WEBVTT

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 If you're looking in one of the Pew Bibles, that is page 1008.

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 Hebrews chapter 12, today we're looking at verses 4 through 11,

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 but I'm going to start at the beginning of the chapter,

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 which we read last week as well.

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 So, chapter 12, beginning at verse 1, and we'll be focusing in on verses 4 through 11.

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 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,

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 let us also lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely,

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 and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

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 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith,

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 who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross,

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 despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

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 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself

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 so that you may not grow weary or faint-hearted.

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 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

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 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?

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 My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,

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 nor be weary when reproved by him.

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 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,

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 and chastises every son whom he receives.

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 It is for discipline that you have to endure.

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 God is treating you as sons.

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 For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?

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 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated,

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 then you are illegitimate children and not sons.

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 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us,

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 and we respected them.

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 Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?

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 For they disciplined us for a short time, as it seemed best to them.

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 But he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.

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 For the moment, all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant,

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 but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness

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 to those who have been trained by it.

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 A few years ago, my wife and I decided to do some exploratory house hunting

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 in New Haven.

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 We weren't actually quite ready to buy a house,

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 but we wanted to see what was out there.

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 So mostly my wife poured over real estate listings online,

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 and I'd periodically get two or three emails with links

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 to potential houses somewhere in New Haven that we could buy.

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 Now, two of them I remember in particular.

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 Both were in neighborhoods we liked.

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 Both were in our price range.

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 Neither was a fixer-upper.

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 We knew we couldn't deal with that.

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 And both had a series of attractive pictures online.

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 But one of them, when we visited it, had been recently broken into,

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 and all the copper piping in all the radiators had been cut out,

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 which apparently is not a totally uncommon experience.

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 The other looked nice from the outside,

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 had nice hardwood floors,

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 but every floor was warped.

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 So one end of the room was about one or two feet higher than the other.

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 So everywhere you were in the house,

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 you were topsy-turvy and tilted.

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 And even the real estate agent who was showing it said,

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 I don't think you should buy this house.

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 High expectations, disappointing results.

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 Have you ever embarked on a journey,

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 started a new job, begun a new relationship,

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 gone away on vacation with high expectations,

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 but found that the results were disappointing?

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 And so you begin to wonder,

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 should I keep at it?

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 Should I keep looking for a house?

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 Or should I keep even consider buying?

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 Or should we just rent?

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 Should I keep at this new relationship,

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 or this new job,

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 or search for something else,

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 where I can direct my energies?

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 Well, the people that the book of Hebrews was written to

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 were in a similar situation spiritually.

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 They had become Christians,

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 and they were initially excited to embark on this new journey

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 of following Jesus,

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 and being a Christian community together,

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 and displaying Christ's love to the world.

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 But over time, the initial excitement faded away.

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 It was harder than they expected.

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 Perhaps they expected that becoming a Christian

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 would make their life easier.

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 The opposite happened.

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 They were suffering.

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 Not just in the normal ways that everyone else suffered,

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 but they were suffering particularly because of their faith.

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 They were being insulted and rejected.

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 Some of them had even lost their property.

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 It had been taken away.

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 And they were tempted to throw in the towel

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 or to gradually withdraw from their commitment to Christ

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 and begin to shift their energies

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 and place their identity in something else.

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 The question they were asking was something like this.

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 If we are, in Jesus Christ,

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 God's sons and daughters destined for glory,

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 why is our life full of suffering and shame?

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 And the whole book of Hebrews is written

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 to address that question.

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 And today's passage gives us an important piece of the answer.

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 Now, this passage doesn't give us a comprehensive explanation

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 for why there is suffering in the world.

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 Suffering is a complex reality.

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 And different passages in the Bible

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 speak to different aspects of that reality.

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 But this passage does give us a very important perspective

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 for when we face suffering personally.

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 Now, what this passage says is this.

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 It says,

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 In Jesus Christ, yes, we are God's sons and daughters

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 destined for glory.

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 But God, as our Father,

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 is training and shaping and preparing us for that glory

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 through painful sufferings,

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 through discipline, as it says.

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 Now, in this passage, we'll see three things.

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 We'll see first the character of God's discipline

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 in verses 5 and 6.

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 Second, we'll see the necessity of God's discipline

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 in verses 7 and 8.

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 And third, we'll see the benefits of God's discipline

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 in verses 9 through 11.

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 So, first, the character of God's discipline.

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 Now, the word discipline is repeated over and over,

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 nine times in this passage.

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 And I think it's not anywhere else in the book of Hebrews.

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 So, it's clearly the main theme of this passage.

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 But you might ask,

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 Well, what exactly does discipline mean?

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 Now, most of us, when we hear the word discipline,

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 we immediately think of correction.

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 Now, that's part of,

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 one important part of God's discipline

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 is correcting us.

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 Verse 5 talks about being reproved.

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 That word means verbally rebuked

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 or verbally corrected by the Lord.

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 And if you look through the Bible,

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 there's numerous examples of this.

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 So, God sent the prophet Nathan

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 to confront King David

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 when David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.

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 Or when James and John came to Jesus

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 and they were asking for the best seats in God's kingdom,

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 Jesus rebuked them.

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 He said,

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 You don't know what you're asking for.

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 You don't know what my kingdom's all about.

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 You're totally missing the point.

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 Or after the resurrection,

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 Jesus told Peter that Peter would suffer a painful death

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 for Jesus' sake.

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 And Peter turned around and looked at John and said,

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 But Lord, what about him?

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 What's going to happen to him?

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 And Jesus said,

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 What does that matter to you?

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 You follow me.

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 Verbal rebukes are not unusual in the Bible

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 because even the best of Jesus' disciples

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 have a tendency to go off track

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 and do stupid things.

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 So, the book of Proverbs says,

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 Better is open rebuke than hidden love.

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 A loving, thoughtful, clear word of correction

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 or rebuke should not be unusual

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 in a community of growing Christians.

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 Second Timothy says,

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 All scripture is useful for many things.

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 And the first thing it says is rebuking and correcting.

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 You know, if nobody ever dares to correct or rebuke you,

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 it is probably not a sign that you are perfect

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 and you don't need any correction.

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 It may indicate that you are too proud

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 or too private

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 or too prickly

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 and you are missing out on some of the correction

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 that God knows that you need

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 and will benefit from.

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 Now, verse 6 goes even further

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 in talking about correction.

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 It says,

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 The Lord chastises every son whom he receives.

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 Now, the word translated chastise

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 refers to physical affliction for wrongdoing.

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 Sometimes God afflicts us physically

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 in order to correct us.

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 In other words,

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 sometimes God intentionally allows us

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 to experience the bitter fruit

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 of our own foolish decisions

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 to show us how poisonous sin is

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 and to bring us to hate it

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 and turn away from it

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 and turn back to him.

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 In the Old Testament,

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 we see this pattern over and over,

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 especially if you read the book of Judges.

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 Basically, the book of Judges has this cycle

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 and it happens about eight times.

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 The people of Israel,

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 they abandon God,

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 they abandon the Lord,

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 they go after other gods,

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 and so God says,

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 okay, I'll let you experience

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 what it's like

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 to not be under my rule

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 and to be under the rule

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 of oppressive idols.

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 So he lets them go

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 into the hands of their enemies

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 and their enemies oppress

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 and enslave them

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 and finally they cry out to the Lord

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 and God sends them a deliverer.

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 You see, God never abandons his people,

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 but he afflicted them for a time

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 in order to correct them

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 and bring them back to him.

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 Psalm 119 verse 67 says,

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 before I was afflicted,

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 I went astray,

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 but now I keep your word.

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 So God's discipline includes

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 both verbal and physical

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 corrective measures.

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 But the concept of discipline

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 in this chapter

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 is actually much broader

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 than correction.

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 The word translated discipline

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 commonly referred to educating

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 or training young people

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 in a variety of contexts.

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 It could refer to athletic training.

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 It could refer to scholarly instruction

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 or moral development.

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 And in the context of this passage,

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 the dominant image

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 is of a parent instructing a child.

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 And again, as a parent,

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 the role of a parent

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 includes correction.

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 It's an important

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 and necessary part of parenting.

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 And sometimes that's,

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 you know,

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 for those of us who are parents,

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 it's hard, right?

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 It's never pleasant

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 to correct your child.

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 And sometimes when we have

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 to administer corrective discipline

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 to our kids,

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 whether it's a verbal rebuke

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 or age-appropriate physical discipline

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 or consequences,

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 or simply saying no to a request,

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 sometimes it feels like

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 we've failed as parents.

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 Or our kid was bad,

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 so we had to discipline them, right?

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 And maybe you feel ashamed,

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 especially if your kid makes a scene

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 in front of other people.

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 Or we feel bad about saying no

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 to a request.

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 But the Bible says,

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 actually,

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 if we're correcting our children

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 in a godly manner,

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 not out of impulsive rage,

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 but out of concern

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 for their ultimate well-being,

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 we're doing exactly

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 what a parent is called to do

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 by God.

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 Loving correction.

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 But on the other hand,

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 the role of a parent

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 is much more than reactive correction.

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 The role of a parent includes provision

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 for a child's needs,

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 encouragement of a child's strengths,

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 preemptive warning against future dangers,

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 intentional training for future opportunities,

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 and attentive presence

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 in a child's life.

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 The writer of Hebrews begins

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 by quoting from Proverbs 3,

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 a father's words to his son.

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 And the whole book of Proverbs

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 is framed in this way

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 as parental guidance,

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 parental exhortation,

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 parental encouragement

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 to a growing child.

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 Now, God's discipline,

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 like that,

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 of a good teacher or coach or parent,

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 is proactively training and testing us

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 to develop in us

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 a greater capacity for endurance.

00:13:16.080 --> 00:13:17.379
 It's not only correcting us,

00:13:17.399 --> 00:13:18.480
 it's also training us.

00:13:18.480 --> 00:13:21.820
 And God envisions a glorious future for us

00:13:21.820 --> 00:13:23.720
 far beyond what we can imagine.

00:13:24.500 --> 00:13:26.840
 And he leads us through painful experiences

00:13:26.840 --> 00:13:29.220
 in order to shape and prepare us

00:13:29.220 --> 00:13:29.920
 for that future.

00:13:31.440 --> 00:13:32.899
 You know, if you are a teacher

00:13:32.899 --> 00:13:35.100
 and you are assigned

00:13:35.100 --> 00:13:36.879
 a class of eighth graders

00:13:36.879 --> 00:13:38.379
 who are failing math

00:13:38.379 --> 00:13:40.220
 and who say they hate math

00:13:40.220 --> 00:13:42.360
 and are completely bored by it,

00:13:42.960 --> 00:13:45.039
 you don't just come into the class

00:13:45.039 --> 00:13:46.920
 and start berating the students

00:13:46.919 --> 00:13:47.979
 and saying, you guys are all

00:13:47.979 --> 00:13:48.879
 a bunch of failures.

00:13:49.879 --> 00:13:52.039
 Look at how you've failed in the past.

00:13:52.139 --> 00:13:53.559
 Look at how terrible you are.

00:13:54.639 --> 00:13:56.000
 No, if you're a good teacher,

00:13:56.799 --> 00:13:59.179
 you see not only their past failures

00:13:59.179 --> 00:14:01.139
 and their present struggles,

00:14:01.259 --> 00:14:02.779
 but also their future potential.

00:14:03.839 --> 00:14:04.740
 You see the beauty

00:14:04.740 --> 00:14:06.079
 and elegance

00:14:06.079 --> 00:14:07.860
 and usefulness of math

00:14:07.860 --> 00:14:10.299
 that they are currently blind to.

00:14:10.299 --> 00:14:12.539
 And you want to introduce them to that.

00:14:12.620 --> 00:14:14.519
 You see the students' intellectual abilities,

00:14:15.019 --> 00:14:16.679
 which they probably express

00:14:16.679 --> 00:14:18.000
 in all kinds of other creative

00:14:18.000 --> 00:14:19.139
 and mischievous ways.

00:14:20.139 --> 00:14:21.799
 But if developed and focused,

00:14:22.519 --> 00:14:23.419
 that could enable them

00:14:23.419 --> 00:14:24.359
 to not only pass,

00:14:24.439 --> 00:14:25.299
 but even excel

00:14:25.299 --> 00:14:26.919
 in the math,

00:14:27.479 --> 00:14:28.199
 in math.

00:14:28.200 --> 00:14:30.500
 And that's what motivates you

00:14:30.500 --> 00:14:32.020
 to challenge them

00:14:32.020 --> 00:14:33.940
 and call them to a higher standard

00:14:33.940 --> 00:14:35.920
 and refuse to give up on them.

00:14:36.200 --> 00:14:37.700
 Because you can see

00:14:37.700 --> 00:14:39.360
 what they can't

00:14:39.360 --> 00:14:40.940
 or don't want to see.

00:14:42.660 --> 00:14:44.600
 Now, there's a spiritual analogy here

00:14:44.600 --> 00:14:46.560
 in many respects.

00:14:47.300 --> 00:14:48.340
 For the most part,

00:14:48.420 --> 00:14:49.700
 when we look at ourselves

00:14:49.700 --> 00:14:51.980
 or when we look at other people,

00:14:52.259 --> 00:14:53.480
 we see ourselves

00:14:53.480 --> 00:14:54.640
 as we are today

00:14:54.640 --> 00:14:57.280
 or as we have been in the past.

00:14:57.279 --> 00:14:59.799
 But when God looks at us,

00:15:00.159 --> 00:15:00.980
 He is not limited

00:15:00.980 --> 00:15:02.279
 to the past and the present.

00:15:03.439 --> 00:15:05.720
 He sees not only our past patterns

00:15:05.720 --> 00:15:06.899
 and our present struggles,

00:15:07.019 --> 00:15:09.539
 He also sees perfectly clearly

00:15:09.539 --> 00:15:10.860
 the glorious creature

00:15:10.860 --> 00:15:12.819
 that He has created us to be

00:15:12.819 --> 00:15:14.759
 and that He is intent

00:15:14.759 --> 00:15:16.740
 on bringing us to become

00:15:16.740 --> 00:15:17.899
 in Christ.

00:15:18.919 --> 00:15:19.919
 And so He brings us

00:15:19.919 --> 00:15:20.559
 into situations

00:15:20.559 --> 00:15:21.179
 that we think

00:15:21.179 --> 00:15:22.559
 are far more than we can handle

00:15:22.559 --> 00:15:24.279
 and might seem

00:15:24.279 --> 00:15:25.419
 totally overwhelming.

00:15:26.259 --> 00:15:26.639
 And we think,

00:15:26.639 --> 00:15:27.500
 I can't handle this.

00:15:27.559 --> 00:15:28.039
 There's no way

00:15:28.039 --> 00:15:29.019
 I can get through this.

00:15:29.220 --> 00:15:30.000
 And God says,

00:15:30.100 --> 00:15:31.039
 but I can see

00:15:31.039 --> 00:15:32.659
 what you can't.

00:15:34.279 --> 00:15:34.480
 You know,

00:15:34.500 --> 00:15:35.460
 when Jesus first met

00:15:35.460 --> 00:15:36.399
 Simon Peter

00:15:36.399 --> 00:15:38.960
 in the Gospel of John chapter 1,

00:15:40.039 --> 00:15:41.000
 His name was just Simon

00:15:41.000 --> 00:15:41.600
 at that point,

00:15:41.720 --> 00:15:42.819
 but Jesus named him

00:15:42.819 --> 00:15:43.379
 Peter,

00:15:43.720 --> 00:15:45.080
 which means rock.

00:15:46.779 --> 00:15:47.840
 But then if you go on

00:15:47.840 --> 00:15:48.840
 and read the Gospels,

00:15:49.580 --> 00:15:50.460
 Peter seems like

00:15:50.460 --> 00:15:52.980
 the most unstable man

00:15:52.980 --> 00:15:54.560
 of all the twelve disciples.

00:15:55.560 --> 00:15:55.720
 Right?

00:15:55.820 --> 00:15:56.279
 Jesus says,

00:15:56.320 --> 00:15:57.399
 who do you say that I am?

00:15:57.440 --> 00:15:57.980
 And Peter says,

00:15:58.019 --> 00:15:58.700
 you're the Messiah.

00:15:59.080 --> 00:15:59.820
 And Jesus says,

00:15:59.860 --> 00:16:00.399
 that's right.

00:16:00.920 --> 00:16:01.440
 And then,

00:16:01.740 --> 00:16:02.659
 two seconds later,

00:16:03.080 --> 00:16:03.539
 Jesus says,

00:16:03.600 --> 00:16:03.740
 well,

00:16:03.840 --> 00:16:04.680
 as the Messiah,

00:16:04.779 --> 00:16:05.659
 I'm going to have to suffer.

00:16:06.080 --> 00:16:07.200
 And Peter takes Jesus aside

00:16:07.200 --> 00:16:07.500
 and says,

00:16:07.560 --> 00:16:08.340
 oh, no, no, no,

00:16:08.420 --> 00:16:08.659
 Jesus,

00:16:08.899 --> 00:16:09.759
 you don't know this.

00:16:09.820 --> 00:16:10.779
 I need to instruct you

00:16:10.779 --> 00:16:11.740
 and tell you a better way.

00:16:11.879 --> 00:16:12.620
 And Jesus says,

00:16:12.759 --> 00:16:14.220
 get behind me, Satan.

00:16:16.220 --> 00:16:17.440
 You've totally missed the point.

00:16:17.440 --> 00:16:19.720
 You think you know

00:16:19.720 --> 00:16:20.340
 what I'm about,

00:16:20.900 --> 00:16:21.880
 but you need to learn.

00:16:22.920 --> 00:16:23.920
 Or at the Last Supper,

00:16:25.020 --> 00:16:25.900
 1 Peter says,

00:16:25.980 --> 00:16:26.760
 Jesus is coming around

00:16:26.760 --> 00:16:27.860
 washing the disciples' feet,

00:16:27.960 --> 00:16:29.040
 and 1 Peter says,

00:16:29.340 --> 00:16:29.900
 not me,

00:16:31.040 --> 00:16:31.380
 Lord,

00:16:31.460 --> 00:16:32.820
 you shall never wash my feet.

00:16:34.060 --> 00:16:34.780
 And then,

00:16:34.960 --> 00:16:35.820
 he flips,

00:16:36.400 --> 00:16:36.920
 and he says,

00:16:36.980 --> 00:16:37.280
 Jesus,

00:16:37.580 --> 00:16:38.800
 don't just wash my feet,

00:16:39.200 --> 00:16:40.000
 wash my hands,

00:16:40.100 --> 00:16:40.740
 wash my head,

00:16:40.840 --> 00:16:41.800
 wash everything.

00:16:44.160 --> 00:16:45.660
 And then later on that night,

00:16:45.659 --> 00:16:47.539
 as the opposition grows,

00:16:47.639 --> 00:16:47.919
 he says,

00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:48.240
 Jesus,

00:16:48.339 --> 00:16:49.240
 I'm ready to lay down

00:16:49.240 --> 00:16:50.079
 my life for you.

00:16:51.620 --> 00:16:52.959
 And then a few hours later,

00:16:53.240 --> 00:16:55.019
 he denies Jesus three times.

00:16:57.000 --> 00:16:57.199
 Right?

00:16:58.120 --> 00:16:58.839
 Peter is

00:16:58.839 --> 00:17:01.579
 the most bipolar disciple

00:17:01.579 --> 00:17:03.939
 ever.

00:17:04.519 --> 00:17:04.960
 Right?

00:17:06.339 --> 00:17:07.319
 He's flipping

00:17:07.319 --> 00:17:08.500
 from one end to the other,

00:17:08.559 --> 00:17:09.460
 from one end to the other.

00:17:09.720 --> 00:17:10.940
 And Jesus calls him a rock.

00:17:12.940 --> 00:17:13.480
 You see,

00:17:13.539 --> 00:17:14.920
 Jesus doesn't just look at Peter

00:17:14.920 --> 00:17:16.580
 and evaluate him

00:17:16.580 --> 00:17:18.279
 based on how he currently is

00:17:18.279 --> 00:17:19.900
 and how he's currently behaving.

00:17:20.720 --> 00:17:21.580
 He sees

00:17:21.580 --> 00:17:23.200
 what he intends Peter to become.

00:17:23.300 --> 00:17:23.500
 He says,

00:17:23.580 --> 00:17:23.779
 Peter,

00:17:23.860 --> 00:17:25.180
 I'm going to make you

00:17:25.180 --> 00:17:26.519
 into a rock,

00:17:27.360 --> 00:17:29.200
 into a stable person,

00:17:29.800 --> 00:17:30.539
 into a leader

00:17:30.539 --> 00:17:32.060
 of the early church.

00:17:35.160 --> 00:17:36.080
 And he does.

00:17:37.080 --> 00:17:38.259
 If you read the book of Acts,

00:17:38.340 --> 00:17:39.300
 Peter stands firm.

00:17:40.300 --> 00:17:41.779
 And he proclaims the gospel.

00:17:41.779 --> 00:17:43.220
 In his first letter,

00:17:44.259 --> 00:17:45.000
 Peter talks about

00:17:45.000 --> 00:17:45.740
 how all of us,

00:17:45.819 --> 00:17:46.920
 like living stones,

00:17:47.139 --> 00:17:48.240
 are being built together

00:17:48.240 --> 00:17:49.139
 into a house

00:17:49.139 --> 00:17:51.720
 by which God lives,

00:17:52.420 --> 00:17:53.240
 in which God lives

00:17:53.240 --> 00:17:53.899
 by his spirit.

00:17:55.440 --> 00:17:55.740
 You see,

00:17:55.819 --> 00:17:56.519
 God the Father

00:17:56.519 --> 00:17:57.420
 is committed

00:17:57.420 --> 00:17:59.119
 to building his house.

00:17:59.660 --> 00:18:00.420
 And he's committed

00:18:00.420 --> 00:18:01.440
 to making every one

00:18:01.440 --> 00:18:02.059
 of his children

00:18:02.059 --> 00:18:03.379
 into all that he has

00:18:03.379 --> 00:18:04.619
 called us to be.

00:18:05.819 --> 00:18:06.579
 He's committed

00:18:06.579 --> 00:18:07.420
 to correcting us

00:18:07.420 --> 00:18:08.279
 when we go wrong.

00:18:08.279 --> 00:18:09.379
 And he's committed

00:18:09.379 --> 00:18:10.200
 to training us

00:18:10.200 --> 00:18:11.559
 to develop our endurance.

00:18:12.059 --> 00:18:12.940
 That's the character

00:18:12.940 --> 00:18:14.240
 of God's discipline.

00:18:15.579 --> 00:18:16.039
 Now, second,

00:18:16.160 --> 00:18:17.000
 we see the necessity

00:18:17.000 --> 00:18:18.480
 of God's discipline.

00:18:18.579 --> 00:18:19.319
 We see this in verses

00:18:19.319 --> 00:18:20.099
 seven and eight.

00:18:21.779 --> 00:18:22.899
 And in these verses,

00:18:23.619 --> 00:18:25.240
 the author is drawing on

00:18:25.240 --> 00:18:26.379
 two well-known

00:18:26.379 --> 00:18:27.519
 cultural practices

00:18:27.519 --> 00:18:29.319
 in the ancient Roman world.

00:18:30.160 --> 00:18:31.399
 Or cultural practices

00:18:31.399 --> 00:18:32.399
 or family arrangements.

00:18:33.139 --> 00:18:33.660
 So first,

00:18:33.740 --> 00:18:34.759
 in the Roman world,

00:18:35.119 --> 00:18:37.279
 fathers had absolute authority.

00:18:37.279 --> 00:18:39.579
 authority over their family.

00:18:40.960 --> 00:18:41.440
 Legally,

00:18:42.339 --> 00:18:43.059
 and basically,

00:18:43.220 --> 00:18:44.639
 no one could override

00:18:44.639 --> 00:18:45.899
 a father's decision

00:18:45.899 --> 00:18:47.599
 on behalf of one

00:18:47.599 --> 00:18:48.660
 of his family members.

00:18:48.839 --> 00:18:49.639
 That was the law

00:18:49.639 --> 00:18:50.579
 in the Roman Empire.

00:18:51.819 --> 00:18:52.759
 That's the first thing,

00:18:53.440 --> 00:18:54.440
 the absolute authority

00:18:54.440 --> 00:18:55.000
 of the father.

00:18:55.119 --> 00:18:55.500
 And second,

00:18:55.859 --> 00:18:57.079
 the unique status

00:18:57.079 --> 00:18:57.980
 of sons.

00:18:58.680 --> 00:18:59.399
 So sons,

00:18:59.500 --> 00:19:00.180
 when they grew up,

00:19:00.220 --> 00:19:00.859
 would carry on

00:19:00.859 --> 00:19:01.879
 the family name

00:19:01.879 --> 00:19:03.259
 and would receive

00:19:03.259 --> 00:19:03.879
 an inheritance.

00:19:04.599 --> 00:19:05.339
 And so the father

00:19:05.339 --> 00:19:06.500
 was particularly involved

00:19:06.500 --> 00:19:07.140
 in training

00:19:07.140 --> 00:19:07.940
 and preparing

00:19:07.940 --> 00:19:08.900
 his sons

00:19:08.900 --> 00:19:10.960
 to receive that inheritance

00:19:10.960 --> 00:19:11.720
 and carry on

00:19:11.720 --> 00:19:12.500
 the family name.

00:19:13.480 --> 00:19:14.480
 Now this was not true

00:19:14.480 --> 00:19:15.059
 of daughters

00:19:15.059 --> 00:19:16.380
 under Roman law.

00:19:16.980 --> 00:19:18.339
 It was also not true

00:19:18.339 --> 00:19:19.559
 of sons born

00:19:19.559 --> 00:19:20.500
 out of wedlock

00:19:20.500 --> 00:19:21.799
 or born to a slave.

00:19:21.980 --> 00:19:22.539
 These were seen

00:19:22.539 --> 00:19:23.299
 as illegitimate

00:19:23.299 --> 00:19:24.460
 and not subject

00:19:24.460 --> 00:19:25.180
 to the authority

00:19:25.180 --> 00:19:25.839
 of the father.

00:19:26.240 --> 00:19:26.859
 Now that's the

00:19:26.859 --> 00:19:27.740
 cultural background.

00:19:28.640 --> 00:19:28.759
 Okay,

00:19:28.759 --> 00:19:29.359
 the author of Hebrews

00:19:29.359 --> 00:19:30.400
 is not affirming

00:19:30.400 --> 00:19:31.099
 every aspect

00:19:31.099 --> 00:19:32.059
 of the cultural background.

00:19:32.180 --> 00:19:32.420
 Actually,

00:19:32.460 --> 00:19:33.279
 he's undermining it,

00:19:33.599 --> 00:19:34.259
 some of it,

00:19:34.259 --> 00:19:35.519
 as we'll see later.

00:19:35.640 --> 00:19:37.059
 But what the author

00:19:37.059 --> 00:19:38.000
 of Hebrews is doing

00:19:38.000 --> 00:19:38.740
 is he's taking

00:19:38.740 --> 00:19:40.019
 these common images

00:19:40.019 --> 00:19:42.119
 from their culture

00:19:42.119 --> 00:19:43.579
 and he's just using

00:19:43.579 --> 00:19:44.160
 the imagery

00:19:44.160 --> 00:19:45.200
 to describe

00:19:45.200 --> 00:19:46.500
 God's relationship

00:19:46.500 --> 00:19:47.359
 to us

00:19:47.359 --> 00:19:48.160
 as his children.

00:19:49.019 --> 00:19:49.779
 So he's saying

00:19:49.779 --> 00:19:51.200
 God is the ultimate

00:19:51.200 --> 00:19:51.900
 father.

00:19:53.180 --> 00:19:54.180
 God has absolute

00:19:54.180 --> 00:19:54.700
 authority

00:19:54.700 --> 00:19:55.819
 over all his creation

00:19:55.819 --> 00:19:56.700
 by definition.

00:19:57.599 --> 00:19:58.700
 No one can override

00:19:58.700 --> 00:19:59.839
 God's decisions.

00:19:59.839 --> 00:20:02.459
 But God is not just

00:20:02.459 --> 00:20:03.959
 an impersonal force.

00:20:04.919 --> 00:20:05.480
 He's not just

00:20:05.480 --> 00:20:06.539
 a distant ruler.

00:20:07.379 --> 00:20:08.199
 He's a father

00:20:08.199 --> 00:20:09.220
 who loves

00:20:09.220 --> 00:20:10.379
 and receives

00:20:10.379 --> 00:20:10.939
 his children,

00:20:11.539 --> 00:20:12.500
 as verse 6 says.

00:20:13.559 --> 00:20:14.799
 From eternity past,

00:20:15.199 --> 00:20:15.759
 God the Father

00:20:15.759 --> 00:20:16.500
 has poured out

00:20:16.500 --> 00:20:17.220
 his love

00:20:17.220 --> 00:20:18.779
 and shared his glory

00:20:18.779 --> 00:20:20.220
 with his only begotten son.

00:20:21.639 --> 00:20:23.019
 But Hebrews tells us

00:20:23.019 --> 00:20:25.500
 that God's only begotten son

00:20:25.500 --> 00:20:26.939
 who became a human being

00:20:26.939 --> 00:20:27.799
 in Jesus Christ

00:20:27.799 --> 00:20:29.119
 has chosen to extend

00:20:29.119 --> 00:20:30.399
 his status

00:20:30.399 --> 00:20:32.199
 to us

00:20:32.199 --> 00:20:34.519
 as sons

00:20:34.519 --> 00:20:37.039
 and daughters of God.

00:20:37.819 --> 00:20:38.579
 So everyone

00:20:38.579 --> 00:20:39.239
 who is united

00:20:39.239 --> 00:20:40.339
 to Jesus through faith,

00:20:40.479 --> 00:20:41.419
 Jesus calls us

00:20:41.419 --> 00:20:42.019
 brothers.

00:20:42.919 --> 00:20:43.599
 Earlier in Hebrews

00:20:43.599 --> 00:20:44.859
 it says Jesus is not ashamed

00:20:44.859 --> 00:20:45.699
 to call us

00:20:45.699 --> 00:20:46.679
 his brothers.

00:20:47.219 --> 00:20:48.019
 And because Jesus

00:20:48.019 --> 00:20:49.000
 were Jesus' brothers,

00:20:49.239 --> 00:20:50.739
 we're now God's sons.

00:20:51.579 --> 00:20:51.879
 Now,

00:20:52.319 --> 00:20:53.399
 in using that language

00:20:53.399 --> 00:20:54.919
 of brothers and sons,

00:20:55.299 --> 00:20:56.039
 or verse 7

00:20:56.039 --> 00:20:56.539
 where it says

00:20:56.539 --> 00:20:57.319
 God is treating you

00:20:57.319 --> 00:20:57.959
 as sons,

00:20:57.960 --> 00:21:00.200
 it's not excluding

00:21:00.200 --> 00:21:01.840
 or marginalizing

00:21:01.840 --> 00:21:03.120
 female Christians.

00:21:04.019 --> 00:21:04.860
 What it is saying

00:21:04.860 --> 00:21:06.059
 is that God's family

00:21:06.059 --> 00:21:07.500
 operates on a completely

00:21:07.500 --> 00:21:08.980
 different principle

00:21:08.980 --> 00:21:10.799
 than the Roman world.

00:21:11.740 --> 00:21:12.259
 What he's saying

00:21:12.259 --> 00:21:13.660
 is that in God's family,

00:21:14.340 --> 00:21:16.380
 male and female Christians

00:21:16.380 --> 00:21:18.920
 both bear the name

00:21:18.920 --> 00:21:19.400
 of Jesus

00:21:19.400 --> 00:21:21.340
 and both have

00:21:21.340 --> 00:21:22.539
 full inheritance rights.

00:21:23.240 --> 00:21:24.860
 Both enjoy the blessings

00:21:24.860 --> 00:21:26.079
 that were only reserved

00:21:26.079 --> 00:21:27.699
 for sons in the Roman culture.

00:21:28.359 --> 00:21:28.799
 And he's saying

00:21:28.799 --> 00:21:29.839
 in the family of God,

00:21:30.079 --> 00:21:30.679
 whether you're male

00:21:30.679 --> 00:21:31.259
 or female,

00:21:31.659 --> 00:21:32.539
 you receive all those

00:21:32.539 --> 00:21:33.379
 blessings from God.

00:21:34.099 --> 00:21:35.240
 Full inheritance rights

00:21:35.240 --> 00:21:36.339
 and fully bearing

00:21:36.339 --> 00:21:37.139
 the family name

00:21:37.139 --> 00:21:38.699
 and an honored status

00:21:38.699 --> 00:21:39.279
 in the family.

00:21:40.559 --> 00:21:40.899
 So he says

00:21:40.899 --> 00:21:41.879
 in a Christian church,

00:21:42.259 --> 00:21:43.419
 it's totally different

00:21:43.419 --> 00:21:45.339
 than in the Roman culture.

00:21:45.339 --> 00:21:47.679
 But he says

00:21:47.679 --> 00:21:49.839
 just as

00:21:49.839 --> 00:21:51.240
 a Roman father

00:21:51.240 --> 00:21:52.439
 would intentionally

00:21:52.439 --> 00:21:53.079
 train

00:21:53.079 --> 00:21:53.639
 and prepare

00:21:53.639 --> 00:21:54.319
 his sons

00:21:54.319 --> 00:21:55.059
 to carry on

00:21:55.059 --> 00:21:55.959
 the family name,

00:21:56.299 --> 00:21:57.399
 God intentionally

00:21:57.399 --> 00:21:58.539
 trains and prepares

00:21:58.539 --> 00:21:59.740
 every one

00:21:59.740 --> 00:22:00.980
 of his children.

00:22:02.139 --> 00:22:03.240
 So at times

00:22:03.240 --> 00:22:04.299
 God rebukes us

00:22:04.299 --> 00:22:05.819
 through his word.

00:22:06.059 --> 00:22:06.659
 At times

00:22:06.659 --> 00:22:07.399
 he may even

00:22:07.399 --> 00:22:08.240
 chastise us

00:22:08.240 --> 00:22:08.919
 through affliction.

00:22:09.500 --> 00:22:10.500
 But he is always

00:22:10.500 --> 00:22:11.599
 training us,

00:22:12.019 --> 00:22:12.779
 stretching us,

00:22:13.119 --> 00:22:13.659
 preparing us

00:22:13.660 --> 00:22:14.320
 for glory

00:22:14.320 --> 00:22:15.160
 through hard

00:22:15.160 --> 00:22:16.660
 and painful experiences

00:22:16.660 --> 00:22:17.700
 because we are

00:22:17.700 --> 00:22:18.279
 his children

00:22:18.279 --> 00:22:19.600
 and he is utterly

00:22:19.600 --> 00:22:20.560
 committed to us

00:22:20.560 --> 00:22:21.759
 becoming all

00:22:21.759 --> 00:22:22.400
 that he has made us

00:22:22.400 --> 00:22:22.779
 to be.

00:22:24.860 --> 00:22:25.940
 So Proverbs says

00:22:25.940 --> 00:22:26.980
 don't regard lightly

00:22:26.980 --> 00:22:28.120
 the discipline

00:22:28.120 --> 00:22:28.720
 of the Lord.

00:22:29.340 --> 00:22:29.880
 In other words,

00:22:29.960 --> 00:22:31.340
 don't disregard it.

00:22:32.100 --> 00:22:33.400
 Don't run away

00:22:33.400 --> 00:22:33.880
 from it.

00:22:34.279 --> 00:22:35.460
 Don't ignore it.

00:22:36.240 --> 00:22:37.300
 But he also says

00:22:37.300 --> 00:22:38.120
 don't become weary

00:22:38.120 --> 00:22:40.120
 when rebuked by him.

00:22:40.700 --> 00:22:41.180
 In other words,

00:22:41.220 --> 00:22:42.279
 don't fall into despair.

00:22:42.279 --> 00:22:44.519
 God's not disciplining

00:22:44.519 --> 00:22:45.099
 you because

00:22:45.099 --> 00:22:46.200
 he's rejected you.

00:22:46.259 --> 00:22:47.000
 He disciplines you

00:22:47.000 --> 00:22:47.839
 because he loves you.

00:22:47.920 --> 00:22:48.680
 He's training you

00:22:48.680 --> 00:22:49.279
 and bringing you

00:22:49.279 --> 00:22:50.039
 even through hard

00:22:50.039 --> 00:22:51.200
 experiences to teach

00:22:51.200 --> 00:22:52.680
 you a greater depth

00:22:52.680 --> 00:22:54.339
 of trust in him.

00:22:55.259 --> 00:22:56.039
 He's shaping

00:22:56.039 --> 00:22:56.700
 and forming

00:22:56.700 --> 00:22:57.579
 your character

00:22:57.579 --> 00:22:58.940
 and forging you

00:22:58.940 --> 00:22:59.960
 like metal

00:22:59.960 --> 00:23:01.039
 that is refined

00:23:01.039 --> 00:23:01.720
 through the fire.

00:23:03.779 --> 00:23:04.759
 And when you are

00:23:04.759 --> 00:23:05.079
 tempted,

00:23:06.160 --> 00:23:06.779
 remember that

00:23:06.779 --> 00:23:07.440
 your greatest

00:23:07.440 --> 00:23:08.119
 brother,

00:23:08.519 --> 00:23:08.799
 Jesus,

00:23:09.519 --> 00:23:10.660
 was also tempted.

00:23:10.660 --> 00:23:12.380
 It says

00:23:12.380 --> 00:23:13.220
 Jesus was made

00:23:13.220 --> 00:23:13.640
 perfect

00:23:13.640 --> 00:23:14.840
 through his suffering.

00:23:16.220 --> 00:23:16.860
 Now it doesn't mean

00:23:16.860 --> 00:23:17.200
 that Jesus

00:23:17.200 --> 00:23:18.820
 never needed

00:23:18.820 --> 00:23:19.540
 to be corrected,

00:23:20.340 --> 00:23:21.259
 but Jesus

00:23:21.259 --> 00:23:22.240
 was tested.

00:23:23.180 --> 00:23:24.080
 He was trained.

00:23:24.500 --> 00:23:25.400
 He was stretched

00:23:25.400 --> 00:23:27.180
 in order to develop

00:23:27.180 --> 00:23:27.860
 his endurance

00:23:27.860 --> 00:23:28.800
 and demonstrate

00:23:28.800 --> 00:23:30.740
 his perfect faithfulness.

00:23:31.540 --> 00:23:32.759
 So when we receive

00:23:32.759 --> 00:23:33.460
 God's discipline,

00:23:33.600 --> 00:23:34.440
 when we are trained

00:23:34.440 --> 00:23:34.860
 by it,

00:23:35.000 --> 00:23:35.820
 it is a sign

00:23:35.820 --> 00:23:36.740
 that we are truly

00:23:36.740 --> 00:23:37.420
 God's children,

00:23:37.540 --> 00:23:38.140
 that we are truly

00:23:38.140 --> 00:23:39.600
 connected to God

00:23:39.599 --> 00:23:40.319
 through Jesus,

00:23:41.319 --> 00:23:42.259
 that we are truly

00:23:42.259 --> 00:23:43.899
 included in God's family

00:23:43.899 --> 00:23:46.039
 as brothers and sisters

00:23:46.039 --> 00:23:47.039
 of Jesus.

00:23:48.359 --> 00:23:49.579
 So that's the necessity

00:23:49.579 --> 00:23:50.819
 of God's discipline.

00:23:50.939 --> 00:23:51.639
 We've seen the character

00:23:51.639 --> 00:23:52.519
 of God's discipline,

00:23:52.919 --> 00:23:53.519
 the necessity

00:23:53.519 --> 00:23:54.319
 of God's discipline,

00:23:54.319 --> 00:23:54.980
 and finally,

00:23:55.199 --> 00:23:56.379
 we see the benefits

00:23:56.379 --> 00:23:57.599
 of God's discipline

00:23:57.599 --> 00:23:58.799
 in verses 9 through 11.

00:24:00.279 --> 00:24:01.159
 Verse 9

00:24:01.159 --> 00:24:03.339
 says that God's discipline

00:24:03.339 --> 00:24:04.139
 leads to life.

00:24:05.059 --> 00:24:06.179
 Now in verses 7 and 8

00:24:06.179 --> 00:24:08.259
 emphasize some of the parallels

00:24:08.259 --> 00:24:09.500
 between God

00:24:09.500 --> 00:24:10.500
 and human parents,

00:24:11.180 --> 00:24:12.099
 but 9 through 11

00:24:12.099 --> 00:24:14.019
 emphasize some of the contrasts,

00:24:14.019 --> 00:24:15.359
 and both are important.

00:24:16.279 --> 00:24:17.039
 Verse 9 says,

00:24:17.140 --> 00:24:18.039
 we had earthly fathers

00:24:18.039 --> 00:24:18.960
 who disciplined us

00:24:18.960 --> 00:24:20.099
 and we respected them.

00:24:20.859 --> 00:24:22.339
 Shall we not much more

00:24:22.339 --> 00:24:22.980
 be subject

00:24:22.980 --> 00:24:24.700
 to the father of spirits?

00:24:25.799 --> 00:24:26.759
 Now when you read that,

00:24:26.819 --> 00:24:28.339
 the contrast seems to be this.

00:24:29.119 --> 00:24:30.180
 If we respected

00:24:30.180 --> 00:24:31.619
 our earthly parents,

00:24:32.539 --> 00:24:33.640
 literally it's our fathers

00:24:33.640 --> 00:24:34.259
 of the flesh,

00:24:34.259 --> 00:24:35.879
 it means parents

00:24:35.879 --> 00:24:36.519
 who are mortal

00:24:36.519 --> 00:24:37.460
 and weak

00:24:37.460 --> 00:24:38.859
 and subject to change.

00:24:38.940 --> 00:24:40.259
 If we respected them,

00:24:41.119 --> 00:24:41.519
 he's saying,

00:24:41.660 --> 00:24:42.400
 how much more

00:24:42.400 --> 00:24:43.579
 should we surrender

00:24:43.579 --> 00:24:44.240
 our lives

00:24:44.240 --> 00:24:45.140
 without reservation

00:24:45.140 --> 00:24:45.799
 to God,

00:24:45.920 --> 00:24:46.940
 the father of spirits?

00:24:47.019 --> 00:24:47.519
 In other words,

00:24:47.579 --> 00:24:48.039
 the father

00:24:48.039 --> 00:24:49.980
 in whom there is no

00:24:49.980 --> 00:24:51.660
 change or turning.

00:24:53.660 --> 00:24:54.359
 But actually,

00:24:54.440 --> 00:24:55.200
 the real surprise,

00:24:55.740 --> 00:24:56.440
 if you're looking down

00:24:56.440 --> 00:24:57.059
 at verse 9,

00:24:57.420 --> 00:24:58.420
 you notice that I left out

00:24:58.420 --> 00:24:59.259
 the last two words

00:24:59.259 --> 00:25:00.500
 when I read it.

00:25:00.500 --> 00:25:02.599
 We had earthly fathers

00:25:02.599 --> 00:25:03.319
 who disciplined us

00:25:03.319 --> 00:25:04.180
 and we respected them.

00:25:04.259 --> 00:25:05.279
 Shall we not much more

00:25:05.279 --> 00:25:05.819
 be subject

00:25:05.819 --> 00:25:07.079
 to the father of spirits

00:25:07.079 --> 00:25:08.819
 and live?

00:25:10.700 --> 00:25:11.839
 That's the real surprise

00:25:11.839 --> 00:25:12.519
 of verse 9

00:25:12.519 --> 00:25:14.440
 is the promise of life.

00:25:15.140 --> 00:25:15.680
 It's saying,

00:25:16.200 --> 00:25:16.859
 God doesn't just

00:25:16.859 --> 00:25:18.579
 call out for our respect

00:25:18.579 --> 00:25:19.839
 and deserve our respect.

00:25:20.359 --> 00:25:21.619
 He also graciously

00:25:21.619 --> 00:25:23.000
 gives us life.

00:25:24.380 --> 00:25:25.259
 Eternal life.

00:25:25.759 --> 00:25:26.420
 Abundant life.

00:25:26.539 --> 00:25:27.359
 Life in his presence.

00:25:28.359 --> 00:25:29.559
 So that's the first promise.

00:25:30.500 --> 00:25:31.460
 That God's discipline

00:25:31.460 --> 00:25:32.599
 is preparing us

00:25:32.599 --> 00:25:34.400
 for abundant life.

00:25:35.960 --> 00:25:36.900
 The second promise

00:25:36.900 --> 00:25:37.480
 in verse 10

00:25:37.480 --> 00:25:38.319
 is that God's discipline

00:25:38.319 --> 00:25:39.119
 is preparing us

00:25:39.119 --> 00:25:40.519
 to share in God's holiness.

00:25:41.579 --> 00:25:41.960
 Again,

00:25:42.019 --> 00:25:43.140
 there's another contrast.

00:25:44.319 --> 00:25:45.279
 They disciplined us

00:25:45.279 --> 00:25:46.299
 for a short time

00:25:46.299 --> 00:25:48.000
 as it seemed best to them.

00:25:49.460 --> 00:25:50.460
 In other words,

00:25:50.559 --> 00:25:51.279
 human parents

00:25:51.279 --> 00:25:52.619
 have a limited role

00:25:52.619 --> 00:25:54.700
 and their efforts,

00:25:55.400 --> 00:25:57.400
 even if well-meaning,

00:25:58.200 --> 00:25:58.920
 are imperfect

00:25:58.920 --> 00:26:00.580
 as it seemed best.

00:26:01.960 --> 00:26:03.279
 But he disciplines us,

00:26:03.380 --> 00:26:04.100
 God disciplines us

00:26:04.100 --> 00:26:04.640
 for our good

00:26:04.640 --> 00:26:05.380
 that we may share

00:26:05.380 --> 00:26:06.080
 in his holiness.

00:26:07.120 --> 00:26:07.640
 God's discipline

00:26:07.640 --> 00:26:09.620
 has a lasting effect,

00:26:10.019 --> 00:26:12.180
 an enduring role.

00:26:13.019 --> 00:26:14.340
 And this is a very important

00:26:14.340 --> 00:26:15.320
 distinction to remember

00:26:15.320 --> 00:26:18.000
 because it's very natural

00:26:18.000 --> 00:26:19.360
 for us to project

00:26:19.360 --> 00:26:22.000
 onto our ideas about God

00:26:22.000 --> 00:26:22.920
 our experience

00:26:23.440 --> 00:26:24.480
 of our own parents.

00:26:24.480 --> 00:26:27.099
 And sometimes

00:26:27.099 --> 00:26:28.079
 that makes us hard,

00:26:28.259 --> 00:26:29.079
 that makes it hard

00:26:29.079 --> 00:26:29.700
 for us

00:26:29.700 --> 00:26:31.460
 to relate to God

00:26:31.460 --> 00:26:32.759
 as he really is

00:26:32.759 --> 00:26:34.740
 because our experience

00:26:34.740 --> 00:26:36.099
 with our own father

00:26:36.099 --> 00:26:36.920
 or mother

00:26:36.920 --> 00:26:39.079
 or even

00:26:39.079 --> 00:26:40.579
 their weaknesses

00:26:40.579 --> 00:26:42.620
 or their absence

00:26:42.620 --> 00:26:44.680
 makes it hard for us

00:26:44.680 --> 00:26:46.019
 to draw near to God

00:26:46.019 --> 00:26:47.220
 in the way

00:26:47.220 --> 00:26:48.259
 that he reveals himself

00:26:48.259 --> 00:26:49.960
 as a father

00:26:49.960 --> 00:26:50.640
 who loves

00:26:50.640 --> 00:26:51.799
 and receives

00:26:51.799 --> 00:26:52.299
 his children,

00:26:52.299 --> 00:26:53.960
 who is faithful

00:26:53.960 --> 00:26:55.079
 and committed

00:26:55.079 --> 00:26:56.399
 and unfailing

00:26:56.399 --> 00:26:57.180
 in his love.

00:26:58.359 --> 00:26:59.559
 And Hebrews reminds us

00:26:59.559 --> 00:27:02.259
 that God is utterly distinct

00:27:02.259 --> 00:27:03.779
 from even the best

00:27:03.779 --> 00:27:04.559
 of human parents.

00:27:04.680 --> 00:27:05.279
 He is the one

00:27:05.279 --> 00:27:05.919
 who embodies

00:27:05.919 --> 00:27:06.740
 and defines

00:27:06.740 --> 00:27:08.859
 true fatherhood.

00:27:10.759 --> 00:27:11.980
 Our parents did the best

00:27:11.980 --> 00:27:12.379
 they could

00:27:12.379 --> 00:27:13.299
 for a limited time.

00:27:14.180 --> 00:27:15.319
 But God's discipline

00:27:15.319 --> 00:27:17.240
 is utterly pure

00:27:17.240 --> 00:27:17.779
 and lasting.

00:27:17.779 --> 00:27:20.660
 It's so that we may share

00:27:20.660 --> 00:27:21.299
 in his holiness.

00:27:22.059 --> 00:27:22.639
 In other words,

00:27:22.720 --> 00:27:23.859
 in God's

00:27:23.859 --> 00:27:25.879
 unstained purity,

00:27:26.500 --> 00:27:27.899
 in his perfect

00:27:27.899 --> 00:27:29.000
 wholeness,

00:27:30.399 --> 00:27:30.980
 unbroken.

00:27:32.660 --> 00:27:33.859
 Hebrews has already told us

00:27:33.859 --> 00:27:34.660
 that through the sacrifice

00:27:34.660 --> 00:27:35.539
 of Jesus Christ

00:27:35.539 --> 00:27:36.519
 we're set apart

00:27:36.519 --> 00:27:37.399
 for holiness.

00:27:37.599 --> 00:27:38.359
 We're sanctified.

00:27:38.460 --> 00:27:39.379
 It's the same word.

00:27:40.319 --> 00:27:41.440
 Set apart for holiness.

00:27:42.019 --> 00:27:42.460
 And he's saying

00:27:42.460 --> 00:27:43.220
 through his discipline

00:27:43.220 --> 00:27:44.319
 he's making us

00:27:44.319 --> 00:27:45.440
 into what he's already

00:27:45.440 --> 00:27:46.680
 called us to be.

00:27:46.680 --> 00:27:49.700
 He's making us

00:27:49.700 --> 00:27:50.200
 to share

00:27:50.200 --> 00:27:50.900
 in that holiness

00:27:50.900 --> 00:27:51.620
 that we've already

00:27:51.620 --> 00:27:52.640
 been set apart for.

00:27:54.640 --> 00:27:55.600
 So there's the promise

00:27:55.600 --> 00:27:56.200
 of life,

00:27:56.360 --> 00:27:57.279
 of holiness,

00:27:57.600 --> 00:27:58.060
 and third,

00:27:58.160 --> 00:27:59.039
 the peaceful fruit

00:27:59.039 --> 00:27:59.700
 of righteousness.

00:28:00.560 --> 00:28:01.180
 Now verse 11

00:28:01.180 --> 00:28:03.240
 is very honest.

00:28:03.779 --> 00:28:04.060
 He says,

00:28:04.140 --> 00:28:04.660
 for the moment

00:28:04.660 --> 00:28:05.880
 all discipline

00:28:05.880 --> 00:28:06.680
 seems painful

00:28:06.680 --> 00:28:07.560
 rather than pleasant.

00:28:08.960 --> 00:28:09.940
 Isn't that true?

00:28:11.519 --> 00:28:12.039
 Right?

00:28:12.080 --> 00:28:12.820
 In almost any kind

00:28:12.820 --> 00:28:13.340
 of training

00:28:13.340 --> 00:28:14.620
 there's an ironic

00:28:14.620 --> 00:28:15.160
 pattern.

00:28:16.680 --> 00:28:17.900
 If you're studying

00:28:17.900 --> 00:28:20.019
 the more you learn

00:28:20.019 --> 00:28:21.640
 the more you realize

00:28:21.640 --> 00:28:22.539
 how much you don't know.

00:28:24.200 --> 00:28:25.320
 I was a history major

00:28:25.320 --> 00:28:25.920
 in college.

00:28:26.600 --> 00:28:26.980
 I had to take

00:28:26.980 --> 00:28:27.440
 two courses

00:28:27.440 --> 00:28:28.380
 in American history,

00:28:28.820 --> 00:28:29.220
 two courses

00:28:29.220 --> 00:28:30.180
 in European history,

00:28:30.560 --> 00:28:31.019
 three courses

00:28:31.019 --> 00:28:31.620
 in other parts

00:28:31.620 --> 00:28:32.000
 of the world,

00:28:32.039 --> 00:28:32.740
 and three electives.

00:28:32.840 --> 00:28:33.299
 I even took

00:28:33.299 --> 00:28:34.220
 a couple of extras.

00:28:35.060 --> 00:28:35.779
 What I realized

00:28:35.779 --> 00:28:36.539
 over time

00:28:36.539 --> 00:28:37.940
 is that I hardly

00:28:37.940 --> 00:28:38.480
 know anything

00:28:38.480 --> 00:28:39.100
 about history.

00:28:40.580 --> 00:28:41.420
 Half the time

00:28:41.420 --> 00:28:42.080
 when people come

00:28:42.080 --> 00:28:42.560
 to me and say,

00:28:42.640 --> 00:28:43.200
 oh have you read

00:28:43.200 --> 00:28:43.779
 this book

00:28:43.779 --> 00:28:45.320
 written by this historian?

00:28:45.319 --> 00:28:46.279
 I'll say,

00:28:46.319 --> 00:28:46.899
 I have no idea

00:28:46.899 --> 00:28:47.919
 who that historian is.

00:28:49.139 --> 00:28:50.200
 Or do you know

00:28:50.200 --> 00:28:51.299
 about this American

00:28:51.299 --> 00:28:52.159
 president who lived

00:28:52.159 --> 00:28:53.259
 in the late 19th century?

00:28:53.359 --> 00:28:53.799
 And I'll say,

00:28:54.039 --> 00:28:54.679
 none of my history

00:28:54.679 --> 00:28:55.599
 classes covered that.

00:28:56.939 --> 00:28:58.099
 I'm completely ignorant.

00:28:58.279 --> 00:28:58.779
 I'm sorry.

00:29:00.039 --> 00:29:01.159
 I'm a history major

00:29:01.159 --> 00:29:03.059
 and I'm nearly ignorant.

00:29:04.599 --> 00:29:05.279
 Let alone

00:29:05.279 --> 00:29:06.419
 all the other 50 majors

00:29:06.419 --> 00:29:07.339
 that I didn't major in.

00:29:07.339 --> 00:29:11.559
 There's a similar pattern

00:29:11.559 --> 00:29:12.459
 in athletic training.

00:29:14.199 --> 00:29:15.480
 The stronger you get,

00:29:15.959 --> 00:29:17.099
 the weaker you feel.

00:29:18.059 --> 00:29:18.419
 Right?

00:29:18.480 --> 00:29:19.199
 You go out for a good

00:29:19.199 --> 00:29:20.119
 workout with the team

00:29:20.119 --> 00:29:21.619
 or you go to the gym

00:29:21.619 --> 00:29:22.099
 to lift,

00:29:22.500 --> 00:29:23.359
 you come back

00:29:23.359 --> 00:29:24.419
 an hour and a half later

00:29:24.419 --> 00:29:25.539
 feeling weaker

00:29:25.539 --> 00:29:26.679
 and more tired

00:29:26.679 --> 00:29:27.599
 and sore

00:29:27.599 --> 00:29:28.919
 than when you started.

00:29:31.259 --> 00:29:31.659
 Spiritually,

00:29:31.859 --> 00:29:33.039
 the more clearly

00:29:33.039 --> 00:29:34.339
 you see God's character

00:29:34.339 --> 00:29:36.179
 and God's law

00:29:36.179 --> 00:29:38.319
 and God's calling

00:29:38.319 --> 00:29:38.799
 for you,

00:29:38.879 --> 00:29:39.419
 the more clearly

00:29:39.419 --> 00:29:40.500
 you see how far

00:29:40.500 --> 00:29:41.220
 you have to go

00:29:41.220 --> 00:29:43.779
 and the flaws

00:29:43.779 --> 00:29:45.319
 that are still there.

00:29:46.519 --> 00:29:48.039
 But he reminds us

00:29:48.039 --> 00:29:49.179
 that's all part

00:29:49.179 --> 00:29:50.079
 of the process

00:29:50.079 --> 00:29:51.379
 of growth

00:29:51.379 --> 00:29:52.019
 and training.

00:29:52.980 --> 00:29:53.740
 For the moment,

00:29:53.819 --> 00:29:54.639
 it seems painful.

00:29:55.459 --> 00:29:56.619
 But in the long term,

00:29:56.899 --> 00:29:58.179
 there's a peaceful

00:29:58.179 --> 00:29:59.259
 harvest of righteousness

00:29:59.259 --> 00:30:00.879
 for those who have

00:30:00.879 --> 00:30:01.439
 been trained

00:30:01.439 --> 00:30:02.740
 by it.

00:30:02.740 --> 00:30:04.140
 Let me close

00:30:04.140 --> 00:30:04.579
 with a quote

00:30:04.579 --> 00:30:05.299
 from C.S. Lewis.

00:30:06.519 --> 00:30:07.160
 He talks about

00:30:07.160 --> 00:30:08.680
 our life as a house,

00:30:10.120 --> 00:30:10.960
 as God who has

00:30:10.960 --> 00:30:12.200
 purchased us

00:30:12.200 --> 00:30:13.160
 and bought us

00:30:13.160 --> 00:30:14.279
 and is making us

00:30:14.279 --> 00:30:14.759
 into what he's

00:30:14.759 --> 00:30:15.359
 called us to be.

00:30:15.420 --> 00:30:15.660
 He says,

00:30:15.720 --> 00:30:16.420
 imagine yourself

00:30:16.420 --> 00:30:17.420
 as a living house.

00:30:18.279 --> 00:30:19.000
 God comes in

00:30:19.000 --> 00:30:20.660
 to rebuild that house.

00:30:21.140 --> 00:30:21.700
 At first,

00:30:21.779 --> 00:30:22.099
 perhaps,

00:30:22.160 --> 00:30:22.819
 you can understand

00:30:22.819 --> 00:30:23.660
 what he is doing.

00:30:24.539 --> 00:30:25.500
 He's getting the drains

00:30:25.500 --> 00:30:26.339
 right and stopping

00:30:26.339 --> 00:30:27.240
 the leaks in the roof

00:30:27.240 --> 00:30:27.799
 and so on.

00:30:27.880 --> 00:30:28.599
 You knew that these

00:30:28.599 --> 00:30:29.559
 jobs needed doing

00:30:29.559 --> 00:30:30.400
 and so you were

00:30:30.400 --> 00:30:31.200
 not surprised.

00:30:31.559 --> 00:30:32.339
 But presently,

00:30:32.339 --> 00:30:33.139
 he starts knocking

00:30:33.139 --> 00:30:33.899
 the house about

00:30:33.899 --> 00:30:34.779
 in a way that hurts

00:30:34.779 --> 00:30:36.139
 terribly and does

00:30:36.139 --> 00:30:36.839
 not seem to make

00:30:36.839 --> 00:30:37.519
 any sense.

00:30:37.879 --> 00:30:38.740
 What on earth

00:30:38.740 --> 00:30:39.619
 is he up to?

00:30:40.799 --> 00:30:41.699
 The explanation

00:30:41.699 --> 00:30:43.199
 is that he is

00:30:43.199 --> 00:30:44.000
 building quite a

00:30:44.000 --> 00:30:44.679
 different house

00:30:44.679 --> 00:30:45.619
 from the one

00:30:45.619 --> 00:30:46.339
 you thought of.

00:30:46.980 --> 00:30:47.599
 Throwing out

00:30:47.599 --> 00:30:48.559
 a new wing here,

00:30:49.019 --> 00:30:49.599
 putting on an

00:30:49.599 --> 00:30:50.559
 extra floor there,

00:30:50.679 --> 00:30:51.599
 running up towers,

00:30:51.759 --> 00:30:52.799
 making courtyards.

00:30:53.279 --> 00:30:53.939
 You thought you

00:30:53.939 --> 00:30:54.699
 were being made

00:30:54.699 --> 00:30:57.119
 into just a little

00:30:57.119 --> 00:30:57.599
 cottage.

00:30:58.039 --> 00:30:59.240
 But he is building

00:30:59.240 --> 00:31:00.199
 a palace.

00:31:00.200 --> 00:31:01.920
 He intends to come

00:31:01.920 --> 00:31:02.920
 and live in your

00:31:02.920 --> 00:31:04.360
 house himself.

00:31:06.019 --> 00:31:06.660
 Let's pray.

00:31:15.840 --> 00:31:16.799
 Lord, we thank you

00:31:16.799 --> 00:31:19.140
 that you see

00:31:19.140 --> 00:31:21.120
 as our Father

00:31:21.120 --> 00:31:21.819
 far beyond

00:31:21.819 --> 00:31:22.420
 what we can.

00:31:22.420 --> 00:31:24.240
 we thank you

00:31:24.240 --> 00:31:24.840
 that you have

00:31:24.840 --> 00:31:26.820
 destined us

00:31:26.820 --> 00:31:27.420
 for glory

00:31:27.420 --> 00:31:29.700
 through Jesus Christ

00:31:29.700 --> 00:31:31.340
 as your sons

00:31:31.340 --> 00:31:31.820
 and daughters.

00:31:33.000 --> 00:31:33.980
 We pray that you

00:31:33.980 --> 00:31:36.060
 would teach us

00:31:36.060 --> 00:31:36.640
 to endure,

00:31:37.700 --> 00:31:38.620
 to trust

00:31:38.620 --> 00:31:40.279
 what you are doing

00:31:40.279 --> 00:31:42.120
 even when it

00:31:42.120 --> 00:31:42.800
 seems confusing

00:31:42.800 --> 00:31:43.640
 and hard.

00:31:44.600 --> 00:31:45.500
 We pray that we

00:31:45.500 --> 00:31:46.220
 would be trained

00:31:46.220 --> 00:31:47.440
 by your discipline,

00:31:47.560 --> 00:31:48.380
 that we would receive it,

00:31:48.440 --> 00:31:49.000
 that we would not

00:31:49.000 --> 00:31:50.039
 despise it

00:31:50.039 --> 00:31:50.700
 or run away,

00:31:50.700 --> 00:31:52.299
 and that we would

00:31:52.299 --> 00:31:53.680
 not crumple

00:31:53.680 --> 00:31:54.259
 under it

00:31:54.259 --> 00:31:55.360
 and despair.

00:31:56.920 --> 00:31:57.559
 But Lord,

00:31:57.700 --> 00:31:58.440
 we pray that you

00:31:58.440 --> 00:31:59.100
 would remind us

00:31:59.100 --> 00:32:00.200
 that you are

00:32:00.200 --> 00:32:01.319
 a faithful Father

00:32:01.319 --> 00:32:01.920
 who disciplines

00:32:01.920 --> 00:32:02.759
 those you love.

00:32:05.880 --> 00:32:06.279
 Lord,

00:32:06.360 --> 00:32:06.940
 thank you for this

00:32:06.940 --> 00:32:07.160
 word.

00:32:08.160 --> 00:32:08.640
 We pray that you

00:32:08.640 --> 00:32:09.340
 would make it

00:32:09.340 --> 00:32:09.860
 fruitful in our

00:32:09.860 --> 00:32:10.519
 lives this week.

00:32:10.799 --> 00:32:11.519
 In Jesus' name,

00:32:11.740 --> 00:32:11.940
 amen.

00:32:14.480 --> 00:32:14.880
 Well,

00:32:14.900 --> 00:32:15.360
 this morning,

00:32:15.519 --> 00:32:16.539
 we're going to

00:32:16.539 --> 00:32:17.420
 celebrate baptism.

00:32:17.420 --> 00:32:17.539
 baptism.

00:32:18.700 --> 00:32:19.320
 And baptism

00:32:19.320 --> 00:32:21.480
 is a wonderful,

00:32:21.980 --> 00:32:23.220
 symbolic declaration

00:32:23.220 --> 00:32:24.440
 of our status

00:32:24.440 --> 00:32:25.900
 as God's children

00:32:25.900 --> 00:32:28.160
 who are brought

00:32:28.160 --> 00:32:28.960
 into his family

00:32:28.960 --> 00:32:29.539
 through Jesus.

00:32:32.100 --> 00:32:33.140
 Maybe you're here

00:32:33.140 --> 00:32:34.100
 and maybe you're

00:32:34.100 --> 00:32:35.539
 exploring Christianity.

00:32:36.000 --> 00:32:36.660
 Maybe you haven't

00:32:36.660 --> 00:32:38.380
 yet put your faith

00:32:38.380 --> 00:32:38.940
 and trust

00:32:38.940 --> 00:32:39.800
 in Jesus Christ.

00:32:39.900 --> 00:32:40.500
 You haven't yet

00:32:40.500 --> 00:32:40.800
 said,

00:32:41.200 --> 00:32:41.480
 yes,

00:32:41.920 --> 00:32:42.900
 I want to embark

00:32:42.900 --> 00:32:43.500
 on that journey

00:32:43.500 --> 00:32:43.980
 with him.

00:32:45.200 --> 00:32:45.420
 Well,

00:32:45.460 --> 00:32:46.140
 baptism is a

00:32:46.140 --> 00:32:47.080
 symbolic picture

00:32:47.080 --> 00:32:48.600
 of what it means

00:32:48.600 --> 00:32:49.740
 to do that,

00:32:49.840 --> 00:32:50.780
 to take the plunge,

00:32:51.420 --> 00:32:53.360
 to surrender

00:32:53.360 --> 00:32:54.360
 your life to Jesus.

00:32:55.540 --> 00:32:55.860
 And so,

00:32:55.920 --> 00:32:56.480
 it's an invitation

00:32:56.480 --> 00:32:57.400
 to consider that

00:32:57.400 --> 00:32:58.180
 and consider

00:32:58.180 --> 00:33:00.420
 what God

00:33:00.420 --> 00:33:01.000
 is calling

00:33:01.000 --> 00:33:02.200
 us into.

00:33:04.080 --> 00:33:04.580
 Baptism

00:33:04.580 --> 00:33:06.660
 represents a few

00:33:06.660 --> 00:33:07.100
 things.

00:33:07.780 --> 00:33:08.480
 It's getting dunked

00:33:08.480 --> 00:33:08.980
 in the water,

00:33:09.740 --> 00:33:10.560
 washed in the water,

00:33:10.620 --> 00:33:11.460
 and it represents

00:33:11.460 --> 00:33:13.380
 the work of Jesus

00:33:13.380 --> 00:33:14.120
 Christ that has

00:33:14.120 --> 00:33:14.840
 cleansed us

00:33:14.840 --> 00:33:15.500
 from our sin.

00:33:15.500 --> 00:33:15.980
 Now,

00:33:16.059 --> 00:33:17.480
 baptism is not

00:33:17.480 --> 00:33:18.180
 the way to wash

00:33:18.180 --> 00:33:18.819
 away your sin.

00:33:18.940 --> 00:33:19.400
 Getting dunked

00:33:19.400 --> 00:33:19.880
 in a pool

00:33:19.880 --> 00:33:20.680
 doesn't wash

00:33:20.680 --> 00:33:21.299
 away your sin.

00:33:21.940 --> 00:33:22.700
 But Jesus Christ

00:33:22.700 --> 00:33:23.660
 died on the cross

00:33:23.660 --> 00:33:24.519
 so that we would

00:33:24.519 --> 00:33:25.140
 be cleansed

00:33:25.140 --> 00:33:25.640
 and forgiven,

00:33:26.140 --> 00:33:26.519
 and baptism

00:33:26.519 --> 00:33:27.279
 is a symbolic

00:33:27.279 --> 00:33:28.440
 picture of what

00:33:28.440 --> 00:33:28.980
 God has already

00:33:28.980 --> 00:33:29.319
 done.

00:33:30.559 --> 00:33:31.500
 It's also

00:33:31.500 --> 00:33:32.519
 a public

00:33:32.519 --> 00:33:33.180
 identification

00:33:33.180 --> 00:33:34.079
 with Jesus.

00:33:35.220 --> 00:33:35.319
 And,

00:33:35.380 --> 00:33:36.359
 and,

00:33:36.460 --> 00:33:37.200
 and in a short,

00:33:37.359 --> 00:33:37.740
 and it's,

00:33:38.299 --> 00:33:38.880
 when Jesus

00:33:38.880 --> 00:33:39.619
 was baptized,

00:33:40.259 --> 00:33:40.900
 the heavens

00:33:40.900 --> 00:33:41.740
 were torn open,

00:33:41.960 --> 00:33:42.799
 and God the Father

00:33:42.799 --> 00:33:43.079
 said,

00:33:43.079 --> 00:33:43.980
 you are my son,

00:33:44.399 --> 00:33:45.679
 with you I am

00:33:45.679 --> 00:33:46.460
 well pleased.

00:33:47.279 --> 00:33:47.819
 And we,

00:33:48.019 --> 00:33:48.960
 when we turn to

00:33:48.960 --> 00:33:49.759
 Jesus and trust

00:33:49.759 --> 00:33:50.220
 in him,

00:33:50.879 --> 00:33:51.579
 and when we

00:33:51.579 --> 00:33:52.119
 follow him

00:33:52.119 --> 00:33:52.799
 through baptism,

00:33:53.359 --> 00:33:54.659
 we receive an

00:33:54.659 --> 00:33:56.159
 assurance that we

00:33:56.159 --> 00:33:58.039
 also are God's

00:33:58.039 --> 00:33:59.480
 adopted sons and

00:33:59.480 --> 00:33:59.839
 daughters,

00:34:00.019 --> 00:34:00.419
 beloved,

00:34:01.460 --> 00:34:02.460
 and included in

00:34:02.460 --> 00:34:03.220
 his family that he

00:34:03.220 --> 00:34:04.220
 is well pleased

00:34:04.220 --> 00:34:05.879
 with us.

00:34:07.000 --> 00:34:07.319
 So,

00:34:07.399 --> 00:34:07.720
 if you've been

00:34:07.720 --> 00:34:08.079
 baptized,

00:34:08.299 --> 00:34:08.860
 consider this a

00:34:08.860 --> 00:34:10.019
 reminder and a

00:34:10.019 --> 00:34:10.860
 reaffirmation of

00:34:10.860 --> 00:34:11.579
 your own baptism.

00:34:12.780 --> 00:34:13.480
 Remember what God

00:34:13.480 --> 00:34:14.139
 has promised you.

00:34:14.199 --> 00:34:14.780
 If you haven't been

00:34:14.780 --> 00:34:15.079
 baptized,

00:34:15.300 --> 00:34:15.840
 consider it an

00:34:15.840 --> 00:34:16.300
 invitation.

00:34:16.980 --> 00:34:17.579
 And if you want

00:34:17.579 --> 00:34:18.259
 to talk more about

00:34:18.259 --> 00:34:18.420
 it,

00:34:18.699 --> 00:34:19.380
 feel free to find me

00:34:19.380 --> 00:34:19.980
 after the service.

00:34:20.079 --> 00:34:20.199
 Matt,

00:34:20.239 --> 00:34:20.659
 would you come to

00:34:20.659 --> 00:34:20.980
 the front?

00:34:21.059 --> 00:34:21.480
 Matt's going to

00:34:21.480 --> 00:34:22.840
 share some of

00:34:22.840 --> 00:34:24.880
 his story of how

00:34:24.880 --> 00:34:25.639
 God has worked in

00:34:25.639 --> 00:34:26.119
 his life.

00:34:28.019 --> 00:34:28.840
 I don't think he

00:34:28.840 --> 00:34:29.340
 knew that I was

00:34:29.340 --> 00:34:29.960
 preaching on this

00:34:29.960 --> 00:34:30.280
 passage,

00:34:30.639 --> 00:34:31.280
 and I didn't,

00:34:31.759 --> 00:34:33.079
 we didn't coordinate

00:34:33.079 --> 00:34:34.239
 our stories,

00:34:34.340 --> 00:34:35.000
 but I've seen what

00:34:35.000 --> 00:34:35.440
 he's going to say.

00:34:35.500 --> 00:34:36.119
 It actually connects

00:34:36.119 --> 00:34:37.239
 with this passage

00:34:37.239 --> 00:34:37.880
 really well.

00:34:37.880 --> 00:34:38.200
 So,

00:34:38.640 --> 00:34:40.420
 Matt,

00:34:40.460 --> 00:34:40.640
 why don't you

00:34:40.640 --> 00:34:41.119
 come and share

00:34:41.119 --> 00:34:41.900
 some of what

00:34:41.900 --> 00:34:42.320
 God's done in

00:34:42.320 --> 00:34:42.660
 your life.

00:34:44.460 --> 00:34:44.860
 Hi,

00:34:44.900 --> 00:34:45.160
 everyone.

00:34:46.740 --> 00:34:47.480
 There's a lot

00:34:47.480 --> 00:34:48.160
 of people out

00:34:48.160 --> 00:34:48.320
 here.

00:34:51.160 --> 00:34:51.519
 Morning.

00:34:51.820 --> 00:34:52.440
 For those of

00:34:52.440 --> 00:34:53.000
 you I haven't

00:34:53.000 --> 00:34:53.559
 had the pleasure

00:34:53.559 --> 00:34:53.980
 of meeting,

00:34:54.119 --> 00:34:54.740
 I'm Matt

00:34:54.740 --> 00:34:55.099
 Sherman.

00:34:56.680 --> 00:34:57.079
 Hopefully,

00:34:57.200 --> 00:34:57.640
 I'll get to

00:34:57.640 --> 00:34:58.320
 meet a lot

00:34:58.320 --> 00:34:59.059
 of you at

00:34:59.059 --> 00:34:59.440
 some point

00:34:59.440 --> 00:34:59.800
 or another.

00:35:00.760 --> 00:35:02.460
 I came here

00:35:02.460 --> 00:35:03.680
 just shy of a

00:35:03.680 --> 00:35:04.680
 year ago to

00:35:04.680 --> 00:35:06.280
 take up a job

00:35:06.280 --> 00:35:06.980
 at the University

00:35:06.980 --> 00:35:07.559
 of Bridgeport.

00:35:07.559 --> 00:35:08.380
 as a librarian

00:35:08.380 --> 00:35:10.119
 and thankfully,

00:35:10.400 --> 00:35:11.219
 before I came

00:35:11.219 --> 00:35:11.759
 out here,

00:35:12.019 --> 00:35:12.940
 a number of

00:35:12.940 --> 00:35:14.099
 friends I knew

00:35:14.099 --> 00:35:15.119
 who knew folks

00:35:15.119 --> 00:35:15.739
 in Connecticut

00:35:15.739 --> 00:35:16.940
 had recommended

00:35:16.940 --> 00:35:17.440
 Trinity,

00:35:17.840 --> 00:35:18.820
 so it seemed

00:35:18.820 --> 00:35:19.299
 like a good

00:35:19.299 --> 00:35:20.380
 place to check

00:35:20.380 --> 00:35:21.420
 out and I was

00:35:21.420 --> 00:35:22.759
 really glad I

00:35:22.759 --> 00:35:23.299
 had been able

00:35:23.299 --> 00:35:24.380
 to spend the

00:35:24.380 --> 00:35:25.900
 last 11 or

00:35:25.900 --> 00:35:26.460
 so months

00:35:26.460 --> 00:35:27.679
 worshiping with

00:35:27.679 --> 00:35:28.360
 everyone and

00:35:28.360 --> 00:35:29.500
 getting involved

00:35:29.500 --> 00:35:30.139
 in small group.

00:35:30.279 --> 00:35:31.380
 It's been a

00:35:31.380 --> 00:35:32.699
 really good

00:35:32.699 --> 00:35:33.880
 opportunity to

00:35:33.880 --> 00:35:34.480
 worship and

00:35:34.480 --> 00:35:35.400
 minister out here.

00:35:35.400 --> 00:35:37.840
 so I'm

00:35:37.840 --> 00:35:38.519
 particularly

00:35:38.519 --> 00:35:39.400
 happy today

00:35:39.400 --> 00:35:40.000
 that I'll be

00:35:40.000 --> 00:35:40.420
 coming into

00:35:40.420 --> 00:35:41.420
 membership and

00:35:41.420 --> 00:35:42.579
 as Pastor Greg

00:35:42.579 --> 00:35:42.840
 noted,

00:35:42.960 --> 00:35:43.760
 getting baptized.

00:35:44.300 --> 00:35:45.320
 I was baptized

00:35:45.320 --> 00:35:46.059
 as an infant,

00:35:46.340 --> 00:35:47.720
 but theologically

00:35:47.720 --> 00:35:49.220
 I've come to

00:35:49.220 --> 00:35:49.760
 a different

00:35:49.760 --> 00:35:50.940
 understanding of

00:35:50.940 --> 00:35:51.860
 baptism more in

00:35:51.860 --> 00:35:52.460
 line with what

00:35:52.460 --> 00:35:53.039
 Greg has

00:35:53.039 --> 00:35:53.340
 mentioned.

00:35:53.340 --> 00:35:57.820
 so I'm glad

00:35:57.820 --> 00:35:58.620
 to be able to

00:35:58.620 --> 00:35:59.600
 do all this

00:35:59.600 --> 00:36:00.100
 and kind of

00:36:00.100 --> 00:36:01.780
 publicly profess

00:36:01.780 --> 00:36:03.880
 my faith in

00:36:03.880 --> 00:36:05.160
 Christ as Lord

00:36:05.160 --> 00:36:05.660
 and Savior,

00:36:06.059 --> 00:36:07.260
 and I have not

00:36:07.260 --> 00:36:07.880
 looked at this

00:36:07.880 --> 00:36:08.640
 nearly enough,

00:36:08.760 --> 00:36:09.320
 so I'll probably

00:36:09.320 --> 00:36:09.920
 be paying more

00:36:09.920 --> 00:36:10.559
 attention to the

00:36:10.559 --> 00:36:11.100
 sheet than you

00:36:11.100 --> 00:36:11.420
 guys.

00:36:11.620 --> 00:36:12.180
 My apologies.

00:36:13.780 --> 00:36:14.579
 But I've been

00:36:14.579 --> 00:36:15.400
 asked to,

00:36:15.600 --> 00:36:15.860
 you know,

00:36:16.300 --> 00:36:16.880
 give you a little

00:36:16.880 --> 00:36:17.440
 bit of idea

00:36:17.440 --> 00:36:18.440
 how I got here

00:36:18.440 --> 00:36:20.140
 and the work

00:36:20.140 --> 00:36:20.920
 of grace that's

00:36:20.920 --> 00:36:21.539
 been done in my

00:36:21.539 --> 00:36:21.880
 life.

00:36:21.880 --> 00:36:23.660
 So I started

00:36:23.660 --> 00:36:24.300
 out growing up

00:36:24.300 --> 00:36:25.220
 in a small town

00:36:25.220 --> 00:36:26.200
 in Wisconsin

00:36:26.200 --> 00:36:28.140
 with my family.

00:36:28.400 --> 00:36:28.940
 We largely

00:36:28.940 --> 00:36:29.880
 attended a

00:36:29.880 --> 00:36:30.900
 United Methodist

00:36:30.900 --> 00:36:31.300
 church.

00:36:31.940 --> 00:36:32.740
 They'd done a

00:36:32.740 --> 00:36:33.660
 pretty good job

00:36:33.660 --> 00:36:34.519
 of providing a

00:36:34.519 --> 00:36:35.360
 foundation to

00:36:35.360 --> 00:36:36.240
 build my faith

00:36:36.240 --> 00:36:36.780
 off of,

00:36:36.880 --> 00:36:37.240
 but I wouldn't

00:36:37.240 --> 00:36:38.039
 say I knew

00:36:38.039 --> 00:36:39.360
 Jesus at that

00:36:39.360 --> 00:36:40.059
 point in time.

00:36:40.420 --> 00:36:41.280
 In high school

00:36:41.280 --> 00:36:43.019
 I tended towards

00:36:43.019 --> 00:36:43.780
 the more common

00:36:43.780 --> 00:36:44.880
 misperception of

00:36:44.880 --> 00:36:46.640
 him as a

00:36:46.640 --> 00:36:47.380
 friendly God

00:36:47.380 --> 00:36:48.240
 who would give

00:36:48.240 --> 00:36:48.900
 us what we

00:36:48.900 --> 00:36:51.019
 wanted and,

00:36:51.019 --> 00:36:51.500
 you know,

00:36:51.500 --> 00:36:52.059
 want us to be

00:36:52.059 --> 00:36:52.400
 happy.

00:36:52.619 --> 00:36:53.000
 And there's

00:36:53.000 --> 00:36:54.079
 some truth to

00:36:54.079 --> 00:36:54.380
 that,

00:36:54.639 --> 00:36:55.579
 but even at

00:36:55.579 --> 00:36:56.039
 that point I

00:36:56.039 --> 00:36:56.320
 don't think I

00:36:56.320 --> 00:36:57.119
 was entirely

00:36:57.119 --> 00:36:58.260
 content with

00:36:58.260 --> 00:36:59.119
 that viewpoint.

00:37:00.559 --> 00:37:01.619
 And so when I

00:37:01.619 --> 00:37:04.320
 started at the

00:37:04.320 --> 00:37:04.860
 University of

00:37:04.860 --> 00:37:05.840
 Wisconsin in my

00:37:05.840 --> 00:37:06.440
 freshman year,

00:37:06.500 --> 00:37:07.380
 I wanted to

00:37:07.380 --> 00:37:09.280
 make sure that I

00:37:09.280 --> 00:37:10.420
 got plugged in

00:37:10.420 --> 00:37:11.059
 with a group of

00:37:11.059 --> 00:37:11.920
 believers to

00:37:11.920 --> 00:37:13.199
 really understand

00:37:13.199 --> 00:37:14.559
 who Jesus was

00:37:14.559 --> 00:37:15.159
 and learn more

00:37:15.159 --> 00:37:15.599
 about him.

00:37:16.360 --> 00:37:17.019
 Thankfully the

00:37:17.019 --> 00:37:17.780
 Lord saw a fit

00:37:17.780 --> 00:37:19.039
 to connect me

00:37:19.039 --> 00:37:20.300
 with the local

00:37:20.300 --> 00:37:21.519
 navigator ministry

00:37:21.519 --> 00:37:23.539
 my freshman year

00:37:23.539 --> 00:37:24.779
 and he used

00:37:24.779 --> 00:37:25.699
 that just

00:37:25.699 --> 00:37:26.360
 great,

00:37:26.619 --> 00:37:27.539
 absolutely awesome

00:37:27.539 --> 00:37:28.940
 community to

00:37:28.940 --> 00:37:29.639
 teach me who

00:37:29.639 --> 00:37:30.699
 he really was.

00:37:31.239 --> 00:37:31.800
 By the end of

00:37:31.800 --> 00:37:32.480
 my freshman year,

00:37:32.519 --> 00:37:33.380
 I can confidently

00:37:33.380 --> 00:37:34.739
 say that I knew

00:37:34.739 --> 00:37:36.219
 who Jesus was

00:37:36.219 --> 00:37:38.539
 and that he

00:37:38.539 --> 00:37:39.840
 was my Lord

00:37:39.840 --> 00:37:41.059
 and I kind of,

00:37:41.099 --> 00:37:42.000
 I started loving

00:37:42.000 --> 00:37:44.159
 him not for the

00:37:44.159 --> 00:37:45.420
 nice things he

00:37:45.420 --> 00:37:46.619
 could give me

00:37:46.619 --> 00:37:47.940
 and fulfilling

00:37:47.940 --> 00:37:49.000
 the sinful

00:37:49.000 --> 00:37:49.799
 desires of my

00:37:49.799 --> 00:37:50.400
 heart, but

00:37:50.400 --> 00:37:51.739
 rather that I

00:37:51.739 --> 00:37:52.839
 started loving

00:37:52.839 --> 00:37:53.440
 him for who

00:37:53.440 --> 00:37:54.639
 he was and

00:37:54.639 --> 00:37:55.639
 what he's already

00:37:55.639 --> 00:37:56.519
 done for us

00:37:56.519 --> 00:37:58.440
 in his death

00:37:58.440 --> 00:37:59.179
 on the cross.

00:38:00.699 --> 00:38:01.900
 So I can,

00:38:02.079 --> 00:38:02.699
 and I can see

00:38:02.699 --> 00:38:03.299
 from that over

00:38:03.299 --> 00:38:03.980
 the years how

00:38:03.980 --> 00:38:05.799
 it's, he's been

00:38:05.799 --> 00:38:06.539
 reshaping my

00:38:06.539 --> 00:38:07.239
 desires to be

00:38:07.239 --> 00:38:07.739
 more in line

00:38:07.739 --> 00:38:08.380
 with his.

00:38:09.539 --> 00:38:10.719
 Yet, unlike

00:38:10.719 --> 00:38:11.579
 what a lot of

00:38:11.579 --> 00:38:12.639
 prosperity preachers

00:38:12.639 --> 00:38:13.319
 have to say,

00:38:13.779 --> 00:38:14.319
 God doesn't

00:38:14.319 --> 00:38:15.299
 promise us to

00:38:15.300 --> 00:38:16.300
 fulfill all our

00:38:16.300 --> 00:38:16.960
 desires and

00:38:16.960 --> 00:38:18.500
 give us a life

00:38:18.500 --> 00:38:19.519
 easy or to

00:38:19.519 --> 00:38:20.200
 make us wealthy.

00:38:20.780 --> 00:38:21.300
 So after

00:38:21.300 --> 00:38:22.220
 graduating from

00:38:22.220 --> 00:38:23.380
 Madison, I had

00:38:23.380 --> 00:38:24.140
 to deal with my

00:38:24.140 --> 00:38:25.680
 fair share of

00:38:25.680 --> 00:38:26.700
 hardship as well.

00:38:27.260 --> 00:38:27.980
 A few prolonged

00:38:27.980 --> 00:38:28.500
 periods of

00:38:28.500 --> 00:38:30.460
 unemployment, some

00:38:30.460 --> 00:38:31.460
 very difficult work

00:38:31.460 --> 00:38:32.560
 environments, being

00:38:32.560 --> 00:38:34.539
 strapped for cash

00:38:34.539 --> 00:38:36.200
 financially, some

00:38:36.200 --> 00:38:37.700
 medical issues, and

00:38:37.700 --> 00:38:38.820
 just struggling to

00:38:38.820 --> 00:38:40.340
 put those habitual

00:38:40.340 --> 00:38:42.340
 sins to death, which

00:38:42.340 --> 00:38:43.539
 is still a really

00:38:43.539 --> 00:38:44.539
 frustrating desire.

00:38:47.279 --> 00:38:49.239
 Yet, while he

00:38:49.239 --> 00:38:50.579
 doesn't promise to

00:38:50.579 --> 00:38:51.500
 give us an easy,

00:38:51.699 --> 00:38:53.179
 prosperous life, he

00:38:53.179 --> 00:38:54.079
 does promise us

00:38:54.079 --> 00:38:57.159
 himself that he'll

00:38:57.159 --> 00:38:58.019
 be with us and

00:38:58.019 --> 00:38:58.599
 that he'll never

00:38:58.599 --> 00:38:59.460
 forsake us.

00:38:59.920 --> 00:39:00.539
 And that is a

00:39:00.539 --> 00:39:01.279
 promise I can

00:39:01.279 --> 00:39:02.500
 definitely say I've

00:39:02.500 --> 00:39:03.199
 seen time and

00:39:03.199 --> 00:39:03.519
 again.

00:39:04.159 --> 00:39:05.320
 I can remember the

00:39:05.320 --> 00:39:06.119
 gracious way he

00:39:06.119 --> 00:39:07.860
 used the situations

00:39:07.860 --> 00:39:08.739
 and for my

00:39:08.739 --> 00:39:11.579
 friends to place

00:39:11.579 --> 00:39:12.480
 me in graduate

00:39:12.480 --> 00:39:14.799
 school at a time

00:39:14.799 --> 00:39:15.539
 that I thought it

00:39:15.539 --> 00:39:16.319
 was entirely

00:39:16.319 --> 00:39:16.980
 unlikely.

00:39:17.880 --> 00:39:18.920
 I remember his

00:39:18.920 --> 00:39:19.500
 provision and

00:39:19.500 --> 00:39:20.400
 comfort during those

00:39:20.400 --> 00:39:21.199
 periods of

00:39:21.199 --> 00:39:24.460
 unemployment, comforting

00:39:24.460 --> 00:39:26.319
 me, providing for

00:39:26.319 --> 00:39:27.599
 my needs at the

00:39:27.599 --> 00:39:29.059
 time, and helping

00:39:29.059 --> 00:39:30.460
 me to see, even

00:39:30.460 --> 00:39:31.039
 when I had no

00:39:31.039 --> 00:39:32.299
 prospects, that he

00:39:32.299 --> 00:39:33.000
 was good and he

00:39:33.000 --> 00:39:34.219
 was sovereign, and

00:39:34.219 --> 00:39:36.299
 that I was far

00:39:36.299 --> 00:39:37.779
 better to trust on

00:39:37.779 --> 00:39:39.539
 his provision rather

00:39:39.539 --> 00:39:40.380
 than on my own

00:39:40.380 --> 00:39:40.960
 skills.

00:39:41.860 --> 00:39:43.199
 And I definitely

00:39:43.199 --> 00:39:44.199
 remember his grace

00:39:44.199 --> 00:39:44.840
 in giving me the

00:39:44.840 --> 00:39:45.559
 opportunity to go

00:39:45.559 --> 00:39:46.500
 overseas for six

00:39:46.500 --> 00:39:47.559
 weeks and be part

00:39:47.559 --> 00:39:49.159
 of a team to help

00:39:49.159 --> 00:39:50.840
 with a short-term

00:39:50.840 --> 00:39:51.659
 ministry and see

00:39:51.659 --> 00:39:52.960
 seven people come to

00:39:52.960 --> 00:39:53.960
 Christ at the time

00:39:53.960 --> 00:39:55.500
 we were there, and

00:39:55.500 --> 00:39:56.800
 be given the fun

00:39:56.800 --> 00:39:57.659
 privilege to help

00:39:57.659 --> 00:39:59.039
 those new folks

00:39:59.039 --> 00:40:01.699
 understand and learn

00:40:01.699 --> 00:40:03.099
 about the scripture

00:40:03.099 --> 00:40:04.599
 and the gospel.

00:40:05.019 --> 00:40:05.519
 And I've certainly

00:40:05.519 --> 00:40:06.579
 seen his grace in

00:40:06.579 --> 00:40:08.320
 him bringing me out

00:40:08.320 --> 00:40:10.280
 here in a very rapid

00:40:10.280 --> 00:40:11.360
 and rushed manner

00:40:11.360 --> 00:40:13.580
 and being able to

00:40:13.580 --> 00:40:14.539
 plug in with you

00:40:14.539 --> 00:40:16.160
 guys and be

00:40:16.160 --> 00:40:18.039
 provided for all of

00:40:18.039 --> 00:40:20.120
 my needs in moving

00:40:20.120 --> 00:40:20.660
 to this new

00:40:20.660 --> 00:40:21.220
 community.

00:40:22.140 --> 00:40:24.120
 So I'm particularly

00:40:24.120 --> 00:40:25.260
 glad he's brought

00:40:25.260 --> 00:40:25.880
 me into this

00:40:25.880 --> 00:40:27.180
 community, and I'm

00:40:27.180 --> 00:40:28.840
 happy to be able to

00:40:28.840 --> 00:40:30.140
 join you all today

00:40:30.140 --> 00:40:31.980
 and look forward to

00:40:31.980 --> 00:40:32.840
 be ministering with

00:40:32.840 --> 00:40:34.760
 you all while I'm

00:40:34.760 --> 00:40:35.820
 here in New Haven.

00:40:36.260 --> 00:40:36.620
 Thanks.

00:40:36.620 --> 00:40:36.680
 Thanks.

00:40:38.320 --> 00:40:39.480
 best

00:40:39.480 --> 00:41:09.460
 Thank you.