WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.220 Welcome to the Willow Ridge Sermons Podcast, where you can listen to audio from our most 00:00:09.220 --> 00:00:10.300 recent sermons and more. 00:00:10.860 --> 00:00:15.100 Thanks for listening, and be sure to add this show to your library if you'd like to automatically 00:00:15.100 --> 00:00:16.820 receive new episodes each week. 00:00:28.020 --> 00:00:28.820 Good morning. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:31.480 Oh, that was good. 00:00:31.640 --> 00:00:32.660 I normally have to ask twice. 00:00:32.760 --> 00:00:34.040 You guys just jumped right in and did it. 00:00:34.100 --> 00:00:34.500 Thank you. 00:00:36.260 --> 00:00:40.040 If you have your Bibles with you, will you open them with me to Matthew chapter 12? 00:00:41.180 --> 00:00:46.420 If you're here this morning and you do not own a Bible or just own a copy of God's Word, 00:00:46.480 --> 00:00:48.040 we'd love to give you one as a gift. 00:00:48.220 --> 00:00:52.780 And so there in the back of the auditorium, there's a table that's got a big sign that 00:00:52.780 --> 00:00:54.320 says Connect behind it. 00:00:54.580 --> 00:00:56.860 We've got free copies of God's Word. 00:00:56.860 --> 00:01:00.700 Those are there literally as a gift to you if you need one. 00:01:00.780 --> 00:01:02.780 So please go grab one. 00:01:03.420 --> 00:01:04.120 All right. 00:01:04.200 --> 00:01:06.400 So if you're new here, this is your first time. 00:01:06.480 --> 00:01:07.520 I am not Pastor Bo. 00:01:08.820 --> 00:01:14.820 If you're not new here and you're just wondering where Pastor Bo is, he is up in North Carolina. 00:01:14.980 --> 00:01:22.060 He and his wife Erin are in Black Mountain preparing for the arrival of this massive mission team 00:01:22.060 --> 00:01:24.520 that you guys just prayed over in front of the stage. 00:01:25.180 --> 00:01:28.900 They're actually in charge of meals and cooking this week. 00:01:29.180 --> 00:01:35.160 And so if I had to guess, they are probably either at a grocery store filling up like five shopping carts worth of groceries 00:01:35.160 --> 00:01:39.660 or they are taking a nap and enjoying the calm before the storm, right? 00:01:40.160 --> 00:01:46.380 So I will say this, man, if you have never been to Black Mountain or if you've never had a chance 00:01:46.380 --> 00:01:51.580 to go alongside our youth group on a mission trip, it is a sight to witness, right? 00:01:52.300 --> 00:01:56.900 Many students, they work tirelessly all day long in long pants, long sleeves. 00:01:57.060 --> 00:01:57.840 They're in the woods. 00:01:58.180 --> 00:01:59.100 They're painting. 00:01:59.300 --> 00:02:00.480 They're doing all these projects. 00:02:00.860 --> 00:02:08.700 And then honestly, somehow, after all of that work, they still spend half the night playing games, laughing, and hanging out together. 00:02:08.800 --> 00:02:09.840 It's kind of crazy. 00:02:10.720 --> 00:02:13.340 It's impressive how hard they work during the day, right? 00:02:13.980 --> 00:02:17.540 It's impressive how hard they play at night as well. 00:02:17.760 --> 00:02:24.460 But the most impressive thing of all is how much food they eat, right? 00:02:25.520 --> 00:02:30.540 Like those in charge of cooking and spending their time on meals, man, they spend hours shopping. 00:02:30.700 --> 00:02:33.500 They spend hours preparing for the entire group. 00:02:33.640 --> 00:02:36.140 And then something incredible happens. 00:02:37.560 --> 00:02:39.140 The students enter the dining hall. 00:02:39.660 --> 00:02:45.660 And then within seconds, like the Tasmanian devil from Looney Tunes, our youth group comes through the line 00:02:45.660 --> 00:02:48.920 and every bit of that food disappears, right? 00:02:49.060 --> 00:02:49.780 It's crazy. 00:02:49.980 --> 00:02:53.500 So just in case you were wondering, that's where Pastor Bo is this morning. 00:02:53.620 --> 00:02:54.720 So you guys get me. 00:02:55.640 --> 00:02:56.420 And so, yeah. 00:02:56.720 --> 00:03:02.520 But if you haven't noticed, man, we are, as a church, we are in mission trip season, right? 00:03:02.860 --> 00:03:05.760 Back in May, we sent a women's group. 00:03:05.820 --> 00:03:10.180 And they went and did a women's conference in New York a few weeks ago. 00:03:10.180 --> 00:03:11.020 Our youth group went. 00:03:11.140 --> 00:03:17.660 Like our high schoolers went and did like a service project type trip in New York at a couple of area churches. 00:03:17.660 --> 00:03:23.780 And then just last week, our young adult group, plus myself, my wife, Kim, and Brent Hawkins. 00:03:24.000 --> 00:03:24.680 Everybody knows Brent. 00:03:25.540 --> 00:03:27.820 We spent the week in Queens, New York, right? 00:03:27.900 --> 00:03:32.840 And so we served alongside Pastor Walter and his church doing vacation Bible school there. 00:03:33.540 --> 00:03:37.100 And so last week, our, you know, we had an incredible week. 00:03:37.400 --> 00:03:38.340 We got a lot done. 00:03:38.520 --> 00:03:39.420 We're exhausted. 00:03:39.580 --> 00:03:40.560 But we're back. 00:03:40.660 --> 00:03:41.020 We're here. 00:03:41.560 --> 00:03:45.160 But before I go much further, I need you to understand something about me. 00:03:45.260 --> 00:03:49.940 If you don't know me very well, this will maybe explain some things to you, you know, that happen. 00:03:50.660 --> 00:03:52.540 I'm a little bit of a control freak. 00:03:53.240 --> 00:03:55.100 Kind of like a lot of bit of a control freak. 00:03:55.840 --> 00:03:57.380 Like, is anybody else in here? 00:03:57.620 --> 00:03:59.040 Anybody else in here a control freak? 00:03:59.240 --> 00:03:59.680 Okay, cool. 00:03:59.780 --> 00:04:00.140 Two of you. 00:04:00.220 --> 00:04:00.460 Awesome. 00:04:00.740 --> 00:04:01.640 The rest of you are lying. 00:04:03.160 --> 00:04:08.240 But before we left, man, I had every detail of this trip planned out. 00:04:08.520 --> 00:04:09.100 I'm not kidding. 00:04:09.520 --> 00:04:12.300 Like, we had vacation Bible school planned out down to the minute. 00:04:12.420 --> 00:04:13.140 I had a schedule. 00:04:13.240 --> 00:04:14.340 This is going to happen here. 00:04:14.420 --> 00:04:15.400 This is going to happen there. 00:04:15.680 --> 00:04:19.720 We knew who was going to lead our large group lessons, and we knew what they were going to 00:04:19.720 --> 00:04:20.180 talk about. 00:04:20.880 --> 00:04:24.540 We knew who was going to lead our small group time, and we knew what questions they were 00:04:24.540 --> 00:04:25.120 going to ask. 00:04:25.520 --> 00:04:32.200 We had an organized plan for crafts, games, food, the most important part, food. 00:04:32.200 --> 00:04:34.940 And then we had a plan for music and worship, right? 00:04:35.620 --> 00:04:40.240 Every person on our team had a specific role to play. 00:04:41.380 --> 00:04:42.380 And that's not all. 00:04:43.280 --> 00:04:44.740 We even had matching t-shirts. 00:04:45.580 --> 00:04:49.840 I had even picked out, like, what specific day we were going to wear those t-shirts. 00:04:50.260 --> 00:04:51.540 I told y'all, I'm at control free. 00:04:52.160 --> 00:04:53.880 We created devotional journals. 00:04:54.080 --> 00:04:55.240 We planned our free time. 00:04:55.320 --> 00:04:56.720 And we went into the city. 00:04:56.820 --> 00:04:58.080 We knew where we were going to eat. 00:04:58.180 --> 00:04:59.720 We knew what we wanted to see. 00:04:59.800 --> 00:05:02.800 And we knew what shops we wanted to spend our money at, right? 00:05:03.240 --> 00:05:05.140 We had a plan. 00:05:05.560 --> 00:05:08.300 And it was perfect, if I do say so myself. 00:05:09.760 --> 00:05:14.320 But if you've ever been on a mission trip, then you know plans have a frustrating way of 00:05:14.320 --> 00:05:14.700 changing. 00:05:15.820 --> 00:05:16.540 Now listen, y'all. 00:05:17.400 --> 00:05:20.480 I struggle with being a little bit of a control freak. 00:05:21.560 --> 00:05:29.580 The past week in New York, I learned that the most meaningful moments, though, they're often the ones that are outside of your control. 00:05:30.740 --> 00:05:34.700 They're the ones that you don't find in your schedule or on your itinerary. 00:05:35.660 --> 00:05:40.980 You know, the most meaningful moments are often found when you're waiting on a delayed subway train. 00:05:41.060 --> 00:05:43.620 And I'm over here looking at my watch like, we got somewhere to be. 00:05:44.320 --> 00:05:48.700 But in that delay, a team member meets an immigrant from the Congo. 00:05:49.660 --> 00:05:53.300 A gentleman named Yusuf, who happens to be a Muslim. 00:05:53.740 --> 00:06:00.860 And then that team member gets the opportunity to say, hey, man, we're 13 people from South Carolina doing vacation Bible school at a church in Queens. 00:06:01.940 --> 00:06:06.760 And then we get the opportunity to pray over the fact that he's going to school for finance. 00:06:07.160 --> 00:06:09.120 And we just pray that God will help him find a job. 00:06:10.480 --> 00:06:16.620 You know, the most meaningful moments are often found when some kids show up two hours early on the first night of EBS, right? 00:06:16.620 --> 00:06:19.400 Like you're sitting there, you're like, oh, man, maybe we'll kick back. 00:06:19.480 --> 00:06:20.260 We'll rest a little bit. 00:06:20.320 --> 00:06:20.760 We're tired. 00:06:21.100 --> 00:06:21.360 Nope. 00:06:21.900 --> 00:06:22.860 The kids showed up. 00:06:23.660 --> 00:06:25.200 We're frantically running around. 00:06:25.280 --> 00:06:26.500 We're trying to get everything ready. 00:06:27.000 --> 00:06:29.960 And I'm thinking, what are these kids doing here, right? 00:06:30.860 --> 00:06:37.760 But in those two hours, you see a group of young adults begin to play and build relationships with those kids. 00:06:38.740 --> 00:06:39.900 It wasn't on the schedule. 00:06:41.780 --> 00:06:52.500 You know, the most meaningful moments are often found when you stop worrying about what time it is and you let God use you even when it interferes with your perfect plan. 00:06:53.300 --> 00:07:04.480 You know, this past week, I came across a John Stott quote that kind of challenged me. 00:07:05.200 --> 00:07:11.740 He said, we must allow the word of God to confront us before we attempt to expound on it to others. 00:07:12.860 --> 00:07:17.080 You see, it made me feel better, not because it perfected something in me. 00:07:19.820 --> 00:07:23.700 You know, it didn't just take away my desire to be in control. 00:07:24.760 --> 00:07:28.540 It made me feel better because God's word confronted me. 00:07:29.720 --> 00:07:33.460 And so this morning, and I'm grateful to share my struggle with you. 00:07:34.420 --> 00:07:45.060 And I hope that God's word would seek to root out and confront any part in you and me that seeks to replace God's grace in our walk. 00:07:45.900 --> 00:07:49.300 Let's read Matthew chapter 12, verses 6 through 8 together. 00:07:51.500 --> 00:07:54.300 I tell you something greater than the temple is here. 00:07:54.860 --> 00:07:58.900 And if you had known what this means, I desire mercy and not sacrifice. 00:07:59.520 --> 00:08:01.720 You would not have condemned the guiltless. 00:08:02.280 --> 00:08:04.420 For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath. 00:08:05.040 --> 00:08:05.820 Would you pray with me? 00:08:07.820 --> 00:08:09.720 Father God, I thank you for this morning, Lord. 00:08:09.780 --> 00:08:11.520 I thank you for these people. 00:08:12.200 --> 00:08:14.000 I thank you for those that are here for the first time. 00:08:14.720 --> 00:08:18.420 I thank you for those that are here for like the thousandth time. 00:08:19.500 --> 00:08:21.980 God, I pray that you would work through this morning. 00:08:22.100 --> 00:08:26.300 I pray if there's anything that's going to come out of my mouth that's not of you, I pray that you would just stop it. 00:08:27.420 --> 00:08:29.660 God, let me get out of the way of what you have for us. 00:08:30.500 --> 00:08:33.520 Lord, I thank you for a church that prioritizes missions. 00:08:34.260 --> 00:08:41.860 I thank you for a church that takes a sixth grade child and sends them on mission. 00:08:42.900 --> 00:08:46.420 And I thank you for a church that takes a senior adult in our church and sends them on mission. 00:08:47.540 --> 00:08:51.800 God, I pray that you would work in our hearts and our lives, Lord, and work through this morning. 00:08:52.760 --> 00:08:53.880 In your name I pray, amen. 00:08:54.880 --> 00:08:58.860 So this morning, we're continuing on in our study of the book of Matthew. 00:08:58.860 --> 00:09:07.940 And so last week in chapter 11, Pastor Bo shared with you that Jesus declared that all authority had been given to him by the Father, right? 00:09:08.520 --> 00:09:17.980 And then Jesus extended an invitation to respond, an invitation to respond by depending on him, by believing in him. 00:09:18.860 --> 00:09:22.060 And by turning away from our sins and turning to him. 00:09:23.180 --> 00:09:32.140 Ultimately, having faith in his saving work on the cross and as a result, surrendering to Jesus, he offers those who have faith in him rest. 00:09:33.400 --> 00:09:39.320 You see, the end of Matthew chapter 11, it serves as both an invitation to the weary sinner who needs salvation. 00:09:39.920 --> 00:09:47.020 But we're also going to see in our passage today that it serves as a reminder to the believer who can't seem to find rest. 00:09:48.080 --> 00:09:52.560 In our passage today, it starts off with the words, at that time. 00:09:52.760 --> 00:09:58.580 And guys, this is important because, I mean, there's some passages, right, like a chapter ends and then the next chapter stops, starts. 00:09:58.800 --> 00:10:03.120 And we're not sure if it's been four minutes or if it's been four months or if it's been four years. 00:10:04.220 --> 00:10:09.500 Well, in our passage today, it says, at that time, which points us back to what had just taken place. 00:10:10.160 --> 00:10:21.440 So when Matthew writes that at that time, it lets us know that what is about to take place happens directly after Jesus encouraged non-believers to come to him and find rest. 00:10:22.980 --> 00:10:26.080 Starting back in chapter 11, it says, 00:10:26.160 --> 00:10:46.640 At that time, Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath. 00:10:47.200 --> 00:10:51.440 His disciples were hungry and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. 00:10:52.160 --> 00:10:58.020 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath. 00:10:59.280 --> 00:11:04.040 So in our passage today, we see an immediate conflict between Jesus and the Pharisees, right? 00:11:04.100 --> 00:11:07.460 Which if you've read the Gospels, that's not an uncommon thing. 00:11:08.140 --> 00:11:12.660 But to understand the conflict, we must understand who the Pharisees were, right? 00:11:13.180 --> 00:11:15.880 You see, the word Pharisee, it actually means separated one. 00:11:16.040 --> 00:11:19.020 It speaks to them being men who were set apart. 00:11:19.780 --> 00:11:23.040 You see, they considered themselves to be defenders of God's law. 00:11:23.120 --> 00:11:28.100 And they considered themselves to be above all others when it came to obeying God's law. 00:11:28.980 --> 00:11:32.880 From early childhood, they would have been immersed in God's word. 00:11:33.320 --> 00:11:40.600 They would have been immersed in God's word in a way where they would have known what it looked like to walk in obedience to God's word. 00:11:41.760 --> 00:11:48.240 But you see, the Pharisees believed that their obedience to the law would earn them favor and righteousness before God. 00:11:49.220 --> 00:11:53.020 A common term that we would use to describe this practice is legalism. 00:11:54.240 --> 00:11:59.560 If you're anything like me, I don't know if I could really define what legalism actually was before this. 00:12:00.180 --> 00:12:01.000 So I'm going to tell you. 00:12:02.500 --> 00:12:09.400 Webster's defines it as a strict, literal, or excessive conformity to the law or to a religious or moral code. 00:12:09.820 --> 00:12:11.260 David Platt would say it this way. 00:12:11.700 --> 00:12:20.200 Legalism involves working in our own power, sometimes according to God's law, and other times according to our own rules in order to earn God's favor. 00:12:21.520 --> 00:12:25.940 You know, this morning we're going to talk about three dangers of legalism in the life of a believer. 00:12:26.500 --> 00:12:29.300 We're going to talk about three things that we can learn from the Pharisees. 00:12:30.180 --> 00:12:36.940 But before we go down that road, I think it's important for us to not just simply dismiss the Pharisees as bad guys. 00:12:37.620 --> 00:12:41.720 Like, I think it's important for us to not just distance ourselves from them. 00:12:42.700 --> 00:12:45.280 Because if we do, we'll miss the point of the message. 00:12:46.380 --> 00:12:53.640 Instead, this text invites us to examine our hearts because the truth is that every single one of us is born with a legalistic heart. 00:12:54.980 --> 00:13:04.240 Left to ourselves, we naturally drift towards believing that our standing before God is based on what we do rather than what he's done. 00:13:05.680 --> 00:13:07.820 Matthew 12, verses 1 and 2 says, 00:13:08.320 --> 00:13:11.040 At that time, Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath. 00:13:11.740 --> 00:13:15.180 His Pharisees were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. 00:13:15.840 --> 00:13:17.740 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, 00:13:17.820 --> 00:13:21.580 Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath. 00:13:22.340 --> 00:13:27.920 Guys, we see right off the bat, the Pharisees called Jesus and his disciples out for working on the Sabbath. 00:13:28.620 --> 00:13:29.340 Here's the problem. 00:13:30.700 --> 00:13:35.080 What they were accusing them of did not break God's command to observe the Sabbath. 00:13:36.000 --> 00:13:40.780 It broke the legalistic additions that the Pharisees themselves had added to God's command. 00:13:42.220 --> 00:13:48.020 Guys, can we just ask ourselves for a second, like, what were the Pharisees even doing in the grain field on the Sabbath? 00:13:50.480 --> 00:13:55.240 The kinds of additions that they would have added would have kept people from bathing on the Sabbath 00:13:55.240 --> 00:13:59.940 out of fear of water spilling on the floor and it being considered washing the floor. 00:14:00.960 --> 00:14:04.140 The additions would have kept someone from looking into the mirror 00:14:04.140 --> 00:14:07.660 because you might see a gray hair and be tempted to pull it out. 00:14:09.140 --> 00:14:13.200 Additions like if you toss something in the air with your right hand and caught it with your left, 00:14:13.280 --> 00:14:14.260 that would be a violation. 00:14:15.160 --> 00:14:18.440 But if you tossed it with your right hand and then caught it with your right hand, 00:14:18.520 --> 00:14:20.340 well, that's okay, it's the same hand. 00:14:22.460 --> 00:14:28.300 What we see in Scripture is that the Pharisees added over 1,000 specifications to God's law 00:14:28.300 --> 00:14:33.160 under the thought process of if you obeyed an extra set of self-imposed rules, 00:14:33.160 --> 00:14:36.020 you wouldn't even come close to violating God's commands. 00:14:37.380 --> 00:14:41.020 They also used these additions to separate themselves from everyday people, 00:14:41.240 --> 00:14:42.540 to elevate their status. 00:14:43.860 --> 00:14:47.960 They used these man-made rules in a way that God did not intend. 00:14:48.820 --> 00:14:53.940 And some of the rules just created, quite frankly, convenient loopholes for themselves. 00:14:55.080 --> 00:14:56.200 That's what we see in them. 00:14:57.160 --> 00:14:59.420 Point number one this morning, legalism in our lives, 00:14:59.500 --> 00:15:02.860 it adds to God's word in a way that God never intended. 00:15:03.900 --> 00:15:06.340 You know, the reality is what we see in the hearts of the Pharisees 00:15:06.340 --> 00:15:09.580 is the same thing that we must fight against in our lives today. 00:15:09.640 --> 00:15:18.420 You know, Paul talks about it in his writing of the letter to the church of Galatia. 00:15:19.060 --> 00:15:21.040 In Galatians chapter 1, verse 6, he says, 00:15:21.500 --> 00:15:26.560 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ 00:15:26.560 --> 00:15:30.760 and are turning to a different gospel, which is really no gospel at all. 00:15:31.780 --> 00:15:34.080 Evidently, some people are throwing you into confusion 00:15:34.080 --> 00:15:36.980 and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 00:15:38.380 --> 00:15:40.540 John Piper describes legalism this way. 00:15:41.340 --> 00:15:44.720 He says, legalism is used rightly, I think, biblically, 00:15:44.920 --> 00:15:51.180 if we say it is an attitude, a spirit, a disposition of all kinds of behaviors and feelings 00:15:51.180 --> 00:15:56.500 that are rooted in a failure to be amazed that I am saved by grace. 00:15:57.860 --> 00:16:02.340 A failure to be amazed that I am accepted by God freely. 00:16:03.420 --> 00:16:08.240 To be melted, to be broken, to be humbled and filled with joy 00:16:08.240 --> 00:16:10.900 because of what God has done in my life. 00:16:12.200 --> 00:16:17.160 Guys, when we lose our sense of wonder at God's grace, 00:16:18.200 --> 00:16:19.860 we place burdens on ourselves. 00:16:21.060 --> 00:16:21.840 That's not all. 00:16:21.980 --> 00:16:25.520 We begin placing burdens on those around us. 00:16:25.520 --> 00:16:29.020 Instead of pointing people to the finished work of Christ, 00:16:29.180 --> 00:16:33.400 we subtly communicate to them that his work was not enough. 00:16:34.980 --> 00:16:37.500 A legalistic heart looks at God's grace and says, 00:16:37.620 --> 00:16:40.280 man, what Jesus did was really, really great, 00:16:40.840 --> 00:16:42.200 but it's just not quite enough. 00:16:43.940 --> 00:16:44.960 I've got to do more. 00:16:46.080 --> 00:16:47.920 I've got to earn his acceptance. 00:16:48.660 --> 00:16:50.060 I have to prove myself. 00:16:52.160 --> 00:16:55.120 Well, what are some legalistic additions that we see in the church today? 00:16:57.080 --> 00:17:00.840 Do we create a standard for what quiet time looks like each morning? 00:17:00.940 --> 00:17:02.560 Like, oh, I wake up at 4 a.m. 00:17:02.560 --> 00:17:05.160 And I spend 45 minutes doing this, that, or the other. 00:17:05.460 --> 00:17:11.080 But then we quietly judge others who don't measure up to our version of faithfulness. 00:17:12.740 --> 00:17:14.280 Do we do it with church attendance? 00:17:14.660 --> 00:17:16.840 Or even with the way that someone worships? 00:17:17.640 --> 00:17:20.940 Do we use that to measure someone's spiritual maturity? 00:17:22.260 --> 00:17:25.380 Do we do it in a way, even in how we parent our kids? 00:17:26.380 --> 00:17:28.260 Well, I can't believe they let their kids do that. 00:17:29.340 --> 00:17:33.200 Do we elevate our preferences to the level of biblical commands? 00:17:36.840 --> 00:17:38.640 Or consider how we dress for church. 00:17:39.960 --> 00:17:42.740 You guys ever had a preference for what people should wear 00:17:42.740 --> 00:17:45.740 and found yourself looking down on someone who didn't meet your standard? 00:17:46.940 --> 00:17:51.320 Or the flip side of that, maybe you felt judged because of what you wear. 00:17:53.340 --> 00:17:54.160 What about worship? 00:17:55.160 --> 00:17:59.900 Have we ever become so attached to a preferred style of music or order of service 00:17:59.900 --> 00:18:02.500 that it affected our ability to worship God? 00:18:04.800 --> 00:18:07.480 You see, guys, the issue isn't whether we have preferences. 00:18:07.820 --> 00:18:08.780 We all do. 00:18:09.820 --> 00:18:12.200 The issue is when our preferences become standards 00:18:12.200 --> 00:18:15.000 by which we measure someone else's spirituality. 00:18:16.380 --> 00:18:20.400 And that's when we've begun to add to what God has said. 00:18:22.460 --> 00:18:26.780 Legalism leads us as believers to living our lives like the gospel says. 00:18:26.860 --> 00:18:29.180 He will only love us if we change first. 00:18:30.120 --> 00:18:33.800 But in actuality, what God's word tells us is he loved us first 00:18:33.800 --> 00:18:35.860 and the gospel is what's changing us. 00:18:37.720 --> 00:18:39.640 Legalism in our lives, it adds to God's law. 00:18:40.400 --> 00:18:43.880 And when we add to God's law, we miss rest and we add burden. 00:18:45.820 --> 00:18:47.580 We continue on in verse 3. 00:18:48.540 --> 00:18:49.500 He said to them, 00:18:49.500 --> 00:18:51.760 Have you not read what David did when he was hungry? 00:18:52.460 --> 00:18:53.640 And those who were with him. 00:18:54.320 --> 00:18:57.460 How he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the presence, 00:18:57.580 --> 00:19:00.920 which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, 00:19:01.420 --> 00:19:02.620 but only for the priest. 00:19:03.680 --> 00:19:06.040 Or have you not read in the law how on the Sabbath, 00:19:06.180 --> 00:19:08.900 the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless? 00:19:09.780 --> 00:19:12.520 I tell you something greater than the temple is here. 00:19:13.560 --> 00:19:14.980 And if you had known what this means, 00:19:15.540 --> 00:19:18.540 I desire mercy and not sacrifice. 00:19:18.800 --> 00:19:20.820 You would not have condemned the guiltless. 00:19:22.420 --> 00:19:24.140 All right, I got to be honest with you guys for a second. 00:19:24.240 --> 00:19:25.520 We just got back from New York. 00:19:25.960 --> 00:19:27.980 Full transparency, I hate flying. 00:19:28.680 --> 00:19:29.400 I don't like it. 00:19:29.760 --> 00:19:30.680 It's not my favorite thing. 00:19:31.000 --> 00:19:32.060 Joanne, I see you nod your head. 00:19:32.100 --> 00:19:33.200 I know you hate flying too. 00:19:34.420 --> 00:19:35.340 She really hates it. 00:19:35.360 --> 00:19:36.200 I don't hate it that much. 00:19:37.020 --> 00:19:38.940 Like, listen, I'm a big guy. 00:19:39.040 --> 00:19:40.080 It's a tight place. 00:19:40.180 --> 00:19:44.920 Like, I don't consider myself claustrophobic, but listen, I just don't like it. 00:19:45.820 --> 00:19:47.460 Well, you know, we just got back. 00:19:47.520 --> 00:19:49.840 We just flew to New York and back from New York. 00:19:49.860 --> 00:19:51.500 And you read all the TSA stuff, right? 00:19:51.540 --> 00:19:55.400 Like, Delta sends you this, it's like 26 pages that nobody actually reads. 00:19:55.400 --> 00:19:59.200 But in there, I'm sure there's some stuff about what you should or shouldn't bring, right? 00:19:59.720 --> 00:20:02.660 And I'm always stressed out about, like, what they're going to find in my bag. 00:20:02.800 --> 00:20:05.860 I know it doesn't make sense, but, like, what are they going to find in my bag, right? 00:20:06.600 --> 00:20:10.760 But see, you pack and then, and you go through this careful process of making sure you pack 00:20:10.760 --> 00:20:14.180 everything you need, but not packing anything that's going to get you, like, pulled aside, 00:20:14.260 --> 00:20:14.560 hopefully. 00:20:15.440 --> 00:20:19.420 Like, like, how many ounces of conditioner can I put in my carry-on, you know? 00:20:20.100 --> 00:20:20.460 Okay. 00:20:21.460 --> 00:20:22.540 I'm just, just kidding. 00:20:22.540 --> 00:20:24.800 I've never actually used conditioner a day in my life. 00:20:25.720 --> 00:20:26.340 All right. 00:20:27.100 --> 00:20:30.380 You know, I thought you guys would respond that way, but the fact that you actually did 00:20:30.380 --> 00:20:31.200 hurts a little bit. 00:20:32.260 --> 00:20:33.000 I'm going to lie. 00:20:33.260 --> 00:20:36.580 So, but seriously, like, you get up to the airport security checkpoint. 00:20:36.720 --> 00:20:36.900 Right. 00:20:36.960 --> 00:20:39.160 And you're, you're like, all right, I'm ready. 00:20:39.340 --> 00:20:40.500 I think I've, I think I'm good. 00:20:40.700 --> 00:20:42.080 And then they've got all these rules. 00:20:42.080 --> 00:20:45.600 Like, like you start, they start giving you instructions and asking you questions. 00:20:45.600 --> 00:20:47.140 It's like, hey, take off your shoes. 00:20:47.240 --> 00:20:48.460 No, empty your pockets. 00:20:48.840 --> 00:20:50.200 Oh, do you have any metal in your body? 00:20:50.280 --> 00:20:51.920 I don't think so. 00:20:51.980 --> 00:20:52.800 Like, I don't know. 00:20:53.480 --> 00:20:55.660 Put your carry-on in this little bin right here. 00:20:55.720 --> 00:20:57.800 Now put all your other belongings in this container. 00:20:58.200 --> 00:20:59.140 Take your belt off. 00:20:59.200 --> 00:21:00.160 No, leave it on, sir. 00:21:00.260 --> 00:21:02.060 Like, it's confusing. 00:21:03.320 --> 00:21:06.160 But imagine you're, you're walking through security. 00:21:06.160 --> 00:21:11.480 And as you're about to pass through the scanner, the guy behind you just like passes out, hits 00:21:11.480 --> 00:21:11.900 the floor. 00:21:12.980 --> 00:21:13.380 Right. 00:21:14.440 --> 00:21:16.880 And you're just standing there and you're like, I don't know, should I walk through? 00:21:17.040 --> 00:21:18.140 Like, I don't know. 00:21:18.180 --> 00:21:18.880 Should I keep going? 00:21:19.820 --> 00:21:24.320 Now I'm not a hundred percent sure, but chances are that security agent is not going to grab 00:21:24.320 --> 00:21:27.180 the wand and then start like, you know, patting you down. 00:21:27.240 --> 00:21:29.000 Like, they're going to go check on the guy on the floor. 00:21:29.460 --> 00:21:29.700 Right? 00:21:31.100 --> 00:21:31.660 I think. 00:21:34.340 --> 00:21:36.860 They're not going to just say like, all right, man, let's keep the line moving. 00:21:36.940 --> 00:21:37.980 I got a job to do here. 00:21:39.560 --> 00:21:41.160 No, they would, they would stop. 00:21:42.040 --> 00:21:42.940 They would check on him. 00:21:42.980 --> 00:21:43.700 They would assist him. 00:21:43.820 --> 00:21:44.100 Right? 00:21:45.360 --> 00:21:45.680 Why? 00:21:46.900 --> 00:21:50.940 Well, because the procedures and the rules, they exist to serve a greater purpose. 00:21:52.940 --> 00:21:57.320 You know, in Matthew 12, it seems like that's exactly what the Pharisees' expectations are. 00:21:58.040 --> 00:22:01.660 They seem to place more value on their rules than the greater purpose. 00:22:02.200 --> 00:22:02.320 Right? 00:22:02.380 --> 00:22:04.380 Like, God's on the floor, but hey, let's keep the line moving. 00:22:05.880 --> 00:22:11.260 And Jesus responds with what I can't help but feel like is sarcasm, which, guys, I love 00:22:11.260 --> 00:22:11.820 sarcasm. 00:22:12.080 --> 00:22:13.480 Like, it's kind of just how I talk. 00:22:13.600 --> 00:22:14.840 It's like a dialect for me. 00:22:14.920 --> 00:22:15.960 Like, it just comes out. 00:22:16.060 --> 00:22:17.220 I can't control it. 00:22:18.180 --> 00:22:23.200 But he looks at these religious leaders who have studied God's law their entire life. 00:22:23.240 --> 00:22:26.460 And he says, have you not read? 00:22:29.000 --> 00:22:32.100 And then he points to two things that they would have understood really well. 00:22:33.060 --> 00:22:34.280 He points to David. 00:22:34.780 --> 00:22:38.720 And man, like, listen, David would have been, would have had like hero status with them. 00:22:38.760 --> 00:22:38.960 Right? 00:22:39.660 --> 00:22:40.800 Like, David's the guy. 00:22:41.260 --> 00:22:45.120 And he says, what about David's violation when he went and ate that bread? 00:22:46.880 --> 00:22:48.140 But then he hits him with it again. 00:22:48.200 --> 00:22:49.840 He's like, hey, have you not read? 00:22:51.300 --> 00:22:54.800 And then he points to the actions and the work of the priest on the Sabbath. 00:22:55.840 --> 00:22:57.120 And he says, what about them? 00:22:58.480 --> 00:22:58.640 Hmm? 00:22:59.360 --> 00:23:00.620 What about their violation? 00:23:03.240 --> 00:23:05.720 You know, point number two this morning is legalism in our lives. 00:23:05.840 --> 00:23:06.900 It hinders mercy. 00:23:09.380 --> 00:23:10.660 It's been a challenging week. 00:23:12.080 --> 00:23:13.600 I just came back from a mission trip. 00:23:15.120 --> 00:23:16.420 You guys intimidate me. 00:23:16.420 --> 00:23:18.480 I'm just going to say that like you guys are scary. 00:23:19.280 --> 00:23:23.500 I felt behind in preparation for this message all week long. 00:23:24.200 --> 00:23:26.080 I fell behind on some things at home. 00:23:26.180 --> 00:23:27.200 I cut my grass yesterday. 00:23:27.460 --> 00:23:28.480 It was like two feet tall. 00:23:29.100 --> 00:23:30.040 There might have been some snakes. 00:23:30.160 --> 00:23:30.760 I don't know. 00:23:31.000 --> 00:23:31.660 I was scared. 00:23:33.860 --> 00:23:38.980 And again, I've already shared with you guys, like, man, I really, really like being in control. 00:23:40.940 --> 00:23:42.240 I like having a plan. 00:23:44.040 --> 00:23:49.660 And it seems like things just kept coming that would deviate from my plan for the week, right? 00:23:49.740 --> 00:23:51.720 Like they would just interfere with my schedule. 00:23:52.840 --> 00:23:56.420 You know, like when you're busy and the phone rings and somebody just needs to talk to you. 00:23:57.040 --> 00:24:00.780 Or when you're busy, but somebody stops and knocks on your door at your office. 00:24:01.800 --> 00:24:03.920 Or like when the staff meeting runs long. 00:24:04.020 --> 00:24:06.320 And guys, listen, like this week it ran really long. 00:24:06.400 --> 00:24:08.160 I can say that because Bo's not here. 00:24:08.240 --> 00:24:10.000 The staff meeting ran a little long this week. 00:24:11.040 --> 00:24:18.720 But guys, sometimes you get so wrapped up in doing a good thing, like preparing a message on a Sunday. 00:24:19.760 --> 00:24:22.380 Or like preparing for a mission trip. 00:24:22.700 --> 00:24:26.300 Or even leading a ministry that God has called you to lead. 00:24:26.560 --> 00:24:33.400 But you get so wrapped up in the agenda and the things it takes to make it all happen. 00:24:33.840 --> 00:24:38.100 That you forget your greatest calling is the people that he puts in your path. 00:24:40.860 --> 00:24:48.620 Now listen, I can absolutely love people in my doing of all of those things well, right? 00:24:49.040 --> 00:24:50.040 None of those things are bad. 00:24:51.020 --> 00:24:52.260 But here's the irony. 00:24:53.400 --> 00:25:02.900 It's entirely possible for me to spend hours studying about the compassion of Jesus and then have zero compassion for those I come into contact with. 00:25:04.900 --> 00:25:11.500 It's possible for me to prepare a message about grace and completely fail at showing others grace. 00:25:13.900 --> 00:25:19.580 You know, it's possible to preach about mercy while treating interruptions like inconveniences. 00:25:19.580 --> 00:25:22.400 Like they're not really people and their problems don't matter. 00:25:25.660 --> 00:25:29.720 In those moments, it exposes something in my heart. 00:25:31.120 --> 00:25:40.120 You know, more often than not, the Lord gently reminds me that the people who interrupt my plans are often the very people that he has placed in my path. 00:25:41.960 --> 00:25:45.420 What I saw as an interruption God intended is an opportunity. 00:25:47.060 --> 00:25:50.240 And I think that's part of what Jesus is confronting in Matthew 12. 00:25:51.120 --> 00:25:56.380 You see, the Pharisees, man, they were so committed to protecting their interpretation of the Sabbath. 00:25:56.660 --> 00:26:04.060 They were so committed to protecting their interpretation of the law that they missed the whole point of it. 00:26:07.340 --> 00:26:08.620 So I've got three kids. 00:26:08.880 --> 00:26:10.560 Haley and Sam are my two oldest ones. 00:26:10.640 --> 00:26:12.940 Vio, she's not in here, so I don't have to include her. 00:26:13.080 --> 00:26:13.480 Just kidding. 00:26:13.540 --> 00:26:14.380 Don't tell her I said that. 00:26:15.420 --> 00:26:20.300 But see, when Haley and Sam were younger, you know, we used to watch this movie called Robots together. 00:26:20.580 --> 00:26:21.480 I don't know if you've ever seen it. 00:26:21.880 --> 00:26:22.700 It's an animated movie. 00:26:22.760 --> 00:26:23.300 It's pretty good. 00:26:23.380 --> 00:26:23.820 It's all right. 00:26:24.060 --> 00:26:26.800 I actually don't remember anything about it except for this quote. 00:26:26.900 --> 00:26:29.760 So if you ask me later, I'm going to have to tell you I don't know. 00:26:30.600 --> 00:26:35.780 But this one line stuck with me for years, and it's like just permanently engraved in my brain. 00:26:36.680 --> 00:26:39.540 One of the characters, Big Weld, he's an inventor, right? 00:26:39.600 --> 00:26:44.800 Like he's a company owner, but when we meet him, he's kind of fallen on hard times, right? 00:26:45.680 --> 00:26:49.180 But he had this quote, and he would just keep saying it. 00:26:49.240 --> 00:26:52.460 He'd say, man, if you see a need, you fill a need. 00:26:55.140 --> 00:26:59.240 You know, that simple phrase, man, it captures a powerful principle. 00:27:00.600 --> 00:27:05.240 You see, the Pharisees, they weren't see a need, fill a need kind of guys. 00:27:08.080 --> 00:27:15.320 And guys, oftentimes, when we get too wrapped up in the rules and the regulations and the things that we're supposed to do, 00:27:15.720 --> 00:27:18.000 we miss seeing the needs of others. 00:27:19.860 --> 00:27:25.580 Rather than showing compassion, we add additional burden. 00:27:27.480 --> 00:27:29.080 And Jesus was the opposite. 00:27:30.600 --> 00:27:36.080 Everywhere he went, he saw people in need, and he met them with grace and mercy and compassion. 00:27:37.080 --> 00:27:41.160 And as his followers, that's the pattern that we are called to imitate. 00:27:41.360 --> 00:27:44.800 We are called to see a need and fill a need. 00:27:47.440 --> 00:27:49.460 Legalism in our lives, it hinders mercy. 00:27:50.420 --> 00:27:53.340 It makes it harder for us to see the needs of others. 00:27:54.840 --> 00:27:58.900 Verse 8, for the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath. 00:28:00.420 --> 00:28:02.980 You know, in the final few verses of our passage this morning, 00:28:03.100 --> 00:28:06.740 Jesus directly speaks to the Pharisees' understanding of the Sabbath. 00:28:06.840 --> 00:28:09.380 Like, he speaks to their understanding of the law. 00:28:10.400 --> 00:28:16.460 And in his words, he makes clear that rest is not found in the abundance of your works. 00:28:18.360 --> 00:28:21.780 Rest is not found in your additions to the law. 00:28:23.340 --> 00:28:29.380 Rest is not even found in your tireless pursuit of obedience to the law. 00:28:33.040 --> 00:28:39.360 Jesus looks at these men who were known for their ability to interpret God's word. 00:28:40.020 --> 00:28:41.600 And he says, you missed it. 00:28:45.400 --> 00:28:48.440 He says, you missed that the law was given as a gift. 00:28:50.200 --> 00:28:52.900 So you turned it into something it wasn't intended to be. 00:28:54.520 --> 00:29:01.080 You missed the call to show mercy because you were too busy following the rules to see the needs of others. 00:29:02.460 --> 00:29:04.740 And you're missing what matters most. 00:29:05.060 --> 00:29:06.440 And that's Jesus himself. 00:29:08.220 --> 00:29:13.560 Point number three this morning is legalism in our lives misses what matters most. 00:29:14.900 --> 00:29:19.300 Verse 6 says, I tell you something greater than the temple is here. 00:29:20.060 --> 00:29:22.040 So guys, let's talk about the temple for a minute. 00:29:22.660 --> 00:29:24.280 I don't know how much you guys know about it. 00:29:24.520 --> 00:29:26.040 I didn't know a ton, so I read about it. 00:29:26.060 --> 00:29:27.140 So I'm going to tell you about it. 00:29:28.220 --> 00:29:34.200 But to understand what Jesus means here, we first have to understand what the temple meant to the Jewish people. 00:29:34.480 --> 00:29:34.640 Right? 00:29:36.360 --> 00:29:39.780 You see, the temple, it wasn't just another building in Jerusalem. 00:29:41.600 --> 00:29:44.700 It was the center of Jewish life in worship. 00:29:45.360 --> 00:29:49.760 It was the place where people came to meet with God. 00:29:51.460 --> 00:29:54.700 It was where their sacrifices were offered for their sins. 00:29:56.800 --> 00:30:00.680 It was where priests served as mediators between God and his people. 00:30:02.980 --> 00:30:09.480 For the Jewish people, the temple represented God's presence among them, his dwelling place. 00:30:10.940 --> 00:30:13.200 It was the most sacred place in all the nation. 00:30:14.280 --> 00:30:16.500 And man, they cherished it. 00:30:17.160 --> 00:30:18.200 They protected it. 00:30:18.300 --> 00:30:19.380 They revered it. 00:30:19.760 --> 00:30:21.880 They built their lives around it. 00:30:24.200 --> 00:30:26.660 Jesus says something greater than the temple is here. 00:30:28.260 --> 00:30:33.320 As believers today, our temptation isn't to put our hope into a temple. 00:30:33.640 --> 00:30:33.780 Right? 00:30:34.320 --> 00:30:35.780 It's just not something we struggle with. 00:30:37.000 --> 00:30:40.880 Our greatest temptation is to put our hope in ourselves. 00:30:42.460 --> 00:30:45.540 Our greatest temptation is to put our hopes in our works. 00:30:48.540 --> 00:30:54.720 Temptation to put our hopes in something other than Jesus' saving work on the cross. 00:30:56.340 --> 00:31:04.900 And if we aren't careful, we take good things and we easily center our lives around them in a very bad, dangerous way. 00:31:07.600 --> 00:31:09.040 Things like church attendance. 00:31:11.500 --> 00:31:12.700 Things like tithing. 00:31:14.000 --> 00:31:15.860 Things like our Bible reading plan. 00:31:17.020 --> 00:31:18.500 Our ministry involvement. 00:31:19.600 --> 00:31:20.440 Our service. 00:31:22.800 --> 00:31:25.680 Church, the temple was never meant to replace God. 00:31:26.500 --> 00:31:29.200 It was meant to point people to God. 00:31:30.240 --> 00:31:37.340 In the same way, every spiritual discipline and every act of obedience is meant to lead us closer to Christ. 00:31:38.340 --> 00:31:42.680 And it's meant to lead the world around us to him as well. 00:31:44.340 --> 00:31:48.260 The question isn't simply, am I doing the right religious things? 00:31:48.260 --> 00:31:52.900 The deeper question is, is Jesus himself the center of my life? 00:31:55.860 --> 00:31:59.540 I want to invite our worship team and our prayer encouragers to come up. 00:32:02.200 --> 00:32:09.320 So the church that we had the opportunity to serve at last week in Queens is actually next door to a bar. 00:32:10.740 --> 00:32:12.540 The place is actually called the Jar Bar. 00:32:13.040 --> 00:32:17.500 I'm not sure if they just like to rhyme or if there's actually a jar there, but I kind of thought it was a cool name. 00:32:19.000 --> 00:32:22.380 But when I say next door, I mean like, man, the two buildings, they share a wall. 00:32:22.800 --> 00:32:24.300 And it's not a very thick wall. 00:32:24.820 --> 00:32:25.280 Can't be. 00:32:27.020 --> 00:32:31.820 I'm not sure if it's like just the loudness of the music or the loudness of the conversations. 00:32:31.820 --> 00:32:34.100 Or maybe they've got their TVs turned all the way up. 00:32:34.120 --> 00:32:34.700 I'm not sure. 00:32:35.260 --> 00:32:37.560 But man, you can hear everything through that wall. 00:32:37.900 --> 00:32:40.820 Which means they can also hear everything from our side, which is cool. 00:32:41.120 --> 00:32:42.700 Because we were like praising and worshiping and stuff. 00:32:44.140 --> 00:32:48.020 But out back, both the bar and the church, man, they have a patio area. 00:32:48.340 --> 00:32:51.940 And that area is like separated by a fence, like a wooden fence. 00:32:53.140 --> 00:32:54.840 And honestly, man, that fence is rotting. 00:32:54.900 --> 00:32:55.960 It's kind of falling apart. 00:32:56.920 --> 00:32:59.880 And it's actually what led to this interaction I'm going to tell you about. 00:33:01.620 --> 00:33:09.760 Well, on Friday afternoon, about 30 minutes before our VBS was about to start, you know, Brent does what really only Brent can do in my life. 00:33:09.840 --> 00:33:11.020 And that stressed me out. 00:33:12.560 --> 00:33:13.500 He says, hey, man. 00:33:13.740 --> 00:33:14.280 I'm sorry. 00:33:14.340 --> 00:33:15.080 That's how Brent talks. 00:33:15.420 --> 00:33:17.360 He's like, hey, man, let's go next door. 00:33:18.880 --> 00:33:21.840 And honestly, I'm thinking about all the stuff we still got. 00:33:21.960 --> 00:33:23.340 I'm thinking about the schedule, right? 00:33:23.420 --> 00:33:24.480 I'm thinking about the agenda. 00:33:25.720 --> 00:33:27.500 I'm thinking, Brent, we ain't got time for this. 00:33:28.820 --> 00:33:32.860 But he started walking, and so I noticed he was going, and so I was like, I relented. 00:33:33.020 --> 00:33:33.840 I followed him, right? 00:33:34.820 --> 00:33:39.540 We walk over, and we're into the bar, and we asked if the bar owner was around. 00:33:41.140 --> 00:33:48.980 You see, Brent, he wanted to have a conversation with the guy so we could say, hey, man, we got this fence over here that's busted up, and we need to fix it, but it's going to impact you. 00:33:49.060 --> 00:33:50.220 Do you mind if we fix the fence? 00:33:50.240 --> 00:33:51.080 That was the conversation. 00:33:52.360 --> 00:33:55.120 So the guy comes out, and we learn his name is Jason. 00:33:55.780 --> 00:33:58.580 It's not significant other than the fact that I just want you to know his name. 00:33:58.820 --> 00:34:07.880 And at first, Jason, man, he seemed hesitant to kind of talk to a couple of guys that kind of sounded like this who were from next door at the church. 00:34:08.100 --> 00:34:13.440 But he invited us in, and then eventually he invited us back to the patio where we could look at the fence together. 00:34:15.900 --> 00:34:23.640 A few minutes into that conversation, it became pretty clear to me and Brent that, man, God didn't have us back there to talk about a fence. 00:34:26.380 --> 00:34:32.400 You see, Jason had, like, the most authentic Irish accent I think I've ever heard in my life. 00:34:32.460 --> 00:34:33.400 Like, it was really cool. 00:34:33.840 --> 00:34:35.600 I've seen it on TV, but never in person. 00:34:36.680 --> 00:34:40.040 He began to share about his upbringing in Ireland, right? 00:34:40.720 --> 00:34:42.740 Began to talk about his time in New York. 00:34:44.080 --> 00:34:44.680 And that's not all. 00:34:44.800 --> 00:34:50.660 He began to share about his Catholic upbringing, but how he's kind of not really a Catholic anymore. 00:34:50.660 --> 00:34:52.840 He kind of just doesn't know what he is anymore. 00:34:53.120 --> 00:34:54.220 It was that kind of conversation. 00:34:56.020 --> 00:34:57.300 Then Jason made the statement. 00:34:57.400 --> 00:35:00.400 He said, you know, I think God is just God. 00:35:00.980 --> 00:35:08.160 You know, the God that the Muslims worship and the Catholics and the Christians, like, we're all just trying to please the same God. 00:35:09.260 --> 00:35:10.600 That was Jason's statement. 00:35:12.600 --> 00:35:20.140 And then Jason said, man, if we would just love each other and just be kind to each other, I think we would just be good with God. 00:35:22.940 --> 00:35:24.100 That kind of got me thinking. 00:35:25.660 --> 00:35:29.400 And how many lost people around us believe that same thing? 00:35:33.000 --> 00:35:40.260 How many lost people in my life see a reflection of that in the way that I walk in my faith? 00:35:41.480 --> 00:35:46.320 And if I could just love others enough, it could be enough. 00:35:48.500 --> 00:35:52.240 If I could just work a little bit harder and be kinder to people, it could be enough. 00:35:53.760 --> 00:35:56.480 Just wear the right clothes on Sunday, it could be enough. 00:35:58.460 --> 00:36:03.660 If I just worship enough, and maybe, maybe if I raise my hands this time, it could be enough. 00:36:05.540 --> 00:36:07.740 But what is enough? 00:36:09.860 --> 00:36:16.400 You see, in every religion, it's this picture of, of God or like a supreme being or what, you know, whatever they believe in. 00:36:16.460 --> 00:36:20.060 It's this picture of, of God at the top of the mountain, right? 00:36:20.680 --> 00:36:23.780 And the followers trying to climb their way to him. 00:36:25.440 --> 00:36:30.000 And you see, what Jason was implying was that God is God and our paths might be different, 00:36:30.120 --> 00:36:35.320 but they can all lead to the same God if we could just do enough. 00:36:38.340 --> 00:36:39.880 That's not the message of the cross. 00:36:42.880 --> 00:36:48.340 But God, being rich in mercy because of the great love with which he loved us, 00:36:49.000 --> 00:36:53.580 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ. 00:36:54.640 --> 00:37:00.040 But God shows his love for us, and that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 00:37:00.800 --> 00:37:02.060 For God. 00:37:02.960 --> 00:37:05.260 So loved the world that he gave his only son, 00:37:05.840 --> 00:37:08.920 that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 00:37:10.860 --> 00:37:14.880 And that picture, it doesn't show God waiting for us to climb up to him. 00:37:16.020 --> 00:37:19.760 It's a picture of him coming to us before we've ever started climbing. 00:37:21.280 --> 00:37:23.760 Before we've ever thought about climbing. 00:37:27.840 --> 00:37:31.300 Later that night, we're, we're in the sanctuary of this church. 00:37:31.300 --> 00:37:32.020 It's quieted down. 00:37:32.100 --> 00:37:32.820 The kids are gone. 00:37:33.260 --> 00:37:36.400 You kind of look around, you see that glazed over look in everybody's eyes 00:37:36.400 --> 00:37:38.060 like they should have been asleep two hours ago. 00:37:39.860 --> 00:37:44.660 And man, me and Brent are sitting there talking and there's an extra Bible laying around. 00:37:46.580 --> 00:37:49.280 We just took that Bible and we highlighted verses. 00:37:49.460 --> 00:37:53.760 Man, verses that spoke to God's design for the world. 00:37:54.420 --> 00:37:58.340 We highlighted verses that talked about like just brokenness and sin 00:37:58.340 --> 00:38:00.080 and how it entered into the world. 00:38:01.360 --> 00:38:04.660 And we highlighted how there was just absolutely nothing we could do 00:38:04.660 --> 00:38:06.500 about this sin problem ourselves. 00:38:09.000 --> 00:38:13.060 And then we highlighted how God wanted relationship with us. 00:38:13.960 --> 00:38:15.340 And so he sent Jesus. 00:38:17.020 --> 00:38:19.400 And because of that, God sees us as righteous. 00:38:22.360 --> 00:38:26.840 Each person on our team then had the opportunity to write a prayer in that Bible 00:38:26.840 --> 00:38:27.780 and they signed it. 00:38:29.160 --> 00:38:33.140 On our last day, I think Brent ran him down in a convenience store. 00:38:33.200 --> 00:38:34.140 I'm not sure how it happened. 00:38:34.740 --> 00:38:36.320 But Brent found Jason. 00:38:37.500 --> 00:38:41.160 He took him this Bible and he had the opportunity to tell him, 00:38:41.240 --> 00:38:44.160 man, you, you asked a really good question yesterday. 00:38:44.320 --> 00:38:47.540 Like, what is the difference between what we believe and what other, 00:38:47.700 --> 00:38:49.280 what other religions stay? 00:38:51.200 --> 00:38:53.580 And this is just the best way for us to show you. 00:38:53.900 --> 00:38:55.000 So we want you to have this. 00:38:58.880 --> 00:39:02.200 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, 00:39:02.420 --> 00:39:04.180 and I will give you rest. 00:39:05.200 --> 00:39:06.120 Would you pray with me? 00:39:09.840 --> 00:39:11.260 God, I thank you for this morning. 00:39:13.420 --> 00:39:14.800 I thank you for your word. 00:39:14.800 --> 00:39:21.020 I thank you just, I thank you for confronting me this week. 00:39:26.020 --> 00:39:32.860 God, the areas in our life that we seek to control and control and control 00:39:32.860 --> 00:39:36.680 and that get in the way of us resting in you. 00:39:37.540 --> 00:39:39.600 I pray that you would extinguish them. 00:39:44.920 --> 00:39:50.480 God, I pray that your word would penetrate our hearts in a way 00:39:50.480 --> 00:39:54.320 where we wouldn't walk out of this place the same way as we were when we got here. 00:39:56.040 --> 00:39:56.760 Thank you, Father. 00:39:57.920 --> 00:39:58.700 Your name I pray. 00:39:59.520 --> 00:39:59.800 Amen. 00:40:02.540 --> 00:40:04.180 That's it for this week's message. 00:40:04.700 --> 00:40:06.980 Be sure to check back next week for a new episode. 00:40:07.580 --> 00:40:11.760 And in the meantime, you can visit us online at willowridgechurch.org 00:40:11.760 --> 00:40:16.180 or by searching for Willow Ridge Church on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. 00:40:16.620 --> 00:40:17.580 Thanks again for listening.