WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.735 --> 00:00:02.154 How are we doing? Hope. We need church. 2 00:00:03.915 --> 00:00:06.675 We are honored to have you both in person and online. Come with you. 3 00:00:06.676 --> 00:00:10.275 Stand up and sing with us. There's joy in the house today. Come on, 4 00:00:10.475 --> 00:00:11.308 put those hands together. 5 00:00:24.435 --> 00:00:25.435 Come on. This is the. 6 00:00:25.635 --> 00:00:26.468 Day. 7 00:00:27.585 --> 00:00:31.875 This is the day you made. Oh, 8 00:00:33.315 --> 00:00:37.995 so rejoice, Cindy, glad rejoice and be glad in it. 9 00:00:38.235 --> 00:00:39.155 Come on every hand together. 10 00:00:43.075 --> 00:00:44.755 Come on where I, 11 00:00:47.955 --> 00:00:52.435 that you're more than enough me. 12 00:00:53.875 --> 00:00:58.355 You are faithful, you unfaithful to your promise. 13 00:00:59.275 --> 00:01:00.995 You are strong. And I, 14 00:01:02.995 --> 00:01:06.635 when I'm standing in your presence, I, 15 00:01:07.995 --> 00:01:09.715 everything I you believe. 16 00:01:09.834 --> 00:01:10.355 It. 17 00:01:10.355 --> 00:01:15.035 Ing out the joy of the Lord. The joy of the Lord is my strength. 18 00:01:18.155 --> 00:01:22.435 The joy, the Lord, the joy of the Lord is my strength. 19 00:01:26.395 --> 00:01:28.235 Soul, bless name 20 00:01:32.675 --> 00:01:34.834 joy. The joy. 21 00:01:36.075 --> 00:01:36.955 Is my strength. 22 00:01:44.155 --> 00:01:44.988 Jesus, 23 00:01:49.995 --> 00:01:54.595 you are worthy of all my praise. 24 00:01:57.835 --> 00:02:01.395 You're faithful to your promise. You're 25 00:02:04.955 --> 00:02:08.075 I, I 26 00:02:12.755 --> 00:02:16.915 The joy, the joy of the is strength. 27 00:02:19.995 --> 00:02:20.275 The. 28 00:02:20.275 --> 00:02:22.435 Joy, the joy of 29 00:02:29.675 --> 00:02:30.508 is me. 30 00:02:31.115 --> 00:02:31.948 Oh, that. 31 00:02:31.955 --> 00:02:34.835 Is say the joy. 32 00:02:37.235 --> 00:02:38.068 The 33 00:03:17.264 --> 00:03:18.097 holy, 34 00:03:31.915 --> 00:03:32.748 holy, 35 00:03:56.155 --> 00:03:56.988 the Spirit 36 00:04:13.035 --> 00:04:13.868 joy. 37 00:04:14.555 --> 00:04:15.395 The joy of the. 38 00:04:15.675 --> 00:04:18.675 Lord is ing my, 39 00:04:20.115 --> 00:04:24.195 oh my bless his name, that 40 00:04:29.755 --> 00:04:34.195 name that soul. 41 00:05:25.185 --> 00:05:26.018 You see, 42 00:05:35.065 --> 00:05:35.898 the. 43 00:05:57.845 --> 00:05:58.678 For 44 00:06:06.964 --> 00:06:10.245 fight has lifted 45 00:06:12.575 --> 00:06:14.575 God, the battle long to 46 00:06:22.495 --> 00:06:23.328 the 47 00:06:34.775 --> 00:06:35.608 and. 48 00:06:39.095 --> 00:06:40.055 Against me. 49 00:06:46.975 --> 00:06:47.808 Jesus. 50 00:06:51.255 --> 00:06:52.088 For 51 00:06:55.335 --> 00:06:56.615 I see the. 52 00:06:57.375 --> 00:06:58.208 Ashe. 53 00:07:07.015 --> 00:07:07.848 I 54 00:07:14.015 --> 00:07:14.848 oh. 55 00:07:53.225 --> 00:07:54.058 The 56 00:08:07.145 --> 00:08:07.978 Come on. 57 00:08:33.825 --> 00:08:36.905 Re, you, us. 58 00:08:38.425 --> 00:08:39.425 Nothing can stand. 59 00:08:39.905 --> 00:08:44.585 Against the crown. You in the. 60 00:09:43.375 --> 00:09:45.285 We've got a new song to introduce today. 61 00:09:45.945 --> 00:09:50.445 And I love this song because it declares the holiness and the true nature of the 62 00:09:50.446 --> 00:09:55.005 one living God. So Lord, right now, we just cry out, holy, 63 00:09:55.605 --> 00:09:56.438 holy are you. 64 00:09:56.485 --> 00:09:57.318 God. 65 00:09:57.525 --> 00:09:58.525 You are worthy Jesus. 66 00:10:14.205 --> 00:10:18.445 Thousand generations falling down in 67 00:10:20.325 --> 00:10:21.845 to sing the song of. 68 00:10:26.725 --> 00:10:27.085 And. 69 00:10:27.085 --> 00:10:27.918 All 70 00:10:30.125 --> 00:10:32.165 and all who will believe, 71 00:10:33.645 --> 00:10:37.005 will sing the song of ages to the Lamb. 72 00:10:40.245 --> 00:10:42.445 Your name is the highest, 73 00:10:43.485 --> 00:10:47.045 your name is the greatest in your name 74 00:10:48.525 --> 00:10:49.845 is stands above 75 00:10:56.245 --> 00:11:00.645 thems powers. Position your name 76 00:11:02.285 --> 00:11:07.045 stands above them all. Cry. 77 00:11:09.325 --> 00:11:10.158 Holy. 78 00:11:11.804 --> 00:11:13.804 All creation cries. 79 00:11:16.005 --> 00:11:16.838 Holy. 80 00:11:18.765 --> 00:11:19.598 He'll, dead. 81 00:11:22.445 --> 00:11:23.278 Holy. 82 00:11:25.765 --> 00:11:26.598 Holy. 83 00:11:26.605 --> 00:11:27.438 Forever. 84 00:11:33.605 --> 00:11:34.438 And if 85 00:11:37.605 --> 00:11:38.845 you've redeemed 86 00:11:48.445 --> 00:11:49.278 in freedom 87 00:11:54.005 --> 00:11:54.838 ing, 88 00:12:00.605 --> 00:12:01.438 sing. 89 00:12:01.925 --> 00:12:02.758 Forever. 90 00:12:38.645 --> 00:12:39.478 The. 91 00:12:59.835 --> 00:13:00.635 And. 92 00:13:00.635 --> 00:13:05.155 Name is the highest name is the 93 00:13:06.995 --> 00:13:09.075 name stands 94 00:13:13.075 --> 00:13:13.908 above all 95 00:13:27.315 --> 00:13:29.075 name is the highest. 96 00:13:30.275 --> 00:13:33.195 Your name is the greatest in. 97 00:13:33.554 --> 00:13:34.387 Your name, 98 00:14:25.315 --> 00:14:26.148 the king. 99 00:15:02.625 --> 00:15:04.025 Come on y'all. Let's give God some praise. 100 00:15:09.105 --> 00:15:12.465 Well, listen, welcome to Hope Community Church. My name's Dwayne. 101 00:15:12.665 --> 00:15:13.545 I'm one of the pastors here. 102 00:15:13.885 --> 00:15:18.785 And this has already been a wonderful opportunity for us to glorify God. 103 00:15:19.245 --> 00:15:21.745 And that's the goal tonight. Uh, if you are new to hope, 104 00:15:21.825 --> 00:15:24.025 I want to extend a special welcome, uh, 105 00:15:24.045 --> 00:15:27.865 to you and let you know that we're glad that you are here today. Uh, listen, 106 00:15:28.165 --> 00:15:30.105 we are excited about this time together. 107 00:15:30.115 --> 00:15:33.665 We've been in a series for the past few weeks that we've been calling verse by 108 00:15:33.666 --> 00:15:37.465 verse. And today you're gonna hear from Aaron Nelson. Now, 109 00:15:37.745 --> 00:15:39.465 Aaron is a part of our teaching team at Hope. 110 00:15:39.805 --> 00:15:42.745 It is gonna be a phenomenal message. I've had the privilege of hearing it, 111 00:15:42.885 --> 00:15:45.865 and we're gonna have you outta here in about an hour, uh, 112 00:15:45.866 --> 00:15:48.625 at the end of service today. If you're new, we'd love to meet you. 113 00:15:48.825 --> 00:15:52.665 We have an area called Next Steps. As you exit, please make sure you stop. 114 00:15:52.965 --> 00:15:54.705 Let us know that you were neither, you're new, 115 00:15:54.706 --> 00:15:57.585 and if there's any way that we can possibly serve you, uh, 116 00:15:57.605 --> 00:16:00.505 we will do everything that we can to help have you feel welcome, 117 00:16:00.925 --> 00:16:04.665 and also to help you to take steps of faith as you follow Jesus, 118 00:16:04.755 --> 00:16:09.305 maybe even some of you for the very first time. Now, last week, uh, 119 00:16:09.325 --> 00:16:10.045 if you were here, 120 00:16:10.045 --> 00:16:14.905 you know that we kicked off a whole slate of classes that are ahead. And so, 121 00:16:15.145 --> 00:16:18.185 uh, classes at Hope Community Church are a great way for people to grow in their 122 00:16:18.186 --> 00:16:19.345 relationship with Jesus Christ. 123 00:16:19.565 --> 00:16:23.545 And one of the best classes is a class called Hope for Parents. 124 00:16:23.925 --> 00:16:26.945 We have seen some phenomenal impact in that class, 125 00:16:27.005 --> 00:16:30.105 and God is clearly on the move. So in just a moment, 126 00:16:30.525 --> 00:16:32.185 I'm gonna have you greet your neighbor, 127 00:16:32.375 --> 00:16:37.105 take a seat and check out this story from Hope for Parents. Go ahead, 128 00:16:37.106 --> 00:16:39.425 greet your neighbor, take a seat, and then we'll watch this video. 129 00:16:45.025 --> 00:16:47.505 All right. We are Rhonda and Brad Brower. 130 00:16:47.925 --> 00:16:50.585 We have been married for almost eight years, 131 00:16:51.245 --> 00:16:55.785 and we have two boys, Kayden, who is five, and Callen, 132 00:16:55.786 --> 00:16:56.785 who is two and a half. 133 00:16:57.355 --> 00:16:58.026 Originally, 134 00:16:58.026 --> 00:17:02.985 when we started thinking about how to just improve our parenting, 135 00:17:03.225 --> 00:17:06.385 I think, um, we really felt that there was a, 136 00:17:07.185 --> 00:17:10.585 a war on the family, you know, that, that life was just, 137 00:17:10.586 --> 00:17:13.025 just seemed to be getting a little chaotic, a little out of control. 138 00:17:13.405 --> 00:17:15.065 As our kids began to get a little bit older, 139 00:17:15.405 --> 00:17:17.865 we noticed that they were getting their own personalities and they were, 140 00:17:18.005 --> 00:17:19.905 you know, starting to wanna make their own, uh, decisions. 141 00:17:19.906 --> 00:17:23.505 They were becoming more independent, and we just needed some help. 142 00:17:23.525 --> 00:17:26.305 We needed some assistance. We wanted people to speak into our lives. 143 00:17:26.306 --> 00:17:29.105 That had been where we had been. I think that was probably the, 144 00:17:29.106 --> 00:17:30.225 the main emphasis of why, 145 00:17:30.226 --> 00:17:34.905 what drew us to hope for parents as we started the Hope for Parents class. Um, 146 00:17:35.215 --> 00:17:39.225 some of the things that really stood out to us was just the idea that 147 00:17:40.455 --> 00:17:44.185 what our calling is as parents, what God calls us to really do as parents, 148 00:17:44.325 --> 00:17:48.465 how we're to, um, lead our kids, how we disciple our kids, and, and, and really, 149 00:17:48.905 --> 00:17:53.045 um, defining what that role is. And there's this concept of my me kingdom, 150 00:17:53.095 --> 00:17:57.085 which really just takes us back to our sin disposition right now. 151 00:17:57.375 --> 00:18:00.285 Every time I can see a situation where my kid is having, 152 00:18:00.345 --> 00:18:02.925 or my child's having this, uh, you know, sinful disposition, 153 00:18:03.005 --> 00:18:05.445 I can really relate it to my relationship with God. 154 00:18:05.945 --> 00:18:08.045 And I can start to relay that to my children. 155 00:18:08.205 --> 00:18:11.525 I can start to respond with grace and understanding and love and forgiveness. 156 00:18:13.215 --> 00:18:17.365 There was one particular, um, defining moment or even like come to Jesus moment, 157 00:18:17.805 --> 00:18:21.965 um, with our oldest Caden, Caden participates in soccer at XL Sports at Apex. 158 00:18:22.465 --> 00:18:23.845 And, um, it was Wednesday, 159 00:18:23.846 --> 00:18:26.925 which happens to be the day that I have my Mitten's group happens to be the day 160 00:18:26.926 --> 00:18:29.805 where, you know, I'm studying and I'm, I'm reading through, um, 161 00:18:29.825 --> 00:18:33.925 the Hope for Parents Study Guide and, uh, the coach comes off the field, 162 00:18:34.635 --> 00:18:37.765 taps me on the shoulder. I was not paying attention unfortunately, and says, 163 00:18:37.825 --> 00:18:39.885 Hey, Caden's not gonna be allowed to, 164 00:18:39.886 --> 00:18:42.445 to participate in practice for the rest of practice. Um, 165 00:18:42.446 --> 00:18:45.285 he's really had a challenge pushing other kids. And, 166 00:18:45.484 --> 00:18:47.605 and it was just having these, like physical altercations, 167 00:18:47.665 --> 00:18:50.965 wasn't listening to the coach and was asked repeatedly, um, 168 00:18:51.305 --> 00:18:54.645 to stop doing what he was doing. And so as I was driving home, 169 00:18:54.725 --> 00:18:58.765 I was texting with my, um, hope for Men's group, uh, or Hope for Parents Group. 170 00:18:59.185 --> 00:19:02.805 And, um, they were saying, Hey, see, this is an opportunity. 171 00:19:03.155 --> 00:19:05.725 This could be an opportunity to put, um, you know, 172 00:19:05.726 --> 00:19:09.165 what we've been learning into practice. Um, and I set Caden down. Um, 173 00:19:09.166 --> 00:19:14.045 and what that conversation sounded like was, you know, Hey bud, you know, 174 00:19:14.046 --> 00:19:16.725 let's talk through what really caused this. And he said, well, 175 00:19:16.726 --> 00:19:19.685 I was being pushed first. And his natural response was, I'm going to push back. 176 00:19:19.744 --> 00:19:23.405 I'm gonna defend myself, I'm gonna do this. We sat there and we prayed together. 177 00:19:23.425 --> 00:19:26.645 We asked for forgiveness, um, for both of us, right? 178 00:19:27.125 --> 00:19:31.325 And so one of the things that came out of this is it was probably the most joy 179 00:19:31.835 --> 00:19:36.325 I've had in disciplining my child. Um, there was no regret, 180 00:19:36.326 --> 00:19:39.205 there was no guilt or shame of like, did I do the right thing? 181 00:19:39.265 --> 00:19:40.445 Did I do the wrong thing? 182 00:19:40.785 --> 00:19:44.885 It was just an opportunity to show him that there's nothing he could do for me 183 00:19:44.886 --> 00:19:47.405 to love him anymore. There's nothing he could do for me to love him any less. 184 00:19:47.665 --> 00:19:51.125 And it was the same response that we get from our God and our father every 185 00:19:51.126 --> 00:19:54.285 single day. Some of the things that we've taken away from, 186 00:19:54.475 --> 00:19:58.885 from the Hope for Parents class is that we're not alone. Um, 187 00:19:59.145 --> 00:20:03.484 you know, in raising our children that the challenges that we see as parents, 188 00:20:03.494 --> 00:20:04.685 we're not on an island that, 189 00:20:04.686 --> 00:20:06.765 that other parents are going through these things as well. 190 00:20:07.085 --> 00:20:10.725 And we have a community that's bought into, um, 191 00:20:10.825 --> 00:20:15.325 really partnering with us to do the best job we can, we can, um, 192 00:20:15.326 --> 00:20:18.805 to raise our, our kids, um, in the light of the gospel. 193 00:20:28.145 --> 00:20:32.365 That's, uh, that's such a beautiful story, man. I love that. Um, hey, look, 194 00:20:32.366 --> 00:20:35.244 we're gonna go ahead and hop right into things here. Uh, 195 00:20:35.265 --> 00:20:38.125 but I wanna start off really briefly, uh, 196 00:20:38.126 --> 00:20:40.285 by giving you a little bit of a peek behind the curtain, 197 00:20:40.385 --> 00:20:42.405 and I mean that literally, okay? Uh, 198 00:20:42.885 --> 00:20:45.605 normally right before I come out here to share, uh, 199 00:20:45.606 --> 00:20:48.045 behind that curtain right over there, uh, 200 00:20:48.165 --> 00:20:51.765 I stand there and I pray a prayer that says, uh, holy Spirit, 201 00:20:51.795 --> 00:20:53.605 even though I'm gonna have on a microphone, 202 00:20:54.244 --> 00:20:56.244 I pray that your voice will be louder than my own. 203 00:20:56.875 --> 00:20:58.765 Pray that every time before I get ready to walk out here. 204 00:20:58.785 --> 00:21:01.885 But then we come out here and we start talking and we get in the groove and 205 00:21:01.886 --> 00:21:03.925 maybe the confidence sets in and stuff. I'm like, yeah, 206 00:21:03.926 --> 00:21:06.365 I think the Holy Spirit spoke through that. Um, 207 00:21:06.825 --> 00:21:08.965 but what I wanna do is I actually wanna leave some space. 208 00:21:09.365 --> 00:21:14.125 I wanna leave some room for the Holy Spirit to speak for himself before you 209 00:21:14.126 --> 00:21:17.205 start to hear from me. So, uh, as you probably know, 210 00:21:17.206 --> 00:21:20.325 over the past couple of weeks, we've been in this series called verse by verse, 211 00:21:20.505 --> 00:21:23.965 and we've been walking through Romans chapter eight verse by verse. 212 00:21:23.966 --> 00:21:26.165 And so we're gonna continue to do that here today, 213 00:21:26.166 --> 00:21:29.244 but I actually wanna lead you, uh, through an exercise, uh, 214 00:21:29.265 --> 00:21:33.605 to try to help familiarize you with the text before we get into it. Uh, 215 00:21:33.606 --> 00:21:36.285 hopefully you've been reading along in this chapter with us. 216 00:21:36.286 --> 00:21:39.365 Maybe you've read ahead a little bit and so you kind of anticipate what we're 217 00:21:39.366 --> 00:21:41.645 gonna talk about today. But the passage we're gonna look at, 218 00:21:41.835 --> 00:21:46.525 it's so rich that there's no way I'm gonna be able to cover everything in there 219 00:21:46.545 --> 00:21:48.965 in the limited time that we have today. So, uh, 220 00:21:48.966 --> 00:21:51.645 we're just gonna leave a little bit of margin. I'm gonna lead some, 221 00:21:51.655 --> 00:21:55.365 leave some space for the Holy Spirit to speak. And so I'm gonna start, uh, 222 00:21:55.385 --> 00:21:58.244 by reading our passage and then we're gonna put it up on the screen. 223 00:21:58.415 --> 00:22:01.045 We're gonna let you read it silently to yourself, 224 00:22:01.065 --> 00:22:04.965 and then I'm gonna read it one more time. Okay? So let's go ahead and start. 225 00:22:04.966 --> 00:22:09.365 This is Romans chapter eight, verses 26 through 30. And it says this, 226 00:22:10.325 --> 00:22:11.158 it says, likewise, 227 00:22:11.984 --> 00:22:16.845 the Spirit helps us in our weakness for we do not know 228 00:22:16.846 --> 00:22:18.445 what to pray for as we ought, 229 00:22:18.446 --> 00:22:23.205 but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too 230 00:22:23.206 --> 00:22:24.045 deep for words. 231 00:22:25.425 --> 00:22:30.165 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the spirit because the 232 00:22:30.166 --> 00:22:33.484 spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 233 00:22:34.265 --> 00:22:38.525 And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, 234 00:22:38.665 --> 00:22:43.005 for those who are called according to his purpose, for those whom he for knew. 235 00:22:43.265 --> 00:22:48.125 He also predestined to be conformed to the image of his son in order that 236 00:22:48.126 --> 00:22:52.445 he might be the firstborn among many brothers and those whom he 237 00:22:52.475 --> 00:22:54.285 predestined, he also called, 238 00:22:55.465 --> 00:22:58.045 and those whom he called he also justified. 239 00:22:59.105 --> 00:23:03.125 And those whom he justified, he also glorified. 240 00:23:03.945 --> 00:23:06.885 Listen, as I mentioned, there's a ton in there. And so, uh, 241 00:23:06.886 --> 00:23:07.505 here's what we're gonna do. 242 00:23:07.505 --> 00:23:10.205 I'm just gonna pray for you really quick at all of our campuses. Uh, 243 00:23:10.305 --> 00:23:14.125 I'm gonna pray that over the next minute or so as you read through this passage 244 00:23:14.225 --> 00:23:18.045 on your own, just as the Holy Spirit will speak loudly and clearly to you, 245 00:23:18.046 --> 00:23:21.845 will you pray with me? Father, thank you. 246 00:23:22.575 --> 00:23:25.845 Thank you for the depths of the riches of your word. 247 00:23:26.805 --> 00:23:30.525 I just pray right now that as my friends, uh, read slowly through this passage, 248 00:23:30.585 --> 00:23:32.484 and as we get ready to dive into this together, 249 00:23:32.915 --> 00:23:37.445 that your Holy Spirit would begin to reveal to us the truths that you have for 250 00:23:37.446 --> 00:23:41.325 us, uh, in this passage. It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. 251 00:23:41.326 --> 00:23:42.885 Go ahead and read this passage to yourself. 252 00:24:31.994 --> 00:24:34.085 I'll go ahead and, and read it one more time, and again, 253 00:24:34.086 --> 00:24:37.845 just kind of sit under it. I want you to listen. I've, 254 00:24:37.846 --> 00:24:41.845 I've been staring at these five verses for weeks, , 255 00:24:42.345 --> 00:24:44.685 and they're kind of in there and I've been thinking about them. 256 00:24:44.715 --> 00:24:46.445 I've literally been losing sleep over them, 257 00:24:46.446 --> 00:24:50.125 thinking about all the stuff that's in here. And so I just want you for, 258 00:24:50.145 --> 00:24:52.685 for the moment, uh, don't think about the weather, 259 00:24:53.415 --> 00:24:54.725 don't think about the drive here, 260 00:24:55.335 --> 00:24:57.405 don't think about the argument you got in with your kids. 261 00:24:58.555 --> 00:25:03.244 Just focus in on these few verses. I'm gonna read it one more time. Likewise, 262 00:25:04.065 --> 00:25:08.965 the Spirit helps us in our weakness for we do not know what to 263 00:25:08.966 --> 00:25:10.045 pray for as we ought, 264 00:25:10.145 --> 00:25:14.965 but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 265 00:25:15.425 --> 00:25:20.325 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the spirit because the 266 00:25:20.326 --> 00:25:23.605 spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 267 00:25:23.606 --> 00:25:28.605 And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, 268 00:25:28.984 --> 00:25:32.805 for those who were called according to his purpose, for those whom he for knew. 269 00:25:32.865 --> 00:25:37.445 He also predestined to be conformed to the image of his son in order that he 270 00:25:37.446 --> 00:25:42.175 might be the first born among many brothers and those whom he 271 00:25:42.244 --> 00:25:47.015 predestined, he also called. And those whom he called, he also justified. 272 00:25:47.835 --> 00:25:51.135 And those whom he justified, he also glorified. 273 00:25:52.835 --> 00:25:55.695 Listen, the Bible tells us that the word of God is living and active. 274 00:25:55.715 --> 00:25:58.815 And I think there's a reality that there may be some things you recognize on the 275 00:25:58.816 --> 00:26:00.455 second reading that you didn't catch in the first, 276 00:26:00.755 --> 00:26:03.295 and there's probably some things you picked up on in the third reading that you 277 00:26:03.296 --> 00:26:07.815 didn't notice in the first or in the second. Uh, and as we go through that, man, 278 00:26:07.816 --> 00:26:08.655 there's just so much. 279 00:26:08.675 --> 00:26:11.695 So I just wanna take a quick poll of the room at all of our campuses, 280 00:26:11.935 --> 00:26:13.695 wherever you are, you can play along with this. Uh, 281 00:26:13.744 --> 00:26:16.855 raise your hand if you are familiar with that passage before today. 282 00:26:18.855 --> 00:26:18.865 Okay, 283 00:26:18.865 --> 00:26:23.135 raise your hand if you are like familiar with some of that passage before today. 284 00:26:24.725 --> 00:26:28.125 Okay. Probably Romans 8 28, right? The all things work together for good. 285 00:26:28.126 --> 00:26:30.605 That's the one that I think a lot of us are really common with. Uh, 286 00:26:30.705 --> 00:26:35.165 how many of you, during that time of reading, uh, by show of hands, um, 287 00:26:35.465 --> 00:26:39.085 how many of you had something you noticed in there that maybe you didn't notice 288 00:26:39.086 --> 00:26:40.165 before? Or maybe that the, 289 00:26:40.265 --> 00:26:42.325 the Holy Spirit just kind of pointed out to you and said, Hey, 290 00:26:42.326 --> 00:26:44.965 did you ever catch this part? If that was you, go ahead and raise your hand. 291 00:26:45.725 --> 00:26:49.125 I think that's really cool. Alright, now, how many of us, um, 292 00:26:49.625 --> 00:26:53.885 had a moment somewhere in there through reading these five verses where you say, 293 00:26:54.205 --> 00:26:55.845 yep, that's confusing. I don't really know what that means. 294 00:26:56.005 --> 00:26:59.325 And that word's too big. Anybody? Yes, those are my people, . 295 00:26:59.326 --> 00:27:00.285 That's right. Listen, 296 00:27:00.295 --> 00:27:03.765 these five verses are really tough to wrap our minds around. 297 00:27:03.785 --> 00:27:08.165 As a matter of fact, they are five of the most, uh, controversial, uh, 298 00:27:08.234 --> 00:27:12.445 most debated verses in all of scripture. Uh, Romans eight, 299 00:27:12.455 --> 00:27:16.085 we've talked about how it's kind of the pinnacle of this letter to the Romans. 300 00:27:16.085 --> 00:27:18.484 However, uh, there's these few verses, 301 00:27:18.515 --> 00:27:21.365 it's kind of a spot that a lot of people don't really know what to do with them. 302 00:27:22.265 --> 00:27:23.445 So what happens? Well, 303 00:27:23.705 --> 00:27:26.125 the first part's a little bit confusing and the back part's a little bit 304 00:27:26.126 --> 00:27:28.085 confusing. So we just kinda move both of those to the side. 305 00:27:28.145 --> 00:27:30.925 We pull out that one in the middle verse 28, and we say, yo, 306 00:27:31.095 --> 00:27:34.285 let's stitch that one on a pillow and send it to grandma. Right? 307 00:27:35.025 --> 00:27:35.925 All things work together. 308 00:27:36.465 --> 00:27:39.965 That's the part that we really like and we find ourselves kind of bogged down 309 00:27:39.966 --> 00:27:41.365 and confused in these other words, 310 00:27:41.366 --> 00:27:45.244 like called and glorified and justified and predestined and all this stuff. 311 00:27:45.245 --> 00:27:47.605 And there's a, a, an ancient, um, 312 00:27:48.085 --> 00:27:50.285 argument that has come out of this passage about, well, 313 00:27:50.355 --> 00:27:54.605 what is the heart of God really? Like, what's my life really like? 314 00:27:54.744 --> 00:27:59.405 Has everything been predetermined for me or is there free will? Let me tell you, 315 00:27:59.585 --> 00:28:00.765 I'm glad you came this weekend, 316 00:28:01.105 --> 00:28:03.645 but we're not gonna answer all of those questions . 317 00:28:04.265 --> 00:28:06.725 We can't possibly do it in the amount of time that we have together. 318 00:28:07.705 --> 00:28:11.244 But what I do wanna do is I wanna hone in on one word that's in there that I 319 00:28:11.245 --> 00:28:14.765 think offers, uh, so much richness and so much meaning 320 00:28:16.835 --> 00:28:20.805 that our understanding of that word actually changes the way we view the five 321 00:28:21.065 --> 00:28:23.645 verses in totality. And it's not one of the big ones, 322 00:28:23.646 --> 00:28:27.205 it's actually one of the smaller ones that's in there. It's the word. Good, 323 00:28:29.045 --> 00:28:34.015 good. It's, it's probably the least complex word in the entire passage. However, 324 00:28:34.855 --> 00:28:38.895 I think it's the one that leads us down the path that complicates everything 325 00:28:38.896 --> 00:28:41.135 else that we read here. Lemme tell you what I mean. 326 00:28:41.175 --> 00:28:44.255 I have a group chat with a group of friends of mine, uh, 327 00:28:44.325 --> 00:28:49.175 five guys who I love dearly. And this thing is going off all day, 328 00:28:49.545 --> 00:28:51.095 every day. Like I, I wish I could, 329 00:28:51.096 --> 00:28:54.775 like my phone is on do not disturb mode right now because I guarantee you it's 330 00:28:54.776 --> 00:28:59.255 blowing up. And so, uh, I've put this chat in mute because, 331 00:28:59.975 --> 00:29:02.655 uh, I could walk away from my phone for five or 10 minutes and I come back and 332 00:29:02.656 --> 00:29:04.655 there's 90 notifications. I'm not kidding you. 333 00:29:05.035 --> 00:29:07.775 And I'll go back and I'll start to see, man, what are these guys talking about? 334 00:29:07.855 --> 00:29:12.215 I bet you they're just sharing bible verses and praying for one another and 335 00:29:12.216 --> 00:29:13.575 being super encouraging. 336 00:29:14.035 --> 00:29:18.015 And actually I opened up the chat and they are going at each other's throats 337 00:29:18.016 --> 00:29:22.775 because someone somewhere has used the word good in a 338 00:29:22.776 --> 00:29:24.535 statement. Lemme tell you what I mean. 339 00:29:24.975 --> 00:29:28.015 A few days ago somebody commented and said, man, just saw this movie. 340 00:29:28.235 --> 00:29:29.095 It was really good. 341 00:29:30.795 --> 00:29:34.375 We have been arguing for the last three weeks about what makes a movie good 342 00:29:34.775 --> 00:29:38.975 . Somebody else I'll tell it's me will put in a statement like, man, 343 00:29:38.976 --> 00:29:42.485 y'all wanna drive to Chapel Hill and go to raising cans? That place is so good. 344 00:29:42.685 --> 00:29:43.645 And somebody will say, yeah, it's good, 345 00:29:43.745 --> 00:29:45.285 but it's not as good as this other place. 346 00:29:46.225 --> 00:29:50.365 We have one guy who was convinced that Carson Wince is a good quarterback. 347 00:29:52.035 --> 00:29:54.605 That was enough to erupt friend groups. Okay? 348 00:29:54.705 --> 00:29:57.325 We we started little side conversations like, 349 00:29:57.326 --> 00:29:58.765 can you believe he said this? And yeah, 350 00:29:58.805 --> 00:30:01.045 I knew we couldn't trust him to begin with. Like it, 351 00:30:01.395 --> 00:30:03.965 it's crazy what this word good does and why is that? 352 00:30:03.995 --> 00:30:08.765 It's because good is probably the most relative term in the English language 353 00:30:09.545 --> 00:30:12.605 and we use it all the time, right? That taco was good. 354 00:30:13.505 --> 00:30:17.065 I hope we get good weather this weekend. I know my kids are good, 355 00:30:17.885 --> 00:30:19.505 she has a good sense of humor. 356 00:30:20.125 --> 00:30:23.665 We use it all the time and it can always mean different things in our 357 00:30:23.945 --> 00:30:26.945 vernacular. The word goods mean good means so many different things. 358 00:30:27.245 --> 00:30:31.425 The problem is we take our vernacular and we bring it to the Bible and now we 359 00:30:31.426 --> 00:30:32.625 start misinterpreting stuff in here. 360 00:30:35.655 --> 00:30:38.775 I think one of the issues that we have when we look at this, 361 00:30:38.885 --> 00:30:43.275 this passage is our misunderstanding of the word 362 00:30:44.105 --> 00:30:47.935 good. And that verse in particular, Romans 8 28, 363 00:30:48.245 --> 00:30:51.415 that God works all things together for good. Well, 364 00:30:51.416 --> 00:30:53.295 when we bring our presuppositions to that verse, 365 00:30:53.475 --> 00:30:58.415 we end up with some problems because a lot of us have lived life and a lot of us 366 00:30:58.445 --> 00:31:01.695 know it's not all good. Lemme tell you, as a matter of fact, 367 00:31:01.696 --> 00:31:05.135 while I was working on this, this, um, this, this passage, 368 00:31:05.695 --> 00:31:08.055 I was reading through it and studying on it and all this other stuff. 369 00:31:08.255 --> 00:31:12.695 I got a notification from Apple News and it was a headline, uh, 370 00:31:12.696 --> 00:31:17.135 about something called a hammerhead worm that's popped up in Texas. 371 00:31:18.035 --> 00:31:20.815 And, uh, we're just gonna show you a picture of it, uh, 372 00:31:20.835 --> 00:31:23.765 and we're gonna show you the headline. It says, 373 00:31:23.925 --> 00:31:28.925 A foot long worm from hell is invading Texas, and it's really hard to kill. 374 00:31:30.195 --> 00:31:33.455 And I see that headline and I see that nightmare fuel of a picture. 375 00:31:33.515 --> 00:31:38.215 And I look at the text and I say all things , like God created that. 376 00:31:38.635 --> 00:31:43.335 Is that good? Is that possible that even that thing can be good? 377 00:31:43.435 --> 00:31:46.335 And and here's what I started to realize, and here's what this, 378 00:31:46.336 --> 00:31:48.255 what this picture and this headline taught me 379 00:31:49.815 --> 00:31:53.215 is that it's not saying that that thing is good. 380 00:31:54.195 --> 00:31:57.695 And I learned in that moment this truth that I hope you carry with you as you 381 00:31:57.855 --> 00:31:59.495 continue to study through the book of Romans. 382 00:32:00.035 --> 00:32:03.935 Proper interpretation requires a proper reading. 383 00:32:05.715 --> 00:32:07.295 If you read the passage wrong, 384 00:32:07.635 --> 00:32:11.095 you're gonna come to a conclusion about what it means in a wrong way. 385 00:32:12.155 --> 00:32:17.095 So the passage does not say that everything that happens in our life will be 386 00:32:17.096 --> 00:32:17.929 good. 387 00:32:18.485 --> 00:32:23.025 The passage does not say that God will only do things that are good in our 388 00:32:23.026 --> 00:32:25.425 lives. What does it say? It says, 389 00:32:25.445 --> 00:32:28.665 and we know that for those who love God, 390 00:32:29.045 --> 00:32:31.625 all things work together for good, 391 00:32:31.965 --> 00:32:34.345 for those who are called according to his purpose. 392 00:32:34.635 --> 00:32:36.505 We've been going through this series verse by verse, 393 00:32:36.525 --> 00:32:39.725 but I want to go through this verse word by word, okay? 394 00:32:39.726 --> 00:32:44.125 Because there's so much richness in this alone. The first thing is we know, 395 00:32:44.155 --> 00:32:48.015 well, how can we know? How can we know this? 396 00:32:48.795 --> 00:32:51.375 How do we know this? How can we be sure of this? Well, 397 00:32:51.376 --> 00:32:53.655 we're gonna talk about that in just a little bit, but what is it that we know? 398 00:32:53.675 --> 00:32:56.535 We know that for those who love God, 399 00:32:56.635 --> 00:33:01.575 and that part's really important because it doesn't say that 400 00:33:01.675 --> 00:33:03.735 all things work together for all people. 401 00:33:05.085 --> 00:33:09.225 It says that all things work together for those who love God. 402 00:33:09.226 --> 00:33:10.745 And so I just wanna tell you that if you're here, 403 00:33:10.746 --> 00:33:13.185 if you're at any of our campuses, if you're watching online, uh, 404 00:33:13.385 --> 00:33:15.505 I know that in a room this big, 405 00:33:15.506 --> 00:33:19.905 there's a chance that there's someone who does not have an active relationship 406 00:33:19.906 --> 00:33:22.465 with God, who would say, yeah, I don't love God. 407 00:33:23.635 --> 00:33:25.985 Lemme tell you what we're gonna talk about for the next few minutes. 408 00:33:27.405 --> 00:33:29.215 It's a promise that we get from scripture, 409 00:33:29.275 --> 00:33:34.115 but it's a promise for a particular group of people that there's something that 410 00:33:34.116 --> 00:33:37.555 happens when we are grafted into the family of God, 411 00:33:37.615 --> 00:33:41.955 of every circumstance that we've ever talked about or that we've ever been 412 00:33:41.956 --> 00:33:42.789 through, 413 00:33:46.015 --> 00:33:50.815 those who love God. It says that God such a simple, 414 00:33:50.885 --> 00:33:53.755 it's a three letter word, but it means everything. 415 00:33:54.805 --> 00:33:59.735 There's only one who is capable of fulfilling the promise that we're about to 416 00:33:59.736 --> 00:34:01.715 read. There's only one. 417 00:34:03.475 --> 00:34:08.315 It says that God will work all things together for 418 00:34:08.316 --> 00:34:09.715 good. And here's our problem portion, 419 00:34:09.716 --> 00:34:14.635 because we think all things really even that hell 420 00:34:14.835 --> 00:34:17.955 worm that we looked at . Listen, that's, 421 00:34:17.956 --> 00:34:19.475 that's not what this verse is talking about. 422 00:34:19.495 --> 00:34:23.635 And I'm not saying that God can't use the hell worm to do whatever it is that he 423 00:34:23.636 --> 00:34:23.916 wants to do, 424 00:34:23.916 --> 00:34:27.995 but we're specifically talking about the lives of those who love him and those 425 00:34:28.055 --> 00:34:30.035 who are. The next word is called. 426 00:34:30.055 --> 00:34:33.315 And that word called it means personally invited by him 427 00:34:35.665 --> 00:34:37.995 according to his purpose. 428 00:34:38.094 --> 00:34:41.235 And what is his purpose for those who love him. 429 00:34:42.725 --> 00:34:46.735 It's good that word that we haven't defined yet, 430 00:34:46.875 --> 00:34:50.605 but keep reading because the next verse is going to, 431 00:34:51.685 --> 00:34:54.205 I believe that scripture interprets scripture. 432 00:34:55.705 --> 00:34:59.725 We let God speak for himself through his word. Because here's the problem, 433 00:34:59.955 --> 00:35:02.645 back in the beginning of time, right? God creates everything. 434 00:35:02.745 --> 00:35:04.725 He looks back on it, he says it's good, 435 00:35:05.745 --> 00:35:10.085 but then we reach Genesis three and it says that Eve saw the fruit that was on 436 00:35:10.086 --> 00:35:12.805 the tree and thought that it was good for food. 437 00:35:13.785 --> 00:35:18.205 So how does humanity get into the issue of good and evil to begin with? 438 00:35:19.305 --> 00:35:24.005 God defines something as good, and then Eve defines something else as good. 439 00:35:24.905 --> 00:35:29.205 Our misinterpretation of the idea of good is what leads us to sin. 440 00:35:29.205 --> 00:35:33.045 It's us thinking that we know in some way what's better than God. 441 00:35:34.555 --> 00:35:38.125 So let's let God define what good is for us. Romans 8 29 says, 442 00:35:38.265 --> 00:35:39.765 for those whom he for knew, 443 00:35:40.065 --> 00:35:45.045 he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his son in order that he 444 00:35:45.046 --> 00:35:49.325 might be the first born among many brothers. Now, 445 00:35:49.326 --> 00:35:52.805 before we get into the foreknowledge and the predestination and all that sort of 446 00:35:52.806 --> 00:35:54.645 stuff, all the stuff that leads to debates like we talked about earlier, 447 00:35:55.665 --> 00:35:59.325 God defines good in this verse. And if you're not careful, you may miss it. 448 00:36:00.105 --> 00:36:01.765 You might just skim right over it. 449 00:36:03.864 --> 00:36:06.285 Romans 8 28 is not saying that everything will be easy. 450 00:36:06.515 --> 00:36:08.325 It's not saying that everything will make sense to us. 451 00:36:08.435 --> 00:36:11.245 It's not saying that everything will be great and extravagant and lavish, 452 00:36:11.246 --> 00:36:15.965 but somehow the God of the universe can take every circumstance of your life, 453 00:36:16.945 --> 00:36:19.565 all of them, every single thing you've ever experienced. 454 00:36:19.745 --> 00:36:23.925 He can take all of those things and work them out for good sub in right here, 455 00:36:24.505 --> 00:36:26.445 you being conformed to the image of Jesus. 456 00:36:28.385 --> 00:36:32.285 That's what the good is that Romans 8 28 talks about. Now, I don't know, 457 00:36:32.286 --> 00:36:34.245 maybe we just can't fit that on grandma's pillow, 458 00:36:34.465 --> 00:36:39.295 but God can take every aspect of your 459 00:36:39.296 --> 00:36:43.855 life and use it to conform you, to make you more into the image of Jesus, 460 00:36:43.856 --> 00:36:47.255 which is his number one concern for you. It's not about getting a bigger house, 461 00:36:47.256 --> 00:36:49.295 it's not about getting a promotion, it's not about getting more money. 462 00:36:49.295 --> 00:36:51.455 It's not about having red or well-behaved kids. 463 00:36:51.805 --> 00:36:54.295 It's not about any of those things. While it might be included, 464 00:36:55.705 --> 00:37:00.175 his ultimate purpose, the ultimate good for your life is that you 465 00:37:02.085 --> 00:37:03.895 fill in the blank here, use your name. 466 00:37:04.825 --> 00:37:09.335 God's goal is for Aaron to be conformed into the image of Jesus. 467 00:37:10.425 --> 00:37:14.364 And when I put my faith in him, all of the things, 468 00:37:14.545 --> 00:37:15.725 the good and the bad, 469 00:37:16.925 --> 00:37:20.665 he uses as a tool to shape me into the image of Jesus. 470 00:37:21.285 --> 00:37:23.225 And if you have a hard time believing in this, I just, 471 00:37:23.226 --> 00:37:27.905 I just want you to think about like the people who you know who follow Jesus. 472 00:37:28.395 --> 00:37:31.465 Maybe even it's your own story. Can I tell you, I've, I, I, 473 00:37:31.745 --> 00:37:33.465 I think I've almost never, I'm, 474 00:37:33.725 --> 00:37:37.305 I'm pretty sure I think I've almost never met someone and said, Hey man, 475 00:37:37.445 --> 00:37:40.145 can you tell me your story about how you came to know Jesus? And they were like, 476 00:37:40.165 --> 00:37:42.425 man, life was going good. I didn't have a care in the world. 477 00:37:42.426 --> 00:37:43.905 All my bills were paid, everything was fine. 478 00:37:43.906 --> 00:37:46.145 And then I just woke up one day and said, yeah, Jesus is it. 479 00:37:47.565 --> 00:37:51.905 That's almost never how it goes. You know how it usually goes, man, 480 00:37:51.945 --> 00:37:53.505 I was in the darkest place in my entire life. 481 00:37:56.545 --> 00:37:59.485 She just broke up with me. I just got laid off. 482 00:38:00.605 --> 00:38:03.525 I got this cancer diagnosis and 483 00:38:05.415 --> 00:38:08.175 man just there, it was in the middle of all my brokenness. I, 484 00:38:08.215 --> 00:38:10.335 I had my face to the ground. And when I looked up, 485 00:38:10.735 --> 00:38:14.655 I saw Jesus standing there inviting me to himself, 486 00:38:15.055 --> 00:38:17.455 beckoning me to himself. I hit rock bottom. 487 00:38:17.875 --> 00:38:20.055 And that's actually what led me to the Lord. 488 00:38:20.375 --> 00:38:25.175 It could it be that in that moment God was working 489 00:38:25.395 --> 00:38:29.175 all things together, even the worst season of your life to call you to him. 490 00:38:29.335 --> 00:38:30.775 I mean, think about our faith. 491 00:38:31.864 --> 00:38:34.655 Every year we celebrate a day and call it Good Friday. 492 00:38:34.795 --> 00:38:36.525 You know what happened on that good day? 493 00:38:36.905 --> 00:38:40.285 An innocent man was brutally murdered for the entire world to see. 494 00:38:41.225 --> 00:38:42.325 But why do we celebrate it? 495 00:38:43.645 --> 00:38:48.565 Because somehow God took that and he used it for 496 00:38:48.585 --> 00:38:52.445 the purpose of conforming us into the image of that man, 497 00:38:52.475 --> 00:38:56.605 that sacrificial man who hung on a tree and had a perfect relationship with God. 498 00:38:59.705 --> 00:39:04.435 That is what our God does with everything that happens in our 499 00:39:04.436 --> 00:39:07.515 lives when we put our faith in him. 500 00:39:10.315 --> 00:39:15.015 And what a beautiful gift that is, right? I think that's actually the good news. 501 00:39:15.675 --> 00:39:18.735 The good news is not that only good things will happen. 502 00:39:19.235 --> 00:39:23.055 The good news is that in spite of the bad things, that's not the end. 503 00:39:26.355 --> 00:39:29.075 I love this verse. I think there's so much truth in this verse, 504 00:39:29.575 --> 00:39:32.435 but you know what I've learned specifically about Romans 8 28, 505 00:39:33.585 --> 00:39:36.075 I've learned that there are people who love it and there's people who hate it. 506 00:39:37.465 --> 00:39:40.965 The people who love it are usually pain adjacent 507 00:39:42.864 --> 00:39:46.945 , right? You see somebody else going through something, amen. 508 00:39:47.525 --> 00:39:51.505 All things work together. Jesus loves you don't give up yet. 509 00:39:52.445 --> 00:39:56.025 You know who hates that verse, the person that's going through it. I mean, 510 00:39:56.026 --> 00:39:59.344 just imagine right now that me and you were both up here standing on the stage 511 00:39:59.345 --> 00:40:02.545 and somebody ran up and punched one of us in the nose. Okay? 512 00:40:03.475 --> 00:40:06.305 Let's say I'm the one that gets punched. If you look at me and say, 513 00:40:06.364 --> 00:40:10.685 all things work together, you gonna be bleeding with me? Okay, , 514 00:40:13.195 --> 00:40:14.605 because I've learned something, 515 00:40:14.635 --> 00:40:18.285 I've learned that pain distorts perspective, 516 00:40:20.114 --> 00:40:24.655 the person who's standing here with a bloody nose doesn't want to hear all 517 00:40:24.656 --> 00:40:26.295 things work together. But can I, 518 00:40:26.315 --> 00:40:31.175 can I just like for a moment remind you that the truth doesn't change despite 519 00:40:31.176 --> 00:40:32.009 what you're going through? 520 00:40:34.295 --> 00:40:39.065 Just because you don't want to hear Romans 8 28 doesn't mean that you don't 521 00:40:39.175 --> 00:40:44.094 need to hear Romans 8 28 just because you're looking through the lens of 522 00:40:44.095 --> 00:40:48.945 some sort of suffering or some sort of pain that doesn't negate this 523 00:40:49.175 --> 00:40:50.625 eternal truth from scripture. 524 00:40:51.485 --> 00:40:54.055 This is why it's so important to surround yourself with community, 525 00:40:54.056 --> 00:40:59.015 because in those moments when life hits you so hard that you don't have a way to 526 00:40:59.016 --> 00:41:02.055 think straight and you're just questioning, man, where is God in this? 527 00:41:02.275 --> 00:41:06.335 You need someone with a right perspective to be able to say, listen, 528 00:41:06.535 --> 00:41:07.735 I know you don't want to hear this, 529 00:41:08.925 --> 00:41:13.344 but could it possibly be a reality that God who knows, 530 00:41:13.525 --> 00:41:16.105 all sees all cares about all, 531 00:41:17.335 --> 00:41:21.114 can somehow take this thing that maybe he didn't even want to happen to you in 532 00:41:21.115 --> 00:41:21.948 the first place? 533 00:41:23.515 --> 00:41:28.385 Could he take that pain and still somehow use it to fashion you 534 00:41:28.655 --> 00:41:31.025 into the image of Jesus? And now, listen, 535 00:41:31.205 --> 00:41:33.025 I'm not saying this gives you a license, 536 00:41:33.045 --> 00:41:35.005 license to just start throwing Bible verses at people. 537 00:41:35.344 --> 00:41:37.725 I'm not saying that as soon as you see somebody hurt, you just say, oh, 538 00:41:37.825 --> 00:41:40.125 Romans 8 28. And they're like, I don't wanna hear it right now. You don't say, 539 00:41:40.245 --> 00:41:42.805 ah, well believe it anyway. Like that's not what I'm telling you to do. 540 00:41:43.665 --> 00:41:44.725 But what I am saying is, 541 00:41:44.785 --> 00:41:48.005 if you're the person who's going through that painful thing, 542 00:41:48.285 --> 00:41:51.645 I want you to know this verse isn't about suffering. 543 00:41:53.364 --> 00:41:56.455 It's not see in our humanity, 544 00:41:56.594 --> 00:42:01.055 we think the all things we think that means, like just the bad stuff. But no, 545 00:42:01.056 --> 00:42:04.775 it's the bad stuff. It's the good stuff, it's the great days, it's the bad days. 546 00:42:04.915 --> 00:42:09.415 And that's a whole other series that we don't have time to get into. You get it? 547 00:42:09.685 --> 00:42:11.975 This verse isn't just about suffering, 548 00:42:12.125 --> 00:42:17.094 it's about the faithfulness of the God that we serve. Last week, 549 00:42:18.215 --> 00:42:21.735 Dwayne talked to us about the importance of having eternal perspective, right? 550 00:42:22.235 --> 00:42:25.175 And, uh, uh, if you weren't here last week, 551 00:42:25.176 --> 00:42:27.935 there's a passage of scripture I wanna read to you that I think, um, 552 00:42:28.005 --> 00:42:32.335 will help you wrap your mind around this idea about what eternal perspective is. 553 00:42:32.405 --> 00:42:36.335 Okay? Second Corinthians four 16 through 18. It says this, it says, 554 00:42:36.336 --> 00:42:39.614 so we do not lose heart, though our outer self is wasting away. 555 00:42:40.155 --> 00:42:43.935 Our inner self is being renewed day by day for this light, 556 00:42:44.125 --> 00:42:48.975 momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all 557 00:42:48.976 --> 00:42:52.015 comparison as we look, not to the things that are seen, 558 00:42:52.795 --> 00:42:57.344 but to the things that are unseen for the things that are seen are transient, 559 00:42:57.725 --> 00:43:00.864 but the things that are unseen are eternal. Now, Aaron, 560 00:43:01.565 --> 00:43:03.465 why do you go bringing in more confusing verses? 561 00:43:03.485 --> 00:43:05.905 Are you really telling me that the stuff I can see, 562 00:43:06.715 --> 00:43:10.585 don't look at it , but the stuff I can't see, 563 00:43:11.045 --> 00:43:12.905 I'm supposed to fix my eyes on that. 564 00:43:14.955 --> 00:43:19.455 Can I just paraphrase that quickly for you that what this verse is calling us to 565 00:43:19.456 --> 00:43:22.575 is to fix our eyes on God? Because, uh, 566 00:43:22.576 --> 00:43:26.575 eternal perspective is not knowing what's waiting for you around every corner. 567 00:43:26.955 --> 00:43:27.788 That's not it. 568 00:43:28.725 --> 00:43:33.455 Eternal perspective is fixing our eyes on the one who actually does know 569 00:43:33.555 --> 00:43:37.175 all and who has actually seen all and who marks the end from the beginning. 570 00:43:38.125 --> 00:43:39.265 That's eternal perspective. 571 00:43:40.645 --> 00:43:43.375 It's not being prepared for everything that comes your way. 572 00:43:43.725 --> 00:43:45.935 It's trusting God regardless. 573 00:43:47.475 --> 00:43:51.125 There's a story that I heard a while ago that I, I I know this is, 574 00:43:51.126 --> 00:43:55.285 this is like heady stuff, I get it. But I think this kind of helped me, 575 00:43:55.425 --> 00:43:55.825 you know, 576 00:43:55.825 --> 00:43:59.245 put myself in perspective a little bit more here and try to help me understand 577 00:43:59.246 --> 00:44:01.005 what this verse is about. There's a story, uh, 578 00:44:01.006 --> 00:44:05.525 about a village farmer and his son. And, uh, they were pretty poor. 579 00:44:05.526 --> 00:44:07.285 They worked on a farm, but they had a horse. 580 00:44:08.065 --> 00:44:11.525 And one day that horse runs away and his neighbors hear about the horse that ran 581 00:44:11.526 --> 00:44:14.085 away. And they come to him and they say, Hey man, that's unfortunate that your, 582 00:44:14.114 --> 00:44:16.805 your horse ran away. And this village farmer looks at them and says, 583 00:44:17.135 --> 00:44:20.915 maybe it is and maybe it's not. I'm like, what do you mean, dude, you, 584 00:44:20.935 --> 00:44:25.395 you have your horse and your son and the horse is gone. Well, the next day, 585 00:44:25.955 --> 00:44:30.635 uh, that horse that ran away brought a whole crop of wild horses back with it, 586 00:44:30.775 --> 00:44:33.725 and they go, man, you're so lucky. Like, yeah, you lost that horse, 587 00:44:33.726 --> 00:44:35.245 but then a group of wild horses came back. 588 00:44:35.246 --> 00:44:37.445 Now you have more horses than you had before. And he goes, yeah, maybe, 589 00:44:38.185 --> 00:44:42.855 or maybe not. Like, what's wrong with this dude? ? Well, 590 00:44:42.856 --> 00:44:45.575 the next day his son was trying to break one of these horses, 591 00:44:45.755 --> 00:44:47.135 and while doing so, 592 00:44:47.136 --> 00:44:51.855 the horse bucks him off and comes down on top of him and breaks his leg and they 593 00:44:51.856 --> 00:44:54.535 go, man, what's up with this guy? Man, 594 00:44:54.735 --> 00:44:57.895 you feel like you're going up and down and up and down. It's like, man, 595 00:44:57.955 --> 00:45:01.255 how bad that one of these wild horses broke your son's leg? And he goes, 596 00:45:01.335 --> 00:45:03.335 I don't know, maybe yes, maybe no. 597 00:45:05.125 --> 00:45:07.105 The next day there were rumors, uh, 598 00:45:07.106 --> 00:45:10.465 about a neighboring village that was going to attack his village. 599 00:45:11.364 --> 00:45:14.025 And so they went around and started drafting people for the military. 600 00:45:14.026 --> 00:45:16.265 And when they came to get the man's son, they go, oh wait, 601 00:45:16.285 --> 00:45:20.225 we can't take him because his leg is broken. They go, man, 602 00:45:20.226 --> 00:45:22.545 you're so lucky that your son's leg was broken. And the man just goes, 603 00:45:22.546 --> 00:45:25.985 you probably know it by now, maybe yes, maybe no. 604 00:45:27.575 --> 00:45:31.555 Listen, this parable is said and it's given kind of this way to say, man, 605 00:45:31.556 --> 00:45:34.155 listen, you never really know how your luck is gonna work out, 606 00:45:34.885 --> 00:45:37.864 so just don't trip yet. Don't, don't freak out about it. But, but listen, 607 00:45:37.985 --> 00:45:41.145 I I don't think it's a perfect example because we think, like in my brain, 608 00:45:41.165 --> 00:45:42.905 I'm like, well, what if the story keeps going? Like, yeah, 609 00:45:42.906 --> 00:45:43.745 something's gonna be bad, 610 00:45:43.945 --> 00:45:45.585 but then it's gonna end up good and then something's gonna be bad, 611 00:45:45.586 --> 00:45:49.385 and then it's gonna end up good again. But the reality is, is man, 612 00:45:49.525 --> 00:45:52.265 the difference between that story and what we're reading about in this passage 613 00:45:52.405 --> 00:45:56.505 is there's not always a guarantee that something good is gonna happen next. 614 00:45:58.965 --> 00:45:59.798 People die. 615 00:46:02.445 --> 00:46:04.505 People get sick and don't get better. 616 00:46:06.245 --> 00:46:09.265 You lose your dream job, you, you get in the car accident. 617 00:46:12.045 --> 00:46:15.825 But the beauty about this eternal perspective is that even if I have bad day 618 00:46:15.826 --> 00:46:17.945 after bad day after bad day after bad day, 619 00:46:17.946 --> 00:46:21.185 there is an eternity that God's already secured for me. 620 00:46:23.525 --> 00:46:26.655 Even if I die on my worst day, 621 00:46:27.715 --> 00:46:30.055 it is a gateway to what's next for me. 622 00:46:30.075 --> 00:46:34.295 And the beauty of this is that we have a God who has been working on this since 623 00:46:34.296 --> 00:46:38.395 the beginning of time. I wanna look at our, 624 00:46:38.735 --> 00:46:40.594 the last two verses of this passage here. 625 00:46:40.595 --> 00:46:44.555 This is verse 29 and 30 talking about God. 626 00:46:44.655 --> 00:46:47.555 It says that for those whom God for knew, 627 00:46:48.255 --> 00:46:53.155 he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his son in order that 628 00:46:53.415 --> 00:46:56.555 he might be the first born among many brothers. 629 00:46:56.556 --> 00:46:58.195 That's just another way of saying, listen, 630 00:46:58.205 --> 00:47:00.915 Jesus is going to be the first one like Jesus, 631 00:47:02.614 --> 00:47:05.915 but God is working to make sure he's not the only one . 632 00:47:06.585 --> 00:47:10.075 That there are gonna be people who come after him who resemble him and live like 633 00:47:10.076 --> 00:47:13.995 him and love like Him. Jesus will be the firstborn among many brothers, 634 00:47:15.255 --> 00:47:18.835 and those whom he predestined, he also called. And those whom he called, 635 00:47:18.836 --> 00:47:22.955 he also justified. And those whom he justified, he also glorified. And Aaron, 636 00:47:23.015 --> 00:47:26.275 you got three minutes. How are you gonna unpack all that? I'm not , 637 00:47:28.815 --> 00:47:31.285 but I do wanna give you this tool that I hope is helpful for you, 638 00:47:31.286 --> 00:47:34.885 that as you start to, um, work through this on your own, uh, 639 00:47:34.886 --> 00:47:35.885 hopefully this is wet, 640 00:47:35.886 --> 00:47:39.645 your appetite to dive back into the scriptures a little bit more. Uh, here are, 641 00:47:40.045 --> 00:47:40.486 uh, what the, 642 00:47:40.486 --> 00:47:45.485 what these verses give us is five attributes of God that remind us that 643 00:47:45.486 --> 00:47:49.675 he's trustworthy and that everything is gonna be okay. 644 00:47:50.545 --> 00:47:52.355 Here they are. We're gonna throw 'em up on the screen for you. 645 00:47:54.114 --> 00:47:57.905 These attributes of God he has for knowledge, 646 00:47:58.965 --> 00:48:03.305 he predestined, he's called, he justified, 647 00:48:03.844 --> 00:48:06.465 and he glorified to break these down for you. 648 00:48:06.605 --> 00:48:10.465 The idea that God has foreknowledge, it just means that he knows all, 649 00:48:12.445 --> 00:48:16.385 all, there's nothing that ever catches him off guard. 650 00:48:18.165 --> 00:48:22.105 He predestined. It means he, he has orchestrated all things. 651 00:48:22.175 --> 00:48:26.785 This is that working together that we're talking about called He has invited us 652 00:48:27.215 --> 00:48:29.905 into his family. He's justified us, 653 00:48:29.906 --> 00:48:34.025 which means he forgives all of our sin and then he glorifies us, 654 00:48:34.555 --> 00:48:38.225 which means that he's going to perfect everyone who loves him. 655 00:48:39.165 --> 00:48:44.065 And I love this list because this passage brings us through a timeline 656 00:48:44.445 --> 00:48:47.025 of that for, I'm trying to point here that foreknowledge, 657 00:48:47.385 --> 00:48:49.745 that happened before the beginning of time, 658 00:48:51.005 --> 00:48:54.945 before the beginning of the universe and that glorification part down there that 659 00:48:54.946 --> 00:48:56.864 happens way past what you could ever imagine. 660 00:48:56.864 --> 00:48:58.825 That's the day when we're in the new heaven, the new Earth. 661 00:48:58.875 --> 00:49:01.825 We're spending time with Jesus and he's making all things right. 662 00:49:03.775 --> 00:49:05.705 He's got it all covered. 663 00:49:06.535 --> 00:49:09.105 He's been thinking about it before you got here and he finished. 664 00:49:09.385 --> 00:49:12.344 Whatever's gonna happen after you get here or after you leave here, 665 00:49:12.465 --> 00:49:15.425 I want to read, um, revelation 21 666 00:49:17.185 --> 00:49:22.065 verses one through six because these verses show 667 00:49:22.165 --> 00:49:25.745 us what all things are working towards. 668 00:49:27.575 --> 00:49:31.265 This is John talking, and then he says, 669 00:49:31.775 --> 00:49:35.945 then I saw a new heaven and a new earth for the first heaven, 670 00:49:36.045 --> 00:49:38.864 and the first earth had passed away and the sea was no more. 671 00:49:39.125 --> 00:49:40.905 And I saw the holy city, 672 00:49:41.685 --> 00:49:46.665 new Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God prepared as 673 00:49:46.705 --> 00:49:48.185 a bride adorned for her husband. 674 00:49:48.565 --> 00:49:50.985 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 675 00:49:51.285 --> 00:49:54.425 behold the dwelling place of God is with man. 676 00:49:55.085 --> 00:49:59.344 He will dwell with them and they will be his people and God himself will be with 677 00:49:59.345 --> 00:50:01.425 them as their God. Check this out. 678 00:50:01.605 --> 00:50:04.785 He will wipe away every tear from their us, 679 00:50:06.325 --> 00:50:08.545 and death shall be no more. 680 00:50:08.546 --> 00:50:13.265 Neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore for the former 681 00:50:13.285 --> 00:50:14.945 things have passed away. 682 00:50:16.965 --> 00:50:19.825 And he who is seated on the throne said, behold, 683 00:50:20.185 --> 00:50:24.465 I am making all things new. Also, he said, 684 00:50:25.155 --> 00:50:29.525 write this down for these words are trustworthy and true. He's saying, 685 00:50:29.526 --> 00:50:33.525 you can take this to the bank. He said to me, it is done. 686 00:50:34.265 --> 00:50:37.285 I'm the alpha, the beginning and the omega, 687 00:50:37.665 --> 00:50:39.485 the end to the thirsty, 688 00:50:39.645 --> 00:50:43.125 I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. 689 00:50:44.625 --> 00:50:47.005 That's the glorification that we have to look forward to. 690 00:50:48.285 --> 00:50:50.045 And you might be thinking, yeah, Aaron, that sounds great, 691 00:50:50.065 --> 00:50:52.565 but right now it still hurts. 692 00:50:54.205 --> 00:50:56.085 I still feel the pain. 693 00:50:56.285 --> 00:51:01.165 I I I love that I get to hope for one day, but, but right now, like I, 694 00:51:02.165 --> 00:51:06.605 I don't know how to find the comfort that I need from God. 695 00:51:08.255 --> 00:51:09.685 We're talking about this idea of good. 696 00:51:11.225 --> 00:51:12.925 And when all of our definitions fall short, 697 00:51:12.926 --> 00:51:15.885 the only thing that we can really fall back on is that God is good. 698 00:51:15.886 --> 00:51:17.605 And if you're wondering if you're here today, 699 00:51:17.785 --> 00:51:18.885 you don't have a relationship with God, 700 00:51:18.886 --> 00:51:20.565 or maybe you do have a relationship with God, 701 00:51:20.566 --> 00:51:25.485 but I never thought about this before. This is how good God is. 702 00:51:25.594 --> 00:51:30.205 Okay? Romans 8 26 through 27, 703 00:51:31.605 --> 00:51:32.438 It says, likewise, 704 00:51:33.344 --> 00:51:38.205 the Spirit helps us in our weakness for we do not know what to pray for as 705 00:51:38.206 --> 00:51:39.039 we ought, 706 00:51:39.385 --> 00:51:44.005 but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings that are too deep for 707 00:51:44.006 --> 00:51:44.265 words. 708 00:51:44.265 --> 00:51:48.045 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the spirit because the 709 00:51:48.046 --> 00:51:50.925 spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 710 00:51:50.955 --> 00:51:51.788 What does that mean? 711 00:51:52.585 --> 00:51:57.045 It means that God has placed his spirit inside of you 712 00:51:57.985 --> 00:52:00.805 so that when you don't understand everything that's going on in there, 713 00:52:00.955 --> 00:52:04.125 when your mind confuses you, when your heart confuses you, 714 00:52:04.235 --> 00:52:07.685 when you wanna turn and walk away from God when there's so much pain that you 715 00:52:07.686 --> 00:52:09.005 don't know how to articulate it, 716 00:52:09.665 --> 00:52:14.125 God inside of you communicates to our God in heaven and says, Hey, 717 00:52:14.126 --> 00:52:17.645 let me fill the gap. Let me pray for them. 718 00:52:18.825 --> 00:52:22.245 Let me offer that right perspective, that eternal perspective. Aaron, 719 00:52:22.305 --> 00:52:26.205 how does that work? I don't know, , I don't get it. 720 00:52:28.705 --> 00:52:33.045 But maybe that's the point. We don't get it. 721 00:52:34.145 --> 00:52:34.978 We don't know. 722 00:52:36.265 --> 00:52:39.165 We may never get it or know on this side of eternity, 723 00:52:39.166 --> 00:52:44.125 but we can trust the one who does the one who truly has 724 00:52:44.715 --> 00:52:45.925 eternal perspective. Listen, 725 00:52:45.926 --> 00:52:47.965 every now and then we do these messages where it's like, well, 726 00:52:47.966 --> 00:52:49.565 what do I do next? Man? Just 727 00:52:52.065 --> 00:52:53.765 Ask God to help you, trust him. 728 00:52:56.305 --> 00:52:58.125 That's really what it boils down to. But 729 00:52:59.625 --> 00:53:04.565 if I had to give you four practices that help us trust 730 00:53:04.566 --> 00:53:07.125 the one with eternal perspective, here's what I would tell you to do. 731 00:53:07.126 --> 00:53:07.605 First of all, 732 00:53:07.605 --> 00:53:12.565 I mentioned earlier that there are some people who you have not professed 733 00:53:12.965 --> 00:53:14.205 a love for God. 734 00:53:15.225 --> 00:53:18.645 You've not professed a wanting to have a relationship with God. 735 00:53:18.665 --> 00:53:22.405 And can I tell you, man, these promises that pain doesn't go to waste. 736 00:53:24.035 --> 00:53:28.325 It's not the reason we opt in. We don't just say, Hey, 737 00:53:28.505 --> 00:53:33.005 I'm gonna follow God because then everything will make sense and we follow God 738 00:53:33.006 --> 00:53:37.765 because man, he's the realest thing that the world has ever known, 739 00:53:39.905 --> 00:53:42.405 and he's the one we were designed to be in relationship with. 740 00:53:42.425 --> 00:53:45.125 But on top of the goodness of who he is, 741 00:53:45.385 --> 00:53:49.245 he also offers us the promise that he will make all of the wrong, right? 742 00:53:51.185 --> 00:53:53.165 So I wanna invite you, man, find somebody around you, 743 00:53:53.166 --> 00:53:56.765 find somebody in our next steps area and talk to them and ask them, man, 744 00:53:57.125 --> 00:53:59.605 what does it mean to have a relationship with Jesus? 745 00:53:59.606 --> 00:54:03.325 Because I think that's what I want. That's the first thing. 746 00:54:04.625 --> 00:54:07.805 The second thing, and this is something that I think all of us can practice, 747 00:54:08.925 --> 00:54:11.805 is to put something somewhere around you. Maybe it's a mirror at home. 748 00:54:11.806 --> 00:54:13.125 Maybe it's in your car. 749 00:54:13.126 --> 00:54:16.005 Maybe it's a note in your phone right now that has this sentence. 750 00:54:16.006 --> 00:54:20.805 It just says blank it not the end because of what God 751 00:54:20.864 --> 00:54:25.165 did in the beginning. Whatever it is I'm going through right now, 752 00:54:25.435 --> 00:54:29.844 this is not the end because of what God did in the beginning. 753 00:54:29.845 --> 00:54:31.405 What did he do in the beginning? He for knew, 754 00:54:32.305 --> 00:54:35.685 he predestined and he called and he justified. 755 00:54:35.905 --> 00:54:40.364 And one day we're all gonna be glorified, and that is when we celebrate. 756 00:54:42.625 --> 00:54:45.885 The third thing I want you to do is to draw a map of God's faithfulness. 757 00:54:45.895 --> 00:54:47.765 Maybe you're in a season of life right now where you're like, man, 758 00:54:47.766 --> 00:54:50.245 everything's chilling for me if I'm honest, like I'm, I'm really, 759 00:54:50.385 --> 00:54:52.965 I'm in a good spot with God. I I trust him. I, 760 00:54:53.025 --> 00:54:55.725 my devotional times have been incredible. Like everything's just going well, 761 00:54:55.726 --> 00:54:56.559 listen, right now, 762 00:54:56.655 --> 00:55:00.965 while you have that clarity of thought before the pain distorts the perspective, 763 00:55:01.285 --> 00:55:04.685 I want you to think back to the darkest season of life you've ever been in. 764 00:55:04.925 --> 00:55:09.445 And I want you to think about how that thing has drawn you closer to Jesus and 765 00:55:09.446 --> 00:55:13.405 write that down. Because one day you're gonna need that clarity of thought. 766 00:55:13.406 --> 00:55:15.925 You're gonna need that perspective to remind me, Hey, yeah, 767 00:55:16.185 --> 00:55:18.965 God did it with that, and maybe he can do it with this too. 768 00:55:21.385 --> 00:55:23.364 And then finally, if you're here and you say, man, I look, 769 00:55:23.405 --> 00:55:27.125 I don't know if I have any of those stories. At least I can't recall any. 770 00:55:28.445 --> 00:55:33.325 I wanna encourage you to listen to the stories of others, to ask them, man, 771 00:55:33.326 --> 00:55:35.364 how has God been faithful in your life? 'cause I'm, 772 00:55:36.185 --> 00:55:37.805 I'm having a hard time finding it right now, 773 00:55:38.305 --> 00:55:40.965 and so I just need to be encouraged by something. And so, uh, 774 00:55:41.035 --> 00:55:43.925 find someone sitting around you, find someone in a small group, uh, 775 00:55:43.926 --> 00:55:46.525 maybe there's a friend of yours who lives in another state who you know, 776 00:55:46.526 --> 00:55:48.485 follows the Lord, call them and say, Hey, 777 00:55:48.545 --> 00:55:53.045 can you just refresh me with a story of how good God is? 778 00:55:55.055 --> 00:55:56.165 Maybe you need that right now. 779 00:55:57.844 --> 00:56:02.485 I think those are practices that are helpful for all of us. Uh, 780 00:56:02.486 --> 00:56:05.045 before we get outta here, let me go ahead and, and pray for us. 781 00:56:08.875 --> 00:56:09.708 Dear Lord, 782 00:56:13.525 --> 00:56:17.844 I am encouraged by the reality that right now I don't have to pray a perfect 783 00:56:17.845 --> 00:56:18.678 prayer. 784 00:56:20.625 --> 00:56:24.405 I'm encouraged by the fact that I don't have to pray in a way that meets 785 00:56:24.645 --> 00:56:27.685 everyone right where they are in every situation they've ever been in. 786 00:56:29.475 --> 00:56:34.285 Because your word just reminded us that your Holy Spirit 787 00:56:34.295 --> 00:56:37.844 fills in the gaps. God, you know, 788 00:56:38.355 --> 00:56:41.565 each person in this room intimately and deeply, 789 00:56:44.165 --> 00:56:45.045 deeply and so Holy Spirit, 790 00:56:45.245 --> 00:56:48.685 I just ask you to pray on behalf of all of my friends here today, 791 00:56:50.185 --> 00:56:54.085 we thank you that you do that. Father, we love you. 792 00:56:55.575 --> 00:56:58.085 Thank you for making all things work together. 793 00:56:59.495 --> 00:57:03.525 Thank you for loving us. In your son's name we pray, amen. 794 00:57:26.965 --> 00:57:27.798 I've carried a 795 00:58:00.365 --> 00:58:03.645 see you now. I'm laying it down 796 00:58:10.525 --> 00:58:11.358 to 797 00:58:15.725 --> 00:58:16.558 done 798 00:58:20.685 --> 00:58:24.365 my heart, a soul, a. 799 00:59:23.605 --> 00:59:24.438 A 800 00:59:30.065 --> 00:59:34.535 the reason my heart, 801 00:59:35.215 --> 00:59:39.055 a soul. So 802 01:00:21.495 --> 01:00:24.615 is running light. Come on from, 803 01:00:26.815 --> 01:00:27.648 and 804 01:00:36.255 --> 01:00:40.175 now come on, just as I'm you. 805 01:00:58.345 --> 01:01:02.025 My heart needs a soul. Needs a 806 01:01:19.625 --> 01:01:20.458 heart. 807 01:01:58.655 --> 01:02:01.375 Come on y'all. Let's give God some praise. Yeah. 808 01:02:05.915 --> 01:02:07.055 And uh, just for a moment, 809 01:02:07.235 --> 01:02:12.135 can you let Aaron Nelson hear that was a phenomenal message? Like, yeah, 810 01:02:12.355 --> 01:02:13.188 praise God. 811 01:02:17.545 --> 01:02:19.885 I'm so thankful for the work, uh, 812 01:02:20.205 --> 01:02:22.405 in wrestling with the text that has been put in, um, 813 01:02:22.585 --> 01:02:26.245 to really help us all to grow in our relationship with Jesus. 814 01:02:26.565 --> 01:02:28.605 And as listening to that sermon, uh, 815 01:02:28.606 --> 01:02:33.525 what I know is that as you hear a message like that and it begins to tug at 816 01:02:33.526 --> 01:02:38.245 your heartstrings, right, um, we have an opportunity to respond. 817 01:02:38.425 --> 01:02:41.045 And one of the ways that we can respond, we just did, 818 01:02:41.245 --> 01:02:42.125 we responded through worship, 819 01:02:42.705 --> 01:02:45.845 but there's also an opportunity for us to take steps of faith. 820 01:02:46.305 --> 01:02:48.645 And so in the beginning of service, we talked about, uh, 821 01:02:48.965 --> 01:02:51.405 stepping into the next steps area at one of our physical campuses, 822 01:02:51.406 --> 01:02:52.365 or if you're watching online, 823 01:02:52.595 --> 01:02:56.885 letting us know how we can serve you as a church to help you to take those next 824 01:02:56.886 --> 01:02:57.719 steps of faith. 825 01:02:58.345 --> 01:03:01.485 But whatever it is that God may be pulling at your heartstrings to do, 826 01:03:01.565 --> 01:03:03.525 I don't want you to wait another moment to do that. 827 01:03:04.965 --> 01:03:08.605 I want to encourage you to move forward by faith and we will serve you any way 828 01:03:08.606 --> 01:03:11.005 that we possibly can. As you take those steps of faith. 829 01:03:11.515 --> 01:03:15.725 Just know that we are a church that loves you and wants to walk alongside you on 830 01:03:15.726 --> 01:03:19.885 your journey to follow Jesus. Now, uh, at Hope Community Church, 831 01:03:19.905 --> 01:03:22.125 we do like to share every week, uh, 832 01:03:22.155 --> 01:03:24.885 ways that you can get involved and next steps is a great way for you to get 833 01:03:25.005 --> 01:03:27.805 involved. We also like to share ways that you can give here at hope. 834 01:03:27.806 --> 01:03:31.445 And there's a couple ways up on the screen there should God so be pulling your 835 01:03:31.446 --> 01:03:32.006 heart to give. 836 01:03:32.006 --> 01:03:36.205 Just know that everything you do makes a difference in how we are able to make a 837 01:03:36.206 --> 01:03:39.645 difference in our communities, in and around the triangle. Guys, 838 01:03:39.705 --> 01:03:40.845 we absolutely love you. 839 01:03:41.155 --> 01:03:45.005 This has been a phenomenal time of worship and we're hoping for many, many, 840 01:03:45.235 --> 01:03:48.805 many more. So we hope to see you back here next week. God bless you guys. 841 01:03:49.175 --> 01:03:49.965 We'll see you soon.