WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.435 --> 00:00:05.245 Welcome, hope community. It's good to see you. Come on, let's stand to our feet. 2 00:00:05.415 --> 00:00:09.205 Those of you joining us online, welcome to Hope community. 3 00:00:58.065 --> 00:00:58.898 And 4 00:01:14.985 --> 00:01:15.818 what. 5 00:01:16.584 --> 00:01:17.417 He. 6 00:04:50.685 --> 00:04:52.245 In the fear I'm facing 7 00:04:54.445 --> 00:04:59.045 doesn't change who you are or what you deserve. 8 00:05:31.045 --> 00:05:31.878 Yes. 9 00:05:32.205 --> 00:05:33.038 Yes. You're. 10 00:05:33.365 --> 00:05:34.198 Jesus. 11 00:06:57.705 --> 00:06:58.538 You're worthy. 12 00:07:00.305 --> 00:07:01.425 Whether you say yes, 13 00:07:13.265 --> 00:07:17.865 I never stop singing. 14 00:09:00.485 --> 00:09:01.318 And when. 15 00:09:13.485 --> 00:09:17.485 I'll never stop singing your, I never stop. 16 00:09:18.005 --> 00:09:18.838 Singing. In your 17 00:09:23.965 --> 00:09:24.798 singing. 18 00:09:45.715 --> 00:09:49.265 Revelation chapter five, 19 00:09:52.695 --> 00:09:54.985 there's this incredible story that's happening, 20 00:09:55.745 --> 00:09:58.665 this unfolding the vision that John has. 21 00:10:00.845 --> 00:10:04.145 We pick up in verse 11, it says, 22 00:10:05.095 --> 00:10:08.905 then I looked and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the 23 00:10:09.585 --> 00:10:13.785 elders, the voice of many angels, numbering, 24 00:10:13.975 --> 00:10:18.745 myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands saying 25 00:10:18.746 --> 00:10:19.585 with a loud voice, 26 00:10:19.985 --> 00:10:24.985 worthy is the lamb who was sling to receive power and 27 00:10:24.986 --> 00:10:29.865 wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and 28 00:10:30.184 --> 00:10:31.017 blessing. 29 00:10:31.845 --> 00:10:36.705 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and 30 00:10:36.804 --> 00:10:41.345 in the sea. And all that is in them saying to him, 31 00:10:41.445 --> 00:10:46.304 who sits on the throne and to the lamb be 32 00:10:46.705 --> 00:10:50.985 blessing and honor and glory and might 33 00:10:51.895 --> 00:10:56.025 forever and ever. And the four living creatures said, 34 00:10:57.095 --> 00:11:01.665 amen. And the elders fell down and they worshiped. 35 00:11:25.425 --> 00:11:26.258 Of 36 00:11:48.945 --> 00:11:49.778 the, 37 00:12:33.965 --> 00:12:34.804 if you've been forgiven, 38 00:12:41.245 --> 00:12:42.078 you've. 39 00:14:08.925 --> 00:14:09.758 The. 40 00:15:56.065 --> 00:15:56.898 Holy. 41 00:16:06.305 --> 00:16:07.138 Holy. 42 00:16:10.425 --> 00:16:11.258 Forever. 43 00:16:19.345 --> 00:16:20.178 Holy. 44 00:16:28.985 --> 00:16:33.105 So here I. 45 00:19:21.484 --> 00:19:23.005 You deserve the glory. 46 00:20:11.285 --> 00:20:12.565 Come on. Just bless him in this place. 47 00:20:17.055 --> 00:20:17.888 Hallelujah. 48 00:20:19.785 --> 00:20:23.165 Father, you deserve all the glory we can give. 49 00:20:24.425 --> 00:20:25.685 And then so much more. 50 00:20:28.265 --> 00:20:28.744 Father. 51 00:20:28.744 --> 00:20:32.725 We love you. We commit this time to you. 52 00:20:32.726 --> 00:20:33.885 Thank you for meeting with us. 53 00:20:34.744 --> 00:20:38.645 We pray that our songs of love and adoration 54 00:20:40.165 --> 00:20:45.005 is pleasing to you. In Jesus' name we pray. 55 00:20:45.825 --> 00:20:49.925 Let the church say amen. Amen. And amen. Hallelujah. Hey, 56 00:20:49.945 --> 00:20:51.685 why don't you turn to two or three people, 57 00:20:51.686 --> 00:20:53.885 welcome them to hope as you take your seats. 58 00:21:12.315 --> 00:21:17.005 Welcome to Hope Community Church. So good to have you here. And listen, 59 00:21:17.145 --> 00:21:20.965 if it is your first time here at Hope, we are so, 60 00:21:21.065 --> 00:21:25.605 so very glad to have you here. And actually at the end of the service, 61 00:21:25.744 --> 00:21:27.885 if you head out these doors and to the left, 62 00:21:27.886 --> 00:21:30.445 you're gonna see our next steps area. 63 00:21:30.865 --> 00:21:34.605 And there you can find out more information about our church, 64 00:21:34.606 --> 00:21:36.244 everything that's going on here at Hope. 65 00:21:36.505 --> 00:21:41.445 We can also help you take your next step in following Jesus if that's where you 66 00:21:41.585 --> 00:21:46.085 are. And listen, if you're joining us online and this is your first time, hey, 67 00:21:46.315 --> 00:21:48.965 just type the word new into the chat. 68 00:21:49.105 --> 00:21:53.525 We actually have some people that are dedicated there to help you to reach out 69 00:21:53.526 --> 00:21:57.885 to you and get you connected here at Hope. Well, listen, 70 00:21:58.015 --> 00:22:01.365 we've been in this series called Heart Check, right? 71 00:22:01.366 --> 00:22:06.005 Where we are learning to be good stewards with our finances, 72 00:22:06.065 --> 00:22:07.885 the things that God has given us, right? 73 00:22:07.885 --> 00:22:12.125 Jesus said that where your treasure is there, your heart is also. 74 00:22:12.825 --> 00:22:15.725 And here at Hope, we are a family of families, right? 75 00:22:15.744 --> 00:22:20.685 We are a church that loves God follows Jesus, and we share hope. 76 00:22:21.465 --> 00:22:25.484 And a family looks out for one another, right? 77 00:22:25.785 --> 00:22:27.885 That's what we do here at Hope. And one of the things, 78 00:22:28.385 --> 00:22:32.405 one of the ways that we actually look out for people how we help our church, 79 00:22:32.705 --> 00:22:35.445 is we offer financial coaching here. You know, 80 00:22:35.455 --> 00:22:40.125 Jesus said that he came to give us life and life more abundantly. 81 00:22:40.145 --> 00:22:44.925 And we believe in that. And so one of the ways that we want to, uh, 82 00:22:45.494 --> 00:22:50.085 trust God is not only know that he's called us to an abundant life, spiritually, 83 00:22:50.285 --> 00:22:53.765 an abundant life in our families, but also with our finances. 84 00:22:54.145 --> 00:22:58.045 And so we actually have a story of a couple that did exactly that. 85 00:22:58.046 --> 00:23:02.765 They decided to make the decision to trust God with their finances and watch 86 00:23:02.865 --> 00:23:07.805 how the power and transformation of God can work in their finances. 87 00:23:07.895 --> 00:23:08.728 Check this out. 88 00:23:14.345 --> 00:23:15.885 My name is Aza Johnson. 89 00:23:16.984 --> 00:23:17.817 I'm Shane Johnson. 90 00:23:18.345 --> 00:23:21.085 And we've been married for about four years now. Mm-hmm . 91 00:23:21.086 --> 00:23:22.645 And we have a daughter and a son. 92 00:23:23.065 --> 00:23:25.365 We started going to Hope in 2020. 93 00:23:26.025 --> 00:23:29.405 The Sunday services are great. Um, but also all of the, 94 00:23:29.625 --> 00:23:30.725 the classes that we've taken. 95 00:23:30.825 --> 00:23:35.565 So we had reached out before about other classes like Reengage and the 96 00:23:35.566 --> 00:23:39.165 premarital counseling. And then we wanted to start building a house. 97 00:23:39.625 --> 00:23:43.365 And I figured, let's see if Hope has any resources that we could use. 98 00:23:43.665 --> 00:23:48.205 So I just emailed them at their info email and someone replied back within like 99 00:23:48.244 --> 00:23:51.125 a week and they're like, yeah, we absolutely can help you. 100 00:23:51.126 --> 00:23:53.005 Here's your one-on-one coaches and uh, 101 00:23:53.055 --> 00:23:54.605 these are the people that are gonna help you. 102 00:23:55.275 --> 00:23:58.525 Also, like we learned in the premarital counseling, 103 00:23:58.595 --> 00:24:02.885 it's always good to seek like godly counsel and our one-on-one counselors SL 104 00:24:04.155 --> 00:24:07.725 went through our budget and reassured us where we were doing a good job. 105 00:24:08.425 --> 00:24:13.005 And I think reassurance for me and my wife because there were some things 106 00:24:13.155 --> 00:24:15.845 that we might have not agreed on. Like, 107 00:24:16.125 --> 00:24:19.285 'cause she knows where all our money's going to. We. 108 00:24:19.365 --> 00:24:22.365 Have d bounce toothpaste. Yeah. We have different budgeting styles. 109 00:24:22.665 --> 00:24:25.325 It was also early in our marriage, very early. 110 00:24:25.744 --> 00:24:27.965 So it kind of helps when you have somebody else, 111 00:24:28.484 --> 00:24:30.685 an outside source sit you down and tell you, okay, 112 00:24:30.686 --> 00:24:33.165 well this is what you're doing great, but here's how you can improve. 113 00:24:33.265 --> 00:24:34.685 And that's what we were looking for as well. 114 00:24:34.905 --> 00:24:38.605 But they were really great about it. Um, um, for example, you know, 115 00:24:38.606 --> 00:24:43.525 we go on like on a date every month. And so on our budget it said like, fun, 116 00:24:43.865 --> 00:24:47.005 fun budget, you know, and we went out to like dinner. Yeah. And they said, 117 00:24:47.265 --> 00:24:50.805 we love that for you and you should have a budget for that. And we were like, 118 00:24:50.806 --> 00:24:52.445 oh, great. That's, that's awesome to know. 119 00:24:52.545 --> 00:24:55.965 So even if we walked in nervous by the time we left, um, 120 00:24:56.625 --> 00:25:01.484 we felt like so much closer. Um, and to this day, I still keep track of our, 121 00:25:01.865 --> 00:25:04.885 of our coaches and I give them updates about how we're doing with our house, 122 00:25:05.115 --> 00:25:06.965 with our, with paying off our debt. 123 00:25:07.484 --> 00:25:11.685 I would say for anybody that's scared or that's anxious about it, 124 00:25:11.715 --> 00:25:15.405 that you should absolutely do it. 100%. There is no losing in this situation. 125 00:25:15.406 --> 00:25:18.605 It's a win-win. If you are somebody that's good with finances, 126 00:25:18.606 --> 00:25:22.244 you'll come in and they will tell you what a great job you're doing and maybe 127 00:25:22.255 --> 00:25:23.805 offer some suggestions here or there. 128 00:25:23.984 --> 00:25:27.765 And if you're somebody that needs to help because you just don't have a plan at 129 00:25:27.766 --> 00:25:30.725 all whatsoever, and you don't wanna pay, you don't wanna live, you know, 130 00:25:31.005 --> 00:25:34.125 paycheck to paycheck, definitely come in, they'll help you out. 131 00:25:34.234 --> 00:25:37.965 They'll kind of give you a, a goal or a plan. Um, 132 00:25:37.966 --> 00:25:41.165 so if you have any apprehensions or if you're anxious about anything, 133 00:25:41.166 --> 00:25:44.445 please feel free to still apply and of course, 134 00:25:44.446 --> 00:25:48.165 meet with them because they will really help you and suggest wonderful things 135 00:25:48.166 --> 00:25:50.645 that you've probably never come up with before. Because we certainly, 136 00:25:50.865 --> 00:25:53.045 we didn't think of many of the things that they offered us, 137 00:25:53.095 --> 00:25:55.525 which are very small, but make such a big difference. 138 00:25:56.205 --> 00:25:59.244 And they say money is the number one reason for like marriages. 139 00:25:59.245 --> 00:26:03.205 Like some people argue it's a top reason. So financial freedom to me, 140 00:26:03.785 --> 00:26:07.085 it really puts you in a better place as a Christian. And I mean, 141 00:26:07.086 --> 00:26:11.085 there might be more ways you can pay it forward or pay the community or 142 00:26:12.205 --> 00:26:13.805 whatever mission the church has. 143 00:26:14.445 --> 00:26:18.244 Um, we wanna make sure that all of the things that we have been provided, 144 00:26:18.245 --> 00:26:20.605 whether it's, you know, money or, 145 00:26:21.244 --> 00:26:25.765 or goods or even a home that is being used to the best of our abilities for him. 146 00:26:31.205 --> 00:26:32.038 . 147 00:27:16.535 --> 00:27:21.234 Better check one, two better. Okay, let's try that again. 148 00:27:21.815 --> 00:27:24.315 How we doing? Hope? Okay. 149 00:27:26.385 --> 00:27:29.475 Well it is great to see all of you. Listen man, 150 00:27:29.476 --> 00:27:32.994 can we just give a round of applause for what God did in that family's life, uh, 151 00:27:32.995 --> 00:27:35.155 just through the financial ministry of the church? Praise God. 152 00:27:37.975 --> 00:27:42.435 You know, I remember, uh, going through that same class years and years ago, um, 153 00:27:43.515 --> 00:27:44.515 1999. 154 00:27:44.905 --> 00:27:49.475 That was a year I remember more so than a lot of other years in my life. 155 00:27:49.734 --> 00:27:51.595 And there were a lot of firsts that year. 156 00:27:52.095 --> 00:27:54.155 And I remember it sticks out for a lot of different reasons. 157 00:27:54.415 --> 00:27:56.315 Not necessarily because of the Prince song, 158 00:27:56.385 --> 00:27:58.635 even though they partied like it was 1999. 159 00:27:59.375 --> 00:28:01.435 Mostly the reason why it sticks out for me, 160 00:28:01.436 --> 00:28:03.875 because it was a big first year in my life. Uh, 161 00:28:03.876 --> 00:28:05.875 what do I mean by a big first year? Uh, 162 00:28:05.945 --> 00:28:09.835 that was the first year that I called myself a married man. 163 00:28:09.836 --> 00:28:14.355 We got married in 1999. So 25 years ago my wife said yes to me, 164 00:28:14.356 --> 00:28:17.675 almost 26. I think I got that number right. I hope I did. Um, 165 00:28:17.676 --> 00:28:19.515 but that long ago she said yes to me, 166 00:28:19.516 --> 00:28:22.355 and we've still been walking with the Lord together for all of this time. 167 00:28:22.535 --> 00:28:24.715 In addition to that, if I, uh, 168 00:28:25.015 --> 00:28:27.835 didn't have enough on my plate by being newly married, 169 00:28:27.975 --> 00:28:31.595 we had our first child that year. And in addition to that, 170 00:28:31.596 --> 00:28:36.475 having our first child, we bought our first home, a town home for $58,000, 171 00:28:36.795 --> 00:28:41.235 1800 square feet. Amen. Those were the days, right? 172 00:28:41.885 --> 00:28:45.235 Those were the days. I mean, we did a lot of firsts in that year. 173 00:28:45.415 --> 00:28:47.075 It was a first on so many fronts. 174 00:28:47.295 --> 00:28:51.435 But the thing that I remember more than anything that was a first in my life 175 00:28:51.505 --> 00:28:52.835 that year was, 176 00:28:52.915 --> 00:28:57.795 I remember it was the first time that I opened up my checkbook and I 177 00:28:57.796 --> 00:29:01.355 looked at what I had and I thought to myself, 178 00:29:03.715 --> 00:29:08.315 I don't have enough. I, 179 00:29:08.415 --> 00:29:12.755 we don't have enough. Like it wasn't because, uh, 180 00:29:12.756 --> 00:29:14.915 we were like spending in ways that was crazy. 181 00:29:15.055 --> 00:29:19.595 It wasn't because we weren't being good stewards of God's, uh, provision for us. 182 00:29:19.835 --> 00:29:21.875 I mean, like, like I was an active duty marine. 183 00:29:22.235 --> 00:29:26.515 I actually had a second job at a video store when they had VCR tapes. 184 00:29:26.595 --> 00:29:30.035 I worked there. Uh, we were doing everything that we could. I, I mean, 185 00:29:30.315 --> 00:29:34.275 like we had reasonable cars to drive. Uh, one of them was paid off, 186 00:29:34.295 --> 00:29:36.595 one of them we had a very low payment on like, 187 00:29:36.596 --> 00:29:38.035 like we were doing everything that we could. 188 00:29:38.175 --> 00:29:41.325 And it seemed like when I got all the way to the end of every single month, 189 00:29:41.405 --> 00:29:42.645 I would look in that checkbook. 190 00:29:43.265 --> 00:29:47.405 And I felt like it just wasn't enough. 191 00:29:49.385 --> 00:29:53.555 Like we couldn't get ahead. Like we couldn't, 192 00:29:53.575 --> 00:29:56.555 no matter how hard we tried. And no matter how hard we worked, uh, 193 00:29:56.556 --> 00:29:59.635 we couldn't see a better financial future in our lives. 194 00:29:59.975 --> 00:30:03.755 And like we were doing everything that we could to live the way that God says to 195 00:30:03.756 --> 00:30:07.235 live with money. But man, we were at a place where we just wasn't making it. 196 00:30:07.315 --> 00:30:11.395 I mean, we was broke, BR okay? We couldn't afford to eat . 197 00:30:12.375 --> 00:30:13.915 And I remember it like it was yesterday. 198 00:30:13.916 --> 00:30:18.235 There were all these feelings of like sadness and, 199 00:30:18.795 --> 00:30:21.835 and worry. And listen, if you are in that spot right now, 200 00:30:21.955 --> 00:30:23.795 I need you to know before we even jump into this, 201 00:30:23.796 --> 00:30:28.675 that God has hope and that man there is enough in the 202 00:30:28.676 --> 00:30:31.355 kingdom of God. And at the time, I just couldn't see it. 203 00:30:31.435 --> 00:30:33.915 I didn't know that there was enough. I tell you where this all came to head at. 204 00:30:33.916 --> 00:30:34.196 You see, 205 00:30:34.196 --> 00:30:38.155 we had started attending a local church and we had a great pastor there. 206 00:30:38.255 --> 00:30:40.835 And we were sitting in church one day. Now listen, we were newly married, 207 00:30:40.975 --> 00:30:44.035 so I knew if there was anybody who needed marriage help, it was us. 208 00:30:44.625 --> 00:30:46.515 Like I didn't know what I was doing as a husband. 209 00:30:46.735 --> 00:30:49.915 She didn't completely know what she was doing as a wife. And so our pastor says, 210 00:30:49.916 --> 00:30:53.395 Hey, we're gonna have this marriage retreat and it's gonna be great, 211 00:30:53.415 --> 00:30:55.875 and it's only a hundred dollars to attend. 212 00:30:57.435 --> 00:30:58.755 And I just told y'all I ain't have enough. 213 00:31:00.295 --> 00:31:02.755 And I'm sitting here thinking to myself like, how do we do this? 214 00:31:02.995 --> 00:31:06.355 I know we need this, but, but how do we actually get to do this? Like, 215 00:31:06.356 --> 00:31:09.475 what do we do? And as I'm talking to my pastor, he says, listen, 216 00:31:09.565 --> 00:31:12.715 let's just pray together and see what God does in it, man. Come back next week, 217 00:31:12.925 --> 00:31:16.435 we'll talk more about it. And so we pray together, Hey, I leave church. 218 00:31:16.436 --> 00:31:18.795 And I'm like, oh, I had a need. They prayed for me. Great. 219 00:31:19.055 --> 00:31:20.435 I'm not gonna be able to go to this thing. 220 00:31:20.755 --> 00:31:24.515 I go back home and then the next week I come back and the pastor says, man, 221 00:31:24.555 --> 00:31:28.155 I got great news for you. There's a couple in our church, 222 00:31:29.145 --> 00:31:33.475 they want to donate a hundred dollars for your family to be able to go on this 223 00:31:33.476 --> 00:31:38.075 retreat. And I got to go, you know, 224 00:31:38.135 --> 00:31:41.115 as I look back that many years ago, 225 00:31:41.935 --> 00:31:46.235 my wife and I marked that weekend as the weekend where so many things in our 226 00:31:46.236 --> 00:31:47.075 lives changed. 227 00:31:47.745 --> 00:31:51.275 Like that was the weekend we began to understand God's biblical role for 228 00:31:51.435 --> 00:31:53.875 marriage. Like, like he, that he had a plan for our marriage. 229 00:31:53.945 --> 00:31:58.475 That was the first weekend where I saw a lot of hope in my finances because they 230 00:31:58.476 --> 00:32:02.675 started unpacking biblical truths about finances when you're married at that 231 00:32:02.676 --> 00:32:05.115 conference, it was an amazing event. And man, 232 00:32:05.116 --> 00:32:10.095 it was a hundred dollars that somebody gave, somebody saw us, 233 00:32:11.805 --> 00:32:16.335 they had compassion on us, and they took action. 234 00:32:18.735 --> 00:32:23.495 Somebody's a hundred dollars gift changed my 235 00:32:23.496 --> 00:32:28.215 whole life. I experienced the help of the Lord. And, 236 00:32:28.695 --> 00:32:31.175 and it was a beautiful thing. And, and, and here's the thing, 237 00:32:31.176 --> 00:32:34.255 we never actually got to meet the people. They wanted to remain anonymous. 238 00:32:34.435 --> 00:32:36.135 So it wasn't about them getting credit, 239 00:32:36.485 --> 00:32:40.005 they just saw somebody who they wanted to help, somebody who had a need. 240 00:32:40.006 --> 00:32:43.365 And they shared the generosity that God had given them with us. 241 00:32:43.825 --> 00:32:45.445 And it changed our whole world. 242 00:32:45.635 --> 00:32:49.605 They had care and compassion for us and they acted generously 243 00:32:50.665 --> 00:32:55.445 and it was all motivated by their love for God and 244 00:32:55.446 --> 00:33:00.405 them seeing people in need and responding. You know, 245 00:33:00.406 --> 00:33:04.205 that's the behavior that we've been talking about for the last few weeks here as 246 00:33:04.206 --> 00:33:06.765 we've been moving through this series called Heart Check. Uh, 247 00:33:06.795 --> 00:33:08.605 it's a heart of generosity. 248 00:33:08.625 --> 00:33:10.965 And if you have been around church for any amount of time, 249 00:33:10.985 --> 00:33:14.285 you know that that word gets thrown around a lot, generosity. 250 00:33:14.745 --> 00:33:18.965 And it's easily defined. Like generosity is the quality of being generous, 251 00:33:18.975 --> 00:33:20.565 being kind, being unselfish, 252 00:33:20.735 --> 00:33:24.245 especially when it comes to money and valuable things. 253 00:33:24.395 --> 00:33:27.005 It's the idea of sharing with people in need, 254 00:33:27.285 --> 00:33:31.085 what God has so graciously shared with us. And can I just say, 255 00:33:31.905 --> 00:33:36.085 the Bible has a lot to say about generosity, uh, 256 00:33:36.086 --> 00:33:39.005 like it's captured all through the pages of scripture. 257 00:33:39.465 --> 00:33:44.285 We see this heart of generosity motivated by the heart of God himself, 258 00:33:44.515 --> 00:33:46.325 like God is a generous God. 259 00:33:46.385 --> 00:33:49.205 And because of that we should be trying to follow his example. 260 00:33:49.485 --> 00:33:50.086 Lemme show you what I mean. 261 00:33:50.086 --> 00:33:53.485 Like if you go to Proverbs chapter 22 and verse nine, uh, 262 00:33:53.505 --> 00:33:57.765 it tells us that the generous will themselves be blessed for they share their 263 00:33:57.835 --> 00:34:01.245 food with the poor. There's that heart of generosity. Uh, 264 00:34:01.246 --> 00:34:04.325 if you were to go over to one Timothy chapter six, verse 18, 265 00:34:04.545 --> 00:34:07.485 it says that they are to do good, to be rich in good works. 266 00:34:08.705 --> 00:34:10.685 And there it is again, to be generous 267 00:34:12.225 --> 00:34:16.005 and ready to share. Big idea here. 268 00:34:17.425 --> 00:34:19.925 God desires for us to be generous, 269 00:34:21.245 --> 00:34:23.925 and it shouldn't be a surprise to us that he desires for us to be generous 270 00:34:23.926 --> 00:34:27.325 because he is so generous. And if God is generous, 271 00:34:27.355 --> 00:34:31.445 then we should hope to follow his example. And also in turn, 272 00:34:31.555 --> 00:34:35.685 live lives of generosity. But if we're honest, 273 00:34:37.344 --> 00:34:41.685 we live in a culture right now that doesn't necessarily value generosity. 274 00:34:42.105 --> 00:34:42.938 As a matter of fact, 275 00:34:42.965 --> 00:34:46.925 I think we live in a culture that celebrates individual individualism and 276 00:34:47.075 --> 00:34:48.205 self-reliance. And listen, 277 00:34:48.206 --> 00:34:51.125 there's nothing wrong with taking care of your own needs. 278 00:34:51.205 --> 00:34:53.965 I think that's a good trait. But can I just say like, 279 00:34:53.966 --> 00:34:56.045 the gospel calls us to something deeper. 280 00:34:57.505 --> 00:35:00.685 It calls us to a life of generosity. The gospel uh, 281 00:35:00.775 --> 00:35:04.685 tells us that we are to give selfishly to others what God has given to us and 282 00:35:04.686 --> 00:35:08.645 even love others with generosity the way that God has loved us. 283 00:35:09.545 --> 00:35:11.605 And so if you want to be a follower of Jesus, 284 00:35:12.965 --> 00:35:17.005 a good indication that you are is that you are living a generous life. 285 00:35:18.925 --> 00:35:21.165 And you see that kind of heart reflected all throughout the Bible. 286 00:35:21.185 --> 00:35:25.165 You see Jesus actually sharing that heart with people through his actions. 287 00:35:25.225 --> 00:35:26.565 But I tell you what else you see, 288 00:35:26.665 --> 00:35:31.005 you see him actually talking to people about it all throughout the pages of 289 00:35:31.205 --> 00:35:36.085 scripture. And he talks about it a lot, even when it's uncomfortable, 290 00:35:37.195 --> 00:35:40.925 even when he has to stop for a minute and pay attention to people who he could 291 00:35:40.926 --> 00:35:42.525 simply walk past. Instead, 292 00:35:42.665 --> 00:35:47.364 he chooses to see them and share with them this heart of generosity that he 293 00:35:47.645 --> 00:35:52.085 demonstrates. And today we're gonna look at a story where he does exactly that. 294 00:35:52.925 --> 00:35:54.005 Uh, so if you have your Bibles, 295 00:35:54.006 --> 00:35:56.325 I want you to go ahead and open up to Luke's gospel. 296 00:35:56.905 --> 00:35:58.885 And we're gonna be looking at chapter 10 today. 297 00:35:58.905 --> 00:36:02.844 And we're gonna be looking at verses 29 through verse 37, I'm sorry, 298 00:36:02.845 --> 00:36:05.805 verse 25 through 37. And so just go ahead and open there. 299 00:36:05.825 --> 00:36:09.005 And while you're doing that, verse 25 through 37, uh, 300 00:36:09.245 --> 00:36:11.965 let me just kind of give you some details about Luke's story and get you 301 00:36:12.165 --> 00:36:16.245 prepared as we begin to read together. Uh, first Luke is a man of many talents. 302 00:36:16.265 --> 00:36:20.925 Now he is a doctor, he's a physician. Uh, he's also a first century historian. 303 00:36:21.525 --> 00:36:24.405 Uh, he has a lot of important things to say about the Bible. 304 00:36:24.515 --> 00:36:27.125 He's a disciple and a follower of Jesus. 305 00:36:27.825 --> 00:36:32.325 And he authors this book by sharing stories and eyewitness accounts of the life 306 00:36:32.465 --> 00:36:33.105 of Jesus. 307 00:36:33.105 --> 00:36:37.805 So he's sharing things that he has seen with his own eyes and things that Jesus 308 00:36:37.945 --> 00:36:40.325 has done, things that Jesus has said. 309 00:36:40.665 --> 00:36:44.765 And the gospel of Luke is like this account that shows Jesus directly 310 00:36:45.085 --> 00:36:48.405 confronting the hearts of people. And oftentimes when he does that, 311 00:36:48.825 --> 00:36:50.645 he does it through direct confrontation. 312 00:36:50.646 --> 00:36:55.045 Like I remember him calling somebody a brood of vipers, , 313 00:36:55.745 --> 00:36:59.525 that's a direct confrontation on your heart. But oftentimes when he does it, 314 00:36:59.526 --> 00:37:03.445 he does it through these stories that we call parables. 315 00:37:04.085 --> 00:37:05.844 And today we're gonna look at one of those parables, 316 00:37:05.845 --> 00:37:09.925 the Parable of the Good Samaritan. So what we get to Luke chapter 10, 317 00:37:10.025 --> 00:37:14.965 verses 25 through 37, here's what it says. On one occasion, 318 00:37:15.665 --> 00:37:19.005 an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. 319 00:37:20.145 --> 00:37:21.925 And he says, teacher, he asks, 320 00:37:22.885 --> 00:37:25.844 what must I do to inherit internal life? 321 00:37:26.985 --> 00:37:31.364 And Jesus hears this question and he knows that this man is trying to test him. 322 00:37:31.365 --> 00:37:35.165 And so he responds by saying, well, what is written in the law? He replied, 323 00:37:36.165 --> 00:37:39.925 how do you read the law? And he answered this man answers. He says, uh, 324 00:37:40.125 --> 00:37:42.725 I love the Lord your God with all of your heart and with all of your soul, 325 00:37:42.945 --> 00:37:47.885 and with all of your strength and with all of your mind and love your neighbor 326 00:37:47.985 --> 00:37:51.805 as yourself. And Jesus says, well, good, you've answered correctly. 327 00:37:53.185 --> 00:37:58.125 Do this and you will live. But this man didn't let stop there. 328 00:37:58.305 --> 00:38:01.364 He wants to justify himself. The Bible says. And so he asked Jesus, 329 00:38:01.585 --> 00:38:06.485 and who is my neighbor? Now remember, right before we get too deep, 330 00:38:06.594 --> 00:38:11.525 this guy is a lawyer, . And so he asked this question like, 331 00:38:11.585 --> 00:38:15.085 be who's my neighbor? And Jesus responds in a way that is common for him. 332 00:38:15.385 --> 00:38:17.364 He shares a truth, uh, through this story, 333 00:38:17.545 --> 00:38:19.925 and he kind of goes on and here's what he says in the story, 334 00:38:19.926 --> 00:38:22.645 which we call parables. In reply, Jesus said, 335 00:38:22.925 --> 00:38:26.085 A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho. 336 00:38:26.475 --> 00:38:31.045 When he was attacked by Roberts, they stripped him of his clothes, 337 00:38:31.235 --> 00:38:34.925 they beat him, and they went away leaving him half dead. 338 00:38:35.844 --> 00:38:38.325 A priest happened to be going by down that same road. 339 00:38:38.465 --> 00:38:40.445 And when he saw this man on the side of the road, 340 00:38:40.745 --> 00:38:45.685 he passed by on the other side. And so to a Levite, 341 00:38:45.875 --> 00:38:49.925 when he came to the place and saw him, he passed by as well on the other side. 342 00:38:51.515 --> 00:38:56.045 Then a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was. 343 00:38:56.065 --> 00:38:59.725 And when he saw him, he took pity on this man. He, 344 00:38:59.726 --> 00:39:03.725 he went to him and he bandage his wounds and he poured on oil and wine. 345 00:39:03.785 --> 00:39:07.605 And then he put the man on his donkey, brought him to an end, 346 00:39:07.606 --> 00:39:09.885 and he took care of him. The next day, 347 00:39:10.745 --> 00:39:14.965 the man comes out and he offers to denari, and he gave them to the innkeeper. 348 00:39:15.555 --> 00:39:18.405 Look after them, he said, and when I return, 349 00:39:18.645 --> 00:39:22.364 I will reimburse you for any extra expense that you might have. 350 00:39:23.225 --> 00:39:24.765 And then Jesus asked this question, 351 00:39:25.775 --> 00:39:29.405 which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man, 352 00:39:30.425 --> 00:39:34.844 the man who fell into the hands of robbers and the expert in the law replied the 353 00:39:34.905 --> 00:39:39.805 one who had mercy on him? And Jesus told him, well, 354 00:39:39.806 --> 00:39:41.045 go and do likewise. 355 00:39:42.055 --> 00:39:45.605 Let's unpack this a little bit because right outta the gate you got this lawyer 356 00:39:45.945 --> 00:39:49.844 trying to test Jesus and he's trying to test Jesus, uh, 357 00:39:49.845 --> 00:39:51.685 by simply asking a question. And remember, 358 00:39:51.875 --> 00:39:55.885 this guy would've been an expert in religious law like he would've been a 359 00:39:55.886 --> 00:39:58.045 lawyer, and his motivation is to test Jesus. 360 00:39:58.185 --> 00:40:02.445 And what he is trying to do is offer a trap question and ask a question that 361 00:40:02.446 --> 00:40:05.445 really doesn't have anything to do with the reality of what he's actually 362 00:40:05.645 --> 00:40:08.965 supposed to live out. And so in verse 25, when he says, teacher, 363 00:40:09.395 --> 00:40:13.445 what must I do to inherit eternal life? What this guy is actually asking 364 00:40:15.065 --> 00:40:16.325 is, what's the least I can do? 365 00:40:18.344 --> 00:40:22.485 What's the bare minimum amount that I can do and still be good 366 00:40:23.075 --> 00:40:25.885 with God? You see, 367 00:40:25.965 --> 00:40:29.445 the guy thinks that he knows the answer that Jesus is gonna give him. 368 00:40:29.985 --> 00:40:34.085 And Jesus responds with these two simple statements that still ring true today. 369 00:40:34.385 --> 00:40:36.005 He says a couple things that you could do. One, 370 00:40:36.075 --> 00:40:38.685 love God with your heart and your mind and your soul and the other, uh, 371 00:40:38.835 --> 00:40:40.805 love others as yourself. Pretty simple, right? 372 00:40:40.806 --> 00:40:43.685 Jesus has answered the trap question, responded to the God, 373 00:40:43.785 --> 00:40:47.725 the God responded to Jesus. Everything seems to be okay. Pretty simple. 374 00:40:49.585 --> 00:40:51.565 But David Shapiro Cochran, the lawyer, 375 00:40:53.185 --> 00:40:56.685 he decides to respond again and he, and he asked the question, well, cool, 376 00:40:56.855 --> 00:40:59.565 great, I can do all that. But, but who is actually, 377 00:40:59.905 --> 00:41:03.565 who is my neighbor? And can I just say like, 378 00:41:03.566 --> 00:41:06.645 this guy wins the award for Loophole Lawyer of the Year, 379 00:41:06.646 --> 00:41:07.645 right here with that question. 380 00:41:09.155 --> 00:41:12.325 He's trying to find a way to get around these simple two commands, 381 00:41:12.675 --> 00:41:17.165 love God and love others. It's not hard to know what to do when you hear that, 382 00:41:17.265 --> 00:41:20.725 but this guy is trying to ask a question so he can get around it. 383 00:41:21.145 --> 00:41:24.125 Who is my neighbor? And here's the thing, 384 00:41:24.405 --> 00:41:26.805 I used to think this guy was like abnormal. 385 00:41:26.955 --> 00:41:30.525 Like nobody would ask a question like that in the presence of Jesus. 386 00:41:30.825 --> 00:41:32.364 But the longer I've been a pastor, 387 00:41:33.785 --> 00:41:38.165 the more I realize he's a lot more like us than we care to know. 388 00:41:40.635 --> 00:41:43.844 He's a lot more like us. I, I mean, honestly, like how many of us, 389 00:41:43.915 --> 00:41:48.165 when we come into contact with somebody who needs help or when it comes to just 390 00:41:48.166 --> 00:41:52.125 simply living a life that helps others regularly, how many of us, 391 00:41:52.225 --> 00:41:53.965 if we're honest, like, like we just kinda, 392 00:41:54.265 --> 00:41:58.125 we just kind of rather ask a question than actually do the thing that God is 393 00:41:58.126 --> 00:41:59.085 calling us to do. 394 00:42:01.105 --> 00:42:05.965 How many of us just like respond with a bunch of details rather than just get in 395 00:42:05.966 --> 00:42:08.005 and do the work that God is calling us to do? 396 00:42:08.505 --> 00:42:12.445 And so we ask questions just like this man to stop us from having to do the 397 00:42:12.446 --> 00:42:13.844 thing God's called us into. 398 00:42:15.825 --> 00:42:19.525 Who is my neighbor? ? Well, 399 00:42:19.526 --> 00:42:22.725 first I I I just know that that's not the way that God would have for us to 400 00:42:22.726 --> 00:42:24.925 live. But second, I wanna dispel this rumor. 401 00:42:24.985 --> 00:42:29.005 So this is never a question that hope Community Church again in our lives. 402 00:42:29.185 --> 00:42:32.485 And one of the things I love to do when I'm trying to answer a question is give 403 00:42:32.486 --> 00:42:34.165 some kind of visual representation. 404 00:42:34.625 --> 00:42:38.285 And so I found this chart in a book called The Art of Neighboring, 405 00:42:38.286 --> 00:42:41.645 and it is like comically silly. Like, like when you answer the question, 406 00:42:41.665 --> 00:42:44.885 who is my neighbor? Uh, here, here's, here's who your neighbor is. Like, 407 00:42:44.886 --> 00:42:49.805 like in the middle though, that's us , 408 00:42:50.505 --> 00:42:54.325 that's our house. Like that, that's where we live. I live there. You, 409 00:42:54.326 --> 00:42:57.645 that's your house. Like put your house in the middle of that. And, and, 410 00:42:57.885 --> 00:43:02.005 and who is who? Who is my neighbor? E Everybody else, 411 00:43:04.465 --> 00:43:08.285 all the other houses around that. That's, 412 00:43:08.286 --> 00:43:12.205 that's your neighbor . Even the guy who don't cut his grass. Yep. 413 00:43:12.206 --> 00:43:14.364 That's your neighbor. Uh, 414 00:43:14.555 --> 00:43:17.565 even the guy who plays his music loud at night at two o'clock in the morning. 415 00:43:17.844 --> 00:43:18.885 Yep. That's also your neighbor. 416 00:43:20.445 --> 00:43:20.685 Like. 417 00:43:20.685 --> 00:43:25.165 Like even the person who still has my casserole dish they've had for two years. 418 00:43:27.355 --> 00:43:31.525 Also, also our neighbor, like a, 419 00:43:31.805 --> 00:43:35.925 all of them are our neighbor, you know, according to net Bible. 420 00:43:36.025 --> 00:43:37.285 But really according to Jesus, 421 00:43:37.525 --> 00:43:42.125 a neighbor is any person irrespective of what nation they come from 422 00:43:42.344 --> 00:43:44.525 or what religion with whom they are. 423 00:43:44.815 --> 00:43:49.485 These are any persons who we live near, who we come into contact with, 424 00:43:49.555 --> 00:43:51.245 with any kind of chance meeting. 425 00:43:51.465 --> 00:43:55.285 All of them are our neighbors. 426 00:43:57.105 --> 00:43:58.364 And if you ask the question like, 427 00:43:58.365 --> 00:44:02.565 who does God expect me to support with this life of generosity? 428 00:44:04.225 --> 00:44:08.925 All them who, who are the people in my neighborhood? Everybody 429 00:44:10.765 --> 00:44:14.765 Who, who am I supposed to love? Everybody. Everybody we come into contact with. 430 00:44:14.864 --> 00:44:18.565 And that might be to differing degrees based off the resources that God has 431 00:44:18.805 --> 00:44:22.445 provided us. But can I just say like, if you can't do it for everybody, man, 432 00:44:22.505 --> 00:44:25.085 do for a few what you wish you could do for everyone. 433 00:44:27.315 --> 00:44:31.925 Because the heart of of generosity is demonstrated when we love 434 00:44:32.105 --> 00:44:36.205 our neighbors. This guy asks a selfish question. 435 00:44:37.585 --> 00:44:41.925 He asked a question that he already knows is not the right question. Uh, 436 00:44:41.926 --> 00:44:42.765 because by nature, 437 00:44:42.975 --> 00:44:46.605 generosity is supposed to be this bridge that leads us to the hope of the 438 00:44:46.606 --> 00:44:46.915 gospel. 439 00:44:46.915 --> 00:44:50.245 It's supposed to be a bridge that connects us through the way that we live 440 00:44:50.725 --> 00:44:53.805 generously. But this guy with his smooth talk and talk, 441 00:44:53.915 --> 00:44:57.285 instead of building a bridge, he is building a barrier. 442 00:44:59.425 --> 00:45:01.565 He doesn't ask Jesus to define love, 443 00:45:03.225 --> 00:45:06.685 he asks Jesus to define neighbor. But here's what he really wants to know. 444 00:45:06.686 --> 00:45:09.045 What's disguised behind that question is a different question. 445 00:45:09.114 --> 00:45:13.325 What he really wants to know is who is actually worthy of being treated the way 446 00:45:13.326 --> 00:45:17.325 that I want to be treated? Or maybe there's a second question behind it. Like, 447 00:45:17.435 --> 00:45:21.565 like who, uh, who is who is good enough for me to help in my own eyes? 448 00:45:22.795 --> 00:45:23.285 Because. 449 00:45:23.285 --> 00:45:26.325 Here's what he knows, that on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho, 450 00:45:26.715 --> 00:45:31.005 this man has been beaten. And, and it's probably a sketchy part of town. 451 00:45:31.195 --> 00:45:33.605 It's on the other side of the tracks. And, 452 00:45:33.805 --> 00:45:35.525 and while they don't mention his ethnicity, 453 00:45:35.545 --> 00:45:39.325 we know that there are cultural issues all over the places where Jesus is 454 00:45:39.326 --> 00:45:43.844 talking and he knows that, uh, uh, 455 00:45:44.045 --> 00:45:46.565 somebody has passed by, one person has already passed by, 456 00:45:46.635 --> 00:45:49.925 that person happens to be a priest, another person has passed by. 457 00:45:50.075 --> 00:45:54.364 That person happens to be a Levite. But then there's this one person, 458 00:45:56.085 --> 00:46:00.805 a Samaritan, and he sees this man 459 00:46:03.665 --> 00:46:07.445 and he helps, he sees him, 460 00:46:08.864 --> 00:46:11.725 he sees him in his brokenness and in his bruised state, 461 00:46:12.585 --> 00:46:16.364 he sees him laying there and he has compassion on this man. 462 00:46:16.885 --> 00:46:21.405 And so because of it, he sees him, he has compassion and he takes action. Like, 463 00:46:21.605 --> 00:46:25.285 like he helps. Can I just ask like, do we see people, 464 00:46:28.535 --> 00:46:28.826 like, 465 00:46:28.826 --> 00:46:33.665 do we see people who God is putting in our pathway every 466 00:46:33.725 --> 00:46:34.585 single day 467 00:46:36.295 --> 00:46:41.065 because it's easy in our current culture to just kind of walk by people? Like, 468 00:46:41.066 --> 00:46:44.065 do we see people the way that Jesus sees people? 469 00:46:44.405 --> 00:46:47.825 Do we see people as hurdles on the way to our destination? 470 00:46:47.965 --> 00:46:51.545 Or do we actually see them as people created in the image of God 471 00:46:52.885 --> 00:46:57.705 Who need to experience the love and the generosity that God has shown us? 472 00:47:00.005 --> 00:47:02.305 Do we see people? You know, 473 00:47:02.306 --> 00:47:05.505 there's an old saying that says that Jesus never went out of his way to help 474 00:47:05.506 --> 00:47:08.385 anybody because it was never out of his way to help anybody. 475 00:47:11.545 --> 00:47:15.905 And if we wanna see people the way that Jesus sees them, 476 00:47:17.305 --> 00:47:22.265 and we do it through the lens of generosity, when the Sam stops, 477 00:47:23.165 --> 00:47:24.465 he saw the person hurting 478 00:47:26.005 --> 00:47:30.280 and he sees him and he offers this sense of compassion on him. 479 00:47:31.105 --> 00:47:35.325 And compassion can be defined by a desire, uh, to suffer with another, 480 00:47:36.445 --> 00:47:38.445 where their pain, the pain that they feel, 481 00:47:38.864 --> 00:47:43.805 you often also begin to feel like you have empathy on that person and you stop 482 00:47:43.945 --> 00:47:47.565 to help them even exactly where they are, even when it's inconvenient. 483 00:47:48.825 --> 00:47:53.445 And these three men saw him, but only one had that kind of compassion. 484 00:47:55.485 --> 00:47:56.685 And this is also, lemme just tell you, 485 00:47:56.686 --> 00:47:59.325 it's an attribute of somebody who's been transformed by God. 486 00:47:59.755 --> 00:48:03.685 Like if you ever want a litmus test to know whether you are a Christ follower or 487 00:48:03.686 --> 00:48:04.225 not, 488 00:48:04.225 --> 00:48:08.285 one of the best ways that you can tell that is when you see situations that need 489 00:48:08.485 --> 00:48:13.045 somebody to step into with generosity, do you walk by or do you stop and help? 490 00:48:14.795 --> 00:48:18.364 Because a transformed life is a generous life 491 00:48:19.985 --> 00:48:22.165 and it leads us towards action. 492 00:48:23.945 --> 00:48:28.485 And this guy takes action, it motivates him towards movement. 493 00:48:28.545 --> 00:48:32.485 It leads him to act on the behalf of another because he sees the pain that that 494 00:48:32.486 --> 00:48:36.445 person's experiencing. Uh, it gives him this great sense of compassion 495 00:48:38.125 --> 00:48:40.325 and it moves him towards action instead of apathy. 496 00:48:40.875 --> 00:48:43.285 Because here's what I know about compassion. 497 00:48:43.655 --> 00:48:47.405 Compassion is supposed to be a catalyst for action. 498 00:48:49.335 --> 00:48:50.735 Like when we see people hurting, 499 00:48:53.025 --> 00:48:55.765 he should put our feet into motion. 500 00:48:58.145 --> 00:49:02.165 We should act. And this man is hurt. 501 00:49:03.585 --> 00:49:06.005 And this guy goes directly to him. 502 00:49:07.265 --> 00:49:11.844 He gets off of his own horse, humbles himself for this man, 503 00:49:12.344 --> 00:49:15.245 and he gets in close proximity. He doesn't stand at a distance. 504 00:49:15.305 --> 00:49:19.165 He gets right up close to the middle of the meth. He, he gives his possessions, 505 00:49:19.175 --> 00:49:21.805 right? He binds the man's wounds. And, 506 00:49:21.864 --> 00:49:26.125 and notice he doesn't just throw money at him. He actually tends to his wounds, 507 00:49:27.105 --> 00:49:31.085 he does it with oil and wine. He puts the man on his animal, 508 00:49:31.825 --> 00:49:35.405 he gives of his time, he stops what he's doing and he deals with what he sees. 509 00:49:36.025 --> 00:49:40.885 He even spent the night and gave money and more money and said, listen, 510 00:49:40.945 --> 00:49:43.685 if there's any future expense, I got that too. 511 00:49:48.295 --> 00:49:53.005 Jesus makes it clear through this story that this, 512 00:49:54.515 --> 00:49:55.525 this is what a life 513 00:49:57.245 --> 00:50:01.045 that will inherit eternal life looks like. 514 00:50:03.265 --> 00:50:07.445 Man, there's so many questions, right? Jesus asks me like, 515 00:50:08.455 --> 00:50:10.645 which of these three men will inherit the kingdom? 516 00:50:11.215 --> 00:50:14.844 Which of these three men will be counted on that day, right? Uh, 517 00:50:14.845 --> 00:50:18.125 which of these three men actually are showing the godly compassion and 518 00:50:18.126 --> 00:50:22.605 generosity that I expect from my people to show which of these three 519 00:50:23.505 --> 00:50:24.925 should you model your life after? 520 00:50:25.015 --> 00:50:28.565 Which of these three is actually experiencing eternal life even today? 521 00:50:28.775 --> 00:50:32.844 Which of these three demonstrates the heart of generosity of someone who is a 522 00:50:32.845 --> 00:50:36.445 follower of Jesus? And clearly 523 00:50:38.195 --> 00:50:43.165 it's the Samaritan. Jesus takes his question and he flips it on its head. 524 00:50:43.785 --> 00:50:48.685 He changes the question from who is my neighbor to how can you be 525 00:50:48.725 --> 00:50:49.605 a better neighbor? 526 00:50:52.385 --> 00:50:57.085 He changes it from who do I have to love to instead? Who do I get to love? 527 00:50:58.105 --> 00:50:58.926 And in doing so, 528 00:50:58.926 --> 00:51:02.245 he offers this beautiful picture of not just service and support, 529 00:51:03.185 --> 00:51:06.725 but it's a beautiful picture of the gospel as well. Uh, 530 00:51:06.965 --> 00:51:08.005 let me explain what I mean. You see, 531 00:51:08.006 --> 00:51:12.245 the generosity of the good Samaritan reflects the generosity that God has shown 532 00:51:12.545 --> 00:51:15.485 you. And I, and just as a Samaritan saw the need, 533 00:51:15.486 --> 00:51:18.965 Samaritan saw the need for the wounded man and responded with compassion. 534 00:51:19.185 --> 00:51:23.645 So God sees us in our brokenness and he responds with compassion, 535 00:51:23.795 --> 00:51:25.405 with grace and with love. 536 00:51:26.425 --> 00:51:28.925 And he meets every single need that we have. 537 00:51:31.805 --> 00:51:36.205 And he allows us to be a part of his kingdom. And can I just say, 538 00:51:36.206 --> 00:51:40.765 there is no greater compassion than the love of Jesus Christ. 539 00:51:43.315 --> 00:51:46.245 It's a love that carries you through everything. 540 00:51:48.715 --> 00:51:50.165 It's a love that doesn't hold back. 541 00:51:51.315 --> 00:51:53.565 It's a love that reflects God's heart of mercy, 542 00:51:53.805 --> 00:51:58.685 a love that gives freely and and abundantly. And when we're generous, 543 00:51:58.715 --> 00:52:03.245 when we live generous lifestyles and we orient our hearts towards living that 544 00:52:03.246 --> 00:52:04.079 way, 545 00:52:04.425 --> 00:52:08.805 we are reflecting the heart of God and the hope 546 00:52:09.505 --> 00:52:12.045 of the gospel. You know, 547 00:52:12.046 --> 00:52:15.445 our acts of kindness and compassion towards others are a way of showing the 548 00:52:15.446 --> 00:52:19.844 world, uh, what God's love actually looks like in action. Uh, 549 00:52:19.845 --> 00:52:23.605 generosity is not just about giving money, and I need you to hear this. 550 00:52:23.675 --> 00:52:26.285 It's not just about giving money or material things. 551 00:52:26.435 --> 00:52:31.325 It's about giving of ourselves, our time, our energy, our talent, our resources, 552 00:52:31.475 --> 00:52:36.005 just as God has so graciously given to us. You see, 553 00:52:36.006 --> 00:52:40.885 the story of the Good Samaritan teaches us that generosity is certainly 554 00:52:40.895 --> 00:52:45.125 about meeting needs, but more importantly, 555 00:52:46.795 --> 00:52:50.645 it's about a heart that wants to meet needs. 556 00:52:52.065 --> 00:52:56.165 It challenges us to look beyond our own interests. Uh, 557 00:52:56.445 --> 00:53:00.364 this story challenges to look beyond our own comfort and to see the world and 558 00:53:00.365 --> 00:53:03.045 the way that God does through his eyes. And when we do this, 559 00:53:03.225 --> 00:53:05.085 we become more than just givers. 560 00:53:05.385 --> 00:53:10.245 We become agents of change reflecting God's love to 561 00:53:10.285 --> 00:53:14.525 a broken world around us that desperately needs to see that there is hope. 562 00:53:14.526 --> 00:53:14.955 Listen, 563 00:53:14.955 --> 00:53:19.045 when I was in that position where I only had enough money to barely make it, 564 00:53:19.405 --> 00:53:23.645 somebody through a generous gift of a hundred dollars showed me that there is 565 00:53:24.075 --> 00:53:24.908 hope. 566 00:53:27.344 --> 00:53:29.605 I'm not sure that I would even be a Christian right now 567 00:53:31.315 --> 00:53:33.165 because it felt so hopeless. 568 00:53:36.685 --> 00:53:38.285 What Jesus shares to this man. 569 00:53:39.525 --> 00:53:39.765 Is. 570 00:53:39.765 --> 00:53:43.844 Is what every one of us needs to hear. Let us go 571 00:53:45.585 --> 00:53:50.165 and do likewise, generosity. 572 00:53:52.315 --> 00:53:57.085 It's the posture and our hearts were always meant to be like what We follow 573 00:53:57.094 --> 00:53:57.927 Jesus. 574 00:53:58.465 --> 00:54:02.125 And our heart check today is about much more than our wallets. 575 00:54:03.594 --> 00:54:05.445 It's about much more than our finances, 576 00:54:05.685 --> 00:54:08.965 although those are an essential part of a life of generosity. 577 00:54:10.035 --> 00:54:14.445 It's about our heart of compassion demonstrated through our actions as and as we 578 00:54:14.446 --> 00:54:16.525 follow the example of the Good Samaritan, 579 00:54:18.945 --> 00:54:22.565 we reflect the boundless generosity of our heavenly Father, 580 00:54:24.645 --> 00:54:29.085 A father who has given us everything through the gift of salvation 581 00:54:30.385 --> 00:54:32.844 and living this way with our generosity out front. 582 00:54:33.625 --> 00:54:36.605 We share the real heart of Jesus Christ. 583 00:54:38.545 --> 00:54:42.685 You know that couple so many years ago, they saw me, 584 00:54:44.315 --> 00:54:48.045 they saw my wife and I, and they had compassion on us. 585 00:54:49.645 --> 00:54:52.285 And through a simple a hundred dollars gift, they changed our lives. 586 00:54:52.286 --> 00:54:54.965 They showed us the heart of generosity, the heart of the gospel. Uh, 587 00:54:54.966 --> 00:54:57.405 they were living examples of, uh, 588 00:54:57.425 --> 00:55:01.285 of what generosity looks like in action to my wife and I. And still to this day, 589 00:55:01.565 --> 00:55:05.445 I am hoping to get to heaven and tell them thank you for what you did for us. 590 00:55:07.235 --> 00:55:08.685 Because it changed us. 591 00:55:10.635 --> 00:55:15.045 They saw themselves in the story and they took action. 592 00:55:16.755 --> 00:55:19.965 They saw themselves in the middle of that Bible passage 593 00:55:21.945 --> 00:55:25.885 and they responded through a life of generosity. 594 00:55:27.705 --> 00:55:32.364 You know, uh, scripture, it is kind of like a mirror to us. Like, 595 00:55:33.405 --> 00:55:37.565 uh, when we look in the words of scripture, it is supposed to show us ourselves. 596 00:55:38.285 --> 00:55:40.844 And now we have to be careful about putting ourselves in the middle of the 597 00:55:40.925 --> 00:55:44.565 scripture because we might say, I wanna be like Paul and I might respond, well, 598 00:55:44.566 --> 00:55:46.685 you wanna be a murderer and a religious zealot. 599 00:55:47.825 --> 00:55:51.685 And so we have to be careful by not ascribing to ourselves only the good parts 600 00:55:51.686 --> 00:55:56.485 that we see in scripture. Uh, but scripture often shows us who we are. 601 00:55:56.805 --> 00:56:01.325 It it's like a mirror put right in front of us where we see ourselves for who we 602 00:56:01.326 --> 00:56:05.364 really are. And I wanna ask the question today, 603 00:56:06.835 --> 00:56:09.725 when you look at the story of the Good Samaritan, 604 00:56:10.475 --> 00:56:15.085 this beautiful parable, where do you see yourself? 605 00:56:17.315 --> 00:56:18.645 What do you see, uh, 606 00:56:18.735 --> 00:56:23.364 about your life right now and your heart right now when you look at this story? 607 00:56:23.885 --> 00:56:26.685 Uh, because for instance, maybe you see yourself as the Good Samaritan. 608 00:56:27.065 --> 00:56:31.205 You are that person that is extremely generous with the resources that God has 609 00:56:31.206 --> 00:56:32.405 given you. And, and, 610 00:56:32.465 --> 00:56:35.165 and while you are sitting here thinking and hearing this message, 611 00:56:35.344 --> 00:56:39.765 you're thinking of new creative ways that you can give what God has given you 612 00:56:40.245 --> 00:56:42.325 graciously to others who are in need. I mean, 613 00:56:42.326 --> 00:56:46.405 I met a small group the other night of four Men and they're trying to start a 614 00:56:46.885 --> 00:56:50.645 nonprofit that ministers to single moms. Like, that's it. 615 00:56:52.745 --> 00:56:57.565 Praise God. There are a lot of you who are getting it and doing it. 616 00:56:57.765 --> 00:57:00.605 And can I just say, we are so thankful you man, 617 00:57:00.985 --> 00:57:04.325 fan that thing in the flame and share it with other people so we can be this 618 00:57:04.435 --> 00:57:06.085 beautifully generous church. 619 00:57:08.594 --> 00:57:10.765 There's a lot of things to be known for as a church. 620 00:57:11.935 --> 00:57:14.085 Generosity ain't one I'm gonna be upset about. Amen. 621 00:57:18.065 --> 00:57:22.965 So maybe you see yourself as the Samaritan and if that's you, keep going. 622 00:57:24.305 --> 00:57:28.525 Praise God for you continue to do exactly that. 623 00:57:30.425 --> 00:57:31.805 Or maybe as you look at this story, 624 00:57:31.825 --> 00:57:34.245 you see yourself as the Levite or the priest. 625 00:57:35.865 --> 00:57:38.605 God has been putting things in front of you every single day. 626 00:57:38.606 --> 00:57:42.445 And for some reason, and whether it's our busyness or whether it is, 627 00:57:42.465 --> 00:57:45.805 we feel like there's not enough in the kingdom. I thought there wasn't enough. 628 00:57:45.806 --> 00:57:48.685 And then those people gave me a hundred dollars and I realized there was enough. 629 00:57:50.025 --> 00:57:53.285 And if the people of God would do the things that we're supposed to and live our 630 00:57:53.286 --> 00:57:56.805 lives of generosity the way God shares with us in his word, 631 00:57:57.125 --> 00:58:00.205 I don't think the church would ever need another loan or anything else. Amen. 632 00:58:02.085 --> 00:58:06.805 'cause there's enough. And maybe you've been walking past the needs, 633 00:58:08.605 --> 00:58:10.125 or maybe you can't do it by yourself, 634 00:58:11.465 --> 00:58:16.095 but through God's help and with a couple of brothers and sisters in Christ, 635 00:58:17.145 --> 00:58:22.135 you'd be surprised at the needs that you can meet and the difference you can 636 00:58:22.136 --> 00:58:24.775 make for the hope of the gospel. 637 00:58:27.155 --> 00:58:28.495 So if you see yourself as a, 638 00:58:29.195 --> 00:58:33.015 the priest of the Levite know that we need you 639 00:58:33.995 --> 00:58:37.015 in the fight and your generosity matters. 640 00:58:39.655 --> 00:58:41.055 Well, there's one other person in the story, 641 00:58:43.415 --> 00:58:47.785 And maybe you see yourself as the person on the side of the road that day. 642 00:58:50.065 --> 00:58:53.615 Maybe you're there and you are laying beaten and broken. 643 00:58:56.305 --> 00:59:01.095 Maybe you've lost or you're about to lose your job. Maybe you're like, 644 00:59:01.135 --> 00:59:05.455 I was in the beginning of the story where I just felt like I was failing and I 645 00:59:05.456 --> 00:59:06.575 needed to know the love of Jesus. 646 00:59:07.785 --> 00:59:10.855 Maybe you've lost a relationship where you've gone through a divorce. 647 00:59:11.065 --> 00:59:14.895 Maybe somebody has ripped your heart right out from your chest and you are like 648 00:59:14.896 --> 00:59:18.335 this man. You were just laying there broken and beaten, 649 00:59:19.875 --> 00:59:23.285 and you desperately need somebody to take action. 650 00:59:25.065 --> 00:59:26.365 You need somebody to see. 651 00:59:26.385 --> 00:59:27.218 You. 652 00:59:28.155 --> 00:59:32.445 Exactly where you are and to have compassion on you. 653 00:59:34.685 --> 00:59:36.385 As we close our time, can I just share with you, 654 00:59:38.315 --> 00:59:42.825 Jesus sees you, he sees you, 655 00:59:44.645 --> 00:59:47.465 he has great love for you and compassion for you. 656 00:59:49.525 --> 00:59:53.585 And he has already taken action through his death 657 00:59:54.525 --> 00:59:56.425 and his burial and his resurrection, 658 00:59:56.445 --> 01:00:01.105 and he has come back so that we might know that there is new life and 659 01:00:01.115 --> 01:00:03.945 great hope in Jesus Christ. 660 01:00:05.765 --> 01:00:10.585 And that resurrection gives new life to all who put their trust in him and 661 01:00:10.586 --> 01:00:15.545 know that he wants to be generous to you as well and sharing salvation with 662 01:00:15.685 --> 01:00:16.518 you. 663 01:00:17.605 --> 01:00:22.505 And today can be the day that you decide to put 664 01:00:22.506 --> 01:00:25.305 your trust and your hope in Jesus Christ. 665 01:00:27.095 --> 01:00:31.155 And if that's you, we would love to meet you at the end of service. 666 01:00:32.895 --> 01:00:35.955 We would love to talk to you about what it means to be a Christ follower. 667 01:00:37.095 --> 01:00:38.835 And in just a moment, I'm gonna pray for you. 668 01:00:40.715 --> 01:00:44.385 We're gonna ask God to show you a flood 669 01:00:46.245 --> 01:00:49.425 of his compassion and his generosity. 670 01:00:51.115 --> 01:00:54.465 Let's take a moment and pray together. Father God, we thank you for the day. 671 01:00:54.685 --> 01:00:58.665 We thank you for your grace and your mercy and your love for us. We thank you 672 01:00:59.965 --> 01:01:03.225 For this beautiful story of love and compassion, 673 01:01:05.455 --> 01:01:08.785 this beautiful story of generosity in action. 674 01:01:10.725 --> 01:01:14.335 What we know, father God, is that you desire for us to live generous lives. 675 01:01:14.355 --> 01:01:18.815 And we pray that we be faithful to those kinds of lives as followers of Christ. 676 01:01:20.315 --> 01:01:23.935 But we also know that there are those here today watching online 677 01:01:25.755 --> 01:01:30.535 who do not know you. And so we lift them up before you. Father God, 678 01:01:32.545 --> 01:01:36.685 we ask that they would receive your free gift of salvation by placing their 679 01:01:36.686 --> 01:01:37.519 trust in you. 680 01:01:37.625 --> 01:01:41.605 We thank you for being the God who began all things the God of the universe, 681 01:01:41.805 --> 01:01:46.045 a God, uh, who sent his son Jesus to die on our behalf, on a cross. 682 01:01:46.625 --> 01:01:48.885 And through his death berry and now resurrection, 683 01:01:48.905 --> 01:01:53.485 he lives that we might have new life in Jesus Christ by putting our trust 684 01:01:54.185 --> 01:01:55.445 and our faith in him. 685 01:01:58.865 --> 01:02:01.085 And if you want to accept that gift of salvation, 686 01:02:02.585 --> 01:02:04.085 if you wanna say yes to Jesus, 687 01:02:06.545 --> 01:02:11.445 if you're watching online, even in your home, just type into the chat. Yes, 688 01:02:11.605 --> 01:02:12.525 I say yes to Jesus. 689 01:02:12.865 --> 01:02:15.725 And if you're here in the room with every head bow and every eye closed, 690 01:02:15.855 --> 01:02:19.805 would you just lift your hand before you and say yes and before us and say, yes, 691 01:02:19.885 --> 01:02:20.725 I wanna follow Jesus. 692 01:02:20.755 --> 01:02:24.845 Just put your hand in the air if you are not a follower of Jesus. Amen. 693 01:02:25.795 --> 01:02:28.605 Amen. And you'd like to be a follower of Jesus. I see that hand. Amen. 694 01:02:29.185 --> 01:02:33.445 Praise God. Amen. 695 01:02:36.905 --> 01:02:41.135 God, we know you desire for every one of us 696 01:02:42.715 --> 01:02:44.135 to live lives of generosity. 697 01:02:45.595 --> 01:02:49.695 And we thank you in this moment for your generous gift of salvation 698 01:02:51.695 --> 01:02:54.345 in Jesus' name. Amen. 699 01:04:02.935 --> 01:04:03.768 I. 700 01:06:25.505 --> 01:06:26.338 I. 701 01:06:51.145 --> 01:06:56.015 Check, check, check. 1, 2, 3. This thing is acting up. 702 01:06:56.155 --> 01:07:00.295 That's okay. Come on y'all. Let's do that again. Give God some praise. . 703 01:07:02.255 --> 01:07:03.088 Yep. 704 01:07:03.555 --> 01:07:04.388 Wow. 705 01:07:05.925 --> 01:07:09.895 Well listen, as we close our time today, uh, we are so thankful to the Lord, uh, 706 01:07:09.896 --> 01:07:11.215 for this time of worship together. 707 01:07:11.595 --> 01:07:13.895 And make sure that if you are new to Hope Community Church, 708 01:07:13.896 --> 01:07:16.095 or if you've been coming for a while and you're not connected, 709 01:07:16.365 --> 01:07:19.615 that you do exactly that. You get yourself connected. 710 01:07:20.275 --> 01:07:22.775 And the way that you can do that is by stopping at our next steps area, 711 01:07:22.776 --> 01:07:24.735 if you're at one of our physical campuses or online, 712 01:07:24.965 --> 01:07:29.015 letting us know that you're new and will do everything we can to serve you and 713 01:07:29.016 --> 01:07:32.575 connect to you and more importantly, help you get connected to Jesus. 714 01:07:33.515 --> 01:07:37.095 Now listen, uh, as we get ready for next week and the weeks to come, 715 01:07:37.635 --> 01:07:40.495 we are starting a brand new series and we're excited for it. 716 01:07:41.015 --> 01:07:44.855 But one of the best ways that you can share the generosity is by simply, uh, 717 01:07:45.255 --> 01:07:48.405 inviting people to experience what you're already experiencing, 718 01:07:48.406 --> 01:07:49.239 the hope of the gospel. 719 01:07:49.625 --> 01:07:52.245 And one of the ways you can do that is through our church gatherings. 720 01:07:52.246 --> 01:07:55.525 And so we gather every single week somewhere at Hope Community Church. 721 01:07:55.526 --> 01:07:57.925 We have multiple campuses and we're thankful for that. 722 01:07:57.985 --> 01:07:59.485 And those gatherings are amazing. 723 01:07:59.845 --> 01:08:01.885 They're ways to be encouraged and grow in the Lord. 724 01:08:02.265 --> 01:08:06.525 And we have one of those coming up on Easter and we expect a lot of people to 725 01:08:06.526 --> 01:08:09.805 show up. Praise God. We expect that to happen. Amen. Amen. 726 01:08:10.565 --> 01:08:11.925 And not so that we can have big numbers, 727 01:08:12.145 --> 01:08:15.325 but so that God can be glorified through our time of worship together. 728 01:08:15.625 --> 01:08:17.325 And we would love for you to be a part of that. 729 01:08:17.326 --> 01:08:19.205 And we would love for you to invite others to do that. 730 01:08:19.206 --> 01:08:22.885 And so we would ask that as we prepare for this new Sears that we're calling the 731 01:08:22.905 --> 01:08:26.845 way that you would go to get hope.net/easter, uh, 732 01:08:26.846 --> 01:08:29.445 and that you would let us know that you're coming so we can make sure we have 733 01:08:29.446 --> 01:08:31.245 enough space for everybody. Uh, 734 01:08:31.265 --> 01:08:34.805 you'll see all of our campuses there and the times that we're gonna have 735 01:08:35.045 --> 01:08:37.165 services on Easter Sunday. In addition, 736 01:08:37.305 --> 01:08:40.165 if you are at one of our physical campuses, you can grab one of these cards. 737 01:08:40.225 --> 01:08:44.965 And that's a great opportunity to you to share the hope of Jesus with somebody 738 01:08:45.985 --> 01:08:47.125 Who do you need to share this with? 739 01:08:47.225 --> 01:08:51.845 That's on the side of the road waiting to know that there's hope in Jesus 740 01:08:51.865 --> 01:08:55.965 Christ. It's a great way to do that. Guys, we love you. 741 01:08:55.966 --> 01:08:59.165 This has been a wonderful time of worship and we hope to see you back here next 742 01:08:59.365 --> 01:08:59.925 week. God bless you.