WEBVTT 00:00:00.239 --> 00:00:06.480 Driveway, I put my headphones in to listen to music on the way up to the gym for my morning workout. 00:00:06.559 --> 00:00:10.480 And so every morning I make this walk with music. 00:00:10.720 --> 00:00:13.119 I make this walk with songs. 00:00:13.439 --> 00:00:16.719 Every once in a while I have walked it without music. 00:00:17.039 --> 00:00:19.039 It's not quite the same thing. 00:00:19.199 --> 00:00:21.199 It's always better with music, right? 00:00:21.920 --> 00:00:25.359 It brings us the walk a certain rhythm. 00:00:25.760 --> 00:00:28.079 It's why we like to listen to music in the car. 00:00:28.239 --> 00:00:31.359 It's why we like to listen to music when we do the dishes. 00:00:31.600 --> 00:00:36.000 It's how we bring a change to the way that time passes. 00:00:36.240 --> 00:00:39.920 Now I mentioned that because that's sort of what the church calendar is. 00:00:40.159 --> 00:00:42.880 You know, some of you come from a background, you know what the church calendar is. 00:00:42.960 --> 00:00:46.240 Some of you come from a background, you have you have no idea what the church calendar is. 00:00:46.320 --> 00:00:48.880 Some of you come from a background, you don't even know what church is, right? 00:00:48.960 --> 00:00:50.640 And you're here, we're excited you're here. 00:00:50.799 --> 00:00:54.880 So the church calendar it breaks up the year with different seasons. 00:00:55.039 --> 00:00:57.920 And so we get this season called Lent before Easter. 00:00:58.079 --> 00:01:02.799 And now we're in a season called Advent, which is the season leading up to Christmas. 00:01:02.960 --> 00:01:09.920 And like a song, like a song, these seasons they focus us, they focus us as we walk through life. 00:01:10.400 --> 00:01:13.280 They build a rhythm, is what they do. 00:01:13.599 --> 00:01:19.760 And the seasons sing over us something for us to hear rather than us just kind of get on with it. 00:01:20.000 --> 00:01:20.319 Right? 00:01:20.400 --> 00:01:25.359 And especially this season, I mean the season of Christmas, leading up to Christmas, so easy just to get on with it. 00:01:25.519 --> 00:01:34.159 Go to Aunt Janice's for the party and buy Uncle Randy a flashlight radio and drink eggnog and do that and shop, and then before you know it, like it's all over. 00:01:34.319 --> 00:01:35.599 But it's more than that, right? 00:01:35.680 --> 00:01:36.719 It's more than that. 00:01:36.879 --> 00:01:47.519 That's why after this week, after a morning of contemplative prayer, I bought a Christmas sweater that says Jesus is the reason for the season, and Sam's gonna wear it for Christmas Eve service. 00:01:47.680 --> 00:01:48.239 I'm kidding. 00:01:48.560 --> 00:01:52.239 Oh, does anybody have a Jesus is the reason for the season Christmas sweater? 00:01:52.319 --> 00:01:57.519 Because Sam did tell me this week that he wanted one and he wants to wear it for Christmas Eve. 00:01:57.840 --> 00:02:02.799 So if you have one, give it to him, and he wants to wear that just to proclaim that message, right? 00:02:02.879 --> 00:02:04.239 Because that message is good, right? 00:02:04.400 --> 00:02:07.519 It can be a little cheesy, bumper sticker, t-shirt, whatever. 00:02:07.680 --> 00:02:09.120 But it's true, right? 00:02:09.199 --> 00:02:31.680 That's why it's like an enduring message, uh, is because Jesus is the reason for the season, and Advent is the season leading up to it to remind us over and over again that we are in a season of waiting, an expectation for the celebration of the birth of Christ. 00:02:31.919 --> 00:02:40.800 So Advent is about desire for what is to come, but it's not here yet. 00:02:41.439 --> 00:02:45.360 And so some of you know exactly what I'm talking about. 00:02:45.840 --> 00:03:01.360 We spent Thanksgiving Day with my mom and Gwynette, and so we had a late lunch, and then we cleaned up, and then we laid around a bit, and then we went to the Lawrenceville Square where I grew up, stomping grounds, Lawrenceville Square for the tree lighting, county seat, in case you're wondering. 00:03:01.439 --> 00:03:14.879 So the old county courthouse is there, and they have a big tree, and we parked behind the Baptist church, and we walked up to the square and saw a couple friends that I grew up with, and we chit-chat, and then it's like, hey, I'm here. 00:03:15.199 --> 00:03:20.639 Like Russ is here, Russ has arrived, time to light the tree, but right, that's not how it works, doesn't work. 00:03:20.719 --> 00:03:29.199 Like right when you get there, and so you wait, and there's a band playing, and then there's like a tent selling like light up trinkets, so your children will bother you the entire time. 00:03:29.360 --> 00:03:31.919 Why you don't want to waste$20 on light up trinkets. 00:03:32.080 --> 00:03:44.479 And so all that's going on, and you're there and you find your spot and you're ready to see the tree light and the band still playing, and you're hopeful for the moment that's coming. 00:03:47.919 --> 00:03:52.400 You're really hopeful that this moment is coming, you're ready for this lighting, right? 00:03:52.479 --> 00:03:56.560 It's about desire for what is to come, but it's not here yet. 00:03:56.639 --> 00:04:02.879 So we're waiting, like a thousand people, we're all waiting for this tree to light, and I didn't realize that we're waiting for Santa to come. 00:04:02.960 --> 00:04:05.680 So Santa he comes, he comes down the main street. 00:04:05.840 --> 00:04:10.719 I think it was on like a trailer, turned into a sleigh, but it actually worked pretty well. 00:04:10.879 --> 00:04:14.080 Um, I mean, this is this is home small town hometown stuff. 00:04:14.159 --> 00:04:14.639 It was great. 00:04:14.800 --> 00:04:19.600 And so down we come, and Santa gets off, good looking Santa Claus, great. 00:04:19.680 --> 00:04:26.319 Santa Claus is there, the the Santa Claus is there, and kids are freaking out, right? 00:04:26.399 --> 00:04:27.360 I mean, you can imagine. 00:04:27.519 --> 00:04:33.199 Kids in here, a few kids in here, Santa Claus is there, he has shown up for Larchville tree lighting, big deal. 00:04:33.439 --> 00:04:38.800 And so he's there, and him and another guy get up on a balcony at the courthouse. 00:04:38.959 --> 00:04:41.360 And let's just call, let's call him Uncle Randy as well. 00:04:41.439 --> 00:04:48.639 Uncle Randy's up on the balcony with Santa Claus, and apparently Randy's been planning this thing because this is his moment, right? 00:04:48.720 --> 00:04:55.439 Like he's been three months into this planning, and he's been behind the scenes, and finally, we know we know the feeling. 00:04:55.519 --> 00:04:59.120 You've been planning something, and then you get your moment to speak in front of everybody. 00:04:59.279 --> 00:05:10.959 And Randy's going on about the history of the Christmas tree, and it is going for a while, and he's taking his moment, and there is one big problem here. 00:05:11.680 --> 00:05:13.759 Santa Claus is next to him, right? 00:05:13.920 --> 00:05:15.120 I mean, this is the problem. 00:05:15.199 --> 00:05:19.120 I mean, Santa Claus is standing next to you, and we are waiting. 00:05:19.199 --> 00:05:20.399 I mean, children are waiting. 00:05:20.639 --> 00:05:26.879 Santa is next to you, and Randy's talking about the history of the Christmas tree for 15 minutes. 00:05:27.040 --> 00:05:33.199 This doesn't work out, and parents are waiting for Santa Claus for to say, light up this tree. 00:05:33.279 --> 00:05:35.279 And there's all of this waiting. 00:05:35.439 --> 00:05:39.040 Finally, he says it, the tree lights, it's amazing, it's amazing, right? 00:05:39.199 --> 00:05:41.199 Like, we know what it feels like to wait. 00:05:41.279 --> 00:05:46.240 It's the same you feel this way when you turn your your laptop on. 00:05:46.639 --> 00:05:52.319 And you're like, all right, I'll go re-shingle the roof and then come back before it's ready. 00:05:53.199 --> 00:06:01.759 It's it it it's when uh it's when you're pregnant and it's like six months, seven months, eight months, nine months. 00:06:01.839 --> 00:06:03.600 You're you're waiting. 00:06:03.839 --> 00:06:05.600 And there's other waiting too, right? 00:06:05.920 --> 00:06:08.319 There's waiting to get the call from the doctor. 00:06:08.879 --> 00:06:11.199 There's waiting for your loved one to die. 00:06:12.079 --> 00:06:14.959 There's waiting for your family to be normal. 00:06:15.680 --> 00:06:18.560 There's waiting for you to be normal. 00:06:18.959 --> 00:06:27.519 And underneath all of this is just this waiting to be uh or to feel restored. 00:06:28.800 --> 00:06:36.959 Like finally I am okay and loved and eternally and internally healthy. 00:06:37.120 --> 00:06:37.920 So we wait. 00:06:38.000 --> 00:06:39.199 And so this is point number one. 00:06:39.279 --> 00:06:40.639 I got a few points, I got four points. 00:06:40.720 --> 00:06:42.879 Point number one, we wait in hope. 00:06:43.120 --> 00:06:44.319 We wait in hope. 00:06:44.480 --> 00:06:47.519 That's what the Isaiah passage was about, like Kristen read. 00:06:47.680 --> 00:06:48.720 We wait in hope. 00:06:48.879 --> 00:06:50.800 Hope is confident expectation. 00:06:50.879 --> 00:06:54.319 So we don't just wait vainly like the Christmas tree is never gonna light. 00:06:54.480 --> 00:06:56.560 I mean, we wouldn't be there if we thought that. 00:06:56.720 --> 00:07:00.800 We wait, we wait as children of God in hope. 00:07:00.959 --> 00:07:03.199 Although things are not perfect right now. 00:07:04.000 --> 00:07:08.879 We wait in hope that all things will be made new. 00:07:09.680 --> 00:07:12.959 And so I read that passage, Isaiah 11, that Kristen read for us. 00:07:13.279 --> 00:07:17.199 I was reading that this week and just spending some time in it, and I stopped at verse 6. 00:07:17.279 --> 00:07:23.199 Verse 6 was the verse that I stopped in, but it's probably the verse that most of us, even as she read it, you're like, oh, I've heard that one before. 00:07:23.519 --> 00:07:26.480 The wolf shall dwell with the lamb. 00:07:27.199 --> 00:07:30.399 And I read my first thought was I'm naturally cynical. 00:07:30.720 --> 00:07:33.279 Is it my first thought was like, really? 00:07:33.680 --> 00:07:42.160 Like, like when I watch National Geographic, um, the wolf is biting the neck of the lamb, is what's that's what's going on. 00:07:42.319 --> 00:07:45.600 And then my children tell me I need to change the TV channel. 00:07:45.680 --> 00:07:46.560 That is disgusting. 00:07:46.639 --> 00:07:48.319 I mean, that's what's going on. 00:07:49.439 --> 00:07:54.160 But but then you look closer at this idea and you can see how it is true, right? 00:07:54.240 --> 00:08:03.360 Like you can see how in this church, uh, Democrats and Republicans and people who don't care all come in to worship. 00:08:03.600 --> 00:08:06.079 And now don't get me to label who the wolf is. 00:08:06.160 --> 00:08:10.160 Don't don't even try to get me, don't I'm not gonna do that, I'm not going there. 00:08:10.319 --> 00:08:16.399 Or the congregation this week in Charleston, remember a few years ago, a guy comes in and he starts shooting? 00:08:16.639 --> 00:08:18.560 That guy's on trial now. 00:08:18.959 --> 00:08:26.079 And then the news that the news reminded us that the congregation came out and forgave the shooter. 00:08:26.639 --> 00:08:29.199 That's a wolf lying down next to a lamb. 00:08:29.839 --> 00:08:40.879 Or anytime an exhausted, broken person comes in to hear, and uh maybe you maybe you can't even sing because you're not even quite sure. 00:08:41.120 --> 00:08:52.799 And maybe even listening to me is a bit much, but maybe at the end of the service you're willing to come down and receive communion and receive God's redeeming love. 00:08:54.799 --> 00:08:56.000 And so we wait. 00:08:56.240 --> 00:09:05.200 We wait in hope that all the wolves around us and the wolf in us will finally lay down next to the Lamb. 00:09:05.519 --> 00:09:07.360 And we find hope there. 00:09:08.320 --> 00:09:09.600 That's what Advent's about. 00:09:09.759 --> 00:09:13.840 Advent's about this the season to remind us of this hope. 00:09:14.000 --> 00:09:28.240 And the hope is Jesus, the incarnation, God to us, the breaking in, God breaking in to our frustration, our suffering, our rebellion, right? 00:09:28.399 --> 00:09:33.600 While we're still sinners, Christ comes and dies for us, God's pursuit of us. 00:09:33.759 --> 00:09:38.639 While we're messed up and messy, the message of Christmas is I love you anyways. 00:09:39.279 --> 00:09:40.080 That's what God is saying. 00:09:40.159 --> 00:09:41.840 I love you, I love you anyways. 00:09:41.919 --> 00:09:46.240 I will incarnate myself into your suffering and frustration. 00:09:48.320 --> 00:09:55.759 And in humility I will come toward you, and in the crucifixion I will take on your sin and all the ways you're messed up and broken. 00:09:55.840 --> 00:10:06.720 I will take that upon myself to make you right with me, and I will give you, forever give you righteousness, so your standing is secure, and you don't have to question it. 00:10:06.799 --> 00:10:09.679 You don't have to be anxious about it, you don't have to be afraid. 00:10:10.799 --> 00:10:16.000 So, our second passage this morning, and these passages, by the way, they were set for us centuries ago. 00:10:16.240 --> 00:10:24.080 This Isaiah passage and this Romans passage and all the passages the next coming weeks through Advent, they were set for us centuries ago in the book of common prayer. 00:10:24.480 --> 00:10:29.759 And so there are these passages preset for us to build us up to Christmas. 00:10:29.919 --> 00:10:35.840 And so Romans 15, 4 through 13 is our second passage, and it is in your bulletin. 00:10:36.159 --> 00:10:39.679 I'll read verses 4 through 7. 00:10:40.639 --> 00:10:50.720 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. 00:10:51.039 --> 00:10:51.360 Right? 00:10:51.440 --> 00:10:52.559 So there's hope in the waiting. 00:10:52.639 --> 00:10:54.080 There's hope in the waiting, such good news. 00:10:54.159 --> 00:11:09.120 Verse 5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may have one voice. 00:11:09.759 --> 00:11:13.679 Glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:11:13.840 --> 00:11:18.240 Therefore, welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you for the glory of God. 00:11:18.480 --> 00:11:22.000 So we wait in hope, and number two, we wait in harmony. 00:11:22.159 --> 00:11:24.639 We wait in, we wait united. 00:11:25.840 --> 00:11:29.120 So there's a psychological term called splitting. 00:11:29.600 --> 00:11:39.120 It's the practice of constantly breaking the world, breaking your world into two camps, and one is good and one is bad. 00:11:39.279 --> 00:11:41.039 So this isn't about issues, right? 00:11:41.120 --> 00:11:43.519 Like there's lots of issues that there is a clear split. 00:11:43.600 --> 00:11:44.879 There's a right and there's a wrong. 00:11:44.960 --> 00:11:46.080 So that's not what I'm talking about. 00:11:46.159 --> 00:11:53.919 What I'm talking about is out of insecurity and defensiveness, we split and we'll deem one side bad. 00:11:54.000 --> 00:11:56.559 And if they're deemed bad, you know what that means. 00:11:56.799 --> 00:11:57.600 We're good. 00:11:57.840 --> 00:12:00.080 Like I'm on the I'm on the good side. 00:12:00.240 --> 00:12:02.960 And we do this when we're being defensive or insecure. 00:12:03.120 --> 00:12:08.399 So yesterday I was at my eight-year-old's uh basketball game at Marietta Wreck Gym. 00:12:08.879 --> 00:12:12.399 A lively, festive, rambunctious place. 00:12:12.639 --> 00:12:18.080 And you get in there, and you are so passionate for your little kid to do well, and we're in there. 00:12:18.240 --> 00:12:21.440 And so when you score, it's a big deal, but it's kind of like a soccer game. 00:12:21.519 --> 00:12:22.639 That's how high the scores are. 00:12:22.720 --> 00:12:25.840 So when there's a score, big celebrations, okay? 00:12:26.000 --> 00:12:30.559 And so we're scoring a few, they score every once in a while, we're scoring more. 00:12:30.879 --> 00:12:35.360 I'm not taking too much, you know, I'm a very balanced, centered person, so I I wouldn't, I would never know that. 00:12:35.440 --> 00:12:36.080 But we're winning. 00:12:36.559 --> 00:12:37.120 We're winning. 00:12:37.360 --> 00:12:39.039 All right, so we're winning. 00:12:39.519 --> 00:12:42.000 You know, when you're winning, the other team shouldn't celebrate too much. 00:12:42.080 --> 00:12:43.840 You're like, hey, you're you're really losing here. 00:12:43.919 --> 00:12:45.519 Don't you know don't celebrate too much. 00:12:45.840 --> 00:12:47.759 They score one one time. 00:12:48.000 --> 00:12:50.240 And it was like this lucky shot. 00:12:50.320 --> 00:12:51.200 It was ridiculous. 00:12:51.440 --> 00:12:57.279 And that and I don't know if it's extended family, I don't I don't know who the cheering. 00:12:57.759 --> 00:13:02.799 It it was just an obnoxious amount of noise of cheering down there. 00:13:03.679 --> 00:13:17.120 And I kind of looked down there and I was just the feeling was like, how, how rude, how that was that was an obnoxious. 00:13:17.440 --> 00:13:19.679 My cheering is proper cheering. 00:13:20.000 --> 00:13:22.720 It is the right level of cheering, is at the right time. 00:13:22.799 --> 00:13:35.279 It's the right time, the timing of my cheering is very their cheering is bad, it is wrong, and I am I am superior in my being in my life in my cheering because of this, right? 00:13:35.360 --> 00:13:36.399 This is what we do, right? 00:13:36.480 --> 00:13:42.080 We do it at football games, we do it at a political rally, I mean we do it all the time, right? 00:13:42.159 --> 00:13:43.039 It it looks like this. 00:13:43.120 --> 00:13:44.240 It's pretty simple. 00:13:44.480 --> 00:13:58.080 So we're a group of loving parents, we're in a gym at Marietta Wreck, and we're a group of loving parents to young children that are good, bright young children. 00:13:58.240 --> 00:14:01.919 We are one group of parents, right? 00:14:02.320 --> 00:14:05.440 And then I get defensive. 00:14:06.480 --> 00:14:19.039 And so in defensiveness, you split, and I look down to those other side of the gym, and those people are bad. 00:14:19.919 --> 00:14:23.440 And see, if they're bad, you know what this does for me. 00:14:23.840 --> 00:14:27.919 See, this is the cycle, this is the practice you do when you're defensive or you're insecure. 00:14:28.080 --> 00:14:33.679 If they're bad, it means automatically I am good. 00:14:35.519 --> 00:14:36.159 Right? 00:14:36.559 --> 00:14:43.360 And so we can do this with politics, we can do it with church preference, right? 00:14:43.440 --> 00:14:44.159 It's not about issues. 00:14:44.240 --> 00:14:52.559 I'm not talking about issues, I'm talking about out of insecurity, how we can demean one person in order to build yourself up. 00:14:52.879 --> 00:14:56.559 You can do it, is is the crown better than Downton Abbey? 00:14:56.799 --> 00:14:57.279 Is it? 00:14:57.600 --> 00:14:58.159 Anyone? 00:14:58.559 --> 00:15:00.000 Anybody want to weigh in on that one? 00:15:00.080 --> 00:15:02.080 Is the crown better than Downton Abbey? 00:15:02.240 --> 00:15:04.000 Some of you know I'm talking about. 00:15:05.519 --> 00:15:05.840 Right? 00:15:06.000 --> 00:15:07.840 And you go, I no way. 00:15:08.159 --> 00:15:11.200 How dare you, how dare you speak about Downton Abbey like that? 00:15:11.360 --> 00:15:18.879 Like, so if you view the crown, the c people who support the crown over downtown Abbey are bad, therefore, I mean I am I'm smarter, right? 00:15:19.039 --> 00:15:23.120 Like I am more cultured, I get it more, I understand it more. 00:15:23.360 --> 00:15:26.320 This is how we do it with all sorts of things. 00:15:26.480 --> 00:15:28.240 And this is this is sin. 00:15:28.399 --> 00:15:30.559 This is this sin of not loving another person. 00:15:30.720 --> 00:15:38.720 This is this is this is the way in which we build security and assurance and self-worth outside of Jesus and outside of Christ. 00:15:38.879 --> 00:15:40.960 It is the sin of disharmony. 00:15:43.840 --> 00:15:56.159 It's the way one uh theologian and philosopher actually goes to the extent of saying, this is the way we create demons in our culture and the way we create angels in our culture. 00:15:57.919 --> 00:16:09.519 And then Paul comes and he's speaking to a class cultural system with huge stereotypes, and he says, family is family. 00:16:11.519 --> 00:16:17.519 And this is where Paul's taking us in this text that the church should live united. 00:16:18.720 --> 00:16:26.799 Point number three is this Christ's servanthood is the fuel of living in this absurd unity. 00:16:28.480 --> 00:16:35.840 Where you have a lot of differentials, backgrounds, experiences, hey dress, hey parent, hey vote, how you feel about this, how you feel about that? 00:16:36.480 --> 00:16:39.919 But that there could be harmony and Christ's servanthood. 00:16:40.080 --> 00:16:41.919 Listen to Romans 15, 8 through 12. 00:16:42.080 --> 00:16:55.200 For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God's truthfulness in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, in order that the Gentiles, so alright, we have two different groups. 00:16:55.360 --> 00:17:03.440 We have the circumcised, so this would have been the Jewish people, a cultural elite, and now we have the Gentiles, lowly Gentiles, or outside of the Jewish faith. 00:17:03.919 --> 00:17:06.799 The Jewish people thought dogs, the dogs. 00:17:07.359 --> 00:17:11.200 In order that the dogs might glorify God for his mercy. 00:17:11.359 --> 00:17:16.640 As it is written, therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles and sing to your name. 00:17:16.799 --> 00:17:20.160 And again it is said, Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people. 00:17:20.319 --> 00:17:25.359 And again, praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol him. 00:17:25.599 --> 00:17:34.960 And again, Isaiah says, back to Isaiah 11, the root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles, in him will the Gentiles hope. 00:17:35.119 --> 00:17:42.559 So Christ becomes servant, theological word, incarnation, like we talked about, and servant unto the crucifixion for us. 00:17:45.200 --> 00:18:06.160 So how does an elitist racist Roman Christian or an elitist racist biased United States Southern Christian overcome past experiences and ways of thinking to be family with family. 00:18:07.920 --> 00:18:22.559 And it's only like Christ being your servant that we would allow that sort of love to come into the places inside of us. 00:18:26.559 --> 00:18:28.160 Because we have a pursuing God. 00:18:28.559 --> 00:18:30.559 That's what this idea of Christ as a servant is. 00:18:30.640 --> 00:18:37.039 We have a pursuing God, one that pursues in to our messiness, into our bias. 00:18:38.079 --> 00:18:41.039 Into the fact that we do this all the time, all the time. 00:18:42.160 --> 00:18:43.759 With each other, with other people. 00:18:44.880 --> 00:18:48.640 I mean this week I was just contemplating this, and I had to repent all the way. 00:18:48.720 --> 00:18:50.720 You know, I'm not real racist. 00:18:50.799 --> 00:18:52.480 I think I grew up with a little racism. 00:18:53.279 --> 00:18:57.039 I grew up in the South and white, middle class kid in the South. 00:18:57.200 --> 00:18:58.400 So I grew up with a little racism. 00:18:58.559 --> 00:19:01.519 I think a lot, most of that, almost all that, is gone out of me. 00:19:01.759 --> 00:19:04.960 But man, I there's a lot of elitism in me. 00:19:05.119 --> 00:19:05.839 And I know that. 00:19:06.079 --> 00:19:06.960 You know why it's in me? 00:19:07.440 --> 00:19:10.000 Because there's an undercurrent of insecurity. 00:19:10.240 --> 00:19:13.680 And so an undercurrent of insecurity will build elitism. 00:19:13.839 --> 00:19:17.920 Anybody who who's like an elitist is really insecure, just to let you know. 00:19:18.160 --> 00:19:20.799 I mean, I just love to think I'm better than other people. 00:19:20.960 --> 00:19:24.799 And so there's a variety of ways for me to make sure I feel that way. 00:19:24.960 --> 00:19:27.200 And this is a great practice to do that. 00:19:27.359 --> 00:19:27.839 And you know what? 00:19:28.240 --> 00:19:29.440 This is self-saving. 00:19:29.519 --> 00:19:30.799 This is a way to self-save it. 00:19:30.880 --> 00:19:42.720 If I'm my security and personhood outside of Christ, but I can do it by constantly comparing and demeaning people, and then by demeaning them, they're bad, then therefore I am good. 00:19:44.480 --> 00:19:48.240 And I just have to I just had to repent of my elitism. 00:19:49.359 --> 00:19:57.599 You know, people who don't agree with me or dress like me or parent like me, or you think the crown's better than Thousand Abbey and you're crazy. 00:19:57.680 --> 00:20:01.519 You know, I you know, if I do that, I never have to face myself. 00:20:01.680 --> 00:20:03.680 See, that that's that's that's the deal. 00:20:03.920 --> 00:20:06.319 You never have to face yourself. 00:20:06.559 --> 00:20:08.640 You never have to face your sin. 00:20:08.880 --> 00:20:13.119 You never have to face your rebellion, you never have to face your wounds. 00:20:13.440 --> 00:20:23.519 Because you're always looking at that other person, other person, and by default, you feel smart and good. 00:20:24.160 --> 00:20:27.920 At least for that moment, until you gotta split again and again and again. 00:20:28.079 --> 00:20:40.400 And Paul says to these Roman Jewish Christians those people you view as dogs, those people that are on that other side that you've split off, those people, you and them are the same. 00:20:40.720 --> 00:20:41.839 You're the same. 00:20:42.079 --> 00:20:43.519 And your family. 00:20:44.640 --> 00:20:46.559 Your family now in Jesus. 00:20:49.039 --> 00:20:50.400 Point number four. 00:20:51.440 --> 00:20:55.119 We wait in belief because we are unable to wait in perfection. 00:20:55.359 --> 00:21:00.319 Point number four, we wait in belief because we are unable to wait in perfection. 00:21:00.480 --> 00:21:01.839 Romans 15, 13. 00:21:02.079 --> 00:21:08.720 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing. 00:21:09.359 --> 00:21:12.640 So that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. 00:21:12.880 --> 00:21:17.359 So we're filled with joy and peace through belief in the God of hope. 00:21:17.519 --> 00:21:18.799 And here's the secret. 00:21:18.960 --> 00:21:20.240 Here's the secret. 00:21:22.160 --> 00:21:25.039 You're already prepared for Advent. 00:21:25.200 --> 00:21:34.640 So yeah, Advent is a season of remembering and waiting, but it's not a season of remembering and waiting as to be perfect and ready for. 00:21:34.960 --> 00:21:36.799 You're remembering and waiting. 00:21:37.039 --> 00:21:40.960 You have already been made perfect in Jesus' work. 00:21:41.279 --> 00:21:44.960 That's why it's a celebration on December 25th. 00:21:47.440 --> 00:21:51.920 And so we come and we wait, and we in belief we wait. 00:21:53.200 --> 00:21:55.200 And we say, Come, Lord Jesus. 00:21:55.359 --> 00:21:56.799 We say, Come, Lord Jesus. 00:21:56.960 --> 00:22:01.599 Because we're saying, Come into any part of my life, come into any part of my life. 00:22:02.079 --> 00:22:06.160 Help me to live in unity and harmony with the people. 00:22:06.559 --> 00:22:16.000 So my brothers and my sisters, may you wait in peace where wolves around you and in you would lie down with lambs. 00:22:20.960 --> 00:22:25.359 God, thank you that you call us and relieve us. 00:22:26.400 --> 00:22:38.559 You call us to such great things such as living in harmony and unity with our family, with our brothers and our sisters. 00:22:39.359 --> 00:22:39.920 Forgive us. 00:22:40.559 --> 00:22:41.920 Thank you for the relief that you do. 00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:52.960 Forgive us Of all the ways that we use plenty and demeaning and comparison to find assurance and security outside of you. 00:22:56.079 --> 00:22:57.839 This is not living for our neighborhood. 00:22:58.720 --> 00:23:00.559 This is not resident Jesus.