
 And so here in this text,

00:11:51.759 --> 00:11:52.779
 it's the family tree

00:11:52.779 --> 00:11:53.220
 of terror

00:11:53.220 --> 00:11:53.860
 that's introduced.

00:11:54.120 --> 00:11:55.659
 And so the text continues

00:11:55.659 --> 00:11:56.980
 introducing his sons.

00:11:57.320 --> 00:11:57.639
 And then like

00:11:57.639 --> 00:11:59.019
 in Adam's family tree

00:11:59.019 --> 00:12:00.000
 or Noah's family tree,

00:12:00.000 --> 00:12:00.820
 we also hear

00:12:00.820 --> 00:12:01.639
 find the family tree

00:12:01.639 --> 00:12:02.480
 with three sons.

00:12:03.759 --> 00:12:05.120
 And here the son

00:12:05.120 --> 00:12:06.659
 that we will hear

00:12:06.659 --> 00:12:07.139
 a lot about

00:12:07.139 --> 00:12:07.940
 is Abram,

00:12:08.039 --> 00:12:08.440
 who will later

00:12:08.440 --> 00:12:09.259
 be called Abraham.

00:12:10.559 --> 00:12:11.320
 Another thing

00:12:11.320 --> 00:12:12.600
 that we may easily

00:12:12.600 --> 00:12:14.000
 skip over

00:12:14.000 --> 00:12:14.720
 when we don't read

00:12:14.720 --> 00:12:15.559
 that genealogy

00:12:15.559 --> 00:12:17.940
 is in verse 29,

00:12:18.179 --> 00:12:18.820
 we hear about

00:12:18.820 --> 00:12:19.580
 Nehar,

00:12:19.740 --> 00:12:20.139
 Milka,

00:12:20.299 --> 00:12:20.700
 Ishka,

00:12:21.259 --> 00:12:23.539
 and in these names

00:12:23.539 --> 00:12:24.399
 we actually see

00:12:24.399 --> 00:12:25.799
 that the whole tribe

00:12:25.799 --> 00:12:27.019
 has become idolatrous.

00:12:27.899 --> 00:12:29.019
 The names actually

00:12:29.019 --> 00:12:30.960
 refer to the cult

00:12:30.960 --> 00:12:31.679
 of moon worship.

00:12:32.039 --> 00:12:32.679
 So the clan

00:12:32.679 --> 00:12:33.519
 after scattered

00:12:33.519 --> 00:12:35.039
 from last week's story

00:12:35.039 --> 00:12:36.340
 has been scattered

00:12:36.340 --> 00:12:37.199
 throughout the land

00:12:37.199 --> 00:12:38.399
 and they started

00:12:38.399 --> 00:12:38.960
 to embrace

00:12:38.960 --> 00:12:40.480
 the surrounding cultures.

00:12:41.139 --> 00:12:41.759
 So the generations

00:12:41.759 --> 00:12:42.379
 had passed

00:12:42.379 --> 00:12:43.240
 and people had made

00:12:43.240 --> 00:12:43.759
 their home.

00:12:44.340 --> 00:12:45.019
 Tara's family

00:12:45.019 --> 00:12:45.779
 had made a home

00:12:45.779 --> 00:12:47.360
 in this foreign culture.

00:12:48.220 --> 00:12:48.980
 So the genealogy

00:12:48.980 --> 00:12:49.860
 not only introduces

00:12:49.860 --> 00:12:50.960
 that someone significant

00:12:50.960 --> 00:12:51.559
 is coming

00:12:51.559 --> 00:12:52.419
 or something significant

00:12:52.419 --> 00:12:53.399
 is about to happen,

00:12:53.699 --> 00:12:54.399
 but also that there

00:12:54.399 --> 00:12:55.439
 were certain circumstances

00:12:55.439 --> 00:12:55.899
 that something

00:12:55.899 --> 00:12:56.720
 had gone wrong

00:12:56.720 --> 00:12:57.879
 and God is beginning

00:12:57.879 --> 00:12:58.480
 to intervene

00:12:58.480 --> 00:13:00.240
 and speak into it.

00:13:01.360 --> 00:13:02.060
 And thirdly,

00:13:02.120 --> 00:13:03.240
 as we read

00:13:03.240 --> 00:13:04.639
 this introduction,

00:13:05.360 --> 00:13:06.120
 there's also something

00:13:06.120 --> 00:13:06.560
 to learn from

00:13:06.560 --> 00:13:07.700
 what is not being said.

00:13:09.360 --> 00:13:10.460
 Nothing that introduces

00:13:10.460 --> 00:13:11.139
 Abraham

00:13:11.139 --> 00:13:12.740
 indicates that he was

00:13:12.740 --> 00:13:13.960
 anyone special.

00:13:15.259 --> 00:13:16.080
 He's not introduced

00:13:16.080 --> 00:13:17.360
 as a bigger-than-life

00:13:17.360 --> 00:13:18.040
 character

00:13:18.040 --> 00:13:19.620
 with some special merits,

00:13:19.740 --> 00:13:21.220
 no amazing achievements,

00:13:22.440 --> 00:13:23.720
 no reason for why

00:13:23.720 --> 00:13:24.720
 God would call him

00:13:24.720 --> 00:13:25.259
 specifically.

00:13:25.420 --> 00:13:27.000
 It is a simple genealogy

00:13:27.000 --> 00:13:29.379
 and not that of a great king

00:13:29.379 --> 00:13:30.360
 or someone who

00:13:30.360 --> 00:13:31.600
 has proven himself.

00:13:31.960 --> 00:13:32.920
 He's just not portrayed

00:13:32.920 --> 00:13:34.340
 as that bigger-than-life

00:13:34.340 --> 00:13:34.840
 character.

00:13:36.040 --> 00:13:37.160
 In the following passage,

00:13:37.279 --> 00:13:38.040
 God is calling

00:13:38.040 --> 00:13:38.879
 a simple person

00:13:38.879 --> 00:13:40.720
 from a broken family,

00:13:41.040 --> 00:13:42.019
 from a tribe

00:13:42.019 --> 00:13:42.879
 that has embraced

00:13:42.879 --> 00:13:44.120
 idolatrous worship,

00:13:44.879 --> 00:13:45.460
 that didn't have

00:13:45.460 --> 00:13:46.180
 special achievements,

00:13:46.399 --> 00:13:47.420
 and he calls him

00:13:47.420 --> 00:13:48.960
 to be used by God.

00:13:49.899 --> 00:13:50.940
 So in the same way

00:13:50.940 --> 00:13:51.740
 as God calls

00:13:51.740 --> 00:13:52.320
 simple people,

00:13:52.320 --> 00:13:53.960
 I think that's where

00:13:53.960 --> 00:13:54.879
 we can find ourselves

00:13:54.879 --> 00:13:55.480
 in that story

00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:56.700
 because he still today

00:13:56.700 --> 00:13:58.140
 uses simple people,

00:13:58.280 --> 00:13:59.540
 called simple and broken people,

00:13:59.780 --> 00:14:01.640
 to bring glory to himself.

00:14:02.140 --> 00:14:03.240
 So let's look at

00:14:03.240 --> 00:14:03.820
 the second part

00:14:03.820 --> 00:14:04.360
 of that text

00:14:04.360 --> 00:14:05.400
 and let's dig a little bit deeper

00:14:05.400 --> 00:14:06.600
 in that calling

00:14:06.600 --> 00:14:07.080
 that we find

00:14:07.080 --> 00:14:07.920
 in chapter 12.

00:14:09.280 --> 00:14:10.420
 The chapter starts

00:14:10.420 --> 00:14:11.920
 with God interacting

00:14:11.920 --> 00:14:12.480
 with Adam

00:14:12.480 --> 00:14:15.320
 and it's the first time

00:14:15.320 --> 00:14:19.220
 since the time of Noah

00:14:19.220 --> 00:14:20.940
 when God had established

00:14:20.940 --> 00:14:21.279
 the covenant

00:14:21.279 --> 00:14:22.279
 that there's a recorded

00:14:22.279 --> 00:14:22.899
 conversation

00:14:22.899 --> 00:14:25.180
 or some kind of dialogue

00:14:25.180 --> 00:14:25.879
 between God

00:14:25.879 --> 00:14:26.460
 and his people.

00:14:27.320 --> 00:14:28.680
 And I'm sure you have studied

00:14:28.680 --> 00:14:29.460
 all your genealogies

00:14:29.460 --> 00:14:30.060
 very carefully

00:14:30.060 --> 00:14:31.060
 and the numbers

00:14:31.060 --> 00:14:32.420
 and then you have all figured out

00:14:32.420 --> 00:14:33.540
 that it's about 400 years

00:14:33.540 --> 00:14:34.779
 from Noah till now.

00:14:35.500 --> 00:14:36.700
 So for 400 years

00:14:36.700 --> 00:14:37.660
 there has been

00:14:37.660 --> 00:14:39.879
 somewhat of a silence,

00:14:40.000 --> 00:14:40.960
 nothing that God has revealed

00:14:40.960 --> 00:14:41.800
 is so significant

00:14:41.800 --> 00:14:43.399
 that it would be mentioned

00:14:43.399 --> 00:14:44.120
 in the scriptures.

00:14:44.320 --> 00:14:45.100
 And so in verse 1

00:14:45.100 --> 00:14:45.519
 he says,

00:14:45.519 --> 00:14:55.919
 Now we said we want to look

00:14:55.919 --> 00:14:57.159
 at Abraham as a real person

00:14:57.159 --> 00:14:58.159
 and I think this

00:14:58.159 --> 00:15:00.460
 is one of these situations

00:15:00.460 --> 00:15:02.240
 where that gets

00:15:02.240 --> 00:15:02.799
 a little difficult

00:15:02.799 --> 00:15:04.539
 because we start

00:15:04.539 --> 00:15:05.199
 to read these things

00:15:05.199 --> 00:15:06.360
 and God said to Abraham

00:15:06.360 --> 00:15:08.539
 and it gets tough

00:15:08.539 --> 00:15:09.860
 because suddenly

00:15:09.860 --> 00:15:11.120
 he starts to sound unreal.

00:15:11.120 --> 00:15:12.240
 Like he has this like

00:15:12.240 --> 00:15:13.840
 dialogue going on

00:15:13.840 --> 00:15:14.419
 with God

00:15:14.419 --> 00:15:15.559
 and they are like good bodies

00:15:15.559 --> 00:15:18.899
 and what do we do with that

00:15:18.899 --> 00:15:21.079
 when it says God said?

00:15:21.339 --> 00:15:22.019
 Was it a vision?

00:15:22.120 --> 00:15:23.419
 Was it like a voice from heaven?

00:15:23.959 --> 00:15:25.259
 The text doesn't say it

00:15:25.259 --> 00:15:26.679
 but I do want to point out

00:15:26.679 --> 00:15:27.839
 that from we gather

00:15:27.839 --> 00:15:29.699
 this is the first time

00:15:29.699 --> 00:15:30.779
 that Abraham has such

00:15:30.779 --> 00:15:31.679
 a clear encounter

00:15:31.679 --> 00:15:33.539
 with the true and living God.

00:15:34.439 --> 00:15:35.599
 Something that is so

00:15:35.599 --> 00:15:37.699
 out of the ordinary for him

00:15:37.699 --> 00:15:38.799
 that it changes his tracks

00:15:38.799 --> 00:15:39.599
 and is significant

00:15:39.599 --> 00:15:40.799
 in his story.

00:15:40.799 --> 00:15:42.779
 And so

00:15:42.779 --> 00:15:44.179
 this encounter

00:15:44.179 --> 00:15:46.259
 is something that

00:15:46.259 --> 00:15:49.019
 that I think

00:15:49.019 --> 00:15:49.859
 when we relate it

00:15:49.859 --> 00:15:50.799
 to our situation

00:15:50.799 --> 00:15:51.479
 we have to kind of

00:15:51.479 --> 00:15:52.000
 understand

00:15:52.000 --> 00:15:53.079
 what is it

00:15:53.079 --> 00:15:53.719
 that it takes

00:15:53.719 --> 00:15:54.599
 for us to change

00:15:54.599 --> 00:15:55.319
 our direction.

00:15:59.159 --> 00:15:59.819
 The encounter

00:15:59.819 --> 00:16:00.639
 is enough for

00:16:00.639 --> 00:16:02.019
 Abraham

00:16:02.019 --> 00:16:02.719
 to take God

00:16:02.719 --> 00:16:03.319
 by his word

00:16:03.319 --> 00:16:03.719
 and I mean

00:16:03.719 --> 00:16:07.139
 what is being said

00:16:07.139 --> 00:16:08.019
 is quite significant.

00:16:08.019 --> 00:16:10.000
 it's to leave his people

00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:10.860
 to leave his tribe

00:16:10.860 --> 00:16:12.039
 to leave his family

00:16:12.039 --> 00:16:13.340
 and to do that

00:16:13.340 --> 00:16:14.179
 like what would it take

00:16:14.179 --> 00:16:15.620
 for us to do that?

00:16:15.799 --> 00:16:16.699
 What kind of encounter

00:16:16.699 --> 00:16:17.740
 would that take for us?

00:16:18.220 --> 00:16:19.620
 When I think about my life

00:16:19.620 --> 00:16:20.379
 I had several

00:16:20.379 --> 00:16:22.100
 encounters with God

00:16:22.100 --> 00:16:24.019
 that I would say

00:16:24.019 --> 00:16:24.860
 were significant

00:16:24.860 --> 00:16:25.699
 in my story

00:16:25.699 --> 00:16:26.639
 that I would record

00:16:26.639 --> 00:16:27.720
 about my story

00:16:27.720 --> 00:16:28.779
 but there was never

00:16:28.779 --> 00:16:29.779
 like an audible voice

00:16:29.779 --> 00:16:30.519
 from heaven.

00:16:32.000 --> 00:16:32.919
 Like one of the first times

00:16:32.919 --> 00:16:33.460
 that I would say

00:16:33.460 --> 00:16:33.939
 in my life

00:16:33.939 --> 00:16:34.419
 I have seen

00:16:34.419 --> 00:16:35.240
 like a significant

00:16:35.240 --> 00:16:36.579
 change of direction

00:16:36.580 --> 00:16:37.040
 in my life

00:16:37.040 --> 00:16:38.220
 was when God

00:16:38.220 --> 00:16:39.080
 called me

00:16:39.080 --> 00:16:41.139
 into following Christ

00:16:41.139 --> 00:16:41.900
 when I was 23.

00:16:42.879 --> 00:16:43.560
 But it was not

00:16:43.560 --> 00:16:44.600
 that something happened

00:16:44.600 --> 00:16:45.980
 right away

00:16:45.980 --> 00:16:46.460
 but there were

00:16:46.460 --> 00:16:47.200
 certain moments

00:16:47.200 --> 00:16:47.920
 certain questions

00:16:47.920 --> 00:16:48.480
 that I had

00:16:48.480 --> 00:16:50.040
 but then in August 2000

00:16:50.040 --> 00:16:51.220
 I had this

00:16:51.220 --> 00:16:52.879
 encounter with God

00:16:52.879 --> 00:16:54.300
 when I was in Egypt

00:16:54.300 --> 00:16:55.600
 where I just was

00:16:55.600 --> 00:16:57.040
 reading about his story

00:16:57.040 --> 00:16:58.320
 and I could not

00:16:58.320 --> 00:16:59.780
 not follow him

00:16:59.780 --> 00:17:00.440
 and it's something

00:17:00.440 --> 00:17:01.340
 I cannot explain

00:17:01.340 --> 00:17:02.160
 but if I would

00:17:02.160 --> 00:17:02.920
 write my story

00:17:02.920 --> 00:17:03.980
 this would be something

00:17:03.980 --> 00:17:04.500
 I would say

00:17:04.500 --> 00:17:06.240
 God said to me

00:17:06.240 --> 00:17:07.160
 come follow me

00:17:07.160 --> 00:17:09.640
 and I had the same thing

00:17:09.640 --> 00:17:10.880
 when I decided

00:17:10.880 --> 00:17:11.819
 to go to seminary

00:17:11.819 --> 00:17:13.400
 it's not like

00:17:13.400 --> 00:17:13.799
 oh yeah

00:17:13.799 --> 00:17:14.200
 and then I had

00:17:14.200 --> 00:17:14.559
 this dialogue

00:17:14.559 --> 00:17:14.940
 with God

00:17:14.940 --> 00:17:15.480
 I said what do you think

00:17:15.480 --> 00:17:16.420
 should I go to seminary

00:17:16.420 --> 00:17:17.120
 should I be in banking

00:17:17.120 --> 00:17:18.259
 and I think

00:17:18.259 --> 00:17:19.240
 it's pretty good

00:17:19.240 --> 00:17:20.120
 I go to seminary

00:17:20.120 --> 00:17:22.059
 but it was something

00:17:22.059 --> 00:17:23.180
 where as I started

00:17:23.180 --> 00:17:24.620
 walking my journey

00:17:24.620 --> 00:17:25.299
 with God

00:17:25.299 --> 00:17:27.059
 he started to talk

00:17:27.059 --> 00:17:27.920
 to me through people

00:17:27.920 --> 00:17:28.940
 through his word

00:17:28.940 --> 00:17:30.700
 and there was

00:17:30.700 --> 00:17:32.000
 this tension

00:17:32.000 --> 00:17:32.859
 building up inside

00:17:32.859 --> 00:17:33.120
 of me

00:17:33.120 --> 00:17:33.980
 that I could not

00:17:33.980 --> 00:17:34.880
 not do

00:17:34.880 --> 00:17:36.220
 and so there again

00:17:36.220 --> 00:17:37.100
 if I would write my story

00:17:37.100 --> 00:17:37.520
 I would say

00:17:37.520 --> 00:17:39.060
 and God spoke to me

00:17:39.060 --> 00:17:39.960
 that I should

00:17:39.960 --> 00:17:41.000
 leave my stuff behind

00:17:41.000 --> 00:17:42.460
 and go to seminary

00:17:42.460 --> 00:17:43.840
 it happened to me

00:17:43.840 --> 00:17:45.120
 again like seven years ago

00:17:45.120 --> 00:17:46.320
 when I decided

00:17:46.320 --> 00:17:47.260
 to come to Hong Kong

00:17:47.260 --> 00:17:48.460
 it was never on my radar

00:17:48.460 --> 00:17:49.500
 but suddenly

00:17:49.500 --> 00:17:50.440
 God opened a door

00:17:50.440 --> 00:17:51.520
 and everything

00:17:51.520 --> 00:17:52.260
 pushed me

00:17:52.260 --> 00:17:53.840
 to that journey

00:17:53.840 --> 00:17:54.740
 four years ago

00:17:54.740 --> 00:17:55.460
 I wanted to quit

00:17:55.460 --> 00:17:57.060
 my time in Hong Kong

00:17:57.060 --> 00:17:58.160
 and God used

00:17:58.160 --> 00:17:59.500
 so many ways

00:17:59.500 --> 00:18:00.380
 that I could not

00:18:00.380 --> 00:18:01.720
 not do this

00:18:01.720 --> 00:18:03.940
 so these are

00:18:03.940 --> 00:18:04.920
 the circumstances

00:18:04.920 --> 00:18:05.460
 where I would say

00:18:05.460 --> 00:18:05.799
 okay

00:18:05.799 --> 00:18:07.200
 this is where God

00:18:07.200 --> 00:18:08.660
 spoke to me

00:18:08.660 --> 00:18:10.200
 so when you look

00:18:10.200 --> 00:18:11.440
 at the scripture passage

00:18:11.440 --> 00:18:12.640
 you see Abraham

00:18:12.640 --> 00:18:13.720
 having this conversation

00:18:13.720 --> 00:18:14.519
 with God

00:18:14.519 --> 00:18:15.299
 is he a bigger

00:18:15.299 --> 00:18:15.960
 than life character

00:18:15.960 --> 00:18:16.720
 or are there moments

00:18:16.720 --> 00:18:17.759
 in your life

00:18:17.759 --> 00:18:18.640
 where you would say

00:18:18.640 --> 00:18:20.360
 this is a time

00:18:20.360 --> 00:18:21.039
 in my life

00:18:21.039 --> 00:18:22.220
 where I have seen

00:18:22.220 --> 00:18:23.480
 God calling me

00:18:23.480 --> 00:18:24.059
 where I have seen

00:18:24.059 --> 00:18:25.259
 God interacting

00:18:25.259 --> 00:18:25.819
 with me

00:18:25.819 --> 00:18:28.220
 and if you are here

00:18:28.220 --> 00:18:29.019
 and you think

00:18:29.019 --> 00:18:31.059
 I don't really know

00:18:31.059 --> 00:18:32.400
 where that could be

00:18:32.400 --> 00:18:33.379
 found in my life

00:18:33.379 --> 00:18:35.599
 then maybe it's

00:18:35.599 --> 00:18:36.180
 like the time

00:18:36.180 --> 00:18:37.460
 before Abraham

00:18:37.460 --> 00:18:39.259
 had this first encounter

00:18:39.259 --> 00:18:40.400
 that there is something

00:18:40.400 --> 00:18:41.000
 building up

00:18:41.000 --> 00:18:41.619
 towards something

00:18:41.619 --> 00:18:42.160
 where God

00:18:42.160 --> 00:18:42.960
 is speaking

00:18:42.960 --> 00:18:45.119
 so what kind of

00:18:45.119 --> 00:18:45.680
 encounter

00:18:45.680 --> 00:18:46.519
 would it take

00:18:46.519 --> 00:18:46.940
 for us

00:18:46.940 --> 00:18:47.920
 to drastically

00:18:47.920 --> 00:18:49.079
 change direction

00:18:49.079 --> 00:18:50.000
 in our life

00:18:50.000 --> 00:18:51.799
 what kind of

00:18:51.799 --> 00:18:53.660
 God says to you

00:18:53.660 --> 00:18:54.359
 would it take

00:18:54.359 --> 00:18:54.799
 for you

00:18:54.799 --> 00:18:55.700
 to make such

00:18:55.700 --> 00:18:56.660
 a significant life change

00:18:56.660 --> 00:18:57.820
 that you may leave

00:18:57.820 --> 00:18:59.200
 Hong Kong

00:18:59.200 --> 00:19:00.440
 your country

00:19:00.440 --> 00:19:01.420
 your family

00:19:01.420 --> 00:19:02.279
 your relationships

00:19:02.279 --> 00:19:03.660
 and take a drastic

00:19:03.660 --> 00:19:05.700
 turn in your life

00:19:05.700 --> 00:19:09.600
 I want to look at

00:19:09.600 --> 00:19:10.860
 verses 2 and 3

00:19:10.860 --> 00:19:12.140
 and see kind of

00:19:12.140 --> 00:19:13.120
 what kind of

00:19:13.120 --> 00:19:13.759
 encounter

00:19:13.759 --> 00:19:14.720
 Abraham

00:19:14.720 --> 00:19:15.460
 had

00:19:15.460 --> 00:19:16.279
 with God

00:19:16.279 --> 00:19:16.640
 here

00:19:16.640 --> 00:19:18.200
 so

00:19:18.200 --> 00:19:19.640
 God says to

00:19:19.640 --> 00:19:19.960
 pack his

00:19:19.960 --> 00:19:21.100
 stuff up

00:19:21.100 --> 00:19:22.300
 or leave his place

00:19:22.300 --> 00:19:24.660
 and then he says

00:19:24.660 --> 00:19:25.560
 I will make you

00:19:25.559 --> 00:19:27.419
 a great nation

00:19:27.419 --> 00:19:29.240
 and I will bless you

00:19:29.240 --> 00:19:30.119
 I will make your name

00:19:30.119 --> 00:19:30.440
 great

00:19:30.440 --> 00:19:31.579
 and you will be

00:19:31.579 --> 00:19:32.019
 a blessing

00:19:32.019 --> 00:19:33.919
 I will bless

00:19:33.919 --> 00:19:34.339
 those

00:19:34.339 --> 00:19:35.639
 who bless you

00:19:35.639 --> 00:19:36.299
 and whoever

00:19:36.299 --> 00:19:36.899
 curses you

00:19:36.899 --> 00:19:37.480
 I will curse

00:19:37.480 --> 00:19:38.159
 and all peoples

00:19:38.159 --> 00:19:38.980
 on earth

00:19:38.980 --> 00:19:39.579
 will be blessed

00:19:39.579 --> 00:19:40.319
 through you

00:19:40.319 --> 00:19:42.019
 what strikes me

00:19:42.019 --> 00:19:42.700
 about this passage

00:19:42.700 --> 00:19:43.500
 is first of all

00:19:43.500 --> 00:19:44.859
 that it's not

00:19:44.859 --> 00:19:45.539
 a blessing

00:19:45.539 --> 00:19:46.399
 I mean all these

00:19:46.399 --> 00:19:46.759
 blessings

00:19:46.759 --> 00:19:48.220
 that God promises

00:19:48.220 --> 00:19:49.579
 they are not things

00:19:49.579 --> 00:19:50.099
 that Abraham

00:19:50.099 --> 00:19:51.039
 ever asked for

00:19:51.039 --> 00:19:52.919
 but it started

00:19:52.919 --> 00:19:53.500
 with God

00:19:53.500 --> 00:19:54.200
 reaching out

00:19:54.200 --> 00:19:55.340
 to Abraham

00:19:55.340 --> 00:19:56.120
 it's not like

00:19:56.120 --> 00:19:56.519
 Abraham was

00:19:56.519 --> 00:19:56.960
 on his knees

00:19:56.960 --> 00:19:57.680
 asking to God

00:19:57.680 --> 00:19:58.759
 if you're real

00:19:58.759 --> 00:19:59.819
 come show up

00:19:59.819 --> 00:20:00.759
 and tell me

00:20:00.759 --> 00:20:02.620
 how you want

00:20:02.620 --> 00:20:03.319
 to use my life

00:20:03.319 --> 00:20:04.440
 or bless my business

00:20:04.440 --> 00:20:05.720
 but when I look

00:20:05.720 --> 00:20:06.180
 at my life

00:20:06.180 --> 00:20:06.700
 that's often

00:20:06.700 --> 00:20:07.960
 how I look

00:20:07.960 --> 00:20:08.340
 for God

00:20:08.340 --> 00:20:08.980
 to show up

00:20:08.980 --> 00:20:10.019
 how God

00:20:10.019 --> 00:20:10.580
 fits in

00:20:10.580 --> 00:20:11.539
 my plan

00:20:11.539 --> 00:20:12.039
 and my

00:20:12.039 --> 00:20:14.319
 life story

00:20:14.319 --> 00:20:15.759
 but here

00:20:15.759 --> 00:20:16.080
 it says

00:20:16.080 --> 00:20:16.340
 that

00:20:16.340 --> 00:20:18.460
 he comes up

00:20:18.460 --> 00:20:18.819
 and he says

00:20:18.819 --> 00:20:19.460
 I will

00:20:19.460 --> 00:20:20.220
 I will

00:20:20.220 --> 00:20:20.920
 I will

00:20:20.920 --> 00:20:21.460
 I will

00:20:21.460 --> 00:20:22.140
 so God

00:20:22.140 --> 00:20:22.560
 comes with

00:20:22.560 --> 00:20:23.080
 a very clear

00:20:23.080 --> 00:20:23.420
 plan

00:20:23.420 --> 00:20:24.740
 and calls him

00:20:24.740 --> 00:20:25.940
 into following this

00:20:25.940 --> 00:20:27.759
 this plan

00:20:27.759 --> 00:20:29.100
 is something else

00:20:29.100 --> 00:20:29.900
 that is so easily

00:20:29.900 --> 00:20:30.940
 to be missed

00:20:30.940 --> 00:20:31.320
 and we could

00:20:31.320 --> 00:20:32.259
 read through

00:20:32.259 --> 00:20:33.620
 this two verses

00:20:33.620 --> 00:20:34.200
 so quickly

00:20:34.200 --> 00:20:34.900
 but actually

00:20:34.900 --> 00:20:35.480
 there are scholars

00:20:35.480 --> 00:20:36.560
 that suggest

00:20:36.560 --> 00:20:37.759
 that you could

00:20:37.759 --> 00:20:38.560
 divide the Bible

00:20:38.560 --> 00:20:39.940
 right at these verses

00:20:39.940 --> 00:20:41.380
 that you could

00:20:41.380 --> 00:20:42.259
 basically say

00:20:42.259 --> 00:20:43.779
 chapters 1 to 11

00:20:43.779 --> 00:20:45.660
 could be the first half

00:20:45.660 --> 00:20:46.740
 of the scripture

00:20:46.740 --> 00:20:49.420
 and everything else

00:20:49.420 --> 00:20:51.279
 from chapter 12 on

00:20:51.279 --> 00:20:51.720
 from this

00:20:51.720 --> 00:20:52.319
 this calling

00:20:52.319 --> 00:20:53.759
 could be the rest

00:20:53.759 --> 00:20:55.460
 let me explain

00:20:55.460 --> 00:20:56.880
 what is so significant

00:20:56.880 --> 00:20:57.279
 here

00:20:57.279 --> 00:20:59.680
 so up to this point

00:20:59.680 --> 00:21:01.359
 the story has been

00:21:01.359 --> 00:21:02.099
 about how things

00:21:02.099 --> 00:21:03.059
 are falling apart

00:21:03.059 --> 00:21:05.099
 it's how

00:21:05.099 --> 00:21:05.720
 something that was

00:21:05.720 --> 00:21:06.559
 created for good

00:21:06.559 --> 00:21:07.620
 has now gone

00:21:07.620 --> 00:21:08.240
 on a journey

00:21:08.240 --> 00:21:09.099
 but this is a journey

00:21:09.099 --> 00:21:10.319
 of destruction

00:21:10.319 --> 00:21:12.779
 things are falling apart

00:21:12.779 --> 00:21:13.920
 and we have seen

00:21:13.920 --> 00:21:14.799
 humanity breaking

00:21:14.799 --> 00:21:16.099
 with that relationship

00:21:16.099 --> 00:21:16.660
 with God

00:21:16.660 --> 00:21:17.180
 we have looked

00:21:17.180 --> 00:21:18.380
 into the results

00:21:18.380 --> 00:21:20.259
 of Adam and Eve's

00:21:20.259 --> 00:21:20.920
 rebellion

00:21:20.920 --> 00:21:22.220
 and them being

00:21:22.220 --> 00:21:23.120
 banned from the garden

00:21:23.120 --> 00:21:24.180
 we have seen

00:21:24.180 --> 00:21:25.200
 the flood

00:21:25.200 --> 00:21:26.480
 bringing creation

00:21:26.480 --> 00:21:26.920
 to the brink

00:21:26.920 --> 00:21:27.480
 of destruction

00:21:27.480 --> 00:21:29.240
 and we have also seen

00:21:29.240 --> 00:21:30.000
 last week

00:21:30.000 --> 00:21:30.440
 how humanity

00:21:30.440 --> 00:21:31.200
 now was scattered

00:21:31.200 --> 00:21:32.440
 all over the world

00:21:32.440 --> 00:21:34.019
 but here we see

00:21:34.019 --> 00:21:34.700
 a turning point

00:21:34.700 --> 00:21:35.860
 in human history

00:21:35.860 --> 00:21:37.940
 while up to this point

00:21:37.940 --> 00:21:38.440
 things have been

00:21:38.440 --> 00:21:39.259
 falling apart

00:21:39.259 --> 00:21:39.779
 and humanity

00:21:39.779 --> 00:21:40.320
 is moving

00:21:40.320 --> 00:21:41.220
 further and further

00:21:41.220 --> 00:21:42.700
 away from God

00:21:42.700 --> 00:21:43.720
 here we see

00:21:43.720 --> 00:21:44.860
 God calling Abraham

00:21:44.860 --> 00:21:46.440
 to be the father

00:21:46.440 --> 00:21:47.059
 of a people

00:21:47.059 --> 00:21:48.220
 who would make

00:21:48.220 --> 00:21:49.400
 his name great

00:21:49.400 --> 00:21:51.400
 as a beginning

00:21:51.400 --> 00:21:52.380
 point of a movement

00:21:52.380 --> 00:21:53.680
 back towards him

00:21:53.680 --> 00:21:54.100
 the beginning

00:21:54.100 --> 00:21:54.660
 of a journey

00:21:54.660 --> 00:21:55.320
 to restore

00:21:55.320 --> 00:21:56.440
 all these broken

00:21:56.440 --> 00:21:56.980
 things

00:21:56.980 --> 00:21:58.940
 I mentioned before

00:21:58.940 --> 00:22:00.259
 how it was

00:22:00.259 --> 00:22:01.940
 difficult in seminary

00:22:01.940 --> 00:22:02.340
 for me

00:22:02.340 --> 00:22:03.660
 to relate to

00:22:03.660 --> 00:22:05.019
 this great story

00:22:05.019 --> 00:22:05.880
 that God is writing

00:22:05.880 --> 00:22:08.500
 but I thought

00:22:08.500 --> 00:22:09.200
 okay this is like

00:22:09.200 --> 00:22:10.000
 biblical studies

00:22:10.000 --> 00:22:10.840
 once I learn

00:22:10.840 --> 00:22:11.559
 all these terminologies

00:22:11.559 --> 00:22:11.880
 that's okay

00:22:11.880 --> 00:22:12.840
 but oh theology

00:22:12.840 --> 00:22:14.100
 maybe that's something

00:22:14.099 --> 00:22:14.879
 that may work

00:22:14.879 --> 00:22:15.399
 better for me

00:22:15.399 --> 00:22:16.240
 like a lot of

00:22:16.240 --> 00:22:17.000
 German writers

00:22:17.000 --> 00:22:17.879
 and German theologians

00:22:17.879 --> 00:22:18.919
 maybe that gives

00:22:18.919 --> 00:22:19.519
 me an advantage

00:22:19.519 --> 00:22:22.159
 so one day

00:22:22.159 --> 00:22:22.839
 I was in theology

00:22:22.839 --> 00:22:23.339
 class

00:22:23.339 --> 00:22:24.599
 and one of my

00:22:24.599 --> 00:22:24.959
 professors

00:22:24.959 --> 00:22:26.679
 started talking

00:22:26.679 --> 00:22:27.539
 and he wanted

00:22:27.539 --> 00:22:28.980
 to use a well

00:22:28.980 --> 00:22:29.599
 known German

00:22:29.599 --> 00:22:30.519
 theological term

00:22:30.519 --> 00:22:31.980
 which is called

00:22:31.980 --> 00:22:32.919
 Heilsgeschichte

00:22:32.920 --> 00:22:35.039
 Now I had never

00:22:35.039 --> 00:22:35.700
 heard of that term

00:22:35.700 --> 00:22:36.400
 in my life

00:22:36.400 --> 00:22:37.140
 in German

00:22:37.140 --> 00:22:39.300
 and so he

00:22:39.300 --> 00:22:39.900
 pronounced it

00:22:39.900 --> 00:22:40.220
 and he wanted

00:22:40.220 --> 00:22:40.700
 to see whether

00:22:40.700 --> 00:22:41.160
 it's correct

00:22:41.160 --> 00:22:41.860
 and I looked

00:22:41.860 --> 00:22:42.640
 at him very confused

00:22:42.640 --> 00:22:43.220
 and so he tried

00:22:43.220 --> 00:22:43.779
 to pronounce it

00:22:43.779 --> 00:22:44.519
 over and over again

00:22:44.519 --> 00:22:45.300
 and all the

00:22:45.300 --> 00:22:45.920
 classmates were

00:22:45.920 --> 00:22:46.580
 looking at him

00:22:46.580 --> 00:22:46.980
 and thinking

00:22:46.980 --> 00:22:48.380
 he has a really

00:22:48.380 --> 00:22:49.320
 bad German pronunciation

00:22:49.320 --> 00:22:49.720
 I was sitting

00:22:49.720 --> 00:22:50.240
 oh my gosh

00:22:50.240 --> 00:22:50.820
 I have no clue

00:22:50.820 --> 00:22:51.640
 what the word

00:22:51.640 --> 00:22:52.200
 even means

00:22:52.200 --> 00:22:53.340
 so after class

00:22:53.340 --> 00:22:53.900
 I went home

00:22:53.900 --> 00:22:54.680
 and I had to

00:22:54.680 --> 00:22:55.240
 do that quite a bit

00:22:55.240 --> 00:22:55.940
 so I had to look

00:22:55.940 --> 00:22:56.380
 up kind of like

00:22:56.380 --> 00:22:56.900
 okay what's the

00:22:56.900 --> 00:22:57.039
 translation

00:22:57.039 --> 00:22:57.460
 what does it

00:22:57.460 --> 00:22:57.960
 even mean

00:22:57.960 --> 00:22:58.800
 so I looked

00:22:58.800 --> 00:22:59.380
 up this term

00:22:59.380 --> 00:23:00.740
 and so the term

00:23:00.740 --> 00:23:01.080
 is called

00:23:01.080 --> 00:23:02.039
 salvation history

00:23:02.039 --> 00:23:03.700
 it's a term

00:23:03.700 --> 00:23:04.420
 that was coined

00:23:04.420 --> 00:23:05.700
 in the 19th century

00:23:05.700 --> 00:23:07.339
 if you ever want

00:23:07.339 --> 00:23:08.200
 to read German theology

00:23:08.200 --> 00:23:09.279
 stop in the 19th century

00:23:09.279 --> 00:23:09.740
 don't go into

00:23:09.740 --> 00:23:10.480
 the 20th century

00:23:10.480 --> 00:23:11.159
 just a disclaimer

00:23:11.159 --> 00:23:12.599
 there's just a lot

00:23:12.599 --> 00:23:13.279
 of dodgy stuff

00:23:13.279 --> 00:23:13.819
 we came up with

00:23:13.819 --> 00:23:14.220
 afterwards

00:23:14.220 --> 00:23:17.859
 so 19th century

00:23:17.859 --> 00:23:18.819
 salvation history

00:23:18.819 --> 00:23:19.440
 is the term

00:23:19.440 --> 00:23:20.319
 and the definition

00:23:20.319 --> 00:23:21.319
 is salvation history

00:23:21.319 --> 00:23:22.420
 refers to all

00:23:22.420 --> 00:23:23.200
 redemptive activity

00:23:23.200 --> 00:23:23.680
 of God

00:23:23.680 --> 00:23:24.420
 with human history

00:23:24.420 --> 00:23:25.139
 to effect his

00:23:25.139 --> 00:23:25.779
 eternal saving

00:23:25.779 --> 00:23:26.440
 intentions

00:23:26.440 --> 00:23:28.639
 so salvation history

00:23:28.639 --> 00:23:30.639
 views all events

00:23:30.640 --> 00:23:32.080
 in human history

00:23:32.080 --> 00:23:32.860
 especially those

00:23:32.860 --> 00:23:33.440
 recorded in the

00:23:33.440 --> 00:23:33.720
 scripture

00:23:33.720 --> 00:23:34.920
 as arranged

00:23:34.920 --> 00:23:36.280
 toward bringing

00:23:36.280 --> 00:23:37.520
 about God's

00:23:37.520 --> 00:23:38.800
 plan of saving

00:23:38.800 --> 00:23:39.360
 his people

00:23:39.360 --> 00:23:40.920
 everything from

00:23:40.920 --> 00:23:41.300
 the beginning

00:23:41.300 --> 00:23:42.300
 and end of history

00:23:42.300 --> 00:23:43.320
 is arranged

00:23:43.320 --> 00:23:44.300
 to bring about

00:23:44.300 --> 00:23:45.200
 God's plan

00:23:45.200 --> 00:23:46.040
 of saving people

00:23:46.040 --> 00:23:47.980
 let me put that

00:23:47.980 --> 00:23:49.160
 into some kind

00:23:49.160 --> 00:23:50.300
 of real life

00:23:50.300 --> 00:23:50.840
 example

00:23:50.840 --> 00:23:52.259
 any fans of

00:23:52.259 --> 00:23:52.960
 CSI here

00:23:52.960 --> 00:23:55.420
 CSI is a TV show

00:23:55.420 --> 00:23:57.240
 I'm sure some of you

00:23:57.240 --> 00:23:57.780
 have watched it

00:23:57.780 --> 00:23:59.300
 it's an American TV show

00:23:59.299 --> 00:24:00.519
 and it follows a crime scene

00:24:00.519 --> 00:24:01.619
 investigation team

00:24:01.619 --> 00:24:03.680
 as they search for evidence

00:24:03.680 --> 00:24:05.579
 to resolve murders

00:24:05.579 --> 00:24:06.059
 basically

00:24:06.059 --> 00:24:07.079
 so every time

00:24:07.079 --> 00:24:08.220
 it follows pretty much

00:24:08.220 --> 00:24:08.859
 the same format

00:24:08.859 --> 00:24:10.359
 some kind of murder happens

00:24:10.359 --> 00:24:11.559
 and then

00:24:11.559 --> 00:24:13.519
 as something goes wrong

00:24:13.519 --> 00:24:14.619
 about two minutes

00:24:14.619 --> 00:24:15.399
 into the show

00:24:15.399 --> 00:24:16.240
 the crime scene

00:24:16.240 --> 00:24:17.079
 investigation team

00:24:17.079 --> 00:24:17.720
 shows up

00:24:17.720 --> 00:24:19.539
 at the murder scene

00:24:19.539 --> 00:24:20.319
 and they're starting

00:24:20.319 --> 00:24:21.180
 to try to figure out

00:24:21.180 --> 00:24:21.899
 what's going on

00:24:21.899 --> 00:24:23.359
 so the rest of the show

00:24:23.359 --> 00:24:24.720
 is them trying to put

00:24:24.720 --> 00:24:25.700
 the pieces back together

00:24:25.700 --> 00:24:26.559
 that at the end

00:24:26.559 --> 00:24:27.119
 of the show

00:24:27.119 --> 00:24:29.799
 that things are being resolved

00:24:29.799 --> 00:24:30.899
 they have solved

00:24:30.899 --> 00:24:31.399
 the puzzle

00:24:31.399 --> 00:24:33.579
 and justice can be served

00:24:33.579 --> 00:24:35.200
 now there's something

00:24:35.200 --> 00:24:35.879
 pretty frustrating

00:24:35.879 --> 00:24:38.179
 when you want to watch CSI

00:24:38.179 --> 00:24:39.259
 and you turn on

00:24:39.259 --> 00:24:39.799
 in minute three

00:24:39.799 --> 00:24:41.500
 because you have just

00:24:41.500 --> 00:24:42.619
 missed out on the crime

00:24:42.619 --> 00:24:44.039
 now they do an okay job

00:24:44.039 --> 00:24:44.419
 as kind of like

00:24:44.419 --> 00:24:44.980
 revisiting that

00:24:44.980 --> 00:24:45.799
 but it can be

00:24:45.799 --> 00:24:46.200
 kind of like

00:24:46.200 --> 00:24:47.019
 take a long time

00:24:47.019 --> 00:24:47.440
 to even like

00:24:47.440 --> 00:24:48.419
 put together the piece of

00:24:48.419 --> 00:24:49.839
 okay what just happened here

00:24:49.839 --> 00:24:50.460
 like they are trying

00:24:50.460 --> 00:24:51.139
 to figure something out

00:24:51.139 --> 00:24:51.500
 but I don't know

00:24:51.500 --> 00:24:51.919
 what it is

00:24:51.919 --> 00:24:53.279
 and this is how I felt

00:24:53.279 --> 00:24:54.399
 about salvation history

00:24:54.400 --> 00:24:55.940
 that I jumped in

00:24:55.940 --> 00:24:57.380
 into that story of God

00:24:57.380 --> 00:24:58.820
 having missed the beginning

00:24:58.820 --> 00:24:59.860
 having missed like

00:24:59.860 --> 00:25:00.400
 most of it

00:25:00.400 --> 00:25:00.900
 and feeling like

00:25:00.900 --> 00:25:02.759
 okay where am I in this

00:25:02.759 --> 00:25:05.840
 and so this is the journey

00:25:05.840 --> 00:25:06.780
 of salvation history

00:25:06.780 --> 00:25:08.180
 and trying to figure out

00:25:08.180 --> 00:25:08.980
 where we put in

00:25:08.980 --> 00:25:10.780
 so as we look into

00:25:10.780 --> 00:25:12.660
 Genesis chapter 12

00:25:12.660 --> 00:25:15.140
 we see the starting point

00:25:15.140 --> 00:25:17.640
 of the crime being resolved

00:25:17.640 --> 00:25:18.540
 the greatest crime

00:25:18.540 --> 00:25:20.519
 being an offense to God

00:25:20.519 --> 00:25:22.040
 the relationship with humanity

00:25:22.040 --> 00:25:23.000
 breaking

00:25:23.000 --> 00:25:25.299
 and now

00:25:25.299 --> 00:25:26.519
 God introduces

00:25:26.519 --> 00:25:27.960
 his rescuing plan

00:25:27.960 --> 00:25:29.420
 his way of restoring things

00:25:29.420 --> 00:25:30.660
 of bringing justice

00:25:30.660 --> 00:25:31.660
 bringing restoration

00:25:31.660 --> 00:25:33.599
 to that which is broken

00:25:33.599 --> 00:25:38.420
 as God invites Abraham

00:25:38.420 --> 00:25:39.799
 on this journey

00:25:39.799 --> 00:25:41.660
 to bring restoration

00:25:41.660 --> 00:25:43.599
 I think it's really interesting

00:25:43.599 --> 00:25:44.559
 because it's not like

00:25:44.559 --> 00:25:45.319
 he goes to Abraham

00:25:45.319 --> 00:25:45.619
 and says

00:25:45.619 --> 00:25:47.180
 hey I want you to have

00:25:47.180 --> 00:25:48.039
 a really prosperous life

00:25:48.039 --> 00:25:48.640
 for yourself

00:25:48.640 --> 00:25:50.359
 or you know

00:25:50.359 --> 00:25:51.480
 I want to bless your plan

00:25:51.480 --> 00:25:52.779
 but it's about Abraham

00:25:52.779 --> 00:25:54.720
 leaving his plan behind

00:25:54.720 --> 00:25:55.360
 and there will be

00:25:55.360 --> 00:25:56.440
 a greater blessing

00:25:56.440 --> 00:25:58.920
 the blessing of taking part

00:25:58.920 --> 00:26:00.140
 in God's plan

00:26:00.140 --> 00:26:01.640
 of salvation history

00:26:01.640 --> 00:26:04.900
 the history

00:26:04.900 --> 00:26:06.660
 of salvation

00:26:06.660 --> 00:26:08.360
 starting here

00:26:08.360 --> 00:26:10.980
 continues from one person

00:26:10.980 --> 00:26:12.200
 to a tribe

00:26:12.200 --> 00:26:13.519
 to a nation

00:26:13.519 --> 00:26:16.420
 and we just had a team

00:26:16.420 --> 00:26:17.460
 from Israel returning

00:26:17.460 --> 00:26:18.620
 that went to that nation

00:26:18.619 --> 00:26:21.059
 and so 30 of us

00:26:21.059 --> 00:26:22.419
 went to Israel

00:26:22.419 --> 00:26:24.679
 to the nation of Israel

00:26:24.679 --> 00:26:25.799
 where God

00:26:25.799 --> 00:26:27.619
 promised a nation

00:26:27.619 --> 00:26:28.379
 to be haunted

00:26:28.379 --> 00:26:29.479
 thousands of years ago

00:26:29.479 --> 00:26:30.619
 in this promise

00:26:30.619 --> 00:26:31.899
 and they came back

00:26:31.899 --> 00:26:33.059
 and one of the spots

00:26:33.059 --> 00:26:33.979
 they visited there

00:26:33.979 --> 00:26:35.539
 was the place

00:26:35.539 --> 00:26:37.599
 where Jesus was baptized

00:26:37.599 --> 00:26:38.339
 in Luke 3

00:26:38.339 --> 00:26:39.659
 and you can look it up

00:26:39.659 --> 00:26:40.079
 in your Bible

00:26:40.079 --> 00:26:41.000
 or I will read it to you

00:26:41.000 --> 00:26:41.959
 in Luke 3

00:26:41.959 --> 00:26:43.619
 verse 21

00:26:43.619 --> 00:26:44.599
 and I want to just

00:26:44.599 --> 00:26:45.419
 read this to you

00:26:45.420 --> 00:26:47.800
 it starts saying

00:26:47.800 --> 00:26:48.860
 when all the people

00:26:48.860 --> 00:26:49.779
 were being baptized

00:26:49.779 --> 00:26:51.600
 Jesus was baptized too

00:26:51.600 --> 00:26:53.060
 and as he was praying

00:26:53.060 --> 00:26:53.980
 heaven was opened

00:26:53.980 --> 00:26:55.259
 and the Holy Spirit

00:26:55.259 --> 00:26:56.000
 descended on him

00:26:56.000 --> 00:26:56.759
 in bodily form

00:26:56.759 --> 00:26:57.680
 like a dove

00:26:57.680 --> 00:26:58.860
 and a voice came from heaven

00:26:58.860 --> 00:26:59.640
 you are my son

00:26:59.640 --> 00:27:00.660
 whom I love

00:27:00.660 --> 00:27:01.840
 with you

00:27:01.840 --> 00:27:03.060
 I am well pleased

00:27:03.060 --> 00:27:05.160
 now Jesus himself

00:27:05.160 --> 00:27:06.440
 was about 30 years old

00:27:06.440 --> 00:27:07.840
 when he began his ministry

00:27:07.840 --> 00:27:08.680
 he was the son

00:27:08.680 --> 00:27:09.400
 so it was thought

00:27:09.400 --> 00:27:10.019
 of Joseph

00:27:10.019 --> 00:27:11.620
 the son of Heli

00:27:11.620 --> 00:27:12.519
 the son of Methad

00:27:12.519 --> 00:27:13.560
 the son of Levi

00:27:13.559 --> 00:27:15.019
 the son of Melchi

00:27:15.019 --> 00:27:16.059
 the son of Janai

00:27:16.059 --> 00:27:16.980
 the son of Joseph

00:27:16.980 --> 00:27:18.859
 and for 10 verses

00:27:18.859 --> 00:27:20.819
 generation after generation

00:27:20.819 --> 00:27:22.139
 the sons

00:27:22.139 --> 00:27:23.240
 and the sons

00:27:23.240 --> 00:27:23.740
 and the sons

00:27:23.740 --> 00:27:24.220
 are listed

00:27:24.220 --> 00:27:25.319
 till in verse 34

00:27:25.319 --> 00:27:25.799
 it says

00:27:25.799 --> 00:27:26.799
 the son of Jacob

00:27:26.799 --> 00:27:28.139
 the son of Isaac

00:27:28.139 --> 00:27:29.460
 the son of Abraham

00:27:29.460 --> 00:27:31.019
 the son of Terah

00:27:31.019 --> 00:27:31.759
 and it continues

00:27:31.759 --> 00:27:32.519
 through the generations

00:27:32.519 --> 00:27:34.859
 we have seen today

00:27:34.859 --> 00:27:36.279
 and the son of Noah

00:27:36.279 --> 00:27:37.379
 and finally in Luke 3

00:27:37.379 --> 00:27:38.139
 verse 38

00:27:38.139 --> 00:27:38.579
 it says

00:27:38.579 --> 00:27:39.599
 the son of Thess

00:27:39.599 --> 00:27:40.480
 the son of Adam

00:27:40.480 --> 00:27:41.720
 the son of God

00:27:41.720 --> 00:27:43.700
 and as I'm reading

00:27:43.700 --> 00:27:44.839
 through this genealogy

00:27:44.839 --> 00:27:45.660
 I'm in awe

00:27:45.660 --> 00:27:47.360
 of God's plan

00:27:47.360 --> 00:27:48.579
 and

00:27:48.579 --> 00:27:49.500
 I

00:27:49.500 --> 00:27:50.799
 I said that to him

00:27:50.799 --> 00:27:52.220
 preparing for this

00:27:52.220 --> 00:27:52.740
 is the first time

00:27:52.740 --> 00:27:53.180
 that I've tried

00:27:53.180 --> 00:27:54.100
 through a genealogy

00:27:54.100 --> 00:27:57.720
 just seeing

00:27:57.720 --> 00:27:58.620
 God's plan

00:27:58.620 --> 00:27:59.220
 of salvation

00:27:59.220 --> 00:28:00.660
 being worked out

00:28:00.660 --> 00:28:01.299
 and spanning

00:28:01.299 --> 00:28:02.039
 generation

00:28:02.039 --> 00:28:03.279
 after generation

00:28:03.279 --> 00:28:04.579
 it's an unbelievable

00:28:04.579 --> 00:28:05.140
 pointer

00:28:05.140 --> 00:28:06.640
 to God's salvation

00:28:06.640 --> 00:28:07.299
 history

00:28:07.299 --> 00:28:09.039
 that he invites us

00:28:09.039 --> 00:28:09.900
 into a story

00:28:09.900 --> 00:28:11.560
 that is bigger

00:28:11.560 --> 00:28:12.440
 than any story

00:28:12.440 --> 00:28:13.200
 any human being

00:28:13.200 --> 00:28:14.019
 could ever write

00:28:14.019 --> 00:28:15.700
 it spends from

00:28:15.700 --> 00:28:16.160
 the beginning

00:28:16.160 --> 00:28:16.880
 of time

00:28:16.880 --> 00:28:17.380
 to the end

00:28:17.380 --> 00:28:17.880
 of time

00:28:17.880 --> 00:28:19.519
 this is the story

00:28:19.519 --> 00:28:20.560
 of a covenant

00:28:20.560 --> 00:28:21.820
 established with Abraham

00:28:21.820 --> 00:28:23.820
 that finds its climax

00:28:23.820 --> 00:28:24.900
 in Christ

00:28:24.900 --> 00:28:26.060
 coming and being

00:28:26.060 --> 00:28:26.560
 crucified

00:28:26.560 --> 00:28:27.400
 and bringing

00:28:27.400 --> 00:28:28.400
 redemption to all

00:28:28.400 --> 00:28:29.460
 inviting us

00:28:29.460 --> 00:28:31.500
 to his ultimate

00:28:31.500 --> 00:28:32.500
 goal in heaven

00:28:32.500 --> 00:28:33.300
 and making peace

00:28:33.300 --> 00:28:33.880
 and reconciliation

00:28:33.880 --> 00:28:35.440
 with creation

00:28:35.440 --> 00:28:37.120
 and so we see

00:28:37.120 --> 00:28:37.680
 this promise

00:28:37.680 --> 00:28:38.780
 in this chapter

00:28:38.779 --> 00:28:39.680
 then fulfilled

00:28:39.680 --> 00:28:40.359
 and all people

00:28:40.359 --> 00:28:40.899
 on earth

00:28:40.899 --> 00:28:41.879
 will be blessed

00:28:41.879 --> 00:28:42.899
 through you

00:28:42.899 --> 00:28:43.879
 this blessing

00:28:43.879 --> 00:28:44.579
 spends on

00:28:44.579 --> 00:28:45.500
 to all of us

00:28:45.500 --> 00:28:46.079
 here today

00:28:46.079 --> 00:28:47.339
 and seeing

00:28:47.339 --> 00:28:48.480
 the grand scale

00:28:48.480 --> 00:28:49.899
 of God

00:28:49.899 --> 00:28:50.960
 what God is saying

00:28:50.960 --> 00:28:52.920
 here to Abraham

00:28:52.920 --> 00:28:56.119
 that the promise

00:28:56.119 --> 00:28:57.079
 he is calling him

00:28:57.079 --> 00:28:57.500
 into

00:28:57.500 --> 00:28:58.359
 going over

00:28:58.359 --> 00:28:59.480
 generation and generation

00:28:59.480 --> 00:29:00.480
 it just blows my mind

00:29:00.480 --> 00:29:03.180
 you start to look

00:29:03.180 --> 00:29:03.940
 at your own story

00:29:03.940 --> 00:29:04.539
 and you see

00:29:04.539 --> 00:29:05.579
 that selfishness

00:29:05.579 --> 00:29:06.960
 and it calls you

00:29:06.960 --> 00:29:07.539
 to humility

00:29:07.539 --> 00:29:08.619
 about how

00:29:08.619 --> 00:29:09.519
 I approach

00:29:09.519 --> 00:29:10.539
 my life

00:29:10.539 --> 00:29:11.480
 that I feel

00:29:11.480 --> 00:29:12.000
 like okay

00:29:12.000 --> 00:29:13.539
 I want you

00:29:13.539 --> 00:29:14.059
 to bring about

00:29:14.059 --> 00:29:14.759
 my plan

00:29:14.759 --> 00:29:15.759
 but one day

00:29:15.759 --> 00:29:16.240
 all of us

00:29:16.240 --> 00:29:17.279
 will see God

00:29:17.279 --> 00:29:18.579
 and we'll see

00:29:18.579 --> 00:29:19.599
 the big picture

00:29:19.599 --> 00:29:20.720
 of his plan

00:29:20.720 --> 00:29:21.319
 of salvation

00:29:21.319 --> 00:29:22.319
 spanning through

00:29:22.319 --> 00:29:23.099
 all generations

00:29:23.099 --> 00:29:24.879
 and we will stand

00:29:24.879 --> 00:29:26.000
 there with our

00:29:26.000 --> 00:29:26.480
 chapter

00:29:26.480 --> 00:29:28.019
 our accomplishments

00:29:28.019 --> 00:29:29.220
 the plans

00:29:29.220 --> 00:29:29.559
 that we have

00:29:29.559 --> 00:29:30.279
 carried out

00:29:30.279 --> 00:29:31.960
 and the question

00:29:31.960 --> 00:29:32.720
 will be

00:29:32.720 --> 00:29:34.379
 did they have

00:29:34.379 --> 00:29:35.440
 any part

00:29:35.440 --> 00:29:36.220
 in God's plan

00:29:36.220 --> 00:29:37.539
 how do they

00:29:37.539 --> 00:29:38.039
 fit

00:29:38.039 --> 00:29:38.799
 into the

00:29:38.799 --> 00:29:39.740
 salvation history

00:29:39.740 --> 00:29:42.900
 and let me

00:29:42.900 --> 00:29:43.700
 encourage you

00:29:43.700 --> 00:29:44.680
 as a church

00:29:44.680 --> 00:29:45.680
 that

00:29:45.680 --> 00:29:47.279
 what this text

00:29:47.279 --> 00:29:47.640
 says

00:29:47.640 --> 00:29:48.080
 is something

00:29:48.080 --> 00:29:48.519
 I see

00:29:48.519 --> 00:29:49.259
 all around

00:29:49.259 --> 00:29:49.860
 in this body

00:29:49.860 --> 00:29:50.440
 of believers

00:29:50.440 --> 00:29:52.259
 I see it

00:29:52.259 --> 00:29:52.600
 in the love

00:29:52.600 --> 00:29:52.980
 and care

00:29:52.980 --> 00:29:53.580
 that you show

00:29:53.580 --> 00:29:55.120
 to the ICM kids

00:29:55.120 --> 00:29:56.460
 and how you invite

00:29:56.460 --> 00:29:57.600
 them into God's

00:29:57.600 --> 00:29:58.519
 redemptive work

00:29:58.519 --> 00:30:01.200
 and I see it

00:30:01.200 --> 00:30:01.920
 in the way

00:30:01.920 --> 00:30:02.440
 the community

00:30:02.440 --> 00:30:03.460
 was built here

00:30:03.460 --> 00:30:04.940
 for people

00:30:04.940 --> 00:30:05.559
 to be the hands

00:30:05.559 --> 00:30:06.299
 and feet

00:30:06.299 --> 00:30:07.319
 of Jesus

00:30:07.319 --> 00:30:08.920
 in the St. Barnabas

00:30:08.920 --> 00:30:09.299
 ministry

00:30:09.299 --> 00:30:10.180
 to the homeless

00:30:10.180 --> 00:30:11.639
 to the elderly

00:30:11.639 --> 00:30:12.619
 homes in the area

00:30:12.619 --> 00:30:14.139
 I see it

00:30:14.139 --> 00:30:14.720
 through the guys

00:30:14.720 --> 00:30:15.359
 that have served

00:30:15.359 --> 00:30:15.920
 in the university

00:30:15.920 --> 00:30:16.859
 ministry faithfully

00:30:16.859 --> 00:30:17.879
 and mentored

00:30:17.879 --> 00:30:18.539
 young guys

00:30:18.539 --> 00:30:18.980
 that are lost

00:30:18.980 --> 00:30:19.559
 on their journey

00:30:19.559 --> 00:30:20.500
 and I've seen it

00:30:20.500 --> 00:30:21.940
 everywhere I walk

00:30:21.940 --> 00:30:22.980
 in this church

00:30:22.980 --> 00:30:24.960
 when people

00:30:24.960 --> 00:30:25.639
 leave their

00:30:25.639 --> 00:30:27.099
 own plans

00:30:27.099 --> 00:30:27.599
 behind

00:30:27.599 --> 00:30:29.299
 their own

00:30:29.299 --> 00:30:29.879
 goals

00:30:29.879 --> 00:30:31.039
 and they put

00:30:31.039 --> 00:30:31.559
 them under

00:30:31.559 --> 00:30:32.740
 God's great plan

00:30:32.740 --> 00:30:33.159
 of salvation

00:30:33.159 --> 00:30:33.659
 history

00:30:33.659 --> 00:30:35.500
 so I want to

00:30:35.500 --> 00:30:36.019
 close with

00:30:36.019 --> 00:30:36.859
 this final part

00:30:36.859 --> 00:30:38.039
 of the scripture

00:30:38.039 --> 00:30:38.740
 that we have here

00:30:38.740 --> 00:30:39.899
 so as Abram

00:30:39.899 --> 00:30:40.240
 went

00:30:40.240 --> 00:30:41.059
 as the Lord

00:30:41.059 --> 00:30:41.659
 had told him

00:30:41.659 --> 00:30:42.719
 it says that

00:30:42.719 --> 00:30:43.819
 Abram traveled

00:30:43.819 --> 00:30:44.519
 through the land

00:30:44.519 --> 00:30:45.619
 as far as the

00:30:45.619 --> 00:30:46.119
 side of the

00:30:46.119 --> 00:30:46.639
 great tree

00:30:46.639 --> 00:30:47.139
 of Merah

00:30:47.139 --> 00:30:47.619
 at Shechem

00:30:47.619 --> 00:30:49.819
 at that time

00:30:49.819 --> 00:30:50.379
 the Canaanites

00:30:50.379 --> 00:30:51.019
 were in the land

00:30:51.019 --> 00:30:51.980
 the Lord

00:30:51.980 --> 00:30:52.579
 appeared to Abram

00:30:52.579 --> 00:30:53.039
 and said

00:30:53.039 --> 00:30:54.039
 to your offspring

00:30:54.039 --> 00:30:54.980
 I will give

00:30:54.980 --> 00:30:55.599
 this land

00:30:55.599 --> 00:30:57.179
 so he built

00:30:57.179 --> 00:30:57.959
 an altar

00:30:57.959 --> 00:30:58.299
 there

00:30:58.299 --> 00:30:59.199
 to the Lord

00:30:59.199 --> 00:31:01.019
 who appeared

00:31:01.019 --> 00:31:01.500
 to him

00:31:01.500 --> 00:31:02.839
 from there

00:31:02.839 --> 00:31:03.139
 he went

00:31:03.139 --> 00:31:03.619
 toward the

00:31:03.619 --> 00:31:04.099
 hills east

00:31:04.099 --> 00:31:04.579
 of Bethel

00:31:04.579 --> 00:31:04.939
 and pitched

00:31:04.939 --> 00:31:05.359
 his tents

00:31:05.359 --> 00:31:06.339
 with Bethel

00:31:06.339 --> 00:31:06.899
 on the west

00:31:06.899 --> 00:31:07.259
 and I

00:31:07.259 --> 00:31:08.179
 on the east

00:31:08.179 --> 00:31:08.939
 there he

00:31:08.939 --> 00:31:09.240
 built an

00:31:09.240 --> 00:31:09.519
 altar

00:31:09.519 --> 00:31:10.759
 to the Lord

00:31:10.759 --> 00:31:12.139
 and called

00:31:12.139 --> 00:31:12.559
 on the name

00:31:12.559 --> 00:31:13.099
 of the Lord

00:31:13.099 --> 00:31:14.299
 and then

00:31:14.299 --> 00:31:15.059
 Abram set out

00:31:15.059 --> 00:31:15.679
 and continued

00:31:15.679 --> 00:31:16.819
 toward the

00:31:16.819 --> 00:31:17.259
 Negev

00:31:17.259 --> 00:31:18.379
 so what the

00:31:18.379 --> 00:31:19.619
 text leaves

00:31:19.619 --> 00:31:19.919
 us with

00:31:19.919 --> 00:31:20.539
 as a reminder

00:31:20.539 --> 00:31:21.199
 is that

00:31:21.199 --> 00:31:21.879
 Abram sets

00:31:21.879 --> 00:31:22.199
 on this

00:31:22.199 --> 00:31:22.599
 journey

00:31:22.599 --> 00:31:24.099
 to join

00:31:24.099 --> 00:31:24.539
 in

00:31:24.539 --> 00:31:26.179
 into that

00:31:26.179 --> 00:31:26.799
 great story

00:31:26.799 --> 00:31:27.619
 of God

00:31:27.619 --> 00:31:28.619
 that he

00:31:28.619 --> 00:31:29.000
 built an

00:31:29.000 --> 00:31:29.279
 altar

00:31:29.279 --> 00:31:29.639
 on the

00:31:29.639 --> 00:31:30.019
 way

00:31:30.019 --> 00:31:31.359
 as a

00:31:31.359 --> 00:31:31.639
 reminder

00:31:31.639 --> 00:31:31.959
 that it's

00:31:31.959 --> 00:31:32.259
 not about

00:31:32.259 --> 00:31:32.740
 his glory

00:31:32.740 --> 00:31:33.480
 but about

00:31:33.480 --> 00:31:33.879
 God's

00:31:33.879 --> 00:31:34.219
 glory

00:31:34.219 --> 00:31:35.159
 and so I

00:31:35.159 --> 00:31:35.599
 think about

00:31:35.599 --> 00:31:36.000
 this day

00:31:36.000 --> 00:31:36.279
 when we

00:31:36.279 --> 00:31:36.619
 will stand

00:31:36.619 --> 00:31:36.899
 in front

00:31:36.899 --> 00:31:37.419
 of God

00:31:37.419 --> 00:31:39.099
 and we

00:31:39.099 --> 00:31:39.359
 look at

00:31:39.359 --> 00:31:40.099
 our story

00:31:40.099 --> 00:31:41.000
 and we

00:31:41.000 --> 00:31:41.419
 realize

00:31:41.419 --> 00:31:41.839
 that it's

00:31:41.839 --> 00:31:42.459
 more worth

00:31:42.459 --> 00:31:43.179
 to have a

00:31:43.179 --> 00:31:43.679
 line or

00:31:43.679 --> 00:31:44.059
 even a

00:31:44.059 --> 00:31:44.519
 footnote

00:31:44.519 --> 00:31:45.279
 in the

00:31:45.279 --> 00:31:45.859
 great story

00:31:45.859 --> 00:31:46.419
 of God

00:31:46.419 --> 00:31:47.219
 than having

00:31:47.219 --> 00:31:48.219
 written a

00:31:48.219 --> 00:31:48.740
 great book

00:31:48.740 --> 00:31:49.419
 that brings

00:31:49.419 --> 00:31:49.919
 glory to

00:31:49.919 --> 00:31:50.279
 us

00:31:50.279 --> 00:31:51.319
 we pray

00:31:51.319 --> 00:31:55.159
 Father

00:31:55.159 --> 00:31:56.819
 as we

00:31:56.819 --> 00:31:57.279
 just see

00:31:57.279 --> 00:31:57.679
 your

00:31:57.679 --> 00:31:58.619
 word

00:31:58.619 --> 00:31:59.200
 and

00:31:59.200 --> 00:32:00.339
 as we

00:32:00.339 --> 00:32:00.679
 see

00:32:00.679 --> 00:32:01.099
 your

00:32:01.099 --> 00:32:01.500
 salvation

00:32:01.500 --> 00:32:01.919
 history

00:32:01.919 --> 00:32:02.240
 and your

00:32:02.240 --> 00:32:02.599
 plan

00:32:02.599 --> 00:32:03.200
 we just

00:32:03.200 --> 00:32:03.439
 send it

00:32:03.439 --> 00:32:03.819
 off

00:32:03.819 --> 00:32:05.519
 how you

00:32:05.519 --> 00:32:06.639
 carry out

00:32:06.639 --> 00:32:07.179
 your plan

00:32:07.179 --> 00:32:07.539
 from the

00:32:07.539 --> 00:32:07.839
 beginning

00:32:07.839 --> 00:32:08.460
 of time

00:32:08.460 --> 00:32:08.799
 to the

00:32:08.799 --> 00:32:09.099
 end

00:32:09.099 --> 00:32:10.259
 how you

00:32:10.259 --> 00:32:10.740
 in control

00:32:10.740 --> 00:32:11.220
 even if

00:32:11.220 --> 00:32:11.859
 we don't

00:32:11.859 --> 00:32:12.299
 feel like

00:32:12.299 --> 00:32:12.460
 it

00:32:12.460 --> 00:32:12.740
 and so

00:32:12.740 --> 00:32:12.980
 today

00:32:12.980 --> 00:32:13.460
 we pray

00:32:13.460 --> 00:32:13.839
 that

00:32:13.839 --> 00:32:15.659
 we would

00:32:15.659 --> 00:32:16.000
 hear you

00:32:16.000 --> 00:32:16.399
 speak

00:32:16.399 --> 00:32:17.139
 in

00:32:17.139 --> 00:32:18.039
 whatever

00:32:18.039 --> 00:32:18.519
 way it

00:32:18.519 --> 00:32:18.779
 takes

00:32:18.779 --> 00:32:19.179
 for us

00:32:19.179 --> 00:32:19.659
 to leave

00:32:19.659 --> 00:32:20.039
 our

00:32:20.039 --> 00:32:20.740
 ways

00:32:20.740 --> 00:32:21.179
 behind

00:32:21.180 --> 00:32:21.740
 our

00:32:21.740 --> 00:32:22.080
 dreams

00:32:22.080 --> 00:32:22.380
 behind

00:32:22.380 --> 00:32:22.560
 our

00:32:22.560 --> 00:32:22.920
 plans

00:32:22.920 --> 00:32:23.360
 behind

00:32:23.360 --> 00:32:24.700
 to follow

00:32:24.700 --> 00:32:25.060
 you

00:32:25.060 --> 00:32:25.900
 to join

00:32:25.900 --> 00:32:26.200
 in your

00:32:26.200 --> 00:32:26.460
 great

00:32:26.460 --> 00:32:26.940
 story

00:32:26.940 --> 00:32:28.820
 to see

00:32:28.820 --> 00:32:30.279
 that this

00:32:30.279 --> 00:32:30.640
 is all

00:32:30.640 --> 00:32:31.080
 about your

00:32:31.080 --> 00:32:31.539
 history

00:32:31.539 --> 00:32:32.759
 of saving

00:32:32.759 --> 00:32:33.840
 everything

00:32:33.840 --> 00:32:34.779
 and redeeming

00:32:34.779 --> 00:32:35.500
 everything

00:32:35.500 --> 00:32:36.380
 to yourself

00:32:36.380 --> 00:32:38.019
 and we

00:32:38.019 --> 00:32:38.360
 thank you

00:32:38.360 --> 00:32:39.480
 that we

00:32:39.480 --> 00:32:39.960
 see that

00:32:39.960 --> 00:32:40.420
 in you

00:32:40.420 --> 00:32:40.840
 coming to

00:32:40.840 --> 00:32:41.360
 this world

00:32:41.360 --> 00:32:42.580
 and that

00:32:42.580 --> 00:32:42.820
 in your

00:32:42.820 --> 00:32:43.220
 dying on

00:32:43.220 --> 00:32:43.740
 the cross

00:32:43.740 --> 00:32:44.740
 you have

00:32:44.740 --> 00:32:45.220
 shown the

00:32:45.220 --> 00:32:45.640
 greatest

00:32:45.640 --> 00:32:46.759
 sign of

00:32:46.759 --> 00:32:47.400
 what it

00:32:47.400 --> 00:32:47.759
 means for

00:32:47.759 --> 00:32:48.680
 you to

00:32:48.680 --> 00:32:48.940
 lay down

00:32:48.940 --> 00:32:49.240
 everything

00:32:49.240 --> 00:32:49.840
 to redeem

00:32:49.840 --> 00:32:50.279
 us

00:32:50.279 --> 00:32:50.920
 that

00:32:50.920 --> 00:32:51.099
 your

00:32:51.099 --> 00:32:51.420
 plan

00:32:51.420 --> 00:32:51.599
 is

00:32:51.599 --> 00:32:51.940
 about

00:32:51.940 --> 00:32:52.720
 redeeming

00:32:52.720 --> 00:32:53.019
 us

00:32:53.019 --> 00:32:53.539
 and pray

00:32:53.539 --> 00:32:53.720
 this

00:32:53.720 --> 00:32:53.839
 in

00:32:53.839 --> 00:32:54.180
 Christ's

00:32:54.180 --> 00:32:54.379
 name

00:32:54.379 --> 00:32:54.980
 and

00:32:54.980 --> 00:32:56.940
 that

00:32:56.940 --> 00:33:01.039
 will

00:33:01.039 --> 00:33:12.940
 fight