Authentic Restoration
Series: AUTHENTIC
Speaker: James Barnett
Date: 12th October 2019
Passage: 2 Corinthians 12:11-13:14
00:00:00 --> 00:00:09 There was once a rich man, a rich and wealthy man, who saw a bruised and injured woman in the gutter.
00:00:10 --> 00:00:18 She was dirty and wounded. He lifted her up, he cleaned her and he cared for her.
00:00:20 --> 00:00:26 One day, they were married, with a solemn oath and a giving of promises.
00:00:26 --> 00:00:35 He gave her fine clothes and jewellery, the very best bracelets and necklaces and rings of gold and silver.
00:00:36 --> 00:00:38 They honeymooned and feasted together.
00:00:39 --> 00:00:46 The man cared for her and in his spotlight, she became beautiful.
00:00:47 --> 00:00:50 And her fame and popularity spread.
00:00:50 --> 00:00:53 All knew about this woman's beauty.
00:00:53 --> 00:00:56 But she trusted in her beauty.
00:00:57 --> 00:01:00 And she used her fame to sell herself.
00:01:01 --> 00:01:03 She sold herself to anyone that she could.
00:01:04 --> 00:01:10 She even sold all her gifts that her husband had given her, so she could pay for lovers to be with her.
00:01:10 --> 00:01:15 Instead of receiving payment, she paid for them herself.
00:01:16 --> 00:01:17 But the money disappeared.
00:01:18 --> 00:01:22 Her beauty gone and her lovers turned on her.
00:01:22 --> 00:01:29 She was left bruised and dirty and ruined in the gutter again.
00:01:30 --> 00:01:35 But again, her husband came to her and lifted her up.
00:01:35 --> 00:01:38 He wiped away her tears.
00:01:38 --> 00:01:42 He wiped away her blood at the cost of his own.
00:01:43 --> 00:01:47 He restored her beauty because of his great love for her.
00:01:47 --> 00:01:51 The man in this story is God.
00:01:51 --> 00:01:54 And the woman is his people Israel.
00:01:54 --> 00:02:00 This is a summary of part of the Old Testament from Ezekiel chapter 16.
00:02:01 --> 00:02:03 Let me encourage you to go home and read that.
00:02:03 --> 00:02:06 Ezekiel 16 tells that story in far greater detail.
00:02:06 --> 00:02:16 But it tells of God's people like a wife doing the worst possible thing in a marriage.
00:02:17 --> 00:02:19 Absolute betrayal.
00:02:20 --> 00:02:22 Because the Bible, in one sense, is a love story.
00:02:23 --> 00:02:32 A story of people that God has chosen to love who run from him and have chosen other things and other gods to love.
00:02:32 --> 00:02:39 It shows in black and white how depraved we are as people compared to God's love.
00:02:41 --> 00:02:45 That's the picture the Bible presents of God and of us.
00:02:45 --> 00:02:51 God chooses people and made them wonderful and they ran in every direction.
00:02:52 --> 00:02:58 But God, at the cost of his own son, has lifted us up and restored us.
00:02:58 --> 00:03:06 As we come to the final passage in 2 Corinthians, we're looking at authentic restoration.
00:03:07 --> 00:03:12 Paul has had conflict with this church in Corinth because they had run away from Jesus.
00:03:13 --> 00:03:15 They had broken relationship with him.
00:03:16 --> 00:03:23 They've chased a different version of Jesus because they were deceived by a group of so-called super apostles.
00:03:23 --> 00:03:30 As Paul closes this letter, he reminds the church of the consequences of sin.
00:03:31 --> 00:03:37 But he points them to a beautiful picture of what being restored with God looks like.
00:03:38 --> 00:03:42 When they're restored in relationship with Paul, with each other, and with God.
00:03:43 --> 00:03:48 And he calls them to the end of this love story of when the couple is restored.
00:03:48 --> 00:03:52 It's that happily ever after moment that he's calling them to.
00:03:53 --> 00:03:55 Because this is the longing of our soul.
00:03:57 --> 00:03:58 To be restored.
00:03:58 --> 00:04:04 To be in complete and perfect relationship with other people and with God.
00:04:05 --> 00:04:11 And so as we finish 2 Corinthians today, we're going to see how we can have our relationship with God restored.
00:04:11 --> 00:04:13 And our relationship with others restored.
00:04:13 --> 00:04:16 So please, have your Bibles open.
00:04:17 --> 00:04:19 2 Corinthians chapter 12.
00:04:21 --> 00:04:23 And we'll be going through to the end of chapter 13.
00:04:24 --> 00:04:28 So Paul outlines the conflict between him and the church and Corinth.
00:04:29 --> 00:04:34 It's effectively, like most conflict, it's all because of unmet expectations.
00:04:35 --> 00:04:36 Verse 20.
00:04:36 --> 00:04:43 For I am afraid that when I come, I might not find you as I want you to be.
00:04:43 --> 00:04:46 And you may not find me as you want me to be.
00:04:47 --> 00:04:53 The church in Corinth had fled Paul's teaching and relationship because he appeared weak.
00:04:54 --> 00:04:57 And that meant that they'd also fled relationship with Jesus.
00:04:57 --> 00:05:02 And Paul is worried that his expectations won't be met either.
00:05:02 --> 00:05:06 And so when he gets there, he's worried that there is going to be further conflict.
00:05:07 --> 00:05:09 Verse 20, again from the second half.
00:05:09 --> 00:05:19 I fear that there may be discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder.
00:05:19 --> 00:05:24 I am afraid that when I come again, my God will humble me before you.
00:05:24 --> 00:05:34 And I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of their impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged.
00:05:35 --> 00:05:42 Paul is fearful that when he comes back, he'll arrive and be grieved by their sin.
00:05:43 --> 00:05:48 See, they're not only fighting with Paul, they're fighting with each other and against God.
00:05:48 --> 00:05:55 You look at that list of sins and they all damage relationships with other people.
00:05:55 --> 00:06:02 You know, discord, jealousy, rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, disorder, sexual impurity and debauchery.
00:06:03 --> 00:06:09 Imagine walking into church this morning and seeing all of that in a church.
00:06:09 --> 00:06:13 But are we actually that far off?
00:06:15 --> 00:06:19 These could all be descriptions of my heart at different times.
00:06:21 --> 00:06:23 Frustration leading to rage.
00:06:24 --> 00:06:27 Sharing of prayer points leading to gossip.
00:06:28 --> 00:06:33 Hearing of others' success leading to jealousy and selfish ambition.
00:06:33 --> 00:06:41 These sins damage relationship with God, but they are damaging relationships in the church with each other.
00:06:43 --> 00:06:49 Paul speaks hard words to them so that they would repent, so they can be restored.
00:06:50 --> 00:06:52 Otherwise, there will be more conflict.
00:06:53 --> 00:06:54 Chapter 13, verse 2.
00:06:55 --> 00:06:59 I already gave you a warning when I was with you the second time.
00:06:59 --> 00:07:00 I now repeat it while absent.
00:07:00 --> 00:07:06 On my return, I will not spare those who sinned earlier or any of the others.
00:07:07 --> 00:07:09 Since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me,
00:07:09 --> 00:07:13 He is not weak in dealing with you, but He's powerful among you.
00:07:13 --> 00:07:17 See, Paul is going to come with proof of Christ working through him.
00:07:18 --> 00:07:23 And he's coming with, as verse 4 tells us, with God's power to deal with their sin.
00:07:23 --> 00:07:32 Paul knows that the relationship between Corinth and him and Corinth and God has been damaged.
00:07:32 --> 00:07:35 And this is not something that he can just ignore.
00:07:35 --> 00:07:39 He can't just be okay that they are chasing a different Jesus.
00:07:39 --> 00:07:44 He can't just sweep this under the rug and pretend that everything is fine.
00:07:44 --> 00:07:50 He doesn't ignore it, hoping that this church will get better on their own.
00:07:52 --> 00:07:55 This letter has been about dealing with the conflict head on.
00:07:57 --> 00:08:02 And Paul says in verse 19 that this conflict has been for their strengthening.
00:08:02 --> 00:08:08 For them to be built strong following Jesus, they actually have needed this conflict.
00:08:09 --> 00:08:12 They need to be confronted with their broken relationship.
00:08:13 --> 00:08:20 And reflecting on this whole letter, it shows the value of conflict and how to conflict well.
00:08:20 --> 00:08:22 Now, I know that conflict is hard.
00:08:22 --> 00:08:25 Is anybody here that really enjoys conflict?
00:08:25 --> 00:08:29 No hands? No? Okay.
00:08:31 --> 00:08:36 But I think it is better to have conflict than to sit in a broken relationship.
00:08:36 --> 00:08:39 And to pretend that everything is just fine.
00:08:40 --> 00:08:42 That everything will be better eventually.
00:08:42 --> 00:08:44 We'll just pretend. We'll sweep it under the rug.
00:08:46 --> 00:08:50 Conflict, Paul says, has been for this church, for their sake,
00:08:50 --> 00:08:54 to bring them back in relationship with Jesus and with each other.
00:08:55 --> 00:08:59 Now, we can be tempted to avoid conflict because we love other people.
00:08:59 --> 00:09:02 Christians generally love other people and we want to be nice to other people.
00:09:03 --> 00:09:11 But if we just ignore conflict, the feelings of hurt and pain will just grow and fester.
00:09:11 --> 00:09:15 They will bubble up and eventually burst.
00:09:16 --> 00:09:19 And so you'll either flee the relationship or lash out.
00:09:20 --> 00:09:23 And neither of those options are loving.
00:09:23 --> 00:09:28 Paul gives us a picture of how to do conflict well.
00:09:29 --> 00:09:34 He's not about bullying or just influencing this church with his will.
00:09:35 --> 00:09:38 He has been direct with the issues.
00:09:39 --> 00:09:42 But it's for this church's strengthening, for them to be built up.
00:09:42 --> 00:09:46 He doesn't want to be a burden on them.
00:09:46 --> 00:09:49 So he hasn't charged them.
00:09:49 --> 00:09:53 He's not taking any money from them because he wants them to listen really well.
00:09:53 --> 00:09:56 Because he's leading them from a position of love.
00:09:57 --> 00:10:00 He could have begun from the position of authority.
00:10:00 --> 00:10:01 I am your apostle.
00:10:02 --> 00:10:04 You should do what I tell you because I have this authority.
00:10:04 --> 00:10:05 But he doesn't.
00:10:05 --> 00:10:08 He shows patience and love.
00:10:09 --> 00:10:15 And he's also been up front about his own issues and his own weaknesses.
00:10:16 --> 00:10:17 He has not been proud.
00:10:19 --> 00:10:24 And so Paul shows us a model of love and patience when confronting sin.
00:10:24 --> 00:10:29 Direct but not inappropriate, not selfish.
00:10:29 --> 00:10:38 Patient and loving and bringing conflict, not to win an argument but to build other people up.
00:10:39 --> 00:10:42 And he does this all aware of his own faults.
00:10:44 --> 00:10:51 When I do marriage preparation with couples that I'm marrying, we often talk about conflict.
00:10:51 --> 00:10:57 And I talk about how important it is to fight fair and clean.
00:10:58 --> 00:11:01 Because there's often a problem if we are too averse to fighting.
00:11:01 --> 00:11:04 You know, we're the couple that's never had a fight.
00:11:05 --> 00:11:06 And you kind of smile and nod.
00:11:06 --> 00:11:07 Sure, sure, sure.
00:11:07 --> 00:11:07 Yeah, definitely.
00:11:08 --> 00:11:11 But then there's those couples who just seem to love to fight.
00:11:12 --> 00:11:15 And both positions, both poles are dangerous.
00:11:15 --> 00:11:21 Conflict is helpful because it leads us to express our expectations.
00:11:21 --> 00:11:23 Paul had expectations of this church.
00:11:24 --> 00:11:26 He wanted them to be following Jesus.
00:11:27 --> 00:11:31 And this, that Paul is hoping, would lead to them being restored.
00:11:32 --> 00:11:37 If you want to follow up what Jesus says about conflict, go and read Matthew 18.
00:11:37 --> 00:11:41 He gives us a wonderful model for confronting someone else.
00:11:41 --> 00:11:51 Paul's directness and desire is is much more than just hoping that everything would be fine
00:11:51 --> 00:11:59 Paul is seeking for them to be restored and conflict is is far better it's a he shows us
00:11:59 --> 00:12:06 a good way to deal with these issues in a loving and godly way because he is aiming for full
00:12:06 --> 00:12:12 restoration of these people as he comes to the end of the letter he presses on this church with
00:12:12 --> 00:12:20 his final words so that they would have relationships that are restored and he asks in verse 5
00:12:20 --> 00:12:29 examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith test yourselves Paul says to to take a
00:12:29 --> 00:12:34 measure of humbleness and self-reflection and have a think about where your faith is at
00:12:34 --> 00:12:41 examine yourself and Paul points to where they got their faith from they they got their faith
00:12:41 --> 00:12:46 they got their belief in Jesus from Paul's preaching itself Paul shared the gospel message
00:12:46 --> 00:12:54 of restoration and reconciliation that broken people are made whole in Christ and if they
00:12:54 --> 00:13:02 accept the message well that means they need to accept the messenger Paul himself and Paul he gives
00:13:02 --> 00:13:06 them the benefit of the doubt you know examine yourselves I'll give you the benefit of the
00:13:06 --> 00:13:13 doubt verse 6 I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test and he asks an ironic
00:13:13 --> 00:13:20 question verse 5 do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you unless of course you fail the test he's
00:13:20 --> 00:13:28 saying this in a tongue-in-cheek ironic kind of way he's not casting doubt in their faith
00:13:28 --> 00:13:35 but if Christ is in them it's because they have heard Paul's message and that he is their true
00:13:35 --> 00:13:43 apostle and they've been deceived by these super apostles to confirm Christ is to confirm Paul's role
00:13:43 --> 00:13:52 as well and so Paul rejoices in verse 9 we are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong
00:13:52 --> 00:14:01 and our prayer is that you may be fully restored Paul is glad when as an extension of the cross he
00:14:01 --> 00:14:08 suffers for their on their behalf and he is glad that as an extension of the cross
00:14:08 --> 00:14:14 uh the Jesus's resurrection from the cross that the church is strengthened and encouraged in their faith
00:14:14 --> 00:14:21 this is why Paul is so willing to be weak if he is weak it's they get to be strong
00:14:21 --> 00:14:28 and he wants them to be fully restored that's the the purpose of this letter he he is praying this
00:14:28 --> 00:14:32 right at the end it's almost it's helpful to know this at the very start of the series but here we are
00:14:32 --> 00:14:42 at the end he is praying for them to be restored examine yourself so you can be restored but it's not
00:14:42 --> 00:14:47 just Paul and this church who need to be restored because they've had conflict it's not even just
00:14:47 --> 00:14:54 this church and God because of their sin that need to be restored their relationship with each other
00:14:54 --> 00:15:00 needs to be restored to the the the parents and the children the the husbands and the wives the the
00:15:00 --> 00:15:08 friends and the enemies the the family and the church as a body needs to be restored I think this is
00:15:08 --> 00:15:16 where uh one of the very few times uh English as a language lets us down uh because English doesn't have
00:15:16 --> 00:15:24 a second person plural uh I'm not sure if you I like grammar so I I'll explain this a bit so um
00:15:24 --> 00:15:33 Paul's prayer here is for you to be restored now it's easy to read that this morning and think that
00:15:33 --> 00:15:39 it's the singular it's a we're in Sydney in an individualistic culture and we read you and we just
00:15:39 --> 00:15:48 think single person but it's not uh it's about you plural it's about this community of believers being
00:15:48 --> 00:15:56 restored uh so I'm going to appeal to two other bad translations of mine uh and the Chinese it's all
00:15:56 --> 00:16:03 about this word you in the second person plural so another way to say you uh would be use does anybody
00:16:03 --> 00:16:12 say use so Paul's prayer is that use may be fully restored or if I was going to do an American accent
00:16:12 --> 00:16:21 it'd be y'all does anybody say y'all y'all so Paul's prayer is that y'all may be fully restored
00:16:21 --> 00:16:32 or in the Chinese it's uh nimen neng cheng wei one chuan ren it's nimen you you all you in the plural
00:16:32 --> 00:16:42 because the areas of sin from chapter 12 had an impact on other people it's discord rage rage
00:16:42 --> 00:16:49 doesn't just impact one people one person it's slander gossip debauchery disorder sexual immorality
00:16:49 --> 00:16:56 rebellion from Jesus has broken relationship with Paul as their apostle and leader with God but the
00:16:56 --> 00:17:08 people the church and now Paul presents a beautiful picture of restoration the amazing work of the one
00:17:08 --> 00:17:14 true gospel that good news that God's son died and was raised so we could have a restored relationship
00:17:14 --> 00:17:24 with God this word restoration it's also translated as complete or perfect restoration looks like
00:17:24 --> 00:17:32 taking what was broken and restoring it to what it was intended to be to go from broken to to whole
00:17:32 --> 00:17:41 and so Paul fills this picture of restoration in verse 11 of chapter 12 finally brothers and sisters
00:17:41 --> 00:17:50 rejoice strive for full restoration encourage one another be of one mind live in peace
00:17:50 --> 00:17:58 and the God of love and peace will be with you greet one another with a holy kiss this picture of a
00:17:58 --> 00:18:06 restored relationship looks the opposite of their sin they are people who are encouraging one another
00:18:06 --> 00:18:14 they have one mind and they're not divided by discord and rage and slander they're living in peace
00:18:14 --> 00:18:20 with each other they're building each other up because there is no division they're going in the same
00:18:20 --> 00:18:26 direction following the Lord and Paul calls them to greet each other with a holy kiss
00:18:26 --> 00:18:36 now the ancient church it's not it's not a picture of say an Italian culture you know the Italian you know
00:18:36 --> 00:18:41 the kind of very flamboyant culture who when they greet someone it's not a handshake it's a kiss on each
00:18:41 --> 00:18:50 cheek that is not a picture here this kind of kiss behavior kiss on the cheek that kind of thing
00:18:50 --> 00:19:03 is a very personal interaction it is a very personal greeting reserved for family but Paul calls them to kiss
00:19:03 --> 00:19:11 one another in a very trans-cultural way one that recognizes that we are now all in God's
00:19:11 --> 00:19:21 family regardless or of wealth or status or ethnic origin this family has grown and so we can greet
00:19:21 --> 00:19:27 one another with a holy kiss now this still sounds fairly strange to us doesn't it and Nick kind of
00:19:27 --> 00:19:33 joked are you going to get up there when you start and and greet me with a kiss I said no but maybe
00:19:33 --> 00:19:38 mate look I'm going to greet him now so look come on come on come on come on Nick brother
00:19:38 --> 00:19:46 good to see you first bearded kiss and not your last
00:19:46 --> 00:19:50 there's always tomorrow
00:19:50 --> 00:19:57 now this is this is the opposite of the picture of their sin
00:19:57 --> 00:20:02 it's it's greeting with a kiss which is reserved for family instead of sexual impurity
00:20:02 --> 00:20:06 oh did you want to kiss too my son
00:20:06 --> 00:20:16 when these behaviors happen Paul says that the God of love and peace will be with them
00:20:16 --> 00:20:21 God is working through Paul's message through the spirit leading them to obey and love others
00:20:21 --> 00:20:23 and God is there
00:20:23 --> 00:20:29 here Paul is promising that God is going to be with you he's going to be with you either way
00:20:29 --> 00:20:35 he could be with you in the positive if they repent and they're restored God will be there
00:20:35 --> 00:20:44 as the God of love and peace displayed in their unity but be warned if you don't repent
00:20:44 --> 00:20:52 if you don't examine yourself God will be there Paul will come with God's power
00:20:52 --> 00:20:59 and authority to tear down so God is going to be there it could be the God of love the same God
00:20:59 --> 00:21:03 but two facets the God of love and peace or the God of justice
00:21:03 --> 00:21:09 and Paul closes with a wonderful triune blessing from God
00:21:09 --> 00:21:13 verse 14 may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ
00:21:13 --> 00:21:17 and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with
00:21:17 --> 00:21:21 you all and that is such a lovely summary of this
00:21:21 --> 00:21:25 Jesus's death shows us God's grace
00:21:25 --> 00:21:28 his great love restoring us
00:21:28 --> 00:21:33 and the fellowship with the Holy Spirit enables us to obey him
00:21:33 --> 00:21:37 and to have our relationships restored with God and each other
00:21:37 --> 00:21:43 Paul has left the divided Corinthian church
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 a way forward
00:21:44 --> 00:21:47 deal with conflict in a healthy way
00:21:47 --> 00:21:49 so there can be restoration
00:21:49 --> 00:21:53 he's called them to the God of love who takes us his people
00:21:53 --> 00:21:56 damaged and broken
00:21:56 --> 00:22:00 and lifts us out of the gutter out of the muck
00:22:00 --> 00:22:02 and he completes us
00:22:02 --> 00:22:05 he makes us whole and perfect
00:22:05 --> 00:22:09 he makes us beautiful in him
00:22:09 --> 00:22:12 at great cost to himself
00:22:12 --> 00:22:15 as I was thinking of this
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 I was reminded of the
00:22:16 --> 00:22:18 Japanese art
00:22:18 --> 00:22:20 kintsugi
00:22:20 --> 00:22:23 can anybody pronounce that better than I can?
00:22:24 --> 00:22:24 no?
00:22:24 --> 00:22:26 there will be a picture of the screen
00:22:26 --> 00:22:29 the art of kintsugi is where
00:22:29 --> 00:22:32 they would take a broken bowl
00:22:32 --> 00:22:34 and restore it
00:22:34 --> 00:22:36 often with resin and then gold
00:22:36 --> 00:22:39 and it's this wonderful art
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 but what they're doing is
00:22:40 --> 00:22:43 they're taking what was broken and useless
00:22:43 --> 00:22:45 and restoring it
00:22:45 --> 00:22:49 not just restoring its function of holding things
00:22:49 --> 00:22:52 but it actually makes it far better than it was
00:22:52 --> 00:22:56 they make the bowl precious
00:22:56 --> 00:22:59 this is a picture of what God has done in us
00:22:59 --> 00:23:03 he has lifted us out of the gutter
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 broken and useless
00:23:04 --> 00:23:06 and he has repaired us
00:23:06 --> 00:23:08 and he has made us precious
00:23:08 --> 00:23:09 not with gold
00:23:09 --> 00:23:12 but the blood of his son
00:23:12 --> 00:23:16 Paul's encouragement here is for us
00:23:16 --> 00:23:18 that we need to examine ourselves
00:23:18 --> 00:23:20 to realise that we are broken bowls
00:23:20 --> 00:23:22 who need fixing
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 can you imagine
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 trying to eat breakfast
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 out of a bowl like this?
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 if it was broken
00:23:26 --> 00:23:29 it wouldn't work
00:23:29 --> 00:23:31 and I'd probably cut myself
00:23:31 --> 00:23:31 on one of the edges
00:23:31 --> 00:23:35 that's why
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 dealing with conflict
00:23:36 --> 00:23:38 is so important
00:23:38 --> 00:23:40 to point out the harsh edges
00:23:40 --> 00:23:43 the broken parts
00:23:43 --> 00:23:45 and to apply God's grace
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 like gold
00:23:46 --> 00:23:48 in bringing restoration
00:23:48 --> 00:23:51 brothers and sisters
00:23:51 --> 00:23:53 have you examined yourselves?
00:23:53 --> 00:23:56 have you examined our face
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 just like these masks
00:23:57 --> 00:24:00 and considered taking off our mask
00:24:00 --> 00:24:02 to be authentic?
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 as a church community
00:24:05 --> 00:24:08 as people following Jesus
00:24:08 --> 00:24:10 when we are confident
00:24:10 --> 00:24:12 and authentic about who we are
00:24:12 --> 00:24:14 who God has made us to be
00:24:14 --> 00:24:16 this church looks wonderful
00:24:16 --> 00:24:18 we look like
00:24:18 --> 00:24:20 a bowl that was broken
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 but has been restored
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 to something even better
00:24:22 --> 00:24:24 a church that
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 we can boldly declare
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 that look
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 we don't have it all together
00:24:27 --> 00:24:29 we're broken and messed up
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 we're prone to rage
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 and selfishness
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 and sexual impurity
00:24:32 --> 00:24:34 but God's grace
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 is sufficient
00:24:35 --> 00:24:38 we are made precious
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 and whole
00:24:39 --> 00:24:42 imagine church
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 if we
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 demonstrated
00:24:44 --> 00:24:46 humble authenticity
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 like this
00:24:47 --> 00:24:49 we are made whole
00:24:49 --> 00:24:51 as
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 Christ's bride
00:24:52 --> 00:24:54 as people who will
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 one day
00:24:55 --> 00:24:57 be in full relationship
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 with Jesus
00:24:58 --> 00:24:58 men
00:24:58 --> 00:24:59 this is a strange thing
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 to talk about
00:25:00 --> 00:25:00 but men
00:25:00 --> 00:25:03 we are the bride of Christ
00:25:03 --> 00:25:03 too
00:25:03 --> 00:25:05 even if it's strange
00:25:05 --> 00:25:05 to think of ourselves
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 as brides
00:25:06 --> 00:25:09 we are restored
00:25:09 --> 00:25:10 to be something
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 amazing
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 we are restored
00:25:12 --> 00:25:14 to be in relationship
00:25:14 --> 00:25:14 together
00:25:14 --> 00:25:16 and with God
00:25:16 --> 00:25:17 himself
00:25:17 --> 00:25:19 and so
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 to be this people
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 do we need to go
00:25:21 --> 00:25:21 and have some helpful
00:25:21 --> 00:25:22 conflict
00:25:22 --> 00:25:24 do we need to
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 apologize
00:25:25 --> 00:25:25 do you need to
00:25:25 --> 00:25:26 apologize
00:25:26 --> 00:25:27 do you need to
00:25:27 --> 00:25:29 practice like Paul
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 being weak
00:25:30 --> 00:25:31 because God
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 is strong
00:25:32 --> 00:25:35 if you're not sure
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 about this Jesus
00:25:36 --> 00:25:37 who restores us
00:25:37 --> 00:25:38 please come and
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 speak with myself
00:25:39 --> 00:25:40 come and speak
00:25:40 --> 00:25:40 with Nick
00:25:40 --> 00:25:42 speak to the person
00:25:42 --> 00:25:43 next to you
00:25:43 --> 00:25:44 to find out more
00:25:44 --> 00:25:47 that love story
00:25:47 --> 00:25:47 that I told
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 at the start
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 it was a picture
00:25:49 --> 00:25:49 of God
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 and the church
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 but it is
00:25:51 --> 00:25:51 us
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 as well
00:25:52 --> 00:25:55 everyone loves
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 a good love story
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 with a happy ending
00:25:57 --> 00:25:59 and we get to be
00:25:59 --> 00:26:00 like that
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 Kintsugi
00:26:01 --> 00:26:03 Japanese bowl
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 the walking
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 demonstration
00:26:05 --> 00:26:05 that God
00:26:05 --> 00:26:07 takes a broken
00:26:07 --> 00:26:07 people
00:26:07 --> 00:26:09 and restores us
00:26:09 --> 00:26:10 that he truly
00:26:10 --> 00:26:12 is the God
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 of love
00:26:13 --> 00:26:13 and peace
00:26:13 --> 00:26:14 and so
00:26:14 --> 00:26:16 verse 14
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 may the grace
00:26:17 --> 00:26:18 of the Lord
00:26:18 --> 00:26:19 Jesus Christ
00:26:19 --> 00:26:20 and the love
00:26:20 --> 00:26:20 of God
00:26:20 --> 00:26:21 and the fellowship
00:26:21 --> 00:26:23 with the Holy Spirit
00:26:23 --> 00:26:24 be with you all
00:26:24 --> 00:26:25 Amen
00:26:25 --> 00:26:30 Amen
00:26:35 --> 00:26:48 to God