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0:00 The calling worship is kind of a Mayan demarcation that says the next 45 minutes or so together is going to be different. That you have a lot of things that have happened in the week before, which led up to today, and you have a lot of things going on in the week coming. But God can handle both of those. And so our call to worship is a reminder that says we're entering into a space where we are available to God. Where we put aside the things of our days and make ourselves available to Him.

0:35 And so the Psalm is an invitation for you to transition or the call to worship is an invitation for you to transition in that time with us. And we're going to read Psalm 67 for the call to worship this morning. It says, May God be gracious to us and bless us and make a space to shine upon us. That your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations. Let the peoples praise you, O God.

1:07 Let all the peoples praise you. Let the nations be glad and sing for joy for you. Judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon the earth. Let the peoples praise you, O God. Let all the peoples praise you. The earth has yielded its increased. God, our God, shall bless us. God shall bless us. Let all the ends of the earth be your hand.

1:37 Let's pray together. Awaken in us. Hearts of gratitude and faith. Of courage and hope. Teach us to see the places where you have been at work and be encouraged. We agree that you are welcome in the space indeed or you are the reason we have gathered

2:10 here to come and meet with us this morning in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. I feel like I am still coming out of that Easter reality. Maybe it is like getting a week off. We took the kids on vacation last week and it was lovely.

2:42 We went to a section of the country we got to go to Colorado which kids all snowed for the first time and mountains are so different from here. Just being out in a space like that with a scale of things is so different. Remind you or reminds me of deep creativity of God.

3:14 In light of that I feel like I am inspired still about the creative solution that Easter is to the unique problem of humanity. With the death and resurrection of Christ the God who made us found a way to put an end into everything that is broken and bring to life something new in a singular act.

3:44 So that you and I we are not left alone in our failures. We are not defined by our basis instincts. We are not held captive by the pull of our worst desires. God has put something in us that can endure and carry us forward. So we spent several weeks looking at the reality of the resurrection.

4:16 And then a few weeks ago we got to this interpentsipops. And remember that Jesus in his resurrected body he goes through death and then is resurrected from the dead in a physical body like he goes through the exercise of eating food with his disciples to show them he is not an apparition. He is not a ghost here after the grave but he is physically alive in their midst.

4:46 Substantial and real. And he convinces them to such a point where you can see he appears to over 500 of his disciples and it must be at just like the wrong moment when they are sure he is starting to build a groundswell to take his seat as the most authoritative person in the world again that he gathers them on the hill and gowlie and says, Hey I have got to leave but you are going to like that I am leaving. You are going to like that I am leaving because when I leave I can send my spirit down to you.

5:20 The father and I together will send the spirit again to you and the church celebrates to memory the gift of that spirit at Pentecost. And if you remember two or so weeks ago we talked about that story of Pentecost. It is recorded right at the beginning of Luke's book The Acts of the Apostles. And he says that all of the people from all over the Jewish diaspora were gathered in Jerusalem for the Pentecost feast. It is the first fruit feast where they bring their harvest pieces of their harvest and offer them in order for a good harvest to come.

5:56 They were all there together and it says a sound like a mighty Russian wind came down among the people. I want to remind you that that mighty Russian wind was that original spirit of life bound up and held back since we were ushered out of the garden. And that was the last we were destined for an eternity in this small existence we find ourselves here. And at that critical moment because of the death and resurrection of Christ as he ascended up to God the father together they released the original spirit back onto humanity.

6:38 And it animated a whole new source of life into us again. We talked two weeks ago about what do we do with the fact that the spirit that was dulled out in meager little measure for specific instances all throughout the Old Testament. In this age now in the age of the church under the reign of God that primordial life-giving spirit has been released on all of you. What do we do with that man?

7:10 What do we do with that man? With that original life-giving spirit. And a lot could be said about that but one of the things that has been occurring to me lately is what we are not called to do with that spirit. I never looked at that Acts chapter 2 that Peter is serving before where he stands up and he says the famous line that is fun to make jokes about.

7:49 These guys can't be drunk as you suppose. It's only nine o'clock in the morning. They have imbibed the spirit of God and are announcing to you the gospel. What's interesting to me there is that when they say Peter what should we do now that we have this spirit? Peter invites them to repent and believe. But he doesn't commission all of them in that moment. It's so interesting to me.

8:21 I never thought about that before. He's got 3,000 new people and he doesn't tell them now you all go home gather 3,000 and do the same thing again. He says this life is for you and for your children. Later in one of his letters to the church in first Peter we call it first Peter he probably didn't call it that. He just titled it I Peter and writing this letter to you all.

8:53 Later in that letter he would say that you all were once not a people. All these people who have repented and believed. But now you are a people. Once you are not a people now you are a people. Once you didn't have an identity now you have an identity. Once you weren't a nation now you are a nation of people. All the ones who repent and believe live now under the reign of the king of all kings. He says and you will be a royal priesthood.

9:26 A holy nation. Peter was a good Israelite king. He used the language of the story. When he writes a letter to the new church of Christ to the people living under the reign of Jesus of Nazareth. He uses scriptural language to describe the situation that we find ourselves. To describe who we are right now.

9:57 It's language straight out of Exodus chapter 19 we read it a couple of weeks ago but it's worth looking at again. Exodus chapter 19. Exodus chapter 19 is one of those chapters of the scriptures that ought to just be kind of like I want to etch it in your brain. We don't have to be like Bible memory verse wizards.

10:28 But we ought to know the arc of the story of our people. I'm not interested in you being able to call up chapter and verse of things. I can't do that either. But we ought to know the general arc, the trajectory of our people. What God has been doing amongst our Exodus 19 is a critical point for that. Things move at Exodus 19.

10:59 And God reveals a certain character about what he's up to in the world. And where Peter gets that language you are a holy priest, a royal priest to a holy nation. And so let's see Moses is going up to the mountain to talk to God. And then God says to him in verse, let's see look at verse two.

11:29 They set out from Rufadim and came into the wilderness of Sinai and they encamped in the wilderness there is really camp before the mountains. Generally, you know the story Moses it has been. He was at one point tending sheep on that mountain. God inhabits a bush and fire and sends him on the job and says bring the Israelites back here to this place. And so it's worth knowing it won't go into it really completely. But when you read the story you get the feeling that when Moses has walked through the Red Sea.

12:03 I mean he went there and did all the 10 plays and each time was terrified and thought this time it wouldn't work and it kept working. And by the last play they had the like the complicated Passover feast thing and that worked though a lot of people died in Egypt at the time right. And then miraculously Pharaoh's like just kicking sheep out of here and not only do they leave but they leave with loot like the Egyptians give them stuff to go with. And it's this great celebration and they're out a couple of days and all of a sudden Pharaoh changes his mind and Moses must be like what are you going to do now.

12:37 And then God says just lift up your staff and you'll walk through a sea on dry ground and they do right. And then they go through and then he says now put your staff down and I'll take care of the Egyptian army the strongest military power of their day and it works. And these people who have only known slavehood for hundreds of years just defeated the greatest military power of the day and they walk with the loot from that rich wealthy country back to the mountain where Moses met God.

13:09 When he goes up to Sinai I'm convinced Moses is sure his job is done. Like I can't believe I named it back. The bush is gone but the kind of the mountain is shaking so I think God is still here right. There's a big. And he goes up and he has a conversation with God on the mountain and that's where we are. They set out from the Dean and came into the wilderness of Sinai and they camp in the wilderness and there is really camp before the mountains.

13:42 And while Moses went up to God the Lord called out the infant and mountain saying, thus you self say to the house of Jacob and tell the people of Israel, you yourselves have seen what I did the Egyptians and how I bore you on Eagle's wings and brought you to myself now therefore. If you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant you shall be for me a treasured position among all the people for all the earth is mine. And you shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.

14:16 Peter in his letter filled with that original spirit. Spirit that flows through God as he speaks to Moses in Exodus 19 says, let's try this again. You be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. And the how we got this time I will not withhold my presence in the holy poleys in the tabernacle. I will just run it out into you.

14:49 And let's see if you can be now a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. And for me like this summer coming out of the Easter season the question I have been having is, how do we live as the holy nation of God as the kingdom of priests for God? What does that look like?

15:22 This is the context of Exodus. It's the exact same. That question drives what we call the Ten Commandments. This is what you look like. Have another God still with just one. Don't take his name in vain. He's a big deal. And then the next one, it's so kind of interesting to me that it's included.

15:54 It goes down into Exodus 20 because there's some back and forth between Moses and the people. And so Moses goes back up and places the people because they're too afraid to go up to the mountain themselves. And then God spoke all these words. I'm the Lord your God. I'm the God's before me. Don't make any cardidos. Verse 7, you shall not take your name in the Lord your God in vain. Verse 8, remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. Like that's part of our relationship to God again, trusting him. And then verse 12.

16:28 How may your father and mother, that your days may be long in the land and that the Lord your God is speaking to you. Look at that interesting, this side. This is the voice of God. This is the word that spoke creation into existence. All of these speaking to Moses on the mountain of Sinai with the first kingdom of Greece assembled at the base of the mountain.

17:05 He is carving into stone with the finger of God the words. And he says, honor your father and mother. I mean, there's a lot of, he's not just making conversation here. If these things make it into the ten words, they are substantial and significant.

17:36 We can learn about the character of God and the space we are to take up in the world from the words of his speaking here. And I want us to think about why my God encouraged the kingdom of priests, the holy nation to honor your father and mother. And as I was thinking about that, I thought I was a story that Jesus told. It was always good to go to Jesus' stories.

18:07 Look at Luke to the right of Luke chapter 19. No, not 1916. Sorry. Luke chapter 15. The Luke chapter 15 is bonkers and by bonkers, I mean really good. And so you could spend a long time on Luke chapter 15, which we're going to try not to do.

18:41 We're just going to go to the last story that Jesus tells in this chapter. It starts at verse 11. It's the story of the proud of the son. Some people have said it ought to be called the story of the loving father. And it is fantastic. I'm going to read it. I remember going to think about it. And he said there was a man who had two sons and the younger of them said to his father, father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.

19:19 And he divided his property among them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all that he had and took a journey into a car country. And there he squandered his property in the reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country who sent him into his fields to feed his pigs.

19:51 And he was longing to be fed with the pods of the pigs' aid and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself, he said, oh, how many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread? And yet I perish here to come here. You know what? I will arise and go to my father. And I say to him, father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.

20:29 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassionate. He ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. But the father said to his servants, bring quickly the best robe and put it on him.

21:03 And put the ring on his hand and shoes on his feet and bring it back and kill it and let his feet celebrate. This my son was dead and is alive again. He was lost in his firearm and he began to celebrate. We are the first people that God made, made with his own hands, he breathed a breath of life into them.

21:46 And then he said, hey, you two are going to be my image bearers in the world. Go out and fill the world. And he gives the world to humanity. So that everyone who has been made since then, God, do you think that God loves every person, nades as the first one, any less than the first one? I don't think so. I think he perpetuates the world and the brokenness that it is because there are ones coming and he wouldn't have the world exist without.

22:23 I think his love holds the whole world together. I don't think he loves any new child and less than the one before. But for some reason, he has given over the job of loving, of representing the love to people. I think that's why it makes it into those 10 commandments.

22:56 Because he says, you all are representing my love to my own. Do it well. I thought about this story before Jesus made up the story. And there's a lot of reasons culturally why some of the little things are important, but there's something in the story that transcends culture.

23:29 Like the love of parents toward their children is substantive and important. Children know that they are loved by parents. It's like they have a solid foundation to stand upon for the rest of their life. Even more than that, children know that they are loved by parents. It's like they get a ladder to walk up, to move into the rest of their life.

24:06 And that's not coincidence. The potential of that love is baked in by the will of God that God organized us in families. Jesus incarnated in a person, lived a life, went through crucifixion and came out of the tomb, resurrected, full body, ascended into heaven and dispatched his spirit.

24:51 In order that you may be able to live in a family. Of course, that's a big risk because I know that I messed up and some of you all met my dad last week. You know he's messed up as well. So, like what we said is the notion of family generally positive or negative.

25:24 I said raise your hand if what comes to mind when you think of the word family is generally positive. There was like a third of the girl who was confidently danced up. There was another third of the girl who was like, I'm not bringing my hand up for that at all. My family is not positive. It is a negative experience for me. I am sorry.

25:57 I'm sorry that your family let you down. I wish they had not. I wish that your family communicated to you the sincerity and depth of love that God has for you.

26:33 I think that's part of the reason why Jesus told this story. And made enough eye contact with the disciples that they remembered it. And shared it with Luke and got him to write it down so that you would know that no matter how broken your family is,

27:13 that whole original spirit of God can resurrect family in your life. The family you were born into may be broken beyond prepared, but you live under the reign of God. You have the original spirit of life in you. You have the agency to choose family now. To love with substantial love people around you.

27:47 To give with self-sacrifice to people you choose you can create family because of what Christ has done. Do you want to know how to live the side of the resurrection? In the age of the church where we celebrate the indwelling of the great spirit of God, you want to know what to put your hands and your hearts to make families around you.

28:24 Love some people well. As mothers and fathers ought to love without regard for attitude or choice with self-sacrifice and service with substantial love that the kind of love that creates safe places that builds ladders for people to move into the life they have made for.

28:54 You are a Lord to do with yourself build families around you because you have done love now and you can love love. I pray that we will be a little church of people who build families in the wake of the choices that we make. Amen. Amen. Amen.

29:24 Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.

29:54 Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.