From the campus of
Andrews University,
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this is New Perceptions
with Dr. Dwight K. Nelson.
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Oh, Lord my God
When I in awesome wonder
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Consider all the
worlds Thy hands have made
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I see the stars I
hear the rolling thunder
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Thy power throughout
The universe displayed.
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Then sings my soul.
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Then sings my soul
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My Savior God to Thee
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How great Thou
art How great Thou art
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Then sings my soul
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My Savior God to Thee
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How great Thou
art How great Thou art
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And when I think That God,
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His son not
sparing Sent Him to die
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I scarce can take it in
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That on the cross My
burden gladly bearing
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He bled and died
To take away my sin
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Then sings my soul
My Savior God to Thee
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How great Thou
art How great Thou art
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Then sings my soul
My Savior God to Thee
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How great Thou
art How great Thou art
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When Christ shall come
With shout of acclamation
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And take me home What
joy shall fill my heart
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Then I shall bow
In humble adoration
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And there proclaim
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My God how great Thou art
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Then sings my soul
My Savior God to Thee
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How great Thou
art How great Thou art
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Then sings my soul
My Savior God to Thee
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How great Thou
art How great Thou art
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Then sings my soul.
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Then sings my soul
My Savior God to Thee
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How great Thou art
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How great Thou art
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Then sings my soul
My Savior God to Thee
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How great Thou art
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How great Thou art
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Join us as we sing.
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I will sing of my redeemer.
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I will sing.
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I will sing of my Redeemer
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He who took the nails from me
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I've been
purchased I've been pardoned
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Bound to Him I'm truly free
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I will sing of my Redeemer
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Lift my voice to praise my Lord
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Ransomed by His Blood and mercy
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I am His forevermore
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I will sing.
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I will sing of my Redeemer
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How He sought me while a slave
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Loosed me from the curse of sin
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And from the power of the grave
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I will sing of my Redeemer
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Lift my voice to praise my Lord
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Ransomed by His Blood and mercy
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I am His forevermore
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I will sing of my Redeemer
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He who bore my cross, my curse
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Came a servant, chose to suffer
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Lifted up and cast from earth
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I will sing of my Redeemer
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Lift my voice to praise my Lord
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Ransomed by His Blood and mercy
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I am His forevermore
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I will sing of my Redeemer
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Tell about the grace I've known
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Here on earth
with those forgiven
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And one day around His throne
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I will sing of my Redeemer
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Lift my voice to praise my Lord
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Ransomed by His Blood and mercy
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I am His forevermore
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Ransomed by...
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Ransomed by His Blood and mercy
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I am His forevermore
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Amen. Hallelujah.
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All right, show-and-tell time,
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show-and-tell time,
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I have my little
summer show-and-tell.
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I want to show you
what's inside this bag
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because this summer we
went out to Lake Tahoe.
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Anybody know
where Lake Tahoe is?
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It's in America, it's in a state
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all the way out on the west
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and it's the
state of California.
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You nailed it
today hadn't they class.
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So we went out to
Lake Tahoe because we,
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my brother and
sister and our spouses
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we wanted to celebrate my
mother with her husband Berg
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and so we brought mom
up to Lake Tahoe in a cabin
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and we had just four
wonderful days together.
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Now along the way,
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I'm just outside
minding my own business
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when all of a
sudden, I see one of these,
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I say, wait a
minute have you ever seen
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anything that size before.
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Is it safe to pick it up?
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I reached down and I said
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I'm going to try
and I grabbed it.
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Set it in my
suitcase, my carry on suitcase,
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passed TSA all the way
back to Berrien Springs
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and here it is.
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Look what...
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Have you ever seen
one as big as this?
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Wow!
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Wow!
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Anybody know what this is?
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What is it?
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A pine cone straight from...
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Wow, it hurts. Ooh, ouch!
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Straight from
Lake Tahoe, California.
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Let me show you
about this pine cone.
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This is the largest
pine cone I've seen.
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So I said I'm bringing it home,
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I'm going to put it
right here in my office
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so anytime you come to visit,
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you'll be able to
look at it, touch it.
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This is a pine
cone and guess what,
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I started doing
study on pine cones
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and I found out
this is a girl pine cone.
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What?
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That's why I got stuck.
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This is a girl pine cone.
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They have boy pine
cones and girl pine cones.
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This little
pine cone and you say
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''Pastor, but how do
you know the difference.'
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' I had to read up on it
but here is how it works.
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Jesus the
creator who made us all,
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when He designed pine cones,
now this is going to be way...
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This is going to
be something else.
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When He designed pine
cones, He designed them
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mathematically perfect
and here is how we know
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it's mathematically perfect.
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Fibonacci, the
Fibonacci numbers,
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listen to this guys...
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Have you ever seen a Fibonacci?
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You're looking at one.
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The Fibonacci numbers
go like this, the next...
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They always begins 01
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the next number is always
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the combination
of the two before
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and you just keep adding them
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and they get huge
and they form a spiral.
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God, when Jesus
created pine cones
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He made them to fit
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what's called the golden spiral,
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the Fibonacci numbers.
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A mathematician
obviously created this world.
00:10:11.14\00:10:15.04
The scientists now are amazed
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that they are finding
the golden spiral in shells,
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sea shells, pine
cones, it's everywhere.
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The secret formula
00:10:23.82\00:10:25.29
we discovered
somebody designed this.
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So when God
designed the girl pine cone,
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He made this little,
these look like petals,
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they're wooden petals.
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You know what a pine cone is.
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He made these petals so
that the very back of the petals
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there is a little
ovule, that little,
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there are two
of them at the back
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of every one of these petals.
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And when the weather
gets warm in the pine cone,
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the little girl
pine cone is growing up,
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when the weather gets warm,
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she begins to spread
her little wooden petals.
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She spreads them
out, the weather is warmer
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and it's drier, and
she does that for a reason
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because the male,
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the boy pine
cones, they are tiny.
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The boy pine cones
put out a little pollen,
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just a little pollen.
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It gets in the air
and the warm air breezes
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when the girl pine
cone has spread her petals,
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the pollen from the
boy pine cones goes inside,
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gets lands on that little tiny,
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those little tiny
spots at the back.
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The pine cone then as
it gets cooler shuts down
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between 6 months and
24 months the pine cone,
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the little girl
pine cone is fertilizing
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and growing that seed
24 months maximum later
00:11:41.36\00:11:45.73
she then it's summer time again,
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she opens up her
petals and there they go,
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now the
fertilized seed now goes,
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opens up so that
the wind can carry it
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as far as it can go.
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Look at that.
Look at this pine cone.
00:11:59.91\00:12:02.48
This little pine cone has all
of that in it and guess what?
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This pine cone is a reminder
00:12:07.39\00:12:09.62
that you can't be
good just by yourself.
00:12:09.66\00:12:12.66
You were
designed by the creator,
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you need others.
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Pine cones can't live all alone,
00:12:17.23\00:12:18.83
they need others.
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Animals need others.
00:12:20.24\00:12:21.57
Plants and flowers
and honeybees need others.
00:12:21.60\00:12:24.04
People need others.
00:12:24.07\00:12:25.64
Children in the
church of Jesus need others.
00:12:25.67\00:12:30.05
We can't just go alone.
00:12:30.08\00:12:32.71
We were made to be together.
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Let me hear you say that word.
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We were made to
be, what's the word?
00:12:37.32\00:12:40.49
Oh, it's little stronger
on this side, let me try.
00:12:40.52\00:12:42.39
We were made to be? Together.
00:12:42.42\00:12:45.46
Oh, now I think
this side has it.
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We were made to be? Together!
00:12:46.86\00:12:49.80
Let's do it all together.
00:12:49.83\00:12:51.17
We were made to be together.
00:12:51.20\00:12:55.64
How many of you thank for Jesus
00:12:55.67\00:12:57.01
with such beautiful mathematical
00:12:57.04\00:12:59.27
precision has made us,
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and how many want to say, Jesus,
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please I want to be
together with your friends
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until You come.
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Ah!
00:13:08.78\00:13:10.12
We started this last
Sabbath and it went so well,
00:13:10.15\00:13:11.75
I'm going to do it
again this Sabbath,
00:13:11.79\00:13:13.36
instead of having a
junior pastor this year
00:13:13.39\00:13:15.36
because we took a
survey and people say,
00:13:15.39\00:13:16.96
why don't you try this?
00:13:16.99\00:13:18.33
I'm going to ask is
there a volunteer for prayer.
00:13:18.36\00:13:22.20
Now last Sabbath
there was a young lady,
00:13:22.23\00:13:24.47
so I'm going to
look for a young man.
00:13:24.50\00:13:26.70
Yes, I want to see that
young man right on the back.
00:13:26.74\00:13:29.77
Come on up here.
00:13:29.80\00:13:31.14
Aden, come on up
00:13:31.17\00:13:33.14
and we're going
to close our eyes
00:13:33.17\00:13:35.48
and fold our hands as
Aden thanks Jesus for making us
00:13:35.51\00:13:39.45
with such beautiful
precision to be together.
00:13:39.48\00:13:43.99
Just hold that real close.
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Dear, Jesus, I just thank
you for this wonderful day
00:13:45.62\00:13:47.69
and thank you that
we're all here today and just,
00:13:47.72\00:13:51.13
I think please help
us to all have a fun time
00:13:51.16\00:13:53.66
the rest of the
day we have today,
00:13:53.70\00:13:55.10
in the name we pray, amen.
00:13:55.13\00:13:56.46
Amen. That works for me.
00:13:56.50\00:13:57.83
Thank you, Aden.
00:13:57.87\00:13:59.20
And thank you boys and
girls as you go quietly
00:13:59.23\00:14:01.24
and reverently
back to your seats.
00:14:01.27\00:14:02.97
You could be saying thank
you to Jesus in your heart.
00:14:03.00\00:14:05.21
Thank you for making us
so that we could be together.
00:14:05.24\00:14:09.11
God bless you. Happy Sabbath.
00:14:09.14\00:14:10.58
Lord, make me an
instrument of Thy peace
00:14:23.63\00:14:30.63
Where there is
hatred, let me sow love
00:14:37.54\00:14:44.51
Where there is injury, pardon
00:14:44.55\00:14:51.52
Where there is doubt, faith
00:14:51.62\00:14:56.32
Where there is despair, hope
00:14:58.23\00:15:02.43
Where there is darkness, light
00:15:05.03\00:15:09.20
Where there is sadness, joy
00:15:11.37\00:15:15.84
O Divine Master Grant that
00:15:20.08\00:15:26.05
I may not so much seek
00:15:26.09\00:15:31.49
To be consoled as to console
00:15:34.13\00:15:39.07
To be
understood as to understand
00:15:41.20\00:15:46.07
To be loved as to love
00:15:47.61\00:15:53.72
For it is in giving
00:15:55.68\00:16:02.56
that we receive
00:16:02.59\00:16:08.73
It is in pardoning
00:16:08.76\00:16:15.24
that we are pardoned
00:16:15.27\00:16:20.48
It is in dying
00:16:21.71\00:16:28.68
that we are born
00:16:31.52\00:16:38.26
to eternal life
00:16:38.29\00:16:45.27
Thank you, Charles Reid.
00:17:03.08\00:17:06.02
Let's pray together.
00:17:06.05\00:17:08.92
Oh, God make us
instruments of Your peace.
00:17:08.96\00:17:14.13
That's what your friends are for
00:17:14.16\00:17:16.00
on this planet dark night,
00:17:16.03\00:17:18.60
bright day, it doesn't mater,
00:17:18.63\00:17:21.30
make us
instruments of Your peace
00:17:21.34\00:17:24.44
and in this teaching call us,
00:17:24.47\00:17:26.74
call us to the journey
00:17:26.78\00:17:31.31
that is led by the
Lord Jesus Himself,
00:17:31.35\00:17:33.52
in His name we pray, amen.
00:17:33.55\00:17:36.65
Did you hear
about apple this week?
00:17:36.69\00:17:39.19
Apple, can you believe it. Wow!
00:17:39.22\00:17:41.69
I'm talking about
Apple, the company.
00:17:41.72\00:17:43.63
Everybody knows
the logo of Apple,
00:17:43.66\00:17:46.39
the maker of the
iPhone, the iPad, the iPod,
00:17:46.43\00:17:51.23
the Mac computer system Apple.
00:17:51.27\00:17:56.27
This week became
the most valuable.
00:17:56.30\00:18:00.28
We're talking about
market capitalization here,
00:18:00.31\00:18:03.41
the most
valuable company on earth.
00:18:03.45\00:18:05.91
The value determined this week
00:18:05.95\00:18:07.72
as those stocks continue to sale
00:18:07.75\00:18:09.48
and they're expensive stocks
00:18:09.52\00:18:11.25
$623 billion, Apple Company.
00:18:11.29\00:18:14.79
The closest competitor is
ExxonMobil at $405 billon,
00:18:14.82\00:18:20.50
that's number two.
00:18:20.53\00:18:21.86
Microsoft the
arch rival of Apple
00:18:21.90\00:18:25.27
weighs in at $273 billion.
00:18:25.30\00:18:28.14
In fact, now
Apple is worth more than
00:18:28.17\00:18:30.54
Microsoft and Google combined.
00:18:30.57\00:18:34.11
In fact, in fact, two in facts,
00:18:34.14\00:18:37.31
Apple at its
valuation of $623 billion
00:18:37.35\00:18:40.72
is now higher than the GDP,
00:18:40.75\00:18:43.42
the gross domestic
product of Switzerland
00:18:43.45\00:18:47.12
or Venezuela or Saudi Arabia.
00:18:47.16\00:18:51.29
Wow!
00:18:51.33\00:18:53.19
What's the big deal about Apple?
00:18:53.23\00:18:55.40
Ah!
00:18:55.43\00:18:56.77
Apple has mastered the simple.
00:18:56.80\00:19:00.34
Apple simple, you
just have one big old dial
00:19:00.37\00:19:03.24
on the front,
00:19:03.27\00:19:04.61
all you have to do is just
know where to touch that dial
00:19:04.64\00:19:07.01
and you have music.
00:19:07.04\00:19:08.38
You have what's embedded
in that piece of genius.
00:19:08.41\00:19:12.68
Apple does life simply.
00:19:12.71\00:19:15.58
Wouldn't it be wonderful
if the church would do life
00:19:15.62\00:19:18.25
just as simply as
Apple, maybe she does,
00:19:18.29\00:19:21.96
connect, grow, surf, go,
00:19:21.99\00:19:27.46
may be it really is
that's simple do in church.
00:19:27.50\00:19:31.77
Put the title
slide for the number two,
00:19:31.80\00:19:33.67
this is only a little
parter we began at last week,
00:19:33.70\00:19:35.54
we end it today.
00:19:35.57\00:19:36.91
Simple Church for unSimple Times
00:19:36.94\00:19:38.37
and oh, mine, the
times are extremely unsimple.
00:19:38.41\00:19:40.98
Connect, grow, serve, go.
00:19:41.01\00:19:42.58
Thank you Charles Reid
for reminding us of that line.
00:19:42.61\00:19:47.28
Today we want
to get to the grow.
00:19:47.32\00:19:49.52
We want to get to the grow
00:19:49.55\00:19:50.89
and then we'll
drop this for a while.
00:19:50.92\00:19:54.19
But is the church
really that simple.
00:19:54.22\00:19:56.66
If you thought last
week's parable was peculiar,
00:19:56.69\00:19:58.69
wait till you take
a look at this one.
00:19:58.73\00:20:00.06
Two back to back parables.
00:20:00.10\00:20:01.43
Jesus is going to sound
like He is repeating Himself,
00:20:01.46\00:20:05.37
but at the
moment we plunge deeper,
00:20:05.40\00:20:07.17
you're going to see
this is radically different.
00:20:07.20\00:20:09.84
Let's go to the second parable.
00:20:09.87\00:20:11.21
Feels and sounds like
where we were last week,
00:20:11.24\00:20:13.54
but now we are in
the Gospel of Mathew.
00:20:13.58\00:20:14.91
Open your Bible please
to the Gospel of Mathew.
00:20:14.94\00:20:17.05
This one is down
right provocative,
00:20:17.08\00:20:19.21
Mathew Chapter 22.
00:20:19.25\00:20:20.68
I'm in the New
King James Version.
00:20:20.72\00:20:22.78
You can grab the pew Bible...
00:20:22.82\00:20:24.15
Listen, if you
didn't bring your Bible,
00:20:24.19\00:20:25.52
grab the pew
Bible in front of you.
00:20:25.55\00:20:26.89
You gonna want to track
this unusual, unusual parable.
00:20:26.92\00:20:30.66
This is Mathew 22.
00:20:30.69\00:20:32.06
Jesus will be dead
in just a few days now.
00:20:32.09\00:20:35.40
Some things on
His heart and mind
00:20:35.43\00:20:36.93
and He saves it till now.
00:20:36.97\00:20:38.30
Mathew 22 will pick
it up in the first verse.
00:20:38.33\00:20:41.67
In the pew Bible
it will be page 665.
00:20:41.70\00:20:44.97
Here we go, Mathew 22:1,
00:20:45.01\00:20:47.84
"And Jesus
answered and spoke to them
00:20:47.88\00:20:49.44
again by parables
and said:" Verse 2,
00:20:49.48\00:20:51.71
"The kingdom of
heaven is like a certain king
00:20:51.75\00:20:53.75
who arranged a
marriage for his son."
00:20:53.78\00:20:55.78
Verse 3, "And he sent
out his servants to call
00:20:55.82\00:20:58.05
those who were
invited to the wedding,
00:20:58.09\00:20:59.69
and they were
not willing to come."
00:20:59.72\00:21:01.52
You say, Wow, Dwight,
I told you this is same.
00:21:01.56\00:21:03.96
Sounds familiar not the
same, don't get excited.
00:21:03.99\00:21:07.53
Last week in
Luke 14 it was a host
00:21:07.56\00:21:09.86
who was having his
closest friends over.
00:21:09.90\00:21:12.33
This is now a key.
00:21:12.37\00:21:13.70
We are not dealing
with the host here,
00:21:13.74\00:21:15.07
we're dealing
with the majestic king
00:21:15.10\00:21:16.87
who is throwing a lavish banquet
00:21:16.91\00:21:19.27
for the marriage of his son.
00:21:19.31\00:21:21.54
I mean come on, not
unlike Queen Elizabeth,
00:21:21.58\00:21:26.31
God bless her.
00:21:26.35\00:21:27.78
When she threw
that massive, majestic,
00:21:27.82\00:21:31.12
lavish banquet for
our favorite royals,
00:21:31.15\00:21:35.49
put them on the screen please,
00:21:35.52\00:21:36.86
Prince William
and his lovely Kate.
00:21:36.89\00:21:39.09
Everybody knows, the world knows
00:21:39.13\00:21:40.46
who those two are.
00:21:40.50\00:21:41.83
The whole world saw this.
00:21:41.86\00:21:43.20
Now look at it
in the next picture,
00:21:43.23\00:21:44.57
the whole world,
00:21:44.60\00:21:45.93
the kiss scene around the world,
00:21:45.97\00:21:47.30
heard around the world.
00:21:47.34\00:21:48.97
So what do we have?
00:21:49.00\00:21:50.34
We have a royal
wedding just like that.
00:21:50.37\00:21:51.94
The king has invited
his friends to attend,
00:21:51.97\00:21:53.88
and can you believe
this without any excuses,
00:21:53.91\00:21:56.48
last week they had
excuses, this week no excuses,
00:21:56.51\00:21:58.55
they just say
''No, I'm not coming.'
00:21:58.58\00:22:00.98
' But it gets
even worse, watch this.
00:22:01.02\00:22:04.02
Verse 3 again, "So the
king sent out his servants
00:22:04.05\00:22:07.02
to call those who were
invited to the wedding,
00:22:07.06\00:22:09.56
and they were
not willing to come."
00:22:09.59\00:22:12.23
Verse 4, "Again,
the king sent out
00:22:12.26\00:22:14.13
other servants..."
00:22:14.16\00:22:15.50
They didn't get it, now
you go and he said them,
00:22:15.53\00:22:18.73
''Tell those who are invited,
00:22:18.77\00:22:20.10
"See, I have prepared my dinner,
00:22:20.14\00:22:22.00
my oxen and fatted
cattle are killed..."
00:22:22.04\00:22:25.27
Okay, so the king is
not really in the story
00:22:25.31\00:22:28.01
into a low class drama,
00:22:28.04\00:22:29.44
we are not going to
hold that against the king,
00:22:29.48\00:22:31.01
okay, so that's their dinner.
00:22:31.05\00:22:33.42
See he says, "My fatted
cattle and the oxen are killed,
00:22:33.45\00:22:39.82
and all things are ready.
00:22:39.85\00:22:41.76
Come, come,
come to the wedding."
00:22:41.79\00:22:45.46
Verse 5, "But
they, the ones receiving
00:22:45.49\00:22:47.36
the
re-invitation made light of it
00:22:47.40\00:22:49.16
and went on their
way, one to his own farm,
00:22:49.20\00:22:50.77
another to his business."
00:22:50.80\00:22:52.13
Verse 6, Kenny, I
told you it gets worse.
00:22:52.17\00:22:54.10
Verse 6, "And the
rest seized his servants,
00:22:54.14\00:22:56.60
treated them
spitefully, and killed them."
00:22:56.64\00:22:59.84
Can you believe it?
00:22:59.87\00:23:01.21
Is this the way you respond
to a servant of the king?
00:23:01.24\00:23:04.21
Commentators and
scholars were clear.
00:23:04.25\00:23:06.11
Ladies and gentlemen,
that Jesus is skillfully here
00:23:06.15\00:23:07.98
telling the story
of the Jewish leaders
00:23:08.02\00:23:11.42
and their nation
without mentioning any names.
00:23:11.45\00:23:18.03
The tale of the Old Testament.
00:23:18.06\00:23:19.39
It's a story of a
heartbroken God over and over,
00:23:19.43\00:23:21.80
prophet after prophet
pleading with his people,
00:23:21.83\00:23:24.83
come back to
me, come back to me.
00:23:24.87\00:23:27.20
And now the son of the king
is standing in their very midst
00:23:27.24\00:23:31.27
and they're going to
kill him in a matter of hours.
00:23:31.31\00:23:37.95
Verse 7, "But when
the king heard about it,
00:23:37.98\00:23:41.78
he was furious.
00:23:41.82\00:23:43.39
And he sent out his armies,
destroyed those murderers,
00:23:43.42\00:23:46.15
and burned up their city."
00:23:46.19\00:23:48.49
In that single cryptic
line, Jesus is announcing
00:23:48.52\00:23:51.99
the impending fate of Jerusalem.
00:23:52.03\00:23:54.26
Forty years from right now,
00:23:54.30\00:23:55.63
I'm telling you the story today.
00:23:55.66\00:23:57.00
Forty years from now 70
AD, the Roman General Titus
00:23:57.03\00:24:01.54
will erased the city in
second and burn it to the ground
00:24:01.57\00:24:05.54
70 AD, 40 years.
00:24:05.57\00:24:09.71
Cryptic announcement.
00:24:09.74\00:24:11.78
Yeah, but you say, listen,
00:24:11.81\00:24:13.15
what kind of a
mean king is this?
00:24:13.18\00:24:16.45
You don't come to my
party, I'm going to kill you.
00:24:16.48\00:24:19.59
David Redding in
his provocative book
00:24:19.62\00:24:20.96
the parables he told.
00:24:20.99\00:24:22.32
He responds to that.
00:24:22.36\00:24:23.69
Let me put the words
on the screen for you,
00:24:23.73\00:24:25.06
this is David Redding,
00:24:25.09\00:24:26.63
"Now look God is
no petulant child
00:24:26.66\00:24:29.56
getting back at those
who hurt His feelings.
00:24:29.60\00:24:31.70
The parable is
suggesting, I like this,
00:24:31.73\00:24:33.94
the parable is suggesting
that mortality is our chance."
00:24:33.97\00:24:38.34
Mortality means
this life right now,
00:24:38.37\00:24:40.21
you are alive,
this is your chance.
00:24:40.24\00:24:41.81
"The parable is suggesting
the mortality is our chance
00:24:41.88\00:24:44.15
that there is
something conclusive
00:24:44.18\00:24:45.51
about our life here.
00:24:45.55\00:24:46.88
Our death signals the
end, not of an inning,
00:24:46.92\00:24:49.48
but of a game.
00:24:49.52\00:24:50.85
It's over, listen, we are
not going into extra innings,
00:24:50.89\00:24:52.82
it's over.
00:24:53.15\00:24:55.16
All God's mercy, reading on...
00:24:55.19\00:24:57.13
"All God's mercy
cannot erase the final score."
00:24:57.16\00:25:00.60
The score you
are tabulating today
00:25:00.63\00:25:02.86
makes the difference,
00:25:02.90\00:25:04.23
that's the point,
You can't just turn down
00:25:04.27\00:25:05.73
the invitation
right and left say,
00:25:05.77\00:25:07.10
well, I'm not into this.
00:25:07.14\00:25:08.47
Yes, you are going to
get the score you made.
00:25:08.50\00:25:13.54
All God's
mercy, Redding writing,
00:25:13.58\00:25:15.24
cannot erase the final score
and when we lose this life,
00:25:15.28\00:25:18.35
oh my, we will lose an advantage
00:25:18.38\00:25:21.12
that belonged to it alone...
00:25:21.15\00:25:24.72
What we are respecting here
00:25:24.75\00:25:26.25
is the guest's
awesome privilege to refuse."
00:25:26.29\00:25:30.76
Isn't that something?
00:25:30.79\00:25:33.23
It may be our
awesome privilege to refuse,
00:25:33.26\00:25:34.76
ladies and gentlemen,
00:25:34.80\00:25:36.13
but who but a fool
would exercise that privilege.
00:25:36.16\00:25:41.27
Not if you really, not if she,
00:25:41.30\00:25:43.51
not if he really knew the king,
00:25:43.54\00:25:45.57
why would you say no to
an invitation like this.
00:25:45.61\00:25:52.58
Verse 8, "Then he
said to his servants, okay,
00:25:52.68\00:25:57.49
plan B 'The wedding is ready,
00:25:57.52\00:26:00.42
but those who were
invited were not worthy."
00:26:00.46\00:26:02.66
Verse 9, "Therefore
go into the highways
00:26:02.69\00:26:05.63
and as many as you
find, invite to the wedding."
00:26:05.66\00:26:09.16
Can you believe that?
00:26:09.20\00:26:10.53
I mean, can you imagine
we go into the mail box,
00:26:10.57\00:26:11.90
opening the mail box
00:26:11.93\00:26:13.27
and here with the
British stamp cancel on it,
00:26:13.30\00:26:16.54
Buckingham Palace
in the return address,
00:26:16.57\00:26:18.87
I have an invitation
from Queen Elizabeth,
00:26:18.91\00:26:24.01
her majesty, to
come to the banquet
00:26:24.05\00:26:26.98
of William and Kate.
00:26:27.02\00:26:29.08
Would you go if
you got the invitation?
00:26:29.12\00:26:31.32
I know you would
row the Atlantic to go
00:26:31.35\00:26:34.09
if that's what it took.
00:26:34.12\00:26:35.69
I'm not as
hopelessly romantic as you.
00:26:35.72\00:26:38.93
I mean who would
turn down the invitation,
00:26:38.96\00:26:41.46
if the Queen herself said,
00:26:41.50\00:26:42.96
come to my party for
my grandson's wedding,
00:26:43.00\00:26:47.94
and that's
what's happening here.
00:26:47.97\00:26:49.40
Very few people
00:26:49.44\00:26:51.04
get an invitation to so
exclusive an event as that
00:26:51.07\00:26:53.98
which makes the king's
command so outstanding,
00:26:54.01\00:26:56.31
and I like it in the NIV.
00:26:56.34\00:26:57.71
Look at this in the NIV.
00:26:57.75\00:26:59.08
The king tells his servants,
"Invite anyone you can find."
00:26:59.11\00:27:02.38
Anybody, if he is
breathing, if she is breathing,
00:27:02.42\00:27:05.89
extend the
invitation, bring them
00:27:05.92\00:27:07.72
to this big and lavish event.
00:27:07.76\00:27:13.96
Do you know why the
king issues that command?
00:27:14.00\00:27:16.20
I'll tell you why?
00:27:16.23\00:27:17.57
Because God is huge
00:27:17.60\00:27:23.20
on connecting with lost people.
00:27:23.24\00:27:25.51
That's why He is just big
00:27:25.54\00:27:30.61
on saving lost people.
00:27:30.65\00:27:34.52
We noted that in
that other parable,
00:27:34.55\00:27:36.52
the matching parable last week.
00:27:36.55\00:27:37.89
In fact, the key line
last week was this one.
00:27:37.92\00:27:40.06
Remember God says "That
My house may be filled."
00:27:40.09\00:27:42.32
That's what I want,
just fill this house up,
00:27:42.36\00:27:44.59
fill this house up.
00:27:44.63\00:27:46.33
I want my house full.
00:27:46.36\00:27:47.70
This week how does he put it?
00:27:47.73\00:27:49.06
He says "Invite
anyone you find."
00:27:49.10\00:27:50.43
So those two phrases
can actually be combined
00:27:50.47\00:27:51.80
to a single passionate command.
00:27:51.83\00:27:54.54
"Invite anyone you find
that my house may be filled."
00:27:54.57\00:27:58.47
Because God is huge on
connecting with lost people,
00:27:58.51\00:28:03.21
right?
00:28:03.24\00:28:04.58
Now look at, it I
know what occurs to you.
00:28:04.61\00:28:06.11
Okay, Dwight, understand,
yep, God is that way.
00:28:06.15\00:28:08.18
I know that the
corollary conclusion
00:28:08.22\00:28:11.22
you already know it.
00:28:11.25\00:28:12.59
I mean look at it,
00:28:12.62\00:28:13.96
if God is so big on
connecting with lost people,
00:28:13.99\00:28:17.03
the church ought to be big,
00:28:17.06\00:28:20.60
pretty big on connecting
with lost people shouldn't we?
00:28:20.63\00:28:25.43
Of course which is
why the simple mission
00:28:25.47\00:28:29.70
of the Pioneer Memorial Church
00:28:29.74\00:28:32.47
is the simple line that
begins with a simple word.
00:28:32.51\00:28:36.64
Let's put it on the screen.
00:28:36.68\00:28:38.01
It begins with the word Connect.
00:28:38.05\00:28:41.75
That's a simple mission.
00:28:41.78\00:28:44.49
Can it be as simple as Apple?
00:28:44.52\00:28:45.99
Why not?
00:28:46.02\00:28:47.39
Connect, connect,
00:28:47.42\00:28:49.42
which is why by the way
in every worship service
00:28:49.46\00:28:52.29
where you come to this church
at the end of the teaching,
00:28:52.33\00:28:55.56
we'll end with something
called the connect card.
00:28:55.60\00:28:57.60
It's in your bulletin right now.
00:28:57.63\00:28:58.97
In fact you want
to reach and say,
00:28:59.00\00:29:00.34
Dwight, does my
bulletin really have one.
00:29:00.37\00:29:01.70
It has one.
00:29:01.74\00:29:03.07
A connect card, what's
the connect card about?
00:29:03.10\00:29:05.01
It gives a special
opportunity to every worshiper,
00:29:05.04\00:29:07.84
guest or member,
young or aged or in between,
00:29:07.88\00:29:11.18
red or yellow, black and white,
00:29:11.21\00:29:12.55
it doesn't matter saved or lost,
00:29:12.58\00:29:13.92
it doesn't matter.
00:29:13.95\00:29:15.28
This little connect card
00:29:15.32\00:29:16.65
is coming up in just a moment
00:29:16.69\00:29:18.02
and it would be an
opportunity for you and me
00:29:18.05\00:29:19.39
to connect with God.
00:29:19.42\00:29:20.96
Reconnect if
necessary but connect,
00:29:20.99\00:29:24.29
because God is
huge on connecting.
00:29:24.33\00:29:27.20
We're not gonna over the
card, we did that last week.
00:29:27.23\00:29:29.56
But I'm gonna play for you
right now a video clip of why.
00:29:29.60\00:29:32.57
Now, listen to this.
00:29:32.60\00:29:33.94
A video clip of
why I am so sold out
00:29:33.97\00:29:37.31
on this connect cards.
00:29:37.34\00:29:38.77
Watch this, this
happened in February,
00:29:38.81\00:29:41.08
the last Sabbath of
this of the last semester.
00:29:41.11\00:29:44.11
I sat on that row and
I watched this testimony.
00:29:44.15\00:29:47.28
Let's go, Chris Sovey.
00:29:47.32\00:29:50.62
My name is Chris Sovey.
00:29:50.65\00:29:51.99
I grew up in Central Michigan
and originally I was a nurse
00:29:52.02\00:29:56.62
and I moved out here to continue
00:29:56.66\00:29:58.86
my education actually
as a physical therapist
00:29:58.89\00:30:00.80
for a change of careers,
00:30:00.83\00:30:02.30
and during that time
00:30:02.33\00:30:03.80
I found that I was
seeking some answers
00:30:03.83\00:30:07.17
to some pretty
tough spiritual questions
00:30:07.20\00:30:10.17
and I read a lot
of different books
00:30:10.21\00:30:11.71
and try to find the
answers in another places
00:30:11.74\00:30:14.04
but I could not find them,
00:30:14.08\00:30:15.74
so one time when I was actually
here for service at PMC,
00:30:15.78\00:30:20.65
I happened to be listening
pretty closely and filled out
00:30:20.68\00:30:23.79
one of connect cards
and hopes that might help
00:30:23.82\00:30:27.29
find some answers so.
00:30:27.32\00:30:30.03
I immediately got
response back from Bradley
00:30:30.06\00:30:32.79
and soon after I
started the baptismal classes
00:30:32.83\00:30:35.03
which led me down the path
00:30:35.06\00:30:37.27
of trying to built a
stronger relationship
00:30:37.30\00:30:39.63
with the Lord.
00:30:39.67\00:30:41.00
I think during my
undergraduate studies,
00:30:41.04\00:30:42.64
I had kind of fallen out of that
00:30:42.67\00:30:44.01
but this has given
me an opportunity on to,
00:30:44.04\00:30:47.28
to get back on track with that,
00:30:47.31\00:30:48.64
and so the Baptist, the baptism
00:30:48.68\00:30:50.25
itself means a lot to me
00:30:50.28\00:30:52.31
as a symbol to
strengthen that relationship
00:30:52.35\00:30:54.98
and to just press on,
00:30:55.02\00:30:56.92
so I can find the
answers to those questions.
00:30:56.95\00:31:00.19
Is that cool or what?
00:31:00.22\00:31:02.19
I sat in the first row
00:31:02.22\00:31:04.33
last Sabbath of the school year,
00:31:04.36\00:31:06.33
saw that tape played and I said,
00:31:06.36\00:31:08.03
oh, thank you Jesus.
00:31:08.06\00:31:09.40
That's why that
connect card is so vital
00:31:09.43\00:31:14.14
to the mission of
anybody that calls itself
00:31:14.17\00:31:16.97
the community of Christ.
00:31:17.01\00:31:18.44
You know, we can put
on an inspiring service,
00:31:18.47\00:31:21.31
pull all the whistles and bells,
00:31:21.34\00:31:22.91
but if you in and there is
no opportunity for connect,
00:31:22.94\00:31:26.15
what have you done?
00:31:26.18\00:31:27.68
What have we done?
00:31:27.72\00:31:29.28
We've missed the
golden moment, an opportunity.
00:31:29.32\00:31:34.49
Thank you Chris
for that testimony.
00:31:34.52\00:31:36.93
God is huge on
connecting with those children.
00:31:36.96\00:31:39.86
Let's put that line
again on the screen.
00:31:39.89\00:31:41.80
"Invite anyone you find,
00:31:41.83\00:31:43.30
anyone you find that
my house may be filled."
00:31:43.33\00:31:46.37
Two parables,
one passion, Connect.
00:31:46.40\00:31:49.10
It's God's passion,
it must be our passion.
00:31:49.14\00:31:51.64
Which is why
beginning next Sabbath,
00:31:51.67\00:31:53.24
we launch our brand
new worship paradigm.
00:31:53.27\00:31:55.41
Should have gotten a letter
00:31:55.44\00:31:56.78
if you're member
of this congregation.
00:31:56.81\00:31:58.15
Should have got a
letter yesterday from me.
00:31:58.18\00:31:59.95
Let me just run it
by you one more time.
00:31:59.98\00:32:01.98
What's the reason for
this shift of paradigm?
00:32:02.02\00:32:04.22
Let's put the sentence
on the screen again please,
00:32:04.25\00:32:07.36
"Because Sabbath morning
is the most opportune time
00:32:07.39\00:32:10.23
to connect people with God."
00:32:10.26\00:32:12.53
It's not Wednesday
night, it's not Friday night.
00:32:12.56\00:32:15.30
It was a joy
last night by the way,
00:32:15.33\00:32:16.80
400 plus freshmen
crowded into the front.
00:32:16.83\00:32:19.83
They put up this
beautiful cloth of wall,
00:32:19.87\00:32:22.47
so everybody is crowded up here
and I got to preach to them.
00:32:22.50\00:32:25.14
I'm telling we got a great
new class that's moving in.
00:32:25.17\00:32:28.54
And I'm praying
that they will take over.
00:32:28.58\00:32:31.78
Friday night's
great, my young friend,
00:32:31.81\00:32:33.92
Evan Knott's gonna be
doing university vespers
00:32:33.95\00:32:36.08
every Friday night now
and I've seen his line up,
00:32:36.12\00:32:38.99
it's gonna be an
incredible experience,
00:32:39.02\00:32:40.59
you gonna want him.
00:32:40.62\00:32:41.96
It's not just for students
by the way, Evan is very clear,
00:32:41.99\00:32:44.03
faculty staff and
community invited.
00:32:44.06\00:32:46.46
When you see
some of the speakers,
00:32:46.49\00:32:47.83
you will be here.
00:32:47.86\00:32:49.46
But Friday night is not the most
00:32:49.50\00:32:50.83
significant time to connect,
00:32:50.87\00:32:52.20
Sabbath morning is,
not Monday, not Tuesday,
00:32:52.23\00:32:55.50
not Sunday, Sabbath morning
00:32:55.54\00:32:58.77
"because Sabbath morning
is the most opportune time
00:32:58.81\00:33:01.14
to connect people with God."
00:33:01.18\00:33:02.51
Now the sentence finishes.
00:33:02.54\00:33:03.88
"We need to make Sabbath
morning the most accessible
00:33:03.91\00:33:05.85
time for people
to connect with God."
00:33:05.88\00:33:08.25
That's what it's about.
00:33:08.28\00:33:09.62
Making it user friendly.
00:33:09.65\00:33:11.72
It's no secret that we
have a significant number
00:33:11.75\00:33:13.56
of students on this campus
00:33:13.59\00:33:15.36
who either sleep through
the morning in their residences
00:33:15.39\00:33:17.43
or are simply disconnected
with God, church, worship
00:33:17.46\00:33:22.13
which means that if
we are to take seriously
00:33:22.16\00:33:26.17
our commission to
connect, we have to make
00:33:26.20\00:33:29.07
whatever it is as
user friendly as possible.
00:33:29.10\00:33:33.68
So what we decided to do
00:33:33.71\00:33:35.04
as whack the
worship services down.
00:33:35.08\00:33:36.61
This is the last of
the 90 minute service,
00:33:36.64\00:33:38.45
starting next
week 75 minutes long.
00:33:38.48\00:33:40.98
We've whacked them,
mow down 15 minutes each.
00:33:41.02\00:33:43.02
We've take another 10 minutes
00:33:43.05\00:33:44.79
and now with
that extra 40 minutes
00:33:44.82\00:33:46.65
we're starting everything later.
00:33:46.69\00:33:48.02
Let's put the
time, the new paradigm
00:33:48.06\00:33:49.56
on the screen please.
00:33:49.59\00:33:50.93
First Celebration: 9
o'clock in the morning.
00:33:50.96\00:33:53.09
I tell you what, no
more children stories
00:33:53.13\00:33:54.53
in second service, so if
children you want to come.
00:33:54.56\00:33:57.30
You want a children
story, just give mom and dad,
00:33:57.33\00:33:59.23
look it, they got
longer to sleep in now,
00:33:59.27\00:34:04.04
9 o'clock in the morning.
00:34:04.07\00:34:05.77
9 to 10:15, 15 minutes break,
then we'll have Sabbath school
00:34:05.81\00:34:08.24
across campus
just one hour long.
00:34:08.28\00:34:10.21
Children's
divisions have always been
00:34:10.25\00:34:11.98
only one hour long.
00:34:12.01\00:34:13.35
Second Celebration
after 15 minutes break,
00:34:13.38\00:34:15.08
next Sabbath 11:45,
75 fast minutes packed,
00:34:15.12\00:34:22.09
but our commandment is the same,
00:34:23.19\00:34:24.83
everything ends at one,
00:34:24.86\00:34:26.19
everything ends at one.
00:34:26.23\00:34:28.30
We think if we can make
this services user friendly,
00:34:28.33\00:34:31.77
some of you will
switch to first service
00:34:31.80\00:34:33.70
for your children
they will be their freshest
00:34:33.74\00:34:35.17
and the quietest.
00:34:35.20\00:34:38.67
Some of you will come,
00:34:38.71\00:34:40.04
some others will come by
your invitation to second.
00:34:40.08\00:34:44.81
Look it.
00:34:44.85\00:34:46.18
How did the King put it?
00:34:46.21\00:34:48.12
He said, I want
you to go out there
00:34:48.15\00:34:49.62
and invite everybody you
can that my house may be filled.
00:34:49.65\00:34:52.85
So here's the deal.
00:34:52.89\00:34:54.22
You invite your
friend. Here's the deal.
00:34:54.26\00:34:56.26
You invite your friend here
00:34:56.29\00:34:58.86
and the Holy Spirit
will take it from here.
00:34:58.89\00:35:02.26
You just bring your friend here,
00:35:02.30\00:35:03.97
he will take it from there.
00:35:04.00\00:35:07.40
Just like that video
clip, we saw a moment ago
00:35:07.44\00:35:08.94
that young man sits down
in church, the card's there,
00:35:08.97\00:35:11.64
he makes the decision.
00:35:11.67\00:35:13.31
Immediately somebody
contacts him within 48 hours.
00:35:13.34\00:35:16.54
Let's put it on one more time.
00:35:16.58\00:35:17.91
"Invite anyone you find
that My House may be filled."
00:35:17.95\00:35:21.65
But now I need
you to notice please
00:35:21.68\00:35:23.45
the provocative punch
line to this radically now.
00:35:23.49\00:35:25.82
Here goes the
digression from any similarities
00:35:25.85\00:35:28.06
with last week.
00:35:28.09\00:35:29.42
Let's pick it up in verse 9.
00:35:29.46\00:35:31.39
"'Therefore, the king's
instructions to the servants,
00:35:31.43\00:35:34.46
go into the highways,
and as many as you find,
00:35:34.50\00:35:36.90
invite to the wedding.'
00:35:36.93\00:35:38.27
' Verse 10, "So those servants
went out into the highways
00:35:38.30\00:35:41.80
and gathered together all whom
they found, both bad and good.
00:35:41.84\00:35:47.28
Oh, isn't that
something, both bad and good,
00:35:47.31\00:35:51.88
and the wedding hall
was filled with guests."
00:35:51.91\00:35:55.12
Verse 11, "But when the king
came in to see the guests..."
00:35:55.15\00:35:58.25
Oh, oh.
00:35:58.29\00:35:59.62
"He saw a man there
00:35:59.65\00:36:01.02
who did not have
a wedding garment."
00:36:01.06\00:36:05.46
I mean that would be like
Queen Elizabeth, of course,
00:36:05.49\00:36:07.00
we already got to this.
00:36:07.03\00:36:08.36
Yes, I rode, I get there,
00:36:08.40\00:36:09.73
so you're at
Buckingham Palace now.
00:36:09.76\00:36:12.03
The man by the way
did not show up naked.
00:36:12.07\00:36:14.54
Isn't it some
kind of inappropriate?
00:36:14.57\00:36:15.90
It's just a street dress.
00:36:15.94\00:36:17.27
It's okay, it's okay to show
up to God in your street dress.
00:36:17.31\00:36:20.81
But if you went
to Buckingham Palace
00:36:20.84\00:36:22.51
for this big wedding banquet
00:36:22.54\00:36:23.95
you have a tall English
butler to meet you at the door.
00:36:23.98\00:36:28.65
And he would announce to you
00:36:28.68\00:36:30.02
that you gonna
take those clothes off
00:36:30.05\00:36:34.02
and we will provide
for you the Queen's tuxedo.
00:36:34.06\00:36:37.83
Now wouldn't you take it?
00:36:37.86\00:36:39.19
You say, oh, I got
to keep these jeans on.
00:36:39.23\00:36:40.56
No.
00:36:40.60\00:36:41.93
They say we gonna
give you a tuxedo.
00:36:41.96\00:36:43.30
You put the tuxedo on.
00:36:43.33\00:36:44.67
They did that in
the time of Christ.
00:36:44.70\00:36:46.30
Why the man refused the
wedding robe is beyond me?
00:36:46.33\00:36:50.97
I don't understand it.
00:36:51.01\00:36:54.04
Verse 11 again, "But
when the king came in
00:36:54.08\00:36:56.01
to see the
guests, he saw a man there
00:36:56.04\00:36:58.65
who did not have
on a wedding garment.
00:36:58.68\00:37:01.42
So he said to him, 'Friend,
how did you come in here,
00:37:01.45\00:37:07.59
how did you get in here
without a wedding garment?"
00:37:07.62\00:37:11.66
I love what the
king calls the man,
00:37:11.69\00:37:14.13
that the king has made sure
00:37:14.16\00:37:15.50
would be at
that wedding banquet.
00:37:15.53\00:37:16.87
Don't you love
that, he calls him friend.
00:37:16.90\00:37:18.50
Not you, you, no clothes?
00:37:18.53\00:37:24.97
He comes to him,
he gets up to him,
00:37:25.01\00:37:26.47
he says, hey, friend.
00:37:26.51\00:37:28.38
What's up?
00:37:28.41\00:37:29.74
Where's your tux?
00:37:29.78\00:37:34.18
That we're friend.
00:37:34.22\00:37:35.68
I'm not surprised that
it only appears in Matthew.
00:37:35.72\00:37:38.72
In fact, it appears
in Matthew three times.
00:37:38.75\00:37:41.32
It's always on the lips of God.
00:37:41.36\00:37:43.79
You see Matthew,
Matthew was that tax collector,
00:37:43.83\00:37:47.53
the hated scum.
00:37:47.56\00:37:50.83
Whenever they talked
about tax collectors,
00:37:50.87\00:37:52.23
they always clump
them together with sinners,
00:37:52.27\00:37:55.20
tax collectors and sinners.
00:37:55.24\00:37:56.57
And for as long
as he would live,
00:37:56.60\00:37:59.87
Matthew would never
forget that golden afternoon
00:37:59.91\00:38:04.11
when a young Rabbi
walked up to his toll booth,
00:38:04.15\00:38:08.05
his tax booth,
00:38:08.08\00:38:09.42
and he looked into his
dark eyes, and he said,
00:38:09.45\00:38:12.72
I want you to
come and follow me.
00:38:12.75\00:38:16.62
Matthew's heart was
won by the friendship
00:38:16.66\00:38:20.33
of the incarnate
God, so it's Matthew,
00:38:20.36\00:38:23.20
it's only in Matthew
00:38:23.23\00:38:24.73
where Jesus standing
in the orange flicker
00:38:24.77\00:38:27.10
of Gethsemane at
that early morning hour.
00:38:27.14\00:38:29.74
Jesus looks
into the haunted face
00:38:29.77\00:38:31.81
of his betrayer.
00:38:31.84\00:38:33.17
And only in Matthew
does Jesus call Judas friend.
00:38:33.21\00:38:38.25
What are you doing?
00:38:38.28\00:38:40.48
Only in Matthew the two parables
00:38:40.52\00:38:42.32
that both of the protagonist
representing God himself,
00:38:42.35\00:38:45.69
the generous employer
and the surprised king,
00:38:45.72\00:38:49.62
only in Matthew.
00:38:49.66\00:38:51.43
Do the God figures
calls the individual,
00:38:51.46\00:38:54.73
the antagonist friend?
00:38:54.76\00:38:56.83
Three times in Matthew,
three times on the lips of God.
00:38:56.87\00:39:00.04
Matthew is moved
by the friendship
00:39:00.07\00:39:02.27
that Jesus has offered him.
00:39:02.30\00:39:03.74
You know what, friendship
apparently that Jesus offers
00:39:03.77\00:39:06.01
even when you have messed
out, burned out and melted down.
00:39:06.04\00:39:13.01
Apparently Jesus
calling Judas friend means,
00:39:14.38\00:39:18.99
no matter what
your past has been,
00:39:19.02\00:39:22.02
no matter what
you're doing right now.
00:39:22.06\00:39:25.29
If you'll give me a chance,
I offer you my friendship.
00:39:25.33\00:39:32.30
How could you say no to
a God who calls you friend?
00:39:32.33\00:39:39.27
Verse 12, "So he
said to him, 'Friend,
00:39:41.18\00:39:45.68
how did you get in here
without a wedding garment?'
00:39:45.71\00:39:48.48
And he was speechless."
00:39:48.52\00:39:52.29
Because what can you say,
00:39:52.32\00:39:53.66
when God has not only
given you a personal invitation
00:39:53.69\00:39:55.59
at the greatest
event in the history
00:39:55.62\00:39:56.96
of the universe and you have,
00:39:56.99\00:39:58.33
the invitation is
written in your name.
00:39:58.36\00:40:00.36
When God has given
you that invitation
00:40:00.40\00:40:01.96
and has made every
provision for you to stay
00:40:02.00\00:40:04.60
in that party for
the rest of eternity.
00:40:04.63\00:40:06.57
What do you gonna say?
00:40:06.60\00:40:07.94
You would be speechless.
00:40:07.97\00:40:10.44
What am I gonna do?
00:40:10.47\00:40:12.14
Come here for some numb
numb and then leave, how crass.
00:40:12.17\00:40:19.15
That's all he came
for, he came for to eat,
00:40:21.08\00:40:23.52
he came for the job
and he is speechless,
00:40:23.55\00:40:27.36
what can you say?
00:40:27.39\00:40:29.76
How much simpler for me to admit
00:40:29.79\00:40:31.13
my deep need and
accept his spotless robe.
00:40:31.16\00:40:35.16
When I mow our lawn,
spring, summer and autumn.
00:40:35.20\00:40:39.67
I put the same
clothes on week after week,
00:40:39.70\00:40:42.90
and I wash them
every three months
00:40:42.94\00:40:44.41
whether they needed or not.
00:40:44.44\00:40:49.08
We are talking
stinky, we're talking sweat,
00:40:49.11\00:40:53.52
we're talking smelly.
00:40:53.55\00:40:56.79
The Bible tells me, Dwight,
00:40:56.82\00:40:58.52
put your best on in front of God
00:40:58.55\00:41:00.66
and the moral best
I have is that stinky
00:41:00.69\00:41:05.29
grass mowing garments.
00:41:05.33\00:41:08.93
Isaiah 64 comes along, he
says, you know what, Dwight,
00:41:08.96\00:41:11.83
filthy rags,
that you're wearing,
00:41:11.87\00:41:13.47
filthy rags, but hallelujah
before Isaiah 64 got written,
00:41:13.50\00:41:16.64
Isaiah 61 got
written and I love this,
00:41:16.67\00:41:18.67
Isaiah crying out to God,
00:41:18.71\00:41:20.04
"I will greatly
rejoice in the Lord,
00:41:20.08\00:41:21.44
My soul shall be
joyful in my God,
00:41:21.48\00:41:23.78
for He has clothed me,
00:41:23.81\00:41:25.15
wow, with the
garments of salvation."
00:41:25.18\00:41:26.51
Keep reading.
00:41:26.55\00:41:27.88
"He has covered me with
the robe of righteousness,
00:41:27.92\00:41:30.15
as a bridegroom
decks himself..."
00:41:30.19\00:41:32.05
Oh, this is a wedding robe.
00:41:32.09\00:41:33.56
"As a bridegroom
decks himself with ornament,
00:41:33.59\00:41:36.02
and as a bride adorns
herself with her jewels."
00:41:36.06\00:41:38.76
I am covered with the
new robe from God Himself.
00:41:38.79\00:41:43.90
Wow, Christ's Object Lessons
describe the robe this way.
00:41:43.93\00:41:47.57
I put it on the screen for you.
00:41:47.60\00:41:49.00
"This robe,
woven in the loom..."
00:41:49.04\00:41:52.07
That's how you make
textile, you need a loom.
00:41:52.11\00:41:54.08
"This robe, woven
in the loom of heaven,
00:41:54.11\00:41:56.31
has in it not one
thread of human devising."
00:41:56.34\00:41:58.91
Not a single stitch, hey,
this is the Dwight stitch,
00:41:58.95\00:42:00.78
God got to have
just a little bit me.
00:42:00.82\00:42:02.18
Here's my Dwight stitch.
00:42:02.22\00:42:03.55
No, not in the robe God gives.
00:42:03.59\00:42:04.92
Not a single Dwight
stitch in that garment.
00:42:04.95\00:42:07.82
Not a single
thread of human devising.
00:42:07.86\00:42:10.49
Keep reading.
00:42:10.53\00:42:11.86
"Christ in His
humanity wrought out
00:42:11.89\00:42:13.40
a perfect character..."
00:42:13.43\00:42:14.76
You can read
perfect life if you wish.
00:42:14.80\00:42:16.70
"And this character, this
life He offers to impart to us."
00:42:16.73\00:42:20.97
Take my life,
I'll take your, oh,
00:42:21.00\00:42:22.90
I'll take your filthy rags
00:42:22.94\00:42:24.27
and you put on my spotless robe.
00:42:24.31\00:42:27.01
"It is the
righteousness of Christ,
00:42:27.04\00:42:28.38
His own unblemished character
that through faith is imparted
00:42:28.41\00:42:31.41
to all who receive Him
as their personal Savior."
00:42:31.45\00:42:35.28
Ladies and
gentlemen, that is how we grow,
00:42:35.32\00:42:38.25
we connect with Christ.
00:42:38.29\00:42:40.26
We receive Him as
our personal Savior
00:42:40.29\00:42:42.52
and immediately grow kicks in.
00:42:42.56\00:42:45.63
We immediately,
00:42:45.66\00:42:47.20
because He says
take the rags off,
00:42:47.23\00:42:48.96
wear this, it's
spotless, immediately grow,
00:42:49.00\00:42:54.87
we begin to grow.
00:42:54.90\00:42:56.24
In fact, let's
put that graphic up.
00:42:56.27\00:42:58.14
Connect, we see Him
as our personal Savior
00:42:58.17\00:43:01.11
and just boom just
like that, grow kicks in.
00:43:01.14\00:43:05.85
And here what's so amazing,
00:43:05.88\00:43:07.22
I needed you to
catch this point, please.
00:43:07.25\00:43:09.52
We do not grow alone.
00:43:09.55\00:43:13.42
You cannot grow alone.
00:43:13.46\00:43:15.96
You can only grow in community.
00:43:15.99\00:43:18.83
Did you think the
wedding hall was empty?
00:43:18.86\00:43:20.36
Are you kidding, it's packed.
00:43:20.40\00:43:22.36
We grow in community.
00:43:22.40\00:43:24.33
The community of
others just like us.
00:43:24.37\00:43:26.47
Reminds me of
this familiar words,
00:43:26.50\00:43:27.84
you remember these words
00:43:27.87\00:43:29.20
from the Book of
Hebrews Chapter 10.
00:43:29.24\00:43:30.94
"And let us
consider one another..."
00:43:30.97\00:43:32.81
Talking about growing
together in community.
00:43:32.84\00:43:35.08
"Let's consider one
another in order to stir up love
00:43:35.11\00:43:36.98
and good works, keep
reading, not forsaking,
00:43:37.01\00:43:39.78
not forsaking of the assembling
of ourselves together."
00:43:39.81\00:43:42.88
We got to
reconnect again and again.
00:43:42.92\00:43:44.89
"Not forsaking the assembling
of ourselves together,
00:43:44.92\00:43:46.82
as is the manner of some,
but exhorting one another,
00:43:46.86\00:43:49.59
and so much the more as
you see the capital Day,
00:43:49.62\00:43:54.33
the D day of Jesus' returns
00:43:54.36\00:43:56.26
as you see that
Day approaching."
00:43:56.30\00:43:57.87
We grow in community
00:43:57.90\00:44:00.84
which is a
provocative point Jesus'
00:44:00.87\00:44:02.84
parable is making.
00:44:02.87\00:44:04.21
Look at, but I love
this, look at verse 10.
00:44:04.24\00:44:07.01
"And so those servants
went out into the highways
00:44:07.04\00:44:08.84
and gathered together, see
that's the bringing together,
00:44:08.88\00:44:11.58
gathered together all whom
they found, both bad and good.
00:44:11.61\00:44:17.39
And the wedding hall
was filled with guests."
00:44:17.42\00:44:20.82
They gathered together,
both the bad and the good,
00:44:20.86\00:44:24.33
together that
means in community,
00:44:24.36\00:44:26.90
but did you catch that
both the bad and the good.
00:44:26.93\00:44:32.13
I love that picture
of the church, don't you?
00:44:32.17\00:44:35.44
Because we're all filled
with both the bad and the good.
00:44:35.47\00:44:41.71
Some people think
the mission of the church
00:44:41.74\00:44:43.08
is to get the bad out,
get them out, out, out, whoa.
00:44:43.11\00:44:46.18
Are we all good now?
Is everybody in here good?
00:44:46.21\00:44:48.05
No.
00:44:48.08\00:44:49.42
If everybody in here is
good, we have no longer church,
00:44:49.45\00:44:51.35
we are a museum of something
that's never been done before.
00:44:51.39\00:44:58.36
We don't do the sorting out.
00:45:00.40\00:45:01.76
God says, you bring
'em all bad and good,
00:45:01.80\00:45:03.40
I'll take care
of that at the end.
00:45:03.43\00:45:06.70
I love that
picture of the church.
00:45:06.74\00:45:08.34
Apparently God intends
for all of us to be together,
00:45:08.37\00:45:12.91
the alcoholic
and sexually addicted
00:45:12.94\00:45:15.31
are to share the same space
00:45:15.34\00:45:17.31
with the proud and
the self righteous.
00:45:17.35\00:45:19.75
Everybody's here together, why?
00:45:19.78\00:45:22.12
Because the good,
when they hang around,
00:45:22.15\00:45:24.65
the bad develop
a new sensitivity
00:45:24.69\00:45:26.79
and sympathy to
have morally difficult
00:45:26.82\00:45:28.62
some people
experience this life.
00:45:28.66\00:45:31.19
And the bad as they hang
around with the good discover
00:45:31.23\00:45:34.40
how very possible the
morally upright life really is.
00:45:34.43\00:45:39.30
We only grow when we're
all together, bad and good.
00:45:39.33\00:45:46.27
We grow in Christ together
like the children story,
00:45:46.37\00:45:50.65
together, that's the key.
00:45:50.68\00:45:53.65
Which is why
this new school year,
00:45:53.68\00:45:55.28
come this winter in particular,
00:45:55.32\00:45:56.65
you gonna hear a
lot more about grow,
00:45:56.69\00:45:59.55
because what's the
bottom-line to grow?
00:45:59.59\00:46:02.22
What's the
bottom-line of the grow line?
00:46:02.26\00:46:05.26
Together,
together, to grow together,
00:46:05.29\00:46:08.16
that's the bottom-line.
00:46:08.20\00:46:09.53
If I were tweeting,
00:46:09.56\00:46:10.90
and I'm always
amazed how many people
00:46:10.93\00:46:12.27
will take this line
and immediately tweet it
00:46:12.30\00:46:13.90
because I am on Twitter as well.
00:46:13.94\00:46:15.50
If I were tweeting this
line, I would do this way,
00:46:15.54\00:46:18.54
2gather 2gether 2grow 2gether.
00:46:18.57\00:46:22.88
That's what the
grow line is all about,
00:46:22.91\00:46:24.95
2gather 2gether 2grow 2gether.
00:46:24.98\00:46:28.52
That's Pioneer's simple mission.
00:46:28.55\00:46:30.09
We can be simple as Apple,
00:46:30.12\00:46:31.45
2gather 2gether 2grow 2gether,
00:46:31.49\00:46:35.52
that's how we connect.
00:46:35.56\00:46:37.63
That's how we grow
together, together.
00:46:37.66\00:46:43.70
All right take
out your connect card
00:46:43.73\00:46:45.07
while we're together.
00:46:45.10\00:46:46.43
Would you take out
your connect card, please?
00:46:46.47\00:46:48.00
Pastor sharing a moment ago,
00:46:48.04\00:46:49.37
talked about
filling in the front.
00:46:49.40\00:46:51.31
Other way we have some
visitors guests with us today,
00:46:51.34\00:46:54.61
delighted you're here.
00:46:54.64\00:46:55.98
I am really curious
on that bottom-line,
00:46:56.01\00:46:57.35
if you're guests,
how did hear about us?
00:46:57.38\00:46:59.35
Did you find this on Google?
00:46:59.38\00:47:02.62
Did a friend invite you?
00:47:02.65\00:47:04.15
Did you see it on television?
00:47:04.19\00:47:06.96
How did you hear about us?
00:47:06.99\00:47:08.32
That's very
helpful for us to know.
00:47:08.36\00:47:10.69
What you put on
here by the way members,
00:47:10.73\00:47:14.13
guests, it doesn't
matter, we all fill this card,
00:47:14.16\00:47:15.76
I like to write
my card in as well.
00:47:15.80\00:47:17.77
What you put on
here is much information
00:47:17.80\00:47:19.23
as you think will be helpful.
00:47:19.27\00:47:20.60
Now, when I turn the card over,
00:47:20.64\00:47:21.97
there may be
something you gonna need.
00:47:22.00\00:47:23.34
So I always say
your email address
00:47:23.37\00:47:25.51
would be most helpful.
00:47:25.54\00:47:27.14
We'll send that
material to you within 48 hours.
00:47:27.18\00:47:29.31
Did you hear Chris Sovey say,
immediately I was contacted,
00:47:29.34\00:47:32.88
that's how it works?
00:47:32.91\00:47:34.25
It doesn't matter how
many fill out the cards,
00:47:34.28\00:47:35.62
we have a whole
team that will make sure
00:47:35.65\00:47:37.95
that you get the response.
00:47:37.99\00:47:39.72
Okay, so let's
turn the card over.
00:47:39.75\00:47:41.09
Let's talk about
my next step today,
00:47:41.12\00:47:42.76
because no teaching should end
00:47:42.79\00:47:44.29
without somebody tell me listen,
00:47:44.33\00:47:45.89
what do I do now?
00:47:45.93\00:47:47.26
I want to take the next step.
00:47:47.30\00:47:48.63
I don't want to just go home
and say, oh, I was inspired,
00:47:48.66\00:47:50.10
let's have dinner now.
00:47:50.13\00:47:51.47
No, I want to take next step.
00:47:51.50\00:47:52.83
I want to grow in Christ.
00:47:52.87\00:47:54.80
What's the next step?
00:47:54.84\00:47:56.17
How about this one?
00:47:56.20\00:47:57.54
I want to connect people
with God and so I will seek
00:47:57.57\00:47:59.87
to invite someone to come
to this worship celebration
00:47:59.91\00:48:02.38
next week or some Sabbath soon.
00:48:02.41\00:48:06.65
I was talking to one
of our members last week
00:48:06.68\00:48:09.98
and the member would just say,
00:48:10.02\00:48:11.35
man, you're not gonna believe it
00:48:11.39\00:48:12.72
but in the course
of the conversation,
00:48:12.75\00:48:14.62
it was just like
it suddenly came up.
00:48:14.66\00:48:16.56
Would you like to
come to Pioneer with me?
00:48:16.59\00:48:20.66
That happens
time and time again.
00:48:20.70\00:48:22.56
Would you like to
come to Pioneer with me?
00:48:22.60\00:48:29.40
And the guest
came, the guest came.
00:48:29.44\00:48:33.81
It's your invitation
that makes the difference.
00:48:33.84\00:48:35.81
The come makes
the connect possible.
00:48:35.84\00:48:38.85
I'd like to, I want to
put the check right here,
00:48:38.88\00:48:40.92
I want to
connect people with God,
00:48:40.95\00:48:42.68
I want to take
advantage of this moment.
00:48:42.72\00:48:46.22
But here is the other one.
00:48:46.25\00:48:47.59
I want to gather
together to grow together
00:48:47.62\00:48:49.69
and so I would
look for opportunities
00:48:49.72\00:48:51.99
to be together.
00:48:52.03\00:48:55.76
I want to grow in the context,
00:48:55.80\00:48:57.23
in the
fellowship of other people.
00:48:57.27\00:48:59.13
I want to grow.
00:48:59.17\00:49:01.44
Let me put a slide
on the screen for you.
00:49:01.47\00:49:04.24
We're trying something
we have never tried before,
00:49:04.27\00:49:06.88
hope it works.
00:49:06.91\00:49:08.24
We're gonna move House of Prayer
00:49:08.28\00:49:09.61
down in the Commons,
00:49:09.64\00:49:10.98
put a bunch of round
cafe tables up, serve drinks.
00:49:11.01\00:49:13.68
And for 45 minutes,
we're gonna connect.
00:49:13.72\00:49:16.12
Round tables, Book of Acts,
starting this Wednesday night.
00:49:16.15\00:49:20.99
Love to have you come.
00:49:21.02\00:49:22.52
Growth takes place
always never as a lone range
00:49:22.56\00:49:25.09
but in the
circle of somebody else.
00:49:25.13\00:49:27.33
Hope you can come.
00:49:27.36\00:49:28.76
That's page of
the worship bulletin,
00:49:28.80\00:49:30.13
you need to remind
yourself, tear it off,
00:49:30.17\00:49:31.50
put it on the refrigerator.
00:49:31.53\00:49:32.87
Come and join us, put it on
your closet door in the doom,
00:49:32.90\00:49:35.40
come and join us.
00:49:35.44\00:49:39.51
I want to gather
together to grow together
00:49:39.54\00:49:41.84
and so I'll look for
opportunities to be together.
00:49:41.88\00:49:43.88
Put a check mark there.
00:49:43.91\00:49:45.25
Our ushers gonna
receive this in just a moment,
00:49:45.28\00:49:46.61
but I wanted it,
because Chris was here,
00:49:46.65\00:49:48.48
Chris was here and
somebody took the time
00:49:48.52\00:49:50.69
to go to the other box.
00:49:50.72\00:49:52.05
There're some here who
would put a check mark.
00:49:52.09\00:49:53.99
I am interested in beginning
a relationship with Jesus.
00:49:54.02\00:49:56.49
He's calling you friend.
00:49:56.52\00:49:57.86
Can you believe that?
00:49:57.89\00:49:59.23
He is calling you friend.
00:49:59.26\00:50:00.60
He is offering His friendship.
00:50:00.63\00:50:01.96
It's a simple as
that to receive Him.
00:50:02.00\00:50:05.00
If you put a check mark there,
I'd like begin a friendship
00:50:05.03\00:50:07.34
with Jesus, guess what?
00:50:07.37\00:50:08.74
You put an email, I
need an email address
00:50:08.77\00:50:10.17
on the other side.
00:50:10.21\00:50:11.54
We will send you in
48 hours, within 48 hours
00:50:11.57\00:50:14.08
we will send you material
00:50:14.11\00:50:15.44
to how you can grow
your friendship with Jesus.
00:50:15.48\00:50:17.68
We're not gonna come
knocking on your door.
00:50:17.71\00:50:19.45
We're gonna
respect your privacy,
00:50:19.48\00:50:21.12
but we're gonna
begin to give you the tools
00:50:21.15\00:50:23.75
to grow in
relationship with Jesus.
00:50:23.79\00:50:25.95
Oh, I'm interested in
the information on baptism.
00:50:25.99\00:50:27.92
Chris obviously
see checked that one
00:50:27.96\00:50:29.29
because that's the contact
00:50:29.32\00:50:30.86
and he didn't get
baptized the next day,
00:50:30.89\00:50:32.99
but began to study the
Bible, and when he was ready,
00:50:33.03\00:50:35.60
he was baptized.
00:50:35.63\00:50:36.97
It was a beautiful baptism.
00:50:37.00\00:50:38.33
Oh, I'm interested on
information on the church.
00:50:38.37\00:50:39.73
Put a check mark there.
00:50:39.77\00:50:41.10
We'll send you that information,
00:50:41.14\00:50:42.47
we need your email address.
00:50:42.50\00:50:44.04
I want to join a ministry team.
00:50:44.07\00:50:45.91
Put it there, I want
to receive Bible studies,
00:50:45.94\00:50:47.64
put a check mark there.
00:50:47.68\00:50:49.01
We'll take care of the rest.
00:50:49.04\00:50:51.15
It's a next step for you.
00:50:51.18\00:50:52.51
if the Holy Spirit is
speaking to you right now.
00:50:52.55\00:50:54.72
You say, hey come on, it's time,
00:50:54.75\00:50:57.19
let's get this friendship going.
00:50:57.22\00:50:58.62
Put a check mark.
00:50:58.65\00:50:59.99
We'll do
everything, we can to help you.
00:51:00.02\00:51:02.66
This maybe and you gonna
have to do two things at once
00:51:02.69\00:51:04.79
because you gonna
need to put that card in,
00:51:04.83\00:51:07.10
but I'm gonna
draw your attention
00:51:07.13\00:51:08.46
and show you four
pictures in just one moment.
00:51:08.50\00:51:11.97
This probably is one of
the most heartbreaking stories
00:51:12.00\00:51:15.60
to come out of the
recent London 2012 Olympics.
00:51:15.64\00:51:19.14
Don't fool me.
00:51:19.17\00:51:20.51
You watched those
Olympics, I watched them
00:51:20.54\00:51:22.38
and I was blessed.
00:51:22.41\00:51:23.75
I mean, come on,
it's just a little bit
00:51:23.78\00:51:25.11
of the young of the
world, 10,500 of them actually.
00:51:25.15\00:51:31.05
But one of the
heartbreaking stories
00:51:31.09\00:51:33.49
concerns one of our own,
00:51:33.52\00:51:34.92
she lives right down
in Plymouth, Indiana.
00:51:34.96\00:51:36.39
Do you know where that is?
00:51:36.42\00:51:37.76
That's south of South Bend.
00:51:37.79\00:51:39.13
So that's in Michiana.
00:51:39.16\00:51:40.50
Her name Morgan Uceny,
00:51:40.53\00:51:42.63
Morgan has been training
since she was a little girl,
00:51:42.66\00:51:45.67
half her life,
she has been training.
00:51:45.70\00:51:48.00
She had one dream.
00:51:48.04\00:51:49.37
I want to run in
the 1500 meter race.
00:51:49.40\00:51:52.14
She in 2011,
00:51:52.17\00:51:53.51
she was the
world's number one women
00:51:53.54\00:51:56.24
1500 meter race runner.
00:51:56.28\00:51:59.21
So now, she gets
to go to the Olympics.
00:51:59.25\00:52:01.58
The whole town of Plymouth
shows up in that auditorium.
00:52:01.62\00:52:04.99
They're cheering
their hometown girl on.
00:52:05.02\00:52:07.66
Morgan's now 27 years old
graduated from Plymouth High,
00:52:07.69\00:52:12.13
went to Cornwell University.
00:52:12.16\00:52:13.83
So she knows a little
bit about studying as well.
00:52:13.86\00:52:16.10
But she just has been training,
00:52:16.13\00:52:17.53
and training and the race is on,
00:52:17.57\00:52:19.30
the gun goes off and Morgan
for 1400 meters is on her,
00:52:19.33\00:52:25.41
on top of her game.
00:52:25.44\00:52:27.18
She's going now, I'm
sorry for 1100 meters
00:52:27.21\00:52:29.41
she is on the top of her game.
00:52:29.44\00:52:30.78
She is going for the
fourth, the last 400 meters,
00:52:30.81\00:52:33.28
when this tragic moment happens.
00:52:33.31\00:52:35.28
And you see
Morgan there on left,
00:52:35.32\00:52:37.42
the heel of another
runner caught her on the knee
00:52:37.45\00:52:41.69
and boy, she is down.
00:52:41.72\00:52:43.46
Did you see that's
our little Plymouth girl?
00:52:43.49\00:52:46.23
She is our own.
00:52:46.26\00:52:47.60
She went down
and she fell apart.
00:52:47.63\00:52:50.27
God bless her.
Next picture please.
00:52:50.30\00:52:52.10
She fell apart, she just,
she just collapsed in tears.
00:52:52.17\00:52:55.84
I mean there is no way
you can recover that race.
00:52:55.87\00:52:58.07
It's over. I
spent half a lifetime.
00:52:58.11\00:53:00.11
Listen to David, David
Woods, Indianapolis star,
00:53:00.14\00:53:03.04
he put it this way,
00:53:03.08\00:53:04.41
"This is the other
side of Olympic glory.
00:53:04.45\00:53:06.35
Half a lifetime of preparation
00:53:06.38\00:53:08.18
of dreaming
shattered in an instant.
00:53:08.22\00:53:11.89
Pull the camera
back a little bit.
00:53:11.92\00:53:13.29
Just take another
look at her on the track.
00:53:13.32\00:53:15.36
She would later write on
her Facebook page these words,
00:53:15.39\00:53:18.63
I have never experienced
such a heartbreaking moment.
00:53:18.66\00:53:23.53
I mean doesn't your
heart just go out to her,
00:53:23.57\00:53:25.07
don't you want to hug her
and just say, that's okay,
00:53:25.10\00:53:27.70
we were so proud of you anyway.
00:53:27.74\00:53:30.67
But now that said to me,
00:53:30.71\00:53:32.14
to me the saddest
picture of all is number four
00:53:32.17\00:53:35.58
and I put it on the screen.
00:53:35.61\00:53:38.68
She is down on her
knees, the race is over,
00:53:38.71\00:53:42.45
her colleagues are
congratulating each other
00:53:42.48\00:53:45.02
celebrating the finish.
00:53:45.05\00:53:47.72
And as David Woods put it,
00:53:47.76\00:53:49.09
"Oddly none of the other runners
00:53:49.12\00:53:51.66
acknowledged
Uceny or came to her aid
00:53:51.69\00:53:55.13
after the race."
00:53:55.16\00:53:56.50
She walked off
of that track alone.
00:53:56.53\00:54:00.57
Ladies and gentlemen,
they may do alone out there.
00:54:00.60\00:54:04.84
We cannot do alone in here.
00:54:04.87\00:54:08.64
We cannot do alone in here.
00:54:08.68\00:54:11.71
Together is our word,
together, one cries, I cry,
00:54:11.75\00:54:16.85
One laughs I laugh, together is
00:54:16.89\00:54:20.82
what this
congregation must be about,
00:54:20.86\00:54:25.73
everyday, every
week and every month
00:54:25.76\00:54:31.77
and that's what this little hymn
00:54:31.80\00:54:33.13
that we're gonna sing right now,
00:54:33.17\00:54:34.50
oh, this is,
this is our favorite.
00:54:34.54\00:54:35.87
Stand to your feet,
we're gonna sing hymn 315,
00:54:35.90\00:54:38.41
Blest be the tie that binds
together, together, together.
00:54:38.44\00:54:43.08
Stand and let's
sing this together.
00:54:43.11\00:54:46.31
Blest be the tie that binds
00:54:58.83\00:55:05.30
Our hearts in Christian love
00:55:05.33\00:55:10.94
The fellowship of kindred minds
00:55:10.97\00:55:17.95
Is like to that above
00:55:17.98\00:55:24.95
Before our Father's throne
00:55:25.65\00:55:32.63
We pour our ardent prayers
00:55:32.79\00:55:37.73
Our fears, our
hopes Our aims are one
00:55:37.77\00:55:44.61
Our comforts, and our cares
00:55:44.64\00:55:51.61
When we asunder part
00:55:53.15\00:55:59.52
It gives us inward pain
00:55:59.55\00:56:05.69
But we shall still
be joined in Heart,
00:56:05.73\00:56:12.70
and hope to meet again
00:56:13.40\00:56:20.41
And now the grace of
the Lord Jesus Christ,
00:56:24.88\00:56:28.15
and the Love of God,
00:56:28.18\00:56:30.19
and the community
of the Holy Spirit
00:56:30.22\00:56:32.22
be with you all.
00:56:32.25\00:56:34.26
Amen.
00:56:34.29\00:56:37.63
Before you go, I like to
take a moment and talk to you
00:56:44.87\00:56:47.44
about your
relationship with Jesus.
00:56:47.47\00:56:49.50
So often we go to
church, we listen to a sermon
00:56:49.54\00:56:51.54
about the things that Jesus
said or that which Jesus did.
00:56:51.57\00:56:54.94
We learn all
these facts about Him.
00:56:54.98\00:56:56.61
Yet when it comes down
to it, we sometimes realize,
00:56:56.64\00:56:58.78
we haven't
actually come to know Him
00:56:58.81\00:57:00.78
personally ourselves.
00:57:00.82\00:57:02.48
Or perhaps you've recently
discovered the love of Christ,
00:57:02.52\00:57:05.25
and you're wondering
where you go from here.
00:57:05.29\00:57:07.09
That's why I like to
invite you to take advantage
00:57:07.12\00:57:08.79
of this free book offer,
00:57:08.82\00:57:10.16
the little
classic Steps to Christ.
00:57:10.19\00:57:12.09
Since this book was
first penned a century ago,
00:57:12.13\00:57:14.83
it sold over 50 million copies.
00:57:14.86\00:57:16.56
It's been translated
into 135 different languages.
00:57:16.60\00:57:19.80
You know what?
00:57:19.83\00:57:21.17
The good news of the gospel
is so direct and so sublime
00:57:21.20\00:57:24.01
and simple that we
often look right past it.
00:57:24.04\00:57:26.31
So what this book does
is it will help you see
00:57:26.34\00:57:28.14
the good news in all its
glory, in all its beauty.
00:57:28.18\00:57:31.01
What you gonna
discover here are clear,
00:57:31.05\00:57:33.42
simple steps to help you enter
00:57:33.45\00:57:35.18
into the most important
friendship of your life.
00:57:35.22\00:57:38.09
So please give us a call.
00:57:38.12\00:57:39.79
Toll free number, you see
it on your screen 877 and then
00:57:39.82\00:57:42.59
the two words,
His-Will, 877-His-Will.
00:57:42.62\00:57:45.76
Ask one of our
friendly operators
00:57:45.79\00:57:47.13
for your free copy
of Steps to Christ.
00:57:47.16\00:57:50.03
By the way, years ago
this book led me to Christ.
00:57:50.07\00:57:52.97
And I pray that it will
lead you to Him as well,
00:57:53.00\00:57:55.17
so give us a call.
00:57:55.20\00:57:56.71
And in the mean time God be
with you every step of the way
00:57:56.74\00:57:59.14
until we're
here again next time.
00:57:59.17\00:58:01.68