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[music]

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Howdy, Mars Hill.

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We're gonna do
a little business,

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and then a lot of Bible.

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It's that time of year again
where we are finishing

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up our budget year, which goes
from July through June.

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So we've got a few weeks
remaining in this fiscal year,

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and we wanted to give you the
beginnings of an annual report,

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update, where we're at, how we
want to finish this fiscal year

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strong, some plans we have for
course corrections this summer,

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and then where we hope
to be for next year.

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And if you're new, it'll start
by just encouraging you

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to grab the Weekly.

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It has some information
from Pastor Jamie,

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and also a Connect Card
so we can get you plugged in,

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and get you more information,
both from you so we can know

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you, and to you so you
can get to know us.

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And in the providence of God
as we're going through Luke,

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it actually fits thematically
along the story line

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of that great book
of the Bible.

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There is a parable forthcoming
in the ensuing weeks where Jesus

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talks about sowing seed, pulling
roots, pruning, harvesting.

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And so we're gonna use that
as our overarching metaphor

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for the next number of weeks to
sort of finish this year strong,

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and be encouraged about
the fruit that God has borne

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here at Mars Hill Church,
and what we see for the future.

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And I'll start
with some good news,

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we are really committed
to church planting.

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Acts 29 is our
church planting network.

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There are 28 chapters
in the book of Acts,

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and our plan is to just keep
doing what they were doing

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until we see Jesus,
and he says the work is done.

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And so we give 10% of our
dollars to church planting,

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other churches contribute as
well, and this is a collective.

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If you can see from 2000
to presently in 2010,

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this network has grown
from 2 to 314 churches,

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just in the United States
of America, just in the U.S.

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That does not include churches
that are planted

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around the world, as we are
heavily involved and invested

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in international
church planting.

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At present, under the leadership
of Pastor Scott Thomas,

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and the help
of Pastor Tyler Powell,

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we are continually assessing
upwards

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of 500 church-planting
candidates.

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We are planting
more than a church a week.

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It's almost now two churches
a week, by God's grace.

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What that means
for us is 5, 6 years,

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we hope and pray
that we will be

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over a thousand churches
in the U.S.

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I'm praying that they
average 250 people each,

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and a quarter million people
worshiping Jesus

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as part of our extended network
that Mars Hill is a part of.

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That is cause
for much, much, much rejoicing.

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That's a great number.

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Additionally, Mars Hill Church,
here is what has happened

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at our church.

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From 2001 to at present in 2010,

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the number of campuses
have gone from 1 to 10.

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There are also two more
in progress that it would be

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premature for me to tell you
about, but do be in prayer.

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And there is some very exciting
news that is forthcoming,

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including some great information
I received today

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about a potential new campus.

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So I anticipate that number
will be at 12 very shortly.

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Our attendance has gone from
about a thousand to an average

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of almost 10,000 a week with
a high of 13,000 at Easter.

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All of this to say,
these are good charts.

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I know your investment portfolio
does not look like that,

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but your weight may,
from 2000 to 2010.

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Additionally,
our community groups.

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We love to have
big church and small church.

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Community groups meet in condos,
dorms, apartments, homes.

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It is where people gather
to cover the material that was

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in the sermon, to discuss
Bible, pray, have friendship,

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relationship, accountability,
shepherding, counseling,

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do evangelism, be on mission,
serve their community.

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The number of those groups
from 2000 to 2010 has gone

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from 3 to more than 400 with
enough leaders being trained

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that we're anticipating
heading into the fall

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with between
500 and 600 groups.

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What that means is every week,
some 6,000, 7,000 people

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are meeting in smaller groups.

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We rejoice in that.

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We want to be a big church that
also has very close, loving,

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intimate, missional community.

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Also, here is our giving.

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Some of you ask,
"Well, you want me to give.

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What does Mars Hill give?"

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We've always, by God's grace,
sought to be a generous church

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as God is generous with us.

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We want to be a generous
people, so we give to Acts 29,

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the church planting network,
Resurgence,

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which trains missional leaders.

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You guys gave about
3/4 of a million dollars

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to help in Haiti, and we have
pastors that are traveling there

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to train pastors,
and help and assist

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in their church planting.

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And by God's grace, I told you
we were able to ship

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$1.7 million of medical supplies
to the clinics for $17,000,

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amazing what God is doing there.

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MicroMissions, where we know
that people are struggling,

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and suffering, and hurting,
and so we have

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a few hundred thousand dollars
earmarked for the groups

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to use for serving
their community,

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and helping others in need.

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As well as giving a lot
of books, and Bibles,

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and resources to those
who are in the military.

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And we have a lot
of soldiers at Mars Hill,

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and a lot of soldiers
that tune in.

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And so you can see the amount
has increased dramatically.

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Just in the first
4 months of 2010,

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over $1.2 million has been given
for things other than

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Mars Hill Church,
to help other people.

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And so last year we gave
1.4-ish million dollars.

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We're almost there in the first
quarter of this year alone.

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We see opportunities,
and we want to be generous

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'cause our God is real generous.

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And now I'll give you
the update

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on how the various campuses
are doing.

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If you're new, we've got a few
dozen services that meet

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in ten locations, most of them
around the Puget Sound,

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from Olympia
all the way to Shoreline

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and over
to Bellevue and West Seattle,

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as well as a campus down
in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

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Downtown Seattle,
their giving is on target.

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U-District is on target,
and Federal Way is on target.

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We had a low-budget expectation
going into the year.

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We pulled back the expenses.

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We anticipated it
would be a hard year.

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The campus pastors met
with the various accountants,

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and CPAs, and MBAs that
are on staff at the church,

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and put together some
conservative budget projections.

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These three campuses, with a bit
of time until the end of June

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still remaining, are on target,

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and you'll notice
that seven are missing.

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Well, they're on the next
list, the naughty list.

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That first one
was the nice list.

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The naughty list: Ballard,
West Seattle, Lake City,

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Bellevue, Shoreline, Olympia,
and Albuquerque

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are all campuses missing budget
anywhere from

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a quarter million dollars
to $40,000.

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These are campuses
of a few hundred people,

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up to Ballard, which has
thousands of people.

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So Ballard's got about a quarter
million to make up, which,

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quite frankly,
with as many people as are

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at the Ballard Campus,
that should not be difficult.

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West Seattle,
you can pray for.

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Great people, great campus,
but their campus pastor's

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transitioned out to plant.

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They're short on budget about
a quarter million dollars,

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and it's not an enormous--
it's a good size,

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but not an enormous campus.

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So they've got some heavy
lifting to do

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to finish the year strong.

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Lake City is
one of our smaller campuses,

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a couple hundred
thousand dollars behind.

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Some very generous,
faithful, long-term members,

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but they've got some
work to do as well.

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Bellevue's $180,000 behind,

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but I think they'll make it
just fine.

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I know that they have different
jobs than people at the U-Dub.

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Shoreline as well.

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Good campus, great families.

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Our first campus outside of
Ballard, they've got $156,000,

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let's say, to make up.

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Olympia's got about
$100,000 to make up,

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one of our newer campuses
needing to relocate

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into a bigger facility,

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and also Albuquerque,
our most recent addition,

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is about
$40,000 behind budget.

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And our goal is make all
this up by the end of June.

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And the total nugget that we're
trying to raise is an additional

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$1 million spread across
about 10,000 people.

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So it's a lot of money,

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but not for the number of people
that we have.

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And so you can be
in prayer as well.

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There are a few things
that I can tell you about.

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One is that we are looking
aggressively for a new location

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for the Albuquerque Campus.

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They are outgrowing
their building,

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and children's space
in particular,

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so you can pray for them.

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As well, you can pray for the
University of Washington Campus.

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It started in Kane Hall.

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This year is now
up to more than 400 people,

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is going very, very well.

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They need more training space,

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and a permanent location
to meet,

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so we have agreed, in principle,
to terms for the purchase

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of a building in the University
of Washington District,

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walking distance to the campus.

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It is a church
that has ceased meeting.

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Their facility will seat
about 400,

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about 20,000 square feet
altogether,

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a few apartments for interns,

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lots of class space
for training.

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And their price has come
down significantly,

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thanks to negotiations
with Pastor Jamie Munson,

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and also the grace of God.

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Do not play poker with
Jamie, you will lose.

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This is Jamie's gift.

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He is a great negotiator, and
this church was very generous

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and kind to work out
an agreement with us.

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So Pastor Matt is informing
the U-Dub Campus that this is

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not yet an ink deal,
but is very, very close.

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And if you can fathom it,
a church, Mars Hill Campus,

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walking distance to the campus,
planting a permanent flag

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for Jesus for generations
to come,

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right next to
the University of Washington.

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So we rejoice in that, and we'll
have some work to do there.

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Additionally, the Bellevue
Campus has outgrown their space,

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so we've agreed in terms
for the John Danz Theater

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that used to be
in downtown Bellevue.

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It's right near the mall.

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It's between Rock Bottom, and
Starbucks, and Barnes & Noble,

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right in the heart
of downtown Bellevue.

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They're going to be
having an open house,

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and I'm gonna be over there
with them on a Sunday.

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So we're gonna cast the
vision, let them see the space.

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It will double the number
of seats to 800 or 900,

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allow that campus to expand,
and be the center from which

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we plant additional campuses
and churches

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across the east side
of our great region.

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All of that to say,
there's a lot going on,

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and there's two more I
can't even tell you about,

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but I will as soon
as we are able.

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So we want to rejoice
in God's grace,

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and all the fruit
that's been borne.

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It's been an amazing year.

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All right, I mean nothing,
nothing looks like our chart,

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all right, your investments,
your retirement,

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nothing looks like that, and I
know some of you will look at it

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and say, "But you're asking
for money in the middle

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of a difficult economy."

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We understand that.

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We've already ratcheted
back the budget.

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We have had a series,
a few series of layoffs

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this year at Mars Hill.

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We're hoping not to have
another series of layoffs.

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00:12:03,025 --> 00:12:05,083
I think it is seven of our ten
campuses only have one paid

243
00:12:05,092 --> 00:12:10,075
pastor on staff, and so to start
cutting beyond that is one guy

244
00:12:10,083 --> 00:12:12,012
to fire himself.

245
00:12:12,021 --> 00:12:15,000
And that's a real hard day when
you have to sit yourself down

246
00:12:15,008 --> 00:12:17,008
and fire yourself.

247
00:12:17,017 --> 00:12:19,083
And so we're just praying that
our people would be generous,

248
00:12:19,092 --> 00:12:23,038
and that you all would do
all that you can.

249
00:12:23,046 --> 00:12:25,008
For those that have been
faithful and generous,

250
00:12:25,017 --> 00:12:26,062
with all sincerity,
thank you.

251
00:12:26,071 --> 00:12:28,096
For those who are Christians
and have not been very generous

252
00:12:29,004 --> 00:12:31,038
or faithful, we would invite
you to participate.

253
00:12:31,046 --> 00:12:34,017
And I tell you this in all
truth, when you get to heaven,

254
00:12:34,025 --> 00:12:37,000
you're not gonna regret
giving to the cause of Jesus.

255
00:12:37,008 --> 00:12:39,071
You may regret a lot of other
ways that you spend the money

256
00:12:39,079 --> 00:12:41,050
that God has entrusted
to your care.

257
00:12:41,058 --> 00:12:43,033
And there was a report
that was out this week,

258
00:12:43,042 --> 00:12:45,092
a national survey actually said
that Seattle has

259
00:12:46,000 --> 00:12:49,021
the strongest economy
in the United States of America.

260
00:12:49,029 --> 00:12:51,042
And I know it is hard, and many
are unemployed or underemployed

261
00:12:51,050 --> 00:12:54,017
and things are difficult, but we
are actually positioned

262
00:12:54,025 --> 00:12:58,050
in the best place nationally
for a rebounding economy,

263
00:12:58,058 --> 00:13:00,067
and we hope and pray
that that continues.

264
00:13:00,075 --> 00:13:03,008
And I just want you
to see all that God is doing.

265
00:13:03,017 --> 00:13:05,008
I want you to see
all that is possible,

266
00:13:05,017 --> 00:13:07,083
and I want you to be a part
of it because I believe,

267
00:13:07,092 --> 00:13:10,050
with all sincerity,
that the next year could indeed

268
00:13:10,058 --> 00:13:12,092
be the biggest year
that we've ever had.

269
00:13:13,000 --> 00:13:15,012
More people meeting Jesus,
more lives getting changed,

270
00:13:15,021 --> 00:13:16,038
more people getting married,

271
00:13:16,046 --> 00:13:18,083
more new Christians
getting baptized,

272
00:13:18,092 --> 00:13:21,058
more babies being born, more
people in community groups,

273
00:13:21,067 --> 00:13:23,083
redemption groups,
church membership,

274
00:13:23,092 --> 00:13:26,021
all of it,
and that's what we want.

275
00:13:26,029 --> 00:13:30,021
We want to go deep, lots
of people maturing, and wide,

276
00:13:30,029 --> 00:13:31,058
we want lots of people
to meet Jesus.

277
00:13:31,067 --> 00:13:33,000
And if you don't
know where to begin,

278
00:13:33,008 --> 00:13:36,021
the Connect Card is
the simplest way to start.

279
00:13:36,029 --> 00:13:38,054
You can give online
at marshillchurch.org.

280
00:13:38,062 --> 00:13:40,054
You can send
in a check to the office.

281
00:13:40,062 --> 00:13:42,079
You can give when
the offering basket is passed.

282
00:13:42,088 --> 00:13:45,067
However works for you,
works for us.

283
00:13:45,075 --> 00:13:47,029
It's exciting.

284
00:13:47,038 --> 00:13:51,042
And I'll say this too,
it's kind of confusing for me,

285
00:13:51,050 --> 00:13:54,008
like God does so much,
and so few respond.

286
00:13:54,017 --> 00:13:55,038
I don't understand that.

287
00:13:55,046 --> 00:13:57,075
And that leads us
to the text today.

288
00:13:57,083 --> 00:14:00,033
So we move from
business to Bible.

289
00:14:00,042 --> 00:14:02,092
And what we see is
Jesus being really,

290
00:14:03,000 --> 00:14:05,046
really gracious,
and two different responses.

291
00:14:05,054 --> 00:14:08,046
Someone who's very passionate,
and some of you are.

292
00:14:08,054 --> 00:14:11,042
And someone who's very
indifferent, as some of you are.

293
00:14:11,050 --> 00:14:18,025
And so if you'll turn with me to
Luke 7:36 through chapter 8:3.

294
00:14:18,033 --> 00:14:21,058
I'll pray, and we'll
see what God has for us.

295
00:14:21,067 --> 00:14:23,062
Father God, thank you that
you've been exceedingly generous

296
00:14:23,071 --> 00:14:26,000
to us individually
and corporately.

297
00:14:26,008 --> 00:14:30,075
Thank you how you continue
to just show up in big ways.

298
00:14:30,083 --> 00:14:33,004
I thank you that with
all this good news,

299
00:14:33,012 --> 00:14:34,038
there's even additional
good news

300
00:14:34,046 --> 00:14:36,000
that would be premature to tell.

301
00:14:36,008 --> 00:14:39,025
There's more good news, not to
mention the greatest news

302
00:14:39,033 --> 00:14:41,067
of all, that the tomb is
empty, that Jesus is alive,

303
00:14:41,075 --> 00:14:44,088
that sin is forgiven, that the
Holy Spirit has been poured out,

304
00:14:44,096 --> 00:14:47,038
and that the nations
are ripe for the harvest.

305
00:14:47,046 --> 00:14:51,021
Jesus, we ask that you would
send the Holy Spirit so that we

306
00:14:51,029 --> 00:14:54,029
might study the Scriptures that
you've inspired to be written,

307
00:14:54,038 --> 00:14:56,083
and that he would illuminate
our understanding of them,

308
00:14:56,092 --> 00:15:01,004
and ignite in us a passion for
you and for your kingdom,

309
00:15:01,012 --> 00:15:03,033
so that we might share
in your joy.

310
00:15:03,042 --> 00:15:07,050
And we ask for this grace
in Jesus' good name, Amen.

311
00:15:07,058 --> 00:15:09,017
To set up the sermon today,

312
00:15:09,025 --> 00:15:12,012
I want you to use your
imagination for a moment.

313
00:15:12,021 --> 00:15:17,050
Imagine a woman who
lives in the Middle East,

314
00:15:17,058 --> 00:15:21,067
in a small town, in a very
religious, highly conservative,

315
00:15:21,075 --> 00:15:24,067
cultural context.

316
00:15:24,075 --> 00:15:30,038
Imagine that she is notoriously
known as a sinful woman.

317
00:15:30,046 --> 00:15:33,008
Maybe she's sleeping
with her boyfriend,

318
00:15:33,017 --> 00:15:34,079
living with her boyfriend.

319
00:15:34,088 --> 00:15:38,050
She's the gal who gets passed
around the class at school.

320
00:15:38,058 --> 00:15:42,021
She is committing adultery
with a married man.

321
00:15:42,029 --> 00:15:44,088
Maybe she is married
and cheating on her husband,

322
00:15:44,096 --> 00:15:49,067
or she's a stripper, or a porn
star, or she is a prostitute,

323
00:15:49,075 --> 00:15:53,033
or at least just living with her
boyfriend and doing him certain

324
00:15:53,042 --> 00:15:56,025
kinds of favors because
he pays the bills,

325
00:15:56,033 --> 00:16:00,046
which is just another kind
of prostitution arrangement.

326
00:16:00,054 --> 00:16:05,025
Imagine that she is well known
as a notorious sinner,

327
00:16:05,033 --> 00:16:11,004
an unclean, defiled, degraded,
disgusting, dirty gal.

328
00:16:11,012 --> 00:16:14,075
Imagine that she is surrounded
with religious men

329
00:16:14,083 --> 00:16:19,017
who condemn her, and shame her,
and despise her.

330
00:16:19,025 --> 00:16:22,079
Now, take that woman in that
context and move it back

331
00:16:22,088 --> 00:16:26,067
historically 2,000 years.

332
00:16:26,075 --> 00:16:28,071
If you think it would be
difficult for her today,

333
00:16:28,079 --> 00:16:33,012
move it back 2,000 years ago
when a woman couldn't vote,

334
00:16:33,021 --> 00:16:36,071
couldn't own property,
couldn't testify in open court,

335
00:16:36,079 --> 00:16:39,000
was herself sometimes considered

336
00:16:39,008 --> 00:16:43,067
property of her father
or husband.

337
00:16:43,075 --> 00:16:49,033
Imagine what her life is
like--how damaged, and broken,

338
00:16:49,042 --> 00:16:53,021
and brutal it is.

339
00:16:53,029 --> 00:16:57,000
That's the woman that
we meet in Luke 7.

340
00:16:57,008 --> 00:16:58,083
The story begins like this.

341
00:16:58,092 --> 00:17:03,017
Luke 7:36-38, "One of the
Pharisees," the religious guys,

342
00:17:03,025 --> 00:17:05,046
"Asked him," that is Jesus,
"To eat with him,

343
00:17:05,054 --> 00:17:07,054
"and he went into the Pharisee's
house and took his place

344
00:17:07,062 --> 00:17:08,075
"at the table.

345
00:17:08,083 --> 00:17:11,042
"And behold, a woman
of the city, who was a sinner,

346
00:17:11,050 --> 00:17:13,021
"when she learned
that he was reclining at table

347
00:17:13,029 --> 00:17:15,017
"in the Pharisee's house,

348
00:17:15,025 --> 00:17:18,012
"brought an alabaster flask
of ointment,

349
00:17:18,021 --> 00:17:22,067
"and standing behind him
at his feet, weeping,

350
00:17:22,075 --> 00:17:25,025
"she began to wet his feet
with her tears

351
00:17:25,033 --> 00:17:29,029
"and wiped them with the hair
of her head and kissed his feet

352
00:17:29,038 --> 00:17:32,046
and anointed them
with the ointment."

353
00:17:32,054 --> 00:17:35,029
Jesus had previously been
invited to dine with those who

354
00:17:35,038 --> 00:17:40,088
were notorious sinners, thieves,
perverts, drunkards, gluttons.

355
00:17:40,096 --> 00:17:42,062
Jesus did dine with them.

356
00:17:42,071 --> 00:17:44,096
These kinds of people
loved Jesus,

357
00:17:45,004 --> 00:17:46,029
and wanted to spend
time with them.

358
00:17:46,038 --> 00:17:49,017
Jesus never condoned their sin
or participated in their sin,

359
00:17:49,025 --> 00:17:51,075
but the religious people
condemned him nonetheless.

360
00:17:51,083 --> 00:17:53,067
"He's a friend of gluttons,
and sinners,

361
00:17:53,075 --> 00:17:55,088
"and tax collectors,
and whores.

362
00:17:55,096 --> 00:17:58,033
Who is this guy?"

363
00:17:58,042 --> 00:18:04,079
Jesus spends time with notorious
sinners, and religious people.

364
00:18:04,088 --> 00:18:08,012
And the religious people invite
him to have a meal as well,

365
00:18:08,021 --> 00:18:11,062
particularly we're told
here the Pharisees.

366
00:18:11,071 --> 00:18:13,033
And I didn't anticipate
this when I started Luke,

367
00:18:13,042 --> 00:18:17,000
but one of the major themes that
keeps recurring throughout Luke

368
00:18:17,008 --> 00:18:21,083
is how awful religion is, and
how cruel religious people are.

369
00:18:21,092 --> 00:18:25,096
And here we see them again,
that Jesus is always the hero,

370
00:18:26,004 --> 00:18:27,058
and they're always the villain.

371
00:18:27,067 --> 00:18:29,017
That's how Luke tells the story

372
00:18:29,025 --> 00:18:31,054
under the inspiration
of the Holy Spirit.

373
00:18:31,062 --> 00:18:33,017
And so the Pharisees
had a scribe,

374
00:18:33,025 --> 00:18:36,000
and he would have been their
teacher, so akin to me.

375
00:18:36,008 --> 00:18:37,046
He was the teacher.

376
00:18:37,054 --> 00:18:39,088
And then the Pharisees were the
people who followed the teacher.

377
00:18:39,096 --> 00:18:43,004
They worked jobs, and they
were devoted to their teacher,

378
00:18:43,012 --> 00:18:46,008
and they were very zealous, and
very religious, and very moral.

379
00:18:46,017 --> 00:18:47,062
So it'd be
as if I were a scribe,

380
00:18:47,071 --> 00:18:50,012
and you were the Pharisees.

381
00:18:50,021 --> 00:18:51,042
And one of these
leading Pharisees,

382
00:18:51,050 --> 00:18:54,000
maybe the equivalent of an elder
or deacon in their community,

383
00:18:54,008 --> 00:18:56,033
community group leader
or coach, perhaps,

384
00:18:56,042 --> 00:19:00,033
invites Jesus over
for a meal, a closed-door,

385
00:19:00,042 --> 00:19:03,025
private event in a home.

386
00:19:03,033 --> 00:19:05,062
We know not why--
maybe to interrogate him,

387
00:19:05,071 --> 00:19:10,033
to find additional
rocks to throw at him.

388
00:19:10,042 --> 00:19:12,096
And so Jesus
accepts that offer.

389
00:19:13,004 --> 00:19:15,000
And the way the meal would
have worked was this,

390
00:19:15,008 --> 00:19:18,067
unlike our dining, their dining
table would have been lower to

391
00:19:18,075 --> 00:19:21,012
the ground, and it would have
been surrounded with pillows,

392
00:19:21,021 --> 00:19:23,017
and you would lean on one
arm, and you would eat.

393
00:19:23,025 --> 00:19:24,075
And the meal could
take a long time.

394
00:19:24,083 --> 00:19:25,075
It was not rushed.

395
00:19:25,083 --> 00:19:28,017
It was about conversation
and relaxation,

396
00:19:28,025 --> 00:19:32,017
and the men's feet would be
coming out from the table

397
00:19:32,025 --> 00:19:34,017
in a circle.

398
00:19:34,025 --> 00:19:36,000
Women did not participate
in these kinds

399
00:19:36,008 --> 00:19:37,067
of theological discussions,

400
00:19:37,075 --> 00:19:41,054
were not invited
to these kinds of meals.

401
00:19:41,062 --> 00:19:45,050
Luke tells us, "And behold,
a woman of the city

402
00:19:45,058 --> 00:19:47,075
who was a sinner."

403
00:19:47,083 --> 00:19:53,050
Here's this woman, and she's
a sinner, her reputation

404
00:19:53,058 --> 00:19:58,025
negatively precedes her.

405
00:19:58,033 --> 00:20:00,096
Most commentators believe
that she was, perhaps,

406
00:20:01,004 --> 00:20:04,025
even a prostitute.

407
00:20:04,033 --> 00:20:06,038
Whatever the case was,
like some of you women,

408
00:20:06,046 --> 00:20:08,038
she's been with many men.

409
00:20:08,046 --> 00:20:11,050
She's done things that
ought not be done.

410
00:20:11,058 --> 00:20:14,017
Her reputation's damaged
and destroyed

411
00:20:14,025 --> 00:20:17,062
because she's considered dirty
and defiled.

412
00:20:17,071 --> 00:20:21,033
And she hears Jesus
is at this man's home,

413
00:20:21,042 --> 00:20:23,092
so she is going
to do the unthinkable.

414
00:20:24,000 --> 00:20:27,025
And I need you to see her.

415
00:20:27,033 --> 00:20:31,050
She's going to get
an alabaster flask of perfume,

416
00:20:31,058 --> 00:20:37,000
and she is going to walk
to the Pharisee's house.

417
00:20:37,008 --> 00:20:43,062
The perverted woman is going
to walk to the religious meal.

418
00:20:43,071 --> 00:20:48,092
She walks to the door,
she walks in the house.

419
00:20:49,000 --> 00:20:50,046
Can you she her?

420
00:20:50,054 --> 00:20:53,067
I'm assuming she's
nervous, ashamed,

421
00:20:53,075 --> 00:20:57,033
not wanting to make eye contact,
wondering what will be said

422
00:20:57,042 --> 00:21:00,071
or done to her
or about her.

423
00:21:00,079 --> 00:21:02,050
She may even be shaking.

424
00:21:02,058 --> 00:21:05,012
She's nervous.

425
00:21:05,021 --> 00:21:07,075
She walks into a room filled
with men, not just men,

426
00:21:07,083 --> 00:21:12,083
quote, unquote, "holy" men,
"devout" men, "religious" men,

427
00:21:12,092 --> 00:21:15,033
they all know her.

428
00:21:15,042 --> 00:21:17,096
They all know her reputation.

429
00:21:18,004 --> 00:21:20,025
She walks into their meal.

430
00:21:20,033 --> 00:21:23,092
She's the only woman in
the room, and she's uninvited.

431
00:21:24,000 --> 00:21:25,092
And you don't do this.

432
00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:27,092
You don't walk
into someone's home.

433
00:21:28,000 --> 00:21:30,067
You don't walk into their
meal as an uninvited guest,

434
00:21:30,075 --> 00:21:34,046
as the only woman,
as the quote, unquote,

435
00:21:34,054 --> 00:21:38,029
"unholy" woman among
the holy men.

436
00:21:38,038 --> 00:21:42,017
And the men would have stopped
their conversation, shocked--

437
00:21:42,025 --> 00:21:44,000
an awkward moment.

438
00:21:44,008 --> 00:21:45,062
They see her coming.

439
00:21:45,071 --> 00:21:47,075
They smell the perfume.

440
00:21:47,083 --> 00:21:50,025
This is very
expensive perfume.

441
00:21:50,033 --> 00:21:51,083
This is costly.

442
00:21:51,092 --> 00:21:54,000
This may have even been
the perfume that she wore

443
00:21:54,008 --> 00:21:57,025
to entice men, or to cover
the stench of their body

444
00:21:57,033 --> 00:22:03,067
after she was intimate
with them.

445
00:22:03,075 --> 00:22:06,058
"She brought an alabaster
flask of ointment,

446
00:22:06,067 --> 00:22:10,075
"and standing behind him
at his feet, weeping,

447
00:22:10,083 --> 00:22:12,025
"she began to wet his
feet with her tears

448
00:22:12,033 --> 00:22:14,079
"and wiped them with the hair
of her head and kissed his feet

449
00:22:14,088 --> 00:22:17,075
and anointed them
with the ointment."

450
00:22:17,083 --> 00:22:20,004
She notices that
Jesus' feet are dirty,

451
00:22:20,012 --> 00:22:24,000
that means they had been
inconsiderate and rude to Jesus.

452
00:22:24,008 --> 00:22:27,000
They weren't treating him as
an honored guest, as they ought.

453
00:22:27,008 --> 00:22:30,050
It was customary,
when a guest entered your home,

454
00:22:30,058 --> 00:22:33,025
you would have a servant
or slave to wash their feet.

455
00:22:33,033 --> 00:22:35,042
Curiously enough, the same thing
that Jesus would do

456
00:22:35,050 --> 00:22:40,025
for Judas Iscariot
some time later.

457
00:22:40,033 --> 00:22:42,096
At the very least, you'd provide
a basin of water so they could

458
00:22:43,004 --> 00:22:45,075
cleanse their feet, and some
olive oil so they could freshen

459
00:22:45,083 --> 00:22:49,096
up because you would walk
along dirtied, muddied paths

460
00:22:50,004 --> 00:22:53,071
that were trodden upon
by animals, so there's feces,

461
00:22:53,079 --> 00:22:56,058
and garbage,
and mud, and it's gross,

462
00:22:56,067 --> 00:22:58,025
and you're wearing
open-toed sandals,

463
00:22:58,033 --> 00:23:01,017
and it's between your toes,
and it's under your toenails,

464
00:23:01,025 --> 00:23:04,029
and your feet are a gross mess.

465
00:23:04,038 --> 00:23:05,079
And if you're gonna lay
down with your feet out,

466
00:23:05,088 --> 00:23:08,033
and everybody's gonna look
at your feet during a meal,

467
00:23:08,042 --> 00:23:13,025
it was at least honorable and
considerate as a host to either

468
00:23:13,033 --> 00:23:16,054
have the feet washed, or to
allow someone to have the means

469
00:23:16,062 --> 00:23:18,058
by which to wash their own.

470
00:23:18,067 --> 00:23:21,075
They didn't do that for Jesus.

471
00:23:21,083 --> 00:23:25,088
These people are like some of
you, they're just inconsiderate.

472
00:23:25,096 --> 00:23:27,075
They're rude.

473
00:23:27,083 --> 00:23:29,083
Some of you
are difficult spouses,

474
00:23:29,092 --> 00:23:31,067
not because you're
committing adultery,

475
00:23:31,075 --> 00:23:34,050
or beating your spouse,
you're just inconsiderate.

476
00:23:34,058 --> 00:23:35,067
You're just rude.

477
00:23:35,075 --> 00:23:37,067
You're not thoughtful
or attentive.

478
00:23:37,075 --> 00:23:39,004
You're negligent.

479
00:23:39,012 --> 00:23:42,025
That's how Jesus was treated.

480
00:23:42,033 --> 00:23:44,058
And this woman comes in,
she's very thoughtful.

481
00:23:44,067 --> 00:23:46,008
She's very attentive.

482
00:23:46,017 --> 00:23:47,017
She's very considerate.

483
00:23:47,025 --> 00:23:50,046
She notices Jesus'
feet are dirty,

484
00:23:50,054 --> 00:23:52,042
and she does the unthinkable.

485
00:23:52,050 --> 00:23:55,071
She approaches Jesus.

486
00:23:55,079 --> 00:23:58,067
Now, the Bible didn't forbid
it, but their culture

487
00:23:58,075 --> 00:24:03,021
and its religious traditions
forbid a woman like her

488
00:24:03,029 --> 00:24:07,004
from touching a man like him,
in any way.

489
00:24:07,012 --> 00:24:11,008
She gets down,
perhaps on her knees,

490
00:24:11,017 --> 00:24:13,038
and she goes
to wash Jesus' feet.

491
00:24:13,046 --> 00:24:16,025
And at this moment, something
happens that she was not

492
00:24:16,033 --> 00:24:19,021
anticipating, and that is that
she is overcome

493
00:24:19,029 --> 00:24:23,038
with a conscious awareness
of her own sinfulness.

494
00:24:23,046 --> 00:24:26,033
It is true for her as
it is for you and I,

495
00:24:26,042 --> 00:24:31,008
the closer we get to Jesus,
the more sinful we recognize

496
00:24:31,017 --> 00:24:35,008
ourselves as being.

497
00:24:35,017 --> 00:24:36,075


498
00:24:36,083 --> 00:24:39,029
The closer she gets to
Jesus, the more she realizes,

499
00:24:39,038 --> 00:24:41,046
"He is holy, I'm unholy.

500
00:24:41,054 --> 00:24:44,067
"He is without sin,
I'm filled with sin.

501
00:24:44,075 --> 00:24:48,054
"He is clean,
spiritually speaking,

502
00:24:48,062 --> 00:24:53,038
I am unclean
in the sight of God."

503
00:24:53,046 --> 00:24:59,033
And she begins to weep bitterly,
and some of you gals are criers.

504
00:24:59,042 --> 00:25:01,042
She's a crier.

505
00:25:01,050 --> 00:25:02,075
It's okay.

506
00:25:02,083 --> 00:25:05,033
Martin Luther rightly calls
these tears, quote, unquote,

507
00:25:05,042 --> 00:25:06,096
"heart water."

508
00:25:07,004 --> 00:25:09,079
That these tears
come out of her heart.

509
00:25:09,088 --> 00:25:12,000
This is cleansing
for her soul.

510
00:25:12,008 --> 00:25:13,079
This is an act of repentance.

511
00:25:13,088 --> 00:25:16,092
This is her publicly
acknowledging before the most

512
00:25:17,000 --> 00:25:23,054
judgmental, shaming, condemning,
self-righteous, religious men,

513
00:25:23,062 --> 00:25:27,000
"Yes, I'm a sinful woman,
and I have deep regret

514
00:25:27,008 --> 00:25:29,083
for the life I have lived."

515
00:25:29,092 --> 00:25:31,079
And she just begins balling.

516
00:25:31,088 --> 00:25:34,050
Her eyes are filled
with so many tears.

517
00:25:34,058 --> 00:25:36,000
They're coming down her cheeks.

518
00:25:36,008 --> 00:25:37,088
There's snot in her nose.

519
00:25:37,096 --> 00:25:39,033
There's a quiver in her voice.

520
00:25:39,042 --> 00:25:44,029
Her make-up is coming
down over her dress.

521
00:25:44,038 --> 00:25:49,050
There's so much water flowing
out of her eyes that it wets

522
00:25:49,058 --> 00:25:53,033
Jesus' feet sufficiently
to clean them.

523
00:25:53,042 --> 00:25:57,096
That's a broken, humble,
repentant, devastated,

524
00:25:58,004 --> 00:26:00,008
grieved sinner.

525
00:26:00,017 --> 00:26:03,071
That's an act of repentance.

526
00:26:03,079 --> 00:26:06,083
And some of you have never
shed a tear for your sin.

527
00:26:06,092 --> 00:26:10,000
She may have never shed
a tear until that moment,

528
00:26:10,008 --> 00:26:16,058
and she shed a tear
for, perhaps, every sin.

529
00:26:16,067 --> 00:26:19,017
And I believe she was not
anticipating that she

530
00:26:19,025 --> 00:26:22,017
would become so emotional.

531
00:26:22,025 --> 00:26:24,075
Had she anticipated
becoming that emotional,

532
00:26:24,083 --> 00:26:26,000
she would have brought a towel.

533
00:26:26,008 --> 00:26:30,021
She didn't have a towel
to dry Jesus' feet,

534
00:26:30,029 --> 00:26:33,096
and so instead
she used her hair.

535
00:26:34,004 --> 00:26:35,058
She let her long hair down.

536
00:26:35,067 --> 00:26:38,062
Paul says elsewhere that
a woman's hair is her glory.

537
00:26:38,071 --> 00:26:40,029
She takes that
which is glorious,

538
00:26:40,038 --> 00:26:46,050
and she uses it
to clean Jesus' dirty feet.

539
00:26:46,058 --> 00:26:49,050


540
00:26:49,058 --> 00:26:51,079
The Talmud was
a Jewish commentary.

541
00:26:51,088 --> 00:26:55,067
It stated that a woman letting
her hair down in the sight

542
00:26:55,075 --> 00:27:01,092
of any man other than her
husband was grounds for divorce.

543
00:27:02,000 --> 00:27:04,054
Some rabbis taught that a woman
letting her hair down in front

544
00:27:04,062 --> 00:27:09,000
of another man was akin to
her taking her shirt off.

545
00:27:09,008 --> 00:27:13,088
Culturally speaking, this
was unacceptable behavior.

546
00:27:13,096 --> 00:27:18,096
Biblically speaking, she wasn't
breaking any commandments.

547
00:27:19,004 --> 00:27:20,042


548
00:27:20,050 --> 00:27:24,062
One commentator rightly says
that her actions are passionate,

549
00:27:24,071 --> 00:27:27,008
but not erotic.

550
00:27:27,017 --> 00:27:29,054
I think that's a most
helpful distinction.

551
00:27:29,062 --> 00:27:35,079
Her actions are
passionate, but not erotic.

552
00:27:35,088 --> 00:27:40,004
She then takes this very
expensive perfume that would

553
00:27:40,012 --> 00:27:43,038
have been used only, perhaps,
to anoint someone's head.

554
00:27:43,046 --> 00:27:46,042
It was not to be used on the
feet because it was too costly,

555
00:27:46,050 --> 00:27:49,075
and she was very lavish
in her worship of Jesus.

556
00:27:49,083 --> 00:27:53,083
And I want you to see here
that she is worshiping Jesus.

557
00:27:53,092 --> 00:27:58,008
When she falls at his feet, when
she is acknowledging her sin,

558
00:27:58,017 --> 00:28:01,075
when she is shedding her tears,
when she is cleaning his feet,

559
00:28:01,083 --> 00:28:08,017
when she is anointing his feet,
when she is kissing his feet,

560
00:28:08,025 --> 00:28:10,000
this is an act of worship.

561
00:28:10,008 --> 00:28:11,062
One of the words for worship
in the Bible

562
00:28:11,071 --> 00:28:14,075
is to fall down on your face.

563
00:28:14,083 --> 00:28:18,000
All right, one image of worship
the Bible gives is you fall down

564
00:28:18,008 --> 00:28:20,067
on your face
at the feet of Jesus.

565
00:28:20,075 --> 00:28:22,021
That's what she's doing.

566
00:28:22,029 --> 00:28:29,017
She's worshiping Jesus
passionately, humbly, publicly,

567
00:28:29,025 --> 00:28:34,012
repentantly, generously.

568
00:28:34,021 --> 00:28:36,054
She's giving her best.

569
00:28:36,062 --> 00:28:38,071
She's giving all that she has.

570
00:28:38,079 --> 00:28:48,038
She's giving all that she is
in love to Jesus as her Lord.

571
00:28:48,046 --> 00:28:50,046
Some of you, this would make
you very uncomfortable,

572
00:28:50,054 --> 00:28:55,042
this kind of
passion and freedom.

573
00:28:55,050 --> 00:28:58,038
You would not be alone.

574
00:28:58,046 --> 00:29:00,079
The story continues,
Luke 7:39-40,

575
00:29:00,088 --> 00:29:03,071
"Now when the Pharisee who
had invited him saw this,

576
00:29:03,079 --> 00:29:05,033
he said to himself--"

577
00:29:05,042 --> 00:29:07,079
Notice he doesn't
say it out loud.

578
00:29:07,088 --> 00:29:09,033
Like some of you
religious people,

579
00:29:09,042 --> 00:29:11,042
you guard your words
and your actions,

580
00:29:11,050 --> 00:29:14,042
but God knows your heart.

581
00:29:14,050 --> 00:29:16,067
"'If this man were a prophet,
he would have known who

582
00:29:16,075 --> 00:29:20,071
"'and what sort of woman
this is who is touching him,

583
00:29:20,079 --> 00:29:22,050
"'for she is a sinner.'

584
00:29:22,058 --> 00:29:26,050
"And Jesus answering
said to him, 'Simon,'"

585
00:29:26,058 --> 00:29:29,050
I think he said it like that,

586
00:29:29,058 --> 00:29:32,017
"'I have something
to say to you.'

587
00:29:32,025 --> 00:29:34,088
"And he answered,
'Say it, Teacher.'"

588
00:29:34,096 --> 00:29:38,054
Some people need to be rebuked
publicly because they have made

589
00:29:38,062 --> 00:29:41,042
the issue a public issue.

590
00:29:41,050 --> 00:29:45,025
This man, Simon, who is
the host of the party,

591
00:29:45,033 --> 00:29:49,012
in his heart was
thinking to himself,

592
00:29:49,021 --> 00:29:53,054
as some of you may
and as religious people do,

593
00:29:53,062 --> 00:29:55,096
whatever their
religious preference is.

594
00:29:56,004 --> 00:29:58,033
This is one of the many
great errors of religion.

595
00:29:58,042 --> 00:30:04,004
There are two kinds of people:
unholy people and holy people.

596
00:30:04,012 --> 00:30:08,021
And what he decides is,
"I am in the category of holy,

597
00:30:08,029 --> 00:30:11,033
"and this whore and Jesus,

598
00:30:11,042 --> 00:30:15,067
they're in the category
of unholy."

599
00:30:15,075 --> 00:30:19,042


600
00:30:19,050 --> 00:30:23,062
The pride, the hubris,
the judgmentalism,

601
00:30:23,071 --> 00:30:30,033
the self-righteousness is
unspeakable in this man.

602
00:30:30,042 --> 00:30:32,092
Jesus says, "Simon,
not only am I a prophet,

603
00:30:33,000 --> 00:30:34,033
"I'll prove it to you.

604
00:30:34,042 --> 00:30:40,033
I know your thoughts
and her sins."

605
00:30:40,042 --> 00:30:45,000
See, there are two categories
of people: unholy and holy.

606
00:30:45,008 --> 00:30:47,062
In the holy category is Jesus.

607
00:30:47,071 --> 00:30:51,033
In the unholy category
is everyone else.

608
00:30:51,042 --> 00:30:55,029
And Simon had himself
in the wrong category.

609
00:30:55,038 --> 00:30:58,050
He stood back, looked at the
woman and said, "She's a sinner.

610
00:30:58,058 --> 00:31:01,079
If Jesus were a good man,
he would know that."

611
00:31:01,088 --> 00:31:03,088
Jesus says, "I am the God-man.

612
00:31:03,096 --> 00:31:08,012
"I know that, and you're
in the wrong category.

613
00:31:08,021 --> 00:31:09,017
You're a sinner too."

614
00:31:09,025 --> 00:31:12,012
Religious people see
others' sin, not their own,

615
00:31:12,021 --> 00:31:14,096
are aware of others'
sin, not their own.

616
00:31:15,004 --> 00:31:17,004
They're filled with pride,
smugness, self-righteousness,

617
00:31:17,012 --> 00:31:21,017
judgmentalism,
holier-than-thou-ism.

618
00:31:21,025 --> 00:31:24,025
Religious people tend to live
in their heads, and think,

619
00:31:24,033 --> 00:31:27,083
and quietly criticize others
who are serving Jesus.

620
00:31:27,092 --> 00:31:29,079
This woman is serving Jesus.

621
00:31:29,088 --> 00:31:33,025
She's doing the thing that
Simon should have done,

622
00:31:33,033 --> 00:31:36,038
and Simon didn't serve Jesus,
and he's going to judge the way

623
00:31:36,046 --> 00:31:38,033
that she serves Jesus.

624
00:31:38,042 --> 00:31:43,071
Some of you, tragically,
you're like that.

625
00:31:43,079 --> 00:31:45,000
You live in your head.

626
00:31:45,008 --> 00:31:46,033
You think you're holy.

627
00:31:46,042 --> 00:31:51,033
You criticize others,
and you don't participate.

628
00:31:51,042 --> 00:31:54,075
Jesus knows your thoughts.

629
00:31:54,083 --> 00:31:59,067


630
00:31:59,075 --> 00:32:03,050
It's amazing, isn't it?

631
00:32:03,058 --> 00:32:06,042


632
00:32:06,050 --> 00:32:08,017
When you read the story,
don't think,

633
00:32:08,025 --> 00:32:10,033
"Yeah, I'm like that woman."

634
00:32:10,042 --> 00:32:14,062
Think, "Maybe I'm
like that guy."

635
00:32:14,071 --> 00:32:18,004
The story continues,
Luke 7:41-43,

636
00:32:18,012 --> 00:32:20,046
Jesus is now going to tell
a parable, which is a story

637
00:32:20,054 --> 00:32:23,092
that illustrates a point.

638
00:32:24,000 --> 00:32:25,042
"'A certain moneylender
had two debtors.

639
00:32:25,050 --> 00:32:28,004
"'One owed five hundred
denarii, and the other fifty.

640
00:32:28,012 --> 00:32:30,025
"'When they could not pay,
he cancelled the debt of both.

641
00:32:30,033 --> 00:32:32,062
"'Now which of them
will love him more?'

642
00:32:32,071 --> 00:32:34,038
"Simon answered,
'The one, I suppose,

643
00:32:34,046 --> 00:32:36,042
"'for whom he cancelled
the larger debt.'

644
00:32:36,050 --> 00:32:38,079
"And he said to him,
'You have judged rightly.'"

645
00:32:38,088 --> 00:32:44,067
I think Jesus here, is
playing with him a little bit.

646
00:32:44,075 --> 00:32:46,079
"Simon, you think
you're a great teacher?

647
00:32:46,088 --> 00:32:48,008
"I'll teach you a few things.

648
00:32:48,017 --> 00:32:52,008
"How about we start with
kindergarten spirituality?

649
00:32:52,017 --> 00:32:53,033
"Two guys owe money.

650
00:32:53,042 --> 00:32:55,079
"One guy owes 50 days'
wages of a common laborer.

651
00:32:55,088 --> 00:32:57,062
"The other owes 500.

652
00:32:57,071 --> 00:33:00,000
"Neither can repay,
the lender forgives both.

653
00:33:00,008 --> 00:33:04,008
"Hey Simon, A or B,
which one is more excited

654
00:33:04,017 --> 00:33:06,004
about the forgiven debt?"

655
00:33:06,012 --> 00:33:08,004
"Answer: the guy
with the extra zero."

656
00:33:08,012 --> 00:33:10,096
"Good, you got it right, Simon."

657
00:33:11,004 --> 00:33:12,083
Jesus does this
in front of the other men.

658
00:33:12,092 --> 00:33:16,067
This is the simplest
parable you can conceive of.

659
00:33:16,075 --> 00:33:18,054
What's the point?

660
00:33:18,062 --> 00:33:21,008
Simon thinks he's only
a little bit in debt to God,

661
00:33:21,017 --> 00:33:23,050
where this woman is very much
in debt to God.

662
00:33:23,058 --> 00:33:26,092
And what Jesus says is, "But if
both your debts are canceled,

663
00:33:27,000 --> 00:33:30,050
wouldn't she actually be
more grateful than you?"

664
00:33:30,058 --> 00:33:35,025
Let me ask you this question:
what do you owe God?

665
00:33:35,033 --> 00:33:37,012
See, every month
we get a statement.

666
00:33:37,021 --> 00:33:41,000
It tells us what our debts are,
credit card debt, housing debt,

667
00:33:41,008 --> 00:33:45,042
school loan debt, car payment
debt, and you get a reckoning.

668
00:33:45,050 --> 00:33:48,079
"Oh man, I'm that
far in the hole."

669
00:33:48,088 --> 00:33:51,050
What if God sent you that ledger
each month of reckoning

670
00:33:51,058 --> 00:33:53,025
and accounting?

671
00:33:53,033 --> 00:33:55,029
God said, "Oh, you didn't
give, you didn't serve,

672
00:33:55,038 --> 00:33:57,033
"you didn't pray,
you didn't care.

673
00:33:57,042 --> 00:33:59,000
"You were supposed
to speak to that person.

674
00:33:59,008 --> 00:34:01,025
"The Holy Spirit convicted
you, you didn't do it.

675
00:34:01,033 --> 00:34:02,062
"You're supposed
to love and help here.

676
00:34:02,071 --> 00:34:04,012
"You didn't,
you were too busy.

677
00:34:04,021 --> 00:34:06,033
"You were supposed to pay
attention to that person,

678
00:34:06,042 --> 00:34:07,092
"but you're too busy dinking
around on your phone,

679
00:34:08,000 --> 00:34:12,067
you didn't even see him."

680
00:34:12,075 --> 00:34:15,021
What if God took an account
of all your sin--past, present,

681
00:34:15,029 --> 00:34:17,054
future--all your
thought, word, deed,

682
00:34:17,062 --> 00:34:22,033
sin of commission and omission,
everything you have not done?

683
00:34:22,042 --> 00:34:25,000
And everything you have done,
you have--you've done

684
00:34:25,008 --> 00:34:27,067
to your shame because it was
ought not to be done.

685
00:34:27,075 --> 00:34:30,046
What if God sent you
a bill every month,

686
00:34:30,054 --> 00:34:32,050
what would you owe God?

687
00:34:32,058 --> 00:34:34,025
What would your debt be?

688
00:34:34,033 --> 00:34:36,046
What is your debt?

689
00:34:36,054 --> 00:34:38,021
That's Jesus' point.

690
00:34:38,029 --> 00:34:40,046
Some of you would say, "Well,
okay, from this day forward,

691
00:34:40,054 --> 00:34:42,088
I'm going to live a good life,"
but you're not going to live

692
00:34:42,096 --> 00:34:45,067
a perfect life, and even if
you do live a perfect life,

693
00:34:45,075 --> 00:34:48,000
all you do is not
add to your debt.

694
00:34:48,008 --> 00:34:50,071
You don't pay any of it off
because you'll only be doing

695
00:34:50,079 --> 00:34:54,017
what you're supposed to.

696
00:34:54,025 --> 00:34:56,067


697
00:34:56,075 --> 00:35:06,058
What Jesus says is,
"God has come to forgive debt."

698
00:35:06,067 --> 00:35:11,092
That's what Jesus prays,
"Forgive us our debts,

699
00:35:12,000 --> 00:35:15,004
forgive us our debts, God."

700
00:35:15,012 --> 00:35:19,000
And Jesus is the means by
which our debts are paid.

701
00:35:19,008 --> 00:35:20,083
Jesus is going to,
ultimately, go to the cross.

702
00:35:20,092 --> 00:35:23,000
He's gonna substitute himself,
and die in our place

703
00:35:23,008 --> 00:35:24,017
for our sins.

704
00:35:24,025 --> 00:35:27,088
And it's religious people
who are going to murder him,

705
00:35:27,096 --> 00:35:32,062
and 3 days later he's gonna
come back, on a Sunday,

706
00:35:32,071 --> 00:35:36,083
to pay our debt to God.

707
00:35:36,092 --> 00:35:40,033
And see what religion tells us
is how to pay our debt to God.

708
00:35:40,042 --> 00:35:42,046
We don't pay our debt to God.

709
00:35:42,054 --> 00:35:45,083
Jesus is our God,
and he pays our debt.

710
00:35:45,092 --> 00:35:47,088
Jesus pays our debt.

711
00:35:47,096 --> 00:35:50,067
Every other religion tells you
what you should do

712
00:35:50,075 --> 00:35:53,050
to pay your debt to God:
go to purgatory and suffer,

713
00:35:53,058 --> 00:35:55,062
reincarnate through
multiple lifetimes

714
00:35:55,071 --> 00:35:57,083
to suffer and pay God back,

715
00:35:57,092 --> 00:36:00,033
go to Mecca, do these
things, give this money,

716
00:36:00,042 --> 00:36:02,062
whatever it might be.

717
00:36:02,071 --> 00:36:04,017
No.

718
00:36:04,025 --> 00:36:08,033
Jesus says, "Simon, you may
think your debts are small,

719
00:36:08,042 --> 00:36:09,054
and her debts are large."

720
00:36:09,062 --> 00:36:11,008
And some of you feel that way.

721
00:36:11,017 --> 00:36:13,017
"I'm not a big sinner,
I'm a little sinner.

722
00:36:13,025 --> 00:36:15,029
I just have
a little debt to God."

723
00:36:15,038 --> 00:36:19,033
That's enough to go to hell,
because either you pay God back

724
00:36:19,042 --> 00:36:24,000
in hell, or God is paid back at
the cross of Jesus, either way,

725
00:36:24,008 --> 00:36:29,079
a holy, just, good, righteous
God has justice, rightly so,

726
00:36:29,088 --> 00:36:31,083
so that he can still be good.

727
00:36:31,092 --> 00:36:33,088
But in dying in our
place for our sins,

728
00:36:33,096 --> 00:36:38,008
he proves himself to be loving,
merciful, gracious, and kind.

729
00:36:38,017 --> 00:36:40,000
So all debts will be paid.

730
00:36:40,008 --> 00:36:42,012
Some of you are going to hell.

731
00:36:42,021 --> 00:36:43,092
Some of you are going
to suffer conscious,

732
00:36:44,000 --> 00:36:49,042
eternal torment forever,
separated from God.

733
00:36:49,050 --> 00:36:53,046
And for those of you who come
to Jesus, your debt is canceled.

734
00:36:53,054 --> 00:36:56,029
That's where Jesus says on
the cross, "It is finished,"

735
00:36:56,038 --> 00:36:58,033
debt paid in full.

736
00:36:58,042 --> 00:37:05,046
Nothing left to do to have
forgiveness in the sight of God.

737
00:37:05,054 --> 00:37:07,017


738
00:37:07,025 --> 00:37:09,088
The story continues.

739
00:37:09,096 --> 00:37:14,033
Luke 7:44-46, "Then turning
toward the woman--"

740
00:37:14,042 --> 00:37:17,000
And I need you to see this, and
I need you to love this gal,

741
00:37:17,008 --> 00:37:19,088
and I need you to feel her pain.

742
00:37:19,096 --> 00:37:23,004
Simon is, perhaps,
off to the side.

743
00:37:23,012 --> 00:37:26,075
And the woman is near
Jesus, and she is weeping,

744
00:37:26,083 --> 00:37:31,050
and what I love is that
she hasn't said a word.

745
00:37:31,058 --> 00:37:33,067
She's not even engaged
with the religious people.

746
00:37:33,075 --> 00:37:37,029
All she cares about is Jesus,
and he's going to defend

747
00:37:37,038 --> 00:37:40,079
her honor,
and give her dignity.

748
00:37:40,088 --> 00:37:43,012
And Jesus looks at her.

749
00:37:43,021 --> 00:37:48,067
He's talking to Simon, but he
looks at her, smiling, I think.

750
00:37:48,075 --> 00:37:54,017
There's love in his eyes,
affection, compassion.

751
00:37:54,025 --> 00:37:57,079
Says, "Simon,
do you see this woman?"

752
00:37:57,088 --> 00:38:00,067
And see, this is the
question: do you even see her?

753
00:38:00,075 --> 00:38:02,083
'Cause when you look at
people through religious eyes,

754
00:38:02,092 --> 00:38:04,079
you don't see them at all.

755
00:38:04,088 --> 00:38:07,083
All you see is someone who
is condemnable, and damnable,

756
00:38:07,092 --> 00:38:13,000
and shamed, just shamed.

757
00:38:13,008 --> 00:38:15,033
You don't see anyone made in
the image and likeness of God.

758
00:38:15,042 --> 00:38:19,058
You don't see anyone who
needs to learn about the love,

759
00:38:19,067 --> 00:38:20,079
and the grace of God.

760
00:38:20,088 --> 00:38:23,033
You don't see someone
whose debt can be canceled,

761
00:38:23,042 --> 00:38:25,054
whose life can be transformed.

762
00:38:25,062 --> 00:38:29,050
See, Jesus sees her in a way
that Simon doesn't,

763
00:38:29,058 --> 00:38:33,033
'cause Jesus looks at her
through the lens of love,

764
00:38:33,042 --> 00:38:38,046
and Simon looks at her through
the reality of religion.

765
00:38:38,054 --> 00:38:42,000
Jesus says, "Simon,
do you not even see her?"

766
00:38:42,008 --> 00:38:44,033
'Cause see, Simon's thinking
in his heart,

767
00:38:44,042 --> 00:38:48,017
"She's an evil,
notorious sinner!"

768
00:38:48,025 --> 00:38:52,092
Jesus is saying, "Obviously
she knows that, look at her.

769
00:38:53,000 --> 00:38:57,042
"She doesn't need yet
another lecture on sin.

770
00:38:57,050 --> 00:38:59,071
"She's devastated.

771
00:38:59,079 --> 00:39:04,025
"The Holy Spirit
has broken her resistance.

772
00:39:04,033 --> 00:39:09,017
"She is--she can't stop crying.

773
00:39:09,025 --> 00:39:11,046
"Some of you are like that.

774
00:39:11,054 --> 00:39:16,004
"She's done with her
life as she's known it.

775
00:39:16,012 --> 00:39:18,008
"She's come to me.

776
00:39:18,017 --> 00:39:20,033
"She needs help and a savior.

777
00:39:20,042 --> 00:39:23,083
Simon, do you not see this?"

778
00:39:23,092 --> 00:39:28,050
See, Jesus is very stern
with religious people,

779
00:39:28,058 --> 00:39:32,092
and very compassionate
with broken sinners.

780
00:39:33,000 --> 00:39:36,050
And too often the church has
made the mistake of being very

781
00:39:36,058 --> 00:39:41,008
tolerant and accommodating
of religious people,

782
00:39:41,017 --> 00:39:46,017
and very cruel, and mean, and
unloving toward those who know

783
00:39:46,025 --> 00:39:49,054
they're sinners, and come into
the church trying to meet Jesus,

784
00:39:49,062 --> 00:39:52,008
and get some help.

785
00:39:52,017 --> 00:39:54,000
So we want to be like Jesus.

786
00:39:54,008 --> 00:39:56,050
We want to beat up
religious people,

787
00:39:56,058 --> 00:40:01,033
and invite in broken sinners.

788
00:40:01,042 --> 00:40:04,000
And we do that, not because
we hate the religious people,

789
00:40:04,008 --> 00:40:08,008
but we hate what they
do to the church.

790
00:40:08,017 --> 00:40:12,008
And they need to see--those
religious people--that they're

791
00:40:12,017 --> 00:40:15,088
sinners too, and that they
need the grace of God,

792
00:40:15,096 --> 00:40:18,083
and that they're indebted to
God, and Jesus is the hero,

793
00:40:18,092 --> 00:40:19,092
and they are not.

794
00:40:20,000 --> 00:40:22,012
And religious people don't even
see people through

795
00:40:22,021 --> 00:40:25,083
the lens of compassion and hope.

796
00:40:25,092 --> 00:40:28,004
"Simon, do you not
even see this woman?

797
00:40:28,012 --> 00:40:30,021
"Look at her, Simon.

798
00:40:30,029 --> 00:40:33,029
"Who cares about
your house party?

799
00:40:33,038 --> 00:40:38,012
"This woman needs a savior.

800
00:40:38,021 --> 00:40:40,017
"Simon, do you not know
who I am?

801
00:40:40,025 --> 00:40:42,058
"Do you not know why I'm here?

802
00:40:42,067 --> 00:40:48,062
Do you not realize that
she's a great example?"

803
00:40:48,071 --> 00:40:50,062


804
00:40:50,071 --> 00:40:53,008
"I entered your house; you
gave me no water for my feet,

805
00:40:53,017 --> 00:40:55,050
"but she has wet my feet
with her tears

806
00:40:55,058 --> 00:40:57,000
"and wiped them with her hair.

807
00:40:57,008 --> 00:41:00,033
You gave me no kiss,"
which was a formal greeting,

808
00:41:00,042 --> 00:41:05,096
"But from the time I came in she
has not ceased to kiss my feet.

809
00:41:06,004 --> 00:41:07,067
"You did not anoint
my head with oil,

810
00:41:07,075 --> 00:41:12,000
but she has anointed
my feet with ointment."

811
00:41:12,008 --> 00:41:17,033
Jesus says, "Simon, she's
a worshiper, you're not.

812
00:41:17,042 --> 00:41:19,096
"She repents, you don't.

813
00:41:20,004 --> 00:41:22,088
"She serves, you won't.

814
00:41:22,096 --> 00:41:27,046
"She gives generously,
and you don't give at all.

815
00:41:27,054 --> 00:41:31,029
"Simon, just 'cause you're
a quote, unquote, 'holy man,'

816
00:41:31,038 --> 00:41:36,050
"as designated by some
teacher in a religious club,

817
00:41:36,058 --> 00:41:39,017
"does not mean that you
have anything to teach her.

818
00:41:39,025 --> 00:41:42,004
"In fact, this 'whore,'
as you would call her,

819
00:41:42,012 --> 00:41:45,071
"she should teach you some
things about being humble,

820
00:41:45,079 --> 00:41:50,000
"and repentant, and broken,
and honest, and generous,

821
00:41:50,008 --> 00:41:53,033
"and serving, and caring,
and being considerate,

822
00:41:53,042 --> 00:41:56,033
and loving, and thankful."

823
00:41:56,042 --> 00:41:59,012
Can you imagine this?

824
00:41:59,021 --> 00:42:04,008
This is like Jesus shows
up, grabs a porn star,

825
00:42:04,017 --> 00:42:07,033
goes to the Dalai Lama's
house for dinner,

826
00:42:07,042 --> 00:42:09,071
and in the middle of the meal
says, "You know, Dalai Lama,

827
00:42:09,079 --> 00:42:12,083
"you can learn a lot
from this prostitute

828
00:42:12,092 --> 00:42:17,062
"because she's closer
to the kingdom than you are.

829
00:42:17,071 --> 00:42:19,000
"You talk about compassion.

830
00:42:19,008 --> 00:42:22,000
"There's no compassion
for the unrepentant.

831
00:42:22,008 --> 00:42:23,042
"You talk about peace.

832
00:42:23,050 --> 00:42:25,096
"There's no peace
between you and me.

833
00:42:26,004 --> 00:42:28,038
"You lead nations astray.

834
00:42:28,046 --> 00:42:29,096
"You don't repent.

835
00:42:30,004 --> 00:42:31,083
"You don't have faith in me.

836
00:42:31,092 --> 00:42:35,050
"You don't worship me.

837
00:42:35,058 --> 00:42:38,033
"This gal, she gets
it, Dalai Lama.

838
00:42:38,042 --> 00:42:40,050
"You should pay
attention to this whore.

839
00:42:40,058 --> 00:42:44,021
"You should stop lecturing,
and let her do some teaching.

840
00:42:44,029 --> 00:42:48,062
"At least she apologizes, and
changes, and wants a new life,

841
00:42:48,071 --> 00:42:51,021
"and is honest about how
far she is from God.

842
00:42:51,029 --> 00:42:53,017
You, you're just
a deceived deceiver."

843
00:42:53,025 --> 00:42:54,075
It's amazing.

844
00:42:54,083 --> 00:42:57,088
I mean, this is mind-bending.

845
00:42:57,096 --> 00:43:01,054
This is Jesus having
a meal with the Pope,

846
00:43:01,062 --> 00:43:04,008
and bringing a stripper,
and using the stripper

847
00:43:04,017 --> 00:43:06,008
as the example
for all the cardinals

848
00:43:06,017 --> 00:43:09,088
of how the Pope should be.

849
00:43:09,096 --> 00:43:13,042
This is insane, in a good way.

850
00:43:13,050 --> 00:43:16,033
It's amazing.

851
00:43:16,042 --> 00:43:18,038
The holy, righteous,
religious men,

852
00:43:18,046 --> 00:43:21,083
the guys in hats who
have job descriptions.

853
00:43:21,092 --> 00:43:26,050
Yeah, they're further from
God than the repentant whore,

854
00:43:26,058 --> 00:43:30,067
because the distance between
us and God is repentance,

855
00:43:30,075 --> 00:43:33,012
not good works, or morality,
or spirituality,

856
00:43:33,021 --> 00:43:38,017
or good deeds--repentance.

857
00:43:38,025 --> 00:43:39,096
This is one of the ways I know
that Christianity is not

858
00:43:40,004 --> 00:43:44,012
a manmade religion, no one
would have made this up.

859
00:43:44,021 --> 00:43:47,004
All the other counterfeits,
that makes sense.

860
00:43:47,012 --> 00:43:49,025
God loves good people,
doesn't like bad people.

861
00:43:49,033 --> 00:43:51,067
You get a white hat,
they get a black hat.

862
00:43:51,075 --> 00:43:56,075
That's not the way
this Bible tells the story.

863
00:43:56,083 --> 00:44:00,079
We're all whores,
and Jesus is a savior.

864
00:44:00,088 --> 00:44:03,017
And religious people
are sometimes

865
00:44:03,025 --> 00:44:05,067
the worst whores of all.

866
00:44:05,075 --> 00:44:07,071
Some of you are religious people
and you'd be offended

867
00:44:07,079 --> 00:44:09,042
that I used the word "whore."

868
00:44:09,050 --> 00:44:12,038
That's your problem.

869
00:44:12,046 --> 00:44:16,025
I love this.

870
00:44:16,033 --> 00:44:20,092
Jesus is saying, "She's
a generous, humble, repentant

871
00:44:21,000 --> 00:44:23,071
worshiper, you're not, Simon."

872
00:44:23,079 --> 00:44:26,067
How about you individually?

873
00:44:26,075 --> 00:44:30,004
Have you ever shed
a tear over your sin?

874
00:44:30,012 --> 00:44:33,021
Have you ever literally
got down on your knees,

875
00:44:33,029 --> 00:44:36,042
and put your face
on the ground, and shed tears,

876
00:44:36,050 --> 00:44:40,021
and envisioned yourself at the
feet of Jesus, like this woman,

877
00:44:40,029 --> 00:44:44,017
repenting of who you are,
and what you've done?

878
00:44:44,025 --> 00:44:46,050
Are you generous?

879
00:44:46,058 --> 00:44:50,000
This is a very generous
gift of ointment.

880
00:44:50,008 --> 00:44:51,054
Do you serve?

881
00:44:51,062 --> 00:44:56,021
What have you done in response
to what Jesus has done for you?

882
00:44:56,029 --> 00:45:00,067
See, we need to be very careful
that we see Simon judge

883
00:45:00,075 --> 00:45:06,033
the sinner, and then we can
judge the religious guy

884
00:45:06,042 --> 00:45:08,096
who judges the sinner,
and then all we are

885
00:45:09,004 --> 00:45:11,083
is another kind
of religious person.

886
00:45:11,092 --> 00:45:15,017
"Oh, how dare you
judge that woman?

887
00:45:15,025 --> 00:45:17,025
"I'm going to judge you
for judging that woman.

888
00:45:17,033 --> 00:45:21,000
Oh, wait a minute,
I'm doing what you do."

889
00:45:21,008 --> 00:45:25,050
We need to be very careful
as we judge Simon

890
00:45:25,058 --> 00:45:27,054
that we don't become Simon,

891
00:45:27,062 --> 00:45:31,058
or we acknowledge that there
are often times that we do.

892
00:45:31,067 --> 00:45:33,050
There are times
that I'm religious,

893
00:45:33,058 --> 00:45:35,004
that you're religious,
that we're religious,

894
00:45:35,012 --> 00:45:38,004
that we're not like Jesus, that
sinners don't feel attracted

895
00:45:38,012 --> 00:45:42,046
to us, but judged by us,
not just convicted of sin,

896
00:45:42,054 --> 00:45:45,054
but condemned, and without hope,
and without love,

897
00:45:45,062 --> 00:45:48,000
and without compassion,
and without affection,

898
00:45:48,008 --> 00:45:52,088
and without invitation.

899
00:45:52,096 --> 00:45:57,083
And we need to learn
from this woman as an example.

900
00:45:57,092 --> 00:46:01,067
How many of you women,
you identify with her?

901
00:46:01,075 --> 00:46:04,096
What you've done is disgusting.

902
00:46:05,004 --> 00:46:10,083
Who you've been
with is grievous.

903
00:46:10,092 --> 00:46:14,021
And you know it.

904
00:46:14,029 --> 00:46:16,054


905
00:46:16,062 --> 00:46:21,012
This woman serves as an example
for the women, and us all,

906
00:46:21,021 --> 00:46:24,042
and God puts her in the Bible
as a mentor, and a teacher,

907
00:46:24,050 --> 00:46:27,088
and a friend.

908
00:46:27,096 --> 00:46:29,071
How about you?

909
00:46:29,079 --> 00:46:31,017
What do you give?

910
00:46:31,025 --> 00:46:33,050
How do you serve?

911
00:46:33,058 --> 00:46:35,050
Where is your passion?

912
00:46:35,058 --> 00:46:37,038
Have you shed a tear?

913
00:46:37,046 --> 00:46:39,033
Are you ever on your knees?

914
00:46:39,042 --> 00:46:41,025
Have you repented at all?

915
00:46:41,033 --> 00:46:42,062
After I preached
this sermon earlier,

916
00:46:42,071 --> 00:46:46,033
I had a line of people come
up to me and ask,

917
00:46:46,042 --> 00:46:48,042
"Well, if we're not saved
by what we do,

918
00:46:48,050 --> 00:46:52,017
why should we give or serve?"

919
00:46:52,025 --> 00:46:55,071
The answer is love.

920
00:46:55,079 --> 00:46:59,000
We don't give or serve
because Jesus loves us.

921
00:46:59,008 --> 00:47:02,083
We give and serve
because he already has,

922
00:47:02,092 --> 00:47:09,058
not to make him love us,
but to respond to his love.

923
00:47:09,067 --> 00:47:14,017


924
00:47:14,025 --> 00:47:18,071
That we would even ask,
"Why should I give anything?

925
00:47:18,079 --> 00:47:20,062
If Jesus loves me,
are we not done?"

926
00:47:20,071 --> 00:47:23,008
No, that's where
the relationship begins.

927
00:47:23,017 --> 00:47:26,029
It's like a husband and wife
on a wedding day sharing vows,

928
00:47:26,038 --> 00:47:28,083
and the husband says,
"I'll never leave you,

929
00:47:28,092 --> 00:47:30,050
"I'll never forsake you.
I'll never divorce you.

930
00:47:30,058 --> 00:47:31,054
"I'll never betray you.

931
00:47:31,062 --> 00:47:32,096
I'll always take you back."

932
00:47:33,004 --> 00:47:36,000
And the wife says, "Great, so
I don't need to do anything,

933
00:47:36,008 --> 00:47:37,067
and I can have an affair?"

934
00:47:37,075 --> 00:47:40,050
Really?
That's how you heard it?

935
00:47:40,058 --> 00:47:42,083
Your beloved gave
himself to you,

936
00:47:42,092 --> 00:47:47,067
and your response is,
"Then I will do nothing."

937
00:47:47,075 --> 00:47:52,067
Then you don't love,
you don't love at all.

938
00:47:52,075 --> 00:47:56,079
If your beloved loves
you, you love them.

939
00:47:56,088 --> 00:48:01,025
And the reason this woman is
responding so passionately is

940
00:48:01,033 --> 00:48:03,062
because she's loved.

941
00:48:03,071 --> 00:48:05,067
She's loved by Jesus.

942
00:48:05,075 --> 00:48:11,071
She's loved in a way that
no man has ever loved her.

943
00:48:11,079 --> 00:48:17,033
She's touched a lot of
men, but not like this.

944
00:48:17,042 --> 00:48:23,046
She's had a lot of men speak
of her, but not like this.

945
00:48:23,054 --> 00:48:25,038


946
00:48:25,046 --> 00:48:31,025
She's loved, and so she
is passionate, and broken,

947
00:48:31,033 --> 00:48:38,038
and free,
and generous, and serves.

948
00:48:38,046 --> 00:48:42,083
How about you?

949
00:48:42,092 --> 00:48:53,025
Some of you would say that this
bothers you, it's uncomfortable.

950
00:48:53,033 --> 00:48:56,008
It's awkward, this woman.

951
00:48:56,017 --> 00:48:59,008
You wouldn't be alone.

952
00:48:59,017 --> 00:49:00,088
The story continues.

953
00:49:00,096 --> 00:49:04,088
Luke 7:47-50, "Therefore
I tell you her sins,

954
00:49:04,096 --> 00:49:06,067
which are many--"

955
00:49:06,075 --> 00:49:08,071
Let me hammer that point.

956
00:49:08,079 --> 00:49:11,017
I've been in pastoral
ministry long enough,

957
00:49:11,025 --> 00:49:14,000
and dealt with enough woman
who are sexually promiscuous,

958
00:49:14,008 --> 00:49:18,042
and doing things that ought
not be done, to know this,

959
00:49:18,050 --> 00:49:22,054
that most of those women have,
as part of their history,

960
00:49:22,062 --> 00:49:25,067
contributing factors of abuse,

961
00:49:25,075 --> 00:49:27,075
and various kinds
of horror stories.

962
00:49:27,083 --> 00:49:31,058
If you took all the women who
call Mars Hill Church home,

963
00:49:31,067 --> 00:49:36,075
all those who were abused,
sexually molested, raped,

964
00:49:36,083 --> 00:49:40,008
things of that nature, we would
still have a mega church

965
00:49:40,017 --> 00:49:42,096
of female victims.

966
00:49:43,004 --> 00:49:46,012
That's how epidemic
this issue is.

967
00:49:46,021 --> 00:49:49,062
And there are women in this
church who were porn stars,

968
00:49:49,071 --> 00:49:51,067
and strippers,
and call girls,

969
00:49:51,075 --> 00:49:54,092
and shacking up with their
boyfriend, and doing tricks

970
00:49:55,000 --> 00:49:58,042
for guys 'cause they were
paying for drinks, or dinner,

971
00:49:58,050 --> 00:50:01,071
or rent, which is another
form of prostitution,

972
00:50:01,079 --> 00:50:05,025
all kinds of things.

973
00:50:05,033 --> 00:50:09,050
And every gal that I've ever
talked to-- "I was abused,

974
00:50:09,058 --> 00:50:11,092
"and I ran away from home,
and ended up on the streets,

975
00:50:12,000 --> 00:50:13,062
and something bad happened."

976
00:50:13,071 --> 00:50:15,000
Or, "I was addicted to drugs,

977
00:50:15,008 --> 00:50:18,025
and I started doing horrible
things to pay for my addiction."

978
00:50:18,033 --> 00:50:24,008
Underlying, underlying
so many sexually sinful

979
00:50:24,017 --> 00:50:29,075
women's stories are contributing
factors of abuse and neglect.

980
00:50:29,083 --> 00:50:32,029
I don't know what is
under this woman's story.

981
00:50:32,038 --> 00:50:34,079
Did she not have a dad?

982
00:50:34,088 --> 00:50:37,042
Did her dad leave, throwing her
and her mother into poverty,

983
00:50:37,050 --> 00:50:40,008
and forcing her into
prostitution to pay the bills?

984
00:50:40,017 --> 00:50:41,062
I don't know.

985
00:50:41,071 --> 00:50:44,029
Did her husband cheat on her,
leave her for another woman,

986
00:50:44,038 --> 00:50:45,062
abandon her, betray her?

987
00:50:45,071 --> 00:50:46,062
I don't know.

988
00:50:46,071 --> 00:50:49,046
Was she an abuse victim, and not
a virgin so no man would marry

989
00:50:49,054 --> 00:50:53,021
her, and that was her way of
earning a living was through

990
00:50:53,029 --> 00:50:57,067
sinful, sexual activity?

991
00:50:57,075 --> 00:50:59,017
I don't know.

992
00:50:59,025 --> 00:51:01,042
The Bible tells us
everything we need to know,

993
00:51:01,050 --> 00:51:03,025
it doesn't tell us
everything we want to know.

994
00:51:03,033 --> 00:51:04,075
When I see her in the kingdom,

995
00:51:04,083 --> 00:51:08,050
I want to hear
the rest of the story.

996
00:51:08,058 --> 00:51:11,050
Whatever sin was
committed to her,

997
00:51:11,058 --> 00:51:14,083
and in her line of work you
can assume there were many,

998
00:51:14,092 --> 00:51:17,050
Jesus also deals with her sin.

999
00:51:17,058 --> 00:51:20,017
He doesn't excuse her
sin, or neglect her sin,

1000
00:51:20,025 --> 00:51:23,008
or shift the blame for her sin.

1001
00:51:23,017 --> 00:51:26,092
He says, "Her sins,
which are many."

1002
00:51:27,000 --> 00:51:28,042
He doesn't say,
"She's had a hard life.

1003
00:51:28,050 --> 00:51:29,075
"Who are we to judge?

1004
00:51:29,083 --> 00:51:33,067
This is an alternative
lifestyle."

1005
00:51:33,075 --> 00:51:36,083
What he says is,
"She's got a lot of sin.

1006
00:51:36,092 --> 00:51:39,062
"I'm not arguing with that.

1007
00:51:39,071 --> 00:51:44,029
The question is: what are
we gonna do about it?"

1008
00:51:44,038 --> 00:51:47,054
And this line is amazing,
"They are forgiven,

1009
00:51:47,062 --> 00:51:48,092
for she loved much."

1010
00:51:49,000 --> 00:51:52,088
You see, Jesus loved her much,
and she loved Jesus much.

1011
00:51:52,096 --> 00:51:54,062
That's where her
life is gonna change.

1012
00:51:54,071 --> 00:51:56,025
When you know how
much Jesus loves you,

1013
00:51:56,033 --> 00:51:58,088
and you love him back,
and that's the beginning of

1014
00:51:58,096 --> 00:52:03,008
your passionate, worshipful,
generous relationship,

1015
00:52:03,017 --> 00:52:05,062
that's where everything changes.

1016
00:52:05,071 --> 00:52:07,075
That's why I'm concerned about
some of you because you would

1017
00:52:07,083 --> 00:52:11,033
theologically agree that
you're loved and forgiven,

1018
00:52:11,042 --> 00:52:14,054
but there's no passion for
Jesus and no generosity,

1019
00:52:14,062 --> 00:52:16,017
worship, or service.

1020
00:52:16,025 --> 00:52:21,017
And I must ask the question,
have you really met him?

1021
00:52:21,025 --> 00:52:25,000
'Cause when you meet
him, you change.

1022
00:52:25,008 --> 00:52:28,012
And he looks at her,
and you can see it.

1023
00:52:28,021 --> 00:52:30,038
I can see Jesus smiling.

1024
00:52:30,046 --> 00:52:34,038
I can see
the love in his eyes.

1025
00:52:34,046 --> 00:52:36,071
"You're forgiven."

1026
00:52:36,079 --> 00:52:40,000
That's amazing.

1027
00:52:40,008 --> 00:52:43,021
That's absolutely amazing.

1028
00:52:43,029 --> 00:52:46,008
"You're forgiven."

1029
00:52:46,017 --> 00:52:48,017
He didn't tell her
to do anything.

1030
00:52:48,025 --> 00:52:51,033
He's gonna go
to the cross and do it all.

1031
00:52:51,042 --> 00:52:53,008
"You're forgiven."

1032
00:52:53,017 --> 00:52:55,012
That's it?

1033
00:52:55,021 --> 00:52:56,083
Yeah.

1034
00:52:56,092 --> 00:53:03,096
And the same is true
for you, and it is for me.

1035
00:53:04,004 --> 00:53:07,004
"He who is forgiven
little loves little.

1036
00:53:07,012 --> 00:53:08,096
"He said to her,
'Your sins are forgiven.'

1037
00:53:09,004 --> 00:53:10,096
"Then those who were at table
with him began to say among

1038
00:53:11,004 --> 00:53:15,012
"themselves, 'Who is this,
who even forgives sins?'

1039
00:53:15,021 --> 00:53:17,000
"And he says to the woman,
'Your faith has saved you;

1040
00:53:17,008 --> 00:53:18,054
go in peace.'"

1041
00:53:18,062 --> 00:53:20,000
"I forgive you.

1042
00:53:20,008 --> 00:53:21,008
"You can leave now.

1043
00:53:21,017 --> 00:53:25,038
"These religious guys will be of
no help from this point forward.

1044
00:53:25,046 --> 00:53:27,025
"Go make some new friends.

1045
00:53:27,033 --> 00:53:31,075
Find a good community
of faith to worship in."

1046
00:53:31,083 --> 00:53:34,029
And they begin debating because
that's what religious people do.

1047
00:53:34,038 --> 00:53:36,092
They don't help people,
they stand back in judgment

1048
00:53:37,000 --> 00:53:38,025
of those who are.

1049
00:53:38,033 --> 00:53:41,083
They live in their
head as critics.

1050
00:53:41,092 --> 00:53:45,025
"Hmm, who can forgive
sin but God alone?

1051
00:53:45,033 --> 00:53:47,017
"Yes, let's talk about that.

1052
00:53:47,025 --> 00:53:51,050
"Let's not celebrate the fact
that the most notorious woman

1053
00:53:51,058 --> 00:53:55,067
"that we know, perhaps, has
gotten her sins forgiven,

1054
00:53:55,075 --> 00:54:00,033
"and is worshiping God, and
is gonna go live a new life.

1055
00:54:00,042 --> 00:54:06,017
Let's not do that, let's
criticize the way it happened."

1056
00:54:06,025 --> 00:54:11,050


1057
00:54:11,058 --> 00:54:15,017
To some degree,
they're on the right path,

1058
00:54:15,025 --> 00:54:17,096
and they make the wrong turn.

1059
00:54:18,004 --> 00:54:22,004
See, psychology says,
you need to forgive yourself,

1060
00:54:22,012 --> 00:54:25,046
and others need to forgive you,
and you need to forgive them,

1061
00:54:25,054 --> 00:54:29,012
which is kind of true, but
the truth is that our sin is

1062
00:54:29,021 --> 00:54:32,083
primarily against God.

1063
00:54:32,092 --> 00:54:33,096
The Psalmist says it this way,

1064
00:54:34,004 --> 00:54:37,083
"Against you only, Lord God,
have I sinned."

1065
00:54:37,092 --> 00:54:42,046
We sin against God,
and God needs to forgive us.

1066
00:54:42,054 --> 00:54:45,058
Forgiving ourselves,
well, that's playing God.

1067
00:54:45,067 --> 00:54:49,004
That's back to the first
lie, "be your own God.

1068
00:54:49,012 --> 00:54:50,050
"Judge yourself,
forgive yourself.

1069
00:54:50,058 --> 00:54:53,096
Save yourself," all wrong.

1070
00:54:54,004 --> 00:54:56,017
We sin against God.

1071
00:54:56,025 --> 00:55:00,067
And so they're asking, how in
the world can Jesus forgive sin?

1072
00:55:00,075 --> 00:55:02,008
Only God can forgive sin.

1073
00:55:02,017 --> 00:55:06,067
The answer is Jesus is God.

1074
00:55:06,075 --> 00:55:09,000
He's God.

1075
00:55:09,008 --> 00:55:13,050
There is no other major world
religion whose founder says

1076
00:55:13,058 --> 00:55:17,054
these two things, "I am
God, and I forgive sin."

1077
00:55:17,062 --> 00:55:20,058
Nobody says that.

1078
00:55:20,067 --> 00:55:33,017
Krishna, Mohammed the pedophile,
Buddha, no one.

1079
00:55:33,025 --> 00:55:36,008
Abraham, who the Jews would
look to as their father,

1080
00:55:36,017 --> 00:55:41,004
he never said he was
God and forgave sin.

1081
00:55:41,012 --> 00:55:44,017
The Dalai Lama doesn't say,
"I'm God, I forgive sin."

1082
00:55:44,025 --> 00:55:47,050
No one says,
"I'm God, I forgive sin."

1083
00:55:47,058 --> 00:55:50,058
They all say, "I'm not God,
and I'm going to tell you how

1084
00:55:50,067 --> 00:55:53,038
"you can merit
righteousness, pay God back,

1085
00:55:53,046 --> 00:55:56,067
"pay off your debt,
get right with God.

1086
00:55:56,075 --> 00:55:58,058
"Here's the religious list.

1087
00:55:58,067 --> 00:56:02,054
"Check all the dos and don'ts,
and maybe in the end,

1088
00:56:02,062 --> 00:56:05,033
God will declare you
acceptable in his sight."

1089
00:56:05,042 --> 00:56:08,075
Jesus says,
"I'm God, you're forgiven.

1090
00:56:08,083 --> 00:56:10,096
Go and live a new life."

1091
00:56:11,004 --> 00:56:14,088
That's it.
That's it.

1092
00:56:14,096 --> 00:56:17,071
That's Jesus.

1093
00:56:17,079 --> 00:56:19,058
This is amazing.

1094
00:56:19,067 --> 00:56:22,017
See, some of you will think,
all religions are the same,

1095
00:56:22,025 --> 00:56:24,083
and all religious teachers
basically teach the same thing.

1096
00:56:24,092 --> 00:56:26,079
No, they don't.

1097
00:56:26,088 --> 00:56:30,092
And Jesus says to this woman,
"Your faith has saved you."

1098
00:56:31,000 --> 00:56:33,050
We're still saved by faith.

1099
00:56:33,058 --> 00:56:37,000
See, grace comes from God
through Jesus' death,

1100
00:56:37,008 --> 00:56:38,071
burial, resurrection.

1101
00:56:38,079 --> 00:56:41,067
Salvation is a gift that
we receive through Jesus,

1102
00:56:41,075 --> 00:56:44,050
and we receive it
by personal faith.

1103
00:56:44,058 --> 00:56:45,054
That's trust.

1104
00:56:45,062 --> 00:56:48,079
Faith, in and of itself,
is worthless

1105
00:56:48,088 --> 00:56:51,021
if it's not in the right object.

1106
00:56:51,029 --> 00:56:52,088
Some of you will say, "But I
know very devout, religious,

1107
00:56:52,096 --> 00:56:55,050
moral, spiritual people,
and they have great faith."

1108
00:56:55,058 --> 00:56:59,000
My question is, in who or
what is their faith residing?

1109
00:56:59,008 --> 00:57:00,083
Her faith is in who?

1110
00:57:00,092 --> 00:57:02,067
Who's her faith in, Mars Hill?

1111
00:57:02,075 --> 00:57:04,008
It's in Jesus!

1112
00:57:04,017 --> 00:57:05,050
She looks at Jesus.

1113
00:57:05,058 --> 00:57:07,033
She's consumed with Jesus.

1114
00:57:07,042 --> 00:57:08,088
She comes to Jesus.

1115
00:57:08,096 --> 00:57:11,067
She acknowledges
her sin to Jesus.

1116
00:57:11,075 --> 00:57:15,029
She pours herself out
passionately to Jesus,

1117
00:57:15,038 --> 00:57:19,058
and she hears from
Jesus, "I forgive you."

1118
00:57:19,067 --> 00:57:21,075
That's it.

1119
00:57:21,083 --> 00:57:25,067
The object of her
faith is Jesus,

1120
00:57:25,075 --> 00:57:29,046
so her faith saves her because--
her faith saves her because

1121
00:57:29,054 --> 00:57:34,038
it is the receiving of Jesus
and his forgiveness.

1122
00:57:34,046 --> 00:57:40,071
I want that for all of you to
receive by faith the forgiveness

1123
00:57:40,079 --> 00:57:43,012
of sin through Jesus.

1124
00:57:43,021 --> 00:57:44,046
Do you love this woman?

1125
00:57:44,054 --> 00:57:46,008
She's amazing.

1126
00:57:46,017 --> 00:57:48,017
Aren't you glad
she's in the Bible?

1127
00:57:48,025 --> 00:57:53,083
For those of you who are
not the greatest people,

1128
00:57:53,092 --> 00:58:00,042
your sin is well known, and
your life has not been great.

1129
00:58:00,050 --> 00:58:03,038
Isn't it great that
she's in the Bible?

1130
00:58:03,046 --> 00:58:06,017
That she's got the courage
to just walk into a religious

1131
00:58:06,025 --> 00:58:11,083
meeting like ours, and to just
be broken, and honest, and weep.

1132
00:58:11,092 --> 00:58:14,062
And if you want to
cry, cry all you want,

1133
00:58:14,071 --> 00:58:21,021
and tell Jesus you're sorry,
and receive forgiveness of sins.

1134
00:58:21,029 --> 00:58:23,017
And for those of you
who are religious,

1135
00:58:23,025 --> 00:58:26,042
please repent of your religion,
even if it's judgmentalism

1136
00:58:26,050 --> 00:58:28,079
in your heart.

1137
00:58:28,088 --> 00:58:30,050
You're gonna miss
the grace of God,

1138
00:58:30,058 --> 00:58:34,083
and you're gonna destroy so
much of what God is doing here.

1139
00:58:34,092 --> 00:58:38,017
You're going to drive sinners
away when Jesus is trying

1140
00:58:38,025 --> 00:58:40,046
to draw them near.

1141
00:58:40,054 --> 00:58:44,062
And what I love is this
story is not just her story,

1142
00:58:44,071 --> 00:58:48,000
8:1-3, "Soon afterward
he went on through cities

1143
00:58:48,008 --> 00:58:50,071
"and villages, proclaiming
and bringing the good news

1144
00:58:50,079 --> 00:58:52,075
"of the kingdom of God.

1145
00:58:52,083 --> 00:58:54,071
"And the twelve were with him,
and some women who had been

1146
00:58:54,079 --> 00:58:57,088
"healed of evil spirits--" or
demons "and infirmities: Mary,

1147
00:58:57,096 --> 00:59:00,050
"called Magdalene, from whom
seven demons had gone out,

1148
00:59:00,058 --> 00:59:04,021
"and Joanna, the wife of Chuza,
Herod's household manager,

1149
00:59:04,029 --> 00:59:07,021
and Susanna, and many others,
who provided for them."

1150
00:59:07,029 --> 00:59:08,021
You know what?

1151
00:59:08,029 --> 00:59:09,050
Jesus loved women.

1152
00:59:09,058 --> 00:59:11,012
This was very unusual.

1153
00:59:11,021 --> 00:59:13,062
It wasn't unusual that Jesus
had the 12 male leaders;

1154
00:59:13,071 --> 00:59:15,050
his apostles,
his senior leaders,

1155
00:59:15,058 --> 00:59:18,042
the priests in the old covenant,
the pastors in the new covenant,

1156
00:59:18,050 --> 00:59:21,088
the apostles in Jesus'
ministry: all men.

1157
00:59:21,096 --> 00:59:25,062
But what was unusual is that
women would be taught,

1158
00:59:25,071 --> 00:59:30,071
'cause they weren't
in teaching, not with men.

1159
00:59:30,079 --> 00:59:34,025
Women were included in
the teaching ministry of Jesus.

1160
00:59:34,033 --> 00:59:37,033
Additionally, women were part of
the traveling band of followers

1161
00:59:37,042 --> 00:59:39,067
of Jesus, and servants of Jesus.

1162
00:59:39,075 --> 00:59:41,083
They were vitally involved
in Jesus' ministry,

1163
00:59:41,092 --> 00:59:43,079
though not as apostles.

1164
00:59:43,088 --> 00:59:45,071
Furthermore, it says
that not all these women

1165
00:59:45,079 --> 00:59:47,042
had the best story.

1166
00:59:47,050 --> 00:59:50,062
Mary Magdalene was
possessed by seven demons.

1167
00:59:50,071 --> 00:59:55,088
A few gals had illness that
was caused by demonization,

1168
00:59:55,096 --> 00:59:59,050
but they met Jesus,
and their demons were lifted,

1169
00:59:59,058 --> 01:00:02,008
and their healing came,
and their lives were changed.

1170
01:00:02,017 --> 01:00:04,021
And I need you
to trust me on this,

1171
01:00:04,029 --> 01:00:08,008
there's a long list of women
like this at Mars Hill,

1172
01:00:08,017 --> 01:00:13,067
sexually sinful, life out of
control, demonized, suicidal,

1173
01:00:13,075 --> 01:00:19,050
sick, healed by Jesus, delivered
by Jesus, changed by Jesus,

1174
01:00:19,058 --> 01:00:24,017
loved by Jesus, and they respond
like these women do, including

1175
01:00:24,025 --> 01:00:27,004
Joanna, the wife of Chuza
of Herod's household.

1176
01:00:27,012 --> 01:00:31,079
That's a wealthy, affluent
family, a prominent family.

1177
01:00:31,088 --> 01:00:34,004
And what do they do?

1178
01:00:34,012 --> 01:00:35,050
They provided for them.

1179
01:00:35,058 --> 01:00:39,042
These women generously
funded the ministry of Jesus.

1180
01:00:39,050 --> 01:00:40,067
They followed him.

1181
01:00:40,075 --> 01:00:42,008
"Jesus, we want to follow you.

1182
01:00:42,017 --> 01:00:43,008
"We want to serve.

1183
01:00:43,017 --> 01:00:44,012
"We want to help.

1184
01:00:44,021 --> 01:00:45,012
"We want to be involved.

1185
01:00:45,021 --> 01:00:46,092
"What do you need us to do?

1186
01:00:47,000 --> 01:00:48,092
"Can we tell our testimony?

1187
01:00:49,000 --> 01:00:50,096
"Can we talk about your
grace in our life?

1188
01:00:51,004 --> 01:00:53,083
"Can we encourage some battered,
and broken, and abused,

1189
01:00:53,092 --> 01:00:55,079
"and betrayed women?

1190
01:00:55,088 --> 01:00:57,050
"Can we invite them
to hear you?

1191
01:00:57,058 --> 01:01:00,000
"Can we pray for them,
and love them, and serve them?

1192
01:01:00,008 --> 01:01:03,050
"And--Oh Jesus, by the way,
since ministry costs money,

1193
01:01:03,058 --> 01:01:05,096
"we're gonna pay for it,

1194
01:01:06,004 --> 01:01:07,088
"us women who otherwise
would be rejected,

1195
01:01:07,096 --> 01:01:11,075
and tossed aside,
and not taught or utilized."

1196
01:01:11,083 --> 01:01:15,083
'Cause the kingdom of God has
come, and the king is here,

1197
01:01:15,092 --> 01:01:17,067
and he invites everyone

1198
01:01:17,075 --> 01:01:20,075
to meaningful
participation in his work.

1199
01:01:20,083 --> 01:01:23,083
That's amazing.

1200
01:01:23,092 --> 01:01:26,050
We have guys in this church
that have never given,

1201
01:01:26,058 --> 01:01:28,038
and here everything's getting
paid for by women

1202
01:01:28,046 --> 01:01:31,000
who had been demon possessed.

1203
01:01:31,008 --> 01:01:32,067
That's amazing.

1204
01:01:32,075 --> 01:01:35,025
That's God.

1205
01:01:35,033 --> 01:01:41,012
And what I love is the story
continues even into our own day

1206
01:01:41,021 --> 01:01:44,033
from this woman to these
women to other women.

1207
01:01:44,042 --> 01:01:46,017
I'm gonna share with
you one testimony,

1208
01:01:46,025 --> 01:01:51,008
and I share it with you because
I've chosen it among many.

1209
01:01:51,017 --> 01:01:53,050
We got a few of these.

1210
01:01:53,058 --> 01:01:56,046
And I want you to see that
God is the same, yesterday,

1211
01:01:56,054 --> 01:01:59,050
today, and forever,
and by the grace of God,

1212
01:01:59,058 --> 01:02:01,042
we want to all repent
of our religion,

1213
01:02:01,050 --> 01:02:03,088
and we want Mars Hill
to be a welcoming, generous,

1214
01:02:03,096 --> 01:02:06,017
passionate, hospitable place.

1215
01:02:06,025 --> 01:02:09,017
We especially want it to be a
place where women are welcome.

1216
01:02:09,025 --> 01:02:13,046
So what that means, gentlemen,
we treat the ladies like Jesus

1217
01:02:13,054 --> 01:02:15,079
treated this woman.

1218
01:02:15,088 --> 01:02:20,033
He didn't, in any way,
transition her affection

1219
01:02:20,042 --> 01:02:23,096
or her vulnerability
toward impropriety.

1220
01:02:24,004 --> 01:02:26,000
He loved her like a sister.

1221
01:02:26,008 --> 01:02:28,088
Gentleman, there will be,
in our midst and in your life,

1222
01:02:28,096 --> 01:02:32,017
vulnerable women who
are hurting, and broken,

1223
01:02:32,025 --> 01:02:34,029
and they will trust you.

1224
01:02:34,038 --> 01:02:37,021
Treat them like Jesus
treated this woman.

1225
01:02:37,029 --> 01:02:40,042
If you're a guy who is
sleeping with his girlfriend,

1226
01:02:40,050 --> 01:02:43,025
cheating on his wife,
downloading porn,

1227
01:02:43,033 --> 01:02:47,050
going to massage parlors,
hanging out at strip clubs,

1228
01:02:47,058 --> 01:02:51,067
you are part of a culture
of abuse and violence.

1229
01:02:51,075 --> 01:02:54,096
You are part of a culture of
rape, and slavery,

1230
01:02:55,004 --> 01:02:57,017
and disease, and oppression.

1231
01:02:57,025 --> 01:03:01,050
And if you belong to Jesus, you
are to bring healing and life.

1232
01:03:01,058 --> 01:03:05,042
You are not to bring
suffering and death.

1233
01:03:05,050 --> 01:03:08,054
And I rejoice at the way that
Jesus treated this woman,

1234
01:03:08,062 --> 01:03:12,038
and it is a glorious example
of how we men are to honor

1235
01:03:12,046 --> 01:03:16,017
and treat all women, especially
those who have the worst

1236
01:03:16,025 --> 01:03:20,067
reputations and, perhaps,
are the most vulnerable.

1237
01:03:20,075 --> 01:03:26,000
And for you ladies, we see
it is okay to be honest.

1238
01:03:26,008 --> 01:03:27,058
It's okay to be passionate.

1239
01:03:27,067 --> 01:03:29,000
It's okay to weep.

1240
01:03:29,008 --> 01:03:31,062
It's okay to serve Jesus.

1241
01:03:31,071 --> 01:03:37,012
It's okay to be honest about
who you are

1242
01:03:37,021 --> 01:03:38,050
and what Christ has done.

1243
01:03:38,058 --> 01:03:41,071
And this woman shares her story
saying, "Dear Pastor Mark,

1244
01:03:41,079 --> 01:03:44,067
"when I was 18, I attended
a Christian college.

1245
01:03:44,075 --> 01:03:47,046
"I won't tell you the name.

1246
01:03:47,054 --> 01:03:51,050
"There I met a man and
fell for him, a young man.

1247
01:03:51,058 --> 01:03:53,083
"He ended up taking advantage
of me on the beach one night.

1248
01:03:53,092 --> 01:03:57,067
"We were both breaking
rules to be there together.

1249
01:03:57,075 --> 01:04:00,029
"I'd been raised in
a legalistic Baptist church.

1250
01:04:00,038 --> 01:04:03,083
"I was taught that any sexual
sin before marriage requires you

1251
01:04:03,092 --> 01:04:05,083
"to marry the man you
are intimate with

1252
01:04:05,092 --> 01:04:08,083
or else you would lose favor
with God."

1253
01:04:08,092 --> 01:04:10,058
That's horrendous.

1254
01:04:10,067 --> 01:04:13,017
"Even though I did not love
or have any respect for him,

1255
01:04:13,025 --> 01:04:15,083
"I married him at age 19,
scared that if I didn't,

1256
01:04:15,092 --> 01:04:18,079
God would not bless my life."

1257
01:04:18,088 --> 01:04:20,046
That's religion.

1258
01:04:20,054 --> 01:04:21,067
"The first month
of our marriage,

1259
01:04:21,075 --> 01:04:23,000
"he would be gone all night.

1260
01:04:23,008 --> 01:04:25,088
"I would lay
in my bed alone and cry.

1261
01:04:25,096 --> 01:04:28,004
"The next year was the first
time one of his friends

1262
01:04:28,012 --> 01:04:31,012
"told me he was having
an affair.

1263
01:04:31,021 --> 01:04:34,062
"Later, he had rape charges
pressed against him.

1264
01:04:34,071 --> 01:04:38,088
"I found out he had raped
his own sister at age 15

1265
01:04:38,096 --> 01:04:42,067
"and had slept with a friend of
mine 2 weeks before our wedding.

1266
01:04:42,075 --> 01:04:43,096
"I was scared to death
of spending

1267
01:04:44,004 --> 01:04:46,029
"the rest of my life with him.

1268
01:04:46,038 --> 01:04:48,083
"I recently found out that he
boasted about being able to do

1269
01:04:48,092 --> 01:04:51,067
"whatever he wanted because he
knew I would never leave him

1270
01:04:51,075 --> 01:04:56,058
"because it would be even worse
to divorce, which God hates.

1271
01:04:56,067 --> 01:04:59,000
"He was in the military,
and a week before I was to give

1272
01:04:59,008 --> 01:05:02,038
"birth to our second child,
he was discharged.

1273
01:05:02,046 --> 01:05:04,092
"He had problems stealing,
gambling, and sexual harassment

1274
01:05:05,000 --> 01:05:07,025
"in the work environment.

1275
01:05:07,033 --> 01:05:09,029
"I moved back to my parents'
waiting for him

1276
01:05:09,038 --> 01:05:11,017
"to find a place for us to live.

1277
01:05:11,025 --> 01:05:13,088
"I realized I would rather
die than go back to him.

1278
01:05:13,096 --> 01:05:15,096
"I also realized that I would
rather live with the wrath

1279
01:05:16,004 --> 01:05:18,042
of God than with him."

1280
01:05:18,050 --> 01:05:21,088
Thankfully, she was wrong.

1281
01:05:21,096 --> 01:05:24,029
"That's about the time I started
listening to Mars Hill

1282
01:05:24,038 --> 01:05:26,000
"on the Internet.

1283
01:05:26,008 --> 01:05:29,021
"Thankfully, God opened my eyes
to the lies I had been taught.

1284
01:05:29,029 --> 01:05:31,062
"I'd gotten counsel from my
pastor that even with

1285
01:05:31,071 --> 01:05:34,062
"all the problems,
I should not leave him

1286
01:05:34,071 --> 01:05:36,050
"but only pray for change.

1287
01:05:36,058 --> 01:05:38,050
"I sought other counsel
and every other elder, pastor,

1288
01:05:38,058 --> 01:05:41,083
"and man I went to,
told me to leave him.

1289
01:05:41,092 --> 01:05:43,088
"I filed for divorce after he
started threatening

1290
01:05:43,096 --> 01:05:47,029
"to kill me if I didn't
go back to him.

1291
01:05:47,038 --> 01:05:51,000
"When I filed for a divorce, my
church gave me the black spot.

1292
01:05:51,008 --> 01:05:52,088
"No one talked to me.

1293
01:05:52,096 --> 01:05:54,046
"I would sit alone.

1294
01:05:54,054 --> 01:05:57,042
"My baby was one-week-old when
I started waitressing

1295
01:05:57,050 --> 01:05:59,004
"to try to provide.

1296
01:05:59,012 --> 01:06:01,033
"I ended up working
3 jobs, 80 hours a week,

1297
01:06:01,042 --> 01:06:03,058
"7 days a week to pay
off the debt

1298
01:06:03,067 --> 01:06:06,021
"my ex-husband had left me in,

1299
01:06:06,029 --> 01:06:09,083
"and to provide a place
and food for my children.

1300
01:06:09,092 --> 01:06:12,092
"One great part about all
of this was my lawyer.

1301
01:06:13,000 --> 01:06:14,058
"I had heard that
he was inexpensive,

1302
01:06:14,067 --> 01:06:17,021
"so I went to him even though
I heard he was Catholic

1303
01:06:17,029 --> 01:06:19,004
"and would never do a divorce.

1304
01:06:19,012 --> 01:06:21,067
"He was a kind old man and not
only did he end up doing my

1305
01:06:21,075 --> 01:06:25,000
"divorce for almost nothing, he
was so kind to me and showed me

1306
01:06:25,008 --> 01:06:26,079
"great affection
through this time,

1307
01:06:26,088 --> 01:06:28,050
"and told me
I needed the divorce

1308
01:06:28,058 --> 01:06:30,083
"more than anyone
he had heard of.

1309
01:06:30,092 --> 01:06:36,046
"I am 23 years old,
and I have been a single mom

1310
01:06:36,054 --> 01:06:38,038
"for about 2 years.

1311
01:06:38,046 --> 01:06:41,017
"I'm a full-time student,
and I work full time as well.

1312
01:06:41,025 --> 01:06:44,008
"I could write books about
God who has been a husband,

1313
01:06:44,017 --> 01:06:46,058
"a father, a friend, and has
provided me with more

1314
01:06:46,067 --> 01:06:48,038
"than I could ever want.

1315
01:06:48,046 --> 01:06:50,054
"Even when all of my friends
were losing their jobs,

1316
01:06:50,062 --> 01:06:52,067
"I had six job offers.

1317
01:06:52,075 --> 01:06:55,017
"When I went to court to
get custody of my children,

1318
01:06:55,025 --> 01:06:56,062
"the only people
in the courtroom

1319
01:06:56,071 --> 01:06:58,071
"were the judge and my lawyer.

1320
01:06:58,079 --> 01:07:01,017
"I have two beautiful children,
and even though my old church

1321
01:07:01,025 --> 01:07:04,067
"would teach that I would be
forever judged for my divorce,

1322
01:07:04,075 --> 01:07:07,000
"God's justice and mercy are
better than anything

1323
01:07:07,008 --> 01:07:08,096
"I could ever have.

1324
01:07:09,004 --> 01:07:11,033
"I would not trade my
story because through it,

1325
01:07:11,042 --> 01:07:13,012
"God became my true love.

1326
01:07:13,021 --> 01:07:17,021
The God I learned about growing
up is not the God I know today."

1327
01:07:17,029 --> 01:07:18,083
Praise God.

1328
01:07:18,092 --> 01:07:22,017
She's a sister
at Mars Hill Church now.

1329
01:07:22,025 --> 01:07:30,012
Father God, thank you for the
story of this woman in Luke 7.

1330
01:07:30,021 --> 01:07:34,017
Thank you for the stories of
the other women in Luke 8.

1331
01:07:34,025 --> 01:07:37,046
Thank you for the story of
this woman at Mars Hill,

1332
01:07:37,054 --> 01:07:41,029
and the stories of so
many women at Mars Hill.

1333
01:07:41,038 --> 01:07:43,042
Thank you, Lord God,
that you are the same

1334
01:07:43,050 --> 01:07:46,054
yesterday, today, and forever,

1335
01:07:46,062 --> 01:07:48,050
that what you did for
the women in the Bible,

1336
01:07:48,058 --> 01:07:51,058
you do for the women
in our church.

1337
01:07:51,067 --> 01:07:55,025
God, I pray for us men, that
we would be like Christ,

1338
01:07:55,033 --> 01:07:59,083
and that this would be
a safe place for women.

1339
01:07:59,092 --> 01:08:03,083
I pray as well for
the women, Lord God,

1340
01:08:03,092 --> 01:08:07,054
that when they need to cry,
when they're feeling passionate,

1341
01:08:07,062 --> 01:08:11,000
that, Lord Jesus, they would
work it out in ways that honor

1342
01:08:11,008 --> 01:08:13,062
and please you,
and not worry about

1343
01:08:13,071 --> 01:08:16,033
what all the religious people
think.

1344
01:08:16,042 --> 01:08:19,025
I pray, Lord God,
for the religious among us,

1345
01:08:19,033 --> 01:08:21,083
that we would repent
like this woman did,

1346
01:08:21,092 --> 01:08:24,050
for the times that even those of
us who do not consider ourselves

1347
01:08:24,058 --> 01:08:28,012
religious have
moments of religion,

1348
01:08:28,021 --> 01:08:30,083
Holy Spirit, we invite
you to wreck us,

1349
01:08:30,092 --> 01:08:37,058
and to remind us that we need
desperately forgiveness of even

1350
01:08:37,067 --> 01:08:41,033
religious sin, that pride,
and self-righteousness,

1351
01:08:41,042 --> 01:08:45,096
and judgmentalism,
and condemnation, rather than

1352
01:08:46,004 --> 01:08:51,017
a desire to see people
changed is a horrible thing.

1353
01:08:51,025 --> 01:08:54,017
And you died for it too.

1354
01:08:54,025 --> 01:08:57,004
God, I pray for our church.

1355
01:08:57,012 --> 01:09:01,038
God, sometimes I feel inclined
to motivate people to be

1356
01:09:01,046 --> 01:09:04,054
passionate, but that's
not sustainable.

1357
01:09:04,062 --> 01:09:08,062
Only in coming to Jesus, and
being broken, and repentant,

1358
01:09:08,071 --> 01:09:12,088
and hearing that
we're forgiven--

1359
01:09:12,096 --> 01:09:16,025
that's the only place that
real generosity comes from,

1360
01:09:16,033 --> 01:09:20,004
and real passion comes from,
and real affection comes from,

1361
01:09:20,012 --> 01:09:23,000
and real ministry comes from.

1362
01:09:23,008 --> 01:09:27,004
So Holy Spirit, please allow us
to enjoy the gift of repentance.

1363
01:09:27,012 --> 01:09:31,042
May we be saved by our faith
in Jesus Christ

1364
01:09:31,050 --> 01:09:34,096
in whose name we pray, Amen.

1365
01:09:35,046 --> 00:00:00,000