WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:10.000 When we were singing, I thought of this, and so this is not really quite on topic, but anybody familiar with the Heidelberg Catechism? 00:00:10.000 --> 00:00:23.000 ! You ever heard that? Raise your hand if you know. Heidelberg Catechism? Okay. There's a statement in the Heidelberg Catechism that's very precious and I want to read it. 00:00:23.000 --> 00:00:32.000 Heidelberg Catechism question number one. 00:00:32.000 --> 00:00:37.000 What is your only comfort in life and in death? 00:00:37.000 --> 00:00:48.000 Answer. That I am not my own, but belong, body and soul, in life and in death, to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ. 00:00:48.000 --> 00:00:55.000 He has fully paid for all my sins with His precious blood and has delivered me from the tyranny of the devil. 00:00:55.000 --> 00:01:03.000 He also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven. 00:01:03.000 --> 00:01:12.000 In fact, all things must work together for my salvation. 00:01:12.000 --> 00:01:27.000 Because I do belong to Him, Christ, by His Holy Spirit, also assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for Him. 00:01:27.000 --> 00:01:33.000 There's a verse in 2 Corinthians 5 that says, 00:01:34.000 --> 00:01:44.000 This we judge, that one died for all, that all who live would no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died for them. 00:01:44.000 --> 00:01:54.000 And I thought of this while we were singing and I was just overwhelmed with thankfulness that He bought me and my life is not my own anymore. 00:01:54.000 --> 00:01:59.000 I did such a horrible job running my life. It's complete. 00:01:59.000 --> 00:02:06.000 Me running my life was horrible. You know, just so terrible. 00:02:06.000 --> 00:02:19.000 And the illusion of freedom and autonomy that I had is just a lie. It's just a lie. 00:02:19.000 --> 00:02:24.000 And He bought me from that. He made me His own. 00:02:24.000 --> 00:02:27.000 And I'm free now not to run my own life. 00:02:27.000 --> 00:02:30.000 He runs it better. He runs it better than I do. 00:02:30.000 --> 00:02:34.000 That's the truth for anyone who's in Christ is you are purchased. 00:02:34.000 --> 00:02:37.000 You're not your own anymore. He runs your life now. He's the boss. 00:02:37.000 --> 00:02:41.000 And He does a way better job running your life than you do. 00:02:41.000 --> 00:02:47.000 Okay, that's the understatement. That's the most understated understatement possible. 00:02:47.000 --> 00:02:51.000 He said, Jesus does a better job running your life than you do. 00:02:51.000 --> 00:02:53.000 He does a better job running my life than I do. 00:02:53.000 --> 00:02:58.000 And I'm so thankful. This is my only comfort in life and death. 00:02:58.000 --> 00:03:01.000 That I was bought. I'm not my own anymore. 00:03:01.000 --> 00:03:06.000 It's related somewhat to this, but it is related to my topic. 00:03:06.000 --> 00:03:08.000 But I just wanted to start off with that. 00:03:08.000 --> 00:03:16.000 So today, my topic is a vision for the preeminence of Christ. 00:03:16.000 --> 00:03:20.000 Or in other words, Jesus first. 00:03:20.000 --> 00:03:23.000 About the simplest way to say it. Jesus first. 00:03:23.000 --> 00:03:24.000 Okay. 00:03:24.000 --> 00:03:27.000 That's what preeminence means in its first place. 00:03:27.000 --> 00:03:28.000 Okay. 00:03:28.000 --> 00:03:32.000 And my main texts are going to be in Colossians and in Ephesians. 00:03:32.000 --> 00:03:36.000 And kind of a little background, what I've been thinking about. 00:03:36.000 --> 00:03:41.000 The verse in Proverbs 29 and 18 says, where there is no vision, the people perish. 00:03:41.000 --> 00:03:42.000 Okay. 00:03:42.000 --> 00:03:46.000 So, Jesus Christ is the Lord of the microbe. 00:03:46.000 --> 00:03:48.000 He's in the details. 00:03:48.000 --> 00:03:50.000 He's also Lord of the macro. 00:03:50.000 --> 00:03:51.000 Big picture. 00:03:51.000 --> 00:03:52.000 Okay. 00:03:52.000 --> 00:03:53.000 We need both. 00:03:53.000 --> 00:03:54.000 All right. 00:03:54.000 --> 00:03:58.000 And without big picture, we start to lose track of why are we doing what we're doing? 00:03:58.000 --> 00:03:59.000 Why? 00:03:59.000 --> 00:04:00.000 You know? 00:04:00.000 --> 00:04:03.000 And He wants to communicate to us why. 00:04:03.000 --> 00:04:05.000 He's a God of vision. 00:04:05.000 --> 00:04:09.000 And that's really, that's where my mind and heart is not detail stuff. 00:04:09.000 --> 00:04:11.000 It's more big picture stuff. 00:04:11.000 --> 00:04:12.000 It's vision. 00:04:12.000 --> 00:04:16.000 And there is no greater vision for the church than her savior. 00:04:16.000 --> 00:04:18.000 And I aim to show that. 00:04:18.000 --> 00:04:20.000 I think it's self-evident in the scripture. 00:04:20.000 --> 00:04:23.000 The difficulty of preparing for this sermon is just weeding it down. 00:04:23.000 --> 00:04:25.000 You could just say, read the New Testament. 00:04:25.000 --> 00:04:28.000 And that's what it says, you know, but you can't just read the whole New Testament here. 00:04:29.000 --> 00:04:31.000 But we need a vision bigger than us. 00:04:31.000 --> 00:04:32.000 Okay. 00:04:32.000 --> 00:04:33.000 We perish without vision. 00:04:33.000 --> 00:04:41.000 We need the Lord to give us something outside of ourselves that's bigger than ourselves for life to have any meaning and purpose. 00:04:41.000 --> 00:04:42.000 God made us that way. 00:04:42.000 --> 00:04:45.000 This is, this is, this is in the heart code. 00:04:45.000 --> 00:04:47.000 If we don't have this, we die on the vine. 00:04:49.000 --> 00:04:53.000 So, Christ Church, our mission is on our website. 00:04:53.000 --> 00:04:59.000 Our mission is the kingdom of God and all of life together. 00:04:59.000 --> 00:05:03.000 The kingdom of God and all of life together. 00:05:03.000 --> 00:05:04.000 I'll unpack that a little bit. 00:05:04.000 --> 00:05:05.000 Some of you are very familiar with that. 00:05:05.000 --> 00:05:07.000 Some of you, maybe not so much. 00:05:07.000 --> 00:05:10.000 A lot of that comes from Matthew 6, 33. 00:05:10.000 --> 00:05:15.000 Where Jesus says, seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. 00:05:15.000 --> 00:05:22.000 And all of these things, meaning all the necessaries, everything you need for life, will be added to you. 00:05:22.000 --> 00:05:23.000 Make it simple. 00:05:23.000 --> 00:05:25.000 There's one thing that's needful. 00:05:25.000 --> 00:05:28.000 Seek first the kingdom of God, his righteousness. 00:05:28.000 --> 00:05:30.000 And I got all the rest. 00:05:30.000 --> 00:05:31.000 I'm God. 00:05:31.000 --> 00:05:32.000 Okay. 00:05:32.000 --> 00:05:33.000 I'm making this simple for you. 00:05:33.000 --> 00:05:39.000 And this is our way of articulating that truth in the context of the church. 00:05:39.000 --> 00:05:40.000 Okay. 00:05:40.000 --> 00:05:42.000 Kingdom of God and all of life together. 00:05:42.000 --> 00:05:45.000 And we're going to talk a little bit more about the details of that. 00:05:45.000 --> 00:05:47.000 What are some of the implications of that mission statement? 00:05:47.000 --> 00:05:52.000 And ultimately my goal is to answer two questions about this, this mission statement. 00:05:52.000 --> 00:05:55.000 One is, how does Jesus fit into this? 00:05:55.000 --> 00:05:56.000 Okay. 00:05:56.000 --> 00:05:57.000 Kingdom of God. 00:05:57.000 --> 00:06:00.000 Mormons talk about kingdom of God. 00:06:00.000 --> 00:06:01.000 All right. 00:06:01.000 --> 00:06:03.000 Jehovah's Witnesses talk about kingdom of God. 00:06:03.000 --> 00:06:04.000 Muslims. 00:06:04.000 --> 00:06:17.000 You know, there's a lot of people who claim obedience and worship to the one true God and are comfortable with this kind of language. 00:06:17.000 --> 00:06:19.000 What differentiates us from them? 00:06:19.000 --> 00:06:22.000 You know, I want to talk about that. 00:06:22.000 --> 00:06:24.000 And what differentiates us is Jesus. 00:06:24.000 --> 00:06:27.000 By the way, the true, the true Christ. 00:06:27.000 --> 00:06:28.000 Okay. 00:06:28.000 --> 00:06:29.000 We'll talk about why. 00:06:30.000 --> 00:06:31.000 And then what's the point? 00:06:31.000 --> 00:06:32.000 What's the goal? 00:06:32.000 --> 00:06:33.000 Why? 00:06:33.000 --> 00:06:40.000 You know, is there some ultimate reason that we should seek first the kingdom of God? 00:06:40.000 --> 00:06:42.000 There is. 00:06:42.000 --> 00:06:45.000 And it's important to know that reason. 00:06:45.000 --> 00:06:51.000 Otherwise, we make God an instrument for our own selfish interests. 00:06:51.000 --> 00:06:52.000 I want to be happy. 00:06:52.000 --> 00:06:54.000 God's ways are good. 00:06:54.000 --> 00:06:55.000 I want to be happy. 00:06:55.000 --> 00:06:59.000 So I'm going to do these things so I have a happier life. 00:06:59.000 --> 00:07:00.000 You know? 00:07:00.000 --> 00:07:02.000 Or I don't want to go to hell. 00:07:02.000 --> 00:07:05.000 Like, not wanting to go to hell is a very good motivation. 00:07:05.000 --> 00:07:07.000 The Holy Spirit gives us that motivation. 00:07:07.000 --> 00:07:09.000 It's great, but it shouldn't stay there. 00:07:09.000 --> 00:07:15.000 There's a lot more to the motivating work of a regenerated heart in the Holy Spirit. 00:07:15.000 --> 00:07:17.000 There's a lot more motives that he puts in there. 00:07:17.000 --> 00:07:21.000 And they're a lot bigger than just avoiding hell and just having a happy life. 00:07:21.000 --> 00:07:26.000 Although, there's no life that's happier than being in Christ. 00:07:26.000 --> 00:07:29.000 So, anyway, there's the two. 00:07:29.000 --> 00:07:31.000 That's my aim. 00:07:31.000 --> 00:07:35.000 To understand, in this mission statement, the kingdom of God and all of life together. 00:07:35.000 --> 00:07:38.000 How does Jesus fit into that? 00:07:38.000 --> 00:07:40.000 And for what purpose? 00:07:40.000 --> 00:07:42.000 You know, what's the goal? 00:07:42.000 --> 00:07:45.000 So, let's dive into question number one. 00:07:45.000 --> 00:07:48.000 How does Jesus fit into this? 00:07:48.000 --> 00:07:52.000 Well, Jesus Christ is the king of the kingdom of God. 00:07:52.000 --> 00:07:53.000 Okay? 00:07:53.000 --> 00:07:54.000 Very simple. 00:07:54.000 --> 00:07:56.000 The kingdom of God has a king. 00:07:56.000 --> 00:07:58.000 Jesus is it. 00:07:58.000 --> 00:07:59.000 Okay? 00:07:59.000 --> 00:08:02.000 Let's read in Colossians chapter one. 00:08:02.000 --> 00:08:06.000 Let's start in verse 13. 00:08:09.000 --> 00:08:10.000 Okay. 00:08:10.000 --> 00:08:11.000 Verse 13. 00:08:11.000 --> 00:08:12.000 Colossians 1.13. 00:08:12.000 --> 00:08:21.000 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 00:08:21.000 --> 00:08:26.000 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 00:08:26.000 --> 00:08:27.000 All right. 00:08:27.000 --> 00:08:29.000 I had tons of verses for this. 00:08:29.000 --> 00:08:30.000 I took them all out. 00:08:30.000 --> 00:08:32.000 That's good enough. 00:08:32.000 --> 00:08:34.000 The kingdom of his beloved Son. 00:08:34.000 --> 00:08:38.000 He took us out of the kingdom of darkness that we were born into. 00:08:38.000 --> 00:08:40.000 We got it natural from Adam. 00:08:40.000 --> 00:08:47.000 We were all born under sin, under the wrath of God, in the kingdom of darkness ruled by Satan. 00:08:47.000 --> 00:08:53.000 And he transferred us out of that kingdom into the kingdom of his beloved Son. 00:08:53.000 --> 00:08:54.000 That's the kingdom of God. 00:08:54.000 --> 00:08:56.000 And Jesus is king over it. 00:08:56.000 --> 00:08:57.000 Okay? 00:08:57.000 --> 00:08:58.000 Okay? 00:08:58.000 --> 00:08:59.000 It's the... 00:08:59.000 --> 00:09:00.000 I think... 00:09:00.000 --> 00:09:01.000 I heard Josh say this one time. 00:09:01.000 --> 00:09:03.000 I was actually trying to find the quote last minute, but I couldn't. 00:09:03.000 --> 00:09:06.000 A definition of the kingdom of God that he likes to share a lot. 00:09:06.000 --> 00:09:12.000 It's the realm of his uncontested rule. 00:09:12.000 --> 00:09:14.000 I think I'm getting that right. 00:09:14.000 --> 00:09:18.000 But it's where what he says goes. 00:09:18.000 --> 00:09:23.000 When Jesus says the thing, everyone in there does that thing. 00:09:23.000 --> 00:09:25.000 That's the kingdom of God. 00:09:25.000 --> 00:09:28.000 So, Jesus. 00:09:28.000 --> 00:09:29.000 The kingdom of God. 00:09:29.000 --> 00:09:31.000 We're pursuing the kingdom of God. 00:09:31.000 --> 00:09:33.000 Jesus is that king. 00:09:33.000 --> 00:09:35.000 And so, you know, the title of this is, 00:09:35.000 --> 00:09:37.000 A Vision for the Preeminence of Christ. 00:09:37.000 --> 00:09:42.000 We're thinking through how Christ factors in to what our mission is. 00:09:42.000 --> 00:09:44.000 Well, he is the king. 00:09:44.000 --> 00:09:57.000 And we have not just a sort of, I don't know, an ungrounded, untethered, unpersoned conception of the kingdom of God. 00:09:57.000 --> 00:09:59.000 It's a person. 00:09:59.000 --> 00:10:04.000 We're married and under the reign and the rule of a person. 00:10:04.000 --> 00:10:08.000 We have a personal relationship to our king, Jesus. 00:10:08.000 --> 00:10:11.000 We're directly ruled now by him. 00:10:11.000 --> 00:10:12.000 I'm not ruled by myself anymore. 00:10:12.000 --> 00:10:14.000 I'm ruled by Jesus Christ. 00:10:15.000 --> 00:10:17.000 So, the kingdom of God. 00:10:17.000 --> 00:10:18.000 Jesus is king in the kingdom of God. 00:10:18.000 --> 00:10:19.000 That's how he factors in. 00:10:19.000 --> 00:10:21.000 Number two. 00:10:21.000 --> 00:10:23.000 In all of life. 00:10:23.000 --> 00:10:25.000 How does he factor into in all of life? 00:10:25.000 --> 00:10:27.000 Well, let's just keep reading here. 00:10:27.000 --> 00:10:29.000 Starting in verse 15. 00:10:29.000 --> 00:10:31.000 Continuing on this thought here. 00:10:31.000 --> 00:10:36.000 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 00:10:36.000 --> 00:10:40.000 For by him, all things were created. 00:10:40.000 --> 00:10:45.000 In heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. 00:10:45.000 --> 00:10:51.000 All things were created through him and for him. 00:10:51.000 --> 00:10:54.000 And he is before all things. 00:10:54.000 --> 00:10:57.000 And in him, all things hold together. 00:10:57.000 --> 00:11:00.000 I'm going to pause right there. 00:11:00.000 --> 00:11:03.000 It's hard to get more comprehensive than that. 00:11:03.000 --> 00:11:04.000 All things. 00:11:04.000 --> 00:11:05.000 Okay. 00:11:05.000 --> 00:11:10.000 He was the origin point of all creation. 00:11:10.000 --> 00:11:14.000 God created everything through Jesus as the means. 00:11:14.000 --> 00:11:15.000 In the beginning was the word. 00:11:15.000 --> 00:11:18.000 The word was with God and the word was God. 00:11:18.000 --> 00:11:20.000 You know, God said, let there be light. 00:11:20.000 --> 00:11:21.000 Light happened. 00:11:21.000 --> 00:11:23.000 Who was speaking there? 00:11:23.000 --> 00:11:24.000 It was through Christ. 00:11:24.000 --> 00:11:28.000 We're actually getting to revelation here on some stuff in Genesis. 00:11:28.000 --> 00:11:31.000 Paul's unpacking some Genesis creation theology here for us. 00:11:31.000 --> 00:11:34.000 He created everything through Christ. 00:11:34.000 --> 00:11:36.000 For what purpose? 00:11:36.000 --> 00:11:37.000 For him. 00:11:37.000 --> 00:11:42.000 They're all made for him, for Jesus, for the son. 00:11:42.000 --> 00:11:45.000 Which includes us. 00:11:45.000 --> 00:11:47.000 And that includes all of our life. 00:11:47.000 --> 00:11:48.000 Okay. 00:11:48.000 --> 00:11:49.000 So we have a kingdom. 00:11:49.000 --> 00:11:50.000 Kingdom of God. 00:11:50.000 --> 00:11:51.000 Kingdom of God. 00:11:51.000 --> 00:11:54.000 Ruled by a king, Jesus. 00:11:54.000 --> 00:11:56.000 In all of life. 00:11:56.000 --> 00:12:03.000 All of which was created by him, through him, and for him. 00:12:03.000 --> 00:12:08.000 That's the ultimate telos of everything. 00:12:08.000 --> 00:12:10.000 It's for him. 00:12:10.000 --> 00:12:11.000 For Jesus. 00:12:11.000 --> 00:12:16.000 I'll continue reading there. 00:12:16.000 --> 00:12:18.000 He's before all things, verse 17. 00:12:18.000 --> 00:12:19.000 In him all things hold together. 00:12:19.000 --> 00:12:22.000 And he's the head of the body, the church. 00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:25.000 He's the beginning, the firstborn from the dead. 00:12:25.000 --> 00:12:29.000 That in everything, he might be preeminent. 00:12:29.000 --> 00:12:34.000 Or as the NESB says, that he might have first place in everything. 00:12:34.000 --> 00:12:35.000 Okay. 00:12:35.000 --> 00:12:36.000 So. 00:12:36.000 --> 00:12:38.000 Everything means everything. 00:12:38.000 --> 00:12:39.000 Okay. 00:12:39.000 --> 00:12:40.000 Jesus. 00:12:40.000 --> 00:12:43.000 It's kind of a cliche statement. 00:12:43.000 --> 00:12:44.000 He's Lord of all. 00:12:44.000 --> 00:12:46.000 Or he isn't Lord at all. 00:12:46.000 --> 00:12:47.000 You know. 00:12:47.000 --> 00:12:48.000 He's either Lord of all. 00:12:48.000 --> 00:12:49.000 What am I saying? 00:12:49.000 --> 00:12:52.000 If he's not Lord of all, he's not Lord at all. 00:12:52.000 --> 00:12:53.000 That's what it is. 00:12:53.000 --> 00:12:56.000 If he's not Lord of all, he's not Lord at all. 00:12:56.000 --> 00:12:58.000 He's over everything. 00:12:58.000 --> 00:13:02.000 Every single piece of all creation. 00:13:02.000 --> 00:13:03.000 His. 00:13:03.000 --> 00:13:04.000 Okay. 00:13:04.000 --> 00:13:08.000 Well, what about the part that's, you know, kingdom of darkness. 00:13:08.000 --> 00:13:10.000 And I wasn't living like that before. 00:13:10.000 --> 00:13:12.000 And I was living for myself. 00:13:12.000 --> 00:13:14.000 And, you know, I wasn't obeying Jesus then. 00:13:14.000 --> 00:13:17.000 It didn't seem like the reign and rule of Jesus was over my life. 00:13:19.000 --> 00:13:20.000 He bought me. 00:13:20.000 --> 00:13:28.000 And he put me into the kingdom such that that rule would be manifested on earth as it is in heaven. 00:13:28.000 --> 00:13:29.000 Yes. 00:13:29.000 --> 00:13:31.000 He did have an authority over me. 00:13:31.000 --> 00:13:34.000 I was created for his purpose and I was rebelling against his purpose. 00:13:34.000 --> 00:13:43.000 So he saved me and put me into his kingdom so that his purposes would be realized in my life. 00:13:43.000 --> 00:13:46.000 And not just me all by myself. 00:13:46.000 --> 00:13:48.000 But in the church. 00:13:48.000 --> 00:13:50.000 Which we'll talk about that. 00:13:50.000 --> 00:13:53.000 But first, I think it's important to emphasize all of life. 00:13:53.000 --> 00:13:58.000 This is this fights against the tendency to compartmentalize our life. 00:13:58.000 --> 00:14:03.000 You do your Christian stuff over here and you do your everything else over here and you keep them separate. 00:14:03.000 --> 00:14:13.000 This is like you keep Jesus on Sunday morning and you're willing to talk about Jesus on Sunday morning. 00:14:13.000 --> 00:14:17.000 But you're not willing to let Jesus be Lord of how you talk to your wife. 00:14:17.000 --> 00:14:20.000 You know, how you speak to your kids. 00:14:20.000 --> 00:14:22.000 How you work at your job. 00:14:22.000 --> 00:14:23.000 How you work at your job. 00:14:23.000 --> 00:14:24.000 How you work at your job. 00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:25.000 So everything means everything. 00:14:25.000 --> 00:14:29.000 That in all things he might have first place. 00:14:29.000 --> 00:14:30.000 Me. 00:14:30.000 --> 00:14:31.000 Marriage. 00:14:31.000 --> 00:14:32.000 Family. 00:14:32.000 --> 00:14:33.000 Parenting. 00:14:33.000 --> 00:14:34.000 Church. 00:14:34.000 --> 00:14:35.000 Money. 00:14:35.000 --> 00:14:36.000 Work. 00:14:36.000 --> 00:14:37.000 School. 00:14:37.000 --> 00:14:38.000 Politics. 00:14:38.000 --> 00:14:39.000 Speech. 00:14:39.000 --> 00:14:40.000 Sex. 00:14:40.000 --> 00:14:41.000 Food. 00:14:41.000 --> 00:14:42.000 Drink. 00:14:42.000 --> 00:14:43.000 Hobbies. 00:14:43.000 --> 00:14:44.000 Entertainment. 00:14:44.000 --> 00:14:45.000 The way we dress. 00:14:45.000 --> 00:14:46.000 The way we think. 00:14:46.000 --> 00:14:48.000 Our emotions. 00:14:48.000 --> 00:14:49.000 Our affections. 00:14:50.000 --> 00:14:51.000 Our evangelism. 00:14:52.000 --> 00:14:55.000 It's like surely that one's Jesus's boss of. 00:14:55.000 --> 00:14:58.000 Well, there's a lot of bad motives to do a lot of things that look really good. 00:14:59.000 --> 00:15:00.000 Okay. 00:15:00.000 --> 00:15:01.000 Is he Lord of that? 00:15:01.000 --> 00:15:03.000 Are you doing it for him? 00:15:03.000 --> 00:15:04.000 You know? 00:15:04.000 --> 00:15:05.000 Your time. 00:15:05.000 --> 00:15:07.000 Your ambitions. 00:15:07.000 --> 00:15:12.000 That in all things he would have first place. 00:15:12.000 --> 00:15:13.000 Okay. 00:15:13.000 --> 00:15:18.000 The whole thing he purchased, even though he had a right to all that, 00:15:18.000 --> 00:15:20.000 before we were converted and we were in Christ. 00:15:20.000 --> 00:15:22.000 Because he's God. 00:15:22.000 --> 00:15:24.000 And everything was created for him. 00:15:24.000 --> 00:15:30.000 He purchased us and redeemed us in order to make it so in our life. 00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:37.000 And if we hold the name of Jesus, there's not a single square inch of territory in our life that he doesn't say, 00:15:37.000 --> 00:15:38.000 mine. 00:15:38.000 --> 00:15:44.000 And every day I go by holding back that little piece of territory, I'm in rebellion against God. 00:15:44.000 --> 00:15:45.000 Okay. 00:15:45.000 --> 00:15:50.000 And we're commanded to fear and tremble and say, hey, work out your salvation with fear and trembling. 00:15:50.000 --> 00:15:57.000 God's goal is not just our happiness, although that is part of it in his mercy. 00:15:57.000 --> 00:16:00.000 It says his son would be preeminent in everything. 00:16:00.000 --> 00:16:02.000 He would have the reward of his suffering. 00:16:02.000 --> 00:16:10.000 He would have the reward that God ordained all of creation was made for in the first place. 00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:11.000 It's all his. 00:16:11.000 --> 00:16:12.000 Okay. 00:16:12.000 --> 00:16:13.000 He deserves it. 00:16:13.000 --> 00:16:17.000 He deserved it by birthright because he breathed everything into creation. 00:16:17.000 --> 00:16:18.000 That's what God made it for. 00:16:18.000 --> 00:16:22.000 And he deserved it by his substitutionary death on the cross. 00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:23.000 He purchased us. 00:16:23.000 --> 00:16:25.000 You know, double worthy. 00:16:25.000 --> 00:16:29.000 So, in all of life. 00:16:29.000 --> 00:16:30.000 In all of life. 00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:34.000 So, we believe in a whole little Christianity. 00:16:34.000 --> 00:16:40.000 A Christianity that doesn't get compartmentalized to church and giving money and doing a little 00:16:40.000 --> 00:16:44.000 ministry there and doing a little ministry there and trying to buy God off to leave you 00:16:44.000 --> 00:16:47.000 alone for all the rest of your life that you run yourself. 00:16:47.000 --> 00:16:48.000 No. 00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:49.000 He bought the whole thing. 00:16:49.000 --> 00:16:50.000 Okay. 00:16:50.000 --> 00:16:52.000 It's an all or nothing deal. 00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:54.000 He's Lord and Savior. 00:16:54.000 --> 00:16:56.000 You can't separate them from each other. 00:16:56.000 --> 00:16:58.000 All of life. 00:16:58.000 --> 00:17:07.000 So, do we go just do this Christian, Jesus is my Lord thing all by ourselves somewhere? 00:17:07.000 --> 00:17:08.000 No. 00:17:08.000 --> 00:17:09.000 It's together. 00:17:09.000 --> 00:17:10.000 Okay. 00:17:10.000 --> 00:17:12.000 We'll keep going to there. 00:17:12.000 --> 00:17:16.000 So, this is, you know, again, the kingdom of God and all of life. 00:17:16.000 --> 00:17:19.000 Jesus is Lord of all of life. 00:17:19.000 --> 00:17:21.000 And it's together. 00:17:21.000 --> 00:17:22.000 It's together. 00:17:22.000 --> 00:17:24.000 Continue reading Colossians here. 00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:25.000 And he's the head. 00:17:25.000 --> 00:17:26.000 He's for all things. 00:17:26.000 --> 00:17:27.000 And in him all things hold together. 00:17:27.000 --> 00:17:28.000 He's the head of the body. 00:17:28.000 --> 00:17:30.000 His body, the church. 00:17:30.000 --> 00:17:35.000 He's the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 00:17:35.000 --> 00:17:40.000 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell and through him to reconcile to himself 00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:46.000 all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. 00:17:46.000 --> 00:17:47.000 He's the head of the body of the church. 00:17:47.000 --> 00:17:49.000 He's the head of the body of the church. 00:17:49.000 --> 00:17:59.000 We don't live under the rule of Jesus separate from each other. 00:17:59.000 --> 00:18:04.000 And we are Christ's body under one head. 00:18:04.000 --> 00:18:05.000 Okay. 00:18:05.000 --> 00:18:08.000 You don't have this. 00:18:08.000 --> 00:18:12.000 There's not a category for like, we're all just different members. 00:18:12.000 --> 00:18:13.000 Okay. 00:18:13.000 --> 00:18:14.000 We each do a different thing. 00:18:14.000 --> 00:18:15.000 He made hands. 00:18:15.000 --> 00:18:16.000 He made noses. 00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:17.000 He made ears. 00:18:17.000 --> 00:18:21.000 You know, spiritually speaking, the Bible uses this language to talk about the multivariate 00:18:21.000 --> 00:18:24.000 body of Christ with the different gifts and the different members. 00:18:24.000 --> 00:18:27.000 We don't each, it's like a thumb. 00:18:27.000 --> 00:18:30.000 Like I'm a thumb and I'm just connected to the head, you know, like a head with a thumb 00:18:30.000 --> 00:18:32.000 on it, you know, over here. 00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:33.000 And then there's another one over here. 00:18:33.000 --> 00:18:35.000 It's like, I'm the foot with the, you know, head. 00:18:35.000 --> 00:18:36.000 No, no, no. 00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:39.000 We're all together connected to Christ. 00:18:39.000 --> 00:18:44.000 And he is the head over all of us. 00:18:44.000 --> 00:18:52.000 And together through the working of the Holy Spirit, we imperfectly, there's sin. 00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:52.000 00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:54.000 Until Jesus comes back, that's not going to be perfect. 00:18:54.000 --> 00:18:59.000 But increasingly more perfectly, represent Jesus. 00:18:59.000 --> 00:19:02.000 You can't represent Jesus all by yourself. 00:19:02.000 --> 00:19:04.000 I mean, we might want to. 00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:11.000 And in certain ways we have that opportunity to represent Jesus, but it's only ever a portion 00:19:11.000 --> 00:19:14.000 of his character and his grace. 00:19:14.000 --> 00:19:20.000 And anyway, getting ahead of myself a little bit here. 00:19:20.000 --> 00:19:21.000 That's the together part. 00:19:21.000 --> 00:19:22.000 It's the church. 00:19:22.000 --> 00:19:23.000 Okay. 00:19:23.000 --> 00:19:25.000 The kingdom of God and all of life together. 00:19:25.000 --> 00:19:29.000 He's before all things and in him, all things hold together. 00:19:29.000 --> 00:19:31.000 Ephesians goes into this a lot. 00:19:31.000 --> 00:19:34.000 So I'm going to, I'm going to flip over to Ephesians and read through a few verses. 00:19:36.000 --> 00:19:37.000 See here. 00:19:37.000 --> 00:19:38.000 Okay. 00:19:38.000 --> 00:19:39.000 Bear with me. 00:19:39.000 --> 00:19:40.000 I'm just going to read a lot of scripture here. 00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:41.000 Okay. 00:19:41.000 --> 00:19:42.000 I'm starting in Ephesians. 00:19:42.000 --> 00:19:43.000 If you want to follow along, read an ESV. 00:19:43.000 --> 00:19:44.000 Starting in Ephesians chapter one, verse 22. 00:19:44.000 --> 00:19:44.000 00:19:44.000 --> 00:19:45.000 Togetherness specifically in the church. 00:19:45.000 --> 00:19:46.000 Okay. 00:19:46.000 --> 00:19:47.000 Ephesians 1 22. 00:19:47.000 --> 00:19:55.000 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 00:19:55.000 --> 00:19:56.000 which is his body. 00:19:56.000 --> 00:19:56.000 00:19:56.000 --> 00:19:56.000 00:19:56.000 --> 00:19:56.000 00:19:56.000 --> 00:19:56.000 00:19:56.000 --> 00:19:56.000 00:19:56.000 --> 00:19:56.000 00:19:56.000 --> 00:20:01.000 Well, Jesus lived on earth with the physical body. 00:20:01.000 --> 00:20:08.500 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 00:20:08.599 --> 00:20:14.519 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. 00:20:15.220 --> 00:20:16.039 Here we have it again. 00:20:16.279 --> 00:20:17.519 Jesus, head of the church. 00:20:19.160 --> 00:20:20.619 It is his body. 00:20:21.700 --> 00:20:25.019 Okay, well, Jesus lived on earth with a physical body. 00:20:25.220 --> 00:20:28.579 And he died, he was buried, he was resurrected, and he ascended to heaven. 00:20:28.579 --> 00:20:30.240 He still has that physical body. 00:20:31.559 --> 00:20:42.079 The church is indwelt by the spirit of Christ to communicate the presence of Jesus together. 00:20:42.220 --> 00:20:45.460 And so together we are now imaging Jesus. 00:20:45.579 --> 00:20:47.700 When Jesus was on earth, you could see him. 00:20:47.759 --> 00:20:50.299 He was a guy and you saw in him the glory of God. 00:20:50.440 --> 00:20:53.519 Now all the world has to look at Jesus is in heaven. 00:20:53.599 --> 00:20:55.400 They can't see Jesus right now, but they can see us. 00:20:56.000 --> 00:21:00.480 Okay, so now we are the ones who God in his mercy, 00:21:00.480 --> 00:21:07.240 is living and dwelling inside of and communicating what Jesus is like to the world. 00:21:07.360 --> 00:21:10.380 And actually it's a lot more than the world, as we'll read some passages about that. 00:21:11.319 --> 00:21:12.599 But we're his body, okay? 00:21:13.059 --> 00:21:15.700 We're the fullness of him who fills all in all. 00:21:17.599 --> 00:21:18.440 Moving forward. 00:21:18.440 --> 00:21:20.680 Ephesians 2, verse 19 through 22. 00:21:21.000 --> 00:21:27.019 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints 00:21:27.019 --> 00:21:32.019 and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, 00:21:32.580 --> 00:21:35.240 Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 00:21:35.240 --> 00:21:44.940 in whom the whole structure, being the church, being joined together, not separate, together, 00:21:46.519 --> 00:21:50.420 grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 00:21:51.279 --> 00:21:59.620 In him, Christ, you are also being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. 00:21:59.619 --> 00:22:01.899 Okay, same imagery. 00:22:03.500 --> 00:22:05.839 We're growing into him. 00:22:07.239 --> 00:22:08.879 The structures join together. 00:22:09.000 --> 00:22:11.119 This is not a bunch of Christians doing their own thing. 00:22:11.719 --> 00:22:15.000 You know, I do the, well, I'm like an evangelist kind of Christian, 00:22:15.000 --> 00:22:17.000 so I go out and do my evangelist ministry. 00:22:17.339 --> 00:22:21.119 And I'm like a prayer and intercession kind of Christian, so I'm going to go do that. 00:22:21.239 --> 00:22:23.199 And we're all just going to have our separate ministries. 00:22:23.319 --> 00:22:24.639 We all have our own calling from God. 00:22:24.719 --> 00:22:26.079 We're all unique little flowers. 00:22:26.079 --> 00:22:28.019 Well, there's a sense in which that's true. 00:22:28.980 --> 00:22:31.859 But it doesn't look like Jesus unless it's like this. 00:22:32.359 --> 00:22:32.460 Okay? 00:22:33.659 --> 00:22:36.939 The whole structure is joined together. 00:22:37.859 --> 00:22:40.159 And it grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 00:22:41.119 --> 00:22:43.319 A place for God to live through his Spirit. 00:22:44.019 --> 00:22:44.179 Okay? 00:22:46.039 --> 00:22:46.839 Moving forward. 00:22:47.319 --> 00:22:48.179 Ephesians 3. 00:22:50.500 --> 00:22:52.639 Okay, this is the big one. 00:22:52.639 --> 00:22:53.379 Ephesians 3. 00:22:53.539 --> 00:22:56.019 We'll start in verse 8. 00:22:56.079 --> 00:22:59.179 To me, this is Paul speaking, 00:23:00.079 --> 00:23:01.939 though I am the very least of all the saints, 00:23:02.039 --> 00:23:04.939 this grace was given to preach to the Gentiles 00:23:04.939 --> 00:23:07.779 the unsearchable riches of Christ 00:23:07.779 --> 00:23:11.039 and to bring to life for everyone 00:23:11.039 --> 00:23:14.519 what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God 00:23:14.519 --> 00:23:16.960 who created all things. 00:23:18.240 --> 00:23:19.839 So that through the church, 00:23:19.839 --> 00:23:22.059 the manifold wisdom of God, 00:23:22.059 --> 00:23:26.179 manifold is just like a varied, you know, 00:23:26.259 --> 00:23:27.220 lots of different. 00:23:28.220 --> 00:23:29.960 The manifold wisdom of God 00:23:29.960 --> 00:23:32.200 might now be made known to the rulers 00:23:32.200 --> 00:23:33.859 and authorities in the heavenly places. 00:23:34.319 --> 00:23:36.119 This was according to the eternal purpose 00:23:36.119 --> 00:23:39.500 that he has realized in Christ Jesus, our Lord, 00:23:40.059 --> 00:23:43.039 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence 00:23:43.039 --> 00:23:43.960 through our faith in him. 00:23:43.960 --> 00:23:47.600 There's a lot in there. 00:23:48.299 --> 00:23:50.299 I mean, that, like, you could probably spend your whole life 00:23:50.299 --> 00:23:51.840 just trying to unpack what he's trying to say there. 00:23:52.259 --> 00:23:54.579 But I'm not even going to try to do all that, 00:23:54.640 --> 00:23:55.779 but I'm going to pull out a few things. 00:23:56.779 --> 00:24:00.019 One is that this mystery, 00:24:01.299 --> 00:24:04.860 something about the unsearchable riches of Christ, 00:24:04.859 --> 00:24:09.159 God had a plan according to his eternal purpose 00:24:09.159 --> 00:24:12.919 to reveal this through the church. 00:24:13.579 --> 00:24:15.699 So the manifold wisdom of God 00:24:15.699 --> 00:24:17.000 would through the church, 00:24:17.059 --> 00:24:18.740 through a very specific means, 00:24:18.879 --> 00:24:20.699 not through individual Christians 00:24:20.699 --> 00:24:21.959 doing their own individual thing, 00:24:22.479 --> 00:24:23.679 through the church, 00:24:24.479 --> 00:24:25.699 the manifold, 00:24:26.059 --> 00:24:26.939 many folded, 00:24:27.539 --> 00:24:27.899 different, 00:24:28.219 --> 00:24:29.779 lots of different things 00:24:29.779 --> 00:24:31.039 that are different from each other, 00:24:31.039 --> 00:24:33.279 wisdom of God 00:24:33.279 --> 00:24:35.200 would be manifested 00:24:35.200 --> 00:24:36.339 to the rulers and authorities 00:24:36.339 --> 00:24:37.200 in heavenly places. 00:24:37.740 --> 00:24:39.200 I don't know if he's talking about angels 00:24:39.200 --> 00:24:40.420 or demons 00:24:40.420 --> 00:24:41.639 or both, 00:24:41.879 --> 00:24:44.059 but it's very important to God, 00:24:44.539 --> 00:24:44.740 okay, 00:24:44.819 --> 00:24:46.579 because this is part of his eternal purpose 00:24:46.579 --> 00:24:47.519 for the church. 00:24:47.899 --> 00:24:48.039 This, 00:24:48.639 --> 00:24:50.159 his vision is a lot more than just 00:24:50.159 --> 00:24:51.579 saving a bunch of sinners from hell. 00:24:52.440 --> 00:24:53.720 It has to do with 00:24:53.720 --> 00:24:54.740 revealing 00:24:54.740 --> 00:24:58.059 the unsearchable riches of Christ, 00:24:58.619 --> 00:25:00.440 the manifold wisdom of God, 00:25:00.440 --> 00:25:01.900 through the church, 00:25:02.880 --> 00:25:04.019 through each one of us, 00:25:04.460 --> 00:25:04.660 okay? 00:25:05.519 --> 00:25:06.320 We'll talk a little bit more 00:25:06.320 --> 00:25:08.279 about what that looks like. 00:25:09.120 --> 00:25:10.759 Get into Ephesians 4. 00:25:12.019 --> 00:25:13.559 Continue on through Ephesians here. 00:25:14.180 --> 00:25:14.700 What does, 00:25:14.860 --> 00:25:18.120 what does this manifold wisdom look like? 00:25:19.039 --> 00:25:20.120 Continue on Ephesians 4, 00:25:20.200 --> 00:25:21.019 starting in verse 11. 00:25:21.519 --> 00:25:21.779 And he, 00:25:21.940 --> 00:25:22.380 meaning Jesus, 00:25:22.539 --> 00:25:23.440 gave the apostles, 00:25:23.600 --> 00:25:24.180 the prophets, 00:25:24.600 --> 00:25:25.340 the evangelists, 00:25:25.440 --> 00:25:25.980 the shepherds, 00:25:26.000 --> 00:25:26.519 and teachers 00:25:26.519 --> 00:25:28.000 to equip the saints 00:25:28.000 --> 00:25:28.940 for the work of ministry, 00:25:28.940 --> 00:25:30.960 for building up the body of Christ 00:25:30.960 --> 00:25:32.559 until we all attain 00:25:32.559 --> 00:25:33.880 to the unity of the faith 00:25:33.880 --> 00:25:34.840 and the knowledge 00:25:34.840 --> 00:25:35.740 of the Son of God. 00:25:37.100 --> 00:25:38.059 To mature manhood, 00:25:38.420 --> 00:25:39.600 to the measure of the stature 00:25:39.600 --> 00:25:40.700 of the fullness of Christ, 00:25:41.160 --> 00:25:42.039 so that we may be 00:25:42.039 --> 00:25:43.039 no longer children 00:25:43.039 --> 00:25:44.100 tossed to and fro 00:25:44.100 --> 00:25:44.820 by the waves 00:25:44.820 --> 00:25:45.860 and carried about 00:25:45.860 --> 00:25:47.279 by every wind of doctrine, 00:25:47.620 --> 00:25:48.400 by human cunning, 00:25:48.779 --> 00:25:49.440 by craftiness 00:25:49.440 --> 00:25:50.480 and deceitful schemes. 00:25:51.580 --> 00:25:51.940 All right? 00:25:52.660 --> 00:25:52.880 But, 00:25:53.120 --> 00:25:53.820 so immaturity. 00:25:53.819 --> 00:25:55.639 So instead of staying 00:25:55.639 --> 00:25:56.700 in this place of immaturity 00:25:56.700 --> 00:25:57.799 where you're easily deceived 00:25:57.799 --> 00:25:59.439 and pulled all over the place, 00:25:59.980 --> 00:26:01.519 rather, 00:26:02.220 --> 00:26:03.700 speaking the truth in love, 00:26:04.139 --> 00:26:05.220 we are to grow up 00:26:05.220 --> 00:26:06.220 in every way, 00:26:06.740 --> 00:26:08.279 in every way, 00:26:08.619 --> 00:26:09.460 into him 00:26:09.460 --> 00:26:10.619 who is the head, 00:26:11.059 --> 00:26:11.859 into Christ, 00:26:12.720 --> 00:26:13.439 from whom 00:26:13.439 --> 00:26:14.939 the whole body 00:26:14.939 --> 00:26:16.759 joined and held together 00:26:16.759 --> 00:26:17.659 by every joint 00:26:17.659 --> 00:26:18.939 with which it is equipped, 00:26:18.940 --> 00:26:21.640 when each part 00:26:21.640 --> 00:26:22.860 is working properly, 00:26:23.160 --> 00:26:25.039 makes the body grow 00:26:25.039 --> 00:26:27.279 so that it builds itself up 00:26:27.279 --> 00:26:27.840 in love. 00:26:29.700 --> 00:26:30.220 So, 00:26:30.840 --> 00:26:33.360 what's the goal? 00:26:33.940 --> 00:26:34.380 Maturity. 00:26:37.019 --> 00:26:38.059 Personal maturity? 00:26:38.440 --> 00:26:39.820 Just individual maturity? 00:26:40.100 --> 00:26:40.400 Yes. 00:26:42.019 --> 00:26:43.420 But it's not limited to that. 00:26:44.279 --> 00:26:44.799 In fact, 00:26:45.059 --> 00:26:46.460 if you limit it to that 00:26:46.460 --> 00:26:47.440 and you just have a bunch of Christians 00:26:47.440 --> 00:26:48.460 off doing their own thing, 00:26:48.460 --> 00:26:49.720 having their Jesus quiet time 00:26:49.720 --> 00:26:51.340 and not 00:26:51.340 --> 00:26:54.279 participating in the church 00:26:54.279 --> 00:26:55.420 in this way, 00:26:55.900 --> 00:26:57.420 you don't have 00:26:57.420 --> 00:26:59.000 mature manhood. 00:26:59.259 --> 00:26:59.960 What's God's goal? 00:27:00.079 --> 00:27:01.620 To grow us up together 00:27:01.620 --> 00:27:05.940 to the measure 00:27:05.940 --> 00:27:06.559 of the stature 00:27:06.559 --> 00:27:07.759 of the fullness of Christ. 00:27:08.779 --> 00:27:09.880 That we 00:27:09.880 --> 00:27:11.259 would grow up 00:27:11.259 --> 00:27:11.960 in every way 00:27:11.960 --> 00:27:12.720 into him 00:27:12.720 --> 00:27:13.519 who is the head 00:27:13.519 --> 00:27:15.180 from whom 00:27:15.180 --> 00:27:15.960 the whole body 00:27:15.960 --> 00:27:17.740 joined and held together 00:27:17.740 --> 00:27:18.539 by every joint 00:27:18.539 --> 00:27:19.299 with which it's equipped, 00:27:19.680 --> 00:27:20.740 all of us different 00:27:20.740 --> 00:27:21.759 members, 00:27:22.079 --> 00:27:23.779 each filled with the Holy Spirit, 00:27:24.160 --> 00:27:25.359 each uniquely gifted 00:27:25.359 --> 00:27:26.599 and equipped 00:27:26.599 --> 00:27:28.400 for this upbuilding work, 00:27:28.940 --> 00:27:29.940 each of whom 00:27:29.940 --> 00:27:30.599 is essential. 00:27:31.660 --> 00:27:32.779 I had so many verses 00:27:32.779 --> 00:27:33.680 in Corinthians and stuff 00:27:33.680 --> 00:27:34.420 that talked about this. 00:27:34.680 --> 00:27:35.339 I just had to get rid of them 00:27:35.339 --> 00:27:36.380 because it's for the sake of time. 00:27:36.839 --> 00:27:37.019 But, 00:27:37.259 --> 00:27:38.839 every member is essential 00:27:38.839 --> 00:27:40.259 to this. 00:27:41.680 --> 00:27:43.079 Jesus has his arm cut off. 00:27:43.079 --> 00:27:43.279 Well, 00:27:43.359 --> 00:27:43.599 it's just, 00:27:43.699 --> 00:27:44.379 there's something about 00:27:44.379 --> 00:27:45.039 the glory of Jesus 00:27:45.039 --> 00:27:45.939 that's diminished. 00:27:46.960 --> 00:27:47.099 Okay? 00:27:48.119 --> 00:27:48.559 Well, 00:27:48.699 --> 00:27:50.099 that's what it is 00:27:50.099 --> 00:27:50.799 like today. 00:27:51.539 --> 00:27:52.519 Jesus is the same 00:27:52.519 --> 00:27:53.220 yesterday and today 00:27:53.220 --> 00:27:53.519 and forever. 00:27:53.639 --> 00:27:53.740 So, 00:27:53.819 --> 00:27:54.740 his body now 00:27:54.740 --> 00:27:56.039 is diminished. 00:27:56.960 --> 00:27:58.399 The glory is diminished. 00:27:58.659 --> 00:27:59.500 The character 00:27:59.500 --> 00:28:00.720 and the full, 00:28:00.879 --> 00:28:01.359 mature 00:28:01.359 --> 00:28:03.439 representation 00:28:03.439 --> 00:28:04.759 of Jesus Christ 00:28:04.759 --> 00:28:05.399 on earth 00:28:05.399 --> 00:28:06.460 is diminished 00:28:06.460 --> 00:28:08.019 when 00:28:08.019 --> 00:28:09.199 one member 00:28:09.199 --> 00:28:09.720 is neglected 00:28:09.720 --> 00:28:10.740 or 00:28:10.740 --> 00:28:12.240 says, 00:28:12.380 --> 00:28:12.480 no, 00:28:12.519 --> 00:28:13.019 I'm not into that. 00:28:13.039 --> 00:28:13.700 I'm going to go do my own thing. 00:28:14.960 --> 00:28:15.140 You know? 00:28:15.799 --> 00:28:16.140 Yeah, 00:28:16.259 --> 00:28:17.259 you're like a Jesus. 00:28:17.299 --> 00:28:17.880 You're like a church 00:28:17.880 --> 00:28:18.460 kind of Christian. 00:28:18.559 --> 00:28:19.559 I'm a Jesus kind of Christian. 00:28:19.720 --> 00:28:19.900 You know? 00:28:20.680 --> 00:28:20.860 Well, 00:28:20.900 --> 00:28:21.259 you do you, 00:28:21.360 --> 00:28:21.500 man. 00:28:22.400 --> 00:28:22.660 No. 00:28:23.660 --> 00:28:23.920 Like, 00:28:24.000 --> 00:28:24.440 you're essential. 00:28:26.339 --> 00:28:27.600 And God's not into 00:28:27.600 --> 00:28:28.579 this 00:28:28.579 --> 00:28:29.600 American, 00:28:29.880 --> 00:28:30.259 Western, 00:28:30.480 --> 00:28:31.759 individualistic Christianity. 00:28:31.960 --> 00:28:32.980 He's not into it at all. 00:28:33.539 --> 00:28:33.779 Okay? 00:28:34.579 --> 00:28:34.980 He 00:28:34.980 --> 00:28:36.980 sees that 00:28:36.980 --> 00:28:37.880 as an affront 00:28:37.880 --> 00:28:39.320 to, 00:28:40.840 --> 00:28:41.760 it robs Jesus 00:28:41.760 --> 00:28:42.800 of his glory. 00:28:44.020 --> 00:28:45.060 He purchased us 00:28:45.060 --> 00:28:45.920 for a lot more 00:28:45.920 --> 00:28:46.780 than salvation 00:28:46.780 --> 00:28:47.300 for hell. 00:28:47.560 --> 00:28:48.500 It's so that we would be 00:28:48.500 --> 00:28:49.360 part of his body 00:28:49.360 --> 00:28:50.600 and 00:28:50.600 --> 00:28:52.180 the eternal purpose 00:28:52.180 --> 00:28:52.580 of God 00:28:52.580 --> 00:28:53.620 in communicating 00:28:53.620 --> 00:28:54.680 the character 00:28:54.680 --> 00:28:55.980 and the manifold 00:28:55.980 --> 00:28:56.500 wisdom 00:28:56.500 --> 00:28:57.840 of God, 00:28:57.940 --> 00:28:58.680 which is Christ, 00:28:58.760 --> 00:28:59.120 by the way. 00:28:59.200 --> 00:29:00.020 Christ is the wisdom 00:29:00.020 --> 00:29:00.460 of God 00:29:00.460 --> 00:29:03.120 to the world 00:29:03.120 --> 00:29:04.100 and to the rulers 00:29:04.100 --> 00:29:04.560 and authorities 00:29:04.560 --> 00:29:05.300 in heavenly places. 00:29:05.299 --> 00:29:07.779 So, 00:29:07.960 --> 00:29:08.220 anyway, 00:29:08.980 --> 00:29:10.019 to recap a little bit here, 00:29:11.180 --> 00:29:12.220 you can get off point 00:29:12.220 --> 00:29:13.159 really easily here. 00:29:14.500 --> 00:29:15.779 Christ's church's mission 00:29:15.779 --> 00:29:17.200 is the kingdom of God 00:29:17.200 --> 00:29:18.000 and all of life 00:29:18.000 --> 00:29:18.419 together. 00:29:18.700 --> 00:29:19.419 How does Jesus 00:29:19.419 --> 00:29:20.279 factor into that? 00:29:21.059 --> 00:29:22.180 He is the king. 00:29:22.759 --> 00:29:23.079 Okay? 00:29:23.519 --> 00:29:24.460 He's king over 00:29:24.460 --> 00:29:25.180 everything. 00:29:25.440 --> 00:29:25.940 He bought 00:29:25.940 --> 00:29:27.440 everything for himself. 00:29:27.599 --> 00:29:28.259 Everything was created 00:29:28.259 --> 00:29:28.859 for him 00:29:28.859 --> 00:29:29.500 and through him. 00:29:30.480 --> 00:29:32.139 And it's all for himself 00:29:32.139 --> 00:29:33.139 because he purchased it 00:29:33.140 --> 00:29:35.000 round two. 00:29:35.160 --> 00:29:35.340 Okay? 00:29:35.520 --> 00:29:36.120 It was all made 00:29:36.120 --> 00:29:36.520 through him 00:29:36.520 --> 00:29:37.340 and he deserved it anyway. 00:29:37.740 --> 00:29:39.480 And then he purchased it 00:29:39.480 --> 00:29:40.280 with his blood. 00:29:40.380 --> 00:29:40.500 So, 00:29:40.580 --> 00:29:41.560 the whole thing is his 00:29:41.560 --> 00:29:42.420 all of life. 00:29:43.060 --> 00:29:44.600 And our experience of it 00:29:44.600 --> 00:29:45.680 is together 00:29:45.680 --> 00:29:46.720 through his church. 00:29:47.540 --> 00:29:48.500 And to the extent 00:29:48.500 --> 00:29:49.020 to which 00:29:49.020 --> 00:29:51.259 we try to divorce 00:29:51.259 --> 00:29:52.580 from any one 00:29:52.580 --> 00:29:53.440 of these things, 00:29:54.380 --> 00:29:55.980 it's to our detriment. 00:29:56.840 --> 00:29:57.720 And it's to the detriment 00:29:57.720 --> 00:29:58.500 of the glory of God. 00:29:59.400 --> 00:30:00.340 God is glorified. 00:30:00.339 --> 00:30:01.500 He's chosen 00:30:01.500 --> 00:30:02.980 a particular way 00:30:02.980 --> 00:30:04.720 to glorify himself 00:30:04.720 --> 00:30:06.119 and it's through the sun 00:30:06.119 --> 00:30:08.699 and through the church. 00:30:09.859 --> 00:30:10.000 Okay? 00:30:10.659 --> 00:30:10.939 So, 00:30:14.119 --> 00:30:19.519 to seek first 00:30:19.519 --> 00:30:20.399 the kingdom of God 00:30:20.399 --> 00:30:21.259 and his righteousness 00:30:21.259 --> 00:30:23.599 is to seek 00:30:23.599 --> 00:30:24.299 the advance 00:30:24.299 --> 00:30:25.559 of Christ's lordship 00:30:25.559 --> 00:30:26.980 and salvation 00:30:26.980 --> 00:30:28.439 in all of life. 00:30:28.440 --> 00:30:29.660 and as the body 00:30:29.660 --> 00:30:30.200 of Christ 00:30:30.200 --> 00:30:31.460 the body of Christ 00:30:31.460 --> 00:30:32.539 the church 00:30:32.539 --> 00:30:34.559 is the expression 00:30:34.559 --> 00:30:35.700 it's the manifestation 00:30:35.700 --> 00:30:36.680 of his kingdom 00:30:36.680 --> 00:30:37.860 on earth 00:30:37.860 --> 00:30:38.820 as it is in heaven. 00:30:39.500 --> 00:30:39.600 Now, 00:30:39.640 --> 00:30:40.460 Jesus taught us to pray 00:30:40.460 --> 00:30:41.420 that your kingdom come 00:30:41.420 --> 00:30:42.420 your will be done 00:30:42.420 --> 00:30:43.360 on earth 00:30:43.360 --> 00:30:44.600 as it is in heaven. 00:30:44.840 --> 00:30:45.500 It's the already 00:30:45.500 --> 00:30:46.320 but not yet thing. 00:30:46.559 --> 00:30:47.340 He's already king 00:30:47.340 --> 00:30:48.019 over everything 00:30:48.019 --> 00:30:49.279 but we don't yet see 00:30:49.279 --> 00:30:49.900 everything 00:30:49.900 --> 00:30:51.539 manifestly 00:30:51.539 --> 00:30:52.259 under the rule 00:30:52.259 --> 00:30:52.660 of Jesus 00:30:52.660 --> 00:30:53.880 where whatever 00:30:53.880 --> 00:30:54.600 Jesus says 00:30:54.600 --> 00:30:55.120 goes. 00:30:56.019 --> 00:30:56.220 Okay? 00:30:56.220 --> 00:30:58.259 But it's because 00:30:58.259 --> 00:30:59.019 he hasn't come back yet. 00:30:59.500 --> 00:31:00.500 When he comes back 00:31:00.500 --> 00:31:01.539 it will be that way. 00:31:02.759 --> 00:31:04.100 So where do we see 00:31:04.100 --> 00:31:05.240 the kingdom of God 00:31:05.240 --> 00:31:07.579 most clearly now? 00:31:08.360 --> 00:31:09.600 Through the church. 00:31:10.259 --> 00:31:11.200 The church 00:31:11.200 --> 00:31:12.660 is where 00:31:12.660 --> 00:31:13.880 the kingdom of God 00:31:13.880 --> 00:31:15.380 is expressly 00:31:15.380 --> 00:31:16.100 put on display. 00:31:17.559 --> 00:31:18.000 Okay? 00:31:19.120 --> 00:31:19.900 That's my point. 00:31:20.240 --> 00:31:21.100 The kingdom of God 00:31:21.100 --> 00:31:22.279 and all of life together 00:31:22.279 --> 00:31:23.860 through Christ 00:31:23.859 --> 00:31:25.399 and for him. 00:31:26.299 --> 00:31:26.659 So, 00:31:26.919 --> 00:31:27.719 take a little bit 00:31:27.719 --> 00:31:28.240 of time here. 00:31:28.399 --> 00:31:28.779 Let me see. 00:31:28.919 --> 00:31:29.359 30 minutes. 00:31:29.439 --> 00:31:29.639 All right. 00:31:30.199 --> 00:31:31.099 I want to talk a little bit 00:31:31.099 --> 00:31:32.199 about my second question. 00:31:32.319 --> 00:31:33.039 So I said that 00:31:33.039 --> 00:31:33.879 my goal here 00:31:33.879 --> 00:31:34.839 is to answer two questions. 00:31:34.959 --> 00:31:35.740 One is how does Jesus 00:31:35.740 --> 00:31:36.919 fit into this mission statement? 00:31:37.439 --> 00:31:38.199 A little bit of vision 00:31:38.199 --> 00:31:38.699 of Christ 00:31:38.699 --> 00:31:39.439 and how he factors 00:31:39.439 --> 00:31:39.899 into that. 00:31:40.219 --> 00:31:40.859 And the second is 00:31:40.859 --> 00:31:41.539 like what's the ultimate 00:31:41.539 --> 00:31:42.119 goal here? 00:31:43.319 --> 00:31:44.179 To be happier? 00:31:44.379 --> 00:31:45.099 To avoid hell? 00:31:46.019 --> 00:31:46.379 No. 00:31:46.559 --> 00:31:47.259 You get those things 00:31:47.259 --> 00:31:47.699 but that's not 00:31:47.699 --> 00:31:48.339 the ultimate goal. 00:31:48.879 --> 00:31:49.159 All right. 00:31:49.339 --> 00:31:49.579 So, 00:31:50.219 --> 00:31:51.339 Christ's preeminence 00:31:51.339 --> 00:31:52.339 and God's eternal purpose. 00:31:52.459 --> 00:31:52.899 I'm going to share 00:31:52.900 --> 00:31:54.340 a few passages about that. 00:31:54.720 --> 00:31:56.240 Going back to Colossians 1.18, 00:31:56.380 --> 00:31:57.440 this is the opening passage 00:31:57.440 --> 00:31:58.840 that says that 00:31:58.840 --> 00:31:59.940 he is the head of the body, 00:32:00.019 --> 00:32:00.519 the church. 00:32:01.040 --> 00:32:01.860 He's the beginning, 00:32:02.000 --> 00:32:03.200 the firstborn from the dead. 00:32:03.700 --> 00:32:04.660 That in everything 00:32:04.660 --> 00:32:06.740 he might be preeminent. 00:32:06.860 --> 00:32:07.960 That he might have first place. 00:32:08.040 --> 00:32:08.259 Remember, 00:32:08.340 --> 00:32:09.360 everything is created for him. 00:32:10.120 --> 00:32:10.259 Okay? 00:32:11.340 --> 00:32:11.800 Getting into 00:32:11.800 --> 00:32:12.860 the big picture stuff. 00:32:13.560 --> 00:32:14.759 The meaning for everything. 00:32:15.600 --> 00:32:16.740 That the son 00:32:16.740 --> 00:32:18.180 would receive 00:32:18.180 --> 00:32:20.120 what God 00:32:20.120 --> 00:32:20.840 created 00:32:20.840 --> 00:32:21.759 everything 00:32:21.759 --> 00:32:22.640 for. 00:32:23.340 --> 00:32:24.060 It's for him. 00:32:24.880 --> 00:32:25.000 Okay? 00:32:26.259 --> 00:32:27.120 Read a few other verses. 00:32:27.780 --> 00:32:28.400 Let's just not stick 00:32:28.400 --> 00:32:28.920 with one verse. 00:32:29.019 --> 00:32:29.600 There's more verses 00:32:29.600 --> 00:32:30.740 that communicate this. 00:32:30.820 --> 00:32:31.440 Ephesians 3, 00:32:31.519 --> 00:32:32.740 verses 7 through 12. 00:32:34.040 --> 00:32:35.380 I already read this 00:32:35.380 --> 00:32:37.180 but this is, 00:32:37.360 --> 00:32:37.580 actually, 00:32:37.660 --> 00:32:38.000 I'm not going to read 00:32:38.000 --> 00:32:38.460 the whole thing. 00:32:38.519 --> 00:32:39.040 We read this. 00:32:39.500 --> 00:32:40.240 It talks about 00:32:40.240 --> 00:32:41.240 the unsearchable riches 00:32:41.240 --> 00:32:41.860 of Christ. 00:32:42.140 --> 00:32:42.960 It talks about 00:32:42.960 --> 00:32:44.360 through the church 00:32:44.360 --> 00:32:45.320 the manifold wisdom 00:32:45.320 --> 00:32:45.980 of God is being 00:32:45.980 --> 00:32:46.680 put on display. 00:32:47.180 --> 00:32:47.920 And then he says 00:32:47.920 --> 00:32:49.240 that it's according 00:32:49.240 --> 00:32:50.420 to this eternal purpose 00:32:50.420 --> 00:32:51.259 which he accomplished 00:32:51.259 --> 00:32:51.940 in Christ Jesus 00:32:51.940 --> 00:32:52.500 our Lord. 00:32:53.500 --> 00:32:54.299 In Ephesians 1, 00:32:54.339 --> 00:32:55.200 verses 9 and 10, 00:32:55.279 --> 00:32:55.599 it says, 00:32:55.599 --> 00:32:56.940 And he has made known 00:32:56.940 --> 00:32:58.099 to us the mystery 00:32:58.099 --> 00:32:58.879 of his will 00:32:58.879 --> 00:33:00.539 according to his good pleasure 00:33:00.539 --> 00:33:01.200 which he purposed 00:33:01.200 --> 00:33:01.779 in Christ 00:33:01.779 --> 00:33:03.720 to be put into effect 00:33:03.720 --> 00:33:04.839 when the times 00:33:04.839 --> 00:33:05.500 will have reached 00:33:05.500 --> 00:33:06.240 their fulfillment. 00:33:06.740 --> 00:33:07.599 Big picture. 00:33:07.960 --> 00:33:08.720 What's everything 00:33:08.720 --> 00:33:09.859 feeding up towards? 00:33:09.859 --> 00:33:13.079 What is it? 00:33:14.079 --> 00:33:15.539 To bring all things 00:33:15.539 --> 00:33:16.779 in heaven 00:33:16.779 --> 00:33:18.240 and on earth 00:33:18.240 --> 00:33:18.839 together 00:33:18.839 --> 00:33:20.599 under one head 00:33:20.599 --> 00:33:22.019 even Christ. 00:33:24.019 --> 00:33:24.699 Okay. 00:33:25.479 --> 00:33:26.559 That's pretty big. 00:33:27.099 --> 00:33:28.379 That's the mystery 00:33:28.379 --> 00:33:29.159 of his will. 00:33:29.939 --> 00:33:30.919 That's according 00:33:30.919 --> 00:33:32.000 to his good pleasure. 00:33:34.759 --> 00:33:35.740 That he's going 00:33:35.740 --> 00:33:37.319 to bring all things 00:33:37.319 --> 00:33:37.979 in heaven 00:33:37.980 --> 00:33:39.120 and on earth 00:33:39.120 --> 00:33:39.620 together 00:33:39.620 --> 00:33:40.880 under one head 00:33:40.880 --> 00:33:41.839 Christ. 00:33:44.839 --> 00:33:45.620 Last verse, 00:33:45.740 --> 00:33:46.799 1 Corinthians 15, 00:33:46.880 --> 00:33:48.559 verses 24 through 28. 00:33:49.220 --> 00:33:50.539 Then comes the end 00:33:50.539 --> 00:33:51.819 when he delivers, 00:33:51.960 --> 00:33:52.660 he meaning Jesus, 00:33:52.799 --> 00:33:53.660 when he delivers 00:33:53.660 --> 00:33:54.559 the kingdom to God 00:33:54.559 --> 00:33:55.059 the Father 00:33:55.059 --> 00:33:56.480 after destroying 00:33:56.480 --> 00:33:57.860 every rule 00:33:57.860 --> 00:33:59.319 and every authority 00:33:59.319 --> 00:34:00.000 and power 00:34:00.000 --> 00:34:01.599 for he must reign 00:34:01.599 --> 00:34:02.420 until he has put 00:34:02.420 --> 00:34:03.380 all his enemies 00:34:03.380 --> 00:34:05.319 under his feet. 00:34:06.019 --> 00:34:06.980 The last enemy 00:34:06.980 --> 00:34:07.779 needed to be destroyed 00:34:07.779 --> 00:34:08.460 is death. 00:34:09.679 --> 00:34:10.760 For God 00:34:10.760 --> 00:34:11.740 has put all things 00:34:11.740 --> 00:34:12.460 in subjection 00:34:12.460 --> 00:34:13.300 under his feet. 00:34:14.800 --> 00:34:15.820 But when it says 00:34:15.820 --> 00:34:16.280 all things 00:34:16.280 --> 00:34:17.179 are put in subjection, 00:34:17.719 --> 00:34:18.460 it is plain 00:34:18.460 --> 00:34:19.559 that he is accepted 00:34:19.559 --> 00:34:21.000 who put all things 00:34:21.000 --> 00:34:21.840 in subjection 00:34:21.840 --> 00:34:22.320 under him. 00:34:22.460 --> 00:34:22.900 Basically, 00:34:22.980 --> 00:34:23.420 he's just saying 00:34:23.420 --> 00:34:24.599 God the Father 00:34:24.599 --> 00:34:26.780 is not put in subjection 00:34:26.780 --> 00:34:27.400 under the Son. 00:34:27.519 --> 00:34:27.719 Okay. 00:34:28.280 --> 00:34:29.219 He's the one 00:34:29.219 --> 00:34:30.659 putting everything 00:34:30.659 --> 00:34:32.519 under subjection 00:34:32.519 --> 00:34:33.219 to the Son. 00:34:33.219 --> 00:34:37.239 And when all things 00:34:37.239 --> 00:34:37.819 are subjected 00:34:37.819 --> 00:34:38.299 to him, 00:34:38.399 --> 00:34:38.799 the Son, 00:34:40.279 --> 00:34:41.079 then he, 00:34:41.719 --> 00:34:42.519 then the Son 00:34:42.519 --> 00:34:43.159 himself 00:34:43.159 --> 00:34:44.579 will also 00:34:44.579 --> 00:34:45.299 be subjected 00:34:45.299 --> 00:34:45.859 to him, 00:34:46.039 --> 00:34:46.480 the Father, 00:34:47.480 --> 00:34:48.659 who put all things 00:34:48.659 --> 00:34:49.319 in subjection 00:34:49.319 --> 00:34:49.719 under him 00:34:49.719 --> 00:34:51.299 that God 00:34:51.299 --> 00:34:52.339 may be all 00:34:52.339 --> 00:34:53.259 in all. 00:34:54.459 --> 00:34:54.980 So, 00:34:55.419 --> 00:34:56.859 everything was created 00:34:56.859 --> 00:34:58.059 for Jesus. 00:34:59.339 --> 00:35:00.219 That's the end. 00:35:00.980 --> 00:35:01.339 Us too. 00:35:01.439 --> 00:35:01.980 We're creations. 00:35:01.980 --> 00:35:02.500 Okay. 00:35:03.059 --> 00:35:03.579 So, 00:35:03.679 --> 00:35:04.079 if you're in the 00:35:04.079 --> 00:35:05.079 created category, 00:35:05.219 --> 00:35:05.719 not creator, 00:35:05.840 --> 00:35:06.260 guess what? 00:35:06.440 --> 00:35:06.900 You were made 00:35:06.900 --> 00:35:07.360 for Jesus. 00:35:08.519 --> 00:35:09.659 Does it stop there? 00:35:10.380 --> 00:35:10.679 No. 00:35:12.199 --> 00:35:13.420 Jesus is doing it 00:35:13.420 --> 00:35:14.280 for the glory of God. 00:35:15.119 --> 00:35:16.199 Because when everything 00:35:16.199 --> 00:35:17.699 is finally subjected 00:35:17.699 --> 00:35:18.179 to him, 00:35:19.360 --> 00:35:20.679 when all enemies 00:35:20.679 --> 00:35:21.840 are put under his feet, 00:35:22.980 --> 00:35:26.179 he will subject himself 00:35:26.179 --> 00:35:26.860 to the Father 00:35:26.860 --> 00:35:28.019 so that God 00:35:28.019 --> 00:35:29.199 would be all in all. 00:35:29.320 --> 00:35:30.280 It's for the glory of God. 00:35:30.280 --> 00:35:31.420 And God has chosen 00:35:31.420 --> 00:35:33.440 this specific way 00:35:33.440 --> 00:35:34.420 to glorify himself. 00:35:34.740 --> 00:35:35.960 There are other kinds 00:35:35.960 --> 00:35:37.200 of ways to glorify God. 00:35:37.460 --> 00:35:38.240 It's this way, 00:35:38.440 --> 00:35:39.220 through the Son. 00:35:39.500 --> 00:35:40.700 He's chosen one man 00:35:40.700 --> 00:35:41.980 that is 00:35:41.980 --> 00:35:43.540 authorized 00:35:43.540 --> 00:35:45.340 to glorify God. 00:35:45.620 --> 00:35:46.320 And it's the man, 00:35:46.380 --> 00:35:47.060 Jesus Christ. 00:35:47.519 --> 00:35:48.780 How do we glorify God? 00:35:49.180 --> 00:35:50.920 By being inside of him. 00:35:51.880 --> 00:35:53.700 And then God works in us 00:35:53.700 --> 00:35:54.640 to will 00:35:54.640 --> 00:35:55.380 and to work 00:35:55.380 --> 00:35:56.519 according to his good pleasure. 00:35:56.519 --> 00:35:57.679 Okay? 00:35:58.559 --> 00:35:59.519 We're trying to 00:35:59.519 --> 00:36:00.840 glorify God 00:36:00.840 --> 00:36:02.519 our own way, 00:36:02.980 --> 00:36:05.179 according to our own thoughts, 00:36:05.719 --> 00:36:06.860 according to our own wisdom. 00:36:07.920 --> 00:36:08.920 It's not acceptable. 00:36:10.579 --> 00:36:11.559 It's through the Son. 00:36:11.860 --> 00:36:12.759 That in all things, 00:36:12.880 --> 00:36:13.179 Jesus 00:36:13.179 --> 00:36:14.880 would have preeminence 00:36:14.880 --> 00:36:15.699 first place. 00:36:17.039 --> 00:36:17.739 And then 00:36:17.739 --> 00:36:19.840 Jesus glorifies the Father. 00:36:20.179 --> 00:36:20.639 That's what 00:36:20.639 --> 00:36:21.599 he wants to do. 00:36:21.780 --> 00:36:22.739 That's why he appeared. 00:36:23.199 --> 00:36:23.960 I came to do 00:36:23.960 --> 00:36:24.920 the will of my Father 00:36:24.920 --> 00:36:26.380 and to glorify him. 00:36:26.820 --> 00:36:27.200 That's 00:36:27.200 --> 00:36:28.260 what Jesus 00:36:28.260 --> 00:36:29.480 is oriented towards 00:36:29.480 --> 00:36:30.639 is the glory of the Father. 00:36:31.360 --> 00:36:32.260 And the Father 00:36:32.260 --> 00:36:33.320 is pleased 00:36:33.320 --> 00:36:35.260 to glorify himself 00:36:35.260 --> 00:36:36.139 through his Son. 00:36:37.139 --> 00:36:38.159 And the Spirit 00:36:38.159 --> 00:36:39.360 glorifies 00:36:39.360 --> 00:36:40.420 and reveals the Son. 00:36:41.659 --> 00:36:42.700 It's a Trinitarian 00:36:42.700 --> 00:36:43.780 glory. 00:36:43.920 --> 00:36:44.880 It's a Trinitarian truth. 00:36:44.960 --> 00:36:46.099 This is how they work together 00:36:46.099 --> 00:36:48.059 for this ultimate goal, 00:36:48.559 --> 00:36:49.240 which is Christ 00:36:49.240 --> 00:36:50.019 to have preeminence 00:36:50.019 --> 00:36:50.740 in all things. 00:36:51.260 --> 00:36:52.220 And then he hands it 00:36:52.220 --> 00:36:52.760 to the Father 00:36:52.760 --> 00:36:53.720 that God would be 00:36:53.720 --> 00:36:54.500 all in all. 00:36:55.760 --> 00:36:55.980 Okay. 00:36:56.480 --> 00:36:56.760 So, 00:36:56.960 --> 00:36:58.039 what's the goal? 00:36:58.980 --> 00:36:59.720 Everything I just said. 00:36:59.820 --> 00:37:00.180 That Christ 00:37:00.180 --> 00:37:01.079 would have preeminence 00:37:01.079 --> 00:37:01.659 in all things, 00:37:01.760 --> 00:37:02.340 subject himself 00:37:02.340 --> 00:37:02.940 to the Father, 00:37:03.680 --> 00:37:04.340 that God 00:37:04.340 --> 00:37:05.579 would be all in all. 00:37:06.159 --> 00:37:06.320 You know, 00:37:06.340 --> 00:37:06.940 the Westminster, 00:37:07.220 --> 00:37:07.579 I think, 00:37:07.659 --> 00:37:08.960 shorter catechism 00:37:08.960 --> 00:37:09.460 says, 00:37:10.119 --> 00:37:11.039 the chief end of man, 00:37:11.119 --> 00:37:12.000 what is the chief end of man? 00:37:14.760 --> 00:37:16.220 To glorify God 00:37:16.220 --> 00:37:18.019 and enjoy him forever. 00:37:19.280 --> 00:37:20.039 It's glorious. 00:37:22.039 --> 00:37:23.159 It's a very glorious thing. 00:37:23.159 --> 00:37:26.259 It's a big problem 00:37:26.259 --> 00:37:26.559 for us, 00:37:26.599 --> 00:37:26.739 though. 00:37:28.659 --> 00:37:29.299 You know why 00:37:29.299 --> 00:37:29.879 it's a big problem? 00:37:31.359 --> 00:37:33.039 Because all have sinned 00:37:33.039 --> 00:37:34.119 and fallen short 00:37:34.119 --> 00:37:35.859 of the glory of God. 00:37:37.659 --> 00:37:38.899 No one has sought him, 00:37:39.179 --> 00:37:40.000 not even one. 00:37:40.480 --> 00:37:41.619 We have not enjoyed him. 00:37:42.279 --> 00:37:43.279 That was our ultimate 00:37:43.279 --> 00:37:44.259 creative purpose 00:37:44.259 --> 00:37:45.199 for him. 00:37:46.420 --> 00:37:47.559 And we all fell. 00:37:49.059 --> 00:37:50.000 God saw that there was 00:37:50.000 --> 00:37:51.259 no one who did good, 00:37:51.260 --> 00:37:52.140 no one righteous, 00:37:52.300 --> 00:37:52.860 not even one. 00:37:53.300 --> 00:37:53.960 And you know what he said? 00:37:54.280 --> 00:37:54.940 I'll do it. 00:37:56.220 --> 00:37:56.900 He looked 00:37:56.900 --> 00:37:58.240 and he found no one. 00:37:59.500 --> 00:38:00.000 It says, 00:38:00.080 --> 00:38:00.640 in Hebrews 10, 00:38:00.720 --> 00:38:01.020 it says, 00:38:01.460 --> 00:38:02.000 Behold, 00:38:02.120 --> 00:38:02.680 it is written, 00:38:03.500 --> 00:38:04.760 in the book concerning me, 00:38:04.820 --> 00:38:06.120 I have come to do your will. 00:38:07.140 --> 00:38:08.060 Sacrifices and offerings 00:38:08.060 --> 00:38:09.060 you have not desired, 00:38:09.160 --> 00:38:09.900 but a body 00:38:09.900 --> 00:38:11.320 you have prepared for me. 00:38:12.140 --> 00:38:12.480 Jesus 00:38:12.480 --> 00:38:14.060 did God's will 00:38:14.060 --> 00:38:14.780 when we failed 00:38:14.780 --> 00:38:15.620 to do God's will, 00:38:15.940 --> 00:38:17.020 and he fulfilled 00:38:17.020 --> 00:38:18.060 the chief end of man, 00:38:18.059 --> 00:38:20.199 which is to glorify God 00:38:20.199 --> 00:38:21.119 and enjoy him forever. 00:38:21.579 --> 00:38:22.099 And now, 00:38:23.019 --> 00:38:24.340 he invites us 00:38:24.340 --> 00:38:24.820 into that. 00:38:25.599 --> 00:38:25.980 He said, 00:38:26.019 --> 00:38:26.659 You didn't do it. 00:38:27.219 --> 00:38:27.799 Like Esau, 00:38:27.900 --> 00:38:28.900 we sold our birthright. 00:38:29.779 --> 00:38:30.079 He says, 00:38:30.139 --> 00:38:30.940 I'm the last Adam. 00:38:31.320 --> 00:38:32.179 I did do it. 00:38:33.239 --> 00:38:33.719 And now, 00:38:34.420 --> 00:38:35.519 I poured out my life. 00:38:35.599 --> 00:38:36.159 I bought you 00:38:36.159 --> 00:38:36.860 from yourself 00:38:36.860 --> 00:38:38.940 so that in me, 00:38:39.179 --> 00:38:40.360 you can have 00:38:40.360 --> 00:38:41.239 a fulfillment of that. 00:38:42.599 --> 00:38:44.199 You can glorify God 00:38:44.199 --> 00:38:45.860 and enjoy him forever. 00:38:45.860 --> 00:38:47.059 Okay? 00:38:48.099 --> 00:38:48.500 Okay, 00:38:48.780 --> 00:38:49.079 so, 00:38:49.420 --> 00:38:52.640 the church is an embassy, 00:38:52.800 --> 00:38:52.980 okay? 00:38:53.099 --> 00:38:53.579 We're an embassy 00:38:53.579 --> 00:38:54.460 of the kingdom of God, 00:38:54.599 --> 00:38:55.500 and this is the truth 00:38:55.500 --> 00:38:56.320 we're putting on display. 00:38:56.840 --> 00:38:58.240 We're not putting on display 00:38:58.240 --> 00:38:59.300 our good works, 00:38:59.579 --> 00:39:00.340 our good ideas, 00:39:00.820 --> 00:39:01.480 our excellent, 00:39:01.579 --> 00:39:01.780 you know, 00:39:01.880 --> 00:39:02.620 giftings and all that 00:39:02.620 --> 00:39:03.200 kind of stuff. 00:39:03.320 --> 00:39:04.539 We're just putting on display 00:39:04.539 --> 00:39:06.180 the glory of Jesus Christ 00:39:06.180 --> 00:39:07.180 because that's the purpose 00:39:07.180 --> 00:39:07.780 of the church 00:39:07.780 --> 00:39:09.880 is to glorify Jesus, 00:39:09.880 --> 00:39:10.500 to be a place 00:39:10.500 --> 00:39:11.200 where Jesus is 00:39:11.200 --> 00:39:12.720 accurately represented. 00:39:13.579 --> 00:39:13.820 Okay? 00:39:14.160 --> 00:39:14.500 And so, 00:39:14.680 --> 00:39:15.440 our sanctification 00:39:15.440 --> 00:39:16.400 isn't even about ourselves, 00:39:16.480 --> 00:39:17.079 it's about Jesus. 00:39:17.740 --> 00:39:17.900 Okay? 00:39:18.280 --> 00:39:18.519 So, 00:39:18.659 --> 00:39:19.340 when he says, 00:39:19.860 --> 00:39:20.300 be holy 00:39:20.300 --> 00:39:22.000 as I am holy, 00:39:22.240 --> 00:39:24.079 it's for his name sent. 00:39:25.860 --> 00:39:26.619 It's not about 00:39:26.619 --> 00:39:27.599 our personal happiness 00:39:27.599 --> 00:39:28.340 and our self-betterment, 00:39:28.400 --> 00:39:28.700 it's because 00:39:28.700 --> 00:39:29.619 he deserves it. 00:39:30.200 --> 00:39:31.280 He purchased us 00:39:31.280 --> 00:39:31.940 for himself 00:39:31.940 --> 00:39:33.360 that he might be glorified, 00:39:33.460 --> 00:39:34.300 that he might fulfill 00:39:34.300 --> 00:39:35.619 the chief end of man 00:39:35.619 --> 00:39:36.240 in us 00:39:36.240 --> 00:39:37.260 and through us 00:39:37.260 --> 00:39:38.119 for his glory. 00:39:39.519 --> 00:39:39.960 So, 00:39:40.599 --> 00:39:41.360 in a church, 00:39:41.579 --> 00:39:42.039 our church, 00:39:42.420 --> 00:39:42.900 a church, 00:39:43.019 --> 00:39:43.539 the church 00:39:43.539 --> 00:39:44.759 is an embassy 00:39:44.759 --> 00:39:45.179 of that. 00:39:45.699 --> 00:39:46.400 That is going 00:39:46.400 --> 00:39:46.960 to be 00:39:46.960 --> 00:39:48.779 the universal 00:39:48.779 --> 00:39:49.360 experience 00:39:49.360 --> 00:39:49.880 throughout all 00:39:49.880 --> 00:39:50.360 of creation 00:39:50.360 --> 00:39:51.480 when Jesus comes back 00:39:51.480 --> 00:39:52.519 and he ultimately 00:39:52.519 --> 00:39:53.480 makes all things new. 00:39:54.000 --> 00:39:54.739 It's all going 00:39:54.739 --> 00:39:55.300 to be like that. 00:39:55.380 --> 00:39:55.559 Okay? 00:39:56.559 --> 00:39:57.840 But right now, 00:39:58.099 --> 00:40:01.059 where do you see this? 00:40:02.519 --> 00:40:03.400 Hopefully in the church. 00:40:04.259 --> 00:40:05.079 That's the purpose. 00:40:05.639 --> 00:40:06.579 That's why we're here. 00:40:07.000 --> 00:40:07.199 Okay? 00:40:07.199 --> 00:40:07.279 Okay? 00:40:08.299 --> 00:40:08.559 So, 00:40:09.099 --> 00:40:12.019 some exhortations. 00:40:12.819 --> 00:40:13.579 Try to finish it up 00:40:13.579 --> 00:40:13.960 quick here. 00:40:14.419 --> 00:40:14.919 Number one, 00:40:15.579 --> 00:40:18.759 does Jesus have first place 00:40:18.759 --> 00:40:19.439 in your life? 00:40:20.859 --> 00:40:21.179 Okay? 00:40:21.579 --> 00:40:22.139 Do you have a vision 00:40:22.139 --> 00:40:23.259 that's bigger than yourself? 00:40:24.559 --> 00:40:25.579 Are you using Jesus 00:40:25.579 --> 00:40:27.339 for a get out of hell card? 00:40:27.939 --> 00:40:29.519 Or a make me happy card? 00:40:31.259 --> 00:40:31.779 No. 00:40:31.780 --> 00:40:33.780 He bought you 00:40:33.780 --> 00:40:35.060 for himself 00:40:35.060 --> 00:40:37.380 for his sake. 00:40:38.320 --> 00:40:39.720 You don't get to be a Christian 00:40:39.720 --> 00:40:40.500 and have Jesus 00:40:40.500 --> 00:40:41.400 not have first place. 00:40:41.480 --> 00:40:42.240 There's just not a category 00:40:42.240 --> 00:40:42.600 for that. 00:40:42.900 --> 00:40:43.060 Okay? 00:40:43.440 --> 00:40:44.660 It's a one or a zero. 00:40:45.140 --> 00:40:45.300 Okay? 00:40:45.580 --> 00:40:46.440 Either he's Lord 00:40:46.440 --> 00:40:47.080 of everything 00:40:47.080 --> 00:40:49.000 or you are still 00:40:49.000 --> 00:40:49.640 not in Christ. 00:40:51.019 --> 00:40:51.200 Okay? 00:40:52.120 --> 00:40:53.120 Does Jesus have 00:40:53.120 --> 00:40:53.620 first place 00:40:53.620 --> 00:40:54.120 in your life? 00:40:55.240 --> 00:40:56.200 Can you still have 00:40:56.200 --> 00:40:57.000 areas of rebellion 00:40:57.000 --> 00:40:57.640 in your life, 00:40:57.880 --> 00:40:58.980 resisting the Holy Spirit, 00:40:58.980 --> 00:41:00.559 and be a Christian? 00:41:01.519 --> 00:41:01.920 100%. 00:41:01.920 --> 00:41:02.579 But that's why 00:41:02.579 --> 00:41:02.880 I'm preaching 00:41:02.880 --> 00:41:03.699 the sermon right now. 00:41:03.760 --> 00:41:03.980 Okay? 00:41:04.139 --> 00:41:05.039 That's the whole point. 00:41:05.380 --> 00:41:06.079 The Holy Spirit 00:41:06.079 --> 00:41:06.940 uses the preaching 00:41:06.940 --> 00:41:07.440 of the Word 00:41:07.440 --> 00:41:08.460 to put his finger 00:41:08.460 --> 00:41:09.559 on areas of your life 00:41:09.559 --> 00:41:10.920 where you're holding back. 00:41:11.360 --> 00:41:12.280 And he says, 00:41:13.000 --> 00:41:13.320 mine. 00:41:14.000 --> 00:41:14.760 It's mine. 00:41:15.599 --> 00:41:17.280 I will have preeminence 00:41:17.280 --> 00:41:18.559 in all things 00:41:18.559 --> 00:41:19.920 starting with you. 00:41:20.500 --> 00:41:20.740 Okay? 00:41:23.480 --> 00:41:23.960 Second, 00:41:24.099 --> 00:41:24.880 does Jesus have 00:41:24.880 --> 00:41:25.559 first place 00:41:25.559 --> 00:41:26.260 in our church? 00:41:26.260 --> 00:41:29.520 I love the imagery 00:41:29.520 --> 00:41:30.040 of the church 00:41:30.040 --> 00:41:31.060 as the bride of Christ. 00:41:31.820 --> 00:41:31.960 Okay? 00:41:32.080 --> 00:41:32.260 So, 00:41:32.720 --> 00:41:33.880 who is 00:41:33.880 --> 00:41:35.020 the chief 00:41:35.020 --> 00:41:37.480 in a bride's affection? 00:41:39.040 --> 00:41:39.420 Well, 00:41:39.480 --> 00:41:40.260 if it's a healthy bride, 00:41:40.380 --> 00:41:41.400 it's her groom. 00:41:41.720 --> 00:41:41.940 Okay? 00:41:42.040 --> 00:41:42.600 It's her husband. 00:41:44.280 --> 00:41:45.020 But I'm sure 00:41:45.020 --> 00:41:46.260 you've seen brides 00:41:46.260 --> 00:41:47.260 who are consumed 00:41:47.260 --> 00:41:47.740 with themselves. 00:41:48.920 --> 00:41:49.740 They love how pretty 00:41:49.740 --> 00:41:50.120 they look. 00:41:50.540 --> 00:41:50.700 You know, 00:41:50.720 --> 00:41:51.360 it's all about them. 00:41:51.440 --> 00:41:52.160 The wedding's all about them. 00:41:52.220 --> 00:41:53.040 Everything's all about them. 00:41:53.720 --> 00:41:53.880 You know, 00:41:53.920 --> 00:41:54.580 he's just a means 00:41:54.579 --> 00:41:56.279 to getting 00:41:56.279 --> 00:41:58.279 her beauty 00:41:58.279 --> 00:41:58.840 on display 00:41:58.840 --> 00:41:59.380 for herself 00:41:59.380 --> 00:42:00.179 and the rest of the world. 00:42:00.239 --> 00:42:00.440 Okay? 00:42:01.340 --> 00:42:01.739 Unfortunately, 00:42:01.739 --> 00:42:02.579 we can be like that. 00:42:02.840 --> 00:42:03.039 Okay? 00:42:03.559 --> 00:42:05.420 You can be myopically focused 00:42:05.420 --> 00:42:06.519 with yourself 00:42:06.519 --> 00:42:08.139 and 00:42:08.139 --> 00:42:09.400 you're not focused 00:42:09.400 --> 00:42:09.860 on Jesus. 00:42:10.259 --> 00:42:11.179 A healthy church, 00:42:11.420 --> 00:42:11.860 her affection 00:42:11.860 --> 00:42:12.519 is towards 00:42:12.519 --> 00:42:13.920 her Savior, 00:42:14.440 --> 00:42:15.139 her husband. 00:42:16.319 --> 00:42:16.440 Okay? 00:42:16.619 --> 00:42:17.199 Her affection 00:42:17.199 --> 00:42:18.019 is for her husband. 00:42:18.519 --> 00:42:19.380 His affection 00:42:19.380 --> 00:42:20.279 is for us. 00:42:20.659 --> 00:42:20.880 Okay? 00:42:21.319 --> 00:42:22.380 And because we love him, 00:42:22.440 --> 00:42:22.940 we love each other. 00:42:22.940 --> 00:42:24.599 We love his church. 00:42:24.920 --> 00:42:26.000 But it's for that reason. 00:42:26.519 --> 00:42:27.220 It's very important 00:42:27.220 --> 00:42:28.119 that it be for that reason. 00:42:28.440 --> 00:42:28.720 Otherwise, 00:42:28.920 --> 00:42:29.780 it's just humanistic, 00:42:29.880 --> 00:42:30.760 self-interested love 00:42:30.760 --> 00:42:32.340 and as soon as you do me wrong, 00:42:32.860 --> 00:42:33.179 sorry, 00:42:33.559 --> 00:42:34.059 get out of here. 00:42:34.280 --> 00:42:34.700 Leave me alone. 00:42:35.559 --> 00:42:35.800 You know? 00:42:36.320 --> 00:42:36.840 Church hurt. 00:42:37.420 --> 00:42:37.639 You know? 00:42:39.019 --> 00:42:39.800 I'm not downplaying 00:42:39.800 --> 00:42:40.500 the fact that there's 00:42:40.500 --> 00:42:42.280 real wickedness 00:42:42.280 --> 00:42:43.460 that's hurtful. 00:42:44.400 --> 00:42:45.920 But if we want to be in it 00:42:45.920 --> 00:42:47.000 to win it for the long haul, 00:42:47.340 --> 00:42:47.960 we have to have 00:42:47.960 --> 00:42:48.619 a bigger vision 00:42:48.619 --> 00:42:50.019 than people 00:42:50.019 --> 00:42:51.200 who make me feel good. 00:42:51.199 --> 00:42:52.319 Okay? 00:42:53.679 --> 00:42:54.599 Through Christ, 00:42:55.119 --> 00:42:56.379 I have a connection 00:42:56.379 --> 00:42:57.239 to each one of you 00:42:57.239 --> 00:42:57.899 if you're in Christ. 00:42:58.319 --> 00:42:59.119 That's the basis 00:42:59.119 --> 00:42:59.819 of our fellowship. 00:43:01.119 --> 00:43:02.980 And my orientations 00:43:02.980 --> 00:43:03.719 towards Christ 00:43:03.719 --> 00:43:04.759 and if we're healthy, 00:43:04.879 --> 00:43:05.859 all of our orientations 00:43:05.859 --> 00:43:06.559 towards Christ 00:43:06.559 --> 00:43:07.559 and the church 00:43:07.559 --> 00:43:08.279 is beautified 00:43:08.279 --> 00:43:09.879 by his care 00:43:09.879 --> 00:43:10.500 and his affection 00:43:10.500 --> 00:43:11.179 towards us. 00:43:11.739 --> 00:43:11.899 Okay? 00:43:13.219 --> 00:43:13.659 Okay. 00:43:15.000 --> 00:43:15.599 Kind of more 00:43:15.599 --> 00:43:16.319 of a general question, 00:43:16.379 --> 00:43:17.039 but I think it's good 00:43:17.039 --> 00:43:17.679 in light of some 00:43:17.679 --> 00:43:18.599 of this big picture stuff. 00:43:18.939 --> 00:43:19.839 Why are you coming 00:43:19.840 --> 00:43:20.860 to this church specifically? 00:43:21.120 --> 00:43:21.559 Why are you coming 00:43:21.559 --> 00:43:22.240 to Christ's church? 00:43:22.920 --> 00:43:23.039 Okay? 00:43:25.620 --> 00:43:26.480 There's a lot of reasons 00:43:26.480 --> 00:43:27.280 for coming to a church. 00:43:28.720 --> 00:43:29.840 I think some of them 00:43:29.840 --> 00:43:30.800 are bad reasons, 00:43:30.900 --> 00:43:31.559 at least ultimately. 00:43:32.100 --> 00:43:33.120 So here's some reasons 00:43:33.120 --> 00:43:34.380 that I think are bad 00:43:34.380 --> 00:43:35.980 ultimate reasons 00:43:35.980 --> 00:43:36.960 for coming to this church. 00:43:38.519 --> 00:43:39.500 It's a smaller church. 00:43:41.620 --> 00:43:41.980 Okay? 00:43:43.420 --> 00:43:44.280 Probably pretty applicable 00:43:44.280 --> 00:43:45.380 to us who came out 00:43:45.380 --> 00:43:46.140 of a large church, 00:43:46.320 --> 00:43:46.820 Bellicose. 00:43:46.820 --> 00:43:49.720 So if you've said 00:43:49.720 --> 00:43:50.100 that to me, 00:43:50.140 --> 00:43:51.039 I'm not picking on you. 00:43:51.120 --> 00:43:51.800 You're not the only one 00:43:51.800 --> 00:43:52.480 who said that to me. 00:43:53.539 --> 00:43:54.200 It's not bad 00:43:54.200 --> 00:43:55.620 to enjoy a smaller church. 00:43:56.380 --> 00:43:57.519 It's a bad ultimate reason. 00:43:58.580 --> 00:43:58.740 Okay? 00:43:59.539 --> 00:44:00.100 The Bible says, 00:44:00.240 --> 00:44:01.300 Jesus set each member 00:44:01.300 --> 00:44:01.780 in the body 00:44:01.780 --> 00:44:04.200 as he sees fit. 00:44:05.200 --> 00:44:05.920 He's the boss. 00:44:06.280 --> 00:44:07.039 You're not the boss. 00:44:09.320 --> 00:44:10.280 My friends or family 00:44:10.280 --> 00:44:10.680 are here. 00:44:11.720 --> 00:44:11.920 Okay? 00:44:12.720 --> 00:44:13.039 Ironically, 00:44:13.080 --> 00:44:13.480 that's the reason 00:44:13.480 --> 00:44:15.240 I started going to church 00:44:15.239 --> 00:44:15.779 years ago 00:44:15.779 --> 00:44:16.259 is because my mom 00:44:16.259 --> 00:44:16.839 got sick. 00:44:17.239 --> 00:44:17.939 Eden got sick. 00:44:18.339 --> 00:44:19.279 And Bellicose was the church 00:44:19.279 --> 00:44:20.819 that our family went to. 00:44:21.119 --> 00:44:21.199 So, 00:44:22.319 --> 00:44:23.579 and the Lord used that, 00:44:23.899 --> 00:44:24.619 thankfully, 00:44:25.339 --> 00:44:25.899 to give me a lot 00:44:25.899 --> 00:44:26.779 of other reasons for it. 00:44:27.419 --> 00:44:28.259 It's a bad reason, though. 00:44:28.839 --> 00:44:29.099 Okay? 00:44:29.639 --> 00:44:30.939 That's a bad ultimate reason. 00:44:34.339 --> 00:44:35.219 More opportunities 00:44:35.219 --> 00:44:35.879 for leadership. 00:44:36.239 --> 00:44:36.979 That one kind of seems 00:44:36.979 --> 00:44:38.019 more obviously bad, 00:44:38.199 --> 00:44:38.559 you know? 00:44:39.399 --> 00:44:40.259 That's a big church. 00:44:40.319 --> 00:44:41.019 Kind of hard to climb 00:44:41.019 --> 00:44:41.859 the ladder over there. 00:44:42.099 --> 00:44:42.399 I'm going to go 00:44:42.399 --> 00:44:43.139 to a small church 00:44:43.139 --> 00:44:43.479 and, you know, 00:44:43.500 --> 00:44:44.179 kind of level up, 00:44:44.179 --> 00:44:44.599 you know? 00:44:44.779 --> 00:44:45.299 People can really 00:44:45.299 --> 00:44:45.879 appreciate me, 00:44:45.940 --> 00:44:46.299 my gifts, 00:44:46.399 --> 00:44:46.519 you know, 00:44:46.539 --> 00:44:47.159 a smaller church, 00:44:47.239 --> 00:44:47.460 you know? 00:44:48.839 --> 00:44:49.199 Again, 00:44:49.799 --> 00:44:50.000 yeah, 00:44:50.039 --> 00:44:50.879 God does call leaders, 00:44:51.159 --> 00:44:51.379 you know? 00:44:52.039 --> 00:44:53.039 He gives us opportunity 00:44:53.039 --> 00:44:53.960 to exercise our gifts, 00:44:54.099 --> 00:44:55.739 but bad reason. 00:44:56.599 --> 00:44:57.460 Real bad reason 00:44:57.460 --> 00:44:58.059 to go to church. 00:44:59.559 --> 00:45:00.619 It's close to my house. 00:45:03.000 --> 00:45:03.879 I'm not picking on you, 00:45:03.919 --> 00:45:04.199 Andersons. 00:45:04.259 --> 00:45:04.859 I know you actually 00:45:04.859 --> 00:45:05.440 live close here. 00:45:07.659 --> 00:45:08.379 We're looking at 00:45:08.379 --> 00:45:09.019 a church building 00:45:09.019 --> 00:45:09.839 and it's close 00:45:09.839 --> 00:45:10.460 to a lot of people's 00:45:10.460 --> 00:45:11.119 houses, okay? 00:45:11.259 --> 00:45:11.480 So, 00:45:11.599 --> 00:45:12.899 I'm not just picking on you. 00:45:12.900 --> 00:45:13.720 It'll be far away 00:45:13.720 --> 00:45:14.380 from your house then. 00:45:14.940 --> 00:45:15.099 Okay, 00:45:15.280 --> 00:45:16.360 it's close to my house. 00:45:16.420 --> 00:45:16.940 It's convenient, 00:45:17.480 --> 00:45:17.860 all right? 00:45:19.860 --> 00:45:20.680 It's not a terrible reason. 00:45:21.139 --> 00:45:22.260 Sometimes God serves us 00:45:22.260 --> 00:45:23.000 up some convenience. 00:45:23.880 --> 00:45:24.400 That's great. 00:45:24.740 --> 00:45:25.099 Thank you, 00:45:25.200 --> 00:45:25.320 Lord, 00:45:25.420 --> 00:45:26.019 for convenience. 00:45:26.700 --> 00:45:27.960 I'm happy when I get it. 00:45:28.039 --> 00:45:28.680 I love when God 00:45:28.680 --> 00:45:29.599 gives me some convenience. 00:45:30.320 --> 00:45:31.300 Bad ultimate reason. 00:45:33.099 --> 00:45:34.079 Inconvenient lifestyle 00:45:34.079 --> 00:45:35.220 communicated in the pages 00:45:35.220 --> 00:45:35.840 of the New Testament. 00:45:36.260 --> 00:45:37.139 Very inconvenient, 00:45:37.660 --> 00:45:37.940 okay? 00:45:38.539 --> 00:45:39.300 Jesus says, 00:45:39.500 --> 00:45:40.840 it's going to be inconvenient. 00:45:41.539 --> 00:45:42.380 Think about that 00:45:42.380 --> 00:45:43.000 ahead of time, 00:45:43.320 --> 00:45:43.519 okay? 00:45:43.660 --> 00:45:44.420 Count the cost, 00:45:44.559 --> 00:45:44.860 all right? 00:45:46.579 --> 00:45:47.280 What's a good ultimate, 00:45:47.360 --> 00:45:47.740 but there's a lot 00:45:47.740 --> 00:45:48.500 of other bad reasons, 00:45:48.600 --> 00:45:48.740 okay? 00:45:48.860 --> 00:45:49.079 So, 00:45:49.240 --> 00:45:49.720 I'm sure you can 00:45:49.720 --> 00:45:50.160 think of some. 00:45:51.680 --> 00:45:52.559 What's a good ultimate 00:45:52.559 --> 00:45:53.760 reason to come to this 00:45:53.760 --> 00:45:54.720 church or any church? 00:45:56.240 --> 00:45:57.100 Jesus is worthy, 00:45:58.220 --> 00:45:58.500 okay? 00:45:59.980 --> 00:46:01.380 He died for all 00:46:01.380 --> 00:46:02.320 that all who live 00:46:02.320 --> 00:46:03.400 would no longer 00:46:03.400 --> 00:46:04.420 live for themselves, 00:46:04.880 --> 00:46:06.120 but for Him. 00:46:07.800 --> 00:46:08.720 You don't get to 00:46:08.720 --> 00:46:09.760 decide your life anymore. 00:46:10.740 --> 00:46:11.920 Jesus decides your life. 00:46:12.560 --> 00:46:14.540 He sets each member 00:46:14.540 --> 00:46:15.220 in the body 00:46:15.220 --> 00:46:16.740 as He sees fit, 00:46:17.060 --> 00:46:17.760 and He's boss, 00:46:17.980 --> 00:46:18.560 He's king, 00:46:18.780 --> 00:46:19.240 He's the Lord 00:46:19.240 --> 00:46:19.920 over everything, 00:46:20.200 --> 00:46:20.980 and He saved me, 00:46:21.040 --> 00:46:21.600 and He's going to keep me 00:46:21.600 --> 00:46:22.480 all the way to the end, 00:46:22.880 --> 00:46:23.940 and I'm so happy 00:46:23.940 --> 00:46:24.480 to not be running 00:46:24.480 --> 00:46:25.220 my life anymore. 00:46:25.500 --> 00:46:26.220 I'm just going to do 00:46:26.220 --> 00:46:27.080 whatever He says, 00:46:27.400 --> 00:46:27.700 okay? 00:46:28.220 --> 00:46:29.660 And He does 00:46:29.660 --> 00:46:31.140 say things to us. 00:46:31.320 --> 00:46:32.580 My sheep hear 00:46:32.580 --> 00:46:33.480 my voice, 00:46:33.800 --> 00:46:35.380 and they follow me. 00:46:35.580 --> 00:46:36.380 It's the inheritance 00:46:36.380 --> 00:46:37.600 of every Christian 00:46:37.599 --> 00:46:38.799 as we can actually 00:46:38.799 --> 00:46:40.179 hear Jesus talk to us, 00:46:40.400 --> 00:46:42.019 and when He says 00:46:42.019 --> 00:46:42.500 go, we go. 00:46:43.880 --> 00:46:44.539 I might have all 00:46:44.539 --> 00:46:44.900 these other, 00:46:45.099 --> 00:46:45.259 you know, 00:46:45.299 --> 00:46:46.099 I might have some 00:46:46.099 --> 00:46:46.400 of these other 00:46:46.400 --> 00:46:47.179 motivations going on 00:46:47.179 --> 00:46:47.339 there, 00:46:47.659 --> 00:46:48.000 but you know what? 00:46:48.039 --> 00:46:48.880 I recognize them, 00:46:49.119 --> 00:46:49.960 and I subordinate 00:46:49.960 --> 00:46:50.799 them to the cross, 00:46:50.839 --> 00:46:51.219 and I say, 00:46:51.299 --> 00:46:52.099 no matter what, 00:46:52.199 --> 00:46:52.360 Lord, 00:46:52.579 --> 00:46:53.239 I'm going to set 00:46:53.239 --> 00:46:54.159 all that stuff aside. 00:46:54.480 --> 00:46:55.079 What do you want me 00:46:55.079 --> 00:46:55.360 to do? 00:46:56.699 --> 00:46:57.480 That's a good reason, 00:46:58.019 --> 00:46:58.319 okay? 00:47:00.539 --> 00:47:01.139 Last one. 00:47:01.139 --> 00:47:05.719 Why advance the gospel? 00:47:06.559 --> 00:47:06.719 Okay? 00:47:07.679 --> 00:47:08.759 Got this awesome church, 00:47:09.539 --> 00:47:10.279 awesome people, 00:47:10.960 --> 00:47:11.460 friendship. 00:47:14.739 --> 00:47:15.839 Why not just sit back 00:47:15.839 --> 00:47:16.900 and enjoy our little 00:47:16.900 --> 00:47:18.699 holy huddle, 00:47:18.819 --> 00:47:19.639 comfortable friendships, 00:47:19.960 --> 00:47:20.219 you know? 00:47:21.420 --> 00:47:22.500 That Jesus would have 00:47:22.500 --> 00:47:23.319 preeminence in all things. 00:47:23.359 --> 00:47:23.719 That's why. 00:47:24.719 --> 00:47:24.960 Okay? 00:47:26.159 --> 00:47:27.239 That He would have 00:47:27.239 --> 00:47:28.000 preeminence 00:47:28.000 --> 00:47:29.400 in all things. 00:47:29.400 --> 00:47:30.780 the existence 00:47:30.780 --> 00:47:32.340 of every single person 00:47:32.340 --> 00:47:33.760 has only one 00:47:33.760 --> 00:47:35.059 ultimate purpose. 00:47:35.180 --> 00:47:35.900 It's Christ. 00:47:36.019 --> 00:47:36.539 It's for Him. 00:47:37.380 --> 00:47:38.139 And they're living 00:47:38.139 --> 00:47:39.320 in rebellion against God. 00:47:40.480 --> 00:47:41.400 He bought them. 00:47:42.000 --> 00:47:43.260 He made them for Himself, 00:47:43.660 --> 00:47:44.519 and then He bought them. 00:47:45.440 --> 00:47:45.740 Okay? 00:47:46.360 --> 00:47:47.519 They have no right 00:47:47.519 --> 00:47:49.160 to withhold their life 00:47:49.160 --> 00:47:50.300 from Jesus Christ anymore. 00:47:50.680 --> 00:47:52.300 He gave Himself for them 00:47:52.300 --> 00:47:54.059 that they would be His, 00:47:55.340 --> 00:47:56.840 and I'm excited 00:47:56.840 --> 00:47:57.960 for them to be His. 00:47:57.960 --> 00:48:00.460 And I want Jesus 00:48:00.460 --> 00:48:01.480 to have preeminence 00:48:01.480 --> 00:48:03.720 in all things. 00:48:04.460 --> 00:48:05.579 I'm not satisfied 00:48:05.579 --> 00:48:06.380 with my little 00:48:06.380 --> 00:48:09.220 Christian huddle here, 00:48:09.420 --> 00:48:10.280 however nice it is 00:48:10.280 --> 00:48:11.119 to be in a small church, 00:48:11.400 --> 00:48:12.360 enjoyable for a season. 00:48:13.179 --> 00:48:14.079 If it's healthy, 00:48:14.220 --> 00:48:15.179 it won't be like that, 00:48:15.220 --> 00:48:15.840 and there'll be a lot 00:48:15.840 --> 00:48:16.940 of inconvenient people 00:48:16.940 --> 00:48:18.240 that you have to take care of 00:48:18.240 --> 00:48:19.460 for His sake. 00:48:20.500 --> 00:48:21.000 Jesus says, 00:48:21.099 --> 00:48:21.720 if you love me, 00:48:22.519 --> 00:48:23.159 feed my sheep. 00:48:23.199 --> 00:48:24.000 That's what He said to Peter. 00:48:24.000 --> 00:48:24.119 Peter. 00:48:26.420 --> 00:48:26.860 So, 00:48:27.380 --> 00:48:29.280 why advance the gospel? 00:48:30.019 --> 00:48:31.360 That Jesus would have 00:48:31.360 --> 00:48:33.699 preeminence in all things. 00:48:34.480 --> 00:48:35.539 We need a vision bigger 00:48:35.539 --> 00:48:36.099 than ourselves. 00:48:36.519 --> 00:48:37.760 We need a vision bigger 00:48:37.760 --> 00:48:38.599 than our own salvation, 00:48:39.500 --> 00:48:40.800 than our own local church, 00:48:41.280 --> 00:48:42.019 and this is it. 00:48:42.079 --> 00:48:42.639 It's Jesus, 00:48:42.780 --> 00:48:43.760 that He would have preeminence 00:48:43.760 --> 00:48:44.239 in all things. 00:48:44.300 --> 00:48:45.059 He's the purpose 00:48:45.059 --> 00:48:47.420 for which everything was created. 00:48:48.340 --> 00:48:48.800 I'm going to finish 00:48:48.800 --> 00:48:49.600 with Ephesians 3, 00:48:49.720 --> 00:48:50.640 20 through 21. 00:48:51.980 --> 00:48:53.780 More of it as a benediction, okay? 00:48:54.220 --> 00:48:54.380 Now, 00:48:54.500 --> 00:48:55.580 to Him who is able 00:48:55.580 --> 00:48:57.200 to do far more abundantly 00:48:57.200 --> 00:48:59.080 than all that we ask 00:48:59.080 --> 00:48:59.680 or think, 00:49:00.260 --> 00:49:01.300 according to the power 00:49:01.300 --> 00:49:02.680 at work within us, 00:49:03.560 --> 00:49:04.700 to Him be the glory 00:49:04.700 --> 00:49:05.500 in the church 00:49:05.500 --> 00:49:07.620 and in Christ Jesus 00:49:07.620 --> 00:49:09.740 throughout all generations, 00:49:10.640 --> 00:49:11.260 forever and ever. 00:49:11.420 --> 00:49:11.660 Amen.