text
stringlengths
6
569
[5108.60 --> 5113.90] and I pray, I pray that you will make that your story this Christmas.
[5116.22 --> 5117.40] And if you do,
[5118.90 --> 5120.38] if you do,
[5121.82 --> 5122.30] oh boy,
[5122.68 --> 5126.06] that changes everything.
[5126.06 --> 5132.66] The truth of Christmas being God's climactic answer to sin in the world,
[5132.90 --> 5134.34] a world that He created,
[5134.92 --> 5138.70] and for the purpose of us being in perfect shalom,
[5138.92 --> 5140.22] fellowship, communion with Him,
[5140.52 --> 5146.00] a story that doesn't end until He returns and restores all things,
[5146.32 --> 5148.96] this truth changes everything,
[5149.08 --> 5150.26] not just about the future,
[5150.50 --> 5152.66] but about your life right now,
[5153.52 --> 5154.80] in this moment.
[5154.80 --> 5159.96] Not only are we saved from sin and restored in relationship to God,
[5160.20 --> 5162.84] which alone is enough to want to sing His praises.
[5164.66 --> 5165.06] Amen?
[5166.46 --> 5168.00] Oh, you guys are going to get there with me.
[5168.06 --> 5168.86] We're going to do it today, okay?
[5171.70 --> 5173.84] Even that is enough to sing His praises.
[5174.58 --> 5177.84] But, because this story changes everything right now,
[5177.84 --> 5181.12] it also changes what you do and how you do it.
[5181.18 --> 5182.98] And so, even now,
[5183.40 --> 5185.24] doing natural sciences
[5185.24 --> 5188.52] is imbued with a new and a glorious meaning.
[5189.20 --> 5189.72] Even now,
[5189.86 --> 5192.26] studying at university is for the glory of God
[5192.26 --> 5194.02] and for the revealing of His kingdom
[5194.02 --> 5197.22] and celebration of what God is doing in the world.
[5197.54 --> 5198.20] Even now,
[5198.36 --> 5202.02] writing code and designing the next leap in computer technology,
[5202.02 --> 5207.88] is changed when you see it as part of this grand story.
[5208.92 --> 5211.02] Growing plants and flowers,
[5211.46 --> 5214.26] cultivating the garden that is God's good creation,
[5214.42 --> 5216.82] is an act of kingdom service.
[5218.02 --> 5219.48] Even now,
[5219.62 --> 5221.46] your story is changed.
[5221.46 --> 5223.54] The truth is,
[5224.02 --> 5227.28] this nested Christmas story
[5227.28 --> 5230.18] that encapsulates the very beginning
[5230.18 --> 5231.84] all the way to the very end,
[5232.14 --> 5235.92] this Christmas story changes everything.
[5237.68 --> 5241.88] But only if you know it as part of the grander story.
[5243.72 --> 5246.60] And only if you find your place within it.
[5247.62 --> 5248.44] And so, this Christmas,
[5248.64 --> 5250.30] I pray you find your place
[5250.30 --> 5252.22] in the grander story.
[5252.36 --> 5253.78] And that in the grander story,
[5253.94 --> 5255.20] you might see
[5255.20 --> 5256.68] the grandeur
[5256.68 --> 5258.36] of Jesus.
[5259.20 --> 5259.52] Amen?
[5260.60 --> 5261.16] Amen.
[5261.66 --> 5262.40] Let's pray together.
[5267.26 --> 5268.20] Lord our God,
[5268.30 --> 5270.72] you are so good
[5270.72 --> 5271.60] to us.
[5272.70 --> 5273.92] May we see you,
[5274.16 --> 5275.00] God Emmanuel,
[5275.58 --> 5276.68] God with us
[5276.68 --> 5279.08] in the face of Jesus today.
[5279.08 --> 5280.50] and may our hearts'
[5281.14 --> 5282.56] longings be stirred
[5282.56 --> 5284.40] as we wait for the day
[5284.40 --> 5285.70] of your great return.
[5286.48 --> 5287.24] And until then,
[5287.42 --> 5287.80] Lord God,
[5287.90 --> 5289.08] may every aspect
[5289.08 --> 5290.22] of who we are
[5290.22 --> 5291.08] and what we do
[5291.08 --> 5292.74] be lived for you,
[5293.06 --> 5294.16] lived out of this
[5294.16 --> 5295.04] great,
[5295.44 --> 5296.78] grand story.
[5298.18 --> 5299.14] In you,
[5299.42 --> 5300.16] Lord God,
[5300.30 --> 5302.64] we find our purpose.
[5303.38 --> 5304.08] In you,
[5304.30 --> 5305.08] Lord Jesus,
[5305.30 --> 5307.38] we find our hope.
[5307.38 --> 5308.90] in you,
[5309.12 --> 5309.82] Lord Jesus,
[5309.82 --> 5311.44] we come to know
[5311.44 --> 5313.22] a new family.
[5314.50 --> 5316.36] You are the true
[5316.36 --> 5317.54] and better gift
[5317.54 --> 5319.22] and you have given us
[5319.22 --> 5320.86] a new family,
[5321.00 --> 5322.14] the bride of Christ,
[5322.28 --> 5323.84] the church of Jesus,
[5324.22 --> 5326.84] the family of God.
[5328.12 --> 5329.94] As part of this family,
[5330.06 --> 5331.24] by grace through faith,
[5331.42 --> 5332.58] we sing your praises
[5332.58 --> 5333.54] and we live
[5333.54 --> 5336.20] in praise of you.
[5337.62 --> 5338.38] Grant us that
[5338.38 --> 5339.20] this Christmas.
[5339.64 --> 5340.38] Open our eyes
[5340.38 --> 5341.12] to the truth