WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.080
 Jason, do you want to come up?

00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:39.600
 Come a bit closer and you'll just have to speak up.

00:00:39.600 --> 00:00:41.519
 Hopefully he'll get there.

00:00:41.539 --> 00:00:41.960
 Sounds good.

00:00:45.380 --> 00:00:48.420
 Well, just to give you all a warm welcome again,

00:00:48.500 --> 00:00:50.179
 it's great to have you with us today.

00:00:50.820 --> 00:00:53.579
 And if you're visiting, a special welcome

00:00:53.579 --> 00:00:56.960
 and a reminder to all of our tea and coffee time afterwards

00:00:56.960 --> 00:00:59.620
 where we can catch up with one another.

00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:04.560
 Two visitors we have today is Jason and Krista who's here.

00:01:05.599 --> 00:01:07.120
 So I'm just going to ask a little bit.

00:01:07.219 --> 00:01:08.920
 Jason's going to be preaching this morning

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 and he comes from the U.S.

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 and he's part of a partner church in Minnesota.

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 So Jason, you're here with Krista.

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 Tell us a little bit about your family back home.

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 Yeah, so Krista, my wife, and then myself.

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 And then we have two little ones right now.

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 A three-year-old who's a lot of fun

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 and then a one-and-a-half-year-old that's wandering around

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 and super smiley.

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 And then we're expecting a third in September.

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 And that one's a boy.

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 So I have two girls and there's a boy coming.

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 We're getting ready.

00:01:46.459 --> 00:01:47.219
 Good.

00:01:48.000 --> 00:01:53.819
 So tell us, how did you become a follower of Christ?

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 Did you grow up in a home where you were taught

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 or was it through some other means?

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 Yep, I grew up in a home where my parents were believers.

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 And so I heard the gospel.

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 And actually my dad was in ministry.

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 He worked for a camp.

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 And so I actually heard the gospel from speakers,

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 all sorts of different kinds of speakers coming in,

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 preaching the gospel.

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 And it was through that.

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 I didn't believe until I was probably 13

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 that I placed my faith in Jesus.

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 But it was primarily through my parents.

00:02:25.680 --> 00:02:25.979
 Okay.

00:02:26.579 --> 00:02:29.519
 And now we'll find out a bit more about what you do.

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 But you're now working in Redeemer Bible Church in Minnesota.

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 It's a little bit different than this, but it's the same.

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 So what's different and what's the same?

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 Yeah, well, very like-minded.

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 You know, our services would be very similar.

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 The songs we sing would be the same songs.

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 In fact, I was just talking to Jonathan.

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 The gospel project is what we use for our Sunday school as well.

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 And so it would be very similar.

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 Our difference would mainly probably be that we have a building.

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 And that's mainly the only difference, probably.

00:03:08.219 --> 00:03:09.140
 That's good.

00:03:09.300 --> 00:03:11.599
 So you're followers of Jesus Christ.

00:03:12.180 --> 00:03:12.599
 Yes.

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 That's good to know.

00:03:13.780 --> 00:03:13.920
 Yeah.

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 And like-minded, yes, followers of Jesus Christ.

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 Like-minded, expository preaching.

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 We'd be preaching through Exodus right now.

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 Okay.

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 Very good.

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 And what do you do at Redeemer?

00:03:24.699 --> 00:03:25.480
 What's your role?

00:03:25.939 --> 00:03:27.159
 Yeah, so I'm a pastor.

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 That's my role.

00:03:28.479 --> 00:03:29.280
 Okay.

00:03:29.639 --> 00:03:31.959
 And in any particular area?

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 You said that I shouldn't talk about my role.

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 You can keep going.

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 I'm a pastor.

00:03:37.219 --> 00:03:37.379
 No.

00:03:37.959 --> 00:03:41.919
 Yeah, I serve primarily with youth, so teens.

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 And then I'm the pastor.

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 I oversee administration for the whole church.

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 And a lot of that I delegate.

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 Okay.

00:03:50.959 --> 00:03:51.159
 Yeah.

00:03:51.299 --> 00:03:51.719
 Thanks.

00:03:51.719 --> 00:03:56.340
 So Jason will be speaking in just a moment.

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 Before he comes to do that, we're going to read from Matthew's Gospel, Chapter 18, following

00:04:03.579 --> 00:04:05.539
 on in our series together.

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 So Matthew, Chapter 18.

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 And we're going to read the first 14 verses of Matthew 18.

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 Amen.

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 Gouge it out and throw it away.

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 It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.

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 It's happier than the one sheep and about the 99 that did not wander off.

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 In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.

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 I'm going to pray and then Jason is going to come and speak.

00:07:11.819 --> 00:07:12.360
 Let's pray.

00:07:12.360 --> 00:07:12.420
 Amen.

00:07:12.420 --> 00:07:12.520
 Amen.

00:07:12.519 --> 00:07:13.519
 Amen.

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 Father God, we thank you for the gathering of this church here.

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 And we thank you for our partner church at Redeemer as they gather later on today.

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 As we pray for your blessing and your Holy Spirit to be at work among us, we pray the same for our brothers and sisters there in Redeemer.

00:07:43.040 --> 00:07:44.040
 Amen.

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 And we ask for your special help to Jason and to us that we may learn from your word and may come to love Jesus more.

00:07:57.199 --> 00:08:06.219
 So teach us, Father, be gracious to us, build us up and bless.

00:08:07.199 --> 00:08:09.899
 For it's in your name we pray all these things.

00:08:10.860 --> 00:08:11.300
 Amen.

00:08:11.300 --> 00:08:24.680
 Well, it has been great to be with you.

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 And we've had a wonderful time since coming in on Wednesday and going to home group, Krista visiting Polo,

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 and then the time with the Senior Rock and Rooted on Friday night was glorious.

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 And then I've enjoyed all the conversations, meeting many of you and having a chance to fellowship in the gospel.

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 And our hearts are full.

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 And I want to thank Johnny and the other elders for giving me the opportunity to open God's word with you from Matthew 18.

00:08:56.680 --> 00:08:57.600
 Matthew 18.

00:08:57.600 --> 00:09:04.240
 I remember hearing a conversation of a son with his dad.

00:09:04.899 --> 00:09:09.680
 And the conversation led to a question where the son asked the dad,

00:09:10.320 --> 00:09:16.519
 when did you realize you were normal and wouldn't do anything great?

00:09:19.040 --> 00:09:24.940
 Well, first I thought, man, I can't wait for the day that my kids ask me those great questions.

00:09:24.940 --> 00:09:34.160
 But also the son makes assumptions that often we have also about greatness.

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 Whether it's assumptions about status or accomplishments or self-reliance or power or wealth.

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 Yet greatness is something we all desire.

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 And in the eyes of the world, there are very few that actually find it.

00:09:54.940 --> 00:09:59.600
 Our text this morning lays out something of a roundabout,

00:10:00.060 --> 00:10:05.020
 which the big roundabouts here still scare me to death when we go around them.

00:10:05.840 --> 00:10:11.480
 But it's something of a 180 or a reversal on what we would instinctively think

00:10:11.480 --> 00:10:14.160
 in our natural selves about greatness.

00:10:14.159 --> 00:10:20.959
 Jesus doesn't rebuke the disciples for their desire for greatness.

00:10:21.120 --> 00:10:28.959
 But instead, what he does is he redirects it by picturing what kingdom life is like.

00:10:29.279 --> 00:10:33.259
 Or what true greatness before God actually is.

00:10:33.339 --> 00:10:35.679
 And so that's what I want to consider this morning.

00:10:36.339 --> 00:10:37.740
 An upside down kingdom.

00:10:37.740 --> 00:10:43.500
 An upside down from what the world out there assumes about greatness.

00:10:43.639 --> 00:10:45.100
 Jesus is going to correct that.

00:10:45.759 --> 00:10:49.940
 He's going to correct kind of the son's assumption in his question to his dad.

00:10:50.620 --> 00:10:52.480
 And assumptions that we often think.

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 So I think everyone's there.

00:10:53.820 --> 00:10:55.060
 Matthew 18.

00:10:55.220 --> 00:10:57.680
 If you're not there, I invite you to find it again in your Bibles.

00:10:58.360 --> 00:11:01.019
 We're going to look at the first 14 verses.

00:11:01.019 --> 00:11:07.439
 So let's read verse 1 again and then consider the context.

00:11:08.559 --> 00:11:12.199
 At that time, the disciples came to Jesus and asked,

00:11:12.460 --> 00:11:15.279
 Who then is the greatest in the kingdom?

00:11:16.319 --> 00:11:21.340
 So here we have Jesus and what we would probably think is the 12, the 12 disciples,

00:11:21.840 --> 00:11:23.899
 asking about kingdom greatness.

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 What is it like?

00:11:24.799 --> 00:11:25.720
 Who is the greatest?

00:11:26.659 --> 00:11:29.419
 And I think it's important for us to consider first,

00:11:29.419 --> 00:11:33.939
 how do we think about this question in its context?

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 We know from parallel Gospels, other Gospels,

00:11:37.759 --> 00:11:40.979
 that Jesus has addressed this in some form before.

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 If you remember Mark 9,

00:11:43.360 --> 00:11:47.240
 he overhears the disciples arguing amongst themselves.

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 And he asks them,

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 What are you arguing about?

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 And like any good children, they don't say anything.

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 They're silent.

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 And then he goes on to teach about what greatness is in the kingdom.

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 Now, in our passage, I don't think this question comes out of nowhere.

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 And I think it flows out of the context.

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 So if you flip over a page or so to Matthew 16,

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 and then you look down at verses 13 through 16.

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 So let's read those.

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 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi,

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 he asked the disciples,

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 Who do people say that the Son of Man is?

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 They replied,

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 Some say John the Baptist,

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 others say Elijah,

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 still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.

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 But what about you?

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 He asked.

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 Who do you say that I am?

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 And Simon Peter answered,

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 You are the Messiah,

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 the Son of the living God.

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 So here we have Peter's confession,

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 which I think you looked at last week.

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 Peter represents the disciples' emerging understanding about who Jesus is,

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 but they're not quite there.

00:13:00.379 --> 00:13:01.679
 In fact, Acts 1, 6,

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 even after Jesus rose from the dead,

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 they still have a little bit of confusion about the kingdom.

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 They ask,

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 Lord, at this time,

00:13:09.139 --> 00:13:10.980
 are you going to restore the kingdom?

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 So in their minds,

00:13:12.179 --> 00:13:13.980
 they're thinking more political

00:13:13.980 --> 00:13:17.659
 than necessarily the spiritual aspect of the kingdom

00:13:17.659 --> 00:13:20.279
 that we are in today.

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 So they're still emerging into that idea.

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 And Jesus' prediction of his death confuses them,

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 both in chapter 16 and in chapter 17.

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 The next few verses are going to seem to put Peter

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 in kind of an elevated place.

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 Look at what he says in verse 17 and 18.

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 He says,

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 Jesus replied,

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 Blessed are you,

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 Simon, son of Jonah,

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 for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood,

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 but by my Father in heaven.

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 And I tell you, Peter,

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 you are Peter,

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 and on this rock I will build my church.

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 The gates of Hades will not overcome it.

00:14:00.799 --> 00:14:02.479
 So you can understand the question.

00:14:03.399 --> 00:14:06.099
 Who do you think is the greatest in the kingdom?

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 If here he is addressing Peter in this way,

00:14:09.879 --> 00:14:12.659
 it seems to think Peter is the greatest.

00:14:14.180 --> 00:14:15.860
 And at the beginning of chapter 17,

00:14:16.240 --> 00:14:18.100
 we have the transfiguration,

00:14:18.899 --> 00:14:22.940
 which takes up three disciples,

00:14:23.200 --> 00:14:24.960
 which maybe perhaps is the inner ring.

00:14:25.259 --> 00:14:26.259
 Look there, it says,

00:14:26.740 --> 00:14:28.860
 Jesus took with him, verse 1,

00:14:29.000 --> 00:14:31.440
 Peter, James, and John,

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 the brother of James.

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 And so there seems to be this inner ring

00:14:36.160 --> 00:14:37.040
 that Jesus takes on,

00:14:37.100 --> 00:14:38.340
 this great experience,

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 on the mountain,

00:14:39.640 --> 00:14:40.520
 the transfiguration.

00:14:41.240 --> 00:14:44.840
 So then you come back to our passage,

00:14:45.360 --> 00:14:47.680
 and that's where we have the question,

00:14:47.860 --> 00:14:51.600
 who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

00:14:53.720 --> 00:14:55.520
 So what I want us to see this morning

00:14:55.520 --> 00:14:58.100
 is how Jesus answers this question.

00:14:58.920 --> 00:15:00.460
 But before we do that,

00:15:00.460 --> 00:15:02.420
 we should consider what he does

00:15:02.420 --> 00:15:03.740
 in verses 2 and 3.

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 And that is,

00:15:05.580 --> 00:15:06.040
 verse 2,

00:15:06.160 --> 00:15:06.680
 he called,

00:15:06.879 --> 00:15:08.040
 so our chapter again,

00:15:08.480 --> 00:15:09.160
 Matthew 18,

00:15:09.300 --> 00:15:09.800
 verse 2,

00:15:10.019 --> 00:15:11.700
 he called a little child to him.

00:15:12.420 --> 00:15:13.500
 You can kind of picture it,

00:15:13.540 --> 00:15:15.920
 and he placed the child among them,

00:15:15.960 --> 00:15:17.000
 in the middle of all of them.

00:15:18.500 --> 00:15:20.080
 So Jesus places this child,

00:15:20.160 --> 00:15:20.980
 and then he says something

00:15:20.980 --> 00:15:22.460
 that is truly unexpected,

00:15:22.639 --> 00:15:23.120
 verse 3.

00:15:24.040 --> 00:15:24.720
 And he said,

00:15:24.800 --> 00:15:26.040
 truly I tell you,

00:15:26.280 --> 00:15:27.460
 unless you change

00:15:27.460 --> 00:15:29.480
 and become like this little child,

00:15:30.400 --> 00:15:32.820
 you will never enter

00:15:32.820 --> 00:15:34.759
 the kingdom of heaven.

00:15:36.960 --> 00:15:38.200
 See what Jesus does?

00:15:38.940 --> 00:15:39.680
 He says,

00:15:39.820 --> 00:15:40.900
 this is really important

00:15:40.900 --> 00:15:41.620
 for you to get.

00:15:43.500 --> 00:15:44.940
 Consider what I'm going to say.

00:15:45.259 --> 00:15:46.780
 And Jesus starts with entering,

00:15:46.940 --> 00:15:47.620
 with the beginning.

00:15:49.620 --> 00:15:50.900
 It's almost as if he says,

00:15:50.980 --> 00:15:52.060
 you're thinking about the kingdom

00:15:52.060 --> 00:15:53.740
 as entirely wrong,

00:15:53.800 --> 00:15:54.700
 you haven't got it yet.

00:15:54.700 --> 00:15:57.460
 To even enter the kingdom,

00:15:57.660 --> 00:15:59.240
 you need to humble yourself,

00:15:59.340 --> 00:16:00.259
 become like a child.

00:16:01.759 --> 00:16:02.240
 Why?

00:16:02.379 --> 00:16:03.759
 Because without this humility,

00:16:04.040 --> 00:16:05.780
 you will never enter it.

00:16:07.900 --> 00:16:12.440
 Which is a very negative way to say it.

00:16:12.920 --> 00:16:14.560
 He uses a strong,

00:16:14.759 --> 00:16:16.000
 the strongest way,

00:16:16.340 --> 00:16:17.879
 never enter the kingdom.

00:16:20.340 --> 00:16:21.060
 He says,

00:16:21.140 --> 00:16:23.140
 only the humble find their way

00:16:23.140 --> 00:16:24.000
 into the kingdom.

00:16:24.000 --> 00:16:24.320
 You see,

00:16:24.399 --> 00:16:25.480
 the disciples wanted to be

00:16:25.480 --> 00:16:26.659
 the greatest in the kingdom.

00:16:28.000 --> 00:16:28.480
 Jesus,

00:16:28.659 --> 00:16:29.399
 on the other hand,

00:16:29.500 --> 00:16:30.720
 wants them to consider

00:16:30.720 --> 00:16:32.620
 if they're in the kingdom

00:16:32.620 --> 00:16:33.799
 at all.

00:16:35.299 --> 00:16:36.039
 It's like,

00:16:36.279 --> 00:16:36.740
 you know,

00:16:36.820 --> 00:16:37.620
 in a sport,

00:16:38.480 --> 00:16:39.320
 you wondering

00:16:39.320 --> 00:16:41.000
 if you made the all-star team.

00:16:41.940 --> 00:16:43.720
 And the coach is really concerned

00:16:43.720 --> 00:16:44.919
 whether or not

00:16:44.919 --> 00:16:45.940
 you're even on the team,

00:16:45.980 --> 00:16:47.039
 you made the team at all.

00:16:47.460 --> 00:16:49.039
 That's what Jesus does here.

00:16:49.539 --> 00:16:50.460
 And he says,

00:16:50.460 --> 00:16:51.600
 consider this

00:16:51.600 --> 00:16:53.639
 unless you change.

00:16:55.000 --> 00:16:55.159
 Now,

00:16:55.179 --> 00:16:55.899
 the word change

00:16:55.899 --> 00:16:56.580
 has the idea

00:16:56.580 --> 00:16:57.740
 of turning away.

00:16:58.659 --> 00:16:59.460
 Maybe not the way

00:16:59.460 --> 00:17:01.659
 that we think about change,

00:17:01.740 --> 00:17:02.580
 but turn.

00:17:03.000 --> 00:17:04.220
 And it's the essence

00:17:04.220 --> 00:17:04.980
 of what it means

00:17:04.980 --> 00:17:05.579
 to be a Christian.

00:17:06.140 --> 00:17:06.740
 Every Christian

00:17:06.740 --> 00:17:07.420
 has experienced

00:17:07.420 --> 00:17:08.440
 this change.

00:17:08.539 --> 00:17:09.440
 It's repentance.

00:17:10.839 --> 00:17:12.519
 That is what turning means.

00:17:12.599 --> 00:17:13.599
 And the word is passive,

00:17:13.720 --> 00:17:14.940
 so we could translate it,

00:17:14.940 --> 00:17:17.600
 unless you are changed,

00:17:18.220 --> 00:17:19.559
 you will never enter

00:17:19.559 --> 00:17:20.019
 the kingdom.

00:17:21.820 --> 00:17:23.080
 So we repent

00:17:23.080 --> 00:17:24.420
 and God changes

00:17:24.420 --> 00:17:25.559
 our hearts

00:17:25.559 --> 00:17:26.279
 and we become

00:17:26.279 --> 00:17:27.059
 like a child

00:17:27.059 --> 00:17:28.220
 and we trust

00:17:28.220 --> 00:17:29.460
 in the Father.

00:17:29.580 --> 00:17:30.360
 So unless you

00:17:30.360 --> 00:17:31.400
 experience

00:17:31.400 --> 00:17:32.539
 this gospel

00:17:32.539 --> 00:17:33.220
 producing

00:17:33.220 --> 00:17:34.519
 change,

00:17:34.680 --> 00:17:35.519
 you will not

00:17:35.519 --> 00:17:36.180
 enter the kingdom.

00:17:36.180 --> 00:17:39.320
 and this means

00:17:39.320 --> 00:17:40.460
 that we must

00:17:40.460 --> 00:17:41.600
 admit

00:17:41.600 --> 00:17:43.440
 that we are lost

00:17:43.440 --> 00:17:44.160
 first.

00:17:44.960 --> 00:17:45.980
 That we're lost

00:17:45.980 --> 00:17:46.720
 sinners

00:17:46.720 --> 00:17:49.100
 and we deserve,

00:17:49.259 --> 00:17:49.880
 we have offended

00:17:49.880 --> 00:17:50.580
 a holy God,

00:17:50.680 --> 00:17:51.720
 we deserve death.

00:17:52.720 --> 00:17:53.360
 So if you're here

00:17:53.360 --> 00:17:54.580
 and you're not a believer,

00:17:55.420 --> 00:17:56.880
 if you're being honest,

00:17:56.880 --> 00:17:58.180
 this is one of the things

00:17:58.180 --> 00:17:59.220
 that catches us up.

00:17:59.220 --> 00:18:02.180
 our hesitancy

00:18:02.180 --> 00:18:03.460
 to embrace Christ

00:18:03.460 --> 00:18:04.880
 because

00:18:04.880 --> 00:18:07.000
 we still think

00:18:07.000 --> 00:18:07.779
 deep down

00:18:07.779 --> 00:18:08.680
 we have something

00:18:08.680 --> 00:18:09.319
 to offer.

00:18:11.600 --> 00:18:13.000
 We're not quite

00:18:13.000 --> 00:18:14.019
 desperate enough.

00:18:15.019 --> 00:18:16.220
 But when you finally

00:18:16.220 --> 00:18:17.319
 see that you cannot

00:18:17.319 --> 00:18:18.360
 save yourself,

00:18:19.559 --> 00:18:21.299
 you are dead

00:18:21.299 --> 00:18:21.880
 in your sins,

00:18:21.980 --> 00:18:22.579
 you are helpless,

00:18:22.779 --> 00:18:23.480
 you are a beggar,

00:18:23.579 --> 00:18:24.420
 there's nothing

00:18:24.420 --> 00:18:25.539
 you can do

00:18:25.539 --> 00:18:27.400
 to approach God.

00:18:27.400 --> 00:18:30.460
 you are humbled.

00:18:31.519 --> 00:18:32.300
 That's what Jesus

00:18:32.300 --> 00:18:32.960
 is getting at.

00:18:34.600 --> 00:18:35.720
 The surest mark

00:18:35.720 --> 00:18:37.100
 commentator said

00:18:37.100 --> 00:18:37.480
 on this

00:18:37.480 --> 00:18:38.580
 of conversion,

00:18:38.960 --> 00:18:39.860
 of belonging

00:18:39.860 --> 00:18:40.500
 to Jesus

00:18:40.500 --> 00:18:42.980
 is this humility.

00:18:44.080 --> 00:18:45.120
 The Christian faith

00:18:45.120 --> 00:18:46.640
 is humbling.

00:18:47.640 --> 00:18:48.460
 I heard a song

00:18:48.460 --> 00:18:50.220
 that goes

00:18:50.220 --> 00:18:50.940
 something like this,

00:18:51.180 --> 00:18:52.240
 there is a mountain

00:18:52.240 --> 00:18:54.000
 that only the lame

00:18:54.000 --> 00:18:55.080
 can climb.

00:18:56.180 --> 00:18:57.380
 There is a table

00:18:57.380 --> 00:18:58.700
 that only the hungry

00:18:58.700 --> 00:18:59.260
 find.

00:19:00.200 --> 00:19:01.340
 Only the beggar

00:19:01.340 --> 00:19:02.440
 will have the currency

00:19:02.440 --> 00:19:03.940
 when need

00:19:03.940 --> 00:19:04.960
 is all

00:19:04.960 --> 00:19:05.960
 you need.

00:19:07.460 --> 00:19:08.820
 The precondition,

00:19:08.940 --> 00:19:10.060
 the thing that you get

00:19:10.060 --> 00:19:10.860
 before you come

00:19:10.860 --> 00:19:11.340
 to Jesus,

00:19:11.700 --> 00:19:12.540
 the realization

00:19:12.540 --> 00:19:13.480
 you come to

00:19:13.480 --> 00:19:14.460
 is that you are

00:19:14.460 --> 00:19:14.880
 helpless

00:19:14.880 --> 00:19:16.380
 and in need

00:19:16.380 --> 00:19:16.920
 of a Savior.

00:19:18.060 --> 00:19:18.600
 And that's what

00:19:18.600 --> 00:19:19.840
 Jesus says

00:19:19.840 --> 00:19:21.020
 here

00:19:21.020 --> 00:19:22.460
 for the disciples.

00:19:23.160 --> 00:19:24.260
 Unless you become

00:19:24.260 --> 00:19:24.940
 like this child,

00:19:25.020 --> 00:19:25.860
 unless you realize

00:19:25.859 --> 00:19:26.619
 your helplessness,

00:19:26.740 --> 00:19:27.619
 you will never

00:19:27.619 --> 00:19:28.419
 enter the kingdom.

00:19:29.039 --> 00:19:29.419
 Of course,

00:19:29.479 --> 00:19:30.099
 they need to believe

00:19:30.099 --> 00:19:30.579
 in Jesus.

00:19:31.240 --> 00:19:31.659
 Of course,

00:19:31.719 --> 00:19:32.459
 they need to embrace

00:19:32.459 --> 00:19:33.099
 the gospel

00:19:33.099 --> 00:19:34.019
 of the death

00:19:34.019 --> 00:19:34.519
 and resurrection

00:19:34.519 --> 00:19:35.139
 of Jesus.

00:19:35.799 --> 00:19:36.500
 But he's saying

00:19:36.500 --> 00:19:39.019
 there's a state

00:19:39.019 --> 00:19:39.500
 in which

00:19:39.500 --> 00:19:40.959
 you must come to,

00:19:41.179 --> 00:19:42.259
 grips with who you are,

00:19:42.679 --> 00:19:44.079
 that's truly humbling

00:19:44.079 --> 00:19:45.339
 before you turn

00:19:45.339 --> 00:19:46.359
 and trust this Jesus.

00:19:46.359 --> 00:19:49.179
 Now that's all

00:19:49.179 --> 00:19:49.659
 introduction.

00:19:50.139 --> 00:19:51.500
 So this is,

00:19:51.599 --> 00:19:52.439
 now we jump into

00:19:52.439 --> 00:19:53.019
 what Jesus,

00:19:53.159 --> 00:19:53.379
 I think,

00:19:53.419 --> 00:19:54.199
 is going to start

00:19:54.199 --> 00:19:56.159
 teaching the disciples.

00:19:57.179 --> 00:19:58.000
 And it's this,

00:19:58.039 --> 00:19:58.899
 that the criteria

00:19:58.899 --> 00:20:00.740
 before you come

00:20:00.740 --> 00:20:01.379
 into the kingdom

00:20:01.379 --> 00:20:03.799
 is the same criteria

00:20:03.799 --> 00:20:04.779
 for greatness

00:20:04.779 --> 00:20:06.639
 within the kingdom.

00:20:06.839 --> 00:20:07.359
 And that is

00:20:07.359 --> 00:20:08.339
 humility.

00:20:09.479 --> 00:20:10.179
 So that's what

00:20:10.179 --> 00:20:10.740
 our section,

00:20:10.939 --> 00:20:12.719
 the rest of these verses

00:20:12.719 --> 00:20:13.359
 are going to give us.

00:20:13.399 --> 00:20:14.399
 And I think as people

00:20:14.400 --> 00:20:15.900
 of God's kingdom,

00:20:16.019 --> 00:20:16.600
 so we've been talking

00:20:16.600 --> 00:20:17.300
 about the kingdom

00:20:17.300 --> 00:20:18.500
 and now we're coming

00:20:18.500 --> 00:20:19.480
 to life in the kingdom,

00:20:19.680 --> 00:20:20.660
 so people,

00:20:20.940 --> 00:20:21.300
 Christians,

00:20:21.480 --> 00:20:21.820
 believers,

00:20:22.780 --> 00:20:23.620
 as people of the kingdom,

00:20:23.740 --> 00:20:26.120
 we walk in gospel humility.

00:20:26.940 --> 00:20:27.780
 And there's going to be

00:20:27.780 --> 00:20:28.600
 three points

00:20:28.600 --> 00:20:30.080
 that I want to draw out

00:20:30.080 --> 00:20:31.160
 from what Jesus says

00:20:31.160 --> 00:20:32.820
 this morning.

00:20:32.940 --> 00:20:34.080
 Three characteristics

00:20:34.080 --> 00:20:34.660
 you could say

00:20:34.660 --> 00:20:35.180
 of humility.

00:20:35.340 --> 00:20:35.880
 Number one,

00:20:36.740 --> 00:20:37.660
 childlike dependence.

00:20:38.480 --> 00:20:39.140
 Number two,

00:20:39.259 --> 00:20:40.240
 radical devotion.

00:20:40.840 --> 00:20:41.540
 And number three,

00:20:41.680 --> 00:20:42.420
 heavenly delight.

00:20:43.140 --> 00:20:44.060
 So I'll repeat those,

00:20:44.059 --> 00:20:45.440
 but let's look

00:20:45.440 --> 00:20:45.940
 at number one.

00:20:47.319 --> 00:20:48.279
 Childlike dependence.

00:20:48.859 --> 00:20:49.879
 So gospel humility,

00:20:50.000 --> 00:20:50.419
 the humility

00:20:50.419 --> 00:20:51.819
 that you had to have

00:20:51.819 --> 00:20:52.639
 before coming

00:20:52.639 --> 00:20:53.819
 and becoming a Christian

00:20:53.819 --> 00:20:55.839
 and now a humility

00:20:55.839 --> 00:20:56.639
 that should characterize

00:20:56.639 --> 00:20:57.440
 all believers,

00:20:58.339 --> 00:20:58.919
 it's characterized

00:20:58.919 --> 00:21:01.119
 by childlike dependence,

00:21:01.220 --> 00:21:01.919
 marked by that.

00:21:02.000 --> 00:21:03.059
 Verses four and five,

00:21:03.119 --> 00:21:03.619
 let's read them.

00:21:04.319 --> 00:21:04.700
 Therefore,

00:21:04.899 --> 00:21:05.839
 whoever takes

00:21:05.839 --> 00:21:06.940
 the lowly position

00:21:06.940 --> 00:21:08.259
 of this child

00:21:08.259 --> 00:21:09.579
 is the greatest

00:21:09.579 --> 00:21:11.000
 in the kingdom of heaven.

00:21:11.659 --> 00:21:12.980
 And whoever welcomes

00:21:12.980 --> 00:21:13.980
 one such child

00:21:13.980 --> 00:21:14.700
 in my name

00:21:14.700 --> 00:21:16.039
 welcomes me.

00:21:16.880 --> 00:21:18.039
 So what is Jesus

00:21:18.039 --> 00:21:19.500
 getting at?

00:21:19.660 --> 00:21:20.640
 What is he saying

00:21:20.640 --> 00:21:22.559
 to us?

00:21:23.519 --> 00:21:24.960
 Well, he's not saying

00:21:24.960 --> 00:21:26.019
 that you should be childish.

00:21:27.079 --> 00:21:27.440
 You know,

00:21:27.980 --> 00:21:29.140
 like how my daughters

00:21:29.140 --> 00:21:30.599
 are very quick

00:21:30.599 --> 00:21:32.160
 to lose focus

00:21:32.160 --> 00:21:32.740
 on something

00:21:32.740 --> 00:21:34.240
 and quickly jump

00:21:34.240 --> 00:21:34.960
 to another thing.

00:21:35.019 --> 00:21:35.539
 No, he's not saying

00:21:35.539 --> 00:21:36.220
 Christians should be

00:21:36.220 --> 00:21:36.779
 absent-minded

00:21:36.779 --> 00:21:37.440
 like children.

00:21:38.680 --> 00:21:39.779
 We're not called

00:21:39.779 --> 00:21:40.920
 to be like children

00:21:40.920 --> 00:21:42.139
 in every way,

00:21:42.240 --> 00:21:43.019
 but rather Jesus

00:21:43.019 --> 00:21:45.099
 is calling the attention

00:21:45.099 --> 00:21:46.119
 of the dependence

00:21:46.119 --> 00:21:48.839
 of a child.

00:21:49.920 --> 00:21:50.359
 So again,

00:21:50.420 --> 00:21:51.220
 the criteria for

00:21:51.220 --> 00:21:52.139
 the need,

00:21:52.279 --> 00:21:52.819
 the dependence

00:21:52.819 --> 00:21:54.519
 of a child

00:21:54.519 --> 00:21:55.759
 is a criteria

00:21:55.759 --> 00:21:56.639
 before you enter

00:21:56.639 --> 00:21:57.059
 the kingdom

00:21:57.059 --> 00:21:58.220
 and here it is,

00:21:58.279 --> 00:21:59.180
 also the way

00:21:59.180 --> 00:21:59.799
 of the kingdom.

00:22:00.359 --> 00:22:01.339
 And there's two words

00:22:01.339 --> 00:22:02.279
 that Jesus gives us.

00:22:02.399 --> 00:22:03.339
 First, he gives us,

00:22:03.660 --> 00:22:04.619
 oh, I forgot to hit this.

00:22:05.960 --> 00:22:06.319
 There you go.

00:22:06.319 --> 00:22:08.799
 The first word he gives us

00:22:08.799 --> 00:22:10.500
 is lowly, lowly,

00:22:10.559 --> 00:22:11.519
 and that's in verse 4.

00:22:12.419 --> 00:22:12.799
 He says,

00:22:13.039 --> 00:22:14.299
 whoever takes the lowly

00:22:14.299 --> 00:22:15.639
 position of this child,

00:22:16.379 --> 00:22:17.759
 so whoever humbles himself

00:22:17.759 --> 00:22:18.960
 or herself like a child

00:22:18.960 --> 00:22:19.679
 is the greatest.

00:22:20.879 --> 00:22:22.079
 Jesus says something similar

00:22:22.079 --> 00:22:23.319
 in Mark 9, 35.

00:22:23.659 --> 00:22:24.639
 Anyone who wants

00:22:24.639 --> 00:22:25.379
 to be first

00:22:25.379 --> 00:22:27.099
 must be the very last

00:22:27.099 --> 00:22:29.139
 and the servant of all.

00:22:29.319 --> 00:22:30.519
 The lowest position,

00:22:30.679 --> 00:22:31.460
 lows of lows.

00:22:31.839 --> 00:22:32.919
 And to illustrate this point,

00:22:32.919 --> 00:22:34.460
 Jesus points to the child

00:22:34.460 --> 00:22:35.039
 before them.

00:22:36.319 --> 00:22:37.899
 So more so than today,

00:22:38.099 --> 00:22:39.419
 society in Jesus' day

00:22:39.419 --> 00:22:40.259
 would have not

00:22:40.259 --> 00:22:42.200
 highly esteemed children.

00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:45.019
 Maybe our society

00:22:45.019 --> 00:22:46.039
 is catching up a little bit,

00:22:46.099 --> 00:22:46.799
 but scholars say

00:22:46.799 --> 00:22:47.659
 that in that day,

00:22:48.059 --> 00:22:48.659
 children didn't have

00:22:48.659 --> 00:22:49.559
 a high place.

00:22:50.399 --> 00:22:52.200
 They had a lower status.

00:22:52.839 --> 00:22:53.500
 And you find that,

00:22:53.559 --> 00:22:53.799
 remember,

00:22:54.019 --> 00:22:55.019
 we're going to find it

00:22:55.019 --> 00:22:55.960
 in chapter 19,

00:22:56.700 --> 00:22:58.000
 when the disciples

00:22:58.000 --> 00:22:59.419
 rebuke people

00:22:59.419 --> 00:23:00.379
 for bringing who

00:23:00.379 --> 00:23:01.059
 to Jesus?

00:23:01.779 --> 00:23:02.639
 Or, sorry,

00:23:02.759 --> 00:23:04.059
 Jesus rebukes

00:23:04.059 --> 00:23:04.539
 the disciples

00:23:04.539 --> 00:23:06.059
 for bringing children

00:23:06.059 --> 00:23:06.859
 to Him.

00:23:07.259 --> 00:23:07.819
 He says,

00:23:08.099 --> 00:23:09.240
 let the little children

00:23:09.240 --> 00:23:09.919
 come to Me.

00:23:10.279 --> 00:23:11.339
 Do not hinder them.

00:23:11.419 --> 00:23:12.319
 So they were hindering them.

00:23:13.019 --> 00:23:14.139
 For the Kingdom of Heaven

00:23:14.139 --> 00:23:16.399
 belongs to such as these.

00:23:17.639 --> 00:23:18.940
 The one biblical scholar

00:23:18.940 --> 00:23:19.460
 wrote this,

00:23:19.559 --> 00:23:20.500
 Jesus celebrates

00:23:20.500 --> 00:23:21.579
 the humility

00:23:21.579 --> 00:23:22.519
 that comes

00:23:22.519 --> 00:23:24.379
 from the child's weakness,

00:23:25.099 --> 00:23:26.179
 defenselessness,

00:23:26.179 --> 00:23:27.039
 and vulnerability.

00:23:28.319 --> 00:23:30.480
 The child can really do

00:23:30.480 --> 00:23:31.519
 nothing for himself

00:23:31.519 --> 00:23:32.200
 or herself

00:23:32.200 --> 00:23:33.700
 and will die

00:23:33.700 --> 00:23:35.139
 if left alone.

00:23:36.019 --> 00:23:37.200
 It is this kind

00:23:37.200 --> 00:23:37.759
 of humility

00:23:37.759 --> 00:23:38.940
 that Jesus uses

00:23:38.940 --> 00:23:40.579
 as this visual aid.

00:23:42.420 --> 00:23:42.680
 You see,

00:23:42.879 --> 00:23:43.079
 we don't,

00:23:43.559 --> 00:23:43.720
 we,

00:23:44.119 --> 00:23:44.759
 Krista and I

00:23:44.759 --> 00:23:45.299
 came over here,

00:23:45.319 --> 00:23:45.859
 we didn't just

00:23:45.859 --> 00:23:47.339
 leave our kids

00:23:47.339 --> 00:23:48.019
 in our house.

00:23:48.420 --> 00:23:48.539
 You know,

00:23:48.579 --> 00:23:49.000
 nobody's,

00:23:49.319 --> 00:23:50.480
 one of the first questions

00:23:50.480 --> 00:23:51.220
 is, you know,

00:23:51.259 --> 00:23:51.839
 who's watching

00:23:51.839 --> 00:23:53.819
 after your kids?

00:23:54.019 --> 00:23:55.059
 If we said,

00:23:55.379 --> 00:23:55.900
 oh, no one,

00:23:56.019 --> 00:23:56.440
 they're fine.

00:23:57.200 --> 00:23:57.920
 They're just

00:23:57.920 --> 00:23:59.320
 cooking their own meals.

00:23:59.420 --> 00:24:00.059
 No, you wouldn't,

00:24:00.420 --> 00:24:01.600
 you know that

00:24:01.600 --> 00:24:02.580
 they're defenseless,

00:24:02.660 --> 00:24:03.120
 they're helpless.

00:24:03.880 --> 00:24:04.600
 That's what Jesus

00:24:04.600 --> 00:24:05.279
 is getting at.

00:24:05.680 --> 00:24:07.340
 They're in a lowly position.

00:24:08.799 --> 00:24:09.299
 He says,

00:24:09.460 --> 00:24:10.600
 anyone who wants

00:24:10.600 --> 00:24:11.420
 to be great

00:24:11.420 --> 00:24:13.019
 must humble themselves

00:24:13.019 --> 00:24:13.880
 like a child.

00:24:15.539 --> 00:24:16.660
 Those who know

00:24:16.660 --> 00:24:17.420
 they are helpless

00:24:17.420 --> 00:24:18.700
 are actually

00:24:18.700 --> 00:24:19.380
 the greatest

00:24:19.380 --> 00:24:20.240
 in the Kingdom.

00:24:20.380 --> 00:24:21.019
 So take again

00:24:21.019 --> 00:24:22.420
 my daughter Lily,

00:24:23.380 --> 00:24:24.120
 for example.

00:24:25.180 --> 00:24:26.420
 She does not care.

00:24:26.440 --> 00:24:28.019
 about power

00:24:28.019 --> 00:24:28.940
 or prestige

00:24:28.940 --> 00:24:29.759
 right now.

00:24:30.940 --> 00:24:31.460
 Meaning,

00:24:31.660 --> 00:24:32.820
 if someone came up

00:24:32.820 --> 00:24:33.059
 to her

00:24:33.059 --> 00:24:33.860
 and started listing

00:24:33.860 --> 00:24:35.080
 all their accomplishments

00:24:35.080 --> 00:24:36.600
 about all the great things

00:24:36.600 --> 00:24:36.980
 they've done

00:24:36.980 --> 00:24:37.660
 in their life,

00:24:38.259 --> 00:24:40.080
 or if she met

00:24:40.080 --> 00:24:41.340
 a prime minister

00:24:41.340 --> 00:24:41.880
 or president

00:24:41.880 --> 00:24:42.500
 or whoever,

00:24:43.080 --> 00:24:44.000
 met someone,

00:24:45.220 --> 00:24:46.559
 she wouldn't know

00:24:46.559 --> 00:24:47.519
 who they are.

00:24:47.620 --> 00:24:48.039
 She wouldn't be

00:24:48.039 --> 00:24:48.600
 in awe

00:24:48.600 --> 00:24:49.240
 of their greatness.

00:24:49.400 --> 00:24:49.500
 No,

00:24:49.580 --> 00:24:50.620
 she would,

00:24:51.860 --> 00:24:52.820
 unless it's Disney

00:24:52.820 --> 00:24:53.640
 or something like that,

00:24:53.660 --> 00:24:54.120
 I suppose,

00:24:54.539 --> 00:24:55.279
 maybe perhaps,

00:24:55.420 --> 00:24:56.299
 but she would be

00:24:56.299 --> 00:24:56.919
 impartial.

00:24:57.980 --> 00:24:58.759
 She would not be moved

00:24:58.759 --> 00:25:00.240
 by these great accomplishments.

00:25:01.859 --> 00:25:02.539
 Or think of it

00:25:02.539 --> 00:25:03.240
 in terms of

00:25:03.240 --> 00:25:05.019
 who she would play with.

00:25:05.059 --> 00:25:05.960
 If you want to play

00:25:05.960 --> 00:25:06.740
 with my daughter

00:25:06.740 --> 00:25:07.639
 and you're willing

00:25:07.639 --> 00:25:08.480
 to go play with her,

00:25:08.899 --> 00:25:10.019
 she's more than willing

00:25:10.019 --> 00:25:10.720
 to play with you.

00:25:11.200 --> 00:25:12.259
 There isn't much

00:25:12.259 --> 00:25:13.319
 she's going to look at

00:25:13.319 --> 00:25:14.720
 as far as your status.

00:25:15.579 --> 00:25:16.599
 Or think in terms

00:25:16.599 --> 00:25:17.119
 of children

00:25:17.119 --> 00:25:18.639
 when it comes to

00:25:18.639 --> 00:25:19.079
 believing

00:25:19.079 --> 00:25:20.139
 what their parents say.

00:25:22.440 --> 00:25:22.919
 Kids,

00:25:22.920 --> 00:25:23.880
 little ones,

00:25:24.200 --> 00:25:25.500
 trust their parents

00:25:25.500 --> 00:25:26.960
 implicitly.

00:25:27.640 --> 00:25:28.120
 That's

00:25:28.120 --> 00:25:30.240
 whatever mom says

00:25:30.240 --> 00:25:31.720
 must be true.

00:25:32.940 --> 00:25:33.120
 No,

00:25:33.140 --> 00:25:33.680
 I think that's what

00:25:33.680 --> 00:25:34.759
 Jesus is getting at here.

00:25:35.500 --> 00:25:36.940
 A lowliness of a child.

00:25:37.019 --> 00:25:37.820
 That's what he's talking about.

00:25:37.880 --> 00:25:38.860
 Childlike dependence

00:25:38.860 --> 00:25:40.480
 on one's parents,

00:25:40.600 --> 00:25:41.180
 on adults.

00:25:43.080 --> 00:25:43.560
 Now,

00:25:43.620 --> 00:25:43.920
 you say,

00:25:44.019 --> 00:25:44.220
 well,

00:25:44.320 --> 00:25:45.180
 I'm here

00:25:45.180 --> 00:25:46.580
 and I don't need

00:25:46.580 --> 00:25:47.160
 to be reminded

00:25:47.160 --> 00:25:48.340
 about how low I am

00:25:48.340 --> 00:25:49.680
 because I am low.

00:25:49.680 --> 00:25:53.019
 the Lord

00:25:53.019 --> 00:25:53.560
 over

00:25:53.560 --> 00:25:55.660
 the last few weeks

00:25:55.660 --> 00:25:56.000
 or whatever

00:25:56.000 --> 00:25:56.700
 maybe perhaps

00:25:56.700 --> 00:25:57.560
 has brought you

00:25:57.560 --> 00:25:58.680
 to a low point.

00:25:59.840 --> 00:26:01.200
 I want to encourage you

00:26:01.200 --> 00:26:02.519
 that lowliness

00:26:02.519 --> 00:26:04.880
 is a path

00:26:04.880 --> 00:26:06.220
 to a particular

00:26:06.220 --> 00:26:07.200
 kind of joy.

00:26:08.320 --> 00:26:09.019
 And it's all

00:26:09.019 --> 00:26:09.840
 throughout the scriptures.

00:26:10.920 --> 00:26:12.000
 I heard the song

00:26:12.000 --> 00:26:12.279
 that says

00:26:12.279 --> 00:26:13.620
 valleys fill first.

00:26:14.400 --> 00:26:15.360
 And that's what it is.

00:26:15.400 --> 00:26:16.279
 I talked with the students

00:26:16.279 --> 00:26:16.980
 on Friday night

00:26:16.980 --> 00:26:17.460
 about how

00:26:17.460 --> 00:26:18.200
 sometimes

00:26:18.200 --> 00:26:19.460
 when we humble ourselves

00:26:19.460 --> 00:26:21.360
 it leads to

00:26:21.360 --> 00:26:21.799
 an emptiness.

00:26:23.380 --> 00:26:24.220
 An emptiness

00:26:24.220 --> 00:26:25.079
 that Christ

00:26:25.079 --> 00:26:25.759
 can fill.

00:26:28.100 --> 00:26:28.740
 Think about

00:26:28.740 --> 00:26:29.640
 what James says.

00:26:30.700 --> 00:26:31.420
 James says

00:26:31.420 --> 00:26:32.539
 God gives more grace.

00:26:34.000 --> 00:26:34.480
 Therefore,

00:26:34.600 --> 00:26:34.940
 it says

00:26:34.940 --> 00:26:36.019
 God opposes the proud

00:26:36.019 --> 00:26:37.200
 but gives grace

00:26:37.200 --> 00:26:37.779
 to the humble.

00:26:38.559 --> 00:26:39.000
 It says

00:26:39.000 --> 00:26:39.860
 humble yourselves

00:26:39.860 --> 00:26:40.740
 before the Lord

00:26:40.740 --> 00:26:42.079
 and he will exalt you.

00:26:42.240 --> 00:26:42.600
 So there's a

00:26:42.600 --> 00:26:44.019
 taking the position

00:26:44.019 --> 00:26:44.600
 of a child

00:26:44.600 --> 00:26:45.360
 is a humbling

00:26:45.360 --> 00:26:45.940
 of oneself.

00:26:47.039 --> 00:26:48.039
 You think what it says

00:26:48.039 --> 00:26:48.960
 in Philippians 2.

00:26:48.960 --> 00:26:50.700
 It's Jesus' ministry.

00:26:51.220 --> 00:26:51.640
 Though he was

00:26:51.640 --> 00:26:52.779
 in the form of God

00:26:52.779 --> 00:26:53.140
 didn't he

00:26:53.140 --> 00:26:55.220
 account equality

00:26:55.220 --> 00:26:55.720
 with God

00:26:55.720 --> 00:26:56.880
 as something to be grasped

00:26:56.880 --> 00:26:58.100
 but emptied himself

00:26:58.100 --> 00:26:59.180
 by taking the form

00:26:59.180 --> 00:27:00.019
 of a servant.

00:27:00.380 --> 00:27:01.160
 A low position.

00:27:01.720 --> 00:27:02.940
 Being born in the likeness

00:27:02.940 --> 00:27:03.740
 of men

00:27:03.740 --> 00:27:04.259
 being found

00:27:04.259 --> 00:27:05.100
 in human form

00:27:05.100 --> 00:27:07.279
 he humbled himself

00:27:07.279 --> 00:27:08.779
 by becoming obedient

00:27:08.779 --> 00:27:09.940
 to the point of death

00:27:09.940 --> 00:27:10.860
 even death

00:27:10.860 --> 00:27:11.640
 on the cross.

00:27:12.600 --> 00:27:13.259
 And we know

00:27:13.259 --> 00:27:13.680
 that Jesus'

00:27:14.000 --> 00:27:14.720
 lowly position

00:27:14.720 --> 00:27:15.140
 on earth

00:27:15.140 --> 00:27:16.660
 led to his exaltation

00:27:16.660 --> 00:27:17.220
 which is where

00:27:17.220 --> 00:27:18.540
 Paul in that passage

00:27:18.540 --> 00:27:19.080
 goes to.

00:27:20.140 --> 00:27:21.160
 So the point

00:27:21.160 --> 00:27:22.880
 the truly great

00:27:22.880 --> 00:27:24.300
 are those

00:27:24.300 --> 00:27:25.700
 who are lowly.

00:27:26.360 --> 00:27:27.120
 That's the first word

00:27:27.120 --> 00:27:27.460
 lowly.

00:27:27.560 --> 00:27:27.759
 Second

00:27:27.759 --> 00:27:28.960
 is welcome.

00:27:29.300 --> 00:27:29.740
 Welcome.

00:27:29.860 --> 00:27:30.360
 Verse 5

00:27:30.360 --> 00:27:31.259
 and we'll look at this quickly.

00:27:31.820 --> 00:27:32.720
 Whoever welcomes

00:27:32.720 --> 00:27:33.600
 one such child

00:27:33.600 --> 00:27:34.320
 in my name

00:27:34.320 --> 00:27:35.220
 welcomes me.

00:27:36.580 --> 00:27:37.759
 This is humility.

00:27:37.940 --> 00:27:38.420
 It's a humility

00:27:38.420 --> 00:27:39.080
 that welcomes

00:27:39.080 --> 00:27:39.759
 all those

00:27:39.759 --> 00:27:40.360
 who have been

00:27:40.360 --> 00:27:41.360
 humbled to.

00:27:41.359 --> 00:27:43.639
 The word welcome

00:27:43.639 --> 00:27:44.939
 is one of hospitality

00:27:44.939 --> 00:27:45.899
 of accepting

00:27:45.899 --> 00:27:46.439
 loving

00:27:46.439 --> 00:27:47.099
 receiving

00:27:47.099 --> 00:27:47.740
 the lowly.

00:27:48.500 --> 00:27:48.859
 Now certainly

00:27:48.859 --> 00:27:49.979
 I've had a great example

00:27:49.979 --> 00:27:50.559
 Kristen and I

00:27:50.559 --> 00:27:51.299
 have had a great example

00:27:51.299 --> 00:27:51.639
 of this

00:27:51.639 --> 00:27:52.259
 this past week.

00:27:53.079 --> 00:27:53.719
 It's really

00:27:53.719 --> 00:27:54.559
 accepting people

00:27:54.559 --> 00:27:55.179
 into your homes

00:27:55.179 --> 00:27:55.839
 like you have

00:27:55.839 --> 00:27:56.439
 us

00:27:56.439 --> 00:27:58.000
 as one

00:27:58.000 --> 00:27:58.679
 as family.

00:28:00.339 --> 00:28:01.019
 It's like

00:28:01.019 --> 00:28:01.879
 a new teammate

00:28:01.879 --> 00:28:02.459
 that fits

00:28:02.459 --> 00:28:03.500
 right in

00:28:03.500 --> 00:28:04.139
 with the team.

00:28:05.639 --> 00:28:06.079
 Now

00:28:06.079 --> 00:28:07.219
 I want you to notice

00:28:07.219 --> 00:28:07.639
 that we

00:28:07.639 --> 00:28:08.240
 who we are

00:28:08.240 --> 00:28:08.699
 to welcome

00:28:08.699 --> 00:28:10.039
 one such child.

00:28:10.039 --> 00:28:11.700
 Now it's interesting

00:28:11.700 --> 00:28:13.039
 I think what

00:28:13.039 --> 00:28:14.159
 Jesus is doing here

00:28:14.159 --> 00:28:14.740
 and I could be wrong

00:28:14.740 --> 00:28:15.240
 but I think what

00:28:15.240 --> 00:28:15.779
 Jesus is doing

00:28:15.779 --> 00:28:16.319
 is he's actually

00:28:16.319 --> 00:28:17.119
 starting to broaden

00:28:17.119 --> 00:28:17.720
 the terms

00:28:17.720 --> 00:28:18.960
 a little bit.

00:28:19.079 --> 00:28:19.559
 So he's using

00:28:19.559 --> 00:28:20.119
 a little different

00:28:20.119 --> 00:28:20.519
 language

00:28:20.519 --> 00:28:21.019
 and he's going to

00:28:21.019 --> 00:28:22.420
 use little ones

00:28:22.420 --> 00:28:24.240
 in the next verse

00:28:24.240 --> 00:28:25.339
 but one such child

00:28:25.339 --> 00:28:25.859
 in this verse

00:28:25.859 --> 00:28:26.339
 I think

00:28:26.339 --> 00:28:27.180
 is beginning

00:28:27.180 --> 00:28:28.059
 to point us

00:28:28.059 --> 00:28:29.180
 to fellow believers

00:28:29.180 --> 00:28:30.859
 not just

00:28:30.859 --> 00:28:32.019
 children per se

00:28:32.019 --> 00:28:33.180
 although I think

00:28:33.180 --> 00:28:33.960
 we should consider

00:28:33.960 --> 00:28:35.019
 what he says

00:28:35.019 --> 00:28:36.220
 towards children too.

00:28:36.899 --> 00:28:37.980
 Which makes sense

00:28:37.980 --> 00:28:38.299
 though

00:28:38.299 --> 00:28:39.960
 given that he

00:28:39.960 --> 00:28:40.680
 has this child

00:28:40.680 --> 00:28:41.399
 in front of them

00:28:41.399 --> 00:28:43.779
 and all believers

00:28:43.779 --> 00:28:44.799
 who enter the kingdom

00:28:44.799 --> 00:28:46.119
 will humble themselves

00:28:46.119 --> 00:28:47.180
 like this child

00:28:47.180 --> 00:28:48.579
 then the association

00:28:48.579 --> 00:28:49.599
 with the child

00:28:49.599 --> 00:28:50.500
 and a fellow believer

00:28:50.500 --> 00:28:52.180
 is a good association.

00:28:52.960 --> 00:28:53.819
 So what I'm saying

00:28:53.819 --> 00:28:54.419
 I think this is

00:28:54.419 --> 00:28:54.779
 children

00:28:54.779 --> 00:28:56.419
 and spiritual children

00:28:56.419 --> 00:28:58.379
 and then that's

00:28:58.379 --> 00:28:59.000
 when he jumps

00:28:59.000 --> 00:28:59.539
 verse 6

00:28:59.539 --> 00:29:00.079
 as we'll see

00:29:00.079 --> 00:29:01.059
 to little ones

00:29:01.059 --> 00:29:01.859
 is really

00:29:01.859 --> 00:29:02.359
 he's talking

00:29:02.359 --> 00:29:03.159
 little ones

00:29:03.159 --> 00:29:04.359
 is fellow

00:29:04.359 --> 00:29:05.399
 Christians

00:29:05.400 --> 00:29:07.480
 perhaps fellow

00:29:07.480 --> 00:29:08.980
 weak believers

00:29:08.980 --> 00:29:10.080
 but I think

00:29:10.080 --> 00:29:10.759
 just broadly

00:29:10.759 --> 00:29:11.680
 fellow Christians.

00:29:11.800 --> 00:29:12.280
 Either way

00:29:12.280 --> 00:29:13.980
 the point to draw

00:29:13.980 --> 00:29:14.540
 from this

00:29:14.540 --> 00:29:15.100
 is

00:29:15.100 --> 00:29:16.300
 since

00:29:16.300 --> 00:29:18.340
 Jesus is connected

00:29:18.340 --> 00:29:19.920
 united to his followers

00:29:19.920 --> 00:29:21.620
 then to welcome

00:29:21.620 --> 00:29:22.640
 and show mercy

00:29:22.640 --> 00:29:23.720
 to another believer

00:29:23.720 --> 00:29:25.600
 is to welcome

00:29:25.600 --> 00:29:26.980
 and show mercy

00:29:26.980 --> 00:29:27.880
 or to welcome

00:29:27.880 --> 00:29:28.600
 to Christ.

00:29:30.740 --> 00:29:31.160
 That should be

00:29:31.160 --> 00:29:31.500
 one of

00:29:31.500 --> 00:29:32.000
 our response

00:29:32.000 --> 00:29:32.240
 should be

00:29:32.240 --> 00:29:33.120
 one of amazement.

00:29:33.119 --> 00:29:34.879
 I mean the world

00:29:34.879 --> 00:29:35.799
 looks to welcome

00:29:35.799 --> 00:29:36.819
 the popular

00:29:36.819 --> 00:29:37.899
 the good looking

00:29:37.899 --> 00:29:39.119
 the celebrity

00:29:39.119 --> 00:29:41.779
 but we don't

00:29:41.779 --> 00:29:42.339
 just welcome

00:29:42.339 --> 00:29:42.919
 the celebrity

00:29:42.919 --> 00:29:43.979
 we welcome

00:29:43.979 --> 00:29:44.599
 the nobody.

00:29:45.599 --> 00:29:46.279
 We treat

00:29:46.279 --> 00:29:46.899
 the nobody

00:29:46.899 --> 00:29:48.000
 like they are

00:29:48.000 --> 00:29:49.179
 the red carpet

00:29:49.179 --> 00:29:49.939
 for someone

00:29:49.939 --> 00:29:52.399
 who is lowly.

00:29:53.759 --> 00:29:54.759
 This should

00:29:54.759 --> 00:29:56.859
 certainly

00:29:56.859 --> 00:29:57.639
 obliterate

00:29:57.639 --> 00:29:58.479
 any idea

00:29:58.479 --> 00:30:00.000
 that there are

00:30:00.000 --> 00:30:01.319
 divisions of status

00:30:01.319 --> 00:30:02.299
 in the body

00:30:02.299 --> 00:30:02.799
 of Christ.

00:30:03.119 --> 00:30:05.319
 Now we know

00:30:05.319 --> 00:30:06.219
 this but recently

00:30:06.219 --> 00:30:06.899
 I sat down

00:30:06.899 --> 00:30:07.619
 with one of our

00:30:07.619 --> 00:30:08.379
 church members

00:30:08.379 --> 00:30:09.659
 and

00:30:09.659 --> 00:30:12.199
 he said to me

00:30:12.199 --> 00:30:13.679
 I don't

00:30:13.679 --> 00:30:14.679
 fit anywhere

00:30:14.679 --> 00:30:16.399
 including church.

00:30:18.359 --> 00:30:19.339
 In my mind

00:30:19.339 --> 00:30:20.039
 it went immediately

00:30:20.039 --> 00:30:21.079
 to this text

00:30:21.079 --> 00:30:21.839
 because I was

00:30:21.839 --> 00:30:22.479
 studying it.

00:30:23.599 --> 00:30:24.679
 As believers

00:30:24.679 --> 00:30:25.639
 we should be

00:30:25.639 --> 00:30:26.739
 welcoming those

00:30:26.739 --> 00:30:27.839
 who feel like

00:30:27.839 --> 00:30:29.399
 they don't

00:30:29.399 --> 00:30:30.019
 fit anywhere.

00:30:30.019 --> 00:30:33.660
 here

00:30:33.660 --> 00:30:35.099
 in this place

00:30:35.099 --> 00:30:35.879
 with these

00:30:35.879 --> 00:30:36.379
 people

00:30:36.379 --> 00:30:38.480
 they fit

00:30:38.480 --> 00:30:40.240
 their home.

00:30:41.639 --> 00:30:42.440
 The church

00:30:42.440 --> 00:30:43.000
 is a place

00:30:43.000 --> 00:30:43.720
 that all can

00:30:43.720 --> 00:30:44.019
 come

00:30:44.019 --> 00:30:44.539
 all can

00:30:44.539 --> 00:30:45.240
 find a welcome

00:30:45.240 --> 00:30:46.599
 and those

00:30:46.599 --> 00:30:47.379
 of every tribe

00:30:47.379 --> 00:30:47.900
 tongue

00:30:47.900 --> 00:30:48.559
 nation

00:30:48.559 --> 00:30:49.500
 people group

00:30:49.500 --> 00:30:50.519
 doesn't matter

00:30:50.519 --> 00:30:51.279
 they all

00:30:51.279 --> 00:30:51.839
 have a home

00:30:51.839 --> 00:30:52.180
 here.

00:30:52.180 --> 00:30:54.580
 The other

00:30:54.580 --> 00:30:55.460
 aspect of this

00:30:55.460 --> 00:30:56.160
 is do we

00:30:56.160 --> 00:30:58.500
 have this

00:30:58.500 --> 00:30:59.039
 kind of view

00:30:59.039 --> 00:30:59.759
 of children

00:30:59.759 --> 00:31:00.180
 in our

00:31:00.180 --> 00:31:00.500
 churches?

00:31:01.160 --> 00:31:01.720
 Are we

00:31:01.720 --> 00:31:02.140
 welcoming

00:31:02.140 --> 00:31:02.580
 children?

00:31:02.740 --> 00:31:03.100
 Do they

00:31:03.100 --> 00:31:03.420
 and their

00:31:03.420 --> 00:31:04.100
 parents know

00:31:04.100 --> 00:31:04.700
 we value

00:31:04.700 --> 00:31:05.380
 them and

00:31:05.380 --> 00:31:06.039
 appreciate them?

00:31:06.080 --> 00:31:06.400
 One of the

00:31:06.400 --> 00:31:06.900
 beauties of

00:31:06.900 --> 00:31:07.380
 polo is

00:31:07.380 --> 00:31:08.100
 just this.

00:31:09.200 --> 00:31:09.920
 It's an

00:31:09.920 --> 00:31:10.680
 opportunity to

00:31:10.680 --> 00:31:11.600
 welcome and

00:31:11.600 --> 00:31:12.240
 to value

00:31:12.240 --> 00:31:13.200
 children

00:31:13.200 --> 00:31:14.779
 because we

00:31:14.779 --> 00:31:16.120
 know that

00:31:16.120 --> 00:31:16.779
 children matter.

00:31:17.140 --> 00:31:17.519
 They matter

00:31:17.519 --> 00:31:17.960
 to God.

00:31:18.080 --> 00:31:18.840
 God loves

00:31:18.840 --> 00:31:19.340
 kids.

00:31:20.700 --> 00:31:21.059
 And we

00:31:21.059 --> 00:31:21.740
 dare not

00:31:21.740 --> 00:31:22.460
 find them

00:31:22.460 --> 00:31:23.120
 a nuisance

00:31:23.120 --> 00:31:23.799
 insignificant

00:31:23.799 --> 00:31:24.620
 or unimportant

00:31:24.620 --> 00:31:25.319
 because children

00:31:25.319 --> 00:31:26.100
 matter to God

00:31:26.100 --> 00:31:26.840
 and they are

00:31:26.840 --> 00:31:27.220
 to have

00:31:27.220 --> 00:31:27.860
 our welcome.

00:31:29.640 --> 00:31:31.019
 So mature

00:31:31.019 --> 00:31:31.720
 believers have

00:31:31.720 --> 00:31:32.259
 childlike

00:31:32.259 --> 00:31:33.039
 dependence shown

00:31:33.039 --> 00:31:33.840
 by two words

00:31:33.840 --> 00:31:35.200
 lowly and

00:31:35.200 --> 00:31:35.600
 welcome.

00:31:35.779 --> 00:31:36.620
 That's number

00:31:36.620 --> 00:31:36.940
 one.

00:31:37.000 --> 00:31:37.580
 Number two

00:31:37.580 --> 00:31:38.980
 you have

00:31:38.980 --> 00:31:39.440
 childlike

00:31:39.440 --> 00:31:39.840
 dependence

00:31:39.840 --> 00:31:40.120
 then you

00:31:40.120 --> 00:31:40.860
 have radical

00:31:40.860 --> 00:31:41.900
 devotion.

00:31:42.059 --> 00:31:42.360
 Radical

00:31:42.360 --> 00:31:42.759
 devotion.

00:31:42.759 --> 00:31:43.059
 That's

00:31:43.059 --> 00:31:43.740
 verses 6

00:31:43.740 --> 00:31:44.519
 and 9.

00:31:44.619 --> 00:31:44.859
 So one

00:31:44.859 --> 00:31:45.079
 of the

00:31:45.079 --> 00:31:45.460
 clearest

00:31:45.460 --> 00:31:46.039
 signs of

00:31:46.039 --> 00:31:46.220
 this

00:31:46.220 --> 00:31:46.640
 humility

00:31:46.640 --> 00:31:47.180
 that Jesus

00:31:47.180 --> 00:31:48.119
 is talking

00:31:48.119 --> 00:31:48.559
 about is

00:31:48.559 --> 00:31:49.039
 found in

00:31:49.039 --> 00:31:49.259
 two

00:31:49.259 --> 00:31:49.819
 perspectives.

00:31:50.879 --> 00:31:51.240
 On one

00:31:51.240 --> 00:31:52.000
 side devoted

00:31:52.000 --> 00:31:52.539
 Christians

00:31:52.539 --> 00:31:52.839
 committed

00:31:52.839 --> 00:31:53.420
 Christians

00:31:53.420 --> 00:31:54.519
 watch out

00:31:54.519 --> 00:31:55.660
 for others

00:31:55.660 --> 00:31:56.359
 and on the

00:31:56.359 --> 00:31:56.879
 other side

00:31:56.879 --> 00:31:57.299
 they watch

00:31:57.299 --> 00:31:57.640
 out for

00:31:57.640 --> 00:31:58.079
 themselves.

00:31:58.259 --> 00:31:58.500
 That's what

00:31:58.500 --> 00:31:59.000
 Jesus is

00:31:59.000 --> 00:31:59.220
 going to

00:31:59.220 --> 00:31:59.519
 get at

00:31:59.519 --> 00:31:59.759
 here.

00:32:00.740 --> 00:32:01.779
 So they

00:32:01.779 --> 00:32:02.259
 watch out

00:32:02.259 --> 00:32:02.720
 for others

00:32:02.720 --> 00:32:03.379
 verses 6

00:32:03.379 --> 00:32:03.819
 and 7

00:32:03.819 --> 00:32:04.220
 look down

00:32:04.220 --> 00:32:04.500
 at verse

00:32:04.500 --> 00:32:04.839
 6.

00:32:05.900 --> 00:32:06.680
 If anyone

00:32:06.680 --> 00:32:07.859
 causes one

00:32:07.859 --> 00:32:08.140
 of these

00:32:08.140 --> 00:32:08.839
 little ones

00:32:08.839 --> 00:32:09.500
 those who

00:32:09.500 --> 00:32:10.000
 believe in

00:32:10.000 --> 00:32:10.200
 me.

00:32:10.319 --> 00:32:10.519
 So I

00:32:10.519 --> 00:32:10.879
 think he's

00:32:10.879 --> 00:32:11.619
 talking about

00:32:11.619 --> 00:32:12.259
 fellow

00:32:12.259 --> 00:32:12.680
 believers.

00:32:12.759 --> 00:32:14.079
 If anyone

00:32:14.079 --> 00:32:14.599
 causes one

00:32:14.599 --> 00:32:14.779
 of these

00:32:14.779 --> 00:32:15.059
 fellow

00:32:15.059 --> 00:32:15.500
 believers

00:32:15.500 --> 00:32:17.400
 to stumble

00:32:17.400 --> 00:32:18.519
 it would

00:32:18.519 --> 00:32:19.019
 be better

00:32:19.019 --> 00:32:19.619
 for them

00:32:19.619 --> 00:32:20.299
 to have

00:32:20.299 --> 00:32:20.920
 a large

00:32:20.920 --> 00:32:21.539
 millstone

00:32:21.539 --> 00:32:22.259
 hung around

00:32:22.259 --> 00:32:22.740
 their neck

00:32:22.740 --> 00:32:23.039
 and be

00:32:23.039 --> 00:32:23.539
 drowned

00:32:23.539 --> 00:32:24.319
 in the

00:32:24.319 --> 00:32:24.660
 depths

00:32:24.660 --> 00:32:25.220
 of the

00:32:25.220 --> 00:32:25.539
 sea.

00:32:26.700 --> 00:32:28.319
 As believers

00:32:28.319 --> 00:32:29.140
 Jesus calls

00:32:29.140 --> 00:32:29.660
 us to have

00:32:29.660 --> 00:32:30.339
 a responsibility

00:32:30.339 --> 00:32:31.140
 to protect

00:32:31.140 --> 00:32:32.339
 and watch

00:32:32.339 --> 00:32:32.980
 over other

00:32:32.980 --> 00:32:33.460
 believers.

00:32:33.460 --> 00:32:33.519
 believers.

00:32:34.140 --> 00:32:35.100
 We're not

00:32:35.100 --> 00:32:35.880
 solo

00:32:35.880 --> 00:32:36.519
 Christians

00:32:36.519 --> 00:32:37.559
 just in

00:32:37.559 --> 00:32:37.819
 it for

00:32:37.819 --> 00:32:38.279
 ourselves

00:32:38.279 --> 00:32:38.519
 on

00:32:38.519 --> 00:32:39.000
 individual

00:32:39.000 --> 00:32:39.620
 journeys.

00:32:40.180 --> 00:32:40.340
 No,

00:32:40.480 --> 00:32:40.980
 we are

00:32:40.980 --> 00:32:41.640
 in this

00:32:41.640 --> 00:32:42.160
 whether we

00:32:42.160 --> 00:32:42.519
 like it

00:32:42.519 --> 00:32:42.819
 or not

00:32:42.819 --> 00:32:43.319
 sometimes.

00:32:43.319 --> 00:32:44.079
 We are

00:32:44.079 --> 00:32:44.559
 in this

00:32:44.559 --> 00:32:44.940
 together.

00:32:46.140 --> 00:32:46.819
 And Jesus

00:32:46.819 --> 00:32:47.259
 gives a

00:32:47.259 --> 00:32:47.840
 warning to

00:32:47.840 --> 00:32:48.500
 anyone who

00:32:48.500 --> 00:32:49.240
 causes the

00:32:49.240 --> 00:32:50.519
 lowly or

00:32:50.519 --> 00:32:50.819
 weaker

00:32:50.819 --> 00:32:51.620
 disciple to

00:32:51.620 --> 00:32:52.000
 stumble.

00:32:53.460 --> 00:32:54.019
 Now to

00:32:54.019 --> 00:32:54.380
 stumble

00:32:54.380 --> 00:32:56.579
 is a

00:32:56.579 --> 00:32:57.840
 word that

00:32:57.840 --> 00:32:58.279
 maybe we

00:32:58.279 --> 00:32:58.980
 think immediately

00:32:58.980 --> 00:32:59.779
 of to

00:32:59.779 --> 00:33:00.100
 sin,

00:33:00.240 --> 00:33:00.900
 just broadly

00:33:00.900 --> 00:33:01.300
 to sin

00:33:01.300 --> 00:33:02.380
 or offend.

00:33:03.220 --> 00:33:04.320
 But multiple

00:33:04.320 --> 00:33:05.759
 scholars point

00:33:05.759 --> 00:33:06.140
 out the fact

00:33:06.140 --> 00:33:06.420
 that the

00:33:06.420 --> 00:33:07.060
 severity of

00:33:07.060 --> 00:33:07.519
 the warning

00:33:07.519 --> 00:33:08.620
 probably means

00:33:08.620 --> 00:33:08.940
 that this

00:33:08.940 --> 00:33:10.180
 word has

00:33:10.180 --> 00:33:11.220
 a more

00:33:11.220 --> 00:33:11.900
 significant

00:33:11.900 --> 00:33:12.400
 meaning.

00:33:13.060 --> 00:33:13.740
 That is

00:33:13.740 --> 00:33:14.400
 that it

00:33:14.400 --> 00:33:15.100
 means to

00:33:15.100 --> 00:33:16.060
 lead someone

00:33:16.060 --> 00:33:16.600
 to fall

00:33:16.600 --> 00:33:17.200
 away from

00:33:17.200 --> 00:33:17.580
 Jesus,

00:33:18.540 --> 00:33:20.000
 to apostatize.

00:33:21.080 --> 00:33:21.560
 So just

00:33:21.560 --> 00:33:21.920
 like a

00:33:21.920 --> 00:33:22.640
 false prophet

00:33:22.640 --> 00:33:23.160
 or TV

00:33:23.160 --> 00:33:23.720
 preacher or

00:33:23.720 --> 00:33:24.000
 something,

00:33:24.160 --> 00:33:24.540
 they get

00:33:24.540 --> 00:33:24.940
 on and

00:33:24.940 --> 00:33:25.400
 they preach

00:33:25.400 --> 00:33:25.860
 a false

00:33:25.860 --> 00:33:26.560
 gospel and

00:33:26.560 --> 00:33:27.140
 they lead

00:33:27.140 --> 00:33:27.860
 a believer

00:33:27.860 --> 00:33:29.259
 to stray

00:33:29.259 --> 00:33:29.600
 away.

00:33:29.720 --> 00:33:29.980
 So would

00:33:29.980 --> 00:33:30.320
 be someone

00:33:30.320 --> 00:33:30.560
 in the

00:33:30.560 --> 00:33:30.880
 world who

00:33:30.880 --> 00:33:31.960
 leads this

00:33:31.960 --> 00:33:32.620
 person to

00:33:32.620 --> 00:33:33.180
 fall away.

00:33:33.560 --> 00:33:34.500
 This judgment

00:33:34.500 --> 00:33:35.040
 is what

00:33:35.040 --> 00:33:35.460
 Jesus is

00:33:35.460 --> 00:33:35.940
 talking about.

00:33:36.020 --> 00:33:36.360
 Judgment

00:33:36.360 --> 00:33:36.940
 on that

00:33:36.940 --> 00:33:37.300
 person.

00:33:38.580 --> 00:33:39.000
 And it's

00:33:39.000 --> 00:33:39.720
 really an

00:33:39.720 --> 00:33:40.380
 argument from

00:33:40.380 --> 00:33:40.800
 the lesser

00:33:40.800 --> 00:33:41.280
 to the

00:33:41.280 --> 00:33:41.580
 greater.

00:33:42.740 --> 00:33:43.040
 So a

00:33:43.040 --> 00:33:43.800
 millstone was

00:33:43.800 --> 00:33:44.180
 this, and

00:33:44.180 --> 00:33:44.560
 I've seen

00:33:44.560 --> 00:33:44.820
 them in

00:33:44.820 --> 00:33:45.140
 Israel,

00:33:45.340 --> 00:33:46.380
 these large

00:33:46.380 --> 00:33:46.940
 stones that

00:33:46.940 --> 00:33:47.160
 would be

00:33:47.160 --> 00:33:47.660
 pulled by

00:33:47.660 --> 00:33:48.140
 a donkey.

00:33:49.480 --> 00:33:50.560
 And that

00:33:50.560 --> 00:33:51.240
 millstone was

00:33:51.240 --> 00:33:51.820
 hung around

00:33:51.820 --> 00:33:52.560
 the neck as

00:33:52.560 --> 00:33:54.180
 a means of

00:33:54.180 --> 00:33:54.760
 execution.

00:33:55.820 --> 00:33:56.400
 This was a

00:33:56.400 --> 00:33:56.700
 frequent

00:33:56.700 --> 00:33:58.380
 execution in

00:33:58.380 --> 00:33:58.600
 Jesus'

00:33:58.800 --> 00:33:59.260
 day and

00:33:59.260 --> 00:33:59.760
 it's terrible.

00:33:59.759 --> 00:34:00.779
 obviously

00:34:00.779 --> 00:34:01.200
 horrible

00:34:01.200 --> 00:34:01.859
 drowning,

00:34:01.940 --> 00:34:02.140
 we can

00:34:02.140 --> 00:34:02.480
 imagine

00:34:02.480 --> 00:34:02.720
 would be

00:34:02.720 --> 00:34:03.039
 a terrible

00:34:03.039 --> 00:34:03.379
 way to

00:34:03.379 --> 00:34:03.619
 die.

00:34:04.879 --> 00:34:05.140
 And

00:34:05.140 --> 00:34:05.400
 Jesus'

00:34:05.400 --> 00:34:06.680
 point is

00:34:06.680 --> 00:34:06.940
 not to

00:34:06.940 --> 00:34:07.240
 say this

00:34:07.240 --> 00:34:07.480
 is what

00:34:07.480 --> 00:34:07.599
 they're

00:34:07.599 --> 00:34:07.920
 going to

00:34:07.920 --> 00:34:08.219
 get.

00:34:09.039 --> 00:34:09.360
 His

00:34:09.360 --> 00:34:09.940
 point is

00:34:09.940 --> 00:34:10.199
 to say

00:34:10.199 --> 00:34:10.860
 the punishment

00:34:10.860 --> 00:34:11.400
 in our

00:34:11.400 --> 00:34:12.920
 text is

00:34:12.920 --> 00:34:14.380
 better than

00:34:14.380 --> 00:34:14.900
 the punishment

00:34:14.900 --> 00:34:15.659
 that they'll

00:34:15.659 --> 00:34:16.219
 be dished out

00:34:16.219 --> 00:34:16.719
 to those

00:34:16.719 --> 00:34:17.380
 who lead

00:34:17.380 --> 00:34:18.360
 them astray.

00:34:18.639 --> 00:34:19.059
 Terrible

00:34:19.059 --> 00:34:19.619
 punishment of

00:34:19.619 --> 00:34:20.199
 being drowned

00:34:20.199 --> 00:34:21.039
 would be a

00:34:21.039 --> 00:34:21.880
 mercy compared

00:34:21.880 --> 00:34:22.579
 to what's in

00:34:22.579 --> 00:34:23.420
 store for

00:34:23.420 --> 00:34:23.920
 those who

00:34:23.920 --> 00:34:24.519
 turn little

00:34:24.519 --> 00:34:25.539
 ones away

00:34:25.539 --> 00:34:26.360
 from Christ.

00:34:26.360 --> 00:34:26.440
 Christ.

00:34:27.640 --> 00:34:28.140
 So broadly

00:34:28.140 --> 00:34:28.620
 I think our

00:34:28.620 --> 00:34:29.300
 response should

00:34:29.300 --> 00:34:30.280
 be a

00:34:30.280 --> 00:34:30.599
 warning,

00:34:31.000 --> 00:34:31.360
 certainly,

00:34:32.340 --> 00:34:33.579
 to be

00:34:33.579 --> 00:34:34.200
 careful on

00:34:34.200 --> 00:34:35.039
 how we

00:34:35.039 --> 00:34:36.519
 lead our

00:34:36.519 --> 00:34:37.059
 brothers and

00:34:37.059 --> 00:34:37.420
 sisters.

00:34:38.000 --> 00:34:38.360
 We don't

00:34:38.360 --> 00:34:39.740
 be a means

00:34:39.740 --> 00:34:40.200
 by which they

00:34:40.200 --> 00:34:40.720
 turn away.

00:34:41.500 --> 00:34:41.680
 And then

00:34:41.680 --> 00:34:42.180
 verse 7

00:34:42.180 --> 00:34:42.900
 adds more,

00:34:43.200 --> 00:34:43.720
 woe to the

00:34:43.720 --> 00:34:44.940
 world because

00:34:44.940 --> 00:34:45.559
 of the things

00:34:45.559 --> 00:34:46.019
 that cause

00:34:46.019 --> 00:34:46.480
 people to

00:34:46.480 --> 00:34:46.760
 stumble.

00:34:48.079 --> 00:34:48.820
 Such things

00:34:48.820 --> 00:34:49.559
 must come,

00:34:49.640 --> 00:34:50.240
 but woe to

00:34:50.240 --> 00:34:50.720
 the person

00:34:50.720 --> 00:34:51.380
 through whom

00:34:51.380 --> 00:34:52.240
 they come.

00:34:52.740 --> 00:34:53.360
 So according

00:34:53.360 --> 00:34:53.800
 to God's

00:34:53.800 --> 00:34:54.099
 word,

00:34:54.700 --> 00:34:55.460
 we expect

00:34:55.460 --> 00:34:56.099
 temptation.

00:34:57.019 --> 00:34:57.320
 We're going

00:34:57.320 --> 00:34:57.720
 to expect

00:34:57.720 --> 00:35:00.140
 seeing temptation

00:35:00.140 --> 00:35:01.519
 is inevitable.

00:35:02.500 --> 00:35:02.960
 Still,

00:35:03.059 --> 00:35:04.000
 the inevitability

00:35:04.000 --> 00:35:04.640
 of it doesn't

00:35:04.640 --> 00:35:05.660
 excuse the

00:35:05.660 --> 00:35:06.860
 one through

00:35:06.860 --> 00:35:07.320
 whom it

00:35:07.320 --> 00:35:07.700
 comes.

00:35:09.340 --> 00:35:10.140
 And so

00:35:10.140 --> 00:35:10.920
 we're responsible

00:35:10.920 --> 00:35:11.519
 for other

00:35:11.519 --> 00:35:11.940
 believers,

00:35:12.160 --> 00:35:12.400
 for their

00:35:12.400 --> 00:35:12.860
 walk with

00:35:12.860 --> 00:35:13.320
 Christ,

00:35:13.620 --> 00:35:14.200
 and how we

00:35:14.200 --> 00:35:14.860
 interact with

00:35:14.860 --> 00:35:15.880
 them to not

00:35:15.880 --> 00:35:16.800
 be a

00:35:16.800 --> 00:35:17.220
 stumbling

00:35:17.220 --> 00:35:18.260
 block for

00:35:18.260 --> 00:35:18.539
 them.

00:35:19.079 --> 00:35:19.620
 And we're

00:35:19.620 --> 00:35:21.059
 culpable if

00:35:21.059 --> 00:35:21.920
 we lead them

00:35:21.920 --> 00:35:22.400
 to stumble.

00:35:22.480 --> 00:35:22.680
 And of

00:35:22.680 --> 00:35:22.860
 course,

00:35:22.860 --> 00:35:23.140
 this is

00:35:23.140 --> 00:35:23.460
 talking

00:35:23.460 --> 00:35:23.900
 somewhat

00:35:23.900 --> 00:35:24.440
 about the

00:35:24.440 --> 00:35:24.720
 world,

00:35:24.880 --> 00:35:25.019
 too,

00:35:25.720 --> 00:35:26.180
 which is

00:35:26.180 --> 00:35:28.300
 interesting to

00:35:28.300 --> 00:35:28.840
 think through

00:35:28.840 --> 00:35:29.960
 that them

00:35:29.960 --> 00:35:30.539
 leading

00:35:30.539 --> 00:35:31.300
 believers

00:35:31.300 --> 00:35:31.900
 astray,

00:35:32.300 --> 00:35:32.720
 the world,

00:35:33.660 --> 00:35:34.099
 there will

00:35:34.099 --> 00:35:34.360
 be a

00:35:34.360 --> 00:35:34.920
 judgment on

00:35:34.920 --> 00:35:35.140
 them.

00:35:36.079 --> 00:35:36.460
 And this

00:35:36.460 --> 00:35:37.079
 is a

00:35:37.079 --> 00:35:38.160
 warning to

00:35:38.160 --> 00:35:38.559
 them as

00:35:38.559 --> 00:35:38.800
 well,

00:35:39.240 --> 00:35:39.780
 to say,

00:35:40.460 --> 00:35:40.820
 do not

00:35:40.820 --> 00:35:41.180
 lead

00:35:41.180 --> 00:35:41.740
 believers

00:35:41.740 --> 00:35:42.559
 astray.

00:35:44.280 --> 00:35:44.780
 So I

00:35:44.780 --> 00:35:45.620
 hope you

00:35:45.620 --> 00:35:46.079
 see this.

00:35:46.900 --> 00:35:47.480
 The point

00:35:47.480 --> 00:35:48.039
 I'm drawing

00:35:48.039 --> 00:35:49.380
 out is

00:35:49.380 --> 00:35:49.840
 mainly that

00:35:49.840 --> 00:35:50.140
 you and

00:35:50.140 --> 00:35:50.519
 I have a

00:35:50.519 --> 00:35:51.019
 responsibility

00:35:51.019 --> 00:35:51.539
 for one

00:35:51.539 --> 00:35:51.820
 another.

00:35:52.860 --> 00:35:53.920
 Are we

00:35:53.920 --> 00:35:54.880
 concerned for

00:35:54.880 --> 00:35:55.240
 our brothers

00:35:55.240 --> 00:35:55.660
 and sisters

00:35:55.660 --> 00:35:56.140
 holiness,

00:35:56.340 --> 00:35:56.740
 or are we

00:35:56.740 --> 00:35:57.300
 really just

00:35:57.300 --> 00:35:58.700
 focused so

00:35:58.700 --> 00:35:59.220
 much on

00:35:59.220 --> 00:35:59.960
 just ourselves

00:35:59.960 --> 00:36:00.820
 and what

00:36:00.820 --> 00:36:01.380
 we want?

00:36:03.519 --> 00:36:04.140
 It's a

00:36:04.140 --> 00:36:04.820
 particular thing

00:36:04.820 --> 00:36:05.280
 that we

00:36:05.280 --> 00:36:06.420
 should wrestle

00:36:06.420 --> 00:36:07.000
 with in

00:36:07.000 --> 00:36:07.559
 light of what

00:36:07.559 --> 00:36:08.120
 Jesus says

00:36:08.120 --> 00:36:08.340
 here,

00:36:08.820 --> 00:36:09.480
 that we

00:36:09.480 --> 00:36:09.960
 would not

00:36:09.960 --> 00:36:10.500
 want to

00:36:10.500 --> 00:36:11.340
 lead anyone

00:36:11.340 --> 00:36:11.980
 astray.

00:36:12.200 --> 00:36:13.260
 So watch

00:36:13.260 --> 00:36:14.000
 out for

00:36:14.000 --> 00:36:14.660
 others.

00:36:14.800 --> 00:36:15.019
 And then

00:36:15.019 --> 00:36:15.240
 he,

00:36:15.460 --> 00:36:16.440
 in verses

00:36:16.440 --> 00:36:17.660
 8 and

00:36:17.660 --> 00:36:18.039
 9,

00:36:18.200 --> 00:36:18.740
 he says,

00:36:18.800 --> 00:36:19.200
 watch out

00:36:19.199 --> 00:36:19.339
 for

00:36:19.339 --> 00:36:19.779
 yourself.

00:36:20.059 --> 00:36:20.219
 Watch

00:36:20.219 --> 00:36:20.460
 out for

00:36:20.460 --> 00:36:20.779
 yourself.

00:36:22.480 --> 00:36:23.000
 Look at

00:36:23.000 --> 00:36:23.339
 what Jesus

00:36:23.339 --> 00:36:24.019
 continues and

00:36:24.019 --> 00:36:24.299
 says,

00:36:24.480 --> 00:36:25.039
 if your

00:36:25.039 --> 00:36:25.799
 hand or

00:36:25.799 --> 00:36:26.500
 foot causes

00:36:26.500 --> 00:36:26.839
 you to

00:36:26.839 --> 00:36:27.119
 stumble,

00:36:27.279 --> 00:36:27.579
 cut it

00:36:27.579 --> 00:36:28.659
 off and

00:36:28.659 --> 00:36:29.039
 throw it

00:36:29.039 --> 00:36:29.339
 away.

00:36:29.980 --> 00:36:30.399
 It is

00:36:30.399 --> 00:36:30.799
 better that

00:36:30.799 --> 00:36:31.279
 you enter

00:36:31.279 --> 00:36:32.259
 life maimed

00:36:32.259 --> 00:36:32.859
 or crippled

00:36:32.859 --> 00:36:33.359
 than to

00:36:33.359 --> 00:36:33.799
 have two

00:36:33.799 --> 00:36:34.319
 hands or

00:36:34.319 --> 00:36:34.839
 two feet

00:36:34.839 --> 00:36:35.159
 and be

00:36:35.159 --> 00:36:35.619
 thrown into

00:36:35.619 --> 00:36:35.960
 eternal

00:36:35.960 --> 00:36:36.319
 fire.

00:36:37.139 --> 00:36:37.619
 And if

00:36:37.619 --> 00:36:38.079
 your eye

00:36:38.079 --> 00:36:38.559
 causes you

00:36:38.559 --> 00:36:38.939
 to stumble,

00:36:39.119 --> 00:36:39.539
 gouge it

00:36:39.539 --> 00:36:39.919
 out and

00:36:39.919 --> 00:36:40.559
 throw it

00:36:40.559 --> 00:36:40.779
 away.

00:36:40.859 --> 00:36:41.099
 It is

00:36:41.099 --> 00:36:41.539
 better for

00:36:41.539 --> 00:36:41.799
 you to

00:36:41.799 --> 00:36:42.359
 enter life

00:36:42.359 --> 00:36:42.819
 with one

00:36:42.819 --> 00:36:43.799
 eye than

00:36:43.799 --> 00:36:44.000
 to have

00:36:44.000 --> 00:36:44.539
 two eyes

00:36:44.539 --> 00:36:44.879
 and be

00:36:44.879 --> 00:36:45.559
 thrown in

00:36:45.559 --> 00:36:46.039
 the fire

00:36:46.039 --> 00:36:46.920
 of hell.

00:36:47.980 --> 00:36:48.440
 So this

00:36:48.440 --> 00:36:48.659
 is where

00:36:48.659 --> 00:36:48.779
 I am

00:36:48.779 --> 00:36:49.119
 getting the

00:36:49.119 --> 00:36:49.639
 idea that

00:36:49.639 --> 00:36:49.840
 it is

00:36:49.840 --> 00:36:50.619
 radical

00:36:50.619 --> 00:36:51.139
 devotion.

00:36:51.639 --> 00:36:51.800
 I mean,

00:36:51.820 --> 00:36:52.099
 this is

00:36:52.099 --> 00:36:52.559
 radical,

00:36:52.679 --> 00:36:53.159
 what Jesus

00:36:53.159 --> 00:36:53.619
 is talking

00:36:53.619 --> 00:36:53.940
 about.

00:36:54.460 --> 00:36:54.820
 And you

00:36:54.820 --> 00:36:55.159
 would have

00:36:55.159 --> 00:36:55.619
 heard it

00:36:55.619 --> 00:36:56.539
 before because

00:36:56.539 --> 00:36:58.099
 he says

00:36:58.099 --> 00:36:58.880
 something similar

00:36:58.880 --> 00:36:59.619
 in Matthew

00:36:59.619 --> 00:37:00.820
 5 where he

00:37:00.820 --> 00:37:01.279
 applies it

00:37:01.279 --> 00:37:01.860
 directly to

00:37:01.860 --> 00:37:02.779
 lust and

00:37:02.779 --> 00:37:03.099
 he says,

00:37:03.219 --> 00:37:03.619
 if your eye

00:37:03.619 --> 00:37:04.159
 causes you

00:37:04.159 --> 00:37:04.519
 to sin,

00:37:04.659 --> 00:37:05.059
 gouge it

00:37:05.059 --> 00:37:05.300
 out.

00:37:06.559 --> 00:37:06.800
 But if

00:37:06.800 --> 00:37:07.059
 you're

00:37:07.059 --> 00:37:08.179
 watch out

00:37:08.179 --> 00:37:08.759
 for yourselves,

00:37:08.860 --> 00:37:09.259
 he gets

00:37:09.259 --> 00:37:10.039
 to talking

00:37:10.039 --> 00:37:11.599
 about what

00:37:11.599 --> 00:37:12.579
 1 Timothy 4

00:37:12.579 --> 00:37:13.300
 16 says,

00:37:13.380 --> 00:37:13.840
 watch your

00:37:13.840 --> 00:37:14.539
 life and

00:37:14.539 --> 00:37:15.199
 your doctrine

00:37:15.199 --> 00:37:16.299
 closely.

00:37:17.919 --> 00:37:18.619
 So deal

00:37:18.619 --> 00:37:19.039
 with your

00:37:19.039 --> 00:37:19.819
 own sins.

00:37:20.000 --> 00:37:20.500
 Turn away

00:37:20.500 --> 00:37:21.559
 from the

00:37:21.559 --> 00:37:22.079
 thing that's

00:37:22.079 --> 00:37:22.759
 causing you

00:37:22.759 --> 00:37:23.299
 to stumble.

00:37:24.639 --> 00:37:24.839
 And so

00:37:24.839 --> 00:37:25.259
 how are we

00:37:25.259 --> 00:37:25.659
 to take

00:37:25.659 --> 00:37:26.179
 Christ's

00:37:26.179 --> 00:37:26.419
 words?

00:37:27.079 --> 00:37:27.319
 Well,

00:37:28.199 --> 00:37:28.699
 we take

00:37:28.699 --> 00:37:29.039
 them, I

00:37:29.039 --> 00:37:29.179
 think,

00:37:29.319 --> 00:37:29.879
 figuratively.

00:37:30.139 --> 00:37:31.219
 He's using

00:37:31.219 --> 00:37:31.679
 figurative

00:37:31.679 --> 00:37:32.079
 language.

00:37:32.179 --> 00:37:32.480
 I think it

00:37:32.480 --> 00:37:33.179
 becomes clear

00:37:33.179 --> 00:37:34.359
 when you

00:37:34.359 --> 00:37:35.079
 think about

00:37:35.079 --> 00:37:36.359
 what he's

00:37:36.359 --> 00:37:37.219
 actually dealing

00:37:37.219 --> 00:37:37.439
 with.

00:37:37.839 --> 00:37:38.279
 To cut

00:37:38.279 --> 00:37:38.799
 off a limb

00:37:38.799 --> 00:37:39.579
 doesn't deal

00:37:39.579 --> 00:37:39.980
 with the

00:37:39.980 --> 00:37:40.739
 real problem.

00:37:42.699 --> 00:37:43.199
 Our

00:37:43.199 --> 00:37:43.579
 hearts.

00:37:44.480 --> 00:37:44.799
 So the

00:37:44.800 --> 00:37:45.160
 root of

00:37:45.160 --> 00:37:45.960
 sin lies

00:37:45.960 --> 00:37:46.420
 in our

00:37:46.420 --> 00:37:46.780
 hearts.

00:37:47.220 --> 00:37:47.640
 Actual

00:37:47.640 --> 00:37:48.300
 mutilation

00:37:48.300 --> 00:37:49.100
 of the

00:37:49.100 --> 00:37:49.920
 flesh would

00:37:49.920 --> 00:37:50.360
 not make

00:37:50.360 --> 00:37:50.840
 sense because

00:37:50.840 --> 00:37:51.180
 you can

00:37:51.180 --> 00:37:52.060
 look and

00:37:52.060 --> 00:37:52.620
 lust after

00:37:52.620 --> 00:37:53.120
 something with

00:37:53.120 --> 00:37:53.660
 one eye

00:37:53.660 --> 00:37:55.500
 just as

00:37:55.500 --> 00:37:55.820
 much as

00:37:55.820 --> 00:37:56.060
 you can

00:37:56.060 --> 00:37:56.460
 with two.

00:37:57.300 --> 00:37:57.519
 So it

00:37:57.519 --> 00:37:58.080
 doesn't take

00:37:58.080 --> 00:37:58.519
 care of

00:37:58.519 --> 00:37:58.920
 the problem.

00:37:59.019 --> 00:37:59.260
 I think

00:37:59.260 --> 00:38:00.260
 that means

00:38:00.260 --> 00:38:00.560
 that he's

00:38:00.560 --> 00:38:00.960
 talking

00:38:00.960 --> 00:38:01.800
 figuratively

00:38:01.800 --> 00:38:02.700
 saying we

00:38:02.700 --> 00:38:03.300
 should take

00:38:03.300 --> 00:38:03.820
 sin

00:38:03.820 --> 00:38:04.460
 seriously

00:38:04.460 --> 00:38:06.019
 and take

00:38:06.019 --> 00:38:06.580
 measures

00:38:06.580 --> 00:38:07.720
 to fight,

00:38:07.920 --> 00:38:08.560
 not go

00:38:08.560 --> 00:38:09.200
 around flirting

00:38:09.200 --> 00:38:09.780
 with sin,

00:38:09.940 --> 00:38:10.519
 but instead

00:38:10.519 --> 00:38:11.480
 don't act

00:38:11.480 --> 00:38:11.820
 like you're

00:38:11.820 --> 00:38:12.480
 untouchable,

00:38:12.740 --> 00:38:13.280
 but act like

00:38:13.280 --> 00:38:13.880
 you need to

00:38:13.880 --> 00:38:14.280
 resist

00:38:14.280 --> 00:38:15.220
 temptation.

00:38:16.300 --> 00:38:16.880
 A famous

00:38:16.880 --> 00:38:17.500
 line from

00:38:17.500 --> 00:38:18.000
 John Owen,

00:38:18.080 --> 00:38:18.560
 if you've

00:38:18.560 --> 00:38:18.840
 heard it

00:38:18.840 --> 00:38:19.100
 before,

00:38:19.200 --> 00:38:19.700
 be killing

00:38:19.700 --> 00:38:20.900
 sin or

00:38:20.900 --> 00:38:21.560
 sin will

00:38:21.560 --> 00:38:22.060
 be killing

00:38:22.060 --> 00:38:22.740
 you.

00:38:22.860 --> 00:38:23.180
 It's a

00:38:23.180 --> 00:38:24.000
 realization

00:38:24.000 --> 00:38:24.740
 that we

00:38:24.740 --> 00:38:25.220
 should turn

00:38:25.220 --> 00:38:25.560
 and throw

00:38:25.560 --> 00:38:25.940
 it away,

00:38:26.040 --> 00:38:26.360
 get rid

00:38:26.360 --> 00:38:26.580
 of it,

00:38:26.700 --> 00:38:27.620
 kill sin

00:38:27.620 --> 00:38:28.000
 or anything

00:38:28.000 --> 00:38:28.580
 that leads

00:38:28.580 --> 00:38:28.920
 us to

00:38:28.920 --> 00:38:29.100
 sin.

00:38:29.160 --> 00:38:29.420
 We should

00:38:29.420 --> 00:38:30.340
 expel

00:38:30.340 --> 00:38:30.540
 it,

00:38:30.680 --> 00:38:31.360
 deny it.

00:38:33.519 --> 00:38:34.100
 So I

00:38:34.100 --> 00:38:34.380
 don't know

00:38:34.380 --> 00:38:34.820
 what it is

00:38:34.820 --> 00:38:35.260
 for you,

00:38:35.380 --> 00:38:35.840
 but I

00:38:35.840 --> 00:38:36.560
 think what

00:38:36.560 --> 00:38:37.120
 he's getting

00:38:37.120 --> 00:38:37.540
 at is

00:38:37.540 --> 00:38:38.340
 something where

00:38:38.340 --> 00:38:39.340
 it's the

00:38:39.340 --> 00:38:40.019
 thing that

00:38:40.019 --> 00:38:41.000
 you know

00:38:41.000 --> 00:38:41.720
 that leads

00:38:41.719 --> 00:38:42.019
 you to

00:38:42.019 --> 00:38:42.239
 sin.

00:38:44.799 --> 00:38:45.639
 An example

00:38:45.639 --> 00:38:46.079
 would be a

00:38:46.079 --> 00:38:46.819
 smartphone at

00:38:46.819 --> 00:38:47.099
 night,

00:38:47.339 --> 00:38:47.819
 looking at

00:38:47.819 --> 00:38:48.299
 your smartphone

00:38:48.299 --> 00:38:48.939
 at night.

00:38:49.519 --> 00:38:50.139
 Leads you

00:38:50.139 --> 00:38:50.599
 to sin.

00:38:51.559 --> 00:38:51.899
 We're

00:38:51.899 --> 00:38:52.539
 watching certain

00:38:52.539 --> 00:38:52.980
 movies,

00:38:53.239 --> 00:38:54.139
 social media,

00:38:54.419 --> 00:38:54.859
 sports,

00:38:55.039 --> 00:38:55.579
 doing certain

00:38:55.579 --> 00:38:56.139
 activities,

00:38:56.579 --> 00:38:57.139
 busyness,

00:38:57.219 --> 00:38:57.379
 where you're

00:38:57.379 --> 00:38:58.039
 just so

00:38:58.039 --> 00:38:58.500
 busy that

00:38:58.500 --> 00:38:58.939
 you're always

00:38:58.939 --> 00:38:59.439
 upset with

00:38:59.439 --> 00:38:59.939
 the kids,

00:39:00.459 --> 00:39:01.059
 lack of

00:39:01.059 --> 00:39:01.599
 sleep where

00:39:01.599 --> 00:39:01.919
 you're just

00:39:01.919 --> 00:39:02.779
 irritated all

00:39:02.779 --> 00:39:03.219
 the time.

00:39:04.399 --> 00:39:04.980
 It's the

00:39:04.980 --> 00:39:06.559
 condition that's

00:39:06.559 --> 00:39:06.919
 maybe not

00:39:06.919 --> 00:39:07.339
 necessarily

00:39:07.339 --> 00:39:07.899
 sinful,

00:39:09.000 --> 00:39:09.500
 but it

00:39:09.500 --> 00:39:10.259
 leads you

00:39:10.260 --> 00:39:11.180
 to be

00:39:11.180 --> 00:39:11.860
 tempted to

00:39:11.860 --> 00:39:12.060
 sin.

00:39:12.140 --> 00:39:12.340
 And he

00:39:12.340 --> 00:39:12.760
 says,

00:39:12.920 --> 00:39:13.720
 cut it

00:39:13.720 --> 00:39:13.980
 out.

00:39:15.360 --> 00:39:16.020
 It is

00:39:16.020 --> 00:39:16.580
 worth

00:39:16.580 --> 00:39:18.100
 killing it

00:39:18.100 --> 00:39:18.900
 than to

00:39:18.900 --> 00:39:20.820
 slide adrift

00:39:20.820 --> 00:39:21.760
 into judgment,

00:39:21.940 --> 00:39:22.260
 which is what

00:39:22.260 --> 00:39:22.640
 he's getting

00:39:22.640 --> 00:39:22.820
 at,

00:39:22.840 --> 00:39:23.620
 eternal hell

00:39:23.620 --> 00:39:25.360
 and a

00:39:25.360 --> 00:39:25.680
 lake of

00:39:25.680 --> 00:39:25.980
 fire,

00:39:26.260 --> 00:39:26.500
 or a

00:39:26.500 --> 00:39:26.880
 fire of

00:39:26.880 --> 00:39:27.060
 hell.

00:39:28.980 --> 00:39:29.740
 So it's

00:39:29.740 --> 00:39:30.140
 just a

00:39:30.140 --> 00:39:30.520
 consideration

00:39:30.520 --> 00:39:31.160
 for all

00:39:31.160 --> 00:39:31.420
 of us

00:39:31.420 --> 00:39:31.980
 to consider

00:39:31.980 --> 00:39:33.080
 what are

00:39:33.080 --> 00:39:33.760
 the things

00:39:33.760 --> 00:39:34.180
 that are

00:39:34.180 --> 00:39:35.420
 leading us

00:39:35.420 --> 00:39:35.920
 to be

00:39:35.920 --> 00:39:36.180
 tempted?

00:39:37.020 --> 00:39:37.360
 And can

00:39:37.360 --> 00:39:37.620
 we get

00:39:37.620 --> 00:39:37.860
 rid of

00:39:37.860 --> 00:39:38.020
 them?

00:39:38.560 --> 00:39:39.060
 We find

00:39:39.060 --> 00:39:39.560
 alternatives.

00:39:39.559 --> 00:39:39.920
 So I

00:39:39.920 --> 00:39:41.179
 think of

00:39:41.179 --> 00:39:42.159
 if you

00:39:42.159 --> 00:39:42.659
 have a

00:39:42.659 --> 00:39:42.980
 friend,

00:39:43.480 --> 00:39:44.259
 so both

00:39:44.259 --> 00:39:44.500
 of these

00:39:44.500 --> 00:39:44.779
 together,

00:39:44.860 --> 00:39:44.980
 if you

00:39:44.980 --> 00:39:45.159
 have a

00:39:45.159 --> 00:39:45.739
 friend who's

00:39:45.739 --> 00:39:46.719
 trying to

00:39:46.719 --> 00:39:47.239
 stop drinking

00:39:47.239 --> 00:39:47.659
 soda,

00:39:48.980 --> 00:39:49.920
 or pop

00:39:49.920 --> 00:39:50.320
 as we

00:39:50.320 --> 00:39:50.779
 call it,

00:39:51.460 --> 00:39:53.639
 and it's

00:39:53.639 --> 00:39:54.159
 not sinful,

00:39:54.299 --> 00:39:54.539
 I'm not

00:39:54.539 --> 00:39:54.900
 saying that

00:39:54.900 --> 00:39:55.099
 at all,

00:39:55.139 --> 00:39:55.440
 but that

00:39:55.440 --> 00:39:55.900
 friend just

00:39:55.900 --> 00:39:56.440
 decides they

00:39:56.440 --> 00:39:56.699
 want to

00:39:56.699 --> 00:39:57.480
 make a

00:39:57.480 --> 00:39:57.880
 change,

00:39:58.559 --> 00:39:58.980
 and you

00:39:58.980 --> 00:39:59.340
 go out

00:39:59.340 --> 00:39:59.519
 and you

00:39:59.519 --> 00:39:59.940
 buy them

00:39:59.940 --> 00:40:00.299
 a soda,

00:40:01.059 --> 00:40:01.900
 you're not

00:40:01.900 --> 00:40:02.639
 watching out

00:40:02.639 --> 00:40:03.000
 for that

00:40:03.000 --> 00:40:03.440
 friend at

00:40:03.440 --> 00:40:03.719
 all.

00:40:04.820 --> 00:40:04.980
 And so

00:40:04.980 --> 00:40:05.219
 that's what

00:40:05.219 --> 00:40:05.659
 Jesus is

00:40:05.659 --> 00:40:05.940
 saying

00:40:05.940 --> 00:40:06.500
 spiritually.

00:40:06.940 --> 00:40:07.320
 Same

00:40:07.320 --> 00:40:07.599
 would be

00:40:07.599 --> 00:40:07.880
 true.

00:40:08.380 --> 00:40:08.599
 If you

00:40:08.599 --> 00:40:08.820
 have a

00:40:08.820 --> 00:40:09.199
 friend that

00:40:09.199 --> 00:40:10.759
 has admitted

00:40:10.759 --> 00:40:11.059
 to you,

00:40:11.139 --> 00:40:11.439
 I've

00:40:11.439 --> 00:40:11.719
 struggled

00:40:11.719 --> 00:40:12.259
 with gossip,

00:40:12.939 --> 00:40:13.480
 the last

00:40:13.480 --> 00:40:13.859
 thing you'd

00:40:13.859 --> 00:40:14.159
 want to

00:40:14.159 --> 00:40:14.960
 do with

00:40:14.960 --> 00:40:15.299
 him or

00:40:15.299 --> 00:40:15.739
 her is

00:40:15.739 --> 00:40:16.739
 talk about

00:40:16.739 --> 00:40:17.159
 some other

00:40:17.159 --> 00:40:17.500
 people in

00:40:17.500 --> 00:40:17.759
 the church

00:40:17.759 --> 00:40:18.179
 in a way

00:40:18.179 --> 00:40:18.699
 that maybe

00:40:18.699 --> 00:40:19.379
 lead them

00:40:19.379 --> 00:40:20.299
 to begin

00:40:20.299 --> 00:40:20.960
 gossiping.

00:40:21.559 --> 00:40:22.419
 I think that's

00:40:22.419 --> 00:40:22.919
 where he's

00:40:22.919 --> 00:40:23.519
 talking about

00:40:23.519 --> 00:40:24.099
 with leading

00:40:24.099 --> 00:40:24.539
 people to

00:40:24.539 --> 00:40:24.799
 stumble.

00:40:26.679 --> 00:40:27.460
 And this is

00:40:27.460 --> 00:40:28.239
 radical devotion

00:40:28.239 --> 00:40:28.779
 with our own

00:40:28.779 --> 00:40:29.119
 life,

00:40:29.559 --> 00:40:30.159
 being willing

00:40:30.159 --> 00:40:30.739
 to take

00:40:30.739 --> 00:40:31.379
 things out

00:40:31.379 --> 00:40:32.259
 that are not

00:40:32.259 --> 00:40:32.879
 necessarily

00:40:32.879 --> 00:40:33.719
 evil,

00:40:33.719 --> 00:40:33.779
 evil,

00:40:34.399 --> 00:40:35.000
 but that

00:40:35.000 --> 00:40:35.819
 lead us

00:40:35.819 --> 00:40:37.099
 to struggle

00:40:37.099 --> 00:40:38.059
 with sin.

00:40:39.259 --> 00:40:39.559
 So,

00:40:39.779 --> 00:40:40.599
 first one

00:40:40.599 --> 00:40:42.319
 is childlike

00:40:42.319 --> 00:40:42.959
 dependence.

00:40:43.419 --> 00:40:43.599
 I think

00:40:43.599 --> 00:40:43.959
 there's a

00:40:43.959 --> 00:40:44.599
 humility that

00:40:44.599 --> 00:40:45.159
 has childlike

00:40:45.159 --> 00:40:45.679
 dependence on

00:40:45.679 --> 00:40:46.039
 God.

00:40:46.179 --> 00:40:46.319
 We're

00:40:46.319 --> 00:40:46.939
 desperate.

00:40:47.500 --> 00:40:47.659
 And then

00:40:47.659 --> 00:40:47.899
 the second

00:40:47.899 --> 00:40:48.159
 one is

00:40:48.159 --> 00:40:48.459
 radical

00:40:48.459 --> 00:40:48.899
 devotion.

00:40:49.079 --> 00:40:49.219
 And then

00:40:49.219 --> 00:40:49.599
 the third

00:40:49.599 --> 00:40:50.619
 one is

00:40:50.619 --> 00:40:50.980
 heavenly

00:40:50.980 --> 00:40:51.459
 delight.

00:40:52.099 --> 00:40:52.439
 So this

00:40:52.439 --> 00:40:53.099
 humility is

00:40:53.099 --> 00:40:53.659
 marked by

00:40:53.659 --> 00:40:53.939
 heavenly

00:40:53.939 --> 00:40:54.319
 delight.

00:40:54.459 --> 00:40:54.639
 And what

00:40:54.639 --> 00:40:55.619
 I mean

00:40:55.619 --> 00:40:56.059
 is that

00:40:56.059 --> 00:40:56.359
 we're to

00:40:56.359 --> 00:40:56.639
 have the

00:40:56.639 --> 00:40:57.379
 same heart

00:40:57.379 --> 00:40:58.139
 as the

00:40:58.139 --> 00:40:58.939
 Father has.

00:40:59.379 --> 00:40:59.939
 So we're

00:40:59.939 --> 00:41:00.559
 to reflect

00:41:00.559 --> 00:41:01.299
 his heart,

00:41:01.659 --> 00:41:02.339
 his heavenly

00:41:02.339 --> 00:41:02.759
 delight,

00:41:02.760 --> 00:41:03.080
 delight in

00:41:03.080 --> 00:41:03.500
 the same

00:41:03.500 --> 00:41:04.040
 things.

00:41:04.820 --> 00:41:05.140
 And that

00:41:05.140 --> 00:41:05.660
 we discover

00:41:05.660 --> 00:41:06.040
 in verses

00:41:06.040 --> 00:41:07.680
 10-14.

00:41:07.920 --> 00:41:08.180
 So let's

00:41:08.180 --> 00:41:08.600
 take each

00:41:08.600 --> 00:41:09.040
 verse in

00:41:09.040 --> 00:41:09.520
 turn.

00:41:09.860 --> 00:41:10.280
 Verse 10.

00:41:12.000 --> 00:41:12.760
 See that

00:41:12.760 --> 00:41:13.320
 you do not

00:41:13.320 --> 00:41:14.220
 despise one

00:41:14.220 --> 00:41:14.540
 of these

00:41:14.540 --> 00:41:15.140
 little ones.

00:41:15.860 --> 00:41:16.240
 For I

00:41:16.240 --> 00:41:16.580
 tell you

00:41:16.580 --> 00:41:16.920
 that their

00:41:16.920 --> 00:41:17.480
 angels in

00:41:17.480 --> 00:41:18.160
 heaven always

00:41:18.160 --> 00:41:18.780
 see the

00:41:18.780 --> 00:41:19.460
 face of

00:41:19.460 --> 00:41:20.080
 my Father

00:41:20.080 --> 00:41:20.600
 in heaven.

00:41:21.660 --> 00:41:22.140
 So he

00:41:22.140 --> 00:41:22.500
 tells us

00:41:22.500 --> 00:41:23.060
 again not

00:41:23.060 --> 00:41:23.840
 to despise

00:41:23.840 --> 00:41:24.400
 little ones.

00:41:24.480 --> 00:41:24.820
 The third

00:41:24.820 --> 00:41:25.360
 time he's

00:41:25.360 --> 00:41:26.340
 used that

00:41:26.340 --> 00:41:26.860
 phrase.

00:41:28.080 --> 00:41:28.940
 And the

00:41:28.940 --> 00:41:29.920
 least among

00:41:29.920 --> 00:41:30.300
 us,

00:41:30.600 --> 00:41:30.900
 and we

00:41:30.900 --> 00:41:31.340
 shouldn't look

00:41:31.340 --> 00:41:31.820
 down on

00:41:31.820 --> 00:41:32.140
 them with

00:41:32.140 --> 00:41:32.660
 contempt,

00:41:32.760 --> 00:41:33.760
 instead we

00:41:33.760 --> 00:41:34.360
 should love

00:41:34.360 --> 00:41:35.480
 them, care

00:41:35.480 --> 00:41:36.020
 for them,

00:41:36.120 --> 00:41:36.500
 and treat

00:41:36.500 --> 00:41:37.640
 them, and

00:41:37.640 --> 00:41:38.140
 look out for

00:41:38.140 --> 00:41:38.680
 their holiness.

00:41:39.600 --> 00:41:40.060
 But what is

00:41:40.060 --> 00:41:41.760
 Jesus getting

00:41:41.760 --> 00:41:42.060
 at?

00:41:42.880 --> 00:41:43.800
 He brings

00:41:43.800 --> 00:41:44.700
 up angels.

00:41:45.200 --> 00:41:46.040
 Maybe not

00:41:46.040 --> 00:41:46.680
 what we were

00:41:46.680 --> 00:41:47.460
 expecting as

00:41:47.460 --> 00:41:47.940
 we're reading

00:41:47.940 --> 00:41:48.360
 through.

00:41:48.460 --> 00:41:49.020
 Oh, angels.

00:41:49.200 --> 00:41:49.680
 Oh, that's

00:41:49.680 --> 00:41:50.220
 interesting.

00:41:50.880 --> 00:41:51.200
 But we

00:41:51.200 --> 00:41:51.660
 believe in

00:41:51.660 --> 00:41:52.000
 angels.

00:41:52.500 --> 00:41:53.020
 Right?

00:41:53.760 --> 00:41:54.280
 Yes.

00:41:54.540 --> 00:41:55.220
 We believe

00:41:55.220 --> 00:41:55.780
 in angels.

00:41:57.380 --> 00:41:58.340
 And who are

00:41:58.340 --> 00:41:58.800
 these angels?

00:41:58.920 --> 00:41:59.340
 Well, they're

00:41:59.340 --> 00:42:00.020
 creatures,

00:42:00.200 --> 00:42:01.060
 specifically God's

00:42:01.059 --> 00:42:01.539
 agents.

00:42:02.039 --> 00:42:02.199
 They're

00:42:02.199 --> 00:42:03.059
 messengers,

00:42:03.219 --> 00:42:04.019
 the word

00:42:04.019 --> 00:42:04.659
 meaning there.

00:42:06.380 --> 00:42:06.639
 And the

00:42:06.639 --> 00:42:07.360
 Bible calls

00:42:07.360 --> 00:42:08.779
 them ministering

00:42:08.779 --> 00:42:09.159
 spirits.

00:42:09.299 --> 00:42:09.619
 So they're

00:42:09.619 --> 00:42:10.279
 those spirits

00:42:10.279 --> 00:42:10.920
 who minister

00:42:10.920 --> 00:42:13.159
 to believers.

00:42:13.559 --> 00:42:14.179
 They're real,

00:42:14.259 --> 00:42:14.840
 not mythical.

00:42:14.840 --> 00:42:16.039
 And the

00:42:16.039 --> 00:42:16.719
 Father, they

00:42:16.719 --> 00:42:17.880
 serve our

00:42:17.880 --> 00:42:19.179
 God in

00:42:19.179 --> 00:42:20.119
 various ways,

00:42:20.159 --> 00:42:20.619
 we see in

00:42:20.619 --> 00:42:20.960
 the Bible.

00:42:20.960 --> 00:42:21.000
 God.

00:42:23.639 --> 00:42:24.400
 Some people

00:42:24.400 --> 00:42:24.840
 take this

00:42:24.840 --> 00:42:25.480
 passage to

00:42:25.480 --> 00:42:26.340
 mean that

00:42:26.340 --> 00:42:28.000
 each one

00:42:28.000 --> 00:42:28.480
 of us

00:42:28.480 --> 00:42:29.079
 have

00:42:29.079 --> 00:42:30.019
 individual

00:42:30.019 --> 00:42:31.079
 guardian

00:42:31.079 --> 00:42:31.559
 angels.

00:42:33.500 --> 00:42:34.940
 But what

00:42:34.940 --> 00:42:35.280
 we don't

00:42:35.280 --> 00:42:35.480
 see,

00:42:35.599 --> 00:42:35.800
 actually,

00:42:35.880 --> 00:42:36.119
 the Bible,

00:42:36.340 --> 00:42:36.679
 although it

00:42:36.679 --> 00:42:36.960
 doesn't say

00:42:36.960 --> 00:42:37.480
 a lot about

00:42:37.480 --> 00:42:37.740
 that,

00:42:38.159 --> 00:42:38.659
 it doesn't

00:42:38.659 --> 00:42:39.199
 ever say

00:42:39.199 --> 00:42:39.599
 there's a

00:42:39.599 --> 00:42:40.280
 one-to-one.

00:42:40.539 --> 00:42:41.820
 So we

00:42:41.820 --> 00:42:42.300
 know that

00:42:42.300 --> 00:42:43.059
 there are

00:42:43.059 --> 00:42:43.619
 angels that

00:42:43.619 --> 00:42:43.980
 are guarding

00:42:43.980 --> 00:42:44.240
 us.

00:42:45.539 --> 00:42:46.380
 But what he's

00:42:46.380 --> 00:42:46.840
 not saying

00:42:46.840 --> 00:42:47.139
 here is

00:42:47.139 --> 00:42:47.639
 necessarily

00:42:47.639 --> 00:42:48.000
 that,

00:42:48.220 --> 00:42:48.280
 like,

00:42:48.760 --> 00:42:48.960
 in,

00:42:49.059 --> 00:42:49.240
 I don't

00:42:49.240 --> 00:42:49.460
 know if

00:42:49.460 --> 00:42:49.720
 you've all

00:42:49.719 --> 00:42:50.139
 seen the

00:42:50.139 --> 00:42:50.739
 film,

00:42:50.839 --> 00:42:51.259
 but It's

00:42:51.259 --> 00:42:51.559
 a Wonderful

00:42:51.559 --> 00:42:51.980
 Life,

00:42:52.559 --> 00:42:53.239
 the Christmas

00:42:53.239 --> 00:42:53.639
 film.

00:42:53.959 --> 00:42:54.199
 I don't

00:42:54.199 --> 00:42:54.659
 think Johnny

00:42:54.659 --> 00:42:55.039
 has seen

00:42:55.039 --> 00:42:55.239
 it,

00:42:55.480 --> 00:42:57.079
 but perhaps

00:42:57.079 --> 00:42:57.639
 you have.

00:42:58.459 --> 00:42:58.759
 And where

00:42:58.759 --> 00:42:59.000
 they have,

00:42:59.159 --> 00:42:59.679
 Clarence is

00:42:59.679 --> 00:42:59.980
 like a

00:42:59.980 --> 00:43:00.319
 guardian

00:43:00.319 --> 00:43:00.679
 angel.

00:43:00.799 --> 00:43:01.019
 He's got

00:43:01.019 --> 00:43:01.799
 the one-to-one

00:43:01.799 --> 00:43:02.299
 assigned.

00:43:03.039 --> 00:43:03.559
 I don't

00:43:03.559 --> 00:43:03.980
 think that's

00:43:03.980 --> 00:43:04.239
 what the

00:43:04.239 --> 00:43:04.819
 Bible says.

00:43:05.659 --> 00:43:06.239
 I think

00:43:06.239 --> 00:43:06.679
 that's made

00:43:06.679 --> 00:43:06.879
 up.

00:43:07.059 --> 00:43:08.219
 But there

00:43:08.219 --> 00:43:08.739
 is, in a

00:43:08.739 --> 00:43:09.079
 sense,

00:43:09.179 --> 00:43:09.619
 where there

00:43:09.619 --> 00:43:10.379
 are angels

00:43:10.379 --> 00:43:11.519
 from this

00:43:11.519 --> 00:43:12.699
 text that

00:43:12.699 --> 00:43:13.419
 have a

00:43:13.419 --> 00:43:14.739
 role with

00:43:14.739 --> 00:43:15.239
 these little

00:43:15.239 --> 00:43:15.559
 ones,

00:43:16.259 --> 00:43:16.939
 where they

00:43:16.939 --> 00:43:17.839
 are serving,

00:43:17.939 --> 00:43:18.480
 they are

00:43:18.480 --> 00:43:18.959
 serving

00:43:18.959 --> 00:43:19.419
 believers.

00:43:19.719 --> 00:43:21.179
 And they're

00:43:21.179 --> 00:43:22.459
 beholding the

00:43:22.459 --> 00:43:22.980
 face of

00:43:22.980 --> 00:43:23.319
 God.

00:43:24.539 --> 00:43:25.239
 They're

00:43:25.239 --> 00:43:26.239
 standing before

00:43:26.239 --> 00:43:27.559
 God,

00:43:27.819 --> 00:43:28.299
 night and

00:43:28.299 --> 00:43:28.619
 day.

00:43:29.679 --> 00:43:30.179
 And I

00:43:30.179 --> 00:43:30.899
 think that

00:43:30.899 --> 00:43:32.659
 points to

00:43:32.659 --> 00:43:33.519
 the fact that

00:43:33.519 --> 00:43:34.599
 God has

00:43:34.599 --> 00:43:36.059
 servants committed

00:43:36.059 --> 00:43:36.939
 to these little

00:43:36.939 --> 00:43:37.279
 ones.

00:43:38.959 --> 00:43:39.799
 In that way,

00:43:39.879 --> 00:43:40.859
 He cares about

00:43:40.859 --> 00:43:41.619
 them enough

00:43:41.619 --> 00:43:42.459
 to have

00:43:42.459 --> 00:43:43.839
 angels take

00:43:43.839 --> 00:43:44.179
 care of

00:43:44.179 --> 00:43:44.359
 them.

00:43:45.500 --> 00:43:45.859
 And so,

00:43:45.859 --> 00:43:46.519
 so should

00:43:46.519 --> 00:43:46.759
 we?

00:43:47.759 --> 00:43:48.280
 We should

00:43:48.280 --> 00:43:48.800
 see the

00:43:48.800 --> 00:43:49.860
 heart that

00:43:49.860 --> 00:43:50.420
 God has

00:43:50.420 --> 00:43:50.800
 and not

00:43:50.800 --> 00:43:51.599
 despise

00:43:51.599 --> 00:43:52.219
 fellow

00:43:52.219 --> 00:43:52.659
 believers,

00:43:52.800 --> 00:43:53.619
 knowing that

00:43:53.619 --> 00:43:54.619
 God cares

00:43:54.619 --> 00:43:55.800
 deeply about

00:43:55.800 --> 00:43:56.099
 them,

00:43:56.759 --> 00:43:57.800
 enough to

00:43:57.800 --> 00:43:58.239
 send out

00:43:58.239 --> 00:43:59.059
 His messengers

00:43:59.059 --> 00:43:59.739
 to care for

00:43:59.739 --> 00:43:59.940
 them.

00:44:01.699 --> 00:44:02.500
 So He

00:44:02.500 --> 00:44:03.019
 points to the

00:44:03.019 --> 00:44:03.440
 role of

00:44:03.440 --> 00:44:04.239
 angels to

00:44:04.239 --> 00:44:04.699
 caring for

00:44:04.699 --> 00:44:05.119
 these weaker

00:44:05.119 --> 00:44:06.019
 Christians as

00:44:06.019 --> 00:44:06.900
 a warning for

00:44:06.900 --> 00:44:07.360
 those who

00:44:07.360 --> 00:44:08.340
 despise them.

00:44:09.340 --> 00:44:09.780
 And then,

00:44:09.900 --> 00:44:10.380
 to illustrate

00:44:10.380 --> 00:44:11.139
 that further,

00:44:11.320 --> 00:44:12.259
 He gives a

00:44:12.259 --> 00:44:13.340
 parable in

00:44:13.340 --> 00:44:14.039
 verses 12

00:44:14.039 --> 00:44:14.700
 through 14.

00:44:14.860 --> 00:44:14.980
 But,

00:44:15.360 --> 00:44:15.960
 real quick,

00:44:16.800 --> 00:44:17.320
 I always,

00:44:17.620 --> 00:44:18.000
 you know,

00:44:18.039 --> 00:44:18.460
 you're reading

00:44:18.460 --> 00:44:19.120
 through and

00:44:19.120 --> 00:44:19.700
 then suddenly

00:44:19.700 --> 00:44:20.220
 you say,

00:44:20.340 --> 00:44:20.579
 well,

00:44:21.100 --> 00:44:21.900
 verse 11.

00:44:23.920 --> 00:44:24.400
 And you're

00:44:24.400 --> 00:44:24.519
 like,

00:44:24.579 --> 00:44:25.000
 when is

00:44:25.000 --> 00:44:25.640
 verse 11?

00:44:26.120 --> 00:44:26.420
 Well,

00:44:26.579 --> 00:44:26.900
 modern

00:44:26.900 --> 00:44:27.519
 translations,

00:44:27.900 --> 00:44:29.400
 you'll notice

00:44:29.400 --> 00:44:30.120
 it's missing.

00:44:30.800 --> 00:44:31.340
 And that's

00:44:31.340 --> 00:44:32.320
 simply because

00:44:32.320 --> 00:44:34.100
 our earliest

00:44:34.100 --> 00:44:35.340
 Greek manuscripts

00:44:35.340 --> 00:44:36.260
 don't have

00:44:36.260 --> 00:44:36.820
 this verse.

00:44:37.700 --> 00:44:38.160
 So the

00:44:38.160 --> 00:44:38.860
 later ones

00:44:38.860 --> 00:44:39.539
 have included

00:44:39.539 --> 00:44:40.640
 it because

00:44:40.640 --> 00:44:41.620
 they more

00:44:41.620 --> 00:44:42.160
 than likely

00:44:42.160 --> 00:44:42.760
 borrowed it

00:44:42.760 --> 00:44:43.740
 from Luke

00:44:43.740 --> 00:44:44.260
 19.

00:44:44.400 --> 00:44:44.640
 10.

00:44:44.760 --> 00:44:44.980
 So the

00:44:44.980 --> 00:44:45.180
 verse,

00:44:45.260 --> 00:44:45.440
 and I don't

00:44:45.440 --> 00:44:45.760
 know if

00:44:45.760 --> 00:44:46.120
 there's a

00:44:46.120 --> 00:44:46.440
 footnote

00:44:46.440 --> 00:44:46.660
 there,

00:44:46.740 --> 00:44:47.440
 but the

00:44:47.440 --> 00:44:47.840
 verse that

00:44:47.840 --> 00:44:48.580
 is normally

00:44:48.580 --> 00:44:49.100
 there in

00:44:49.100 --> 00:44:49.400
 some of

00:44:49.400 --> 00:44:49.760
 the older

00:44:49.760 --> 00:44:50.320
 translations

00:44:50.320 --> 00:44:51.660
 is just

00:44:51.660 --> 00:44:52.380
 a parallel

00:44:52.380 --> 00:44:53.400
 from Luke

00:44:53.400 --> 00:44:54.160
 19.

00:44:54.160 --> 00:44:54.560
 10.

00:44:55.360 --> 00:44:56.080
 So it's

00:44:56.080 --> 00:44:56.920
 most likely

00:44:56.920 --> 00:44:57.580
 not original

00:44:57.580 --> 00:44:58.000
 here,

00:44:58.160 --> 00:44:58.960
 not a huge

00:44:58.960 --> 00:45:00.160
 deal because

00:45:00.160 --> 00:45:00.600
 it's found

00:45:00.600 --> 00:45:00.900
 in Luke

00:45:00.900 --> 00:45:01.280
 19,

00:45:01.400 --> 00:45:02.120
 but that's

00:45:02.120 --> 00:45:02.820
 the explanation

00:45:02.820 --> 00:45:03.920
 why it

00:45:03.920 --> 00:45:04.760
 suddenly skips

00:45:04.760 --> 00:45:05.760
 verse 11.

00:45:06.560 --> 00:45:06.860
 All right,

00:45:06.980 --> 00:45:07.600
 verses 12

00:45:07.600 --> 00:45:08.180
 through 14.

00:45:09.320 --> 00:45:10.000
 What do

00:45:10.000 --> 00:45:10.400
 you think?

00:45:10.460 --> 00:45:11.700
 If a man

00:45:11.700 --> 00:45:12.220
 owns a

00:45:12.220 --> 00:45:12.460
 hundred

00:45:12.760 --> 00:45:13.000
 sheep and

00:45:13.000 --> 00:45:13.340
 one of

00:45:13.340 --> 00:45:13.520
 them

00:45:13.520 --> 00:45:13.940
 wanders

00:45:13.940 --> 00:45:14.320
 away,

00:45:15.100 --> 00:45:15.420
 will he

00:45:15.420 --> 00:45:15.940
 not leave

00:45:15.940 --> 00:45:16.720
 the ninety-nine

00:45:16.720 --> 00:45:17.040
 on the

00:45:17.040 --> 00:45:17.900
 hills and

00:45:17.900 --> 00:45:18.260
 go to

00:45:18.260 --> 00:45:18.600
 look for

00:45:18.600 --> 00:45:18.960
 the one

00:45:18.960 --> 00:45:19.160
 that

00:45:19.160 --> 00:45:19.500
 wandered

00:45:19.500 --> 00:45:19.780
 off?

00:45:20.660 --> 00:45:21.280
 And if

00:45:21.280 --> 00:45:21.800
 he finds

00:45:21.800 --> 00:45:21.960
 it,

00:45:22.000 --> 00:45:22.420
 truly I

00:45:22.420 --> 00:45:22.760
 tell you,

00:45:22.820 --> 00:45:23.080
 he is

00:45:23.080 --> 00:45:23.500
 happier

00:45:23.500 --> 00:45:24.460
 about that

00:45:24.460 --> 00:45:25.200
 one sheep

00:45:25.200 --> 00:45:25.800
 than about

00:45:25.800 --> 00:45:26.600
 the ninety-nine

00:45:26.600 --> 00:45:27.020
 that did

00:45:27.020 --> 00:45:27.520
 not wander

00:45:27.520 --> 00:45:27.900
 off.

00:45:28.860 --> 00:45:29.340
 In the

00:45:29.340 --> 00:45:29.880
 same way,

00:45:30.000 --> 00:45:30.540
 your Father

00:45:30.540 --> 00:45:31.120
 in heaven

00:45:31.120 --> 00:45:31.600
 is not

00:45:31.600 --> 00:45:32.220
 willing that

00:45:32.220 --> 00:45:33.080
 any of

00:45:33.080 --> 00:45:33.580
 these little

00:45:33.580 --> 00:45:34.160
 ones should

00:45:34.160 --> 00:45:34.600
 perish.

00:45:36.540 --> 00:45:37.180
 I don't

00:45:37.180 --> 00:45:37.500
 know if

00:45:37.500 --> 00:45:37.920
 you've ever

00:45:37.920 --> 00:45:38.700
 noticed this

00:45:38.700 --> 00:45:39.020
 parable.

00:45:39.760 --> 00:45:40.180
 You've heard

00:45:40.180 --> 00:45:40.720
 the Luke

00:45:40.720 --> 00:45:41.340
 15 one,

00:45:41.400 --> 00:45:41.560
 right?

00:45:41.559 --> 00:45:43.380
 I think I

00:45:43.380 --> 00:45:43.799
 immediately

00:45:43.799 --> 00:45:44.340
 thought this

00:45:44.340 --> 00:45:44.719
 was just

00:45:44.719 --> 00:45:45.199
 the same

00:45:45.199 --> 00:45:45.500
 as the

00:45:45.500 --> 00:45:45.980
 Luke 15

00:45:45.980 --> 00:45:46.199
 one.

00:45:46.840 --> 00:45:47.320
 But in

00:45:47.320 --> 00:45:47.940
 that context,

00:45:48.059 --> 00:45:48.460
 Jesus is

00:45:48.460 --> 00:45:48.880
 making a

00:45:48.880 --> 00:45:49.099
 different

00:45:49.099 --> 00:45:49.480
 point.

00:45:50.799 --> 00:45:51.400
 Luke 15,

00:45:51.519 --> 00:45:52.019
 Jesus is

00:45:52.019 --> 00:45:54.539
 showing God's

00:45:54.539 --> 00:45:55.239
 concern for

00:45:55.239 --> 00:45:55.940
 the lost

00:45:55.940 --> 00:45:56.440
 sinner,

00:45:57.259 --> 00:45:57.500
 the

00:45:57.500 --> 00:45:58.599
 un-evangelized,

00:45:58.860 --> 00:45:59.039
 the

00:45:59.039 --> 00:45:59.599
 unbeliever.

00:46:00.900 --> 00:46:01.279
 Now by

00:46:01.279 --> 00:46:01.779
 contrast,

00:46:01.940 --> 00:46:02.679
 our passage

00:46:02.679 --> 00:46:04.219
 is God's

00:46:04.219 --> 00:46:04.739
 love for

00:46:04.739 --> 00:46:05.099
 the little

00:46:05.099 --> 00:46:05.599
 ones in

00:46:05.599 --> 00:46:06.059
 the faith,

00:46:06.059 --> 00:46:08.159
 who wander

00:46:08.159 --> 00:46:08.539
 off,

00:46:08.759 --> 00:46:09.099
 who go

00:46:09.099 --> 00:46:09.699
 astray,

00:46:10.340 --> 00:46:10.980
 which I

00:46:10.980 --> 00:46:11.320
 take to

00:46:11.320 --> 00:46:11.480
 mean

00:46:11.480 --> 00:46:12.039
 disciples,

00:46:12.420 --> 00:46:12.759
 believers.

00:46:13.960 --> 00:46:14.440
 As one

00:46:14.440 --> 00:46:15.679
 writer has

00:46:15.679 --> 00:46:15.920
 noted,

00:46:16.079 --> 00:46:16.639
 there's more

00:46:16.639 --> 00:46:17.099
 than one

00:46:17.099 --> 00:46:17.599
 way to be

00:46:17.599 --> 00:46:18.019
 lost.

00:46:18.719 --> 00:46:19.199
 So my

00:46:19.199 --> 00:46:20.239
 daughters have

00:46:20.239 --> 00:46:20.559
 these little

00:46:20.559 --> 00:46:21.159
 water bottles

00:46:21.159 --> 00:46:21.719
 they carry

00:46:21.719 --> 00:46:22.340
 around everywhere.

00:46:23.380 --> 00:46:24.039
 It is one

00:46:24.039 --> 00:46:24.539
 thing,

00:46:24.980 --> 00:46:25.400
 which they

00:46:25.400 --> 00:46:25.759
 lose them

00:46:25.759 --> 00:46:25.980
 all the

00:46:25.980 --> 00:46:26.159
 time,

00:46:26.219 --> 00:46:26.480
 that's why

00:46:26.480 --> 00:46:26.759
 I thought

00:46:26.759 --> 00:46:27.039
 of this,

00:46:27.219 --> 00:46:27.860
 it is one

00:46:27.860 --> 00:46:28.340
 thing to

00:46:28.340 --> 00:46:28.880
 lose it

00:46:28.880 --> 00:46:29.400
 at home.

00:46:30.139 --> 00:46:30.340
 You know,

00:46:30.559 --> 00:46:31.279
 we know

00:46:31.279 --> 00:46:32.019
 it's inside

00:46:32.019 --> 00:46:32.679
 these walls

00:46:32.679 --> 00:46:33.360
 somewhere.

00:46:33.360 --> 00:46:34.099
 It's a

00:46:34.099 --> 00:46:34.640
 whole other

00:46:34.640 --> 00:46:35.480
 thing to

00:46:35.480 --> 00:46:35.900
 realize,

00:46:36.099 --> 00:46:36.460
 oh,

00:46:36.680 --> 00:46:37.120
 we have

00:46:37.120 --> 00:46:37.740
 no idea

00:46:37.740 --> 00:46:38.099
 where that

00:46:38.099 --> 00:46:38.280
 is.

00:46:38.320 --> 00:46:38.740
 It is out

00:46:38.740 --> 00:46:39.000
 in the

00:46:39.000 --> 00:46:39.340
 world,

00:46:39.720 --> 00:46:39.940
 you know,

00:46:39.960 --> 00:46:40.300
 whether we

00:46:40.300 --> 00:46:40.559
 are out

00:46:40.559 --> 00:46:40.860
 to eat

00:46:40.860 --> 00:46:41.240
 or whatever

00:46:41.240 --> 00:46:41.660
 it was.

00:46:42.579 --> 00:46:42.920
 I think

00:46:42.920 --> 00:46:43.760
 that Jesus

00:46:43.760 --> 00:46:44.340
 is talking

00:46:44.340 --> 00:46:44.680
 about the

00:46:44.680 --> 00:46:45.200
 home here.

00:46:45.980 --> 00:46:46.380
 Believers

00:46:46.380 --> 00:46:47.140
 losing it

00:46:47.140 --> 00:46:47.700
 here.

00:46:47.820 --> 00:46:48.280
 He's not

00:46:48.280 --> 00:46:48.840
 willing to

00:46:48.840 --> 00:46:49.280
 let any

00:46:49.280 --> 00:46:50.019
 believer who's

00:46:50.019 --> 00:46:50.680
 gone astray

00:46:50.680 --> 00:46:51.920
 perish.

00:46:53.000 --> 00:46:53.720
 So what

00:46:53.720 --> 00:46:54.360
 this shows

00:46:54.360 --> 00:46:56.460
 us is that

00:46:56.460 --> 00:46:57.960
 God cares

00:46:57.960 --> 00:46:59.099
 for each

00:46:59.099 --> 00:46:59.519
 believer.

00:47:01.320 --> 00:47:01.500
 Isn't

00:47:01.500 --> 00:47:02.000
 that amazing?

00:47:02.440 --> 00:47:03.099
 Even the

00:47:03.099 --> 00:47:03.420
 weakest.

00:47:04.319 --> 00:47:04.739
 And then

00:47:04.739 --> 00:47:05.099
 there's even

00:47:05.099 --> 00:47:05.719
 a rock

00:47:05.719 --> 00:47:06.739
 solid promise

00:47:06.739 --> 00:47:07.059
 at the

00:47:07.059 --> 00:47:07.279
 end.

00:47:07.619 --> 00:47:07.980
 He is

00:47:07.980 --> 00:47:08.539
 not willing

00:47:08.539 --> 00:47:09.199
 that any

00:47:09.199 --> 00:47:09.519
 should

00:47:09.519 --> 00:47:10.000
 perish.

00:47:11.259 --> 00:47:11.860
 God

00:47:11.860 --> 00:47:12.699
 pursues

00:47:12.699 --> 00:47:13.059
 his

00:47:13.059 --> 00:47:13.480
 children

00:47:13.480 --> 00:47:14.259
 who have

00:47:14.259 --> 00:47:14.619
 gone

00:47:14.619 --> 00:47:15.219
 astray

00:47:15.219 --> 00:47:16.219
 like a

00:47:16.219 --> 00:47:16.519
 shepherd

00:47:16.519 --> 00:47:17.319
 looking for

00:47:17.319 --> 00:47:17.679
 lost

00:47:17.679 --> 00:47:18.039
 sheep.

00:47:20.380 --> 00:47:21.019
 So,

00:47:21.880 --> 00:47:22.599
 real quick,

00:47:22.699 --> 00:47:23.139
 three things.

00:47:25.079 --> 00:47:25.719
 This

00:47:25.719 --> 00:47:26.219
 parable says

00:47:26.219 --> 00:47:26.880
 God cares

00:47:26.880 --> 00:47:27.279
 for us

00:47:27.279 --> 00:47:27.860
 individually.

00:47:29.360 --> 00:47:29.980
 It's

00:47:29.980 --> 00:47:30.460
 amazing.

00:47:30.659 --> 00:47:31.239
 Individually.

00:47:32.079 --> 00:47:32.380
 Brothers

00:47:32.380 --> 00:47:32.840
 and sisters,

00:47:33.019 --> 00:47:33.760
 God loves

00:47:33.760 --> 00:47:34.320
 you

00:47:34.320 --> 00:47:35.440
 personally.

00:47:36.840 --> 00:47:37.760
 He knows

00:47:37.760 --> 00:47:37.960
 you

00:47:37.960 --> 00:47:38.420
 personally.

00:47:40.260 --> 00:47:41.099
 And he's

00:47:41.099 --> 00:47:41.760
 committed to

00:47:41.760 --> 00:47:42.760
 you specifically

00:47:42.760 --> 00:47:43.599
 right now.

00:47:44.900 --> 00:47:45.920
 Every believer

00:47:45.920 --> 00:47:46.519
 in this room,

00:47:47.460 --> 00:47:47.599
 I mean,

00:47:47.619 --> 00:47:48.140
 he knows that

00:47:48.140 --> 00:47:48.800
 the one is

00:47:48.800 --> 00:47:49.700
 astray.

00:47:51.700 --> 00:47:52.119
 That's what it

00:47:52.119 --> 00:47:52.320
 says.

00:47:52.660 --> 00:47:53.119
 He's not

00:47:53.119 --> 00:47:53.559
 willing that

00:47:53.559 --> 00:47:54.760
 one of these

00:47:54.760 --> 00:47:55.300
 little ones

00:47:55.300 --> 00:47:55.860
 perish.

00:47:56.519 --> 00:47:57.119
 So God is

00:47:57.119 --> 00:47:58.360
 pursuing and

00:47:58.360 --> 00:47:59.240
 caring for us

00:47:59.239 --> 00:47:59.979
 individually.

00:48:00.139 --> 00:48:00.359
 That's

00:48:00.359 --> 00:48:01.039
 incredible.

00:48:02.199 --> 00:48:02.799
 Second,

00:48:03.239 --> 00:48:03.939
 God loves

00:48:03.939 --> 00:48:04.139
 us

00:48:04.139 --> 00:48:05.000
 constantly.

00:48:05.959 --> 00:48:06.299
 He will

00:48:06.299 --> 00:48:06.599
 search

00:48:06.599 --> 00:48:07.319
 continually

00:48:07.319 --> 00:48:08.339
 until he

00:48:08.339 --> 00:48:09.619
 finds each

00:48:09.619 --> 00:48:10.379
 sheep that

00:48:10.379 --> 00:48:11.059
 has strayed.

00:48:12.299 --> 00:48:12.859
 God

00:48:12.859 --> 00:48:13.619
 wills that

00:48:13.619 --> 00:48:14.519
 everyone who

00:48:14.519 --> 00:48:15.319
 belongs to

00:48:15.319 --> 00:48:15.719
 him by

00:48:15.719 --> 00:48:16.839
 faith should

00:48:16.839 --> 00:48:17.539
 persevere

00:48:17.539 --> 00:48:18.159
 with him.

00:48:19.039 --> 00:48:20.000
 His love

00:48:20.000 --> 00:48:20.959
 is constant.

00:48:21.639 --> 00:48:22.179
 He does

00:48:22.179 --> 00:48:22.839
 not give

00:48:22.839 --> 00:48:23.199
 up.

00:48:24.319 --> 00:48:24.459
 It's

00:48:24.459 --> 00:48:24.939
 incredible.

00:48:25.739 --> 00:48:26.059
 Three,

00:48:26.219 --> 00:48:26.939
 God delights

00:48:26.940 --> 00:48:27.280
 in our

00:48:27.280 --> 00:48:27.720
 return.

00:48:28.900 --> 00:48:29.500
 It says

00:48:29.500 --> 00:48:30.139
 he's happier,

00:48:30.280 --> 00:48:31.260
 which happy

00:48:31.260 --> 00:48:31.800
 is maybe

00:48:31.800 --> 00:48:32.360
 not the

00:48:32.360 --> 00:48:32.860
 right word,

00:48:32.900 --> 00:48:33.240
 I think.

00:48:33.500 --> 00:48:33.800
 I don't

00:48:33.800 --> 00:48:34.139
 know why

00:48:34.139 --> 00:48:34.980
 they switch

00:48:34.980 --> 00:48:35.220
 it.

00:48:35.480 --> 00:48:36.179
 I have an

00:48:36.179 --> 00:48:36.780
 older NIV

00:48:36.780 --> 00:48:37.200
 here and

00:48:37.200 --> 00:48:37.599
 they switched

00:48:37.599 --> 00:48:37.920
 it from

00:48:37.920 --> 00:48:38.840
 delight to

00:48:38.840 --> 00:48:39.179
 happy.

00:48:39.539 --> 00:48:40.159
 Seems like

00:48:40.159 --> 00:48:41.159
 not the

00:48:41.159 --> 00:48:41.960
 greatest

00:48:41.960 --> 00:48:43.099
 change.

00:48:44.539 --> 00:48:45.940
 He delights.

00:48:47.039 --> 00:48:47.559
 He is a

00:48:47.559 --> 00:48:47.900
 party.

00:48:49.019 --> 00:48:50.420
 When one

00:48:50.420 --> 00:48:50.760
 of the

00:48:50.760 --> 00:48:51.320
 little ones

00:48:51.320 --> 00:48:51.659
 that he

00:48:51.659 --> 00:48:52.200
 is called

00:48:52.200 --> 00:48:52.940
 returns,

00:48:54.220 --> 00:48:55.320
 he is not

00:48:55.320 --> 00:48:55.780
 willing to

00:48:55.780 --> 00:48:56.599
 leave anyone

00:48:56.599 --> 00:48:57.819
 behind and

00:48:57.819 --> 00:48:58.400
 his response

00:48:58.400 --> 00:48:58.699
 to their

00:48:58.699 --> 00:48:59.360
 return is

00:48:59.360 --> 00:48:59.779
 joy.

00:49:02.420 --> 00:49:03.179
 Again, I

00:49:03.179 --> 00:49:04.179
 don't know,

00:49:04.319 --> 00:49:04.739
 but you

00:49:04.739 --> 00:49:05.500
 may be

00:49:05.500 --> 00:49:05.920
 here and

00:49:05.920 --> 00:49:06.339
 you feel

00:49:06.339 --> 00:49:06.920
 like God

00:49:06.920 --> 00:49:07.599
 has abandoned

00:49:07.599 --> 00:49:07.940
 you.

00:49:10.360 --> 00:49:11.139
 Know this

00:49:11.139 --> 00:49:11.539
 for sure,

00:49:11.639 --> 00:49:12.299
 he has

00:49:12.299 --> 00:49:13.239
 not abandoned

00:49:13.239 --> 00:49:13.579
 you.

00:49:15.599 --> 00:49:16.360
 For his

00:49:16.360 --> 00:49:16.900
 own he

00:49:16.900 --> 00:49:17.259
 cares.

00:49:18.099 --> 00:49:18.480
 He has

00:49:18.480 --> 00:49:19.019
 promised to

00:49:19.019 --> 00:49:19.719
 never leave

00:49:19.719 --> 00:49:20.099
 you nor

00:49:20.099 --> 00:49:20.739
 forsake you.

00:49:21.659 --> 00:49:22.339
 He has

00:49:22.339 --> 00:49:23.239
 not abandoned

00:49:23.239 --> 00:49:23.500
 you.

00:49:25.000 --> 00:49:25.559
 And he

00:49:25.559 --> 00:49:25.940
 loves you

00:49:25.940 --> 00:49:26.460
 constantly,

00:49:26.599 --> 00:49:26.900
 and he's

00:49:26.900 --> 00:49:27.839
 pursuing you

00:49:27.839 --> 00:49:28.579
 relentlessly.

00:49:29.699 --> 00:49:30.299
 We sometimes

00:49:30.299 --> 00:49:30.639
 think,

00:49:30.980 --> 00:49:32.380
 even if we

00:49:32.380 --> 00:49:32.799
 think we're

00:49:32.799 --> 00:49:33.579
 more reformed

00:49:33.579 --> 00:49:33.799
 in our

00:49:33.799 --> 00:49:34.059
 thinking,

00:49:34.179 --> 00:49:34.599
 we sometimes

00:49:34.599 --> 00:49:35.980
 think that

00:49:35.980 --> 00:49:37.759
 we have to

00:49:37.759 --> 00:49:38.179
 pursue the

00:49:38.179 --> 00:49:38.420
 Lord,

00:49:39.099 --> 00:49:39.539
 and if we

00:49:39.539 --> 00:49:39.860
 don't,

00:49:40.000 --> 00:49:40.159
 well,

00:49:40.219 --> 00:49:40.599
 we'll just

00:49:40.599 --> 00:49:41.139
 stray away.

00:49:42.339 --> 00:49:42.779
 There's a

00:49:42.779 --> 00:49:43.239
 sense in

00:49:43.239 --> 00:49:44.500
 which the

00:49:44.500 --> 00:49:45.079
 Lord is

00:49:45.079 --> 00:49:45.539
 the one

00:49:45.539 --> 00:49:46.480
 that is

00:49:46.480 --> 00:49:47.259
 pursuing

00:49:47.259 --> 00:49:47.819
 us

00:49:47.819 --> 00:49:48.679
 constantly.

00:49:50.679 --> 00:49:51.239
 But I

00:49:51.239 --> 00:49:51.559
 think the

00:49:51.559 --> 00:49:51.960
 point that

00:49:51.960 --> 00:49:52.460
 I'm drawing

00:49:52.460 --> 00:49:52.900
 out to

00:49:52.900 --> 00:49:53.539
 is that if

00:49:53.539 --> 00:49:54.219
 he cares

00:49:54.219 --> 00:49:54.920
 so much

00:49:54.920 --> 00:49:55.519
 about those

00:49:55.519 --> 00:49:55.740
 who have

00:49:55.740 --> 00:49:56.400
 gone astray,

00:49:57.159 --> 00:49:57.559
 well,

00:49:57.659 --> 00:49:58.059
 so should

00:49:58.059 --> 00:49:58.320
 we.

00:49:59.440 --> 00:49:59.900
 So should

00:49:59.900 --> 00:50:00.139
 we.

00:50:01.159 --> 00:50:01.860
 Humility is

00:50:01.860 --> 00:50:02.300
 not giving

00:50:02.300 --> 00:50:02.659
 up on

00:50:02.659 --> 00:50:03.220
 anyone who's

00:50:03.220 --> 00:50:03.700
 gone astray.

00:50:04.760 --> 00:50:05.280
 You can

00:50:05.280 --> 00:50:05.740
 maybe look

00:50:05.740 --> 00:50:06.079
 around the

00:50:06.079 --> 00:50:06.400
 room and

00:50:06.400 --> 00:50:06.780
 think there

00:50:06.780 --> 00:50:07.159
 are some

00:50:07.159 --> 00:50:07.579
 that aren't

00:50:07.579 --> 00:50:08.680
 here that

00:50:08.680 --> 00:50:09.099
 were not

00:50:09.099 --> 00:50:09.559
 just a few

00:50:09.559 --> 00:50:09.960
 years ago.

00:50:11.159 --> 00:50:11.840
 We should

00:50:11.840 --> 00:50:12.460
 be careful

00:50:12.460 --> 00:50:13.220
 not to

00:50:13.220 --> 00:50:13.880
 write anyone

00:50:13.880 --> 00:50:14.300
 off,

00:50:14.900 --> 00:50:15.639
 because God

00:50:15.639 --> 00:50:16.039
 doesn't.

00:50:17.400 --> 00:50:17.940
 And we

00:50:17.940 --> 00:50:18.559
 should care

00:50:18.559 --> 00:50:19.139
 as God

00:50:19.139 --> 00:50:19.780
 does.

00:50:19.780 --> 00:50:21.380
 I think

00:50:21.380 --> 00:50:21.560
 this

00:50:21.560 --> 00:50:21.980
 humility,

00:50:22.220 --> 00:50:23.519
 the theme

00:50:23.519 --> 00:50:23.860
 throughout

00:50:23.860 --> 00:50:24.220
 has been

00:50:24.220 --> 00:50:24.760
 humility.

00:50:25.600 --> 00:50:26.440
 Maybe not

00:50:26.440 --> 00:50:27.100
 what we

00:50:27.100 --> 00:50:27.500
 think of,

00:50:27.580 --> 00:50:28.040
 but it's

00:50:28.040 --> 00:50:28.800
 true greatness,

00:50:28.940 --> 00:50:29.420
 greatness of

00:50:29.420 --> 00:50:29.860
 the kingdom

00:50:29.860 --> 00:50:30.320
 that he's

00:50:30.320 --> 00:50:30.720
 been talking

00:50:30.720 --> 00:50:31.060
 about,

00:50:31.440 --> 00:50:31.980
 that the

00:50:31.980 --> 00:50:32.960
 gospel instills

00:50:32.960 --> 00:50:33.420
 in us,

00:50:33.800 --> 00:50:34.440
 this humility,

00:50:34.580 --> 00:50:35.019
 a childlike

00:50:35.019 --> 00:50:35.480
 dependence,

00:50:35.600 --> 00:50:35.880
 as we've

00:50:35.880 --> 00:50:36.180
 said,

00:50:36.840 --> 00:50:38.920
 despises no

00:50:38.920 --> 00:50:39.280
 one,

00:50:39.460 --> 00:50:39.980
 even the

00:50:39.980 --> 00:50:40.420
 lowly,

00:50:40.860 --> 00:50:41.220
 and this

00:50:41.220 --> 00:50:41.880
 radical

00:50:41.880 --> 00:50:43.040
 devotion to

00:50:43.040 --> 00:50:44.060
 one's own

00:50:44.060 --> 00:50:44.840
 holiness and

00:50:44.840 --> 00:50:45.320
 to others'

00:50:45.320 --> 00:50:45.800
 holiness,

00:50:46.540 --> 00:50:47.120
 and then

00:50:47.120 --> 00:50:47.680
 care and

00:50:47.680 --> 00:50:48.260
 protection of

00:50:48.260 --> 00:50:48.900
 our own as

00:50:48.900 --> 00:50:49.400
 we walk

00:50:49.400 --> 00:50:49.800
 with the

00:50:49.800 --> 00:50:50.039
 Lord.

00:50:51.119 --> 00:50:51.980
 And last,

00:50:52.039 --> 00:50:52.400
 it produces

00:50:52.400 --> 00:50:53.039
 a delight

00:50:53.039 --> 00:50:53.980
 in that

00:50:53.980 --> 00:50:54.660
 when believers

00:50:54.660 --> 00:50:55.280
 come in,

00:50:55.340 --> 00:50:55.820
 when believers

00:50:55.820 --> 00:50:56.200
 come,

00:50:56.579 --> 00:50:57.519
 when they've

00:50:57.519 --> 00:50:58.360
 gone astray

00:50:58.360 --> 00:50:58.820
 and they are

00:50:58.820 --> 00:50:59.440
 restored to

00:50:59.440 --> 00:50:59.599
 us,

00:50:59.639 --> 00:50:59.920
 we have

00:50:59.920 --> 00:51:00.500
 this joy,

00:51:00.619 --> 00:51:01.160
 this delight.

00:51:03.019 --> 00:51:03.660
 To the

00:51:03.660 --> 00:51:04.400
 degree that

00:51:04.400 --> 00:51:05.220
 you search

00:51:05.220 --> 00:51:05.780
 for something

00:51:05.780 --> 00:51:06.139
 that is

00:51:06.139 --> 00:51:06.599
 lost,

00:51:07.260 --> 00:51:08.139
 reveals the

00:51:08.139 --> 00:51:08.840
 value of

00:51:08.840 --> 00:51:09.300
 that thing.

00:51:10.480 --> 00:51:10.660
 Now,

00:51:10.700 --> 00:51:11.139
 if you lose

00:51:11.139 --> 00:51:11.420
 something,

00:51:11.519 --> 00:51:11.639
 you're like,

00:51:11.639 --> 00:51:12.000
 I don't really

00:51:12.000 --> 00:51:12.519
 care about that.

00:51:12.619 --> 00:51:12.900
 You're not

00:51:12.900 --> 00:51:13.119
 going to

00:51:13.119 --> 00:51:13.660
 search very

00:51:13.660 --> 00:51:14.119
 long for

00:51:14.119 --> 00:51:14.260
 it.

00:51:14.740 --> 00:51:15.039
 But Chris

00:51:15.039 --> 00:51:15.340
 will tell

00:51:15.340 --> 00:51:15.460
 you,

00:51:15.539 --> 00:51:16.019
 if I lose

00:51:16.019 --> 00:51:16.720
 something that

00:51:16.720 --> 00:51:17.360
 I love,

00:51:17.660 --> 00:51:18.460
 I search

00:51:18.460 --> 00:51:18.820
 for it

00:51:18.820 --> 00:51:19.519
 endlessly,

00:51:19.880 --> 00:51:20.580
 I don't

00:51:20.580 --> 00:51:20.980
 quit,

00:51:21.780 --> 00:51:23.840
 God is

00:51:23.840 --> 00:51:24.500
 not willing

00:51:24.500 --> 00:51:25.400
 that any

00:51:25.400 --> 00:51:26.100
 should

00:51:26.100 --> 00:51:26.860
 perish.

00:51:27.480 --> 00:51:27.880
 That's

00:51:27.880 --> 00:51:29.000
 amazing

00:51:29.000 --> 00:51:29.980
 promise

00:51:29.980 --> 00:51:30.940
 to end

00:51:30.940 --> 00:51:31.440
 this morning

00:51:31.440 --> 00:51:31.740
 with.

00:51:32.680 --> 00:51:33.180
 It's his

00:51:33.180 --> 00:51:33.640
 heart for

00:51:33.640 --> 00:51:33.960
 those who

00:51:33.960 --> 00:51:34.180
 have gone

00:51:34.180 --> 00:51:34.700
 astray,

00:51:34.920 --> 00:51:35.340
 and if

00:51:35.340 --> 00:51:35.640
 that's

00:51:35.640 --> 00:51:35.920
 true,

00:51:36.120 --> 00:51:36.480
 if it's

00:51:36.480 --> 00:51:36.820
 his heart

00:51:36.820 --> 00:51:37.160
 for those

00:51:37.160 --> 00:51:37.300
 who have

00:51:37.300 --> 00:51:37.420
 gone

00:51:37.420 --> 00:51:37.840
 astray,

00:51:38.360 --> 00:51:38.820
 imagine

00:51:38.820 --> 00:51:39.420
 again what

00:51:39.420 --> 00:51:39.920
 his heart

00:51:39.920 --> 00:51:40.300
 is for

00:51:40.300 --> 00:51:40.539
 you.

00:51:43.039 --> 00:51:43.900
 He loves

00:51:43.900 --> 00:51:44.100
 you.

00:51:45.220 --> 00:51:45.780
 And that's

00:51:45.780 --> 00:51:46.059
 what our

00:51:46.059 --> 00:51:46.500
 heart should

00:51:46.500 --> 00:51:47.000
 be for one

00:51:47.000 --> 00:51:47.559
 another and

00:51:47.559 --> 00:51:48.019
 for those

00:51:48.019 --> 00:51:48.320
 who go

00:51:48.320 --> 00:51:48.719
 astray.

00:51:48.840 --> 00:51:49.059
 May we

00:51:49.059 --> 00:51:49.619
 reflect the

00:51:49.619 --> 00:51:49.980
 father's

00:51:49.980 --> 00:51:50.619
 love in

00:51:50.619 --> 00:51:50.980
 this.

00:51:53.500 --> 00:51:54.039
 To be

00:51:54.039 --> 00:51:54.340
 great in

00:51:54.340 --> 00:51:54.699
 the kingdom,

00:51:55.099 --> 00:51:55.480
 to be

00:51:55.480 --> 00:51:55.880
 humble like

00:51:55.880 --> 00:51:56.360
 a child,

00:51:56.679 --> 00:51:57.219
 radically

00:51:57.219 --> 00:51:57.980
 leading others

00:51:57.980 --> 00:51:58.539
 to Christ,

00:51:59.179 --> 00:51:59.759
 and having

00:51:59.759 --> 00:52:00.259
 this heavenly

00:52:00.259 --> 00:52:00.659
 delight.

00:52:00.759 --> 00:52:01.099
 That's what

00:52:01.099 --> 00:52:02.059
 Jesus is

00:52:02.059 --> 00:52:02.659
 calling us

00:52:02.659 --> 00:52:02.980
 to this

00:52:02.980 --> 00:52:03.199
 morning.

00:52:03.320 --> 00:52:03.559
 And we

00:52:03.559 --> 00:52:03.980
 need

00:52:03.980 --> 00:52:04.880
 grace.

00:52:05.039 --> 00:52:05.159
 God

00:52:05.159 --> 00:52:05.539
 opposes

00:52:05.539 --> 00:52:06.019
 the proud,

00:52:06.940 --> 00:52:07.239
 gives

00:52:07.239 --> 00:52:08.119
 grace to

00:52:08.119 --> 00:52:08.519
 the humble.

00:52:09.179 --> 00:52:09.699
 The beauty

00:52:09.699 --> 00:52:10.759
 is when you

00:52:10.759 --> 00:52:11.400
 humble yourself

00:52:11.400 --> 00:52:12.159
 like a child,

00:52:12.779 --> 00:52:13.219
 he gives

00:52:13.219 --> 00:52:13.699
 you grace.

00:52:13.699 --> 00:52:15.119
 let's pray

00:52:15.119 --> 00:52:15.559
 for that

00:52:15.559 --> 00:52:15.899
 grace.

00:52:17.619 --> 00:52:18.419
 Lord, we

00:52:18.419 --> 00:52:19.339
 are in

00:52:19.339 --> 00:52:19.919
 desperate

00:52:19.919 --> 00:52:22.539
 need of

00:52:22.539 --> 00:52:23.099
 your grace.

00:52:26.119 --> 00:52:26.859
 Give us

00:52:26.859 --> 00:52:27.399
 grace to

00:52:27.399 --> 00:52:28.239
 walk in

00:52:28.239 --> 00:52:29.000
 this gospel

00:52:29.000 --> 00:52:30.319
 humility,

00:52:30.519 --> 00:52:30.859
 to be

00:52:30.859 --> 00:52:31.939
 truly humble

00:52:31.939 --> 00:52:32.579
 before you,

00:52:33.859 --> 00:52:34.779
 not great in

00:52:34.779 --> 00:52:35.199
 our own

00:52:35.199 --> 00:52:35.719
 eyes or in

00:52:35.719 --> 00:52:36.219
 the world's

00:52:36.219 --> 00:52:36.779
 eyes, but

00:52:36.779 --> 00:52:38.099
 to be truly

00:52:38.099 --> 00:52:39.119
 great in

00:52:39.119 --> 00:52:39.960
 your eyes.

00:52:41.439 --> 00:52:42.139
 Hear our

00:52:42.139 --> 00:52:42.699
 humble prayer.

00:52:43.699 --> 00:52:44.559
 be with

00:52:44.559 --> 00:52:45.239
 anyone here

00:52:45.239 --> 00:52:46.919
 who feels

00:52:46.919 --> 00:52:47.179
 like they

00:52:47.179 --> 00:52:47.659
 don't fit

00:52:47.659 --> 00:52:48.139
 in, or

00:52:48.139 --> 00:52:49.579
 maybe perhaps

00:52:49.579 --> 00:52:50.359
 they've been

00:52:50.359 --> 00:52:52.199
 searching, may

00:52:52.199 --> 00:52:52.939
 they come to

00:52:52.939 --> 00:52:53.659
 know you,

00:52:53.759 --> 00:52:54.299
 Jesus, first

00:52:54.299 --> 00:52:55.919
 of all, and

00:52:55.919 --> 00:52:56.579
 then may all

00:52:56.579 --> 00:52:57.079
 those who

00:52:57.079 --> 00:52:57.460
 come through

00:52:57.460 --> 00:52:58.019
 our doors

00:52:58.019 --> 00:52:59.359
 in church

00:52:59.359 --> 00:53:00.659
 here and

00:53:00.659 --> 00:53:01.039
 the church

00:53:01.039 --> 00:53:02.500
 in Michigan,

00:53:02.679 --> 00:53:03.480
 where do I

00:53:03.480 --> 00:53:04.279
 live, in

00:53:04.279 --> 00:53:06.359
 Minnesota, may

00:53:06.359 --> 00:53:07.219
 all who come

00:53:07.219 --> 00:53:08.079
 in through

00:53:08.079 --> 00:53:09.000
 our doors,

00:53:09.179 --> 00:53:09.639
 our churches,

00:53:10.500 --> 00:53:11.019
 find a

00:53:11.019 --> 00:53:11.259
 home.

00:53:12.719 --> 00:53:13.199
 We pray

00:53:13.199 --> 00:53:13.539
 this in

00:53:13.539 --> 00:53:13.799
 Jesus'

00:53:14.000 --> 00:53:14.179
 name.

00:53:15.059 --> 00:53:15.339
 Amen.

00:53:15.339 --> 00:53:15.500
 Amen.

00:53:29.839 --> 00:53:30.619
 Thank you,

00:53:30.739 --> 00:53:31.099
 Jason.

00:53:32.319 --> 00:53:33.239
 If you want

00:53:33.239 --> 00:53:33.839
 to talk

00:53:33.839 --> 00:53:34.519
 afterwards,

00:53:34.519 --> 00:53:57.759
 to

00:53:57.759 --> 00:53:58.320
 ministering

00:53:58.320 --> 00:53:58.780
 habits,

00:53:58.780 --> 00:53:58.880
 wait.

00:53:58.880 --> 00:53:59.699
 Thank you

00:53:59.699 --> 00:53:59.920
 for

00:53:59.920 --> 00:54:00.179
 doing

00:54:00.179 --> 00:54:00.739
 goal.

00:54:00.739 --> 00:54:01.519
 Bye.

00:54:01.519 --> 00:54:01.800
 Bye.