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Your Move with Andy Stanley

Andy Stanley - Paper Walls (Part 1)

September 6, 2025 | 30:10

Andy Stanley - Paper Walls (Part 1)
Your Move with Andy Stanley — to help people make better decisions and live with fewer regrets.
#MoveofGod #WalkwithGod #TrustGod #Salvation #Testimony

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Your Move with Andy Stanley | Andy Stanley - Paper Walls (Part 1) | September 6, 2025
  • Andy stanley: hey, everybody, welcome to "your move," where we
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  • Help you make better decisions and live with fewer regrets.
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  • I'm andy stanley, and i'll be your guide, and today we're
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  • Talking about excuses and what to do about them.
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  • Now, we've never met, but here's what i know about you.
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  • Your excuses are boxing you in and they're holding you back,
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  • And you don't wanna live like that.
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  • So stay tuned, and i'll tell you what to do about it, right here
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  • On "your move."
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Andy: now, there are--and you know this--there are a lot of
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  • Things that are worth carrying forward in our lives from one
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  • Season to the next, one year to the next: good friends,
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  • Good habits.
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  • And then there are some things that we should leave behind,
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  • Things that are not worth carrying from one season to the
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  • Next, from one year to the next.
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  • So, for the next few weeks, we're gonna talk about one of
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  • Those things because one of those things that all of us
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  • Should get in the habit of leaving behind are
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  • Excuses, excuses.
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  • Excuses are like paper walls that, from a distance, they look
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  • Like real obstacles, from a distance they look impenetrable,
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  • From a distance they look like we really don't have any choice
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  • But to do what we're doing or not to do what we're not doing
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  • Or to not try or to not try again.
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  • In fact, from a distance, an excuse looks like an
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  • Actual reason.
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  • Now, there's a reason i can't throw a 97-mile-an-hour
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  • Fastball, right?
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  • But there is no actual reason for me not to--well, i'm not
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  • Sure i know you well enough to finish that sentence.
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  • But there's some things that i need to do that, you know, i
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  • Have reasons for, but, if you were to push a little bit, you
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  • May discover that my reasons aren't really good reasons,
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  • They're really just excuses.
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  • So excuses get passed off as reasons, and excuses easily
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  • Become, in the real world, becauses, because all of us have
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  • Some becauses that we habitually hide behind when certain things
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  • Come up, right?
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  • I mean, why don't you?
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  • "well, you know, because."
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  • Why haven't you?
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  • "well, because."
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  • You know, why don't you just tell him?
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  • Why don't you just tell her?
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  • Because, because, because, because--we've got becauses,
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  • Excuses, pass themselves off as reasons, and then, in our real
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  • World vocabulary, they become becauses, right?
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  • There's a fine line--we're gonna talk about this for a few
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  • Weeks--there's actually a fine line between a reason and
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  • An excuse.
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  • And one always disguises itself as the other.
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  • In fact, the way that we, you know, talk about or refer to
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  • Excuses when we're talking about other people actually
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  • Underscores this.
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  • So, what do we say when we think somebody's, you know, they're
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  • Making up excuses?
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  • We just say, "hey, you are making excuses."
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  • In other words, you don't have any real reasons.
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  • You're passing these off as reasons.
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  • We hear, "because, because, because because, because," but
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  • The truth is, i see what's going on here, you are making excuses,
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  • That is, you are just making things up.
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  • Or we say, "quit making excuses.
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  • You are fabricating things.
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  • You are inventing things."
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  • Again, and the implication is these aren't real.
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  • You think they're real, you're trying to pass them off as real,
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  • But i see what's going on here, right?
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  • Implication, you know, you're just making stuff up.
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  • You've created, in your mind, a paper wall, and you're trying to
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  • Convince me that it's actually a real wall.
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  • You've created in your mind a paper wall, and you're trying to
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  • Pass it off as an actual obstacle.
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  • You're--what you're doing is you're dressing up an excuse,
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  • You're dressing up an excuse in an attempt to pass it off
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  • As a reason.
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  • And, isn't it true?
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  • This is so easy to see in our children.
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  • It is so easy to see in our grandchildren.
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  • It was so easy for our parents to see in us, right, when we
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  • Were children living at home.
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  • You had to come up with a reason because you're busted.
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  • You had to come up with a reason because things aren't
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  • Going well.
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  • Those aren't the actual reasons, those are excuses, and you're
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  • Disguising your excuses as a reason.
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  • In fact, this is so easy to see in other people.
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  • It's so easy to see in other people that some of you are
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  • Thinking right now about who you hope is listening to
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  • This message.
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  • Or, "how do i get my kids to listen to this one?
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  • How much will i have to pay them?
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  • It was 20 bucks last time.
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  • I don't know, how much, how much, you know, has the rate
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  • Gone up?"
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  • In other words, it's so easy to see other people, we hope
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  • Everybody will recognize those aren't real reasons.
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  • Those are excuses that you're disguising as a reasons.
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  • We can we can spot an excuse in somebody else a mile away.
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  • We can't see it 6 inches away in the mirror.
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  • What we say is the reason, the reason, the reason, the reason.
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  • What we almost never say is-- wouldn't this be refreshing--
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  • "well, my excuse is."
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  • Wouldn't that be refreshing?
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  • You know how you know it'd be refreshing?
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  • Because you would love to hear him or her or your kids to
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  • Say it.
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  • You know, why didn't you finish your homework?
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  • "well, dad, my excuse is--"
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  • Wow, hey, at least we're on the same--at least we're, you
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  • Know, dealing with reality, right?
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  • Why are you late?
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  • "well, my excuse is--"
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  • What if we--if nothing else, if we don't get
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  • Anything else out of this series, what if we just
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  • Quit disguising our excuses as reasons, and because--
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  • What if we acknowledge, you know what,
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  • This isn't real.
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  • I've just made this up.
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  • And here's the challenge, and here's the question we're gonna
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  • Come back to for the next few weeks because this is emotional,
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  • And i'm gonna give you some illustrations, but they're kind
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  • Of light, you know, i'll admit that up front, but just to kind
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  • Of get our head in the game.
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  • Is it possible--i'm not accusing you because i don't
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  • Know you--is it possible?
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  • Are you at least willing to consider that perhaps some of
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  • Your reasons, some of your becauses, are actually just
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  • Paper walls, they're actually excuses, something
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  • You've created.
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  • And, the thing is, you have a reason for why you created the
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  • Paper wall, okay?
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  • The excuse, you know, we present it as a reason, but
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  • There is a reason we make excuses.
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  • And, if we ever get back to the source of our excuses, we'll
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  • Probably drop some of the excuses or acknowledge, you know
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  • What, that's just an excuse for something else.
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  • A paper wall or an excuse, maybe yours are
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  • Constructed of things that someone told you, maybe
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  • Something someone called you, maybe something someone labeled
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  • You in the past.
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  • Maybe it's something that someone expected of you, and you
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  • Didn't come through, so now you're through, and anytime that
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  • Topic or that challenge comes up, it's like, "oh, no, no, no,"
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  • Because, in your mind, "i tried that, and i failed.
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  • Nope, nope, nope, just not gonna do it."
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  • Is it possible--and this is, i think this is all of us at some
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  • Level--is it possible you've invented reasons to defend
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  • Certain behaviors, reactions, overreactions?
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  • Why do you always overreact?
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  • "well, i'll tell you why i overreact," and then you present
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  • Your paper wall.
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  • Why do you always over--you know, whenever your mom,
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  • Whenever your dad, whenever we see them,
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  • You just kinda light up, why?
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  • "well, let me tell you why," and it's really just a paper wall,
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  • And you got a reason because we're a rational people, we have
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  • To have a because.
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  • We can't say, "i don't know.
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  • I have no idea, honey, but that's just what i'm gonna,"
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  • You know, no, it's because.
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  • Is it possible you have created a paper wall or an excuse for
  • 00:07:52.423 --> 00:07:57.562
  • Why you procrastinate about certain things, why you neglect
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  • Certain things, why you avoid certain things?
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  • Is it possible you've created a paper wall for why you avoid
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  • Certain kinds of people, certain people, certain kinds of events,
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  • Circumstances, opportunities?
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  • I'll give you an illustration.
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  • Again, this is kind of light, i've shared this
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  • With some of you before.
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  • When i was in high school, our high school went from 8th to
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  • 12th--we didn't have middle school--8th to 12th grade, and
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  • So i was a failed high school athlete.
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  • Everything i tried out for, did not make it.
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  • Now, i'm tempted to tell you
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  • Why because that's what we do, right?
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  • The reason, i mean, i'm tempted, as soon as i say that i wanna
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  • Go, "the reason is because we had a big high school," you
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  • Know, blah, blah, blah.
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  • But the point is i just wasn't-- i just, i was--didn't make it as
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  • An athlete, and i love sports, but i just wasn't good enough.
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  • There, i said it, i just wasn't good enough, right?
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  • I mean, i just, you know, you gotta get it out there, right?
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  • Andy: hey, i wanted to take just a minute to address a growing
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  • Crisis in america.
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  • Did you know that nearly 75 million americans have no
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  • Religious affiliation, none whatsoever?
  • 00:09:05.396 --> 00:09:07.765
  • Most of us know some of these people.
  • 00:09:07.765 --> 00:09:09.200
  • Many of us are related to some of these people.
  • 00:09:09.200 --> 00:09:11.202
  • So, for us, they aren't statistics, they're people we
  • 00:09:11.202 --> 00:09:14.038
  • Love and would love to see returned to faith in jesus.
  • 00:09:14.038 --> 00:09:17.174
  • So, at your move, we are committed to reaching people
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  • With the teaching of jesus right where they are and when they
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  • Least expect it.
  • 00:09:23.447 --> 00:09:24.882
  • We use a research-backed digital strategy that's
  • 00:09:24.882 --> 00:09:27.518
  • Already making a difference.
  • 00:09:27.518 --> 00:09:28.853
  • So, if you'll stick around after today's message, we would love
  • 00:09:28.853 --> 00:09:31.789
  • To tell you more about it, or visit the website or call the
  • 00:09:31.789 --> 00:09:35.092
  • Number on your screen to learn how you can be a part of this
  • 00:09:35.092 --> 00:09:37.962
  • Revolutionary approach to introducing and reintroducing
  • 00:09:37.962 --> 00:09:41.432
  • People to jesus.
  • 00:09:41.432 --> 00:09:43.467
  • Andy: so, as i became, you know, started doing ministry and got
  • 00:09:43.467 --> 00:09:46.337
  • Some kind of successful, i got invited to speak to all these
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  • Sports franchises, college teams, and chaplains, you know,
  • 00:09:50.341 --> 00:09:54.412
  • Do chapel before an nfl game.
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  • Teams would come to town, i'd get all these calls, and 100% of
  • 00:09:56.514 --> 00:09:59.283
  • The time it's like, "nope, i'm busy, nope, i'm busy, nope,
  • 00:09:59.283 --> 00:10:01.185
  • I'm busy, i can't.
  • 00:10:01.185 --> 00:10:02.520
  • I would love to--" lie.
  • 00:10:02.520 --> 00:10:04.488
  • "i would love to--" lie, lie, lie.
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  • I would not love to.
  • 00:10:06.891 --> 00:10:08.259
  • I would be so intimidated.
  • 00:10:08.259 --> 00:10:09.593
  • I don't even know who you are.
  • 00:10:09.593 --> 00:10:10.928
  • I don't even know the rules to that game, okay?
  • 00:10:10.928 --> 00:10:12.730
  • But, you know, "i would love to, but i'm too busy," and i would
  • 00:10:12.730 --> 00:10:15.766
  • Pass off these opportunities to some of my friends.
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  • "oh, andy, you're so humble."
  • 00:10:18.069 --> 00:10:19.403
  • I'm so humble.
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  • It was just an excuse.
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  • I was just intimidated.
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  • I was just uncomfortable.
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  • Here's something--this is big, this is huge, okay?
  • 00:10:29.113 --> 00:10:31.716
  • You know what is at the root of your excuses?
  • 00:10:31.716 --> 00:10:33.884
  • And i know we've never met, but this is true of all excuses.
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  • At the root of an excuse is blaming something internal on
  • 00:10:35.619 --> 00:10:39.457
  • Something external.
  • 00:10:39.457 --> 00:10:41.659
  • This is so insidious.
  • 00:10:41.659 --> 00:10:43.027
  • It's something that's wrong with me, but it's so hard to look in
  • 00:10:43.027 --> 00:10:45.296
  • The mirror--so it's, i decide it's not me, it's
  • 00:10:45.296 --> 00:10:47.465
  • Something out there.
  • 00:10:47.465 --> 00:10:48.833
  • And the moment i decide it's something out there, the moment
  • 00:10:48.833 --> 00:10:52.203
  • I decide it's something out there, i begin constructing
  • 00:10:52.203 --> 00:10:54.972
  • A wall.
  • 00:10:54.972 --> 00:10:56.707
  • And i think i'm protecting myself.
  • 00:10:56.707 --> 00:10:58.676
  • I'm actually hemming myself in, i'm keeping myself out
  • 00:10:58.676 --> 00:11:02.379
  • Of opportunities
  • 00:11:02.379 --> 00:11:04.281
  • And maybe relationships, and maybe better relationships
  • 00:11:04.281 --> 00:11:08.819
  • Because of something i just won't admit to myself.
  • 00:11:08.819 --> 00:11:13.224
  • You know what happens?
  • 00:11:13.224 --> 00:11:14.925
  • "i won't" sounds like, "well, i can't."
  • 00:11:14.925 --> 00:11:18.863
  • The truth is i won't, but i'm not gonna say, "i won't," i just
  • 00:11:18.863 --> 00:11:21.599
  • Say, "i can't."
  • 00:11:21.599 --> 00:11:23.601
  • "i'm afraid to try" sounds like, "well, then, that's just not my
  • 00:11:23.601 --> 00:11:28.239
  • Thing, you know, that's just not me.
  • 00:11:28.239 --> 00:11:30.641
  • I don't really care about that."
  • 00:11:30.641 --> 00:11:31.976
  • The truth is i'm afraid to try, but
  • 00:11:31.976 --> 00:11:33.310
  • I'm not gonna say, "i'm afraid to try."
  • 00:11:33.310 --> 00:11:34.645
  • I'm gonna say, "you know what, that's just not my thing."
  • 00:11:34.645 --> 00:11:36.413
  • And after a while, this becomes like a reality.
  • 00:11:36.413 --> 00:11:40.584
  • Again, it's an excuse, it's a reason i've manufactured, it's a
  • 00:11:40.584 --> 00:11:44.188
  • Because i hide behind, that you hide behind.
  • 00:11:44.188 --> 00:11:47.458
  • So, back to the sports thing for a second, so, when andrew and
  • 00:11:47.458 --> 00:11:51.262
  • Garrett, my two sons, started-- got interested in sports, i
  • 00:11:51.262 --> 00:11:53.931
  • Wanted them to be interested in music.
  • 00:11:53.931 --> 00:11:55.299
  • They weren't interested in music, they were interested in
  • 00:11:55.299 --> 00:11:56.667
  • Sports because god's like, "i'll show you."
  • 00:11:56.667 --> 00:11:58.836
  • Anyway, so--which is fine.
  • 00:11:58.836 --> 00:12:00.604
  • So, they start playing baseball, you know, they're 8, 9, 10
  • 00:12:00.604 --> 00:12:03.107
  • Years old.
  • 00:12:03.107 --> 00:12:04.441
  • So, you know, they always want dads to be the coaches.
  • 00:12:04.441 --> 00:12:06.544
  • Well, do you think i volunteered to coach my sons?
  • 00:12:06.544 --> 00:12:08.612
  • Are you kidding?
  • 00:12:08.612 --> 00:12:09.947
  • I was like, "no, uh-uh, you guys got this," you know.
  • 00:12:09.947 --> 00:12:11.549
  • I mean, they're 8 years old, i know, but you know, i'm left--
  • 00:12:11.549 --> 00:12:14.685
  • Ready for this one?
  • 00:12:14.685 --> 00:12:16.053
  • Okay, don't laugh, see if you can not laugh.
  • 00:12:16.053 --> 00:12:18.055
  • I'm left-handed, i can't even borrow a glove.
  • 00:12:18.055 --> 00:12:22.893
  • Get it?
  • 00:12:22.893 --> 00:12:24.261
  • Because, you know, 'cause everybody's right-handed.
  • 00:12:24.261 --> 00:12:25.596
  • Okay, yeah, you didn't get it.
  • 00:12:25.596 --> 00:12:26.964
  • Anyway, i had came up with all kind of paper walls, right?
  • 00:12:26.964 --> 00:12:29.333
  • So then the coolest--or not coolest, the awful thing that
  • 00:12:29.333 --> 00:12:32.136
  • Turned out to be a cool thing happened.
  • 00:12:32.136 --> 00:12:33.504
  • So, andrew, my oldest, is 10 years old, and they just moved
  • 00:12:33.504 --> 00:12:35.906
  • Up to kid pitch.
  • 00:12:35.906 --> 00:12:37.308
  • It's the second game, i'm on the bleachers with my friend dave
  • 00:12:37.308 --> 00:12:39.810
  • 'cause i'm not about--you know, i'm just gonna be, you
  • 00:12:39.810 --> 00:12:41.412
  • Know, the dad fan.
  • 00:12:41.412 --> 00:12:42.980
  • Second game, this dad three bleachers down, or three rows
  • 00:12:42.980 --> 00:12:46.283
  • Down, the umpire makes a call--now, keep in mind, these
  • 00:12:46.283 --> 00:12:48.986
  • Boys are 10 years old, okay, 10 years old.
  • 00:12:48.986 --> 00:12:51.522
  • And this dad goes berserk.
  • 00:12:51.522 --> 00:12:53.524
  • He is literally--he jumps down, he is standing behind the
  • 00:12:53.524 --> 00:12:56.060
  • Umpire, his hands are wrapped around the chain link fence, and
  • 00:12:56.060 --> 00:12:59.296
  • He is screaming at the umpire.
  • 00:12:59.296 --> 00:13:02.099
  • They are 10 years old, he's lost his mind.
  • 00:13:02.099 --> 00:13:06.337
  • And the umpire turns around and says, "okay--" and he knew his
  • 00:13:06.337 --> 00:13:08.172
  • Name, he called him by name 'cause he had done this before,
  • 00:13:08.172 --> 00:13:10.074
  • He said, "you need to sit
  • 00:13:10.074 --> 00:13:11.408
  • Down, or i'm gonna throw you out of the park."
  • 00:13:11.408 --> 00:13:12.743
  • And he's just grrrr.
  • 00:13:12.743 --> 00:13:14.311
  • He throws this dad out of the park, says, "leave the park,"
  • 00:13:14.311 --> 00:13:17.014
  • Says, "we're holding the game, so you leave the park," and he's
  • 00:13:17.014 --> 00:13:18.682
  • Cussing, and i'm sitting there going, "what have we signed our
  • 00:13:18.682 --> 00:13:21.318
  • Kids up for?"
  • 00:13:21.318 --> 00:13:22.653
  • Then our coach, daddy coach, comes out of the dugout, and he
  • 00:13:22.653 --> 00:13:26.757
  • Starts getting on the umpire about the call and throwing his
  • 00:13:26.757 --> 00:13:29.894
  • Buddy out.
  • 00:13:29.894 --> 00:13:31.228
  • Then, the umpire--i'm not making any of this up--umpire
  • 00:13:31.228 --> 00:13:34.865
  • Throws our coach out, "you're out, leave the park."
  • 00:13:34.865 --> 00:13:39.003
  • Then the assistant coach comes out, and this is almost a quote.
  • 00:13:39.003 --> 00:13:43.107
  • "so i guess if you're gonna throw him out, you're gonna
  • 00:13:43.107 --> 00:13:44.842
  • Throw me out too?"
  • 00:13:44.842 --> 00:13:46.176
  • Throws the assistant coach out, calls the game.
  • 00:13:46.176 --> 00:13:49.213
  • The boys are 10 years old, they're like--this all happened
  • 00:13:49.213 --> 00:13:51.282
  • Within, you know, a minute and a half, right?
  • 00:13:51.282 --> 00:13:53.651
  • Game over.
  • 00:13:53.651 --> 00:13:55.185
  • So there's dave and i, you know, and all--we were the only dads
  • 00:13:55.185 --> 00:13:57.721
  • There, some moms, and, you know, was an afternoon game.
  • 00:13:57.721 --> 00:13:59.990
  • And the coaches come over and say to me, "andy, look, me and
  • 00:13:59.990 --> 00:14:03.994
  • So and so, you know, we're out, would you and dave coach the
  • 00:14:03.994 --> 00:14:07.431
  • Next two games?"
  • 00:14:07.431 --> 00:14:10.434
  • And i'm thinking, "i know i can at least not get thrown out of
  • 00:14:10.434 --> 00:14:14.805
  • The game, okay, i think this is something that, if the bar is as
  • 00:14:14.805 --> 00:14:19.877
  • Low as don't get thrown out of the park,
  • 00:14:19.877 --> 00:14:22.579
  • I can do this, i got this."
  • 00:14:22.579 --> 00:14:23.914
  • Now, my point in telling you this is this: because of some
  • 00:14:23.914 --> 00:14:27.885
  • Stupid, honestly, just... paper wall, i almost missed out
  • 00:14:27.885 --> 00:14:36.427
  • On one of the greatest joys of my life.
  • 00:14:36.427 --> 00:14:41.298
  • Because, from that moment on, i started assistant coaching my
  • 00:14:41.298 --> 00:14:45.169
  • Boys's baseball teams.
  • 00:14:45.169 --> 00:14:46.603
  • And, when i look back on those pictures, and when i drive by
  • 00:14:46.603 --> 00:14:49.640
  • Those baseball parks, it is still emotional because of the
  • 00:14:49.640 --> 00:14:54.845
  • Joy to be with my sons, to learn--i mean, it's just, that
  • 00:14:54.845 --> 00:14:58.682
  • Season is one of the greatest seasons of my life, and, i'm
  • 00:14:58.682 --> 00:15:00.784
  • Telling you, i almost missed it because i thought, "oh, no,
  • 00:15:00.784 --> 00:15:05.656
  • I can't."
  • 00:15:05.656 --> 00:15:07.791
  • Now, here's the point.
  • 00:15:07.791 --> 00:15:10.027
  • We all have these.
  • 00:15:10.027 --> 00:15:11.962
  • And here's the thing.
  • 00:15:11.962 --> 00:15:13.297
  • Do you know what's on the other side of this?
  • 00:15:13.297 --> 00:15:15.332
  • We don't know.
  • 00:15:15.332 --> 00:15:17.468
  • We just think we know.
  • 00:15:17.468 --> 00:15:19.703
  • And, because we think we know, we're like,
  • 00:15:19.703 --> 00:15:21.038
  • "i'm too afraid, i can't do that.
  • 00:15:21.038 --> 00:15:22.373
  • I'm not talented enough. i didn't get education.
  • 00:15:22.373 --> 00:15:23.707
  • I don't know anybody, whatever, whatever," right?
  • 00:15:23.707 --> 00:15:27.244
  • So, is it possible--just, just, just, you gotta think about
  • 00:15:27.244 --> 00:15:30.614
  • This--is it possible you're missing out because you've
  • 00:15:30.614 --> 00:15:33.350
  • Walled yourself in?
  • 00:15:33.350 --> 00:15:34.685
  • Is it possible that a because is actually an excuse?
  • 00:15:34.685 --> 00:15:41.658
  • And maybe, most importantly, why are we talking about this
  • 00:15:41.658 --> 00:15:45.062
  • In church?
  • 00:15:45.062 --> 00:15:46.764
  • Here's why, this is so important.
  • 00:15:46.764 --> 00:15:50.100
  • There is a relationship between your ability--not your
  • 00:15:50.100 --> 00:15:55.339
  • Willingness, i wanna be clear about this.
  • 00:15:55.339 --> 00:15:57.441
  • There is a relationship between your ability to follow jesus and
  • 00:15:57.441 --> 00:16:03.213
  • Your willingness to push through your paper walls and to
  • 00:16:03.213 --> 00:16:08.452
  • Acknowledge that your reasons are excuses, your becauses are
  • 00:16:08.452 --> 00:16:12.056
  • Actually excuses.
  • 00:16:12.056 --> 00:16:14.358
  • And the reason i say that is because our excuses compete for
  • 00:16:14.358 --> 00:16:20.130
  • Lordship of our lives.
  • 00:16:20.130 --> 00:16:22.199
  • An excuse can become your king.
  • 00:16:22.199 --> 00:16:25.736
  • An excuse can become your master.
  • 00:16:25.736 --> 00:16:28.005
  • An excuse can become your boss.
  • 00:16:28.005 --> 00:16:30.340
  • Because you know what excuses do?
  • 00:16:30.340 --> 00:16:31.708
  • Excuses tell you what you can't do.
  • 00:16:31.708 --> 00:16:33.477
  • "you can't do that. you shouldn't try that.
  • 00:16:33.477 --> 00:16:35.279
  • You shouldn't try that again. you should not talk to him.
  • 00:16:35.279 --> 00:16:37.247
  • You should not apologize. you should not acknowledge that.
  • 00:16:37.247 --> 00:16:39.716
  • You should, you shouldn't, you should, you shouldn't."
  • 00:16:39.716 --> 00:16:41.618
  • And next thing you know, your excuses are your king, they're
  • 00:16:41.618 --> 00:16:44.455
  • Sitting on the throne of your life.
  • 00:16:44.455 --> 00:16:45.923
  • And you--if you're a christian, you could spend the rest of your
  • 00:16:45.923 --> 00:16:48.425
  • Life singing about king jesus and serving king excuse.
  • 00:16:48.425 --> 00:16:53.297
  • So, i know the answer to this, so you don't have to answer it
  • 00:16:53.297 --> 00:16:55.866
  • Out loud.
  • 00:16:55.866 --> 00:16:57.201
  • And i hope i'm not, you know, insulting anybody, but do you
  • 00:16:57.201 --> 00:17:03.874
  • Want excuses to be the boss of you?
  • 00:17:03.874 --> 00:17:07.211
  • I don't, and we've never met, but i know you don't.
  • 00:17:07.211 --> 00:17:11.949
  • But they will be the boss of us until we acknowledge they're not
  • 00:17:11.949 --> 00:17:14.384
  • Reasons, they're not real becauses, they're just becauses
  • 00:17:14.384 --> 00:17:16.553
  • And reasons we give, they're just excuses.
  • 00:17:16.553 --> 00:17:18.388
  • We're making stuff up.
  • 00:17:18.388 --> 00:17:20.624
  • You don't wanna get to the end of your life and look back and
  • 00:17:20.624 --> 00:17:23.794
  • Think, "good grief, i spent my whole life behind this
  • 00:17:23.794 --> 00:17:28.165
  • Stupid wall
  • 00:17:28.165 --> 00:17:31.201
  • That was nothing other than something i made up based on
  • 00:17:31.201 --> 00:17:34.238
  • What somebody told me, something i believed, something i heard,
  • 00:17:34.238 --> 00:17:36.773
  • Something i read, something i was afraid of."
  • 00:17:36.773 --> 00:17:42.446
  • So, in the book of hebrews, in the new--you know, the old
  • 00:17:42.446 --> 00:17:45.983
  • Testament, new testament, the bible's divided, two parts.
  • 00:17:45.983 --> 00:17:48.619
  • In the new testament, the new covenant, there's a--we call it
  • 00:17:48.619 --> 00:17:51.188
  • A book, it's not really a book, it's a sermon, called hebrews.
  • 00:17:51.188 --> 00:17:53.557
  • We don't know who wrote hebrews.
  • 00:17:53.557 --> 00:17:55.225
  • And in the document or the book of hebrews, the author is trying
  • 00:17:55.225 --> 00:17:59.530
  • To get some jewish christians not to use the difficult time
  • 00:17:59.530 --> 00:18:03.033
  • They're going through as an excuse to quit following jesus
  • 00:18:03.033 --> 00:18:06.970
  • Because they were following jesus, they had hit some bumps,
  • 00:18:06.970 --> 00:18:09.473
  • There were some difficult things going on.
  • 00:18:09.473 --> 00:18:10.841
  • So we're saying, "look, please, please, please, don't give up
  • 00:18:10.841 --> 00:18:13.744
  • Following jesus because of these difficult things."
  • 00:18:13.744 --> 00:18:15.712
  • That's not a good reason, that, really, you're just--you're
  • 00:18:15.712 --> 00:18:17.981
  • Making an excuse.
  • 00:18:17.981 --> 00:18:19.783
  • And, in the midst of this conversation, in the midst of
  • 00:18:19.783 --> 00:18:22.252
  • This document, he gives a general principle that, whether
  • 00:18:22.252 --> 00:18:25.689
  • You're a bible person or not, a christian person or not, this is
  • 00:18:25.689 --> 00:18:27.824
  • Just great advice.
  • 00:18:27.824 --> 00:18:30.127
  • And here's what he says.
  • 00:18:30.127 --> 00:18:31.562
  • He says, "look, look, i know what's going on.
  • 00:18:31.562 --> 00:18:34.565
  • I know you got a reason for your reasons.
  • 00:18:34.565 --> 00:18:36.266
  • I know, you know, you've got a reason why you're manufacturing
  • 00:18:36.266 --> 00:18:38.969
  • Or fabricating these excuses, but let us--" this is so good--
  • 00:18:38.969 --> 00:18:43.440
  • "let us throw off everything that hinders."
  • 00:18:43.440 --> 00:18:49.279
  • Let us throw--as you think about the future, you think
  • 00:18:49.279 --> 00:18:51.114
  • About moving forward, he says, "i want you to throw off
  • 00:18:51.114 --> 00:18:54.017
  • Anything that hinders."
  • 00:18:54.017 --> 00:18:55.385
  • And the--it's sort of an analogy, it's kind of a sports
  • 00:18:55.385 --> 00:18:57.321
  • Analogy, strangely enough, i don't use them much, but, if
  • 00:18:57.321 --> 00:18:59.356
  • They're in the bible, i can't avoid them.
  • 00:18:59.356 --> 00:19:00.991
  • Anyway, he's talking about running.
  • 00:19:00.991 --> 00:19:03.093
  • He says, "anything that hinders you from running, from racing,
  • 00:19:03.093 --> 00:19:06.730
  • From staying in your lane, you just need to get rid of it.
  • 00:19:06.730 --> 00:19:08.899
  • Rid yourself of every encumbrance.
  • 00:19:08.899 --> 00:19:10.367
  • Rid yourself of anything that's an impediment, that that trips
  • 00:19:10.367 --> 00:19:13.070
  • You up and--" this is so fascinating--"and," or as an
  • 00:19:13.070 --> 00:19:18.308
  • Example of, "and the sin that so easily entangles."
  • 00:19:18.308 --> 00:19:23.847
  • Now, if you used to be a christian or you're exploring
  • 00:19:23.847 --> 00:19:27.084
  • Faith, what i'm gonna say next is so important as you think
  • 00:19:27.084 --> 00:19:29.353
  • About moving forward.
  • 00:19:29.353 --> 00:19:30.687
  • And maybe if you've been a christian a long time, this will
  • 00:19:30.687 --> 00:19:32.289
  • Put some things in perspective.
  • 00:19:32.289 --> 00:19:33.857
  • This word sin, if you follow jesus through the gospels, jesus
  • 00:19:33.857 --> 00:19:37.694
  • Is very specific about what sin is.
  • 00:19:37.694 --> 00:19:40.497
  • And he doesn't give a list, here's five things not to do,
  • 00:19:40.497 --> 00:19:43.000
  • Here's four things, he doesn't do it that way.
  • 00:19:43.000 --> 00:19:45.002
  • Do you know what sin was for jesus?
  • 00:19:45.002 --> 00:19:47.104
  • So consistent, sin was anything that hurt someone.
  • 00:19:47.104 --> 00:19:50.274
  • Sin was anything that hurt someone.
  • 00:19:50.274 --> 00:19:51.608
  • And sin was anything that that hurt you, which makes sense
  • 00:19:51.608 --> 00:19:55.112
  • Because, if god--"for god so loved the world--" and he loved
  • 00:19:55.112 --> 00:19:57.381
  • The people in the world, then he doesn't want the people of the
  • 00:19:57.381 --> 00:19:59.116
  • World to get hurt.
  • 00:19:59.116 --> 00:20:00.450
  • So, anything that hurts the person, that's what sin is.
  • 00:20:00.450 --> 00:20:03.754
  • And if you hurt yourself, from god's perspective, who loves
  • 00:20:03.754 --> 00:20:06.690
  • You, that's a sin.
  • 00:20:06.690 --> 00:20:09.026
  • Lying is a sin.
  • 00:20:09.026 --> 00:20:11.061
  • Lying is a sin because, you know what lying does?
  • 00:20:11.061 --> 00:20:13.363
  • We talk about this, lying breaks a relationship.
  • 00:20:13.363 --> 00:20:15.465
  • You can't have a real relationship with someone who
  • 00:20:15.465 --> 00:20:16.900
  • Lies to you.
  • 00:20:16.900 --> 00:20:18.235
  • Lying breaks a relationship.
  • 00:20:18.235 --> 00:20:19.603
  • Well, anything that breaks a relationship breaks god's heart
  • 00:20:19.603 --> 00:20:21.271
  • Because god's about relationship.
  • 00:20:21.271 --> 00:20:22.906
  • So lying is a sin.
  • 00:20:22.906 --> 00:20:26.143
  • And lying to yourself is a sin.
  • 00:20:26.143 --> 00:20:29.613
  • Lying to yourself is a sin because lying to yourself
  • 00:20:29.613 --> 00:20:31.782
  • Hurts you.
  • 00:20:31.782 --> 00:20:33.817
  • An excuse, if you wanna look at it from this perspective, an
  • 00:20:33.817 --> 00:20:36.420
  • Excuse it's really just a lie we tell ourselves about ourselves.
  • 00:20:36.420 --> 00:20:40.824
  • "i can't, i'm not good enough, i tried, i don't."
  • 00:20:40.824 --> 00:20:43.126
  • You know, a lie--an excuse, it's just a lie we tell
  • 00:20:43.126 --> 00:20:47.197
  • Ourselves, we tell the person in the mirror, about ourselves.
  • 00:20:47.197 --> 00:20:49.933
  • And, when we lie to ourselves, we hurt ourselves, and when we
  • 00:20:49.933 --> 00:20:53.804
  • Hurt ourselves, we sin against ourselves.
  • 00:20:53.804 --> 00:20:57.774
  • So, when the author says, "i want you to get rid of anything
  • 00:20:57.774 --> 00:21:01.111
  • That's an impediment to you running your race and the sin
  • 00:21:01.111 --> 00:21:03.780
  • That entangles you," it includes this.
  • 00:21:03.780 --> 00:21:08.618
  • So he says, "come on, come on, come on.
  • 00:21:08.618 --> 00:21:10.721
  • Throw--" this is great advice, christian or not.
  • 00:21:10.721 --> 00:21:13.023
  • "throw off everything that hinders you and the sin that so
  • 00:21:13.023 --> 00:21:18.295
  • Easily entangles you."
  • 00:21:18.295 --> 00:21:20.330
  • In other words, no more excuses.
  • 00:21:20.330 --> 00:21:22.532
  • He says, "and once you do, you're gonna be free--" back to
  • 00:21:22.532 --> 00:21:25.335
  • The running thing--"you're gonna be be free to run."
  • 00:21:25.335 --> 00:21:28.004
  • He says, "and once you do--" this is so, i mean, you can
  • 00:21:28.004 --> 00:21:30.674
  • Almost hear the music in the background--"and let us run,"
  • 00:21:30.674 --> 00:21:33.377
  • He says, "let us run with perseverance--" or endurance--
  • 00:21:33.377 --> 00:21:37.347
  • "the race marked out for us."
  • 00:21:37.347 --> 00:21:39.750
  • Now, this is a fascinating thing.
  • 00:21:39.750 --> 00:21:42.085
  • Whether you're a religious person or not may determine how
  • 00:21:42.085 --> 00:21:44.154
  • You interpret this, but if you're a christian, and you grew
  • 00:21:44.154 --> 00:21:46.323
  • Up with the notion or you believe that god has a plan for
  • 00:21:46.323 --> 00:21:48.392
  • You, that's your race, that god has a will for your life, for
  • 00:21:48.392 --> 00:21:52.062
  • Your family, for, you know, that you do something on purpose and
  • 00:21:52.062 --> 00:21:55.665
  • End up with purpose and look back on your life and feel like,
  • 00:21:55.665 --> 00:21:57.834
  • "hey, i, you know, my life mattered."
  • 00:21:57.834 --> 00:22:01.304
  • He says, the author says, "look, i want you to run the race."
  • 00:22:01.304 --> 00:22:04.474
  • There's a race that's been marked out for all of us jesus
  • 00:22:04.474 --> 00:22:06.543
  • Followers, and then there's a race that's been marked out for
  • 00:22:06.543 --> 00:22:08.645
  • You specifically, and if you're not a jesus follower, if you're
  • 00:22:08.645 --> 00:22:11.047
  • Not a christian, you've got goals, right?
  • 00:22:11.047 --> 00:22:13.483
  • I mean, you've got some mental picture of what could and should
  • 00:22:13.483 --> 00:22:15.585
  • Be for your future and your family.
  • 00:22:15.585 --> 00:22:17.888
  • And the author is saying, "look, don't lose, come on, don't lose
  • 00:22:17.888 --> 00:22:22.626
  • Your own race, and don't lose your own race because you blame
  • 00:22:22.626 --> 00:22:26.863
  • Things that really weren't even real to begin with.
  • 00:22:26.863 --> 00:22:30.133
  • Would you just get rid of anything that holds you back so
  • 00:22:30.133 --> 00:22:33.270
  • That you can at least run and compete in the race that god has
  • 00:22:33.270 --> 00:22:37.874
  • Laid out for you?"
  • 00:22:37.874 --> 00:22:42.179
  • Yeah, instead of just making stuff up.
  • 00:22:42.179 --> 00:22:48.418
  • Now, what he says next--i wanna tell you what he says next
  • 00:22:48.418 --> 00:22:52.489
  • Before i show you how the author says it next.
  • 00:22:52.489 --> 00:22:54.991
  • This is such a huge idea.
  • 00:22:54.991 --> 00:22:56.927
  • This could be, you know, a message in and of itself, but we
  • 00:22:56.927 --> 00:22:59.229
  • Talk about these kinds of things all the time, so i don't wanna
  • 00:22:59.229 --> 00:23:00.997
  • Just keep going back and back and back.
  • 00:23:00.997 --> 00:23:04.868
  • What he says next--and this is so subtle, and this is
  • 00:23:04.868 --> 00:23:07.404
  • So challenging--
  • 00:23:07.404 --> 00:23:08.772
  • He says, "you need to quit focusing on yourself."
  • 00:23:08.772 --> 00:23:12.876
  • Do what?
  • 00:23:12.876 --> 00:23:14.244
  • He says, "yeah, you need to quit focusing on yourself.
  • 00:23:14.244 --> 00:23:15.579
  • If you live for yourself, you only have yourself to show for
  • 00:23:15.579 --> 00:23:17.280
  • Yourself, right?
  • 00:23:17.280 --> 00:23:18.615
  • Live for yourself, in the end, you only have yourself to show
  • 00:23:18.615 --> 00:23:20.350
  • For yourself."
  • 00:23:20.350 --> 00:23:21.685
  • Great funerals, you know what a great funeral is?
  • 00:23:21.685 --> 00:23:23.053
  • There's so much to celebrate, we run out of time.
  • 00:23:23.053 --> 00:23:24.554
  • Do you know what a bad funeral is?
  • 00:23:24.554 --> 00:23:25.956
  • Nobody wants to speak for the deceased.
  • 00:23:25.956 --> 00:23:27.757
  • Pastor stanley, you've got 30 minutes.
  • 00:23:27.757 --> 00:23:29.893
  • We got nothing.
  • 00:23:29.893 --> 00:23:31.261
  • Well, i don't even know--well, it doesn't matter because
  • 00:23:31.261 --> 00:23:32.863
  • There's, you know, there's not a lot to talk about.
  • 00:23:32.863 --> 00:23:34.364
  • Just, you know, let's just get through it, right?
  • 00:23:34.364 --> 00:23:36.666
  • "live for yourself, you'll only have yourself to show
  • 00:23:36.666 --> 00:23:40.237
  • For yourself."
  • 00:23:40.237 --> 00:23:43.106
  • People who build paper walls-- and, again, nobody does it on
  • 00:23:43.106 --> 00:23:46.743
  • Purpose--but people who build paper walls and live behind
  • 00:23:46.743 --> 00:23:49.713
  • Paper walls, people who make excuses rarely make much of
  • 00:23:49.713 --> 00:23:55.085
  • A difference.
  • 00:23:55.085 --> 00:23:56.419
  • Do you notice that?
  • 00:23:56.419 --> 00:23:58.455
  • People who live behind paper walls and make excuses, even
  • 00:23:58.455 --> 00:24:01.858
  • Though their reason--you know, we buy their reasons, at the end
  • 00:24:01.858 --> 00:24:04.961
  • Of the day, they rarely make much of a difference because
  • 00:24:04.961 --> 00:24:09.399
  • Paper walls keep you and keep me from being engaged.
  • 00:24:09.399 --> 00:24:13.770
  • Paper walls, they make us small, they make us self-absorbed.
  • 00:24:13.770 --> 00:24:19.376
  • Paper walls--they rob you, and they rob others.
  • 00:24:19.376 --> 00:24:25.815
  • And paper walls rob the people around you of you.
  • 00:24:25.815 --> 00:24:32.556
  • Here's a harsh reality, this is super deep.
  • 00:24:32.556 --> 00:24:34.925
  • You may not agree with this, and that's okay.
  • 00:24:34.925 --> 00:24:36.993
  • Excuses, excuses--not always, but maybe more
  • 00:24:36.993 --> 00:24:41.898
  • Times than we want to admit--excuses are often
  • 00:24:41.898 --> 00:24:44.768
  • Selfishness disguised as humility.
  • 00:24:44.768 --> 00:24:47.804
  • "oh, that was me, like, thanks for that opportunity, but
  • 00:24:47.804 --> 00:24:50.307
  • I'm busy."
  • 00:24:50.307 --> 00:24:51.675
  • Liar, you sound so humble, you let the other pastors have that
  • 00:24:51.675 --> 00:24:55.946
  • Opportunity, you look so humble, you're just afraid.
  • 00:24:55.946 --> 00:25:00.283
  • Sometimes our excuses, you know, they come across as humility,
  • 00:25:00.283 --> 00:25:05.088
  • When it's really anything but.
  • 00:25:05.088 --> 00:25:07.691
  • Now, between now and next time-- don't miss next time--you know,
  • 00:25:07.691 --> 00:25:11.094
  • Just acknowledge, start looking for paper walls, and decide
  • 00:25:11.094 --> 00:25:13.697
  • You're gonna throw off anything that gets in the way of you
  • 00:25:13.697 --> 00:25:15.899
  • Finishing the race that you have set out for you, whether you
  • 00:25:15.899 --> 00:25:18.134
  • Think god has set one out for you or not, okay?
  • 00:25:18.134 --> 00:25:21.104
  • Because this is relevant to all of us.
  • 00:25:21.104 --> 00:25:22.472
  • Whether you're a religious person or not, christian or not,
  • 00:25:22.472 --> 00:25:26.009
  • Here's what we can all agree on.
  • 00:25:26.009 --> 00:25:27.744
  • We all need to shut down the excuse factory.
  • 00:25:27.744 --> 00:25:31.615
  • We all need to get in the habit of saying, "well, the reason--
  • 00:25:31.615 --> 00:25:35.652
  • Okay, my excuse is."
  • 00:25:35.652 --> 00:25:38.388
  • "well, because--my excuse is."
  • 00:25:38.388 --> 00:25:43.226
  • "well, i've never been--well, my excuse up until now
  • 00:25:43.226 --> 00:25:49.299
  • Has been."
  • 00:25:49.299 --> 00:25:50.800
  • Because they just weigh you down, they hold you back, they
  • 00:25:50.800 --> 00:25:53.303
  • Rob you of potential, and you know what?
  • 00:25:53.303 --> 00:25:55.438
  • They make you small, they make us small.
  • 00:25:55.438 --> 00:26:00.343
  • They make us self-centered.
  • 00:26:00.343 --> 00:26:04.981
  • And we pass it off or try to pass it off as humility.
  • 00:26:04.981 --> 00:26:09.085
  • Some things are worth carrying forward season to season.
  • 00:26:09.085 --> 00:26:11.321
  • Some things are worth carrying forward year to year.
  • 00:26:11.321 --> 00:26:14.958
  • Excuses are not one of those things.
  • 00:26:14.958 --> 00:26:17.761
  • They need to be left behind.
  • 00:26:17.761 --> 00:26:21.531
  • And, if you choose to leave them behind, you'll be better off,
  • 00:26:21.531 --> 00:26:24.768
  • And, if you choose to leave them behind, your family will be
  • 00:26:24.768 --> 00:26:26.603
  • Better off or your future family will be better off, and if we
  • 00:26:26.603 --> 00:26:30.306
  • All decide to leave them behind, the world would be a better
  • 00:26:30.306 --> 00:26:33.610
  • Place because we will be free to follow our savior, instead of
  • 00:26:33.610 --> 00:26:39.215
  • Saying no for reasons that are no reason at all.
  • 00:26:39.215 --> 00:26:45.655
  • So, let's shut down the excuse factory.
  • 00:26:45.655 --> 00:26:51.661
  • Let's move beyond our paper walls.
  • 00:26:51.661 --> 00:26:54.230
  • And, in part 2, i'll start the process of telling you how.
  • 00:26:54.230 --> 00:26:58.301
  • So don't miss part 2 of "paper walls: moving beyond the excuses
  • 00:26:58.301 --> 00:27:02.439
  • That hold you back."
  • 00:27:02.439 --> 00:27:05.241
  • Andy: hey, thanks so much for watching.
  • 00:27:06.643 --> 00:27:08.278
  • You may find it hard to believe that 75 million americans claim
  • 00:27:08.278 --> 00:27:11.681
  • No religious affiliation.
  • 00:27:11.681 --> 00:27:13.817
  • On a personal note, perhaps you found it nearly impossible to
  • 00:27:13.817 --> 00:27:16.920
  • Believe that your son or your daughter or perhaps a grandchild
  • 00:27:16.920 --> 00:27:19.789
  • Drifted away from faith as part of that number.
  • 00:27:19.789 --> 00:27:22.625
  • This is a crisis culturally, and perhaps for you it's a
  • 00:27:22.625 --> 00:27:25.628
  • Crisis personally.
  • 00:27:25.628 --> 00:27:26.963
  • At your move, we are committed to addressing that crisis.
  • 00:27:26.963 --> 00:27:30.934
  • We actually have a plan to solve it, but we need your help.
  • 00:27:30.934 --> 00:27:33.803
  • We've developed a digital online tool that invites people to take
  • 00:27:33.803 --> 00:27:37.207
  • A personal assessment that launches them on a journey that
  • 00:27:37.207 --> 00:27:40.610
  • Eventually intersects their questions with the teaching of
  • 00:27:40.610 --> 00:27:43.913
  • Jesus, and ultimately with a bible-teaching church in
  • 00:27:43.913 --> 00:27:47.684
  • Their community.
  • 00:27:47.684 --> 00:27:49.018
  • Tens of thousands of people are currently engaged in this
  • 00:27:49.018 --> 00:27:51.454
  • Process, but we need your help to continue creating the
  • 00:27:51.454 --> 00:27:54.724
  • Breadcrumbs, the content that keeps them moving forward on
  • 00:27:54.724 --> 00:27:58.461
  • Their faith journey.
  • 00:27:58.461 --> 00:27:59.963
  • We're attempting something that no one has ever attempted
  • 00:27:59.963 --> 00:28:02.899
  • Before, and it is already working.
  • 00:28:02.899 --> 00:28:04.968
  • To find out more, go to the website or call the number at
  • 00:28:04.968 --> 00:28:07.804
  • The bottom of the screen, and, as always, thank you so much for
  • 00:28:07.804 --> 00:28:10.940
  • Watching, and now it's your move.
  • 00:28:10.940 --> 00:28:13.610
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:28:13.610 --> 00:28:22.185
  • ...
  • 00:28:25.421 --> 00:28:29.010