>> Father, it's in Your name
that we come this morning. We
thank You for being our God
00:00:10.41\00:00:16.14
and for loving us. We thank
You that we have an advocate in
00:00:16.14\00:00:20.65
Jesus Christ, and it's His name
that we glorify today. God, we
give You the honor and
00:00:20.65\00:00:24.55
praise. In Jesus' name, I
pray. Amen. Please stand with us
00:00:24.55\00:00:28.42
as we sing "Christ is Risen."
00:00:28.42\00:00:30.96
¤¤ ¤¤
00:00:31.13\00:00:47.51
¤¤ ¤¤
00:00:47.51\00:01:04.03
¤¤
00:01:04.03\00:01:12.10
¤¤
00:02:16.63\00:02:24.94
¤¤ ¤¤
00:05:11.91\00:05:22.68
>> Such a wonderful song
about Christ being alive.
00:05:22.68\00:05:26.02
He didn't stay at the tomb.
It's because of the tomb He
00:05:26.02\00:05:30.43
being risen, that He could be
our advocate in our sacrifice,
00:05:30.43\00:05:34.36
for us. The next
song we're gonna sing
00:05:34.36\00:05:36.97
this morning is a
new take on an old hymn.
00:05:36.97\00:05:39.80
You'll recognize the choruses
from the song "At the Cross."
00:05:39.80\00:05:44.01
"At the cross where
I first saw the light."
00:05:44.01\00:05:47.24
And then there's a new chorus
and a new bridge that we've
00:05:47.24\00:05:50.71
adapted to this
song. So sing with us.
00:05:50.71\00:05:53.18
You'll pick it up really
quickly at the beginning.
00:05:53.18\00:05:56.15
It's just a powerful song of
being at the cross with Jesus
00:05:56.15\00:05:59.55
and what he's done for us.
00:05:59.55\00:06:01.79
¤¤ ¤¤
00:06:02.22\00:06:18.04
¤¤
00:06:18.04\00:06:25.88
¤¤ ¤¤
00:08:14.92\00:08:28.74
¤¤
00:08:28.74\00:08:35.54
¤¤ ¤¤
00:10:27.86\00:10:43.41
¤¤
00:10:43.41\00:10:51.08
>> It's a week ago Thursday, and
I'm writing my sermon for last
00:10:54.02\00:10:57.59
Sabbath, and
Karen comes running in.
00:10:57.59\00:10:59.82
"Oh, no, Dwight,
you got to come out!
00:10:59.82\00:11:02.19
Come out! Come out!
You're not gonna believe this."
00:11:02.19\00:11:05.19
I went racing out of the
house, and here is what I saw.
00:11:05.19\00:11:08.33
Let's put it on the --
Excuse me. Excuse me, papa.
00:11:08.33\00:11:10.57
Let's put it right here.
Can you tell what that is?
00:11:10.57\00:11:16.04
Well, that looks like a
nest that is broken in half.
00:11:16.04\00:11:18.94
Let's look at a
close-up of it. Ooh!
00:11:18.94\00:11:22.11
What are those? Those
are birds, but they're
00:11:22.11\00:11:26.11
little robins. Little
robins, and I thought --
00:11:26.11\00:11:29.48
Only two robins? And
then I looked and further
00:11:29.48\00:11:32.85
away in the grass
here was somebody else.
00:11:32.85\00:11:35.92
I said, "Oh! There he
is!" You know what happened?
00:11:35.92\00:11:40.06
The wind was blowing, and that
little nest that was up in our
00:11:40.06\00:11:43.57
crabapple tree just went "Boom!"
Hit the ground, broke open, and
00:11:43.57\00:11:46.90
now Karen and I are
saying, "What are we gonna do?
00:11:46.90\00:11:49.34
What are we gonna do?
Somebody's gonna have to save
00:11:49.34\00:11:51.77
these birds. I
guess we have to do it.
00:11:51.77\00:11:53.64
What should we do?
We've got some Scotch tape.
00:11:53.64\00:11:55.81
We went in the garage.
Can we somehow tape this?
00:11:55.81\00:11:58.08
Can we tape this little nest
together and we'll put it back
00:11:58.08\00:12:00.85
up in the tree?
And that's what we did.
00:12:00.85\00:12:03.08
We put some garbage bag plastic
around it and put it back up in
00:12:03.08\00:12:06.82
the tree, and a few
minutes later -- Boom!
00:12:06.82\00:12:09.46
And I went to this little guy
-- let's see the next picture.
00:12:09.46\00:12:12.09
I went to this little guy,
and he thought I was his mother.
00:12:12.09\00:12:15.70
And he thought I had food,
and his mouth just instinctively
00:12:15.70\00:12:18.63
went open, like you do when
you're a little tiny baby and
00:12:18.63\00:12:21.50
you know that food is
near. He just opened his mouth.
00:12:21.50\00:12:24.44
"I'm so hungry!"
But where's the mother?
00:12:24.44\00:12:26.98
And then all of a
sudden, she flew by!
00:12:26.98\00:12:29.41
She stood up in this tree!
[ Imitating robin chirping ]
00:12:29.41\00:12:35.02
[ Gasps ] I wonder
what the mother's gonna do!
00:12:35.02\00:12:37.69
So we tiptoed away, and sure
enough, the mother came down,
00:12:37.69\00:12:40.92
and she had a worm dangling
in her beak, and she dropped the
00:12:40.92\00:12:44.26
worm in that hungry
little mouth, and she flew away.
00:12:44.26\00:12:47.23
"Well, maybe, love, we'll just
leave these here and the mother
00:12:47.23\00:12:49.73
will take care of
them. That's good."
00:12:49.73\00:12:51.40
And as soon as we went inside...
[ Imitating thunder crashing ]
00:12:51.40\00:12:54.90
That was a week ago Thursday
when we had this huge rain
00:12:54.90\00:12:58.97
storm, and the rains came
down and the floods came up.
00:12:58.97\00:13:03.04
It was that day.
[ Inhales sharply ]
00:13:03.04\00:13:05.38
What are we
gonna do? It's raining.
00:13:05.38\00:13:07.28
We looked outside. Let
me see a picture from the
00:13:07.28\00:13:09.98
front room, living room.
Ah, it's kind of out of focus.
00:13:09.98\00:13:12.69
We looked
outside. Wait a minute!
00:13:12.69\00:13:14.29
Is that the mother
robin? Can you see?
00:13:14.29\00:13:16.09
Is that the mother robin
on top of those little birds?
00:13:16.09\00:13:18.53
No, no, no, no. It can't be.
00:13:18.53\00:13:19.93
So let's enlarge that
picture and let's see.
00:13:19.93\00:13:21.93
[ Gasps ] It's the mother robin.
I've never seen a mother robin
00:13:21.93\00:13:25.70
do this, but you
know what she did?
00:13:25.70\00:13:27.57
She put her wings out just like
this, she wrapped them around
00:13:27.57\00:13:30.54
her three little babies,
and she just pulled them tight.
00:13:30.54\00:13:33.27
And you can see her there.
The wings are fluffed way out
00:13:33.27\00:13:36.28
for the babies. The
Bible says "He will cover
00:13:36.28\00:13:41.45
you with His feathers and
under His wing we shall live."
00:13:41.45\00:13:47.09
Oh! God is the same way. In
fact, let's see a picture of
00:13:47.09\00:13:49.32
Calvary. That's what Jesus did.
00:13:49.32\00:13:51.13
He put his arms out like two
big wings for every boy and girl
00:13:51.13\00:13:54.63
that he could reach.
Every boy and girl all over the
00:13:54.63\00:13:57.73
world, He just wants to pull all
the children, all the mommies
00:13:57.73\00:14:01.40
and daddies, all the
grown-ups under His wing.
00:14:01.40\00:14:04.17
And Calvary is his wings
stretched far to draw us in.
00:14:04.17\00:14:10.81
And as long as He's
covering us, nothing to worry.
00:14:10.81\00:14:14.25
Those little robins had nothing
to worry, thanks to mother
00:14:14.25\00:14:17.99
covering them with her wings.
Aren't you glad for Jesus?
00:14:17.99\00:14:21.32
That's what mommy and
daddy are gonna do today.
00:14:21.32\00:14:23.96
That's what we're all gonna
do today, take the bread and the
00:14:23.96\00:14:27.20
cup, the little white dowel, and
we'll celebrate Jesus putting
00:14:27.20\00:14:30.47
His wings out and drawing the
whole world into His salvation.
00:14:30.47\00:14:33.74
Who would like to thank Jesus
for being our savior today and
00:14:33.74\00:14:38.21
drawing us under His
wings? Come here, sissy.
00:14:38.21\00:14:41.68
We haven't had you
before. What's your name?
00:14:41.68\00:14:45.11
>> Enana. >> Enana.
00:14:45.11\00:14:46.98
Okay, we're
gonna pray with Enana.
00:14:46.98\00:14:49.38
As she closes her
eyes, we'll close our eyes.
00:14:49.38\00:14:52.39
We'll fold our hands. And
Enana's gonna thank Jesus.
00:14:52.39\00:14:55.76
>> Jesus, thank you for
this day and thank you...
00:14:55.76\00:15:00.63
And Jesus, help us... [ Sighs ]
00:15:00.63\00:15:06.10
...with everything.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
00:15:06.10\00:15:08.57
>> Amen. Thank you, Enana.
And thank you, boys and girls.
00:15:08.57\00:15:12.07
As you go quitely back to your
seats, you can say "Thank you,
00:15:12.07\00:15:15.04
Jesus." Thank you
for drawing us under
00:15:15.04\00:15:17.05
your wings and being
our savior. Thank you.
00:15:17.05\00:15:20.52
¤¤
00:15:20.68\00:15:25.92
>> So, I have some
good news for you today.
00:15:29.36\00:15:31.86
If you're keeping track, I have
some good news for you today
00:15:31.86\00:15:35.13
because it is now less
than six months until we have
00:15:35.13\00:15:38.03
Christmas. [ Laughter ]
00:15:38.03\00:15:40.27
No kidding. Less than six now.
00:15:40.27\00:15:42.37
We've passed the halfway mark!
So we might as well pull a page
00:15:42.37\00:15:46.17
out of Walmart's playbook
and talk about Christmas in
00:15:46.17\00:15:49.38
summertime. Open
your Bible, please, to the
00:15:49.38\00:15:52.05
Gospel of Luke, the
Christmas story, Chapter 2.
00:15:52.05\00:15:54.95
And while you're finding Luke
2, let me just set the story up
00:15:54.95\00:15:58.92
because the shepherds have just
returned to their little flocks
00:15:58.92\00:16:03.06
on the hillsides
outside of Bethlehem.
00:16:03.06\00:16:05.69
They have followed the
angel Gabriel's advice.
00:16:05.69\00:16:08.76
They have a wide-eyed
race to that little barnyard.
00:16:08.76\00:16:12.17
And in that manger, they
fell to their knees in worship,
00:16:12.17\00:16:16.67
the little tiny, wrapped in
swaddling cloth, baby, as their
00:16:16.67\00:16:21.48
new Messiah King.
Speaking of new leadership, that
00:16:21.48\00:16:25.65
was it. That's all
they can talk about.
00:16:25.65\00:16:27.98
Desire of Ages says it was the
brightest scene ever witnessed
00:16:27.98\00:16:30.95
by human eyes, and that's all
they're talking about that night
00:16:30.95\00:16:33.92
as they head back to the
hills. Now, that's the story.
00:16:33.92\00:16:36.59
Then the very next verse,
Verse 21, the little 8-day-old
00:16:36.59\00:16:39.33
Jesus is circumcised.
Now our story begins in
00:16:39.33\00:16:42.46
Verse 22. So we're
in Luke 2, and let's go
00:16:42.46\00:16:46.00
to Verse 22. Got it.
00:16:46.00\00:16:49.10
Speaking about
birds, there they are again.
00:17:17.27\00:17:19.80
Part 5 -- "Gone to the
Birds, Lessons from the Divine
00:17:19.80\00:17:22.84
Ornithologist." All
this month of June, we've
00:17:22.84\00:17:25.67
been finding the birds,
and these are the last birds.
00:17:25.67\00:17:29.08
Two little pigeons.
What's up with that?
00:17:29.08\00:17:34.72
Let's go to the law, actually,
that they are carefully
00:17:34.72\00:17:37.25
following. Go back to Leviticus.
00:17:37.25\00:17:38.89
When's the last time
you were in Leviticus?
00:17:38.89\00:17:40.99
Nobody goes to Leviticus
anymore, but let's go back to
00:17:40.99\00:17:43.53
Leviticus
Chapter 12. Do you mind?
00:17:43.53\00:17:45.39
Just turn back a few pages
to the beginning of your Bible,
00:17:45.39\00:17:48.63
Leviticus, Chapter 12.
Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus.
00:17:48.63\00:17:51.50
Chapter 12. Let's
take a look at this.
00:17:51.50\00:17:55.00
Here's why they
went to the temple.
00:17:55.00\00:17:56.34
This is Verse 6 in Leviticus 12.
00:17:56.34\00:17:59.27
Speaking of the mother
who's just given birth...
00:18:03.28\00:18:06.18
Now drop down to Verse 8.
00:18:15.42\00:18:17.33
Now, Joseph and Mary are
obviously among the poorer class
00:18:32.91\00:18:36.48
in Palestine. There
is no way they have money
00:18:36.48\00:18:39.41
for a lamb, and so they scrape
a few coins together to buy two
00:18:39.41\00:18:43.25
little pigeon, and that's it.
And according to the law, they
00:18:43.25\00:18:47.72
present the two pigeons
on behalf of Mother Mary.
00:18:47.72\00:18:52.49
Roy Gane is absolutely
right when he observes that the
00:18:52.49\00:18:56.73
sacrifice was a
poignant reminder.
00:18:56.73\00:18:58.53
Say, "What's happening here?"
These two pigeons that will be
00:18:58.53\00:19:01.84
sacrificed, a poignant reminder
that every human life begins
00:19:01.84\00:19:06.47
under a cloud of mortality.
A baby is born, and two
00:19:06.47\00:19:10.95
creatures die. Could
be a lamb, could be two
00:19:10.95\00:19:14.18
pigeon. A baby is
born, two creatures
00:19:14.18\00:19:17.09
die. It's this shadow the entire
00:19:17.09\00:19:19.85
human race now
lives under. Mortality.
00:19:19.85\00:19:23.76
Right? But, by
the way, it's not just
00:19:23.76\00:19:31.43
the purification
rights. Two pigeons.
00:19:31.43\00:19:34.77
Two pigeons are for two sinners.
One sinner, two pigeons.
00:19:34.77\00:19:40.14
Turn a few pages
back to Chapter 5.
00:19:40.14\00:19:44.05
Isn't this
something? Chapter 5, Verse 7.
00:19:44.05\00:19:46.21
Leviticus 5:7.
00:19:46.21\00:19:48.12
Now, there's a verse that
precedes that that I want you to
00:20:00.23\00:20:01.96
catch. It's Verse 5.
00:20:01.96\00:20:04.33
Or if they're
dirt-poor, it'll be two pigeons.
00:20:23.59\00:20:29.86
Two little creatures for sin.
The priest takes them. They're
00:20:30.03\00:20:35.90
sacrificed. And with the
confession of your sin, taking
now your offering to the priest,
00:20:35.90\00:20:42.74
who will make atonement for you
and your sin, the story is you
00:20:42.74\00:20:46.11
will be cleansed. You'll be
washed. You'll be purified. You
00:20:46.11\00:20:49.31
will be pardoned. You will now
-- watch this -- you will now be
at one. That's why they call it
00:20:49.31\00:20:53.65
making atonement. You will now
be at one with God. What's going
00:20:53.65\00:20:57.59
on here? You don't need a degree
in theology to figure out that
this ancient liturgical practice
00:20:57.59\00:21:02.96
has Calvary and the Savior
written all over it, doesn't it?
But isn't it amazing that what
00:21:02.96\00:21:08.60
we just read begins with
confession? I mean, why should
00:21:08.60\00:21:14.04
we confess? God already knows.
Ah! Good question. Because
confession -- What's
00:21:14.04\00:21:19.61
that old adage? Confession
is good for the... It's good for
00:21:19.61\00:21:25.55
the soul. Anytime a human being
confesses his or her wrong to
another human being or to
00:21:25.55\00:21:32.39
Almighty God Himself, anytime
you make the act of confession,
you know -- how well I know --
00:21:32.39\00:21:40.36
it is an admission of failure.
It's an admission of defective
00:21:40.36\00:21:44.60
behavior. It's an admission --
"I did wrong, I sinned, and I'm
sorry." We're ashamed to admit
00:21:44.60\00:21:53.91
it. It's embarrassing. "I'm
sorry for what I did. Will you
00:21:53.91\00:22:01.62
forgive me?" I had to do it just
the other day on a Sabbath,
right here, in this sanctuary
00:22:01.62\00:22:07.46
during worship. I had to sit
down beside one of our sound
techs, and I had to whisper to
00:22:07.46\00:22:13.13
him -- it was a little
embarrassing for me -- I had to
whisper to him, "I'm sorry for
00:22:13.13\00:22:18.63
that remark I made when we were
having crew call earlier this
morning." He just smiled and
00:22:18.63\00:22:23.17
waved. "Aw, don't worry
about it." But I had to. It's my
00:22:23.17\00:22:28.94
conscience. My conscience said,
"You got to do something about
this. Make it right."
00:22:28.94\00:22:34.62
Yeah, you're right. It is
embarrassing. But I also knew
00:22:34.62\00:22:39.12
that the very act of confessing
is an act of vulnerability that
actually strengthens the life of
00:22:39.12\00:22:44.79
the one willing to become
vulnerable. You see, confession
is good for the soul.
00:22:44.79\00:22:49.66
Let me tell you about Brené
Brown. She's the one that spoke
00:22:49.66\00:22:53.27
to us -- two TED talks. You know
TED talks, of course. She spoke
00:22:53.27\00:22:57.61
those
mega-million-viewer-watched --
two TED talks. 43-plus-million
00:22:57.61\00:23:04.31
people have watched her little
20-minute presentation. I
watched it coming back from
00:23:04.31\00:23:07.75
Japan in the United lounge,
waiting to catch my plane. I
said, "I'm gonna watch that
00:23:07.75\00:23:11.65
again -- Brené Brown." And I
started taking notes in my
yellow pad -- very interesting.
00:23:11.65\00:23:16.26
She observes -- "People who are
willing to become vulnerable are
00:23:16.42\00:23:19.69
people who have the courage
to be imperfect and admit it..."
00:23:19.69\00:23:28.30
and confess it.
00:23:28.30\00:23:30.04
And as she says, "There are
people who have learned to live
00:23:32.91\00:23:36.14
wholeheartedly, who discover
that what made them vulnerable
00:23:36.14\00:23:41.22
makes them beautiful."
Now, this is one of the crazy
00:23:41.22\00:23:43.42
realities of
life. Do you know what?
00:23:43.42\00:23:44.85
And she made this point again
and again, and I got to share it
00:23:44.85\00:23:47.12
with you.
00:23:47.12\00:23:48.52
Do you know what people are
drawn to? They're not drawn to
00:23:48.69\00:23:51.66
your strengths. People are
always drawn to your weaknesses.
00:23:51.66\00:23:55.20
It's true. Why is that?
Because you're weak like me,
00:23:55.20\00:24:00.50
and, suddenly, I can identify
with you. That's why we love
00:24:00.50\00:24:04.34
Peter, and that's why we love
David -- because of their
weaknesses. We're just drawn to
00:24:04.34\00:24:08.01
them. They're not...china-doll
saints. She's making a point.
Confession is good for the soul.
00:24:08.01\00:24:19.35
Turns out it's very good for the
soul. That's why this line is
00:24:19.35\00:24:21.99
inserted before
the "two pigeons."
00:24:21.99\00:24:23.39
This is verse five again.
00:24:23.56\00:24:25.29
Just confess it.
00:24:29.26\00:24:30.90
Roy Gane in his commentary --
it's a wonderful commentary, the
NIV commentary -- an
00:24:33.17\00:24:37.51
application commentary on
the Book of Leviticus. He quotes
00:24:37.51\00:24:41.24
this one line from Max Lucado. I
love this. This is about as good
00:24:41.24\00:24:43.81
as it gets with confession.
00:24:43.81\00:24:45.21
Let's put Max
Lucado on the screen.
00:24:45.38\00:24:47.65
Lucado writing, "Confession is
telling God you did the thing He
00:24:47.65\00:24:51.52
saw you do." You
know, it's as if we think,
00:24:51.52\00:24:55.92
"Well, if I say this to God,
He's gonna find out something."
00:24:55.92\00:24:58.43
Are you kidding?
He already knows.
00:24:58.43\00:25:00.33
You have no reason to hold back.
Tell God anything you wish.
00:25:00.33\00:25:03.26
He already knows it all.
And as Lucado goes on, "He,"
00:25:03.26\00:25:08.94
God, "doesn't need to hear it as
much as you --" and I -- "need
00:25:08.94\00:25:12.94
to say it."
Confession is good for the soul.
00:25:12.94\00:25:18.15
Roy Gane
scribbles this line down.
00:25:18.15\00:25:21.48
I'll put it on the screen
for you -- very insightful here.
00:25:21.48\00:25:24.39
"A state of denial --" "I have
nothing to confess with this
00:25:24.39\00:25:27.69
whole sad incident.
I have nothing to say."
00:25:27.69\00:25:30.19
"A state of denial expiates,"
resolves, erases, "nothing."
00:25:30.19\00:25:36.87
I know friends who were once
friends who are no longer
friends because neither one will
00:25:37.03\00:25:40.54
apologize to the other. I
can't believe it, but it's true.
00:25:40.54\00:25:43.00
They will not apologize to the
other, and they are now --
there's just this wall between
00:25:43.00\00:25:47.54
them. And I'm thinking, "Just
one of you, if you would break
00:25:47.54\00:25:53.01
down and say, 'I was wrong --'"
Confession! It's your weakness
00:25:53.01\00:25:57.99
that people are drawn to,
not your strength, anyway. Admit
00:25:57.99\00:26:01.79
you're weak. "A state of
denial expiates nothing."
00:26:03.49\00:26:05.16
Keep reading Roy.
00:26:05.16\00:26:06.56
That's good.
00:26:13.87\00:26:15.27
You know what
cognitive dissonance is?
00:26:22.48\00:26:24.58
There's something inside of you
that's saying, "It's not right.
There's just something that's
00:26:24.75\00:26:28.02
not fitting here. There's
something not right between me
00:26:28.02\00:26:30.59
and my spouse. There's something
not right between me and my
children. There's something not
00:26:30.59\00:26:33.52
right between me and that
colleague. There's something not
right between me and my
00:26:33.52\00:26:37.23
students." Cognitive dissonance
is your conscience that is
creating this uncomfortable,
00:26:37.23\00:26:42.10
miserable feeling. And the
conscience is creating it
because it's saying, "Resolve
00:26:42.10\00:26:46.33
it. Go to that person
and say, 'I'm sorry.'"
00:26:46.33\00:26:53.11
Of course it's embarrassing.
But you got to do it. Cognitive
00:26:53.11\00:27:00.22
dissonance. If you do not solve
that, do you know what you're
living with? If you do not solve
00:27:00.22\00:27:03.99
that, you're living with
dis-ease. No ease. And it is a
00:27:03.99\00:27:13.70
spiritual disease for a
conscience to be blinking --
"Resolve this, please, resolve
00:27:13.70\00:27:18.20
this, please," and no resolution
takes place. It's a disease.
00:27:18.20\00:27:21.30
That's the wisest man who ever
lived, Solomon -- put it on the
00:27:21.47\00:27:23.84
screen please, Proverbs 28:13
-- why Solomon admonishes...
00:27:23.84\00:27:29.11
Wow! In two little pigeons,
we got a full-blown soteriology
00:27:35.08\00:27:39.85
taking place in front of
our eyes right now! Amazing.
00:27:39.85\00:27:45.56
But you're absolutely right. So
much was embedded into the
shadows of that ancient
00:27:45.56\00:27:49.93
liturgical system. Two pigeons,
one Savior. Calvary. That's it.
00:27:49.93\00:27:59.61
Two pigeons, one Savior --
Calvary. And whenever I say the
00:27:59.61\00:28:05.38
word "Calvary," I think of my
mother. You know why? Because
she had a beautiful
00:28:05.38\00:28:09.05
voice. And she used to sing this
song in public there in Japan,
00:28:09.05\00:28:12.49
as a kid growing up. "Calvary
conquered my heart. Calvary
conquered my heart."
00:28:12.49\00:28:19.93
I went to the YouTube, and I
said, "Is there anybody out
there that has recorded that
00:28:19.93\00:28:23.90
song, 'Calvary Conquered My
Heart'?" And I found out there's
00:28:23.90\00:28:25.97
some singing group -- I had
never heard of them. They're
00:28:25.97\00:28:27.87
called The White Sisters, and
they were a women's trio,
sisters, and they sang that song
00:28:27.87\00:28:34.31
as only a women's trio sings.
And if any of you ever get
inspired again to form a women's
00:28:34.31\00:28:38.91
trio, what a blessing to the
world. There's nothing like a
00:28:38.91\00:28:45.52
women's trio. ¤ Calvary
conquered my heart ¤ ¤ Calvary
conquered my heart ¤
00:28:45.52\00:28:54.10
¤ When I gazed on that tree, I
saw Christ Jesus dying for me ¤
¤ Yes, Calvary conquered my
00:28:54.10\00:29:05.17
heart ¤ It's just a little
-- It's just a small line.
00:29:05.17\00:29:11.05
But that's Calvary. And it's
because of Calvary that this
passage we read with
00:29:11.05\00:29:16.75
Michael a moment ago is so true.
Put it on the screen. Let's read
00:29:16.75\00:29:21.86
the opening line. Everybody
knows 1 John 1:9, but let me
read the verses that follow it,
00:29:21.86\00:29:25.23
but let's put it on the screen.
00:29:25.23\00:29:26.29
Let's read that
out loud together.
00:29:26.46\00:29:28.16
It's a two-step gift.
God says, "I'm not only gonna
00:29:38.87\00:29:41.28
forgive you -- it's gone --
I will purify your verify life.
00:29:41.28\00:29:44.55
I will purify your mind. I will
purify your heart. I'll purify
00:29:44.71\00:29:48.98
your relationship. That wall is
gone. I've forgiven it. I make
00:29:48.98\00:29:52.65
you pure now." I mean, it
doesn't get any better than
that. And John goes on.
00:29:52.65\00:29:55.26
"If we claim we've not sinned
--" "Hey, that's not my fault,
00:29:55.26\00:29:58.79
it's His." "He is the atoning
sacrifice for our sins, and not
for ours only, but also for the
00:30:10.67\00:30:16.98
sins of the whole wide world."
He is the two pigeons for you
and me -- two pigeons.
00:30:16.98\00:30:25.12
One forgiveness. Two pigeons.
One cleansing to the depths of
00:30:25.12\00:30:31.79
your soul. Two pigeons,
one Savior for you and me.
00:30:31.79\00:30:38.80
And we can declare to the
universe because of those two
pigeons and that one Savior, we
00:30:38.80\00:30:42.24
can say, "Hey, universe,
Calvary conquered my heart.
00:30:42.24\00:30:48.18
Calvary's conquered my heart
because I, at Calvary, through
00:30:48.34\00:30:53.18
the Lord Jesus Christ, received
God's forgiveness, I received my
00:30:53.18\00:30:58.39
cleansing, and out of
that vulnerability of having to
00:30:58.39\00:31:02.66
confess my need of that
cleansing, by the grace of Him,
00:31:02.66\00:31:06.83
I become beautiful in His sight.
And that's what matters the most
00:31:06.83\00:31:13.64
anyway.
00:31:13.64\00:31:15.17
Want to pray with you. Oh,
God... two pigeons, one Savior.
00:31:21.54\00:31:31.35
And, oh, my, do we need that
Savior today. There's nobody
00:31:31.35\00:31:36.59
here saying, "I don't need a
Savior. I haven't sinned." We've
00:31:36.59\00:31:40.93
all sinned. We've sinned this
morning. But we come because
this is a place for sinners to
00:31:40.93\00:31:50.51
come. Frumply, crumply, sinners
that we are, we don't look our
best to You right now, but, oh,
00:31:50.51\00:31:58.18
God, in the shadow of the Cross,
we cry out to You, "Forgive me.
00:31:58.18\00:32:04.49
I've sinned." Cleanse me. I have
sinned. Wash me. Thank You for
00:32:04.49\00:32:12.49
giving this moment. Thank You
for giving us the towel and the
00:32:12.49\00:32:21.40
bread and the cup. Wash us. We
humbly pray together in Jesus'
00:32:21.40\00:32:28.21
name. Amen.
00:32:28.21\00:32:29.08
[ "The Blood Will
Never Lose Its Power" plays ]
00:32:33.18\00:32:36.58
¤¤ >> Sing, "The blood."
00:32:41.62\00:32:50.97
¤¤ ¤¤
00:32:56.00\00:33:16.02
¤¤ ¤¤
00:33:16.02\00:33:35.94
¤¤ ¤¤
00:33:35.94\00:33:55.86
¤¤ ¤¤
00:33:55.86\00:34:15.88
¤¤ ¤¤
00:34:15.88\00:34:35.80
¤¤ ¤¤
00:34:35.80\00:34:55.76
¤¤ ¤¤
00:34:55.76\00:35:15.74
¤¤ ¤¤
00:35:15.74\00:35:35.66
¤¤ ¤¤
00:35:35.66\00:35:55.62
¤¤ [ Flourish, song ends ]
00:35:55.62\00:36:04.69
[ "Mighty to Save" plays ]
00:36:07.66\00:36:09.86
¤¤ ¤¤ "Everybody
needs compassion."
00:36:14.87\00:36:33.56
¤¤ ¤¤
00:36:36.93\00:36:56.85
¤¤ ¤¤
00:36:56.85\00:37:16.83
¤¤ ¤¤
00:37:16.83\00:37:36.79
¤¤ ¤¤
00:37:36.79\00:37:56.71
¤¤ ¤¤
00:37:56.71\00:38:16.73
¤¤ ¤¤
00:38:16.73\00:38:36.64
¤¤ ¤¤
00:38:36.64\00:38:56.56
¤¤ ¤¤
00:38:56.56\00:39:16.58
¤¤ ¤¤
00:39:16.58\00:39:36.50
¤¤ ¤¤
00:39:36.50\00:39:56.46
¤¤
00:39:56.46\00:40:06.23
¤¤ [ Song ends,
"Jesus Paid It All" plays ]
00:40:06.40\00:40:19.85
¤¤
00:40:24.25\00:40:34.03
¤¤ ¤¤
00:40:34.20\00:40:54.15
¤¤ ¤¤
00:40:54.15\00:41:14.14
¤¤ ¤¤
00:41:14.14\00:41:34.09
¤¤ ¤¤
00:41:34.09\00:41:54.01
¤¤ ¤¤
00:41:54.01\00:42:14.00
¤¤ ¤¤
00:42:14.00\00:42:33.95
¤¤ ¤¤
00:42:33.95\00:42:53.87
¤¤ ¤¤
00:42:53.87\00:43:13.89
¤¤ ¤¤
00:43:13.89\00:43:33.81
¤¤ ¤¤
00:43:33.81\00:43:53.76
¤¤ ¤¤
00:43:53.76\00:44:13.75
¤¤ ¤¤
00:44:13.75\00:44:33.67
¤¤ ¤¤
00:44:33.67\00:44:48.95
[ Song ends ]
00:44:49.12\00:44:50.85
>> Thank you, singers.
00:44:53.22\00:44:55.42
"Jesus paid it
all. All to Him we owe.
00:45:02.13\00:45:06.94
Sin had left --" how's that go?
-- "a crimson stain. He washed
00:45:07.10\00:45:16.11
me white as snow." Two pigeons,
one Savior, so that we would
never forget that Thursday night
00:45:16.11\00:45:26.65
when He had the whole eternity
on His mind and heart. He pauses
in that supper, and He
00:45:26.65\00:45:33.03
leaves us this gift. Want you to
close your eyes and let your
mind go back to that
00:45:33.03\00:45:39.63
fateful Thursday night as Julie
Clayburn reads the word picture
00:45:39.63\00:45:44.87
in Matthew. This is a word
picture of what we've come to
00:45:44.87\00:45:48.81
celebrate. >> "As they were
eating, Jesus took some bread
00:45:54.42\00:45:57.69
and blessed it. Then He broke
it in pieces and gave it to the
00:45:57.69\00:46:00.76
disciples, saying, 'Take
this and eat it, for this is my
00:46:00.76\00:46:03.86
body.' Then He took a cup of
wine and gave thanks to God for
it. He gave it to them and said,
00:46:04.03\00:46:09.66
'Each of you drink from it, for
this is my blood, which confirms
the covenant between God and His
00:46:09.66\00:46:15.94
people. It is poured out as a
sacrifice to forgive the sins of
00:46:15.94\00:46:20.58
many. Mark my words -- I will
not drink wine again until the
day I drink it new with you in
00:46:20.58\00:46:26.35
my Father's Kingdom.'" We invite
the congregation to kneel while
00:46:26.35\00:46:30.79
Lynell offers the blessing
and the emblems of this service.
00:46:30.79\00:46:33.69
>> "Dear Father God, we come
before You today having just
00:46:49.17\00:46:53.71
experienced a foot washing.
Now, as we partake of this bread
00:46:53.71\00:46:58.48
and this cup, we ask for a heart
washing and for Your blessings
00:46:58.48\00:47:05.42
on these emblems.
00:47:05.42\00:47:06.82
May these symbols of Your shed
blood and broken body renew us.
May we fully participate in Your
00:47:06.99\00:47:14.10
plans for our joy. Let us be
washed clean, prepared to more
clearly reflect Your
00:47:14.10\00:47:21.00
love to others. We invite
You in. We thank You, Lord.
00:47:21.00\00:47:27.61
We love you." In
Jesus' name, amen.
00:47:27.61\00:47:32.25
¤¤ ¤¤
00:47:42.46\00:47:59.77
>> ¤ And can it be, and can it
be? ¤ ¤ Amazing love, how can it
00:47:59.94\00:48:14.79
be? ¤ ¤ And can it be that I
should gain ¤ ¤ An interest in
00:48:14.79\00:48:25.93
the Savior's blood? ¤ ¤ Died
He for me who caused His pain ¤
00:48:25.93\00:48:35.94
¤ For me, who Him to death
pursued? ¤ ¤ Amazing love ¤
00:48:35.94\00:48:48.22
¤ How can it be ¤ ¤ That Thou,
my God ¤ ¤ Should die for me? ¤
00:48:48.22\00:49:11.48
¤¤ ¤ He left His
Father's throne above ¤
00:49:16.55\00:49:30.43
¤ So free, so infinite His grace
¤ ¤ Emptied Himself of all but
00:49:30.43\00:49:39.84
love ¤ ¤ And bled for
Adam's helpless race ¤
00:49:39.84\00:49:48.38
¤ 'Tis mercy all ¤ ¤ Immense
and free ¤ ¤ For, oh, My God ¤
00:49:48.38\00:50:08.90
¤ It found out me ¤ ¤ And can it
be? ¤ ¤ Amazing love, how can it
00:50:08.90\00:50:29.92
be? ¤ ¤ No condemnation now I
dread ¤ ¤ Jesus, and all in Him,
00:50:29.92\00:50:43.84
is mine ¤ ¤ Alive in Him, my
living Head ¤ ¤ And clothed in
00:50:43.84\00:50:54.05
righteousness divine ¤ ¤ Bold I
approach ¤ ¤ The eternal throne
00:50:54.05\00:51:12.13
¤ ¤ And claim the crown ¤
¤ Through Christ my own ¤ ¤
00:51:12.13\00:51:32.32
Amazing love ¤ ¤ How can
it be ¤ ¤ That Thou, my God ¤
00:51:32.32\00:51:47.94
¤ Should die ¤ ¤ For me-e-e-e? ¤
00:51:50.11\00:52:04.72
¤ Amazing ¤ ¤
Lo-o-o-ve ¤¤ >> Amen!
00:52:08.16\00:52:27.78
>> Amazing, amazing love... so
that we would never forget that
00:52:35.12\00:52:43.06
love. Jesus gave to us the
bread. He said, "This is the
symbol of my broken body.
00:52:45.76\00:52:51.47
Every time you eat this,
do this in remembrance of me."
00:52:51.47\00:52:56.40
In the same way, He turns to us,
as He did that night. He says,
"All of you, drink this
00:53:02.21\00:53:13.02
cup, a symbol of my blood.
Remember me when you drink
00:53:13.02\00:53:20.00
this." And, surely, Jesus would
speak the words, again, "You are
00:53:27.27\00:53:35.61
all clean. You are all clean. Go
forth now with me to a world
that desperately needs my
00:53:35.61\00:53:44.95
friends. Go for me." And
we do what they did before
00:53:44.95\00:53:50.63
they went forth. The record
says, "And when they had sung a
hymn, they went out."
00:53:50.63\00:53:56.40
We're going to sing that hymn
-- hymn 407. If you'll pull your
00:53:56.40\00:54:01.24
hymnal out, it's hymn 407, and
while you're doing that, I want
to remind you that, like they
00:54:01.24\00:54:06.41
also did, we receive an offering
for the poor. You remember when
00:54:06.41\00:54:10.15
Judas left, they said, "Oh, he's
gonna deliver some money to the
poor." If God has blessed you
00:54:10.15\00:54:17.42
these last three months and you
wish to pass that blessing on to
others, there will be ushers at
00:54:17.42\00:54:22.89
all the doors as we leave. Out
of that abundance, thank you for
00:54:22.89\00:54:27.40
your gift. Berrien County knows
this is a church you can come
to. There will be help.
00:54:27.40\00:54:31.83
And because of your sacrifice,
your generosity, we are able to
00:54:31.83\00:54:35.97
help. God bless you in advance.
Now, there's no more joyful hymn
00:54:35.97\00:54:40.71
than this. Let's stand as we
sing hymn 407, "Sent Forth By
God's Blessings." And, by the
00:54:40.71\00:54:45.18
way, the words are gonna be on
the screens. It's the first time
we've had them on the screen, so
00:54:45.18\00:54:49.22
you can just sing without the
hymnal and let your heart open
00:54:49.22\00:54:53.92
up to our Lord. [ "Sent Forth
By God's Blessings" plays ]
00:54:53.92\00:54:57.49
¤¤ ¤¤
00:55:01.76\00:55:21.72
¤¤ ¤¤
00:55:21.72\00:55:41.64
¤¤ ¤¤
00:55:41.64\00:56:01.66
¤¤ ¤¤
00:56:01.66\00:56:21.58
¤¤
00:56:21.58\00:56:26.05
[ Song ends ] >> "And now may
the grace of the Lord Jesus
Christ and the love
00:56:26.21\00:56:32.65
of God and the fellowship of the
Holy Spirit be with you all."
Let all God's people say...
00:56:32.65\00:56:39.26
>> All: Amen. >> And amen. ¤¤
00:56:39.26\00:56:51.74
¤¤
00:56:51.74\00:56:54.74
>> Before you go, let me take an
extra moment to share with you
00:56:58.68\00:57:00.98
an opportunity to get into
the Bible in a fresh new way.
00:57:00.98\00:57:04.19
All across the world, more and
more people are hearing the call
00:57:04.19\00:57:06.79
to examine
Scriptures for themselves.
00:57:06.79\00:57:08.96
If you felt drawn to learn more
about God's word but you don't
know where to start or you're
00:57:09.12\00:57:13.53
just looking for a more in-depth
examination of Bible truths,
then I have something right here
00:57:13.53\00:57:18.13
that I believe you're gonna
enjoy. I want to send a series
00:57:18.13\00:57:21.20
of guides to get you started.
This one's entitled "Why Does
God Allow Suffering?"
00:57:21.20\00:57:25.47
Each guide begins with a
story and an introduction of the
00:57:25.47\00:57:28.44
subject. Then, through a series
of focus questions, you'll be
learning portions of the Bible
00:57:28.44\00:57:32.01
you may never have known before.
00:57:32.01\00:57:33.42
And when you're through, you'll
be able to share with others
00:57:33.58\00:57:36.35
some of these
inspiring Bible truths.
00:57:36.35\00:57:38.12
So just call our
toll-free number.
00:57:38.12\00:57:39.42
It's on the screen.
877-- the two words, HIS-WILL.
00:57:39.42\00:57:43.29
Our friendly operators are
standing by to send these study
00:57:43.29\00:57:45.66
guides to you. Once
again, that's 877-HIS-WILL.
00:57:45.66\00:57:49.66
Call that number, and then
again, join me next week, right
00:57:49.66\00:57:53.90
here at the same
time. "New Perceptions."
00:57:53.90\00:57:57.31
¤¤ ¤¤
00:58:00.44\00:58:20.40
¤¤
00:58:20.40\00:58:25.90