WEBVTT

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 I want you to think back, if you can, to what it was like walking into church for the very first time.

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 Maybe into this church, maybe tonight is your very first time in church.

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 Maybe walking into a new church because you'd moved areas or something.

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 And that moment as you wander through the door and you kind of take in everything that's around you and the things that you notice.

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 So you might walk in and think, wow, what a fantastic carpet colour.

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 Or you might walk in and think, I really love the height of this.

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 Who put that fan up there?

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 Like just the different things that you begin to perceive.

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 And then as the service begins, you think, oh, I'm so glad this music is being played properly on an organ with a choir.

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 Or, you know, I'm really glad there's a band here and it's not being played wrongly on an organ with a choir.

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 Or, you know, I'm really glad that the guy up the front understands how church is supposed to be done and is wearing one of those robes.

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 And, you know, making sure that we all know that he's clergy and he's official.

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 And you notice different things that stick out.

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 You might think, you know, I'm really glad that the people here understand that church is serious on a Sunday.

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 You don't just walk into church and like, you know, you're Birkenstocks or something like that.

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 Not singling anyone out, okay?

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 Just as an example, as an example, you come in and you notice things that you like or things that you don't like.

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 Things that, you know, make you kind of comfortable.

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 Maybe things that are weird, like why are we facing the wrong direction in the building?

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 You come in and you notice different things.

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 But the question is, as you notice those things, what do you do with that?

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 Do you then think, well, I guess I'm going to have to change?

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 Or are you already beginning to come up with a plan of how the church can change to get in line with your correct and holy desires of what is good and comfortable?

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 Or are you already figuring, I know there's another church just a couple of blocks away, so maybe I'll go there and they'll be doing it the right way.

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 I mean, the way I like it.

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 What should change?

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 You or the church?

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 In Galatians, what we're looking at, there is these two churches, two groups of churches.

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 Paul has written to one group of churches.

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 That's the group of churches that he started, the Galatian churches, which is made up of Gentiles.

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 That's basically shorthand for everyone who's not a Jew.

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 The point is, they were basically a whole bunch of different nationalities.

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 They were from different places, different backgrounds.

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 They were pretty free compared to what was going on in the other churches.

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 Because the Jerusalem churches, which is the Peter, James and John churches, they were the Jewish churches.

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 They were the churches that had literally thousands of years of tradition shaping the way that they did church.

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 When they'd become Christians, they had all these things that they used to do when they met as Jews

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 that had kind of influenced and carried into the way that they were doing church.

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 Influences on things like the way that they dress, the way that they ate, the way that they met,

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 who was up the front, all that sort of stuff.

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 If you've got these two very different churches and what's going on is there's this clash.

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 There's this clash of culture and the question of who has to change.

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 There's this pressure in both directions of we're more right than you.

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 We're more holy than you.

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 You should do it like us.

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 But particularly for the Galatians, the churches that Paul's planted,

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 there's this pressure coming from the Jerusalem church, the first church, the original church,

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 the place where the church started.

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 There's this pressure coming from them to say, you've got to be more like us.

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 You've got to be more Jewish if you're going to be a genuine Christian.

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 So what does the gospel do?

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 The gospel that Paul's been preaching, the gospel that Paul is fighting for.

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 What does the gospel do for these two different groups of churches?

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 I mean, how does it make it possible for two completely different groups to function as one church?

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 Because that's kind of the point.

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 They are the one church.

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 They're following the same God.

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 They're depending on the same grace that God showed them by sending His Son to die on the cross.

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 That's the goal when you read through Scripture.

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 When you get to the right of the end in the book of Revelation,

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 the picture we get is a unified church, a church from all over the world,

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 a church that is incredibly diverse from every tribe, nation and tongue, but that's unified.

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 That's one as it seeks to worship one God by the same grace.

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 Even us here at St. Paul's, we have a heart to be that church that God is building,

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 to be that one diverse church, to be transcultural,

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 to reflect the rich diversity that surrounds us here in Chatswood,

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 here in Sydney, here in Australia and throughout the world.

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 We want to be a reflection of that diversity as a testimony

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 to the power of the gospel to transform us.

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 But the question that remains is,

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 how does the gospel transform us so that we can be that kind of unified diversity?

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 Because it sounds nice.

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 Everyone together makes sense.

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 Sounds like a great idea.

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 But how does the gospel actually enable people who like completely different things

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 to be church together?

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 Well, last week we were looking at the second half of chapter one

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 and Paul was working really hard to show us that his gospel message was separate,

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 not different, but separate from what was going on with the Jerusalem apostles in Jerusalem.

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 His ministry was different.

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 He got his revelation direct from Jesus.

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 And so it's strange that we begin this passage with him heading to Jerusalem

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 to meet with the apostles.

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 Last week he was really trying to make it clear,

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 I'm just doing my thing.

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 I mean, it's the same gospel, but I'm doing it over here

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 and they're doing it over there and I don't need them.

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 And then in this passage, we open up at the beginning there

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 and 14 years later, granted that's a bit of a gap,

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 but if the lack of approval was a badge of honour in chapter one,

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 it seems strange to now go up and present the gospel to them

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 as like needing some sort of stamp of approval,

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 some sort of official tick from them.

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 So why go now?

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 Let's have a look.

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 Verse one.

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 Ash read it out for us.

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 Then after 14 years, I went up again to Jerusalem.

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 This is his second visit.

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 This time with Barnabas.

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 I took Titus along also.

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 I went in response to the revelation

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 and meeting privately with those esteemed as leaders,

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 I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles.

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 I wanted to be sure I was not running

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 and had not been running my race in vain.

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 So Paul arrives in Jerusalem as a response to a revelation.

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 That's really important.

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 Paul's not being called into the principal's office here

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 because he's done the wrong thing.

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 This is not, you know, like a power move

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 where you've got to come in and justify what you're doing.

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 God's arranged this.

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 God has said, you need to go up there

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 and he's not there to defend himself.

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 I remember last week, the big shift for Paul with the gospel

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 is that he's not a people pleaser anymore.

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 The tick from these three men, Peter, James and John,

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 as important as they are,

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 doesn't actually matter for Paul personally.

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 So why is he going up?

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 It's right there at the end of verse two.

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 I wanted to be sure I was not running

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 and had not been running my race in vain.

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 Paul's not concerned that his gospel might be wrong.

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 He's already made it clear there is only one gospel

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 and his gospel came from Jesus

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 and the proof of it is in the transformation,

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 even in his own life.

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 The problem going on for Paul

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 was that as he's traveling around

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 to these different places preaching

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 that Jesus has died

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 and that he offers forgiveness for free,

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 that it's only by grace.

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 As he moves on to the next town,

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 to the next group of people,

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 there were these groups of Jews

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 that were kind of following him around

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 and they would come in just after Paul had left

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 and go, that message you just heard was fantastic.

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 It's changed your life.

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 This is what was going on in the Galatian church as well.

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 And go, it's great.

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 Jesus is great.

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 Now all you need to do to be really Christian,

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 to be proper Christians,

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 is be Jewish like us

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 because the church started with us.

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 So you want to be like us

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 because we're the original ones.

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 So just change a little bit.

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 Believe in Jesus,

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 but also be circumcised.

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 Also have your food laws like we do.

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 Also do the things that we like to do.

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 So they're preaching a grace plus gospel

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 and claiming that they were sent

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 by the apostles in Jerusalem,

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 claiming that they had their authority.

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 And so this little episode

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 that Paul's describing here in chapter two

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 is like this showdown

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 between those false teachers

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 that have been chasing Paul

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 and Paul's gospel.

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 And then you've got Peter, James and John

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 there to basically finally and fully tell us

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 which gospel is legitimate.

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 The result of this showdown, verse three.

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 Not even Titus who was with me

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 was compelled to be circumcised,

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 even though he was Greek.

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 This matter arose

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 because some false believers

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 had infiltrated our ranks

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 to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus

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 and to make us slaves.

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 This is why Paul bothers going to Jerusalem.

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 He doesn't care what these false teachers think.

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 He doesn't even care

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 what the real apostles think.

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 The issue is that if the gospel is lost,

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 it's the difference between freedom and slavery.

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 He cares for the church that he planted.

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 He cares that they don't lose this gift

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 that God has given them.

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 And so he goes up to present the gospel boldly.

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 And the result is

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 that not even Titus was compelled to be circumcised.

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 Now, Paul's kind of clever in what he does here.

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 He knows he's going up for a bit of a meeting

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 and he doesn't go by himself.

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 He takes two people with him.

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 They're there in verse one.

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 First, he takes Barnabas.

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 So Barnabas is another Jew.

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 So as soon as Barnabas walks into the room in Jerusalem,

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 everyone's like, oh yeah, he's a Jew.

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 Tick, he's one of us.

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 Fantastic.

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 And Barnabas can tell them

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 that he's witnessed the power

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 of what Paul has been doing in Paul's ministry.

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 But then as well as Barnabas,

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 he takes Titus.

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 Now, Titus is a Greek.

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 He's very not Jewish.

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 He hasn't been raised with Jewish traditions.

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 He doesn't understand how Jews do life,

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 let alone Jewish Christians do following Jesus.

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 For Titus, he just heard the gospel,

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 heard what Jesus has done

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 and accepted the grace of God.

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 That's it.

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 That's his Christian story.

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 He doesn't have all these extra Jewish rules.

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 And for him to stand in front of this group of Jews

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 means what they're talking about

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 isn't just an abstract issue out there anymore.

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 We can't just talk about whether or not

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 some people have to do these extra things

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 to be proper Christians.

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 We have to look Titus in the eyes and say,

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 if you want to be a Christian,

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 you have to be circumcised.

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 See, suddenly this becomes a concrete human issue.

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 The gospel is not about some vague points of doctrine.

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 It's not bullet points.

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 The gospel saves people.

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 And Paul wants the apostles to look Titus in the eyes

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 and say once and for all what the true gospel is.

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 Now, a quick side point that I want to just make for us,

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 stepping out of this for a sec.

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 This is a really important and helpful way for us

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 to engage with the issues that we engage with in the world.

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 As Christians, as we engage with things

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 and we argue for truth

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 and we speak into our culture about what God wants,

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 it's really important for us to engage with the people

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 who embody those issues.

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 When we just engage an issue,

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 it's really easy to slip into being harsh.

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 It's really easy to slip into being unloving.

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 It's really easy to forget

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 that this actually has emotional force

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 and weight as we speak about things.

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 But when there is a person,

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 a face attached to the issue that we're engaging,

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 people we know are created in the image of God.

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 People we know receive compassion

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 when they encounter Jesus.

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 And we know as Christians,

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 we are called to show compassion to people.

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 Not at the expense of truth,

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 but truth spoken in love.

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 Now, I'm just going to leave that there.

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 That's just a little side point.

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 That probably speaks into a whole bunch of stuff.

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 That you might be engaging,

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 but we're just going to park that for a second

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 as just a little helpful model that Paul gave to us.

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 But we're back in here.

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 In the presence of these Jewish apostles,

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 remember these are about as impressive

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 and intimidating as it can get

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 to be in a room with James, Peter and John.

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 And in their presence,

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 Titus listens to these arguments

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 from the false teachers

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 about what he has to do to be a Christian.

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 He weighs it against the gospel

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 that he has heard proclaimed,

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 the gospel that has powerfully transformed

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 him and Paul

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 and all the people in the churches in Galatians.

00:13:24.019 --> 00:13:25.779
 And he is not compelled.

00:13:28.299 --> 00:13:30.879
 That's a really important word in this passage

00:13:30.879 --> 00:13:32.740
 and in the life of any Christian.

00:13:33.579 --> 00:13:35.219
 He is not compelled.

00:13:37.039 --> 00:13:39.159
 In light of the fact that he knows

00:13:39.159 --> 00:13:40.899
 Jesus has died for him.

00:13:41.479 --> 00:13:44.419
 He knows that he can only be in God's family

00:13:44.419 --> 00:13:46.539
 because of God's grace and mercy.

00:13:46.679 --> 00:13:47.339
 Because of that,

00:13:47.459 --> 00:13:49.259
 Titus knows he is free

00:13:49.259 --> 00:13:51.459
 from any extra requirement.

00:13:52.459 --> 00:13:54.459
 He knows there is no extra hurdles.

00:13:54.879 --> 00:13:56.139
 And so he chooses

00:13:56.139 --> 00:13:59.379
 to not be circumcised.

00:14:00.319 --> 00:14:02.099
 Chooses not to jump through this hoop

00:14:02.099 --> 00:14:03.519
 that's being put in front of him.

00:14:03.579 --> 00:14:05.219
 What the gospel has done for him

00:14:05.219 --> 00:14:06.379
 and for us,

00:14:06.500 --> 00:14:07.379
 if we're Christians,

00:14:08.379 --> 00:14:09.759
 is draw a line,

00:14:09.899 --> 00:14:11.360
 create a distinction between

00:14:11.360 --> 00:14:12.840
 what is cultural,

00:14:13.519 --> 00:14:13.960
 that is,

00:14:14.019 --> 00:14:15.620
 what is the way we see things,

00:14:15.720 --> 00:14:16.680
 the way we do things,

00:14:16.740 --> 00:14:17.960
 the way we think about things,

00:14:17.960 --> 00:14:19.580
 and what is gospel.

00:14:20.460 --> 00:14:22.419
 That is unchangeable truth.

00:14:24.100 --> 00:14:25.460
 A line has been drawn

00:14:25.460 --> 00:14:27.240
 between what we must do,

00:14:28.379 --> 00:14:28.879
 the non-negotiables,

00:14:29.879 --> 00:14:32.820
 and what we have freedom to choose.

00:14:32.820 --> 00:14:36.100
 It's kind of like,

00:14:36.140 --> 00:14:37.060
 if you think about the beginning

00:14:37.060 --> 00:14:38.300
 when you walk into church,

00:14:38.960 --> 00:14:40.480
 it's the difference between

00:14:40.480 --> 00:14:42.760
 walking in and deciding,

00:14:43.340 --> 00:14:43.740
 you know what,

00:14:43.920 --> 00:14:45.160
 I don't like the music

00:14:45.160 --> 00:14:48.420
 or I don't want to praise God at all.

00:14:49.700 --> 00:14:51.720
 Now, because of who God is,

00:14:52.480 --> 00:14:53.680
 he demands praise.

00:14:54.440 --> 00:14:56.220
 That's not up for negotiation.

00:14:56.480 --> 00:14:57.220
 That's not up for grabs.

00:14:57.280 --> 00:14:58.200
 If you're following him,

00:14:58.340 --> 00:14:59.580
 the one who created the world

00:14:59.580 --> 00:15:00.400
 in his mercy,

00:15:00.500 --> 00:15:01.520
 chose to send his son

00:15:01.520 --> 00:15:02.400
 to take your punishment,

00:15:02.819 --> 00:15:04.159
 he is praiseworthy.

00:15:04.279 --> 00:15:05.519
 That's what Christians are.

00:15:05.819 --> 00:15:07.220
 They're praise givers.

00:15:07.919 --> 00:15:09.259
 That's a gospel thing.

00:15:09.340 --> 00:15:10.159
 That's not up for grabs.

00:15:10.220 --> 00:15:11.059
 If we were to take a vote,

00:15:11.179 --> 00:15:11.319
 you know,

00:15:11.360 --> 00:15:12.299
 who wants to praise God

00:15:12.299 --> 00:15:12.799
 when we gather?

00:15:13.019 --> 00:15:14.000
 I don't care what you vote

00:15:14.000 --> 00:15:16.139
 because the Bible says we do it.

00:15:17.519 --> 00:15:18.519
 How we do it,

00:15:19.399 --> 00:15:20.639
 if we were to vote on that,

00:15:21.259 --> 00:15:21.480
 you know,

00:15:21.519 --> 00:15:22.500
 like whether we use an organ,

00:15:22.639 --> 00:15:23.620
 whether we have no instruments,

00:15:23.860 --> 00:15:25.419
 whether we insist on drums only,

00:15:25.579 --> 00:15:27.500
 whether we sing loud or soft,

00:15:27.620 --> 00:15:28.679
 whether we do the same line

00:15:28.679 --> 00:15:29.960
 over and over and over again,

00:15:30.059 --> 00:15:31.220
 whether we have a different song

00:15:31.220 --> 00:15:31.960
 every week,

00:15:31.960 --> 00:15:33.379
 whether we only do songs

00:15:33.379 --> 00:15:34.700
 that are written by certain people

00:15:34.700 --> 00:15:35.720
 whose names start with

00:15:35.720 --> 00:15:36.720
 some certain letter

00:15:36.720 --> 00:15:38.040
 or whatever it is,

00:15:38.220 --> 00:15:40.340
 those are cultural things.

00:15:41.060 --> 00:15:42.340
 They're not bad,

00:15:43.019 --> 00:15:44.620
 but they're issues about

00:15:44.620 --> 00:15:46.259
 how we like it,

00:15:46.980 --> 00:15:48.100
 how we're used to it,

00:15:48.379 --> 00:15:49.440
 what we're familiar with,

00:15:49.500 --> 00:15:51.139
 what's comfortable for us.

00:15:51.519 --> 00:15:52.800
 And what the gospel has done

00:15:52.800 --> 00:15:53.680
 has made sure

00:15:53.680 --> 00:15:54.860
 that those two things

00:15:54.860 --> 00:15:55.720
 stay separate.

00:15:55.720 --> 00:15:57.120
 Now,

00:15:57.160 --> 00:15:58.620
 that doesn't mean it's bad

00:15:58.620 --> 00:15:59.500
 to have an opinion

00:15:59.500 --> 00:16:00.519
 about how you like

00:16:00.519 --> 00:16:01.580
 to do praising God.

00:16:02.279 --> 00:16:03.080
 That doesn't mean

00:16:03.080 --> 00:16:04.120
 it's wrong to say,

00:16:04.300 --> 00:16:05.120
 I prefer

00:16:05.120 --> 00:16:06.379
 when we do it

00:16:06.379 --> 00:16:07.259
 a certain way.

00:16:09.360 --> 00:16:10.519
 But what it does

00:16:10.519 --> 00:16:11.399
 is stop us

00:16:11.399 --> 00:16:12.920
 from taking that preference,

00:16:13.639 --> 00:16:14.560
 that comfort,

00:16:15.100 --> 00:16:16.700
 that thing that we like

00:16:16.700 --> 00:16:18.200
 and dragging it over here

00:16:18.200 --> 00:16:19.560
 and making it an issue

00:16:19.559 --> 00:16:22.379
 that we can't be together over,

00:16:23.239 --> 00:16:24.899
 an issue that we expect

00:16:24.899 --> 00:16:26.719
 other people to meet,

00:16:26.799 --> 00:16:27.519
 a requirement

00:16:27.519 --> 00:16:28.699
 that people have to fit

00:16:28.699 --> 00:16:29.879
 if we're going to consider them

00:16:29.879 --> 00:16:31.599
 brothers and sisters in Christ.

00:16:32.779 --> 00:16:32.979
 See,

00:16:33.059 --> 00:16:33.919
 for the Galatians,

00:16:34.259 --> 00:16:35.000
 circumcision

00:16:35.000 --> 00:16:37.379
 is a culturally Jewish thing.

00:16:37.899 --> 00:16:39.439
 It's what Jews do.

00:16:39.519 --> 00:16:41.179
 It's not what non-Jews do.

00:16:41.339 --> 00:16:42.559
 It's not a bad thing.

00:16:43.119 --> 00:16:45.059
 It's not an unchristian thing.

00:16:45.059 --> 00:16:48.579
 But it's just not a gospel thing.

00:16:50.339 --> 00:16:50.679
 And so,

00:16:51.599 --> 00:16:52.219
 basically,

00:16:52.339 --> 00:16:52.839
 the point is,

00:16:53.139 --> 00:16:54.399
 Titus can get circumcised

00:16:54.399 --> 00:16:55.159
 if he wants to,

00:16:55.979 --> 00:16:57.639
 but he just doesn't have to.

00:16:58.479 --> 00:16:59.719
 It makes no difference

00:16:59.719 --> 00:17:00.279
 to whether or not

00:17:00.279 --> 00:17:01.000
 he's a Christian.

00:17:01.339 --> 00:17:01.479
 Now,

00:17:01.519 --> 00:17:02.559
 the interesting thing is,

00:17:02.619 --> 00:17:03.879
 if you go to Acts 16

00:17:03.879 --> 00:17:05.119
 and do this in your community group

00:17:05.119 --> 00:17:05.720
 during the week,

00:17:06.440 --> 00:17:08.460
 Paul is in another situation

00:17:08.460 --> 00:17:09.960
 where this circumcision issue

00:17:09.960 --> 00:17:10.460
 comes up,

00:17:10.519 --> 00:17:11.379
 but he's travelling with a guy

00:17:11.379 --> 00:17:12.139
 called Timothy,

00:17:12.659 --> 00:17:13.960
 another one of his ministry partners.

00:17:13.960 --> 00:17:15.500
 And in that instance,

00:17:16.079 --> 00:17:17.920
 he decides to circumcise Timothy

00:17:17.920 --> 00:17:20.019
 for the sake of fellowship

00:17:20.019 --> 00:17:20.600
 with the people

00:17:20.600 --> 00:17:21.740
 that they're trying to minister to.

00:17:22.440 --> 00:17:24.059
 So you've got the same issue

00:17:24.059 --> 00:17:25.680
 and on two different occasions,

00:17:25.860 --> 00:17:27.559
 Paul makes two different choices

00:17:27.559 --> 00:17:29.160
 because he understands

00:17:29.160 --> 00:17:30.740
 that he's free to do that.

00:17:32.019 --> 00:17:33.579
 It's not a gospel issue.

00:17:33.680 --> 00:17:34.900
 He's choosing to do it.

00:17:35.160 --> 00:17:36.220
 And the point here

00:17:36.220 --> 00:17:38.059
 is that Christian freedom

00:17:38.059 --> 00:17:39.840
 is not freedom

00:17:39.840 --> 00:17:41.420
 for you to do whatever you want.

00:17:41.420 --> 00:17:44.120
 Christian freedom

00:17:44.120 --> 00:17:45.779
 is not a get out of jail free card

00:17:45.779 --> 00:17:46.840
 that means you can just be like,

00:17:46.920 --> 00:17:48.240
 no one can tell me what to do.

00:17:48.420 --> 00:17:49.779
 I'm going to do it my way.

00:17:51.460 --> 00:17:52.300
 The gospel

00:17:52.300 --> 00:17:54.539
 is the good news

00:17:54.539 --> 00:17:56.660
 that God has accepted you

00:17:56.660 --> 00:17:58.160
 on no basis of your own,

00:17:59.200 --> 00:18:00.420
 but because of his mercy

00:18:00.420 --> 00:18:01.680
 and because of Jesus' death.

00:18:01.759 --> 00:18:02.840
 And the result is

00:18:02.840 --> 00:18:04.420
 that you are now free

00:18:04.960 --> 00:18:06.900
 to choose.

00:18:06.900 --> 00:18:09.259
 free to choose

00:18:09.259 --> 00:18:10.180
 what parts of

00:18:10.180 --> 00:18:11.480
 your own culture

00:18:11.480 --> 00:18:12.920
 and the cultures around you

00:18:12.920 --> 00:18:13.860
 you will embrace

00:18:13.860 --> 00:18:15.960
 and which bits you won't.

00:18:18.900 --> 00:18:20.920
 But the question now is

00:18:20.920 --> 00:18:24.200
 not do I have to.

00:18:25.200 --> 00:18:25.500
 I mean,

00:18:25.580 --> 00:18:27.120
 when our cultures clash

00:18:27.120 --> 00:18:28.000
 and I'm using culture

00:18:28.000 --> 00:18:29.420
 in a really broad sense here,

00:18:29.440 --> 00:18:30.060
 I'm not just saying

00:18:30.060 --> 00:18:31.120
 that the ethnicity

00:18:31.120 --> 00:18:32.680
 or the country you're from,

00:18:32.920 --> 00:18:34.180
 if you live on the North Shore,

00:18:34.340 --> 00:18:35.259
 you're part of a culture.

00:18:35.259 --> 00:18:36.779
 If you're uni-educated,

00:18:36.859 --> 00:18:37.759
 you're part of a culture.

00:18:38.000 --> 00:18:39.359
 If you're into a particular sport,

00:18:39.440 --> 00:18:40.319
 you're part of a culture.

00:18:40.460 --> 00:18:41.359
 The things that shape

00:18:41.359 --> 00:18:42.180
 the way we think,

00:18:42.259 --> 00:18:42.799
 what we value,

00:18:42.920 --> 00:18:44.220
 that's what I mean by culture.

00:18:44.640 --> 00:18:46.019
 And the gospel is saying

00:18:46.019 --> 00:18:47.599
 you're now free to choose

00:18:47.599 --> 00:18:50.119
 which bits of the cultural shapers

00:18:50.119 --> 00:18:50.859
 in your life

00:18:50.859 --> 00:18:52.359
 you're going to hold on to

00:18:52.359 --> 00:18:53.579
 as non-negotiables

00:18:53.579 --> 00:18:55.779
 and which bits

00:18:55.779 --> 00:18:57.119
 you're going to choose

00:18:57.119 --> 00:18:59.099
 to either embrace in others

00:18:59.099 --> 00:19:00.539
 or deny in yourself.

00:19:01.500 --> 00:19:03.099
 But the question is,

00:19:03.099 --> 00:19:05.419
 how do we choose?

00:19:06.439 --> 00:19:07.579
 How does Paul choose?

00:19:07.659 --> 00:19:09.179
 It's there in verse 5.

00:19:10.240 --> 00:19:11.259
 How does he make the decision

00:19:11.259 --> 00:19:12.159
 here with Titus?

00:19:12.519 --> 00:19:12.719
 It says,

00:19:12.839 --> 00:19:13.939
 we did not give in to them

00:19:13.939 --> 00:19:14.619
 for a moment.

00:19:14.779 --> 00:19:15.019
 Why?

00:19:16.759 --> 00:19:18.519
 So that the truth of the gospel

00:19:18.519 --> 00:19:20.119
 might be preserved for you.

00:19:21.819 --> 00:19:23.299
 The truth of the gospel,

00:19:23.480 --> 00:19:25.259
 that's what's driving him here.

00:19:25.259 --> 00:19:27.500
 Will exercising freedom

00:19:27.500 --> 00:19:28.639
 in this occasion

00:19:28.639 --> 00:19:30.439
 preserve the truth

00:19:30.439 --> 00:19:32.819
 that God accepts people by grace

00:19:32.819 --> 00:19:34.319
 or will it confuse it?

00:19:35.539 --> 00:19:36.399
 Will it make it muddy

00:19:36.399 --> 00:19:37.220
 for other people?

00:19:37.500 --> 00:19:38.679
 See, for Paul and Titus,

00:19:38.759 --> 00:19:39.839
 this isn't just a fight

00:19:39.839 --> 00:19:41.740
 for Titus to not be circumcised.

00:19:42.439 --> 00:19:43.159
 They're not just trying

00:19:43.159 --> 00:19:43.960
 to win the day

00:19:43.960 --> 00:19:44.859
 or win the moment.

00:19:45.220 --> 00:19:46.799
 This is a landmark fight

00:19:46.799 --> 00:19:47.599
 for the freedom

00:19:47.599 --> 00:19:48.759
 of all of the Christians

00:19:48.759 --> 00:19:49.559
 in Galatia,

00:19:49.659 --> 00:19:51.099
 for us as Christians now

00:19:51.099 --> 00:19:52.299
 to make it clear

00:19:52.299 --> 00:19:54.079
 that you do not need

00:19:54.079 --> 00:19:56.500
 to fit Jewish cultural requirements

00:19:56.500 --> 00:19:57.659
 if you're going to follow Jesus.

00:19:59.359 --> 00:20:01.079
 You just need to trust Jesus.

00:20:02.819 --> 00:20:05.279
 gospel freedom,

00:20:05.740 --> 00:20:06.579
 Christian freedom

00:20:06.579 --> 00:20:08.960
 is freedom from compulsion.

00:20:11.159 --> 00:20:12.799
 It's the removal of things

00:20:12.799 --> 00:20:14.460
 that you have to do,

00:20:15.119 --> 00:20:17.099
 which means not just

00:20:17.099 --> 00:20:18.099
 the external things

00:20:18.099 --> 00:20:19.039
 that other people tell you

00:20:19.039 --> 00:20:19.759
 you have to do,

00:20:20.059 --> 00:20:21.319
 but also the things

00:20:21.319 --> 00:20:22.439
 that you think

00:20:22.439 --> 00:20:23.179
 you have to do.

00:20:25.079 --> 00:20:26.259
 One of my favourite things

00:20:26.259 --> 00:20:26.980
 about our church

00:20:26.980 --> 00:20:28.779
 is the cultural diversity

00:20:28.779 --> 00:20:30.000
 that we have in our church.

00:20:30.099 --> 00:20:31.039
 You don't have to look far

00:20:31.039 --> 00:20:31.720
 to see people

00:20:31.720 --> 00:20:32.240
 who have had

00:20:32.240 --> 00:20:33.500
 different background,

00:20:33.700 --> 00:20:34.399
 different upbringing,

00:20:34.619 --> 00:20:35.299
 different experience

00:20:35.299 --> 00:20:35.940
 of childhood.

00:20:36.779 --> 00:20:37.940
 But one of the issues

00:20:37.940 --> 00:20:39.180
 when we talk about culture

00:20:39.180 --> 00:20:39.700
 like this

00:20:39.700 --> 00:20:40.779
 and we talk about gospel

00:20:40.779 --> 00:20:42.639
 is that we primarily

00:20:42.639 --> 00:20:44.139
 think of culture

00:20:44.139 --> 00:20:46.240
 out there.

00:20:47.319 --> 00:20:48.420
 We primarily think

00:20:48.420 --> 00:20:49.359
 you have a culture,

00:20:49.599 --> 00:20:50.259
 I'm normal.

00:20:51.539 --> 00:20:52.680
 So the way you do things,

00:20:52.759 --> 00:20:53.960
 that's your cultural stuff.

00:20:54.200 --> 00:20:55.000
 The way I do things

00:20:55.000 --> 00:20:55.700
 is the way everybody

00:20:55.700 --> 00:20:56.420
 should do things

00:20:56.420 --> 00:20:57.259
 if they knew as much

00:20:57.259 --> 00:20:57.700
 as I do.

00:20:57.700 --> 00:20:59.240
 We don't recognise

00:20:59.240 --> 00:21:00.880
 that we have cultural

00:21:00.880 --> 00:21:02.580
 things that shape us.

00:21:02.759 --> 00:21:03.819
 It just doesn't feel

00:21:03.819 --> 00:21:04.380
 like culture

00:21:04.380 --> 00:21:05.039
 when it's the way

00:21:05.039 --> 00:21:06.220
 we've always done it.

00:21:08.340 --> 00:21:09.900
 And that's especially true

00:21:09.900 --> 00:21:10.880
 if you're the majority.

00:21:13.360 --> 00:21:14.740
 And so the risk is

00:21:14.740 --> 00:21:16.920
 we don't take our culture

00:21:16.920 --> 00:21:17.559
 and hold it up

00:21:17.559 --> 00:21:18.140
 to the gospel.

00:21:19.740 --> 00:21:21.259
 We don't take our culture

00:21:21.259 --> 00:21:22.140
 and look through

00:21:22.140 --> 00:21:23.259
 the lens of the gospel

00:21:23.259 --> 00:21:24.279
 and decide

00:21:24.279 --> 00:21:25.360
 what we need to keep

00:21:25.360 --> 00:21:26.400
 and what we need to let go.

00:21:26.400 --> 00:21:26.920
 And instead,

00:21:27.140 --> 00:21:28.360
 we take our preferences

00:21:28.360 --> 00:21:29.759
 and we elevate them

00:21:29.759 --> 00:21:30.700
 over into the gospel

00:21:30.700 --> 00:21:31.680
 issue category.

00:21:32.519 --> 00:21:33.060
 And so you need

00:21:33.060 --> 00:21:33.860
 to love Jesus

00:21:33.860 --> 00:21:34.820
 but you need to love him

00:21:34.820 --> 00:21:36.000
 the way that I love him

00:21:36.000 --> 00:21:37.580
 with a full band

00:21:37.580 --> 00:21:40.720
 or in a church

00:21:40.720 --> 00:21:41.800
 that faces sideways

00:21:41.800 --> 00:21:43.960
 or dressed a certain way.

00:21:45.360 --> 00:21:46.300
 The best example

00:21:46.300 --> 00:21:47.019
 I could think of

00:21:47.019 --> 00:21:47.500
 with this

00:21:47.500 --> 00:21:49.340
 and I'm no expert on them

00:21:49.340 --> 00:21:50.440
 but the Amish.

00:21:51.340 --> 00:21:52.100
 The Amish

00:21:52.100 --> 00:21:52.820
 are a particular

00:21:52.820 --> 00:21:54.540
 strand of religious group

00:21:54.539 --> 00:21:55.420
 that have kind of

00:21:55.420 --> 00:21:57.359
 identified themselves

00:21:57.359 --> 00:21:58.599
 culturally.

00:21:59.619 --> 00:22:01.180
 They dress a certain way

00:22:01.180 --> 00:22:01.899
 and they all dress

00:22:01.899 --> 00:22:02.559
 the same way.

00:22:03.099 --> 00:22:03.680
 They've decided

00:22:03.680 --> 00:22:05.059
 to reject certain things

00:22:05.059 --> 00:22:06.579
 like various technologies.

00:22:06.839 --> 00:22:08.059
 They don't shave

00:22:08.059 --> 00:22:08.720
 some of them.

00:22:08.899 --> 00:22:09.599
 There's all these

00:22:09.599 --> 00:22:10.420
 really specific

00:22:10.420 --> 00:22:11.500
 cultural distinctions

00:22:11.500 --> 00:22:13.460
 and those cultural markers

00:22:13.460 --> 00:22:14.319
 are what mark you

00:22:14.319 --> 00:22:15.420
 as in with them

00:22:15.420 --> 00:22:16.539
 or out.

00:22:17.299 --> 00:22:18.059
 If you don't tick

00:22:18.059 --> 00:22:18.700
 those boxes,

00:22:18.920 --> 00:22:19.799
 you're not in.

00:22:20.899 --> 00:22:22.039
 And these people claim

00:22:22.039 --> 00:22:23.000
 to be following Jesus.

00:22:23.000 --> 00:22:23.720
 And look,

00:22:23.799 --> 00:22:24.180
 some of them

00:22:24.180 --> 00:22:24.799
 might be trying

00:22:24.799 --> 00:22:25.640
 but the issue is

00:22:25.640 --> 00:22:26.920
 they've missed

00:22:26.920 --> 00:22:28.240
 this gift of freedom

00:22:28.240 --> 00:22:29.339
 in the gospel

00:22:29.339 --> 00:22:30.500
 that God has provided.

00:22:31.440 --> 00:22:32.420
 The gospel has set us

00:22:32.420 --> 00:22:33.579
 free from the compulsion

00:22:33.579 --> 00:22:34.440
 and instead

00:22:34.440 --> 00:22:36.700
 replaced what you have to do

00:22:36.700 --> 00:22:39.079
 with the choice.

00:22:40.519 --> 00:22:41.900
 That's what freedom is about.

00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:43.279
 He's given us the choice

00:22:43.279 --> 00:22:44.000
 to forego,

00:22:44.680 --> 00:22:45.440
 to give up

00:22:45.440 --> 00:22:47.000
 our own cultural entitlements,

00:22:48.000 --> 00:22:49.519
 to give up the things

00:22:49.519 --> 00:22:50.960
 the way we like them,

00:22:51.119 --> 00:22:51.980
 the way that makes it

00:22:51.980 --> 00:22:53.319
 most comfortable for us

00:22:53.319 --> 00:22:54.559
 and to accommodate

00:22:54.559 --> 00:22:56.200
 and embrace

00:22:56.200 --> 00:22:57.700
 the cultures around us

00:22:57.700 --> 00:22:59.440
 for the purpose

00:22:59.440 --> 00:23:00.680
 of preserving

00:23:00.680 --> 00:23:02.279
 the gospel truth

00:23:02.279 --> 00:23:03.579
 and proclaiming

00:23:03.579 --> 00:23:04.880
 the gospel truth.

00:23:06.279 --> 00:23:07.799
 It's not even about

00:23:07.799 --> 00:23:08.519
 how comfortable

00:23:08.519 --> 00:23:10.240
 it is for us.

00:23:11.279 --> 00:23:12.480
 The reason

00:23:12.480 --> 00:23:13.839
 we choose

00:23:13.839 --> 00:23:14.640
 to sometimes

00:23:14.640 --> 00:23:16.180
 let go of what we like,

00:23:16.900 --> 00:23:18.099
 to be uncomfortable,

00:23:18.099 --> 00:23:20.619
 is so that the gospel

00:23:20.619 --> 00:23:22.019
 truth might be clear.

00:23:23.000 --> 00:23:23.799
 Clear for the people

00:23:23.799 --> 00:23:24.399
 around us

00:23:24.399 --> 00:23:25.399
 who maybe get something

00:23:25.399 --> 00:23:26.339
 the way that they like

00:23:26.339 --> 00:23:27.099
 for a change.

00:23:27.879 --> 00:23:28.759
 Clear for us

00:23:28.759 --> 00:23:29.779
 because we can begin

00:23:29.779 --> 00:23:30.379
 to realise

00:23:30.379 --> 00:23:31.839
 that the way we like it

00:23:31.839 --> 00:23:32.639
 isn't necessarily

00:23:32.639 --> 00:23:33.439
 the best thing.

00:23:33.559 --> 00:23:34.299
 Jesus is.

00:23:35.439 --> 00:23:36.399
 Jesus anyway

00:23:36.399 --> 00:23:37.339
 is a good thing.

00:23:39.439 --> 00:23:40.480
 This is what

00:23:40.480 --> 00:23:41.959
 transcultural looks like.

00:23:41.960 --> 00:23:44.920
 We all bring

00:23:44.920 --> 00:23:46.180
 our cultural background

00:23:46.180 --> 00:23:47.000
 with us

00:23:47.000 --> 00:23:49.000
 and then we let

00:23:49.000 --> 00:23:49.980
 the gospel dictate

00:23:49.980 --> 00:23:51.039
 which bits stay

00:23:51.039 --> 00:23:52.039
 part of who we are

00:23:52.039 --> 00:23:52.680
 as a community

00:23:52.680 --> 00:23:54.019
 and which bits

00:23:54.019 --> 00:23:55.120
 we need to get rid of

00:23:55.120 --> 00:23:56.319
 and which bits

00:23:56.319 --> 00:23:57.220
 we choose.

00:23:57.759 --> 00:23:58.579
 That's the key word.

00:23:58.640 --> 00:23:58.960
 Which bits

00:23:58.960 --> 00:23:59.740
 we choose

00:23:59.740 --> 00:24:00.860
 to get rid of

00:24:00.860 --> 00:24:01.620
 for the sake

00:24:01.620 --> 00:24:02.660
 of being unified

00:24:02.660 --> 00:24:03.720
 in the gospel

00:24:03.720 --> 00:24:04.380
 of grace.

00:24:06.059 --> 00:24:06.799
 Which bits

00:24:06.799 --> 00:24:07.539
 will I let go

00:24:07.539 --> 00:24:08.840
 so that grace

00:24:08.840 --> 00:24:09.779
 might be obvious?

00:24:09.779 --> 00:24:13.259
 The gospel

00:24:13.259 --> 00:24:14.299
 set the Gentile

00:24:14.299 --> 00:24:14.960
 Christians

00:24:14.960 --> 00:24:15.819
 free from the

00:24:15.819 --> 00:24:16.420
 requirement

00:24:16.420 --> 00:24:17.180
 of becoming

00:24:17.180 --> 00:24:18.500
 culturally Jewish.

00:24:19.279 --> 00:24:19.980
 It basically said

00:24:19.980 --> 00:24:21.160
 you don't have to.

00:24:21.279 --> 00:24:22.299
 There's no compulsion

00:24:22.299 --> 00:24:24.279
 and therefore

00:24:24.279 --> 00:24:24.799
 what it did

00:24:24.799 --> 00:24:25.539
 was set them free

00:24:25.539 --> 00:24:26.319
 to choose to.

00:24:27.240 --> 00:24:27.879
 So someone like

00:24:27.879 --> 00:24:28.920
 Timothy can choose

00:24:28.920 --> 00:24:29.920
 to out of love

00:24:29.920 --> 00:24:32.399
 not just based

00:24:32.399 --> 00:24:33.359
 on what was convenient

00:24:33.359 --> 00:24:34.899
 but based on

00:24:34.899 --> 00:24:35.599
 what would preserve

00:24:35.599 --> 00:24:36.799
 the truth of the gospel.

00:24:37.160 --> 00:24:37.920
 What would declare

00:24:37.920 --> 00:24:38.920
 to the people around

00:24:38.920 --> 00:24:39.759
 what would best

00:24:39.759 --> 00:24:40.920
 show the security

00:24:40.920 --> 00:24:42.279
 he had in Jesus?

00:24:44.080 --> 00:24:45.019
 What would best

00:24:45.019 --> 00:24:45.880
 show that Jesus

00:24:45.880 --> 00:24:46.759
 is completely

00:24:46.759 --> 00:24:47.660
 satisfying?

00:24:50.200 --> 00:24:51.019
 And the answer

00:24:51.019 --> 00:24:51.880
 was giving up

00:24:51.880 --> 00:24:53.880
 what was his right.

00:24:55.480 --> 00:24:56.259
 The gospel

00:24:56.259 --> 00:24:57.160
 sets us free

00:24:57.160 --> 00:24:58.060
 so that our

00:24:58.060 --> 00:24:58.580
 diversity

00:24:58.580 --> 00:24:59.240
 might be an

00:24:59.240 --> 00:25:00.000
 opportunity.

00:25:02.140 --> 00:25:02.880
 The gospel

00:25:02.880 --> 00:25:03.560
 sets us free

00:25:03.560 --> 00:25:04.100
 so that when

00:25:04.100 --> 00:25:04.660
 our cultures

00:25:04.660 --> 00:25:05.340
 do clash

00:25:05.340 --> 00:25:05.740
 when we have

00:25:05.740 --> 00:25:06.480
 different ideas

00:25:06.480 --> 00:25:07.160
 about how things

00:25:07.160 --> 00:25:07.840
 should be done

00:25:07.839 --> 00:25:09.339
 how people relate

00:25:09.339 --> 00:25:10.259
 how we do church

00:25:10.259 --> 00:25:11.119
 whatever it is

00:25:11.119 --> 00:25:11.959
 we have an

00:25:11.959 --> 00:25:12.459
 opportunity

00:25:12.459 --> 00:25:13.759
 to choose

00:25:13.759 --> 00:25:15.699
 sacrificial love

00:25:15.699 --> 00:25:20.480
 and in sharing

00:25:20.480 --> 00:25:21.199
 discomfort

00:25:21.199 --> 00:25:23.259
 preserving the

00:25:23.259 --> 00:25:24.139
 truth of the gospel.

00:25:26.339 --> 00:25:27.000
 First thing

00:25:27.000 --> 00:25:27.759
 the gospel does

00:25:27.759 --> 00:25:28.439
 is set us free

00:25:28.439 --> 00:25:29.220
 from compulsion

00:25:29.220 --> 00:25:30.199
 the second thing

00:25:30.199 --> 00:25:32.059
 is it prioritizes

00:25:32.059 --> 00:25:32.839
 grace.

00:25:34.299 --> 00:25:34.980
 What the gospel

00:25:34.980 --> 00:25:35.759
 doesn't do

00:25:35.759 --> 00:25:36.419
 is remove

00:25:36.419 --> 00:25:37.099
 difference.

00:25:37.839 --> 00:25:38.399
 The gospel

00:25:38.399 --> 00:25:38.779
 is not

00:25:38.779 --> 00:25:39.179
 this big

00:25:39.179 --> 00:25:39.859
 steamroller

00:25:39.859 --> 00:25:40.220
 that just

00:25:40.220 --> 00:25:40.579
 gets rid

00:25:40.579 --> 00:25:40.959
 of any

00:25:40.959 --> 00:25:41.319
 difference

00:25:41.319 --> 00:25:41.819
 of opinion

00:25:41.819 --> 00:25:42.259
 and turns

00:25:42.259 --> 00:25:42.599
 us into

00:25:42.599 --> 00:25:43.019
 like you

00:25:43.019 --> 00:25:43.139
 know

00:25:43.139 --> 00:25:43.559
 vanilla

00:25:43.559 --> 00:25:44.199
 flavoured

00:25:44.199 --> 00:25:44.879
 church

00:25:44.879 --> 00:25:45.359
 community

00:25:45.359 --> 00:25:45.720
 where we

00:25:45.720 --> 00:25:46.099
 all like

00:25:46.099 --> 00:25:46.539
 the same

00:25:46.539 --> 00:25:46.919
 thing

00:25:46.919 --> 00:25:47.559
 like it

00:25:47.559 --> 00:25:47.939
 the same

00:25:47.939 --> 00:25:48.319
 way.

00:25:48.879 --> 00:25:49.419
 The parts

00:25:49.419 --> 00:25:49.659
 of you

00:25:49.659 --> 00:25:49.959
 that are

00:25:49.959 --> 00:25:50.500
 unique

00:25:50.500 --> 00:25:51.559
 and different

00:25:51.559 --> 00:25:52.079
 are an

00:25:52.079 --> 00:25:52.500
 expression

00:25:52.500 --> 00:25:53.299
 of God's

00:25:53.299 --> 00:25:53.919
 creativity

00:25:53.919 --> 00:25:54.759
 they matter

00:25:54.759 --> 00:25:55.279
 to him

00:25:55.279 --> 00:25:55.799
 but what

00:25:55.799 --> 00:25:56.339
 the gospel

00:25:56.339 --> 00:25:56.839
 does

00:25:56.839 --> 00:25:57.539
 is when

00:25:57.539 --> 00:25:58.119
 we find

00:25:58.119 --> 00:25:58.659
 these areas

00:25:58.659 --> 00:25:59.439
 of difference

00:25:59.439 --> 00:26:00.299
 it enables

00:26:00.299 --> 00:26:01.259
 us to focus

00:26:01.259 --> 00:26:01.839
 on what

00:26:01.839 --> 00:26:02.679
 matters most

00:26:02.679 --> 00:26:03.459
 what's most

00:26:03.459 --> 00:26:03.980
 important.

00:26:03.980 --> 00:26:05.920
 So remember

00:26:05.920 --> 00:26:06.680
 in this story

00:26:06.680 --> 00:26:07.160
 Paul is

00:26:07.160 --> 00:26:08.180
 visiting Jerusalem

00:26:08.180 --> 00:26:09.120
 to get the

00:26:09.120 --> 00:26:09.660
 gospel that

00:26:09.660 --> 00:26:10.019
 he's been

00:26:10.019 --> 00:26:10.400
 preaching

00:26:10.400 --> 00:26:11.079
 vindicated

00:26:11.079 --> 00:26:11.539
 against the

00:26:11.539 --> 00:26:12.120
 false teachers

00:26:12.120 --> 00:26:13.299
 he's there

00:26:13.299 --> 00:26:13.920
 to ensure

00:26:13.920 --> 00:26:14.420
 that his

00:26:14.420 --> 00:26:15.000
 churches

00:26:15.000 --> 00:26:15.460
 won't be

00:26:15.460 --> 00:26:16.120
 dragged away

00:26:16.120 --> 00:26:16.519
 from this

00:26:16.519 --> 00:26:17.299
 one good

00:26:17.299 --> 00:26:18.059
 news message

00:26:18.059 --> 00:26:18.880
 and he's

00:26:18.880 --> 00:26:19.200
 there to

00:26:19.200 --> 00:26:19.660
 connect

00:26:19.660 --> 00:26:20.440
 with the

00:26:20.440 --> 00:26:20.900
 Jerusalem

00:26:20.900 --> 00:26:21.440
 apostles

00:26:21.440 --> 00:26:22.160
 with Peter

00:26:22.160 --> 00:26:22.660
 James and

00:26:22.660 --> 00:26:22.880
 John.

00:26:22.880 --> 00:26:25.840
 Now on

00:26:25.840 --> 00:26:26.700
 what basis

00:26:26.700 --> 00:26:28.080
 does Paul

00:26:28.080 --> 00:26:28.640
 connect

00:26:28.640 --> 00:26:29.240
 with those

00:26:29.240 --> 00:26:29.820
 three guys?

00:26:32.320 --> 00:26:32.900
 I mean

00:26:32.900 --> 00:26:34.020
 let's just

00:26:34.020 --> 00:26:34.480
 think about

00:26:34.480 --> 00:26:35.020
 how much

00:26:35.020 --> 00:26:35.360
 they would

00:26:35.360 --> 00:26:35.600
 have had

00:26:35.600 --> 00:26:35.980
 in common.

00:26:37.400 --> 00:26:37.700
 They're

00:26:37.700 --> 00:26:38.480
 four Jewish

00:26:38.480 --> 00:26:38.800
 men

00:26:38.800 --> 00:26:40.640
 all in the

00:26:40.640 --> 00:26:41.180
 ballpark

00:26:41.180 --> 00:26:41.760
 of the same

00:26:41.760 --> 00:26:42.180
 age

00:26:42.180 --> 00:26:43.560
 all with

00:26:43.560 --> 00:26:44.040
 Jewish

00:26:44.040 --> 00:26:44.960
 upbringings

00:26:44.960 --> 00:26:46.260
 all probably

00:26:46.260 --> 00:26:46.940
 living in

00:26:46.940 --> 00:26:47.580
 roughly the

00:26:47.580 --> 00:26:48.340
 same area

00:26:48.340 --> 00:26:50.140
 trained in

00:26:50.140 --> 00:26:50.400
 Jewish

00:26:50.400 --> 00:26:50.960
 tradition

00:26:50.960 --> 00:26:52.660
 eating the

00:26:52.660 --> 00:26:53.380
 same foods

00:26:53.380 --> 00:26:54.000
 familiar with

00:26:54.000 --> 00:26:55.240
 kosher diets

00:26:55.240 --> 00:26:56.620
 certain holy

00:26:56.620 --> 00:26:57.259
 days to be

00:26:57.259 --> 00:26:57.800
 observed

00:26:57.800 --> 00:26:59.880
 and so

00:26:59.880 --> 00:27:00.620
 what basis

00:27:00.620 --> 00:27:01.220
 of their

00:27:01.220 --> 00:27:01.880
 commonality

00:27:01.880 --> 00:27:02.480
 does Paul

00:27:02.480 --> 00:27:03.019
 use to

00:27:03.019 --> 00:27:03.540
 establish

00:27:03.540 --> 00:27:04.240
 this

00:27:04.240 --> 00:27:04.700
 connection

00:27:04.700 --> 00:27:07.040
 with all

00:27:07.040 --> 00:27:07.400
 those to

00:27:07.400 --> 00:27:07.920
 choose from?

00:27:10.680 --> 00:27:11.200
 Grace.

00:27:14.820 --> 00:27:15.480
 Have a look

00:27:15.480 --> 00:27:16.040
 at verse 6

00:27:16.040 --> 00:27:17.180
 as for those

00:27:17.180 --> 00:27:17.700
 who are held

00:27:17.700 --> 00:27:18.600
 in high esteem

00:27:18.600 --> 00:27:19.420
 whatever they

00:27:19.420 --> 00:27:19.900
 were makes

00:27:19.900 --> 00:27:20.460
 no difference

00:27:20.460 --> 00:27:20.820
 to me

00:27:20.820 --> 00:27:21.640
 God does not

00:27:21.640 --> 00:27:22.460
 show favoritism

00:27:22.460 --> 00:27:22.980
 they added

00:27:22.980 --> 00:27:23.660
 nothing to

00:27:23.660 --> 00:27:24.259
 my message.

00:27:24.519 --> 00:27:24.819
 Now it

00:27:24.819 --> 00:27:25.220
 sounds a bit

00:27:25.220 --> 00:27:25.620
 like Paul's

00:27:25.620 --> 00:27:25.940
 having a

00:27:25.940 --> 00:27:26.460
 crack at

00:27:26.460 --> 00:27:26.799
 them there

00:27:26.799 --> 00:27:27.620
 but really

00:27:27.620 --> 00:27:27.900
 what he's

00:27:27.900 --> 00:27:28.759
 doing is

00:27:28.759 --> 00:27:29.500
 he's saying

00:27:29.500 --> 00:27:30.200
 unlike the

00:27:30.200 --> 00:27:30.880
 false teachers

00:27:30.880 --> 00:27:31.319
 who take

00:27:31.319 --> 00:27:31.680
 all their

00:27:31.680 --> 00:27:32.299
 authority from

00:27:32.299 --> 00:27:32.840
 these three

00:27:32.840 --> 00:27:33.759
 guys what

00:27:33.759 --> 00:27:34.340
 matters for

00:27:34.340 --> 00:27:35.059
 him is

00:27:35.059 --> 00:27:36.299
 the message

00:27:36.299 --> 00:27:36.620
 of the

00:27:36.620 --> 00:27:37.079
 grace in

00:27:37.079 --> 00:27:37.519
 the gospel

00:27:37.519 --> 00:27:38.539
 the message

00:27:38.539 --> 00:27:38.960
 of grace

00:27:38.960 --> 00:27:39.299
 in the

00:27:39.299 --> 00:27:39.640
 gospel.

00:27:42.640 --> 00:27:43.299
 On the

00:27:43.299 --> 00:27:43.799
 contrary

00:27:43.799 --> 00:27:44.460
 verse 7

00:27:44.460 --> 00:27:44.740
 they

00:27:44.740 --> 00:27:45.539
 recognized

00:27:45.539 --> 00:27:46.799
 they

00:27:46.799 --> 00:27:48.759
 had been

00:27:48.759 --> 00:27:49.200
 entrusted

00:27:49.200 --> 00:27:49.380
 to the

00:27:49.380 --> 00:27:50.400
 uncircumcised

00:27:50.400 --> 00:27:51.079
 just as

00:27:51.079 --> 00:27:51.519
 Peter had

00:27:51.519 --> 00:27:51.860
 been to

00:27:51.860 --> 00:27:52.000
 the

00:27:52.000 --> 00:27:52.740
 circumcised

00:27:52.740 --> 00:27:53.660
 for God

00:27:53.660 --> 00:27:54.059
 who was at

00:27:54.059 --> 00:27:54.480
 work in

00:27:54.480 --> 00:27:55.019
 Peter as

00:27:55.019 --> 00:27:55.460
 an apostle

00:27:55.460 --> 00:27:55.860
 to the

00:27:55.860 --> 00:27:56.579
 circumcised

00:27:56.579 --> 00:27:57.559
 was also

00:27:57.559 --> 00:27:58.019
 at work

00:27:58.019 --> 00:27:58.559
 in me

00:27:58.559 --> 00:27:58.980
 as an

00:27:58.980 --> 00:27:59.299
 apostle

00:27:59.299 --> 00:27:59.660
 to the

00:27:59.660 --> 00:28:00.279
 Gentiles

00:28:00.279 --> 00:28:01.400
 James

00:28:01.400 --> 00:28:01.880
 Cephas

00:28:01.880 --> 00:28:02.400
 and John

00:28:02.400 --> 00:28:02.720
 those

00:28:02.720 --> 00:28:03.220
 esteemed

00:28:03.220 --> 00:28:03.779
 as pillars

00:28:03.779 --> 00:28:05.059
 gave me

00:28:05.059 --> 00:28:05.660
 and Barnabas

00:28:05.660 --> 00:28:06.240
 the right

00:28:06.240 --> 00:28:06.779
 hand of

00:28:06.779 --> 00:28:07.299
 fellowship

00:28:07.299 --> 00:28:08.559
 when they

00:28:08.559 --> 00:28:09.500
 recognized

00:28:09.500 --> 00:28:10.440
 the grace

00:28:10.440 --> 00:28:11.539
 given to

00:28:11.539 --> 00:28:11.799
 me.

00:28:13.400 --> 00:28:14.279
 They agreed

00:28:14.279 --> 00:28:14.640
 we should

00:28:14.640 --> 00:28:15.019
 go to the

00:28:15.019 --> 00:28:15.579
 Gentiles

00:28:15.579 --> 00:28:16.039
 and they

00:28:16.039 --> 00:28:16.420
 to the

00:28:16.420 --> 00:28:17.079
 circumcised

00:28:17.079 --> 00:28:17.700
 the gospel

00:28:17.700 --> 00:28:18.660
 of grace

00:28:18.660 --> 00:28:19.940
 they didn't

00:28:19.940 --> 00:28:20.319
 add to

00:28:20.319 --> 00:28:21.140
 his message

00:28:21.140 --> 00:28:22.900
 the message

00:28:22.900 --> 00:28:23.539
 of forgiveness

00:28:23.539 --> 00:28:24.119
 offered by

00:28:24.119 --> 00:28:24.779
 Jesus to

00:28:24.779 --> 00:28:25.099
 people who

00:28:25.099 --> 00:28:25.680
 don't deserve

00:28:25.680 --> 00:28:26.220
 it that's

00:28:26.220 --> 00:28:26.680
 what mattered

00:28:26.680 --> 00:28:28.779
 most and

00:28:28.779 --> 00:28:29.259
 therefore

00:28:29.259 --> 00:28:29.880
 keep it

00:28:29.880 --> 00:28:30.559
 verse 9

00:28:30.559 --> 00:28:31.779
 James

00:28:31.779 --> 00:28:32.259
 Cephas

00:28:32.259 --> 00:28:32.839
 and John

00:28:32.839 --> 00:28:33.859
 those esteemed

00:28:33.859 --> 00:28:34.339
 as pillars

00:28:34.339 --> 00:28:35.019
 gave me

00:28:35.019 --> 00:28:35.619
 and Barnabas

00:28:35.619 --> 00:28:36.140
 the right

00:28:36.140 --> 00:28:36.539
 hand of

00:28:36.539 --> 00:28:36.920
 fellowship

00:28:36.920 --> 00:28:38.859
 when they

00:28:38.859 --> 00:28:39.919
 recognized

00:28:39.919 --> 00:28:41.439
 the grace

00:28:41.439 --> 00:28:42.179
 given to

00:28:42.179 --> 00:28:42.439
 me.

00:28:44.279 --> 00:28:45.399
 The official

00:28:45.399 --> 00:28:46.439
 warm embrace

00:28:46.439 --> 00:28:47.979
 because they

00:28:47.979 --> 00:28:49.019
 recognized

00:28:49.019 --> 00:28:50.059
 the grace

00:28:50.059 --> 00:28:50.599
 of God

00:28:50.599 --> 00:28:51.339
 in Paul

00:28:51.339 --> 00:28:51.979
 in his

00:28:51.979 --> 00:28:52.399
 ministry

00:28:52.399 --> 00:28:52.719
 they could

00:28:52.719 --> 00:28:53.519
 see God

00:28:53.519 --> 00:28:53.939
 at work

00:28:53.939 --> 00:28:54.879
 their ministries

00:28:54.879 --> 00:28:55.659
 were completely

00:28:55.659 --> 00:28:56.159
 different

00:28:56.159 --> 00:28:57.479
 one group

00:28:57.479 --> 00:28:57.939
 is trying

00:28:57.939 --> 00:28:59.240
 to unreligion

00:28:59.240 --> 00:29:00.500
 Jewish people

00:29:00.500 --> 00:29:01.000
 so that they

00:29:01.000 --> 00:29:01.599
 can discover

00:29:01.599 --> 00:29:02.079
 Jesus

00:29:02.079 --> 00:29:03.199
 Paul's walking

00:29:03.199 --> 00:29:03.679
 into people

00:29:03.679 --> 00:29:04.199
 who have no

00:29:04.199 --> 00:29:05.240
 idea about

00:29:05.240 --> 00:29:05.699
 who God

00:29:05.699 --> 00:29:06.159
 is and how

00:29:06.159 --> 00:29:06.639
 that works

00:29:06.639 --> 00:29:07.500
 and introducing

00:29:07.500 --> 00:29:08.139
 them to

00:29:08.139 --> 00:29:08.439
 Jesus

00:29:08.440 --> 00:29:08.900
 you've got

00:29:08.900 --> 00:29:09.380
 the quite

00:29:09.380 --> 00:29:09.940
 religious

00:29:09.940 --> 00:29:10.360
 church

00:29:10.360 --> 00:29:10.840
 over here

00:29:10.840 --> 00:29:11.180
 you've got

00:29:11.180 --> 00:29:11.559
 the kind

00:29:11.559 --> 00:29:12.200
 of free

00:29:12.200 --> 00:29:12.580
 church

00:29:12.580 --> 00:29:12.900
 who's trying

00:29:12.900 --> 00:29:13.220
 to figure

00:29:13.220 --> 00:29:13.580
 out what

00:29:13.580 --> 00:29:13.980
 they're supposed

00:29:13.980 --> 00:29:14.279
 to do

00:29:14.279 --> 00:29:14.580
 and how

00:29:14.580 --> 00:29:15.000
 they're supposed

00:29:15.000 --> 00:29:15.460
 to do it

00:29:15.460 --> 00:29:16.299
 there was so

00:29:16.299 --> 00:29:16.980
 much that was

00:29:16.980 --> 00:29:18.000
 different about

00:29:18.000 --> 00:29:19.460
 it but their

00:29:19.460 --> 00:29:20.580
 unity was

00:29:20.580 --> 00:29:21.580
 established on

00:29:21.580 --> 00:29:22.100
 what mattered

00:29:22.100 --> 00:29:22.559
 most

00:29:22.559 --> 00:29:24.420
 they both

00:29:24.420 --> 00:29:25.320
 received God's

00:29:25.320 --> 00:29:25.720
 grace

00:29:25.720 --> 00:29:27.360
 God was at

00:29:27.360 --> 00:29:28.059
 work in both

00:29:28.059 --> 00:29:28.380
 of them

00:29:28.380 --> 00:29:28.940
 personally

00:29:28.940 --> 00:29:29.660
 and in their

00:29:29.660 --> 00:29:30.059
 ministry

00:29:30.059 --> 00:29:30.920
 and so they

00:29:30.920 --> 00:29:31.580
 could see

00:29:31.580 --> 00:29:32.200
 in Paul

00:29:32.200 --> 00:29:32.740
 in his

00:29:32.740 --> 00:29:33.279
 life

00:29:33.279 --> 00:29:34.559
 transformed

00:29:34.559 --> 00:29:35.580
 and in the

00:29:35.580 --> 00:29:36.100
 fruit of his

00:29:36.100 --> 00:29:36.539
 ministry

00:29:36.539 --> 00:29:38.420
 that he

00:29:38.420 --> 00:29:38.740
 was a

00:29:38.740 --> 00:29:39.019
 brother

00:29:39.019 --> 00:29:41.819
 now

00:29:41.819 --> 00:29:42.960
 that's not

00:29:42.960 --> 00:29:43.559
 to say

00:29:43.559 --> 00:29:44.319
 that Christians

00:29:44.319 --> 00:29:45.099
 don't and

00:29:45.099 --> 00:29:45.819
 can't have

00:29:45.819 --> 00:29:46.559
 other things

00:29:46.559 --> 00:29:47.019
 in common

00:29:47.019 --> 00:29:50.200
 you know

00:29:50.200 --> 00:29:50.659
 these guys

00:29:50.659 --> 00:29:51.159
 had a whole

00:29:51.159 --> 00:29:51.680
 lot in

00:29:51.680 --> 00:29:51.940
 common

00:29:51.940 --> 00:29:52.379
 but what

00:29:52.379 --> 00:29:53.099
 came first

00:29:53.099 --> 00:29:53.619
 was grace

00:29:53.619 --> 00:29:53.940
 what the

00:29:53.940 --> 00:29:54.559
 gospel does

00:29:54.559 --> 00:29:55.700
 is prioritize

00:29:55.700 --> 00:29:56.420
 the most

00:29:56.420 --> 00:29:57.099
 important bit

00:29:57.099 --> 00:29:57.619
 grace

00:29:57.619 --> 00:29:58.759
 what the

00:29:58.759 --> 00:29:59.420
 gospel does

00:29:59.420 --> 00:29:59.940
 is create

00:29:59.940 --> 00:30:00.899
 the opportunity

00:30:00.899 --> 00:30:01.559
 for someone

00:30:01.559 --> 00:30:02.259
 like me

00:30:02.259 --> 00:30:03.240
 to have a

00:30:03.240 --> 00:30:03.779
 deeper

00:30:03.779 --> 00:30:04.339
 connection

00:30:04.339 --> 00:30:05.220
 with an

00:30:05.220 --> 00:30:06.019
 80 year old

00:30:06.019 --> 00:30:06.779
 retired woman

00:30:06.779 --> 00:30:07.339
 who was never

00:30:07.339 --> 00:30:07.700
 married

00:30:07.700 --> 00:30:08.400
 born in Africa

00:30:08.400 --> 00:30:09.039
 spent time

00:30:09.039 --> 00:30:09.519
 as a slave

00:30:09.519 --> 00:30:10.299
 never graduated

00:30:10.299 --> 00:30:10.759
 high school

00:30:10.759 --> 00:30:11.240
 but has been

00:30:11.240 --> 00:30:11.740
 transformed

00:30:11.740 --> 00:30:12.539
 by grace

00:30:12.539 --> 00:30:13.839
 the gospel

00:30:13.839 --> 00:30:14.460
 creates the

00:30:14.460 --> 00:30:15.099
 potential for

00:30:15.099 --> 00:30:15.680
 a deep

00:30:15.680 --> 00:30:16.519
 eternal

00:30:16.519 --> 00:30:17.099
 connection

00:30:17.099 --> 00:30:17.579
 with that

00:30:17.579 --> 00:30:18.019
 person

00:30:18.019 --> 00:30:19.039
 more so

00:30:19.039 --> 00:30:19.740
 than the

00:30:19.740 --> 00:30:20.680
 35 year old

00:30:20.680 --> 00:30:21.480
 father of two

00:30:21.480 --> 00:30:21.920
 who lives

00:30:21.920 --> 00:30:22.579
 next door to me

00:30:22.579 --> 00:30:23.160
 goes for the

00:30:23.160 --> 00:30:23.460
 giants

00:30:23.460 --> 00:30:23.879
 but doesn't

00:30:23.879 --> 00:30:24.480
 know Jesus

00:30:24.480 --> 00:30:26.420
 because

00:30:26.420 --> 00:30:27.559
 the gospel

00:30:27.559 --> 00:30:28.720
 is the

00:30:28.720 --> 00:30:29.519
 most important

00:30:29.519 --> 00:30:29.900
 bit

00:30:29.900 --> 00:30:31.300
 it doesn't

00:30:31.300 --> 00:30:31.900
 delete the

00:30:31.900 --> 00:30:32.640
 fact that

00:30:32.640 --> 00:30:32.840
 we're

00:30:32.840 --> 00:30:33.240
 completely

00:30:33.240 --> 00:30:33.800
 different

00:30:33.800 --> 00:30:35.300
 but it

00:30:35.300 --> 00:30:36.280
 prioritizes

00:30:36.280 --> 00:30:36.920
 grace

00:30:36.920 --> 00:30:40.280
 it brings

00:30:40.280 --> 00:30:40.840
 grace to

00:30:40.840 --> 00:30:41.320
 the front

00:30:41.320 --> 00:30:41.880
 and draws

00:30:41.880 --> 00:30:42.840
 unlike people

00:30:42.840 --> 00:30:43.580
 together in

00:30:43.580 --> 00:30:44.100
 the joy

00:30:44.100 --> 00:30:45.080
 and freedom

00:30:45.080 --> 00:30:45.560
 of being

00:30:45.560 --> 00:30:46.060
 forgiven

00:30:46.060 --> 00:30:49.120
 the gospel

00:30:49.120 --> 00:30:50.019
 frees us

00:30:50.019 --> 00:30:50.860
 from needing

00:30:50.860 --> 00:30:51.759
 things to be

00:30:51.759 --> 00:30:52.360
 the way we

00:30:52.360 --> 00:30:52.860
 like them

00:30:52.860 --> 00:30:53.600
 because Jesus

00:30:53.600 --> 00:30:54.400
 is enough

00:30:54.400 --> 00:30:55.780
 and so I

00:30:55.780 --> 00:30:56.300
 can delight

00:30:56.300 --> 00:30:56.759
 in singing

00:30:56.759 --> 00:30:57.160
 a song

00:30:57.160 --> 00:30:57.420
 that I've

00:30:57.420 --> 00:30:57.940
 never heard

00:30:57.940 --> 00:30:58.500
 of in a

00:30:58.500 --> 00:30:59.180
 weird tune

00:30:59.180 --> 00:30:59.540
 that makes

00:30:59.539 --> 00:31:00.139
 no sense

00:31:00.139 --> 00:31:00.460
 to me

00:31:00.460 --> 00:31:01.119
 with my

00:31:01.119 --> 00:31:01.579
 brothers and

00:31:01.579 --> 00:31:02.059
 sisters in

00:31:02.059 --> 00:31:02.339
 Christ

00:31:02.339 --> 00:31:02.839
 because it's

00:31:02.839 --> 00:31:03.539
 about Jesus

00:31:03.539 --> 00:31:06.460
 I can delight

00:31:06.460 --> 00:31:06.980
 in sitting

00:31:06.980 --> 00:31:07.440
 in a funny

00:31:07.440 --> 00:31:07.980
 direction

00:31:07.980 --> 00:31:10.539
 I can delight

00:31:10.539 --> 00:31:11.159
 in going and

00:31:11.159 --> 00:31:11.759
 talking to

00:31:11.759 --> 00:31:12.599
 somebody who

00:31:12.599 --> 00:31:13.119
 is nothing

00:31:13.119 --> 00:31:13.779
 like me

00:31:13.779 --> 00:31:14.940
 but who

00:31:14.940 --> 00:31:15.420
 shares the

00:31:15.420 --> 00:31:15.940
 same grace

00:31:15.940 --> 00:31:16.359
 of God

00:31:16.359 --> 00:31:16.720
 to be

00:31:16.720 --> 00:31:17.099
 forgiven

00:31:17.099 --> 00:31:19.680
 the gospel

00:31:19.680 --> 00:31:20.899
 frees us

00:31:20.899 --> 00:31:22.059
 to be able

00:31:22.059 --> 00:31:22.720
 to choose

00:31:22.720 --> 00:31:23.379
 to endure

00:31:23.379 --> 00:31:24.220
 discomfort

00:31:24.220 --> 00:31:26.299
 out of love

00:31:26.299 --> 00:31:26.859
 for God

00:31:26.859 --> 00:31:27.940
 and love

00:31:27.940 --> 00:31:28.259
 for our

00:31:28.259 --> 00:31:28.819
 brothers and

00:31:28.819 --> 00:31:29.240
 sisters

00:31:29.240 --> 00:31:31.559
 it sets

00:31:31.559 --> 00:31:32.000
 us free

00:31:32.000 --> 00:31:32.259
 from

00:31:32.259 --> 00:31:32.859
 compulsion

00:31:32.859 --> 00:31:34.000
 it

00:31:34.000 --> 00:31:34.799
 prioritizes

00:31:34.799 --> 00:31:35.319
 grace

00:31:35.319 --> 00:31:36.519
 so that

00:31:36.519 --> 00:31:36.940
 in our

00:31:36.940 --> 00:31:37.519
 diversity

00:31:37.519 --> 00:31:38.200
 the truth

00:31:38.200 --> 00:31:38.519
 of the

00:31:38.519 --> 00:31:38.859
 gospel

00:31:38.859 --> 00:31:39.339
 might be

00:31:39.339 --> 00:31:39.859
 preserved

00:31:39.859 --> 00:31:40.539
 and

00:31:40.539 --> 00:31:40.940
 proclaimed

00:31:40.940 --> 00:31:44.120
 I've

00:31:44.120 --> 00:31:44.500
 shared

00:31:44.500 --> 00:31:45.079
 with you

00:31:45.079 --> 00:31:45.420
 before

00:31:45.420 --> 00:31:45.819
 about an

00:31:45.819 --> 00:31:46.359
 older man

00:31:46.359 --> 00:31:46.599
 that I

00:31:46.599 --> 00:31:46.859
 was in

00:31:46.859 --> 00:31:47.120
 church

00:31:47.120 --> 00:31:47.720
 with once

00:31:47.720 --> 00:31:48.859
 he'd

00:31:48.859 --> 00:31:49.240
 been part

00:31:49.240 --> 00:31:49.480
 of that

00:31:49.480 --> 00:31:49.819
 church

00:31:49.819 --> 00:31:50.220
 for a

00:31:50.220 --> 00:31:50.599
 long

00:31:50.599 --> 00:31:50.880
 long

00:31:50.880 --> 00:31:51.240
 time

00:31:51.240 --> 00:31:51.680
 decades

00:31:51.680 --> 00:31:52.160
 and

00:31:52.160 --> 00:31:52.640
 decades

00:31:52.640 --> 00:31:53.440
 he'd

00:31:53.440 --> 00:31:53.779
 been an

00:31:53.779 --> 00:31:54.099
 elder

00:31:54.099 --> 00:31:54.620
 or a

00:31:54.620 --> 00:31:54.779
 leader

00:31:54.779 --> 00:31:55.039
 in the

00:31:55.039 --> 00:31:55.220
 church

00:31:55.220 --> 00:31:55.559
 for pretty

00:31:55.559 --> 00:31:55.740
 much

00:31:55.740 --> 00:31:55.920
 that

00:31:55.920 --> 00:31:56.160
 whole

00:31:56.160 --> 00:31:56.640
 duration

00:31:56.640 --> 00:31:57.460
 and he'd

00:31:57.460 --> 00:31:57.920
 been there

00:31:57.920 --> 00:31:58.240
 in the

00:31:58.240 --> 00:31:58.660
 days when

00:31:58.660 --> 00:31:59.040
 the church

00:31:59.040 --> 00:31:59.580
 was bursting

00:31:59.580 --> 00:31:59.900
 at the

00:31:59.900 --> 00:32:00.240
 seams

00:32:00.240 --> 00:32:00.940
 you couldn't

00:32:00.940 --> 00:32:01.500
 get a seat

00:32:01.500 --> 00:32:02.580
 and he was

00:32:02.580 --> 00:32:03.160
 around long

00:32:03.160 --> 00:32:03.700
 enough to see

00:32:03.700 --> 00:32:04.080
 the church

00:32:04.080 --> 00:32:04.700
 nearly closed

00:32:04.700 --> 00:32:05.180
 down because

00:32:05.180 --> 00:32:05.540
 it didn't have

00:32:05.540 --> 00:32:06.140
 enough people

00:32:06.140 --> 00:32:08.140
 the reason I met

00:32:08.140 --> 00:32:08.720
 this man and we

00:32:08.720 --> 00:32:09.360
 crossed paths

00:32:09.360 --> 00:32:10.020
 was because I was

00:32:10.020 --> 00:32:10.780
 part of a team

00:32:10.780 --> 00:32:11.780
 that got sent

00:32:11.780 --> 00:32:12.620
 into this church

00:32:12.620 --> 00:32:13.240
 to try and

00:32:13.240 --> 00:32:14.320
 revitalize it

00:32:14.320 --> 00:32:14.759
 and get it

00:32:14.759 --> 00:32:15.560
 going again

00:32:15.560 --> 00:32:17.300
 I was 25

00:32:17.300 --> 00:32:18.000
 and he was

00:32:18.000 --> 00:32:18.740
 about 75

00:32:18.740 --> 00:32:20.440
 spiritually

00:32:20.440 --> 00:32:21.080
 there was not

00:32:21.080 --> 00:32:21.960
 a lot of overlap

00:32:21.960 --> 00:32:22.920
 in our experiences

00:32:22.920 --> 00:32:23.980
 of following Jesus

00:32:23.980 --> 00:32:24.799
 and being fed

00:32:24.799 --> 00:32:25.480
 as Christians

00:32:25.480 --> 00:32:27.099
 except of course

00:32:27.099 --> 00:32:28.140
 the grace

00:32:28.140 --> 00:32:28.680
 that we both

00:32:28.680 --> 00:32:29.140
 discovered

00:32:29.140 --> 00:32:29.599
 when we heard

00:32:29.599 --> 00:32:30.059
 the gospel

00:32:30.059 --> 00:32:32.019
 he was a suit

00:32:32.019 --> 00:32:32.740
 and tie man

00:32:32.740 --> 00:32:33.279
 in church

00:32:33.279 --> 00:32:34.339
 I was a

00:32:34.339 --> 00:32:34.900
 jeans and

00:32:34.900 --> 00:32:35.299
 thongs

00:32:35.299 --> 00:32:36.700
 he preferred

00:32:36.700 --> 00:32:37.259
 hymns

00:32:37.259 --> 00:32:38.059
 on an organ

00:32:38.059 --> 00:32:39.180
 I prefer

00:32:39.180 --> 00:32:40.039
 newer songs

00:32:40.039 --> 00:32:41.180
 with guitars

00:32:41.180 --> 00:32:42.039
 and bands

00:32:42.039 --> 00:32:42.900
 we were more

00:32:42.900 --> 00:32:43.480
 different than

00:32:43.480 --> 00:32:43.860
 the same

00:32:43.860 --> 00:32:46.519
 but I learned

00:32:46.519 --> 00:32:47.259
 a lot about

00:32:47.259 --> 00:32:48.000
 grace through

00:32:48.000 --> 00:32:48.640
 being at church

00:32:48.640 --> 00:32:49.140
 with that man

00:32:49.140 --> 00:32:51.259
 I watched

00:32:51.259 --> 00:32:51.980
 as week in

00:32:51.980 --> 00:32:52.599
 and week out

00:32:52.599 --> 00:32:53.799
 he chose

00:32:53.799 --> 00:32:55.240
 remember

00:32:55.240 --> 00:32:55.720
 he was one

00:32:55.720 --> 00:32:56.200
 of the leaders

00:32:56.200 --> 00:32:56.819
 who invited

00:32:56.819 --> 00:32:57.460
 this random

00:32:57.460 --> 00:32:58.180
 group of young

00:32:58.180 --> 00:32:58.539
 Christians

00:32:58.539 --> 00:32:59.119
 to come and

00:32:59.119 --> 00:32:59.599
 change things

00:32:59.599 --> 00:32:59.759
 up

00:32:59.759 --> 00:33:00.759
 he chose

00:33:00.759 --> 00:33:02.519
 to forego

00:33:02.519 --> 00:33:03.139
 things that

00:33:03.139 --> 00:33:03.680
 had been part

00:33:03.680 --> 00:33:03.960
 of his

00:33:03.960 --> 00:33:04.759
 spiritual journey

00:33:04.759 --> 00:33:05.879
 things that

00:33:05.879 --> 00:33:06.599
 he'd loved

00:33:06.599 --> 00:33:08.139
 ways that

00:33:08.139 --> 00:33:08.619
 he was used

00:33:08.619 --> 00:33:09.039
 to doing

00:33:09.039 --> 00:33:09.399
 things

00:33:09.399 --> 00:33:09.980
 he chose

00:33:09.980 --> 00:33:10.559
 to give

00:33:10.559 --> 00:33:10.960
 up

00:33:10.960 --> 00:33:11.960
 comfort

00:33:11.960 --> 00:33:12.500
 in the way

00:33:12.500 --> 00:33:13.139
 church happened

00:33:13.139 --> 00:33:14.559
 every Sunday

00:33:14.559 --> 00:33:15.379
 to sacrifice

00:33:15.379 --> 00:33:16.359
 things that

00:33:16.359 --> 00:33:16.940
 he liked

00:33:16.940 --> 00:33:18.159
 so that

00:33:18.159 --> 00:33:18.700
 the truth

00:33:18.700 --> 00:33:19.339
 of the gospel

00:33:19.339 --> 00:33:20.119
 might be preserved

00:33:20.119 --> 00:33:20.539
 for people

00:33:20.539 --> 00:33:21.079
 like me

00:33:21.079 --> 00:33:22.039
 who were

00:33:22.039 --> 00:33:22.519
 nothing like

00:33:22.519 --> 00:33:22.740
 him

00:33:22.740 --> 00:33:23.819
 and for

00:33:23.819 --> 00:33:24.319
 people who

00:33:24.319 --> 00:33:24.660
 were all

00:33:24.660 --> 00:33:25.220
 around that

00:33:25.220 --> 00:33:25.500
 church

00:33:25.500 --> 00:33:25.859
 but had

00:33:25.859 --> 00:33:26.400
 never heard

00:33:26.400 --> 00:33:26.900
 of Jesus

00:33:26.900 --> 00:33:29.559
 he just

00:33:29.559 --> 00:33:30.180
 longed to

00:33:30.180 --> 00:33:30.660
 see them

00:33:30.660 --> 00:33:31.039
 walk in

00:33:31.039 --> 00:33:31.359
 the door

00:33:31.359 --> 00:33:31.839
 and encounter

00:33:31.839 --> 00:33:32.319
 Jesus

00:33:32.319 --> 00:33:33.079
 encounter the

00:33:33.079 --> 00:33:33.599
 grace that

00:33:33.599 --> 00:33:33.880
 he had

00:33:33.880 --> 00:33:34.259
 discovered

00:33:34.259 --> 00:33:34.900
 the gospel

00:33:34.900 --> 00:33:35.900
 set him

00:33:35.900 --> 00:33:36.400
 free

00:33:36.400 --> 00:33:38.140
 from having

00:33:38.140 --> 00:33:38.720
 to do

00:33:38.720 --> 00:33:39.160
 things a

00:33:39.160 --> 00:33:39.759
 certain way

00:33:39.759 --> 00:33:43.319
 and it

00:33:43.319 --> 00:33:44.019
 prioritized

00:33:44.019 --> 00:33:44.460
 grace

00:33:44.460 --> 00:33:46.539
 we are

00:33:46.539 --> 00:33:47.099
 a diverse

00:33:47.099 --> 00:33:47.680
 church

00:33:47.680 --> 00:33:49.339
 full of

00:33:49.339 --> 00:33:49.980
 cultures

00:33:49.980 --> 00:33:50.759
 and sub

00:33:50.759 --> 00:33:51.180
 cultures

00:33:51.180 --> 00:33:52.480
 and that

00:33:52.480 --> 00:33:52.940
 could be a

00:33:52.940 --> 00:33:53.299
 source of

00:33:53.299 --> 00:33:53.920
 tension for

00:33:53.920 --> 00:33:54.259
 us

00:33:54.259 --> 00:33:55.720
 that could

00:33:55.720 --> 00:33:55.960
 be a

00:33:55.960 --> 00:33:56.339
 source of

00:33:56.339 --> 00:33:56.879
 difficulty

00:33:56.879 --> 00:33:58.960
 in fact

00:33:58.960 --> 00:33:59.279
 if we're

00:33:59.279 --> 00:33:59.619
 honest

00:33:59.619 --> 00:34:00.500
 sometimes

00:34:00.500 --> 00:34:01.180
 that is

00:34:01.180 --> 00:34:01.559
 a source

00:34:01.559 --> 00:34:01.960
 of tension

00:34:01.960 --> 00:34:02.579
 for us

00:34:02.579 --> 00:34:04.259
 we want

00:34:04.259 --> 00:34:04.759
 things done

00:34:04.759 --> 00:34:05.200
 differently

00:34:05.200 --> 00:34:05.539
 we want

00:34:05.539 --> 00:34:06.000
 them done

00:34:06.000 --> 00:34:06.900
 more our

00:34:06.900 --> 00:34:07.240
 way

00:34:07.240 --> 00:34:08.059
 even if

00:34:08.059 --> 00:34:08.340
 we don't

00:34:08.340 --> 00:34:08.780
 use those

00:34:08.780 --> 00:34:09.239
 words

00:34:09.239 --> 00:34:11.639
 but our

00:34:11.639 --> 00:34:12.280
 diversity

00:34:12.280 --> 00:34:13.000
 could be a

00:34:13.000 --> 00:34:13.440
 gift from

00:34:13.440 --> 00:34:13.800
 God

00:34:13.800 --> 00:34:16.360
 because what

00:34:16.360 --> 00:34:17.059
 it does

00:34:17.059 --> 00:34:17.599
 is it

00:34:17.599 --> 00:34:18.679
 forces us

00:34:18.679 --> 00:34:19.260
 to be

00:34:19.260 --> 00:34:20.139
 transformed

00:34:20.139 --> 00:34:20.679
 by the

00:34:20.679 --> 00:34:21.099
 gospel

00:34:21.099 --> 00:34:21.800
 in how

00:34:21.800 --> 00:34:22.199
 we love

00:34:22.199 --> 00:34:22.659
 and serve

00:34:22.659 --> 00:34:23.179
 one another

00:34:23.179 --> 00:34:24.880
 what it

00:34:24.880 --> 00:34:25.260
 does is

00:34:25.260 --> 00:34:25.920
 force us

00:34:25.920 --> 00:34:26.579
 to recognize

00:34:26.579 --> 00:34:27.280
 hey I've

00:34:27.280 --> 00:34:27.579
 got a

00:34:27.579 --> 00:34:28.099
 culture that

00:34:28.099 --> 00:34:28.519
 I'm bringing

00:34:28.519 --> 00:34:28.880
 here

00:34:28.880 --> 00:34:30.320
 I've got

00:34:30.320 --> 00:34:30.860
 my way

00:34:30.860 --> 00:34:31.219
 of doing

00:34:31.219 --> 00:34:31.719
 things and

00:34:31.719 --> 00:34:32.099
 I need to

00:34:32.099 --> 00:34:32.579
 hold it up

00:34:32.579 --> 00:34:32.840
 to the

00:34:32.840 --> 00:34:33.139
 gospel

00:34:33.139 --> 00:34:33.619
 and until

00:34:33.619 --> 00:34:34.039
 somebody

00:34:34.039 --> 00:34:34.480
 challenged

00:34:34.480 --> 00:34:34.780
 me and

00:34:34.780 --> 00:34:35.119
 goes I

00:34:35.119 --> 00:34:35.539
 don't like

00:34:35.539 --> 00:34:35.840
 it like

00:34:35.840 --> 00:34:36.119
 that

00:34:36.119 --> 00:34:36.860
 I'll just

00:34:36.860 --> 00:34:37.380
 assume it's

00:34:37.380 --> 00:34:37.680
 the right

00:34:37.680 --> 00:34:38.019
 way

00:34:38.019 --> 00:34:39.960
 that's

00:34:39.960 --> 00:34:40.180
 why it

00:34:40.180 --> 00:34:40.480
 is a

00:34:40.480 --> 00:34:40.940
 gift from

00:34:40.940 --> 00:34:41.360
 God that

00:34:41.360 --> 00:34:41.599
 we are

00:34:41.599 --> 00:34:42.160
 surrounded by

00:34:42.160 --> 00:34:42.599
 people who

00:34:42.599 --> 00:34:43.180
 are nothing

00:34:43.180 --> 00:34:44.099
 like us

00:34:44.099 --> 00:34:45.920
 so that

00:34:45.920 --> 00:34:46.519
 maybe just

00:34:46.519 --> 00:34:47.039
 maybe we

00:34:47.039 --> 00:34:47.700
 might discover

00:34:47.700 --> 00:34:48.039
 that there

00:34:48.039 --> 00:34:48.460
 are things

00:34:48.460 --> 00:34:48.720
 that we

00:34:48.720 --> 00:34:49.620
 do and

00:34:49.620 --> 00:34:50.480
 think and

00:34:50.480 --> 00:34:52.640
 say that

00:34:52.640 --> 00:34:53.280
 are non

00:34:53.280 --> 00:34:53.760
 gospel

00:34:53.760 --> 00:34:54.400
 things

00:34:54.400 --> 00:34:55.900
 cultural

00:34:55.900 --> 00:34:57.180
 issues that

00:34:57.180 --> 00:34:57.559
 we have

00:34:57.559 --> 00:34:58.480
 elevated and

00:34:58.480 --> 00:34:58.800
 now we

00:34:58.800 --> 00:34:59.460
 expect of

00:34:59.460 --> 00:34:59.960
 one another

00:34:59.960 --> 00:35:03.500
 our diversity

00:35:03.500 --> 00:35:04.220
 is God's

00:35:04.220 --> 00:35:04.599
 gift

00:35:04.599 --> 00:35:04.659
 gift

00:35:04.659 --> 00:35:06.500
 because

00:35:06.500 --> 00:35:06.880
 against

00:35:06.880 --> 00:35:07.360
 this

00:35:07.360 --> 00:35:08.119
 varied

00:35:08.119 --> 00:35:08.599
 backdrop

00:35:08.599 --> 00:35:08.860
 of

00:35:08.860 --> 00:35:09.219
 people

00:35:09.219 --> 00:35:10.019
 this

00:35:10.019 --> 00:35:10.339
 one as

00:35:10.339 --> 00:35:10.539
 well

00:35:10.539 --> 00:35:12.059
 we

00:35:12.059 --> 00:35:12.380
 might

00:35:12.380 --> 00:35:12.900
 see the

00:35:12.900 --> 00:35:13.440
 grace of

00:35:13.440 --> 00:35:13.940
 God more

00:35:13.940 --> 00:35:14.299
 clearly

00:35:14.299 --> 00:35:18.219
 and then

00:35:18.219 --> 00:35:18.900
 because we

00:35:18.900 --> 00:35:19.279
 see it

00:35:19.279 --> 00:35:19.619
 get to

00:35:19.619 --> 00:35:20.199
 live in

00:35:20.199 --> 00:35:20.659
 the joy

00:35:20.659 --> 00:35:21.360
 and freedom

00:35:21.360 --> 00:35:22.880
 that can

00:35:22.880 --> 00:35:23.299
 only be

00:35:23.299 --> 00:35:23.719
 found in

00:35:23.719 --> 00:35:24.239
 that grace

00:35:24.239 --> 00:35:27.480
 let me

00:35:27.480 --> 00:35:27.880
 pray for

00:35:27.880 --> 00:35:28.599
 us

00:35:28.599 --> 00:35:32.839
 Father God

00:35:32.839 --> 00:35:33.159
 we want

00:35:33.159 --> 00:35:34.119
 to acknowledge

00:35:34.119 --> 00:35:35.860
 that it's

00:35:35.860 --> 00:35:37.279
 easier when

00:35:37.279 --> 00:35:37.599
 we're all

00:35:37.599 --> 00:35:38.000
 the same

00:35:38.000 --> 00:35:40.299
 it's easier

00:35:40.299 --> 00:35:41.019
 when we

00:35:41.019 --> 00:35:41.719
 get it the

00:35:41.719 --> 00:35:42.119
 way that we

00:35:42.119 --> 00:35:42.639
 like it

00:35:42.639 --> 00:35:45.000
 it's easier

00:35:45.000 --> 00:35:45.559
 when people

00:35:45.559 --> 00:35:46.039
 want to do

00:35:46.039 --> 00:35:46.539
 things the

00:35:46.539 --> 00:35:46.900
 way we're

00:35:46.900 --> 00:35:47.159
 used to

00:35:47.159 --> 00:35:47.539
 having them

00:35:47.539 --> 00:35:47.839
 done

00:35:47.839 --> 00:35:50.659
 it's easier

00:35:50.659 --> 00:35:51.039
 to fall

00:35:51.039 --> 00:35:51.400
 into the

00:35:51.400 --> 00:35:51.920
 trap of

00:35:51.920 --> 00:35:52.380
 thinking the

00:35:52.380 --> 00:35:52.659
 way that

00:35:52.659 --> 00:35:53.099
 we've done

00:35:53.099 --> 00:35:53.480
 it is the

00:35:53.480 --> 00:35:54.000
 right way

00:35:54.000 --> 00:35:57.340
 God please

00:35:57.340 --> 00:35:59.019
 use the

00:35:59.019 --> 00:35:59.940
 diversity that

00:35:59.940 --> 00:36:00.360
 is in this

00:36:00.360 --> 00:36:00.920
 room and in

00:36:00.920 --> 00:36:01.519
 our church

00:36:01.519 --> 00:36:02.280
 to help us

00:36:02.280 --> 00:36:02.820
 to see

00:36:02.820 --> 00:36:03.460
 ourselves

00:36:03.460 --> 00:36:03.980
 through a

00:36:03.980 --> 00:36:04.800
 gospel lens

00:36:04.800 --> 00:36:06.539
 help us

00:36:06.539 --> 00:36:07.179
 to recognize

00:36:07.179 --> 00:36:08.079
 that grace

00:36:08.079 --> 00:36:08.639
 matters

00:36:08.639 --> 00:36:10.320
 help us

00:36:10.320 --> 00:36:11.099
 to see one

00:36:11.099 --> 00:36:11.820
 another with

00:36:11.820 --> 00:36:13.039
 grace first

00:36:13.039 --> 00:36:15.199
 help us to

00:36:15.199 --> 00:36:15.800
 not look for

00:36:15.800 --> 00:36:16.440
 hobbies to

00:36:16.440 --> 00:36:17.099
 connect over

00:36:17.099 --> 00:36:18.019
 but to begin

00:36:18.019 --> 00:36:18.820
 with the

00:36:18.820 --> 00:36:19.559
 truth that we

00:36:19.559 --> 00:36:19.980
 have been

00:36:19.980 --> 00:36:21.400
 forgiven by

00:36:21.400 --> 00:36:21.880
 the blood

00:36:21.880 --> 00:36:22.579
 of Jesus

00:36:22.579 --> 00:36:27.159
 God we

00:36:27.159 --> 00:36:27.579
 thank you

00:36:27.579 --> 00:36:28.019
 for setting

00:36:28.019 --> 00:36:28.579
 us free

00:36:28.579 --> 00:36:31.139
 for removing

00:36:31.139 --> 00:36:31.980
 compulsion

00:36:31.980 --> 00:36:34.360
 for giving

00:36:34.360 --> 00:36:35.019
 us the deep

00:36:35.019 --> 00:36:35.819
 security of

00:36:35.819 --> 00:36:36.299
 knowing that

00:36:36.299 --> 00:36:36.579
 we are

00:36:36.579 --> 00:36:37.420
 irreversibly

00:36:37.420 --> 00:36:37.880
 loved

00:36:37.880 --> 00:36:39.119
 God we

00:36:39.119 --> 00:36:39.779
 pray that

00:36:39.779 --> 00:36:40.259
 as people

00:36:40.259 --> 00:36:40.880
 encounter

00:36:40.880 --> 00:36:41.699
 our church

00:36:41.699 --> 00:36:42.259
 community

00:36:42.259 --> 00:36:43.840
 that the

00:36:43.840 --> 00:36:44.319
 truth of

00:36:44.319 --> 00:36:44.799
 the gospel

00:36:44.799 --> 00:36:45.239
 will be

00:36:45.239 --> 00:36:45.960
 loud and

00:36:45.960 --> 00:36:46.360
 clear

00:36:46.360 --> 00:36:47.519
 because of

00:36:47.519 --> 00:36:47.840
 the way

00:36:47.840 --> 00:36:48.460
 we choose

00:36:48.460 --> 00:36:49.360
 to sacrifice

00:36:49.360 --> 00:36:49.759
 out of

00:36:49.759 --> 00:36:50.199
 love for

00:36:50.199 --> 00:36:50.699
 one another

00:36:50.699 --> 00:36:53.039
 thank you

00:36:53.039 --> 00:36:53.539
 for Jesus

00:36:53.539 --> 00:36:54.039
 thank you

00:36:54.039 --> 00:36:54.359
 that he's

00:36:54.359 --> 00:36:54.939
 better than

00:36:54.939 --> 00:36:55.559
 any particular

00:36:55.559 --> 00:36:56.259
 way of doing

00:36:56.259 --> 00:36:56.879
 things better

00:36:56.879 --> 00:36:57.219
 than any

00:36:57.219 --> 00:36:57.939
 comfort or

00:36:57.939 --> 00:36:58.599
 familiarity

00:36:58.599 --> 00:37:00.059
 God help us

00:37:00.059 --> 00:37:00.679
 to hold on to

00:37:00.679 --> 00:37:01.819
 him to let

00:37:01.819 --> 00:37:02.399
 go of everything

00:37:02.399 --> 00:37:03.719
 else and to be

00:37:03.719 --> 00:37:04.480
 more satisfied

00:37:04.480 --> 00:37:05.099
 than we've ever

00:37:05.099 --> 00:37:05.419
 been

00:37:05.419 --> 00:37:06.679
 amen