Jesus welcomes (Back to church Sunday)
Series: Romans
Speaker: Sam Low
Date: 9th September 2012
Passage: 1 Peter 4:1-19
00:00:00 --> 00:00:01 Let me add my welcome to you.
00:00:02 --> 00:00:03 My name is Sam.
00:00:03 --> 00:00:05 I'm one of the pastoral team here at St. Paul's,
00:00:05 --> 00:00:07 and it is really good to see a bunch of faces
00:00:07 --> 00:00:09 that I don't know very well.
00:00:09 --> 00:00:11 Hopefully I'll get the chance to meet some of you
00:00:11 --> 00:00:14 over dinner at the after party after the service,
00:00:14 --> 00:00:16 but if I don't get the chance to chat to you,
00:00:16 --> 00:00:17 consider this a welcome,
00:00:18 --> 00:00:19 and hopefully I will get to at some point
00:00:19 --> 00:00:21 in the not-too-distant future.
00:00:22 --> 00:00:22 I'm going to pray,
00:00:22 --> 00:00:24 and then we're actually going to have a look
00:00:24 --> 00:00:26 at that passage that Helen just read out for us.
00:00:26 --> 00:00:28 In particular, we're going to focus on just four verses
00:00:28 --> 00:00:29 right at the beginning of it.
00:00:30 --> 00:00:31 And try and see if we can understand
00:00:31 --> 00:00:33 what it is that God is saying to us.
00:00:33 --> 00:00:34 That's what we believe the Bible is.
00:00:34 --> 00:00:36 It's God's way of talking to us and teaching us things.
00:00:37 --> 00:00:38 And so we're going to try and understand
00:00:38 --> 00:00:39 just those four verses tonight
00:00:39 --> 00:00:42 and try and think what does that mean for us individually.
00:00:43 --> 00:00:43 So how about I pray,
00:00:44 --> 00:00:46 and then we'll get stuck into it.
00:00:47 --> 00:00:49 Father God, we thank you for bringing us here tonight.
00:00:49 --> 00:00:51 We thank you for a beautiful day.
00:00:51 --> 00:00:53 We thank you for warm weather.
00:00:53 --> 00:00:55 We thank you for the Bible, which is your word.
00:00:55 --> 00:00:58 And we ask that you would help us to understand it tonight
00:00:58 --> 00:01:00 so that we might see you more clearly
00:01:00 --> 00:01:02 and know what it means to follow you.
00:01:03 --> 00:01:03 Amen.
00:01:05 --> 00:01:08 I wonder if you've ever felt like you weren't welcome,
00:01:08 --> 00:01:10 felt like you didn't belong somewhere.
00:01:11 --> 00:01:12 A couple of weeks ago,
00:01:12 --> 00:01:14 it's probably a little over a month ago now,
00:01:14 --> 00:01:17 the staff team that I'm a part of here at St. Paul's
00:01:17 --> 00:01:19 allocated a half a day to spend together
00:01:19 --> 00:01:20 to do something fun.
00:01:20 --> 00:01:24 Now, at my very enthusiastic recommendation,
00:01:24 --> 00:01:28 we landed on spending the day doing lawn bowls.
00:01:29 --> 00:01:30 Now, before you knock it,
00:01:30 --> 00:01:32 it's actually a really fun afternoon.
00:01:33 --> 00:01:36 But it's fair to say that for a 29-year-old
00:01:36 --> 00:01:38 and for pretty much all of the staff,
00:01:38 --> 00:01:39 it's a cross-cultural experience.
00:01:40 --> 00:01:43 And when we arrived at the bowling club that we had chosen,
00:01:43 --> 00:01:45 we eventually figured out which door
00:01:45 --> 00:01:46 we were supposed to walk into.
00:01:47 --> 00:01:49 We walked in, we were met by some carpet
00:01:49 --> 00:01:51 that wasn't that dissimilar to the lovely carpet
00:01:51 --> 00:01:52 that we're standing on now.
00:01:53 --> 00:01:55 We were met by an almost empty room.
00:01:56 --> 00:01:58 There was one table of slightly older men
00:01:58 --> 00:01:59 who were sitting there drinking,
00:01:59 --> 00:02:01 and they were, at best, disinterested,
00:02:02 --> 00:02:04 at worst, angry that we were in the room.
00:02:05 --> 00:02:06 And we kind of looked around,
00:02:06 --> 00:02:08 trying to find a staff member who could help us,
00:02:08 --> 00:02:09 but there was no one.
00:02:10 --> 00:02:11 There was just a kind of crumpled up,
00:02:12 --> 00:02:14 stained sign-in book that was on a table in front of us
00:02:14 --> 00:02:17 that we were kind of supposed to use our powers of deduction
00:02:17 --> 00:02:18 to figure out how things worked.
00:02:19 --> 00:02:22 Eventually, we'd been in there for about 10 minutes,
00:02:22 --> 00:02:23 and a staff member appears.
00:02:24 --> 00:02:27 That staff member then proceeded to try and convince us
00:02:27 --> 00:02:28 that we didn't have a booking for that day.
00:02:29 --> 00:02:32 After producing the voucher and a receipt,
00:02:33 --> 00:02:34 she conceded.
00:02:35 --> 00:02:38 At which point, the kitchen staff came out
00:02:38 --> 00:02:40 to let us know that we didn't have a booking for that day
00:02:40 --> 00:02:42 and they weren't going to be ready to cook lunch for us.
00:02:42 --> 00:02:44 A bit more back and forth,
00:02:44 --> 00:02:45 and eventually they went away
00:02:45 --> 00:02:48 and tried to figure out what they were going to give us for food.
00:02:49 --> 00:02:51 They stood around with us for a little while,
00:02:51 --> 00:02:53 and eventually they figured out that what needed to happen
00:02:53 --> 00:02:54 was to give us some lawn bowls
00:02:54 --> 00:02:56 and send us out onto the bowling green.
00:02:57 --> 00:02:58 But even once we got out there
00:02:58 --> 00:03:00 and we were left to our own devices,
00:03:00 --> 00:03:03 there was still this sense that the table of men inside,
00:03:03 --> 00:03:06 they put us on the green right in front of the window.
00:03:06 --> 00:03:08 I'm not sure if it was a ploy or not,
00:03:08 --> 00:03:10 but there was this sense that those men were inside
00:03:10 --> 00:03:11 watching and laughing.
00:03:11 --> 00:03:12 They may not have been,
00:03:12 --> 00:03:13 but that was how it felt.
00:03:13 --> 00:03:17 Because we're sitting there fumbling about at a sport
00:03:17 --> 00:03:20 that most of us haven't done before,
00:03:20 --> 00:03:23 and we're just feeling completely out of place.
00:03:23 --> 00:03:25 We didn't have the right clothes.
00:03:25 --> 00:03:27 We didn't know what the etiquette was.
00:03:27 --> 00:03:30 We weren't using the correct words for the correct things.
00:03:30 --> 00:03:32 And we just felt like outsiders,
00:03:32 --> 00:03:33 like we didn't belong.
00:03:35 --> 00:03:36 It's not a very fun feeling,
00:03:36 --> 00:03:38 but the reality is that for some of us,
00:03:38 --> 00:03:39 that might be how church feels.
00:03:39 --> 00:03:42 It might be that this is the first time in a long time
00:03:42 --> 00:03:43 that you've been in a church.
00:03:44 --> 00:03:45 Maybe you've never been before
00:03:45 --> 00:03:47 because you just weren't sure
00:03:47 --> 00:03:50 that you would actually fit in with churchy people.
00:03:51 --> 00:03:54 You dress different, you swear, you smoke,
00:03:54 --> 00:03:54 you've got a tattoo,
00:03:55 --> 00:03:57 and you've never really been keen on singing in public.
00:03:58 --> 00:04:00 And so the idea of coming to a church,
00:04:00 --> 00:04:01 you just kind of went,
00:04:01 --> 00:04:03 they're just going to stare at me.
00:04:03 --> 00:04:05 Or maybe you've even been to a church
00:04:05 --> 00:04:07 and experienced that sense of,
00:04:07 --> 00:04:09 everybody's looking at me like I'm strange.
00:04:10 --> 00:04:12 There's just this feeling that I don't belong
00:04:12 --> 00:04:15 and maybe I'm not good enough
00:04:15 --> 00:04:16 to be in this group of people.
00:04:17 --> 00:04:19 Now, if you've ever felt like that,
00:04:19 --> 00:04:20 sadly, you're not alone.
00:04:22 --> 00:04:24 I think that as long as there has been churches,
00:04:24 --> 00:04:27 there's been people in those churches
00:04:27 --> 00:04:29 acting as if they had the right to decide
00:04:29 --> 00:04:31 who should be in and who should be out.
00:04:32 --> 00:04:33 And so throughout all of history,
00:04:34 --> 00:04:35 there's been people wandering into churches
00:04:35 --> 00:04:37 and wandering out just as quickly
00:04:37 --> 00:04:39 because they didn't feel like they belonged.
00:04:39 --> 00:04:41 Now, I'm not just pointing the finger
00:04:41 --> 00:04:43 at those other churches that do that,
00:04:43 --> 00:04:44 because the reality is,
00:04:44 --> 00:04:46 if I'm really honest,
00:04:46 --> 00:04:48 there are people that I meet in my life,
00:04:48 --> 00:04:49 there are people that I see
00:04:49 --> 00:04:50 when I'm out at the shops
00:04:50 --> 00:04:52 or out with my friends,
00:04:52 --> 00:04:53 and deep down,
00:04:53 --> 00:04:54 I don't really want them
00:04:54 --> 00:04:55 to be sitting next to me
00:04:55 --> 00:04:57 the next Sunday in church.
00:04:57 --> 00:04:58 For whatever reason,
00:04:58 --> 00:04:59 there's something about them
00:04:59 --> 00:05:00 that I don't really like,
00:05:00 --> 00:05:01 and I just don't think
00:05:01 --> 00:05:02 that they should be a part
00:05:02 --> 00:05:03 of the church community.
00:05:03 --> 00:05:06 And so if you're here this evening
00:05:06 --> 00:05:07 and you're feeling unwelcome,
00:05:08 --> 00:05:09 you're feeling like out of place,
00:05:10 --> 00:05:12 I want to start by saying sorry,
00:05:13 --> 00:05:16 because that's not how it's supposed to work.
00:05:16 --> 00:05:18 That's not what the church is supposed to be.
00:05:18 --> 00:05:20 I mean, in some senses,
00:05:20 --> 00:05:21 that's how the world works.
00:05:22 --> 00:05:24 You hang out with the people that you are like.
00:05:24 --> 00:05:26 You hang out with the people you get on with.
00:05:26 --> 00:05:28 So if you don't like lawn bowls,
00:05:28 --> 00:05:30 you don't hang out at the bowling club.
00:05:31 --> 00:05:32 If you like boats,
00:05:32 --> 00:05:33 you hang out with people who like boats.
00:05:33 --> 00:05:34 If you skate,
00:05:34 --> 00:05:35 you hang out with people who skate.
00:05:35 --> 00:05:37 If you're into philosophy,
00:05:37 --> 00:05:38 you hang out with people
00:05:38 --> 00:05:39 who like to talk about philosophy.
00:05:40 --> 00:05:42 But the church is supposed to be different.
00:05:43 --> 00:05:44 See, the church is supposed to be
00:05:44 --> 00:05:45 a group of people
00:05:45 --> 00:05:47 that have been gathered together by God,
00:05:47 --> 00:05:48 and the only thing
00:05:48 --> 00:05:49 that they've got in common
00:05:49 --> 00:05:51 is that Jesus has saved them.
00:05:52 --> 00:05:54 I mean, people should look at the church
00:05:54 --> 00:05:54 and go,
00:05:54 --> 00:05:56 it just doesn't make sense.
00:05:57 --> 00:05:57 They should go,
00:05:57 --> 00:05:59 how is it possible that that guy
00:05:59 --> 00:06:00 and that girl,
00:06:00 --> 00:06:01 who are completely different,
00:06:02 --> 00:06:04 can have such a deep friendship.
00:06:06 --> 00:06:08 But the sad reality is,
00:06:09 --> 00:06:11 in churches all over the world right now,
00:06:11 --> 00:06:13 there are still people acting like
00:06:13 --> 00:06:14 they get to decide
00:06:14 --> 00:06:16 who's in and who's out.
00:06:17 --> 00:06:19 Even across Australia today,
00:06:20 --> 00:06:21 there are people who want to know Jesus,
00:06:22 --> 00:06:23 who want to find out more,
00:06:23 --> 00:06:24 but feel unwelcome
00:06:24 --> 00:06:26 to walk into a building like this,
00:06:26 --> 00:06:27 because they're worried
00:06:27 --> 00:06:28 that they're going to get judged
00:06:28 --> 00:06:29 or looked down on.
00:06:31 --> 00:06:33 And that is terrible.
00:06:36 --> 00:06:37 But in there,
00:06:38 --> 00:06:41 in that what is a disgusting situation,
00:06:41 --> 00:06:43 there is a huge encouragement.
00:06:45 --> 00:06:46 In that reality,
00:06:47 --> 00:06:49 is the best news
00:06:49 --> 00:06:50 that you have ever heard.
00:06:50 --> 00:06:55 Hiding in that unwelcome environment
00:06:55 --> 00:06:57 is the gospel.
00:06:58 --> 00:07:00 And I want to show you why,
00:07:00 --> 00:07:02 from the passage that Helen read out for us.
00:07:02 --> 00:07:03 If you've got it in front of you,
00:07:03 --> 00:07:03 that'll be helpful.
00:07:04 --> 00:07:04 If not, you can listen
00:07:04 --> 00:07:06 and I'll read out the key bits.
00:07:07 --> 00:07:08 But in Mark chapter 10,
00:07:08 --> 00:07:09 in verse 13,
00:07:09 --> 00:07:10 this is what's going on.
00:07:11 --> 00:07:11 It says,
00:07:11 --> 00:07:13 people were bringing little children to Jesus
00:07:13 --> 00:07:14 to have him touch them,
00:07:15 --> 00:07:16 but the disciples rebuked them.
00:07:17 --> 00:07:17 So you get it,
00:07:17 --> 00:07:18 it's a pretty simple scene.
00:07:19 --> 00:07:20 Jesus is the miracle worker.
00:07:20 --> 00:07:22 Jesus is the impressive teacher.
00:07:22 --> 00:07:24 And so everybody wants to,
00:07:24 --> 00:07:24 you know,
00:07:24 --> 00:07:25 send their kids in
00:07:25 --> 00:07:25 so that they can maybe
00:07:25 --> 00:07:27 catch some of the magic.
00:07:27 --> 00:07:28 You know,
00:07:28 --> 00:07:29 if maybe Jesus puts their hands on them,
00:07:29 --> 00:07:30 then they'll get into
00:07:30 --> 00:07:31 the right private school.
00:07:31 --> 00:07:34 Or they want some of the good blessing,
00:07:34 --> 00:07:35 the good stuff that Jesus is offering.
00:07:35 --> 00:07:36 But the disciples
00:07:36 --> 00:07:38 get in the way pretty quickly.
00:07:38 --> 00:07:38 They're like,
00:07:38 --> 00:07:39 look,
00:07:39 --> 00:07:39 Jesus is busy.
00:07:40 --> 00:07:41 He's got things to do.
00:07:41 --> 00:07:41 And now,
00:07:42 --> 00:07:43 before we nail the disciples
00:07:43 --> 00:07:44 for being jerks,
00:07:45 --> 00:07:46 we've got to realize
00:07:46 --> 00:07:47 that we actually treat kids
00:07:47 --> 00:07:48 the same way now.
00:07:49 --> 00:07:49 Like,
00:07:49 --> 00:07:50 we actually do the same
00:07:50 --> 00:07:51 sort of thing.
00:07:51 --> 00:07:52 At best,
00:07:52 --> 00:07:53 kids are something to be survived
00:07:53 --> 00:07:54 or tolerated.
00:07:55 --> 00:07:56 At worst,
00:07:56 --> 00:07:57 they're something to be avoided
00:07:57 --> 00:07:58 or pushed to the side.
00:07:59 --> 00:07:59 I mean,
00:08:00 --> 00:08:00 think about it.
00:08:00 --> 00:08:02 We have restaurants
00:08:02 --> 00:08:03 and cinemas
00:08:03 --> 00:08:04 and churches
00:08:04 --> 00:08:06 where kids aren't supposed to be.
00:08:07 --> 00:08:08 There are special places
00:08:08 --> 00:08:09 you can pay extra
00:08:09 --> 00:08:09 for the privilege
00:08:09 --> 00:08:10 of being free
00:08:10 --> 00:08:11 of the burden of children.
00:08:11 --> 00:08:11 children.
00:08:13 --> 00:08:14 We look down on them
00:08:14 --> 00:08:16 and it's almost logical.
00:08:17 --> 00:08:18 Because when you think about it,
00:08:18 --> 00:08:19 kids don't actually
00:08:19 --> 00:08:20 contribute anything,
00:08:20 --> 00:08:20 do they?
00:08:22 --> 00:08:23 They're kind of freeloaders.
00:08:25 --> 00:08:25 I mean,
00:08:25 --> 00:08:25 seriously,
00:08:25 --> 00:08:26 if you're a parent,
00:08:26 --> 00:08:27 and I am now,
00:08:27 --> 00:08:28 I'm six months into parenthood,
00:08:29 --> 00:08:29 and kids
00:08:29 --> 00:08:31 don't actually offer anything.
00:08:32 --> 00:08:33 They just take time
00:08:33 --> 00:08:33 and energy
00:08:33 --> 00:08:34 and resources
00:08:34 --> 00:08:35 from hardworking adults
00:08:35 --> 00:08:36 like you and me.
00:08:36 --> 00:08:37 And so in one sense,
00:08:37 --> 00:08:38 it's completely valid
00:08:38 --> 00:08:39 that the disciples go,
00:08:40 --> 00:08:41 these kids don't deserve
00:08:41 --> 00:08:42 any special treatment.
00:08:43 --> 00:08:44 They don't deserve
00:08:44 --> 00:08:45 front row seats for Jesus.
00:08:45 --> 00:08:46 There's more important
00:08:46 --> 00:08:47 people around.
00:08:48 --> 00:08:48 Now,
00:08:48 --> 00:08:48 as I said,
00:08:48 --> 00:08:49 I've been a father
00:08:49 --> 00:08:51 for almost six months
00:08:51 --> 00:08:53 and my little boy
00:08:53 --> 00:08:54 has a pretty basic routine.
00:08:55 --> 00:08:56 He sleeps
00:08:56 --> 00:08:57 not as much
00:08:57 --> 00:08:58 as we want him to.
00:08:59 --> 00:09:00 He wakes up screaming
00:09:00 --> 00:09:01 because he's hungry.
00:09:01 --> 00:09:02 He eats a little bit.
00:09:02 --> 00:09:04 He throws up a little bit.
00:09:04 --> 00:09:05 He poos a little bit.
00:09:05 --> 00:09:06 And then he whinges
00:09:06 --> 00:09:07 and wriggles around
00:09:07 --> 00:09:07 on the floor.
00:09:08 --> 00:09:09 There's not a lot
00:09:09 --> 00:09:10 of contribution
00:09:10 --> 00:09:11 from him so far
00:09:11 --> 00:09:12 in our family unit.
00:09:13 --> 00:09:14 He doesn't help
00:09:14 --> 00:09:15 with chores.
00:09:15 --> 00:09:16 He doesn't pay rent.
00:09:16 --> 00:09:18 He just takes time
00:09:18 --> 00:09:18 and energy
00:09:18 --> 00:09:19 from me and Sal.
00:09:20 --> 00:09:20 Now,
00:09:20 --> 00:09:21 we love him,
00:09:21 --> 00:09:21 just so we're clear.
00:09:23 --> 00:09:24 But he's not
00:09:24 --> 00:09:25 a major contributor
00:09:25 --> 00:09:26 in our family.
00:09:26 --> 00:09:27 Now,
00:09:27 --> 00:09:27 imagine with me
00:09:27 --> 00:09:28 for a second
00:09:28 --> 00:09:29 that my wife
00:09:29 --> 00:09:30 wins a prize for two.
00:09:31 --> 00:09:34 It's an all-expenses-paid,
00:09:34 --> 00:09:35 first-class,
00:09:35 --> 00:09:35 holiday for two
00:09:35 --> 00:09:36 around the world,
00:09:37 --> 00:09:38 finest hotels,
00:09:38 --> 00:09:39 limousines,
00:09:39 --> 00:09:40 everything.
00:09:40 --> 00:09:41 Now,
00:09:41 --> 00:09:42 which two members
00:09:42 --> 00:09:43 of my family
00:09:43 --> 00:09:45 deserve,
00:09:46 --> 00:09:47 let me underline that,
00:09:47 --> 00:09:47 deserve
00:09:47 --> 00:09:49 to go on that holiday?
00:09:51 --> 00:09:51 Now,
00:09:52 --> 00:09:52 you might be less selfish
00:09:52 --> 00:09:53 than me,
00:09:53 --> 00:09:55 but if we're really honest,
00:09:55 --> 00:09:56 it's fair to say
00:09:56 --> 00:09:57 that me and my wife
00:09:57 --> 00:09:58 deserve the holiday.
00:09:59 --> 00:10:00 We're the ones
00:10:00 --> 00:10:01 who do the cleaning,
00:10:01 --> 00:10:01 we're the ones
00:10:01 --> 00:10:02 who change nappies,
00:10:03 --> 00:10:03 we're the ones
00:10:03 --> 00:10:04 who make our own way
00:10:04 --> 00:10:05 to the bathroom
00:10:05 --> 00:10:06 when that needs to happen.
00:10:07 --> 00:10:08 And so,
00:10:08 --> 00:10:08 it's fair enough
00:10:08 --> 00:10:10 that out of the three of us,
00:10:10 --> 00:10:11 we are the most deserving
00:10:11 --> 00:10:13 of that extra privilege.
00:10:13 --> 00:10:14 Now,
00:10:14 --> 00:10:15 it's not that we don't love
00:10:15 --> 00:10:16 our boy,
00:10:16 --> 00:10:17 but we're the ones
00:10:17 --> 00:10:18 doing the work.
00:10:19 --> 00:10:19 And we're older,
00:10:20 --> 00:10:21 and we'll enjoy it more,
00:10:21 --> 00:10:22 and we'll appreciate it.
00:10:22 --> 00:10:23 It's not that
00:10:23 --> 00:10:25 our son's not important,
00:10:25 --> 00:10:26 it's just that
00:10:26 --> 00:10:28 he's less important
00:10:28 --> 00:10:28 than us.
00:10:31 --> 00:10:31 Now,
00:10:31 --> 00:10:32 just so we're clear again,
00:10:33 --> 00:10:34 my boy comes first
00:10:34 --> 00:10:34 in our family
00:10:34 --> 00:10:36 because he needs to.
00:10:36 --> 00:10:38 But you can understand
00:10:38 --> 00:10:39 at least a little bit
00:10:39 --> 00:10:40 of what's going through
00:10:40 --> 00:10:41 the head of the disciples.
00:10:42 --> 00:10:42 Now,
00:10:42 --> 00:10:43 they're not saying
00:10:43 --> 00:10:44 children are
00:10:44 --> 00:10:46 just unimportant
00:10:46 --> 00:10:46 and insignificant
00:10:46 --> 00:10:47 and don't matter.
00:10:48 --> 00:10:49 They're just saying
00:10:49 --> 00:10:51 children are less important.
00:10:52 --> 00:10:53 I mean,
00:10:53 --> 00:10:53 let's just remember
00:10:53 --> 00:10:54 who we're talking about here.
00:10:55 --> 00:10:56 This is Jesus.
00:10:57 --> 00:10:58 This is the miracle worker.
00:10:58 --> 00:10:59 This is the healer.
00:10:59 --> 00:11:00 This is the teacher.
00:11:00 --> 00:11:02 This is the son of God.
00:11:02 --> 00:11:03 And so they're thinking
00:11:03 --> 00:11:04 maybe there's more
00:11:04 --> 00:11:05 important people here
00:11:05 --> 00:11:06 who need to get
00:11:06 --> 00:11:07 to Jesus first.
00:11:08 --> 00:11:08 I mean,
00:11:08 --> 00:11:08 he's not going to be
00:11:08 --> 00:11:09 around forever.
00:11:09 --> 00:11:09 We're going to make
00:11:09 --> 00:11:10 the most of his time.
00:11:10 --> 00:11:11 There could have been
00:11:11 --> 00:11:13 doctors or lawyers
00:11:13 --> 00:11:15 or politicians,
00:11:16 --> 00:11:17 you know,
00:11:17 --> 00:11:18 really important people.
00:11:19 --> 00:11:20 And the disciples
00:11:20 --> 00:11:21 are doing exactly
00:11:21 --> 00:11:22 what we would probably do.
00:11:23 --> 00:11:25 We start sorting out
00:11:25 --> 00:11:26 who is the most
00:11:26 --> 00:11:27 important people,
00:11:27 --> 00:11:28 who are the most
00:11:28 --> 00:11:29 worthy people
00:11:29 --> 00:11:30 and we'll give them
00:11:30 --> 00:11:31 a shot at looking
00:11:31 --> 00:11:32 at Jesus first.
00:11:33 --> 00:11:34 So the children
00:11:34 --> 00:11:34 in this passage
00:11:34 --> 00:11:36 and children in general
00:11:36 --> 00:11:36 don't deserve
00:11:36 --> 00:11:37 any special treatment
00:11:37 --> 00:11:38 from God.
00:11:39 --> 00:11:40 They don't deserve
00:11:40 --> 00:11:40 this free
00:11:40 --> 00:11:41 jump to the front
00:11:41 --> 00:11:42 of the queue pass.
00:11:42 --> 00:11:45 And interestingly,
00:11:45 --> 00:11:46 Jesus doesn't actually
00:11:46 --> 00:11:47 argue the point
00:11:47 --> 00:11:48 when he responds
00:11:48 --> 00:11:49 to his disciples.
00:11:49 --> 00:11:50 I don't know if you
00:11:50 --> 00:11:50 noticed that.
00:11:52 --> 00:11:53 Jesus doesn't turn around
00:11:53 --> 00:11:53 and go,
00:11:53 --> 00:11:53 disciples,
00:11:53 --> 00:11:54 you idiots.
00:11:55 --> 00:11:56 Children do deserve
00:11:56 --> 00:11:56 my blessing.
00:11:57 --> 00:11:57 They are more important
00:11:57 --> 00:11:58 than everyone else.
00:11:58 --> 00:11:59 Let them to the front.
00:12:00 --> 00:12:01 Listen to what he does say
00:12:01 --> 00:12:02 back in the passage
00:12:02 --> 00:12:03 at verse 14.
00:12:03 --> 00:12:05 When Jesus saw this,
00:12:06 --> 00:12:07 he was indignant
00:12:07 --> 00:12:08 and he said to them,
00:12:08 --> 00:12:10 Let the little children
00:12:10 --> 00:12:10 come to me
00:12:10 --> 00:12:12 and do not hinder them
00:12:12 --> 00:12:13 for the kingdom of God
00:12:13 --> 00:12:15 belongs to such as these.
00:12:15 --> 00:12:16 I tell you the truth,
00:12:17 --> 00:12:17 anyone who will not
00:12:17 --> 00:12:20 receive the kingdom of God
00:12:20 --> 00:12:21 like a little child
00:12:21 --> 00:12:22 will never enter it.
00:12:23 --> 00:12:24 And he took the children
00:12:24 --> 00:12:24 in his arms,
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 put his hands on them
00:12:25 --> 00:12:26 and blessed them.
00:12:27 --> 00:12:29 What's Jesus' response?
00:12:30 --> 00:12:30 He says,
00:12:30 --> 00:12:31 let them come.
00:12:33 --> 00:12:34 He doesn't say
00:12:34 --> 00:12:34 let them come
00:12:34 --> 00:12:35 because they're
00:12:35 --> 00:12:35 the most important.
00:12:36 --> 00:12:36 He says,
00:12:36 --> 00:12:37 let them come.
00:12:37 --> 00:12:39 Even though they're unworthy,
00:12:39 --> 00:12:40 even though they're unimportant,
00:12:40 --> 00:12:42 even though they're unimpressive,
00:12:43 --> 00:12:43 he says,
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 my blessing,
00:12:44 --> 00:12:45 my kingdom,
00:12:45 --> 00:12:46 all the stuff
00:12:46 --> 00:12:47 that I want to give
00:12:47 --> 00:12:50 belongs to such as these.
00:12:51 --> 00:12:53 His kingdom belongs
00:12:53 --> 00:12:54 to the childlike.
00:12:55 --> 00:12:55 Now,
00:12:56 --> 00:12:57 the amazing irony
00:12:57 --> 00:12:57 in this passage
00:12:57 --> 00:12:59 is that the same way
00:12:59 --> 00:13:00 that the disciples
00:13:00 --> 00:13:01 are looking down
00:13:01 --> 00:13:01 on these children
00:13:01 --> 00:13:03 and the same way
00:13:03 --> 00:13:04 that sometimes
00:13:04 --> 00:13:05 people in churches
00:13:05 --> 00:13:06 look down on other people
00:13:06 --> 00:13:07 as being unworthy
00:13:07 --> 00:13:08 or undeserving,
00:13:08 --> 00:13:10 that is exactly
00:13:10 --> 00:13:12 how God sees
00:13:12 --> 00:13:13 each and every one of us.
00:13:14 --> 00:13:15 That is exactly
00:13:15 --> 00:13:17 how God sees
00:13:17 --> 00:13:18 even the disciples
00:13:18 --> 00:13:19 in this passage.
00:13:19 --> 00:13:20 Now,
00:13:20 --> 00:13:20 let me say that again
00:13:20 --> 00:13:22 because that's really important.
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 The way we sometimes
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 try and discern
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 between who is
00:13:25 --> 00:13:26 more deserving
00:13:26 --> 00:13:27 of God's love
00:13:27 --> 00:13:28 and less deserving,
00:13:28 --> 00:13:29 we look at other people
00:13:29 --> 00:13:31 as less deserving.
00:13:31 --> 00:13:33 But when God sees us,
00:13:34 --> 00:13:35 he sees us
00:13:35 --> 00:13:36 as undeserving.
00:13:37 --> 00:13:38 He sees us
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 as unworthy.
00:13:39 --> 00:13:40 He sees us
00:13:40 --> 00:13:41 as having no right
00:13:41 --> 00:13:41 whatsoever.
00:13:44 --> 00:13:46 When God looks at you
00:13:46 --> 00:13:47 and me
00:13:47 --> 00:13:48 and every single one
00:13:48 --> 00:13:48 of us,
00:13:49 --> 00:13:50 he sees what the disciples
00:13:50 --> 00:13:51 see in these kids,
00:13:52 --> 00:13:54 people who don't deserve
00:13:54 --> 00:13:55 his blessing.
00:13:55 --> 00:13:58 So on one level,
00:13:58 --> 00:13:59 if you're sitting
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 in church tonight
00:14:00 --> 00:14:01 and you're feeling
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 unwelcome,
00:14:03 --> 00:14:03 you're feeling like
00:14:03 --> 00:14:05 maybe you don't fit here,
00:14:06 --> 00:14:07 you're actually heading
00:14:07 --> 00:14:08 in the right direction.
00:14:10 --> 00:14:11 God is giving you
00:14:11 --> 00:14:12 some insight
00:14:12 --> 00:14:13 into how he sees you.
00:14:14 --> 00:14:14 He's giving you
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 a chance to look
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 from his perspective
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 and understand
00:14:17 --> 00:14:18 that no one
00:14:18 --> 00:14:20 deserves to be able
00:14:20 --> 00:14:21 to call God Father.
00:14:21 --> 00:14:22 No one deserves
00:14:22 --> 00:14:23 to be able to call
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 Jesus their Savior.
00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 No one deserves
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26 to be able to call
00:14:26 --> 00:14:27 Jesus their friend.
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 And in this passage,
00:14:29 --> 00:14:30 the reason the children
00:14:30 --> 00:14:30 are unworthy
00:14:30 --> 00:14:32 is because they're children.
00:14:33 --> 00:14:33 All they need
00:14:33 --> 00:14:34 is a few years
00:14:34 --> 00:14:34 and they can deal
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 with that issue
00:14:35 --> 00:14:36 but our issue
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 is more significant.
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 Our problem's
00:14:38 --> 00:14:39 not so easily fixed.
00:14:39 --> 00:14:40 See, we're unworthy
00:14:40 --> 00:14:42 of God
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 because we spend
00:14:43 --> 00:14:43 our lives
00:14:43 --> 00:14:43 treating him
00:14:43 --> 00:14:44 like he doesn't matter.
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 We're unworthy
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 because we act
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 like the one
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 who made us
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 and keeps us alive
00:14:50 --> 00:14:51 is just a resource
00:14:51 --> 00:14:51 that we can use
00:14:51 --> 00:14:53 instead of a God
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 who deserves
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 to be obeyed.
00:14:56 --> 00:14:56 We don't do
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 what he tells us to.
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 We do what he tells
00:14:59 --> 00:14:59 us not to do
00:14:59 --> 00:15:01 and the sad thing is
00:15:01 --> 00:15:02 even if we were
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 to try and change now
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 and become better people,
00:15:04 --> 00:15:05 even if we were
00:15:05 --> 00:15:06 to start obeying
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 from this point forward,
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 that doesn't change
00:15:09 --> 00:15:09 that we are
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 disobedient people.
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 That doesn't change
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 that up to this point
00:15:13 --> 00:15:13 in our lives
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 and in reality
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 from here forward,
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 we're going to keep
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 ignoring him
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 and making choices
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 that we know
00:15:19 --> 00:15:20 he doesn't want us to.
00:15:20 --> 00:15:23 We have a habit
00:15:23 --> 00:15:23 when we talk
00:15:23 --> 00:15:24 about God
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 of thinking about
00:15:25 --> 00:15:26 good people
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 and bad people.
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 We think of bad people
00:15:29 --> 00:15:29 as the people
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 who murder
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 or steal
00:15:31 --> 00:15:31 or abuse
00:15:31 --> 00:15:33 and good people
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 are the ones
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 who manage to avoid
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 those serious bad things
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 and those are the only
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 two categories we've got.
00:15:39 --> 00:15:39 We've got good
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 and bad
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 but God has a higher
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 standard than good.
00:15:45 --> 00:15:46 God is perfect
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 in every way.
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 There is nothing
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 bad in him
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 and he demands
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 that if we would
00:15:51 --> 00:15:51 follow him,
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 if we would call him
00:15:53 --> 00:15:53 father,
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 if we would be a part
00:15:54 --> 00:15:56 of his family,
00:15:57 --> 00:15:57 then we need to be
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 perfect as well.
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 Now you might be good
00:16:00 --> 00:16:02 but you are not perfect.
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 You might be better
00:16:04 --> 00:16:04 than everyone else
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 in this room,
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 you might be the best
00:16:06 --> 00:16:06 person you know
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 but you are still
00:16:07 --> 00:16:09 not perfect.
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 Which means
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 in God's eyes
00:16:12 --> 00:16:14 you're not good enough.
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 You don't deserve
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 his blessing.
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 You don't deserve
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 all the good things
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 that he has.
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 Jesus is saying
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 something really profound
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 in these four verses.
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 The kingdom of God
00:16:27 --> 00:16:27 he says,
00:16:27 --> 00:16:29 the blessing of God
00:16:29 --> 00:16:29 he says,
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 belongs
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 to such
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 as these.
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 The church
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 will be full
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 of such
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 as these.
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 Heaven
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 will be full
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 of such
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 as these.
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 But what does that mean?
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 What does it mean
00:16:44 --> 00:16:46 to receive the kingdom
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 like a little child?
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 Well it's all
00:16:52 --> 00:16:52 the things
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 that you spend
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 your life
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 trying to get out of.
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 All the habits
00:16:57 --> 00:16:57 that you're trying
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 to avoid.
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 The dependence
00:16:59 --> 00:16:59 of children.
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 The helplessness
00:17:01 --> 00:17:01 of children.
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 See we live
00:17:03 --> 00:17:03 in a society
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 where we value
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 independence.
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 We want our lives
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 to be about
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 what we can do.
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 We want to be judged
00:17:10 --> 00:17:10 on our merits.
00:17:11 --> 00:17:11 We want to stand
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 on our own two feet
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 and we want
00:17:13 --> 00:17:13 what is fair
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 and just
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 for what we have done.
00:17:17 --> 00:17:19 But Jesus is saying
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 if God gives you
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 what is fair
00:17:21 --> 00:17:21 and just
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 for what you have done
00:17:22 --> 00:17:25 then you have no chance
00:17:25 --> 00:17:25 of getting
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 all the good things
00:17:26 --> 00:17:26 that he wants
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 to give you.
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 Being a Christian
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 is about
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 recognizing
00:17:33 --> 00:17:35 embracing
00:17:35 --> 00:17:37 and rejoicing
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 in the fact
00:17:38 --> 00:17:38 that you
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 need
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 Jesus'
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 help.
00:17:41 --> 00:17:43 I'll say that again.
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 Being a Christian
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 is about
00:17:45 --> 00:17:45 recognizing
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 that you need
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 Jesus' help
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 embracing
00:17:48 --> 00:17:48 the fact
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 that you need
00:17:49 --> 00:17:49 help
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 from something
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 outside yourself
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 and rejoicing
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 in the fact
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 that God
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 has provided
00:17:55 --> 00:17:55 that help
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 that you need.
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 These children
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 come to Jesus
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 because they are
00:18:01 --> 00:18:01 confident
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 that he
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 will love them.
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 Not confident
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 that they deserve
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 his love.
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 Not confident
00:18:07 --> 00:18:07 that they have
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 some right
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 to his blessing.
00:18:09 --> 00:18:11 But depending
00:18:11 --> 00:18:11 on the fact
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 that he
00:18:12 --> 00:18:12 will love
00:18:12 --> 00:18:12 them
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 in spite
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 of how
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 unimpressive
00:18:15 --> 00:18:15 they are.
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 They bring
00:18:17 --> 00:18:17 nothing to
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 the table.
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 They just
00:18:19 --> 00:18:19 come eager
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 and keen
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 empty handed
00:18:21 --> 00:18:23 and Jesus
00:18:23 --> 00:18:23 welcomes
00:18:23 --> 00:18:23 them.
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 That is
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 what it means
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 to receive
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 the kingdom
00:18:29 --> 00:18:29 like a child.
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 It's about
00:18:31 --> 00:18:31 recognizing
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 you don't
00:18:32 --> 00:18:32 deserve it
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 and asking
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 God to
00:18:34 --> 00:18:34 welcome you
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 anyway.
00:18:35 --> 00:18:37 the gospel
00:18:37 --> 00:18:37 message
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 is a message
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 of unworthy
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 people
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 offered
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 forgiveness
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 and love
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 through the
00:18:44 --> 00:18:44 death
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 and resurrection
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 of Jesus.
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 But don't
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 mishear me
00:18:50 --> 00:18:50 when I say
00:18:50 --> 00:18:50 that.
00:18:51 --> 00:18:51 The fact
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 that God
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 has welcomed
00:18:53 --> 00:18:53 an imperfect
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 person like
00:18:54 --> 00:18:54 me and the
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 fact that
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 tonight he
00:18:56 --> 00:18:56 might be
00:18:56 --> 00:18:56 ready to
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 welcome an
00:18:57 --> 00:18:57 imperfect
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 person like
00:18:58 --> 00:18:58 you
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 doesn't mean
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 that he's
00:19:00 --> 00:19:00 lowering his
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 standards.
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 It doesn't
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 mean that he
00:19:03 --> 00:19:03 looked and
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 realized there
00:19:04 --> 00:19:04 was no
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 perfect people
00:19:05 --> 00:19:05 and thought
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 well if I
00:19:06 --> 00:19:06 just lower
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 a bit and
00:19:07 --> 00:19:07 just get
00:19:07 --> 00:19:07 kind of the
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 top tier of
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 good people
00:19:09 --> 00:19:09 heaven will
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 still be
00:19:10 --> 00:19:10 alright.
00:19:11 --> 00:19:11 God has
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 not lowered
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 his standards.
00:19:14 --> 00:19:14 What it
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 means is he
00:19:15 --> 00:19:15 loves you
00:19:15 --> 00:19:17 enough to
00:19:17 --> 00:19:17 pay the
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 price that
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 you're supposed
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 to pay and
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 instead give
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 you his love
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 and blessing.
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 The famous
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 author C.S.
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 Lewis calls
00:19:26 --> 00:19:26 it the great
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 exchange.
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 Jesus comes
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 to earth and
00:19:30 --> 00:19:30 in his whole
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 life he
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 is perfectly
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 obedient to
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 God in
00:19:34 --> 00:19:34 heaven.
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 He does
00:19:35 --> 00:19:35 everything that
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 God requires
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 of him and
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 instead of the
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 love and
00:19:39 --> 00:19:41 privilege position
00:19:41 --> 00:19:41 that he deserves
00:19:41 --> 00:19:43 in heaven he
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 takes on the
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 punishment that
00:19:45 --> 00:19:45 every one of
00:19:45 --> 00:19:47 us deserves for
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 telling God that
00:19:48 --> 00:19:48 he doesn't
00:19:48 --> 00:19:48 matter.
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 He takes on the
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 judgment and
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 punishment that
00:19:52 --> 00:19:54 is ours and
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 then instead of
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 receiving the
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 punishment that
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 is ours we
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 are given the
00:19:59 --> 00:19:59 life and
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 blessing that
00:20:00 --> 00:20:00 is his.
00:20:00 --> 00:20:00 grace.
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 It is the
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 great exchange.
00:20:08 --> 00:20:08 If you're
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 here and
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 you're invited
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 by someone
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 maybe you're
00:20:12 --> 00:20:12 here because
00:20:12 --> 00:20:12 you're curious
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 about God
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 maybe you're
00:20:14 --> 00:20:14 here because
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 you were just
00:20:15 --> 00:20:15 sick of saying
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 no to that
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 really persistent
00:20:17 --> 00:20:17 friend.
00:20:19 --> 00:20:19 Whatever brought
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 you to this
00:20:20 --> 00:20:23 room God was
00:20:23 --> 00:20:23 behind it.
00:20:23 --> 00:20:25 if you're
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 feeling like
00:20:26 --> 00:20:26 you don't
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 really belong
00:20:27 --> 00:20:27 right now
00:20:27 --> 00:20:29 good.
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 Because the
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 reality is
00:20:35 --> 00:20:37 you don't
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 deserve to
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 be in God's
00:20:39 --> 00:20:39 family.
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 You are
00:20:41 --> 00:20:43 unworthy of
00:20:43 --> 00:20:43 his love and
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 forgiveness
00:20:44 --> 00:20:44 forgiveness.
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 But so is
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 everyone else
00:20:48 --> 00:20:48 around you.
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 God sees
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 your life.
00:20:55 --> 00:20:55 He knows
00:20:55 --> 00:20:55 who you
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 are.
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 He knows
00:20:57 --> 00:20:57 the deep
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 dark secrets
00:20:58 --> 00:20:58 that you hope
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 no one ever
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 finds out and
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 he says I
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 love you
00:21:02 --> 00:21:02 anyway.
00:21:02 --> 00:21:05 He says if
00:21:05 --> 00:21:05 you would just
00:21:05 --> 00:21:07 stop trying to
00:21:07 --> 00:21:07 be good enough
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 stop thinking
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 at least I'm
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 not as bad as
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 other people
00:21:10 --> 00:21:12 and would just
00:21:12 --> 00:21:12 like a child
00:21:12 --> 00:21:14 depend on him
00:21:14 --> 00:21:16 he would
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 welcome you
00:21:17 --> 00:21:17 with open
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 arms.
00:21:21 --> 00:21:21 It doesn't
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 matter what
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 other people
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 say to you
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 no one else
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 gets to decide
00:21:25 --> 00:21:25 whether or not
00:21:25 --> 00:21:25 you're good
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 enough for
00:21:26 --> 00:21:26 heaven.
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 Jesus is
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 saying now
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 you're not
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 but I want to
00:21:30 --> 00:21:30 welcome you
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 anyway.
00:21:32 --> 00:21:34 If you call
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 yourself a
00:21:35 --> 00:21:35 Christian if
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 you're sitting
00:21:36 --> 00:21:36 in this room
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 and you've
00:21:37 --> 00:21:37 been following
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 Jesus for a
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 while I just
00:21:39 --> 00:21:39 want to be
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 clear that here
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 is what you're
00:21:41 --> 00:21:41 saying according
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 to Jesus.
00:21:43 --> 00:21:43 You're saying
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 that God
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 loves me even
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 though there is
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 nothing in me
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 that makes me
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 worthy of it.
00:21:50 --> 00:21:50 That's what a
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 Christian is.
00:21:52 --> 00:21:52 Someone who
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 recognizes they
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 don't deserve
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 God's love but
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 gets it anyway.
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 And so if
00:21:59 --> 00:22:01 that's you maybe
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 you need to be
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 reminded that you
00:22:03 --> 00:22:05 are never in a
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 position to look
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 at someone else
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 as being less
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 deserving of God's
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 love than you
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 are.
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 If you look at
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 someone and see
00:22:14 --> 00:22:14 them as unworthy
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 that's right,
00:22:15 --> 00:22:15 that's what the
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 Bible says but
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 you've got to see
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 yourself right
00:22:18 --> 00:22:18 alongside them
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 because that's
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 what the gospel
00:22:20 --> 00:22:20 says.
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 You don't deserve
00:22:22 --> 00:22:24 God's love but
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 you get it because
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 God loves you.
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 You get it because
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 he chooses to
00:22:29 --> 00:22:29 love you.
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 God loves you.
00:22:30 --> 00:22:32 And maybe he is
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 challenging some of
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 us tonight to
00:22:34 --> 00:22:34 maybe be a little
00:22:34 --> 00:22:36 bit more humble in
00:22:36 --> 00:22:36 the way that we
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 follow him.
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 To maybe be a
00:22:39 --> 00:22:39 little bit more
00:22:39 --> 00:22:39 welcoming.
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 To make this a
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 place that anyone
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 would feel comfortable
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 to walk into
00:22:44 --> 00:22:46 regardless of what
00:22:46 --> 00:22:46 they're wearing or
00:22:46 --> 00:22:49 how they talk or
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 how strange this
00:22:50 --> 00:22:50 all seems.
00:22:50 --> 00:22:54 we started off
00:22:54 --> 00:22:56 tonight lamenting
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 the fact that
00:22:57 --> 00:22:57 churches are often
00:22:57 --> 00:22:59 unwelcoming places,
00:22:59 --> 00:22:59 that they're often
00:22:59 --> 00:23:01 exclusive and I
00:23:01 --> 00:23:03 said that hiding in
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 that reality was
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 good news.
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 The fact that the
00:23:08 --> 00:23:09 church is full of
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 people like that,
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 people who make
00:23:12 --> 00:23:12 others feel
00:23:12 --> 00:23:14 unwelcome, it's not
00:23:14 --> 00:23:16 a good thing but
00:23:16 --> 00:23:18 at very least it's
00:23:18 --> 00:23:21 proof that
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 everyone sitting
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 in church is just
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 as unworthy as
00:23:24 --> 00:23:24 you.
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 If you have ever
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 been made to feel
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 unwelcome in a
00:23:29 --> 00:23:31 church, if you have
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 ever been told by
00:23:32 --> 00:23:32 Christians that you
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 don't deserve God's
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 love, that you
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 don't deserve to be a
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 part of their
00:23:36 --> 00:23:39 community, I think
00:23:39 --> 00:23:39 that's actually
00:23:39 --> 00:23:41 evidence that they
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 don't deserve it
00:23:42 --> 00:23:42 either.
00:23:42 --> 00:23:44 And that's the
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 proof that it's
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 all about God
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 and it's all about
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 what God has
00:23:48 --> 00:23:48 done.
00:23:49 --> 00:23:51 Plus, you feeling
00:23:51 --> 00:23:53 that unworthiness is
00:23:53 --> 00:23:54 actually a necessary
00:23:54 --> 00:23:54 starting point.
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 If you're going to
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 be able to receive
00:23:57 --> 00:23:57 it like a child,
00:23:58 --> 00:23:58 you've got to
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 recognise that you've
00:23:59 --> 00:23:59 got nothing to
00:23:59 --> 00:24:01 offer, that it
00:24:01 --> 00:24:01 doesn't matter how
00:24:01 --> 00:24:01 good you're going
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 to be from now on,
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 it doesn't matter
00:24:03 --> 00:24:03 how good you've
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 been until now,
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 you've got to
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 recognise it is all
00:24:07 --> 00:24:09 about God's love
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 for you.
00:24:10 --> 00:24:12 It is all about
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 the fact that he
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 sent Jesus to die
00:24:14 --> 00:24:16 for you and it is
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 all about the fact
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 that Jesus rose
00:24:18 --> 00:24:20 again for you.
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 It is not and it
00:24:22 --> 00:24:24 will not ever be
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 about what you
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 have or haven't
00:24:26 --> 00:24:26 done.
00:24:28 --> 00:24:30 Lastly, you being
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 in this room now
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 is good news
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 because if God
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 can welcome me,
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 even though I'm
00:24:36 --> 00:24:38 imperfect, and if
00:24:38 --> 00:24:38 God can welcome
00:24:38 --> 00:24:40 you, even though
00:24:40 --> 00:24:40 you're imperfect,
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 and even though
00:24:41 --> 00:24:42 we are completely
00:24:42 --> 00:24:42 different people
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 with different
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 lives and different
00:24:44 --> 00:24:47 experiences, maybe
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 somebody else will
00:24:48 --> 00:24:48 walk into this
00:24:48 --> 00:24:50 room one time and
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 see if God can
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 forgive that guy
00:24:52 --> 00:24:54 and that girl,
00:24:55 --> 00:24:57 then maybe he can
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 forgive me as well.
00:25:01 --> 00:25:02 Jesus rebukes his
00:25:02 --> 00:25:03 disciples in this
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 passage because they
00:25:04 --> 00:25:05 block the way for
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 children that he had
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 already chosen to
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 love, that he had
00:25:08 --> 00:25:10 already chosen to
00:25:10 --> 00:25:10 welcome.
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 There is nothing
00:25:12 --> 00:25:14 and no one that
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 God will let get in
00:25:15 --> 00:25:17 the way of you
00:25:17 --> 00:25:17 coming to him.
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 Nothing you have
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 done and no other
00:25:21 --> 00:25:22 person's opinion of
00:25:22 --> 00:25:24 you can block how
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 much God loves you.
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 The challenge for you
00:25:30 --> 00:25:32 tonight is, are you
00:25:32 --> 00:25:34 ready like a child?
00:25:34 --> 00:25:37 Are you ready to
00:25:37 --> 00:25:37 admit that you have
00:25:37 --> 00:25:38 nothing to offer to
00:25:38 --> 00:25:38 him?
00:25:40 --> 00:25:41 To recognize that
00:25:41 --> 00:25:42 more than that, you
00:25:42 --> 00:25:43 are undeserving of
00:25:43 --> 00:25:44 his love, but you
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 are actually deserving
00:25:45 --> 00:25:47 of his punishment, and
00:25:47 --> 00:25:49 yet still he wants to
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 welcome you.
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 He wants to offer you
00:25:52 --> 00:25:52 something better.
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 The question for you
00:25:55 --> 00:25:57 tonight is, will you
00:25:57 --> 00:25:59 accept his love with
00:25:59 --> 00:26:00 open hands like a
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 child?
00:26:01 --> 00:26:04 will you receive the
00:26:04 --> 00:26:04 blessing that he wants
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 to give you?
00:26:08 --> 00:26:08 Let's pray.
00:26:17 --> 00:26:19 Father God, we want
00:26:19 --> 00:26:19 to acknowledge that
00:26:19 --> 00:26:21 there is so much in
00:26:21 --> 00:26:22 our lives that is not
00:26:22 --> 00:26:23 worthy of you.
00:26:25 --> 00:26:26 That every single one
00:26:26 --> 00:26:27 of us in this room
00:26:27 --> 00:26:29 spends time acting like
00:26:29 --> 00:26:30 we're in charge, acting
00:26:30 --> 00:26:31 like we get to make
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 our own decisions and
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 you don't matter.
00:26:35 --> 00:26:36 And God, we want to
00:26:36 --> 00:26:37 thank you that even
00:26:37 --> 00:26:38 though we are so
00:26:38 --> 00:26:41 disobedient, you still
00:26:41 --> 00:26:41 love us.
00:26:43 --> 00:26:44 We want to thank you
00:26:44 --> 00:26:45 for being willing to
00:26:45 --> 00:26:46 send Jesus to take our
00:26:46 --> 00:26:47 punishment.
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 We want to thank you
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50 that it's not about
00:26:50 --> 00:26:51 what other people think
00:26:51 --> 00:26:53 of us, it's about your
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 love which you have
00:26:54 --> 00:26:54 shown us in Jesus.
00:26:56 --> 00:26:57 God, I want to pray
00:26:57 --> 00:26:57 that if there are
00:26:57 --> 00:26:58 people sitting in this
00:26:58 --> 00:27:00 room right now who
00:27:00 --> 00:27:00 don't yet know what
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 it is to be welcomed
00:27:01 --> 00:27:03 by you, to be forgiven
00:27:03 --> 00:27:04 by you, to be loved
00:27:04 --> 00:27:06 by you, who don't yet
00:27:06 --> 00:27:06 know what it is to
00:27:06 --> 00:27:08 call you Father, who
00:27:08 --> 00:27:09 don't know what it is
00:27:09 --> 00:27:10 to be sure that you
00:27:10 --> 00:27:11 have reserved a place
00:27:11 --> 00:27:12 for them in heaven,
00:27:13 --> 00:27:14 Lord, I pray that
00:27:14 --> 00:27:14 tonight you would
00:27:14 --> 00:27:16 remove the barriers
00:27:16 --> 00:27:17 and you would welcome
00:27:17 --> 00:27:17 them.
00:27:20 --> 00:27:22 God, we thank you so
00:27:22 --> 00:27:23 much for your love
00:27:23 --> 00:27:25 and for sending
00:27:25 --> 00:27:25 Jesus.
00:27:27 --> 00:27:27 Amen.