WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:22.260 Hi, and welcome to the Willow Ridge Church weekly podcast. 00:00:22.760 --> 00:00:25.880 This is where you can find audio for our current and past sermons. 00:00:26.080 --> 00:00:30.420 We hope that you enjoy this week's installment, and be sure to check back next week to hear 00:00:30.420 --> 00:00:31.260 the latest message. 00:00:31.680 --> 00:00:32.460 Thanks for listening. 00:00:45.300 --> 00:00:46.280 Hey, good morning. 00:00:47.120 --> 00:00:49.080 Glad that you guys are here. 00:00:49.080 --> 00:00:53.160 If you've got your Bibles, go ahead and open them up to Luke chapter 1. 00:00:54.020 --> 00:00:58.000 As you are turning there, I also want to welcome everybody that's watching us online through 00:00:58.000 --> 00:00:59.000 YouTube and Facebook. 00:00:59.160 --> 00:01:01.800 Glad that y'all are joining in with us as well. 00:01:02.180 --> 00:01:07.220 As we all find our way there in Luke 1, I want to point out a couple things that were in our 00:01:07.220 --> 00:01:07.840 announcements. 00:01:08.040 --> 00:01:09.440 The first is budget. 00:01:09.660 --> 00:01:15.160 So if you've been around here for a while, it is budget season for us as a church as we 00:01:15.160 --> 00:01:17.760 start over our new budget on January 1. 00:01:18.120 --> 00:01:23.440 And so what we've made available here at the church over the next two Sundays, we have paper 00:01:23.440 --> 00:01:24.860 copies of the budget available. 00:01:25.060 --> 00:01:28.100 And so if you want to know what that looks like, please step out there and make sure that 00:01:28.100 --> 00:01:29.000 you grab one of those. 00:01:29.080 --> 00:01:34.300 It's got all of the ministry items of what we're going to do here in missions for personnel 00:01:34.300 --> 00:01:36.820 with the buildings and grounds, all of that. 00:01:37.400 --> 00:01:42.820 Then on Wednesday, December the 16th, we are going to have our time of discussion with 00:01:42.820 --> 00:01:43.020 that. 00:01:43.100 --> 00:01:44.340 That's on a Wednesday evening. 00:01:44.840 --> 00:01:48.460 And so Joel will be leading that, Pastor Joel, as we talk through the budget. 00:01:48.560 --> 00:01:52.820 So if you've got any questions, be a wonderful place to get those questions answered. 00:01:53.160 --> 00:01:59.140 And then on December 20th, after both services, we'll have our membership give you guys the 00:01:59.140 --> 00:02:01.420 opportunity to vote on the budget. 00:02:01.540 --> 00:02:02.460 So that's number one. 00:02:02.520 --> 00:02:05.780 Number two, just like this time of year, our Christmas Eve service. 00:02:05.780 --> 00:02:10.800 And so I hope you were able to catch a glimpse of the announcement of that coming up. 00:02:11.120 --> 00:02:14.660 Now we're doing things a little different this year, like we're doing a lot of things a little 00:02:14.660 --> 00:02:15.740 different this year. 00:02:16.060 --> 00:02:20.080 What we are doing with our Christmas Eve service, okay, there are going to be two services. 00:02:20.520 --> 00:02:22.080 And here's the reason why. 00:02:23.420 --> 00:02:26.620 Last year, I don't know if you remember, but we had all of the chairs out that we would normally 00:02:26.620 --> 00:02:27.040 put out. 00:02:27.140 --> 00:02:31.860 This was during a non-COVID year and everybody came and a lot more people kept coming and 00:02:31.860 --> 00:02:32.960 a lot more people kept coming. 00:02:32.960 --> 00:02:37.800 And so we had to put more chairs out and have everybody stacked in on top of each other. 00:02:37.960 --> 00:02:43.120 Well, this year we are working toward the goal of being able to allow everyone to come here 00:02:43.120 --> 00:02:48.300 and worship on Christmas Eve without stacking everyone on top of each other, okay? 00:02:48.420 --> 00:02:51.940 So we'll provide two services at 4 and 5.15. 00:02:52.280 --> 00:02:54.680 And here is what we are asking you to do. 00:02:54.920 --> 00:02:56.840 Now, and I want to confess this, all right? 00:02:56.840 --> 00:03:01.280 I know we did away with registration several weeks ago, and that's been wonderful. 00:03:01.700 --> 00:03:06.660 Even before we did away with registration, some of you guys did away with registration 00:03:06.660 --> 00:03:07.560 anyways, right? 00:03:07.820 --> 00:03:12.580 And so, and I'll be honest with you, my family, we weren't always the best at making sure we 00:03:12.580 --> 00:03:14.300 were registered as well. 00:03:14.580 --> 00:03:19.820 And so, but we're going to ask you to register for Christmas Eve services so that we can ensure 00:03:19.820 --> 00:03:23.280 that we have enough seats for everyone that wants to attend. 00:03:23.280 --> 00:03:27.580 And so, please, that includes friends and family members and neighbors. 00:03:27.740 --> 00:03:32.060 We know it's a wonderful opportunity for you guys to be able to invite people who don't 00:03:32.060 --> 00:03:35.780 normally come to church, and we want to make that available to you. 00:03:35.860 --> 00:03:38.920 So please, please, please register. 00:03:39.220 --> 00:03:44.140 If you can't register, maybe you don't have the internet, you don't have the means, you 00:03:44.140 --> 00:03:46.100 can't figure it out, call Dave. 00:03:46.220 --> 00:03:47.680 Dave will do it for you, won't you, Dave? 00:03:47.760 --> 00:03:49.060 So I appreciate it. 00:03:49.120 --> 00:03:49.760 Thank you guys. 00:03:49.760 --> 00:03:55.560 Well, as we are looking at Luke chapter 1, I want to talk to you guys about something 00:03:55.560 --> 00:04:02.880 as we get into this season and this Christmas series that we're going to be going through. 00:04:03.400 --> 00:04:08.760 And what I want us to talk about is seeing Jesus clearly. 00:04:09.820 --> 00:04:11.720 Seeing Jesus clearly. 00:04:12.420 --> 00:04:15.900 A couple of Saturdays ago, my family and I, we were watching TV. 00:04:15.980 --> 00:04:17.120 We were watching The Mandalorian. 00:04:17.720 --> 00:04:19.460 The rule is that's one of our favorite TV shows. 00:04:19.560 --> 00:04:21.000 You can't watch it independently. 00:04:21.180 --> 00:04:23.200 All four of us have to be there together. 00:04:23.300 --> 00:04:24.200 It had been a busy week. 00:04:24.460 --> 00:04:28.680 And so we were watching a couple of episodes because we had gotten behind of The Mandalorian. 00:04:28.840 --> 00:04:34.720 If you don't know what The Mandalorian is, right, stop Michael Brewer or Joel Van Ham. 00:04:34.820 --> 00:04:37.340 They'll give you the rundown on The Mandalorian, all right? 00:04:37.440 --> 00:04:39.120 It's a Star Wars TV show. 00:04:39.260 --> 00:04:40.880 And I'm sitting in the recliner. 00:04:41.000 --> 00:04:42.520 The family's on the couch. 00:04:42.620 --> 00:04:45.700 I'm in my recliner, and I'm watching the TV. 00:04:46.300 --> 00:04:49.200 And all of a sudden, I looked at Aaron, and I said, Aaron, I can't see. 00:04:50.180 --> 00:04:51.100 And she said, what do you mean? 00:04:51.800 --> 00:04:52.900 I can't see. 00:04:53.580 --> 00:04:56.260 I said, it started on the outside. 00:04:56.580 --> 00:05:02.400 And now, as it comes getting closer and closer, I've been losing my peripheral vision. 00:05:02.640 --> 00:05:04.220 And it is now shrunk down. 00:05:04.220 --> 00:05:07.500 And it looks like I can't see anything out here. 00:05:07.600 --> 00:05:13.180 But I can just see it's almost like I'm looking through like a paper towel tube. 00:05:13.180 --> 00:05:16.020 And I'm just kind of focused in on that right there. 00:05:16.060 --> 00:05:19.100 And she said, well, describe to me, like, what all is going on? 00:05:19.620 --> 00:05:26.780 And I said, well, if I focus on this character that's talking, I definitely know that other stuff is happening. 00:05:27.140 --> 00:05:29.660 I know that other stuff is taking place. 00:05:29.740 --> 00:05:33.860 I know that our Christmas tree is here and that you and the kids are sitting here on the couch. 00:05:33.980 --> 00:05:41.460 But I can't focus in on anything else other than what my eye is directly pointing at. 00:05:41.580 --> 00:05:41.780 Right? 00:05:41.840 --> 00:05:49.440 And my wife, in her wisdom, and my wife and her concerns, she's like, you know, we really need to take you to the doctor and figure out what's going on. 00:05:49.440 --> 00:05:51.720 And I said, nah, it'll be all right, okay? 00:05:51.900 --> 00:05:55.760 And so I haven't been to the doctor yet, and I'm seeing pretty good. 00:05:55.780 --> 00:05:57.040 So we're rolling with it right now. 00:05:57.160 --> 00:05:58.420 But we think I had a migraine. 00:05:58.780 --> 00:05:59.700 My head started hurting. 00:05:59.760 --> 00:06:01.480 We think I had an ocular migraine. 00:06:01.620 --> 00:06:04.800 And that's what caused that moment where I couldn't see. 00:06:04.860 --> 00:06:07.960 And you're like, but why are you telling me this story? 00:06:08.260 --> 00:06:15.240 I feel like right now we use catchphrases about Christmas, that it's about Jesus. 00:06:15.520 --> 00:06:17.460 I mean, it's in the name, right? 00:06:17.540 --> 00:06:18.960 Christ in Christmas. 00:06:19.280 --> 00:06:20.860 There's the bumper stickers. 00:06:21.000 --> 00:06:22.520 We're reminded of it at the stores. 00:06:22.680 --> 00:06:23.840 We talk about it. 00:06:23.920 --> 00:06:25.300 We hear Christmas carols. 00:06:25.400 --> 00:06:26.960 We hear all of those things. 00:06:27.300 --> 00:06:31.680 And you and I, culturally, it is something that has been adapted. 00:06:31.840 --> 00:06:39.760 And we put nativity scenes in our homes, and we talk about it with people, and we send out Christmas cards with Bible verses and all of those things. 00:06:40.160 --> 00:06:53.960 But that if we're not careful in the confusion, and the chaos that is this time of year, if we're not careful, we will not see Jesus clearly. 00:06:53.960 --> 00:06:58.500 In fact, we can miss seeing him entirely. 00:06:58.500 --> 00:07:03.080 Luke, as he writes this gospel, it's very interesting. 00:07:03.080 --> 00:07:08.120 All of the gospel writers write their gospels to a different audience. 00:07:08.360 --> 00:07:15.760 But Luke, in his writing of his gospel, he addresses the individual that is going to receive this. 00:07:15.820 --> 00:07:19.100 And I want to read to you Luke chapter 1, verses 1 through 4. 00:07:19.100 --> 00:07:21.520 Luke writes and says, 00:07:48.940 --> 00:07:58.160 And so, what Luke does is he writes to this individual, Theophilus. 00:07:58.200 --> 00:08:08.320 In fact, the gospel of Luke and Acts are intended to be read together, and they were both written to this individual with a point and with a purpose. 00:08:08.720 --> 00:08:17.660 That Theophilus had been taught who Jesus was, but what Luke wanted to do was to bring certainty, 00:08:17.660 --> 00:08:24.040 to bring confidence to bring confidence to Theophilus' understanding of who Jesus is, 00:08:24.040 --> 00:08:28.860 so that he can have clarity in the understanding of this. 00:08:29.640 --> 00:08:36.620 Because what Luke was concerned for Theophilus, and what I'm concerned for many of us today, 00:08:36.880 --> 00:08:41.800 is we can be taught who Jesus is, but still completely missing. 00:08:42.800 --> 00:08:48.740 We can be shown who Jesus is, but still completely miss him. 00:08:49.180 --> 00:08:55.520 So now that you know this, every time you read any passage out of Luke, anytime you read any passage out of Acts, 00:08:55.520 --> 00:09:03.460 it's this friend writing to another friend, begging and pleading within the words that he has on paper, 00:09:03.880 --> 00:09:06.180 screaming to him, don't miss Jesus. 00:09:06.900 --> 00:09:11.300 See him clearly for who he is. 00:09:11.560 --> 00:09:17.040 And the best way to do this in the gospel of Luke, and this is what we're going to look at, 00:09:17.260 --> 00:09:20.580 is looking at these moments in his life. 00:09:21.280 --> 00:09:24.640 We're going to talk about the words, we're going to talk about the people, 00:09:24.860 --> 00:09:29.580 but that in that, what we're drawing to and what we're looking at is in these moments, 00:09:29.580 --> 00:09:34.220 so that you don't miss Jesus. 00:09:35.500 --> 00:09:40.720 And my concern is, we go into this time of year, where it's common to talk about Jesus. 00:09:41.780 --> 00:09:48.760 We go into this time of year, where it's more open to spiritual or even Christian things. 00:09:49.220 --> 00:09:53.960 Where we use the phrases, where Christ is being proclaimed, 00:09:53.960 --> 00:09:59.580 but that in through all of that, we still miss Jesus. 00:10:00.960 --> 00:10:03.480 And so today, through looking at the gospel of Luke, 00:10:03.540 --> 00:10:06.920 and where we will continue on through this series, 00:10:07.060 --> 00:10:08.140 is simply looking at that. 00:10:08.860 --> 00:10:12.000 Each and every passage, what does this tell us about Jesus? 00:10:12.120 --> 00:10:16.320 So jump down to Luke chapter 1, and we're going to start reading in verse 26. 00:10:17.520 --> 00:10:18.240 It says this, 00:10:18.240 --> 00:10:24.540 In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 00:10:24.880 --> 00:10:29.660 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph of the house of David. 00:10:30.320 --> 00:10:32.520 And the virgin's name was Mary. 00:10:32.980 --> 00:10:34.640 And he came to her and said, 00:10:34.960 --> 00:10:37.560 Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you. 00:10:37.880 --> 00:10:40.200 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, 00:10:40.280 --> 00:10:43.200 and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 00:10:43.520 --> 00:10:44.860 And the angel said to her, 00:10:44.860 --> 00:10:48.580 Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 00:10:48.960 --> 00:10:51.780 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, 00:10:51.960 --> 00:10:54.040 and you shall call his name Jesus. 00:10:54.520 --> 00:10:57.840 And he will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. 00:10:57.920 --> 00:11:01.240 And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David. 00:11:01.580 --> 00:11:04.300 And he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. 00:11:04.680 --> 00:11:06.900 And of his kingdoms there will be no end. 00:11:07.460 --> 00:11:08.840 And Mary said to the angel, 00:11:09.020 --> 00:11:10.780 How will this be since I am a virgin? 00:11:11.380 --> 00:11:12.720 And the angel answered her, 00:11:12.780 --> 00:11:14.780 The Holy Spirit will come upon you, 00:11:14.820 --> 00:11:17.460 and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. 00:11:17.800 --> 00:11:22.080 Therefore, the child to be born will be called holy as the Son of God. 00:11:22.340 --> 00:11:28.520 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son. 00:11:28.800 --> 00:11:32.260 And this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 00:11:32.500 --> 00:11:33.840 Verse 37 is key. 00:11:34.160 --> 00:11:36.340 This is going to be through the Gospel of Luke. 00:11:36.460 --> 00:11:39.260 For nothing is impossible with God. 00:11:39.260 --> 00:11:40.440 And Mary said, 00:11:40.600 --> 00:11:42.580 Behold, I am the servant of the Lord. 00:11:42.860 --> 00:11:45.600 Let it be to me according to your word. 00:11:45.720 --> 00:11:48.260 And the angel departed from her. 00:11:48.760 --> 00:11:51.040 And so if you were raised, if you've been a part, 00:11:51.140 --> 00:11:53.780 if you've come to church Christmas services, 00:11:54.080 --> 00:11:58.860 this is kind of that beginning narrative for so many of us of what we see. 00:11:58.860 --> 00:12:09.520 The angel Gabriel appearing before this young teenage virgin named Mary to tell her that she is going to be with child. 00:12:09.920 --> 00:12:14.900 It's the beginning of many of the Christmas pageants that we've gone to, 00:12:14.980 --> 00:12:17.340 that we even grew up participating in. 00:12:17.540 --> 00:12:26.180 It's this moment in the New Testament that tends to mark this for us of what we see in this first proclamation about Jesus. 00:12:26.900 --> 00:12:31.520 But what I want us to do is to put ourselves where Mary is. 00:12:32.500 --> 00:12:35.300 To put ourselves standing there in that moment. 00:12:35.300 --> 00:12:39.900 And what exactly is this angel telling her? 00:12:40.780 --> 00:12:48.840 For what we see at the very beginning, what our minds are drawn to is that this impossible thing is going to happen. 00:12:49.140 --> 00:12:54.120 A virgin is going to conceive a son and give birth to Jesus. 00:12:54.960 --> 00:12:57.200 But there's so much more in there. 00:12:57.560 --> 00:13:06.980 There's so much more as the angel is communicating with Mary of what he is saying that help us see Jesus clearly. 00:13:07.680 --> 00:13:10.880 And so I want to look at four of those with you this morning. 00:13:11.320 --> 00:13:15.940 The first thing that the angel communicates is that Jesus is Savior. 00:13:16.720 --> 00:13:17.540 Look at verse 31. 00:13:17.540 --> 00:13:27.220 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 00:13:28.180 --> 00:13:35.380 For all of the parents in the room, or maybe even the married couples that have talked about having kids, 00:13:35.740 --> 00:13:40.020 one of the greatest joys, one of the funnest times that I remember once we found out, 00:13:40.260 --> 00:13:44.700 number one, that Erin was pregnant, number two, that she was pregnant with twins, 00:13:44.840 --> 00:13:47.500 was the great discussion of names, right? 00:13:47.700 --> 00:13:53.560 When we went through, I remember going out to restaurants and sitting down and giving the list of names that I liked 00:13:53.560 --> 00:13:55.200 and the list of names that she liked. 00:13:55.380 --> 00:13:58.060 I remember having the conversation back and forth of, 00:13:58.420 --> 00:14:01.240 why do you like this name versus why do I like this name? 00:14:01.380 --> 00:14:06.240 I remember in some really kind arguments that we had back and forth, right? 00:14:06.280 --> 00:14:07.380 Some of the parents, you know this. 00:14:07.660 --> 00:14:10.360 You loved the name and they didn't love a name. 00:14:10.440 --> 00:14:13.980 And so you've kind of got to work through and figure out where you're going to go. 00:14:13.980 --> 00:14:22.860 But the process for Erin and I to go through and choosing Emma's name for Emma Marie Bradbury 00:14:22.860 --> 00:14:29.240 and Grayson's name for Grayson Harbin Bradbury was a very special time for us. 00:14:29.340 --> 00:14:36.180 And there's meaning and there's purpose behind the reason why we chose the names that they chose. 00:14:36.560 --> 00:14:43.220 When I'm meeting a couple that's pregnant or I know a couple that's pregnant and one of the questions I love to ask is, 00:14:43.580 --> 00:14:46.460 do you know what name you're going to give the child, right? 00:14:46.500 --> 00:14:47.660 That you're going to give the baby. 00:14:47.900 --> 00:14:52.380 And if they do, the question that I love, that I love to sit there and hear the answer to is, 00:14:52.660 --> 00:14:54.200 well, why did you choose that name? 00:14:54.800 --> 00:14:55.940 Was it a family name? 00:14:56.020 --> 00:14:57.780 Was it a name that you've just always liked? 00:14:57.820 --> 00:14:59.620 Is it a name with special meaning? 00:14:59.620 --> 00:15:09.560 But there's so much that is carried in the name and there's so much that's so important from the parent who gives the name to the child. 00:15:10.260 --> 00:15:12.060 But Mary didn't get to do that. 00:15:13.600 --> 00:15:19.920 Mary in this hears that you will conceive in your womb and you're going to bear a son. 00:15:20.960 --> 00:15:25.760 And Mary, his name is going to be Jesus. 00:15:26.940 --> 00:15:34.720 Now, in the very first, we might look at that and go, whoa, so much is taken away from her in this. 00:15:34.980 --> 00:15:43.260 So much of the experience as she gets to define in that very instance what her son's name will be. 00:15:44.100 --> 00:15:45.560 But there's a reason for that. 00:15:46.200 --> 00:15:50.300 There's a reason why God in his sovereignty did what God did. 00:15:50.300 --> 00:15:58.840 And in that, Mary, being a Jewish girl, would have heard the name Jesus, would have understand what it meant. 00:15:59.320 --> 00:16:05.240 Because in Hebrew, the name Jesus means Savior or deliver her. 00:16:05.980 --> 00:16:10.420 So as she's standing there in the very first encounter of what will happen, 00:16:10.420 --> 00:16:20.940 as this young little girl is being told that this impossible thing is going to happen with you, inside of you. 00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:25.060 But Mary, you've got to understand this baby. 00:16:25.740 --> 00:16:26.620 His name's Jesus. 00:16:27.700 --> 00:16:32.360 And if you know that his name's Jesus, then you know that he's a Savior. 00:16:32.360 --> 00:16:40.580 You see, the very beginning of the Christmas narrative is more than about a baby. 00:16:41.720 --> 00:16:47.880 It's about the journey of God to save and to redeem for himself a people. 00:16:48.700 --> 00:16:52.660 So the angel looks at her and says, Mary, Jesus is Savior. 00:16:53.620 --> 00:16:56.300 But then he also looks at her and says, Jesus is great. 00:16:56.300 --> 00:17:07.040 Very simply, in Luke 1, 32, the declaration from the angel, these four words, he will be great. 00:17:07.500 --> 00:17:10.120 Not he may be great, he might be great. 00:17:10.340 --> 00:17:14.120 Not he may be good, but he will be great. 00:17:14.480 --> 00:17:18.360 Now, great is this kind of complicated word, right? 00:17:18.600 --> 00:17:25.680 Define for yourself in your mind the standard of which you give something the term greatness. 00:17:26.300 --> 00:17:36.720 And so when the angel comes and appears to Mary and shares this with Mary, he says in a definite, this is what he will be, he will be great. 00:17:37.280 --> 00:17:38.700 Now, this is complicated for us. 00:17:38.760 --> 00:17:41.520 I want to do a little experiment with you guys. 00:17:41.660 --> 00:17:46.040 And in doing so, I want to share with you some things that I think are great. 00:17:46.440 --> 00:17:49.060 And I'm going to find out if you agree with me or not, all right? 00:17:49.380 --> 00:17:59.000 So in your mind, you have to answer this out loud, but in your mind, I want you to think of what you think is the greatest movie of all time. 00:17:59.820 --> 00:18:00.840 Greatest movie of all time. 00:18:00.880 --> 00:18:02.960 Go ahead and get that in your mind, all right? 00:18:02.980 --> 00:18:04.180 We've got to move through this. 00:18:04.240 --> 00:18:07.000 So if you've got to process this for a while, you're not going to get it. 00:18:07.240 --> 00:18:15.720 I believe, and will argue with anyone, that the greatest movie of all time is the movie Tombstone. 00:18:15.840 --> 00:18:17.000 It's been decided, right? 00:18:17.840 --> 00:18:18.880 It's not up for debate. 00:18:19.160 --> 00:18:22.040 Greatest movie of all time, Tombstone. 00:18:22.800 --> 00:18:29.740 The next thing I want you to think of, the greatest meal you've ever had. 00:18:30.680 --> 00:18:31.260 See that? 00:18:31.920 --> 00:18:34.560 I see Mike C. just went, he's had a lot of good ones, right? 00:18:35.560 --> 00:18:37.140 Greatest meal you've ever had. 00:18:38.100 --> 00:18:38.680 Mine's simple. 00:18:40.020 --> 00:18:43.420 A steak from Hall's Chop House. 00:18:43.700 --> 00:18:45.520 I've had it once, all right? 00:18:45.820 --> 00:18:51.960 If anybody's thinking of a good Christmas gift, I'm just telling you, it may be my second meal from Hall's Chop House. 00:18:51.960 --> 00:18:56.880 Now, it'll hurt your feelings when they bring out the check, but it's the greatest meal that I've ever had. 00:18:57.080 --> 00:18:59.040 All right, let's work back on a budget a little bit, okay? 00:18:59.720 --> 00:19:07.280 The greatest soft drink, greatest soda, or greatest version of Coke, if that's where you're from, right? 00:19:07.440 --> 00:19:08.620 Of what you've ever had. 00:19:09.120 --> 00:19:09.400 All right? 00:19:10.220 --> 00:19:10.740 You got it? 00:19:10.940 --> 00:19:20.340 For me, mine, I think the greatest, it's my preference, is vanilla, cherry, Dr. Pepper. 00:19:21.460 --> 00:19:22.420 Absolutely love it. 00:19:22.460 --> 00:19:23.980 I heard some moans from the audience. 00:19:24.100 --> 00:19:27.060 Not sure we're tracking on that one as well. 00:19:27.240 --> 00:19:29.560 And the last one that I want to ask you about is this. 00:19:30.380 --> 00:19:32.280 The greatest candy, right? 00:19:32.360 --> 00:19:38.580 You go into the gas station on that long ride, and you're going to grab a candy snack to eat on the road. 00:19:39.040 --> 00:19:40.040 What's it going to be? 00:19:40.200 --> 00:19:41.700 With me, it's the same thing every time. 00:19:41.740 --> 00:19:44.180 It is the greatest candy ever invented. 00:19:44.300 --> 00:19:47.120 I believe it is a blessing from God, and it's peanut M&M's. 00:19:47.400 --> 00:19:47.680 All right? 00:19:48.380 --> 00:19:48.720 Yep. 00:19:49.180 --> 00:19:51.900 I heard somebody say, Skittles, that's fruit candy. 00:19:52.160 --> 00:19:53.020 That doesn't count. 00:19:53.180 --> 00:19:53.420 All right? 00:19:53.700 --> 00:19:53.920 All right. 00:19:54.440 --> 00:19:57.480 Peanut M&M's are the greatest candy. 00:19:57.800 --> 00:19:59.160 Now, here's what I want to do. 00:19:59.440 --> 00:20:06.960 By show of hands, here in the auditorium, if you agreed with me on just one of those, raise your hand and keep it up. 00:20:07.460 --> 00:20:07.960 Raise your hand. 00:20:08.380 --> 00:20:08.840 That's pretty good. 00:20:08.840 --> 00:20:09.580 Keep your hand up. 00:20:09.600 --> 00:20:10.060 Keep your hand up. 00:20:10.100 --> 00:20:10.620 Keep your hand up. 00:20:10.740 --> 00:20:11.000 All right? 00:20:11.280 --> 00:20:11.760 It's pretty good. 00:20:12.180 --> 00:20:16.540 Now, keep your hand up if you agreed with me on two. 00:20:17.540 --> 00:20:17.940 Two. 00:20:19.060 --> 00:20:19.460 Two. 00:20:19.900 --> 00:20:20.120 Ooh. 00:20:20.940 --> 00:20:21.540 All right? 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.680 Three people. 00:20:22.960 --> 00:20:23.380 I've got more. 00:20:23.460 --> 00:20:23.700 I've got more. 00:20:24.160 --> 00:20:27.580 Raise your hand if you agreed with me on three of them. 00:20:28.160 --> 00:20:28.740 Three of them. 00:20:29.500 --> 00:20:29.860 Ooh. 00:20:30.140 --> 00:20:31.000 We've got a couple people. 00:20:32.020 --> 00:20:32.420 We've got a couple. 00:20:33.180 --> 00:20:36.540 Keep your hand up if you agreed with me on all four. 00:20:38.040 --> 00:20:38.720 No one. 00:20:39.980 --> 00:20:41.820 First service, it was the exact same way. 00:20:42.180 --> 00:20:43.980 All right, Bill, what is the point of what you're saying? 00:20:44.080 --> 00:20:44.700 Here's the thing. 00:20:45.540 --> 00:20:49.000 You and I define greatness based off of who we are. 00:20:49.980 --> 00:20:55.400 You and I define greatness based off of our perspective and our experience. 00:20:56.200 --> 00:20:59.060 Some of you can't say Tombstone's the greatest movie because you've never seen it. 00:20:59.880 --> 00:21:04.220 Some of you can't say that Hall's Chop House has the greatest steak because you've never tried it. 00:21:04.880 --> 00:21:06.880 Some of you have and you didn't like it. 00:21:06.880 --> 00:21:08.520 It doesn't mean who you are. 00:21:08.620 --> 00:21:12.800 You see, we define greatness by our experience. 00:21:13.240 --> 00:21:16.020 We define greatness by who we are. 00:21:16.260 --> 00:21:19.400 And so when Jesus is great, what does that mean? 00:21:20.060 --> 00:21:21.920 What does it mean that he is great? 00:21:22.740 --> 00:21:24.400 Well, Jesus defines that for us. 00:21:25.020 --> 00:21:32.640 When we look through the gospel, I searched this week and was reading about different instances where Jesus talked about what it meant to be great. 00:21:32.640 --> 00:21:41.700 And did you know that there are four common things that he said in different messages at different times and different teaching opportunities where Jesus defined greatness. 00:21:42.040 --> 00:21:45.660 And the first way that Jesus defined greatness was by faith in God. 00:21:46.360 --> 00:21:47.200 Jesus said, you want to be great? 00:21:47.520 --> 00:21:48.460 Put your faith in God. 00:21:49.120 --> 00:21:53.020 That that is the very beginning of understanding what it means to be great. 00:21:53.340 --> 00:21:53.840 Why so? 00:21:54.120 --> 00:21:55.660 Because faith in God won't change. 00:21:55.720 --> 00:21:57.420 It's the standard that will hold. 00:21:57.420 --> 00:21:58.860 But it's always going to be there. 00:21:59.160 --> 00:22:07.300 That greatness in its very rawest form is found in individuals in their faith in God. 00:22:07.580 --> 00:22:12.900 And then the second thing that Jesus talks about when he talks about greatness is found in humility. 00:22:13.800 --> 00:22:14.620 It's found in humility. 00:22:15.920 --> 00:22:20.260 I love this illustration that the Bible gives us where Jesus teaches on this. 00:22:20.520 --> 00:22:22.240 He's asked about the greatest. 00:22:22.240 --> 00:22:27.300 And he's got this group of followers and religious leaders that are surrounding Jesus. 00:22:27.420 --> 00:22:31.080 And he's asked, Jesus, what does it mean to be great? 00:22:31.380 --> 00:22:39.020 And on the outside of this inner circle, I mean, this circle is filled with important people, decision makers, people who can get things done. 00:22:39.960 --> 00:22:51.720 Jesus motions for a child who's not allowed into the inner circle to come and to stand in the midst of all of them. 00:22:52.080 --> 00:23:00.100 And Jesus says, whoever humbles himself like this child will be great. 00:23:00.820 --> 00:23:09.560 You see, in that moment, as the child stepped forward of the example of greatness, that child was considered irrelevant. 00:23:10.400 --> 00:23:13.160 That child was considered weak. 00:23:13.620 --> 00:23:16.800 That child was considered an outcast. 00:23:17.440 --> 00:23:24.720 But Jesus says, look, it's not about what you can become and what you can influence and what you can do. 00:23:24.780 --> 00:23:28.480 If you want to experience greatness, experience humility like a child. 00:23:29.500 --> 00:23:35.320 Another time, Jesus, with his closest followers, with the disciples, is asked about greatness. 00:23:35.440 --> 00:23:39.020 And he paints a little bit of a different picture for them other than humble. 00:23:39.120 --> 00:23:40.080 And it's a little different. 00:23:40.920 --> 00:23:43.200 Jesus says, greatness is found in being a servant. 00:23:44.200 --> 00:23:45.820 He says, greatness is found in being a servant. 00:23:45.820 --> 00:23:52.300 And when you look at so much of Jesus' life, it's at the very essence of who he was. 00:23:52.720 --> 00:23:53.700 He was their Messiah. 00:23:54.000 --> 00:23:55.000 He was their king. 00:23:55.200 --> 00:23:56.300 He was their rabbi. 00:23:56.540 --> 00:23:57.540 He was their teacher. 00:23:57.820 --> 00:23:59.380 But he was their servant. 00:24:00.380 --> 00:24:05.040 And he modeled that in every aspect of his life. 00:24:05.280 --> 00:24:11.040 And one of the most intimate encounters that Jesus had with the disciples was when he washed their feet. 00:24:11.740 --> 00:24:15.640 And what Jesus did within there was not a task in what to do. 00:24:15.640 --> 00:24:18.740 It wasn't about getting the dirt off of their feet. 00:24:18.840 --> 00:24:21.700 But it's the form in which Jesus took to do it. 00:24:21.920 --> 00:24:26.880 That he took off his robe that would identify him as the rabbi Jesus and who he was. 00:24:27.160 --> 00:24:31.460 And instead, he put on a towel that would mark him as the form of a servant. 00:24:31.640 --> 00:24:36.840 And he bowed before them, washing their feet and cleaning their feet. 00:24:36.840 --> 00:24:41.420 And so Jesus says, if you want to be great, it's based in your faith. 00:24:41.680 --> 00:24:44.420 If you want to be great, it's found in humility. 00:24:44.700 --> 00:24:47.520 If you want to be great, it's found in serving. 00:24:47.860 --> 00:24:56.660 But then in the last form where Jesus teaches about greatness, he talks about it in the form of surrender and obedience to God. 00:24:57.660 --> 00:24:59.420 But this is what greatness looks like. 00:24:59.420 --> 00:25:16.140 That as we understand and know God's expectation for our life, we respond in humility and in servanthood and in faith to him found in obedience. 00:25:17.320 --> 00:25:20.420 And Jesus says, this is what greatness is. 00:25:21.160 --> 00:25:32.920 And when we look at all of these, not only did Jesus teach about these, but he embodied them with his very being of who he is. 00:25:33.580 --> 00:25:49.300 That even though he was God, he stepped out of heaven and surrendered to the Father so that he could seek and save and redeem for himself a people. 00:25:50.080 --> 00:25:52.080 So the angel appears to Mary. 00:25:52.640 --> 00:25:53.760 He said he's the Savior. 00:25:54.740 --> 00:25:58.180 He appears to Mary and said he's great. 00:25:58.880 --> 00:26:04.020 But he also says to Mary that he's a never-ending king. 00:26:05.020 --> 00:26:07.000 Look at the second part of verse 32. 00:26:07.000 --> 00:26:11.340 And he will be called the Son of the Most High. 00:26:11.860 --> 00:26:15.760 And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David. 00:26:16.260 --> 00:26:20.540 And he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. 00:26:20.900 --> 00:26:26.120 And of his kingdom there will be no end. 00:26:26.700 --> 00:26:33.860 So here we see this young little girl who's been promised to be married to Joseph. 00:26:34.600 --> 00:26:39.080 And the angel comes and says, you're going to conceive a son. 00:26:39.860 --> 00:26:42.300 And he's going to be the son of the Most High God. 00:26:42.920 --> 00:26:46.620 And he's going to rule of the throne of his father David. 00:26:47.020 --> 00:26:50.540 And over the house of Jacob forever. 00:26:51.160 --> 00:26:53.640 And Mary, his kingdom. 00:26:54.200 --> 00:26:56.100 The kingdom that you think is gone. 00:26:56.940 --> 00:26:59.060 The kingdom that you think has been defeated. 00:26:59.720 --> 00:27:02.580 The kingdom that you think has been overtaken. 00:27:03.160 --> 00:27:06.080 This kingdom, there will be no end. 00:27:06.780 --> 00:27:14.620 And in these verses, these two verses right here, what we begin to see is this dual nature of Jesus. 00:27:14.620 --> 00:27:19.140 Of his divine nature and of his humanity coming together in this. 00:27:19.140 --> 00:27:25.200 We see the divinity of Jesus when he says, he is the Son of the Most High. 00:27:25.400 --> 00:27:27.720 He's saying, Mary, he's the Son of God. 00:27:28.320 --> 00:27:32.160 He's not just a Son of God, but he's the Son of God. 00:27:32.440 --> 00:27:34.660 There's divinity in his being. 00:27:34.940 --> 00:27:36.680 There's divinity in who he is. 00:27:36.860 --> 00:27:38.580 And this can't be taken from him. 00:27:38.780 --> 00:27:41.200 But also we see the humanity of this. 00:27:41.400 --> 00:27:45.580 That he is coming from the throne of his father David. 00:27:45.580 --> 00:27:52.280 That in this, there is a lineage of ancestors that's covered in most of the Gospels that we can go through. 00:27:52.540 --> 00:27:56.440 And that we can see from this generation to this generation to this generation. 00:27:56.620 --> 00:28:01.440 So that this wonderful thing, Mary, is going to happen in your womb. 00:28:01.620 --> 00:28:06.760 That the divinity of God and the human of man is going to come together fully. 00:28:06.760 --> 00:28:11.420 And be fully God and fully man found in this man, Jesus. 00:28:12.280 --> 00:28:13.580 And he's king. 00:28:14.620 --> 00:28:20.460 And in his kingdom, there will never be an end. 00:28:21.760 --> 00:28:23.520 And so we begin to think about that. 00:28:24.280 --> 00:28:36.040 That in this moment, that when Jesus steps into this world, that when he is born of Mary, it's not that he would become king. 00:28:36.540 --> 00:28:38.200 It's that he is king. 00:28:39.200 --> 00:28:41.800 In that moment. 00:28:42.420 --> 00:28:48.840 Which means for us, the kingdom of God needs to not be what we look forward to. 00:28:49.340 --> 00:28:55.660 But the kingdom of God is understanding that you and I as his servants, it's what we live in now. 00:28:56.380 --> 00:28:58.980 The kingdom that will never end. 00:28:59.560 --> 00:29:03.020 And then lastly, we see that Jesus is unique. 00:29:03.820 --> 00:29:05.020 Jesus is unique. 00:29:06.020 --> 00:29:11.840 And Mary said to the angel, how will this be since I am a virgin? 00:29:12.780 --> 00:29:17.560 And the angel answered her, the Holy Spirit will come upon you. 00:29:17.980 --> 00:29:21.200 And the power of the Most High will overshadow you. 00:29:21.860 --> 00:29:27.360 Therefore, the child to be born will be called Holy, the Son of God. 00:29:29.160 --> 00:29:33.200 This is kind of a special Christmas time as I read this story. 00:29:34.060 --> 00:29:42.140 My daughter will turn 13 this year, which is what most people think that Mary was at roughly around this age. 00:29:42.920 --> 00:29:47.320 And so as I was reading this and as I was studying this, I began to think of my own daughter. 00:29:48.080 --> 00:29:53.420 And one of the things that I love about my daughter is she loves to ask questions. 00:29:54.000 --> 00:29:55.400 Because she wants to know. 00:29:56.000 --> 00:29:57.220 She wants to understand. 00:29:57.940 --> 00:30:02.460 She wants to process in her mind what is going on. 00:30:02.620 --> 00:30:04.240 How do I understand this? 00:30:04.420 --> 00:30:05.920 How do I process this? 00:30:06.060 --> 00:30:08.040 And then what is my response to it? 00:30:08.140 --> 00:30:11.760 It's a beautiful gift that God has given her. 00:30:11.760 --> 00:30:19.840 And I read these verses and we're sitting there and we're looking at all of these things that the angel is telling Mary, 00:30:20.100 --> 00:30:22.880 this young, vulnerable, little girl. 00:30:23.100 --> 00:30:30.080 And this question comes to her mind that I'm sure must have been racing through her mind this entire time. 00:30:30.080 --> 00:30:35.680 How can this happen? 00:30:35.680 --> 00:30:37.780 Because I'm a virgin. 00:30:38.560 --> 00:30:40.200 I'm not married. 00:30:40.900 --> 00:30:44.380 I haven't known a man in that capacity. 00:30:44.760 --> 00:30:51.220 So how can these things happen to me and how can these things take place? 00:30:51.220 --> 00:31:01.940 And what the angel says is this, it's going to be about this unique work of God that has never happened before and has never happened again. 00:31:02.740 --> 00:31:04.900 You know, we use that word unique. 00:31:05.640 --> 00:31:09.120 We use that word different often. 00:31:09.760 --> 00:31:13.400 But in our world, nothing is ever truly unique. 00:31:14.220 --> 00:31:15.840 Lots of things are copied. 00:31:16.060 --> 00:31:17.880 Lots of things are replicated. 00:31:18.500 --> 00:31:23.560 Lots of things may be different from the norm, but we can find duplications of those. 00:31:23.560 --> 00:31:30.440 But when it comes to this moment, what the angel is communicating to Mary is that Jesus is unique. 00:31:30.780 --> 00:31:33.700 There will not be another who is like him. 00:31:33.920 --> 00:31:44.680 And in fact, what he's come here to establish, what he's come here to do, has been done by no one, will be done by no one. 00:31:44.680 --> 00:31:49.460 And in fact, it can't be done by anyone. 00:31:50.400 --> 00:31:53.060 The uniqueness of Jesus. 00:31:54.560 --> 00:31:57.240 So the way that he's going to teach the love is going to be unique. 00:31:58.140 --> 00:32:02.740 The way that he's going to teach the sacrifice is going to be unique. 00:32:03.500 --> 00:32:07.280 The way he's going to talk about greatness is going to be unique. 00:32:07.820 --> 00:32:11.520 The way he's going to talk about purpose is going to be unique. 00:32:12.020 --> 00:32:16.940 And I read this this past week, and it blew my mind as I thought about this. 00:32:16.940 --> 00:32:20.760 The author that was talking about the uniqueness of Christ, he said this. 00:32:21.000 --> 00:32:28.260 He said, the uniqueness in Christ is found in this, that while he gives life, in order to do so, he lays down his own. 00:32:29.120 --> 00:32:30.400 Done by no one. 00:32:32.340 --> 00:32:37.940 Impossible for creation, but found only in him. 00:32:39.440 --> 00:32:45.580 And so as we begin to go through this Christmas season, as we begin to go through this time, 00:32:46.440 --> 00:32:52.380 that we understand that it's about Jesus, which means that he's our Savior. 00:32:53.280 --> 00:33:01.620 That this Savior, that in the embodiment of who he is, it's a greatness that the world has never known. 00:33:02.420 --> 00:33:08.800 That this Jesus that we speak of, it's not that he might be a king, but that he is a king. 00:33:09.300 --> 00:33:10.720 And we're a part of the kingdom. 00:33:11.300 --> 00:33:16.600 And the kingdom is not bound by borders or by languages, but it's defined by him. 00:33:16.680 --> 00:33:19.240 And this kingdom cannot be defeated. 00:33:20.120 --> 00:33:21.260 And it will never end. 00:33:22.860 --> 00:33:25.860 And that in this, Jesus is unique. 00:33:27.060 --> 00:33:29.080 But here's what Jesus does with this. 00:33:30.160 --> 00:33:35.340 Is he calls us to be unique as well. 00:33:36.440 --> 00:33:41.900 Jesus calls you and I to go forward marking this. 00:33:43.060 --> 00:33:49.580 Later on in his life, as Jesus had aged into a man and he was beginning his ministry. 00:33:50.920 --> 00:33:52.520 Crowds had begun to follow Jesus. 00:33:53.520 --> 00:33:54.960 He had been saying things differently. 00:33:55.100 --> 00:33:56.540 He had been doing things differently. 00:33:56.940 --> 00:33:59.140 There was a buzz in the air about him. 00:33:59.460 --> 00:34:06.580 And people from his small town and from the towns around began to look for him and gather around him. 00:34:07.680 --> 00:34:10.660 And so he began to retreat up to a side of the hill. 00:34:10.760 --> 00:34:14.580 And once he got up to the side of the hill, he had an audience who was there. 00:34:14.720 --> 00:34:16.460 And they wanted to hear his words. 00:34:16.720 --> 00:34:18.620 Here's the man that they had heard stories about. 00:34:18.620 --> 00:34:23.640 And now they wanted to hear from him his teaching, his philosophy. 00:34:24.140 --> 00:34:27.300 What was his teaching going to be in this world? 00:34:28.540 --> 00:34:33.680 And seeing them, he chose to define them a uniqueness. 00:34:34.640 --> 00:34:40.100 A uniqueness that he would challenge them with and what would ring true today. 00:34:40.920 --> 00:34:43.720 What it means to be blessed. 00:34:44.960 --> 00:34:46.540 You know, it's a phrase that we use. 00:34:47.320 --> 00:34:48.380 Go and be blessed. 00:34:49.240 --> 00:34:50.920 I hope God blesses you. 00:34:52.300 --> 00:34:59.620 But oftentimes, when we desire that for ourselves, when we desire that for each other, 00:35:00.300 --> 00:35:03.780 we're not saying that with the uniqueness of Christ. 00:35:04.480 --> 00:35:07.480 But we're saying it out of the norm of the world. 00:35:08.300 --> 00:35:09.480 But Jesus defines it. 00:35:10.440 --> 00:35:14.040 And in Matthew 5, starting in verse 2, Scripture says, 00:35:14.640 --> 00:35:18.380 And he opened his mouth, and he taught them, saying, 00:35:19.520 --> 00:35:23.500 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 00:35:24.520 --> 00:35:28.820 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 00:35:29.640 --> 00:35:33.360 Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 00:35:34.320 --> 00:35:41.220 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 00:35:42.300 --> 00:35:47.000 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. 00:35:47.760 --> 00:35:53.640 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 00:35:54.600 --> 00:36:00.980 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 00:36:01.620 --> 00:36:09.020 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 00:36:09.300 --> 00:36:10.300 Blessed are the Lord. 00:36:10.300 --> 00:36:18.120 Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 00:36:18.560 --> 00:36:23.640 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven. 00:36:24.040 --> 00:36:28.720 For so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 00:36:29.580 --> 00:36:38.140 And so Jesus looks at a group of people, beaten and confused, feeling oppressed and sad, 00:36:38.840 --> 00:36:45.500 who's had their joy robbed from them, and who want what the world has. 00:36:46.520 --> 00:36:47.760 And Jesus says, no. 00:36:48.780 --> 00:36:50.320 This is what it means. 00:36:50.980 --> 00:36:53.380 Go be different. 00:36:53.900 --> 00:36:56.200 Go be unique. 00:36:56.580 --> 00:36:58.380 Because this is who Jesus is. 00:36:59.140 --> 00:36:59.700 Let's pray. 00:37:02.760 --> 00:37:04.640 God, I thank you for your word. 00:37:05.980 --> 00:37:07.600 Lord, I thank you for the heart of Luke. 00:37:09.160 --> 00:37:17.560 Who desperately wanted his friend to know, to have certainty concerning who Jesus is. 00:37:19.060 --> 00:37:28.800 And so, Lord, he poured out his words on these pages, communicating to him who your son is, 00:37:29.140 --> 00:37:33.480 so that he may find life and find it abundantly. 00:37:34.820 --> 00:37:43.220 God, as we go into this time of season, as we go into all the things that fill the chaos and the busyness, 00:37:43.820 --> 00:37:48.560 Lord, as we go into this season that fills with a lot of earthly happiness, 00:37:49.240 --> 00:37:55.580 may we be reminded of the constant notion of who Christ is. 00:37:56.220 --> 00:37:57.580 That he is Savior. 00:37:58.260 --> 00:38:00.000 That he is great. 00:38:00.880 --> 00:38:03.100 That he is King. 00:38:03.760 --> 00:38:08.060 And the beauty of the uniqueness of God. 00:38:11.700 --> 00:38:14.000 With every head bowed and every eye closed. 00:38:17.360 --> 00:38:21.900 To know who Jesus is, is to respond to Jesus. 00:38:23.240 --> 00:38:25.400 To go from here. 00:38:25.940 --> 00:38:29.040 To move toward him. 00:38:30.100 --> 00:38:31.640 And transformation of your life. 00:38:33.560 --> 00:38:35.180 My prayer for you today. 00:38:36.380 --> 00:38:37.960 As we walk away. 00:38:39.440 --> 00:38:41.840 Is that we'll understand what it means. 00:38:42.760 --> 00:38:46.400 To embrace the blessing that comes from God. 00:38:47.160 --> 00:38:49.240 A life dedicated to him. 00:38:50.180 --> 00:38:51.560 Jesus, we love you. 00:38:52.180 --> 00:38:53.220 We praise you. 00:38:54.000 --> 00:38:55.040 It's in your name we pray. 00:38:55.660 --> 00:38:55.980 Amen. 00:38:56.640 --> 00:38:58.280 Would you stand as we worship him? 00:38:58.280 --> 00:38:58.340 Amen. 00:39:03.560 --> 00:39:16.040 Thanks again for listening to the Willow Ridge Church weekly podcast. 00:39:16.600 --> 00:39:18.860 We hope that you enjoyed listening to this week's message. 00:39:19.340 --> 00:39:21.260 If you'd like to learn more about who we are. 00:39:21.480 --> 00:39:22.880 Or explore additional resources. 00:39:23.460 --> 00:39:27.900 Visit us online at www.willowridgechurch.com. 00:39:27.900 --> 00:39:31.460 Or by searching for Willow Ridge Church on Facebook and Instagram. 00:39:31.460 --> 00:39:33.520 Visit us online at www.willowridgechurch.com. 00:39:33.520 --> 00:39:34.940 Visit us online at www.willowridgechurch.com. 00:39:34.940 --> 00:39:35.440 www.willowridgechurch.com. 00:39:35.440 --> 00:39:35.460 Visit us online at www.willowridgechurch.com. 00:39:35.460 --> 00:39:36.460 Visit us online at www.willowridgechurch.com. 00:39:36.460 --> 00:39:37.460 Visit us online at www.willowridgechurch.com. 00:39:37.460 --> 00:39:37.460 Visit us online at www.willowridgechurch.com. 00:39:37.460 --> 00:39:38.460 Visit us online at www.willowridgechurch.com. 00:39:38.460 --> 00:39:39.460 Visit us online at www.willowridgechurch.com. 00:39:39.460 --> 00:39:40.460 Visit us online at www.willowridgechurch.com. 00:39:40.460 --> 00:39:41.460 Visit us online at www.willowridgechurch.com. 00:39:41.460 --> 00:39:42.460 Visit us online at www.willowridgechurch.com.