WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.080 We hope that you enjoy this teaching from Christ Church. 00:00:05.719 --> 00:00:11.580 This material is copyrighted and no unauthorized duplication, redistribution, or any other 00:00:11.580 --> 00:00:15.280 use of any part is permitted without prior consent from Christ Church. 00:00:15.640 --> 00:00:22.620 Please consider donating to this work in the San Francisco Bay Area online at ChristChurchEastBay.org. 00:00:25.219 --> 00:00:26.160 Good morning. 00:00:26.160 --> 00:00:27.240 My name is Brian. 00:00:27.239 --> 00:00:30.000 I'm a member of the Alameda Community Group. 00:00:31.000 --> 00:00:36.420 Today's scripture is from the Old Testament, a reading from Psalm 146. 00:00:38.239 --> 00:00:39.379 Praise the Lord. 00:00:40.039 --> 00:00:41.759 Praise the Lord, my soul. 00:00:42.780 --> 00:00:45.200 I will praise the Lord all my life. 00:00:46.219 --> 00:00:49.259 I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. 00:00:50.420 --> 00:00:55.179 Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings who cannot save. 00:00:55.179 --> 00:00:59.019 When their spirit departs, they return to the ground. 00:00:59.939 --> 00:01:02.719 On that very day, their plans come to nothing. 00:01:04.480 --> 00:01:11.000 Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God. 00:01:12.000 --> 00:01:16.780 He is the maker of heaven and earth, the sea and everything in them. 00:01:16.780 --> 00:01:19.400 He remains faithful forever. 00:01:19.540 --> 00:01:25.439 He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. 00:01:26.040 --> 00:01:28.120 The Lord sets prisoners free. 00:01:28.540 --> 00:01:30.900 The Lord gives sight to the blind. 00:01:31.540 --> 00:01:34.340 The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down. 00:01:34.980 --> 00:01:36.700 The Lord loves the righteous. 00:01:36.700 --> 00:01:42.159 The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow. 00:01:42.659 --> 00:01:45.140 But he frustrates the ways of the wicked. 00:01:46.219 --> 00:01:47.920 The Lord reigns forever. 00:01:48.780 --> 00:01:51.159 Your God, O Zion, for all generations. 00:01:51.980 --> 00:01:52.680 Praise the Lord. 00:01:53.700 --> 00:01:55.879 The grass withers and the flowers fall. 00:01:56.600 --> 00:01:58.540 But the word of our God stands forever. 00:01:59.079 --> 00:02:00.659 Good morning, Christ Church. 00:02:00.659 --> 00:02:07.099 Christ Church, congratulations for making it here this morning through all the barricades. 00:02:07.439 --> 00:02:11.519 And I understand we had a few Christ Church runners as well. 00:02:11.579 --> 00:02:13.840 Look forward to seeing the results later today. 00:02:16.000 --> 00:02:19.620 We've been calling this sermon series, Holy Habits of Grace. 00:02:20.359 --> 00:02:28.340 And the driving question has been, how can we make our whole lives a grateful response to the grace of God? 00:02:28.340 --> 00:02:50.719 How can we change our daily, weekly, monthly, and seasonal habits so that less time and less attention and less energy is given to God and to his grace in our lives? 00:02:50.719 --> 00:03:00.400 Another way to say that is, if Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, then how can we not just trust his truth, but how can we also walk in his way? 00:03:00.520 --> 00:03:01.900 How can we live his life? 00:03:02.759 --> 00:03:04.860 And we have this handout for you today. 00:03:05.060 --> 00:03:07.479 Some of you have seen this maybe before. 00:03:07.639 --> 00:03:12.120 But the first side says, what kind of community do we want to be? 00:03:12.240 --> 00:03:16.460 And we tried there to name the dominant cultural paradigm that we're living in. 00:03:16.460 --> 00:03:25.020 And then we also tried to sort of map out this alternative counterculture, this creative minority that we would like to be. 00:03:25.939 --> 00:03:33.860 And we try to put words to a particular spiritual practice that creates and sustains such a culture. 00:03:34.360 --> 00:03:41.379 And in doing this, we're trying to define our values, to define the way of life that we hope to embody together 00:03:41.379 --> 00:03:45.799 and the kind of things that we could be expecting to pray for each other, for example. 00:03:47.340 --> 00:03:54.479 If you turn to the other side, the second side of that sheet, it says, you know, what kind of person do I want to be? 00:03:55.400 --> 00:04:06.039 And you can see the list of practices, the list of habits there, and the ways that those might fit into our daily, weekly, monthly, and seasonal rhythms of life. 00:04:06.039 --> 00:04:17.139 And you can think about that like an organized trellis upon which the organic vine of your life and your life with God is meant to grow up on. 00:04:17.420 --> 00:04:18.319 It needs structure. 00:04:18.480 --> 00:04:19.199 It needs support. 00:04:20.000 --> 00:04:24.219 And so we're encouraging you to take that today and make some notes on it. 00:04:24.300 --> 00:04:31.100 Write some things down that God has been speaking to you about, things He's been inviting you to do, things He's been challenging you to do. 00:04:31.100 --> 00:04:41.520 As we finish up 2024 and head into 2025, what are the next steps that He's calling you to take to experience real life transformation by His grace? 00:04:42.860 --> 00:04:46.840 Notice that two of those practices at the bottom are outward facing. 00:04:47.660 --> 00:04:50.400 So it's not just about God's grace in our lives. 00:04:50.439 --> 00:04:54.439 It's also about God's grace in the lives of others. 00:04:54.439 --> 00:05:03.579 And I think about these as kind of for the city habits that are oriented to our neighbors, to our friends, our coworkers, and our family members. 00:05:04.219 --> 00:05:06.899 One of those habits we call witness. 00:05:07.939 --> 00:05:18.079 And two weeks ago, we encouraged you all to write down the names of three people that you'd like to see explore faith, perhaps for the first time. 00:05:18.839 --> 00:05:21.139 And begin praying for those people. 00:05:21.139 --> 00:05:25.599 Some of you have emailed those names to us at alpha at Christchurcheastbay.org. 00:05:25.639 --> 00:05:28.919 And we have a list of people in our prayer room that we prayed over this morning. 00:05:29.000 --> 00:05:39.919 I think the list is now at about 75 people that we're praying for that they would begin to explore their questions about faith and God and eternal matters. 00:05:39.920 --> 00:05:58.400 And we had an amazing seminar yesterday where we got some equipping and some training about how to just pray that God would lead us into more simple conversations that can become serious conversations that can become serious conversations where we can talk more about our faith. 00:05:58.480 --> 00:06:01.200 And if you weren't there, we're going to email the link out to that video. 00:06:01.319 --> 00:06:05.900 We strongly encourage you to engage with that very helpful training. 00:06:05.899 --> 00:06:12.959 But this habit of witness or this habit of evangelism, whatever you want to call it, it must never function alone. 00:06:13.560 --> 00:06:13.639 Right? 00:06:13.679 --> 00:06:21.779 It always needs to be paired with this other habit of service, of justice, of mercy, and compassion. 00:06:22.459 --> 00:06:28.899 Because witness has to do with gospel proclamation, but service has to do with gospel demonstration. 00:06:28.899 --> 00:06:39.779 And Jesus, in Luke chapter 24, it says Jesus of Nazareth was powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 00:06:40.739 --> 00:06:48.319 And that tells us that his disciples, his church, are also called to be powerful in gospel word and gospel deed. 00:06:48.979 --> 00:06:50.859 Gospel witness and gospel service. 00:06:51.039 --> 00:06:53.899 Gospel proclamation and gospel demonstration. 00:06:53.899 --> 00:07:03.139 And so today we're going to look at this habit of service, gospel service, through the lens of Psalm 146 that you just heard read. 00:07:03.519 --> 00:07:07.339 And I want to just engage that text with three simple questions. 00:07:07.539 --> 00:07:10.839 First of all, who deserves our trust and our praise? 00:07:12.039 --> 00:07:15.319 Secondly, how does God relate to the vulnerable? 00:07:16.500 --> 00:07:20.379 And third, how does the gospel compel us to serve? 00:07:20.379 --> 00:07:32.319 First of all, who deserves our trust and our praise? 00:07:33.600 --> 00:07:42.639 So this is the first of the final psalms that conclude this 150 psalm book called the Psalter. 00:07:42.639 --> 00:07:46.699 And these final psalms, they're all joy, they're all praise. 00:07:47.019 --> 00:07:53.219 And each one of them begins and ends with praise the Lord, or in Hebrew, hallelujah. 00:07:54.259 --> 00:07:59.560 And you'll notice in line one, the psalmist is summoning other people to praise. 00:07:59.680 --> 00:08:05.159 It's implied, he's saying, praise the Lord, y'all, or praise the Lord, you guys, wherever you're from. 00:08:05.459 --> 00:08:07.779 He's saying, praise the Lord, all you people. 00:08:07.779 --> 00:08:13.319 And then in line two, he summons himself and he says, praise the Lord, my soul. 00:08:14.539 --> 00:08:16.039 And notice what he does next. 00:08:16.139 --> 00:08:20.039 He resolves and he commits himself to a lifetime of praise. 00:08:20.979 --> 00:08:22.759 He says, I will praise. 00:08:22.859 --> 00:08:23.959 I intend to praise. 00:08:24.059 --> 00:08:25.079 I mean to praise. 00:08:25.199 --> 00:08:29.599 I am bound and determined to praise the Lord all my life. 00:08:29.600 --> 00:08:41.300 It's a resolution that my praise is not going to rise and fall on whatever my mood happens to be or however my circumstances might be changing. 00:08:41.560 --> 00:08:46.639 No, as long as I have breath in me, he says, I will praise God. 00:08:47.940 --> 00:08:50.399 And then he begins to contrast something. 00:08:50.540 --> 00:08:55.399 He contrasts praising the Lord and trusting in princes. 00:08:55.399 --> 00:08:58.519 And he says this in verse three. 00:08:58.720 --> 00:09:02.399 He says, do not put your trust in princes and human beings who cannot save. 00:09:03.079 --> 00:09:05.319 When their spirit departs, they return to the ground. 00:09:05.399 --> 00:09:08.620 On that very day, their plans come to nothing. 00:09:09.980 --> 00:09:14.319 Now, we don't have many princes in our culture, but we do have a lot of powerful politicians, 00:09:14.320 --> 00:09:25.220 billionaires, intellectuals, celebrities, influencers, whose help and whose hope, whose protection and whose provision, 00:09:25.400 --> 00:09:31.480 whose policies and promises may seem at times more solid and more practical than God's. 00:09:32.620 --> 00:09:42.340 And the psalmist would not have written this down for us if people were not as naive and as gullible as we very often can be. 00:09:42.340 --> 00:09:51.160 To put our trust, our ultimate trust, in human individuals and human systems. 00:09:52.340 --> 00:09:54.480 And he gives us two reasons. 00:09:54.580 --> 00:09:59.120 He says, why should we not invest our trust in these people and these systems? 00:09:59.460 --> 00:10:04.080 And he says, reason number one is they don't have the power to save. 00:10:04.080 --> 00:10:17.500 I mean, they might be able to give you a more reliable economy, more stable immigration at home, less conflict and chaos abroad. 00:10:18.340 --> 00:10:20.800 But they cannot give you salvation. 00:10:22.020 --> 00:10:28.020 And the second thing the psalmist says is they may be very powerful financially or socially or culturally, 00:10:28.019 --> 00:10:32.919 but they're finite mortal creatures just like you and me. 00:10:33.059 --> 00:10:37.980 And all of their plans, all of their projects are going to perish with them. 00:10:38.799 --> 00:10:44.220 When they die, someone's going to put them in a box, lower them into the ground, throw dirt on them, 00:10:44.399 --> 00:10:50.899 and the news cycle and the election cycle is going to move on to the next set of mortal human beings. 00:10:50.899 --> 00:10:55.720 So who then deserves our trust and our praise? 00:10:57.059 --> 00:11:02.779 While humans in high places can give us some help, they cannot give us basic help. 00:11:02.860 --> 00:11:04.639 They can't give us ultimate help. 00:11:04.740 --> 00:11:05.919 So who can? 00:11:07.079 --> 00:11:14.340 Verse 5, blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God. 00:11:14.340 --> 00:11:24.180 Now, our trust and our praise is to be redirected from high-powered human beings to this one true God 00:11:24.180 --> 00:11:27.639 who is the help and the hope of sufferers and sinners. 00:11:28.019 --> 00:11:34.580 And Jacob was one of the greatest sinners and the greatest sufferers in the first book of the Bible. 00:11:34.680 --> 00:11:39.480 If you know anything about his story, even in his mother's womb, he's grasping his brother's heel. 00:11:39.480 --> 00:11:47.200 As he comes out, you know, on day one, the rest of his life, he spends scheming and deceiving people. 00:11:47.659 --> 00:11:53.940 And yet this God of amazing grace comes to Jacob, the deceiver, and he befriends him. 00:11:55.379 --> 00:11:57.800 By his grace, he transforms Jacob. 00:11:57.960 --> 00:12:06.620 He blesses Jacob and he gives Jacob these enormous privileges and massive responsibilities as his covenant partner. 00:12:06.620 --> 00:12:13.679 And in the second book of the Bible, we see that this God is not only the God of Jacob, 00:12:13.799 --> 00:12:17.320 he's the God who's the help and the hope of Jacob's offspring. 00:12:18.340 --> 00:12:23.840 Because he comes to them and he dismantles the entire empire of Egypt on their behalf. 00:12:24.700 --> 00:12:30.720 He leads the 12 tribes of Jacob, the 12 tribes of Israel, out of their captivity in Egypt 00:12:30.720 --> 00:12:34.060 and into their freedom in the promised land. 00:12:34.059 --> 00:12:38.379 And so in light of this revelation about who the God of Jacob is, 00:12:39.000 --> 00:12:47.579 the psalmist makes this fundamental decision that rather than trust and praise ephemeral human helpers 00:12:47.579 --> 00:12:53.679 in temporary positions of power, I'm going to trust and praise the Lord. 00:12:55.159 --> 00:12:59.359 And I don't know if this is a word for some of us in this post-election season. 00:12:59.360 --> 00:13:03.240 Like who is your help and who is your hope? 00:13:04.580 --> 00:13:05.500 Verse 10 says, 00:13:06.779 --> 00:13:07.879 The Lord reigns forever. 00:13:08.019 --> 00:13:10.120 Your God, O Zion, for all generations. 00:13:10.740 --> 00:13:11.500 Praise the Lord. 00:13:12.800 --> 00:13:14.800 Princes are going to return to the dust 00:13:14.800 --> 00:13:18.240 and the Lord is going to rule without end. 00:13:18.320 --> 00:13:21.639 So put your trust and put your praise in him. 00:13:23.740 --> 00:13:24.340 Amen? 00:13:24.759 --> 00:13:25.279 Okay. 00:13:25.279 --> 00:13:28.779 Who deserves our trust and praise? 00:13:28.959 --> 00:13:32.759 Secondly, how does God relate to the vulnerable? 00:13:33.720 --> 00:13:35.980 How does God relate to the vulnerable? 00:13:36.259 --> 00:13:37.539 Verse 6 goes on and it says, 00:13:37.720 --> 00:13:41.659 The Lord, the maker of heaven and earth, the sea and everything in them, 00:13:41.779 --> 00:13:44.039 he remains faithful forever. 00:13:45.139 --> 00:13:47.240 The creator God keeps faith. 00:13:47.319 --> 00:13:49.360 He remains faithful forever. 00:13:49.539 --> 00:13:52.480 Human beings fail to do this over and over. 00:13:52.480 --> 00:13:56.080 And history is just littered with the disappointments of people 00:13:56.080 --> 00:14:01.240 who put all their marbles in the basket of mortals who fail them. 00:14:02.659 --> 00:14:06.379 But who is this God of Jacob, our help and our hope? 00:14:06.460 --> 00:14:09.340 Who is this God who remains faithful forever? 00:14:09.460 --> 00:14:12.519 Well, it says he's the maker of heaven and earth. 00:14:13.360 --> 00:14:16.019 And that means that he's transcendent in glory. 00:14:16.240 --> 00:14:19.639 He's infinitely and eternally powerful. 00:14:19.639 --> 00:14:25.220 And he's sovereign and supreme over every square inch of created reality 00:14:25.220 --> 00:14:29.860 and over every creature whom he's formed in his image. 00:14:30.100 --> 00:14:31.019 But here's the thing. 00:14:31.960 --> 00:14:35.539 Verses 7 and 9 does not say that he remains faithful forever 00:14:35.539 --> 00:14:37.659 only to powerful people, 00:14:38.480 --> 00:14:42.340 only to princes, only to elites, only to people at the top. 00:14:43.220 --> 00:14:43.500 No. 00:14:43.580 --> 00:14:44.639 Who does this creator God, 00:14:44.700 --> 00:14:47.439 who does this God of Jacob especially help? 00:14:47.440 --> 00:14:48.760 Verse 7. 00:14:49.940 --> 00:14:52.300 He upholds the cause of the oppressed 00:14:52.300 --> 00:14:53.660 and gives food to the hungry. 00:14:54.620 --> 00:14:55.920 The Lord sets prisoners free. 00:14:56.020 --> 00:14:57.360 The Lord gives sight to the blind. 00:14:57.480 --> 00:14:59.200 The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down. 00:14:59.300 --> 00:15:00.800 The Lord loves the righteous. 00:15:01.000 --> 00:15:02.440 The Lord watches over the foreigner 00:15:02.440 --> 00:15:04.440 and sustains the fatherless and the widow. 00:15:04.800 --> 00:15:07.140 But he frustrates the way of the wicked. 00:15:08.860 --> 00:15:11.700 It's characteristic of this God of Jacob 00:15:11.700 --> 00:15:17.280 to be active on behalf of the burdened and the afflicted, 00:15:18.060 --> 00:15:20.520 on behalf of the lowly and the suffering. 00:15:21.460 --> 00:15:23.340 He cares for the oppressed, 00:15:24.040 --> 00:15:26.780 for those who are poor and therefore are hungry, 00:15:27.580 --> 00:15:28.840 for those who are prisoners, 00:15:29.040 --> 00:15:30.000 for those who are blind 00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:32.140 and otherwise physically sick or impaired. 00:15:32.960 --> 00:15:35.740 He cares for those who are bowed down and soul weary. 00:15:35.740 --> 00:15:40.100 He cares for immigrants, orphans, and single moms. 00:15:40.779 --> 00:15:44.600 It's quite a list of people in chronic and critical conditions. 00:15:46.039 --> 00:15:49.100 And if you turn back again to the first book of the Bible, 00:15:49.240 --> 00:15:51.060 who do we see God helping? 00:15:51.899 --> 00:15:54.779 Whose cause is He upholding? 00:15:54.919 --> 00:15:57.720 And this is just, you know, astonishing to me 00:15:57.720 --> 00:16:01.680 because in ancient Near Eastern patriarchal culture, 00:16:01.679 --> 00:16:06.439 it's amazing how much attention is being given 00:16:06.439 --> 00:16:09.519 in that very first book of the Bible to women. 00:16:10.919 --> 00:16:14.819 And not just to women, but to barren women. 00:16:15.899 --> 00:16:19.620 Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel. 00:16:20.659 --> 00:16:22.659 And even in the midst of those stories 00:16:22.659 --> 00:16:25.339 and all the time that's given to those stories, 00:16:25.539 --> 00:16:27.019 you have this other woman, 00:16:27.139 --> 00:16:28.919 her name's, she's an Egyptian slave. 00:16:29.039 --> 00:16:29.879 Her name is Hagar. 00:16:29.879 --> 00:16:32.779 And she's a pregnant woman. 00:16:32.899 --> 00:16:33.899 She's a single mom. 00:16:34.500 --> 00:16:37.879 She's been very badly mistreated by the people of God. 00:16:38.919 --> 00:16:42.159 And yet she's honored to be the first person in the Bible 00:16:42.159 --> 00:16:44.120 to name God. 00:16:45.419 --> 00:16:48.100 She says to God, she looks to God and says, 00:16:48.259 --> 00:16:50.179 you are the God who sees me. 00:16:51.259 --> 00:16:52.980 You're the God who sees me. 00:16:54.179 --> 00:16:56.700 And later on, she's grief-stricken, 00:16:56.940 --> 00:16:57.799 she's sobbing, 00:16:57.799 --> 00:17:00.259 and God comes to this woman 00:17:00.259 --> 00:17:02.319 and he asks her this tender question. 00:17:02.419 --> 00:17:04.299 He says, what troubles you, Hagar? 00:17:05.359 --> 00:17:06.619 Calls her by name. 00:17:07.379 --> 00:17:09.299 What troubles you, Hagar? 00:17:09.460 --> 00:17:11.819 And he comes and he meets her need 00:17:11.819 --> 00:17:13.299 and he cares for her son. 00:17:13.419 --> 00:17:16.119 He upholds the cause of this oppressed woman 00:17:16.119 --> 00:17:18.740 who has no one caring for her. 00:17:20.019 --> 00:17:22.220 And if you turn to the second book of the Bible, 00:17:22.579 --> 00:17:24.079 who do we find God helping there? 00:17:24.079 --> 00:17:26.720 He's helping slaves. 00:17:27.759 --> 00:17:30.079 Hebrew slaves, powerful men, 00:17:30.419 --> 00:17:33.919 are oppressing these Hebrew slaves with forced labor. 00:17:34.039 --> 00:17:35.339 They're using them for profit. 00:17:35.539 --> 00:17:37.259 They're destroying their children. 00:17:37.639 --> 00:17:41.619 And who are the heroes that we find on page one of that story? 00:17:42.439 --> 00:17:44.039 Again, it's women. 00:17:44.619 --> 00:17:45.079 Shipra. 00:17:45.859 --> 00:17:46.359 Puah. 00:17:46.359 --> 00:17:51.599 This whole league of amazing Hebrew midwives 00:17:51.599 --> 00:17:52.679 who, like God, 00:17:53.279 --> 00:17:55.819 are upholding the cause of oppressed, 00:17:56.159 --> 00:17:58.899 expecting mothers and their babies. 00:18:00.519 --> 00:18:04.639 Is there any literature in the ancient world 00:18:04.639 --> 00:18:06.779 that talks about God 00:18:06.779 --> 00:18:07.879 and women 00:18:07.879 --> 00:18:09.119 and slaves 00:18:09.119 --> 00:18:10.099 and children 00:18:10.099 --> 00:18:12.240 like our scriptures do? 00:18:12.240 --> 00:18:15.480 I haven't found any yet 00:18:15.480 --> 00:18:17.680 and I've studied them quite a bit. 00:18:18.940 --> 00:18:20.380 So I want to invite us for a moment 00:18:20.380 --> 00:18:21.859 to just take a closer look at 00:18:21.859 --> 00:18:24.420 two particular Hebrew words 00:18:24.420 --> 00:18:26.200 because in verse 7, 00:18:26.359 --> 00:18:28.660 the Hebrew word therefore upholds the cause 00:18:28.660 --> 00:18:29.660 is mishpat. 00:18:29.759 --> 00:18:30.440 Let's say that together. 00:18:31.380 --> 00:18:31.859 Mishpat. 00:18:32.900 --> 00:18:35.640 It occurs 200 plus times in the Old Testament 00:18:35.640 --> 00:18:37.039 and its most basic meaning 00:18:37.039 --> 00:18:39.059 is to execute justice, 00:18:39.299 --> 00:18:41.039 to treat people fairly, 00:18:41.039 --> 00:18:42.319 to give wrongdoers 00:18:42.319 --> 00:18:44.039 the punishment that they are due 00:18:44.039 --> 00:18:46.920 and then to give vulnerable people 00:18:46.920 --> 00:18:48.339 and victims of injustice 00:18:48.339 --> 00:18:48.940 the rights, 00:18:49.059 --> 00:18:49.500 the protection, 00:18:49.639 --> 00:18:50.059 the care 00:18:50.059 --> 00:18:51.519 that they are due. 00:18:52.680 --> 00:18:54.159 And if you look at every place 00:18:54.159 --> 00:18:55.279 that this word mishpat 00:18:55.279 --> 00:18:56.539 is used in the Old Testament, 00:18:57.240 --> 00:18:59.200 there are several classes of persons 00:18:59.200 --> 00:19:00.899 that continually come up. 00:19:00.980 --> 00:19:01.720 Over and over, 00:19:01.819 --> 00:19:02.539 it describes 00:19:02.539 --> 00:19:05.000 taking up the cause 00:19:05.000 --> 00:19:06.139 and the care 00:19:06.139 --> 00:19:07.420 of widows, 00:19:08.079 --> 00:19:08.480 orphans, 00:19:08.680 --> 00:19:09.059 immigrants, 00:19:09.339 --> 00:19:10.119 and the poor. 00:19:10.119 --> 00:19:11.059 Very often called 00:19:11.059 --> 00:19:12.639 the Quartet of the Vulnerable. 00:19:14.079 --> 00:19:15.799 And the reason they're called 00:19:15.799 --> 00:19:17.039 the Quartet of the Vulnerable 00:19:17.039 --> 00:19:18.599 is because these groups 00:19:18.599 --> 00:19:20.039 have no economic 00:19:20.039 --> 00:19:21.539 or social power. 00:19:21.659 --> 00:19:23.699 They lived at subsistence level 00:19:23.699 --> 00:19:25.039 and were only days away 00:19:25.039 --> 00:19:25.839 from starvation 00:19:25.839 --> 00:19:27.959 if there was any kind of famine 00:19:27.959 --> 00:19:28.799 or invasion 00:19:28.799 --> 00:19:30.659 or social unrest. 00:19:30.939 --> 00:19:31.799 And this means that they were 00:19:31.799 --> 00:19:33.039 easily trampled on, 00:19:33.579 --> 00:19:34.459 easily exploited, 00:19:35.000 --> 00:19:35.759 easily harmed. 00:19:36.979 --> 00:19:37.299 Today, 00:19:37.299 --> 00:19:38.539 this Quartet of the Vulnerable 00:19:38.539 --> 00:19:39.299 could be expanded 00:19:39.299 --> 00:19:40.359 to include the refugee, 00:19:41.519 --> 00:19:42.419 the migrant worker, 00:19:42.619 --> 00:19:43.279 the homeless, 00:19:44.180 --> 00:19:46.079 many single parents, 00:19:46.740 --> 00:19:47.639 and elderly people. 00:19:48.740 --> 00:19:50.639 These groups of people 00:19:50.639 --> 00:19:52.099 are most often neglected, 00:19:52.399 --> 00:19:52.680 ignored, 00:19:53.200 --> 00:19:54.119 and uncared for. 00:19:54.200 --> 00:19:54.460 And yet, 00:19:55.019 --> 00:19:56.220 the one true living God 00:19:56.220 --> 00:19:56.659 of the Bible, 00:19:56.759 --> 00:19:58.480 the maker of heaven and earth, 00:19:58.940 --> 00:20:00.220 he loves, 00:20:00.480 --> 00:20:01.180 he defends, 00:20:01.579 --> 00:20:02.919 he upholds the cause 00:20:02.920 --> 00:20:03.640 of justice 00:20:03.640 --> 00:20:05.680 for those with the least 00:20:05.680 --> 00:20:07.519 economic and social power, 00:20:08.120 --> 00:20:09.100 and so should we. 00:20:10.779 --> 00:20:12.700 We must have a strong concern 00:20:12.700 --> 00:20:13.860 for the vulnerable 00:20:13.860 --> 00:20:14.900 like God has, 00:20:15.039 --> 00:20:16.380 but there's more 00:20:16.380 --> 00:20:17.539 to the biblical idea 00:20:17.539 --> 00:20:19.620 of justice than that. 00:20:20.580 --> 00:20:21.779 And we get more insight 00:20:21.779 --> 00:20:23.480 into this second Hebrew word 00:20:23.480 --> 00:20:24.120 in verse 8 00:20:24.120 --> 00:20:24.620 where it says, 00:20:24.800 --> 00:20:26.519 the Lord loves the righteous. 00:20:26.740 --> 00:20:28.620 The Lord loves the tzadikah. 00:20:29.480 --> 00:20:31.560 Mishpat and tzadikah. 00:20:31.559 --> 00:20:33.879 The righteous, 00:20:34.139 --> 00:20:34.879 the tzadikah, 00:20:35.059 --> 00:20:35.960 are willing to 00:20:35.960 --> 00:20:38.000 disadvantage themselves 00:20:38.000 --> 00:20:40.319 in order to advantage 00:20:40.319 --> 00:20:41.700 the community. 00:20:42.799 --> 00:20:43.759 The wicked are people 00:20:43.759 --> 00:20:45.639 who disadvantage the community 00:20:45.639 --> 00:20:47.299 in order to advantage themselves. 00:20:48.319 --> 00:20:48.980 But the righteous 00:20:48.980 --> 00:20:50.759 do the opposite of that. 00:20:50.859 --> 00:20:51.579 And in verse 7, 00:20:51.679 --> 00:20:52.679 it says that God 00:20:52.679 --> 00:20:54.859 upholds the cause, 00:20:55.440 --> 00:20:56.339 He gives food, 00:20:56.639 --> 00:20:57.379 He sets free, 00:20:57.519 --> 00:20:58.159 He gives sight, 00:20:58.259 --> 00:20:58.899 He lifts up, 00:20:58.960 --> 00:20:59.440 He loves, 00:20:59.539 --> 00:21:00.299 He watches over, 00:21:00.299 --> 00:21:01.500 He sustains, 00:21:01.559 --> 00:21:02.319 and the idea is 00:21:02.319 --> 00:21:03.200 that that is also 00:21:03.200 --> 00:21:04.179 what the righteous, 00:21:04.839 --> 00:21:05.639 the tzadikah, 00:21:06.500 --> 00:21:07.240 do as well. 00:21:08.339 --> 00:21:09.379 And it's not surprising 00:21:09.379 --> 00:21:10.019 to us then 00:21:10.019 --> 00:21:10.559 to discover 00:21:10.559 --> 00:21:12.759 that these two Hebrew terms, 00:21:12.919 --> 00:21:14.240 mishpat and tzadikah, 00:21:14.639 --> 00:21:16.179 justice and righteousness, 00:21:16.359 --> 00:21:17.059 are brought together 00:21:17.059 --> 00:21:19.059 over three dozen times 00:21:19.059 --> 00:21:19.639 in the Bible 00:21:19.639 --> 00:21:22.599 as the characteristic ways 00:21:22.599 --> 00:21:24.759 that the people of God 00:21:24.759 --> 00:21:25.399 are to reflect 00:21:25.399 --> 00:21:26.539 the character of God 00:21:26.539 --> 00:21:27.720 into the world. 00:21:27.720 --> 00:21:30.460 Here is this transcendent 00:21:30.460 --> 00:21:31.339 creator God 00:21:31.339 --> 00:21:33.960 of enormous power. 00:21:34.100 --> 00:21:35.400 He made heaven and earth 00:21:35.400 --> 00:21:36.039 and the seas 00:21:36.039 --> 00:21:37.600 and everything in them. 00:21:37.660 --> 00:21:38.259 And what it says 00:21:38.259 --> 00:21:39.079 is that He loves 00:21:39.079 --> 00:21:40.539 to use His power 00:21:40.539 --> 00:21:42.440 to uphold the cause 00:21:42.440 --> 00:21:43.579 of the oppressed. 00:21:45.180 --> 00:21:46.640 If you look at the other literature 00:21:46.640 --> 00:21:47.279 of the ancient world, 00:21:47.360 --> 00:21:48.720 the gods of the pagan nations, 00:21:49.460 --> 00:21:50.519 they use their power 00:21:50.519 --> 00:21:52.740 mainly for kings 00:21:52.740 --> 00:21:53.660 and for princes 00:21:53.660 --> 00:21:54.840 and for the elites 00:21:54.840 --> 00:21:56.019 and the people at the top. 00:21:57.060 --> 00:21:57.700 But no, 00:21:57.820 --> 00:21:58.700 this God of the Bible, 00:21:58.820 --> 00:21:59.820 He loves to exercise 00:21:59.820 --> 00:22:00.600 His power 00:22:00.600 --> 00:22:02.480 on behalf of people 00:22:02.480 --> 00:22:03.700 at the bottom. 00:22:04.740 --> 00:22:05.720 And think about that. 00:22:06.800 --> 00:22:08.200 Where do the concepts 00:22:08.200 --> 00:22:10.080 of human rights, 00:22:11.320 --> 00:22:13.600 of the equal dignity 00:22:13.600 --> 00:22:14.720 of every person, 00:22:16.259 --> 00:22:17.840 the concept of the value 00:22:17.840 --> 00:22:19.440 of the poor and the weak 00:22:19.440 --> 00:22:20.380 or the necessity 00:22:20.380 --> 00:22:21.420 of caring for 00:22:21.420 --> 00:22:22.140 and advocating 00:22:22.140 --> 00:22:22.980 for the vulnerable, 00:22:22.980 --> 00:22:24.160 where do these concepts 00:22:24.160 --> 00:22:25.599 even come from? 00:22:27.039 --> 00:22:28.059 They don't come 00:22:28.059 --> 00:22:29.620 from modern secular narratives. 00:22:29.779 --> 00:22:30.299 They don't come 00:22:30.299 --> 00:22:31.940 from atheistic frameworks 00:22:31.940 --> 00:22:34.039 whose metaphysical 00:22:34.039 --> 00:22:35.200 and moral assumptions 00:22:35.200 --> 00:22:36.940 should actually lead 00:22:36.940 --> 00:22:38.940 in the exact opposite direction 00:22:38.940 --> 00:22:40.319 that might makes right 00:22:40.319 --> 00:22:42.140 and the strong 00:22:42.140 --> 00:22:43.279 should devour the weak 00:22:43.279 --> 00:22:44.019 and the rich 00:22:44.019 --> 00:22:45.480 should trample upon the poor. 00:22:45.599 --> 00:22:45.839 No. 00:22:47.819 --> 00:22:49.259 Anyone you talk to 00:22:49.259 --> 00:22:51.900 who values the idea 00:22:51.900 --> 00:22:53.759 of upholding the cause 00:22:53.759 --> 00:22:54.320 of the oppressed 00:22:54.320 --> 00:22:56.360 somewhere deep down inside, 00:22:56.519 --> 00:22:57.200 they know 00:22:57.200 --> 00:22:58.340 that the God 00:22:58.340 --> 00:23:00.740 of Psalm 146 exists 00:23:00.740 --> 00:23:02.080 and that they have 00:23:02.080 --> 00:23:02.580 a longing 00:23:02.580 --> 00:23:03.700 to know Him 00:23:03.700 --> 00:23:04.900 and be in a relationship 00:23:04.900 --> 00:23:05.420 with Him. 00:23:06.480 --> 00:23:07.160 And anyone 00:23:07.160 --> 00:23:08.940 that you meet 00:23:08.940 --> 00:23:09.960 who values 00:23:09.960 --> 00:23:11.140 upholding the cause 00:23:11.140 --> 00:23:11.920 of the oppressed, 00:23:12.180 --> 00:23:13.600 somewhere along the way, 00:23:14.340 --> 00:23:16.060 they have unconsciously 00:23:16.060 --> 00:23:16.960 and just culturally 00:23:16.960 --> 00:23:18.080 kind of absorbed 00:23:18.079 --> 00:23:19.819 this biblical vision 00:23:19.819 --> 00:23:21.399 of divine justice 00:23:21.399 --> 00:23:22.740 and righteousness. 00:23:23.859 --> 00:23:25.599 And it's our incredible privilege 00:23:25.599 --> 00:23:26.819 as the people of God 00:23:26.819 --> 00:23:29.139 to champion 00:23:29.139 --> 00:23:30.359 the vision 00:23:30.359 --> 00:23:33.419 of the justice 00:23:33.419 --> 00:23:34.019 and righteousness 00:23:34.019 --> 00:23:34.539 of God 00:23:34.539 --> 00:23:35.339 both in word 00:23:35.339 --> 00:23:36.039 and in deed, 00:23:37.139 --> 00:23:38.079 both in witness 00:23:38.079 --> 00:23:38.740 and in service, 00:23:38.919 --> 00:23:40.099 both in proclamation 00:23:40.099 --> 00:23:41.639 and demonstration. 00:23:41.640 --> 00:23:44.100 Does that make sense? 00:23:45.000 --> 00:23:46.759 This is who God is 00:23:46.759 --> 00:23:48.360 on behalf 00:23:48.360 --> 00:23:49.180 of the vulnerable. 00:23:50.880 --> 00:23:51.160 So, 00:23:51.340 --> 00:23:52.220 third thing, 00:23:52.880 --> 00:23:53.320 who deserves 00:23:53.320 --> 00:23:54.240 our trust and praise? 00:23:54.360 --> 00:23:55.320 Not princes, 00:23:55.740 --> 00:23:56.280 but the Lord 00:23:56.280 --> 00:23:57.060 who will reign forever. 00:23:58.180 --> 00:23:58.940 How does God 00:23:58.940 --> 00:23:59.780 relate to the vulnerable? 00:23:59.920 --> 00:24:00.680 He relates to them 00:24:00.680 --> 00:24:01.860 in justice 00:24:01.860 --> 00:24:02.520 and righteousness. 00:24:03.700 --> 00:24:04.100 But then, 00:24:04.200 --> 00:24:04.920 how does the gospel 00:24:04.920 --> 00:24:05.700 compel us 00:24:05.700 --> 00:24:06.720 to serve? 00:24:07.780 --> 00:24:08.720 How does the gospel 00:24:08.720 --> 00:24:09.820 compel us 00:24:09.819 --> 00:24:11.419 to serve? 00:24:12.679 --> 00:24:12.879 Well, 00:24:12.919 --> 00:24:13.720 verse 6 says this. 00:24:13.799 --> 00:24:14.019 It says, 00:24:14.299 --> 00:24:15.079 the Lord remains 00:24:15.079 --> 00:24:16.619 faithful forever. 00:24:17.859 --> 00:24:18.839 And that means that 00:24:18.839 --> 00:24:19.779 this is a God 00:24:19.779 --> 00:24:20.919 who stands with you. 00:24:20.980 --> 00:24:21.439 He's a God 00:24:21.439 --> 00:24:22.799 who stands by you. 00:24:23.980 --> 00:24:25.259 But how can God 00:24:25.259 --> 00:24:26.319 do this? 00:24:27.720 --> 00:24:28.619 Because we've seen 00:24:28.619 --> 00:24:29.039 that there are 00:24:29.039 --> 00:24:29.899 two aspects 00:24:29.899 --> 00:24:30.799 of mishpat. 00:24:30.879 --> 00:24:31.579 There are two aspects 00:24:31.579 --> 00:24:32.079 of justice. 00:24:32.220 --> 00:24:32.579 Number one, 00:24:32.639 --> 00:24:34.179 it's giving wrongdoers 00:24:34.179 --> 00:24:35.819 the just punishment 00:24:35.819 --> 00:24:37.079 that they're due. 00:24:38.099 --> 00:24:38.819 And secondly, 00:24:38.899 --> 00:24:39.679 it's giving vulnerable 00:24:39.680 --> 00:24:40.600 victims of oppression 00:24:40.600 --> 00:24:41.200 the protection 00:24:41.200 --> 00:24:42.580 that they are due. 00:24:43.720 --> 00:24:44.519 But this is where 00:24:44.519 --> 00:24:45.759 I personally find myself 00:24:45.759 --> 00:24:46.420 on the horns 00:24:46.420 --> 00:24:47.600 of a dilemma. 00:24:48.960 --> 00:24:51.779 Because if I've not 00:24:51.779 --> 00:24:53.080 loved my neighbor 00:24:53.080 --> 00:24:53.880 as myself, 00:24:55.340 --> 00:24:56.519 if I've not 00:24:56.519 --> 00:24:58.400 consistently 00:24:58.400 --> 00:24:59.720 and comprehensively 00:24:59.720 --> 00:25:00.840 upheld the cause 00:25:00.840 --> 00:25:01.600 of the oppressed, 00:25:02.700 --> 00:25:03.900 if I have in any way 00:25:03.900 --> 00:25:05.360 contributed to the misery 00:25:05.360 --> 00:25:05.960 of people 00:25:05.960 --> 00:25:06.600 or the suffering 00:25:06.600 --> 00:25:07.240 of the world, 00:25:07.240 --> 00:25:09.039 then have I not 00:25:09.039 --> 00:25:11.000 violated God's demands 00:25:11.000 --> 00:25:11.660 of justice? 00:25:13.180 --> 00:25:14.599 And if I've in any way 00:25:14.599 --> 00:25:16.400 disadvantaged the community 00:25:16.400 --> 00:25:17.319 in order to advantage 00:25:17.319 --> 00:25:17.920 myself, 00:25:18.920 --> 00:25:20.380 if I have in any way 00:25:20.380 --> 00:25:21.339 ignored the hungry 00:25:21.339 --> 00:25:22.339 and the foreigner, 00:25:23.019 --> 00:25:24.160 if I've neglected 00:25:24.160 --> 00:25:24.620 the widow 00:25:24.620 --> 00:25:25.180 and the orphan, 00:25:25.900 --> 00:25:26.880 then shouldn't God 00:25:26.880 --> 00:25:28.120 be just 00:25:28.120 --> 00:25:30.039 in giving me 00:25:30.039 --> 00:25:31.299 the punishment 00:25:31.299 --> 00:25:32.240 that is my due? 00:25:33.759 --> 00:25:33.880 Right? 00:25:33.880 --> 00:25:34.920 Doesn't verse 9 say 00:25:34.920 --> 00:25:35.440 that the Lord 00:25:35.440 --> 00:25:36.100 who made heaven 00:25:36.100 --> 00:25:36.400 and earth, 00:25:36.680 --> 00:25:37.940 He frustrates the way 00:25:37.940 --> 00:25:38.460 of the wicked 00:25:38.460 --> 00:25:39.820 or most translations 00:25:39.820 --> 00:25:42.060 say He brings the way 00:25:42.060 --> 00:25:42.560 of the wicked 00:25:42.560 --> 00:25:43.380 to ruin. 00:25:43.520 --> 00:25:45.060 Is that not me? 00:25:46.560 --> 00:25:47.620 Is that not what 00:25:47.620 --> 00:25:48.280 should happen 00:25:48.280 --> 00:25:49.600 to me? 00:25:49.680 --> 00:25:50.380 Is that not what 00:25:50.380 --> 00:25:51.260 I deserve? 00:25:52.580 --> 00:25:53.840 And the answer 00:25:53.840 --> 00:25:54.360 of the Scriptures 00:25:54.360 --> 00:25:55.740 is yes it is. 00:25:56.700 --> 00:25:58.040 It is what I deserve. 00:25:58.900 --> 00:25:59.740 But the Gospel 00:25:59.740 --> 00:26:00.400 says this, 00:26:00.480 --> 00:26:01.280 the Gospel says 00:26:01.279 --> 00:26:01.940 that Jesus 00:26:01.940 --> 00:26:04.259 came not to bring 00:26:04.259 --> 00:26:05.639 that judgment on me, 00:26:06.420 --> 00:26:07.779 Jesus came to bear 00:26:07.779 --> 00:26:09.599 that judgment for me. 00:26:10.799 --> 00:26:11.799 The Gospel says 00:26:11.799 --> 00:26:12.779 that God loved us 00:26:12.779 --> 00:26:13.359 so much 00:26:13.359 --> 00:26:14.119 that He became 00:26:14.119 --> 00:26:16.000 a helpless baby. 00:26:16.920 --> 00:26:17.619 He became 00:26:17.619 --> 00:26:18.299 a powerless 00:26:18.299 --> 00:26:20.399 and vulnerable mortal. 00:26:21.839 --> 00:26:22.660 And in that 00:26:22.660 --> 00:26:23.619 He came 00:26:23.619 --> 00:26:24.299 and He lived 00:26:24.299 --> 00:26:25.460 a life of perfect 00:26:25.460 --> 00:26:27.579 justice and righteousness. 00:26:27.879 --> 00:26:28.279 He came, 00:26:28.379 --> 00:26:29.039 Jesus came 00:26:29.039 --> 00:26:29.920 and He upheld 00:26:29.920 --> 00:26:31.039 the cause 00:26:31.039 --> 00:26:31.579 of oppressed 00:26:31.579 --> 00:26:32.720 men and women. 00:26:32.879 --> 00:26:33.759 He came 00:26:33.759 --> 00:26:34.379 to the sick 00:26:34.379 --> 00:26:35.099 and He healed them. 00:26:35.819 --> 00:26:36.639 He came to people 00:26:36.639 --> 00:26:37.420 who were imprisoned 00:26:37.420 --> 00:26:38.619 in darkness 00:26:38.619 --> 00:26:39.519 and taken captive 00:26:39.519 --> 00:26:40.079 by demons 00:26:40.079 --> 00:26:41.460 and He released them. 00:26:42.139 --> 00:26:43.119 He came to people 00:26:43.119 --> 00:26:43.740 who were sick 00:26:43.740 --> 00:26:44.579 and He healed them. 00:26:45.119 --> 00:26:46.000 He came to people 00:26:46.000 --> 00:26:47.779 who were lame 00:26:47.779 --> 00:26:48.720 and He caused them 00:26:48.720 --> 00:26:49.339 to walk. 00:26:49.460 --> 00:26:50.039 He came to people 00:26:50.039 --> 00:26:50.740 who were blind 00:26:50.740 --> 00:26:51.799 and He gave them sight. 00:26:51.960 --> 00:26:52.639 He came to people 00:26:52.639 --> 00:26:53.779 that were lepers 00:26:53.779 --> 00:26:54.779 and He cleansed them. 00:26:54.879 --> 00:26:55.819 People who were deaf 00:26:55.819 --> 00:26:56.579 and they could hear. 00:26:56.700 --> 00:26:57.659 People who were dead 00:26:57.660 --> 00:26:59.360 and He raised them to life. 00:27:01.440 --> 00:27:06.700 Jesus, if anybody has ever come to stand with us 00:27:06.700 --> 00:27:10.200 and to stand by us and to remain faithful, 00:27:11.160 --> 00:27:12.120 Jesus is the one. 00:27:13.600 --> 00:27:15.560 But at the climax of His ministry, 00:27:15.720 --> 00:27:17.840 Jesus didn't just come and stand with us. 00:27:17.880 --> 00:27:19.600 He didn't just come and stand by us. 00:27:19.980 --> 00:27:22.340 Jesus came and stood in for us. 00:27:23.299 --> 00:27:27.859 Jesus came and He took our place on that cross 00:27:27.859 --> 00:27:31.159 and He bore that punishment that we deserved. 00:27:31.419 --> 00:27:35.659 God's just judgment for our sins came down on Him 00:27:35.659 --> 00:27:41.039 so that it wouldn't come down on me and on you. 00:27:42.279 --> 00:27:45.319 And that gospel, that good news, 00:27:45.679 --> 00:27:50.199 is the very thing that compels us and motivates us 00:27:50.200 --> 00:27:54.400 to serve other people and embody His love. 00:27:55.559 --> 00:27:55.799 Right? 00:27:55.860 --> 00:27:59.440 When I go out and I look at the poor and the weak, 00:28:00.680 --> 00:28:02.059 I should say to myself, 00:28:02.180 --> 00:28:03.600 you know, that's me. 00:28:05.319 --> 00:28:06.840 That's where I was. 00:28:08.100 --> 00:28:10.460 And yet Jesus saw me in my poverty 00:28:10.460 --> 00:28:12.940 and in my weakness and in my vulnerability 00:28:12.940 --> 00:28:16.019 and He emptied Himself 00:28:16.019 --> 00:28:18.420 so that He could fill me up. 00:28:18.420 --> 00:28:22.039 He lowered Himself so that He could raise me up. 00:28:22.120 --> 00:28:26.100 He impoverished Himself so that He could make me rich. 00:28:27.140 --> 00:28:30.160 And because of what God has done for me in Jesus Christ, 00:28:30.320 --> 00:28:34.300 I can now go and serve the poor 00:28:34.300 --> 00:28:36.160 and embody His character 00:28:36.160 --> 00:28:39.840 that's been revealed so clearly on His cross. 00:28:39.839 --> 00:28:42.980 And so I just want to conclude 00:28:42.980 --> 00:28:46.519 with some practical pastoral guidance 00:28:46.519 --> 00:28:48.759 for how we might serve in this way. 00:28:49.059 --> 00:28:51.399 I don't know exactly how God is calling you 00:28:51.399 --> 00:28:53.740 to exercise mishpat and zadikah, 00:28:53.879 --> 00:28:57.399 how He wants you to live a life of justice and righteousness, 00:28:57.679 --> 00:29:00.699 but I do want to offer a few suggestions in closing. 00:29:00.980 --> 00:29:03.079 And you can go actually to our website, 00:29:03.079 --> 00:29:08.119 you can scan that QR code on your worship folder 00:29:08.119 --> 00:29:10.759 and it will take you to a webpage 00:29:10.759 --> 00:29:13.819 that says everything I'm going to say, okay? 00:29:14.019 --> 00:29:15.679 So if you forget it, it's okay. 00:29:15.939 --> 00:29:17.220 You can go find all the details. 00:29:17.399 --> 00:29:19.599 But here's some opportunities for us 00:29:19.599 --> 00:29:23.939 to serve in the way that we've been served 00:29:23.939 --> 00:29:25.579 in the season ahead. 00:29:25.799 --> 00:29:29.240 Number one, House of Faith Church in Hayward, 00:29:29.319 --> 00:29:30.899 you'll hear more about this later, 00:29:30.900 --> 00:29:34.300 they're going to be distributing Thanksgiving boxes of love 00:29:34.300 --> 00:29:35.060 to their neighbors. 00:29:36.000 --> 00:29:38.340 And we get to go and serve alongside them. 00:29:38.800 --> 00:29:42.259 And each box is going to feed a family of six 00:29:42.259 --> 00:29:45.300 with turkey and stuffing and all the trimmings. 00:29:45.540 --> 00:29:48.500 And our goal is to distribute 300 of these boxes, 00:29:48.620 --> 00:29:50.680 100 of which have been contributed 00:29:50.680 --> 00:29:53.280 by our Loaves and Fishes ministry here at Christ Church. 00:29:53.420 --> 00:29:57.580 So the next step, if God is calling you to serve in this way, 00:29:57.579 --> 00:30:01.799 is just to come join us on Saturday, November 23rd. 00:30:02.699 --> 00:30:05.859 Secondly, we heard about this last week, 00:30:05.939 --> 00:30:09.000 but 80 newly baptized brothers in Christ 00:30:09.000 --> 00:30:12.139 at St. Quentin Prison need study Bibles 00:30:12.139 --> 00:30:14.559 for their weekly training provided 00:30:14.559 --> 00:30:16.679 by the Urban Ministry Institute. 00:30:17.619 --> 00:30:20.539 And these study Bibles will equip these men 00:30:20.539 --> 00:30:23.079 with tools that they need to deepen their walk with Christ. 00:30:23.079 --> 00:30:26.699 And so the next step for us is if you go on that webpage 00:30:26.699 --> 00:30:29.299 that I mentioned, it will have instructions 00:30:29.299 --> 00:30:31.220 for how you can support this Bible project 00:30:31.220 --> 00:30:32.859 or even how you can begin to serve 00:30:32.859 --> 00:30:35.859 in the Urban Ministry Institute over at St. Quentin Prison. 00:30:37.000 --> 00:30:39.379 Third thing is Harbor House in Oakland 00:30:39.379 --> 00:30:42.399 is a Christ-centered community development organization. 00:30:43.159 --> 00:30:45.179 They run an annual Christmas store 00:30:45.179 --> 00:30:49.539 that will allow us to empower parents from the community 00:30:49.539 --> 00:30:52.279 to come and buy gifts for their kids. 00:30:52.460 --> 00:30:54.420 It's significantly reduced prices. 00:30:55.279 --> 00:30:57.039 And the next step for us in that, 00:30:57.099 --> 00:30:58.899 if that's a way that God's calling you to serve, 00:30:59.019 --> 00:31:03.079 is that we can donate toys through their Amazon wish list 00:31:03.079 --> 00:31:04.899 or we can go shop for the toys themselves 00:31:04.899 --> 00:31:08.420 and bring them here by Sunday, December the 8th. 00:31:08.879 --> 00:31:11.159 And we will deliver them to Harbor House. 00:31:11.460 --> 00:31:12.819 They also need some volunteers 00:31:12.819 --> 00:31:15.420 to help set up that Christmas store 00:31:15.420 --> 00:31:18.140 on Friday, December the 13th, 00:31:18.140 --> 00:31:21.620 and to run the store on Saturday, December the 14th. 00:31:21.620 --> 00:31:23.900 And again, all these details are on our webpage. 00:31:25.160 --> 00:31:26.320 The fourth thing I want to mention 00:31:26.320 --> 00:31:27.580 is that last fall, 00:31:28.120 --> 00:31:30.580 we helped to launch a child development center 00:31:30.580 --> 00:31:31.340 in Guatemala 00:31:31.340 --> 00:31:34.060 in partnership with Compassion International 00:31:34.060 --> 00:31:37.200 and with a thriving local church there, 00:31:37.340 --> 00:31:39.060 which is providing a foundation 00:31:39.060 --> 00:31:41.840 for spiritual, physical, cognitive, 00:31:41.839 --> 00:31:44.959 and social, emotional development 00:31:44.959 --> 00:31:49.419 for 200 children in that child development center. 00:31:49.579 --> 00:31:51.839 75 of those children are directly sponsored 00:31:51.839 --> 00:31:54.419 by us here in our Christchurch family. 00:31:55.240 --> 00:31:57.039 And the next step that we could take 00:31:57.039 --> 00:32:00.079 is to just deepen our impact 00:32:00.079 --> 00:32:03.939 by logging into our Compassion account. 00:32:04.679 --> 00:32:06.799 You can go write a letter to your child. 00:32:06.799 --> 00:32:11.659 You can give a special Christmas gift 00:32:11.659 --> 00:32:12.740 to your sponsored child. 00:32:12.799 --> 00:32:14.200 If you've not yet had the privilege 00:32:14.200 --> 00:32:15.980 of sponsoring a child, 00:32:16.079 --> 00:32:17.559 you can make a lasting change. 00:32:18.180 --> 00:32:19.899 There's actually four children left 00:32:19.899 --> 00:32:21.919 in that center to be sponsored. 00:32:22.500 --> 00:32:24.180 My prayer is that they'd have a sponsor 00:32:24.180 --> 00:32:25.039 by the end of today. 00:32:26.079 --> 00:32:28.700 And if God's not calling you to sponsor a child, 00:32:28.779 --> 00:32:31.759 you can go and make a one-time Christmas donation 00:32:31.759 --> 00:32:33.200 to their Christmas fund. 00:32:34.460 --> 00:32:36.379 The last thing I want to mention as I close 00:32:36.380 --> 00:32:39.480 is just that as we look ahead to 2025, 00:32:40.920 --> 00:32:44.100 as we begin to sort through all the demands 00:32:44.100 --> 00:32:47.120 on our time and attention and energy, 00:32:48.360 --> 00:32:51.060 as we build our calendars, 00:32:52.240 --> 00:32:53.080 where do the weak, 00:32:54.320 --> 00:32:55.440 where do the vulnerable, 00:32:55.620 --> 00:32:58.540 where do the poor factor into our lives? 00:32:59.980 --> 00:33:02.740 How is God calling you to join in His work 00:33:02.740 --> 00:33:05.900 of upholding the cause of the oppressed, 00:33:07.079 --> 00:33:08.700 of using your time, your talents, 00:33:08.799 --> 00:33:11.420 your treasures to reflect His character 00:33:11.420 --> 00:33:14.160 of justice and righteousness into the world? 00:33:15.720 --> 00:33:18.759 I'll just close with this great word 00:33:18.759 --> 00:33:19.839 from the Apostle John. 00:33:20.680 --> 00:33:22.880 He says this in 1 John chapter 3. 00:33:22.880 --> 00:33:27.380 This is how we know what love is. 00:33:28.800 --> 00:33:32.380 Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. 00:33:33.540 --> 00:33:35.620 And we ought to lay down our lives 00:33:35.620 --> 00:33:37.380 for our brothers and sisters. 00:33:38.480 --> 00:33:40.520 If anyone has material possessions 00:33:40.520 --> 00:33:43.240 and sees a brother or sister in need 00:33:43.240 --> 00:33:44.640 but has no pity on them, 00:33:45.400 --> 00:33:47.640 how can the love of God be in that person? 00:33:47.640 --> 00:33:52.259 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech 00:33:52.259 --> 00:33:55.640 but with actions and in truth. 00:33:56.600 --> 00:33:58.540 In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 00:33:59.240 --> 00:33:59.460 Amen.