You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama.
Our passion is to experience and express grace.
Join us.
So we're going to take a break from Luke for today, and we're going to dive into the world
of junior high life a little bit, what we're doing on Wednesday nights across the street.
We are doing 1 John, and we're systematically going through it.
So we're going to go through a few verses here, a few key verses at the end of 1 John,
chapter 5, verses 9 through 12.
And essentially what this is, is if you're familiar with surgical procedures, do you know
what a surgical timeout is?
A surgical timeout is right before the procedure starts, the surgeon stops, and the essential
people in the operating room all sit there and confirm, what are we doing?
Why are we doing this?
Are we sure we're not amputating the wrong leg?
Are you sure that this is the proper patient?
I'm not joking about that.
Are we sure that, of all of these things, right?
And then they go in and they do the procedure.
Yes?
Okay.
Ray says it was yes.
And so what John is doing is, this book is rife with stuff.
He's loving people well.
He's trying to give them advice how to live, but he wants to land them in a good spot.
And he's doing a surgical timeout here, almost at the end of the book, to remind them of who
they are and of who God is.
So read along with me on the screen or in your Bibles if you have them, as I read 1 John
5, verses 9 through 12.
If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony
of God that he is born concerning his son.
Whoever believes in the son of God has the testimony in himself.
Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar because he's not believed in the testimony
that God has born concerning his son.
And this is the testimony that God gave us.
God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his son.
Whoever has the son has life, and whoever does not have the son does not have life.
Join me in prayer, please.
Father, we come today with many things on our hearts and minds.
We're busy people.
We can't breathe sometimes.
We're overwhelmed.
We're overwhelmed with suffering.
We're overwhelmed with providing well-being and care for other people, older than us,
younger than us, parents, children, friends.
We come into a place like this, and we hope to meet you here.
We pray that your Holy Spirit is active and among us.
Pray that you would fill our hearts with a desire to see you working in life.
And to steward the good gifts that you've given us and the life that you've given us,
and that we would live and operate out of love and affection that's given to us by you,
not out of fear or any other reasons.
So be with us today.
Pray that the words of my mouth and the meditations of all of our hearts would be pleasing unto you.
In the name of your great son, Jesus Christ, we pray.
Amen.
Last Sunday evening, after High Life, I was standing in a doorway in the great room,
and I was speaking with a young lady, and she was telling me about these things going on in her life,
some problems at school, which led to problems with some friends,
and then that led to arguments with her parents,
and just kind of a desperate place she was in as a 16-year-old,
where she didn't feel welcome at home, she didn't feel welcome at school,
there was no real place for her to be.
And as conversations go,
she got to the point where she looked at me kind of with tears in her eyes,
and she said,
I don't even know if I'm saved.
I don't even know if Jesus is real in my heart or not.
And just then, as though it had been foreordained before the foundation of the earth,
I was smacked in the side of a face with a wet tortilla,
by a junior in high school sprinting off behind me,
and as I turned to look and find him,
I was smacked on this side of my face with another wet tortilla,
as that guy jumped and ran the other way.
And if you ever wonder,
is there a moment in time that can encapsulate youth ministry?
It was the tearful,
heartfelt conversation with this girl,
mixed with being smacked in the face by processed flour.
Christine and Ty and I have this opportunity multiple times a week with these students
to find places where the gospel can intersect with their lives.
And I have a unique opportunity to walk not only alongside of those students,
but walk alongside parents and other families as they go through short problems with their students,
but also discussions about marriage,
discussions about life and finances and things like that,
where it's just a great, great job and a great thing that I get to do.
But the thing that I've found now,
I've always thought this,
but I believe it now I think more than I ever have,
is that whether you're dealing with a 12-year-old or a 16-year-old,
a 36-year-old, a 56-year-old,
there's something about all of us
that we're all pretty much the same.
We're all pretty much the same.
We all want to be loved.
We all want community.
We all want to be understood.
We all struggle and we sin.
And we all need reminders of gospel basics.
And so what John is doing as he comes to the end of this letter
is he's slowing down with his readers
and he's reminding them and he's encouraging them with gospel reality.
And this morning I want to slow down with you
and I want to remind you and I want to encourage you
with the gospel reality.
If you're anything like me,
you don't have time to take a breath in life, right?
There's always something new popping up at work that needs attention.
My house finds new ways to break almost every single day.
I can't find my friends,
mostly because they don't exist,
but the ones who do exist are just as busy as I am
and we're all moving in different directions
and so connecting is very, very difficult with them.
If you're married,
there seems to be no time to get together
and have any real or vital conversation.
We live parallel lives a lot of the time
and we pass.
I don't have time
and I wish that was it.
I don't have the inclination
to have substantial communication with my wife
when I have the opportunity to.
Our kids have more activities
than we could have ever imagined
when we were kids.
For some of us,
self-medicating is the only way
that we can get to sleep
and then tomorrow,
we get to look forward to more of the same.
You wake up and boom.
Whether you get up at 4.30, 5 o'clock,
sometime between 4.30 and 7, right, Hosea?
Whenever we get up,
life starts and you go the next day.
Everything around us seems so out of control
that we white-knuckle onto anything
that seems manageable and controllable to us.
And for some of us,
we seek control so much
that we burden ourselves
with actually being responsible for everything,
for banking,
for baseball,
for football,
for dance,
for soccer, right,
for vehicle maintenance,
for basketball,
for hockey,
for robotics,
for tennis.
If something goes wrong,
I messed up.
It was my fault.
I should have seen it coming.
I had my day planned out.
I should have known
what was going to happen, right?
And others of you are sitting there going,
yeah, man, I was there.
I know I knuckled for a while,
but let me tell you,
I got it all handled now.
You're welcome for me being here, preacher man.
I'm glad to hear what you have to say to me today.
And that's fair.
So we walk in here on Sundays
for this one day a week
where some of us drag in,
some of us come in happily, joyfully,
some of us pour out of our minivans,
and we stumble in here
with the hope of being renewed
and equipped for the week ahead.
And those of us
who want to be here,
we're desperately seeking
some assurance from our Heavenly Father
that He still loves us
and that He's still in control.
Those of us who don't want to be here,
I'm glad you're here.
I hope you stay
and I hope you listen.
God is still faithful today.
I needed to hear that this morning
as much as anybody else.
I desperately needed to hear that.
So I have great news
for those who have limped into the service
to worship their Heavenly Father,
knowing that there's no other way for you.
I have a great reminder
to those who grab and clutch at control
whenever you get the chance,
knowing that you need a heart change.
And I have great news for you
if you came here
either out of antagonism
or apathy
or whatever else might drive you here.
Our God is in control.
Through Jesus,
He's shown more comprehension
of your life
than we could ever fathom.
Through Jesus,
He's met you in your sufferings
and the sufferings of your loved ones
yet again.
Through Jesus,
He's made a way for you
to turn from yourself
and to run back to Him.
And through Jesus,
He has made a way
to humble proud hearts
and to melt hearts of stone.
Our God is in control.
If you look on your bulletin,
I did a really detailed outline for you
so it'd be easy to follow along today.
Story is one way
that we can show
that God is in control.
Story is this kind of kitschy thing
that a lot of people are into.
Know your story.
Tell me your story.
Counselors and psychologists
will tell you
that the most important way
to understand the things around you
is to know
and to understand your story.
Oprah and other pop psychologists
and counselors
will tell you
that knowing these things
is the way
to really see your divine light
and be open to see
the divine light in others.
Let's just see how John
describes the story.
Start there in 1 John 5 9.
If we receive the testimony of men,
the testimony of God is greater.
For this is the testimony of God
that He is born concerning His Son.
A lot of the conversations I have
with the youth center around
who is really in control,
they may or may not know that,
but that's what the conversation is about.
I love to have open forums
and open discussions
about what do you think of God
and who He is
in times of suffering,
in times of wants,
in times that are ugly and dark,
because sometimes you need
to hear yourself say things out loud
to really know
what you're thinking.
And those little sound bites
are usually the way
that I can dive in with them
into life
and into their stories
and into understanding
where they are.
Because some of us see story
as this thing
that they don't really need
to get into,
but guess what?
We're all formed.
We all came from somewhere.
We are some kind of a product
of our parents
or our grandparents
or our adopted parents
and our environment
and our siblings
and all of those kind of things
and sin patterns
and the ways we lean into life
all come from somewhere.
But most of us
have spent so much
of our lives
trying to hide those things
because we don't really
want to be known
by other people.
We've been hurt
in a lot of ways
and if you put yourself
on the line
and you've not been accepted,
you start to figure out,
okay,
what is kind of a way
I can lay low
and not have to be accepted?
Right?
And we tell these stories
about ourselves
as though we're islands
and we're kind of floating around
and no one else
really knows where we are
and what we're getting at.
And in those stories,
we kind of lose track
of who God is.
Covenant children,
people who deal
with a lot of unchurched kids
and kids who are nominal Christians,
it's in the air
and in the water
here in Huntsville.
And there's not a lot
of embracing
of the reality
of God being God.
And John very plainly
says right here
that God's story
is of supreme importance.
When he says,
if we receive
the testimony of men,
he'd be talking about
a few things there,
but most likely
he's talking about
prophets and apostles
and people who have gone out
in the name of God
talking about this God
who is faithful
and who loves
and who pursues people.
And they're willing
to receive that testimony.
And John's saying,
I got something
a little bit more powerful
than that.
You're willing to receive that,
but you're not willing
to receive God's testimony
from himself?
That's what's most important.
And why is God's testimony
the most important?
Because he's offering you
his son.
He's offering you Jesus.
I took some time
with this junior crew
that's juniors
that help out
with junior high life
the other day
to let them know
we have all these conversations
and sometimes
I don't remind them
of a simple presupposition
of mine.
A presupposition being
something that I
go through life
in the back of my mind
that everything
is filtered through.
My simple presupposition
is that regardless
of being raised
in a wonderful Christian home
by good Christian parents
and Christian grandparents
who love me
all of my siblings
are believers
despite being well educated
at a good academic institution
as well as theological
and heart changing institution
I don't need all of that stuff
I need Jesus
and that's an abstract
and foreign concept to us
because we love knowledge
and we love to think about things
but my presupposition
isn't that I need to know
more about Jesus
my presupposition is
the only thing I can know
and want is Jesus
and that's a passion
that has to drive me
because that's what
the Bible describes
and that's what God offers
that's why his testimony
is so important
and we see in John 5.37
a similar word there
and the father who sent me
this is Jesus talking
who sent me
has himself borne witness
about me
the word witness
and testimony
that's the same
in the Greek
his voice you have never heard
and his form you have never seen
he's talking to these people
about rejecting
Jesus himself
for who he is
and John
that same writer
is using the same word here
to tell us
that that's what's so supreme
about God's testimony
Jesus is what
is of most importance
I grew up at the beach
and for any of you
that have ever visited
the beach
there's probably not
a much more impressive scene
than a rough ocean
on a big day
say during a storm
or a hurricane's approaching
or something like that
and inside of this
impressive thing of nature
there's probably nothing
that's more frightening
than getting caught
in a riptide
has anybody ever heard
of a riptide
or understand what they are
this is a picture
of a riptide
and you see
the currents jutting out
in between the waves
and essentially what happens
is you get caught
and it tries to drag you under
and suck you out to sea
and you have two options
at that point in time
I was raised
as a pretty good swimmer
I was taught
how to swim in an ocean
but when you feel
the ocean grabbing you
and doing something with you
that you don't want
to have happen
and there's not an easy way
to get out of it
I tell you
it's much easier
to be afraid
and if you start to fear
and you start to fight
that thing
your fear will lead you
to getting dragged under
and you're gone
it's a sad thing
that happens to kids
at the beach
almost every year
that's why you see signs
when you go there
that say riptides
you know
stay out of the water
you see red flags
on the beach
depending on where you go
things like that
being a good swimmer
and growing up
at the beach
I was also blessed
with a certain amount
of gifts
that if I just stewarded
my gifts well
I could get out of it
generally
swimming parallel
to the shore
is an easy way
to get out of a riptide
not an easy way
you have to work at it
but if you do it
for a while
you'll find out
oh
if I just do this thing
and don't try
to think too much
about it
I'm going to actually
get out of this situation
don't get caught
in riptides
don't go in the ocean
when there are riptides
I'm not saying
that's a good thing
I'm saying it happened
to me a couple of times
my mom probably
doesn't appreciate
the stories
but
at any rate
that's what happened
so
when we think
of our stories
more often
than not
our stories
are
things that we're
trying to form
or things that we're
trying to change
and things that we're
trying to do
based upon
what's happening
currently
and what's happened
in the past
when what John
is saying here
is
God's story
is the one
that's supreme
and simultaneously
our stories
actually matter
because our stories
are supposed to
operate inside
of God's story
we're supposed to be
a demonstration
of his faithfulness
and of what
human obedience
is supposed to look like
we don't obey
out of fear
or out of secular
self-improvement
we obey
because we have
an ever faithful father
who loves us
and wants to care
for us
we've all been
given gifts
and constantly
life throws
riptides at us
it happens
why?
because we're sinful
people around us
are sinful
the world itself
is in a culture
of sin
and guess what?
there's some
very real factor
that we don't
always think about
Satan does not
like Christians
acting like Christians
Satan does not
like Christians
being able
to communicate
gospel truth
to their children
riptides
are very
real
and they're
thrown at us
all the time
and there's
nothing more
that Satan
likes to see
when a riptide
is thrown at you
than for a Christian
to be stricken
with fear
and to start
struggling against it
rather than
stewarding their
gifts well
and being obedient
to the God
who loves them
who said
hey when a riptide
comes
swim parallel
to the shore
I've got you
you're safe
our finances
are a way
that we do
that a lot
aren't they
I'm not
criticizing
by the way
anybody
I'm asking
for heart
checks
for all
of us
at this
point
because this
is what
I was doing
to myself
as I was
preparing
this message
savings
529's
for the kids
tithe
how much
you spend
on houses
on cars
how many
cars you
have
do you
have a lake
house
how many
lake houses
do you have
you know
all of these
things
we make
choices
about where
we spend
our money
and we
make choices
about jobs
based upon
how much
money we
get
and there
are ways
to spend
your money
that are
excellent
stewardship
of that
and there
are ways
to spend
your money
that are
absolutely
fearful
that if
you don't
handle
your money
correctly
somehow
you're not
going to be
taken care
of
because
what
life is
on top
of you
and you're
in control
of your
finances
you're in
control
of how
much
you have
you're in
control
of the
stock
market
you're in
control
of global
wars
you're in
control
of natural
disasters
and if
any of
those things
happen
and you
didn't
invest
in the
right
thing
or have
your
portfolio
diversify
quite
the right
way
money
you can
do all
of those
same
things
and be
in
excellent
stewardship
don't hear
me
criticizing
that
I'm not
criticizing
an action
I'm trying
to go
underneath
of it
and examine
our hearts
and invite
you to
examine
your heart
what do
you do
with the
money
that God's
given
to you
and why
do you
do it
have you
ever
even
considered
that
question
and our
children
discipline
why do
we discipline
our children
what's the
heart
behind
disciplining
your
children
is it
out of
fear
or are you
trying to
steward
your
children
well
your
primary
relationship
to your
child
if you
consider
yourself
a believer
your
primary
relationship
to your
child
is not
dictator
of your
home
your
primary
relationship
to your
child
is
mature
believer
attempting
to influence
and raise
immature
believers
to maturity
that is
your
primary
role
according
to God
and you've
been given
a specialized
role in
that
as a
parent
as the
chief
discipler
and the
people who
are closest
to this
person
to raise
them up
right
in the
nurture
and admonition
of the
Lord
you're the
one closest
to that
where does
discipline
come from
sports
and dancing
those around
here
man
I've had
seven
varsity
letters
in high
school
and when
I say
that
out
loud
to
people
here
and they
know
that I
went on
to play
collegiate
and professional
athletics
they go
how did
you do
that
without
playing
your
sport
12
months
a
year
18
times
a week
for
three
hours
and it's
a different
world
a lot
of your
kids are
not going
to be
major league
baseball
players
or NHL
players
or something
like that
why are
they doing
all of
these
travel
teams
what's
going
on
with
that
what is
it costing
you
what is
benefiting
you
is your
child
really
the one
I had
a chance
to teach
champions
in western
Carolina
champions
tennis
players
I'm sorry
in western
Carolina
these were
12 to 16
year old
kids
who were
excellent
and about
25 of
them came
to see
me
and I
had a
conversation
with each
of the
parents
individually
about how
their
child
was really
going
to be
the one
we're in
western
Carolina
in a
Biltmore
Forest
Country
Club
in
Asheville
that is
one
little
pocket
of one
place
in one
little
spot
of the
country
that's
not even
a tennis
haven
and they
thought
their
child
was going
to be
the one
are you
stewarding
your child's
time well
are you
stewarding
their hearts
well
what are you
showing them
in that
and then
general
idolatry
of our
children
I'm sorry
I'll go
back to
that
I also
have some
vicarious
people
I'll tell
you I'm
about to
draft our
eight-year-olds
coach pitch
team in the
next few
weeks
I'm not
drafting
kids I'm
drafting
parents
I have
no interest
in having
that guy
you know
Uncle Rico
from Napoleon
Dynamite
I don't want
that guy
sitting
you know
because that
guy won't
sit outside
of the
fence he
sits on
the field
right
I want
people who
love their
kids and
want to
see them
have a good
time and
improve at
a sport
how to get
along with
other people
right
idolatry of
our kids
that's one
that is
Gimelie and I
struggle with
that one a
lot
at what
point is
your child
an idol
at what
point are
they
are they
really another
human that
you can let
go and
let be
a human
another of
God's
creations to
grow and
to learn
and then
pleasures
in life
relationships
man
we don't
know how
to do
relationships
most of
us
and they
can easily
become things
that we
operate out
of fear
completely
rather than
stewarding
them well
we run
away from
people that
we're in
conflict
with
high school
boys and
girls
especially
boys
they love
to
there's
something
about a
girl
you know
she looked
at me
oh she
must want
to be
with me
and they
just kind
of are
on top
of them
all the
time
and that
hey
how you
doing
you know
there's
a creepy
dude
that waits
outside
every class
for me
and I
don't
know
what's
going
on
with
that
but we
do it
too
we find
our need
and our
worth
in people
around us
in our
spouse
and that's
not where
God calls
that to
be
alcohol
and food
you know
these are
things that
are great
gifts
and things
that can
be
misused
well
and then
our bodies
there's
certainly
this thing
of our
bodies
where we
we don't
want to
die
we're
afraid
of
dying
and
we
take
living
well
to a
certain
extent
that
is
actually
operating
out
of
fear
rather
than
stewarding
the good
gift
that God
has
given
us
right
and our
heavenly
father
doesn't
call us
to live
out of
fear
in our
world
that's
not
the call
that he
gives
us
he
doesn't
call us
to be
in control
of our
stories
so that
we can
magically
fix
things
and talk
about
how
awesome
our
children
are
as
though
they're
a
total
reflection
of
us
we're
called
to
steward
our
stories
for
our
own
sanity
and
for
the
glory
of
his
kingdom
stewarding
your
story
looks
different
than
controlling
your
story
and God's
given us
all sorts
of steps
to steward
our
story
that we'll
talk about
in a
couple
of
minutes
he
calls
us
because
his
testimony
shows
us
that
he
is
in
control
of
our
stories
and
John's
desperate
for
his
readers
to
know
the
love
of
God
that's
shown
in
Jesus
Christ
we're
going to
move
on
to
love
now
to
John
as it
should
be
to
us
the
question
is
not
whether
the
testimony
of
the
father
is
true
the
question
is
this
and
we're
going to
head
here
pretty
strong
for the
rest
of
the
time
do
you
believe
it
the
testimony
of
God
is
true
do
you
believe
it
and
if
so
how
is
that
shown
let's
read
verse
10
again
whoever
believes
in
the
son
of
God
has
the
testimony
in
himself
whoever
does
not
believe
God
has
made
him
a
liar
because
he's
not
believed
in
the
testimony
that
God
has
borne
concerning
his
son
this
truth
of
God's
sovereign
gift
of
his
testimony
mixed
with
what
is
quite
clearly
our
human
response
to
that
can
make
the
more
Presbyterian
among
us
a little
bit
uncomfortable
as we're
reading
it
John
isn't
talking
about
random
belief
he's
the one
he's
talking
about
the
one
who
believes
that
the
testimony
is
inside
of
himself
there
is
a
self
attestation
something
is
happening
inside
of
you
that
cannot
deny
the
presence
of the
testimony
in
you
and that
it is
absolutely
and forever
your life
will be
changed
because
of
that
it
wasn't
walking
to the
front
sometime
at a
conference
it
wasn't
emotionally
thinking
man
that
music
was
really
good
and I
like
the
fog
machines
and the
lights
too
so I
like
this
Jesus
thing
it's
this
incredible
feeling
and overwhelming
feeling
inside
of you
that this
is true
and that
this
is
actually
happening
it
can
happen
in
those
times
I'm
sorry
don't
hear me
not
saying
that
Jesus
is
literally
indwelling
people
always
exposing
the heart
of the
believer
and I
say this
makes
some of us
uncomfortable
because
we're
seeing
that man
is somehow
responsible
for what's
going on
I'm not
going to
make you
raise hands
about you
feeling
uncomfortable
with me
saying man
in this
verse
is somehow
responsible
for what's
going on
the objective
truth revealed
by the Holy
Spirit is
intertwined
with our
subjective
response
it's
what's
happening
here
and have
a secret
these
things
are not
at odds
these
things
are not
at odds
there's
not a
tension
about this
in the
Bible
Paul
does
not
write
Romans
9
without
quickly
following
it up
with
Romans
10
these
things
follow
each
other
and
there's
nothing
wrong
with
that
we
don't
have
to
be
afraid
of
it
we
see
here
that
you
can't
have
the
testimony
of
God
revealed
to
a
person
without
that
person
responding
I think
I just
said that
in a
little
more
Presbyterian
terms
that we
can
fathom
if
God
has
given
this
gift
to
someone
and
the
testimony
is
inside
of
them
that
person
cannot
reject
that
gift
it
cannot
happen
the
rest
of
verse
10
exposes
a
little
more
of
what
I
mean
if
you
see
there
whoever
does
not
believe
God
has
made
him
a
liar
because
he
has
not
believed
in
the
testimony
that
God
is
born
concerning
his
son
you
can
hear
this
testimony
you
can
come
here
every
single
week
and
hear
Will
and
Ron
and
Derek
and
every
once
in a
while
me
preach
good
gospel
sermons
and
not
this
testimony
has
not
penetrated
inside
of
you
do
not
have
Jesus
in
you
and
you
do
not
want
Jesus
in
you
that's
where
the
responsibility
factor
matters
because
God
wants
you
to be
there
and
you
turn
it
away
you
say
no
there's
no
room
between
believing
in
Jesus
and
this
testimony
of
God
wanting
Jesus
there's
no
middle
ground
that you
can
operate
on
and
call
yourself
a
Christian
they
are
together
scripture
demonstrates
that all
the way
through
and
that's
it seems
harsh
but it's
actually
not
because
the
Bible
is
full
of
stories
about
God's
people
desiring
control
that's
all we
want
is
control
we
don't
want
to
give
it
up
where
did
it
start
Adam
and
Eve
right
Adam
and
Eve
wanted
control
they
wanted
knowledge
of
good
and
evil
and
so
they
sinned
Abraham
poor
after
he
was
called
and
then
did
it
again
a
bunch
of
years
later
pretending
that
his
wife
wasn't
his
wife
giving
her
to
the
local
ruler
calling
her
his
sister
Moses
struck
the rock
didn't
speak
to
the
rock
Aaron
led
the
people
to
make
a
calf
out
of
gold
to
worship
because
his
brother
up
you know
communing
with
God
this
wasn't
really
happening
these
are
God's
people
these
are
our
great
leaders
that
we
think
about
Jacob
stealing
his
brother's
birthright
Joshua's
army
not
doing
what
they
were
supposed
to
do
when
they
went
into
the
promised
land
the
people
in
judges
wanting
a
judge
and
then
bad
things
happen
and
they
don't
want
them
and
they
did
what
was
evil
in
their
own
eyes
and
oh
God
give
us
something
else
David
staying
home
taking
a
woman
that
wasn't
his
and
killing
her
husband
Jonah
who
had
the
chance
to
go
and
said
he
went
down
hidden
headed
in the
opposite
direction
Peter
Jesus
had
explained
to him
that his
time
had
come
and
Peter
still
doesn't
like
it
and
then
outside
in the
courtyard
he
denies
Jesus
like
he's
not
even
there
you
me
the
depth
of
God's
love
for
his
people
that
we
find
in
this
testimony
of
his
son
cannot
be
overstated
he
went
through
time
and
space
all
of
the
story
of
this
book
is
about
his
faithfulness
and
love
for
us
our
stiff
arming
of
him
and
that
he
was
going
to
do
it
anyway
and
it
looked
like
this
it
looked
like
blood
and
it
looked
like
darkness
and
it
looked
like
pain
and
it
looked
like
suffering
so
that
we
could
be
back
with
him
he
sent
his
only
son
that's
the
picture
that's
given
to
us
those
of
you
that
have
kids
imagine
sending
any
of
your
children
that's
the
image
he's
planting
in
us
he
sent
his
only
son
to
show
his
love
for
us
and
that
is
where
eternal
life
is
found
our
father
pursues
us
in
love
in
ways
that
we
could
never
imagine
right
greater
love
has
no one
than
this
that
he
laid
down
his
life
for
his
friends
God
gave
God
gave
God
love
leads
us
to
our
ultimate
hope
which
is
eternity
in
our
father's
family
in
John
1
12
we
know
that
to
all
who
received
him
to
all
who
received
Jesus
to
those
who
believed
his
name
he
gave
the
right
to
become
children
of
God
our
father
builds
his
family
through
his
son
let's
look
at
verses
11
and
12
this
is
the
testimony
that
God
gave
us
eternal
life
and
this
life
is
in
his
son
that's
it
that's
the
testimony
those
who
have
the
son
have
life
whoever
does
not
have
the
son
does
not
have
life
this
is
our
time
out
this
is
John
saying
take
inventory
take
stock
of
what's
going
on
right
now
if
you
have
the
son
you
have
life
if
not
you
don't
and
the
father's
desire
we see
it in
first
Peter
and in
Timothy
his
desire
is that
all
would
come
to
a
saving
knowledge
of
him
all
would
have
eternal
life
this
is
the
testimony
God
gave
us
eternal
life
and
this
life
is
in
his
son
Jesus
is
eternal
life
Jesus
is
it
he's
our
reward
we have
life
from
abiding
in
him
we
find
this
idea
of
our
reward
written
in
John's
gospel
in
a few
places
whoever
feeds
on my
flesh
and
drinks
my
blood
abides
in
me
and
I
in
him
if
anyone
loves
me
he'll
keep
my
word
and
my
father
will
love
him
and
we
will
come
to
him
and
make
our
home
with
him
in
our
last
verse
here
verses
abide
in
me
and
I
in
you
as
the
branch
can't
bear
fruit
by
itself
unless
it
abides
in
the
vine
neither
can
you
unless
you
abide
in
me
I'm
the
vine
you're
the
branches
whoever
abides
in
me
I'm
your
eternal
gift
and
I
in
him
you're
mine
he
is
that
bears
much
fruit
he
it
is
that
bears
much
fruit
for
apart
from
me
you
can
do
nothing
and
if
anyone
doesn't
abide
with
me
he's
thrown
away
like
a
branch
and
withers
if
you
abide
in
me
and
my
words
abide
in
you
ask
whatever
you
wish
and
it'll
be
done
for
you
kids
that's
not
what
it
sounds
like
I
don't
have
enough
time
to
go
through
that
but
if
you
want
to
have
a
many
children
sermon
come
up
and
see
me
after
we'll
ask
an
interesting
question
last
week
toward
the
end
of
the
last
sermon
and
I
want
to
ask
a
similar
question
today
in
a
little
bit
different
way
do
you
want
Jesus
do
you
want
Jesus
the
reality
of
wanting
Jesus
is
different
than
wanting
knowledge
of
Jesus
wanting
Jesus
exposes
you
to
the
lordship
reality
of
God
that
most
of
us
would
rather
ignore
certainly
we
want
all the
good
stuff
we
want
to
be
saved
right
we
want
friends
we
want
community
on
this
earth
and
we
want
all
of
those
things
but
do
we
really
want
Jesus
and
in
that
to
release
all
control
of
our
lives
we
we've
already
discussed
some
ways
that
we
know
better
than
him
we
live
that
way
every
day
if
you
give
me
a
head
full
of
knowledge
about
Jesus
then
I
do
not
have
a
person
to
whom
I
have
to
give
any
kind
of
account
I
just
have
head
knowledge
I
can
control
that
situation
however
I
see
fit
and
call
myself
a
believer
because
I
could
probably
give you
some
pretty
good
answers
to
the
questions
that
you're
going
to
ask
me
but
if
give
me
Jesus
I
I'm
forced
to
come
face
to
face
with
eternal
love
a
story
that
breaks
down
every
barrier
I
could
possibly
put
up
because
Jesus
doesn't
come
to
judge
he
comes
to
give
eternal
life
in
him
as
your
prized
possession
and
you
see
it
and
it
breaks
you
down
I'm
faced
to
respond
with
every
fiber
of
my
being
I'm
forced
to
know
my
own
desperate
state
but
not
in
some
negative
way
I'm
forced
to
know
it
because
I
know
the
love
and
beauty
of
what's
been
freely
given
to
me
if
you've
entered
into
your
heavenly
father's
family
do
you
remember
that
moment
do
you
remember
when
it
happened
do
you
remember
being
on
your
knees
maybe
on the
ground
crying
maybe
in
a
fetal
position
and
you
were
able
to
say
my
Lord
and
my
God
I
know
who
you
are
do
you
know
your
Christian
birthday
that's
a fun
thing
I don't
know
my
Christian
birthday
I
was
raised
by
parents
who
loved
Jesus
and
exposed
me
to
it
all
the
time
and
my
grandparents
I
have
a
wonderful
story
of a
covenant
child
you
have
two
baptisms
today
is
that
the
heart
of
you
guys
as
you
raise
up
your
kids
that
they
would
never
know
a
day
they
didn't
see
their
parents
worshiping
and
that
this
truth
was
always
embedded
in
them
I
don't
see it
as
any
less
of
a
miracle
for
me
I
really
don't
my
parents
were
converted
in the
front
of a
funeral
parlor
on a
random
Sunday
in
Seaford
Delaware
you
know
I
come
from
am
I
allowed
to
call
you
Jesus
free
hippies
I
come
from
Jesus
free
hippies
great
people
who
always
raised
me
in
that
way
and
that's
when
we
take
those
vows
like
we
did
for
the
kids
this
morning
that's
the
implication
of
that
those
kids
will
see
it
verse
12
serves
to
reinforce
the
reality
of
everything
that
we've
been
talking
about
whoever
has
the
son
has
life
and
whoever
doesn't
a
female
student
from
the
beginning
of
my
sermon
never
finished
that
conversation
with
me
like
most
of
us
the
speed
of
life
and
the
speed
of
life
smacking
me
in
the
face
with
a
tortilla
that
was
enough
to
derail
her
it
was
enough
to
derail
our
conversation
but
I
trust
that
we'll
finish
it
was
one
that
started
a
long
time
ago
between
us
and
has
continued
what
about
you
do
you
have
the
son
we're
in
we're
amongst
intellectual
giants
in our
congregation
a lot
of really
smart
people
here
but
I
can't
help
but
think
that
in
a
crowd
this
size
some
of
us
can't
make
heads
or
tails
of
whether
we
want
the
son
or
not
let
alone
whether
we
have
him
I
plead
with
you
to
consider
the
simple
gospel
reality
remember
I'm
slowing
down
to
give
a
simple
gospel
reality
that's
what
this
is
please
consider
this
gospel
reality
the
very
God
of
heaven
sent
his
only
son
to
live
and
to
die
and
to
be
raised
again
so
that
people
like
you
and
people
like
me
can
forever
be
called
sons
and
daughters
sons
and
daughters
of
the
living
God
not
some
abstract
thought
not
a
theory
a
reality
that
should
guide
the
way
that
we
live
in
Jesus
he
separates
us
from
our
sins
as
far
as
the
east
is
from
the
west
giving
our
stories
a
loving
place
in
his
story
for
those
of
you
who
walked
in
here
suffering
I
hope
you're
reminded
today
that
there
is
a
God
who
loves
you
and
who
cares
for
you
take
heart
he's
still
in
control
those
of
you
who
believe
and
yet
we
let
life
carry
us
away
into
unbelief
and
we
go to
places
of
fear
take
heart
God's
testimony
to
us
is
as
true
today
as
it's
ever
been
run
back
to
your
father
he's
waiting
with
open
arms
our
God
gives
us
his
word
he
gives
us
his
spirit
and
he
gives
us
his
son
his
story
of
love
invites
us
all
of
us
today
into
his
family
pray
with
me
God
thank
you
for
the
simple
reality
and
the
glory
of
your
gospel
the
glory
of
our
savior
your
son
Jesus
I
pray
that
as
we
consider
the
reality
of
him
that
we
will
indeed
want
him
that
we
will
not
want
ideas
of
him
and
notions
of
him
but
that
will
want
and
desire
Jesus
thank
you
for
loving
us
thank
you
for
bringing
us
to
hear
your
truth
again
this
morning
and
we
pray
that
it
would
serve
to
advance
your
kingdom
in
the
great
name
of
our
King
Jesus
Amen
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