1. TBN
  2. Programs
  3. Your Move with Andy Stanley
  4. Episodes
  5. Andy Stanley - The Way In A Manger (Part 3)
Your Move with Andy Stanley

Andy Stanley - The Way In A Manger (Part 3)

December 27, 2025 | 28:29

Andy Stanley - The Way In A Manger (Part 3)
Your Move with Andy Stanley — to help people make better decisions and live with fewer regrets.
#WordofGod #Manger #Ministry #Crucifixion #Imagination #Tradition #Honesty #Children #Reputation #Worship #AndyStanley

Closed captions

Show Timecode
Your Move with Andy Stanley | Andy Stanley - The Way In A Manger (Part 3) | December 27, 2025
  • ...
  • 00:00:00.633 --> 00:00:00.351
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:00:06.157 --> 00:00:16.034
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:00:16.167 --> 00:00:26.044
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:00:26.177 --> 00:00:35.987
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:00:36.121 --> 00:00:45.997
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:00:46.131 --> 00:00:46.297
  • Andy stanley: today we're wrapping up our series, "the way
  • 00:00:49.334 --> 00:00:52.103
  • In a manger."
  • 00:00:52.103 --> 00:00:53.471
  • As we said for the last couple of times we've been together,
  • 00:00:53.471 --> 00:00:56.474
  • One of jesus's most controversial and offensive
  • 00:00:56.474 --> 00:00:58.977
  • Statements is also one of his most quoted statements.
  • 00:00:58.977 --> 00:01:02.547
  • Even if you're not a church person, you have heard
  • 00:01:02.547 --> 00:01:04.315
  • This before.
  • 00:01:04.315 --> 00:01:05.683
  • And if you've heard this before, perhaps it was offensive to you,
  • 00:01:05.683 --> 00:01:08.286
  • And that's understandable.
  • 00:01:08.286 --> 00:01:09.754
  • At one point in jesus's ministry, he made this
  • 00:01:09.754 --> 00:01:12.423
  • Audacious claim.
  • 00:01:12.423 --> 00:01:13.758
  • I mean, who would even say this.
  • 00:01:13.758 --> 00:01:15.126
  • He said, i, speaking of himself, he said, "i am the way, and the
  • 00:01:15.126 --> 00:01:19.731
  • Truth, and the life, and nobody," no one of any
  • 00:01:19.731 --> 00:01:24.002
  • Generation, no one "comes to the father," speaking of god the
  • 00:01:24.002 --> 00:01:26.804
  • Father, "no one comes to the father except through me."
  • 00:01:26.804 --> 00:01:30.875
  • Who would say such a thing?
  • 00:01:30.875 --> 00:01:32.410
  • Of course, there are many things that jesus said that when you
  • 00:01:32.410 --> 00:01:34.479
  • Read them, you're like, who would say such a thing?
  • 00:01:34.479 --> 00:01:36.447
  • In fact, it's one of the reasons of his followers eventually
  • 00:01:36.447 --> 00:01:39.017
  • Abandoned him.
  • 00:01:39.017 --> 00:01:40.351
  • It was just too much.
  • 00:01:40.351 --> 00:01:41.719
  • It wasn't that what jesus taught was offensive, it was what he
  • 00:01:41.719 --> 00:01:44.856
  • Said about himself that was so offensive and ultimately got
  • 00:01:44.856 --> 00:01:48.059
  • Him crucified.
  • 00:01:48.059 --> 00:01:49.394
  • And this is one of those statements.
  • 00:01:49.394 --> 00:01:50.762
  • And it is on the surface offensive.
  • 00:01:50.762 --> 00:01:52.096
  • "i am the way, the truth, and the life.
  • 00:01:52.096 --> 00:01:53.731
  • No one comes to the father-- through me."
  • 00:01:53.731 --> 00:01:55.700
  • But the problem is, while this statement is usually interpreted
  • 00:01:55.700 --> 00:01:58.403
  • As an attempt to exclude people.
  • 00:01:58.403 --> 00:02:01.206
  • When you follow jesus through the gospels, clearly that was
  • 00:02:01.206 --> 00:02:03.841
  • Not his intent.
  • 00:02:03.841 --> 00:02:05.843
  • But as we discovered last time, there is something else embedded
  • 00:02:05.843 --> 00:02:09.814
  • In this claim.
  • 00:02:09.814 --> 00:02:11.149
  • There's something else baked into the idea of him being
  • 00:02:11.149 --> 00:02:13.885
  • The way.
  • 00:02:13.885 --> 00:02:15.220
  • That jesus came to actually model and call us to not simply
  • 00:02:15.220 --> 00:02:20.091
  • Believing something but modeling and calling us to a way of life,
  • 00:02:20.091 --> 00:02:25.230
  • A way to live, the way of jesus.
  • 00:02:25.230 --> 00:02:31.102
  • And if you're a christian, it's to this way of life that i want
  • 00:02:31.102 --> 00:02:36.074
  • Us to try to wrap our imaginations around for just
  • 00:02:36.074 --> 00:02:41.813
  • A moment.
  • 00:02:41.813 --> 00:02:43.681
  • So here we go.
  • 00:02:43.681 --> 00:02:46.150
  • Imagine a world.
  • 00:02:46.150 --> 00:02:49.053
  • Imagine your world.
  • 00:02:49.053 --> 00:02:51.456
  • Imagine our world, where people are skeptical of what we
  • 00:02:51.456 --> 00:02:55.994
  • Believe, that a man was raised from the dead, who was sent from
  • 00:02:55.994 --> 00:02:59.530
  • God to illustrate god, to be god, to be worshiped as a god.
  • 00:02:59.530 --> 00:03:04.502
  • I imagine a world, our world, your world, where people,
  • 00:03:04.502 --> 00:03:07.605
  • Rightly so, are skeptical of some of the things we believe
  • 00:03:07.605 --> 00:03:11.142
  • But are amazed at how well we treat, talk about, care for,
  • 00:03:11.142 --> 00:03:18.916
  • Support, and show up for one another.
  • 00:03:18.916 --> 00:03:24.856
  • A world where christians don't worship the same way, where
  • 00:03:24.856 --> 00:03:29.127
  • Christians don't interpret the bible the same way, where
  • 00:03:29.127 --> 00:03:32.363
  • Christians don't approach worship and communion and
  • 00:03:32.363 --> 00:03:35.166
  • Baptism the same way, a world where christians don't vote the
  • 00:03:35.166 --> 00:03:39.604
  • Same way.
  • 00:03:39.604 --> 00:03:41.072
  • But that those differences never ever, ever divide us from
  • 00:03:41.072 --> 00:03:45.376
  • One another.
  • 00:03:45.376 --> 00:03:47.478
  • Imagine a world, imagine your world, imagine your community,
  • 00:03:47.478 --> 00:03:49.981
  • Imagine our community, where people outside of our faith
  • 00:03:49.981 --> 00:03:53.651
  • Tradition, who are part of another faith tradition or no
  • 00:03:53.651 --> 00:03:55.953
  • Faith tradition at all, are moved by, impressed by, amazed
  • 00:03:55.953 --> 00:04:00.892
  • By, taken aback by, astounded by, our no-strings-attached,
  • 00:04:00.892 --> 00:04:06.731
  • Concern, care, and love for people who are nothing like us,
  • 00:04:06.731 --> 00:04:11.169
  • And who may not even like us.
  • 00:04:11.169 --> 00:04:15.773
  • Imagine a world where people outside of our faith tradition,
  • 00:04:15.773 --> 00:04:19.010
  • Who are skeptical of what we believe, are anxious to hire us,
  • 00:04:19.010 --> 00:04:25.016
  • Work for us, live next door to us, marry their sons and
  • 00:04:25.016 --> 00:04:30.254
  • Daughters off to us, because we're christians.
  • 00:04:30.254 --> 00:04:35.460
  • Because of our predictable and our extraordinary character.
  • 00:04:35.460 --> 00:04:43.000
  • Because of our work ethic, because of our self-control,
  • 00:04:43.000 --> 00:04:47.171
  • Because of our reliability, because of our honesty.
  • 00:04:47.171 --> 00:04:52.543
  • Imagine a world where those traits define the reputation of
  • 00:04:52.543 --> 00:04:56.414
  • Christians, both individually, and corporately,
  • 00:04:56.414 --> 00:05:00.718
  • And collectively.
  • 00:05:00.718 --> 00:05:02.453
  • A world where people drove by churches and thought to
  • 00:05:02.453 --> 00:05:05.523
  • Themselves, i'm glad they are in our community.
  • 00:05:05.523 --> 00:05:10.995
  • They drive by churches and they think, you know what, our
  • 00:05:10.995 --> 00:05:13.731
  • Community is better off because they're here.
  • 00:05:13.731 --> 00:05:17.235
  • Our community is safer because they're here.
  • 00:05:17.235 --> 00:05:20.605
  • Our children are better off because the christians are here.
  • 00:05:20.605 --> 00:05:24.709
  • That when they hear there's gonna be a new church that even
  • 00:05:24.709 --> 00:05:27.311
  • Those outside our faith tradition are relieved there are
  • 00:05:27.311 --> 00:05:30.348
  • More christians moving into their community.
  • 00:05:30.348 --> 00:05:33.584
  • Because of our reputation, imagine a world where we were
  • 00:05:33.584 --> 00:05:40.158
  • Known for protecting the rights of others rather than protecting
  • 00:05:40.158 --> 00:05:46.731
  • Our own rights.
  • 00:05:46.731 --> 00:05:48.733
  • Where we were known for protecting and safeguarding the
  • 00:05:48.733 --> 00:05:51.402
  • Rights of others rather than demanding our own.
  • 00:05:51.402 --> 00:05:59.744
  • In short, imagine a world where christians embraced the way
  • 00:05:59.744 --> 00:06:09.053
  • Of christ.
  • 00:06:09.053 --> 00:06:10.988
  • The way of jesus, the ways of jesus.
  • 00:06:10.988 --> 00:06:17.795
  • The posture, and the tone, and the humility of jesus.
  • 00:06:17.795 --> 00:06:24.702
  • A world where it was evident that we were as committed to
  • 00:06:24.702 --> 00:06:29.774
  • Behaving correctly as we are believing correctly.
  • 00:06:29.774 --> 00:06:35.112
  • Maybe it's just me.
  • 00:06:38.115 --> 00:06:40.651
  • Is that too much for us to imagine, especially at christmas
  • 00:06:40.651 --> 00:06:47.191
  • When we celebrate god became one of us to show us the way
  • 00:06:47.191 --> 00:06:54.866
  • Forward, the way to live, the way to be better people, to
  • 00:06:54.866 --> 00:07:00.171
  • Create a better world, to create a safer world, to create a
  • 00:07:00.171 --> 00:07:04.976
  • Culture where everyone feels the dignity of being made in the
  • 00:07:04.976 --> 00:07:08.846
  • Image of god?
  • 00:07:08.846 --> 00:07:12.450
  • Should that be hard for us to imagine?
  • 00:07:12.450 --> 00:07:15.086
  • With as many christians as there are in our communities, or as
  • 00:07:15.086 --> 00:07:18.189
  • Many christians as there are in our nation, is it too much to
  • 00:07:18.189 --> 00:07:22.126
  • Imagine christians reminding people of christ?
  • 00:07:22.126 --> 00:07:25.062
  • Isn't it strange that i would even have to say that?
  • 00:07:25.062 --> 00:07:28.299
  • Now, if you're not a christian, this is why, right?
  • 00:07:28.299 --> 00:07:33.604
  • I mean, if you're not a christian, this is why you
  • 00:07:33.604 --> 00:07:35.172
  • Push back.
  • 00:07:35.172 --> 00:07:36.507
  • It's not that you don't believe what we believe, it's worse
  • 00:07:36.507 --> 00:07:38.376
  • Than that.
  • 00:07:38.376 --> 00:07:39.844
  • You're not convinced we believe what we say we believe.
  • 00:07:39.844 --> 00:07:44.715
  • And you have every right not to.
  • 00:07:44.715 --> 00:07:46.817
  • We're so divided.
  • 00:07:46.817 --> 00:07:49.053
  • Come on, if we can't get along with ourselves, why in the world
  • 00:07:49.053 --> 00:07:53.090
  • Would you wanna be a part of that?
  • 00:07:53.090 --> 00:07:55.359
  • You're not convinced we believe it and honestly at times, i'm
  • 00:07:55.359 --> 00:07:58.996
  • Not convinced that we really do either, but what if we did?
  • 00:07:58.996 --> 00:08:03.868
  • What if our behavior, what if we wrapped our behavior in
  • 00:08:03.868 --> 00:08:07.471
  • Our priorities?
  • 00:08:07.471 --> 00:08:08.806
  • It's so simple, it's so out there.
  • 00:08:08.806 --> 00:08:10.441
  • We have matthew, mark, luke, and john, we have the apostles who
  • 00:08:10.441 --> 00:08:13.144
  • Come along after jesus, paul in particular says, this is what it
  • 00:08:13.144 --> 00:08:16.614
  • Looks like, this is what it acts like, this is what it
  • 00:08:16.614 --> 00:08:20.351
  • Reacts like.
  • 00:08:20.351 --> 00:08:22.820
  • But what makes it even stranger than that is that this
  • 00:08:22.820 --> 00:08:26.123
  • Unimaginable world that i've described, it shouldn't be
  • 00:08:26.123 --> 00:08:28.259
  • Unimaginable because it happened.
  • 00:08:28.259 --> 00:08:31.829
  • Andy: hey, thanks so much for watching this episode.
  • 00:08:31.829 --> 00:08:33.698
  • But before we continue, i wanna take just a moment to share
  • 00:08:33.698 --> 00:08:36.434
  • Something special with you.
  • 00:08:36.434 --> 00:08:38.002
  • At "your move," we're committed to reaching people with the
  • 00:08:38.002 --> 00:08:40.538
  • Teaching of jesus right where they are and when they least
  • 00:08:40.538 --> 00:08:44.342
  • Expect it.
  • 00:08:44.342 --> 00:08:45.676
  • And this is possible because of generous viewers like you.
  • 00:08:45.676 --> 00:08:48.379
  • And right now for a gift of $20 or more, we will send you a
  • 00:08:48.379 --> 00:08:51.382
  • 14-day "gratitude guide" as a way of showing our gratitude
  • 00:08:51.382 --> 00:08:55.820
  • To you.
  • 00:08:55.820 --> 00:08:57.154
  • Our "gratitude guide" is filled with inspiration, practical
  • 00:08:57.154 --> 00:08:59.123
  • Steps, and reflection questions to help you practice gratitude.
  • 00:08:59.123 --> 00:09:02.793
  • To make your donation and to claim your copy, simply visit
  • 00:09:02.793 --> 00:09:05.596
  • The website or call the number on your screen.
  • 00:09:05.596 --> 00:09:08.099
  • And now back to today's episode.
  • 00:09:08.099 --> 00:09:11.369
  • Andy: once upon a time, there were communities of jesus
  • 00:09:11.369 --> 00:09:13.671
  • Followers who literally embraced the inconvenient,
  • 00:09:13.671 --> 00:09:17.875
  • Countercultural, can't possibly work way of jesus.
  • 00:09:17.875 --> 00:09:24.815
  • And this nazarene cult, that's what it was called, a nazarene
  • 00:09:24.815 --> 00:09:27.618
  • Cult because it was a knock off religion of judaism.
  • 00:09:27.618 --> 00:09:31.555
  • These were jewish people who had abandoned, you know, traditional
  • 00:09:31.555 --> 00:09:34.425
  • Judaism and had decided to kinda do their own thing.
  • 00:09:34.425 --> 00:09:36.761
  • That's how it was perceived, a nazarene sect, or a
  • 00:09:36.761 --> 00:09:39.530
  • Nazarene cult.
  • 00:09:39.530 --> 00:09:40.865
  • And members of this nazarene cult were initially viewed
  • 00:09:40.865 --> 00:09:44.335
  • With suspicion.
  • 00:09:44.335 --> 00:09:45.670
  • What's the catch?
  • 00:09:45.670 --> 00:09:47.004
  • What are they up to?
  • 00:09:47.004 --> 00:09:48.372
  • What are they doing behind closed doors?
  • 00:09:48.372 --> 00:09:49.707
  • What do they want?
  • 00:09:49.707 --> 00:09:52.843
  • And over time, suspicion turned to curiosity.
  • 00:09:52.843 --> 00:09:58.582
  • And then eventually, the peacemakers were outnumbered by
  • 00:09:58.582 --> 00:10:05.322
  • The peacekeepers who came to worship and follow the prince
  • 00:10:05.322 --> 00:10:11.996
  • Of peace.
  • 00:10:11.996 --> 00:10:14.965
  • And this is the other part we can't imagine because we're so
  • 00:10:14.965 --> 00:10:17.334
  • Segmented in our society and that's just the way it is and
  • 00:10:17.334 --> 00:10:19.403
  • That's not a problem to solve, that's just an is.
  • 00:10:19.403 --> 00:10:22.840
  • But in that culture where people live close together, people from
  • 00:10:22.840 --> 00:10:26.777
  • Every segment, every echelon of society came and began to gather
  • 00:10:26.777 --> 00:10:32.216
  • In these small groups early on the first day of the week, which
  • 00:10:32.216 --> 00:10:36.320
  • Was a work day before the sun rose.
  • 00:10:36.320 --> 00:10:39.223
  • Slaves, the slave owners, and freedmen, and citizens, and men,
  • 00:10:39.223 --> 00:10:45.262
  • And women, and children, these little ecclesias, these
  • 00:10:45.262 --> 00:10:49.900
  • Gatherings of jesus followers.
  • 00:10:49.900 --> 00:10:52.803
  • And it grew, and it grew, and it grew, and it grew not primarily
  • 00:10:52.803 --> 00:10:56.974
  • Because of what christians believed.
  • 00:10:56.974 --> 00:10:58.509
  • They had no literature, there's no bible, there's fragments and
  • 00:10:58.509 --> 00:11:04.048
  • There's a little bit of this and somebody had a copy of a copy of
  • 00:11:04.048 --> 00:11:07.218
  • The gospel of matthew.
  • 00:11:07.218 --> 00:11:08.586
  • There's no literature, there's no bible study.
  • 00:11:08.586 --> 00:11:11.756
  • What brought these people together wasn't what they
  • 00:11:11.756 --> 00:11:15.092
  • Believed at first.
  • 00:11:15.092 --> 00:11:16.427
  • It was the way the christians behaved.
  • 00:11:16.427 --> 00:11:18.996
  • They were the best citizens.
  • 00:11:18.996 --> 00:11:22.366
  • When roman governors were told to round up christians and test
  • 00:11:22.366 --> 00:11:25.903
  • Them and execute them if they wouldn't, you know, make peace
  • 00:11:25.903 --> 00:11:28.472
  • With caesar and sacrifice to caesar, some of the governors
  • 00:11:28.472 --> 00:11:31.809
  • Are like, but wait a minute.
  • 00:11:31.809 --> 00:11:33.778
  • Okay, they're not lawbreakers.
  • 00:11:33.778 --> 00:11:36.213
  • In fact, they're more faithful to their wives than the
  • 00:11:36.213 --> 00:11:38.649
  • Other people.
  • 00:11:38.649 --> 00:11:40.351
  • They're the best citizens, they pay their taxes, they submit to
  • 00:11:40.351 --> 00:11:43.921
  • Our authority.
  • 00:11:43.921 --> 00:11:45.256
  • There was such a difference because they took the teaching
  • 00:11:45.256 --> 00:11:49.460
  • Of jesus literally and they lived it out.
  • 00:11:49.460 --> 00:11:53.531
  • And consequently they stood out.
  • 00:11:53.531 --> 00:11:56.100
  • And the church grew and grew and grew, and what became--
  • 00:11:56.100 --> 00:12:00.271
  • Started off as suspicious, became curious.
  • 00:12:00.271 --> 00:12:02.339
  • And then it was like an avalanche.
  • 00:12:02.339 --> 00:12:05.309
  • People from every segment of life flocked to the ecclesia
  • 00:12:05.309 --> 00:12:07.845
  • Of jesus.
  • 00:12:07.845 --> 00:12:09.180
  • Again, not primarily because of what christians believe but
  • 00:12:09.180 --> 00:12:11.415
  • Because of the way they live their lives.
  • 00:12:11.415 --> 00:12:16.620
  • Now they had a little bit of an advantage.
  • 00:12:16.620 --> 00:12:18.222
  • They had mostly disadvantages.
  • 00:12:18.222 --> 00:12:19.723
  • In fact, it was almost--it was 99% disadvantage.
  • 00:12:19.723 --> 00:12:23.494
  • They had one small advantage, something that eludes us, and
  • 00:12:23.494 --> 00:12:26.497
  • Again just because we live in a different world.
  • 00:12:26.497 --> 00:12:28.966
  • They understood the world of kings and kingdoms.
  • 00:12:28.966 --> 00:12:35.005
  • And once they acknowledged that jesus was a literal physical
  • 00:12:35.005 --> 00:12:40.044
  • King, they submitted to his rule.
  • 00:12:40.044 --> 00:12:46.217
  • They submitted to his authority.
  • 00:12:46.217 --> 00:12:48.652
  • They understood if you're devoted to a king, you obey the
  • 00:12:48.652 --> 00:12:52.556
  • Laws of the king.
  • 00:12:52.556 --> 00:12:54.425
  • If you recognize someone as your king, you're devoted to the
  • 00:12:54.425 --> 00:12:57.428
  • Rules of the king.
  • 00:12:57.428 --> 00:12:59.430
  • And so they submitted.
  • 00:12:59.430 --> 00:13:01.131
  • They also understood that if you disregard the rules of the king,
  • 00:13:01.131 --> 00:13:05.236
  • You're a traitor.
  • 00:13:05.236 --> 00:13:07.271
  • To disregard the rules of the king is to betray the ruler.
  • 00:13:07.271 --> 00:13:12.543
  • And this is why, we've talked about it before, this is why the
  • 00:13:12.543 --> 00:13:15.813
  • Early followers of jesus were eventually dubbed, or called, or
  • 00:13:15.813 --> 00:13:19.483
  • Branded christian.
  • 00:13:19.483 --> 00:13:21.285
  • It was a slur.
  • 00:13:21.285 --> 00:13:23.187
  • It wasn't a word that the jesus followers adopted
  • 00:13:23.187 --> 00:13:26.223
  • For themselves.
  • 00:13:26.223 --> 00:13:27.558
  • This is what they were called by the outside world, and it was
  • 00:13:27.558 --> 00:13:29.994
  • 100% a political term.
  • 00:13:29.994 --> 00:13:32.296
  • It was not a religious term.
  • 00:13:32.296 --> 00:13:34.732
  • Christian was actually latin political terminology.
  • 00:13:34.732 --> 00:13:38.903
  • A follower of caesar was a caesarian.
  • 00:13:38.903 --> 00:13:41.405
  • That was what it meant to be a follower of caesar.
  • 00:13:41.405 --> 00:13:44.108
  • And the gentiles in antioch looked at this strange group of
  • 00:13:44.108 --> 00:13:48.279
  • People who lived a different kind of life, and clearly when
  • 00:13:48.279 --> 00:13:51.315
  • They were tested, it was because they were devoted to a different
  • 00:13:51.315 --> 00:13:54.184
  • Kind of king, an invisible king who would actually come to earth
  • 00:13:54.184 --> 00:13:57.154
  • And left this earth, crucified by rome, resurrected from the
  • 00:13:57.154 --> 00:14:00.591
  • Dead, but they believe he reigned in a different realm,
  • 00:14:00.591 --> 00:14:03.994
  • And they were to be as devoted to him in their behavior as they
  • 00:14:03.994 --> 00:14:07.798
  • Would be a caesar, or a governor, or any kind
  • 00:14:07.798 --> 00:14:12.536
  • Of ruler placed over them.
  • 00:14:12.536 --> 00:14:14.905
  • So they were dedicated and they were called christiani.
  • 00:14:14.905 --> 00:14:19.543
  • This was latin political language.
  • 00:14:19.543 --> 00:14:22.746
  • But this was a problem.
  • 00:14:22.746 --> 00:14:26.350
  • It was a problem for the roman empire.
  • 00:14:26.350 --> 00:14:28.752
  • It was a problem for the roman empire because rome didn't care
  • 00:14:28.752 --> 00:14:31.655
  • Which gods people worshiped.
  • 00:14:31.655 --> 00:14:33.057
  • Every time rome conquered a region, they didn't make people
  • 00:14:33.057 --> 00:14:35.759
  • Worship the roman gods, and they didn't take away the local gods.
  • 00:14:35.759 --> 00:14:38.395
  • You can worship any god you want to, anything you want for your
  • 00:14:38.395 --> 00:14:41.732
  • Local gods.
  • 00:14:41.732 --> 00:14:43.067
  • Rome's concern was 100% political.
  • 00:14:43.067 --> 00:14:46.170
  • They allowed for many gods but they only had one king,
  • 00:14:46.170 --> 00:14:51.308
  • One caesar.
  • 00:14:51.308 --> 00:14:53.410
  • Rome's mandate was this.
  • 00:14:53.410 --> 00:14:55.713
  • Worship your christ, we don't care.
  • 00:14:55.713 --> 00:14:58.382
  • But you obey caesar.
  • 00:14:58.382 --> 00:15:00.117
  • Worship your christ, we don't care, we don't care what your
  • 00:15:00.117 --> 00:15:02.686
  • Religious traditions are.
  • 00:15:02.686 --> 00:15:04.054
  • You can do any, you can burn incense, you can burn animals,
  • 00:15:04.054 --> 00:15:06.490
  • We don't care.
  • 00:15:06.490 --> 00:15:07.825
  • You worship your christ any way you want to.
  • 00:15:07.825 --> 00:15:09.927
  • You have freedom of worship but at the end of the day, your
  • 00:15:09.927 --> 00:15:13.230
  • Ultimate allegiance is to caesar.
  • 00:15:13.230 --> 00:15:16.200
  • And this was a problem for the early christians.
  • 00:15:16.200 --> 00:15:21.138
  • Because jesus wasn't like the pagan gods.
  • 00:15:21.138 --> 00:15:24.641
  • The pagan gods did not demand obedience.
  • 00:15:24.641 --> 00:15:27.945
  • The pagan gods didn't have any rules.
  • 00:15:27.945 --> 00:15:30.214
  • The pagan gods simply wanted sacrifice, and most of the
  • 00:15:30.214 --> 00:15:33.450
  • Sacrifice was a good luck charm.
  • 00:15:33.450 --> 00:15:35.386
  • We want the blessing of the gods.
  • 00:15:35.386 --> 00:15:37.588
  • And no one knows how many gods there are.
  • 00:15:37.588 --> 00:15:41.392
  • For the christians, this was different because their god had
  • 00:15:41.392 --> 00:15:45.863
  • Come to earth, and he was a king.
  • 00:15:45.863 --> 00:15:50.901
  • And he ruled in the kingdom of heaven but he had left his
  • 00:15:50.901 --> 00:15:54.138
  • Kingdom on earth, and his kingdom required submission
  • 00:15:54.138 --> 00:16:00.077
  • And obedience.
  • 00:16:00.077 --> 00:16:03.580
  • So in the 1st century, no one ever asked a christian if they
  • 00:16:03.580 --> 00:16:07.284
  • Were a christian.
  • 00:16:07.284 --> 00:16:09.453
  • They were accused of it.
  • 00:16:09.453 --> 00:16:11.855
  • It was evident.
  • 00:16:11.855 --> 00:16:14.825
  • The way they lived their lives was testimony to who
  • 00:16:14.825 --> 00:16:19.897
  • They followed.
  • 00:16:19.897 --> 00:16:22.733
  • Their king had modeled the way.
  • 00:16:22.733 --> 00:16:28.839
  • And in modeling the way at the end, he left them with a single
  • 00:16:28.839 --> 00:16:32.209
  • Overarching command.
  • 00:16:32.209 --> 00:16:34.645
  • Their governing ethic, a governing ethic that was the
  • 00:16:34.645 --> 00:16:39.450
  • Standard against which all of their behavior, all of their
  • 00:16:39.450 --> 00:16:43.120
  • Actions, and all of their reactions would be measured
  • 00:16:43.120 --> 00:16:47.691
  • And evaluated.
  • 00:16:47.691 --> 00:16:49.626
  • And then after jesus left, the apostles went into the gentile
  • 00:16:49.626 --> 00:16:52.396
  • World, our world, and said, this is what it looks like to live
  • 00:16:52.396 --> 00:16:55.365
  • Out this one overarching command as husbands, and wives, and as
  • 00:16:55.365 --> 00:16:59.303
  • Children, and as citizens.
  • 00:16:59.303 --> 00:17:02.005
  • This is how you live out this overarching command under the
  • 00:17:02.005 --> 00:17:05.442
  • Authority of earthly rulers and even how you respond to
  • 00:17:05.442 --> 00:17:08.245
  • Your enemies.
  • 00:17:08.245 --> 00:17:10.981
  • And as we all know but so easily forget, the way of jesus, this
  • 00:17:10.981 --> 00:17:16.553
  • Way, this overarching command that was to instruct the
  • 00:17:16.553 --> 00:17:19.223
  • Followers of jesus, as we know, it was characterized, defined,
  • 00:17:19.223 --> 00:17:22.893
  • And summarized by a single term that was--
  • 00:17:22.893 --> 00:17:26.296
  • That appeared in that culture and in our culture at times as
  • 00:17:26.296 --> 00:17:29.500
  • Weak, and passive, effeminate, virtueless.
  • 00:17:29.500 --> 00:17:36.874
  • Agape.
  • 00:17:36.874 --> 00:17:40.410
  • Love.
  • 00:17:40.410 --> 00:17:42.412
  • So naive, so simplistic.
  • 00:17:42.412 --> 00:17:46.850
  • It's not how the game is played, it's not how the game was played
  • 00:17:46.850 --> 00:17:49.887
  • Then, it's not how the game is played now, right?
  • 00:17:49.887 --> 00:17:54.625
  • It's not how the world works.
  • 00:17:54.625 --> 00:17:57.895
  • It's not how progress is made, right?
  • 00:17:57.895 --> 00:18:00.931
  • Love, come on, love is not a winning strategy.
  • 00:18:00.931 --> 00:18:03.934
  • In fact, love isn't even a strategy.
  • 00:18:03.934 --> 00:18:06.170
  • If it is, if it's a strategy, it's a strategy for losing.
  • 00:18:06.170 --> 00:18:10.974
  • And if this sounds impractical, i understand the push back.
  • 00:18:10.974 --> 00:18:14.311
  • If this sounds impractical to us, if this sounds
  • 00:18:14.311 --> 00:18:17.414
  • Inconsequential to us, imagine how it sounded to jesus's 12
  • 00:18:17.414 --> 00:18:23.020
  • Disciples the night he gathers with them at the end of his
  • 00:18:23.020 --> 00:18:26.156
  • Earthly ministry for their final passover, the night he's gonna
  • 00:18:26.156 --> 00:18:28.892
  • Be arrested.
  • 00:18:28.892 --> 00:18:30.961
  • And he basically says, everything i've taught you,
  • 00:18:30.961 --> 00:18:34.631
  • Everything you've seen, all of my actions, all of my reactions,
  • 00:18:34.631 --> 00:18:38.502
  • All of my messages, all of my sermons, all of the "you've
  • 00:18:38.502 --> 00:18:41.738
  • Heard, but i say," all of that comes down to this one new
  • 00:18:41.738 --> 00:18:45.142
  • Command i'm giving you.
  • 00:18:45.142 --> 00:18:47.411
  • One new rule.
  • 00:18:47.411 --> 00:18:49.313
  • And it's this new rule that should rule over you.
  • 00:18:49.313 --> 00:18:51.882
  • When you're not sure what to do, you just come back to this one
  • 00:18:51.882 --> 00:18:55.152
  • Simple idea.
  • 00:18:55.152 --> 00:18:58.455
  • As i've loved you, you're to love one another.
  • 00:18:58.455 --> 00:19:02.526
  • Seriously, jesus?
  • 00:19:02.526 --> 00:19:05.128
  • That's it.
  • 00:19:05.128 --> 00:19:07.164
  • That's all you got?
  • 00:19:07.164 --> 00:19:09.399
  • Love?
  • 00:19:09.399 --> 00:19:11.034
  • Come on.
  • 00:19:11.034 --> 00:19:13.403
  • If this subversive empire-threatening idea reaches
  • 00:19:13.403 --> 00:19:17.274
  • Rome, tiberius caesar won't sleep for weeks.
  • 00:19:17.274 --> 00:19:22.412
  • If the high priest down the street catches wind of this,
  • 00:19:22.412 --> 00:19:25.949
  • He'll probably pack up and flee the city.
  • 00:19:25.949 --> 00:19:28.485
  • We're doomed, we're doomed, escape while you can.
  • 00:19:28.485 --> 00:19:31.455
  • They're gonna love one another.
  • 00:19:31.455 --> 00:19:36.126
  • What kind of rule is that?
  • 00:19:36.126 --> 00:19:38.895
  • What kind of king is that?
  • 00:19:38.895 --> 00:19:41.531
  • What kind of kingdom is that?
  • 00:19:41.531 --> 00:19:45.869
  • The reason this should not be hard for us to imagine is
  • 00:19:45.869 --> 00:19:49.940
  • Because the roman forum is a tourist attraction, and herod,
  • 00:19:49.940 --> 00:19:56.947
  • Tiberius caesar, you only know their names because they are
  • 00:19:56.947 --> 00:20:00.684
  • Footnotes in the story of the son of a peasant girl who became
  • 00:20:00.684 --> 00:20:08.358
  • A king.
  • 00:20:08.358 --> 00:20:10.694
  • The king to whom the modern church has never fully
  • 00:20:14.765 --> 00:20:21.371
  • Submitted to.
  • 00:20:21.371 --> 00:20:24.041
  • The king to whom perhaps you've never submitted your life
  • 00:20:24.041 --> 00:20:31.315
  • Because you think he demands too much, because you think he
  • 00:20:31.315 --> 00:20:35.085
  • Allows too little.
  • 00:20:35.085 --> 00:20:38.822
  • And yet he came to show you and to show me the way to live, the
  • 00:20:38.822 --> 00:20:45.228
  • Ways of the father.
  • 00:20:45.228 --> 00:20:46.830
  • The way you were created to live.
  • 00:20:46.830 --> 00:20:51.802
  • And when we live against the grain, we pay.
  • 00:20:51.802 --> 00:20:56.773
  • And when we do marriage against the grain, we suffer.
  • 00:20:56.773 --> 00:21:01.545
  • And when we approach life against the grain, instead of
  • 00:21:01.545 --> 00:21:04.448
  • With the grain of how we were created to live, it creates, we
  • 00:21:04.448 --> 00:21:09.019
  • Create our own regret.
  • 00:21:09.019 --> 00:21:12.556
  • And this is why he's a king, and not a counselor, and not an
  • 00:21:12.556 --> 00:21:17.394
  • Advisor, and not simply a rabbi.
  • 00:21:17.394 --> 00:21:21.264
  • But come on, he is the king in whose name you pray when your
  • 00:21:21.264 --> 00:21:24.768
  • Child is sick, right?
  • 00:21:24.768 --> 00:21:27.371
  • He is the king in whose name you pray when your marriage is in
  • 00:21:27.371 --> 00:21:29.639
  • Jeopardy, right?
  • 00:21:29.639 --> 00:21:31.475
  • He is the king in whose name you pray when your heart is broken.
  • 00:21:31.475 --> 00:21:36.146
  • The king's kingdom you claim to be a part of when tragedy
  • 00:21:36.146 --> 00:21:39.049
  • Strikes, and come on in those moments, right, in those
  • 00:21:39.049 --> 00:21:41.318
  • Moments, your king has your undivided attention, he has your
  • 00:21:41.318 --> 00:21:44.554
  • Unwavering loyalty.
  • 00:21:44.554 --> 00:21:48.358
  • Until the danger passes.
  • 00:21:48.358 --> 00:21:51.027
  • But imagine.
  • 00:21:51.027 --> 00:21:54.297
  • Imagine a world where believers chose to live as followers every
  • 00:21:54.297 --> 00:21:57.868
  • Single day, followers of the way, the way, and the ways of
  • 00:21:57.868 --> 00:22:02.539
  • Jesus, who came not to be served but to serve.
  • 00:22:02.539 --> 00:22:07.644
  • To give his life for you, for me, a ransom for many.
  • 00:22:07.644 --> 00:22:13.550
  • The apostle paul, who thought all of this was nonsense.
  • 00:22:13.550 --> 00:22:17.721
  • "are you kidding me?
  • 00:22:17.721 --> 00:22:19.156
  • This is nonsense.
  • 00:22:19.156 --> 00:22:20.557
  • This is a cult, it's a sect,
  • 00:22:20.557 --> 00:22:22.759
  • It's diluting judaism, it's diluting the ways of
  • 00:22:22.759 --> 00:22:26.396
  • Our forefathers.
  • 00:22:26.396 --> 00:22:27.731
  • It must be stamped out," and he gets himself deputized.
  • 00:22:27.731 --> 00:22:30.267
  • It's a fascinating story.
  • 00:22:30.267 --> 00:22:31.802
  • He's a pharisee, a great pharisee.
  • 00:22:31.802 --> 00:22:34.337
  • He says he's the best pharisee he's ever met.
  • 00:22:34.337 --> 00:22:36.840
  • And so saul of tarsus decides, i'm gonna do away with this.
  • 00:22:36.840 --> 00:22:40.944
  • He gets himself deputized, right, and heads to damascus to
  • 00:22:40.944 --> 00:22:44.514
  • Arrest members of the way, and then he runs into the way, god
  • 00:22:44.514 --> 00:22:47.284
  • In his way.
  • 00:22:47.284 --> 00:22:49.186
  • And he meets the resurrected jesus.
  • 00:22:49.186 --> 00:22:52.556
  • And he doesn't just change what he believes, he changes his
  • 00:22:52.556 --> 00:22:57.527
  • Entire way of living.
  • 00:22:57.527 --> 00:23:00.030
  • And then he travels around the mediterranean basin, and his job
  • 00:23:03.366 --> 00:23:06.670
  • Was impossible.
  • 00:23:06.670 --> 00:23:08.004
  • His job was completely unimaginable, impossible.
  • 00:23:08.004 --> 00:23:11.541
  • To walk into pagan cultures and not just say, hey, i've got a
  • 00:23:11.541 --> 00:23:14.778
  • Different kind of religious belief.
  • 00:23:14.778 --> 00:23:16.146
  • He's like, no, you have to jettison your entire worldview.
  • 00:23:16.146 --> 00:23:20.617
  • There are no gods.
  • 00:23:20.617 --> 00:23:23.053
  • You're wrong, your parents were wrong, your grandparents were
  • 00:23:23.053 --> 00:23:25.922
  • Wrong, but god has been patient because he's been waiting for
  • 00:23:25.922 --> 00:23:29.526
  • This day to reveal himself to you for your sake and
  • 00:23:29.526 --> 00:23:33.196
  • Your benefit.
  • 00:23:33.196 --> 00:23:34.564
  • And this message began to take root in ephesus, and corinth,
  • 00:23:34.564 --> 00:23:38.702
  • And thessalonica, and colossae, and all these port cities, these
  • 00:23:38.702 --> 00:23:42.305
  • Major cities.
  • 00:23:42.305 --> 00:23:45.275
  • Back at home, he decides to write one of these churches, the
  • 00:23:45.275 --> 00:23:48.612
  • Church in ephesus.
  • 00:23:48.612 --> 00:23:50.780
  • And here's what he says to them, and here's what he says to me,
  • 00:23:50.780 --> 00:23:52.983
  • Here's what he says to you, and what?
  • 00:23:52.983 --> 00:23:54.651
  • Just imagine.
  • 00:23:54.651 --> 00:23:56.686
  • What if we did this?
  • 00:23:56.686 --> 00:23:59.322
  • He says, "i want you to follow god's example."
  • 00:23:59.322 --> 00:24:05.562
  • What?
  • 00:24:05.562 --> 00:24:06.930
  • Yes, i want you to follow god's example.
  • 00:24:06.930 --> 00:24:08.265
  • Why?
  • 00:24:08.265 --> 00:24:09.633
  • Well, this is not new news, you're made in the image of god.
  • 00:24:09.633 --> 00:24:12.736
  • And when we think about being made in the image of god, that
  • 00:24:12.736 --> 00:24:14.604
  • Means i have dignity and you have dignity, and you have
  • 00:24:14.604 --> 00:24:16.773
  • Worth, and it doesn't matter what language a person speaks,
  • 00:24:16.773 --> 00:24:19.276
  • Or what they look like, if they're male or female,
  • 00:24:19.276 --> 00:24:21.978
  • Everybody's born as worth.
  • 00:24:21.978 --> 00:24:23.313
  • We're made in the image of god.
  • 00:24:23.313 --> 00:24:24.681
  • Paul's like, okay, that's not what i'm talking about.
  • 00:24:24.681 --> 00:24:26.750
  • I'm talking about the fact you should follow god's example
  • 00:24:26.750 --> 00:24:30.020
  • Because being made in the image of god means you are a picture
  • 00:24:30.020 --> 00:24:33.056
  • Of god.
  • 00:24:33.056 --> 00:24:34.391
  • You are a reflection of god.
  • 00:24:34.391 --> 00:24:36.359
  • What god values, you're to value, and how god responds,
  • 00:24:36.359 --> 00:24:39.930
  • You're to respond.
  • 00:24:39.930 --> 00:24:41.264
  • And you know what god is like, and what god likes, and what god
  • 00:24:41.264 --> 00:24:44.935
  • Values because he sent his son to live it out in front of you.
  • 00:24:44.935 --> 00:24:51.575
  • So follow god's example.
  • 00:24:51.575 --> 00:24:54.511
  • As dearly loved children, you're gonna be like your
  • 00:24:54.511 --> 00:24:56.913
  • Heavenly father.
  • 00:24:56.913 --> 00:24:58.281
  • But then listen to how he summarizes this.
  • 00:24:58.281 --> 00:25:02.118
  • "and walk," or live, "and walk in the way of love."
  • 00:25:02.118 --> 00:25:11.728
  • When you're not sure what to do, you just ask the question, what
  • 00:25:11.728 --> 00:25:14.164
  • Does love require of you.
  • 00:25:14.164 --> 00:25:15.799
  • When you're not sure what to say or do, it's okay.
  • 00:25:15.799 --> 00:25:18.134
  • Back to the starting point, back to the one command, back to the
  • 00:25:18.134 --> 00:25:20.904
  • Thing that is to characterize me and characterize us.
  • 00:25:20.904 --> 00:25:23.773
  • What does love require of me?
  • 00:25:23.773 --> 00:25:27.243
  • That idea changed the civilization once.
  • 00:25:27.243 --> 00:25:33.083
  • It can't be improved upon.
  • 00:25:33.083 --> 00:25:34.584
  • And imagine a world, imagine a community, imagine our
  • 00:25:34.584 --> 00:25:37.153
  • Community, imagine your community, where the christians,
  • 00:25:37.153 --> 00:25:40.290
  • Regardless of their brand, regardless of when they worship,
  • 00:25:40.290 --> 00:25:42.592
  • How they worship, the music they listen to or don't listen to,
  • 00:25:42.592 --> 00:25:47.664
  • Imagine if the christians in our community decided we are gonna
  • 00:25:47.664 --> 00:25:50.967
  • Walk in the way of love because that is the way of god and that
  • 00:25:50.967 --> 00:25:55.171
  • Is god's example for us, and it's why he sent the way.
  • 00:25:55.171 --> 00:26:01.077
  • The way in a manger.
  • 00:26:01.077 --> 00:26:06.850
  • Why is this hard to imagine?
  • 00:26:06.850 --> 00:26:09.686
  • Why not, let's do that.
  • 00:26:09.686 --> 00:26:12.555
  • And it starts with somebody, it starts with some bodies.
  • 00:26:12.555 --> 00:26:15.258
  • That's how this whole thing started.
  • 00:26:15.258 --> 00:26:17.560
  • A handful of people who decided we are going to take seriously
  • 00:26:17.560 --> 00:26:22.932
  • The way and the ways of jesus, the way of god our father.
  • 00:26:22.932 --> 00:26:29.406
  • The way of love.
  • 00:26:29.406 --> 00:26:34.844
  • So while they were still there, mary and joseph, the time came
  • 00:26:34.844 --> 00:26:39.582
  • For the baby to be born.
  • 00:26:39.582 --> 00:26:41.751
  • And she gave birth to her firstborn, a son, and she
  • 00:26:41.751 --> 00:26:45.188
  • Wrapped him in cloths, and she placed him in a manger.
  • 00:26:45.188 --> 00:26:50.760
  • Imagine that.
  • 00:26:52.796 --> 00:26:55.699
  • The way that once upon a time changed the world, the way in
  • 00:26:55.699 --> 00:27:01.204
  • A manger.
  • 00:27:01.204 --> 00:27:02.572
  • The way that has the potential to change the world again.
  • 00:27:02.572 --> 00:27:04.941
  • If i choose, and if you choose, and if we choose the way of
  • 00:27:04.941 --> 00:27:10.246
  • Love, the way of jesus, the way of jesus, the christ, our king,
  • 00:27:10.246 --> 00:27:19.656
  • Maybe someday we will do more than just imagine.
  • 00:27:19.656 --> 00:27:24.828
  • Andy: hey, thanks so much for watching today.
  • 00:27:26.930 --> 00:27:28.898
  • Before you go, i want to tell you about a special offer.
  • 00:27:28.898 --> 00:27:31.434
  • When you support "your move" with a gift of $20 or more,
  • 00:27:31.434 --> 00:27:34.571
  • We're gonna send you our "gratitude guide."
  • 00:27:34.571 --> 00:27:36.673
  • This resource is designed to help you pause, re-center, and
  • 00:27:36.673 --> 00:27:39.943
  • Reflect on what you already have to be grateful for.
  • 00:27:39.943 --> 00:27:42.746
  • And it's our way of saying thank you for being a part of what
  • 00:27:42.746 --> 00:27:46.249
  • We're doing here at "your move."
  • 00:27:46.249 --> 00:27:47.717
  • And here's why your gift matters.
  • 00:27:47.717 --> 00:27:49.819
  • Your generosity helps us place the teaching of jesus in front
  • 00:27:49.819 --> 00:27:52.956
  • Of people who are asking life's hardest questions but don't yet
  • 00:27:52.956 --> 00:27:56.726
  • Realize that jesus is actually the answer.
  • 00:27:56.726 --> 00:27:59.395
  • To make a donation and to claim your copy of the "gratitude
  • 00:27:59.395 --> 00:28:01.931
  • Guide," just visit the website or call the number at the bottom
  • 00:28:01.931 --> 00:28:05.168
  • Of your screen.
  • 00:28:05.168 --> 00:28:06.503
  • And now it's your move.
  • 00:28:06.503 --> 00:28:21.017
  • Male announcer: the preceding program is sponsored by "your
  • 00:28:25.255 --> 00:28:27.357
  • Move" with andy stanley.
  • 00:28:27.357 --> 00:28:27.357