WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.900 Well, again, let me welcome you, especially those of you who are joining us, maybe for the first time or visiting. 00:00:07.040 --> 00:00:09.720 This is an exciting time in D.C. 00:00:10.240 --> 00:00:14.839 Typically, September feels like the time when things start to ramp up, when there's more energy. 00:00:14.960 --> 00:00:18.920 A lot of people move into the city, start new jobs and internships around this time. 00:00:19.019 --> 00:00:20.120 So it's always very exciting. 00:00:20.539 --> 00:00:22.760 So if any of you are new to the city, welcome. 00:00:23.219 --> 00:00:29.900 We hope this could be a part of you making a great adjustment in finding D.C. to be a home for whatever amount of time that you're here. 00:00:30.980 --> 00:00:43.240 Tonight, in the life of our church, of Advent, is a night that we set aside some time to think together about who we are and about why we're here. 00:00:44.519 --> 00:00:49.719 The vision, as we articulated at Church of the Advent, is simple. 00:00:49.719 --> 00:00:59.159 Our vision as a church is to see God's renewal for ourselves, our city, and then the world. 00:00:59.159 --> 00:01:02.719 To see God's renewal for ourselves, our city, and our world. 00:01:03.279 --> 00:01:14.219 And from time to time, we think there's a lot of value in stopping to remember why this vision exists, where it came from, what it means about who we are as a church community. 00:01:14.219 --> 00:01:20.679 How it guides and shapes what we seek in our daily lives here. 00:01:21.179 --> 00:01:24.379 And the question often comes up, where did this vision come from? 00:01:24.480 --> 00:01:25.480 Why do we have it? 00:01:25.539 --> 00:01:30.739 Did we just sit down and kind of make something up because it was alliterative and sounded nice? 00:01:30.739 --> 00:01:38.419 And maybe that's partially true, but really the answer comes from where we're going to be looking tonight. 00:01:39.119 --> 00:01:45.560 The answer is simply this, that our vision is for renewal in ourselves, our city, and our world, because that's how the gospel works. 00:01:45.560 --> 00:01:48.439 That's how the gospel works. 00:01:49.760 --> 00:01:53.579 When we talk about the gospel, we talk about the fact that Jesus has come. 00:01:54.420 --> 00:01:57.820 He's lived a life on our behalf for us. 00:01:57.879 --> 00:02:00.120 He's died a death for us, and then he's risen. 00:02:00.840 --> 00:02:04.640 And that the good news of this changes the world. 00:02:04.640 --> 00:02:08.879 And the kind of change that it brings is this world we call renewal. 00:02:09.879 --> 00:02:18.879 And this is the great promise at the core of our faith, that through Jesus and through the good news, the gospel, God is going to fix what's broken. 00:02:19.060 --> 00:02:24.539 He's going to clean and to cleanse the world, and he's going to renew everything that he's made. 00:02:25.719 --> 00:02:30.960 So the whole reason that our church exists is that we want to be a part of this renewal. 00:02:30.960 --> 00:02:37.260 And we want to know what part it is that we play in this renewal and what that looks like in our lives here in Washington, D.C. 00:02:37.400 --> 00:02:42.719 Because we think it has implications for these neighborhoods, for this city, as it does for the rest of the world. 00:02:44.000 --> 00:02:49.620 So it's vitally important that we understand what this renewal is, how it works, what role we play in it. 00:02:49.640 --> 00:02:53.640 And that's why I want to be looking together tonight at Romans chapter 12. 00:02:55.140 --> 00:02:57.040 If you have a Bible, you're welcome to open it. 00:02:57.120 --> 00:02:58.460 It'll also be up here on the screen. 00:02:58.460 --> 00:03:01.300 But we're going to be looking at Romans chapter 12. 00:03:02.760 --> 00:03:06.740 I will say right away, there's a lot going on in this chapter. 00:03:06.920 --> 00:03:13.540 It's one of the great sections of the Bible, one of the great chapters of the entire Bible, one of my absolute favorites. 00:03:14.080 --> 00:03:17.659 There's so much here that I'll just say right away, we're not going to be able to get into all of it. 00:03:17.700 --> 00:03:25.319 But what we're going to do is use it as a guide to help us understand our identity as a church, and in particular, our vision. 00:03:25.319 --> 00:03:31.219 If you know anything about the flow of Romans, the first 11 chapters is largely theology. 00:03:31.419 --> 00:03:38.000 This is Paul describing to the Christians in Rome, describing the gospel and its implications. 00:03:38.159 --> 00:03:39.680 He does that over 11 chapters. 00:03:40.599 --> 00:03:43.900 And then in chapter 12, we see that the first verse begins with a therefore. 00:03:44.400 --> 00:03:47.199 And what that means is we're shifting from theology to implication. 00:03:47.699 --> 00:03:49.319 Therefore, because of the gospel. 00:03:49.319 --> 00:03:54.539 And then you have the beginning of the implications in Romans chapter 12. 00:03:55.099 --> 00:03:59.219 And what this chapter really gives us is two things about renewal. 00:03:59.359 --> 00:04:01.519 It shows us the pattern of God's renewal. 00:04:02.060 --> 00:04:05.359 And then the part that we play in God's renewal. 00:04:05.519 --> 00:04:08.079 So the pattern and then the part we play in it. 00:04:08.219 --> 00:04:10.620 Let's pray for God to help us as we look at this together. 00:04:10.620 --> 00:04:18.019 Father, we do recognize that our great hope tonight is that you're a God who desires us to know you. 00:04:19.060 --> 00:04:21.240 You reveal yourself to us. 00:04:22.160 --> 00:04:25.480 You've done it primarily through your word and your son. 00:04:27.120 --> 00:04:35.579 And Lord, we pray that tonight by your power we would be able to move past simply words on a page or human wisdom or thoughts. 00:04:35.579 --> 00:04:38.259 And that we would actually encounter your son. 00:04:39.259 --> 00:04:45.199 And that we would begin to taste what this kind of renewal means in our lives. 00:04:46.139 --> 00:04:48.500 As we sit here this evening together, Lord. 00:04:48.919 --> 00:04:50.459 And we pray this in your son's holy name. 00:04:50.620 --> 00:04:50.839 Amen. 00:04:52.159 --> 00:04:59.579 So first of all, let's look at Romans 12 and what it tells us about the pattern of God's renewal in the world. 00:04:59.680 --> 00:05:04.019 If you look at the flow of this chapter, and again, Chandler's going to do the best he can to kind of keep us up. 00:05:04.019 --> 00:05:06.120 But it's a lot of text to try to cover. 00:05:06.639 --> 00:05:10.339 If you look at Romans 12, it really breaks down into sort of three sections. 00:05:10.659 --> 00:05:12.000 You see verses 1 and 2. 00:05:12.740 --> 00:05:17.199 And this really shows renewal happening to the individual. 00:05:17.479 --> 00:05:20.319 Something that happens within us as individuals. 00:05:21.079 --> 00:05:26.919 And then beginning in verse 3 and going through about verse 8, the focus begins to shift to the church community. 00:05:27.979 --> 00:05:33.439 And then beginning in verse 9 and to the end, the focus shifts to the kind of love that Christians have. 00:05:33.439 --> 00:05:34.899 First within the church. 00:05:35.680 --> 00:05:40.719 But then in the last section of this chapter, we see the kind of love that Christians have for the world. 00:05:40.819 --> 00:05:44.600 You see this love kind of moving outward beyond the walls of the church. 00:05:44.719 --> 00:05:47.899 And so what we see is the pattern of renewal is inside out. 00:05:48.819 --> 00:05:50.800 It's an inside out movement. 00:05:51.439 --> 00:05:56.060 So imagine a stone dropping into a clear, calm pond. 00:05:56.379 --> 00:06:00.519 And the stone hits and you see all these ripples go out from that point of impact. 00:06:00.519 --> 00:06:05.919 Well, in the Christian faith, the stone is the love of God embodied. 00:06:07.339 --> 00:06:07.699 Jesus. 00:06:07.979 --> 00:06:11.680 We see the love of God take on flesh and drop into the center of history. 00:06:12.560 --> 00:06:14.259 Into the center of our world. 00:06:14.399 --> 00:06:17.379 And then you see the ripples begin to go outward. 00:06:17.519 --> 00:06:20.620 And so that's the pattern that we see here in Romans 12. 00:06:20.859 --> 00:06:22.359 It's inside out. 00:06:22.479 --> 00:06:26.139 So we want to look at this in a little more detail and apply it to our church. 00:06:26.139 --> 00:06:29.939 And as we go through this, we're going to be thinking about this coming year. 00:06:31.099 --> 00:06:32.339 2015, 2016. 00:06:32.680 --> 00:06:37.539 What do we want to see happen in the life of Advent between now and this time a year from now? 00:06:38.479 --> 00:06:42.180 So first of all, we see the love of Jesus renews us individually. 00:06:42.319 --> 00:06:43.279 Verses 1 and 2. 00:06:43.899 --> 00:06:45.039 Let me ask you this. 00:06:46.439 --> 00:06:47.819 What's wrong with the world? 00:06:47.819 --> 00:07:01.879 If I climbed down and you ascended this 20-foot pulpit up here and we gave you 10 minutes to describe what you think is wrong with the world, what would you say? 00:07:03.719 --> 00:07:03.959 Right? 00:07:04.060 --> 00:07:12.060 I mean, D.C. is the kind of place where you come to realize pretty quickly that many, many people here, most people have strong opinions about what's wrong with the world. 00:07:12.779 --> 00:07:13.819 And how to fix it. 00:07:13.819 --> 00:07:19.540 You know, some people say, well, it's poverty and lack of equality and lack of tolerance. 00:07:20.060 --> 00:07:21.300 Some people say, well, it's behind that. 00:07:21.379 --> 00:07:22.360 It's lack of education. 00:07:22.920 --> 00:07:24.719 Lack of education is the real issue. 00:07:25.199 --> 00:07:26.800 Some people say it's moral decline. 00:07:27.659 --> 00:07:29.000 Some people say it's religion. 00:07:30.019 --> 00:07:32.079 Religion has caused all the major problems in the world. 00:07:32.180 --> 00:07:33.759 Some people say it's environmental neglect. 00:07:33.899 --> 00:07:35.959 That's the biggest problem that's going to get us in the end. 00:07:36.699 --> 00:07:38.379 Some people say it's corporate greed. 00:07:38.379 --> 00:07:44.040 But whatever you say, everybody has strong opinions about that question. 00:07:44.719 --> 00:07:45.240 It's interesting. 00:07:45.399 --> 00:07:50.680 There was a London newspaper that posted that very question for readers to answer. 00:07:51.459 --> 00:07:52.740 What is wrong with the world? 00:07:54.040 --> 00:07:59.120 And a Christian writer and thinker named G.K. Chesterton wrote a brief letter in response. 00:07:59.120 --> 00:08:10.660 So in response to the question, what is wrong with the world, Chesterton wrote, dear sirs, I am sincerely G.K. Chesterton. 00:08:12.300 --> 00:08:14.860 And you see that everyone thinks they know what's wrong with the world. 00:08:14.959 --> 00:08:15.819 Everyone has an opinion. 00:08:15.980 --> 00:08:23.500 But Christians know, Christians know that the ultimate problem is here. 00:08:25.000 --> 00:08:25.980 What's wrong with the world? 00:08:26.079 --> 00:08:26.500 I am. 00:08:26.500 --> 00:08:30.120 What's wrong with my marriage? 00:08:30.439 --> 00:08:31.019 I am. 00:08:33.899 --> 00:08:34.519 What's wrong? 00:08:34.600 --> 00:08:35.840 What's the problem that needs to be fixed? 00:08:35.919 --> 00:08:37.299 It's not anything out there. 00:08:37.700 --> 00:08:41.460 Though there are a lot of very real problems, it begins by looking in here. 00:08:41.559 --> 00:08:45.840 And what we realize is that any real or lasting renewal has to begin with us. 00:08:45.860 --> 00:08:48.419 When we admit to God that we need to be renewed. 00:08:49.120 --> 00:08:54.139 Right before we can be a part of the solution, we have to recognize that we're part of the problem. 00:08:54.139 --> 00:09:00.919 So Paul says we need to be transformed by what he says is the renewal of our minds. 00:09:00.919 --> 00:09:05.079 Now we could do sermons and sermons and sermons on this. 00:09:05.139 --> 00:09:06.860 Romans chapter, just these two verses. 00:09:07.079 --> 00:09:10.360 Martin Lloyd-Jones, I think, preached ten sermons just on this. 00:09:11.019 --> 00:09:12.179 We're not going to do that. 00:09:12.639 --> 00:09:13.620 At least not tonight. 00:09:15.279 --> 00:09:19.000 But being transformed by the renewal of our minds. 00:09:19.000 --> 00:09:24.059 In other words, our entire way of thinking needs to change. 00:09:24.139 --> 00:09:25.500 Our entire worldview. 00:09:25.720 --> 00:09:28.179 Our entire way in which we relate to the world. 00:09:29.159 --> 00:09:32.960 But behind that, the place from which we reason about the world. 00:09:33.159 --> 00:09:36.299 Not just our reasoning, but the place from which we reason. 00:09:36.659 --> 00:09:38.000 Our foundational assumptions. 00:09:38.340 --> 00:09:40.840 All of that needs to be transformed. 00:09:40.840 --> 00:09:47.399 So that we are, in Paul's words, shaped less by the world. 00:09:48.440 --> 00:09:52.139 Prevailing cultural assumptions that change from culture to culture. 00:09:53.259 --> 00:09:54.879 And more by the gospel. 00:09:55.700 --> 00:10:00.740 Because what you begin to realize over time is, especially when you live in a place like Washington, D.C. 00:10:00.740 --> 00:10:06.060 Is that the foundational assumptions of the gospel are radically different. 00:10:06.059 --> 00:10:12.259 And in some cases, completely opposed to the foundational assumptions of the culture we live in. 00:10:14.779 --> 00:10:16.599 I'll give you a couple of examples of this. 00:10:16.659 --> 00:10:17.979 When we think about identity. 00:10:19.459 --> 00:10:22.319 The prevailing cultural assumptions about identity. 00:10:24.399 --> 00:10:25.299 Are this. 00:10:25.419 --> 00:10:29.139 That identity is something that I find by looking inside myself. 00:10:30.079 --> 00:10:30.919 I look within. 00:10:32.419 --> 00:10:35.779 And by looking within and by a process of self-discovery. 00:10:35.779 --> 00:10:40.059 I discover and then express my identity. 00:10:40.600 --> 00:10:43.079 And the role of my friends, if they're true friends. 00:10:43.720 --> 00:10:46.519 Is to affirm whatever it is I express. 00:10:48.339 --> 00:10:50.139 And how dare you tell me. 00:10:51.019 --> 00:10:52.899 That what I say about my identity. 00:10:53.699 --> 00:10:54.240 Is wrong. 00:10:54.339 --> 00:10:56.000 The role of, if you're my true friend. 00:10:56.579 --> 00:10:57.439 According to our culture. 00:10:57.600 --> 00:10:59.659 Then your role is to support. 00:11:00.299 --> 00:11:01.799 My self-discovered identity. 00:11:01.799 --> 00:11:05.839 That's the prevailing cultural assumption about identity. 00:11:06.659 --> 00:11:08.599 The gospel is completely opposed to that. 00:11:08.699 --> 00:11:12.459 The gospel says that our identity, in fact, cannot be discovered by looking within. 00:11:12.839 --> 00:11:16.559 It says it's impossible to discover anything about your identity by looking within. 00:11:17.419 --> 00:11:22.359 The gospel tells us that we discover who we are in relationship with other people. 00:11:22.360 --> 00:11:25.200 In relationships. 00:11:26.279 --> 00:11:29.419 And fundamentally in our relationship with God. 00:11:30.440 --> 00:11:31.680 Through Jesus Christ. 00:11:32.340 --> 00:11:33.980 And so the role of our friends is very different. 00:11:34.100 --> 00:11:37.000 The role of our friends is to pull us out of ourselves. 00:11:38.600 --> 00:11:45.259 And to encourage us not to look anywhere other than Jesus to help form our sense of identity. 00:11:45.259 --> 00:11:49.519 And then our true friends will challenge us when they see us doing that. 00:11:50.419 --> 00:11:51.340 They'll push back. 00:11:52.460 --> 00:11:53.899 You see they're two radically different. 00:11:54.019 --> 00:11:54.840 And so the question is. 00:11:55.519 --> 00:11:59.399 Which set of assumptions is forming the way we think and relate to the world? 00:12:00.100 --> 00:12:00.299 Right? 00:12:00.539 --> 00:12:02.700 One more example is how we think about freedom. 00:12:02.899 --> 00:12:06.960 The prevailing culture says that freedom is having the ability to choose. 00:12:08.340 --> 00:12:13.480 That we should be able to choose how we define existence and meaning and life for ourselves. 00:12:13.480 --> 00:12:19.320 And what that means is we need to remove anything that restricts our ability to choose freely. 00:12:21.200 --> 00:12:22.220 Removing restrictions. 00:12:23.700 --> 00:12:26.259 But the gospel says that the gospel is completely opposite. 00:12:26.420 --> 00:12:29.220 It says that freedom is not just having the ability to choose. 00:12:29.639 --> 00:12:30.860 But to choose well. 00:12:31.360 --> 00:12:35.580 And by that we mean the ability to choose that for which we were made. 00:12:35.700 --> 00:12:39.980 To choose to live and to be in accordance with our design. 00:12:39.980 --> 00:12:44.039 Like a fish having the freedom to choose to swim in water. 00:12:44.420 --> 00:12:47.460 Or a bird having the freedom to choose to fly in the air. 00:12:47.539 --> 00:12:50.060 We talked about this last week for those of you who were here. 00:12:51.600 --> 00:12:54.519 So what that means is rather than removing all restriction. 00:12:55.759 --> 00:12:58.580 Is sometimes we recognize that we need restriction. 00:12:59.759 --> 00:12:59.960 Right? 00:12:59.960 --> 00:13:06.780 The banks of a river free that river to be a river rather than a flood. 00:13:08.000 --> 00:13:12.840 It's precisely the limit imposed by the banks that frees the river to be true to its nature. 00:13:13.180 --> 00:13:13.820 As a river. 00:13:14.639 --> 00:13:17.780 And we recognize as human beings that there's freedom in that. 00:13:18.879 --> 00:13:21.580 A river can bring life and beauty and flourishing. 00:13:22.000 --> 00:13:24.240 A flood kills and destroys and is lifeless. 00:13:26.660 --> 00:13:28.620 So how do we define freedom as a church? 00:13:28.620 --> 00:13:36.440 What set of assumptions is the place from which we reason and relate to the world around us? 00:13:36.480 --> 00:13:42.100 I think the way we would apply this to our church is I think one of the biggest reasons that the church as a whole. 00:13:42.259 --> 00:13:43.340 And Advent in particular. 00:13:43.700 --> 00:13:47.299 One of the biggest reasons that we are ineffective at bringing renewal. 00:13:48.980 --> 00:13:54.200 Is because our thinking is shaped more by the culture than by the gospel. 00:13:54.200 --> 00:13:58.800 So this year this is going to be a major focus for us. 00:14:00.640 --> 00:14:07.020 Is looking at the ways our thinking, the ways our assumptions are formed and what they're resting on. 00:14:07.080 --> 00:14:08.960 And are they being shaped and formed by the gospel? 00:14:09.780 --> 00:14:10.440 Or not? 00:14:11.720 --> 00:14:12.980 So this is the first thing. 00:14:14.060 --> 00:14:15.379 The love of Christ. 00:14:15.480 --> 00:14:21.740 The love of Christ enters our lives and begins to change and reshape and transform the entire way we think and relate to the world. 00:14:21.740 --> 00:14:23.500 But then it moves outward. 00:14:23.600 --> 00:14:25.440 As we said, the ripples begin to move outward. 00:14:25.600 --> 00:14:30.919 As Christ's love renews us, that love begins to transform the church moving outward. 00:14:31.060 --> 00:14:32.980 And you see this in verses 3 through 8. 00:14:33.279 --> 00:14:38.100 And you notice that at the beginning of verse 3, Paul shifts and he begins to talk about spiritual gifts. 00:14:40.320 --> 00:14:43.840 So he's talking about love, you know, renewal, being transformed by the renewal of your mind. 00:14:43.919 --> 00:14:46.480 Then you may test and approve what God's will is. 00:14:46.620 --> 00:14:49.700 And then he shifts and he begins to talk about spiritual gifts in verses 3 and 4. 00:14:49.700 --> 00:14:57.879 And a lot of people look at this and just sort of feel like, is Paul just kind of firing off random thoughts that he forgot to include in his first 11 chapters? 00:14:58.920 --> 00:15:00.800 Or maybe he's just shifting to a new topic. 00:15:00.900 --> 00:15:01.780 He's done with the other one. 00:15:02.580 --> 00:15:05.759 But if you think about what's happening, actually this is exactly where you should go. 00:15:05.840 --> 00:15:08.220 This is the logical next thing that he should talk about. 00:15:09.780 --> 00:15:12.680 We live in a hyper-individualistic society, right? 00:15:12.759 --> 00:15:14.259 That's not a controversial thing to say. 00:15:14.259 --> 00:15:18.720 Maybe the most individualistic society that has ever existed. 00:15:19.220 --> 00:15:20.779 Our society, right here, right now. 00:15:21.559 --> 00:15:29.220 But what we see here is that as we are renewed in our thinking, as our thinking is shaped more and more by the gospel than by our culture, 00:15:29.319 --> 00:15:31.460 the more we're able to see through individualism. 00:15:31.539 --> 00:15:32.899 We're able to see the emptiness of it. 00:15:33.399 --> 00:15:34.439 The poverty of it. 00:15:35.179 --> 00:15:37.039 The dead-end nature of it. 00:15:37.799 --> 00:15:42.080 We begin to hunger for something more than individual autonomy. 00:15:42.080 --> 00:15:46.020 We begin to look at the gospel and realize that we were made for more than that. 00:15:47.360 --> 00:15:56.920 We begin to be captivated by the idea that in Jesus, we become not independent, autonomous beings, but an interdependent community. 00:15:58.060 --> 00:15:59.780 An interdependent community. 00:16:00.720 --> 00:16:05.180 Members of, as Paul says, a living organism, like a human body with different parts. 00:16:05.179 --> 00:16:11.479 So when Paul starts talking about spiritual gifts, he's saying, as you're renewed in the way you're thinking, 00:16:11.599 --> 00:16:15.519 you're going to realize that you are parts of the same body, and you each have gifts. 00:16:15.620 --> 00:16:18.639 You each have roles that you're meant to play in that body. 00:16:20.120 --> 00:16:26.019 So this list of gifts is Paul's way of saying, we begin to recognize that we need each other. 00:16:27.299 --> 00:16:27.699 Right? 00:16:27.739 --> 00:16:28.419 That I need you. 00:16:28.519 --> 00:16:29.199 That you need me. 00:16:29.259 --> 00:16:30.179 That we need one another. 00:16:30.919 --> 00:16:32.819 That we're designed to need one another. 00:16:32.820 --> 00:16:34.700 We're interdependent. 00:16:35.640 --> 00:16:40.620 And every Christian, as a member of the body of Christ, has a vital role to play. 00:16:40.740 --> 00:16:44.480 And as Paul says in verse 6, having these gifts, what? 00:16:45.280 --> 00:16:46.620 Let's use them. 00:16:47.860 --> 00:16:48.680 Let's use it. 00:16:48.700 --> 00:16:50.100 If you have it, use it. 00:16:50.140 --> 00:16:54.760 And this is where we begin to see the beauty of the church when it's functioning as it should. 00:16:54.759 --> 00:17:03.080 For everyone in this church who has a need, there is someone in this church who has a gift that can meet that need. 00:17:03.139 --> 00:17:07.160 For everybody who is lonely, there's somebody with a gift of hospitality. 00:17:08.279 --> 00:17:15.500 For everybody in this community sitting here right now who has need, there's someone with a gift of mercy. 00:17:15.640 --> 00:17:18.740 For everyone here who is struggling or hurting, there's someone with a gift of comfort. 00:17:19.039 --> 00:17:22.039 For everybody here who lacks understanding, there's someone with a gift of teaching. 00:17:22.039 --> 00:17:22.480 Right? 00:17:22.980 --> 00:17:27.460 For everyone here who has a great idea, there's someone who has the ability to know how to make that happen. 00:17:29.420 --> 00:17:30.779 We're all given gifts. 00:17:30.920 --> 00:17:34.139 We're all given as gifts to the church. 00:17:34.220 --> 00:17:38.139 It's this beautiful image of an interdependent, organic body. 00:17:38.140 --> 00:17:54.320 So we want to become, over this next year, the kind of church, we want to become more and more the kind of church where every member, every regular attender, everybody who's a part of our community, is actively involved in the life of our church. 00:17:54.319 --> 00:17:58.740 Where we're not only focused primarily on what we're getting from the church. 00:17:59.740 --> 00:18:01.519 There's a time and a place to ask that question. 00:18:02.659 --> 00:18:09.339 But where we're becoming more and more concerned with how we can give to the church and realizing that our most fundamental needs are going to be met in that. 00:18:10.339 --> 00:18:10.539 Right? 00:18:10.539 --> 00:18:16.819 Where we're thinking less and less like consumers and more and more like stakeholders. 00:18:18.940 --> 00:18:21.980 There's a great opportunity right after the service tonight. 00:18:23.159 --> 00:18:26.059 We thought if we were talking about this, we might as well create an opportunity. 00:18:26.059 --> 00:18:34.399 All of our ministry team leaders, all of our core group leaders, all of our, essentially our leadership is going to be available in this next room. 00:18:35.179 --> 00:18:35.960 There's going to be wine. 00:18:36.059 --> 00:18:37.220 There's going to be refreshments. 00:18:37.500 --> 00:18:42.559 But the real point of gathering over there tonight is that all of our ministry teams will be represented. 00:18:43.240 --> 00:18:43.940 They'll have tables. 00:18:44.039 --> 00:18:44.519 You can go. 00:18:44.659 --> 00:18:48.480 And if you're new to the church and you've been wanting to know how you can get more involved, you can go. 00:18:48.480 --> 00:18:53.480 And pretty much most everything that goes on in the life of our church will hopefully in some way be represented in that room. 00:18:53.480 --> 00:18:58.960 And you can go and you can talk and ask questions and sign up and figure out ways that you might start to get involved. 00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:01.299 I hope that you will do that. 00:19:01.380 --> 00:19:04.140 I hope that if you're involved, you'll go and see what else is going on. 00:19:04.200 --> 00:19:08.299 I hope that if you don't have a role at all in our church other than coming on Sunday, that's great. 00:19:08.400 --> 00:19:10.440 I hope tonight is the night where you take that next step. 00:19:12.559 --> 00:19:16.920 But our vision is to move in the direction of every member ministry. 00:19:17.400 --> 00:19:20.700 That everybody who's a part of our church is a stakeholder. 00:19:20.700 --> 00:19:23.720 That we all see that we have a vital role to play. 00:19:24.960 --> 00:19:26.019 So this is the second thing. 00:19:26.100 --> 00:19:27.200 We see individual renewal. 00:19:27.319 --> 00:19:28.960 Then we see renewal happening in the church. 00:19:29.400 --> 00:19:37.500 And then as Jesus' love transforms the church, it begins to infuse, as we move through Romans 12, all of our relationships with love. 00:19:37.580 --> 00:19:39.920 Both inside the church and outside the church. 00:19:39.920 --> 00:19:49.960 I mean, if you look at the chapter beginning in verse 9 and onward, you see that love more and more comes to define Christian relationships. 00:19:50.120 --> 00:19:51.920 This isn't just a list that begins with love. 00:19:52.019 --> 00:19:59.920 Everything following verse 9 is an explanation of what kind of love exists in the Christian community. 00:19:59.920 --> 00:20:03.120 So we see this. 00:20:03.240 --> 00:20:05.320 I mean, let our love be genuine, sincere. 00:20:06.500 --> 00:20:08.880 Let's be discerning, being able to tell what's right and wrong. 00:20:08.960 --> 00:20:09.860 A discerning love. 00:20:11.820 --> 00:20:12.600 Affectionate love. 00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:14.940 An honoring love. 00:20:15.060 --> 00:20:17.460 Outdoing one another in showing honor for one another. 00:20:18.259 --> 00:20:20.220 Let our love be marked by enthusiasm. 00:20:20.900 --> 00:20:21.759 By patience. 00:20:22.420 --> 00:20:22.920 By generosity. 00:20:23.700 --> 00:20:26.340 Giving to other people who are in need. 00:20:26.420 --> 00:20:27.200 By hospitality. 00:20:27.200 --> 00:20:32.400 A lot of these things are things that we already experience to a great degree in this community. 00:20:33.220 --> 00:20:39.120 If you've been here for any length of time, you know the incredibly hospitable, generous hearts of people in this church. 00:20:40.500 --> 00:20:41.920 You've experienced it firsthand. 00:20:43.100 --> 00:20:47.720 You know, somebody was just telling me the other day, just the fact that we do care calendars the way we do. 00:20:48.299 --> 00:20:51.960 They say that's not unique, but the fact that it's entirely organic, spontaneous. 00:20:51.960 --> 00:20:58.720 And that when we do a care calendar, it doesn't just go for a couple of weeks, but it'll go for six, eight weeks. 00:20:58.720 --> 00:21:08.920 And that when we create a care calendar and say we want to take food to somebody who's just had a baby or just gotten out of the hospital, that those things fill up like that. 00:21:09.819 --> 00:21:12.160 And it's like concert tickets selling out. 00:21:12.460 --> 00:21:20.900 And you know that if you want to kind of get on that list and be one of the people that gets to go over and greet and encourage the person in need, that you better sign up fast. 00:21:21.120 --> 00:21:22.180 Because the spots will go. 00:21:22.700 --> 00:21:24.460 What an amazing problem to have. 00:21:24.779 --> 00:21:26.079 Our care calendars sell out. 00:21:26.319 --> 00:21:27.019 That's incredible. 00:21:27.019 --> 00:21:29.000 This is a huge blessing. 00:21:30.019 --> 00:21:35.339 And what Paul would say is this is evidence that the love of Christ is bringing about renewal in this community. 00:21:35.920 --> 00:21:36.000 Right? 00:21:37.099 --> 00:21:40.119 But then in verse 14, Paul shifts seamlessly. 00:21:40.579 --> 00:21:42.900 And you realize, oh, he's not talking about the church anymore. 00:21:43.119 --> 00:21:46.099 He's talking about the relationship between the church and the larger culture. 00:21:47.660 --> 00:21:49.779 He says, bless those who persecute you. 00:21:50.639 --> 00:21:52.019 He's not talking about Christians. 00:21:52.019 --> 00:21:56.160 He's talking about how is the church meant to relate to a culture that's hostile toward it. 00:21:57.019 --> 00:22:05.480 I'd say the prevailing worldview in D.C. would probably be more or less hostile to some of our core beliefs. 00:22:06.200 --> 00:22:08.059 That will increasingly be so. 00:22:08.879 --> 00:22:11.480 It's a good thing in many ways, I believe. 00:22:11.480 --> 00:22:18.440 But as this shift happens, we see verse 14, 15, 16. 00:22:18.599 --> 00:22:22.940 Look, this is what the renewing love of Christ looks like as it goes out in the world. 00:22:23.460 --> 00:22:29.960 He says, even if you're persecuted, even if you're slandered, even if you're challenged and opposed, cultivate goodwill. 00:22:30.799 --> 00:22:31.440 Bless people. 00:22:31.599 --> 00:22:32.420 Don't curse them. 00:22:32.900 --> 00:22:33.500 Bless them. 00:22:33.640 --> 00:22:33.839 Right? 00:22:33.839 --> 00:22:36.699 Cultivate empathy. 00:22:39.399 --> 00:22:46.839 There could be sermons thinking about what it means for us as a church to cultivate empathy for the city we live in. 00:22:48.319 --> 00:22:51.159 You know, that we weep when there are tragedies. 00:22:51.720 --> 00:22:53.919 That we celebrate when there are things to celebrate. 00:22:54.319 --> 00:22:55.159 That we're involved. 00:22:55.299 --> 00:22:55.959 That we're invested. 00:22:56.299 --> 00:22:58.139 That we're not aloof and detached. 00:22:58.140 --> 00:23:05.020 That we're not only thinking about the end of our internship and the next thing and the next place we're going to live or the part of the world that we work in. 00:23:05.620 --> 00:23:05.820 You know? 00:23:07.300 --> 00:23:13.820 That we're empathizing and investing in and connecting ourselves to the here and now in this city. 00:23:14.700 --> 00:23:16.100 Verse 16, live in harmony. 00:23:17.280 --> 00:23:20.520 Do all that we can to live at peace with the people around us. 00:23:22.240 --> 00:23:26.120 You know, we rent space from All Souls Unitarian. 00:23:26.280 --> 00:23:27.040 It's a beautiful building. 00:23:27.039 --> 00:23:31.019 But it's been identified pretty clearly by them and us. 00:23:31.119 --> 00:23:34.980 And it was before we even agreed to come here and agreed to rent from them. 00:23:35.099 --> 00:23:41.639 That we are fundamentally at odds on just about every area of belief you can imagine. 00:23:42.740 --> 00:23:46.299 And part of what it means for us to cultivate harmony. 00:23:48.059 --> 00:23:52.079 Is that our entire leadership team is meeting with their entire leadership team. 00:23:52.720 --> 00:23:54.639 For a series of dinner discussions. 00:23:54.640 --> 00:23:58.420 To know more who we're dealing with. 00:23:58.520 --> 00:23:59.580 To know one another's stories. 00:23:59.700 --> 00:24:04.200 To understand, to empathize, to connect with one another's communities. 00:24:05.259 --> 00:24:07.420 And it's been an incredibly humbling experience. 00:24:07.920 --> 00:24:08.940 And it will continue to be. 00:24:10.300 --> 00:24:12.360 Verse 16 says actually humility. 00:24:12.520 --> 00:24:13.620 That we should cultivate humility. 00:24:13.759 --> 00:24:16.900 That we should never think ourselves above anyone or anything. 00:24:18.580 --> 00:24:19.040 Right? 00:24:19.039 --> 00:24:22.139 We're not too good for anything. 00:24:23.659 --> 00:24:26.359 So here we have this comprehensive vision of renewal. 00:24:26.559 --> 00:24:30.420 This love that comes like a stone into a pond and then begins to ripple outward. 00:24:30.779 --> 00:24:35.399 And this love going out as goodwill, as empathy, as harmony and humility into the larger community. 00:24:35.599 --> 00:24:37.500 And we have this comprehensive vision of renewal. 00:24:37.500 --> 00:24:41.000 We're renewed individually. 00:24:41.240 --> 00:24:42.440 Then the church is renewed. 00:24:42.579 --> 00:24:44.500 Then the greater community is renewed. 00:24:45.559 --> 00:24:49.059 And you see that the church begins to operate more and more like a body. 00:24:49.180 --> 00:24:49.859 Like an organism. 00:24:50.019 --> 00:24:51.119 This interdependence happens. 00:24:51.380 --> 00:24:53.539 And then that love begins to radiate outward. 00:24:53.680 --> 00:24:55.420 Even to people who might persecute us. 00:24:56.380 --> 00:24:58.839 And so this leads us to sort of our final question for tonight. 00:24:59.099 --> 00:25:00.099 This is a grand vision. 00:25:00.220 --> 00:25:01.039 It's a beautiful vision. 00:25:01.359 --> 00:25:02.160 How is it possible? 00:25:03.380 --> 00:25:05.200 What makes all of this possible? 00:25:05.200 --> 00:25:06.799 How do we do it? 00:25:07.360 --> 00:25:09.100 So this brings us to this question. 00:25:09.220 --> 00:25:10.940 What part do we play in God's renewal? 00:25:11.200 --> 00:25:12.140 Very important question. 00:25:13.840 --> 00:25:16.319 We could simply focus on what we do. 00:25:17.019 --> 00:25:17.440 Right? 00:25:17.740 --> 00:25:21.279 We could focus on making sure we have all the right programs. 00:25:21.980 --> 00:25:23.580 We could focus on our initiatives. 00:25:24.559 --> 00:25:25.980 And there's a place for that. 00:25:26.779 --> 00:25:28.600 There's a lot going on in our church. 00:25:28.840 --> 00:25:29.039 Right? 00:25:29.940 --> 00:25:34.360 I mean, one of our central visions is we plant churches that plant churches that plant churches. 00:25:34.359 --> 00:25:43.759 So in a month, on November 1st, we'll be launching another worship community in Brooklyn. 00:25:45.059 --> 00:25:49.779 And for now, until it's released to become its own church, it's going to be called Advent Brooklyn. 00:25:49.939 --> 00:25:52.119 It's going to be an extension of everything that happens here. 00:25:52.679 --> 00:25:55.339 It's going to be happening in the morning in Brooklyn. 00:25:55.879 --> 00:25:58.459 In a space that belongs to the Catholic University of America. 00:25:58.579 --> 00:25:59.639 It's right there next to the metro. 00:26:00.079 --> 00:26:02.979 November 1st, that's launching as a part of this vision to plant churches. 00:26:02.980 --> 00:26:07.819 In addition, we support church planting in Mobile, Alabama. 00:26:08.740 --> 00:26:09.799 In Chicago. 00:26:10.480 --> 00:26:11.360 In Boston. 00:26:12.160 --> 00:26:13.460 In Salisbury, England. 00:26:14.279 --> 00:26:16.019 In the Arab Gulf region. 00:26:17.220 --> 00:26:20.980 All churches that want to plant churches that want to plant churches. 00:26:21.299 --> 00:26:23.420 All churches that share this vision of renewal. 00:26:23.539 --> 00:26:24.819 So that's a big part of what we do. 00:26:24.819 --> 00:26:29.480 We also have two sister churches that share this vision right here in the city. 00:26:29.579 --> 00:26:33.259 Church of the Resurrection on Capitol Hill and Church of the Ascension out in Arlington. 00:26:34.939 --> 00:26:40.379 We also promote gospel reconciliation through something called the As We Forgive Rwanda Initiative. 00:26:41.039 --> 00:26:46.220 For years now, this has been an initiative in schools and prisons and churches all over Rwanda. 00:26:47.059 --> 00:26:53.399 Promoting reconciliation based in the gospel between victims and perpetrators of the 1994 genocide. 00:26:53.400 --> 00:26:54.540 That's still going on. 00:26:55.140 --> 00:26:56.140 Something that we support. 00:26:57.259 --> 00:26:58.780 The reconciliation, not the genocide. 00:26:59.000 --> 00:26:59.500 The reconciliation. 00:27:00.980 --> 00:27:05.120 We have church-wide initiatives that we're a part of. 00:27:05.200 --> 00:27:06.780 Sometimes multi-church initiatives. 00:27:07.800 --> 00:27:11.220 One of the great ones that you all need to know about, and hopefully you do, is DC 127. 00:27:11.540 --> 00:27:14.400 It's a partnership with a number of churches in the city. 00:27:14.400 --> 00:27:19.080 And the vision is to take the waiting list of kids right here in the city who need foster care. 00:27:19.740 --> 00:27:21.240 Or kids who need to be adopted. 00:27:21.720 --> 00:27:25.840 And that Christians would become so involved in this that we would reduce that waiting list down to zero. 00:27:26.519 --> 00:27:28.759 And there are so many ways to get involved in this. 00:27:28.820 --> 00:27:31.800 Not only by becoming a foster family or by adopting. 00:27:31.940 --> 00:27:37.600 But by playing one of the myriad roles that you can play to support families who do this. 00:27:39.040 --> 00:27:39.440 Right? 00:27:39.500 --> 00:27:40.519 So this is a great initiative. 00:27:41.160 --> 00:27:44.299 We also serve in a number of ways locally through our core groups. 00:27:44.440 --> 00:27:46.500 We have smaller communities. 00:27:46.600 --> 00:27:48.720 Like small groups that meet all around the city. 00:27:48.820 --> 00:27:52.880 And many of them are actively involved in serving in the community. 00:27:52.980 --> 00:27:55.080 This is the place where discipleship happens in our church. 00:27:55.200 --> 00:27:56.420 And the place where mission happens. 00:27:57.420 --> 00:28:00.120 So you have a core group that's focused on racial reconciliation. 00:28:00.120 --> 00:28:06.259 You have a core group that's focused on engaging and serving relocated refugees as they come into the city. 00:28:06.259 --> 00:28:07.779 And they have very limited resources. 00:28:09.180 --> 00:28:11.819 Also we have a community called Mothers of Preschoolers. 00:28:11.980 --> 00:28:17.539 That exists just to reach out to and to serve and to build community for stay-at-home moms. 00:28:18.140 --> 00:28:19.940 Because that's a very isolating experience. 00:28:21.559 --> 00:28:26.759 We engage culture with the gospel through all kinds of things. 00:28:26.819 --> 00:28:31.099 But one of the latest is the Science and Faith series that we did a couple of years ago. 00:28:31.160 --> 00:28:31.900 You may remember it. 00:28:31.900 --> 00:28:38.720 I think back in 2013 we did a series where we brought together leading scientists and theologians and philosophers. 00:28:39.100 --> 00:28:45.380 And we explored questions about what it means to be human from a scientific and a theological standpoint. 00:28:45.640 --> 00:28:49.620 And the goal was to show that science and faith are not at odds. 00:28:49.660 --> 00:28:51.800 And in fact, in many ways, they're incredibly complementary. 00:28:52.620 --> 00:28:54.040 This is one of the ways that we engage culture. 00:28:54.120 --> 00:28:59.620 And by the way, in partnership with the Trinity Forum and with BioLogos and with the Templeton Foundation, 00:28:59.619 --> 00:29:02.539 we're going to begin a new series of this next year. 00:29:02.639 --> 00:29:05.179 We'll do two events in 2016 and two events in 2017. 00:29:05.819 --> 00:29:07.039 Same vision, same goal. 00:29:07.699 --> 00:29:10.399 It's called Discovery and Doxology. 00:29:10.579 --> 00:29:11.899 So you'll hear more about that. 00:29:12.079 --> 00:29:13.599 But all of these are things that we do. 00:29:13.879 --> 00:29:16.979 And it would be easy as a church to say we want to see renewal. 00:29:17.599 --> 00:29:18.899 And so therefore we've got to do. 00:29:19.019 --> 00:29:19.779 We've got to do more. 00:29:19.879 --> 00:29:20.879 We've got to have more programs. 00:29:20.979 --> 00:29:21.919 We've got to be more active. 00:29:22.719 --> 00:29:24.000 Lord knows there's the need. 00:29:24.000 --> 00:29:30.180 But if we do that, if we focus simply on the doing, we miss the whole point. 00:29:31.400 --> 00:29:36.720 The entire key to understanding our part in God's renewal comes in Romans 12, verse 1. 00:29:38.599 --> 00:29:38.960 He says, 00:29:38.960 --> 00:30:00.840 So what Paul's saying is pretty simple. 00:30:00.960 --> 00:30:01.480 It's pretty clear. 00:30:01.559 --> 00:30:02.519 And yet it's pretty profound. 00:30:02.519 --> 00:30:04.579 He's saying, 00:30:04.680 --> 00:30:08.440 Do you want to be renewed yourself and have a gospel-shaped perspective? 00:30:09.319 --> 00:30:12.039 Do you want to be a part of a church that is being renewed, 00:30:12.160 --> 00:30:14.900 that is experiencing this love in a way that is transforming us, 00:30:15.240 --> 00:30:16.559 knitting us together as a body? 00:30:16.940 --> 00:30:20.160 Do you want to be a part of the kind of church where that love radiates out 00:30:20.160 --> 00:30:22.319 and has an impact on the entire city? 00:30:22.639 --> 00:30:25.859 And through the ministries that we support, other parts of the world. 00:30:25.920 --> 00:30:26.960 Do you want to be a part of that? 00:30:27.220 --> 00:30:28.200 Then offer yourself. 00:30:31.619 --> 00:30:32.420 Offer yourself. 00:30:32.519 --> 00:30:40.440 He's saying the sacrifices that you've seen in your life at this day and time, 00:30:41.000 --> 00:30:42.379 they were dead sacrifices. 00:30:43.200 --> 00:30:47.000 You'd put the sacrifice on the altar, you'd kill it, and then you'd go home. 00:30:48.599 --> 00:30:48.960 He says, 00:30:49.019 --> 00:30:50.819 But we're called to be something entirely different. 00:30:51.059 --> 00:30:52.039 Living sacrifices. 00:30:53.119 --> 00:30:56.180 Your whole life, day in and day out, 00:30:56.319 --> 00:30:58.799 the most mundane activities of your daily life, 00:30:59.900 --> 00:31:02.019 offered as offerings on the altar. 00:31:02.019 --> 00:31:03.839 Life lived on the altar. 00:31:05.879 --> 00:31:06.519 He says, 00:31:06.599 --> 00:31:08.160 Give yourself freely to him. 00:31:08.500 --> 00:31:09.220 There's a preacher, 00:31:09.660 --> 00:31:14.000 an old Welsh preacher named Dr. David Martin Lloyd-Jones, 00:31:14.119 --> 00:31:16.240 and he preaches on, 00:31:16.460 --> 00:31:18.299 he's the one that preached ten sermons on this. 00:31:18.700 --> 00:31:19.740 But in one of those, 00:31:20.119 --> 00:31:22.319 he tells this story about a doctor, 00:31:22.440 --> 00:31:23.220 a fellow doctor, 00:31:23.720 --> 00:31:25.400 that he got to know, 00:31:25.460 --> 00:31:27.259 and this doctor told him a story about his dog. 00:31:27.720 --> 00:31:28.160 He said, 00:31:28.160 --> 00:31:30.379 Every day I go and I take my little dog, 00:31:30.440 --> 00:31:31.220 this little gray dog, 00:31:31.319 --> 00:31:32.799 on a walk through the same park, 00:31:32.879 --> 00:31:33.680 down the same path, 00:31:34.039 --> 00:31:34.500 every day. 00:31:34.900 --> 00:31:35.220 And he says, 00:31:35.319 --> 00:31:36.599 Every time I walk this dog, 00:31:36.660 --> 00:31:40.240 this dog is constantly straining at the end of the leash, 00:31:40.299 --> 00:31:41.779 just pulling and pulling and pulling and pulling, 00:31:41.900 --> 00:31:43.240 and maybe you have a dog like this. 00:31:43.619 --> 00:31:45.099 And pulling and pulling and pulling, 00:31:45.319 --> 00:31:47.180 and this is in the days before the dog whisperer. 00:31:47.759 --> 00:31:48.100 And so, 00:31:48.460 --> 00:31:50.480 he didn't know what to do, 00:31:50.519 --> 00:31:50.880 and he said, 00:31:51.160 --> 00:31:52.960 One day he just couldn't take it anymore, 00:31:53.000 --> 00:31:53.820 and he finally decided, 00:31:54.019 --> 00:31:54.660 I know the dog, 00:31:54.720 --> 00:31:55.560 the dog knows the path, 00:31:55.759 --> 00:31:56.759 I'm just going to trust this, 00:31:56.860 --> 00:31:58.380 and he lets the dog off the leash. 00:31:59.779 --> 00:32:00.480 And he says, 00:32:00.779 --> 00:32:02.019 The dog is gone. 00:32:02.720 --> 00:32:03.980 Just takes off into the woods, 00:32:04.019 --> 00:32:05.340 like a lightning bolt, 00:32:05.460 --> 00:32:05.740 gone. 00:32:06.700 --> 00:32:08.160 And he just stands there for a few minutes, 00:32:08.160 --> 00:32:12.860 and realizes the dog's not coming back. 00:32:12.859 --> 00:32:17.740 And then he decides he's just going to keep walking down the path. 00:32:18.519 --> 00:32:19.639 And about ten minutes later, 00:32:19.699 --> 00:32:20.599 from the other direction, 00:32:21.439 --> 00:32:22.959 this gray lightning bolt goes, 00:32:23.139 --> 00:32:25.279 and it comes up right to his leg. 00:32:26.139 --> 00:32:27.259 He doesn't know where the dog's been, 00:32:27.299 --> 00:32:28.479 it's been about ten, fifteen minutes. 00:32:29.399 --> 00:32:31.719 But the dog falls in step right beside him, 00:32:31.919 --> 00:32:32.699 just behind him, 00:32:33.519 --> 00:32:35.439 and finishes the walk right at his heel. 00:32:36.219 --> 00:32:36.659 And he says, 00:32:36.719 --> 00:32:37.719 From that moment on, 00:32:37.779 --> 00:32:39.179 he never had to use the leash again, 00:32:39.240 --> 00:32:41.000 that the dog walked right along beside him, 00:32:41.000 --> 00:32:43.019 every day when they went on the walk. 00:32:43.759 --> 00:32:44.000 And so, 00:32:44.079 --> 00:32:44.940 Martyn Lloyd-Jones says, 00:32:45.180 --> 00:32:46.599 Do you recognize what happened there? 00:32:47.359 --> 00:32:49.200 The dog offered himself, 00:32:49.900 --> 00:32:50.960 to his master, 00:32:51.599 --> 00:32:51.920 freely. 00:32:53.299 --> 00:32:54.619 The master took the leash off, 00:32:54.720 --> 00:32:56.160 and the dog was given the opportunity, 00:32:56.779 --> 00:32:57.720 to offer himself. 00:32:58.160 --> 00:32:58.960 And that's what he did. 00:32:59.220 --> 00:33:00.700 And that's what Paul's talking about here. 00:33:00.920 --> 00:33:01.599 It's voluntary. 00:33:01.819 --> 00:33:02.460 I urge you. 00:33:02.500 --> 00:33:02.900 He doesn't say, 00:33:03.019 --> 00:33:03.599 I command you. 00:33:03.779 --> 00:33:04.059 He says, 00:33:04.119 --> 00:33:04.859 I urge you. 00:33:05.640 --> 00:33:06.480 Offer yourself. 00:33:07.039 --> 00:33:08.380 Offer yourself to the master. 00:33:08.980 --> 00:33:09.880 Because he died, 00:33:09.880 --> 00:33:11.140 he has taken you off the leash. 00:33:11.220 --> 00:33:12.980 He set you free from sin and death. 00:33:13.260 --> 00:33:13.780 You're free. 00:33:13.880 --> 00:33:14.420 You're liberated. 00:33:15.680 --> 00:33:16.880 Now you have the opportunity, 00:33:16.880 --> 00:33:18.080 to offer yourself. 00:33:20.740 --> 00:33:21.380 And this, 00:33:23.320 --> 00:33:25.080 God ultimately doesn't bring renewal, 00:33:25.080 --> 00:33:26.840 through programs and initiatives. 00:33:27.140 --> 00:33:28.040 He brings renewal, 00:33:28.040 --> 00:33:30.180 through people who are completely yielded to him. 00:33:33.400 --> 00:33:34.860 That's the very core of this. 00:33:35.020 --> 00:33:35.280 And so, 00:33:35.660 --> 00:33:37.140 this is my hope and prayer, 00:33:37.260 --> 00:33:38.260 for my own life. 00:33:38.259 --> 00:33:44.059 As I seek and desire to become a, 00:33:44.059 --> 00:33:47.539 a better servant of you all. 00:33:48.819 --> 00:33:49.680 It's also, 00:33:49.879 --> 00:33:51.440 it's also my prayer, 00:33:51.539 --> 00:33:53.379 my continual prayer for the life of our church, 00:33:53.660 --> 00:33:55.220 especially over this coming year, 00:33:55.339 --> 00:33:55.799 2015, 00:33:55.980 --> 00:33:56.420 2016. 00:33:58.420 --> 00:33:59.559 If there's one way, 00:33:59.640 --> 00:34:01.500 I believe that we as a church need to grow, 00:34:01.619 --> 00:34:02.879 more than any other way. 00:34:02.880 --> 00:34:04.700 It's not numerically, 00:34:05.140 --> 00:34:06.500 it's not financially, 00:34:06.880 --> 00:34:08.260 it's not strategically. 00:34:10.760 --> 00:34:11.200 Listen, 00:34:11.280 --> 00:34:11.619 let me just, 00:34:12.019 --> 00:34:12.960 I'll be frank with you. 00:34:13.039 --> 00:34:14.760 The way that we most need to grow, 00:34:16.220 --> 00:34:17.720 is in our willingness, 00:34:17.720 --> 00:34:19.160 to offer more, 00:34:19.300 --> 00:34:20.780 and more of our lives, 00:34:21.340 --> 00:34:22.280 freely, 00:34:22.519 --> 00:34:23.099 and joyfully, 00:34:23.500 --> 00:34:24.660 as living sacrifices. 00:34:24.659 --> 00:34:27.179 And if there's nothing else, 00:34:27.179 --> 00:34:28.399 that we focus on this year, 00:34:29.399 --> 00:34:30.519 I hope and pray, 00:34:30.679 --> 00:34:31.279 that we grow, 00:34:31.899 --> 00:34:32.500 in our ability, 00:34:32.619 --> 00:34:33.599 to offer ourselves, 00:34:33.940 --> 00:34:34.619 to Jesus. 00:34:34.739 --> 00:34:35.659 And the reason is simple, 00:34:35.739 --> 00:34:36.179 it's because, 00:34:36.599 --> 00:34:37.539 as Paul says here, 00:34:37.940 --> 00:34:39.759 this is the only possible response, 00:34:39.839 --> 00:34:40.259 we can have, 00:34:40.319 --> 00:34:40.940 to the mercy, 00:34:41.339 --> 00:34:41.899 and the grace, 00:34:41.960 --> 00:34:42.819 of Jesus Christ. 00:34:43.940 --> 00:34:45.539 Who gave himself up, 00:34:45.579 --> 00:34:46.960 as a sacrifice for us, 00:34:47.019 --> 00:34:48.859 with joy. 00:34:48.860 --> 00:34:52.120 So as we consider, 00:34:52.320 --> 00:34:53.480 our vision together, 00:34:53.780 --> 00:34:54.460 and as we move, 00:34:54.539 --> 00:34:55.440 into this year together, 00:34:55.960 --> 00:34:57.380 as we consider this vision, 00:34:57.460 --> 00:34:58.320 to see God's renewal, 00:34:58.460 --> 00:34:58.960 for ourselves, 00:34:59.099 --> 00:34:59.480 our city, 00:34:59.579 --> 00:35:00.160 and our world, 00:35:00.280 --> 00:35:00.740 let us, 00:35:01.480 --> 00:35:02.579 offer ourselves, 00:35:02.760 --> 00:35:03.480 as a community, 00:35:04.240 --> 00:35:05.440 to the one, 00:35:05.539 --> 00:35:06.559 who offered himself, 00:35:06.760 --> 00:35:07.200 joyfully, 00:35:07.940 --> 00:35:08.620 for us. 00:35:09.860 --> 00:35:10.579 Let's pray. 00:35:13.460 --> 00:35:14.180 Our Father, 00:35:14.300 --> 00:35:15.320 we recognize, 00:35:15.660 --> 00:35:17.380 even as Paul surely does, 00:35:17.380 --> 00:35:17.980 that, 00:35:18.660 --> 00:35:20.340 this is not something, 00:35:20.500 --> 00:35:21.539 that can come naturally, 00:35:22.300 --> 00:35:23.360 it's not the product, 00:35:23.360 --> 00:35:24.559 of the force of will, 00:35:25.579 --> 00:35:26.559 it's not a, 00:35:26.559 --> 00:35:27.420 it's not a, 00:35:27.420 --> 00:35:29.579 purely human decision, 00:35:29.760 --> 00:35:30.480 but this is something, 00:35:30.480 --> 00:35:31.480 that requires, 00:35:32.220 --> 00:35:33.559 the power of your spirit, 00:35:33.720 --> 00:35:35.099 in our innermost being. 00:35:37.420 --> 00:35:37.980 Would, 00:35:38.340 --> 00:35:39.420 plant your love, 00:35:39.599 --> 00:35:40.579 so deeply in us, 00:35:40.660 --> 00:35:41.460 that it would begin, 00:35:41.559 --> 00:35:42.460 to radiate out, 00:35:42.640 --> 00:35:43.800 from the center of our being, 00:35:44.460 --> 00:35:45.900 and that through your spirit, 00:35:45.900 --> 00:35:48.180 we would be renewed, 00:35:49.180 --> 00:35:50.480 and that through that renewal, 00:35:50.660 --> 00:35:51.680 this community, 00:35:51.860 --> 00:35:52.320 would become, 00:35:52.320 --> 00:35:53.619 a haven, 00:35:54.220 --> 00:35:55.200 and that it would become, 00:35:55.260 --> 00:35:55.660 a beacon, 00:35:56.380 --> 00:35:57.700 of your love, 00:35:57.820 --> 00:35:58.360 for this city. 00:35:59.240 --> 00:36:00.019 We pray this, 00:36:00.059 --> 00:36:00.940 in your son's holy name. 00:36:01.420 --> 00:36:01.660 Amen.