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Your Move with Andy Stanley

Andy Stanley - Paper Walls (Part 3)

September 20, 2025 | 30:10

Andy Stanley - Paper Walls (Part 3)
Your Move with Andy Stanley — to help people make better decisions and live with fewer regrets.
#Lies #Honesty #Relationships #Jesus #Insecurity #LightoftheWorld #Truth #Freedom

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Your Move with Andy Stanley | Andy Stanley - Paper Walls (Part 3) | September 20, 2025
  • ...
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  • Andy stanley: hey, everybody, welcome to "your move," where we
  • 00:00:00.785 --> 00:00:02.020
  • Help you make better decisions and live with fewer regrets.
  • 00:00:02.153 --> 00:00:04.122
  • I'm andy stanley and i'll be your guide.
  • 00:00:04.255 --> 00:00:05.790
  • And here's something i've noticed: people lie to
  • 00:00:05.924 --> 00:00:08.460
  • Themselves all the time, but they don't call the lies they
  • 00:00:08.593 --> 00:00:11.096
  • Tell themselves lies, they call them reasons.
  • 00:00:11.196 --> 00:00:13.965
  • The reason i stay in this dead-end relationship, the
  • 00:00:14.099 --> 00:00:16.835
  • Reason i don't exercise, the reason i don't save more money.
  • 00:00:16.935 --> 00:00:20.171
  • Is it possible you have disguised a lie as a reason, and
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  • Are you ready to tell yourself the painful but
  • 00:00:24.809 --> 00:00:26.744
  • Liberating truth?
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  • It's worth considering, so let's consider it together right here
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  • On "your move."
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Andy: so, you may know the answer to this.
  • 00:00:36.554 --> 00:00:39.190
  • I don't know--i should say i'm not sure when it is that we
  • 00:00:39.190 --> 00:00:42.861
  • Begin lying to ourselves.
  • 00:00:42.861 --> 00:00:46.097
  • I think it's probably earlier than we imagined and, again some
  • 00:00:46.097 --> 00:00:49.667
  • Of you may know the answer to this, i don't know when we stop
  • 00:00:49.667 --> 00:00:53.404
  • Lying to ourselves.
  • 00:00:53.404 --> 00:00:54.772
  • It may coincide with our breathing.
  • 00:00:54.772 --> 00:00:56.574
  • You know, it's like when we stop breathing, we finally stop lying
  • 00:00:56.574 --> 00:00:58.877
  • To ourselves.
  • 00:00:58.877 --> 00:01:00.211
  • And, you know, it doesn't take long.
  • 00:01:00.211 --> 00:01:01.813
  • I mean, by the time you're in middle school or high school,
  • 00:01:01.813 --> 00:01:03.414
  • You--we get pretty good at catching other people when
  • 00:01:03.414 --> 00:01:06.317
  • They're lying, but we're not so good at catching ourselves when
  • 00:01:06.317 --> 00:01:10.021
  • We're lying.
  • 00:01:10.021 --> 00:01:11.356
  • Not lying to other people, we're not so good at catching
  • 00:01:11.356 --> 00:01:12.824
  • Ourselves lying when we're lying to ourselves.
  • 00:01:12.824 --> 00:01:15.760
  • Now, lying to others, and please don't misunderstand this, lying
  • 00:01:15.760 --> 00:01:18.663
  • To others is somewhat understandable.
  • 00:01:18.663 --> 00:01:21.166
  • It's not excusable, but at least it's understandable.
  • 00:01:21.166 --> 00:01:24.369
  • But lying to ourselves?
  • 00:01:24.369 --> 00:01:26.671
  • Lying to ourselves, it's confusing.
  • 00:01:26.671 --> 00:01:30.508
  • Lying to ourselves--i mean, how many selves do we have?
  • 00:01:30.508 --> 00:01:34.045
  • I mean, who's lying to who, right?
  • 00:01:34.045 --> 00:01:36.648
  • Now, if you're listening to this thinking, well, andy, i don't
  • 00:01:36.648 --> 00:01:39.117
  • Lie to myself, perhaps you just did, okay?
  • 00:01:39.117 --> 00:01:43.087
  • So that's the point, it's like, i know.
  • 00:01:43.087 --> 00:01:45.456
  • And the reason you did and you don't know about it is because
  • 00:01:45.456 --> 00:01:48.193
  • You're really, really good at it and we're all really good at it.
  • 00:01:48.193 --> 00:01:50.929
  • And one of the reasons we're so good at deceiving ourselves,
  • 00:01:50.929 --> 00:01:53.364
  • Which is another way of saying lying to ourselves, one of the
  • 00:01:53.364 --> 00:01:55.466
  • Reasons we're so good at deceiving ourselves is we don't
  • 00:01:55.466 --> 00:01:58.203
  • Call the lies that we tell ourselves lies.
  • 00:01:58.203 --> 00:02:01.472
  • We call them something else.
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  • We dignify them, right?
  • 00:02:02.907 --> 00:02:04.809
  • We call them reasons.
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  • We have reasons, which is reasonable, and we wanna be
  • 00:02:06.644 --> 00:02:09.681
  • Reasonable because we don't wanna be unreasonable because
  • 00:02:09.681 --> 00:02:11.583
  • You work with somebody who's unreasonable and perhaps you
  • 00:02:11.583 --> 00:02:14.185
  • Have some friends who, you know--so you don't wanna
  • 00:02:14.185 --> 00:02:15.587
  • Be unreasonable.
  • 00:02:15.587 --> 00:02:16.955
  • So when we decide to do something we know we shouldn't
  • 00:02:16.955 --> 00:02:19.123
  • Do or something that we know there's probably another reason
  • 00:02:19.123 --> 00:02:21.092
  • We're not doing--another reason we're actually doing it, instead
  • 00:02:21.092 --> 00:02:23.728
  • Of, you know, we--instead of throwing our hands up in the air
  • 00:02:23.728 --> 00:02:25.863
  • And say, "i don't know why i do this," we come up with reasons.
  • 00:02:25.863 --> 00:02:29.901
  • The reason i was late to work is it was traffic, it was traffic.
  • 00:02:29.901 --> 00:02:34.839
  • Now, i did get up a little late and i did piddle around and i
  • 00:02:34.839 --> 00:02:37.408
  • Went down the, you know, twitter rabbit hole, then i went down a
  • 00:02:37.408 --> 00:02:40.678
  • Instagram rabbit hole and then i looked up and, oh my goodness,
  • 00:02:40.678 --> 00:02:43.014
  • And--but really, the reason i'm late is traffic.
  • 00:02:43.014 --> 00:02:46.985
  • I'm just gonna stick with traffic because traffic
  • 00:02:46.985 --> 00:02:49.320
  • Is reasonable.
  • 00:02:49.320 --> 00:02:50.688
  • So we come up with reasons and then we believe these, right?
  • 00:02:50.688 --> 00:02:54.025
  • It really is crazy, and we all do it.
  • 00:02:54.025 --> 00:02:58.029
  • Instead of telling ourselves the truth, we just make up stuff,
  • 00:02:58.029 --> 00:03:02.200
  • And that's what we've been talking about.
  • 00:03:02.200 --> 00:03:03.534
  • We manufacture or we make up or we create excuses, and we
  • 00:03:03.534 --> 00:03:08.840
  • Disguise our excuses as reasons because we wanna be reasonable.
  • 00:03:08.840 --> 00:03:14.379
  • So maybe, just maybe, here's where we're going today, maybe
  • 00:03:14.379 --> 00:03:17.582
  • We should call it, not like it is, maybe we should call it like
  • 00:03:17.582 --> 00:03:22.754
  • Others see it.
  • 00:03:22.754 --> 00:03:24.155
  • Because i hate to break it to you, the people around you and
  • 00:03:24.155 --> 00:03:27.425
  • The people who know you, they know when you're lying.
  • 00:03:27.425 --> 00:03:31.596
  • They know when you have lied to yourself and bought your own
  • 00:03:31.596 --> 00:03:34.132
  • Reasoning to made it and--or your own excuse and turned it
  • 00:03:34.132 --> 00:03:36.234
  • Into a reason.
  • 00:03:36.234 --> 00:03:37.568
  • They know when you're manufacturing excuses, and the
  • 00:03:37.568 --> 00:03:39.437
  • Reason i know that they know is because you know when the people
  • 00:03:39.437 --> 00:03:42.840
  • Around you are doing it as well, and we think nobody's catching
  • 00:03:42.840 --> 00:03:45.243
  • On to our excuses that we've disguised as reasons.
  • 00:03:45.243 --> 00:03:50.815
  • They see our reasons for what they really are, excuses,
  • 00:03:50.815 --> 00:03:56.154
  • Paper walls.
  • 00:03:56.154 --> 00:03:58.222
  • So today we're in the third part of our series, "paper walls,"
  • 00:03:58.222 --> 00:04:01.459
  • Moving beyond the excuses that hold you back, moving beyond the
  • 00:04:01.459 --> 00:04:04.495
  • Excuses that hold you back.
  • 00:04:04.495 --> 00:04:05.963
  • Excuses, as we said, are like paper walls.
  • 00:04:05.963 --> 00:04:08.132
  • From a distance they look impenetrable, from a distance
  • 00:04:08.132 --> 00:04:10.802
  • They look like they're actual obstacles, from a
  • 00:04:10.802 --> 00:04:13.538
  • Distance it looks like, hey, the reason i can't move forward, the
  • 00:04:13.538 --> 00:04:16.674
  • Reason i can't stop, the reason i don't start, the reason i
  • 00:04:16.674 --> 00:04:19.344
  • Don't go back, the reason, the reason, the reason--well, the
  • 00:04:19.344 --> 00:04:21.479
  • Reason is it's this.
  • 00:04:21.479 --> 00:04:24.082
  • But as we get closer and as we get honest, not with the people
  • 00:04:24.082 --> 00:04:29.554
  • Around us, as we get honest with ourselves, we realize that many,
  • 00:04:29.554 --> 00:04:32.690
  • Many, many of our reasons aren't really reasons, they're just
  • 00:04:32.690 --> 00:04:35.960
  • Excuses, they're just paper walls.
  • 00:04:35.960 --> 00:04:38.129
  • And they're paper walls that are holding us back.
  • 00:04:38.129 --> 00:04:42.133
  • And then over time, as we've said, our excuses, and this is
  • 00:04:42.133 --> 00:04:44.635
  • When you know that you got work to do, because you
  • 00:04:44.635 --> 00:04:47.405
  • Hear yourself.
  • 00:04:47.405 --> 00:04:48.773
  • Our excuses, they become our becauses.
  • 00:04:48.773 --> 00:04:51.743
  • These are the becauses that we retreat to when somebody
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  • Confronts us, the becauses that we run to and hide behind when
  • 00:04:54.245 --> 00:04:57.448
  • Somebody brings it up.
  • 00:04:57.448 --> 00:04:58.916
  • You know, "why don't you?"
  • 00:04:58.916 --> 00:05:00.284
  • "well, because."
  • 00:05:00.284 --> 00:05:01.619
  • We always have a because.
  • 00:05:01.619 --> 00:05:04.389
  • But this is the, come on, this is the truth.
  • 00:05:04.389 --> 00:05:05.790
  • This isn't a religious thing.
  • 00:05:05.790 --> 00:05:07.125
  • Regardless of what you think about god or religion, come on,
  • 00:05:07.125 --> 00:05:09.594
  • This is a human thing.
  • 00:05:09.594 --> 00:05:12.296
  • Sometimes our "be-cause" isn't the cause.
  • 00:05:12.296 --> 00:05:17.335
  • Our "be-cause" is just an excuse masquerading as a cause, and we
  • 00:05:17.335 --> 00:05:22.573
  • All do this.
  • 00:05:22.573 --> 00:05:23.975
  • In fact, probably all of us have some of those that we're
  • 00:05:23.975 --> 00:05:26.778
  • Carrying around right now.
  • 00:05:26.778 --> 00:05:29.113
  • So in this series, here's the question we're asking.
  • 00:05:29.113 --> 00:05:31.616
  • Is it possible, that is, would you be open to exploring, is it
  • 00:05:31.616 --> 00:05:36.454
  • Possible that you are missing out in life because you've
  • 00:05:36.454 --> 00:05:42.026
  • Walled yourself in?
  • 00:05:42.026 --> 00:05:44.629
  • Is it possible that you are living behind a paper wall or
  • 00:05:44.629 --> 00:05:49.033
  • Paper walls that you have--you explained and you've bought into
  • 00:05:49.033 --> 00:05:52.970
  • Personally and you've lied to yourself?
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  • You believe these really are actual obstacles that you can't
  • 00:05:54.472 --> 00:05:57.909
  • Move beyond, but they are walling you in and they are
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  • Keeping other things and other people out, opportunities out,
  • 00:06:01.879 --> 00:06:05.817
  • Relationships out, better relationships out, your physical
  • 00:06:05.817 --> 00:06:09.086
  • Health out.
  • 00:06:09.086 --> 00:06:10.421
  • Is it possible, is it possible, possible, that you're hiding
  • 00:06:10.421 --> 00:06:13.157
  • Behind self-imposed, lie-infested excuses?
  • 00:06:13.157 --> 00:06:19.464
  • And they're constructed of all kinds of things.
  • 00:06:19.464 --> 00:06:21.732
  • They're constructed sometimes of things people have said about us
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  • To us, things that people have called us when we were younger,
  • 00:06:24.135 --> 00:06:26.737
  • The things that people have branded us.
  • 00:06:26.737 --> 00:06:29.207
  • And the real dilemma--or not the dilemma, the real problem, the
  • 00:06:29.207 --> 00:06:33.010
  • Thing that should really bother us is that over time a single
  • 00:06:33.010 --> 00:06:37.114
  • Excuse can actually become a king in our life.
  • 00:06:37.114 --> 00:06:41.419
  • A single excuse can become a tyrant.
  • 00:06:41.419 --> 00:06:43.754
  • A single excuse can become the boss of you.
  • 00:06:43.754 --> 00:06:46.691
  • So here's the problem.
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  • There is perhaps in your life a single excuse that you have
  • 00:06:48.025 --> 00:06:52.463
  • Lived--a wall you've lived behind for so long, a single
  • 00:06:52.463 --> 00:06:54.632
  • Excuse you've made for so long, i mean you just go there.
  • 00:06:54.632 --> 00:06:57.101
  • Your becauses, they just flow and you've convinced yourself
  • 00:06:57.101 --> 00:07:00.171
  • And it is impacting your entire life and it is keeping you from
  • 00:07:00.171 --> 00:07:04.542
  • Moving forward relationally, forward spiritually, forward in
  • 00:07:04.542 --> 00:07:08.546
  • Terms of just personal growth, forward financially.
  • 00:07:08.546 --> 00:07:11.716
  • I don't know what it is.
  • 00:07:11.716 --> 00:07:13.084
  • Is it possible?
  • 00:07:13.084 --> 00:07:14.819
  • Is it possible that there's something that you've turned
  • 00:07:14.819 --> 00:07:18.222
  • Into a reason that's actually just an excuse?
  • 00:07:18.222 --> 00:07:22.527
  • Andy: hey, i wanted to take just a minute to address a growing
  • 00:07:22.593 --> 00:07:25.463
  • Crisis in america.
  • 00:07:25.463 --> 00:07:26.797
  • Did you know that nearly 75 million americans have no
  • 00:07:26.797 --> 00:07:30.067
  • Religious affiliation, none whatsoever?
  • 00:07:30.067 --> 00:07:32.403
  • Most of us know some of these people, many of us are related
  • 00:07:32.403 --> 00:07:34.939
  • To some of these people.
  • 00:07:34.939 --> 00:07:36.274
  • So for us, they aren't statistics, they're people we
  • 00:07:36.274 --> 00:07:38.709
  • Love and would love to see returned to faith in jesus.
  • 00:07:38.709 --> 00:07:41.846
  • So at "your move," we are committed to reaching people
  • 00:07:41.846 --> 00:07:44.782
  • With the teaching of jesus right where they are and when they
  • 00:07:44.782 --> 00:07:48.119
  • Least expect it.
  • 00:07:48.119 --> 00:07:49.520
  • We use a researched-back digital strategy that's already making
  • 00:07:49.520 --> 00:07:53.190
  • A difference.
  • 00:07:53.190 --> 00:07:54.525
  • So if you'll stick around after today's message, we would love
  • 00:07:54.525 --> 00:07:56.460
  • To tell you more about it, or visit the website or call the
  • 00:07:56.460 --> 00:07:59.764
  • Number on your screen to learn how you can be a part of this
  • 00:07:59.764 --> 00:08:02.667
  • Revolutionary approach to introducing and reintroducing
  • 00:08:02.667 --> 00:08:06.103
  • People to jesus.
  • 00:08:06.103 --> 00:08:08.139
  • Andy: as we said in the first two sessions, the first two
  • 00:08:08.205 --> 00:08:10.675
  • Episodes of this series, if--there is a relationship
  • 00:08:10.675 --> 00:08:13.711
  • Between our excuses and our ability to follow jesus, because
  • 00:08:13.711 --> 00:08:18.649
  • The--an excuse can't be the king of your life and jesus be the
  • 00:08:18.649 --> 00:08:22.420
  • King of your life.
  • 00:08:22.420 --> 00:08:23.788
  • And you can't, i can't, we can't follow our excuses, make excuses
  • 00:08:23.788 --> 00:08:27.592
  • Lord of our life, and follow jesus at the same time.
  • 00:08:27.592 --> 00:08:32.196
  • And here's what's so cool.
  • 00:08:32.196 --> 00:08:33.564
  • This is what we're gonna do today for a few minutes.
  • 00:08:33.564 --> 00:08:35.333
  • When you follow jesus through the gospels, and i mean when you
  • 00:08:35.333 --> 00:08:38.569
  • Sit down and follow jesus through matthew, follow jesus
  • 00:08:38.569 --> 00:08:41.305
  • Through mark or luke or john, when you follow jesus through
  • 00:08:41.305 --> 00:08:43.908
  • The gospels, do you know what you discover him doing?
  • 00:08:43.908 --> 00:08:45.810
  • There's all chara--these all these narratives, there's all
  • 00:08:45.810 --> 00:08:48.312
  • These conversations, you find jesus bringing light into
  • 00:08:48.312 --> 00:08:52.617
  • Dark places.
  • 00:08:52.617 --> 00:08:53.985
  • He was constantly leading people out of darkness, their personal
  • 00:08:53.985 --> 00:08:57.021
  • Darkness, into light.
  • 00:08:57.021 --> 00:08:59.624
  • But the problem is, as we're gonna discover today as well,
  • 00:08:59.624 --> 00:09:02.727
  • Light can be terrifying, light can be frightening.
  • 00:09:02.727 --> 00:09:06.797
  • Light shown in our dark places can be threatening.
  • 00:09:06.797 --> 00:09:10.635
  • It can be embarrassing.
  • 00:09:10.635 --> 00:09:13.337
  • It's that moment when you realize: "okay, i really
  • 00:09:13.337 --> 00:09:17.775
  • Am afraid.
  • 00:09:17.775 --> 00:09:19.143
  • This whole time i've had all these excuses for why i won't,
  • 00:09:19.143 --> 00:09:22.513
  • Why i shouldn't, couldn't and wouldn't, and wouldn't start.
  • 00:09:22.513 --> 00:09:25.116
  • The truth is, i'm afraid.
  • 00:09:25.116 --> 00:09:28.119
  • The truth is, i'm just really insecure.
  • 00:09:28.119 --> 00:09:31.055
  • The truth is, i'm terrified of what i might feel if i chose to
  • 00:09:31.055 --> 00:09:36.661
  • Move through and move past the excuses i've been giving
  • 00:09:36.661 --> 00:09:40.798
  • For years."
  • 00:09:40.798 --> 00:09:42.133
  • Light can be terrifying, but light can be liberating.
  • 00:09:42.133 --> 00:09:46.570
  • Just ask your aa friends, or your na friends.
  • 00:09:46.570 --> 00:09:50.875
  • Lies, especially the ones that we tell ourselves, those lies
  • 00:09:50.875 --> 00:09:55.279
  • Will always, always hold you back.
  • 00:09:55.279 --> 00:09:57.882
  • They hold us back because they leave us in the dark, and let me
  • 00:09:57.882 --> 00:10:02.887
  • Tell you how you can know for sure this is true: because you
  • 00:10:02.887 --> 00:10:05.756
  • See it in other people all the time.
  • 00:10:05.756 --> 00:10:07.224
  • Isn't it true that you watch people at work, you watch people
  • 00:10:07.224 --> 00:10:09.994
  • At home, maybe you're watching your kids right now in a
  • 00:10:09.994 --> 00:10:11.729
  • Difficult season, or maybe your husband and your wife, and
  • 00:10:11.729 --> 00:10:14.298
  • Here's what you think but you're afraid to say: can't you see
  • 00:10:14.298 --> 00:10:20.004
  • What you're doing to our marriage?
  • 00:10:20.004 --> 00:10:22.273
  • Can't you see what your behavior is doing to your relationship
  • 00:10:22.273 --> 00:10:25.776
  • With your son or your daughter?
  • 00:10:25.776 --> 00:10:27.411
  • Can't you see what you're doing to your health?
  • 00:10:27.411 --> 00:10:30.514
  • Can't you see what you're doing to your finances?
  • 00:10:30.514 --> 00:10:33.184
  • Can't you see what you're doing to your academic career?
  • 00:10:33.184 --> 00:10:35.986
  • Can't you see what you're doing to your reputation?
  • 00:10:35.986 --> 00:10:38.355
  • That's the word we actually use in our mind.
  • 00:10:38.355 --> 00:10:40.424
  • And then when we talk about the other people, they just can't
  • 00:10:40.424 --> 00:10:43.527
  • See it, they just can't see it, they just can't see it.
  • 00:10:43.527 --> 00:10:46.564
  • It's like they're wandering around in the darkness.
  • 00:10:46.564 --> 00:10:49.366
  • And if you have the opportunity or the courage or the
  • 00:10:49.366 --> 00:10:51.769
  • Relationship to sit down with them and say, "hey, i don't, i,
  • 00:10:51.769 --> 00:10:54.939
  • You know, maybe this is none of my business, but i wish you
  • 00:10:54.939 --> 00:10:58.476
  • Could see what you're doing to your husband.
  • 00:10:58.476 --> 00:11:01.045
  • I wish you could see what you're doing to the people at work.
  • 00:11:01.045 --> 00:11:03.948
  • I wish you could see how your behavior is, you know--what your
  • 00:11:03.948 --> 00:11:08.486
  • Behavior is causing with your kids.
  • 00:11:08.486 --> 00:11:10.187
  • I wish you could see it."
  • 00:11:10.187 --> 00:11:12.323
  • And if you've ever had those conversations, they can't see it
  • 00:11:12.323 --> 00:11:17.194
  • Because they immediately run to their, "well, the reason, the
  • 00:11:17.194 --> 00:11:19.897
  • Reason, the reason, the reason," and you know those aren't
  • 00:11:19.897 --> 00:11:22.366
  • Reasons, those are excuses.
  • 00:11:22.366 --> 00:11:26.771
  • But here's the thing, it'd be fun to talk about them the rest
  • 00:11:26.771 --> 00:11:29.440
  • Of the time.
  • 00:11:29.440 --> 00:11:30.808
  • It's true of them, it's true of me, it's true of you.
  • 00:11:30.808 --> 00:11:36.080
  • I can't see it, you can't see it.
  • 00:11:36.080 --> 00:11:39.550
  • Other people see it about me and other people see it about you.
  • 00:11:39.550 --> 00:11:44.421
  • And this is why when you follow jesus through the gospels, he
  • 00:11:44.421 --> 00:11:48.692
  • Presents us with an invitation, we're gonna get to in a minute,
  • 00:11:48.692 --> 00:11:50.928
  • That is so powerful, it's life-changing.
  • 00:11:50.928 --> 00:11:54.398
  • When you hear christians talk about, "oh, it changed my life,"
  • 00:11:54.398 --> 00:11:56.967
  • This is what they're talking about.
  • 00:11:56.967 --> 00:11:58.335
  • In fact, when you--if you think jesus changed your life, this is
  • 00:11:58.335 --> 00:12:01.839
  • What you talk about.
  • 00:12:01.839 --> 00:12:04.074
  • So, lies will hold you back.
  • 00:12:04.074 --> 00:12:06.443
  • The truth, flip side is truth sets you free.
  • 00:12:06.443 --> 00:12:09.713
  • And how amazing, this is amazing, how amazing is it, how
  • 00:12:09.713 --> 00:12:12.483
  • Amazing is it that 2000 years ago, this is the very point that
  • 00:12:12.483 --> 00:12:17.488
  • We discover jesus making, and he makes this very point right
  • 00:12:17.488 --> 00:12:21.826
  • After he makes this, i don't know, kind of over-the-top
  • 00:12:21.826 --> 00:12:25.196
  • Statement about himself.
  • 00:12:25.196 --> 00:12:26.931
  • Here's where the conversation begins.
  • 00:12:26.931 --> 00:12:28.999
  • Jesus is teaching, john's, you know, writing all this
  • 00:12:28.999 --> 00:12:31.435
  • Stuff down.
  • 00:12:31.435 --> 00:12:32.770
  • Here's what jesus says, this is so over the top.
  • 00:12:32.770 --> 00:12:34.138
  • "i am the light of the world."
  • 00:12:34.138 --> 00:12:37.508
  • Who would say that?
  • 00:12:37.508 --> 00:12:39.310
  • I mean, who says things like this?
  • 00:12:39.310 --> 00:12:40.978
  • "i am the light of the world," no wonder people just kind of
  • 00:12:40.978 --> 00:12:43.247
  • Smirked and shook their head and walk off.
  • 00:12:43.247 --> 00:12:45.049
  • You're the light of the world, right?
  • 00:12:45.049 --> 00:12:46.617
  • But before you write them off, what if that's true?
  • 00:12:46.617 --> 00:12:50.020
  • What if jesus, think about it, what if jesus really came to
  • 00:12:50.020 --> 00:12:54.325
  • Lead the people of this world and every generation, including
  • 00:12:54.325 --> 00:12:57.628
  • You, including me, what if jesus really came to lead us out of
  • 00:12:57.628 --> 00:13:00.431
  • Darkness into light?
  • 00:13:00.431 --> 00:13:04.168
  • What if he really came to light up your excuses and expose them
  • 00:13:04.168 --> 00:13:09.373
  • For what they truly are so that you can become everything god
  • 00:13:09.373 --> 00:13:11.909
  • Has called you to be, everything he knows you you can be, so you
  • 00:13:11.909 --> 00:13:13.978
  • Can reach your full potential, so you can get to the other side
  • 00:13:13.978 --> 00:13:16.413
  • Of this instead of living shut down and bogged down in the
  • 00:13:16.413 --> 00:13:20.784
  • Things that you've told yourself?
  • 00:13:20.784 --> 00:13:22.119
  • What if it's true, what if jesus really is the light of
  • 00:13:22.119 --> 00:13:23.954
  • The world?
  • 00:13:23.954 --> 00:13:25.289
  • And then he says this.
  • 00:13:25.289 --> 00:13:27.324
  • "whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have
  • 00:13:27.324 --> 00:13:34.064
  • With them always the lamp or the light of life."
  • 00:13:34.064 --> 00:13:39.637
  • Jesus is saying, "look, i wanna light up the dark places.
  • 00:13:39.637 --> 00:13:43.908
  • I wanna lead you through your paper walls.
  • 00:13:43.908 --> 00:13:46.010
  • I wanna expose the things that are keeping you back from fully
  • 00:13:46.010 --> 00:13:49.113
  • Engaging with your family, fully engaging with your potential,
  • 00:13:49.113 --> 00:13:52.349
  • Fully engaging or overcoming your fears and your
  • 00:13:52.349 --> 00:13:54.652
  • Insecurities, but for that to happen, it's not enough to sing
  • 00:13:54.652 --> 00:13:57.688
  • Songs about me.
  • 00:13:57.688 --> 00:13:59.056
  • It's not enough to admire me, it's not enough to believe in
  • 00:13:59.056 --> 00:14:01.659
  • Me, it's not enough to, you know, 'in some intangible
  • 00:14:01.659 --> 00:14:04.094
  • Conceptual way i trust you.'"
  • 00:14:04.094 --> 00:14:05.696
  • He says, "you gotta follow me because i'm taking
  • 00:14:05.696 --> 00:14:08.332
  • You somewhere."
  • 00:14:08.332 --> 00:14:09.667
  • And it was the men and women who followed jesus that turned the
  • 00:14:09.667 --> 00:14:12.636
  • World upside down.
  • 00:14:12.636 --> 00:14:14.004
  • It was the men and women who followed jesus, not just admired
  • 00:14:14.004 --> 00:14:16.140
  • Jesus, who would shape western civilization.
  • 00:14:16.140 --> 00:14:19.376
  • Now when he said this, his 1st century audience, you know,
  • 00:14:19.376 --> 00:14:21.712
  • There's all kinds of people there, and there's always
  • 00:14:21.712 --> 00:14:23.180
  • Religious leaders taking notes, trying to trap jesus.
  • 00:14:23.180 --> 00:14:25.783
  • And john tells us that when he said this, the pharisees
  • 00:14:25.783 --> 00:14:29.153
  • Challenged him and they said, "ah," you know, just write
  • 00:14:29.153 --> 00:14:32.056
  • Him off.
  • 00:14:32.056 --> 00:14:33.424
  • "here you are," cause, you know.
  • 00:14:33.424 --> 00:14:34.758
  • "here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is
  • 00:14:34.758 --> 00:14:37.962
  • Not valid."
  • 00:14:37.962 --> 00:14:39.296
  • "you're claiming things about yourself and you can't claim
  • 00:14:39.296 --> 00:14:41.065
  • Things about yourself.
  • 00:14:41.065 --> 00:14:42.399
  • There's no way to prove that you're not the light of
  • 00:14:42.399 --> 00:14:43.867
  • The world.
  • 00:14:43.867 --> 00:14:45.202
  • Folks, this guy is crazy."
  • 00:14:45.202 --> 00:14:47.471
  • But the crowd didn't leave because they suspected something
  • 00:14:47.471 --> 00:14:51.308
  • About jesus.
  • 00:14:51.308 --> 00:14:52.710
  • Later in that same conversation, he says this, this is
  • 00:14:52.710 --> 00:14:55.479
  • So powerful.
  • 00:14:55.479 --> 00:14:56.814
  • He says, "if you hold to my teaching," this is conditional.
  • 00:14:56.814 --> 00:15:02.987
  • What's gonna follow, it's a conditional clause.
  • 00:15:02.987 --> 00:15:05.656
  • If you remain in my teaching, if you focus on embrace--if you
  • 00:15:05.656 --> 00:15:10.794
  • Organize your life around my teaching, if you will do what i
  • 00:15:10.794 --> 00:15:14.698
  • Am teaching you to do, then and only then, "you are really my
  • 00:15:14.698 --> 00:15:19.837
  • Disciples," or my learners or my followers.
  • 00:15:19.837 --> 00:15:23.841
  • "and if you will do what i ask you to do, and if you will
  • 00:15:23.841 --> 00:15:26.977
  • Embrace what i've asked you to embrace, if you will follow my
  • 00:15:26.977 --> 00:15:30.848
  • Teaching, that means you're my follower, and then, and only
  • 00:15:30.848 --> 00:15:36.020
  • Then, then you'll know the truth, and the truth will set
  • 00:15:36.020 --> 00:15:41.492
  • You free."
  • 00:15:41.492 --> 00:15:43.360
  • It will set you free to--ready for this?
  • 00:15:43.360 --> 00:15:46.230
  • To see. to see.
  • 00:15:46.230 --> 00:15:49.600
  • To see yourself the way god sees you, to see your potential the
  • 00:15:49.600 --> 00:15:52.302
  • Way god sees your potential, to see your family the way that god
  • 00:15:52.302 --> 00:15:55.139
  • Sees your family, to see god the way that god really is.
  • 00:15:55.139 --> 00:15:57.574
  • Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall, ready for this,
  • 00:15:57.574 --> 00:16:00.611
  • They shall, there it is again, they shall see god.
  • 00:16:00.611 --> 00:16:03.847
  • Jesus says, "i'm the light of the world and i'm not in some
  • 00:16:03.847 --> 00:16:06.550
  • Just big intangible ethereal way.
  • 00:16:06.550 --> 00:16:08.552
  • I wanna be the light of your world.
  • 00:16:08.552 --> 00:16:09.953
  • And if you follow me, you will discover the truth, and the
  • 00:16:09.953 --> 00:16:13.190
  • Truth will set you free.
  • 00:16:13.190 --> 00:16:16.427
  • And you will begin to see your paper walls for exactly what
  • 00:16:16.427 --> 00:16:21.065
  • They are."
  • 00:16:21.065 --> 00:16:23.834
  • And do you know how his audience then responds to this
  • 00:16:23.834 --> 00:16:28.005
  • Amazing statement?
  • 00:16:28.005 --> 00:16:29.973
  • They begin making excuses.
  • 00:16:29.973 --> 00:16:33.811
  • It's unbelievable.
  • 00:16:33.811 --> 00:16:35.145
  • Here's what the pharisees and the teachers of the law say,
  • 00:16:35.145 --> 00:16:37.314
  • 'cause they're trying to make sure that people don't
  • 00:16:37.314 --> 00:16:38.649
  • Follow jesus.
  • 00:16:38.649 --> 00:16:39.983
  • They answered him, "what, be free?
  • 00:16:39.983 --> 00:16:43.387
  • You're gonna set us free?"
  • 00:16:43.387 --> 00:16:45.422
  • "we are abraham's descendants.
  • 00:16:45.422 --> 00:16:47.624
  • We have never been slaves of anyone.
  • 00:16:47.624 --> 00:16:51.462
  • How can you say we shall be set free?"
  • 00:16:51.462 --> 00:16:54.031
  • "you can't set us free, we--there's nothing to set us
  • 00:16:54.031 --> 00:16:56.567
  • Free from."
  • 00:16:56.567 --> 00:16:57.935
  • Now this is ridiculous, okay?
  • 00:16:57.935 --> 00:17:00.003
  • When they say this, they, currently, in that moment, had a
  • 00:17:00.003 --> 00:17:03.440
  • Roman governor, roman governor.
  • 00:17:03.440 --> 00:17:06.844
  • Who's your governor?
  • 00:17:06.844 --> 00:17:08.345
  • "pilate."
  • 00:17:08.345 --> 00:17:09.713
  • Okay, but you don't think you're slaves?
  • 00:17:09.713 --> 00:17:11.148
  • "no, we're not slaves."
  • 00:17:11.148 --> 00:17:13.250
  • Before the romans, it was the seleucids, the assyrians, the
  • 00:17:13.250 --> 00:17:16.086
  • Babylonians, the egyptians, it goes on and on and on.
  • 00:17:16.086 --> 00:17:19.623
  • So the whole idea of--these people say, "oh, we've never
  • 00:17:19.623 --> 00:17:23.160
  • Been slaves to anyone," it's just so ridiculous and it's easy
  • 00:17:23.160 --> 00:17:26.563
  • To criticize.
  • 00:17:26.563 --> 00:17:28.999
  • But we are often equally as guilty.
  • 00:17:28.999 --> 00:17:34.004
  • I mean, when i come along and say you're a slave to your
  • 00:17:34.004 --> 00:17:36.673
  • Excuses, you're a prisoner to your excuses, you are walled in,
  • 00:17:36.673 --> 00:17:40.878
  • You sit here and you think, not me, not me, not me.
  • 00:17:40.878 --> 00:17:45.449
  • If somebody implies that, you know, this is true of you, i
  • 00:17:45.449 --> 00:17:47.584
  • Mean, we all just want to fold our arms as we invent--and we
  • 00:17:47.584 --> 00:17:49.920
  • Just start making excuses.
  • 00:17:49.920 --> 00:17:52.322
  • And we're tempted to say what they say.
  • 00:17:52.322 --> 00:17:54.658
  • So let me, you know, if we were sitting here, here's how we
  • 00:17:54.658 --> 00:17:57.060
  • Would say it.
  • 00:17:57.060 --> 00:17:58.428
  • "i--oh, no, jesus, i've never been a slave of anyone
  • 00:17:58.428 --> 00:18:00.430
  • Or anything."
  • 00:18:00.430 --> 00:18:01.765
  • That's how we feel.
  • 00:18:01.765 --> 00:18:03.133
  • I've never been a slave of anyone.
  • 00:18:03.133 --> 00:18:04.468
  • I've never been a slave of anything.
  • 00:18:04.468 --> 00:18:05.836
  • Jesus, what do you mean you're gonna set me free?
  • 00:18:05.836 --> 00:18:07.171
  • Set me free from what?
  • 00:18:07.171 --> 00:18:09.406
  • And i think jesus would respond to me and to you the same way he
  • 00:18:09.406 --> 00:18:12.209
  • Responded to his original audience when they said, "oh,
  • 00:18:12.209 --> 00:18:14.011
  • We've never been slaves of anything or anyone."
  • 00:18:14.011 --> 00:18:16.413
  • He says, "very truly," instead of reading them their history,
  • 00:18:16.413 --> 00:18:19.883
  • Their national history, he reads them their personal history.
  • 00:18:19.883 --> 00:18:21.985
  • "very truly i tell you, everyone who sins is a slave of sin."
  • 00:18:21.985 --> 00:18:26.323
  • Everyone who sins is a slave of sin.
  • 00:18:26.323 --> 00:18:28.759
  • They're like, "wait, i thought--why are we talking
  • 00:18:28.759 --> 00:18:32.196
  • About sin?"
  • 00:18:32.196 --> 00:18:33.564
  • Anyone who sins is a slave to sin.
  • 00:18:33.564 --> 00:18:35.799
  • In other words, is--what he's saying is this.
  • 00:18:35.799 --> 00:18:37.401
  • Do you ever do what you ought not to do?
  • 00:18:37.401 --> 00:18:40.904
  • "yeah."
  • 00:18:40.904 --> 00:18:42.272
  • And then you regret doing what you did?
  • 00:18:42.272 --> 00:18:43.807
  • "yeah."
  • 00:18:43.807 --> 00:18:45.142
  • Then you get upset with you because you did something you
  • 00:18:45.142 --> 00:18:46.610
  • Knew you shouldn't do.
  • 00:18:46.610 --> 00:18:47.945
  • "yeah."
  • 00:18:47.945 --> 00:18:49.313
  • And you say to yourself, "i can't believe i did that."
  • 00:18:49.313 --> 00:18:50.781
  • "yeah." well, who made you did that?
  • 00:18:50.781 --> 00:18:53.717
  • And why did you did that again?
  • 00:18:53.717 --> 00:18:55.953
  • And why have you been didding that?
  • 00:18:55.953 --> 00:18:57.387
  • I mean, what's wrong with you?
  • 00:18:57.387 --> 00:18:58.889
  • Sounds like you're a slave to me.
  • 00:18:58.889 --> 00:19:01.225
  • And they're like, "oh well, i mean there's that."
  • 00:19:01.225 --> 00:19:04.094
  • And jesus is going, "that's my point."
  • 00:19:04.094 --> 00:19:05.996
  • You have deceived yourself into thinking you are far more free
  • 00:19:05.996 --> 00:19:09.833
  • Than you actually are because you hide behind your excuses.
  • 00:19:09.833 --> 00:19:13.637
  • And jesus says that "i'm the light of the world, and i'm
  • 00:19:13.637 --> 00:19:16.206
  • Inviting you.
  • 00:19:16.206 --> 00:19:17.708
  • I'm not gonna force you, i'm inviting you to bigger and
  • 00:19:17.708 --> 00:19:22.145
  • Better way of living."
  • 00:19:22.145 --> 00:19:26.016
  • Then after a couple of comments about his real unique
  • 00:19:26.016 --> 00:19:28.418
  • Relationship with the father, he concludes this way, he
  • 00:19:28.418 --> 00:19:30.621
  • Says this.
  • 00:19:30.621 --> 00:19:31.955
  • "so," talking about himself, "if you follow me, if you embrace my
  • 00:19:31.955 --> 00:19:37.527
  • Teaching, and you allow me to set you free, if the son sets
  • 00:19:37.527 --> 00:19:43.166
  • You free, if you allow me to light up the lies you've
  • 00:19:43.166 --> 00:19:47.537
  • Believed, you will be free indeed."
  • 00:19:47.537 --> 00:19:53.744
  • You will actually be free.
  • 00:19:53.744 --> 00:19:57.414
  • You will be free to recognize your paper walls for what they
  • 00:19:57.414 --> 00:20:01.985
  • Are and you will be free to move forward in life to the life that
  • 00:20:01.985 --> 00:20:06.690
  • God has called you to live because following jesus will
  • 00:20:06.690 --> 00:20:09.626
  • Make your life better and following jesus will make you
  • 00:20:09.626 --> 00:20:13.130
  • Better at life because he's the light of the world and he's come
  • 00:20:13.130 --> 00:20:17.367
  • To light up all of our personal darkness.
  • 00:20:17.367 --> 00:20:19.903
  • And here's the thing, whether you believe jesus is the son of
  • 00:20:19.903 --> 00:20:22.939
  • God or not, following jesus will make your life better and he
  • 00:20:22.939 --> 00:20:26.176
  • Will light up your life.
  • 00:20:26.176 --> 00:20:28.211
  • The invitation to you today, regardless of where you are on
  • 00:20:28.211 --> 00:20:30.814
  • The spectrum of faith, would you lean in and would you choose to
  • 00:20:30.814 --> 00:20:37.921
  • Follow jesus?
  • 00:20:37.921 --> 00:20:40.424
  • And he's gonna lead you to the freedom to where you can
  • 00:20:40.424 --> 00:20:42.993
  • Acknowledge your fear and your insecurity.
  • 00:20:42.993 --> 00:20:45.896
  • You'll be free to see what the people around you wish you could
  • 00:20:45.896 --> 00:20:51.335
  • See that you genuinely can't see.
  • 00:20:51.335 --> 00:20:57.941
  • And most importantly, you will be free and i will be free
  • 00:20:57.941 --> 00:21:02.879
  • To engage.
  • 00:21:02.879 --> 00:21:04.247
  • See, here's the problem.
  • 00:21:04.247 --> 00:21:05.582
  • We talked about this the first week.
  • 00:21:05.582 --> 00:21:07.117
  • Our excuses, our excuses excuse us from engaging with others.
  • 00:21:07.117 --> 00:21:12.889
  • Another way of saying that is this: paper walls make
  • 00:21:12.889 --> 00:21:16.727
  • You small.
  • 00:21:16.727 --> 00:21:18.528
  • Paper walls give you excuses.
  • 00:21:18.528 --> 00:21:20.697
  • In fact, they, paper walls excuse you from loving other
  • 00:21:20.697 --> 00:21:24.568
  • People as well.
  • 00:21:24.568 --> 00:21:25.969
  • Let me prove this to you.
  • 00:21:25.969 --> 00:21:27.304
  • Again, let's just turn it around and look at it from a different
  • 00:21:27.304 --> 00:21:29.039
  • Perspective, this is so important.
  • 00:21:29.039 --> 00:21:30.907
  • Isn't it true that the people who hurt you, isn't it true that
  • 00:21:30.907 --> 00:21:34.778
  • The person who mistreated you, isn't it true that the person
  • 00:21:34.778 --> 00:21:37.814
  • Who lied to you, who left you, who abandoned you, isn't it true
  • 00:21:37.814 --> 00:21:40.751
  • That every single one of them had a reason for what they did?
  • 00:21:40.751 --> 00:21:45.555
  • Yeah.
  • 00:21:45.555 --> 00:21:47.257
  • Every single one of them manufactured an excuse for what
  • 00:21:47.257 --> 00:21:51.561
  • They did.
  • 00:21:51.561 --> 00:21:53.029
  • Every single one of them.
  • 00:21:53.029 --> 00:21:54.364
  • None of them said, "i have no idea why i treated you that way.
  • 00:21:54.364 --> 00:21:56.333
  • I have no idea--" no, they all had a reason, and they couldn't
  • 00:21:56.333 --> 00:22:00.637
  • See it.
  • 00:22:00.637 --> 00:22:01.972
  • And the reason they never came clean with you is they really,
  • 00:22:01.972 --> 00:22:03.974
  • Genuinely can't see it because they've created a paper wall and
  • 00:22:03.974 --> 00:22:08.145
  • They've lived behind it and they've defended the way they've
  • 00:22:08.145 --> 00:22:10.414
  • Mistreated you or mistreated your husband or wife or one of
  • 00:22:10.414 --> 00:22:13.016
  • Your children.
  • 00:22:13.016 --> 00:22:14.651
  • So here's the question: you wanna be like that?
  • 00:22:14.651 --> 00:22:18.622
  • Do you wanna be like that?
  • 00:22:18.622 --> 00:22:20.290
  • Do you want there to be people in the world who have been so
  • 00:22:20.290 --> 00:22:23.427
  • Hurt by you, and when it comes to mind, you're like, well, of
  • 00:22:23.427 --> 00:22:26.730
  • Course i did that, of course i said that, of course i responded
  • 00:22:26.730 --> 00:22:29.065
  • That way, of course i lost my temper, of course i took that,
  • 00:22:29.065 --> 00:22:31.701
  • Of course, of course, of course?
  • 00:22:31.701 --> 00:22:33.036
  • And they're locked down because you can't see.
  • 00:22:33.036 --> 00:22:39.943
  • Here's something that should scare you into activity.
  • 00:22:39.943 --> 00:22:44.414
  • If you can't see that you're wrong, you'll be wrong your
  • 00:22:44.414 --> 00:22:49.553
  • Entire life.
  • 00:22:49.553 --> 00:22:51.888
  • If you can't see-- why can't she see?
  • 00:22:51.888 --> 00:22:53.757
  • Why can't he see?
  • 00:22:53.757 --> 00:22:55.091
  • If only he could see, if only she could see, coming back
  • 00:22:55.091 --> 00:22:56.693
  • To you.
  • 00:22:56.693 --> 00:22:58.061
  • If you can't see, if you are unable--if you never get to the
  • 00:22:58.061 --> 00:23:00.464
  • Place where you can see what you currently can't see, where
  • 00:23:00.464 --> 00:23:02.899
  • You--there's--if you never get to the place where something
  • 00:23:02.899 --> 00:23:05.101
  • Lights up the lie that you've believed about yourself or the
  • 00:23:05.101 --> 00:23:07.904
  • Inaccuracy, you could be wrong your entire life, which means
  • 00:23:07.904 --> 00:23:12.409
  • You could excuse your whole life away.
  • 00:23:12.409 --> 00:23:14.878
  • You could excuse that bad habit away, your health away, your
  • 00:23:14.878 --> 00:23:17.414
  • Family away, your peace away.
  • 00:23:17.414 --> 00:23:19.349
  • You can excuse your faith away.
  • 00:23:19.349 --> 00:23:23.253
  • But there's a better way.
  • 00:23:23.253 --> 00:23:25.355
  • Jesus said, "i'm the better way.
  • 00:23:25.355 --> 00:23:28.258
  • I am the way, i am the truth, and that's why i am the life."
  • 00:23:28.258 --> 00:23:38.235
  • In fact, in the 1st century, you know this, they called it the
  • 00:23:38.235 --> 00:23:41.171
  • Way because jesus invites us out of darkness into the light.
  • 00:23:41.171 --> 00:23:45.909
  • "i am the light of the world," he said.
  • 00:23:45.909 --> 00:23:48.144
  • "whoever follows me--" follows me, gets up every day and says,
  • 00:23:48.144 --> 00:23:52.816
  • "yes, where are we going?
  • 00:23:52.816 --> 00:23:54.150
  • What are we doing? what do we need to change?
  • 00:23:54.150 --> 00:23:55.485
  • Who do i need to call? who do i need to forgive?
  • 00:23:55.485 --> 00:23:57.087
  • Who do i need to contact?"
  • 00:23:57.087 --> 00:23:59.322
  • "i'm the light of the world.
  • 00:23:59.322 --> 00:24:00.657
  • Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have
  • 00:24:00.657 --> 00:24:04.694
  • The light of life."
  • 00:24:04.694 --> 00:24:07.831
  • Do you know what this looks like?
  • 00:24:07.831 --> 00:24:09.266
  • Looks like this.
  • 00:24:09.266 --> 00:24:12.936
  • I see what's wrong with him, but i'm gonna begin by looking in
  • 00:24:12.936 --> 00:24:16.973
  • The mirror to see what's wrong with me.
  • 00:24:16.973 --> 00:24:19.643
  • And you're gonna admit you're really afraid and you're gonna
  • 00:24:19.643 --> 00:24:21.411
  • Admit you're really insecure, and that's okay.
  • 00:24:21.411 --> 00:24:23.780
  • It'll be terrifying and you'll be free.
  • 00:24:23.780 --> 00:24:28.752
  • Isn't that how you want to live?
  • 00:24:28.752 --> 00:24:31.154
  • Isn't that how we all wanna live?
  • 00:24:31.154 --> 00:24:34.024
  • So, here's jesus's invitation, it's so powerful.
  • 00:24:34.024 --> 00:24:37.527
  • And again, regardless of what you--where you think jesus falls
  • 00:24:37.527 --> 00:24:40.864
  • On the god, not god, savior spectrum, i mean, again, he
  • 00:24:40.864 --> 00:24:44.067
  • Invited all kinds of people, gave, extended this invitation
  • 00:24:44.067 --> 00:24:46.536
  • To all kinds of people, it's the starting place.
  • 00:24:46.536 --> 00:24:49.606
  • "if you hold to my teaching, then you really are my disciple.
  • 00:24:49.606 --> 00:24:56.646
  • And you're gonna know the truth, whether you like it or not, i'm
  • 00:24:56.646 --> 00:24:59.215
  • Taking you there."
  • 00:24:59.215 --> 00:25:01.184
  • And it'll be terrifying and it'll be uncomfortable and
  • 00:25:01.184 --> 00:25:03.353
  • You'll have to have some conversations you never
  • 00:25:03.353 --> 00:25:05.121
  • Imagined having.
  • 00:25:05.121 --> 00:25:06.556
  • And on the other side of them you will be free.
  • 00:25:06.556 --> 00:25:11.294
  • Follow jesus, and you'll be free to see.
  • 00:25:11.294 --> 00:25:15.432
  • You'll be free to be the husband, the father, the
  • 00:25:15.432 --> 00:25:18.735
  • Employer, employee, the son, the daughter, the grandparent, the
  • 00:25:18.735 --> 00:25:23.106
  • Citizen that god's called you and set you up to be.
  • 00:25:23.106 --> 00:25:27.510
  • Is it possible that you're missing out because you've
  • 00:25:27.510 --> 00:25:31.047
  • Walled yourself in?
  • 00:25:31.047 --> 00:25:32.582
  • Is it possible, just possible that you are disguising excuses
  • 00:25:32.582 --> 00:25:37.988
  • As reasons?
  • 00:25:37.988 --> 00:25:40.256
  • And are you willing to admit what you've come to suspect?
  • 00:25:40.256 --> 00:25:46.463
  • That they are just paper walls.
  • 00:25:46.463 --> 00:25:50.100
  • Every time you tell your story, the people who tell your story
  • 00:25:50.100 --> 00:25:52.535
  • Go, "oh yeah, you're justified," but there's something in you,
  • 00:25:52.535 --> 00:25:56.673
  • It's like, i think there's something more.
  • 00:25:56.673 --> 00:26:02.312
  • I don't know when we begin lying to ourselves, but we all do it.
  • 00:26:02.312 --> 00:26:06.783
  • Jesus invites you, invites all of us, to leave our fact-free
  • 00:26:06.783 --> 00:26:12.255
  • Excuses behind and to face up to and embrace the terrifying but
  • 00:26:12.255 --> 00:26:18.495
  • Liberating truth about ourselves, our interior lives,
  • 00:26:18.495 --> 00:26:23.466
  • Our attitudes, our fears, our insecurities, our past.
  • 00:26:23.466 --> 00:26:27.303
  • And he says, "if you will allow me to set you free," i love
  • 00:26:27.303 --> 00:26:31.307
  • This, "you will be free indeed."
  • 00:26:31.307 --> 00:26:35.912
  • You know what that means?
  • 00:26:35.912 --> 00:26:37.247
  • That means no matter what anybody else does to you and
  • 00:26:37.247 --> 00:26:40.984
  • Regardless of how anybody else treats you, they will never
  • 00:26:40.984 --> 00:26:45.355
  • Force you to live behind paper walls because you will know the
  • 00:26:45.355 --> 00:26:50.593
  • Truth, and the truth will set you free.
  • 00:26:50.593 --> 00:26:57.000
  • And we will pick it up right there next week as we conclude
  • 00:26:57.000 --> 00:27:00.503
  • The series, "paper walls: moving beyond the excuses that hold
  • 00:27:00.503 --> 00:27:04.874
  • You back."
  • 00:27:04.874 --> 00:27:06.810
  • Andy: hey, thanks so much for watching.
  • 00:27:07.811 --> 00:27:09.412
  • You may find it hard to believe that 75 million americans claim
  • 00:27:09.412 --> 00:27:12.882
  • No religious affiliation.
  • 00:27:12.882 --> 00:27:15.051
  • On a personal note, perhaps you found it nearly impossible to
  • 00:27:15.051 --> 00:27:18.088
  • Believe that your son or your daughter or perhaps a grandchild
  • 00:27:18.088 --> 00:27:20.990
  • Drifted away from faith as part of that number.
  • 00:27:20.990 --> 00:27:23.827
  • This is a crisis culturally and perhaps for you it's a
  • 00:27:23.827 --> 00:27:26.830
  • Crisis personally.
  • 00:27:26.830 --> 00:27:28.198
  • At "your move" we are committed to addressing that crisis.
  • 00:27:28.198 --> 00:27:32.102
  • We actually have a plan to solve it, but we need your help.
  • 00:27:32.102 --> 00:27:35.004
  • We've developed a digital online tool that invites people to take
  • 00:27:35.004 --> 00:27:38.374
  • A personal assessment that launches them on a journey that
  • 00:27:38.374 --> 00:27:41.811
  • Eventually intersects their questions with the teaching of
  • 00:27:41.811 --> 00:27:45.115
  • Jesus and ultimately with a bible-teaching church in
  • 00:27:45.115 --> 00:27:48.885
  • Their community.
  • 00:27:48.885 --> 00:27:50.220
  • Tens of thousands of people are currently engaged in this
  • 00:27:50.220 --> 00:27:52.655
  • Process, but we need your help to continue creating the bread
  • 00:27:52.655 --> 00:27:56.292
  • Crumbs, the content, that keeps them moving forward on their
  • 00:27:56.292 --> 00:27:59.796
  • Faith journey.
  • 00:27:59.796 --> 00:28:01.164
  • We're attempting something that no one has ever attempted
  • 00:28:01.164 --> 00:28:03.767
  • Before, and it is already working.
  • 00:28:03.767 --> 00:28:06.169
  • To find out more, go to the website or call the number at
  • 00:28:06.169 --> 00:28:09.005
  • The bottom of the screen.
  • 00:28:09.005 --> 00:28:10.373
  • And as always, thank you so much for watching and now it's
  • 00:28:10.373 --> 00:28:13.743
  • Your move.
  • 00:28:13.743 --> 00:28:15.078
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:28:15.078 --> 00:28:23.953
  • ...
  • 00:28:25.655 --> 00:28:25.655