1 00:00:02,240 --> 00:00:05,040 This morning we are continuing in our One Another series 2 00:00:05,040 --> 00:00:08,320 looking at God's invitation to community and what it means to 3 00:00:08,320 --> 00:00:13,400 be a people marked by love. Our Scripture today is from John 4 00:00:13,400 --> 00:00:14,720 13. One through 8. 5 00:00:14,720 --> 00:00:16,920 You can find it on your liturgy handout. 6 00:00:16,920 --> 00:00:19,800 If you don't have a liturgy handout, you can go to the 7 00:00:19,800 --> 00:00:21,840 welcome table and see the lovely people up there and they will 8 00:00:21,840 --> 00:00:26,680 help you get one. It was just before the Passover 9 00:00:26,680 --> 00:00:29,730 festival. Jesus knew that the hour had 10 00:00:29,730 --> 00:00:33,090 come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. 11 00:00:34,010 --> 00:00:37,290 Having loved his own, who were in the world, he loved them to 12 00:00:37,290 --> 00:00:39,970 the end. The evening meal was in 13 00:00:39,970 --> 00:00:43,650 progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son 14 00:00:43,650 --> 00:00:46,610 of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 15 00:00:47,290 --> 00:00:50,730 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power 16 00:00:51,010 --> 00:00:53,770 and that he had come from God and was returning to God. 17 00:00:54,490 --> 00:00:58,580 So he got it from the meal. He took off his outer clothing 18 00:00:59,180 --> 00:01:01,460 and wrapped a towel around his waist. 19 00:01:02,540 --> 00:01:06,700 After that he poured water into a basin and began to wash his 20 00:01:06,700 --> 00:01:09,820 disciples feet, drawing them with the towel that was wrapped 21 00:01:09,820 --> 00:01:14,060 around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said 22 00:01:14,060 --> 00:01:17,340 to him, Lord, are you going to wash my feet? 23 00:01:18,220 --> 00:01:20,860 Jesus replied. You do not realize now what I'm 24 00:01:20,860 --> 00:01:25,740 doing, but later you will understand no, said Peter. 25 00:01:26,040 --> 00:01:29,480 You shall never wash my feet, Jesus answered. 26 00:01:29,680 --> 00:01:32,680 Unless I wash you, you have no part with me. 27 00:01:33,560 --> 00:01:39,200 This is the word of the Lord. Thanks so much, Kylie. 28 00:01:39,640 --> 00:01:43,400 Hey, everybody, welcome again. If we haven't met, my name is 29 00:01:43,560 --> 00:01:47,160 Pastor Josh and I'm not speaking today, but wanted to jump up 30 00:01:47,160 --> 00:01:52,000 just real quick to introduce our speaker for today, Pastor 31 00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:55,320 Demaris Taylor, who we're so excited to have with us. 32 00:01:56,830 --> 00:02:01,390 I found out I don't know end of last year sometime when did we 33 00:02:01,390 --> 00:02:05,150 first connect it was end of last year ish sometime foolish 34 00:02:05,510 --> 00:02:07,790 foolish that Demars was moving to town. 35 00:02:08,430 --> 00:02:11,470 Demars has some some roots in Boston. 36 00:02:11,470 --> 00:02:16,390 He and his wife both I believe went to Harvard but and and in 37 00:02:16,390 --> 00:02:20,350 fact where I live in Dorchester Demars like somehow knew all my 38 00:02:20,350 --> 00:02:23,550 people like I was like how does how does this guy connected with 39 00:02:23,550 --> 00:02:26,770 so many people I I know. But DeMar and his wife moved 40 00:02:27,330 --> 00:02:31,010 back to the city, returning to the city in order to start a new 41 00:02:31,010 --> 00:02:33,850 expression of church, which they're calling The bridge is 42 00:02:33,850 --> 00:02:36,010 rooted in JP. I'm not going to steal all his 43 00:02:36,170 --> 00:02:37,970 Thunder. I'll let him talk a bit more 44 00:02:37,970 --> 00:02:41,170 about that. But when we heard that there was 45 00:02:41,170 --> 00:02:44,970 this new church expression happening and and as I just 46 00:02:44,970 --> 00:02:48,090 learned a little bit about it, it became evident very quickly 47 00:02:48,090 --> 00:02:51,850 that there was so much in terms of shared heart, shared vision, 48 00:02:51,850 --> 00:02:56,650 shared longing and you know. Sometimes, maybe you've 49 00:02:56,650 --> 00:02:58,210 experienced this. Hopefully you haven't. 50 00:02:58,490 --> 00:03:02,210 Sometimes churches in the city can have a competitive nature 51 00:03:02,210 --> 00:03:04,170 with each other. People get petty about 52 00:03:04,170 --> 00:03:08,410 theological differences or or all sorts of other things. 53 00:03:09,290 --> 00:03:12,810 But but I firmly believe, we believe here at Reality that we 54 00:03:12,810 --> 00:03:16,890 are one body and that God has a dream for the city. 55 00:03:16,890 --> 00:03:19,690 In fact, God is already ahead of us working renewal in the cities 56 00:03:19,930 --> 00:03:22,010 and ways that we just get to enter into. 57 00:03:22,010 --> 00:03:25,730 We get to participate. Alongside of and and what God 58 00:03:25,730 --> 00:03:28,610 wants to do in this city is going to take far more than just 59 00:03:28,610 --> 00:03:31,610 us like we got. I think God's got big things for 60 00:03:31,610 --> 00:03:34,410 us here as a community, but there are others that he's also 61 00:03:34,410 --> 00:03:36,850 calling. And so it we've been since 62 00:03:36,850 --> 00:03:38,930 January this year, had the opportunity to come alongside 63 00:03:38,930 --> 00:03:41,610 tomorrow's financially and even pour into what they're doing, 64 00:03:41,610 --> 00:03:43,930 invest in what they're doing as well. 65 00:03:44,450 --> 00:03:48,010 And so I'm so excited to have him come, to have him share a 66 00:03:48,010 --> 00:03:50,850 bit about his heart to continue the series on hospitality with 67 00:03:50,850 --> 00:03:52,420 us. And just bless us. 68 00:03:52,420 --> 00:03:53,780 So thank you, man, for being here. 69 00:03:54,100 --> 00:03:56,820 Thank you for making disciples. Thank you for contributing to 70 00:03:56,820 --> 00:04:00,340 the flourishing of our city. And I'm so excited for you to be 71 00:04:00,340 --> 00:04:02,860 with us today and to just contribute to what God's doing 72 00:04:02,860 --> 00:04:04,300 in Boston, man. Yeah. 73 00:04:04,540 --> 00:04:05,420 Great to have. Yeah. 74 00:04:07,780 --> 00:04:10,660 Good morning, everyone. All right. 75 00:04:10,660 --> 00:04:11,580 Oh, there we go. That was good. 76 00:04:11,580 --> 00:04:13,420 It was a little delay, but it came around. 77 00:04:13,420 --> 00:04:14,500 It came around. Good morning. 78 00:04:14,500 --> 00:04:18,260 So I'm excited to share the word of God with you this morning. 79 00:04:19,149 --> 00:04:22,670 And this is actually a little strange for me because in our 80 00:04:22,670 --> 00:04:26,310 micro church we meet in my home and we don't usually have a 81 00:04:26,310 --> 00:04:28,950 microphone. Usually I just got to be loud 82 00:04:29,630 --> 00:04:30,830 right? And we figure it out over the 83 00:04:30,830 --> 00:04:33,390 babies and all the chaos and everything else that's going on. 84 00:04:33,390 --> 00:04:37,710 And so I have a mic in my hand is a little empowering. 85 00:04:37,710 --> 00:04:41,430 So y'all excuse me if I get carried away preaching today. 86 00:04:42,640 --> 00:04:47,680 But before we we get into the word, As I walked into into this 87 00:04:47,680 --> 00:04:51,000 space, into this auditorium, I was telling some friends of ours 88 00:04:51,000 --> 00:04:54,520 that this, this auditorium actually reminds me of the 89 00:04:54,520 --> 00:04:55,600 movie. Lean on me. 90 00:04:55,920 --> 00:04:59,360 OK, if you if you about my age in the 30 is older, you might 91 00:04:59,560 --> 00:05:01,440 you might know that movie from 1989. 92 00:05:01,440 --> 00:05:04,040 Lean on me. And I actually see they're going 93 00:05:04,040 --> 00:05:05,920 to sing it later on. I was pretty excited to see 94 00:05:05,920 --> 00:05:08,120 that. That made me very, very happy. 95 00:05:08,120 --> 00:05:10,090 I love that. I'm not going to sing that, but 96 00:05:10,090 --> 00:05:13,090 I do want to sing a little snippet of a song that that came 97 00:05:13,090 --> 00:05:18,130 into my heart to prepare us for continue going into the word and 98 00:05:18,130 --> 00:05:22,090 even to still my nerves a little bit and it just goes like this, 99 00:05:22,090 --> 00:05:27,850 it says for. Your glory, I would do anything 100 00:05:29,970 --> 00:05:36,570 just to see you and behold you as my king. 101 00:05:39,340 --> 00:05:50,300 For your glory, I would do anything just to see you. 102 00:05:51,540 --> 00:05:55,060 And. Behold you as my king. 103 00:05:55,060 --> 00:05:56,940 If y'all singing with me, just it's that simple, it says. 104 00:05:57,140 --> 00:06:07,270 For your glory. I would do anything just to see. 105 00:06:07,510 --> 00:06:13,950 You and behold you. And behold you as my king for 106 00:06:14,430 --> 00:06:24,630 your glory, I would do anything just to see you. 107 00:06:25,510 --> 00:06:29,690 And behold. And behold you as my king. 108 00:06:30,610 --> 00:06:33,770 And this another song comes to mind that my grandfather used to 109 00:06:33,770 --> 00:06:35,810 sing every time he would get up to preach because my grandfather 110 00:06:35,810 --> 00:06:39,970 was my pastor in in Greenville, SC and he would sing I. 111 00:06:39,970 --> 00:06:55,450 Will trust in the Lord I will trust in the Lord I will trust. 112 00:06:57,060 --> 00:07:05,780 In the Lord until I die, I told. You shouldn't give me the mic. 113 00:07:06,140 --> 00:07:18,260 But I will trust in the Lord. Oh, I will trust in the Lord. 114 00:07:18,260 --> 00:07:29,220 Oh, I will trust in the Lord. Until I die and it. 115 00:07:29,380 --> 00:07:30,740 I'm going to stay on the battlefield. 116 00:07:31,660 --> 00:07:36,660 I'm going to stay on the battlefield. 117 00:07:38,340 --> 00:07:41,100 I'm going to stay. On this is for the Lord. 118 00:07:41,180 --> 00:07:43,900 Battlefield. I hit a clap. 119 00:07:44,500 --> 00:07:49,300 I'm going to stay on the battlefield. 120 00:07:50,570 --> 00:07:59,970 Until I die. Oh, I'm going to stay on the 121 00:08:00,010 --> 00:08:05,930 battlefield. Oh, I'm going to stay on the 122 00:08:05,970 --> 00:08:11,930 battlefield. I'm going to stay on the 123 00:08:11,930 --> 00:08:16,840 battlefield. Until I die. 124 00:08:16,840 --> 00:08:19,040 And we'll just break it down like this and we'll leave it and 125 00:08:19,040 --> 00:08:21,520 then we'll get in the word. I promise, but I promise. 126 00:08:21,520 --> 00:08:28,680 But. Lord, prepare me to be a St. 127 00:08:28,880 --> 00:08:38,280 true, pure and holy, tried and true. 128 00:08:39,270 --> 00:08:54,950 Tried and true. I'll be a living sanctuary. 129 00:08:44,430 --> 00:08:48,870 And with Thanksgiving, I'll be your. 130 00:08:55,710 --> 00:09:03,190 Sanctuary for you. For you. 131 00:09:03,790 --> 00:09:04,870 All right, let's pray. And then we can. 132 00:09:04,870 --> 00:09:07,390 Then we can get in the Word. I promise God, I thank you so 133 00:09:07,390 --> 00:09:08,470 much. Lord that. 134 00:09:09,290 --> 00:09:11,690 God, it is for your glory that we exist. 135 00:09:13,250 --> 00:09:18,290 It is for your praise, your honor, your magnification. 136 00:09:19,050 --> 00:09:23,210 God that we come in this building today, that we live in 137 00:09:23,210 --> 00:09:26,890 community in the way that we try to live in community, that we 138 00:09:26,890 --> 00:09:29,930 live our lives the way we live our lives. 139 00:09:30,770 --> 00:09:35,170 God, it is because we can trust in you and every second of the 140 00:09:35,170 --> 00:09:37,710 day. Every moment of the day, with 141 00:09:37,710 --> 00:09:42,310 every situation and contextual point of our lives, and so we 142 00:09:42,310 --> 00:09:43,790 give you glory, we give you honor. 143 00:09:44,670 --> 00:09:46,910 And God, Lord, we are your servants. 144 00:09:48,230 --> 00:09:50,150 And so, God, we want to follow after you. 145 00:09:50,310 --> 00:09:54,590 We are your disciples, God, We are bound to you. 146 00:09:55,870 --> 00:09:58,550 And so, Lord, as we think about what it means to be loving one 147 00:09:58,550 --> 00:10:01,670 another, what it means to be hospitable to one another, we 148 00:10:01,670 --> 00:10:04,390 ask that you would do a work that only the Spirit of God can 149 00:10:04,390 --> 00:10:07,670 do. Pray this in Jesus name Amen. 150 00:10:09,190 --> 00:10:14,230 In my family, I'm the oldest of five kids and I'm also the 151 00:10:14,230 --> 00:10:18,630 oldest of like 1516 grandchildren and so I got a lot 152 00:10:18,630 --> 00:10:26,110 of type A personality sometime and in this oldest lineage kind 153 00:10:26,110 --> 00:10:30,270 of of my family being the the, the, the big bro to my one 154 00:10:30,270 --> 00:10:34,920 sister and three brothers. My parents were really big about 155 00:10:34,920 --> 00:10:38,960 trying to instill in us the importance of family, but the 156 00:10:38,960 --> 00:10:43,760 value of a family still are. In fact, my mom has her own set 157 00:10:43,760 --> 00:10:46,160 of 1 another's that come from the scripture. 158 00:10:46,720 --> 00:10:48,280 She says I'm a little differently, but I'm. 159 00:10:48,280 --> 00:10:50,600 I'm going to sweeten it up today to make it a little bit easier 160 00:10:50,600 --> 00:10:53,480 and palatable on the ears. But she would sometimes yell at 161 00:10:53,480 --> 00:10:55,120 us, y'all need to look out for one another. 162 00:10:55,840 --> 00:10:57,920 You need to make time for one another. 163 00:10:57,920 --> 00:11:00,040 You need to talk with another one another. 164 00:11:00,040 --> 00:11:01,880 They live in South Carolina, so I have to get on. 165 00:11:02,210 --> 00:11:05,570 Video calls or a phone call to talk with my Bros and my sister, 166 00:11:06,290 --> 00:11:09,170 she says you need to make time with another one another. 167 00:11:09,170 --> 00:11:11,050 You need to play with one another, you need to be patient 168 00:11:11,250 --> 00:11:13,370 with one another and you need to go on and I can go on and on 169 00:11:13,370 --> 00:11:16,850 about these one another's that my mom, Tamika, would lay out 170 00:11:16,850 --> 00:11:21,730 before us, and she would do that to try to strengthen our resolve 171 00:11:21,730 --> 00:11:24,010 together. And if I can get personal and 172 00:11:24,010 --> 00:11:26,570 get real serious about it. We all have the same mother, my 173 00:11:26,690 --> 00:11:29,010 siblings and all. And we do, but we all have. 174 00:11:29,170 --> 00:11:32,490 We have different dads. Three of us have. 175 00:11:33,170 --> 00:11:35,850 Three of them have one dad and my sister has another dad and I 176 00:11:35,850 --> 00:11:37,610 have a different dad. So a little bit of a complex 177 00:11:37,610 --> 00:11:43,090 story there, but my mom was really in and still is is really 178 00:11:43,090 --> 00:11:49,170 about instilling in us that we are to be a unit, that we are 179 00:11:49,170 --> 00:11:56,090 supposed to be one, bound together by love, by a care and 180 00:11:56,090 --> 00:11:59,640 concern for each other. And so this morning, as we 181 00:11:59,640 --> 00:12:03,360 continue in Y'all series of loving one another, I get the 182 00:12:03,520 --> 00:12:07,600 the privilege, the honor to talk about hospitality, to talk about 183 00:12:07,600 --> 00:12:12,720 being hospitable to one another. In fact, the Greek word for one 184 00:12:12,720 --> 00:12:17,040 another is used 100 times in the New Testament, 94 different 185 00:12:17,040 --> 00:12:19,920 verses in the New Testament, and 47. 186 00:12:20,270 --> 00:12:21,950 OK, I'm going to get to the stats real quick, and then we'll 187 00:12:21,950 --> 00:12:24,990 get into some practical stuff. But 47 of those verses give 188 00:12:24,990 --> 00:12:28,510 instructions for followers of Jesus, and Paul wrote about 60% 189 00:12:28,510 --> 00:12:31,590 of them. And so in those 47 verses that 190 00:12:31,590 --> 00:12:37,070 instruct us as followers and believers in Jesus, he 191 00:12:37,070 --> 00:12:42,510 emphasizes there's an emphasis on humility and unity and love 192 00:12:42,510 --> 00:12:45,990 and mutuality. I want to dive into that and in 193 00:12:45,990 --> 00:12:48,470 fact, while we were praying a little bit earlier this morning. 194 00:12:49,400 --> 00:12:52,000 Josh mentioned the word mutuality in his prayer, and I 195 00:12:52,000 --> 00:12:54,840 thought that was so fitting because as we talked about 196 00:12:54,840 --> 00:12:58,480 hospitality, we have to talk about root mutuality in 197 00:12:58,480 --> 00:13:03,600 community and community formation and vulnerability and 198 00:13:03,760 --> 00:13:07,640 even reciprocity that happens within community. 199 00:13:08,840 --> 00:13:11,120 And so we're going to search the scriptures and we're going to 200 00:13:11,120 --> 00:13:14,120 look at first. Peter 49 is kind of our jumping 201 00:13:14,120 --> 00:13:16,880 off. But if you'll keep your Bibles 202 00:13:16,880 --> 00:13:21,120 or your phones open, we're also going to look at 2 passages from 203 00:13:21,120 --> 00:13:23,760 the Gospel of John. We're going to look at John 204 00:13:23,760 --> 00:13:28,600 Chapter 13 that Kylie read for us, and we'll also look at John 205 00:13:28,600 --> 00:13:35,600 chapter 4 and take some some practical tips, even postures, 206 00:13:35,600 --> 00:13:39,000 practices for us to live into today. 207 00:13:39,000 --> 00:13:43,800 But I want to read first Peter chapter 4 verse 9. 208 00:13:44,850 --> 00:13:46,570 I'm just going to read this one verse, but I'm going to read it 209 00:13:46,570 --> 00:13:47,970 from three different translations. 210 00:13:47,970 --> 00:13:50,930 Okay. So the first translation is from 211 00:13:50,930 --> 00:13:53,610 the Christian Standard Bible and it says this. 212 00:13:53,610 --> 00:13:59,810 It says be hospitable to one another without complaining. 213 00:14:01,770 --> 00:14:05,250 That's that's the CSB, the Christian Standard Bible Version 214 00:14:05,250 --> 00:14:11,210 2 English Standard Version says show hospitality to one another 215 00:14:11,450 --> 00:14:16,780 without grumbling. And then the NIV, the New 216 00:14:16,780 --> 00:14:22,340 Living, the new International version says offer hospitality 217 00:14:22,860 --> 00:14:25,740 to one another without grumbling. 218 00:14:26,220 --> 00:14:28,300 Now the reason I I wanted to read those three different 219 00:14:28,300 --> 00:14:29,900 translations and we could continue reading all. 220 00:14:29,900 --> 00:14:32,300 We could read the message We could you read the NLV, we could 221 00:14:32,300 --> 00:14:35,540 read the NRSV and we could read several other translations. 222 00:14:36,140 --> 00:14:39,140 But what I find most appreciative about these three 223 00:14:39,140 --> 00:14:41,610 different translations. Is that one? 224 00:14:41,610 --> 00:14:47,370 The CSB highlights this this posture of being be hospitable, 225 00:14:48,170 --> 00:14:50,690 right? But then the ESB tells us to 226 00:14:50,850 --> 00:14:57,850 show to demonstrate hospitality, while NIV tells us something 227 00:14:57,850 --> 00:15:01,370 more suggestive to offer hospitality. 228 00:15:01,370 --> 00:15:06,770 Now at first glance that seems like that is just semantics, but 229 00:15:06,770 --> 00:15:09,450 I think really what is happening here is. 230 00:15:09,810 --> 00:15:12,210 Some some postures that we must look into. 231 00:15:12,290 --> 00:15:15,450 This posture of being versus only doing. 232 00:15:15,690 --> 00:15:18,450 You need both, right? We are not human doings. 233 00:15:18,450 --> 00:15:20,330 We're human beings. I'm here, you hurt. 234 00:15:20,330 --> 00:15:24,970 I'm sure you've heard before, but it is important to sit with 235 00:15:25,450 --> 00:15:28,410 that. Hospitality is something that we 236 00:15:28,410 --> 00:15:33,250 live into in our actions, but it's also a mindset of behavior 237 00:15:33,250 --> 00:15:35,250 and attitude that we must embody. 238 00:15:36,130 --> 00:15:39,130 And so when I read these three different translations, 239 00:15:39,130 --> 00:15:42,730 particularly the CSB, the be hospitable to one another 240 00:15:42,890 --> 00:15:45,730 without complaining, it hits me in a way. 241 00:15:46,730 --> 00:15:51,810 And then when I when I look at the last part of the verse in 242 00:15:51,970 --> 00:15:57,090 first Peter 49, it talks about doing this without complaining, 243 00:15:57,090 --> 00:15:59,770 without grumbling. And I want to explain that I 244 00:15:59,770 --> 00:16:02,170 want to give a little context to first Peter. 245 00:16:03,500 --> 00:16:07,500 There was a church I went to in Texas where we moved from and 246 00:16:07,740 --> 00:16:11,700 they did a series in First Peter and it was all about the 247 00:16:11,700 --> 00:16:15,020 hardships and the hopes of being exiles. 248 00:16:15,660 --> 00:16:19,580 And in first Peter, the the, the message that Peter is is laying 249 00:16:19,580 --> 00:16:23,380 out for the believers there is that you've got to continue to 250 00:16:23,380 --> 00:16:25,740 press forward although there's hardships. 251 00:16:26,050 --> 00:16:28,450 Have hope, although there's tribulations. 252 00:16:28,450 --> 00:16:31,690 Have hope although there's hard things that are continuing to 253 00:16:31,690 --> 00:16:34,570 come up and and raise itself against you. 254 00:16:34,730 --> 00:16:36,890 Have hope although people are persecuting you. 255 00:16:37,090 --> 00:16:39,890 Have hope and have hope in Jesus. 256 00:16:40,530 --> 00:16:46,490 But then Peter in this, this, this, this chapter 4, verse 9 257 00:16:46,770 --> 00:16:49,410 lays out what seems like what comes out of the blue. 258 00:16:49,410 --> 00:16:52,970 He takes a pause and he just starts to tell them you need to 259 00:16:52,970 --> 00:16:56,080 be hospitable. You need to use your gifts to 260 00:16:56,080 --> 00:16:59,320 serve one another, and all I can think about is that these are 261 00:16:59,320 --> 00:17:02,800 people who are probably worn and tired because they're getting 262 00:17:02,800 --> 00:17:04,839 persecuted outside of their community. 263 00:17:05,440 --> 00:17:08,440 But I think what was happening in First Peter is that the 264 00:17:08,440 --> 00:17:13,280 author is rightly turning their gaze from all the things that 265 00:17:13,280 --> 00:17:17,920 are happening on the outside to turn them inward to where they 266 00:17:17,920 --> 00:17:23,030 have a wealth of community. And he says in order for you to 267 00:17:23,030 --> 00:17:27,069 have this community and in order for you to have a foundation to 268 00:17:27,069 --> 00:17:31,190 hold you up under these hardships, you need to be 269 00:17:31,190 --> 00:17:36,790 hospitable to one another. You see, hospitality is defined 270 00:17:37,190 --> 00:17:39,950 in many ways as it says. I think good old Oxford 271 00:17:39,950 --> 00:17:43,790 dictionary calls it This says it's the friendly and generous 272 00:17:43,790 --> 00:17:47,790 reception and entertainment of guests, visitors. 273 00:17:48,080 --> 00:17:51,200 Or strangers. It's the friendly and generous 274 00:17:51,200 --> 00:17:55,880 reception, taking in, welcoming in and entertainment of guests, 275 00:17:56,200 --> 00:18:01,510 visitors and strangers. You see, but I think also Peter, 276 00:18:01,830 --> 00:18:06,430 the author of First Peter, was trying to help the Saints during 277 00:18:06,430 --> 00:18:10,470 their moment of hardships. Realize that when you turn to 278 00:18:10,470 --> 00:18:14,190 your community, your your community of faith that upholds 279 00:18:14,190 --> 00:18:18,030 you, that encourages you, that challenges you and convicts you. 280 00:18:18,430 --> 00:18:22,510 He was trying to help them have greater unity and togetherness. 281 00:18:22,870 --> 00:18:26,950 He was trying to provide them with deeper mutuality and 282 00:18:26,950 --> 00:18:29,710 dependence. And he was trying to help them 283 00:18:29,710 --> 00:18:32,990 have increased trust and vulnerability. 284 00:18:33,790 --> 00:18:38,430 You see, when you talk about hospitality, you cannot separate 285 00:18:38,430 --> 00:18:42,950 it from unity or togetherness, or from mutuality and dependence 286 00:18:42,950 --> 00:18:46,110 or trust and vulnerability. Because when you begin to be 287 00:18:46,110 --> 00:18:49,830 hospitable to someone, whether you know them deeply or you know 288 00:18:49,830 --> 00:18:52,830 them not at all, what you're doing is you're building a 289 00:18:52,830 --> 00:18:56,470 bridge, you're making a connection, and you're opening 290 00:18:56,470 --> 00:18:59,090 up your life. And you're saying come to my 291 00:18:59,090 --> 00:19:03,610 table, whether that is to serve them food, to have conversation, 292 00:19:04,050 --> 00:19:07,290 to get to hear their story. You are letting them in. 293 00:19:07,290 --> 00:19:11,770 And at that moment you are literally allowing them to put 294 00:19:11,770 --> 00:19:18,730 down themselves and to receive, but also for you to receive. 295 00:19:19,090 --> 00:19:23,650 And so I want to talk briefly. About how Jesus in John 13 and 296 00:19:23,650 --> 00:19:27,530 in John 4, John 13 is where Jesus washes the feet of his 297 00:19:27,530 --> 00:19:29,490 disciples. In John Four is where Jesus 298 00:19:29,690 --> 00:19:33,810 connects with those Samaritan woman at the will, how he begins 299 00:19:33,810 --> 00:19:40,850 to serve as a host for us, not only just for his disciples and 300 00:19:40,850 --> 00:19:44,130 for the woman at the will, but for you and I, but also how it 301 00:19:44,330 --> 00:19:47,930 lends itself to teaching us about the dynamics of being. 302 00:19:48,360 --> 00:19:52,080 The host in hospitality, but also being hosted. 303 00:19:52,800 --> 00:19:55,240 And I think there's so much warmth in that. 304 00:19:55,240 --> 00:20:00,600 I think there's so much depth in that dynamic of being of Jesus 305 00:20:00,600 --> 00:20:06,880 being our host and us learning to be host from him, but also 306 00:20:06,880 --> 00:20:13,400 learning to be hosted from Jesus and to be hosted by others when 307 00:20:13,400 --> 00:20:18,330 I was about 15, my family. Would always head to this 308 00:20:18,330 --> 00:20:20,170 restaurant. They don't have it up here. 309 00:20:20,450 --> 00:20:22,570 They got it in South Carolina, where I'm from, but it's called 310 00:20:22,650 --> 00:20:27,050 Old Charlie's, Old Charlie's and Old Charlie's Little Step above 311 00:20:27,050 --> 00:20:29,810 Applebee's. So when report cards came out, 312 00:20:29,810 --> 00:20:31,330 my family went there because we could afford it. 313 00:20:31,330 --> 00:20:33,410 You know why? Because on Wednesday nights they 314 00:20:33,410 --> 00:20:37,410 had children eat free. So we went there and we got our 315 00:20:37,410 --> 00:20:40,210 grub on, right? And I was allowed to get a six 316 00:20:40,210 --> 00:20:42,010 ounce sirloin. Yeah, I thought I was doing 317 00:20:42,010 --> 00:20:44,310 something now I didn't know to get it medium. 318 00:20:44,310 --> 00:20:46,270 I don't know if y'all like medium, but I like my medium 319 00:20:46,270 --> 00:20:47,790 now. But I like the medium well then 320 00:20:47,870 --> 00:20:51,150 because I was listening to my mom and my daddy and and so I 321 00:20:51,150 --> 00:20:53,510 got it medium well and I would, you know, I would bust out some 322 00:20:53,510 --> 00:20:55,710 steak sauce because this wasn't, you know, this wasn't the top 323 00:20:55,710 --> 00:20:58,590 place but I'll bust out some steak sauce, some Heinz 57, put 324 00:20:58,590 --> 00:21:00,590 it on there, eat it up, it'll be real good. 325 00:21:00,590 --> 00:21:02,710 Get some French fries. I don't like baked potatoes that 326 00:21:02,710 --> 00:21:05,550 much. But anyhow, my mom became 327 00:21:05,550 --> 00:21:08,110 friends with the general manager, the GM of old 328 00:21:08,110 --> 00:21:11,710 Charlie's, and I was looking for a job. 329 00:21:11,710 --> 00:21:14,750 I I was determined to make my own money, do my own thing so I 330 00:21:14,750 --> 00:21:18,070 can keep going to old Charlie's and but pay for it myself. 331 00:21:18,310 --> 00:21:23,150 And so my mom made friends with the GM and one day she kept 332 00:21:23,150 --> 00:21:24,750 talking to the GM. She said, I got this son, you 333 00:21:24,750 --> 00:21:27,070 know, he's real smart, he's real, he's real smiley. 334 00:21:27,070 --> 00:21:29,990 He's real happy. I think he could be a host. 335 00:21:30,620 --> 00:21:33,580 And so my mom got me my first job through her connections. 336 00:21:33,580 --> 00:21:35,820 Now if y'all met my mom, some of the people in my church have met 337 00:21:35,820 --> 00:21:38,060 my mom. My mom is a networker, OK? 338 00:21:38,060 --> 00:21:40,100 So she always looking out for her children. 339 00:21:40,100 --> 00:21:41,580 How she going to connect us with somebody? 340 00:21:42,260 --> 00:21:44,740 So she got me my first job. She got my brother his first 341 00:21:44,740 --> 00:21:46,340 job. She got my other brother his 342 00:21:46,340 --> 00:21:48,020 first job. My mom was just giving people 343 00:21:48,020 --> 00:21:51,700 jobs, right? And so I got this job as a host 344 00:21:51,980 --> 00:21:53,940 at Old Charlie's. And I would dress up, I put on 345 00:21:53,940 --> 00:21:56,940 my little Walmart slacks that was black and put on a nice 346 00:21:56,940 --> 00:22:00,070 little white shirt. And I would come in from school 347 00:22:00,070 --> 00:22:03,110 and I would just kind of be tweening my thumbs waiting for 348 00:22:03,110 --> 00:22:05,470 people to come in for the dinner time about 5:30. 349 00:22:05,950 --> 00:22:08,990 And so when someone would enter in, I would go and open the 350 00:22:08,990 --> 00:22:11,070 door. I'd open the door for them. 351 00:22:11,070 --> 00:22:13,470 I have my best smile on as best I could. 352 00:22:13,670 --> 00:22:15,510 I'm, you know, looking good, tapping my foot. 353 00:22:15,830 --> 00:22:18,310 And as they would come in, I would say good. 354 00:22:18,310 --> 00:22:20,270 Good evening. I'm glad you're here. 355 00:22:20,270 --> 00:22:23,630 Welcome to old Charlie's. And then I would say, how many 356 00:22:23,630 --> 00:22:26,480 are in your party today? And they would begin to tell me 357 00:22:26,480 --> 00:22:28,880 how many were in their party? Two or four. 358 00:22:28,880 --> 00:22:31,120 We have a big, big party. We got ten of us today. 359 00:22:31,120 --> 00:22:32,280 And I would say, oh, that's great. 360 00:22:32,280 --> 00:22:34,520 I'm excited. Are you celebrating a special 361 00:22:34,520 --> 00:22:36,720 occasion today? They might say, yes, we're we're 362 00:22:36,720 --> 00:22:39,680 having a birthday party or you know, we're just having a 363 00:22:39,680 --> 00:22:42,160 reunion of sorts or it's so on. Right. 364 00:22:42,320 --> 00:22:45,960 And so when I got all this information, I would then go and 365 00:22:45,960 --> 00:22:49,650 check the seating chart because the servers all had their 366 00:22:49,650 --> 00:22:52,170 certain areas, right. And so I would check the seating 367 00:22:52,170 --> 00:22:54,890 chart and I would look, I said, oh, today I'm going to put you 368 00:22:54,890 --> 00:22:56,970 with Deborah. All right, I'm going to put you 369 00:22:56,970 --> 00:22:58,690 with Deborah. Deborah's going to take real 370 00:22:58,690 --> 00:23:01,490 good care of you. I would get all the menus. 371 00:23:01,490 --> 00:23:04,890 And now as a dad of 18 month old, I'll also make sure to get 372 00:23:04,890 --> 00:23:06,530 the little crayons for the little kids. 373 00:23:06,530 --> 00:23:08,730 And so they can color and do all that good things. 374 00:23:08,930 --> 00:23:11,850 And so I got the menus and I would, you know, politely walk 375 00:23:11,850 --> 00:23:14,610 in front of them and say, y'all follow me, right. 376 00:23:14,610 --> 00:23:17,090 And so I would take them to their table, make sure they had 377 00:23:17,090 --> 00:23:19,730 their utensils, schools and their menu so they could begin 378 00:23:19,730 --> 00:23:22,970 to order and enjoy themselves, Make sure the kids had their 379 00:23:23,050 --> 00:23:26,490 their layout of of crayons and coloring sheets. 380 00:23:26,930 --> 00:23:31,050 And so I was trying to be attempting to be hospitable. 381 00:23:32,850 --> 00:23:35,410 But when I think about hospitality, I think that's 382 00:23:35,410 --> 00:23:40,250 where many of us leave it. We leave it in a smiley, 383 00:23:41,010 --> 00:23:45,410 wonderful come, hey, this is my moment to share with you and 384 00:23:45,410 --> 00:23:48,790 love on you for a quick second and then we walk away from the 385 00:23:48,790 --> 00:23:53,230 table. But hospitality means bearing 386 00:23:53,230 --> 00:23:56,750 with one another. It means staying with one 387 00:23:56,750 --> 00:23:58,750 another. In fact, there is a quote that I 388 00:23:58,750 --> 00:24:02,830 want to read from a woman named Elizabeth Newman. 389 00:24:02,990 --> 00:24:05,990 She says Christian hospitality does not aim for self 390 00:24:05,990 --> 00:24:08,610 fulfillment. It doesn't aim just for a feel 391 00:24:08,610 --> 00:24:12,170 good that yes, I'm doing well, glad to see you come on to the 392 00:24:12,170 --> 00:24:13,810 table. No, it's more than that. 393 00:24:13,810 --> 00:24:16,650 It's through and it's and it's not an aim for self fulfillment 394 00:24:16,650 --> 00:24:18,210 through autonomous choice, she says. 395 00:24:18,210 --> 00:24:24,250 But it is for staying put with Christ in the places we are 396 00:24:24,250 --> 00:24:26,690 given. You see, when I was at old 397 00:24:26,690 --> 00:24:28,930 Charlie's, I would take people to their table and I would go 398 00:24:28,930 --> 00:24:33,090 back to my duty and get the next round of people right. 399 00:24:33,090 --> 00:24:37,170 I couldn't stay put with them. She also goes on and says, but 400 00:24:37,170 --> 00:24:41,410 it aims hospitality. It aims not for the detachment 401 00:24:41,410 --> 00:24:46,450 from people or institutions or traditions, but it is for 402 00:24:46,450 --> 00:24:52,490 allowing God to recreate in us through the places and people we 403 00:24:52,490 --> 00:24:55,610 are given. I think that is very powerful. 404 00:24:56,650 --> 00:25:00,690 She's saying that hospitality is so much more than about when I 405 00:25:00,690 --> 00:25:02,610 open my front door that I have a smile. 406 00:25:03,090 --> 00:25:07,010 It's about that when I let you into the innards of my home and 407 00:25:07,010 --> 00:25:10,370 you sit on my couch and you sit at my table and you got 408 00:25:10,370 --> 00:25:13,050 refrigerator or refrigerator rights to just go in there. 409 00:25:13,050 --> 00:25:14,890 You don't got to ask. You can get water, you can get 410 00:25:14,890 --> 00:25:16,930 tea, you can get soda, you can get whatever you want. 411 00:25:16,930 --> 00:25:18,090 You can take it out of my fridge. 412 00:25:18,250 --> 00:25:23,050 It's about being in a place long enough staying put, she says. 413 00:25:23,690 --> 00:25:29,290 So that you can have God to recreate things in you, through 414 00:25:29,290 --> 00:25:31,810 how you serve and through how you're hospitable. 415 00:25:32,410 --> 00:25:34,690 So with that in mind, let's go to John 13. 416 00:25:35,490 --> 00:25:40,650 Let's go to John 13 verse one. First one says before the 417 00:25:40,650 --> 00:25:44,730 Passover festival, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart 418 00:25:44,730 --> 00:25:47,890 from this world to the Father, having loved his own, who were 419 00:25:47,890 --> 00:25:49,530 in the world, he loved them to the end. 420 00:25:49,730 --> 00:25:53,920 And now when it was time for supper, the devil had already 421 00:25:53,920 --> 00:25:58,840 put it into the heart of Judas Simon, ascarious son to Peach to 422 00:25:58,840 --> 00:26:01,200 betray him, talking about Jesus, verse 3. 423 00:26:01,560 --> 00:26:05,240 Jesus knew that the Father had given everything into his hands, 424 00:26:05,480 --> 00:26:09,320 that he had come from God, and that he was going back to God. 425 00:26:09,640 --> 00:26:14,750 So he got up from supper, laid aside his outer clothing, took 426 00:26:14,750 --> 00:26:17,830 out, took a towel and tied around himself. 427 00:26:17,990 --> 00:26:22,790 And next he poured water into the basin and began to wash his 428 00:26:22,790 --> 00:26:26,830 disciples feet and to dry them with the towel tied around him. 429 00:26:27,190 --> 00:26:29,430 Verse 6. And he came to Simon Peter who 430 00:26:29,430 --> 00:26:31,830 asked him, Lord, are you going to wash my feet? 431 00:26:32,550 --> 00:26:35,070 I'm, I'm like Simon. I'm like Simon Peter because, 432 00:26:35,070 --> 00:26:36,830 you know, sometimes my feet don't smell good. 433 00:26:37,270 --> 00:26:39,430 And so I'm like, Lord, do you really want to get that close to 434 00:26:39,550 --> 00:26:42,490 to these toes? And verse seven he goes on and 435 00:26:42,490 --> 00:26:47,650 says Jesus answered him What I'm doing you don't realize now, but 436 00:26:47,650 --> 00:26:51,650 afterwards you will understand you will never wash my feet. 437 00:26:51,650 --> 00:26:55,570 Peter said, you know Jesus the the the funk is is is real on 438 00:26:55,570 --> 00:26:58,090 these toes. And Jesus replied, if I don't 439 00:26:58,090 --> 00:27:02,970 wash you, you have no part with me. 440 00:27:02,970 --> 00:27:07,590 I want to skip to verse 10 and then verse 21st. 10 says one who 441 00:27:07,590 --> 00:27:11,390 has bathed Jesus told him doesn't need to wash anything 442 00:27:11,390 --> 00:27:15,670 except his feet but he is completely clean. 443 00:27:16,070 --> 00:27:20,070 You are clean Peter, but not all of you as he's talking to his 444 00:27:20,070 --> 00:27:24,390 gathered disciples and he says for he knew who would betray 445 00:27:24,390 --> 00:27:26,910 him. This is why he said not all of 446 00:27:26,910 --> 00:27:29,430 you are clean. And then verse 20. 447 00:27:30,390 --> 00:27:36,880 Truly, I tell you, whoever receives anyone I send receives 448 00:27:36,880 --> 00:27:42,000 me, and the one who receives me receives him who sent me. 449 00:27:42,760 --> 00:27:44,040 You see? Hospitality. 450 00:27:44,040 --> 00:27:46,040 Verse three gives us our our big idea. 451 00:27:46,040 --> 00:27:50,960 Here hospitality is about first rightly recognizing that you 452 00:27:50,960 --> 00:27:54,400 know the Father and you understand we're all 453 00:27:54,400 --> 00:27:58,760 sovereignty, control, power, omniscience, presence it 454 00:27:58,760 --> 00:28:03,020 wherever lies in the Godhead. You see, because he says Jesus 455 00:28:03,020 --> 00:28:05,980 knew that the Father had given everything into his hands and 456 00:28:05,980 --> 00:28:08,060 that he had come from God and that he was going back to God. 457 00:28:08,060 --> 00:28:13,780 He had a trust in God. He had a certainty, a confidence 458 00:28:14,020 --> 00:28:15,900 about what he was about to do next. 459 00:28:16,060 --> 00:28:19,940 And because he had a confidence and a certainty in God, he could 460 00:28:19,940 --> 00:28:23,060 then be hospitable. Jesus could serve as host. 461 00:28:23,860 --> 00:28:27,420 So what does he do? He begins to strip himself of 462 00:28:27,420 --> 00:28:30,360 his outer garments. He's getting prepared, and verse 463 00:28:30,360 --> 00:28:33,680 four said so He got up from the supper table and he laid us out 464 00:28:33,680 --> 00:28:37,520 his outer clothing and he took a towel and he tied around himself 465 00:28:38,560 --> 00:28:42,160 and he prepared the basin with water and he said, y'all get 466 00:28:42,160 --> 00:28:45,120 your feet out. I know y'all been walking and 467 00:28:45,120 --> 00:28:48,520 y'all had them sandals on. I know your feet has got 468 00:28:48,520 --> 00:28:51,750 encrusted dirt on it. I know you've been sweating, he 469 00:28:51,750 --> 00:28:53,710 said. But it's time for me to serve 470 00:28:53,710 --> 00:28:56,390 you. It's time for me to build a 471 00:28:56,390 --> 00:28:58,830 trust. It's more than just come here 472 00:28:58,830 --> 00:29:01,950 and be in my life, but I want to serve you. 473 00:29:02,270 --> 00:29:06,950 I want to build a a community of mutuality. 474 00:29:07,630 --> 00:29:11,790 And so Jesus standing as host comes to Peter, and what we 475 00:29:11,790 --> 00:29:14,430 learn about Peter is how to be hosted. 476 00:29:14,430 --> 00:29:16,990 And really, what we learn about Peter is how not to be hosted. 477 00:29:17,820 --> 00:29:22,060 Because Peter in his pride, I believe, I believe Peter in his 478 00:29:22,060 --> 00:29:27,260 situation, it's like, Lord, I cannot receive from you. 479 00:29:28,540 --> 00:29:31,420 And hospitality is not only about pouring out. 480 00:29:31,420 --> 00:29:35,180 It's not only about giving. It's about reception is about 481 00:29:35,340 --> 00:29:39,100 receiving. And so when Peter is getting his 482 00:29:39,420 --> 00:29:43,700 is having, having offered to him the opportunity to have his feet 483 00:29:43,700 --> 00:29:49,780 washed and cared for by Jesus, our ultimate sacrificial host, 484 00:29:50,260 --> 00:29:53,580 he finds himself in an internal internal conundrum. 485 00:29:54,100 --> 00:29:56,740 So much is going on in his mind, probably. 486 00:29:57,260 --> 00:30:01,140 How can I let the Lord of Lord the King of Kings, the one who 487 00:30:01,140 --> 00:30:06,270 he would deny later on, right? How can I allow him, my teacher, 488 00:30:06,270 --> 00:30:11,230 my master, my riboni to to to wash my feet. 489 00:30:12,150 --> 00:30:14,870 And so I think what we need to sit in as we think about the 490 00:30:14,870 --> 00:30:20,710 host and hosted dynamic of hospitality is that can you 491 00:30:21,190 --> 00:30:25,910 receive. You know so many times I, I, I 492 00:30:25,910 --> 00:30:29,190 get offered a gift and I used to be oh thank you thank you. 493 00:30:29,190 --> 00:30:31,870 But I I cannot receive that. I cannot take that. 494 00:30:31,870 --> 00:30:36,450 And I realized that I was stealing someone's opportunity 495 00:30:37,210 --> 00:30:42,450 right to to to to pour into me. But I was also putting up a wall 496 00:30:43,050 --> 00:30:47,090 that was keeping back mutuality and reciprocity. 497 00:30:49,090 --> 00:30:52,530 And so, as Peter sat in this chair and Jesus had the towel on 498 00:30:52,530 --> 00:30:58,250 his side, ready to wipe his feet down, Peter was struggling to 499 00:30:58,250 --> 00:31:01,210 just receive. Maybe you need to sit in this 500 00:31:01,210 --> 00:31:05,690 moment and think through where did this week, this last month, 501 00:31:06,250 --> 00:31:09,570 this last year? Have you been struggling to 502 00:31:09,570 --> 00:31:12,810 receive? Is it because of your pride? 503 00:31:13,810 --> 00:31:16,530 Is it because you don't like the person who was trying to give to 504 00:31:16,530 --> 00:31:18,970 you? Is it because of some other 505 00:31:18,970 --> 00:31:23,530 blockage that's there? Because I believe a great part 506 00:31:23,530 --> 00:31:26,850 of hospitality, especially in the community of faith, is the 507 00:31:26,850 --> 00:31:31,090 ability to receive what is being offered, right? 508 00:31:32,350 --> 00:31:36,990 But also, I think what is so key in verse 20 lays it out for us, 509 00:31:37,310 --> 00:31:41,630 and then we'll move to John. Chapter 4, Verse 20 lays it out. 510 00:31:41,630 --> 00:31:44,710 It says truly, this is Jesus telling him, I tell you whoever 511 00:31:44,710 --> 00:31:51,630 receives anyone I send receives me, and the one who receives me 512 00:31:52,030 --> 00:31:57,230 receives him who sent me. In our hospitality and in our 513 00:31:57,230 --> 00:32:02,930 dynamic of being hosted and being host, we must realize that 514 00:32:03,370 --> 00:32:08,090 Jesus has been sent, and so as he has been sent, we are 515 00:32:08,090 --> 00:32:12,290 receiving the sender. You see, when we are being 516 00:32:12,290 --> 00:32:16,490 hospitable, when we are serving as host and we as followers of 517 00:32:16,610 --> 00:32:20,210 Jesus, we stand as representatives of King Jesus. 518 00:32:20,210 --> 00:32:23,690 We stand as representatives of the God of the universe, and so 519 00:32:23,810 --> 00:32:28,970 as we pour out as host to someone who is being hosted by 520 00:32:28,970 --> 00:32:34,450 us, it makes it possible for them to be able to receive the 521 00:32:34,450 --> 00:32:38,530 God that we serve. And so as we sit with that, I 522 00:32:38,530 --> 00:32:42,370 want us to also go to John Chapter 4 and then I'll get out 523 00:32:42,370 --> 00:32:45,170 your way. John chapter 4 has got to be one 524 00:32:45,170 --> 00:32:50,730 of my favorite passages because we see Jesus here again being a 525 00:32:50,730 --> 00:32:55,570 host, but he's being a host to a person who he doesn't know. 526 00:32:56,210 --> 00:32:58,890 Whereas in John 13 these were people who have been walking 527 00:32:58,890 --> 00:33:02,280 with him, been talking with him, been laboring in the vineyard 528 00:33:02,280 --> 00:33:05,480 with him. But in John chapter 4, this is a 529 00:33:05,480 --> 00:33:10,960 a woman that outside of his divinity he was not familiar 530 00:33:10,960 --> 00:33:13,240 with. It's a Samaritan woman. 531 00:33:13,240 --> 00:33:18,280 There is a clash of cultures, there is a clash of gender and 532 00:33:18,280 --> 00:33:23,960 sexual roles. There is a clash right of power 533 00:33:24,440 --> 00:33:29,040 even in the text as Jesus connects with this Samaritan 534 00:33:29,040 --> 00:33:31,150 woman. And so let's let's read real 535 00:33:31,150 --> 00:33:33,630 quick from John chapter 4, verse one. 536 00:33:33,870 --> 00:33:37,390 It says when Jesus learned that the fairest he said heard he was 537 00:33:37,670 --> 00:33:40,870 making and baptizing more disciples than John, Though 538 00:33:40,910 --> 00:33:43,590 Jesus himself was not baptizing but his disciples were. 539 00:33:43,830 --> 00:33:47,870 He left Judea and went again to Galilee and he had to travel 540 00:33:47,870 --> 00:33:51,550 through Samaria. So he came to a town of Samaria 541 00:33:51,550 --> 00:33:55,150 called Sicar, near the property that Jacob had given his son 542 00:33:55,150 --> 00:33:59,710 Joseph and Jacob's well. This is verse six was there, and 543 00:33:59,750 --> 00:34:03,110 Jesus, worn out from his journey, sat down at the well. 544 00:34:03,110 --> 00:34:07,150 And it was about noon, and a woman of Samaria came to draw 545 00:34:07,150 --> 00:34:10,110 water. He said, give me a drink. 546 00:34:10,510 --> 00:34:14,830 And Jesus said to her, because his disciples had gone into town 547 00:34:14,830 --> 00:34:17,630 to buy food. And verse 9, How was it that 548 00:34:17,630 --> 00:34:20,510 you, a Jew ask? A drink from me. 549 00:34:20,630 --> 00:34:24,150 A Samaritan woman. And Jesus asked him, and she 550 00:34:24,150 --> 00:34:28,030 asked him for Jews do not associate with Samaritans. 551 00:34:28,429 --> 00:34:33,230 And Jesus answered, If you knew the gift of God who is saying to 552 00:34:33,230 --> 00:34:37,310 you, give me a drink, you would ask him, and he would give you 553 00:34:37,590 --> 00:34:41,070 living water. 1st 11 Sir, said the woman. 554 00:34:41,070 --> 00:34:43,909 You don't even have a bucket, and the well is deep. 555 00:34:43,909 --> 00:34:45,870 So where do you get this living water? 556 00:34:46,110 --> 00:34:48,350 You aren't greater than our Father, Jacob, are you? 557 00:34:49,150 --> 00:34:51,630 And he gave us. He gave us the well and drank 558 00:34:51,630 --> 00:34:54,830 from it himself, and as did his sons and livestock. 559 00:34:55,590 --> 00:34:59,390 And everyone who drinks from this water, Jesus said, will get 560 00:34:59,390 --> 00:35:01,710 thirsty again. But whoever drinks from the 561 00:35:01,710 --> 00:35:05,350 water that I will give him will never get thirsty again. 562 00:35:05,670 --> 00:35:09,830 In fact, the water I will give him will become a well of water 563 00:35:09,910 --> 00:35:12,590 springing up in him for eternal life. 564 00:35:12,870 --> 00:35:20,160 I want to pause there. Jesus comes to this well, meets 565 00:35:20,160 --> 00:35:24,600 this woman, and I want you to place yourself in the text a 566 00:35:24,600 --> 00:35:27,280 bit. Because in this this city of 567 00:35:27,280 --> 00:35:31,320 ours, where there are many people walking fast, driving 568 00:35:31,320 --> 00:35:34,880 fast, getting on the subway, getting on the bus, trying to 569 00:35:34,880 --> 00:35:39,520 make it to their destinations, when do we pause? 570 00:35:40,560 --> 00:35:45,320 What becomes our well where we stop and we engage? 571 00:35:46,410 --> 00:35:51,610 When do we still ourselves long enough in the midst of strangers 572 00:35:51,610 --> 00:35:56,410 and even in people that we know to interact and engage. 573 00:35:57,890 --> 00:36:00,970 When does that happen? I know I I heard you guys in the 574 00:36:00,970 --> 00:36:03,970 announcements are are having some moments some summer table 575 00:36:03,970 --> 00:36:07,170 opportunities also get your emails and so I've been seeing 576 00:36:07,170 --> 00:36:12,130 your summer table opportunities. When do you pause to still 577 00:36:12,130 --> 00:36:17,250 yourself to maybe ask for a drink as Jesus did? 578 00:36:17,890 --> 00:36:20,370 You see, Jesus is doing something quite interesting in 579 00:36:20,370 --> 00:36:23,370 this text. He is not only being a host by 580 00:36:23,370 --> 00:36:27,250 offering living water, but he is also being hosted by the woman. 581 00:36:27,250 --> 00:36:30,970 He places himself as both host and hosted. 582 00:36:31,490 --> 00:36:36,170 He asked for a drink, placing himself as the hosted, but he 583 00:36:36,170 --> 00:36:39,650 also offers placing himself as the host in this dynamic. 584 00:36:40,210 --> 00:36:42,490 And it's really beautiful because he does it with such 585 00:36:42,490 --> 00:36:46,390 humility and he does it with such curiosity. 586 00:36:46,750 --> 00:36:51,270 You see, in our hospitality, sometimes we think that we have 587 00:36:51,270 --> 00:36:55,510 gathered just from first glance everything we can to know about 588 00:36:55,510 --> 00:36:58,110 a person. But I I want to put and submit 589 00:36:58,110 --> 00:37:01,110 to you two things. One, as we're interacting with 590 00:37:01,110 --> 00:37:04,350 one another with people that you may know or may not know that 591 00:37:04,350 --> 00:37:07,510 well, that one, you have a natural curiosity. 592 00:37:08,070 --> 00:37:12,560 And two, that you operate with an understanding and a 593 00:37:12,560 --> 00:37:15,680 hopefulness that everyone you meet is generally dope. 594 00:37:16,440 --> 00:37:18,840 And what I mean by that, if you don't know that phrase, is that 595 00:37:18,840 --> 00:37:21,040 you just think this might actually be a good person to 596 00:37:21,040 --> 00:37:23,240 hang with. And so you operate with 597 00:37:23,240 --> 00:37:27,960 curiosity, but you operate also with this idea that this person 598 00:37:27,960 --> 00:37:30,200 has been shaped and formed into the image of God. 599 00:37:30,440 --> 00:37:33,440 This person is the Celine. They are the imago day. 600 00:37:33,600 --> 00:37:37,640 They have been filled with worth and dignity just because they 601 00:37:37,640 --> 00:37:40,210 exist. This is how Jesus enters the 602 00:37:40,210 --> 00:37:44,410 scene with this woman when he says give me a drink. 603 00:37:44,690 --> 00:37:49,090 He does not push aside her because of her differences, 604 00:37:49,090 --> 00:37:53,330 because of her political or cultural or ethnic differences, 605 00:37:53,330 --> 00:37:56,610 right. The the Biden fan and the Trump 606 00:37:56,610 --> 00:37:59,690 fan. Can you make space together in 607 00:37:59,690 --> 00:38:05,250 your life to be naturally curious and to also hold in your 608 00:38:05,250 --> 00:38:09,530 mindset that this person, they got worse than dignity and they 609 00:38:09,530 --> 00:38:15,330 just they might just be dope. But Jesus then goes on in verse 610 00:38:15,330 --> 00:38:17,850 10, he says, And if you knew the gift of God, this is when he 611 00:38:17,850 --> 00:38:21,570 begins to switch from being hosted to being a host, he says. 612 00:38:21,650 --> 00:38:25,050 Who is saying to you give me a drink, you would ask him and he 613 00:38:25,050 --> 00:38:28,410 would give you living water. She goes on and says, Sir, you 614 00:38:28,410 --> 00:38:31,570 you're not even equipped to deal with this well. 615 00:38:32,490 --> 00:38:35,930 But then he gets real spiritual on and I like it is good, he 616 00:38:35,930 --> 00:38:37,170 says. But everyone who drinks from 617 00:38:37,170 --> 00:38:39,130 this water will get thirsty again. 618 00:38:39,130 --> 00:38:41,890 But whoever drinks from the water that I will give him will 619 00:38:41,890 --> 00:38:45,250 never get thirsty again. In fact, the water I give him 620 00:38:45,250 --> 00:38:49,490 will be become a well. It will be reproducing. 621 00:38:50,450 --> 00:38:54,930 How much has your hospitality, has your hosting someone in 622 00:38:54,930 --> 00:39:00,610 curiosity and believing in their Amago day has produced and a 623 00:39:00,610 --> 00:39:06,370 reproducible mutuality, reciprocity, love and care and 624 00:39:06,370 --> 00:39:09,210 concern just from your single interaction. 625 00:39:09,650 --> 00:39:12,250 Because this is what Jesus is offering this woman. 626 00:39:13,130 --> 00:39:18,450 But I I love it if we keep going on into verse #16, Jesus talking 627 00:39:18,450 --> 00:39:23,210 to this woman and then he says to her, go call your husband, he 628 00:39:23,210 --> 00:39:25,930 told her. And come back here, she says in 629 00:39:25,930 --> 00:39:27,650 truthfulness. I don't have a husband, she 630 00:39:27,650 --> 00:39:29,530 answered. And Jesus, like, yeah, you you 631 00:39:29,530 --> 00:39:32,690 have said this correctly. I I don't have a husband for you 632 00:39:32,690 --> 00:39:35,370 have had five husbands. He gets all in her business. 633 00:39:35,730 --> 00:39:39,090 And the man you have now is not your husband. 634 00:39:39,090 --> 00:39:43,170 So what you have said is true. Jesus begins to dig into her 635 00:39:43,170 --> 00:39:45,290 life. He doesn't pry. 636 00:39:45,770 --> 00:39:50,960 He simply lays out what he knows is true in our hospitality. 637 00:39:51,240 --> 00:39:55,080 Are we operating in such a manner that we are moving past 638 00:39:55,080 --> 00:39:58,600 the surface? Are we moving past Just how are 639 00:39:58,600 --> 00:40:01,400 you doing today? Are we moving into the 640 00:40:01,400 --> 00:40:04,760 dimensions of the life that gets into their family of origin 641 00:40:04,760 --> 00:40:08,160 story and that gets into their heartaches and that gets into 642 00:40:08,160 --> 00:40:11,480 their fumbles and their stumbles and that gets into their hopes 643 00:40:11,520 --> 00:40:14,440 and their dreams? Are we moving into a place that 644 00:40:14,440 --> 00:40:20,370 allows us to enter in as host? But also as as being people who 645 00:40:20,370 --> 00:40:23,810 are being hosted, can we be like this woman and we just admit 646 00:40:23,810 --> 00:40:26,810 truth? Can we begin to be vulnerable 647 00:40:26,810 --> 00:40:30,330 and open just from the offset? Now I understand that we have 648 00:40:30,330 --> 00:40:33,010 hurt and we have pain and so therefore we are guarded. 649 00:40:33,210 --> 00:40:36,330 But she begins to open herself rather quickly. 650 00:40:36,770 --> 00:40:40,370 I'll rush to the end. Verse 21 says believe in me, 651 00:40:40,370 --> 00:40:44,370 this is Jesus talking to her. An hour is coming when you will 652 00:40:44,370 --> 00:40:48,090 worship and the Father neither on this mountain or in 653 00:40:48,090 --> 00:40:50,410 Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you 654 00:40:50,410 --> 00:40:53,970 do not know, and we worship what we do know talking about Jews, 655 00:40:53,970 --> 00:40:55,770 because salvation is from the Jews. 656 00:40:56,010 --> 00:40:59,450 But an hour is coming and now is here when the true worshippers 657 00:40:59,450 --> 00:41:01,490 will worship the Father and Spirit and truth. 658 00:41:01,930 --> 00:41:04,930 Yes, the Father wants such people to worship Him. 659 00:41:05,170 --> 00:41:09,010 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship Him in 660 00:41:09,010 --> 00:41:11,850 spirit and in truth. And the woman said to him, I 661 00:41:11,850 --> 00:41:15,310 know that the Messiah is coming, and when he comes he will 662 00:41:15,310 --> 00:41:17,390 explain everything to me. And Jesus just lays it out. 663 00:41:17,550 --> 00:41:22,230 I am the one speaking to you. Here's my last thought as we 664 00:41:22,230 --> 00:41:27,830 serve to be host and are being hosted by others and by Jesus. 665 00:41:28,550 --> 00:41:36,110 How many times do we rest in the truth and in the fact that God 666 00:41:36,110 --> 00:41:39,710 is the one who we look to for truth? 667 00:41:40,670 --> 00:41:45,630 How many times do we sit with and have an attitude and a 668 00:41:45,630 --> 00:41:51,110 behavior and an understanding of that God is the one who is 669 00:41:51,110 --> 00:41:56,270 welcoming us to His table. You see, here's some practices 670 00:41:56,270 --> 00:42:00,030 that we learned from Jesus from John 13 and John 41. 671 00:42:00,030 --> 00:42:04,110 Practice the invite, practice the invite 2. 672 00:42:04,110 --> 00:42:10,620 Welcome divine interruptions. And lastly, have an open table. 673 00:42:10,620 --> 00:42:13,700 You see, you don't got to have a real literal table to have an 674 00:42:13,700 --> 00:42:16,180 open table. Jesus practiced the invite with 675 00:42:16,180 --> 00:42:17,940 to that woman when he just said give me a drink. 676 00:42:17,940 --> 00:42:20,180 It was an opening for a conversation. 677 00:42:20,260 --> 00:42:23,260 And he practiced divine interruptions when he decided to 678 00:42:23,260 --> 00:42:27,620 rest his tired dogs and to sit by the well and to realize that 679 00:42:27,620 --> 00:42:30,060 that was a moment where the spirit had led. 680 00:42:30,060 --> 00:42:34,300 And then lastly he had an open table where he could converse 681 00:42:34,620 --> 00:42:39,420 and speak openly and freely. So as we all think about 682 00:42:39,420 --> 00:42:42,900 hospitality and desire to practice it hopefully in our 683 00:42:42,900 --> 00:42:47,380 lives as it is a command from Jesus and it is being modeled by 684 00:42:47,460 --> 00:42:51,780 Jesus in the Gospels, I want to give us a a prayerful moment and 685 00:42:51,780 --> 00:42:54,900 2nd and even give you a moment to come here and pray if you so 686 00:42:54,900 --> 00:42:58,700 desire at the front. And also, Pastor Josh will be 687 00:42:58,700 --> 00:43:02,580 here to pray with you if you want to, to ask the Lord to help 688 00:43:02,580 --> 00:43:10,300 you to be hosted, but to be host, and to do so with Jesus at 689 00:43:10,300 --> 00:43:13,380 the center. Let's pray God. 690 00:43:13,380 --> 00:43:18,540 I ask that you would help us through your spirit, through 691 00:43:18,540 --> 00:43:22,220 your might, through your gentleness, through your 692 00:43:22,220 --> 00:43:22,820 graciousness.