WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:02.560 Welcome to Christ the Redeemer, Christmas Eve. 00:00:02.640 --> 00:00:03.919 We're excited you're here with us. 00:00:04.080 --> 00:00:10.800 Merry Christmas, whether you're one of our regular folks, uh, or perhaps you're here because you wanted to come to church on Christmas Eve and we love that. 00:00:10.880 --> 00:00:11.599 We love that you're here. 00:00:11.679 --> 00:00:17.039 Maybe you're here through family and you got here and you're happy about that, and we love that you're here. 00:00:17.199 --> 00:00:25.199 Maybe you're here because you were told you had to come to a Christmas Eve service with your family and you're not happy about it, but we're happy you're here, and we're glad you're here. 00:00:25.440 --> 00:00:32.719 For the very least, perhaps hopefully it's a it's an hour of rest in a Christmas season that Christmas seasons in general can feel sort of hectic. 00:00:32.799 --> 00:00:34.880 So uh welcome, glad you're here. 00:00:35.200 --> 00:00:39.759 So, two weeks ago, a incredible great event happened. 00:00:39.920 --> 00:00:42.320 Something happened in history. 00:00:42.479 --> 00:00:47.439 This happened, and I actually read about it online on CBS Sports Online. 00:00:47.520 --> 00:00:48.799 So this happened in history. 00:00:48.960 --> 00:00:54.399 It was documented for us to know about, and so I actually pulled this quote directly from CBS Sports Online. 00:00:54.640 --> 00:01:11.439 Here's the beginning of the quote quotation marks beginning number 18 Marietta High School won its first state title in 52 years, beating number nine Lounge 179 to capture the 7A state championship. 00:01:11.760 --> 00:01:12.400 Amen. 00:01:15.359 --> 00:01:18.159 It didn't say amen in the article, but but amen. 00:01:18.400 --> 00:01:27.519 And by the way, a friend of mine said that's the only time we've heard our church applaud is for football, not for Jesus or anything, but you know, it's okay. 00:01:27.680 --> 00:01:30.079 Hey, me too, me too, I'm with you. 00:01:30.319 --> 00:01:33.040 So, news, that was news, right? 00:01:33.519 --> 00:01:36.000 I read you news, I read you something that happened. 00:01:36.400 --> 00:01:42.000 It was already accomplished, and probably, I don't know if there's a football player in here, but probably you didn't accomplish it. 00:01:42.159 --> 00:01:44.239 Probably it was accomplished by somebody else. 00:01:44.560 --> 00:01:51.280 The team accomplished it, and this was good news, and news is something that is accomplished outside of us. 00:01:51.680 --> 00:01:54.159 And it is incredible because it's good news. 00:01:54.319 --> 00:01:57.760 Nothing about advice, nothing that I read you about that news was advice. 00:01:57.840 --> 00:01:59.040 It was just news. 00:01:59.280 --> 00:02:00.560 Good news. 00:02:00.719 --> 00:02:04.319 And so when we come to Luke 2, I'll reread a few of the things that Courtney read. 00:02:04.480 --> 00:02:09.759 Luke 2, verses 8 through 11, give us the context here, and we're gonna look at verses 10 and 11. 00:02:09.919 --> 00:02:21.919 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field keeping watch over their flock by night, and an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 00:02:22.240 --> 00:02:40.240 And the angel said, Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people, for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 00:02:40.719 --> 00:02:42.719 So I was at that state championship game. 00:02:42.879 --> 00:02:59.120 I went with my oldest daughter and some of her friends, and then some of their parents, and we had a group, and we went down there, and we got seats on about the 50-yard line, about 20 rows up, and as soon as I got into my seat, I noticed the the gentleman in front of me, he was the size of a dump truck. 00:02:59.280 --> 00:03:06.879 I mean, this guy was huge, I mean, not overweight, huge, just he was he was six men, he was huge, and I'm I'm not big. 00:03:07.039 --> 00:03:08.719 So he was taking up about two seats. 00:03:08.879 --> 00:03:18.319 I take up about a third of a seat, and he was just a massive, massive man, and it didn't take long to figure out that he had a son that played football on the team. 00:03:18.400 --> 00:03:21.280 And so every time that this, and the son's good, by the way. 00:03:21.360 --> 00:03:24.960 I mean, this this kid is an incredible football player. 00:03:25.120 --> 00:03:28.240 He was playing tight end, and then they'd send him out to wide receiver. 00:03:28.319 --> 00:03:35.360 He was playing defensive end at one point, and then one point, he was playing safety, the same, the same kid playing defensive end is playing safety. 00:03:35.759 --> 00:03:37.360 I mean, he's unbelievable. 00:03:37.520 --> 00:03:48.159 Every time he makes a great play, which is about every other play, dad would be like, high five circle, boom, high five, that's me, I'm behind him, high five up to me, high five, high five. 00:03:48.240 --> 00:03:50.719 My hand's still hurting in the back because he's so big. 00:03:50.800 --> 00:03:53.520 And I'm in the high five circle with the dad. 00:03:53.759 --> 00:03:54.719 Every great play. 00:03:54.879 --> 00:03:58.719 We're high fiving, we're buddies, and this kid is performing. 00:03:58.800 --> 00:04:02.639 He's great play, great play, acrobatic catch, acrobatic catch. 00:04:02.719 --> 00:04:16.879 And every time that he got sent out to wide receiver from tight end, your tight end's closer into the line, but every once in a while he'd run out to wide receiver, and then the dad would see the defensive formation, and the dad would go, Oh no, oh no, one-on-one, one on one, and he'd start a little dance. 00:04:17.040 --> 00:04:24.000 One on one, one on one, as he'd see it, and they'd just throw it up and he'd make a catch or whatever. 00:04:24.240 --> 00:04:29.600 And just when you think, this kid is like Jesus playing football, he's so perfect. 00:04:29.680 --> 00:04:31.199 I mean, you're just starting to think this. 00:04:31.279 --> 00:04:43.439 There's just, there's just this one play, just one, like maybe all season, I don't know, but definitely that game, and he was open, he was in the end zone, and uh nobody's around him. 00:04:43.680 --> 00:04:48.000 The ball's a little low, but it's not but he just took his eye off of it and he dropped it. 00:04:48.160 --> 00:04:52.560 You know, the the whole crowd's oh, you know, the crowd like moans, oh, you know. 00:04:52.800 --> 00:05:04.319 But I was watching the dad, his dad was right in front of me, and I just watched him, and and the dad, not a word of disappointment came out of his mouth. 00:05:05.279 --> 00:05:06.399 Not a word. 00:05:07.759 --> 00:05:10.879 I mean, not a hesitation at all game. 00:05:10.959 --> 00:05:14.399 He was just delighting in his son. 00:05:15.680 --> 00:05:19.199 I mean, even when he had the drop, he's just delighting in his son. 00:05:19.439 --> 00:05:23.360 What an image to behold for us. 00:05:24.160 --> 00:05:33.680 That we have a heavenly father that does not exist and demand upon us, but exists that delights in us and delights in our hearts. 00:05:33.839 --> 00:05:35.199 This is what Christmas is. 00:05:35.360 --> 00:05:41.920 This is what Christmas shows us that God desires to delight in you, have a loving relationship with you. 00:05:42.079 --> 00:05:49.040 This is why Jesus comes to earth to take on the penalty of our sin, so we're in loving relationship with God. 00:05:49.120 --> 00:05:50.240 And it's secure. 00:05:50.480 --> 00:05:51.279 It's good news. 00:05:51.360 --> 00:05:54.240 That's why it's good news because it's secure, it's already been won. 00:05:54.959 --> 00:05:56.879 By God Himself, his grace to us. 00:05:56.959 --> 00:05:58.079 Verses 10 and 11. 00:05:58.240 --> 00:06:07.040 Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people, for unto you is born this day in the city of David a savior. 00:06:07.199 --> 00:06:11.279 It's not just a teacher, a rabbi, but a savior, somebody who saves us. 00:06:11.920 --> 00:06:13.199 Who is Christ the Lord. 00:06:13.360 --> 00:06:14.720 A couple points to kind of guide us. 00:06:14.879 --> 00:06:22.480 Point number one is this good advice without the good news is a bad way to live. 00:06:23.600 --> 00:06:32.079 The beginning of the Christian faith, this is the beginning here of Christian faith, was such good news they called it gospel, which means good news. 00:06:32.240 --> 00:06:33.360 That's how they described it. 00:06:33.439 --> 00:06:34.319 That's what they called it. 00:06:34.399 --> 00:06:35.439 They just called it good news. 00:06:35.600 --> 00:06:37.759 Not good advice, they called it good news. 00:06:38.079 --> 00:06:39.279 And you've heard good news. 00:06:39.360 --> 00:06:40.000 I read good news. 00:06:40.079 --> 00:06:41.279 Marietta won, good news. 00:06:41.439 --> 00:06:42.639 We clapped, didn't we? 00:06:42.879 --> 00:06:43.519 We clapped. 00:06:43.680 --> 00:06:45.040 What great news. 00:06:45.279 --> 00:06:46.959 Maybe you've heard some good news this year. 00:06:47.120 --> 00:06:56.560 Maybe you got a job, your child got a job, you, you know, the boy likes you, the girl likes you, you passed the class, your kid passed the class, you got the bonus, your company sold, right? 00:06:56.639 --> 00:07:04.800 And you heard the news when it came, you heard the news, and just by the nature of good news, great joy rises up. 00:07:05.759 --> 00:07:11.759 So we have to ask, and especially if you don't go to church a lot, you already know this question. 00:07:12.639 --> 00:07:21.199 If the Christian faith is such good news that produces great joy, then how come you were in that church? 00:07:21.519 --> 00:07:25.040 Or you read that book, or you knew that Christian? 00:07:25.519 --> 00:07:27.439 It didn't feel like good news. 00:07:28.160 --> 00:07:29.920 It didn't feel like great joy. 00:07:30.240 --> 00:07:38.160 It just felt like judgment and condemnation and advice and advice and advice and advice and advice. 00:07:38.720 --> 00:07:43.360 Maybe it just felt like more rules and more rules, or maybe it just felt like who you should be against. 00:07:43.600 --> 00:07:50.480 Rather than good news for all people, peace for all mankind, great joy for your heart. 00:07:51.199 --> 00:07:55.120 And this is where this principle, this truth, can change our lives. 00:07:55.360 --> 00:07:59.439 Good advice without the good news is a bad way to live. 00:07:59.839 --> 00:08:07.519 Let me show it to you in Philippians chapter 2, because we see this principle, this truth working itself out in how the New Testament is actually written. 00:08:07.680 --> 00:08:18.800 So we're gonna work our way to this passage in Philippians 2, not to necessarily look at like what's in the passage, we'll see that, but how structurally Paul writes to us, how the apostle Paul writes to us. 00:08:20.319 --> 00:08:21.759 Philippians 2, verse 1. 00:08:21.920 --> 00:08:31.199 So if there's any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the spirit, I mean, this is all good news. 00:08:31.360 --> 00:08:39.360 I mean, Paul's kind of rhetorically saying, like, hey, if you're in Christ, you have comfort from unconditional love. 00:08:40.080 --> 00:08:42.320 God loves you, delights in you in this way. 00:08:42.480 --> 00:08:48.480 You have participation in the spirit, if you have any affection and sympathy, so all that's good news, right? 00:08:48.720 --> 00:08:50.000 You do have this. 00:08:50.240 --> 00:08:55.759 This is given to you, this is gospel, this is news, this is proclaimed to you. 00:08:55.919 --> 00:08:58.000 It's outside of you and given to you. 00:08:58.159 --> 00:09:00.639 You don't have to merit it, you don't have to secure it. 00:09:00.879 --> 00:09:02.799 It's yours in Jesus. 00:09:03.919 --> 00:09:09.919 Verse 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 00:09:10.080 --> 00:09:16.159 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 00:09:16.320 --> 00:09:19.919 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 00:09:20.080 --> 00:09:22.080 Okay, good advice. 00:09:22.320 --> 00:09:22.559 Right? 00:09:22.720 --> 00:09:23.519 So we have good news. 00:09:23.600 --> 00:09:25.759 Now we have good advice, and this is good advice. 00:09:25.919 --> 00:09:28.159 I mean, do nothing out of selfish ambition. 00:09:28.639 --> 00:09:30.879 Like consider others better than yourself. 00:09:31.039 --> 00:09:32.639 This is really, really good advice. 00:09:32.879 --> 00:09:36.960 Imagine how great your family would work, even tonight at Christmas dinner. 00:09:37.120 --> 00:09:38.639 Imagine how great your family would work. 00:09:38.720 --> 00:09:40.000 It just if these things happen. 00:09:40.240 --> 00:09:44.799 Imagine how great work life would be, or life in your neighborhood. 00:09:45.120 --> 00:09:45.919 Imagine that. 00:09:46.080 --> 00:09:48.240 This is good advice, incredible advice. 00:09:48.480 --> 00:09:49.759 We need that. 00:09:51.519 --> 00:09:58.000 But if this is all we get, the reality of life is we don't live perfectly up to that, do we? 00:09:58.240 --> 00:10:00.559 So we have to have good news. 00:10:01.200 --> 00:10:03.840 And this is where we get this principle that works out. 00:10:04.080 --> 00:10:11.519 Over time, advice without good news is felt as judgment, condemnation, and exhaustion. 00:10:11.679 --> 00:10:16.480 Over time, advice without good news is felt as judgment, condemnation, and exhaustion. 00:10:16.639 --> 00:10:20.720 Now, some of you know this really clearly because you have a parent. 00:10:21.120 --> 00:10:22.960 You don't have to poke them right now, right? 00:10:23.120 --> 00:10:32.559 I mean, this is maybe just great conversation for your Christmas dinner, but your parents have been giving you advice over and up, more advice and more advice and more advice and more advice and more advice. 00:10:32.639 --> 00:10:38.639 And the idea of good news of secure love being poured over you, that has that's not so clear anymore. 00:10:38.799 --> 00:10:40.320 And all you're hearing is advice. 00:10:40.399 --> 00:10:42.080 And what happens over time? 00:10:42.639 --> 00:10:44.480 You just start to feel judged. 00:10:44.720 --> 00:10:52.480 That's what happens if a friend does this to you, a parent does this, if you do it to your child, I mean, that child feels judged, you feel condemned, you feel exhausted. 00:10:53.759 --> 00:10:55.279 So what do you do? 00:10:56.159 --> 00:10:57.600 If this is what's happening to you, right? 00:10:57.840 --> 00:10:59.039 All your feelings advice, right? 00:10:59.519 --> 00:11:00.000 What do you do? 00:11:00.159 --> 00:11:01.759 Maybe you did it with church. 00:11:04.000 --> 00:11:06.080 You start to have relational distance. 00:11:08.159 --> 00:11:12.960 Because advice without grace always breeds relational distance. 00:11:13.600 --> 00:11:15.679 You just go, ah, I don't, I can't be around that. 00:11:15.759 --> 00:11:17.679 I don't know if I want to be around that, I don't know if I should be around that. 00:11:17.759 --> 00:11:18.320 You know, you start. 00:11:18.639 --> 00:11:22.080 And for many of us, even church became this. 00:11:22.559 --> 00:11:26.559 It just became more and more advice without good news, which is what it was to start with. 00:11:26.720 --> 00:11:28.080 Good news, a savior comes to you. 00:11:28.399 --> 00:11:29.360 You're God saves you. 00:11:29.440 --> 00:11:30.320 You don't save yourself. 00:11:30.480 --> 00:11:31.600 Isn't that good news? 00:11:31.919 --> 00:11:35.360 You have to try to forgive yourself or be good enough to get forgiveness or righteousness. 00:11:35.440 --> 00:11:38.320 And these things are given to us in Christ Jesus. 00:11:39.519 --> 00:11:41.519 We have a loving relationship with the Father. 00:11:42.000 --> 00:11:44.240 The Father delights in you. 00:11:45.039 --> 00:11:49.759 Not the better version of you, just like the you, the real you, the one you don't even let other people see. 00:11:49.919 --> 00:11:50.559 That one. 00:11:52.639 --> 00:12:05.759 So Paul gives us good news, he gives us good advice, and then even after the good advice, he swings back around because here's what it is is good advice always comes in the context of the empowerment by good news. 00:12:06.159 --> 00:12:10.639 Verse 5 having this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus. 00:12:10.799 --> 00:12:16.480 This is yours, and it's ours because of the gift of Christ. 00:12:18.159 --> 00:12:23.679 Who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God, a thing to be grasped. 00:12:24.480 --> 00:12:33.200 Here's what God did for us, but unempted himself by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men, and being founded human form. 00:12:33.519 --> 00:12:34.799 Merry Christmas. 00:12:35.279 --> 00:12:41.120 He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 00:12:41.200 --> 00:12:49.120 And there on the cross is where we know our sin is put upon Jesus on the cross, his righteousness is given to us, so we're forever God's beloved. 00:12:49.440 --> 00:12:52.960 He delights in us by the work of Jesus, not our work. 00:12:53.679 --> 00:12:54.799 That's such good news. 00:12:54.879 --> 00:12:59.759 And the good news that we say every single week in our church is we're more broken than we originally thought. 00:12:59.919 --> 00:13:03.759 We're more sinful than we originally thought, but we're more loved by God than we could dare to dream. 00:13:03.919 --> 00:13:09.279 What good news that a heavenly father delights in us. 00:13:10.000 --> 00:13:13.600 If we jump back to our verse there in Luke 2, 10. 00:13:13.840 --> 00:13:16.080 Fear not, fear not. 00:13:18.480 --> 00:13:23.600 For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 00:13:24.879 --> 00:13:27.600 Point number two is this, our second point, last point. 00:13:27.840 --> 00:13:32.720 We can move from postures of fear to a posture of behold. 00:13:33.519 --> 00:13:35.360 Here's what I mean by that. 00:13:36.720 --> 00:13:41.120 Last week I told my mentor, we were talking on the phone, and he said, Hey, what are you preaching on for Christmas Eve? 00:13:41.279 --> 00:13:45.679 And so I told him about this good advice and good news thing I was gonna do, and I was, you know, kind of impressed with myself about that. 00:13:45.759 --> 00:13:46.799 I felt real good about it. 00:13:46.960 --> 00:13:52.639 And then, you know, I told him about this fear part, this behold part, and this thing that's gonna go on. 00:13:52.720 --> 00:13:54.720 And then he said, Okay, that sounds great, Russ. 00:13:54.879 --> 00:13:55.600 You're really excited about that. 00:13:55.759 --> 00:13:57.360 He said, But let me ask you a question. 00:13:57.679 --> 00:14:04.399 What fears might you be freed from as you behold Jesus in your heart? 00:14:05.360 --> 00:14:06.159 Oh, okay. 00:14:06.320 --> 00:14:11.279 I just want to kind of like talk about, you know, show you the structure in the scripture and do all that, but what fears? 00:14:11.440 --> 00:14:13.919 What fears might I be freed from? 00:14:15.440 --> 00:14:19.600 As I move from postures of fear to a posture of behold this good news. 00:14:19.759 --> 00:14:21.679 Well, I had to list to him. 00:14:21.840 --> 00:14:24.080 My fears of failure. 00:14:25.360 --> 00:14:27.679 Fear of not being important enough. 00:14:27.840 --> 00:14:29.840 Now I don't know what enough is. 00:14:30.080 --> 00:14:31.679 I'll never know it. 00:14:31.840 --> 00:14:34.159 I'm chasing that, unfortunately. 00:14:34.320 --> 00:14:40.080 Because I have a fear of not being important enough or not having provision for my family enough. 00:14:40.639 --> 00:14:42.159 And your fears are probably different. 00:14:42.240 --> 00:14:50.960 I mean, some of you understand those, but some of you just fear of control, and that's why tonight when all the family over and it's chaos, you're gonna start wiping down the counters, right? 00:14:51.120 --> 00:14:54.080 Like you're gonna be wearing those counters out over because you can control that. 00:14:54.240 --> 00:14:54.799 Can't control that. 00:14:54.960 --> 00:14:56.879 I'll control the countertops, right? 00:14:57.519 --> 00:14:58.960 You know what I'm talking about. 00:14:59.120 --> 00:14:59.919 You do it. 00:15:00.159 --> 00:15:01.279 I start to sweep. 00:15:01.360 --> 00:15:02.879 I'll just start sweeping up stuff. 00:15:02.960 --> 00:15:05.759 You know, that makes me feel in control and important. 00:15:05.919 --> 00:15:07.440 You know, I mean it does everything. 00:15:07.679 --> 00:15:12.879 Maybe a fear of I won't be loved, I won't be wanted, I won't belong, I won't be safe. 00:15:13.440 --> 00:15:17.440 Maybe a fear that, you know what, the family won't leave after Christmas dinner. 00:15:17.519 --> 00:15:19.919 They're just gonna keep saying, Cousin Eddie doesn't leave, right? 00:15:20.000 --> 00:15:21.440 I mean, that's a fear. 00:15:22.080 --> 00:15:30.000 But the message from God, the message from God to our hearts is not more and more and more demand that creates fear. 00:15:30.159 --> 00:15:31.200 It's good news. 00:15:31.360 --> 00:15:32.159 It's good news. 00:15:32.399 --> 00:15:34.399 This really is good news for you. 00:15:35.039 --> 00:15:37.679 That the Heavenly Father delights in you. 00:15:38.879 --> 00:15:42.799 Your sin and shame that's been taken care of by God's grace and Jesus. 00:15:43.200 --> 00:15:49.120 And so when He looks at you, He's not disappointed, He is delighted. 00:15:50.240 --> 00:15:51.600 He is delighted in you. 00:15:51.919 --> 00:15:57.519 For many of us at Redeemer, if you've been with us this fall, this word behold is just kept popping up. 00:15:57.679 --> 00:16:00.639 We talked about it in 1 John and this past Sunday. 00:16:00.720 --> 00:16:02.080 We talked about behold again. 00:16:02.240 --> 00:16:04.720 We've been talking about different illustrations in different ways. 00:16:04.879 --> 00:16:08.559 Behold means to attend to what is being said. 00:16:08.879 --> 00:16:09.200 Right? 00:16:09.279 --> 00:16:11.759 It's like the preacher going, listen, listen, listen, listen. 00:16:12.000 --> 00:16:12.240 Right? 00:16:12.320 --> 00:16:13.600 And then the preacher makes this point. 00:16:13.759 --> 00:16:14.960 Listen, listen, listen, listen. 00:16:15.120 --> 00:16:16.399 It's behold. 00:16:17.519 --> 00:16:22.559 So it means there's something so good and amazing it's worth your attention and your gaze and your heart. 00:16:22.720 --> 00:16:26.639 Someday I just told you about the chocolate dessert that I'm gonna eat tonight. 00:16:26.720 --> 00:16:29.759 I'm already thinking about it, I'm gonna behold it. 00:16:31.919 --> 00:16:33.360 You can also think about it this way. 00:16:33.759 --> 00:16:38.399 Maybe when you were little, you went skiing, and your your family took you skiing, and maybe you even got a plane. 00:16:38.480 --> 00:17:09.200 You got on a plane to do this, and so you flew, and you flew into Denver, and then you got your car, and you're little, the parents are driving you, sister, brother, whatever, and you get into the mountains, and by the time you're up into the mountains, it's gotten dark, and you pull into Vale, Colorado, and you get into your condo, and you're there, you go to sleep, you wake up in the morning, your dad comes in, wakes you up in the morning, and he goes, he takes you over to the door that opens to the balcony, and he opens the door, he swings it open, and he says, Behold Vale Mountain. 00:17:09.599 --> 00:17:10.720 Look how beautiful it is. 00:17:10.799 --> 00:17:13.119 But if for me, maybe for me, the door swung open. 00:17:13.519 --> 00:17:17.039 Behold, Obergatlinburg! Here it is. 00:17:17.359 --> 00:17:20.480 There were two dumpsters, a parking lot, a little hill. 00:17:21.359 --> 00:17:23.119 My mind was blown. 00:17:24.400 --> 00:17:28.400 Either way, it's child, child, look at this. 00:17:29.039 --> 00:17:29.920 Look at this. 00:17:30.079 --> 00:17:31.359 This is so good. 00:17:33.200 --> 00:17:34.160 This is so good. 00:17:34.319 --> 00:17:35.599 This is so good for you. 00:17:36.400 --> 00:17:38.400 It's good, and it's good news. 00:17:39.359 --> 00:17:41.680 It always starts with good news. 00:17:41.920 --> 00:17:45.200 That the heavenly father delights in you. 00:17:46.079 --> 00:17:50.000 That is the context for any good advice we see in Scripture. 00:17:50.319 --> 00:17:54.400 That is the promise we hold that God has already promised to us. 00:17:55.039 --> 00:17:57.440 You have a heavenly Father that delights in you. 00:17:57.599 --> 00:18:06.640 We know this to be true in the history by his birth, his life, his death, and his resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord. 00:18:06.799 --> 00:18:08.079 Let's pray together. 00:18:08.400 --> 00:18:20.400 God, thank you that you who delight in us, you don't you're not disappointed in us, and you don't just demand and demand and demand, but that you delight in us and you delight in our hearts, even though we're imperfect and sinful. 00:18:23.359 --> 00:18:27.920 God, thank you that your love is not conditioned upon us. 00:18:30.240 --> 00:18:32.400 May we behold this even more. 00:18:33.680 --> 00:18:35.440 May you take us captive. 00:18:38.559 --> 00:18:41.039 May our hearts and our lives honor you. 00:18:43.119 --> 00:18:46.000 We pray this as we celebrate the birth of your son. 00:18:46.640 --> 00:18:50.880 You're very self incarnated into this world. 00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:53.599 In Jesus' name we pray. 00:18:53.839 --> 00:18:54.480 Amen.