WEBVTT

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 a good time to thank you all for being so gracious and kind to me over the last few days.

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 Mostly because Tommy says that he preaches for 30 to 40 minutes,

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 and I don't have that much content, so this counts.

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 So I've at least managed to spend 17 seconds saying thank you.

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 And by way of further stretching, I think it's important for us to remember

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 where we've been so far this week.

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 We began in chapter 2 in Ephesians,

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 and we talked about how in the first part of verses 1 and 3 especially,

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 Paul gives this comprehensive analysis of the human condition apart from God

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 that we link to the baptismal idea of rejecting both the world, the flesh, and the devil.

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 And Paul talks about how different ways spiritual powers and forces

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 and our own desires in the world lead us away from God

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 and create this unstable community and rebellion against him.

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 And then we talked about how he moves from that,

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 one of the glorious conjunctions that you have in the New Testament,

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 but God who is rich in his mercy.

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 And he talks about who we have now become in Christ Jesus.

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 And then he talks about the unity that arises from the work of Christ,

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 that the Gentiles who were once alienated from God are now a part of one family.

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 And then we talked about in chapter 3, Paul's own description of his ministry,

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 that Paul was a prisoner of Jesus Christ for the Gentiles.

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 And we talked about how Paul's lauding his prison ministry is an example to us of the fact that this gospel cost us something,

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 that proclaiming the full gospel of Jesus Christ always carries with it opposition and oppression.

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 We moved down through the second half of chapter 3 relatively quickly on Saturday,

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 and we talked about the stewardship of the mystery,

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 the fact that we have been given this precious gospel of which we're stewards.

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 And this glorious gospel that involves the triune God,

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 bring us into fellowship with him and one another,

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 reconciling us both to God and to man,

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 to create this church that is a picture of or a witness to the watching world,

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 seems like much too big of a gospel for us to actually hold.

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 And so Paul concludes the section that we read with a prayer that the congregation would actually believe

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 or have the strength to grasp what he's just told them.

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 And the part that we actually didn't get to is at the very bottom,

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 verses, chapter 3, verses 20 and 21.

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 So he concludes this section.

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 Now, him who is able to do abundantly more than all that we can ask or imagine,

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 according to the power at work within him,

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 to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever.

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 In other words, Paul is saying God can do more than we can even possibly conceive.

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 And so one of the things, and I understand,

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 like when people say you need to come to a church,

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 you need to have a vision, you need to have a plan,

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 you want to say in five years we want our church to be here,

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 we want to have this building, we want to do these things, right?

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 We think we know what Advent might be in five years.

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 And it's Tommy's job and the staff's job to pray for that.

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 But we're told that God can do that which we cannot even imagine.

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 That it's possible for God to do things in and through this church

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 that were actually unthinkable before they occurred.

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 So when we talk about, you know, one of the things we've had happen here with the staff,

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 we've had discussions of multi-ethnicity and diversity,

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 and we want, you know, this church to be a possibly more diverse place.

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 And we may think it would be great if we made it to 10 or 20 percent.

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 But what if God actually would do the unimaginable?

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 What if God could use this church to begin to transform not just this one particular parish,

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 but the ACNA's approach to ethnicity and diversity?

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 That's unimaginable.

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 But that's within the scope of what Paul talks about here.

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 So now we're into chapter four, where Paul has, in some sense,

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 in the first three chapters of this epistle, he has focused, not exclusively,

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 but a lot on getting them to understand who they are in Christ,

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 the glorious riches they inherit that they have as followers of Jesus.

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 And now he focuses on how they should live.

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 You've heard this wonderful gospel.

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 And what does it look like to actually live?

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 And he says this,

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 I, therefore, a prisoner of the Lord,

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 urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.

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 What does it mean to walk worthy?

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 Let me give you a brief example.

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 So Tommy sent me a text message

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 that some of you might have seen on the internet

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 telling me not to wear my collar

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 until Sunday because, you know, you guys are a little bit more of a casual tradition.

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 And I come from the tradition where Jesus only hears your prayers if you wear them in a collar.

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 And I remember when I first came into the Anglican tradition

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 and I put on the collar.

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 And it was actually during the time where there was a lot of the abuse crisis going on in the Catholic Church.

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 And I would go out into the city, especially in Boston,

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 and sometimes people would, like, yell at me.

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 And I wanted to say,

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 you know, no, no, no, no, that's not me.

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 That's not me.

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 Like, we're innocent.

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 But what happened, though,

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 what happened,

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 what became clear to me,

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 even in that context,

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 when you put on the collar,

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 people watch you carefully.

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 And I do enjoy wearing the collar

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 because it reminds me of who I represent.

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 And when I'm wearing the collar,

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 especially as a parent,

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 my sanctification level has to go much higher.

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 I said,

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 in the name of the Lord,

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 if you don't put that candy back,

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 I will rebuke you sharply.

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 Wait.

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 So when Paul,

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 when Paul talks about,

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 when Paul talks about,

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 you know,

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 you do that,

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 I'm sorry,

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 you do that parent where you're like,

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 you're whispering in a key that only your children can hear.

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 If you don't stop this right now.

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 Okay.

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 Walk.

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 Some of you are like,

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 I never do this.

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 You're better parents than I am.

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 This is not,

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 it's not total sanctification here.

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 So when Paul,

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 Paul uses the language of walk,

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 people,

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 it points to a way of life.

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 It actually first appears when his discussion of when we used to live in rebellion against God,

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 right?

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 When we were the walking dead,

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 we talked about this zombie language.

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 And now,

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 now he has in mind,

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 instead of walking along with the sons of disobedience,

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 you walk in a manner that looks like someone who's gone from death to life.

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 Walking worthy then is always a matter,

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 of discerning the will of God in a particular situation.

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 It's not a series of rules,

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 right?

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 It says live in such a way that you honor God.

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 And let me tell you,

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 I am a priest and I'm a New Testament scholar.

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 I have a relatively confined understanding of what that means.

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 I'm not a business person.

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 I don't work at Capitol Hill.

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 I don't work in a secular context.

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 So my expression of what it means to walk worthy is much different than yours.

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 And so what Paul is asking you to do then is for each one of you to become contextual theologians.

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 Where you ask yourself,

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 what does God require of me as a parent,

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 as an employee,

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 or as an employer in this situation?

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 Walking with humility means walking with this acknowledgement of your status,

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 vis-a-vis God,

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 not people.

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 So one of the things that can happen is,

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 especially in the language of humility,

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 it can get attached to often women or people of color to like humble yourself.

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 And when you're in a society that is consistently telling you to take up less space,

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 humility becomes a cipher for oppression,

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 right?

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 So when Paul talks about walking with humility and gentleness,

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 it is not you denying the gifts that God gave you.

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 If you're the best singer in the congregation,

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 you don't say,

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 oh,

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 I just sing a little bit.

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 And then you come up and you like blow the congregation away.

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 You've just lied to the people.

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 But it does,

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 it means this,

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 whatever gifts you have are precisely that.

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 They're gifts of God.

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 And in comparison to what God can do,

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 your gifts are ultimately not that impressive.

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 You can sing,

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 you can preach,

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 God made the whole world.

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 You see it?

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 You see it?

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 And that actually does humble you.

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 Listen,

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 let me tell you,

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 there's like the worst person in the world.

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 Like,

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 you can imagine like the most degenerate,

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 horrible person in the world.

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 There's that guy who's probably,

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 and then there's everybody else.

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 So everybody else is above that person,

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 right?

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 There's always someone that you can find,

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 who is worse than you,

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 who you can use to exalt yourself over,

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 right?

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 Unless you're at the very bottom,

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 there's always somewhere.

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 You're like,

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 you know,

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 I'm a bad pyramid.

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 Those people over there,

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 they're the worst,

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 right?

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 So when Paul talks about humility,

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 he is saying that as you walk through life as a Christian,

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 and you exercise your gifts,

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 you exercise them as things that are offered to the community for their good,

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 not as a means of exalting yourselves over others.

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 But it also means that if you have these gifts that God has given you,

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 it is incumbent upon you to exercise them.

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 So humility is not burying what you have because you don't want,

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 because you're so worried about your pride.

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 Have sufficient trust in God that he will humble you.

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 Exercise the gift that God has given you.

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 He talks about,

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 later on here,

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 and I don't want to take too much time,

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 because the first verses of every text always enthrall me.

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 He speaks about bearing with one another in love.

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 And one of the things that is tricky

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 is when you move from doctrine to practice in Christian community.

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 So Paul is giving this wonderful picture of the Christian community

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 as being united across race and class and the end of hostility,

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 the dividing wall,

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 the manifest of the powers and the age to come,

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 the glorious nature of God's kindness towards us in Jesus.

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 And that sounds wonderful

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 until you have to actually do that with other people.

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 And then one of the things that,

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 one of the signs of kind of Christian maturity

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 is if you've gone through that process

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 of becoming deeply, deeply disappointed in your church

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 and loving it anyway.

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 Because every church will fail you.

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 Every one of them.

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 None of them are perfect.

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 And there is a kind of Christian immaturity

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 that can lead us to go from place to place

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 looking for utopia

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 and discovering in the place that you go, sin.

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 So bearing with one another in love

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 means that we will disappoint one another.

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 But it also assumes that we will forgive one another

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 and love each other as often as it is necessary.

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 We don't get to throw away other Christians.

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 And I have no idea how many of you all spend your time on the internet.

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 But I will at least say that like social media teaches us

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 to hate other Christians.

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 Christians who are different than we are.

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 Because you're rewarded for hating the right things.

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 Like if you tweet,

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 my pastor gave me a wonderful sermon

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 that edified me and wanted me to love my neighbor better,

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 you get like two likes.

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 If you go, here's this horrible prosperity gospel preacher

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 who wanted a thousand dollars from me,

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 tweet, tweet, tweet, tweet, tweet, you're viral, right?

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 Now, what I want to say is when you hear this,

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 it could easily lead to this idea that

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 because you're bearing with one another with love,

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 that it rules out truth-telling.

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 It actually assumes truth-telling.

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 There's like false visions of unity.

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 One of the visions is we bear with one another in love,

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 which means I don't tell you the things that I don't like

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 and I keep an interior record of resentment, right?

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 So like I don't like the fact that we do this in church

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 and it basically perpetually bothers me forever

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 and I kind of, I consider it my version of sanctification

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 not telling the church about the things that it does wrong, right?

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 But it actually assumes

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 that you're going to tell the truth,

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 someone's going to receive the truth,

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 and then you're going to get to the other side of that.

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 Everyone knows that true friendship

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 is only true friendship on the other side of an argument.

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 And what I want to encourage you to say,

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 you're mature enough as a church

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 to go through disagreement,

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 come through the other side of it,

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 and still be a part of the community.

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 So walking worthy here in the first section

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 involves community.

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 It involves us doing this together.

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 And community assumes accountability.

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 That's what community involves, accountability.

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 And accountability involves forgiveness.

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 Let me explain something to you.

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 The accountability would never be done perfectly.

00:13:44.879 --> 00:13:47.340
 And then it assumes continued community

00:13:47.340 --> 00:13:48.659
 on the other side.

00:13:50.080 --> 00:13:51.639
 Paul goes on to talk about

00:13:51.639 --> 00:13:54.360
 there's the unity that we have

00:13:54.360 --> 00:13:55.759
 arises from the gift of the Spirit.

00:13:55.840 --> 00:13:56.860
 He says there's one body,

00:13:57.220 --> 00:13:58.120
 and there's one Spirit,

00:13:58.419 --> 00:14:00.539
 just as you were called to one hope

00:14:00.539 --> 00:14:01.539
 that belongs to your call.

00:14:01.539 --> 00:14:04.199
 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

00:14:04.579 --> 00:14:05.939
 one God and Father of all.

00:14:10.319 --> 00:14:12.319
 The unity of the church.

00:14:13.059 --> 00:14:14.360
 The unity of the church.

00:14:15.079 --> 00:14:15.939
 In diversity.

00:14:16.360 --> 00:14:17.319
 This is what Paul has talked about

00:14:17.319 --> 00:14:18.039
 this entire letter.

00:14:18.459 --> 00:14:20.319
 The unity of the church.

00:14:20.519 --> 00:14:21.539
 In diversity.

00:14:21.919 --> 00:14:25.679
 Is a manifestation of the unity of God.

00:14:26.539 --> 00:14:27.240
 You see it?

00:14:27.240 --> 00:14:29.500
 Unity across difference

00:14:29.500 --> 00:14:31.960
 is a manifestation on earth

00:14:31.960 --> 00:14:33.740
 of the triune unity of God.

00:14:34.840 --> 00:14:35.799
 And so I think

00:14:35.799 --> 00:14:38.080
 it is time for the church,

00:14:38.120 --> 00:14:39.120
 and this may not be you,

00:14:39.980 --> 00:14:41.720
 it is time for the church

00:14:41.720 --> 00:14:44.220
 to get over all its fears

00:14:44.220 --> 00:14:45.799
 as to what diversity

00:14:45.799 --> 00:14:47.419
 is going to bring.

00:14:48.100 --> 00:14:49.860
 And trust that the gospel is true.

00:14:50.860 --> 00:14:52.379
 That our unity together

00:14:52.379 --> 00:14:53.379
 across difference

00:14:53.379 --> 00:14:55.180
 will bring a particular manifestation

00:14:55.180 --> 00:14:56.980
 of God's glory.

00:14:56.980 --> 00:14:58.000
 And you ask,

00:14:58.200 --> 00:14:59.259
 how is this possible

00:14:59.259 --> 00:15:00.279
 in our context?

00:15:00.560 --> 00:15:02.379
 He talks about the same Spirit.

00:15:03.240 --> 00:15:04.320
 The same Spirit

00:15:04.320 --> 00:15:05.379
 that draws us all

00:15:05.379 --> 00:15:06.720
 into the body of Christ

00:15:06.720 --> 00:15:08.139
 allows us to live together.

00:15:08.600 --> 00:15:09.560
 I have heard,

00:15:10.060 --> 00:15:10.860
 if one more person

00:15:10.860 --> 00:15:12.300
 asks me how to reach black people,

00:15:12.580 --> 00:15:14.019
 like there's a different spirit

00:15:14.019 --> 00:15:16.500
 that you need to evangelize,

00:15:16.539 --> 00:15:17.659
 that you need to call upon

00:15:17.659 --> 00:15:18.820
 in the proclamation of the gospel

00:15:18.820 --> 00:15:20.200
 to reach ethnic minorities,

00:15:20.600 --> 00:15:22.539
 that is a faulty anthropology.

00:15:23.659 --> 00:15:25.080
 And it's a low doctrine

00:15:25.080 --> 00:15:25.920
 of the Holy Spirit.

00:15:27.420 --> 00:15:28.019
 Paul says,

00:15:28.200 --> 00:15:30.000
 we are all baptized

00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:31.800
 into the same Spirit,

00:15:31.920 --> 00:15:32.600
 by the same Spirit

00:15:32.600 --> 00:15:33.580
 that draws us all

00:15:33.580 --> 00:15:34.300
 into the community.

00:15:34.759 --> 00:15:35.759
 How do you reach

00:15:35.759 --> 00:15:36.659
 ethnic minorities?

00:15:36.740 --> 00:15:37.539
 So part of it involves

00:15:37.539 --> 00:15:38.279
 preaching the gospel.

00:15:38.800 --> 00:15:39.759
 There's not a gospel,

00:15:39.860 --> 00:15:40.740
 like there is no gospel

00:15:40.740 --> 00:15:41.220
 for the Jews

00:15:41.220 --> 00:15:42.039
 and gospel for the Gentiles.

00:15:42.080 --> 00:15:42.720
 There's one gospel.

00:15:43.980 --> 00:15:45.480
 How that gospel is enculturated,

00:15:45.779 --> 00:15:46.500
 yes, it matters.

00:15:46.700 --> 00:15:47.340
 Yes, it matters.

00:15:47.860 --> 00:15:48.779
 But there isn't like

00:15:48.779 --> 00:15:50.840
 this magical set of tools

00:15:50.840 --> 00:15:53.200
 that's going to result in,

00:15:53.200 --> 00:15:55.040
 now here come the black people.

00:15:59.040 --> 00:16:00.580
 He also speaks

00:16:00.580 --> 00:16:04.140
 about the same hope

00:16:04.140 --> 00:16:07.300
 that functions as our foundation

00:16:07.300 --> 00:16:08.780
 and the fact that we confess

00:16:08.780 --> 00:16:09.700
 the same faith.

00:16:09.940 --> 00:16:10.759
 This is important

00:16:10.759 --> 00:16:13.100
 because diversity

00:16:13.100 --> 00:16:17.420
 as a mere social good

00:16:17.420 --> 00:16:18.640
 is insufficient

00:16:18.639 --> 00:16:19.960
 to maintain community,

00:16:20.419 --> 00:16:20.639
 right?

00:16:20.740 --> 00:16:21.699
 Why should we be together

00:16:21.699 --> 00:16:23.080
 because diversity is good?

00:16:23.080 --> 00:16:24.399
 It's not worth the suffering

00:16:24.399 --> 00:16:25.279
 that diversity brings.

00:16:26.919 --> 00:16:28.939
 But the confession

00:16:28.939 --> 00:16:30.360
 of the faith,

00:16:30.580 --> 00:16:31.319
 the doctrine

00:16:31.319 --> 00:16:32.539
 of the church

00:16:32.539 --> 00:16:33.559
 matters.

00:16:34.159 --> 00:16:36.279
 The fact that we all agree

00:16:36.279 --> 00:16:37.379
 that Jesus Christ

00:16:37.379 --> 00:16:38.340
 is Lord

00:16:38.340 --> 00:16:40.179
 is sufficient

00:16:40.179 --> 00:16:41.720
 to make the suffering

00:16:41.720 --> 00:16:42.240
 worth it.

00:16:42.240 --> 00:16:44.720
 I cannot correct,

00:16:45.100 --> 00:16:46.799
 I have four children,

00:16:47.639 --> 00:16:48.220
 four children.

00:16:49.220 --> 00:16:50.480
 And for the most part,

00:16:50.620 --> 00:16:51.360
 they've grown up

00:16:51.360 --> 00:16:52.200
 much different

00:16:52.200 --> 00:16:53.060
 than I have.

00:16:53.440 --> 00:16:55.680
 I grew up in Alabama

00:16:55.680 --> 00:16:57.560
 in the shadow of Jim Crow

00:16:57.560 --> 00:16:59.440
 and there was a strong

00:16:59.440 --> 00:17:00.759
 black-white binary.

00:17:01.240 --> 00:17:02.159
 And from kindergarten,

00:17:02.360 --> 00:17:03.019
 I was very,

00:17:03.159 --> 00:17:04.059
 very race conscious.

00:17:04.819 --> 00:17:05.880
 My first, like,

00:17:06.099 --> 00:17:06.980
 racial slur

00:17:06.980 --> 00:17:08.539
 was throwing at me

00:17:08.539 --> 00:17:09.440
 in first grade.

00:17:10.039 --> 00:17:11.059
 And so my life

00:17:11.059 --> 00:17:12.380
 was marked by this.

00:17:13.100 --> 00:17:13.960
 My children have lived

00:17:13.960 --> 00:17:14.620
 a much different life.

00:17:14.700 --> 00:17:16.240
 They lived on three continents,

00:17:16.580 --> 00:17:17.440
 at least the oldest has.

00:17:17.500 --> 00:17:19.059
 The others have lived on two.

00:17:19.740 --> 00:17:21.600
 And for the most part,

00:17:21.700 --> 00:17:22.440
 they don't have

00:17:22.440 --> 00:17:23.779
 the same racial consciousness.

00:17:24.259 --> 00:17:24.880
 My son,

00:17:25.019 --> 00:17:26.640
 when he was in,

00:17:27.160 --> 00:17:28.140
 we first went to Scotland,

00:17:28.640 --> 00:17:29.500
 and I asked him,

00:17:29.880 --> 00:17:31.799
 how many black people are,

00:17:31.960 --> 00:17:32.140
 you know,

00:17:32.160 --> 00:17:32.559
 this is probably,

00:17:33.059 --> 00:17:33.980
 I knew it was probably

00:17:33.980 --> 00:17:34.580
 going to be many,

00:17:34.580 --> 00:17:35.539
 how many black people

00:17:35.539 --> 00:17:37.039
 are in your class?

00:17:37.539 --> 00:17:38.100
 And he goes,

00:17:38.220 --> 00:17:39.140
 well, the only kid

00:17:39.140 --> 00:17:39.660
 is kind of like,

00:17:39.720 --> 00:17:40.560
 my color is,

00:17:40.640 --> 00:17:40.860
 you know,

00:17:40.940 --> 00:17:41.520
 this other kid

00:17:41.520 --> 00:17:42.060
 who is Korean.

00:17:42.180 --> 00:17:42.480
 And I was like,

00:17:42.500 --> 00:17:43.320
 as close as he could get.

00:17:44.440 --> 00:17:45.020
 And like,

00:17:45.080 --> 00:17:45.460
 for him,

00:17:45.520 --> 00:17:45.720
 like,

00:17:45.820 --> 00:17:46.540
 him and Korean

00:17:46.540 --> 00:17:47.920
 were like the same team.

00:17:53.460 --> 00:17:54.060
 I was like,

00:17:54.120 --> 00:17:54.340
 buddy,

00:17:54.480 --> 00:17:56.340
 America's going to be complicated.

00:18:00.020 --> 00:18:00.380
 But,

00:18:00.700 --> 00:18:01.620
 here's the truth.

00:18:01.800 --> 00:18:02.560
 Here's the truth.

00:18:03.900 --> 00:18:04.759
 Right now,

00:18:04.759 --> 00:18:06.360
 he's cute,

00:18:06.940 --> 00:18:08.520
 and he's not dangerous.

00:18:09.140 --> 00:18:10.060
 And the church loves him.

00:18:11.200 --> 00:18:11.960
 But the church,

00:18:12.080 --> 00:18:12.840
 at a certain point,

00:18:12.880 --> 00:18:13.840
 is going to begin to see him

00:18:13.840 --> 00:18:14.340
 as a danger.

00:18:15.820 --> 00:18:16.480
 And they're going to be

00:18:16.480 --> 00:18:17.480
 skeptical towards him.

00:18:17.900 --> 00:18:18.960
 And he's going to get frustrated.

00:18:19.340 --> 00:18:20.340
 And he's going to get angry.

00:18:20.759 --> 00:18:21.740
 He's going to want to leave.

00:18:22.500 --> 00:18:22.980
 Trust me,

00:18:23.060 --> 00:18:24.320
 it happens to all of us.

00:18:25.100 --> 00:18:27.220
 And I cannot say to him,

00:18:27.440 --> 00:18:28.740
 when that happens,

00:18:29.300 --> 00:18:29.759
 son,

00:18:29.880 --> 00:18:31.040
 it's simply good

00:18:31.040 --> 00:18:31.860
 that we're together.

00:18:31.859 --> 00:18:35.059
 But what I hope to be able

00:18:35.059 --> 00:18:36.000
 to say to my sons

00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:36.740
 and my daughters,

00:18:38.039 --> 00:18:39.000
 that Jesus Christ

00:18:39.000 --> 00:18:40.459
 died upon the cross

00:18:40.459 --> 00:18:41.639
 so that we might be

00:18:41.639 --> 00:18:42.659
 reconciled to one another

00:18:42.659 --> 00:18:44.019
 and created one family.

00:18:44.439 --> 00:18:45.240
 And as those who are

00:18:45.240 --> 00:18:46.759
 built upon the foundation

00:18:46.759 --> 00:18:48.339
 of this sacrifice,

00:18:48.639 --> 00:18:49.979
 we are stuck in this together.

00:18:50.639 --> 00:18:51.819
 And I think that the sacrifice

00:18:51.819 --> 00:18:52.539
 of Jesus

00:18:52.539 --> 00:18:54.079
 at least makes our suffering

00:18:54.079 --> 00:18:54.839
 somewhat worth it.

00:18:54.839 --> 00:18:57.599
 So,

00:18:58.079 --> 00:19:04.959
 this confession of faith

00:19:04.959 --> 00:19:07.339
 builds a unity

00:19:07.339 --> 00:19:10.179
 that is unshakable.

00:19:11.220 --> 00:19:13.000
 The last thing he talks about here

00:19:13.000 --> 00:19:15.279
 is the fact that we have

00:19:15.279 --> 00:19:17.119
 all sharing one baptism.

00:19:18.439 --> 00:19:19.459
 And forgive me,

00:19:19.559 --> 00:19:21.199
 my low church brothers and sisters.

00:19:22.039 --> 00:19:23.799
 I try to be ecumenical.

00:19:24.839 --> 00:19:27.399
 But apparently,

00:19:27.679 --> 00:19:28.859
 the apostle Paul

00:19:28.859 --> 00:19:30.119
 believes that collars

00:19:30.119 --> 00:19:30.980
 and slacks are important.

00:19:31.019 --> 00:19:31.139
 No.

00:19:32.240 --> 00:19:33.619
 That's not what Paul says.

00:19:34.039 --> 00:19:35.439
 That's not what Ephesians says.

00:19:35.559 --> 00:19:36.519
 Esau, stay in the text.

00:19:36.619 --> 00:19:36.740
 Okay.

00:19:39.240 --> 00:19:39.759
 Apparently,

00:19:39.959 --> 00:19:41.079
 Paul believes

00:19:41.079 --> 00:19:42.359
 there's something

00:19:42.359 --> 00:19:43.639
 about what happens

00:19:43.639 --> 00:19:44.599
 in baptism

00:19:44.599 --> 00:19:47.099
 that involves

00:19:47.099 --> 00:19:48.240
 a real participation

00:19:48.240 --> 00:19:49.679
 in the life,

00:19:49.859 --> 00:19:50.039
 death,

00:19:50.079 --> 00:19:50.619
 and resurrection,

00:19:51.059 --> 00:19:51.799
 and actual ascension

00:19:51.799 --> 00:19:52.240
 of the Lord

00:19:52.240 --> 00:19:53.399
 to reign on high.

00:19:53.519 --> 00:19:54.799
 It actually happens

00:19:54.799 --> 00:19:56.559
 not in the sense

00:19:56.559 --> 00:19:57.680
 that baptism is magical,

00:19:57.680 --> 00:19:58.839
 but it's not nothing.

00:19:58.940 --> 00:19:59.579
 I'll say that.

00:20:00.279 --> 00:20:01.440
 It's not a mere symbol.

00:20:02.659 --> 00:20:03.240
 Paul doesn't say

00:20:03.240 --> 00:20:03.879
 you're unified

00:20:03.879 --> 00:20:05.039
 because you've all

00:20:05.039 --> 00:20:06.159
 done the same ritual.

00:20:07.099 --> 00:20:08.159
 But in the same way

00:20:08.159 --> 00:20:09.000
 that we encounter

00:20:09.000 --> 00:20:09.680
 the living God

00:20:09.680 --> 00:20:10.200
 and the preaching

00:20:10.200 --> 00:20:10.779
 of the word,

00:20:11.079 --> 00:20:11.680
 and we encounter

00:20:11.680 --> 00:20:12.379
 the living God

00:20:12.379 --> 00:20:13.019
 and the word

00:20:13.019 --> 00:20:13.859
 and the sacrament

00:20:13.859 --> 00:20:14.419
 of the table,

00:20:14.639 --> 00:20:15.799
 I think Paul believes

00:20:15.799 --> 00:20:16.440
 that we encounter

00:20:16.440 --> 00:20:17.319
 the living God

00:20:17.319 --> 00:20:19.059
 in the waters of baptism,

00:20:19.319 --> 00:20:20.379
 and the waters of baptism

00:20:20.379 --> 00:20:21.319
 unite us

00:20:21.319 --> 00:20:22.279
 as one family.

00:20:22.279 --> 00:20:24.319
 I think Augustine

00:20:24.319 --> 00:20:25.059
 said that

00:20:25.059 --> 00:20:27.220
 even those

00:20:27.220 --> 00:20:28.160
 who are in hell

00:20:28.160 --> 00:20:28.619
 are marked

00:20:28.619 --> 00:20:29.160
 with the sign

00:20:29.160 --> 00:20:29.720
 of baptism.

00:20:30.240 --> 00:20:30.799
 You're sealed

00:20:30.799 --> 00:20:31.220
 and marked

00:20:31.220 --> 00:20:31.920
 as Christ-owned

00:20:31.920 --> 00:20:32.319
 forever.

00:20:34.579 --> 00:20:35.180
 So,

00:20:35.680 --> 00:20:37.259
 we cannot be

00:20:37.259 --> 00:20:38.200
 anti-sacramental.

00:20:38.639 --> 00:20:39.519
 When my sons

00:20:39.519 --> 00:20:40.200
 and my daughters

00:20:40.200 --> 00:20:41.559
 tend to despair,

00:20:41.899 --> 00:20:43.000
 I will say to them,

00:20:43.319 --> 00:20:44.460
 remember your baptism.

00:20:44.460 --> 00:20:46.819
 If you look at

00:20:46.819 --> 00:20:47.799
 this entire section,

00:20:48.000 --> 00:20:48.680
 you've seen

00:20:48.680 --> 00:20:49.720
 the discussion

00:20:49.720 --> 00:20:51.440
 of the Spirit,

00:20:52.740 --> 00:20:53.019
 right?

00:20:53.279 --> 00:20:54.000
 Drawn together

00:20:54.000 --> 00:20:54.620
 by the Spirit,

00:20:55.120 --> 00:20:55.779
 the Lord

00:20:55.779 --> 00:20:57.579
 and God the Father.

00:20:57.940 --> 00:20:59.200
 You have once again

00:20:59.200 --> 00:21:01.220
 a Trinitarian argument

00:21:01.220 --> 00:21:02.220
 for the unity

00:21:02.220 --> 00:21:03.000
 of the church

00:21:03.000 --> 00:21:04.400
 across difference,

00:21:04.759 --> 00:21:05.420
 walking together

00:21:05.420 --> 00:21:06.100
 in love

00:21:06.100 --> 00:21:07.000
 as a manifestation

00:21:07.000 --> 00:21:07.860
 of his glory.

00:21:09.180 --> 00:21:10.120
 He goes on

00:21:10.120 --> 00:21:10.900
 to talk about

00:21:10.900 --> 00:21:11.920
 in the second part

00:21:11.920 --> 00:21:12.240
 of this

00:21:12.240 --> 00:21:15.579
 that in this church,

00:21:16.000 --> 00:21:16.380
 the grace

00:21:16.380 --> 00:21:16.740
 is given

00:21:16.740 --> 00:21:17.880
 to each of us

00:21:17.880 --> 00:21:19.819
 to use our gifts

00:21:19.819 --> 00:21:20.420
 in accordance

00:21:20.420 --> 00:21:20.900
 with what Christ

00:21:20.900 --> 00:21:21.440
 has given us.

00:21:21.779 --> 00:21:22.319
 And he uses

00:21:22.319 --> 00:21:23.500
 this psalm,

00:21:23.660 --> 00:21:24.180
 and I can only

00:21:24.180 --> 00:21:24.620
 talk about it

00:21:24.620 --> 00:21:25.019
 really briefly.

00:21:25.900 --> 00:21:26.259
 He says,

00:21:26.359 --> 00:21:27.799
 he ascended on high

00:21:27.799 --> 00:21:28.819
 and led a host

00:21:28.819 --> 00:21:29.339
 of captives

00:21:29.339 --> 00:21:29.740
 captive,

00:21:30.000 --> 00:21:30.759
 and he gave gifts

00:21:30.759 --> 00:21:31.220
 to men.

00:21:31.740 --> 00:21:32.019
 Now,

00:21:32.059 --> 00:21:32.559
 one of the problems

00:21:32.559 --> 00:21:33.079
 is if you're

00:21:33.079 --> 00:21:33.500
 one of these

00:21:33.500 --> 00:21:34.299
 Bible people,

00:21:34.960 --> 00:21:35.500
 which I would hope

00:21:35.500 --> 00:21:36.079
 that you are,

00:21:36.500 --> 00:21:37.839
 that the psalm

00:21:37.839 --> 00:21:39.980
 seems to be speaking

00:21:39.980 --> 00:21:42.079
 about God's victory

00:21:42.079 --> 00:21:42.899
 over his enemies.

00:21:43.619 --> 00:21:44.359
 And Paul seems

00:21:44.359 --> 00:21:45.039
 to be using it

00:21:45.039 --> 00:21:45.980
 to refer to

00:21:45.980 --> 00:21:47.019
 God,

00:21:47.319 --> 00:21:47.599
 Jesus,

00:21:47.759 --> 00:21:48.179
 giving gifts

00:21:48.179 --> 00:21:48.579
 to us.

00:21:48.619 --> 00:21:49.059
 You see this?

00:21:49.299 --> 00:21:49.819
 There seems to be

00:21:49.819 --> 00:21:50.259
 a disconnect

00:21:50.259 --> 00:21:50.899
 between what

00:21:50.899 --> 00:21:52.639
 Psalm 68 says

00:21:52.639 --> 00:21:54.819
 and what Paul does.

00:21:57.019 --> 00:21:58.079
 Some people say

00:21:58.079 --> 00:22:00.859
 that Paul adjusts

00:22:00.859 --> 00:22:01.500
 this reading

00:22:01.500 --> 00:22:03.220
 and simply uses

00:22:03.220 --> 00:22:04.419
 it to his ends,

00:22:04.460 --> 00:22:04.639
 right?

00:22:04.799 --> 00:22:05.539
 That when Christ

00:22:05.539 --> 00:22:07.019
 ascended into heaven,

00:22:07.339 --> 00:22:08.059
 that he then gave

00:22:08.059 --> 00:22:08.779
 gifts to us.

00:22:09.720 --> 00:22:10.599
 But I think

00:22:10.599 --> 00:22:11.259
 the better way

00:22:11.259 --> 00:22:11.920
 of looking at it,

00:22:11.940 --> 00:22:12.400
 if you actually

00:22:12.400 --> 00:22:13.359
 read the entirety

00:22:13.359 --> 00:22:15.200
 of Psalm 68,

00:22:15.680 --> 00:22:16.559
 I think it's better

00:22:16.559 --> 00:22:17.140
 to look at this

00:22:17.140 --> 00:22:18.079
 not as a direct

00:22:18.079 --> 00:22:19.140
 quote of the part

00:22:19.140 --> 00:22:19.660
 that you see

00:22:19.660 --> 00:22:20.559
 here in verse 8,

00:22:20.720 --> 00:22:21.599
 but a summary

00:22:21.599 --> 00:22:22.480
 of the entirety

00:22:22.480 --> 00:22:23.599
 of the psalm.

00:22:23.779 --> 00:22:24.920
 Because in the psalm,

00:22:25.220 --> 00:22:26.460
 God defeats

00:22:26.460 --> 00:22:27.099
 his enemies.

00:22:27.740 --> 00:22:28.059
 And I think

00:22:28.059 --> 00:22:28.819
 what Paul is getting

00:22:28.819 --> 00:22:29.779
 here is that

00:22:29.779 --> 00:22:30.740
 because Christ

00:22:30.740 --> 00:22:31.900
 has defeated death

00:22:31.900 --> 00:22:33.420
 and ascended on high,

00:22:33.559 --> 00:22:34.799
 we receive the gifts

00:22:34.799 --> 00:22:35.920
 to do the things

00:22:35.920 --> 00:22:36.440
 necessary.

00:22:36.819 --> 00:22:37.440
 Jesus Christ

00:22:37.440 --> 00:22:37.839
 is the one

00:22:37.839 --> 00:22:38.619
 who has bound

00:22:38.619 --> 00:22:39.400
 the captives.

00:22:39.400 --> 00:22:40.640
 And here you once

00:22:40.640 --> 00:22:41.580
 again in this place

00:22:41.580 --> 00:22:42.480
 where the Christian

00:22:42.480 --> 00:22:44.420
 is faced with this call

00:22:44.420 --> 00:22:45.780
 or this reality

00:22:45.780 --> 00:22:46.720
 that the things

00:22:46.720 --> 00:22:47.280
 that we battle

00:22:47.280 --> 00:22:47.960
 are not simply

00:22:47.960 --> 00:22:49.220
 the things that we see,

00:22:49.740 --> 00:22:50.660
 but in a real sense,

00:22:50.940 --> 00:22:52.120
 Jesus has defeated

00:22:52.120 --> 00:22:53.380
 the spiritual powers.

00:22:54.259 --> 00:22:55.200
 And why does he do so?

00:22:55.940 --> 00:22:56.840
 He does so

00:22:56.840 --> 00:22:57.940
 so that we might

00:22:57.940 --> 00:22:59.180
 receive gifts

00:22:59.180 --> 00:23:00.259
 and the church

00:23:00.259 --> 00:23:01.040
 might be able

00:23:01.040 --> 00:23:01.960
 to function

00:23:01.960 --> 00:23:03.620
 as the Christ body

00:23:03.620 --> 00:23:04.060
 in the world.

00:23:04.059 --> 00:23:05.779
 And he begins

00:23:05.779 --> 00:23:08.039
 with the apostles

00:23:08.039 --> 00:23:10.480
 as the foundation.

00:23:11.279 --> 00:23:12.259
 Here I get to be

00:23:12.259 --> 00:23:13.220
 Anglican again.

00:23:16.319 --> 00:23:17.240
 The apostles

00:23:17.240 --> 00:23:17.879
 are seen

00:23:17.879 --> 00:23:18.659
 as foundation.

00:23:19.259 --> 00:23:20.159
 And those who,

00:23:20.500 --> 00:23:21.179
 what do the apostles

00:23:21.179 --> 00:23:21.799
 actually do?

00:23:22.279 --> 00:23:22.740
 And I don't think

00:23:22.740 --> 00:23:23.579
 we like take this

00:23:23.579 --> 00:23:24.240
 seriously enough

00:23:24.240 --> 00:23:25.099
 as Anglicans

00:23:25.099 --> 00:23:25.940
 and how it relates

00:23:25.940 --> 00:23:26.619
 to our polity.

00:23:27.059 --> 00:23:28.679
 You have people

00:23:28.679 --> 00:23:29.700
 going around

00:23:29.700 --> 00:23:30.779
 planting churches

00:23:30.779 --> 00:23:31.500
 in different places,

00:23:31.599 --> 00:23:31.839
 right?

00:23:32.339 --> 00:23:33.139
 And then when there's

00:23:33.140 --> 00:23:33.640
 a problem,

00:23:33.980 --> 00:23:34.440
 the people

00:23:34.440 --> 00:23:35.440
 in those churches

00:23:35.440 --> 00:23:36.980
 write to the apostles

00:23:36.980 --> 00:23:38.540
 and the apostles

00:23:38.540 --> 00:23:39.720
 write back.

00:23:40.640 --> 00:23:41.560
 And you have

00:23:41.560 --> 00:23:42.080
 the apostles

00:23:42.080 --> 00:23:42.759
 taking money

00:23:42.759 --> 00:23:43.759
 from one church

00:23:43.759 --> 00:23:45.680
 and delivering it

00:23:45.680 --> 00:23:47.759
 to another church.

00:23:48.400 --> 00:23:49.660
 So from the beginning,

00:23:49.780 --> 00:23:50.180
 even within

00:23:50.180 --> 00:23:51.500
 the New Testament itself,

00:23:52.340 --> 00:23:52.980
 there is a,

00:23:53.100 --> 00:23:54.680
 there's a communion

00:23:54.680 --> 00:23:56.300
 across cultures

00:23:56.300 --> 00:23:58.320
 led by people

00:23:58.320 --> 00:24:00.000
 who are trans-jurisdictional.

00:24:00.580 --> 00:24:01.480
 It was not simply

00:24:01.480 --> 00:24:02.340
 that the local church

00:24:02.340 --> 00:24:02.940
 did what they wanted

00:24:02.940 --> 00:24:03.279
 to do

00:24:03.279 --> 00:24:03.779
 and there was

00:24:03.779 --> 00:24:04.340
 no accountability.

00:24:06.180 --> 00:24:07.200
 So the good news

00:24:07.200 --> 00:24:09.100
 then is that

00:24:09.100 --> 00:24:09.799
 our polity,

00:24:10.080 --> 00:24:10.500
 I think,

00:24:10.860 --> 00:24:11.940
 is broadly speaking

00:24:11.940 --> 00:24:12.640
 biblical.

00:24:13.880 --> 00:24:14.900
 The bad news

00:24:14.900 --> 00:24:15.799
 is that our polity,

00:24:15.960 --> 00:24:16.900
 broadly speaking,

00:24:17.400 --> 00:24:18.080
 is biblical.

00:24:18.700 --> 00:24:19.460
 We're stuck

00:24:19.460 --> 00:24:20.140
 with our bishops.

00:24:24.539 --> 00:24:25.420
 And I do think

00:24:25.420 --> 00:24:25.900
 it's important.

00:24:26.360 --> 00:24:27.140
 I do think that

00:24:27.140 --> 00:24:28.600
 the fact that

00:24:28.600 --> 00:24:29.680
 we believe

00:24:29.680 --> 00:24:31.779
 that when the apostles

00:24:31.779 --> 00:24:32.840
 passed away,

00:24:32.840 --> 00:24:34.460
 they passed on

00:24:34.460 --> 00:24:36.340
 both apostolic faith

00:24:36.340 --> 00:24:37.519
 and what became

00:24:37.519 --> 00:24:38.200
 the New Testament

00:24:38.200 --> 00:24:40.039
 and apostolic authority

00:24:40.039 --> 00:24:41.019
 and what we now know

00:24:41.019 --> 00:24:41.840
 as the episcopate

00:24:41.840 --> 00:24:44.259
 as goods for us.

00:24:45.140 --> 00:24:46.299
 And I know that,

00:24:46.360 --> 00:24:46.980
 and I have no idea

00:24:46.980 --> 00:24:47.840
 actually what your experience

00:24:47.840 --> 00:24:48.560
 of your bishops is,

00:24:48.680 --> 00:24:49.840
 but I'm going to speak broadly.

00:24:49.839 --> 00:24:50.579
 We love our bishop.

00:24:50.579 --> 00:24:51.279
 We love your bishop

00:24:51.279 --> 00:24:51.959
 because Bishop Reed

00:24:51.959 --> 00:24:52.579
 love is wonderful.

00:24:52.959 --> 00:24:53.799
 But I know that sometimes

00:24:53.799 --> 00:24:54.659
 it feels like,

00:24:55.139 --> 00:24:55.559
 in general,

00:24:55.679 --> 00:24:56.279
 that authority

00:24:56.279 --> 00:24:57.019
 is inefficient.

00:24:57.980 --> 00:24:58.639
 That there are things

00:24:58.639 --> 00:24:59.439
 that we could do

00:24:59.439 --> 00:25:00.480
 on a local level

00:25:00.480 --> 00:25:01.500
 that would be more effective

00:25:01.500 --> 00:25:02.659
 than what the national church,

00:25:02.720 --> 00:25:03.139
 what our bishops

00:25:03.139 --> 00:25:04.099
 may say to us.

00:25:04.779 --> 00:25:05.519
 But I think

00:25:05.519 --> 00:25:06.539
 that there's something

00:25:06.539 --> 00:25:08.879
 of the bearing

00:25:08.879 --> 00:25:09.679
 of one another

00:25:09.679 --> 00:25:10.720
 in love

00:25:10.720 --> 00:25:12.159
 that is manifested

00:25:12.159 --> 00:25:14.220
 in Episcopal government

00:25:14.220 --> 00:25:15.659
 as it relates

00:25:15.659 --> 00:25:16.919
 to a global communion.

00:25:16.920 --> 00:25:18.620
 I think that we need

00:25:18.620 --> 00:25:19.100
 one another,

00:25:19.480 --> 00:25:20.680
 even if that means

00:25:20.680 --> 00:25:21.180
 we're a slightly

00:25:21.180 --> 00:25:22.620
 more inefficient bunch.

00:25:24.600 --> 00:25:26.580
 He then goes on

00:25:26.580 --> 00:25:27.840
 to speak about the prophets.

00:25:28.440 --> 00:25:29.100
 And I think that

00:25:29.100 --> 00:25:30.300
 these are the people

00:25:30.300 --> 00:25:32.800
 who build up believers,

00:25:32.940 --> 00:25:33.480
 the shepherds

00:25:33.480 --> 00:25:34.039
 and the teachers.

00:25:34.560 --> 00:25:35.460
 And I don't want

00:25:35.460 --> 00:25:36.220
 to actually go through

00:25:36.220 --> 00:25:36.840
 and exegete

00:25:36.840 --> 00:25:37.920
 each one of these gifts

00:25:37.920 --> 00:25:38.940
 because I don't think

00:25:38.940 --> 00:25:40.500
 that this is like the point,

00:25:40.960 --> 00:25:41.940
 that we find

00:25:41.940 --> 00:25:42.940
 these six gifts

00:25:42.940 --> 00:25:44.240
 and then we have like

00:25:44.240 --> 00:25:44.900
 a biblical

00:25:44.900 --> 00:25:45.980
 instead of a heretical thing

00:25:45.980 --> 00:25:46.480
 like the Enneagram.

00:25:46.480 --> 00:25:47.660
 Sorry, I shouldn't have said that.

00:25:49.019 --> 00:25:49.740
 The Enneagram

00:25:49.740 --> 00:25:50.740
 is super in the Bible.

00:25:52.120 --> 00:25:52.559
 Okay.

00:25:54.400 --> 00:25:55.240
 So I don't think

00:25:55.240 --> 00:25:56.120
 that the purpose of this

00:25:56.120 --> 00:25:56.720
 is to create

00:25:56.720 --> 00:25:58.099
 these spiritual gifts

00:25:58.099 --> 00:25:59.400
 that we then

00:25:59.400 --> 00:26:01.059
 fit everyone into.

00:26:01.599 --> 00:26:02.539
 And then if you feel

00:26:02.539 --> 00:26:03.400
 like my gift

00:26:03.400 --> 00:26:04.819
 is not articulated here,

00:26:05.180 --> 00:26:05.880
 then I don't have

00:26:05.880 --> 00:26:06.720
 a use in the church.

00:26:07.440 --> 00:26:08.319
 What I think

00:26:08.319 --> 00:26:09.440
 that Paul is saying

00:26:09.440 --> 00:26:11.680
 is that every person

00:26:11.680 --> 00:26:12.640
 in the church

00:26:12.640 --> 00:26:13.620
 has been gifted

00:26:13.620 --> 00:26:14.339
 for the sake

00:26:14.339 --> 00:26:14.799
 of the building

00:26:14.799 --> 00:26:15.500
 up of the body.

00:26:16.480 --> 00:26:17.779
 And that we need

00:26:17.779 --> 00:26:18.500
 each other

00:26:18.500 --> 00:26:19.460
 to thrive.

00:26:20.160 --> 00:26:21.019
 What does

00:26:21.019 --> 00:26:21.460
 the mission

00:26:21.460 --> 00:26:22.000
 of the church

00:26:22.000 --> 00:26:22.680
 look like here

00:26:22.680 --> 00:26:23.700
 then according to Paul?

00:26:24.079 --> 00:26:25.480
 It is the entire church

00:26:25.480 --> 00:26:26.519
 using the gifts

00:26:26.519 --> 00:26:27.539
 that God has given them.

00:26:27.740 --> 00:26:28.440
 Not exalting

00:26:28.440 --> 00:26:29.000
 one gift

00:26:29.000 --> 00:26:29.700
 over the other

00:26:29.700 --> 00:26:30.860
 but not engaging

00:26:30.860 --> 00:26:31.660
 in false humility

00:26:31.660 --> 00:26:32.599
 so that the mission

00:26:32.599 --> 00:26:33.079
 of God

00:26:33.079 --> 00:26:34.079
 might go forward.

00:26:35.099 --> 00:26:35.740
 Here's one more thing

00:26:35.740 --> 00:26:36.339
 that I want to highlight

00:26:36.339 --> 00:26:37.220
 and then I will

00:26:37.220 --> 00:26:38.319
 sit down.

00:26:38.319 --> 00:26:40.899
 How long

00:26:40.899 --> 00:26:43.639
 does this work

00:26:43.639 --> 00:26:44.419
 last?

00:26:45.519 --> 00:26:46.579
 One of the things

00:26:46.579 --> 00:26:48.059
 that is great

00:26:48.059 --> 00:26:49.460
 about my wife's job

00:26:49.460 --> 00:26:51.339
 is that she is a doctor

00:26:51.339 --> 00:26:53.579
 and so she can see

00:26:53.579 --> 00:26:54.079
 a patient,

00:26:54.720 --> 00:26:55.639
 diagnose the patient,

00:26:55.799 --> 00:26:56.799
 the patient can get better

00:26:56.799 --> 00:26:58.359
 and she can like go home

00:26:58.359 --> 00:26:59.279
 and like her weekend

00:26:59.279 --> 00:26:59.740
 is done.

00:27:00.379 --> 00:27:00.859
 Right?

00:27:01.559 --> 00:27:03.539
 But when you are a priest

00:27:03.539 --> 00:27:04.859
 and your vision

00:27:04.859 --> 00:27:05.319
 is the evangelization

00:27:05.319 --> 00:27:06.439
 of the world

00:27:06.439 --> 00:27:07.099
 and every Christian

00:27:07.099 --> 00:27:08.299
 reaching full maturity

00:27:08.299 --> 00:27:09.379
 it never ends.

00:27:09.519 --> 00:27:09.579
 Right?

00:27:10.039 --> 00:27:10.639
 It's not like

00:27:10.639 --> 00:27:11.899
 my entire congregation

00:27:11.899 --> 00:27:12.960
 is spiritually mature

00:27:12.960 --> 00:27:13.939
 all of the DC

00:27:13.939 --> 00:27:15.359
 is effectively evangelized

00:27:15.359 --> 00:27:16.559
 I'm going to take a nap.

00:27:20.099 --> 00:27:21.159
 How long?

00:27:22.319 --> 00:27:22.939
 Paul says

00:27:22.939 --> 00:27:23.759
 the ministry

00:27:23.759 --> 00:27:24.419
 of the church

00:27:24.419 --> 00:27:24.960
 continues

00:27:24.960 --> 00:27:26.859
 until all attain

00:27:26.859 --> 00:27:27.399
 the unity

00:27:27.399 --> 00:27:28.119
 of the faith

00:27:28.119 --> 00:27:29.019
 and the knowledge

00:27:29.019 --> 00:27:30.099
 of the son of God

00:27:30.099 --> 00:27:32.019
 to mature manhood.

00:27:32.200 --> 00:27:32.819
 Here he's talking

00:27:32.819 --> 00:27:33.359
 about adulthood

00:27:33.359 --> 00:27:35.240
 mature womanhood

00:27:35.240 --> 00:27:36.059
 it's just fine.

00:27:36.220 --> 00:27:36.299
 Okay?

00:27:37.480 --> 00:27:38.339
 Till we all reach

00:27:38.339 --> 00:27:38.920
 the measure

00:27:38.920 --> 00:27:39.660
 of the stature

00:27:39.660 --> 00:27:40.299
 of the fullness

00:27:40.299 --> 00:27:40.900
 of Christ

00:27:40.900 --> 00:27:41.539
 so that we're

00:27:41.539 --> 00:27:42.500
 no longer children

00:27:42.500 --> 00:27:43.460
 tossed to and fro

00:27:43.460 --> 00:27:44.559
 by the waves

00:27:44.559 --> 00:27:45.200
 and carried about

00:27:45.200 --> 00:27:45.980
 by every wind

00:27:45.980 --> 00:27:46.500
 of doctrine.

00:27:46.859 --> 00:27:47.460
 Rather speaking

00:27:47.460 --> 00:27:47.900
 the truth

00:27:47.900 --> 00:27:48.259
 than love

00:27:48.259 --> 00:27:48.859
 we are to grow up

00:27:48.859 --> 00:27:49.279
 in every way

00:27:49.279 --> 00:27:49.539
 in him

00:27:49.539 --> 00:27:50.400
 who is Christ Jesus.

00:27:53.359 --> 00:27:54.259
 The ministry

00:27:54.259 --> 00:27:55.680
 of the church

00:27:55.680 --> 00:27:56.940
 continues

00:27:56.940 --> 00:27:58.640
 until the unity

00:27:58.640 --> 00:27:59.539
 called for

00:27:59.539 --> 00:28:00.380
 in the gospel

00:28:00.380 --> 00:28:01.259
 rooted in faith

00:28:01.259 --> 00:28:02.220
 is actually

00:28:02.220 --> 00:28:03.420
 achieved.

00:28:03.420 --> 00:28:05.140
 until we get

00:28:05.140 --> 00:28:06.340
 the full knowledge

00:28:06.340 --> 00:28:07.039
 of the son of God.

00:28:07.160 --> 00:28:07.660
 Here's the reason

00:28:07.660 --> 00:28:08.259
 why this is such

00:28:08.259 --> 00:28:10.019
 a complex thing

00:28:10.019 --> 00:28:11.000
 because Paul

00:28:11.000 --> 00:28:12.180
 has said repeatedly

00:28:12.180 --> 00:28:13.240
 that the knowledge

00:28:13.240 --> 00:28:13.580
 of God

00:28:13.580 --> 00:28:14.039
 is actually

00:28:14.039 --> 00:28:14.620
 inscrutable.

00:28:15.320 --> 00:28:16.500
 So you keep going

00:28:16.500 --> 00:28:17.440
 until you understand

00:28:17.440 --> 00:28:18.660
 the understandable.

00:28:19.539 --> 00:28:20.320
 But I do think

00:28:20.320 --> 00:28:20.820
 that this part

00:28:20.820 --> 00:28:21.560
 is important.

00:28:21.660 --> 00:28:21.980
 I do think

00:28:21.980 --> 00:28:22.600
 this is a sign

00:28:22.600 --> 00:28:23.039
 of maturity

00:28:23.039 --> 00:28:24.140
 that even though

00:28:24.140 --> 00:28:24.620
 that the work

00:28:24.620 --> 00:28:25.300
 that Paul speaks

00:28:25.300 --> 00:28:25.840
 about here

00:28:25.840 --> 00:28:26.759
 is ultimately

00:28:26.759 --> 00:28:27.460
 eschatological.

00:28:27.460 --> 00:28:27.940
 The church

00:28:27.940 --> 00:28:28.860
 never reaches

00:28:28.860 --> 00:28:29.820
 its fullness

00:28:29.820 --> 00:28:31.039
 until Jesus comes.

00:28:31.039 --> 00:28:32.399
 but I do think

00:28:32.399 --> 00:28:33.339
 that what Paul says

00:28:33.339 --> 00:28:34.420
 in verse 14

00:28:34.420 --> 00:28:35.659
 is relevant

00:28:35.659 --> 00:28:37.059
 to the church

00:28:37.059 --> 00:28:37.319
 here

00:28:37.319 --> 00:28:38.079
 and I may end

00:28:38.079 --> 00:28:38.599
 with this.

00:28:40.440 --> 00:28:41.539
 So you no longer

00:28:41.539 --> 00:28:42.200
 be children.

00:28:44.639 --> 00:28:45.599
 There's a difference

00:28:45.599 --> 00:28:47.059
 between having

00:28:47.059 --> 00:28:47.879
 struggles

00:28:47.879 --> 00:28:49.319
 in your faith.

00:28:49.379 --> 00:28:49.980
 I mean we all

00:28:49.980 --> 00:28:50.700
 have our ups

00:28:50.700 --> 00:28:51.319
 and downs.

00:28:52.299 --> 00:28:52.700
 It's actually

00:28:52.700 --> 00:28:53.559
 the same thing

00:28:53.559 --> 00:28:54.399
 in a relationship

00:28:54.399 --> 00:28:54.839
 right?

00:28:55.319 --> 00:28:56.619
 There's the like

00:28:56.619 --> 00:28:57.480
 dating phase

00:28:57.480 --> 00:28:58.220
 like I'm not sure

00:28:58.220 --> 00:28:58.639
 this is going

00:28:58.639 --> 00:28:59.240
 to work out.

00:28:59.240 --> 00:29:00.900
 Then there's

00:29:00.900 --> 00:29:01.180
 the like

00:29:01.180 --> 00:29:02.000
 we're together

00:29:02.000 --> 00:29:02.539
 phase.

00:29:02.660 --> 00:29:03.359
 I'm assuming

00:29:03.359 --> 00:29:03.839
 this is going

00:29:03.839 --> 00:29:04.400
 to work out.

00:29:05.120 --> 00:29:05.539
 There's the

00:29:05.539 --> 00:29:06.220
 marriage phase

00:29:06.220 --> 00:29:06.640
 and I wish

00:29:06.640 --> 00:29:07.079
 I could say

00:29:07.079 --> 00:29:07.680
 that the marriage

00:29:07.680 --> 00:29:09.019
 phase means

00:29:09.019 --> 00:29:09.779
 no that's not

00:29:09.779 --> 00:29:10.180
 it either.

00:29:10.519 --> 00:29:11.240
 There's a point

00:29:11.240 --> 00:29:13.039
 in the marriage

00:29:13.039 --> 00:29:13.519
 where you're like

00:29:13.519 --> 00:29:14.319
 too old to start

00:29:14.319 --> 00:29:14.579
 over.

00:29:16.400 --> 00:29:17.059
 We're like

00:29:17.059 --> 00:29:18.019
 we're in this

00:29:18.019 --> 00:29:18.640
 together.

00:29:20.660 --> 00:29:21.440
 And so

00:29:21.440 --> 00:29:22.460
 no fight

00:29:22.460 --> 00:29:23.380
 has stakes

00:29:23.380 --> 00:29:24.259
 that are too high

00:29:24.259 --> 00:29:25.160
 because no matter

00:29:25.160 --> 00:29:25.720
 what like

00:29:25.720 --> 00:29:26.140
 the mortgage

00:29:26.140 --> 00:29:26.680
 is really high.

00:29:26.779 --> 00:29:27.400
 No you Christians

00:29:27.400 --> 00:29:29.060
 you're Christians

00:29:29.060 --> 00:29:29.740
 is not the mortgage

00:29:29.740 --> 00:29:30.220
 you're Christians

00:29:30.220 --> 00:29:30.519
 so you're going

00:29:30.519 --> 00:29:30.980
 to be together

00:29:30.980 --> 00:29:31.580
 no matter what.

00:29:33.000 --> 00:29:33.860
 And that's

00:29:33.860 --> 00:29:35.060
 when I think

00:29:35.060 --> 00:29:37.460
 the real

00:29:37.460 --> 00:29:38.580
 genuine

00:29:38.580 --> 00:29:39.519
 sincerity

00:29:39.519 --> 00:29:40.580
 of love

00:29:40.580 --> 00:29:41.800
 manifests itself.

00:29:42.860 --> 00:29:43.240
 And anyone

00:29:43.240 --> 00:29:43.759
 who

00:29:43.759 --> 00:29:44.220
 and this

00:29:44.220 --> 00:29:44.540
 is

00:29:44.540 --> 00:29:45.400
 understand

00:29:45.400 --> 00:29:45.800
 this is

00:29:45.800 --> 00:29:46.820
 the analogy

00:29:46.820 --> 00:29:47.860
 not the judgment.

00:29:48.000 --> 00:29:48.480
 I understand

00:29:48.480 --> 00:29:48.960
 that marriage

00:29:48.960 --> 00:29:49.540
 is complicated

00:29:49.540 --> 00:29:50.680
 and all of you

00:29:50.680 --> 00:29:51.120
 have different

00:29:51.120 --> 00:29:51.519
 histories.

00:29:51.900 --> 00:29:52.580
 So do not

00:29:52.580 --> 00:29:53.200
 hear me

00:29:53.200 --> 00:29:54.320
 as a judgment

00:29:54.320 --> 00:29:55.100
 on anyone.

00:29:55.580 --> 00:29:56.240
 Hear the analogy

00:29:56.240 --> 00:29:57.380
 for its intent.

00:29:59.460 --> 00:30:00.440
 We have all

00:30:00.440 --> 00:30:02.039
 anyone who

00:30:02.039 --> 00:30:03.240
 has been a Christian

00:30:03.240 --> 00:30:03.880
 long enough

00:30:03.880 --> 00:30:04.779
 have seen

00:30:04.779 --> 00:30:05.299
 relationships

00:30:05.299 --> 00:30:06.000
 fall apart.

00:30:06.920 --> 00:30:07.660
 It's a part

00:30:07.660 --> 00:30:08.380
 of the human

00:30:08.380 --> 00:30:09.000
 experience.

00:30:09.920 --> 00:30:10.319
 And then

00:30:10.319 --> 00:30:11.039
 there is

00:30:11.039 --> 00:30:11.620
 kind of like

00:30:11.620 --> 00:30:12.099
 the people

00:30:12.099 --> 00:30:12.920
 who you begin

00:30:12.920 --> 00:30:13.140
 with.

00:30:13.200 --> 00:30:13.620
 Maybe there's

00:30:13.620 --> 00:30:14.180
 seven or eight

00:30:14.180 --> 00:30:14.579
 couples

00:30:14.579 --> 00:30:15.480
 who you think

00:30:15.480 --> 00:30:15.799
 we're going to

00:30:15.799 --> 00:30:16.480
 do life together

00:30:16.480 --> 00:30:16.859
 forever.

00:30:17.240 --> 00:30:18.079
 And you see

00:30:18.079 --> 00:30:18.559
 the things

00:30:18.559 --> 00:30:18.980
 that kind of

00:30:18.980 --> 00:30:19.559
 happen in those

00:30:19.559 --> 00:30:20.059
 relationships.

00:30:20.519 --> 00:30:20.759
 And like

00:30:20.759 --> 00:30:21.579
 now I'm 14

00:30:21.579 --> 00:30:22.539
 years into

00:30:22.539 --> 00:30:23.339
 my marriage.

00:30:24.059 --> 00:30:24.640
 And a lot

00:30:24.640 --> 00:30:25.059
 of the people

00:30:25.059 --> 00:30:25.519
 who are married

00:30:25.519 --> 00:30:26.000
 at the same

00:30:26.000 --> 00:30:26.759
 time together

00:30:26.759 --> 00:30:28.679
 like they're

00:30:28.679 --> 00:30:29.000
 no longer

00:30:29.000 --> 00:30:29.319
 together.

00:30:29.440 --> 00:30:29.759
 And me and

00:30:29.759 --> 00:30:30.019
 my wife

00:30:30.019 --> 00:30:30.579
 talk about

00:30:30.579 --> 00:30:30.940
 this.

00:30:31.279 --> 00:30:31.720
 Like what

00:30:31.720 --> 00:30:32.460
 did we do

00:30:32.460 --> 00:30:33.119
 that was right

00:30:33.119 --> 00:30:33.279
 and what

00:30:33.279 --> 00:30:33.500
 did we do

00:30:33.500 --> 00:30:33.839
 that was wrong?

00:30:33.899 --> 00:30:34.279
 We don't know

00:30:34.279 --> 00:30:34.659
 it's actually

00:30:34.659 --> 00:30:35.019
 the grace

00:30:35.019 --> 00:30:35.480
 of God.

00:30:36.519 --> 00:30:37.179
 But what we

00:30:37.179 --> 00:30:37.940
 can say is

00:30:37.940 --> 00:30:38.319
 that there's

00:30:38.319 --> 00:30:38.759
 a sense in

00:30:38.759 --> 00:30:39.179
 which at

00:30:39.179 --> 00:30:39.859
 this point

00:30:39.859 --> 00:30:40.859
 we know

00:30:40.859 --> 00:30:41.179
 that we're

00:30:41.179 --> 00:30:41.619
 in this

00:30:41.619 --> 00:30:42.019
 together.

00:30:43.000 --> 00:30:43.440
 And I think

00:30:43.440 --> 00:30:43.980
 it's the same

00:30:43.980 --> 00:30:44.559
 thing as it

00:30:44.559 --> 00:30:44.859
 relates to

00:30:44.859 --> 00:30:45.379
 the Christian

00:30:45.379 --> 00:30:45.940
 faith.

00:30:46.720 --> 00:30:47.139
 Like you

00:30:47.139 --> 00:30:48.220
 start off

00:30:48.220 --> 00:30:49.399
 with these

00:30:49.399 --> 00:30:49.859
 people.

00:30:50.279 --> 00:30:50.839
 And I'm

00:30:50.839 --> 00:30:51.079
 telling you,

00:30:51.119 --> 00:30:51.539
 I have people

00:30:51.539 --> 00:30:51.799
 who I'm with

00:30:51.799 --> 00:30:52.419
 the seminary

00:30:52.419 --> 00:30:53.359
 with who are

00:30:53.359 --> 00:30:53.759
 no longer

00:30:53.759 --> 00:30:54.259
 walking with

00:30:54.259 --> 00:30:54.680
 the Lord.

00:30:56.079 --> 00:30:56.839
 But I also

00:30:56.839 --> 00:30:57.359
 know people

00:30:57.359 --> 00:30:58.079
 who've gone

00:30:58.079 --> 00:30:58.839
 through real

00:30:58.839 --> 00:31:00.700
 suffering and

00:31:00.700 --> 00:31:01.099
 have come

00:31:01.099 --> 00:31:01.440
 through the

00:31:01.440 --> 00:31:02.240
 other side

00:31:02.240 --> 00:31:03.359
 and they

00:31:03.359 --> 00:31:04.359
 are Jesus

00:31:04.359 --> 00:31:04.879
 people.

00:31:05.440 --> 00:31:05.920
 And I hate

00:31:05.920 --> 00:31:06.619
 to be like a

00:31:06.619 --> 00:31:07.279
 stereotypical

00:31:07.279 --> 00:31:07.900
 Anglican and

00:31:07.900 --> 00:31:08.700
 refer to C.S.

00:31:08.759 --> 00:31:09.599
 Lewis when it

00:31:09.599 --> 00:31:10.119
 talks about

00:31:10.119 --> 00:31:11.700
 the ones who

00:31:11.700 --> 00:31:12.200
 are no longer

00:31:12.200 --> 00:31:12.759
 friends of

00:31:12.759 --> 00:31:13.160
 Narnia.

00:31:13.720 --> 00:31:14.579
 Is it Susan?

00:31:15.519 --> 00:31:16.279
 Susan's no longer

00:31:16.279 --> 00:31:16.660
 a friend of

00:31:16.660 --> 00:31:16.920
 Narnia.

00:31:17.000 --> 00:31:17.619
 The saddest

00:31:17.619 --> 00:31:18.220
 line in

00:31:18.220 --> 00:31:18.619
 children's

00:31:18.619 --> 00:31:18.940
 literature.

00:31:18.940 --> 00:31:22.200
 But I do

00:31:22.200 --> 00:31:22.600
 think that

00:31:22.600 --> 00:31:23.000
 even if we

00:31:23.000 --> 00:31:23.600
 don't reach

00:31:23.600 --> 00:31:24.019
 the full

00:31:24.019 --> 00:31:24.640
 maturity of

00:31:24.640 --> 00:31:25.240
 understanding

00:31:25.240 --> 00:31:25.720
 who we

00:31:25.720 --> 00:31:26.220
 are as

00:31:26.220 --> 00:31:26.660
 Christians,

00:31:27.660 --> 00:31:28.500
 I think we

00:31:28.500 --> 00:31:29.160
 can come

00:31:29.160 --> 00:31:30.080
 to this

00:31:30.080 --> 00:31:30.980
 place as

00:31:30.980 --> 00:31:31.480
 Christians

00:31:31.480 --> 00:31:32.500
 where I

00:31:32.500 --> 00:31:33.220
 know in

00:31:33.220 --> 00:31:33.680
 a way that

00:31:33.680 --> 00:31:34.059
 I can

00:31:34.059 --> 00:31:35.259
 articulate that

00:31:35.259 --> 00:31:35.940
 Jesus is the

00:31:35.940 --> 00:31:36.500
 one who will

00:31:36.500 --> 00:31:36.960
 be with me

00:31:36.960 --> 00:31:37.519
 until the

00:31:37.519 --> 00:31:38.059
 very end

00:31:38.059 --> 00:31:38.559
 and I'll

00:31:38.559 --> 00:31:38.820
 be with

00:31:38.820 --> 00:31:39.160
 him until

00:31:39.160 --> 00:31:39.519
 the very

00:31:39.519 --> 00:31:39.820
 end.

00:31:40.920 --> 00:31:41.240
 And I

00:31:41.240 --> 00:31:41.820
 think that

00:31:41.820 --> 00:31:42.140
 is what

00:31:42.140 --> 00:31:42.680
 Paul is

00:31:42.680 --> 00:31:43.700
 calling the

00:31:43.700 --> 00:31:44.180
 church and

00:31:44.180 --> 00:31:45.460
 Ephesus to

00:31:45.460 --> 00:31:46.860
 do in a

00:31:46.860 --> 00:31:47.559
 culture that

00:31:47.559 --> 00:31:48.740
 we talked

00:31:48.740 --> 00:31:49.159
 about earlier

00:31:49.159 --> 00:31:49.859
 was exerting

00:31:49.859 --> 00:31:50.759
 extreme

00:31:50.759 --> 00:31:53.159
 pressure for

00:31:53.159 --> 00:31:53.740
 them to

00:31:53.740 --> 00:31:54.480
 abandon the

00:31:54.480 --> 00:31:54.779
 faith.

00:31:55.480 --> 00:31:55.759
 And I

00:31:55.759 --> 00:31:56.079
 will say

00:31:56.079 --> 00:31:56.740
 this too.

00:31:58.980 --> 00:31:59.919
 I think

00:31:59.919 --> 00:32:00.299
 there's

00:32:00.299 --> 00:32:00.720
 something to

00:32:00.720 --> 00:32:01.519
 be said

00:32:01.519 --> 00:32:02.619
 for making

00:32:02.619 --> 00:32:03.119
 a similar

00:32:03.119 --> 00:32:04.079
 commitment to

00:32:04.079 --> 00:32:04.559
 a local

00:32:04.559 --> 00:32:04.980
 church.

00:32:06.200 --> 00:32:06.480
 I think

00:32:06.480 --> 00:32:06.639
 there's

00:32:06.639 --> 00:32:06.899
 something to

00:32:06.899 --> 00:32:07.179
 be said

00:32:07.179 --> 00:32:07.539
 for that.

00:32:08.500 --> 00:32:09.000
 That I

00:32:09.000 --> 00:32:09.639
 can say

00:32:09.639 --> 00:32:11.200
 these are

00:32:11.200 --> 00:32:12.259
 my people.

00:32:13.220 --> 00:32:14.279
 That whatever

00:32:14.279 --> 00:32:15.200
 Tommy does,

00:32:15.279 --> 00:32:15.619
 and I'm sure

00:32:15.619 --> 00:32:15.919
 he'll do

00:32:15.919 --> 00:32:16.279
 something,

00:32:16.279 --> 00:32:17.960
 that gets

00:32:17.960 --> 00:32:18.420
 on your

00:32:18.420 --> 00:32:18.920
 nerves,

00:32:19.960 --> 00:32:20.420
 short of

00:32:20.420 --> 00:32:20.539
 him

00:32:20.539 --> 00:32:21.440
 apostatizing,

00:32:22.339 --> 00:32:22.539
 right?

00:32:22.759 --> 00:32:23.599
 These are

00:32:23.599 --> 00:32:24.319
 my people.

00:32:24.519 --> 00:32:25.279
 We'll work

00:32:25.279 --> 00:32:25.759
 through it

00:32:25.759 --> 00:32:26.180
 together.

00:32:26.859 --> 00:32:27.899
 Because unity

00:32:27.899 --> 00:32:28.539
 has developed

00:32:28.539 --> 00:32:29.579
 through relationship

00:32:29.579 --> 00:32:31.160
 over time.

00:32:35.000 --> 00:32:35.599
 Rather,

00:32:36.059 --> 00:32:36.379
 right,

00:32:36.819 --> 00:32:37.420
 speaking the

00:32:37.420 --> 00:32:37.819
 truth in

00:32:37.819 --> 00:32:38.160
 love,

00:32:38.899 --> 00:32:39.279
 we are to

00:32:39.279 --> 00:32:39.819
 grow up

00:32:39.819 --> 00:32:40.559
 in every

00:32:40.559 --> 00:32:41.680
 way into

00:32:41.680 --> 00:32:42.619
 him who

00:32:42.619 --> 00:32:42.960
 is the

00:32:42.960 --> 00:32:43.339
 head,

00:32:43.819 --> 00:32:44.099
 into

00:32:44.099 --> 00:32:44.699
 Christ,

00:32:45.259 --> 00:32:46.159
 from whom

00:32:46.159 --> 00:32:47.079
 the whole

00:32:47.079 --> 00:32:48.219
 body,

00:32:48.379 --> 00:32:48.899
 joined and

00:32:48.899 --> 00:32:49.459
 held together

00:32:49.459 --> 00:32:49.899
 by every

00:32:49.899 --> 00:32:50.859
 joint which

00:32:50.859 --> 00:32:51.500
 is equipped,

00:32:52.039 --> 00:32:52.659
 when each

00:32:52.659 --> 00:32:53.199
 part is

00:32:53.199 --> 00:32:54.019
 working properly,

00:32:54.500 --> 00:32:54.939
 makes the

00:32:54.939 --> 00:32:55.419
 body grow

00:32:55.419 --> 00:32:56.179
 up so

00:32:56.179 --> 00:32:56.619
 it builds

00:32:56.619 --> 00:32:57.319
 itself up

00:32:57.319 --> 00:32:57.980
 in love.

00:32:58.980 --> 00:32:59.679
 My prayer

00:32:59.679 --> 00:33:00.119
 for you all

00:33:00.119 --> 00:33:00.559
 is that the

00:33:00.559 --> 00:33:01.219
 gospel will

00:33:01.219 --> 00:33:02.139
 be a sufficient

00:33:02.139 --> 00:33:03.039
 worth to

00:33:03.039 --> 00:33:03.939
 you to

00:33:03.939 --> 00:33:04.559
 engage in

00:33:04.559 --> 00:33:05.139
 the sacrifice

00:33:05.139 --> 00:33:06.019
 of living

00:33:06.019 --> 00:33:07.079
 together and

00:33:07.079 --> 00:33:07.459
 growing at

00:33:07.459 --> 00:33:07.759
 the full

00:33:07.759 --> 00:33:08.399
 maturity as

00:33:08.399 --> 00:33:08.740
 Christians.

00:33:09.539 --> 00:33:09.699
 In the name

00:33:09.699 --> 00:33:09.899
 of the

00:33:09.899 --> 00:33:10.119
 Father,

00:33:10.219 --> 00:33:10.579
 the Son,

00:33:10.619 --> 00:33:10.779
 and the

00:33:10.779 --> 00:33:11.299
 Holy Spirit.

00:33:11.299 --> 00:33:12.379
 Amen.