WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.319 Welcome to the Awakening Church podcast. 00:00:02.479 --> 00:00:07.040 We pray this message encourages you and provides the hope and light of Jesus Christ. 00:00:07.200 --> 00:00:08.640 Thanks for tuning in. 00:00:18.719 --> 00:00:20.480 Good morning, Awakening Church. 00:00:20.640 --> 00:00:21.440 Great to be with you. 00:00:21.519 --> 00:00:22.320 My name's Ryan. 00:00:22.399 --> 00:00:24.000 We're absolutely thrilled to have you join us. 00:00:24.160 --> 00:00:27.199 Welcome to those who are joining us online as well. 00:00:28.719 --> 00:00:33.920 As you find your seed, but you know, we're in a series called Ecclesia. 00:00:34.399 --> 00:00:38.799 When Jesus named his new movement, he called it the help me out. 00:00:40.479 --> 00:00:44.560 Wow, that was just full robust early morning. 00:00:44.640 --> 00:00:46.000 He called it the what? 00:00:46.560 --> 00:00:48.159 Ecclesia, yes. 00:00:49.280 --> 00:00:52.079 It literally means called out ones. 00:00:52.560 --> 00:00:55.280 It's not a religious term, it was a political one, actually. 00:00:55.359 --> 00:01:01.520 It referred to the civic assembly of citizens, shaping culture, influencing the city. 00:01:01.759 --> 00:01:14.560 And so when Jesus said, I'll build my church, he wasn't thinking about a building, he wasn't thinking about a brand, and he certainly wasn't thinking about just a gathering on a Sunday. 00:01:14.719 --> 00:01:16.400 He was thinking about a people. 00:01:16.640 --> 00:01:18.079 He was thinking about you. 00:01:18.400 --> 00:01:28.560 He was thinking about me, a people summoned, empowered, and unleashed to shape the world through introducing the kingdom of God. 00:01:29.120 --> 00:01:31.359 And so we've said this last few weeks. 00:01:31.519 --> 00:01:34.400 You don't go to church, you are the church. 00:01:34.640 --> 00:01:40.640 The church gathers, yes, but then we scatter when we say amen and leave. 00:01:40.799 --> 00:01:41.840 The church doesn't stop. 00:01:42.000 --> 00:01:44.640 No, the church is on the move. 00:01:45.359 --> 00:01:47.680 He wasn't interested in starting a new religion. 00:01:47.840 --> 00:01:49.120 He was launching a revolution. 00:01:49.280 --> 00:01:59.920 We said this that there were actually three distinctive marks of this new movement, this ecclesia, the church, uh, the first followers, and it was a radical generosity. 00:02:00.000 --> 00:02:02.799 We spent two weeks talking about that, a bold faith. 00:02:02.879 --> 00:02:05.040 We just completed two weeks talking about that. 00:02:05.200 --> 00:02:08.080 And then they had this sacrificial love. 00:02:08.319 --> 00:02:10.879 We're going to spend the next couple weeks talking about that. 00:02:11.039 --> 00:02:17.840 A radical faith, a bold, uh radical generosity, a bold faith, and a sacrificial love. 00:02:18.479 --> 00:02:25.199 Now, Silicon Valley has a distinct speed and pace, doesn't it? 00:02:25.680 --> 00:02:28.319 You feel it the minute you get here. 00:02:29.280 --> 00:02:37.360 It's the speed of efficiency, of optimization, of squeezing more productivity out of every single moment. 00:02:38.560 --> 00:02:49.360 We've built an entire culture around bigger, faster, better, faster technology, integrated, immersive, always connected, always on. 00:02:49.840 --> 00:02:58.479 Your commute, you have to get in the fastest lane possible, zigging and zagging to save those precious seconds. 00:02:58.800 --> 00:03:00.639 Coffee, why wait in line? 00:03:00.879 --> 00:03:10.879 Why talk to a human when you have an app and you can go in and sidestep all the mess of conversation and grab your cup of Joe and get on your way? 00:03:11.599 --> 00:03:16.240 Email, remember when it used to be a 24-hour response? 00:03:16.639 --> 00:03:18.400 That was, yeah, you're doing great. 00:03:18.479 --> 00:03:21.840 And now it feels almost as if it's instant, doesn't it? 00:03:22.240 --> 00:03:25.520 Whether it's day or night or the weekends. 00:03:25.840 --> 00:03:30.479 Dating, well, just swipe right as fast as you can. 00:03:30.639 --> 00:03:33.759 Friendships are measured by snapstreaks and TikTok friends. 00:03:33.919 --> 00:03:39.120 Silicon Valley can be summed up in these two words: grind culture. 00:03:40.240 --> 00:03:42.000 We celebrate the grind. 00:03:42.080 --> 00:03:53.039 Whether your students, an athlete, whether you're single, your parents all live with this pressure to perform, to produce, to keep up. 00:03:54.400 --> 00:03:55.360 What if? 00:03:56.319 --> 00:04:02.000 What if speed is the very thing sucking your soul dry? 00:04:04.319 --> 00:04:06.159 Here's the crazy part. 00:04:06.479 --> 00:04:17.680 The crazy part is that we continue to believe that bigger, faster, better are the solutions for finally getting ahead, finding margin, and slowing down. 00:04:18.319 --> 00:04:22.480 And yet we keep living at breakneck speed. 00:04:22.720 --> 00:04:26.480 What if speed is the very thing sucking your soul dried? 00:04:26.639 --> 00:04:34.800 And here's for us, here's for us, in a world of bigger, faster, better, how do we become a church known for love? 00:04:35.600 --> 00:04:44.639 How do we become a community where people, when they think of awakening, the first word that comes to mind is, wow, they love well. 00:04:45.759 --> 00:04:48.959 How do you become, how do I become a person? 00:04:51.439 --> 00:05:00.879 That our brand isn't how cool we are, how much we know, or you know, what job we work at, our brand. 00:05:01.680 --> 00:05:03.839 Man, she is so loving. 00:05:05.040 --> 00:05:08.240 He is so loving. 00:05:08.800 --> 00:05:13.120 Uh, the sermon title today is uh The Speed of God. 00:05:13.199 --> 00:05:14.560 Would you say that with me? 00:05:16.160 --> 00:05:28.240 There's a Japanese theologian, Kusuki Koyama, he wrote a book in 1979 as life was speeding up, called The Three Mile an Hour God. 00:05:28.879 --> 00:05:31.439 Three miles an hour is the speed of walking. 00:05:31.759 --> 00:05:35.680 And he notes that Jesus walked everywhere. 00:05:35.920 --> 00:05:39.120 Three mile an hour is the speed of relationships, he talks about. 00:05:39.199 --> 00:05:40.480 It's the speed of love. 00:05:40.720 --> 00:05:45.439 The speed of God, he would say, is three miles an hour. 00:05:46.399 --> 00:05:52.319 What if the speed of God isn't light speed or wharf speed, but three miles an hour? 00:05:52.399 --> 00:05:58.800 And how do we, instead of moving at the speed of Silicon Valley, begin to move at the speed of God? 00:05:59.759 --> 00:06:08.000 Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, has one final moment with his disciples. 00:06:09.759 --> 00:06:13.759 You can only imagine what he must be feeling in this moment. 00:06:13.839 --> 00:06:21.439 He spent three years pouring his life into these twelve, and he's just got a few moments, it's almost like a cram session. 00:06:21.519 --> 00:06:23.360 I would feel like I want to get it all in. 00:06:23.519 --> 00:06:34.560 And to make matters, you know, maybe even more intense, his disciples heading into what we call the Last Supper, get into an argument. 00:06:34.639 --> 00:06:36.800 And do you know what they are arguing about? 00:06:37.120 --> 00:06:39.120 Yeah, who's the greatest? 00:06:39.439 --> 00:06:42.079 As if three years they still haven't got it. 00:06:42.319 --> 00:06:43.519 Who is the greatest? 00:06:43.680 --> 00:06:50.079 And he's in this moment, he doesn't, he doesn't, he doesn't like give them this lecture, he doesn't shame them. 00:06:50.160 --> 00:06:51.519 They're arguing about who is the greatest. 00:06:51.600 --> 00:07:02.240 No, he gets up from the table, takes off his outer garment, wraps the towel, the towel of a slave around his waist, and he washes his disciples' feet. 00:07:05.519 --> 00:07:07.680 The dinner completed. 00:07:08.240 --> 00:07:11.920 Judas slipped out to betray him. 00:07:12.879 --> 00:07:24.079 And now it's just Jesus and the leaven with a precious few hours before literally all hell breaks loose. 00:07:25.040 --> 00:07:27.279 And this is what Jesus says to them. 00:07:28.240 --> 00:07:30.800 A new command I give you. 00:07:31.600 --> 00:07:33.360 Love one another. 00:07:33.839 --> 00:07:37.360 As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 00:07:37.519 --> 00:07:38.160 A new command. 00:07:38.319 --> 00:07:40.079 This isn't a suggestion, by the way. 00:07:40.240 --> 00:07:43.120 This isn't a nice idea, this is a command. 00:07:43.279 --> 00:07:44.079 Love one another. 00:07:44.240 --> 00:07:46.240 Now, loving one another is not all that new. 00:07:46.319 --> 00:07:49.920 It's actually a really old thought, but he's gonna, it's new and kind. 00:07:50.000 --> 00:07:52.639 It's not like you get to define what love looks like. 00:07:52.800 --> 00:07:56.800 He says, as I have loved you, so you must love one another. 00:07:56.959 --> 00:07:58.959 Now notice this by this. 00:08:00.720 --> 00:08:01.360 Huh. 00:08:02.319 --> 00:08:07.600 Everyone will know that you're my disciples if you what? 00:08:10.000 --> 00:08:15.839 The distinctive mark of a follower of Jesus is love. 00:08:16.480 --> 00:08:17.279 Period. 00:08:19.519 --> 00:08:29.439 The distinctive and distinguishing mark is to be a people of love of those that love others the way Jesus has loved you. 00:08:31.279 --> 00:08:36.720 In fact, radical generosity, bold faith all flow from love. 00:08:37.759 --> 00:08:39.679 They all stem from it. 00:08:40.320 --> 00:08:45.440 So, how in the world do we become a people of love? 00:08:46.000 --> 00:08:53.120 How do we live that out in Silicon Valley and grind culture in bigger, better, faster pace of life? 00:08:53.519 --> 00:09:02.080 At Awakening, the way we are attempting to do this as a community, as a body, as a church is what we call the discipleship pathway. 00:09:02.159 --> 00:09:04.080 It's not a program, it's a pathway. 00:09:04.559 --> 00:09:10.320 It's helping us begin to step into the rhythm and the ways of Jesus. 00:09:10.480 --> 00:09:14.080 And the discipleship pathway simply uh begins this way. 00:09:14.240 --> 00:09:18.799 The first step into this discipleship pathway is come to know Jesus. 00:09:18.960 --> 00:09:21.120 I'm gonna have you say all these with me because we're gonna get it. 00:09:21.200 --> 00:09:22.559 Remember, last week we got them, all right. 00:09:22.639 --> 00:09:23.200 So you ready? 00:09:23.360 --> 00:09:24.480 Come to know Jesus. 00:09:26.080 --> 00:09:29.279 Yeah, you gotta first come to know Jesus. 00:09:29.440 --> 00:09:30.480 Notice how Jesus said it. 00:09:30.559 --> 00:09:32.799 He said, New command, I give you, love one another. 00:09:32.879 --> 00:09:33.279 How? 00:09:33.600 --> 00:09:35.360 As I have loved you. 00:09:35.440 --> 00:09:36.320 Isn't this amazing? 00:09:36.480 --> 00:09:46.159 The foundation of your relationship with Jesus isn't your love, isn't your ability, isn't how much you can muster up or how well you've done. 00:09:46.320 --> 00:09:50.240 The foundation of your relationship is Jesus' love for you. 00:09:51.360 --> 00:09:56.240 We love, John would say later, because he first loved us. 00:09:56.799 --> 00:10:03.919 We understand what true, pure love is because of the way Jesus loved us. 00:10:04.080 --> 00:10:06.799 It is the very foundation. 00:10:08.960 --> 00:10:09.200 No. 00:10:11.279 --> 00:10:15.679 How in the world do we step into that love? 00:10:17.519 --> 00:10:19.600 How do you get to know Jesus? 00:10:20.559 --> 00:10:22.000 It's very simple. 00:10:23.279 --> 00:10:25.679 He said, follow me. 00:10:29.759 --> 00:10:31.919 Hey Ryan, I'd love to hang out with you. 00:10:32.159 --> 00:10:32.720 That's awesome. 00:10:32.879 --> 00:10:33.600 I'm headed this way. 00:10:33.679 --> 00:10:34.480 You want to come? 00:10:35.200 --> 00:10:35.840 Yeah. 00:10:38.080 --> 00:10:39.840 Who would you like to be around? 00:10:39.919 --> 00:10:45.519 And if you that you want to learn from, that you like, I would really love to get to know, that I'd love to hang out with. 00:10:45.679 --> 00:10:47.600 And they said, fantastic, that would be great. 00:10:47.679 --> 00:10:48.320 I'm headed this way. 00:10:48.399 --> 00:10:49.919 Wouldn't you want to walk with me? 00:10:50.399 --> 00:10:52.960 Wouldn't you go like, oh yeah, sure. 00:10:53.919 --> 00:10:59.679 See, here's one of my concerns in the church when we're talking about come to know Jesus. 00:11:00.559 --> 00:11:05.120 Far too many of us know about Jesus, but we don't really know him. 00:11:06.159 --> 00:11:11.039 We've bought into this religion, a checklist mentality. 00:11:11.679 --> 00:11:14.159 You know facts about Jesus. 00:11:14.480 --> 00:11:18.639 You might even know verses, you maybe even memorize John 3.16. 00:11:19.279 --> 00:11:20.159 It's fantastic. 00:11:20.240 --> 00:11:21.120 There's nothing wrong with it. 00:11:21.200 --> 00:11:22.080 That's great. 00:11:22.399 --> 00:11:26.000 But do you have a personal relationship with Jesus? 00:11:26.159 --> 00:11:27.440 Have you come to know him? 00:11:27.679 --> 00:11:30.480 Have you heard him say, follow me, Tim? 00:11:30.720 --> 00:11:32.559 Follow me, Janet, follow me. 00:11:33.039 --> 00:11:35.279 And you go like, I'm gonna start following you. 00:11:35.360 --> 00:11:39.200 I don't know what it looks like, but I'm just gonna start to follow after you. 00:11:39.440 --> 00:11:40.799 And I want to know you. 00:11:40.960 --> 00:11:46.159 It's not about some religious activity, it's about a relationship with Jesus. 00:11:46.320 --> 00:11:57.200 And he invites you in to know him personally, and it's powerful, and it changes everything. 00:11:57.759 --> 00:12:04.799 For us at Awakening, we kind of have two environments that we want to help you like start this relationship, come to know him. 00:12:05.039 --> 00:12:08.639 First is just the Sunday service, Awakening and 101. 00:12:08.720 --> 00:12:10.000 You just heard about it. 00:12:10.320 --> 00:12:17.039 Like for so many people, honestly, uh last week there's two different people at different services that came up to me. 00:12:17.120 --> 00:12:18.480 They're like, hey, you know what? 00:12:18.639 --> 00:12:20.480 Um, it's almost an identical story. 00:12:20.639 --> 00:12:28.159 Don't know Jesus, uh, don't have a faith background, really curious, want to investigate more, checked you out online. 00:12:28.320 --> 00:12:33.840 In fact, more people watch us online to before they come because they got to figure out what's going on here. 00:12:34.399 --> 00:12:36.320 Super wise, by the way. 00:12:36.720 --> 00:12:40.559 And then come and they're in this process of like they're feeling something. 00:12:40.639 --> 00:12:43.840 I we would call it the Spirit of God, drawing them to themselves. 00:12:44.000 --> 00:12:47.120 They're curious and they're just starting to follow Him. 00:12:48.399 --> 00:13:02.159 This environment is a strategic pause in your week to lift your eyes from everything that you're on and going through, to lift them up to Jesus so that you just remind yourself, oh, that's right. 00:13:02.720 --> 00:13:03.440 That's right. 00:13:03.519 --> 00:13:05.200 I all I need is Jesus. 00:13:05.519 --> 00:13:07.279 101 is that next step. 00:13:07.360 --> 00:13:10.720 We're gonna do it uh today, right after the services. 00:13:10.799 --> 00:13:13.360 It's just like, how do I get to know a little bit more? 00:13:13.440 --> 00:13:18.320 Is this the community that I need to grow and become more like Jesus? 00:13:18.480 --> 00:13:24.080 So the first environment that we create to help people experience the love of Jesus is this environment. 00:13:24.159 --> 00:13:26.399 That's why we're saying, like, hey, invite people in. 00:13:26.720 --> 00:13:33.600 Try to create spaces where we have a life-changing encounter with God through worship, through the word, through his people. 00:13:33.919 --> 00:13:36.000 The second is then Alpha. 00:13:36.320 --> 00:13:46.639 Alpha is this incredible environment, and here's the reality: there's many of you that are searching, that are wrestling with Jesus, like you haven't personally come to know him. 00:13:46.799 --> 00:13:56.240 Maybe you know things about him, and this environment is a safe space for you to experience like wrestle with Jesus, ask questions. 00:13:56.399 --> 00:14:00.320 It's an eight-week-ish uh, basically small group. 00:14:00.399 --> 00:14:11.200 You watch this great video, you get around a table with people all with similar questions, no questions off the table, and you begin to wrestle, like, okay, who is this Jesus? 00:14:11.519 --> 00:14:12.720 Is he really God? 00:14:12.960 --> 00:14:13.919 What does it mean? 00:14:14.159 --> 00:14:16.240 And ask all of your questions. 00:14:16.639 --> 00:14:18.000 Alpha's awesome. 00:14:18.080 --> 00:14:19.440 It's launching at Santa Clara. 00:14:19.519 --> 00:14:21.759 We're gonna do it hosted at Santa Clara University. 00:14:21.840 --> 00:14:26.559 You don't have to be a student to go there, but we want to make it so easy for students to go. 00:14:26.639 --> 00:14:29.039 Uh, that's gonna happen on the campus there. 00:14:29.200 --> 00:14:34.559 Maybe you have a friend that's been searching or a coworker that's been asking some questions. 00:14:34.799 --> 00:14:39.759 This is an opportunity where you get to bring them with you to come to know Jesus. 00:14:40.080 --> 00:14:41.600 And you you show up with them. 00:14:41.840 --> 00:14:43.039 Would you do that? 00:14:43.600 --> 00:14:48.639 How do we begin to slow down, to move at the speed of God? 00:14:48.799 --> 00:14:50.879 First, come to know Jesus. 00:14:51.039 --> 00:15:00.879 These strategic pauses that we allow our hearts to remind ourselves of like, oh, Jesus, it's your love, it's the foundation for everything else. 00:15:01.039 --> 00:15:03.600 Secondly, then grow as a disciple. 00:15:03.759 --> 00:15:04.799 You say that with me. 00:15:05.279 --> 00:15:06.240 Grow as a disciple. 00:15:06.559 --> 00:15:07.279 Perfect. 00:15:07.440 --> 00:15:13.360 Jesus said this: a new command I give you, love one another. 00:15:13.759 --> 00:15:16.879 Like you said earlier, it's a command, not a suggestion. 00:15:16.960 --> 00:15:21.840 If you're a follower of Jesus, this is not like, hey, I don't know, take it or leave it. 00:15:23.440 --> 00:15:27.519 Jesus says, if you're gonna call me Lord and Savior, this is my command. 00:15:28.159 --> 00:15:30.240 This is what you are to do. 00:15:30.639 --> 00:15:36.720 This is non-optional, it's not up for interpretation, explanation, or adaptation. 00:15:37.679 --> 00:15:43.039 So let me ask you, real sincerely, and just wrestle with this for a second. 00:15:43.279 --> 00:15:45.679 Are you a disciple of Jesus? 00:15:45.919 --> 00:15:48.320 Grow as a disciple of Jesus. 00:15:48.480 --> 00:15:58.639 A disciple is an apprentice, one who trains under, one who is arranging their lives to learn from and to be able to do the things that someone does. 00:15:58.879 --> 00:16:03.120 We are arranging our lives under Jesus, our master. 00:16:05.200 --> 00:16:06.080 A new command. 00:16:06.159 --> 00:16:08.080 He says, Well, what is the command? 00:16:08.399 --> 00:16:10.080 Love one another. 00:16:10.559 --> 00:16:12.720 So, a couple thoughts here. 00:16:12.879 --> 00:16:17.039 First, the Christian life isn't difficult on your own, it's impossible. 00:16:17.519 --> 00:16:22.799 Not only do you need community, it's impossible to live out the Christian life this way. 00:16:23.039 --> 00:16:29.679 There are all these one another that Jesus has called us to that you can't fulfill on your own. 00:16:31.360 --> 00:16:34.399 You can't love one another all by yourself. 00:16:35.759 --> 00:16:40.000 And discipleship happens in community, not isolation. 00:16:42.000 --> 00:16:44.960 Life change happens best, not in rows like this. 00:16:45.039 --> 00:16:47.679 This is wonderful, and this is a place for inspiration. 00:16:47.840 --> 00:16:50.000 Transformation happens in circles. 00:16:50.240 --> 00:16:59.519 When we get into small groups together, when we begin to do life together, we begin to share what's going on, the real things. 00:16:59.840 --> 00:17:07.119 A small group, the way we say it around here, is just a community growing together to become more like Jesus. 00:17:07.279 --> 00:17:11.279 It's just a small group growing together to become more like Jesus. 00:17:11.440 --> 00:17:17.680 We want everybody at awakening in a small group, committed to growing, saying, you know what? 00:17:17.759 --> 00:17:26.720 I'm coming together, I'm hearing from the teachings of God's Word, and then I'm intentionally moving slower with people to grow together. 00:17:26.960 --> 00:17:36.720 We're kicking off all of our groups with a new series, Dreaming Wide Awake, our uh is gonna be a great series that launches on our birthday through the life of Joseph. 00:17:37.200 --> 00:17:42.079 Joseph, how do you discover a God-sized dream for your life and begin to live it out? 00:17:42.319 --> 00:17:44.880 Now, here is the problem with small groups. 00:17:45.039 --> 00:17:46.160 You ready for this? 00:17:47.680 --> 00:17:56.960 There are chances that a chance that you will have people in your small group that you don't really like that annoy you. 00:17:57.200 --> 00:18:01.680 In the church, we kind of call them EGRs, extra grace required people. 00:18:02.240 --> 00:18:06.079 The problem is you probably are an EGR for someone else. 00:18:07.519 --> 00:18:11.200 Especially in a culture where it's all about choosing your family. 00:18:13.759 --> 00:18:17.519 What if I don't really like the people in my small group? 00:18:18.079 --> 00:18:30.480 Theologian Scott McKnight in his book A Fellowship of Difference uh writes this Love is a great idea until you're called to love uh happens to be until the one you're called to love happens to be unlike you. 00:18:31.119 --> 00:18:35.200 Love is a great idea until you discover who your neighbors actually are. 00:18:35.920 --> 00:18:42.160 Love is a great idea until you see who actually attends your church. 00:18:44.400 --> 00:18:52.720 I think sometimes we we don't want to dive into a small group because, like, oh, they're different, they're not my vibe. 00:18:53.599 --> 00:18:59.519 You know, they couldn't they vote differently than me, they're older or younger than me. 00:19:00.480 --> 00:19:03.519 Do you know what this first small group looked like, by the way? 00:19:03.839 --> 00:19:05.359 Jesus' small group? 00:19:06.000 --> 00:19:07.119 The twelve? 00:19:09.440 --> 00:19:18.160 Jesus gives this command, and he's looking in the eyes of Matthew the tax collector and Simon the Zealot. 00:19:18.559 --> 00:19:21.599 Simon the Zealot, he was a revolutionary. 00:19:22.799 --> 00:19:30.480 He they would use all means necessary to try to overthrow the Roman governments. 00:19:31.279 --> 00:19:35.119 From assassinations to uprising riots. 00:19:35.519 --> 00:19:43.200 It was deeply military, and depending on what side of the aisle you were, they were either revolutionaries or terrorists. 00:19:43.440 --> 00:19:44.799 Simon the Zealot. 00:19:45.440 --> 00:19:51.039 And then you had Matthew, the tax collector, we talked about him a few weeks, corroborator with Rome. 00:19:52.799 --> 00:19:56.720 Like abandoning his people, not only that, but ripping them off. 00:19:56.960 --> 00:20:00.400 And here they are around the circle with Jesus. 00:20:00.720 --> 00:20:04.640 This is way worse than Republican-Democrat, by the way. 00:20:05.680 --> 00:20:07.599 They hated each other. 00:20:09.599 --> 00:20:13.839 Outside of Jesus, these two would want to kill each other, literally. 00:20:14.079 --> 00:20:16.720 And Jesus says, A new command I give you. 00:20:17.519 --> 00:20:19.359 Love one another. 00:20:19.920 --> 00:20:28.160 And then you had James and John, Jesus nicknamed them the Sons of Thunder, these blue-collar fishermen that apparently had anger issues. 00:20:29.839 --> 00:20:38.240 And with James and John in this kind of, you know, kind of explosive duo, then we had doubting Thomas. 00:20:38.559 --> 00:20:44.880 It's kind of funny, you could see just even some of the friction because the only time we really hear about Thomas is in the Gospel of John. 00:20:45.440 --> 00:20:53.839 As he wrote about him, and almost all the words that you know Thomas spoke, that we find that he spoke, at least recorded, were negative. 00:20:54.079 --> 00:20:55.279 He was the Eeyore. 00:20:56.799 --> 00:20:57.440 Aw. 00:20:58.000 --> 00:20:59.279 Poor Thomas. 00:20:59.680 --> 00:21:02.240 This was the first small group. 00:21:03.759 --> 00:21:19.839 A group of difference and unlikes that had little to nothing in common, in fact, on their own, would not want to have anything to do with each other. 00:21:20.160 --> 00:21:35.519 But Jesus is the one thing they had in common that overcame all of it and galvanized them together and took this group of different and unlikes, and they began to love the way Jesus loved them, and it revolutionized the world. 00:21:35.759 --> 00:21:48.000 And it can once more if we begin to love one another rather than just love the people we like in the places we like and define it on our terms. 00:21:50.079 --> 00:21:56.400 So let me ask you who in your life really knows you right now? 00:22:00.319 --> 00:22:02.000 And who do you really know? 00:22:04.240 --> 00:22:09.759 What if God actually wants to grow you right where you are with the people he's placed around you? 00:22:12.000 --> 00:22:20.640 Love, by the way, is deeply inconvenient, profoundly inefficient, and obnoxiously refining. 00:22:22.799 --> 00:22:26.000 And it is the distinctive mark of a follower of Jesus. 00:22:26.160 --> 00:22:27.519 Come to know Jesus. 00:22:28.319 --> 00:22:30.720 Grow as a disciple of Jesus. 00:22:31.200 --> 00:22:33.119 Serve in the name of Jesus. 00:22:33.359 --> 00:22:34.559 Serve in the name of Jesus. 00:22:34.720 --> 00:22:38.000 As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 00:22:38.160 --> 00:22:40.960 Jesus didn't leave the definition of love up to us. 00:22:41.200 --> 00:22:44.559 We're to love others exactly the same way Jesus loved us. 00:22:44.880 --> 00:22:46.319 How did Jesus love us? 00:22:46.559 --> 00:22:47.279 Shout it out. 00:22:48.079 --> 00:22:51.039 Gave his life, he has sacrificed his life. 00:22:51.279 --> 00:22:52.240 What else? 00:22:53.839 --> 00:22:55.519 That's primary, good one. 00:22:55.599 --> 00:22:55.759 Huh? 00:22:56.720 --> 00:22:58.720 Yeah, he washed his disciples' feet. 00:22:58.960 --> 00:23:00.640 He got up and served them. 00:23:01.279 --> 00:23:02.240 How else? 00:23:03.039 --> 00:23:04.319 He healed them. 00:23:04.880 --> 00:23:13.519 He took time along wherever he was going, allowed interruptions of people calling out, and he turned and focused to them, didn't he? 00:23:13.759 --> 00:23:17.680 Gave them his not just his attention, but then through that healing. 00:23:17.839 --> 00:23:18.640 Yeah, really good. 00:23:18.799 --> 00:23:19.839 What else? 00:23:21.759 --> 00:23:23.680 Unconditional love, what was over there? 00:23:24.559 --> 00:23:25.519 He fed them? 00:23:25.759 --> 00:23:27.680 Very practical, right? 00:23:28.000 --> 00:23:29.759 Which is part of unconditional love. 00:23:29.920 --> 00:23:33.440 Like sometimes it's just meeting the needs. 00:23:34.720 --> 00:23:40.160 Jesus looks into the eyeballs of his disciples and says, This is my command. 00:23:40.400 --> 00:23:44.960 You're to love one another the way I loved you. 00:23:45.680 --> 00:23:47.440 I love my dad's definition of love. 00:23:47.599 --> 00:23:53.839 He says, love is giving another person what they need the most when they deserve it the least at great personal cost. 00:23:54.480 --> 00:23:59.680 What they need the most when they deserve it the least at great personal cost. 00:24:00.000 --> 00:24:04.160 This is what Jesus did for you and for me. 00:24:04.640 --> 00:24:07.759 He simply took up the towel of service. 00:24:11.839 --> 00:24:12.319 He did. 00:24:12.400 --> 00:24:14.640 He got up and washed his disciples' feet. 00:24:14.799 --> 00:24:22.319 When he was asked about who is the greatest, he said, the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and give his life as a ransom. 00:24:22.559 --> 00:24:25.519 Didn't come to get, but to give. 00:24:25.839 --> 00:24:32.720 And yet, what's gifted in the church, friends, is this we've become spectators where we watch instead of participants. 00:24:33.119 --> 00:24:36.799 We've become consumers where we go, what can I get? 00:24:37.039 --> 00:24:38.720 How can I get mine? 00:24:38.960 --> 00:24:40.079 How can I feed? 00:24:40.240 --> 00:24:46.000 Like, feed me, meet me, serve me. 00:24:48.480 --> 00:24:56.160 I just wonder if your experience is lack here or any church, you're just not feeling like you're quite connected. 00:24:56.240 --> 00:25:03.599 I wonder if we just switch the question instead of like, how does this church serve me? 00:25:05.119 --> 00:25:07.839 If you flip the question, how can I serve? 00:25:10.079 --> 00:25:14.400 I so I wasn't planning on sharing this, but we'll just we'll go there anyways. 00:25:16.079 --> 00:25:22.319 I have heard people complain about different pastries that we have on our coffee cart. 00:25:24.799 --> 00:25:25.440 Yeah. 00:25:25.920 --> 00:25:26.880 Oh my goodness. 00:25:26.960 --> 00:25:28.720 Or why why don't we have Code Brew? 00:25:28.799 --> 00:25:30.559 I want a Cold Brew or this. 00:25:31.759 --> 00:25:33.839 Go buy your own coffee. 00:25:36.720 --> 00:25:38.640 Go buy your own pastry. 00:25:41.200 --> 00:25:51.119 Like what kind of mentality is it that we show up and we think everything should be served for us and we should not give anything of it, and yet we serve and we come and worship. 00:25:51.279 --> 00:25:55.039 Jesus, you gave it all, so I don't have to give anything. 00:25:58.160 --> 00:26:04.720 Your experience on Sunday will profoundly change when you show up asking the question, who can I minister to? 00:26:04.880 --> 00:26:06.000 Who can I serve? 00:26:08.880 --> 00:26:11.839 Oh, the worship, it really just didn't hit me. 00:26:11.920 --> 00:26:13.920 Or, oh, the worship, it really hit me. 00:26:14.160 --> 00:26:16.160 Ryan, he was a little angry today. 00:26:16.240 --> 00:26:20.880 I like it when I like funny Ryan, but angry Ryan, I don't know, you know. 00:26:21.039 --> 00:26:23.440 I'm not angry by the way, I'm just passionate. 00:26:26.559 --> 00:26:26.960 Anyway. 00:26:32.720 --> 00:26:34.799 And it translates into groups. 00:26:39.440 --> 00:26:52.880 See, small groups is where you bring a meal when someone's sick, when you show up when someone's hurting, when you pray when someone can't find words, and when you serve when it's inconvenience. 00:27:01.200 --> 00:27:11.920 Because you came to know him, you're committed to growing as a disciple, and now you're serving in the name of Jesus, your brothers and sisters, where he's placed you. 00:27:27.440 --> 00:27:30.640 This last week we got that experience. 00:27:32.480 --> 00:27:38.480 A couple that has been in our small group for a decade, and we've gone through different people in small groups. 00:27:38.640 --> 00:27:39.920 I got a text. 00:27:41.440 --> 00:27:44.160 They're out of the country visiting their family. 00:27:47.680 --> 00:27:51.279 She's had uh two different brain surgeries. 00:27:52.799 --> 00:27:54.400 She's really struggling. 00:27:55.200 --> 00:27:56.319 Would you pray? 00:27:57.200 --> 00:27:58.160 I get up early. 00:27:58.240 --> 00:28:01.519 I gotta, you know, we're on a different time zone. 00:28:07.359 --> 00:28:10.559 And I'm like, you know what, I just don't have time to pray for you right now. 00:28:10.720 --> 00:28:11.440 I'm too busy. 00:28:11.519 --> 00:28:13.359 I'm writing a sermon about love. 00:28:18.079 --> 00:28:19.599 What an honor. 00:28:20.160 --> 00:28:30.720 What a joy that you would invite me into your world, that you wouldn't call and ask, and you would have like that I could be able to pray for you absolutely. 00:28:31.920 --> 00:28:38.319 And then just got a text this morning of how God is answering that prayer and she's feeling better and able and engaged. 00:28:38.400 --> 00:28:41.759 And we're like, oh my goodness, that's what community's for. 00:28:44.000 --> 00:28:48.880 But we come expecting our face wiped instead of taking up the towel. 00:28:51.519 --> 00:28:53.599 Okay, I'm off my hobby horse now. 00:28:53.839 --> 00:28:55.680 Finally, share the love of Jesus. 00:28:55.920 --> 00:28:57.440 Share the love of Jesus. 00:28:57.759 --> 00:29:04.240 By this, everyone will know you're my disciples by how you love one another. 00:29:05.920 --> 00:29:17.119 Philip Yancey in his book, Vanishing Grace, said this our confused society badly needs a community of contrast, a counterculture of ordinary pilgrims who insist on living a different way. 00:29:17.440 --> 00:29:23.839 I want to argue that different way is loving others the way Jesus loved you. 00:29:24.160 --> 00:29:26.240 It is the distinctive mark. 00:29:26.960 --> 00:29:31.839 What if the greatest apologetic today is how we love one another? 00:29:33.279 --> 00:29:38.640 What if the greatest threat to your soul isn't sin but speed? 00:29:40.240 --> 00:29:46.240 Because to love one another, we need to slow down enough to be with one another. 00:29:50.400 --> 00:29:56.319 Theologian Ksuki Koyama writes this Jesus came. 00:29:57.119 --> 00:29:59.119 He walked towards the full stop. 00:29:59.680 --> 00:30:03.839 He lost his mobility, he nailed, he was nailed down. 00:30:04.240 --> 00:30:07.359 He is not even at three mile an hour as we walk. 00:30:07.599 --> 00:30:08.720 He is not moving. 00:30:09.039 --> 00:30:09.839 Full stop. 00:30:10.160 --> 00:30:12.160 What can be slower than full stop? 00:30:12.720 --> 00:30:13.680 Nailed down. 00:30:14.480 --> 00:30:23.039 At this point of full stop, the apostolic church proclaims that the love of God to man is ultimately and fully revealed. 00:30:24.079 --> 00:30:27.200 God walks slowly because he is love. 00:30:27.920 --> 00:30:30.960 If he is not love, he would have gone much faster. 00:30:31.759 --> 00:30:33.200 Love has its speed. 00:30:34.160 --> 00:30:35.680 It's an inner speed. 00:30:36.160 --> 00:30:37.839 It's the speed of love. 00:30:38.160 --> 00:30:45.519 It goes in the depth of our life, whether we notice it or not, whether we're currently hit by a storm or not, at three miles an hour. 00:30:46.240 --> 00:30:47.839 It is the speed we walk. 00:30:48.400 --> 00:30:53.119 And therefore, it is the speed, the love of God who walks. 00:30:53.920 --> 00:30:58.160 The speed of God is the speed of love. 00:30:59.519 --> 00:31:06.240 We can only love one another if we actually slow down to be with one another. 00:31:07.759 --> 00:31:19.279 I want to invite Shanu up just to share his story of slowing down, stepping into community, and how God's used that over the years. 00:31:19.359 --> 00:31:21.039 Will you please welcome Shanu up? 00:31:22.640 --> 00:31:23.519 Come on, step. 00:31:25.680 --> 00:31:27.920 First, introduce yourself a little bit, Shanu. 00:31:28.000 --> 00:31:28.400 Who are you? 00:31:28.480 --> 00:31:28.880 What do you do? 00:31:28.960 --> 00:31:30.559 How long have you been at awakening? 00:31:33.200 --> 00:31:34.400 Can I say a little quick? 00:31:35.039 --> 00:31:36.079 Oh, yeah, you're good. 00:31:38.960 --> 00:31:39.279 No. 00:31:44.880 --> 00:31:46.319 Let's try this one. 00:31:49.440 --> 00:31:49.839 Hello. 00:31:50.079 --> 00:31:50.799 Ah, there we go. 00:31:50.960 --> 00:31:51.279 There we go. 00:31:51.440 --> 00:31:52.160 Yeah, I gotcha. 00:31:52.319 --> 00:31:53.119 Thank you. 00:31:54.079 --> 00:31:54.799 All right, yeah. 00:31:54.960 --> 00:31:56.400 First of all, thank you so much. 00:31:56.559 --> 00:32:04.000 I mean, it's great to just talk about what God's been doing in the community around us and um in the life of the church. 00:32:04.160 --> 00:32:22.240 So if I haven't met you, my name is Shanu, and um I've been part of Awakening for the past four years, and I'm using the gifts that God's given me to serve in like the kids' ministry and the worship team, and also like um host a small group. 00:32:22.319 --> 00:32:23.119 So yeah. 00:32:23.359 --> 00:32:24.079 That's awesome. 00:32:24.240 --> 00:32:27.359 So thank and thank you for sharing, absolutely, too. 00:32:27.599 --> 00:32:33.599 First, just kind of share kind of this whole small group, stepping into the community journey. 00:32:33.680 --> 00:32:34.640 How did that start for you? 00:32:34.720 --> 00:32:36.480 Where were you at when you first started coming to awake? 00:32:36.799 --> 00:32:49.440 Yeah, I mean, my whole life I've been like moving around, you know, and every time I I'm in a new place, I just feel hesitant or like passive almost stepping into small group. 00:32:49.519 --> 00:32:54.640 And I'll and I'm always the kind of guy that'll be like, if it happens, it happens and it's amazing. 00:32:54.799 --> 00:32:58.240 If it doesn't, then it's like, you know, whatever, right? 00:32:58.559 --> 00:33:09.519 And then, but fast forward like a year at awakening, I got to, um, by the grace of God, got to host a small group at my house that I lived in. 00:33:09.759 --> 00:33:16.960 And I remember sitting, you know, right here one Sunday um thinking about canceling group. 00:33:17.200 --> 00:33:18.240 I felt tired. 00:33:18.400 --> 00:33:22.400 I felt um, I don't know I just felt didn't feel like doing small group. 00:33:22.480 --> 00:33:27.680 I was thinking to myself, I don't think anybody would care if I cancel small group, you know. 00:33:28.079 --> 00:33:34.480 So while I was sitting there, a friend of mine came up to me and uh we just started talking about a bunch of things. 00:33:34.720 --> 00:33:39.440 And when we started talking about small group, I still remember this one thing that she said. 00:33:39.599 --> 00:33:49.920 She said she was so excited to be part of small group tomorrow and just um I don't know, just be with everybody, talk with everybody, pray with everybody. 00:33:50.079 --> 00:33:53.839 And when I honestly, when I heard that, I was like, wow, this is so great. 00:33:53.920 --> 00:33:55.200 But no, that's not true. 00:33:55.359 --> 00:34:00.480 I mean, I was like, I was like, uh, I don't know why you're so excited about what are you so excited about? 00:34:01.519 --> 00:34:25.039 Um so as I was sitting there, I was walking back to my car and I was having this inner monologue of you know our conversation, and God just slowly revealed the truth uh into my heart that you know it's just not a casual place where people just come to hang out and talk, but it's a place where you know they belong, and it's a place where lives are changed and lives are touched. 00:34:25.280 --> 00:34:26.960 And um yeah. 00:34:27.360 --> 00:34:28.000 That's awesome. 00:34:28.159 --> 00:34:37.440 So, what did you start this small group and then it's going like what's been your experience kind of over the last you know couple years and how has God changed and worked in your life? 00:34:37.760 --> 00:34:41.360 Yeah, I mean one of the I just want to share this one story. 00:34:41.440 --> 00:34:52.880 I mean, I was, you know, like typical small group fashion, we had this um, you know, we do prayer requests, and after prayer requests, we pray for everybody, and you know, that's that. 00:34:53.119 --> 00:35:09.440 So one uh one small group time we were uh doing prayer requests and one of our one of our um somebody in the group was like, um, I have this prayer request and I'm unable to, you know, maybe pay rent for the next month, right? 00:35:09.519 --> 00:35:15.920 So we were there and like typical small group fashion, we come together and we pray, and all of that's done, right? 00:35:16.159 --> 00:35:16.960 It was all good. 00:35:17.039 --> 00:35:22.639 You know, we asked God to provide, we ask God to like be with her, comfort her, all that kind of stuff. 00:35:22.960 --> 00:35:39.039 And after that, I just remembered so and even to this day, my heart just swells up with like joy when this happened, when a group of people just come together and they're like, you know, I think we should just pitch in a little bit and help pay rent for her next month. 00:35:39.360 --> 00:35:47.440 I was sitting there thinking about how these guys, these group of people that came together and are living their faith, just changed my life. 00:35:47.599 --> 00:36:06.000 You know, it reminds me of like Acts 2, when like the new church, the early church, when they heard the gospel of Christ and like the good news of how he rose up from the grave, um, they came, they sold all their possessions, and they helped those that were in need in their community and in their church. 00:36:06.239 --> 00:36:18.719 And to me, um I think you know, God uses people like ordinary people like you, like me, like Pastor Ryan, to do some amazing, extraordinary things together. 00:36:18.880 --> 00:36:19.199 Yeah. 00:36:19.360 --> 00:36:20.639 So that's awesome. 00:36:20.960 --> 00:36:21.519 I love that. 00:36:21.599 --> 00:36:22.400 Thank you for sharing. 00:36:22.480 --> 00:36:30.400 And then do you have maybe like uh kind of one encouragement for the rest of us, uh, you know, or something you want to leave with us about your experience? 00:36:30.719 --> 00:36:39.840 Yeah, I mean, I'd love to, you know, we're all part of the body of Christ, you know, and when we show up, the entire body of Christ is strengthened. 00:36:40.000 --> 00:36:44.880 And I think that, you know, your presence matters, right? 00:36:45.119 --> 00:36:48.559 The way that you use your gifts uniquely matters. 00:36:48.639 --> 00:36:58.960 And when you show up, you know, Christ being the head of the church, um, you start to reflect him, uh, both to those around you, but also to the entire world. 00:36:59.119 --> 00:37:17.039 So that's what I encourage you to, you know, if you were like me that was you know hesitant or like passive or unsure about stepping into community, uh, to really just take a small step of faith into the community around you and uh do not despise the day of small beginnings. 00:37:17.119 --> 00:37:26.400 You know, God will take your faith and your trust in Him and bless it and use it to do amazing and great things uh for his kingdom. 00:37:26.639 --> 00:37:27.280 That's amazing. 00:37:27.519 --> 00:37:28.400 Thank you, Shaniu. 00:37:28.480 --> 00:37:28.880 Can we thank you? 00:37:29.360 --> 00:37:30.239 Thanks, buddy. 00:37:31.119 --> 00:37:33.039 Great job, great job. 00:37:35.440 --> 00:37:37.199 Discipleship pathway. 00:37:38.239 --> 00:37:46.480 Come to know Jesus, grow as a disciple of Jesus, serve in the name of Jesus, share the love of Jesus. 00:37:47.360 --> 00:37:50.400 The speed of God is the speed of love. 00:37:52.719 --> 00:37:55.039 Three mile an hour walk. 00:37:55.679 --> 00:37:57.519 What's your next step? 00:37:59.280 --> 00:38:02.480 Maybe it's a step into following Jesus. 00:38:02.800 --> 00:38:05.199 You're searching, you're questioning. 00:38:05.760 --> 00:38:12.639 Maybe you've wandered away from the faith and you're trying to wander back and you want to go to Alpha. 00:38:12.800 --> 00:38:14.800 Maybe it's a step into groups. 00:38:21.679 --> 00:38:23.440 A new command I give you. 00:38:24.639 --> 00:38:25.840 Love one another. 00:38:28.400 --> 00:38:32.079 As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 00:38:32.400 --> 00:38:39.119 By this, everyone will know you are my disciples if you love one another. 00:38:40.719 --> 00:39:01.599 Oh God, I ask for us, your local body, your community of called-out ones, that you would make us a community that is just known for how we love. 00:39:05.199 --> 00:39:16.239 A community of tons of small groups like Shanus, where they're gathering together, praying, supporting, serving, uplifting, encouraging, growing closer. 00:39:16.639 --> 00:39:19.199 Where the church is just being the church. 00:39:23.599 --> 00:39:26.000 God, we don't want to go through the motions. 00:39:26.159 --> 00:39:31.360 Forgive us where we just turn this into a thing that we do on a Sunday when there's so much more. 00:39:38.320 --> 00:39:44.159 So we ask in this moment, would you overwhelm us with your love? 00:39:47.679 --> 00:39:53.280 That we might be your people of love to a hurting and broken world. 00:39:54.320 --> 00:39:55.840 In Jesus' name. 00:39:58.559 --> 00:40:00.880 We hope you are blessed by this message. 00:40:01.039 --> 00:40:05.519 Please subscribe to our podcast for access to every episode as they're uploaded. 00:40:05.679 --> 00:40:07.760 And hey, we'd love to connect with you. 00:40:07.920 --> 00:40:13.840 Take a next step by filling out our virtual connection card at awakeningchurch.com slash card.