WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:07.440 I I I want us to pause before the sermon and just pray for the foresters for Doug and Megan and Charlotte and Jack and Hayes. 00:00:07.599 --> 00:00:08.880 Let's pray together. 00:00:18.399 --> 00:00:22.239 God, today is a sad and sacred day. 00:00:24.559 --> 00:00:29.359 What a privilege for us to have brothers in our church. 00:00:33.119 --> 00:00:37.359 Thank you for using able to walk with him. 00:00:39.200 --> 00:00:43.840 To learn from him what it means to suffer well. 00:00:44.640 --> 00:00:48.000 To be a light and darkness, to be loving. 00:00:51.520 --> 00:00:53.600 What an easy child to love. 00:00:54.960 --> 00:00:56.479 And we're grateful. 00:00:56.719 --> 00:00:59.759 And yet our hearts are our hearts are broken. 00:01:00.479 --> 00:01:02.880 Our hearts are broken for our loss. 00:01:03.119 --> 00:01:11.439 And our hearts are broken for two parents and three kids who lost a sweet member of their family. 00:01:12.239 --> 00:01:16.799 And so we pray that your Holy Spirit would comfort. 00:01:17.200 --> 00:01:18.719 You are the comforter. 00:01:18.959 --> 00:01:21.599 You are the peace that passes understanding. 00:01:21.840 --> 00:01:31.519 In the midst of their sadness, grief, anger, doubt, confusion, lamenting, God, would you be the ground that they stand on? 00:01:35.359 --> 00:01:37.920 God, we know you as Redeemer. 00:01:38.480 --> 00:01:41.599 And we thank you that you are the restorer. 00:01:41.920 --> 00:01:43.280 Pray this in Jesus' name. 00:01:43.599 --> 00:01:44.239 Amen. 00:01:46.480 --> 00:01:50.159 This morning we're going to continue our study through Acts chapter 17. 00:01:50.239 --> 00:01:54.079 This is the first church growing, making its way. 00:01:54.400 --> 00:01:58.640 The message of Jesus is finding people, not where they should be. 00:01:58.879 --> 00:01:59.439 Thank you. 00:01:59.599 --> 00:02:03.599 We need that, but where we are, that's good news for us as well. 00:02:04.000 --> 00:02:05.599 Paul's in Athens at this point. 00:02:05.760 --> 00:02:08.479 Athens at this time was an intellectual center. 00:02:08.560 --> 00:02:12.000 It's full of religious pluralism, but full of philosophy and thought. 00:02:12.080 --> 00:02:17.199 And so Paul begins to look around and he sees idols all over the place, different worship idols. 00:02:17.280 --> 00:02:18.960 And this greatly distresses him. 00:02:19.039 --> 00:02:20.400 He's very concerned about this. 00:02:20.479 --> 00:02:23.919 And so he begins to talk to people and he begins to teach. 00:02:24.159 --> 00:02:26.080 Why do they have these idols? 00:02:26.240 --> 00:02:28.400 What does this mean for them? 00:02:29.599 --> 00:02:33.120 What and who are we truly as people? 00:02:34.400 --> 00:02:47.120 So Acts 17, starting verse 22, so Paul, standing in the midst of the Arapochus, forgive me, said, Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. 00:02:47.360 --> 00:02:55.039 For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription to the unknown God. 00:02:55.840 --> 00:03:00.159 What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. 00:03:00.960 --> 00:03:04.719 So point number one is we make sense of Acts chapter 17. 00:03:05.120 --> 00:03:09.520 And isn't it amazing, even before I read the point, isn't it amazing how Paul addresses them? 00:03:09.840 --> 00:03:12.159 Like it's it's very kind of respectful. 00:03:12.319 --> 00:03:14.159 Like he has a respectful tone. 00:03:14.240 --> 00:03:18.560 He engages their culture, he doesn't just belittle them, he he finds them where they're at. 00:03:18.719 --> 00:03:25.439 Point number one is this our searching reveals our deep need of our heavenly father. 00:03:26.560 --> 00:03:29.759 So if you're on a search, you're on a search for a reason. 00:03:31.280 --> 00:03:33.759 Our searching reveals our deep need of a heavenly father. 00:03:33.919 --> 00:03:39.039 A couple weeks ago, I went to leave the house, just like you, you know the rhythm when you go to leave your house. 00:03:39.120 --> 00:03:42.960 I'm like, wallet, keys, phone, right? 00:03:43.039 --> 00:03:43.439 You know that? 00:03:44.240 --> 00:03:46.319 I mean everybody does that, you know, kind of do this all day. 00:03:46.479 --> 00:03:47.680 And then sunglasses. 00:03:47.840 --> 00:03:49.360 And so I did boom, boom, three. 00:03:49.439 --> 00:03:53.039 I had you know, three for three, and then I was like, oh no, where are my sunglasses? 00:03:53.360 --> 00:03:58.400 Uh I was like, okay, in the closet on the shelf, went and shack, no, bathroom on the counter, no. 00:03:58.800 --> 00:04:00.560 An inn table, nice stand. 00:04:01.199 --> 00:04:03.680 You know, that'll set me off. 00:04:03.840 --> 00:04:04.240 Just that. 00:04:04.319 --> 00:04:07.199 I don't need much more to set me off in my day if I can't find my sunglasses. 00:04:07.280 --> 00:04:08.240 I need my sunglasses. 00:04:08.319 --> 00:04:11.360 Like I'm gonna be squinty and I'm squinty, I'm gonna get a headache. 00:04:11.439 --> 00:04:14.000 Like the whole day is just the whole day is rubbish. 00:04:14.080 --> 00:04:15.199 It's awful, right? 00:04:15.520 --> 00:04:17.680 The world is ended, is basically what I'm saying. 00:04:17.759 --> 00:04:22.319 Just all because this one little thing about my sunglasses, I become a very difficult and frantic person. 00:04:22.639 --> 00:04:24.000 Uh so I called my wife. 00:04:24.160 --> 00:04:26.480 I called, Chris, hey, have you seen my sunglasses? 00:04:26.639 --> 00:04:27.360 No, I hadn't seen them. 00:04:27.439 --> 00:04:28.639 Are you are you sure you hadn't seen them? 00:04:28.720 --> 00:04:29.120 Have you seen it? 00:04:29.279 --> 00:04:30.879 You know, like I'm pretty sure you probably moved it. 00:04:31.040 --> 00:04:31.839 I'm pretty sure you moved it. 00:04:32.000 --> 00:04:32.800 You're probably the one who moved. 00:04:33.279 --> 00:04:33.839 Probably you. 00:04:33.920 --> 00:04:35.040 And she's no, I didn't move. 00:04:35.120 --> 00:04:37.360 And I'm like, well, the girls move them because they always move my stuff. 00:04:37.439 --> 00:04:40.639 You know, then my girls always move my stuff, my stuff should stay where it's at. 00:04:41.519 --> 00:04:46.240 You know, and about then, in that kind of frantic, I just kind of do like something, yeah. 00:04:46.319 --> 00:04:47.839 I kind of scratch my head, right? 00:04:49.120 --> 00:04:49.680 Yeah. 00:04:49.920 --> 00:04:50.319 Right. 00:04:50.800 --> 00:04:51.519 That's where they're at. 00:04:51.600 --> 00:04:54.079 Like they're sitting right on top of my head. 00:04:54.319 --> 00:04:55.920 After all that, you know. 00:04:57.199 --> 00:05:05.519 We can spend our entire lives on a nagging, exhausting, frantic search like that right there. 00:05:06.879 --> 00:05:14.959 Our hearts are searching to solve an aching in our hearts for something that's just waiting so close to you. 00:05:16.399 --> 00:05:19.920 We want to be fulfilled, approved, loved, meaningful, forgiven, righteous. 00:05:20.000 --> 00:05:23.759 And this is why the Athenians created these worship idols. 00:05:24.480 --> 00:05:35.439 It's why our culture, why we create and love money and prestige and approval, somebody's approval, achievement, sex, power. 00:05:36.399 --> 00:05:40.319 Maybe then, maybe then the aching will stop. 00:05:41.279 --> 00:05:43.040 Here's what Paul says, verse 24. 00:05:43.199 --> 00:05:56.160 Then God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. 00:05:56.399 --> 00:05:59.920 So a real proclamation is God as creator, one God as creator. 00:06:00.000 --> 00:06:00.720 Verse 26. 00:06:00.879 --> 00:06:17.279 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. 00:06:17.920 --> 00:06:21.920 Yet he is actually not far from each one of us. 00:06:22.879 --> 00:06:27.120 For in him we live and move and have our being. 00:06:27.439 --> 00:06:33.120 As even some of your own poets have said, for we are indeed his offspring. 00:06:34.000 --> 00:06:34.879 See how Paul does it? 00:06:35.040 --> 00:06:36.160 Isn't that clever how Paul does it? 00:06:36.240 --> 00:06:37.759 He's like, you've been saying this. 00:06:37.920 --> 00:06:41.600 Like you've been saying, there's a reason that even your own poets have been saying this. 00:06:42.319 --> 00:06:46.720 Point number two, wonderfully we are creatures before a creator. 00:06:47.040 --> 00:06:49.680 Wonderfully, that is our role. 00:06:50.319 --> 00:06:51.600 Creaturehood. 00:06:51.839 --> 00:06:55.279 So you are not a mistake, even though it can feel that way. 00:06:55.519 --> 00:07:01.279 You are not a machine just here to produce, work in your job or for God. 00:07:01.360 --> 00:07:02.240 You're not a machine. 00:07:02.399 --> 00:07:04.160 It can feel like that as times. 00:07:04.959 --> 00:07:07.040 You were made as God's creation. 00:07:07.920 --> 00:07:10.160 To be loved by him and to love him. 00:07:10.879 --> 00:07:15.519 And this creator, as the creator, is not bound by his creation. 00:07:15.680 --> 00:07:19.279 God is not bound by us and what we say or what we make of him. 00:07:19.759 --> 00:07:21.600 We are actually bound to him. 00:07:22.879 --> 00:07:25.920 We are creatures of the creator. 00:07:26.079 --> 00:07:30.240 That is a beginning point of our role, our position as people. 00:07:31.120 --> 00:07:41.199 And until we settle there, in that sort of humble submission, we're simply searching and bouncing and exhausting ourselves amongst idols. 00:07:41.600 --> 00:07:44.319 A few months ago, my youngest made this craft. 00:07:44.480 --> 00:07:46.160 I think it was for my wife, not for me. 00:07:46.240 --> 00:07:46.959 I'm not positive. 00:07:47.199 --> 00:07:48.560 I'm pretty sure it was Valentine's Day. 00:07:48.800 --> 00:07:50.639 And my youngest made this for Christy. 00:07:50.720 --> 00:07:52.560 So cute little craft, right? 00:07:52.639 --> 00:07:54.240 Maybe you've received something like this. 00:07:54.399 --> 00:07:57.519 You know, at some point, some kid made something cute for you. 00:07:57.920 --> 00:08:00.079 And that creation can be given away, right? 00:08:00.160 --> 00:08:05.120 It can be given away, but that creation can never stop being my child's creation. 00:08:05.199 --> 00:08:07.439 It can never stop being Greta's creation. 00:08:07.839 --> 00:08:11.920 A creation can't unbecome a creation. 00:08:13.120 --> 00:08:14.879 It's just what it is. 00:08:15.680 --> 00:08:18.240 But man, we love to try, don't we? 00:08:19.519 --> 00:08:24.560 We love to try not being dependent on God, not needing to trust God. 00:08:24.720 --> 00:08:30.399 Well, that would be us not being creatures before Creator. 00:08:32.480 --> 00:08:34.080 Acts 17, verse 29. 00:08:34.240 --> 00:08:37.279 Being then God's offspring, there's our position. 00:08:37.440 --> 00:08:39.679 Being then God's offspring, we're his children. 00:08:39.840 --> 00:08:47.200 We ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. 00:08:47.759 --> 00:09:00.799 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed. 00:09:01.200 --> 00:09:06.399 And of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead. 00:09:06.639 --> 00:09:12.159 Point number three is this our assurance is rooted in the righteousness of one man. 00:09:14.080 --> 00:09:24.080 So our assurance for the relationship with God, our assurance of life after death, our assurance of being forgiven or righteous is not based on our work, but God's work for us, the one man. 00:09:24.240 --> 00:09:26.080 And that ain't you, that ain't me. 00:09:26.399 --> 00:09:27.360 Praise God. 00:09:27.919 --> 00:09:29.039 It's Christ Jesus. 00:09:29.200 --> 00:09:32.559 Now remember two weeks ago we talked about, remember the receipt at Costco? 00:09:32.639 --> 00:09:33.120 Do you remember that? 00:09:33.440 --> 00:09:35.519 Maybe you thought about it when you went to check out at Costco. 00:09:35.600 --> 00:09:37.600 It happened to me again last week. 00:09:37.759 --> 00:09:46.399 I just bought something at the pharmacy, one a big shopping trip, but I bought something at the pharmacy, and so you know, the staple, the receipt to the bag there, you gotta hold the bag up there when you get to the end. 00:09:46.480 --> 00:09:51.360 And so I'd make the walk out, past the hot dogs, HVAC men, walk on down. 00:09:51.600 --> 00:09:57.519 The line was backing up, which at first you're kind of frustrated, but then you get to judge everybody's stuff. 00:09:57.759 --> 00:09:58.320 Right? 00:09:58.559 --> 00:10:01.679 You know, some of the guy next to me had like a ton of Nutella. 00:10:01.919 --> 00:10:03.759 It was awkward, it got awkward, it was awkward. 00:10:03.840 --> 00:10:05.200 It's like, that's a lot. 00:10:06.799 --> 00:10:13.120 I was ho was like, well, maybe he owns a like a crepe store or something, because otherwise, that's just a lot of Nutella. 00:10:15.039 --> 00:10:16.799 So make our way up. 00:10:17.360 --> 00:10:21.840 Remember two weeks ago we says, we have no anxiety. 00:10:22.720 --> 00:10:25.120 And the people are there to make sure nobody steals, right? 00:10:25.200 --> 00:10:25.440 Like that. 00:10:25.519 --> 00:10:26.159 That's why they're there. 00:10:26.240 --> 00:10:28.399 They're gonna check the receipt, draw the line. 00:10:28.559 --> 00:10:28.799 Right? 00:10:28.879 --> 00:10:30.799 So, but no anxiety in that line. 00:10:30.879 --> 00:10:36.000 And no anxiety because it's been paid for, and we have a receipt. 00:10:36.399 --> 00:10:37.919 We have a receipt, right? 00:10:38.080 --> 00:10:46.720 And what we said is, and it's again here, this is what Paul is saying to these people, at the end of verse 31, and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead. 00:10:46.879 --> 00:10:50.320 We have assurance because we have a receipt in resurrection. 00:10:51.279 --> 00:10:56.639 Our lives can be frantic, but our hearts are assured in Jesus. 00:10:57.039 --> 00:10:59.519 And God made this objective for us in history. 00:10:59.679 --> 00:11:01.840 So it's not kind of abstract and up in the air. 00:11:02.000 --> 00:11:06.960 Now we can be very abstract up in the air, but Christ's work is not. 00:11:08.559 --> 00:11:14.159 He fixed on a day that he's gonna judge the world by the righteousness of one man. 00:11:14.720 --> 00:11:27.519 So that final word upon you is not your record, merit, resume, performance, but the word of grace imputed the work of Jesus on top of you through the Holy Spirit. 00:11:27.679 --> 00:11:32.080 He cannot love you anymore or any less because he loves you like he loves Jesus. 00:11:32.480 --> 00:11:34.240 Acts 17, verse 32. 00:11:34.399 --> 00:11:38.399 Now, when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, so Paul's proclaiming this and teaching this. 00:11:38.559 --> 00:11:42.159 Now, when they heard it, some mocked. 00:11:42.879 --> 00:11:45.679 But others said, Well, we will hear you again about this. 00:11:45.919 --> 00:11:49.919 So Paul went out from their midst, but some men joined him and believed. 00:11:50.240 --> 00:12:02.159 Well, that's quite a whirlwind if you're the one like preaching or sharing, because you're sharing, and like some people mocked, some people listened, some people walked away and didn't believe, some people joined you and did believe. 00:12:02.320 --> 00:12:02.559 Right? 00:12:02.720 --> 00:12:07.039 This is the great fear of like telling somebody how Jesus changed your life, right? 00:12:07.200 --> 00:12:18.960 Because you shared with somebody one time how Jesus changed your life, you're really pouring your heart out, and she just, you know, she responded how some new sweater or her new Lululemon pants they really changed her life. 00:12:19.120 --> 00:12:24.159 You're like, that's not really what I was going for in this conversation, but that's where it was. 00:12:24.240 --> 00:12:25.600 You feel very rejected. 00:12:26.799 --> 00:12:28.080 So, what do we make of that? 00:12:28.159 --> 00:12:34.399 How do we walk away from sharing, being evangelistic? 00:12:36.000 --> 00:12:39.200 Some mock, some listen, some walk away, some accept. 00:12:39.360 --> 00:12:40.879 Whew, that's a lot. 00:12:41.919 --> 00:12:43.120 Point number four. 00:12:44.000 --> 00:12:49.759 The Holy Spirit, not our own efforts, empowers us to repentance and faith. 00:12:50.000 --> 00:12:51.120 Well, that's how. 00:12:51.440 --> 00:12:52.639 It's not all on you. 00:12:52.720 --> 00:12:56.320 In the good, it's not it's not all it's not actually on you at all. 00:12:57.200 --> 00:12:58.639 We are vessels. 00:12:59.039 --> 00:13:06.080 And so therefore, we share and talk and preach and teach and whatever role, and the Holy Spirit has to do work. 00:13:07.840 --> 00:13:10.559 I love the Seinfeld episode with the junior mint. 00:13:10.720 --> 00:13:12.000 You remember the junior mint? 00:13:12.639 --> 00:13:14.240 Right, I'll set it up for you. 00:13:14.399 --> 00:13:18.799 Elaine's ex-boyfriend Roy, he's he's he's having surgery. 00:13:18.879 --> 00:13:28.000 And Jerry and Kramer, they work their way into going to watch the surgery with medical students, like up in the gallery of the medical students, of watching this surgery. 00:13:28.080 --> 00:13:31.840 So we're gonna watch this clip and make sense of how theological this is. 00:13:32.320 --> 00:13:38.000 Now we'll open the peritoneal cavity, exposing the body's internal organs. 00:13:38.399 --> 00:13:39.919 Nurse retractor. 00:13:49.279 --> 00:13:50.639 What are you eating? 00:13:51.039 --> 00:13:51.600 Junior. 00:13:55.600 --> 00:14:10.080 I can't see what I'm doing. 00:14:15.120 --> 00:14:16.159 Where'd you get those? 00:14:17.919 --> 00:14:21.120 You want no I don't want no good. 00:14:21.519 --> 00:14:22.080 I don't want it. 00:14:22.159 --> 00:14:22.720 Just take one. 00:14:23.039 --> 00:14:24.000 No, stop crazy. 00:14:44.000 --> 00:14:49.200 Okay, so here's what happens is they slow Roy back up, the junior minute, right inside. 00:14:49.440 --> 00:14:51.519 Roy is not recovering well. 00:14:51.679 --> 00:14:52.720 Um he's dying. 00:14:52.960 --> 00:14:55.279 Jerry and Kramer have this ethical dilemma. 00:14:55.440 --> 00:15:02.480 Should they tell that he's dying, and this, you know, George bought some art, and George wants his art to the guy to die, so his art will appreciate. 00:15:02.559 --> 00:15:04.320 You know, it's a very compassionate show we have here. 00:15:04.480 --> 00:15:05.440 So this is the dilemma going. 00:15:05.679 --> 00:15:08.080 And then suddenly the guy, Roy, starts he starts feeling better. 00:15:08.159 --> 00:15:09.360 He starts to recover. 00:15:09.759 --> 00:15:11.360 And then the doctor says this. 00:15:11.519 --> 00:15:14.480 This is the incredibly theological quote for us this morning. 00:15:14.639 --> 00:15:23.120 The doctor says this, you know, I don't want to totally discount the emotional element in your recovery, but I think there were other factors at play here. 00:15:23.279 --> 00:15:30.159 I have no medical evidence to back me up, but something happened during the operation that staved off that infection. 00:15:30.399 --> 00:15:31.919 Something beyond science. 00:15:32.080 --> 00:15:34.559 Something, perhaps, from above. 00:15:38.399 --> 00:15:42.639 Now, I actually think about that sometimes, like when I'm sitting over there. 00:15:42.799 --> 00:15:44.000 I mean, it's it's odd, right? 00:15:44.080 --> 00:15:44.639 It's a little silly. 00:15:44.720 --> 00:15:45.679 It kind of settles me down. 00:15:45.759 --> 00:15:49.200 But it it's basically like something else has to happen. 00:15:49.360 --> 00:15:52.960 Like something else here has to happen other than just this. 00:15:53.120 --> 00:15:58.879 Like, there has to be what we would say, the Holy Spirit has to participate. 00:15:59.120 --> 00:16:01.200 Something else has to happen. 00:16:01.519 --> 00:16:03.200 This actually reminds me of Dr. 00:16:03.279 --> 00:16:05.759 Simeon Zall's article, The Cure of Souls. 00:16:06.000 --> 00:16:08.960 Zall's a theology professor at Cambridge. 00:16:09.440 --> 00:16:12.559 And he asked the question, what actually changes a person? 00:16:13.200 --> 00:16:19.919 So he summarizes kind of his view of like summarizing theories of change in churches and in our lives. 00:16:20.080 --> 00:16:21.120 Theories of change. 00:16:21.279 --> 00:16:23.519 What actually changes us? 00:16:23.840 --> 00:16:28.080 So he has these different theories of change, and maybe you'll recognize some of them, maybe experience some of them. 00:16:28.240 --> 00:16:33.200 Theory of change, number one, the sacramental participation approach. 00:16:33.360 --> 00:16:37.360 So this says, this is all according to Zoll, I'm just kind of summarizing his article. 00:16:37.440 --> 00:16:45.679 Uh he says this, though the through the sacraments, as to become more sanctified, take the sacraments to be more sanctified. 00:16:45.759 --> 00:16:56.159 So take communion, be baptized, take communion, keep taking communion, because through communion you actually become more moral, more godly, more able to change. 00:16:56.240 --> 00:17:03.519 So we're sinners in need of God's grace, and the sacrament doesn't just symbolize something, it actually changes you. 00:17:03.679 --> 00:17:05.440 Okay, that's theory of change number one. 00:17:05.519 --> 00:17:06.480 Maybe even around that. 00:17:06.640 --> 00:17:10.960 Number two, theory of change number two, the Christian information approach. 00:17:11.200 --> 00:17:17.359 So this says to change and thrive, we need increasing amounts of information about the Bible. 00:17:17.519 --> 00:17:19.920 A lot of us would say, yeah, I actually kind of like that. 00:17:20.160 --> 00:17:21.119 I like that segment. 00:17:21.279 --> 00:17:23.920 The Bible contains instructions for life. 00:17:24.160 --> 00:17:27.039 So get to know the instructions on godly living. 00:17:27.599 --> 00:17:30.240 And here's where it gets a little, eh, we're kind of like, eh. 00:17:30.799 --> 00:17:32.240 So people just need to know more. 00:17:32.319 --> 00:17:40.240 Because if they know more, if they get better advice than the Bible, they will change because they only need to know so that they can try harder. 00:17:40.480 --> 00:17:43.279 Just get the information and try harder. 00:17:43.920 --> 00:17:49.920 Theory of change number three the Pentecostal and charismatic approach. 00:17:50.799 --> 00:17:54.160 To change and to thrive, we need to be emotionally aroused. 00:17:54.240 --> 00:17:58.079 We need to have experiences, religious experiences. 00:17:58.720 --> 00:18:03.440 Maybe at retreats, maybe at camps, maybe in church, just over and over and over again. 00:18:03.599 --> 00:18:10.799 Because the next experience is more important than the last, and the next experience is what's going to get you to the next experience as you're going to move from experience to experience. 00:18:11.039 --> 00:18:15.599 Because through these experiences is how we know God and how we change. 00:18:15.680 --> 00:18:21.440 So Zaul asks, what is your theory of change? 00:18:21.759 --> 00:18:23.440 What's your theory of change? 00:18:23.680 --> 00:18:28.480 What have been your experiences of how change is sort of like implemented in your life? 00:18:28.720 --> 00:18:33.119 And then he just says, just pause and go like, is it working? 00:18:33.440 --> 00:18:34.960 Does it work long term? 00:18:36.079 --> 00:18:41.359 And then he presents his theory of change, number four, the Augustinian approach. 00:18:41.440 --> 00:18:44.480 And he gets a little academic here, and so I'll summarize a bit. 00:18:44.640 --> 00:18:46.079 He likes this approach. 00:18:46.880 --> 00:18:48.160 I think it's a pretty good approach. 00:18:48.400 --> 00:18:56.240 Fifth century, Augustine of Hippo, he's reflecting on his own conversion, and he's arguing with this new theology called plagianism. 00:18:56.400 --> 00:19:04.160 So plagianism said, God created you with the powerful ability for moral willing that's inside of you. 00:19:04.559 --> 00:19:10.079 And the Bible is a blueprint for life, so use your will to do God's will. 00:19:11.519 --> 00:19:16.079 So their theory of change was read the Bible and then try really hard to do what it says. 00:19:16.240 --> 00:19:17.200 You have it in you. 00:19:17.359 --> 00:19:18.000 You have it. 00:19:18.160 --> 00:19:24.799 But Augustine didn't think that actually lined up too much with the Bible, with the teaching of human nature and sin. 00:19:25.279 --> 00:19:25.519 St. 00:19:25.680 --> 00:19:30.799 Paul says the divine law isn't able to produce the righteousness it calls for. 00:19:31.039 --> 00:19:33.440 We actually need something else. 00:19:33.920 --> 00:19:41.599 And then Jesus in Sermon on the Mount, he keeps driving us not just to wise decision making, but actually to our hearts. 00:19:42.559 --> 00:19:45.519 In other words, you don't have it in you. 00:19:46.400 --> 00:19:49.599 We need something, right, from above. 00:19:50.640 --> 00:19:53.440 We're actually a little bit more of a mess than we originally thought. 00:19:53.519 --> 00:19:58.880 And we're actually pretty good at getting our life together in certain ways, but then in other ways it's still a mess. 00:19:58.960 --> 00:20:05.839 Or we get overall pretty well at keeping our life together, and then we start discovering these motives that are all messed up. 00:20:06.319 --> 00:20:19.359 And in this way, we're just always dependent on the Holy Spirit to meet us, not in our will and effort and strife, but in our nothingness as to change us. 00:20:20.160 --> 00:20:20.799 Our poverty. 00:20:20.960 --> 00:20:24.160 So we bring our nothingness, our poverty, Jesus calls it. 00:20:24.480 --> 00:20:29.279 And we bring that surrender, falling into belovedness, into repentance. 00:20:29.680 --> 00:20:30.799 We fall into it. 00:20:30.880 --> 00:20:34.960 And now there the Holy Spirit begins to change us. 00:20:36.000 --> 00:20:41.599 Zal explains it this way The human will is helped to achieve righteousness in this way. 00:20:41.759 --> 00:20:45.519 Because we're not saying we shouldn't do something or be motivated toward righteousness. 00:20:45.599 --> 00:20:48.559 He's just saying, how is the will, our will, motivated? 00:20:48.640 --> 00:20:49.599 How do we desire it? 00:20:49.680 --> 00:20:50.880 How can we get there? 00:20:51.200 --> 00:21:01.519 Human beings receive the Holy Spirit so that there arises in their minds a delight in and a love for that highest and immutable good thing that is God. 00:21:01.839 --> 00:21:15.519 Even now, while they walk by faith, not yet by sight, by this love given to them like the pledge of a gratuitous gift, they are set afire with the desire to cling to the Creator. 00:21:16.319 --> 00:21:20.400 So the problem is not whether we do spiritual practices. 00:21:20.559 --> 00:21:21.839 We should do spiritual practices. 00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:28.559 Spiritual practices are good, religious experiences are good, reading the Bible, instructions for life, those are good things. 00:21:28.799 --> 00:21:30.240 They're helpful. 00:21:31.119 --> 00:21:35.519 But how does our heart desire to do those things? 00:21:36.799 --> 00:21:41.200 And so once we're talking about desire, we're not talking about willing yourself enough. 00:21:41.359 --> 00:21:47.680 We're talking about the need for a heart to come alive to God's love. 00:21:48.640 --> 00:21:53.920 By giving up, if we think about Acts 17, lesser loves. 00:21:55.839 --> 00:21:57.519 See, we need the one man. 00:21:58.559 --> 00:22:06.799 We need a righteousness from outside of us, from above, given to us freely in the cross and in the resurrection. 00:22:07.119 --> 00:22:09.119 So that we don't have to be performers. 00:22:09.359 --> 00:22:10.880 We don't have to be machines. 00:22:11.599 --> 00:22:13.200 We get to be creatures. 00:22:13.759 --> 00:22:15.200 We get to be children. 00:22:16.640 --> 00:22:21.680 We get to be the beloved of a relentlessly loving Heavenly Father. 00:22:21.920 --> 00:22:23.359 Let's pray together. 00:22:26.319 --> 00:22:34.799 God, I pray this morning as we think about these people in Acts 17, how similar we are of creating lesser loves. 00:22:36.480 --> 00:22:46.240 And yet the only way that we have changed is by coming into a nothingness, a poverty, a need. 00:22:46.640 --> 00:22:48.400 That we are in need of you. 00:22:49.519 --> 00:22:52.240 And we actually only bring our messiness. 00:22:53.039 --> 00:22:58.559 And we are so thankful that your love pursues us, not as we should be, but as we are. 00:22:59.839 --> 00:23:08.240 And God, this morning, what we're crying out for is for your Holy Spirit to set our hearts afire. 00:23:09.039 --> 00:23:23.839 To not just do the spiritual practices, not just take the sacrament, not just learn about the Bible, but to have a heart flamed in a fire for you. 00:23:25.039 --> 00:23:43.519 So that our spiritual practices, our Bible studies and our sacraments would be an overflow of how loved we are, how forgiven, how righteous by the cross and by the resurrection. 00:23:44.160 --> 00:23:50.079 May we root even deeper into the great assurance we have, not by our work, but by your work for us. 00:23:50.240 --> 00:23:52.160 We pray this in Jesus' name. 00:23:52.400 --> 00:23:53.039 Amen.