WEBVTT

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 We hope that you enjoy this teaching from Christ Church.

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 This material is copyrighted and no unauthorized duplication,

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 redistribution, or any other use of any part is permitted without prior consent from Christ Church.

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 Today's New Testament lesson is a reading from the first letter of Peter as printed in your liturgy, page 2.

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 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ to God's elect,

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 exiled scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

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 who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father

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 through the sanctifying work of the Spirit

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 to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood.

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 Grace and peace be yours in abundance.

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 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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 In his great mercy, he has given us new birth into a living hope

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 through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

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 And into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade.

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 This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,

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 who through faith are shielded by God's power

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 until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

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 In all this, you greatly rejoice,

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 though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.

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 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith,

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 of greater worth than gold which perishes even though refined by fire,

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 may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

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 Though you have not seen him, you love him.

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 And even though you do not see him now,

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 you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.

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 For you are receiving the end result of your faith,

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 the salvation of your souls.

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 This is the word of the Lord.

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 Thanks be to God.

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 Thank you, Brian.

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 Good morning, everyone.

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 My name is Andrew.

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 I'm one of the pastors here.

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 And I just want to ask you to join me in prayer

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 as we open up God's word

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 and hear what he has to say to us.

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 Lord God,

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 we so need you.

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 We so need to hear from you.

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 And I ask that you would

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 shape our hearts

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 to view your word

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 as

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 the bread of life that it is.

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 Our daily bread.

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 Would you fill us with your life-giving word

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 through the power of your Holy Spirit?

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 And would it be a word of joy?

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 A word of genuine joy

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 because of the good news of Jesus.

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 In his name we pray.

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 Amen.

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 You know, while I was reflecting on this passage this week,

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 right here, 1 Peter chapter 1,

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 we're focusing on verses 6 through 9 today.

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 I was reminded of a funeral

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 that I performed about two years ago.

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 It was for my Auntie Lisa.

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 She was only 54

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 when pancreatic cancer

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 took her from, you know,

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 my uncle,

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 my two cousins,

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 and from the rest of our family.

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 And from many people

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 who she meant a lot to.

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 And one thing you should know about Auntie Lisa

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 is that she was like a passionate Christian.

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 She was,

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 like uncomfortably so sometimes.

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 She was a passionate Christian.

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 But no one could doubt her love for Christ.

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 And no one could doubt her faith in God's promises

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 and her desire to see other people

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 know and experience God

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 the same way that she did.

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 She was a decades-long BSF leader,

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 if that means anything to anyone,

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 Bible study fellowship,

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 a student of the scriptures.

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 She and my uncle

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 gave very generously financially

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 to the church,

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 to our church even,

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 when I was raising money here

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 as a resident.

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 And not only that,

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 but in my first couple years here,

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 when we had some

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 Chinese international students come

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 and visit and worship with us

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 and explore Christianity here,

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 I brought a whole bunch of them

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 over to our Fong family Christmas dinner.

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 This is my mom's side of the family.

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 And of course,

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 Auntie Lisa loved it.

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 She really spent a lot of time

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 trying to get to know them.

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 She independently on her own

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 got their contact information,

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 met up with them afterward,

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 followed up.

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 She really just wanted to tell them more

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 and more about her faith in Jesus.

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 But anyways,

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 what got me remembering

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 my Auntie Lisa this past week

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 was this line here in verse 6

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 where Peter writes,

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 in all this you greatly rejoice,

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 though now for a little while

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 you may have had to suffer grief

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 in all kinds of trials.

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 And when I saw this

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 paradoxical juxtaposition

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 of great rejoicing

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 and at the same time

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 suffering grief,

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 it reminded me of the day

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 my Uncle Gary,

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 Auntie Lisa's husband,

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 my mom's brother,

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 he called me

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 about three days

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 after Auntie Lisa had passed

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 and he called me

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 asking me to perform her funeral.

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 He told me

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 it would have meant a lot to her

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 and then he said something

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 that really struck me.

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 He said,

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 Andrew,

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 Auntie Lisa really wanted

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 the gospel

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 to be preached

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 at her funeral.

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 And I'll always remember that

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 because for those of you

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 who don't know

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 what the word gospel means,

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 it literally means

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 good news, right?

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 And maybe for those of us

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 Christians in the room

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 who've grown up in the church,

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 been in the church

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 a long time,

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 it's like,

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 of course you preach

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 the gospel all the time,

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 of course you preach

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 the gospel at a funeral,

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 but if you really pause

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 to think about it

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 for a second,

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 if you pause to consider

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 what a funeral is about,

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 right,

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 the loss of life,

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 the loss of a spouse,

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 the loss of a mother,

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 a daughter,

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 a sister,

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 of a friend,

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 of an aunt,

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 it shouldn't be lost on us,

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 it should actually be

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 quite striking to us,

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 really,

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 how strange

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 and paradoxical it is

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 for a woman

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 on her deathbed

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 to request that good news

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 be preached

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 at her funeral,

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 right?

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 It should strike us

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 how seemingly

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 antithetical it is

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 for a widower

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 of three days

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 to request

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 that good news

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 be preached

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 at the burial

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 of his beloved wife.

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 Some might not even

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 call that a paradox,

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 right,

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 but a straight up

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 contradiction,

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 an absolute impossibility.

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 And so this is the question

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 I want to consider

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 this morning,

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 can good news

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 be preached

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 at a funeral?

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 And not just some trite,

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 sentimental,

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 wishful thinking,

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 kind of good vibes,

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 temporary good news,

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 but can actual,

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 soul-satisfying,

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 heart-lifting,

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 hope-inspiring

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 good news

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 be preached

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 at a funeral?

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 Can great rejoicing

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 and genuine joy

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 be held

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 at the same time

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 as sorrowful suffering,

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 taking that sorrowful suffering

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 as seriously

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 as it should be taken?

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 Is this paradox

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 possible

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 or is it a contradiction?

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 Now,

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 you could probably guess

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 what I'm going to say,

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 but you know,

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 at least in this country,

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 honestly,

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 less and less people

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 are able to believe

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 in the possibility

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 of this paradox,

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 less and less people

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 are able to believe

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 that we can greatly rejoice

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 and suffer grief

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 at the same time.

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 Did you know that

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 in 2023,

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 more than 50,000 Americans

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 died by suicide?

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 50,000,

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 the highest number

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 on record,

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 the highest suicide rate

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 since during

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 the Great Depression

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 and World War II

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 in the 30s and 40s,

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 is the highest rate

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 since then.

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 That's up 36%

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 in the last 20 years.

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 And if you do the math,

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 that's one American,

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 right,

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 one person made

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 in the image of God,

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 created to be fruitful

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 and to flourish,

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 one person in this country

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 committing suicide

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 every 10 minutes

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 and 50-something seconds

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 throughout the year.

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 In 2021,

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 according to the CDC,

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 42% of high schoolers

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 reported persistent feelings

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 of sadness

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 and hopelessness.

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 22% of those high schoolers

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 seriously considered suicide.

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 18% made a suicide plan

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 and 10% attempted it.

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 One out of 10.

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 Couldn't believe that.

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 And I bring up

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 these suicide statistics

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 because I think

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 they indicate

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 that we live in a nation

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 and in a cultural moment

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 in which, again,

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 less and less people

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 can believe

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 that there is news

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 good enough

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 to keep living for,

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 hope worth waiting for,

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 or something trustworthy enough

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 to place their faith in

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 that things can

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 and will be better.

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 And I know suicide

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 is complex

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 and mental health

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 is multifaceted.

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 It's a multifaceted struggle.

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 It affects the body

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 and the mind.

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 It involves many,

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 many factors,

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 but the common theme

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 that runs across

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 every suicide,

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 the one thing

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 that every suicide

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 and every suicide attempt

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 has in common

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 and the most significant

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 and decisive factor,

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 in my opinion,

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 in every suicide attempt

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 is really just a person's

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 sense of hopelessness,

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 right?

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 Or as I might put it,

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 a person's lack

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 of better news.

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 This country,

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 the United States,

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 the most powerful

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 and influential nation

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 in the world,

00:09:33.399 --> 00:09:34.139
 we're undergoing

00:09:34.139 --> 00:09:36.299
 a crisis of good news.

00:09:37.000 --> 00:09:38.519
 For an increasing number

00:09:38.519 --> 00:09:40.259
 of people in our population,

00:09:40.460 --> 00:09:41.039
 the bad news

00:09:41.039 --> 00:09:41.840
 outweighs the good.

00:09:42.500 --> 00:09:43.500
 And hopelessness

00:09:43.500 --> 00:09:44.360
 seems more real

00:09:44.360 --> 00:09:45.120
 than hope.

00:09:45.120 --> 00:09:46.460
 And suffering

00:09:46.460 --> 00:09:47.279
 and shame

00:09:47.279 --> 00:09:47.899
 and sorrow

00:09:47.899 --> 00:09:48.879
 far outweigh

00:09:48.879 --> 00:09:49.440
 the joy

00:09:49.440 --> 00:09:50.480
 and the gladness

00:09:50.480 --> 00:09:51.299
 of life.

00:09:52.399 --> 00:09:53.779
 In this individualistic,

00:09:54.100 --> 00:09:55.139
 consumeristic culture

00:09:55.139 --> 00:09:55.840
 that we inhabit

00:09:55.840 --> 00:09:56.980
 where not God

00:09:56.980 --> 00:09:58.200
 but every individual

00:09:58.200 --> 00:09:59.080
 gets to determine

00:09:59.080 --> 00:09:59.700
 for themselves

00:09:59.700 --> 00:10:00.299
 what is good

00:10:00.299 --> 00:10:00.740
 and right

00:10:00.740 --> 00:10:01.799
 and worth pursuing

00:10:01.799 --> 00:10:02.779
 and where the whole point

00:10:02.779 --> 00:10:03.360
 of life

00:10:03.360 --> 00:10:04.799
 is to accumulate

00:10:04.799 --> 00:10:06.659
 experiences of pleasure

00:10:06.659 --> 00:10:07.360
 and to avoid

00:10:07.360 --> 00:10:08.600
 experiences of pain

00:10:08.600 --> 00:10:09.419
 and where we all

00:10:09.419 --> 00:10:10.360
 sweat and toil

00:10:10.360 --> 00:10:10.840
 and labor

00:10:10.840 --> 00:10:12.379
 and place our faiths

00:10:12.379 --> 00:10:13.120
 in ourselves

00:10:13.120 --> 00:10:13.899
 or in the God

00:10:13.899 --> 00:10:14.539
 of chance

00:10:14.539 --> 00:10:15.839
 that we might just

00:10:15.839 --> 00:10:16.500
 come to the end

00:10:16.500 --> 00:10:16.959
 of our lives

00:10:16.959 --> 00:10:18.099
 with more pleasure points

00:10:18.099 --> 00:10:19.219
 than pain points

00:10:19.219 --> 00:10:20.000
 in this kind

00:10:20.000 --> 00:10:20.719
 of a culture

00:10:20.719 --> 00:10:21.740
 and in this kind

00:10:21.740 --> 00:10:22.319
 of a world.

00:10:23.599 --> 00:10:24.299
 Suffering and grief

00:10:24.299 --> 00:10:25.659
 cannot have any meaning

00:10:25.659 --> 00:10:26.740
 or purpose

00:10:26.740 --> 00:10:27.599
 in that kind

00:10:27.599 --> 00:10:28.120
 of a framework.

00:10:29.000 --> 00:10:29.759
 Suffering is just

00:10:29.759 --> 00:10:30.759
 the yin to the yang

00:10:30.759 --> 00:10:32.039
 of joy, right?

00:10:32.079 --> 00:10:32.719
 The dark side

00:10:32.719 --> 00:10:33.319
 of the force

00:10:33.319 --> 00:10:34.639
 equal and opposite

00:10:34.639 --> 00:10:35.379
 to the light side.

00:10:35.500 --> 00:10:36.799
 That ominous villain

00:10:36.799 --> 00:10:37.399
 that threatens

00:10:37.399 --> 00:10:38.240
 to steal our joy

00:10:38.240 --> 00:10:39.120
 at any moment

00:10:39.120 --> 00:10:40.259
 no matter how hard

00:10:40.259 --> 00:10:41.899
 we fight against it.

00:10:43.120 --> 00:10:43.399
 So see,

00:10:43.519 --> 00:10:44.240
 according to this

00:10:44.240 --> 00:10:45.039
 prevailing spirit

00:10:45.039 --> 00:10:45.700
 of the modern

00:10:45.700 --> 00:10:47.120
 secular West,

00:10:47.200 --> 00:10:48.180
 we cannot rejoice

00:10:48.180 --> 00:10:49.539
 in suffering.

00:10:50.560 --> 00:10:51.240
 This is what

00:10:51.240 --> 00:10:52.039
 the dark spirit

00:10:52.039 --> 00:10:53.159
 of American culture

00:10:53.159 --> 00:10:54.200
 has to say,

00:10:54.840 --> 00:10:55.539
 whispering its

00:10:55.539 --> 00:10:56.299
 demonic voice

00:10:56.299 --> 00:10:57.120
 into our ears

00:10:57.120 --> 00:10:57.519
 and it's what

00:10:57.519 --> 00:10:57.940
 our neighbors

00:10:57.940 --> 00:10:59.799
 and our family members

00:10:59.799 --> 00:11:01.039
 and our colleagues

00:11:01.039 --> 00:11:01.600
 and our friends

00:11:01.600 --> 00:11:02.779
 are increasingly believing

00:11:02.779 --> 00:11:04.080
 that joy and grief

00:11:04.080 --> 00:11:05.620
 are impossible.

00:11:06.620 --> 00:11:07.879
 Impossible to experience

00:11:07.879 --> 00:11:08.659
 at the same time,

00:11:08.720 --> 00:11:09.799
 that there is no such thing

00:11:09.799 --> 00:11:11.399
 as simultaneous joy

00:11:11.399 --> 00:11:12.220
 in grief.

00:11:12.440 --> 00:11:13.080
 The paradox

00:11:13.080 --> 00:11:14.060
 is impossible.

00:11:15.639 --> 00:11:16.520
 But what does God

00:11:16.520 --> 00:11:17.080
 have to say?

00:11:18.000 --> 00:11:19.220
 What alternative truth,

00:11:19.320 --> 00:11:20.920
 what alternative reality

00:11:20.920 --> 00:11:21.700
 might He want us

00:11:21.700 --> 00:11:23.000
 to hear and believe

00:11:23.000 --> 00:11:24.400
 and live into

00:11:24.400 --> 00:11:25.540
 as followers of Jesus?

00:11:25.680 --> 00:11:26.840
 What might He be shouting

00:11:26.840 --> 00:11:27.420
 from the heavens

00:11:27.420 --> 00:11:28.420
 trying to get our attention

00:11:28.420 --> 00:11:28.820
 with,

00:11:29.280 --> 00:11:30.220
 to have our eyes open

00:11:30.220 --> 00:11:30.960
 to the possibility

00:11:30.960 --> 00:11:31.759
 of this paradox

00:11:31.759 --> 00:11:32.700
 of genuine joy

00:11:32.700 --> 00:11:33.980
 in the midst of sorrow

00:11:33.980 --> 00:11:35.080
 and suffering?

00:11:36.360 --> 00:11:36.600
 You know,

00:11:36.639 --> 00:11:37.340
 you could say

00:11:37.340 --> 00:11:37.980
 that the whole letter

00:11:37.980 --> 00:11:38.720
 of 1 Peter

00:11:38.720 --> 00:11:40.280
 exists to insist

00:11:40.279 --> 00:11:41.759
 upon this paradox

00:11:41.759 --> 00:11:42.839
 of genuine joy

00:11:42.839 --> 00:11:43.480
 in the midst

00:11:43.480 --> 00:11:43.939
 of sorrow

00:11:43.939 --> 00:11:44.819
 and suffering.

00:11:45.220 --> 00:11:45.939
 That's why we're calling

00:11:45.939 --> 00:11:46.879
 this sermon series

00:11:46.879 --> 00:11:48.500
 Elect Exiles.

00:11:48.980 --> 00:11:49.100
 Right?

00:11:49.220 --> 00:11:50.059
 Elect Exiles.

00:11:50.139 --> 00:11:50.819
 It comes right out

00:11:50.819 --> 00:11:52.079
 of Peter's introductory remarks

00:11:52.079 --> 00:11:52.959
 here in verse 1.

00:11:53.299 --> 00:11:53.500
 Peter,

00:11:53.659 --> 00:11:54.899
 an apostle of Christ Jesus,

00:11:55.339 --> 00:11:56.439
 to God's elect

00:11:56.439 --> 00:11:58.559
 exiles scattered.

00:11:59.259 --> 00:12:00.459
 This is how He identifies

00:12:00.459 --> 00:12:02.079
 these suffering Christians

00:12:02.079 --> 00:12:03.120
 scattered across

00:12:03.120 --> 00:12:03.620
 what we know

00:12:03.620 --> 00:12:04.459
 as modern-day Turkey.

00:12:04.559 --> 00:12:05.419
 He identifies them

00:12:05.419 --> 00:12:07.199
 as living paradoxes,

00:12:07.199 --> 00:12:08.679
 as those who are elect,

00:12:08.679 --> 00:12:09.479
 that is chosen

00:12:09.479 --> 00:12:11.120
 and loved by God,

00:12:11.479 --> 00:12:12.559
 treasured and precious

00:12:12.559 --> 00:12:13.559
 in His sight,

00:12:13.679 --> 00:12:14.819
 and yet at the same time,

00:12:15.859 --> 00:12:16.299
 exiles.

00:12:17.199 --> 00:12:18.339
 Religious minorities,

00:12:19.059 --> 00:12:20.339
 afflicted and oppressed,

00:12:20.519 --> 00:12:21.500
 suffering persecution,

00:12:22.059 --> 00:12:23.500
 socially and economically

00:12:23.500 --> 00:12:25.099
 disadvantaged misfits,

00:12:25.519 --> 00:12:25.859
 foreigners,

00:12:26.439 --> 00:12:27.019
 pilgrims

00:12:27.019 --> 00:12:28.000
 in their own home.

00:12:29.039 --> 00:12:29.859
 So throughout this letter,

00:12:29.939 --> 00:12:30.679
 we're supposed to feel

00:12:30.679 --> 00:12:31.019
 this,

00:12:31.039 --> 00:12:32.419
 this both-and feature,

00:12:32.599 --> 00:12:33.479
 this tension

00:12:33.479 --> 00:12:34.939
 of the Christian identity.

00:12:35.120 --> 00:12:36.319
 We're supposed to feel

00:12:36.319 --> 00:12:36.779
 the tension

00:12:36.779 --> 00:12:37.500
 and the complexity

00:12:37.500 --> 00:12:38.820
 and the nuance

00:12:38.820 --> 00:12:39.559
 of being loved

00:12:39.559 --> 00:12:40.340
 and held secure

00:12:40.340 --> 00:12:41.379
 in God's perfect plan

00:12:41.379 --> 00:12:42.200
 and purposes,

00:12:43.019 --> 00:12:44.759
 while also keeping it real

00:12:44.759 --> 00:12:46.179
 about the grief

00:12:46.179 --> 00:12:47.279
 and the suffering

00:12:47.279 --> 00:12:47.820
 and the trials

00:12:47.820 --> 00:12:49.320
 that even God's beloved children

00:12:49.320 --> 00:12:50.620
 face and experience,

00:12:50.720 --> 00:12:51.600
 sometimes precisely

00:12:51.600 --> 00:12:53.000
 because they are His children.

00:12:54.299 --> 00:12:55.779
 Peter invites his readers,

00:12:55.899 --> 00:12:56.960
 even challenges us

00:12:56.960 --> 00:12:58.639
 to embrace this paradox

00:12:58.639 --> 00:12:59.639
 and to live into

00:12:59.639 --> 00:13:01.379
 our paradoxical identities

00:13:01.379 --> 00:13:03.639
 as elect exiles.

00:13:04.500 --> 00:13:05.340
 Elect exiles

00:13:05.340 --> 00:13:07.320
 who are able to paradoxically

00:13:07.320 --> 00:13:08.980
 celebrate good news

00:13:08.980 --> 00:13:09.660
 at a funeral.

00:13:10.780 --> 00:13:11.580
 Elect exiles

00:13:11.580 --> 00:13:12.759
 who are paradoxically

00:13:12.759 --> 00:13:13.780
 able to rejoice

00:13:13.780 --> 00:13:14.820
 and grieve

00:13:14.820 --> 00:13:15.980
 at the same time

00:13:15.980 --> 00:13:17.259
 and without contradiction.

00:13:18.840 --> 00:13:19.259
 But now,

00:13:19.340 --> 00:13:20.300
 where might this ability

00:13:20.300 --> 00:13:21.300
 come from?

00:13:22.160 --> 00:13:23.840
 How do you rejoice

00:13:23.840 --> 00:13:25.860
 even while you suffer grief?

00:13:27.220 --> 00:13:28.060
 So in verse 6,

00:13:28.120 --> 00:13:28.820
 picking up from where

00:13:28.820 --> 00:13:30.200
 Jonathan left off last week,

00:13:30.280 --> 00:13:30.800
 Peter writes,

00:13:31.240 --> 00:13:32.120
 in all this,

00:13:32.540 --> 00:13:33.519
 you greatly rejoice.

00:13:33.519 --> 00:13:34.620
 And when he writes,

00:13:34.779 --> 00:13:35.299
 in all this,

00:13:35.379 --> 00:13:36.840
 the all this he's referring to,

00:13:37.059 --> 00:13:38.360
 which gives cause to rejoice,

00:13:38.460 --> 00:13:39.399
 it's all the wonderful things

00:13:39.399 --> 00:13:40.319
 that Jonathan preached about

00:13:40.319 --> 00:13:42.340
 last week in verses 3 to 5.

00:13:42.439 --> 00:13:43.279
 Praise be to the God

00:13:43.279 --> 00:13:44.740
 and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

00:13:44.779 --> 00:13:45.639
 He's given us so many things.

00:13:45.699 --> 00:13:46.720
 He's given us mercy.

00:13:46.840 --> 00:13:47.679
 He's given us new birth,

00:13:47.799 --> 00:13:48.759
 new creation identities.

00:13:49.000 --> 00:13:50.319
 He's given us a living hope

00:13:50.319 --> 00:13:51.259
 rather than a dead hope.

00:13:51.319 --> 00:13:52.539
 He's raised Christ from the dead

00:13:52.539 --> 00:13:53.600
 and along with all that,

00:13:53.659 --> 00:13:54.179
 he's given us

00:13:54.179 --> 00:13:55.960
 an imperishable inheritance

00:13:55.960 --> 00:13:57.600
 that we cannot lose.

00:13:57.679 --> 00:13:58.460
 It's kept in heaven

00:13:58.460 --> 00:14:00.480
 and salvation is on its way,

00:14:00.679 --> 00:14:01.620
 as it says in verse 5,

00:14:01.620 --> 00:14:03.560
 to be revealed in the last time.

00:14:04.220 --> 00:14:04.820
 Peter is saying,

00:14:05.240 --> 00:14:06.240
 in all that,

00:14:06.799 --> 00:14:08.240
 you greatly rejoice.

00:14:08.399 --> 00:14:09.600
 But now notice something with me.

00:14:10.740 --> 00:14:12.340
 Notice how in verses 4 and 5,

00:14:12.519 --> 00:14:13.279
 sure there's this

00:14:13.279 --> 00:14:15.039
 imperishable inheritance

00:14:15.039 --> 00:14:16.620
 waiting for us in heaven

00:14:16.620 --> 00:14:18.060
 and this salvation

00:14:18.060 --> 00:14:19.360
 to be revealed

00:14:19.360 --> 00:14:20.860
 at the end of time

00:14:20.860 --> 00:14:21.419
 that's coming.

00:14:22.019 --> 00:14:23.100
 There are all these things

00:14:23.100 --> 00:14:23.740
 in the future

00:14:23.740 --> 00:14:24.639
 for God's children

00:14:24.639 --> 00:14:26.000
 to look forward to, right?

00:14:26.080 --> 00:14:27.519
 This living hope.

00:14:27.639 --> 00:14:28.899
 It's a future focus.

00:14:29.019 --> 00:14:30.000
 But then here in verse 6,

00:14:30.080 --> 00:14:30.680
 Peter doesn't write,

00:14:30.679 --> 00:14:31.179
 in all this,

00:14:31.279 --> 00:14:33.899
 you will greatly rejoice later

00:14:33.899 --> 00:14:35.539
 or eventually.

00:14:36.519 --> 00:14:38.120
 He writes in the present tense,

00:14:38.219 --> 00:14:38.839
 in all this,

00:14:38.939 --> 00:14:40.059
 you greatly rejoice.

00:14:40.779 --> 00:14:41.579
 Like right now.

00:14:43.179 --> 00:14:44.579
 Even though now,

00:14:44.699 --> 00:14:45.719
 for a little while,

00:14:45.839 --> 00:14:47.359
 you may have had to suffer grief

00:14:47.359 --> 00:14:48.879
 in all kinds of trials.

00:14:48.979 --> 00:14:49.979
 So the question is,

00:14:50.779 --> 00:14:52.519
 how can we rejoice now?

00:14:53.259 --> 00:14:54.159
 In the present?

00:14:54.919 --> 00:14:56.179
 When we're still waiting

00:14:56.179 --> 00:14:57.219
 for our inheritance

00:14:57.220 --> 00:14:59.120
 and our final salvation

00:14:59.120 --> 00:14:59.740
 to come?

00:14:59.800 --> 00:15:02.040
 What kind of authentic rejoicing

00:15:02.040 --> 00:15:03.700
 can we enter into now

00:15:03.700 --> 00:15:05.600
 in the midst of grief

00:15:05.600 --> 00:15:06.259
 and trials

00:15:06.259 --> 00:15:07.240
 when all the good stuff

00:15:07.240 --> 00:15:08.940
 is said to be in the future?

00:15:09.960 --> 00:15:11.000
 And this is a critique

00:15:11.000 --> 00:15:12.420
 that many people have

00:15:12.420 --> 00:15:13.360
 of Christianity, right?

00:15:13.899 --> 00:15:14.480
 That it's just like

00:15:14.480 --> 00:15:15.860
 a pie-in-the-sky religion

00:15:15.860 --> 00:15:17.399
 and just so spiritual

00:15:17.399 --> 00:15:18.879
 and otherworldly

00:15:18.879 --> 00:15:19.720
 and future-focused

00:15:19.720 --> 00:15:20.700
 that it does no good

00:15:20.700 --> 00:15:21.259
 for anybody

00:15:21.259 --> 00:15:22.220
 in the real world

00:15:22.220 --> 00:15:23.899
 and in the here and now.

00:15:23.899 --> 00:15:25.459
 So what does Peter have to say

00:15:25.459 --> 00:15:27.199
 in response to such a critique?

00:15:28.279 --> 00:15:29.799
 How can he be so confident

00:15:29.799 --> 00:15:30.459
 that his readers

00:15:30.459 --> 00:15:31.500
 have reason to rejoice

00:15:31.500 --> 00:15:33.679
 in suffering now?

00:15:34.000 --> 00:15:35.019
 That we have reason

00:15:35.019 --> 00:15:35.559
 to rejoice

00:15:35.559 --> 00:15:37.459
 in our suffering now?

00:15:38.480 --> 00:15:39.379
 Well, the first thing

00:15:39.379 --> 00:15:40.259
 he says in verse 7

00:15:40.259 --> 00:15:41.019
 is that contrary

00:15:41.019 --> 00:15:42.740
 to the consumeristic,

00:15:43.120 --> 00:15:43.759
 pleasure-seeking,

00:15:43.959 --> 00:15:45.600
 pain-avoiding spirit

00:15:45.600 --> 00:15:46.419
 of our age,

00:15:46.840 --> 00:15:47.840
 which would have us believe

00:15:47.840 --> 00:15:48.379
 that suffering

00:15:48.379 --> 00:15:49.799
 is just an unfortunate,

00:15:50.360 --> 00:15:52.000
 purposeless interruption

00:15:52.000 --> 00:15:52.679
 in our lives,

00:15:52.720 --> 00:15:53.740
 like a wasted chapter

00:15:53.740 --> 00:15:54.360
 in our stories.

00:15:54.460 --> 00:15:55.480
 Peter says no.

00:15:56.419 --> 00:15:57.759
 Peter says that no suffering

00:15:57.759 --> 00:15:59.080
 is ever meaningless,

00:16:00.000 --> 00:16:00.639
 purposeless,

00:16:01.179 --> 00:16:02.360
 or ultimately ending

00:16:02.360 --> 00:16:03.639
 in doom and destruction

00:16:03.639 --> 00:16:05.159
 for those who place

00:16:05.159 --> 00:16:07.039
 their faith in Christ.

00:16:08.080 --> 00:16:09.059
 He says in verse 7

00:16:09.059 --> 00:16:09.980
 that we can rejoice

00:16:09.980 --> 00:16:11.299
 through suffering and grief

00:16:11.299 --> 00:16:12.320
 because such suffering

00:16:12.320 --> 00:16:12.720
 and grief,

00:16:12.799 --> 00:16:14.080
 though of course awful

00:16:14.080 --> 00:16:15.919
 and agonizing,

00:16:17.059 --> 00:16:18.440
 such grief can still be used

00:16:18.440 --> 00:16:20.840
 by God to refine our faith

00:16:20.840 --> 00:16:21.539
 is what he says.

00:16:21.539 --> 00:16:22.500
 As it says in verse 4,

00:16:22.579 --> 00:16:23.919
 like gold refined

00:16:23.919 --> 00:16:24.379
 in a fire,

00:16:24.459 --> 00:16:24.980
 only better.

00:16:25.579 --> 00:16:26.759
 A refining process

00:16:26.759 --> 00:16:28.199
 even more valuable

00:16:28.199 --> 00:16:29.759
 because a refined faith

00:16:29.759 --> 00:16:30.639
 is far more valuable

00:16:30.639 --> 00:16:32.559
 than a chunk of gold, right?

00:16:33.480 --> 00:16:34.879
 And I've seen this in my life.

00:16:35.399 --> 00:16:36.379
 I've seen this in many

00:16:36.379 --> 00:16:37.639
 of your lives.

00:16:38.659 --> 00:16:39.579
 The hard things

00:16:39.579 --> 00:16:40.219
 that you've been through,

00:16:40.279 --> 00:16:40.919
 I've seen it.

00:16:41.919 --> 00:16:42.559
 For those of you

00:16:42.559 --> 00:16:44.139
 who've suffered tragic losses,

00:16:44.339 --> 00:16:45.199
 even while recognizing

00:16:45.199 --> 00:16:45.860
 how terrible

00:16:45.860 --> 00:16:47.379
 those losses have been,

00:16:47.500 --> 00:16:48.399
 has not God

00:16:48.399 --> 00:16:49.860
 refined your faith

00:16:49.860 --> 00:16:50.800
 in him

00:16:50.800 --> 00:16:52.340
 and his promises?

00:16:53.259 --> 00:16:54.500
 Has he not drawn you

00:16:54.500 --> 00:16:55.279
 closer?

00:16:56.940 --> 00:16:57.740
 And I'm not saying

00:16:57.740 --> 00:16:59.340
 that it justifies

00:16:59.340 --> 00:16:59.899
 your suffering

00:16:59.899 --> 00:17:00.800
 or makes your suffering

00:17:00.800 --> 00:17:02.100
 okay or not so bad,

00:17:02.200 --> 00:17:02.899
 but has God

00:17:02.899 --> 00:17:04.000
 not used it

00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:05.839
 to refine your faith

00:17:05.839 --> 00:17:06.940
 and to draw you

00:17:06.940 --> 00:17:07.660
 closer to him?

00:17:07.740 --> 00:17:08.720
 In all those moments

00:17:08.720 --> 00:17:09.319
 of loss

00:17:09.319 --> 00:17:10.579
 and instability

00:17:10.579 --> 00:17:11.640
 and insecurity,

00:17:12.319 --> 00:17:13.519
 when we lose our jobs,

00:17:14.160 --> 00:17:14.860
 when we face disappointments

00:17:15.440 --> 00:17:16.279
 in our relationships,

00:17:16.519 --> 00:17:17.120
 when our health

00:17:17.119 --> 00:17:18.099
 fails us,

00:17:18.179 --> 00:17:19.079
 when our kids

00:17:19.079 --> 00:17:19.719
 don't turn out

00:17:19.719 --> 00:17:20.859
 the way that we dreamed,

00:17:21.059 --> 00:17:22.599
 our faith is refined.

00:17:23.219 --> 00:17:23.859
 It's refined

00:17:23.859 --> 00:17:24.939
 and it's proven genuine.

00:17:26.000 --> 00:17:26.719
 While all these things

00:17:26.719 --> 00:17:27.279
 we hold onto

00:17:27.279 --> 00:17:28.199
 and place our faith in

00:17:28.199 --> 00:17:29.879
 are ripped out of our hands

00:17:29.879 --> 00:17:31.339
 by the suffering

00:17:31.339 --> 00:17:32.059
 that God puts

00:17:32.059 --> 00:17:32.839
 into our lives.

00:17:33.500 --> 00:17:34.439
 It's through suffering

00:17:34.439 --> 00:17:35.639
 that God applies

00:17:35.639 --> 00:17:36.619
 his burning fire

00:17:36.619 --> 00:17:38.539
 to our compound,

00:17:38.799 --> 00:17:40.279
 amalgamated faiths,

00:17:40.279 --> 00:17:42.059
 full of so many impurities.

00:17:42.059 --> 00:17:43.319
 He purges them

00:17:43.319 --> 00:17:44.379
 from us

00:17:44.380 --> 00:17:46.400
 so that we stop trusting in

00:17:46.400 --> 00:17:47.360
 and depending on

00:17:47.360 --> 00:17:48.720
 all the thousand other things

00:17:48.720 --> 00:17:50.200
 that cannot actually

00:17:50.200 --> 00:17:50.960
 hold us up

00:17:50.960 --> 00:17:52.540
 and sustain us

00:17:52.540 --> 00:17:53.520
 through our seasons

00:17:53.520 --> 00:17:54.120
 of suffering.

00:17:55.100 --> 00:17:56.380
 That's the value

00:17:56.380 --> 00:17:57.960
 of a refined faith.

00:17:59.040 --> 00:17:59.860
 Like, Peter's not just

00:17:59.860 --> 00:18:01.180
 commending a refined faith

00:18:01.180 --> 00:18:02.620
 to us

00:18:02.620 --> 00:18:03.500
 so that we can just

00:18:03.500 --> 00:18:04.300
 have something nice

00:18:04.300 --> 00:18:05.280
 and shiny

00:18:05.280 --> 00:18:05.980
 to look at

00:18:05.980 --> 00:18:06.840
 and brag about.

00:18:07.500 --> 00:18:08.380
 No, a pure

00:18:08.380 --> 00:18:09.720
 and refined faith

00:18:09.720 --> 00:18:10.140
 is a faith

00:18:10.140 --> 00:18:11.020
 that holds more tightly

00:18:11.020 --> 00:18:11.620
 to Jesus

00:18:11.619 --> 00:18:13.099
 and therefore

00:18:13.099 --> 00:18:13.639
 lets go

00:18:13.639 --> 00:18:14.259
 of all the other

00:18:14.259 --> 00:18:15.039
 false gods

00:18:15.039 --> 00:18:16.479
 and false messiahs

00:18:16.479 --> 00:18:17.259
 and shaky hopes

00:18:17.259 --> 00:18:17.799
 that we're all

00:18:17.799 --> 00:18:18.639
 so drawn to

00:18:18.639 --> 00:18:20.219
 but that will only

00:18:20.219 --> 00:18:21.059
 ever inevitably

00:18:21.059 --> 00:18:22.679
 lead us

00:18:22.679 --> 00:18:23.459
 to destruction

00:18:23.459 --> 00:18:24.699
 and let us down.

00:18:25.919 --> 00:18:26.639
 Tim Keller likes

00:18:26.639 --> 00:18:27.639
 to use this illustration

00:18:27.639 --> 00:18:28.159
 a lot

00:18:28.159 --> 00:18:29.199
 of the lumberjack

00:18:29.199 --> 00:18:30.099
 and the bird

00:18:30.099 --> 00:18:30.739
 in the forest.

00:18:31.559 --> 00:18:32.579
 There's this lumberjack

00:18:32.579 --> 00:18:33.419
 who knows

00:18:33.419 --> 00:18:34.059
 that every tree

00:18:34.059 --> 00:18:34.779
 is about to be

00:18:34.779 --> 00:18:35.519
 cut down

00:18:35.519 --> 00:18:36.939
 but he notices

00:18:36.939 --> 00:18:38.159
 a bird building a nest

00:18:38.159 --> 00:18:39.359
 in one of those trees

00:18:39.359 --> 00:18:40.199
 and he doesn't want

00:18:40.200 --> 00:18:41.019
 her labors

00:18:41.019 --> 00:18:41.819
 to go to waste

00:18:41.819 --> 00:18:43.819
 or for her eggs

00:18:43.819 --> 00:18:44.980
 to get destroyed

00:18:44.980 --> 00:18:46.960
 so out of compassion

00:18:46.960 --> 00:18:48.480
 he shakes the tree

00:18:48.480 --> 00:18:49.480
 he rattles it

00:18:49.480 --> 00:18:50.660
 and the bird

00:18:50.660 --> 00:18:52.059
 is terribly disturbed

00:18:52.059 --> 00:18:52.680
 and annoyed

00:18:52.680 --> 00:18:53.880
 and frustrated

00:18:53.880 --> 00:18:54.980
 and she moves

00:18:54.980 --> 00:18:55.620
 to another tree

00:18:55.620 --> 00:18:57.440
 only for the lumberjack

00:18:57.440 --> 00:18:58.220
 to go and shake

00:18:58.220 --> 00:18:59.100
 and rattle that tree

00:18:59.100 --> 00:18:59.799
 as well

00:18:59.799 --> 00:19:00.819
 until she moves again

00:19:00.819 --> 00:19:02.059
 and this goes on

00:19:02.059 --> 00:19:02.960
 and on and on

00:19:02.960 --> 00:19:03.620
 and by the fourth

00:19:03.620 --> 00:19:04.039
 or fifth

00:19:04.039 --> 00:19:05.039
 or tenth tree

00:19:05.039 --> 00:19:05.960
 the bird is looking down

00:19:05.960 --> 00:19:07.000
 and sees the lumberjack

00:19:07.000 --> 00:19:08.259
 as an enemy

00:19:08.259 --> 00:19:08.759
 right?

00:19:08.759 --> 00:19:11.319
 an unnecessary nuisance

00:19:11.319 --> 00:19:12.539
 and the bird

00:19:12.539 --> 00:19:13.279
 cannot understand

00:19:13.279 --> 00:19:14.099
 why the lumberjack

00:19:14.099 --> 00:19:15.500
 won't just leave her alone

00:19:15.500 --> 00:19:17.160
 to rest in all these trees

00:19:17.160 --> 00:19:17.980
 that seem perfectly

00:19:17.980 --> 00:19:19.660
 like perfectly good places

00:19:19.660 --> 00:19:20.900
 for a nest

00:19:20.900 --> 00:19:22.220
 and to lay eggs

00:19:22.220 --> 00:19:24.819
 but the compassionate lumberjack

00:19:24.819 --> 00:19:25.660
 will not let her

00:19:25.660 --> 00:19:26.480
 place her faith

00:19:26.480 --> 00:19:27.579
 in any of these trees

00:19:27.579 --> 00:19:29.279
 that are about to come down

00:19:29.279 --> 00:19:30.779
 and he shakes

00:19:30.779 --> 00:19:31.420
 and disturbs

00:19:31.420 --> 00:19:33.099
 every single one

00:19:33.099 --> 00:19:33.799
 until finally

00:19:33.799 --> 00:19:34.400
 the mother bird

00:19:34.400 --> 00:19:34.900
 flies away

00:19:34.900 --> 00:19:35.879
 from all the trees

00:19:35.880 --> 00:19:37.420
 and begins to build

00:19:37.420 --> 00:19:37.900
 her nest

00:19:37.900 --> 00:19:38.880
 on a high

00:19:38.880 --> 00:19:40.540
 strong rock

00:19:40.540 --> 00:19:42.440
 which she actually

00:19:42.440 --> 00:19:43.380
 finds to be far

00:19:43.380 --> 00:19:44.060
 superior

00:19:44.060 --> 00:19:45.380
 a far superior option

00:19:45.380 --> 00:19:46.340
 that she wished

00:19:46.340 --> 00:19:47.120
 she started with

00:19:47.120 --> 00:19:48.700
 in the first place

00:19:48.700 --> 00:19:50.720
 and then all the other

00:19:50.720 --> 00:19:51.280
 mama birds

00:19:51.280 --> 00:19:52.400
 begin to do the same

00:19:52.400 --> 00:19:52.940
 because they see

00:19:52.940 --> 00:19:54.040
 how secure she is

00:19:54.040 --> 00:19:54.840
 on that rock

00:19:54.840 --> 00:19:55.880
 and how she

00:19:55.880 --> 00:19:56.860
 and her baby birds

00:19:56.860 --> 00:19:57.820
 are thriving

00:19:57.820 --> 00:20:00.040
 this is how God

00:20:00.040 --> 00:20:00.660
 uses suffering

00:20:00.660 --> 00:20:01.940
 in our lives

00:20:01.940 --> 00:20:03.080
 to refine

00:20:03.080 --> 00:20:03.860
 our faiths

00:20:03.859 --> 00:20:04.379
 to purge

00:20:04.379 --> 00:20:05.500
 the untrustworthy

00:20:05.500 --> 00:20:05.939
 things

00:20:05.939 --> 00:20:06.899
 that we place

00:20:06.899 --> 00:20:07.859
 our trust in

00:20:07.859 --> 00:20:09.799
 and when we have

00:20:09.799 --> 00:20:10.659
 eyes to see

00:20:10.659 --> 00:20:11.599
 that that is what

00:20:11.599 --> 00:20:12.139
 he's doing

00:20:12.139 --> 00:20:13.459
 with our suffering

00:20:13.459 --> 00:20:15.259
 that is how we can

00:20:15.259 --> 00:20:15.799
 rejoice

00:20:15.799 --> 00:20:17.219
 in our suffering

00:20:17.219 --> 00:20:18.559
 even now

00:20:18.559 --> 00:20:19.399
 even in the present

00:20:19.399 --> 00:20:20.419
 because we know

00:20:20.419 --> 00:20:21.219
 he's drawing us

00:20:21.219 --> 00:20:22.399
 nearer to him

00:20:22.399 --> 00:20:24.219
 it doesn't make

00:20:24.219 --> 00:20:24.659
 the suffering

00:20:24.659 --> 00:20:25.699
 easy or okay

00:20:25.699 --> 00:20:26.439
 or even justified

00:20:26.439 --> 00:20:27.519
 but we can rest assured

00:20:27.519 --> 00:20:28.539
 that the result

00:20:28.539 --> 00:20:29.559
 of this refining

00:20:29.559 --> 00:20:30.159
 of our faith

00:20:30.159 --> 00:20:31.019
 as it says in verse 7

00:20:31.019 --> 00:20:32.139
 is ultimately going to result

00:20:32.139 --> 00:20:33.119
 in something amazing

00:20:33.119 --> 00:20:35.339
 praise and glory

00:20:35.339 --> 00:20:36.239
 and honor

00:20:36.239 --> 00:20:37.000
 the praise and glory

00:20:37.000 --> 00:20:38.199
 and honor of Jesus Christ

00:20:38.199 --> 00:20:39.439
 and ours as well

00:20:39.439 --> 00:20:41.539
 when the spirits

00:20:41.539 --> 00:20:42.219
 of this age

00:20:42.219 --> 00:20:43.579
 tell us to build our nests

00:20:43.579 --> 00:20:44.639
 in this tree

00:20:44.639 --> 00:20:45.379
 or that tree

00:20:45.379 --> 00:20:46.859
 but God shakes us

00:20:46.859 --> 00:20:47.759
 again and again

00:20:47.759 --> 00:20:48.739
 until we build

00:20:48.739 --> 00:20:49.699
 on the solid rock

00:20:49.699 --> 00:20:50.519
 of Christ

00:20:50.519 --> 00:20:51.139
 even when it's

00:20:51.139 --> 00:20:51.839
 less conventional

00:20:51.839 --> 00:20:53.179
 and less comfortable

00:20:53.179 --> 00:20:54.299
 and harder

00:20:54.299 --> 00:20:55.199
 and more costly

00:20:55.199 --> 00:20:55.819
 the result

00:20:55.819 --> 00:20:56.519
 is that Jesus

00:20:56.519 --> 00:20:58.039
 receives praise

00:20:58.039 --> 00:20:58.879
 and glory

00:20:58.879 --> 00:20:59.699
 and honor

00:20:59.699 --> 00:21:00.699
 our refined faith

00:21:00.699 --> 00:21:01.500
 brings glory

00:21:01.500 --> 00:21:02.419
 to Christ

00:21:02.420 --> 00:21:03.460
 the supreme object

00:21:03.460 --> 00:21:04.519
 of our faith

00:21:04.519 --> 00:21:05.860
 a refined faith

00:21:05.860 --> 00:21:06.460
 bears witness

00:21:06.460 --> 00:21:07.120
 to the world

00:21:07.120 --> 00:21:08.180
 that Jesus

00:21:08.180 --> 00:21:08.820
 is enough

00:21:08.820 --> 00:21:10.380
 that Jesus

00:21:10.380 --> 00:21:10.980
 is better

00:21:10.980 --> 00:21:12.400
 and that he

00:21:12.400 --> 00:21:13.279
 is a higher

00:21:13.279 --> 00:21:14.340
 more solid

00:21:14.340 --> 00:21:15.300
 and more trustworthy

00:21:15.300 --> 00:21:16.200
 rock

00:21:16.200 --> 00:21:17.519
 than any other

00:21:17.519 --> 00:21:18.420
 there is no God

00:21:18.420 --> 00:21:19.160
 like him

00:21:19.160 --> 00:21:21.800
 and this is what

00:21:21.800 --> 00:21:22.500
 a refined faith

00:21:22.500 --> 00:21:23.080
 looks like

00:21:23.080 --> 00:21:23.860
 in verse 8

00:21:23.860 --> 00:21:24.580
 according to Peter

00:21:24.580 --> 00:21:26.560
 this is what it looks

00:21:26.560 --> 00:21:27.320
 like he says

00:21:27.320 --> 00:21:29.039
 though you have not

00:21:29.039 --> 00:21:29.759
 seen him

00:21:29.759 --> 00:21:31.099
 you love him

00:21:31.099 --> 00:21:32.619
 and even though

00:21:32.619 --> 00:21:33.200
 you do not

00:21:33.200 --> 00:21:34.119
 see him now

00:21:34.119 --> 00:21:34.799
 you believe

00:21:34.799 --> 00:21:35.319
 or better

00:21:35.319 --> 00:21:36.079
 it could be translated

00:21:36.079 --> 00:21:36.799
 you have faith

00:21:36.799 --> 00:21:37.660
 you place your trust

00:21:37.660 --> 00:21:38.119
 in him

00:21:38.119 --> 00:21:39.019
 and are filled

00:21:39.019 --> 00:21:40.180
 with an inexpressible

00:21:40.180 --> 00:21:41.180
 or unspeakable

00:21:41.180 --> 00:21:42.379
 and glorious joy

00:21:42.379 --> 00:21:43.700
 for verse 9

00:21:43.700 --> 00:21:44.500
 you are receiving

00:21:44.500 --> 00:21:45.660
 the end result

00:21:45.660 --> 00:21:46.460
 or the goal

00:21:46.460 --> 00:21:48.299
 of your faith

00:21:48.299 --> 00:21:49.460
 the salvation

00:21:49.460 --> 00:21:50.640
 of your souls

00:21:50.640 --> 00:21:52.460
 that's what a refined

00:21:52.460 --> 00:21:53.259
 faith looks like

00:21:53.259 --> 00:21:54.019
 according to Peter

00:21:54.019 --> 00:21:55.559
 but you know

00:21:55.559 --> 00:21:56.500
 I struggled a lot

00:21:56.500 --> 00:21:57.680
 as I came to these

00:21:57.680 --> 00:21:58.940
 last two verses

00:21:58.940 --> 00:21:59.640
 8 and 9

00:21:59.640 --> 00:22:00.640
 thinking about

00:22:00.640 --> 00:22:01.200
 how to teach

00:22:01.200 --> 00:22:01.900
 and apply

00:22:01.900 --> 00:22:03.420
 this part of the passage

00:22:03.420 --> 00:22:04.200
 for us today

00:22:04.200 --> 00:22:06.000
 because how do you

00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:07.440
 commend this experience

00:22:07.440 --> 00:22:08.920
 that Peter's talking about

00:22:08.920 --> 00:22:10.060
 in verses 8 and 9

00:22:10.060 --> 00:22:10.940
 how do you commend

00:22:10.940 --> 00:22:11.620
 and apply that

00:22:11.620 --> 00:22:12.100
 to someone

00:22:12.100 --> 00:22:13.799
 how do I get someone

00:22:13.799 --> 00:22:15.039
 to love and trust

00:22:15.039 --> 00:22:15.940
 someone they haven't

00:22:15.940 --> 00:22:16.620
 seen

00:22:16.620 --> 00:22:17.420
 someone I haven't

00:22:17.420 --> 00:22:18.160
 even seen myself

00:22:18.160 --> 00:22:18.920
 how do I convince

00:22:18.920 --> 00:22:19.759
 people of this

00:22:19.759 --> 00:22:21.100
 unseen person

00:22:21.100 --> 00:22:21.960
 to the point

00:22:21.960 --> 00:22:22.539
 where they're filled

00:22:22.539 --> 00:22:24.460
 with inexpressible joy

00:22:24.460 --> 00:22:25.500
 glorious joy

00:22:25.500 --> 00:22:26.100
 and faith

00:22:26.100 --> 00:22:26.880
 and to the point

00:22:26.880 --> 00:22:27.860
 where they're experiencing

00:22:27.860 --> 00:22:28.840
 the salvation

00:22:28.840 --> 00:22:29.960
 of their souls

00:22:29.960 --> 00:22:32.180
 as a Christian

00:22:32.180 --> 00:22:32.680
 I could say

00:22:32.680 --> 00:22:33.300
 that this is something

00:22:33.300 --> 00:22:33.880
 I've experienced

00:22:33.880 --> 00:22:34.300
 and I know

00:22:34.300 --> 00:22:35.360
 that many of you

00:22:35.360 --> 00:22:35.920
 many of us

00:22:35.920 --> 00:22:36.740
 have experienced

00:22:36.740 --> 00:22:37.760
 this as well

00:22:37.760 --> 00:22:38.980
 what Peter describes here

00:22:38.980 --> 00:22:40.380
 many of us

00:22:40.380 --> 00:22:41.020
 do love

00:22:41.020 --> 00:22:41.820
 and trust Jesus

00:22:41.820 --> 00:22:42.340
 even though

00:22:42.340 --> 00:22:43.640
 we haven't seen him

00:22:43.640 --> 00:22:45.000
 and many of us

00:22:45.000 --> 00:22:45.840
 can attest

00:22:45.840 --> 00:22:47.140
 to this inexpressible

00:22:47.140 --> 00:22:48.780
 glorious joy

00:22:48.780 --> 00:22:50.020
 that he's filled us with

00:22:50.020 --> 00:22:50.820
 but we also know

00:22:50.820 --> 00:22:52.000
 that it really is

00:22:52.000 --> 00:22:53.540
 an unspeakable joy

00:22:53.540 --> 00:22:55.660
 an inexpressible joy

00:22:55.660 --> 00:22:58.080
 it's hard to describe

00:22:58.080 --> 00:22:59.900
 it's hard to communicate

00:22:59.900 --> 00:23:00.860
 it defies purely

00:23:00.860 --> 00:23:01.779
 rationalistic

00:23:01.779 --> 00:23:02.740
 categories

00:23:02.740 --> 00:23:03.860
 of explanation

00:23:03.860 --> 00:23:05.440
 and understanding

00:23:05.440 --> 00:23:07.300
 like somehow

00:23:07.300 --> 00:23:08.800
 while we haven't seen him

00:23:08.800 --> 00:23:09.740
 with our physical eyes

00:23:09.740 --> 00:23:10.600
 somehow many of us

00:23:10.600 --> 00:23:11.120
 have still

00:23:11.120 --> 00:23:12.279
 beheld him

00:23:12.279 --> 00:23:13.720
 with the eyes

00:23:13.720 --> 00:23:14.180
 of our heart

00:23:14.180 --> 00:23:14.620
 somehow

00:23:14.620 --> 00:23:16.140
 to use Paul's language

00:23:16.140 --> 00:23:18.120
 but I totally get

00:23:18.120 --> 00:23:18.820
 how this could sound

00:23:18.820 --> 00:23:19.400
 super weird

00:23:19.400 --> 00:23:20.620
 and super spiritual

00:23:20.620 --> 00:23:21.940
 and super like

00:23:21.940 --> 00:23:22.300
 religious

00:23:22.300 --> 00:23:23.320
 and pious

00:23:23.319 --> 00:23:24.960
 and just not accessible

00:23:24.960 --> 00:23:25.579
 and difficult

00:23:25.579 --> 00:23:26.939
 to relate to

00:23:26.939 --> 00:23:27.399
 if you haven't

00:23:27.399 --> 00:23:28.379
 experienced it

00:23:28.379 --> 00:23:29.599
 and honestly

00:23:29.599 --> 00:23:30.519
 there's no special

00:23:30.519 --> 00:23:30.960
 argument

00:23:30.960 --> 00:23:31.939
 that I could share

00:23:31.939 --> 00:23:33.599
 nor technique

00:23:33.599 --> 00:23:34.279
 that exists

00:23:34.279 --> 00:23:35.179
 that can automatically

00:23:35.179 --> 00:23:36.059
 like instill

00:23:36.059 --> 00:23:36.939
 this kind of faith

00:23:36.939 --> 00:23:37.500
 in you

00:23:37.500 --> 00:23:38.359
 it's really a gift

00:23:38.359 --> 00:23:39.700
 as Jesus said

00:23:39.700 --> 00:23:40.740
 to the doubting Thomas

00:23:40.740 --> 00:23:41.740
 blessed are those

00:23:41.740 --> 00:23:42.859
 who have not seen

00:23:42.859 --> 00:23:44.399
 and yet have believed

00:23:44.399 --> 00:23:45.839
 it takes being born again

00:23:45.839 --> 00:23:47.399
 by the Holy Spirit

00:23:47.399 --> 00:23:49.039
 it takes faith

00:23:49.039 --> 00:23:49.919
 to experience this

00:23:49.919 --> 00:23:50.480
 it takes faith

00:23:50.480 --> 00:23:51.079
 to be able to

00:23:51.079 --> 00:23:52.039
 preach good news

00:23:52.039 --> 00:23:53.000
 at a funeral

00:23:53.000 --> 00:23:53.899
 and to rejoice

00:23:53.899 --> 00:23:55.339
 in the deepest grief

00:23:55.339 --> 00:23:56.480
 it takes faith

00:23:56.480 --> 00:23:57.039
 to accept

00:23:57.039 --> 00:23:57.940
 that this paradox

00:23:57.940 --> 00:23:59.180
 is possible

00:23:59.180 --> 00:24:01.639
 but where does that

00:24:01.639 --> 00:24:02.359
 leave us now

00:24:02.359 --> 00:24:03.539
 today

00:24:03.539 --> 00:24:05.259
 particularly for those

00:24:05.259 --> 00:24:06.019
 of us who struggle

00:24:06.019 --> 00:24:07.059
 with faith

00:24:07.059 --> 00:24:08.200
 whether you struggle

00:24:08.200 --> 00:24:08.759
 to believe

00:24:08.759 --> 00:24:09.200
 and accept

00:24:09.200 --> 00:24:10.500
 the future promises

00:24:10.500 --> 00:24:11.460
 of God

00:24:11.460 --> 00:24:12.240
 about the living hope

00:24:12.240 --> 00:24:13.299
 of the resurrected Christ

00:24:13.299 --> 00:24:14.500
 the salvation to come

00:24:14.500 --> 00:24:16.220
 the imperishable inheritance

00:24:16.220 --> 00:24:16.960
 that he offers

00:24:16.960 --> 00:24:17.659
 or whether you struggle

00:24:17.659 --> 00:24:17.980
 to believe

00:24:17.980 --> 00:24:19.299
 in the present promises

00:24:19.299 --> 00:24:19.779
 of God

00:24:19.779 --> 00:24:20.740
 that we can rejoice

00:24:20.740 --> 00:24:21.660
 in suffering

00:24:21.660 --> 00:24:22.700
 right now

00:24:22.700 --> 00:24:24.359
 and that God

00:24:24.359 --> 00:24:25.420
 can use our present

00:24:25.420 --> 00:24:26.099
 suffering

00:24:26.099 --> 00:24:27.000
 to refine us

00:24:27.000 --> 00:24:27.799
 and draw us

00:24:27.799 --> 00:24:28.700
 nearer to him

00:24:28.700 --> 00:24:29.359
 where do we go

00:24:29.359 --> 00:24:30.140
 from here

00:24:30.140 --> 00:24:32.299
 you know there's a

00:24:32.299 --> 00:24:33.259
 very simplistic

00:24:33.259 --> 00:24:35.500
 method of Christian counseling

00:24:35.500 --> 00:24:36.700
 that drives me crazy

00:24:36.700 --> 00:24:37.920
 that would

00:24:37.920 --> 00:24:38.759
 just kind of

00:24:38.759 --> 00:24:39.680
 it's a very condemning

00:24:39.680 --> 00:24:41.359
 method of Christian counseling

00:24:41.359 --> 00:24:41.900
 and don't worry

00:24:41.900 --> 00:24:42.740
 we won't ever send you

00:24:42.740 --> 00:24:43.740
 to any of those kinds

00:24:43.740 --> 00:24:46.519
 but basically

00:24:46.519 --> 00:24:47.039
 they would just

00:24:47.039 --> 00:24:47.779
 rebuke you

00:24:47.779 --> 00:24:49.220
 and command you

00:24:49.220 --> 00:24:50.119
 to believe harder

00:24:50.119 --> 00:24:51.639
 right

00:24:51.639 --> 00:24:53.240
 try harder

00:24:53.240 --> 00:24:54.420
 have more faith

00:24:54.420 --> 00:24:55.460
 just stop

00:24:55.460 --> 00:24:56.480
 not trusting

00:24:56.480 --> 00:24:58.240
 and believing in God

00:24:58.240 --> 00:25:00.039
 like just stop it

00:25:00.039 --> 00:25:00.359
 right

00:25:00.359 --> 00:25:01.879
 stop your sin

00:25:01.879 --> 00:25:02.440
 of unbelief

00:25:02.440 --> 00:25:03.119
 right now

00:25:03.119 --> 00:25:03.759
 stop it

00:25:03.759 --> 00:25:05.619
 but I've never really

00:25:05.619 --> 00:25:06.259
 seen this work

00:25:06.259 --> 00:25:07.879
 I've never seen it work

00:25:07.879 --> 00:25:08.920
 and I think it's because

00:25:08.920 --> 00:25:10.059
 this method is more

00:25:10.059 --> 00:25:11.440
 of an authoritarian

00:25:11.440 --> 00:25:12.399
 guilt based

00:25:12.399 --> 00:25:14.180
 and moralistic

00:25:14.180 --> 00:25:15.099
 appeal to the will

00:25:15.099 --> 00:25:15.440
 or at least

00:25:15.440 --> 00:25:16.440
 the human willpower

00:25:16.440 --> 00:25:18.019
 when really what's needed

00:25:18.019 --> 00:25:18.700
 is something that will

00:25:18.700 --> 00:25:20.220
 capture our hearts

00:25:20.220 --> 00:25:22.440
 so I don't have a technique

00:25:22.440 --> 00:25:23.519
 I don't have an argument

00:25:23.519 --> 00:25:24.880
 that will instill faith

00:25:24.880 --> 00:25:25.279
 in you

00:25:25.279 --> 00:25:26.840
 but I have something better

00:25:26.840 --> 00:25:27.799
 I have the Holy Spirit

00:25:27.799 --> 00:25:28.660
 and I have the gospel

00:25:28.660 --> 00:25:29.480
 to preach

00:25:29.480 --> 00:25:30.580
 and what I'd like to do is

00:25:30.580 --> 00:25:31.680
 instead of

00:25:31.680 --> 00:25:32.900
 filling you with guilt

00:25:32.900 --> 00:25:34.960
 I'd like to

00:25:34.960 --> 00:25:36.140
 preach a positive

00:25:36.140 --> 00:25:36.820
 vision

00:25:36.820 --> 00:25:37.799
 a compelling vision

00:25:37.799 --> 00:25:38.340
 for you

00:25:38.340 --> 00:25:39.640
 so that even if you

00:25:39.640 --> 00:25:40.299
 cannot see him

00:25:40.299 --> 00:25:40.740
 you might

00:25:40.740 --> 00:25:41.980
 behold him today

00:25:41.980 --> 00:25:44.380
 and I want to suggest

00:25:44.380 --> 00:25:45.200
 to you

00:25:45.200 --> 00:25:45.780
 that Jesus

00:25:45.780 --> 00:25:47.760
 is the only one

00:25:47.760 --> 00:25:48.680
 that can make sense

00:25:48.680 --> 00:25:49.940
 of the paradox

00:25:49.940 --> 00:25:51.500
 presented in 1 Peter

00:25:51.500 --> 00:25:52.640
 the only one

00:25:52.640 --> 00:25:53.360
 who can make sense

00:25:53.360 --> 00:25:54.020
 of good news

00:25:54.020 --> 00:25:54.620
 at a funeral

00:25:54.620 --> 00:25:56.200
 and of rejoicing

00:25:56.200 --> 00:25:57.000
 in the midst

00:25:57.000 --> 00:25:57.540
 of grief

00:25:57.540 --> 00:25:58.220
 the prototype

00:25:58.220 --> 00:26:00.520
 of an elect exile

00:26:00.520 --> 00:26:01.560
 Jesus is

00:26:01.560 --> 00:26:03.440
 see as far as I can tell

00:26:03.440 --> 00:26:04.920
 every other alternative

00:26:04.920 --> 00:26:05.880
 to the good news

00:26:05.880 --> 00:26:06.600
 about Jesus

00:26:06.600 --> 00:26:07.820
 either ends up

00:26:07.820 --> 00:26:09.060
 downplaying grief

00:26:09.060 --> 00:26:09.960
 and sorrow

00:26:09.960 --> 00:26:10.580
 and suffering

00:26:10.580 --> 00:26:11.320
 as natural

00:26:11.320 --> 00:26:13.200
 or just not that bad

00:26:13.200 --> 00:26:14.460
 or

00:26:14.460 --> 00:26:15.960
 it offers hope

00:26:15.960 --> 00:26:17.120
 that's either

00:26:17.120 --> 00:26:18.140
 an over promising

00:26:18.140 --> 00:26:18.980
 lie

00:26:18.980 --> 00:26:21.259
 or just not good enough

00:26:21.259 --> 00:26:22.580
 to bring any meaningful

00:26:22.580 --> 00:26:23.940
 and lasting hope

00:26:23.940 --> 00:26:24.940
 so for example

00:26:24.940 --> 00:26:25.700
 sometimes in the face

00:26:25.700 --> 00:26:26.100
 of death

00:26:26.100 --> 00:26:26.799
 and suffering

00:26:26.799 --> 00:26:27.680
 people might say

00:26:27.680 --> 00:26:29.500
 or at least be thinking

00:26:29.500 --> 00:26:31.160
 well it was

00:26:31.160 --> 00:26:32.160
 this person's time

00:26:32.160 --> 00:26:32.759
 right

00:26:32.759 --> 00:26:34.160
 she's returned

00:26:34.160 --> 00:26:34.980
 to mother earth

00:26:34.980 --> 00:26:35.700
 and there goes

00:26:35.700 --> 00:26:36.980
 the circle of life

00:26:36.980 --> 00:26:38.620
 and basically

00:26:38.620 --> 00:26:39.240
 what they're saying

00:26:39.240 --> 00:26:39.779
 is that death

00:26:39.779 --> 00:26:40.299
 and suffering

00:26:40.299 --> 00:26:41.140
 are natural

00:26:41.140 --> 00:26:42.340
 and a normal

00:26:42.340 --> 00:26:43.180
 part of life

00:26:43.180 --> 00:26:44.120
 and not really

00:26:44.120 --> 00:26:44.640
 something

00:26:44.640 --> 00:26:46.560
 to be that grieved

00:26:46.560 --> 00:26:47.160
 over

00:26:47.160 --> 00:26:47.820
 right

00:26:47.820 --> 00:26:49.420
 or they might

00:26:49.420 --> 00:26:50.060
 say something like

00:26:50.060 --> 00:26:50.440
 well at least

00:26:50.440 --> 00:26:51.340
 the pain is gone

00:26:51.340 --> 00:26:52.200
 at least their

00:26:52.200 --> 00:26:53.060
 suffering is gone

00:26:53.060 --> 00:26:53.680
 and at least

00:26:53.680 --> 00:26:54.160
 you know

00:26:54.160 --> 00:26:55.759
 many members

00:26:55.759 --> 00:26:56.240
 of the family

00:26:56.240 --> 00:26:56.840
 survived

00:26:56.840 --> 00:26:58.580
 but that's to say

00:26:58.580 --> 00:26:59.600
 well it's bad

00:26:59.600 --> 00:27:00.120
 but it's not

00:27:00.120 --> 00:27:00.820
 that bad

00:27:00.820 --> 00:27:01.820
 not the absolute

00:27:01.820 --> 00:27:02.960
 worst case scenario

00:27:02.960 --> 00:27:03.800
 right

00:27:03.800 --> 00:27:05.660
 or on the other side

00:27:05.660 --> 00:27:06.220
 some might say

00:27:06.220 --> 00:27:06.640
 at a funeral

00:27:06.640 --> 00:27:07.500
 that you know

00:27:07.500 --> 00:27:08.660
 oh so and so

00:27:08.660 --> 00:27:09.540
 so and so

00:27:09.540 --> 00:27:10.040
 is in a better

00:27:10.040 --> 00:27:10.580
 place

00:27:10.580 --> 00:27:11.259
 you know

00:27:11.259 --> 00:27:12.600
 maybe they're

00:27:12.600 --> 00:27:13.480
 reincarnated

00:27:13.480 --> 00:27:14.440
 as something amazing

00:27:14.440 --> 00:27:15.640
 in another life

00:27:15.640 --> 00:27:17.300
 but they don't know

00:27:17.300 --> 00:27:17.660
 that

00:27:17.660 --> 00:27:19.240
 it's just wishful

00:27:19.240 --> 00:27:19.640
 thinking

00:27:19.640 --> 00:27:21.519
 or maybe they might

00:27:21.519 --> 00:27:22.160
 say something like

00:27:22.160 --> 00:27:23.360
 well this person

00:27:23.360 --> 00:27:24.840
 lived a good life

00:27:24.840 --> 00:27:25.259
 and we should

00:27:25.259 --> 00:27:26.680
 celebrate his time

00:27:26.680 --> 00:27:27.500
 on earth

00:27:27.500 --> 00:27:29.100
 as if that's the

00:27:29.100 --> 00:27:29.820
 best that we could

00:27:29.820 --> 00:27:31.019
 ever hope for

00:27:31.019 --> 00:27:32.500
 and then that's it

00:27:32.500 --> 00:27:34.759
 but do you see

00:27:34.759 --> 00:27:35.400
 how flat

00:27:35.400 --> 00:27:37.200
 and one dimensional

00:27:37.200 --> 00:27:38.780
 and how lacking

00:27:38.780 --> 00:27:39.480
 in gravity

00:27:39.480 --> 00:27:40.420
 and seriousness

00:27:40.420 --> 00:27:41.240
 and hope

00:27:41.240 --> 00:27:41.820
 and joy

00:27:41.820 --> 00:27:42.759
 these responses

00:27:42.759 --> 00:27:43.840
 are like all

00:27:43.840 --> 00:27:44.700
 at the same time

00:27:44.700 --> 00:27:47.140
 death and suffering

00:27:47.140 --> 00:27:48.200
 demand

00:27:48.200 --> 00:27:49.620
 our bitterest

00:27:49.620 --> 00:27:50.300
 grief

00:27:50.300 --> 00:27:51.980
 because every being

00:27:51.980 --> 00:27:52.940
 every human being

00:27:52.940 --> 00:27:53.420
 is made

00:27:53.420 --> 00:27:54.440
 in the image of God

00:27:54.440 --> 00:27:55.620
 and so there is

00:27:55.620 --> 00:27:56.280
 really no more

00:27:56.280 --> 00:27:57.019
 fitting response

00:27:57.019 --> 00:27:57.519
 to death

00:27:57.519 --> 00:27:58.360
 and suffering

00:27:58.360 --> 00:27:59.120
 than absolute

00:27:59.120 --> 00:27:59.700
 grief

00:27:59.700 --> 00:28:00.600
 and sorrow

00:28:00.600 --> 00:28:02.040
 apart from

00:28:02.040 --> 00:28:02.940
 the gracious promise

00:28:02.940 --> 00:28:03.320
 of God

00:28:03.320 --> 00:28:04.120
 to make all things

00:28:04.119 --> 00:28:05.359
 new hopelessness

00:28:05.359 --> 00:28:06.259
 and despair

00:28:06.259 --> 00:28:07.059
 and suicide

00:28:07.059 --> 00:28:09.419
 actually make sense

00:28:09.419 --> 00:28:11.779
 to grieve over

00:28:11.779 --> 00:28:13.079
 death and pain

00:28:13.079 --> 00:28:14.459
 is to acknowledge

00:28:14.459 --> 00:28:15.199
 that this is not

00:28:15.199 --> 00:28:15.939
 the way things

00:28:15.939 --> 00:28:16.859
 were meant to be

00:28:16.859 --> 00:28:18.899
 grief even honors

00:28:18.899 --> 00:28:19.719
 the goodness

00:28:19.719 --> 00:28:20.659
 of God's original

00:28:20.659 --> 00:28:21.459
 creation

00:28:21.459 --> 00:28:22.799
 and the grievous ways

00:28:22.799 --> 00:28:23.579
 it has gone wrong

00:28:23.579 --> 00:28:24.619
 ever since humanity

00:28:24.619 --> 00:28:25.679
 turned its back

00:28:25.679 --> 00:28:26.199
 on God

00:28:26.199 --> 00:28:27.679
 if we see

00:28:27.679 --> 00:28:28.819
 death and suffering

00:28:28.819 --> 00:28:29.539
 for what they

00:28:29.539 --> 00:28:30.500
 really are

00:28:30.500 --> 00:28:31.399
 in the light of

00:28:31.399 --> 00:28:32.399
 God's intentions

00:28:32.399 --> 00:28:33.019
 for the world

00:28:33.019 --> 00:28:33.759
 and in the light

00:28:33.759 --> 00:28:34.819
 of Jesus Christ

00:28:34.819 --> 00:28:35.539
 and what he came

00:28:35.539 --> 00:28:35.839
 to do

00:28:35.839 --> 00:28:36.660
 Christians of all

00:28:36.660 --> 00:28:37.259
 people have

00:28:37.259 --> 00:28:38.500
 the most reason

00:28:38.500 --> 00:28:39.819
 to grieve

00:28:39.819 --> 00:28:41.519
 because we confess

00:28:41.519 --> 00:28:42.500
 the devastating

00:28:42.500 --> 00:28:43.920
 effects of a

00:28:43.920 --> 00:28:44.879
 fractured relationship

00:28:44.879 --> 00:28:45.539
 with God

00:28:45.539 --> 00:28:46.460
 on the entire

00:28:46.460 --> 00:28:47.019
 creation

00:28:47.019 --> 00:28:48.200
 and the infinite

00:28:48.200 --> 00:28:49.460
 cost it would

00:28:49.460 --> 00:28:50.519
 take to restore

00:28:50.519 --> 00:28:50.819
 it

00:28:50.819 --> 00:28:52.359
 according to the

00:28:52.359 --> 00:28:53.240
 story of Christianity

00:28:53.240 --> 00:28:54.400
 to grieve

00:28:54.400 --> 00:28:55.259
 this broken world

00:28:55.259 --> 00:28:56.139
 is the most human

00:28:56.139 --> 00:28:57.119
 thing we could

00:28:57.119 --> 00:28:57.940
 possibly do

00:28:57.940 --> 00:28:59.139
 and at the same

00:28:59.139 --> 00:28:59.759
 time the most

00:28:59.759 --> 00:29:00.559
 God-like thing

00:29:00.559 --> 00:29:01.319
 we could possibly

00:29:01.319 --> 00:29:01.639
 do

00:29:01.640 --> 00:29:03.100
 the God of

00:29:03.100 --> 00:29:03.560
 Christianity

00:29:03.560 --> 00:29:04.880
 doesn't indulge

00:29:04.880 --> 00:29:05.420
 the lie

00:29:05.420 --> 00:29:07.220
 that brokenness

00:29:07.220 --> 00:29:07.740
 and death

00:29:07.740 --> 00:29:08.820
 are not that bad

00:29:08.820 --> 00:29:09.920
 he grieves it

00:29:09.920 --> 00:29:11.480
 with an immeasurable

00:29:11.480 --> 00:29:12.620
 passion

00:29:12.620 --> 00:29:13.920
 and he sends

00:29:13.920 --> 00:29:14.640
 for its healing

00:29:14.640 --> 00:29:16.880
 the most radical

00:29:16.880 --> 00:29:17.560
 solution

00:29:17.560 --> 00:29:18.540
 right

00:29:18.540 --> 00:29:19.620
 the son

00:29:19.620 --> 00:29:20.680
 his son

00:29:20.680 --> 00:29:21.840
 he sends

00:29:21.840 --> 00:29:22.360
 for his son

00:29:22.360 --> 00:29:23.020
 to be crucified

00:29:23.020 --> 00:29:23.880
 on a cross

00:29:23.880 --> 00:29:25.300
 that's how bad

00:29:25.300 --> 00:29:25.880
 it is

00:29:25.880 --> 00:29:27.259
 it's really

00:29:27.259 --> 00:29:27.680
 the bitterness

00:29:27.680 --> 00:29:28.460
 and the horror

00:29:28.460 --> 00:29:29.280
 of the cross

00:29:29.279 --> 00:29:30.480
 that's the measure

00:29:30.480 --> 00:29:31.259
 of the despair

00:29:31.259 --> 00:29:32.039
 we should feel

00:29:32.039 --> 00:29:33.099
 in this broken

00:29:33.099 --> 00:29:33.539
 world

00:29:33.539 --> 00:29:35.460
 and if we have

00:29:35.460 --> 00:29:35.960
 eyes to see

00:29:35.960 --> 00:29:36.680
 how bad things

00:29:36.680 --> 00:29:37.500
 really are

00:29:37.500 --> 00:29:38.539
 then surely

00:29:38.539 --> 00:29:39.619
 no wishful thinking

00:29:39.619 --> 00:29:40.279
 no myth

00:29:40.279 --> 00:29:41.079
 no legend

00:29:41.079 --> 00:29:41.920
 no temporal

00:29:41.920 --> 00:29:42.559
 celebration

00:29:42.559 --> 00:29:43.379
 of life

00:29:43.379 --> 00:29:44.940
 can ever overcome

00:29:44.940 --> 00:29:46.359
 or even match

00:29:46.359 --> 00:29:47.160
 our despair

00:29:47.160 --> 00:29:48.899
 right

00:29:48.899 --> 00:29:51.079
 but listen

00:29:51.079 --> 00:29:52.019
 and this is the gospel

00:29:52.019 --> 00:29:54.139
 Jesus can overcome

00:29:54.139 --> 00:29:55.039
 that despair

00:29:55.039 --> 00:29:56.899
 Jesus can

00:29:56.899 --> 00:29:57.680
 and he has

00:29:57.680 --> 00:29:59.420
 Jesus crucified

00:29:59.420 --> 00:30:00.180
 for the sins

00:30:00.180 --> 00:30:00.740
 of the world

00:30:00.740 --> 00:30:01.240
 and risen

00:30:01.240 --> 00:30:02.240
 in the flesh

00:30:02.240 --> 00:30:03.099
 in history

00:30:03.099 --> 00:30:04.599
 not a mere myth

00:30:04.599 --> 00:30:05.799
 tons of verifiable

00:30:05.799 --> 00:30:06.579
 evidence

00:30:06.579 --> 00:30:07.700
 Jesus and Jesus

00:30:07.700 --> 00:30:08.139
 alone

00:30:08.139 --> 00:30:09.500
 can overcome

00:30:09.500 --> 00:30:10.559
 our despair

00:30:10.559 --> 00:30:11.839
 and the wreckage

00:30:11.839 --> 00:30:12.319
 of sin

00:30:12.319 --> 00:30:12.899
 and suffering

00:30:12.899 --> 00:30:13.740
 and he has

00:30:13.740 --> 00:30:15.879
 so he and he alone

00:30:15.879 --> 00:30:16.619
 can make sense

00:30:16.619 --> 00:30:17.579
 of the paradox

00:30:17.579 --> 00:30:19.259
 he's the only way

00:30:19.259 --> 00:30:19.899
 we can rejoice

00:30:19.899 --> 00:30:20.399
 in suffering

00:30:20.399 --> 00:30:21.240
 he's the only way

00:30:21.240 --> 00:30:22.359
 because he himself

00:30:22.359 --> 00:30:22.819
 rejoiced

00:30:22.819 --> 00:30:23.639
 even in the worst

00:30:23.639 --> 00:30:24.259
 suffering

00:30:24.259 --> 00:30:24.680
 the death

00:30:24.680 --> 00:30:25.200
 and torture

00:30:25.200 --> 00:30:26.000
 of the son

00:30:26.000 --> 00:30:26.519
 of God

00:30:26.519 --> 00:30:28.200
 he who for the joy

00:30:28.200 --> 00:30:29.339
 that was set before him

00:30:29.339 --> 00:30:30.279
 endured the cross

00:30:30.279 --> 00:30:31.299
 despising its shame

00:30:31.299 --> 00:30:31.740
 was seated

00:30:31.740 --> 00:30:32.579
 at the right hand

00:30:32.579 --> 00:30:33.400
 of God

00:30:33.400 --> 00:30:34.759
 it's only because

00:30:34.759 --> 00:30:35.259
 of Jesus

00:30:35.259 --> 00:30:36.960
 and only in his story

00:30:36.960 --> 00:30:37.700
 of suffering

00:30:37.700 --> 00:30:39.400
 subverting good news

00:30:39.400 --> 00:30:41.279
 it's only in and through him

00:30:41.279 --> 00:30:42.900
 that we can weep

00:30:42.900 --> 00:30:43.640
 with those who weep

00:30:43.640 --> 00:30:44.160
 and recognize

00:30:44.160 --> 00:30:45.079
 the awful stench

00:30:45.079 --> 00:30:45.640
 of sin

00:30:45.640 --> 00:30:46.400
 and suffering

00:30:46.400 --> 00:30:47.279
 all around us

00:30:47.279 --> 00:30:48.920
 in all their darkness

00:30:48.920 --> 00:30:49.519
 and despair

00:30:49.519 --> 00:30:50.920
 it's only in and through Jesus

00:30:50.920 --> 00:30:52.619
 that we can face

00:30:52.619 --> 00:30:53.039
 the truth

00:30:53.039 --> 00:30:54.200
 about how terrible things

00:30:54.200 --> 00:30:54.519
 are

00:30:54.519 --> 00:30:55.420
 and yet still

00:30:55.420 --> 00:30:56.620
 get out of bed

00:30:56.620 --> 00:30:58.279
 day after day

00:30:58.279 --> 00:31:00.180
 knowing that he can

00:31:00.180 --> 00:31:00.779
 and will make

00:31:00.779 --> 00:31:01.620
 all things new

00:31:01.620 --> 00:31:03.220
 knowing that salvation

00:31:03.220 --> 00:31:04.240
 has already broken

00:31:04.240 --> 00:31:05.360
 into history

00:31:05.360 --> 00:31:07.039
 starting at the empty tomb

00:31:07.039 --> 00:31:08.900
 it's only in and through Jesus

00:31:08.900 --> 00:31:09.980
 that we can rejoice

00:31:09.980 --> 00:31:11.160
 in faith

00:31:11.160 --> 00:31:12.640
 with inexpressible

00:31:12.640 --> 00:31:13.600
 unspeakable

00:31:13.600 --> 00:31:14.660
 glorious joy

00:31:14.660 --> 00:31:15.319
 because we are

00:31:15.319 --> 00:31:16.319
 even now

00:31:16.319 --> 00:31:18.380
 receiving the end result

00:31:18.380 --> 00:31:18.940
 of our faith

00:31:18.940 --> 00:31:19.500
 the salvation

00:31:19.500 --> 00:31:20.120
 of our souls

00:31:20.120 --> 00:31:20.660
 the salvation

00:31:20.660 --> 00:31:21.700
 of the whole

00:31:21.700 --> 00:31:22.560
 of our lives

00:31:22.560 --> 00:31:23.540
 both now

00:31:23.540 --> 00:31:24.640
 in this age

00:31:24.640 --> 00:31:25.440
 and beyond

00:31:25.440 --> 00:31:26.360
 because of our union

00:31:26.360 --> 00:31:27.240
 and communion

00:31:27.240 --> 00:31:28.580
 with the risen Christ

00:31:28.580 --> 00:31:29.400
 see Jesus

00:31:29.400 --> 00:31:30.600
 preserves

00:31:30.600 --> 00:31:31.720
 the paradox

00:31:31.720 --> 00:31:33.779
 he makes it possible

00:31:33.779 --> 00:31:35.900
 and better than that

00:31:35.900 --> 00:31:36.540
 he makes it

00:31:36.540 --> 00:31:37.360
 beautiful

00:31:37.360 --> 00:31:40.440
 and that is the gospel

00:31:40.440 --> 00:31:42.840
 and that is why

00:31:42.840 --> 00:31:43.620
 our joy

00:31:43.620 --> 00:31:44.740
 is unspeakable

00:31:44.740 --> 00:31:47.519
 it doesn't make sense

00:31:47.519 --> 00:31:49.320
 it's inexpressible

00:31:49.320 --> 00:31:51.720
 because it's a paradoxical

00:31:51.720 --> 00:31:52.440
 joy

00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:53.960
 that can only be found

00:31:53.960 --> 00:31:55.539
 in the crucified

00:31:55.539 --> 00:31:56.660
 and risen Christ

00:31:56.660 --> 00:31:57.860
 crucified

00:31:57.860 --> 00:31:58.860
 for us

00:31:58.860 --> 00:32:00.779
 raised in glory

00:32:00.779 --> 00:32:02.700
 and we with him

00:32:02.700 --> 00:32:03.900
 when we follow

00:32:03.900 --> 00:32:04.720
 in those steps

00:32:04.720 --> 00:32:06.220
 let's do that

00:32:06.220 --> 00:32:06.920
 Christchurch

00:32:06.920 --> 00:32:09.440
 will you pray with me

00:32:09.440 --> 00:32:16.920
 Lord God

00:32:16.920 --> 00:32:17.539
 would you make us

00:32:17.539 --> 00:32:17.980
 speechless

00:32:17.980 --> 00:32:18.920
 before you

00:32:18.920 --> 00:32:25.420
 unable to articulate

00:32:25.420 --> 00:32:26.259
 the greatness

00:32:26.259 --> 00:32:28.880
 of the mercy

00:32:28.880 --> 00:32:30.560
 and grace

00:32:30.560 --> 00:32:32.140
 that you have

00:32:32.140 --> 00:32:33.039
 poured out upon us

00:32:33.039 --> 00:32:33.660
 in Christ

00:32:33.660 --> 00:32:37.700
 would you make

00:32:37.700 --> 00:32:38.840
 us people

00:32:38.840 --> 00:32:39.660
 who embody

00:32:39.660 --> 00:32:41.700
 the inexpressible

00:32:41.700 --> 00:32:44.300
 unspeakable joy

00:32:44.300 --> 00:32:45.800
 that is full

00:32:45.800 --> 00:32:46.840
 of your glory

00:32:46.840 --> 00:32:48.980
 would that be

00:32:48.980 --> 00:32:49.600
 so evident

00:32:49.600 --> 00:32:51.060
 in us

00:32:51.060 --> 00:32:51.960
 as we meditate

00:32:51.960 --> 00:32:53.580
 upon

00:32:53.580 --> 00:32:55.300
 who your son is

00:32:55.300 --> 00:32:57.140
 and what he's done

00:32:57.140 --> 00:32:58.560
 for us

00:32:58.560 --> 00:33:00.940
 Lord make this

00:33:00.940 --> 00:33:01.700
 a place

00:33:01.700 --> 00:33:03.080
 a church

00:33:03.079 --> 00:33:05.159
 where we can

00:33:05.159 --> 00:33:05.720
 be real

00:33:05.720 --> 00:33:07.659
 about the hard

00:33:07.659 --> 00:33:08.799
 things in our lives

00:33:08.799 --> 00:33:09.759
 and in this world

00:33:09.759 --> 00:33:11.519
 even dramatically

00:33:11.519 --> 00:33:12.099
 real

00:33:12.099 --> 00:33:12.899
 God

00:33:12.899 --> 00:33:14.819
 because

00:33:14.819 --> 00:33:15.639
 this world

00:33:15.639 --> 00:33:16.539
 is so broken

00:33:16.539 --> 00:33:18.559
 and sin

00:33:18.559 --> 00:33:19.699
 is that bad

00:33:19.699 --> 00:33:21.419
 and suffering

00:33:21.419 --> 00:33:23.159
 is that unnatural

00:33:23.159 --> 00:33:26.119
 and so far

00:33:26.119 --> 00:33:28.059
 from your design

00:33:28.059 --> 00:33:30.199
 and from your heart

00:33:30.200 --> 00:33:34.019
 but Lord

00:33:34.019 --> 00:33:34.819
 at the very same

00:33:34.819 --> 00:33:35.380
 time

00:33:35.380 --> 00:33:37.460
 would we bear

00:33:37.460 --> 00:33:38.100
 that unique

00:33:38.100 --> 00:33:38.700
 witness

00:33:38.700 --> 00:33:39.920
 as Christ's

00:33:39.920 --> 00:33:40.279
 followers

00:33:40.279 --> 00:33:41.640
 to the joy

00:33:41.640 --> 00:33:43.480
 that we have

00:33:43.480 --> 00:33:45.140
 that only we can

00:33:45.140 --> 00:33:45.680
 have

00:33:45.680 --> 00:33:48.059
 through grief

00:33:48.059 --> 00:33:48.779
 and suffering

00:33:48.779 --> 00:33:51.620
 make us that

00:33:51.620 --> 00:33:52.440
 kind of beautiful

00:33:52.440 --> 00:33:54.019
 unique witness

00:33:54.019 --> 00:33:56.120
 to the world

00:33:56.119 --> 00:33:59.459
 for the glory

00:33:59.459 --> 00:34:00.259
 of Jesus

00:34:00.259 --> 00:34:03.279
 and the good

00:34:03.279 --> 00:34:04.139
 of our neighbors

00:34:04.139 --> 00:34:06.739
 it's in his name

00:34:06.739 --> 00:34:07.179
 we pray

00:34:07.179 --> 00:34:08.199
 amen

00:34:08.199 --> 00:34:08.919
 to the glory

00:34:08.919 --> 00:34:14.000
 to the glory

00:34:14.000 --> 00:34:14.919
 to the exemption

00:34:14.919 --> 00:34:15.759
 to the Jeff

00:34:15.759 --> 00:34:16.599
 and say

00:34:16.599 --> 00:34:17.219
 to

00:34:17.219 --> 00:34:18.199
 of our

00:34:18.199 --> 00:34:18.699
 son

00:34:18.699 --> 00:34:19.159
 and

00:34:19.159 --> 00:34:19.919
 thank you

00:34:19.919 --> 00:34:20.259
 I wear

00:34:20.259 --> 00:34:20.359
 love

00:34:20.359 --> 00:34:20.719
 and

00:34:20.779 --> 00:34:21.159
 we be

00:34:21.179 --> 00:34:22.539
 to the

00:34:22.539 --> 00:34:22.759
 Dios

00:34:22.759 --> 00:34:23.419
 and

00:34:23.419 --> 00:34:24.219
 to

00:34:24.219 --> 00:34:24.359
 our

00:34:24.359 --> 00:34:24.879
 family

00:34:24.879 --> 00:34:26.139
 is

00:34:26.139 --> 00:34:27.439
 Ins員

00:34:27.439 --> 00:34:28.439
 to the

00:34:28.439 --> 00:34:29.500
 liken

00:34:29.500 --> 00:34:29.559
 Walt

00:34:30.139 --> 00:34:30.739
 �

00:34:30.739 --> 00:34:31.500
 an

00:34:31.500 --> 00:34:32.939
 Sony

00:34:32.939 --> 00:34:33.460
Set