WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.480 You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama. 00:00:06.980 --> 00:00:09.540 Our passion is to experience and express grace. 00:00:10.080 --> 00:00:10.620 Join us. 00:00:12.839 --> 00:00:15.519 Better y'all singing that than me trying it during the sermon. 00:00:16.780 --> 00:00:17.760 Enjoy that more. 00:00:18.800 --> 00:00:20.120 That song's not just fun. 00:00:20.400 --> 00:00:25.640 It also reminds us of an important truth that we're going to talk about this morning. 00:00:26.460 --> 00:00:29.000 This morning we're back in Ephesians chapter 4. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:33.079 Let's remember where we are in our study of the book of Ephesians. 00:00:33.840 --> 00:00:38.980 Paul has started out this letter to the church in Ephesus telling them about what God has done for them. 00:00:39.480 --> 00:00:44.799 About how he's connected us by grace and in Christ to each other. 00:00:45.879 --> 00:00:54.299 Paul has begun in chapter 4 as we've kind of crossed the midpoint of the book to start applying that to specific situations in our lives. 00:00:54.299 --> 00:01:00.739 What's that going to mean for us in this situation or in this stage of life or in this area? 00:01:00.939 --> 00:01:09.599 And he started inside the church with what it looks like for us to have true unity with brothers and sisters who are otherwise very different from us. 00:01:10.099 --> 00:01:16.679 And then we looked at how there's diverse gifts given to those people who are unified in order to serve and build up the body. 00:01:16.680 --> 00:01:22.320 And now he comes to his heart for the body of Christ. 00:01:22.440 --> 00:01:25.840 What is it that he wants to see the church be and become? 00:01:25.940 --> 00:01:28.700 These people who have unity through having the same father. 00:01:29.020 --> 00:01:32.660 Who have this diversity of gifts for the sake of the kingdom. 00:01:32.840 --> 00:01:36.219 God's now working them together toward maturity. 00:01:37.800 --> 00:01:38.960 Church growth. 00:01:38.959 --> 00:01:44.000 Not perhaps numerically the way we often think of church growth. 00:01:44.659 --> 00:01:46.280 But spiritual maturity. 00:01:46.899 --> 00:01:49.500 What will that look like in the body of Christ? 00:01:50.139 --> 00:01:52.959 Will spiritual maturity be what we expect? 00:01:54.759 --> 00:01:58.299 Ephesians 4 starting at verse 11. 00:01:58.459 --> 00:02:01.099 These are not my words about church growth. 00:02:01.739 --> 00:02:02.959 These are God's words. 00:02:02.959 --> 00:02:06.000 So let's pay careful attention to the reading of his word. 00:02:06.000 --> 00:02:15.580 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers to equip the saints for the work of ministry. 00:02:15.939 --> 00:02:22.120 For building up the body of Christ until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God. 00:02:22.379 --> 00:02:23.680 To mature manhood. 00:02:24.099 --> 00:02:27.039 To the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. 00:02:27.039 --> 00:02:29.859 So that we may no longer be children. 00:02:30.459 --> 00:02:32.439 Tossed to and fro by the waves. 00:02:32.819 --> 00:02:35.039 And carried about by every wind of doctrine. 00:02:35.379 --> 00:02:36.439 By human cunning. 00:02:36.560 --> 00:02:38.479 By craftiness and deceitful schemes. 00:02:39.859 --> 00:02:42.479 Rather, speaking the truth in love. 00:02:42.900 --> 00:02:46.379 We are to grow up in every way into him who is the head. 00:02:46.739 --> 00:02:47.699 Into Christ. 00:02:48.340 --> 00:02:52.879 From whom the whole body joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped. 00:02:52.879 --> 00:02:54.900 When each part is working properly. 00:02:55.139 --> 00:02:56.579 Makes the body grow. 00:02:56.960 --> 00:02:59.879 So that it builds itself up in love. 00:03:01.000 --> 00:03:03.500 All scripture is God breathed. 00:03:03.620 --> 00:03:05.199 These are his words. 00:03:05.819 --> 00:03:07.379 Let's ask for his help now. 00:03:07.500 --> 00:03:08.079 Pray with me. 00:03:10.919 --> 00:03:13.719 Father, we do indeed ask for your help. 00:03:14.579 --> 00:03:17.359 We come to your word and are expectant. 00:03:17.439 --> 00:03:19.400 Because we know that you love. 00:03:19.859 --> 00:03:22.500 Love to make it come to life in our hearts. 00:03:22.500 --> 00:03:25.419 To show us what it looks like for your bride. 00:03:25.539 --> 00:03:28.139 To be the church that you've created her to be. 00:03:28.639 --> 00:03:30.900 Oh Jesus, don't just teach us this morning. 00:03:31.039 --> 00:03:31.520 Change us. 00:03:31.719 --> 00:03:34.919 Transform us individually and as a church. 00:03:34.939 --> 00:03:38.000 That we would be everything that you've designed us to be. 00:03:38.699 --> 00:03:40.139 We ask it in your name. 00:03:40.780 --> 00:03:41.099 Amen. 00:03:43.000 --> 00:03:46.060 I thought about playing on the screen this morning. 00:03:46.180 --> 00:03:48.680 A live feed from the one-year-old nursery. 00:03:48.979 --> 00:03:50.080 As an illustration. 00:03:50.920 --> 00:03:52.120 Just picture it though. 00:03:52.840 --> 00:03:54.659 It would come in and you'd see a kid. 00:03:54.819 --> 00:03:58.939 And in the span of one minute, he would play with ten different toys or books. 00:03:58.939 --> 00:03:59.259 Right? 00:03:59.719 --> 00:04:02.500 He'd pick one up and he'd look at it and play with it. 00:04:02.539 --> 00:04:03.400 And then he'd see another one. 00:04:03.460 --> 00:04:05.259 He'd throw that one down and pick up the next one. 00:04:05.620 --> 00:04:09.040 And then a shiny one would come over there being played with by another kid, of course. 00:04:09.180 --> 00:04:10.520 Which would make him want it even more. 00:04:10.580 --> 00:04:11.280 And he'd put his down. 00:04:11.280 --> 00:04:12.199 He'd grab another one. 00:04:13.000 --> 00:04:16.560 Continuing to move from one toy to the next really quickly. 00:04:16.560 --> 00:04:19.819 Kids are like that. 00:04:19.879 --> 00:04:21.000 Especially young kids. 00:04:21.120 --> 00:04:22.100 Easily distracted. 00:04:22.300 --> 00:04:22.459 Right? 00:04:23.100 --> 00:04:27.100 Not often intently focused on one thing for a long time. 00:04:27.100 --> 00:04:33.960 I remember reading books with Lily, my two-year-old, when she just got strong enough to turn a page. 00:04:34.560 --> 00:04:38.240 When you read the book, there aren't that many words on a page of a kid's book to begin with. 00:04:38.320 --> 00:04:41.780 But you'd only get four or five of them in and she'd just flip the page. 00:04:42.079 --> 00:04:47.739 And then you'd get the first four or five words on the next page and she'd flip right through and get to the end of the book and throw it down and grab another one. 00:04:48.059 --> 00:04:50.019 And you really wouldn't even know what the story was about. 00:04:50.099 --> 00:04:53.239 But that's all she wanted was to make it through the book and turn the pages. 00:04:54.639 --> 00:04:58.399 Part of the immaturity of infants is that they lack focus. 00:04:58.959 --> 00:05:05.019 They're easily distracted or confused or tricked if you're that mean. 00:05:06.699 --> 00:05:09.019 But we can be like this in our Christianity, can't we? 00:05:09.019 --> 00:05:13.339 We can have what you might call a Pinterest Christianity. 00:05:14.159 --> 00:05:17.620 Where, you know, I met Jesus a while back and he was neat. 00:05:17.799 --> 00:05:22.680 But now what my Christian life looks like is grabbing at the latest and greatest idea. 00:05:22.939 --> 00:05:26.079 A blog over here, an article I read over there. 00:05:26.279 --> 00:05:28.579 And, oh, and then there's a really good book coming out. 00:05:28.639 --> 00:05:31.919 I bet it's going to tell me what it looks like to really be a Christian. 00:05:32.839 --> 00:05:35.500 And pastors are really good at this, by the way. 00:05:35.680 --> 00:05:38.099 I'm describing something that I live with. 00:05:38.100 --> 00:05:42.320 You know how many articles and blogs there are about being the pastor you're supposed to be 00:05:42.320 --> 00:05:46.480 and making the new thing for your church so that you're really the church you're supposed to be? 00:05:46.640 --> 00:05:48.860 There's a lot of those, and I read them. 00:05:49.560 --> 00:05:53.640 And we can fall into that, moving from one thing to the next 00:05:53.640 --> 00:05:58.140 and not ever going too deep for too long on any one thing. 00:05:58.139 --> 00:06:03.240 We've certainly read more blog articles in the last year than chapters of the Bible. 00:06:04.639 --> 00:06:08.399 So we easily get blown around by every wind of doctrine. 00:06:09.240 --> 00:06:15.659 We get distracted, for example, by the good feelings of the prosperity gospel that we hear so much. 00:06:15.979 --> 00:06:21.120 We think, I'll be a really mature Christian and avoid all that pain and suffering at the same time. 00:06:21.159 --> 00:06:21.639 That'll be great. 00:06:21.719 --> 00:06:23.079 That's what I'll do for a while. 00:06:23.079 --> 00:06:27.759 We begin to buy the bill of goods our culture has been selling for years, 00:06:27.959 --> 00:06:29.779 that truth is individual. 00:06:30.659 --> 00:06:35.339 It's what's good for me, but it may or may not be what's true for you. 00:06:36.039 --> 00:06:37.979 And so truth has become cheap, right? 00:06:39.439 --> 00:06:43.379 Pragmatism, individualism have become much more valuable. 00:06:43.379 --> 00:06:48.620 If we evaluate our Christian lives, our relationships with God, 00:06:49.319 --> 00:06:52.100 if we're really honest, we feel like we're just floating along, 00:06:52.759 --> 00:06:55.899 kind of in the same place I've been, just kind of making it through, 00:06:56.040 --> 00:06:58.899 wondering if I've really got this figured out, 00:06:58.920 --> 00:07:01.240 or if there's not something more to following Jesus, 00:07:01.939 --> 00:07:07.519 still feel immature, confused about what following Jesus is really about. 00:07:07.639 --> 00:07:08.579 Have you ever felt that way? 00:07:09.719 --> 00:07:10.920 I've felt that way. 00:07:10.920 --> 00:07:16.759 Paul describes this kind of spiritual immaturity in verse 14 here. 00:07:17.100 --> 00:07:17.879 Remember what he says? 00:07:18.920 --> 00:07:22.540 He talks about us being children tossed to and fro by the waves, 00:07:22.939 --> 00:07:24.939 carried about by every wind of doctrine, 00:07:25.080 --> 00:07:28.100 by human cunning, by craftiness and deceitful schemes. 00:07:28.960 --> 00:07:30.420 Paul doesn't want this for us, 00:07:30.560 --> 00:07:33.700 but he says we're just kind of floating out there on the ocean, 00:07:34.319 --> 00:07:37.160 easily blown around, easily taken in. 00:07:37.160 --> 00:07:41.480 And sadly, many days we're quite content with that, aren't we? 00:07:42.040 --> 00:07:45.140 It feels pretty nice out here on the waves, 00:07:45.340 --> 00:07:48.460 just floating around, nothing too much to think about. 00:07:50.240 --> 00:07:51.900 But not every day will be easy. 00:07:53.180 --> 00:07:56.680 Storms will come, and Paul wants us to be anchored, 00:07:57.140 --> 00:07:59.640 to have a mature and firm grounding. 00:08:00.540 --> 00:08:03.160 This passage is undeniably about church growth, 00:08:03.160 --> 00:08:07.040 not about numbers of people in the pews or dollars in the budget, 00:08:08.000 --> 00:08:11.420 but about spiritual maturity of the body and its individual members. 00:08:11.620 --> 00:08:13.380 Just look in six verses, 00:08:13.900 --> 00:08:17.600 we read about building up, mature manhood, 00:08:17.840 --> 00:08:21.160 grow up, grow, build up, over and over. 00:08:21.260 --> 00:08:23.260 This is what Paul's getting at. 00:08:23.320 --> 00:08:24.080 He's explaining, 00:08:24.540 --> 00:08:28.300 how does this unified body with diverse gifts develop and mature? 00:08:28.900 --> 00:08:30.340 What keeps it strong and healthy? 00:08:30.440 --> 00:08:31.300 What makes it flourish? 00:08:31.300 --> 00:08:33.879 How do you know when it's really going strong? 00:08:35.259 --> 00:08:36.600 And our natural tendency, 00:08:36.600 --> 00:08:37.960 when we think about maturity, 00:08:37.960 --> 00:08:39.080 is to think that, 00:08:39.460 --> 00:08:40.139 hey, we'll get it to you. 00:08:40.159 --> 00:08:41.539 We'll be this great church, 00:08:41.659 --> 00:08:44.360 a strong, vibrant, healthy place 00:08:44.360 --> 00:08:45.980 where we've been around long enough 00:08:45.980 --> 00:08:47.820 that we've kind of figured church out, 00:08:48.120 --> 00:08:50.240 and we've got lots of good stuff going for us. 00:08:50.360 --> 00:08:52.960 Maturity will be us getting it together as a church. 00:08:54.159 --> 00:08:55.340 Of course we think that, 00:08:55.399 --> 00:08:57.080 because that's what maturity looks like 00:08:57.080 --> 00:08:59.019 in the other areas of our lives, right? 00:08:59.019 --> 00:09:01.919 When you grow up into adulthood, 00:09:02.460 --> 00:09:05.939 maturity means you need mom and dad less and less. 00:09:06.379 --> 00:09:08.939 That's what your parents are raising you towards, right? 00:09:08.980 --> 00:09:10.879 That you can leave and survive on your own, 00:09:10.919 --> 00:09:11.899 that you'll be independent. 00:09:13.179 --> 00:09:14.079 And at work, 00:09:14.159 --> 00:09:16.799 you begin to mature into upper management, 00:09:16.960 --> 00:09:17.740 which means what? 00:09:18.559 --> 00:09:21.699 You need the oversight of your boss less and less. 00:09:21.840 --> 00:09:24.139 You learn to work independently. 00:09:24.139 --> 00:09:29.039 But Jesus says it's different in my church. 00:09:29.659 --> 00:09:32.139 Maturity is not independent success, 00:09:32.759 --> 00:09:35.319 but being increasingly dependent, 00:09:35.860 --> 00:09:37.980 being connected to, bound to, 00:09:38.159 --> 00:09:41.399 anchored in Christ, right? 00:09:41.460 --> 00:09:44.019 In Him, the most important thing, 00:09:44.080 --> 00:09:46.059 and then to each other in His body. 00:09:46.740 --> 00:09:48.379 Look at verses 15 and 16, 00:09:48.500 --> 00:09:49.200 the way He says it. 00:09:49.639 --> 00:09:51.340 Rather, speaking the truth in love, 00:09:51.340 --> 00:09:52.720 we're to grow up where? 00:09:53.080 --> 00:09:55.500 Grow up in every way into Him 00:09:55.500 --> 00:09:56.320 who is the head, 00:09:56.379 --> 00:09:57.379 into Christ, 00:09:58.200 --> 00:09:59.420 from whom the whole body, 00:09:59.560 --> 00:10:00.840 coming from Christ, 00:10:00.920 --> 00:10:01.800 the whole body, 00:10:02.259 --> 00:10:03.320 joined and held together 00:10:03.320 --> 00:10:05.440 and each part working properly 00:10:05.440 --> 00:10:06.580 is going to grow 00:10:06.580 --> 00:10:08.019 so that it builds itself up. 00:10:08.240 --> 00:10:10.200 That's how the body builds itself up. 00:10:10.280 --> 00:10:12.180 That's where growth comes from. 00:10:12.840 --> 00:10:16.160 The image is of dropping anchor into Jesus. 00:10:17.240 --> 00:10:19.240 Not running around looking for all sorts 00:10:19.240 --> 00:10:20.680 of new and improved ideas 00:10:20.680 --> 00:10:22.480 for the latest and greatest way 00:10:22.480 --> 00:10:23.980 to be a Christian or a church, 00:10:24.680 --> 00:10:27.200 but dropping our anchor down deep in Jesus, 00:10:27.519 --> 00:10:28.659 focusing on the one thing 00:10:28.659 --> 00:10:30.299 that's most important. 00:10:30.799 --> 00:10:32.659 The Bible talks about it in a lot of ways. 00:10:32.740 --> 00:10:34.980 It talks about it as abiding in Jesus, 00:10:35.720 --> 00:10:36.960 finding our rest in Him, 00:10:37.039 --> 00:10:39.000 being connected to Him. 00:10:40.440 --> 00:10:41.919 We strengthen our connection 00:10:41.919 --> 00:10:43.240 to the head of the body, 00:10:43.240 --> 00:10:44.600 which builds us up 00:10:44.600 --> 00:10:46.539 and grows and matures us 00:10:46.539 --> 00:10:47.820 because that's what He does. 00:10:47.820 --> 00:10:50.840 We need to learn of Jesus more 00:10:50.840 --> 00:10:52.920 as we grow in our faith, 00:10:52.980 --> 00:10:53.620 not less. 00:10:54.520 --> 00:10:56.600 We need to hear the gospel more 00:10:56.600 --> 00:10:58.280 as we mature in our faith, 00:10:58.340 --> 00:10:59.160 not less. 00:11:00.080 --> 00:11:02.360 And that may seem obvious or churchy, 00:11:02.420 --> 00:11:04.200 like of course we want to talk about Jesus, 00:11:04.440 --> 00:11:06.420 but you'll hear very different things. 00:11:07.260 --> 00:11:09.020 You'll talk to people who will say, 00:11:09.140 --> 00:11:09.720 hey, you know, 00:11:09.760 --> 00:11:10.960 I heard a sermon about 00:11:10.960 --> 00:11:12.980 Jesus rescuing sinners 00:11:12.980 --> 00:11:15.040 and the wonderful grace of Jesus 00:11:15.040 --> 00:11:16.620 that saved us from our sins, 00:11:16.620 --> 00:11:18.360 and you'll hear somebody say, 00:11:18.419 --> 00:11:20.259 you know, that was a great sermon 00:11:20.259 --> 00:11:21.580 for someone who's never heard 00:11:21.580 --> 00:11:22.560 the gospel before, 00:11:22.659 --> 00:11:24.440 but I don't know, 00:11:24.460 --> 00:11:25.840 I'm a mature Christian. 00:11:26.139 --> 00:11:27.720 I've followed Jesus a long time. 00:11:27.820 --> 00:11:28.860 I want more meat. 00:11:29.679 --> 00:11:30.620 I want something else. 00:11:32.240 --> 00:11:33.940 And Paul says maturity means 00:11:33.940 --> 00:11:35.740 never getting over Jesus, 00:11:36.639 --> 00:11:38.740 never moving beyond Jesus, 00:11:39.120 --> 00:11:41.399 always asking how Jesus impacts 00:11:41.399 --> 00:11:43.659 this situation in my life, 00:11:43.659 --> 00:11:45.219 dropping the anchor down 00:11:45.219 --> 00:11:46.600 deeper into Jesus, 00:11:47.059 --> 00:11:48.120 not hauling it up 00:11:48.120 --> 00:11:49.059 and going in search 00:11:49.059 --> 00:11:50.399 of more exciting waters, 00:11:50.980 --> 00:11:52.139 not setting him aside 00:11:52.139 --> 00:11:53.620 for the next shiny toy 00:11:53.620 --> 00:11:54.459 that we notice, 00:11:55.159 --> 00:11:57.459 going deeper into Jesus. 00:11:57.980 --> 00:12:00.120 It's actually why this passage says 00:12:00.120 --> 00:12:01.659 Jesus gave evangelists, 00:12:01.879 --> 00:12:03.100 shepherds, teachers, 00:12:03.459 --> 00:12:04.879 and so forth to his people, 00:12:05.299 --> 00:12:06.240 because they're supposed 00:12:06.240 --> 00:12:07.519 to build the body up 00:12:07.519 --> 00:12:08.339 in the knowledge 00:12:08.339 --> 00:12:09.579 of the Son of God, 00:12:09.720 --> 00:12:11.059 experiencing him more, 00:12:11.059 --> 00:12:12.699 becoming like him, 00:12:13.319 --> 00:12:14.059 verse 13. 00:12:15.479 --> 00:12:16.279 That's maturity. 00:12:17.419 --> 00:12:19.099 He doesn't want the latest heresy 00:12:19.099 --> 00:12:20.299 to confuse you. 00:12:21.079 --> 00:12:22.799 He doesn't want the storms of life 00:12:22.799 --> 00:12:24.279 to wash your faith away. 00:12:24.779 --> 00:12:26.619 He doesn't want the shiny toy 00:12:26.619 --> 00:12:28.899 to outshine the beauty of Christ 00:12:28.899 --> 00:12:31.519 in your mind and eyes and heart. 00:12:32.379 --> 00:12:33.979 So he says those who teach 00:12:33.979 --> 00:12:35.659 are to show us the beauty of Jesus 00:12:35.659 --> 00:12:37.779 over and over and over, 00:12:37.939 --> 00:12:39.559 to help us learn more of him, 00:12:39.559 --> 00:12:41.199 to know him more deeply, 00:12:41.439 --> 00:12:43.559 to drop our anchors down in Jesus. 00:12:44.479 --> 00:12:46.219 Don't ever think you need him less, 00:12:47.359 --> 00:12:48.059 or that if you did, 00:12:48.079 --> 00:12:49.139 it would be real mature 00:12:49.139 --> 00:12:51.079 to need him less. 00:12:52.699 --> 00:12:54.179 I saw this pretty clearly 00:12:54.179 --> 00:12:56.099 in the text as I was reading it. 00:12:56.139 --> 00:12:58.079 It's in other places in the Bible, 00:12:58.199 --> 00:12:59.619 but I thought it would be helpful 00:12:59.619 --> 00:13:01.759 to talk to some people 00:13:01.759 --> 00:13:03.219 who've been following Jesus 00:13:03.219 --> 00:13:05.079 a few more years than I have, 00:13:05.479 --> 00:13:07.659 to see if it's practically true, 00:13:07.659 --> 00:13:08.719 if they've found this to, 00:13:08.980 --> 00:13:09.740 in their lives, 00:13:09.819 --> 00:13:11.240 really to be true 00:13:11.240 --> 00:13:13.339 of what maturity looks like. 00:13:14.259 --> 00:13:15.259 I was thinking about 00:13:15.259 --> 00:13:16.899 some of our senior members here, 00:13:17.039 --> 00:13:17.740 and I thought, 00:13:17.799 --> 00:13:18.139 you know what? 00:13:19.079 --> 00:13:20.519 They pray a lot. 00:13:22.519 --> 00:13:23.839 They're here a lot 00:13:23.839 --> 00:13:25.860 in worship and Sunday school 00:13:25.860 --> 00:13:27.819 and small groups 00:13:27.819 --> 00:13:28.879 and Bible studies, 00:13:29.120 --> 00:13:30.699 and that's not necessarily 00:13:30.699 --> 00:13:32.480 a mark of spiritual maturity. 00:13:33.360 --> 00:13:34.639 Attendance at Sunday school 00:13:34.639 --> 00:13:36.100 doesn't qualify you 00:13:36.100 --> 00:13:37.159 as spiritually mature, 00:13:37.360 --> 00:13:38.379 but I wondered 00:13:38.379 --> 00:13:39.679 why they're so regular. 00:13:40.039 --> 00:13:41.360 Even after all these years 00:13:41.360 --> 00:13:42.819 when six or eight decades 00:13:42.819 --> 00:13:43.799 into following Jesus, 00:13:43.960 --> 00:13:44.740 surely they're not coming 00:13:44.740 --> 00:13:45.919 to hear something new, right? 00:13:46.480 --> 00:13:47.340 Thinking they're going to 00:13:47.340 --> 00:13:48.460 learn something else, 00:13:48.600 --> 00:13:50.240 and I know from talking to them 00:13:50.240 --> 00:13:51.639 it hurts to get up in the morning. 00:13:52.199 --> 00:13:53.539 It's not easy to get up early 00:13:53.539 --> 00:13:54.080 and get going. 00:13:54.199 --> 00:13:55.699 Why such a priority? 00:13:57.019 --> 00:13:58.100 So I thought I'd talk 00:13:58.100 --> 00:13:58.879 to a few of them, 00:13:58.960 --> 00:14:00.960 and I won't mention their names. 00:14:01.399 --> 00:14:03.259 Their ages are all under 100, 00:14:03.259 --> 00:14:05.240 but over 80, 00:14:06.559 --> 00:14:08.879 and every single one of them 00:14:08.879 --> 00:14:10.200 told me without hesitation 00:14:10.200 --> 00:14:11.100 that it's true. 00:14:11.539 --> 00:14:13.019 They feel their need for Jesus 00:14:13.019 --> 00:14:15.480 more now than ever before. 00:14:17.080 --> 00:14:18.399 One lady I interrupted 00:14:18.399 --> 00:14:19.960 somewhere in the middle 00:14:19.960 --> 00:14:21.340 of Deuteronomy, I believe, 00:14:22.340 --> 00:14:23.379 said, and I quote, 00:14:24.379 --> 00:14:25.439 the older you get, 00:14:26.059 --> 00:14:27.259 the more you realize 00:14:27.259 --> 00:14:28.700 you can't do it yourself. 00:14:28.700 --> 00:14:32.900 They told me lots of things 00:14:32.900 --> 00:14:34.420 like digging into God's Word 00:14:34.420 --> 00:14:36.000 is the way they get their strength, 00:14:36.300 --> 00:14:38.060 that they're constantly learning 00:14:38.060 --> 00:14:39.300 and needing to remember 00:14:39.300 --> 00:14:40.900 that God's in control 00:14:40.900 --> 00:14:42.220 because they do things 00:14:42.220 --> 00:14:44.020 like worry about their kids. 00:14:44.800 --> 00:14:45.480 Isn't that crazy? 00:14:46.340 --> 00:14:47.840 Worry about their kids? 00:14:48.379 --> 00:14:49.800 They're actually struggling 00:14:49.800 --> 00:14:51.140 with what I'm struggling with, 00:14:51.259 --> 00:14:52.620 and they need to go back 00:14:52.620 --> 00:14:53.960 to Christ and remember 00:14:53.960 --> 00:14:56.300 how much He loves their kids. 00:14:58.700 --> 00:15:00.060 Other things like that. 00:15:00.120 --> 00:15:00.980 They said they need to hear 00:15:00.980 --> 00:15:01.640 about Jesus 00:15:01.640 --> 00:15:02.540 and be with people 00:15:02.540 --> 00:15:03.640 who point them to Jesus, 00:15:03.759 --> 00:15:04.960 that they're desperate for it. 00:15:05.920 --> 00:15:06.600 And I said to one, 00:15:06.600 --> 00:15:06.900 really, 00:15:07.040 --> 00:15:07.800 I said to one of them, 00:15:08.120 --> 00:15:08.780 seriously, 00:15:09.280 --> 00:15:10.980 like a Sunday school class 00:15:10.980 --> 00:15:11.780 taught by someone 00:15:11.780 --> 00:15:12.460 half your age, 00:15:12.580 --> 00:15:14.379 aren't you just being nice? 00:15:14.379 --> 00:15:17.460 Oh, it helps me, 00:15:17.580 --> 00:15:18.039 she said. 00:15:18.379 --> 00:15:19.860 It helps me so much. 00:15:22.799 --> 00:15:23.240 Maturity. 00:15:25.620 --> 00:15:26.059 Dependence. 00:15:26.399 --> 00:15:27.320 The older you get, 00:15:27.399 --> 00:15:28.259 the more you realize 00:15:28.259 --> 00:15:30.259 you can't do it yourself. 00:15:30.480 --> 00:15:31.379 Don't take it from me. 00:15:31.480 --> 00:15:32.559 Take it from people 00:15:32.559 --> 00:15:33.580 who follow Jesus 00:15:33.580 --> 00:15:35.220 longer than you've been alive. 00:15:36.360 --> 00:15:38.240 I find that's always a good idea. 00:15:40.080 --> 00:15:40.919 John Lennon wrote 00:15:40.919 --> 00:15:41.720 the number one hit 00:15:41.720 --> 00:15:42.500 that we heard 00:15:42.500 --> 00:15:43.320 just a minute ago. 00:15:44.140 --> 00:15:44.840 After he'd had 00:15:44.840 --> 00:15:45.840 a lot of success, 00:15:46.160 --> 00:15:46.860 a lot of things 00:15:46.860 --> 00:15:47.560 had gone well 00:15:47.560 --> 00:15:48.140 in his singing 00:15:48.140 --> 00:15:49.500 and songwriting career, 00:15:49.740 --> 00:15:50.460 and he'd been writing 00:15:50.460 --> 00:15:51.220 about a lot of things, 00:15:51.320 --> 00:15:51.940 but this was kind of 00:15:51.940 --> 00:15:52.660 a turning point 00:15:52.660 --> 00:15:54.140 where he decided 00:15:54.140 --> 00:15:54.740 to write a song 00:15:54.740 --> 00:15:55.360 that was honest 00:15:55.360 --> 00:15:55.860 and truthful 00:15:55.860 --> 00:15:56.800 about what he was learning 00:15:56.800 --> 00:15:57.420 about life 00:15:57.420 --> 00:15:58.180 and what he was seeing 00:15:58.180 --> 00:15:58.800 in himself. 00:16:00.180 --> 00:16:01.220 And you see what he says? 00:16:01.480 --> 00:16:02.320 When I was younger, 00:16:02.500 --> 00:16:03.400 I never needed 00:16:03.400 --> 00:16:04.140 anybody's help. 00:16:04.180 --> 00:16:04.900 I was strong 00:16:04.900 --> 00:16:05.540 and capable 00:16:05.540 --> 00:16:07.180 and self-assured. 00:16:08.760 --> 00:16:10.840 But now something's changed. 00:16:10.940 --> 00:16:12.040 My life has changed, 00:16:12.039 --> 00:16:14.179 and maybe my favorite line, 00:16:14.639 --> 00:16:15.480 my independence 00:16:15.480 --> 00:16:16.679 seems to vanish 00:16:16.679 --> 00:16:17.860 in the haze. 00:16:18.879 --> 00:16:20.219 I need you. 00:16:20.519 --> 00:16:21.559 I have need. 00:16:21.740 --> 00:16:23.439 I'm not capable. 00:16:24.000 --> 00:16:25.299 It's not that I don't need anybody. 00:16:25.399 --> 00:16:26.719 I have great need. 00:16:26.839 --> 00:16:28.339 I'm not independent anymore. 00:16:28.459 --> 00:16:29.419 I thought I'd get here 00:16:29.419 --> 00:16:30.259 and find myself 00:16:30.259 --> 00:16:31.099 to have arrived, 00:16:31.899 --> 00:16:33.019 and instead not. 00:16:33.019 --> 00:16:35.960 more of Jesus, 00:16:36.460 --> 00:16:38.819 being anchored in him. 00:16:38.919 --> 00:16:40.759 That's how maturity occurs. 00:16:40.899 --> 00:16:43.379 That's how church growth happens. 00:16:44.500 --> 00:16:45.679 I'd ask you this morning, 00:16:45.779 --> 00:16:46.980 what's informing your thinking? 00:16:48.399 --> 00:16:49.720 What's shaping the way 00:16:49.720 --> 00:16:50.539 that you live? 00:16:51.779 --> 00:16:53.039 Ask yourself that question. 00:16:53.199 --> 00:16:55.139 What things are impacting you? 00:16:55.360 --> 00:16:57.480 Is it or he or she 00:16:57.480 --> 00:16:59.139 pointing you to Jesus, 00:17:00.019 --> 00:17:01.720 teaching you more about him? 00:17:01.720 --> 00:17:04.880 I'm not anti-blog articles. 00:17:05.380 --> 00:17:06.360 I read some of them. 00:17:06.420 --> 00:17:07.400 I write some of them. 00:17:07.440 --> 00:17:08.860 I don't have anything against them. 00:17:09.779 --> 00:17:11.019 But we ought to ask ourselves, 00:17:11.460 --> 00:17:13.279 what's shaping me? 00:17:13.380 --> 00:17:15.339 Is it anchoring me to Jesus, 00:17:15.680 --> 00:17:17.220 or is it leaving me adrift 00:17:17.220 --> 00:17:18.740 on a sea of good advice? 00:17:20.480 --> 00:17:21.740 We are to grow up 00:17:21.740 --> 00:17:23.180 in every way 00:17:23.180 --> 00:17:25.180 into him who is the head, 00:17:25.640 --> 00:17:26.799 into Christ. 00:17:28.180 --> 00:17:29.299 It's about him 00:17:29.299 --> 00:17:30.539 and knowing him more 00:17:30.539 --> 00:17:31.359 and going deeper 00:17:31.359 --> 00:17:32.559 into Jesus. 00:17:35.159 --> 00:17:36.159 But how do I know? 00:17:36.500 --> 00:17:37.419 How would I know 00:17:37.419 --> 00:17:38.599 if I'm maturing? 00:17:40.399 --> 00:17:41.899 How would I look at my life 00:17:41.899 --> 00:17:43.099 and how would I look 00:17:43.099 --> 00:17:44.099 at my church and say, 00:17:44.559 --> 00:17:45.480 what would it look like 00:17:45.480 --> 00:17:47.220 if I was maturing in Christ, 00:17:47.339 --> 00:17:49.039 if this was really happening? 00:17:49.680 --> 00:17:51.159 Do I just kind of think, 00:17:51.299 --> 00:17:52.680 well, maybe I feel more mature 00:17:52.680 --> 00:17:53.559 than I used to. 00:17:53.899 --> 00:17:54.859 I'm kind of happy 00:17:54.859 --> 00:17:55.799 with where I've come. 00:17:55.799 --> 00:17:57.940 How can I look at my life 00:17:57.940 --> 00:17:59.460 and know if growth is occurring? 00:18:00.379 --> 00:18:01.700 If this is really going on. 00:18:02.059 --> 00:18:03.579 Paul says in this passage 00:18:03.579 --> 00:18:05.839 that maturity will look like 00:18:05.839 --> 00:18:09.019 truth and love being connected. 00:18:09.919 --> 00:18:11.419 Let me show you this in the text 00:18:11.419 --> 00:18:12.579 and then we'll talk about 00:18:12.579 --> 00:18:13.460 what it means for us. 00:18:13.539 --> 00:18:15.079 It's so, so beautiful. 00:18:15.259 --> 00:18:16.940 Truth and love being connected. 00:18:17.279 --> 00:18:18.299 Paul begins the passage 00:18:18.299 --> 00:18:19.639 talking about truth, 00:18:20.059 --> 00:18:21.460 about teaching truth, 00:18:21.539 --> 00:18:23.079 the importance of good teaching 00:18:23.079 --> 00:18:24.119 and understanding 00:18:24.119 --> 00:18:25.299 and learning things. 00:18:25.299 --> 00:18:27.519 that we're building up 00:18:27.519 --> 00:18:28.440 the body of Christ 00:18:28.440 --> 00:18:29.319 as that happens. 00:18:29.480 --> 00:18:30.419 And he ends the passage 00:18:30.419 --> 00:18:31.899 saying that connected to the head, 00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:33.799 the body builds itself up in love. 00:18:34.220 --> 00:18:34.960 Verse 16. 00:18:35.980 --> 00:18:37.000 Truth and love, 00:18:37.119 --> 00:18:37.839 truth and love 00:18:37.839 --> 00:18:40.000 all through these verses. 00:18:41.440 --> 00:18:42.980 And then notice verse 15 again. 00:18:43.819 --> 00:18:44.980 Remember, this is the verse 00:18:44.980 --> 00:18:46.159 that's contrasting 00:18:46.159 --> 00:18:48.899 with the immaturity of verse 14 00:18:48.899 --> 00:18:51.000 where we're blown around by the waves, 00:18:51.119 --> 00:18:53.000 carried by every wind of doctrine. 00:18:53.319 --> 00:18:55.079 What's the contrast to that? 00:18:55.299 --> 00:18:56.359 He says, 00:18:56.879 --> 00:18:56.919 rather, 00:18:57.519 --> 00:18:58.079 rather, 00:18:58.359 --> 00:18:59.720 what I don't want you to be 00:18:59.720 --> 00:19:01.579 as spiritually immature children, 00:19:01.799 --> 00:19:02.059 rather, 00:19:02.619 --> 00:19:04.419 speaking the truth in love, 00:19:04.759 --> 00:19:06.500 we are to grow up in every way 00:19:06.500 --> 00:19:08.299 into Him who is the head, 00:19:08.940 --> 00:19:09.819 into Christ. 00:19:11.059 --> 00:19:13.460 Speaking the truth in love. 00:19:14.200 --> 00:19:16.180 There's actually not a word there 00:19:16.180 --> 00:19:17.899 in this passage for speaking. 00:19:17.900 --> 00:19:20.040 It's really, 00:19:20.420 --> 00:19:21.120 in the Greek, 00:19:21.500 --> 00:19:23.440 truthing in love. 00:19:24.580 --> 00:19:25.840 Truthing in love, 00:19:25.960 --> 00:19:27.259 so connected to each other, 00:19:27.380 --> 00:19:28.340 living the truth. 00:19:28.600 --> 00:19:29.780 It's not less than 00:19:29.780 --> 00:19:30.780 speaking the truth, 00:19:30.960 --> 00:19:31.360 certainly, 00:19:31.840 --> 00:19:32.800 but it's not just, 00:19:33.160 --> 00:19:34.920 I say true things calmly 00:19:34.920 --> 00:19:37.019 and with a smile on my face. 00:19:37.440 --> 00:19:38.700 Speaking truth in love. 00:19:38.780 --> 00:19:40.220 Sometimes that's all we think about 00:19:40.220 --> 00:19:40.700 when we hear 00:19:40.700 --> 00:19:42.600 speaking the truth in love. 00:19:42.960 --> 00:19:43.420 I will say, 00:19:43.480 --> 00:19:44.440 true things calmly 00:19:44.440 --> 00:19:45.620 with a smile on my face. 00:19:45.619 --> 00:19:47.119 It means more than that. 00:19:47.359 --> 00:19:48.819 It means being about 00:19:48.819 --> 00:19:50.099 the truth in love, 00:19:50.419 --> 00:19:51.439 living in such a way 00:19:51.439 --> 00:19:52.459 that truth and love 00:19:52.459 --> 00:19:53.179 are connected 00:19:53.179 --> 00:19:54.359 and intertwined 00:19:54.359 --> 00:19:55.039 that you can't 00:19:55.039 --> 00:19:56.039 pull them apart. 00:19:57.079 --> 00:19:58.679 And what Paul's saying 00:19:58.679 --> 00:19:59.979 is that as we connect 00:19:59.979 --> 00:20:00.739 truth and love, 00:20:00.819 --> 00:20:02.219 we grow up into Jesus, 00:20:02.419 --> 00:20:02.659 right? 00:20:03.239 --> 00:20:03.639 Rather, 00:20:03.819 --> 00:20:05.319 speaking the truth in love, 00:20:05.399 --> 00:20:06.139 we are to grow up 00:20:06.139 --> 00:20:07.479 in every way into Him. 00:20:07.679 --> 00:20:09.299 As we speak the truth in love, 00:20:09.379 --> 00:20:11.039 we grow up into Jesus, 00:20:11.199 --> 00:20:11.439 right? 00:20:12.159 --> 00:20:12.639 Why? 00:20:12.640 --> 00:20:12.759 Why? 00:20:14.680 --> 00:20:15.759 Because that's exactly 00:20:15.759 --> 00:20:16.540 who He is. 00:20:17.520 --> 00:20:17.920 You see, 00:20:18.000 --> 00:20:18.840 for most of us, 00:20:18.940 --> 00:20:19.880 truth and love 00:20:19.880 --> 00:20:21.320 are mutually exclusive 00:20:21.320 --> 00:20:22.840 in our lives. 00:20:23.580 --> 00:20:24.780 Most of us are much more 00:20:24.780 --> 00:20:25.759 comfortable with one 00:20:25.759 --> 00:20:26.259 than the other, 00:20:26.320 --> 00:20:26.620 aren't we? 00:20:27.320 --> 00:20:28.320 And if you don't know it 00:20:28.320 --> 00:20:28.800 about yourself, 00:20:28.900 --> 00:20:29.460 ask your friends, 00:20:29.540 --> 00:20:29.880 they know. 00:20:30.400 --> 00:20:31.040 Are you more comfortable 00:20:31.040 --> 00:20:32.180 with the truth or love? 00:20:32.740 --> 00:20:33.300 Which one? 00:20:33.500 --> 00:20:34.600 For many of us, 00:20:35.100 --> 00:20:35.900 impersonally, 00:20:35.980 --> 00:20:37.140 we are very passionate 00:20:37.140 --> 00:20:38.220 about truth. 00:20:38.320 --> 00:20:39.520 Look at your Facebook posts. 00:20:40.040 --> 00:20:40.240 Man, 00:20:40.240 --> 00:20:41.240 I'll tell you about the truth 00:20:41.240 --> 00:20:41.900 on Facebook, 00:20:42.259 --> 00:20:43.240 but then when I get 00:20:43.240 --> 00:20:44.339 face to face with you, 00:20:44.440 --> 00:20:45.460 I'm spineless. 00:20:46.099 --> 00:20:46.620 I don't want to hurt 00:20:46.620 --> 00:20:47.259 your feelings. 00:20:47.359 --> 00:20:47.819 All of a sudden, 00:20:47.880 --> 00:20:49.380 I can't love you 00:20:49.380 --> 00:20:50.779 and speak truth 00:20:50.779 --> 00:20:52.380 at the same time. 00:20:53.660 --> 00:20:54.420 They seem mutually 00:20:54.420 --> 00:20:55.420 exclusive for us. 00:20:55.460 --> 00:20:55.960 We have to pick 00:20:55.960 --> 00:20:56.660 one or the other. 00:20:58.220 --> 00:20:58.940 But for Jesus, 00:20:59.120 --> 00:20:59.940 truth and love 00:20:59.940 --> 00:21:01.700 are never an either or, 00:21:02.160 --> 00:21:03.660 but always a both and. 00:21:04.720 --> 00:21:05.480 How is He described 00:21:05.480 --> 00:21:06.299 in John 1 00:21:06.299 --> 00:21:06.980 when He comes 00:21:06.980 --> 00:21:07.700 from the Father? 00:21:08.240 --> 00:21:08.980 Full of what? 00:21:08.980 --> 00:21:10.500 Full of grace 00:21:10.500 --> 00:21:12.160 and truth. 00:21:13.339 --> 00:21:14.200 Jesus spoke 00:21:14.200 --> 00:21:15.380 some of the toughest 00:21:15.380 --> 00:21:16.599 moral teaching 00:21:16.599 --> 00:21:17.339 in the history 00:21:17.339 --> 00:21:18.059 of the world 00:21:18.059 --> 00:21:20.099 and shared life 00:21:20.099 --> 00:21:20.900 with some of the most 00:21:20.900 --> 00:21:21.740 immoral people 00:21:21.740 --> 00:21:22.360 of His day. 00:21:22.519 --> 00:21:23.240 That's how He lived, 00:21:23.299 --> 00:21:23.519 right? 00:21:23.960 --> 00:21:24.660 Some of the most 00:21:24.660 --> 00:21:25.799 stringent moral teaching 00:21:25.799 --> 00:21:26.120 ever, 00:21:27.059 --> 00:21:28.480 and yet He's hanging out. 00:21:28.539 --> 00:21:29.279 He's relating 00:21:29.279 --> 00:21:31.940 with immoral people. 00:21:32.759 --> 00:21:34.079 He was a religious leader 00:21:34.079 --> 00:21:34.960 who befuddled 00:21:34.960 --> 00:21:36.000 religious leaders. 00:21:36.000 --> 00:21:36.160 sinners. 00:21:37.599 --> 00:21:38.640 And then in the greatest 00:21:38.640 --> 00:21:39.819 union of truth 00:21:39.819 --> 00:21:40.339 and love 00:21:40.339 --> 00:21:41.460 ever in the history 00:21:41.460 --> 00:21:42.099 of the world, 00:21:42.279 --> 00:21:43.599 He went to the cross 00:21:43.599 --> 00:21:44.680 for sinners. 00:21:45.099 --> 00:21:46.299 The cross where the 00:21:46.299 --> 00:21:47.839 just and holy God 00:21:47.839 --> 00:21:48.539 of the universe 00:21:48.539 --> 00:21:50.079 speaks truth 00:21:50.079 --> 00:21:50.940 about sin, 00:21:51.319 --> 00:21:52.819 how He hates it, 00:21:53.680 --> 00:21:54.799 how serious 00:21:54.799 --> 00:21:55.799 the offense is, 00:21:56.099 --> 00:21:57.000 what it deserves, 00:21:57.099 --> 00:21:57.519 and He pulls 00:21:57.519 --> 00:21:58.240 no punches. 00:21:59.779 --> 00:22:00.759 And the cross 00:22:00.759 --> 00:22:01.220 where the 00:22:01.220 --> 00:22:02.839 just and holy God 00:22:02.839 --> 00:22:03.980 of the universe 00:22:03.980 --> 00:22:06.419 loves sinners. 00:22:07.759 --> 00:22:08.819 Where He sends 00:22:08.819 --> 00:22:09.279 His Son 00:22:09.279 --> 00:22:10.259 and sacrifices 00:22:10.259 --> 00:22:11.079 His Son 00:22:11.079 --> 00:22:12.299 for them. 00:22:13.419 --> 00:22:14.439 Absolute truth 00:22:14.439 --> 00:22:15.859 without compromise 00:22:15.859 --> 00:22:18.339 and amazing grace 00:22:18.339 --> 00:22:19.619 without measure 00:22:19.619 --> 00:22:20.859 in the cross. 00:22:20.939 --> 00:22:21.720 Isn't it glorious? 00:22:22.179 --> 00:22:23.059 Isn't it beautiful 00:22:23.059 --> 00:22:23.639 what Jesus 00:22:23.639 --> 00:22:25.039 has done on the cross? 00:22:25.279 --> 00:22:26.459 We sing about the cross 00:22:26.459 --> 00:22:27.480 but stop to think 00:22:27.480 --> 00:22:27.919 about it. 00:22:28.220 --> 00:22:28.839 The truth 00:22:28.839 --> 00:22:29.399 and honesty 00:22:29.399 --> 00:22:30.459 about what our problem 00:22:30.459 --> 00:22:31.099 really is 00:22:31.099 --> 00:22:32.299 and the solution 00:22:32.299 --> 00:22:32.839 to it, 00:22:33.000 --> 00:22:33.740 I'm not just going 00:22:33.740 --> 00:22:34.379 to tell you 00:22:34.379 --> 00:22:35.019 what you deserve, 00:22:35.119 --> 00:22:36.000 I'm taking it 00:22:36.000 --> 00:22:36.599 for you. 00:22:39.039 --> 00:22:39.679 See Him again 00:22:39.679 --> 00:22:40.359 on the cross. 00:22:40.899 --> 00:22:41.859 No soft selling 00:22:41.859 --> 00:22:42.439 the truth. 00:22:43.659 --> 00:22:45.399 All self-sacrificing 00:22:45.399 --> 00:22:45.819 love. 00:22:46.879 --> 00:22:47.639 That's what our 00:22:47.639 --> 00:22:48.439 head is like, 00:22:48.599 --> 00:22:48.879 right? 00:22:50.099 --> 00:22:50.659 As we learn 00:22:50.659 --> 00:22:51.539 more about Him, 00:22:52.559 --> 00:22:53.439 anchor ourselves 00:22:53.439 --> 00:22:54.219 more deeply 00:22:54.219 --> 00:22:54.799 in Him, 00:22:54.879 --> 00:22:55.459 are equipped 00:22:55.459 --> 00:22:56.699 from His heart 00:22:56.699 --> 00:22:57.159 of love 00:22:57.159 --> 00:22:58.579 to grow as His body 00:22:58.579 --> 00:22:59.859 as verse 16 00:22:59.859 --> 00:23:00.599 describes, 00:23:01.099 --> 00:23:02.099 that's what we 00:23:02.099 --> 00:23:02.539 will begin 00:23:02.539 --> 00:23:03.339 to look like. 00:23:03.759 --> 00:23:04.819 People in churches 00:23:04.819 --> 00:23:06.339 who ooze truth 00:23:06.339 --> 00:23:07.279 and love 00:23:07.279 --> 00:23:08.639 in the same moment, 00:23:08.980 --> 00:23:09.740 whose lives 00:23:09.740 --> 00:23:11.019 are full of grace 00:23:11.019 --> 00:23:12.740 and truth. 00:23:14.319 --> 00:23:14.919 Listen, 00:23:15.059 --> 00:23:16.179 love without truth 00:23:16.179 --> 00:23:18.099 is at best 00:23:18.099 --> 00:23:19.659 mere sentimentality 00:23:19.659 --> 00:23:21.500 and at worst 00:23:21.500 --> 00:23:22.240 false hope. 00:23:23.599 --> 00:23:24.539 And truth 00:23:24.539 --> 00:23:25.699 without love 00:23:25.699 --> 00:23:27.699 is at best 00:23:27.699 --> 00:23:28.719 mere moralism 00:23:28.720 --> 00:23:30.000 and at worst 00:23:30.000 --> 00:23:31.339 false teaching. 00:23:32.539 --> 00:23:33.480 They're both 00:23:33.480 --> 00:23:34.140 terrible 00:23:34.140 --> 00:23:35.880 if you divorce 00:23:35.880 --> 00:23:36.660 them from each other. 00:23:36.960 --> 00:23:37.700 Francis Schaeffer 00:23:37.700 --> 00:23:38.360 once said, 00:23:38.680 --> 00:23:39.880 biblical orthodoxy 00:23:39.880 --> 00:23:40.900 without compassion 00:23:40.900 --> 00:23:41.600 is surely 00:23:41.600 --> 00:23:43.279 the ugliest thing 00:23:43.279 --> 00:23:43.779 in the world. 00:23:45.319 --> 00:23:46.240 Truth without love 00:23:46.240 --> 00:23:46.860 doesn't become 00:23:46.860 --> 00:23:47.680 truth anymore. 00:23:47.799 --> 00:23:48.299 It becomes 00:23:48.299 --> 00:23:49.279 something ugly 00:23:49.279 --> 00:23:50.720 and disfigured. 00:23:50.720 --> 00:23:50.779 truth. 00:23:51.779 --> 00:23:52.880 But truth 00:23:52.880 --> 00:23:54.000 thing in love 00:23:54.000 --> 00:23:55.819 while not easy 00:23:55.819 --> 00:23:57.680 is Christ-like 00:23:57.680 --> 00:23:59.880 and counter-cultural 00:23:59.880 --> 00:24:01.799 and glorious. 00:24:02.680 --> 00:24:03.960 It's the glory 00:24:03.960 --> 00:24:04.779 of our Savior 00:24:04.779 --> 00:24:05.799 and who He is. 00:24:06.600 --> 00:24:07.380 How He came, 00:24:07.480 --> 00:24:08.240 how He lived, 00:24:08.460 --> 00:24:08.880 what He did 00:24:08.880 --> 00:24:09.660 on the cross. 00:24:09.960 --> 00:24:10.880 Truth and love 00:24:10.880 --> 00:24:11.339 together. 00:24:11.339 --> 00:24:11.419 together. 00:24:13.539 --> 00:24:14.359 So what might 00:24:14.359 --> 00:24:15.439 maturing look like 00:24:15.439 --> 00:24:16.199 at Southwood? 00:24:17.859 --> 00:24:18.740 What would it look 00:24:18.740 --> 00:24:19.419 like for us 00:24:19.419 --> 00:24:21.059 to grow into Christ? 00:24:21.179 --> 00:24:22.079 To be true thing 00:24:22.079 --> 00:24:22.839 in love? 00:24:23.459 --> 00:24:24.319 I want to suggest 00:24:24.319 --> 00:24:25.019 a few things 00:24:25.019 --> 00:24:25.539 this morning 00:24:25.539 --> 00:24:27.159 some of which 00:24:27.159 --> 00:24:28.399 may make all of us 00:24:28.399 --> 00:24:29.199 think a little bit. 00:24:30.720 --> 00:24:31.500 The first thing 00:24:31.500 --> 00:24:32.119 I think it would 00:24:32.119 --> 00:24:32.659 look like 00:24:32.659 --> 00:24:33.619 is that people 00:24:33.619 --> 00:24:34.579 would have trouble 00:24:34.579 --> 00:24:35.299 fitting us 00:24:35.299 --> 00:24:36.220 into a box. 00:24:36.819 --> 00:24:37.279 They wouldn't know 00:24:37.279 --> 00:24:38.639 how to categorize us. 00:24:38.640 --> 00:24:40.740 They'd hear 00:24:40.740 --> 00:24:41.620 what we teach 00:24:41.620 --> 00:24:42.880 and assume 00:24:42.880 --> 00:24:43.740 we must be 00:24:43.740 --> 00:24:44.440 conservative, 00:24:45.100 --> 00:24:45.920 Bible-thumping, 00:24:46.120 --> 00:24:47.240 intolerant fools. 00:24:49.520 --> 00:24:50.300 They'd see 00:24:50.300 --> 00:24:51.160 how we love 00:24:51.160 --> 00:24:52.640 and assume 00:24:52.640 --> 00:24:53.320 we must be 00:24:53.320 --> 00:24:53.759 liberal, 00:24:54.340 --> 00:24:55.060 open-minded, 00:24:55.820 --> 00:24:57.200 anything-goes hippies. 00:24:58.820 --> 00:25:00.000 As we mature, 00:25:00.100 --> 00:25:00.880 this is what I mean, 00:25:01.040 --> 00:25:02.100 I should get calls 00:25:02.100 --> 00:25:02.920 from other pastors 00:25:02.920 --> 00:25:03.560 in town 00:25:03.560 --> 00:25:04.660 who see 00:25:04.660 --> 00:25:05.360 how we 00:25:05.360 --> 00:25:06.280 relate to, 00:25:07.360 --> 00:25:08.100 speak of, 00:25:08.640 --> 00:25:09.420 and befriend 00:25:09.420 --> 00:25:10.360 our homosexual 00:25:10.360 --> 00:25:11.280 and transgender 00:25:11.280 --> 00:25:11.940 neighbors. 00:25:12.960 --> 00:25:13.600 Others who are 00:25:13.600 --> 00:25:14.300 marginalized 00:25:14.300 --> 00:25:15.100 and people might 00:25:15.100 --> 00:25:16.000 expect to find 00:25:16.000 --> 00:25:16.740 rejection 00:25:16.740 --> 00:25:18.320 from church people. 00:25:20.040 --> 00:25:20.420 And I ought to 00:25:20.420 --> 00:25:20.860 get a call 00:25:20.860 --> 00:25:21.600 from another pastor 00:25:21.600 --> 00:25:21.860 saying, 00:25:21.940 --> 00:25:22.020 hey, 00:25:22.060 --> 00:25:22.660 I'm confused, 00:25:22.800 --> 00:25:23.980 I'm a little concerned. 00:25:25.540 --> 00:25:26.220 Are y'all 00:25:26.220 --> 00:25:27.300 compromising? 00:25:28.120 --> 00:25:28.600 Have you gotten 00:25:28.600 --> 00:25:29.400 lax on 00:25:29.400 --> 00:25:30.380 biblical teaching? 00:25:30.940 --> 00:25:31.440 And I ought to 00:25:31.440 --> 00:25:31.980 be able to say, 00:25:32.060 --> 00:25:32.280 no, 00:25:33.020 --> 00:25:33.240 no, 00:25:33.300 --> 00:25:33.800 not at all. 00:25:34.140 --> 00:25:34.740 We're just 00:25:34.740 --> 00:25:35.680 starting to learn 00:25:35.680 --> 00:25:36.600 together what 00:25:36.600 --> 00:25:37.640 true thing 00:25:37.640 --> 00:25:38.240 in love 00:25:38.240 --> 00:25:39.020 means. 00:25:39.520 --> 00:25:40.180 What it means 00:25:40.180 --> 00:25:40.540 to have 00:25:40.540 --> 00:25:41.520 truth and love 00:25:41.520 --> 00:25:42.100 in the same 00:25:42.100 --> 00:25:42.440 moment, 00:25:42.540 --> 00:25:43.100 in the same 00:25:43.100 --> 00:25:44.320 relationship. 00:25:47.100 --> 00:25:47.860 I think it would 00:25:47.860 --> 00:25:48.300 look like our 00:25:48.300 --> 00:25:49.000 small groups 00:25:49.000 --> 00:25:49.480 and our 00:25:49.480 --> 00:25:50.600 closest friends 00:25:50.600 --> 00:25:51.940 challenging us 00:25:51.940 --> 00:25:52.560 on personal 00:25:52.560 --> 00:25:53.460 things like 00:25:53.460 --> 00:25:54.840 how we spend 00:25:54.840 --> 00:25:55.280 our money, 00:25:56.580 --> 00:25:57.259 who we're 00:25:57.259 --> 00:25:57.780 starting to 00:25:57.780 --> 00:25:58.400 spend time 00:25:58.400 --> 00:25:58.880 with and 00:25:58.880 --> 00:25:59.759 getting a little 00:25:59.759 --> 00:26:00.600 bit too close 00:26:00.600 --> 00:26:01.160 to and 00:26:01.160 --> 00:26:02.120 pushing us 00:26:02.120 --> 00:26:02.720 away from 00:26:02.720 --> 00:26:03.500 those relationships 00:26:03.500 --> 00:26:04.000 back to 00:26:04.000 --> 00:26:04.619 our spouse. 00:26:05.779 --> 00:26:06.460 Starting to 00:26:06.460 --> 00:26:07.480 hear hard 00:26:07.480 --> 00:26:08.140 things like 00:26:08.140 --> 00:26:08.579 that that we 00:26:08.579 --> 00:26:09.000 usually don't 00:26:09.000 --> 00:26:09.599 talk to, 00:26:09.700 --> 00:26:10.740 even talk about, 00:26:10.779 --> 00:26:11.319 even with our 00:26:11.319 --> 00:26:12.420 close friends. 00:26:12.660 --> 00:26:13.119 And it would 00:26:13.119 --> 00:26:13.799 look like us 00:26:13.799 --> 00:26:14.640 receiving those 00:26:14.640 --> 00:26:15.440 challenges as 00:26:15.440 --> 00:26:15.920 love, 00:26:16.400 --> 00:26:17.759 not antagonism. 00:26:18.539 --> 00:26:18.839 You see, 00:26:18.880 --> 00:26:19.660 if truth is just 00:26:19.660 --> 00:26:20.140 individual, 00:26:20.759 --> 00:26:21.660 if I haven't 00:26:21.660 --> 00:26:22.720 firmly anchored 00:26:22.720 --> 00:26:23.180 in truth, 00:26:23.240 --> 00:26:23.960 then I have no 00:26:23.960 --> 00:26:24.740 basis on which 00:26:24.740 --> 00:26:25.700 to speak into 00:26:25.700 --> 00:26:26.500 your life and 00:26:26.500 --> 00:26:27.420 say anything 00:26:27.420 --> 00:26:27.779 because, 00:26:28.059 --> 00:26:28.440 I don't know, 00:26:28.500 --> 00:26:29.039 I might think 00:26:29.039 --> 00:26:29.599 this is good, 00:26:29.660 --> 00:26:30.180 but it might be 00:26:30.180 --> 00:26:30.880 fine for you 00:26:30.880 --> 00:26:31.400 to be doing 00:26:31.400 --> 00:26:31.800 that. 00:26:33.660 --> 00:26:34.480 I can't love 00:26:34.480 --> 00:26:34.940 you enough to 00:26:34.940 --> 00:26:35.320 speak into 00:26:35.320 --> 00:26:35.900 your life at 00:26:35.900 --> 00:26:36.160 all. 00:26:37.080 --> 00:26:37.759 But if we've 00:26:37.759 --> 00:26:38.740 together anchored 00:26:38.740 --> 00:26:39.460 in the truth 00:26:39.460 --> 00:26:40.480 of Christ, 00:26:40.880 --> 00:26:41.759 then I have 00:26:41.759 --> 00:26:42.320 to love you 00:26:42.320 --> 00:26:42.860 enough to 00:26:42.860 --> 00:26:43.580 call you back 00:26:43.580 --> 00:26:44.660 to Him away 00:26:44.660 --> 00:26:45.080 from your 00:26:45.080 --> 00:26:46.700 idolatrous or 00:26:46.700 --> 00:26:48.300 immoral pursuits. 00:26:49.120 --> 00:26:49.720 And I may have 00:26:49.720 --> 00:26:50.259 to call them 00:26:50.259 --> 00:26:51.500 what they are in 00:26:51.500 --> 00:26:52.160 order to actually 00:26:52.160 --> 00:26:52.880 be loving you. 00:26:53.300 --> 00:26:53.759 You may need 00:26:53.759 --> 00:26:54.420 to hear it in a 00:26:54.420 --> 00:26:55.060 way that shocks 00:26:55.060 --> 00:26:56.160 you and gets 00:26:56.160 --> 00:26:56.700 your attention. 00:26:57.600 --> 00:26:58.360 And those people 00:26:58.360 --> 00:26:59.240 willing to speak 00:26:59.240 --> 00:27:00.880 and those people 00:27:00.880 --> 00:27:01.300 willing to 00:27:01.299 --> 00:27:01.879 receive would 00:27:01.879 --> 00:27:02.519 actually become 00:27:02.519 --> 00:27:03.279 best friends. 00:27:03.980 --> 00:27:04.440 And you'd 00:27:04.440 --> 00:27:05.000 really have a 00:27:05.000 --> 00:27:05.619 small group. 00:27:06.539 --> 00:27:07.079 You'd be 00:27:07.079 --> 00:27:08.019 truthing in 00:27:08.019 --> 00:27:09.119 love with 00:27:09.119 --> 00:27:09.559 each other. 00:27:11.119 --> 00:27:11.720 I think we'd 00:27:11.720 --> 00:27:12.440 start to realize 00:27:12.440 --> 00:27:13.019 our dependence 00:27:13.019 --> 00:27:14.099 on Christ so 00:27:14.099 --> 00:27:14.720 much more that 00:27:14.720 --> 00:27:15.139 we'd need a 00:27:15.139 --> 00:27:15.819 new room for 00:27:15.819 --> 00:27:16.659 prayer gatherings 00:27:16.659 --> 00:27:17.079 due to 00:27:17.079 --> 00:27:17.779 overcrowding. 00:27:18.720 --> 00:27:19.480 We'd repent 00:27:19.480 --> 00:27:20.099 of the scorn 00:27:20.099 --> 00:27:20.559 and hatred 00:27:20.559 --> 00:27:21.279 in our hearts 00:27:21.279 --> 00:27:22.159 for others 00:27:22.159 --> 00:27:22.779 in the church 00:27:22.779 --> 00:27:23.539 who we felt 00:27:23.539 --> 00:27:24.480 were underdressed, 00:27:25.159 --> 00:27:25.720 too wealthy, 00:27:26.539 --> 00:27:27.079 or made the 00:27:27.079 --> 00:27:27.639 wrong schooling 00:27:27.639 --> 00:27:28.299 decision for 00:27:28.299 --> 00:27:28.899 their kids. 00:27:29.440 --> 00:27:29.980 We'd stop 00:27:29.980 --> 00:27:30.359 looking down 00:27:30.359 --> 00:27:31.019 our noses at 00:27:31.019 --> 00:27:31.500 them across 00:27:31.500 --> 00:27:32.119 the sanctuary 00:27:32.119 --> 00:27:33.639 and we'd 00:27:33.639 --> 00:27:34.139 repent of 00:27:34.139 --> 00:27:34.879 our sinful 00:27:34.879 --> 00:27:35.319 hearts. 00:27:35.859 --> 00:27:36.619 Our concerns 00:27:36.619 --> 00:27:37.079 about the 00:27:37.079 --> 00:27:37.779 worship and 00:27:37.779 --> 00:27:38.759 the sermon 00:27:38.759 --> 00:27:39.279 would be that 00:27:39.279 --> 00:27:39.579 it didn't 00:27:39.579 --> 00:27:40.379 exalt Christ 00:27:40.379 --> 00:27:40.900 enough, 00:27:41.900 --> 00:27:42.299 not that it 00:27:42.299 --> 00:27:42.859 didn't entertain 00:27:42.859 --> 00:27:43.500 me or it 00:27:43.500 --> 00:27:43.839 went too 00:27:43.839 --> 00:27:44.139 long. 00:27:45.579 --> 00:27:46.200 We would 00:27:46.200 --> 00:27:46.639 no longer 00:27:46.639 --> 00:27:47.240 be comfortable 00:27:47.240 --> 00:27:47.759 letting the 00:27:47.759 --> 00:27:48.279 church be 00:27:48.279 --> 00:27:48.819 known as the 00:27:48.819 --> 00:27:49.680 place of truth 00:27:49.680 --> 00:27:49.960 and the 00:27:49.960 --> 00:27:50.519 government the 00:27:50.519 --> 00:27:51.099 place to get 00:27:51.099 --> 00:27:52.379 love and 00:27:52.379 --> 00:27:52.759 help. 00:27:54.019 --> 00:27:54.519 We'd have 00:27:54.519 --> 00:27:55.039 session and 00:27:55.039 --> 00:27:55.779 diaconate meetings 00:27:55.779 --> 00:27:56.240 where we 00:27:56.240 --> 00:27:57.220 brainstormed and 00:27:57.220 --> 00:27:58.059 discussed how to 00:27:58.059 --> 00:27:58.700 maintain our 00:27:58.700 --> 00:27:59.400 commitment to 00:27:59.400 --> 00:28:00.259 biblical truth 00:28:00.259 --> 00:28:01.340 while reaching 00:28:01.340 --> 00:28:01.819 out in new 00:28:01.819 --> 00:28:02.420 ways to our 00:28:02.420 --> 00:28:02.920 community. 00:28:03.799 --> 00:28:04.420 There's lots 00:28:04.420 --> 00:28:05.019 of things. 00:28:05.960 --> 00:28:06.680 Go think for 00:28:06.680 --> 00:28:07.200 yourself what 00:28:07.200 --> 00:28:07.660 would it look 00:28:07.660 --> 00:28:07.940 like. 00:28:08.140 --> 00:28:08.880 I had to stop 00:28:08.880 --> 00:28:09.460 the list at 00:28:09.460 --> 00:28:10.120 some point but 00:28:10.120 --> 00:28:10.819 I do have one 00:28:10.819 --> 00:28:11.019 more. 00:28:12.860 --> 00:28:13.620 I think we'd 00:28:13.620 --> 00:28:14.279 become a refuge 00:28:14.279 --> 00:28:15.120 for the broken 00:28:15.120 --> 00:28:17.420 that they run to 00:28:17.420 --> 00:28:18.620 when crisis and 00:28:18.620 --> 00:28:20.100 hard times hit 00:28:20.100 --> 00:28:20.680 because we're 00:28:20.680 --> 00:28:21.960 anchored to a 00:28:21.960 --> 00:28:22.259 rock. 00:28:22.440 --> 00:28:23.259 People struggling 00:28:23.259 --> 00:28:24.059 through divorce. 00:28:25.380 --> 00:28:26.039 People beaten 00:28:26.039 --> 00:28:27.180 down by alcohol 00:28:27.180 --> 00:28:28.660 addiction, caught 00:28:28.660 --> 00:28:29.480 in pornography 00:28:29.480 --> 00:28:31.340 would find hope 00:28:31.340 --> 00:28:32.740 and a home 00:28:32.740 --> 00:28:33.519 right here. 00:28:36.000 --> 00:28:36.519 Gordon 00:28:36.519 --> 00:28:37.420 McDonald visited 00:28:37.420 --> 00:28:38.539 an Alcoholics 00:28:38.539 --> 00:28:39.440 Anonymous group 00:28:39.440 --> 00:28:40.100 for several 00:28:40.100 --> 00:28:40.759 months to 00:28:40.759 --> 00:28:42.060 report on what 00:28:42.060 --> 00:28:42.720 he learned and 00:28:42.720 --> 00:28:43.600 to watch and 00:28:43.600 --> 00:28:44.240 observe and be 00:28:44.240 --> 00:28:44.600 part of the 00:28:44.600 --> 00:28:44.820 group. 00:28:45.880 --> 00:28:46.740 He writes this 00:28:46.740 --> 00:28:47.240 about one 00:28:47.240 --> 00:28:47.920 interaction in 00:28:47.920 --> 00:28:48.220 the group. 00:28:49.740 --> 00:28:50.620 One morning 00:28:50.620 --> 00:28:51.799 Kathy, I 00:28:51.799 --> 00:28:52.240 guessed her 00:28:52.240 --> 00:28:53.120 age at 35, 00:28:53.900 --> 00:28:54.600 joined us for 00:28:54.600 --> 00:28:55.320 the first time. 00:28:56.560 --> 00:28:57.140 One look at 00:28:57.140 --> 00:28:57.860 her face caused 00:28:57.860 --> 00:28:58.600 me to conclude 00:28:58.600 --> 00:28:59.200 that she must 00:28:59.200 --> 00:28:59.460 have been 00:28:59.460 --> 00:28:59.800 Hollywood 00:28:59.800 --> 00:29:00.500 beautiful at 00:29:00.500 --> 00:29:00.880 21. 00:29:01.660 --> 00:29:02.500 Now her face 00:29:02.500 --> 00:29:03.080 was swollen, 00:29:03.220 --> 00:29:04.100 her eyes red, 00:29:04.440 --> 00:29:05.400 her teeth rotting, 00:29:06.040 --> 00:29:06.680 her hair looked 00:29:06.680 --> 00:29:07.840 unwashed, uncombed 00:29:07.840 --> 00:29:08.440 for who knows 00:29:08.440 --> 00:29:08.960 how long. 00:29:10.420 --> 00:29:11.220 I've been in 00:29:11.220 --> 00:29:12.060 five states in 00:29:12.060 --> 00:29:12.780 the past month, 00:29:12.860 --> 00:29:13.240 she said. 00:29:13.280 --> 00:29:13.900 I've slept under 00:29:13.900 --> 00:29:14.560 bridges on 00:29:14.560 --> 00:29:15.300 several nights. 00:29:15.940 --> 00:29:16.740 Been arrested, 00:29:16.960 --> 00:29:17.840 raped, robbed. 00:29:18.680 --> 00:29:19.780 She's crying now 00:29:19.780 --> 00:29:20.680 uncontrollably. 00:29:21.060 --> 00:29:21.600 I don't know 00:29:21.600 --> 00:29:22.240 what to do. 00:29:23.280 --> 00:29:24.240 I don't want to 00:29:24.240 --> 00:29:25.360 be homeless anymore. 00:29:25.359 --> 00:29:27.259 But I can't 00:29:27.259 --> 00:29:27.979 stop drinking. 00:29:28.879 --> 00:29:29.819 I can't stop. 00:29:30.619 --> 00:29:31.119 I can't. 00:29:32.519 --> 00:29:32.979 He says, 00:29:33.059 --> 00:29:33.759 next to Kathy 00:29:33.759 --> 00:29:34.339 was a rather 00:29:34.339 --> 00:29:35.119 large woman 00:29:35.119 --> 00:29:36.039 named Marilyn. 00:29:36.839 --> 00:29:37.399 Marilyn had 00:29:37.399 --> 00:29:38.059 been sober 00:29:38.059 --> 00:29:38.899 for over a 00:29:38.899 --> 00:29:39.619 dozen years. 00:29:40.599 --> 00:29:41.059 She reached 00:29:41.059 --> 00:29:41.639 out to Kathy 00:29:41.639 --> 00:29:42.479 with both arms 00:29:42.479 --> 00:29:43.539 and pulled her 00:29:43.539 --> 00:29:44.279 head to her 00:29:44.279 --> 00:29:45.059 chest and 00:29:45.059 --> 00:29:46.119 stroked her 00:29:46.119 --> 00:29:46.399 hair. 00:29:47.699 --> 00:29:48.319 He writes, 00:29:48.379 --> 00:29:48.859 I was close 00:29:48.859 --> 00:29:49.419 enough to hear 00:29:49.419 --> 00:29:50.099 Marilyn speak 00:29:50.099 --> 00:29:51.919 quietly into 00:29:51.919 --> 00:29:52.619 Kathy's ear. 00:29:52.619 --> 00:29:54.959 honey, 00:29:55.039 --> 00:29:55.319 you're going 00:29:55.319 --> 00:29:56.000 to be okay. 00:29:57.079 --> 00:29:57.599 You're with 00:29:57.599 --> 00:29:58.099 us now. 00:29:58.759 --> 00:29:59.479 We can deal 00:29:59.479 --> 00:29:59.839 with this 00:29:59.839 --> 00:30:00.259 together. 00:30:01.000 --> 00:30:01.500 All you have 00:30:01.500 --> 00:30:01.839 to do is 00:30:01.839 --> 00:30:02.419 keep coming. 00:30:04.219 --> 00:30:05.000 You hear me? 00:30:05.219 --> 00:30:05.619 Keep on 00:30:05.619 --> 00:30:05.879 coming. 00:30:07.519 --> 00:30:07.959 And then 00:30:07.959 --> 00:30:08.539 Marilyn kissed 00:30:08.539 --> 00:30:09.079 the top of 00:30:09.079 --> 00:30:09.719 Kathy's head. 00:30:11.319 --> 00:30:11.919 I was 00:30:11.919 --> 00:30:12.559 awestruck. 00:30:13.039 --> 00:30:13.579 The simple 00:30:13.579 --> 00:30:14.059 words, 00:30:14.500 --> 00:30:15.059 the affection, 00:30:15.939 --> 00:30:16.579 the tenderness, 00:30:17.519 --> 00:30:18.339 how Jesus 00:30:18.339 --> 00:30:18.759 like. 00:30:18.759 --> 00:30:21.140 I couldn't 00:30:21.140 --> 00:30:21.559 avoid a 00:30:21.559 --> 00:30:21.859 troubling 00:30:21.859 --> 00:30:22.619 question that 00:30:22.619 --> 00:30:22.940 morning. 00:30:23.379 --> 00:30:23.720 Could this 00:30:23.720 --> 00:30:24.200 have happened 00:30:24.200 --> 00:30:24.480 in the 00:30:24.480 --> 00:30:25.099 places where 00:30:25.099 --> 00:30:25.420 I have 00:30:25.420 --> 00:30:25.900 worshipped? 00:30:26.660 --> 00:30:27.059 Would there 00:30:27.059 --> 00:30:27.400 have been a 00:30:27.400 --> 00:30:27.980 space in the 00:30:27.980 --> 00:30:28.759 program for 00:30:28.759 --> 00:30:29.700 Kathy to 00:30:29.700 --> 00:30:30.079 tell her 00:30:30.079 --> 00:30:30.460 story? 00:30:30.920 --> 00:30:31.220 Would there 00:30:31.220 --> 00:30:31.700 have been a 00:30:31.700 --> 00:30:33.379 Marilyn to 00:30:33.379 --> 00:30:34.099 respond in 00:30:34.099 --> 00:30:34.539 this way? 00:30:36.500 --> 00:30:37.359 How Jesus 00:30:37.359 --> 00:30:37.839 like. 00:30:40.039 --> 00:30:40.740 I'm so 00:30:40.740 --> 00:30:41.259 thankful that 00:30:41.259 --> 00:30:41.619 I've seen 00:30:41.619 --> 00:30:42.279 Marilyn's at 00:30:42.279 --> 00:30:42.740 Southwood. 00:30:43.920 --> 00:30:44.640 They're great, 00:30:44.799 --> 00:30:46.599 great people to 00:30:46.599 --> 00:30:47.000 have in your 00:30:47.000 --> 00:30:47.480 congregation. 00:30:47.619 --> 00:30:48.180 It's a gift 00:30:48.180 --> 00:30:49.039 to have 00:30:49.039 --> 00:30:49.519 someone who 00:30:49.519 --> 00:30:50.440 will pull 00:30:50.440 --> 00:30:50.980 you close 00:30:50.980 --> 00:30:52.259 and comfort 00:30:52.259 --> 00:30:52.700 you like 00:30:52.700 --> 00:30:52.940 that. 00:30:54.460 --> 00:30:55.060 I've heard 00:30:55.060 --> 00:30:55.620 just recently 00:30:55.620 --> 00:30:55.960 from a 00:30:55.960 --> 00:30:56.500 former member 00:30:56.500 --> 00:30:57.320 who shared 00:30:57.320 --> 00:30:57.700 with some 00:30:57.700 --> 00:30:58.120 of us a 00:30:58.120 --> 00:30:58.680 deep addiction 00:30:58.680 --> 00:30:59.320 a few years 00:30:59.320 --> 00:30:59.640 ago. 00:31:00.299 --> 00:31:00.740 She says 00:31:00.740 --> 00:31:01.460 looking back, 00:31:01.580 --> 00:31:01.820 quote, 00:31:02.100 --> 00:31:02.600 I thought 00:31:02.600 --> 00:31:03.259 guilt and 00:31:03.259 --> 00:31:03.840 shame would 00:31:03.840 --> 00:31:04.500 absolutely 00:31:04.500 --> 00:31:05.240 kill me, 00:31:05.860 --> 00:31:06.700 but not one 00:31:06.700 --> 00:31:07.340 person looked 00:31:07.340 --> 00:31:07.820 on me with 00:31:07.820 --> 00:31:08.220 judgment, 00:31:08.460 --> 00:31:09.200 only love 00:31:09.200 --> 00:31:09.940 and grace. 00:31:11.740 --> 00:31:12.380 And these 00:31:12.380 --> 00:31:12.980 loving members 00:31:12.980 --> 00:31:13.460 got her to 00:31:13.460 --> 00:31:13.860 rehab. 00:31:14.160 --> 00:31:14.480 They wouldn't 00:31:14.480 --> 00:31:14.960 ignore the 00:31:14.960 --> 00:31:15.340 truth. 00:31:16.539 --> 00:31:17.060 Today she 00:31:17.060 --> 00:31:17.500 calls her 00:31:17.500 --> 00:31:18.019 story a 00:31:18.019 --> 00:31:18.460 story of 00:31:18.460 --> 00:31:18.859 redemption. 00:31:20.139 --> 00:31:20.480 She met 00:31:20.480 --> 00:31:21.259 Marilyn's 00:31:21.259 --> 00:31:21.559 at 00:31:21.559 --> 00:31:22.119 Southwood, 00:31:23.019 --> 00:31:24.980 full of 00:31:24.980 --> 00:31:25.759 truth and 00:31:25.759 --> 00:31:27.119 grace at 00:31:27.119 --> 00:31:27.539 the same 00:31:27.539 --> 00:31:27.980 time, 00:31:28.519 --> 00:31:29.559 both extended 00:31:29.559 --> 00:31:30.039 to her. 00:31:33.299 --> 00:31:34.000 I think 00:31:34.000 --> 00:31:34.319 that's what 00:31:34.319 --> 00:31:34.900 happens as 00:31:34.900 --> 00:31:35.400 we grow. 00:31:35.879 --> 00:31:36.299 We more 00:31:36.299 --> 00:31:36.660 and more 00:31:36.660 --> 00:31:37.000 are a 00:31:37.000 --> 00:31:37.559 refuge for 00:31:37.559 --> 00:31:38.279 broken people 00:31:38.279 --> 00:31:38.920 for each 00:31:38.920 --> 00:31:39.200 other. 00:31:39.700 --> 00:31:40.259 We meet 00:31:40.259 --> 00:31:40.779 each other 00:31:40.779 --> 00:31:41.879 right there. 00:31:42.160 --> 00:31:42.500 And this 00:31:42.500 --> 00:31:43.180 isn't simple. 00:31:43.879 --> 00:31:44.440 It's not 00:31:44.440 --> 00:31:44.980 neat and 00:31:44.980 --> 00:31:45.299 tidy. 00:31:45.299 --> 00:31:46.339 Every 00:31:46.339 --> 00:31:46.700 one of 00:31:46.700 --> 00:31:46.859 these 00:31:46.859 --> 00:31:47.419 situations 00:31:47.419 --> 00:31:48.079 requires 00:31:48.079 --> 00:31:48.539 wisdom 00:31:48.539 --> 00:31:49.279 and talking 00:31:49.279 --> 00:31:49.759 together 00:31:49.759 --> 00:31:50.319 about how 00:31:50.319 --> 00:31:50.779 best to 00:31:50.779 --> 00:31:51.180 approach 00:31:51.180 --> 00:31:51.359 them. 00:31:51.460 --> 00:31:51.700 There are 00:31:51.700 --> 00:31:52.359 lots of 00:31:52.359 --> 00:31:52.879 challenging 00:31:52.879 --> 00:31:53.720 cultural 00:31:53.720 --> 00:31:54.599 questions these 00:31:54.599 --> 00:31:54.980 days. 00:31:55.639 --> 00:31:56.079 Lots of 00:31:56.079 --> 00:31:56.720 questions we 00:31:56.720 --> 00:31:57.200 could ask 00:31:57.200 --> 00:31:57.500 in each 00:31:57.500 --> 00:31:57.819 one of 00:31:57.819 --> 00:31:57.960 them. 00:31:57.960 --> 00:31:58.680 But one 00:31:58.680 --> 00:31:59.240 filter we 00:31:59.240 --> 00:31:59.599 should have 00:31:59.599 --> 00:31:59.980 on every 00:31:59.980 --> 00:32:00.460 Facebook 00:32:00.460 --> 00:32:00.899 post, 00:32:01.180 --> 00:32:01.460 every 00:32:01.460 --> 00:32:02.220 conversation, 00:32:02.539 --> 00:32:02.819 every 00:32:02.819 --> 00:32:03.819 decision is, 00:32:04.159 --> 00:32:04.659 does it 00:32:04.659 --> 00:32:05.299 connect 00:32:05.299 --> 00:32:06.639 truth and 00:32:06.639 --> 00:32:07.419 love? 00:32:08.659 --> 00:32:09.339 What great 00:32:09.339 --> 00:32:10.279 conversations to 00:32:10.279 --> 00:32:10.759 be having, 00:32:10.919 --> 00:32:11.039 y'all. 00:32:11.639 --> 00:32:11.819 Oh, 00:32:11.859 --> 00:32:12.159 that we would 00:32:12.159 --> 00:32:13.180 have conversations 00:32:13.180 --> 00:32:13.820 like that 00:32:13.820 --> 00:32:14.740 more and 00:32:14.740 --> 00:32:15.019 more. 00:32:15.299 --> 00:32:15.640 We'd be 00:32:15.640 --> 00:32:16.320 having them. 00:32:16.620 --> 00:32:17.180 The great 00:32:17.180 --> 00:32:17.620 thing about 00:32:17.620 --> 00:32:18.200 having a 00:32:18.200 --> 00:32:19.120 tough conversation 00:32:19.120 --> 00:32:20.039 like that is 00:32:20.039 --> 00:32:20.440 that you can 00:32:20.440 --> 00:32:20.960 have them in 00:32:20.960 --> 00:32:21.860 the comfort 00:32:21.860 --> 00:32:22.460 that this is 00:32:22.460 --> 00:32:22.680 true. 00:32:22.860 --> 00:32:23.299 You're not 00:32:23.299 --> 00:32:23.519 going to 00:32:23.519 --> 00:32:24.039 out-truth 00:32:24.039 --> 00:32:25.560 Jesus and 00:32:25.560 --> 00:32:25.880 you're not 00:32:25.880 --> 00:32:26.080 going to 00:32:26.080 --> 00:32:26.519 out-love 00:32:26.519 --> 00:32:26.960 Jesus. 00:32:27.779 --> 00:32:28.340 Neither of 00:32:28.340 --> 00:32:28.480 them. 00:32:29.259 --> 00:32:29.880 Neither of 00:32:29.880 --> 00:32:30.320 those things 00:32:30.320 --> 00:32:30.660 is going to 00:32:30.660 --> 00:32:31.860 happen in 00:32:31.860 --> 00:32:32.120 what you 00:32:32.120 --> 00:32:32.500 come up 00:32:32.500 --> 00:32:32.700 with. 00:32:32.799 --> 00:32:33.259 So having 00:32:33.259 --> 00:32:33.519 these 00:32:33.519 --> 00:32:34.200 conversations 00:32:34.200 --> 00:32:35.160 will push 00:32:35.160 --> 00:32:35.860 us into 00:32:35.860 --> 00:32:36.299 Jesus, 00:32:36.580 --> 00:32:37.220 will anchor 00:32:37.220 --> 00:32:38.080 us deeper 00:32:38.080 --> 00:32:39.000 in Jesus, 00:32:39.160 --> 00:32:39.539 make us 00:32:39.539 --> 00:32:40.279 increasingly 00:32:40.279 --> 00:32:41.539 dependent upon 00:32:41.539 --> 00:32:41.960 Jesus. 00:32:42.500 --> 00:32:43.060 Our head 00:32:43.059 --> 00:32:44.019 because he's 00:32:44.019 --> 00:32:44.379 the one 00:32:44.379 --> 00:32:44.899 we know 00:32:44.899 --> 00:32:45.519 who's the 00:32:45.519 --> 00:32:46.039 only one 00:32:46.039 --> 00:32:46.679 who's perfectly 00:32:46.679 --> 00:32:47.339 brought grace 00:32:47.339 --> 00:32:47.879 and truth 00:32:47.879 --> 00:32:48.619 together. 00:32:48.980 --> 00:32:50.019 He's perfect 00:32:50.019 --> 00:32:50.700 in truth 00:32:50.700 --> 00:32:51.279 and in 00:32:51.279 --> 00:32:51.619 love. 00:32:52.879 --> 00:32:53.419 He's the 00:32:53.419 --> 00:32:55.099 one who 00:32:55.099 --> 00:32:55.480 ultimately 00:32:55.480 --> 00:32:56.139 guides his 00:32:56.139 --> 00:32:57.639 body and 00:32:57.639 --> 00:32:58.319 grows his 00:32:58.319 --> 00:32:58.759 body and 00:32:58.759 --> 00:32:59.480 that's good 00:32:59.480 --> 00:32:59.980 news for 00:32:59.980 --> 00:33:00.279 us. 00:33:00.480 --> 00:33:00.879 Let's ask 00:33:00.879 --> 00:33:01.240 for his 00:33:01.240 --> 00:33:01.519 help. 00:33:05.079 --> 00:33:05.679 Jesus, 00:33:06.019 --> 00:33:06.419 help. 00:33:08.319 --> 00:33:09.440 Help us. 00:33:10.279 --> 00:33:10.759 We do 00:33:10.759 --> 00:33:11.819 not naturally 00:33:11.819 --> 00:33:13.599 love people 00:33:13.599 --> 00:33:14.339 like this, 00:33:15.139 --> 00:33:16.419 but you 00:33:16.419 --> 00:33:16.659 do. 00:33:19.240 --> 00:33:19.819 It's how 00:33:19.819 --> 00:33:20.159 you love 00:33:20.159 --> 00:33:20.559 us. 00:33:21.399 --> 00:33:22.000 It's what 00:33:22.000 --> 00:33:22.359 you did 00:33:22.359 --> 00:33:22.679 on the 00:33:22.679 --> 00:33:23.159 cross. 00:33:23.259 --> 00:33:23.579 We're so 00:33:23.579 --> 00:33:24.460 thankful for 00:33:24.460 --> 00:33:24.639 it. 00:33:25.259 --> 00:33:25.899 It means we 00:33:25.899 --> 00:33:26.399 know it's 00:33:26.399 --> 00:33:27.919 costly and 00:33:27.919 --> 00:33:28.240 we're not 00:33:28.240 --> 00:33:29.179 really eager 00:33:29.179 --> 00:33:29.919 honestly to 00:33:29.919 --> 00:33:30.899 sacrifice a 00:33:30.899 --> 00:33:31.500 whole lot. 00:33:32.460 --> 00:33:32.619 Oh, 00:33:32.700 --> 00:33:32.960 Jesus, 00:33:33.139 --> 00:33:33.659 would the 00:33:33.659 --> 00:33:34.519 fullness of 00:33:34.519 --> 00:33:35.159 grace and 00:33:35.159 --> 00:33:35.799 truth that we 00:33:35.799 --> 00:33:36.679 see in you 00:33:36.679 --> 00:33:37.759 be so 00:33:37.759 --> 00:33:38.359 beautiful, 00:33:38.579 --> 00:33:39.539 so glorious 00:33:39.539 --> 00:33:40.599 to us and 00:33:40.599 --> 00:33:41.500 so grip our 00:33:41.500 --> 00:33:41.980 hearts that 00:33:41.980 --> 00:33:42.299 we would 00:33:42.299 --> 00:33:43.379 grow into 00:33:43.379 --> 00:33:44.539 our head in 00:33:44.539 --> 00:33:45.579 every way. 00:33:47.619 --> 00:33:48.200 Father, 00:33:48.299 --> 00:33:48.859 make us like 00:33:48.859 --> 00:33:49.200 Jesus. 00:33:50.639 --> 00:33:51.420 We pray in 00:33:51.420 --> 00:33:51.899 his name. 00:33:52.399 --> 00:33:52.639 Amen. 00:33:56.639 --> 00:33:57.139 For more 00:33:57.139 --> 00:33:57.659 information, 00:33:58.039 --> 00:33:58.460 visit us 00:33:58.460 --> 00:33:59.359 online at 00:33:59.359 --> 00:34:00.259 southwood.org.