1 00:00:04,080 --> 00:00:06,899 The following audio is from Life Connection Church. 2 00:00:07,599 --> 00:00:10,980 We exist to glorify God through transformed lives 3 00:00:11,039 --> 00:00:12,580 by the power of the gospel. 4 00:00:13,335 --> 00:00:14,234 For more information about 5 00:00:14,535 --> 00:00:16,954 Life Connection Church, visit www.lifeconnectionkc.org. 6 00:00:25,175 --> 00:00:25,994 John 15 7 00:00:26,295 --> 00:00:27,114 verse 1. 8 00:00:29,289 --> 00:00:30,989 I am the true vine, 9 00:00:31,369 --> 00:00:33,309 and my father is the vinedresser. 10 00:00:34,250 --> 00:00:36,489 Every branch in me that does not bear 11 00:00:36,489 --> 00:00:37,789 fruit, he takes away. 12 00:00:38,329 --> 00:00:40,570 And every branch that does bear fruit, he 13 00:00:40,570 --> 00:00:41,070 prunes 14 00:00:41,530 --> 00:00:43,229 that it may bear more fruit. 15 00:00:43,994 --> 00:00:46,075 Already you are clean because of the word 16 00:00:46,075 --> 00:00:48,314 that I have spoken to you. Abide in 17 00:00:48,314 --> 00:00:48,814 me, 18 00:00:49,274 --> 00:00:50,414 and I in you. 19 00:00:50,875 --> 00:00:53,274 As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself 20 00:00:53,274 --> 00:00:56,074 unless it abides in the vine, neither can 21 00:00:56,074 --> 00:00:58,494 you unless you abide in me. 22 00:00:59,210 --> 00:01:01,710 I am the vine. You are the branches. 23 00:01:02,409 --> 00:01:05,150 Whoever abides in me and I in him, 24 00:01:05,450 --> 00:01:07,469 he it is that bears much fruit. 25 00:01:08,010 --> 00:01:09,549 For apart from me, 26 00:01:10,010 --> 00:01:11,469 you can do nothing. 27 00:01:12,465 --> 00:01:14,784 If anyone does not abide in me, he 28 00:01:14,784 --> 00:01:17,444 is thrown away like a branch and withers, 29 00:01:18,145 --> 00:01:20,385 and the branches are gathered, thrown into the 30 00:01:20,385 --> 00:01:21,444 fire, and burned. 31 00:01:22,145 --> 00:01:24,405 If you abide in me and my words 32 00:01:24,465 --> 00:01:25,924 abide in you, 33 00:01:26,489 --> 00:01:28,109 ask whatever you wish 34 00:01:28,489 --> 00:01:30,189 and it will be done for you. 35 00:01:31,049 --> 00:01:33,069 By this, my father is glorified. 36 00:01:34,010 --> 00:01:36,329 That you bear much fruit and so prove 37 00:01:36,329 --> 00:01:37,469 to be my disciples. 38 00:01:38,905 --> 00:01:40,745 As the father has loved me, so have 39 00:01:40,745 --> 00:01:41,724 I loved you. 40 00:01:42,104 --> 00:01:43,245 Abide in my love. 41 00:01:43,864 --> 00:01:45,165 If you keep my commandments, 42 00:01:45,784 --> 00:01:48,265 you will abide in my love just as 43 00:01:48,265 --> 00:01:50,045 I have kept my father's commandments 44 00:01:50,344 --> 00:01:52,204 and abide in his love. 45 00:01:52,650 --> 00:01:55,210 These things I have spoken to you, that 46 00:01:55,210 --> 00:01:56,109 my joy 47 00:01:56,409 --> 00:01:58,250 may be in you and that that your 48 00:01:58,250 --> 00:01:59,549 joy may be full. 49 00:02:01,290 --> 00:02:02,350 This is my commandment, 50 00:02:02,810 --> 00:02:05,130 that you love one another as I have 51 00:02:05,130 --> 00:02:05,950 loved you. 52 00:02:06,424 --> 00:02:09,784 Greater love has no one than this, that 53 00:02:09,784 --> 00:02:11,645 someone lay down his life 54 00:02:12,025 --> 00:02:13,165 for his friends. 55 00:02:13,944 --> 00:02:16,585 You are my friends if you do what 56 00:02:16,585 --> 00:02:17,645 I command you. 57 00:02:18,419 --> 00:02:20,500 No longer do I call you servants, for 58 00:02:20,500 --> 00:02:21,159 the servant 59 00:02:21,459 --> 00:02:23,799 does not know what his master is doing, 60 00:02:24,500 --> 00:02:26,519 but I have called you friends. 61 00:02:27,139 --> 00:02:28,739 For all that I have heard from my 62 00:02:28,739 --> 00:02:31,319 father, I have made known to you. 63 00:02:32,099 --> 00:02:34,814 You did not choose me, but I chose 64 00:02:34,814 --> 00:02:37,455 you and appointed you that you should go 65 00:02:37,455 --> 00:02:39,694 and bear fruit and that your fruit should 66 00:02:39,694 --> 00:02:40,194 abide, 67 00:02:40,894 --> 00:02:43,455 so that whatever you ask the father in 68 00:02:43,455 --> 00:02:45,955 my name, he may give it to you. 69 00:02:46,414 --> 00:02:49,055 These things I command you so that you 70 00:02:49,055 --> 00:02:50,729 will love one another. 71 00:02:51,189 --> 00:02:52,490 This is the word of God. 72 00:02:53,189 --> 00:02:54,569 Amen. You may be seated. 73 00:02:55,750 --> 00:02:58,069 Well, good morning again. Welcome to Life Connection. 74 00:02:58,069 --> 00:02:59,349 My name is Jason. I'm one of the 75 00:02:59,349 --> 00:03:02,250 pastors here. Grateful that, to be with you. 76 00:03:03,115 --> 00:03:05,034 Peru reminded me that this past week, I 77 00:03:05,034 --> 00:03:07,354 was out of town, all week for a 78 00:03:07,354 --> 00:03:07,854 class. 79 00:03:08,794 --> 00:03:11,835 And, there in North Carolina, there's this chain 80 00:03:11,835 --> 00:03:13,455 of Peruvian chicken 81 00:03:13,754 --> 00:03:14,254 places. 82 00:03:14,555 --> 00:03:17,219 And I eat there like twice, because if 83 00:03:17,219 --> 00:03:18,580 there's anything If you know me at all, 84 00:03:18,580 --> 00:03:21,219 you know, I have a deep and profound 85 00:03:21,219 --> 00:03:22,759 love for rotisserie chicken. 86 00:03:23,299 --> 00:03:25,319 And now you add to it Peruvian 87 00:03:26,099 --> 00:03:27,939 goodness. And it was just awesome. It was 88 00:03:27,939 --> 00:03:29,620 a great time. Anyway, that's neither here nor 89 00:03:29,620 --> 00:03:31,539 there. That's how I spent my last week. 90 00:03:31,539 --> 00:03:32,294 How about you? 91 00:03:34,134 --> 00:03:36,375 Hey. No matter who you are, no matter 92 00:03:36,375 --> 00:03:37,275 what you believe, 93 00:03:38,294 --> 00:03:39,814 I know without a doubt that there are 94 00:03:39,814 --> 00:03:42,694 things in our lives that we wish were 95 00:03:42,694 --> 00:03:43,194 different. 96 00:03:43,655 --> 00:03:45,655 We we wanna see some kind of life 97 00:03:45,655 --> 00:03:46,155 change 98 00:03:46,455 --> 00:03:48,590 in our lives, every one of us. We 99 00:03:48,669 --> 00:03:50,990 we're all hoping for Sometimes it's, you know, 100 00:03:50,990 --> 00:03:52,830 small things that, you know, maybe we just 101 00:03:52,830 --> 00:03:54,830 need some small tweaks here and there. Other 102 00:03:54,830 --> 00:03:56,909 things, maybe they're bigger, they're larger, they're more 103 00:03:56,909 --> 00:03:57,409 important. 104 00:03:57,949 --> 00:04:00,909 But they we we all have within us 105 00:04:00,909 --> 00:04:01,569 a desire 106 00:04:02,044 --> 00:04:02,944 to see change, 107 00:04:03,485 --> 00:04:04,784 in our lives. And 108 00:04:05,644 --> 00:04:07,485 and some of those kinds of changes that 109 00:04:07,485 --> 00:04:09,905 we hope for require more than just simple 110 00:04:09,965 --> 00:04:12,125 habit stacking. You know, habit stacking is this 111 00:04:12,125 --> 00:04:14,125 notion of, like, if you wanna develop new 112 00:04:14,125 --> 00:04:16,365 habits in your life, then attach them to 113 00:04:16,365 --> 00:04:17,584 things you're already doing, 114 00:04:18,069 --> 00:04:19,910 to make it easier and more likely that 115 00:04:19,910 --> 00:04:21,990 you'll you'll follow through. So if you wanna 116 00:04:21,990 --> 00:04:24,710 get more steps in, every day, then you 117 00:04:24,710 --> 00:04:26,310 could stack it on things like when you 118 00:04:26,310 --> 00:04:28,550 go to the office, park farther away from 119 00:04:28,550 --> 00:04:29,910 the front door so that you have to 120 00:04:29,910 --> 00:04:31,904 walk longer. When you go to the grocery 121 00:04:31,904 --> 00:04:33,745 store, park farther away so you gotta get 122 00:04:33,745 --> 00:04:35,365 more steps in. Park. 123 00:04:35,824 --> 00:04:38,064 Walmart is the best place on the planet 124 00:04:38,064 --> 00:04:39,584 to go. And so park on one end 125 00:04:39,584 --> 00:04:40,865 when you've gotta go to the other end 126 00:04:40,865 --> 00:04:42,625 of it. You know, just simple things like 127 00:04:42,625 --> 00:04:44,790 that. You're already doing these things. But some 128 00:04:44,790 --> 00:04:46,629 of the kinds of changes that we wanna 129 00:04:46,629 --> 00:04:49,110 see in our lives, kind of deep character 130 00:04:49,110 --> 00:04:49,610 change, 131 00:04:49,910 --> 00:04:52,709 it's gonna require more than just simply stacking 132 00:04:52,709 --> 00:04:54,730 habits together. It's gonna require, 133 00:04:55,589 --> 00:04:57,910 a a greater work of the spirit of 134 00:04:57,910 --> 00:04:58,889 God in us, 135 00:04:59,324 --> 00:05:00,625 bringing about change 136 00:05:01,004 --> 00:05:01,904 at a profound 137 00:05:02,365 --> 00:05:04,144 level. This is important for us 138 00:05:04,524 --> 00:05:06,544 who desire to follow after Jesus. 139 00:05:08,204 --> 00:05:10,444 Because sometimes, we can look at our lives 140 00:05:10,444 --> 00:05:11,425 and we can think, 141 00:05:11,805 --> 00:05:13,324 I know the person that God has called 142 00:05:13,324 --> 00:05:14,384 me to be. And 143 00:05:14,930 --> 00:05:16,850 and I'm not there yet. And I wanna 144 00:05:16,850 --> 00:05:19,089 see change in my life. And and I 145 00:05:19,089 --> 00:05:21,189 I feel like I'm I'm doing the things, 146 00:05:21,649 --> 00:05:23,330 but the wheels are spinning. I'm not making 147 00:05:23,330 --> 00:05:25,170 a lot of progress. And and I don't 148 00:05:25,170 --> 00:05:26,069 really know why. 149 00:05:27,185 --> 00:05:28,704 We we all, I think at some level 150 00:05:28,704 --> 00:05:31,185 can recognize and and relate to that experience, 151 00:05:31,185 --> 00:05:31,845 can't we? 152 00:05:32,464 --> 00:05:33,745 Like we think if we do all the 153 00:05:33,745 --> 00:05:36,305 things. If I'm reading my bible, if I'm 154 00:05:36,305 --> 00:05:38,704 praying, if I'm showing up for those community 155 00:05:38,704 --> 00:05:40,704 environments, if I'm doing all the things, then 156 00:05:40,704 --> 00:05:43,350 then surely, my life will change. Right? 157 00:05:43,810 --> 00:05:45,970 And yet sometimes, I can still do all 158 00:05:45,970 --> 00:05:46,629 the things 159 00:05:47,089 --> 00:05:48,069 and see bitterness 160 00:05:48,610 --> 00:05:49,430 in my heart. 161 00:05:51,330 --> 00:05:53,330 Not really know how to get rid of 162 00:05:53,330 --> 00:05:53,830 it. 163 00:05:54,564 --> 00:05:57,204 Like, how do I bring that kind of 164 00:05:57,204 --> 00:05:57,704 change? 165 00:05:58,245 --> 00:06:00,245 The apostle Paul in his letter to the 166 00:06:00,245 --> 00:06:01,144 Roman church, 167 00:06:01,845 --> 00:06:05,064 in chapter 7, while he's describing the experience 168 00:06:05,444 --> 00:06:08,129 likely of someone who is far from the 169 00:06:08,129 --> 00:06:08,629 Lord, 170 00:06:08,930 --> 00:06:11,410 it resonates with all of us, where he 171 00:06:11,410 --> 00:06:13,830 describes this internal battle, 172 00:06:14,210 --> 00:06:16,389 knowing what you ought to do, 173 00:06:16,930 --> 00:06:19,490 what you want to be, and yet the 174 00:06:19,490 --> 00:06:19,990 struggle 175 00:06:20,689 --> 00:06:22,129 to see that come about in your own 176 00:06:22,129 --> 00:06:22,629 life. 177 00:06:23,055 --> 00:06:24,654 I know what I I ought to do, 178 00:06:24,654 --> 00:06:26,115 but I'm struggling to do it. 179 00:06:26,574 --> 00:06:28,274 Can anybody else relate to that? 180 00:06:28,894 --> 00:06:30,574 My my guess is if you don't relate 181 00:06:30,574 --> 00:06:32,415 to that, it's because you're doing it right 182 00:06:32,415 --> 00:06:34,435 now. You're lying through your teeth, 183 00:06:34,894 --> 00:06:37,154 and you're struggling right now. 184 00:06:37,899 --> 00:06:39,500 But this is the reality that we find 185 00:06:39,500 --> 00:06:40,560 ourselves in. Right? 186 00:06:41,420 --> 00:06:44,699 Sometimes just stacking spiritual habits together isn't going 187 00:06:44,699 --> 00:06:46,879 to bring about change that we need because 188 00:06:47,819 --> 00:06:49,120 we need something more. 189 00:06:49,740 --> 00:06:51,339 We need the power of the spirit of 190 00:06:51,339 --> 00:06:51,839 God 191 00:06:52,555 --> 00:06:54,714 to bring about change and transformation of the 192 00:06:54,714 --> 00:06:55,214 heart. 193 00:06:55,754 --> 00:06:57,115 The kind of change that you and I 194 00:06:57,115 --> 00:06:58,495 need at the deepest levels 195 00:06:59,035 --> 00:07:00,875 are not changes that we can bring about 196 00:07:00,875 --> 00:07:01,375 ourselves. 197 00:07:02,714 --> 00:07:05,115 The change of character is not primarily going 198 00:07:05,115 --> 00:07:07,935 to be brought about by myself in myself. 199 00:07:08,529 --> 00:07:10,389 It's gonna be the Spirit of God 200 00:07:11,089 --> 00:07:12,149 working in us 201 00:07:12,689 --> 00:07:14,310 through those spiritual habits 202 00:07:15,250 --> 00:07:16,930 to bring about the kind of change that 203 00:07:16,930 --> 00:07:18,149 we hope to see. 204 00:07:18,769 --> 00:07:20,689 And this is important then, as we look 205 00:07:20,689 --> 00:07:23,350 to John 15 once again this morning, 206 00:07:23,935 --> 00:07:26,975 to consider what place does obedience have in 207 00:07:26,975 --> 00:07:28,194 the life of a disciple? 208 00:07:29,774 --> 00:07:30,274 Obedience, 209 00:07:31,454 --> 00:07:31,954 commandments, 210 00:07:32,574 --> 00:07:34,894 it's kinda fallen on hard times in our 211 00:07:34,894 --> 00:07:35,794 culture. Right? 212 00:07:36,670 --> 00:07:38,750 Those aren't things we like to think about 213 00:07:38,750 --> 00:07:39,810 or talk about. 214 00:07:40,509 --> 00:07:44,270 And yet, if we're going to flourish into 215 00:07:44,270 --> 00:07:46,210 all that God's made us to be, then 216 00:07:46,270 --> 00:07:48,449 it's gonna require that we walk in obedience 217 00:07:48,509 --> 00:07:49,410 behind Jesus. 218 00:07:50,314 --> 00:07:51,935 And so, as we look to John 15, 219 00:07:51,995 --> 00:07:54,314 the starting place and what I hope The 220 00:07:54,314 --> 00:07:56,474 thread that I hope we'll see that runs 221 00:07:56,474 --> 00:08:00,014 throughout is friendship with Jesus is life changing. 222 00:08:01,034 --> 00:08:03,354 Friendship with Jesus is life changing. If we 223 00:08:03,354 --> 00:08:05,854 wanna experience change and transformation in our lives, 224 00:08:06,074 --> 00:08:07,620 if I wanna become the kind of person 225 00:08:07,620 --> 00:08:09,479 who walks in obedience after Jesus, 226 00:08:09,779 --> 00:08:11,939 then I have to understand the radical friendship 227 00:08:11,939 --> 00:08:12,600 of God. 228 00:08:13,300 --> 00:08:15,539 That's where we begin. I think the We're 229 00:08:15,539 --> 00:08:17,459 gonna be looking at 8 through 17 of 230 00:08:17,459 --> 00:08:19,555 the passage that was read this morning. I 231 00:08:19,555 --> 00:08:22,595 think the centerpiece of that passage is 13 232 00:08:22,595 --> 00:08:23,334 through 15. 233 00:08:23,954 --> 00:08:26,514 Jesus says, Greater love has no one than 234 00:08:26,514 --> 00:08:28,435 this, that someone lay down his life for 235 00:08:28,435 --> 00:08:29,095 his friends. 236 00:08:29,555 --> 00:08:30,834 You are my friends if you do what 237 00:08:30,834 --> 00:08:31,814 I command you. 238 00:08:32,360 --> 00:08:34,440 No longer do I call you servants, for 239 00:08:34,440 --> 00:08:36,360 a servant does not know what his master 240 00:08:36,360 --> 00:08:38,779 is doing. But I have called you friends. 241 00:08:39,240 --> 00:08:41,639 For all that I heard from the father, 242 00:08:41,639 --> 00:08:43,820 I have made known to you. 243 00:08:45,455 --> 00:08:48,035 A radical friendship of God is what enables 244 00:08:48,095 --> 00:08:49,795 us to walk with Jesus. 245 00:08:51,455 --> 00:08:53,394 And this should make sense to us because 246 00:08:54,095 --> 00:08:56,175 the triune nature of our God is at 247 00:08:56,175 --> 00:08:56,995 the fundamental, 248 00:08:57,695 --> 00:08:59,875 is at the foundation of all created reality. 249 00:09:00,789 --> 00:09:01,690 Like, God is 250 00:09:02,309 --> 00:09:04,490 foundational. He's fundamental to everything. 251 00:09:05,029 --> 00:09:06,730 And our God exists in, 252 00:09:07,029 --> 00:09:09,350 in a triune nature. Father, son and holy 253 00:09:09,350 --> 00:09:11,210 spirit. He's existed for all eternity 254 00:09:11,669 --> 00:09:13,210 in an everlasting way, 255 00:09:13,654 --> 00:09:16,154 in a glorious relationship in the Godhead. 256 00:09:17,014 --> 00:09:18,535 And so it should make sense to us 257 00:09:18,535 --> 00:09:21,014 that there are relational needs that we experience 258 00:09:21,014 --> 00:09:23,254 and that we have. In fact, I would 259 00:09:23,254 --> 00:09:26,075 argue that the scripture actually contends that you 260 00:09:26,370 --> 00:09:28,450 are required to walk. And if you're going 261 00:09:28,450 --> 00:09:30,690 to flourish in this life, you're required to 262 00:09:30,690 --> 00:09:31,910 experience relationship 263 00:09:33,330 --> 00:09:34,789 because our God is relational. 264 00:09:36,129 --> 00:09:36,870 And so, 265 00:09:37,330 --> 00:09:39,169 we we shouldn't be surprised by that. And 266 00:09:39,169 --> 00:09:41,424 then in in the experience of loneliness, it 267 00:09:41,585 --> 00:09:43,764 we start to understand why it's so painful. 268 00:09:44,225 --> 00:09:46,865 Because it's demonstrating that there's something off in 269 00:09:46,865 --> 00:09:47,605 our world. 270 00:09:48,384 --> 00:09:49,825 This is not what we were made for. 271 00:09:49,825 --> 00:09:51,904 We weren't made for isolation. We weren't made 272 00:09:51,904 --> 00:09:52,644 for loneliness. 273 00:09:53,105 --> 00:09:55,105 And so that's why that experience becomes so 274 00:09:55,105 --> 00:09:56,245 painful for 275 00:09:56,545 --> 00:09:57,045 us. 276 00:09:57,629 --> 00:09:59,410 You see, we need to understand 277 00:10:00,190 --> 00:10:02,590 that experience of friendship that we have with 278 00:10:02,590 --> 00:10:04,769 others, the experience even of loneliness, 279 00:10:05,149 --> 00:10:07,730 it ultimately points away to it, from itself 280 00:10:08,350 --> 00:10:09,009 to God. 281 00:10:09,470 --> 00:10:11,970 It reminds us of our ultimate needs 282 00:10:12,565 --> 00:10:13,305 for God. 283 00:10:14,485 --> 00:10:18,345 That longing for companionship, that longing for relationship, 284 00:10:18,565 --> 00:10:19,305 that desire 285 00:10:20,325 --> 00:10:21,545 to put away loneliness. 286 00:10:22,165 --> 00:10:23,945 It leads us to realize 287 00:10:24,809 --> 00:10:25,309 fundamentally 288 00:10:25,769 --> 00:10:26,910 at rock bottom, 289 00:10:27,450 --> 00:10:30,029 what we need above all other needs 290 00:10:30,649 --> 00:10:31,389 is God. 291 00:10:34,169 --> 00:10:36,509 We need more than just human companionship, 292 00:10:36,970 --> 00:10:37,950 human friendship, 293 00:10:38,705 --> 00:10:41,024 because the reality is, we're going to let 294 00:10:41,024 --> 00:10:42,965 one another down, aren't we? 295 00:10:45,424 --> 00:10:46,165 Hear me. 296 00:10:46,865 --> 00:10:49,105 It's not just that you're going to be 297 00:10:49,105 --> 00:10:49,845 let down. 298 00:10:50,990 --> 00:10:52,669 You and I are going to let people 299 00:10:52,669 --> 00:10:53,169 down. 300 00:10:55,789 --> 00:10:57,629 And so in that, like we need something 301 00:10:57,629 --> 00:10:58,129 more. 302 00:10:59,070 --> 00:11:01,169 We need a long lasting 303 00:11:01,549 --> 00:11:04,029 friendship with someone who never fails us and 304 00:11:04,029 --> 00:11:06,044 never leaves us and never turns his back 305 00:11:06,044 --> 00:11:07,644 on us. And this is the invitation of 306 00:11:07,644 --> 00:11:08,144 Jesus 307 00:11:09,485 --> 00:11:11,584 to find friendship with God through him. 308 00:11:12,764 --> 00:11:14,044 That we can know the God of the 309 00:11:14,044 --> 00:11:14,544 universe. 310 00:11:15,245 --> 00:11:16,764 The one who made everything we see and 311 00:11:16,764 --> 00:11:19,084 don't see. That we can walk with him 312 00:11:19,084 --> 00:11:19,825 in friendship 313 00:11:21,120 --> 00:11:23,220 because of what Jesus has done for us. 314 00:11:23,759 --> 00:11:25,519 He said he laid down his life for 315 00:11:25,519 --> 00:11:26,340 his friends. 316 00:11:27,360 --> 00:11:29,600 And the invitation then is to trust Christ 317 00:11:29,600 --> 00:11:30,259 by faith. 318 00:11:31,679 --> 00:11:33,600 To turn from those old ways of life 319 00:11:33,600 --> 00:11:34,899 where you live for yourself, 320 00:11:35,214 --> 00:11:36,995 and instead to live for Jesus. 321 00:11:38,014 --> 00:11:40,754 To give your allegiance over to him. 322 00:11:41,455 --> 00:11:41,955 That 323 00:11:42,575 --> 00:11:44,434 that you might trust him at his word, 324 00:11:44,495 --> 00:11:45,794 and thus follow 325 00:11:46,174 --> 00:11:47,075 after him. 326 00:11:47,779 --> 00:11:49,540 That's the invitation this morning. So if you 327 00:11:49,540 --> 00:11:50,360 haven't yet 328 00:11:50,899 --> 00:11:53,720 started a friendship with God, that's the invitation 329 00:11:54,019 --> 00:11:54,840 right now. 330 00:11:55,940 --> 00:11:58,580 And nothing else that we say is going 331 00:11:58,580 --> 00:12:00,340 to be able to work itself out in 332 00:12:00,340 --> 00:12:02,440 your life until that gets settled. 333 00:12:03,424 --> 00:12:06,544 We have to have friendship with God through 334 00:12:06,544 --> 00:12:07,044 Jesus. 335 00:12:07,584 --> 00:12:08,565 And this friendship 336 00:12:08,945 --> 00:12:11,745 with God then is the foundation for our 337 00:12:11,745 --> 00:12:13,044 life with Jesus. 338 00:12:14,144 --> 00:12:16,804 Because of friendship with God, we can rest 339 00:12:17,105 --> 00:12:18,725 in Jesus' love. 340 00:12:19,899 --> 00:12:22,059 Greater love has no one than this, that 341 00:12:22,059 --> 00:12:24,480 someone lay down his life for his friends. 342 00:12:24,779 --> 00:12:27,580 And because Jesus did that, verse 9, we 343 00:12:27,580 --> 00:12:30,320 can now, as the father has loved me, 344 00:12:30,540 --> 00:12:33,580 so have I loved you, abide in my 345 00:12:33,580 --> 00:12:34,080 love. 346 00:12:35,195 --> 00:12:37,695 We can rest in the love of Jesus 347 00:12:37,835 --> 00:12:39,134 because of friendship 348 00:12:39,595 --> 00:12:40,335 with God. 349 00:12:40,955 --> 00:12:43,355 Jesus is that friend who will not fail 350 00:12:43,355 --> 00:12:43,855 us. 351 00:12:45,035 --> 00:12:47,434 He is the friend who always lets us 352 00:12:47,434 --> 00:12:47,934 in. 353 00:12:48,519 --> 00:12:50,679 No longer do I call you servants, for 354 00:12:50,679 --> 00:12:52,679 a servant doesn't know what his master is 355 00:12:52,679 --> 00:12:54,299 doing, but I've called you friends 356 00:12:54,759 --> 00:12:57,240 because everything I've heard from the father, I 357 00:12:57,240 --> 00:12:59,320 have made known to you. He lets us 358 00:12:59,320 --> 00:12:59,820 in. 359 00:13:00,634 --> 00:13:03,034 And verse 13 shows us he never lets 360 00:13:03,034 --> 00:13:03,774 us down. 361 00:13:05,274 --> 00:13:07,134 And that's the fundamental 362 00:13:07,595 --> 00:13:08,095 friendship 363 00:13:08,634 --> 00:13:10,975 that we need if we're going to experience 364 00:13:11,274 --> 00:13:11,774 transformation 365 00:13:12,235 --> 00:13:13,695 in this life. Because 366 00:13:14,820 --> 00:13:16,680 love is a change agent. 367 00:13:18,420 --> 00:13:19,800 Like, what you love 368 00:13:20,740 --> 00:13:22,500 and those who love you, it has an 369 00:13:22,500 --> 00:13:23,800 effect on you. 370 00:13:26,340 --> 00:13:26,820 It 371 00:13:27,245 --> 00:13:29,964 When, when you are loved by someone else, 372 00:13:29,964 --> 00:13:32,464 it does something in us. Doesn't it? 373 00:13:34,445 --> 00:13:37,404 It causes you to, to want to, to 374 00:13:37,404 --> 00:13:40,144 care about the things those people care about. 375 00:13:41,480 --> 00:13:43,720 To love the things those people love. Now, 376 00:13:43,720 --> 00:13:45,019 when God, the ultimate 377 00:13:47,320 --> 00:13:47,820 friend, 378 00:13:48,679 --> 00:13:51,259 places his love on us by Jesus, 379 00:13:51,959 --> 00:13:54,139 it has an effect on our soul 380 00:13:54,725 --> 00:13:56,745 to bring about change and transformation 381 00:13:57,285 --> 00:13:58,105 over time. 382 00:13:59,205 --> 00:14:01,304 I was reminded of this old movie, 383 00:14:01,925 --> 00:14:03,625 that I thoroughly enjoyed. 384 00:14:04,325 --> 00:14:07,365 Jack Nicholson, Helen Hunt, As Good as It 385 00:14:07,365 --> 00:14:07,865 Gets. 386 00:14:08,289 --> 00:14:09,590 It is a quirky movie. 387 00:14:10,289 --> 00:14:11,669 Jack Nicholson plays 388 00:14:12,049 --> 00:14:13,509 this really interesting character. 389 00:14:14,210 --> 00:14:15,889 But there is this scene. He has this 390 00:14:15,889 --> 00:14:18,370 thing for Helen Hunt's character, and they have 391 00:14:18,370 --> 00:14:20,950 this this kind of date at a restaurant. 392 00:14:21,875 --> 00:14:24,514 And he is trying to express his love 393 00:14:24,514 --> 00:14:26,674 for her, and she is beginning to care 394 00:14:26,674 --> 00:14:28,375 about him more and more 395 00:14:28,754 --> 00:14:29,254 significantly. 396 00:14:29,955 --> 00:14:32,914 And he's bumbling around trying to give some 397 00:14:32,914 --> 00:14:35,690 sort of compliment to her, and he's failing 398 00:14:35,910 --> 00:14:37,610 massively along the way. 399 00:14:38,230 --> 00:14:39,850 And he pauses, 400 00:14:40,550 --> 00:14:42,009 kinda composes himself, 401 00:14:42,470 --> 00:14:44,870 and he says to her, you make me 402 00:14:44,870 --> 00:14:46,570 want to be a better man. 403 00:14:47,475 --> 00:14:50,274 That's the kind of thing that love does 404 00:14:50,274 --> 00:14:50,934 to us. 405 00:14:52,115 --> 00:14:54,375 Love has a power. God's love 406 00:14:54,754 --> 00:14:57,654 in us, for us, has a powerful ability 407 00:14:57,955 --> 00:14:59,335 to affect change. 408 00:15:01,340 --> 00:15:03,840 When we rest in that kind of love, 409 00:15:04,940 --> 00:15:07,679 it has the ability to affect our minds, 410 00:15:08,779 --> 00:15:09,600 our emotions, 411 00:15:10,779 --> 00:15:12,240 and our way of life. 412 00:15:15,055 --> 00:15:18,095 Friendship with Jesus is life changing. And this 413 00:15:18,095 --> 00:15:20,014 friendship with God that we can have through 414 00:15:20,014 --> 00:15:22,274 Christ, it leads to flourishing. 415 00:15:23,934 --> 00:15:25,394 Look again at verse 9. 416 00:15:26,820 --> 00:15:28,899 As the father has loved me, so have 417 00:15:28,899 --> 00:15:31,240 I loved you. Abide in my love. 418 00:15:31,620 --> 00:15:32,839 If you keep my commandments, 419 00:15:33,379 --> 00:15:35,139 you'll abide in my love. Just as I 420 00:15:35,139 --> 00:15:37,460 have kept my father's commandments and abide in 421 00:15:37,460 --> 00:15:38,200 his love. 422 00:15:38,634 --> 00:15:40,554 These things I have spoken to you that 423 00:15:40,554 --> 00:15:42,235 my joy may be in you and that 424 00:15:42,235 --> 00:15:43,695 your joy may be full. 425 00:15:44,394 --> 00:15:46,154 This is my commandment that you love one 426 00:15:46,154 --> 00:15:47,774 another as I have loved you. 427 00:15:48,315 --> 00:15:50,075 Greater love has no one than this, that 428 00:15:50,075 --> 00:15:52,014 someone lay down his life for his friends. 429 00:15:52,519 --> 00:15:53,419 You are my 430 00:15:53,720 --> 00:15:54,220 friends 431 00:15:54,840 --> 00:15:56,620 if you do what I command you. 432 00:15:57,960 --> 00:15:59,179 If we're gonna understand 433 00:15:59,720 --> 00:16:02,519 the significance of God's love for us in 434 00:16:02,519 --> 00:16:04,455 the place of commands and 435 00:16:04,774 --> 00:16:06,875 obedience in the Christian life. We have to 436 00:16:07,014 --> 00:16:07,514 reframe 437 00:16:08,215 --> 00:16:10,715 our understanding of obedience to commands. 438 00:16:12,134 --> 00:16:13,274 Commands and obedience 439 00:16:13,735 --> 00:16:15,514 have a bad rap in our culture. 440 00:16:17,230 --> 00:16:19,809 I mean, we we read these verses and 441 00:16:20,029 --> 00:16:21,809 this idea that you can experience 442 00:16:22,110 --> 00:16:24,929 and walk in Jesus' love if you obey. 443 00:16:25,629 --> 00:16:27,250 That seems like a weird combination 444 00:16:27,710 --> 00:16:29,090 to a modern ear. 445 00:16:30,154 --> 00:16:32,154 Like, what do love and obedience have to 446 00:16:32,154 --> 00:16:33,215 do with one another? 447 00:16:34,154 --> 00:16:36,815 Like, in your friendship with someone, you don't 448 00:16:37,355 --> 00:16:39,215 think that they're obeying you. Right? 449 00:16:39,995 --> 00:16:41,134 We have this growing 450 00:16:41,754 --> 00:16:42,894 care for one another. 451 00:16:43,490 --> 00:16:44,950 Now you need to do what I say. 452 00:16:45,329 --> 00:16:46,850 Like that seems weird. Like, so we hear 453 00:16:46,850 --> 00:16:48,789 these words and we wonder what's going on. 454 00:16:49,889 --> 00:16:51,190 They don't seem related. 455 00:16:52,129 --> 00:16:53,889 And I wanna say that's because of the 456 00:16:53,889 --> 00:16:56,209 way that our culture has formed us to 457 00:16:56,209 --> 00:16:56,709 misunderstand 458 00:16:57,785 --> 00:17:00,445 the very nature of God's commands for us. 459 00:17:01,545 --> 00:17:03,785 In fact, I want to contend that that 460 00:17:03,785 --> 00:17:04,365 our misunderstanding 461 00:17:04,984 --> 00:17:08,184 of the goodness of God's commands actually goes 462 00:17:08,184 --> 00:17:10,184 back all the way to Genesis chapter 3. 463 00:17:10,184 --> 00:17:11,644 The great lie of the enemy 464 00:17:12,319 --> 00:17:13,140 is that if 465 00:17:13,679 --> 00:17:16,019 there is a command, something is being withheld 466 00:17:16,079 --> 00:17:16,819 from you. 467 00:17:18,559 --> 00:17:20,400 And so we think commands are weird because 468 00:17:20,400 --> 00:17:22,240 something is being withheld from us. That's a 469 00:17:22,240 --> 00:17:24,579 great lie of the enemy that's existed 470 00:17:24,960 --> 00:17:26,019 for all time. 471 00:17:29,375 --> 00:17:32,894 No. Commands instead should be rightly understood as 472 00:17:32,894 --> 00:17:34,755 the gateway to human flourishing. 473 00:17:36,575 --> 00:17:37,315 The Westminster 474 00:17:37,615 --> 00:17:39,315 Shorter Catechism says 475 00:17:39,615 --> 00:17:40,994 that the goal of humanity, 476 00:17:41,775 --> 00:17:42,994 the chief end 477 00:17:43,570 --> 00:17:46,369 of humanity is to glorify God and enjoy 478 00:17:46,369 --> 00:17:47,029 him forever. 479 00:17:47,890 --> 00:17:49,890 That that's the sum and substance of what 480 00:17:49,890 --> 00:17:51,109 you've been made for. 481 00:17:52,049 --> 00:17:54,130 And that has all kinds of implications and 482 00:17:54,130 --> 00:17:56,774 entailments that if we would love God and 483 00:17:56,774 --> 00:17:58,774 we would enjoy him, that it will affect 484 00:17:58,774 --> 00:18:00,134 the way that we live in this world. 485 00:18:00,134 --> 00:18:02,554 It will affect our relationships with one another. 486 00:18:02,774 --> 00:18:04,714 It will change the way that we view 487 00:18:04,774 --> 00:18:05,274 everything. 488 00:18:07,255 --> 00:18:07,755 Because 489 00:18:08,130 --> 00:18:10,930 loving God and enjoying him forever, that is 490 00:18:10,930 --> 00:18:12,549 the place of human flourishing. 491 00:18:13,650 --> 00:18:15,809 Flourishing is just a fancy word of talking 492 00:18:15,809 --> 00:18:17,029 about human thriving. 493 00:18:18,930 --> 00:18:20,609 And I know we're Americans, and so we 494 00:18:20,609 --> 00:18:23,355 have be careful to not just merely equip 495 00:18:23,355 --> 00:18:24,654 flourishing with economics. 496 00:18:25,674 --> 00:18:28,095 You're flourishing if you're moving up the ladder. 497 00:18:28,634 --> 00:18:31,595 If you're moving into different neighborhoods. No. God 498 00:18:31,595 --> 00:18:33,294 has something far more important 499 00:18:33,914 --> 00:18:34,894 at heart here. 500 00:18:35,660 --> 00:18:36,640 That flourishing 501 00:18:37,179 --> 00:18:38,559 is about your well-being. 502 00:18:39,740 --> 00:18:41,500 That you're growing to become a man or 503 00:18:41,500 --> 00:18:44,079 woman who loves God and enjoys him 504 00:18:44,380 --> 00:18:46,799 and now cares and loves other people. 505 00:18:47,865 --> 00:18:50,365 That's what he has in mind and rightly 506 00:18:50,424 --> 00:18:53,224 understood then, commands are not things that God 507 00:18:53,224 --> 00:18:55,724 are using to withhold something from you. 508 00:18:56,424 --> 00:18:58,605 It's the gateway to human flourishing. 509 00:18:59,799 --> 00:19:02,119 He has made you. He has designed you. 510 00:19:02,119 --> 00:19:04,059 He knows what's best for you. 511 00:19:04,680 --> 00:19:06,539 He does nothing arbitrarily. 512 00:19:07,640 --> 00:19:09,900 And so when he gives us a command, 513 00:19:09,960 --> 00:19:11,500 it's for our good 514 00:19:11,799 --> 00:19:12,940 and our joy 515 00:19:14,474 --> 00:19:15,295 Not to withhold. 516 00:19:17,595 --> 00:19:18,734 And so commands, 517 00:19:19,035 --> 00:19:20,015 rightly understood, 518 00:19:20,394 --> 00:19:23,375 are lights to the path of human flourishing. 519 00:19:24,875 --> 00:19:27,115 You see, God's goal for your life and 520 00:19:27,115 --> 00:19:27,615 mine 521 00:19:28,609 --> 00:19:31,029 is that we would find we would identify 522 00:19:31,170 --> 00:19:33,349 ourselves with Jesus in such a way 523 00:19:34,130 --> 00:19:36,369 that we would follow after him as his 524 00:19:36,369 --> 00:19:36,869 disciples. 525 00:19:37,410 --> 00:19:39,330 That we would entrust our life to him, 526 00:19:39,330 --> 00:19:41,384 and we would start a journey with him. 527 00:19:41,464 --> 00:19:44,445 And that journey is headed toward human flourishing. 528 00:19:45,065 --> 00:19:47,065 That we might grow to become the kinds 529 00:19:47,065 --> 00:19:48,825 of men and women God made us to 530 00:19:48,825 --> 00:19:49,325 be. 531 00:19:49,704 --> 00:19:51,625 Men and women who love God and love 532 00:19:51,625 --> 00:19:52,125 others. 533 00:19:52,664 --> 00:19:54,904 Jesus himself said, all the law and the 534 00:19:54,904 --> 00:19:56,845 prophets hang on those two ideas. 535 00:19:57,409 --> 00:19:59,029 You can sum up the whole book 536 00:19:59,809 --> 00:20:01,109 with those two ideas. 537 00:20:02,130 --> 00:20:04,049 And God now has made a way in 538 00:20:04,049 --> 00:20:06,289 Jesus for us to walk that path that 539 00:20:06,289 --> 00:20:07,269 we might grow 540 00:20:08,049 --> 00:20:10,849 in, in, in human flourishing. That we might 541 00:20:10,849 --> 00:20:11,349 thrive 542 00:20:11,654 --> 00:20:13,815 in this life. That we might experience the 543 00:20:13,815 --> 00:20:16,315 abundant life that he has for us. 544 00:20:17,255 --> 00:20:18,634 So commands aren't 545 00:20:19,095 --> 00:20:21,654 God withholding something from us. They are the 546 00:20:21,654 --> 00:20:23,355 very pathway for flourishing. 547 00:20:23,894 --> 00:20:26,234 God has our ultimate good in mind. 548 00:20:26,609 --> 00:20:28,930 And this then is why Jesus can say 549 00:20:28,930 --> 00:20:30,069 this absolutely 550 00:20:30,369 --> 00:20:31,589 insane idea, 551 00:20:31,970 --> 00:20:34,609 verse 11. These things I have spoken to 552 00:20:34,609 --> 00:20:36,690 you that my joy may be in you, 553 00:20:36,690 --> 00:20:38,470 and that your joy may be full. 554 00:20:39,904 --> 00:20:42,304 Your joy can be found in Jesus and 555 00:20:42,304 --> 00:20:44,625 made full in him as you walk in 556 00:20:44,625 --> 00:20:45,365 his way, 557 00:20:46,144 --> 00:20:47,765 as you live obediently 558 00:20:48,224 --> 00:20:49,125 after him. 559 00:20:49,984 --> 00:20:50,964 Because obedience 560 00:20:51,345 --> 00:20:52,565 is not about 561 00:20:52,980 --> 00:20:56,740 like, white knuckling it. It's about experiencing the 562 00:20:56,740 --> 00:20:58,740 fullness of life that God has for you 563 00:20:58,740 --> 00:20:59,400 in Christ. 564 00:21:01,220 --> 00:21:02,200 And so now, 565 00:21:03,380 --> 00:21:05,460 now we can start to understand why it 566 00:21:05,460 --> 00:21:08,884 is that living obediently to Jesus could actually 567 00:21:09,184 --> 00:21:10,164 lead me 568 00:21:10,545 --> 00:21:11,285 to joy. 569 00:21:12,545 --> 00:21:14,085 Because that's where flourishing 570 00:21:14,785 --> 00:21:15,525 is found. 571 00:21:16,625 --> 00:21:18,865 And so we walk with Jesus by walking 572 00:21:18,865 --> 00:21:20,484 in obedience to Jesus. 573 00:21:22,669 --> 00:21:25,069 You wanna experience and rest in God's love 574 00:21:25,069 --> 00:21:27,970 for you? Then walk in obedience after Jesus. 575 00:21:29,069 --> 00:21:31,329 You wanna experience joy in this life? 576 00:21:31,869 --> 00:21:34,210 Then walk in obedience after Jesus. 577 00:21:35,035 --> 00:21:37,434 You wanna experience the full life that Jesus 578 00:21:37,434 --> 00:21:38,174 has promised? 579 00:21:38,714 --> 00:21:40,095 Then walk in obedience 580 00:21:40,634 --> 00:21:41,454 after Jesus. 581 00:21:42,714 --> 00:21:45,695 Friendship with Jesus is life changing. 582 00:21:48,950 --> 00:21:50,950 So what does this mean for our daily 583 00:21:50,950 --> 00:21:53,049 lives in trying to follow after Jesus? 584 00:21:54,710 --> 00:21:56,309 Well, I can't I can't help but think 585 00:21:56,309 --> 00:21:57,609 that we need to start 586 00:21:58,230 --> 00:22:00,869 by asking the question, what happens when I 587 00:22:00,869 --> 00:22:01,369 fail? 588 00:22:03,845 --> 00:22:05,605 Because the reality that you and I both 589 00:22:05,605 --> 00:22:07,065 know is we're gonna fail. 590 00:22:09,125 --> 00:22:10,424 Like, I'm not always 591 00:22:10,965 --> 00:22:12,744 going to be a good friend. 592 00:22:14,085 --> 00:22:15,224 There is this picture 593 00:22:15,684 --> 00:22:18,904 in communion with Jesus, abiding in the vine, 594 00:22:19,339 --> 00:22:21,820 that shows a closeness and a depth of 595 00:22:21,820 --> 00:22:22,320 relationship 596 00:22:22,859 --> 00:22:24,160 with our God. 597 00:22:26,059 --> 00:22:27,599 There can be a disruption 598 00:22:27,900 --> 00:22:28,880 to that communion, 599 00:22:29,500 --> 00:22:30,320 that friendship. 600 00:22:31,180 --> 00:22:33,740 And when there's a disruption, what we can 601 00:22:33,740 --> 00:22:34,240 know 602 00:22:34,714 --> 00:22:36,734 is that it's always because of me. 603 00:22:37,994 --> 00:22:39,615 God has not distanced himself. 604 00:22:40,795 --> 00:22:42,414 God has not let me down. 605 00:22:43,595 --> 00:22:45,615 God has not failed to come through. 606 00:22:46,394 --> 00:22:47,775 If there is a disruption 607 00:22:48,154 --> 00:22:49,775 in friendship with God, 608 00:22:50,140 --> 00:22:52,559 it always comes because of me. 609 00:22:52,940 --> 00:22:54,000 Because of you. 610 00:22:54,700 --> 00:22:56,940 He is the perfect friend who never fails. 611 00:22:56,940 --> 00:22:58,079 You and I are not. 612 00:22:59,259 --> 00:23:01,119 So where do we go when we fail? 613 00:23:02,284 --> 00:23:04,125 Maybe you're even thinking about this past week, 614 00:23:04,125 --> 00:23:06,704 and we're we're talking about walking in obedience 615 00:23:06,765 --> 00:23:09,244 after Jesus, and you're thinking about moments where 616 00:23:09,244 --> 00:23:10,464 you didn't do that. 617 00:23:14,524 --> 00:23:16,384 Where do we go? What do we do? 618 00:23:18,690 --> 00:23:21,089 Well, the invitation of Jesus is is quite 619 00:23:21,089 --> 00:23:21,589 simple. 620 00:23:22,529 --> 00:23:23,670 Repent and return. 621 00:23:27,410 --> 00:23:27,910 Repent. 622 00:23:28,690 --> 00:23:30,390 Turn from that sin, 623 00:23:31,815 --> 00:23:33,275 that wayward action, 624 00:23:33,894 --> 00:23:35,994 that wayward way of thinking, 625 00:23:38,375 --> 00:23:41,115 and return to Jesus by faith. 626 00:23:42,775 --> 00:23:45,095 Confessing your sin to him, knowing that he 627 00:23:45,095 --> 00:23:47,269 is faithful and just to forgive us. 628 00:23:48,930 --> 00:23:50,470 I couldn't help but think 629 00:23:51,170 --> 00:23:53,410 of the apostle Peter, just a few short 630 00:23:53,410 --> 00:23:54,869 chapters after this, 631 00:23:56,690 --> 00:23:57,990 who denies Jesus 632 00:23:58,450 --> 00:24:01,410 on 3 different occasions when Jesus needed him 633 00:24:01,410 --> 00:24:01,910 most. 634 00:24:03,065 --> 00:24:04,125 He's on trial, 635 00:24:05,144 --> 00:24:06,445 headed towards execution. 636 00:24:07,625 --> 00:24:09,724 And one of his closest friend 637 00:24:10,505 --> 00:24:12,585 Jesus had the 12, and then he had 638 00:24:12,585 --> 00:24:13,325 the 3. 639 00:24:13,704 --> 00:24:16,105 And Peter was one of the 3. And 640 00:24:16,105 --> 00:24:17,404 Peter let him down 641 00:24:18,240 --> 00:24:20,259 in a royally massive way. 642 00:24:21,279 --> 00:24:22,900 But what did Jesus do? 643 00:24:24,079 --> 00:24:26,660 John chapter 21. Jesus restores 644 00:24:27,039 --> 00:24:27,539 Peter. 645 00:24:28,960 --> 00:24:30,579 He receives him back. 646 00:24:32,025 --> 00:24:32,765 He embraces 647 00:24:33,144 --> 00:24:33,965 and includes 648 00:24:34,424 --> 00:24:35,724 him as a friend. 649 00:24:37,305 --> 00:24:40,025 See, Jesus is inviting us when we fail 650 00:24:40,025 --> 00:24:40,525 to 651 00:24:41,465 --> 00:24:42,605 repent and return. 652 00:24:43,465 --> 00:24:44,684 Now, we might experience 653 00:24:45,224 --> 00:24:47,404 the fullness of life that he has 654 00:24:47,839 --> 00:24:50,000 for us. And these things need to get 655 00:24:50,000 --> 00:24:51,619 worked out for us also 656 00:24:52,000 --> 00:24:52,900 in community. 657 00:24:54,160 --> 00:24:56,640 I mean, Jesus says that this friendship with 658 00:24:56,640 --> 00:24:58,400 God has been given to us that we 659 00:24:58,400 --> 00:24:59,299 could be good 660 00:24:59,920 --> 00:25:02,079 friends to others, that we could love and 661 00:25:02,079 --> 00:25:03,539 care for others well. 662 00:25:04,214 --> 00:25:05,654 I mean, that's what he says his command 663 00:25:05,654 --> 00:25:07,434 is, that you would love one another. 664 00:25:08,054 --> 00:25:10,054 So our friendship with God is not just 665 00:25:10,054 --> 00:25:11,974 about me and Jesus. It's about us and 666 00:25:11,974 --> 00:25:12,474 Jesus. 667 00:25:14,934 --> 00:25:17,255 And so this has tremendous impact as I 668 00:25:17,255 --> 00:25:19,730 think about those community environments that that I 669 00:25:19,730 --> 00:25:21,410 might be a part of. Like that that 670 00:25:21,410 --> 00:25:23,410 small group that you're a part of. That 671 00:25:23,410 --> 00:25:25,570 gospel community, or maybe you're a part of 672 00:25:25,570 --> 00:25:26,309 the class. 673 00:25:27,250 --> 00:25:28,230 These are opportunities 674 00:25:28,690 --> 00:25:29,349 for us 675 00:25:30,450 --> 00:25:32,789 to learn how to love one another well. 676 00:25:33,330 --> 00:25:35,275 As I think about community environments, just a 677 00:25:35,275 --> 00:25:37,595 side note. After this service, we have that 678 00:25:37,595 --> 00:25:39,295 picnic here on the ground. 679 00:25:39,835 --> 00:25:40,654 Grab lunch, 680 00:25:41,035 --> 00:25:42,015 come hang out, 681 00:25:42,394 --> 00:25:45,355 let kids enjoy the new playground. There'll be 682 00:25:45,355 --> 00:25:47,160 ice cream truck, all that kind of stuff. 683 00:25:47,320 --> 00:25:49,340 But but as I think about my ongoing 684 00:25:50,279 --> 00:25:50,779 involvement 685 00:25:51,080 --> 00:25:52,460 in those community environments, 686 00:25:53,480 --> 00:25:55,320 what might it look like for me to 687 00:25:55,320 --> 00:25:57,259 start thinking outside of myself 688 00:25:59,240 --> 00:26:00,859 that I might care for others? 689 00:26:03,355 --> 00:26:05,194 Like what what might it look like this 690 00:26:05,194 --> 00:26:05,694 week? 691 00:26:06,394 --> 00:26:07,914 If you're in one of those you're in 692 00:26:07,914 --> 00:26:10,234 a community environment. If you're not, you're you're 693 00:26:10,234 --> 00:26:12,634 gonna be with some co workers, or with 694 00:26:12,634 --> 00:26:15,054 some classmates, or with some peers. 695 00:26:15,960 --> 00:26:17,559 What might it look like to to think 696 00:26:17,559 --> 00:26:19,720 about how you could ask questions to get 697 00:26:19,720 --> 00:26:21,019 to know this other person? 698 00:26:22,200 --> 00:26:23,799 Not questions that are gonna set you up 699 00:26:23,799 --> 00:26:24,859 to talk about yourself. 700 00:26:26,279 --> 00:26:28,119 You you know what that looks like. We've 701 00:26:28,119 --> 00:26:30,140 all been there, and we've all done it. 702 00:26:30,784 --> 00:26:33,184 You see the wheels turning. You're having this 703 00:26:33,184 --> 00:26:35,345 conversation. The wheels are turning in that other 704 00:26:35,345 --> 00:26:37,904 person's mind, because they're figuring out how they 705 00:26:37,904 --> 00:26:39,904 get to now set themselves up to just 706 00:26:39,904 --> 00:26:40,404 talk. 707 00:26:41,024 --> 00:26:43,284 People love to talk about themselves, right? 708 00:26:44,049 --> 00:26:46,230 What if you and I 709 00:26:46,849 --> 00:26:48,869 try to find one person this week 710 00:26:49,730 --> 00:26:51,750 to exhibit some relational curiosity 711 00:26:52,769 --> 00:26:54,230 to get to know them better? 712 00:26:54,849 --> 00:26:56,849 For their good and their benefit, not for 713 00:26:56,849 --> 00:26:57,349 you. 714 00:26:58,835 --> 00:27:00,275 What if you what if you tried to 715 00:27:00,275 --> 00:27:01,734 practice that this week? 716 00:27:02,195 --> 00:27:03,255 Just one person. 717 00:27:03,634 --> 00:27:06,134 Not every person. We're not getting crazy here. 718 00:27:07,474 --> 00:27:09,095 One conversation this week. 719 00:27:10,450 --> 00:27:11,970 Introverts in the room, like, hey, you gotta 720 00:27:11,970 --> 00:27:13,650 have a conversation this week. You know, that's 721 00:27:13,650 --> 00:27:14,309 what I'm 722 00:27:14,850 --> 00:27:16,769 I'm one of you. That's what I'm telling 723 00:27:16,769 --> 00:27:19,109 us. We gotta have extroverts in the room, 724 00:27:19,410 --> 00:27:21,190 you gotta not just talk at people. 725 00:27:21,890 --> 00:27:23,830 You gotta have a conversation with people. 726 00:27:25,515 --> 00:27:27,035 Like, we all have work to do. We 727 00:27:27,035 --> 00:27:28,734 all need to practice these things. 728 00:27:29,515 --> 00:27:30,795 What might it look like for you to 729 00:27:30,795 --> 00:27:31,855 do that this week? 730 00:27:33,835 --> 00:27:36,474 And now imagine the kind of impact that 731 00:27:36,474 --> 00:27:38,255 we could have in our community. 732 00:27:39,419 --> 00:27:41,519 If we became known as a people 733 00:27:41,980 --> 00:27:44,000 who cared about others, 734 00:27:45,980 --> 00:27:48,779 who are doing things to try to help 735 00:27:48,779 --> 00:27:50,480 others become known. 736 00:27:54,015 --> 00:27:55,714 There could be a place 737 00:27:56,015 --> 00:27:58,894 for men and women outside of this local 738 00:27:58,894 --> 00:27:59,394 church 739 00:28:01,214 --> 00:28:02,914 to come to know friendship 740 00:28:04,740 --> 00:28:06,440 with God through Jesus, 741 00:28:08,019 --> 00:28:09,799 could have brothers and sisters 742 00:28:11,299 --> 00:28:13,480 that they're walking together with. 743 00:28:15,940 --> 00:28:18,339 What if we practice these things? I can 744 00:28:18,339 --> 00:28:19,559 promise you this. 745 00:28:20,444 --> 00:28:22,845 That would have a tremendous impact in our 746 00:28:22,845 --> 00:28:25,105 culture, because that is unknown. 747 00:28:26,525 --> 00:28:28,924 There are not many environments that you step 748 00:28:28,924 --> 00:28:30,704 into outside of, 749 00:28:32,125 --> 00:28:33,184 the local church, 750 00:28:34,789 --> 00:28:37,349 where men and women are striving to know 751 00:28:37,349 --> 00:28:38,809 others for their good. 752 00:28:40,390 --> 00:28:42,169 But if you step into that space, 753 00:28:42,869 --> 00:28:44,329 and that's how you live, 754 00:28:45,190 --> 00:28:47,609 imagine the kind of impact it could have. 755 00:28:49,835 --> 00:28:51,934 People are craving to be known. 756 00:28:53,115 --> 00:28:54,575 Craving to be seen. 757 00:28:55,434 --> 00:28:57,295 And now, you and I have an opportunity 758 00:28:57,355 --> 00:28:58,894 to do just that. And here's 759 00:28:59,355 --> 00:29:00,015 the kicker. 760 00:29:01,035 --> 00:29:03,855 This is what Jesus is calling us to. 761 00:29:04,170 --> 00:29:04,670 Verse 762 00:29:06,650 --> 00:29:08,890 16. You did not choose me, but I 763 00:29:08,890 --> 00:29:11,210 chose you and appointed you that you should 764 00:29:11,210 --> 00:29:12,029 bear fruit, 765 00:29:12,330 --> 00:29:14,570 and that your fruit should abide. So that 766 00:29:14,570 --> 00:29:17,150 whatever you ask the father in my name, 767 00:29:17,434 --> 00:29:19,674 he may give it to you. Jesus is 768 00:29:19,674 --> 00:29:20,174 turning. 769 00:29:20,554 --> 00:29:23,515 He's tweaking the metaphor of bearing fruit now 770 00:29:23,515 --> 00:29:26,255 to talk about the fruit of evangelism, 771 00:29:26,875 --> 00:29:28,414 the fruit of mission, 772 00:29:28,875 --> 00:29:30,815 the fruit of gospel advance. 773 00:29:32,019 --> 00:29:34,420 He says, you have been chosen to be 774 00:29:34,420 --> 00:29:35,640 disciples of Jesus 775 00:29:36,500 --> 00:29:38,420 so that you can be a blessing to 776 00:29:38,420 --> 00:29:38,920 others. 777 00:29:40,099 --> 00:29:42,579 And this, in light of the command to 778 00:29:42,579 --> 00:29:44,200 care for one another well, 779 00:29:44,625 --> 00:29:48,224 this could be one small tangible means for 780 00:29:48,224 --> 00:29:50,565 us to live as a gospel witness. 781 00:29:54,545 --> 00:29:55,684 The reality is 782 00:29:56,305 --> 00:29:59,279 none of this is possible apart from Jesus 783 00:29:59,339 --> 00:30:02,079 laying down his life for his friends. 784 00:30:03,019 --> 00:30:04,940 And so that's why every week we take 785 00:30:04,940 --> 00:30:06,240 part in the Lord's supper. 786 00:30:06,940 --> 00:30:10,059 Because we need those regular reminders of what 787 00:30:10,059 --> 00:30:11,920 God has done for us in Christ. 788 00:30:12,994 --> 00:30:15,954 He has made a way through Jesus. His 789 00:30:15,954 --> 00:30:17,335 life, death and resurrection 790 00:30:17,875 --> 00:30:19,174 that we could know him. 791 00:30:21,234 --> 00:30:23,255 That we could rest in his love. 792 00:30:24,400 --> 00:30:26,400 That by the power of the spirit of 793 00:30:26,400 --> 00:30:28,660 God at work in us, be transformed 794 00:30:29,200 --> 00:30:31,299 to look more and more like him, 795 00:30:31,759 --> 00:30:34,240 that we could grow to care for others 796 00:30:34,240 --> 00:30:34,740 well, 797 00:30:36,079 --> 00:30:37,839 that we could become the kinds of people 798 00:30:37,839 --> 00:30:39,700 who are looking outside of ourselves 799 00:30:42,054 --> 00:30:43,034 to help people 800 00:30:43,335 --> 00:30:44,554 connect to Jesus, 801 00:30:45,974 --> 00:30:47,434 to grow up in Jesus. 802 00:30:48,934 --> 00:30:51,974 It's only possible because he laid If you're 803 00:30:51,974 --> 00:30:53,194 a disciple of Jesus, 804 00:30:55,119 --> 00:30:56,880 what you need to understand is you're his 805 00:30:56,880 --> 00:30:57,380 friend. 806 00:30:58,799 --> 00:31:00,720 And he has laid down his life for 807 00:31:00,720 --> 00:31:01,220 you. 808 00:31:02,880 --> 00:31:04,559 And so in these moments then, we get 809 00:31:04,559 --> 00:31:05,859 an opportunity to reflect. 810 00:31:07,054 --> 00:31:09,075 To meditate on those great truths, 811 00:31:10,095 --> 00:31:12,255 to think about what God has done for 812 00:31:12,255 --> 00:31:13,154 us in Christ. 813 00:31:14,734 --> 00:31:16,894 What what we sang about earlier, like, how 814 00:31:16,894 --> 00:31:17,394 undeserved 815 00:31:18,494 --> 00:31:20,115 that kind of love is. 816 00:31:21,070 --> 00:31:23,710 That kind of grace and mercy is is 817 00:31:23,710 --> 00:31:27,330 so undeserved. But God, out of his lavish 818 00:31:27,470 --> 00:31:27,970 love, 819 00:31:29,390 --> 00:31:31,250 has made a way for us in Christ, 820 00:31:32,269 --> 00:31:34,349 that we might flourish and grow into all 821 00:31:34,349 --> 00:31:35,730 that he's made us to be. 822 00:31:37,295 --> 00:31:40,414 Friendship with Jesus is life changing. Let's pray. 823 00:31:40,414 --> 00:31:42,195 Father, we thank you for your word. 824 00:31:44,174 --> 00:31:45,634 That in your kindness 825 00:31:46,015 --> 00:31:48,894 and grace and mercy, you have spoken to 826 00:31:48,894 --> 00:31:49,795 us by it. 827 00:31:50,174 --> 00:31:51,714 That we could know you. 828 00:31:54,370 --> 00:31:56,150 That we could become your friends, 829 00:31:58,289 --> 00:32:00,450 so that our lives could be changed and 830 00:32:00,450 --> 00:32:03,009 transformed into the kinds of people you've made 831 00:32:03,009 --> 00:32:03,910 us to be, 832 00:32:04,370 --> 00:32:06,309 people who love you and love others. 833 00:32:07,235 --> 00:32:08,775 Help us in that regard. 834 00:32:09,955 --> 00:32:12,275 Spirit of God in these moments, would you 835 00:32:12,275 --> 00:32:13,575 impress upon us 836 00:32:14,195 --> 00:32:16,375 the steps that we need to take personally 837 00:32:16,994 --> 00:32:18,914 to follow in the way of Jesus this 838 00:32:18,914 --> 00:32:19,414 week. 839 00:32:36,394 --> 00:32:39,615 That it can't happen by us trying harder, 840 00:32:41,355 --> 00:32:42,335 doing more, 841 00:32:43,194 --> 00:32:44,014 doing better. 842 00:32:45,355 --> 00:32:48,474 But ultimately, it comes because of your spirit 843 00:32:48,474 --> 00:32:49,694 at work in us. 844 00:32:50,359 --> 00:32:52,039 And so would you help us to keep 845 00:32:52,039 --> 00:32:53,740 our eyes fixed on Jesus 846 00:32:54,519 --> 00:32:56,380 that we might be changed and transformed 847 00:32:57,160 --> 00:32:58,759 to look more and more like him. And 848 00:32:58,759 --> 00:33:00,700 we pray this in his name. Amen.