WEBVTT

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 So, Sean's out of town for his two-week vacation for the year.

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 And for those of you who know Sean, he works very, very hard.

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 So I literally prayed over him last week that he would rest,

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 which seems weird to pray for somebody for a vacation.

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 But he's in Seattle enjoying time off, which is really good.

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 And so I'm preaching this week.

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 I'm Steve, if you don't know me.

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 I'm on the pastoral leadership team at the church.

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 I'm under evaluation to become a pastor,

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 along with Taryn and Ray, who you saw up front,

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 as well as Matt, who's downstairs helping with the kids.

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 So we'll be filling in for him for the next couple weeks.

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 So I just want to get my video game illustration out up front

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 and get it over with for those of you that don't like video games.

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 So for those of you who know, I've worked in web technology for the last few years,

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 and video games have been a hobby for me for a long time.

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 My wife likes to point out that I spend all of my waking hours in front of a screen,

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 which may or may not be true.

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 But for both web technology in general and video games specifically,

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 a really big thing is the next big thing, right?

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 Knowing what's going to come and what's going to happen.

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 So, you know, what's going to do well?

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 What will fall flat?

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 30 years ago, there were a bunch of tech guys sitting around saying,

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 what's this internet thing?

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 Is it going to go well?

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 I don't really know.

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 Some people said this is useless.

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 It's never going to take off.

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 And here we are today.

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 The modern thing is, you know, what's going to happen with Bitcoin?

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 It keeps going up in price.

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 You know, is that going to go well?

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 Is it going to fall flat?

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 Everyone's kind of holding their breath.

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 It's fun to speculate on things moving forward.

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 It's kind of funny to look back when people got things wrong.

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 One example of this is from video games in the mid-80s.

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 Not long after Nintendo, a big video game company,

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 released their first console in North America.

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 It was one of the first systems ever to not use, like, a joystick.

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 If you've ever seen it at the arcades,

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 it used a little directional pad thing, like, up, down, left, right.

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 And so, you know, one tech columnist seeing this new thing said this.

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 Of the new game systems out, Nintendo's is the worst.

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 The controllers are the most important part of the game system,

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 and Nintendo's controllers are the worst controllers I have ever seen.

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 Because there's just such a big shift from what people were used to.

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 So this was written in the mid-80s.

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 By 1990, the worst console had a 90% market share.

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 More households had these consoles than had personal computers at the time.

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 And Nintendo Corporation surpassed Toyota as the most successful company in Japan.

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 And that controller also became the basic design for every controller,

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 for every video game system from then on.

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 So it's funny to look back and read a column.

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 I have, like, the screenshot of this column because I thought it was so funny.

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 It's funny to look back and be like,

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 wow, that guy was really wrong in retrospect, right.

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 Looking back, it's really obvious.

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 I think that that's a bit what it's like when you become a Christian,

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 and it's a bit what this passage is about as well.

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 Before believing in Jesus,

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 Christianity probably seems, like, totally foolish to people.

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 And so maybe even the idea of religion itself looks foolish.

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 But once you become a Christian,

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 your whole mindset changes, and now it looks obvious, right.

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 Following Jesus seems like the obvious choice at this point.

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 And I think that feeling of, oh, this is obvious now,

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 is tied to verse 25 in the passage,

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 when Paul says,

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 the foolishness of God is wiser than men,

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 and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

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 And he's really saying, you know,

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 to those who don't believe in God, God looks foolish.

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 But sitting on the other side,

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 it's clear that God is the wise one in the situation.

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 And he uses,

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 that's kind of the main thrust of the argument throughout this passage.

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 And Paul uses a couple arguments to point to this.

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 He says, you know,

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 God's wisdom and power are revealed through two foolish choices,

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 the cross and his people.

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 And that's kind of how Paul structures this argument.

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 So the first foolish choice that God uses,

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 where he reveals his wisdom,

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 is in the cross.

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 And so in verse 18,

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 Paul says,

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 the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing,

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 but to us who are being saved,

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 it is the power of God.

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 And now,

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 just looking back to last week,

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 Paul has just said in verse 17,

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 Christ did not send me to baptize,

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 but to preach the gospel,

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 not with words of eloquent wisdom,

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 lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

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 So that's kind of the lead-in verse.

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 This eloquent wisdom sits in contrast from verse 17

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 to the word of the cross in verse 18 here,

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 which is displayed as foolishness.

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 And so this is kind of where the illustration

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 of predicting the future rings true, right?

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 There are two groups of people here,

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 and one of them are blind to what's coming,

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 the perishing, right?

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 And then there's those who are being saved

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 who see clearly the power of God.

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 And note that both of these are present verbs, right?

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 You're either in the state of perishing

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 or falling away from God,

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 or you're in the state of being saved,

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 God working in your life.

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 And this is presented as something

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 that's mutually exclusive too, right?

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 There's these two groups of people,

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 and that's all that there is.

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 Paul frames it this way,

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 I think particularly in context

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 of the Corinthians squabbling over their leaders, right?

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 He's saying, you know,

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 you were saved originally by the cross,

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 and you were being saved,

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 and now you're following down this path

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 that's associated with perishing, right?

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 Squabbling over leadership.

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 So come back, come back to the cross,

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 come back to what originally saved you.

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 And I think that this is designed both for us

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 and for them as a sense of urgency, right?

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 Which path are you on?

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 You're either being saved or you're perishing.

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 And the choices you make

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 in the way that you live your life

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 aligns you with one or the other of those more.

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 And so Paul's throwing this out here

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 as a warning for people to hear.

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 And so the question that comes from this is,

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 why does the cross look foolish, right?

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 If you've grown up in church,

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 maybe it doesn't feel like that.

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 You know, Jesus makes sense.

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 This is what you've heard your entire life.

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 So to explain why the cross is foolish,

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 Paul pulls a verse from Isaiah

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 and then kind of fleshes it out.

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 And so in verse 19, Paul says,

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 it is written,

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 I will destroy the wisdom of the wise

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 and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.

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 Where is the one who's wise?

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 Where's the scribe?

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 Where is the debater of this age?

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 Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

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 For since in the wisdom of God,

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 the world did not know God through wisdom.

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 It pleased God through the folly of what we preach

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 to save those who believe.

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 So the answer to why is the cross foolish?

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 It's because God has made foolish

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 the wisdom of the world is what Paul says.

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 In context of Isaiah, where he brings this up,

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 says, you know,

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 I'm destroying the wisdom of the wise.

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 This is a woe passage,

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 one that's predicting judgment upon people.

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 And these people are described in Isaiah

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 as those who give lip service to God,

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 but do not follow him in their hearts.

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 And so these people that pose as wise,

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 who speak well, end up having their wisdom,

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 their well-saying destroyed.

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 Here it seems that this judgment is fulfilled, right?

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 So in verse 21, Paul kind of asks the where is,

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 where are these people?

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 It's sort of like, you know, where,

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 it's sort of mocking almost,

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 like where have they gone?

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 Like the question you ask to someone who loses

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 and in a game, and then you're saying,

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 you know, what happened to you?

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 Where'd you go?

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 Kind of thing.

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 Like this is over at this point.

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 And so these groups,

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 the question kind of arises,

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 who are the losers from these groups?

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 Who are the people that have been judged?

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 It seems to be, you know,

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 first, where's the one who's wise?

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 Just kind of generally addressing people considered wise.

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 And then narrowed down to the Jewish

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 and the Greek description

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 of what would be considered wise.

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 So there's the scribe,

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 who would be like the teacher of the law,

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 someone who would understand the Old Testament

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 extremely well and teach on it.

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 And then there's the debater of the age.

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 So the philosopher, the sophist,

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 or someone that would contest in the public area

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 and speak wisely.

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 And it says, you know,

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 has not God made these things foolish, right?

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 That's kind of the breadth of the wisdom of the world.

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 One commentator states, you know,

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 ironically, those who think they are in the know

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 may miss out on the truth in matters

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 theological and ethical,

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 where knowing is less a matter of intellect

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 than of a humble character and pure motives.

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 And so God subverts the wisdom of the world

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 by making it not just about knowledge,

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 but about character.

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 And so as we look,

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 we note that God has subverted

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 the wisdom of the world, right?

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 This is something I want to point out.

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 It's not like God just said,

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 okay, you know,

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 all these ideas were really smart at one point,

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 and now they're just dumb.

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 I'm just making them this way,

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 and so we're just changing everything.

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 God's not kind of like fiatting

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 into existence intelligence to dumbness.

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 He's actually working around the intelligence,

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 the common sense that we have,

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 to say, you know,

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 I'm going to subvert this in a unique way

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 through the message itself.

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 I'm not going to alter the wisdom of the world.

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 I'm going to show that there is a wiser way,

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 essentially.

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 So this kind of leads to the question,

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 what is the wisdom of the world?

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 Because this is something that's brought up,

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 wisdom's brought up a lot in this passage.

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 It's brought up in the passage before.

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 It's brought up after.

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 So if we kind of trace all the points together,

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 verse 17, as I mentioned,

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 Paul contrasts words of eloquent wisdom

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 with preaching of the gospel,

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 and it's contrasted again here in verse 21.

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 The wisdom of the world's contrasted

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 with the folly of what we preach.

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 And then in chapter two,

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 Paul talks about how he brought about

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 a message in plain words

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 versus in eloquence and sophistication.

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 So the wisdom of the world

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 seems to be contained in two separate ideas, right?

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 There's the form,

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 like the way that it's presented.

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 It seems to be part of the wisdom of the world.

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 And then there's the content too.

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 There's something uniquely different

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 about the message of the cross

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 and the message of Jesus

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 than what the world teaches.

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 So looking at the form first,

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 it's quite likely that Paul's taking a swing

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 at like a particular popular rhetorical school

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 at the time,

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 or people that would go up front and speak.

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 And they were called the sophists.

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 And so they made speaking like an end in itself,

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 as if the phrasing and the words

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 and the way you said things was the art

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 more than the content.

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 Isocrates, who is a Greek philosopher

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 and critic of this school of thought,

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 says this about them.

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 They transmit the science of words

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 as simply as they teach the letters of the alphabet

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 without bothering to examine the nature

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 of each kind of knowledge.

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 But thinking that because of this extravagance

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 of their promises,

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 they will command admiration

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 and that teaching of discourse

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 will be held in high esteem.

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 So because of their flourish

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 and because of the way they present things,

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 that's really what they're aiming for.

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 It reminds me of like the modern TED Talks.

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 I don't know if anyone's seen

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 or watched any TED Talks.

00:09:53.860 --> 00:09:55.180
 Not that TED Talks are bad.

00:09:55.179 --> 00:09:56.159
 I think that they're well done.

00:09:56.699 --> 00:09:58.099
 But the goal of a TED Talk

00:09:58.099 --> 00:09:59.379
 is more to present an idea

00:09:59.379 --> 00:10:00.339
 that you could find elsewhere

00:10:00.339 --> 00:10:01.939
 in an eloquent and persuasive way

00:10:01.939 --> 00:10:02.839
 to the modern mind.

00:10:03.139 --> 00:10:05.279
 So you could digest it in a textbook

00:10:05.279 --> 00:10:06.679
 or classical literature,

00:10:07.079 --> 00:10:07.759
 but instead there's someone

00:10:07.759 --> 00:10:09.339
 who's gone up and iterated it for you

00:10:09.339 --> 00:10:10.099
 and presents it to you

00:10:10.099 --> 00:10:10.919
 in a really nice package.

00:10:13.079 --> 00:10:14.439
 Preaching sits in contrast

00:10:14.439 --> 00:10:15.799
 to this mode of speaking.

00:10:16.739 --> 00:10:18.199
 And I think a lot of people today

00:10:18.199 --> 00:10:19.579
 view preaching like a TED Talk

00:10:19.579 --> 00:10:20.759
 or an inspirational speech.

00:10:20.759 --> 00:10:22.740
 And so you might not value it

00:10:22.740 --> 00:10:24.860
 as much as a mode of discourse in itself.

00:10:25.799 --> 00:10:27.080
 And I've personally thought about it

00:10:27.080 --> 00:10:27.720
 this way previously.

00:10:27.960 --> 00:10:29.340
 Like why does someone come up here?

00:10:29.399 --> 00:10:30.200
 Why do I come up here

00:10:30.200 --> 00:10:31.159
 and just say things to you?

00:10:31.480 --> 00:10:32.240
 Why don't I come up here

00:10:32.240 --> 00:10:33.139
 and just ask questions?

00:10:33.200 --> 00:10:34.120
 Or why doesn't Sean just come up here

00:10:34.120 --> 00:10:35.580
 and ask questions or present ideas

00:10:35.580 --> 00:10:36.779
 and like do a discourse?

00:10:37.519 --> 00:10:38.860
 That's a very appealing idea

00:10:38.860 --> 00:10:41.200
 to like our time particularly.

00:10:42.059 --> 00:10:43.620
 One person telling another

00:10:43.620 --> 00:10:45.240
 like what is true about life

00:10:45.240 --> 00:10:47.740
 is not typically how we do things.

00:10:47.860 --> 00:10:48.740
 We have discussions.

00:10:49.059 --> 00:10:49.960
 We enter into a relationship.

00:10:49.960 --> 00:10:51.360
 Which makes a lot of sense

00:10:51.360 --> 00:10:53.780
 if preaching fits that framework.

00:10:53.920 --> 00:10:55.180
 But the thing is that's not preaching.

00:10:55.639 --> 00:10:57.060
 Preaching is heralding, right?

00:10:57.139 --> 00:10:58.820
 Preaching is the passing on of a message

00:10:58.820 --> 00:11:00.300
 from one person to another.

00:11:00.840 --> 00:11:02.080
 And so preaching is coming up front

00:11:02.080 --> 00:11:03.879
 to present as accurately as possible

00:11:03.879 --> 00:11:06.139
 the story of Jesus and the Bible

00:11:06.139 --> 00:11:07.139
 and what that means.

00:11:07.740 --> 00:11:09.519
 And so it feels weird

00:11:09.519 --> 00:11:10.900
 and it feels like it doesn't fit

00:11:10.900 --> 00:11:11.519
 in our society.

00:11:11.519 --> 00:11:13.180
 But I can think of one other role

00:11:13.180 --> 00:11:14.780
 where we actually do want people

00:11:14.780 --> 00:11:15.460
 to come forward

00:11:15.460 --> 00:11:16.780
 and tell the truth consistently,

00:11:16.920 --> 00:11:18.180
 present a story from another angle.

00:11:18.480 --> 00:11:19.759
 And that's journalism, right?

00:11:19.960 --> 00:11:21.340
 When I read a news article,

00:11:21.340 --> 00:11:22.700
 I don't want a slant.

00:11:22.759 --> 00:11:24.200
 I don't want a hot take.

00:11:24.240 --> 00:11:25.680
 I want the honest truth

00:11:25.680 --> 00:11:26.960
 presented concisely.

00:11:27.060 --> 00:11:28.320
 I'm impressed when a journalist

00:11:28.320 --> 00:11:30.100
 goes and conducts interviews

00:11:30.100 --> 00:11:31.680
 and talks to primary sources

00:11:31.680 --> 00:11:32.620
 and relevant people

00:11:32.620 --> 00:11:33.720
 and comes back

00:11:33.720 --> 00:11:34.340
 and presents it

00:11:34.340 --> 00:11:35.340
 in a digestible format.

00:11:35.340 --> 00:11:37.220
 And then I receive that as truth

00:11:37.220 --> 00:11:37.540
 and I say,

00:11:37.620 --> 00:11:38.740
 this is really good, right?

00:11:38.780 --> 00:11:39.840
 Now I feel like I understand

00:11:39.840 --> 00:11:41.040
 the news and what's going on.

00:11:41.440 --> 00:11:43.160
 That's more what preaching's like, right?

00:11:43.159 --> 00:11:45.199
 The idea was that Sean goes

00:11:45.199 --> 00:11:46.399
 and he studies the word

00:11:46.399 --> 00:11:48.559
 or I or whoever's preaching,

00:11:49.519 --> 00:11:50.600
 digs into it,

00:11:50.860 --> 00:11:51.839
 determines the truth,

00:11:51.959 --> 00:11:53.100
 looks at the primary sources

00:11:53.100 --> 00:11:53.959
 and comes and says,

00:11:54.279 --> 00:11:55.980
 this is what God says

00:11:55.980 --> 00:11:57.079
 in his word, right?

00:11:57.480 --> 00:11:58.719
 Preaching's more like journalism

00:11:58.719 --> 00:12:00.500
 than it is like persuasive discourse.

00:12:00.759 --> 00:12:01.259
 And so I think that

00:12:01.259 --> 00:12:02.079
 that's a small point

00:12:02.079 --> 00:12:02.959
 that Paul's making here

00:12:02.959 --> 00:12:03.679
 when he talks about

00:12:03.679 --> 00:12:05.079
 the folly of preaching

00:12:05.079 --> 00:12:06.779
 versus the wisdom of the world.

00:12:08.019 --> 00:12:08.959
 Another part of this,

00:12:09.039 --> 00:12:09.439
 like I said,

00:12:09.480 --> 00:12:11.799
 is the content of the message, right?

00:12:11.799 --> 00:12:12.639
 So it's not just

00:12:12.639 --> 00:12:14.000
 the eloquent wisdom

00:12:14.000 --> 00:12:14.679
 versus preaching,

00:12:14.779 --> 00:12:16.659
 it's also through the folly

00:12:16.659 --> 00:12:17.719
 of what we preach.

00:12:18.279 --> 00:12:19.019
 So there's something

00:12:19.019 --> 00:12:20.879
 in the actual words

00:12:20.879 --> 00:12:22.319
 or the message itself

00:12:22.319 --> 00:12:23.219
 that's foolish

00:12:23.219 --> 00:12:24.279
 or considered foolish.

00:12:26.059 --> 00:12:27.399
 And this should feel weird, right?

00:12:28.620 --> 00:12:30.120
 If God is God

00:12:30.120 --> 00:12:31.399
 and Jesus is God

00:12:31.399 --> 00:12:33.139
 and Jesus did amazing things,

00:12:33.479 --> 00:12:34.799
 then it should feel like,

00:12:34.879 --> 00:12:35.000
 you know,

00:12:35.059 --> 00:12:36.439
 why wouldn't the wisest people

00:12:36.439 --> 00:12:36.879
 in the world

00:12:36.879 --> 00:12:38.000
 all equally perceive

00:12:38.000 --> 00:12:39.359
 Jesus as wise, right?

00:12:39.379 --> 00:12:40.379
 If this is from God.

00:12:40.379 --> 00:12:42.740
 But Jesus literally

00:12:42.740 --> 00:12:44.659
 in Matthew praises the Father

00:12:44.659 --> 00:12:46.019
 in the Gospels saying,

00:12:46.659 --> 00:12:46.840
 Father,

00:12:46.980 --> 00:12:47.899
 you have hidden truth

00:12:47.899 --> 00:12:48.559
 from the wise

00:12:48.559 --> 00:12:50.639
 and revealed it to children, right?

00:12:50.799 --> 00:12:52.220
 So what's going on here?

00:12:52.299 --> 00:12:53.740
 Why would it be chosen this way?

00:12:54.399 --> 00:12:55.019
 And I think that

00:12:55.019 --> 00:12:56.460
 this is part of the wisdom of God

00:12:56.460 --> 00:12:58.620
 is that he shows no partiality, right?

00:12:59.279 --> 00:13:00.860
 God is not attained to

00:13:00.860 --> 00:13:02.000
 by human wisdom.

00:13:02.240 --> 00:13:03.939
 It's by revelation from God.

00:13:04.080 --> 00:13:05.360
 He reveals himself.

00:13:05.480 --> 00:13:06.200
 He shows himself.

00:13:06.340 --> 00:13:07.879
 He calls individual people.

00:13:07.879 --> 00:13:10.080
 And this should be

00:13:10.080 --> 00:13:11.259
 kind of encouraging, right?

00:13:11.360 --> 00:13:12.860
 There's not a level of knowledge

00:13:12.860 --> 00:13:13.980
 that you have to maintain

00:13:13.980 --> 00:13:14.679
 or ascend to

00:13:14.679 --> 00:13:15.159
 or come to

00:13:15.159 --> 00:13:15.439
 to be like,

00:13:15.519 --> 00:13:16.480
 oh, God makes sense now.

00:13:16.559 --> 00:13:17.480
 Okay, I can be a Christian.

00:13:17.700 --> 00:13:19.120
 And there's not some level of that

00:13:19.120 --> 00:13:20.059
 that you have to continue

00:13:20.059 --> 00:13:21.080
 to maintain

00:13:21.080 --> 00:13:21.960
 while you're a Christian.

00:13:22.460 --> 00:13:23.779
 God is showing no partiality.

00:13:23.860 --> 00:13:25.159
 It's him reaching out to you

00:13:25.159 --> 00:13:26.919
 and revealing truth to you.

00:13:27.279 --> 00:13:28.080
 To some extent,

00:13:28.159 --> 00:13:29.840
 it is beyond even human reasoning.

00:13:31.379 --> 00:13:32.139
 And so the content

00:13:32.139 --> 00:13:32.899
 of this message

00:13:32.899 --> 00:13:34.299
 that is foolishness

00:13:34.299 --> 00:13:34.700
 to the world

00:13:34.700 --> 00:13:35.580
 is presented in verses

00:13:35.580 --> 00:13:37.520
 22 through 24.

00:13:38.120 --> 00:13:38.600
 Paul says,

00:13:38.720 --> 00:13:39.820
 Jews demand signs

00:13:39.820 --> 00:13:41.259
 and Greeks seek wisdom,

00:13:41.660 --> 00:13:43.360
 but we preach Christ crucified,

00:13:43.980 --> 00:13:45.180
 a stumbling block to Jews

00:13:45.180 --> 00:13:46.460
 and folly to Gentiles.

00:13:46.900 --> 00:13:47.960
 But to those who are called,

00:13:48.080 --> 00:13:49.200
 both Jews and Greeks,

00:13:49.639 --> 00:13:50.960
 Christ the power of God

00:13:50.960 --> 00:13:52.340
 and the wisdom of God.

00:13:52.820 --> 00:13:53.700
 So the foolishness

00:13:53.700 --> 00:13:54.200
 of the message

00:13:54.200 --> 00:13:54.780
 at its root

00:13:54.780 --> 00:13:56.160
 is Christ crucified, right?

00:13:56.200 --> 00:13:57.080
 This is the stumbling.

00:13:57.240 --> 00:13:58.000
 This is the scandal.

00:13:58.480 --> 00:13:59.800
 This is the foolishness.

00:14:00.280 --> 00:14:01.220
 For the Jews,

00:14:01.300 --> 00:14:01.720
 this would be,

00:14:01.720 --> 00:14:01.900
 you know,

00:14:01.940 --> 00:14:02.580
 a crucified Messiah

00:14:03.280 --> 00:14:04.100
 or a savior

00:14:04.100 --> 00:14:05.060
 or someone that was coming

00:14:05.060 --> 00:14:06.560
 to deliver Israel

00:14:06.560 --> 00:14:07.220
 from oppression

00:14:07.220 --> 00:14:08.379
 makes no sense.

00:14:08.480 --> 00:14:09.560
 It's an oxymoron.

00:14:09.639 --> 00:14:10.779
 It's a contradiction in terms.

00:14:11.540 --> 00:14:12.420
 For the Greeks,

00:14:12.540 --> 00:14:12.980
 there's actually

00:14:12.980 --> 00:14:14.060
 a famous character,

00:14:14.560 --> 00:14:16.000
 like crucifixion itself

00:14:16.000 --> 00:14:17.240
 was a shameful punishment.

00:14:17.879 --> 00:14:18.440
 There's actually

00:14:18.440 --> 00:14:19.500
 a famous caricature,

00:14:19.899 --> 00:14:20.759
 like drawing,

00:14:20.879 --> 00:14:21.300
 like a comic,

00:14:21.399 --> 00:14:22.399
 almost mocking Christians

00:14:22.399 --> 00:14:23.820
 found in Rome

00:14:23.820 --> 00:14:24.960
 on the Palantine

00:14:24.960 --> 00:14:25.940
 that shows a slave

00:14:25.940 --> 00:14:26.600
 falling down

00:14:26.600 --> 00:14:28.019
 before a crucified donkey

00:14:28.019 --> 00:14:29.279
 under which there are

00:14:29.279 --> 00:14:29.840
 the words,

00:14:30.139 --> 00:14:31.080
 Alex Amenos

00:14:31.080 --> 00:14:32.700
 worships his God, right?

00:14:32.700 --> 00:14:34.320
 So it was open ridicule

00:14:34.320 --> 00:14:35.920
 to like worship

00:14:35.920 --> 00:14:36.820
 someone who was crucified.

00:14:36.820 --> 00:14:38.000
 That doesn't even make sense.

00:14:38.580 --> 00:14:39.700
 I think it's kind of

00:14:39.700 --> 00:14:40.640
 buffered for us, right?

00:14:40.660 --> 00:14:41.840
 We have like cross necklaces.

00:14:42.040 --> 00:14:42.560
 There's a cross

00:14:42.560 --> 00:14:43.520
 at the front of the church.

00:14:43.680 --> 00:14:44.379
 Like it's just kind of

00:14:44.379 --> 00:14:45.300
 within the culture.

00:14:45.780 --> 00:14:46.360
 It just stands

00:14:46.360 --> 00:14:47.280
 for Christianity now.

00:14:48.200 --> 00:14:49.620
 So a Christian scholar

00:14:49.620 --> 00:14:50.200
 that I read

00:14:50.200 --> 00:14:51.020
 uses the analogy

00:14:51.020 --> 00:14:51.900
 of picturing like

00:14:51.900 --> 00:14:53.220
 a painting of a concentration

00:14:53.220 --> 00:14:54.280
 camp in a church.

00:14:54.660 --> 00:14:55.900
 Like that's the sensation

00:14:55.900 --> 00:14:56.460
 and the feeling

00:14:56.460 --> 00:14:57.379
 that's going on, right?

00:14:57.500 --> 00:14:58.140
 We're talking about

00:14:58.140 --> 00:14:59.240
 Christ gas chambered.

00:14:59.300 --> 00:14:59.759
 We're talking about

00:14:59.759 --> 00:15:00.879
 Christ beheaded, right?

00:15:00.879 --> 00:15:02.960
 This is gruesome, gross stuff

00:15:02.960 --> 00:15:03.919
 that feels foolish

00:15:03.919 --> 00:15:04.519
 to the world

00:15:04.519 --> 00:15:05.620
 that makes no sense.

00:15:07.559 --> 00:15:09.120
 And so in contrast, right,

00:15:09.179 --> 00:15:09.460
 he's saying

00:15:09.460 --> 00:15:10.480
 here's Christ crucified.

00:15:10.740 --> 00:15:11.519
 This is the meat

00:15:11.519 --> 00:15:12.220
 of the message.

00:15:12.659 --> 00:15:13.439
 He's saying that Jews

00:15:13.439 --> 00:15:14.580
 demand signs

00:15:14.580 --> 00:15:16.259
 and Greeks seek wisdom.

00:15:18.080 --> 00:15:18.980
 And so the sign

00:15:18.980 --> 00:15:19.799
 that in obviously

00:15:19.799 --> 00:15:20.740
 neither of these things

00:15:20.740 --> 00:15:21.659
 are exactly met

00:15:21.659 --> 00:15:22.860
 in Christ up front

00:15:22.860 --> 00:15:24.360
 is what Paul's saying, right?

00:15:24.439 --> 00:15:24.659
 You know,

00:15:24.720 --> 00:15:25.620
 they demand signs

00:15:25.620 --> 00:15:26.639
 but they get a stumbling block.

00:15:26.720 --> 00:15:27.419
 They demand wisdom

00:15:27.419 --> 00:15:28.559
 but they get foolishness.

00:15:29.159 --> 00:15:30.159
 And so for the Jews,

00:15:30.159 --> 00:15:30.879
 the sign demanding

00:15:30.879 --> 00:15:31.799
 appears to be more

00:15:31.799 --> 00:15:32.279
 of the like,

00:15:32.339 --> 00:15:32.959
 hey, do this

00:15:32.959 --> 00:15:33.679
 and I'll believe you

00:15:33.679 --> 00:15:34.360
 kind of thing

00:15:34.360 --> 00:15:35.939
 than it is like

00:15:35.939 --> 00:15:36.839
 a legitimate request

00:15:36.839 --> 00:15:37.360
 of faith.

00:15:38.240 --> 00:15:38.719
 And if you look

00:15:38.719 --> 00:15:39.219
 in the Gospels,

00:15:39.259 --> 00:15:39.919
 there's a couple times

00:15:39.919 --> 00:15:40.740
 where Jesus actually

00:15:40.740 --> 00:15:42.179
 refuses to do miracles

00:15:42.179 --> 00:15:43.980
 because of lack of faith.

00:15:44.659 --> 00:15:45.159
 And there are times

00:15:45.159 --> 00:15:45.980
 that God does miracles

00:15:45.980 --> 00:15:47.000
 to restore faith

00:15:47.000 --> 00:15:48.120
 or in answer to prayer.

00:15:48.179 --> 00:15:48.719
 So I'm not saying

00:15:48.719 --> 00:15:49.699
 this covers it entirely

00:15:49.699 --> 00:15:50.899
 but there seems to be

00:15:50.899 --> 00:15:52.139
 some demanding attitude

00:15:52.139 --> 00:15:52.939
 of hey God,

00:15:52.980 --> 00:15:53.759
 if you do this,

00:15:54.019 --> 00:15:55.139
 then I'll follow you

00:15:55.139 --> 00:15:55.799
 and believe you

00:15:55.799 --> 00:15:58.100
 that God does not appreciate

00:15:58.100 --> 00:15:59.039
 because it's almost

00:15:59.039 --> 00:15:59.860
 mocking him.

00:16:00.740 --> 00:16:01.299
 D.A. Carson,

00:16:01.399 --> 00:16:02.159
 a biblical scholar,

00:16:02.439 --> 00:16:03.699
 describes it this way.

00:16:04.139 --> 00:16:05.259
 The demand for signs

00:16:05.259 --> 00:16:06.079
 becomes the prototype

00:16:06.079 --> 00:16:07.179
 of every condition

00:16:07.179 --> 00:16:08.360
 human beings raise

00:16:08.360 --> 00:16:08.879
 as a barrier

00:16:08.879 --> 00:16:10.000
 to being open to God.

00:16:10.459 --> 00:16:11.439
 I will devote myself

00:16:11.439 --> 00:16:11.959
 to God

00:16:11.959 --> 00:16:13.519
 if he heals my child.

00:16:14.360 --> 00:16:15.620
 I will follow this Jesus

00:16:15.620 --> 00:16:16.980
 if I can maintain

00:16:16.980 --> 00:16:17.600
 my independence.

00:16:18.360 --> 00:16:19.079
 I will happily

00:16:19.079 --> 00:16:19.799
 become a Christian

00:16:19.799 --> 00:16:21.299
 if God proves himself

00:16:21.299 --> 00:16:21.699
 to me.

00:16:22.059 --> 00:16:23.419
 I will turn from my sin

00:16:23.419 --> 00:16:24.139
 and read the Bible

00:16:24.139 --> 00:16:25.339
 if my marriage

00:16:25.339 --> 00:16:26.039
 gets sorted out

00:16:26.039 --> 00:16:26.839
 to my satisfaction.

00:16:26.840 --> 00:16:28.300
 I will acknowledge

00:16:28.300 --> 00:16:29.220
 Jesus as Lord

00:16:29.220 --> 00:16:30.460
 if he performs

00:16:30.460 --> 00:16:31.180
 the kind of miracle

00:16:31.180 --> 00:16:31.740
 on demand

00:16:31.740 --> 00:16:32.639
 that removes all doubt.

00:16:33.220 --> 00:16:34.160
 In every case,

00:16:34.300 --> 00:16:35.480
 I'm assessing him.

00:16:35.860 --> 00:16:37.080
 He's not assessing me.

00:16:37.560 --> 00:16:38.680
 I'm not coming to God

00:16:38.680 --> 00:16:39.540
 on his terms.

00:16:39.879 --> 00:16:40.040
 Rather,

00:16:40.180 --> 00:16:41.340
 I'm stipulating terms

00:16:41.340 --> 00:16:42.340
 that he must accept

00:16:42.340 --> 00:16:43.720
 if he wants the privilege

00:16:43.720 --> 00:16:44.480
 of my company.

00:16:45.019 --> 00:16:46.040
 So that's the kind of

00:16:46.040 --> 00:16:47.480
 Jews demanding signs

00:16:47.480 --> 00:16:48.320
 that's going on here.

00:16:49.440 --> 00:16:49.960
 Similarly,

00:16:50.420 --> 00:16:51.300
 Greek seeking wisdom

00:16:51.300 --> 00:16:52.879
 is sort of a self-justifying

00:16:52.879 --> 00:16:53.560
 seeking of wisdom

00:16:53.559 --> 00:16:54.019
 as well.

00:16:54.879 --> 00:16:55.500
 He describes it,

00:16:55.579 --> 00:16:55.679
 you know,

00:16:55.719 --> 00:16:55.919
 it says,

00:16:56.019 --> 00:16:56.779
 they create entire

00:16:56.779 --> 00:16:57.799
 structures of thought

00:16:57.799 --> 00:16:58.779
 so as to maintain

00:16:58.779 --> 00:16:59.399
 the delusion

00:16:59.399 --> 00:17:00.239
 that they can explain

00:17:00.239 --> 00:17:00.739
 everything.

00:17:01.319 --> 00:17:01.899
 They think that they

00:17:01.899 --> 00:17:02.559
 are scientific

00:17:02.559 --> 00:17:03.500
 and control,

00:17:03.699 --> 00:17:04.139
 powerful.

00:17:04.679 --> 00:17:04.940
 God,

00:17:05.019 --> 00:17:05.599
 if he exists,

00:17:05.720 --> 00:17:06.599
 must meet the high

00:17:06.599 --> 00:17:07.500
 standards of their

00:17:07.500 --> 00:17:08.639
 academic and philosophical

00:17:08.639 --> 00:17:09.299
 prowess

00:17:09.299 --> 00:17:10.419
 and somehow fit

00:17:10.419 --> 00:17:11.299
 into their system

00:17:11.299 --> 00:17:12.659
 if he is to be given

00:17:12.659 --> 00:17:13.619
 any sort of

00:17:13.619 --> 00:17:14.460
 respectful hearing.

00:17:15.139 --> 00:17:15.919
 So God,

00:17:16.019 --> 00:17:16.460
 unsurprisingly,

00:17:16.619 --> 00:17:17.460
 does not fit into

00:17:17.460 --> 00:17:18.319
 either of these boxes

00:17:18.319 --> 00:17:19.299
 or demands neatly.

00:17:19.879 --> 00:17:20.720
 And so he becomes

00:17:20.720 --> 00:17:21.679
 a stumbling block

00:17:21.679 --> 00:17:22.460
 to these people.

00:17:22.460 --> 00:17:24.840
 And so you might fit

00:17:24.840 --> 00:17:25.900
 into one of these boxes too.

00:17:26.660 --> 00:17:27.140
 You may,

00:17:27.420 --> 00:17:28.079
 like right now,

00:17:28.140 --> 00:17:28.940
 feel like I could

00:17:28.940 --> 00:17:29.960
 really trust God more

00:17:29.960 --> 00:17:30.980
 if he did one of

00:17:30.980 --> 00:17:31.640
 these specific things

00:17:31.640 --> 00:17:32.400
 for me or answered

00:17:32.400 --> 00:17:33.079
 this prayer that I've

00:17:33.079 --> 00:17:33.700
 really been praying

00:17:33.700 --> 00:17:34.640
 or that I'm leaning into.

00:17:35.440 --> 00:17:36.279
 Or you might be

00:17:36.279 --> 00:17:37.140
 in strong doubt,

00:17:37.220 --> 00:17:37.420
 right?

00:17:37.460 --> 00:17:37.900
 You say,

00:17:38.000 --> 00:17:38.220
 okay,

00:17:38.240 --> 00:17:39.220
 I found this one

00:17:39.220 --> 00:17:40.240
 intellectual idea

00:17:40.240 --> 00:17:41.799
 and God doesn't

00:17:41.799 --> 00:17:42.360
 meet it

00:17:42.360 --> 00:17:43.539
 and so I can't

00:17:43.539 --> 00:17:44.000
 believe in him

00:17:44.000 --> 00:17:45.480
 until he meets that.

00:17:47.160 --> 00:17:47.700
 And so I see

00:17:47.700 --> 00:17:48.360
 both Christians

00:17:48.360 --> 00:17:49.180
 and people who

00:17:49.180 --> 00:17:50.059
 don't believe in Jesus

00:17:50.059 --> 00:17:50.860
 could fall into

00:17:50.860 --> 00:17:51.460
 this situation.

00:17:51.460 --> 00:17:53.160
 And there's

00:17:53.160 --> 00:17:53.700
 an encouraging

00:17:53.700 --> 00:17:54.400
 aspect to this,

00:17:54.440 --> 00:17:54.620
 right?

00:17:55.000 --> 00:17:55.960
 If this is you,

00:17:56.160 --> 00:17:56.799
 know that Jesus

00:17:56.799 --> 00:17:57.660
 is not just

00:17:57.660 --> 00:17:58.279
 a difficulty

00:17:58.279 --> 00:17:58.900
 to your system

00:17:58.900 --> 00:17:59.360
 of thought

00:17:59.360 --> 00:17:59.720
 or the way

00:17:59.720 --> 00:18:00.579
 you perceive things.

00:18:00.759 --> 00:18:02.140
 He's also the answer,

00:18:02.340 --> 00:18:02.539
 right?

00:18:02.860 --> 00:18:03.440
 Paul does not

00:18:03.440 --> 00:18:04.039
 just leave it as,

00:18:04.160 --> 00:18:04.279
 okay,

00:18:04.400 --> 00:18:05.720
 so Christ is foolishness

00:18:05.720 --> 00:18:06.120
 and that's all

00:18:06.120 --> 00:18:06.460
 that there is

00:18:06.460 --> 00:18:07.120
 to say about it.

00:18:07.539 --> 00:18:08.559
 He says at the end

00:18:08.559 --> 00:18:09.360
 of verse 24,

00:18:09.740 --> 00:18:11.059
 to those who are called,

00:18:11.420 --> 00:18:12.519
 Christ is the power

00:18:12.519 --> 00:18:13.019
 of God

00:18:13.019 --> 00:18:13.880
 and Christ is

00:18:13.880 --> 00:18:14.819
 the wisdom of God.

00:18:16.420 --> 00:18:17.100
 And so it might not

00:18:17.100 --> 00:18:18.200
 be the message

00:18:18.200 --> 00:18:19.340
 that you want to hear

00:18:19.340 --> 00:18:19.960
 or the one

00:18:19.960 --> 00:18:20.559
 that you're bringing

00:18:20.559 --> 00:18:21.059
 to God,

00:18:21.279 --> 00:18:22.460
 but God is approaching

00:18:22.460 --> 00:18:23.960
 you within both

00:18:23.960 --> 00:18:24.879
 power and wisdom,

00:18:25.220 --> 00:18:26.299
 providing a better way,

00:18:26.359 --> 00:18:27.319
 an ultimate satisfaction

00:18:27.319 --> 00:18:28.579
 to what you really want.

00:18:29.379 --> 00:18:30.099
 Tim Keller,

00:18:30.220 --> 00:18:30.659
 who's a pastor

00:18:30.659 --> 00:18:31.139
 in New York,

00:18:31.220 --> 00:18:32.519
 says this about this passage.

00:18:32.919 --> 00:18:33.099
 He says,

00:18:33.259 --> 00:18:34.279
 notice while the gospel

00:18:34.279 --> 00:18:35.440
 offended each culture

00:18:35.440 --> 00:18:36.599
 in somewhat different ways,

00:18:37.019 --> 00:18:38.039
 it also drew people

00:18:38.039 --> 00:18:38.740
 to see Christ

00:18:38.740 --> 00:18:39.319
 and his work

00:18:39.319 --> 00:18:40.039
 in different ways.

00:18:40.700 --> 00:18:41.559
 Greeks who were saved

00:18:41.559 --> 00:18:42.619
 came to see that the cross

00:18:42.619 --> 00:18:44.079
 was the ultimate wisdom,

00:18:44.659 --> 00:18:45.460
 making it possible

00:18:45.460 --> 00:18:46.899
 for God to be both just

00:18:46.899 --> 00:18:47.980
 and the justifier

00:18:47.980 --> 00:18:48.920
 of those who believe.

00:18:49.579 --> 00:18:50.920
 And Jews who had been saved

00:18:50.920 --> 00:18:52.319
 came to see

00:18:52.319 --> 00:18:52.880
 that the cross

00:18:52.880 --> 00:18:53.920
 was true power.

00:18:54.360 --> 00:18:54.940
 It meant that our

00:18:54.940 --> 00:18:56.160
 most powerful enemies,

00:18:56.480 --> 00:18:57.339
 sin, guilt,

00:18:57.500 --> 00:18:58.279
 and death itself

00:18:58.279 --> 00:18:59.099
 have been defeated.

00:18:59.799 --> 00:19:00.660
 It is striking then

00:19:00.660 --> 00:19:01.339
 to see how Paul

00:19:01.339 --> 00:19:02.319
 applies the gospel

00:19:02.319 --> 00:19:03.460
 to confront

00:19:03.460 --> 00:19:04.740
 and complete

00:19:04.740 --> 00:19:05.980
 each society's

00:19:05.980 --> 00:19:07.180
 baseline cultural narrative.

00:19:07.620 --> 00:19:08.279
 He does this

00:19:08.279 --> 00:19:09.019
 both negatively

00:19:09.019 --> 00:19:10.220
 and positively.

00:19:10.720 --> 00:19:11.480
 He confronts

00:19:11.480 --> 00:19:12.000
 each culture

00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:12.700
 for its idols,

00:19:12.700 --> 00:19:13.799
 yet he positively

00:19:13.799 --> 00:19:15.140
 highlights their aspirations

00:19:15.140 --> 00:19:16.700
 and ultimate values.

00:19:17.460 --> 00:19:18.160
 And I think that that

00:19:18.160 --> 00:19:18.720
 saying like,

00:19:18.800 --> 00:19:18.980
 you know,

00:19:19.180 --> 00:19:20.200
 Paul says this,

00:19:20.540 --> 00:19:21.600
 Jesus stands as a front

00:19:21.600 --> 00:19:22.600
 against this part

00:19:22.600 --> 00:19:23.340
 of what you want,

00:19:23.420 --> 00:19:24.580
 but Jesus is also

00:19:24.580 --> 00:19:25.820
 ultimately what you want

00:19:25.820 --> 00:19:26.160
 in himself

00:19:26.160 --> 00:19:26.780
 because he's delivering

00:19:26.780 --> 00:19:27.520
 something even better

00:19:27.520 --> 00:19:28.300
 than you imagined

00:19:28.300 --> 00:19:29.360
 in himself crucified.

00:19:29.920 --> 00:19:30.900
 And this is why Paul

00:19:30.900 --> 00:19:31.960
 can say in verse 25,

00:19:32.240 --> 00:19:33.180
 the foolishness of God

00:19:33.180 --> 00:19:34.259
 is wiser than men

00:19:34.259 --> 00:19:35.540
 and the weakness of God

00:19:35.540 --> 00:19:36.640
 is stronger than men.

00:19:37.220 --> 00:19:38.020
 God in his wisdom

00:19:38.020 --> 00:19:38.820
 gave the greatest

00:19:38.820 --> 00:19:39.800
 act of power

00:19:39.800 --> 00:19:40.900
 in Jesus' death

00:19:40.900 --> 00:19:41.500
 and resurrection

00:19:41.500 --> 00:19:42.840
 that sets us free

00:19:42.840 --> 00:19:43.340
 from sin

00:19:43.340 --> 00:19:44.200
 and guilt and shame

00:19:44.200 --> 00:19:45.180
 and the greatest

00:19:45.180 --> 00:19:45.960
 turn of wisdom

00:19:45.960 --> 00:19:47.200
 in offering a relationship

00:19:47.200 --> 00:19:48.519
 directly with himself.

00:19:50.240 --> 00:19:51.019
 I don't think that it's,

00:19:51.080 --> 00:19:51.759
 just as a side note,

00:19:51.819 --> 00:19:52.340
 I don't think it should

00:19:52.340 --> 00:19:53.200
 surprise us too much

00:19:53.200 --> 00:19:53.680
 that God,

00:19:53.840 --> 00:19:54.420
 who is a being

00:19:54.420 --> 00:19:55.500
 who created everything

00:19:55.500 --> 00:19:56.420
 and knows everything

00:19:56.420 --> 00:19:57.559
 and is beyond us

00:19:57.559 --> 00:19:58.500
 to an extent,

00:19:59.039 --> 00:20:00.299
 acts in ways

00:20:00.299 --> 00:20:01.340
 that might seem foolish

00:20:01.340 --> 00:20:02.259
 to us, right?

00:20:02.680 --> 00:20:03.740
 God may not answer

00:20:03.740 --> 00:20:04.940
 directly the demands

00:20:04.940 --> 00:20:05.620
 that we have

00:20:05.620 --> 00:20:06.600
 because we might be

00:20:06.600 --> 00:20:07.299
 the foolish ones.

00:20:07.440 --> 00:20:07.940
 We're the ones

00:20:07.940 --> 00:20:08.480
 sitting without

00:20:08.480 --> 00:20:09.440
 the entire picture.

00:20:11.340 --> 00:20:12.120
 And as a note,

00:20:12.180 --> 00:20:12.779
 I think that this

00:20:12.779 --> 00:20:13.940
 is a framework

00:20:13.940 --> 00:20:15.599
 of the gospel

00:20:15.599 --> 00:20:16.420
 both offending

00:20:16.420 --> 00:20:17.399
 and confirming

00:20:17.399 --> 00:20:18.779
 desires of individuals

00:20:18.779 --> 00:20:19.940
 that fits really well,

00:20:20.039 --> 00:20:20.240
 right?

00:20:20.559 --> 00:20:21.319
 Like Paul's using

00:20:21.319 --> 00:20:22.399
 Jews and Greeks here

00:20:22.399 --> 00:20:22.960
 to talk about

00:20:22.960 --> 00:20:23.960
 how Christ crucified

00:20:23.960 --> 00:20:25.279
 stands as a front

00:20:25.279 --> 00:20:26.339
 and a comfort to them.

00:20:26.700 --> 00:20:27.460
 But I think of

00:20:27.460 --> 00:20:28.240
 like something that

00:20:28.240 --> 00:20:28.960
 my generation

00:20:28.960 --> 00:20:30.420
 particularly struggles with

00:20:30.420 --> 00:20:31.539
 is,

00:20:31.720 --> 00:20:32.779
 or particularly desires,

00:20:32.899 --> 00:20:33.359
 is the totally

00:20:33.359 --> 00:20:34.240
 autonomous life,

00:20:34.339 --> 00:20:34.579
 right?

00:20:34.740 --> 00:20:35.399
 These are phrases

00:20:35.399 --> 00:20:36.319
 that I hear regularly.

00:20:37.079 --> 00:20:37.960
 People want to lead

00:20:37.960 --> 00:20:38.819
 a balanced life,

00:20:39.639 --> 00:20:40.740
 plan out career development

00:20:40.740 --> 00:20:41.299
 and map out

00:20:41.299 --> 00:20:42.380
 like a five to ten year plan.

00:20:42.819 --> 00:20:44.059
 Have full flexibility.

00:20:44.859 --> 00:20:46.220
 Live for and only act

00:20:46.220 --> 00:20:46.980
 on the goals

00:20:46.980 --> 00:20:47.620
 that we set

00:20:47.620 --> 00:20:48.240
 for our lives

00:20:48.240 --> 00:20:48.960
 specifically.

00:20:49.759 --> 00:20:50.559
 Make sure that we're

00:20:50.559 --> 00:20:51.200
 following things

00:20:51.200 --> 00:20:52.440
 that we're passionate about

00:20:52.440 --> 00:20:54.039
 and shed relationships

00:20:54.039 --> 00:20:54.579
 and jobs

00:20:54.579 --> 00:20:54.920
 and anything

00:20:54.920 --> 00:20:55.500
 that stops you

00:20:55.500 --> 00:20:55.920
 from achieving

00:20:55.920 --> 00:20:56.759
 any of those things,

00:20:56.799 --> 00:20:57.000
 right?

00:20:57.519 --> 00:20:58.680
 So that drive

00:20:58.680 --> 00:20:59.240
 for independence

00:20:59.240 --> 00:21:01.160
 is kind of idolized

00:21:01.160 --> 00:21:01.680
 and held high

00:21:01.680 --> 00:21:02.200
 in our culture.

00:21:02.559 --> 00:21:03.000
 And I think that

00:21:03.000 --> 00:21:03.740
 some of these things

00:21:03.740 --> 00:21:04.180
 on their own

00:21:04.180 --> 00:21:04.680
 are admirable

00:21:04.680 --> 00:21:05.539
 to an extent.

00:21:06.500 --> 00:21:07.279
 But I picture

00:21:07.279 --> 00:21:08.120
 this verse reading

00:21:08.119 --> 00:21:08.739
 to me,

00:21:09.099 --> 00:21:10.159
 you seek independence

00:21:10.159 --> 00:21:11.419
 but we preach

00:21:11.419 --> 00:21:12.339
 Christ crucified

00:21:12.339 --> 00:21:13.459
 and enslavement

00:21:13.459 --> 00:21:13.919
 to you

00:21:13.919 --> 00:21:15.439
 but to those

00:21:15.439 --> 00:21:16.099
 who are called

00:21:16.099 --> 00:21:17.239
 the true freedom

00:21:17.239 --> 00:21:17.779
 of God.

00:21:18.419 --> 00:21:19.279
 Jesus does not

00:21:19.279 --> 00:21:19.979
 call us to

00:21:19.979 --> 00:21:20.539
 independence,

00:21:20.779 --> 00:21:20.979
 right?

00:21:21.359 --> 00:21:21.979
 He calls us

00:21:21.979 --> 00:21:22.459
 to dependence

00:21:22.459 --> 00:21:22.979
 on himself.

00:21:23.159 --> 00:21:23.519
 He calls us

00:21:23.519 --> 00:21:24.019
 to give up

00:21:24.019 --> 00:21:24.500
 ourselves

00:21:24.500 --> 00:21:25.679
 and deny ourselves

00:21:25.679 --> 00:21:26.459
 and follow him.

00:21:26.799 --> 00:21:27.199
 And there are

00:21:27.199 --> 00:21:28.039
 things along the way

00:21:28.039 --> 00:21:28.859
 that might not

00:21:28.859 --> 00:21:29.419
 fit exactly

00:21:29.419 --> 00:21:29.979
 with our goals

00:21:29.979 --> 00:21:30.559
 or our passions

00:21:30.559 --> 00:21:31.299
 or what we want

00:21:31.299 --> 00:21:31.799
 to achieve

00:21:31.799 --> 00:21:32.539
 in that moment.

00:21:34.219 --> 00:21:35.299
 But he gives us

00:21:35.299 --> 00:21:35.839
 more than that.

00:21:35.899 --> 00:21:36.199
 He gives us

00:21:36.199 --> 00:21:37.279
 the ultimate satisfaction

00:21:37.279 --> 00:21:38.039
 that we're desiring

00:21:38.039 --> 00:21:38.440
 out of that,

00:21:38.519 --> 00:21:38.639
 right?

00:21:38.660 --> 00:21:39.180
 He calls us

00:21:39.180 --> 00:21:39.940
 into relationship

00:21:39.940 --> 00:21:40.559
 with himself.

00:21:40.819 --> 00:21:41.480
 He calls us

00:21:41.480 --> 00:21:42.420
 into community.

00:21:44.119 --> 00:21:44.519
 In this,

00:21:44.619 --> 00:21:45.379
 we find freedom

00:21:45.379 --> 00:21:46.139
 in structure,

00:21:46.420 --> 00:21:46.619
 right?

00:21:46.720 --> 00:21:47.279
 In the structure

00:21:47.279 --> 00:21:47.799
 of church.

00:21:47.940 --> 00:21:48.879
 We find maturity

00:21:48.879 --> 00:21:49.460
 and growth

00:21:49.460 --> 00:21:50.019
 in prayer

00:21:50.019 --> 00:21:50.639
 and the word

00:21:50.639 --> 00:21:51.139
 rather than

00:21:51.139 --> 00:21:52.039
 in our specific

00:21:52.039 --> 00:21:52.619
 development

00:21:52.619 --> 00:21:53.460
 that we've defined.

00:21:53.859 --> 00:21:54.200
 And we find

00:21:54.200 --> 00:21:54.579
 the support

00:21:54.579 --> 00:21:55.079
 and love

00:21:55.079 --> 00:21:55.559
 and purpose

00:21:55.559 --> 00:21:56.059
 and passion

00:21:56.059 --> 00:21:56.980
 that we really want

00:21:56.980 --> 00:21:57.700
 in following

00:21:57.700 --> 00:21:58.480
 after Jesus.

00:21:59.399 --> 00:21:59.920
 So I think

00:21:59.920 --> 00:22:00.279
 that this,

00:22:00.539 --> 00:22:01.200
 you can think

00:22:01.200 --> 00:22:01.519
 about this

00:22:01.519 --> 00:22:01.859
 in a lot

00:22:01.859 --> 00:22:02.359
 of different ways

00:22:02.359 --> 00:22:03.059
 but our culture

00:22:03.059 --> 00:22:03.299
 will,

00:22:03.440 --> 00:22:03.920
 there will always

00:22:03.920 --> 00:22:04.839
 be something

00:22:04.839 --> 00:22:05.379
 in our culture

00:22:05.379 --> 00:22:06.379
 that is offended

00:22:06.380 --> 00:22:06.920
 by something

00:22:06.920 --> 00:22:07.800
 Jesus has to say

00:22:07.800 --> 00:22:08.780
 but beneath that

00:22:08.780 --> 00:22:09.280
 there will always

00:22:09.280 --> 00:22:09.920
 be an ultimate

00:22:09.920 --> 00:22:10.560
 satisfaction

00:22:10.560 --> 00:22:10.980
 that Jesus

00:22:10.980 --> 00:22:11.700
 has to offer.

00:22:12.860 --> 00:22:13.480
 And so hear that

00:22:13.480 --> 00:22:14.140
 today and hear it

00:22:14.140 --> 00:22:14.860
 for what you,

00:22:15.000 --> 00:22:15.480
 if you fall

00:22:15.480 --> 00:22:16.020
 into the camp

00:22:16.020 --> 00:22:16.340
 of, you know,

00:22:16.400 --> 00:22:17.080
 I need God

00:22:17.080 --> 00:22:17.860
 to perform a sign

00:22:17.860 --> 00:22:19.180
 or I need God

00:22:19.180 --> 00:22:19.660
 to fit my

00:22:19.660 --> 00:22:20.500
 intellectual structure

00:22:20.500 --> 00:22:21.280
 or I need God

00:22:21.280 --> 00:22:22.100
 to fit my schedule

00:22:22.100 --> 00:22:22.680
 and my time

00:22:22.680 --> 00:22:23.440
 and my independence.

00:22:24.540 --> 00:22:25.420
 Hear that Christ

00:22:25.420 --> 00:22:26.080
 is an affront

00:22:26.080 --> 00:22:26.500
 to that

00:22:26.500 --> 00:22:27.440
 but also that

00:22:27.440 --> 00:22:28.400
 he is a satisfaction

00:22:28.400 --> 00:22:29.280
 to that as well.

00:22:30.800 --> 00:22:31.700
 So this is one part

00:22:31.700 --> 00:22:32.280
 of Paul's argument,

00:22:32.420 --> 00:22:32.580
 right?

00:22:32.700 --> 00:22:33.160
 He's saying

00:22:33.160 --> 00:22:33.640
 that the message

00:22:33.640 --> 00:22:34.200
 of the cross

00:22:34.200 --> 00:22:35.440
 subverts human wisdom,

00:22:35.580 --> 00:22:35.780
 right?

00:22:35.900 --> 00:22:37.060
 It seems foolish

00:22:37.060 --> 00:22:37.880
 but it ultimately

00:22:37.880 --> 00:22:39.020
 gives what we desire.

00:22:40.580 --> 00:22:41.360
 The next example

00:22:41.360 --> 00:22:41.840
 that he uses,

00:22:41.960 --> 00:22:42.340
 he's going through

00:22:42.340 --> 00:22:42.680
 the argument

00:22:42.680 --> 00:22:43.440
 basically of saying

00:22:43.440 --> 00:22:44.160
 world's wisdom

00:22:44.160 --> 00:22:44.880
 is nothing compared

00:22:44.880 --> 00:22:45.340
 to God.

00:22:45.660 --> 00:22:45.940
 He says,

00:22:46.040 --> 00:22:46.420
 oh, you know,

00:22:46.460 --> 00:22:47.220
 a good point of argument

00:22:47.220 --> 00:22:48.720
 would be the Corinthians too.

00:22:49.400 --> 00:22:50.140
 So he says

00:22:50.140 --> 00:22:51.020
 in verse 26

00:22:51.020 --> 00:22:51.980
 talking about

00:22:51.980 --> 00:22:52.860
 how God's wisdom

00:22:52.860 --> 00:22:53.380
 is revealed

00:22:53.380 --> 00:22:54.080
 through his people,

00:22:54.820 --> 00:22:55.680
 consider your calling,

00:22:55.840 --> 00:22:56.040
 brothers.

00:22:56.440 --> 00:22:57.120
 Not many of you

00:22:57.120 --> 00:22:57.600
 were wise

00:22:57.600 --> 00:22:58.840
 according to worldly standards.

00:22:59.040 --> 00:22:59.960
 Not many were powerful.

00:23:00.380 --> 00:23:01.600
 Not many were of noble birth.

00:23:02.319 --> 00:23:03.079
 So I picture Paul

00:23:03.079 --> 00:23:03.959
 like sitting there

00:23:03.959 --> 00:23:05.059
 dictating to a scribe

00:23:05.059 --> 00:23:05.899
 and he's thinking through,

00:23:06.000 --> 00:23:06.899
 okay, so I've got to prove

00:23:06.899 --> 00:23:07.899
 that God works

00:23:07.899 --> 00:23:08.679
 through foolish ways.

00:23:09.059 --> 00:23:09.619
 Okay, so we've talked

00:23:09.619 --> 00:23:10.139
 about the cross.

00:23:10.219 --> 00:23:11.019
 What else can we talk about?

00:23:11.279 --> 00:23:11.659
 Oh, you know,

00:23:11.719 --> 00:23:12.159
 the Corinthians,

00:23:12.319 --> 00:23:12.980
 they're kind of morons.

00:23:13.039 --> 00:23:13.519
 I could use them

00:23:13.519 --> 00:23:14.139
 as an example

00:23:14.139 --> 00:23:15.419
 of how God working

00:23:15.419 --> 00:23:16.240
 through foolish things.

00:23:17.559 --> 00:23:18.439
 So I don't think

00:23:18.439 --> 00:23:19.819
 that it's quite that arbitrary

00:23:19.819 --> 00:23:21.000
 of what Paul was going through

00:23:21.000 --> 00:23:21.799
 but it is a bit

00:23:21.799 --> 00:23:22.719
 of an affront, right?

00:23:22.859 --> 00:23:23.659
 He's coming out

00:23:23.659 --> 00:23:24.079
 and saying,

00:23:24.279 --> 00:23:24.699
 hey, you know,

00:23:24.819 --> 00:23:26.559
 you were not of great means.

00:23:27.419 --> 00:23:29.159
 You were not of noble birth.

00:23:30.160 --> 00:23:30.759
 And I think that

00:23:30.759 --> 00:23:31.700
 from what we can tell

00:23:31.700 --> 00:23:32.140
 in the letter

00:23:32.140 --> 00:23:33.160
 and from context,

00:23:33.560 --> 00:23:34.940
 it's likely that there were

00:23:34.940 --> 00:23:36.140
 like a minority

00:23:36.140 --> 00:23:36.680
 in the church

00:23:36.680 --> 00:23:37.500
 that were powerful,

00:23:37.700 --> 00:23:38.759
 a minority that would fit

00:23:38.759 --> 00:23:39.820
 this description.

00:23:40.420 --> 00:23:41.220
 It doesn't seem like

00:23:41.220 --> 00:23:41.680
 there were a lot

00:23:41.680 --> 00:23:42.060
 in the church

00:23:42.060 --> 00:23:43.480
 that were absolutely destitute,

00:23:43.680 --> 00:23:44.620
 like in desperate need.

00:23:45.360 --> 00:23:46.500
 But the majority of people

00:23:46.500 --> 00:23:47.279
 would kind of fit the,

00:23:47.340 --> 00:23:47.519
 you know,

00:23:47.560 --> 00:23:49.080
 not very powerful,

00:23:49.540 --> 00:23:50.560
 not super influential,

00:23:50.820 --> 00:23:52.360
 not from a super notable family.

00:23:52.880 --> 00:23:53.600
 Just kind of falling

00:23:53.600 --> 00:23:54.220
 into that comfortable

00:23:54.220 --> 00:23:54.800
 middle bucket

00:23:54.800 --> 00:23:56.700
 of lack of worldly influence.

00:23:57.580 --> 00:23:58.580
 And Paul goes on to say

00:23:58.580 --> 00:24:00.180
 that this isn't a bad thing,

00:24:00.500 --> 00:24:01.740
 that this is actually

00:24:01.740 --> 00:24:02.539
 a good thing.

00:24:02.960 --> 00:24:03.980
 And so in verse 27,

00:24:04.080 --> 00:24:04.420
 he says,

00:24:04.420 --> 00:24:05.860
 God chose what is foolish

00:24:05.860 --> 00:24:06.519
 in the world

00:24:06.519 --> 00:24:07.519
 to shame the wise.

00:24:07.860 --> 00:24:09.080
 God chose what is weak

00:24:09.080 --> 00:24:09.559
 in the world

00:24:09.559 --> 00:24:10.460
 to shame the strong.

00:24:10.920 --> 00:24:12.200
 God chose what is low

00:24:12.200 --> 00:24:13.460
 and despised in the world,

00:24:13.799 --> 00:24:15.059
 even things that are not,

00:24:15.259 --> 00:24:16.059
 to bring to nothing

00:24:16.059 --> 00:24:16.900
 things that are,

00:24:17.340 --> 00:24:18.500
 so that no human being

00:24:18.500 --> 00:24:19.140
 might boast

00:24:19.140 --> 00:24:20.279
 in the presence of God.

00:24:21.360 --> 00:24:22.299
 And so the first thing

00:24:22.299 --> 00:24:23.059
 to note is that

00:24:23.059 --> 00:24:24.160
 Paul might have actually

00:24:24.160 --> 00:24:25.140
 been kind of underhandedly

00:24:25.140 --> 00:24:26.059
 directing this passage

00:24:26.059 --> 00:24:26.519
 at the people

00:24:26.519 --> 00:24:27.480
 who were something

00:24:27.480 --> 00:24:28.980
 because he's saying

00:24:28.980 --> 00:24:30.480
 that that's not really

00:24:30.480 --> 00:24:31.440
 what matters, right?

00:24:31.500 --> 00:24:32.779
 And the reason I think this

00:24:32.779 --> 00:24:34.099
 is because the powerful ones

00:24:34.099 --> 00:24:35.619
 seem to be the troublemakers

00:24:35.619 --> 00:24:36.299
 throughout Corinthians.

00:24:36.619 --> 00:24:38.019
 We'll see a few other issues

00:24:38.019 --> 00:24:39.740
 come up where believers

00:24:39.740 --> 00:24:40.559
 are taking each other

00:24:40.559 --> 00:24:41.879
 to court in chapter six.

00:24:42.500 --> 00:24:43.339
 There seems to be

00:24:43.339 --> 00:24:44.779
 this group of stronger believers

00:24:44.779 --> 00:24:46.559
 who are like strong-arming

00:24:46.559 --> 00:24:47.480
 weaker believers

00:24:47.480 --> 00:24:48.720
 in chapters eight through ten

00:24:48.720 --> 00:24:50.159
 in regards to eating meat

00:24:50.159 --> 00:24:51.019
 offered to idols.

00:24:52.259 --> 00:24:53.639
 Paul chastises some believers

00:24:53.639 --> 00:24:54.579
 for eating too much

00:24:54.579 --> 00:24:55.419
 of communion essentially

00:24:55.420 --> 00:24:56.500
 and leaving others hungry

00:24:56.500 --> 00:24:57.300
 in chapter 11.

00:24:57.900 --> 00:24:59.039
 These are all probably

00:24:59.039 --> 00:25:00.100
 directed at people

00:25:00.100 --> 00:25:01.039
 who are powerful enough

00:25:01.039 --> 00:25:01.800
 to do those things,

00:25:01.860 --> 00:25:02.860
 to bring people to court,

00:25:03.000 --> 00:25:03.940
 to bring their own food

00:25:03.940 --> 00:25:04.980
 and eat whatever they want to.

00:25:06.560 --> 00:25:07.300
 And so this passage

00:25:07.300 --> 00:25:07.920
 is a reminder

00:25:07.920 --> 00:25:09.220
 to level the playing field

00:25:09.220 --> 00:25:09.800
 for the ones

00:25:09.800 --> 00:25:11.100
 who are better off, right?

00:25:11.440 --> 00:25:12.279
 God has chosen

00:25:12.279 --> 00:25:13.460
 specifically the weak

00:25:13.460 --> 00:25:14.259
 and the poor

00:25:14.259 --> 00:25:15.380
 and the things that are nothing

00:25:15.380 --> 00:25:16.539
 to shame the rich

00:25:16.539 --> 00:25:17.220
 and the wise.

00:25:18.180 --> 00:25:18.640
 And keep in mind

00:25:18.640 --> 00:25:20.100
 that God has regularly chosen

00:25:20.100 --> 00:25:21.340
 those of lower regard

00:25:21.340 --> 00:25:22.140
 to do his work.

00:25:22.539 --> 00:25:23.380
 I feel like our series

00:25:23.380 --> 00:25:24.220
 in Genesis showed

00:25:24.220 --> 00:25:25.180
 this week in and week out.

00:25:25.260 --> 00:25:26.880
 It was often the discussion

00:25:26.880 --> 00:25:27.260
 of, well,

00:25:27.600 --> 00:25:28.700
 there's this older sibling

00:25:28.700 --> 00:25:29.900
 and they should have gotten

00:25:29.900 --> 00:25:30.820
 the power and the respect,

00:25:30.980 --> 00:25:32.180
 but actually the younger sibling

00:25:32.180 --> 00:25:32.660
 got it.

00:25:32.880 --> 00:25:33.480
 Or, you know,

00:25:33.540 --> 00:25:34.620
 there's this great person

00:25:34.620 --> 00:25:35.100
 over here

00:25:35.100 --> 00:25:35.620
 that could have done

00:25:35.620 --> 00:25:36.180
 good things,

00:25:36.540 --> 00:25:38.020
 but instead this person

00:25:38.020 --> 00:25:38.900
 who really messed up a lot

00:25:38.900 --> 00:25:40.220
 ends up being really important.

00:25:41.260 --> 00:25:42.300
 And so this is kind of

00:25:42.300 --> 00:25:43.520
 God's MO, right?

00:25:43.520 --> 00:25:45.020
 This is how he works typically.

00:25:46.560 --> 00:25:48.340
 And let me not mince words here, right?

00:25:48.340 --> 00:25:49.560
 I'm not talking just about

00:25:49.560 --> 00:25:50.540
 like spiritual poverty.

00:25:50.659 --> 00:25:51.500
 I think there's a fine line

00:25:51.500 --> 00:25:52.099
 to walk here.

00:25:52.399 --> 00:25:53.059
 I think that some people

00:25:53.059 --> 00:25:53.659
 will say, oh,

00:25:53.759 --> 00:25:55.819
 like the poor by material poverty

00:25:55.819 --> 00:25:56.619
 are saved, right?

00:25:56.619 --> 00:25:57.519
 I don't think that that's right.

00:25:57.859 --> 00:25:58.819
 I don't think that that's something

00:25:58.819 --> 00:25:59.539
 that our church

00:25:59.539 --> 00:26:00.519
 particularly struggles with.

00:26:00.779 --> 00:26:02.119
 I think that when we sit

00:26:02.119 --> 00:26:03.240
 in a more affluent area,

00:26:03.599 --> 00:26:04.639
 it's easier to say,

00:26:04.759 --> 00:26:05.839
 oh, God's just talking

00:26:05.839 --> 00:26:07.019
 about spiritual poverty

00:26:07.019 --> 00:26:09.299
 in a poor in spirit aspect.

00:26:10.139 --> 00:26:11.019
 I think that there's

00:26:11.019 --> 00:26:12.599
 some real status going on here.

00:26:13.680 --> 00:26:15.579
 I think of just with Christmas

00:26:15.579 --> 00:26:16.420
 coming up soon,

00:26:16.480 --> 00:26:17.759
 I was thinking of the Magnificat

00:26:17.759 --> 00:26:18.659
 that Mary speaks.

00:26:18.660 --> 00:26:20.480
 It's in Luke 1,

00:26:20.880 --> 00:26:21.400
 and I'll just read

00:26:21.400 --> 00:26:22.560
 a few verses from it,

00:26:22.940 --> 00:26:25.840
 where Mary praises God

00:26:25.840 --> 00:26:27.680
 for giving her Jesus.

00:26:29.340 --> 00:26:30.640
 And she says this

00:26:30.640 --> 00:26:31.500
 inside of this prayer.

00:26:32.000 --> 00:26:33.040
 He has shown strength

00:26:33.040 --> 00:26:33.720
 with his arm,

00:26:33.840 --> 00:26:34.560
 speaking of God.

00:26:35.160 --> 00:26:36.240
 He has scattered the proud

00:26:36.240 --> 00:26:36.700
 in the thoughts

00:26:36.700 --> 00:26:37.259
 of their hearts.

00:26:37.560 --> 00:26:38.400
 He has brought down

00:26:38.400 --> 00:26:39.600
 the mighty from their thrones

00:26:39.600 --> 00:26:40.600
 and exalted those

00:26:40.600 --> 00:26:41.600
 of humble estate.

00:26:42.220 --> 00:26:43.460
 He has filled the hungry

00:26:43.460 --> 00:26:44.380
 with good things

00:26:44.380 --> 00:26:46.120
 and the rich he has sent away.

00:26:46.540 --> 00:26:48.100
 He has helped his servant Israel

00:26:48.099 --> 00:26:49.519
 in remembrance of his mercy

00:26:49.519 --> 00:26:51.179
 as he spoke to our fathers,

00:26:51.459 --> 00:26:51.959
 to Abraham,

00:26:52.219 --> 00:26:53.619
 and to his offspring forever.

00:26:54.579 --> 00:26:55.740
 And I think that the framework

00:26:55.740 --> 00:26:56.619
 that's given in the Bible

00:26:56.619 --> 00:26:57.879
 regularly for people

00:26:57.879 --> 00:26:58.779
 that are well off

00:26:58.779 --> 00:26:59.399
 and of good means

00:26:59.399 --> 00:27:00.599
 is to be extremely generous.

00:27:01.339 --> 00:27:01.740
 Zacchaeus,

00:27:01.779 --> 00:27:02.899
 the second he becomes a Christian,

00:27:03.039 --> 00:27:03.959
 goes and not only

00:27:03.959 --> 00:27:05.219
 doubly repays everyone

00:27:05.219 --> 00:27:06.000
 that he's ever offended,

00:27:06.319 --> 00:27:06.879
 but gives away

00:27:06.879 --> 00:27:07.959
 a lot of his money as well.

00:27:08.679 --> 00:27:09.519
 Joseph of Arimathea

00:27:09.519 --> 00:27:10.759
 gives his entire tomb

00:27:10.759 --> 00:27:12.259
 for Jesus' burial,

00:27:12.379 --> 00:27:13.559
 a very luxurious gift.

00:27:14.480 --> 00:27:17.039
 The believers in Jerusalem,

00:27:17.419 --> 00:27:18.879
 when they become a church

00:27:18.879 --> 00:27:19.379
 at first,

00:27:19.419 --> 00:27:20.220
 they all sell

00:27:20.220 --> 00:27:20.980
 all the extra things

00:27:20.980 --> 00:27:21.500
 that they have

00:27:21.500 --> 00:27:22.139
 so that they can give

00:27:22.139 --> 00:27:23.259
 to the poor in their midst.

00:27:24.200 --> 00:27:25.339
 There's a real framework

00:27:25.339 --> 00:27:27.339
 where the poverty

00:27:27.339 --> 00:27:29.059
 and being of lesser means

00:27:29.059 --> 00:27:30.240
 is a way that God

00:27:30.240 --> 00:27:31.419
 is literally working

00:27:31.419 --> 00:27:33.539
 to fulfill his glory.

00:27:34.259 --> 00:27:34.859
 And so hear that

00:27:34.859 --> 00:27:35.859
 as we look at this passage.

00:27:36.159 --> 00:27:37.319
 God's using those

00:27:37.319 --> 00:27:37.960
 that are foolish,

00:27:38.419 --> 00:27:39.259
 those that are weak,

00:27:39.419 --> 00:27:40.200
 those that are low,

00:27:40.200 --> 00:27:41.519
 and he's using them

00:27:41.519 --> 00:27:42.640
 specifically to shame

00:27:42.640 --> 00:27:43.740
 those who oppose him

00:27:43.740 --> 00:27:45.160
 and who are in a higher position.

00:27:46.880 --> 00:27:47.840
 Keep in mind that,

00:27:48.019 --> 00:27:48.180
 you know,

00:27:48.220 --> 00:27:48.519
 the whole,

00:27:48.880 --> 00:27:49.900
 this whole first chapter

00:27:49.900 --> 00:27:50.380
 of Corinthians,

00:27:50.900 --> 00:27:52.240
 the Corinthians who are lower

00:27:52.240 --> 00:27:52.940
 are kind of latching

00:27:52.940 --> 00:27:53.700
 onto these leaders

00:27:53.700 --> 00:27:54.160
 and saying,

00:27:54.279 --> 00:27:54.400
 you know,

00:27:54.460 --> 00:27:55.420
 I follow Apollos,

00:27:55.480 --> 00:27:56.240
 I follow Paul.

00:27:56.680 --> 00:27:57.460
 They're siphoning

00:27:57.460 --> 00:27:58.420
 some wisdom and power

00:27:58.420 --> 00:27:59.360
 off of who they follow,

00:27:59.440 --> 00:27:59.759
 basically.

00:27:59.860 --> 00:28:00.759
 They're trying to scramble

00:28:00.759 --> 00:28:01.819
 through this rat race

00:28:01.819 --> 00:28:03.720
 of becoming something better.

00:28:04.799 --> 00:28:06.100
 And so Paul is warning them,

00:28:06.160 --> 00:28:06.400
 basically,

00:28:06.500 --> 00:28:06.660
 like,

00:28:06.740 --> 00:28:06.920
 hey,

00:28:07.000 --> 00:28:07.900
 just so you know,

00:28:08.279 --> 00:28:09.559
 that's exactly what God

00:28:09.559 --> 00:28:10.000
 is targeting

00:28:10.000 --> 00:28:10.879
 and bringing to nothing.

00:28:11.419 --> 00:28:12.019
 So if you're trying

00:28:12.019 --> 00:28:12.879
 to climb up this ladder

00:28:12.879 --> 00:28:14.019
 of wisdom and influence

00:28:14.019 --> 00:28:15.000
 and being something,

00:28:15.339 --> 00:28:16.639
 that's who God's going after

00:28:16.639 --> 00:28:17.179
 in this instance.

00:28:17.259 --> 00:28:17.859
 So you might want

00:28:17.859 --> 00:28:18.579
 to move out of the way.

00:28:19.980 --> 00:28:21.279
 I feel like climbing the ladder

00:28:21.279 --> 00:28:22.599
 is an easy game to play

00:28:22.599 --> 00:28:23.240
 both inside

00:28:23.240 --> 00:28:24.419
 and outside of the church,

00:28:24.700 --> 00:28:24.899
 right,

00:28:25.259 --> 00:28:25.659
 of, like,

00:28:25.679 --> 00:28:27.000
 trying to gain social influence

00:28:27.000 --> 00:28:27.839
 and power and wealth

00:28:27.839 --> 00:28:28.740
 and whatever it might be.

00:28:29.079 --> 00:28:30.419
 It's an extremely freeing game

00:28:30.419 --> 00:28:31.339
 not to play, too,

00:28:31.399 --> 00:28:32.079
 just as a note.

00:28:32.839 --> 00:28:33.740
 I'd say thinking,

00:28:33.819 --> 00:28:33.980
 like,

00:28:34.039 --> 00:28:34.919
 inside of the church,

00:28:34.980 --> 00:28:36.079
 one of the biggest dangers

00:28:36.079 --> 00:28:37.299
 as regards status

00:28:37.299 --> 00:28:39.079
 is it's a place

00:28:39.079 --> 00:28:39.500
 you can come

00:28:39.500 --> 00:28:40.419
 and siphon off

00:28:40.419 --> 00:28:41.299
 affections of people,

00:28:41.399 --> 00:28:41.699
 basically,

00:28:41.779 --> 00:28:42.819
 by making yourself useful.

00:28:44.379 --> 00:28:45.039
 So I think of this

00:28:45.039 --> 00:28:45.879
 particularly because

00:28:45.879 --> 00:28:46.919
 we're a church plant

00:28:46.919 --> 00:28:47.480
 and church plants

00:28:47.480 --> 00:28:48.379
 have a ton of volunteers,

00:28:48.519 --> 00:28:48.779
 essentially.

00:28:48.919 --> 00:28:49.559
 A lot of people here

00:28:49.559 --> 00:28:50.240
 do a lot of stuff

00:28:50.240 --> 00:28:50.779
 for the church

00:28:50.779 --> 00:28:52.339
 and I'm super thankful

00:28:52.339 --> 00:28:52.819
 for that.

00:28:53.819 --> 00:28:55.139
 But I'll just use myself

00:28:55.139 --> 00:28:55.720
 as an example

00:28:55.720 --> 00:28:56.899
 of things I've done

00:28:56.899 --> 00:28:57.379
 at the church.

00:28:57.579 --> 00:28:57.720
 You know,

00:28:57.759 --> 00:28:58.399
 I've helped make

00:28:58.399 --> 00:28:59.279
 administrative decisions.

00:28:59.539 --> 00:29:00.399
 I've done Sunday morning setup

00:29:00.399 --> 00:29:01.559
 and help with sound some.

00:29:02.039 --> 00:29:03.039
 I lead a small group.

00:29:04.240 --> 00:29:05.319
 I've literally been part,

00:29:05.819 --> 00:29:06.839
 I was just thinking of this,

00:29:06.879 --> 00:29:07.559
 I've literally been part

00:29:07.559 --> 00:29:08.179
 of this church longer

00:29:08.179 --> 00:29:08.779
 than anyone here

00:29:08.779 --> 00:29:09.819
 because Sean's not here

00:29:09.819 --> 00:29:10.179
 right now

00:29:10.179 --> 00:29:11.019
 and we were the first

00:29:11.019 --> 00:29:12.379
 two couples to meet.

00:29:13.159 --> 00:29:14.220
 So there's a lot of places

00:29:14.220 --> 00:29:15.179
 I can just pat myself

00:29:15.179 --> 00:29:15.980
 on the back, right?

00:29:16.259 --> 00:29:17.059
 And it's easy for me

00:29:17.059 --> 00:29:18.059
 to slip from showing up

00:29:18.059 --> 00:29:18.919
 to worship God

00:29:18.919 --> 00:29:20.019
 to showing up

00:29:20.019 --> 00:29:20.980
 to feel good about myself

00:29:20.980 --> 00:29:21.599
 for what I've done

00:29:21.599 --> 00:29:22.299
 and what I can do

00:29:22.299 --> 00:29:22.980
 and what this church

00:29:22.980 --> 00:29:23.779
 means to me

00:29:23.779 --> 00:29:24.299
 and the things

00:29:24.299 --> 00:29:25.440
 that I've poured into it

00:29:25.440 --> 00:29:26.279
 and all of a sudden

00:29:26.279 --> 00:29:27.000
 it's about me.

00:29:28.000 --> 00:29:29.139
 Not only can this lead

00:29:29.139 --> 00:29:29.980
 to division

00:29:29.980 --> 00:29:31.099
 and me being bitter

00:29:31.099 --> 00:29:31.720
 against people

00:29:31.720 --> 00:29:32.519
 who might step into

00:29:32.519 --> 00:29:33.139
 something that I was

00:29:33.139 --> 00:29:33.700
 doing before

00:29:33.700 --> 00:29:34.059
 or, you know,

00:29:34.079 --> 00:29:34.779
 the church growing,

00:29:34.859 --> 00:29:35.579
 there's a million things

00:29:35.579 --> 00:29:36.299
 I can think of ways

00:29:36.299 --> 00:29:37.000
 that could go wrong

00:29:37.000 --> 00:29:37.879
 for someone

00:29:37.879 --> 00:29:39.240
 who has helped out.

00:29:40.419 --> 00:29:41.139
 It also literally,

00:29:41.279 --> 00:29:41.379
 you know,

00:29:41.399 --> 00:29:42.419
 if I'm scrambling that ladder,

00:29:42.519 --> 00:29:43.319
 like if I view those things

00:29:43.319 --> 00:29:43.759
 in that way,

00:29:43.919 --> 00:29:45.439
 I'm literally putting myself

00:29:45.439 --> 00:29:46.500
 in the target sights of God,

00:29:46.579 --> 00:29:46.759
 right?

00:29:46.779 --> 00:29:47.960
 I'm asking to be brought

00:29:47.960 --> 00:29:48.480
 to nothing

00:29:48.480 --> 00:29:49.599
 because God is saying

00:29:49.599 --> 00:29:50.960
 this is how I'm working.

00:29:51.799 --> 00:29:53.379
 I love all the volunteers here,

00:29:53.619 --> 00:29:54.019
 like literally

00:29:54.019 --> 00:29:54.759
 I love all of you,

00:29:55.099 --> 00:29:56.240
 but I honestly think

00:29:56.240 --> 00:29:56.960
 that part of keeping

00:29:56.960 --> 00:29:57.980
 each other accountable here

00:29:57.980 --> 00:29:59.559
 is watching for over ownership

00:29:59.559 --> 00:30:00.240
 and being willing

00:30:00.240 --> 00:30:01.259
 to call each other on it.

00:30:01.839 --> 00:30:03.099
 I don't want anyone here

00:30:03.099 --> 00:30:04.920
 to literally be on the path

00:30:04.920 --> 00:30:05.579
 to perishing

00:30:05.579 --> 00:30:06.680
 because they're serving

00:30:06.680 --> 00:30:07.720
 church too much, right?

00:30:07.740 --> 00:30:08.920
 That's absolutely ridiculous.

00:30:09.519 --> 00:30:10.539
 And I don't want anyone here

00:30:10.539 --> 00:30:11.879
 to feel overly burdened either.

00:30:12.200 --> 00:30:13.220
 This passage is freeing.

00:30:13.279 --> 00:30:14.019
 There's no ladder

00:30:14.019 --> 00:30:15.019
 to climb in church.

00:30:15.119 --> 00:30:16.119
 Don't feel that way.

00:30:16.420 --> 00:30:17.339
 Everything you do here

00:30:17.339 --> 00:30:18.619
 is a reflection on God,

00:30:18.680 --> 00:30:19.680
 not on yourself.

00:30:20.839 --> 00:30:21.660
 If you feel like,

00:30:21.700 --> 00:30:22.039
 like honestly,

00:30:22.119 --> 00:30:22.579
 if you're helping out

00:30:22.579 --> 00:30:22.900
 with church

00:30:22.900 --> 00:30:23.420
 and you feel like

00:30:23.420 --> 00:30:24.200
 you're overly burdened

00:30:24.200 --> 00:30:25.140
 or something's going wrong

00:30:25.140 --> 00:30:26.140
 or like you feel that,

00:30:26.440 --> 00:30:27.319
 like come talk to me

00:30:27.319 --> 00:30:28.059
 or Taryn afterwards

00:30:28.059 --> 00:30:28.779
 and we'll pray for you

00:30:28.779 --> 00:30:29.379
 and we'll talk with you

00:30:29.379 --> 00:30:30.140
 because we don't want you

00:30:30.140 --> 00:30:30.960
 to be in that position.

00:30:30.960 --> 00:30:32.220
 We want church to be a place

00:30:32.220 --> 00:30:33.600
 where you come to worship God

00:30:33.600 --> 00:30:35.180
 and we want you to be free

00:30:35.180 --> 00:30:35.860
 of anything like that

00:30:35.860 --> 00:30:36.759
 that's dragging you down.

00:30:37.900 --> 00:30:38.720
 Outside of church,

00:30:38.819 --> 00:30:38.960
 I mean,

00:30:39.000 --> 00:30:39.740
 there's plenty of places

00:30:39.740 --> 00:30:41.000
 to climb for status

00:30:41.000 --> 00:30:42.039
 and influence and wealth

00:30:42.039 --> 00:30:43.600
 and for many of us,

00:30:43.740 --> 00:30:45.059
 like we have to play that game

00:30:45.059 --> 00:30:45.840
 to some extent, right?

00:30:45.880 --> 00:30:47.240
 Like I have to do well

00:30:47.240 --> 00:30:47.819
 at my job

00:30:47.819 --> 00:30:49.420
 so that I can get a raise

00:30:49.420 --> 00:30:50.259
 so that I can provide

00:30:50.259 --> 00:30:50.940
 for my family

00:30:50.940 --> 00:30:52.380
 as prices go up around me.

00:30:53.779 --> 00:30:55.000
 So these need to be goals

00:30:55.000 --> 00:30:55.799
 for those of us

00:30:55.799 --> 00:30:56.299
 who need income.

00:30:56.380 --> 00:30:57.299
 I totally get that.

00:30:58.640 --> 00:31:00.600
 The passage gives freedom though

00:31:00.599 --> 00:31:02.480
 and maybe even responsibility

00:31:02.480 --> 00:31:04.339
 to not seek these things

00:31:04.339 --> 00:31:04.939
 as an end

00:31:04.939 --> 00:31:05.939
 in and of themselves.

00:31:06.579 --> 00:31:07.480
 So I'd encourage you,

00:31:07.519 --> 00:31:08.559
 if you feel like you're exhausted

00:31:08.559 --> 00:31:09.299
 from working

00:31:09.299 --> 00:31:10.379
 and you don't know why

00:31:10.379 --> 00:31:12.059
 or you're chasing excellence

00:31:12.059 --> 00:31:12.619
 at work

00:31:12.619 --> 00:31:13.799
 or like chasing a promotion

00:31:13.799 --> 00:31:14.539
 or a new position

00:31:14.539 --> 00:31:15.899
 and you don't like have a reason,

00:31:16.119 --> 00:31:16.639
 like you haven't really

00:31:16.639 --> 00:31:17.439
 thought through it

00:31:17.439 --> 00:31:18.919
 or if that reason is,

00:31:19.039 --> 00:31:19.179
 oh yeah,

00:31:19.219 --> 00:31:20.119
 I want to look good for people

00:31:20.119 --> 00:31:21.259
 or I want to make a lot of money,

00:31:22.240 --> 00:31:23.299
 be wary, right?

00:31:23.339 --> 00:31:24.219
 You may have fallen

00:31:24.219 --> 00:31:24.899
 into the trap

00:31:24.899 --> 00:31:25.740
 of seeking wisdom

00:31:25.740 --> 00:31:26.279
 and power

00:31:26.279 --> 00:31:27.339
 in the world's eyes.

00:31:28.059 --> 00:31:29.099
 That's not what's going

00:31:29.099 --> 00:31:29.679
 to save you

00:31:29.679 --> 00:31:30.319
 at the end of the day

00:31:30.319 --> 00:31:31.480
 even if it feels like it

00:31:31.480 --> 00:31:31.980
 in the moment

00:31:31.980 --> 00:31:32.519
 when you're putting

00:31:32.519 --> 00:31:33.699
 in the extra hours at work.

00:31:35.579 --> 00:31:36.519
 What saves us

00:31:36.519 --> 00:31:37.279
 at the end of the day

00:31:37.279 --> 00:31:38.559
 is not this social status

00:31:38.559 --> 00:31:39.679
 but Jesus, right?

00:31:40.019 --> 00:31:41.159
 Paul says in verse 30,

00:31:41.500 --> 00:31:42.099
 because of him

00:31:42.099 --> 00:31:43.480
 you are in Christ Jesus

00:31:43.480 --> 00:31:44.819
 who became to us

00:31:44.819 --> 00:31:45.779
 wisdom from God,

00:31:46.199 --> 00:31:46.519
 righteousness,

00:31:46.819 --> 00:31:47.619
 and sanctification,

00:31:47.799 --> 00:31:48.259
 and redemption.

00:31:48.939 --> 00:31:49.759
 And so Paul literally

00:31:49.759 --> 00:31:50.379
 says in this verse,

00:31:50.500 --> 00:31:50.579
 you know,

00:31:50.659 --> 00:31:51.419
 social status,

00:31:51.619 --> 00:31:52.819
 he matches wisdom,

00:31:52.959 --> 00:31:53.359
 influence,

00:31:53.539 --> 00:31:54.299
 noble birth,

00:31:54.579 --> 00:31:55.379
 and replaces it

00:31:55.379 --> 00:31:56.639
 with three things in Christ.

00:31:56.640 --> 00:31:57.740
 He says righteousness,

00:31:58.020 --> 00:31:58.380
 redemption,

00:31:58.560 --> 00:31:59.380
 and sanctification,

00:31:59.759 --> 00:32:00.400
 and the wisdom

00:32:00.400 --> 00:32:01.340
 of living in God

00:32:01.340 --> 00:32:02.320
 versus the foolishness

00:32:02.320 --> 00:32:03.080
 of chasing after

00:32:03.080 --> 00:32:03.960
 social status.

00:32:04.800 --> 00:32:05.820
 And these three words

00:32:05.820 --> 00:32:06.940
 kind of encapsulate

00:32:06.940 --> 00:32:07.580
 all the blessings

00:32:07.580 --> 00:32:08.360
 of being in Christ,

00:32:08.440 --> 00:32:09.140
 the things that we get

00:32:09.140 --> 00:32:10.060
 when we're saved by him.

00:32:10.520 --> 00:32:11.200
 So righteousness

00:32:11.200 --> 00:32:12.140
 is looking at

00:32:12.140 --> 00:32:13.120
 legal justification,

00:32:13.420 --> 00:32:14.800
 right standing before God,

00:32:15.180 --> 00:32:15.820
 that we're able

00:32:15.820 --> 00:32:16.500
 to stand in him,

00:32:16.560 --> 00:32:17.560
 not accused of anything

00:32:17.560 --> 00:32:17.940
 essentially,

00:32:18.060 --> 00:32:18.940
 because Christ has taken

00:32:18.940 --> 00:32:20.660
 our sins upon himself.

00:32:21.420 --> 00:32:22.440
 Sanctification is talking

00:32:22.440 --> 00:32:23.320
 about being holy

00:32:23.320 --> 00:32:24.040
 and set apart,

00:32:24.220 --> 00:32:24.780
 like the ability

00:32:24.780 --> 00:32:25.720
 to approach God

00:32:25.720 --> 00:32:26.440
 in the first place.

00:32:26.640 --> 00:32:27.720
 That we are pure

00:32:27.720 --> 00:32:28.420
 and clean

00:32:28.420 --> 00:32:29.980
 and not going

00:32:29.980 --> 00:32:30.920
 to be smited down

00:32:30.920 --> 00:32:31.840
 instantly for being

00:32:31.840 --> 00:32:33.000
 unclean and approaching him.

00:32:33.560 --> 00:32:34.420
 And then redemption

00:32:34.420 --> 00:32:35.360
 is being brought

00:32:35.360 --> 00:32:36.580
 out of a bad situation

00:32:36.580 --> 00:32:37.440
 into a good one.

00:32:37.600 --> 00:32:38.500
 When you redeem something,

00:32:38.740 --> 00:32:39.680
 if you redeem time

00:32:39.680 --> 00:32:41.340
 or you redeem a situation,

00:32:41.480 --> 00:32:41.860
 you're saying,

00:32:41.960 --> 00:32:42.100
 you know,

00:32:42.140 --> 00:32:43.140
 this was going really poorly,

00:32:43.340 --> 00:32:44.340
 but I've adjusted this

00:32:44.340 --> 00:32:45.420
 and now it's going well.

00:32:45.980 --> 00:32:46.600
 And that's something

00:32:46.600 --> 00:32:47.400
 that we experience

00:32:47.400 --> 00:32:48.080
 in Jesus, right?

00:32:48.100 --> 00:32:49.360
 He turns our lives around.

00:32:51.000 --> 00:32:51.720
 So the whole point

00:32:51.720 --> 00:32:52.180
 of this is that

00:32:52.180 --> 00:32:52.840
 our value is not

00:32:52.840 --> 00:32:53.920
 in what we do,

00:32:54.060 --> 00:32:54.220
 right?

00:32:54.259 --> 00:32:55.040
 Our original value,

00:32:55.039 --> 00:32:55.940
 but in what Christ

00:32:55.940 --> 00:32:56.899
 has done, right?

00:32:57.240 --> 00:32:58.220
 It's not in the social status

00:32:58.220 --> 00:32:58.799
 we gain,

00:32:58.879 --> 00:32:59.559
 but in what Christ

00:32:59.559 --> 00:33:00.720
 has provided for us

00:33:00.720 --> 00:33:01.899
 in his wisdom.

00:33:03.619 --> 00:33:04.420
 Ben Witherington,

00:33:04.500 --> 00:33:04.899
 who's an ancient

00:33:04.899 --> 00:33:05.740
 Near Eastern scholar,

00:33:06.200 --> 00:33:07.500
 notes that this chapter

00:33:07.500 --> 00:33:08.500
 basically calls us

00:33:08.500 --> 00:33:09.119
 to evaluate

00:33:09.119 --> 00:33:10.839
 our entire value system

00:33:10.839 --> 00:33:11.659
 that we live with

00:33:11.659 --> 00:33:12.259
 implicitly.

00:33:12.819 --> 00:33:13.500
 What, you know,

00:33:13.539 --> 00:33:14.359
 the question basically

00:33:14.359 --> 00:33:15.639
 is what do we do,

00:33:16.099 --> 00:33:16.700
 or the question

00:33:16.700 --> 00:33:17.159
 for each of us

00:33:17.159 --> 00:33:17.440
 is, you know,

00:33:17.500 --> 00:33:18.440
 what do I do

00:33:18.440 --> 00:33:18.879
 specifically

00:33:18.879 --> 00:33:19.799
 because I'm a Christian

00:33:19.799 --> 00:33:21.220
 and what am I doing

00:33:21.220 --> 00:33:21.919
 just because it's

00:33:21.919 --> 00:33:22.539
 part of the culture

00:33:22.539 --> 00:33:23.000
 and I haven't even

00:33:23.000 --> 00:33:23.680
 stopped to think

00:33:23.680 --> 00:33:24.279
 about it before.

00:33:24.419 --> 00:33:25.200
 It's just how I've lived,

00:33:25.279 --> 00:33:25.819
 how I've been raised,

00:33:25.899 --> 00:33:26.659
 whatever that looks like.

00:33:27.119 --> 00:33:27.779
 He says this,

00:33:28.119 --> 00:33:29.180
 or Ben Witherington

00:33:29.180 --> 00:33:29.639
 says this,

00:33:30.440 --> 00:33:31.240
 Paul requires

00:33:31.240 --> 00:33:31.899
 that we ask

00:33:31.899 --> 00:33:32.700
 how much of our sense

00:33:32.700 --> 00:33:33.339
 of self-worth

00:33:33.339 --> 00:33:33.899
 and identity

00:33:33.899 --> 00:33:34.759
 is grounded

00:33:34.759 --> 00:33:35.579
 in our culture's

00:33:35.579 --> 00:33:36.940
 evaluation of us

00:33:36.940 --> 00:33:37.659
 in terms of wealth,

00:33:37.759 --> 00:33:38.200
 education,

00:33:38.319 --> 00:33:38.700
 and the like,

00:33:38.819 --> 00:33:39.619
 and how much of it

00:33:39.619 --> 00:33:40.039
 is grounded

00:33:40.039 --> 00:33:40.659
 in our identity

00:33:40.659 --> 00:33:41.259
 as sinners

00:33:41.259 --> 00:33:42.319
 saved by grace.

00:33:42.639 --> 00:33:43.779
 It also requires us

00:33:43.779 --> 00:33:44.559
 to ask how much

00:33:44.559 --> 00:33:45.619
 of our values in life,

00:33:45.819 --> 00:33:46.960
 what we really long for,

00:33:47.019 --> 00:33:48.119
 are dictated by culture

00:33:48.119 --> 00:33:49.579
 and how much by the gospel.

00:33:50.259 --> 00:33:50.879
 Christian attitudes

00:33:50.879 --> 00:33:51.500
 about wealth,

00:33:51.719 --> 00:33:51.979
 family,

00:33:52.219 --> 00:33:52.500
 country,

00:33:52.579 --> 00:33:53.199
 and other things

00:33:53.199 --> 00:33:53.819
 held dear

00:33:53.819 --> 00:33:54.939
 are often more grounded

00:33:54.939 --> 00:33:56.419
 in certain cultural assumptions

00:33:56.419 --> 00:33:57.799
 than any Christian teaching.

00:33:58.659 --> 00:33:59.439
 Demographic studies

00:33:59.439 --> 00:34:00.479
 of Christian congregations

00:34:00.479 --> 00:34:01.199
 show that race,

00:34:01.479 --> 00:34:01.819
 class,

00:34:02.019 --> 00:34:02.479
 occupation,

00:34:02.619 --> 00:34:03.719
 and numerous other factors

00:34:03.719 --> 00:34:04.719
 often determine

00:34:04.719 --> 00:34:05.839
 where one goes to worship.

00:34:06.559 --> 00:34:07.719
 Whatever else one might say

00:34:07.719 --> 00:34:08.819
 about Corinthian Christianity,

00:34:09.019 --> 00:34:10.000
 it was not ethnically,

00:34:10.179 --> 00:34:10.500
 racially,

00:34:10.679 --> 00:34:10.960
 sexually,

00:34:11.079 --> 00:34:12.440
 or socially monochrome.

00:34:13.380 --> 00:34:13.739
 And so,

00:34:13.900 --> 00:34:15.299
 Wutherington and Paul

00:34:15.299 --> 00:34:16.639
 are asking the hard questions here.

00:34:16.639 --> 00:34:18.839
 Why do I go to church?

00:34:19.039 --> 00:34:19.699
 Am I at church

00:34:19.699 --> 00:34:21.359
 just because I was raised that way?

00:34:22.099 --> 00:34:23.359
 Is it because it's comfortable

00:34:23.359 --> 00:34:24.359
 or a habit for me?

00:34:24.699 --> 00:34:25.519
 Or am I here

00:34:25.519 --> 00:34:26.440
 because I really think

00:34:26.440 --> 00:34:27.159
 that my value

00:34:27.159 --> 00:34:28.299
 is in Jesus Christ?

00:34:28.960 --> 00:34:30.299
 What about political views?

00:34:30.379 --> 00:34:31.440
 What are those influenced by?

00:34:31.519 --> 00:34:33.000
 How about I handle my money?

00:34:33.139 --> 00:34:34.460
 Who I spend my time with?

00:34:34.819 --> 00:34:35.699
 Are these things influenced

00:34:35.699 --> 00:34:36.739
 by my social background

00:34:36.739 --> 00:34:37.199
 and standing

00:34:37.199 --> 00:34:37.859
 or by Jesus?

00:34:38.679 --> 00:34:39.879
 And I think that the Bible

00:34:39.879 --> 00:34:40.339
 as a whole

00:34:40.339 --> 00:34:41.319
 helps us walk through

00:34:41.319 --> 00:34:42.819
 and discern those things.

00:34:43.079 --> 00:34:43.679
 And I think that

00:34:43.679 --> 00:34:44.400
 the believers

00:34:44.400 --> 00:34:45.219
 that you're sitting around

00:34:45.219 --> 00:34:46.019
 help you walk through

00:34:46.019 --> 00:34:46.900
 and discern those things.

00:34:47.199 --> 00:34:47.880
 I think that's part of why

00:34:47.880 --> 00:34:48.480
 community group

00:34:48.480 --> 00:34:49.719
 and discussion are important

00:34:49.719 --> 00:34:51.000
 because you sit together

00:34:51.000 --> 00:34:52.099
 and you flesh out things

00:34:52.099 --> 00:34:52.980
 with people that don't have

00:34:52.980 --> 00:34:53.980
 the same experience as you

00:34:53.980 --> 00:34:55.219
 or the same background as you

00:34:55.219 --> 00:34:56.780
 and you answer questions

00:34:56.780 --> 00:34:57.619
 and you work through

00:34:57.619 --> 00:34:58.300
 the word together

00:34:58.300 --> 00:34:59.599
 and you disciple one another.

00:35:00.599 --> 00:35:00.719
 And I,

00:35:01.039 --> 00:35:01.219
 like,

00:35:01.440 --> 00:35:02.039
 there's no way for me

00:35:02.039 --> 00:35:02.659
 to give all the answers

00:35:02.659 --> 00:35:03.639
 about all these things right now

00:35:03.639 --> 00:35:04.059
 and I don't think

00:35:04.059 --> 00:35:04.659
 I have all the answers

00:35:04.659 --> 00:35:05.780
 about most of these things.

00:35:06.619 --> 00:35:07.719
 But I think that this passage

00:35:07.719 --> 00:35:08.420
 does a good job

00:35:08.420 --> 00:35:09.380
 raising the question

00:35:09.380 --> 00:35:10.179
 of where are you

00:35:10.179 --> 00:35:11.000
 really getting

00:35:11.000 --> 00:35:11.940
 what you think from?

00:35:12.400 --> 00:35:12.500
 What's,

00:35:12.659 --> 00:35:12.980
 you know,

00:35:13.019 --> 00:35:13.739
 cultures like swimming

00:35:13.739 --> 00:35:15.159
 and fish in water,

00:35:15.159 --> 00:35:15.460
 right?

00:35:15.579 --> 00:35:16.299
 Fish don't realize

00:35:16.299 --> 00:35:16.940
 that they're in water.

00:35:17.039 --> 00:35:18.500
 It's just the air around them.

00:35:18.859 --> 00:35:19.759
 What are you swimming in

00:35:19.759 --> 00:35:20.579
 and are you aware of it

00:35:20.579 --> 00:35:21.460
 and where does it come from?

00:35:23.079 --> 00:35:23.339
 You know,

00:35:23.399 --> 00:35:23.799
 this passage

00:35:23.799 --> 00:35:24.879
 doesn't really stop there

00:35:24.879 --> 00:35:26.059
 and Witherington's commentary

00:35:26.059 --> 00:35:26.899
 on it doesn't either.

00:35:27.159 --> 00:35:27.440
 He says,

00:35:27.500 --> 00:35:28.079
 once we realize

00:35:28.079 --> 00:35:28.719
 that we're living

00:35:28.719 --> 00:35:30.279
 for a different value system,

00:35:30.440 --> 00:35:31.379
 we'll see an area

00:35:31.379 --> 00:35:32.039
 where we,

00:35:32.259 --> 00:35:33.779
 just like the message of Christ,

00:35:33.899 --> 00:35:34.859
 contrast with the culture,

00:35:35.019 --> 00:35:35.199
 right?

00:35:35.500 --> 00:35:36.879
 Being the life of living

00:35:36.879 --> 00:35:37.639
 as a Christian

00:35:37.639 --> 00:35:39.480
 will naturally be

00:35:39.480 --> 00:35:40.659
 an offense at some points

00:35:40.659 --> 00:35:41.500
 and an encouragement

00:35:41.500 --> 00:35:42.119
 at some points

00:35:42.119 --> 00:35:43.440
 to the culture around us too.

00:35:43.440 --> 00:35:45.720
 There were consequences

00:35:45.720 --> 00:35:47.200
 of Christ crucified

00:35:47.200 --> 00:35:47.900
 to these Corinthians.

00:35:48.360 --> 00:35:49.019
 Lays it out this way.

00:35:49.460 --> 00:35:50.260
 It threatened to level

00:35:50.260 --> 00:35:51.519
 a carefully built up system

00:35:51.519 --> 00:35:52.720
 of social stratification

00:35:52.720 --> 00:35:54.220
 not only by creating

00:35:54.220 --> 00:35:55.380
 a new diverse community

00:35:55.380 --> 00:35:56.679
 but also by refusing

00:35:56.679 --> 00:35:57.280
 to participate

00:35:57.280 --> 00:35:58.059
 in certain parts

00:35:58.059 --> 00:35:59.179
 of the old social system

00:35:59.179 --> 00:36:00.059
 in crucial ways.

00:36:00.880 --> 00:36:01.760
 So Corinthian Christians

00:36:01.760 --> 00:36:02.380
 wouldn't participate

00:36:02.380 --> 00:36:03.019
 in pagan worship

00:36:03.019 --> 00:36:04.119
 which was pretty much mandatory

00:36:04.119 --> 00:36:05.179
 and they wouldn't participate

00:36:05.179 --> 00:36:05.840
 in the military.

00:36:06.619 --> 00:36:07.760
 An early Christian apologist,

00:36:08.099 --> 00:36:09.179
 Minucius Felix,

00:36:09.659 --> 00:36:10.579
 I haven't read that out loud yet,

00:36:10.619 --> 00:36:11.059
 that's interesting,

00:36:11.420 --> 00:36:12.400
 expressed the average

00:36:12.400 --> 00:36:13.380
 Roman citizens view

00:36:13.380 --> 00:36:14.480
 of a Christian this way.

00:36:15.059 --> 00:36:16.440
 You do not go to our shows,

00:36:16.639 --> 00:36:16.760
 right?

00:36:16.800 --> 00:36:17.480
 So a Roman would say

00:36:17.480 --> 00:36:17.940
 to a Christian,

00:36:18.320 --> 00:36:19.160
 you don't go to our shows,

00:36:19.460 --> 00:36:20.039
 you don't take part

00:36:20.039 --> 00:36:20.760
 in our processions,

00:36:20.960 --> 00:36:21.619
 you're not present

00:36:21.619 --> 00:36:22.539
 at our public banquets

00:36:22.539 --> 00:36:23.519
 and you shrink in horror

00:36:23.519 --> 00:36:24.700
 from our sacred games,

00:36:25.119 --> 00:36:25.320
 right?

00:36:25.599 --> 00:36:26.480
 So there are going to be areas

00:36:26.480 --> 00:36:27.680
 where you living as a Christian

00:36:27.680 --> 00:36:28.340
 are going to rub up

00:36:28.340 --> 00:36:29.539
 against the people around you.

00:36:29.800 --> 00:36:30.599
 I know that people

00:36:30.599 --> 00:36:31.360
 in our church

00:36:31.360 --> 00:36:31.920
 for a fact

00:36:31.920 --> 00:36:32.539
 have disrupted

00:36:32.539 --> 00:36:33.539
 their social status

00:36:33.539 --> 00:36:34.420
 in the name of Jesus,

00:36:34.639 --> 00:36:34.860
 right?

00:36:35.240 --> 00:36:35.960
 They have not showed up

00:36:35.960 --> 00:36:37.019
 at particular work parties

00:36:37.019 --> 00:36:37.579
 where they knew things

00:36:37.579 --> 00:36:38.420
 were going to get too crazy.

00:36:38.900 --> 00:36:39.840
 They've quit jobs

00:36:39.840 --> 00:36:40.380
 that have demanded

00:36:40.380 --> 00:36:41.800
 idolatrous amounts of work.

00:36:41.800 --> 00:36:42.960
 They've turned down

00:36:42.960 --> 00:36:44.160
 crass talk and gossip

00:36:44.160 --> 00:36:45.039
 when everyone else

00:36:45.039 --> 00:36:46.240
 around them is doing it.

00:36:46.560 --> 00:36:47.100
 They've taken time

00:36:47.100 --> 00:36:47.980
 to rest personally

00:36:47.980 --> 00:36:48.940
 or taken time

00:36:48.940 --> 00:36:49.840
 to care for family

00:36:49.840 --> 00:36:50.760
 when they could be

00:36:50.760 --> 00:36:51.840
 taking time to climb

00:36:51.840 --> 00:36:52.519
 the social ladder

00:36:52.519 --> 00:36:53.180
 of status,

00:36:53.560 --> 00:36:53.800
 right?

00:36:54.019 --> 00:36:55.500
 And I want to encourage you

00:36:55.500 --> 00:36:56.120
 that every time

00:36:56.120 --> 00:36:58.060
 you make one of those choices

00:36:58.060 --> 00:36:59.680
 that God sees that,

00:36:59.800 --> 00:37:00.000
 right?

00:37:00.420 --> 00:37:01.380
 God sees that

00:37:01.380 --> 00:37:02.620
 and it's for his glory

00:37:02.620 --> 00:37:03.240
 in that moment

00:37:03.240 --> 00:37:04.019
 and that's the thing

00:37:04.019 --> 00:37:04.960
 that you're living for.

00:37:05.080 --> 00:37:05.980
 You're living for

00:37:05.980 --> 00:37:08.480
 the status of being in Christ

00:37:08.480 --> 00:37:09.160
 and the freedom

00:37:09.160 --> 00:37:09.860
 that's in that

00:37:09.860 --> 00:37:11.039
 rather than social status.

00:37:11.039 --> 00:37:12.000
 And so I think

00:37:12.000 --> 00:37:12.639
 that's why he says

00:37:12.639 --> 00:37:13.400
 in verse 31,

00:37:14.199 --> 00:37:14.420
 you know,

00:37:14.539 --> 00:37:15.179
 as it is written,

00:37:15.400 --> 00:37:16.380
 let the one who boasts

00:37:16.380 --> 00:37:17.480
 boast in the Lord.

00:37:18.380 --> 00:37:19.199
 This is a reference

00:37:19.199 --> 00:37:20.099
 to Jeremiah 9,

00:37:20.159 --> 00:37:21.400
 23 through 24,

00:37:21.400 --> 00:37:22.039
 which I'll read

00:37:22.039 --> 00:37:22.800
 because it matches

00:37:22.800 --> 00:37:23.820
 this passage so closely.

00:37:23.900 --> 00:37:24.340
 I think Paul's

00:37:24.340 --> 00:37:25.360
 taking some ideas from it.

00:37:26.199 --> 00:37:27.000
 Jeremiah says,

00:37:27.000 --> 00:37:28.099
 thus says the Lord,

00:37:28.099 --> 00:37:28.119
 thus says the Lord,

00:37:28.500 --> 00:37:29.619
 let not the wise man

00:37:29.619 --> 00:37:30.500
 boast in his wisdom,

00:37:30.820 --> 00:37:32.139
 let not the mighty man

00:37:32.139 --> 00:37:33.059
 boast in his might,

00:37:33.460 --> 00:37:34.519
 let not the rich man

00:37:34.519 --> 00:37:35.639
 boast in his riches,

00:37:35.840 --> 00:37:37.239
 but let him who boasts

00:37:37.239 --> 00:37:38.199
 boast in this,

00:37:38.440 --> 00:37:39.579
 that he understands

00:37:39.579 --> 00:37:40.460
 and knows me,

00:37:40.699 --> 00:37:41.719
 that I am the Lord

00:37:41.719 --> 00:37:43.360
 who practices steadfast love,

00:37:43.619 --> 00:37:43.940
 justice,

00:37:44.159 --> 00:37:44.880
 and righteousness

00:37:44.880 --> 00:37:45.699
 in the earth.

00:37:46.119 --> 00:37:47.320
 For in these things

00:37:47.320 --> 00:37:48.000
 I delight,

00:37:48.179 --> 00:37:48.940
 declares the Lord.

00:37:49.639 --> 00:37:50.639
 I don't particularly

00:37:50.639 --> 00:37:51.659
 love sports illustrations

00:37:51.659 --> 00:37:52.219
 for church,

00:37:52.300 --> 00:37:53.400
 mostly because they're overused

00:37:53.400 --> 00:37:54.119
 and usually they're not

00:37:54.119 --> 00:37:54.800
 directly applicable,

00:37:54.800 --> 00:37:57.280
 but this one's perfect

00:37:57.280 --> 00:37:58.280
 and it fits really well,

00:37:58.380 --> 00:37:58.539
 right?

00:37:58.560 --> 00:37:59.480
 Whenever I think of boasting

00:37:59.480 --> 00:38:00.440
 in the biblical sense,

00:38:00.860 --> 00:38:01.580
 I think of cheering

00:38:01.580 --> 00:38:02.519
 for a sports team,

00:38:02.720 --> 00:38:02.920
 right?

00:38:03.260 --> 00:38:04.680
 So when you align yourself

00:38:04.680 --> 00:38:06.300
 so closely with a sports team

00:38:06.300 --> 00:38:07.380
 that you say we won

00:38:07.380 --> 00:38:08.300
 when the team wins

00:38:08.300 --> 00:38:09.019
 at the end of the day,

00:38:09.539 --> 00:38:10.660
 you know you had nothing

00:38:10.660 --> 00:38:11.440
 to do with that,

00:38:11.519 --> 00:38:11.720
 right?

00:38:11.980 --> 00:38:12.760
 They won.

00:38:12.860 --> 00:38:13.740
 You watched and yelled

00:38:13.740 --> 00:38:14.800
 really loudly at your TV.

00:38:15.900 --> 00:38:16.820
 You're fully aware

00:38:16.820 --> 00:38:18.080
 you didn't contribute at all

00:38:18.080 --> 00:38:19.420
 but you revel in that victory

00:38:19.420 --> 00:38:20.880
 anyways because it's so exciting

00:38:20.880 --> 00:38:21.920
 to you because you've aligned

00:38:21.920 --> 00:38:22.800
 yourself so closely,

00:38:23.180 --> 00:38:23.380
 right?

00:38:23.400 --> 00:38:24.100
 That's the sensation

00:38:24.099 --> 00:38:25.299
 of this passage as well.

00:38:25.719 --> 00:38:26.960
 We boast in God

00:38:26.960 --> 00:38:27.659
 when we acknowledge

00:38:27.659 --> 00:38:28.579
 Christ crucified,

00:38:28.839 --> 00:38:29.039
 right?

00:38:29.079 --> 00:38:29.779
 It's his power

00:38:29.779 --> 00:38:31.099
 and Jesus' salvation

00:38:31.099 --> 00:38:32.440
 is our wisdom and status.

00:38:32.519 --> 00:38:33.819
 When we align so closely

00:38:33.819 --> 00:38:34.440
 with these things

00:38:34.440 --> 00:38:35.559
 that are foolish to the world,

00:38:35.960 --> 00:38:36.380
 we're just,

00:38:36.460 --> 00:38:37.699
 we rejoice in them.

00:38:39.099 --> 00:38:39.960
 So if you're not

00:38:39.960 --> 00:38:40.659
 a Christian today,

00:38:40.779 --> 00:38:41.639
 maybe you're a skeptic,

00:38:41.699 --> 00:38:42.279
 maybe you're not sure

00:38:42.279 --> 00:38:42.960
 what you believe,

00:38:43.259 --> 00:38:43.759
 maybe you realize

00:38:43.759 --> 00:38:44.380
 you've been going to church

00:38:44.380 --> 00:38:44.819
 for a while

00:38:44.819 --> 00:38:45.380
 and you're not sure

00:38:45.380 --> 00:38:45.940
 why you're here,

00:38:47.099 --> 00:38:47.360
 you know,

00:38:47.440 --> 00:38:48.519
 Jesus being God

00:38:48.519 --> 00:38:49.239
 who died,

00:38:49.639 --> 00:38:50.579
 this Christ crucified,

00:38:51.239 --> 00:38:53.119
 should be your main holdup.

00:38:53.119 --> 00:38:54.319
 That's what I would advise you on,

00:38:54.380 --> 00:38:54.500
 right?

00:38:54.519 --> 00:38:55.659
 If you're considering Christianity,

00:38:56.119 --> 00:38:56.839
 consider this,

00:38:56.960 --> 00:38:58.279
 consider that Jesus is Lord

00:38:58.279 --> 00:38:58.739
 and Savior

00:38:58.739 --> 00:39:00.179
 and whether that's true or not.

00:39:00.440 --> 00:39:01.599
 There are a lot of other questions

00:39:01.599 --> 00:39:02.219
 around religion

00:39:02.219 --> 00:39:03.579
 and faith and Christianity

00:39:03.579 --> 00:39:04.940
 and I totally acknowledge that

00:39:04.940 --> 00:39:06.679
 and I'd love to discuss

00:39:06.679 --> 00:39:07.480
 some of those with you

00:39:07.480 --> 00:39:08.559
 but I think if you,

00:39:08.739 --> 00:39:09.299
 the hardest thing

00:39:09.299 --> 00:39:10.279
 you're ever going to wrestle with

00:39:10.279 --> 00:39:11.339
 is that Jesus is Lord,

00:39:11.500 --> 00:39:11.619
 right?

00:39:11.639 --> 00:39:12.579
 He's a God who died

00:39:12.579 --> 00:39:13.299
 and rose again

00:39:13.299 --> 00:39:14.579
 and believing in him

00:39:14.579 --> 00:39:16.279
 is essential to your life

00:39:16.279 --> 00:39:17.980
 and if you can wrestle with that,

00:39:18.099 --> 00:39:19.179
 a lot of the other questions

00:39:19.179 --> 00:39:19.719
 that you have

00:39:19.719 --> 00:39:20.839
 are going to fall into line

00:39:20.840 --> 00:39:21.460
 because a lot of them

00:39:21.460 --> 00:39:22.420
 are tied back to that,

00:39:22.539 --> 00:39:22.820
 honestly.

00:39:24.100 --> 00:39:25.460
 And so if that's where you're at,

00:39:25.519 --> 00:39:26.519
 like I'm happy to talk with you,

00:39:26.539 --> 00:39:27.460
 I'm happy to pray with you.

00:39:27.780 --> 00:39:28.820
 I know Taryn and others here

00:39:28.820 --> 00:39:29.640
 are happy to talk as well.

00:39:29.700 --> 00:39:30.480
 You can just turn to the person

00:39:30.480 --> 00:39:31.280
 next to you probably

00:39:31.280 --> 00:39:32.360
 and strike up the conversation.

00:39:33.860 --> 00:39:34.480
 I'd encourage you

00:39:34.480 --> 00:39:35.539
 to really laser in on that,

00:39:35.600 --> 00:39:35.740
 right?

00:39:35.780 --> 00:39:36.300
 That's going to be

00:39:36.300 --> 00:39:37.059
 the stumbling block

00:39:37.059 --> 00:39:38.340
 for anyone who's not a Christian yet.

00:39:38.400 --> 00:39:38.740
 That's going to be

00:39:38.740 --> 00:39:39.220
 the hardest part,

00:39:39.260 --> 00:39:39.980
 I guarantee it.

00:39:40.800 --> 00:39:42.039
 If you are a Christian,

00:39:42.500 --> 00:39:43.380
 I want to give you

00:39:43.380 --> 00:39:44.420
 encouragement here to end.

00:39:45.380 --> 00:39:46.780
 This doesn't hinge on you,

00:39:46.920 --> 00:39:47.200
 right?

00:39:47.300 --> 00:39:47.940
 That's the whole point

00:39:47.940 --> 00:39:48.480
 of this passage.

00:39:48.800 --> 00:39:50.300
 All this does not depend on you.

00:39:50.300 --> 00:39:51.760
 Your value and worth

00:39:51.760 --> 00:39:53.420
 is in Jesus himself, right?

00:39:53.480 --> 00:39:54.420
 He is your wisdom

00:39:54.420 --> 00:39:55.260
 and your power,

00:39:55.860 --> 00:39:57.480
 not your own wisdom

00:39:57.480 --> 00:39:58.820
 or your own status, right?

00:39:58.840 --> 00:40:00.300
 You're not living this life

00:40:00.300 --> 00:40:01.920
 to make yourself look good.

00:40:02.039 --> 00:40:03.060
 You're living this life

00:40:03.060 --> 00:40:04.340
 to make Jesus look good

00:40:04.340 --> 00:40:05.560
 and he's working through you.

00:40:05.820 --> 00:40:06.840
 And so find rest

00:40:06.840 --> 00:40:08.539
 and assurance in that today.

00:40:09.100 --> 00:40:10.220
 Let me pray for us.

00:40:15.720 --> 00:40:16.700
 Lord, we thank you

00:40:16.700 --> 00:40:18.180
 that you are our righteousness

00:40:18.180 --> 00:40:19.340
 and sanctification

00:40:19.340 --> 00:40:19.980
 and redemption.

00:40:20.440 --> 00:40:21.080
 And Lord, we thank you

00:40:21.080 --> 00:40:23.200
 that we live to boast in you

00:40:23.200 --> 00:40:24.240
 and not in ourselves.

00:40:24.940 --> 00:40:25.820
 And Lord, I just pray

00:40:25.820 --> 00:40:26.620
 that you would strip back

00:40:26.620 --> 00:40:27.700
 the ways that we do boast

00:40:27.700 --> 00:40:28.200
 in ourselves.

00:40:29.720 --> 00:40:30.580
 Lord, it feels good

00:40:30.580 --> 00:40:31.000
 in the moment

00:40:31.000 --> 00:40:31.660
 but it's ultimately

00:40:31.660 --> 00:40:32.519
 just a weight on us

00:40:32.519 --> 00:40:33.280
 that drags us down

00:40:33.280 --> 00:40:35.160
 where we have to pridefully

00:40:35.160 --> 00:40:35.800
 prove ourselves

00:40:35.800 --> 00:40:36.460
 again and again.

00:40:37.400 --> 00:40:38.260
 And Lord, I just pray

00:40:38.260 --> 00:40:38.760
 that you would set

00:40:38.760 --> 00:40:39.620
 specific people

00:40:39.620 --> 00:40:40.480
 even in this church today

00:40:40.480 --> 00:40:41.160
 free of that.

00:40:42.120 --> 00:40:43.100
 Lord, that we would come

00:40:43.100 --> 00:40:44.560
 to points where we boast

00:40:44.560 --> 00:40:45.480
 in the Lord more

00:40:45.480 --> 00:40:47.660
 and in ourselves less today.

00:40:48.160 --> 00:40:48.720
 We pray these things

00:40:48.719 --> 00:40:49.119
 in your name,

00:40:49.259 --> 00:40:49.399
 Amen.

00:40:49.400 --> 00:41:19.380
 Thank you.