WEBVTT

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 As we turn now to God's word,

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 just to say it again for those of you who maybe knew

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 that one of the commitments of our church

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 and as we've just been singing

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 about the cornerstone of Jesus Christ,

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 the way that we know him is through his word.

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 And so every week we open up the Bible

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 and we look at it carefully together.

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 To see what it has to say to us today.

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 I'm not gonna preach on building projects.

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 I'm gonna preach on what comes next in the book of Genesis,

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 which is where we're in.

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 So if you wanna turn with me in your pew Bibles,

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 Genesis 2 is where we'll be.

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 That'll be on page two in your pew Bible.

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 And as you turn there,

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 will you also pray with me this morning?

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 Lord Jesus, we praise you for your faithfulness

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 and your goodness to us

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 that you have shown to us in Jesus Christ

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 as we have just been singing.

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 And Lord, now as we turn to your word,

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 we pray that we would see your goodness

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 in your creative acts, Lord,

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 and in the way that you have made us as human beings.

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 Lord, I ask that you would help me this morning.

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 Lord, that you would help all of us

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 to understand your word,

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 to know its truth,

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 to receive it as good,

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 to rejoice in your plan for us.

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 Lord, and that as we do this,

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 that we might know you more

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 and what it means to know

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 how to live in a relationship with you.

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 God, be with us, I pray.

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 In Jesus' name, amen.

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 Sam Smith is a Grammy award-winning singer.

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 Sam announced this week

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 that they are asking to be called

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 by the pronouns they and them,

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 having also publicly made known

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 that they have embraced

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 a non-binary gender identity.

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 If you are a follower

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 of the ABC show Bachelors in Paradise,

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 you may know that they also had

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 a groundbreaking event this week

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 as the first same-sex proposal occurred

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 with contestants Demi Burnett

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 proposing to Christian Hagerty.

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 These were simply a few of the headlines

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 in the news this week

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 as I open up CNN.com,

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 perusing the news outlets

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 to know what's going on in the world.

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 And as keen observers have noticed,

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 the fact of these news stories

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 and their proliferation

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 remind us of the rapidity of change

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 in our culture's views

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 on some of the most core aspects

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 of human identity,

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 our gender,

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 our understanding of relationships,

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 of sex,

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 and marriage.

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 And these questions, of course,

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 have always been there

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 in every society throughout history.

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 But we might fairly say

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 that in the last 30 years,

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 these topics were not discussed

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 and certainly not celebrated

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 as openly as they are today.

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 These important issues, of course,

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 are not simply out in the media,

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 but it is in our everyday lives as well.

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 These are issues that affect our neighbors,

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 our classmates,

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 our coworkers.

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 And it's not just out there either.

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 It's in here, isn't it?

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 Some of you in this room

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 have wrestled with questions

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 of gender and identity,

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 of sexual orientation and attraction,

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 of understanding marriage

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 and relationships.

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 These are important conversations

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 and we need to address them

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 with kind thoughtfulness,

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 with courageous compassion

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 and straightforward clarity.

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 And we begin this morning

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 by confessing that the church

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 has not always done this well.

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 And the church is not always

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 doing it well today.

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 And yet it brings us

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 to the question that we have,

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 which is,

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 what does God's word say to us

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 today

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 about human identity,

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 particularly about gender

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 and marriage?

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 I did not pick this topic

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 because I thought it was time

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 to preach on this.

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 I picked this topic

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 because as we come to Genesis,

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 Genesis 2,

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 verses 18 through 25,

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 these are the very things

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 that this passage addresses.

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 And so as we continue to that,

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 if you want to turn with me there,

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 we'll look at that.

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 We're going to start in verse 18.

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 And remember where we're at in Genesis.

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 Genesis 1 was this cosmic view

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 from God's perspective

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 of the creation of all things.

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 And then Genesis 2

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 was this zoom in

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 on the creation,

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 particularly of humanity

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 and of male and female

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 and what that looks like.

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 And the specifics

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 of God's created order,

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 which in the end

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 he declared

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 to be very good

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 are the things

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 we're going to explore today.

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 To try to understand

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 why God declares

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 these things

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 profoundly good

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 and reflective

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 of God's goodness

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 in our lives.

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 So let's look at Genesis 2.

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 We're going to start

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 in verse 18.

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 And we'll read

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 to the end of the chapter.

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 Then the Lord God said,

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 It is not good

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 that the man should be alone.

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 I will make him a helper

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 fit for him.

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 Now out of the ground,

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 the Lord God had formed

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 every beast of the field

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 and every bird of the heavens

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 and brought them to the man

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 to see what he would call them.

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 And whatever the man called

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 every living creature,

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 that was its name.

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 The man gave names

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 to all livestock

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 and to the birds

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 of the heavens

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 and to every beast

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 of the field.

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 But for Adam,

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 there was not found

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 a helper fit for him.

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 So the Lord God

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 caused a deep sleep

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 to fall upon the man

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 and while he slept,

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 took one of his ribs

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 and closed up its place

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 with flesh.

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 And the rib

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 that the Lord God

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 had taken

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 from the man

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 he made into a woman

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 and brought her

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 to the man.

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 And then the man said,

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 This at last

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 is bone of my bones

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 and flesh of my flesh

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 and she shall be called woman

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 because she was taken out of man.

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 Therefore a man shall leave

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 his father and his mother

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 and hold fast to his wife

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 and they shall become

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 one flesh.

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 And the man

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 and his wife

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 were both naked

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 and were not ashamed.

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 What do we learn

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 in this passage

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 about gender

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 and sex

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 and marriage?

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 And is God's plan

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 really good

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 for us?

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 It's a big question.

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 We're going to try

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 to tackle as much of it

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 as we can this morning.

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 Here's how we're going

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 to do it.

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 We're going to look

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 at one story.

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 We're going to look

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 at two topics

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 and then we're going

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 to ask three questions

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 and then one final word.

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 So if you're taking notes,

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 there's your outline.

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 One story,

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 two topics,

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 three questions

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 and a final word.

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 Yep, we can do this.

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 Alright.

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 So, first of all,

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 the story.

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 We have to recognize

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 God brings this to us

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 in a narrative.

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 This is not a didactic

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 procedural description

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 but a narrative story.

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 And what we've seen

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 so far in this story

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 is that God

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 is the creator

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 of everything

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 and everything he created

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 in its original form

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 was good.

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 And the pinnacle,

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 the high point,

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 the end point

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 of his creation

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 was the creation

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 of humanity.

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 Uniquely among

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 all of his creations

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 made in his image

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 and made to rule over

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 all of the rest

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 of his creation.

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 To bear his image

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 by reflecting his character

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 and his nature

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 and representing him

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 in the world.

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 And in this whole story

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 we've seen this

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 fundamental givenness,

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 God is the creator

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 and he has made

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 the world the way

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 he has chosen to do so

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 in order to reveal himself

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 and to display his glory.

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 And this is a good plan

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 that he has made

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 and we as his creations

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 are meant to explore

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 and understand

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 and enjoy his goodness

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 in this creation.

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 So, having said that,

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 this is the background

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 of the story.

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 We come to Genesis 2,

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 verse 18.

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 And if we're reading carefully,

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 we have come to

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 a very shocking moment

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 in verse 18.

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 The Lord God said,

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 it is not good.

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 How could this be?

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 How could anything

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 in this creation

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 be not good?

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 God has said,

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 everything is good

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 and it flows

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 from his goodness

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 and there's been no hint

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 of any not goodness

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 until now

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 and then suddenly

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 there is this problem

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 that presents itself.

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 It is not good

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 for man

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 and in this case,

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 man is now

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 a gendered being,

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 not just humanity broadly,

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 but the gendered,

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 the male part

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 of the human species.

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 It is not good

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 for him to be alone.

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 And God states

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 his intention.

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 I will create

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 a helper

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 fit for him.

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 A helper,

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 the word is azer,

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 is a strong ally,

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 a companion,

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 one who comes alongside,

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 the way that God

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 comes alongside

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 his nation Israel

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 throughout his history

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 to be their strength

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 and to help them

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 to accomplish

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 all that he intends.

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 God says,

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 I will create

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 a helper

00:10:24.840 --> 00:10:26.440
 and a helper fit.

00:10:26.700 --> 00:10:27.679
 What does that mean

00:10:27.679 --> 00:10:28.220
 by fit?

00:10:28.279 --> 00:10:28.840
 What we see

00:10:28.840 --> 00:10:29.919
 as the story goes on,

00:10:30.320 --> 00:10:31.299
 God is unpacking

00:10:31.299 --> 00:10:32.500
 what fit means.

00:10:32.700 --> 00:10:33.960
 Fit might be

00:10:33.960 --> 00:10:35.500
 also translated

00:10:35.500 --> 00:10:36.820
 corresponding to

00:10:36.820 --> 00:10:38.500
 of the same type,

00:10:38.500 --> 00:10:39.159
 but we'll see

00:10:39.159 --> 00:10:39.480
 how this,

00:10:39.779 --> 00:10:40.720
 because what happens

00:10:40.720 --> 00:10:44.220
 is that God

00:10:44.220 --> 00:10:44.919
 then brings

00:10:44.919 --> 00:10:45.860
 the animals

00:10:45.860 --> 00:10:49.019
 that he's created

00:10:49.019 --> 00:10:50.000
 to Adam

00:10:50.000 --> 00:10:50.820
 and Adam

00:10:50.820 --> 00:10:51.639
 in his image

00:10:51.639 --> 00:10:52.259
 of Godness

00:10:52.259 --> 00:10:53.399
 gives them names,

00:10:54.399 --> 00:10:57.200
 seeing who they are

00:10:57.200 --> 00:10:59.399
 and in expressing

00:10:59.399 --> 00:11:01.840
 his dominion

00:11:01.840 --> 00:11:02.580
 over creation

00:11:02.580 --> 00:11:03.600
 by doing this.

00:11:03.600 --> 00:11:05.920
 but the point

00:11:05.920 --> 00:11:06.259
 of that

00:11:06.259 --> 00:11:07.200
 is not really

00:11:07.200 --> 00:11:08.220
 to talk about that.

00:11:08.300 --> 00:11:08.920
 The point of that

00:11:08.920 --> 00:11:09.620
 is to show

00:11:09.620 --> 00:11:11.139
 that none of them

00:11:11.139 --> 00:11:11.899
 are fit

00:11:11.899 --> 00:11:13.440
 for Adam.

00:11:13.779 --> 00:11:14.480
 None of them,

00:11:14.580 --> 00:11:15.340
 though they have

00:11:15.340 --> 00:11:16.580
 God's image in them

00:11:16.580 --> 00:11:18.139
 or God's glory

00:11:18.139 --> 00:11:18.759
 displayed

00:11:18.759 --> 00:11:20.100
 in a broad way,

00:11:20.159 --> 00:11:20.740
 the way nature

00:11:20.740 --> 00:11:21.940
 displays God's nature,

00:11:22.360 --> 00:11:23.180
 they are not

00:11:23.180 --> 00:11:24.060
 in God's image

00:11:24.060 --> 00:11:24.980
 and they are not

00:11:24.980 --> 00:11:25.620
 fit

00:11:25.620 --> 00:11:29.259
 for male humanity.

00:11:29.440 --> 00:11:30.100
 They are not

00:11:30.100 --> 00:11:31.840
 a companion

00:11:31.840 --> 00:11:32.580
 for them.

00:11:35.500 --> 00:11:36.460
 And so,

00:11:37.000 --> 00:11:39.139
 God says,

00:11:39.879 --> 00:11:40.500
 now that you

00:11:40.500 --> 00:11:41.540
 have seen this Adam,

00:11:41.879 --> 00:11:42.720
 that none of these

00:11:42.720 --> 00:11:42.980
 are fit,

00:11:43.019 --> 00:11:43.720
 this is where we see

00:11:43.720 --> 00:11:44.280
 in the end

00:11:44.280 --> 00:11:45.080
 of chapter 20,

00:11:45.860 --> 00:11:47.820
 none of them

00:11:47.820 --> 00:11:48.460
 are according

00:11:48.460 --> 00:11:49.500
 to his kind,

00:11:50.259 --> 00:11:51.200
 so there was not

00:11:51.200 --> 00:11:51.920
 a helper fit

00:11:51.920 --> 00:11:52.379
 for him,

00:11:53.120 --> 00:11:53.740
 and he puts

00:11:53.740 --> 00:11:54.780
 the man to sleep,

00:11:54.779 --> 00:11:56.519
 and he takes

00:11:56.519 --> 00:11:57.839
 part of his body

00:11:57.839 --> 00:11:58.439
 out

00:11:58.439 --> 00:12:00.980
 and from that body

00:12:00.980 --> 00:12:02.259
 he then forms

00:12:02.259 --> 00:12:03.659
 of the same essence,

00:12:04.279 --> 00:12:06.139
 creates woman

00:12:06.139 --> 00:12:08.059
 to be with man.

00:12:11.059 --> 00:12:11.659
 Now,

00:12:11.779 --> 00:12:12.199
 we have to,

00:12:12.779 --> 00:12:13.600
 one commentator

00:12:13.600 --> 00:12:14.419
 says this,

00:12:15.360 --> 00:12:16.279
 as we think about

00:12:16.279 --> 00:12:17.240
 how this happens,

00:12:18.240 --> 00:12:18.919
 commentating on

00:12:18.919 --> 00:12:20.159
 this helper

00:12:20.159 --> 00:12:20.740
 being

00:12:20.740 --> 00:12:23.840
 what the relationship

00:12:23.840 --> 00:12:24.340
 is.

00:12:24.600 --> 00:12:25.580
 Man does not have

00:12:25.580 --> 00:12:26.180
 a governmental

00:12:26.180 --> 00:12:27.220
 priority,

00:12:27.700 --> 00:12:28.700
 but a mutual

00:12:28.700 --> 00:12:29.399
 dependence.

00:12:31.200 --> 00:12:31.899
 Man is created

00:12:31.899 --> 00:12:32.940
 first with a woman

00:12:32.940 --> 00:12:33.799
 to help the man,

00:12:33.879 --> 00:12:34.580
 not vice versa.

00:12:34.720 --> 00:12:34.960
 However,

00:12:35.039 --> 00:12:35.940
 this does not mean

00:12:35.940 --> 00:12:36.840
 an ontological

00:12:36.840 --> 00:12:37.480
 superiority

00:12:37.480 --> 00:12:39.519
 or inferiority.

00:12:40.159 --> 00:12:40.740
 The word

00:12:40.740 --> 00:12:41.700
 signifies her

00:12:41.700 --> 00:12:43.279
 essential contribution,

00:12:43.560 --> 00:12:44.639
 not inadequacy.

00:12:45.500 --> 00:12:46.299
 What God

00:12:46.299 --> 00:12:47.060
 is creating

00:12:47.060 --> 00:12:47.799
 is not

00:12:47.799 --> 00:12:48.779
 a maid

00:12:48.779 --> 00:12:49.959
 to clean up

00:12:49.959 --> 00:12:50.879
 your dirty socks,

00:12:51.480 --> 00:12:52.500
 or a cook

00:12:52.500 --> 00:12:53.679
 to make sure

00:12:53.679 --> 00:12:54.500
 you have a meal.

00:12:56.439 --> 00:12:57.319
 What God

00:12:57.319 --> 00:12:58.100
 is creating

00:12:58.100 --> 00:13:00.259
 is a partner

00:13:00.259 --> 00:13:01.919
 and a companion

00:13:01.919 --> 00:13:04.039
 and a necessary

00:13:04.039 --> 00:13:04.939
 help

00:13:04.939 --> 00:13:06.759
 so that

00:13:06.759 --> 00:13:08.179
 male and female

00:13:08.179 --> 00:13:09.000
 together

00:13:09.000 --> 00:13:10.879
 might carry out

00:13:10.879 --> 00:13:12.259
 God's word.

00:13:12.500 --> 00:13:13.360
 Notice that

00:13:13.360 --> 00:13:14.600
 Matthew Henry,

00:13:14.740 --> 00:13:15.740
 the old-time

00:13:15.740 --> 00:13:16.399
 commentator,

00:13:16.799 --> 00:13:17.459
 makes a great

00:13:17.459 --> 00:13:18.220
 comment about

00:13:18.220 --> 00:13:19.060
 what part

00:13:19.060 --> 00:13:19.600
 of the body

00:13:19.600 --> 00:13:20.080
 did God

00:13:20.080 --> 00:13:20.740
 pull out.

00:13:21.540 --> 00:13:21.940
 Not

00:13:21.940 --> 00:13:22.600
 made out

00:13:22.600 --> 00:13:23.040
 of the top

00:13:23.040 --> 00:13:23.680
 of his head

00:13:23.680 --> 00:13:25.279
 so that

00:13:25.279 --> 00:13:25.639
 she might

00:13:25.639 --> 00:13:26.340
 be over him,

00:13:26.480 --> 00:13:27.120
 not out

00:13:27.120 --> 00:13:27.720
 of his feet

00:13:27.720 --> 00:13:28.580
 to be trampled

00:13:28.580 --> 00:13:29.980
 upon by him,

00:13:30.340 --> 00:13:31.100
 but out of his

00:13:31.100 --> 00:13:32.100
 side to be

00:13:32.100 --> 00:13:33.220
 equal with him,

00:13:33.560 --> 00:13:34.500
 under his arm

00:13:34.500 --> 00:13:35.279
 to be protected

00:13:35.279 --> 00:13:35.980
 by him,

00:13:36.220 --> 00:13:37.000
 and near his

00:13:37.000 --> 00:13:37.899
 heart to be

00:13:37.899 --> 00:13:39.519
 loved by him.

00:13:40.800 --> 00:13:41.680
 God chose

00:13:41.680 --> 00:13:42.320
 a rib

00:13:42.320 --> 00:13:43.899
 to signify

00:13:43.899 --> 00:13:45.500
 the along-sideness

00:13:45.500 --> 00:13:46.279
 of the creation

00:13:46.279 --> 00:13:46.919
 of woman

00:13:46.919 --> 00:13:48.620
 to be man.

00:13:48.620 --> 00:13:49.700
 And then,

00:13:49.879 --> 00:13:51.139
 as he wakes

00:13:51.139 --> 00:13:51.519
 up,

00:13:52.080 --> 00:13:53.299
 God brings

00:13:53.299 --> 00:13:54.759
 her to him

00:13:54.759 --> 00:13:55.820
 the way a

00:13:55.820 --> 00:13:56.799
 father brings

00:13:56.799 --> 00:13:58.059
 his daughter

00:13:58.059 --> 00:13:59.080
 down the aisle

00:13:59.080 --> 00:13:59.700
 in a wedding

00:13:59.700 --> 00:14:00.379
 ceremony.

00:14:01.820 --> 00:14:02.940
 And like

00:14:02.940 --> 00:14:04.620
 many grooms,

00:14:06.399 --> 00:14:07.340
 Adam responds

00:14:07.340 --> 00:14:09.240
 with a song,

00:14:09.559 --> 00:14:10.399
 with a poem,

00:14:10.399 --> 00:14:12.379
 finally,

00:14:12.919 --> 00:14:14.199
 I saw

00:14:14.199 --> 00:14:15.100
 the inadequacy

00:14:15.100 --> 00:14:15.600
 of all

00:14:15.600 --> 00:14:16.079
 these other

00:14:16.079 --> 00:14:16.480
 things.

00:14:16.740 --> 00:14:17.059
 Now,

00:14:17.419 --> 00:14:18.199
 this is the

00:14:18.199 --> 00:14:19.019
 one that

00:14:19.019 --> 00:14:19.639
 I was made

00:14:19.639 --> 00:14:19.919
 for.

00:14:20.220 --> 00:14:20.959
 This is the

00:14:20.959 --> 00:14:21.519
 one that I

00:14:21.519 --> 00:14:21.819
 need.

00:14:22.039 --> 00:14:22.639
 Bone of my

00:14:22.639 --> 00:14:23.279
 bones and

00:14:23.279 --> 00:14:23.919
 flesh of my

00:14:23.919 --> 00:14:24.240
 flesh,

00:14:24.419 --> 00:14:25.059
 I will give

00:14:25.059 --> 00:14:25.539
 her a name

00:14:25.539 --> 00:14:25.959
 woman.

00:14:26.179 --> 00:14:26.699
 That means

00:14:26.699 --> 00:14:27.240
 that she's

00:14:27.240 --> 00:14:27.840
 with me

00:14:27.840 --> 00:14:28.419
 and we

00:14:28.419 --> 00:14:29.159
 together

00:14:29.159 --> 00:14:30.100
 are going

00:14:30.100 --> 00:14:30.459
 to do

00:14:30.459 --> 00:14:30.959
 what God

00:14:30.959 --> 00:14:31.439
 has called

00:14:31.439 --> 00:14:32.299
 us to do.

00:14:35.579 --> 00:14:36.299
 She is

00:14:36.299 --> 00:14:36.980
 my companion,

00:14:37.159 --> 00:14:37.779
 my counterpart.

00:14:37.779 --> 00:14:40.459
 And through

00:14:40.459 --> 00:14:40.740
 her,

00:14:40.860 --> 00:14:41.220
 God will

00:14:41.220 --> 00:14:42.000
 allow us

00:14:42.000 --> 00:14:43.699
 together to

00:14:43.699 --> 00:14:44.620
 fulfill the

00:14:44.620 --> 00:14:45.179
 command to

00:14:45.179 --> 00:14:45.699
 be fruitful

00:14:45.699 --> 00:14:46.100
 and to

00:14:46.100 --> 00:14:46.799
 multiply and

00:14:46.799 --> 00:14:47.539
 have dominion

00:14:47.539 --> 00:14:47.959
 over the

00:14:47.959 --> 00:14:48.319
 earth.

00:14:52.019 --> 00:14:52.720
 What a

00:14:52.720 --> 00:14:53.379
 good news

00:14:53.379 --> 00:14:54.179
 this is.

00:14:56.399 --> 00:14:57.039
 And then

00:14:57.039 --> 00:14:57.459
 the narrator

00:14:57.459 --> 00:14:58.159
 jumps in

00:14:58.159 --> 00:14:59.299
 in verses

00:14:59.299 --> 00:14:59.959
 24 and

00:14:59.959 --> 00:15:00.519
 25.

00:15:00.799 --> 00:15:01.360
 He's been

00:15:01.360 --> 00:15:01.879
 telling the

00:15:01.879 --> 00:15:02.419
 story about

00:15:02.419 --> 00:15:02.839
 Adam and

00:15:02.839 --> 00:15:03.659
 Eve and

00:15:03.659 --> 00:15:03.959
 then you

00:15:03.959 --> 00:15:04.799
 see he

00:15:04.799 --> 00:15:05.939
 steps back

00:15:05.939 --> 00:15:06.159
 and he

00:15:06.159 --> 00:15:06.579
 takes a

00:15:06.579 --> 00:15:07.539
 narrator role

00:15:07.539 --> 00:15:07.939
 for two

00:15:07.939 --> 00:15:08.259
 verses.

00:15:08.899 --> 00:15:09.159
 He says,

00:15:09.459 --> 00:15:09.799
 therefore a

00:15:09.799 --> 00:15:10.240
 man shall

00:15:10.240 --> 00:15:10.639
 leave his

00:15:10.639 --> 00:15:11.139
 father and

00:15:11.139 --> 00:15:11.579
 his mother

00:15:11.579 --> 00:15:11.939
 and hold

00:15:11.939 --> 00:15:12.399
 fast to

00:15:12.399 --> 00:15:12.779
 his wife

00:15:12.779 --> 00:15:13.019
 and they

00:15:13.019 --> 00:15:13.439
 shall become

00:15:13.439 --> 00:15:14.120
 one flesh.

00:15:14.740 --> 00:15:15.000
 And the

00:15:15.000 --> 00:15:15.379
 man and

00:15:15.379 --> 00:15:15.819
 his wife

00:15:15.819 --> 00:15:16.259
 were both

00:15:16.259 --> 00:15:16.779
 naked and

00:15:16.779 --> 00:15:17.139
 were not

00:15:17.139 --> 00:15:17.620
 ashamed.

00:15:19.120 --> 00:15:19.339
 Do you

00:15:19.339 --> 00:15:19.679
 notice how

00:15:19.679 --> 00:15:20.459
 incongruous

00:15:20.459 --> 00:15:21.000
 this is?

00:15:21.120 --> 00:15:21.819
 Because Adam

00:15:21.819 --> 00:15:22.319
 and Eve don't

00:15:22.319 --> 00:15:22.980
 have parents.

00:15:23.500 --> 00:15:24.279
 There is no

00:15:24.279 --> 00:15:25.199
 leaving to be

00:15:25.199 --> 00:15:25.539
 done.

00:15:25.860 --> 00:15:26.639
 This is not

00:15:26.639 --> 00:15:27.339
 about Adam

00:15:27.339 --> 00:15:27.860
 and Eve in

00:15:27.860 --> 00:15:28.259
 the garden,

00:15:28.339 --> 00:15:28.819
 the creation

00:15:28.819 --> 00:15:29.419
 of the first

00:15:29.419 --> 00:15:29.899
 man and

00:15:29.899 --> 00:15:30.299
 woman.

00:15:30.559 --> 00:15:31.399
 This is about

00:15:31.399 --> 00:15:32.120
 the pattern

00:15:32.120 --> 00:15:32.740
 that is being

00:15:32.740 --> 00:15:34.579
 established in

00:15:34.579 --> 00:15:36.699
 this text that

00:15:36.700 --> 00:15:37.500
 male and

00:15:37.500 --> 00:15:39.680
 female would

00:15:39.680 --> 00:15:40.480
 live out this

00:15:40.480 --> 00:15:41.720
 calling together.

00:15:43.720 --> 00:15:44.560
 And it has

00:15:44.560 --> 00:15:45.460
 these beautiful

00:15:45.460 --> 00:15:45.960
 pictures.

00:15:46.420 --> 00:15:47.160
 This marriage is

00:15:47.160 --> 00:15:48.420
 meant to be for

00:15:48.420 --> 00:15:48.980
 a lifetime.

00:15:49.240 --> 00:15:50.180
 They leave all

00:15:50.180 --> 00:15:51.240
 other loyalties to

00:15:51.240 --> 00:15:51.940
 make this their

00:15:51.940 --> 00:15:53.080
 primary loyalty.

00:15:53.620 --> 00:15:53.920
 And they will

00:15:53.920 --> 00:15:54.920
 hold fast to one

00:15:54.920 --> 00:15:55.480
 another in

00:15:55.480 --> 00:15:56.480
 commitment to one

00:15:56.480 --> 00:15:57.360
 another till

00:15:57.360 --> 00:15:57.980
 death do us

00:15:57.980 --> 00:15:58.580
 part as the

00:15:58.580 --> 00:16:02.020
 old vows say

00:16:02.020 --> 00:16:02.259
 it.

00:16:02.259 --> 00:16:04.379
 and they

00:16:04.379 --> 00:16:05.059
 become one

00:16:05.059 --> 00:16:05.539
 flesh.

00:16:05.639 --> 00:16:06.139
 And certainly

00:16:06.139 --> 00:16:06.779
 this is a

00:16:06.779 --> 00:16:08.220
 biological union

00:16:08.220 --> 00:16:11.580
 where procreation

00:16:11.580 --> 00:16:12.200
 is happening

00:16:12.200 --> 00:16:14.000
 and where joy

00:16:14.000 --> 00:16:14.960
 and serving

00:16:14.960 --> 00:16:15.620
 and giving

00:16:15.620 --> 00:16:16.539
 pleasure to

00:16:16.539 --> 00:16:17.039
 one another

00:16:17.039 --> 00:16:17.740
 is a part

00:16:17.740 --> 00:16:18.340
 of this

00:16:18.340 --> 00:16:19.319
 incredible good

00:16:19.319 --> 00:16:19.960
 gift that God

00:16:19.960 --> 00:16:20.759
 has given us.

00:16:21.580 --> 00:16:22.480
 But it's more

00:16:22.480 --> 00:16:23.659
 than just a

00:16:23.659 --> 00:16:24.279
 one flesh

00:16:24.279 --> 00:16:25.059
 biologically.

00:16:25.399 --> 00:16:26.139
 It's a one

00:16:26.139 --> 00:16:26.720
 flesh that

00:16:26.720 --> 00:16:27.700
 creates a new

00:16:27.700 --> 00:16:28.240
 unity.

00:16:28.879 --> 00:16:29.319
 Think about

00:16:29.319 --> 00:16:29.580
 this.

00:16:29.580 --> 00:16:30.500
 God took a

00:16:30.500 --> 00:16:31.320
 rib out of

00:16:31.320 --> 00:16:32.360
 Adam to

00:16:32.360 --> 00:16:33.020
 create another

00:16:33.020 --> 00:16:33.720
 being and now

00:16:33.720 --> 00:16:34.200
 he's calling

00:16:34.200 --> 00:16:34.680
 them to come

00:16:34.680 --> 00:16:35.580
 back together

00:16:35.580 --> 00:16:36.980
 in a kind of

00:16:36.980 --> 00:16:37.700
 union and a

00:16:37.700 --> 00:16:38.500
 kind of unity

00:16:38.500 --> 00:16:41.400
 that is full

00:16:41.400 --> 00:16:42.680
 orbed, that

00:16:42.680 --> 00:16:43.720
 encompasses all

00:16:43.720 --> 00:16:44.360
 of life.

00:16:46.740 --> 00:16:48.060
 Where two

00:16:48.060 --> 00:16:48.980
 individuals come

00:16:48.980 --> 00:16:50.220
 together and

00:16:50.220 --> 00:16:51.240
 God creates a

00:16:51.240 --> 00:16:53.700
 new one of a

00:16:53.700 --> 00:16:54.120
 marriage.

00:16:56.820 --> 00:16:57.660
 God is

00:16:57.660 --> 00:16:59.360
 separated so

00:16:59.360 --> 00:16:59.960
 that he might

00:16:59.960 --> 00:17:00.519
 pair them

00:17:00.519 --> 00:17:02.039
 together in a

00:17:02.039 --> 00:17:02.360
 unity.

00:17:03.080 --> 00:17:03.639
 And it is

00:17:03.639 --> 00:17:04.380
 almost

00:17:04.380 --> 00:17:05.099
 unbelievably

00:17:05.099 --> 00:17:05.680
 beautiful.

00:17:06.559 --> 00:17:08.200
 Verse 25 is

00:17:08.200 --> 00:17:08.700
 one of the most

00:17:08.700 --> 00:17:09.559
 shocking verses

00:17:09.559 --> 00:17:10.200
 in this whole

00:17:10.200 --> 00:17:10.680
 passage.

00:17:12.940 --> 00:17:13.599
 They were

00:17:13.599 --> 00:17:13.940
 naked.

00:17:14.799 --> 00:17:15.480
 They were not

00:17:15.480 --> 00:17:15.940
 ashamed.

00:17:17.700 --> 00:17:18.420
 And we don't

00:17:18.420 --> 00:17:18.980
 know what that

00:17:18.980 --> 00:17:19.620
 looks like.

00:17:20.559 --> 00:17:21.480
 Because we don't

00:17:21.480 --> 00:17:22.599
 live on the

00:17:22.599 --> 00:17:23.339
 right side of the

00:17:23.339 --> 00:17:24.319
 fall of humanity

00:17:24.319 --> 00:17:25.720
 to know what that

00:17:25.720 --> 00:17:26.779
 could actually be

00:17:26.779 --> 00:17:27.099
 like.

00:17:27.319 --> 00:17:27.960
 But it is a

00:17:27.960 --> 00:17:28.700
 beautiful thing.

00:17:28.700 --> 00:17:30.120
 this story points

00:17:30.120 --> 00:17:31.160
 to God in his

00:17:31.160 --> 00:17:32.539
 fatherly care and

00:17:32.539 --> 00:17:33.759
 his creative majesty

00:17:33.759 --> 00:17:35.940
 making humanity

00:17:35.940 --> 00:17:37.940
 male and female

00:17:37.940 --> 00:17:39.340
 gendered and

00:17:39.340 --> 00:17:39.900
 bringing them

00:17:39.900 --> 00:17:41.420
 together in

00:17:41.420 --> 00:17:42.039
 marriage.

00:17:45.240 --> 00:17:46.039
 Complimentary

00:17:46.039 --> 00:17:48.819
 companionship for

00:17:48.819 --> 00:17:49.620
 the calling that

00:17:49.620 --> 00:17:50.519
 God has put on

00:17:50.519 --> 00:17:50.779
 them.

00:17:50.779 --> 00:17:55.119
 these then are our

00:17:55.119 --> 00:17:55.980
 two topics aren't

00:17:55.980 --> 00:17:56.160
 they?

00:17:56.619 --> 00:17:57.879
 The story has

00:17:57.879 --> 00:17:58.379
 brought us to

00:17:58.379 --> 00:17:58.660
 this.

00:17:58.799 --> 00:17:59.359
 So now we have

00:17:59.359 --> 00:18:00.319
 two topics before

00:18:00.319 --> 00:18:00.599
 us.

00:18:00.819 --> 00:18:01.940
 One is gender and

00:18:01.940 --> 00:18:02.779
 one is marriage.

00:18:03.460 --> 00:18:04.339
 How do we think

00:18:04.339 --> 00:18:05.000
 about these things?

00:18:05.039 --> 00:18:06.399
 And I am sure that

00:18:06.399 --> 00:18:07.139
 you are already

00:18:07.139 --> 00:18:08.279
 sitting there with a

00:18:08.279 --> 00:18:09.119
 list of questions.

00:18:09.619 --> 00:18:10.099
 Here is what I want

00:18:10.099 --> 00:18:10.559
 to encourage you to

00:18:10.559 --> 00:18:10.700
 do.

00:18:10.779 --> 00:18:11.399
 Write them down on

00:18:11.399 --> 00:18:11.940
 your bulletin.

00:18:12.299 --> 00:18:13.000
 Put them in your

00:18:13.000 --> 00:18:13.259
 notes.

00:18:13.759 --> 00:18:14.599
 Hopefully we will get

00:18:14.599 --> 00:18:15.240
 to some of them

00:18:15.240 --> 00:18:15.660
 today.

00:18:15.660 --> 00:18:17.519
 And if we don't

00:18:17.519 --> 00:18:18.220
 by the end of the

00:18:18.220 --> 00:18:18.940
 time I at least

00:18:18.940 --> 00:18:19.640
 will have given you

00:18:19.640 --> 00:18:20.740
 some guideposts on

00:18:20.740 --> 00:18:22.019
 where you can go to

00:18:22.019 --> 00:18:22.759
 think through some of

00:18:22.759 --> 00:18:22.900
 them.

00:18:23.040 --> 00:18:23.160
 Alright?

00:18:23.640 --> 00:18:25.700
 So topic number one.

00:18:26.580 --> 00:18:27.880
 Gender as God's

00:18:27.880 --> 00:18:28.519
 good gift.

00:18:30.960 --> 00:18:32.460
 What God has done in

00:18:32.460 --> 00:18:34.180
 creating humanity is

00:18:34.180 --> 00:18:35.620
 gendered male and

00:18:35.620 --> 00:18:37.519
 female is described

00:18:37.519 --> 00:18:38.220
 as good.

00:18:38.680 --> 00:18:39.460
 And what I want to

00:18:39.460 --> 00:18:40.600
 do is describe that

00:18:40.600 --> 00:18:41.779
 goodness as best as I

00:18:41.779 --> 00:18:42.860
 can so we can parse

00:18:42.860 --> 00:18:43.360
 that out.

00:18:43.359 --> 00:18:47.159
 First, this gender

00:18:47.159 --> 00:18:48.699
 has an equality to

00:18:48.699 --> 00:18:48.939
 it.

00:18:49.899 --> 00:18:52.799
 Genesis 1 says he

00:18:52.799 --> 00:18:53.699
 created them.

00:18:53.859 --> 00:18:54.619
 Let's look at it to

00:18:54.619 --> 00:18:55.259
 make sure I get it

00:18:55.259 --> 00:18:55.459
 right.

00:18:55.599 --> 00:18:57.059
 So God created man in

00:18:57.059 --> 00:18:57.740
 his own image.

00:18:57.819 --> 00:18:58.659
 In the image of God

00:18:58.659 --> 00:18:59.759
 he created him.

00:19:00.359 --> 00:19:01.779
 Male and female he

00:19:01.779 --> 00:19:02.799
 created them.

00:19:03.639 --> 00:19:04.719
 And in this poetic

00:19:04.719 --> 00:19:06.859
 form he says there's

00:19:06.859 --> 00:19:08.259
 this humanity that God

00:19:08.259 --> 00:19:09.979
 is creating and man is

00:19:09.979 --> 00:19:11.359
 a generic term for

00:19:11.359 --> 00:19:12.659
 humanity until the

00:19:12.660 --> 00:19:14.100
 third line where he

00:19:14.100 --> 00:19:15.380
 changes the words to

00:19:15.380 --> 00:19:17.019
 say male and female

00:19:17.019 --> 00:19:17.980
 he created them.

00:19:18.820 --> 00:19:19.940
 And together then they

00:19:19.940 --> 00:19:21.040
 receive the commission

00:19:21.040 --> 00:19:23.000
 and the calling to live

00:19:23.000 --> 00:19:24.540
 out to have dominion to

00:19:24.540 --> 00:19:26.019
 be fruitful and multiply.

00:19:27.060 --> 00:19:28.180
 They're both in God's

00:19:28.180 --> 00:19:28.500
 image.

00:19:28.680 --> 00:19:29.560
 Both are blessed and

00:19:29.560 --> 00:19:30.400
 both are commissioned.

00:19:31.160 --> 00:19:32.519
 And then in Genesis 2 we

00:19:32.519 --> 00:19:33.740
 see that God is

00:19:33.740 --> 00:19:34.779
 reinforcing their

00:19:34.779 --> 00:19:35.360
 equality.

00:19:36.360 --> 00:19:37.400
 The woman is made out

00:19:37.400 --> 00:19:38.880
 of the same stuff as

00:19:38.880 --> 00:19:39.300
 man.

00:19:40.240 --> 00:19:41.400
 She is not lesser.

00:19:41.400 --> 00:19:42.620
 She is not other.

00:19:42.780 --> 00:19:43.580
 She is not different.

00:19:43.740 --> 00:19:44.820
 She is of the same

00:19:44.820 --> 00:19:46.460
 essence and substance

00:19:46.460 --> 00:19:48.060
 as the man.

00:19:49.560 --> 00:19:51.060
 She is distinct from

00:19:51.060 --> 00:19:52.200
 all the other animals

00:19:52.200 --> 00:19:53.300
 of creation in this

00:19:53.300 --> 00:19:53.640
 way.

00:19:54.100 --> 00:19:55.420
 And the story highlights

00:19:55.420 --> 00:19:55.920
 this.

00:19:57.220 --> 00:19:58.620
 And we need to start

00:19:58.620 --> 00:20:00.180
 with this equality

00:20:00.180 --> 00:20:02.240
 because we know in

00:20:02.240 --> 00:20:03.580
 human history how

00:20:03.580 --> 00:20:05.860
 easily the distinction

00:20:05.860 --> 00:20:08.840
 of gender has been

00:20:08.839 --> 00:20:09.799
 used as a basis

00:20:09.799 --> 00:20:10.859
 for abuse.

00:20:13.799 --> 00:20:14.799
 We know how

00:20:14.799 --> 00:20:17.179
 quickly we

00:20:17.179 --> 00:20:18.339
 oppress those

00:20:18.339 --> 00:20:19.639
 who are different

00:20:19.639 --> 00:20:20.659
 from us by making

00:20:20.659 --> 00:20:21.299
 them other.

00:20:22.459 --> 00:20:23.500
 Making ourselves

00:20:23.500 --> 00:20:25.359
 bigger by making

00:20:25.359 --> 00:20:26.439
 others smaller.

00:20:27.339 --> 00:20:28.139
 And gender is one

00:20:28.139 --> 00:20:28.939
 of the ways that we

00:20:28.939 --> 00:20:29.659
 have done this.

00:20:30.759 --> 00:20:32.299
 That is not what God

00:20:32.299 --> 00:20:33.699
 has created in this

00:20:33.699 --> 00:20:34.119
 story.

00:20:34.519 --> 00:20:35.720
 That is not what God

00:20:35.720 --> 00:20:36.279
 has done.

00:20:36.279 --> 00:20:37.039
 And there is no

00:20:37.039 --> 00:20:38.339
 room for hatred.

00:20:38.660 --> 00:20:39.619
 There is no room for

00:20:39.619 --> 00:20:41.139
 dismissing women as

00:20:41.139 --> 00:20:43.839
 lesser in value in

00:20:43.839 --> 00:20:44.460
 society.

00:20:47.279 --> 00:20:48.259
 And we must

00:20:48.259 --> 00:20:49.399
 acknowledge that even

00:20:49.399 --> 00:20:50.700
 the church at times,

00:20:51.240 --> 00:20:53.339
 maybe more so than not,

00:20:53.420 --> 00:20:55.119
 has struggled to do

00:20:55.119 --> 00:20:56.720
 this well and to honor

00:20:56.720 --> 00:20:58.899
 men and women equally as

00:20:58.899 --> 00:21:01.559
 co-heirs and as co-laborers

00:21:01.559 --> 00:21:02.200
 in the gospel.

00:21:02.200 --> 00:21:04.400
 It is in the Bible.

00:21:05.000 --> 00:21:05.920
 And yet we have failed

00:21:05.920 --> 00:21:07.279
 to live it out often in

00:21:07.279 --> 00:21:08.500
 our culture and in our

00:21:08.500 --> 00:21:10.400
 church broadly.

00:21:12.700 --> 00:21:13.940
 So we need to recognize

00:21:13.940 --> 00:21:15.200
 that this equality is an

00:21:15.200 --> 00:21:17.319
 essential starting point

00:21:17.319 --> 00:21:18.500
 for understanding gender

00:21:18.500 --> 00:21:19.860
 because then the next

00:21:19.860 --> 00:21:21.000
 move is to see that there

00:21:21.000 --> 00:21:21.940
 is distinction.

00:21:23.120 --> 00:21:24.900
 There is a male and

00:21:24.900 --> 00:21:25.240
 female.

00:21:26.519 --> 00:21:27.680
 And this is a part of a

00:21:27.680 --> 00:21:28.680
 pattern that you see more

00:21:28.680 --> 00:21:29.880
 broadly in God's creative

00:21:29.880 --> 00:21:30.360
 act.

00:21:30.359 --> 00:21:32.199
 When he created the world

00:21:32.199 --> 00:21:33.399
 back in Genesis 1, he

00:21:33.399 --> 00:21:35.419
 created light and dark

00:21:35.419 --> 00:21:36.939
 that go together.

00:21:37.099 --> 00:21:38.779
 He created day and night

00:21:38.779 --> 00:21:39.359
 that are complementary,

00:21:40.699 --> 00:21:42.019
 distinct things that are

00:21:42.019 --> 00:21:42.699
 paired together.

00:21:42.799 --> 00:21:44.699
 He created sky and sea.

00:21:44.879 --> 00:21:46.719
 He created land, dry land

00:21:46.719 --> 00:21:47.359
 and water.

00:21:49.240 --> 00:21:50.679
 And all of these things are

00:21:50.679 --> 00:21:52.359
 God separating and creating

00:21:53.119 --> 00:21:56.000
 distinction so that there

00:21:56.000 --> 00:21:57.839
 might be a unified whole

00:21:57.839 --> 00:22:00.619
 that is the beauty of God's

00:22:00.619 --> 00:22:01.160
 creation.

00:22:01.960 --> 00:22:03.380
 And this is exactly what God

00:22:03.380 --> 00:22:05.900
 is doing with male and

00:22:05.900 --> 00:22:06.200
 female.

00:22:06.859 --> 00:22:08.740
 He's saying humanity is not

00:22:08.740 --> 00:22:10.599
 an androgynous, genderless

00:22:10.599 --> 00:22:13.920
 being, but humanity is this

00:22:13.920 --> 00:22:17.220
 beautiful pairing of two

00:22:17.220 --> 00:22:18.460
 distinct genders.

00:22:20.000 --> 00:22:22.759
 Not interchangeable, but

00:22:22.759 --> 00:22:24.140
 distinct from one another.

00:22:24.140 --> 00:22:26.660
 And we see this in the way.

00:22:26.780 --> 00:22:28.140
 We see that man was created

00:22:28.140 --> 00:22:29.900
 first and that the woman

00:22:29.900 --> 00:22:31.960
 was created to be his

00:22:31.960 --> 00:22:34.340
 alongside companion, his

00:22:34.340 --> 00:22:34.660
 helper.

00:22:36.320 --> 00:22:38.020
 We see that man was given

00:22:38.020 --> 00:22:40.120
 the command to leave his

00:22:40.120 --> 00:22:41.800
 parents and to cleave to his

00:22:41.800 --> 00:22:42.960
 wife uniquely.

00:22:45.000 --> 00:22:46.660
 So we see throughout this

00:22:46.660 --> 00:22:47.900
 story that God is making

00:22:47.900 --> 00:22:49.820
 these distinctions.

00:22:49.819 --> 00:22:53.059
 And of course, it's not that

00:22:53.059 --> 00:22:54.399
 hard to stop and to say,

00:22:54.500 --> 00:22:58.000
 as we look around, men and

00:22:58.000 --> 00:22:59.539
 women actually look different.

00:23:00.419 --> 00:23:02.159
 Our gender is a biological

00:23:02.159 --> 00:23:03.039
 reality.

00:23:05.480 --> 00:23:07.539
 The Olympics recognize this.

00:23:07.700 --> 00:23:08.819
 When there's a hundred meter

00:23:08.819 --> 00:23:10.559
 dash, there's a men's event and

00:23:10.559 --> 00:23:11.359
 a women's event.

00:23:12.779 --> 00:23:14.259
 That reflects some of the

00:23:14.259 --> 00:23:15.740
 biological distinction.

00:23:15.740 --> 00:23:19.519
 Now, we need to be extremely

00:23:19.519 --> 00:23:21.420
 careful how we think through

00:23:21.420 --> 00:23:22.779
 and apply those things.

00:23:23.200 --> 00:23:25.519
 But that is a part of the

00:23:25.519 --> 00:23:27.059
 givenness of how God has

00:23:27.059 --> 00:23:29.319
 created humanity, male and

00:23:29.319 --> 00:23:30.839
 female, with distinct gender.

00:23:30.839 --> 00:23:36.000
 So just a brief pause to

00:23:36.000 --> 00:23:36.679
 apply this.

00:23:37.439 --> 00:23:39.319
 We must recognize that in our

00:23:39.319 --> 00:23:40.439
 culture, and this is not the

00:23:40.439 --> 00:23:41.500
 first time it's happened in

00:23:41.500 --> 00:23:42.959
 human history, but in our

00:23:42.959 --> 00:23:43.959
 culture today, there are

00:23:43.959 --> 00:23:47.359
 impulses to erase gender from

00:23:47.359 --> 00:23:50.959
 our sense of human identity.

00:23:52.199 --> 00:23:54.099
 There are ways in which gender

00:23:54.099 --> 00:23:55.279
 distinctions are being

00:23:55.279 --> 00:23:56.299
 minimized.

00:23:56.939 --> 00:23:58.119
 And some of it comes from a

00:23:58.119 --> 00:24:00.399
 good heart to overcome the

00:24:00.400 --> 00:24:01.440
 discrimination and the

00:24:01.440 --> 00:24:02.440
 oppression that has happened.

00:24:02.720 --> 00:24:04.080
 And some of it comes from a

00:24:04.080 --> 00:24:05.920
 desire to really have

00:24:05.920 --> 00:24:07.340
 equality be established.

00:24:08.100 --> 00:24:10.080
 And yet, we must recognize

00:24:10.080 --> 00:24:12.540
 this is not God's plan.

00:24:14.380 --> 00:24:16.060
 Another headline this week I

00:24:16.060 --> 00:24:18.320
 saw was an article about

00:24:18.320 --> 00:24:19.280
 raising babies.

00:24:20.340 --> 00:24:21.580
 Maybe you're familiar with

00:24:21.580 --> 00:24:21.840
 this.

00:24:22.360 --> 00:24:23.780
 Some are seeking to raise

00:24:23.780 --> 00:24:25.740
 their children as genderless

00:24:25.740 --> 00:24:26.720
 children.

00:24:26.720 --> 00:24:31.779
 out of fear of imposing upon

00:24:31.779 --> 00:24:34.160
 them some gendered stereotype

00:24:34.160 --> 00:24:35.799
 or expectations that would

00:24:35.799 --> 00:24:37.380
 feel oppressive to them.

00:24:40.079 --> 00:24:42.180
 This is just one example,

00:24:42.400 --> 00:24:44.860
 perhaps, of how our culture is

00:24:44.860 --> 00:24:46.160
 thinking about these things.

00:24:47.360 --> 00:24:48.759
 And we need to see that that is

00:24:48.759 --> 00:24:50.600
 a departure from God's creative

00:24:50.600 --> 00:24:51.160
 purpose.

00:24:52.160 --> 00:24:53.960
 From God's creative order.

00:24:53.960 --> 00:24:57.779
 So we have equality and we have

00:24:57.779 --> 00:24:59.460
 distinction, but we finally have

00:24:59.460 --> 00:25:00.779
 the complementary nature.

00:25:01.220 --> 00:25:02.720
 That, in fact, the two of them are

00:25:02.720 --> 00:25:04.720
 meant to fit together.

00:25:05.720 --> 00:25:06.220
 Right?

00:25:06.420 --> 00:25:07.980
 They're meant to go together.

00:25:08.140 --> 00:25:10.480
 There is an inseparableness as well

00:25:10.480 --> 00:25:13.059
 as a distinctiveness about male and

00:25:13.059 --> 00:25:13.460
 female.

00:25:15.140 --> 00:25:17.140
 Clearly, this happens in biology.

00:25:17.140 --> 00:25:20.700
 We don't have men and women.

00:25:22.900 --> 00:25:24.120
 We don't have children.

00:25:24.300 --> 00:25:25.840
 We cannot be fruitful and multiply

00:25:25.840 --> 00:25:27.380
 if we don't have men and women.

00:25:28.020 --> 00:25:29.560
 And even in a modern science,

00:25:29.640 --> 00:25:31.160
 when we can do some of that

00:25:31.160 --> 00:25:33.420
 finagling and test tubes and

00:25:33.420 --> 00:25:34.820
 outside of human bodies,

00:25:35.460 --> 00:25:37.100
 we still need men and women.

00:25:38.120 --> 00:25:41.120
 We still need to create the

00:25:41.120 --> 00:25:44.680
 appropriate products so that we can

00:25:44.680 --> 00:25:46.759
 actually have procreation.

00:25:47.140 --> 00:25:52.600
 But, of course, it is much more

00:25:52.600 --> 00:25:53.180
 than that.

00:25:53.780 --> 00:25:55.560
 The complementary nature is much

00:25:55.560 --> 00:25:56.380
 more than that.

00:25:56.720 --> 00:26:00.520
 Because this doing it together,

00:26:01.259 --> 00:26:03.740
 this companionship, this partnership

00:26:03.740 --> 00:26:07.200
 that God has created has an

00:26:07.200 --> 00:26:08.240
 interdependence.

00:26:09.100 --> 00:26:10.259
 And now here's the challenge.

00:26:10.460 --> 00:26:12.740
 What does that actually look like?

00:26:13.380 --> 00:26:17.460
 Does it look like boys like trucks

00:26:17.460 --> 00:26:19.200
 and girls like dolls?

00:26:19.200 --> 00:26:23.200
 Or boys like blue and girls like pink?

00:26:24.279 --> 00:26:25.440
 Friends, I'll just tell you,

00:26:25.519 --> 00:26:26.839
 they're not biblical categories.

00:26:27.220 --> 00:26:28.700
 They may be true of your children.

00:26:28.980 --> 00:26:29.620
 They may not.

00:26:29.880 --> 00:26:31.059
 They may be true of you.

00:26:31.240 --> 00:26:31.859
 They may not.

00:26:31.980 --> 00:26:33.700
 They are not biblical categories.

00:26:33.700 --> 00:26:37.920
 If you look back and you think about it,

00:26:38.340 --> 00:26:41.720
 think about how even the expectations

00:26:41.720 --> 00:26:44.120
 of what gendered expression looks like,

00:26:44.299 --> 00:26:45.319
 how it's changed.

00:26:45.620 --> 00:26:46.980
 300 years ago in England,

00:26:47.480 --> 00:26:49.160
 men wore wigs and hosiery.

00:26:50.779 --> 00:26:52.700
 I mean, just to say it,

00:26:52.779 --> 00:26:54.019
 like it's different, right?

00:26:54.019 --> 00:26:57.379
 The cultural expression of manhood and womanhood

00:26:57.379 --> 00:27:00.740
 has been a moving target

00:27:00.740 --> 00:27:02.920
 throughout all of human history.

00:27:06.480 --> 00:27:07.599
 You may be guessing,

00:27:07.819 --> 00:27:09.240
 I'm hedging on this.

00:27:09.559 --> 00:27:10.740
 I'm not going to give you lists

00:27:10.740 --> 00:27:13.139
 of what masculinity and femininity look like.

00:27:14.639 --> 00:27:16.619
 You know, what I do want to tell you a story

00:27:16.619 --> 00:27:18.299
 about this.

00:27:18.680 --> 00:27:21.279
 And that was that I came to faith in Christ

00:27:21.279 --> 00:27:23.119
 right before my senior year in high school.

00:27:24.019 --> 00:27:25.259
 And I went off to college

00:27:25.259 --> 00:27:27.660
 having never thought about any of these things

00:27:27.660 --> 00:27:28.980
 or what the Bible has to say.

00:27:29.400 --> 00:27:31.119
 And I was involved in a great church

00:27:31.119 --> 00:27:32.420
 and a great campus ministry

00:27:32.420 --> 00:27:35.119
 that really made me think through

00:27:35.119 --> 00:27:36.279
 what is the Bible saying?

00:27:36.400 --> 00:27:37.759
 How do I live under it?

00:27:38.119 --> 00:27:41.440
 And I was confronted by a view of gender

00:27:41.440 --> 00:27:43.019
 that I had never really examined

00:27:43.019 --> 00:27:44.139
 or thought about before.

00:27:45.039 --> 00:27:46.960
 But you know, in the context of that,

00:27:47.339 --> 00:27:49.519
 I had three married couples.

00:27:50.160 --> 00:27:52.859
 Actually, one guy was single most of the time

00:27:52.859 --> 00:27:54.179
 and then he got married near the end.

00:27:55.139 --> 00:27:57.799
 There were three couples though that I saw

00:27:57.799 --> 00:28:02.059
 that all embraced this distinction,

00:28:02.439 --> 00:28:05.539
 equality, and complementarity in gender.

00:28:07.439 --> 00:28:09.119
 And yet each one of those couples

00:28:09.119 --> 00:28:10.399
 had different personalities.

00:28:11.339 --> 00:28:12.799
 They had different dynamics

00:28:12.799 --> 00:28:16.219
 in the way that they lived out the distinctions,

00:28:16.539 --> 00:28:19.179
 in the way that they led and served

00:28:19.180 --> 00:28:20.519
 and helped one another

00:28:20.519 --> 00:28:23.000
 to be the people that God wanted them to be

00:28:23.000 --> 00:28:25.380
 and to do the things that God had called them to do.

00:28:27.279 --> 00:28:29.600
 And the sum was greater than their parts

00:28:29.600 --> 00:28:30.700
 in each case.

00:28:32.360 --> 00:28:34.420
 But if you talk to those three women,

00:28:35.420 --> 00:28:38.220
 there might be some broad characteristics

00:28:38.220 --> 00:28:38.759
 that they would say,

00:28:38.860 --> 00:28:40.539
 these are things that we feel are important.

00:28:41.019 --> 00:28:42.779
 But man, they are so different

00:28:42.779 --> 00:28:44.740
 that for me to stand here

00:28:44.740 --> 00:28:46.980
 and try to give you a short list of,

00:28:47.259 --> 00:28:48.359
 well, women are like this

00:28:48.359 --> 00:28:49.220
 and men are like this

00:28:49.220 --> 00:28:50.420
 and this is the way it should be,

00:28:51.440 --> 00:28:54.039
 I can promise you

00:28:54.039 --> 00:28:56.139
 that at least 20% of you would say

00:28:56.139 --> 00:28:57.019
 that doesn't fit.

00:28:57.960 --> 00:29:00.099
 Because the breadth of the creative work

00:29:00.099 --> 00:29:02.379
 that God has done in creating each one of us

00:29:02.379 --> 00:29:03.799
 is broad enough.

00:29:05.180 --> 00:29:06.619
 And what I want to do is,

00:29:06.779 --> 00:29:08.220
 rather than give you that list,

00:29:08.319 --> 00:29:10.500
 I want to invite you to a conversation.

00:29:10.500 --> 00:29:13.380
 A conversation with one another

00:29:13.380 --> 00:29:16.359
 about what does that look like in your life?

00:29:18.000 --> 00:29:19.960
 I want to call you to a pursuit.

00:29:20.079 --> 00:29:20.940
 If you are a woman,

00:29:21.079 --> 00:29:21.900
 to ask yourself,

00:29:22.420 --> 00:29:24.000
 how am I thankful

00:29:24.000 --> 00:29:26.200
 that God has created me, a woman?

00:29:26.599 --> 00:29:28.480
 And in what way is that unique?

00:29:30.299 --> 00:29:31.599
 If I am a man,

00:29:31.759 --> 00:29:33.720
 how do I thank God

00:29:33.720 --> 00:29:35.039
 that he has made me a man?

00:29:36.460 --> 00:29:37.779
 And in what ways

00:29:37.779 --> 00:29:40.480
 does that call me uniquely to follow him?

00:29:40.500 --> 00:29:43.579
 And in our marriages

00:29:43.579 --> 00:29:44.980
 and in our relationships

00:29:44.980 --> 00:29:46.299
 outside of marriage,

00:29:46.440 --> 00:29:48.819
 to think how do we honor one another

00:29:48.819 --> 00:29:51.500
 in the distinctiveness of our gender

00:29:51.500 --> 00:29:56.119
 as brothers and sisters in Christ?

00:29:59.599 --> 00:30:00.920
 Much more could be said,

00:30:01.380 --> 00:30:02.619
 but the clock is ticking.

00:30:03.019 --> 00:30:04.339
 I'm only on my second topic.

00:30:04.480 --> 00:30:05.740
 I've got three questions to go

00:30:05.740 --> 00:30:07.119
 and it's 11.15.

00:30:07.119 --> 00:30:09.359
 So, let's keep moving.

00:30:10.000 --> 00:30:11.500
 I will say this.

00:30:12.199 --> 00:30:14.339
 There is already a great Sunday school

00:30:14.339 --> 00:30:15.119
 on our website

00:30:15.119 --> 00:30:17.219
 and there will be another Sunday school

00:30:17.219 --> 00:30:19.259
 coming up later this fall

00:30:19.259 --> 00:30:21.679
 that will address some of these issues more so.

00:30:23.119 --> 00:30:25.459
 Second topic, marriage.

00:30:25.460 --> 00:30:28.880
 I want to highlight four things

00:30:28.880 --> 00:30:30.779
 that God says about marriage

00:30:30.779 --> 00:30:32.759
 in this passage.

00:30:33.279 --> 00:30:36.240
 As we see that when God created

00:30:36.240 --> 00:30:37.400
 gendered beings,

00:30:37.500 --> 00:30:38.840
 he then brought them together

00:30:38.840 --> 00:30:39.819
 into this union.

00:30:40.759 --> 00:30:41.039
 Okay?

00:30:41.299 --> 00:30:43.539
 This was the very central piece.

00:30:44.240 --> 00:30:45.019
 Gender and marriage

00:30:45.019 --> 00:30:46.740
 were tied explicitly together

00:30:46.740 --> 00:30:48.240
 and this leads to the first point

00:30:48.240 --> 00:30:49.200
 that I want to say.

00:30:49.200 --> 00:30:52.400
 As one commentator said it,

00:30:52.440 --> 00:30:55.100
 it is notable that there is only one Eve.

00:30:55.539 --> 00:30:57.480
 There are not multiple Eves,

00:30:58.200 --> 00:31:00.420
 nor is there another male,

00:31:02.140 --> 00:31:04.299
 but there is monogamy

00:31:04.299 --> 00:31:06.259
 and heterosexuality

00:31:06.259 --> 00:31:08.440
 built into the created order

00:31:08.440 --> 00:31:10.559
 of marriage.

00:31:11.220 --> 00:31:13.660
 This is the way God has made it to be.

00:31:14.120 --> 00:31:16.580
 That the woman is a counterpart to man

00:31:16.579 --> 00:31:19.599
 and together in their gender distinctiveness,

00:31:20.159 --> 00:31:22.379
 their marriage is meant to display

00:31:22.379 --> 00:31:24.619
 all that God has for them in marriage.

00:31:25.859 --> 00:31:26.859
 This is the pattern.

00:31:27.519 --> 00:31:29.000
 I know this is controversial.

00:31:29.339 --> 00:31:31.199
 I know I just threw a grenade into the room.

00:31:31.819 --> 00:31:32.579
 Stay with me.

00:31:32.819 --> 00:31:33.399
 We're going to add,

00:31:33.480 --> 00:31:34.919
 the questions are going to address

00:31:34.919 --> 00:31:35.720
 some of the things

00:31:35.720 --> 00:31:37.059
 that just jumped up in your mind

00:31:37.059 --> 00:31:37.740
 about what about,

00:31:38.480 --> 00:31:39.399
 so hold on.

00:31:40.799 --> 00:31:42.559
 But that's the first thing I want to say.

00:31:42.559 --> 00:31:45.460
 Second thing is that it is

00:31:45.460 --> 00:31:46.940
 a committed relationship.

00:31:47.759 --> 00:31:49.200
 God's intention is that

00:31:49.200 --> 00:31:51.460
 a man shall leave his father and mother

00:31:51.460 --> 00:31:53.299
 and shall cleave to his wife

00:31:53.299 --> 00:31:56.940
 and come together in this committed union

00:31:56.940 --> 00:32:01.799
 that is intended to be unbreakable

00:32:01.799 --> 00:32:02.799
 apart from death.

00:32:05.059 --> 00:32:07.279
 This is why the scripture says

00:32:07.279 --> 00:32:08.339
 that God hates divorce.

00:32:08.339 --> 00:32:12.839
 And I know that this is a very fallen world

00:32:12.839 --> 00:32:14.980
 and there are lots of things for us to be said

00:32:14.980 --> 00:32:17.399
 about how that plays out in the fallen world,

00:32:17.500 --> 00:32:20.519
 but we want to see that God's created purpose in this

00:32:20.519 --> 00:32:22.759
 was a committed lifelong relationship

00:32:22.759 --> 00:32:24.419
 and that this is good,

00:32:24.759 --> 00:32:25.859
 that it would have a priority

00:32:25.859 --> 00:32:27.539
 over all other relationships,

00:32:27.720 --> 00:32:29.240
 familial or otherwise.

00:32:31.299 --> 00:32:32.740
 Recognize how countercultural

00:32:32.740 --> 00:32:34.559
 that would have been in the ancient Near East

00:32:34.559 --> 00:32:38.440
 where your wife would be more important

00:32:38.440 --> 00:32:40.720
 than your parents or your tribe or your clan.

00:32:45.299 --> 00:32:48.460
 And it is a pattern that is universal in creation.

00:32:50.799 --> 00:32:51.980
 It's for all people.

00:32:53.980 --> 00:32:54.319
 So,

00:32:55.039 --> 00:32:59.039
 we have the gendered heterosexuality,

00:32:59.339 --> 00:33:00.079
 we have commitment,

00:33:00.619 --> 00:33:01.960
 third, we have union.

00:33:01.960 --> 00:33:05.059
 for one flesh,

00:33:06.380 --> 00:33:08.440
 for sex and companionship.

00:33:09.500 --> 00:33:11.100
 And we need to recognize

00:33:11.100 --> 00:33:13.620
 that God gave us

00:33:13.620 --> 00:33:16.100
 this incredibly powerful gift

00:33:16.100 --> 00:33:18.960
 of the act of human intercourse

00:33:18.960 --> 00:33:21.420
 as a gift to be done

00:33:21.420 --> 00:33:24.299
 within the safe confines

00:33:24.299 --> 00:33:26.740
 of that committed relationship

00:33:26.740 --> 00:33:27.779
 with one another.

00:33:27.779 --> 00:33:31.460
 this is a good gift

00:33:31.460 --> 00:33:32.680
 that God has given us,

00:33:32.859 --> 00:33:35.160
 but it is not for all places

00:33:35.160 --> 00:33:36.379
 and not all contexts.

00:33:36.700 --> 00:33:38.940
 It is given as a part of this picture

00:33:38.940 --> 00:33:41.599
 that the man will leave his father and mother

00:33:41.599 --> 00:33:42.539
 and cleave to his wife

00:33:42.539 --> 00:33:44.200
 and they shall become one flesh.

00:33:44.500 --> 00:33:45.639
 This is the context

00:33:45.639 --> 00:33:46.779
 in which we are meant

00:33:46.779 --> 00:33:49.000
 in God's created purpose

00:33:49.000 --> 00:33:50.379
 for us to live out

00:33:50.379 --> 00:33:52.799
 this desire

00:33:52.799 --> 00:33:54.720
 that so dominates our culture

00:33:54.720 --> 00:33:55.799
 and our world today.

00:33:56.240 --> 00:33:57.119
 More on that later.

00:33:57.779 --> 00:34:00.660
 Let me be just as explicit.

00:34:01.160 --> 00:34:01.480
 Therefore,

00:34:01.799 --> 00:34:04.240
 outside of a heterosexual marriage,

00:34:04.279 --> 00:34:05.500
 it is not good

00:34:05.500 --> 00:34:08.619
 for us to be sexually active,

00:34:08.980 --> 00:34:10.279
 whether that's

00:34:10.279 --> 00:34:12.119
 outside of the commitment of marriage,

00:34:12.300 --> 00:34:14.420
 outside of the heterosexuality of marriage,

00:34:14.960 --> 00:34:17.860
 outside of the union of marriage.

00:34:17.900 --> 00:34:19.559
 It is not good.

00:34:21.159 --> 00:34:22.059
 Then the fourth thing

00:34:22.059 --> 00:34:22.900
 that I want you to see

00:34:22.900 --> 00:34:25.000
 is that in this context,

00:34:25.500 --> 00:34:26.900
 in its created goodness,

00:34:26.900 --> 00:34:29.000
 it was a beautiful thing.

00:34:30.039 --> 00:34:31.380
 Adam rejoiced.

00:34:31.500 --> 00:34:34.920
 His heart leapt out of his chest

00:34:34.920 --> 00:34:36.559
 when he saw the one

00:34:36.559 --> 00:34:37.720
 that he was made for

00:34:37.720 --> 00:34:38.960
 and who was made for him.

00:34:41.119 --> 00:34:42.400
 Not to rule over,

00:34:42.519 --> 00:34:43.559
 but because finally,

00:34:43.740 --> 00:34:45.119
 this one that was like him

00:34:45.119 --> 00:34:46.180
 was brought to him.

00:34:46.920 --> 00:34:48.200
 And it was beautiful.

00:34:48.619 --> 00:34:49.579
 And they were naked

00:34:49.579 --> 00:34:51.039
 and they were unashamed.

00:34:55.659 --> 00:34:58.059
 What a beautiful picture that is

00:34:58.059 --> 00:34:59.079
 of a relationship

00:34:59.079 --> 00:35:01.819
 and how our hearts long

00:35:01.819 --> 00:35:05.079
 for that kind of acceptance

00:35:05.079 --> 00:35:06.900
 and transparency

00:35:06.900 --> 00:35:08.119
 and intimacy.

00:35:08.119 --> 00:35:14.819
 So this is God's ordained social unit.

00:35:15.059 --> 00:35:17.500
 It is the fundamental unit

00:35:17.500 --> 00:35:20.279
 of human society and creation

00:35:20.279 --> 00:35:23.599
 and the means of carrying out the commands.

00:35:24.759 --> 00:35:26.339
 So how do we apply this?

00:35:27.039 --> 00:35:28.420
 Well, first of all,

00:35:28.940 --> 00:35:30.659
 in our world today,

00:35:30.719 --> 00:35:32.059
 we need to clarify

00:35:32.059 --> 00:35:34.299
 what marriage means

00:35:34.300 --> 00:35:35.800
 and then we need to celebrate

00:35:35.800 --> 00:35:37.840
 what God does mean by marriage.

00:35:38.220 --> 00:35:39.180
 We need to see

00:35:39.180 --> 00:35:40.760
 that heterosexual, monogamous,

00:35:40.920 --> 00:35:42.200
 faithful, lifelong marriage

00:35:42.200 --> 00:35:44.039
 is a good thing.

00:35:46.420 --> 00:35:48.580
 We are meant to cultivate it

00:35:48.580 --> 00:35:49.740
 and invest in it.

00:35:50.519 --> 00:35:51.600
 And if you are single,

00:35:52.120 --> 00:35:55.320
 it's okay for you to long for it.

00:35:55.860 --> 00:35:56.780
 It's also okay

00:35:56.780 --> 00:35:58.019
 if you don't long for it right now.

00:35:58.180 --> 00:35:58.840
 We'll get to that.

00:35:58.940 --> 00:36:00.000
 That's one of my questions.

00:36:00.120 --> 00:36:00.660
 We'll get there.

00:36:00.659 --> 00:36:04.960
 But to value it,

00:36:05.039 --> 00:36:05.799
 to support it

00:36:05.799 --> 00:36:07.039
 in your friends who are married,

00:36:07.339 --> 00:36:08.359
 to know about it

00:36:08.359 --> 00:36:09.639
 so that you can do so.

00:36:10.639 --> 00:36:12.279
 We ought to rejoice

00:36:12.279 --> 00:36:14.440
 that God created marriage

00:36:14.440 --> 00:36:15.359
 in its goodness

00:36:15.359 --> 00:36:17.019
 and in its original form.

00:36:20.199 --> 00:36:22.000
 Two really brief advertisements.

00:36:22.579 --> 00:36:23.399
 In your bulletin,

00:36:23.519 --> 00:36:24.359
 there is an announcement.

00:36:24.519 --> 00:36:25.480
 On November 2nd,

00:36:25.480 --> 00:36:26.759
 we are having a marriage seminar

00:36:26.759 --> 00:36:28.259
 here at this church.

00:36:28.699 --> 00:36:29.440
 Alistair Groves,

00:36:29.440 --> 00:36:31.420
 who works for CCEF,

00:36:31.480 --> 00:36:33.599
 is coming to speak on marriage.

00:36:34.079 --> 00:36:35.099
 There's a whole description

00:36:35.099 --> 00:36:36.240
 in your flyer.

00:36:36.700 --> 00:36:37.240
 Think about,

00:36:37.340 --> 00:36:37.860
 for those of you

00:36:37.860 --> 00:36:38.440
 who are married

00:36:38.440 --> 00:36:39.440
 or maybe are close

00:36:39.440 --> 00:36:40.119
 to being married

00:36:40.119 --> 00:36:41.300
 or even want to just support

00:36:41.300 --> 00:36:41.980
 those who are married,

00:36:42.500 --> 00:36:43.320
 consider coming,

00:36:43.460 --> 00:36:44.619
 setting aside that Saturday

00:36:44.619 --> 00:36:45.860
 to come and be a part of it.

00:36:46.500 --> 00:36:48.300
 There's also an announcement

00:36:48.300 --> 00:36:49.280
 on a separate page

00:36:49.280 --> 00:36:50.240
 about Family Life.

00:36:50.360 --> 00:36:52.119
 Family Life is a national ministry

00:36:52.119 --> 00:36:53.539
 that runs this thing

00:36:53.539 --> 00:36:54.639
 called Weekend to Remember

00:36:54.639 --> 00:36:55.280
 and they're running

00:36:55.280 --> 00:36:56.320
 some great discounts.

00:36:56.320 --> 00:36:57.980
 If you are interested

00:36:57.980 --> 00:36:59.039
 in going to this

00:36:59.039 --> 00:36:59.940
 as a married couple

00:36:59.940 --> 00:37:02.100
 just to do some tune-up work

00:37:02.100 --> 00:37:03.000
 on your relationship,

00:37:03.260 --> 00:37:03.900
 to get away

00:37:03.900 --> 00:37:05.840
 and to focus for a little while

00:37:05.840 --> 00:37:06.480
 on the Lord

00:37:06.480 --> 00:37:07.360
 and on one another,

00:37:07.800 --> 00:37:09.440
 these are some great opportunities

00:37:09.440 --> 00:37:11.559
 for you to invest in it.

00:37:13.160 --> 00:37:13.580
 Okay.

00:37:14.360 --> 00:37:15.400
 Having considered then

00:37:15.400 --> 00:37:16.160
 our two topics

00:37:16.160 --> 00:37:17.360
 of gender and marriage

00:37:17.360 --> 00:37:18.600
 and having stepped on

00:37:18.600 --> 00:37:19.640
 a number of landmines

00:37:19.640 --> 00:37:20.740
 along the way,

00:37:21.200 --> 00:37:23.140
 there are a lot of questions,

00:37:23.300 --> 00:37:23.640
 aren't there?

00:37:23.639 --> 00:37:25.559
 And fundamentally,

00:37:25.739 --> 00:37:26.960
 the questions arise

00:37:26.960 --> 00:37:29.019
 because what we've been talking about

00:37:29.019 --> 00:37:29.980
 up to this point

00:37:29.980 --> 00:37:32.980
 is God's original good creation

00:37:33.539 --> 00:37:35.339
 before the fall of humanity.

00:37:36.759 --> 00:37:38.059
 And what that means

00:37:38.059 --> 00:37:40.480
 is that we have never experienced it

00:37:40.480 --> 00:37:41.960
 the way God intended it

00:37:41.960 --> 00:37:43.199
 in its fullness

00:37:43.199 --> 00:37:46.719
 because the fall of humanity,

00:37:47.000 --> 00:37:48.819
 our rebellion against God

00:37:48.819 --> 00:37:50.599
 as a human race,

00:37:50.960 --> 00:37:53.619
 our therefore alienation from him,

00:37:53.639 --> 00:37:55.639
 and our sin impulse

00:37:55.639 --> 00:37:57.279
 to go away from his plan

00:37:57.279 --> 00:38:00.179
 has created all sorts of problems

00:38:00.179 --> 00:38:02.480
 whereby this created goodness

00:38:02.480 --> 00:38:04.400
 feels like a zephyr

00:38:04.400 --> 00:38:06.599
 that we can barely grasp onto

00:38:06.599 --> 00:38:08.599
 maybe at moments.

00:38:10.119 --> 00:38:11.960
 We live in a fallen world

00:38:11.960 --> 00:38:13.579
 where this original goodness

00:38:13.579 --> 00:38:17.259
 has not been our experience

00:38:17.259 --> 00:38:18.259
 for many of us.

00:38:19.319 --> 00:38:21.000
 So what about questions?

00:38:21.000 --> 00:38:25.000
 What about gender dysphoria?

00:38:25.420 --> 00:38:26.860
 What about same-sex attraction?

00:38:27.320 --> 00:38:28.420
 And what about singleness?

00:38:29.679 --> 00:38:30.219
 There are more.

00:38:30.480 --> 00:38:31.960
 Sorry, they didn't make the list.

00:38:32.199 --> 00:38:32.820
 We won't be here.

00:38:32.980 --> 00:38:34.340
 If I wanted to keep going,

00:38:34.400 --> 00:38:35.000
 we'll be here till one

00:38:35.780 --> 00:38:36.739
 and we don't want to do that.

00:38:37.280 --> 00:38:39.139
 So, but these are the three things.

00:38:39.199 --> 00:38:40.679
 And again, I want to reemphasize,

00:38:41.000 --> 00:38:41.820
 these are questions

00:38:41.820 --> 00:38:42.960
 that are not about they,

00:38:43.099 --> 00:38:43.699
 out there,

00:38:43.860 --> 00:38:45.800
 those people who struggle with this.

00:38:45.960 --> 00:38:46.880
 But this is something

00:38:46.880 --> 00:38:48.199
 that is a we question,

00:38:48.199 --> 00:38:49.699
 that we as human beings

00:38:49.699 --> 00:38:50.619
 will struggle with.

00:38:50.879 --> 00:38:51.799
 And there will be people

00:38:51.799 --> 00:38:53.059
 sitting next to you in the pew

00:38:53.059 --> 00:38:53.960
 who may be struggling

00:38:53.960 --> 00:38:54.980
 with these questions.

00:38:57.859 --> 00:38:59.279
 So, first of all,

00:38:59.399 --> 00:39:01.039
 what about gender dysphoria?

00:39:01.299 --> 00:39:01.919
 For those of you

00:39:01.919 --> 00:39:03.639
 who are unfamiliar with this term,

00:39:04.259 --> 00:39:06.119
 it can be defined as this,

00:39:06.599 --> 00:39:08.279
 a marked incongruence

00:39:08.279 --> 00:39:10.059
 between one's experienced

00:39:10.059 --> 00:39:11.679
 or expressed gender

00:39:11.679 --> 00:39:13.919
 and their assigned gender,

00:39:14.059 --> 00:39:15.139
 that is their gender

00:39:15.139 --> 00:39:18.099
 of a child at birth

00:39:18.099 --> 00:39:18.819
 that's determined

00:39:18.819 --> 00:39:20.419
 by their biological parts,

00:39:21.079 --> 00:39:22.919
 their assigned gender

00:39:22.919 --> 00:39:25.539
 of at least six months duration.

00:39:25.839 --> 00:39:27.299
 That's the official definition

00:39:27.299 --> 00:39:28.319
 of gender dysphoria.

00:39:29.059 --> 00:39:30.799
 Someone who feels like

00:39:30.799 --> 00:39:34.219
 the body that they have

00:39:34.219 --> 00:39:35.799
 doesn't match the gender

00:39:35.799 --> 00:39:36.699
 that they feel.

00:39:37.239 --> 00:39:38.259
 That might be the more,

00:39:39.000 --> 00:39:40.839
 the simpler way to say it.

00:39:41.679 --> 00:39:43.079
 That there's a dissonance

00:39:43.079 --> 00:39:44.179
 or a disconnect

00:39:44.179 --> 00:39:45.919
 between those things.

00:39:46.579 --> 00:39:48.039
 How do we think about this?

00:39:49.859 --> 00:39:51.759
 Again, there's much to be said.

00:39:51.839 --> 00:39:52.639
 I'm going to give you

00:39:52.639 --> 00:39:53.759
 a really brief framework.

00:39:53.899 --> 00:39:54.539
 Here's the thing.

00:39:55.099 --> 00:39:56.279
 The way we want to view

00:39:56.279 --> 00:39:56.980
 these questions

00:39:56.980 --> 00:39:57.879
 is through the framework

00:39:57.879 --> 00:39:59.440
 of the biblical storyline

00:39:59.440 --> 00:40:00.699
 of creation, fall,

00:40:01.199 --> 00:40:02.139
 redemption, and glory.

00:40:02.739 --> 00:40:03.719
 So we've talked about

00:40:03.719 --> 00:40:05.279
 the created goodness of gender.

00:40:05.619 --> 00:40:06.759
 Now we're talking about

00:40:06.759 --> 00:40:07.899
 someone who's experiencing

00:40:07.899 --> 00:40:09.559
 a fallen disconnect

00:40:09.559 --> 00:40:10.840
 or dissonance

00:40:10.840 --> 00:40:12.719
 where the gender

00:40:12.719 --> 00:40:13.579
 of their body,

00:40:14.039 --> 00:40:15.299
 their biological sex,

00:40:15.420 --> 00:40:16.279
 doesn't match

00:40:16.279 --> 00:40:17.420
 their psyche

00:40:17.420 --> 00:40:18.199
 and their soul

00:40:18.199 --> 00:40:19.460
 and their self-perception.

00:40:21.460 --> 00:40:23.440
 What do we do with that?

00:40:24.279 --> 00:40:26.119
 Sam Smith said in his post

00:40:26.119 --> 00:40:27.840
 that he was tired

00:40:27.840 --> 00:40:29.119
 of being at war

00:40:29.119 --> 00:40:30.500
 with his gender.

00:40:32.259 --> 00:40:33.779
 Isn't that an interesting phrase

00:40:33.780 --> 00:40:35.420
 to describe his experience?

00:40:40.220 --> 00:40:41.680
 And we must understand

00:40:41.680 --> 00:40:42.900
 that this is real

00:40:42.900 --> 00:40:44.620
 because the fall

00:40:44.620 --> 00:40:46.600
 affects us holistically.

00:40:47.680 --> 00:40:49.200
 It affects every part of us.

00:40:49.780 --> 00:40:50.340
 For some,

00:40:50.480 --> 00:40:52.340
 this will be a biologically

00:40:52.340 --> 00:40:54.260
 sourced reality

00:40:54.260 --> 00:40:55.300
 that something

00:40:55.300 --> 00:40:56.400
 in their brain chemistry,

00:40:56.640 --> 00:40:57.780
 something in their hormones,

00:40:58.400 --> 00:40:59.820
 something is where

00:40:59.820 --> 00:41:01.140
 it just doesn't fit.

00:41:01.139 --> 00:41:02.420
 For some,

00:41:02.480 --> 00:41:03.420
 it may be caused

00:41:03.420 --> 00:41:04.159
 by trauma,

00:41:04.440 --> 00:41:07.239
 by broken relationships,

00:41:07.699 --> 00:41:10.199
 by cultural stereotypes

00:41:10.199 --> 00:41:11.519
 that have felt oppressive

00:41:11.519 --> 00:41:12.079
 to them,

00:41:12.319 --> 00:41:13.420
 where this fit

00:41:13.420 --> 00:41:14.779
 of their internal being

00:41:14.779 --> 00:41:16.199
 and their biological body

00:41:16.199 --> 00:41:17.579
 just does not work.

00:41:17.940 --> 00:41:18.940
 And it is a deep

00:41:18.940 --> 00:41:20.359
 and difficult challenge.

00:41:21.480 --> 00:41:22.440
 And we need to start

00:41:22.440 --> 00:41:23.759
 by being compassionate

00:41:23.759 --> 00:41:24.779
 to them.

00:41:25.619 --> 00:41:26.119
 Think about

00:41:26.119 --> 00:41:27.059
 what it would be like

00:41:27.059 --> 00:41:28.679
 if when people look at you,

00:41:28.819 --> 00:41:29.759
 they see something

00:41:29.760 --> 00:41:31.160
 and you feel like

00:41:31.160 --> 00:41:32.020
 that's not me.

00:41:32.800 --> 00:41:33.760
 What they see

00:41:33.760 --> 00:41:35.080
 is not who they feel

00:41:35.080 --> 00:41:35.840
 like they are.

00:41:37.180 --> 00:41:38.200
 How terrible

00:41:38.200 --> 00:41:39.580
 is that?

00:41:40.120 --> 00:41:41.360
 How difficult

00:41:41.360 --> 00:41:41.940
 is that?

00:41:42.000 --> 00:41:42.820
 How heartbreaking

00:41:42.820 --> 00:41:43.520
 is that?

00:41:45.780 --> 00:41:47.100
 So we need to recognize

00:41:47.100 --> 00:41:48.620
 that this is a reality

00:41:48.620 --> 00:41:50.040
 for some.

00:41:51.060 --> 00:41:52.760
 So how do we respond?

00:41:52.920 --> 00:41:54.020
 How do we walk through this?

00:41:54.280 --> 00:41:54.940
 First of all,

00:41:55.020 --> 00:41:56.080
 we need to go back

00:41:56.080 --> 00:41:58.020
 to the question

00:41:58.020 --> 00:41:59.220
 of God's givenness.

00:42:00.180 --> 00:42:01.100
 What has God

00:42:01.100 --> 00:42:02.220
 made us to be?

00:42:03.920 --> 00:42:04.660
 And then we also

00:42:04.660 --> 00:42:05.320
 need to say,

00:42:05.620 --> 00:42:06.940
 how is it that the fall

00:42:06.940 --> 00:42:07.720
 has warped

00:42:07.720 --> 00:42:08.300
 or shaped

00:42:08.300 --> 00:42:09.360
 or affected

00:42:09.360 --> 00:42:10.580
 my experience

00:42:10.580 --> 00:42:11.760
 of what might have

00:42:11.760 --> 00:42:13.140
 been a good thing?

00:42:13.280 --> 00:42:14.580
 Because we all experience

00:42:14.580 --> 00:42:15.340
 a little bit

00:42:15.340 --> 00:42:16.260
 of both of that, right?

00:42:16.660 --> 00:42:17.720
 There's still vestiges

00:42:17.720 --> 00:42:18.760
 of our created goodness

00:42:18.760 --> 00:42:19.700
 and then there's also

00:42:19.700 --> 00:42:20.580
 these places

00:42:20.580 --> 00:42:21.380
 where it's warped

00:42:21.380 --> 00:42:21.900
 and twisted

00:42:21.900 --> 00:42:23.400
 or where it's no longer

00:42:23.400 --> 00:42:24.360
 what it's supposed to be

00:42:24.360 --> 00:42:25.380
 and this dissonance

00:42:25.380 --> 00:42:26.080
 that we feel,

00:42:26.480 --> 00:42:28.100
 we think this should not be

00:42:28.099 --> 00:42:28.960
 and that's right.

00:42:29.519 --> 00:42:30.619
 It should not be.

00:42:30.719 --> 00:42:31.519
 This is not the way

00:42:31.519 --> 00:42:32.460
 it was meant to be.

00:42:35.259 --> 00:42:36.119
 So the church

00:42:36.119 --> 00:42:36.860
 needs to start

00:42:36.860 --> 00:42:38.179
 first with compassion

00:42:38.179 --> 00:42:40.980
 to seek to understand

00:42:40.980 --> 00:42:42.480
 rather than to fix people.

00:42:43.279 --> 00:42:43.659
 Secondly,

00:42:44.019 --> 00:42:44.839
 we need to start,

00:42:45.860 --> 00:42:47.219
 we need to affirm

00:42:47.219 --> 00:42:47.880
 the reality

00:42:47.880 --> 00:42:49.239
 of their experience

00:42:49.239 --> 00:42:50.860
 but then to help

00:42:50.860 --> 00:42:52.159
 bring to them

00:42:52.159 --> 00:42:53.480
 a biblical framework

00:42:53.480 --> 00:42:54.360
 of thinking through

00:42:54.360 --> 00:42:55.140
 how to interpret

00:42:55.140 --> 00:42:56.140
 their experience

00:42:56.140 --> 00:42:58.000
 through this creation

00:42:58.000 --> 00:42:59.519
 fall redemption pattern

00:42:59.519 --> 00:43:00.599
 so that they might

00:43:00.599 --> 00:43:01.340
 think about

00:43:01.340 --> 00:43:02.460
 what it is actually

00:43:02.460 --> 00:43:03.680
 that they're experiencing.

00:43:07.059 --> 00:43:07.840
 And third,

00:43:07.960 --> 00:43:08.920
 we need to recognize

00:43:08.920 --> 00:43:10.559
 that we need to love them

00:43:10.559 --> 00:43:12.920
 as fellow broken

00:43:12.920 --> 00:43:14.460
 human beings

00:43:14.460 --> 00:43:17.000
 who most of all

00:43:17.000 --> 00:43:17.820
 need the gospel,

00:43:18.559 --> 00:43:20.039
 who need Jesus Christ,

00:43:20.400 --> 00:43:21.660
 who need to find

00:43:21.659 --> 00:43:22.739
 an identity

00:43:22.739 --> 00:43:24.440
 deeper than their gender,

00:43:24.759 --> 00:43:25.920
 deeper than their bodies,

00:43:26.179 --> 00:43:27.139
 deeper than their things

00:43:27.139 --> 00:43:29.000
 in being in Christ

00:43:29.000 --> 00:43:30.519
 because this is what

00:43:30.519 --> 00:43:31.559
 they were made to be.

00:43:32.519 --> 00:43:33.019
 And that then

00:43:33.019 --> 00:43:34.379
 as that is established,

00:43:34.579 --> 00:43:35.399
 then they can begin

00:43:35.399 --> 00:43:36.279
 to think through

00:43:36.279 --> 00:43:37.659
 how then they respond

00:43:38.219 --> 00:43:41.960
 to this experience

00:43:41.960 --> 00:43:42.960
 that they have.

00:43:46.839 --> 00:43:47.359
 Friends,

00:43:47.359 --> 00:43:50.399
 there is a desire

00:43:50.400 --> 00:43:51.980
 and a plan

00:43:51.980 --> 00:43:52.920
 on God's part

00:43:52.920 --> 00:43:54.559
 that this dissonance

00:43:54.559 --> 00:43:55.500
 of gender dysphoria

00:43:55.500 --> 00:43:56.740
 will be restored.

00:43:57.559 --> 00:43:58.960
 But it may not be

00:43:58.960 --> 00:43:59.800
 in this life.

00:44:00.800 --> 00:44:01.420
 Some of us

00:44:01.420 --> 00:44:02.619
 will walk through this

00:44:02.619 --> 00:44:04.400
 and carry this dissonance

00:44:04.400 --> 00:44:05.119
 for the rest

00:44:05.119 --> 00:44:05.960
 of their lives.

00:44:09.200 --> 00:44:10.280
 But we do know

00:44:10.280 --> 00:44:10.940
 that one day

00:44:10.940 --> 00:44:12.519
 God will restore it.

00:44:13.119 --> 00:44:13.740
 We do know

00:44:13.740 --> 00:44:14.700
 that one day

00:44:14.700 --> 00:44:15.320
 in heaven

00:44:15.320 --> 00:44:16.940
 we will know

00:44:16.940 --> 00:44:17.860
 the gendered being

00:44:17.860 --> 00:44:18.800
 that we were created

00:44:18.800 --> 00:44:19.539
 to be apart

00:44:19.539 --> 00:44:20.240
 from the fall.

00:44:20.400 --> 00:44:22.920
 And in heaven

00:44:22.920 --> 00:44:24.500
 that dissonance

00:44:24.500 --> 00:44:25.220
 will be gone.

00:44:25.740 --> 00:44:27.320
 And just as there's

00:44:27.320 --> 00:44:27.960
 no more tears,

00:44:28.099 --> 00:44:28.639
 no more sorrow,

00:44:28.740 --> 00:44:29.639
 no more death,

00:44:29.960 --> 00:44:31.180
 so there will be

00:44:31.180 --> 00:44:32.619
 no more of this dissonance

00:44:32.619 --> 00:44:33.500
 and we will know

00:44:33.500 --> 00:44:34.260
 who we are

00:44:34.260 --> 00:44:35.079
 and we will be

00:44:35.079 --> 00:44:35.840
 fully known

00:44:35.840 --> 00:44:36.960
 by God

00:44:36.960 --> 00:44:37.740
 and loved

00:44:37.740 --> 00:44:38.619
 and celebrated.

00:44:42.340 --> 00:44:43.180
 There's lots more

00:44:43.180 --> 00:44:44.099
 to say about this.

00:44:45.519 --> 00:44:46.559
 There's a great book.

00:44:46.980 --> 00:44:48.119
 It's a starting place

00:44:48.119 --> 00:44:48.539
 for you

00:44:48.539 --> 00:44:49.460
 by Vaughn Roberts

00:44:49.460 --> 00:44:50.599
 called Transgender.

00:44:51.319 --> 00:44:52.420
 I recommend it.

00:44:52.880 --> 00:44:53.859
 It was on the bookstore

00:44:53.859 --> 00:44:55.519
 earlier this week

00:44:55.519 --> 00:44:56.819
 but it's sold out

00:44:56.819 --> 00:44:57.279
 right now.

00:44:57.559 --> 00:44:58.299
 So we'll get more.

00:44:59.679 --> 00:44:59.920
 So,

00:45:00.859 --> 00:45:01.239
 alright.

00:45:01.599 --> 00:45:02.699
 I'm already over time.

00:45:02.759 --> 00:45:03.420
 I gotta keep going.

00:45:05.420 --> 00:45:05.900
 Second,

00:45:06.139 --> 00:45:06.539
 what about

00:45:06.539 --> 00:45:07.599
 same-sex attraction

00:45:07.599 --> 00:45:08.739
 and marriage?

00:45:08.739 --> 00:45:10.479
 again,

00:45:10.899 --> 00:45:12.159
 think through this framework

00:45:12.159 --> 00:45:12.819
 of creation,

00:45:13.000 --> 00:45:13.159
 fall,

00:45:13.259 --> 00:45:13.679
 redemption,

00:45:14.319 --> 00:45:14.739
 right?

00:45:15.739 --> 00:45:17.079
 If we

00:45:17.079 --> 00:45:20.399
 were in Adam's shoes,

00:45:20.739 --> 00:45:22.859
 we would not experience

00:45:22.859 --> 00:45:24.059
 same-sex attraction.

00:45:25.739 --> 00:45:26.919
 God created

00:45:26.919 --> 00:45:27.539
 a goodness

00:45:27.539 --> 00:45:28.179
 of gender

00:45:28.179 --> 00:45:28.839
 and distinction

00:45:28.839 --> 00:45:29.959
 and attraction

00:45:29.959 --> 00:45:30.539
 that

00:45:30.539 --> 00:45:33.279
 was the original pattern.

00:45:33.280 --> 00:45:34.440
 and yet,

00:45:34.600 --> 00:45:35.700
 in our fallen world,

00:45:35.900 --> 00:45:36.580
 we recognize

00:45:36.580 --> 00:45:37.600
 that this is true

00:45:37.600 --> 00:45:39.160
 for some people,

00:45:40.200 --> 00:45:41.360
 for some of us.

00:45:41.880 --> 00:45:42.820
 We find that

00:45:42.820 --> 00:45:43.540
 our romantic

00:45:43.540 --> 00:45:44.880
 and sexual desire

00:45:44.880 --> 00:45:46.100
 does not gravitate

00:45:46.100 --> 00:45:46.880
 towards those

00:45:46.880 --> 00:45:47.820
 of the opposite gender

00:45:47.820 --> 00:45:48.840
 but of the same gender.

00:45:50.040 --> 00:45:50.820
 And some of this

00:45:50.820 --> 00:45:51.660
 may be biological

00:45:51.660 --> 00:45:52.420
 and some of it

00:45:52.420 --> 00:45:53.220
 may be environmental

00:45:53.220 --> 00:45:54.560
 and some of it

00:45:54.560 --> 00:45:55.380
 may be willful.

00:45:56.980 --> 00:45:58.420
 But we need to recognize

00:45:58.420 --> 00:45:59.200
 that

00:45:59.200 --> 00:46:01.720
 this is a reality

00:46:01.720 --> 00:46:02.660
 for many people.

00:46:03.280 --> 00:46:04.620
 And the challenge

00:46:04.620 --> 00:46:05.260
 of talking about

00:46:05.260 --> 00:46:06.140
 this in our culture

00:46:06.140 --> 00:46:06.700
 today

00:46:06.700 --> 00:46:07.840
 is that our culture

00:46:07.840 --> 00:46:09.060
 has so elevated

00:46:09.060 --> 00:46:09.780
 sex

00:46:09.780 --> 00:46:11.100
 in our culture

00:46:11.100 --> 00:46:12.100
 and made it

00:46:12.100 --> 00:46:13.780
 our primary identity

00:46:13.780 --> 00:46:14.580
 and a fundamental

00:46:14.580 --> 00:46:15.300
 human right.

00:46:15.460 --> 00:46:15.700
 Therefore,

00:46:15.860 --> 00:46:16.920
 we ought to be able

00:46:16.920 --> 00:46:18.140
 to have sex

00:46:18.140 --> 00:46:18.900
 with people

00:46:18.900 --> 00:46:19.940
 whenever we want to

00:46:19.940 --> 00:46:21.140
 and who we choose to

00:46:21.140 --> 00:46:22.860
 apart from any constraint

00:46:22.860 --> 00:46:23.660
 or any pattern

00:46:23.660 --> 00:46:24.560
 of God's plan

00:46:24.560 --> 00:46:25.980
 because that has been

00:46:25.980 --> 00:46:26.700
 a broader

00:46:26.700 --> 00:46:28.500
 cultural value

00:46:28.500 --> 00:46:30.860
 than when we talk

00:46:30.860 --> 00:46:32.120
 about this question

00:46:32.120 --> 00:46:33.260
 to talk about

00:46:33.260 --> 00:46:34.500
 any sort of limitation

00:46:34.500 --> 00:46:35.980
 or any constraint

00:46:35.980 --> 00:46:37.380
 on how we live this out

00:46:37.380 --> 00:46:39.320
 feels like it's oppression.

00:46:43.800 --> 00:46:45.280
 We need to recognize

00:46:45.280 --> 00:46:47.620
 that this is not

00:46:47.620 --> 00:46:48.860
 how God intended it

00:46:48.860 --> 00:46:49.940
 in the beginning.

00:46:51.080 --> 00:46:52.460
 And to submit

00:46:52.460 --> 00:46:53.740
 to his givenness

00:46:53.740 --> 00:46:54.980
 means that

00:46:54.980 --> 00:46:57.800
 there may be

00:46:57.800 --> 00:46:58.520
 some of us

00:46:58.519 --> 00:46:59.119
 people

00:46:59.119 --> 00:46:59.840
 who will never

00:46:59.840 --> 00:47:00.739
 experience

00:47:00.739 --> 00:47:02.699
 sexual union

00:47:02.699 --> 00:47:04.019
 with another human being

00:47:04.019 --> 00:47:05.759
 in this life

00:47:05.759 --> 00:47:09.840
 because they want

00:47:09.840 --> 00:47:10.539
 to live

00:47:10.539 --> 00:47:11.420
 within the constraints

00:47:11.420 --> 00:47:11.980
 of what God

00:47:11.980 --> 00:47:12.820
 has called them to.

00:47:13.860 --> 00:47:14.519
 And it might be

00:47:14.519 --> 00:47:15.179
 because of their

00:47:15.179 --> 00:47:16.139
 same-sex attraction

00:47:16.139 --> 00:47:17.139
 and their understanding

00:47:17.139 --> 00:47:17.920
 that this is not

00:47:17.920 --> 00:47:19.219
 God's plan for marriage

00:47:19.219 --> 00:47:21.099
 that they will live

00:47:21.099 --> 00:47:22.319
 a life of faithful

00:47:22.319 --> 00:47:23.039
 celibacy

00:47:23.039 --> 00:47:25.299
 until eternity.

00:47:26.019 --> 00:47:26.759
 Or it may be

00:47:26.759 --> 00:47:28.899
 that they will

00:47:28.899 --> 00:47:32.319
 and it may be too

00:47:32.319 --> 00:47:33.480
 that some of you

00:47:33.480 --> 00:47:34.399
 may be single

00:47:34.399 --> 00:47:35.919
 and have heterosexual

00:47:35.919 --> 00:47:36.399
 desires

00:47:36.399 --> 00:47:37.459
 and still live

00:47:37.459 --> 00:47:38.419
 in this calling

00:47:38.419 --> 00:47:39.799
 of being faithful

00:47:39.799 --> 00:47:41.639
 and abstinent

00:47:41.639 --> 00:47:44.359
 for your whole life.

00:47:49.119 --> 00:47:50.440
 There is no

00:47:50.440 --> 00:47:51.679
 plan

00:47:51.679 --> 00:47:53.000
 for same-sex marriage

00:47:53.000 --> 00:47:53.879
 in God's kingdom

00:47:53.879 --> 00:47:54.599
 and purposes.

00:47:56.139 --> 00:47:56.879
 God's plan

00:47:56.879 --> 00:47:57.679
 is for sexual

00:47:57.679 --> 00:47:58.379
 abstinence

00:47:58.379 --> 00:47:59.900
 outside of marriage

00:47:59.900 --> 00:48:01.319
 regardless of gender.

00:48:03.460 --> 00:48:03.799
 Now,

00:48:04.599 --> 00:48:04.900
 let me

00:48:04.900 --> 00:48:06.619
 one minute on this.

00:48:07.159 --> 00:48:07.679
 There can be

00:48:07.679 --> 00:48:08.920
 a whole other conversation

00:48:08.920 --> 00:48:10.199
 about how we engage

00:48:10.199 --> 00:48:11.139
 with our society

00:48:11.139 --> 00:48:12.219
 or our government

00:48:12.219 --> 00:48:13.259
 in how we think

00:48:13.259 --> 00:48:14.039
 about these things.

00:48:14.379 --> 00:48:15.279
 That is a separate

00:48:15.279 --> 00:48:16.079
 conversation

00:48:16.079 --> 00:48:18.079
 because I think

00:48:18.079 --> 00:48:18.379
 there's

00:48:18.379 --> 00:48:19.159
 and I think

00:48:19.159 --> 00:48:19.559
 that there's

00:48:19.559 --> 00:48:20.119
 an appropriate

00:48:20.119 --> 00:48:21.420
 diversity of views

00:48:21.420 --> 00:48:22.420
 even within the church

00:48:22.420 --> 00:48:23.420
 on how to navigate

00:48:23.420 --> 00:48:24.379
 that question.

00:48:25.339 --> 00:48:26.159
 What I have been

00:48:26.159 --> 00:48:27.259
 presenting to you

00:48:27.259 --> 00:48:27.960
 is this is

00:48:27.960 --> 00:48:29.599
 what God's word

00:48:29.599 --> 00:48:31.019
 says for God's people

00:48:31.019 --> 00:48:32.239
 and then we want

00:48:32.239 --> 00:48:32.879
 to think about

00:48:32.879 --> 00:48:33.799
 how does that apply

00:48:33.799 --> 00:48:34.980
 to the broader culture

00:48:34.980 --> 00:48:36.599
 and we need to do so

00:48:36.599 --> 00:48:38.379
 with a lot more

00:48:38.379 --> 00:48:39.000
 compassion

00:48:39.000 --> 00:48:40.859
 and a lot less

00:48:40.860 --> 00:48:41.500
 virulence

00:48:41.500 --> 00:48:42.180
 than we have

00:48:42.180 --> 00:48:43.180
 tended to do so.

00:48:48.120 --> 00:48:48.920
 So what about

00:48:48.920 --> 00:48:49.320
 our friends

00:48:49.320 --> 00:48:49.760
 who struggle

00:48:49.760 --> 00:48:50.500
 with these things?

00:48:51.900 --> 00:48:52.380
 Well,

00:48:52.579 --> 00:48:54.000
 if they don't know

00:48:54.000 --> 00:48:54.500
 Christ

00:48:54.500 --> 00:48:55.579
 then we love them

00:48:55.579 --> 00:48:56.880
 as fallen

00:48:56.880 --> 00:48:58.000
 and broken people

00:48:58.000 --> 00:48:58.780
 who are lost

00:48:58.780 --> 00:48:59.559
 and need Jesus.

00:49:00.840 --> 00:49:01.720
 We don't need

00:49:01.720 --> 00:49:02.240
 to fix

00:49:02.240 --> 00:49:03.940
 their

00:49:03.940 --> 00:49:07.579
 sexual orientation.

00:49:07.579 --> 00:49:08.699
 we don't need

00:49:08.699 --> 00:49:09.259
 to fix

00:49:09.259 --> 00:49:10.239
 their relationships

00:49:10.239 --> 00:49:11.460
 first.

00:49:11.779 --> 00:49:12.480
 We need to help

00:49:12.480 --> 00:49:13.039
 them see

00:49:13.039 --> 00:49:14.319
 that the life

00:49:14.319 --> 00:49:14.679
 and death

00:49:14.679 --> 00:49:15.759
 and resurrection

00:49:15.759 --> 00:49:16.299
 of Jesus

00:49:16.299 --> 00:49:17.000
 is their greatest

00:49:17.000 --> 00:49:17.380
 hope.

00:49:19.059 --> 00:49:19.940
 What about those

00:49:19.940 --> 00:49:20.819
 who do know Christ

00:49:20.819 --> 00:49:21.380
 who struggle

00:49:21.380 --> 00:49:22.079
 with these things?

00:49:22.940 --> 00:49:23.299
 Well, you know

00:49:23.299 --> 00:49:23.880
 what we need to do

00:49:23.880 --> 00:49:24.139
 with them?

00:49:24.219 --> 00:49:24.799
 We need to love

00:49:24.799 --> 00:49:25.440
 them as sinners

00:49:25.440 --> 00:49:26.279
 who experience

00:49:26.279 --> 00:49:27.360
 life as fallen

00:49:27.360 --> 00:49:27.880
 and broken

00:49:27.880 --> 00:49:28.579
 in the world

00:49:28.579 --> 00:49:29.719
 and who need

00:49:29.719 --> 00:49:30.299
 to be pointed

00:49:30.300 --> 00:49:32.400
 to their greatest

00:49:32.400 --> 00:49:32.820
 hope

00:49:32.820 --> 00:49:33.300
 which is

00:49:33.300 --> 00:49:33.800
 the forgiveness

00:49:33.800 --> 00:49:34.539
 of sins

00:49:34.539 --> 00:49:35.760
 and the new life

00:49:35.760 --> 00:49:36.300
 that they have

00:49:36.300 --> 00:49:36.840
 in Christ

00:49:36.840 --> 00:49:38.120
 that they might

00:49:38.120 --> 00:49:39.220
 grow in God's

00:49:39.220 --> 00:49:39.760
 grace

00:49:39.760 --> 00:49:40.600
 to live out

00:49:40.600 --> 00:49:41.120
 the life

00:49:41.120 --> 00:49:41.519
 that God

00:49:41.519 --> 00:49:42.340
 has called them

00:49:42.340 --> 00:49:43.860
 of faithfulness

00:49:43.860 --> 00:49:44.940
 to his plan

00:49:44.940 --> 00:49:47.039
 to engage

00:49:47.039 --> 00:49:48.019
 in his redemptive

00:49:48.019 --> 00:49:48.420
 purposes

00:49:48.420 --> 00:49:49.340
 in their lives

00:49:49.340 --> 00:49:51.220
 to be transformed

00:49:51.220 --> 00:49:52.140
 more and more

00:49:52.140 --> 00:49:53.780
 into the likeness

00:49:53.780 --> 00:49:54.240
 of God.

00:49:56.860 --> 00:49:57.640
 All right.

00:49:57.639 --> 00:50:00.519
 Washed and Waiting

00:50:00.519 --> 00:50:01.779
 by Wesley Hill

00:50:01.779 --> 00:50:02.239
 is a book

00:50:02.239 --> 00:50:02.819
 downstairs.

00:50:03.920 --> 00:50:04.420
 Be a great

00:50:04.420 --> 00:50:06.019
 book for you

00:50:06.019 --> 00:50:06.779
 to consider

00:50:06.779 --> 00:50:08.480
 in light of this.

00:50:08.719 --> 00:50:09.379
 The third one

00:50:09.379 --> 00:50:10.259
 and this flows

00:50:10.259 --> 00:50:11.159
 from what I just said

00:50:11.159 --> 00:50:12.480
 what about singleness?

00:50:13.279 --> 00:50:14.199
 Marriage is a central

00:50:14.199 --> 00:50:14.679
 motif

00:50:14.679 --> 00:50:16.960
 in the biblical

00:50:16.960 --> 00:50:17.379
 story

00:50:17.379 --> 00:50:18.079
 and in the creation

00:50:18.079 --> 00:50:18.679
 story

00:50:18.679 --> 00:50:19.400
 and we need

00:50:19.400 --> 00:50:19.980
 to recognize

00:50:19.980 --> 00:50:20.779
 that singleness

00:50:20.779 --> 00:50:21.619
 is a little bit

00:50:21.619 --> 00:50:22.119
 different from

00:50:22.119 --> 00:50:22.960
 these other things

00:50:22.960 --> 00:50:24.279
 because singleness

00:50:24.279 --> 00:50:25.139
 is not a result

00:50:25.139 --> 00:50:25.819
 of the fall.

00:50:27.159 --> 00:50:27.339
 Right?

00:50:27.760 --> 00:50:28.079
 Singleness

00:50:28.079 --> 00:50:29.340
 is a reality

00:50:29.340 --> 00:50:31.200
 in human existence

00:50:31.200 --> 00:50:32.559
 but it is not

00:50:32.559 --> 00:50:33.160
 per se

00:50:33.160 --> 00:50:34.340
 a result

00:50:34.340 --> 00:50:35.059
 of the fall

00:50:35.059 --> 00:50:36.160
 in the same way

00:50:36.160 --> 00:50:36.940
 that gender

00:50:36.940 --> 00:50:37.640
 confusion

00:50:37.640 --> 00:50:38.680
 or

00:50:38.680 --> 00:50:41.240
 same-sex

00:50:41.240 --> 00:50:41.760
 attraction

00:50:41.760 --> 00:50:42.579
 is.

00:50:45.559 --> 00:50:46.340
 What we need

00:50:46.340 --> 00:50:46.620
 to do

00:50:46.620 --> 00:50:47.120
 is to say

00:50:47.120 --> 00:50:47.500
 briefly

00:50:47.500 --> 00:50:48.079
 these things.

00:50:48.200 --> 00:50:48.440
 One,

00:50:48.600 --> 00:50:49.280
 marriage is a

00:50:49.280 --> 00:50:50.220
 dominant paradigm

00:50:50.220 --> 00:50:51.079
 that ought to be

00:50:51.079 --> 00:50:51.620
 celebrated

00:50:51.620 --> 00:50:52.780
 as essential

00:50:52.780 --> 00:50:53.740
 to the human

00:50:53.740 --> 00:50:55.019
 race

00:50:55.019 --> 00:50:55.539
 and to our

00:50:55.539 --> 00:50:56.360
 calling to live

00:50:56.360 --> 00:50:56.620
 it out.

00:50:56.700 --> 00:50:57.079
 However,

00:50:57.220 --> 00:50:58.000
 it is not

00:50:58.000 --> 00:51:00.559
 the purpose

00:51:00.559 --> 00:51:01.300
 for all of

00:51:01.300 --> 00:51:02.120
 God's people.

00:51:02.300 --> 00:51:02.840
 It is not

00:51:02.840 --> 00:51:03.340
 essential

00:51:03.340 --> 00:51:04.320
 and it is not

00:51:04.320 --> 00:51:05.220
 a second-hand

00:51:05.220 --> 00:51:05.800
 state.

00:51:06.280 --> 00:51:06.960
 Goodness gracious,

00:51:07.160 --> 00:51:08.120
 all we need to do

00:51:08.120 --> 00:51:08.940
 is to look at

00:51:08.940 --> 00:51:09.740
 Jesus Christ,

00:51:10.240 --> 00:51:10.980
 the God-man

00:51:10.980 --> 00:51:11.620
 who lived

00:51:11.620 --> 00:51:12.519
 a single life

00:51:12.519 --> 00:51:13.280
 and was not

00:51:13.280 --> 00:51:14.079
 sexually active

00:51:14.079 --> 00:51:15.140
 and was fully

00:51:15.140 --> 00:51:17.220
 displaying the glory

00:51:17.220 --> 00:51:17.700
 of God

00:51:17.700 --> 00:51:18.880
 in all that he did.

00:51:19.539 --> 00:51:20.620
 Not only do we see

00:51:20.620 --> 00:51:20.820
 that,

00:51:20.820 --> 00:51:21.500
 but we see

00:51:21.500 --> 00:51:22.559
 that he

00:51:22.559 --> 00:51:23.300
 commends

00:51:23.300 --> 00:51:23.860
 those who

00:51:23.860 --> 00:51:24.900
 choose singleness,

00:51:25.080 --> 00:51:25.500
 who become

00:51:25.500 --> 00:51:25.980
 eunuchs

00:51:25.980 --> 00:51:26.580
 for the sake

00:51:26.580 --> 00:51:27.019
 of the kingdom

00:51:27.019 --> 00:51:27.559
 of God,

00:51:27.680 --> 00:51:28.440
 who choose

00:51:28.440 --> 00:51:28.840
 singleness

00:51:28.840 --> 00:51:29.260
 for their

00:51:29.260 --> 00:51:29.960
 lifetime.

00:51:30.720 --> 00:51:31.180
 The apostle

00:51:31.180 --> 00:51:31.860
 Paul

00:51:31.860 --> 00:51:33.180
 in 1 Corinthians

00:51:33.180 --> 00:51:34.039
 7 seems to

00:51:34.039 --> 00:51:34.580
 say singleness

00:51:34.580 --> 00:51:35.660
 has a preference

00:51:35.660 --> 00:51:37.160
 because of the

00:51:37.160 --> 00:51:38.019
 single-mindedness

00:51:38.019 --> 00:51:38.559
 where you can

00:51:38.559 --> 00:51:39.539
 serve your life.

00:51:39.700 --> 00:51:40.380
 I was single

00:51:40.380 --> 00:51:41.380
 until I was 37.

00:51:41.720 --> 00:51:42.720
 I know the joy

00:51:42.720 --> 00:51:43.600
 of that focus.

00:51:44.200 --> 00:51:44.820
 I have also

00:51:44.820 --> 00:51:46.120
 experienced the joy

00:51:46.120 --> 00:51:47.100
 of living in a

00:51:47.100 --> 00:51:47.860
 family where now

00:51:47.860 --> 00:51:48.900
 I have a wife

00:51:48.900 --> 00:51:49.500
 and children

00:51:49.500 --> 00:51:50.420
 to take care of

00:51:50.420 --> 00:51:51.260
 and the joy

00:51:51.260 --> 00:51:51.940
 of taking care

00:51:51.940 --> 00:51:52.240
 of them

00:51:52.240 --> 00:51:52.720
 and there is

00:51:52.720 --> 00:51:53.660
 not a value

00:51:53.660 --> 00:51:54.440
 laid on one

00:51:54.440 --> 00:51:54.780
 of these

00:51:54.780 --> 00:51:55.320
 or the other

00:51:55.320 --> 00:51:55.920
 as greater.

00:51:56.400 --> 00:51:57.079
 They are both

00:51:57.079 --> 00:51:57.639
 good.

00:52:02.740 --> 00:52:03.340
 And in Luke

00:52:03.340 --> 00:52:04.300
 20 as the

00:52:04.300 --> 00:52:05.579
 Pharisees

00:52:05.579 --> 00:52:06.400
 sought to trap

00:52:06.400 --> 00:52:07.160
 Jesus in a

00:52:07.160 --> 00:52:07.820
 question about

00:52:07.820 --> 00:52:08.619
 leverant marriage

00:52:08.619 --> 00:52:09.160
 and how they

00:52:09.160 --> 00:52:09.400
 might,

00:52:09.780 --> 00:52:10.300
 what happens

00:52:10.300 --> 00:52:10.980
 in eternity,

00:52:11.200 --> 00:52:11.880
 Jesus says

00:52:11.880 --> 00:52:12.320
 this,

00:52:12.840 --> 00:52:13.300
 in heaven

00:52:13.300 --> 00:52:14.039
 there will be

00:52:14.039 --> 00:52:15.019
 neither marriage

00:52:15.019 --> 00:52:17.099
 nor the giving

00:52:17.099 --> 00:52:18.119
 in marriage.

00:52:18.900 --> 00:52:22.260
 you see

00:52:22.260 --> 00:52:23.000
 in God's

00:52:23.000 --> 00:52:23.300
 kingdom

00:52:23.300 --> 00:52:24.119
 in the end

00:52:24.119 --> 00:52:24.760
 of days

00:52:24.760 --> 00:52:26.559
 the kingdom

00:52:26.559 --> 00:52:27.039
 of God

00:52:27.039 --> 00:52:27.760
 is a community

00:52:27.760 --> 00:52:28.619
 of his children

00:52:28.619 --> 00:52:29.240
 and marriage

00:52:29.240 --> 00:52:29.860
 is a good

00:52:29.860 --> 00:52:30.280
 that we are

00:52:30.280 --> 00:52:31.000
 to celebrate

00:52:31.000 --> 00:52:32.480
 but we are

00:52:32.480 --> 00:52:32.980
 meant to be

00:52:32.980 --> 00:52:33.579
 a community

00:52:33.579 --> 00:52:34.539
 that is robust

00:52:34.539 --> 00:52:35.840
 enough for us

00:52:35.840 --> 00:52:36.539
 to find

00:52:36.539 --> 00:52:37.740
 companionship

00:52:37.740 --> 00:52:38.860
 and fellowship

00:52:38.860 --> 00:52:39.980
 and partnership

00:52:39.980 --> 00:52:40.980
 in the gospel

00:52:40.980 --> 00:52:41.639
 call that he

00:52:41.639 --> 00:52:42.079
 has placed

00:52:42.079 --> 00:52:42.740
 on us

00:52:42.740 --> 00:52:44.019
 as his people

00:52:44.019 --> 00:52:45.079
 as his church

00:52:45.079 --> 00:52:46.440
 and therefore

00:52:46.440 --> 00:52:47.000
 we should be

00:52:47.000 --> 00:52:47.860
 finding friendship

00:52:47.860 --> 00:52:48.400
 and we should

00:52:48.400 --> 00:52:48.860
 be finding

00:52:48.860 --> 00:52:49.360
 the church

00:52:49.360 --> 00:52:50.220
 to be a family

00:52:50.220 --> 00:52:50.920
 and we should

00:52:50.920 --> 00:52:51.380
 be finding

00:52:51.380 --> 00:52:51.980
 our identity

00:52:51.980 --> 00:52:52.720
 in Christ

00:52:52.720 --> 00:52:54.059
 to allow us

00:52:54.059 --> 00:52:55.480
 to joyfully

00:52:55.480 --> 00:52:57.079
 and patiently

00:52:57.079 --> 00:52:58.200
 and with

00:52:58.200 --> 00:52:58.920
 perseverance

00:52:58.920 --> 00:53:01.579
 live out God's

00:53:01.579 --> 00:53:02.140
 calling

00:53:02.140 --> 00:53:03.740
 for us

00:53:03.740 --> 00:53:05.780
 to be his

00:53:05.780 --> 00:53:06.300
 ambassadors

00:53:06.300 --> 00:53:08.000
 to be his

00:53:08.000 --> 00:53:08.400
 children

00:53:08.400 --> 00:53:09.120
 to be his

00:53:09.120 --> 00:53:09.920
 servants in the

00:53:09.920 --> 00:53:10.260
 world

00:53:10.260 --> 00:53:11.180
 together.

00:53:11.179 --> 00:53:11.239
 together.

00:53:15.919 --> 00:53:16.759
 This is a

00:53:16.759 --> 00:53:17.099
 goodness

00:53:17.099 --> 00:53:18.579
 that we ought

00:53:18.579 --> 00:53:19.219
 to celebrate

00:53:19.219 --> 00:53:20.339
 and recognize.

00:53:21.639 --> 00:53:22.399
 We don't need

00:53:22.399 --> 00:53:23.259
 to pit singleness

00:53:23.259 --> 00:53:23.799
 and marriage

00:53:23.799 --> 00:53:24.339
 against one

00:53:24.339 --> 00:53:24.599
 another

00:53:24.599 --> 00:53:25.219
 and sometimes

00:53:25.219 --> 00:53:25.699
 a church

00:53:25.699 --> 00:53:26.219
 feels like

00:53:26.219 --> 00:53:26.619
 it only

00:53:26.619 --> 00:53:27.139
 talks about

00:53:27.139 --> 00:53:27.539
 marriage

00:53:27.539 --> 00:53:29.239
 and we live

00:53:29.239 --> 00:53:29.599
 in a world

00:53:29.599 --> 00:53:30.099
 where sometimes

00:53:30.099 --> 00:53:30.940
 we talk about

00:53:30.940 --> 00:53:31.500
 how terrible

00:53:31.500 --> 00:53:32.059
 marriage is

00:53:32.059 --> 00:53:32.219
 in.

00:53:33.759 --> 00:53:34.399
 We need

00:53:34.399 --> 00:53:34.759
 to bring

00:53:34.759 --> 00:53:35.259
 these things

00:53:35.259 --> 00:53:35.879
 into alignment

00:53:35.879 --> 00:53:36.539
 to what God

00:53:36.539 --> 00:53:36.919
 says which

00:53:36.919 --> 00:53:37.279
 is they are

00:53:37.279 --> 00:53:38.299
 both good

00:53:38.299 --> 00:53:38.940
 and they both

00:53:38.940 --> 00:53:39.299
 have their

00:53:39.300 --> 00:53:39.780
 place.

00:53:40.800 --> 00:53:41.320
 But this

00:53:41.320 --> 00:53:41.780
 brings me

00:53:41.780 --> 00:53:42.320
 then to my

00:53:42.320 --> 00:53:42.900
 final word

00:53:42.900 --> 00:53:43.519
 and I promise

00:53:43.519 --> 00:53:44.039
 we're almost

00:53:44.039 --> 00:53:44.500
 done here.

00:53:45.380 --> 00:53:45.940
 Why did God

00:53:45.940 --> 00:53:46.620
 create us

00:53:46.620 --> 00:53:47.539
 as gendered

00:53:47.539 --> 00:53:48.060
 beings with

00:53:48.060 --> 00:53:48.740
 marriage as a

00:53:48.740 --> 00:53:49.400
 central identity?

00:53:49.580 --> 00:53:50.180
 He did so

00:53:50.180 --> 00:53:50.820
 because in

00:53:50.820 --> 00:53:51.420
 these very

00:53:51.420 --> 00:53:52.080
 things we

00:53:52.080 --> 00:53:53.600
 display God

00:53:53.600 --> 00:53:54.460
 in the world.

00:53:55.039 --> 00:53:55.680
 In gender

00:53:55.680 --> 00:53:56.160
 we see

00:53:56.160 --> 00:53:56.800
 distinction

00:53:56.800 --> 00:53:57.820
 and equality

00:53:57.820 --> 00:53:59.460
 and complementarity

00:53:59.460 --> 00:54:00.060
 which points

00:54:00.060 --> 00:54:00.720
 to God

00:54:00.720 --> 00:54:01.380
 himself.

00:54:01.940 --> 00:54:02.460
 God who

00:54:02.460 --> 00:54:03.000
 in his

00:54:03.000 --> 00:54:03.460
 Godhead

00:54:03.460 --> 00:54:04.000
 is one

00:54:04.000 --> 00:54:04.560
 God in

00:54:04.560 --> 00:54:05.400
 three persons

00:54:05.400 --> 00:54:06.360
 of the same

00:54:06.360 --> 00:54:07.000
 essence but

00:54:07.000 --> 00:54:08.120
 differentiated in

00:54:08.120 --> 00:54:08.680
 person and

00:54:08.680 --> 00:54:09.120
 role.

00:54:09.300 --> 00:54:09.720
 And so

00:54:09.720 --> 00:54:10.280
 the son

00:54:10.280 --> 00:54:11.180
 proceeds from

00:54:11.180 --> 00:54:11.700
 the father

00:54:11.700 --> 00:54:12.300
 and the spirit

00:54:12.300 --> 00:54:13.039
 from the father

00:54:13.039 --> 00:54:13.580
 and the son

00:54:13.580 --> 00:54:14.360
 and there is

00:54:14.360 --> 00:54:15.060
 this ordering

00:54:15.060 --> 00:54:15.960
 and yet this

00:54:15.960 --> 00:54:17.800
 complementarity

00:54:17.800 --> 00:54:18.820
 and this unity

00:54:18.820 --> 00:54:20.460
 and part of the

00:54:20.460 --> 00:54:21.120
 reason why God

00:54:21.120 --> 00:54:21.500
 has created

00:54:21.500 --> 00:54:22.200
 gender is so

00:54:22.200 --> 00:54:22.840
 that we might

00:54:22.840 --> 00:54:23.800
 in some way

00:54:23.800 --> 00:54:25.300
 picture the

00:54:25.300 --> 00:54:26.160
 very nature

00:54:26.160 --> 00:54:26.519
 of our

00:54:26.519 --> 00:54:27.500
 triune God.

00:54:29.840 --> 00:54:30.860
 And if that's

00:54:30.860 --> 00:54:31.500
 the picture of

00:54:31.500 --> 00:54:32.100
 gender then

00:54:32.100 --> 00:54:33.160
 marriage then

00:54:33.160 --> 00:54:34.240
 throughout the

00:54:34.240 --> 00:54:35.080
 Bible becomes

00:54:35.080 --> 00:54:36.480
 this metaphor

00:54:36.480 --> 00:54:37.600
 this picture

00:54:37.599 --> 00:54:38.519
 of God's

00:54:38.519 --> 00:54:39.019
 relationship

00:54:39.019 --> 00:54:39.480
 with his

00:54:39.480 --> 00:54:39.940
 people.

00:54:40.360 --> 00:54:40.559
 And we

00:54:40.559 --> 00:54:40.960
 see this

00:54:40.960 --> 00:54:41.480
 in Isaiah

00:54:41.480 --> 00:54:41.799
 and we

00:54:41.799 --> 00:54:42.219
 see it

00:54:42.219 --> 00:54:42.759
 in Hosea

00:54:42.759 --> 00:54:42.980
 and we

00:54:42.980 --> 00:54:43.259
 see it

00:54:43.259 --> 00:54:43.920
 most fully

00:54:43.920 --> 00:54:45.339
 in Ephesians

00:54:45.339 --> 00:54:46.420
 chapter 5

00:54:46.420 --> 00:54:47.519
 where it's

00:54:47.519 --> 00:54:48.099
 laid out that

00:54:48.099 --> 00:54:48.799
 this is about

00:54:48.799 --> 00:54:49.480
 Christ and

00:54:49.480 --> 00:54:50.179
 the church

00:54:50.179 --> 00:54:51.059
 that our

00:54:51.059 --> 00:54:51.579
 marriages

00:54:51.579 --> 00:54:52.420
 picture

00:54:52.420 --> 00:54:55.000
 the relationship

00:54:55.000 --> 00:54:55.599
 between Christ

00:54:55.599 --> 00:54:56.199
 and the church

00:54:56.199 --> 00:54:58.059
 and finally

00:54:58.059 --> 00:54:59.259
 in Revelation

00:54:59.259 --> 00:55:00.319
 19 we see

00:55:00.319 --> 00:55:01.000
 that all of

00:55:01.000 --> 00:55:01.679
 this is going

00:55:01.679 --> 00:55:02.839
 towards a time

00:55:02.839 --> 00:55:03.679
 where we as

00:55:03.679 --> 00:55:04.299
 God's people

00:55:04.299 --> 00:55:05.099
 will be invited

00:55:05.099 --> 00:55:06.219
 to the marriage

00:55:06.219 --> 00:55:06.880
 supper of the

00:55:06.880 --> 00:55:07.940
 Lamb and we

00:55:07.940 --> 00:55:08.739
 will rejoice

00:55:08.739 --> 00:55:10.099
 and be glad

00:55:10.099 --> 00:55:11.259
 because God

00:55:11.259 --> 00:55:11.880
 has set his

00:55:11.880 --> 00:55:12.679
 love on us

00:55:12.679 --> 00:55:13.679
 like a bridegroom

00:55:13.679 --> 00:55:14.400
 sets his love

00:55:14.400 --> 00:55:15.059
 on his bride

00:55:15.059 --> 00:55:16.319
 to welcome him

00:55:16.319 --> 00:55:17.119
 and to celebrate

00:55:17.119 --> 00:55:17.739
 him and to

00:55:17.739 --> 00:55:18.779
 join with him

00:55:18.779 --> 00:55:19.920
 in an intimacy

00:55:19.920 --> 00:55:20.940
 we can't even

00:55:20.940 --> 00:55:22.639
 imagine and a

00:55:22.639 --> 00:55:23.559
 companionship that

00:55:23.559 --> 00:55:24.279
 will be beyond

00:55:24.279 --> 00:55:26.159
 our greatest

00:55:26.159 --> 00:55:26.880
 hopes and

00:55:26.880 --> 00:55:27.380
 desires.

00:55:29.799 --> 00:55:30.799
 This is what

00:55:30.799 --> 00:55:31.679
 God has created

00:55:31.679 --> 00:55:32.839
 when he created

00:55:32.839 --> 00:55:33.699
 gender and

00:55:33.699 --> 00:55:34.400
 marriage and

00:55:34.400 --> 00:55:35.059
 that's why

00:55:35.059 --> 00:55:35.680
 it's important

00:55:35.680 --> 00:55:36.720
 and that's

00:55:36.720 --> 00:55:37.380
 why it's worth

00:55:37.380 --> 00:55:38.079
 us thinking

00:55:38.079 --> 00:55:39.579
 carefully about

00:55:39.579 --> 00:55:40.380
 what it is.

00:55:40.900 --> 00:55:41.619
 The beauty of

00:55:41.619 --> 00:55:42.160
 the gospel

00:55:42.160 --> 00:55:42.920
 pictured in

00:55:42.920 --> 00:55:43.420
 gender and

00:55:43.420 --> 00:55:44.119
 marriage a

00:55:44.119 --> 00:55:44.840
 deeper union

00:55:44.840 --> 00:55:45.380
 a greater

00:55:45.380 --> 00:55:46.220
 intimacy a

00:55:46.220 --> 00:55:46.940
 fuller joy

00:55:46.940 --> 00:55:47.680
 and a

00:55:47.680 --> 00:55:48.539
 completeness as

00:55:48.539 --> 00:55:49.240
 we are joined

00:55:49.240 --> 00:55:49.900
 with Jesus

00:55:49.900 --> 00:55:51.320
 we will be

00:55:51.320 --> 00:55:51.960
 fully and

00:55:51.960 --> 00:55:52.780
 finally all

00:55:52.780 --> 00:55:53.260
 that God

00:55:53.260 --> 00:55:53.800
 will have us

00:55:53.800 --> 00:55:54.180
 to be.

00:55:54.480 --> 00:55:55.019
 Let's pray.

00:55:55.680 --> 00:55:56.440
 Lord we are

00:55:56.440 --> 00:55:57.200
 thankful to you

00:55:57.200 --> 00:55:57.900
 for your word

00:55:57.900 --> 00:55:59.059
 and we ask

00:55:59.059 --> 00:55:59.700
 that you would

00:55:59.700 --> 00:56:02.180
 Lord help us

00:56:02.180 --> 00:56:02.960
 to continue to

00:56:02.960 --> 00:56:03.480
 wrestle with

00:56:03.480 --> 00:56:04.119
 these things

00:56:04.119 --> 00:56:05.139
 Lord to

00:56:05.139 --> 00:56:05.800
 submit to

00:56:05.800 --> 00:56:06.340
 your word

00:56:06.340 --> 00:56:07.159
 and to

00:56:07.159 --> 00:56:07.519
 seek to

00:56:07.519 --> 00:56:08.199
 understand it

00:56:08.199 --> 00:56:08.800
 more fully.

00:56:09.280 --> 00:56:09.679
 Lord I pray

00:56:09.679 --> 00:56:10.420
 for those who

00:56:10.420 --> 00:56:11.539
 wrestle and

00:56:11.539 --> 00:56:12.719
 struggle Lord

00:56:12.719 --> 00:56:13.440
 with the way

00:56:13.440 --> 00:56:14.240
 that the fall

00:56:14.240 --> 00:56:15.099
 has affected

00:56:15.099 --> 00:56:15.559
 us.

00:56:16.340 --> 00:56:16.780
 Lord I pray

00:56:16.780 --> 00:56:17.420
 that we might

00:56:17.420 --> 00:56:18.000
 take these

00:56:18.000 --> 00:56:18.719
 things to the

00:56:18.719 --> 00:56:19.460
 cross and

00:56:19.460 --> 00:56:19.980
 take them to

00:56:19.980 --> 00:56:20.500
 one another

00:56:20.500 --> 00:56:21.579
 that we might

00:56:21.579 --> 00:56:22.219
 support and

00:56:22.219 --> 00:56:22.940
 encourage one

00:56:22.940 --> 00:56:23.679
 another in it.

00:56:24.719 --> 00:56:25.840
 God make us a

00:56:25.840 --> 00:56:26.340
 church that

00:56:26.340 --> 00:56:26.980
 displays your

00:56:26.980 --> 00:56:28.039
 glory in these

00:56:28.039 --> 00:56:28.860
 ways we pray in

00:56:28.860 --> 00:56:29.460
 Jesus name.

00:56:29.659 --> 00:56:29.900
 Amen.

00:56:29.900 --> 00:56:30.039
 Amen.

00:56:30.039 --> 00:56:30.099
 Amen.

00:56:30.099 --> 00:56:30.119
 Amen.

00:56:30.119 --> 00:56:30.159
 Amen.

00:56:30.159 --> 00:56:30.179
 Amen.

00:56:30.179 --> 00:56:30.199
 Amen.

00:56:30.199 --> 00:56:30.240
 Amen.

00:56:30.240 --> 00:56:30.619
 Amen.

00:56:30.619 --> 00:56:32.099
 Amen.