00:00:00 --> 00:00:01 Well, good morning, everyone.
00:00:02 --> 00:00:05 The year, as we've already heard a bit this morning,
00:00:05 --> 00:00:15 you probably remember yourself, 2020 was the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19.
00:00:15 --> 00:00:16 !
00:00:30 --> 00:00:33 We had a limit of five and funerals a limit of 10 people.
00:00:33 --> 00:00:42 Only five days after that, the first general public lockdown happened here in New South Wales.
00:00:43 --> 00:00:46 It was so rapid, unprecedented times.
00:00:48 --> 00:00:53 All of our habits and behaviours were shifted dramatically.
00:00:54 --> 00:00:57 We had to think every time before we moved outside.
00:00:57 --> 00:01:04 In fact, from that general public lockdown on the 31st of March 2020,
00:01:05 --> 00:01:11 we experienced the constant process of restrictions being eased,
00:01:12 --> 00:01:17 only to be tightened again until the 25th of June 2021,
00:01:18 --> 00:01:27 when the Delta variant of COVID caused Sydney to go into strict lockdowns once again.
00:01:27 --> 00:01:34 And this hard lockdown stayed in force until the 11th of October 2021,
00:01:34 --> 00:01:41 when the New South Wales government allowed us to take off our pyjamas and venture out once again.
00:01:41 --> 00:01:50 And we started to regather for Sunday services like this in November 2021.
00:01:52 --> 00:01:58 That was basically the end of the first year of follow 25.
00:01:58 --> 00:02:08 We regathered like this, but with ongoing restrictions until the end of 2021.
00:02:09 --> 00:02:16 I think it's hard to reflect on follow 25 without factoring in COVID as an issue.
00:02:16 --> 00:02:26 Because even from the process of regathering, it was 18 months after that, well into 2022,
00:02:26 --> 00:02:33 before an element of a new normality started to settle in amongst us.
00:02:34 --> 00:02:39 COVID-19 cast a very big shadow over,
00:02:39 --> 00:02:45 not just the early days of follow 25, but the planning leading up to it.
00:02:46 --> 00:02:50 It was a pandemic that had a profound impact on society.
00:02:50 --> 00:03:01 As we know now, things like anxiety and mental health issues went through the roof.
00:03:01 --> 00:03:09 During lockdowns, issues of alcohol abuse and domestic violence climbed dramatically.
00:03:11 --> 00:03:17 And so the issue, people argue nowadays that the COVID-19 pandemic
00:03:17 --> 00:03:23 sped up the issues of anxiety and mental health in our society by 10 years,
00:03:24 --> 00:03:25 sped it up so fast.
00:03:25 --> 00:03:31 Of course, what it also did was it had a profound impact on churches.
00:03:31 --> 00:03:42 Early thinking of the COVID-19 pandemic was that it estimated that the pandemic sped up
00:03:42 --> 00:03:49 the great de-churching of the West by at least 10 years as well,
00:03:50 --> 00:03:53 where church attendance rapidly declined.
00:03:53 --> 00:03:58 And the longer we stayed online, the less people were tuning in.
00:03:58 --> 00:04:05 So what COVID-19 did was expose for the church in the West,
00:04:05 --> 00:04:09 something that some of the greats had been saying for many years,
00:04:09 --> 00:04:14 and that there was a shallowness to discipleship,
00:04:14 --> 00:04:17 to following Jesus in Western Christianity.
00:04:17 --> 00:04:21 For too long, the focus of churches had been, in fact,
00:04:21 --> 00:04:25 growing church attendance on programs and buildings,
00:04:25 --> 00:04:31 but in fact not on intentionally forming disciples of the Lord Jesus
00:04:31 --> 00:04:37 who would multiply themselves as forming other disciples of the Lord Jesus.
00:04:39 --> 00:04:43 And so COVID-19 was the wake-up call that we needed,
00:04:43 --> 00:04:46 if we were willing to be woken up,
00:04:46 --> 00:04:54 to push follow Jesus in all of life back into the focus for the church like ours.
00:04:54 --> 00:04:58 And it was the context that produced follow 25,
00:04:59 --> 00:05:05 and the key objective to see the majority of us grow in faith in the Lord Jesus.
00:05:05 --> 00:05:10 And so this morning, what we're doing is we're going to go back
00:05:10 --> 00:05:13 to see what it is to be a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ,
00:05:14 --> 00:05:18 where we started, in fact, in follow 25 and Mark 8.
00:05:18 --> 00:05:21 So get Mark 8 open for us there.
00:05:21 --> 00:05:24 And I've got, this is where we're headed today in these points.
00:05:24 --> 00:05:28 It's also in the St. Paul's app if you want to follow along in there.
00:05:28 --> 00:05:33 The word disciple, not uniquely Christian word,
00:05:33 --> 00:05:37 it was in fact common in Greek and both the Greek and Roman empires.
00:05:38 --> 00:05:41 It's a word that literally means a student, learner.
00:05:41 --> 00:05:44 In Jewish context, the context of Jesus,
00:05:45 --> 00:05:49 is that there was a saying that says that a disciple
00:05:49 --> 00:05:53 should become dusty with the dust of their rabbi.
00:05:53 --> 00:05:57 That is, we should follow their rabbi so closely
00:05:57 --> 00:06:02 that they would be covered in the dust that the rabbi stirred up
00:06:02 --> 00:06:05 by their feet as they walked.
00:06:05 --> 00:06:10 That is, the idea was that you would follow them in all of life
00:06:10 --> 00:06:12 and reflect them in all of life,
00:06:12 --> 00:06:15 that as they were dirty, so you became dirty with their dust.
00:06:15 --> 00:06:20 And it's in this context that Jesus calls disciples
00:06:20 --> 00:06:25 to leave everything to come follow him.
00:06:27 --> 00:06:30 And Mark tells us why.
00:06:31 --> 00:06:33 Why would they do that?
00:06:35 --> 00:06:37 You see, the crucial question here
00:06:37 --> 00:06:40 is the question of who is Jesus.
00:06:41 --> 00:06:42 Jesus says that.
00:06:42 --> 00:06:45 Well, you know, who do people say I am?
00:06:46 --> 00:06:47 What's the general consensus?
00:06:47 --> 00:06:48 Jesus says that.
00:06:48 --> 00:06:49 Jesus says that.
00:06:49 --> 00:06:52 And the views are many throughout history.
00:06:53 --> 00:06:56 You see, Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus the Christ,
00:06:57 --> 00:07:03 is undoubtedly the most popular, recognizable,
00:07:05 --> 00:07:07 the most quoted, the most admired,
00:07:08 --> 00:07:10 the most controversial figure in all of history
00:07:10 --> 00:07:12 and human society.
00:07:12 --> 00:07:18 No other person has been more scrutinized and studied.
00:07:18 --> 00:07:23 Entire philosophies and religions have been founded on his teaching.
00:07:23 --> 00:07:27 No more books, sorry, more books have been written about him
00:07:27 --> 00:07:30 than any other person in human history.
00:07:30 --> 00:07:35 Every day his name is spoken by more people
00:07:35 --> 00:07:41 from affectionate admiration to absent-minded curses
00:07:41 --> 00:07:42 right through to denouncements.
00:07:43 --> 00:07:48 No teaching has ever been more exploited and used than that of Jesus.
00:07:48 --> 00:07:51 Politicians grab one of his quotable quotes
00:07:51 --> 00:07:54 in order to prop up their political platform.
00:07:54 --> 00:07:58 It might be to honor him as one of God's prophets
00:07:58 --> 00:08:02 or simply as an enlightened man.
00:08:03 --> 00:08:05 It might be to reject him as a fraud,
00:08:06 --> 00:08:09 to hail him as the king of kings and the saviour of the world.
00:08:10 --> 00:08:12 No person is more misunderstood,
00:08:13 --> 00:08:17 marginalized, commercialized than the person of Jesus.
00:08:17 --> 00:08:20 He's viewed as a stern taskmaster
00:08:20 --> 00:08:22 or as a moral jellyfish,
00:08:23 --> 00:08:24 just willing to hand out forgiveness
00:08:24 --> 00:08:27 and turn the blind eye to anyone
00:08:27 --> 00:08:31 who might pray a simple shallow prayer of confession
00:08:31 --> 00:08:34 only to go on the next moment living life
00:08:34 --> 00:08:35 devoid of his presence.
00:08:36 --> 00:08:40 In other words, the point is that if you get the person
00:08:40 --> 00:08:42 of Jesus wrong,
00:08:43 --> 00:08:46 you get Christianity entirely wrong.
00:08:49 --> 00:08:49 Entirely wrong.
00:08:51 --> 00:08:56 Who he is and what he did
00:08:56 --> 00:09:00 are the crucial questions
00:09:00 --> 00:09:03 because it defines what does it mean to follow him.
00:09:04 --> 00:09:08 And Mark is one of those biographies of Jesus
00:09:08 --> 00:09:11 that he wants to make sure that we're not vague
00:09:11 --> 00:09:14 about the answers to those questions.
00:09:14 --> 00:09:15 Who he is, what he's done
00:09:15 --> 00:09:17 and what does it mean to follow him.
00:09:17 --> 00:09:21 In verse 29, Peter answers the big question
00:09:21 --> 00:09:23 of the identity of Jesus.
00:09:23 --> 00:09:26 He says Jesus is the Messiah.
00:09:26 --> 00:09:27 He's the Christ.
00:09:28 --> 00:09:31 He's using a word that literally means
00:09:31 --> 00:09:34 you are the anointed one.
00:09:34 --> 00:09:37 The anointed one.
00:09:38 --> 00:09:39 You're the Messiah.
00:09:40 --> 00:09:42 You are the Christ,
00:09:42 --> 00:09:45 which means you are the greatest king.
00:09:45 --> 00:09:47 You are the king to end all kings.
00:09:47 --> 00:09:49 You're the ruler to end all rulers.
00:09:49 --> 00:09:50 And you're the king.
00:09:50 --> 00:09:53 Using the word Messiah means that you will come
00:09:53 --> 00:09:54 to defeat evil.
00:09:54 --> 00:09:59 And Jesus accepts the title.
00:10:00 --> 00:10:02 He does not rebuke Peter at all.
00:10:03 --> 00:10:06 And that has massive implications
00:10:06 --> 00:10:08 for all of humanity.
00:10:08 --> 00:10:11 Because Peter is using a title
00:10:11 --> 00:10:17 that has implications for every single human being.
00:10:20 --> 00:10:22 It's a title which means that Jesus
00:10:22 --> 00:10:27 is not calling people here to be curious onlookers.
00:10:27 --> 00:10:29 He's not even calling people to be converts.
00:10:31 --> 00:10:33 He's calling them to be disciples.
00:10:35 --> 00:10:36 Followers.
00:10:36 --> 00:10:36 Followers.
00:10:38 --> 00:10:40 Fully committed followers
00:10:40 --> 00:10:42 to the Christ.
00:10:43 --> 00:10:44 The king to end all kings.
00:10:45 --> 00:10:47 The ruler of all rulers.
00:10:48 --> 00:10:49 And the word Christian,
00:10:50 --> 00:10:50 the word disciple,
00:10:51 --> 00:10:52 the word follower of Jesus,
00:10:52 --> 00:10:53 whatever you want to use,
00:10:53 --> 00:10:56 are interchangeable words
00:10:56 --> 00:10:57 which really describe
00:10:57 --> 00:10:59 a relationship with Jesus
00:10:59 --> 00:11:02 that is a lifelong,
00:11:02 --> 00:11:04 all of life journey
00:11:04 --> 00:11:05 where you follow,
00:11:06 --> 00:11:07 where you are getting dusty
00:11:07 --> 00:11:09 with the dust
00:11:09 --> 00:11:11 of the Christ.
00:11:13 --> 00:11:14 The ruler of all.
00:11:15 --> 00:11:16 That's a Christian.
00:11:20 --> 00:11:21 But then he,
00:11:21 --> 00:11:23 Jesus throws a little bit more light
00:11:23 --> 00:11:25 on what it means to be,
00:11:27 --> 00:11:30 what it means for him to be the Christ
00:11:30 --> 00:11:32 and implications for us who follow it.
00:11:32 --> 00:11:33 So verse 31,
00:11:33 --> 00:11:35 he then began to teach them
00:11:35 --> 00:11:35 that the son of man
00:11:35 --> 00:11:37 must suffer many things
00:11:37 --> 00:11:38 and be rejected by the elders,
00:11:39 --> 00:11:39 the chief priests
00:11:39 --> 00:11:40 and the teachers of the law
00:11:40 --> 00:11:43 and then he must be killed
00:11:43 --> 00:11:46 and after three days rise again.
00:11:47 --> 00:11:49 He spoke plainly about this
00:11:49 --> 00:11:51 and Peter took him aside
00:11:51 --> 00:11:53 and began to rebuke him.
00:11:53 --> 00:11:56 He says,
00:11:56 --> 00:11:57 the son of man
00:11:57 --> 00:12:00 must suffer.
00:12:02 --> 00:12:02 So,
00:12:03 --> 00:12:05 he accepts the title
00:12:05 --> 00:12:06 of the anointed one
00:12:06 --> 00:12:08 and now he refers to himself
00:12:08 --> 00:12:09 as the son of man.
00:12:09 --> 00:12:10 As I said last week,
00:12:10 --> 00:12:11 the son of man
00:12:11 --> 00:12:12 is a divine figure
00:12:12 --> 00:12:14 mentioned hundreds of years earlier
00:12:14 --> 00:12:16 in the book of Daniel chapter 7.
00:12:17 --> 00:12:18 And this son of man
00:12:18 --> 00:12:19 comes with authority,
00:12:19 --> 00:12:22 all the authority of God
00:12:22 --> 00:12:24 to put everything right
00:12:24 --> 00:12:26 in a world,
00:12:26 --> 00:12:27 in God's world
00:12:27 --> 00:12:29 that has gone horribly wrong
00:12:29 --> 00:12:30 because of sin.
00:12:34 --> 00:12:35 And Jesus refers to himself
00:12:35 --> 00:12:36 as that one.
00:12:36 --> 00:12:39 But,
00:12:40 --> 00:12:41 the idea
00:12:41 --> 00:12:43 of the son of man's suffering
00:12:43 --> 00:12:45 makes absolutely
00:12:45 --> 00:12:47 no sense
00:12:47 --> 00:12:48 whatsoever
00:12:48 --> 00:12:50 to these Jewish lads
00:12:50 --> 00:12:51 following Jesus
00:12:51 --> 00:12:51 in this moment.
00:12:53 --> 00:12:54 You see,
00:12:54 --> 00:12:55 the Messiah,
00:12:57 --> 00:12:58 the son of man
00:12:58 --> 00:12:59 was meant to defeat
00:12:59 --> 00:13:01 evil and injustice
00:13:01 --> 00:13:03 and make everything wrong,
00:13:04 --> 00:13:05 everything right
00:13:05 --> 00:13:06 that's wrong in the world.
00:13:06 --> 00:13:09 How on earth
00:13:09 --> 00:13:11 could the Messiah,
00:13:11 --> 00:13:12 the son of man
00:13:12 --> 00:13:13 do that
00:13:13 --> 00:13:14 by suffering?
00:13:17 --> 00:13:18 But Jesus
00:13:18 --> 00:13:20 is emphatic.
00:13:21 --> 00:13:22 He is
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 planning
00:13:23 --> 00:13:25 to die.
00:13:27 --> 00:13:28 It's a planned
00:13:28 --> 00:13:29 and a voluntary
00:13:29 --> 00:13:30 act.
00:13:32 --> 00:13:32 You see,
00:13:32 --> 00:13:32 it's one thing
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 for Jesus to say,
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 listen guys,
00:13:34 --> 00:13:34 I'm here,
00:13:34 --> 00:13:35 I'm going to fight evil.
00:13:36 --> 00:13:37 And,
00:13:37 --> 00:13:38 you know,
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 but in the end
00:13:39 --> 00:13:40 I will die,
00:13:40 --> 00:13:41 I will be defeated.
00:13:42 --> 00:13:44 It's another thing
00:13:44 --> 00:13:45 entirely
00:13:45 --> 00:13:47 for them to say,
00:13:47 --> 00:13:47 in actual fact,
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 death is the reason
00:13:49 --> 00:13:49 I came
00:13:49 --> 00:13:51 to live.
00:13:54 --> 00:13:55 And none of this
00:13:55 --> 00:13:55 makes sense
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 to Peter at all.
00:13:57 --> 00:13:58 At all.
00:14:00 --> 00:14:00 You see,
00:14:00 --> 00:14:01 from an early age
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 when he could crawl,
00:14:02 --> 00:14:04 he was told
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05 that the Messiah
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 would come
00:14:06 --> 00:14:06 and defeat
00:14:06 --> 00:14:07 evil and
00:14:07 --> 00:14:08 injustice
00:14:08 --> 00:14:09 and he would
00:14:09 --> 00:14:10 ascend the throne
00:14:10 --> 00:14:10 in Jerusalem
00:14:10 --> 00:14:13 and reestablish
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 the nation
00:14:14 --> 00:14:14 of Israel,
00:14:15 --> 00:14:17 God's people.
00:14:17 --> 00:14:17 people.
00:14:20 --> 00:14:20 And Jesus
00:14:20 --> 00:14:21 says,
00:14:21 --> 00:14:22 I am the Messiah.
00:14:22 --> 00:14:22 Peter said it
00:14:22 --> 00:14:23 with his own mouth,
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 I am the Messiah.
00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 I am the
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26 Son of Man
00:14:26 --> 00:14:30 but I've come
00:14:30 --> 00:14:30 to die
00:14:30 --> 00:14:32 not to
00:14:32 --> 00:14:33 live
00:14:33 --> 00:14:34 and reign.
00:14:36 --> 00:14:36 I've come
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 to lose
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 power
00:14:38 --> 00:14:38 not gain it.
00:14:39 --> 00:14:40 I've come
00:14:40 --> 00:14:41 to serve
00:14:41 --> 00:14:41 not to
00:14:41 --> 00:14:42 be served.
00:14:42 --> 00:14:44 And so
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 Peter in this
00:14:45 --> 00:14:45 moment
00:14:45 --> 00:14:48 condemns
00:14:48 --> 00:14:48 Jesus
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 in the
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 strongest
00:14:50 --> 00:14:51 possible
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 terms.
00:14:54 --> 00:14:54 The
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 strongest
00:14:55 --> 00:14:55 possible
00:14:55 --> 00:14:56 terms.
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 And Jesus
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 rebukes him.
00:15:04 --> 00:15:05 You see,
00:15:05 --> 00:15:06 Jesus is emphatic.
00:15:08 --> 00:15:08 I must
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 suffer.
00:15:10 --> 00:15:10 And the
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 word must
00:15:11 --> 00:15:11 there
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 controls
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 the
00:15:13 --> 00:15:13 entire
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 sentence.
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 I must
00:15:18 --> 00:15:18 suffer.
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 I must
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 be rejected.
00:15:23 --> 00:15:24 I must
00:15:24 --> 00:15:24 be killed.
00:15:25 --> 00:15:26 And I
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 must be
00:15:27 --> 00:15:27 resurrected.
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 And all
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 of those
00:15:30 --> 00:15:32 musts
00:15:32 --> 00:15:32 have to
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 happen
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 for humanity
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 to be
00:15:35 --> 00:15:35 saved
00:15:35 --> 00:15:37 and for
00:15:37 --> 00:15:37 the world
00:15:37 --> 00:15:37 to be
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 renewed.
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 For justice
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 to be
00:15:41 --> 00:15:41 served,
00:15:41 --> 00:15:41 Jesus
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 must
00:15:42 --> 00:15:42 suffer.
00:15:45 --> 00:15:45 He
00:15:45 --> 00:15:46 must
00:15:46 --> 00:15:46 suffer.
00:15:48 --> 00:15:48 You see,
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 when
00:15:49 --> 00:15:51 someone
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 wrongs
00:15:52 --> 00:15:52 us
00:15:52 --> 00:15:54 in any
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 category
00:15:55 --> 00:15:55 of life,
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 what happens
00:15:56 --> 00:15:56 in that
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 moment is
00:15:57 --> 00:15:57 a debt
00:15:57 --> 00:15:57 is
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 established.
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 For
00:16:00 --> 00:16:00 instance,
00:16:00 --> 00:16:00 if you
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 grab my
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 phone and
00:16:02 --> 00:16:02 you break
00:16:02 --> 00:16:02 my phone
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 or you
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 steal my
00:16:04 --> 00:16:04 phone,
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 a debt
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 has been
00:16:06 --> 00:16:06 established.
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 Imagine you
00:16:08 --> 00:16:08 break it,
00:16:08 --> 00:16:10 you tread on
00:16:10 --> 00:16:10 it,
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 although
00:16:12 --> 00:16:12 apparently
00:16:12 --> 00:16:12 it's not
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 meant to
00:16:13 --> 00:16:13 break.
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 So we'll
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 see.
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 Hopefully
00:16:16 --> 00:16:16 not.
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 There are
00:16:18 --> 00:16:18 really only
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 two options
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 in that
00:16:20 --> 00:16:20 moment.
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 Either you
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 pay to
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 repair or
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 to replace
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 my phone
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 or I
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 say to
00:16:29 --> 00:16:29 you,
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 don't worry
00:16:31 --> 00:16:31 about it,
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 I forgive
00:16:33 --> 00:16:33 you.
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 They're the
00:16:36 --> 00:16:36 only two
00:16:36 --> 00:16:36 options.
00:16:36 --> 00:16:38 in the
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 first case,
00:16:40 --> 00:16:40 you pay
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 the debt.
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 You
00:16:42 --> 00:16:42 either get
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 my phone
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 repaired or
00:16:44 --> 00:16:45 you replace
00:16:45 --> 00:16:45 it,
00:16:45 --> 00:16:45 you've got
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 to open
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 up your
00:16:47 --> 00:16:47 wallet or
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 your key
00:16:48 --> 00:16:48 card and
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 you've got
00:16:49 --> 00:16:49 to pay
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 for it.
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 In other
00:16:53 --> 00:16:53 words,
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 and in the
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 second case,
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 I pay for
00:16:56 --> 00:16:56 the debt.
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 That is,
00:16:58 --> 00:16:58 the value
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 of that
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 phone doesn't
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 just disappear
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 into the
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 ether
00:17:03 --> 00:17:03 somewhere.
00:17:03 --> 00:17:07 The value
00:17:07 --> 00:17:07 of the
00:17:07 --> 00:17:07 phone is
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 still there
00:17:08 --> 00:17:10 and someone
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 has to pay
00:17:11 --> 00:17:11 for it.
00:17:12 --> 00:17:12 And if I
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 choose to
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 forgive you
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 that debt,
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 then I
00:17:17 --> 00:17:17 have to
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 pay the
00:17:18 --> 00:17:18 debt.
00:17:21 --> 00:17:21 I either
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 pay the
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 repairs on
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 the phone
00:17:24 --> 00:17:24 or I pay
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 for a new
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 phone or
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 I go back
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 to paper
00:17:28 --> 00:17:28 and pen
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 and landline
00:17:29 --> 00:17:31 or pigeons
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 or whatever.
00:17:33 --> 00:17:33 In other
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 words,
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 I absorb
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 the debt
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 in some
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 way and
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 I have
00:17:39 --> 00:17:39 to pay
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 for it
00:17:40 --> 00:17:40 if I
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 forgive you.
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 And that
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 happens on
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 every level
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 in society.
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 If someone
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 robs us
00:17:50 --> 00:17:50 of an
00:17:50 --> 00:17:50 opportunity
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 of happiness
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 or reputation
00:17:52 --> 00:17:56 or in
00:17:56 --> 00:17:56 some,
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 a debt
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 is accrued
00:17:58 --> 00:17:58 at that
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 point.
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 A relational
00:18:00 --> 00:18:00 debt is
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 accrued.
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 And there's
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 only two
00:18:03 --> 00:18:03 choices.
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 You can
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 make the
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 other person
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 pay by
00:18:08 --> 00:18:08 destroying
00:18:08 --> 00:18:08 their
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 opportunities
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 and ruining
00:18:10 --> 00:18:10 their
00:18:10 --> 00:18:12 reputation.
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 That is,
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 you can
00:18:15 --> 00:18:15 hope that
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 they suffer
00:18:16 --> 00:18:18 or you
00:18:18 --> 00:18:18 can ensure
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 that they
00:18:19 --> 00:18:19 do.
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 And in
00:18:22 --> 00:18:22 that moment,
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 as I said
00:18:23 --> 00:18:23 last week,
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 evil wins.
00:18:25 --> 00:18:27 it's
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 fighting fire
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 with fire.
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 And when
00:18:30 --> 00:18:30 you fight
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 fire with
00:18:31 --> 00:18:31 fire,
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 one debt
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 creates
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 another debt
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 which creates
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 another debt
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 which creates
00:18:37 --> 00:18:37 another debt
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 and it
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 goes on
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 and evil
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 wins.
00:18:43 --> 00:18:43 And the
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 only
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 alternative
00:18:45 --> 00:18:45 in that
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 moment
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 instead of
00:18:47 --> 00:18:47 fighting fire
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 with fire
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 is to
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 forgive.
00:18:50 --> 00:18:50 forgive.
00:18:54 --> 00:18:54 But
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 forgiveness
00:18:55 --> 00:18:58 is so
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 hard.
00:19:00 --> 00:19:00 It's in
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 fact the
00:19:01 --> 00:19:01 harder way.
00:19:03 --> 00:19:03 It's
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 absolute
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 agony
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 because
00:19:06 --> 00:19:06 forgiveness
00:19:06 --> 00:19:08 means I
00:19:08 --> 00:19:08 choose to
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 absorb the
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 debt
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 that you
00:19:11 --> 00:19:11 have against
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 me.
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 It means
00:19:15 --> 00:19:15 not trying
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 to get my
00:19:16 --> 00:19:16 reputation
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 back by
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 tearing down
00:19:18 --> 00:19:18 your reputation
00:19:18 --> 00:19:20 even subtly
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 sharing prayer
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 points.
00:19:22 --> 00:19:22 Lord we want
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 to pray for
00:19:23 --> 00:19:23 this person
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 who's wrong
00:19:24 --> 00:19:24 to me.
00:19:25 --> 00:19:25 Did I mention
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 them by name
00:19:26 --> 00:19:26 by the way
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 so that you
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 all know?
00:19:30 --> 00:19:30 True
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 forgiveness
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 always
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 requires
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 suffering.
00:19:36 --> 00:19:36 Debt
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 never just
00:19:37 --> 00:19:37 vanishes.
00:19:38 --> 00:19:38 And that's
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 why Jesus
00:19:39 --> 00:19:39 says here
00:19:39 --> 00:19:41 I
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 must
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 suffer.
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 The
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 only way
00:19:46 --> 00:19:46 that the
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 son of
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 man can
00:19:48 --> 00:19:48 defeat
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 evil
00:19:49 --> 00:19:49 and
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 maintain
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 justice.
00:19:52 --> 00:19:52 The
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 only way
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 that God
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 can forgive
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 us is
00:19:56 --> 00:19:56 if he
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 was to
00:19:57 --> 00:19:57 absorb the
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 debt
00:19:58 --> 00:19:58 himself
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 and pay
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 for it
00:20:00 --> 00:20:00 himself.
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 The
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 alternative
00:20:04 --> 00:20:04 is he
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 obliterates
00:20:05 --> 00:20:05 humanity.
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 It's
00:20:12 --> 00:20:12 either
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 humanity
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 pays the
00:20:14 --> 00:20:14 debt for
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 its sin
00:20:15 --> 00:20:15 of rejecting
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 God their
00:20:16 --> 00:20:16 creator
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 by
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 suffering
00:20:18 --> 00:20:18 under
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 the
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 justice
00:20:20 --> 00:20:20 of
00:20:20 --> 00:20:20 God.
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 You
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 reject
00:20:22 --> 00:20:22 the
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 author
00:20:23 --> 00:20:23 of
00:20:23 --> 00:20:23 life
00:20:23 --> 00:20:25 and
00:20:25 --> 00:20:25 so you
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 die
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 eternal
00:20:27 --> 00:20:27 life.
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 Or
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 God
00:20:33 --> 00:20:33 chooses to
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 forgive
00:20:34 --> 00:20:34 sin
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 in which
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 means he
00:20:36 --> 00:20:36 pays for
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 it.
00:20:37 --> 00:20:40 Jesus
00:20:40 --> 00:20:40 must suffer.
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 He
00:20:42 --> 00:20:42 must go
00:20:42 --> 00:20:42 to the
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 cross
00:20:43 --> 00:20:43 and he
00:20:43 --> 00:20:43 must
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 die.
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 And so
00:20:48 --> 00:20:48 we have
00:20:48 --> 00:20:48 this
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 remarkable
00:20:49 --> 00:20:49 moment
00:20:49 --> 00:20:49 here.
00:20:50 --> 00:20:50 Jesus
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 is the
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 Christ.
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 He
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 is the
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 king to
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 end all
00:20:56 --> 00:20:56 kings.
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 He is
00:20:58 --> 00:20:58 the ruler
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 and deserves
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 our allegiance.
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 He deserves
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 us to
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 follow him.
00:21:04 --> 00:21:04 He has the
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 authority to
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 command it.
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 But he's
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 the king
00:21:12 --> 00:21:12 that we
00:21:12 --> 00:21:12 could never
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 possibly
00:21:13 --> 00:21:13 imagine.
00:21:15 --> 00:21:15 He's the
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 king who
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 must die
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 because he
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 chooses to
00:21:19 --> 00:21:19 forgive.
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 You see,
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 as the
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 Christ with
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 all authority,
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 Jesus can
00:21:26 --> 00:21:26 demand us
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 to follow
00:21:27 --> 00:21:29 him, but
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 it's the
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 Christ who
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 chooses to
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 suffer for
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 us out of
00:21:33 --> 00:21:35 love in
00:21:35 --> 00:21:35 order to
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 forgive us,
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 that compels
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 us to
00:21:39 --> 00:21:39 follow him.
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 But he
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 doesn't just
00:21:44 --> 00:21:44 stop there
00:21:44 --> 00:21:47 because as
00:21:47 --> 00:21:49 he walks
00:21:49 --> 00:21:49 this journey
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 and our
00:21:50 --> 00:21:52 role as
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 followers of
00:21:53 --> 00:21:53 him is to
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 get dust,
00:21:55 --> 00:21:55 dust,
00:21:57 --> 00:21:57 let's just
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 keep reading
00:21:58 --> 00:21:58 verse 34,
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 for then
00:21:59 --> 00:21:59 he called
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 the crowd
00:22:00 --> 00:22:00 to him
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 along with
00:22:01 --> 00:22:01 his disciples
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 and said,
00:22:02 --> 00:22:02 whoever wants
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 to be my
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 disciple must
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 deny themselves
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 and take up
00:22:06 --> 00:22:06 their cross
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 and follow
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 me.
00:22:09 --> 00:22:09 Whoever
00:22:09 --> 00:22:09 wants to
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 save their
00:22:10 --> 00:22:10 life will
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 lose it,
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 but whoever
00:22:12 --> 00:22:12 loses their
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 life for me
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 and for the
00:22:14 --> 00:22:14 gospel will
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 save it.
00:22:16 --> 00:22:16 What good
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 is it for
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 someone to
00:22:18 --> 00:22:18 gain the
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 whole world
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 and yet
00:22:20 --> 00:22:20 forfeit
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 their soul?
00:22:22 --> 00:22:22 Or what
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 can anyone
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 give in
00:22:24 --> 00:22:24 exchange for
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 their soul?
00:22:27 --> 00:22:27 Now what
00:22:27 --> 00:22:27 does it
00:22:27 --> 00:22:31 mean to
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 lose our
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 life for
00:22:33 --> 00:22:33 the gospel
00:22:33 --> 00:22:35 in order
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 to save
00:22:36 --> 00:22:36 it?
00:22:37 --> 00:22:37 The word
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 translated
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 life there
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 in verse
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 35 is a
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 word that
00:22:42 --> 00:22:44 literally stems
00:22:44 --> 00:22:44 from the
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 original word
00:22:45 --> 00:22:45 ego.
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 It means
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 your identity,
00:22:48 --> 00:22:48 it means
00:22:48 --> 00:22:50 your personality,
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 it means
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 your sense
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 of selfhood.
00:22:54 --> 00:22:54 Ah.
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 It means
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 the things
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 that make
00:22:58 --> 00:22:58 you
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 distinctively
00:22:59 --> 00:22:59 you,
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 what you
00:23:01 --> 00:23:01 have built
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 your life
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 on.
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 In other
00:23:04 --> 00:23:04 words,
00:23:04 --> 00:23:04 what Jesus
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 is saying
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 here in
00:23:06 --> 00:23:06 a roundabout
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 kind of
00:23:07 --> 00:23:07 way is
00:23:07 --> 00:23:07 he's saying
00:23:07 --> 00:23:09 don't build
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 your identity
00:23:10 --> 00:23:12 on gaining
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 the whole
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 world for
00:23:14 --> 00:23:14 yourself.
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 He says
00:23:17 --> 00:23:17 in verse
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 36,
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 what good
00:23:19 --> 00:23:19 is it
00:23:19 --> 00:23:21 for someone
00:23:21 --> 00:23:21 to gain
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 the whole
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 world
00:23:23 --> 00:23:25 and yet
00:23:25 --> 00:23:25 forfeit
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 their soul
00:23:26 --> 00:23:26 or forfeit
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 their very
00:23:27 --> 00:23:27 self.
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 Now
00:23:31 --> 00:23:31 every
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 culture,
00:23:33 --> 00:23:33 no matter
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 what culture
00:23:34 --> 00:23:34 we come
00:23:34 --> 00:23:34 from,
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 says that
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 if you
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 gain certain
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 things in
00:23:39 --> 00:23:39 life,
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 if you
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 acquire
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 them or
00:23:42 --> 00:23:42 you achieve
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 them,
00:23:44 --> 00:23:44 then you
00:23:44 --> 00:23:46 will have
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 a strong
00:23:47 --> 00:23:47 sense of
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 identity of
00:23:48 --> 00:23:48 who you
00:23:48 --> 00:23:50 are and
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 you'll know
00:23:51 --> 00:23:51 at that
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 moment that
00:23:52 --> 00:23:52 you are
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 valuable,
00:23:54 --> 00:23:54 that you
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 are worthy
00:23:55 --> 00:23:57 and then
00:23:57 --> 00:23:57 you'll have
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 rest.
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 Traditional
00:24:01 --> 00:24:01 cultures would
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 say that
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 you have
00:24:03 --> 00:24:03 no sense
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 of self
00:24:04 --> 00:24:04 unless you
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 gain the
00:24:05 --> 00:24:05 respectability
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 and legacy
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 of family
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 and children.
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 Individualistic
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 cultures say
00:24:11 --> 00:24:11 things like
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 you're nobody
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 unless you
00:24:13 --> 00:24:13 have a
00:24:13 --> 00:24:13 fulfilling
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 career that
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 brings you
00:24:15 --> 00:24:15 reputation,
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 money,
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 status,
00:24:18 --> 00:24:18 that kind
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 of stuff.
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 Either way,
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 it doesn't
00:24:22 --> 00:24:22 matter what
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 culture you
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 come from,
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 all cultures
00:24:25 --> 00:24:25 of this
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 world basically
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 say the
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 same thing.
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 Who you
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 are as a
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 person,
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 your identity,
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 your sense
00:24:34 --> 00:24:34 of who you
00:24:34 --> 00:24:36 are is
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 based on
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 your performance.
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 In one way
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 or another,
00:24:41 --> 00:24:41 it's based on
00:24:41 --> 00:24:42 your performance.
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 It's based on
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 what you've
00:24:45 --> 00:24:45 achieved.
00:24:45 --> 00:24:48 If you
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 perform well
00:24:49 --> 00:24:49 enough in
00:24:49 --> 00:24:51 conforming to
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 your culture,
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 then you
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 will find the
00:24:54 --> 00:24:54 love and the
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 approval and
00:24:55 --> 00:24:55 the acceptance
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 that you so
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 desperately need.
00:24:58 --> 00:24:58 And what
00:24:58 --> 00:24:59 Jesus says here
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 is if you
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 gain the
00:25:01 --> 00:25:03 entire world,
00:25:03 --> 00:25:05 you do it
00:25:05 --> 00:25:05 better than
00:25:05 --> 00:25:07 anyone else,
00:25:08 --> 00:25:09 it won't be
00:25:09 --> 00:25:10 enough because
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 you will lose.
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 the more
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 you try to
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 gain,
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 the more
00:25:16 --> 00:25:17 you will lose
00:25:17 --> 00:25:17 your sense
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 of self.
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 It's not
00:25:21 --> 00:25:22 without a
00:25:22 --> 00:25:22 certain sense
00:25:22 --> 00:25:23 of irony
00:25:23 --> 00:25:25 that one of
00:25:25 --> 00:25:25 the things
00:25:25 --> 00:25:26 that COVID-19
00:25:26 --> 00:25:27 brought out
00:25:27 --> 00:25:27 for us,
00:25:28 --> 00:25:29 particularly in
00:25:29 --> 00:25:29 lockdowns in
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 the Western
00:25:30 --> 00:25:30 world,
00:25:32 --> 00:25:32 a growing
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 sense of
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 mental health,
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 an actual
00:25:36 --> 00:25:37 pandemic of
00:25:37 --> 00:25:37 mental health.
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 Why?
00:25:41 --> 00:25:43 One of the
00:25:43 --> 00:25:44 core foundational
00:25:44 --> 00:25:46 values of
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 Western
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 civilisation is
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 personal
00:25:49 --> 00:25:49 freedom.
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 And a whole
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 generation have
00:25:53 --> 00:25:53 been grown up
00:25:53 --> 00:25:54 through schools.
00:25:54 --> 00:25:54 You can be
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 whoever you
00:25:55 --> 00:25:55 want, you
00:25:55 --> 00:25:55 can do
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 whatever you
00:25:56 --> 00:25:56 want.
00:25:58 --> 00:25:59 That is until
00:25:59 --> 00:25:59 the government
00:25:59 --> 00:26:00 says I can't
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 leave home.
00:26:05 --> 00:26:06 My core
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 value of my
00:26:07 --> 00:26:09 identity has
00:26:09 --> 00:26:11 been rocked.
00:26:11 --> 00:26:13 by not
00:26:13 --> 00:26:14 being able to
00:26:14 --> 00:26:14 even leave
00:26:14 --> 00:26:15 my home.
00:26:21 --> 00:26:22 You can
00:26:22 --> 00:26:23 gain the
00:26:23 --> 00:26:23 whole world,
00:26:24 --> 00:26:24 it won't be
00:26:24 --> 00:26:24 enough.
00:26:27 --> 00:26:28 If we build
00:26:28 --> 00:26:29 our identity
00:26:29 --> 00:26:29 on a
00:26:29 --> 00:26:30 relationship
00:26:30 --> 00:26:31 or a
00:26:31 --> 00:26:31 career
00:26:31 --> 00:26:33 or whatever
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 it might be,
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 what happens
00:26:35 --> 00:26:36 when something
00:26:36 --> 00:26:37 goes wrong
00:26:37 --> 00:26:37 with that
00:26:37 --> 00:26:37 thing?
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40 Our sense
00:26:40 --> 00:26:40 of self
00:26:40 --> 00:26:41 is rocked.
00:26:42 --> 00:26:42 I don't
00:26:42 --> 00:26:43 just lose
00:26:43 --> 00:26:43 a job,
00:26:43 --> 00:26:44 I lose
00:26:44 --> 00:26:45 part of
00:26:45 --> 00:26:45 myself.
00:26:50 --> 00:26:51 And so
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 what Jesus
00:26:52 --> 00:26:52 says here is
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 I'm not
00:26:53 --> 00:26:53 come to
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 convince you
00:26:54 --> 00:26:54 to shift
00:26:54 --> 00:26:55 from one
00:26:55 --> 00:26:56 performance-based
00:26:56 --> 00:26:57 identity to
00:26:57 --> 00:26:58 another
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 performance-based
00:26:59 --> 00:26:59 identity.
00:26:59 --> 00:27:00 He wants
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 us to
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 lose our
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 old self,
00:27:03 --> 00:27:04 the old
00:27:04 --> 00:27:04 identity,
00:27:05 --> 00:27:05 and base
00:27:05 --> 00:27:06 our sense
00:27:06 --> 00:27:06 of approval
00:27:06 --> 00:27:07 and worth,
00:27:07 --> 00:27:08 our value,
00:27:08 --> 00:27:09 on the
00:27:09 --> 00:27:09 identity
00:27:09 --> 00:27:10 that only
00:27:10 --> 00:27:11 He can
00:27:11 --> 00:27:12 give us.
00:27:14 --> 00:27:14 Notice it
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 there in
00:27:15 --> 00:27:15 verse 35.
00:27:16 --> 00:27:16 For whoever
00:27:16 --> 00:27:17 wants to save
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 their life will
00:27:18 --> 00:27:18 lose it,
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 and here's the
00:27:20 --> 00:27:20 alternative.
00:27:22 --> 00:27:22 But whoever
00:27:22 --> 00:27:24 loses their
00:27:24 --> 00:27:27 life for me
00:27:27 --> 00:27:27 and for the
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 gospel will
00:27:28 --> 00:27:28 save it.
00:27:28 --> 00:27:28 In other
00:27:28 --> 00:27:28 words,
00:27:29 --> 00:27:29 whoever
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 surrenders
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 their life
00:27:31 --> 00:27:31 to me,
00:27:31 --> 00:27:31 whoever
00:27:31 --> 00:27:32 hands over
00:27:32 --> 00:27:33 themselves to
00:27:33 --> 00:27:34 me,
00:27:36 --> 00:27:36 and the
00:27:36 --> 00:27:37 gospel will
00:27:37 --> 00:27:37 save it.
00:27:38 --> 00:27:39 When our
00:27:39 --> 00:27:40 life is lost
00:27:40 --> 00:27:40 in the
00:27:40 --> 00:27:41 gospel,
00:27:41 --> 00:27:42 we save it.
00:27:42 --> 00:27:43 And the
00:27:43 --> 00:27:43 gospel,
00:27:43 --> 00:27:44 if you're new
00:27:44 --> 00:27:45 here,
00:27:45 --> 00:27:46 or even if
00:27:46 --> 00:27:46 you're not,
00:27:46 --> 00:27:47 let me remind
00:27:47 --> 00:27:48 you again,
00:27:48 --> 00:27:49 it is the
00:27:49 --> 00:27:50 foundation of
00:27:50 --> 00:27:51 what we believe
00:27:51 --> 00:27:51 here at
00:27:51 --> 00:27:52 St. Paul's.
00:27:52 --> 00:27:52 It is the
00:27:52 --> 00:27:53 heart of
00:27:53 --> 00:27:53 Christianity and
00:27:53 --> 00:27:54 the Christian
00:27:54 --> 00:27:54 discipleship.
00:27:54 --> 00:27:55 You don't
00:27:55 --> 00:27:56 ever move
00:27:56 --> 00:27:57 beyond the
00:27:57 --> 00:27:57 gospel.
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 The gospel is
00:27:59 --> 00:27:59 not something
00:27:59 --> 00:28:00 we do,
00:28:00 --> 00:28:01 it is something
00:28:01 --> 00:28:01 God has done
00:28:01 --> 00:28:02 for us in
00:28:02 --> 00:28:02 Jesus.
00:28:02 --> 00:28:03 It is God's
00:28:03 --> 00:28:04 grace to us
00:28:04 --> 00:28:05 from beginning
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 to end.
00:28:07 --> 00:28:08 We believe
00:28:08 --> 00:28:09 and receive
00:28:09 --> 00:28:10 and we live
00:28:10 --> 00:28:11 as followers
00:28:11 --> 00:28:11 of Jesus
00:28:11 --> 00:28:12 in the light
00:28:12 --> 00:28:12 of the
00:28:12 --> 00:28:13 gospel.
00:28:13 --> 00:28:13 And the
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 gospel is
00:28:14 --> 00:28:15 the good
00:28:15 --> 00:28:15 news that
00:28:15 --> 00:28:16 Jesus Christ,
00:28:16 --> 00:28:17 the Son of
00:28:17 --> 00:28:17 God,
00:28:18 --> 00:28:19 died for
00:28:19 --> 00:28:20 our sins
00:28:20 --> 00:28:21 and he
00:28:21 --> 00:28:22 rose again
00:28:22 --> 00:28:24 eternally
00:28:24 --> 00:28:25 triumphant
00:28:25 --> 00:28:26 over all
00:28:26 --> 00:28:26 of his
00:28:26 --> 00:28:27 enemies,
00:28:27 --> 00:28:27 evil,
00:28:28 --> 00:28:28 sin,
00:28:29 --> 00:28:29 death,
00:28:30 --> 00:28:32 in such
00:28:32 --> 00:28:32 a way
00:28:32 --> 00:28:33 that there
00:28:33 --> 00:28:34 is now
00:28:34 --> 00:28:35 no condemnation,
00:28:36 --> 00:28:36 not even
00:28:36 --> 00:28:37 a skerrick
00:28:37 --> 00:28:38 of condemnation
00:28:38 --> 00:28:39 for anyone
00:28:39 --> 00:28:40 who puts
00:28:40 --> 00:28:40 their trust
00:28:40 --> 00:28:41 in Jesus
00:28:41 --> 00:28:43 but only
00:28:43 --> 00:28:43 the hope
00:28:43 --> 00:28:44 of everlasting
00:28:44 --> 00:28:45 joy
00:28:45 --> 00:28:47 in him.
00:28:48 --> 00:28:49 1 Thessalonians
00:28:49 --> 00:28:50 5 is
00:28:50 --> 00:28:51 pure gospel
00:28:51 --> 00:28:51 for God
00:28:51 --> 00:28:52 did not
00:28:52 --> 00:28:52 appoint us
00:28:52 --> 00:28:53 to suffer
00:28:53 --> 00:28:54 but to
00:28:54 --> 00:28:54 receive
00:28:54 --> 00:28:55 salvation
00:28:55 --> 00:28:55 through
00:28:55 --> 00:28:56 our
00:28:56 --> 00:28:56 Lord
00:28:56 --> 00:28:56 Jesus
00:28:56 --> 00:28:57 Christ.
00:28:57 --> 00:28:57 He
00:28:57 --> 00:28:58 died
00:28:58 --> 00:28:58 for us
00:28:58 --> 00:28:59 so that
00:28:59 --> 00:28:59 whether we
00:28:59 --> 00:29:00 are awake
00:29:00 --> 00:29:01 or asleep
00:29:01 --> 00:29:02 we may
00:29:02 --> 00:29:03 live together
00:29:03 --> 00:29:04 with him.
00:29:05 --> 00:29:05 You see
00:29:05 --> 00:29:06 once we
00:29:06 --> 00:29:06 see the
00:29:06 --> 00:29:07 Son of
00:29:07 --> 00:29:07 God
00:29:07 --> 00:29:08 loving us
00:29:08 --> 00:29:08 like that
00:29:08 --> 00:29:10 we begin
00:29:10 --> 00:29:10 to get
00:29:10 --> 00:29:11 a strength
00:29:11 --> 00:29:12 and assurance
00:29:12 --> 00:29:13 and identity
00:29:13 --> 00:29:14 that actually
00:29:14 --> 00:29:15 sets us
00:29:15 --> 00:29:15 free
00:29:15 --> 00:29:19 and Peter
00:29:19 --> 00:29:20 in this
00:29:20 --> 00:29:20 moment
00:29:20 --> 00:29:21 is
00:29:21 --> 00:29:21 furious
00:29:21 --> 00:29:23 he's
00:29:23 --> 00:29:24 furious
00:29:24 --> 00:29:25 because
00:29:25 --> 00:29:26 his
00:29:26 --> 00:29:27 agenda
00:29:27 --> 00:29:27 for
00:29:27 --> 00:29:27 Jesus
00:29:27 --> 00:29:28 was an
00:29:28 --> 00:29:29 agenda
00:29:29 --> 00:29:29 that led
00:29:29 --> 00:29:30 from strength
00:29:30 --> 00:29:31 to strength
00:29:31 --> 00:29:32 to strength
00:29:32 --> 00:29:34 and while
00:29:34 --> 00:29:35 he acknowledged
00:29:35 --> 00:29:36 that Jesus
00:29:36 --> 00:29:36 was the
00:29:36 --> 00:29:37 king
00:29:37 --> 00:29:39 he was
00:29:39 --> 00:29:39 hoping
00:29:39 --> 00:29:40 that he
00:29:40 --> 00:29:41 would at
00:29:41 --> 00:29:42 least be
00:29:42 --> 00:29:42 the prime
00:29:42 --> 00:29:43 minister
00:29:43 --> 00:29:45 and bask
00:29:45 --> 00:29:46 in the
00:29:46 --> 00:29:46 glory of
00:29:46 --> 00:29:47 Jesus'
00:29:47 --> 00:29:47 victory
00:29:47 --> 00:29:48 as he
00:29:48 --> 00:29:48 took the
00:29:48 --> 00:29:48 throne
00:29:48 --> 00:29:49 in Jerusalem
00:29:49 --> 00:29:52 and so
00:29:52 --> 00:29:52 Peter's
00:29:52 --> 00:29:53 agenda
00:29:53 --> 00:29:53 did not
00:29:53 --> 00:29:54 involve
00:29:54 --> 00:29:54 suffering
00:29:54 --> 00:29:58 as it
00:29:58 --> 00:29:59 is the
00:29:59 --> 00:29:59 agenda
00:29:59 --> 00:30:00 for so
00:30:00 --> 00:30:00 many
00:30:00 --> 00:30:00 Christians
00:30:00 --> 00:30:01 in the
00:30:01 --> 00:30:01 western
00:30:01 --> 00:30:02 world
00:30:02 --> 00:30:05 it does
00:30:05 --> 00:30:05 not
00:30:05 --> 00:30:06 involve
00:30:06 --> 00:30:06 suffering
00:30:06 --> 00:30:09 if Jesus
00:30:09 --> 00:30:09 is the
00:30:09 --> 00:30:10 king
00:30:10 --> 00:30:10 to end
00:30:10 --> 00:30:11 all
00:30:11 --> 00:30:11 kings
00:30:11 --> 00:30:12 what we
00:30:12 --> 00:30:12 are told
00:30:12 --> 00:30:13 here is
00:30:13 --> 00:30:13 we do
00:30:13 --> 00:30:14 not
00:30:14 --> 00:30:14 negotiate
00:30:14 --> 00:30:15 with him
00:30:15 --> 00:30:17 it's
00:30:17 --> 00:30:18 essential
00:30:18 --> 00:30:18 that we
00:30:18 --> 00:30:19 see Jesus
00:30:19 --> 00:30:19 the king
00:30:19 --> 00:30:20 on the
00:30:20 --> 00:30:20 cross
00:30:20 --> 00:30:22 if we
00:30:22 --> 00:30:22 simply
00:30:22 --> 00:30:23 see him
00:30:23 --> 00:30:23 as a
00:30:23 --> 00:30:23 king
00:30:23 --> 00:30:24 on a
00:30:24 --> 00:30:24 throne
00:30:24 --> 00:30:27 we'll
00:30:27 --> 00:30:27 obey him
00:30:27 --> 00:30:28 because we
00:30:28 --> 00:30:28 have to
00:30:28 --> 00:30:29 obey him
00:30:29 --> 00:30:29 and there's
00:30:29 --> 00:30:30 a definition
00:30:30 --> 00:30:31 of religion
00:30:31 --> 00:30:33 but he
00:30:33 --> 00:30:33 is the
00:30:33 --> 00:30:34 ultimate
00:30:34 --> 00:30:34 king
00:30:34 --> 00:30:36 who went
00:30:36 --> 00:30:36 to the
00:30:36 --> 00:30:36 cross
00:30:36 --> 00:30:37 for us
00:30:37 --> 00:30:38 and therefore
00:30:38 --> 00:30:39 we can
00:30:39 --> 00:30:39 submit
00:30:39 --> 00:30:40 to him
00:30:40 --> 00:30:41 out of
00:30:41 --> 00:30:41 love
00:30:41 --> 00:30:42 and trust
00:30:42 --> 00:30:44 and so
00:30:44 --> 00:30:44 following
00:30:44 --> 00:30:44 Jesus
00:30:44 --> 00:30:46 means dying
00:30:46 --> 00:30:47 to self
00:30:47 --> 00:30:47 determination
00:30:47 --> 00:30:49 it means
00:30:49 --> 00:30:49 dying to
00:30:49 --> 00:30:50 control
00:30:50 --> 00:30:51 my life
00:30:51 --> 00:30:52 it means
00:30:52 --> 00:30:52 dying to
00:30:52 --> 00:30:53 using
00:30:53 --> 00:30:53 Jesus
00:30:53 --> 00:30:55 for my
00:30:55 --> 00:30:55 own
00:30:55 --> 00:30:56 agenda
00:30:56 --> 00:30:57 and
00:30:57 --> 00:30:57 simply
00:30:57 --> 00:30:58 saying
00:30:58 --> 00:30:58 with
00:30:58 --> 00:30:58 our
00:30:58 --> 00:30:59 whole
00:30:59 --> 00:30:59 being
00:30:59 --> 00:31:03 whatever
00:31:03 --> 00:31:03 you
00:31:03 --> 00:31:03 call me
00:31:03 --> 00:31:04 to do
00:31:04 --> 00:31:04 I will
00:31:04 --> 00:31:04 do
00:31:04 --> 00:31:07 and
00:31:07 --> 00:31:07 whatever
00:31:07 --> 00:31:07 you send
00:31:07 --> 00:31:08 I will
00:31:08 --> 00:31:08 accept
00:31:08 --> 00:31:10 it's
00:31:10 --> 00:31:10 a life
00:31:10 --> 00:31:10 of
00:31:10 --> 00:31:11 submission
00:31:11 --> 00:31:13 and what
00:31:13 --> 00:31:13 is the
00:31:13 --> 00:31:14 goal
00:31:14 --> 00:31:15 of that
00:31:15 --> 00:31:17 you see
00:31:17 --> 00:31:17 if you get
00:31:17 --> 00:31:17 Jesus
00:31:17 --> 00:31:18 wrong
00:31:18 --> 00:31:19 we get
00:31:19 --> 00:31:20 follow him
00:31:20 --> 00:31:21 wrong
00:31:21 --> 00:31:21 and we
00:31:21 --> 00:31:22 also get
00:31:22 --> 00:31:22 what his
00:31:22 --> 00:31:23 plan for
00:31:23 --> 00:31:23 us
00:31:23 --> 00:31:24 is wrong
00:31:24 --> 00:31:27 verse 38
00:31:27 --> 00:31:28 is the
00:31:28 --> 00:31:28 goal
00:31:28 --> 00:31:28 of
00:31:28 --> 00:31:29 Jesus
00:31:29 --> 00:31:29 entire
00:31:29 --> 00:31:30 mission
00:31:30 --> 00:31:32 if
00:31:32 --> 00:31:32 anyone
00:31:32 --> 00:31:32 is
00:31:32 --> 00:31:33 ashamed
00:31:33 --> 00:31:33 of
00:31:33 --> 00:31:33 me
00:31:33 --> 00:31:33 and
00:31:33 --> 00:31:33 my
00:31:33 --> 00:31:34 words
00:31:34 --> 00:31:34 in
00:31:34 --> 00:31:34 this
00:31:34 --> 00:31:34 adulterous
00:31:34 --> 00:31:35 sinful
00:31:35 --> 00:31:35 generation
00:31:35 --> 00:31:35 the
00:31:35 --> 00:31:36 son
00:31:36 --> 00:31:36 of
00:31:36 --> 00:31:36 man
00:31:36 --> 00:31:36 will
00:31:36 --> 00:31:37 be
00:31:37 --> 00:31:37 ashamed
00:31:37 --> 00:31:37 of
00:31:37 --> 00:31:37 them
00:31:37 --> 00:31:38 when
00:31:38 --> 00:31:38 he
00:31:38 --> 00:31:39 comes
00:31:39 --> 00:31:39 in
00:31:39 --> 00:31:40 his
00:31:40 --> 00:31:40 father's
00:31:40 --> 00:31:41 glory
00:31:41 --> 00:31:42 with
00:31:42 --> 00:31:42 the
00:31:42 --> 00:31:43 holy
00:31:43 --> 00:31:43 angels
00:31:43 --> 00:31:45 in
00:31:45 --> 00:31:45 other
00:31:45 --> 00:31:45 words
00:31:45 --> 00:31:46 what
00:31:46 --> 00:31:46 he's
00:31:46 --> 00:31:46 saying
00:31:46 --> 00:31:47 here
00:31:47 --> 00:31:47 is
00:31:47 --> 00:31:49 Jesus
00:31:49 --> 00:31:49 mission
00:31:49 --> 00:31:50 is
00:31:50 --> 00:31:50 not
00:31:50 --> 00:31:51 just
00:31:51 --> 00:31:52 simply
00:31:52 --> 00:31:53 to
00:31:53 --> 00:31:54 save
00:31:54 --> 00:31:55 sinners
00:31:55 --> 00:31:57 but
00:31:57 --> 00:31:57 it's
00:31:57 --> 00:31:57 in
00:31:57 --> 00:31:57 fact
00:31:57 --> 00:31:58 to
00:31:58 --> 00:31:59 save
00:31:59 --> 00:31:59 sinners
00:31:59 --> 00:32:00 for
00:32:00 --> 00:32:00 God's
00:32:00 --> 00:32:01 glory
00:32:01 --> 00:32:02 until
00:32:02 --> 00:32:03 the
00:32:03 --> 00:32:03 very
00:32:03 --> 00:32:03 end
00:32:03 --> 00:32:03 when
00:32:03 --> 00:32:04 God
00:32:04 --> 00:32:04 is
00:32:04 --> 00:32:05 glorified
00:32:05 --> 00:32:06 Jesus
00:32:06 --> 00:32:07 came
00:32:07 --> 00:32:07 into
00:32:07 --> 00:32:08 this
00:32:08 --> 00:32:08 world
00:32:08 --> 00:32:08 to
00:32:08 --> 00:32:09 reveal
00:32:09 --> 00:32:09 the
00:32:09 --> 00:32:09 glorious
00:32:09 --> 00:32:10 God
00:32:10 --> 00:32:10 to
00:32:10 --> 00:32:10 a
00:32:10 --> 00:32:11 world
00:32:11 --> 00:32:11 that
00:32:11 --> 00:32:11 is
00:32:11 --> 00:32:12 intoxicated
00:32:12 --> 00:32:13 with
00:32:13 --> 00:32:13 its
00:32:13 --> 00:32:13 own
00:32:13 --> 00:32:14 glory
00:32:14 --> 00:32:16 and
00:32:16 --> 00:32:16 its
00:32:16 --> 00:32:16 own
00:32:16 --> 00:32:17 passions
00:32:17 --> 00:32:17 to
00:32:17 --> 00:32:17 gain
00:32:17 --> 00:32:17 the
00:32:17 --> 00:32:18 entire
00:32:18 --> 00:32:18 world
00:32:18 --> 00:32:22 growth
00:32:22 --> 00:32:23 as a
00:32:23 --> 00:32:23 disciple
00:32:23 --> 00:32:24 of
00:32:24 --> 00:32:24 Jesus
00:32:24 --> 00:32:26 is
00:32:26 --> 00:32:26 a
00:32:26 --> 00:32:27 simultaneous
00:32:27 --> 00:32:28 process
00:32:28 --> 00:32:30 of
00:32:30 --> 00:32:30 getting
00:32:30 --> 00:32:30 a
00:32:30 --> 00:32:31 bigger
00:32:31 --> 00:32:31 and
00:32:31 --> 00:32:31 bigger
00:32:31 --> 00:32:32 vision
00:32:32 --> 00:32:32 and
00:32:32 --> 00:32:33 grasping
00:32:33 --> 00:32:33 more
00:32:33 --> 00:32:34 and more
00:32:34 --> 00:32:35 faith
00:32:35 --> 00:32:35 the
00:32:35 --> 00:32:36 Lord
00:32:36 --> 00:32:36 Jesus
00:32:36 --> 00:32:37 Christ
00:32:37 --> 00:32:37 as
00:32:37 --> 00:32:37 king
00:32:37 --> 00:32:38 over
00:32:38 --> 00:32:38 my
00:32:38 --> 00:32:38 life
00:32:38 --> 00:32:40 and
00:32:40 --> 00:32:41 a
00:32:41 --> 00:32:41 growth
00:32:41 --> 00:32:42 downwards
00:32:42 --> 00:32:44 as I
00:32:44 --> 00:32:44 divest
00:32:44 --> 00:32:45 myself
00:32:45 --> 00:32:45 of
00:32:45 --> 00:32:46 all
00:32:46 --> 00:32:46 sense
00:32:46 --> 00:32:46 of
00:32:46 --> 00:32:47 who
00:32:47 --> 00:32:48 I
00:32:48 --> 00:32:48 am
00:32:48 --> 00:32:48 and
00:32:48 --> 00:32:48 my
00:32:48 --> 00:32:49 worthiness
00:32:49 --> 00:32:50 I
00:32:50 --> 00:32:51 grow
00:32:51 --> 00:32:51 downwards
00:32:51 --> 00:32:52 as I
00:32:52 --> 00:32:52 see
00:32:52 --> 00:32:52 my
00:32:52 --> 00:32:53 frailty
00:32:53 --> 00:32:53
00:32:53 --> 00:32:53 and my
00:32:53 --> 00:32:54 sin!
00:32:56 --> 00:32:56 And so
00:32:56 --> 00:32:56 I
00:32:56 --> 00:32:57 grow
00:32:57 --> 00:32:57 upwards
00:32:57 --> 00:32:57 in
00:32:57 --> 00:33:00 and
00:33:00 --> 00:33:01 downwards
00:33:01 --> 00:33:01 in
00:33:01 --> 00:33:01 humility
00:33:01 --> 00:33:03 and
00:33:03 --> 00:33:03 they
00:33:03 --> 00:33:03 happen
00:33:03 --> 00:33:04 together
00:33:04 --> 00:33:05 concurrently
00:33:05 --> 00:33:08 and
00:33:08 --> 00:33:09 Jesus
00:33:09 --> 00:33:09 Christ
00:33:09 --> 00:33:09 calls
00:33:09 --> 00:33:10 him
00:33:10 --> 00:33:10 to
00:33:10 --> 00:33:10 follow
00:33:10 --> 00:33:11 him
00:33:11 --> 00:33:11 so
00:33:11 --> 00:33:11 that
00:33:11 --> 00:33:12 we
00:33:12 --> 00:33:12 might
00:33:12 --> 00:33:13 become
00:33:13 --> 00:33:14 like
00:33:14 --> 00:33:14 him
00:33:14 --> 00:33:14 for
00:33:14 --> 00:33:15 God's
00:33:15 --> 00:33:15 glory
00:33:15 --> 00:33:15 1
00:33:15 --> 00:33:15 John
00:33:15 --> 00:33:16 3
00:33:16 --> 00:33:16 now
00:33:16 --> 00:33:17 we
00:33:17 --> 00:33:17 are
00:33:17 --> 00:33:17 children
00:33:17 --> 00:33:17 of
00:33:17 --> 00:33:18 God
00:33:18 --> 00:33:18 and
00:33:18 --> 00:33:18 what
00:33:18 --> 00:33:19 we
00:33:19 --> 00:33:19 will
00:33:19 --> 00:33:20 be
00:33:20 --> 00:33:20 has
00:33:20 --> 00:33:20 not
00:33:20 --> 00:33:21 yet
00:33:21 --> 00:33:21 been
00:33:21 --> 00:33:21 made
00:33:21 --> 00:33:22 known
00:33:22 --> 00:33:22 but
00:33:22 --> 00:33:22 we
00:33:22 --> 00:33:23 know
00:33:23 --> 00:33:23 that
00:33:23 --> 00:33:23 when
00:33:23 --> 00:33:23 Christ
00:33:23 --> 00:33:24 appears
00:33:24 --> 00:33:25 we
00:33:25 --> 00:33:25 shall
00:33:25 --> 00:33:25 be
00:33:25 --> 00:33:25 like
00:33:25 --> 00:33:25 him
00:33:25 --> 00:33:26 for
00:33:26 --> 00:33:26 we
00:33:26 --> 00:33:26 see
00:33:26 --> 00:33:26 him
00:33:26 --> 00:33:27 as
00:33:27 --> 00:33:27 he
00:33:27 --> 00:33:27 is
00:33:27 --> 00:33:29 all
00:33:29 --> 00:33:30 who
00:33:30 --> 00:33:30 have
00:33:30 --> 00:33:30 that
00:33:30 --> 00:33:31 hope
00:33:31 --> 00:33:31 in
00:33:31 --> 00:33:31 the
00:33:31 --> 00:33:31 future
00:33:31 --> 00:33:32 my
00:33:32 --> 00:33:32 words
00:33:32 --> 00:33:34 in
00:33:34 --> 00:33:34 him
00:33:34 --> 00:33:35 purify
00:33:35 --> 00:33:36 themselves
00:33:36 --> 00:33:36 just
00:33:36 --> 00:33:37 as
00:33:37 --> 00:33:37 he
00:33:37 --> 00:33:38 is
00:33:38 --> 00:33:39 in
00:33:39 --> 00:33:40 other
00:33:40 --> 00:33:40 words
00:33:40 --> 00:33:41 the
00:33:41 --> 00:33:42 goal
00:33:42 --> 00:33:42 of
00:33:42 --> 00:33:43 being
00:33:43 --> 00:33:43 saved
00:33:43 --> 00:33:43 by
00:33:43 --> 00:33:44 Jesus
00:33:44 --> 00:33:44 the
00:33:44 --> 00:33:44 goal
00:33:44 --> 00:33:45 of
00:33:45 --> 00:33:45 following
00:33:45 --> 00:33:46 Jesus
00:33:46 --> 00:33:46 is
00:33:46 --> 00:33:47 personal
00:33:47 --> 00:33:48 transformation
00:33:48 --> 00:33:49 into
00:33:49 --> 00:33:50 the
00:33:50 --> 00:33:51 likeness
00:33:51 --> 00:33:51 of
00:33:51 --> 00:33:52 Jesus
00:33:52 --> 00:33:54 to
00:33:54 --> 00:33:54 become
00:33:54 --> 00:33:54 as
00:33:54 --> 00:33:55 he
00:33:55 --> 00:33:55 is
00:33:55 --> 00:33:57 like
00:33:57 --> 00:33:57 Jesus
00:33:57 --> 00:33:57 in
00:33:57 --> 00:33:58 his
00:33:58 --> 00:33:58 patient
00:33:58 --> 00:33:59 endurance
00:33:59 --> 00:34:00 like
00:34:00 --> 00:34:00 Jesus
00:34:00 --> 00:34:00 in
00:34:00 --> 00:34:01 his
00:34:01 --> 00:34:01 priority
00:34:01 --> 00:34:03 like
00:34:03 --> 00:34:03 Jesus
00:34:03 --> 00:34:03 in
00:34:03 --> 00:34:04 his
00:34:04 --> 00:34:04 mission
00:34:04 --> 00:34:04 to
00:34:04 --> 00:34:04 the
00:34:04 --> 00:34:05 world
00:34:05 --> 00:34:07 to
00:34:07 --> 00:34:08 be
00:34:08 --> 00:34:08 a
00:34:08 --> 00:34:09 Christian
00:34:09 --> 00:34:10 is
00:34:10 --> 00:34:10 to
00:34:10 --> 00:34:10 walk
00:34:10 --> 00:34:11 the
00:34:11 --> 00:34:11 path
00:34:11 --> 00:34:11 of
00:34:11 --> 00:34:13 transformation
00:34:13 --> 00:34:14 into
00:34:14 --> 00:34:15 the
00:34:15 --> 00:34:15 image
00:34:15 --> 00:34:16 of
00:34:16 --> 00:34:16 Jesus
00:34:16 --> 00:34:20 Christianity
00:34:20 --> 00:34:21 is
00:34:21 --> 00:34:21 not
00:34:21 --> 00:34:22 just
00:34:22 --> 00:34:22 about
00:34:22 --> 00:34:23 sin
00:34:23 --> 00:34:24 management
00:34:24 --> 00:34:25 I
00:34:25 --> 00:34:26 pray to
00:34:26 --> 00:34:26 praise
00:34:26 --> 00:34:26 forgive
00:34:26 --> 00:34:27 my
00:34:27 --> 00:34:27 sins
00:34:27 --> 00:34:28 and
00:34:28 --> 00:34:28 now
00:34:28 --> 00:34:29 Jesus
00:34:29 --> 00:34:29 job
00:34:29 --> 00:34:29 is
00:34:29 --> 00:34:30 to
00:34:30 --> 00:34:31 support
00:34:31 --> 00:34:31 me
00:34:31 --> 00:34:31 and
00:34:31 --> 00:34:31 my
00:34:31 --> 00:34:32 agenda
00:34:32 --> 00:34:32 for
00:34:32 --> 00:34:33 life
00:34:33 --> 00:34:34 that's
00:34:34 --> 00:34:34 what
00:34:34 --> 00:34:34 Peter
00:34:34 --> 00:34:34 got
00:34:34 --> 00:34:35 wrong
00:34:35 --> 00:34:41 and
00:34:41 --> 00:34:41 we
00:34:41 --> 00:34:42 cannot
00:34:42 --> 00:34:42 grow
00:34:42 --> 00:34:43 in
00:34:43 --> 00:34:44 personal
00:34:44 --> 00:34:45 transformation
00:34:45 --> 00:34:46 unless
00:34:46 --> 00:34:46 we are
00:34:46 --> 00:34:47 consistently
00:34:47 --> 00:34:48 looking at
00:34:48 --> 00:34:49 and to
00:34:49 --> 00:34:49 the
00:34:49 --> 00:34:49 one
00:34:49 --> 00:34:50 we are
00:34:50 --> 00:34:50 to
00:34:50 --> 00:34:51 become
00:34:51 --> 00:34:51 like
00:34:51 --> 00:34:52 that's
00:34:52 --> 00:34:52 been
00:34:52 --> 00:34:53 the
00:34:53 --> 00:34:53 essence
00:34:53 --> 00:34:53 of
00:34:53 --> 00:34:54 follow
00:34:54 --> 00:34:54 25
00:34:54 --> 00:34:55 in
00:34:55 --> 00:34:55 fact
00:34:55 --> 00:34:55 the
00:34:55 --> 00:34:56 key
00:34:56 --> 00:34:56 objective
00:34:56 --> 00:34:56 there
00:34:56 --> 00:34:57 was
00:34:57 --> 00:34:59 75%
00:34:59 --> 00:34:59 growing
00:34:59 --> 00:35:00 much
00:35:00 --> 00:35:01 in
00:35:01 --> 00:35:01 faith
00:35:01 --> 00:35:02 why
00:35:02 --> 00:35:03 that
00:35:03 --> 00:35:03 key
00:35:03 --> 00:35:03 objective
00:35:03 --> 00:35:08 because
00:35:08 --> 00:35:09 unless
00:35:09 --> 00:35:10 we are
00:35:10 --> 00:35:11 specifically
00:35:11 --> 00:35:11 growing
00:35:11 --> 00:35:12 in
00:35:12 --> 00:35:12 faith
00:35:12 --> 00:35:13 all
00:35:13 --> 00:35:14 the
00:35:14 --> 00:35:14 other
00:35:14 --> 00:35:14 things
00:35:14 --> 00:35:15 that
00:35:15 --> 00:35:15 we
00:35:15 --> 00:35:15 would
00:35:15 --> 00:35:16 do
00:35:16 --> 00:35:16 associated
00:35:16 --> 00:35:17 with
00:35:17 --> 00:35:17 being
00:35:17 --> 00:35:17 a
00:35:17 --> 00:35:17 disciple
00:35:17 --> 00:35:18 of
00:35:18 --> 00:35:18 Jesus
00:35:18 --> 00:35:20 generosity
00:35:20 --> 00:35:23 doesn't
00:35:23 --> 00:35:23 happen
00:35:23 --> 00:35:24 evangelism
00:35:24 --> 00:35:24 doesn't
00:35:24 --> 00:35:24 happen
00:35:24 --> 00:35:26 although
00:35:26 --> 00:35:27 growing
00:35:27 --> 00:35:28 greater
00:35:28 --> 00:35:29 confidence
00:35:29 --> 00:35:31 the
00:35:31 --> 00:35:31 rest
00:35:31 --> 00:35:32 doesn't
00:35:32 --> 00:35:32 happen
00:35:32 --> 00:35:37 and
00:35:37 --> 00:35:37 we've
00:35:37 --> 00:35:37 heard
00:35:37 --> 00:35:38 again
00:35:38 --> 00:35:40 about
00:35:40 --> 00:35:40 the
00:35:40 --> 00:35:41 last
00:35:41 --> 00:35:41 five
00:35:41 --> 00:35:41 years
00:35:41 --> 00:35:42 and
00:35:42 --> 00:35:43 remind
00:35:43 --> 00:35:43 again
00:35:43 --> 00:35:43 today
00:35:43 --> 00:35:44 that
00:35:44 --> 00:35:46 research
00:35:46 --> 00:35:46 has
00:35:46 --> 00:35:47 indicated
00:35:47 --> 00:35:47 that
00:35:47 --> 00:35:47 there's
00:35:47 --> 00:35:48 only
00:35:48 --> 00:35:49 really
00:35:49 --> 00:35:50 one
00:35:50 --> 00:35:50 I mean
00:35:50 --> 00:35:50 there's
00:35:50 --> 00:35:50 multiple
00:35:50 --> 00:35:51 things
00:35:51 --> 00:35:51 that
00:35:51 --> 00:35:51 contribute
00:35:51 --> 00:35:52 to
00:35:52 --> 00:35:52 growth
00:35:52 --> 00:35:52 in
00:35:52 --> 00:35:52 faith
00:35:52 --> 00:35:53 but
00:35:53 --> 00:35:53 there's
00:35:53 --> 00:35:53 one
00:35:53 --> 00:35:53 key
00:35:53 --> 00:35:54 one
00:35:54 --> 00:35:54 and
00:35:54 --> 00:35:54 that
00:35:54 --> 00:35:55 is
00:35:55 --> 00:35:55 reading
00:35:55 --> 00:35:56 God's
00:35:56 --> 00:35:56 word
00:35:56 --> 00:35:57 more
00:35:57 --> 00:35:57 than
00:35:57 --> 00:35:57 four
00:35:57 --> 00:35:58 times
00:35:58 --> 00:35:58 a
00:35:58 --> 00:35:58 week
00:35:58 --> 00:35:59 in
00:35:59 --> 00:35:59 other
00:35:59 --> 00:35:59 words
00:35:59 --> 00:36:00 constantly
00:36:00 --> 00:36:00 gazing
00:36:00 --> 00:36:01 on
00:36:01 --> 00:36:01 the
00:36:01 --> 00:36:02 glory
00:36:02 --> 00:36:02 of
00:36:02 --> 00:36:03 Christ
00:36:03 --> 00:36:03 and
00:36:03 --> 00:36:04 God
00:36:04 --> 00:36:04 and
00:36:04 --> 00:36:04 his
00:36:04 --> 00:36:05 gospel
00:36:05 --> 00:36:06 four
00:36:06 --> 00:36:06 more
00:36:06 --> 00:36:07 times
00:36:07 --> 00:36:07 a
00:36:07 --> 00:36:07 week
00:36:07 --> 00:36:08 and
00:36:08 --> 00:36:08 so
00:36:08 --> 00:36:09 when
00:36:09 --> 00:36:09 I
00:36:09 --> 00:36:10 put
00:36:10 --> 00:36:10 down
00:36:10 --> 00:36:10 there
00:36:10 --> 00:36:12 65%
00:36:12 --> 00:36:13 us
00:36:13 --> 00:36:14 growing
00:36:14 --> 00:36:14 in
00:36:14 --> 00:36:14 faith
00:36:14 --> 00:36:15 that
00:36:15 --> 00:36:16 was
00:36:16 --> 00:36:17 a
00:36:17 --> 00:36:17 target
00:36:17 --> 00:36:18 according
00:36:18 --> 00:36:19 to
00:36:19 --> 00:36:20 people
00:36:20 --> 00:36:20 who were
00:36:20 --> 00:36:20 helping us
00:36:20 --> 00:36:21 at this
00:36:21 --> 00:36:21 point
00:36:21 --> 00:36:22 was a
00:36:22 --> 00:36:22 very
00:36:22 --> 00:36:23 ambitious
00:36:23 --> 00:36:23 target
00:36:23 --> 00:36:26 especially
00:36:26 --> 00:36:26 so
00:36:26 --> 00:36:26 because
00:36:26 --> 00:36:27 in
00:36:27 --> 00:36:28 2021
00:36:28 --> 00:36:29 the
00:36:29 --> 00:36:29 figure
00:36:29 --> 00:36:29 for us
00:36:29 --> 00:36:30 here
00:36:30 --> 00:36:30 at
00:36:30 --> 00:36:30 St.
00:36:30 --> 00:36:30 Paul's
00:36:30 --> 00:36:30 was
00:36:30 --> 00:36:31 17%
00:36:31 --> 00:36:38 and
00:36:38 --> 00:36:38 so
00:36:38 --> 00:36:39 did we
00:36:39 --> 00:36:39 hit
00:36:39 --> 00:36:40 65%
00:36:40 --> 00:36:42 no
00:36:42 --> 00:36:47 research
00:36:47 --> 00:36:48 our own
00:36:48 --> 00:36:48 research
00:36:48 --> 00:36:49 this
00:36:49 --> 00:36:49 year
00:36:49 --> 00:36:51 we
00:36:51 --> 00:36:51 hit
00:36:51 --> 00:36:52 48%
00:36:52 --> 00:36:59 is
00:36:59 --> 00:36:59 that
00:36:59 --> 00:36:59 a
00:36:59 --> 00:36:59 failure
00:36:59 --> 00:37:05 10
00:37:05 --> 00:37:07 years ago
00:37:07 --> 00:37:08 I would
00:37:08 --> 00:37:08 have said
00:37:08 --> 00:37:08 yes
00:37:08 --> 00:37:10 right now
00:37:10 --> 00:37:11 I'd say
00:37:11 --> 00:37:11 no
00:37:11 --> 00:37:14 in
00:37:14 --> 00:37:14 fact
00:37:14 --> 00:37:15 along
00:37:15 --> 00:37:15 with
00:37:15 --> 00:37:15 that
00:37:15 --> 00:37:16 48%
00:37:16 --> 00:37:17 and
00:37:17 --> 00:37:17 I
00:37:17 --> 00:37:18 might
00:37:18 --> 00:37:18 add
00:37:18 --> 00:37:19 that
00:37:19 --> 00:37:19 in
00:37:19 --> 00:37:19 our
00:37:19 --> 00:37:20 own
00:37:20 --> 00:37:20 church
00:37:20 --> 00:37:21 culture
00:37:21 --> 00:37:21 here
00:37:21 --> 00:37:22 in
00:37:22 --> 00:37:23 Sydney
00:37:23 --> 00:37:24 the
00:37:24 --> 00:37:24 average
00:37:24 --> 00:37:24 is
00:37:24 --> 00:37:25 around
00:37:25 --> 00:37:25 the
00:37:25 --> 00:37:26 24%
00:37:26 --> 00:37:29 but
00:37:29 --> 00:37:29 along
00:37:29 --> 00:37:29 with
00:37:29 --> 00:37:29 that
00:37:29 --> 00:37:30 48%
00:37:30 --> 00:37:31 we
00:37:31 --> 00:37:31 are
00:37:31 --> 00:37:31 also
00:37:31 --> 00:37:32 seeing
00:37:32 --> 00:37:32 in
00:37:32 --> 00:37:33 the
00:37:33 --> 00:37:33 last
00:37:33 --> 00:37:33 12
00:37:33 --> 00:37:34 months
00:37:34 --> 00:37:35 94%
00:37:35 --> 00:37:36 of us
00:37:36 --> 00:37:36 are
00:37:36 --> 00:37:36 saying
00:37:36 --> 00:37:36 that
00:37:36 --> 00:37:36 they're
00:37:36 --> 00:37:37 growing
00:37:37 --> 00:37:37 in
00:37:37 --> 00:37:37 faith
00:37:37 --> 00:37:44 what's
00:37:44 --> 00:37:44 the
00:37:44 --> 00:37:44 bedrock
00:37:44 --> 00:37:48 78%
00:37:48 --> 00:37:48 of us
00:37:48 --> 00:37:48 are
00:37:48 --> 00:37:49 saying
00:37:49 --> 00:37:49 that
00:37:49 --> 00:37:49 they're
00:37:49 --> 00:37:50 doing
00:37:50 --> 00:37:50 a
00:37:50 --> 00:37:51 personal
00:37:51 --> 00:37:51 devotional
00:37:51 --> 00:37:52 life
00:37:52 --> 00:37:53 more
00:37:53 --> 00:37:53 than
00:37:53 --> 00:37:53 a few
00:37:53 --> 00:37:53 times
00:37:53 --> 00:37:54 a
00:37:54 --> 00:37:54 week
00:37:54 --> 00:37:55 there
00:37:55 --> 00:37:55 it
00:37:55 --> 00:37:55 is
00:37:55 --> 00:37:56 right
00:37:56 --> 00:37:56 there
00:37:56 --> 00:37:57 gazing
00:37:57 --> 00:37:57 on
00:37:57 --> 00:37:57 the
00:37:57 --> 00:37:57 glory
00:37:57 --> 00:37:57 of
00:37:57 --> 00:37:58 the
00:37:58 --> 00:37:58 gospel
00:37:58 --> 00:38:01 and
00:38:01 --> 00:38:01 so
00:38:01 --> 00:38:02 for me
00:38:02 --> 00:38:02 personally
00:38:02 --> 00:38:04 I
00:38:04 --> 00:38:04 started
00:38:04 --> 00:38:05 follow
00:38:05 --> 00:38:05 25
00:38:05 --> 00:38:06 with a
00:38:06 --> 00:38:06 commitment
00:38:06 --> 00:38:07 to
00:38:07 --> 00:38:08 read
00:38:08 --> 00:38:08 the
00:38:08 --> 00:38:08 Old
00:38:08 --> 00:38:09 Testament
00:38:09 --> 00:38:09 five
00:38:09 --> 00:38:10 times
00:38:10 --> 00:38:10 and
00:38:10 --> 00:38:10 the
00:38:10 --> 00:38:11 New
00:38:11 --> 00:38:11 Testament
00:38:11 --> 00:38:12 and
00:38:12 --> 00:38:13 Psalms
00:38:13 --> 00:38:14 ten
00:38:14 --> 00:38:14 times
00:38:14 --> 00:38:14 over
00:38:14 --> 00:38:14 the
00:38:14 --> 00:38:15 course
00:38:15 --> 00:38:15 of
00:38:15 --> 00:38:15 the
00:38:15 --> 00:38:15 five
00:38:15 --> 00:38:16 years
00:38:16 --> 00:38:17 I
00:38:17 --> 00:38:18 had
00:38:18 --> 00:38:18 never
00:38:18 --> 00:38:18 had
00:38:18 --> 00:38:19 to
00:38:19 --> 00:38:19 do
00:38:19 --> 00:38:19 that
00:38:19 --> 00:38:20 before
00:38:20 --> 00:38:21 and
00:38:21 --> 00:38:23 I
00:38:23 --> 00:38:23 wasn't
00:38:23 --> 00:38:23 sure
00:38:23 --> 00:38:23 how
00:38:23 --> 00:38:23 I
00:38:23 --> 00:38:23 was
00:38:23 --> 00:38:23 going
00:38:23 --> 00:38:24 to
00:38:24 --> 00:38:24 do
00:38:24 --> 00:38:24 it
00:38:24 --> 00:38:25 but
00:38:25 --> 00:38:26 the
00:38:26 --> 00:38:26 disruption
00:38:26 --> 00:38:27 of
00:38:27 --> 00:38:27 my
00:38:27 --> 00:38:28 routines
00:38:28 --> 00:38:29 during
00:38:29 --> 00:38:29 COVID
00:38:29 --> 00:38:30 19
00:38:30 --> 00:38:31 restrictions
00:38:31 --> 00:38:33 provided
00:38:33 --> 00:38:33 the
00:38:33 --> 00:38:34 opportunity
00:38:34 --> 00:38:34 that I
00:38:34 --> 00:38:35 needed
00:38:35 --> 00:38:36 for
00:38:36 --> 00:38:36 new
00:38:36 --> 00:38:37 habits
00:38:37 --> 00:38:37 to
00:38:37 --> 00:38:37 be
00:38:37 --> 00:38:38 formed
00:38:38 --> 00:38:41 the
00:38:41 --> 00:38:41 lockdowns
00:38:41 --> 00:38:41 were a
00:38:41 --> 00:38:42 blessing
00:38:42 --> 00:38:42 on one
00:38:42 --> 00:38:43 level
00:38:43 --> 00:38:43 for me
00:38:43 --> 00:38:45 as it
00:38:45 --> 00:38:46 was for
00:38:46 --> 00:38:46 most
00:38:46 --> 00:38:47 introverts
00:38:47 --> 00:38:48 by the
00:38:48 --> 00:38:48 way
00:38:48 --> 00:38:52 and
00:38:52 --> 00:38:52 those
00:38:52 --> 00:38:53 habits
00:38:53 --> 00:38:53 that were
00:38:53 --> 00:38:53 formed
00:38:53 --> 00:38:54 in those
00:38:54 --> 00:38:54 days
00:38:54 --> 00:38:54 still
00:38:54 --> 00:38:55 continue
00:38:55 --> 00:38:55 to this
00:38:55 --> 00:38:56 day
00:38:56 --> 00:38:57 and
00:38:57 --> 00:38:57 so
00:38:57 --> 00:38:57 I'm
00:38:57 --> 00:38:58 hoping
00:38:58 --> 00:38:58 just in
00:38:58 --> 00:38:58 the next
00:38:58 --> 00:38:59 couple
00:38:59 --> 00:38:59 of
00:38:59 --> 00:38:59 weeks
00:38:59 --> 00:38:59 to be
00:38:59 --> 00:39:00 able
00:39:00 --> 00:39:00 to say
00:39:00 --> 00:39:02 based
00:39:02 --> 00:39:02 on
00:39:02 --> 00:39:02 I'm
00:39:02 --> 00:39:02 up
00:39:02 --> 00:39:02 to
00:39:02 --> 00:39:03 date
00:39:03 --> 00:39:03 and
00:39:03 --> 00:39:03 I
00:39:03 --> 00:39:04 see
00:39:04 --> 00:39:04 no
00:39:04 --> 00:39:04 reason
00:39:04 --> 00:39:06 why
00:39:06 --> 00:39:06 I
00:39:06 --> 00:39:06 would
00:39:06 --> 00:39:06 not
00:39:06 --> 00:39:07 finish
00:39:07 --> 00:39:08 that
00:39:08 --> 00:39:09 commitment
00:39:09 --> 00:39:13 I am
00:39:13 --> 00:39:14 so
00:39:14 --> 00:39:14 thankful
00:39:14 --> 00:39:15 for the
00:39:15 --> 00:39:15 challenging
00:39:15 --> 00:39:16 times
00:39:16 --> 00:39:16 in the
00:39:16 --> 00:39:17 early
00:39:17 --> 00:39:17 stage
00:39:17 --> 00:39:17 of
00:39:17 --> 00:39:17 Follow
00:39:17 --> 00:39:18 25
00:39:18 --> 00:39:19 and
00:39:19 --> 00:39:19 the
00:39:19 --> 00:39:19 fruit
00:39:19 --> 00:39:19 that
00:39:19 --> 00:39:19 it
00:39:19 --> 00:39:20 bore
00:39:20 --> 00:39:20 I
00:39:20 --> 00:39:21 can
00:39:21 --> 00:39:21 tell
00:39:21 --> 00:39:21 you
00:39:21 --> 00:39:22 over
00:39:22 --> 00:39:22 the
00:39:22 --> 00:39:22 last
00:39:22 --> 00:39:23 five
00:39:23 --> 00:39:23 years
00:39:23 --> 00:39:23 and
00:39:23 --> 00:39:23 the
00:39:23 --> 00:39:24 commitment
00:39:24 --> 00:39:24 to
00:39:24 --> 00:39:24 read
00:39:24 --> 00:39:24 God's
00:39:24 --> 00:39:25 word
00:39:25 --> 00:39:25 in
00:39:25 --> 00:39:25 that
00:39:25 --> 00:39:25 way
00:39:25 --> 00:39:27 my
00:39:27 --> 00:39:28 grasp
00:39:28 --> 00:39:28 of
00:39:28 --> 00:39:28 the
00:39:28 --> 00:39:29 landscape
00:39:29 --> 00:39:29 of
00:39:29 --> 00:39:30 God's
00:39:30 --> 00:39:30 word
00:39:30 --> 00:39:31 and
00:39:31 --> 00:39:32 God's
00:39:32 --> 00:39:32 character
00:39:32 --> 00:39:33 has
00:39:33 --> 00:39:34 grown
00:39:34 --> 00:39:35 exponentially
00:39:35 --> 00:39:38 where
00:39:38 --> 00:39:39 I can
00:39:39 --> 00:39:39 read
00:39:39 --> 00:39:40 what might
00:39:40 --> 00:39:40 be regarded
00:39:40 --> 00:39:41 as obscure
00:39:41 --> 00:39:42 passages
00:39:42 --> 00:39:44 in the
00:39:44 --> 00:39:44 Old
00:39:44 --> 00:39:44 Testament
00:39:44 --> 00:39:45 and go
00:39:45 --> 00:39:45 there's
00:39:45 --> 00:39:45 the
00:39:45 --> 00:39:45 gospel
00:39:45 --> 00:39:46 right
00:39:46 --> 00:39:46 there
00:39:46 --> 00:39:48 there's
00:39:48 --> 00:39:48 God's
00:39:48 --> 00:39:49 character
00:39:49 --> 00:39:49 on display
00:39:49 --> 00:39:49 right
00:39:49 --> 00:39:50 there
00:39:50 --> 00:39:53 and
00:39:53 --> 00:39:53 as
00:39:53 --> 00:39:54 I've
00:39:54 --> 00:39:55 seen
00:39:55 --> 00:39:55 more
00:39:55 --> 00:39:56 and
00:39:56 --> 00:39:56 more
00:39:56 --> 00:39:56 of
00:39:56 --> 00:39:57 God
00:39:57 --> 00:39:59 over
00:39:59 --> 00:39:59 the
00:39:59 --> 00:39:59 last
00:39:59 --> 00:40:00 five
00:40:00 --> 00:40:00 years
00:40:00 --> 00:40:00 I've
00:40:00 --> 00:40:00 also
00:40:00 --> 00:40:01 seen
00:40:01 --> 00:40:01 more
00:40:01 --> 00:40:01 and
00:40:01 --> 00:40:01 more
00:40:01 --> 00:40:01 of
00:40:01 --> 00:40:02 myself
00:40:02 --> 00:40:04 I
00:40:04 --> 00:40:04 started
00:40:04 --> 00:40:05 to
00:40:05 --> 00:40:05 see
00:40:05 --> 00:40:05 in
00:40:05 --> 00:40:06 the
00:40:06 --> 00:40:06 last
00:40:06 --> 00:40:06 five
00:40:06 --> 00:40:07 years
00:40:07 --> 00:40:09 and
00:40:09 --> 00:40:09 particularly
00:40:09 --> 00:40:10 around
00:40:10 --> 00:40:10 the
00:40:10 --> 00:40:10 early
00:40:10 --> 00:40:11 days
00:40:11 --> 00:40:11 of
00:40:11 --> 00:40:12 COVID-19
00:40:12 --> 00:40:12 which
00:40:12 --> 00:40:12 started
00:40:12 --> 00:40:13 a bunch
00:40:13 --> 00:40:13 of
00:40:13 --> 00:40:13 the
00:40:13 --> 00:40:14 for
00:40:14 --> 00:40:14 me
00:40:14 --> 00:40:16 desires
00:40:16 --> 00:40:16 and
00:40:16 --> 00:40:17 passions
00:40:17 --> 00:40:17 that
00:40:17 --> 00:40:17 were
00:40:17 --> 00:40:17 deep
00:40:17 --> 00:40:18 down
00:40:18 --> 00:40:18 inside
00:40:18 --> 00:40:18 of
00:40:18 --> 00:40:19 me
00:40:19 --> 00:40:20 that
00:40:20 --> 00:40:20 were
00:40:20 --> 00:40:20 more
00:40:20 --> 00:40:20 akin
00:40:20 --> 00:40:21 to
00:40:21 --> 00:40:21 Peter
00:40:21 --> 00:40:25 Jesus
00:40:25 --> 00:40:26 I
00:40:26 --> 00:40:26 want
00:40:26 --> 00:40:26 to
00:40:26 --> 00:40:26 make
00:40:26 --> 00:40:27 your
00:40:27 --> 00:40:27 name
00:40:27 --> 00:40:28 great
00:40:28 --> 00:40:30 providing
00:40:30 --> 00:40:31 you make
00:40:31 --> 00:40:31 my name
00:40:31 --> 00:40:31 great
00:40:31 --> 00:40:32 with
00:40:32 --> 00:40:32 you
00:40:32 --> 00:40:32 as
00:40:32 --> 00:40:32 well
00:40:32 --> 00:40:37 glorify
00:40:37 --> 00:40:38 yourself
00:40:38 --> 00:40:39 if it
00:40:39 --> 00:40:39 means
00:40:39 --> 00:40:39 glorifying
00:40:39 --> 00:40:40 me
00:40:40 --> 00:40:40 with
00:40:40 --> 00:40:40 you
00:40:40 --> 00:40:40 with
00:40:40 --> 00:40:50 with
00:40:50 --> 00:40:50 that
00:40:50 --> 00:40:51 unprecedented
00:40:51 --> 00:40:52 season
00:40:52 --> 00:40:52 in
00:40:52 --> 00:40:53 church
00:40:53 --> 00:40:53 life
00:40:53 --> 00:40:53 with
00:40:53 --> 00:40:54 COVID-19
00:40:54 --> 00:40:55 all
00:40:55 --> 00:40:55 the
00:40:55 --> 00:40:56 markers
00:40:56 --> 00:40:56 of
00:40:56 --> 00:40:57 success
00:40:57 --> 00:40:57 of
00:40:57 --> 00:40:57 a
00:40:57 --> 00:40:58 church
00:40:58 --> 00:40:58 pastor
00:40:58 --> 00:40:59 went
00:40:59 --> 00:40:59 in
00:40:59 --> 00:41:00 rapid
00:41:00 --> 00:41:00 decline
00:41:00 --> 00:41:04 rapid
00:41:04 --> 00:41:04 decline
00:41:04 --> 00:41:05 so
00:41:05 --> 00:41:05 many
00:41:05 --> 00:41:05 pastors
00:41:05 --> 00:41:06 left
00:41:06 --> 00:41:07 churches
00:41:07 --> 00:41:07 during
00:41:07 --> 00:41:08 the
00:41:08 --> 00:41:08 pandemic
00:41:08 --> 00:41:08 and
00:41:08 --> 00:41:09 soon
00:41:09 --> 00:41:09 afterwards
00:41:09 --> 00:41:10 in
00:41:10 --> 00:41:10 the
00:41:10 --> 00:41:10 regathering
00:41:10 --> 00:41:11 phase
00:41:11 --> 00:41:12 because
00:41:12 --> 00:41:12 it
00:41:12 --> 00:41:12 was
00:41:12 --> 00:41:13 just
00:41:13 --> 00:41:13 too
00:41:13 --> 00:41:13 hard
00:41:13 --> 00:41:15 to
00:41:15 --> 00:41:15 rebuild
00:41:15 --> 00:41:16 churches
00:41:16 --> 00:41:17 and
00:41:17 --> 00:41:17 so
00:41:17 --> 00:41:18 with
00:41:18 --> 00:41:19 COVID-19
00:41:19 --> 00:41:21 came
00:41:21 --> 00:41:21 to the
00:41:21 --> 00:41:21 surface
00:41:21 --> 00:41:22 with
00:41:22 --> 00:41:22 me
00:41:22 --> 00:41:22 not
00:41:22 --> 00:41:22 just
00:41:22 --> 00:41:23 sin
00:41:23 --> 00:41:23 but
00:41:23 --> 00:41:24 the
00:41:24 --> 00:41:24 anxiety
00:41:24 --> 00:41:25 that
00:41:25 --> 00:41:26 surfaced
00:41:26 --> 00:41:26 with
00:41:26 --> 00:41:26 those
00:41:26 --> 00:41:26 sins
00:41:26 --> 00:41:27 I
00:41:27 --> 00:41:27 had
00:41:27 --> 00:41:28 never
00:41:28 --> 00:41:29 ever
00:41:29 --> 00:41:29 considered
00:41:29 --> 00:41:30 myself
00:41:30 --> 00:41:31 to be
00:41:31 --> 00:41:31 an
00:41:31 --> 00:41:31 anxious
00:41:31 --> 00:41:32 person
00:41:32 --> 00:41:32 before
00:41:32 --> 00:41:35 as
00:41:35 --> 00:41:35 I
00:41:35 --> 00:41:35 saw
00:41:35 --> 00:41:36 God
00:41:36 --> 00:41:36 more
00:41:36 --> 00:41:36 and
00:41:36 --> 00:41:37 more
00:41:37 --> 00:41:38 in
00:41:38 --> 00:41:38 his
00:41:38 --> 00:41:39 word
00:41:39 --> 00:41:39 through
00:41:39 --> 00:41:39 that
00:41:39 --> 00:41:40 season
00:41:40 --> 00:41:42 he
00:41:42 --> 00:41:43 has
00:41:43 --> 00:41:43 helped
00:41:43 --> 00:41:43 me
00:41:43 --> 00:41:43 see
00:41:43 --> 00:41:44 my
00:41:44 --> 00:41:44 sin
00:41:44 --> 00:41:45 and
00:41:45 --> 00:41:46 he's
00:41:46 --> 00:41:46 also
00:41:46 --> 00:41:46 helped
00:41:46 --> 00:41:47 me
00:41:47 --> 00:41:47 to
00:41:47 --> 00:41:47 become
00:41:47 --> 00:41:47 more
00:41:47 --> 00:41:48 confident
00:41:48 --> 00:41:48 in
00:41:48 --> 00:41:49 him
00:41:49 --> 00:41:50 and
00:41:50 --> 00:41:51 gradually
00:41:51 --> 00:41:51 bit
00:41:51 --> 00:41:51 by
00:41:51 --> 00:41:52 bit
00:41:52 --> 00:41:53 less
00:41:53 --> 00:41:53 anxious
00:41:53 --> 00:41:54 and
00:41:54 --> 00:41:55 controlling
00:41:55 --> 00:41:55 in the
00:41:55 --> 00:41:55 midst
00:41:55 --> 00:41:56 of a
00:41:56 --> 00:41:56 chaos
00:41:56 --> 00:41:57 and
00:41:57 --> 00:41:57 more
00:41:57 --> 00:41:57 dependent
00:41:57 --> 00:41:58 upon
00:41:58 --> 00:41:58 him
00:41:58 --> 00:41:59 to
00:41:59 --> 00:42:00 become
00:42:00 --> 00:42:00 the
00:42:00 --> 00:42:01 language
00:42:01 --> 00:42:01 of
00:42:01 --> 00:42:03 some
00:42:03 --> 00:42:05 non-anxious
00:42:05 --> 00:42:06 presence
00:42:06 --> 00:42:07 to
00:42:07 --> 00:42:08 work
00:42:08 --> 00:42:08 more
00:42:08 --> 00:42:08 on
00:42:08 --> 00:42:08 that
00:42:08 --> 00:42:08 and
00:42:08 --> 00:42:08 so
00:42:08 --> 00:42:09 I'm
00:42:09 --> 00:42:09 thankful
00:42:09 --> 00:42:12 for
00:42:12 --> 00:42:12 what
00:42:12 --> 00:42:12 God
00:42:12 --> 00:42:13 has
00:42:13 --> 00:42:13 done
00:42:13 --> 00:42:13 in
00:42:13 --> 00:42:14 me
00:42:14 --> 00:42:14 over
00:42:14 --> 00:42:14 the
00:42:14 --> 00:42:15 past
00:42:15 --> 00:42:16 five
00:42:16 --> 00:42:16 years
00:42:16 --> 00:42:16 and
00:42:16 --> 00:42:17 what
00:42:17 --> 00:42:17 follow
00:42:17 --> 00:42:18 25
00:42:18 --> 00:42:20 has
00:42:20 --> 00:42:20 meant
00:42:20 --> 00:42:20 for
00:42:20 --> 00:42:21 us
00:42:21 --> 00:42:22 despite
00:42:22 --> 00:42:23 us
00:42:23 --> 00:42:23 not
00:42:23 --> 00:42:24 achieving
00:42:24 --> 00:42:24 all
00:42:24 --> 00:42:26 that
00:42:26 --> 00:42:27 I
00:42:27 --> 00:42:27 thought
00:42:27 --> 00:42:27 it
00:42:27 --> 00:42:27 might
00:42:27 --> 00:42:28 achieve
00:42:28 --> 00:42:30 but
00:42:30 --> 00:42:30 I
00:42:30 --> 00:42:30 am
00:42:30 --> 00:42:30 looking
00:42:30 --> 00:42:31 forward
00:42:31 --> 00:42:31 with
00:42:31 --> 00:42:32 hope
00:42:32 --> 00:42:33 to
00:42:33 --> 00:42:33 what
00:42:33 --> 00:42:33 God
00:42:33 --> 00:42:33 might
00:42:33 --> 00:42:34 do
00:42:34 --> 00:42:38 together