1 00:00:06,200 --> 00:00:11,120 We are going to continue our journey to the cross that will 2 00:00:11,120 --> 00:00:16,120 culminate on Good Friday and that is shockingly not long 3 00:00:16,120 --> 00:00:19,640 away. And we'll, we'll celebrate, 4 00:00:19,640 --> 00:00:21,680 remember? The historical reality that 5 00:00:21,680 --> 00:00:24,240 Jesus. Died on the cross for our sins 6 00:00:24,240 --> 00:00:27,800 and and we will continue to. Use the Gospel of Luke. 7 00:00:27,960 --> 00:00:29,760 As a road map. To get us there. 8 00:00:30,160 --> 00:00:33,640 And week by week, we've been looking at Jesus taking the 9 00:00:33,640 --> 00:00:36,280 journey with His. Disciples towards the Cross. 10 00:00:36,560 --> 00:00:40,480 And we'll do that again this week in Luke chapter 17. 11 00:00:41,000 --> 00:00:43,040 Luke chapter 17. We'll look at the 1st. 12 00:00:43,040 --> 00:00:45,000 Part of this chapter. Together as you're turning 13 00:00:45,000 --> 00:00:48,240 there, I will continue our series long tradition of asking 14 00:00:48,240 --> 00:00:51,640 you essentially A rhetorical question. 15 00:00:51,960 --> 00:00:55,520 And this morning I have maybe the mother of all rhetorical 16 00:00:55,520 --> 00:00:58,040 questions, a question that is meant to. 17 00:00:58,320 --> 00:01:00,520 To really just. Get the conversation started, 18 00:01:00,520 --> 00:01:02,200 but not to. At. 19 00:01:02,200 --> 00:01:07,120 All give actual time for dialogue or deep discussion and 20 00:01:07,120 --> 00:01:09,800 that question. That you've probably already 21 00:01:09,800 --> 00:01:11,800 heard. This morning maybe already asked 22 00:01:11,800 --> 00:01:17,240 someone is how are you doing? Is it not the question we ask in 23 00:01:17,240 --> 00:01:20,240 some ways not hoping for a response? 24 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:22,480 I mean, how many of? Us have asked how you. 25 00:01:22,480 --> 00:01:25,080 Doing And then there's that rare person that's like, I'm so. 26 00:01:25,080 --> 00:01:26,120 Glad you asked. You have a. 27 00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:29,960 Minute I want to actually tell you and we're like, no, we 28 00:01:29,960 --> 00:01:32,280 don't. We're only saying that in place 29 00:01:32,280 --> 00:01:37,480 of saying hello and how are you or or or good day and and in 30 00:01:37,480 --> 00:01:40,840 some ways that's, you know, just know the social graces in the 31 00:01:40,840 --> 00:01:42,200 etiquette of that. Phrase. 32 00:01:43,960 --> 00:01:48,880 And and yet I bring it up this morning because it can sometimes 33 00:01:48,880 --> 00:01:52,560 create in our hearts and our minds an aversion to the 34 00:01:52,560 --> 00:01:56,600 question when the question actually is going to be asked. 35 00:01:56,600 --> 00:01:58,720 Of your life. How are you doing? 36 00:01:59,400 --> 00:02:01,520 We all too. Often are like, well, that's not 37 00:02:01,520 --> 00:02:04,160 a question I'm actually even thinking about when we. 38 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:08,280 Study the words of. Jesus, and specifically this 39 00:02:08,280 --> 00:02:11,200 morning as we look at. This particular passage. 40 00:02:11,200 --> 00:02:15,240 In the teachings of Jesus, so often he is holding up his 41 00:02:15,240 --> 00:02:19,640 teachings like a mirror to our. Soul to ask us how we're 42 00:02:19,640 --> 00:02:22,360 actually. Doing when it comes when it 43 00:02:22,360 --> 00:02:27,160 comes to what it means to be His disciple for a number of our 44 00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:29,120 sermons in this series. We have. 45 00:02:29,120 --> 00:02:32,440 Looked at the teachings of. Jesus as directed to those who 46 00:02:32,440 --> 00:02:34,000 would be His. Opponents. 47 00:02:34,240 --> 00:02:36,320 To the religious people who were. 48 00:02:36,480 --> 00:02:38,360 Really just listening to his teachings. 49 00:02:38,600 --> 00:02:42,160 As a way to disqualify. Him watching his ministry. 50 00:02:42,160 --> 00:02:43,640 As a way to distrust. Him. 51 00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:47,240 But this morning, he will do what he has done before on this 52 00:02:47,240 --> 00:02:49,120 journey he's going to. Look at his disciples. 53 00:02:49,120 --> 00:02:52,800 And offer them specific teachings and as you read. 54 00:02:52,800 --> 00:02:54,760 This as we go through this together. 55 00:02:55,280 --> 00:02:57,840 What you'll notice. It's as though Jesus. 56 00:02:57,840 --> 00:03:00,640 Is holding up a mirror to our. Hearts and our lives. 57 00:03:00,640 --> 00:03:03,360 In following him. To ask us the question. 58 00:03:03,360 --> 00:03:06,240 Through his teachings. How are we actually? 59 00:03:06,240 --> 00:03:09,120 Doing when it comes to following Jesus. 60 00:03:09,680 --> 00:03:13,640 So the majority of this morning I hope would want to find 61 00:03:13,640 --> 00:03:16,600 ourselves in the category of disciple and not Pharisee. 62 00:03:17,000 --> 00:03:19,720 So we're going to ask. Through a a series of four 63 00:03:19,720 --> 00:03:21,640 specific. Moments in the teachings of 64 00:03:21,720 --> 00:03:23,400 Jesus. How are you doing? 65 00:03:24,400 --> 00:03:27,320 Others of you no doubt wouldn't put yourself in either. 66 00:03:27,320 --> 00:03:29,840 Pharisee or disciple? You may put yourself in the 67 00:03:29,840 --> 00:03:32,160 interested category or just visiting category. 68 00:03:32,680 --> 00:03:35,200 This is a great sermon for you as well so you would understand. 69 00:03:35,400 --> 00:03:40,400 What Jesus is actually looking? For which is often times 70 00:03:40,680 --> 00:03:42,960 something that people who are on the outside looking in. 71 00:03:43,560 --> 00:03:45,600 Actually have all sorts. Of wrong assumptions about. 72 00:03:46,280 --> 00:03:48,920 So this morning as we look at these teachings, I'm going to 73 00:03:48,920 --> 00:03:52,080 continually ask the question, how are you doing? 74 00:03:53,400 --> 00:03:55,200 How are we doing and following Jesus? 75 00:03:55,200 --> 00:03:59,520 This is the fundamental and primary question and my hope. 76 00:03:59,720 --> 00:04:03,120 Is that we would look to. Jesus in the measures he's. 77 00:04:03,200 --> 00:04:06,680 After. And not, as we often do, just 78 00:04:06,680 --> 00:04:08,960 give kind of the run-of-the-mill answer. 79 00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:12,880 How is your soul? How is your heart before God? 80 00:04:13,160 --> 00:04:17,839 How is your renewed mind in? Christ, how is your your desire 81 00:04:17,839 --> 00:04:20,399 to. Mature and to grow in the 82 00:04:20,399 --> 00:04:22,440 stature and nature of the person of. 83 00:04:22,480 --> 00:04:25,560 Jesus Christ as your Lord. And Savior and as you think 84 00:04:25,560 --> 00:04:28,960 about those challenges to help answer the questions we're going 85 00:04:28,960 --> 00:04:29,960 to. Look at Jesus. 86 00:04:30,360 --> 00:04:33,200 Offering the challenge. So how are you doing? 87 00:04:33,640 --> 00:04:34,840 Let's really talk. About it. 88 00:04:35,040 --> 00:04:37,000 Let's actually take some time to think about this. 89 00:04:37,440 --> 00:04:40,120 We're in. The Gospel of Luke chapter. 17 90 00:04:40,120 --> 00:04:43,160 We'll start in verse one then, he said. 91 00:04:43,720 --> 00:04:47,760 To the disciples the. Previous chapter and many 92 00:04:47,760 --> 00:04:50,720 chapters before this, he's been directing his teaching as though 93 00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:54,760 at those who are essentially missing the whole point of the 94 00:04:54,760 --> 00:04:57,960 journey to the cross. The cost of discipleship giving. 95 00:04:58,000 --> 00:04:59,360 Jesus. All of your love and. 96 00:04:59,360 --> 00:05:02,000 Devotion now as he's on the journey he's going to. 97 00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:04,160 Look at his. Disciples and offer them some. 98 00:05:04,160 --> 00:05:08,120 Very helpful. Teaching on what it means to 99 00:05:08,120 --> 00:05:11,400 follow Him, to be his disciple, to live in his Kingdom. 100 00:05:11,560 --> 00:05:15,240 To have a Christ like culture, he looks at his disciples. 101 00:05:15,600 --> 00:05:20,480 And he says this, It is impossible that no offenses 102 00:05:20,480 --> 00:05:24,880 should come, but woe to him through whom they do come. 103 00:05:26,240 --> 00:05:28,120 And then verse. Two, it would be better. 104 00:05:28,120 --> 00:05:32,600 For him, if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were 105 00:05:32,600 --> 00:05:36,960 thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these 106 00:05:37,480 --> 00:05:41,880 little ones. We'll start in the first section 107 00:05:41,880 --> 00:05:45,120 of his teachings. He's going to give his disciples 108 00:05:46,480 --> 00:05:49,720 A essentially a short teaching on sin. 109 00:05:50,800 --> 00:05:53,520 When he says it's impossible for offenses to come, other 110 00:05:53,520 --> 00:05:56,640 translations say it's impossible that temptations to sin won't 111 00:05:56,640 --> 00:06:00,600 come. In other words, sin is going. 112 00:06:00,720 --> 00:06:05,320 To happen this. Already on the onset is 113 00:06:05,320 --> 00:06:08,080 important that we are. Allowing Jesus to speak for. 114 00:06:08,080 --> 00:06:10,520 Himself, and not the assumptions that we want. 115 00:06:10,560 --> 00:06:13,120 Jesus to be. Or the reductionist culture. 116 00:06:13,120 --> 00:06:18,240 Of who Jesus is speaking. For him, Jesus is saying that 117 00:06:18,280 --> 00:06:22,080 even to his disciples, sin is going to be. 118 00:06:22,080 --> 00:06:26,920 Part of the. Journey don't be surprised that 119 00:06:26,920 --> 00:06:30,240 sin happens. I I would liken this to another 120 00:06:30,240 --> 00:06:33,480 warning of Jesus in the in the Gospel of John chapter 16 verse 121 00:06:33,480 --> 00:06:36,400 33, when he says in this world you'll have much trouble. 122 00:06:36,960 --> 00:06:40,360 It's good to remember that just following Jesus doesn't mean you 123 00:06:40,360 --> 00:06:43,520 get a free pass against the everyday trials of living on 124 00:06:43,520 --> 00:06:46,600 fallen earth. Now, in the same way, and maybe 125 00:06:46,600 --> 00:06:49,200 more importantly for our specific day and age in the 126 00:06:49,200 --> 00:06:54,760 Christian Church, Jesus is also helping us all not be surprised 127 00:06:54,760 --> 00:06:57,480 by another category that is unavoidable on fallen earth. 128 00:06:58,160 --> 00:07:00,880 Sin happens. Offense happens. 129 00:07:01,040 --> 00:07:03,440 And he is saying this to disciples. 130 00:07:03,520 --> 00:07:05,120 He's not saying you know you guys. 131 00:07:05,120 --> 00:07:06,560 Are going to be perfect the outside world. 132 00:07:06,560 --> 00:07:10,040 Is going to be hard. He's giving them the reminder 133 00:07:10,040 --> 00:07:12,880 that sin is going to be something they have to be so 134 00:07:12,880 --> 00:07:15,800 mindful not to. Be the. 135 00:07:15,800 --> 00:07:17,720 Source of in other people. 'S life. 136 00:07:17,720 --> 00:07:19,800 I like how. All of the different 137 00:07:19,800 --> 00:07:22,040 translations get at the main Greek. 138 00:07:22,040 --> 00:07:26,120 Word for this? Which is scandal on and you 139 00:07:26,120 --> 00:07:27,720 don't have to. Be a Greek scholar to hear the 140 00:07:27,720 --> 00:07:30,000 Greek. Word scandal on and how we get 141 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:36,120 our word scandal, Jesus says don't be surprised when scandal 142 00:07:36,280 --> 00:07:39,720 happens. Disciples this morning, the 143 00:07:39,720 --> 00:07:44,080 church, the community of believers, the Christian home 144 00:07:44,080 --> 00:07:47,960 that you are overseeing or that you're being raised in, don't be 145 00:07:47,960 --> 00:07:52,200 surprised when sin enters in. Jesus is going to give us a 146 00:07:52,240 --> 00:07:55,840 response to when sin happens. But there are. 147 00:07:55,840 --> 00:07:58,480 Far too many people that are probably not here this morning 148 00:07:58,480 --> 00:08:02,760 because they saw the scandal, the headline fallen leader. 149 00:08:02,840 --> 00:08:06,080 Hypocrisy of the Church the. Person they were sitting next to 150 00:08:06,080 --> 00:08:08,720 in, in, in, in the sanctuary and they look over and they think, 151 00:08:08,880 --> 00:08:10,520 wait, this person's a Sinner just like the. 152 00:08:10,520 --> 00:08:13,000 People at the bar. Well, not just like them, but 153 00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:16,120 they have their own issues. Don't be surprised when the 154 00:08:16,120 --> 00:08:18,640 scandal comes. And for those of you who are 155 00:08:18,640 --> 00:08:24,320 here, no doubt you didn't need me to tell you that scandal will 156 00:08:24,320 --> 00:08:27,640 sometimes test your discipleship in Christ. 157 00:08:28,880 --> 00:08:31,080 Anyone who's been around the church longer than a couple 158 00:08:31,080 --> 00:08:33,640 minutes knows. That the the church has. 159 00:08:33,640 --> 00:08:35,400 Headlines that can be very startling. 160 00:08:36,679 --> 00:08:38,520 It's heartbreaking when you hear of. 161 00:08:38,720 --> 00:08:39,559 The. Pastor. 162 00:08:39,559 --> 00:08:40,720 Author. Worship leader. 163 00:08:40,720 --> 00:08:41,840 Neighbor. Who? 164 00:08:41,840 --> 00:08:44,560 Was bearing the name of Christ and fell and I just want to 165 00:08:44,560 --> 00:08:48,760 encourage you this morning that when those times come, don't be 166 00:08:48,760 --> 00:08:54,200 surprised and look to. Jesus, because Jesus is very. 167 00:08:54,200 --> 00:08:59,040 Serious about the consequences that befall the person. 168 00:08:59,560 --> 00:09:02,120 Who is? Playing hard and fast. 169 00:09:02,120 --> 00:09:05,040 With the people of God, I'll read it to you. 170 00:09:05,040 --> 00:09:08,960 Once again for double emphasis. He says of that. 171 00:09:08,960 --> 00:09:13,760 Person It would be better if a millstone was tied around his 172 00:09:13,760 --> 00:09:16,320 neck and he was thrown into the sea. 173 00:09:16,320 --> 00:09:20,480 Maybe for our context, this would be a person who had a a 174 00:09:20,480 --> 00:09:23,600 giant rock tied to their neck and thrown into the lucky peak. 175 00:09:23,600 --> 00:09:27,320 Reservoir just to give it. A more geographical image of it 176 00:09:28,400 --> 00:09:30,480 once again. Jesus. 177 00:09:30,480 --> 00:09:35,520 Speaking for himself is not the. Hippie flower power. 178 00:09:35,520 --> 00:09:38,520 Do whatever you want, go forth, be nice, and choose your own 179 00:09:38,520 --> 00:09:40,440 adventure. Jesus. 180 00:09:40,440 --> 00:09:44,360 Time and time again only makes sense in so much as you 181 00:09:44,360 --> 00:09:48,720 understand that He is on a mission to eradicate sin in your 182 00:09:48,720 --> 00:09:51,280 life and in His Kingdom. When? 183 00:09:51,280 --> 00:09:55,000 You are upset that the Church shows itself to be. 184 00:09:55,000 --> 00:09:58,560 Part of the fallen nature of the world still being cleansed by 185 00:09:58,560 --> 00:10:01,120 the power of the Holy Spirit. Know that. 186 00:10:01,120 --> 00:10:04,600 Jesus is just as serious. And more so. 187 00:10:05,280 --> 00:10:08,360 About what the? Consequences should be when 188 00:10:08,360 --> 00:10:13,080 someone bearing the name of Christ causes someone else to 189 00:10:13,080 --> 00:10:17,120 stumble, and so lest we only think of. 190 00:10:17,120 --> 00:10:19,640 Those who have stumbled. Before us in the headline News 191 00:10:19,640 --> 00:10:22,000 of the 21st century. Church, he says. 192 00:10:22,120 --> 00:10:25,880 Woe to yourselves. Part of this message and holding 193 00:10:25,880 --> 00:10:28,200 up the mirror to our hearts and our minds. 194 00:10:28,440 --> 00:10:32,200 Jesus says woe to you. Any one of you? 195 00:10:32,440 --> 00:10:34,680 Who would play with the Gray area? 196 00:10:34,680 --> 00:10:38,480 Of what would be considered righteousness in the eyes of the 197 00:10:38,480 --> 00:10:40,480 Lord. To love God and. 198 00:10:40,480 --> 00:10:43,080 Love your neighbors yourself to have an understanding of the 199 00:10:43,080 --> 00:10:43,840 way. That God has. 200 00:10:43,840 --> 00:10:47,400 Designed man and woman and family and single person. 201 00:10:47,480 --> 00:10:50,480 How we're designed to live as light bearers in this world. 202 00:10:50,760 --> 00:10:53,200 Woe to anyone who would say. Did God really say that? 203 00:10:53,320 --> 00:10:55,320 Why don't me and you just come up with another plan? 204 00:10:57,360 --> 00:11:01,640 And so often one person's sin can drag other people in. 205 00:11:02,880 --> 00:11:06,120 Jesus says careful. When you play around with sin, 206 00:11:06,280 --> 00:11:10,720 lest you 'cause someone else to stumble and then. 207 00:11:10,720 --> 00:11:15,840 He says he's extremely serious about the justice of. 208 00:11:16,800 --> 00:11:19,600 Sin extremely serious of the consequences. 209 00:11:20,600 --> 00:11:23,000 That are placed. Upon the person who is 210 00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:28,160 responsible for that atomic nature of sin, and as extreme as 211 00:11:28,160 --> 00:11:31,800 he is in his justice, he is now going to challenge all of us 212 00:11:31,800 --> 00:11:33,520 again. Because he is just as. 213 00:11:33,520 --> 00:11:37,000 Extreme in his forgiveness. Look what it says in. 214 00:11:37,000 --> 00:11:38,520 Verse. Three, take heed to yourselves. 215 00:11:39,520 --> 00:11:43,720 If your brother sins against you now, you are the one reading the 216 00:11:43,720 --> 00:11:46,480 headline. You are the one getting the the 217 00:11:46,480 --> 00:11:50,480 bad news or watching the sin unfold and it is affecting you 218 00:11:50,480 --> 00:11:54,480 personally. It has shaken your faith, It has 219 00:11:54,480 --> 00:11:57,760 broken your heart. It has hurt your mind. 220 00:11:57,960 --> 00:12:02,520 Sin has damaging effects not just between you and God, but 221 00:12:02,520 --> 00:12:04,880 between you and others. And when it hits you, Jesus 222 00:12:05,880 --> 00:12:09,400 says, here's the mirror. How are you doing in the way you 223 00:12:09,400 --> 00:12:12,280 respond when you're the one offended? 224 00:12:13,480 --> 00:12:16,400 Oh, that we might be different than the culture of offense that 225 00:12:16,400 --> 00:12:18,840 we live in. We live in a culture that if 226 00:12:18,840 --> 00:12:21,680 you've been offended against, if you are the victim, if you are 227 00:12:21,680 --> 00:12:24,800 the person who has can rightfully say you wronged me, 228 00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:27,960 all of a sudden you become, you know, the master of everyone's 229 00:12:27,960 --> 00:12:31,480 fate. But not so in Jesus Kingdom, he 230 00:12:31,480 --> 00:12:33,120 said. Take heed if your brother. 231 00:12:33,120 --> 00:12:39,400 Sins against you rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him in 232 00:12:39,400 --> 00:12:40,000 other. Words. 233 00:12:40,160 --> 00:12:42,720 Disciples of Christ. Are going to look markedly 234 00:12:42,720 --> 00:12:46,360 different because of not how they are. 235 00:12:46,360 --> 00:12:51,520 Perfect, but how they? Respond to imperfections and 236 00:12:51,520 --> 00:12:52,320 here's. The goal? 237 00:12:53,320 --> 00:12:56,560 Some of you are like, Pastor, you're finally preaching on my 238 00:12:56,560 --> 00:12:58,600 favorite. Verse of the Bible I have always 239 00:12:58,600 --> 00:13:02,880 loved the call to rebuke others the. 240 00:13:02,880 --> 00:13:05,240 Children of faith are no different than the children of 241 00:13:05,240 --> 00:13:08,160 the household and I've got enough kids where I I can see 242 00:13:08,160 --> 00:13:09,480 all the demographics playing out. 243 00:13:09,480 --> 00:13:14,360 I have a child who absolutely loves to rebuke and report of 244 00:13:14,360 --> 00:13:17,160 other people. 'S sin comes very naturally to 245 00:13:17,160 --> 00:13:21,760 her. This is not a verse that I want. 246 00:13:22,200 --> 00:13:25,080 To use for our church to. Set up the sin police. 247 00:13:25,760 --> 00:13:28,320 Because right out the gate. Jesus is making it very narrow. 248 00:13:28,520 --> 00:13:31,480 He said take heed yourselves if your brother. 249 00:13:31,560 --> 00:13:34,400 Sins against you, meaning there is a relationship within the 250 00:13:34,400 --> 00:13:39,960 family of Christ that is 1 to 1. This is helping us remove sin 251 00:13:39,960 --> 00:13:41,920 turning into gossip about someone else. 252 00:13:41,920 --> 00:13:45,720 This is helping us remove into remove the heresy hounds that 253 00:13:45,720 --> 00:13:48,480 are always pointing against people they don't really know 254 00:13:48,480 --> 00:13:51,040 and it doesn't affect them but they love to talk about the sin 255 00:13:51,040 --> 00:13:53,960 of others. This says if someone sins 256 00:13:53,960 --> 00:13:58,720 against you, you go to them and you rebuke them. 257 00:13:59,960 --> 00:14:03,720 And this once again I remind you Jesus never contradicts himself. 258 00:14:04,040 --> 00:14:07,880 He wants us to radically love one another and rebuke is one of 259 00:14:07,880 --> 00:14:09,240 the. Ways that we radically love. 260 00:14:09,240 --> 00:14:12,640 One another we we encourage one another to. 261 00:14:12,640 --> 00:14:15,880 See the fault to see the hurt. And the. 262 00:14:15,880 --> 00:14:17,760 Goal of all of this. Is not the. 263 00:14:17,760 --> 00:14:19,480 Rebuke. It's the. 264 00:14:19,480 --> 00:14:23,560 Repentance and the forgiveness, the end of all. 265 00:14:23,560 --> 00:14:25,880 Of this is that. Someone would see what they've 266 00:14:25,880 --> 00:14:30,000 done and they would turn as to not have sin and bitterness 267 00:14:30,000 --> 00:14:32,080 grow, and then forgiveness would happen. 268 00:14:32,080 --> 00:14:35,840 And when that happens, love keeps no record of wrong. 269 00:14:36,600 --> 00:14:39,320 When forgiveness happens, we get to remove it and move on. 270 00:14:40,400 --> 00:14:44,720 And this is the great challenge of following Jesus. 271 00:14:45,480 --> 00:14:47,720 This is the most fundamental message. 272 00:14:47,720 --> 00:14:49,640 Of the gospel is that God offers. 273 00:14:49,640 --> 00:14:53,120 Forgiveness, and he offers it, often times through you. 274 00:14:53,640 --> 00:14:57,120 This is. Christianity one O 1, and it is 275 00:14:57,120 --> 00:14:59,720 in fact Christianity four O 1. This is your doctorate. 276 00:14:59,720 --> 00:15:02,040 Program as well. Because you enter. 277 00:15:02,040 --> 00:15:04,880 The Kingdom in the radical forgiveness of God and he says 278 00:15:05,040 --> 00:15:08,520 if you want to be forgiven, you must forgive and then you spend 279 00:15:08,520 --> 00:15:10,240 the. Rest of your life practicing. 280 00:15:10,240 --> 00:15:13,840 This and allowing this to be one of the measures of how you're 281 00:15:13,840 --> 00:15:16,920 doing, CS Lewis says. No man knows. 282 00:15:16,920 --> 00:15:19,440 How bad he is till he tries very hard to be good. 283 00:15:20,960 --> 00:15:24,040 If you want to humble yourself and see exactly how much you 284 00:15:24,040 --> 00:15:26,200 need the grace of God in your life, try. 285 00:15:26,200 --> 00:15:28,800 Very hard to be good. Try very hard to be a just an 286 00:15:28,800 --> 00:15:31,920 extra forgiving person. I thought I was one of the most 287 00:15:31,920 --> 00:15:34,440 chill and laid back person ever until I got married. 288 00:15:35,880 --> 00:15:39,760 Because we all do pretty good. When it's just a self inventory 289 00:15:39,760 --> 00:15:41,880 of how we're doing. But when you add people into the 290 00:15:41,880 --> 00:15:45,160 mix, namely someone you have to spend the rest of your life with 291 00:15:45,160 --> 00:15:47,720 and work out every problem towards forgiveness, you realize 292 00:15:48,200 --> 00:15:49,720 I'm going to need some help in this regard. 293 00:15:52,280 --> 00:15:55,520 And this is another challenge in the. 294 00:15:55,520 --> 00:15:59,160 Discipleship of Christ is that. If any of you have gotten this 295 00:15:59,160 --> 00:16:01,880 far in the message and thought, I love this, I'm good at this, I 296 00:16:01,880 --> 00:16:05,440 can't wait to practice this, I want you to know that Jesus is 297 00:16:05,440 --> 00:16:09,400 not trying to give any of us just a encouragement to what 298 00:16:09,400 --> 00:16:13,240 you're already doing. Because as always, look for this 299 00:16:13,240 --> 00:16:14,960 as you're. Studying the teachings of Jesus, 300 00:16:15,200 --> 00:16:16,720 He wants you to. Take a bar that. 301 00:16:16,720 --> 00:16:20,040 You can agree would be good. Forgiveness is a a a moral value 302 00:16:20,040 --> 00:16:21,640 that all of us probably want to celebrate. 303 00:16:21,880 --> 00:16:23,200 And then he wants to raise the SO. 304 00:16:23,360 --> 00:16:24,880 The bar so. High that you could never. 305 00:16:24,880 --> 00:16:27,800 Be a self-righteous. Person who thinks you can do it 306 00:16:27,800 --> 00:16:29,440 on your own, look what he says in the next verse. 307 00:16:31,280 --> 00:16:35,440 And if he sins against you, this is the person that has offended 308 00:16:35,440 --> 00:16:39,400 you, who's stumbled your faith. Who has caused? 309 00:16:39,400 --> 00:16:41,600 Temptation to enter. Your Life, verse 4. 310 00:16:42,120 --> 00:16:46,240 If he sins against you 7 times in a day and seven times in a 311 00:16:46,240 --> 00:16:51,160 day returns to you saying I repent, you shall tell him his 312 00:16:51,160 --> 00:16:54,680 repentance wasn't real. It's actually not what it says. 313 00:16:54,680 --> 00:16:57,440 That's what we want it to say. Because that's what we say. 314 00:16:58,440 --> 00:17:01,160 Hey brother, you've done this six times already today and the 315 00:17:01,160 --> 00:17:04,200 7th time I think I'm running out of the the understanding of how 316 00:17:04,200 --> 00:17:08,800 this whole thing works. Remember, this number is 317 00:17:09,440 --> 00:17:13,000 recalling another moment where Peter, in thinking through 318 00:17:13,000 --> 00:17:16,200 forgiveness, trying his. Best to offer his best. 319 00:17:16,200 --> 00:17:18,319 Version of his own. Power to forgive says. 320 00:17:18,520 --> 00:17:21,920 How often shall I forgive my brother, Lord? 321 00:17:22,040 --> 00:17:27,240 Up to seven. He says 770 * 7 and that isn't 322 00:17:27,240 --> 00:17:29,400 to say 490. That's to say lose count. 323 00:17:30,640 --> 00:17:33,320 That's to say, stop. Thinking there's a limit to 324 00:17:33,320 --> 00:17:36,960 forgiveness and I have to admit. To you as I was. 325 00:17:36,960 --> 00:17:40,920 Reading this last challenge that there's someone in my life that 326 00:17:40,920 --> 00:17:44,560 might sin against me 7 times in one single day and continually 327 00:17:44,560 --> 00:17:48,280 come back and my answer is not I think you need professional 328 00:17:48,280 --> 00:17:49,880 help. Let's talk when you get out. 329 00:17:50,920 --> 00:17:53,440 The answer is let's keep going. Let's you, you're, you're, 330 00:17:53,440 --> 00:17:55,800 you're sinning, but you're, you're, you're repenting and I'm 331 00:17:55,800 --> 00:18:00,200 going to keep forgiving. In my mind I was thinking of 332 00:18:00,200 --> 00:18:03,880 some serial Sinner. Who? 333 00:18:03,920 --> 00:18:08,320 Is just taking advantage of the system and isn't really trying 334 00:18:08,320 --> 00:18:13,800 to get better. And then I realized that this is 335 00:18:13,800 --> 00:18:19,600 describing me if we understand that the source of forgiveness 336 00:18:19,600 --> 00:18:21,560 is not you, but. God. 337 00:18:22,480 --> 00:18:25,840 Who among you this morning read this and thought not of your 338 00:18:25,840 --> 00:18:27,200 crazy uncle at Thanksgiving, but. 339 00:18:27,200 --> 00:18:31,160 You thought of yourself. Who among you think you're gonna 340 00:18:31,160 --> 00:18:36,560 sin less than 7 times today? If you actually were honest with 341 00:18:36,560 --> 00:18:38,880 yourself, I think 7 would be a pretty good number. 342 00:18:39,440 --> 00:18:41,440 I actually would have taken 7 if it was offered. 343 00:18:41,800 --> 00:18:44,440 To. To to sum up sin, it is the 344 00:18:44,440 --> 00:18:48,160 violation of the perfect love of God, loving Him with every ounce 345 00:18:48,160 --> 00:18:50,280 of your being and every intention of your heart, and 346 00:18:50,280 --> 00:18:52,080 loving your neighbor as yourself and. 347 00:18:52,880 --> 00:18:57,080 We all. Feel at that all the time Jesus 348 00:18:57,080 --> 00:19:00,600 is showing us a portrait of. Where this all starts for. 349 00:19:00,600 --> 00:19:03,240 Us to understand the power of how. 350 00:19:03,240 --> 00:19:07,440 We could possibly forgive. Seven someone 7 times we must. 351 00:19:07,440 --> 00:19:10,200 First, start with our. Own need to be forgiven all day 352 00:19:10,200 --> 00:19:14,800 long I wake up and I'm so glad for the verse that his mercies 353 00:19:14,800 --> 00:19:17,120 are new everyday standing under the. 354 00:19:17,120 --> 00:19:20,080 Grace of God. Knowing that where my sin 355 00:19:20,080 --> 00:19:23,040 abounds and all of my imperfections that will haunt me 356 00:19:23,040 --> 00:19:26,640 from AM to PM, His grace abounds more. 357 00:19:27,800 --> 00:19:31,520 And if I'm being challenged to forgive others, I'm also being 358 00:19:31,520 --> 00:19:35,080 challenged to receive the forgiveness that comes from the 359 00:19:35,080 --> 00:19:36,800 infinite. Source of God's. 360 00:19:36,800 --> 00:19:41,240 Grace in my life. So we asked the question, how 361 00:19:41,240 --> 00:19:46,200 are you doing? Not by your church attendance 362 00:19:46,720 --> 00:19:49,200 and how often you're listening to Christian radio and not 363 00:19:49,200 --> 00:19:52,080 secular music. How often you leave the 364 00:19:52,080 --> 00:19:55,040 sanctuary and go to the volunteer meeting to do all of 365 00:19:55,040 --> 00:19:58,360 the great things that come. As the overflow of your. 366 00:19:58,360 --> 00:20:02,400 Devotion to God, but how are you actually doing if the measure 367 00:20:02,400 --> 00:20:04,960 of. Your discipleship with Christ 368 00:20:05,160 --> 00:20:07,680 is. How much you understand the need 369 00:20:07,680 --> 00:20:09,360 you have for forgiveness and how? 370 00:20:09,360 --> 00:20:16,240 Freely you give it. How are we doing with love 371 00:20:17,040 --> 00:20:25,080 measured by forgiveness? That's the first Test, and the 372 00:20:25,080 --> 00:20:30,440 response that we now look at should be the natural response 373 00:20:30,440 --> 00:20:34,000 of anyone who's listening thus far in the very next. 374 00:20:34,000 --> 00:20:40,720 Verse Verse 5 The apostles. Respond to such a teaching and 375 00:20:40,720 --> 00:20:46,760 say increase our faith anyone who. 376 00:20:46,760 --> 00:20:53,240 Hears Jesus actually teach. On what he is requiring of you. 377 00:20:53,480 --> 00:20:56,600 To live as a disciple. In community with one another. 378 00:20:56,760 --> 00:21:00,240 To forgive. And repent and confess all the 379 00:21:00,240 --> 00:21:04,080 time, and you take it. To your heart you would. 380 00:21:04,080 --> 00:21:06,240 Realize the only way. I could ever do this. 381 00:21:06,360 --> 00:21:09,080 Is if God grants me the. Faith to do this. 382 00:21:13,440 --> 00:21:18,320 And when we think about. The way this whole. 383 00:21:18,320 --> 00:21:21,320 Conversation started. Don't be surprised when the 384 00:21:21,320 --> 00:21:25,200 scandal comes. I can't help but think of. 385 00:21:25,200 --> 00:21:28,880 The Church age we. Live in, you know, 15 years. 386 00:21:28,880 --> 00:21:32,360 Ago there was what was. Called the new atheism movement 387 00:21:33,080 --> 00:21:35,840 and there were the four horsemen of the atheist movement that 388 00:21:35,840 --> 00:21:40,320 were challenging all the intellectual positions of theism 389 00:21:40,320 --> 00:21:43,440 and the Christian faith and what it meant to. 390 00:21:43,440 --> 00:21:46,960 Follow Jesus. And there was, you know. 391 00:21:48,000 --> 00:21:51,200 A A A a big. Fear that somehow the 392 00:21:51,480 --> 00:21:54,200 intellectual attacks on the church we're going to cause all 393 00:21:54,200 --> 00:21:57,600 of these people to eventually. Lose their faith. 394 00:21:58,680 --> 00:22:01,720 And the reality is no doubt some people have been challenged in 395 00:22:01,720 --> 00:22:05,680 that way, but for the most part the the New Atheists have died 396 00:22:05,680 --> 00:22:10,360 out most. People are still longing for. 397 00:22:12,080 --> 00:22:15,840 What is known to to be the? The reality of. 398 00:22:16,600 --> 00:22:18,000 Being made by. A creator to have a. 399 00:22:18,000 --> 00:22:22,760 Relationship with him if we actually wanted to find the. 400 00:22:22,760 --> 00:22:25,200 Real. Source of why so many people 401 00:22:25,840 --> 00:22:27,800 have been shipwrecked in the faith. 402 00:22:28,720 --> 00:22:31,920 It would be. That scandal hit their hearts 403 00:22:32,680 --> 00:22:37,000 that someone did fail them in the name of Christianity and 404 00:22:37,000 --> 00:22:40,760 they were so heartbroken. That it shattered their faith. 405 00:22:43,040 --> 00:22:45,680 And This is why in the conversation of offering 406 00:22:45,680 --> 00:22:50,560 forgiveness and overcoming this pain, this this valid pain, a 407 00:22:50,560 --> 00:22:52,520 pain that is so real from the offense of. 408 00:22:52,520 --> 00:22:54,600 Others that Jesus. Deals with it with a millstone 409 00:22:54,760 --> 00:22:55,640 it's. Real. 410 00:22:56,120 --> 00:23:00,160 But the only way to overcome it is to say, Lord, I need faith. 411 00:23:02,200 --> 00:23:06,000 The leadership has failed me. The church seems foggy and murky 412 00:23:06,440 --> 00:23:09,000 and and rather than just throw my hands up in the air and say 413 00:23:09,000 --> 00:23:11,920 it was all alive, the the only hope the reason you're still 414 00:23:11,920 --> 00:23:13,680 here. Is because there's a measure. 415 00:23:13,680 --> 00:23:17,920 Of faith that looks beyond the system on to the Savior. 416 00:23:19,320 --> 00:23:22,160 The apostles heard this. Message and they said we're 417 00:23:22,160 --> 00:23:24,640 going to need more faith if we're going to have the. 418 00:23:24,640 --> 00:23:30,160 Power to forgive. And the Lord in the good news 419 00:23:30,160 --> 00:23:32,920 and the grace of God this morning and in that moment. 420 00:23:32,920 --> 00:23:37,760 Said you got it. It is faith that will. 421 00:23:37,880 --> 00:23:42,880 Keep you following Jesus and it is faith that is freely given 422 00:23:42,880 --> 00:23:44,120 for anyone who asks. Look what? 423 00:23:44,120 --> 00:23:46,880 Jesus says if you have. Faith as a mustard seed. 424 00:23:46,880 --> 00:23:50,040 You can say to this Mulberry. Tree be pulled up by the. 425 00:23:50,040 --> 00:23:52,120 Roots and be planted into the sea and it. 426 00:23:52,120 --> 00:23:57,040 Will obey you. Jesus is giving imagery of a 427 00:23:57,040 --> 00:24:01,240 Mulberry tree, which in that day, in that, in that region, we 428 00:24:01,240 --> 00:24:04,440 wouldn't know this, but it was one of those invasive plants 429 00:24:04,440 --> 00:24:06,720 that had a root system that just dug deep, and they were. 430 00:24:06,720 --> 00:24:10,160 So hard to get out, he said. With just a little bit of. 431 00:24:10,160 --> 00:24:14,280 Faith you can uproot that tree and get all of those. 432 00:24:14,280 --> 00:24:16,600 Roots out. And throw it into the sea. 433 00:24:17,720 --> 00:24:20,280 And I want you to think about that when it comes to the image 434 00:24:20,280 --> 00:24:24,600 of sin. Sin is like an invasive plant 435 00:24:25,080 --> 00:24:28,480 that goes into the community of Christ and has root systems that 436 00:24:28,480 --> 00:24:30,040 seem. Impossible to pull out. 437 00:24:30,200 --> 00:24:34,280 And it feels like it can never be dealt with but in the same 438 00:24:34,280 --> 00:24:35,680 way. That that tree can be. 439 00:24:35,680 --> 00:24:37,480 Thrown out. Look what the the word says 440 00:24:37,480 --> 00:24:40,360 about sin says in Micah Chapter 7. 441 00:24:40,760 --> 00:24:44,760 He will have compassion on us. He will subdue our iniquities. 442 00:24:45,040 --> 00:24:47,360 God will cast out our. Sins into the. 443 00:24:47,360 --> 00:24:51,040 Depths of the sea. Jesus is using imagery. 444 00:24:51,040 --> 00:24:54,080 To give the this beautiful picture that if you have a 445 00:24:54,080 --> 00:24:56,280 little bit of. Faith in God's power to forgive. 446 00:24:56,480 --> 00:24:59,240 There's no offense too big that can't be thrown out. 447 00:25:01,200 --> 00:25:03,920 There's nothing that a little bit of faith can't uproot and 448 00:25:03,920 --> 00:25:06,440 cleanse your heart and renew your mind and God can heal you 449 00:25:08,800 --> 00:25:10,520 and so. Here's the the picture we've. 450 00:25:10,520 --> 00:25:12,840 Seen the? Picture before he says faith. 451 00:25:13,560 --> 00:25:17,520 As a mustard seed and there are two things that that help us 452 00:25:17,520 --> 00:25:22,120 understand what kind of faith Jesus is requiring for us. 453 00:25:22,120 --> 00:25:23,640 To. Have the kind of. 454 00:25:23,640 --> 00:25:26,840 Faith that pursues Jesus. In spite of all the offense 455 00:25:27,520 --> 00:25:30,160 first. He says this in Matthew 17. 456 00:25:30,600 --> 00:25:31,440 A mustard. Seed it. 457 00:25:31,760 --> 00:25:33,280 It starts so. Small. 458 00:25:34,280 --> 00:25:36,920 It it it is rightfully. A seed. 459 00:25:36,920 --> 00:25:39,720 It's tiny. You you don't need today. 460 00:25:39,720 --> 00:25:42,280 To have faith that would. You know. 461 00:25:42,440 --> 00:25:44,960 Have you pick up? Couple stones and defeat a 462 00:25:44,960 --> 00:25:48,440 giant. Often times we think of faith as 463 00:25:48,760 --> 00:25:50,760 you know, I'm going to sell everything and move across the 464 00:25:50,760 --> 00:25:51,560 country. I'm going to. 465 00:25:51,760 --> 00:25:53,720 I'm going to trust. God that with the power that 466 00:25:54,080 --> 00:25:56,280 Jesus rose, people. From the grave I can heal an 467 00:25:56,280 --> 00:25:59,680 infirmity and all those things are are are real and God 468 00:25:59,680 --> 00:26:02,560 glorifying uses of faith but. Jesus says if you just have a 469 00:26:02,560 --> 00:26:03,480 little. Faith. 470 00:26:04,440 --> 00:26:07,680 Like a mustard seed. You have enough to uproot the 471 00:26:07,680 --> 00:26:12,840 Mulberry tree, and that's an encouragement to me because I 472 00:26:12,840 --> 00:26:16,400 know that my faith at times is so small. 473 00:26:18,240 --> 00:26:20,160 But one commentary. Said it's better to have. 474 00:26:20,160 --> 00:26:24,120 Small faith on thick ice than big faith on thin ice. 475 00:26:25,440 --> 00:26:32,280 If you can get enough little faith on the sturdy foundation 476 00:26:32,280 --> 00:26:34,320 of Christ, you have enough to survive. 477 00:26:36,440 --> 00:26:39,520 And so, you know, let's think about how that would look in, 478 00:26:39,520 --> 00:26:41,160 in, in everything we've discussed. 479 00:26:41,440 --> 00:26:45,600 To have a a little. Faith in the power of Jesus to 480 00:26:45,680 --> 00:26:48,080 overcome the grave, and he's coming again. 481 00:26:48,080 --> 00:26:51,880 Just a little faith in that. That's so much better than big 482 00:26:51,880 --> 00:26:55,480 faith in pastors and worship leaders in church. 483 00:26:56,920 --> 00:27:00,960 You know, I think we sadly have gotten it backwards at times as 484 00:27:00,960 --> 00:27:03,000 the scandal comes and the pastor falls. 485 00:27:03,000 --> 00:27:05,240 And we thought I kind of went all in on that guy. 486 00:27:06,320 --> 00:27:08,520 Go all in on. Jesus with a little faith. 487 00:27:09,080 --> 00:27:13,040 And it's a foundation that will never be broken. 488 00:27:15,080 --> 00:27:20,360 Have a a little bit of faith. In the power of prayer that God 489 00:27:20,360 --> 00:27:24,200 can do more in just a few moments of genuine confession 490 00:27:24,200 --> 00:27:27,200 before Him than you can do entire lifetime is better than 491 00:27:27,200 --> 00:27:31,800 having a lot of faith in your own plans and maybe the. 492 00:27:31,800 --> 00:27:35,480 Purposes of this. This analogy for those who are 493 00:27:35,480 --> 00:27:37,560 trying to forgive and to love and to live in. 494 00:27:37,560 --> 00:27:40,800 Discipleship have a little. Bit of faith in the grace of 495 00:27:40,800 --> 00:27:42,560 God. It is so much better than a lot 496 00:27:42,560 --> 00:27:47,440 of faith in your own goodness. Just a little. 497 00:27:47,440 --> 00:27:49,320 Faith. I don't know. 498 00:27:49,320 --> 00:27:52,840 Fully as your pastor I. Spent my my life studying the 499 00:27:52,840 --> 00:27:53,640 Bible. I don't know. 500 00:27:53,640 --> 00:27:59,480 Exactly how the cross works. I know that he who knew no sin 501 00:27:59,480 --> 00:28:02,240 hung on the cross for my sin, and I get the righteousness of 502 00:28:02,240 --> 00:28:04,440 God and the exact mechanics of that. 503 00:28:04,440 --> 00:28:07,600 I cannot wait to see when I get to eternity, but right now I 504 00:28:07,600 --> 00:28:08,840 just. Say Lord, I believe. 505 00:28:08,960 --> 00:28:12,280 Help my unbelief. A little bit of faith in God's 506 00:28:12,560 --> 00:28:15,560 power to forgive your sins will give you so much. 507 00:28:15,560 --> 00:28:20,680 Power to love others. And and down the line in in this 508 00:28:20,680 --> 00:28:22,320 whole. Workshop of of. 509 00:28:22,320 --> 00:28:24,720 Forgiveness and rebuke and confession just put a. 510 00:28:24,720 --> 00:28:26,960 Little bit of. Faith in your good standing with 511 00:28:26,960 --> 00:28:29,840 God this morning. I know there's so many people 512 00:28:29,840 --> 00:28:31,760 that struggle. Does God still love? 513 00:28:31,760 --> 00:28:33,000 Me. Does he even like me? 514 00:28:33,680 --> 00:28:36,120 The Bible says there's no condemnation for those who are 515 00:28:36,120 --> 00:28:38,520 in Christ. Jesus, you take that Bible verse 516 00:28:38,520 --> 00:28:39,640 and you hold. It in your heart. 517 00:28:39,880 --> 00:28:41,560 You say, Lord, I don't. Fully understand it but I 518 00:28:41,560 --> 00:28:44,280 believe it and you will have enough faith to move mountains 519 00:28:44,280 --> 00:28:50,280 in following Jesus with all of these things. 520 00:28:51,960 --> 00:28:58,000 Jesus once again says this is the mirror we we have lived in a 521 00:28:58,000 --> 00:29:01,440 church age that has made so many things the answer to how you 522 00:29:01,440 --> 00:29:04,680 doing if you have. A little bit of faith. 523 00:29:04,680 --> 00:29:10,160 That is growing. Well done If you come here, not 524 00:29:10,160 --> 00:29:13,440 just listen to a sermon and say I went to church and now I get 525 00:29:13,440 --> 00:29:16,560 to live my life, but just a. Little bit of faith that God has 526 00:29:16,560 --> 00:29:19,120 brought you here to speak. To you as a plan for your life 527 00:29:19,120 --> 00:29:20,640 and. Jesus is your Good Shepherd. 528 00:29:20,640 --> 00:29:23,360 And the Holy Spirit will empower you to do everything He's called 529 00:29:23,360 --> 00:29:24,360 you. To a little bit of. 530 00:29:24,360 --> 00:29:26,720 Faith in that is worth 1000 Sundays. 531 00:29:29,240 --> 00:29:33,320 So how are we doing when it comes to living faith? 532 00:29:35,200 --> 00:29:37,440 The seed is small and the seed spreads. 533 00:29:37,880 --> 00:29:42,000 And now we'll come to just. Very quickly, two stories that I 534 00:29:42,680 --> 00:29:45,160 I hope will give us. Another measure. 535 00:29:45,560 --> 00:29:48,120 Of what Jesus is really. After in our hearts and minds. 536 00:29:48,120 --> 00:29:50,200 The 1st is in verse 7. He says. 537 00:29:50,200 --> 00:29:52,440 Which of you? Having a servant plowing or 538 00:29:52,440 --> 00:29:54,960 tending. Sheep will say to. 539 00:29:54,960 --> 00:29:57,680 Him, when he has come in from the field, come at once, sit 540 00:29:57,680 --> 00:29:58,880 down and eat. Now this. 541 00:29:58,880 --> 00:30:01,520 Is supposed to be absurd. On its first read, there's 542 00:30:01,520 --> 00:30:04,800 someone who who has an estate and there's someone who's a 543 00:30:04,800 --> 00:30:07,160 shepherd working for him. Or he's there's a farmer that 544 00:30:07,160 --> 00:30:10,320 works for him. He says, if the person out in 545 00:30:10,320 --> 00:30:14,000 the field is done with his work, would the master of the estate 546 00:30:14,000 --> 00:30:16,000 actually say, I've been waiting for you to come in, let me feed 547 00:30:16,000 --> 00:30:18,520 you? No. 548 00:30:18,560 --> 00:30:22,240 Verse 8. But will the master not rather 549 00:30:22,240 --> 00:30:27,440 say to him, the servant, prepare something for my supper and gird 550 00:30:27,440 --> 00:30:29,720 yourself up and serve me till I've eaten and drunk? 551 00:30:29,960 --> 00:30:33,320 And afterward you can go ahead and eat and drink and go to bed. 552 00:30:36,200 --> 00:30:38,920 Anyone listening to Jesus in the 1st century? 553 00:30:39,040 --> 00:30:43,040 Would have had a clear. Reference point to the Master 554 00:30:43,040 --> 00:30:45,360 servant relationship. That was everywhere. 555 00:30:45,360 --> 00:30:50,760 Present in the Roman Empire that the master is the person that 556 00:30:50,760 --> 00:30:53,760 the servant works for and anything he does. 557 00:30:54,960 --> 00:30:58,720 Is his job to do this? Is. 558 00:30:59,840 --> 00:31:02,840 You know, as we continue our series and in looking for the 559 00:31:02,840 --> 00:31:06,000 hard sayings of Jesus, let me. Assure you that Jesus. 560 00:31:06,000 --> 00:31:09,560 Will cut the grain against the grain because one of the great 561 00:31:09,560 --> 00:31:12,240 metaphors. He uses for discipleship is. 562 00:31:12,240 --> 00:31:16,920 Master Servant. He is the Lord. 563 00:31:17,960 --> 00:31:22,000 And you are the servant. And this analogy is him trying 564 00:31:22,000 --> 00:31:26,480 to help all of us understand what we're actually do by 565 00:31:26,480 --> 00:31:30,000 serving him says, if you know how masters and servants work, 566 00:31:30,880 --> 00:31:33,120 the master tells him what to do and the servant does it. 567 00:31:33,680 --> 00:31:38,720 And that's that in verse 9. Again, watch the the teachings 568 00:31:38,720 --> 00:31:40,800 escalate. Verse 9, does he thank that 569 00:31:40,800 --> 00:31:42,800 servant because he did the things that were commanded him? 570 00:31:42,800 --> 00:31:46,760 I think not. OK, I can again, let's appeal to 571 00:31:46,760 --> 00:31:48,640 the parents, children, appeal to your own parents. 572 00:31:50,080 --> 00:31:52,120 There are certain household duties. 573 00:31:52,120 --> 00:31:56,400 That are just part of. Living in the household, my kids 574 00:31:56,520 --> 00:32:01,120 have to make their beds. And when they make their beds, I 575 00:32:01,120 --> 00:32:02,600 don't say. Thank you so much. 576 00:32:02,600 --> 00:32:04,640 You really saved me. I had that on my list of things 577 00:32:04,640 --> 00:32:07,240 to do and I'm so glad you took it off my list. 578 00:32:07,240 --> 00:32:08,560 I owe you big time. Thank you. 579 00:32:09,520 --> 00:32:10,920 No. I say. 580 00:32:12,280 --> 00:32:14,000 You have to make your. Bed because you live. 581 00:32:14,000 --> 00:32:16,120 Here and you're learning responsibility and someday 582 00:32:16,120 --> 00:32:18,160 you're going to have a lot of your own things and you need to 583 00:32:18,160 --> 00:32:21,640 know how to take care of them. Now, you're welcome to encourage 584 00:32:21,640 --> 00:32:23,880 your kids and and help them along their way. 585 00:32:24,280 --> 00:32:27,720 But don't get it out of order. Kids are not supposed to. 586 00:32:27,720 --> 00:32:29,640 Be. Thanked by their parents. 587 00:32:29,640 --> 00:32:32,960 It's the other way around. And this is what Jesus. 588 00:32:32,960 --> 00:32:36,600 Is describing you all are servants. 589 00:32:36,600 --> 00:32:38,880 He's speaking to disciples, so I've already clarified. 590 00:32:38,880 --> 00:32:42,160 Not all of you are disciples. Some of you are churchgoers. 591 00:32:42,160 --> 00:32:43,760 And some of you are just interested but. 592 00:32:43,760 --> 00:32:46,120 Those of you who have. Given your life to Christ, you 593 00:32:46,120 --> 00:32:48,640 are a servant and he is your Lord. 594 00:32:49,160 --> 00:32:51,680 So when he says you need to. Forgive people. 595 00:32:52,720 --> 00:32:55,920 And when he says you, you need to forgive way beyond what 596 00:32:55,920 --> 00:32:58,440 you're comfortable with. You don't get to come back and 597 00:32:58,440 --> 00:32:59,920 say. Lord, that was a very. 598 00:32:59,920 --> 00:33:01,840 Challenging sermon, but I. Did you a solid? 599 00:33:01,840 --> 00:33:04,080 There was a couple of enemies of mine and I, I forgave them in 600 00:33:04,080 --> 00:33:05,000 your name. I think they're going to, 601 00:33:05,000 --> 00:33:06,440 really. Like you later, but yeah. 602 00:33:06,440 --> 00:33:08,040 Just give me an extra blessing for that one. 603 00:33:09,040 --> 00:33:11,000 It's not how it works, he says in verse 10. 604 00:33:11,000 --> 00:33:14,200 So likewise when you've done all those things which you are 605 00:33:14,200 --> 00:33:16,800 commanded. Here's what you should actually. 606 00:33:16,800 --> 00:33:21,800 Say we are unprofitable servants and we have done what I was our. 607 00:33:21,800 --> 00:33:25,000 Duty to do, disciples. Forgive people. 608 00:33:25,000 --> 00:33:28,840 It's your job, disciples. You radically love people. 609 00:33:28,840 --> 00:33:32,960 It's just your job, disciples. That are in the. 610 00:33:32,960 --> 00:33:37,560 Offices of life that God. Gives husbands lay down your. 611 00:33:37,560 --> 00:33:40,160 Wives lives. For your wife, wife. 612 00:33:40,280 --> 00:33:43,800 Honor him. Children obey your parents love 613 00:33:43,800 --> 00:33:47,120 your neighbor, give radically. Put all your. 614 00:33:47,120 --> 00:33:49,320 Treasures in heaven and stop obsessing over. 615 00:33:49,320 --> 00:33:51,960 The wealth of Earth. And that's just your job. 616 00:33:53,840 --> 00:33:56,960 Don't do any of. That as a way to reverse the 617 00:33:56,960 --> 00:33:59,400 praise where? Someday you hope that Jesus 618 00:33:59,920 --> 00:34:02,280 would praise you and you would say, don't worry about it. 619 00:34:07,880 --> 00:34:10,800 To take this to the ultimate. Extreme within earshot, no 620 00:34:10,800 --> 00:34:12,159 doubt. Our Pharisees who have built 621 00:34:12,159 --> 00:34:14,159 their life. Presenting themselves as 622 00:34:14,159 --> 00:34:18,159 self-righteous and this series as a consequence of studying the 623 00:34:18,320 --> 00:34:22,040 hard teachings of Jesus is meant to destroy any self 624 00:34:22,040 --> 00:34:24,000 righteousness that can exist in the human heart. 625 00:34:24,000 --> 00:34:27,040 There's no self righteousness in being a disciple. 626 00:34:30,719 --> 00:34:34,080 So even if you did everything perfectly, which you won't, but 627 00:34:34,080 --> 00:34:35,760 I'll grant you this hypothetical. 628 00:34:36,639 --> 00:34:38,679 You love God perfectly with every ounce of you. 629 00:34:38,679 --> 00:34:41,800 Being you love your neighbor as yourself without end and never 630 00:34:41,800 --> 00:34:45,360 failing. You completely forgive and you 631 00:34:45,360 --> 00:34:47,239 don't have any bitterness in your heart, ever. 632 00:34:47,400 --> 00:34:50,159 And you're always the first to welcome. 633 00:34:50,159 --> 00:34:52,679 People in and there's no sin of you for you to repent of. 634 00:34:54,040 --> 00:34:56,040 You might be tempted to say, look at this. 635 00:34:57,960 --> 00:35:01,920 Look what I'm doing. Am I not righteous? 636 00:35:03,840 --> 00:35:07,280 You're doing what you were made. To do. 637 00:35:08,400 --> 00:35:10,400 You were made to love God, and you were made to love your 638 00:35:10,400 --> 00:35:13,520 neighbor, and you were made to be a reflection of His light in 639 00:35:13,520 --> 00:35:15,920 The Dark World. And even if you do it perfectly, 640 00:35:15,920 --> 00:35:20,480 you are still under the grace of God that you're just living out 641 00:35:20,480 --> 00:35:24,040 your design. Trees are planted into the 642 00:35:24,040 --> 00:35:25,520 ground and by sunlight and water. 643 00:35:25,520 --> 00:35:27,600 They grow up. That's what they're made to do. 644 00:35:28,440 --> 00:35:33,360 The moon reflects the sun. Don't go outside and applaud. 645 00:35:33,600 --> 00:35:35,200 It's just doing what it was made to do. 646 00:35:36,960 --> 00:35:40,920 The animal Kingdom and the oceans, tide and the stars and 647 00:35:40,920 --> 00:35:43,920 the night sky are all. Pictures of God's perfect. 648 00:35:43,920 --> 00:35:47,440 Design on display and so are you on your best day. 649 00:35:49,320 --> 00:35:50,800 So the question for the mirror is. 650 00:35:50,960 --> 00:35:53,920 How are? You doing when it comes to your 651 00:35:53,920 --> 00:35:58,920 posture? Before the Lord Jesus says 652 00:35:58,920 --> 00:36:05,520 blessed. Are the humble Paul says grace 653 00:36:05,520 --> 00:36:08,840 has been given so that no one would think of themselves too 654 00:36:08,840 --> 00:36:12,040 highly. What Jesus is doing is utterly 655 00:36:12,040 --> 00:36:16,080 bringing us all to the same playing field that forgiveness 656 00:36:16,080 --> 00:36:20,240 is not some great feat for some of us to write books about and 657 00:36:20,240 --> 00:36:22,840 and tell everyone how amazing we are in our discipleship journey. 658 00:36:22,840 --> 00:36:26,120 And and having amazing faith is not some way for us to stand on 659 00:36:26,120 --> 00:36:27,920 stage and say, look at the faith of this guy. 660 00:36:29,360 --> 00:36:33,280 He's saying every single one of you are serving the master, 661 00:36:34,000 --> 00:36:37,280 unprofitable servant, and by God's grace at the end of it 662 00:36:37,280 --> 00:36:39,960 all, if we. Do it to his glory, he will say 663 00:36:39,960 --> 00:36:42,040 to. Us on the day we enter eternity 664 00:36:43,000 --> 00:36:46,680 well done he doesn't owe us anything and he gives us 665 00:36:46,680 --> 00:36:51,520 everything and so finally I'm going to add this because I 666 00:36:51,520 --> 00:36:56,280 think this is the measure that defines everything else so I'll. 667 00:36:56,280 --> 00:37:00,320 Quickly read a story of Jesus. That's often called the 668 00:37:00,320 --> 00:37:02,360 ungrateful lepers, starting in verse 11. 669 00:37:02,760 --> 00:37:06,880 And this will give us our last measure, the mirror that Jesus 670 00:37:06,880 --> 00:37:12,040 hold, loving forgiveness, living faith, humble servants. 671 00:37:13,600 --> 00:37:15,240 Verse 11. Now what happened as He went to 672 00:37:15,240 --> 00:37:17,880 Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and 673 00:37:18,120 --> 00:37:20,560 Galilee. Then, as He entered a certain 674 00:37:20,560 --> 00:37:23,360 village, there met him 10 men who were lepers. 675 00:37:23,680 --> 00:37:25,200 Who stood afar off? And they? 676 00:37:25,200 --> 00:37:30,600 Lifted up their voices. And said Jesus Master have mercy 677 00:37:30,600 --> 00:37:34,720 on us. And so when he saw them, he said 678 00:37:34,720 --> 00:37:36,800 to them, go. Show yourselves to the priests. 679 00:37:37,440 --> 00:37:40,880 And so it was that as they went. They. 680 00:37:41,040 --> 00:37:45,920 Were cleansed, often times leprosy. 681 00:37:45,920 --> 00:37:48,920 Is used, yes, as a real disease, but also as a. 682 00:37:49,160 --> 00:37:52,840 Living parable of all of us who are unclean by the nature of 683 00:37:52,840 --> 00:37:56,600 sin. Lepers are untouchable, outside 684 00:37:56,640 --> 00:38:00,960 unclean, and Jesus comes and time and time again brings them 685 00:38:00,960 --> 00:38:03,520 healing to. Show that he takes outsiders. 686 00:38:03,520 --> 00:38:06,640 And brings them in that he takes the unclean and makes them clean 687 00:38:07,200 --> 00:38:08,760 every. Story you read about leprosy. 688 00:38:08,760 --> 00:38:12,080 You can think of your own sin being healed by the power of 689 00:38:12,080 --> 00:38:16,120 God's forgiveness. But this is also a story that 690 00:38:16,120 --> 00:38:19,960 helps us identify. All of those competing means to 691 00:38:19,960 --> 00:38:23,560 an end that actually become your measurement for how you're doing 692 00:38:24,960 --> 00:38:26,760 when I said how are you doing? And we're going to. 693 00:38:26,840 --> 00:38:29,920 Look at the the pursuit of. Jesus and and what it looks 694 00:38:29,920 --> 00:38:31,680 like. For the health of your life, 695 00:38:31,680 --> 00:38:33,720 there are. So many different answers than 696 00:38:33,720 --> 00:38:38,080 the ones we look at today and these men are going to give an 697 00:38:38,080 --> 00:38:41,840 answer. They weren't doing great and 698 00:38:41,840 --> 00:38:44,800 they needed Jesus to intervene and they got. 699 00:38:44,800 --> 00:38:46,800 That what they were after. Look what it says. 700 00:38:46,960 --> 00:38:49,760 And one of them, when he saw he was healed, returned and with a 701 00:38:49,760 --> 00:38:51,600 loud voice. Glorified God. 702 00:38:51,800 --> 00:38:53,840 And fell down on his. Face at his feet. 703 00:38:53,840 --> 00:38:56,280 Giving him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. 704 00:38:59,200 --> 00:39:02,080 So Jesus answered and said, Were there not ten cleansed? 705 00:39:02,920 --> 00:39:07,040 But where are the nine? Were there not any found who 706 00:39:07,040 --> 00:39:09,480 returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner? 707 00:39:10,400 --> 00:39:13,520 And he said to him, Arise. Go your way, your faith. 708 00:39:13,640 --> 00:39:19,440 Has made you well again we see the theme of outsiders coming 709 00:39:19,440 --> 00:39:21,240 in. Only the foreigner came back. 710 00:39:22,040 --> 00:39:25,480 But it's also such a clear picture. 711 00:39:25,480 --> 00:39:30,520 Of the danger of having Jesus be some sort of means to an 712 00:39:30,520 --> 00:39:33,520 alternative end that isn't just Jesus. 713 00:39:35,000 --> 00:39:37,360 How many of us have come to church with our life on the 714 00:39:37,360 --> 00:39:40,520 brink? How many of us have said, Lord, 715 00:39:40,520 --> 00:39:42,160 if you can Get Me Out of this one, I will? 716 00:39:42,200 --> 00:39:44,720 Serve you forever. Some of you are at church right 717 00:39:44,720 --> 00:39:46,600 now because you hit rock bottom and said. 718 00:39:46,600 --> 00:39:48,960 OK, I'll go to church if you'll please. 719 00:39:49,360 --> 00:39:52,360 Fix the relationship, heal the marriage, bring the kids home, 720 00:39:52,560 --> 00:39:55,640 Give me some way to beat my legal troubles. 721 00:39:55,640 --> 00:40:00,480 I'll go to church. And Jesus will, in fact. 722 00:40:01,640 --> 00:40:05,000 Care for you and. He will heal your life and 723 00:40:05,000 --> 00:40:08,320 anything you offer to Jesus. He has the power to. 724 00:40:08,320 --> 00:40:11,320 Cleanse and to heal, and the question will be to you. 725 00:40:11,320 --> 00:40:18,280 Do you go on your merry way once the bill gets paid and the 726 00:40:18,280 --> 00:40:21,280 marriage gets healed and the kid comes home and and you're out of 727 00:40:21,280 --> 00:40:23,760 rock bottom and and jail is no longer something you got to? 728 00:40:23,760 --> 00:40:25,920 Worry about you just. Go on your way because you were 729 00:40:25,920 --> 00:40:30,120 actually measuring how you're doing by things you want. 730 00:40:32,280 --> 00:40:41,520 Or are we people who look to. Jesus as Lord and Master in 731 00:40:41,520 --> 00:40:45,000 source of mercy so that we can worship Him. 732 00:40:45,880 --> 00:40:51,200 There was one. It's a narrow way. 90% go on 733 00:40:51,200 --> 00:40:55,680 their way and one comes back and worships Jesus. 734 00:40:57,440 --> 00:41:00,080 And this is the actual measure of how you're doing. 735 00:41:01,400 --> 00:41:02,880 I'll end with this as referenced. 736 00:41:02,880 --> 00:41:07,440 Earlier there was a a. Worry that the New Atheists were 737 00:41:07,440 --> 00:41:10,960 going to dismantle the Church with their intellectual answers 738 00:41:10,960 --> 00:41:15,400 against theism. And one of them was named 739 00:41:15,400 --> 00:41:17,920 Christopher Hitchens, and he had a challenge as he would debate. 740 00:41:17,920 --> 00:41:21,240 Religious leaders, he said. To them, what is 1 moral act 741 00:41:21,240 --> 00:41:25,040 that you can do as a person who believes in God that I can't 742 00:41:25,040 --> 00:41:25,800 also? Do. 743 00:41:26,560 --> 00:41:28,440 I don't need your God. I don't need the power of God. 744 00:41:28,440 --> 00:41:31,920 I don't even need a belief in God to to do anything moral that 745 00:41:31,920 --> 00:41:34,280 you could do. You can be kind, you can be 746 00:41:34,280 --> 00:41:36,320 loving, you can forgive. So can I. 747 00:41:38,720 --> 00:41:42,440 And the answer to that challenge is very simple. 748 00:41:43,600 --> 00:41:50,240 There is one thing that you can do that an atheist can, and that 749 00:41:50,240 --> 00:41:51,240 is worship. God. 750 00:41:53,000 --> 00:41:56,040 And that is the thing by which everything else flows. 751 00:41:58,720 --> 00:42:00,560 There's a saying that says. The Chief. 752 00:42:01,120 --> 00:42:03,840 Aim of man is. To glorify God. 753 00:42:03,840 --> 00:42:07,960 And enjoy him forever. Your ultimate how are you doing? 754 00:42:09,560 --> 00:42:13,960 Is worship is falling at the feet of the God of mercy and 755 00:42:13,960 --> 00:42:16,080 grace and forgiveness and love, who has saved? 756 00:42:16,080 --> 00:42:18,120 You at the cost. Of his son and saying. 757 00:42:18,120 --> 00:42:21,960 I live for you, I worship you, I praise you. 758 00:42:22,160 --> 00:42:25,040 Everything I do is pointing people to do everything I have 759 00:42:25,040 --> 00:42:28,000 is because of you. I'm thankful today and tomorrow 760 00:42:28,000 --> 00:42:29,320 and forever. Because of you and. 761 00:42:31,200 --> 00:42:33,760 If we're not careful when I say how you doing in regards? 762 00:42:33,760 --> 00:42:36,200 To worship, you say? I'm singing the songs. 763 00:42:39,880 --> 00:42:42,320 I'm here for the three songs in the beginning and the one at the 764 00:42:42,320 --> 00:42:45,240 end every Sunday. I got the radio. 765 00:42:45,240 --> 00:42:47,720 Blasting. Proceed. 766 00:42:48,160 --> 00:42:50,240 Be blessed. But worship. 767 00:42:50,760 --> 00:42:57,240 Is your response to Jesus as your Lord worship is looking at 768 00:42:57,240 --> 00:43:00,880 the. Survey of your life every good. 769 00:43:00,960 --> 00:43:04,640 Thing you have and saying God I owe it. 770 00:43:04,840 --> 00:43:08,120 All to you. I'm glad that worship is songs, 771 00:43:08,120 --> 00:43:10,320 but I'm glad that worship isn't only songs. 772 00:43:11,440 --> 00:43:14,760 How are you doing when it comes to measuring? 773 00:43:14,760 --> 00:43:18,280 Your life by worshipping. Jesus. 774 00:43:20,400 --> 00:43:23,840 And if you're like me, all of these present me with a 775 00:43:23,840 --> 00:43:25,720 challenge. That is a burden too. 776 00:43:25,720 --> 00:43:29,760 Heavy to lift these all. Remind me that the whole 777 00:43:29,760 --> 00:43:32,320 operation of this teaching of Jesus is to remind His. 778 00:43:32,320 --> 00:43:35,640 Disciples that discipleship only works if you. 779 00:43:36,480 --> 00:43:40,720 Radically depend on Jesus every one of these teachings. 780 00:43:41,360 --> 00:43:44,000 Should have brought all of us to a place where we're like the 781 00:43:44,000 --> 00:43:45,800 apostles that say. Lord, I need your help. 782 00:43:47,000 --> 00:43:49,080 If it wasn't for your forgiveness, I wouldn't forgive 783 00:43:49,080 --> 00:43:53,680 anybody if it wasn't for faith in you. 784 00:43:53,680 --> 00:43:59,120 I'd have faith in nothing if it wasn't for you as my master. 785 00:43:59,120 --> 00:44:00,880 I would be a prideful. Arrogant. 786 00:44:01,040 --> 00:44:08,560 Self-righteous person who misses out on all of the blessings and 787 00:44:08,560 --> 00:44:09,400 because of. You. 788 00:44:09,480 --> 00:44:13,800 I worship you with. Everything thanks for joining us 789 00:44:13,800 --> 00:44:15,560 today. If you would like to watch the 790 00:44:15,560 --> 00:44:18,120 full service, check out the link in the description. 791 00:44:18,440 --> 00:44:22,360 For next steps and to learn more, visit calvaryboise.com.