WEBVTT 00:00:00.500 --> 00:00:01.720 Good morning, Watermark. 00:00:03.260 --> 00:00:04.740 That was good, that was good. 00:00:05.459 --> 00:00:06.379 We're awake this morning. 00:00:08.060 --> 00:00:09.720 It's great to see you guys here today. 00:00:09.820 --> 00:00:11.779 I'm going to grab a stool so I can put my water on it. 00:00:13.439 --> 00:00:15.419 You know, some of you I know really well. 00:00:15.820 --> 00:00:19.199 Some of you today is my first time ever seeing your face. 00:00:19.699 --> 00:00:23.500 But regardless of who you are, I know something about you. 00:00:24.060 --> 00:00:27.859 I know that you want somewhere to belong in life. 00:00:28.579 --> 00:00:31.920 And I know that because that's very basic to what it means to be a human. 00:00:32.039 --> 00:00:33.420 We want somewhere to belong. 00:00:33.560 --> 00:00:37.179 And that desire drives so much of what we do in life. 00:00:38.200 --> 00:00:42.600 It's why a five-year-old cuddles up against her father on the couch 00:00:42.600 --> 00:00:47.140 because she knows that with her father in her family is a place where she belongs. 00:00:47.879 --> 00:00:50.620 It's why a 15-year-old starts to rebel against their parents 00:00:50.620 --> 00:00:53.159 because they know I want somewhere new to belong 00:00:53.159 --> 00:00:57.280 and I need to create separation between the place I've always belonged and myself 00:00:57.280 --> 00:01:00.100 so that I can begin to belong somewhere else. 00:01:01.259 --> 00:01:04.219 It's why we work crazy long hours at the workplace 00:01:04.219 --> 00:01:08.260 because we need to prove to our boss that they made the right choice in hiring us 00:01:08.260 --> 00:01:09.540 and that we belong here. 00:01:10.500 --> 00:01:13.060 It's why people get married because there's this promise 00:01:13.060 --> 00:01:16.680 that there's this one person and for the rest of your lives 00:01:16.680 --> 00:01:20.659 you are going to have at least one person that you will belong with forever. 00:01:20.659 --> 00:01:26.119 However, this desire to belong is basic to what it means to be a human. 00:01:26.219 --> 00:01:30.539 Old or young, rich or poor, all of us have this desire to belong somewhere. 00:01:31.019 --> 00:01:34.159 And today, we're here to celebrate belonging. 00:01:34.359 --> 00:01:38.859 When we celebrate baptism, we are celebrating the fact that we belong. 00:01:39.319 --> 00:01:42.299 We're celebrating the fact that we belong in a relationship with God 00:01:42.299 --> 00:01:47.359 and we're celebrating the fact that we belong in a relationship with each other. 00:01:47.359 --> 00:01:54.319 So first, we're celebrating the fact that we belong in a relationship with God. 00:01:54.920 --> 00:01:57.299 Now, in today's passage, in verse 6, 00:01:57.780 --> 00:02:00.760 Paul talks about how there's one God and Father of all. 00:02:01.200 --> 00:02:04.379 That when you have a father, you belong in the family. 00:02:04.579 --> 00:02:08.800 Baptism is about the fact that we belong in God's family. 00:02:08.879 --> 00:02:11.860 And if you're not a regular in church, that might seem weird. 00:02:12.719 --> 00:02:14.259 Like, doesn't God just love everyone? 00:02:14.379 --> 00:02:16.420 Doesn't everyone sort of belong with him? 00:02:16.419 --> 00:02:17.879 Isn't he a father to everyone? 00:02:18.539 --> 00:02:19.519 Well, yes and no. 00:02:20.780 --> 00:02:24.019 Yes, in the sense that God created us in his image. 00:02:24.439 --> 00:02:27.560 God made us for a relationship with himself. 00:02:28.019 --> 00:02:31.339 That God created us all to know him. 00:02:32.000 --> 00:02:33.159 So in that sense, yes. 00:02:33.439 --> 00:02:37.899 However, as the creator, as the one who made everything, 00:02:39.119 --> 00:02:43.699 we owe God total allegiance and obedience in everything in life. 00:02:43.699 --> 00:02:48.560 And you and I, again and again and again and again, 00:02:48.799 --> 00:02:53.060 fail to give God the allegiance and obedience that we owe him. 00:02:53.839 --> 00:02:56.280 Silly illustration of what this looks like in my life. 00:02:57.239 --> 00:02:58.339 God says don't lie. 00:02:59.339 --> 00:03:00.859 In my early days in Watermark, 00:03:00.959 --> 00:03:03.379 I believed that my job security 00:03:03.379 --> 00:03:07.560 and my ability to belong here at the church 00:03:07.560 --> 00:03:13.060 depended on how many teenagers I could get to show up at events. 00:03:14.120 --> 00:03:15.439 And so we would have an event, 00:03:15.659 --> 00:03:18.240 and the turnout would maybe be a little lower than I was hoping for. 00:03:18.699 --> 00:03:20.860 And I'd go in for a meeting with my boss, 00:03:21.099 --> 00:03:24.180 and he would say how many kids turned up the other night. 00:03:24.840 --> 00:03:27.099 And I had counted while the kids were there 00:03:27.099 --> 00:03:29.699 and knew that the number was, say, 13. 00:03:29.699 --> 00:03:32.319 And I would always round up. 00:03:33.060 --> 00:03:36.459 I would say, you know, we had about 15 to 20. 00:03:37.579 --> 00:03:39.759 And I would justify it to myself by being like, 00:03:39.839 --> 00:03:41.659 yeah, 13 is about 15 to 20. 00:03:41.780 --> 00:03:43.259 You know, technically I'm not lying. 00:03:43.719 --> 00:03:44.739 But what was I doing? 00:03:44.799 --> 00:03:47.079 I was skewing the truth and misrepresenting it 00:03:47.079 --> 00:03:49.099 so that I could make myself look better than I was 00:03:49.099 --> 00:03:50.679 because I wanted to belong. 00:03:51.560 --> 00:03:56.079 I wanted him to know that he had made the right choice in hiring me. 00:03:56.080 --> 00:04:00.620 And so I misrepresented the facts to make myself look better than I was. 00:04:01.580 --> 00:04:03.520 And here's what happened when I chose to lie. 00:04:04.780 --> 00:04:06.260 I was looking at this situation, 00:04:06.620 --> 00:04:09.060 and I was saying, you know, God says not to lie, 00:04:09.160 --> 00:04:10.000 but I know better than God. 00:04:11.460 --> 00:04:14.500 I know better than God what's good for me, what's best for me. 00:04:14.580 --> 00:04:15.980 I don't want God to tell me what to do. 00:04:16.300 --> 00:04:17.420 I can handle this myself. 00:04:17.580 --> 00:04:20.680 I make a better God of my life than the God of the universe does. 00:04:21.460 --> 00:04:23.319 And so I'm going to live by my way. 00:04:23.319 --> 00:04:26.839 And this attitude of saying, I know better than God. 00:04:26.879 --> 00:04:29.240 I'm going to do what I want is what the Bible calls sin. 00:04:29.699 --> 00:04:32.019 It's this attitude that tries to replace God 00:04:32.019 --> 00:04:33.920 and set myself up as God 00:04:33.920 --> 00:04:36.399 rather than worship the God of the universe. 00:04:37.319 --> 00:04:38.600 And it's not just lying. 00:04:39.180 --> 00:04:41.139 He also says things like, don't steal. 00:04:41.639 --> 00:04:43.259 Don't get angry at other people. 00:04:43.819 --> 00:04:45.759 Children, he says, don't disobey your parents. 00:04:45.759 --> 00:04:49.300 Over and over and over again, 00:04:49.800 --> 00:04:54.659 each of us has this response of sin towards God, 00:04:54.719 --> 00:04:57.519 this response of saying, don't tell me how to live my life. 00:04:57.759 --> 00:04:58.560 Let me be God. 00:04:58.779 --> 00:04:59.879 You just stay out of my way. 00:05:00.599 --> 00:05:04.019 And every day, each one of us puts these barriers 00:05:04.019 --> 00:05:05.819 in the way of our relationship with God, 00:05:05.899 --> 00:05:08.860 so much so that in Ephesians chapter two, verse one, 00:05:09.580 --> 00:05:12.520 Paul says that we were children of wrath, 00:05:12.560 --> 00:05:14.759 that we were dead in our trespasses and sins, 00:05:14.800 --> 00:05:17.199 that we were completely separated from God. 00:05:18.160 --> 00:05:18.900 We were hopeless. 00:05:21.280 --> 00:05:22.240 And so what happens? 00:05:22.319 --> 00:05:25.600 How do we get from there to chapter four, verse six, 00:05:25.620 --> 00:05:26.960 where it says that God is our father? 00:05:28.639 --> 00:05:31.900 Well, some people think the right response of God 00:05:31.900 --> 00:05:34.920 to our sin is for him to just ignore it, overlook it. 00:05:34.920 --> 00:05:36.780 You know, if he really loves me, 00:05:36.860 --> 00:05:37.900 then he won't get upset at me 00:05:37.900 --> 00:05:39.000 for doing things that are wrong. 00:05:39.379 --> 00:05:40.560 But that doesn't work. 00:05:42.220 --> 00:05:45.780 Because my sin impacts other people who God loves. 00:05:46.699 --> 00:05:49.060 And if God cares about these other people 00:05:49.060 --> 00:05:50.280 who my sin affects, 00:05:51.000 --> 00:05:54.480 then he has to do something to me because of that. 00:05:54.840 --> 00:05:55.460 Think of it this way. 00:05:56.160 --> 00:05:56.800 I'm married. 00:05:56.960 --> 00:05:58.240 I'm walking down the street with my wife. 00:05:58.680 --> 00:06:00.439 Some guy walks up to her and starts saying 00:06:00.439 --> 00:06:03.240 just horribly offensive things to her and shoving her. 00:06:03.240 --> 00:06:05.720 And I just stand back and I'm watching. 00:06:07.460 --> 00:06:09.439 And finally, after a few minutes of this, 00:06:09.560 --> 00:06:11.819 the guy walks away and my wife comes over to me 00:06:11.819 --> 00:06:12.980 and she's like, what were you doing? 00:06:14.879 --> 00:06:17.120 I'm like, well, you know, I was just watching. 00:06:17.460 --> 00:06:19.180 She's like, why didn't you stand up for me? 00:06:19.400 --> 00:06:21.180 This did not happen in real life, by the way. 00:06:21.259 --> 00:06:23.220 This is just an illustration, an example. 00:06:24.139 --> 00:06:26.819 She comes up and she's like, why didn't you defend me? 00:06:26.860 --> 00:06:30.740 And I say to her, well, you know, I wanted to. 00:06:30.740 --> 00:06:33.139 I just, I really love those guys 00:06:33.139 --> 00:06:34.360 who are picking on you so much. 00:06:34.400 --> 00:06:36.100 I didn't want to do anything to hurt them. 00:06:36.740 --> 00:06:38.960 Now, what should her response be in that situation? 00:06:42.560 --> 00:06:44.400 No, I'm not showing love for them. 00:06:44.480 --> 00:06:47.579 I'm showing apathy for her when I do that, right? 00:06:47.620 --> 00:06:51.300 If I say, I just really love those guys so much, 00:06:51.319 --> 00:06:52.879 I didn't want to do anything to hurt them. 00:06:53.120 --> 00:06:54.420 Her response should be, 00:06:55.300 --> 00:06:57.740 your love for me should lead you to defend me 00:06:57.740 --> 00:06:59.460 in this situation, right? 00:07:00.460 --> 00:07:01.540 And in the same way, 00:07:01.600 --> 00:07:03.780 if God looks at all the things that we do 00:07:03.780 --> 00:07:06.439 that hurt the people that he loves 00:07:06.439 --> 00:07:08.840 and he ignores it and says, 00:07:08.920 --> 00:07:10.879 well, I love you too much to do anything about it, 00:07:11.400 --> 00:07:14.160 then what he's really saying is not, I love you. 00:07:14.759 --> 00:07:16.540 What he's really saying is, I don't care about them. 00:07:19.019 --> 00:07:21.379 He's saying, they're not worthy of my love. 00:07:21.460 --> 00:07:22.780 And so I'm not going to defend them. 00:07:22.840 --> 00:07:24.139 I'm not going to protect them. 00:07:24.579 --> 00:07:26.060 I'm not going to take care of them. 00:07:26.060 --> 00:07:29.720 And so because of that, God, if he truly loves humanity, 00:07:30.399 --> 00:07:33.560 he has to defend us and stand up for justice 00:07:33.560 --> 00:07:36.839 against those who hurt us and attack us. 00:07:36.939 --> 00:07:37.780 But here's the problem. 00:07:39.759 --> 00:07:44.079 We're the ones who hurt us and attack us, right? 00:07:44.120 --> 00:07:47.379 When I tell a lie or when I steal or when I get angry, 00:07:47.379 --> 00:07:49.340 I'm not doing those things in a vacuum. 00:07:49.519 --> 00:07:51.100 I'm lying to people that God loves, 00:07:51.899 --> 00:07:54.660 typically with the goal of harming them 00:07:54.660 --> 00:07:57.920 or at least getting myself an advantage at their expense. 00:07:58.439 --> 00:08:01.100 When I steal, I'm stealing from people who God loves. 00:08:01.160 --> 00:08:05.320 When I get angry, I'm getting angry at people who God loves, 00:08:05.660 --> 00:08:07.600 which means that if God truly loves them, 00:08:07.660 --> 00:08:11.520 if God truly cares about them and cares about justice, 00:08:11.900 --> 00:08:15.740 his love for them requires him 00:08:15.740 --> 00:08:18.920 to respond against me with justice. 00:08:18.920 --> 00:08:23.199 And that means that every single one of us 00:08:23.199 --> 00:08:24.879 is in a terrible, terrible situation 00:08:24.879 --> 00:08:28.340 because God can't just look past our sin 00:08:28.340 --> 00:08:31.480 and say, oh, well, don't worry about it. 00:08:33.379 --> 00:08:34.580 But God loves us. 00:08:35.200 --> 00:08:38.120 He loves us and he doesn't want to destroy us, 00:08:38.139 --> 00:08:39.220 even though that's what we deserve. 00:08:39.360 --> 00:08:40.080 And so what does he do? 00:08:40.139 --> 00:08:41.180 He comes up with a solution. 00:08:41.519 --> 00:08:43.539 He sends his son to the earth 00:08:43.539 --> 00:08:47.299 who lives a perfect life that we could never live 00:08:47.299 --> 00:08:48.620 and is murdered for it. 00:08:50.259 --> 00:08:51.860 And here's the great irony 00:08:51.860 --> 00:08:54.939 of what happened in the trial of Jesus. 00:08:55.079 --> 00:08:57.899 See, every time I do something wrong, 00:08:58.179 --> 00:08:59.879 it's typically with the goal of belonging. 00:09:00.379 --> 00:09:03.240 I lie because I think the truth will make me not belong, 00:09:03.579 --> 00:09:04.500 so I tell a lie. 00:09:05.500 --> 00:09:08.599 I get angry because someone mistreated me 00:09:08.599 --> 00:09:09.839 and made me feel like I don't belong. 00:09:09.840 --> 00:09:13.220 And so now I want to either do something to them 00:09:13.220 --> 00:09:14.300 to get them to change their mind 00:09:14.300 --> 00:09:15.960 or do something to them to get them to feel 00:09:15.960 --> 00:09:17.259 the same way that they made me feel. 00:09:18.340 --> 00:09:20.019 And what happens with Jesus is 00:09:20.019 --> 00:09:21.240 he steps into this picture. 00:09:21.519 --> 00:09:23.040 He lives this perfect life. 00:09:24.060 --> 00:09:26.620 He gets arrested and put on this trial 00:09:26.620 --> 00:09:29.200 that just made a mockery of the judicial system of his day. 00:09:30.360 --> 00:09:33.720 And at his trial, every single person there 00:09:33.720 --> 00:09:37.860 except for him is acting in terrible, terrible ways 00:09:37.860 --> 00:09:39.139 because they want to belong. 00:09:39.840 --> 00:09:41.939 They bring in these witnesses who tell lies 00:09:41.939 --> 00:09:44.080 about what they've seen him do and heard him say. 00:09:45.199 --> 00:09:46.439 And they tell these lies 00:09:46.439 --> 00:09:48.080 because they want the crowds to like them. 00:09:48.639 --> 00:09:51.159 They have these crowds of people shouting out, 00:09:51.539 --> 00:09:53.600 crucify him, crucify him, kill him. 00:09:53.679 --> 00:09:55.919 And these exact same crowds a week before 00:09:55.919 --> 00:09:58.100 were standing in the city welcoming him, 00:09:58.460 --> 00:10:00.139 saying, save us. 00:10:01.220 --> 00:10:03.740 What happens to change you from shouting out, 00:10:03.860 --> 00:10:06.500 save us one week to shouting out, kill him the next week? 00:10:06.500 --> 00:10:10.419 You have a desire to belong and realize that 00:10:10.419 --> 00:10:12.899 you have to change your tune if you want to belong. 00:10:13.899 --> 00:10:19.240 Pilate, the guy who was in charge of giving the sentence for Jesus 00:10:19.240 --> 00:10:21.840 and making a judgment about whether he was innocent or guilty, 00:10:22.460 --> 00:10:25.000 he stood up in front of the entire crowd and he said, 00:10:25.000 --> 00:10:26.919 I find no guilt in this man. 00:10:26.980 --> 00:10:27.480 He's innocent. 00:10:27.700 --> 00:10:28.440 He should go free. 00:10:29.440 --> 00:10:30.779 And then someone reminds him, 00:10:31.919 --> 00:10:33.139 you know, if you have that type of attitude, 00:10:33.320 --> 00:10:35.100 you might not belong in government too much more. 00:10:35.159 --> 00:10:37.220 Your boss might take you out of power. 00:10:38.360 --> 00:10:40.179 And so Pilate says, fine, you do what you want. 00:10:40.299 --> 00:10:43.700 My hands are clean, but you do what you want. 00:10:44.399 --> 00:10:45.460 And they took him away to kill him. 00:10:46.320 --> 00:10:48.360 And it's not just people who are against Jesus. 00:10:48.759 --> 00:10:50.120 Peter, one of his best friends, 00:10:50.120 --> 00:10:52.019 he's there watching this whole trial. 00:10:52.740 --> 00:10:55.419 And he lies about the fact that he's ever even met Jesus 00:10:55.419 --> 00:10:58.620 because he doesn't want to stick out from a crowd 00:10:58.620 --> 00:11:02.179 in a way that's going to get him hurt or maybe even killed. 00:11:03.200 --> 00:11:04.220 And in all of this, 00:11:04.340 --> 00:11:07.740 everyone is doing these things to try and get themselves to belong 00:11:07.740 --> 00:11:09.840 with the crowd around them. 00:11:09.840 --> 00:11:13.440 And in the process is murdering God. 00:11:13.440 --> 00:11:18.680 And in the midst of this whole thing, 00:11:18.760 --> 00:11:22.900 Jesus is the only one who's focused on belonging with God, 00:11:23.440 --> 00:11:24.440 not the crowd. 00:11:24.740 --> 00:11:25.940 And he gets killed for it. 00:11:27.060 --> 00:11:29.700 But what the Bible tells us is that in that process, 00:11:30.040 --> 00:11:32.860 Jesus was rejected on our behalf. 00:11:32.960 --> 00:11:33.880 All of the rejection, 00:11:34.120 --> 00:11:35.940 all of the alienation that we have deserved 00:11:35.940 --> 00:11:37.160 for everything we've ever done wrong, 00:11:37.420 --> 00:11:39.360 he took on himself in that moment. 00:11:39.660 --> 00:11:41.260 And to prove that that's true, 00:11:41.259 --> 00:11:43.519 God raised him from the dead three days later 00:11:43.519 --> 00:11:45.159 so that we can have forgiveness, 00:11:45.480 --> 00:11:48.539 so that we can have a place to belong with God forever. 00:11:49.980 --> 00:11:52.919 And so Jesus purchases our belonging with God 00:11:52.919 --> 00:11:54.720 despite everything we've ever done 00:11:54.720 --> 00:11:56.919 to alienate ourselves from him. 00:11:57.319 --> 00:11:59.819 And the Bible says that this forgiveness from God 00:11:59.819 --> 00:12:01.860 is available to all of us who believe in him. 00:12:02.159 --> 00:12:04.200 In this passage in Ephesians chapter four, 00:12:04.259 --> 00:12:05.559 when it says there's one faith, 00:12:06.039 --> 00:12:07.039 what that's saying is, 00:12:08.019 --> 00:12:10.939 the one thing that all Christians have in common 00:12:10.940 --> 00:12:11.940 is our belief, 00:12:12.040 --> 00:12:15.220 our faith that Jesus rescues us, 00:12:15.260 --> 00:12:16.300 that Jesus forgives us, 00:12:16.300 --> 00:12:18.940 and he gives us a place to belong with God. 00:12:19.840 --> 00:12:21.580 And so if you're here today, 00:12:21.900 --> 00:12:24.420 God is offering you a chance to belong with him. 00:12:24.440 --> 00:12:26.340 And that's what we're celebrating in the baptism 00:12:26.340 --> 00:12:27.700 of these seven people today, 00:12:27.700 --> 00:12:30.840 is the fact that God has given them a place 00:12:30.840 --> 00:12:32.840 to belong with him forever. 00:12:32.840 --> 00:12:34.560 And that is worth celebrating. 00:12:35.019 --> 00:12:37.399 So that's the first thing we're celebrating in baptism, 00:12:37.519 --> 00:12:41.659 the fact that they have a place to belong with God forever. 00:12:43.179 --> 00:12:45.279 But it's not just celebrating 00:12:45.279 --> 00:12:46.959 that they have a place to belong with God. 00:12:47.139 --> 00:12:49.919 It's also celebrating that they have a place 00:12:49.919 --> 00:12:51.459 to belong with God's people. 00:12:53.459 --> 00:12:55.459 See, this passage in Ephesians four, 00:12:55.559 --> 00:12:57.879 it's all about interpersonal relationships. 00:12:58.839 --> 00:13:01.799 He talks about how we're supposed to bear with one another 00:13:01.799 --> 00:13:03.099 in love, maintain unity, 00:13:03.439 --> 00:13:04.799 how there's one body, one spirit, 00:13:05.000 --> 00:13:06.879 one hope, one Lord, one faith, 00:13:06.959 --> 00:13:08.899 one baptism, one God, one Father of all. 00:13:10.019 --> 00:13:11.179 He's talking about unity. 00:13:11.319 --> 00:13:12.719 He's talking about connection 00:13:12.719 --> 00:13:14.299 between us and one another. 00:13:14.359 --> 00:13:16.000 And that connection is something 00:13:16.000 --> 00:13:19.240 that is purchased for us by Jesus on the cross. 00:13:20.379 --> 00:13:22.539 And this connection that Jesus offers us 00:13:22.539 --> 00:13:24.779 is very different than any type of connection 00:13:24.779 --> 00:13:26.939 or belonging that we typically get in the world, 00:13:27.539 --> 00:13:28.859 which is really good news for us. 00:13:28.859 --> 00:13:29.939 Because typically in the world, 00:13:29.940 --> 00:13:31.700 if I want to belong somewhere, 00:13:32.080 --> 00:13:33.520 I have to prove that I belong there. 00:13:33.960 --> 00:13:34.760 So in high school, 00:13:34.860 --> 00:13:36.500 I wanted to belong on the baseball team. 00:13:37.300 --> 00:13:39.300 And what it took to belong on the baseball team 00:13:39.300 --> 00:13:40.440 is you have to go to tryouts, 00:13:40.720 --> 00:13:41.780 you have to play really hard, 00:13:41.880 --> 00:13:43.220 and you have to convince the coach 00:13:43.220 --> 00:13:46.280 that you're one of the 15 or 20 best players there. 00:13:47.400 --> 00:13:48.760 And then he'll tell you you belong. 00:13:49.060 --> 00:13:50.620 So I wanted to belong on the baseball team. 00:13:50.700 --> 00:13:51.640 I went to the tryouts, 00:13:51.900 --> 00:13:53.200 and the coach said, 00:13:53.740 --> 00:13:54.500 Eric, you don't belong. 00:13:57.660 --> 00:13:59.240 And that's what it takes to belong in our world. 00:13:59.240 --> 00:14:00.279 You have to prove yourself. 00:14:00.659 --> 00:14:02.080 We want to belong in a workplace. 00:14:02.360 --> 00:14:05.320 So we build up our CV for our entire career 00:14:05.320 --> 00:14:07.360 so we can prove that we belong. 00:14:08.220 --> 00:14:10.019 We go in and we spend the interview 00:14:10.019 --> 00:14:11.860 convincing the boss that we're brilliant 00:14:11.860 --> 00:14:13.419 so we can prove that we belong. 00:14:14.139 --> 00:14:15.039 And then we get hired, 00:14:15.159 --> 00:14:16.399 and we can't sit back and relax. 00:14:16.480 --> 00:14:17.879 We have to prove day in, day out, 00:14:17.919 --> 00:14:19.000 every single moment 00:14:19.000 --> 00:14:21.180 that we continue to belong 00:14:21.180 --> 00:14:22.560 because we've achieved it, 00:14:22.680 --> 00:14:23.799 because we've put in the effort, 00:14:23.980 --> 00:14:25.060 and we've made it work. 00:14:25.059 --> 00:14:28.179 And here's the thing about belonging 00:14:28.179 --> 00:14:28.939 with God's people. 00:14:29.339 --> 00:14:31.059 There's nothing we can do to achieve it. 00:14:33.039 --> 00:14:34.319 The standard is perfection. 00:14:35.019 --> 00:14:36.419 We all fall short of that. 00:14:37.539 --> 00:14:39.299 What we deserve is separation, 00:14:39.519 --> 00:14:40.539 alienation, exile. 00:14:41.619 --> 00:14:43.259 And yet God looks down at us, 00:14:43.459 --> 00:14:44.159 he loves us, 00:14:44.299 --> 00:14:45.259 he rescues us, 00:14:45.299 --> 00:14:47.219 and he gives us a place to belong 00:14:47.219 --> 00:14:48.939 with his people forever. 00:14:49.000 --> 00:14:50.699 Not because of anything that we've achieved, 00:14:50.700 --> 00:14:53.400 but because of what Jesus 00:14:53.400 --> 00:14:55.480 has accomplished for us on the cross. 00:14:55.520 --> 00:14:56.980 The fact that he purchased for us 00:14:56.980 --> 00:14:58.560 belonging with God 00:14:58.560 --> 00:15:00.120 and with his people. 00:15:01.280 --> 00:15:03.600 And so we don't belong in the church 00:15:03.600 --> 00:15:04.680 because we've passed this 00:15:04.680 --> 00:15:06.360 moral achievement test. 00:15:06.540 --> 00:15:07.879 We don't belong in the church 00:15:07.879 --> 00:15:09.620 because we got an A in Sunday school. 00:15:10.580 --> 00:15:12.200 No, actually, to belong in the church 00:15:12.200 --> 00:15:13.740 requires us to admit 00:15:13.740 --> 00:15:15.520 that we're broken and messed up people. 00:15:18.200 --> 00:15:19.879 But we're broken and messed up people 00:15:19.879 --> 00:15:21.939 who have received an incredible love 00:15:21.939 --> 00:15:24.299 and been given a place to belong by God. 00:15:24.939 --> 00:15:25.960 And the fact that we're broken 00:15:25.960 --> 00:15:26.559 and messed up people 00:15:26.559 --> 00:15:28.039 means that we're going to make mistakes a lot. 00:15:29.019 --> 00:15:30.600 But the fact that we're here 00:15:30.600 --> 00:15:33.519 because we've been rescued by a God 00:15:33.519 --> 00:15:35.399 who loved us when we didn't deserve it 00:15:35.399 --> 00:15:37.399 means that we now have power and strength 00:15:37.399 --> 00:15:39.279 to love one another 00:15:39.279 --> 00:15:40.279 and forgive one another 00:15:40.279 --> 00:15:41.559 and walk with one another 00:15:41.559 --> 00:15:42.939 when the people around us 00:15:42.939 --> 00:15:44.200 also don't deserve it. 00:15:44.840 --> 00:15:46.679 That's the nature of what this family is 00:15:46.679 --> 00:15:47.720 that God has brought us into 00:15:47.720 --> 00:15:49.659 and given us a place to belong in. 00:15:50.120 --> 00:15:51.580 So today we're celebrating 00:15:51.580 --> 00:15:54.080 the fact that these baptism candidates 00:15:54.080 --> 00:15:55.500 have a place to belong with God. 00:15:56.000 --> 00:15:57.639 We're celebrating that they have a place 00:15:57.639 --> 00:15:59.000 to belong with us. 00:16:00.360 --> 00:16:02.960 And I want to give a couple challenges here 00:16:02.960 --> 00:16:03.500 in closing 00:16:03.500 --> 00:16:04.759 to some different groups of people 00:16:04.759 --> 00:16:05.879 that we have with us today. 00:16:06.659 --> 00:16:07.399 First off, 00:16:07.659 --> 00:16:08.460 if you're one of the people 00:16:08.460 --> 00:16:09.460 getting baptized today, 00:16:10.179 --> 00:16:11.179 my challenge to you, 00:16:12.299 --> 00:16:13.240 celebrate this day. 00:16:14.519 --> 00:16:15.919 This is an awesome day. 00:16:16.220 --> 00:16:17.259 We're celebrating the fact 00:16:17.259 --> 00:16:19.299 that you've gone from being alienated 00:16:19.299 --> 00:16:21.039 from God to belonging with God, 00:16:21.100 --> 00:16:22.600 from being alienated from God's people 00:16:22.600 --> 00:16:24.519 to belonging with God's people. 00:16:24.960 --> 00:16:26.559 And it's not because you've done anything great, 00:16:26.759 --> 00:16:27.819 but because God looked at you 00:16:27.819 --> 00:16:28.779 and he loved you 00:16:28.779 --> 00:16:29.840 and he rescued you 00:16:29.840 --> 00:16:31.360 and he did something great for you. 00:16:32.120 --> 00:16:33.559 That deserves to be celebrated. 00:16:35.759 --> 00:16:37.279 So celebrate that today. 00:16:38.240 --> 00:16:38.779 Next up, 00:16:38.819 --> 00:16:39.639 if you're here today 00:16:39.639 --> 00:16:40.720 and you're a Christian 00:16:40.720 --> 00:16:42.220 and you've been baptized already, 00:16:42.620 --> 00:16:43.700 my challenge for you, 00:16:44.600 --> 00:16:45.519 celebrate this day. 00:16:46.259 --> 00:16:46.899 This is awesome. 00:16:46.980 --> 00:16:47.700 We have new people 00:16:47.700 --> 00:16:49.180 coming into our family. 00:16:49.540 --> 00:16:49.879 This is, 00:16:50.100 --> 00:16:51.460 if there's ever a reason to celebrate, 00:16:51.680 --> 00:16:52.480 this is it. 00:16:52.740 --> 00:16:53.779 God has rescued them. 00:16:54.040 --> 00:16:54.720 God has made them 00:16:54.720 --> 00:16:55.820 our brothers and sisters. 00:16:56.220 --> 00:16:57.740 God has brought us together 00:16:57.740 --> 00:16:59.220 and given us all a place 00:16:59.220 --> 00:17:00.120 to belong with him. 00:17:01.500 --> 00:17:02.120 And today 00:17:02.120 --> 00:17:03.899 is an awesome opportunity 00:17:03.899 --> 00:17:05.799 for you to remember your baptism, 00:17:06.600 --> 00:17:08.100 to remember what God did in your life, 00:17:08.160 --> 00:17:09.120 how he rescued you, 00:17:09.220 --> 00:17:10.180 how he brought you in. 00:17:10.180 --> 00:17:13.259 And made you part of his people as well. 00:17:14.340 --> 00:17:15.279 Baptism isn't just something 00:17:15.279 --> 00:17:15.960 we should do once 00:17:15.960 --> 00:17:16.740 and then forget about it. 00:17:16.860 --> 00:17:18.720 It's something we should remind ourselves of 00:17:18.720 --> 00:17:20.299 again and again and again 00:17:20.299 --> 00:17:22.320 and celebrate what God has done for us. 00:17:22.380 --> 00:17:24.060 And today is an awesome day 00:17:24.060 --> 00:17:25.259 for you to do that. 00:17:26.799 --> 00:17:27.500 Third up, 00:17:28.180 --> 00:17:29.019 if you're here today 00:17:29.019 --> 00:17:30.360 and you're not a Christian, 00:17:31.259 --> 00:17:34.240 I don't know why you came here today. 00:17:34.340 --> 00:17:35.220 I don't know whether 00:17:35.220 --> 00:17:36.779 you got dragged along by someone, 00:17:36.900 --> 00:17:38.180 whether you got invited for the baptism, 00:17:38.480 --> 00:17:39.779 whether you just rolled out of bed 00:17:39.779 --> 00:17:40.139 and we're like, 00:17:40.160 --> 00:17:41.339 I wonder what church is like. 00:17:41.379 --> 00:17:42.480 I guess I'll go check it out today. 00:17:42.940 --> 00:17:43.940 But I believe 00:17:43.940 --> 00:17:46.859 that God has you here 00:17:46.859 --> 00:17:48.899 because he wants you to hear 00:17:48.899 --> 00:17:50.559 about what he has done for you 00:17:50.559 --> 00:17:52.079 and about the acceptance 00:17:52.079 --> 00:17:54.299 that he is offering to you today. 00:17:55.500 --> 00:17:55.759 You know, 00:17:55.779 --> 00:17:57.000 as you hear about this, 00:17:57.059 --> 00:17:58.799 this opportunity to belong with God 00:17:58.799 --> 00:17:59.379 and his people 00:17:59.379 --> 00:18:00.240 and about baptism 00:18:00.240 --> 00:18:01.039 and the celebration, 00:18:01.359 --> 00:18:02.720 I don't know what your response is. 00:18:02.720 --> 00:18:04.880 I think a common response 00:18:04.880 --> 00:18:05.920 in our culture is like, 00:18:05.960 --> 00:18:06.819 oh, that's nice for you, 00:18:06.880 --> 00:18:07.779 but it's not really my thing. 00:18:08.339 --> 00:18:09.640 That's a terrible response. 00:18:10.680 --> 00:18:11.400 And here's why. 00:18:12.680 --> 00:18:15.039 Because if what we're talking about here 00:18:15.039 --> 00:18:17.299 is anything less than absolutely true, 00:18:17.880 --> 00:18:19.079 you should not be celebrating 00:18:19.079 --> 00:18:20.799 or cheering these other people on 00:18:20.799 --> 00:18:21.779 as they get baptized. 00:18:22.279 --> 00:18:24.059 You should be pitying them 00:18:24.059 --> 00:18:26.360 and trying to convince them to stop. 00:18:27.359 --> 00:18:28.559 Because what they're doing 00:18:28.559 --> 00:18:30.379 is they're throwing away their lives, 00:18:30.819 --> 00:18:31.619 chasing after a lie. 00:18:32.279 --> 00:18:33.839 And you should not celebrate that. 00:18:34.759 --> 00:18:35.119 However, 00:18:35.679 --> 00:18:39.699 if this message is absolutely true, 00:18:40.859 --> 00:18:42.339 then there's no room for you 00:18:42.339 --> 00:18:44.000 to stand on the sideline as a bystander. 00:18:44.539 --> 00:18:46.079 The only appropriate response, 00:18:46.179 --> 00:18:46.759 if this is true, 00:18:46.899 --> 00:18:48.059 is for you to join, 00:18:48.279 --> 00:18:49.159 to become a Christian, 00:18:49.259 --> 00:18:50.159 to commit your life 00:18:50.159 --> 00:18:51.959 to following Jesus as well. 00:18:52.859 --> 00:18:54.000 There's a man named C.S. Lewis. 00:18:54.119 --> 00:18:54.839 You probably have heard 00:18:54.839 --> 00:18:56.199 of the Chronicles of Narnia series. 00:18:56.200 --> 00:18:58.140 He said, 00:18:58.420 --> 00:18:58.980 Christianity, 00:18:59.480 --> 00:19:00.299 if false, 00:19:00.400 --> 00:19:01.319 is of no importance. 00:19:01.799 --> 00:19:02.420 And if true, 00:19:02.539 --> 00:19:03.660 of infinite importance. 00:19:03.799 --> 00:19:05.019 The only thing it cannot be 00:19:05.019 --> 00:19:06.640 is moderately important. 00:19:07.819 --> 00:19:09.580 So my challenge for you is this. 00:19:09.759 --> 00:19:11.500 Examine the claims of Christianity. 00:19:11.779 --> 00:19:12.680 Examine Jesus. 00:19:13.100 --> 00:19:14.000 Look at who he is. 00:19:14.120 --> 00:19:15.860 Look at what he claimed to be. 00:19:17.240 --> 00:19:19.019 And when you discover that it's true, 00:19:19.200 --> 00:19:19.980 yes, I said when, 00:19:20.080 --> 00:19:20.860 because I'm very confident 00:19:20.860 --> 00:19:22.180 that if you take the time to look, 00:19:22.440 --> 00:19:23.620 you will find that it's true. 00:19:24.579 --> 00:19:26.359 Commit your life to following him. 00:19:27.679 --> 00:19:28.659 And the final group 00:19:28.659 --> 00:19:29.659 I want to challenge today 00:19:29.659 --> 00:19:31.319 is if you're here today 00:19:31.319 --> 00:19:32.699 and you say that you're a Christian 00:19:32.699 --> 00:19:34.259 but you haven't been baptized yet, 00:19:34.899 --> 00:19:37.559 I want to challenge you 00:19:37.559 --> 00:19:38.319 to get baptized. 00:19:38.839 --> 00:19:40.199 Because baptism is the way 00:19:40.199 --> 00:19:41.219 that we say to ourselves, 00:19:41.779 --> 00:19:42.419 to the world, 00:19:42.899 --> 00:19:43.419 to God, 00:19:43.479 --> 00:19:45.259 that we belong in his family. 00:19:45.259 --> 00:19:50.619 Baptism is an awesome privilege 00:19:50.619 --> 00:19:51.619 that God gives to his people. 00:19:51.700 --> 00:19:52.299 And if you're saying 00:19:52.299 --> 00:19:53.900 that you belong to God's people 00:19:53.900 --> 00:19:55.099 but you don't want 00:19:55.099 --> 00:19:56.579 to acknowledge that publicly, 00:19:56.940 --> 00:19:59.240 I think you have to ask yourself why. 00:20:00.700 --> 00:20:01.640 You know, being baptized 00:20:01.640 --> 00:20:02.879 doesn't make you a Christian, 00:20:03.140 --> 00:20:04.099 but if you're not willing 00:20:04.099 --> 00:20:04.660 to get baptized, 00:20:04.900 --> 00:20:06.119 you should really take a step back 00:20:06.119 --> 00:20:08.559 and examine whether you are a Christian. 00:20:09.220 --> 00:20:10.279 At the very least, 00:20:10.319 --> 00:20:11.319 if you're not willing to get baptized, 00:20:11.640 --> 00:20:12.759 you shouldn't be taking communion. 00:20:12.759 --> 00:20:15.879 I heard a story recently 00:20:15.879 --> 00:20:16.539 about this guy. 00:20:17.359 --> 00:20:18.240 He'd been dating a girl 00:20:18.240 --> 00:20:19.019 for several months. 00:20:20.079 --> 00:20:20.879 And there were some issues 00:20:20.879 --> 00:20:21.559 in the relationship, 00:20:22.259 --> 00:20:24.140 but he said the thing that happened 00:20:24.140 --> 00:20:25.460 that was like the last straw 00:20:25.460 --> 00:20:27.220 is there was a picture 00:20:27.220 --> 00:20:27.920 of the two of them. 00:20:28.640 --> 00:20:29.900 He wanted her to put it online 00:20:29.900 --> 00:20:30.759 so everyone could see 00:20:30.759 --> 00:20:31.379 that they were together 00:20:31.379 --> 00:20:32.039 and they were happy 00:20:32.039 --> 00:20:32.879 and she didn't want 00:20:32.879 --> 00:20:33.500 to put it online. 00:20:34.460 --> 00:20:35.740 She didn't actually want 00:20:35.740 --> 00:20:36.779 any evidence online 00:20:36.779 --> 00:20:37.839 of the fact that the two of them 00:20:37.839 --> 00:20:38.279 were together. 00:20:39.059 --> 00:20:39.480 She said, 00:20:39.539 --> 00:20:40.480 I'm happy to be in a relationship 00:20:40.480 --> 00:20:40.819 with you, 00:20:40.900 --> 00:20:41.779 but I don't want the world 00:20:41.779 --> 00:20:42.539 to know about it. 00:20:43.079 --> 00:20:44.039 And do you know how he responded? 00:20:45.779 --> 00:20:46.720 He broke up with her. 00:20:49.799 --> 00:20:50.160 Guys, 00:20:50.240 --> 00:20:51.140 don't be like that girl 00:20:51.140 --> 00:20:52.220 in your relationship with Jesus. 00:20:52.420 --> 00:20:53.299 If this is something 00:20:53.299 --> 00:20:54.440 that you say 00:20:54.440 --> 00:20:55.640 is important enough 00:20:55.640 --> 00:20:57.140 that you're going to trust in him, 00:20:57.319 --> 00:20:57.940 then it's something 00:20:57.940 --> 00:20:58.819 that's important enough 00:20:58.819 --> 00:20:59.859 that you should be willing 00:20:59.859 --> 00:21:00.779 to let others know 00:21:00.779 --> 00:21:01.940 that you're trusting in him 00:21:01.940 --> 00:21:02.420 as well. 00:21:03.160 --> 00:21:05.460 So if you haven't been baptized yet, 00:21:05.640 --> 00:21:06.839 my challenge to you 00:21:06.839 --> 00:21:07.920 is get baptized. 00:21:08.079 --> 00:21:08.900 I know it's a big commitment. 00:21:09.039 --> 00:21:10.339 I know that it may cost you, 00:21:10.440 --> 00:21:10.839 but guys, 00:21:11.379 --> 00:21:12.420 it costs God his life. 00:21:13.200 --> 00:21:14.640 To give you an opportunity 00:21:14.640 --> 00:21:15.539 to belong with him. 00:21:16.819 --> 00:21:17.640 Any sacrifice 00:21:17.640 --> 00:21:18.839 we have to make in comparison 00:21:18.839 --> 00:21:19.839 is going to be small. 00:21:20.480 --> 00:21:21.539 And it's going to be 00:21:21.539 --> 00:21:22.839 absolutely worth it. 00:21:23.839 --> 00:21:24.400 Let's pray. 00:21:25.619 --> 00:21:25.980 Father, 00:21:26.079 --> 00:21:27.059 we thank you for your love. 00:21:27.140 --> 00:21:27.599 We thank you 00:21:27.599 --> 00:21:28.640 that you are a God 00:21:28.640 --> 00:21:30.220 who looks at us 00:21:30.220 --> 00:21:31.900 when we are at our worst 00:21:31.900 --> 00:21:33.319 and doesn't wait 00:21:33.319 --> 00:21:34.039 for us to change, 00:21:34.119 --> 00:21:34.759 doesn't wait for us 00:21:34.759 --> 00:21:35.599 to prove ourselves, 00:21:35.720 --> 00:21:36.359 doesn't wait for us 00:21:36.359 --> 00:21:37.819 to earn your love, 00:21:37.819 --> 00:21:39.359 but who reaches out 00:21:39.359 --> 00:21:40.079 to us in love 00:21:40.079 --> 00:21:41.039 and rescues us 00:21:41.039 --> 00:21:41.799 despite everything 00:21:41.799 --> 00:21:42.539 we've done wrong. 00:21:43.700 --> 00:21:43.939 God, 00:21:43.980 --> 00:21:44.419 we thank you 00:21:44.419 --> 00:21:45.339 for giving us a place 00:21:45.339 --> 00:21:46.240 to belong with you 00:21:46.240 --> 00:21:47.039 and with your people. 00:21:48.339 --> 00:21:49.279 We pray that 00:21:49.279 --> 00:21:50.299 today would be 00:21:50.299 --> 00:21:51.019 an awesome day 00:21:51.019 --> 00:21:51.559 to celebrate 00:21:51.559 --> 00:21:52.439 what you have done, 00:21:52.700 --> 00:21:53.439 to celebrate 00:21:53.439 --> 00:21:54.099 the new life 00:21:54.099 --> 00:21:54.519 that you've given 00:21:54.519 --> 00:21:55.099 to these people. 00:21:56.099 --> 00:21:57.339 We pray that we would be 00:21:57.339 --> 00:21:58.439 a supportive community, 00:21:58.659 --> 00:21:59.539 a loving community, 00:21:59.980 --> 00:22:00.480 a community 00:22:00.480 --> 00:22:02.159 that points each other 00:22:02.159 --> 00:22:02.819 towards you. 00:22:02.819 --> 00:22:05.579 In Jesus' name, 00:22:05.879 --> 00:22:06.099 Amen.