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Allen Jackson Ministries

Allen Jackson - Glimpses Of God's Love (Part 1)

January 11, 2026 | 28:35

Allen Jackson - Glimpses Of God's Love (Part 1)
Pastor Allen Jackson's mission is to help people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
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Allen Jackson Ministries | Allen Jackson - Glimpses Of God's Love (Part 1) | January 11, 2026
  • ...
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  • Allen jackson: you know, around the world,
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Cc by aberdeen captioning 1-800-688-6621 www.aberdeen.io
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  • Allen: this is the 4th week of advent, the first season of the
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  • Christian calendar, the 4 sundays, the 4 weekends that
  • 00:01:25.635 --> 00:01:28.471
  • Precede christmas day.
  • 00:01:28.471 --> 00:01:30.573
  • Celebrated throughout the earth by god's people.
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  • Has been for centuries.
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  • Typically this 4th week, the focus of the discussion is
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  • On love.
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  • We've been doing this in the context of a larger discussion
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  • About when god moves in the earth.
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  • I've been saying to you for quite some time now that god is
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  • Moving in the earth, and the question i'm asked most
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  • Frequently for the last several months is, "why?
  • 00:01:51.394 --> 00:01:54.030
  • What do you see?"
  • 00:01:54.030 --> 00:01:55.798
  • And it seems clear, and it's not just here in middle tennessee,
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  • It's wherever i have been, that we question that or we're trying
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  • To understand what that looks like.
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  • And i've been saying to you that when god moves in a sincere way,
  • 00:02:04.073 --> 00:02:07.677
  • I don't think it's just to reheat something we've seen from
  • 00:02:07.677 --> 00:02:10.280
  • The past.
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  • It's not like he's gonna step back to a practice that he had
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  • 50 years ago when the world was a quieter, gentler place.
  • 00:02:14.083 --> 00:02:17.987
  • In fact, typically when god moves, there's a point
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  • Of discontinuity.
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  • There's a break between the past and where we're headed.
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  • Think of the exodus generation, 400 years in egyptian slavery
  • 00:02:25.728 --> 00:02:28.898
  • And moses walks up and says we're leaving, and they have no
  • 00:02:28.898 --> 00:02:31.301
  • Concept of freedom or sovereignty or worship apart
  • 00:02:31.301 --> 00:02:36.039
  • From their influences of egypt or--i mean, when jesus was born
  • 00:02:36.039 --> 00:02:41.044
  • In bethlehem, it was a break, it was a signal that everything
  • 00:02:41.044 --> 00:02:44.047
  • Was changing.
  • 00:02:44.047 --> 00:02:45.448
  • The day of pentecost in acts chapter 2, they weren't going
  • 00:02:45.448 --> 00:02:48.251
  • Back to whatever they had been prior to jesus's ascension, and
  • 00:02:48.251 --> 00:02:51.421
  • We're in one of those seasons, i believe.
  • 00:02:51.421 --> 00:02:54.290
  • They're not just biblical seasons, they persist throughout
  • 00:02:54.290 --> 00:02:56.359
  • The history of the church, and i truly believe god is moving, and
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  • It requires discernment on our part, a willingness to change,
  • 00:02:59.963 --> 00:03:02.732
  • To grow, to learn, to be a bit uncomfortable.
  • 00:03:02.732 --> 00:03:07.470
  • It's not easy for those of us who are church folks.
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  • Especially those of us that are, you know, into our 30s now.
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  • It's harder for us to change.
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  • It's christmas, be generous.
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  • Well, in this session, i wanna talk a bit--you know, to have
  • 00:03:24.721 --> 00:03:28.458
  • One session to talk about the love of god seemed incomplete.
  • 00:03:28.458 --> 00:03:32.929
  • In fact, i sat trying to think about the weekend and i keep
  • 00:03:32.929 --> 00:03:36.165
  • Files on some of these things and i picked up a christmas file
  • 00:03:36.165 --> 00:03:40.003
  • And i started reading some of the pieces that were in it and
  • 00:03:40.003 --> 00:03:43.306
  • Tears were running down my face.
  • 00:03:43.306 --> 00:03:44.674
  • I brought one to you.
  • 00:03:44.674 --> 00:03:46.009
  • It really isn't--it has a great deal to do with christmas.
  • 00:03:46.009 --> 00:03:47.644
  • I'm not sure it has a lot to do with my outline, but it's better
  • 00:03:47.644 --> 00:03:49.812
  • Than my outline, so.
  • 00:03:49.812 --> 00:03:52.749
  • The title of it was "the giving trees," and it was the story: "i
  • 00:03:52.749 --> 00:03:54.984
  • Was a single parent of four small children, working at a
  • 00:03:54.984 --> 00:03:57.453
  • Minimum wage job.
  • 00:03:57.453 --> 00:03:59.856
  • Money was always tight, but we had a roof over our heads, food
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  • On the table, and clothes on our backs.
  • 00:04:03.059 --> 00:04:05.428
  • And if not a lot, always enough.
  • 00:04:05.428 --> 00:04:08.564
  • My kids told me that in those days, they didn't know we
  • 00:04:08.564 --> 00:04:10.867
  • Were poor.
  • 00:04:10.867 --> 00:04:12.368
  • They just thought mom was cheap.
  • 00:04:12.368 --> 00:04:15.538
  • I've always been glad about that.
  • 00:04:15.538 --> 00:04:17.940
  • Well, it was christmastime and although there wasn't a lot of
  • 00:04:17.940 --> 00:04:20.977
  • Money for gifts, we planned to celebrate with church and
  • 00:04:20.977 --> 00:04:23.713
  • Family, parties and friends, drives downtown to see the
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  • Christmas lights, special dinners, and by decorating
  • 00:04:26.249 --> 00:04:29.519
  • Our home.
  • 00:04:29.519 --> 00:04:30.853
  • But the big excitement for the kids was the fun of christmas
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  • Shopping at the mall.
  • 00:04:33.389 --> 00:04:35.191
  • They talked and planned for weeks ahead of time, asking each
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  • Other and their grandparents what they wanted for christmas.
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  • I dreaded it.
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  • I'd saved $120 for presents to be shared by all 5 of us.
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  • The big day arrived and we started out early.
  • 00:04:46.402 --> 00:04:48.404
  • I gave each of the four kids a $20 bill.
  • 00:04:48.404 --> 00:04:51.607
  • And reminded them to look for gifts of about $4 each.
  • 00:04:51.607 --> 00:04:54.911
  • Then everyone scattered and we had 2 hours to shop and we'd
  • 00:04:54.911 --> 00:04:57.380
  • Meet back at santa's workshop display.
  • 00:04:57.380 --> 00:05:00.750
  • Back in the car, driving home, everyone was in high christmas
  • 00:05:00.750 --> 00:05:03.853
  • Spirits, laughing and teasing each other with hints and clues
  • 00:05:03.853 --> 00:05:06.756
  • About what they'd bought.
  • 00:05:06.756 --> 00:05:08.424
  • My younger daughter, ginger, who was about 8 years old, was
  • 00:05:08.424 --> 00:05:10.993
  • Unusually quiet.
  • 00:05:10.993 --> 00:05:13.029
  • I noticed she had only--noticed she had only one small flat bag
  • 00:05:13.029 --> 00:05:16.265
  • With her after her shopping spree, and i could see enough
  • 00:05:16.265 --> 00:05:19.102
  • Through the plastic bag to see that she'd bought candy bars, 50
  • 00:05:19.102 --> 00:05:22.405
  • Cent candy bars.
  • 00:05:22.405 --> 00:05:24.207
  • I was so angry.
  • 00:05:24.207 --> 00:05:25.541
  • 'what did you do with that $20 bill i gave you?'
  • 00:05:25.541 --> 00:05:27.377
  • I wanted to yell at her.
  • 00:05:27.377 --> 00:05:29.679
  • But decided not to say anything until we got home.
  • 00:05:29.679 --> 00:05:32.682
  • So i called her into my bedroom and closed the door, ready to be
  • 00:05:32.682 --> 00:05:35.551
  • Angry again when i asked her what she'd done with the money,
  • 00:05:35.551 --> 00:05:37.954
  • And this is what she told me: 'i was looking around, thinking of
  • 00:05:37.954 --> 00:05:41.257
  • What to buy and i stopped to read a little card on one of the
  • 00:05:41.257 --> 00:05:44.160
  • Salvation army's giving trees.
  • 00:05:44.160 --> 00:05:46.963
  • One of the cards was for a little girl, 4 years old, and
  • 00:05:46.963 --> 00:05:49.198
  • All she wanted for christmas was a doll with clothes, and
  • 00:05:49.198 --> 00:05:51.701
  • A hairbrush.
  • 00:05:51.701 --> 00:05:53.102
  • So i took the card off the tree and bought the doll and the
  • 00:05:53.102 --> 00:05:55.405
  • Hairbrush for her and took it to the salvation army booth.
  • 00:05:55.405 --> 00:05:59.542
  • I only had enough money left to buy candy bars for us.
  • 00:05:59.542 --> 00:06:02.979
  • But we have so much and she doesn't have anything.'"
  • 00:06:02.979 --> 00:06:09.352
  • The mom said, "i never felt so rich as i did that day."
  • 00:06:09.352 --> 00:06:13.189
  • Folks, we are blessed, you know.
  • 00:06:13.189 --> 00:06:16.392
  • I know that--i know it isn't a simple time of the year.
  • 00:06:16.392 --> 00:06:23.666
  • Some of us have lost those we love, some of us have some real
  • 00:06:23.666 --> 00:06:26.869
  • Stresses in our lives.
  • 00:06:26.869 --> 00:06:29.372
  • Family systems are not simple.
  • 00:06:29.372 --> 00:06:32.341
  • Life does not typically happen on the schedule that's easiest
  • 00:06:32.341 --> 00:06:35.611
  • For most of us.
  • 00:06:35.611 --> 00:06:38.080
  • But in the midst of all of that, the blessings of god around us
  • 00:06:38.080 --> 00:06:42.418
  • Are phenomenal.
  • 00:06:42.418 --> 00:06:45.154
  • And don't let something that initiates unhappiness in you rob
  • 00:06:45.154 --> 00:06:51.794
  • You of the joy of christmas.
  • 00:06:51.794 --> 00:06:54.030
  • It's just not a good bargain.
  • 00:06:54.030 --> 00:06:56.933
  • In this session, we're gonna talk about the love of god.
  • 00:06:56.933 --> 00:06:58.901
  • We're gonna take some glimpses of god's love.
  • 00:06:58.901 --> 00:07:01.871
  • We can't unpack it in a lot of detail in the time, but just--
  • 00:07:01.871 --> 00:07:05.208
  • We're gonna pull back the curtain and kind of get a
  • 00:07:05.208 --> 00:07:07.109
  • Glimpse of some expressions of the love of god.
  • 00:07:07.109 --> 00:07:10.413
  • It's one of the most misunderstood, misused words in
  • 00:07:10.413 --> 00:07:14.083
  • Our current culture.
  • 00:07:14.083 --> 00:07:17.253
  • It's so far away from biblical presentations and it drifts into
  • 00:07:17.253 --> 00:07:20.990
  • The church and it leads us astray.
  • 00:07:20.990 --> 00:07:25.394
  • We tend to try to define god in terms of the secular
  • 00:07:25.394 --> 00:07:28.531
  • Understandings of love.
  • 00:07:28.531 --> 00:07:29.899
  • We live in nashville.
  • 00:07:29.899 --> 00:07:31.234
  • If your definition of love comes from the lyrics to a country
  • 00:07:31.234 --> 00:07:33.269
  • Song, i can pretty much guarantee you it's not biblical.
  • 00:07:33.269 --> 00:07:37.707
  • And i'm not opposed to country music.
  • 00:07:37.707 --> 00:07:39.275
  • That's just not where you wanna go build most of your theology.
  • 00:07:39.275 --> 00:07:42.979
  • You know, i think when we talk about love, we typically think
  • 00:07:42.979 --> 00:07:45.581
  • About license or lack of restraint or the absence of
  • 00:07:45.581 --> 00:07:51.287
  • Accountability because of the presence of love.
  • 00:07:51.287 --> 00:07:56.158
  • And while there is mercy and grace in love, that's not the
  • 00:07:56.158 --> 00:08:00.530
  • Full expression.
  • 00:08:00.530 --> 00:08:02.865
  • So we're gonna see if we can unpack it just a bit.
  • 00:08:02.865 --> 00:08:04.600
  • I took three vignettes.
  • 00:08:04.600 --> 00:08:06.035
  • We're gonna look at god's love in the garden in those opening
  • 00:08:06.035 --> 00:08:09.038
  • Chapters of genesis, because those opening chapters of
  • 00:08:09.038 --> 00:08:12.375
  • Genesis set the tone for the entire book.
  • 00:08:12.375 --> 00:08:15.678
  • The opening line of the bible, almost all of you know the
  • 00:08:15.678 --> 00:08:17.880
  • Opening verses of the bible.
  • 00:08:17.880 --> 00:08:20.116
  • "in the beginning--" look at you scholars.
  • 00:08:20.116 --> 00:08:25.054
  • "in the beginning, god created the heavens and the earth."
  • 00:08:25.054 --> 00:08:28.024
  • The big-rock ideas of the bible are in those very early chapters
  • 00:08:28.024 --> 00:08:31.394
  • Of genesis.
  • 00:08:31.394 --> 00:08:32.762
  • If you will accept that premise, the rest of the book will make
  • 00:08:32.762 --> 00:08:34.997
  • Sense to you.
  • 00:08:34.997 --> 00:08:36.365
  • If you reject god as the creator of heaven and earth, the bible
  • 00:08:36.365 --> 00:08:38.334
  • Is nonsense.
  • 00:08:38.334 --> 00:08:39.669
  • Why should you pay attention to it anyway?
  • 00:08:39.669 --> 00:08:41.637
  • If he didn't create the place, why would you take his counsel
  • 00:08:41.637 --> 00:08:43.906
  • On eternity?
  • 00:08:43.906 --> 00:08:45.575
  • And if he did, why wouldn't you?
  • 00:08:45.575 --> 00:08:51.080
  • And don't let your intellect get in the way.
  • 00:08:51.080 --> 00:08:52.448
  • People, i--my college career started in the basic sciences,
  • 00:08:52.448 --> 00:08:55.785
  • And i always smile.
  • 00:08:55.785 --> 00:08:57.153
  • People say, "well, you know, pastor, with my education, it's
  • 00:08:57.153 --> 00:09:00.389
  • Hard for me to believe in god."
  • 00:09:00.389 --> 00:09:02.525
  • I know it's a burden to carry a brain around that's that big.
  • 00:09:02.525 --> 00:09:08.197
  • I know it is and, you know, i have some empathy for you.
  • 00:09:08.197 --> 00:09:11.968
  • I've never had that problem myself.
  • 00:09:11.968 --> 00:09:16.405
  • But i spent some time in those technical classrooms and i can
  • 00:09:16.405 --> 00:09:20.109
  • Tell you, they don't have a theory that's better.
  • 00:09:20.109 --> 00:09:23.145
  • There's really no scientific way to understand our world apart
  • 00:09:23.145 --> 00:09:25.848
  • From the belief in intelligent design.
  • 00:09:25.848 --> 00:09:32.755
  • So, i thought we would start in the garden.
  • 00:09:32.755 --> 00:09:34.323
  • In genesis chapter 2 and verse 15: "the lord god took man and
  • 00:09:34.323 --> 00:09:37.393
  • Put him in the garden of eden to work it and to take care of it."
  • 00:09:37.393 --> 00:09:41.097
  • Literally, that's the modern hebrew word for a
  • 00:09:41.097 --> 00:09:43.499
  • Night watchman.
  • 00:09:43.499 --> 00:09:46.068
  • Adam, you've got to watch over this thing.
  • 00:09:46.068 --> 00:09:49.405
  • "and the lord commanded the man, 'you are free to eat from any
  • 00:09:49.405 --> 00:09:52.074
  • Tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the
  • 00:09:52.074 --> 00:09:54.577
  • Knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will
  • 00:09:54.577 --> 00:09:56.979
  • Surely die.'"
  • 00:09:56.979 --> 00:09:59.048
  • Wow, i mean, he didn't say like, you know, "i'm gonna--you'll
  • 00:09:59.048 --> 00:10:04.654
  • Have to take leave."
  • 00:10:04.654 --> 00:10:07.723
  • You eat from that tree, you'll die.
  • 00:10:07.723 --> 00:10:09.525
  • Now, all of us have been told what we should and shouldn't do
  • 00:10:09.525 --> 00:10:11.861
  • Enough to know what's the first thing you're going to be
  • 00:10:11.861 --> 00:10:13.429
  • Inclined to do?
  • 00:10:13.429 --> 00:10:15.631
  • Be walking around that tree going, "hm."
  • 00:10:15.631 --> 00:10:19.368
  • I mean, you know the story, you don't need me to do it.
  • 00:10:19.368 --> 00:10:21.704
  • The love of god's expressed after the fall, and god steps
  • 00:10:21.704 --> 00:10:26.375
  • Into the garden, looking for them, knowing full well what has
  • 00:10:26.375 --> 00:10:30.713
  • Happened, and he--there's--the first glimpse we get of the
  • 00:10:30.713 --> 00:10:33.949
  • Redemptive purposes of god, he says to satan, "you'll strike
  • 00:10:33.949 --> 00:10:38.054
  • The--his heel, but he'll crush your head."
  • 00:10:38.054 --> 00:10:41.157
  • God has a plan in spite of our rebellion and our rejection
  • 00:10:41.157 --> 00:10:44.527
  • Of him.
  • 00:10:44.527 --> 00:10:45.861
  • That's the love of god.
  • 00:10:45.861 --> 00:10:48.597
  • It sets the tone for the whole book.
  • 00:10:48.597 --> 00:10:50.700
  • It sets the tone for the existence of the human race.
  • 00:10:50.700 --> 00:10:54.103
  • You know, the point of the bible is to help adam's descendants to
  • 00:10:54.103 --> 00:10:58.374
  • Understand how to have a relationship with the creator of
  • 00:10:58.374 --> 00:11:00.376
  • All things if they so choose.
  • 00:11:00.376 --> 00:11:02.912
  • It's not principally a history book or a science book.
  • 00:11:02.912 --> 00:11:05.081
  • You can learn a bit of science, and there's some history
  • 00:11:05.081 --> 00:11:06.949
  • Included, but the point of the bible is to help adam's
  • 00:11:06.949 --> 00:11:10.152
  • Descendants to have a relationship with the creator of
  • 00:11:10.152 --> 00:11:12.388
  • All things.
  • 00:11:12.388 --> 00:11:14.156
  • It's amazing why we've been rebellious from the jump.
  • 00:11:14.156 --> 00:11:18.461
  • The one thing he said not to do, the one assignment adam had, the
  • 00:11:18.461 --> 00:11:21.030
  • Primary assignment, "you guard this garden."
  • 00:11:21.030 --> 00:11:22.865
  • If adam had done his job, the serpent in the conversation with
  • 00:11:22.865 --> 00:11:26.502
  • Eve would not have been problematic.
  • 00:11:26.502 --> 00:11:30.840
  • But there's some insight into the love of god.
  • 00:11:30.840 --> 00:11:33.175
  • God's love has boundaries.
  • 00:11:33.175 --> 00:11:36.178
  • And you really need to give some thought to this.
  • 00:11:36.178 --> 00:11:39.648
  • God didn't say, "oh, i love you so much, here's the garden, just
  • 00:11:39.648 --> 00:11:42.084
  • Do whatever you want whenever you want.
  • 00:11:42.084 --> 00:11:45.354
  • Group hug."
  • 00:11:45.354 --> 00:11:48.157
  • God said, "there's an assignment for you in this place, and there
  • 00:11:48.157 --> 00:11:50.626
  • Are some boundaries that you cannot transgress.
  • 00:11:50.626 --> 00:11:53.562
  • And if you do, the consequences are serious."
  • 00:11:53.562 --> 00:11:58.134
  • God's love did not eliminate threats.
  • 00:11:58.134 --> 00:12:01.771
  • You know, it isn't--i don't find it helpful to stand apart
  • 00:12:01.771 --> 00:12:05.641
  • From the bible and pass judgment.
  • 00:12:05.641 --> 00:12:07.143
  • I hear people say, "well, you know, a loving god would not--"
  • 00:12:07.143 --> 00:12:12.014
  • That's not really the best way to approach the word of god, in
  • 00:12:12.014 --> 00:12:14.450
  • My opinion.
  • 00:12:14.450 --> 00:12:16.519
  • I think the opportunity of the word of god is that we can come
  • 00:12:16.519 --> 00:12:19.188
  • To know the character of god so that we can align ourselves
  • 00:12:19.188 --> 00:12:22.124
  • With it.
  • 00:12:22.124 --> 00:12:24.593
  • You know, in my little pea brain, if we're gonna use that
  • 00:12:24.593 --> 00:12:27.096
  • Kind of line of reasoning, i think, well, you know, gravity
  • 00:12:27.096 --> 00:12:29.465
  • Should lighten its effect on us as we age.
  • 00:12:29.465 --> 00:12:36.272
  • Don't you wish?
  • 00:12:36.272 --> 00:12:38.741
  • I mean, it's nonsensical, but that line of reasoning will get
  • 00:12:38.741 --> 00:12:43.379
  • You into some significant error.
  • 00:12:43.379 --> 00:12:45.815
  • And it's used frequently.
  • 00:12:45.815 --> 00:12:47.616
  • People start with a premise about what they believe about
  • 00:12:47.616 --> 00:12:50.019
  • God, and then they'll go find a verse of the scripture that they
  • 00:12:50.019 --> 00:12:52.354
  • Think kind of highlights their perception of god's character.
  • 00:12:52.354 --> 00:12:57.526
  • It's affecting, currently, discussions about hell.
  • 00:12:57.526 --> 00:13:01.230
  • Not helpful and not biblical.
  • 00:13:01.230 --> 00:13:06.202
  • God's love did not eliminate threats.
  • 00:13:06.202 --> 00:13:08.737
  • You may not like that, but that's the presentation.
  • 00:13:08.737 --> 00:13:12.241
  • God could have put the tree of the knowledge of good and evil
  • 00:13:12.241 --> 00:13:15.845
  • In a place where it was just inaccessible, where adam would
  • 00:13:15.845 --> 00:13:20.149
  • Have had no access to it, impossible for him to have faced
  • 00:13:20.149 --> 00:13:22.751
  • That temptation.
  • 00:13:22.751 --> 00:13:24.086
  • But he didn't do that.
  • 00:13:24.086 --> 00:13:25.888
  • God gave adam the assignment to watch over the garden.
  • 00:13:25.888 --> 00:13:28.591
  • He could have arranged it in such a way that satan had no
  • 00:13:28.591 --> 00:13:32.928
  • Access to it.
  • 00:13:32.928 --> 00:13:35.130
  • But in the opening chapters of the bible, in the introduction
  • 00:13:35.130 --> 00:13:37.733
  • To the whole story, we find out that evil exists and that it
  • 00:13:37.733 --> 00:13:40.836
  • Intends to disrupt god's purposes for the pinnacle of his
  • 00:13:40.836 --> 00:13:44.073
  • Creation, human beings, the image bearers of god.
  • 00:13:44.073 --> 00:13:46.542
  • Satan hates them.
  • 00:13:46.542 --> 00:13:49.144
  • You better program that into your understanding and your
  • 00:13:49.144 --> 00:13:51.780
  • Thoughts and your reflections on the love of god.
  • 00:13:51.780 --> 00:13:55.918
  • The love of god does not remove us from the arena of
  • 00:13:55.918 --> 00:13:58.220
  • An adversary.
  • 00:13:58.220 --> 00:13:59.555
  • "well, i don't like that."
  • 00:13:59.555 --> 00:14:00.923
  • Duly noted.
  • 00:14:00.923 --> 00:14:02.258
  • But it didn't change it.
  • 00:14:02.258 --> 00:14:04.960
  • I think dessert should build muscle.
  • 00:14:04.960 --> 00:14:09.899
  • I've been thinking of writing that book.
  • 00:14:09.899 --> 00:14:12.801
  • I bet i could sell a million copies before they found out i
  • 00:14:12.801 --> 00:14:14.737
  • Was a fraud.
  • 00:14:14.737 --> 00:14:16.839
  • I'm not promising your money back.
  • 00:14:16.839 --> 00:14:19.108
  • If you see the book, "the chocolate diet," and my name's
  • 00:14:19.108 --> 00:14:21.543
  • On it, there's no money-back guarantee.
  • 00:14:21.543 --> 00:14:26.348
  • Christians, we want to impose our preferences on god.
  • 00:14:26.348 --> 00:14:30.819
  • Satan was not banished.
  • 00:14:30.819 --> 00:14:32.154
  • He wasn't annihilated.
  • 00:14:32.154 --> 00:14:34.356
  • He was given access to god's creation.
  • 00:14:34.356 --> 00:14:37.526
  • God's love is expressed in those opening chapters of our bible
  • 00:14:37.526 --> 00:14:41.563
  • Directionally: "this is what i want you to do."
  • 00:14:41.563 --> 00:14:45.200
  • There's an invitation put before adam.
  • 00:14:45.200 --> 00:14:48.804
  • I believe god's love is expressed towards you and me
  • 00:14:48.804 --> 00:14:52.241
  • Directionally with invitations.
  • 00:14:52.241 --> 00:14:54.877
  • It's not just a group hug, do whatever you want, hang out.
  • 00:14:54.877 --> 00:15:00.015
  • Oh, it's the best way to spend your days under the sun.
  • 00:15:00.015 --> 00:15:03.719
  • But it comes with purpose.
  • 00:15:03.719 --> 00:15:07.756
  • And the blessings of god, the love of god, is expressed.
  • 00:15:07.756 --> 00:15:14.296
  • Comes so frequently conditionally.
  • 00:15:14.296 --> 00:15:18.534
  • He loves us in spite of our brokenness.
  • 00:15:18.534 --> 00:15:20.803
  • That's why the plan of redemption is announced in the
  • 00:15:20.803 --> 00:15:22.705
  • Midst of our expressions of rebellion.
  • 00:15:22.705 --> 00:15:26.942
  • But it's not arbitrary.
  • 00:15:26.942 --> 00:15:28.911
  • We have to meet the conditions.
  • 00:15:28.911 --> 00:15:30.245
  • You know this--that if you confess with your mouth and
  • 00:15:30.245 --> 00:15:32.247
  • Believe in your heart that jesus is lord, you'll be...saved.
  • 00:15:32.247 --> 00:15:36.418
  • He didn't say if you sit in church or you make a generous
  • 00:15:36.418 --> 00:15:40.689
  • Gift or you're kind to your neighbor.
  • 00:15:40.689 --> 00:15:42.558
  • You have to make a decision regarding the person of jesus of
  • 00:15:42.558 --> 00:15:45.160
  • Nazareth, an itinerant jewish rabbi from the first century.
  • 00:15:45.160 --> 00:15:48.330
  • You have to decide what you're gonna do with him.
  • 00:15:48.330 --> 00:15:52.601
  • It'll determine your destiny.
  • 00:15:52.601 --> 00:15:56.038
  • The love of god.
  • 00:15:56.038 --> 00:15:59.708
  • God's love is expressed in provision and discipline.
  • 00:15:59.708 --> 00:16:04.146
  • You need both of those.
  • 00:16:04.146 --> 00:16:05.514
  • We learn that in the opening verses of the bible.
  • 00:16:05.514 --> 00:16:09.551
  • And yet millennia later, we're still trying to craft god's love
  • 00:16:09.551 --> 00:16:12.554
  • As if it has no boundaries to it, there's no direction to it.
  • 00:16:12.554 --> 00:16:16.959
  • It's just this amorphous feeling.
  • 00:16:16.959 --> 00:16:20.129
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:16:20.129 --> 00:16:25.000
  • Allen: welcome to 2026. happy new year.
  • 00:16:28.037 --> 00:16:31.240
  • We've created a new book to help you.
  • 00:16:31.240 --> 00:16:32.741
  • It's called "turn up the light."
  • 00:16:32.741 --> 00:16:34.076
  • It's a devotional for the whole year.
  • 00:16:34.076 --> 00:16:35.711
  • It's a really simple idea.
  • 00:16:35.711 --> 00:16:37.046
  • I can join you for a cup of coffee in the morning.
  • 00:16:37.046 --> 00:16:39.882
  • We'll have a brief conversation with a spiritual principle
  • 00:16:39.882 --> 00:16:42.584
  • To start our day, a scripture verse, a prayer.
  • 00:16:42.584 --> 00:16:45.387
  • And then when you're tired of me,
  • 00:16:45.387 --> 00:16:46.722
  • You can close the book.
  • 00:16:46.722 --> 00:16:48.223
  • It's perfect.
  • 00:16:48.223 --> 00:16:49.825
  • In all seriousness, we do wanna turn up the light.
  • 00:16:49.825 --> 00:16:52.261
  • Let's not rage against the darkness.
  • 00:16:52.261 --> 00:16:53.662
  • Let's invite god into the midst of this year
  • 00:16:53.662 --> 00:16:56.098
  • And then just see what he will do.
  • 00:16:56.098 --> 00:16:57.900
  • Female announcer: pastor allen's new devotional,
  • 00:16:57.900 --> 00:16:59.435
  • "turn up the light," is designed to equip you every single day
  • 00:16:59.435 --> 00:17:02.571
  • Of the year.
  • 00:17:02.571 --> 00:17:03.906
  • Inside, you'll find 365 short devotionals,
  • 00:17:03.906 --> 00:17:07.376
  • Each with a scripture, teaching, and a prayer.
  • 00:17:07.376 --> 00:17:10.446
  • As you begin this new year, don't rage against the darkness.
  • 00:17:10.446 --> 00:17:13.649
  • Instead, choose to turn up the light.
  • 00:17:13.649 --> 00:17:15.818
  • You can request this book when you donate $25 or more today
  • 00:17:15.818 --> 00:17:19.822
  • At allenjackson.com or by calling...
  • 00:17:19.822 --> 00:17:25.094
  • Allen: let's do a snapshot of god's love in bethlehem.
  • 00:17:28.797 --> 00:17:30.799
  • It's christmastime after all.
  • 00:17:30.799 --> 00:17:32.134
  • You know this one, the narratives, the story, it's so
  • 00:17:32.134 --> 00:17:34.103
  • Familiar, the characters.
  • 00:17:34.103 --> 00:17:37.139
  • Most of us have a song that goes along with the characters.
  • 00:17:37.139 --> 00:17:40.609
  • But in john 3:16, it says: "god so loved the world that he gave
  • 00:17:40.609 --> 00:17:43.545
  • His one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall
  • 00:17:43.545 --> 00:17:45.814
  • Not perish but have eternal life."
  • 00:17:45.814 --> 00:17:49.017
  • God loved and he gave.
  • 00:17:49.017 --> 00:17:50.819
  • It's kind of the fundamental connection to the whole
  • 00:17:50.819 --> 00:17:53.989
  • Christmas season.
  • 00:17:53.989 --> 00:17:57.226
  • "god didn't send his son into the world to condemn the world,
  • 00:17:57.226 --> 00:18:00.429
  • But to save the world through him.
  • 00:18:00.429 --> 00:18:01.964
  • Whoever believes in him is not condemned."
  • 00:18:01.964 --> 00:18:04.766
  • And a lot of times we kind of stop there.
  • 00:18:04.766 --> 00:18:08.737
  • "whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he's
  • 00:18:08.737 --> 00:18:12.708
  • Not believed in the name of god's one and only son."
  • 00:18:12.708 --> 00:18:16.378
  • It isn't that god condemns us.
  • 00:18:16.378 --> 00:18:17.713
  • Our refusal to believe leaves us standing in that place
  • 00:18:17.713 --> 00:18:21.483
  • Of condemnation.
  • 00:18:21.483 --> 00:18:23.752
  • It's not necessary.
  • 00:18:23.752 --> 00:18:25.487
  • It's not god's choice.
  • 00:18:25.487 --> 00:18:26.822
  • It's not god's plan.
  • 00:18:26.822 --> 00:18:28.190
  • It's not god's purpose.
  • 00:18:28.190 --> 00:18:29.525
  • But you see, we can't define the boundaries.
  • 00:18:29.525 --> 00:18:31.393
  • We don't define this.
  • 00:18:31.393 --> 00:18:32.761
  • There is a god.
  • 00:18:32.761 --> 00:18:34.096
  • He's sovereign over all.
  • 00:18:34.096 --> 00:18:37.633
  • This is really important.
  • 00:18:37.633 --> 00:18:38.967
  • If the church is gonna make the impact in the world that we are
  • 00:18:38.967 --> 00:18:41.170
  • Assigned to make, we're gonna have to have something more than
  • 00:18:41.170 --> 00:18:43.839
  • Sloppy agape.
  • 00:18:43.839 --> 00:18:47.976
  • We've lost our way.
  • 00:18:47.976 --> 00:18:50.579
  • Congress should not be better with biblical worldview than
  • 00:18:50.579 --> 00:18:52.981
  • The church.
  • 00:18:52.981 --> 00:18:54.316
  • [congregation applauding]
  • 00:18:54.316 --> 00:19:02.457
  • Allen: "because he hasn't believed in the name of god's
  • 00:19:02.457 --> 00:19:04.259
  • One and only son.
  • 00:19:04.259 --> 00:19:05.794
  • This is the verdict: light has come into the world, but men
  • 00:19:05.794 --> 00:19:07.396
  • Loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil."
  • 00:19:07.396 --> 00:19:11.934
  • God's love was expressed in action.
  • 00:19:11.934 --> 00:19:15.370
  • Our love for god is equally expressed in action.
  • 00:19:15.370 --> 00:19:19.775
  • Love that remains just a thought will always dwell in the realm
  • 00:19:19.775 --> 00:19:22.477
  • Of a doubt.
  • 00:19:22.477 --> 00:19:24.546
  • Love has an action associated with it.
  • 00:19:24.546 --> 00:19:26.949
  • I'm not saying we earn our way to heaven or we earn our way
  • 00:19:26.949 --> 00:19:29.351
  • Into the goodness of god.
  • 00:19:29.351 --> 00:19:32.287
  • But love is expressed.
  • 00:19:32.287 --> 00:19:35.457
  • In luke chapter 1 and verse 26, the very familiar verses: "in
  • 00:19:35.457 --> 00:19:38.860
  • The sixth month, god sent the angel gabriel to nazareth, a
  • 00:19:38.860 --> 00:19:41.296
  • Town in galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man
  • 00:19:41.296 --> 00:19:43.899
  • Named joseph, a descendant of david.
  • 00:19:43.899 --> 00:19:46.168
  • The virgin's name was mary, and the angel went to her and said,
  • 00:19:46.168 --> 00:19:48.270
  • 'greetings, you are highly favored!
  • 00:19:48.270 --> 00:19:49.838
  • The lord is with you.'"
  • 00:19:49.838 --> 00:19:51.974
  • "god loves you, mary.
  • 00:19:51.974 --> 00:19:53.342
  • He sent me with a message.
  • 00:19:53.342 --> 00:19:55.244
  • I am about to blow your world apart.
  • 00:19:55.244 --> 00:20:01.883
  • I'm about to fracture every relationship you have.
  • 00:20:01.883 --> 00:20:06.455
  • Joseph is gonna think you're awful!
  • 00:20:06.455 --> 00:20:10.892
  • Good news!"
  • 00:20:10.892 --> 00:20:14.329
  • Well, isn't that true?
  • 00:20:14.329 --> 00:20:17.566
  • I mean, it feels like the way.
  • 00:20:17.566 --> 00:20:20.369
  • In matthew 1, this is joseph's-- "this is how the birth of jesus
  • 00:20:20.369 --> 00:20:23.071
  • Came about: his mother mary was pledged to be married to joseph,
  • 00:20:23.071 --> 00:20:25.340
  • But before they came together, she was found to be with a child
  • 00:20:25.340 --> 00:20:27.643
  • Through the holy spirit."
  • 00:20:27.643 --> 00:20:28.977
  • Ooh, that's awkward.
  • 00:20:28.977 --> 00:20:31.413
  • "but joseph her husband was a righteous man
  • 00:20:31.413 --> 00:20:33.248
  • And didn't want to humiliate her, so he had in mind to
  • 00:20:33.248 --> 00:20:36.752
  • Divorce her quietly.
  • 00:20:36.752 --> 00:20:38.920
  • But after he'd considered this, an angel of the lord appeared to
  • 00:20:38.920 --> 00:20:41.023
  • Him in a dream and said, 'joseph son of david, don't be afraid to
  • 00:20:41.023 --> 00:20:43.558
  • Take mary home as your wife.
  • 00:20:43.558 --> 00:20:45.494
  • What is conceived in her is from the holy spirit.'"
  • 00:20:45.494 --> 00:20:48.497
  • You know, we read that like joseph woke up in the morning
  • 00:20:48.497 --> 00:20:50.299
  • And all the issue was settled.
  • 00:20:50.299 --> 00:20:54.703
  • Like, huh?
  • 00:20:54.703 --> 00:20:59.775
  • I don't know.
  • 00:20:59.775 --> 00:21:01.109
  • We don't have any record of that next conversation between the
  • 00:21:01.109 --> 00:21:03.412
  • Two of them, but i suspect awkward would be
  • 00:21:03.412 --> 00:21:05.614
  • An understatement.
  • 00:21:05.614 --> 00:21:07.749
  • But our topic is the love of god.
  • 00:21:07.749 --> 00:21:09.318
  • We're trying to understand it.
  • 00:21:09.318 --> 00:21:10.652
  • I think god loved mary and god loved joseph.
  • 00:21:10.652 --> 00:21:12.554
  • Is that fair?
  • 00:21:12.554 --> 00:21:13.889
  • He gave them primary roles in his unfolding purposes in
  • 00:21:13.889 --> 00:21:16.658
  • The earth.
  • 00:21:16.658 --> 00:21:19.127
  • What if god were to give us some role in his unfolding purpose at
  • 00:21:19.127 --> 00:21:22.030
  • The beginning of the 21st century?
  • 00:21:22.030 --> 00:21:24.766
  • The best way we would know to understand that is by watching
  • 00:21:24.766 --> 00:21:27.135
  • Those that he's invited into his purposes in previous seasons
  • 00:21:27.135 --> 00:21:30.005
  • That we have in scripture.
  • 00:21:30.005 --> 00:21:34.142
  • They were highly favored by god.
  • 00:21:34.142 --> 00:21:36.978
  • Highly esteemed, highly esteemed enough that god sent an
  • 00:21:36.978 --> 00:21:39.581
  • Archangel gabriel to invite them into his purposes.
  • 00:21:39.581 --> 00:21:43.018
  • They needed some specific instructions, but they didn't
  • 00:21:43.018 --> 00:21:45.454
  • Get, like, the full revelation.
  • 00:21:45.454 --> 00:21:47.189
  • They just got enough to be able to say yes or no.
  • 00:21:47.189 --> 00:21:51.526
  • But there are some things we can understand about receiving
  • 00:21:51.526 --> 00:21:53.795
  • God's love.
  • 00:21:53.795 --> 00:21:55.130
  • It's disruptive.
  • 00:21:55.130 --> 00:21:58.900
  • I think we could say it's uncomfortable.
  • 00:21:58.900 --> 00:22:02.304
  • Well, i think we'd be remiss if we didn't say
  • 00:22:02.304 --> 00:22:03.905
  • It's transformational.
  • 00:22:03.905 --> 00:22:06.441
  • To be transformed is to change in potential.
  • 00:22:06.441 --> 00:22:09.745
  • In romans, it says that you can be changed in potential.
  • 00:22:09.745 --> 00:22:12.314
  • You can be transformed by the renewing of your mind--that if
  • 00:22:12.314 --> 00:22:15.450
  • You learn to think in a more godly way, it changes the
  • 00:22:15.450 --> 00:22:18.186
  • Potential of your life.
  • 00:22:18.186 --> 00:22:20.355
  • I'm asking you to imagine that the love of god expressed
  • 00:22:20.355 --> 00:22:23.759
  • Towards you could be disruptive.
  • 00:22:23.759 --> 00:22:27.329
  • See, i think most of us believe god doesn't love us if there's
  • 00:22:27.329 --> 00:22:30.265
  • Any disruption to my plan.
  • 00:22:30.265 --> 00:22:33.435
  • That's my tendency.
  • 00:22:33.435 --> 00:22:34.770
  • God, if you love me so much, why is this difficult?
  • 00:22:34.770 --> 00:22:40.976
  • God, if you love me so much, why does my heart feel broken?
  • 00:22:40.976 --> 00:22:47.549
  • God, if you love me so much, how could there be so much hatred?
  • 00:22:47.549 --> 00:22:52.087
  • You see, we've ignored the narrative.
  • 00:22:52.087 --> 00:22:55.457
  • We haven't really listened to his coaching.
  • 00:22:55.457 --> 00:22:57.592
  • We have--we've allowed a secular culture to kind of
  • 00:22:57.592 --> 00:22:59.995
  • Define for us the love of god.
  • 00:22:59.995 --> 00:23:03.165
  • No question god loved mary.
  • 00:23:03.165 --> 00:23:04.499
  • You agreed with me a moment ago.
  • 00:23:04.499 --> 00:23:07.736
  • But i'm telling you, her dream was not the priority for god,
  • 00:23:07.736 --> 00:23:13.074
  • Her aspirations for joseph and how her family story
  • 00:23:13.074 --> 00:23:16.044
  • Would unwind.
  • 00:23:16.044 --> 00:23:18.447
  • I mean, her firstborn son is gonna be completely rejected by
  • 00:23:18.447 --> 00:23:21.616
  • The most powerful people of his generation and tortured to death
  • 00:23:21.616 --> 00:23:25.086
  • In public.
  • 00:23:25.086 --> 00:23:29.257
  • You may say by that point, mary--there is no way that's a
  • 00:23:29.257 --> 00:23:32.928
  • Comfortable scenario, none.
  • 00:23:32.928 --> 00:23:39.167
  • The love of god.
  • 00:23:39.167 --> 00:23:41.703
  • This is serious because you and i are trying to figure out how
  • 00:23:41.703 --> 00:23:44.506
  • To follow the lord and how to serve him.
  • 00:23:44.506 --> 00:23:47.909
  • I keep inviting you away from this notion that you're born
  • 00:23:47.909 --> 00:23:50.045
  • Again, so you don't have to use your brain anymore.
  • 00:23:50.045 --> 00:23:54.082
  • That's a--that's an incomplete gospel.
  • 00:23:54.082 --> 00:23:57.486
  • Honestly, i think it's a false gospel, but at the best, it's an
  • 00:23:57.486 --> 00:24:00.422
  • Incomplete one.
  • 00:24:00.422 --> 00:24:02.891
  • I believe in conversion, the new-birth salvation, but you're
  • 00:24:02.891 --> 00:24:05.660
  • Birthed into the kingdom of god to grow up and to serve the lord
  • 00:24:05.660 --> 00:24:08.997
  • With your days under the sun.
  • 00:24:08.997 --> 00:24:11.266
  • And that's gonna take your strength, your emotions,
  • 00:24:11.266 --> 00:24:13.602
  • Your mind.
  • 00:24:13.602 --> 00:24:15.737
  • The love of god.
  • 00:24:15.737 --> 00:24:17.706
  • The love of god is disruptive.
  • 00:24:17.706 --> 00:24:20.742
  • It's transformational.
  • 00:24:20.742 --> 00:24:22.344
  • How many of you know mary's life was different after that visit?
  • 00:24:22.344 --> 00:24:26.748
  • I mean, she just spent all of her life in nazareth, the
  • 00:24:26.748 --> 00:24:28.750
  • Village of about 1,200-1,500 people in the first century,
  • 00:24:28.750 --> 00:24:31.319
  • Tiny little place off the beaten path.
  • 00:24:31.319 --> 00:24:35.390
  • No reason for significance other than god said, "watch this."
  • 00:24:35.390 --> 00:24:40.762
  • So yes, god was disrupsitive, but he brought a significance to
  • 00:24:40.762 --> 00:24:43.465
  • Her, a purpose to her.
  • 00:24:43.465 --> 00:24:45.100
  • Folks, god is doing that in you.
  • 00:24:45.100 --> 00:24:50.739
  • Her friends didn't see it that way.
  • 00:24:50.739 --> 00:24:52.974
  • Her friends thought her character was fractured.
  • 00:24:52.974 --> 00:24:56.378
  • Joseph didn't see it that way.
  • 00:24:56.378 --> 00:24:57.746
  • He thought she'd betrayed him.
  • 00:24:57.746 --> 00:25:01.650
  • I'm pretty sure mary asked gabriel if he could talk to
  • 00:25:01.650 --> 00:25:03.685
  • Her folks.
  • 00:25:03.685 --> 00:25:06.254
  • It just didn't make it into the book.
  • 00:25:06.254 --> 00:25:11.126
  • He did visit with her aunt though.
  • 00:25:11.126 --> 00:25:12.527
  • She got to go see elizabeth.
  • 00:25:12.527 --> 00:25:15.297
  • There seemed to be some affirmation.
  • 00:25:15.297 --> 00:25:16.965
  • It wasn't she was totally on an island.
  • 00:25:16.965 --> 00:25:18.900
  • There's great comfort in that.
  • 00:25:18.900 --> 00:25:20.835
  • God's love for you, i want you to think about it.
  • 00:25:20.835 --> 00:25:22.971
  • You need to meditate on it.
  • 00:25:22.971 --> 00:25:24.339
  • You need to take it away more than just a sermon.
  • 00:25:24.339 --> 00:25:26.942
  • It's a little window into the love of god.
  • 00:25:26.942 --> 00:25:29.044
  • He loved joseph.
  • 00:25:29.044 --> 00:25:32.581
  • And by the time jesus has gone to the cross, joseph is out of
  • 00:25:32.581 --> 00:25:36.351
  • The narrative.
  • 00:25:36.351 --> 00:25:37.686
  • The implication is he's dead.
  • 00:25:37.686 --> 00:25:41.823
  • The man that was recruited to shepherd jesus borrowed dad.
  • 00:25:41.823 --> 00:25:51.366
  • That wouldn't be the way i'd want to write the story.
  • 00:25:51.366 --> 00:25:55.737
  • The love of god.
  • 00:25:55.737 --> 00:25:59.774
  • We've manufactured it into something completely different,
  • 00:25:59.774 --> 00:26:02.811
  • I think.
  • 00:26:02.811 --> 00:26:05.246
  • Allen: i love the promise of a new year,
  • 00:26:09.150 --> 00:26:11.553
  • All the opportunities that it holds.
  • 00:26:11.553 --> 00:26:13.622
  • We wanna begin that on purpose, so we've created a new tool.
  • 00:26:13.622 --> 00:26:16.324
  • It's a book.
  • 00:26:16.324 --> 00:26:17.659
  • It's a devotional, 365-day devotional, built out of those
  • 00:26:17.659 --> 00:26:21.029
  • Digital devotionals that you're familiar with.
  • 00:26:21.029 --> 00:26:23.231
  • The intent is just to give you a bit of a spiritual beginning
  • 00:26:23.231 --> 00:26:26.034
  • For the day, a little vitamin, spiritual vitamin,
  • 00:26:26.034 --> 00:26:27.936
  • For your day--a prayer, a scripture verse.
  • 00:26:27.936 --> 00:26:30.105
  • It's easy to share.
  • 00:26:30.105 --> 00:26:31.439
  • You know, i've often said that you don't rage against
  • 00:26:31.439 --> 00:26:33.241
  • The darkness; turn up the light.
  • 00:26:33.241 --> 00:26:35.110
  • Well, we very creatively entitled this devotional
  • 00:26:35.110 --> 00:26:37.545
  • "turn up the light."
  • 00:26:37.545 --> 00:26:39.014
  • Get a couple of copies.
  • 00:26:39.014 --> 00:26:40.348
  • Share one with a friend, maybe a family member.
  • 00:26:40.348 --> 00:26:41.816
  • Let's do it together. god is moving in the earth.
  • 00:26:41.816 --> 00:26:44.819
  • Don't let your attention be drawn to the darkness and the
  • 00:26:44.819 --> 00:26:47.889
  • Chaos and the confusion.
  • 00:26:47.889 --> 00:26:49.791
  • Let's focus our hearts on the lord.
  • 00:26:49.791 --> 00:26:51.292
  • Ask him to turn up the light and raise our hands,
  • 00:26:51.292 --> 00:26:54.129
  • And let's just see what he will do in our lives.
  • 00:26:54.129 --> 00:26:56.665
  • Let's pray.
  • 00:26:56.665 --> 00:26:58.266
  • Father, i thank you for a new year, for the strength to meet
  • 00:26:58.266 --> 00:27:00.235
  • This beginning.
  • 00:27:00.235 --> 00:27:01.569
  • We wanna invite you into the midst of our homes,
  • 00:27:01.569 --> 00:27:03.471
  • Our lives, our journeys.
  • 00:27:03.471 --> 00:27:05.440
  • May christ in us truly be a light in this world this year.
  • 00:27:05.440 --> 00:27:09.110
  • In jesus's name, amen.
  • 00:27:09.110 --> 00:27:11.513
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:11.513 --> 00:27:30.001