00:00:00 --> 00:00:06 There are some people who are just intimidatingly great at whatever, and there's some people who are embarrassingly hopeless and just make you feel good about yourself.
00:00:06 --> 00:00:09 And more often than not, we stick ourselves somewhere in the middle.
00:00:09 --> 00:00:12 And maybe you even do it in a group like this.
00:00:13 --> 00:00:24 You walk into church on a Sunday, and there are some people that you are just like so overwhelmed by how holy they seem, how godly they are, how impressive their Bible looks.
00:00:24 --> 00:00:30 And you're just intimidated to even be around them, and you sit there and think, I'm in a different category.
00:00:31 --> 00:00:40 Or maybe it's the other extreme, and you walk into church, and you see someone else walking near you, and you think, how can they call themselves a Christian and do that?
00:00:43 --> 00:00:49 Peter is doing his version of holiness appraisals in the passage that Jimmy just read out for us.
00:00:49 --> 00:00:51 And he's not actually doing it intentionally.
00:00:51 --> 00:01:01 He's not maliciously trying to rank people so that he can judge them, but he's going through the process of putting some people in the category of good and some people in the category of bad.
00:01:02 --> 00:01:11 What he's doing is he's cutting himself off from Gentile converts who haven't adhered to Jewish laws that he just agreed aren't important.
00:01:11 --> 00:01:19 So what's happened is just before this passage that was read out, you've got Paul the Apostle goes and meets with Peter and James and the other apostles in Jerusalem,
00:01:19 --> 00:01:29 and they have a conversation to the effect of, for somebody who's not a Jew, that's not one of God's chosen people, to be a legitimate Christian, what's required of them?
00:01:29 --> 00:01:33 And they all agree that the only thing that matters is that they trust Jesus.
00:01:33 --> 00:01:43 And then here, just a couple of verses later, Peter is sitting in a room having food with Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians, both of which have put their faith in Jesus.
00:01:43 --> 00:01:55 And what he's doing is not completely ignoring the Gentile converts, but just kind of separating himself out enough so that he's not getting tainted by their badness.
00:01:55 --> 00:02:03 So it's like after church, going out to supper and just making sure you're only with the good people, only with the people who are kind of like you.
00:02:04 --> 00:02:07 And Paul is furious about this.
00:02:07 --> 00:02:13 He's absolutely fuming to the point where he doesn't kind of pull Peter aside and have a quiet conversation.
00:02:13 --> 00:02:18 He goes for the public, you know, you've got to fix this, the loud and obvious rebuke.
00:02:18 --> 00:02:24 And the reason he's so angry is because just a few moments ago, they agreed on what the gospel was.
00:02:24 --> 00:02:26 They agreed on what the good news of Jesus was.
00:02:26 --> 00:02:30 And that good news comes from the beginning of Galatians chapter 1.
00:02:30 --> 00:02:31 I'll read to you just five verses.
00:02:32 --> 00:02:34 This is Paul's opening summary of the gospel.
00:02:35 --> 00:02:36 He says, Galatians 1 verse 1.
00:02:36 --> 00:03:06 So the gospel is Jesus died for sin.
00:03:07 --> 00:03:13 God raised him from the dead and grace and peace is on offer to those who trust him and follow him.
00:03:13 --> 00:03:16 That gospel, which Paul makes really clear is the only gospel.
00:03:16 --> 00:03:17 There's no other version.
00:03:17 --> 00:03:18 There's no substitute.
00:03:19 --> 00:03:21 That gospel doesn't leave room for the rankings.
00:03:22 --> 00:03:29 It doesn't leave room for someone like Peter to kind of show up and start pretending that one group is holier than another group.
00:03:30 --> 00:03:35 One group is more valid than another group because the gospel crushes pride in us.
00:03:35 --> 00:03:42 When we understand what the gospel means, it actually takes away the possibility of being proud of who we are as a Christian.
00:03:43 --> 00:03:52 See, the danger for us when we do these rankings is that we always see the sin of others as worse than our own.
00:03:52 --> 00:03:59 Whenever you hear about other people's sin, the response is shock and maybe a bit of gossip.
00:04:00 --> 00:04:01 It's sensational.
00:04:01 --> 00:04:05 But you don't notice it in yourself.
00:04:06 --> 00:04:11 Even Paul here, when he's challenging Peter, there in verse 15, he says,
00:04:11 --> 00:04:15 We who are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners.
00:04:16 --> 00:04:23 See, he's showing Peter that even by calling them Gentile sinners, it's like he's taking himself out of that category.
00:04:23 --> 00:04:28 It's like Peter's treating himself like he's not a sinner, like he doesn't need Jesus.
00:04:28 --> 00:04:30 And Paul is saying that's ridiculous.
00:04:30 --> 00:04:37 He's saying because Peter's busy looking at the inadequacy of the Gentiles.
00:04:37 --> 00:04:38 And let's be clear.
00:04:39 --> 00:04:40 The Gentiles are inadequate.
00:04:41 --> 00:04:43 They are not good enough.
00:04:43 --> 00:04:50 But the issue for Peter is because he's busy looking at them, he doesn't recognize that he's inadequate as well.
00:04:52 --> 00:04:54 That being a Jew actually makes no difference.
00:04:54 --> 00:04:55 It's not exciting for God.
00:04:56 --> 00:04:58 It's not exciting for God.
00:04:58 --> 00:05:05 And so we need to be careful that when we go into that automatic mode of ranking the good and bad people around us,
00:05:05 --> 00:05:12 whatever our motivation is, we need to be careful because as soon as we start looking down on the mistakes of other people,
00:05:12 --> 00:05:15 we lose the ability to see our own.
00:05:16 --> 00:05:18 We lose the ability to see our own issues.
00:05:19 --> 00:05:24 One of the things that frustrates me quite intensely in community life,
00:05:24 --> 00:05:27 and there's lots of things because I'm an introvert and community life is just challenging,
00:05:27 --> 00:05:31 but one of the things that I find particularly difficult about community life is selfish people.
00:05:32 --> 00:05:37 Like I hate seeing people who will just tread on everyone else to make sure they get what they want.
00:05:37 --> 00:05:39 It makes me just anger.
00:05:42 --> 00:05:47 But I don't even notice that in that moment I'm really annoyed because they're not doing what I think they should do.
00:05:47 --> 00:05:53 It doesn't for a second occur to me that my frustration is really about my own selfish desires
00:05:53 --> 00:05:56 and has nothing to do with the injustice being done to other people.
00:05:57 --> 00:06:00 When we're busy focusing on the sins of other people,
00:06:01 --> 00:06:05 we fail to see that we've got our own issues.
00:06:06 --> 00:06:10 We fail to see that the gospel is something that we desperately need as well.
00:06:10 --> 00:06:13 Now, that doesn't mean there's no place for rebuke or correction
00:06:13 --> 00:06:18 because, you know, selfishness is still an issue for that person that's making me angry,
00:06:18 --> 00:06:20 but the point is it's my issue as well.
00:06:21 --> 00:06:24 And if all I worry about is them, then I'm going to miss my issue.
00:06:24 --> 00:06:25 But it doesn't mean there can't be rebuke.
00:06:25 --> 00:06:27 That's what Paul is doing here.
00:06:27 --> 00:06:31 And he even gives us a good model of what it might look like to correct one another.
00:06:32 --> 00:06:34 So he reminds him in verse 16.
00:06:35 --> 00:06:37 I'll start from verse 15.
00:06:37 --> 00:07:01 Now, Paul's reminding him.
00:07:01 --> 00:07:05 He doesn't just say, Peter, you're being an idiot and you need to do this thing.
00:07:05 --> 00:07:07 He actually takes him back to the gospel.
00:07:09 --> 00:07:12 He reminds him that it was by faith for Peter, by faith for Paul.
00:07:12 --> 00:07:13 It's by faith for the Jews.
00:07:14 --> 00:07:15 It's by faith for the Gentiles.
00:07:16 --> 00:07:18 And so because of that, there's no distinction between them.
00:07:18 --> 00:07:22 There's no room for one to feel more worthy or less worthy
00:07:22 --> 00:07:26 because that kind of pride is just delusional.
00:07:27 --> 00:07:32 That kind of pride is based on a warped perception of what's reality anyway.
00:07:32 --> 00:07:36 Because if you ever find yourself looking at someone else and thinking,
00:07:36 --> 00:07:38 man, I'm doing much better than them,
00:07:39 --> 00:07:42 you've got to understand you're not doing that well anyway.
00:07:43 --> 00:07:45 Even if you are doing better than them,
00:07:45 --> 00:07:49 your reality is you still need Jesus to die for you
00:07:49 --> 00:07:50 if you're going to be acceptable to God.
00:07:50 --> 00:07:55 When I spent time in hospital last year with my broken legs,
00:07:56 --> 00:07:58 I spent the first three or four days just stuck in my room,
00:07:59 --> 00:08:01 needing to ring the buzzer if I wanted to go to the toilet,
00:08:02 --> 00:08:04 ring the buzzer if I had an itch down the bottom of my legs,
00:08:04 --> 00:08:05 ring the buzzer if I wanted a shower.
00:08:06 --> 00:08:07 Basically, absolutely dependent,
00:08:08 --> 00:08:10 absolutely contained, imprisoned in my hospital room.
00:08:11 --> 00:08:13 And it wasn't until about day three or four
00:08:13 --> 00:08:15 that they really generously got me a wheelchair,
00:08:16 --> 00:08:17 let me get into that wheelchair,
00:08:17 --> 00:08:19 and start wheeling down the halls.
00:08:19 --> 00:08:21 I was pretty excited about that freedom.
00:08:22 --> 00:08:25 And so as I'm kind of cruising down the hallways of the hospital,
00:08:25 --> 00:08:26 feeling pretty happy with myself,
00:08:27 --> 00:08:29 I'm just glancing into the doors of each hospital room
00:08:29 --> 00:08:31 and these poor suckers, you know,
00:08:31 --> 00:08:34 covered in plaster and in traction and stuck in positions
00:08:34 --> 00:08:37 and can't get out and roam the halls like I can.
00:08:38 --> 00:08:40 And so I was feeling pretty good about my situation.
00:08:40 --> 00:08:43 And on one level, doing better than everyone else.
00:08:45 --> 00:08:47 But I was still stuck in a wheelchair.
00:08:49 --> 00:08:50 I still couldn't get down a set of stairs.
00:08:51 --> 00:08:56 I still couldn't dance or shower or stand up for that matter.
00:08:57 --> 00:08:59 I still had some serious issues that I had to deal with.
00:08:59 --> 00:09:01 I was still going to spend the next seven weeks being
00:09:01 --> 00:09:04 an absolutely disgraceful excuse for a husband and father,
00:09:04 --> 00:09:06 or at least having a reason why I was going to be a disgraceful
00:09:06 --> 00:09:08 excuse for a husband and father.
00:09:08 --> 00:09:11 I still was in a bad situation.
00:09:11 --> 00:09:13 But because I was so busy looking at everyone else,
00:09:13 --> 00:09:15 it's like I tricked myself into thinking my situation
00:09:15 --> 00:09:17 was better than it actually was.
00:09:17 --> 00:09:21 And see, we do that when all we do is measure ourselves
00:09:21 --> 00:09:22 against other people.
00:09:23 --> 00:09:25 The gospel impacts our relationships.
00:09:25 --> 00:09:28 But first and foremost, the gospel is a transaction
00:09:28 --> 00:09:29 between us and God.
00:09:30 --> 00:09:32 The gospel is the answer to the question,
00:09:33 --> 00:09:35 how can I possibly be loved by a God who is holy
00:09:35 --> 00:09:37 when I'm clearly not?
00:09:37 --> 00:09:42 And if we're giving ourselves a premature tick of approval
00:09:42 --> 00:09:44 because we're not as bad as someone else,
00:09:44 --> 00:09:44 we've missed the point.
00:09:46 --> 00:09:49 The gospel message that Jesus dies for sins
00:09:49 --> 00:09:55 has in brackets the harsh reality that he had to die
00:09:55 --> 00:09:56 because of your sins.
00:09:56 --> 00:10:00 And so we need to be careful
00:10:00 --> 00:10:03 that even when it comes to rebuking someone
00:10:03 --> 00:10:04 who is around us, who is in sin,
00:10:04 --> 00:10:06 that we don't do it from this elevated position
00:10:06 --> 00:10:08 where we just tell them that they're wrong.
00:10:09 --> 00:10:13 But like Paul, gospel rebuke is pointing to the gospel.
00:10:14 --> 00:10:16 Because when you point to the gospel,
00:10:16 --> 00:10:18 it's not possible to be prideful.
00:10:19 --> 00:10:22 Because as you point somebody to the reality
00:10:22 --> 00:10:24 that they need to trust Jesus and they're not good enough,
00:10:24 --> 00:10:26 in the process of doing that,
00:10:26 --> 00:10:29 you're pointing to the fact that you need to trust Jesus
00:10:29 --> 00:10:30 because you're not good enough.
00:10:31 --> 00:10:33 And so it's not possible for you to suddenly feel
00:10:33 --> 00:10:35 like you're better than someone or more deserving.
00:10:36 --> 00:10:38 When you point to the gospel,
00:10:38 --> 00:10:41 you proclaim that you are someone who is sinful,
00:10:41 --> 00:10:43 who is not worthy of God's love,
00:10:43 --> 00:10:45 but who God loves anyway in Jesus.
00:10:45 --> 00:10:48 And it protects us from pride.
00:10:50 --> 00:10:51 There are no perfect Christians,
00:10:52 --> 00:10:54 just forgiven sinners.
00:10:55 --> 00:10:57 You, me and everyone else.
00:10:57 --> 00:11:01 And so there's no possibility of looking down on someone.
00:11:02 --> 00:11:04 When you look to the gospel,
00:11:05 --> 00:11:06 you realize we are all imperfect.
00:11:07 --> 00:11:08 We all need Jesus.
00:11:10 --> 00:11:13 The thing that drove Peter to be prideful
00:11:13 --> 00:11:14 in the way he was treating these people
00:11:14 --> 00:11:15 was actually fear.
00:11:17 --> 00:11:19 Have a look at verse 12.
00:11:20 --> 00:11:22 Before certain men came from James,
00:11:22 --> 00:11:23 and James is kind of representative
00:11:23 --> 00:11:25 of the official church in Jerusalem.
00:11:26 --> 00:11:27 So before people came down from there,
00:11:28 --> 00:11:30 he, Peter, used to eat with the Gentiles.
00:11:31 --> 00:11:32 But when they arrived,
00:11:32 --> 00:11:33 he began to draw back
00:11:33 --> 00:11:35 and separate himself from the Gentiles
00:11:35 --> 00:11:38 because he was afraid of those
00:11:38 --> 00:11:40 who belonged to the circumcision group.
00:11:41 --> 00:11:42 So he was eating with them.
00:11:42 --> 00:11:43 He was treating them like equal.
00:11:44 --> 00:11:45 But then he shifts his behavior
00:11:45 --> 00:11:47 because he's scared
00:11:47 --> 00:11:48 of what a particular group of people
00:11:48 --> 00:11:49 will think of him.
00:11:51 --> 00:11:53 See, not only is there a group for Peter
00:11:53 --> 00:11:55 that are clearly lower than him,
00:11:55 --> 00:11:57 there's also a group that are higher than him.
00:11:57 --> 00:11:59 There's also the legitimate Christians,
00:11:59 --> 00:12:00 you know, the hardcore ones
00:12:00 --> 00:12:01 who know memory verses
00:12:01 --> 00:12:02 and, you know,
00:12:02 --> 00:12:04 just carry their Bibles all the time
00:12:04 --> 00:12:07 so that you know just how godly they are.
00:12:07 --> 00:12:08 And when they turn up,
00:12:09 --> 00:12:09 he wants to make sure
00:12:09 --> 00:12:11 he's ticking their boxes.
00:12:12 --> 00:12:12 He wants to make sure
00:12:12 --> 00:12:14 they think he's legitimate.
00:12:15 --> 00:12:17 He's become so distracted
00:12:17 --> 00:12:19 by worrying about what they think
00:12:19 --> 00:12:23 that he's stopped remembering
00:12:23 --> 00:12:25 that the only opinion
00:12:25 --> 00:12:26 that's actually important anyway is God.
00:12:27 --> 00:12:29 That the whole point of the gospel
00:12:29 --> 00:12:30 and being a Christian
00:12:30 --> 00:12:31 is not to impress people,
00:12:31 --> 00:12:34 but to get your relationship
00:12:34 --> 00:12:35 with God fixed up.
00:12:35 --> 00:12:38 He's had his perspective skewed.
00:12:39 --> 00:12:40 And I wonder if it's possible
00:12:40 --> 00:12:42 that maybe that's happened
00:12:42 --> 00:12:43 for you as well.
00:12:44 --> 00:12:45 If you're somebody
00:12:45 --> 00:12:47 who walks in here to church each week
00:12:47 --> 00:12:49 and does just kind of gasp
00:12:49 --> 00:12:51 at the halo that's, you know,
00:12:51 --> 00:12:52 above some people's heads,
00:12:52 --> 00:12:54 the ones who are just extra nice
00:12:54 --> 00:12:56 and just always serving
00:12:56 --> 00:12:58 and just always knowing the answers
00:12:58 --> 00:12:59 in the small groups
00:12:59 --> 00:13:02 and you do just feel insecure around them
00:13:02 --> 00:13:03 because they just must be
00:13:03 --> 00:13:04 more impressive to God.
00:13:05 --> 00:13:08 See, the danger is
00:13:08 --> 00:13:09 when you get in that position,
00:13:10 --> 00:13:12 the way we respond to insecurity
00:13:12 --> 00:13:13 is with judgment.
00:13:14 --> 00:13:15 Because we're worried
00:13:15 --> 00:13:17 and we're putting in extra effort
00:13:17 --> 00:13:18 to try and tick the boxes,
00:13:19 --> 00:13:20 we demand that extra effort
00:13:20 --> 00:13:21 from other people as well.
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 So instead of saying,
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 all you need to do is trust Jesus,
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 we say, all you need to do
00:13:25 --> 00:13:26 is trust Jesus
00:13:26 --> 00:13:27 and learn these verses
00:13:27 --> 00:13:28 and be at church every week
00:13:28 --> 00:13:30 and serve in at least three ministries
00:13:30 --> 00:13:32 that require a minimum of six hours
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 of your personal time each week
00:13:33 --> 00:13:35 and give this amount of your money.
00:13:37 --> 00:13:39 We just project our own insecurity
00:13:39 --> 00:13:42 and demand the equivalent of other people.
00:13:44 --> 00:13:45 And so I want to ask you,
00:13:45 --> 00:13:48 have you added to the gospel's demands
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 for yourself?
00:13:49 --> 00:13:52 Are you actually holding yourself accountable
00:13:52 --> 00:13:54 to standards that God doesn't?
00:13:56 --> 00:13:58 Are you feeling guilty about things
00:13:58 --> 00:14:00 that God is not forcing you
00:14:00 --> 00:14:00 to feel guilty about?
00:14:02 --> 00:14:04 And I guess the second question is,
00:14:04 --> 00:14:06 are you doing that for other people?
00:14:06 --> 00:14:12 The gospel message
00:14:12 --> 00:14:13 that Jesus died for sins
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 and rose again
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 and that grace and peace
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 is on offer for those
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 who put their faith in him
00:14:17 --> 00:14:19 is not an abstract truth.
00:14:20 --> 00:14:22 It's something that changes
00:14:22 --> 00:14:23 our lives practically.
00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 It changes the way
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26 that we view ourselves.
00:14:26 --> 00:14:27 It changes the way
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 that we understand
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 our relationship with God
00:14:29 --> 00:14:31 and it changes the way
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 we understand our relationships
00:14:32 --> 00:14:33 with one another.
00:14:33 --> 00:14:36 See, Paul's issue with Peter
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 in this whole passage
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 is there in verse 14.
00:14:39 --> 00:14:40 He says,
00:14:40 --> 00:14:41 When I saw that they were not acting
00:14:41 --> 00:14:43 in line with the truth
00:14:43 --> 00:14:43 of the gospel,
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 I said to Peter in front of them all,
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 You are a Jew,
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 yet you live like a Gentile,
00:14:49 --> 00:14:49 not like a Jew.
00:14:50 --> 00:14:50 How is it then
00:14:50 --> 00:14:52 that you force Gentiles
00:14:52 --> 00:14:53 to follow Jewish customs?
00:14:54 --> 00:14:54 He says,
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 What Peter's doing,
00:14:55 --> 00:14:56 adding standards
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 that are required,
00:14:57 --> 00:14:58 adding requirements
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 for these people,
00:14:59 --> 00:15:01 is not in line
00:15:01 --> 00:15:01 with the gospel.
00:15:01 --> 00:15:03 It's not part of the message
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 that Jesus died for sinners.
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 The gospel changes
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 the way we view ourselves
00:15:08 --> 00:15:12 in our relationship with God
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 and it must change
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 the way that we view
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 the people around us as well,
00:15:16 --> 00:15:18 both Christian and unchristian.
00:15:20 --> 00:15:22 The gospel doesn't leave us
00:15:22 --> 00:15:24 any room for rankings.
00:15:25 --> 00:15:26 It doesn't leave room
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 for better and worse
00:15:27 --> 00:15:29 when it comes to following Jesus.
00:15:29 --> 00:15:31 Here, Paul and Peter's issue
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 is that the Jew
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 and the Gentile division
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 is gone.
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 The Jews who are God's people
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 and then the Gentiles
00:15:36 --> 00:15:38 who weren't quite God's people,
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 that's gone.
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 In Jesus,
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 God's people are those
00:15:41 --> 00:15:43 who trust what He has done
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 to offer forgiveness.
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 And so for us,
00:15:45 --> 00:15:46 we need to let go
00:15:46 --> 00:15:46 of the things
00:15:46 --> 00:15:48 that maybe we think
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 are really important.
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 So if you've been grown up
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 in a Christian family,
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 that's fantastic,
00:15:55 --> 00:15:57 but it makes no difference
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 when it comes to the way
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 God views you.
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 If you know stacks
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 of memory verses,
00:16:03 --> 00:16:05 if you're the smartest Bible person
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 in this whole room,
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 that's fantastic,
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 but it makes no difference
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 to how much God loves you.
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 If you are serving
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 in every ministry
00:16:13 --> 00:16:15 that we do in this church,
00:16:15 --> 00:16:15 that's great,
00:16:16 --> 00:16:18 but it makes no difference
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 to how much God loves you.
00:16:19 --> 00:16:23 the only thing
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 that matters,
00:16:25 --> 00:16:27 the clear message
00:16:27 --> 00:16:27 of the gospel,
00:16:29 --> 00:16:32 is that we know
00:16:32 --> 00:16:34 a person is justified
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 by faith in Christ
00:16:35 --> 00:16:38 and not by observing the law.
00:16:39 --> 00:16:41 We know that we are only forgiven
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 because of Jesus,
00:16:42 --> 00:16:44 because we've tasted
00:16:44 --> 00:16:45 that grace in our lives.
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 We've experienced
00:16:46 --> 00:16:46 what it's like
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 to actually say.
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 Maybe you only remember
00:16:48 --> 00:16:50 just one time in your life
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 where you said,
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 God, I know I'm not good enough,
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 but I need your forgiveness,
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 and you felt what it was
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 to have the weight lifted.
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 You felt what it was
00:16:57 --> 00:16:59 to be loved unconditionally.
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 Maybe you've doubted it,
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 maybe you've been distracted
00:17:02 --> 00:17:02 by other things,
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 but you have at some point,
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 if you're a Christian,
00:17:05 --> 00:17:07 experienced grace,
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 and you know
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 that you did nothing
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 to earn it.
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 We know
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 that a person
00:17:14 --> 00:17:16 can only be made
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 acceptable to God
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 by trusting in Jesus.
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 And so there's no room
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 for ranking.
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 We're all trusting
00:17:24 --> 00:17:24 the same thing.
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 We're all depending on Jesus
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 just as much
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 as the next person.
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 And so we need
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 to ask ourselves
00:17:30 --> 00:17:30 the question,
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 how are we doing
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 at this?
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 How are we doing
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 in our relationships
00:17:36 --> 00:17:36 with one another?
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 Are we letting
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 insecurity
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 and intimidation
00:17:41 --> 00:17:43 by the super holy ones
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 mean that we're not honest
00:17:44 --> 00:17:46 about how we're going
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 or who we really are?
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 Are we letting pride
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 and this sense
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 of looking down
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 on the less godly
00:17:53 --> 00:17:55 affect who it is
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 we're willing
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 to spend time with
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 at church
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 or during supper?
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 Because the gospel
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 doesn't leave room
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 for that.
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 Where you struggle
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 with that pride,
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 Jesus brings humility
00:18:08 --> 00:18:10 because he says,
00:18:10 --> 00:18:10 no, no, no,
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 you need me
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 just as much
00:18:12 --> 00:18:12 as that person
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 that you're looking at now.
00:18:13 --> 00:18:15 Where you struggle
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 with insecurity,
00:18:17 --> 00:18:17 Jesus gives you
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 confidence
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 and security
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 because he says,
00:18:20 --> 00:18:20 no, no, no,
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 that person
00:18:21 --> 00:18:21 that's impressive
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 over there
00:18:22 --> 00:18:22 needs me
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 just as much
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 as you do.
00:18:26 --> 00:18:28 What Jesus does
00:18:28 --> 00:18:28 in his death
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 and resurrection
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 is give us
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 a rich unity
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 and a fellowship.
00:18:33 --> 00:18:33 He gives us
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 the opportunity
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 to have deep
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 relationships
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 far richer
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 than what anyone
00:18:38 --> 00:18:38 else in the world
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 can enjoy
00:18:39 --> 00:18:41 because we don't
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 have to have
00:18:42 --> 00:18:42 relationships
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 that are dictated
00:18:43 --> 00:18:45 by what can I get?
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 How much
00:18:46 --> 00:18:46 will this person
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 love me?
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 What does this person
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 think of me?
00:18:49 --> 00:18:49 We can have
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 relationships
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 that start
00:18:51 --> 00:18:51 at the point
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 of saying,
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 regardless of
00:18:53 --> 00:18:53 what this person
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 thinks of me,
00:18:54 --> 00:18:54 how they treat me,
00:18:55 --> 00:18:55 God loves me
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 unconditionally.
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 What the gospel
00:18:58 --> 00:18:58 does is kind of
00:18:58 --> 00:19:00 take away the needs
00:19:00 --> 00:19:00 that normally
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 drive our relationships
00:19:01 --> 00:19:04 and releases us
00:19:04 --> 00:19:04 to be able
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 to be generous,
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 giving,
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 trustworthy people.
00:19:07 --> 00:19:09 We don't have
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 to pretend
00:19:10 --> 00:19:10 that we're more
00:19:10 --> 00:19:12 godly than we are
00:19:12 --> 00:19:14 because God says
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 the only thing
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 that matters
00:19:16 --> 00:19:16 when it comes
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 to being loved
00:19:17 --> 00:19:17 by me
00:19:17 --> 00:19:19 is Jesus.
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 This week
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 we are launching
00:19:23 --> 00:19:23 into Activate
00:19:23 --> 00:19:25 and we've already
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 said it's about
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 the opportunity
00:19:27 --> 00:19:27 to join community
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 groups,
00:19:28 --> 00:19:28 the opportunity
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 to serve.
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 Community groups
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 are more than
00:19:35 --> 00:19:35 just a box
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 to tick
00:19:36 --> 00:19:36 when it comes
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 to being
00:19:37 --> 00:19:37 part of a church.
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 Imagine what
00:19:41 --> 00:19:41 it would be like
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 to gather
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 with a group
00:19:43 --> 00:19:43 of people
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 each week
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 who were able
00:19:45 --> 00:19:45 to walk in
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 and just be
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 completely honest
00:19:47 --> 00:19:47 about how
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 they were going.
00:19:49 --> 00:19:49 Were able to
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 walk in and say,
00:19:50 --> 00:19:50 you know what,
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 I'm having
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 the worst week
00:19:52 --> 00:19:52 or month
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 or term
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 or year
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 or decade
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 of my Christian
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 life so far.
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 I just feel dry.
00:20:00 --> 00:20:00 I just feel
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 unmotivated.
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 Imagine what
00:20:03 --> 00:20:03 it would be like
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 when you're feeling
00:20:04 --> 00:20:04 like to be able
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 to walk in
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 and just drop it
00:20:06 --> 00:20:06 and know
00:20:06 --> 00:20:06 that no one's
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 going to go,
00:20:07 --> 00:20:07 ooh.
00:20:08 --> 00:20:08 No one's going
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 to start texting
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 it to their
00:20:10 --> 00:20:10 friends to say,
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 oh, this person's
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 doing bad.
00:20:13 --> 00:20:13 All they're going
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 to do is
00:20:14 --> 00:20:14 remind you
00:20:14 --> 00:20:16 that God
00:20:16 --> 00:20:16 still loves you
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 now as much
00:20:17 --> 00:20:17 as he did
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 the day that
00:20:18 --> 00:20:18 you decided
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 to follow him.
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 Wouldn't it be
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 amazing to walk
00:20:22 --> 00:20:22 into a room
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 with a group
00:20:23 --> 00:20:23 of people
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 and be able
00:20:24 --> 00:20:24 to say,
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 I did this
00:20:25 --> 00:20:25 thing and it
00:20:25 --> 00:20:27 is shameful
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 and embarrassing
00:20:28 --> 00:20:28 and wrong
00:20:28 --> 00:20:31 and know
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 that even
00:20:32 --> 00:20:32 if people
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 respond badly,
00:20:34 --> 00:20:36 God still
00:20:36 --> 00:20:36 loves you
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 unconditionally.
00:20:38 --> 00:20:38 So you don't
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 have to fake it.
00:20:39 --> 00:20:39 You don't have
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 to water it
00:20:40 --> 00:20:40 down.
00:20:40 --> 00:20:40 You don't
00:20:40 --> 00:20:40 have to make
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 it sound
00:20:41 --> 00:20:41 better than
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 it was.
00:20:42 --> 00:20:42 You can
00:20:42 --> 00:20:42 just say,
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 I stuffed
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 up and I'm
00:20:44 --> 00:20:44 thankful that
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 God loves
00:20:45 --> 00:20:45 me anyway.
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 The gift
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 of being in
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 Christian fellowship
00:20:50 --> 00:20:50 is not that
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 you're surrounded
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 by people
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 who are like
00:20:52 --> 00:20:52 you,
00:20:52 --> 00:20:55 but that
00:20:55 --> 00:20:55 even though
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 you're surrounded
00:20:56 --> 00:20:56 by people
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 who are
00:20:57 --> 00:20:57 completely
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 different to
00:20:58 --> 00:20:58 you,
00:20:59 --> 00:20:59 you have
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 one really
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 important thing
00:21:01 --> 00:21:01 in common.
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 You are
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 loved by God
00:21:05 --> 00:21:05 because of
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 Jesus and
00:21:06 --> 00:21:06 for no other
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 reason.
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 Wouldn't it
00:21:11 --> 00:21:11 be amazing
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 to be part
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 of a community
00:21:13 --> 00:21:15 that knew
00:21:15 --> 00:21:15 as its
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 baseline truth,
00:21:17 --> 00:21:17 as its
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 foundational
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 reality,
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 that all
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 are justified
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 by faith in
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 Christ?
00:21:23 --> 00:21:23 No matter
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 what anyone's
00:21:24 --> 00:21:24 done,
00:21:25 --> 00:21:25 no matter
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 what we
00:21:26 --> 00:21:26 might do,
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 no matter
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 what mistakes
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 we've made,
00:21:28 --> 00:21:28 no matter
00:21:28 --> 00:21:28 what we're
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 doing now,
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 equally
00:21:31 --> 00:21:31 loved,
00:21:33 --> 00:21:33 equally
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 dependent
00:21:34 --> 00:21:34 on Jesus.
00:21:38 --> 00:21:38 Wouldn't
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 it be amazing
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 to be able
00:21:40 --> 00:21:40 to invite
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 that person
00:21:41 --> 00:21:41 from school
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 or work
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 along to
00:21:43 --> 00:21:43 this community
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 knowing that
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 there is
00:21:45 --> 00:21:45 nothing about
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 them that
00:21:46 --> 00:21:46 could make
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 us look
00:21:47 --> 00:21:47 down on
00:21:47 --> 00:21:47 them?
00:21:49 --> 00:21:49 Knowing that
00:21:49 --> 00:21:49 when they
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 walked in
00:21:50 --> 00:21:50 the room
00:21:50 --> 00:21:50 they would
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 feel completely
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 at home
00:21:52 --> 00:21:52 because they'd
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 be surrounded
00:21:53 --> 00:21:53 by a bunch
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 of people
00:21:54 --> 00:21:54 who were
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 honest about
00:21:55 --> 00:21:55 the fact that
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 we're not as
00:21:56 --> 00:21:56 good as we
00:21:56 --> 00:21:56 like to
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 pretend we
00:21:57 --> 00:21:57 are.
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 I mean
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 sometimes as
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 Christians we're
00:22:01 --> 00:22:01 known as the
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 moral police
00:22:02 --> 00:22:05 which means not
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 only do we rank
00:22:06 --> 00:22:06 one another but
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 we stand in the
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 world that we're a
00:22:08 --> 00:22:08 part of and rank
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 ourselves against
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 them.
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 But the gospel
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 doesn't leave
00:22:12 --> 00:22:12 space for that.
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 The gospel
00:22:15 --> 00:22:17 says God
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 loves you in
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 spite of who you
00:22:19 --> 00:22:19 are not because
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 of who you
00:22:20 --> 00:22:20 are.
00:22:22 --> 00:22:22 God loves
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 you in spite
00:22:23 --> 00:22:23 of all the
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 things that
00:22:24 --> 00:22:24 you try and
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 keep secret.
00:22:27 --> 00:22:27 If we want
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 the world
00:22:28 --> 00:22:28 around us,
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 if we want
00:22:29 --> 00:22:29 the people
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 in our
00:22:30 --> 00:22:30 lives to
00:22:30 --> 00:22:30 know just
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 how amazing
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 the love
00:22:32 --> 00:22:32 of God
00:22:32 --> 00:22:32 is,
00:22:33 --> 00:22:33 then we've
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 got to be
00:22:34 --> 00:22:34 willing to
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 be honest
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 about just
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 how unworthy
00:22:37 --> 00:22:37 of that love
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 we are.
00:22:41 --> 00:22:41 Imagine what
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 it would be
00:22:42 --> 00:22:42 like to be
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 part of a
00:22:43 --> 00:22:43 group like
00:22:43 --> 00:22:43 that.
00:22:46 --> 00:22:46 But don't
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 just imagine,
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 let me give
00:22:49 --> 00:22:49 you the
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 challenge.
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 Maybe tonight,
00:22:52 --> 00:22:52 maybe next
00:22:52 --> 00:22:52 week,
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 maybe the
00:22:53 --> 00:22:53 week after,
00:22:53 --> 00:22:53 you're going
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 to sign up
00:22:54 --> 00:22:54 for a
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 community
00:22:55 --> 00:22:55 group,
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 or at
00:22:56 --> 00:22:56 least I
00:22:56 --> 00:22:56 hope you
00:22:56 --> 00:22:56 are.
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 Why don't
00:22:59 --> 00:22:59 you be the
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 one who
00:23:00 --> 00:23:00 initiates this
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 sort of a
00:23:01 --> 00:23:01 community?
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 Why don't
00:23:04 --> 00:23:04 you be the
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 one who
00:23:05 --> 00:23:05 grabs hold
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 of the
00:23:06 --> 00:23:06 absolute
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 security you
00:23:07 --> 00:23:07 have in
00:23:07 --> 00:23:09 Jesus and
00:23:09 --> 00:23:09 be completely
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 honest?
00:23:11 --> 00:23:11 Each week
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 when you
00:23:12 --> 00:23:12 show up,
00:23:12 --> 00:23:12 say how
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 you feel,
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 confess the
00:23:15 --> 00:23:15 mistakes you've
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 made,
00:23:16 --> 00:23:18 be gracious
00:23:18 --> 00:23:18 to those
00:23:18 --> 00:23:18 around you
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 who've
00:23:19 --> 00:23:19 made
00:23:19 --> 00:23:19 mistakes,
00:23:20 --> 00:23:24 and begin
00:23:24 --> 00:23:24 to get a
00:23:24 --> 00:23:26 glimpse of
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 just how
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 good it is
00:23:28 --> 00:23:28 when the
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 gospel shapes
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 everything,
00:23:32 --> 00:23:32 shapes the
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 way we view
00:23:33 --> 00:23:33 ourselves,
00:23:35 --> 00:23:35 shapes the
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 confidence we
00:23:36 --> 00:23:36 have to stand
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 before God,
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 and shapes the
00:23:39 --> 00:23:39 way that we
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 love and serve
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 one another.
00:23:43 --> 00:23:44 Let's pray.
00:23:46 --> 00:23:48 Father God,
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 we want to
00:23:49 --> 00:23:49 come before
00:23:49 --> 00:23:49 you and
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 admit that
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 as amazing
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 as this
00:23:52 --> 00:23:52 sounds,
00:23:52 --> 00:23:52 it's not
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 easy,
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 that we're
00:23:55 --> 00:23:55 quick to
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 doubt,
00:23:56 --> 00:23:56 we're quick
00:23:56 --> 00:23:56 to get
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 nervous when
00:23:57 --> 00:23:57 other people
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 judge us,
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 we quickly
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 fall into the
00:24:00 --> 00:24:00 trap of
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 looking down
00:24:01 --> 00:24:01 on other
00:24:01 --> 00:24:01 people because
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 it seems like
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 a quick fix
00:24:03 --> 00:24:03 to our own
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 insecurities,
00:24:04 --> 00:24:04 things.
00:24:06 --> 00:24:06 But God,
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 we just ask
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 that you would
00:24:08 --> 00:24:08 bring us back
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 to the gospel
00:24:09 --> 00:24:09 in those
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 moments,
00:24:11 --> 00:24:11 bring us back
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 to our need
00:24:12 --> 00:24:12 for you,
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 bring us back
00:24:14 --> 00:24:14 to your
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 abundant
00:24:15 --> 00:24:15 provision,
00:24:16 --> 00:24:16 to the
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 irreversible
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 love and
00:24:18 --> 00:24:18 forgiveness
00:24:18 --> 00:24:18 that you
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 have offered
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 and purchased
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 for us in
00:24:21 --> 00:24:21 Jesus.
00:24:23 --> 00:24:23 God,
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 I pray that
00:24:24 --> 00:24:24 you would
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 mark us
00:24:25 --> 00:24:25 as a church
00:24:25 --> 00:24:27 family by
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 that absolute
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 humility that
00:24:29 --> 00:24:29 comes from
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 grace.
00:24:31 --> 00:24:31 May we show
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 grace to one
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 another,
00:24:33 --> 00:24:33 may we show
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 grace to
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 people who
00:24:35 --> 00:24:35 enter this
00:24:35 --> 00:24:35 building,
00:24:36 --> 00:24:36 who don't
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 understand how
00:24:37 --> 00:24:37 we work,
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 who don't
00:24:38 --> 00:24:38 understand how
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 we behave,
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 may we just
00:24:40 --> 00:24:40 love them as
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 they are because
00:24:41 --> 00:24:43 that's what the
00:24:43 --> 00:24:43 gospel does.
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 Father God,
00:24:47 --> 00:24:47 I pray that
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 you would
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 bless every
00:24:49 --> 00:24:49 one of our
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 community groups
00:24:50 --> 00:24:50 over this
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 coming semester,
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 that they may
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 be places of
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 rich, deep
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 relationships,
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 where we do
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 walk and share
00:24:58 --> 00:24:59 one another's
00:24:59 --> 00:24:59 burdens,
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 where we do
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 rejoice together,
00:25:01 --> 00:25:01 where we do
00:25:01 --> 00:25:02 confess,
00:25:02 --> 00:25:05 where we
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 just encourage
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 and feed the
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 gospel security
00:25:08 --> 00:25:10 that is available
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 for us.
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 God, thank you
00:25:13 --> 00:25:13 for Jesus.
00:25:14 --> 00:25:14 Thank you that
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 we don't have
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 to pretend.
00:25:19 --> 00:25:19 Thank you that
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 you love to
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 bring people
00:25:21 --> 00:25:21 like us,
00:25:22 --> 00:25:22 unworthy
00:25:22 --> 00:25:23 sinners,
00:25:23 --> 00:25:24 people who
00:25:24 --> 00:25:24 it doesn't
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 make sense
00:25:25 --> 00:25:26 to have that
00:25:26 --> 00:25:26 sort of
00:25:26 --> 00:25:27 relationship.
00:25:27 --> 00:25:27 You love to
00:25:27 --> 00:25:27 bring us
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 together so
00:25:28 --> 00:25:28 that the
00:25:28 --> 00:25:29 world around
00:25:29 --> 00:25:29 us might
00:25:29 --> 00:25:31 see that
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 what you
00:25:32 --> 00:25:32 offer is
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 better than
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 everything else.
00:25:36 --> 00:25:37 God, please
00:25:37 --> 00:25:37 do your work
00:25:37 --> 00:25:39 in us so
00:25:39 --> 00:25:39 that others
00:25:39 --> 00:25:40 might come to
00:25:40 --> 00:25:40 know what we
00:25:40 --> 00:25:40 know.
00:25:41 --> 00:25:42 Amen.