WEBVTT 00:00:02.399 --> 00:00:09.919 Well, last weekend I was on our middle school and high school student retreat with a bunch of students and with our uh really incredible adult volunteers. 00:00:10.000 --> 00:00:25.039 And so we got up to Camp Highland Friday evening and we had our first dinner, and right after dinner, the the camp counselor that was hosting us he immediately led the group over to this 45-foot-long conference table, conference room table, huge table on the side of this gym. 00:00:25.280 --> 00:00:31.440 He said somebody had donated it, sat over there for a while until the point where all the counselors got together and figured out like what can we do with this? 00:00:31.600 --> 00:00:37.119 And so obviously the thing to do with this is not to have conference meetings, but to uh make a game out of it. 00:00:37.280 --> 00:00:49.359 And so he stands up on top of the table with a volleyball, and he gets everybody lined up in twos, teams of twos all around the table, and the rules of the game don't matter, but all you need to know is it's a phenomenal game, and you would want to play it. 00:00:49.520 --> 00:01:00.079 And so at this point, I'm standing back because you know I'm the pastor and I'm not here to compete and win and do this kind of thing. 00:01:00.159 --> 00:01:03.600 I'm I'm I'm above this type of stuff, and so I'm standing back. 00:01:03.679 --> 00:01:07.760 But really, what's going on is I am listening to every single rule. 00:01:07.920 --> 00:01:14.159 I am strategizing that when I enter this game, I will dominate it. 00:01:14.640 --> 00:01:17.760 And so I stand back there for a little bit, and I don't play that night. 00:01:17.840 --> 00:01:19.040 The next morning we have breakfast. 00:01:19.200 --> 00:01:21.439 Right after breakfast, we go back to playing Monster Ball. 00:01:21.519 --> 00:01:26.400 Our retreat ended up being much more about Monster Ball than anything else if you have if you're a parent of a student. 00:01:26.640 --> 00:01:30.000 And so we uh after breakfast, we go to play. 00:01:30.239 --> 00:01:31.040 Good teammate. 00:01:31.120 --> 00:01:37.680 I'm in now, I'm into this, and I am 14 years old all over again immediately. 00:01:38.079 --> 00:01:40.799 Everything I am as a person is on the line. 00:01:40.959 --> 00:01:42.319 I mean, that's what's going on. 00:01:42.480 --> 00:01:53.200 I am I am running, I'm diving, I'm pushing like students to the side, I'm anything is that this meet this monster ball means everything. 00:01:53.359 --> 00:02:11.840 At one point, we line up and I'm partners with an adult volunteer, and I turn to her and I look to this team beside us, two girls, two students, you know, girls, little girls over there, sweet little Christian girls over there, and I turn to the adult next to me and I say, we should be able to get them out real quick. 00:02:12.319 --> 00:02:20.159 And the worst thing about it, as she, the adult volunteer, looks back at me, the pastor, like, are you are you insane? 00:02:20.639 --> 00:02:22.159 I was serious. 00:02:22.400 --> 00:02:24.240 I was very serious in that moment. 00:02:24.400 --> 00:02:25.599 I just I just started laughing. 00:02:25.759 --> 00:02:28.800 You know, the pastor is crushing the dreams of children. 00:02:29.919 --> 00:02:31.919 All of that is still in me. 00:02:32.240 --> 00:02:33.759 I think that was the most amazing thing. 00:02:33.840 --> 00:02:39.280 And if you were there, if you were a student or adult volunteer, I mean, yeah, you're like, yeah, the pastor turned into something else. 00:02:39.439 --> 00:02:41.120 I'm not sure what happened. 00:02:41.439 --> 00:02:42.960 But it's still in me. 00:02:43.120 --> 00:02:48.319 I want to stand on top of everyone else, and I want to win. 00:02:49.280 --> 00:02:51.520 Now, what might that be about? 00:02:51.919 --> 00:02:55.439 If we dig at it just a little bit, because I've dug at it a little bit over the last week. 00:02:55.599 --> 00:02:56.800 Like, what was that? 00:02:56.960 --> 00:02:58.319 I didn't know that was still there. 00:02:58.479 --> 00:02:59.439 Like, how is that still? 00:02:59.759 --> 00:03:03.039 I mean, it was in me when I was 14, but I'm 38. 00:03:03.199 --> 00:03:04.719 It's still there. 00:03:06.000 --> 00:03:14.960 Or why would you hear about your friend's success and immediately be resentful of her? 00:03:16.479 --> 00:03:22.560 Or why would you hear about your your friend who, like at the end of the year, December, he got a really big end of the year bonus. 00:03:22.639 --> 00:03:28.879 And he wasn't bragging, he was just like really excited because he didn't think it was coming and then it came, and and he just he just it kind of slipped. 00:03:28.960 --> 00:03:41.360 You know, we don't like to talk about money too much in our culture, but he he he said he just said it, but he wasn't saying it brag, he was just really actually excited because what he was gonna be able to do with his family, and he actually he just lets it slip, and you have no happiness for him. 00:03:41.919 --> 00:03:42.560 Why? 00:03:43.360 --> 00:04:01.680 Or or or you're out to dinner with a friend, and that that friend's a little passive aggressive, and she says something that just makes you feel a little bit lower than her, and and you the first that you looking at the butter knife at the time, all you want to do is pick it up and just stab it right in her ear hole, right? 00:04:01.840 --> 00:04:03.439 You know the feeling. 00:04:04.000 --> 00:04:04.800 You know it. 00:04:05.039 --> 00:04:09.120 You're laughing, you know it, and you know the friend I'm talking about, too. 00:04:10.879 --> 00:04:12.960 Is that butter knife would fit right in there? 00:04:13.039 --> 00:04:15.280 Just jam it, just jam it in there. 00:04:15.759 --> 00:04:16.639 What is that? 00:04:16.800 --> 00:04:20.079 What is all of that, or what is all the other stuff? 00:04:20.560 --> 00:04:22.720 Why are we better in some areas? 00:04:22.959 --> 00:04:27.199 And we see new life, transformation from Jesus. 00:04:27.360 --> 00:04:30.399 You know, and then in these other areas, we don't see any new life. 00:04:30.720 --> 00:04:31.199 Why? 00:04:31.360 --> 00:04:32.399 What's going on? 00:04:32.639 --> 00:04:34.480 Where's the new life? 00:04:35.600 --> 00:04:39.519 Well, for me, if we want to go back to Monster Ball, we've talked a lot about Monster Ball today. 00:04:39.680 --> 00:04:43.279 If we go back to Monster Ball, it's an unbelief in me. 00:04:43.360 --> 00:04:45.920 There's an unbelief of God's acceptance of me. 00:04:46.079 --> 00:04:49.680 If you really want to get down to it, really, really, really there at the core. 00:04:49.839 --> 00:04:55.040 And it leads me to motives and thoughts and behaviors that are unhealthy and they're selfish. 00:04:55.439 --> 00:05:02.160 It leads me to pushing middle school girls out of the way as I dive for a monster ball, so I will dominate. 00:05:02.720 --> 00:05:09.040 And it leads me ultimately to core values in my heart of high expectations that I will never meet. 00:05:09.199 --> 00:05:17.600 And I will work really hard, I will become exhausted, and as I never meet those high expectations, which are my core values, I'll be disappointed. 00:05:17.839 --> 00:05:21.759 And the belief at all of that is simply this, and it's a false belief. 00:05:21.920 --> 00:05:24.319 I must win to matter. 00:05:24.959 --> 00:05:26.560 I must win to matter. 00:05:26.800 --> 00:05:37.040 I need to win at finances, I need to win at faith, I need to win at family, I need to win in my health, I need to win, I need to win my job. 00:05:37.839 --> 00:05:46.160 And if I fail, if there's failure, if there's a hiccup along the way, there's a part of me that wonders, will I matter? 00:05:48.000 --> 00:05:52.160 And the gospel speaks relief to this while it really, really offends me. 00:05:52.639 --> 00:06:00.160 Because the gospel says, Oh yeah, you do fail, and all of your winning will never be enough. 00:06:01.040 --> 00:06:02.560 You need the grace of God. 00:06:02.800 --> 00:06:09.040 And even the fact that you're trying to win so much as to justify your life or your worthiness, that's actually your sin. 00:06:10.879 --> 00:06:15.759 You need a victory earned outside of yourself and given to you. 00:06:16.480 --> 00:06:17.680 So that's what this story is. 00:06:17.839 --> 00:06:20.959 Mark 16, that was read, and I'll reread verses 1 through 6. 00:06:21.040 --> 00:06:26.959 So Jesus has died, the crucifixion Friday, and then the Sabbath on Saturday, and now we come into Sunday. 00:06:27.040 --> 00:06:38.000 And so it says this, verse 1, when the Sabbath was passed, it would have been Saturday, and between Good Friday and today, Sunday, Easter, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Siloam bought spices, and so they might go and anoint him. 00:06:38.079 --> 00:06:42.079 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 00:06:42.160 --> 00:06:47.199 And they were saying to one another, Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb? 00:06:47.439 --> 00:06:51.519 And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back, it was very large. 00:06:51.839 --> 00:06:56.879 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. 00:06:57.120 --> 00:07:02.720 And he said to them, Do not be alarmed, you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. 00:07:03.120 --> 00:07:05.279 He has risen. 00:07:05.759 --> 00:07:06.959 He is not here. 00:07:07.360 --> 00:07:09.199 See the place where they laid him. 00:07:09.680 --> 00:07:12.160 So we celebrate this resurrection. 00:07:13.279 --> 00:07:15.199 But what's actually happening here? 00:07:15.600 --> 00:07:18.399 What is accomplished here for you? 00:07:18.800 --> 00:07:20.639 So I have two points, two-point sermon. 00:07:20.720 --> 00:07:25.439 I shaved one down for Easter, just to make everybody, you know, you don't go to church that often, you're, ah, it's gonna be a long sermon. 00:07:25.519 --> 00:07:26.399 Now it'll be a long sermon. 00:07:26.560 --> 00:07:27.120 Two points. 00:07:27.279 --> 00:07:35.040 The first one, the crucifixion and the resurrection is a revelation of who God is and an imputation for us to know. 00:07:35.199 --> 00:07:37.040 Long sentence, I know it sounds very religious. 00:07:37.120 --> 00:07:38.000 We'll break it down. 00:07:38.240 --> 00:07:46.160 The crucifixion, Friday, and the resurrection, today, Sunday, is a revelation of who God is and an imputation for us to know. 00:07:46.319 --> 00:07:48.959 So maybe you say right away, that's why I don't come to church. 00:07:49.120 --> 00:07:50.240 Like you just summed it up. 00:07:50.480 --> 00:07:53.040 Bunch of religious languages, why I don't come. 00:07:53.360 --> 00:07:56.639 I know, but this can mean everything for you. 00:07:56.800 --> 00:08:00.399 Let me tell you a story to kind of break it down what this actually means. 00:08:00.560 --> 00:08:01.439 You might know this story. 00:08:01.519 --> 00:08:02.959 It's in Luke 15. 00:08:03.759 --> 00:08:05.680 There's a family, there's two sons. 00:08:05.920 --> 00:08:07.439 The younger son comes to the dad. 00:08:07.600 --> 00:08:09.199 Dad seems to be pretty well off. 00:08:10.160 --> 00:08:13.600 The younger son comes to the dad, says, I want my share of the inheritance, and I want it now. 00:08:13.680 --> 00:08:14.959 I don't want to wait until you pass away. 00:08:15.120 --> 00:08:16.000 That would be respectful. 00:08:16.079 --> 00:08:18.079 I'm gonna be disrespectful, I want it now. 00:08:18.240 --> 00:08:25.120 And so the dad gives him his share of the inheritance, the son immediately runs off, goes to another country, and he is living it up. 00:08:25.839 --> 00:08:39.279 There are parties, there are women, there's stuff, there's more parties, more women, more stuff, more and more and more and more and more, and the money starts to run out, and then the money runs out, and then he's starving to death. 00:08:40.159 --> 00:08:48.159 And then eventually he's longing to eat the food that pigs are eating, and then he's at his end and he's broken. 00:08:48.720 --> 00:08:50.000 He's exhausted. 00:08:50.320 --> 00:08:56.240 And Luke 15 says that he came to his senses, and it means that it means he remembered. 00:08:56.559 --> 00:09:00.399 He remembered he has a dad back home. 00:09:01.360 --> 00:09:06.960 And this question that forms in him will he still love me? 00:09:08.720 --> 00:09:12.000 So he starts to head home, he forms this little speech on the way. 00:09:12.240 --> 00:09:16.159 You know, like when he gets there, dad's gonna be there, he's gonna have to kind of earn work his way back in. 00:09:16.240 --> 00:09:20.559 He's like, okay, he gets this speech, I've sinned against you and against heaven, I'm not worthy to be your son. 00:09:20.639 --> 00:09:22.720 Just take me on as one of your hired men. 00:09:22.879 --> 00:09:28.559 So he he gets his little speech nice and packaged, nice and tight, so he can he can give it to his dad as soon as he gets home. 00:09:28.639 --> 00:09:31.840 He's not sure what his dad's gonna say to him, but he wants to be ready. 00:09:32.000 --> 00:09:41.200 And while he's a long way off, the father sees him, the father begins to run toward him in compassion and embraces him and kisses him. 00:09:41.360 --> 00:09:44.080 The son begins in on his speech, because yeah, he had it already. 00:09:44.159 --> 00:09:48.960 The son begins in on his speech, and it's almost like the father does not even hear it. 00:09:49.519 --> 00:09:53.840 The father's so overwhelmed with the acceptance and love of his child. 00:09:54.080 --> 00:09:58.000 The father turns to like uh one of the hired guys and says, Hey, get a robe, get a ring. 00:09:58.080 --> 00:10:00.000 We're going to throw a, we're throwing a party. 00:10:00.159 --> 00:10:03.279 My boy's my child is home. 00:10:04.240 --> 00:10:08.080 You see, the father's heart is always for his children. 00:10:10.240 --> 00:10:12.559 Oh, I I know there's that thing. 00:10:13.200 --> 00:10:21.039 I mean, even with this this kid in the story, there would have been that king, that thing, that that wound, that that continued behavior, that thing. 00:10:21.120 --> 00:10:28.559 I mean, there's that thing in your life that happened, still happens, that wound, that horror, that motive, that behavior. 00:10:28.720 --> 00:10:37.679 I know there's that thing, but I also know while that son may have forgotten the father, the father never forgot about his child. 00:10:39.039 --> 00:10:42.159 And then there's this older brother. 00:10:42.879 --> 00:10:45.279 And this older brother's a piece of work, man. 00:10:45.360 --> 00:10:47.840 I mean, this guy is self-righteous and he is prideful. 00:10:47.919 --> 00:10:51.600 He's a symbol of so many things religious and moralistic. 00:10:51.840 --> 00:10:57.600 And he's upset at this scene, at this display of grace. 00:10:59.759 --> 00:11:01.440 All these years I've been here. 00:11:01.600 --> 00:11:11.200 This is what the guy starts saying to his dad, this older brother, I've been slaving away for you, and you have never once thrown a party for me like this. 00:11:12.879 --> 00:11:14.799 And this brother is judgmental. 00:11:15.039 --> 00:11:17.360 He is self-consumed with his own record. 00:11:17.519 --> 00:11:25.039 He makes himself feel better by comparing himself to other people, and he has no ability to extend compassion to someone hurting. 00:11:27.200 --> 00:11:32.159 He thinks I should be accepted because I obey. 00:11:33.120 --> 00:11:34.559 He's working off of merit. 00:11:34.639 --> 00:11:41.919 The father's working off of grace, and in another move of grace, the dad says to him, son, you're always with me. 00:11:42.399 --> 00:11:44.559 Everything I have is yours. 00:11:45.919 --> 00:11:47.440 Here's point number two. 00:11:47.759 --> 00:11:49.840 You are before you become. 00:11:50.240 --> 00:11:52.080 We say it a million different ways at our church. 00:11:52.159 --> 00:11:53.039 We say it every single week. 00:11:53.120 --> 00:11:55.519 This is just a different synon saying the same thing. 00:11:55.679 --> 00:11:56.960 You are before you become. 00:11:57.120 --> 00:11:58.159 I could say it longer. 00:11:58.399 --> 00:12:00.720 You are deemed something before you become something. 00:12:00.960 --> 00:12:02.879 You are deemed righteous before you become righteous. 00:12:02.960 --> 00:12:04.879 You are deemed worthy before you become worthy. 00:12:05.120 --> 00:12:06.159 This is the victory. 00:12:06.320 --> 00:12:07.120 This is the victory. 00:12:07.279 --> 00:12:08.399 You are before you become. 00:12:08.480 --> 00:12:12.480 This is the victory, the work of Jesus that we celebrate on Easter. 00:12:12.639 --> 00:12:16.639 That you are deemed beloved and righteous before you become righteous. 00:12:16.879 --> 00:12:21.759 It is a relief to be accepted before you become something. 00:12:23.039 --> 00:12:38.159 And then the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit in you takes that victory that is given, that work of grace, and works it into our hearts, into all of those places that has such a hard time believing that, and that is how we grow in grace. 00:12:38.399 --> 00:12:41.360 So let's take something like me playing monster ball. 00:12:42.720 --> 00:12:48.799 This belief that I have in me, and I repeat it, it is like it's on repeat in my mind. 00:12:49.039 --> 00:12:51.120 I must win to matter. 00:12:51.600 --> 00:12:55.279 Well, below that would be I must perform to matter. 00:12:56.879 --> 00:12:59.279 And now that's based in fear, not love. 00:12:59.840 --> 00:13:01.840 That's merit, that's not grace. 00:13:02.080 --> 00:13:05.120 That creates a range of sin and suffering in my life. 00:13:05.279 --> 00:13:08.399 It creates pretty much all of my stress and anxiety. 00:13:08.559 --> 00:13:13.120 And this is where the gospel, the victory of Easter, has something to say. 00:13:13.759 --> 00:13:20.559 When the Spirit integrates it into my heart and works it in, it creates new life because I see the lie, right? 00:13:20.720 --> 00:13:22.639 The lie is I must perform to win. 00:13:22.720 --> 00:13:24.159 I don't know what your lie is. 00:13:24.639 --> 00:13:26.799 I don't know what's on repeat in your heart. 00:13:26.960 --> 00:13:32.960 But I guarantee you there is a lie creating core values that creates heart, motive, and behavior. 00:13:35.120 --> 00:13:37.840 Mine is, is I must perform to matter. 00:13:38.639 --> 00:13:41.519 And I have to see it, I have to confess it, I have to repent of it. 00:13:41.600 --> 00:13:42.480 It is my sin. 00:13:42.559 --> 00:13:45.120 And I have to claim it is no longer my story. 00:13:45.840 --> 00:13:48.320 But my story is formed by the gospel. 00:13:48.559 --> 00:13:55.840 I am deemed absolved and righteous and worthy before I become anything. 00:13:57.440 --> 00:13:59.440 And now out of that I get new values. 00:13:59.679 --> 00:14:00.799 Out of that, I get new motive. 00:14:01.039 --> 00:14:02.799 Out of that I get new behaviors. 00:14:03.600 --> 00:14:06.159 Not perfectly, but in the process of. 00:14:06.320 --> 00:14:09.679 But even though I'm not perfect in it, it's okay because I am before I become. 00:14:12.559 --> 00:14:18.080 This week I finally watched Ruth Graham's speech at her dad, Billy Graham's funerals about a month ago. 00:14:18.240 --> 00:14:20.879 Several people had mentioned to me this speech over the last few weeks. 00:14:20.960 --> 00:14:22.879 Finally, I went and watched it this week. 00:14:23.120 --> 00:14:28.159 She told how her first marriage ended after 21 years of marriage. 00:14:28.799 --> 00:14:34.159 And she was hurt, she was embarrassed, she was felt like a failure. 00:14:34.960 --> 00:14:39.440 She moved out west, she moved near her sister, started attending a church there. 00:14:39.600 --> 00:14:43.519 She met a widower in the church and they started dating really fast, real quick. 00:14:45.840 --> 00:14:50.240 Her children who are grown children, her children, you know, they're saying, like, mom, slow down. 00:14:50.399 --> 00:14:52.159 Like they didn't like them. 00:14:54.080 --> 00:14:56.000 Ruth's mom calls. 00:14:56.320 --> 00:14:57.679 Hey, slow down. 00:14:58.000 --> 00:14:59.440 Her dad, Billy, calls. 00:14:59.600 --> 00:15:00.240 Please slow down. 00:15:00.320 --> 00:15:01.759 We're asking you to slow down. 00:15:02.000 --> 00:15:03.120 She's stubborn. 00:15:03.279 --> 00:15:04.240 She's rebellious. 00:15:04.320 --> 00:15:04.879 What do they know? 00:15:04.960 --> 00:15:06.879 They don't know what it's like to be single at my age. 00:15:06.960 --> 00:15:08.000 They don't know anything about this. 00:15:08.080 --> 00:15:09.679 And so she marries this man. 00:15:09.759 --> 00:15:11.360 The whole family's been against it. 00:15:11.519 --> 00:15:12.320 She marries this man. 00:15:12.480 --> 00:15:16.720 Within five weeks, she leaves because she's afraid of her life. 00:15:17.679 --> 00:15:20.960 And all she wanted to do was go home and talk to her mom and dad. 00:15:21.440 --> 00:15:24.080 It was a two-day drive to get back to North Carolina. 00:15:24.240 --> 00:15:26.080 The Graham's live up on a mountain. 00:15:26.320 --> 00:15:30.639 All the way home, all she's thinking about the same as that rebellious son in Luke 15. 00:15:30.960 --> 00:15:32.960 What will dad say? 00:15:34.080 --> 00:15:35.360 What will mom say? 00:15:37.840 --> 00:15:39.440 We told you not to do it. 00:15:40.399 --> 00:15:42.399 Ah, you embarrassed us again. 00:15:44.080 --> 00:15:45.600 You're such a fool. 00:15:47.039 --> 00:15:55.919 She began to drive up that driveway, and she rounded the last curve, and as she rounded the last curve, her dad was standing in the driveway waiting for her. 00:15:56.559 --> 00:15:58.879 And here's what she says to end her speech. 00:15:59.039 --> 00:16:03.519 As I got out of the car, he wrapped his arms around me and said, Welcome home. 00:16:04.000 --> 00:16:11.440 There was no shame, no blame, no condemnation, just unconditional love. 00:16:12.240 --> 00:16:15.919 You know, my father was not God, but he showed me what God is like that day. 00:16:16.240 --> 00:16:23.519 When we come to God with our sin and our brokenness, our pain and our hurt, God says, Welcome home. 00:16:24.000 --> 00:16:31.039 My brothers and sisters, whether your life is filled with wins or losses, victory is sealed. 00:16:31.919 --> 00:16:38.720 You are forever beloved in God's sight because of the work of Jesus, his death, and his resurrection. 00:16:38.879 --> 00:16:39.600 Hallelujah. 00:16:39.840 --> 00:16:40.559 Christ is risen. 00:16:40.720 --> 00:16:41.679 Let's pray together. 00:16:42.000 --> 00:16:46.480 God, thank you for your victory for us, the great grace that we live in. 00:16:46.639 --> 00:16:50.799 Forgive us for all the ways that we live in disbelief of that great gift. 00:16:51.039 --> 00:16:56.639 Show us, help us to believe more that we might trust and live in the freedom of Christ. 00:16:58.159 --> 00:17:03.039 Help us to believe and know what it means to be something before we become something. 00:17:03.519 --> 00:17:13.119 And help us in that process to see all the lies we believe that are so unhealthy and selfish, ultimately sinful, that break peace with you, peace with each other. 00:17:14.720 --> 00:17:16.160 Help us to see those lies. 00:17:16.319 --> 00:17:23.279 Help us to find the gospel truths that create great redemption and growth and grace. 00:17:25.519 --> 00:17:31.039 God, we thank you that the victory is sealed no matter where we're at, and the process of the victory is sealed. 00:17:31.279 --> 00:17:33.519 We are sealed as your beloved. 00:17:34.079 --> 00:17:36.319 That is the victory. 00:17:36.640 --> 00:17:39.200 We pray this and know this in Jesus' name. 00:17:39.440 --> 00:17:40.079 Amen.