Sunday August 25th Service_transcript.txt

[0.00 --> 14.32]  Good morning. It is good to be together again and to celebrate community and our common vision
[14.32 --> 22.80]  as a church. This morning we're going to continue looking at some of the words that Jesus spoke that
[22.80 --> 29.60]  are harder to deal with. We call this series Hard Sayings of Jesus. And today's passage
[30.48 --> 36.16]  certainly caused me to do some hard thinking and praying. And so, let's just get right into it. So,
[36.16 --> 39.84]  look at the passage with me. It will be up on the screen here. If you have your Bibles,
[39.84 --> 45.12]  you can open them up to Luke 12. We're going to read verses 49 through 56.
[45.12 --> 54.40]  Here's what the Word says, Jesus speaking, I have come to bring fire on earth and how I wish it were
[54.40 --> 61.84]  already kindled. But I have a baptism to undergo and what constraint I am under until it is completed.
[63.04 --> 70.56]  Do you think that I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. From now on,
[70.56 --> 75.20]  there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two, two against three.
[75.20 --> 79.76]  There will be divided father against son, son against father, mother against daughter,
[80.32 --> 84.56]  daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law, daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.
[84.56 --> 89.60]  And he said to the crowd, when you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say,
[89.60 --> 95.28]  it's going to rain. And it does. And when the south wind blows, you say, it's going to be hot.
[95.28 --> 103.28]  And it is. Hypocrites. You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it
[103.28 --> 110.56]  you don't know how to interpret this present time? Well, there you go. That's pretty straightforward.
[111.12 --> 117.52]  Let's conclude with the last song and go home. That's kind of almost how I feel, or at least how
[117.52 --> 123.12]  I felt when I first read the passage. I kind of go, oh man, there's a lot there. Jesus saying,
[123.12 --> 131.36]  I came to bring fire. I came to bring division. Like, what's going on here? This is kind of messing
[131.36 --> 139.92]  with our popular image of Jesus, right? A Jesus that anyone could like, soothing, peaceful,
[140.72 --> 146.00]  saying things that we want to hear, strolling through the meadow with a lamb across his shoulders,
[146.00 --> 152.88]  soft, cuddly Jesus, non-offensive. And I've heard people say, you know, I like Jesus, not the church too
[152.88 --> 159.12]  much. But I like Jesus. And Jesus is seen more like a life coach dispensing good advice and how to live a
[159.12 --> 170.64]  successful life. A Jesus who makes no real demands on us. And I want to tell you, that Jesus doesn't exist.
[172.08 --> 177.20]  He does give good advice. He does talk about how to live life. But there's so much more going on than
[177.20 --> 185.52]  that. And we hear Him in today's passage, I came to bring fire. I came to bring division. What does He
[185.52 --> 193.60]  mean? In Scripture, fire is often connected with judgment, sometimes with purification. But let's be
[193.60 --> 201.36]  really clear here. Jesus came to bring salvation for all people. That's why John 3, famous verse 16,
[201.36 --> 206.32]  God so loved the world, He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him will be saved.
[208.08 --> 213.04]  That's just a straightforward gospel. Elsewhere in Scripture, it says God didn't send His Son
[213.04 --> 219.84]  into the world to condemn the world, right? That wasn't the point. The point was salvation.
[220.64 --> 226.96]  Love warns. Love invites. Love seeks truth.
[226.96 --> 238.40]  God's invitation to be saved and transformed and healed.
[240.64 --> 249.44]  John 11, verse 11, 12, I look at this with me. This is about Jesus. He came to that which was His own,
[249.44 --> 258.24]  His own people. But His own did not receive Him. Yet all who did receive Him, to those who believed in
[258.24 --> 267.04]  His name, He gave the right to become children of God. That is Jesus' desire that we all become children
[267.76 --> 274.96]  of God. Scripture says, all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
[274.96 --> 284.88]  God's not leaving anyone out. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. In other words, all need saving, all need transforming, all need redeeming.
[286.16 --> 299.84]  Israel had been waiting for a Messiah who would solve, really, their political problems, who would restore Israel to its rightful place. That's the Messiah they were waiting for.
[299.84 --> 307.54]  They, as individuals, weren't really thinking about their need for being saved. Their hearts didn't seem to need transforming.
[309.20 --> 313.10]  And so, when we think about this, we say, so did Jesus come to bring peace or division?
[314.20 --> 318.06]  Well, you know, when we read Luke 2, we go back to the Christmas story, the angel singing,
[318.22 --> 323.76]  Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests.
[323.76 --> 329.14]  Paul writes in Philippians 4, though, he pushes that peace idea a little further here.
[329.68 --> 335.62]  He writes, don't be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, we've been talking about this morning,
[335.92 --> 339.10]  with thanksgiving, present your request to God, and here we go.
[339.50 --> 342.40]  And the peace of God, what kind of peace?
[343.06 --> 351.18]  Which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
[351.18 --> 355.50]  Jesus is the way to peace.
[357.02 --> 359.70]  Peace between you and God.
[360.14 --> 360.78]  Us and God.
[361.44 --> 362.36]  You have sinned.
[362.42 --> 363.06]  I have sinned.
[363.14 --> 363.86]  We have sinned.
[364.38 --> 368.74]  And that has put a dividing wall between a holy God and people.
[369.40 --> 370.82]  That's the story of Scripture.
[371.78 --> 375.02]  And Jesus is the way of bridging that divide.
[375.34 --> 379.20]  But ironically, in that, division will happen.
[379.20 --> 383.68]  Even in families, as Jesus points out in the passage we read.
[385.08 --> 389.04]  In 1 Corinthians, we read this, 1 Corinthians 23.
[390.20 --> 391.86]  Paul writes, and he writes,
[392.14 --> 400.84]  But we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles.
[400.84 --> 404.00]  A stumbling block.
[405.56 --> 411.86]  Yeah, putting Jesus and bringing his peace into your life, it demands something.
[411.92 --> 412.54]  What does it demand?
[412.72 --> 419.48]  It demands your surrender to your agenda and embracing God's agenda for your life.
[420.92 --> 424.72]  Israel couldn't accept Jesus' way as the way to peace with God.
[425.04 --> 425.78]  Rome couldn't.
[426.02 --> 427.06]  Greece couldn't.
[427.30 --> 428.84]  The religious leaders couldn't.
[428.84 --> 430.40]  Many today can't either.
[431.12 --> 434.94]  In my interactions with people in my life, I've heard people say,
[435.30 --> 438.90]  So you're saying I'm a sinner in need of saving?
[440.38 --> 440.82]  Hmm.
[440.96 --> 441.70]  I don't think so.
[443.30 --> 444.22]  Or they might say,
[444.40 --> 445.76]  Well, who are you to judge?
[445.82 --> 447.72]  For that matter, who's God to judge?
[449.22 --> 450.08]  Yet Jesus says,
[450.18 --> 450.92]  I am the way.
[451.06 --> 451.86]  I am the truth.
[452.02 --> 452.68]  I am life.
[452.68 --> 455.48]  No one comes to the Father except through me.
[458.46 --> 462.58]  In John 12, verse 46, Jesus says it this way.
[462.92 --> 468.80]  I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
[469.04 --> 473.46]  The flip side of that is, you don't believe in him, you stay in darkness.
[473.46 --> 477.38]  But you don't think you're in darkness.
[479.24 --> 482.22]  I was reading the story of Jesus' triumphal entry in Luke.
[483.26 --> 485.54]  He's entering Jerusalem to go face the cross.
[486.38 --> 491.66]  And people are thrilled because they think he's come to start a revolution against the Romans.
[491.88 --> 493.10]  And so they're quite thrilled.
[493.46 --> 497.48]  But notice, here's what Jesus says in Luke 19 as he's approaching Jerusalem.
[497.48 --> 502.36]  As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it.
[503.40 --> 504.42]  He's riding in.
[504.48 --> 505.08]  He's coming in.
[505.46 --> 506.40]  He sees Jerusalem.
[506.92 --> 507.98]  He weeps over it.
[508.00 --> 508.38]  And he said,
[508.68 --> 515.56]  If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace,
[517.92 --> 520.12]  that peace that's beyond understanding,
[520.40 --> 522.94]  that peace that only comes through the cross, right?
[523.28 --> 525.86]  But now it is hidden from your eyes.
[527.48 --> 530.72]  You know, sometimes, I don't know about you,
[530.80 --> 533.96]  but sometimes I think we struggle with the judgment of God.
[535.58 --> 537.28]  We don't even like the word very much.
[538.40 --> 539.32]  Let me ask you this.
[539.76 --> 545.40]  Would you want a God who ignores evil and brokenness and lies and sin?
[547.54 --> 549.32]  Would you want to follow a God like that?
[552.02 --> 552.72]  I wouldn't.
[552.72 --> 556.78]  I would want my God to be better than that.
[558.90 --> 559.04]  Right?
[560.08 --> 562.00]  You know, I've heard people say,
[562.08 --> 562.80]  I can't go to church.
[562.92 --> 564.42]  They're so judgmental in the church.
[564.80 --> 566.30]  And that's sometimes true,
[566.62 --> 571.20]  but mostly because it's done sometimes so unlovingly and so self-righteously.
[571.46 --> 572.60]  That's the problem.
[572.96 --> 575.58]  Sometimes the word spoken itself are not the problem.
[575.58 --> 578.74]  How many of you parents say no to your kids?
[581.94 --> 583.40]  Some kids are looking at their parents and say,
[583.52 --> 584.30]  yeah, all the time.
[585.58 --> 587.88]  How many of you correct them when they choose poorly
[587.88 --> 590.06]  or even sometimes punish them when they choose poorly?
[590.44 --> 591.82]  Why do you do that, right?
[591.96 --> 593.32]  Because you love them.
[593.80 --> 596.76]  Love seeks the truth, holds on to the truth,
[597.08 --> 598.46]  lives out of truth.
[598.46 --> 601.60]  We want that for the people we love.
[603.48 --> 605.04]  You know, in all of this judgment thinking,
[605.16 --> 606.38]  I was thinking of the courts.
[607.74 --> 609.16]  You ever been to court?
[609.38 --> 610.14]  Don't raise your hand.
[612.28 --> 612.68]  Right?
[612.80 --> 612.94]  Yeah.
[613.08 --> 618.28]  I had to testify once in a court case in Surrey.
[619.88 --> 621.16]  I remember sitting there, you know,
[621.16 --> 624.86]  you're in this little seated area here,
[625.10 --> 626.74]  and in walks the judge,
[626.82 --> 627.70]  and everybody rises.
[628.46 --> 629.90]  You know, it's very formal.
[630.76 --> 632.86]  Guy's wearing a black robe, looks very stern.
[633.66 --> 635.74]  But imagine if I had stood up and said,
[636.14 --> 638.18]  this place is so judgmental,
[638.24 --> 639.96]  especially the guy in the black robe.
[642.06 --> 642.36]  Right?
[642.42 --> 644.96]  Yeah, that wouldn't go over while I'd be in trouble.
[645.88 --> 648.32]  But we wouldn't do that because that's stupid.
[648.98 --> 649.18]  Right?
[649.18 --> 654.52]  We all know we need places where wrong is judged
[654.52 --> 657.88]  by someone who's put some thought into it according to law.
[657.88 --> 659.68]  We all know that.
[659.68 --> 661.30]  We're happy for that.
[661.30 --> 664.02]  That evil behavior is punished,
[664.36 --> 668.54]  and hopefully the one who did the evil is somehow rehabilitated,
[668.80 --> 670.68]  and we want all that to happen.
[670.68 --> 673.66]  But that only happens with judgment.
[673.66 --> 681.48]  As Christians, we are called to speak the truth in love.
[682.28 --> 684.06]  Emphasis on the word in love.
[684.94 --> 690.00]  Not to win an argument, which often is not motivated by love.
[690.00 --> 692.66]  So that we might bless others.
[693.00 --> 696.26]  Jesus confronted especially the religious leaders of his day
[696.26 --> 699.92]  because they misled people, and they were self-righteous.
[700.22 --> 702.02]  And he speaks truth to them.
[702.42 --> 704.78]  You vipers, you whitewashed grays.
[705.14 --> 705.42]  Why?
[705.64 --> 707.38]  Because he loves truth.
[707.92 --> 709.26]  He points out truth.
[709.62 --> 710.42]  God's truth.
[710.62 --> 711.28]  God's ways.
[711.56 --> 712.72]  And he loves people.
[712.72 --> 714.20]  And he's saying to the leaders,
[714.56 --> 716.32]  don't mess this up.
[718.00 --> 719.12]  Don't mess this up.
[719.18 --> 721.12]  You have a big responsibility with these people.
[721.18 --> 721.68]  Don't mess it up.
[721.92 --> 725.00]  He's challenging them for the sake of the people,
[725.14 --> 727.08]  but also for the sake of the leaders.
[728.86 --> 729.06]  Right?
[729.10 --> 730.46]  One of those leaders, Nicodemus.
[731.46 --> 732.26]  He was a Pharisee.
[732.38 --> 735.12]  Later on, he became a follower of Jesus, it seems.
[736.46 --> 736.68]  Right?
[736.68 --> 741.32]  So Jesus speaks truth in love to transform people
[741.32 --> 744.06]  and bring them to their need for salvation.
[744.66 --> 747.02]  The cross, though, is a stumbling block
[747.02 --> 749.40]  because it speaks the central truth.
[749.94 --> 756.88]  You need a Savior every single day of your life.
[762.88 --> 764.40]  That's a stumbling block for some.
[766.68 --> 769.78]  Jesus refers to this defining moment
[769.78 --> 771.84]  in our passage as baptism.
[773.14 --> 774.58]  You might think, what's that about?
[774.80 --> 775.78]  What's he mean, baptism?
[776.46 --> 778.50]  Baptism in its significance,
[779.22 --> 780.92]  and we see it sometimes when we baptize, right?
[781.18 --> 783.32]  We saw that a while back here, not so long ago.
[783.52 --> 783.68]  Right?
[783.74 --> 784.52]  You go underwater.
[784.88 --> 786.08]  You die to self.
[786.46 --> 787.32]  You come up again.
[787.68 --> 789.42]  You're alive in Christ.
[789.84 --> 791.78]  That's the picture where Jesus says,
[791.92 --> 793.74]  you know, my death is a baptism.
[793.74 --> 797.70]  It's a baptism where out of death comes life,
[798.10 --> 799.32]  through the cross.
[802.40 --> 803.84]  Through the cross, through his death.
[805.98 --> 808.26]  There's a line in verse 52 of our passage
[808.26 --> 810.24]  that says, from now on.
[810.42 --> 812.74]  It's a phrase that Jesus uses elsewhere, too.
[812.98 --> 814.98]  When he calls his disciples, when they're fishing,
[815.44 --> 816.14]  and he says, you know,
[816.22 --> 817.72]  I will make you fishers of men.
[817.76 --> 819.50]  He says, from now on,
[819.58 --> 821.18]  I will make you fishers of men.
[821.18 --> 822.18]  Right?
[822.94 --> 824.52]  When he's going to ascend into heaven,
[824.64 --> 826.26]  he says, from now on,
[826.60 --> 828.68]  the Son of Man is seated at the right hand of the Father.
[829.76 --> 830.82]  From now on.
[830.94 --> 832.04]  From now on,
[832.10 --> 833.56]  from the time of Jesus
[833.56 --> 836.30]  to now and beyond,
[837.22 --> 838.24]  things are going to be different.
[838.32 --> 839.06]  The kingdom has come.
[840.58 --> 841.68]  The kingdom has come.
[843.16 --> 844.78]  So, yeah, there's going to be divisions.
[846.54 --> 848.12]  Divisions even in families,
[848.12 --> 850.66]  because people are going to stumble over this.
[852.08 --> 856.04]  We don't easily want to surrender to that truth.
[858.82 --> 861.24]  Maybe you've experienced that in your life,
[861.28 --> 861.84]  in your family.
[863.70 --> 864.72]  And Jesus has said,
[864.88 --> 865.32]  take heart,
[865.66 --> 866.76]  I have overcome sin and death.
[866.84 --> 867.52]  That's the good news.
[867.86 --> 870.52]  I have come to bring life in all its fullness.
[870.68 --> 873.40]  I have come to bring peace beyond your comprehension.
[873.40 --> 875.84]  Share that peace,
[876.40 --> 878.50]  even if it isn't always received.
[880.38 --> 883.54]  Peace is generally seen as a good thing.
[884.18 --> 884.34]  Right?
[885.06 --> 887.18]  When we hear the angel saying,
[887.52 --> 888.66]  peace on earth,
[888.78 --> 889.32]  good will to man,
[889.40 --> 890.00]  we say, yeah,
[890.14 --> 890.88]  everybody agreed.
[890.98 --> 892.30]  Yay, yay, peace.
[892.94 --> 893.78]  Merry Christmas.
[894.86 --> 895.20]  And then we say,
[895.26 --> 896.74]  well, that peace comes through the cross.
[896.84 --> 898.56]  Well, wait a minute, Bible thumper.
[898.56 --> 901.92]  Slow down a little bit here.
[901.96 --> 902.82]  I like the peace part.
[902.90 --> 904.30]  Let's not drag the cross into this.
[907.68 --> 908.08]  Peace.
[909.04 --> 910.76]  End of wars and violence.
[910.82 --> 911.32]  Of course.
[912.10 --> 913.14]  That's part of it too.
[914.12 --> 914.84]  But peace,
[915.38 --> 915.92]  ultimately,
[916.36 --> 918.16]  harmony of people
[918.16 --> 919.58]  with a holy God
[919.58 --> 921.82]  who has every right to judge them,
[921.96 --> 924.10]  but doesn't because the Son has come
[924.10 --> 928.76]  and taken away the price of sin and death from us,
[930.04 --> 931.88]  from those who will surrender to that.
[932.96 --> 935.78]  And Jesus longs for that mission to be over, right?
[935.82 --> 936.02]  He said,
[936.08 --> 937.54]  I wish that fire was already kindled.
[937.78 --> 939.74]  He's anxious to complete it
[939.74 --> 942.32]  where he will face the consequences of sin
[942.32 --> 943.38]  for you and I,
[944.08 --> 944.72]  where he will say,
[944.78 --> 945.48]  my God, my God,
[945.60 --> 947.50]  why have you forsaken me
[947.50 --> 950.50]  so you didn't have to be forsaken?
[950.50 --> 950.58]  Amen.
[950.58 --> 950.62]  Amen.
[954.10 --> 958.20]  You know, fire,
[958.96 --> 959.72]  Jesus talked about fire,
[959.78 --> 960.82]  fire can destroy, right?
[961.62 --> 962.92]  But it also purifies.
[964.50 --> 965.38]  It purifies.
[965.72 --> 967.58]  We are purified through those fires.
[968.42 --> 968.56]  Right?
[968.58 --> 970.48]  We sometimes talk about forest fires, right?
[970.54 --> 972.86]  And all that underbrush is burned away
[972.86 --> 974.30]  and it'll seem pretty bad for a while,
[974.34 --> 974.68]  but, you know,
[974.70 --> 976.06]  all kinds of new life comes out of that.
[980.56 --> 981.98]  We find our purification
[981.98 --> 983.34]  through the fire,
[983.48 --> 984.18]  Jesus starts
[984.18 --> 986.60]  with his death and resurrection.
[987.98 --> 988.78]  And in that,
[988.96 --> 990.82]  we are at peace with God
[990.82 --> 991.76]  and, yeah,
[991.82 --> 992.76]  with one another too.
[993.12 --> 995.86]  But not everyone will accept that.
[998.04 --> 998.94]  And maybe you,
[998.94 --> 999.62]  maybe you,
[999.74 --> 1001.40]  you feel like you want to settle for a peace
[1001.40 --> 1003.10]  that's about conflict avoidance.
[1003.16 --> 1004.66]  That's another kind of peace.
[1005.72 --> 1007.60]  You ever been in that kind of situation, right?
[1008.32 --> 1009.48]  The situation's tense,
[1009.48 --> 1010.88]  whatever the thing is,
[1011.04 --> 1012.08]  the issue is,
[1012.60 --> 1013.64]  and you want to say something,
[1013.76 --> 1015.60]  but you don't for the sake of peace.
[1016.96 --> 1017.32]  Really,
[1017.66 --> 1018.98]  you just don't want to have a big fight
[1018.98 --> 1019.72]  about something again.
[1020.40 --> 1020.52]  Right?
[1020.56 --> 1021.48]  And I kind of get that.
[1021.66 --> 1022.12]  I get that.
[1022.16 --> 1024.08]  We can't be fighting all the time.
[1024.90 --> 1025.90]  Sometimes it is wise
[1025.90 --> 1026.86]  just to keep your mouth shut.
[1029.18 --> 1030.16]  But not all the time.
[1032.64 --> 1034.34]  We can't hide the gospel.
[1034.94 --> 1035.14]  All the time.
[1035.16 --> 1035.66]  And I get it.
[1035.66 --> 1037.86]  We can show the gospel
[1037.86 --> 1038.84]  through the way we live.
[1038.92 --> 1039.72]  Of course, right?
[1039.88 --> 1041.40]  And we can be loving and caring
[1041.40 --> 1041.90]  and all that.
[1042.16 --> 1042.74]  That's true.
[1042.92 --> 1045.10]  But sometimes we say something,
[1045.36 --> 1046.54]  hopefully in love.
[1049.14 --> 1050.08]  And I'll be honest with you,
[1050.12 --> 1052.58]  I don't always know how to navigate this
[1052.58 --> 1054.58]  in my relationships.
[1057.12 --> 1058.52]  I tend to say things.
[1060.54 --> 1060.78]  You know,
[1060.82 --> 1062.02]  once in a while I'm saying something
[1062.02 --> 1063.92]  and my wife's sitting close to me
[1063.92 --> 1064.70]  and I get one of these.
[1065.66 --> 1066.22]  You know,
[1066.22 --> 1066.96]  kick in the leg
[1066.96 --> 1067.38]  and I go,
[1068.50 --> 1069.64]  no more talking, Sid.
[1071.18 --> 1071.96]  Settle down.
[1073.80 --> 1076.00]  And often that's the right thing here
[1076.00 --> 1077.38]  because sometimes too many words
[1077.38 --> 1078.04]  are not helpful.
[1079.54 --> 1080.00]  But yeah,
[1080.06 --> 1081.34]  I don't always know how to navigate that.
[1081.64 --> 1082.86]  Maybe you struggle with that too.
[1083.40 --> 1084.12]  The key though,
[1084.20 --> 1085.32]  stay loving.
[1085.50 --> 1085.62]  Yeah,
[1085.66 --> 1086.76]  don't over talk.
[1087.00 --> 1087.78]  That can happen too.
[1088.12 --> 1088.88]  But sometimes,
[1089.06 --> 1091.12]  sometimes we need to speak the truth
[1091.12 --> 1092.22]  but make sure it's in love.
[1092.22 --> 1092.28]  Love.
[1095.66 --> 1096.86]  You know,
[1096.94 --> 1099.30]  and I picture Jesus saying what He did.
[1099.42 --> 1099.52]  You know,
[1099.58 --> 1101.30]  I've come to bring fire
[1101.30 --> 1102.66]  and I've come to bring division
[1102.66 --> 1103.86]  and the crowd's going,
[1104.26 --> 1105.24]  what?
[1105.24 --> 1108.28]  And the disciples are sitting there
[1108.28 --> 1109.60]  and some of them are estranged
[1109.60 --> 1110.60]  from their families
[1110.60 --> 1112.46]  because they follow Jesus.
[1113.40 --> 1115.14]  They're living out the division
[1115.14 --> 1116.62]  that came with that,
[1117.38 --> 1119.88]  with their faith in Jesus.
[1121.60 --> 1123.54]  Earlier on in our hard sayings of Jesus,
[1123.68 --> 1124.08]  you know,
[1124.34 --> 1125.78]  we talked about when He said,
[1126.44 --> 1126.84]  you know,
[1126.88 --> 1128.00]  you need to eat my body
[1128.00 --> 1128.80]  and drink my blood
[1128.80 --> 1129.46]  and the crowd,
[1129.58 --> 1129.78]  what?
[1129.88 --> 1130.56]  Walked away.
[1130.56 --> 1132.00]  What is He talking about here?
[1132.00 --> 1133.54]  And then Jesus asked the disciples,
[1133.66 --> 1135.12]  are you guys leaving too?
[1136.10 --> 1136.56]  And they said,
[1136.60 --> 1136.72]  well,
[1136.76 --> 1137.50]  where else do we go?
[1137.58 --> 1138.22]  You are truth,
[1138.34 --> 1138.64]  right?
[1140.02 --> 1141.28]  And it struck me.
[1142.82 --> 1144.34]  It struck me a while
[1144.34 --> 1145.34]  when I was thinking about this,
[1146.28 --> 1147.40]  about folks who had come
[1147.40 --> 1147.98]  to Hope Community
[1147.98 --> 1149.08]  over the years.
[1149.64 --> 1150.92]  And sometimes they came,
[1151.38 --> 1152.34]  and we were glad they,
[1152.56 --> 1153.80]  for whatever reason they came,
[1154.10 --> 1155.84]  but sometimes some of them came
[1155.84 --> 1157.72]  for the good of their kids.
[1158.86 --> 1159.82]  Kind of this sentiment.
[1159.82 --> 1161.14]  It's good for the kids
[1161.14 --> 1162.28]  to have a little religion.
[1164.52 --> 1164.78]  You know,
[1165.24 --> 1166.38]  let them hear a little God talk
[1166.38 --> 1166.72]  once in a while.
[1166.76 --> 1167.12]  That's good.
[1168.30 --> 1169.06]  You don't have to take it
[1169.06 --> 1169.62]  too seriously,
[1169.76 --> 1171.28]  but just a little religion.
[1172.88 --> 1173.70]  And it's interesting,
[1174.02 --> 1174.24]  you know,
[1174.44 --> 1175.00]  these kids,
[1175.12 --> 1176.54]  they just like the programs
[1176.54 --> 1177.42]  and the fun they had
[1177.42 --> 1179.06]  in Cornerstone
[1179.06 --> 1179.80]  and things like that.
[1179.90 --> 1180.76]  So they were just having fun.
[1181.10 --> 1182.46]  But eventually they became teenagers,
[1182.78 --> 1184.22]  and they didn't like waking up
[1184.22 --> 1184.84]  on Sunday mornings,
[1185.00 --> 1185.56]  and they said,
[1185.62 --> 1185.72]  ah,
[1185.72 --> 1186.58]  we're not going anymore.
[1187.46 --> 1188.34]  And the parents said,
[1188.40 --> 1188.50]  well,
[1188.52 --> 1189.46]  we're not going anymore either.
[1190.20 --> 1191.76]  We've all had our little religion.
[1194.48 --> 1195.76]  The problem with the little religion
[1195.76 --> 1198.38]  is it's not absolute surrender
[1198.38 --> 1199.30]  to the ways of Jesus.
[1203.22 --> 1204.70]  And you don't get that peace
[1204.70 --> 1205.86]  that's beyond understanding.
[1207.94 --> 1209.40]  Jesus didn't come to bring
[1209.40 --> 1210.10]  a little religion.
[1210.36 --> 1211.34]  He came to bring life
[1211.34 --> 1212.32]  in all its fullness.
[1212.64 --> 1214.10]  And this demands our all.
[1214.10 --> 1216.46]  And then we desperately find
[1216.46 --> 1218.06]  the peace that we so much
[1218.06 --> 1219.52]  are in need of.
[1221.56 --> 1222.94]  Jesus said to the people
[1222.94 --> 1223.94]  at that time,
[1224.00 --> 1224.10]  He said,
[1224.16 --> 1224.80]  you guys are pretty good
[1224.80 --> 1225.66]  at predicting the weather,
[1225.94 --> 1227.10]  but you completely missed
[1227.10 --> 1227.88]  the signs of the time.
[1227.94 --> 1228.88]  What was the sign of the time?
[1229.16 --> 1229.86]  Jesus Himself.
[1230.12 --> 1230.86]  There's Jesus.
[1230.98 --> 1231.74]  Right there.
[1232.64 --> 1234.64]  The sign of the times.
[1235.34 --> 1236.14]  The Messiah,
[1236.34 --> 1237.64]  the one who came to save them.
[1237.64 --> 1238.44]  And they're,
[1238.58 --> 1238.88]  you know,
[1239.38 --> 1240.06]  they're missing Him.
[1242.58 --> 1243.26]  It made me think,
[1243.36 --> 1244.90]  you and I can go about our lives
[1244.90 --> 1247.10]  and pay attention to the weather,
[1247.76 --> 1248.66]  day-to-day demands,
[1248.88 --> 1249.32]  sports,
[1249.46 --> 1250.08]  social media.
[1250.86 --> 1251.76]  We even go to church
[1251.76 --> 1253.08]  and completely miss Jesus.
[1253.08 --> 1259.54]  And somehow then we miss out
[1259.54 --> 1260.34]  on real life
[1260.34 --> 1262.44]  and on real peace.
[1264.26 --> 1265.56]  Everywhere Jesus went,
[1265.68 --> 1266.28]  people were divided
[1266.28 --> 1266.96]  because of Him.
[1267.30 --> 1267.82]  At times,
[1267.88 --> 1269.00]  they lined the streets
[1269.00 --> 1269.84]  just to see Him
[1269.84 --> 1270.40]  and hear Him.
[1270.66 --> 1271.32]  At other times,
[1271.38 --> 1272.20]  they were going to throw Him
[1272.20 --> 1273.40]  literally off a cliff.
[1275.68 --> 1277.38]  Even members of Jesus' own family
[1277.38 --> 1278.26]  weren't sure what to do with Him.
[1281.92 --> 1282.52]  You know.
[1283.42 --> 1284.24]  Some of them were saying,
[1284.32 --> 1285.68]  I thought He was going to bring
[1285.68 --> 1286.86]  peace in Israel.
[1287.58 --> 1288.90]  Get rid of those Romans.
[1289.90 --> 1291.12]  That was what a lot of them thought.
[1291.56 --> 1291.84]  You know what?
[1291.86 --> 1292.10]  Nowadays,
[1292.24 --> 1294.12]  I thought He was going to just love me
[1294.12 --> 1295.18]  without asking me
[1295.18 --> 1296.58]  to change a thing.
[1299.94 --> 1301.14]  And Jesus stepped in
[1301.14 --> 1302.34]  with those comments
[1302.34 --> 1302.78]  and He said,
[1303.36 --> 1303.56]  oh,
[1303.86 --> 1304.82]  so that's peace for you.
[1304.82 --> 1306.08]  Do you think
[1306.08 --> 1307.72]  I've come to bring peace?
[1307.84 --> 1308.36]  Like that?
[1309.20 --> 1309.62]  No.
[1309.86 --> 1311.14]  I've come to bring division.
[1311.46 --> 1312.64]  I've come to bring
[1312.64 --> 1313.44]  a choice.
[1318.18 --> 1319.06]  Division between
[1319.06 --> 1320.34]  light and darkness.
[1320.56 --> 1321.04]  Here's light.
[1321.16 --> 1321.64]  Here's darkness.
[1321.88 --> 1322.54]  Which one do you want?
[1323.12 --> 1324.60]  Between life and death.
[1324.80 --> 1325.56]  Which one do you want?
[1328.12 --> 1328.62]  Peace,
[1328.86 --> 1330.42]  as Jesus defines it.
[1331.30 --> 1332.52]  Peace that comes
[1332.52 --> 1333.40]  from repentance
[1333.40 --> 1334.80]  and then receiving
[1334.80 --> 1335.92]  grace and forgiveness.
[1335.92 --> 1336.14]  this.
[1337.34 --> 1338.72]  The gospel shows
[1338.72 --> 1339.64]  that people
[1339.64 --> 1340.74]  that they can't
[1340.74 --> 1341.32]  do a thing,
[1341.62 --> 1342.00]  anything,
[1342.34 --> 1342.96]  to help out
[1342.96 --> 1344.54]  God with their salvation.
[1344.76 --> 1345.88]  It's through grace alone.
[1347.74 --> 1348.54]  I heard a story
[1348.54 --> 1350.22]  of an eight-year-old
[1350.22 --> 1352.24]  asking his mom,
[1352.80 --> 1353.14]  mom,
[1353.34 --> 1354.22]  do you love God
[1354.22 --> 1355.00]  more than me?
[1355.00 --> 1358.78]  His mom said,
[1359.04 --> 1359.24]  yeah,
[1359.28 --> 1359.48]  yeah,
[1359.56 --> 1359.76]  Ben,
[1359.82 --> 1360.38]  I do.
[1363.96 --> 1364.86]  She knew
[1364.86 --> 1367.10]  that the fullness
[1367.10 --> 1368.02]  of her life
[1368.02 --> 1369.04]  and who she was,
[1369.26 --> 1370.42]  including her motherhood,
[1370.64 --> 1371.54]  had to find
[1371.54 --> 1373.04]  its primary identity
[1373.04 --> 1373.60]  and meaning
[1373.60 --> 1374.08]  in God
[1374.08 --> 1374.90]  and not
[1374.90 --> 1376.14]  in anything else.
[1376.54 --> 1377.34]  And only then
[1377.34 --> 1378.20]  would she be able
[1378.20 --> 1379.36]  to fully love Ben
[1379.36 --> 1380.26]  and be the mother
[1380.26 --> 1381.30]  he needed her to be.
[1381.58 --> 1382.56]  And she said that to him,
[1382.82 --> 1384.04]  because I love God more,
[1384.26 --> 1384.86]  I can learn
[1384.86 --> 1386.62]  to love you more.
[1389.24 --> 1390.10]  My wife and I
[1390.10 --> 1390.66]  talked about that
[1390.66 --> 1391.32]  a long time ago.
[1392.52 --> 1392.90]  Right?
[1393.12 --> 1393.26]  Yeah,
[1393.30 --> 1394.10]  we love each other.
[1394.74 --> 1395.44]  If you were to ask
[1395.44 --> 1396.22]  Sid or Candy,
[1397.04 --> 1397.98]  who do you love more,
[1398.08 --> 1399.12]  God or your spouse?
[1399.36 --> 1400.00]  The answer is going
[1400.00 --> 1400.36]  to be God.
[1402.12 --> 1403.24]  And the irony is,
[1403.46 --> 1403.62]  yeah,
[1403.68 --> 1404.28]  we know that
[1404.28 --> 1405.24]  because we can't
[1405.24 --> 1406.28]  be God to each other
[1406.28 --> 1407.40]  because that's a disaster.
[1408.40 --> 1409.90]  So we need God
[1409.90 --> 1410.96]  so that we can learn
[1411.30 --> 1413.50]  to find the true self
[1413.50 --> 1414.48]  that God made us to be,
[1414.72 --> 1415.70]  that we can learn grace,
[1415.78 --> 1416.62]  we can learn freedom,
[1417.02 --> 1418.46]  and then we can learn
[1418.46 --> 1419.26]  to love in a way
[1419.26 --> 1420.46]  that Jesus would love.
[1426.76 --> 1427.94]  Only out of love for God
[1427.94 --> 1429.30]  can I learn to love others.
[1431.22 --> 1432.04]  And I can learn
[1432.04 --> 1432.80]  to relate to others
[1432.80 --> 1434.26]  and I can point out to them
[1434.26 --> 1435.80]  what peace looks like
[1435.80 --> 1437.92]  and what forgiveness
[1437.92 --> 1438.34]  looks like
[1438.34 --> 1439.06]  and grace looks like.
[1439.06 --> 1441.12]  Jesus' relationship
[1441.12 --> 1441.84]  with the Father
[1441.84 --> 1442.64]  is ultimately
[1442.64 --> 1443.52]  what determines
[1443.52 --> 1444.30]  His identity,
[1444.62 --> 1445.16]  His being,
[1445.24 --> 1445.92]  and His purpose.
[1446.52 --> 1447.18]  And then He learned
[1447.18 --> 1447.56]  to say,
[1447.64 --> 1448.30]  even when it was hard,
[1448.62 --> 1449.36]  not my will,
[1449.44 --> 1450.36]  thy will be done.
[1451.58 --> 1452.40]  And this doesn't mean
[1452.40 --> 1453.46]  He was rejecting others,
[1453.74 --> 1455.58]  but that one relationship
[1455.58 --> 1457.28]  was above all others.
[1460.28 --> 1461.52]  That is the choice
[1461.52 --> 1463.12]  that Jesus sets
[1463.12 --> 1464.24]  before these people here
[1464.24 --> 1465.74]  and He sets it for us.
[1465.74 --> 1467.90]  who or what
[1467.90 --> 1469.58]  is the determining relationship
[1469.58 --> 1471.22]  that gives you identity
[1471.22 --> 1472.38]  and being
[1472.38 --> 1473.42]  and purpose
[1473.42 --> 1474.40]  and life?
[1475.44 --> 1476.26]  Who is it?
[1478.04 --> 1479.18]  What is your
[1479.18 --> 1480.82]  defining relationship?
[1483.80 --> 1484.90]  Some of you might answer,
[1485.02 --> 1486.20]  maybe it's your kids.
[1487.38 --> 1488.22]  Maybe it's your spouse.
[1488.44 --> 1489.20]  Maybe it's your work,
[1489.38 --> 1489.78]  your country,
[1489.86 --> 1490.18]  yourself.
[1490.18 --> 1491.80]  It's a choice
[1491.80 --> 1493.40]  we constantly need to make
[1493.40 --> 1495.20]  day after day after day.
[1495.56 --> 1496.04]  And in that,
[1496.30 --> 1496.76]  Jesus says,
[1497.06 --> 1497.98]  I have come
[1497.98 --> 1500.00]  to bring that division
[1500.00 --> 1500.80]  to you.
[1504.80 --> 1506.16]  To bring the choice
[1506.16 --> 1507.18]  between light and darkness,
[1507.46 --> 1508.44]  between life and death,
[1508.66 --> 1509.66]  between real peace
[1509.66 --> 1510.80]  and shallow peace.
[1511.64 --> 1512.74]  To choose the Father
[1512.74 --> 1514.00]  as our primary relationship
[1514.00 --> 1515.20]  is the way.
[1515.20 --> 1518.66]  and that defines
[1518.66 --> 1519.36]  all else.
[1521.16 --> 1521.84]  And this division
[1521.84 --> 1522.56]  offers us
[1522.56 --> 1523.80]  potential growth
[1523.80 --> 1524.20]  in life.
[1524.44 --> 1524.96]  It's interesting to me
[1524.96 --> 1525.44]  when you think about
[1525.44 --> 1526.46]  division in science
[1526.46 --> 1527.46]  at the cellular level,
[1528.16 --> 1529.20]  when the cells divide,
[1529.30 --> 1529.88]  we have growth.
[1529.98 --> 1531.02]  That's what growth is
[1531.02 --> 1532.24]  through division.
[1532.94 --> 1533.62]  I think that can be
[1533.62 --> 1534.28]  true for us too.
[1534.68 --> 1535.46]  Jesus brings
[1535.46 --> 1536.16]  a division
[1536.16 --> 1537.46]  that results in growth
[1537.46 --> 1538.58]  if we follow Him.
[1538.84 --> 1539.56]  He calls us
[1539.56 --> 1540.38]  to pay attention
[1540.38 --> 1541.20]  to our priorities
[1541.20 --> 1544.68]  and to ensure
[1544.68 --> 1546.32]  that we put Christ
[1546.32 --> 1548.04]  above all else
[1548.04 --> 1550.40]  because He's the source
[1550.40 --> 1551.20]  of growth.
[1552.82 --> 1554.32]  So we can love
[1554.32 --> 1555.40]  and live life
[1555.40 --> 1555.80]  through Him
[1555.80 --> 1557.10]  with Him in charge
[1557.10 --> 1558.36]  and thus enjoying life
[1558.36 --> 1559.04]  in all its fullness.
[1560.10 --> 1560.74]  And in that,
[1560.92 --> 1561.34]  we love
[1561.34 --> 1562.24]  and invite others
[1562.24 --> 1563.38]  to do the same.
[1564.68 --> 1565.76]  Would you pray with me?
[1569.98 --> 1570.76]  Father God,
[1570.76 --> 1571.72]  we thank You
[1571.72 --> 1572.66]  that You are a God
[1572.66 --> 1574.64]  who puts clearly
[1574.64 --> 1575.44]  before us
[1575.44 --> 1577.18]  light and dark,
[1577.46 --> 1578.12]  life and death.
[1579.14 --> 1579.34]  Lord,
[1579.42 --> 1580.50]  may we have the wisdom
[1580.50 --> 1581.46]  to surrender
[1581.46 --> 1582.70]  our agenda
[1582.70 --> 1583.36]  for Yours.
[1584.40 --> 1584.96]  May we have
[1584.96 --> 1585.84]  the wisdom
[1585.84 --> 1587.08]  and the humility
[1587.08 --> 1588.54]  to see we need
[1588.54 --> 1589.18]  a Savior,
[1590.30 --> 1592.30]  that You are the one
[1592.30 --> 1593.02]  who will come
[1593.02 --> 1594.82]  through Your death
[1594.82 --> 1595.54]  and resurrection
[1595.54 --> 1596.70]  to save us
[1596.70 --> 1597.60]  from the brokenness
[1597.60 --> 1598.16]  of sin
[1598.16 --> 1599.32]  and death
[1599.32 --> 1600.60]  and You will bring us
[1600.60 --> 1601.06]  into life
[1601.06 --> 1601.70]  in all its fullness.
[1602.18 --> 1602.36]  Lord,
[1602.42 --> 1603.08]  we praise You
[1603.08 --> 1603.46]  for that.
[1603.52 --> 1604.44]  We pray that we might
[1604.44 --> 1605.08]  find ways
[1605.08 --> 1606.40]  to share that gospel,
[1606.88 --> 1608.56]  not in intentionally
[1608.56 --> 1609.72]  confrontational ways,
[1609.94 --> 1611.02]  not to win an argument,
[1611.36 --> 1612.36]  but out of love
[1612.36 --> 1613.02]  for You,
[1613.34 --> 1614.22]  love for truth,
[1614.72 --> 1616.00]  and love for one another.
[1617.10 --> 1617.56]  So Lord,
[1617.64 --> 1618.34]  give us Your wisdom,
[1618.48 --> 1619.26]  give us Your strength.
[1619.46 --> 1620.02]  We pray this
[1620.02 --> 1620.90]  in the name of Jesus.
[1621.42 --> 1621.66]  Amen.
[1621.66 --> 1621.76]  Amen.
[1621.76 --> 1627.78]  Lord,
[1629.70 --> 1629.82]  please stand as we sing
[1629.82 --> 1629.84]  our song of response.
[1630.38 --> 1630.66]  Amen.
[1630.66 --> 1631.04]  Amen.
[1631.04 --> 1631.20]  Amen.
[1631.20 --> 1631.58]  Amen.
[1631.70 --> 1632.32]  Amen.