1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:06,900 He's glorious. 2 00:00:06,900 --> 00:00:13,780 Behold the one who has come to life. 3 00:00:13,780 --> 00:00:15,740 Welcome to Hub City Vineyard. 4 00:00:15,740 --> 00:00:17,780 To get connected or to give online, 5 00:00:17,780 --> 00:00:23,680 you can go to connect.hcv.church or give.hcv.church. 6 00:00:23,680 --> 00:00:25,660 If at any time during this message 7 00:00:25,660 --> 00:00:28,300 you feel called to make a change in your life, 8 00:00:28,300 --> 00:00:33,060 text changeme to 970-00. 9 00:00:33,060 --> 00:00:35,060 Thank you and enjoy the message. 10 00:00:35,060 --> 00:00:37,360 Hey, good morning, everyone. 11 00:00:37,360 --> 00:00:38,540 So good to see you. 12 00:00:38,540 --> 00:00:39,740 So good to hear you. 13 00:00:39,740 --> 00:00:41,000 Welcome to H-C-V. 14 00:00:41,000 --> 00:00:43,300 If this is your first time checking us out, 15 00:00:43,300 --> 00:00:44,900 we are so glad you are here. 16 00:00:44,900 --> 00:00:45,600 Welcome. 17 00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:47,260 Thank you for joining us. 18 00:00:47,260 --> 00:00:49,380 If you're watching from home, thank you for welcoming us 19 00:00:49,380 --> 00:00:51,620 into your space. 20 00:00:51,620 --> 00:00:58,140 So today's message comes from the greatest story ever told. 21 00:00:58,140 --> 00:01:00,780 And when I say that, I don't know what comes to your mind, 22 00:01:00,780 --> 00:01:03,900 whether it's a movie you watched or a book you read. 23 00:01:03,900 --> 00:01:08,300 For me, it's a story that Jesus told. 24 00:01:08,300 --> 00:01:11,420 And in my opinion, it's the greatest of all 25 00:01:11,420 --> 00:01:15,340 because it significantly changed my life. 26 00:01:15,340 --> 00:01:18,120 Six short months after I gave my life to Jesus, 27 00:01:18,120 --> 00:01:22,280 I found myself in Ecuador on a short tour missions trip, 28 00:01:22,280 --> 00:01:24,620 at which time the pastor that was leading the trip 29 00:01:24,620 --> 00:01:27,780 handed me a Bible on Thursday afternoon and said, 30 00:01:27,780 --> 00:01:30,820 you're sharing today. 31 00:01:30,820 --> 00:01:32,740 Go and prepare yourself. 32 00:01:32,740 --> 00:01:35,020 To which I looked back and said, I haven't even 33 00:01:35,020 --> 00:01:37,260 read that book yet. 34 00:01:37,260 --> 00:01:39,580 What do you want me to say? 35 00:01:39,580 --> 00:01:41,420 He goes, well, God will give you the words 36 00:01:41,420 --> 00:01:42,720 and give you the text. 37 00:01:42,720 --> 00:01:43,860 Just go and prepare. 38 00:01:43,860 --> 00:01:46,820 So I quickly went back to my hotel room, 39 00:01:46,820 --> 00:01:49,060 began reading through the book of Luke. 40 00:01:49,060 --> 00:01:53,400 And God took me, of course, to the greatest story ever told. 41 00:01:53,400 --> 00:01:57,620 And I read about a lost son coming home. 42 00:01:57,620 --> 00:02:01,100 I went to the capital, to the Quito, 43 00:02:01,100 --> 00:02:02,900 and we were in a local park. 44 00:02:02,900 --> 00:02:05,580 We were doing a vacation Bible school with kids. 45 00:02:05,580 --> 00:02:06,980 We were welcoming people in. 46 00:02:06,980 --> 00:02:08,140 I shared. 47 00:02:08,140 --> 00:02:10,660 I have no idea what I said. 48 00:02:10,660 --> 00:02:12,940 But I do know that people responded. 49 00:02:12,940 --> 00:02:14,420 People gave their life to Jesus. 50 00:02:14,420 --> 00:02:16,660 We were praying for people. 51 00:02:16,660 --> 00:02:20,820 And I felt and sensed God say to me at that very time, 52 00:02:20,820 --> 00:02:24,580 Chris, this is what you're called to do. 53 00:02:24,580 --> 00:02:25,740 Fast forward to today. 54 00:02:25,740 --> 00:02:27,220 Here I am. 55 00:02:27,220 --> 00:02:32,900 You're doing what I am called to do. 56 00:02:32,900 --> 00:02:35,420 Now it's interesting in this story 57 00:02:35,420 --> 00:02:38,220 that we're discussing this morning, 58 00:02:38,220 --> 00:02:41,660 when the curtain falls on this story, 59 00:02:41,660 --> 00:02:44,060 we don't know how it ends. 60 00:02:44,060 --> 00:02:46,980 We don't know really what happened. 61 00:02:46,980 --> 00:02:51,220 And for some of you, that creates tension, right? 62 00:02:51,220 --> 00:02:54,100 But it's a certain, as the curtain drops, 63 00:02:54,100 --> 00:02:56,580 we know there's a party going on inside. 64 00:02:56,580 --> 00:02:58,980 The lost son had been found. 65 00:02:58,980 --> 00:03:02,580 We know the older son was frustrated and mad. 66 00:03:02,580 --> 00:03:07,140 And then we find the dad pleading with the older son. 67 00:03:07,140 --> 00:03:07,980 Then it ends. 68 00:03:09,300 --> 00:03:12,060 And we just don't know. 69 00:03:12,060 --> 00:03:14,180 It's like the end of a current show 70 00:03:14,180 --> 00:03:16,620 that you're streaming or watching on Netflix. 71 00:03:16,620 --> 00:03:18,740 Of course you're watching these series. 72 00:03:18,740 --> 00:03:20,300 And at the end of each episode, 73 00:03:20,300 --> 00:03:22,380 there's always a cliffhanger. 74 00:03:23,340 --> 00:03:25,860 And why do they have a cliffhanger? 75 00:03:25,860 --> 00:03:27,820 Because they wanna suck you in. 76 00:03:27,820 --> 00:03:29,740 They want you to start the next episode. 77 00:03:29,740 --> 00:03:31,860 If I just watch it for five minutes, 78 00:03:31,860 --> 00:03:33,460 I'll get the answers. 79 00:03:33,460 --> 00:03:35,380 Then you watch the whole episode. 80 00:03:35,380 --> 00:03:36,540 And then there's another cliffhanger. 81 00:03:36,540 --> 00:03:38,060 And then you watch another one. 82 00:03:38,060 --> 00:03:41,380 And then suddenly in a week, you've been watched them all. 83 00:03:41,380 --> 00:03:46,020 And then you have to find another episode to watch. 84 00:03:46,020 --> 00:03:48,140 In this story, 85 00:03:48,140 --> 00:03:52,420 we don't know if the older son stormed off. 86 00:03:52,420 --> 00:03:53,900 We don't know if the older son 87 00:03:53,900 --> 00:03:56,100 turned his back on his family and said, 88 00:03:56,100 --> 00:03:58,060 my younger brother has lost it. 89 00:03:58,060 --> 00:04:00,580 Now my dad has lost his mind. 90 00:04:00,580 --> 00:04:02,340 I am the only one in this family 91 00:04:02,340 --> 00:04:04,740 that has any sense of discipline and sanity. 92 00:04:05,900 --> 00:04:10,380 Or did the light bulb suddenly come on for the older son? 93 00:04:11,420 --> 00:04:13,700 Did he realize that he's been grinding 94 00:04:13,700 --> 00:04:18,100 and working and striving through life 95 00:04:18,100 --> 00:04:23,900 when it's always been about the father's love for him? 96 00:04:23,900 --> 00:04:25,020 Did he miss it? 97 00:04:26,140 --> 00:04:28,860 Did he suddenly burst through the doors of the party 98 00:04:28,860 --> 00:04:30,620 and join the celebration, 99 00:04:30,620 --> 00:04:35,780 say not only is this party for the son that was lost, 100 00:04:35,780 --> 00:04:37,300 but I am home as well? 101 00:04:38,780 --> 00:04:40,380 See, we just don't know. 102 00:04:41,780 --> 00:04:44,700 Now most of the time when we hear this story, 103 00:04:44,700 --> 00:04:47,180 the focus is on the younger brother. 104 00:04:47,180 --> 00:04:50,020 And we do wanna focus on him today, 105 00:04:50,020 --> 00:04:51,860 but then at the very end of the story, 106 00:04:51,860 --> 00:04:55,060 there's just three short sentences 107 00:04:55,060 --> 00:04:57,540 about this older brother, older son. 108 00:04:57,540 --> 00:04:59,340 And today I believe that God wants us 109 00:05:01,060 --> 00:05:03,220 to focus on this older son. 110 00:05:04,100 --> 00:05:06,700 He wants our talk to be about the older brother, 111 00:05:06,700 --> 00:05:07,780 the older sister, 112 00:05:07,780 --> 00:05:11,860 because I believe that God is still outside pleading today, 113 00:05:11,860 --> 00:05:14,460 inviting someone inside. 114 00:05:14,460 --> 00:05:17,780 Because listen, the music is already playing. 115 00:05:19,340 --> 00:05:20,940 But you never chose to go in. 116 00:05:22,340 --> 00:05:24,820 Now the context of this story of the prodigal son 117 00:05:24,820 --> 00:05:26,660 is the do-gooders, 118 00:05:26,660 --> 00:05:30,220 the professional religious leaders, the Pharisees 119 00:05:30,220 --> 00:05:32,860 in the time of Jesus and the teachers of the law. 120 00:05:32,860 --> 00:05:36,180 That is who this story was written for and told to. 121 00:05:36,180 --> 00:05:38,060 It's not really written for you and me. 122 00:05:38,060 --> 00:05:40,420 The story is aimed towards them. 123 00:05:40,420 --> 00:05:43,260 They didn't like who Jesus was hanging around with, 124 00:05:43,260 --> 00:05:45,740 so they began to mutter. 125 00:05:46,780 --> 00:05:49,940 They began to mutter, mutter, mutter. 126 00:05:49,940 --> 00:05:51,540 He claims to be from God, 127 00:05:51,540 --> 00:05:53,540 he claims to perform miracles, 128 00:05:53,540 --> 00:05:56,540 he claims to teach about the kingdom of God. 129 00:05:56,540 --> 00:06:01,540 But look, he's spending his time with all the wrong people. 130 00:06:02,660 --> 00:06:05,820 So Jesus says, hey, before you judge me, 131 00:06:05,820 --> 00:06:08,660 before you make any conclusions about me, 132 00:06:08,660 --> 00:06:11,900 can I tell you a few stories? 133 00:06:11,900 --> 00:06:13,980 So he goes on to tell them three stories 134 00:06:13,980 --> 00:06:16,220 about things that are lost. 135 00:06:16,220 --> 00:06:20,060 A sheep, a coin, and a son. 136 00:06:21,060 --> 00:06:22,580 And last week, if you missed it, 137 00:06:22,580 --> 00:06:25,140 we learned that Jesus was trying to show them 138 00:06:25,140 --> 00:06:29,260 the heart of God, which of course is to seek and save 139 00:06:29,260 --> 00:06:32,620 those that are lost. 140 00:06:32,620 --> 00:06:34,220 See, the heart of God is rescue, 141 00:06:34,220 --> 00:06:35,780 the heart of God is mission, 142 00:06:35,780 --> 00:06:39,900 the heart of God is movement towards people who need help. 143 00:06:39,900 --> 00:06:43,740 And that is what Jesus is doing on planet Earth. 144 00:06:43,740 --> 00:06:47,580 This is why he's hanging around the wrong people. 145 00:06:47,580 --> 00:06:50,060 This is why he shares these stories. 146 00:06:51,100 --> 00:06:53,180 So there's this crazy son, 147 00:06:54,060 --> 00:06:56,220 and the shocker of the story when it's preached, 148 00:06:56,220 --> 00:06:57,980 as many of you know, 149 00:06:57,980 --> 00:07:00,780 the shocker of the story is Dad's response 150 00:07:00,780 --> 00:07:03,340 to the lost son coming home, 151 00:07:03,340 --> 00:07:05,500 which leads us to our first thought. 152 00:07:05,500 --> 00:07:08,620 See, Jesus took on humanity's shame. 153 00:07:08,620 --> 00:07:11,020 Luke 15, 20 to 24. 154 00:07:11,020 --> 00:07:13,180 So he returned home to his father, 155 00:07:13,180 --> 00:07:15,420 and while he was still a long way off, 156 00:07:15,420 --> 00:07:17,420 his father saw him coming. 157 00:07:17,420 --> 00:07:20,700 Now take notice of what Jesus shares next. 158 00:07:20,700 --> 00:07:24,140 Filled with love and compassion, 159 00:07:24,140 --> 00:07:29,140 he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. 160 00:07:29,700 --> 00:07:32,580 So here we find, dignified Dad, 161 00:07:32,580 --> 00:07:35,140 lifting up his robe, holding it up, 162 00:07:35,140 --> 00:07:38,140 showing his legs, and raising his head. 163 00:07:38,140 --> 00:07:40,940 And running down the street after his son. 164 00:07:41,900 --> 00:07:43,660 Now for many of you, 165 00:07:43,660 --> 00:07:46,060 you don't care that the Dad lifted his robe 166 00:07:46,060 --> 00:07:47,500 and showed his legs, 167 00:07:47,500 --> 00:07:49,420 because many of us are comfortable wearing shorts. 168 00:07:49,420 --> 00:07:51,020 Some of you are wearing them today. 169 00:07:52,380 --> 00:07:53,580 But in that culture, 170 00:07:54,460 --> 00:07:58,620 a dignified noble man would never show his legs. 171 00:07:59,340 --> 00:08:01,820 But this Dad, he had to. 172 00:08:02,700 --> 00:08:06,540 In this moment, he had to reach full speed, 173 00:08:06,540 --> 00:08:09,420 running down the road towards his son. 174 00:08:10,940 --> 00:08:14,300 See, he heard that his son was coming. 175 00:08:15,340 --> 00:08:17,500 News was trickling into the house. 176 00:08:17,500 --> 00:08:19,340 I think I saw your son. 177 00:08:19,340 --> 00:08:21,900 I think it was the one that left, 178 00:08:21,900 --> 00:08:24,060 and it looked like he was heading this way. 179 00:08:25,020 --> 00:08:26,540 So Dad's been watching. 180 00:08:26,540 --> 00:08:27,980 Dad's been waiting. 181 00:08:27,980 --> 00:08:29,980 And when he sees him a long way off, 182 00:08:29,980 --> 00:08:33,020 he takes action. 183 00:08:33,020 --> 00:08:34,780 Now the text reads, 184 00:08:34,780 --> 00:08:37,420 which means Jesus is saying, of course, 185 00:08:37,420 --> 00:08:41,340 the Father was moved by his love for the son. 186 00:08:42,300 --> 00:08:44,380 But see, the culture tells us 187 00:08:44,380 --> 00:08:46,140 that he was moved by something else. 188 00:08:46,780 --> 00:08:49,340 And this is called cultural shame. 189 00:08:50,460 --> 00:08:52,460 Community shame. 190 00:08:53,340 --> 00:08:54,780 See, in this town, 191 00:08:55,500 --> 00:08:57,740 they could have voted on this child. 192 00:08:58,620 --> 00:09:01,580 Not only has this son embarrassed his father, 193 00:09:01,580 --> 00:09:03,580 he also had embarrassed all of them. 194 00:09:04,220 --> 00:09:05,820 And they could have gotten together 195 00:09:05,820 --> 00:09:09,100 in Jesus' time and voted to say, 196 00:09:09,100 --> 00:09:12,060 this son is no longer welcome here. 197 00:09:13,500 --> 00:09:16,860 This son cannot come home. 198 00:09:18,300 --> 00:09:19,900 So the Dad takes action. 199 00:09:20,700 --> 00:09:21,900 And this is why we read, 200 00:09:21,900 --> 00:09:23,100 his son said to him, 201 00:09:23,100 --> 00:09:25,820 Father, I sinned against both heaven and you, 202 00:09:25,820 --> 00:09:29,100 and I'm no longer worthy to be called your son. 203 00:09:29,100 --> 00:09:31,820 But notice, his father said to the servants, 204 00:09:31,820 --> 00:09:33,820 quick, everyone say quick. 205 00:09:35,820 --> 00:09:37,020 In other words, 206 00:09:37,580 --> 00:09:38,940 we have a few seconds here 207 00:09:38,940 --> 00:09:41,020 to change the narrative of my son's life. 208 00:09:41,500 --> 00:09:42,860 Notice what he says, quick, 209 00:09:42,860 --> 00:09:44,380 bring the finest robe in the house, 210 00:09:44,380 --> 00:09:45,020 put it on him, 211 00:09:45,020 --> 00:09:46,060 get a ring for his finger 212 00:09:46,060 --> 00:09:47,580 and sandals for his feet, 213 00:09:47,580 --> 00:09:49,740 and kill the calf we have been fattening. 214 00:09:50,540 --> 00:09:51,820 But do it quickly, 215 00:09:52,220 --> 00:09:55,100 because as soon as news gets out to the community 216 00:09:55,100 --> 00:09:57,660 that my son has come home, 217 00:09:57,660 --> 00:09:59,660 they can gather, they can vote, 218 00:09:59,660 --> 00:10:02,060 and they can place shame on my son, 219 00:10:03,180 --> 00:10:06,220 which I would never allow to happen. 220 00:10:06,780 --> 00:10:08,540 I want my son home. 221 00:10:09,820 --> 00:10:11,180 In other words, the father is saying 222 00:10:11,180 --> 00:10:12,940 we're gonna change the narrative 223 00:10:12,940 --> 00:10:14,380 before they even arrive. 224 00:10:14,940 --> 00:10:17,020 Put shoes on his feet, 225 00:10:17,020 --> 00:10:19,020 which means he's not a servant, 226 00:10:19,580 --> 00:10:22,060 means he's a dignified member of his family. 227 00:10:22,940 --> 00:10:24,460 Put a ring on his finger, 228 00:10:24,460 --> 00:10:27,740 which means he has a seal of authority. 229 00:10:28,380 --> 00:10:30,380 And now he's wearing the best robe 230 00:10:30,380 --> 00:10:32,380 so that people know who he is. 231 00:10:33,180 --> 00:10:35,180 He's someone important 232 00:10:35,180 --> 00:10:37,180 because he was wearing the father's robe. 233 00:10:37,900 --> 00:10:39,180 So all of a sudden, 234 00:10:39,500 --> 00:10:42,700 we find the son who was stumbling 235 00:10:43,180 --> 00:10:45,500 just to get the words out of his mouth, 236 00:10:45,500 --> 00:10:47,900 wearing shoes, giving him a position, 237 00:10:48,540 --> 00:10:49,900 a ring that gives him status 238 00:10:49,900 --> 00:10:52,220 and a robe that says he is loved 239 00:10:52,220 --> 00:10:55,660 and important, then his father 240 00:10:55,660 --> 00:10:57,500 puts his arm around his son, 241 00:10:58,380 --> 00:11:01,260 and he says, we must celebrate with a feast. 242 00:11:02,060 --> 00:11:03,500 For this son of mine was dead 243 00:11:03,500 --> 00:11:04,940 and has now returned to life. 244 00:11:04,940 --> 00:11:06,700 He was lost but is now found. 245 00:11:06,700 --> 00:11:08,700 So the party began. 246 00:11:09,740 --> 00:11:12,220 The father is saying to the community, 247 00:11:13,020 --> 00:11:15,020 you may have thought you could shame him, 248 00:11:15,660 --> 00:11:17,260 but you can't shame me, 249 00:11:17,820 --> 00:11:19,420 and he is with me now. 250 00:11:19,420 --> 00:11:21,420 And he is with me now. 251 00:11:22,780 --> 00:11:24,380 And that's how they walked home. 252 00:11:25,500 --> 00:11:27,100 He's with me now. 253 00:11:27,100 --> 00:11:27,900 See the shoes? 254 00:11:28,460 --> 00:11:29,180 See the ring? 255 00:11:29,740 --> 00:11:30,860 He's wearing the robe. 256 00:11:30,860 --> 00:11:32,140 He is with me now. 257 00:11:33,820 --> 00:11:34,940 Now this morning's talk 258 00:11:34,940 --> 00:11:37,660 is not focusing on the lost son, 259 00:11:38,860 --> 00:11:40,060 but if you're here this morning 260 00:11:40,060 --> 00:11:40,780 and you relate, 261 00:11:42,140 --> 00:11:43,820 maybe you are watching online 262 00:11:43,820 --> 00:11:45,260 or you've gathered with us 263 00:11:45,260 --> 00:11:46,460 and you just feel lost. 264 00:11:46,460 --> 00:11:48,380 You feel like you're not welcome home. 265 00:11:49,580 --> 00:11:51,180 Maybe the enemy has been whispering 266 00:11:51,180 --> 00:11:52,540 in your ear that, 267 00:11:52,540 --> 00:11:53,980 man, you're just too far gone. 268 00:11:55,180 --> 00:11:56,700 You can never go back to God. 269 00:11:56,700 --> 00:11:58,380 Too much has happened in your life. 270 00:11:58,380 --> 00:11:59,420 I'm telling you, 271 00:12:00,220 --> 00:12:01,660 Jesus is telling you 272 00:12:01,660 --> 00:12:03,580 a different story today. 273 00:12:04,060 --> 00:12:05,500 He's encouraging you 274 00:12:05,500 --> 00:12:07,900 that the very best thing you can do 275 00:12:07,900 --> 00:12:09,420 is turn toward home 276 00:12:09,420 --> 00:12:10,940 because your dad in heaven 277 00:12:10,940 --> 00:12:12,220 is waiting for you. 278 00:12:14,060 --> 00:12:14,940 Romans 8, 279 00:12:14,940 --> 00:12:17,020 Romans 8-1 tells us 280 00:12:17,020 --> 00:12:18,540 that now there is no condemnation, 281 00:12:19,420 --> 00:12:20,460 no condemnation 282 00:12:21,020 --> 00:12:22,620 for those who belong to Jesus. 283 00:12:23,260 --> 00:12:24,780 And because you belong to him, 284 00:12:24,780 --> 00:12:27,100 the power of the life-giving spirit 285 00:12:27,100 --> 00:12:28,780 has freed you from the power of sin 286 00:12:28,780 --> 00:12:29,580 that leads to death. 287 00:12:30,540 --> 00:12:32,700 Community shame is over. 288 00:12:34,540 --> 00:12:35,740 And if you're here this morning 289 00:12:35,740 --> 00:12:36,940 and you're thinking in your mind 290 00:12:36,940 --> 00:12:39,020 that your family will not accept you, 291 00:12:39,020 --> 00:12:40,860 the people in the tri-state area 292 00:12:40,860 --> 00:12:43,340 won't welcome you and love you. 293 00:12:43,340 --> 00:12:45,020 Don't receive that shame. 294 00:12:46,700 --> 00:12:48,140 I'm standing in front of you 295 00:12:48,140 --> 00:12:49,580 saying God loves you, 296 00:12:49,580 --> 00:12:51,580 accepts you, and invites you. 297 00:12:52,380 --> 00:12:54,380 And this community of faith 298 00:12:54,380 --> 00:12:55,820 welcomes you home. 299 00:12:57,420 --> 00:12:58,940 Jesus took on the shame 300 00:12:59,580 --> 00:13:01,820 so that people who turn toward home 301 00:13:01,820 --> 00:13:04,300 get shoes, get a ring, 302 00:13:04,300 --> 00:13:06,540 get a robe becoming a son 303 00:13:06,540 --> 00:13:07,820 and a daughter of God. 304 00:13:09,580 --> 00:13:10,140 And listen, 305 00:13:10,140 --> 00:13:11,580 it matters how you live your life. 306 00:13:11,580 --> 00:13:13,580 God doesn't want you to make stupid choices. 307 00:13:14,380 --> 00:13:16,620 Yes, there's consequences to our actions, 308 00:13:16,620 --> 00:13:18,380 but that's not the point of this story. 309 00:13:19,580 --> 00:13:21,580 See, God is calling to us 310 00:13:21,580 --> 00:13:23,180 to live a life of abundance 311 00:13:23,180 --> 00:13:25,660 to a higher standard, to be obedient, 312 00:13:25,660 --> 00:13:27,580 but that's not the point of this story. 313 00:13:28,460 --> 00:13:29,900 The point of this story 314 00:13:30,700 --> 00:13:32,700 is if you fall short of that standard, 315 00:13:32,700 --> 00:13:34,380 if you've missed opportunities, 316 00:13:34,380 --> 00:13:36,380 if you've blown up your life 317 00:13:36,380 --> 00:13:37,820 because of foolish decisions, 318 00:13:37,820 --> 00:13:40,860 there's still a Father waiting for you. 319 00:13:40,860 --> 00:13:44,220 And the shame bearer will meet you on the road 320 00:13:44,220 --> 00:13:47,420 and walk with you all the way home. 321 00:13:48,380 --> 00:13:50,380 And not only will he walk with you, 322 00:13:50,380 --> 00:13:52,060 but he removes the shame, 323 00:13:52,060 --> 00:13:53,580 protects you with love, 324 00:13:53,580 --> 00:13:56,300 and throws a party in your honor. 325 00:13:57,660 --> 00:13:59,100 I mean, if that's you today, 326 00:13:59,100 --> 00:14:00,220 I want to encourage you, 327 00:14:00,220 --> 00:14:01,180 come home. 328 00:14:01,900 --> 00:14:03,260 We've been expecting you. 329 00:14:05,100 --> 00:14:06,140 Then quickly, 330 00:14:06,140 --> 00:14:08,060 Jesus flips the tables, 331 00:14:08,060 --> 00:14:09,260 not literally, 332 00:14:09,260 --> 00:14:11,100 and he turns his focus 333 00:14:11,100 --> 00:14:13,660 towards the professional religious people, 334 00:14:13,660 --> 00:14:15,100 which leads to our next thought. 335 00:14:15,580 --> 00:14:17,580 See, humanity leans 336 00:14:18,300 --> 00:14:20,060 towards a life of performance. 337 00:14:20,860 --> 00:14:23,660 We all lean towards performance, 338 00:14:23,660 --> 00:14:25,020 Luke 15, 25 to 30. 339 00:14:25,020 --> 00:14:25,820 Meanwhile, 340 00:14:26,780 --> 00:14:29,500 the older son was in the fields working. 341 00:14:29,500 --> 00:14:30,780 And I just want to pause right there 342 00:14:30,780 --> 00:14:32,380 a second before I continue. 343 00:14:32,380 --> 00:14:34,460 And notice that Jesus addresses 344 00:14:34,460 --> 00:14:36,460 the position of this man 345 00:14:36,860 --> 00:14:38,860 as the older son. 346 00:14:39,900 --> 00:14:41,260 And quite often, 347 00:14:41,260 --> 00:14:43,340 when this story is told or is preached, 348 00:14:43,340 --> 00:14:46,860 this man is addressed as the older brother, 349 00:14:47,580 --> 00:14:48,060 right? 350 00:14:48,060 --> 00:14:48,860 Not the son. 351 00:14:49,420 --> 00:14:51,820 But God did not start 352 00:14:51,820 --> 00:14:53,660 by addressing him as the older brother. 353 00:14:53,660 --> 00:14:56,060 God addresses him as the older son, 354 00:14:56,620 --> 00:14:59,260 which I believe is very, very important 355 00:14:59,260 --> 00:15:01,660 because that's how Jesus sees him. 356 00:15:02,140 --> 00:15:03,500 He's not just a brother, 357 00:15:03,500 --> 00:15:05,820 he's not just a brother to a crazy kid. 358 00:15:05,820 --> 00:15:08,060 He is the son to the father. 359 00:15:09,660 --> 00:15:11,500 And then when he returned home, 360 00:15:13,180 --> 00:15:14,620 the older son, he returns home, 361 00:15:14,620 --> 00:15:16,620 he hears music and dancing in the house 362 00:15:16,620 --> 00:15:17,740 and he asks one of the servants 363 00:15:17,740 --> 00:15:18,540 what was going on. 364 00:15:19,180 --> 00:15:20,060 What's happening? 365 00:15:20,060 --> 00:15:21,980 Your brother is back, he was told. 366 00:15:21,980 --> 00:15:24,860 And your father has killed the fattened calf. 367 00:15:24,860 --> 00:15:27,180 We are celebrating because of his safe return. 368 00:15:27,180 --> 00:15:29,100 The older brother was angry 369 00:15:30,140 --> 00:15:31,580 and wouldn't go in. 370 00:15:31,580 --> 00:15:34,060 And his father came out and begged him. 371 00:15:34,060 --> 00:15:35,020 So think about this. 372 00:15:35,020 --> 00:15:37,740 The father, he's already gone out 373 00:15:39,180 --> 00:15:42,780 and pursued and spared the life 374 00:15:42,780 --> 00:15:44,380 of his son from community shame. 375 00:15:45,100 --> 00:15:47,500 Now he's going out again 376 00:15:47,500 --> 00:15:50,940 to plead with his other son to come in. 377 00:15:52,540 --> 00:15:53,500 But the son replies, 378 00:15:54,220 --> 00:15:56,060 all these years I've slaved for you 379 00:15:56,060 --> 00:15:57,420 and never once refused to do 380 00:15:57,420 --> 00:15:58,620 a single thing you told me to do. 381 00:15:58,620 --> 00:16:00,620 Does that hit home for anyone here this morning? 382 00:16:03,660 --> 00:16:05,740 Like some of you, yeah, that's my story. 383 00:16:06,620 --> 00:16:09,500 All my life, I've been the responsible one. 384 00:16:10,140 --> 00:16:12,140 All my life, I've had to sacrifice. 385 00:16:12,140 --> 00:16:15,660 All my life, I've given and given and given. 386 00:16:17,660 --> 00:16:18,780 And then the son continues, 387 00:16:18,780 --> 00:16:20,060 and in all that time, 388 00:16:20,060 --> 00:16:22,060 you never gave me even one young goat 389 00:16:22,060 --> 00:16:23,260 for a feast with my friends. 390 00:16:23,260 --> 00:16:25,740 Yet, when the son of yours comes back 391 00:16:25,740 --> 00:16:27,420 after squandering your money, 392 00:16:27,420 --> 00:16:29,020 when the son of yours comes back 393 00:16:29,020 --> 00:16:31,020 after squandering your money on prostitutes, 394 00:16:31,740 --> 00:16:33,740 you celebrate by killing the fattened calf. 395 00:16:34,780 --> 00:16:37,660 See, this character quickly went 396 00:16:37,660 --> 00:16:39,340 from being the older son 397 00:16:39,820 --> 00:16:43,020 to becoming the angry brother. 398 00:16:45,020 --> 00:16:48,860 The angry, grumpy, old brother. 399 00:16:49,820 --> 00:16:51,580 And while the mead is being carved 400 00:16:51,580 --> 00:16:53,260 inside of the house, 401 00:16:53,260 --> 00:16:54,300 what is he doing? 402 00:16:54,300 --> 00:16:57,820 He's throwing a tantrum, counting all the years 403 00:16:58,380 --> 00:17:01,260 that he had been slaving and working 404 00:17:01,260 --> 00:17:03,260 and performing his whole life. 405 00:17:04,780 --> 00:17:05,740 And all of a sudden, 406 00:17:05,740 --> 00:17:07,740 this younger son is in the house 407 00:17:07,740 --> 00:17:09,180 experiencing the blessing 408 00:17:09,180 --> 00:17:12,940 of the extravagant, unconditional love of God. 409 00:17:14,060 --> 00:17:15,820 Has anyone experienced 410 00:17:15,820 --> 00:17:18,860 the extravagant, unconditional love of God? 411 00:17:19,820 --> 00:17:20,380 Anyone? 412 00:17:22,220 --> 00:17:23,100 A love that says, 413 00:17:23,100 --> 00:17:25,980 I didn't earn it, I know I don't deserve it, 414 00:17:26,700 --> 00:17:27,500 but I get it. 415 00:17:28,860 --> 00:17:29,980 And I want to encourage you 416 00:17:29,980 --> 00:17:32,140 that love is flowing down 417 00:17:32,140 --> 00:17:34,140 and it doesn't ever seem to slow down. 418 00:17:34,780 --> 00:17:36,460 And it's not based on anything 419 00:17:36,460 --> 00:17:39,100 that I've done or will ever do. 420 00:17:39,100 --> 00:17:42,300 It's God's love pouring down over me. 421 00:17:43,980 --> 00:17:45,180 But the other brother, 422 00:17:45,180 --> 00:17:47,100 he had been living his whole life where? 423 00:17:47,100 --> 00:17:47,580 In the field. 424 00:17:48,540 --> 00:17:50,300 He's grinding, he's working. 425 00:17:50,940 --> 00:17:52,300 And his blessing is, 426 00:17:52,300 --> 00:17:53,180 well, I'm doing good. 427 00:17:54,940 --> 00:17:58,140 He is, his experience, his blessing is, 428 00:17:58,140 --> 00:17:59,500 well, I'm doing good. 429 00:17:59,500 --> 00:18:01,500 He's out there living under that blessing 430 00:18:01,500 --> 00:18:03,740 of his own good efforts, his own good works. 431 00:18:04,700 --> 00:18:07,020 While the younger son has figured out 432 00:18:07,020 --> 00:18:09,420 there's a different kind of blessing, 433 00:18:09,420 --> 00:18:11,260 it's the unconditional love of God. 434 00:18:13,180 --> 00:18:15,100 And God is wanting all of us today 435 00:18:15,660 --> 00:18:17,340 to get under that blessing 436 00:18:18,060 --> 00:18:20,620 so that we can go and live the lives 437 00:18:20,620 --> 00:18:22,940 that God is calling us to live. 438 00:18:22,940 --> 00:18:24,540 But notice, because of his what? 439 00:18:24,540 --> 00:18:25,500 His anger. 440 00:18:26,780 --> 00:18:29,980 The older son was hearing the invitation 441 00:18:29,980 --> 00:18:31,740 to come in to celebrate 442 00:18:31,740 --> 00:18:33,020 that his brother was back. 443 00:18:33,900 --> 00:18:35,340 When in reality, 444 00:18:35,340 --> 00:18:36,940 the father is pleading with him, 445 00:18:36,940 --> 00:18:39,100 no, this invitation to come in, 446 00:18:39,100 --> 00:18:41,020 let's celebrate you 447 00:18:41,020 --> 00:18:43,100 because you are also my son. 448 00:18:44,460 --> 00:18:45,900 You have always been with me 449 00:18:45,900 --> 00:18:47,500 and everything that I have is yours. 450 00:18:47,500 --> 00:18:48,460 I'm pleading with you. 451 00:18:48,460 --> 00:18:50,460 The party is not going to be the same 452 00:18:50,460 --> 00:18:51,260 without you. 453 00:18:51,260 --> 00:18:52,620 Everything is yours. 454 00:18:54,780 --> 00:18:57,100 Unless both my sons are at the party, 455 00:18:57,100 --> 00:19:01,180 it won't make the difference 456 00:19:01,180 --> 00:19:02,140 that I want it to be. 457 00:19:03,820 --> 00:19:05,740 And that's why today's message is called 458 00:19:05,740 --> 00:19:08,060 Let God Love You. 459 00:19:10,060 --> 00:19:13,500 Let God Love You. 460 00:19:14,780 --> 00:19:16,140 Because see, some of us have been 461 00:19:17,500 --> 00:19:19,180 performing practically our whole lives. 462 00:19:19,180 --> 00:19:21,180 Maybe it started with our relationship 463 00:19:21,180 --> 00:19:22,220 with our earthly father. 464 00:19:23,020 --> 00:19:25,020 Maybe it started while you were in a relationship 465 00:19:25,020 --> 00:19:25,820 with another person. 466 00:19:25,820 --> 00:19:28,540 Maybe it started, unfortunately, forgive me, 467 00:19:28,540 --> 00:19:29,420 in religion. 468 00:19:30,300 --> 00:19:32,300 You grew up in a strict Christian home 469 00:19:32,300 --> 00:19:34,780 that was based on following the rules. 470 00:19:36,140 --> 00:19:39,260 And now we find ourselves working 471 00:19:39,260 --> 00:19:41,900 and striving, trying to get it right 472 00:19:41,900 --> 00:19:43,100 so that we can be someone 473 00:19:43,100 --> 00:19:45,420 or become something for someone else. 474 00:19:45,980 --> 00:19:47,740 And friends, that life of performance 475 00:19:47,740 --> 00:19:50,460 has suddenly, it's become woven 476 00:19:50,460 --> 00:19:52,460 into your relationship with God. 477 00:19:53,420 --> 00:19:55,660 And today, God wants to unravel 478 00:19:55,660 --> 00:19:57,980 that performance spirit 479 00:19:57,980 --> 00:20:01,020 and set us free to be who we created us to be. 480 00:20:02,620 --> 00:20:03,740 And look, I get it. 481 00:20:04,620 --> 00:20:05,660 I want to achieve. 482 00:20:05,660 --> 00:20:06,860 I want to win. 483 00:20:06,860 --> 00:20:08,380 I want to be the best. 484 00:20:08,860 --> 00:20:10,060 I want to be part of the best. 485 00:20:10,060 --> 00:20:11,340 I want to be a history maker. 486 00:20:11,340 --> 00:20:13,340 I want to be a game changer. 487 00:20:13,980 --> 00:20:15,900 I want to do whatever it takes 488 00:20:15,900 --> 00:20:17,020 to make a difference. 489 00:20:17,020 --> 00:20:18,060 I want to win. 490 00:20:18,860 --> 00:20:20,300 And it doesn't necessarily mean 491 00:20:20,300 --> 00:20:22,060 that I want to win as in winning or losing. 492 00:20:22,060 --> 00:20:23,980 It means that if there's an option, 493 00:20:23,980 --> 00:20:24,940 I want to win. 494 00:20:25,820 --> 00:20:28,220 If there's a choice, I want to come in first. 495 00:20:28,940 --> 00:20:31,260 And if there's a podium, I want to be on top. 496 00:20:33,500 --> 00:20:36,700 Like I take Paul's challenge, right, 497 00:20:36,700 --> 00:20:38,940 to run the race to win. 498 00:20:38,940 --> 00:20:42,940 Seriously, I want to win. 499 00:20:42,940 --> 00:20:45,340 I want to win. 500 00:20:46,060 --> 00:20:47,740 Now throughout my life though, 501 00:20:48,220 --> 00:20:50,540 I have the ability to put an enormous amount 502 00:20:50,540 --> 00:20:52,060 of pressure on myself. 503 00:20:52,780 --> 00:20:54,460 In fact, there's no one in this place, 504 00:20:54,460 --> 00:20:55,660 there's no one watching online 505 00:20:55,660 --> 00:20:58,300 that puts more pressure on me than myself. 506 00:20:59,020 --> 00:21:00,300 Can anyone relate to that? 507 00:21:01,500 --> 00:21:03,020 Shoot, every hand should be a hug. 508 00:21:05,260 --> 00:21:06,620 And listen, it doesn't necessarily 509 00:21:06,620 --> 00:21:07,820 have to be a big thing. 510 00:21:09,020 --> 00:21:11,660 Like many of you don't know this, right, 511 00:21:11,660 --> 00:21:14,380 but my church softball experience, 512 00:21:15,180 --> 00:21:17,340 okay, I love church softball, right, 513 00:21:17,340 --> 00:21:19,500 I'm excited that we have three teams this spring. 514 00:21:19,500 --> 00:21:21,020 I'm thankful that all of you 515 00:21:21,020 --> 00:21:22,220 that are playing are playing. 516 00:21:22,860 --> 00:21:24,620 But several years ago, 517 00:21:24,620 --> 00:21:26,220 when we were back on Bauer Avenue, 518 00:21:26,220 --> 00:21:27,820 I had to do a Sunday morning sermon 519 00:21:27,820 --> 00:21:29,260 where I threw away my cleats. 520 00:21:30,540 --> 00:21:34,300 And some of you may remember me throwing away my cleats 521 00:21:35,100 --> 00:21:37,260 because I'm competitive, 522 00:21:37,980 --> 00:21:39,420 because I want to win. 523 00:21:39,420 --> 00:21:41,180 I want to win. 524 00:21:41,180 --> 00:21:42,940 And it got to the point 525 00:21:42,940 --> 00:21:46,300 where the other churches in the church league were like, 526 00:21:46,300 --> 00:21:48,140 hey, we need to talk to your pastor, 527 00:21:48,140 --> 00:21:49,820 that guy on church stops out of control. 528 00:21:52,300 --> 00:21:54,140 To which they look back and say, 529 00:21:54,140 --> 00:21:55,100 he's our pastor. 530 00:21:59,100 --> 00:22:01,180 How do you know it's time to retire? 531 00:22:04,060 --> 00:22:05,020 So from that point on, 532 00:22:05,020 --> 00:22:06,780 I've never played slow pitch softball again. 533 00:22:07,580 --> 00:22:08,780 God bless you for doing it, 534 00:22:08,780 --> 00:22:11,820 it's just not my thing because I just take it too far. 535 00:22:13,100 --> 00:22:14,700 Or maybe it's weddings and funerals. 536 00:22:15,500 --> 00:22:16,700 You know, many of you don't know this, 537 00:22:16,700 --> 00:22:18,300 I do a lot of weddings and funerals. 538 00:22:18,300 --> 00:22:20,300 There's times when I'm doing a wedding or a funeral, 539 00:22:20,300 --> 00:22:21,740 not all the time, but there's times 540 00:22:21,740 --> 00:22:23,500 that I put so much pressure on myself 541 00:22:23,500 --> 00:22:24,540 that it's got to be just right, 542 00:22:24,540 --> 00:22:25,740 it's got to be perfect, 543 00:22:26,620 --> 00:22:28,540 that I overwhelm myself with stress. 544 00:22:30,060 --> 00:22:31,820 And I start sweating profusely 545 00:22:31,820 --> 00:22:35,020 and I'm worried and I'm worried about letting people down 546 00:22:35,020 --> 00:22:39,020 and it's not gonna be good enough. 547 00:22:39,020 --> 00:22:40,780 You know, just even the small things 548 00:22:41,660 --> 00:22:43,420 can suddenly become about performance. 549 00:22:44,220 --> 00:22:45,660 I mean, listen to these statistics. 550 00:22:45,660 --> 00:22:47,020 At the end of 2023, 551 00:22:48,140 --> 00:22:50,540 nearly two out of five Americans, 552 00:22:50,540 --> 00:22:52,060 that's 37%, 553 00:22:52,060 --> 00:22:54,620 rated their mental health as only fair or poor. 554 00:22:55,420 --> 00:22:58,380 Up 31% from the beginning of 2020. 555 00:22:59,740 --> 00:23:02,300 When asked what the sources of anxiety was, 556 00:23:02,300 --> 00:23:07,100 Americans indicated that it first was personal finances. 557 00:23:08,300 --> 00:23:11,500 64% of those polled said personal finances, 558 00:23:11,500 --> 00:23:14,700 up from 58% at the end of the pandemic 559 00:23:14,700 --> 00:23:16,300 was the number one reason for stress. 560 00:23:17,100 --> 00:23:18,940 Then it was uncertainty in the world, 561 00:23:18,940 --> 00:23:21,420 their physical health, their mental health 562 00:23:21,420 --> 00:23:23,740 and relationships with friends and family, 563 00:23:23,740 --> 00:23:26,620 according to the American Psychiatric Association. 564 00:23:26,620 --> 00:23:31,580 Most Americans are suffering from moderate to high stress, 565 00:23:31,900 --> 00:23:34,540 with 44% reporting their stress levels 566 00:23:34,540 --> 00:23:36,780 have increased over the last three years. 567 00:23:37,980 --> 00:23:39,420 And it's not just the adults, 568 00:23:39,420 --> 00:23:41,500 stress is also taking a toll on the kids. 569 00:23:41,500 --> 00:23:43,580 Almost a third of the children reported 570 00:23:43,580 --> 00:23:45,340 that in the last month, 571 00:23:45,820 --> 00:23:47,420 that's just several months ago, 572 00:23:48,620 --> 00:23:50,780 they had experienced a physical health symptom 573 00:23:50,780 --> 00:23:52,140 of associated, 574 00:23:52,620 --> 00:23:54,380 such as headaches, stomach aches, 575 00:23:54,380 --> 00:23:56,060 or trouble falling or standing, 576 00:23:56,060 --> 00:23:57,580 or falling or staying asleep, 577 00:23:57,580 --> 00:23:58,940 and that's all stress related. 578 00:24:00,700 --> 00:24:02,140 In addition, for many of us parents, 579 00:24:02,140 --> 00:24:05,020 we don't even realize that our own stress affects our kids. 580 00:24:06,940 --> 00:24:10,140 In America, self care is no longer a priority, 581 00:24:10,140 --> 00:24:12,860 and the lack of willpower has become a problem 582 00:24:12,860 --> 00:24:14,940 in our culture since the pandemic. 583 00:24:15,500 --> 00:24:19,020 It's as if Americans are stuck, 584 00:24:20,620 --> 00:24:21,900 and they can't move forward. 585 00:24:22,780 --> 00:24:24,220 And I wanna encourage you next month, 586 00:24:24,220 --> 00:24:27,420 we're gonna be doing a series called Stretched Thin, 587 00:24:27,980 --> 00:24:30,780 and we're gonna do a whole month in April 588 00:24:30,780 --> 00:24:32,700 focused on mental health. 589 00:24:33,740 --> 00:24:35,020 And I wanna encourage you, 590 00:24:35,020 --> 00:24:36,380 if you know people that are struggling, 591 00:24:36,380 --> 00:24:37,420 stressed, overwhelmed, 592 00:24:37,420 --> 00:24:40,780 that's a series they don't want to miss. 593 00:24:42,700 --> 00:24:44,540 Now I believe a big reason for this 594 00:24:44,540 --> 00:24:47,500 is because we know what it's like 595 00:24:47,500 --> 00:24:50,620 to live under the weight of performing toward perfection. 596 00:24:51,820 --> 00:24:54,060 Right, we think we have to perform to be perfect, 597 00:24:54,060 --> 00:24:55,340 but in the church, 598 00:24:55,340 --> 00:24:57,100 so many people have now allowed that 599 00:24:58,220 --> 00:25:00,140 to impact their relationship with God. 600 00:25:01,740 --> 00:25:04,300 And God, He wants to invite us in. 601 00:25:05,260 --> 00:25:08,300 He's inviting us in to allow Him to love us. 602 00:25:11,180 --> 00:25:13,020 Author Henry Nowen wrote the classic, 603 00:25:13,020 --> 00:25:15,660 The Return of the Prodigal Son. 604 00:25:16,780 --> 00:25:19,820 You can find this book by finding the Rembrandt painting 605 00:25:19,820 --> 00:25:21,180 of the Prodigal Son on the cover. 606 00:25:21,180 --> 00:25:23,180 And Nowen writes this, 607 00:25:23,180 --> 00:25:26,220 For most of my life I've struggled to find God, 608 00:25:26,220 --> 00:25:28,620 to know God, to love God. 609 00:25:28,620 --> 00:25:32,060 I've tried hard to follow the guidelines of spiritual life, 610 00:25:32,060 --> 00:25:34,860 pray always, work for others, read the scriptures, 611 00:25:34,860 --> 00:25:38,940 and to avoid the many temptations to dissipate myself. 612 00:25:38,940 --> 00:25:42,780 I have failed many times, but always tried again, 613 00:25:42,780 --> 00:25:45,660 even when I was so close to despair. 614 00:25:46,220 --> 00:25:49,980 Now I wonder whether I have sufficiently realized 615 00:25:49,980 --> 00:25:53,660 that during all this time, God has been trying to find me, 616 00:25:54,140 --> 00:25:56,860 to know me, to love me. 617 00:25:57,740 --> 00:26:00,780 The question is not, how am I to find God, 618 00:26:00,780 --> 00:26:03,580 but how am I to let myself be found by God? 619 00:26:04,460 --> 00:26:07,180 The question is not, how am I to know God, 620 00:26:07,180 --> 00:26:10,140 but how am I to let myself be known by God? 621 00:26:11,100 --> 00:26:14,380 And finally, the question is not, how am I to love God, 622 00:26:15,260 --> 00:26:17,500 but how am I to let myself be loved by God? 623 00:26:17,500 --> 00:26:22,220 See, God is looking into the distance for you and me. 624 00:26:22,940 --> 00:26:28,780 He's trying to find us, and he's longing to bring us home. 625 00:26:30,220 --> 00:26:32,060 See friends, the music is playing. 626 00:26:32,780 --> 00:26:36,700 The question is, can you dance? 627 00:26:38,140 --> 00:26:39,180 Can you dance? 628 00:26:39,820 --> 00:26:41,580 I need some people to join me up on stage. 629 00:26:41,580 --> 00:26:43,900 Who's willing to get out of their seats? 630 00:26:43,900 --> 00:26:46,060 Come on up, you don't have to put your hand up, just come up. 631 00:26:46,060 --> 00:26:48,060 Come on up, join me on stage, let's go. 632 00:26:48,540 --> 00:26:50,540 Come on, don't be bashful, let's go. 633 00:26:51,580 --> 00:26:53,580 Come on, get up here. 634 00:26:54,540 --> 00:26:58,380 Come on, oh look at this, not too many now, that's good, that's good. 635 00:26:59,180 --> 00:27:01,340 All right, the stage is only so big. 636 00:27:02,060 --> 00:27:05,580 Come on, okay, two rows, two rows. 637 00:27:05,580 --> 00:27:07,980 Let me move my table, I don't want anybody to trip. 638 00:27:08,860 --> 00:27:09,500 Let's go. 639 00:27:10,540 --> 00:27:13,260 All right, two rows, two rows, Tracy out in front. 640 00:27:13,740 --> 00:27:14,860 Tracy's out in front. 641 00:27:14,860 --> 00:27:16,620 Tracy's out in front. 642 00:27:17,740 --> 00:27:19,420 Here we go, Tracy right here. 643 00:27:20,220 --> 00:27:23,660 Oh, Charlie and Tracy, yeah, here we go. 644 00:27:23,660 --> 00:27:25,100 All right, you guys ready? 645 00:27:25,100 --> 00:27:27,340 Let's go, come on, get in there, get in there. 646 00:27:28,220 --> 00:27:29,500 All right, Donnie, you ready? 647 00:27:30,860 --> 00:27:31,420 You ready? 648 00:27:32,060 --> 00:27:33,020 All right, drop it. 649 00:27:33,740 --> 00:27:39,340 So keep that mental image, because that leads us to thought three. 650 00:27:39,340 --> 00:27:44,140 God is challenging you to get over yourself and join the party. 651 00:27:46,140 --> 00:27:52,220 Will you change the performance mindset and can you dance? 652 00:27:53,260 --> 00:27:59,340 I mean, here's the reality, listen, many of you personally now know I can't dance. 653 00:28:00,940 --> 00:28:06,860 I don't even necessarily enjoy dancing, but the biggest reason I don't dance is myself. 654 00:28:06,860 --> 00:28:12,460 It's my pride and my focus on what other people think, but I have to learn to get over myself. 655 00:28:12,460 --> 00:28:18,300 And when God challenges you to dance in front of the church, that my friends is getting over yourself. 656 00:28:19,580 --> 00:28:27,260 Because it actually is fun and it's enjoying and God is inviting someone in this room watching online 657 00:28:27,820 --> 00:28:32,460 who have been living under the sense that my acceptance with God comes from my performance. 658 00:28:32,460 --> 00:28:36,140 God is saying the music is playing. 659 00:28:36,620 --> 00:28:38,940 Donnie has dropped the bass. 660 00:28:40,140 --> 00:28:45,180 It's not when you think you're ready, the music is already playing. 661 00:28:46,220 --> 00:28:49,580 Luke 15 tells us the older brother was angry. 662 00:28:49,580 --> 00:28:54,700 Remember, older brother, he's not referenced as the older son now. 663 00:28:54,700 --> 00:29:00,620 His father comes out and he begs him, but he replied, all these years, I've slaved my brother. 664 00:29:00,620 --> 00:29:04,860 I've slaved and notice these excuses. 665 00:29:04,860 --> 00:29:07,980 I've slaved, I've worked, you've never given me anything. 666 00:29:07,980 --> 00:29:13,980 And his father says to him, look, dear son, you have always stayed by me and everything I have is yours. 667 00:29:14,620 --> 00:29:18,300 We had to celebrate this happy day for your brother was dead and has come back to life, 668 00:29:18,300 --> 00:29:19,740 he was lost, but is now found. 669 00:29:20,700 --> 00:29:23,580 And this morning, God is saying to you, I love you. 670 00:29:25,100 --> 00:29:29,100 Not because of your performance, not because of your works, not because you're a good person. 671 00:29:29,100 --> 00:29:31,820 I love you because I love you. 672 00:29:33,020 --> 00:29:34,540 Which leads us to our final thought. 673 00:29:35,340 --> 00:29:36,300 God loves us. 674 00:29:36,300 --> 00:29:37,980 God loves you just as you are. 675 00:29:38,940 --> 00:29:42,380 See, there's a blessing that God wants to release on your life 676 00:29:42,380 --> 00:29:44,860 that's not contingent on your performance. 677 00:29:46,540 --> 00:29:49,580 Does God want us to live a great life, an abundant life? 678 00:29:49,580 --> 00:29:50,460 Of course he does. 679 00:29:51,260 --> 00:29:53,900 Does he want you to be your best? 680 00:29:53,900 --> 00:29:54,940 Of course he does. 681 00:29:54,940 --> 00:29:59,740 Does he want you to adopt the attitude that whatever you do be the best in the class? 682 00:30:00,060 --> 00:30:01,660 Yes, he does. 683 00:30:02,380 --> 00:30:06,220 But the blessing that each one of us came out of the womb searching for 684 00:30:07,020 --> 00:30:10,940 was the blessing of a father to simply say, I love you, son. 685 00:30:11,820 --> 00:30:13,900 I believe in you, daughter. 686 00:30:14,620 --> 00:30:17,020 I will show up for you, son. 687 00:30:17,900 --> 00:30:22,620 The blessing coming from the heavenly father is not based on our performance. 688 00:30:22,620 --> 00:30:24,060 How do I know that? 689 00:30:24,620 --> 00:30:25,980 Go ahead and blow up your life. 690 00:30:26,620 --> 00:30:29,020 And by the way, I'm not recommending that by any way. 691 00:30:30,700 --> 00:30:34,540 But if you want proof that God's love is not tied to your performance, fail. 692 00:30:35,500 --> 00:30:40,380 And when you fail, get ready when you turn away from your failure 693 00:30:40,380 --> 00:30:44,860 to see a father blazing a trail of grace, mercy, and forgiveness towards you. 694 00:30:46,300 --> 00:30:47,980 Are there consequences? Of course. 695 00:30:48,780 --> 00:30:50,780 But remember, that's not the point of this story. 696 00:30:50,780 --> 00:30:52,380 Are things going to change? Yes. 697 00:30:52,380 --> 00:30:54,220 But again, it's not the point of this story. 698 00:30:54,220 --> 00:31:01,340 This story is about a father whose love cannot be trumped by our best effort or our worst effort. 699 00:31:01,980 --> 00:31:03,900 It's about God's great love for us. 700 00:31:03,900 --> 00:31:11,420 It's an invitation to see that he makes the first move on both of these circumstances. 701 00:31:12,380 --> 00:31:13,980 And we see it in Jesus's life. 702 00:31:13,980 --> 00:31:18,460 Look, Jesus comes down to the Jordan River to be baptized by John, Matthew 3, 703 00:31:18,460 --> 00:31:22,540 as soon as Jesus was baptized, came up out of the water at that moment. 704 00:31:22,540 --> 00:31:23,820 Heaven was opened. 705 00:31:23,820 --> 00:31:27,820 The Spirit of God descending like a dove, landing on him. 706 00:31:27,820 --> 00:31:31,580 And a voice from heaven says, this is my son whom I love. 707 00:31:31,580 --> 00:31:33,420 That part makes sense. 708 00:31:33,420 --> 00:31:35,580 He is your son. Of course, you love him. 709 00:31:35,580 --> 00:31:41,020 But this next statement, not really sure, with him, I am well pleased. 710 00:31:42,300 --> 00:31:47,260 Well, if dad is well pleased, if his father is well pleased, 711 00:31:47,260 --> 00:31:50,940 if his father is well pleased, this kid had to do something great. 712 00:31:50,940 --> 00:31:53,820 What has he done at this point? 713 00:31:55,180 --> 00:31:55,900 Nothing. 714 00:31:57,980 --> 00:31:59,660 Well, he did do something amazing. 715 00:31:59,660 --> 00:32:03,820 He stepped down out of heaven, came through a virgin womb onto the planet Earth, 716 00:32:03,820 --> 00:32:05,900 as savior of the world, God in human skin. 717 00:32:05,900 --> 00:32:06,860 So that's something. 718 00:32:07,980 --> 00:32:10,620 But Jesus had not yet walked on water. 719 00:32:10,620 --> 00:32:12,220 He had not healed one person. 720 00:32:12,220 --> 00:32:13,420 He had not raised the dead. 721 00:32:13,420 --> 00:32:14,860 He had not touched a leper. 722 00:32:14,860 --> 00:32:16,460 He did not feed 5,000. 723 00:32:16,460 --> 00:32:19,820 He has not preached a sermon, did not cast out a demon. 724 00:32:19,820 --> 00:32:21,500 He had not called him to storm. 725 00:32:21,500 --> 00:32:24,940 Yet we see the father saying, that's my son. 726 00:32:26,140 --> 00:32:26,940 I love him. 727 00:32:28,220 --> 00:32:29,580 I am pleased with him. 728 00:32:30,460 --> 00:32:32,780 And then Jesus goes on to perform many miracles. 729 00:32:32,780 --> 00:32:36,620 In fact, we read in John 21, Jesus did many other things as well. 730 00:32:36,620 --> 00:32:41,180 If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world 731 00:32:41,740 --> 00:32:44,380 would not have room for the books that would be written. 732 00:32:44,380 --> 00:32:48,220 See, ultimately, Jesus did what only he could do. 733 00:32:48,940 --> 00:32:53,980 With determination, with grit, with unwavering focus and obedience, he paid the price. 734 00:32:54,700 --> 00:32:58,860 He beat death, hell, sin, sickness, darkness in the grave. 735 00:32:59,820 --> 00:33:02,700 But he didn't do it so he could get his father's approval. 736 00:33:02,700 --> 00:33:07,420 He did it because he already had his father's approval. 737 00:33:08,860 --> 00:33:12,220 And God is inviting you to experience this kind of radical love. 738 00:33:12,220 --> 00:33:13,660 And hear me out. 739 00:33:14,220 --> 00:33:16,620 There's a blessing that goes along with doing good. 740 00:33:17,340 --> 00:33:20,860 You might be recognized as someone that does good, even in your own eyes. 741 00:33:21,660 --> 00:33:24,140 You may view yourself as someone that does good. 742 00:33:24,860 --> 00:33:26,620 And there's a blessing that comes with that. 743 00:33:28,540 --> 00:33:33,020 But it's not anything close to knowing that there's a waterfall of God's love. 744 00:33:33,980 --> 00:33:40,540 His unconditional love that moves you to live a life not so you can be accepted 745 00:33:40,540 --> 00:33:42,300 but because you love him. 746 00:33:43,180 --> 00:33:47,100 And it's interesting that his older son is outside comparing, 747 00:33:47,100 --> 00:33:48,940 well, I did all this, Dad. 748 00:33:50,220 --> 00:33:52,140 I haven't gotten any recognition. 749 00:33:53,420 --> 00:33:57,740 And one of the ways we know we live under a performance-based mentality 750 00:33:57,740 --> 00:33:59,740 in our relationship with God is comparison. 751 00:34:00,540 --> 00:34:04,220 Comparing ourselves to others, how spiritual we are, how we do good, 752 00:34:04,220 --> 00:34:05,660 looking down on others. 753 00:34:05,660 --> 00:34:09,660 Friends, that's a performance works mindset, and that's a core concept. 754 00:34:09,660 --> 00:34:11,420 And that's a closed mindset. 755 00:34:12,940 --> 00:34:15,580 God wants a growth mindset for his church. 756 00:34:16,540 --> 00:34:19,740 A mindset that I'm a love son, a love daughter of God. 757 00:34:20,540 --> 00:34:24,380 And that is causing me to want to do the best I can for God. 758 00:34:25,420 --> 00:34:28,540 And this is the natural outcome of knowing who we are. 759 00:34:29,820 --> 00:34:33,260 That's a different driver inside of us. 760 00:34:33,980 --> 00:34:35,340 Because we know we're valued. 761 00:34:35,340 --> 00:34:36,540 We know our position. 762 00:34:37,180 --> 00:34:37,420 Right? 763 00:34:37,420 --> 00:34:39,820 We know we're loved. 764 00:34:39,820 --> 00:34:44,380 So this morning, look in the mirror and reflect on how you act. 765 00:34:44,380 --> 00:34:46,620 What is your attitude when others come home? 766 00:34:47,260 --> 00:34:49,740 What's your attitude when others get restored? 767 00:34:50,700 --> 00:34:53,340 When people stumble, when they fall, when they make mistakes, 768 00:34:53,340 --> 00:34:54,460 do you welcome them back? 769 00:34:55,660 --> 00:34:58,780 Or when they're restored, do you question their motives? 770 00:34:58,780 --> 00:34:59,740 Do you judge them? 771 00:35:00,620 --> 00:35:01,820 Do you have an attitude? 772 00:35:02,380 --> 00:35:03,900 Because friends, look around social media. 773 00:35:03,900 --> 00:35:07,660 The church has a reputation for destroying their own. 774 00:35:09,580 --> 00:35:11,900 And unfortunately, that's a big reason 775 00:35:11,900 --> 00:35:14,060 why people don't come to church anymore. 776 00:35:14,780 --> 00:35:17,100 And we need to change that narrative, HCV. 777 00:35:19,980 --> 00:35:21,980 This past Friday, we did the story tour. 778 00:35:22,860 --> 00:35:24,780 And I tell you, now listen, let me finish. 779 00:35:24,780 --> 00:35:25,420 Let me finish. 780 00:35:26,060 --> 00:35:27,260 I made it for one song. 781 00:35:28,780 --> 00:35:30,860 Sorry, we had the marriage chorus going on at the same time. 782 00:35:31,660 --> 00:35:33,260 And this place was packed. 783 00:35:33,260 --> 00:35:35,420 There was people sitting in the aisles, standing everywhere. 784 00:35:36,220 --> 00:35:38,380 We counted probably with all the volunteers and people here, 785 00:35:38,380 --> 00:35:39,740 over 600 people in this place. 786 00:35:41,500 --> 00:35:44,860 And now listen, the crazy thing is people were touched, 787 00:35:44,860 --> 00:35:47,500 people were saved, people were prayed for, people were set free. 788 00:35:48,380 --> 00:35:50,620 But then you learn that they're having problems 789 00:35:50,620 --> 00:35:53,340 finding places to share their stories 790 00:35:53,340 --> 00:35:55,100 because churches don't welcome them anymore. 791 00:35:56,860 --> 00:35:58,540 They don't want to welcome people home. 792 00:35:58,540 --> 00:36:01,500 And friends, we welcome people home. 793 00:36:01,500 --> 00:36:05,500 And we will continue to welcome people home. 794 00:36:07,260 --> 00:36:10,060 Are you basing your relationship with Jesus on your performance? 795 00:36:11,020 --> 00:36:12,700 Well, God wants to set you free today. 796 00:36:13,340 --> 00:36:16,540 Because I know that God bought people here this morning 797 00:36:16,540 --> 00:36:17,740 or you're watching online. 798 00:36:19,820 --> 00:36:23,100 And He's desiring to break those chains of performance off of you. 799 00:36:24,780 --> 00:36:28,860 Not to celebrate your little brother, but to celebrate you. 800 00:36:28,860 --> 00:36:31,100 This isn't just a party for a kid that came home. 801 00:36:31,100 --> 00:36:33,980 It's just as much a party for the kid that stayed home. 802 00:36:34,860 --> 00:36:37,100 Not just a party for the kid that messed it all up. 803 00:36:37,100 --> 00:36:40,700 This is a party for the kid that already was wearing the same shoes, 804 00:36:40,700 --> 00:36:43,180 had on the same ring, had on the same robe. 805 00:36:44,060 --> 00:36:47,900 It's waking up to the reality that I've been living like a slave this whole time. 806 00:36:47,900 --> 00:36:50,220 Not like a son, not like a daughter. 807 00:36:50,940 --> 00:36:54,380 I've been counting the days instead of enjoying Jesus. 808 00:36:55,580 --> 00:36:57,340 The music is playing. 809 00:36:57,340 --> 00:36:58,860 The music is playing. 810 00:37:00,380 --> 00:37:03,020 And I want to share with you that God loves you 811 00:37:03,020 --> 00:37:28,220 and desires that you come into that relationship.