1 00:00:00,676 --> 00:00:02,449 Morning Christchurch Church. Morning. 2 00:00:02,984 --> 00:00:04,735 Did you catch the joke in our gospel 3 00:00:04,735 --> 00:00:08,157 reading just then? Jesus said he already had 4 00:00:08,157 --> 00:00:09,924 in mind what he was gonna do but 5 00:00:09,924 --> 00:00:11,764 then he asks the disciples. How are you 6 00:00:11,764 --> 00:00:13,525 gonna feed them? How are you gonna do 7 00:00:13,525 --> 00:00:15,445 something? He's got in his mind what he's 8 00:00:15,445 --> 00:00:16,824 gonna do then he invites 9 00:00:17,364 --> 00:00:18,265 participation from 10 00:00:18,578 --> 00:00:20,486 the disciples is to partner with him and 11 00:00:20,486 --> 00:00:22,474 see this great miracle that he is going 12 00:00:22,474 --> 00:00:22,792 to do. 13 00:00:24,858 --> 00:00:26,766 Sometimes I wanna know what story am I 14 00:00:26,766 --> 00:00:27,164 living in. 15 00:00:28,054 --> 00:00:30,372 I know what story I'm in. Stories, they 16 00:00:30,372 --> 00:00:32,130 they tell the shape of the world, they 17 00:00:32,130 --> 00:00:34,208 tell me what's worth fighting for, what's worth 18 00:00:34,208 --> 00:00:36,205 sacrificing for. Tell me who my heroes are. 19 00:00:37,337 --> 00:00:39,561 Who the the people that get the rewards 20 00:00:39,561 --> 00:00:41,784 are based on what story I'm living, And 21 00:00:41,864 --> 00:00:43,611 I heard a story the other day, about 22 00:00:43,611 --> 00:00:45,675 the first day you work at a John 23 00:00:45,834 --> 00:00:46,072 Deere, 24 00:00:47,041 --> 00:00:48,474 for... You work for John Deere, you know, 25 00:00:48,553 --> 00:00:49,588 the tractor company. 26 00:00:50,384 --> 00:00:52,931 First day working for John Deere, you come 27 00:00:52,931 --> 00:00:55,875 in, and your workspace is already set up, 28 00:00:56,209 --> 00:00:58,926 there for you. And as it set, there's 29 00:00:58,926 --> 00:00:59,746 balloons and 30 00:01:00,125 --> 00:01:01,723 congratulations all spread about the workspace. 31 00:01:02,522 --> 00:01:04,734 There's a John Deere tractor. 1 of these 32 00:01:05,494 --> 00:01:08,530 green die cast tractor sitting right there on 33 00:01:08,530 --> 00:01:08,770 the, 34 00:01:09,409 --> 00:01:12,046 on your workspace. And you boot up the 35 00:01:12,046 --> 00:01:14,157 computer and there's a message from the Ceo 36 00:01:14,451 --> 00:01:17,313 speaking directly to you. And the Ceo says 37 00:01:17,313 --> 00:01:18,369 something like this 38 00:01:18,903 --> 00:01:22,241 says, the backbone of America are the farmers. 39 00:01:22,400 --> 00:01:24,961 From They feed our families supply the schools 40 00:01:24,961 --> 00:01:26,870 keep us moving in industry, they're the silent 41 00:01:26,870 --> 00:01:29,416 heroes running the country. And do you know 42 00:01:29,416 --> 00:01:31,166 how the food gets from the farm? 43 00:01:31,818 --> 00:01:32,456 To the table. 44 00:01:33,173 --> 00:01:34,448 It's with a John Deere tractor. 45 00:01:35,085 --> 00:01:35,882 Welcome to the team. 46 00:01:37,396 --> 00:01:39,308 This this beautiful story. I hear that, and 47 00:01:39,467 --> 00:01:41,141 I'm, like, sign me up. I'm in. 48 00:01:41,715 --> 00:01:43,394 I wanna work for john... That is a 49 00:01:43,394 --> 00:01:46,114 story that compels me that makes me think 50 00:01:46,114 --> 00:01:48,594 that is worth sacrificing Fort Worth giving my 51 00:01:48,594 --> 00:01:50,435 life to, and it's working for John Deere. 52 00:01:51,009 --> 00:01:53,087 I believe the church has a story more 53 00:01:53,087 --> 00:01:55,324 compelling more grand than that. I think we 54 00:01:55,324 --> 00:01:57,641 have a story that encompasses all of life, 55 00:01:57,881 --> 00:02:00,045 all of the world, has a picture for 56 00:02:00,045 --> 00:02:01,633 what's gone wrong in the world and how 57 00:02:01,712 --> 00:02:03,697 God is actually going to make it right 58 00:02:03,697 --> 00:02:03,936 again. 59 00:02:04,968 --> 00:02:06,580 We have the story of 60 00:02:07,048 --> 00:02:10,306 The God himself who has stepped down into 61 00:02:10,306 --> 00:02:12,634 this world, the world trapped in despair 62 00:02:13,087 --> 00:02:14,779 and sin in self 63 00:02:15,233 --> 00:02:15,392 isolation, 64 00:02:16,359 --> 00:02:18,763 and his come at great cost to himself 65 00:02:18,819 --> 00:02:21,833 to start his kingdom. You know, Jesus whole 66 00:02:21,833 --> 00:02:22,150 message. 67 00:02:23,038 --> 00:02:24,865 Was that the kingdom of God is here. 68 00:02:25,341 --> 00:02:28,042 It's beginning now. It is near you. You're 69 00:02:28,042 --> 00:02:29,789 a part of it. You can enter into 70 00:02:29,789 --> 00:02:32,433 it. And the way he begins his kingdom 71 00:02:32,584 --> 00:02:34,651 of his rule his reign, the way God 72 00:02:34,651 --> 00:02:36,798 begins to make the world right again is 73 00:02:36,798 --> 00:02:39,899 not with a a conquering sword or with 74 00:02:39,899 --> 00:02:42,385 weapons of but actually by allowing himself to 75 00:02:42,385 --> 00:02:43,583 be conquered on the cross. 76 00:02:44,461 --> 00:02:45,360 It's through his 77 00:02:45,817 --> 00:02:48,212 crucifixion through his resurrection and through the sending 78 00:02:48,212 --> 00:02:49,010 of the spirit. 79 00:02:50,062 --> 00:02:52,375 That Jesus is now making all things right, 80 00:02:52,535 --> 00:02:55,087 and we belong to his kingdom. This kingdom 81 00:02:55,087 --> 00:02:55,746 that is 82 00:02:56,204 --> 00:02:58,596 rem making the world. Kingdom that is worth 83 00:02:58,596 --> 00:03:01,427 sacrifice for. This kingdom that is worth seeing 84 00:03:01,566 --> 00:03:03,504 new way of living always 85 00:03:03,963 --> 00:03:04,202 beginning. 86 00:03:06,120 --> 00:03:08,199 And The story of the kingdom is a 87 00:03:08,199 --> 00:03:09,627 story of a god who won't leave us 88 00:03:09,627 --> 00:03:12,087 humans alone, a god who pursues. A god 89 00:03:12,087 --> 00:03:14,547 who wants to see everything evil come untrue. 90 00:03:15,435 --> 00:03:17,100 Here's what life in this kingdom feels like. 91 00:03:17,258 --> 00:03:18,844 And many of you know this feeling. It 92 00:03:18,844 --> 00:03:19,954 feels like freedom, 93 00:03:21,064 --> 00:03:21,936 freedom from addictions. 94 00:03:22,903 --> 00:03:25,691 Freedom from having to to lie and keep 95 00:03:25,691 --> 00:03:28,558 an image of yourself always going always spinning. 96 00:03:29,036 --> 00:03:31,266 Feels like abundance, not scarcity, 97 00:03:31,759 --> 00:03:34,074 Remember Jesus said, the thief comes only to 98 00:03:34,074 --> 00:03:35,670 steal kill and destroy. I've come that they 99 00:03:35,670 --> 00:03:37,904 would have life have it to the fullest 100 00:03:37,904 --> 00:03:39,501 an abundance in this kingdom. 101 00:03:40,313 --> 00:03:41,848 There's a basic courage 102 00:03:42,224 --> 00:03:44,534 that any suffering that you go through any 103 00:03:44,534 --> 00:03:47,083 tragedy that you're in, you're not alone, and 104 00:03:47,083 --> 00:03:48,436 it's not the end of your story. 105 00:03:49,088 --> 00:03:50,520 She have courage to go through it. 106 00:03:52,191 --> 00:03:53,782 A trust that though the world seems out 107 00:03:53,782 --> 00:03:55,054 of control and wars. 108 00:03:56,183 --> 00:03:58,649 There's a basic goodness that God is writing. 109 00:03:58,808 --> 00:04:00,399 He has begun to write the ship and 110 00:04:00,399 --> 00:04:01,433 he will write the ship. 111 00:04:02,387 --> 00:04:04,155 This is a story that we're living. And 112 00:04:04,155 --> 00:04:05,749 it's a story. As compelling as the John 113 00:04:05,908 --> 00:04:08,060 Deere story is, this is a more compelling 114 00:04:08,060 --> 00:04:10,745 story a story that invites our participation and 115 00:04:10,943 --> 00:04:13,589 the way we participate, the ways we primarily 116 00:04:13,884 --> 00:04:14,384 respond 117 00:04:14,917 --> 00:04:16,848 are through acts of generosity. 118 00:04:17,699 --> 00:04:20,021 So our our... Responsiveness back to God is 119 00:04:20,021 --> 00:04:23,045 generosity. And then as he receives our offerings, 120 00:04:23,761 --> 00:04:26,388 he bless and expands his kingdom. So today, 121 00:04:26,547 --> 00:04:27,661 I wanna talk about 2 words, 122 00:04:28,392 --> 00:04:28,892 generosity 123 00:04:29,586 --> 00:04:30,325 and gene. 124 00:04:31,019 --> 00:04:34,124 And generosity and gene deal with living in 125 00:04:34,124 --> 00:04:35,556 the story of this kingdom. 126 00:04:36,366 --> 00:04:38,667 There's a biblical pattern of living responsibly to 127 00:04:38,667 --> 00:04:39,619 this story, and 128 00:04:40,492 --> 00:04:42,316 I've got these words appear. Generosity. Here's how 129 00:04:42,396 --> 00:04:44,954 I define it. It's the whole self. Being 130 00:04:44,954 --> 00:04:45,993 offered up to God. 131 00:04:46,872 --> 00:04:49,509 Responsive gift to god's goodness, a sacrifice of 132 00:04:49,509 --> 00:04:52,386 love, sacrifice of self, a willingness not to 133 00:04:52,386 --> 00:04:53,345 choose your own path, 134 00:04:54,397 --> 00:04:56,391 I think of generosity is is, like taking 135 00:04:56,391 --> 00:04:59,101 the best of your life. Your gifts, your 136 00:04:59,101 --> 00:05:02,051 talents, your resources, your time, your attention, 137 00:05:02,863 --> 00:05:05,408 all the things that you feel uniquely gifted 138 00:05:05,408 --> 00:05:08,033 at and saying God, these are all yours, 139 00:05:08,431 --> 00:05:08,988 not mine. 140 00:05:10,116 --> 00:05:12,581 You... The the a spiritual director recently challenged 141 00:05:12,581 --> 00:05:14,172 me and said, why don't you take a 142 00:05:14,172 --> 00:05:16,717 list of everything good in your life? Just 143 00:05:16,717 --> 00:05:18,068 write it out on a piece of paper 144 00:05:18,068 --> 00:05:19,182 took me about 3 days to do. 145 00:05:20,154 --> 00:05:21,192 And then next to it, 146 00:05:23,030 --> 00:05:24,388 say God, this is yours. 147 00:05:25,347 --> 00:05:27,105 This talent that I have, this, 148 00:05:27,916 --> 00:05:30,961 personality disposition that I have, this resource, this 149 00:05:31,018 --> 00:05:33,245 access, this network that I have. It's not 150 00:05:33,245 --> 00:05:33,484 mine. 151 00:05:34,199 --> 00:05:34,756 It's yours. 152 00:05:36,282 --> 00:05:38,986 All the earth is yours, and my participation 153 00:05:38,986 --> 00:05:40,258 in it is yours. 154 00:05:40,894 --> 00:05:43,916 Generosity is the recognition, the offering up of 155 00:05:43,916 --> 00:05:45,427 everything to yours to God. 156 00:05:46,237 --> 00:05:48,939 And then gen is this, Gene is god 157 00:05:48,939 --> 00:05:51,266 taking the offerings that we offer up 158 00:05:51,799 --> 00:05:54,341 and sending down his blessing. 159 00:05:54,994 --> 00:05:56,611 Sending down his fire 160 00:05:57,069 --> 00:05:59,704 multiplying is only God can. You think of 161 00:05:59,704 --> 00:06:02,019 the little boy that day with the the 162 00:06:02,019 --> 00:06:03,696 the 2 fish and the 5 loaves of 163 00:06:03,696 --> 00:06:06,742 bread, saying here's just my lunch. Jesus, can 164 00:06:06,742 --> 00:06:09,076 you do something with my lunch and watching 165 00:06:09,214 --> 00:06:12,245 this offering this meager offering of lunch costly 166 00:06:12,245 --> 00:06:13,441 to him his lunch. 167 00:06:14,332 --> 00:06:16,183 Being multiplied by Jesus 168 00:06:16,717 --> 00:06:18,863 far beyond anything that he ever could have 169 00:06:18,863 --> 00:06:21,168 imagined. The generosity is the offering up to 170 00:06:21,168 --> 00:06:22,837 gene is God blessing, 171 00:06:23,567 --> 00:06:25,556 beyond anything that any of us could ever 172 00:06:25,556 --> 00:06:25,954 have done. 173 00:06:27,465 --> 00:06:29,715 This is a pattern we see all throughout 174 00:06:29,772 --> 00:06:32,180 scripture to power, it's a a pattern in 175 00:06:32,180 --> 00:06:34,416 the the story of the kingdom, and we 176 00:06:34,416 --> 00:06:36,252 saw it in our old testament reading. No 177 00:06:36,252 --> 00:06:37,928 now a look at that reading in Genesis 178 00:06:37,928 --> 00:06:39,445 for just a minute. Genesis 22. 179 00:06:40,737 --> 00:06:42,572 It's a major touchstone stone moment in the 180 00:06:42,572 --> 00:06:44,965 life of Abraham, Abraham has received this promise 181 00:06:44,965 --> 00:06:46,561 to be the father of many nations. 182 00:06:47,534 --> 00:06:48,433 He's had this 183 00:06:48,812 --> 00:06:51,210 expectation that somehow through him and through his 184 00:06:51,210 --> 00:06:53,846 family line. God is going to bring his 185 00:06:53,846 --> 00:06:55,365 kingdom into the world. 186 00:06:56,494 --> 00:06:58,960 He's have many years of waiting many years 187 00:06:58,960 --> 00:06:59,778 of childless. 188 00:07:00,153 --> 00:07:02,514 And if you've ever expected like you've you've 189 00:07:02,713 --> 00:07:04,536 had a promise from God, but there's just 190 00:07:04,536 --> 00:07:06,834 been delay after delay after delay. You start 191 00:07:06,834 --> 00:07:09,053 to wonder God. Do you really care? Do 192 00:07:09,053 --> 00:07:09,949 you really know 193 00:07:11,057 --> 00:07:13,212 After all that time, he finally has this 194 00:07:13,212 --> 00:07:13,712 promised 195 00:07:14,090 --> 00:07:16,644 child, Isaac is born. And then 1 day 196 00:07:16,644 --> 00:07:19,213 he receives this strange command. To take his 197 00:07:19,213 --> 00:07:21,208 son Isaac up on a mountain and to 198 00:07:21,208 --> 00:07:22,404 offer him up to the Lord. 199 00:07:24,160 --> 00:07:25,777 This sounds strange to us 200 00:07:26,169 --> 00:07:27,925 In fact, in our first reading this morning 201 00:07:27,925 --> 00:07:29,442 as soon as I heard it, it it 202 00:07:29,442 --> 00:07:32,555 just felt strange. It felt I felt inner 203 00:07:32,555 --> 00:07:33,912 discomfort as I heard it read. 204 00:07:35,282 --> 00:07:37,267 But imagine living in a society where this 205 00:07:37,267 --> 00:07:39,332 was common where the Gods asked for human 206 00:07:39,332 --> 00:07:39,832 sacrifices. 207 00:07:41,237 --> 00:07:43,778 Abraham might be wondering who is this God? 208 00:07:44,825 --> 00:07:46,571 That commands just like the other gods. 209 00:07:47,682 --> 00:07:49,665 And despite the painful cost and the confusion 210 00:07:49,665 --> 00:07:52,382 of the command, Abraham is willing is obedient 211 00:07:52,382 --> 00:07:54,057 to offer up even his son. 212 00:07:55,014 --> 00:07:56,848 And into the act of this, the act 213 00:07:56,848 --> 00:07:58,761 of offering up even his son, he's going 214 00:07:58,761 --> 00:08:01,088 to discover this God is not like the 215 00:08:01,088 --> 00:08:01,723 other gods. 216 00:08:02,992 --> 00:08:05,055 You, this is Genesis 22. It's worth going 217 00:08:05,055 --> 00:08:07,277 back to re reread later today, and just 218 00:08:07,277 --> 00:08:09,755 to kind of the say, put yourself in 219 00:08:09,755 --> 00:08:11,346 the situation, what would it feel like? 220 00:08:12,061 --> 00:08:14,527 To imagine being the the thing most precious 221 00:08:14,527 --> 00:08:16,569 to you, the promise of god being asked 222 00:08:16,689 --> 00:08:18,438 to offer that up to the Lord. 223 00:08:19,471 --> 00:08:21,061 You know, a number of people have made 224 00:08:21,061 --> 00:08:24,105 the connection that there are so many similarities 225 00:08:24,161 --> 00:08:27,125 between this moment of Abraham isaac this offering 226 00:08:27,125 --> 00:08:28,025 up this generosity 227 00:08:28,725 --> 00:08:30,324 and between Jesus himself. 228 00:08:32,245 --> 00:08:34,655 Similarities between Isaac being offered up and Jesus. 229 00:08:34,814 --> 00:08:36,640 First of all, both of the their births 230 00:08:36,640 --> 00:08:38,490 or miracle births, Isaac 231 00:08:39,022 --> 00:08:41,403 born to Abraham and Sarah and her old 232 00:08:41,403 --> 00:08:41,934 age and 233 00:08:42,694 --> 00:08:44,292 Jesus born by the virgin Mary. 234 00:08:45,171 --> 00:08:46,929 Both are called the only son whom you 235 00:08:46,929 --> 00:08:49,166 love. That language is explicit there in Genesis 236 00:08:49,166 --> 00:08:49,726 22. 237 00:08:51,017 --> 00:08:52,528 They both take a 3 day trip into 238 00:08:52,528 --> 00:08:53,164 the wilderness, 239 00:08:53,801 --> 00:08:56,345 Abraham and Isaac go off for 3 days 240 00:08:56,345 --> 00:08:57,061 into the wilderness. 241 00:08:57,697 --> 00:08:58,652 Jesus, of course is, 242 00:08:59,864 --> 00:09:01,382 for 3 days in the tomb. 243 00:09:02,421 --> 00:09:04,338 Notice the the similarity of the Mountains Mount 244 00:09:04,498 --> 00:09:07,135 Mori mariah for Isaac Calvary, Mount Calvary for 245 00:09:07,295 --> 00:09:07,615 Jesus, 246 00:09:08,344 --> 00:09:10,009 Isaac carried the wood. If you see that 247 00:09:10,009 --> 00:09:11,381 in the store, he's carrying 248 00:09:11,912 --> 00:09:14,290 would he'll be sacrificed upon Jesus carrying the 249 00:09:14,290 --> 00:09:14,607 cross. 250 00:09:15,734 --> 00:09:18,229 Isaac and Jesus both bound, both willingly 251 00:09:18,607 --> 00:09:20,144 submitting to the sacrifice. 252 00:09:21,320 --> 00:09:23,235 And as a wood is piled around Isaac, 253 00:09:23,568 --> 00:09:26,505 and as Abraham raises his hand at that 254 00:09:26,505 --> 00:09:26,902 moment, 255 00:09:27,537 --> 00:09:30,157 an Angel of the Lord intervene, and there's 256 00:09:30,157 --> 00:09:30,816 a substitute. 257 00:09:31,365 --> 00:09:34,004 A ram, something else to be offered instead 258 00:09:34,004 --> 00:09:36,324 of Isaac. So here's the pattern that we 259 00:09:36,324 --> 00:09:37,605 see in the life of Abraham, 260 00:09:38,565 --> 00:09:39,065 Trusting 261 00:09:40,258 --> 00:09:43,148 Trusting God, he offers up something dear 262 00:09:43,524 --> 00:09:46,551 costly to himself. Even when he doesn't fully 263 00:09:46,551 --> 00:09:48,462 understand the reason he trust God with a 264 00:09:48,462 --> 00:09:48,962 generous 265 00:09:49,514 --> 00:09:50,393 costly offering. 266 00:09:51,272 --> 00:09:52,172 And then gene, 267 00:09:52,951 --> 00:09:56,147 God does something new. God sends down and 268 00:09:56,147 --> 00:09:57,606 provides something totally 269 00:09:57,986 --> 00:09:58,305 unexpected. 270 00:09:59,279 --> 00:10:01,200 The author of Hebrews says that here Abraham 271 00:10:01,200 --> 00:10:04,580 was believing that god would actually raise Isaac 272 00:10:04,720 --> 00:10:05,440 from the dead. 273 00:10:06,480 --> 00:10:07,679 Here's something even better. 274 00:10:08,653 --> 00:10:10,879 The Ram, the substitute offering not your son. 275 00:10:11,118 --> 00:10:13,105 God is not like the other gods who 276 00:10:13,105 --> 00:10:14,377 demands your son from you. 277 00:10:15,173 --> 00:10:17,001 He's a different sort of god. 1 who 278 00:10:17,001 --> 00:10:19,250 provides a substitute. So that your son doesn't 279 00:10:19,250 --> 00:10:19,889 have to die. 280 00:10:21,009 --> 00:10:22,769 Abraham, your family line is intact. 281 00:10:24,290 --> 00:10:25,910 The promised child remains 282 00:10:27,103 --> 00:10:29,420 And from this promised child, many more years 283 00:10:29,420 --> 00:10:32,376 later, a great descendant another child would come. 284 00:10:33,429 --> 00:10:34,230 On another mount, 285 00:10:35,429 --> 00:10:38,329 this new child would offer himself generously 286 00:10:38,789 --> 00:10:39,429 on the cross. 287 00:10:40,563 --> 00:10:42,553 God would receive this offering and bless it 288 00:10:42,553 --> 00:10:44,861 with the generosity of blessing for the whole 289 00:10:44,861 --> 00:10:47,170 world to be open the whole world to 290 00:10:47,170 --> 00:10:49,239 begin to know who this God is. 291 00:10:50,448 --> 00:10:53,154 Abraham shows us this pattern of generosity, the 292 00:10:53,154 --> 00:10:54,371 offering up, gene, 293 00:10:54,746 --> 00:10:55,702 the blessing down, 294 00:10:56,736 --> 00:10:57,851 offering up Isaac, 295 00:10:58,344 --> 00:10:59,301 the son of promise, 296 00:11:00,577 --> 00:11:02,490 the blessing of the ram, the substitute the 297 00:11:02,490 --> 00:11:05,202 new trust in God, and Paul reflects on 298 00:11:05,202 --> 00:11:06,876 this pattern in the new testament. 299 00:11:07,609 --> 00:11:09,762 These very famous words. We just heard read 300 00:11:09,762 --> 00:11:11,039 from second Corinthians. 301 00:11:11,517 --> 00:11:12,714 Or he says for you know the grace 302 00:11:12,714 --> 00:11:14,548 of our Lord Jesus Christ, though he was 303 00:11:14,548 --> 00:11:16,063 rich yet, for your sake he became poor 304 00:11:16,143 --> 00:11:17,042 There's the generosity. 305 00:11:17,752 --> 00:11:19,365 The offering up of self 306 00:11:19,977 --> 00:11:22,282 so that you through his poverty might become 307 00:11:22,282 --> 00:11:23,338 rich, the gene. 308 00:11:26,032 --> 00:11:27,305 You know, I said that 309 00:11:27,862 --> 00:11:30,248 this is the pattern for living in the 310 00:11:30,248 --> 00:11:31,123 story of the kingdom. 311 00:11:31,934 --> 00:11:34,078 And I can always tell when I'm out 312 00:11:34,078 --> 00:11:36,222 of step with God based on how I 313 00:11:36,222 --> 00:11:37,198 feel about generosity. 314 00:11:38,127 --> 00:11:39,898 It's 1 of the ways of of noticing 315 00:11:39,954 --> 00:11:41,716 am I living in gods and kingdom where 316 00:11:41,875 --> 00:11:44,258 I feel safe, protected, cared for, 317 00:11:45,291 --> 00:11:47,594 or do I feel like I'm responsible for 318 00:11:47,594 --> 00:11:50,550 protecting myself securing myself, kingdom making sure that 319 00:11:50,629 --> 00:11:52,697 I'm in control. Mind... Am I so in 320 00:11:52,697 --> 00:11:55,345 charge of my health, my appearance, my resources 321 00:11:55,800 --> 00:11:56,730 that I don't have 322 00:11:57,169 --> 00:11:58,048 space to be generous. 323 00:11:58,767 --> 00:12:00,525 Where generosity begins to feel like, 324 00:12:01,245 --> 00:12:03,562 a bit of a sting or I withholding. 325 00:12:03,722 --> 00:12:06,060 I don't wanna offer something up because 326 00:12:06,453 --> 00:12:08,441 Maybe this isn't the story I'm living into, 327 00:12:08,520 --> 00:12:10,611 it always feels like a calibration point 328 00:12:11,065 --> 00:12:13,792 for me. When I notice that generosity feels 329 00:12:14,405 --> 00:12:15,279 tight in my heart. 330 00:12:17,842 --> 00:12:19,195 Anytime that happens, come back, 331 00:12:20,071 --> 00:12:22,562 come back and remember Jesus himself 332 00:12:23,018 --> 00:12:24,451 and his generosity for you. 333 00:12:25,343 --> 00:12:26,960 Jesus himself who willingly 334 00:12:28,294 --> 00:12:30,150 carries across for you 335 00:12:30,687 --> 00:12:32,282 so that you don't have to be sacrificed. 336 00:12:32,521 --> 00:12:35,726 Jesus who willingly takes your sin upon himself. 337 00:12:36,443 --> 00:12:38,754 Jesus who willingly goes to the cross on 338 00:12:38,754 --> 00:12:40,508 your behalf. There is, if you look at 339 00:12:40,508 --> 00:12:42,101 all the different philosophies of the world, 340 00:12:42,915 --> 00:12:45,235 Every other philosophy, every other religion will say 341 00:12:45,235 --> 00:12:47,075 what you need to do is continue to 342 00:12:47,075 --> 00:12:50,514 try harder. Make more image management, get yourself 343 00:12:50,514 --> 00:12:53,084 and control, pull yourself up, Do whatever needs 344 00:12:53,084 --> 00:12:55,312 to happen to make you feel secure and 345 00:12:55,312 --> 00:12:57,857 right, and here in Christianity, Jesus says you 346 00:12:57,857 --> 00:12:58,357 cannot. 347 00:12:59,384 --> 00:13:01,055 Let me do for you what you cannot 348 00:13:01,055 --> 00:13:03,601 do for yourself. Let the gen of God 349 00:13:03,601 --> 00:13:03,999 bless you. 350 00:13:05,034 --> 00:13:05,909 Receive the blessing. 351 00:13:06,705 --> 00:13:08,638 Offer up your heart and receive 352 00:13:08,948 --> 00:13:10,956 his blessing over you. Anytime I feel 353 00:13:12,044 --> 00:13:13,870 a lack of generosity in my heart, it 354 00:13:13,870 --> 00:13:14,743 is a reminder, 355 00:13:15,378 --> 00:13:16,252 recalibrate myself. 356 00:13:17,221 --> 00:13:19,607 Remember this story. This is the real story 357 00:13:19,607 --> 00:13:21,357 that I'm living in. The story of the 358 00:13:21,437 --> 00:13:22,334 God who sacrifices 359 00:13:22,709 --> 00:13:25,824 himself for me. And feel the fresh sea 360 00:13:25,824 --> 00:13:26,324 air 361 00:13:26,698 --> 00:13:28,526 of his spirit blowing through you. 362 00:13:29,638 --> 00:13:30,933 That's the story of 363 00:13:31,242 --> 00:13:32,670 scripture, it's a story. We live in it's 364 00:13:32,670 --> 00:13:34,574 a story of the world. It's what's setting 365 00:13:34,574 --> 00:13:36,874 the world right right now. The story of 366 00:13:36,874 --> 00:13:37,826 the generous god. 367 00:13:38,559 --> 00:13:41,120 Bringing his kingdom, freeing us of our sins, 368 00:13:41,519 --> 00:13:44,240 allowing us to live freely even now to 369 00:13:44,240 --> 00:13:44,720 follow him, 370 00:13:45,853 --> 00:13:46,883 that's where we see it in the Bible, 371 00:13:47,041 --> 00:13:48,705 I wanted to turn and talk a little 372 00:13:48,705 --> 00:13:50,210 bit about how we see it in this 373 00:13:50,210 --> 00:13:50,710 church 374 00:13:51,082 --> 00:13:52,825 because for a number of years as it... 375 00:13:53,079 --> 00:13:55,231 Church community, we have been living out this 376 00:13:55,231 --> 00:13:56,290 story of generosity, 377 00:13:56,985 --> 00:13:58,681 this offering up and generosity 378 00:13:59,377 --> 00:14:00,972 receiving the blessing of God. So this is 379 00:14:00,972 --> 00:14:02,824 gonna be a little bit of, like, some 380 00:14:02,824 --> 00:14:04,904 timeline history for about the past 20 years. 381 00:14:05,065 --> 00:14:06,584 If you were here a couple of weeks 382 00:14:06,584 --> 00:14:08,664 ago when we had that goodbye evening for 383 00:14:08,664 --> 00:14:09,784 father cliff and Christine, 384 00:14:10,198 --> 00:14:11,710 we told the story of the church over 385 00:14:11,710 --> 00:14:13,460 the past 18 years, and I'm gonna re 386 00:14:13,460 --> 00:14:14,835 hit some of those points 387 00:14:15,210 --> 00:14:18,011 reminding us you Christ church. Are a church 388 00:14:18,011 --> 00:14:18,751 of generosity 389 00:14:19,128 --> 00:14:19,867 and generosity. 390 00:14:20,803 --> 00:14:22,717 Let's have this first timeline picture up here. 391 00:14:23,914 --> 00:14:26,307 This this is from a timeline we had 392 00:14:26,307 --> 00:14:27,438 that night And 393 00:14:28,394 --> 00:14:29,589 in 2004, 394 00:14:29,988 --> 00:14:32,219 father Billy Dish. He'd been the rec here 395 00:14:32,219 --> 00:14:34,944 for about 12 years. He retired from... Holy 396 00:14:35,104 --> 00:14:37,181 Trinity. Holy Trinity that was Christ Church. 397 00:14:37,900 --> 00:14:39,978 And it took several years from his retirement 398 00:14:39,978 --> 00:14:42,135 to find a new rec, and the church 399 00:14:42,135 --> 00:14:43,668 had gone from around a hundred or a 400 00:14:43,668 --> 00:14:45,346 hundred and 20 people down to about 50 401 00:14:45,346 --> 00:14:45,586 people. 402 00:14:46,385 --> 00:14:49,021 At that time during the offering times, the 403 00:14:49,021 --> 00:14:51,270 treasurer at the moment So our the the 404 00:14:51,270 --> 00:14:53,976 current treasurer John Cha. He would be getting 405 00:14:53,976 --> 00:14:56,466 up and he would hold the electric bill 406 00:14:56,841 --> 00:14:58,354 for the church or the water bill, the 407 00:14:58,354 --> 00:15:00,159 utility bill and says an offering today with 408 00:15:00,279 --> 00:15:02,034 someone to pay this. You're laughing because some 409 00:15:02,034 --> 00:15:04,506 of you remember these moments. Right? You remember 410 00:15:04,506 --> 00:15:05,303 these things happening. 411 00:15:06,659 --> 00:15:08,493 Father Cliff and the warner were called in 412 00:15:08,493 --> 00:15:11,485 2006. Here's this story of generosity, the sac 413 00:15:11,544 --> 00:15:13,625 generosity, the church at that time took all 414 00:15:13,625 --> 00:15:16,105 the resources that we had and laid it 415 00:15:16,105 --> 00:15:18,105 out and said that we've got resources to 416 00:15:18,105 --> 00:15:18,664 pay a rec, 417 00:15:19,159 --> 00:15:20,538 with 4 young kids 418 00:15:20,917 --> 00:15:21,956 for about 6 months. 419 00:15:22,595 --> 00:15:24,593 So as you move to Austin and just 420 00:15:24,593 --> 00:15:26,191 let's give it a go together, this kind 421 00:15:26,191 --> 00:15:27,010 of generous 422 00:15:27,404 --> 00:15:29,878 sac superficial offering. Let's make a go of 423 00:15:29,878 --> 00:15:30,596 it together. 424 00:15:31,554 --> 00:15:32,613 And there was never, 425 00:15:32,990 --> 00:15:36,059 like, just windfall growth. There was instead steady 426 00:15:36,355 --> 00:15:36,673 incremental, 427 00:15:37,311 --> 00:15:40,735 continuing growth that happened. This steady gen of 428 00:15:40,735 --> 00:15:42,327 the lord through the year, so that the 429 00:15:42,327 --> 00:15:43,442 bills were always paid, 430 00:15:44,174 --> 00:15:46,726 So the church continue together people continue to 431 00:15:46,726 --> 00:15:48,719 come meeting the Lord being baptized, 432 00:15:50,075 --> 00:15:52,569 courageous generosity of faithful to God's generosity. 433 00:15:53,678 --> 00:15:54,634 In 2008, 434 00:15:55,431 --> 00:15:57,822 Holy Trinity left the epi church. There had 435 00:15:57,822 --> 00:15:59,097 been theological drift, 436 00:15:59,735 --> 00:16:01,010 not just with matters of, 437 00:16:01,661 --> 00:16:05,655 sexuality, but also around theological issues, especially of 438 00:16:06,029 --> 00:16:08,253 even bishop in the epi church at that 439 00:16:08,253 --> 00:16:09,309 time, denying 440 00:16:09,857 --> 00:16:11,846 their bodily resurrection of Jesus. 441 00:16:12,482 --> 00:16:14,891 So courageous boldly sac 442 00:16:15,266 --> 00:16:18,065 left the epi church, including leaving a property, 443 00:16:18,543 --> 00:16:19,440 leaving behind 444 00:16:19,815 --> 00:16:21,804 bank accounts and just started over. 445 00:16:22,441 --> 00:16:24,986 Saying, Lord, here's the generous offering to be 446 00:16:24,986 --> 00:16:26,354 faced, to follow you, 447 00:16:27,229 --> 00:16:28,922 would you bless us gene. 448 00:16:29,297 --> 00:16:32,003 You send the blessing, something new, initiates something 449 00:16:32,003 --> 00:16:33,196 new that we can't do on our own, 450 00:16:33,275 --> 00:16:35,283 but here's the offering, well of wanting to 451 00:16:35,283 --> 00:16:36,721 stay aligned with you. 452 00:16:37,760 --> 00:16:39,437 To go to the second timeline picture there. 453 00:16:39,996 --> 00:16:42,645 The second timeline picture shows in 2012, 454 00:16:42,884 --> 00:16:45,275 we sent funds with father Steve Pope right 455 00:16:45,275 --> 00:16:45,515 here. 456 00:16:46,152 --> 00:16:46,391 And, 457 00:16:47,507 --> 00:16:49,261 father Steve Pope and Father, Billy Dish to 458 00:16:49,261 --> 00:16:51,504 plant it church in Sun city, which would 459 00:16:51,504 --> 00:16:53,493 eventually become light of Christ Georgetown. The church 460 00:16:53,493 --> 00:16:55,584 is still flourishing up there. Generously, 461 00:16:56,675 --> 00:16:59,158 some initiative on their behalf I think Father 462 00:16:59,317 --> 00:17:01,311 Steve, you've joked the oldest church planter in 463 00:17:01,311 --> 00:17:02,827 the An Church. Right? 464 00:17:03,864 --> 00:17:06,496 But this generosity to risk to step out 465 00:17:06,496 --> 00:17:08,511 to send funds to commission 466 00:17:09,141 --> 00:17:11,365 to plant a church there in 2016, 467 00:17:11,524 --> 00:17:14,306 the church generously raised funds amongst ourselves. 468 00:17:14,941 --> 00:17:15,736 To do 2 things. 469 00:17:16,783 --> 00:17:19,880 Generously offering is a congregation, and then the 470 00:17:19,880 --> 00:17:22,762 gen of the Lord to purchase this property 471 00:17:22,977 --> 00:17:25,137 where we are now, and to send out 472 00:17:25,137 --> 00:17:27,784 the associate director at the time, Peter Ko 473 00:17:28,159 --> 00:17:31,601 and about a hundred other key members and 474 00:17:31,657 --> 00:17:33,429 volunteers of the church, a generous 475 00:17:34,057 --> 00:17:35,905 sac superficial sending 476 00:17:36,358 --> 00:17:37,651 blessing moment 477 00:17:38,183 --> 00:17:40,008 in the life of this church. Lord, we 478 00:17:40,008 --> 00:17:42,483 offer up these offerings, we offer up church 479 00:17:42,483 --> 00:17:43,992 of the cross. We offer up this building, 480 00:17:44,309 --> 00:17:45,841 and we pray for your gene 481 00:17:46,532 --> 00:17:48,064 that you would do something 482 00:17:49,073 --> 00:17:49,946 beyond our abilities, 483 00:17:50,597 --> 00:17:52,505 you would bring people to you. You would 484 00:17:52,505 --> 00:17:54,493 expand your kingdom that we would see people 485 00:17:54,493 --> 00:17:55,448 all over Austin, 486 00:17:56,004 --> 00:17:59,344 seeking healing, seeking your face. It's 2016. 487 00:18:00,712 --> 00:18:02,306 In 20 21, we'll go to this next 488 00:18:02,306 --> 00:18:04,138 slide here. We leave our timeline a little 489 00:18:04,138 --> 00:18:05,971 bit, and this is all Saint Waco. Some 490 00:18:05,971 --> 00:18:07,245 of you know about Saint Waco. 491 00:18:07,819 --> 00:18:10,136 Dea Aaron Mon who's preached here before, she 492 00:18:10,136 --> 00:18:13,172 was our, Paris retreat speaker. She preach up 493 00:18:13,172 --> 00:18:14,930 here sometimes. If you y'all ever see Aaron 494 00:18:15,090 --> 00:18:15,330 Preach. 495 00:18:16,065 --> 00:18:18,144 Notice what it's on her feet. She preach 496 00:18:18,144 --> 00:18:19,904 barefoot. And some of you seen that before 497 00:18:19,984 --> 00:18:22,224 And she just kind of this recognition that 498 00:18:22,224 --> 00:18:24,156 she's standing in the presence of God even 499 00:18:24,156 --> 00:18:25,429 in the communicating the word. 500 00:18:26,224 --> 00:18:27,497 I'm a little more self conscious in my 501 00:18:27,497 --> 00:18:28,611 feet, so I'll keep my shoes on. 502 00:18:30,520 --> 00:18:33,008 God We began a mentoring relationship with all 503 00:18:33,088 --> 00:18:35,982 Saints Waco and Christchurch Church without 504 00:18:36,679 --> 00:18:39,268 in in just a beautiful way. We generously 505 00:18:39,566 --> 00:18:42,118 sent funds and resources to help a church 506 00:18:42,118 --> 00:18:42,995 plant in, 507 00:18:43,394 --> 00:18:43,952 in Waco, 508 00:18:44,670 --> 00:18:47,701 very similar style to our style of following 509 00:18:47,861 --> 00:18:48,020 Christ. 510 00:18:48,674 --> 00:18:49,153 And 511 00:18:49,633 --> 00:18:50,751 and in the An church. 512 00:18:51,470 --> 00:18:52,210 And gene, 513 00:18:52,588 --> 00:18:54,506 people are coming to know Jesus in all 514 00:18:54,665 --> 00:18:55,225 Saint Waco. 515 00:18:56,116 --> 00:18:57,949 People are be... Kids are being baptized. You 516 00:18:57,949 --> 00:18:59,861 see that you see, father Michael right there 517 00:18:59,861 --> 00:19:02,671 disc cycling teaching the kids. This generosity 518 00:19:03,047 --> 00:19:04,264 offering up gene. 519 00:19:05,213 --> 00:19:07,924 Sending out. Go to this next slide. Every 520 00:19:07,924 --> 00:19:08,242 year, 521 00:19:08,960 --> 00:19:12,728 we support around 23 different missionaries and mission 522 00:19:12,786 --> 00:19:13,240 agencies 523 00:19:13,755 --> 00:19:16,292 in this church, both local and global as 524 00:19:16,292 --> 00:19:18,511 part of our budget, we set aside. So 525 00:19:18,511 --> 00:19:20,256 if all the ties and offerings that are 526 00:19:20,256 --> 00:19:23,293 given in We set aside 10 percent for 527 00:19:23,293 --> 00:19:26,637 world mission to see the kingdom come all 528 00:19:26,637 --> 00:19:29,026 over the world. Jesus, we offer up, 529 00:19:29,678 --> 00:19:32,089 these blessings and would you generate, 530 00:19:33,181 --> 00:19:33,500 bless, 531 00:19:34,136 --> 00:19:36,525 send your blessing, send your fire down all 532 00:19:36,525 --> 00:19:37,162 over the world. 533 00:19:38,052 --> 00:19:40,281 This has been your story, Christ Church, this 534 00:19:40,281 --> 00:19:42,135 constant theme of generosity, 535 00:19:42,590 --> 00:19:44,125 offering up to god, gene, 536 00:19:44,899 --> 00:19:46,908 fire from heaven. Ig the gift. 537 00:19:48,107 --> 00:19:50,285 And in this theme of generosity and gene, 538 00:19:50,505 --> 00:19:52,822 I wanna share with you some staff transitions 539 00:19:52,822 --> 00:19:54,420 that are coming up, some of which might 540 00:19:54,420 --> 00:19:55,240 be expected 541 00:19:55,633 --> 00:19:57,785 others which might come as a surprise all 542 00:19:57,785 --> 00:19:59,858 of these staff transitions I'm about to share, 543 00:20:00,336 --> 00:20:02,909 fit this pattern of generosity and generosity. 544 00:20:03,700 --> 00:20:04,819 Let's go to this next slide. 545 00:20:06,419 --> 00:20:08,259 We got 4 staff who are going through 546 00:20:08,259 --> 00:20:10,919 some key transitions in their life and 547 00:20:11,474 --> 00:20:12,833 All of them as I sit in the 548 00:20:12,833 --> 00:20:15,150 middle right now, watching what's going on. I 549 00:20:15,150 --> 00:20:17,968 just get a sense of the spirit's hand 550 00:20:18,027 --> 00:20:18,507 at work, 551 00:20:19,146 --> 00:20:19,646 generosity. 552 00:20:20,678 --> 00:20:22,904 Being offered up gene. Let me tell you 553 00:20:22,904 --> 00:20:23,882 about each of these 554 00:20:24,415 --> 00:20:26,563 father herb, an angel there in the bottom 555 00:20:26,563 --> 00:20:28,312 left and herb, you're with us right here, 556 00:20:28,964 --> 00:20:30,805 It's been here for 2 years is our 557 00:20:30,805 --> 00:20:33,125 evangelist in residence. And for he and Angel, 558 00:20:33,765 --> 00:20:35,144 this has been a healing 559 00:20:35,445 --> 00:20:35,945 community 560 00:20:36,325 --> 00:20:37,525 for him and for them. 561 00:20:38,337 --> 00:20:40,648 Healing community where he has been able to 562 00:20:40,648 --> 00:20:42,960 learn to be a priest you ordained just 563 00:20:42,960 --> 00:20:44,872 months before came down here. 564 00:20:46,243 --> 00:20:48,795 Been a healing community to belong to a 565 00:20:48,795 --> 00:20:51,188 church community like this and to serve among 566 00:20:51,188 --> 00:20:53,501 where he's not the the head leader where 567 00:20:53,501 --> 00:20:55,630 he had been at a previous profit or 568 00:20:55,989 --> 00:20:57,984 organization, there's space to just kind of be 569 00:20:57,984 --> 00:21:00,060 friend and grow with while also teaching and 570 00:21:00,060 --> 00:21:01,757 leading us deeper into evan, 571 00:21:02,215 --> 00:21:04,072 helping us to love those on the margins 572 00:21:05,102 --> 00:21:07,328 Herb has been offered the role as the 573 00:21:07,328 --> 00:21:09,259 canon for mission and outreach 574 00:21:09,633 --> 00:21:11,780 in the D of the Gulf Atlantic. It's 575 00:21:11,780 --> 00:21:12,416 in Florida. 576 00:21:12,988 --> 00:21:15,482 And, a canon is something kinda like an 577 00:21:15,540 --> 00:21:16,577 overseer, and 578 00:21:17,215 --> 00:21:19,208 it's herb such a perfect fit for you. 579 00:21:19,447 --> 00:21:20,723 And as you and I have talked about 580 00:21:20,723 --> 00:21:21,601 this and dialogue, 581 00:21:22,571 --> 00:21:24,958 this puts him closer to his family closer 582 00:21:24,958 --> 00:21:26,948 to Angel family even as they've gone through 583 00:21:26,948 --> 00:21:27,845 some big changes 584 00:21:28,221 --> 00:21:29,017 this past year. 585 00:21:29,669 --> 00:21:30,069 And 586 00:21:31,027 --> 00:21:33,605 it lets him use his gifts of evan 587 00:21:33,824 --> 00:21:36,460 and encouragement within the church in an amazing 588 00:21:36,460 --> 00:21:36,620 way. 589 00:21:37,272 --> 00:21:38,702 So we're gonna have more to share in 590 00:21:38,702 --> 00:21:41,085 the coming weeks, but, Father herb will be 591 00:21:41,085 --> 00:21:43,230 leaving us here on the middle of the 592 00:21:43,230 --> 00:21:45,613 summer. We'll get opportunities to celebrate, and I'll 593 00:21:45,613 --> 00:21:47,695 explain more, But I wanna speak about some 594 00:21:47,695 --> 00:21:49,366 of these other transitions as well. 595 00:21:50,082 --> 00:21:51,617 By the way, herb, we feel 596 00:21:52,072 --> 00:21:53,823 the generous release of you. 597 00:21:54,792 --> 00:21:56,325 And we're excited for the generosity 598 00:21:56,936 --> 00:21:58,525 of what god's gonna do in you and 599 00:21:58,525 --> 00:22:00,351 through you in this new church role. 600 00:22:02,813 --> 00:22:03,606 Cast Smith, 601 00:22:04,578 --> 00:22:07,052 Kessler has been our small groups pastor for 602 00:22:07,052 --> 00:22:08,729 about the last year and a half, almost 603 00:22:08,729 --> 00:22:10,964 2 years now. And before taking this role, 604 00:22:11,123 --> 00:22:12,560 he's been a church planter. 605 00:22:13,054 --> 00:22:15,683 And has been very upfront that church planting 606 00:22:15,683 --> 00:22:17,356 is still just in his bones in his 607 00:22:17,436 --> 00:22:17,834 Dna. 608 00:22:18,312 --> 00:22:20,304 He's been going through the coordination process and 609 00:22:20,304 --> 00:22:22,477 is on the cusp of becoming a dea 610 00:22:22,869 --> 00:22:25,109 And and he's been talking with our bishop, 611 00:22:25,269 --> 00:22:27,109 and there's an opportunity for him to begin 612 00:22:27,109 --> 00:22:28,170 a church plant 613 00:22:28,710 --> 00:22:31,601 very soon in Lockhart heart. You might wonder 614 00:22:31,601 --> 00:22:35,027 why Lockhart and as Kessler and Rachel had 615 00:22:35,027 --> 00:22:36,621 put a list together of where they thought 616 00:22:36,621 --> 00:22:38,709 the lord was calling them to plant. Lockhart 617 00:22:38,709 --> 00:22:39,907 heart was at the top of the list. 618 00:22:40,067 --> 00:22:41,286 It was a number 1 619 00:22:42,304 --> 00:22:44,940 consideration because of preexisting existing relationships they already 620 00:22:44,940 --> 00:22:47,182 have down there. Both with believers and non 621 00:22:47,182 --> 00:22:49,008 believers. And so an opportunity to go in 622 00:22:49,008 --> 00:22:50,301 implant a church that is 623 00:22:50,674 --> 00:22:52,897 relational oriented to invite people in, 624 00:22:54,022 --> 00:22:54,895 to the church. 625 00:22:56,957 --> 00:22:58,623 He's been talking about this with our bishop. 626 00:22:58,781 --> 00:23:01,265 There's just this mutual sense of 627 00:23:01,814 --> 00:23:03,971 We think the Lord is doing something here 628 00:23:03,971 --> 00:23:05,430 and Ke needs to begin 629 00:23:05,808 --> 00:23:08,205 a process of fundraising and developing a team. 630 00:23:09,339 --> 00:23:11,356 We're gonna commission him generously 631 00:23:11,736 --> 00:23:15,171 with financial resources for the generative work that 632 00:23:15,251 --> 00:23:17,580 God will be starting in Lockhart hard. And 633 00:23:17,580 --> 00:23:19,015 again, we'll be talking about this more in 634 00:23:19,015 --> 00:23:20,232 the coming weeks. The 635 00:23:20,768 --> 00:23:22,841 expectation for Testers is, he'll be with us 636 00:23:22,841 --> 00:23:25,009 through towards the end of the summer then 637 00:23:25,009 --> 00:23:27,326 he'll need to transition more to lockhart and 638 00:23:27,326 --> 00:23:28,125 the work he's doing. 639 00:23:29,403 --> 00:23:30,202 Danielle Pruitt, 640 00:23:31,081 --> 00:23:33,252 down there in the... And the third box 641 00:23:33,252 --> 00:23:35,807 and right here, Danielle, you're here today. With 642 00:23:35,807 --> 00:23:36,605 baby number 2. 643 00:23:38,282 --> 00:23:40,118 Towns is over there as well. Danielle has 644 00:23:40,118 --> 00:23:42,687 worked faithfully as office administrative for over 3 645 00:23:42,687 --> 00:23:44,521 years, and she did it as a generous 646 00:23:44,521 --> 00:23:47,472 act of service both for her family and 647 00:23:47,472 --> 00:23:49,387 for love of the church. Danielle has a 648 00:23:49,387 --> 00:23:52,694 master's degree in theological studies. She so sharp 649 00:23:52,992 --> 00:23:55,066 theological and has it calling on her life 650 00:23:55,066 --> 00:23:56,742 towards more vocational ministry. 651 00:23:57,620 --> 00:23:59,397 She's done this work generously, 652 00:23:59,869 --> 00:24:01,704 But if you've ever worked for an organization 653 00:24:01,704 --> 00:24:03,460 where it doesn't exactly line up with your 654 00:24:03,460 --> 00:24:05,215 call, but you do it as sacrifice. That's 655 00:24:05,215 --> 00:24:06,412 where she's been for 3 years. 656 00:24:07,463 --> 00:24:10,005 So if she is ending maternity leave right 657 00:24:10,005 --> 00:24:12,308 now, she's been given an opportunity to work 658 00:24:12,308 --> 00:24:15,327 with Hill house on Ut campus. 1 of 659 00:24:15,327 --> 00:24:16,715 our... On campus 660 00:24:17,089 --> 00:24:20,820 partnerships that's doing amazing work in terms of 661 00:24:20,820 --> 00:24:22,964 reaching students. And Danielle is gonna get to 662 00:24:22,964 --> 00:24:26,085 work there using her gifts her pastor work, 663 00:24:26,325 --> 00:24:28,724 her pastor heart, her teaching her counseling, 664 00:24:29,125 --> 00:24:31,284 and we're excited and get to bless and 665 00:24:31,284 --> 00:24:33,304 honor and send you for the new generative 666 00:24:33,365 --> 00:24:35,453 work. That the Lord's gonna do through you. 667 00:24:35,932 --> 00:24:38,643 This this offering of generosity, this blessing of 668 00:24:38,643 --> 00:24:39,143 gene. 669 00:24:40,636 --> 00:24:42,332 And then Christy Hart will, Christy 670 00:24:42,644 --> 00:24:45,273 has given herself generously to Christchurch These last 671 00:24:45,273 --> 00:24:48,221 3 years by commuting to Austin multiple times 672 00:24:48,221 --> 00:24:49,576 a week from San Antonio. 673 00:24:50,469 --> 00:24:52,783 She's worked to serve cliff directly. And now 674 00:24:52,783 --> 00:24:55,496 is he's left and moved on, she is 675 00:24:55,496 --> 00:24:57,651 discern that for the sake of loving her 676 00:24:57,651 --> 00:24:57,970 family. 677 00:24:58,621 --> 00:25:01,003 Watching her youngest child finished high school that 678 00:25:01,003 --> 00:25:03,624 being rooted in San Antonio is a better 679 00:25:03,624 --> 00:25:03,783 fit. 680 00:25:04,656 --> 00:25:07,356 She's boldly stepping forward in gen and risk. 681 00:25:07,848 --> 00:25:10,632 To fully plant herself in San Antonio. 682 00:25:11,188 --> 00:25:13,575 Again, you see for her this life over 683 00:25:13,575 --> 00:25:15,586 3 years of generously sacrificing 684 00:25:16,533 --> 00:25:19,244 And now we're commissioning and saying Lord, for 685 00:25:19,244 --> 00:25:21,876 what she desires, the love of her family 686 00:25:21,876 --> 00:25:23,013 would you generative 687 00:25:23,710 --> 00:25:24,268 bless her. 688 00:25:25,717 --> 00:25:27,549 For Herb and Kessler, we're gonna hear a 689 00:25:27,549 --> 00:25:29,382 little bit more in the coming weeks for 690 00:25:29,541 --> 00:25:32,011 Danielle, and for Christie, we honor your work. 691 00:25:32,661 --> 00:25:34,405 Thankful and grateful. And would you join me 692 00:25:34,405 --> 00:25:36,467 in honoring Danielle and Christie, especially in now? 693 00:25:52,635 --> 00:25:54,947 This is the story of the kingdom. 694 00:25:56,143 --> 00:25:57,578 And the story of the kingdom, 695 00:25:58,057 --> 00:25:59,903 no work. Is ever wasted. 696 00:26:00,539 --> 00:26:00,778 Ever. 697 00:26:01,494 --> 00:26:04,039 Nothing you offer up. Nothing of yourself you 698 00:26:04,039 --> 00:26:05,573 offer up is ever 699 00:26:06,043 --> 00:26:07,394 wasted or left side. 700 00:26:08,030 --> 00:26:10,176 He uses all of it. He bless all 701 00:26:10,176 --> 00:26:10,494 of it. 702 00:26:11,528 --> 00:26:13,754 It's a story of the kingdom generously offering 703 00:26:13,754 --> 00:26:15,128 up our best self 704 00:26:16,158 --> 00:26:17,596 If we were to live according to the 705 00:26:17,596 --> 00:26:20,073 story of the world's economy, then leaders like 706 00:26:20,073 --> 00:26:20,573 these 707 00:26:21,032 --> 00:26:22,710 quality, good, culture, 708 00:26:23,204 --> 00:26:25,282 fit leaders must be retained. 709 00:26:26,001 --> 00:26:28,159 Never release. We must hold on to them 710 00:26:28,159 --> 00:26:29,198 at all costs. 711 00:26:29,917 --> 00:26:31,596 Moments like this feels scary. And as I 712 00:26:31,596 --> 00:26:34,156 said in my on Friday change always feels 713 00:26:34,156 --> 00:26:36,537 scary because it removes the mask of control. 714 00:26:37,807 --> 00:26:39,315 But living in the story of the kingdom, 715 00:26:39,473 --> 00:26:41,235 we can ex Friday experience the grief of 716 00:26:41,235 --> 00:26:42,743 these endings and there is a grief that 717 00:26:42,743 --> 00:26:43,299 we acknowledge, 718 00:26:44,093 --> 00:26:45,522 but we hold a deeper trust, 719 00:26:46,237 --> 00:26:48,380 practicing generosity as a community. 720 00:26:49,903 --> 00:26:52,626 Commissioning the leasing, sending these leaders 721 00:26:53,158 --> 00:26:54,928 and waiting and expecting 722 00:26:55,300 --> 00:26:56,277 for the gen 723 00:26:56,982 --> 00:26:59,043 the blessing that the Lord will send. 724 00:27:00,549 --> 00:27:02,294 While we're talking about staff, I also wanna 725 00:27:02,294 --> 00:27:04,276 note that we will be expanding our staff, 726 00:27:04,609 --> 00:27:07,164 with a position called a curate. And I'll 727 00:27:07,164 --> 00:27:08,601 have more to share on that also in 728 00:27:08,601 --> 00:27:10,517 the coming weeks, but a curate is basically... 729 00:27:10,996 --> 00:27:12,512 You know, you graduate... If if you're a 730 00:27:12,512 --> 00:27:14,280 doctor, you graduate for medical school then you 731 00:27:14,280 --> 00:27:15,153 go to a residency. 732 00:27:15,550 --> 00:27:17,614 A accuracy in the An churches like that. 733 00:27:17,773 --> 00:27:20,392 Someone who's been through seminary been through training 734 00:27:20,392 --> 00:27:22,670 has leadership skills already developed and his school 735 00:27:23,106 --> 00:27:25,089 on the final step into the coordination path. 736 00:27:25,248 --> 00:27:27,152 So I have more to say about accuracy 737 00:27:27,152 --> 00:27:28,184 coming in a few weeks. 738 00:27:29,532 --> 00:27:31,932 I wanna conclude with the very practical way 739 00:27:31,932 --> 00:27:33,927 of living into the story of the kingdom, 740 00:27:34,246 --> 00:27:35,464 practicing generosity. 741 00:27:36,640 --> 00:27:37,437 This week, we 742 00:27:38,648 --> 00:27:40,471 For many of you, you received something like 743 00:27:40,471 --> 00:27:41,026 this in a mail, 744 00:27:42,215 --> 00:27:44,434 pledge card and a stewardship letter from the 745 00:27:44,434 --> 00:27:45,623 vest street and from me. 746 00:27:46,510 --> 00:27:48,494 And, if you didn't get 1 of these... 747 00:27:48,732 --> 00:27:50,557 On the back tables where the wooden coins 748 00:27:50,557 --> 00:27:52,064 are, you can pick 1 of these up 749 00:27:52,064 --> 00:27:53,651 or you can go online and you can 750 00:27:53,651 --> 00:27:54,206 download this. 751 00:27:55,176 --> 00:27:57,404 Every year, we have an intentional practice, 752 00:27:59,474 --> 00:28:01,862 examining our finances, considering how we might make 753 00:28:01,862 --> 00:28:04,026 a pledge, to the church in the upcoming 754 00:28:04,026 --> 00:28:06,175 year with our tides and offering. It's a 755 00:28:06,175 --> 00:28:09,619 it's a practical way to live into generosity. 756 00:28:10,472 --> 00:28:11,960 So here's what you do next week to 757 00:28:12,238 --> 00:28:14,862 This week, you'll meet together with maybe family 758 00:28:14,862 --> 00:28:17,009 members or roommates whoever you live with, pray 759 00:28:17,009 --> 00:28:19,156 through, how how is the lord inviting you 760 00:28:19,156 --> 00:28:21,635 to live into this generosity this week, And 761 00:28:21,635 --> 00:28:23,383 the next week you'll bring this pledge card 762 00:28:23,383 --> 00:28:25,313 back, and there's a moment in the service 763 00:28:25,607 --> 00:28:27,593 where we all take our pledge cards and 764 00:28:27,593 --> 00:28:29,420 we come forward and we lay them on 765 00:28:29,420 --> 00:28:29,896 the table. 766 00:28:30,549 --> 00:28:32,704 And it's this visible sign of us saying 767 00:28:32,704 --> 00:28:35,259 god, everything that we have is yours. If 768 00:28:35,259 --> 00:28:37,276 you've ever been to a more agrarian 769 00:28:37,893 --> 00:28:40,621 country often in the moments of the table 770 00:28:40,621 --> 00:28:44,069 lit. People come forward with tomatoes and mango 771 00:28:44,206 --> 00:28:46,198 and chickens and literally place them on the 772 00:28:46,198 --> 00:28:47,871 table as this way of saying, like, here's 773 00:28:47,871 --> 00:28:48,986 the first fruits of my life, 774 00:28:49,879 --> 00:28:51,960 Taking these pledge cards, it's a symbolic way 775 00:28:51,960 --> 00:28:54,119 of saying God, all of my life is 776 00:28:54,119 --> 00:28:54,440 yours. 777 00:28:55,079 --> 00:28:57,775 All of it. Have everything. This just represents 778 00:28:58,131 --> 00:29:01,144 the that this represents me offering myself putting 779 00:29:01,144 --> 00:29:03,047 it on your table to be cons by 780 00:29:03,047 --> 00:29:03,705 a priest 781 00:29:04,077 --> 00:29:04,711 offered to you. 782 00:29:05,679 --> 00:29:07,119 1 of the things we do every week 783 00:29:07,119 --> 00:29:08,799 as a priest. We received the ties in 784 00:29:08,799 --> 00:29:11,200 the offerings, and we lift up that basket 785 00:29:11,200 --> 00:29:13,279 as we lift it up, I often say 786 00:29:13,279 --> 00:29:13,839 under my breath. 787 00:29:14,731 --> 00:29:15,231 Everything 788 00:29:15,923 --> 00:29:17,193 is yours, God, 789 00:29:18,226 --> 00:29:18,726 everything. 790 00:29:19,973 --> 00:29:21,721 That's where you'll will be participating in next 791 00:29:21,721 --> 00:29:24,440 week, a sac way of saying, all of 792 00:29:24,440 --> 00:29:27,180 it is yours. God, all of my life 793 00:29:27,320 --> 00:29:27,960 is yours. 794 00:29:29,480 --> 00:29:31,559 Couple more reasons why we do this, and 795 00:29:31,640 --> 00:29:33,160 I'll just lift them up here quickly. 796 00:29:34,694 --> 00:29:35,994 This cultivate gratitude, 797 00:29:36,615 --> 00:29:37,894 a responsive heart. 798 00:29:38,454 --> 00:29:40,855 You know, imagine me saying to my wife 799 00:29:40,855 --> 00:29:41,815 on our anniversary, 800 00:29:42,785 --> 00:29:45,092 Lexi happy anniversary. I got you these flowers 801 00:29:45,092 --> 00:29:45,808 because I had to. 802 00:29:46,762 --> 00:29:47,558 Happy anniversary. 803 00:29:49,402 --> 00:29:49,902 Hey 804 00:29:50,354 --> 00:29:53,131 Gratitude, we we come in in gratitude as 805 00:29:53,131 --> 00:29:55,670 a way of saying, like, Lord, I love 806 00:29:55,670 --> 00:29:55,829 you. 807 00:29:56,638 --> 00:29:59,029 And this is how I responded to moment 808 00:29:59,029 --> 00:30:01,601 of response to moment to practice gratitude. 809 00:30:02,694 --> 00:30:03,173 Disciples. 810 00:30:04,464 --> 00:30:06,941 Jesus taught that where your treasure is, their 811 00:30:06,941 --> 00:30:08,699 your heart will be awesome. We often flip 812 00:30:08,699 --> 00:30:10,776 it and say where your heart is, there 813 00:30:10,776 --> 00:30:12,055 your... Then your treasure gonna go. 814 00:30:12,708 --> 00:30:15,014 He says the other thing, where your treasure 815 00:30:15,014 --> 00:30:15,252 is, 816 00:30:16,127 --> 00:30:17,240 then your heart follows. 817 00:30:17,955 --> 00:30:20,182 This is a moment of pushing back, 818 00:30:20,913 --> 00:30:23,382 against the idol of our culture, putting pushing 819 00:30:23,382 --> 00:30:25,952 back against the temptation of our own heart 820 00:30:26,328 --> 00:30:28,797 to use our money our resources to protect 821 00:30:28,797 --> 00:30:29,036 ourselves. 822 00:30:31,522 --> 00:30:32,957 Reminds us of the story we're living in 823 00:30:33,037 --> 00:30:34,631 This is a third 1. This is a 824 00:30:34,631 --> 00:30:35,131 a 825 00:30:35,588 --> 00:30:36,726 embodied sac 826 00:30:37,103 --> 00:30:38,868 way to say this is a story we 827 00:30:38,868 --> 00:30:41,010 live in. You are safe. God is in 828 00:30:41,010 --> 00:30:43,153 control of your life. This grounds you in 829 00:30:43,153 --> 00:30:45,349 the practice of being in his story. This 830 00:30:45,709 --> 00:30:46,985 Again, when you set this on the table, 831 00:30:47,065 --> 00:30:48,980 you're saying God my whole life belongs to 832 00:30:48,980 --> 00:30:51,215 you. These... The resources I have, everything that 833 00:30:51,374 --> 00:30:52,890 I say is mine is not really mine. 834 00:30:53,545 --> 00:30:54,765 It's just been entrusted 835 00:30:55,625 --> 00:30:56,424 by you to me. 836 00:30:57,545 --> 00:30:59,224 Reminds us of the story we're in. Number 837 00:30:59,224 --> 00:31:01,958 4, it's functional for the church. Our fiscal 838 00:31:01,958 --> 00:31:04,834 year runs August through July, and this this 839 00:31:04,834 --> 00:31:06,831 pledge drive helps us set a budget that 840 00:31:06,831 --> 00:31:08,110 is wise and response. 841 00:31:09,158 --> 00:31:11,463 Leaning in faith, but also considering the current 842 00:31:11,463 --> 00:31:13,768 staffing capacity and limits we face. So we 843 00:31:13,768 --> 00:31:15,755 actually use these pledge cards to help even 844 00:31:15,755 --> 00:31:17,050 set the budget wisely 845 00:31:17,598 --> 00:31:19,029 And then the last 1 is it roots 846 00:31:19,029 --> 00:31:20,937 us in community and especially if you've come 847 00:31:20,937 --> 00:31:22,368 to Christchurch shirts in the last year or 848 00:31:22,368 --> 00:31:22,527 so. 849 00:31:23,799 --> 00:31:24,912 Making a pledge like this. 850 00:31:25,563 --> 00:31:28,187 To way of saying, I'm sinking roots in 851 00:31:28,187 --> 00:31:31,049 here. I'm expecting this community is a community 852 00:31:31,049 --> 00:31:33,929 where I'm giving myself where I'm ex expecting 853 00:31:34,089 --> 00:31:36,646 God to generative bless where I wanna see 854 00:31:36,646 --> 00:31:37,545 all of Austin 855 00:31:38,164 --> 00:31:39,383 experience the healing 856 00:31:40,081 --> 00:31:42,409 presence of the Lord Jesus christ. So it 857 00:31:42,409 --> 00:31:44,554 roots you in community. So this week, sit 858 00:31:44,554 --> 00:31:47,016 down with family roommates. However you live with? 859 00:31:47,810 --> 00:31:50,528 Take some time to intentionally think through how 860 00:31:50,528 --> 00:31:52,383 is the Lord inviting you to offer 861 00:31:53,000 --> 00:31:54,297 your life generously 862 00:31:54,674 --> 00:31:55,073 to him. 863 00:31:56,907 --> 00:31:58,502 And then bring that pledge card next week 864 00:31:58,502 --> 00:32:00,753 as a way of responding to his grace. 865 00:32:00,993 --> 00:32:02,212 That's the story 866 00:32:02,591 --> 00:32:03,151 you live in. 867 00:32:03,870 --> 00:32:05,968 You live in the story of the king 868 00:32:06,187 --> 00:32:08,505 who has brought his kingdom and invited you 869 00:32:08,505 --> 00:32:09,119 to be a. 870 00:32:09,959 --> 00:32:10,678 Let's pray together. 871 00:32:12,996 --> 00:32:14,993 Or Jesus, if we're honest, many of us 872 00:32:14,993 --> 00:32:15,493 live 873 00:32:15,873 --> 00:32:17,391 with an edge of fear in our hearts. 874 00:32:18,910 --> 00:32:21,709 It's would you remind us re mind, put 875 00:32:21,709 --> 00:32:23,004 in our minds again 876 00:32:23,935 --> 00:32:24,492 the cross, 877 00:32:26,162 --> 00:32:26,877 the spirit, 878 00:32:27,752 --> 00:32:28,888 the resurrection 879 00:32:29,198 --> 00:32:32,048 the ascension, these touchstone touchdown of reality, your 880 00:32:32,048 --> 00:32:34,186 kingdom has come and we are safe. 881 00:32:36,019 --> 00:32:37,769 But we offer ourselves up to you this 882 00:32:37,769 --> 00:32:40,395 morning again a fresh in your name. I'm 883 00:32:40,395 --> 00:32:40,554 in,