WEBVTT

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 Good morning.

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 My name is Matthew Capone, and I'm the pastor here at Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian Church,

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 and it's my joy to bring God's word to you today.

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 If you are new or visiting with us, welcome.

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 We're glad that you're here, and we're glad that you're here not because we're trying to fill seats,

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 but because we're following Jesus together as one community,

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 and as we follow Jesus together, we become convinced that there's no one so good,

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 that they don't need God's grace, and no one so bad that they can't have it,

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 which is a way of saying that God has something to say to everyone in his word,

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 which is why we come back week after week to hear from God.

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 If you've been with us, you know that we're in the book of 1 Peter,

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 and the book of 1 Peter is a letter.

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 It's a letter written by a man named Peter, and he writes it to Christians

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 who are living in the first century in what is now modern-day Turkey,

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 and these Christians are in distress, and so Peter writes to them,

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 and they're in distress because they are feeling out of place in the world

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 because they're Christians, and they're facing opposition from the world as Christians.

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 Peter writes to give them both encouragement and instruction.

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 He writes to encourage them that Jesus is worth it.

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 Jesus is worth living and loving for,

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 and Jesus is worth suffering and dying for.

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 He also writes to instruct them that they would know how to live in the world as Christians,

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 and they would know how to respond when living as Christians leads to opposition from the world.

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 Last week, we talked about the importance of community,

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 that we're not just chosen as God's people,

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 as we saw at the very beginning of chapter 1 as individuals,

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 but we are chosen as a group, that we're meant to belong and be together.

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 We had the image of the stones that are built together into a spiritual house in verses 4 through 9, 4 through 8.

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 Now we turn again.

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 Peter's going to continue to talk about God's people as a group.

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 He's going to cement even more what we've discussed last week,

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 and so we're going to continue to ask the questions about God's people that we looked at previously,

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 and one of the questions is this.

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 Why does God have a people?

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 What is the purpose or mission of God's people?

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 What's the relationship of God's people to the world around them?

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 And how is it that God's people should act as they encounter that world,

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 especially when, as Peter's readers are experiencing opposition, they experience opposition?

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 And so it's with those questions that we come to 1 Peter 2, starting at verse 9.

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 You can follow along with me in your worship guide.

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 You can find it on your phone.

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 You can open it up in your Bible.

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 But remember, as we come, we're coming to God's Word,

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 and God tells us that His Word, unlike grass which withers,

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 and unlike flowers which fade, will last forever.

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 And so that's why we read now, starting at verse 9.

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 Verse 11.

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 I invite you to pray with me as we come to this portion of God's Word.

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 Father in heaven, we praise you and thank you that you speak to us,

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 you communicate with us.

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 You're not a distant father, but you're a father who's close,

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 who communicates and teaches and instructs His children.

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 And so we ask simply that you would send your Holy Spirit this morning to do that,

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 that you would instruct us and teach us,

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 that you would unstop our ears and open our eyes and soften our hearts and clear our minds,

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 that we would be able to see and hear and know and believe and understand everything that is written about you.

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 We ask these things in Jesus' name. Amen.

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 I have mentioned to you all before that I grew up right outside Washington, D.C.,

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 and my parents made it a priority to try to be tourists in the place that we lived,

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 and so there were countless times that we went into the city.

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 And one of the things that we started doing near the end of my time at home,

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 I think it probably wasn't until I was in high school,

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 was we would head into National Cathedral, which is the large cathedral in Washington, D.C.,

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 for their Christmas Eve service.

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 We had bounced around for a while as a family trying to find the right spot to be at Christmas Eve,

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 because our church didn't have one.

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 And if you drive to the National Cathedral, if you're familiar with Washington, D.C.,

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 you know it's hard to get there without going along Massachusetts Avenue.

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 And Massachusetts Avenue is actually known, has a nickname, it's called Embassy Row,

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 because as you go along on both sides, it's lined with different embassies from different countries,

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 and you can see because they have the country's flags hanging outside.

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 And so you'll drive along and you might see the Indian Embassy,

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 or the Embassy for Greece, or the Embassy for Ireland.

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 This is not just true of Washington, D.C., we actually have some embassies in Denver.

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 It turns out that Colorado can have nice things.

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 Not just 14ers, and so we have the Canadian Embassy.

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 We have an Irish Embassy.

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 Because these places are places where people can go and have that country represented.

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 If you have business you need to do with that country, if you're a citizen of that country,

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 that's your hot spot.

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 That's the place where they fly that flag above every other.

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 Peter's been telling his people, the recipients of this,

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 about belonging to God and being not just individuals but a group,

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 and he begins here in verse 9 to use all kinds of different language, including national language.

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 He tells them,

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 You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession.

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 What Peter is telling them here is radical.

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 They are a new group of people, a different race, a different kind of people,

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 because they belong to God and they're Christians.

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 And not only that, as they live in this world and they feel marginalized,

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 they are actually their own nation.

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 That is how serious God thinks of his people,

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 how seriously he thinks of his people and the reality in which they belong to him.

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 Their identity belonging to him as a people is so strong

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 that they can think of themselves as their own nation

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 with their own allegiances and loyalties and practices and laws.

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 They're their own race.

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 That loyalty takes place above maybe the birth race that they have.

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 They belong to God's people before they belong to any other people.

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 And really, we could spend a sermon on each one of these descriptions.

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 I think there's four here.

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 Race, priesthood, nation, people.

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 These are overlapping categories.

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 And Peter is telling them again what we saw last week,

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 that they are part of a countercultural community

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 that exists in the world chosen by God with loyalty to God.

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 They have countercultural practices and ways of living.

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 And their loyalties are greater and different

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 than any of the other loyalties that they face.

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 If you walk just a few blocks from here,

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 you'll go by Otero Elementary School, which is just that way.

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 And Otero has a flagpole like many schools do.

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 And it has two flags on it.

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 It has the American flag and it has the Colorado flag.

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 Now, which of those flags is the flag on top?

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 It's the American flag.

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 Peter is telling these people in Asia Minor

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 that their flag as Christians

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 flies higher than any other flag.

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 It is a loyalty that is greater for them

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 than any other loyalty.

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 And we're going to talk about that next week,

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 how that affects the Christian's relationship

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 with the government and the state.

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 But remember that the people receiving this letter

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 are people who feel at times harassed and helpless.

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 They're out of place in the world

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 that they live geographically.

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 They don't necessarily belong to the nation that they're in.

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 And even if they do,

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 they claim a different and higher loyalty.

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 They have different practices.

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 Peter encourages them that when it comes to God,

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 they belong to his nation.

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 And they're a part of his people.

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 They're a priesthood and a nation.

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 They're holy.

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 They've been set apart.

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 And so just what was said singularly about individuals,

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 of course it was in the plural in the book,

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 but I applied it to you all as individuals in chapter one.

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 Now Peter continues to apply to groups.

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 That God doesn't just have single people,

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 but he has a people.

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 We talked about the importance of this people last week.

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 And because of the image of the stones in the building,

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 I did not have time to focus as much

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 on the image of the priesthood.

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 And I told you last week

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 that we would talk about it this week,

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 and I gave you a little teaser.

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 And lo and behold,

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 it shows up here in verse nine.

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 So to review,

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 in verses four and five,

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 we're told not only are we living stones,

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 but we are a holy priesthood

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 to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God.

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 And as we talked about last week,

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 that's the obedience and praise

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 that believers give to God in their lives.

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 Peter repeats that here in verse nine,

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 telling them that they are a royal priesthood.

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 Now if you are familiar with the Old Testament,

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 you know that the priests served in the temple,

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 and they did all sorts of things.

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 They taught people God's word.

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 They made sacrifices on behalf of the people.

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 And they were set apart from the rest of the people.

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 There was something about them

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 that was different and special.

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 They were called to a higher standard

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 of behavior and living.

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 Now some of you remember

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 the old style SATs,

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 where you had the analogies,

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 you know, cat is to dog as,

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 I won't finish that one.

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 But Peter is using an analogy here

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 about the priesthood.

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 He is telling them,

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 as the priesthood operated towards Israel

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 in the Old Testament,

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 now you, as a whole nation,

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 operate towards the world.

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 Whatever the priesthood was supposed to do for Israel,

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 you now, as New Testament believers,

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 all of you are priests,

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 and you interact in that way with the world.

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 In other words,

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 you represent God to the world.

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 And, in a sense,

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 you represent the world to God.

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 You represent God to the world,

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 and you also represent the world to God.

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 That's what priests did.

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 They helped people know God.

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 They helped people have a relationship with God.

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 They taught people about God's ways.

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 If there was a sermon that was given in the Old Testament,

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 there was teaching about God's law,

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 the chances are it would have been given by a priest.

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 They would have helped people know God

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 and what the truth about Him was.

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 Embassies, they don't just exist to exist,

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 but they have a purpose.

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 They represent that nation to another place.

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 And,

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 they represent people from that foreign place

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 back to their nation.

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 Now, living outside of D.C.,

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 we had easy access to embassies,

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 and that wasn't necessarily helpful for us

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 because we weren't traveling a lot as a family internationally,

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 really not at all.

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 But,

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 there came a time after my grandfather died

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 that my grandmother,

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 my dad's mother,

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 took a lot of trips and traveling

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 for a period of time,

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 and there were points in nations

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 where she had to get permission,

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 receive permission to travel to them.

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 And so,

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 she would drive up from North Carolina

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 to our home in Southern Maryland,

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 and then she would drive in to Washington, D.C.

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 to visit the embassy

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 so that she could turn in her application

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 to visit a specific country.

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 And so,

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 in that sense,

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 the embassy represented her.

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 And,

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 the embassy also represented

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 their country to us.

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 I think at one point,

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 she went to the Indian embassy.

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 So,

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 they represented her to India,

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 and they represented India to her.

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 Why do God's people exist?

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 Why does God have a people?

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 God has a people

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 so that he would be known

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 in the entire world.

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 that he would have

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 an embassy in this world.

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 And he has a people

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 to represent him

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 to that world.

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 And in a sense,

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 those people

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 also represent the world

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 to God.

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 And so,

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 as we represent God

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 to the world,

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 we're making God known

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 to the people around us

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 in our community.

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 You might be wondering,

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 how is it

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 that we represent

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 the world to God?

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 Right?

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 People have to have

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 a direct relationship

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 with God through Jesus.

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 We can't have a relationship

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 for them.

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 But,

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 think about this.

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 Abraham,

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 as one man has pointed out,

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 prayed on behalf

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 of Sodom and Gomorrah.

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 when we pray to God

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 on behalf

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 of the people around us

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 and on behalf

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 of the nations around us

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 and the nation

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 in which we live,

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 we are serving

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 as priests

00:14:25.279 --> 00:14:26.720
 representing the world

00:14:26.720 --> 00:14:27.180
 to God.

00:14:28.960 --> 00:14:30.120
 And when we tell

00:14:30.120 --> 00:14:31.259
 the people around us

00:14:31.259 --> 00:14:32.139
 about God's goodness

00:14:32.139 --> 00:14:32.940
 and his justice

00:14:32.940 --> 00:14:33.519
 and his mercy

00:14:33.519 --> 00:14:34.159
 and his love,

00:14:34.600 --> 00:14:35.600
 and when we live it out

00:14:35.600 --> 00:14:36.180
 in our lives,

00:14:36.259 --> 00:14:37.539
 we are representing God

00:14:37.539 --> 00:14:38.200
 to the world.

00:14:38.200 --> 00:14:40.879
 And so,

00:14:40.980 --> 00:14:42.220
 being a priesthood here

00:14:42.220 --> 00:14:43.220
 is not just

00:14:43.220 --> 00:14:44.820
 some fancy

00:14:44.820 --> 00:14:45.860
 religious language.

00:14:46.900 --> 00:14:48.100
 It's not an image

00:14:48.100 --> 00:14:48.720
 of people

00:14:48.720 --> 00:14:49.900
 who hide

00:14:49.900 --> 00:14:50.860
 in prayer closets

00:14:50.860 --> 00:14:51.480
 all day

00:14:51.480 --> 00:14:54.020
 and can never

00:14:54.020 --> 00:14:54.740
 seem to be found

00:14:54.740 --> 00:14:55.280
 anywhere

00:14:55.280 --> 00:14:56.320
 except a Bible study.

00:14:58.320 --> 00:14:58.800
 Instead,

00:14:59.040 --> 00:14:59.560
 it is people

00:14:59.560 --> 00:15:00.640
 who are living out

00:15:00.640 --> 00:15:01.480
 God's purposes

00:15:01.480 --> 00:15:02.220
 in the world

00:15:02.220 --> 00:15:03.960
 and making him known

00:15:03.960 --> 00:15:05.580
 in the same way

00:15:05.580 --> 00:15:06.220
 that priests

00:15:06.220 --> 00:15:07.020
 in the Old Testament

00:15:07.019 --> 00:15:08.860
 made sure God's people

00:15:08.860 --> 00:15:09.980
 knew about him.

00:15:15.059 --> 00:15:16.039
 How is it

00:15:16.039 --> 00:15:16.919
 that we serve

00:15:16.919 --> 00:15:18.179
 as priests

00:15:18.179 --> 00:15:19.139
 to the world?

00:15:19.960 --> 00:15:20.740
 Peter gives us

00:15:20.740 --> 00:15:21.939
 two ways

00:15:21.939 --> 00:15:23.399
 about how we help

00:15:23.399 --> 00:15:24.460
 other people

00:15:24.460 --> 00:15:25.120
 to know God.

00:15:27.199 --> 00:15:27.720
 First,

00:15:28.100 --> 00:15:28.699
 he gives us

00:15:28.699 --> 00:15:29.059
 a little bit

00:15:29.059 --> 00:15:29.840
 of a mission statement

00:15:29.840 --> 00:15:30.779
 here in verse 9.

00:15:32.019 --> 00:15:32.500
 Okay,

00:15:32.639 --> 00:15:33.399
 we're a chosen race,

00:15:33.480 --> 00:15:34.159
 a royal priesthood,

00:15:34.199 --> 00:15:34.759
 a holy nation,

00:15:34.840 --> 00:15:35.960
 a people for his own possession.

00:15:36.120 --> 00:15:36.460
 Why?

00:15:37.019 --> 00:15:41.299
 That you may proclaim

00:15:41.299 --> 00:15:42.340
 the excellencies

00:15:42.340 --> 00:15:43.960
 of him

00:15:43.960 --> 00:15:44.579
 who called you

00:15:44.579 --> 00:15:45.199
 out of darkness

00:15:45.199 --> 00:15:46.679
 into his marvelous light.

00:15:48.279 --> 00:15:49.679
 God has chosen us

00:15:49.679 --> 00:15:50.799
 as his people

00:15:50.799 --> 00:15:51.460
 that we would

00:15:51.460 --> 00:15:52.439
 praise him

00:15:52.439 --> 00:15:54.340
 and that the world

00:15:54.340 --> 00:15:55.399
 would see and hear.

00:15:58.159 --> 00:15:59.539
 God has chosen us

00:15:59.539 --> 00:16:00.299
 as his people.

00:16:00.480 --> 00:16:01.539
 God has a people

00:16:01.539 --> 00:16:03.519
 so that the entire world

00:16:03.519 --> 00:16:04.340
 would be filled

00:16:04.340 --> 00:16:05.659
 with his praise.

00:16:05.659 --> 00:16:07.980
 and not just

00:16:07.980 --> 00:16:09.100
 praise in general

00:16:09.100 --> 00:16:11.059
 but praise

00:16:11.059 --> 00:16:11.879
 about the fact

00:16:11.879 --> 00:16:12.600
 that he's called us

00:16:12.600 --> 00:16:13.399
 out of darkness

00:16:13.399 --> 00:16:14.919
 into his marvelous light

00:16:14.919 --> 00:16:16.480
 proclaiming his excellencies.

00:16:18.240 --> 00:16:19.620
 Proclaiming God's excellencies

00:16:19.620 --> 00:16:20.639
 is talking about

00:16:20.639 --> 00:16:21.500
 his great acts

00:16:21.500 --> 00:16:21.959
 of redemption,

00:16:22.159 --> 00:16:22.919
 what he has done

00:16:22.919 --> 00:16:23.559
 for us

00:16:23.559 --> 00:16:24.279
 and for the world

00:16:24.279 --> 00:16:25.240
 and so we're proclaiming

00:16:25.240 --> 00:16:26.319
 that he's the creator.

00:16:26.439 --> 00:16:27.179
 He's the one who's made

00:16:27.179 --> 00:16:28.039
 the heavens and the earth.

00:16:28.039 --> 00:16:30.519
 We're also proclaiming

00:16:30.519 --> 00:16:31.500
 that he's our redeemer.

00:16:31.639 --> 00:16:32.599
 He's the one who comes

00:16:32.599 --> 00:16:34.159
 and offers to restore us

00:16:34.159 --> 00:16:34.860
 and the world

00:16:34.860 --> 00:16:36.039
 from the effects of sin

00:16:36.039 --> 00:16:36.679
 through the death

00:16:36.679 --> 00:16:37.219
 of his son.

00:16:39.339 --> 00:16:40.339
 And we're proclaiming

00:16:40.339 --> 00:16:41.059
 the effects of that.

00:16:41.120 --> 00:16:41.579
 He's called us

00:16:41.579 --> 00:16:42.219
 out of darkness

00:16:42.219 --> 00:16:42.980
 into light.

00:16:43.099 --> 00:16:44.120
 We are not just people

00:16:44.120 --> 00:16:45.659
 who have had the penalty

00:16:45.659 --> 00:16:46.839
 of sin removed from us

00:16:46.839 --> 00:16:47.699
 but we experience

00:16:47.699 --> 00:16:48.259
 the freedom

00:16:48.259 --> 00:16:49.179
 of walking

00:16:49.179 --> 00:16:50.819
 without the shame

00:16:50.819 --> 00:16:51.299
 and guilt

00:16:51.299 --> 00:16:52.079
 that would otherwise

00:16:52.079 --> 00:16:52.659
 cover us

00:16:52.659 --> 00:16:53.519
 because of our sin.

00:16:53.519 --> 00:16:57.480
 God has a people

00:16:57.480 --> 00:16:58.620
 in this world

00:16:58.620 --> 00:16:59.699
 to proclaim

00:16:59.699 --> 00:17:00.779
 his goodness

00:17:00.779 --> 00:17:02.659
 into that world.

00:17:05.379 --> 00:17:07.019
 And so that's the first way

00:17:07.019 --> 00:17:07.680
 that we're priests.

00:17:07.759 --> 00:17:08.240
 We're priests

00:17:08.240 --> 00:17:09.680
 as we praise God.

00:17:10.599 --> 00:17:12.079
 We represent God

00:17:12.079 --> 00:17:12.639
 to the world

00:17:12.639 --> 00:17:13.639
 as we worship

00:17:13.639 --> 00:17:14.339
 right here

00:17:14.339 --> 00:17:16.220
 on Sunday morning

00:17:16.220 --> 00:17:17.240
 October 20th.

00:17:17.859 --> 00:17:19.299
 We are right now

00:17:19.299 --> 00:17:20.720
 serving as priests

00:17:20.720 --> 00:17:22.139
 as we sing praises

00:17:22.139 --> 00:17:22.639
 to God.

00:17:23.519 --> 00:17:25.680
 And we're also

00:17:25.680 --> 00:17:26.519
 serving as priests

00:17:26.519 --> 00:17:28.259
 as we live out

00:17:28.259 --> 00:17:29.359
 our lives

00:17:29.359 --> 00:17:30.240
 as people who belong

00:17:30.240 --> 00:17:30.660
 to God

00:17:30.660 --> 00:17:31.400
 and tell others

00:17:31.400 --> 00:17:31.920
 around us

00:17:31.920 --> 00:17:32.599
 about the truth

00:17:32.599 --> 00:17:33.059
 of God.

00:17:36.900 --> 00:17:37.779
 We're telling them

00:17:37.779 --> 00:17:39.240
 what's in verse 10

00:17:39.240 --> 00:17:39.900
 once we were not

00:17:39.900 --> 00:17:40.220
 a people

00:17:40.220 --> 00:17:40.879
 but now we are

00:17:40.879 --> 00:17:41.420
 God's people

00:17:41.420 --> 00:17:42.019
 because we've

00:17:42.019 --> 00:17:43.379
 received mercy.

00:17:46.879 --> 00:17:47.900
 Peter does not

00:17:47.900 --> 00:17:48.960
 just tell them

00:17:48.960 --> 00:17:49.279
 however

00:17:49.279 --> 00:17:50.119
 that they serve

00:17:50.119 --> 00:17:50.799
 as priests

00:17:50.799 --> 00:17:51.900
 by praising God.

00:17:53.519 --> 00:17:54.339
 Now that would be

00:17:54.339 --> 00:17:54.799
 great right

00:17:54.799 --> 00:17:55.559
 if the Christian life

00:17:55.559 --> 00:17:55.879
 you know

00:17:55.879 --> 00:17:58.180
 we come to

00:17:58.180 --> 00:17:59.139
 confess Christ

00:17:59.139 --> 00:17:59.879
 and we decide

00:17:59.879 --> 00:18:01.460
 all that means

00:18:01.460 --> 00:18:02.220
 is we just show up

00:18:02.220 --> 00:18:02.859
 on Sunday mornings

00:18:02.859 --> 00:18:03.680
 and sing praises

00:18:03.680 --> 00:18:06.579
 and we can go

00:18:06.579 --> 00:18:06.920
 and just

00:18:06.920 --> 00:18:07.759
 nothing else

00:18:07.759 --> 00:18:08.319
 needs to change.

00:18:09.599 --> 00:18:10.420
 We'll just go

00:18:10.420 --> 00:18:11.400
 and live our lives

00:18:11.400 --> 00:18:12.240
 the way they were

00:18:12.240 --> 00:18:12.639
 before

00:18:12.639 --> 00:18:13.680
 but church is a

00:18:13.680 --> 00:18:14.359
 great place to be

00:18:14.359 --> 00:18:15.019
 on Sunday morning

00:18:15.019 --> 00:18:16.599
 to be with other people

00:18:16.599 --> 00:18:17.539
 and kind of to feel

00:18:17.539 --> 00:18:18.900
 uplifted and excited

00:18:18.900 --> 00:18:20.060
 and sometimes

00:18:20.060 --> 00:18:21.000
 the music is good

00:18:21.000 --> 00:18:21.820
 and we really like it

00:18:21.820 --> 00:18:22.120
 but sometimes

00:18:22.120 --> 00:18:22.519
 it's not our

00:18:22.519 --> 00:18:23.160
 favorite song

00:18:23.160 --> 00:18:24.280
 but that's really

00:18:24.280 --> 00:18:24.720
 what it means

00:18:24.720 --> 00:18:25.340
 to be a Christian.

00:18:29.019 --> 00:18:29.680
 Certainly not

00:18:29.680 --> 00:18:30.440
 less than that

00:18:30.440 --> 00:18:32.420
 but Peter tells us

00:18:32.420 --> 00:18:33.019
 here that it is

00:18:33.019 --> 00:18:33.720
 so much more

00:18:33.720 --> 00:18:34.080
 than that.

00:18:34.180 --> 00:18:34.720
 He moves on

00:18:34.720 --> 00:18:35.540
 from praise

00:18:35.540 --> 00:18:36.680
 to talk about

00:18:36.680 --> 00:18:37.680
 not just our identity

00:18:37.680 --> 00:18:38.860
 as chosen by God

00:18:38.860 --> 00:18:39.380
 or our people

00:18:39.380 --> 00:18:40.060
 as worshipers

00:18:40.060 --> 00:18:40.680
 but hear about

00:18:40.680 --> 00:18:41.320
 our behavior.

00:18:41.500 --> 00:18:42.019
 Verse 11

00:18:42.019 --> 00:19:04.259
 In other words

00:19:04.259 --> 00:19:04.879
 it's not just

00:19:04.879 --> 00:19:05.639
 our praise

00:19:05.639 --> 00:19:07.259
 that brings

00:19:07.259 --> 00:19:07.859
 other people

00:19:07.859 --> 00:19:08.639
 to know God

00:19:08.639 --> 00:19:10.779
 it is also

00:19:10.779 --> 00:19:11.539
 our behavior

00:19:11.539 --> 00:19:14.740
 God means

00:19:14.740 --> 00:19:15.779
 for our obedience

00:19:15.779 --> 00:19:16.359
 to him

00:19:16.359 --> 00:19:16.960
 our holiness

00:19:16.960 --> 00:19:18.039
 our set apartness

00:19:18.039 --> 00:19:19.519
 to cause people

00:19:19.519 --> 00:19:20.119
 to stop

00:19:20.119 --> 00:19:21.079
 and pay attention

00:19:21.079 --> 00:19:23.440
 to notice

00:19:23.440 --> 00:19:24.099
 that there is

00:19:24.099 --> 00:19:25.159
 something different

00:19:25.159 --> 00:19:27.680
 that our holiness

00:19:27.680 --> 00:19:28.859
 would lead people

00:19:28.859 --> 00:19:30.059
 to see the goodness

00:19:30.059 --> 00:19:30.700
 of God

00:19:30.700 --> 00:19:34.839
 as we live lives

00:19:34.839 --> 00:19:35.619
 where we value

00:19:35.619 --> 00:19:36.200
 life

00:19:36.200 --> 00:19:37.440
 rather than death

00:19:37.440 --> 00:19:39.899
 people would see

00:19:39.899 --> 00:19:40.839
 the beauty of that

00:19:40.839 --> 00:19:43.639
 as we live lives

00:19:43.639 --> 00:19:44.299
 where we value

00:19:44.299 --> 00:19:44.899
 truth

00:19:44.899 --> 00:19:46.119
 over falsehood

00:19:46.119 --> 00:19:48.619
 others would see

00:19:48.619 --> 00:19:49.599
 how rare that is

00:19:49.599 --> 00:19:50.299
 in this world

00:19:50.299 --> 00:19:53.740
 as we live lives

00:19:53.740 --> 00:19:54.319
 where we honor

00:19:54.319 --> 00:19:54.919
 our vows

00:19:54.919 --> 00:19:55.699
 and our commitments

00:19:55.699 --> 00:19:56.720
 people would see

00:19:56.720 --> 00:19:57.419
 the character

00:19:57.419 --> 00:19:58.099
 of God

00:19:58.099 --> 00:20:01.679
 as people watch us

00:20:01.679 --> 00:20:02.779
 caring for the vulnerable

00:20:02.779 --> 00:20:03.500
 rather than them

00:20:03.500 --> 00:20:04.359
 being downtrodden

00:20:04.359 --> 00:20:05.179
 they would wonder

00:20:05.179 --> 00:20:06.039
 what it is

00:20:06.039 --> 00:20:08.000
 that makes that possible

00:20:08.000 --> 00:20:10.660
 as people

00:20:10.660 --> 00:20:11.299
 are around us

00:20:11.299 --> 00:20:11.839
 and they notice

00:20:11.839 --> 00:20:12.420
 that we're able

00:20:12.420 --> 00:20:13.900
 to enjoy each other

00:20:13.900 --> 00:20:15.299
 and laugh

00:20:15.299 --> 00:20:16.200
 and have fun

00:20:16.200 --> 00:20:17.420
 without substance abuse

00:20:17.420 --> 00:20:20.579
 they will question

00:20:20.579 --> 00:20:23.259
 how are those people

00:20:23.259 --> 00:20:24.240
 able to do that

00:20:24.240 --> 00:20:29.220
 verse 12

00:20:29.220 --> 00:20:30.160
 keep your conduct

00:20:30.160 --> 00:20:31.099
 among the Gentiles

00:20:31.099 --> 00:20:31.660
 honorable

00:20:31.660 --> 00:20:33.019
 so that when they

00:20:33.019 --> 00:20:33.900
 speak against you

00:20:33.900 --> 00:20:34.720
 as evildoers

00:20:34.720 --> 00:20:35.319
 they may see

00:20:35.319 --> 00:20:36.120
 your good deeds

00:20:36.120 --> 00:20:37.339
 and glorify God

00:20:37.339 --> 00:20:38.200
 on the day

00:20:38.200 --> 00:20:38.940
 of visitation

00:20:38.940 --> 00:20:42.180
 when we use

00:20:42.180 --> 00:20:43.059
 our sexuality

00:20:43.059 --> 00:20:44.299
 to build other people

00:20:44.299 --> 00:20:44.579
 up

00:20:44.579 --> 00:20:45.779
 rather than to use them

00:20:45.779 --> 00:20:46.660
 and exploit them

00:20:46.660 --> 00:20:49.519
 people will see

00:20:49.519 --> 00:20:50.079
 the goodness

00:20:50.079 --> 00:20:50.660
 of God

00:20:50.660 --> 00:20:52.420
 and some of them

00:20:52.420 --> 00:20:55.200
 will glorify God

00:20:55.200 --> 00:20:55.600
 on the day

00:20:55.600 --> 00:20:56.340
 of visitation

00:20:56.340 --> 00:21:00.700
 now there's a catch here

00:21:00.700 --> 00:21:03.560
 sounds good right

00:21:03.560 --> 00:21:04.740
 people live great lives

00:21:04.740 --> 00:21:05.720
 people are drawn

00:21:05.720 --> 00:21:06.500
 to God through that

00:21:06.500 --> 00:21:08.400
 except verse 11

00:21:08.400 --> 00:21:09.519
 and 12

00:21:09.519 --> 00:21:11.320
 we're still sojourners

00:21:11.320 --> 00:21:11.920
 and exiles

00:21:11.920 --> 00:21:12.779
 verse 11

00:21:12.779 --> 00:21:13.580
 so we're still

00:21:13.580 --> 00:21:14.700
 living as people

00:21:14.700 --> 00:21:15.519
 who feel out of place

00:21:15.519 --> 00:21:16.080
 in this world

00:21:16.080 --> 00:21:18.519
 even more than that

00:21:18.519 --> 00:21:19.019
 verse 12

00:21:19.019 --> 00:21:19.640
 why are we keeping

00:21:19.640 --> 00:21:20.180
 our conduct

00:21:20.180 --> 00:21:20.680
 honorable

00:21:20.680 --> 00:21:21.740
 why are God's people

00:21:21.740 --> 00:21:22.900
 putting off sin

00:21:22.900 --> 00:21:23.860
 and putting on righteousness

00:21:23.860 --> 00:21:24.360
 well

00:21:24.360 --> 00:21:25.740
 what's going to happen

00:21:25.740 --> 00:21:26.279
 when you live

00:21:26.279 --> 00:21:26.980
 as a sojourner

00:21:26.980 --> 00:21:27.660
 in an exile

00:21:27.660 --> 00:21:29.120
 is that people

00:21:29.120 --> 00:21:29.840
 are going to speak

00:21:29.840 --> 00:21:30.340
 against you

00:21:30.340 --> 00:21:31.019
 as evildoers

00:21:31.019 --> 00:21:33.500
 and so there's

00:21:33.500 --> 00:21:34.360
 a dual reality here

00:21:34.360 --> 00:21:34.880
 on the one hand

00:21:34.880 --> 00:21:35.620
 people are speaking

00:21:35.620 --> 00:21:36.460
 poorly about these

00:21:36.460 --> 00:21:36.840
 Christians

00:21:36.840 --> 00:21:37.880
 on the other hand

00:21:37.880 --> 00:21:38.519
 they can't help

00:21:38.519 --> 00:21:39.539
 but see their good works

00:21:39.539 --> 00:21:44.620
 now I've told you

00:21:44.620 --> 00:21:45.180
 in the past

00:21:45.180 --> 00:21:46.720
 that a lot of

00:21:46.720 --> 00:21:48.160
 the opposition

00:21:48.160 --> 00:21:49.060
 that people face

00:21:49.060 --> 00:21:50.000
 for being Christians

00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:50.839
 is something

00:21:50.839 --> 00:21:51.200
 that happens

00:21:51.200 --> 00:21:51.740
 in other parts

00:21:51.740 --> 00:21:52.140
 of the world

00:21:52.140 --> 00:21:52.900
 and Nancy Carlson

00:21:52.900 --> 00:21:53.359
 mentioned that

00:21:53.359 --> 00:21:53.759
 this morning

00:21:53.759 --> 00:21:55.779
 we see opposition

00:21:55.779 --> 00:21:56.559
 perhaps in places

00:21:56.559 --> 00:21:57.400
 like Africa

00:21:57.400 --> 00:21:58.299
 or the global south

00:21:58.299 --> 00:22:01.140
 and yet we also

00:22:01.140 --> 00:22:02.240
 see this dual dynamic

00:22:02.240 --> 00:22:04.119
 here in the United States

00:22:04.119 --> 00:22:04.900
 the speaking against

00:22:04.900 --> 00:22:05.559
 its evildoers

00:22:05.559 --> 00:22:06.339
 and also seeing

00:22:06.339 --> 00:22:06.900
 good deeds

00:22:06.900 --> 00:22:10.599
 I received a text

00:22:10.599 --> 00:22:11.079
 this week

00:22:11.079 --> 00:22:12.119
 from a friend of mine

00:22:12.119 --> 00:22:12.740
 in seminary

00:22:12.740 --> 00:22:13.299
 telling me about

00:22:13.299 --> 00:22:13.960
 another friend

00:22:13.960 --> 00:22:15.559
 and one of my friends

00:22:15.559 --> 00:22:16.519
 went to work

00:22:16.519 --> 00:22:17.599
 after he graduated

00:22:17.599 --> 00:22:18.139
 at a church

00:22:18.139 --> 00:22:18.680
 in Columbia

00:22:18.680 --> 00:22:19.059
 Missouri

00:22:19.059 --> 00:22:21.279
 and that church

00:22:21.279 --> 00:22:21.920
 showed up in the news

00:22:21.920 --> 00:22:22.379
 this week

00:22:22.379 --> 00:22:24.900
 so and this is

00:22:24.900 --> 00:22:25.279
 very recent

00:22:25.279 --> 00:22:26.079
 so last Sunday

00:22:26.079 --> 00:22:27.960
 one of the pastors

00:22:27.960 --> 00:22:28.519
 of this church

00:22:28.519 --> 00:22:29.220
 not my friend

00:22:29.220 --> 00:22:30.379
 but a different pastor

00:22:30.379 --> 00:22:31.279
 and this is a

00:22:31.279 --> 00:22:32.019
 Presbyterian church

00:22:32.019 --> 00:22:32.420
 by the way

00:22:32.420 --> 00:22:33.660
 or not our denomination

00:22:33.660 --> 00:22:34.759
 but a sister denomination

00:22:34.759 --> 00:22:36.319
 the pastor stood up

00:22:36.319 --> 00:22:37.359
 and gave a message

00:22:37.359 --> 00:22:38.539
 from Genesis chapter 1

00:22:38.539 --> 00:22:39.220
 verse 27

00:22:39.220 --> 00:22:40.119
 and he preached

00:22:40.119 --> 00:22:41.160
 what it is

00:22:41.160 --> 00:22:42.160
 and how we think

00:22:42.160 --> 00:22:43.059
 as Christians

00:22:43.059 --> 00:22:44.619
 about gender dysphoria

00:22:44.619 --> 00:22:46.159
 so he's talking

00:22:46.159 --> 00:22:46.899
 about how we think

00:22:46.899 --> 00:22:47.679
 about our identity

00:22:47.679 --> 00:22:48.460
 as men and women

00:22:48.460 --> 00:22:50.940
 the news media

00:22:50.940 --> 00:22:51.919
 got a hold of this

00:22:51.919 --> 00:22:53.659
 and very quickly

00:22:53.659 --> 00:22:54.599
 there was an outcry

00:22:54.599 --> 00:22:55.039
 in the city

00:22:55.039 --> 00:22:55.940
 of Columbia, Missouri

00:22:55.940 --> 00:22:57.779
 so there were petitions

00:22:57.779 --> 00:22:58.720
 that were being signed

00:22:58.720 --> 00:23:00.259
 to boycott

00:23:00.259 --> 00:23:01.079
 this church

00:23:01.079 --> 00:23:01.619
 now of course

00:23:01.619 --> 00:23:02.359
 the people boycotting

00:23:02.359 --> 00:23:03.240
 never went to the church

00:23:03.240 --> 00:23:04.179
 so they had to find

00:23:04.179 --> 00:23:04.659
 a different way

00:23:04.659 --> 00:23:05.419
 to boycott the church

00:23:05.419 --> 00:23:05.960
 they decided

00:23:05.960 --> 00:23:07.179
 to boycott businesses

00:23:07.179 --> 00:23:08.019
 that were associated

00:23:08.019 --> 00:23:08.659
 with the church

00:23:08.659 --> 00:23:10.379
 and this is ongoing

00:23:10.379 --> 00:23:10.859
 right now

00:23:10.859 --> 00:23:11.740
 this article just came out

00:23:11.740 --> 00:23:12.159
 on Friday

00:23:12.160 --> 00:23:14.480
 as you read it though

00:23:14.480 --> 00:23:15.240
 you might be wondering

00:23:15.240 --> 00:23:16.700
 what are these businesses

00:23:16.700 --> 00:23:17.680
 that are associated

00:23:17.680 --> 00:23:18.380
 with the church

00:23:18.380 --> 00:23:20.220
 churches don't run businesses

00:23:20.220 --> 00:23:21.160
 we don't run a business

00:23:21.160 --> 00:23:22.259
 most churches aren't involved

00:23:22.259 --> 00:23:22.800
 in business

00:23:22.800 --> 00:23:24.420
 as you read along

00:23:24.420 --> 00:23:24.880
 in the article

00:23:24.880 --> 00:23:25.440
 you discover

00:23:25.440 --> 00:23:26.320
 it's not businesses

00:23:26.320 --> 00:23:28.180
 this church

00:23:28.180 --> 00:23:29.420
 has been giving away

00:23:29.420 --> 00:23:30.100
 their money

00:23:30.100 --> 00:23:31.240
 their church's money

00:23:31.240 --> 00:23:32.400
 to non-profits

00:23:32.400 --> 00:23:32.960
 in the city

00:23:32.960 --> 00:23:35.680
 and so this petition

00:23:35.680 --> 00:23:36.900
 is begging these non-profits

00:23:36.900 --> 00:23:38.360
 to no longer receive

00:23:38.360 --> 00:23:39.140
 the church's money

00:23:39.140 --> 00:23:43.140
 the church also

00:23:43.140 --> 00:23:44.080
 this appears in the article

00:23:44.080 --> 00:23:44.940
 this is not an article

00:23:44.940 --> 00:23:45.720
 written by Christians

00:23:45.720 --> 00:23:46.460
 this church

00:23:46.460 --> 00:23:48.520
 also offers their building

00:23:48.520 --> 00:23:49.400
 for free

00:23:49.400 --> 00:23:51.060
 to an arts program

00:23:51.060 --> 00:23:51.880
 there in the city

00:23:51.880 --> 00:23:54.680
 this arts program

00:23:54.680 --> 00:23:55.520
 is now under pressure

00:23:55.520 --> 00:23:56.840
 so they have pulled out

00:23:56.840 --> 00:23:57.980
 and they will no longer

00:23:57.980 --> 00:23:59.280
 be holding their art display

00:23:59.280 --> 00:23:59.960
 for free

00:23:59.960 --> 00:24:00.480
 and this church

00:24:00.480 --> 00:24:01.660
 this is a large church

00:24:01.660 --> 00:24:02.020
 by the way

00:24:02.020 --> 00:24:03.100
 the church's large facility

00:24:03.100 --> 00:24:04.600
 the article mentions

00:24:04.600 --> 00:24:05.640
 that they no longer

00:24:05.640 --> 00:24:06.180
 have a place

00:24:06.180 --> 00:24:07.259
 to hold their art exhibit

00:24:07.259 --> 00:24:08.040
 which is coming up

00:24:08.040 --> 00:24:08.560
 very soon

00:24:08.559 --> 00:24:14.379
 verse 12

00:24:14.379 --> 00:24:15.139
 keep your conduct

00:24:15.139 --> 00:24:15.960
 among the Gentiles

00:24:15.960 --> 00:24:16.339
 honorable

00:24:16.339 --> 00:24:16.980
 so that when they

00:24:16.980 --> 00:24:17.679
 speak against you

00:24:17.679 --> 00:24:18.460
 as evildoers

00:24:18.460 --> 00:24:20.299
 this church is being

00:24:20.299 --> 00:24:21.059
 spoken against

00:24:21.059 --> 00:24:22.039
 as evildoers

00:24:22.039 --> 00:24:24.179
 they may see

00:24:24.179 --> 00:24:24.779
 your good deeds

00:24:24.779 --> 00:24:25.700
 and glorify God

00:24:25.700 --> 00:24:26.659
 on the day of visitation

00:24:26.659 --> 00:24:27.879
 what is this church doing

00:24:27.879 --> 00:24:28.940
 they are seeking

00:24:28.940 --> 00:24:29.599
 the flourishing

00:24:29.599 --> 00:24:30.339
 of this community

00:24:30.339 --> 00:24:33.679
 they're offering

00:24:33.679 --> 00:24:34.259
 their building

00:24:34.259 --> 00:24:35.279
 for people in the community

00:24:35.279 --> 00:24:35.839
 to use

00:24:35.839 --> 00:24:36.740
 to promote beauty

00:24:36.740 --> 00:24:37.200
 and art

00:24:37.200 --> 00:24:39.319
 they're encouraging

00:24:39.319 --> 00:24:40.059
 non-profits

00:24:40.059 --> 00:24:40.660
 in the city

00:24:40.660 --> 00:24:41.100
 that need

00:24:41.100 --> 00:24:42.039
 financial support

00:24:42.039 --> 00:24:46.380
 and I can't help

00:24:46.380 --> 00:24:46.900
 but hope

00:24:46.900 --> 00:24:48.019
 and wonder

00:24:48.019 --> 00:24:48.660
 that as people

00:24:48.660 --> 00:24:49.519
 read that article

00:24:49.519 --> 00:24:50.340
 they may tilt

00:24:50.340 --> 00:24:50.660
 their heads

00:24:50.660 --> 00:24:51.220
 a little bit

00:24:51.220 --> 00:24:54.279
 so we're saying

00:24:54.279 --> 00:24:55.059
 no the church

00:24:55.059 --> 00:24:55.840
 can't give money

00:24:55.840 --> 00:24:56.640
 to the non-profits

00:24:56.640 --> 00:24:57.220
 in our city

00:24:57.220 --> 00:24:58.980
 and we're saying

00:24:58.980 --> 00:25:00.620
 no they can't

00:25:00.620 --> 00:25:01.779
 host art galleries

00:25:01.779 --> 00:25:02.380
 for free

00:25:02.380 --> 00:25:03.259
 in their large building

00:25:03.259 --> 00:25:03.880
 that now maybe

00:25:03.880 --> 00:25:04.880
 this non-profit

00:25:04.880 --> 00:25:05.500
 is going to have to pay

00:25:05.500 --> 00:25:06.160
 to rent a building

00:25:06.160 --> 00:25:09.799
 I'm confident

00:25:09.799 --> 00:25:10.440
 that some people

00:25:10.440 --> 00:25:11.460
 are going to encounter that

00:25:11.460 --> 00:25:11.940
 and of course

00:25:11.940 --> 00:25:13.359
 they're going to continue

00:25:13.359 --> 00:25:14.140
 to speak against them

00:25:14.140 --> 00:25:14.920
 I'm also confident

00:25:14.920 --> 00:25:15.480
 that some people

00:25:15.480 --> 00:25:16.339
 are going to see that article

00:25:16.339 --> 00:25:16.960
 and realize

00:25:16.960 --> 00:25:18.019
 this church

00:25:18.019 --> 00:25:19.059
 is doing good works

00:25:19.059 --> 00:25:22.640
 and some people

00:25:22.640 --> 00:25:24.000
 may be drawn

00:25:24.000 --> 00:25:25.099
 to see their good deeds

00:25:25.099 --> 00:25:26.000
 and glorify God

00:25:26.000 --> 00:25:27.019
 on the day of visitation

00:25:27.019 --> 00:25:27.799
 in other words

00:25:27.799 --> 00:25:28.640
 some people

00:25:28.640 --> 00:25:29.880
 may come to faith

00:25:29.880 --> 00:25:30.539
 in Christ

00:25:30.539 --> 00:25:31.680
 because of the faithfulness

00:25:31.680 --> 00:25:32.359
 of this church

00:25:32.359 --> 00:25:33.880
 and when Jesus returns

00:25:33.880 --> 00:25:34.760
 in his second coming

00:25:34.760 --> 00:25:35.360
 to the earth

00:25:35.360 --> 00:25:36.080
 because of that

00:25:36.080 --> 00:25:37.580
 they will give glory

00:25:37.580 --> 00:25:38.200
 to him

00:25:38.200 --> 00:25:42.640
 oh and by the way

00:25:42.640 --> 00:25:45.440
 if you go onto

00:25:45.440 --> 00:25:46.440
 this church's website

00:25:46.440 --> 00:25:47.280
 of course the first thing

00:25:47.280 --> 00:25:47.840
 that shows up

00:25:47.840 --> 00:25:48.860
 is a question and answer

00:25:48.860 --> 00:25:49.840
 about last week's sermon

00:25:49.840 --> 00:25:50.500
 because this is just

00:25:50.500 --> 00:25:51.580
 blowing them up right now

00:25:51.580 --> 00:25:54.120
 if you scroll over

00:25:54.120 --> 00:25:55.060
 a couple other things

00:25:55.060 --> 00:25:56.180
 you'll see the new initiative

00:25:56.180 --> 00:25:57.100
 that they just completed

00:25:57.100 --> 00:25:58.120
 to pay off

00:25:58.120 --> 00:26:00.060
 medical debt

00:26:00.060 --> 00:26:01.100
 for people in poverty

00:26:01.100 --> 00:26:01.720
 in their city

00:26:01.720 --> 00:26:04.600
 and so this church

00:26:04.600 --> 00:26:06.640
 just donated $430,000

00:26:06.640 --> 00:26:08.059
 it's a very large church

00:26:08.059 --> 00:26:09.900
 to pay off

00:26:09.900 --> 00:26:11.100
 emergency room bills

00:26:11.100 --> 00:26:11.799
 for people who would

00:26:11.799 --> 00:26:12.400
 not otherwise

00:26:12.400 --> 00:26:13.240
 be able to pay them

00:26:13.240 --> 00:26:17.480
 now I tell you this

00:26:17.480 --> 00:26:18.259
 not to say

00:26:18.259 --> 00:26:19.680
 look at these great Christians

00:26:19.680 --> 00:26:21.480
 and all the good

00:26:21.480 --> 00:26:21.960
 they're doing

00:26:21.960 --> 00:26:23.900
 but to say

00:26:23.900 --> 00:26:24.839
 here's an example

00:26:24.839 --> 00:26:26.019
 of this dual reality

00:26:26.019 --> 00:26:26.799
 on the one hand

00:26:26.799 --> 00:26:27.420
 this church

00:26:27.420 --> 00:26:28.279
 is being slandered

00:26:28.279 --> 00:26:29.100
 and spoken against

00:26:29.100 --> 00:26:29.640
 in the media

00:26:29.640 --> 00:26:30.460
 in their local city

00:26:30.460 --> 00:26:33.860
 but they're

00:26:33.860 --> 00:26:34.480
 first Peter

00:26:34.480 --> 00:26:35.279
 kind of people

00:26:35.279 --> 00:26:36.539
 they're a first Peter church

00:26:36.539 --> 00:26:39.340
 and so people

00:26:39.340 --> 00:26:39.840
 can't help

00:26:39.840 --> 00:26:40.519
 but also see

00:26:40.519 --> 00:26:41.360
 their good deeds

00:26:41.360 --> 00:26:46.100
 we are priests

00:26:46.100 --> 00:26:47.360
 God's priests

00:26:47.360 --> 00:26:48.019
 to the nations

00:26:48.019 --> 00:26:51.180
 we are his embassy

00:26:51.180 --> 00:26:52.500
 to let people know

00:26:52.500 --> 00:26:53.220
 what is true

00:26:53.220 --> 00:26:53.880
 about him

00:26:53.880 --> 00:26:54.600
 not just

00:26:54.600 --> 00:26:55.579
 in our praise

00:26:55.579 --> 00:26:57.860
 verse 9

00:26:57.860 --> 00:26:59.259
 proclaiming his excellencies

00:26:59.259 --> 00:27:00.839
 but also

00:27:00.839 --> 00:27:01.640
 in our behavior

00:27:01.640 --> 00:27:02.920
 verses 11 and 12

00:27:02.920 --> 00:27:06.700
 we represent God

00:27:06.700 --> 00:27:08.099
 not just by what we say

00:27:08.099 --> 00:27:10.519
 but also by what we do

00:27:10.519 --> 00:27:14.079
 and when we're living

00:27:14.079 --> 00:27:14.559
 the lives

00:27:14.559 --> 00:27:15.740
 that God calls us to

00:27:15.740 --> 00:27:16.859
 in this world

00:27:16.859 --> 00:27:18.019
 those around us

00:27:18.019 --> 00:27:18.819
 cannot help

00:27:18.819 --> 00:27:19.519
 but see

00:27:19.519 --> 00:27:20.440
 and some of them

00:27:20.440 --> 00:27:21.140
 will give glory

00:27:21.140 --> 00:27:21.680
 to God

00:27:21.680 --> 00:27:22.440
 as a result

00:27:22.440 --> 00:27:27.799
 John Stott

00:27:27.799 --> 00:27:28.500
 says this

00:27:28.500 --> 00:27:30.480
 evangelism

00:27:30.480 --> 00:27:31.759
 that is declaring

00:27:31.759 --> 00:27:32.519
 God's praises

00:27:32.519 --> 00:27:34.019
 and his good news

00:27:34.019 --> 00:27:35.000
 of salvation in Jesus

00:27:35.000 --> 00:27:36.079
 evangelism without

00:27:36.079 --> 00:27:36.879
 good works

00:27:36.879 --> 00:27:39.019
 lacks credibility

00:27:39.019 --> 00:27:42.460
 good works

00:27:42.460 --> 00:27:43.579
 without evangelism

00:27:43.579 --> 00:27:46.339
 lacks intelligibility

00:27:46.339 --> 00:27:50.059
 evangelism without

00:27:50.059 --> 00:27:50.639
 good works

00:27:50.639 --> 00:27:51.539
 lacks credibility

00:27:51.539 --> 00:27:53.059
 good works

00:27:53.059 --> 00:27:54.019
 without evangelism

00:27:54.019 --> 00:27:55.680
 lacks intelligibility

00:27:55.680 --> 00:27:59.019
 why does God

00:27:59.019 --> 00:27:59.580
 have a people

00:27:59.580 --> 00:28:03.039
 he has a people

00:28:03.039 --> 00:28:04.220
 to serve as priests

00:28:04.220 --> 00:28:05.160
 helping others

00:28:05.160 --> 00:28:06.140
 to know him

00:28:06.140 --> 00:28:08.259
 and bringing those

00:28:08.259 --> 00:28:08.620
 people

00:28:08.620 --> 00:28:09.519
 to know him

00:28:09.519 --> 00:28:09.920
 as well

00:28:09.920 --> 00:28:12.640
 and why do they

00:28:12.640 --> 00:28:13.019
 do it

00:28:13.019 --> 00:28:16.019
 we saw last week

00:28:16.019 --> 00:28:16.920
 that we are stones

00:28:16.920 --> 00:28:17.820
 founded on the stone

00:28:17.820 --> 00:28:19.580
 so what's true

00:28:19.580 --> 00:28:20.080
 of Jesus

00:28:20.080 --> 00:28:20.980
 is true of us

00:28:20.980 --> 00:28:23.440
 we are priests

00:28:23.440 --> 00:28:26.160
 and Hebrews chapter 4

00:28:26.160 --> 00:28:26.960
 tells us

00:28:26.960 --> 00:28:27.880
 that Jesus

00:28:27.880 --> 00:28:29.220
 is our great

00:28:29.220 --> 00:28:29.900
 high priest

00:28:29.900 --> 00:28:31.960
 which means

00:28:31.960 --> 00:28:32.420
 that Jesus

00:28:32.420 --> 00:28:33.059
 is the one

00:28:33.059 --> 00:28:33.640
 ultimately

00:28:33.640 --> 00:28:34.440
 who represents

00:28:34.440 --> 00:28:35.720
 us to God

00:28:35.720 --> 00:28:38.080
 and so we're

00:28:38.080 --> 00:28:38.900
 able to proclaim

00:28:38.900 --> 00:28:39.539
 his goodness

00:28:39.539 --> 00:28:40.440
 in the world

00:28:40.440 --> 00:28:42.019
 not because of

00:28:42.019 --> 00:28:42.660
 what we've done

00:28:42.660 --> 00:28:42.880
 right

00:28:42.880 --> 00:28:43.559
 this church

00:28:43.559 --> 00:28:44.559
 is not claiming

00:28:44.559 --> 00:28:45.120
 its goodness

00:28:45.120 --> 00:28:45.640
 in fact

00:28:45.640 --> 00:28:46.340
 if you read

00:28:46.340 --> 00:28:46.840
 on their website

00:28:46.840 --> 00:28:47.580
 about what they've

00:28:47.580 --> 00:28:48.279
 done to pay

00:28:48.279 --> 00:28:48.900
 off the debt

00:28:48.900 --> 00:28:50.000
 they explain

00:28:50.000 --> 00:28:50.500
 the reason

00:28:50.500 --> 00:28:51.100
 they're paying

00:28:51.100 --> 00:28:52.019
 off these debts

00:28:52.019 --> 00:28:53.099
 is because Jesus

00:28:53.099 --> 00:28:54.160
 paid off their debt

00:28:54.160 --> 00:28:57.559
 they're serving

00:28:57.559 --> 00:28:58.059
 the community

00:28:58.059 --> 00:28:58.500
 around them

00:28:58.500 --> 00:28:59.019
 in mercy

00:28:59.019 --> 00:28:59.799
 because they know

00:28:59.799 --> 00:29:00.319
 the mercy

00:29:00.319 --> 00:29:01.180
 that they've received

00:29:01.180 --> 00:29:02.000
 through Jesus

00:29:02.000 --> 00:29:03.980
 and so as we act

00:29:03.980 --> 00:29:04.740
 as a chosen race

00:29:04.740 --> 00:29:05.599
 and a royal priesthood

00:29:05.599 --> 00:29:06.299
 and a holy nation

00:29:06.299 --> 00:29:07.139
 we do it

00:29:07.139 --> 00:29:08.420
 not because we're

00:29:08.420 --> 00:29:09.240
 the great priests

00:29:09.240 --> 00:29:10.079
 but because we follow

00:29:10.079 --> 00:29:10.900
 the great priest

00:29:10.900 --> 00:29:12.920
 and Jesus

00:29:12.920 --> 00:29:14.099
 as our great high priest

00:29:14.099 --> 00:29:14.819
 is both a priest

00:29:14.819 --> 00:29:15.720
 and a sacrifice

00:29:15.720 --> 00:29:17.359
 as a sacrifice

00:29:17.359 --> 00:29:18.359
 he suffered

00:29:18.359 --> 00:29:19.180
 the death

00:29:19.180 --> 00:29:19.700
 and punishment

00:29:19.700 --> 00:29:20.460
 that we deserve

00:29:20.460 --> 00:29:23.539
 and he also

00:29:23.539 --> 00:29:24.380
 lived the life

00:29:24.380 --> 00:29:25.240
 that we couldn't live

00:29:25.240 --> 00:29:26.700
 and so he took

00:29:26.700 --> 00:29:27.240
 the pain

00:29:27.240 --> 00:29:27.779
 and penalty

00:29:27.779 --> 00:29:28.279
 of sin

00:29:28.279 --> 00:29:30.240
 and now he's

00:29:30.240 --> 00:29:30.620
 our priest

00:29:30.620 --> 00:29:31.279
 he represents

00:29:31.279 --> 00:29:32.380
 us before God

00:29:32.380 --> 00:29:34.779
 that's why

00:29:34.779 --> 00:29:35.400
 we pray

00:29:35.400 --> 00:29:36.319
 in Jesus name

00:29:36.319 --> 00:29:36.620
 at the end

00:29:36.620 --> 00:29:37.160
 of our prayers

00:29:37.160 --> 00:29:40.100
 because we know

00:29:40.100 --> 00:29:40.519
 that Jesus

00:29:40.519 --> 00:29:41.279
 is the only one

00:29:41.279 --> 00:29:41.700
 who gives us

00:29:41.700 --> 00:29:42.460
 standing with God

00:29:42.460 --> 00:29:44.200
 he has

00:29:44.200 --> 00:29:45.160
 to represent us

00:29:45.160 --> 00:29:47.579
 and so

00:29:47.579 --> 00:29:48.100
 we also

00:29:48.100 --> 00:29:49.120
 represent him

00:29:49.120 --> 00:29:50.160
 to the world

00:29:50.160 --> 00:29:52.680
 proclaiming

00:29:52.680 --> 00:29:53.300
 and living

00:29:53.300 --> 00:29:54.360
 out the goodness

00:29:54.360 --> 00:29:55.880
 and mercy

00:29:55.880 --> 00:29:56.420
 of God

00:29:56.420 --> 00:30:00.540
 so why does

00:30:00.540 --> 00:30:01.420
 God have a people

00:30:01.420 --> 00:30:05.040
 God has a people

00:30:05.040 --> 00:30:06.400
 to represent him

00:30:06.400 --> 00:30:07.120
 and make him

00:30:07.120 --> 00:30:07.460
 known

00:30:07.460 --> 00:30:08.480
 in this world

00:30:08.480 --> 00:30:10.340
 that is why

00:30:10.340 --> 00:30:11.320
 God has chosen

00:30:11.320 --> 00:30:11.680
 you

00:30:11.680 --> 00:30:13.040
 and that's why

00:30:13.040 --> 00:30:13.980
 God has chosen

00:30:13.980 --> 00:30:14.600
 his church

00:30:14.600 --> 00:30:17.019
 how do we serve

00:30:17.019 --> 00:30:17.860
 as God's priests

00:30:17.860 --> 00:30:18.320
 in this world

00:30:18.319 --> 00:30:19.000
 we do it in two

00:30:19.000 --> 00:30:19.299
 ways

00:30:19.299 --> 00:30:20.460
 we glorify God

00:30:20.460 --> 00:30:21.059
 and we sing

00:30:21.059 --> 00:30:21.619
 his praises

00:30:21.619 --> 00:30:22.019
 we do it

00:30:22.019 --> 00:30:22.619
 with our words

00:30:22.619 --> 00:30:25.579
 and we also

00:30:25.579 --> 00:30:26.519
 live faithful

00:30:26.519 --> 00:30:27.819
 and holy lives

00:30:27.819 --> 00:30:30.039
 so that when

00:30:30.039 --> 00:30:30.579
 others speak

00:30:30.579 --> 00:30:31.079
 against us

00:30:31.079 --> 00:30:31.579
 they will see

00:30:31.579 --> 00:30:32.319
 our good deeds

00:30:32.319 --> 00:30:33.299
 and glorify God

00:30:33.299 --> 00:30:33.799
 on the day

00:30:33.799 --> 00:30:34.480
 of visitation

00:30:34.480 --> 00:30:34.879
 we do it

00:30:34.879 --> 00:30:35.519
 with our words

00:30:35.519 --> 00:30:36.819
 and we also

00:30:36.819 --> 00:30:37.259
 do it with

00:30:37.259 --> 00:30:37.779
 our actions

00:30:37.779 --> 00:30:40.000
 and we do

00:30:40.000 --> 00:30:40.639
 all of this

00:30:40.639 --> 00:30:41.599
 as priests

00:30:41.599 --> 00:30:42.859
 to the world

00:30:42.859 --> 00:30:43.319
 around us

00:30:43.319 --> 00:30:44.000
 because Jesus

00:30:44.000 --> 00:30:45.740
 is our great

00:30:45.740 --> 00:30:46.339
 high priest

00:30:46.339 --> 00:30:48.240
 and he

00:30:48.240 --> 00:30:49.019
 as we represent

00:30:49.019 --> 00:30:49.480
 him

00:30:49.480 --> 00:30:50.539
 he represents

00:30:50.539 --> 00:30:51.799
 us to God

00:30:51.799 --> 00:30:55.079
 and so that's

00:30:55.079 --> 00:30:55.779
 why we follow

00:30:55.779 --> 00:30:56.099
 him

00:30:56.099 --> 00:30:57.180
 and love him

00:30:57.180 --> 00:30:57.960
 and obey him

00:30:57.960 --> 00:30:58.599
 and proclaim

00:30:58.599 --> 00:31:00.480
 his greatness

00:31:00.480 --> 00:31:01.359
 throughout the world

00:31:01.359 --> 00:31:03.660
 please pray with me

00:31:03.660 --> 00:31:07.000
 dear father in heaven

00:31:07.000 --> 00:31:08.640
 we thank you

00:31:08.640 --> 00:31:10.560
 that you have

00:31:10.560 --> 00:31:11.240
 sent your son

00:31:11.240 --> 00:31:12.200
 as our great

00:31:12.200 --> 00:31:12.620
 priest

00:31:12.620 --> 00:31:14.259
 and that you

00:31:14.259 --> 00:31:14.860
 also give us

00:31:14.860 --> 00:31:15.320
 the privilege

00:31:15.320 --> 00:31:16.040
 of serving as

00:31:16.040 --> 00:31:16.640
 your priests

00:31:16.640 --> 00:31:17.519
 in this world

00:31:17.519 --> 00:31:18.940
 knowing you

00:31:18.940 --> 00:31:19.700
 and also making

00:31:19.700 --> 00:31:20.160
 you known

00:31:20.160 --> 00:31:22.080
 we ask that you

00:31:22.080 --> 00:31:22.560
 would encourage

00:31:22.560 --> 00:31:23.140
 us with that

00:31:23.140 --> 00:31:23.800
 and challenge us

00:31:23.800 --> 00:31:24.560
 that our lives

00:31:24.560 --> 00:31:25.340
 would be ones

00:31:25.340 --> 00:31:26.300
 where we don't

00:31:26.300 --> 00:31:27.259
 just praise you

00:31:27.259 --> 00:31:29.360
 but we also

00:31:29.360 --> 00:31:29.800
 honor you

00:31:29.800 --> 00:31:30.500
 in the way we act

00:31:30.500 --> 00:31:31.779
 and that we

00:31:31.779 --> 00:31:32.279
 would not just

00:31:32.279 --> 00:31:32.720
 honor you

00:31:32.720 --> 00:31:33.019
 in the way

00:31:33.019 --> 00:31:33.519
 that we act

00:31:33.519 --> 00:31:33.839
 but we would

00:31:33.839 --> 00:31:34.559
 also praise you

00:31:34.559 --> 00:31:36.460
 we don't deserve

00:31:36.460 --> 00:31:37.480
 any of these things

00:31:37.480 --> 00:31:38.660
 and so we don't

00:31:38.660 --> 00:31:39.359
 ask for them

00:31:39.359 --> 00:31:40.200
 on our own

00:31:40.200 --> 00:31:41.839
 but we know

00:31:41.839 --> 00:31:42.259
 that Jesus

00:31:42.259 --> 00:31:43.359
 represents us

00:31:43.359 --> 00:31:43.980
 to you

00:31:43.980 --> 00:31:45.099
 and so we ask

00:31:45.099 --> 00:31:45.880
 them in his name

00:31:45.880 --> 00:31:46.759
 amen