WEBVTT

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 how good is the gospel?

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 That is the good news of who God is and what he's done in Jesus.

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 How good is God?

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 Because God is the gospel.

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 God is the good news.

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 But I guess the question is, is he good news in your life?

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 Now, we know what the answer should be, or at least the gist of it.

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 You know, he's great.

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 He changes everything.

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 I wake up every morning singing psalms of joy.

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 But is God in reality making a difference to your anxiety or your fear?

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 Is God in reality satisfying you, filling you with joy?

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 Is he so good that you can't help but tell other people about him?

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 Is he so good that you're busting to tell your non-Christian friends about Jesus

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 because you know he's the answer to the questions that they're asking?

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 Again, we know the answer should be yes.

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 But for many of us, that's not our day-to-day experience of following Jesus.

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 We read in the New Testament that the fruit of the Spirit,

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 that is the fruit of God's presence in our lives,

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 is love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, self-control.

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 But then we live lives marked by fear, anxiety, worry, anger, hurry, and depression.

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 Why the gap?

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 Well, I want to suggest two possible reasons.

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 Firstly, we don't actually know the gospel that we claim to believe.

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 Now, we know about Jesus,

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 but we don't actually understand who he is or what he did

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 and how that changes everything.

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 Or, second reason,

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 we don't actually believe the gospel that we claim to believe.

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 So we say we believe we've forgiven,

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 but then when we sin,

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 we're crushed by guilt

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 and we feel like we can't pray or read our Bible to God

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 until we've kind of done some good deeds to balance the ledger.

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 We say we believe that God's in control,

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 but we are dominated by fear and anxiety

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 and the apparent instability and uncertainty of our lives.

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 The message that we carry,

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 the centre of our mission,

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 the message we have heard and responded to,

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 if you're a Christian,

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 is good news for us,

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 but first, it's good news about God.

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 Which is then, because of God, good news for us,

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 but at its core,

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 the gospel message,

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 the good news,

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 is good news about God

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 because God himself is the gospel.

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 And so much of our Christianity,

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 so much of our faith,

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 so much of following Jesus

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 and our church culture suffers

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 because we skip what is first and most important

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 and instead focus just on how

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 and if the gospel is good news for me,

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 good news for my circumstance,

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 and we miss the goodness of a God

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 who is the very definition of good.

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 We focus on the results of the gospel

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 rather than its foundation and power.

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 So we measure the goodness of God,

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 we measure the goodness of following God

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 based on the circumstances of my life

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 rather than measuring the circumstances of my life

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 and the goodness of them

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 based on the immovable goodness

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 of God's incredible character and faithfulness.

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 We focus on the results and miss the foundation.

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 Now, just to be clear, there are results.

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 The gospel works.

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 The gospel does something in your life,

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 but if you start there and you focus there first,

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 you miss the power of the God

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 who brings the results

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 and brings the transformation,

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 and then when you miss that power,

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 you don't actually get the transformation.

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 If all you're looking for is the result and change,

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 you miss it.

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 What I want to do this morning

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 is take us back to our roots,

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 to the gospel,

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 to what it means to believe in and follow Jesus.

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 If you're a Christian,

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 this is the immovable foundation

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 that we must never depart from.

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 You will never graduate this.

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 You might think,

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 gospel, I've got this,

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 I've heard it,

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 I know this,

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 but we need to hear this and hear it again

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 because this is everything.

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 If you're not a Christian,

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 first off, I'm just glad you're here.

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 I'm glad you are in the room.

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 I want to tell you,

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 this is what we believe as Christians.

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 This is the message of the gospel.

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 This is what it means to believe,

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 and it's yours to decide what you do with it.

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 But I firmly believe

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 that in the gospel,

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 you will encounter a God who is better

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 and more generous and more loving

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 than you ever imagined.

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 So let's get stuck into the passage.

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 We're going to open up in Luke 18,

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 which is one of the biographies of Jesus.

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 And in chapter 18,

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 we find a number of parables.

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 In fact, I think Steve opened up

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 the parable of assistant widow last week

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 from this same passage.

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 Parables are stories that Jesus tells

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 to give us a glimpse of himself

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 and the nature of what it is

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 that he is doing in the world.

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 And this short story,

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 just a few verses,

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 gives us the core

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 of what it means to be a Christian

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 and certainly the heart of the message

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 of what you believe and preach

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 here as a church at St. Paul's.

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 So let me run back through this passage with you

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 and pick out the main bits.

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 First off,

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 you've got two people going to pray.

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 Two very different people,

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 but they're both going to pray.

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 On one side,

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 you've got the Pharisee.

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 Now, just to be clear,

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 in this story,

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 the Pharisee is the good guy.

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 We're so trained in hearing this

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 that we kind of skip to the end

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 and go,

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 I know how this plays out,

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 the Pharisee's bad,

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 but actually in the story,

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 the Pharisee is the good guy.

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 He's done the good things.

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 He has a resume of goodness

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 that he brings to this story.

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 I mean, the Pharisees in Jesus' day

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 were the guys who worked hard to be good.

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 They kept all the rules

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 that you and I try and keep

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 as followers of Jesus

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 and the ones that we've given up

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 and said they're completely unattainable.

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 If you knew them now,

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 you would look at them

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 and be impressed.

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 On the other side,

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 we have a tax collector.

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 This is the bad guy in the story.

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 Don't think employee of the ATO.

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 Think qualified,

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 military-sanctioned thief.

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 In Jesus' day,

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 tax collectors had military backing

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 and clout

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 to not only collect the actual taxes

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 they were supposed to collect,

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 but also,

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 on top of that,

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 whatever they wanted for themselves.

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 So they got rich,

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 ripping off their neighbours

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 and friends

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 and countrymen.

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 They were universally hated.

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 Think kind of like

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 a parking ticket inspector.

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 Have you ever seen somebody

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 put a parking ticket

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 under your windscreen wiper

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 as you got back

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 just too late

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 and thought,

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 I'm so glad

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 that they are fulfilling

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 their duties

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 with faithfulness.

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 You probably have

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 some less spiritual thoughts

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 at that moment.

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 That's the tax collector.

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 So everybody listening

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 to this story

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 is clear on who

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 the good guy is

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 and who the bad guy is

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 and they're thinking,

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 we know where this story

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 is going to go.

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 This story is going to end well

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 for the good guy

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 because Jesus is supposed

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 to be the good guy.

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 They expect

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 if they're both going to pray,

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 God's going to hear

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 the good guy's prayers.

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 In fact,

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 the moral of the story

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 might be something like

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 the tax collector

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 misses out

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 and so be good

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 so God hears your prayers.

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 But that's not where it goes.

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 Jesus finishes

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 in verse 14 there,

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 I tell you,

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 this man went down

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 to his house,

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 pointing to the tax collector,

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 this man went down

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 to his house justified

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 rather than the other

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 for everyone who exalts himself

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 will be humbled

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 but the one who humbles himself

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 will be exalted.

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 So two people go to pray

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 but the tax collector

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 goes home justified

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 and only the tax collector,

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 not the good guy.

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 So how do we make sense

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 of this story?

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 Let me show you two things

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 that the story teaches us.

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 First one,

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 we all need mercy.

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 We all need mercy.

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 In 2006,

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 which is getting to be

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 quite a while ago,

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 a documentary was released

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 starring the former

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 United States Vice President

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 Al Gore.

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 It chronicled his attempt

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 to raise awareness

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 of the dangers

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 of global warming

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 and the need for a change

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 in the way that humanity lives

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 and uses the planet.

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 It was titled

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 An Inconvenient Truth.

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 There's been a sequel

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 because no one wanted to hear

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 that inconvenient truth.

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 No one wanted to believe him

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 regardless of what evidence

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 he put out,

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 regardless of what evidence

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 has come since

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 because if it was true,

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 it meant that there would be

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 a loss of money,

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 a loss of lifestyle,

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 that there would be

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 painful change

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 and to put it bluntly,

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 no one could be bothered.

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 In the same way,

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 at the core of the gospel message,

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 the message of this story

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 that Jesus shares

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 is an inconvenient truth.

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 Namely,

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 that we are all sinners

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 who deserve God's punishment.

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 That's uncomfortable to hear.

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 Something the Bible teaches us

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 repeatedly is that

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 the issue with our world

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 is that people,

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 all people,

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 sin.

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 Romans 3.23 says,

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 all have sinned

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 and fall short

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 of the glory of God.

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 Now again,

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 pay attention.

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 Notice it says,

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 all have sinned.

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 The Pharisee,

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 the tax collector,

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 me,

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 you,

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 all have sinned.

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 And so even as we speak

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 the gospel,

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 as we go on mission

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 to speak about Jesus

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 to a world

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 that doesn't want to hear

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 that it is a sinful world

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 in need of mercy,

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 we must do it

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 with humility

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 and self-awareness

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 that knows

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 that that inconvenient,

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 uncomfortable truth

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 is true for us too.

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 We need mercy.

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 All the hurt

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 and pain

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 and brokenness

00:10:20.899 --> 00:10:22.059
 we are surrounded by

00:10:22.059 --> 00:10:22.799
 and experience

00:10:22.799 --> 00:10:23.459
 in our lives

00:10:23.459 --> 00:10:25.100
 is the result of sin.

00:10:26.980 --> 00:10:28.159
 But what is sin?

00:10:29.559 --> 00:10:30.699
 Because when the world

00:10:30.699 --> 00:10:31.639
 hears Christians

00:10:31.639 --> 00:10:32.279
 say something

00:10:32.279 --> 00:10:32.899
 is sin,

00:10:33.259 --> 00:10:34.519
 they know it's not good,

00:10:35.240 --> 00:10:35.879
 but what does it

00:10:35.879 --> 00:10:36.699
 actually mean?

00:10:38.879 --> 00:10:39.919
 Because often people

00:10:39.919 --> 00:10:40.759
 inside the church

00:10:40.759 --> 00:10:42.019
 and outside the church

00:10:42.019 --> 00:10:43.299
 tend to think of sin

00:10:43.299 --> 00:10:44.659
 as a list of naughty things

00:10:44.659 --> 00:10:46.079
 that we're not supposed to do,

00:10:46.500 --> 00:10:47.439
 that we're to avoid

00:10:47.439 --> 00:10:48.259
 if we want God

00:10:48.259 --> 00:10:48.819
 to love us.

00:10:48.899 --> 00:10:50.039
 And with that misconception

00:10:50.039 --> 00:10:51.819
 comes the understandable

00:10:51.819 --> 00:10:52.659
 offence

00:10:52.659 --> 00:10:53.860
 when something

00:10:53.860 --> 00:10:54.699
 is called a sin.

00:10:55.379 --> 00:10:56.379
 Because it has this

00:10:56.379 --> 00:10:57.299
 self-righteous

00:10:57.299 --> 00:10:58.839
 be more like us vibe,

00:10:58.919 --> 00:10:59.860
 don't do that thing,

00:10:59.939 --> 00:11:00.699
 do what we do.

00:11:02.279 --> 00:11:03.339
 And nobody wants that.

00:11:04.379 --> 00:11:05.519
 Nobody wants to be told

00:11:05.519 --> 00:11:06.419
 they're not as good.

00:11:07.319 --> 00:11:08.259
 Nobody wants to be told

00:11:08.259 --> 00:11:09.159
 they're less than.

00:11:10.120 --> 00:11:10.919
 And when we do that,

00:11:11.039 --> 00:11:12.559
 sin becomes this competition,

00:11:13.079 --> 00:11:14.279
 this comparison sport,

00:11:14.360 --> 00:11:15.220
 which is exactly

00:11:15.220 --> 00:11:16.360
 what is happening

00:11:16.360 --> 00:11:17.139
 in this story

00:11:17.139 --> 00:11:18.039
 between the Pharisee

00:11:18.039 --> 00:11:18.860
 and the tax collector.

00:11:18.860 --> 00:11:22.460
 The Pharisee looks

00:11:22.460 --> 00:11:24.080
 at the bad guy

00:11:24.080 --> 00:11:25.659
 and figures,

00:11:25.800 --> 00:11:26.519
 by comparison,

00:11:26.720 --> 00:11:27.600
 he must be

00:11:27.600 --> 00:11:28.659
 a good guy.

00:11:29.759 --> 00:11:30.399
 But that's not

00:11:30.399 --> 00:11:31.560
 what the Bible means

00:11:31.560 --> 00:11:32.519
 when it talks about

00:11:32.519 --> 00:11:32.720
 it.

00:11:32.720 --> 00:11:34.180
 It uses the word sin.

00:11:35.360 --> 00:11:35.759
 In fact,

00:11:35.820 --> 00:11:37.000
 the story Jesus told,

00:11:37.100 --> 00:11:38.120
 you've got two guys

00:11:38.120 --> 00:11:38.940
 that are clearly

00:11:38.940 --> 00:11:39.680
 being set up

00:11:39.680 --> 00:11:40.919
 against each other,

00:11:40.980 --> 00:11:42.440
 as opposite alternatives.

00:11:42.899 --> 00:11:43.680
 And if sin

00:11:43.680 --> 00:11:44.519
 is merely a list

00:11:44.519 --> 00:11:45.840
 of things you shouldn't do

00:11:45.840 --> 00:11:46.700
 or good things

00:11:46.700 --> 00:11:47.539
 you should have done,

00:11:47.539 --> 00:11:49.059
 then the story makes no sense.

00:11:49.399 --> 00:11:50.519
 Because the Pharisee

00:11:50.519 --> 00:11:51.219
 is the good guy

00:11:51.219 --> 00:11:52.240
 who's done good things

00:11:52.240 --> 00:11:53.120
 and the tax collector

00:11:53.120 --> 00:11:53.959
 is the bad guy

00:11:53.959 --> 00:11:55.579
 who's done bad things.

00:11:57.959 --> 00:11:58.860
 But notice

00:11:58.860 --> 00:12:00.179
 what the tax collector

00:12:00.179 --> 00:12:00.779
 prays.

00:12:03.319 --> 00:12:04.419
 He says,

00:12:04.779 --> 00:12:06.500
 have mercy on me,

00:12:07.419 --> 00:12:08.679
 a sinner.

00:12:11.079 --> 00:12:14.519
 Sin is an identity marker.

00:12:14.519 --> 00:12:19.059
 Sin is a relational category.

00:12:20.100 --> 00:12:21.179
 It describes

00:12:21.179 --> 00:12:22.399
 your relationship

00:12:22.399 --> 00:12:23.139
 to God.

00:12:23.819 --> 00:12:24.000
 See,

00:12:24.059 --> 00:12:24.860
 when sin enters

00:12:24.860 --> 00:12:25.860
 the human story

00:12:25.860 --> 00:12:26.679
 back in the beginning

00:12:26.679 --> 00:12:27.259
 of the Bible,

00:12:27.340 --> 00:12:28.740
 the infamous forbidden fruit,

00:12:29.159 --> 00:12:30.279
 in that moment,

00:12:30.740 --> 00:12:31.759
 not only are they

00:12:31.759 --> 00:12:33.600
 disobeying God

00:12:33.600 --> 00:12:34.079
 and a rule

00:12:34.079 --> 00:12:34.939
 that he gave them,

00:12:35.000 --> 00:12:36.220
 what they're saying is,

00:12:36.559 --> 00:12:36.840
 God,

00:12:36.939 --> 00:12:38.439
 you don't get to decide

00:12:38.439 --> 00:12:39.480
 what's right and wrong,

00:12:39.579 --> 00:12:40.000
 we do.

00:12:40.899 --> 00:12:42.159
 So they look at the fruit,

00:12:42.759 --> 00:12:43.579
 it looks good,

00:12:43.580 --> 00:12:44.460
 and so instead

00:12:44.460 --> 00:12:45.580
 of listening to God,

00:12:45.740 --> 00:12:46.120
 they figure,

00:12:46.440 --> 00:12:47.220
 we know best,

00:12:47.820 --> 00:12:49.120
 our way makes more sense

00:12:49.120 --> 00:12:50.120
 than yours does

00:12:50.120 --> 00:12:50.940
 and so they do

00:12:50.940 --> 00:12:51.639
 what they want to do.

00:12:52.960 --> 00:12:53.300
 Now,

00:12:53.379 --> 00:12:54.300
 that's not just

00:12:54.300 --> 00:12:55.139
 naughty

00:12:55.139 --> 00:12:58.500
 or wrong,

00:12:58.920 --> 00:13:00.420
 it's actually

00:13:00.420 --> 00:13:01.700
 a break in relationship.

00:13:03.139 --> 00:13:04.340
 It's a rejection

00:13:04.340 --> 00:13:05.340
 of God.

00:13:06.960 --> 00:13:07.160
 See,

00:13:07.220 --> 00:13:07.900
 we either do

00:13:07.900 --> 00:13:08.700
 what God says

00:13:08.700 --> 00:13:10.060
 and enjoy all the benefits

00:13:10.060 --> 00:13:10.740
 of that

00:13:10.740 --> 00:13:12.399
 or we reject him

00:13:12.399 --> 00:13:12.940
 and we live

00:13:12.940 --> 00:13:13.919
 with the consequences.

00:13:14.480 --> 00:13:15.700
 That's what sin is.

00:13:16.840 --> 00:13:17.759
 It's rejecting

00:13:17.759 --> 00:13:18.620
 God

00:13:18.620 --> 00:13:19.440
 and his right

00:13:19.440 --> 00:13:19.899
 to rule

00:13:19.899 --> 00:13:20.620
 and as a result,

00:13:20.720 --> 00:13:21.560
 we find ourselves

00:13:21.560 --> 00:13:23.039
 alienated from him

00:13:23.039 --> 00:13:24.120
 and deserving

00:13:24.120 --> 00:13:25.360
 of his judgment.

00:13:25.659 --> 00:13:26.180
 And again,

00:13:26.620 --> 00:13:27.659
 that's every

00:13:27.659 --> 00:13:28.740
 one of us.

00:13:30.240 --> 00:13:31.580
 Not bad people

00:13:31.580 --> 00:13:32.159
 out there,

00:13:32.340 --> 00:13:33.360
 good people in here,

00:13:33.620 --> 00:13:34.600
 all sinners,

00:13:35.240 --> 00:13:36.440
 all in need

00:13:36.440 --> 00:13:37.200
 of mercy.

00:13:37.980 --> 00:13:38.759
 And here's the thing,

00:13:38.759 --> 00:13:39.740
 we actually know that.

00:13:42.379 --> 00:13:43.220
 Whether you're

00:13:43.220 --> 00:13:44.279
 a Christian or not

00:13:44.279 --> 00:13:45.019
 in this room,

00:13:45.620 --> 00:13:46.340
 you know it.

00:13:47.500 --> 00:13:48.379
 Our world

00:13:48.379 --> 00:13:49.059
 and our lives

00:13:49.059 --> 00:13:49.559
 are marked

00:13:49.559 --> 00:13:50.799
 by a restlessness.

00:13:52.179 --> 00:13:53.019
 So much

00:13:53.019 --> 00:13:53.740
 of our division

00:13:53.740 --> 00:13:54.480
 is fuelled

00:13:54.480 --> 00:13:55.259
 by fear

00:13:55.259 --> 00:13:56.340
 and a need

00:13:56.340 --> 00:13:56.840
 for some

00:13:56.840 --> 00:13:58.439
 external validation

00:13:58.439 --> 00:13:59.299
 of who we are

00:13:59.299 --> 00:14:00.080
 and how we live.

00:14:00.840 --> 00:14:01.819
 We talk

00:14:01.819 --> 00:14:02.659
 like we're independent,

00:14:03.200 --> 00:14:04.000
 like we need

00:14:04.000 --> 00:14:04.500
 no one,

00:14:04.559 --> 00:14:05.460
 like others' opinions

00:14:05.460 --> 00:14:06.259
 doesn't matter,

00:14:06.580 --> 00:14:07.340
 you do you.

00:14:07.340 --> 00:14:10.980
 follow your heart.

00:14:13.019 --> 00:14:14.519
 But the insecurity

00:14:14.519 --> 00:14:15.440
 that we feel,

00:14:15.879 --> 00:14:16.759
 the offence

00:14:16.759 --> 00:14:17.440
 we feel

00:14:17.440 --> 00:14:17.920
 when someone

00:14:17.920 --> 00:14:19.040
 questions us

00:14:19.040 --> 00:14:19.860
 doing us

00:14:19.860 --> 00:14:20.759
 is evidence

00:14:20.759 --> 00:14:21.639
 that the choices

00:14:21.639 --> 00:14:22.440
 that we're making

00:14:22.440 --> 00:14:23.420
 are not dealing

00:14:23.420 --> 00:14:24.379
 with the restlessness.

00:14:26.759 --> 00:14:27.379
 Redefining

00:14:27.379 --> 00:14:28.120
 right and wrong

00:14:28.120 --> 00:14:28.940
 hasn't delivered

00:14:28.940 --> 00:14:29.540
 the peace

00:14:29.540 --> 00:14:30.240
 that it promised

00:14:30.240 --> 00:14:30.680
 it would.

00:14:32.540 --> 00:14:33.420
 We still

00:14:33.420 --> 00:14:34.139
 clearly long

00:14:34.139 --> 00:14:34.560
 for that

00:14:34.560 --> 00:14:36.160
 external approval.

00:14:37.340 --> 00:14:38.860
 And so sin,

00:14:39.240 --> 00:14:39.759
 that is,

00:14:39.820 --> 00:14:40.460
 our separation

00:14:40.460 --> 00:14:40.960
 from God,

00:14:41.040 --> 00:14:41.639
 our opposition

00:14:41.639 --> 00:14:42.300
 to Him,

00:14:42.620 --> 00:14:43.960
 is the problem.

00:14:44.980 --> 00:14:45.840
 And when you hear

00:14:45.840 --> 00:14:46.639
 the Bible say

00:14:46.639 --> 00:14:47.500
 that you are a sinner,

00:14:47.899 --> 00:14:48.759
 don't be offended

00:14:48.759 --> 00:14:49.580
 because it's calling

00:14:49.580 --> 00:14:50.860
 out a specific action

00:14:50.860 --> 00:14:51.740
 in your life

00:14:51.740 --> 00:14:52.540
 or a lifestyle

00:14:52.540 --> 00:14:53.500
 or an orientation.

00:14:53.840 --> 00:14:54.879
 It's bigger than that.

00:14:56.759 --> 00:14:57.700
 When you hear

00:14:57.700 --> 00:14:58.840
 Jesus tell this story,

00:14:58.940 --> 00:14:59.540
 when you hear

00:14:59.540 --> 00:15:01.259
 the tax collector

00:15:01.259 --> 00:15:02.160
 who recognizes

00:15:02.160 --> 00:15:03.060
 his identity

00:15:03.060 --> 00:15:03.759
 as a sinner,

00:15:03.980 --> 00:15:04.980
 as the good one,

00:15:05.019 --> 00:15:05.940
 as the justified one,

00:15:05.940 --> 00:15:06.700
 when the Bible says

00:15:06.700 --> 00:15:07.940
 that you are a sinner,

00:15:08.420 --> 00:15:09.460
 it is not saying

00:15:09.460 --> 00:15:10.720
 you do things

00:15:10.720 --> 00:15:11.420
 that are wrong.

00:15:13.260 --> 00:15:14.200
 It is saying

00:15:14.200 --> 00:15:15.160
 you are an enemy

00:15:15.160 --> 00:15:15.640
 of God

00:15:15.640 --> 00:15:16.720
 in need of His mercy.

00:15:18.300 --> 00:15:19.160
 Not based

00:15:19.160 --> 00:15:20.060
 on your sexuality

00:15:20.060 --> 00:15:20.960
 or any other number

00:15:20.960 --> 00:15:22.180
 of hot-button topics,

00:15:22.600 --> 00:15:23.840
 but because you reject

00:15:23.840 --> 00:15:24.540
 the God

00:15:24.540 --> 00:15:25.560
 who made you.

00:15:27.040 --> 00:15:28.300
 Back in the garden again,

00:15:28.360 --> 00:15:28.780
 Adam and Eve

00:15:28.780 --> 00:15:29.480
 didn't get in trouble

00:15:29.480 --> 00:15:30.460
 for eating the fruit.

00:15:30.560 --> 00:15:31.240
 They got in trouble

00:15:31.240 --> 00:15:32.380
 because eating the fruit

00:15:32.380 --> 00:15:33.360
 was their way of saying,

00:15:33.360 --> 00:15:34.460
 God, we want your job.

00:15:35.519 --> 00:15:36.500
 We want to be in charge.

00:15:36.639 --> 00:15:37.340
 We want to choose

00:15:37.340 --> 00:15:37.980
 right and wrong.

00:15:38.560 --> 00:15:39.220
 And the gospel

00:15:39.220 --> 00:15:40.100
 is uncomfortable

00:15:40.100 --> 00:15:41.259
 and maybe even offensive,

00:15:42.080 --> 00:15:43.120
 but not in the way

00:15:43.120 --> 00:15:44.480
 people are usually offended.

00:15:45.580 --> 00:15:46.919
 If you hear right,

00:15:48.139 --> 00:15:49.200
 the gospel message

00:15:49.200 --> 00:15:49.980
 is a bunch

00:15:49.980 --> 00:15:51.159
 of forgiven sinners,

00:15:51.620 --> 00:15:52.639
 that is sinners

00:15:52.639 --> 00:15:54.379
 who have received mercy,

00:15:54.899 --> 00:15:55.600
 telling a bunch

00:15:55.600 --> 00:15:57.259
 of not yet forgiven sinners

00:15:57.259 --> 00:15:58.180
 that they need

00:15:58.180 --> 00:15:59.420
 to receive mercy

00:15:59.420 --> 00:16:00.019
 as well.

00:16:00.019 --> 00:16:03.000
 And the crazy good part

00:16:03.000 --> 00:16:04.019
 of the gospel message

00:16:04.019 --> 00:16:04.960
 and this story

00:16:04.960 --> 00:16:06.379
 is that God provides

00:16:06.379 --> 00:16:07.299
 the mercy we need

00:16:07.299 --> 00:16:08.699
 even though we don't deserve it.

00:16:09.379 --> 00:16:10.559
 That's the whole point

00:16:10.559 --> 00:16:11.279
 of this story.

00:16:12.399 --> 00:16:14.519
 God offers mercy.

00:16:15.579 --> 00:16:16.419
 So the tax collector

00:16:16.419 --> 00:16:17.559
 asks for mercy

00:16:17.559 --> 00:16:19.059
 and goes home justified.

00:16:20.679 --> 00:16:21.360
 That is,

00:16:21.419 --> 00:16:22.419
 he's declared innocent,

00:16:22.620 --> 00:16:23.639
 his guilt is gone,

00:16:23.740 --> 00:16:24.379
 he's forgiven,

00:16:24.579 --> 00:16:25.079
 he's loved,

00:16:25.179 --> 00:16:26.139
 he's brought into the family.

00:16:26.279 --> 00:16:26.579
 Why?

00:16:27.199 --> 00:16:27.579
 How?

00:16:27.580 --> 00:16:30.700
 Because he asks God

00:16:30.700 --> 00:16:31.520
 for what he needs.

00:16:33.100 --> 00:16:34.000
 If anything,

00:16:34.259 --> 00:16:36.080
 this is the scandalous part

00:16:36.080 --> 00:16:36.680
 of the gospel.

00:16:37.660 --> 00:16:38.820
 Not that the gospel

00:16:38.820 --> 00:16:39.680
 calls you out

00:16:39.680 --> 00:16:40.700
 as the one

00:16:40.700 --> 00:16:42.040
 who has rejected God,

00:16:42.580 --> 00:16:44.320
 but that despite that,

00:16:44.420 --> 00:16:45.520
 God seeing you

00:16:45.520 --> 00:16:46.460
 and knowing everything

00:16:46.460 --> 00:16:47.120
 about you,

00:16:47.200 --> 00:16:48.040
 knowing your deepest,

00:16:48.300 --> 00:16:49.060
 darkest secrets,

00:16:49.220 --> 00:16:50.540
 your hidden guilt

00:16:50.540 --> 00:16:51.240
 and shame,

00:16:51.320 --> 00:16:52.220
 the things you hope

00:16:52.220 --> 00:16:53.420
 no one ever finds out

00:16:53.420 --> 00:16:53.860
 about you,

00:16:54.120 --> 00:16:55.220
 seeing all of that,

00:16:55.340 --> 00:16:56.720
 knowing you've rejected him

00:16:56.720 --> 00:17:00.240
 and still offers mercy

00:17:00.240 --> 00:17:02.639
 and love to all who ask.

00:17:05.220 --> 00:17:06.519
 I've been following Jesus

00:17:06.519 --> 00:17:08.079
 for 26 years now

00:17:08.079 --> 00:17:10.380
 and this still blows my mind.

00:17:11.720 --> 00:17:13.019
 I don't care if you've been

00:17:13.019 --> 00:17:14.220
 a Christian for a week

00:17:14.220 --> 00:17:16.140
 or for your whole life.

00:17:17.319 --> 00:17:19.779
 This is a scandal.

00:17:21.500 --> 00:17:22.920
 God knows you.

00:17:22.920 --> 00:17:25.920
 You need mercy.

00:17:26.060 --> 00:17:27.580
 You don't deserve mercy

00:17:27.580 --> 00:17:30.759
 and yet he offers mercy.

00:17:34.180 --> 00:17:35.300
 It's even on offer

00:17:35.300 --> 00:17:36.200
 for the Pharisee.

00:17:37.400 --> 00:17:37.560
 I mean,

00:17:37.600 --> 00:17:38.480
 God is so good

00:17:38.480 --> 00:17:39.279
 and so generous

00:17:39.279 --> 00:17:39.960
 that his grace

00:17:39.960 --> 00:17:41.120
 is enough for anyone.

00:17:42.140 --> 00:17:43.440
 For the tax collector,

00:17:43.600 --> 00:17:44.220
 for the liar,

00:17:44.340 --> 00:17:44.920
 for the racist,

00:17:45.100 --> 00:17:45.600
 for the thief,

00:17:45.700 --> 00:17:46.240
 for the murderer,

00:17:46.360 --> 00:17:47.240
 for the adulterer,

00:17:47.420 --> 00:17:48.300
 even for me

00:17:48.299 --> 00:17:51.159
 and even for you.

00:17:52.919 --> 00:17:54.779
 The reason the Pharisee

00:17:54.779 --> 00:17:55.579
 misses out

00:17:55.579 --> 00:17:56.799
 on God's mercy

00:17:56.799 --> 00:17:57.339
 and grace

00:17:57.339 --> 00:17:58.299
 in this story,

00:17:58.779 --> 00:17:59.899
 the reason anyone

00:17:59.899 --> 00:18:00.659
 misses out

00:18:00.659 --> 00:18:01.359
 on the mercy

00:18:01.359 --> 00:18:02.539
 and grace of God

00:18:02.539 --> 00:18:03.319
 in the gospel

00:18:03.319 --> 00:18:04.779
 is not because

00:18:04.779 --> 00:18:05.740
 they are worse

00:18:05.740 --> 00:18:08.899
 but because

00:18:08.899 --> 00:18:09.779
 they are unable

00:18:09.779 --> 00:18:10.579
 or unwilling

00:18:10.579 --> 00:18:11.460
 to recognize

00:18:11.460 --> 00:18:12.480
 that they too

00:18:12.480 --> 00:18:13.159
 are a sinner

00:18:13.159 --> 00:18:14.940
 in need of mercy.

00:18:14.940 --> 00:18:17.759
 One of my favorite

00:18:17.759 --> 00:18:18.940
 old TV shows

00:18:18.940 --> 00:18:19.860
 and I'm dating myself

00:18:19.860 --> 00:18:20.480
 although it's back

00:18:20.480 --> 00:18:21.180
 on Netflix now

00:18:21.180 --> 00:18:21.900
 is The Simpsons

00:18:21.900 --> 00:18:23.400
 and there's this

00:18:23.400 --> 00:18:24.400
 amazing episode

00:18:24.400 --> 00:18:25.480
 of The Simpsons

00:18:25.480 --> 00:18:26.600
 where Homer,

00:18:26.779 --> 00:18:28.620
 the dad kind of character

00:18:28.620 --> 00:18:29.220
 is,

00:18:29.420 --> 00:18:30.440
 and this is classic him,

00:18:30.500 --> 00:18:31.500
 he's driven by impulse,

00:18:31.580 --> 00:18:32.279
 led by his stomach,

00:18:32.660 --> 00:18:33.420
 he gets his arms

00:18:33.420 --> 00:18:34.519
 stuck in a vending machine

00:18:34.519 --> 00:18:36.759
 and a rescue crew

00:18:36.759 --> 00:18:37.480
 is called in

00:18:37.480 --> 00:18:38.539
 to kind of help him

00:18:38.539 --> 00:18:39.400
 get his arms out

00:18:39.400 --> 00:18:40.580
 and they're sitting there

00:18:40.580 --> 00:18:41.279
 strategizing,

00:18:41.380 --> 00:18:41.980
 trying to figure out

00:18:41.980 --> 00:18:42.980
 how they can do it

00:18:42.980 --> 00:18:44.420
 and then suddenly

00:18:44.420 --> 00:18:45.079
 one of them

00:18:45.079 --> 00:18:46.299
 realizes and asks

00:18:46.299 --> 00:18:46.640
 and says,

00:18:46.920 --> 00:18:47.620
 Mr. Simpson,

00:18:48.220 --> 00:18:49.200
 are you still holding

00:18:49.200 --> 00:18:49.960
 on to the food

00:18:49.960 --> 00:18:51.519
 in the vending machine?

00:18:53.039 --> 00:18:54.400
 To which he sheepishly

00:18:54.400 --> 00:18:54.920
 releases

00:18:54.920 --> 00:18:56.360
 and takes his arms out.

00:18:56.440 --> 00:18:57.880
 He is able to be free

00:18:57.880 --> 00:18:59.559
 from his trap

00:18:59.559 --> 00:19:01.160
 if he lets go

00:19:01.160 --> 00:19:01.940
 of the food

00:19:01.940 --> 00:19:02.799
 that is inside.

00:19:02.940 --> 00:19:03.900
 This is a picture

00:19:03.900 --> 00:19:06.079
 of how we engage

00:19:06.079 --> 00:19:06.740
 the grace

00:19:06.740 --> 00:19:08.319
 that God offers us.

00:19:09.880 --> 00:19:10.759
 We are trapped

00:19:10.759 --> 00:19:11.440
 in the habit

00:19:11.440 --> 00:19:13.039
 of trying to bring

00:19:13.039 --> 00:19:14.100
 something to God,

00:19:14.880 --> 00:19:16.000
 trying to present

00:19:16.000 --> 00:19:17.080
 this resume

00:19:17.080 --> 00:19:18.299
 of how good we are,

00:19:18.400 --> 00:19:19.480
 how worthy we are.

00:19:19.759 --> 00:19:20.380
 We bring our

00:19:20.380 --> 00:19:22.559
 serving in ministry record,

00:19:22.880 --> 00:19:24.259
 we bring our evidence

00:19:24.259 --> 00:19:24.960
 of all the money

00:19:24.960 --> 00:19:25.820
 that we've donated,

00:19:26.100 --> 00:19:28.620
 kind of the good things

00:19:28.620 --> 00:19:29.340
 that we've done

00:19:29.340 --> 00:19:31.440
 and the result is

00:19:31.440 --> 00:19:33.220
 that we miss mercy.

00:19:34.840 --> 00:19:36.519
 Our hands are so full

00:19:36.519 --> 00:19:37.940
 of what we are bringing

00:19:37.940 --> 00:19:38.720
 to God

00:19:38.720 --> 00:19:40.140
 that there is no room

00:19:40.140 --> 00:19:41.200
 left to receive

00:19:41.200 --> 00:19:42.460
 what he is offering,

00:19:42.559 --> 00:19:43.400
 to receive the thing

00:19:43.400 --> 00:19:44.620
 that we actually need.

00:19:46.799 --> 00:19:48.299
 We feel like somehow

00:19:48.299 --> 00:19:49.680
 we can contribute,

00:19:49.880 --> 00:19:51.160
 we can convince God

00:19:51.160 --> 00:19:53.180
 to give us mercy.

00:19:54.960 --> 00:19:56.460
 But in trying to do that,

00:19:56.539 --> 00:19:58.620
 we actually stop ourselves

00:19:58.620 --> 00:19:59.440
 from taking

00:19:59.440 --> 00:20:00.680
 what has been provided.

00:20:02.579 --> 00:20:03.519
 Receiving mercy

00:20:03.519 --> 00:20:04.759
 means coming

00:20:04.759 --> 00:20:06.079
 with empty hands.

00:20:06.319 --> 00:20:06.660
 In fact,

00:20:06.779 --> 00:20:07.480
 worse than that,

00:20:07.480 --> 00:20:08.620
 it means the only thing

00:20:08.620 --> 00:20:09.299
 we bring

00:20:09.299 --> 00:20:10.640
 is our sin,

00:20:10.799 --> 00:20:11.519
 our failure,

00:20:11.680 --> 00:20:12.960
 our worst bits

00:20:12.960 --> 00:20:16.180
 and trust

00:20:16.180 --> 00:20:17.220
 that his mercy

00:20:17.220 --> 00:20:18.279
 is enough.

00:20:20.759 --> 00:20:22.019
 The Christian message

00:20:22.019 --> 00:20:23.180
 is not first

00:20:23.180 --> 00:20:24.200
 about you or me.

00:20:24.779 --> 00:20:26.259
 It's about Jesus.

00:20:28.360 --> 00:20:30.259
 It says that you are not

00:20:30.259 --> 00:20:31.740
 good enough,

00:20:31.839 --> 00:20:33.220
 you are not excited,

00:20:33.599 --> 00:20:34.920
 you are not appealing enough

00:20:34.920 --> 00:20:36.259
 and yet he is glorious

00:20:36.259 --> 00:20:37.640
 and he is gracious

00:20:37.640 --> 00:20:38.960
 and he is loving

00:20:38.960 --> 00:20:40.160
 and he is merciful

00:20:40.160 --> 00:20:41.080
 and he meets you

00:20:41.080 --> 00:20:42.420
 exactly as you are

00:20:42.420 --> 00:20:43.360
 and if you would just

00:20:43.360 --> 00:20:44.600
 ask,

00:20:46.279 --> 00:20:47.380
 he would give you mercy.

00:20:48.580 --> 00:20:49.700
 He would meet you

00:20:49.700 --> 00:20:50.320
 as you are

00:20:50.320 --> 00:20:51.000
 and offer you

00:20:51.000 --> 00:20:51.680
 the security

00:20:51.680 --> 00:20:52.420
 of a mercy

00:20:52.420 --> 00:20:52.980
 and love

00:20:52.980 --> 00:20:53.779
 that meets you

00:20:53.779 --> 00:20:54.539
 at your lowest

00:20:54.539 --> 00:20:55.640
 and so is sure

00:20:55.640 --> 00:20:57.120
 in every circumstance

00:20:57.120 --> 00:20:58.160
 and situation.

00:20:58.160 --> 00:21:02.120
 the Christian message

00:21:02.120 --> 00:21:03.540
 is all about Jesus.

00:21:06.240 --> 00:21:07.200
 The cross

00:21:07.200 --> 00:21:08.360
 is the picture

00:21:08.360 --> 00:21:08.880
 we get.

00:21:09.180 --> 00:21:09.880
 It is the moment

00:21:09.880 --> 00:21:10.580
 in which Jesus

00:21:10.580 --> 00:21:11.860
 takes the punishment

00:21:11.860 --> 00:21:12.640
 we deserve

00:21:12.640 --> 00:21:14.920
 and even as he dies,

00:21:16.040 --> 00:21:16.640
 hanging there

00:21:16.640 --> 00:21:17.060
 on the cross,

00:21:17.160 --> 00:21:17.960
 he is praying

00:21:17.960 --> 00:21:19.000
 for the very people

00:21:19.000 --> 00:21:19.940
 who put him there,

00:21:20.100 --> 00:21:21.180
 who crucified him.

00:21:21.240 --> 00:21:22.800
 His mercy is sufficient

00:21:22.800 --> 00:21:24.100
 for everyone

00:21:24.100 --> 00:21:25.860
 in every moment.

00:21:25.859 --> 00:21:27.399
 His mercy is offered

00:21:27.399 --> 00:21:28.599
 to anyone who asks

00:21:28.599 --> 00:21:29.359
 and his love

00:21:29.359 --> 00:21:29.959
 is sufficient

00:21:29.959 --> 00:21:30.699
 for the worst

00:21:30.699 --> 00:21:31.579
 of sinners

00:21:31.579 --> 00:21:32.259
 and when he has

00:21:32.259 --> 00:21:32.979
 forgiven you

00:21:32.979 --> 00:21:34.219
 there is no longer

00:21:34.219 --> 00:21:35.699
 any condemnation.

00:21:35.799 --> 00:21:36.379
 There is no longer

00:21:36.379 --> 00:21:37.299
 a need to fear

00:21:37.299 --> 00:21:39.219
 your failure.

00:21:39.859 --> 00:21:40.719
 There is no longer

00:21:40.719 --> 00:21:41.679
 a need to pretend

00:21:41.679 --> 00:21:43.199
 that you are better

00:21:43.199 --> 00:21:44.079
 than you are.

00:21:44.979 --> 00:21:45.740
 There is no longer

00:21:45.740 --> 00:21:46.879
 a need to come to God

00:21:46.879 --> 00:21:47.619
 only when you feel

00:21:47.619 --> 00:21:48.399
 like you have something

00:21:48.399 --> 00:21:48.879
 to offer

00:21:48.879 --> 00:21:49.719
 because that's not

00:21:49.719 --> 00:21:50.759
 how he works.

00:21:52.599 --> 00:21:53.779
 He is the one

00:21:53.779 --> 00:21:55.079
 who brings mercy

00:21:55.079 --> 00:21:59.859
 the mercy

00:21:59.859 --> 00:22:00.699
 that we need

00:22:00.699 --> 00:22:01.359
 and long for

00:22:01.359 --> 00:22:02.259
 is found only

00:22:02.259 --> 00:22:02.939
 in Jesus

00:22:02.939 --> 00:22:04.000
 and finding it

00:22:04.000 --> 00:22:04.460
 in Jesus

00:22:04.460 --> 00:22:05.480
 means letting go

00:22:05.480 --> 00:22:06.359
 of the delusion

00:22:06.359 --> 00:22:07.339
 that you can make

00:22:07.339 --> 00:22:08.259
 yourself good enough.

00:22:10.139 --> 00:22:10.839
 Letting go

00:22:10.839 --> 00:22:11.460
 of the lie

00:22:11.460 --> 00:22:12.179
 that you aren't

00:22:12.179 --> 00:22:12.799
 as bad

00:22:12.799 --> 00:22:14.419
 as anybody else.

00:22:15.199 --> 00:22:16.119
 Hearing the truth

00:22:16.119 --> 00:22:16.679
 of the gospel

00:22:16.679 --> 00:22:17.639
 that you are a sinner

00:22:17.639 --> 00:22:19.159
 in need of mercy

00:22:19.159 --> 00:22:20.480
 and coming to Jesus

00:22:20.480 --> 00:22:21.319
 empty handed

00:22:21.319 --> 00:22:22.199
 not with a resume

00:22:22.199 --> 00:22:23.240
 like the Pharisee

00:22:23.240 --> 00:22:24.380
 but with an honest

00:22:24.380 --> 00:22:25.740
 cry for help

00:22:25.740 --> 00:22:27.680
 like the tax collector.

00:22:27.680 --> 00:22:32.640
 I love

00:22:32.640 --> 00:22:33.759
 that you guys

00:22:33.759 --> 00:22:34.519
 take time

00:22:34.519 --> 00:22:35.160
 each year

00:22:35.160 --> 00:22:35.980
 for mission month.

00:22:36.220 --> 00:22:36.779
 I love

00:22:36.779 --> 00:22:37.680
 that you come back

00:22:37.680 --> 00:22:38.299
 and want to hear

00:22:38.299 --> 00:22:39.660
 a fresh God's call

00:22:39.660 --> 00:22:40.460
 to mission

00:22:40.460 --> 00:22:40.980
 locally

00:22:40.980 --> 00:22:41.779
 and globally.

00:22:41.960 --> 00:22:42.740
 I love the heart

00:22:42.740 --> 00:22:43.560
 of this church.

00:22:43.900 --> 00:22:44.680
 I was formed

00:22:44.680 --> 00:22:45.420
 by the heart

00:22:45.420 --> 00:22:46.019
 of this church

00:22:46.019 --> 00:22:46.960
 in my time here

00:22:46.960 --> 00:22:48.480
 and I've been

00:22:48.480 --> 00:22:49.340
 incredibly blessed

00:22:49.340 --> 00:22:50.019
 and encouraged

00:22:50.019 --> 00:22:50.980
 by your generosity

00:22:50.980 --> 00:22:51.980
 as we have sought

00:22:51.980 --> 00:22:52.940
 to be on mission

00:22:52.940 --> 00:22:54.160
 on the Gold Coast

00:22:54.160 --> 00:22:55.100
 but I want to finish

00:22:55.100 --> 00:22:56.039
 our time

00:22:56.039 --> 00:22:56.779
 in this passage

00:22:56.779 --> 00:22:57.460
 with a warning

00:22:57.460 --> 00:22:58.079
 and a call.

00:23:00.000 --> 00:23:01.000
 The risk

00:23:01.000 --> 00:23:02.119
 of any talk

00:23:02.119 --> 00:23:02.920
 about mission

00:23:02.920 --> 00:23:05.359
 is that you

00:23:05.359 --> 00:23:06.059
 walk away

00:23:06.059 --> 00:23:07.079
 from this month

00:23:07.079 --> 00:23:08.700
 feeling guilted

00:23:08.700 --> 00:23:09.399
 into doing

00:23:09.399 --> 00:23:09.859
 what you are

00:23:09.859 --> 00:23:11.059
 supposed to do

00:23:11.059 --> 00:23:14.240
 or you walk

00:23:14.240 --> 00:23:15.319
 away from this month

00:23:15.319 --> 00:23:16.399
 with a new set

00:23:16.399 --> 00:23:16.819
 of things

00:23:16.819 --> 00:23:17.599
 that you can take

00:23:17.599 --> 00:23:18.079
 to God

00:23:18.079 --> 00:23:19.399
 instead of empty hands.

00:23:20.460 --> 00:23:21.399
 You walk away

00:23:21.399 --> 00:23:22.220
 priding yourself

00:23:22.220 --> 00:23:23.059
 on what you do

00:23:23.059 --> 00:23:23.859
 for Him.

00:23:23.859 --> 00:23:25.659
 you feel a pressure

00:23:25.659 --> 00:23:26.419
 to satisfy

00:23:26.419 --> 00:23:27.159
 His demands

00:23:27.159 --> 00:23:27.859
 on you

00:23:27.859 --> 00:23:29.179
 but that is not

00:23:29.179 --> 00:23:29.819
 the Gospel.

00:23:31.459 --> 00:23:32.519
 In the Gospel

00:23:32.519 --> 00:23:33.679
 in Jesus

00:23:33.679 --> 00:23:34.599
 we meet

00:23:34.599 --> 00:23:35.639
 God

00:23:35.639 --> 00:23:37.500
 and we meet

00:23:37.500 --> 00:23:38.000
 a God

00:23:38.000 --> 00:23:38.799
 who is gracious

00:23:38.799 --> 00:23:39.659
 and merciful

00:23:39.659 --> 00:23:40.500
 and generous

00:23:40.500 --> 00:23:41.639
 and even the call

00:23:41.639 --> 00:23:42.240
 to mission

00:23:42.240 --> 00:23:44.519
 is a good gift

00:23:44.519 --> 00:23:46.219
 of His mercy.

00:23:48.019 --> 00:23:48.619
 Carmen expressed

00:23:48.619 --> 00:23:49.240
 it just before

00:23:49.240 --> 00:23:49.759
 it is something

00:23:49.759 --> 00:23:50.819
 that He invites us

00:23:50.819 --> 00:23:51.259
 into

00:23:51.259 --> 00:23:52.619
 for our sake.

00:23:52.619 --> 00:23:55.199
 it is a chance

00:23:55.199 --> 00:23:55.579
 for us

00:23:55.579 --> 00:23:56.919
 to be reminded

00:23:56.919 --> 00:23:57.739
 to encounter

00:23:57.739 --> 00:23:58.419
 afresh

00:23:58.419 --> 00:23:59.359
 that His mercy

00:23:59.359 --> 00:24:00.299
 is available

00:24:00.299 --> 00:24:01.079
 to all

00:24:01.079 --> 00:24:02.239
 and is sufficient

00:24:02.239 --> 00:24:03.319
 for all.

00:24:07.079 --> 00:24:08.159
 True Gospel

00:24:08.159 --> 00:24:08.579
 mission

00:24:08.579 --> 00:24:09.719
 whether that's

00:24:09.719 --> 00:24:10.279
 as a missionary

00:24:10.279 --> 00:24:11.000
 in Japan

00:24:11.000 --> 00:24:11.919
 a scripture teacher

00:24:11.919 --> 00:24:12.819
 in Chatswood High

00:24:12.819 --> 00:24:13.459
 an engineer

00:24:13.459 --> 00:24:14.359
 a teacher

00:24:14.359 --> 00:24:14.939
 a nurse

00:24:14.939 --> 00:24:15.919
 a full-time parent

00:24:15.919 --> 00:24:16.939
 or a church planter

00:24:16.939 --> 00:24:17.759
 on the Gold Coast

00:24:17.759 --> 00:24:19.220
 true Gospel

00:24:19.220 --> 00:24:19.599
 mission

00:24:19.599 --> 00:24:20.839
 only happens

00:24:20.839 --> 00:24:22.099
 as a result

00:24:22.099 --> 00:24:22.539
 of

00:24:22.539 --> 00:24:23.539
 and the overflow

00:24:23.539 --> 00:24:24.220
 of

00:24:24.220 --> 00:24:25.240
 an encounter

00:24:25.240 --> 00:24:26.180
 with the mercy

00:24:26.180 --> 00:24:26.619
 of God

00:24:26.619 --> 00:24:27.160
 in the Gospel

00:24:27.160 --> 00:24:27.680
 of Jesus.

00:24:30.720 --> 00:24:31.619
 The call

00:24:31.619 --> 00:24:32.140
 to mission

00:24:32.140 --> 00:24:33.000
 is a call

00:24:33.000 --> 00:24:33.599
 back

00:24:33.599 --> 00:24:34.619
 to the Gospel.

00:24:35.720 --> 00:24:36.579
 It's a call

00:24:36.579 --> 00:24:37.440
 back to God.

00:24:37.500 --> 00:24:38.000
 You don't come

00:24:38.000 --> 00:24:38.420
 to mission

00:24:38.420 --> 00:24:39.359
 with full hands

00:24:39.359 --> 00:24:40.480
 you come to mission

00:24:40.480 --> 00:24:41.099
 dependent

00:24:41.099 --> 00:24:42.480
 on God's mercy.

00:24:43.980 --> 00:24:44.960
 This moment

00:24:44.960 --> 00:24:45.680
 this month

00:24:45.680 --> 00:24:46.599
 like every moment

00:24:46.599 --> 00:24:47.219
 is a call

00:24:47.219 --> 00:24:48.079
 to recognize

00:24:48.079 --> 00:24:48.639
 our need

00:24:48.639 --> 00:24:49.240
 for mercy

00:24:49.240 --> 00:24:50.279
 to confess

00:24:50.279 --> 00:24:50.879
 our sin

00:24:50.879 --> 00:24:51.599
 before God

00:24:51.599 --> 00:24:52.259
 because He

00:24:52.259 --> 00:24:53.939
 is faithful

00:24:53.939 --> 00:24:54.779
 and just

00:24:54.779 --> 00:24:55.959
 and sufficient

00:24:55.959 --> 00:24:57.859
 to forgive

00:24:57.859 --> 00:24:58.740
 and cleanse you.

00:25:00.199 --> 00:25:00.659
 The call

00:25:00.659 --> 00:25:01.059
 to mission

00:25:01.059 --> 00:25:02.199
 is a daily

00:25:02.199 --> 00:25:02.799
 cry

00:25:02.799 --> 00:25:03.740
 for mercy

00:25:03.740 --> 00:25:04.359
 and grace

00:25:04.359 --> 00:25:04.879
 because you

00:25:04.879 --> 00:25:05.159
 and I

00:25:05.159 --> 00:25:05.480
 need it

00:25:05.480 --> 00:25:05.879
 as much

00:25:05.879 --> 00:25:06.219
 today

00:25:06.219 --> 00:25:06.799
 and tomorrow

00:25:06.799 --> 00:25:07.480
 as we ever

00:25:07.480 --> 00:25:07.919
 have.

00:25:09.579 --> 00:25:10.539
 To not

00:25:10.539 --> 00:25:11.079
 live

00:25:11.079 --> 00:25:12.279
 every day

00:25:12.279 --> 00:25:14.399
 every moment

00:25:14.399 --> 00:25:15.719
 every breath

00:25:15.720 --> 00:25:16.500
 in a posture

00:25:16.500 --> 00:25:17.180
 of humble

00:25:17.180 --> 00:25:17.720
 dependence

00:25:17.720 --> 00:25:18.559
 on the mercy

00:25:18.559 --> 00:25:19.180
 of God

00:25:19.180 --> 00:25:20.460
 is to deny

00:25:20.460 --> 00:25:21.420
 the Gospel.

00:25:22.779 --> 00:25:23.440
 It is to

00:25:23.440 --> 00:25:24.019
 reject

00:25:24.019 --> 00:25:25.220
 the mercy

00:25:25.220 --> 00:25:25.779
 that God

00:25:25.779 --> 00:25:26.299
 offers

00:25:26.299 --> 00:25:27.740
 in His grace.

00:25:29.360 --> 00:25:30.000
 And so

00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:30.400
 the way

00:25:30.400 --> 00:25:30.980
 forward

00:25:30.980 --> 00:25:32.819
 the next

00:25:32.819 --> 00:25:33.200
 step

00:25:33.200 --> 00:25:33.799
 for every

00:25:33.799 --> 00:25:34.299
 person in

00:25:34.299 --> 00:25:34.620
 this room

00:25:34.620 --> 00:25:34.980
 whether this

00:25:34.980 --> 00:25:35.220
 is your

00:25:35.220 --> 00:25:36.180
 first time

00:25:36.180 --> 00:25:37.019
 hearing the

00:25:37.019 --> 00:25:37.299
 Gospel

00:25:37.299 --> 00:25:37.839
 or your

00:25:37.839 --> 00:25:38.940
 millionth time

00:25:38.940 --> 00:25:39.759
 hearing the

00:25:39.759 --> 00:25:40.100
 Gospel

00:25:40.100 --> 00:25:40.579
 the way

00:25:40.579 --> 00:25:41.019
 forward

00:25:41.019 --> 00:25:41.460
 the next

00:25:41.460 --> 00:25:41.819
 step

00:25:41.819 --> 00:25:42.160
 for you

00:25:42.160 --> 00:25:42.380
 as an

00:25:42.380 --> 00:25:42.860
 individual

00:25:42.859 --> 00:25:43.719
 and for

00:25:43.719 --> 00:25:44.299
 us as a

00:25:44.299 --> 00:25:44.559
 church

00:25:44.559 --> 00:25:44.939
 community

00:25:44.939 --> 00:25:45.399
 is to

00:25:45.399 --> 00:25:46.019
 cast

00:25:46.019 --> 00:25:46.959
 ourselves

00:25:46.959 --> 00:25:47.500
 on the

00:25:47.500 --> 00:25:47.839
 mercy

00:25:47.839 --> 00:25:48.579
 of God

00:25:48.579 --> 00:25:49.419
 and find

00:25:49.419 --> 00:25:49.639
 Him

00:25:49.639 --> 00:25:50.139
 sufficient.

00:25:51.619 --> 00:25:52.259
 It is to

00:25:52.259 --> 00:25:52.879
 let go

00:25:52.879 --> 00:25:53.259
 of the

00:25:53.259 --> 00:25:53.799
 things that

00:25:53.799 --> 00:25:54.339
 you think

00:25:54.339 --> 00:25:54.899
 make you

00:25:54.899 --> 00:25:55.619
 attractive to

00:25:55.619 --> 00:25:55.959
 God

00:25:55.959 --> 00:25:56.579
 and recognize

00:25:56.579 --> 00:25:57.259
 that His

00:25:57.259 --> 00:25:58.179
 love for

00:25:58.179 --> 00:25:58.500
 you

00:25:58.500 --> 00:26:00.559
 is enough.

00:26:03.579 --> 00:26:04.599
 It is

00:26:04.599 --> 00:26:05.679
 to confess

00:26:05.679 --> 00:26:06.399
 again

00:26:06.399 --> 00:26:07.740
 and find

00:26:07.740 --> 00:26:07.939
 Him

00:26:07.939 --> 00:26:08.339
 good

00:26:08.339 --> 00:26:10.099
 find Him

00:26:10.099 --> 00:26:10.719
 generous

00:26:10.720 --> 00:26:12.299
 gracious

00:26:12.299 --> 00:26:12.799
 and

00:26:12.799 --> 00:26:13.220
 forgiving

00:26:13.220 --> 00:26:14.019
 and

00:26:14.019 --> 00:26:14.779
 satisfying

00:26:14.779 --> 00:26:17.120
 because

00:26:17.120 --> 00:26:17.480
 when you

00:26:17.480 --> 00:26:17.740
 do

00:26:17.740 --> 00:26:19.940
 you

00:26:19.940 --> 00:26:20.200
 won't be

00:26:20.200 --> 00:26:20.480
 able to

00:26:20.480 --> 00:26:20.819
 help

00:26:20.819 --> 00:26:21.759
 but speak

00:26:21.759 --> 00:26:22.120
 of what

00:26:22.120 --> 00:26:22.400
 you have

00:26:22.400 --> 00:26:22.700
 seen

00:26:22.700 --> 00:26:22.860
 and

00:26:22.860 --> 00:26:23.059
 heard.

00:26:24.579 --> 00:26:25.140
 You

00:26:25.140 --> 00:26:25.440
 won't be

00:26:25.440 --> 00:26:25.700
 able to

00:26:25.700 --> 00:26:25.960
 help

00:26:25.960 --> 00:26:26.420
 but give

00:26:26.420 --> 00:26:26.960
 generously

00:26:26.960 --> 00:26:28.079
 you

00:26:28.079 --> 00:26:28.339
 won't be

00:26:28.339 --> 00:26:28.600
 able to

00:26:28.600 --> 00:26:28.860
 help

00:26:28.860 --> 00:26:29.579
 but serve

00:26:29.579 --> 00:26:30.120
 and forgive

00:26:30.120 --> 00:26:31.180
 and love

00:26:31.180 --> 00:26:33.059
 because

00:26:33.059 --> 00:26:33.940
 in Jesus

00:26:33.940 --> 00:26:34.920
 God has

00:26:34.920 --> 00:26:35.579
 done all

00:26:35.579 --> 00:26:36.140
 that for

00:26:36.140 --> 00:26:36.400
 you

00:26:36.400 --> 00:26:38.140
 and more

00:26:38.140 --> 00:26:41.840
 I

00:26:41.840 --> 00:26:42.460
 started by

00:26:42.460 --> 00:26:43.000
 asking you

00:26:43.000 --> 00:26:43.740
 how good

00:26:43.740 --> 00:26:44.840
 the gospel

00:26:44.840 --> 00:26:45.340
 is

00:26:45.340 --> 00:26:47.180
 how good

00:26:47.180 --> 00:26:48.120
 God is

00:26:48.120 --> 00:26:48.580
 in your

00:26:48.580 --> 00:26:49.080
 life

00:26:49.080 --> 00:26:50.660
 and wrestling

00:26:50.660 --> 00:26:51.160
 with the

00:26:51.160 --> 00:26:51.800
 distance that

00:26:51.800 --> 00:26:52.240
 we feel

00:26:52.240 --> 00:26:52.720
 between what

00:26:52.720 --> 00:26:53.060
 we know

00:26:53.060 --> 00:26:53.560
 should be

00:26:53.560 --> 00:26:54.000
 true and

00:26:54.000 --> 00:26:54.680
 what isn't

00:26:54.680 --> 00:26:57.340
 ultimately

00:26:57.340 --> 00:26:59.180
 the gap

00:26:59.180 --> 00:26:59.640
 is there

00:26:59.640 --> 00:27:00.280
 because we

00:27:00.280 --> 00:27:00.640
 come to

00:27:00.640 --> 00:27:00.960
 God with

00:27:00.960 --> 00:27:01.700
 closed hands

00:27:01.700 --> 00:27:02.140
 and stop

00:27:02.140 --> 00:27:02.580
 receiving

00:27:02.580 --> 00:27:02.980
 what He

00:27:02.980 --> 00:27:03.420
 offers.

00:27:06.420 --> 00:27:07.240
 Jesus is

00:27:07.240 --> 00:27:07.600
 enough.

00:27:08.140 --> 00:27:08.960
 for your

00:27:08.960 --> 00:27:09.360
 fear,

00:27:09.540 --> 00:27:10.160
 your anxiety,

00:27:10.300 --> 00:27:10.420
 your

00:27:10.420 --> 00:27:10.980
 uncertainty

00:27:10.980 --> 00:27:14.140
 but only

00:27:14.140 --> 00:27:14.500
 when you

00:27:14.500 --> 00:27:14.960
 come to

00:27:14.960 --> 00:27:15.180
 Him

00:27:15.180 --> 00:27:16.800
 in humble

00:27:16.800 --> 00:27:17.300
 dependence

00:27:17.300 --> 00:27:18.060
 and confession

00:27:18.060 --> 00:27:19.580
 will you

00:27:19.580 --> 00:27:20.020
 encounter

00:27:20.020 --> 00:27:20.360
 Him

00:27:20.360 --> 00:27:21.160
 as enough.

00:27:22.280 --> 00:27:22.880
 So long

00:27:22.880 --> 00:27:23.140
 as you

00:27:23.140 --> 00:27:23.500
 hold Him

00:27:23.500 --> 00:27:24.020
 at arm's

00:27:24.020 --> 00:27:24.259
 length

00:27:24.259 --> 00:27:24.820
 because you're

00:27:24.820 --> 00:27:25.180
 busy

00:27:25.180 --> 00:27:25.880
 depending

00:27:25.880 --> 00:27:26.320
 on your

00:27:26.320 --> 00:27:26.800
 ability

00:27:26.800 --> 00:27:27.200
 and your

00:27:27.200 --> 00:27:27.620
 strength

00:27:27.620 --> 00:27:27.920
 and your

00:27:27.920 --> 00:27:28.280
 gifting

00:27:28.280 --> 00:27:28.640
 and your

00:27:28.640 --> 00:27:29.100
 resourcing

00:27:29.100 --> 00:27:29.380
 and your

00:27:29.380 --> 00:27:29.820
 maturity

00:27:29.820 --> 00:27:30.280
 and whatever

00:27:30.280 --> 00:27:30.680
 else it

00:27:30.680 --> 00:27:30.920
 is that

00:27:30.920 --> 00:27:31.300
 you bring

00:27:31.300 --> 00:27:33.720
 He will

00:27:33.720 --> 00:27:34.100
 never be

00:27:34.100 --> 00:27:34.440
 enough

00:27:34.440 --> 00:27:37.420
 because

00:27:37.420 --> 00:27:37.720
 you're

00:27:37.720 --> 00:27:38.020
 busy

00:27:38.019 --> 00:27:38.759
 trusting

00:27:38.759 --> 00:27:39.059
 in other

00:27:39.059 --> 00:27:39.480
 things.

00:27:41.480 --> 00:27:42.339
 The call

00:27:42.339 --> 00:27:42.859
 to mission

00:27:42.859 --> 00:27:45.279
 is a

00:27:45.279 --> 00:27:45.879
 call back

00:27:45.879 --> 00:27:46.700
 to the

00:27:46.700 --> 00:27:47.039
 gospel.

00:27:48.920 --> 00:27:49.619
 Let me

00:27:49.619 --> 00:27:50.059
 pray for

00:27:50.059 --> 00:27:50.379
 us.

00:27:54.099 --> 00:27:54.700
 Father,

00:27:55.279 --> 00:27:56.379
 forgive us

00:27:56.379 --> 00:27:57.940
 for rejecting

00:27:57.940 --> 00:27:58.519
 your mercy

00:27:58.519 --> 00:27:58.980
 and trying to

00:27:58.980 --> 00:27:59.859
 navigate life

00:27:59.859 --> 00:28:00.359
 in our own

00:28:00.359 --> 00:28:00.759
 strength.

00:28:02.099 --> 00:28:02.940
 Help us

00:28:02.940 --> 00:28:03.720
 to see how

00:28:03.720 --> 00:28:04.500
 far short

00:28:04.500 --> 00:28:05.019
 our lives

00:28:05.019 --> 00:28:05.639
 fall of

00:28:05.640 --> 00:28:06.259
 your holiness

00:28:06.259 --> 00:28:07.180
 and majesty.

00:28:08.660 --> 00:28:09.120
 Forgive us

00:28:09.120 --> 00:28:09.500
 for our

00:28:09.500 --> 00:28:10.640
 sin and

00:28:10.640 --> 00:28:11.040
 make us

00:28:11.040 --> 00:28:11.560
 more like

00:28:11.560 --> 00:28:11.860
 Jesus.

00:28:13.480 --> 00:28:14.040
 Jesus,

00:28:14.200 --> 00:28:14.660
 thank you

00:28:14.660 --> 00:28:15.020
 for your

00:28:15.020 --> 00:28:15.560
 death in

00:28:15.560 --> 00:28:16.180
 our place,

00:28:16.860 --> 00:28:17.440
 our punishment

00:28:17.440 --> 00:28:18.120
 taken and

00:28:18.120 --> 00:28:18.660
 the promise

00:28:18.660 --> 00:28:19.000
 of your

00:28:19.000 --> 00:28:19.759
 irreversible

00:28:19.759 --> 00:28:20.280
 forgiveness

00:28:20.280 --> 00:28:21.100
 and sufficient

00:28:21.100 --> 00:28:21.560
 mercy.

00:28:22.340 --> 00:28:23.020
 Thank you

00:28:23.020 --> 00:28:23.400
 for your

00:28:23.400 --> 00:28:23.900
 resurrection.

00:28:25.280 --> 00:28:25.860
 Please take

00:28:25.860 --> 00:28:26.540
 our guilt

00:28:26.540 --> 00:28:27.140
 and our

00:28:27.140 --> 00:28:27.820
 burdens and

00:28:27.820 --> 00:28:28.480
 fill us

00:28:28.480 --> 00:28:28.900
 with the

00:28:28.900 --> 00:28:29.500
 joy of

00:28:29.500 --> 00:28:30.100
 your presence

00:28:30.100 --> 00:28:30.700
 and power.

00:28:30.700 --> 00:28:31.700
 God,

00:28:31.700 --> 00:28:33.220
 we ask

00:28:33.220 --> 00:28:58.740
 this in the

00:28:58.740 --> 00:28:59.220
 name of your

00:28:59.220 --> 00:28:59.960
 precious Son,

00:29:00.420 --> 00:29:00.880
 our Savior

00:29:00.880 --> 00:29:01.339
 Jesus.

00:29:02.019 --> 00:29:02.319
 Amen.