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Allen Jackson Ministries

Allen Jackson - Lessons In Spiritual Authority (Part 1)

February 25, 2026 | 27:29

Allen Jackson - Lessons In Spiritual Authority (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 - Lessons In Spiritual Authority (Part 1) | February 25, 2026
  • ...
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  • Allen jackson: you know, around the world,
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  • People are searching for truth, and together we're doing our
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  • Very best to help them find it.
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  • Have heard the gospel otherwise.
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  • Together, we can stand firm in our faith and make god's truth
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  • Known right here at home and around the earth, wherever
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  • God opens a door.
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  • Let's keep gathering his people and building his church until
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  • The day our king returns.
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  • You can find more about becoming a ministry partner
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  • At allenjackson.com/partner.
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  • Allen: we're working through a series under the general theme
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  • Of "let's eat."
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  • Amen.
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  • Somebody brought me a new series, but i'm gonna wait and
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  • Tell you about that one later.
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  • But it's a bit of a parallel with our "let's pray" idea, that
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  • We wanted prayer to move beyond formal worship services or even
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  • Church buildings.
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  • We wanted prayer to become a part of the routine of our lives
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  • And our interaction with one another and our friends and
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  • Our--the people we encounter through the course of our day.
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  • Well, "let's eat" takes that same idea.
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  • For hundreds of years across multiple cultures, the kitchen
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  • Table was an organizing principle in our homes and our
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  • Families and has been an essential expression of faith in
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  • Our homes; and at the beginning of the 21st century that idea
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  • Has begun to dissipate, and i don't believe it's helpful to
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  • Our spiritual formation and i don't believe it's helpful to
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  • Our families and to the well-being of our lives and our
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  • Communities of faith.
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  • And so that's really the motivation behind this little
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  • Study we're doing together.
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  • It's not in your notes, but 1 peter 4:9 says, "offer
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  • Hospitality to one another without grumbling."
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  • He wouldn't have put the "without grumbling" in there if
  • 00:02:28.998 --> 00:02:31.034
  • There weren't a lot of grumblers when somebody said you need to
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  • Be more hospitable.
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  • I learned that pri--it's a principle of
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  • Biblical interpretation.
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  • If the bible tells you what to do when your ox gores your
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  • Neighbor, it's because oxes kept goring neighbors.
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  • It's not theoretical.
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  • And if peter is writing to the believers and says offer
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  • Hospitality to one another without grumbling, he put
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  • "without grumbling" in there 'cause there was a lot of
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  • Grumbling when he said offer hospitality.
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  • We haven't changed a lot.
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  • So what i've been encouraging you to do is to have a meal a
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  • Week as a family at the kitchen table with no devices.
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  • Now, how you get there and what you eat, i'm gonna leave to you.
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  • You can doordash it.
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  • You can have pizza.
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  • Some lament that it's not a more fully-formed meal.
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  • I think that will come if we will replace--if we will put
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  • Back in place that habit of gathering around our table.
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  • It's a wellness check.
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  • It's an opportunity to hear and listen to one another.
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  • It's a wonderful training opportunity.
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  • If there's still children in the home, let them help set
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  • The table.
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  • Let them help plate the food.
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  • Engage them in the process.
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  • Let them understand they're a part of something, and it's not
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  • Just there--they're not just there to be served.
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  • I think it is an inordinately destructive habit to allow
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  • Children to imagine they are the center of the home.
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  • Let them be a part of what's happening at that table.
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  • Listen to what the victories of the week have been.
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  • Listen to what the challenges--the imagined
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  • Perceived challenges are, and maybe before you leave the table
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  • You have a short prayer that addresses those things.
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  • Let faith begin to come back to that kitchen table at the center
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  • Of your home once a week.
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  • Part of the heart of that is regaining authority over
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  • Your calendar.
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  • There are so many voices outside our families that are demanding
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  • Authority in our homes, and you better be careful.
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  • If you don't guard that, you will give up the spiritual
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  • Authority of your home to some outsider, interloper.
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  • Doesn't mean they're wicked, but you don't want them to be the
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  • Spiritual authority in your home.
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  • But i wanna go back to what peter said 'cause this isn't
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  • Just for families with small children.
  • 00:04:51.741 --> 00:04:54.110
  • If your children are grown, your table still represents an
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  • Expression of faith, and that engagement is
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  • Called hospitality.
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  • So with what frequency are you using your home as an expression
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  • Of your faith?
  • 00:05:07.090 --> 00:05:09.459
  • We have almost completely walked away from this.
  • 00:05:09.459 --> 00:05:13.329
  • It wasn't very long ago it was the center of the expressions of
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  • Our faith.
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  • In the lobbies of the building, we've got some displays set up
  • 00:05:18.434 --> 00:05:20.136
  • From the '50s and '60s and the '70s and '80s and the '90s; and
  • 00:05:20.136 --> 00:05:24.507
  • They're really intended to be pictures of homes centered
  • 00:05:24.507 --> 00:05:27.243
  • Around a kitchen table, and we can see how much our lives
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  • Have changed.
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  • But for all the technological improvements and all the things
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  • That make us more efficient and more effective and more
  • 00:05:34.417 --> 00:05:36.686
  • Connected, we've lost an essential expression of
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  • Our faith.
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  • Over the hundreds of years, i'm gonna say it again, from the
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  • Roman empire to the present day, the kitchen table was an
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  • Organizing principle for families and relationships.
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  • And i don't say that to add to your shame or to promote guilt,
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  • I want you to know the--how important it is.
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  • In the new testament, hospitality is presented as a
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  • Necessary requirement, a character trait that was
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  • Essential to qualify for leadership amongst the people
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  • Of faith.
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  • You couldn't be considered for a role of influence if you weren't
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  • Noted for practicing hospitality.
  • 00:06:18.728 --> 00:06:22.899
  • We've moved a long way away from that.
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  • So "let's eat" is an invitation to recognize again the
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  • Significance of that table and the opportunity it represents.
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  • Thank you for your great enthusiasm for that.
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  • It's really--it's overwhelming.
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  • I read that a third of jesus's teaching was done in the context
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  • Of being seated at a table, which is really staggering.
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  • I've been pulling the passages and the places where jesus's
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  • Messaging was centered around a table experience because it's a
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  • Scenario that's very familiar to us.
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  • And i'm gonna carry that forward with you this evening, but i'll
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  • Start in luke chapter 22 because the language to me is
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  • So powerful.
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  • Jesus is just about to begin his suffering, and he's having a
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  • Meal with his disciples.
  • 00:07:22.458 --> 00:07:23.826
  • "when the hour came, jesus and his apostles reclined at
  • 00:07:23.826 --> 00:07:26.462
  • The table.
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  • And he said to them, 'i have eagerly desired to eat this
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  • Passover with you before i suffer.
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  • For i tell you, i'll not eat it again until it finds fulfillment
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  • In the kingdom of god.'"
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  • Now, i know it's in the bible and it's jesus talking, so you
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  • Go, "that makes perfect sense."
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  • But it seems to me that's pretty weird.
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  • Jesus is at the passover meal with his closest friends, and he
  • 00:07:49.085 --> 00:07:53.222
  • Said, "i have eagerly desired."
  • 00:07:53.222 --> 00:07:55.124
  • That's translated in some different ways.
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  • "i have longed."
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  • He's--there's--"i've been anxious.
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  • I have been--it's been important for me.
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  • I've been looking forward.
  • 00:08:01.864 --> 00:08:03.199
  • It was marked on my calendar to have this passover meal
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  • With you."
  • 00:08:06.302 --> 00:08:09.038
  • Again, i think we read that and go, "well, yeah."
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  • No, i don't think so.
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  • I don't think i would schedule a dinner party with friends the
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  • Night before i was gonna be arrested and tortured to death.
  • 00:08:17.680 --> 00:08:22.518
  • I don't, and i like people.
  • 00:08:22.518 --> 00:08:28.758
  • But i'm pretty much thinking, "no, i don't think i'm gonna use
  • 00:08:28.758 --> 00:08:31.394
  • My last night of freedom."
  • 00:08:31.394 --> 00:08:34.964
  • And then if i were gonna do it, i'm pretty certain i wouldn't
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  • Invite my friends that i knew were about to abandon me; that
  • 00:08:38.634 --> 00:08:44.307
  • When i needed a friend, they weren't gonna stand.
  • 00:08:44.307 --> 00:08:48.344
  • And i'm absolutely certain that i would have--not have included
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  • The friend who has betrayed me for money.
  • 00:08:52.782 --> 00:09:00.489
  • Is that fair?
  • 00:09:00.489 --> 00:09:02.491
  • And yet jesus said, "i have really been looking forward to
  • 00:09:02.491 --> 00:09:07.563
  • This meal with you."
  • 00:09:07.563 --> 00:09:10.366
  • Well, there's a significance in there.
  • 00:09:10.366 --> 00:09:13.769
  • It doesn't line up with my own priorities.
  • 00:09:13.769 --> 00:09:17.540
  • So i'm not throwing rocks at you, i'm telling you we have
  • 00:09:17.540 --> 00:09:21.077
  • Undervalued something that is in our homes and the significance
  • 00:09:21.077 --> 00:09:25.047
  • It holds for the unfolding purposes of god for your family
  • 00:09:25.047 --> 00:09:28.951
  • And their spiritual formation and for the expression of your
  • 00:09:28.951 --> 00:09:32.455
  • Faith beyond just your family.
  • 00:09:32.455 --> 00:09:37.827
  • "amen, pastor.
  • 00:09:37.827 --> 00:09:39.362
  • We agree with you.
  • 00:09:39.362 --> 00:09:40.696
  • That is wonderful news.
  • 00:09:40.696 --> 00:09:42.064
  • Thank you for sharing it with us."
  • 00:09:42.064 --> 00:09:44.400
  • Luke 13.
  • 00:09:44.400 --> 00:09:45.735
  • Same author.
  • 00:09:45.735 --> 00:09:47.103
  • It's not centered in a table, but it has the same sense of
  • 00:09:47.103 --> 00:09:50.072
  • Longing and it--in my own heart, at least, it's a parallel.
  • 00:09:50.072 --> 00:09:54.010
  • Jesus is entering jerusalem.
  • 00:09:54.010 --> 00:09:55.344
  • It's the triumphal entry.
  • 00:09:55.344 --> 00:09:57.213
  • And he pauses on the mount of olives and he said, "jerusalem,
  • 00:09:57.213 --> 00:10:00.516
  • You who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how
  • 00:10:00.516 --> 00:10:03.152
  • Often i've longed to gather your children together."
  • 00:10:03.152 --> 00:10:07.023
  • Very similar phrasing to what jesus said to the disciples:
  • 00:10:07.023 --> 00:10:09.458
  • "i've longed to have this meal with you."
  • 00:10:09.458 --> 00:10:11.494
  • And now he's making a pronouncement as a prophet over
  • 00:10:11.494 --> 00:10:14.263
  • The whole city.
  • 00:10:14.263 --> 00:10:15.598
  • He said, "how i have longed to gather your children together as
  • 00:10:15.598 --> 00:10:18.668
  • A hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were
  • 00:10:18.668 --> 00:10:23.072
  • Not willing!"
  • 00:10:23.072 --> 00:10:25.508
  • Now, i think this is relevant to our table discussion.
  • 00:10:25.508 --> 00:10:28.678
  • May i ask you a question?
  • 00:10:28.678 --> 00:10:30.846
  • Are there god opportunities that you could imagine god has for us
  • 00:10:30.846 --> 00:10:34.583
  • That we're not willing to embrace?
  • 00:10:34.583 --> 00:10:38.254
  • What jesus is saying over the city of jerusalem is, "there's
  • 00:10:38.254 --> 00:10:41.457
  • An intense longing in me to gather you together to watch
  • 00:10:41.457 --> 00:10:45.494
  • Over you, to protect you, to care for you, to shepherd you,
  • 00:10:45.494 --> 00:10:48.764
  • To guide you, but you're not interested.
  • 00:10:48.764 --> 00:10:55.438
  • You're busy.
  • 00:10:55.438 --> 00:10:57.273
  • You got plans and agendas and objectives and dreams and
  • 00:10:57.273 --> 00:10:59.842
  • Aspirations, and you're not interested."
  • 00:10:59.842 --> 00:11:03.145
  • He's got my attention now.
  • 00:11:03.145 --> 00:11:05.381
  • The disciples at that last supper, they were not on the
  • 00:11:05.381 --> 00:11:08.217
  • Same page with jesus.
  • 00:11:08.217 --> 00:11:10.519
  • They're arguing about who's gonna be the greatest.
  • 00:11:10.519 --> 00:11:14.623
  • They're trying to process all this stuff.
  • 00:11:14.623 --> 00:11:16.625
  • I mean, they're out of sync.
  • 00:11:16.625 --> 00:11:17.993
  • They're out of sorts, and jesus has got a laser kind of focus.
  • 00:11:17.993 --> 00:11:22.798
  • And then luke gives us this second scenario where jesus is
  • 00:11:22.798 --> 00:11:25.367
  • Coming into the city in the midst of this triumphant
  • 00:11:25.367 --> 00:11:28.037
  • Procession and he begins to weep and he said, "i have so much
  • 00:11:28.037 --> 00:11:34.076
  • Wanted to watch over you, but you weren't interested."
  • 00:11:34.076 --> 00:11:38.380
  • So here's the premise as we start to unpack this.
  • 00:11:38.380 --> 00:11:41.050
  • Are we willing to imagine that god would do something in our
  • 00:11:41.050 --> 00:11:43.652
  • Lives that we haven't made room for?
  • 00:11:43.652 --> 00:11:47.156
  • You see, the audience in luke's gospel right there, they think
  • 00:11:47.156 --> 00:11:50.326
  • They've got it covered.
  • 00:11:50.326 --> 00:11:51.794
  • They're doing the passover meal.
  • 00:11:51.794 --> 00:11:53.329
  • They're the right group of people having the right holiday,
  • 00:11:53.329 --> 00:11:55.664
  • Eating the right food, prepared in the right way, in the
  • 00:11:55.664 --> 00:11:58.400
  • Right place.
  • 00:11:58.400 --> 00:11:59.735
  • They got all the boxes checked, and they're clueless.
  • 00:11:59.735 --> 00:12:04.240
  • So is it possible?
  • 00:12:04.240 --> 00:12:06.509
  • It's just a--it's a worthwhile question.
  • 00:12:06.509 --> 00:12:08.410
  • "lord, where is it?
  • 00:12:08.410 --> 00:12:09.779
  • I've been so focused on checking the boxes that i haven't been
  • 00:12:09.779 --> 00:12:13.115
  • Listening to your invitations.
  • 00:12:13.115 --> 00:12:14.550
  • Because i don't wanna miss your invitations."
  • 00:12:14.550 --> 00:12:19.622
  • Allen: we have partnered with our friends tim and david barton
  • 00:12:23.826 --> 00:12:26.262
  • To make available to you a two-volume set on
  • 00:12:26.262 --> 00:12:29.031
  • American history.
  • 00:12:29.031 --> 00:12:30.366
  • It's "the american story."
  • 00:12:30.366 --> 00:12:31.734
  • And it focuses on the part of american history that's been
  • 00:12:31.734 --> 00:12:33.903
  • Lost in much of our public education these days.
  • 00:12:33.903 --> 00:12:36.806
  • It's god's engagement with this nation and how he brought the
  • 00:12:36.806 --> 00:12:40.075
  • American story forward.
  • 00:12:40.075 --> 00:12:41.544
  • Our nation is more than politics or republicans and democrats.
  • 00:12:41.544 --> 00:12:44.980
  • It's god working in the lives of people to shape a nation that
  • 00:12:44.980 --> 00:12:48.551
  • Had brought forth his purposes in the world.
  • 00:12:48.551 --> 00:12:50.820
  • I believe it's an important part of our faith journey this year,
  • 00:12:50.820 --> 00:12:53.789
  • And i believe the books will be a blessing to you.
  • 00:12:53.789 --> 00:12:56.158
  • Announcer: the 250th anniversary of our nation is an important
  • 00:12:56.158 --> 00:12:59.628
  • Milestone we shouldn't rush past, because history matters.
  • 00:12:59.628 --> 00:13:04.166
  • "the american story" is a two-volume book series that
  • 00:13:04.166 --> 00:13:07.002
  • Explores how faith, courage, and conviction helped shape the
  • 00:13:07.002 --> 00:13:10.639
  • United states from the very beginning.
  • 00:13:10.639 --> 00:13:13.075
  • Gain a greater understanding of where we've been so you can
  • 00:13:13.075 --> 00:13:16.145
  • Protect and defend our nation's biblical foundations as we
  • 00:13:16.145 --> 00:13:19.148
  • Move forward.
  • 00:13:19.148 --> 00:13:20.482
  • Request "the american story" with your gift of $50 or more at
  • 00:13:20.482 --> 00:13:23.886
  • Allenjackson.com or call...
  • 00:13:23.886 --> 00:13:29.325
  • Allen: i wanna take the balance of our time.
  • 00:13:32.661 --> 00:13:34.396
  • We're gonna stay in the gospel of luke and look at however--the
  • 00:13:34.396 --> 00:13:39.301
  • Much time allows.
  • 00:13:39.301 --> 00:13:43.572
  • There are some specific instructions around
  • 00:13:43.572 --> 00:13:45.774
  • Table manners.
  • 00:13:45.774 --> 00:13:48.544
  • You know, i got two brothers.
  • 00:13:48.544 --> 00:13:49.879
  • And when we were all at home together, it was an assignment
  • 00:13:49.879 --> 00:13:54.383
  • That my mother leaned into to try to tre--teach three young
  • 00:13:54.383 --> 00:13:57.953
  • Sons table manners.
  • 00:13:57.953 --> 00:14:00.723
  • There was a compounding factor in that.
  • 00:14:00.723 --> 00:14:02.958
  • We--my parents operated a small business.
  • 00:14:02.958 --> 00:14:05.628
  • My father was a veterinarian, and that practice ran through
  • 00:14:05.628 --> 00:14:10.399
  • Our home and it was very common during dinner that the phone
  • 00:14:10.399 --> 00:14:13.235
  • Would ring and if it's--we had to answer it.
  • 00:14:13.235 --> 00:14:16.405
  • And so in the middle of multiple dinners my father is describing
  • 00:14:16.405 --> 00:14:19.575
  • A one-sided conversation about some symptoms of a cow
  • 00:14:19.575 --> 00:14:24.413
  • Struggling to deliver a calf or some such thing.
  • 00:14:24.413 --> 00:14:29.919
  • Well, you can imagine with three boys at varying ages and
  • 00:14:29.919 --> 00:14:33.455
  • They--and my mother is trying to teach us table manners.
  • 00:14:33.455 --> 00:14:40.362
  • "you can see a leg?
  • 00:14:40.362 --> 00:14:43.065
  • Have you pulled on it?"
  • 00:14:43.065 --> 00:14:46.568
  • And one of us picks it up, and my mother is still trying to
  • 00:14:46.568 --> 00:14:49.838
  • Engage and hold the line and--it took courage and determination.
  • 00:14:49.838 --> 00:14:56.979
  • Table manners, there's more to it than just which fork to use
  • 00:14:56.979 --> 00:15:01.984
  • And not to chew your ice; and jesus is gonna give us some
  • 00:15:01.984 --> 00:15:07.823
  • Lessons in table manners, if we can listen.
  • 00:15:07.823 --> 00:15:10.626
  • We'll start in luke chapter 7 and verse 36.
  • 00:15:10.626 --> 00:15:13.329
  • "one of the pharisees invited jesus to have dinner with him,
  • 00:15:13.329 --> 00:15:17.466
  • So he went to the pharisee's house and reclined at
  • 00:15:17.466 --> 00:15:19.635
  • The table."
  • 00:15:19.635 --> 00:15:20.970
  • Now, the pharisees are not jesus's greatest supporters.
  • 00:15:20.970 --> 00:15:23.339
  • In fact, they really embody probably his greatest
  • 00:15:23.339 --> 00:15:25.741
  • Antagonists, and he's been invited to dinner by
  • 00:15:25.741 --> 00:15:29.278
  • An antagonist.
  • 00:15:29.278 --> 00:15:30.612
  • It's a little bit like the psalm we read the other day where
  • 00:15:30.612 --> 00:15:33.482
  • They--it said the lord prepares a table before us in the
  • 00:15:33.482 --> 00:15:36.051
  • Presence of our enemies.
  • 00:15:36.051 --> 00:15:39.989
  • So jesus has gone to the pharisee's house.
  • 00:15:39.989 --> 00:15:42.391
  • And a woman who had led a sinful life in that town learned that
  • 00:15:42.391 --> 00:15:46.762
  • Jesus was eating at the pharisee's house, and she
  • 00:15:46.762 --> 00:15:50.899
  • Brought an alabaster jar of perfume and she stood behind him
  • 00:15:50.899 --> 00:15:53.836
  • At his feet weeping.
  • 00:15:53.836 --> 00:15:57.039
  • And she began to wet his feet with her tears, and she wiped
  • 00:15:57.039 --> 00:16:00.776
  • Them with her hair, and she kissed them and poured perfume
  • 00:16:00.776 --> 00:16:03.245
  • On them.
  • 00:16:03.245 --> 00:16:04.613
  • Now, i know that's in the gospel of luke, which makes it a part
  • 00:16:04.613 --> 00:16:08.017
  • Of our bible, and it involves our lord, but this is awkward.
  • 00:16:08.017 --> 00:16:17.559
  • I mean, it's awkward 2,000 years later, and i don't know a set of
  • 00:16:17.559 --> 00:16:20.596
  • Cultural norms from the 1st century that would make it
  • 00:16:20.596 --> 00:16:23.966
  • Less awkward.
  • 00:16:23.966 --> 00:16:25.534
  • And it's picked up by the host in verse 39.
  • 00:16:25.534 --> 00:16:28.037
  • "when the pharisee who had invited jesus saw this, he said
  • 00:16:28.037 --> 00:16:30.839
  • To himself, 'if this man were a prophet, he would know who is
  • 00:16:30.839 --> 00:16:37.579
  • Touching him and what kind of woman she is--that she's
  • 00:16:37.579 --> 00:16:42.951
  • A sinner.'"
  • 00:16:42.951 --> 00:16:44.887
  • What a happy, happy table.
  • 00:16:44.887 --> 00:16:49.191
  • It's pretty clear luke is giving us a little window the--jesus's
  • 00:16:49.191 --> 00:16:52.728
  • Host is just looking for reasons to discount or to
  • 00:16:52.728 --> 00:16:55.531
  • Discredit jesus.
  • 00:16:55.531 --> 00:16:57.366
  • He is not in the posture of a learner.
  • 00:16:57.366 --> 00:16:59.201
  • He hasn't invited jesus into his home because he's grateful for
  • 00:16:59.201 --> 00:17:02.905
  • Jesus's ministry or he's appreciative of jesus's
  • 00:17:02.905 --> 00:17:05.874
  • Expressions of the power of god or he's recognized his wisdom.
  • 00:17:05.874 --> 00:17:10.379
  • He's looking for a chink, a weakness, something for which he
  • 00:17:10.379 --> 00:17:14.316
  • Can discredit him or criticize him.
  • 00:17:14.316 --> 00:17:17.319
  • I would submit to you that the seat of the skeptic is not a
  • 00:17:17.319 --> 00:17:20.255
  • Fruitful location to occupy.
  • 00:17:20.255 --> 00:17:23.926
  • And i'm not certain why, but it seems to be a popular seat
  • 00:17:23.926 --> 00:17:27.896
  • Amongst those of us who are christian.
  • 00:17:27.896 --> 00:17:31.767
  • It's almost as if we have a chip on our shoulder.
  • 00:17:31.767 --> 00:17:34.403
  • "you know, you almost got me to believe.
  • 00:17:34.403 --> 00:17:38.507
  • That was such a good message.
  • 00:17:38.507 --> 00:17:39.842
  • You know, it was such a good book.
  • 00:17:39.842 --> 00:17:41.176
  • I--that testimony was so--you almost had me, al--you almost."
  • 00:17:41.176 --> 00:17:46.849
  • And it's as if we're boasting.
  • 00:17:46.849 --> 00:17:48.350
  • "no, i'm--you know, i managed to get control of myself and i got
  • 00:17:48.350 --> 00:17:52.788
  • My skeptical, unbelieving self back in control of things."
  • 00:17:52.788 --> 00:17:58.627
  • And that seems to be the scenario here.
  • 00:17:58.627 --> 00:18:00.562
  • "if this man was truly godly, he would know what's going on here.
  • 00:18:00.562 --> 00:18:04.433
  • I don't have anything to learn at this table.
  • 00:18:04.433 --> 00:18:06.168
  • I know all the things that i need to know, but my guest
  • 00:18:06.168 --> 00:18:09.104
  • Obv--his ignorance is on display."
  • 00:18:09.104 --> 00:18:16.178
  • And jesus engages.
  • 00:18:16.178 --> 00:18:18.514
  • "jesus answered him, 'simon, i have something to tell you.'"
  • 00:18:18.514 --> 00:18:26.722
  • And simon said, "well, tell me, teacher."
  • 00:18:26.722 --> 00:18:32.294
  • "'two men owed money to a certain moneylender.
  • 00:18:32.294 --> 00:18:35.230
  • One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.
  • 00:18:35.230 --> 00:18:39.168
  • Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the
  • 00:18:39.168 --> 00:18:41.670
  • Debts of both.
  • 00:18:41.670 --> 00:18:43.038
  • Now which of them will love him more?'
  • 00:18:43.038 --> 00:18:46.175
  • And simon replied, 'well, i suppose the one who had the
  • 00:18:46.175 --> 00:18:48.410
  • Bigger debt canceled.'"
  • 00:18:48.410 --> 00:18:51.079
  • And jesus said, "you've judged correctly."
  • 00:18:51.079 --> 00:18:55.083
  • Now, this isn't just a two-person dinner.
  • 00:18:55.083 --> 00:18:57.486
  • There's a whole host of guests that have joined them.
  • 00:18:57.486 --> 00:19:00.522
  • You'll see it in a moment.
  • 00:19:00.522 --> 00:19:02.424
  • And when jesus says to the pharisee, to simon that, "you've
  • 00:19:02.424 --> 00:19:05.527
  • Answered correctly," you can almost see him--if you look
  • 00:19:05.527 --> 00:19:07.930
  • Carefully--see him swelling up.
  • 00:19:07.930 --> 00:19:12.100
  • "yes, i did answer correctly, didn't i?"
  • 00:19:12.100 --> 00:19:18.440
  • Right?
  • 00:19:18.440 --> 00:19:21.176
  • You know somebody like that.
  • 00:19:21.176 --> 00:19:27.616
  • And then jesus turned towards the woman and said to simon, "do
  • 00:19:27.616 --> 00:19:33.188
  • You see her?"
  • 00:19:33.188 --> 00:19:35.924
  • The implication is he really hadn't.
  • 00:19:35.924 --> 00:19:40.395
  • "i came into your house and you didn't give me any water for my
  • 00:19:40.395 --> 00:19:44.499
  • Feet," which would have been the custom.
  • 00:19:44.499 --> 00:19:46.902
  • It would have been an expression of kindness or respect for
  • 00:19:46.902 --> 00:19:49.104
  • A friend.
  • 00:19:49.104 --> 00:19:51.673
  • "but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with
  • 00:19:51.673 --> 00:19:53.875
  • Her hair.
  • 00:19:53.875 --> 00:19:56.178
  • You didn't give me a kiss."
  • 00:19:56.178 --> 00:19:57.846
  • Again, it would have been the custom of welcome or greeting
  • 00:19:57.846 --> 00:20:01.316
  • Or respect.
  • 00:20:01.316 --> 00:20:04.620
  • "but this woman, from the time i entered, has not stopped kissing
  • 00:20:04.620 --> 00:20:07.122
  • My feet.
  • 00:20:07.122 --> 00:20:09.358
  • You didn't put oil on my head," again respect and welcome, "but
  • 00:20:09.358 --> 00:20:13.862
  • She's poured perfume on my feet.
  • 00:20:13.862 --> 00:20:17.633
  • Therefore, i tell you, her many sins have been forgiven--for she
  • 00:20:17.633 --> 00:20:23.305
  • Loved much."
  • 00:20:23.305 --> 00:20:24.640
  • What's implied about simon's sins?
  • 00:20:24.640 --> 00:20:28.243
  • They're still his.
  • 00:20:28.243 --> 00:20:31.546
  • The sinful woman that the whole town knows is a sinful woman,
  • 00:20:31.546 --> 00:20:35.751
  • She's been forgiven.
  • 00:20:35.751 --> 00:20:38.587
  • "but he who's been forgiven little loves little."
  • 00:20:38.587 --> 00:20:43.525
  • And jesus said to her, "your sins are forgiven."
  • 00:20:43.525 --> 00:20:48.030
  • You know, that's an interesting--i don't believe
  • 00:20:48.030 --> 00:20:49.464
  • What jesus is saying to simon is that it's the little he needs to
  • 00:20:49.464 --> 00:20:52.834
  • Be forgiven for because all of us need much forgiveness.
  • 00:20:52.834 --> 00:21:00.075
  • I believe what jesus is saying to simon is, "in your
  • 00:21:00.075 --> 00:21:03.178
  • Imagination, in your self-evaluation you don't need
  • 00:21:03.178 --> 00:21:07.215
  • Much forgiveness.
  • 00:21:07.215 --> 00:21:09.451
  • You just think you need a little.
  • 00:21:09.451 --> 00:21:12.554
  • You're not a really sinful person like this woman.
  • 00:21:12.554 --> 00:21:17.426
  • You think she needs enormous forgiveness and your perception
  • 00:21:17.426 --> 00:21:22.998
  • Is you just need a bit.
  • 00:21:22.998 --> 00:21:25.767
  • He who is been forgiven little loves little, simon."
  • 00:21:25.767 --> 00:21:29.404
  • It would help us a lot to understand, no matter what our
  • 00:21:29.404 --> 00:21:32.240
  • Pedigree as christ followers or how many times we've read our
  • 00:21:32.240 --> 00:21:35.110
  • Bible or what our service pens look like for children's
  • 00:21:35.110 --> 00:21:38.880
  • Ministry or whatever, that all of us need the grace and the
  • 00:21:38.880 --> 00:21:43.819
  • Mercy of almighty god.
  • 00:21:43.819 --> 00:21:46.822
  • It will change our responses.
  • 00:21:46.822 --> 00:21:48.757
  • It'll change our attitudes towards our tables.
  • 00:21:48.757 --> 00:21:51.526
  • We'll become far more hospitable because we need god's
  • 00:21:51.526 --> 00:21:54.463
  • Hospitality towards us.
  • 00:21:54.463 --> 00:21:57.866
  • You see, when we close our hearts and our homes and our
  • 00:21:57.866 --> 00:22:00.235
  • Lives, it's because we think we need little.
  • 00:22:00.235 --> 00:22:06.174
  • Jesus isn't quite done.
  • 00:22:06.174 --> 00:22:09.010
  • "'your sins are forgiven.'
  • 00:22:09.010 --> 00:22:10.379
  • The other guests began to say among themselves, 'well, who is
  • 00:22:10.379 --> 00:22:14.683
  • This who even forgives sins?'
  • 00:22:14.683 --> 00:22:18.453
  • And jesus said to the woman--" jesus stays focused on this
  • 00:22:18.453 --> 00:22:21.022
  • Woman and what's happening with her.
  • 00:22:21.022 --> 00:22:23.091
  • "your faith has saved you;
  • 00:22:23.091 --> 00:22:24.459
  • Now go in peace."
  • 00:22:24.459 --> 00:22:26.528
  • Jesus's response to simon is very direct even in front of
  • 00:22:26.528 --> 00:22:32.667
  • His guests.
  • 00:22:32.667 --> 00:22:35.036
  • You know, we have this notion that lives amongst us that jesus
  • 00:22:35.036 --> 00:22:37.806
  • Was always misty-eyed and handing out hugs, and i'm
  • 00:22:37.806 --> 00:22:44.579
  • Suggesting to you that there are many, many places both in public
  • 00:22:44.579 --> 00:22:48.150
  • And in private where jesus's words are very--if not
  • 00:22:48.150 --> 00:22:52.287
  • Confrontational, they are certainly intended to redirect
  • 00:22:52.287 --> 00:22:56.224
  • Behaviors and attitudes.
  • 00:22:56.224 --> 00:22:58.527
  • That's an awkward conversation to have at any table, and we are
  • 00:22:58.527 --> 00:23:03.899
  • Very reluctant to have awkward conversations because we've been
  • 00:23:03.899 --> 00:23:08.737
  • Told that to be christ-like means we are always unifiers.
  • 00:23:08.737 --> 00:23:14.810
  • Now, i'm for unity.
  • 00:23:14.810 --> 00:23:16.178
  • There's a place--there's a high value on that in scripture.
  • 00:23:16.178 --> 00:23:18.413
  • But jesus also said, "i came to bring division within families,"
  • 00:23:18.413 --> 00:23:23.318
  • He said.
  • 00:23:23.318 --> 00:23:25.020
  • You cannot unify around ungodliness and think we are
  • 00:23:25.020 --> 00:23:29.324
  • Pleasing the lord.
  • 00:23:29.324 --> 00:23:30.692
  • You can't do that.
  • 00:23:30.692 --> 00:23:32.828
  • That's not unity, that's capitulation--
  • 00:23:32.828 --> 00:23:35.997
  • That we don't have to be angry, we don't have to be belittling,
  • 00:23:35.997 --> 00:23:39.468
  • You know, we don't need to be all those destructive things,
  • 00:23:39.468 --> 00:23:42.571
  • But you cannot embrace ungodliness and wrap it in
  • 00:23:42.571 --> 00:23:45.774
  • Family or friendship and imagine we've honored the lord.
  • 00:23:45.774 --> 00:23:51.646
  • Luke 14, "one sabbath, jesus went to eat in the house of a
  • 00:23:51.646 --> 00:23:58.487
  • Prominent pharisee, and he was being carefully watched."
  • 00:23:58.487 --> 00:24:02.958
  • This isn't just a pharisee, this is a fancy pharisee.
  • 00:24:02.958 --> 00:24:06.962
  • Big dog.
  • 00:24:06.962 --> 00:24:09.831
  • Living bible.
  • 00:24:09.831 --> 00:24:11.933
  • "and there in front of him was a man suffering from dropsy.
  • 00:24:11.933 --> 00:24:14.836
  • And jesus asked the pharisee and the experts in the law, 'is it
  • 00:24:14.836 --> 00:24:18.306
  • Lawful to heal on the sabbath or not?'
  • 00:24:18.306 --> 00:24:23.612
  • And they remained silent."
  • 00:24:23.612 --> 00:24:26.214
  • So jesus took hold of the man.
  • 00:24:26.214 --> 00:24:27.582
  • He healed him and sent him away.
  • 00:24:27.582 --> 00:24:30.118
  • Well, isn't that a unifier?
  • 00:24:30.118 --> 00:24:35.423
  • He's in the home of a prominent pharisee, a man with an illness
  • 00:24:35.423 --> 00:24:38.693
  • Presents, and jesus turns to those that are gathered with him
  • 00:24:38.693 --> 00:24:42.230
  • And he said, "is it lawful to heal on the sabbath?"
  • 00:24:42.230 --> 00:24:46.001
  • And they will not answer him.
  • 00:24:46.001 --> 00:24:50.205
  • It isn't that they don't have an opinion.
  • 00:24:50.205 --> 00:24:55.243
  • They're not interested in the man or helping the man.
  • 00:24:55.243 --> 00:24:57.946
  • They would rather be perceived as right.
  • 00:24:57.946 --> 00:25:00.348
  • See, we have a challenge.
  • 00:25:00.348 --> 00:25:01.716
  • And when we pick up some of these topics and try to engage
  • 00:25:01.716 --> 00:25:04.386
  • In new behaviors and to build new habits, it means we have to
  • 00:25:04.386 --> 00:25:07.522
  • Deconstruct some things.
  • 00:25:07.522 --> 00:25:09.858
  • We have to come with the humility and say, "you know,
  • 00:25:09.858 --> 00:25:11.560
  • Maybe i could do something that would welcome the lord into my
  • 00:25:11.560 --> 00:25:14.763
  • Home more fully."
  • 00:25:14.763 --> 00:25:17.832
  • I'm not challenging your salvation.
  • 00:25:17.832 --> 00:25:19.534
  • I'm not challenging the legitimacy of your love for
  • 00:25:19.534 --> 00:25:21.937
  • The lord.
  • 00:25:21.937 --> 00:25:23.271
  • I'm simply saying is there something we could do that would
  • 00:25:23.271 --> 00:25:26.775
  • Say, "god, you are welcome in my home.
  • 00:25:26.775 --> 00:25:28.743
  • I wanna engage you in my life more fully"?
  • 00:25:28.743 --> 00:25:33.214
  • I don't wanna just sit there with a stony silence.
  • 00:25:33.214 --> 00:25:38.186
  • Jesus healed that man right in front of them in the face of
  • 00:25:38.186 --> 00:25:40.789
  • Their silence.
  • 00:25:40.789 --> 00:25:44.159
  • They refused to answer jesus.
  • 00:25:44.159 --> 00:25:46.094
  • They preferred to find fault with him rather than help
  • 00:25:46.094 --> 00:25:48.597
  • That man.
  • 00:25:48.597 --> 00:25:50.265
  • I don't wanna be that way with the lord.
  • 00:25:50.265 --> 00:25:53.735
  • I know i can have that tendency, but i don't wanna be that way.
  • 00:25:53.735 --> 00:25:56.304
  • The man was of very little concern to those
  • 00:25:56.304 --> 00:25:58.073
  • Guests gathered.
  • 00:25:58.073 --> 00:25:59.441
  • They were determined to maintain their position of authority even
  • 00:25:59.441 --> 00:26:04.446
  • In the face of the supernatural power of god.
  • 00:26:04.446 --> 00:26:11.252
  • Allen: hey, this is not just the beginning of another year, this
  • 00:26:15.490 --> 00:26:18.259
  • Is the beginning of the 250th anniversary of our nation.
  • 00:26:18.259 --> 00:26:21.830
  • This is a very special year.
  • 00:26:21.830 --> 00:26:23.698
  • It's a god's story.
  • 00:26:23.698 --> 00:26:25.066
  • This isn't about national politics or economics
  • 00:26:25.066 --> 00:26:28.003
  • Or chest-thumping.
  • 00:26:28.003 --> 00:26:29.871
  • This is an acknowledgement that god works in the history of
  • 00:26:29.871 --> 00:26:32.574
  • People and nations.
  • 00:26:32.574 --> 00:26:34.476
  • Well, most of us don't care a lot about history so we
  • 00:26:34.476 --> 00:26:36.378
  • Partnered with some of our good friends, wallbuilders tim and
  • 00:26:36.378 --> 00:26:39.180
  • David barton.
  • 00:26:39.180 --> 00:26:40.548
  • They have the best on this topic.
  • 00:26:40.548 --> 00:26:41.883
  • It's a two-volume set on the american story.
  • 00:26:41.883 --> 00:26:44.352
  • It'll help us understand god's engagement in american history.
  • 00:26:44.352 --> 00:26:48.923
  • We've lost most of this in our public schools and certainly in
  • 00:26:48.923 --> 00:26:51.559
  • Higher education.
  • 00:26:51.559 --> 00:26:52.927
  • We gotta start back with our families around the kitchen
  • 00:26:52.927 --> 00:26:55.096
  • Table, learning how god has been engaged with us so we can
  • 00:26:55.096 --> 00:26:58.133
  • Imagine a future that includes god.
  • 00:26:58.133 --> 00:27:00.769
  • Let's pray and ask for his help.
  • 00:27:00.769 --> 00:27:02.871
  • Father, i thank you.
  • 00:27:02.871 --> 00:27:04.205
  • I believe you have blessed our nation and caused us to
  • 00:27:04.205 --> 00:27:06.041
  • Flourish, and i pray that this year you would open our hearts
  • 00:27:06.041 --> 00:27:09.010
  • To what you have still ahead of us, that we might invite you
  • 00:27:09.010 --> 00:27:12.847
  • Into our homes, our communities, and into this nation's future.
  • 00:27:12.847 --> 00:27:16.384
  • In jesus's name, amen.
  • 00:27:16.384 --> 00:27:27.395