WEBVTT

00:00:00.700 --> 00:00:07.080
 Jen, which is my wife, I'm Dan, we were binge-watching TV Friday night.

00:00:08.220 --> 00:00:14.259
 Early in season three of Homeland, there's an awkward dinner scene with a judgmental grandmother,

00:00:14.620 --> 00:00:20.839
 and it made me think how you find awkward dinner scenes all over TV and film and literature, right?

00:00:21.199 --> 00:00:27.719
 And like the ones that come to my mind immediately, like scenes from Downton Abbey or anything with Ricky Gervais,

00:00:27.719 --> 00:00:33.219
 and American Beauty, there's a great scene in Borat, so I hear.

00:00:36.100 --> 00:00:37.799
 Not that I've seen it or own it.

00:00:39.519 --> 00:00:45.879
 I also think of the Master Commander book series, they made a film of it, Lucky Jack Aubrey is the captain,

00:00:46.460 --> 00:00:52.099
 really amazing sailor, but a total buffoon in social situations and screws up every meal he's in.

00:00:52.100 --> 00:00:59.079
 And these awkward dinner scenes are ubiquitous all throughout fiction and literature,

00:00:59.579 --> 00:01:02.579
 because they take place all the time in real life, right?

00:01:02.620 --> 00:01:03.900
 They're totally believable.

00:01:04.859 --> 00:01:10.079
 And, well, then I immediately think of the time my parents met Jennifer.

00:01:11.340 --> 00:01:14.780
 They came to Akron, Ohio to see my graduate recital.

00:01:14.780 --> 00:01:18.820
 That occurred in the previous millennium.

00:01:20.000 --> 00:01:23.640
 And it was their first chance to meet Jennifer, who I had been seriously dating,

00:01:24.219 --> 00:01:28.879
 the first time I'd ever met or first time I'd ever introduced a girl to my parents.

00:01:29.519 --> 00:01:32.420
 And we sit down at the restaurant, order our food,

00:01:32.540 --> 00:01:39.079
 and my dad, my dear late father, who wasn't the most socially graceful person I've ever known,

00:01:39.079 --> 00:01:41.500
 and he asks Jennifer, so what's your GPA?

00:01:44.920 --> 00:01:49.259
 Now, honestly, you know, I didn't even realize how awkward that made things,

00:01:49.340 --> 00:01:51.519
 or how awkward that made Jennifer feel,

00:01:51.599 --> 00:01:55.379
 because I grew up with my dad saying awkward things in public all the time.

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 And I think for those of us who have, in a similar way,

00:02:01.400 --> 00:02:05.780
 for those of us who have heard and read a lot of stories about Jesus,

00:02:05.780 --> 00:02:11.000
 we forget how he makes some situations extremely uncomfortable,

00:02:11.379 --> 00:02:13.819
 but not because he lacks social grace.

00:02:13.920 --> 00:02:14.960
 I mean, he has a purpose.

00:02:15.599 --> 00:02:19.960
 In TV and film, awkward dinner scenes are used to further character development

00:02:19.960 --> 00:02:23.500
 and relationships, heightened attention for the plot.

00:02:24.020 --> 00:02:28.860
 And Jesus, too, uses this heated, cringeworthy dinner experience

00:02:28.860 --> 00:02:32.319
 to teach us something very important about the kingdom of God.

00:02:32.860 --> 00:02:33.560
 He says,

00:02:33.560 --> 00:02:35.300
 The kingdom is a feast.

00:02:36.539 --> 00:02:37.719
 This kingdom has come,

00:02:38.599 --> 00:02:42.979
 and those who would have been expected to receive the kingdom did not do so,

00:02:43.620 --> 00:02:49.020
 whereas the ones least likely to receive the kingdom actually did.

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 The invitation to the feast is an invitation to belief.

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 So we're going to look first at that invitation,

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 and then we're going to look at the obstacles to believing,

00:03:01.840 --> 00:03:06.420
 and then we'll look at the end, or the goal of belief.

00:03:07.039 --> 00:03:08.280
 The invitation to belief,

00:03:08.800 --> 00:03:10.199
 the obstacles to belief,

00:03:10.480 --> 00:03:11.860
 and the goal of belief.

00:03:13.740 --> 00:03:18.340
 So let's first look at what has led up to this point in the passage.

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 The very beginning of Luke chapter 14,

00:03:20.659 --> 00:03:23.259
 we learn that Jesus is a guest at a dinner

00:03:23.259 --> 00:03:26.060
 at the home of one of the Pharisees.

00:03:26.060 --> 00:03:29.900
 Now, Pharisees were a religious slash political party.

00:03:31.000 --> 00:03:36.439
 They took very seriously the rules and laws and regulations for the people of Israel.

00:03:37.080 --> 00:03:42.080
 And obeying these rules was their way of expressing their love for God.

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 But over time, new rules piled on more new rules,

00:03:45.300 --> 00:03:47.980
 and it became very difficult to keep them all.

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 And the rules became a way of excluding those who were on the margins.

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 This would be Gentiles, women, children,

00:03:55.039 --> 00:03:56.939
 the sick, the poor, the lame.

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 So this dinner that Jesus is at

00:04:01.000 --> 00:04:02.899
 is occurring on the Sabbath,

00:04:03.599 --> 00:04:04.579
 or Saturday,

00:04:05.079 --> 00:04:06.259
 which was a sacred day.

00:04:06.659 --> 00:04:07.259
 Every week,

00:04:07.679 --> 00:04:09.399
 it was a sacred day of rest for Israel.

00:04:09.919 --> 00:04:13.000
 There's very strict rules about what you can and can't do on the Sabbath.

00:04:13.000 --> 00:04:15.599
 And one of those things that you cannot do is to heal.

00:04:15.759 --> 00:04:16.839
 You can't heal on the Sabbath.

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 Now, someone somehow came into the house

00:04:21.040 --> 00:04:22.360
 who had dropsy.

00:04:23.199 --> 00:04:25.160
 His torso would have been

00:04:25.160 --> 00:04:27.220
 bulging full

00:04:27.220 --> 00:04:30.000
 with liquids, fluids.

00:04:30.180 --> 00:04:31.540
 He probably had organ failure.

00:04:32.459 --> 00:04:34.319
 He probably would have been terminally ill.

00:04:35.060 --> 00:04:36.980
 And Jesus has compassion on this man.

00:04:37.579 --> 00:04:38.240
 But first,

00:04:38.879 --> 00:04:40.759
 Jesus asked the Pharisees on the Sabbath,

00:04:40.959 --> 00:04:42.860
 is it lawful to heal this man or not?

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 They don't answer.

00:04:45.980 --> 00:04:48.800
 And you could probably hear a pin drop and crickets and such.

00:04:49.439 --> 00:04:51.639
 And we can assume it was an awkward silence.

00:04:52.800 --> 00:04:55.279
 And then Jesus miraculously heals the man.

00:04:55.759 --> 00:04:56.620
 He sends him away.

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 And he says to the Pharisees,

00:04:58.680 --> 00:04:59.560
 Now which of you,

00:05:00.579 --> 00:05:01.980
 having a son or an ox

00:05:01.980 --> 00:05:03.740
 that has fallen into a well

00:05:03.740 --> 00:05:05.160
 on a Sabbath day,

00:05:05.439 --> 00:05:06.839
 will not immediately pull him out?

00:05:07.519 --> 00:05:08.519
 And he drops the mic.

00:05:08.519 --> 00:05:13.279
 Then he decides to confront

00:05:13.279 --> 00:05:14.699
 all the dinner guests

00:05:14.699 --> 00:05:17.240
 who had scrambled for the places of honor.

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 And he chides them for their arrogance

00:05:19.139 --> 00:05:19.979
 in doing so.

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 And then to be complete,

00:05:21.539 --> 00:05:22.339
 in verse 12,

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 where we start this evening,

00:05:24.799 --> 00:05:26.219
 he makes sure everyone in the room

00:05:26.219 --> 00:05:26.839
 feels insulted.

00:05:26.839 --> 00:05:28.120
 And he turns on the host

00:05:28.120 --> 00:05:29.079
 and blasts him

00:05:29.079 --> 00:05:30.159
 for only inviting

00:05:30.159 --> 00:05:31.819
 respectful people

00:05:31.819 --> 00:05:33.099
 with the expectation

00:05:33.099 --> 00:05:33.800
 that the host

00:05:33.800 --> 00:05:35.860
 would receive similar invitations

00:05:35.860 --> 00:05:37.480
 from those respectful people

00:05:37.480 --> 00:05:38.480
 later on.

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 So, now,

00:05:40.360 --> 00:05:42.099
 everyone feels equally offended.

00:05:43.740 --> 00:05:44.279
 And to highlight

00:05:44.279 --> 00:05:45.560
 how awkward this gets,

00:05:46.839 --> 00:05:47.939
 Luke does us a favor

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 and he shows us

00:05:48.839 --> 00:05:49.539
 in the text,

00:05:49.939 --> 00:05:50.860
 in verse 15,

00:05:51.279 --> 00:05:51.920
 one of the guests

00:05:51.920 --> 00:05:52.779
 trying to say something

00:05:52.779 --> 00:05:53.839
 that will break the tension

00:05:53.839 --> 00:05:54.899
 or lighten the mood

00:05:54.899 --> 00:05:56.639
 or to change the topic,

00:05:56.740 --> 00:05:57.259
 he says,

00:05:57.600 --> 00:05:58.699
 Blessed is everyone

00:05:58.699 --> 00:05:59.539
 who will eat bread

00:05:59.540 --> 00:06:00.480
 in the kingdom of God.

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 Pass the hummus

00:06:03.000 --> 00:06:03.500
 or something.

00:06:05.000 --> 00:06:06.300
 And then Jesus says,

00:06:06.840 --> 00:06:07.200
 Thank you,

00:06:07.240 --> 00:06:08.080
 I'm glad you brought up

00:06:08.080 --> 00:06:08.540
 the kingdom.

00:06:09.860 --> 00:06:10.800
 And then he shares

00:06:10.800 --> 00:06:11.480
 this parable,

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 the parable of the banquet.

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 Now, in the parable,

00:06:15.700 --> 00:06:16.200
 the invitation

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 to the banquet

00:06:17.140 --> 00:06:18.759
 is the invitation

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 to enter the kingdom

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 and into relationship

00:06:21.860 --> 00:06:22.640
 with the Father.

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 To accept that invitation

00:06:25.660 --> 00:06:26.879
 is to believe.

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 That's what we learn

00:06:27.560 --> 00:06:28.379
 in the New Testament.

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 The Apostle Paul

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 wrote in his letter

00:06:30.379 --> 00:06:31.439
 to the church in Rome,

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 and this letter

00:06:32.740 --> 00:06:33.300
 is in the Bible,

00:06:33.379 --> 00:06:34.000
 it's called Romans.

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 Paul writes,

00:06:35.860 --> 00:06:36.600
 If you confess

00:06:36.600 --> 00:06:37.139
 with your mouth

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 that Jesus is Lord

00:06:38.259 --> 00:06:39.720
 and believe in your heart

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 that God raised him

00:06:40.560 --> 00:06:41.180
 from the dead,

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 you will be saved.

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 For with the heart

00:06:43.920 --> 00:06:45.019
 one believes

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 and is justified.

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 And with the mouth

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 one confesses

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 and is saved.

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 In the book of Acts,

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 Paul, the same,

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 and Silas

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 were in jail

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 in Philippi.

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 And the jailer

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 asks them,

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 Sirs,

00:06:58.579 --> 00:06:59.339
 what must I do

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 to be saved?

00:07:00.819 --> 00:07:01.699
 And they said,

00:07:02.139 --> 00:07:03.560
 Believe in the Lord Jesus,

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 and you will be saved,

00:07:06.279 --> 00:07:07.180
 you and your household.

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 Now, in this parable,

00:07:10.819 --> 00:07:12.000
 there's two separate groups.

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 There's the group

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 that refuse the invitation

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 to the banquet,

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 and then there's the ones

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 who are ultimately invited,

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 and they come to the banquet.

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 The first group

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 is the group

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 you would expect

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 to have accepted

00:07:24.040 --> 00:07:25.040
 this invitation.

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 And we can infer

00:07:26.620 --> 00:07:27.980
 that Jesus is referring

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 to the religious leaders,

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 the insiders,

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 the respectable ones,

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 the ones that at the time

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 seemed closest

00:07:35.360 --> 00:07:36.040
 to the kingdom.

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 But in the end,

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 it's the outcasts

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 who accept.

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 Now, the Pharisees

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 would not have missed this.

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 The crippled,

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 the lame,

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 the blemished

00:07:47.960 --> 00:07:49.020
 were forbidden

00:07:49.020 --> 00:07:50.600
 to go behind the veil

00:07:50.600 --> 00:07:51.879
 that cordoned off

00:07:51.879 --> 00:07:52.340
 what's called

00:07:52.340 --> 00:07:53.560
 the Holy of Holies.

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 It was the deepest place

00:07:55.160 --> 00:07:55.660
 in the temple

00:07:55.660 --> 00:07:56.240
 in Jerusalem,

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 and it was where

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 the presence of God

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 dwelled,

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 and those with blemishes

00:08:01.139 --> 00:08:02.120
 were not allowed there.

00:08:03.360 --> 00:08:04.600
 But Jesus says

00:08:04.600 --> 00:08:05.959
 that now

00:08:05.959 --> 00:08:07.819
 everyone has access,

00:08:08.660 --> 00:08:09.360
 which is great.

00:08:09.500 --> 00:08:10.319
 That's you and me.

00:08:10.920 --> 00:08:12.620
 The Father has no prejudices.

00:08:13.300 --> 00:08:13.959
 Anyone can come

00:08:13.959 --> 00:08:14.540
 as they are,

00:08:14.819 --> 00:08:16.379
 even as an utterly poor,

00:08:16.800 --> 00:08:17.620
 utterly sinful,

00:08:18.060 --> 00:08:20.139
 and utterly unlovable person

00:08:20.139 --> 00:08:21.600
 who cannot understand

00:08:21.600 --> 00:08:23.019
 what God can see in him.

00:08:23.560 --> 00:08:24.379
 The fact is,

00:08:24.699 --> 00:08:25.759
 there isn't anything

00:08:25.759 --> 00:08:26.519
 in anyone

00:08:26.519 --> 00:08:28.100
 that makes him worthy

00:08:28.100 --> 00:08:28.759
 to be a member

00:08:28.759 --> 00:08:29.660
 of God's family.

00:08:30.339 --> 00:08:31.480
 But God makes him,

00:08:31.759 --> 00:08:33.220
 God makes something

00:08:33.220 --> 00:08:34.220
 of him or her.

00:08:34.879 --> 00:08:35.940
 He makes that person

00:08:35.940 --> 00:08:37.379
 his beloved child.

00:08:38.240 --> 00:08:38.679
 So,

00:08:39.080 --> 00:08:40.100
 which group

00:08:40.100 --> 00:08:40.960
 do we belong to?

00:08:41.379 --> 00:08:41.659
 Well,

00:08:41.679 --> 00:08:42.220
 the fact that we're

00:08:42.220 --> 00:08:43.399
 sitting here in church

00:08:43.399 --> 00:08:44.860
 worshiping God

00:08:44.860 --> 00:08:46.759
 makes us religious insiders.

00:08:46.759 --> 00:08:48.399
 So,

00:08:48.460 --> 00:08:49.559
 we should read this parable

00:08:49.559 --> 00:08:50.539
 and hear a warning

00:08:50.539 --> 00:08:52.799
 to earnestly follow God

00:08:52.799 --> 00:08:54.000
 without lame excuses.

00:08:55.159 --> 00:08:56.419
 And I'll get to those excuses

00:08:56.419 --> 00:08:56.980
 in a minute.

00:08:57.819 --> 00:08:58.819
 But if we've already

00:08:58.819 --> 00:09:00.340
 accepted God's invitation,

00:09:01.019 --> 00:09:02.620
 if we are God's children,

00:09:03.860 --> 00:09:04.700
 then that makes us

00:09:04.700 --> 00:09:05.980
 the second group,

00:09:06.559 --> 00:09:07.220
 doesn't it?

00:09:07.580 --> 00:09:07.819
 Like,

00:09:07.899 --> 00:09:09.500
 we are the lame,

00:09:10.439 --> 00:09:10.980
 the crippled,

00:09:11.500 --> 00:09:12.379
 the blemished.

00:09:13.279 --> 00:09:13.939
 This parable

00:09:13.939 --> 00:09:15.240
 reminds us

00:09:15.240 --> 00:09:16.059
 that we are nothing

00:09:16.059 --> 00:09:17.340
 apart from God's grace.

00:09:18.399 --> 00:09:19.899
 We were outcasts

00:09:19.899 --> 00:09:21.480
 and aliens,

00:09:22.279 --> 00:09:23.120
 deeply blemished.

00:09:23.980 --> 00:09:24.720
 And only through

00:09:24.720 --> 00:09:26.439
 God's gracious invitation

00:09:26.439 --> 00:09:28.059
 are we made members

00:09:28.059 --> 00:09:28.840
 of his family

00:09:28.840 --> 00:09:30.379
 and of his kingdom.

00:09:32.559 --> 00:09:33.740
 And when we understand

00:09:33.740 --> 00:09:34.500
 that fact,

00:09:35.580 --> 00:09:36.659
 it gives us the power

00:09:36.659 --> 00:09:37.860
 to show grace

00:09:37.860 --> 00:09:39.799
 and the power

00:09:39.799 --> 00:09:40.759
 to show hospitality,

00:09:41.299 --> 00:09:42.360
 the kind of hospitality

00:09:42.360 --> 00:09:43.879
 that Jesus admonished

00:09:43.879 --> 00:09:45.180
 his dinner host to have

00:09:45.180 --> 00:09:46.560
 in verse 12.

00:09:48.519 --> 00:09:48.740
 Now,

00:09:48.759 --> 00:09:49.539
 as an aside,

00:09:49.740 --> 00:09:51.300
 but this is an important aside,

00:09:52.320 --> 00:09:54.240
 this is one of many places

00:09:54.240 --> 00:09:54.779
 in the Bible

00:09:54.779 --> 00:09:55.720
 where hospitality

00:09:55.720 --> 00:09:56.940
 is linked

00:09:56.940 --> 00:09:58.419
 with justice.

00:10:00.700 --> 00:10:02.379
 Do we want to extend

00:10:02.379 --> 00:10:04.279
 justice and mercy

00:10:04.279 --> 00:10:05.740
 to the world's

00:10:05.740 --> 00:10:07.039
 disenfranchised

00:10:07.039 --> 00:10:08.920
 and outcasts?

00:10:09.920 --> 00:10:10.240
 Well,

00:10:10.279 --> 00:10:11.259
 extending that justice

00:10:11.259 --> 00:10:11.759
 and mercy

00:10:11.759 --> 00:10:12.559
 means having them

00:10:12.559 --> 00:10:13.039
 in our home

00:10:13.039 --> 00:10:15.059
 at our dinner table.

00:10:17.059 --> 00:10:18.139
 Do we think Advent

00:10:18.139 --> 00:10:19.559
 should be a church

00:10:19.559 --> 00:10:20.919
 that is more welcoming

00:10:20.919 --> 00:10:21.620
 and diverse

00:10:21.620 --> 00:10:23.120
 at 5 p.m.

00:10:23.139 --> 00:10:23.659
 on Sundays?

00:10:24.700 --> 00:10:25.000
 Yeah,

00:10:25.500 --> 00:10:26.500
 and it should be,

00:10:26.639 --> 00:10:27.159
 absolutely.

00:10:28.279 --> 00:10:29.340
 But how diverse

00:10:29.340 --> 00:10:30.620
 are our dining rooms

00:10:30.620 --> 00:10:32.439
 at 7 p.m.

00:10:32.439 --> 00:10:33.559
 on weekdays?

00:10:33.559 --> 00:10:37.639
 this conjoining

00:10:37.639 --> 00:10:38.759
 of hospitality

00:10:38.759 --> 00:10:39.459
 and mercy,

00:10:39.459 --> 00:10:39.979
 by the way,

00:10:40.019 --> 00:10:40.839
 is one of the key

00:10:40.839 --> 00:10:41.939
 organizing principles

00:10:41.939 --> 00:10:43.579
 for our core groups.

00:10:45.019 --> 00:10:45.979
 Our core groups

00:10:45.979 --> 00:10:46.579
 are structured

00:10:46.579 --> 00:10:47.199
 to be a place

00:10:47.199 --> 00:10:47.839
 of welcome

00:10:47.839 --> 00:10:49.139
 to outsiders,

00:10:50.139 --> 00:10:51.019
 a place we can invite

00:10:51.019 --> 00:10:52.199
 people into the life

00:10:52.199 --> 00:10:52.919
 of our community.

00:10:53.819 --> 00:10:54.739
 And this is how

00:10:54.739 --> 00:10:56.379
 we show hospitality

00:10:56.379 --> 00:10:56.979
 as a church,

00:10:58.079 --> 00:10:59.259
 one of many ways.

00:10:59.259 --> 00:11:01.600
 So,

00:11:01.879 --> 00:11:03.100
 we've seen that

00:11:03.100 --> 00:11:04.700
 people of all types

00:11:04.700 --> 00:11:06.100
 are invited,

00:11:06.799 --> 00:11:08.000
 but not everyone

00:11:08.000 --> 00:11:09.039
 accepts the invitation

00:11:09.039 --> 00:11:09.620
 to the banquet.

00:11:11.200 --> 00:11:11.620
 Now,

00:11:11.659 --> 00:11:12.159
 you may have found

00:11:12.159 --> 00:11:12.779
 the excuses

00:11:12.779 --> 00:11:13.519
 in the parable

00:11:13.519 --> 00:11:14.480
 kind of musing.

00:11:14.559 --> 00:11:15.419
 I kind of expected

00:11:15.419 --> 00:11:16.720
 Tommy to chuckle

00:11:16.720 --> 00:11:17.720
 as he read him.

00:11:17.720 --> 00:11:20.360
 they're meant

00:11:20.360 --> 00:11:20.960
 to be so.

00:11:21.200 --> 00:11:21.540
 They're meant

00:11:21.540 --> 00:11:22.040
 to be absurd.

00:11:22.480 --> 00:11:23.540
 Jesus is making a point.

00:11:23.620 --> 00:11:24.340
 He's ultimately saying

00:11:24.340 --> 00:11:25.540
 that every excuse

00:11:25.540 --> 00:11:26.519
 we would give

00:11:26.519 --> 00:11:27.420
 for not entering

00:11:27.420 --> 00:11:27.960
 the kingdom

00:11:27.960 --> 00:11:29.460
 is pretty lame.

00:11:30.700 --> 00:11:32.040
 But those excuses

00:11:32.040 --> 00:11:33.300
 spring from somewhere,

00:11:33.460 --> 00:11:33.680
 right?

00:11:34.700 --> 00:11:35.060
 And so,

00:11:35.139 --> 00:11:35.580
 having looked

00:11:35.580 --> 00:11:36.360
 at the invitation

00:11:36.360 --> 00:11:37.100
 to belief,

00:11:37.820 --> 00:11:38.500
 I'd like to now

00:11:38.500 --> 00:11:39.320
 look at obstacles

00:11:39.320 --> 00:11:40.060
 to belief.

00:11:40.139 --> 00:11:40.560
 I'd like to look

00:11:40.560 --> 00:11:41.360
 at two obstacles,

00:11:41.899 --> 00:11:42.200
 namely,

00:11:42.639 --> 00:11:43.639
 our own desires

00:11:43.639 --> 00:11:45.220
 and our own assumptions.

00:11:45.220 --> 00:11:47.840
 You'll notice

00:11:47.840 --> 00:11:49.040
 that these excuses

00:11:49.040 --> 00:11:50.560
 have to do

00:11:50.560 --> 00:11:51.480
 with possessions

00:11:51.480 --> 00:11:53.160
 and affections.

00:11:54.100 --> 00:11:54.840
 Do these people

00:11:54.840 --> 00:11:56.259
 refuse the invitation

00:11:56.259 --> 00:11:58.080
 because of skewed thinking?

00:11:58.540 --> 00:11:58.820
 No.

00:11:59.360 --> 00:12:00.340
 That's not right at all.

00:12:00.940 --> 00:12:02.240
 The reason they rejected

00:12:02.240 --> 00:12:03.060
 the invitation

00:12:03.060 --> 00:12:04.680
 is that they have

00:12:04.680 --> 00:12:05.560
 skewed desires.

00:12:06.720 --> 00:12:07.920
 They didn't desire

00:12:07.920 --> 00:12:09.180
 to be with the host.

00:12:09.379 --> 00:12:10.480
 They didn't desire

00:12:10.480 --> 00:12:11.960
 all the great stuff

00:12:11.960 --> 00:12:12.460
 that the host

00:12:12.460 --> 00:12:13.139
 would have given them

00:12:13.139 --> 00:12:13.660
 at the banquet.

00:12:13.659 --> 00:12:16.360
 They had disordered loves.

00:12:17.860 --> 00:12:18.379
 This is why

00:12:18.379 --> 00:12:19.100
 true belief

00:12:19.100 --> 00:12:19.939
 is to be accompanied

00:12:19.939 --> 00:12:21.360
 by true repentance.

00:12:22.360 --> 00:12:23.500
 In the book of Acts,

00:12:24.139 --> 00:12:25.719
 when the apostle Peter

00:12:25.719 --> 00:12:26.919
 is asked how to accept

00:12:26.919 --> 00:12:28.019
 God's invitation,

00:12:28.179 --> 00:12:29.500
 we heard it earlier tonight,

00:12:30.579 --> 00:12:31.419
 Peter answers,

00:12:31.539 --> 00:12:33.219
 repent and be baptized,

00:12:33.480 --> 00:12:34.059
 every one of you,

00:12:34.100 --> 00:12:35.279
 in the name of Jesus Christ,

00:12:35.500 --> 00:12:36.399
 for the forgiveness

00:12:36.399 --> 00:12:37.240
 of your sins,

00:12:37.379 --> 00:12:38.519
 and you will receive

00:12:38.519 --> 00:12:39.759
 the gift of the Holy Spirit.

00:12:39.759 --> 00:12:43.620
 So now in our passage

00:12:43.620 --> 00:12:44.139
 in Luke,

00:12:44.159 --> 00:12:44.779
 when the host

00:12:44.779 --> 00:12:46.419
 sends out his servants

00:12:46.419 --> 00:12:49.120
 inviting us to the banquet,

00:12:49.399 --> 00:12:50.480
 inviting us to the banquet,

00:12:51.240 --> 00:12:53.200
 the servants aren't going to tap

00:12:53.200 --> 00:12:54.159
 on the screen door.

00:12:54.580 --> 00:12:55.580
 They're going to knock

00:12:55.580 --> 00:12:57.299
 on the thickest,

00:12:57.799 --> 00:12:58.360
 concrete,

00:12:58.860 --> 00:12:59.939
 steel-reinforced wall

00:12:59.939 --> 00:13:00.460
 of our house.

00:13:02.939 --> 00:13:04.360
 Accepting God's invitation

00:13:04.360 --> 00:13:06.440
 and living as members

00:13:06.440 --> 00:13:07.139
 of his kingdom

00:13:07.139 --> 00:13:09.340
 means tearing down

00:13:09.340 --> 00:13:09.980
 those walls,

00:13:10.860 --> 00:13:11.779
 giving up those things

00:13:11.779 --> 00:13:12.399
 that we love

00:13:12.399 --> 00:13:13.220
 more than God,

00:13:13.980 --> 00:13:14.800
 the simple things,

00:13:14.860 --> 00:13:16.360
 even the good things

00:13:16.360 --> 00:13:18.279
 that we make idols out of.

00:13:20.279 --> 00:13:22.000
 But in our modern age,

00:13:22.560 --> 00:13:23.600
 there's something

00:13:23.600 --> 00:13:24.419
 that informs

00:13:24.419 --> 00:13:26.220
 both our desires

00:13:26.220 --> 00:13:28.039
 and our beliefs.

00:13:28.039 --> 00:13:30.120
 And this is the second

00:13:30.120 --> 00:13:31.279
 obstacle to belief.

00:13:31.740 --> 00:13:32.439
 You could say

00:13:32.439 --> 00:13:33.439
 it's our culture

00:13:33.439 --> 00:13:35.179
 or it's our assumptions

00:13:35.179 --> 00:13:37.539
 or it's our presuppositions.

00:13:38.219 --> 00:13:39.779
 Perhaps the best word

00:13:39.779 --> 00:13:40.319
 for this

00:13:40.319 --> 00:13:41.519
 is to call it

00:13:41.519 --> 00:13:43.059
 an imaginary,

00:13:44.639 --> 00:13:46.439
 a social imaginary.

00:13:47.659 --> 00:13:48.879
 Because of the culture

00:13:48.879 --> 00:13:49.599
 we live in,

00:13:50.259 --> 00:13:50.579
 art,

00:13:51.299 --> 00:13:51.599
 media,

00:13:52.419 --> 00:13:52.899
 education,

00:13:53.740 --> 00:13:54.299
 politics,

00:13:54.899 --> 00:13:55.919
 with all of its

00:13:55.919 --> 00:13:56.939
 background assumptions

00:13:56.939 --> 00:13:57.719
 and narratives,

00:13:57.720 --> 00:13:58.279
 we,

00:13:58.480 --> 00:13:59.240
 all of us,

00:13:59.680 --> 00:14:01.500
 believers and skeptics alike,

00:14:02.000 --> 00:14:03.080
 for the most part,

00:14:03.440 --> 00:14:04.300
 imagine the world

00:14:04.300 --> 00:14:05.480
 the same way.

00:14:06.879 --> 00:14:08.360
 Our social imaginary

00:14:08.360 --> 00:14:09.279
 is the stuff

00:14:09.279 --> 00:14:10.440
 we assume

00:14:10.440 --> 00:14:11.300
 about the world

00:14:11.300 --> 00:14:12.519
 before we think

00:14:12.519 --> 00:14:13.600
 reflectively on it.

00:14:14.200 --> 00:14:15.519
 We absorb it

00:14:15.519 --> 00:14:16.160
 from birth.

00:14:17.519 --> 00:14:18.420
 We swim in it

00:14:18.420 --> 00:14:19.620
 every day of our lives.

00:14:20.100 --> 00:14:21.220
 And it's difficult

00:14:21.220 --> 00:14:21.800
 to imagine

00:14:21.800 --> 00:14:22.480
 the world otherwise.

00:14:24.240 --> 00:14:25.300
 It's what it means

00:14:25.300 --> 00:14:26.440
 to live in the West.

00:14:26.440 --> 00:14:28.380
 Our imaginary

00:14:28.380 --> 00:14:29.680
 has a big influence

00:14:29.680 --> 00:14:31.000
 on our beliefs

00:14:31.000 --> 00:14:31.700
 and our actions

00:14:31.700 --> 00:14:32.660
 and our desires.

00:14:33.700 --> 00:14:34.740
 This imaginary

00:14:34.740 --> 00:14:35.700
 is a source

00:14:35.700 --> 00:14:37.460
 of constant cross-pressure

00:14:37.460 --> 00:14:38.360
 for beliefs

00:14:38.360 --> 00:14:39.760
 and skeptics alike.

00:14:40.680 --> 00:14:41.880
 So for Christians,

00:14:42.280 --> 00:14:43.120
 it means often

00:14:43.120 --> 00:14:44.400
 we experience doubt.

00:14:45.280 --> 00:14:46.280
 500 years ago

00:14:46.280 --> 00:14:46.820
 in the West,

00:14:46.960 --> 00:14:47.880
 it would be very difficult

00:14:47.880 --> 00:14:48.480
 to not believe

00:14:48.480 --> 00:14:49.640
 in the transcendent,

00:14:49.639 --> 00:14:51.259
 but now Christianity

00:14:51.259 --> 00:14:52.019
 bears the burden

00:14:52.019 --> 00:14:52.659
 of proof

00:14:52.659 --> 00:14:54.279
 instead of being

00:14:54.279 --> 00:14:54.899
 the given.

00:14:56.720 --> 00:14:57.480
 Our culture

00:14:57.480 --> 00:14:58.620
 now presents

00:14:58.620 --> 00:14:59.319
 a way of looking

00:14:59.319 --> 00:14:59.840
 at the world

00:14:59.840 --> 00:15:00.600
 where it's possible

00:15:00.600 --> 00:15:01.220
 to do life

00:15:01.220 --> 00:15:01.879
 without God.

00:15:02.139 --> 00:15:03.199
 As a matter of fact,

00:15:03.199 --> 00:15:03.879
 our culture

00:15:03.879 --> 00:15:04.500
 has thrown off

00:15:04.500 --> 00:15:05.279
 God completely

00:15:05.279 --> 00:15:06.620
 and thrown off

00:15:06.620 --> 00:15:07.419
 everything else

00:15:07.419 --> 00:15:08.059
 that might claim

00:15:08.059 --> 00:15:09.419
 an external authority

00:15:09.419 --> 00:15:10.399
 over our lives,

00:15:10.539 --> 00:15:11.080
 whether it be

00:15:11.080 --> 00:15:11.580
 the Bible

00:15:11.580 --> 00:15:12.659
 or the church,

00:15:13.000 --> 00:15:13.240
 etc.

00:15:14.580 --> 00:15:15.519
 Our culture

00:15:15.519 --> 00:15:15.919
 would say

00:15:15.919 --> 00:15:17.100
 the highest authority

00:15:17.100 --> 00:15:18.519
 is the self.

00:15:19.879 --> 00:15:20.560
 This way

00:15:20.560 --> 00:15:21.139
 of imagining

00:15:21.139 --> 00:15:21.639
 the world

00:15:21.639 --> 00:15:22.680
 is the ocean

00:15:22.680 --> 00:15:23.659
 we swim in.

00:15:23.740 --> 00:15:24.800
 It's unavoidable

00:15:24.800 --> 00:15:25.920
 and there's no going back

00:15:25.920 --> 00:15:26.480
 and we're exposed

00:15:26.480 --> 00:15:27.379
 to it from birth.

00:15:28.060 --> 00:15:29.340
 So take my boys

00:15:29.340 --> 00:15:30.759
 as an example.

00:15:31.120 --> 00:15:31.779
 Now, there's a lot

00:15:31.779 --> 00:15:32.580
 of things I could have used

00:15:32.580 --> 00:15:33.680
 as an example of this,

00:15:34.060 --> 00:15:35.159
 but I'm going back

00:15:35.159 --> 00:15:36.940
 to when we were children.

00:15:37.080 --> 00:15:37.920
 I'm taking their child

00:15:37.920 --> 00:15:38.700
 as an example.

00:15:40.600 --> 00:15:41.700
 At dinner time,

00:15:41.800 --> 00:15:42.399
 our family

00:15:42.399 --> 00:15:43.360
 often goes through

00:15:43.360 --> 00:15:44.600
 the children's catechism.

00:15:45.600 --> 00:15:46.740
 And the first four questions

00:15:46.740 --> 00:15:47.580
 of the catechism

00:15:47.580 --> 00:15:49.080
 are who made you?

00:15:50.740 --> 00:15:51.180
 God.

00:15:52.220 --> 00:15:53.379
 What else did God make?

00:15:54.080 --> 00:15:54.879
 God made everything.

00:15:55.620 --> 00:15:56.799
 Why did God make you

00:15:56.799 --> 00:15:57.659
 and everything else?

00:15:58.159 --> 00:15:59.220
 For his own glory.

00:15:59.299 --> 00:16:00.240
 That's my favorite part

00:16:00.240 --> 00:16:01.799
 when my five-year-old

00:16:01.799 --> 00:16:02.299
 says that.

00:16:03.879 --> 00:16:05.060
 Now, how can we glorify,

00:16:05.060 --> 00:16:07.299
 how can you glorify God?

00:16:07.840 --> 00:16:08.740
 And the answer is

00:16:08.740 --> 00:16:09.639
 by loving him

00:16:09.639 --> 00:16:10.580
 and by doing

00:16:10.580 --> 00:16:11.159
 what he commands.

00:16:11.220 --> 00:16:11.820
 Very simple.

00:16:14.320 --> 00:16:14.740
 And so,

00:16:14.740 --> 00:16:15.899
 as a family,

00:16:16.019 --> 00:16:16.799
 we tell ourselves

00:16:16.799 --> 00:16:17.419
 during dinner

00:16:17.419 --> 00:16:18.299
 that we have

00:16:18.299 --> 00:16:19.919
 an outside authority,

00:16:20.019 --> 00:16:20.980
 an external authority,

00:16:21.220 --> 00:16:21.840
 and that's God.

00:16:23.360 --> 00:16:24.580
 But before dinner

00:16:24.580 --> 00:16:25.399
 even starts,

00:16:26.700 --> 00:16:28.120
 it wouldn't be uncommon

00:16:28.120 --> 00:16:29.659
 for us to turn on the TV

00:16:29.659 --> 00:16:31.440
 or the neglect division,

00:16:31.500 --> 00:16:32.139
 as we call it,

00:16:32.860 --> 00:16:33.480
 at our house,

00:16:33.799 --> 00:16:34.860
 and for the kids

00:16:34.860 --> 00:16:35.899
 to watch one of their

00:16:35.899 --> 00:16:36.560
 favorite shows,

00:16:36.639 --> 00:16:37.320
 which happens to be

00:16:37.320 --> 00:16:37.720
 Pokemon.

00:16:39.379 --> 00:16:40.379
 Did anybody watch?

00:16:40.799 --> 00:16:41.220
 No, I'm not.

00:16:41.460 --> 00:16:41.919
 Okay.

00:16:42.120 --> 00:16:42.460
 All right.

00:16:42.460 --> 00:16:47.379
 And so,

00:16:47.600 --> 00:16:48.740
 there's very different

00:16:48.740 --> 00:16:49.680
 Pokemon shows,

00:16:50.120 --> 00:16:51.440
 and one of the theme songs

00:16:51.440 --> 00:16:52.519
 for this particular show

00:16:52.519 --> 00:16:53.280
 goes like this.

00:16:54.639 --> 00:16:55.700
 And listen carefully.

00:16:56.700 --> 00:16:58.240
 It's not always right

00:16:58.240 --> 00:16:59.100
 or wrong

00:16:59.100 --> 00:17:01.460
 as long as your spirit's strong.

00:17:02.639 --> 00:17:04.620
 It's not always win or lose.

00:17:05.259 --> 00:17:06.779
 It's the road you choose.

00:17:06.779 --> 00:17:09.779
 The answer is within.

00:17:11.940 --> 00:17:13.819
 It's not always black and white,

00:17:14.160 --> 00:17:15.279
 but your heart

00:17:15.279 --> 00:17:16.599
 always knows what's right.

00:17:18.079 --> 00:17:19.279
 Let the journey begin.

00:17:20.099 --> 00:17:20.500
 Pokemon!

00:17:21.160 --> 00:17:21.779
 That's...

00:17:21.779 --> 00:17:25.019
 Just something for all you

00:17:25.019 --> 00:17:25.759
 and nephews

00:17:25.759 --> 00:17:26.759
 and godsons

00:17:26.759 --> 00:17:27.259
 and boys

00:17:27.259 --> 00:17:27.920
 to look forward to.

00:17:28.379 --> 00:17:29.460
 Girls might watch us.

00:17:29.500 --> 00:17:30.059
 I wouldn't know.

00:17:30.319 --> 00:17:31.119
 I only have boys.

00:17:31.119 --> 00:17:34.359
 So,

00:17:34.539 --> 00:17:36.379
 we grew up

00:17:36.379 --> 00:17:36.799
 with this

00:17:36.799 --> 00:17:37.979
 constant tension

00:17:37.979 --> 00:17:39.439
 between

00:17:39.439 --> 00:17:40.739
 exclusive humanism

00:17:40.739 --> 00:17:42.379
 and our faith.

00:17:42.439 --> 00:17:43.239
 And you could say,

00:17:43.339 --> 00:17:43.599
 well, Dan,

00:17:43.659 --> 00:17:44.219
 why don't you just have

00:17:44.219 --> 00:17:44.819
 your boys watch

00:17:44.819 --> 00:17:45.659
 something else?

00:17:46.579 --> 00:17:47.099
 Fair.

00:17:47.359 --> 00:17:47.559
 Yeah,

00:17:47.639 --> 00:17:48.719
 maybe we could,

00:17:49.099 --> 00:17:49.419
 but

00:17:49.419 --> 00:17:51.359
 you can't escape this.

00:17:51.399 --> 00:17:52.019
 If you grew up

00:17:52.019 --> 00:17:52.819
 anywhere west

00:17:52.819 --> 00:17:54.000
 of the Ural Mountains,

00:17:54.259 --> 00:17:55.819
 you are going to get this

00:17:55.819 --> 00:17:56.879
 from birth.

00:17:56.880 --> 00:17:59.520
 this tension

00:17:59.520 --> 00:18:00.160
 between

00:18:00.160 --> 00:18:01.820
 exclusive humanism

00:18:01.820 --> 00:18:02.660
 and our faith

00:18:02.660 --> 00:18:04.000
 often causes doubt

00:18:04.000 --> 00:18:05.100
 in every one of us.

00:18:05.120 --> 00:18:06.100
 And I think we can all

00:18:06.100 --> 00:18:07.520
 empathize

00:18:07.520 --> 00:18:08.320
 with that.

00:18:09.660 --> 00:18:10.820
 And it's an obstacle

00:18:10.820 --> 00:18:11.460
 to belief

00:18:11.460 --> 00:18:12.760
 for all of us.

00:18:14.460 --> 00:18:15.820
 And then faithfulness,

00:18:16.040 --> 00:18:16.700
 so then,

00:18:16.940 --> 00:18:17.700
 faithfulness

00:18:17.700 --> 00:18:19.300
 requires

00:18:19.300 --> 00:18:20.540
 practices

00:18:20.540 --> 00:18:21.840
 like prayer

00:18:21.840 --> 00:18:24.260
 and scripture reading,

00:18:24.900 --> 00:18:25.740
 contemplation,

00:18:25.740 --> 00:18:28.180
 confession,

00:18:29.180 --> 00:18:29.720
 tithing,

00:18:30.539 --> 00:18:30.920
 fasting

00:18:30.920 --> 00:18:32.960
 that regularly

00:18:32.960 --> 00:18:33.880
 shape,

00:18:34.799 --> 00:18:35.500
 regularly

00:18:35.500 --> 00:18:36.359
 shape

00:18:36.359 --> 00:18:37.799
 our imaginations

00:18:37.799 --> 00:18:40.480
 and our desires

00:18:40.480 --> 00:18:42.120
 so that we,

00:18:42.400 --> 00:18:43.079
 as Christians,

00:18:43.279 --> 00:18:43.799
 would desire

00:18:43.799 --> 00:18:44.960
 the love of Christ

00:18:44.960 --> 00:18:45.900
 above all things.

00:18:48.380 --> 00:18:48.940
 Now,

00:18:48.940 --> 00:18:49.779
 if you're a skeptic,

00:18:50.519 --> 00:18:52.660
 you may have suspected

00:18:52.660 --> 00:18:54.279
 that it works

00:18:54.279 --> 00:18:55.000
 the other way

00:18:55.000 --> 00:18:55.400
 as well.

00:18:55.740 --> 00:18:57.000
 for you too.

00:18:58.579 --> 00:18:59.579
 You too

00:18:59.579 --> 00:19:00.240
 live in this

00:19:00.240 --> 00:19:01.099
 cross-pressure.

00:19:03.220 --> 00:19:04.579
 That though the West

00:19:04.579 --> 00:19:05.660
 has thrown off God

00:19:05.660 --> 00:19:06.319
 and religion

00:19:06.319 --> 00:19:08.079
 and moral absolutes

00:19:08.079 --> 00:19:08.759
 and replaced

00:19:08.759 --> 00:19:09.579
 all of that

00:19:09.579 --> 00:19:10.200
 with a different

00:19:10.200 --> 00:19:11.180
 set of assumptions

00:19:11.180 --> 00:19:12.900
 about the universe

00:19:12.900 --> 00:19:14.059
 and meaning

00:19:14.059 --> 00:19:15.640
 and human purpose,

00:19:16.579 --> 00:19:18.140
 that the transcendence

00:19:18.140 --> 00:19:19.279
 still haunts

00:19:19.279 --> 00:19:20.500
 our imaginations

00:19:20.500 --> 00:19:21.819
 and it's difficult

00:19:21.819 --> 00:19:23.039
 to account for it.

00:19:23.579 --> 00:19:24.640
 But it's there,

00:19:24.640 --> 00:19:25.080
 right?

00:19:25.180 --> 00:19:26.140
 And it often feels

00:19:26.140 --> 00:19:26.740
 like a sense

00:19:26.740 --> 00:19:27.380
 of loss.

00:19:28.700 --> 00:19:30.280
 If you're a skeptic

00:19:30.280 --> 00:19:31.000
 and you're haunted

00:19:31.000 --> 00:19:32.580
 by this sense

00:19:32.580 --> 00:19:33.640
 of transcendence,

00:19:33.820 --> 00:19:34.700
 it perhaps feels

00:19:34.700 --> 00:19:35.660
 like the first line

00:19:35.660 --> 00:19:36.720
 of Julian Barnes'

00:19:36.720 --> 00:19:37.480
 memoir,

00:19:38.079 --> 00:19:40.100
 the first sentence is,

00:19:40.600 --> 00:19:41.779
 I don't believe in God,

00:19:42.259 --> 00:19:43.440
 but I miss him.

00:19:44.480 --> 00:19:45.380
 Isn't that great?

00:19:45.559 --> 00:19:46.799
 I don't believe in God,

00:19:47.140 --> 00:19:48.259
 but I miss him.

00:19:49.360 --> 00:19:50.380
 Or perhaps you feel

00:19:50.380 --> 00:19:51.160
 the tension that

00:19:51.160 --> 00:19:52.660
 Maurice Sendak

00:19:52.660 --> 00:19:53.380
 felt at the end

00:19:53.380 --> 00:19:53.779
 of his life.

00:19:53.839 --> 00:19:54.600
 Do you know who that is?

00:19:55.100 --> 00:19:55.640
 He wrote

00:19:55.640 --> 00:19:56.740
 Where the Wild Things Are,

00:19:57.140 --> 00:19:58.299
 a committed atheist.

00:19:58.839 --> 00:19:59.740
 And in an interview

00:19:59.740 --> 00:20:00.799
 with Terry Gross,

00:20:00.799 --> 00:20:01.879
 he was reflecting

00:20:01.879 --> 00:20:02.859
 on all the people

00:20:02.859 --> 00:20:03.599
 he's loved

00:20:03.599 --> 00:20:05.099
 and who had died

00:20:05.099 --> 00:20:06.839
 in his life.

00:20:07.599 --> 00:20:08.720
 And you have to hear this.

00:20:09.480 --> 00:20:10.839
 He says this with tears

00:20:10.839 --> 00:20:11.779
 and with like

00:20:11.779 --> 00:20:14.079
 a deep fragility.

00:20:15.039 --> 00:20:15.619
 He says,

00:20:16.359 --> 00:20:17.259
 I don't believe

00:20:17.259 --> 00:20:18.220
 in an afterlife,

00:20:18.980 --> 00:20:20.519
 but I still fully expect

00:20:20.519 --> 00:20:21.639
 to see my brother again.

00:20:22.460 --> 00:20:24.139
 It's just heartbreaking to me

00:20:24.139 --> 00:20:25.019
 to like see

00:20:25.019 --> 00:20:26.000
 and feel that tension,

00:20:26.319 --> 00:20:27.159
 but that's the tension

00:20:27.159 --> 00:20:29.639
 between the imminence

00:20:29.640 --> 00:20:30.640
 and the transcendence.

00:20:31.560 --> 00:20:32.460
 I don't believe

00:20:32.460 --> 00:20:33.040
 in an afterlife.

00:20:33.540 --> 00:20:34.520
 I'm a complete atheist,

00:20:35.220 --> 00:20:36.240
 but somehow

00:20:36.240 --> 00:20:37.440
 I feel like

00:20:37.440 --> 00:20:38.600
 I'll see my brother again.

00:20:44.240 --> 00:20:44.940
 Do you feel

00:20:44.940 --> 00:20:45.920
 that cross pressure?

00:20:47.380 --> 00:20:48.460
 I think everyone

00:20:48.460 --> 00:20:50.220
 in this room,

00:20:50.360 --> 00:20:51.200
 everyone in this room

00:20:51.200 --> 00:20:51.920
 feels it.

00:20:52.840 --> 00:20:53.960
 All the time.

00:20:54.520 --> 00:20:55.200
 Whether we subscribe

00:20:55.200 --> 00:20:56.440
 to the Christian faith

00:20:56.440 --> 00:20:57.880
 or are skeptical of it.

00:20:57.880 --> 00:21:00.380
 we all share

00:21:00.380 --> 00:21:01.600
 the same imaginary

00:21:01.600 --> 00:21:02.940
 and it's an obstacle

00:21:02.940 --> 00:21:04.120
 to belief

00:21:04.120 --> 00:21:05.040
 that we need to take

00:21:05.040 --> 00:21:05.740
 very seriously.

00:21:06.800 --> 00:21:08.660
 Jesus would contest

00:21:08.660 --> 00:21:11.540
 not just our worldviews,

00:21:11.540 --> 00:21:12.320
 like what we think

00:21:12.320 --> 00:21:12.960
 about the world,

00:21:13.100 --> 00:21:14.100
 but he would contest

00:21:14.100 --> 00:21:15.460
 our culture's imaginary.

00:21:16.200 --> 00:21:17.060
 And he would present

00:21:17.060 --> 00:21:17.940
 a different one.

00:21:18.480 --> 00:21:19.320
 He doesn't do it

00:21:19.320 --> 00:21:20.220
 through definitions

00:21:20.220 --> 00:21:21.300
 and propositions.

00:21:21.620 --> 00:21:22.700
 He gives us pictures

00:21:22.700 --> 00:21:23.820
 and he gives us stories.

00:21:24.160 --> 00:21:25.200
 He gives us parables

00:21:25.200 --> 00:21:27.000
 so that we would

00:21:27.000 --> 00:21:28.519
 not just think differently,

00:21:29.019 --> 00:21:29.700
 but that we would

00:21:29.700 --> 00:21:30.740
 imagine differently

00:21:30.740 --> 00:21:32.279
 and desire differently.

00:21:34.519 --> 00:21:35.580
 This is, by the way,

00:21:35.640 --> 00:21:36.740
 why we've entitled

00:21:36.740 --> 00:21:38.539
 this sermon series

00:21:38.539 --> 00:21:39.819
 Imagining the Kingdom

00:21:39.819 --> 00:21:40.620
 and not

00:21:40.620 --> 00:21:42.880
 explaining the kingdom

00:21:42.880 --> 00:21:44.640
 or defining the kingdom.

00:21:44.640 --> 00:21:47.900
 The kingdom is a field

00:21:47.900 --> 00:21:50.420
 in which seed is sown.

00:21:51.020 --> 00:21:51.700
 The kingdom

00:21:51.700 --> 00:21:53.220
 is a vineyard.

00:21:54.180 --> 00:21:55.080
 It's a pearl

00:21:55.080 --> 00:21:55.880
 of great price.

00:21:56.540 --> 00:21:58.100
 It's a tiny mustard seed.

00:21:59.140 --> 00:22:00.140
 It's a banquet.

00:22:01.640 --> 00:22:02.720
 At the center

00:22:02.720 --> 00:22:03.900
 of this imaginary

00:22:03.900 --> 00:22:06.180
 that Jesus presents

00:22:06.180 --> 00:22:08.020
 is the king.

00:22:08.660 --> 00:22:10.140
 And this is our

00:22:10.140 --> 00:22:11.180
 third point,

00:22:11.180 --> 00:22:12.400
 that God,

00:22:12.740 --> 00:22:14.320
 the king himself,

00:22:14.580 --> 00:22:15.420
 is the end

00:22:15.420 --> 00:22:16.220
 or he's the goal

00:22:16.220 --> 00:22:17.360
 or he's the telos

00:22:17.360 --> 00:22:18.600
 of our belief.

00:22:20.900 --> 00:22:21.779
 He's the sower

00:22:21.779 --> 00:22:22.400
 in the field.

00:22:22.720 --> 00:22:23.539
 He's the master

00:22:23.539 --> 00:22:24.160
 of the vineyard.

00:22:24.220 --> 00:22:24.840
 He's the host

00:22:24.840 --> 00:22:25.440
 at the banquet.

00:22:26.420 --> 00:22:27.100
 At its core,

00:22:27.200 --> 00:22:27.940
 the kingdom of God

00:22:27.940 --> 00:22:28.759
 is not a state

00:22:28.759 --> 00:22:29.320
 or condition

00:22:29.320 --> 00:22:29.980
 of this world,

00:22:30.140 --> 00:22:31.380
 not an ideal order

00:22:31.380 --> 00:22:32.380
 of nations in life,

00:22:32.519 --> 00:22:33.400
 but the kingdom

00:22:33.400 --> 00:22:34.700
 centers around a person,

00:22:35.000 --> 00:22:35.560
 the king,

00:22:36.039 --> 00:22:36.740
 God himself,

00:22:36.900 --> 00:22:37.980
 who is the source

00:22:37.980 --> 00:22:39.019
 and sustainer

00:22:39.019 --> 00:22:39.900
 of everything

00:22:39.900 --> 00:22:40.560
 that happens.

00:22:41.620 --> 00:22:42.420
 For us,

00:22:42.460 --> 00:22:43.060
 who are members

00:22:43.060 --> 00:22:44.180
 of the kingdom,

00:22:44.880 --> 00:22:45.920
 he is what we desire

00:22:45.920 --> 00:22:46.740
 more than anything.

00:22:47.620 --> 00:22:48.600
 For those of us here

00:22:48.600 --> 00:22:49.880
 who are skeptics,

00:22:50.320 --> 00:22:51.299
 I would suggest

00:22:51.299 --> 00:22:52.820
 he is the one.

00:22:53.539 --> 00:22:54.840
 He is what haunts

00:22:54.840 --> 00:22:56.140
 your imaginary.

00:22:56.980 --> 00:22:58.539
 He is the transcendent.

00:22:58.880 --> 00:22:59.560
 He is what is

00:22:59.560 --> 00:23:00.539
 ultimately beautiful.

00:23:01.019 --> 00:23:02.019
 He is behind the beauty

00:23:02.019 --> 00:23:02.880
 that for some reason

00:23:02.880 --> 00:23:04.000
 makes us catch our breath

00:23:04.000 --> 00:23:04.680
 when we see

00:23:04.680 --> 00:23:05.840
 a stunning landscape.

00:23:06.460 --> 00:23:08.320
 He is behind the beauty

00:23:08.320 --> 00:23:09.180
 that makes us weep

00:23:09.180 --> 00:23:09.860
 when we hear

00:23:09.860 --> 00:23:11.180
 a Mahler symphony

00:23:11.180 --> 00:23:12.779
 or see a riveting film.

00:23:14.259 --> 00:23:15.360
 His Holy Spirit

00:23:15.360 --> 00:23:16.759
 is the well

00:23:16.759 --> 00:23:18.100
 of spirituality

00:23:18.100 --> 00:23:19.340
 that we crave

00:23:19.340 --> 00:23:20.900
 when we realize

00:23:20.900 --> 00:23:21.759
 there has to be more

00:23:21.759 --> 00:23:23.560
 than just this material world.

00:23:24.920 --> 00:23:25.960
 And he is why

00:23:25.960 --> 00:23:26.900
 we crave justice.

00:23:27.740 --> 00:23:28.680
 Because we know

00:23:28.680 --> 00:23:29.320
 instinctively

00:23:29.320 --> 00:23:30.019
 that there's something

00:23:30.019 --> 00:23:31.279
 broken about this world

00:23:31.279 --> 00:23:32.640
 and it requires

00:23:32.640 --> 00:23:33.960
 somebody like him

00:23:33.960 --> 00:23:35.120
 to fix it

00:23:35.120 --> 00:23:36.100
 and to set the world

00:23:36.099 --> 00:23:36.599
 to write.

00:23:37.980 --> 00:23:39.779
 And that is the story

00:23:39.779 --> 00:23:40.619
 of the universe.

00:23:41.559 --> 00:23:42.399
 The story

00:23:42.399 --> 00:23:44.179
 that must be true

00:23:44.179 --> 00:23:46.059
 as J.R.R. Tolkien says

00:23:46.059 --> 00:23:47.639
 because it is

00:23:47.639 --> 00:23:48.740
 the most beautiful

00:23:48.740 --> 00:23:50.459
 of all fairy tales.

00:23:52.240 --> 00:23:53.359
 It's the story

00:23:53.359 --> 00:23:54.139
 that we tell

00:23:54.139 --> 00:23:55.219
 every week

00:23:55.219 --> 00:23:56.839
 when we gather here

00:23:56.839 --> 00:23:57.799
 and celebrate

00:23:57.799 --> 00:23:58.740
 this meal together.

00:24:02.139 --> 00:24:03.740
 It's this story.

00:24:03.740 --> 00:24:06.700
 The world

00:24:06.700 --> 00:24:07.599
 was created perfect

00:24:07.599 --> 00:24:09.839
 and we were created

00:24:09.839 --> 00:24:10.700
 to enjoy God.

00:24:11.420 --> 00:24:12.559
 But we rebelled

00:24:12.559 --> 00:24:13.220
 against God

00:24:13.220 --> 00:24:14.779
 and that

00:24:14.779 --> 00:24:15.819
 broke everything.

00:24:16.819 --> 00:24:17.440
 Ourselves,

00:24:18.240 --> 00:24:18.960
 our connection

00:24:18.960 --> 00:24:19.700
 to the Father,

00:24:20.799 --> 00:24:21.420
 our connections

00:24:21.420 --> 00:24:22.200
 with each other,

00:24:23.200 --> 00:24:24.620
 the environment,

00:24:26.440 --> 00:24:27.640
 as Radiohead sang,

00:24:28.339 --> 00:24:29.859
 everything is broken.

00:24:29.859 --> 00:24:33.179
 but through the life,

00:24:33.639 --> 00:24:33.939
 death,

00:24:34.699 --> 00:24:35.359
 and resurrection

00:24:35.359 --> 00:24:36.119
 of his son,

00:24:36.199 --> 00:24:36.899
 Jesus Christ,

00:24:37.059 --> 00:24:38.119
 we are restored

00:24:38.119 --> 00:24:38.679
 to God.

00:24:39.279 --> 00:24:40.500
 And through his Holy Spirit,

00:24:40.699 --> 00:24:41.299
 we are made

00:24:41.299 --> 00:24:42.740
 into new creations

00:24:42.740 --> 00:24:44.539
 and are promised

00:24:44.539 --> 00:24:44.979
 a world

00:24:44.979 --> 00:24:45.779
 that will one day

00:24:45.779 --> 00:24:47.059
 be made new again,

00:24:47.159 --> 00:24:47.919
 a new heavens

00:24:47.919 --> 00:24:49.199
 and a new earth

00:24:49.199 --> 00:24:50.399
 where there will be

00:24:50.399 --> 00:24:50.839
 a banquet

00:24:50.839 --> 00:24:51.759
 with the Father

00:24:51.759 --> 00:24:52.619
 that will last

00:24:52.619 --> 00:24:53.819
 into eternity.

00:24:54.399 --> 00:24:56.059
 This is what he invites

00:24:56.059 --> 00:24:57.279
 all of us to.

00:24:57.279 --> 00:24:59.819
 If you've never

00:24:59.819 --> 00:25:01.000
 accepted that invitation

00:25:01.000 --> 00:25:02.599
 but would like to,

00:25:03.079 --> 00:25:04.259
 please talk to me

00:25:04.259 --> 00:25:05.299
 or to Tommy

00:25:05.299 --> 00:25:08.220
 or to any of our

00:25:08.220 --> 00:25:09.039
 prayer ministers

00:25:09.039 --> 00:25:09.980
 who stand up here

00:25:09.980 --> 00:25:10.819
 during communion.

00:25:11.700 --> 00:25:12.599
 We would love

00:25:12.599 --> 00:25:13.680
 to pray with you

00:25:13.680 --> 00:25:15.160
 and to talk you

00:25:15.160 --> 00:25:15.599
 through how to

00:25:15.599 --> 00:25:17.099
 accept that invitation.

00:25:19.680 --> 00:25:20.559
 Let's accept

00:25:20.559 --> 00:25:21.200
 that invitation

00:25:21.200 --> 00:25:22.420
 to join him

00:25:22.420 --> 00:25:23.759
 at his banquet

00:25:23.759 --> 00:25:25.599
 right now.

00:25:25.720 --> 00:25:26.200
 Let's pray.

00:25:26.200 --> 00:25:30.059
 Father,

00:25:30.160 --> 00:25:31.360
 we do look forward

00:25:31.360 --> 00:25:32.340
 to celebrating

00:25:32.340 --> 00:25:33.340
 with you

00:25:33.340 --> 00:25:34.900
 throughout all eternity

00:25:34.900 --> 00:25:35.580
 in the new heavens

00:25:35.580 --> 00:25:36.340
 and new earth,

00:25:36.840 --> 00:25:37.620
 everything having

00:25:37.620 --> 00:25:38.900
 been made new,

00:25:39.620 --> 00:25:40.299
 all tears

00:25:40.299 --> 00:25:41.220
 wiped away,

00:25:41.980 --> 00:25:43.299
 our sins

00:25:43.299 --> 00:25:45.000
 wiped away forever,

00:25:45.799 --> 00:25:47.460
 death conquered,

00:25:49.660 --> 00:25:52.880
 a lifetime of joy,

00:25:53.559 --> 00:25:54.059
 peace,

00:25:54.980 --> 00:25:55.620
 no war,

00:25:56.200 --> 00:25:59.299
 no refugee crises,

00:26:00.299 --> 00:26:02.860
 no refugees

00:26:02.860 --> 00:26:03.559
 stuck in a van

00:26:03.559 --> 00:26:04.039
 in Austria

00:26:04.039 --> 00:26:06.200
 or washing a shore

00:26:06.200 --> 00:26:06.620
 in Libya,

00:26:07.620 --> 00:26:10.880
 no random shootings

00:26:10.880 --> 00:26:13.799
 at gas stations

00:26:13.799 --> 00:26:15.340
 or on news broadcasts,

00:26:15.340 --> 00:26:17.940
 a world made new.

00:26:17.940 --> 00:26:20.059
 God,

00:26:20.120 --> 00:26:20.880
 that's the story

00:26:20.880 --> 00:26:21.820
 that we cling to

00:26:21.820 --> 00:26:22.539
 as your children.

00:26:23.160 --> 00:26:24.220
 We thank you

00:26:24.220 --> 00:26:25.360
 that you made that possible

00:26:25.360 --> 00:26:26.740
 through your son Jesus,

00:26:27.200 --> 00:26:27.860
 through his life,

00:26:28.100 --> 00:26:28.620
 his death,

00:26:28.960 --> 00:26:29.700
 his resurrection.

00:26:31.140 --> 00:26:32.340
 We celebrate that now

00:26:32.340 --> 00:26:33.180
 at this table.

00:26:33.720 --> 00:26:34.759
 Thank you for inviting us.

00:26:35.460 --> 00:26:36.600
 We gladly accept

00:26:36.600 --> 00:26:37.160
 your invitation.

00:26:37.559 --> 00:26:38.640
 We pray in Jesus' name.

00:26:39.240 --> 00:26:39.460
 Amen.

00:26:39.460 --> 00:26:40.059
 Would you see

00:26:40.059 --> 00:26:40.240
 Quindi

00:26:40.240 --> 00:26:40.500
шейп

00:26:40.500 --> 00:26:55.559
 B