WEBVTT

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 If you've ever had a toddler, you know there's a point where they reach, where they try to

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 figure it out.

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 When you say, come here, and instead of toddling over going, like, okay, they look at you and

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 they think, they take one step forward and they look at you, like, is that enough?

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 And then they take one more step and then they look at you and they think, is that enough?

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 And they take one more step and they look at you and they say, is that enough?

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 Is that enough?

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 For some of you, you have teenagers.

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 And if you've ever tried to get a teenager to do the chores, clean up their room, get

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 out on a Saturday morning to help in the backyard, you know that what they're going to say is,

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 do I have to?

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 So, maybe that's unfair to those of you who are teenagers.

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 I'm sure some of you are far better than that.

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 I was like that as a teenager.

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 So, when I was working with college students, I remember the conversation we had with dating

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 and what are the limits of physical interaction on a dating relationship.

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 And often it'd be like, well, how far can I go?

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 Well, you know, how much can I get away with?

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 And, you know, I think that that's what often we can fall into in our own lives.

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 I think it's also what we can fall into with our spiritual lives.

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 Oh, it's never a conscious thought.

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 We don't set out to say, how can I do the least for God possible and still be okay?

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 Okay.

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 Very few of us have the bravery to say that that's what we're actually thinking.

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 It might be that we don't know any better, that we've grown up in a church culture where

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 going to church on Sunday was what it meant to be a Christian, to know God.

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 It might be that you have at one time lived zealously for the Lord and then faced your own failure

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 and thought, I don't know if I can continue with that kind of zeal.

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 So, we lower our standards.

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 Sometimes we've served and we've served and we've served and we've served and we've served

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 and we've become exhausted trying to perform and trying to keep up and trying to be the good

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 Christian servant.

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 Sometimes we face great trial and we think, I have no more.

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 I'm beat down.

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 I'm spent.

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 All of these things are things that we may have experienced in our Christian lives,

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 trying as we seek to serve and to know God.

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 And I want to acknowledge this morning that it's hard.

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 The Bible describes the Christian life not as a walk in the park or a sitting by the pool,

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 but as a race, as a marathon, as a battle, as a journey.

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 And it is hard.

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 But how often do we get to that point in our spiritual lives where we think,

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 how little can I do and still be okay?

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 Is one step enough?

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 Do I really need to come all the way?

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 How do we know if we've fallen into this?

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 Well, I often think that it's how we respond when someone puts before us a challenge to do more.

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 Well, nobody's perfect.

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 You can't expect me to really follow God in every part of my life, can you?

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 Everyone sins, right?

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 Isn't that what the gospel says?

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 We're all sinners, so get off my back.

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 Sometimes we say, I'm not strong enough.

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 I'm not mature enough.

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 I don't know enough.

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 And I know in my own heart and in my own life,

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 one of the things that I've seen that is most indicative of what's going on in my own heart

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 is when I see someone else who seems to be just living in that sweet spot of zealous pursuit of living for God in everything they do.

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 And in my own mind, I diminish that.

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 I dismiss it.

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 Or I attack them in my own heart.

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 I think,

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 well, don't tell me how I ought to live.

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 You're young.

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 You'll understand more later.

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 It's not always going to be like that.

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 Who do you think you are anyway?

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 Spiritually superior to me?

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 Or, well, that's them.

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 They're sort of special saints, but that's not for me.

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 That can't be for my life.

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 However it is, when we see someone else living a life fully to the Lord,

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 we often can feel threatened.

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 And feel insecure.

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 And out of our heart flows these things to seek to justify ourselves.

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 Justify the place that we are at with God.

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 Justify this unacknowledged, but often deeply held conviction of,

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 isn't this enough?

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 How little can I do and still be okay?

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 Or, on the other side,

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 how far can I go away from God and still be okay?

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 I think we often fall into this,

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 what I call spiritual minimalism.

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 How little can I do and still get by?

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 I think as we look to our passage this morning,

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 as we look to what the gospel speaks to us,

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 we will find both a challenge and an encouragement

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 in light of this question.

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 So, if you want to turn with me,

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 we are going to continue our series in 1 Corinthians.

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 We're in chapter 10.

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 We're looking at, starting in verse 23,

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 it's on page 958 in your pew Bibles.

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 We're going to be reading this passage together.

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 Page 958, 1 Corinthians chapter 10, verse 23.

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 All things are lawful, but not all things are helpful.

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 All things are lawful, but not all things build up.

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 Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.

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 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market

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 without raising any question on the ground of conscience.

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 For the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof.

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 If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner

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 and you are disposed to go,

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 eat whatever is set before you

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 without raising any questions on the ground of conscience.

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 But if someone says to you,

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 this has been offered in sacrifice,

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 then do not eat it.

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 For the sake of the one who informed you

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 and for the sake of conscience.

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 I do not mean your conscience, but his.

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 For why should my liberty be determined

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 by someone else's conscience?

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 If I partake with thankfulness,

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 why am I denounced because of that

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 for which I give thanks?

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 So, whatever you eat or drink

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 or whatever you do,

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 do all to the glory of God.

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 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks

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 or to the church of God,

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 just as I try to please

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 everyone in everything I do,

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 not seeking my own advantage,

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 but that of many,

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 that they may be saved.

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 Be imitators of me

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 as I am of Christ.

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 Will you pray with me?

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 Lord, we ask this morning

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 that you will help us, Lord,

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 help us to understand this passage.

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 Lord, I pray this morning,

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 Lord, for you know

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 my own weakness

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 and my own frailty.

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 Lord, you know my sinful heart.

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 Lord, will you work through me this morning

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 and may my words be useful

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 to build up.

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 Lord, may we,

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 those of us who sit here

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 under your word this morning,

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 be ready to hear

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 what you have to say to us.

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 Help us, Lord, we pray.

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 In Jesus' name.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 What does the gospel say to us?

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 How does the gospel address

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 our spiritual minimalism?

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 We're ending a large chunk

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 of 1 Corinthians.

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 We've been in a three-chapter

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 conversation about the issue

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 of food offered to idols,

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 which in the first century

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 was a very common reality,

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 particularly in a place like Corinth.

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 In lots of the world today,

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 it's still a common reality,

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 but it's not so much here in America,

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 at least in the same kind of a form.

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 And so,

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 but Paul has been answering a question

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 that the church has asked,

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 the Corinthian church

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 has written to them saying,

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 hey, what are we supposed

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 to do with this?

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 And as we've noted a number of times,

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 Paul takes not five verses

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 to say, well,

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 this is how you should do it

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 with three simple instructions,

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 and then he's done.

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 He spends three chapters

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 because he wants to engage

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 not simply what's the right answer

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 to the question,

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 but also how do we think Christianly?

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 How is it that the gospel

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 shapes how we think

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 about a question like this?

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 And as Paul is summarizing

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 at the end of this,

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 end of chapter 10,

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 he's going to bring together

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 some threads,

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 and that's what we're going

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 to do this morning.

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 We're going to spend less time

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 talking about meat offered to idols

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 and more talking about

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 a broader perspective

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 on how we think about these things.

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 But first, let's make sure

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 we think through

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 what has been the argument so far.

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 Chapter 8, Paul has encouraged

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 the Corinthians,

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 you may be thinking rightly

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 about this,

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 but don't use your knowledge

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 to destroy your brothers

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 who may not have

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 the same knowledge you do.

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 And then chapter 9,

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 he talks about his freedom

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 and his rights,

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 and he says,

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 you are to use,

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 you are to,

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 though you have rights,

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 you are to defer them

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 so that the gospel will flourish

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 in the lives of others.

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 And then at the end of chapter 9,

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 he says,

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 and you have freedom

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 to do all things,

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 but use your freedom

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 to serve others

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 so that they might know

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 Jesus better.

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 And then at the beginning

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 of chapter 10,

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 what is,

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 it's mostly a warning

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 to say,

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 be careful.

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 Be careful that in your freedom

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 you do not compromise your soul

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 and imperil your spiritual life

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 and worship.

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 And so that's been the flow.

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 He's given these broad principles

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 so far,

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 and then as we come to our passage,

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 you see he returns

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 to some of the things

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 that Corinthians have been saying.

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 All things are lawful.

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 Don't I have the freedom?

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 And Paul says,

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 yes, but.

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 Yes, but.

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 And he gives two little,

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 he gives two more case studies,

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 and in these two case studies,

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 he gives answers two and three.

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 Nick helpfully outlined this

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 a couple weeks ago.

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 The summary of what Paul's answer is.

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 What do I do with food

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 offered to idols?

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 You don't go to the temple

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 and eat it there.

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 It's participation

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 in worship of idols.

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 You can't do it.

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 And then he gives

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 two more answers here.

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 He says,

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 but if you're in the marketplace

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 where most of the meat

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 would have been provided

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 probably through

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 the sacrificial system

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 in the pagan temples,

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 and certainly the best foods

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 would have been offered

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 in the temples,

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 sacrificed there,

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 and then taken to the market

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 and sold,

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 he says,

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 if you're going into the market,

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 eat, enjoy.

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 It's all from God.

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 It's just meat.

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 It's good.

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 There's nothing magical about it.

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 So you can enjoy the meat

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 in the marketplace.

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 And then he takes

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 one more example,

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 and he says,

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 and if someone invites you,

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 and he specifies

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 an unbeliever,

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 someone who probably

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 is involved

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 in this pagan worship,

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 if they invite you

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 to their home

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 and they put meat

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 before you,

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 you don't have to make

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 a big deal of it.

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 You don't have to make...

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 He actually says,

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 don't ask.

00:13:03.299 --> 00:13:06.199
 This is the best application

00:13:06.199 --> 00:13:06.819
 of don't ask,

00:13:06.899 --> 00:13:07.319
 don't tell.

00:13:07.539 --> 00:13:08.659
 Lots of bad ones

00:13:08.659 --> 00:13:09.139
 in the world,

00:13:09.279 --> 00:13:10.119
 but this is one

00:13:10.119 --> 00:13:10.819
 where Paul says,

00:13:10.919 --> 00:13:12.279
 no, use it.

00:13:12.500 --> 00:13:13.979
 Don't ask about the meat.

00:13:14.119 --> 00:13:15.199
 Just enjoy it,

00:13:15.200 --> 00:13:16.680
 and enjoy the gift

00:13:16.680 --> 00:13:19.040
 of this unbeliever's hospitality

00:13:19.040 --> 00:13:20.379
 in your life.

00:13:22.879 --> 00:13:23.280
 But,

00:13:23.700 --> 00:13:24.160
 and then he puts

00:13:24.160 --> 00:13:25.320
 a little qualifier in.

00:13:25.620 --> 00:13:25.940
 But,

00:13:26.680 --> 00:13:27.440
 if he says,

00:13:27.580 --> 00:13:27.700
 hey,

00:13:27.800 --> 00:13:29.200
 this is part of idol worship,

00:13:29.759 --> 00:13:30.920
 maybe that's a comment

00:13:30.920 --> 00:13:31.740
 made to you

00:13:31.740 --> 00:13:33.160
 out of concern for you.

00:13:33.280 --> 00:13:33.480
 Like,

00:13:33.759 --> 00:13:33.900
 hey,

00:13:33.960 --> 00:13:35.560
 I don't want you to eat this

00:13:35.560 --> 00:13:36.320
 if this is wrong.

00:13:36.640 --> 00:13:38.259
 Maybe it's simply them saying,

00:13:38.259 --> 00:13:38.640
 hey,

00:13:38.759 --> 00:13:39.980
 this is a part of who we are

00:13:39.980 --> 00:13:41.080
 that we worship God,

00:13:41.600 --> 00:13:43.080
 or we worship these idols

00:13:43.080 --> 00:13:44.560
 and this meat came from the temple.

00:13:45.200 --> 00:13:46.080
 It says,

00:13:46.500 --> 00:13:47.960
 for their conscience sake,

00:13:48.040 --> 00:13:49.379
 so that they will understand

00:13:49.379 --> 00:13:50.480
 the gospel clearly.

00:13:51.100 --> 00:13:51.780
 Don't eat.

00:13:53.100 --> 00:13:53.960
 Don't eat it,

00:13:54.140 --> 00:13:55.300
 not because it has,

00:13:55.520 --> 00:13:57.500
 it impinges on your own convictions

00:13:57.500 --> 00:13:58.940
 or your own freedom,

00:13:59.060 --> 00:14:00.940
 but don't eat for their sake,

00:14:01.040 --> 00:14:02.540
 so that they will understand

00:14:02.540 --> 00:14:04.280
 that the gospel claim

00:14:04.280 --> 00:14:06.140
 is that there is only one true God,

00:14:07.040 --> 00:14:08.220
 and he demands

00:14:08.220 --> 00:14:10.500
 unswerving loyalty.

00:14:11.460 --> 00:14:12.720
 And that's basically

00:14:12.720 --> 00:14:14.860
 the argument that he gives.

00:14:15.780 --> 00:14:17.040
 Leading up to,

00:14:17.740 --> 00:14:18.980
 in verse 31,

00:14:19.680 --> 00:14:21.220
 what for any of you

00:14:21.220 --> 00:14:22.200
 who have grown up in church

00:14:22.200 --> 00:14:23.640
 or have been around for a while,

00:14:23.780 --> 00:14:23.920
 this,

00:14:24.060 --> 00:14:25.640
 one of those famous verses.

00:14:26.280 --> 00:14:27.259
 Look with me again,

00:14:27.400 --> 00:14:28.180
 verse 31.

00:14:29.160 --> 00:14:29.960
 I gotta find it

00:14:29.960 --> 00:14:30.580
 so I can read it.

00:14:30.580 --> 00:14:32.340
 So whatever you eat

00:14:32.340 --> 00:14:33.240
 or drink

00:14:33.240 --> 00:14:34.560
 or whatever you do,

00:14:35.759 --> 00:14:36.700
 do all

00:14:36.700 --> 00:14:38.860
 to the glory of God.

00:14:38.860 --> 00:14:41.519
 Friends,

00:14:41.620 --> 00:14:42.580
 this is the answer

00:14:42.580 --> 00:14:43.940
 that Paul is giving

00:14:43.940 --> 00:14:45.680
 to how,

00:14:45.800 --> 00:14:46.259
 what do we do

00:14:46.259 --> 00:14:47.039
 with meat

00:14:47.039 --> 00:14:48.980
 offered to idols?

00:14:49.720 --> 00:14:50.980
 It's also the answer

00:14:50.980 --> 00:14:52.340
 that he gives to us

00:14:52.340 --> 00:14:53.560
 as we wrestle

00:14:53.560 --> 00:14:54.279
 with the question

00:14:54.279 --> 00:14:55.539
 of spiritual minimalism.

00:14:55.639 --> 00:14:56.200
 How far,

00:14:56.279 --> 00:14:57.500
 how far can I go?

00:14:57.700 --> 00:14:59.360
 How little do I have to do?

00:14:59.360 --> 00:15:02.560
 He says,

00:15:02.980 --> 00:15:04.740
 do all things

00:15:04.740 --> 00:15:05.899
 to the glory of God.

00:15:06.620 --> 00:15:06.960
 Now,

00:15:07.139 --> 00:15:07.379
 brief,

00:15:07.480 --> 00:15:09.019
 brief side note

00:15:09.019 --> 00:15:09.860
 or excursus

00:15:09.860 --> 00:15:10.680
 or a definition

00:15:10.680 --> 00:15:12.259
 because the glory of God

00:15:12.259 --> 00:15:12.659
 is something

00:15:12.659 --> 00:15:13.580
 that we talk about

00:15:13.580 --> 00:15:14.600
 all the time.

00:15:15.600 --> 00:15:16.539
 But what is it?

00:15:17.340 --> 00:15:17.820
 I mean,

00:15:17.879 --> 00:15:18.120
 really,

00:15:18.200 --> 00:15:19.159
 it's a word we use

00:15:19.159 --> 00:15:19.759
 all the time,

00:15:19.820 --> 00:15:21.240
 but what does it mean?

00:15:22.060 --> 00:15:22.539
 Right?

00:15:22.879 --> 00:15:23.820
 Think about it this way.

00:15:23.820 --> 00:15:25.460
 the glory of something

00:15:25.460 --> 00:15:27.480
 is when

00:15:27.480 --> 00:15:29.720
 the attributes,

00:15:30.060 --> 00:15:30.820
 the character,

00:15:31.220 --> 00:15:31.840
 the nature

00:15:31.840 --> 00:15:33.320
 of that something

00:15:33.320 --> 00:15:35.260
 is somehow

00:15:35.260 --> 00:15:36.220
 displayed

00:15:36.220 --> 00:15:37.440
 or exhibited

00:15:37.440 --> 00:15:39.640
 or recognized

00:15:39.640 --> 00:15:40.860
 and reflected

00:15:40.860 --> 00:15:41.980
 in such a way

00:15:41.980 --> 00:15:44.100
 that all the admirable

00:15:44.100 --> 00:15:44.800
 qualities

00:15:44.800 --> 00:15:46.220
 of that thing

00:15:46.220 --> 00:15:48.040
 are seen

00:15:48.040 --> 00:15:49.160
 and recognized

00:15:49.160 --> 00:15:50.280
 and honored.

00:15:51.440 --> 00:15:53.080
 And in God's glory,

00:15:53.820 --> 00:15:55.960
 what He's saying to us

00:15:55.960 --> 00:15:57.180
 is to do all things

00:15:57.180 --> 00:15:57.840
 to the glory of God

00:15:57.840 --> 00:15:58.320
 is to say

00:15:58.320 --> 00:16:00.260
 everything in our life,

00:16:00.840 --> 00:16:03.200
 every moment of our day,

00:16:03.360 --> 00:16:04.120
 every thought,

00:16:04.280 --> 00:16:04.960
 every action,

00:16:05.180 --> 00:16:06.000
 every aspect,

00:16:06.240 --> 00:16:07.500
 all of that

00:16:07.500 --> 00:16:09.080
 is given to us

00:16:09.080 --> 00:16:11.500
 to live in such a way

00:16:11.500 --> 00:16:13.440
 that the nature

00:16:13.440 --> 00:16:14.560
 and the character

00:16:14.560 --> 00:16:17.220
 and the work of God

00:16:17.220 --> 00:16:19.940
 is seen in the world.

00:16:20.880 --> 00:16:22.100
 This is what it means

00:16:22.100 --> 00:16:23.680
 to glorify God.

00:16:23.820 --> 00:16:25.480
 in all that we do.

00:16:25.920 --> 00:16:26.560
 And in fact,

00:16:26.660 --> 00:16:27.500
 what we've seen

00:16:27.500 --> 00:16:28.620
 in this discussion

00:16:28.620 --> 00:16:30.280
 about meat offered

00:16:30.280 --> 00:16:30.820
 to idols

00:16:30.820 --> 00:16:32.740
 is two core principles

00:16:32.740 --> 00:16:34.220
 of what does it look like

00:16:34.220 --> 00:16:35.879
 for us to live a life

00:16:35.879 --> 00:16:38.240
 that glorifies God.

00:16:38.879 --> 00:16:40.460
 Two principles are this.

00:16:41.760 --> 00:16:43.060
 We glorify God

00:16:43.060 --> 00:16:44.320
 by a pure,

00:16:45.180 --> 00:16:47.040
 single-minded devotion

00:16:47.039 --> 00:16:50.599
 without rival,

00:16:51.099 --> 00:16:52.019
 without compromise,

00:16:52.579 --> 00:16:53.620
 a pure devotion

00:16:53.620 --> 00:16:54.379
 to God.

00:16:54.799 --> 00:16:55.679
 And then secondly,

00:16:56.039 --> 00:16:58.259
 we see that we glorify God

00:16:58.259 --> 00:17:00.319
 with a sacrificial love

00:17:00.319 --> 00:17:01.819
 for others.

00:17:03.419 --> 00:17:04.460
 So that's what I want

00:17:04.460 --> 00:17:05.559
 to explore this morning.

00:17:05.720 --> 00:17:06.460
 And we'll see it

00:17:06.460 --> 00:17:07.000
 in the passage

00:17:07.000 --> 00:17:08.259
 and we'll think about it

00:17:08.259 --> 00:17:09.319
 a little bit more broadly

00:17:09.319 --> 00:17:10.500
 for our own lives

00:17:10.500 --> 00:17:11.440
 as we go.

00:17:11.440 --> 00:17:13.279
 So first,

00:17:13.880 --> 00:17:14.640
 glorify God

00:17:14.640 --> 00:17:15.880
 with a pure devotion

00:17:15.880 --> 00:17:17.180
 to God.

00:17:17.759 --> 00:17:18.720
 Jonathan Edwards,

00:17:19.880 --> 00:17:23.380
 a great American theologian,

00:17:24.220 --> 00:17:25.940
 as he lived his life,

00:17:26.000 --> 00:17:26.820
 he wrote out a list

00:17:26.820 --> 00:17:27.539
 of resolutions.

00:17:27.759 --> 00:17:28.420
 You may know them.

00:17:28.480 --> 00:17:29.279
 If you're not familiar

00:17:29.279 --> 00:17:30.259
 with Jonathan Edwards'

00:17:30.500 --> 00:17:31.360
 resolutions,

00:17:31.759 --> 00:17:32.840
 you should go read them.

00:17:33.100 --> 00:17:34.180
 They will challenge you.

00:17:35.000 --> 00:17:36.220
 He compiled it

00:17:36.220 --> 00:17:37.120
 over a period of time,

00:17:37.200 --> 00:17:38.640
 but his first one

00:17:38.640 --> 00:17:40.060
 was this.

00:17:41.500 --> 00:17:42.000
 Resolved,

00:17:42.180 --> 00:17:43.420
 that I will do

00:17:43.420 --> 00:17:45.660
 whatsoever I think

00:17:45.660 --> 00:17:46.960
 to be most

00:17:46.960 --> 00:17:48.640
 to God's glory

00:17:48.640 --> 00:17:50.840
 and for my own good,

00:17:51.680 --> 00:17:52.200
 profit,

00:17:52.460 --> 00:17:53.000
 and pleasure

00:17:53.000 --> 00:17:54.480
 in the whole

00:17:54.480 --> 00:17:55.480
 of my duration,

00:17:55.640 --> 00:17:55.900
 that is,

00:17:56.019 --> 00:17:57.640
 for my whole life,

00:17:57.940 --> 00:17:59.200
 without any consideration

00:17:59.200 --> 00:18:00.140
 of the time,

00:18:00.220 --> 00:18:00.940
 whether now

00:18:00.940 --> 00:18:02.060
 or never,

00:18:02.200 --> 00:18:03.380
 so many myriad

00:18:03.380 --> 00:18:04.780
 of ages hence.

00:18:06.200 --> 00:18:07.120
 Resolved to do

00:18:07.120 --> 00:18:08.480
 whatever I think

00:18:08.480 --> 00:18:09.620
 to be my duty

00:18:09.620 --> 00:18:10.920
 and most

00:18:10.920 --> 00:18:11.760
 for the good

00:18:11.760 --> 00:18:12.720
 and advantage

00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:13.860
 of mankind

00:18:13.860 --> 00:18:15.000
 in general.

00:18:15.940 --> 00:18:17.080
 Resolved to do this

00:18:17.080 --> 00:18:18.240
 whatever difficulties

00:18:18.240 --> 00:18:19.320
 I meet with,

00:18:19.760 --> 00:18:20.520
 how many

00:18:20.520 --> 00:18:21.680
 and how great

00:18:21.680 --> 00:18:22.600
 so ever.

00:18:24.460 --> 00:18:24.980
 A little

00:18:24.980 --> 00:18:26.520
 18th century language

00:18:26.520 --> 00:18:26.940
 in there.

00:18:28.100 --> 00:18:29.120
 But he said,

00:18:29.600 --> 00:18:30.380
 what I want to do

00:18:30.380 --> 00:18:31.480
 most of all

00:18:31.480 --> 00:18:32.680
 is to make

00:18:32.680 --> 00:18:33.960
 everything that I do

00:18:33.960 --> 00:18:37.320
 be clearly

00:18:37.320 --> 00:18:38.080
 for the glory

00:18:38.080 --> 00:18:38.759
 of God.

00:18:40.039 --> 00:18:40.500
 And so,

00:18:40.600 --> 00:18:41.180
 how did Paul

00:18:41.180 --> 00:18:42.660
 play this out?

00:18:42.720 --> 00:18:43.840
 In this particular case

00:18:43.840 --> 00:18:44.320
 of food

00:18:44.320 --> 00:18:45.220
 offered to idols,

00:18:46.220 --> 00:18:47.519
 what does it look like

00:18:47.519 --> 00:18:48.400
 to have this

00:18:48.400 --> 00:18:49.279
 pure devotion

00:18:49.279 --> 00:18:50.019
 to God,

00:18:51.120 --> 00:18:51.840
 this pure,

00:18:51.980 --> 00:18:52.779
 this clarity

00:18:52.779 --> 00:18:53.820
 of devotion to God

00:18:53.820 --> 00:18:54.840
 in the issue

00:18:54.840 --> 00:18:55.799
 of meat

00:18:55.799 --> 00:18:56.620
 offered to idols?

00:18:56.860 --> 00:18:57.620
 And in some ways

00:18:57.620 --> 00:18:58.279
 it's very simple.

00:18:58.380 --> 00:18:58.860
 This is actually

00:18:58.860 --> 00:18:59.600
 what Pastor Greg

00:18:59.600 --> 00:19:00.240
 preached on

00:19:00.240 --> 00:19:01.519
 a bit last week.

00:19:01.599 --> 00:19:02.200
 It goes back

00:19:02.200 --> 00:19:02.680
 a little bit

00:19:02.680 --> 00:19:03.460
 in chapter 10.

00:19:03.680 --> 00:19:04.660
 He basically says

00:19:04.660 --> 00:19:05.339
 when you go

00:19:05.339 --> 00:19:07.059
 to the temple courts,

00:19:07.680 --> 00:19:08.319
 when you go

00:19:08.319 --> 00:19:09.059
 to those places,

00:19:09.120 --> 00:19:09.740
 and the interesting

00:19:09.740 --> 00:19:10.799
 thing is the temples

00:19:10.799 --> 00:19:12.500
 ran places

00:19:12.500 --> 00:19:13.380
 that were kind of

00:19:13.380 --> 00:19:14.180
 like the restaurants

00:19:14.180 --> 00:19:15.059
 of the day.

00:19:15.740 --> 00:19:16.460
 And they were

00:19:16.460 --> 00:19:18.319
 significant social places.

00:19:18.880 --> 00:19:19.460
 There were places

00:19:19.460 --> 00:19:20.200
 where you would go

00:19:20.200 --> 00:19:21.180
 to do business.

00:19:21.380 --> 00:19:22.039
 There were places

00:19:22.039 --> 00:19:22.740
 where you would go

00:19:22.740 --> 00:19:24.920
 to see and be seen

00:19:24.920 --> 00:19:25.740
 in society.

00:19:26.200 --> 00:19:26.620
 There were places

00:19:26.619 --> 00:19:27.099
 where you would

00:19:27.099 --> 00:19:28.079
 hodnob with

00:19:28.079 --> 00:19:30.479
 the power brokers

00:19:30.479 --> 00:19:31.639
 and the significant

00:19:31.639 --> 00:19:33.879
 people in the city.

00:19:35.059 --> 00:19:36.500
 And the food

00:19:36.500 --> 00:19:37.239
 that would be served

00:19:37.239 --> 00:19:37.819
 there would be

00:19:37.819 --> 00:19:39.659
 a part of temple

00:19:39.659 --> 00:19:40.679
 worship and temple

00:19:40.679 --> 00:19:41.139
 ritual.

00:19:42.639 --> 00:19:43.519
 And Paul says

00:19:43.519 --> 00:19:44.379
 don't muddy

00:19:44.379 --> 00:19:45.719
 your devotion

00:19:45.719 --> 00:19:46.519
 with Christ

00:19:46.519 --> 00:19:48.079
 by being sucked

00:19:48.079 --> 00:19:49.739
 in to eating

00:19:49.739 --> 00:19:51.139
 at those meals,

00:19:51.339 --> 00:19:52.299
 eating that meat

00:19:52.299 --> 00:19:52.779
 that has been

00:19:52.779 --> 00:19:54.319
 offered to idols.

00:19:54.319 --> 00:20:00.819
 It was a costly choice

00:20:00.819 --> 00:20:02.099
 for the believers

00:20:02.099 --> 00:20:03.159
 to not do that.

00:20:03.859 --> 00:20:04.539
 They gave up

00:20:04.539 --> 00:20:05.179
 opportunities

00:20:05.179 --> 00:20:06.519
 to do that.

00:20:06.919 --> 00:20:07.720
 They gave up

00:20:07.720 --> 00:20:08.579
 the opportunity

00:20:08.579 --> 00:20:10.099
 to be welcomed

00:20:10.099 --> 00:20:11.059
 and to be brought

00:20:11.059 --> 00:20:12.439
 in and accepted

00:20:12.439 --> 00:20:13.579
 by the society

00:20:13.579 --> 00:20:14.939
 in a particular way.

00:20:16.819 --> 00:20:17.799
 I'm trying to think

00:20:17.799 --> 00:20:18.460
 I don't know

00:20:18.460 --> 00:20:19.779
 if there's a good example

00:20:19.779 --> 00:20:20.799
 because I don't know

00:20:20.799 --> 00:20:22.799
 the power brokers

00:20:22.799 --> 00:20:23.799
 of New Haven enough

00:20:23.799 --> 00:20:24.559
 but somewhere

00:20:24.559 --> 00:20:26.180
 between Union League

00:20:26.180 --> 00:20:27.359
 and Goodfellas

00:20:27.359 --> 00:20:28.339
 and somewhere else

00:20:28.339 --> 00:20:29.359
 there's a restaurant

00:20:29.359 --> 00:20:30.180
 that's like this

00:20:30.180 --> 00:20:31.279
 where if you want

00:20:31.279 --> 00:20:31.579
 to go,

00:20:31.919 --> 00:20:32.659
 if you want to see

00:20:32.659 --> 00:20:33.599
 where the power brokers

00:20:33.599 --> 00:20:34.460
 of the city go

00:20:34.460 --> 00:20:35.240
 that's where you go.

00:20:35.319 --> 00:20:35.599
 I don't know

00:20:35.599 --> 00:20:36.099
 where it is

00:20:36.099 --> 00:20:37.119
 but I believe

00:20:37.119 --> 00:20:37.659
 it's out there

00:20:37.659 --> 00:20:38.000
 somewhere.

00:20:38.539 --> 00:20:38.740
 Right?

00:20:40.359 --> 00:20:41.259
 But if you knew

00:20:41.259 --> 00:20:42.000
 that you couldn't

00:20:42.000 --> 00:20:42.440
 go there

00:20:42.440 --> 00:20:43.419
 because of your

00:20:43.419 --> 00:20:44.379
 religious convictions,

00:20:45.339 --> 00:20:46.039
 because it was

00:20:46.039 --> 00:20:47.119
 attached to

00:20:47.119 --> 00:20:48.000
 and associated

00:20:48.000 --> 00:20:48.559
 with

00:20:48.559 --> 00:20:49.599
 worshiping

00:20:49.599 --> 00:20:50.559
 a different God

00:20:50.559 --> 00:20:51.339
 that you know

00:20:51.339 --> 00:20:52.440
 that you could not do

00:20:52.440 --> 00:20:52.960
 and maintain

00:20:52.960 --> 00:20:53.579
 your purity,

00:20:53.799 --> 00:20:55.419
 this would be

00:20:55.419 --> 00:20:56.079
 the cost.

00:20:57.519 --> 00:20:58.599
 You'll never get in

00:20:58.599 --> 00:20:59.259
 on some of those

00:20:59.259 --> 00:20:59.980
 conversations.

00:21:00.419 --> 00:21:01.299
 You'll never be able

00:21:01.299 --> 00:21:01.839
 to broker

00:21:01.839 --> 00:21:02.839
 some of those deals.

00:21:03.659 --> 00:21:05.039
 It was a high cost

00:21:05.039 --> 00:21:05.539
 for them

00:21:05.539 --> 00:21:06.799
 to do it.

00:21:08.619 --> 00:21:09.379
 And friends,

00:21:09.599 --> 00:21:11.139
 the evangelical movement

00:21:11.139 --> 00:21:12.639
 in the West

00:21:12.639 --> 00:21:13.240
 at least

00:21:13.240 --> 00:21:14.919
 set out

00:21:14.919 --> 00:21:15.899
 50 years ago

00:21:15.899 --> 00:21:16.799
 to re-engage

00:21:16.799 --> 00:21:17.779
 with our culture

00:21:17.779 --> 00:21:19.079
 after fundamentalism

00:21:19.079 --> 00:21:20.180
 had sought to

00:21:20.180 --> 00:21:20.960
 disengage

00:21:20.960 --> 00:21:22.200
 from our society.

00:21:23.140 --> 00:21:23.900
 And it has been

00:21:23.900 --> 00:21:24.740
 a great blessing

00:21:24.740 --> 00:21:25.759
 in many ways.

00:21:25.759 --> 00:21:27.420
 But this is perhaps

00:21:27.420 --> 00:21:30.100
 where we most need

00:21:30.100 --> 00:21:31.640
 to be careful

00:21:31.640 --> 00:21:33.039
 in that evangelical

00:21:33.039 --> 00:21:33.640
 impulse

00:21:33.640 --> 00:21:34.440
 to re-engage

00:21:34.440 --> 00:21:35.340
 our society,

00:21:35.519 --> 00:21:36.579
 to believe that

00:21:36.579 --> 00:21:37.980
 as we live out

00:21:37.980 --> 00:21:38.559
 our lives

00:21:38.559 --> 00:21:39.500
 following Christ

00:21:39.500 --> 00:21:40.140
 among

00:21:40.140 --> 00:21:42.319
 our neighbors

00:21:42.319 --> 00:21:43.660
 and within our society,

00:21:43.819 --> 00:21:44.519
 to do good

00:21:44.519 --> 00:21:45.319
 to our city

00:21:45.319 --> 00:21:46.640
 and to our neighbors,

00:21:46.640 --> 00:21:48.940
 we need to maintain

00:21:48.940 --> 00:21:49.820
 the purity

00:21:49.820 --> 00:21:51.420
 of our devotion

00:21:51.420 --> 00:21:52.200
 to Christ.

00:21:53.580 --> 00:21:54.820
 And sometimes,

00:21:55.660 --> 00:21:56.540
 out of a desire

00:21:56.540 --> 00:21:57.780
 to not look weird

00:21:57.780 --> 00:22:00.660
 or to not be accused

00:22:00.660 --> 00:22:02.000
 of being unloving

00:22:02.000 --> 00:22:03.580
 by our neighbors

00:22:03.580 --> 00:22:07.680
 or because we live

00:22:07.680 --> 00:22:09.380
 in a very tolerant society

00:22:09.380 --> 00:22:10.480
 and to draw hard

00:22:10.480 --> 00:22:11.460
 and fast lines

00:22:11.460 --> 00:22:12.660
 based on your

00:22:12.660 --> 00:22:13.620
 religious conviction

00:22:13.620 --> 00:22:15.660
 is pretty out there.

00:22:16.640 --> 00:22:18.960
 we cannot do it.

00:22:20.060 --> 00:22:22.720
 We can hide behind

00:22:22.720 --> 00:22:24.100
 I don't want to offend

00:22:24.100 --> 00:22:26.420
 and fail

00:22:26.420 --> 00:22:28.180
 to have a pure devotion

00:22:28.180 --> 00:22:29.020
 to the Lord.

00:22:30.680 --> 00:22:32.200
 We need to care more

00:22:32.200 --> 00:22:33.380
 about what God thinks

00:22:33.380 --> 00:22:34.940
 than what others

00:22:34.940 --> 00:22:35.980
 think of us.

00:22:40.180 --> 00:22:41.820
 So purity of devotion

00:22:41.820 --> 00:22:42.980
 may be saying no

00:22:42.980 --> 00:22:43.980
 and setting boundaries

00:22:43.980 --> 00:22:44.660
 to this,

00:22:44.660 --> 00:22:45.900
 but I also want you

00:22:45.900 --> 00:22:46.400
 to see that

00:22:46.400 --> 00:22:47.660
 the pure devotion

00:22:47.660 --> 00:22:48.259
 to God

00:22:48.259 --> 00:22:49.640
 also gives us

00:22:49.640 --> 00:22:50.920
 this beautiful freedom.

00:22:51.120 --> 00:22:51.600
 Look with me

00:22:51.600 --> 00:22:53.440
 verses 24 through 27.

00:22:55.120 --> 00:22:55.420
 Right?

00:22:59.740 --> 00:23:00.860
 Verse 25

00:23:00.860 --> 00:23:01.920
 in particular

00:23:01.920 --> 00:23:03.000
 he says

00:23:03.000 --> 00:23:04.100
 hey,

00:23:04.200 --> 00:23:05.120
 if you go to the market

00:23:05.120 --> 00:23:06.540
 eat whatever's there

00:23:06.540 --> 00:23:07.640
 enjoy it.

00:23:07.860 --> 00:23:08.740
 And then he quotes

00:23:08.740 --> 00:23:09.440
 this psalm

00:23:09.440 --> 00:23:10.440
 that we read earlier

00:23:10.440 --> 00:23:11.519
 Psalm 24

00:23:11.519 --> 00:23:13.279
 where the psalmist

00:23:13.279 --> 00:23:13.960
 says the earth

00:23:13.960 --> 00:23:14.480
 is the Lord

00:23:14.480 --> 00:23:16.059
 and the fullness

00:23:16.059 --> 00:23:16.779
 thereof

00:23:16.779 --> 00:23:17.639
 and then he goes on

00:23:17.639 --> 00:23:18.579
 in the context

00:23:18.579 --> 00:23:21.299
 of pure worship

00:23:21.299 --> 00:23:22.859
 rejecting the idols

00:23:22.859 --> 00:23:23.839
 and he who can

00:23:23.839 --> 00:23:24.559
 approach God

00:23:24.559 --> 00:23:25.339
 on this holy hand

00:23:25.339 --> 00:23:26.180
 of pure hands

00:23:26.180 --> 00:23:27.160
 and a clean heart

00:23:27.160 --> 00:23:29.740
 and this single-minded

00:23:29.740 --> 00:23:30.599
 devotion to God

00:23:30.599 --> 00:23:31.240
 the psalmist

00:23:31.240 --> 00:23:32.680
 says

00:23:32.680 --> 00:23:34.079
 everything we get

00:23:34.079 --> 00:23:34.900
 from God

00:23:34.900 --> 00:23:36.180
 is good

00:23:36.180 --> 00:23:36.779
 and in fact

00:23:36.779 --> 00:23:38.339
 the Jewish tradition

00:23:38.339 --> 00:23:39.659
 took this verse

00:23:39.659 --> 00:23:41.359
 as the basis

00:23:41.359 --> 00:23:42.859
 for what is now

00:23:42.859 --> 00:23:43.659
 both Jewish

00:23:43.659 --> 00:23:44.659
 and Christian tradition

00:23:44.659 --> 00:23:45.299
 to thank God

00:23:45.299 --> 00:23:45.899
 for our food.

00:23:46.859 --> 00:23:47.619
 This is actually

00:23:47.619 --> 00:23:48.399
 where in the

00:23:48.399 --> 00:23:49.159
 Old Testament

00:23:49.159 --> 00:23:50.699
 and in the Jewish

00:23:50.699 --> 00:23:51.240
 community

00:23:51.240 --> 00:23:52.159
 this is where

00:23:52.159 --> 00:23:53.099
 the thought of

00:23:53.099 --> 00:23:54.119
 why should we pray

00:23:54.119 --> 00:23:55.099
 before we eat

00:23:55.099 --> 00:23:56.899
 because the earth

00:23:56.899 --> 00:23:57.799
 is the Lord's

00:23:57.799 --> 00:23:58.579
 and the fullness

00:23:58.579 --> 00:23:59.179
 thereof

00:23:59.179 --> 00:24:00.379
 everything God

00:24:00.379 --> 00:24:01.079
 has given us

00:24:01.079 --> 00:24:02.720
 he has given it

00:24:02.720 --> 00:24:03.099
 to us

00:24:03.099 --> 00:24:03.779
 to enjoy

00:24:03.779 --> 00:24:04.500
 and to eat

00:24:04.500 --> 00:24:05.799
 and as long

00:24:05.799 --> 00:24:06.519
 as it doesn't

00:24:06.519 --> 00:24:07.460
 have these

00:24:07.460 --> 00:24:08.259
 overbearing

00:24:08.259 --> 00:24:09.220
 associations

00:24:09.220 --> 00:24:10.720
 with worshiping

00:24:10.720 --> 00:24:11.220
 an idol

00:24:11.220 --> 00:24:12.660
 we can enjoy

00:24:12.660 --> 00:24:13.740
 it freely

00:24:13.740 --> 00:24:16.740
 and interestingly

00:24:16.740 --> 00:24:17.420
 then he says

00:24:17.420 --> 00:24:17.859
 when you go

00:24:17.859 --> 00:24:18.559
 to your friend's

00:24:18.559 --> 00:24:18.720
 house

00:24:18.720 --> 00:24:19.279
 and they offer

00:24:19.279 --> 00:24:19.859
 you food

00:24:19.859 --> 00:24:21.599
 don't fall

00:24:21.599 --> 00:24:22.599
 into the trap

00:24:22.599 --> 00:24:24.859
 of getting

00:24:24.859 --> 00:24:25.519
 all tied up

00:24:25.519 --> 00:24:25.980
 in knots

00:24:25.980 --> 00:24:26.619
 about oh

00:24:26.619 --> 00:24:27.220
 I don't know

00:24:27.220 --> 00:24:28.039
 maybe this was

00:24:28.039 --> 00:24:28.759
 offered to an idol

00:24:28.759 --> 00:24:29.900
 do I have to eat it

00:24:29.900 --> 00:24:31.019
 maybe I shouldn't

00:24:31.019 --> 00:24:31.839
 what do I do

00:24:31.839 --> 00:24:32.779
 do I have to ask

00:24:32.779 --> 00:24:34.660
 he gives them

00:24:34.660 --> 00:24:35.359
 immense amount

00:24:35.359 --> 00:24:36.000
 of freedom

00:24:36.000 --> 00:24:36.980
 there's this

00:24:36.980 --> 00:24:37.660
 great joy

00:24:37.660 --> 00:24:38.019
 to say

00:24:38.019 --> 00:24:38.779
 hey this food

00:24:38.779 --> 00:24:39.400
 is yummy

00:24:39.400 --> 00:24:40.720
 that's all

00:24:40.720 --> 00:24:41.440
 you have to say

00:24:41.440 --> 00:24:42.220
 to your friend

00:24:42.220 --> 00:24:44.319
 unless he

00:24:44.319 --> 00:24:45.140
 attaches it

00:24:45.140 --> 00:24:46.039
 and associates

00:24:46.039 --> 00:24:47.059
 it with idol

00:24:47.059 --> 00:24:47.380
 worship

00:24:47.380 --> 00:24:48.200
 and then you

00:24:48.200 --> 00:24:48.660
 have to say

00:24:48.660 --> 00:24:49.460
 oh brother

00:24:49.460 --> 00:24:50.779
 thank you so much

00:24:50.779 --> 00:24:51.559
 you are so kind

00:24:51.559 --> 00:24:52.339
 but I couldn't

00:24:52.339 --> 00:24:52.920
 eat that

00:24:52.920 --> 00:24:55.480
 because I can

00:24:55.480 --> 00:24:56.180
 only worship

00:24:56.180 --> 00:24:56.779
 my God

00:24:56.779 --> 00:24:57.259
 and this

00:24:57.259 --> 00:24:58.480
 I need to

00:24:58.480 --> 00:24:59.380
 separate from

00:24:59.380 --> 00:25:00.200
 the worship

00:25:00.200 --> 00:25:00.759
 of idols

00:25:00.759 --> 00:25:02.500
 which is

00:25:02.500 --> 00:25:03.500
 incredibly offensive

00:25:03.500 --> 00:25:04.220
 we talked about

00:25:04.220 --> 00:25:04.660
 this a couple

00:25:04.660 --> 00:25:05.559
 weeks ago

00:25:05.559 --> 00:25:06.879
 it's incredibly

00:25:06.879 --> 00:25:07.960
 the food

00:25:07.960 --> 00:25:08.839
 you didn't eat

00:25:08.839 --> 00:25:09.539
 meat that often

00:25:09.539 --> 00:25:10.000
 when you were

00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:10.599
 offered meat

00:25:10.599 --> 00:25:11.220
 it was a real

00:25:11.220 --> 00:25:11.679
 gift

00:25:11.679 --> 00:25:13.919
 and there's a huge

00:25:13.919 --> 00:25:14.899
 social cost

00:25:14.899 --> 00:25:15.899
 to doing that

00:25:15.899 --> 00:25:19.279
 but in general

00:25:19.279 --> 00:25:19.960
 the principle

00:25:19.960 --> 00:25:21.379
 is once we

00:25:21.379 --> 00:25:22.599
 have this clarity

00:25:22.599 --> 00:25:23.279
 of devotion

00:25:23.279 --> 00:25:23.960
 in our heart

00:25:23.960 --> 00:25:24.799
 then we live

00:25:24.799 --> 00:25:25.220
 freely

00:25:25.220 --> 00:25:25.899
 and we get to

00:25:25.899 --> 00:25:26.980
 enjoy this world

00:25:26.980 --> 00:25:28.299
 we get to enjoy

00:25:28.299 --> 00:25:28.960
 the things in it

00:25:28.960 --> 00:25:29.799
 we get to enjoy

00:25:29.799 --> 00:25:30.419
 our neighbors

00:25:30.419 --> 00:25:31.819
 and our friends

00:25:31.819 --> 00:25:34.839
 because we know

00:25:34.839 --> 00:25:35.399
 and we have

00:25:35.399 --> 00:25:36.220
 this clear

00:25:36.220 --> 00:25:37.599
 and unbending

00:25:37.599 --> 00:25:39.200
 devotion

00:25:39.200 --> 00:25:40.799
 to the Lord

00:25:40.799 --> 00:25:46.179
 it's not always

00:25:46.179 --> 00:25:46.639
 easy

00:25:46.639 --> 00:25:48.599
 you can think

00:25:48.599 --> 00:25:49.139
 about the book

00:25:49.139 --> 00:25:49.659
 of Daniel

00:25:49.659 --> 00:25:50.099
 as some

00:25:50.099 --> 00:25:50.960
 interesting case

00:25:50.960 --> 00:25:51.379
 studies

00:25:51.379 --> 00:25:53.019
 Daniel 1

00:25:53.019 --> 00:25:53.480
 he and his

00:25:53.480 --> 00:25:53.960
 friends have

00:25:53.960 --> 00:25:55.099
 been taken

00:25:55.099 --> 00:25:55.859
 forcibly

00:25:55.859 --> 00:25:56.559
 from their

00:25:56.559 --> 00:25:56.899
 home

00:25:56.899 --> 00:25:57.619
 brought into

00:25:57.619 --> 00:25:59.079
 the highest

00:25:59.079 --> 00:25:59.639
 levels

00:25:59.639 --> 00:26:00.899
 into sort

00:26:00.899 --> 00:26:01.579
 of a training

00:26:01.579 --> 00:26:02.119
 program

00:26:02.119 --> 00:26:02.619
 to be

00:26:02.619 --> 00:26:03.599
 in the highest

00:26:03.599 --> 00:26:04.079
 levels

00:26:04.079 --> 00:26:04.719
 of government

00:26:04.719 --> 00:26:06.000
 in the

00:26:06.000 --> 00:26:06.679
 Babylonian

00:26:06.679 --> 00:26:07.179
 empire

00:26:07.179 --> 00:26:07.859
 which is

00:26:07.859 --> 00:26:08.759
 an idolatrous

00:26:08.759 --> 00:26:09.619
 nation

00:26:09.619 --> 00:26:10.359
 that worshipped

00:26:10.359 --> 00:26:10.819
 a false

00:26:10.819 --> 00:26:11.339
 god

00:26:11.339 --> 00:26:14.000
 and Daniel

00:26:14.000 --> 00:26:14.599
 has to think

00:26:14.599 --> 00:26:15.059
 how do I

00:26:15.059 --> 00:26:15.779
 respond to

00:26:15.779 --> 00:26:17.399
 this situation

00:26:17.399 --> 00:26:18.099
 right

00:26:18.099 --> 00:26:19.019
 in Daniel 1

00:26:19.019 --> 00:26:19.739
 there's this

00:26:19.739 --> 00:26:20.339
 meat from

00:26:20.339 --> 00:26:20.899
 the king's

00:26:20.899 --> 00:26:21.339
 table

00:26:21.339 --> 00:26:22.059
 and it says

00:26:22.059 --> 00:26:23.139
 Daniel determined

00:26:23.139 --> 00:26:24.139
 not to defile

00:26:24.139 --> 00:26:24.679
 himself

00:26:24.679 --> 00:26:26.019
 it doesn't seem

00:26:26.019 --> 00:26:26.500
 that it was

00:26:26.500 --> 00:26:27.059
 a violation

00:26:27.059 --> 00:26:27.579
 of Jewish

00:26:27.579 --> 00:26:27.839
 law

00:26:27.839 --> 00:26:28.159
 to eat

00:26:28.159 --> 00:26:28.579
 that food

00:26:28.579 --> 00:26:29.179
 but he

00:26:29.179 --> 00:26:29.700
 had determined

00:26:29.700 --> 00:26:30.240
 not to

00:26:30.240 --> 00:26:30.700
 defile

00:26:30.700 --> 00:26:31.299
 himself

00:26:31.299 --> 00:26:32.980
 so I

00:26:32.980 --> 00:26:33.179
 had to

00:26:33.179 --> 00:26:33.339
 think

00:26:33.339 --> 00:26:33.700
 what do I

00:26:33.700 --> 00:26:34.119
 do

00:26:34.119 --> 00:26:35.779
 if I

00:26:35.779 --> 00:26:36.119
 say I

00:26:36.119 --> 00:26:36.480
 won't eat

00:26:36.480 --> 00:26:36.700
 that

00:26:36.700 --> 00:26:37.059
 they might

00:26:37.059 --> 00:26:37.500
 just kill

00:26:37.500 --> 00:26:37.759
 me

00:26:37.759 --> 00:26:38.139
 I'm

00:26:38.139 --> 00:26:38.519
 basically

00:26:38.519 --> 00:26:39.319
 a slave

00:26:39.319 --> 00:26:41.440
 they might

00:26:41.440 --> 00:26:41.819
 throw me

00:26:41.819 --> 00:26:42.179
 out in the

00:26:42.179 --> 00:26:42.859
 salt mines

00:26:42.859 --> 00:26:44.220
 you know

00:26:44.220 --> 00:26:44.720
 rather than

00:26:44.720 --> 00:26:45.240
 having this

00:26:45.240 --> 00:26:45.619
 place

00:26:45.619 --> 00:26:46.940
 of influence

00:26:46.940 --> 00:26:48.159
 I'm risking

00:26:48.159 --> 00:26:48.940
 my opportunity

00:26:48.940 --> 00:26:49.639
 to influence

00:26:49.639 --> 00:26:50.519
 by taking

00:26:50.519 --> 00:26:51.139
 a stand

00:26:51.139 --> 00:26:54.119
 and in

00:26:54.119 --> 00:26:54.559
 this case

00:26:54.559 --> 00:26:55.119
 Daniel is

00:26:55.119 --> 00:26:55.700
 creative

00:26:55.700 --> 00:26:56.299
 he goes

00:26:56.299 --> 00:26:56.579
 and he

00:26:56.579 --> 00:26:57.379
 asks for

00:26:57.379 --> 00:26:58.619
 leniency

00:26:58.619 --> 00:26:59.460
 and he

00:26:59.460 --> 00:27:00.019
 asks for

00:27:00.019 --> 00:27:00.839
 a chance

00:27:00.839 --> 00:27:01.619
 for him

00:27:01.619 --> 00:27:02.159
 to try

00:27:02.159 --> 00:27:02.539
 something

00:27:02.539 --> 00:27:03.079
 a third

00:27:03.079 --> 00:27:03.359
 way

00:27:03.359 --> 00:27:03.839
 a different

00:27:03.839 --> 00:27:04.039
 way

00:27:04.039 --> 00:27:04.659
 not simply

00:27:04.659 --> 00:27:05.319
 saying yes

00:27:05.319 --> 00:27:05.759
 or no

00:27:05.759 --> 00:27:06.539
 but can I

00:27:06.539 --> 00:27:07.139
 try something

00:27:07.139 --> 00:27:07.960
 different here

00:27:07.960 --> 00:27:09.019
 and maybe

00:27:09.019 --> 00:27:09.679
 it will actually

00:27:09.679 --> 00:27:10.480
 serve what you

00:27:10.480 --> 00:27:11.220
 most want to

00:27:11.220 --> 00:27:11.839
 see happen

00:27:11.839 --> 00:27:14.099
 and in God's

00:27:14.099 --> 00:27:14.980
 grace he opens

00:27:14.980 --> 00:27:15.579
 that up and the

00:27:15.579 --> 00:27:16.059
 chief steward

00:27:16.059 --> 00:27:16.659
 gives them this

00:27:16.659 --> 00:27:17.199
 opportunity

00:27:17.199 --> 00:27:18.419
 and by God's

00:27:18.419 --> 00:27:19.460
 grace he sustains

00:27:19.460 --> 00:27:20.099
 them through the

00:27:20.099 --> 00:27:20.579
 food that they

00:27:20.579 --> 00:27:21.960
 eat which is

00:27:21.960 --> 00:27:22.559
 not from the

00:27:22.559 --> 00:27:23.259
 king's table

00:27:23.259 --> 00:27:24.699
 such that it

00:27:24.699 --> 00:27:25.439
 actually exalts

00:27:25.440 --> 00:27:25.900
 them and they

00:27:25.900 --> 00:27:26.279
 have this

00:27:26.279 --> 00:27:27.600
 great wonderful

00:27:27.600 --> 00:27:28.840
 opportunity

00:27:28.840 --> 00:27:30.660
 then to

00:27:30.660 --> 00:27:31.279
 witness to

00:27:31.279 --> 00:27:32.779
 Christ because

00:27:32.779 --> 00:27:33.680
 of his creative

00:27:33.680 --> 00:27:34.680
 engagement in the

00:27:34.680 --> 00:27:35.160
 third way

00:27:35.160 --> 00:27:36.559
 but then you go

00:27:36.559 --> 00:27:37.559
 to Daniel 6

00:27:37.559 --> 00:27:39.120
 Daniel is now

00:27:39.120 --> 00:27:40.519
 in he's the

00:27:40.519 --> 00:27:41.320
 secretary of

00:27:41.320 --> 00:27:42.440
 state or

00:27:42.440 --> 00:27:43.559
 whatever he's up

00:27:43.559 --> 00:27:44.380
 in the cabinet

00:27:44.380 --> 00:27:45.100
 right he's

00:27:45.100 --> 00:27:46.240
 risen to the

00:27:46.240 --> 00:27:47.000
 highest levels

00:27:47.000 --> 00:27:47.580
 of leadership

00:27:47.580 --> 00:27:48.900
 again what a

00:27:48.900 --> 00:27:49.580
 great opportunity

00:27:49.580 --> 00:27:50.460
 how can I use

00:27:50.460 --> 00:27:51.779
 this for influence

00:27:51.779 --> 00:27:52.700
 for the kingdom

00:27:52.700 --> 00:27:53.640
 of God how can I

00:27:53.640 --> 00:27:54.360
 witness to the

00:27:54.359 --> 00:27:54.979
 God that I

00:27:54.979 --> 00:27:57.699
 serve and yet

00:27:57.699 --> 00:27:59.659
 the leaders

00:27:59.659 --> 00:28:01.619
 his peers who

00:28:01.619 --> 00:28:02.299
 are jealous of

00:28:02.299 --> 00:28:02.979
 him and his

00:28:02.979 --> 00:28:04.679
 popularity go to

00:28:04.679 --> 00:28:05.259
 the king and

00:28:05.259 --> 00:28:06.399
 work out a deal

00:28:06.399 --> 00:28:07.059
 where they raise

00:28:07.059 --> 00:28:07.979
 up a huge statue

00:28:07.979 --> 00:28:08.819
 and then they say

00:28:08.819 --> 00:28:09.939
 king don't you

00:28:09.939 --> 00:28:10.439
 think everyone

00:28:10.439 --> 00:28:11.059
 should bow to

00:28:11.059 --> 00:28:12.839
 this you're such

00:28:12.839 --> 00:28:13.839
 a great king why

00:28:13.839 --> 00:28:14.379
 don't you do

00:28:14.379 --> 00:28:19.659
 this and and so

00:28:19.659 --> 00:28:20.539
 the king passes a

00:28:20.539 --> 00:28:21.599
 law everyone must

00:28:21.599 --> 00:28:22.759
 bow to my statue

00:28:22.759 --> 00:28:24.639
 Daniel says I

00:28:24.639 --> 00:28:26.279
 can't do that I

00:28:26.279 --> 00:28:27.199
 can only bow to

00:28:27.199 --> 00:28:30.779
 my one God he

00:28:30.779 --> 00:28:31.240
 doesn't make a

00:28:31.240 --> 00:28:31.879
 big fuss he

00:28:31.879 --> 00:28:32.339
 doesn't make a

00:28:32.339 --> 00:28:33.039
 big stink but

00:28:33.039 --> 00:28:34.559
 what he does do is

00:28:34.559 --> 00:28:35.359
 he simply goes

00:28:35.359 --> 00:28:36.359
 about his faithful

00:28:36.359 --> 00:28:39.439
 life of prayer I

00:28:39.439 --> 00:28:40.439
 will pray only to

00:28:40.439 --> 00:28:41.500
 my God I will not

00:28:41.500 --> 00:28:42.279
 bow down and pray

00:28:42.279 --> 00:28:43.759
 to this God as I've

00:28:43.759 --> 00:28:45.819
 been told to do and

00:28:45.819 --> 00:28:47.099
 I will not limit my

00:28:47.099 --> 00:28:48.559
 prayer the the command

00:28:48.559 --> 00:28:49.319
 was actually you may

00:28:49.319 --> 00:28:50.019
 not pray to any

00:28:50.019 --> 00:28:51.000
 other God you must

00:28:51.000 --> 00:28:51.960
 pray to this one

00:28:51.960 --> 00:28:53.740
 Daniel said I

00:28:53.740 --> 00:28:58.579
 can't do that he

00:28:58.579 --> 00:28:59.200
 got thrown in a

00:28:59.200 --> 00:29:03.640
 lion's den sometimes

00:29:03.640 --> 00:29:04.599
 that may be happen

00:29:04.599 --> 00:29:05.519
 that may happen to

00:29:05.519 --> 00:29:09.240
 us too and then God

00:29:09.240 --> 00:29:10.200
 may deliver us the

00:29:10.200 --> 00:29:12.400
 way he did or he

00:29:12.400 --> 00:29:13.539
 may not read the end

00:29:13.539 --> 00:29:14.759
 of Hebrews 11 not

00:29:14.759 --> 00:29:16.019
 everyone who is

00:29:16.019 --> 00:29:17.079
 faithful to God is

00:29:17.079 --> 00:29:18.240
 delivered from those

00:29:18.240 --> 00:29:20.819
 consequences of being

00:29:20.819 --> 00:29:21.900
 in conflict with the

00:29:21.900 --> 00:29:24.660
 world because of

00:29:24.660 --> 00:29:25.579
 their pure devotion to

00:29:25.579 --> 00:29:26.980
 God some will suffer

00:29:26.980 --> 00:29:29.059
 some will die some

00:29:29.059 --> 00:29:30.240
 will lose lots of

00:29:30.240 --> 00:29:32.420
 things you may lose

00:29:32.420 --> 00:29:33.359
 your standing in your

00:29:33.359 --> 00:29:34.720
 company you may lose

00:29:34.720 --> 00:29:36.720
 your job you may lose

00:29:36.720 --> 00:29:38.960
 the respect of your

00:29:38.960 --> 00:29:40.920
 peers you may lose a

00:29:40.920 --> 00:29:41.960
 career track that you

00:29:41.960 --> 00:29:50.640
 hope for but through

00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:52.720
 the lens of meat

00:29:52.720 --> 00:29:56.100
 offered to idols Paul

00:29:56.100 --> 00:29:56.860
 wants us to think

00:29:56.860 --> 00:29:57.800
 about how is it that

00:29:57.800 --> 00:29:59.840
 we live a life of pure

00:29:59.840 --> 00:30:03.440
 devotion to God how does

00:30:03.440 --> 00:30:04.800
 it how is it that my

00:30:04.800 --> 00:30:09.279
 money my sex life my job

00:30:09.279 --> 00:30:14.119
 as a parent my studies my

00:30:14.119 --> 00:30:17.000
 career track the movies

00:30:17.000 --> 00:30:18.240
 that I watch on Friday

00:30:18.240 --> 00:30:20.460
 night the nightlife I

00:30:20.460 --> 00:30:22.879
 engage in the food that

00:30:22.879 --> 00:30:24.639
 I eat the exercise that I

00:30:24.639 --> 00:30:27.539
 do or don't do social

00:30:27.539 --> 00:30:30.839
 media that I engage in how

00:30:30.839 --> 00:30:32.099
 can I do all of these

00:30:32.099 --> 00:30:33.220
 things with a pure

00:30:33.220 --> 00:30:36.259
 devotion to God here's

00:30:36.259 --> 00:30:37.160
 some questions that you

00:30:37.160 --> 00:30:37.820
 might want to ask

00:30:37.820 --> 00:30:39.980
 yourself first of all

00:30:39.980 --> 00:30:40.600
 there's a bounded

00:30:40.600 --> 00:30:41.800
 question which is is it

00:30:41.800 --> 00:30:43.120
 sinful does scripture

00:30:43.120 --> 00:30:44.340
 say don't do this

00:30:44.340 --> 00:30:45.360
 because then you don't

00:30:45.360 --> 00:30:46.220
 have to think about it

00:30:46.220 --> 00:30:47.860
 anymore then scripture

00:30:47.860 --> 00:30:48.700
 has told you what you

00:30:48.700 --> 00:30:49.580
 need to do and then

00:30:49.580 --> 00:30:50.640
 you just need to decide

00:30:50.640 --> 00:30:54.900
 to obey but for many

00:30:54.900 --> 00:30:56.720
 many things and as you

00:30:56.720 --> 00:30:58.460
 see here with food with

00:30:58.460 --> 00:30:59.640
 the meat it was a

00:30:59.640 --> 00:31:01.120
 complicated question right

00:31:01.120 --> 00:31:02.960
 there are lots of

00:31:02.960 --> 00:31:04.060
 discernment questions we

00:31:04.060 --> 00:31:05.019
 want to ask so here's

00:31:05.019 --> 00:31:05.960
 some questions we want to

00:31:05.960 --> 00:31:08.740
 ask does it help me love

00:31:08.740 --> 00:31:11.900
 God more to do these

00:31:11.900 --> 00:31:15.700
 things do I represent God

00:31:15.700 --> 00:31:18.140
 well to others when I do

00:31:18.140 --> 00:31:20.140
 these things that might

00:31:20.140 --> 00:31:21.960
 both be in inherently what

00:31:21.960 --> 00:31:23.539
 I'm doing but also in the

00:31:23.539 --> 00:31:25.279
 character I've seen some

00:31:25.279 --> 00:31:26.319
 seminary students who

00:31:26.319 --> 00:31:26.960
 don't know how to

00:31:26.960 --> 00:31:28.019
 represent God on the

00:31:28.019 --> 00:31:29.380
 intramural basketball floor

00:31:29.380 --> 00:31:31.960
 it's an ugly sight sometimes

00:31:31.960 --> 00:31:33.759
 they ought not to do that

00:31:33.759 --> 00:31:35.839
 until they can do it for

00:31:35.839 --> 00:31:38.319
 the glory of God that in

00:31:38.319 --> 00:31:39.700
 registration lines those

00:31:39.700 --> 00:31:40.680
 are the two places where

00:31:40.680 --> 00:31:41.779
 you see the true character

00:31:41.779 --> 00:31:47.440
 of seminary students do I

00:31:47.440 --> 00:31:49.660
 represent God well when I'm

00:31:49.660 --> 00:31:52.059
 doing this is this activity

00:31:52.059 --> 00:31:54.039
 encouraging or corrosive to

00:31:54.039 --> 00:31:57.539
 my spiritual life does it

00:31:57.539 --> 00:31:59.079
 lead me to worship something

00:31:59.079 --> 00:32:05.539
 other than God himself if we

00:32:05.539 --> 00:32:09.220
 ran the totality of our life

00:32:09.220 --> 00:32:11.619
 through the filter of those

00:32:11.619 --> 00:32:16.199
 questions then we're beginning

00:32:16.199 --> 00:32:17.579
 to see what it would look like

00:32:17.579 --> 00:32:20.500
 to live for the glory of God

00:32:20.500 --> 00:32:26.559
 with pure devotion to God but it's

00:32:26.559 --> 00:32:29.679
 not just that Paul goes on he

00:32:29.679 --> 00:32:30.980
 says it's not just pure

00:32:30.980 --> 00:32:32.460
 devotion to God then I could go

00:32:32.460 --> 00:32:33.819
 be a monk and live on the top

00:32:33.819 --> 00:32:35.919
 of a pillar in the desert and

00:32:35.919 --> 00:32:37.460
 not be distracted by the world

00:32:37.460 --> 00:32:39.339
 but in fact God has actually put

00:32:39.339 --> 00:32:40.799
 me in the world and Paul says

00:32:40.799 --> 00:32:41.980
 that living for the glory of God

00:32:41.980 --> 00:32:44.159
 also has to do with loving with

00:32:44.159 --> 00:32:46.500
 loving our neighbor you see this

00:32:46.500 --> 00:32:48.859
 so clearly in this passage verse

00:32:48.859 --> 00:32:52.119
 24 here's the principle let no one

00:32:52.119 --> 00:32:54.659
 seek his own good but the good of

00:32:54.660 --> 00:32:56.620
 his neighbor look down again in

00:32:56.620 --> 00:32:59.759
 verse 32 and 33 give no offense

00:32:59.759 --> 00:33:02.600
 give no offense to the Jews we're

00:33:02.600 --> 00:33:04.420
 going to be sensitive to what

00:33:04.420 --> 00:33:06.620
 kinds of food you eat and your

00:33:06.620 --> 00:33:09.759
 ritual purity and you know I live

00:33:09.759 --> 00:33:12.160
 in a Jewish neighborhood where

00:33:12.160 --> 00:33:13.440
 there are a lot of Orthodox Jews

00:33:13.440 --> 00:33:15.259
 I've learned you don't shake hands

00:33:15.259 --> 00:33:19.000
 with them it's crossing boundaries

00:33:19.000 --> 00:33:20.220
 they don't want you to cross

00:33:20.220 --> 00:33:23.759
 boundaries and so it's at least

00:33:23.759 --> 00:33:25.380
 that's a maybe I misunderstood it

00:33:25.380 --> 00:33:26.960
 I haven't developed great

00:33:26.960 --> 00:33:28.980
 relationships yet but even in the

00:33:28.980 --> 00:33:30.660
 few interactions I've had I've

00:33:30.660 --> 00:33:31.900
 learned like I need to be

00:33:31.900 --> 00:33:33.140
 restrained in my sort of

00:33:33.140 --> 00:33:34.980
 gregarious Americaness and just

00:33:34.980 --> 00:33:38.039
 go oh I shouldn't do this right

00:33:38.039 --> 00:33:40.100
 don't give offense to the Jews or

00:33:40.100 --> 00:33:41.839
 to the Gentile or to the Greeks

00:33:41.839 --> 00:33:43.279
 which really means to the Gentiles

00:33:43.279 --> 00:33:46.900
 people don't know God people or to

00:33:46.900 --> 00:33:49.700
 the church of God Paul's vision of

00:33:49.700 --> 00:33:51.780
 loving those around us is

00:33:51.780 --> 00:33:53.920
 encompassing both people in the

00:33:53.920 --> 00:33:55.700
 church and the people outside the

00:33:55.700 --> 00:33:57.620
 church and saying our love should be

00:33:57.620 --> 00:34:00.720
 comprehensive in how we do this

00:34:00.720 --> 00:34:08.660
 the hard part about this is that it

00:34:08.660 --> 00:34:10.460
 means that in every situation to

00:34:10.460 --> 00:34:12.619
 love our neighbors is going to be a

00:34:12.619 --> 00:34:15.559
 matter of context isn't it this is

00:34:15.559 --> 00:34:17.480
 why you can't give a hard and fast

00:34:17.480 --> 00:34:20.380
 rule about many things and oh how

00:34:20.380 --> 00:34:22.960
 we love rules don't we we just want

00:34:22.960 --> 00:34:24.320
 someone to tell us if you can just

00:34:24.320 --> 00:34:26.159
 tell me if it's right or wrong then I

00:34:26.159 --> 00:34:27.960
 can wield that rightness or wrongness

00:34:27.960 --> 00:34:29.739
 like a bat and barrel my way through

00:34:29.739 --> 00:34:31.039
 life and it doesn't matter what you

00:34:31.039 --> 00:34:34.039
 think but that's Paul is saying

00:34:34.039 --> 00:34:36.320
 explicitly through these chapters

00:34:36.320 --> 00:34:38.880
 that's not what the Christian life

00:34:38.880 --> 00:34:42.340
 looks like the Christian life looks

00:34:42.340 --> 00:34:44.980
 like the gospel transforming our lives

00:34:44.980 --> 00:34:46.960
 changing our hearts and then sending

00:34:46.960 --> 00:34:50.780
 us out to glorify God displaying who he

00:34:50.780 --> 00:34:52.679
 is through our worship of him and now

00:34:52.679 --> 00:34:55.000
 our love for our neighbors and so

00:34:55.000 --> 00:34:56.960
 loving our neighbors doesn't have a set

00:34:56.960 --> 00:34:57.619
 of rules

00:34:57.619 --> 00:35:03.679
 right so when your unbelieving friend

00:35:03.679 --> 00:35:08.380
 invites you enjoy it eat it be thankful

00:35:08.380 --> 00:35:14.680
 for it unless he associates it with idol and

00:35:14.680 --> 00:35:19.460
 then you have to give offense for his

00:35:19.460 --> 00:35:21.320
 sake so that he understands the gospel

00:35:21.320 --> 00:35:23.760
 better not just so you can be a prudish

00:35:23.760 --> 00:35:25.920
 Christian or you can go back and say I

00:35:25.920 --> 00:35:28.280
 did it right look at me I did it right

00:35:28.280 --> 00:35:31.539
 but for his sake so that he understands the

00:35:31.539 --> 00:35:41.900
 gospel better it's tricky it's tricky to not

00:35:41.900 --> 00:35:45.219
 do something stupid that will wreck of

00:35:45.219 --> 00:35:47.139
 another person's understanding of the

00:35:47.139 --> 00:35:50.219
 gospel it's tricky to neither accommodate

00:35:50.219 --> 00:35:54.259
 sin nor allow legalism to be imposed in a

00:35:54.260 --> 00:36:00.180
 particular situation it's hard to know how to

00:36:00.180 --> 00:36:03.380
 surprise your friends with love and with

00:36:03.380 --> 00:36:08.340
 grace how to explore the world and their

00:36:08.340 --> 00:36:12.620
 lives to see the fingerprints of God in

00:36:12.620 --> 00:36:15.540
 their lives so they might see a little bit of

00:36:15.539 --> 00:36:22.779
 God's glory in it and yet not accepting or

00:36:22.779 --> 00:36:25.759
 condoning the things in their lives that

00:36:25.759 --> 00:36:27.920
 are not of God and don't reflect his

00:36:27.920 --> 00:36:31.579
 kingdom it's tricky there's no doubt about

00:36:31.579 --> 00:36:35.079
 it and yet this is what it means to glorify

00:36:35.079 --> 00:36:43.420
 God it means to think about them and not us

00:36:43.420 --> 00:36:48.980
 here's an analogy for you you know when you

00:36:48.980 --> 00:36:52.260
 first start dating not the first couple of

00:36:52.260 --> 00:36:53.740
 dates those are awkward and you're like I

00:36:53.740 --> 00:36:56.420
 don't know what is going on here but right

00:36:56.420 --> 00:37:00.280
 when you get over that right you sort of like

00:37:00.280 --> 00:37:04.860
 get into this sweet spot of like man I love

00:37:04.860 --> 00:37:07.680
 this person and you know what you go through

00:37:07.680 --> 00:37:09.400
 your day and you're thinking about them all

00:37:09.400 --> 00:37:11.300
 your time and everything in your disposal

00:37:11.300 --> 00:37:13.620
 sort of like how does this relate to this

00:37:13.620 --> 00:37:16.440
 person this is the interesting thing is

00:37:16.440 --> 00:37:21.100
 that God wants us to live our life like

00:37:21.100 --> 00:37:25.260
 that all the time to be thinking about this

00:37:25.260 --> 00:37:27.100
 is the neighbor that I rub shoulders with

00:37:27.100 --> 00:37:28.780
 when I'm pulling in my trash in the morning

00:37:28.780 --> 00:37:31.039
 this is the neighbors I rub shoulders with

00:37:31.039 --> 00:37:33.500
 hopefully not literally as I'm driving

00:37:33.500 --> 00:37:37.680
 through New Haven this is this is the

00:37:37.679 --> 00:37:40.940
 neighbor that I'm called to love this is the

00:37:40.940 --> 00:37:42.539
 brother that I'm called to love in my

00:37:42.539 --> 00:37:46.179
 workplace and so on and so forth every the

00:37:46.179 --> 00:37:50.099
 gospel pictures us being freed from a

00:37:50.099 --> 00:37:53.480
 selfish impulse of how little can I get

00:37:53.480 --> 00:37:58.359
 away with and it frees us to then look

00:37:58.359 --> 00:38:01.299
 outward and to see how much can I love

00:38:01.299 --> 00:38:04.219
 God and how much can I love other people so

00:38:04.219 --> 00:38:11.419
 that they will know Jesus more now I want

00:38:11.419 --> 00:38:14.759
 to be honest it's costly it's going to cost

00:38:14.759 --> 00:38:17.859
 you your comfort and your preferences it

00:38:17.859 --> 00:38:19.599
 will cost you things that you think are

00:38:19.599 --> 00:38:29.519
 your right personal space time comfort being in

00:38:29.519 --> 00:38:33.300
 the right circle of friends it will cost you

00:38:33.300 --> 00:38:36.000
 emotional and spiritual energy because when

00:38:36.000 --> 00:38:39.900
 you love people it's hard it demands things of

00:38:39.900 --> 00:38:48.239
 us our attention our thoughts our prayers it may

00:38:48.239 --> 00:38:53.079
 cost you success if you choose to help others

00:38:53.079 --> 00:38:58.219
 rather than simply advance yourself may cost you

00:38:58.219 --> 00:39:02.960
 prestige as you associate with people who

00:39:02.960 --> 00:39:10.099
 aren't in the right crowd loving people

00:39:10.099 --> 00:39:17.500
 sacrificially is costly but friends it is so

00:39:17.500 --> 00:39:22.219
 worth it because it is the way we display God's

00:39:22.219 --> 00:39:26.119
 glory in the world because the God who is love

00:39:26.119 --> 00:39:33.019
 has set us here so that we might love others for his

00:39:33.019 --> 00:39:38.459
 glory and so in the same way that we think about the our

00:39:38.459 --> 00:39:41.679
 devotion to God let me think about how do you love others with

00:39:41.679 --> 00:39:47.219
 your money with your sex life with your parenting with your career

00:39:47.219 --> 00:39:52.719
 pursuits with your movies with your nightlife decisions with your food with

00:39:52.719 --> 00:40:00.739
 your exercise with your use of social media how can I do these how can I take all of

00:40:00.739 --> 00:40:05.839
 these things that are parts of my life and array them so that I might be

00:40:05.839 --> 00:40:10.819
 encouraging to my brothers and sisters in their devotion to Christ how might I use

00:40:10.820 --> 00:40:18.660
 these things to help clarify what the gospel is for my friends who don't know Jesus yet

00:40:18.660 --> 00:40:32.420
 conversely we need to ask the question how might these things feed my own selfish agenda my own

00:40:32.420 --> 00:40:35.320
 comfort my own ease of life

00:40:35.320 --> 00:40:40.800
 and friends Paul at the end of this passage

00:40:40.800 --> 00:40:43.599
 beginning of chapter 11

00:40:43.599 --> 00:40:50.240
 says imitate me follow me because this is how I have done it

00:40:50.240 --> 00:40:53.840
 not seeking my own advantage but the advantage of others

00:40:53.840 --> 00:40:58.300
 but the only way I have known how to do this is that I followed in the

00:40:58.300 --> 00:41:04.060
 footsteps of the one who went before for me I've imitated Christ

00:41:04.060 --> 00:41:13.320
 because this friends is what Christ came to do to glorify God with pure devotion

00:41:13.320 --> 00:41:21.780
 and love for others he came and he said behold I have come to do your will oh God

00:41:21.780 --> 00:41:28.240
 and he lived a sinless life a perfect life of devotion everything he did

00:41:28.239 --> 00:41:36.539
 was with a view to God and that God would be known and God would be worshipped and God would be loved

00:41:36.539 --> 00:41:44.859
 in the display of his person in his actions in his ministry in his times both doing and in his times of resting

00:41:44.859 --> 00:41:51.759
 they showed a display of the perfect devotion to God

00:41:51.760 --> 00:41:56.400
 and then this same Christ who in his devotion to God came

00:41:56.400 --> 00:41:58.480
 not to

00:41:58.480 --> 00:42:01.940
 be served but to serve and to give his life

00:42:01.940 --> 00:42:03.480
 a ransom for many

00:42:03.480 --> 00:42:06.220
 he came

00:42:06.220 --> 00:42:07.740
 for us

00:42:07.740 --> 00:42:11.000
 to rescue us from sin and death

00:42:11.000 --> 00:42:12.700
 he came for us

00:42:12.700 --> 00:42:17.460
 friends this is the savior that we serve

00:42:17.460 --> 00:42:20.500
 he came for us to point where he suffered

00:42:20.500 --> 00:42:22.820
 on the cross and died

00:42:22.820 --> 00:42:26.460
 he took upon himself

00:42:26.460 --> 00:42:28.240
 the penalty

00:42:28.240 --> 00:42:29.659
 and the pain

00:42:29.659 --> 00:42:30.940
 and the guilt

00:42:30.940 --> 00:42:32.679
 of our sin

00:42:32.679 --> 00:42:34.980
 when he died on that cross

00:42:34.980 --> 00:42:37.960
 so that he might win us back

00:42:37.960 --> 00:42:39.320
 so that we might be his

00:42:39.320 --> 00:42:45.280
 what a beautiful savior we have

00:42:45.280 --> 00:42:47.640
 that in his redemption

00:42:47.640 --> 00:42:48.540
 he not only

00:42:48.540 --> 00:42:50.380
 secured for us

00:42:50.380 --> 00:42:52.920
 the possibility of salvation

00:42:52.920 --> 00:42:55.360
 for all who have placed their faith in this Jesus

00:42:55.360 --> 00:42:58.160
 but he's given us a pattern to follow

00:42:58.160 --> 00:42:59.760
 so that we

00:42:59.760 --> 00:43:01.620
 in following in his footsteps

00:43:01.620 --> 00:43:02.700
 might live

00:43:02.700 --> 00:43:04.240
 whether we eat

00:43:04.240 --> 00:43:05.519
 whether we drink

00:43:05.519 --> 00:43:06.480
 or whatever we do

00:43:06.480 --> 00:43:08.600
 we might do those things

00:43:08.600 --> 00:43:10.740
 to the glory

00:43:10.740 --> 00:43:11.580
 of God

00:43:11.579 --> 00:43:17.380
 friends I think this is what rescues us

00:43:17.380 --> 00:43:18.400
 from minimalist

00:43:18.400 --> 00:43:19.799
 spirituality

00:43:19.799 --> 00:43:22.880
 it rescues us from simply

00:43:22.880 --> 00:43:24.980
 trying to get by

00:43:24.980 --> 00:43:26.420
 with as little as possible

00:43:26.420 --> 00:43:30.340
 this is what we were created for

00:43:30.340 --> 00:43:32.319
 and in Christ

00:43:32.319 --> 00:43:34.059
 this is what we were redeemed for

00:43:34.059 --> 00:43:38.159
 to display God

00:43:38.159 --> 00:43:38.960
 in this world

00:43:38.960 --> 00:43:41.259
 so that the greatness of the God

00:43:41.260 --> 00:43:41.980
 that we know

00:43:41.980 --> 00:43:42.780
 and that we serve

00:43:42.780 --> 00:43:43.600
 and that we worship

00:43:43.600 --> 00:43:44.720
 would be known

00:43:44.720 --> 00:43:45.420
 and extended

00:43:45.420 --> 00:43:46.540
 to the ends of the earth

00:43:46.540 --> 00:43:47.380
 that they too

00:43:47.380 --> 00:43:48.460
 would see how great

00:43:48.460 --> 00:43:49.500
 this God is

00:43:49.500 --> 00:43:50.020
 and that they

00:43:50.020 --> 00:43:51.720
 would turn from idols

00:43:51.720 --> 00:43:52.940
 to serve the true

00:43:52.940 --> 00:43:54.700
 and the living God

00:43:54.700 --> 00:43:57.680
 and he calls us

00:43:57.680 --> 00:43:58.220
 to engage

00:43:58.220 --> 00:43:59.600
 everything we have

00:43:59.600 --> 00:44:01.060
 for that

00:44:01.060 --> 00:44:03.580
 everything we have

00:44:03.580 --> 00:44:05.480
 needs to be run

00:44:05.480 --> 00:44:06.100
 through the filter

00:44:06.100 --> 00:44:06.980
 of how do I

00:44:06.980 --> 00:44:08.200
 worship God

00:44:08.200 --> 00:44:08.940
 in this

00:44:08.940 --> 00:44:10.380
 everything we have

00:44:10.380 --> 00:44:11.880
 run through the filter

00:44:11.880 --> 00:44:12.760
 of how do I

00:44:12.760 --> 00:44:13.659
 love my neighbor

00:44:13.659 --> 00:44:16.720
 and if we do that

00:44:16.720 --> 00:44:17.619
 then we have something

00:44:17.619 --> 00:44:18.559
 worth living for

00:44:18.559 --> 00:44:22.159
 let's pray

00:44:22.159 --> 00:44:32.960
 Lord this is a hard word

00:44:32.960 --> 00:44:35.899
 for we see how often

00:44:35.899 --> 00:44:36.839
 we fall short

00:44:36.839 --> 00:44:38.539
 of these things

00:44:38.539 --> 00:44:39.759
 and Lord we thank you

00:44:39.759 --> 00:44:40.639
 for your grace

00:44:40.639 --> 00:44:41.819
 that covers us

00:44:41.819 --> 00:44:45.879
 Lord that you do not

00:44:45.879 --> 00:44:47.579
 like a harsh taskmaster

00:44:47.579 --> 00:44:49.299
 demand perfection

00:44:49.300 --> 00:44:51.620
 and then cast us off

00:44:51.620 --> 00:44:53.340
 when we are imperfect

00:44:53.340 --> 00:44:55.600
 but God in fact

00:44:55.600 --> 00:44:57.140
 you have given us

00:44:57.140 --> 00:44:58.000
 the perfect one

00:44:58.000 --> 00:44:58.980
 to be our redemption

00:44:58.980 --> 00:45:00.840
 and that in him

00:45:00.840 --> 00:45:01.600
 you have given us

00:45:01.600 --> 00:45:02.700
 a new life to live

00:45:02.700 --> 00:45:03.840
 that we might live it

00:45:03.840 --> 00:45:04.900
 not for ourselves

00:45:04.900 --> 00:45:06.600
 but for him

00:45:06.600 --> 00:45:07.680
 who died for us

00:45:07.680 --> 00:45:10.820
 God I pray

00:45:10.820 --> 00:45:11.880
 that you will help us

00:45:11.880 --> 00:45:12.539
 this morning

00:45:12.539 --> 00:45:14.800
 Lord if we are

00:45:14.800 --> 00:45:16.860
 if we have fallen

00:45:16.860 --> 00:45:19.120
 into spiritual minimalism

00:45:19.120 --> 00:45:19.840
 if we are

00:45:19.840 --> 00:45:20.960
 defending

00:45:20.960 --> 00:45:22.300
 Lord a life

00:45:22.300 --> 00:45:23.660
 that is not being lived

00:45:23.660 --> 00:45:24.760
 to your glory

00:45:24.760 --> 00:45:26.920
 Lord I pray

00:45:26.920 --> 00:45:27.660
 you would help us

00:45:27.660 --> 00:45:28.519
 to see that

00:45:28.519 --> 00:45:29.740
 and repent of it

00:45:29.740 --> 00:45:31.460
 Lord I pray

00:45:31.460 --> 00:45:32.260
 that we would see

00:45:32.260 --> 00:45:32.880
 the greatness

00:45:32.880 --> 00:45:33.539
 of you

00:45:33.539 --> 00:45:34.880
 and of your gospel

00:45:34.880 --> 00:45:35.680
 and of your kingdom

00:45:35.680 --> 00:45:36.920
 and of most of all

00:45:36.920 --> 00:45:37.640
 of your Savior

00:45:37.640 --> 00:45:39.640
 and our Savior Jesus

00:45:39.640 --> 00:45:41.820
 and that in seeing him

00:45:41.820 --> 00:45:42.940
 we might be moved

00:45:42.940 --> 00:45:44.099
 to live a life

00:45:44.099 --> 00:45:45.539
 to your glory

00:45:45.539 --> 00:45:47.019
 whatever we do

00:45:47.019 --> 00:45:48.259
 be with us

00:45:48.259 --> 00:45:48.779
 we pray

00:45:48.779 --> 00:45:50.219
 in this

00:45:50.219 --> 00:45:51.279
 in Jesus name

00:45:51.279 --> 00:45:52.219
 Amen

00:45:52.219 --> 00:46:00.079
 Well friends

00:46:00.079 --> 00:46:01.119
 this is a

00:46:01.119 --> 00:46:02.900
 beautiful day

00:46:02.900 --> 00:46:03.679
 for us to

00:46:03.679 --> 00:46:04.699
 celebrate communion

00:46:04.699 --> 00:46:05.659
 because

00:46:05.659 --> 00:46:06.960
 when we think about

00:46:06.960 --> 00:46:08.000
 where do we see

00:46:08.000 --> 00:46:09.079
 the glory of God

00:46:09.079 --> 00:46:10.219
 it is

00:46:10.219 --> 00:46:11.679
 what we remember here

00:46:11.679 --> 00:46:12.579
 most fully

00:46:12.579 --> 00:46:14.199
 when Jesus said

00:46:14.199 --> 00:46:14.779
 I have come

00:46:14.779 --> 00:46:15.599
 to do your will

00:46:15.599 --> 00:46:16.059
 I have come

00:46:16.059 --> 00:46:17.119
 to bring you glory

00:46:17.119 --> 00:46:18.400
 it is when we

00:46:18.400 --> 00:46:19.000
 recognize

00:46:19.000 --> 00:46:20.619
 and see

00:46:20.619 --> 00:46:21.980
 God's love

00:46:21.980 --> 00:46:22.819
 and his mercy

00:46:22.819 --> 00:46:23.799
 his justice

00:46:23.799 --> 00:46:25.039
 his righteousness

00:46:25.039 --> 00:46:26.819
 and his love

00:46:26.819 --> 00:46:28.480
 in this

00:46:28.480 --> 00:46:29.679
 in this table

00:46:29.679 --> 00:46:31.739
 the bread

00:46:31.739 --> 00:46:32.519
 that represents

00:46:32.519 --> 00:46:33.360
 Jesus' body

00:46:33.360 --> 00:46:34.299
 broken for us

00:46:34.299 --> 00:46:34.799
 the cup

00:46:34.799 --> 00:46:35.599
 that represents

00:46:35.599 --> 00:46:36.860
 Jesus' blood

00:46:36.860 --> 00:46:38.619
 shed for us

00:46:38.619 --> 00:46:42.059
 and so we come here

00:46:42.059 --> 00:46:44.179
 to display

00:46:44.179 --> 00:46:44.940
 God's glory

00:46:44.940 --> 00:46:46.059
 as we partake

00:46:46.059 --> 00:46:46.539
 together

00:46:46.539 --> 00:46:48.239
 of these things

00:46:48.239 --> 00:46:53.279
 if you are here

00:46:53.279 --> 00:46:53.779
 this morning

00:46:53.779 --> 00:46:54.579
 and you are visiting

00:46:54.579 --> 00:46:56.940
 you have not

00:46:56.940 --> 00:46:57.940
 placed your faith

00:46:57.940 --> 00:46:58.880
 in Jesus Christ

00:46:58.880 --> 00:46:59.940
 as your Lord

00:46:59.940 --> 00:47:00.519
 and Savior

00:47:00.519 --> 00:47:02.679
 we would ask

00:47:02.679 --> 00:47:03.420
 that rather than

00:47:03.420 --> 00:47:04.519
 taking these elements

00:47:04.519 --> 00:47:05.059
 that you would

00:47:05.059 --> 00:47:05.659
 consider

00:47:05.659 --> 00:47:07.059
 what the significance

00:47:07.059 --> 00:47:08.219
 of them is

00:47:08.219 --> 00:47:09.779
 and see the greatness

00:47:09.780 --> 00:47:11.240
 of who Christ

00:47:11.240 --> 00:47:11.620
 is

00:47:11.620 --> 00:47:13.720
 you would

00:47:13.720 --> 00:47:14.560
 think of

00:47:14.560 --> 00:47:15.260
 ponder

00:47:15.260 --> 00:47:16.060
 what it is

00:47:16.060 --> 00:47:16.760
 to live

00:47:16.760 --> 00:47:17.780
 a life

00:47:17.780 --> 00:47:18.880
 to God's glory

00:47:18.880 --> 00:47:20.280
 this morning

00:47:20.280 --> 00:47:22.380
 but if you have

00:47:22.380 --> 00:47:23.100
 placed your faith

00:47:23.100 --> 00:47:23.900
 in Jesus Christ

00:47:23.900 --> 00:47:24.680
 if you have

00:47:24.680 --> 00:47:25.660
 known him

00:47:25.660 --> 00:47:26.400
 as your Savior

00:47:26.400 --> 00:47:27.720
 then take

00:47:27.720 --> 00:47:28.160
 and eat

00:47:28.160 --> 00:47:28.940
 these things

00:47:28.940 --> 00:47:29.980
 as a joyful

00:47:29.980 --> 00:47:31.060
 reaffirmation

00:47:31.060 --> 00:47:32.200
 of your trust

00:47:32.200 --> 00:47:32.920
 in Christ

00:47:32.920 --> 00:47:33.740
 and of your

00:47:33.740 --> 00:47:34.440
 taking hold

00:47:34.440 --> 00:47:35.380
 of this great work

00:47:35.380 --> 00:47:36.640
 for you

00:47:36.640 --> 00:47:39.320
 can I ask those

00:47:39.320 --> 00:47:40.320
 who are serving

00:47:40.320 --> 00:47:43.059
 to come on forward

00:47:43.059 --> 00:47:43.720
 and as they are

00:47:43.720 --> 00:47:44.380
 coming up

00:47:44.380 --> 00:47:45.220
 just so you know

00:47:45.220 --> 00:47:46.180
 we will pass out

00:47:46.180 --> 00:47:47.119
 the

00:47:47.119 --> 00:47:50.200
 wafers

00:47:50.200 --> 00:47:50.800
 together

00:47:50.800 --> 00:47:51.599
 you can hold

00:47:51.599 --> 00:47:52.039
 on to them

00:47:52.039 --> 00:47:52.720
 and at the end

00:47:52.720 --> 00:47:54.400
 we will eat together

00:47:54.400 --> 00:47:55.099
 and then we will

00:47:55.099 --> 00:47:55.840
 pass out the cup

00:47:55.840 --> 00:47:56.320
 similarly

00:47:56.320 --> 00:47:57.440
 hold on to it

00:47:57.440 --> 00:47:58.340
 we will drink together

00:47:58.340 --> 00:47:58.860
 and then

00:47:58.860 --> 00:48:00.300
 we will close

00:48:00.300 --> 00:48:01.039
 so

00:48:01.039 --> 00:48:03.500
 John will you pray

00:48:03.500 --> 00:48:03.940
 for the bread

00:48:03.940 --> 00:48:04.420
 this morning

00:48:04.420 --> 00:48:15.059
 Lord may

00:48:15.059 --> 00:48:16.860
 we see

00:48:16.860 --> 00:48:17.639
 in this

00:48:17.639 --> 00:48:19.400
 broken bread

00:48:19.400 --> 00:48:21.900
 your broken body

00:48:21.900 --> 00:48:22.539
 and in it

00:48:22.539 --> 00:48:24.780
 the measure

00:48:24.780 --> 00:48:25.880
 the horror

00:48:25.880 --> 00:48:28.200
 of our sin

00:48:28.200 --> 00:48:29.180
 that put you there

00:48:29.180 --> 00:48:29.900
 on the cross

00:48:29.900 --> 00:48:32.820
 as we

00:48:32.820 --> 00:48:34.340
 consider the cross

00:48:34.340 --> 00:48:36.100
 and the bread

00:48:36.100 --> 00:48:37.120
 as we take it

00:48:37.120 --> 00:48:39.440
 may we be cured

00:48:39.440 --> 00:48:39.960
 from

00:48:39.960 --> 00:48:41.519
 slight

00:48:41.519 --> 00:48:43.000
 regard

00:48:43.000 --> 00:48:44.860
 for our sin

00:48:44.860 --> 00:48:45.300
 that would

00:48:45.300 --> 00:48:46.260
 minimize it

00:48:46.260 --> 00:48:49.260
 may we also

00:48:49.260 --> 00:48:50.160
 see in the

00:48:50.160 --> 00:48:51.539
 broken bread

00:48:51.539 --> 00:48:52.360
 of your

00:48:52.360 --> 00:48:53.559
 body

00:48:53.559 --> 00:48:56.519
 the magnitude

00:48:56.519 --> 00:48:57.600
 of your mercy

00:48:57.599 --> 00:48:58.460
 and the greatness

00:48:58.460 --> 00:48:59.420
 of your grace

00:48:59.420 --> 00:49:02.679
 the lavish nature

00:49:02.679 --> 00:49:03.319
 of your love

00:49:03.319 --> 00:49:04.059
 toward us

00:49:04.059 --> 00:49:06.659
 and may we

00:49:06.659 --> 00:49:07.079
 eat

00:49:07.079 --> 00:49:08.900
 to your glory

00:49:08.900 --> 00:49:12.079
 by as we

00:49:12.079 --> 00:49:12.440
 eating

00:49:12.440 --> 00:49:13.759
 exalting you

00:49:13.759 --> 00:49:14.860
 as Savior

00:49:14.860 --> 00:49:15.579
 our Savior

00:49:15.579 --> 00:49:15.900
 in who

00:49:15.900 --> 00:49:16.360
 Christ

00:49:18.099 --> 00:49:18.759
 worth

00:49:22.679 --> 00:49:24.519
 and

00:49:24.519 --> 00:49:24.860
 thank you

00:49:24.860 --> 00:49:25.239
 for having me

00:49:25.239 --> 00:49:25.960
 to

00:49:26.500 --> 00:49:27.139
 share

00:49:27.139 --> 00:49:27.199
 and

00:49:27.199 --> 00:49:27.380
 let me

00:49:27.380 --> 00:49:27.779
 describe

00:49:27.779 --> 00:49:28.019
 God

00:49:28.019 --> 00:49:28.279
 Waters

00:49:28.279 --> 00:49:29.500
 and

00:49:29.500 --> 00:49:29.759
 your

00:49:29.759 --> 00:49:29.799
уб Tao

00:49:29.799 --> 00:49:30.239
 and

00:49:30.239 --> 00:49:30.460
 side

00:49:30.460 --> 00:49:30.559
 and

00:49:30.559 --> 00:49:30.980
 its

00:49:30.980 --> 00:49:31.380
vis

00:49:31.380 --> 00:49:31.599
 and

00:49:31.599 --> 00:49:31.799
 it

00:49:31.799 --> 00:49:32.239
 through

00:49:32.239 --> 00:49:32.299
 and

00:49:32.299 --> 00:49:32.400
 our

00:49:32.400 --> 00:49:32.860
 good

00:49:32.860 --> 00:49:34.139
 Gift

00:49:34.139 --> 00:49:35.139
 and

00:49:35.139 --> 00:49:36.199
 everything