1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:15,440 Welcome to Hub City Vineyard. 2 00:00:15,440 --> 00:00:23,060 To get connected or to give online, go to connect.hcv.church or give.hcv.church. 3 00:00:23,060 --> 00:00:27,360 If at any point during this message you feel called to make a change in your life, text 4 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:30,600 change me to 970-00. 5 00:00:30,600 --> 00:00:32,160 Thank you and enjoy the message. 6 00:00:32,160 --> 00:00:38,680 Bear your feet for stomping, your hearts for worship, and get those hands in the air as 7 00:00:38,680 --> 00:00:44,600 Hub City worship brings you Mumford and Sons, I will wait. 8 00:00:44,600 --> 00:00:58,120 One, two, one, two, three, four. 9 00:00:58,120 --> 00:01:19,920 Well I came home like a stone And I fell heavy into your arms 10 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:34,480 These days of dust which we've known Will blow away with this new sun 11 00:01:34,480 --> 00:01:54,000 But I'll wait, I'll wait for now And I'll wait down for my crown 12 00:01:54,000 --> 00:02:15,000 And I will wait, I will wait for you And I will wait, I will wait for you 13 00:02:15,000 --> 00:02:29,000 So bring my step and breathe that breath Where you forgave and I won't forget 14 00:02:29,000 --> 00:02:44,000 Now what we've seen will end with less Now in some way you shake the excess 15 00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:59,000 And I will wait, I will wait for you And I will wait, I will wait for you 16 00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:16,000 And I will wait, I will wait for you And I will wait, I will wait for you 17 00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:33,000 As well as strong, use my head alongside my heart To tear my flesh, fix my eyes 18 00:03:33,000 --> 00:03:49,000 Tethered my free from the lie But I'll wait, I'll wait for now 19 00:03:49,000 --> 00:04:18,000 And I'll wait down for my crown 20 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:39,000 Raise my hands, retain my spirit gold Bow my head, keep my heart slow 21 00:04:39,000 --> 00:04:53,000 And I will wait, I will wait for you And I will wait, I will wait for you 22 00:04:53,000 --> 00:05:17,000 And I will wait, I will wait for you And I will wait, I will wait for you 23 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:28,000 Hey, give it up for our team! This is the last week of Summer Jams and I tell you what, they've done great this entire series. 24 00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:39,000 Now again, many of the songs you may not have heard of, you may not have known, but it was kind of to the point because we're trying to challenge ourselves to hear something new while at the same time find God in the middle of it. 25 00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:48,000 So welcome to HCV, if you're joining us from home, thank you for welcoming us into your space. If you're new here, thank you for being a part and gathering with us. 26 00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:56,000 Now Mumford and Sons released this song as the lead single from their second album, Babble, in 2012. 27 00:05:56,000 --> 00:06:03,000 Not long after its release, it became one of the most commercially successful songs the band has ever written. 28 00:06:03,000 --> 00:06:12,000 It climbed to the top 10 in the Canadian, Scottish, Irish and New Zealand singles charts and it peaked at number 12 in both the US and the UK. 29 00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:19,000 Rolling Stone Magazine listed this song as the 13th best song of 2012. 30 00:06:19,000 --> 00:06:29,000 Now during the first week of its release, I Will Wait sold over 150,000 copies and then had sold at least 2 million copies in that first year. 31 00:06:29,000 --> 00:06:37,000 Mumford and Sons are going to win Album of the Year for the Album Babble at that year's Grammy Awards. 32 00:06:37,000 --> 00:06:45,000 Now the interesting thing about Mumford and Sons, so many people don't know this, but Marcus Mumford is the son of John and Eleanor Mumford, 33 00:06:45,000 --> 00:06:51,000 who just so happened to be the world directors of the Vineyard. 34 00:06:51,000 --> 00:07:00,000 They oversee all of the churches that are vineyard, both in the US, in the UK and throughout the world. 35 00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:10,000 Now after listening to this song several times this week, watching the music video from Red Rocks, reading through different authors' interpretations, 36 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:19,000 the one that spoke most heavily to me was the one that spoke that the song is the story of the prodigal son. 37 00:07:19,000 --> 00:07:27,000 It's the story of the prodigal son as seen through the eyes of the prodigal son, instead of the father. 38 00:07:27,000 --> 00:07:32,000 What the son was seeing as he was choosing to return home. 39 00:07:32,000 --> 00:07:38,000 Now many of you don't know the story of the prodigal son. It's about the son that wanted his half of the inheritance. 40 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:45,000 The father gave it to him, to which he went and spent it all living wildly only to find himself living with the pigs, 41 00:07:45,000 --> 00:07:49,000 eating with the pigs and deciding to return home. 42 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:57,000 So when you read it or listen to that song from that perspective, suddenly you begin to see what Jesus is talking about. 43 00:07:57,000 --> 00:08:04,000 The song begins by saying that the son came home. He was feeling heavy as a stone. 44 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:08,000 And if you think about it, when he returned home, he didn't know how his father was going to react. 45 00:08:08,000 --> 00:08:12,000 He didn't know what he was going to say. He didn't know what he was going to do. 46 00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:19,000 And then seeing the father, the son seeing the father at a distance, wondering why was he running towards him? 47 00:08:19,000 --> 00:08:24,000 Why was he sprinting towards him? What is he going to do to him? 48 00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:32,000 The subsequent lines refer to dust, which ultimately represent the son's troubles that he experienced in the life, 49 00:08:32,000 --> 00:08:38,000 but how they would disappear when the father would embrace him, giving him a new beginning. 50 00:08:38,000 --> 00:08:44,000 The narrator stresses on the kneeling and the waiting as a sign of submission and patient 51 00:08:44,000 --> 00:08:49,000 and anticipation of the judgment he was about to receive from the father. 52 00:08:49,000 --> 00:08:53,000 The second verse, he recognizes that through the things as he was living, 53 00:08:53,000 --> 00:09:02,000 they may not pan out as he wishes he was willing to persevere and move on walking in Jesus's forgiveness. 54 00:09:02,000 --> 00:09:06,000 The third verse, he maintains the message of staying strong amidst the down moment. 55 00:09:06,000 --> 00:09:14,000 And as a sign of total surrender, he asks the Lord to free him from the lies of this world and from the desires of the flesh. 56 00:09:14,000 --> 00:09:23,000 He further uses gestures such as raising his hands, bowing his head to symbolize his humility and resolve to pursue a relationship with God. 57 00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:32,000 Now, many of Mumford's lyrics on this album allude to the theme of the hypocrisy, the frivolity of religion 58 00:09:32,000 --> 00:09:36,000 and the way, in fact, that religion hurts and kills people. 59 00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:39,000 You can even hear it in the first verse of I Will Wait. 60 00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:43,000 Stones are hard, but they also are broken and smoothed over. 61 00:09:43,000 --> 00:09:46,000 And see, religion does the same thing to us. 62 00:09:46,000 --> 00:09:52,000 Religion hardens our hearts towards God, breaks us down, corrodes us, 63 00:09:52,000 --> 00:09:58,000 both our spirit and our character because we give into this lie that God is harsh and demanding 64 00:09:58,000 --> 00:10:05,000 and only willing to use us and love us if we offer religious sacrifices. 65 00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:13,000 When in reality, that's the opposite. God's arms are open, wide, sprinting towards us. 66 00:10:13,000 --> 00:10:17,000 As the Father was sprinting towards the Son, he wants our hearts. 67 00:10:17,000 --> 00:10:26,000 It sounds as if Marcus Mumford either was or is tired of the whole religion thing, which has left him worn and bitter. 68 00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:30,000 But the truth about salvation is that we can't get it for ourselves. 69 00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:36,000 And here's the major point of our talk this morning. We don't reach God. God reaches us. 70 00:10:36,000 --> 00:10:41,000 See, we're not powerful enough, which is why we need a Savior. 71 00:10:41,000 --> 00:10:46,000 We wait on God to capture us in the right moment of our lives. 72 00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:51,000 And if we don't, we'll die of exhaustion trying to reach God with our actions, 73 00:10:51,000 --> 00:10:56,000 which leads us to our first thought this morning as we conclude Summer Jams 2022. 74 00:10:56,000 --> 00:11:02,000 Religion focuses on the external, not the internal. 75 00:11:02,000 --> 00:11:09,000 Now, if you've ever looked at someone in society, and it doesn't have to be a religious person, anyone, could be a politician. 76 00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:15,000 And you look at them and you're like, wait a minute, you're saying one thing, but you're not living it. 77 00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:18,000 Isn't that kind of hypocritical? 78 00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:23,000 Notice what Jesus is saying in Matthew's gospel, in Matthew 23, 25 to 26. 79 00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:31,000 Jesus said, what sorrow awaits you, teachers of religious law and you Pharisees, hypocrites. 80 00:11:31,000 --> 00:11:38,000 You're so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy, full of greed and self-indulgence. 81 00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:45,000 In other words, you're putting on this religious show on the outside, but it's not matching up with the heart. 82 00:11:45,000 --> 00:11:52,000 He goes on to say this in verse 26, you blind Pharisee, first wash the inside of the cup and the dish, 83 00:11:52,000 --> 00:11:56,000 and then the outside will become clean too. 84 00:11:56,000 --> 00:12:01,000 See, Jesus is saying your religion is all about the external. 85 00:12:01,000 --> 00:12:08,000 It's all about what you're doing when in reality God is more concerned about the internal. 86 00:12:08,000 --> 00:12:10,000 That's what religion does. 87 00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:15,000 It focuses on what you do rather than how you're living on the inside. 88 00:12:15,000 --> 00:12:23,000 And there's so many people within our culture that wrongly assume this simple statement about God. 89 00:12:23,000 --> 00:12:30,000 Since God is holy and I am not, in other words, we haven't always made the right choices, 90 00:12:30,000 --> 00:12:40,000 somehow I either need to be made right with God by doing something or why should I even try, he doesn't love me anyway. 91 00:12:40,000 --> 00:12:48,000 What religion will say is unholy people will try to close the gap between a holy God 92 00:12:48,000 --> 00:12:55,000 and a sinful people by outward religious effort, by acts. 93 00:12:55,000 --> 00:13:04,000 You try to close the gap of your sinfulness and God's holiness by trying harder, being better, doing the right religious things. 94 00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:12,000 Religious rules can include, well, I go to church, I got to give some money, I have to be nice, don't be mean, 95 00:13:12,000 --> 00:13:15,000 help the little old ladies across the street. 96 00:13:15,000 --> 00:13:22,000 There's some things I can't do though, don't drink, don't smoke, don't chew tobacco, don't get tattoos, 97 00:13:22,000 --> 00:13:29,000 don't run around with people that do those things, especially the girls who do those things. 98 00:13:29,000 --> 00:13:31,000 Just don't hang out with them. 99 00:13:31,000 --> 00:13:39,000 And see, people believe if they do those things, if they don't do bad things, if they do right things, they can be made right with God. 100 00:13:39,000 --> 00:13:42,000 See, that's trying to close the gap with human effort. 101 00:13:42,000 --> 00:13:44,000 And what does Jesus say? 102 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:47,000 Don't be like the Pharisees. 103 00:13:47,000 --> 00:13:50,000 Don't live like them because that's what they're doing. 104 00:13:50,000 --> 00:13:52,000 See, that's what the Pharisees did. 105 00:13:52,000 --> 00:13:57,000 They put on a big religious show like many of you do. 106 00:13:57,000 --> 00:14:01,000 They'd go out on the street corners and they'd pray long prayers. 107 00:14:01,000 --> 00:14:08,000 Not really caring about whether God heard them or not, but so everyone else would think they were holy. 108 00:14:08,000 --> 00:14:10,000 They would look holy. 109 00:14:10,000 --> 00:14:17,000 They would wear these big fancy robes and these long tassels and they would stand up straight. 110 00:14:17,000 --> 00:14:20,000 But at the same time, they would take advantage of innocent widows. 111 00:14:20,000 --> 00:14:25,000 They would lie to people and they would heap all these rules on everybody else. 112 00:14:25,000 --> 00:14:27,000 You have to obey the Sabbath. 113 00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:31,000 You shouldn't be hanging out with that person or those groups of people. 114 00:14:31,000 --> 00:14:33,000 Don't be like that. 115 00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:35,000 See, it's all about the external. 116 00:14:35,000 --> 00:14:38,000 Let's have a little history lesson. 117 00:14:38,000 --> 00:14:40,000 Diving back into the Old Testament. 118 00:14:40,000 --> 00:14:45,000 Now, some of you may not know this, but if you go back into the Old Testament after Ezra and Diyambe. 119 00:14:45,000 --> 00:14:47,000 Here's what happened. 120 00:14:47,000 --> 00:14:55,000 The religious leaders, the Pharisees, they looked and they said, well, God's people keeps breaking the law. 121 00:14:55,000 --> 00:14:59,000 And because they keep breaking the law, the people end up in bondage. 122 00:14:59,000 --> 00:15:02,000 They become slaves. 123 00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:10,000 What we're going to do is we're going to come up with new rules to make sure that everybody doesn't break the old law. 124 00:15:10,000 --> 00:15:15,000 By the law, they're speaking of the first five books of the Bible called the Torah. 125 00:15:15,000 --> 00:15:20,000 We're going to come up with manmade laws to make it extra safe. 126 00:15:20,000 --> 00:15:23,000 And these well-intentioned leaders, you know what they did? 127 00:15:23,000 --> 00:15:29,000 They came up with over 600 brand new laws that become known as the fence laws. 128 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:34,000 And these laws, they went into effect thinking they were going to protect the Torah. 129 00:15:34,000 --> 00:15:42,000 For example, when it comes to the Sabbath, there's 65 different laws just about the Sabbath, do's and don'ts. 130 00:15:42,000 --> 00:15:48,000 Later on, someone compiled all these books into one book in the third century known as the Mishnah. 131 00:15:48,000 --> 00:15:56,000 And the book has over 800 pages of manmade laws that were added to the laws of God. 132 00:15:56,000 --> 00:15:59,000 And see, that's why Jesus got very passionate. 133 00:15:59,000 --> 00:16:03,000 And he said this in Matthew 23, three through four, don't follow their example. 134 00:16:03,000 --> 00:16:05,000 They don't practice what they teach. 135 00:16:05,000 --> 00:16:13,000 They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden. 136 00:16:13,000 --> 00:16:17,000 So if you're here this morning and you ever thought, I want to believe in God, I want to follow God, 137 00:16:17,000 --> 00:16:23,000 but there's just too many rules, it's too oppressive, that's not God's heart for you. 138 00:16:23,000 --> 00:16:28,000 God's heart is not about rules. 139 00:16:28,000 --> 00:16:32,000 This is what people added to what God already established. 140 00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:38,000 And all those rules are, are works trying to close the gap and it does not reflect the heart of God, 141 00:16:38,000 --> 00:16:40,000 which leads us to our next thought. 142 00:16:40,000 --> 00:16:45,000 See, you and I, we cannot earn God's acceptance by following the rules. 143 00:16:45,000 --> 00:16:48,000 We cannot earn His approval by following rules. 144 00:16:48,000 --> 00:16:50,000 Look at Romans 3. 145 00:16:50,000 --> 00:16:54,000 For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. 146 00:16:54,000 --> 00:16:59,000 The law simply shows us how sinful we are, but now God has shown us a way to be made right with Him 147 00:16:59,000 --> 00:17:02,000 without keeping the requirements of the law. There it is. 148 00:17:02,000 --> 00:17:05,000 As was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago, 149 00:17:05,000 --> 00:17:08,000 we are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus. 150 00:17:08,000 --> 00:17:12,000 And this is true for everyone who believes no matter who we are. 151 00:17:12,000 --> 00:17:16,000 See, no matter how hard we try, no matter how religious we are, 152 00:17:16,000 --> 00:17:22,000 no matter how many good works we do or bad choices we make, 153 00:17:22,000 --> 00:17:28,000 we cannot earn God's acceptance by obeying the law or following the rules. 154 00:17:28,000 --> 00:17:33,000 Religion says your good works will please God, but you know what the Bible teaches? 155 00:17:33,000 --> 00:17:38,000 We can't do anything good enough to please God. 156 00:17:38,000 --> 00:17:42,000 And for so many people, the rules are go to church. Don't do bad things. 157 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:47,000 But the Bible says no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. 158 00:17:47,000 --> 00:17:51,000 No one. It doesn't matter that you come here to HCV. 159 00:17:51,000 --> 00:17:55,000 It doesn't matter how holy you act while you're here. 160 00:17:55,000 --> 00:17:58,000 It doesn't matter you're putting on a show, how hard you try. 161 00:17:58,000 --> 00:18:03,000 You cannot be good enough to please God by effort or works. 162 00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:07,000 That's following the rules. That's the law. It's impossible. 163 00:18:07,000 --> 00:18:12,000 Again, Romans 3.20 says, God doesn't accept people simply because they obey the law. 164 00:18:12,000 --> 00:18:16,000 No, indeed. So I get it. Many of you are sitting there thinking, 165 00:18:16,000 --> 00:18:20,000 well, why in the world did God give us the law? 166 00:18:20,000 --> 00:18:26,000 If we can't live up to it, then why did God give it to us in the first place? 167 00:18:26,000 --> 00:18:29,000 Well, that just so happens to lead us to our next law. 168 00:18:29,000 --> 00:18:34,000 The purpose of the law is to show our need of a savior. 169 00:18:34,000 --> 00:18:37,000 That's what it's for. Look at Romans 3.20. 170 00:18:37,000 --> 00:18:43,000 The law simply shows us how sinful we are. 171 00:18:43,000 --> 00:18:47,000 And this is so important, and we need to talk about it 172 00:18:47,000 --> 00:18:50,000 because within our society there's this common belief, 173 00:18:50,000 --> 00:18:55,000 I'm not that bad of a person. Heck, I'm actually a good person. 174 00:18:55,000 --> 00:19:00,000 And in fact, as a pastor, if I want to make a lot of people really, really mad, 175 00:19:00,000 --> 00:19:04,000 all I have to say is, you're a sinner. 176 00:19:04,000 --> 00:19:06,000 And if I were to say that, you know what I'm going to hear about? 177 00:19:06,000 --> 00:19:12,000 Don't judge me. Who are you to judge me? I'm not a sinner. 178 00:19:12,000 --> 00:19:15,000 But see, this is why the law is so important. 179 00:19:15,000 --> 00:19:22,000 It shows us that every single one of us are sinners. 180 00:19:22,000 --> 00:19:24,000 Well, Chris, I'm not a bad person. 181 00:19:24,000 --> 00:19:30,000 Well, maybe compared to somebody else, you're not a bad person. 182 00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:34,000 Right? The reason I wore this tracksuit is so that you would judge me 183 00:19:34,000 --> 00:19:42,000 and think that you're better than me. 184 00:19:42,000 --> 00:19:46,000 See, I'm not as bad as that guy. 185 00:19:46,000 --> 00:19:48,000 But see, here's the deal. 186 00:19:48,000 --> 00:19:51,000 You can compare yourself to other people, and you may not be that bad of a person, 187 00:19:51,000 --> 00:19:56,000 but when it comes to the standards of God, you fall incredibly short. 188 00:19:56,000 --> 00:19:58,000 In fact, we all do. 189 00:19:58,000 --> 00:20:04,000 So what I want to do this morning, is I just want to simply ask you three simple questions 190 00:20:04,000 --> 00:20:08,000 that illustrate the fact that the law shows our need of a Savior. 191 00:20:08,000 --> 00:20:10,000 Is it okay if I do that? 192 00:20:10,000 --> 00:20:14,000 Now, what I'm going to do with these questions, I was going to have you raise your hands. 193 00:20:14,000 --> 00:20:15,000 That's a show of hands. 194 00:20:15,000 --> 00:20:17,000 Have you ever committed this sin? 195 00:20:17,000 --> 00:20:22,000 But I know half of you won't raise your hand, so I'm not going to ask you to raise your hand. 196 00:20:22,000 --> 00:20:25,000 Okay? Because then I'm going to be causing more sin to come into your life, 197 00:20:25,000 --> 00:20:28,000 and it's just going to be a wreck. Okay? 198 00:20:28,000 --> 00:20:30,000 So let's start with a simple question. 199 00:20:30,000 --> 00:20:31,000 We're going to go real easy. 200 00:20:31,000 --> 00:20:37,000 How many of you, now think about your life, how many of you have ever told a lie? 201 00:20:37,000 --> 00:20:41,000 Now, some of you are raising your hands. 202 00:20:41,000 --> 00:20:46,000 Now, the funny thing is, the reason I didn't say raise your hand is because the other half of you 203 00:20:46,000 --> 00:20:50,000 that didn't raise your hand, then you would be lying to yourself anyway. 204 00:20:50,000 --> 00:20:55,000 So it's just going to create just a whole mess. 205 00:20:55,000 --> 00:20:57,000 Here's the reality. 206 00:20:57,000 --> 00:21:01,000 We all have lied at some point in our lives, true or false? 207 00:21:01,000 --> 00:21:04,000 Thank you. 208 00:21:04,000 --> 00:21:07,000 Okay, number two, it's a little bit harder. 209 00:21:07,000 --> 00:21:11,000 How many of you have ever stolen something? 210 00:21:11,000 --> 00:21:17,000 Right? Now, now there's less hands up. 211 00:21:17,000 --> 00:21:22,000 Some of you are saying, oh, Chris, I've never stolen anything. 212 00:21:22,000 --> 00:21:26,000 Okay, I hear you. You think you're perfect. 213 00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:31,000 Think about the bulk candy aisle that you were walking down, 214 00:21:31,000 --> 00:21:36,000 and you happened to be walking, and you thought, man, that root beer barrel float, 215 00:21:36,000 --> 00:21:40,000 I mean, hard candy, no one will notice it. 216 00:21:40,000 --> 00:21:45,000 Right? And that bulk candy aisle, oh, no one's going to miss that, look. 217 00:21:45,000 --> 00:21:49,000 Hey. 218 00:21:49,000 --> 00:21:53,000 Now, we may not admit it, but we've all stolen something, true or false. 219 00:21:53,000 --> 00:21:55,000 Thank you. 220 00:21:55,000 --> 00:21:58,000 Okay, we're going to get a little more challenging. 221 00:21:58,000 --> 00:22:01,000 How many of you have ever lusted? 222 00:22:01,000 --> 00:22:05,000 Oh, see, now I only got six hands up. 223 00:22:05,000 --> 00:22:12,000 Oh, no, Chris, not me. 224 00:22:12,000 --> 00:22:14,000 Listen up, guys. 225 00:22:14,000 --> 00:22:18,000 I know what you look at, and when you look at it too long, 226 00:22:18,000 --> 00:22:21,000 it can quickly turn to lust. 227 00:22:21,000 --> 00:22:25,000 And ladies, oh, I don't lust after men. 228 00:22:25,000 --> 00:22:29,000 Okay, maybe you don't, maybe you don't think he looks nice, 229 00:22:29,000 --> 00:22:39,000 but you certainly can be tempted by that vanilla bean cheesecake on that piece of paper. 230 00:22:39,000 --> 00:22:42,000 But listen to it, see, now here's God's standard. 231 00:22:42,000 --> 00:22:45,000 Listen to what Jesus says. 232 00:22:45,000 --> 00:22:55,000 Anyone who ever looked lustfully at someone actually committed adultery in their heart. 233 00:22:55,000 --> 00:22:57,000 Now, many people are going to argue with me about that point. 234 00:22:57,000 --> 00:23:00,000 Oh, Chris, that's not adultery. 235 00:23:00,000 --> 00:23:02,000 I never physically did anything. 236 00:23:02,000 --> 00:23:03,000 I didn't touch them. 237 00:23:03,000 --> 00:23:04,000 We didn't kiss. 238 00:23:04,000 --> 00:23:05,000 I didn't say it. 239 00:23:05,000 --> 00:23:08,000 Jesus did. 240 00:23:08,000 --> 00:23:15,000 See, the standard of God is so much higher than our standards. 241 00:23:15,000 --> 00:23:20,000 And it says that if you even look lustfully, it's a serious offense against God, 242 00:23:20,000 --> 00:23:23,000 and you've committed adultery. 243 00:23:23,000 --> 00:23:26,000 Now, here's the crazy thing. 244 00:23:26,000 --> 00:23:31,000 We laugh about it, and we can laugh about it, 245 00:23:31,000 --> 00:23:36,000 but I would be willing to say that within this community of faith, 246 00:23:36,000 --> 00:23:47,000 I would find a bunch of people that are lying, thieving, no good adulterers. 247 00:23:47,000 --> 00:23:51,000 That sounds like a sinner to me. 248 00:23:51,000 --> 00:23:52,000 True or false? 249 00:23:52,000 --> 00:23:54,000 True. 250 00:23:54,000 --> 00:24:01,000 In fact, I would say you're a bunch of wretched, pathetic, unrighteous, and unholy people. 251 00:24:01,000 --> 00:24:02,000 Hey, welcome to the Hub City Vineyard. 252 00:24:02,000 --> 00:24:05,000 We make you feel right at home. 253 00:24:05,000 --> 00:24:06,000 Pat yourself on the back. 254 00:24:06,000 --> 00:24:10,000 We love you. 255 00:24:10,000 --> 00:24:14,000 Aren't you glad you came? 256 00:24:14,000 --> 00:24:21,000 Now, I don't want to be harsh, critical, not trying to make you feel bad, 257 00:24:21,000 --> 00:24:23,000 but for those people that say I'm not a bad person, 258 00:24:23,000 --> 00:24:30,000 suddenly we realize we're really short of God's standards for our lives. 259 00:24:30,000 --> 00:24:31,000 And I want to say it this way. 260 00:24:31,000 --> 00:24:37,000 Until you see yourself as a sinner, you won't see your need for a Savior. 261 00:24:37,000 --> 00:24:39,000 And that's where we have to start. 262 00:24:39,000 --> 00:24:44,000 Until you see yourself as a sinner, you don't need a Savior. 263 00:24:44,000 --> 00:24:52,000 But the good news of the Gospel is, if we dive into it, it's not about what you do. 264 00:24:52,000 --> 00:24:56,000 It's about your need for forgiveness. 265 00:24:56,000 --> 00:24:59,000 There's no person that can perform their way to God. 266 00:24:59,000 --> 00:25:07,000 Because all of us have sinned and fallen short of God's standards. 267 00:25:07,000 --> 00:25:10,000 See, what's the purpose of the law? 268 00:25:10,000 --> 00:25:13,000 To simply show us that we're not good enough. 269 00:25:13,000 --> 00:25:16,000 To simply show us that we need grace, we need mercy. 270 00:25:16,000 --> 00:25:19,000 God help us. 271 00:25:19,000 --> 00:25:22,000 Which leads us to our next thought. 272 00:25:22,000 --> 00:25:28,000 We are made right with God through a simple faith in Jesus. 273 00:25:28,000 --> 00:25:30,000 Going back to Romans 3. 274 00:25:30,000 --> 00:25:35,000 But now God has shown us a way to be made right with Him 275 00:25:35,000 --> 00:25:37,000 without keeping the requirements of the laws. 276 00:25:37,000 --> 00:25:39,000 It was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. 277 00:25:39,000 --> 00:25:44,000 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. 278 00:25:44,000 --> 00:25:47,000 And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. 279 00:25:47,000 --> 00:25:51,000 For everyone who's sinned, we all fall short of God's glorious standard. 280 00:25:51,000 --> 00:25:55,000 Yet God, in His grace, freely makes us right in His sight. 281 00:25:55,000 --> 00:26:02,000 And He did this through Christ when He freed us from the penalty of our sins. 282 00:26:02,000 --> 00:26:05,000 See, it doesn't matter how bad your past has been. 283 00:26:05,000 --> 00:26:07,000 It doesn't matter what you're going through right now. 284 00:26:07,000 --> 00:26:10,000 Or what your present circumstances and choices are. 285 00:26:10,000 --> 00:26:13,000 When you put your faith in Jesus, your sins are forgiven. 286 00:26:13,000 --> 00:26:17,000 And you're made completely new. 287 00:26:17,000 --> 00:26:21,000 And that's why I will continue to challenge you and tell you as a community of faith, 288 00:26:21,000 --> 00:26:24,000 you do not need religion. 289 00:26:24,000 --> 00:26:29,000 You don't need religion. You simply need Jesus and Jesus alone. 290 00:26:29,000 --> 00:26:33,000 And listen, it's not even Jesus plus some good works. 291 00:26:33,000 --> 00:26:37,000 It's just Jesus. 292 00:26:37,000 --> 00:26:42,000 Think about this. Jesus hanging on the cross. 293 00:26:42,000 --> 00:26:47,000 Jesus was actually crucified between two criminals. 294 00:26:47,000 --> 00:26:50,000 One of them that was hurling insults at Him. 295 00:26:50,000 --> 00:26:54,000 You saved others. Why can't you save yourself? 296 00:26:54,000 --> 00:26:58,000 The other criminal looked at Jesus with a broken heart and said, 297 00:26:58,000 --> 00:27:03,000 Jesus, would you remember me when you come into your kingdom? 298 00:27:03,000 --> 00:27:07,000 Now remember, Jesus hanging on the cross, looked at the other criminal and said, 299 00:27:07,000 --> 00:27:13,000 Today, you will be with me in paradise. 300 00:27:13,000 --> 00:27:17,000 Wait. 301 00:27:17,000 --> 00:27:21,000 To be right with God, He's got to do something. 302 00:27:21,000 --> 00:27:23,000 He's got to do the right things. 303 00:27:23,000 --> 00:27:25,000 He's got to do good. 304 00:27:25,000 --> 00:27:27,000 I'm sorry, but that criminal can't come off the cross. 305 00:27:27,000 --> 00:27:29,000 He's nailed to it. 306 00:27:29,000 --> 00:27:31,000 He has to change. 307 00:27:31,000 --> 00:27:36,000 No, he simply had to believe. 308 00:27:36,000 --> 00:27:41,000 Because there was no way he was coming off that cross, going to a synagogue, later to be baptized. 309 00:27:41,000 --> 00:27:43,000 He was dying on that cross. 310 00:27:43,000 --> 00:27:46,000 And what did Jesus say? 311 00:27:46,000 --> 00:27:51,000 Today, you will be with me in paradise. 312 00:27:51,000 --> 00:27:59,000 Faith in Jesus alone is all we need. 313 00:27:59,000 --> 00:28:03,000 And why is that? Because all of sinned. 314 00:28:03,000 --> 00:28:06,000 The Bible actually says that when we begin a relationship with Jesus, 315 00:28:06,000 --> 00:28:16,000 we are clothed in Christ, and that He gives us a robe of righteousness. 316 00:28:16,000 --> 00:28:26,000 What Jesus does is He takes us and sees us as perfect when we are walking in relationship with Him. 317 00:28:26,000 --> 00:28:29,000 I mean, it's amazing, but if you're in a relationship with Jesus, 318 00:28:29,000 --> 00:28:34,000 when you wake up in the morning and you prepare yourself to get dressed and start your day, 319 00:28:34,000 --> 00:28:38,000 you can literally picture yourself putting on Jesus and the Holy Spirit, 320 00:28:38,000 --> 00:28:50,000 so that as you go to work, as you go to hang out with your friends, you're bringing Him with you. 321 00:28:50,000 --> 00:28:53,000 That's how we become a new creation. 322 00:28:53,000 --> 00:28:59,000 Our sins are forgiven, and God doesn't see us as filthy sinners. 323 00:28:59,000 --> 00:29:00,000 How does He see us? 324 00:29:00,000 --> 00:29:12,000 He sees us as children, as His sons and daughters, the perfection, if you will, that He saw in His Son. 325 00:29:12,000 --> 00:29:15,000 See, that's the difference between religion and a relationship. 326 00:29:15,000 --> 00:29:18,000 Now, in your outline, there's a box there, 327 00:29:18,000 --> 00:29:26,000 and I wanted to really outline four different statements that sum up the difference between religion and relationship. 328 00:29:26,000 --> 00:29:33,000 Religion says, it's what I do. Relationship says, it's what Jesus has done. 329 00:29:33,000 --> 00:29:36,000 Religion says, it's all about me. 330 00:29:36,000 --> 00:29:41,000 Relationship says, it's all about Jesus. 331 00:29:41,000 --> 00:29:44,000 Religion says, do, do, do. 332 00:29:44,000 --> 00:29:48,000 Relationship says, it's done. 333 00:29:48,000 --> 00:29:53,000 Religion says, well, if I obey. 334 00:29:53,000 --> 00:30:00,000 Relationship says, because He loves me, I choose to follow and obey. 335 00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:03,000 See, that's the big difference. 336 00:30:03,000 --> 00:30:08,000 The big difference is recognizing that it's not a religion. 337 00:30:08,000 --> 00:30:09,000 It's not about what you do. 338 00:30:09,000 --> 00:30:12,000 I mean, last week, if you missed it, I challenged all of our people. 339 00:30:12,000 --> 00:30:18,000 I said, I believe that God is calling His community of faith to be a bunch of little Jesuses running all around the Tri-State area. 340 00:30:18,000 --> 00:30:23,000 That people would see all these people serving others and praying for others and loving one another. 341 00:30:23,000 --> 00:30:26,000 It's almost like, that's Jesus. Is that Jesus? 342 00:30:26,000 --> 00:30:30,000 And it's funny, I got this text after that sermon. 343 00:30:30,000 --> 00:30:33,000 After that talk, sorry, I don't do sermons. 344 00:30:33,000 --> 00:30:37,000 They're too religious. 345 00:30:37,000 --> 00:30:43,000 And if you ever got one of those book texts and you think, man, it would have been a lot easier just to call. 346 00:30:43,000 --> 00:30:48,000 Because sometimes with book texts, you get like 10 words in and you're like, I'm done with this. 347 00:30:48,000 --> 00:30:51,000 Anyway, someone sent me a really long text. 348 00:30:51,000 --> 00:30:57,000 And I started reading it and it intrigued me because the text was all about, man, I was really challenged by your talk. 349 00:30:57,000 --> 00:31:02,000 I really feel like I need to step out and be this little Jesus for people. 350 00:31:02,000 --> 00:31:04,000 And that's what my desire in my heart is. 351 00:31:04,000 --> 00:31:08,000 But what if I mess up? 352 00:31:08,000 --> 00:31:09,000 I know I'm going to make a mistake. 353 00:31:09,000 --> 00:31:12,000 I know people are going to look at me and say, oh, I thought you were in a relationship with God. 354 00:31:12,000 --> 00:31:14,000 Why are you doing that? 355 00:31:14,000 --> 00:31:16,000 And it was all these questions about religion. 356 00:31:16,000 --> 00:31:20,000 And I thought, you're going to make a mistake. 357 00:31:20,000 --> 00:31:22,000 We're not perfect. 358 00:31:22,000 --> 00:31:25,000 But it's all about the relationship. 359 00:31:25,000 --> 00:31:34,000 And it's all about showing people that even in your mistakes, God still forgives and God still desires that we walk fully after him. 360 00:31:34,000 --> 00:31:37,000 Friends, that's the good news about Jesus. 361 00:31:37,000 --> 00:31:45,000 So instead of action steps, I want to give you three simple truths this morning that would challenge you to continue to pursue your relationship with God. 362 00:31:45,000 --> 00:31:47,000 Can we do that? 363 00:31:47,000 --> 00:31:48,000 And the first is this. 364 00:31:48,000 --> 00:31:53,000 Religion has complicated what God made simple. 365 00:31:53,000 --> 00:31:55,000 Now notice how simple this is. 366 00:31:55,000 --> 00:31:59,000 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus. 367 00:31:59,000 --> 00:32:00,000 Stop. 368 00:32:00,000 --> 00:32:06,000 One sentence that sums up what God is about. 369 00:32:06,000 --> 00:32:08,000 And this is true for everyone. 370 00:32:08,000 --> 00:32:11,000 Say everyone who believes. 371 00:32:11,000 --> 00:32:13,000 It doesn't matter who you are. 372 00:32:13,000 --> 00:32:14,000 For everyone is sinned. 373 00:32:14,000 --> 00:32:16,000 We all fall short of God's glorious standard. 374 00:32:16,000 --> 00:32:19,000 Yet God in his grace freely makes us right in his sight. 375 00:32:19,000 --> 00:32:23,000 He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the plenty of our sins. 376 00:32:23,000 --> 00:32:26,000 It's always been that simple to God. 377 00:32:26,000 --> 00:32:31,000 But religion adds to the simplicity of the gospel. 378 00:32:31,000 --> 00:32:37,000 And all you have to do is go all the way back to the beginning and look at the Garden of Eden. 379 00:32:37,000 --> 00:32:39,000 What do we have in the Garden of Eden? 380 00:32:39,000 --> 00:32:43,000 Well, God created Adam and he said, this is good. 381 00:32:43,000 --> 00:32:47,000 God created Eve and he says, this is even better. 382 00:32:47,000 --> 00:32:56,000 Because Adam wasn't very good on his own, but together they formed a partnership that was really, really good. 383 00:32:56,000 --> 00:32:58,000 Think about the Garden of Eden. 384 00:32:58,000 --> 00:33:05,000 They were naked in this beautiful paradise, which I don't know about you, but that's exciting to me. 385 00:33:05,000 --> 00:33:07,000 There's no cold weather. 386 00:33:07,000 --> 00:33:08,000 There's no stress. 387 00:33:08,000 --> 00:33:09,000 There's no anxiety. 388 00:33:09,000 --> 00:33:10,000 Nothing. 389 00:33:10,000 --> 00:33:12,000 Just being honest here. 390 00:33:12,000 --> 00:33:24,000 God says, be fruitful, multiply, have lots of fun, take care of my creation, name the animals, plant crops, enjoy my gift of paradise and be blessed. 391 00:33:24,000 --> 00:33:26,000 There's one thing I don't want you to do. 392 00:33:26,000 --> 00:33:28,000 One thing. 393 00:33:28,000 --> 00:33:31,000 You can eat from any tree in the garden. 394 00:33:31,000 --> 00:33:33,000 But there's one thing. 395 00:33:33,000 --> 00:33:36,000 That tree over there is the knowledge of good and evil. 396 00:33:36,000 --> 00:33:40,000 And if you eat of it, it's not going to be good for you. 397 00:33:40,000 --> 00:33:42,000 Don't do that. 398 00:33:42,000 --> 00:33:47,000 If you eat of it, you'll surely die. 399 00:33:47,000 --> 00:33:52,000 Now remember, be fruitful, have fun, multiply, enjoy paradise, name the animals. 400 00:33:52,000 --> 00:33:56,000 Giraffe, turtle, big monkey, right? Like name these things. 401 00:33:56,000 --> 00:33:58,000 You got a lot of work to do. 402 00:33:58,000 --> 00:34:00,000 There's one thing you don't do. 403 00:34:00,000 --> 00:34:02,000 Don't eat from that tree. 404 00:34:02,000 --> 00:34:04,000 Why? 405 00:34:04,000 --> 00:34:07,000 Why did he tell them not to eat from that tree? 406 00:34:07,000 --> 00:34:09,000 Was it so they wouldn't have fun? 407 00:34:09,000 --> 00:34:11,000 No, they were naming all the animals. 408 00:34:11,000 --> 00:34:12,000 They were naked in paradise. 409 00:34:12,000 --> 00:34:14,000 They were having fun. 410 00:34:14,000 --> 00:34:18,000 Was it to keep them away from what's really good? 411 00:34:18,000 --> 00:34:19,000 No. 412 00:34:19,000 --> 00:34:23,000 It was to keep them away from that which steals life. 413 00:34:23,000 --> 00:34:32,000 It was to keep them to continue to receive the freedom of blessings. 414 00:34:32,000 --> 00:34:33,000 What has religion done? 415 00:34:33,000 --> 00:34:36,000 Religion has complicated what God made simple. 416 00:34:36,000 --> 00:34:38,000 Right? God made it simple. 417 00:34:38,000 --> 00:34:40,000 Religion complicated. 418 00:34:40,000 --> 00:34:42,000 First John 1, 8-10. 419 00:34:42,000 --> 00:34:48,000 If we claim we have no sin, we're only fooling ourselves. 420 00:34:48,000 --> 00:34:50,000 We're not living in the truth. 421 00:34:50,000 --> 00:34:53,000 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just. 422 00:34:53,000 --> 00:34:56,000 If we give us our sins, it cleanses us from all wickedness. 423 00:34:56,000 --> 00:34:58,000 If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar 424 00:34:58,000 --> 00:35:02,000 and showing that his word has no place in our hearts. 425 00:35:02,000 --> 00:35:06,000 I mean, when you look at today's song through the eyes of the prodigal son, 426 00:35:06,000 --> 00:35:09,000 he was broken, he was defeated, he came to the end of this rope. 427 00:35:09,000 --> 00:35:15,000 Mumford writes, I came home like a stone, and I fell heavy into your arms. 428 00:35:15,000 --> 00:35:20,000 These days of dust, which we've known will blow away with this new sun. 429 00:35:20,000 --> 00:35:25,000 You can almost see it, this new life, this embrace of the Father. 430 00:35:25,000 --> 00:35:29,000 Not following rules, but returning home to love. 431 00:35:29,000 --> 00:35:31,000 Which leads us to our next truth. 432 00:35:31,000 --> 00:35:38,000 Religion, complicated with rules, Jesus simplifies with love. 433 00:35:38,000 --> 00:35:41,000 John 8, teacher they said, 434 00:35:41,000 --> 00:35:45,000 this woman was caught in the act of adultery, the law of Moses says to stone her. 435 00:35:45,000 --> 00:35:47,000 What do you say? 436 00:35:47,000 --> 00:35:50,000 They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, 437 00:35:50,000 --> 00:35:53,000 but Jesus stooped down and wrote, 438 00:35:53,000 --> 00:35:55,000 in the dust with his finger. 439 00:35:55,000 --> 00:35:58,000 They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up and said, 440 00:35:58,000 --> 00:36:02,000 alright, let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone. 441 00:36:02,000 --> 00:36:04,000 Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust. 442 00:36:04,000 --> 00:36:07,000 When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, 443 00:36:07,000 --> 00:36:10,000 beginning with the oldest until only Jesus was left 444 00:36:10,000 --> 00:36:12,000 in the middle of the crowd with the woman. 445 00:36:12,000 --> 00:36:15,000 Then Jesus stood up and he said, 446 00:36:15,000 --> 00:36:17,000 where are your accusers? 447 00:36:17,000 --> 00:36:19,000 Didn't even one of them condemn you? 448 00:36:19,000 --> 00:36:23,000 No Lord, she said, and Jesus said, neither do I go and sit no more. 449 00:36:23,000 --> 00:36:25,000 Now many people, what did Jesus write? 450 00:36:25,000 --> 00:36:29,000 We don't know for sure, but many scholars that are a lot smarter than me 451 00:36:29,000 --> 00:36:34,000 believe that he was writing the sins of the men into the dirt. 452 00:36:34,000 --> 00:36:39,000 Because the Bible tells us that the older walked away first. 453 00:36:39,000 --> 00:36:42,000 We also don't know what happened to the woman's life, 454 00:36:42,000 --> 00:36:49,000 but I believe and can almost promise you she never committed adultery again. 455 00:36:49,000 --> 00:36:51,000 And it wasn't that she got caught, 456 00:36:51,000 --> 00:36:53,000 and it wasn't that she was afraid of getting in trouble, 457 00:36:53,000 --> 00:36:59,000 it was because she was forgiven and she experienced love. 458 00:36:59,000 --> 00:37:01,000 Again Mumford writes in I will wait, 459 00:37:01,000 --> 00:37:10,000 so break my step and relent you forgave and I won't forget. 460 00:37:10,000 --> 00:37:12,000 And I hear it all the time. 461 00:37:12,000 --> 00:37:14,000 Well, I don't want to follow God, there's too many rules. 462 00:37:14,000 --> 00:37:17,000 It's not even fun and it's boring. 463 00:37:17,000 --> 00:37:22,000 Well, those added rules are from man, not from God. 464 00:37:22,000 --> 00:37:27,000 Jesus by his grace and faith and him alone were declared righteous. 465 00:37:27,000 --> 00:37:29,000 And we put on the righteousness of God. 466 00:37:29,000 --> 00:37:32,000 Therefore, I don't have to try to obey. 467 00:37:32,000 --> 00:37:37,000 I don't have to live with religious words or actions. 468 00:37:37,000 --> 00:37:40,000 It's just simply trusting. 469 00:37:40,000 --> 00:37:42,000 I'm never going to be good enough. 470 00:37:42,000 --> 00:37:46,000 I'm a sinner who needs a savior. 471 00:37:46,000 --> 00:37:50,000 And when I call on him, he forgives. 472 00:37:50,000 --> 00:37:55,000 And God hears our prayers and we are clothed in righteousness. 473 00:37:55,000 --> 00:37:59,000 Because I have been loved, I choose to follow. 474 00:37:59,000 --> 00:38:01,000 That's our only reasonable response. 475 00:38:01,000 --> 00:38:03,000 Religion complicates what God made simple. 476 00:38:03,000 --> 00:38:05,000 Religion complicates with laws. 477 00:38:05,000 --> 00:38:10,000 Jesus simplifies it with love, which leads us to our final truth. 478 00:38:10,000 --> 00:38:17,000 Jesus, to sum him up, said love God and love your neighbors yourself. 479 00:38:17,000 --> 00:38:18,000 For this is how God loved the world. 480 00:38:18,000 --> 00:38:22,000 He gave his one and only son so that everyone who believes in him will not perish, 481 00:38:22,000 --> 00:38:24,000 but have eternal life. 482 00:38:24,000 --> 00:38:27,000 Everyone means everyone. 483 00:38:27,000 --> 00:38:29,000 And notice it says to simply believe. 484 00:38:29,000 --> 00:38:33,000 And then Jesus would go on to say, again, answering the religious leader's question, 485 00:38:33,000 --> 00:38:35,000 which is the greatest commandment? 486 00:38:35,000 --> 00:38:38,000 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. 487 00:38:38,000 --> 00:38:40,000 This is the first and greatest commandment. 488 00:38:40,000 --> 00:38:43,000 The second is equally important. Love your neighbor as yourself. 489 00:38:43,000 --> 00:38:47,000 Now notice the entire law, all the demands of the prophets, 490 00:38:47,000 --> 00:38:50,000 are based on these two commandments. 491 00:38:50,000 --> 00:38:52,000 Now I can imagine religious leaders, 492 00:38:52,000 --> 00:38:54,000 wait a minute, there were 600 additional laws. 493 00:38:54,000 --> 00:38:57,000 They were created to protect God's original law. 494 00:38:57,000 --> 00:38:59,000 I've got to follow them. I've got to obey them. 495 00:38:59,000 --> 00:39:00,000 What did Jesus say? No. 496 00:39:00,000 --> 00:39:03,000 The most important is what? Love. 497 00:39:03,000 --> 00:39:07,000 Love God. Love others. 498 00:39:07,000 --> 00:39:09,000 Religion complicates with laws. 499 00:39:09,000 --> 00:39:11,000 What does Jesus do? 500 00:39:11,000 --> 00:39:14,000 Simplifies with love. 501 00:39:14,000 --> 00:39:18,000 Put on Jesus. Walk in his grace. 502 00:39:18,000 --> 00:39:20,000 Love God in everything you do. 503 00:39:20,000 --> 00:39:25,000 What does that mean? It just means put God first and love others. 504 00:39:25,000 --> 00:39:28,000 And you know what it means to love your neighbors? 505 00:39:28,000 --> 00:39:31,000 Just honor and respect people, people. 506 00:39:31,000 --> 00:39:33,000 That's all it means. 507 00:39:33,000 --> 00:39:36,000 Honor and respect even the people you don't like 508 00:39:36,000 --> 00:39:40,000 because they're created in God's image. 509 00:39:40,000 --> 00:39:42,000 I mean, again, even just this week, what? 510 00:39:42,000 --> 00:39:49,000 More division, more hate, more struggles in our country. 511 00:39:49,000 --> 00:39:52,000 Why? 512 00:39:52,000 --> 00:39:55,000 Why? 513 00:39:55,000 --> 00:39:59,000 Because of man-made choices and decisions. 514 00:39:59,000 --> 00:40:01,000 And then they want to blame the church, 515 00:40:01,000 --> 00:40:04,000 point fingers at Jesus and God, 516 00:40:04,000 --> 00:40:08,000 when God is all about love. 517 00:40:08,000 --> 00:40:13,000 It's always about to respect and honor people. 518 00:40:13,000 --> 00:40:17,000 That's God's best for us. 519 00:40:17,000 --> 00:40:21,000 Again, Mumford writes, I'll be bold as well as strong. 520 00:40:21,000 --> 00:40:24,000 Use my head alongside my heart to take my flesh, 521 00:40:24,000 --> 00:40:28,000 fix my eyes, a tethered mind free from the lies. 522 00:40:28,000 --> 00:40:32,000 I'll kneel down, raise my hands, paint my spirit gold. 523 00:40:32,000 --> 00:40:34,000 It's like he's putting on the righteousness of God. 524 00:40:34,000 --> 00:40:35,000 I bow my head. 525 00:40:35,000 --> 00:40:41,000 Keep my heart slow to hear your spirit. 526 00:40:41,000 --> 00:40:43,000 So if you're a Grace Bomb Growth Group leader, 527 00:40:43,000 --> 00:40:45,000 could you come up here on stage, please? 528 00:40:45,000 --> 00:40:49,000 So next week we're going to start a new series called Grace Bomb 529 00:40:49,000 --> 00:40:51,000 because we believe the best way to make a difference 530 00:40:51,000 --> 00:40:54,000 in the lives of others in our community, in the tri-state area, 531 00:40:54,000 --> 00:40:58,000 is to just drop little bombs of grace into people's lives. 532 00:40:58,000 --> 00:41:00,000 Could be that you pray for them, could be that you smile at them, 533 00:41:00,000 --> 00:41:03,000 could be you buy them lunch or a coffee. 534 00:41:03,000 --> 00:41:04,000 I have no idea. 535 00:41:04,000 --> 00:41:07,000 There's going to be a lot of different ways that we learn. 536 00:41:07,000 --> 00:41:10,000 And with this series launching next week, 537 00:41:10,000 --> 00:41:12,000 I'm going to challenge all of you. 538 00:41:12,000 --> 00:41:13,000 I did this in our first gathering, 539 00:41:13,000 --> 00:41:14,000 but in our second gathering as well, 540 00:41:14,000 --> 00:41:18,000 I want to challenge all of you to be a part of a Grace Bomb Group. 541 00:41:18,000 --> 00:41:21,000 This year we're going to have 12 Grace Bomb Groups 542 00:41:21,000 --> 00:41:24,000 all throughout the tri-state area, okay? 543 00:41:24,000 --> 00:41:27,000 And these Grace Bomb Groups are going to meet for five weeks. 544 00:41:27,000 --> 00:41:30,000 So I am going to ask you to have audience participation. 545 00:41:30,000 --> 00:41:32,000 So I want you to raise your hand. 546 00:41:32,000 --> 00:41:37,000 How many of you want to grow in your relationship with Jesus? 547 00:41:37,000 --> 00:41:39,000 Okay, I'd say it's about 85%. 548 00:41:39,000 --> 00:41:40,000 That's a good number. 549 00:41:40,000 --> 00:41:44,000 You grow your relationship with Jesus by getting around others 550 00:41:44,000 --> 00:41:47,000 and challenging yourself to grow, okay? 551 00:41:47,000 --> 00:41:50,000 So I want to challenge you that raise your hand 552 00:41:50,000 --> 00:41:54,000 to commit five weeks of your summer, that's it, five weeks, and then it ends, 553 00:41:54,000 --> 00:41:56,000 to being a part of one of these groups 554 00:41:56,000 --> 00:41:58,000 so that you can grow in your relationship with Jesus. 555 00:41:58,000 --> 00:42:00,000 Pretty simple, right? 556 00:42:00,000 --> 00:42:02,000 Pretty simple, right? 557 00:42:02,000 --> 00:42:03,000 Thank you. 558 00:42:03,000 --> 00:42:05,000 Alright, Rudy, you want to introduce everyone? 559 00:42:05,000 --> 00:42:06,000 Alright, you ready to go? 560 00:42:06,000 --> 00:42:08,000 Everyone ready for this? 561 00:42:08,000 --> 00:42:10,000 Start with the Andersons. 562 00:42:10,000 --> 00:42:12,000 Hi, we're the Andersons. I'm Kelsey. 563 00:42:12,000 --> 00:42:13,000 I'm John. 564 00:42:13,000 --> 00:42:14,000 And we are from Greencastle. 565 00:42:14,000 --> 00:42:17,000 We'll meet Friday evening starting between 6, 6.30, 566 00:42:17,000 --> 00:42:21,000 and I'm never on time, so it's okay. 567 00:42:21,000 --> 00:42:23,000 Good morning, I'm Angela Jarvis. 568 00:42:23,000 --> 00:42:27,000 I live in the Cedar Lawn area west end. 569 00:42:27,000 --> 00:42:30,000 My group will be on Wednesday mornings at 8.30. 570 00:42:30,000 --> 00:42:35,000 We'll have coffee and home run donuts, and I have a pool. 571 00:42:35,000 --> 00:42:36,000 We're coming in. 572 00:42:36,000 --> 00:42:38,000 There we go. 573 00:42:38,000 --> 00:42:39,000 Hi, we're the Malloy's. 574 00:42:39,000 --> 00:42:43,000 Our group will be held on Wednesdays in Williamsport at 6 p.m. 575 00:42:43,000 --> 00:42:48,000 I don't have a pool, but we will have snacks and drinks. 576 00:42:48,000 --> 00:42:52,000 Hi, we're the Hops, and we'll be meeting on Wednesdays at 7. 577 00:42:52,000 --> 00:42:54,000 We do have a pool, so bring the whole family, 578 00:42:54,000 --> 00:42:55,000 and it'll be a good time. 579 00:42:55,000 --> 00:42:56,000 Bring the whole family. 580 00:42:56,000 --> 00:42:59,000 It's Sierra Falls, by the way. 581 00:42:59,000 --> 00:43:02,000 Fahey Group, and we'll have food, fun, family, and fellowship 582 00:43:02,000 --> 00:43:04,000 about a two-minute walk from Schaefer Park, 583 00:43:04,000 --> 00:43:06,000 and they do have entertainment on some of the weeks. 584 00:43:06,000 --> 00:43:12,000 Boonesboro Group, 5.30, Saturdays. 585 00:43:12,000 --> 00:43:13,000 Hi, I'm Kristen. 586 00:43:13,000 --> 00:43:15,000 I'm Tammy. 587 00:43:15,000 --> 00:43:21,000 We will be starting Saturday, July 16, Saturdays at 11, 588 00:43:21,000 --> 00:43:23,000 at Falling Waters, and we do have a pool, 589 00:43:23,000 --> 00:43:25,000 so bring your band suits and swim trunks, 590 00:43:25,000 --> 00:43:30,000 and we will be providing brunch. 591 00:43:30,000 --> 00:43:32,000 Hi, I'm Anne. 592 00:43:32,000 --> 00:43:35,000 We're going to be meeting Sundays at 7 here in the cafe. 593 00:43:35,000 --> 00:43:39,000 We cannot have a pool indoors, but we might bring squirt guns, 594 00:43:39,000 --> 00:43:43,000 so don't bring a bathing suit. 595 00:43:43,000 --> 00:43:45,000 Hello, my name is Mike, and this is my wife Nicole, 596 00:43:45,000 --> 00:43:47,000 our niece Liliana. 597 00:43:47,000 --> 00:43:51,000 Our group is going to be Friday nights at 6.30. 598 00:43:51,000 --> 00:43:53,000 We live in Big Pool. 599 00:43:53,000 --> 00:43:55,000 We have a pool, and we also have a park next to it 600 00:43:55,000 --> 00:44:02,000 that has a crick, so we have water all around us. 601 00:44:02,000 --> 00:44:04,000 Hi, my name is Trent, and this is my wife Courtney. 602 00:44:04,000 --> 00:44:09,000 We will be doing our group on Saturdays at 5 here at the office at HCV. 603 00:44:09,000 --> 00:44:15,000 We don't have a pool either, but, you know, we'll have fun. 604 00:44:15,000 --> 00:44:19,000 I'm Patricia, and this is Ben Chalf, 605 00:44:19,000 --> 00:44:25,000 and we are meeting in Martinsburg from 6.30 to 8 or whatever. 606 00:44:25,000 --> 00:44:29,000 We don't have a pool, but those that are co-hosting with us, 607 00:44:29,000 --> 00:44:32,000 John and Lisa Reese, have a pool. 608 00:44:32,000 --> 00:44:37,000 So, anyway, come join us. 609 00:44:37,000 --> 00:44:39,000 Hey, I'm Tracy. 610 00:44:39,000 --> 00:44:41,000 And I'm Rudy. 611 00:44:41,000 --> 00:44:44,000 And I do have a pool, but we're doing it in my office, 612 00:44:44,000 --> 00:44:46,000 so I don't think it'll fit. 613 00:44:46,000 --> 00:44:49,000 So we're going to be doing Wednesdays at noon via Zoom, 614 00:44:49,000 --> 00:44:52,000 and I may try to get a pool in the office. 615 00:44:52,000 --> 00:44:53,000 We'll bring a sprinkler in. 616 00:44:53,000 --> 00:44:55,000 We'll squirt each other in the face with water. 617 00:44:55,000 --> 00:44:58,000 Yes, so they're doing a Zoom group for those of you 618 00:44:58,000 --> 00:45:00,000 that can't find the time to meet in person. 619 00:45:00,000 --> 00:45:04,000 So can you give them all a hand? 620 00:45:04,000 --> 00:45:07,000 Thank you, guys. I appreciate it. 621 00:45:07,000 --> 00:45:10,000 So I wanted to put a name with a face, and I want to challenge you. 622 00:45:10,000 --> 00:45:13,000 They're all over the Tri-State area, including Martinsburg. 623 00:45:13,000 --> 00:45:14,000 We would love for you to jump in a group. 624 00:45:14,000 --> 00:45:16,000 Remember, how long is it? 625 00:45:16,000 --> 00:45:18,000 Five weeks. 626 00:45:18,000 --> 00:45:20,000 Five weeks of committing to a group. 627 00:45:20,000 --> 00:45:24,000 We believe that group will change your life, 628 00:45:24,000 --> 00:45:27,000 and it will challenge you to grow your relationship with Jesus, 629 00:45:27,000 --> 00:45:28,000 which is most important. 630 00:45:28,000 --> 00:45:30,000 So will you stand with me as we close? 631 00:45:37,000 --> 00:45:40,000 So as I was praying about how to close this talk today, 632 00:45:40,000 --> 00:45:46,000 I just felt like God kind of challenged me or nudged me to say, 633 00:45:46,000 --> 00:45:50,000 look, there's some of you here today, 634 00:45:50,000 --> 00:45:56,000 and you grew up or have experienced religion in your life. 635 00:45:56,000 --> 00:45:59,000 Maybe it was rules. Maybe it was a church you're in. 636 00:45:59,000 --> 00:46:05,000 I have no idea. Maybe it was a family member. 637 00:46:05,000 --> 00:46:09,000 But you just felt like God didn't love you 638 00:46:09,000 --> 00:46:11,000 because you just weren't making the best decisions. 639 00:46:11,000 --> 00:46:14,000 You weren't following the rules. 640 00:46:14,000 --> 00:46:18,000 And I just felt like the Holy Spirit wanted to overwhelm you today 641 00:46:18,000 --> 00:46:24,000 and just eradicate any of those images that you may have assumed 642 00:46:24,000 --> 00:46:26,000 that you thought you had to live up to, 643 00:46:26,000 --> 00:46:31,000 because all He's inviting you into is a personal relationship with His Son. 644 00:46:31,000 --> 00:46:34,000 So if that's you, if you just got some baggage, 645 00:46:34,000 --> 00:46:37,000 if you're just carrying around some hurt and some pain from your past, 646 00:46:37,000 --> 00:46:39,000 I'm not going to ask you to raise your hand. 647 00:46:39,000 --> 00:46:41,000 I just want to invite you to put your hands out like this. 648 00:46:41,000 --> 00:46:44,000 And all this is is I'm receiving. 649 00:46:44,000 --> 00:46:46,000 I want to receive a fresh touch from the Holy Spirit. 650 00:46:46,000 --> 00:46:48,000 I believe that God's going to touch your life this morning. 651 00:46:48,000 --> 00:46:54,000 So Holy Spirit God, God, you know the hearts of those that are gathered here. 652 00:46:54,000 --> 00:47:01,000 I just pray, God, that anyone in this place that struggles with any type of religion 653 00:47:01,000 --> 00:47:08,000 or expectations that were placed on them to live up to man-made rules and expectations, 654 00:47:08,000 --> 00:47:12,000 God, I just pray you would eradicate that in Jesus' name 655 00:47:12,000 --> 00:47:17,000 and that your love and your grace and your mercy would just surround them 656 00:47:17,000 --> 00:47:22,000 and impact them in a special way this morning, God. 657 00:47:22,000 --> 00:47:29,000 Just overwhelm us, God, with your love, your peace, your grace. 658 00:47:29,000 --> 00:47:35,000 We're just thankful, God, of how you set us free and change us from the inside out. 659 00:47:35,000 --> 00:47:37,000 In Jesus' name. 660 00:47:37,000 --> 00:47:39,000 And we all said together. 661 00:47:39,000 --> 00:47:44,000 So if we could stay in that place of prayer, you know that every Sunday I offer 662 00:47:44,000 --> 00:47:48,000 just that relationship that God so freely extends. 663 00:47:48,000 --> 00:47:50,000 I'm not going to have you come forward. 664 00:47:50,000 --> 00:47:54,000 I'm not going to have you say your name or introduce yourself. 665 00:47:54,000 --> 00:47:58,000 No one is even going to see that you want to begin that relationship 666 00:47:58,000 --> 00:47:59,000 between you and God. 667 00:47:59,000 --> 00:48:00,000 So no one looking around. 668 00:48:00,000 --> 00:48:03,000 If you're here this morning and you need to start a relationship with Jesus, 669 00:48:03,000 --> 00:48:04,000 you need to return to Jesus. 670 00:48:04,000 --> 00:48:06,000 You're like a prodigal son. 671 00:48:06,000 --> 00:48:08,000 I want to pray with you. 672 00:48:08,000 --> 00:48:13,000 Just slip your hand up and we'll all pray with you together. 673 00:48:13,000 --> 00:48:19,000 Yes. Yes. 674 00:48:19,000 --> 00:48:20,000 Let's pray these words. 675 00:48:20,000 --> 00:48:23,000 Jesus, I'm broken. 676 00:48:23,000 --> 00:48:27,000 I'm full of doubt, shame, regret. 677 00:48:27,000 --> 00:48:28,000 Sin. 678 00:48:28,000 --> 00:48:32,000 I'm a sinner in need of your grace. 679 00:48:32,000 --> 00:48:36,000 I believe you're God's son. 680 00:48:36,000 --> 00:48:40,000 I believe you died for me. 681 00:48:40,000 --> 00:48:42,000 Make me new. 682 00:48:42,000 --> 00:48:45,000 Fill me with your spirit. 683 00:48:45,000 --> 00:48:49,000 Allow me to serve others. 684 00:48:49,000 --> 00:48:52,000 In Jesus' name. Amen. 685 00:48:52,000 --> 00:48:54,000 Now listen, text me. 686 00:48:54,000 --> 00:48:59,000 If you prayed that prayer when you get out of here, text changeme to 9700. 687 00:48:59,000 --> 00:49:02,000 I will respond to you this week personally, give you next steps, 688 00:49:02,000 --> 00:49:05,000 challenge you to grow your relationship with Jesus. 689 00:49:05,000 --> 00:49:25,000 If you're joining us online, thank you.