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♪ theme music ♪

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(Derek) Welcome to Hope Sabbath School,

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an in-depth, interactive study [br]of the Word of God.

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I'm glad you joined us today

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as we continue a series of studies

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on the Gospel of Matthew.

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Our topic today: The Sermon [br]of Jesus on the Mount.

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It's going to be a great blessing,

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and we're especially happy

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that one of our team, Stephanie,

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is going to be teaching today.

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Stephanie, we are looking forward

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to a great study.

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(Stephanie) Amen.

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(Derek) And we're glad that each one of you

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has joined us for our study today.

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It's been a great series, hasn't it?

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I notice people ask, "It's not

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the same people every time?"

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No, but we're all studying, and this

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Gospel of Matthew, I think

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the biggest challenge is we could take

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a whole series of studies

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on just one section,

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like the Sermon on the Mount,

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but we have to look at the big picture

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and the message that Jesus is giving us

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through His sermon in Matthew.

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So, we want to pray that God would bless.

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Before I do, though, I want to welcome

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our Hope Sabbath School members

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around the world.

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Thank you for writing to us.

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You can write to us at sshope@hopetv.org,

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and we're always happy to know

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how God is blessing your lives.

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Gerard writes from the Cameroon.

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He says, "Hi, Hope Sabbath School team.

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I'm a church member in the Cameroon.

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I like to spend my time studying

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with Hope Sabbath School,

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and I now have an iPhone, and I'm ready

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to get the Hope Sabbath School app."

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(Team) Amen.

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(Derek) Well, I think we have the iPhone

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Hope Sabbath School app in 137 countries,

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and we have the Android app,

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which is only more recent;

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that's, I think, in 150 countries.

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So, we're glad, Gerard, that you're

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going to get the Hope Sabbath School app

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for your iPhone, and it's great

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because you click, and the most

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recent program opens up.

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He concludes by saying,

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"Hope Sabbath School is like[br]a river of blessing for me,"

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(Team) Amen.

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(Derek) "...and I'm learning more

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about the Word of God.

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My dream is to be with you one day live

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in this amazing Bible study."

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Well, you know if you come over here

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when we're filming, Gerard,

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we would love to have you

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on our team, but you're just as much

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a part of Hope Sabbath School[br]right there in the Cameroon.

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And I want to invite you [br]and everyone else watching,

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think about gathering a group together.

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You can download the outline,

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the same outline that Stephanie

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will be using today in our study,

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from our website, hopetv.org/hopess.

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You can download the outline,

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or you can watch the program [br]with a group of friends;

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hold up your iPHone for them, Gerard,

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but get a group of people watching.

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We can share what we've learned together.

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Here's a note from Pavel.

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Anybody want to guess where Pavel is from?

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(Team) Russia.

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(Derek) He's from Russia, that's right.

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How did you know?

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He says, "Greetings, Hope Sabbath[br]School, from Russia.

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We always watch the [br]Sabbath School discussion

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and truly enjoy it.

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Our younger daughter, Veronica,

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Consistently asks me to send you a message,

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so, here it is."

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Here comes the message from Veronica:

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"I was sitting in the kitchen

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and enjoying your songs; I like you.

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My name is Veronica, and I'm 5 years old."

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Well, it's good to know

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we have Hope Sabbath School members

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who are 5 years old, right?

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(Team) Amen.

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(Derek) Thank you, Veronica,

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for your message,

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and we hope you will sing our new

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Scripture song, "Praise Him[br]in the Heights."

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You can download that[br]from our website, too.

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"I'm watching you every week,"

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continues Veronica, "with my mom and dad.

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Thank you for the songs. [br]I love them and I love all of you."

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Well, thank you so much, Veronica![br]We love you, too.

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And your mommy and daddy, thank you

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for being part of our Hope Sabbath [br]School there in Russia.

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It's amazing what a variety of people

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we have watching, isn't it?

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Grace writes to us from China,

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and she says, "I often translate

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Hope Sabbath School for my mother

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who teaches a Sabbath School

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in a small church in Beijing.

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So, this is what we are talking about,

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making Hope Sabbath School available

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in other languages.

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It's already happening by individuals.

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Remember a recent email [br]from someone in Russia.

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Her husband was translating for her.

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"Please pray for my family so that we

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can all love and reverence God."

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Wow.

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"These days there are many temptations

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for people of all ages, [br]especially young people.

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Pray for us so that we can have[br]the wisdom to follow God.

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God bless you."

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Well, we'll do that, Grace.

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God bless you there in [br]the great country of China.

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May God bless your witness[br]to those around you.

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Here's one last really encouraging[br]email from Christian.

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Now, that name has special significance,

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as you'll discover in a minute.

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Christian is from Malawi, and Malawi

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is right there in the heart[br]of Africa, right?

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"Dear Saints," that's an encouraging title.

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"Dear Saints, I'm happy to God

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for using Hope Sabbath School[br]to bring a change to my life.

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(Team) Amen.

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(Derek) This is wonderful.

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"It has really made an impact on my life

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since I grew up a Muslim, and I never

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found the truth as I found it now.

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Now I have decided to follow [br]Jesus and be baptized.

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(Team) Amen! Praise God.

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(Derek) Wow.

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"As I am speaking, I am now

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a true believer in Bible truth.

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Thank you for the mission you're doing

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in cooperating with Jesus Christ

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in saving lost sinners like me."

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Is that powerful?

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(Team) Amen. Praise God.

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(Derek) "May the Good Lord bless us all,

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and now you understand."

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He has another name, but he's [br]been given a new name.

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His name is Christian.

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Thanks for writing to us, Christian,

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from Malawi, and we just want

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to praise God for the way [br]He's leading you,

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not only for your salvation but to be

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a blessing to those around you.

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Right now we want to sing[br]our Scripture song.

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It's word for word from Psalm 148.

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So, it's 3,000 years old, but it's got

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a new tune; I hope you'll enjoy it.

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"Praise Him in the Heights."

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Let's sing it together.

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♪ music ♪

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(Derek) And for those of you[br]who don't know,

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in Hebrew "Praise the Lord"[br]is "Hallelujah!"

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So, what a beautiful, ancient,

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Scripture song with a message[br]with a message for us today.

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And, Stephanie, as you lead us

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in this important study, "The Sermon

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of Jesus on the Mount," I know in the end

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we are going to say, "Praise the Lord!"

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because it's really encouraging news.

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So, why don't you lead us in prayer[br]as we begin our study.

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((Stephanie) Let's bow our heads.

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Dear Heavenly Father, thank you so much

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for giving us this opportunity [br]to study Your Word.

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We just ask that, as we study Your Word,

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You would send Your Holy Spirit

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to guide us and to direct us,

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that at the end of the study, Lord,

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our lives would be changed, and we

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would have something to share

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with those around us.

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In Jesus' name, amen.

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(Team) Amen.

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(Stephanie) So, our study today

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is on the Sermon on the Mount

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according to Matthew, but we also know

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that Luke records this Sermon on the Mount

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as well, and there are some [br]differences that we see.

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Before we go looking into looking

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at some verses, we do some differences

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between the account of Matthew[br]and that of Luke.

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What can we learn from the differences

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that we see?

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Notice that Matthew is how [br]many chapters it spans over?

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(Derek) Three whole chapters.

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(Stephanie) Three whole chapters,

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and that's over 100 verses.

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And Luke spans over how many verses?

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(Derek) I think there's 30.

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(Stephanie) Just around 30.

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So, what can we learn from the differences

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that we see there, anyone?

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(Derek) You know, Stephanie,

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it's interesting that even in the 30 verses

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of Luke some things are new.

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So, that tells me that probably

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neither of them has everything.

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If Jesus taught all day on the mount,

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that the Spirit's guiding [br]them to share some insights.

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(Stephanie) Yes.

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(Derek) It's not a video.

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(Stephanie) That's right.

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(Derek) Guided by the Holy Spirit,

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which is interesting because then

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we ask, "Why did the Holy Spirit

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inspire Matthew to include what he did?"

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but there's probably much more.

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(Stephanie) So, we've learned that

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it's thought-inspired right?

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It's not exact word-by-word inspired.

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Was there someone else?[br]Go ahead.

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(Kyle) It's like the four Gospels

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are all a little different because each one

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has a different perspective.

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God uses each personality [br]to bring a new insight,

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and He puts it all together [br]for a more complete picture.

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(Derek) And, Stephanie, I just want

0:11:11.870,0:11:13.395
to catch you because I understand

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what you are saying about inspired[br]versus word-for-word.

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I think Matthew and Luke are writing[br]down the words Jesus said.[br]

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(Stephanie) Yes.

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(Derek) So, it's a little different

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from the prophet being given a vision

0:11:22.008,0:11:23.123
like Daniel, and he writes it

0:11:23.123,0:11:25.121
in his own words, rather than[br]being dictated.

0:11:25.121,0:11:27.685
I think here Jesus may have said

0:11:27.685,0:11:29.925
different things in different ways

0:11:29.925,0:11:32.105
during the day, and for some reason,

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which maybe we'll discover in our study,

0:11:34.290,0:11:37.684
Matthew decides, "I'm going [br]to record some of these."

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By the way, he was there, right?

0:11:39.668,0:11:41.174
He was an eye witness, Matthew.

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(Team) He was.

0:11:42.230,0:11:43.890
(Derek) Luke has to talk to eye witnesses,

0:11:43.890,0:11:46.738
and so he, guided by the Spirit, too,

0:11:46.738,0:11:48.027
gets some other insights,

0:11:48.027,0:11:51.143
but I think the Holy Spirit's definitely

0:11:54.059,0:11:54.309
given us a reliable account [br]of what Jesus said.

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(Stephanie) Amen.

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Is there a difference in the audience

0:11:57.600,0:12:03.343
that Matthew and Luke are speaking to?[br]Yes, Olric.

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(Olric) Matthew's Gospel, [br]from our research,

0:12:05.366,0:12:09.152
is more targeted to a Jewish audience,

0:12:09.152,0:12:12.227
so in his Gospel he tends to play up

0:12:12.227,0:12:15.522
more Jesus' kingship, and in his rendering

0:12:15.522,0:12:17.514
of the Sermon on the Mount it is

0:12:17.514,0:12:21.403
a little longer than Luke's version

0:12:21.403,0:12:22.900
because we know in those days

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a king is the person invested

0:12:25.992,0:12:27.995
with the authority to enforce the law,

0:12:27.995,0:12:30.586
keep the law in the land like the lawgiver.

0:12:30.586,0:12:34.571
So he spends a little more time on that

0:12:34.571,0:12:36.795
as opposed to Luke, who was writing more

0:12:36.795,0:12:39.826
to Gentiles, but he wanted the Gentiles

0:12:39.826,0:12:42.825
to see the law in a way that was

0:12:42.825,0:12:44.177
more applicable to them.

0:12:44.177,0:12:47.705
So he did not include many of the things[br]that Matthew was about.

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(Stephanie) So, would you say that

0:12:48.832,0:12:51.332
in Matthew some of the very detailed

0:12:51.332,0:12:59.556
renditions that Matthew shares[br]connects with the Jews?

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(Olric) Yes.

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(Stephanie) ...in a way that is powerful?

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(Olric) Yes, indeed.

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(Stephanie) All right.

0:13:04.589,0:13:07.146
Let's go ahead and jump into[br]Matthew, chapter 5,

0:13:07.146,0:13:10.990
and we'll read verses 17 through 19.

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And, Joshua, if you would be willing

0:13:14.049,0:13:16.932
to read for us those first three verses [br]

0:13:16.932,0:13:21.355
in Matthew, chapter 5, [br]verses 17 through 19?

0:13:21.355,0:13:23.112
(Joshua) Absolutely, and I'll be reading

0:13:23.112,0:13:57.147
from the New King James [br]Version; the Bible says:

0:13:57.147,0:13:59.690
(Stephanie) So, what are we [br]talking about here?

0:13:59.690,0:14:02.336
We're talking about the Law of God, right?

0:14:02.336,0:14:03.329
(Joshua) Yeah.

0:14:03.329,0:14:04.559
(Stephanie) This is the introduction

0:14:04.559,0:14:07.708
to the Law of God that Matthew [br]is talking about.

0:14:07.708,0:14:09.717
Let's go and look at a few more verses,

0:14:09.717,0:14:12.568
and then we'll consider some questions

0:14:12.568,0:14:15.467
as they relate to the verses that we read.

0:14:15.467,0:14:19.325
In Matthew, chapter 5:21-22.

0:14:19.325,0:14:21.134
Olric, would you read that for us,

0:14:21.134,0:14:26.418
Matthew, chapter 5, verses 21 and 22.

0:14:26.418,0:14:30.081
And then we'll read verses 27 and 28.

0:14:30.081,0:15:05.629
(Olric) Reading from the New [br]Living Translation:

0:15:05.629,0:15:08.992
(Stephanie) Wow, that's pretty strong.

0:15:08.992,0:15:09.704
(Olric) Verses 27 and 28?

0:15:25.544,0:15:25.970
(Stephanie) Yes, go ahead and continue on.

0:15:26.000,0:15:27.818
(Stephanie) So, do you see a pattern?

0:15:28.266,0:15:32.877
What is the pattern that you see[br]in these verses?

0:15:32.877,0:15:33.920
Go ahead, Tricia Lee.

0:15:33.920,0:15:36.098
(Tricia Lee) Well, first if we[br]were wondering, "Well, what law

0:15:36.098,0:15:38.477
is he talking about," it's clear[br]as we kept reading

0:15:38.477,0:15:40.175
that he's talking about the [br]Ten Commandments

0:15:40.175,0:15:42.052
that the people at the time believed,

0:15:42.052,0:15:44.353
prided themselves in being[br]able to keep, and you start to understand

0:15:44.353,0:15:46.523
more about what Jesus meant when He said,

0:15:46.523,0:15:48.833
"I've come to fulfill," to give [br]a clearer understanding

0:15:48.950,0:15:49.400
of what it truly means to keep the Law.

0:15:50.020,0:15:53.209
And at the time, they were more concerned

0:15:53.209,0:15:56.039
about the outward physicality of behaviors

0:15:56.039,0:15:58.367
that proved that they [br]were observing the laws,

0:15:58.367,0:16:01.428
but here Jesus starts to point [br]to what's happening in our hearts,

0:16:01.428,0:16:04.036
in our minds, in our thoughts,[br]and kind of showing that

0:16:04.036,0:16:07.551
breaking the Law or even sin [br]doesn't just occur in an action,

0:16:07.551,0:16:10.042
it kind of starts in our hearts[br]and our minds.

0:16:10.042,0:16:13.729
So, again, in fulfilling that Law,[br]He's really kind of peeling back

0:16:13.729,0:16:16.493
what they thought was the reality[br]in showing that it's much deeper

0:16:16.493,0:16:18.289
than they thought in just the behavior.

0:16:18.289,0:16:20.297
There's something that's happening[br]in the heart that only He can come

0:16:20.297,0:16:22.402
and help them fix or [br]help them actually be.[br]

0:16:22.402,0:16:23.336
(Stephanie, Team) Yes.

0:16:23.336,0:16:24.858
(Stephanie) Did you have a comment, Jason?[br]

0:16:24.858,0:16:25.576
Go ahead.

0:16:25.576,0:16:27.949
(Jason) Yes, I'm looking at this here,

0:16:27.949,0:16:29.091
and it talks about how He didn't come

0:16:29.091,0:16:30.246
to destroy but to fulfill,

0:16:30.246,0:16:31.487
because Jesus could be accused

0:16:31.487,0:16:34.724
of these new teachings [br]as destroying the law,

0:16:34.724,0:16:35.929
but what He's saying is,

0:16:35.929,0:16:37.109
"Look, I'm not destroying the Law;

0:16:37.109,0:16:38.854
I'm showing you what it really means."

0:16:38.854,0:16:41.414
So, He's not saying what [br]was said of old is untrue;

0:16:41.414,0:16:44.507
He's saying what was said of old,[br]it is true, but also this.

0:16:44.507,0:16:46.438
So, you have a very limited picture

0:16:46.438,0:16:48.241
of what the Law is, but this is

0:16:48.241,0:16:50.149
a greater understanding,[br]a greater fulfillment

0:16:50.149,0:16:52.286
of what the Law truly is.

0:16:52.286,0:16:53.764
And that is what He is doing [br]here in the sermon.

0:16:53.764,0:16:55.417
(Stephanie) He's expounding on that.

0:16:55.417,0:16:56.261
Yes, Missy.

0:16:56.261,0:16:58.271
(Missy) From the fall of humanity,

0:16:58.271,0:17:01.055
you know, they had perfection in Eden.

0:17:01.055,0:17:04.034
Then came the fall.[br]They fell so far.

0:17:04.034,0:17:05.679
Humanity just, fell, fell, fell,

0:17:05.679,0:17:08.308
and so, step by step, through Scripture

0:17:08.308,0:17:11.002
you see how God is taking them

0:17:11.002,0:17:12.724
step by step back to His ideal

0:17:12.724,0:17:14.832
until you could see the fulfillment

0:17:14.832,0:17:18.056
of the Law in Christ when [br]He came to humanity.

0:17:18.056,0:17:20.126
And it was supposed to be a revelation

0:17:20.126,0:17:23.447
of who God really was.[br]You know, opening our minds

0:17:23.447,0:17:25.517
to what the Law really meant.

0:17:25.517,0:17:26.769
(Stephanie) Yes. Nathan.

0:17:26.769,0:17:29.926
(Nathan) Keep in mind that Matthew[br]is writing to Jews...

0:17:29.926,0:17:30.922
(Stephanie) Yes.

0:17:30.922,0:17:34.332
(Nathan) ...and Moses was [br]the great hero as the lawgiver.

0:17:34.332,0:17:36.954
Moses went up on the Mount Sinai

0:17:36.954,0:17:38.418
to receive the Law from God,

0:17:38.418,0:17:39.926
and then he gave it to the people,

0:17:39.926,0:17:41.127
and the people did their best

0:17:41.127,0:17:42.937
to keep the law, but Moses was the one

0:17:42.937,0:17:46.210
who lead them out of slavery [br]and into the Promised Land, right?

0:17:46.210,0:17:47.526
So, the "deliverer."

0:17:47.526,0:17:48.391
(Stephanie) Right.

0:17:48.391,0:17:49.248
(Nathan) Now Matthew is showing

0:17:51.759,0:17:52.828
Jesus is the One who went [br]up on the mountain

0:17:52.828,0:17:54.647
and now expounds upon the Law.

0:17:54.647,0:17:56.131
He's the new Moses, showing them,

0:17:56.131,0:17:57.423
"Okay, you received the Law

0:17:57.423,0:17:59.144
on the mountain from God[br]through Moses,

0:17:59.144,0:18:02.176
now up on this mountain Jesus

0:18:02.176,0:18:03.818
is saying, 'Let me show you what

0:18:03.818,0:18:05.007
this Law really means and how

0:18:05.007,0:18:06.488
it applies deeply inwardly,

0:18:06.488,0:18:08.663
and then you're going to be free,

0:18:08.663,0:18:12.125
not just from Egypt [br]but from the slavery of sin...'

0:18:12.125,0:18:13.360
(Stephanie, Team) Amen. Wow.

0:18:13.360,0:18:14.748
(Nathan) '...when we get to the depths

0:18:14.748,0:18:16.201
of what the Law means deep in the heart.'"

0:18:16.201,0:18:18.152
(Stephanie) And I want to go [br]to another passage

0:18:18.152,0:18:23.163
before we leave the teaching [br]of Jesus about the Law of God.

0:18:23.163,0:18:27.862
We'll move to Matthew 5:43-48,

0:18:27.862,0:18:31.554
and, Kyle, would you be willing[br]to read that for us?

0:18:31.554,0:18:34.095
Matthew 5:43-48.

0:18:34.095,0:18:39.216
(Kyle) I'll be reading from[br]the New King James Version.

0:18:39.216,0:19:33.257
The Bible says:

0:19:33.257,0:19:35.240
(Stephanie) Wow.

0:19:35.240,0:19:38.347
There's a lot in that verse.

0:19:38.347,0:19:41.641
What do you pull out from those verses?

0:19:41.641,0:19:42.673
Go ahead, Joshua.

0:19:42.673,0:19:44.311
(Joshua) I will say that it's this aspect

0:19:44.311,0:19:46.202
of Christianity that's the most difficult.

0:19:46.202,0:19:49.508
You know, if you compare this[br]sort of command from Jesus

0:19:49.508,0:19:51.883
in comparison to the Ten Commandments,

0:19:51.883,0:19:53.673
the Ten Commandments [br]actually look pretty easy.

0:19:53.673,0:19:55.970
You know, if you tell me I'm supposed

0:19:55.970,0:19:58.602
to love my enemies, do good to those

0:19:58.602,0:20:01.134
who are persecuting me, it's like,

0:20:01.134,0:20:02.463
"Are you serious?"

0:20:02.463,0:20:04.318
But at the same time we have to think

0:20:04.318,0:20:05.835
about the fact that people

0:20:05.835,0:20:10.068
outside of Christianity judge us [br]based on this sort of thing,

0:20:10.068,0:20:12.845
not simply how many times do you

0:20:12.845,0:20:14.729
go to church in a week or how many

0:20:14.729,0:20:16.153
Bible verses do you know,

0:20:16.153,0:20:18.212
but it's in our character and in the way

0:20:18.212,0:20:19.383
that we treat others.

0:20:19.383,0:20:21.189
(Stephanie) Wow, yes.[br]Go ahead, Juliana.

0:20:21.189,0:20:22.875
(Juliana) Actually this summer I was

0:20:22.875,0:20:25.197
traveling around in Europe and happened

0:20:25.197,0:20:27.749
to interact with an individual on a train.

0:20:27.749,0:20:31.418
And, somehow we got to talking [br]about this kind of stuff,

0:20:31.418,0:20:34.297
and he told me, "You know, Christianity

0:20:34.297,0:20:36.621
is supposed to be so much more[br]radical than it is.

0:20:36.621,0:20:38.292
So many people, they focus just

0:20:38.292,0:20:39.513
on the Ten Commandments,

0:20:39.513,0:20:42.200
but what about the Sermon on the Mount?"

0:20:42.200,0:20:44.113
And it kind of goes along with what

0:20:44.113,0:20:45.291
you are saying, like, people

0:20:45.291,0:20:47.135
from the outside are looking [br]at us, and, it's like, wow!

0:20:47.135,0:20:49.845
This is what Christianity [br]is supposed to be.

0:20:49.845,0:20:52.702
And I think that he was completely right,

0:20:52.702,0:20:54.878
that we should be looking a lot more

0:20:54.878,0:20:56.582
at the Sermon on the Mount for many

0:20:56.582,0:20:59.375
of the things of how we should

0:20:59.375,0:21:00.581
interact with other people.

0:21:00.581,0:21:01.718
(Stephanie) So isn't it interesting;

0:21:01.718,0:21:05.727
I think Jesus was trying to move us away

0:21:05.727,0:21:09.516
from just a head knowledge [br]to a heart knowledge, right?

0:21:09.516,0:21:10.650
(Team) Yes. Amen.

0:21:10.650,0:21:11.742
(Stephanie) A heart experience.

0:21:11.742,0:21:13.239
(Derek) You know, I think, Stephanie,

0:21:13.239,0:21:14.697
something Jason said earlier is

0:21:14.697,0:21:15.739
really important because some Christians

0:21:15.739,0:21:18.016
get confused and say the Ten Commandments

0:21:18.016,0:21:21.153
doesn't matter; we just need [br]to love, but that's absurd.

0:21:21.153,0:21:24.624
That's like saying, "Don't hate people,[br]but you can kill them."

0:21:24.624,0:21:29.449
"Don't lust after someone, but you [br]can commit adultery with him or her."

0:21:29.449,0:21:31.374
It's not that.

0:21:31.374,0:21:33.338
The Commandments stand.

0:21:33.338,0:21:37.528
But, as Tricia Lee was pointing out,

0:21:37.528,0:21:39.607
God is calling us to a much [br]higher standard.

0:21:39.607,0:21:43.429
In fact, to be honest, it's [br]an impossible standard

0:21:43.429,0:21:44.607
if we're going to do it

0:21:44.607,0:21:47.549
in our own strength because we know

0:21:47.549,0:21:48.724
how feeble we are.

0:21:48.724,0:21:49.797
(Stephanie, Team) Yes.

0:21:49.797,0:21:51.057
(Derek) It's going to take a miracle...

0:21:51.057,0:21:51.956
(Stephanie) Exactly.

0:21:51.956,0:21:54.409
(Derek) ...so that, as Joshua pointed out,

0:21:54.409,0:21:57.225
people will look, and they'll actually see

0:21:57.225,0:22:01.676
Jesus reflected, right?[br]Instead of us.

0:22:01.676,0:22:04.503
(Stephanie) And that happens as a result

0:22:04.503,0:22:07.268
of the head knowledge going [br]to our hearts, right?

0:22:07.268,0:22:10.007
And that's the next section that we

0:22:10.007,0:22:15.625
want to move into, this outward conformity

0:22:15.625,0:22:18.689
versus an inward conversion.

0:22:18.689,0:22:23.945
And, I'd like us to move [br]to Matthew, chapter 5, verse 20.

0:22:23.945,0:22:27.510
Go back to Matthew, chapter 5, verse 20,

0:22:27.510,0:22:30.117
and, Missy, would you read that for us?

0:22:30.117,0:22:46.000
(Missy) I am reading from [br]the New Living Translation:

0:22:46.000,0:22:48.527
(Stephanie) So, I think this is coming back

0:22:48.527,0:22:50.015
to what Juliana was saying.

0:22:50.015,0:22:53.821
People expect something more than

0:22:53.821,0:22:58.999
just a check off, right?[br]they want something real.

0:22:58.999,0:23:05.168
(Olric) But it's not just the realness.

0:23:05.168,0:23:06.371
Notice here he says,

0:23:06.371,0:23:08.276
"Unless your righteousness

0:23:08.276,0:23:11.668
exceeds their righteousness, what was

0:23:11.668,0:23:14.593
their righteousness that was[br]not sufficient for God?

0:23:14.593,0:23:16.441
Their righteousness...mind you,

0:23:16.441,0:23:18.085
righteousness means "right doing."

0:23:18.085,0:23:21.884
So, they had the outward expression

0:23:21.884,0:23:25.136
of doing right, but at the same time

0:23:25.136,0:23:27.552
the inward conversion was not there.

0:23:27.552,0:23:30.709
What they were doing was not from a heart

0:23:30.709,0:23:34.760
that genuinely loved God and loved people.

0:23:34.760,0:23:38.109
So you find that a lot [br]of what was being done

0:23:38.109,0:23:40.996
looked right to the folks on the outside,

0:23:40.996,0:23:43.803
but God knew that the heart[br]was not transformed.

0:23:43.803,0:23:46.497
So, Jesus is saying,"It's not just

0:23:46.497,0:23:49.184
to do right on the outside; I want

0:23:49.184,0:23:53.208
your heart to be in [br]the right condition also."

0:23:53.208,0:23:54.995
That means that your actions

0:23:54.995,0:24:00.000
will be inspired and motivated [br]by the right desires.

0:24:00.000,0:24:01.623
(Stephanie) So, it starts in the heart,

0:24:01.623,0:24:05.696
it starts in the mind, and then[br]our actions follow.

0:24:05.696,0:24:07.607
Go ahead.

0:24:07.607,0:24:09.413
(Kyle) I'm just going to add[br]onto what he said

0:24:09.413,0:24:11.157
because the Pharisees, they had [br]a scale of how...

0:24:11.157,0:24:13.609
They said, "Okay, this is a sin and this

0:24:13.609,0:24:15.755
is worse and worse and worse,[br]and this is a good deed,

0:24:15.755,0:24:17.870
and this one's really good,[br]and this one's really, really good."

0:24:17.870,0:24:19.665
And they almost would balance and say,

0:24:19.665,0:24:20.929
"If your good deeds outweigh

0:24:20.929,0:24:22.234
your bad deeds, then you earned

0:24:22.234,0:24:23.738
righteousness in God's sight."

0:24:23.738,0:24:25.577
So, it was this whole outward way

0:24:25.577,0:24:27.698
of building up themselves, basically,

0:24:27.698,0:24:29.578
to feel like they were good[br]and accepted by God.

0:24:29.578,0:24:31.501
But Jesus comes, and He says,

0:24:31.501,0:24:32.786
"That's not what it's about.

0:24:32.786,0:24:35.743
Every amount of human [br]righteousness is inadequate."

0:24:35.743,0:24:39.283
The only thing is the [br]true heart righteousness

0:24:39.283,0:24:40.853
that you were talking about, Pastor Derek.

0:24:40.853,0:24:42.573
That is only from the Holy Spirit.

0:24:42.573,0:24:44.135
And that's a total transformation

0:24:44.135,0:24:46.243
of character; true perfection[br]in God's eyes.

0:24:46.243,0:24:47.479
(Stephanie) By the way, those who

0:24:47.479,0:24:49.476
were listening, because we look at it,

0:24:49.476,0:24:50.998
and we say, "Oh, it has to exceed

0:24:50.998,0:24:52.693
the righteousness of the Pharisees."

0:24:52.693,0:24:54.359
Well, we know what the righteousness

0:24:54.359,0:24:55.494
of the Pharisees looked like,

0:24:55.494,0:24:57.680
but for those who were listening,

0:24:57.680,0:25:00.820
the Pharisees were on a high level.

0:25:00.820,0:25:01.775
(Team) Right.

0:25:01.775,0:25:03.876
(Stephanie) So, for them, they were

0:25:03.876,0:25:06.532
thinking, "Whoa! [br]For us to exceed that --

0:25:06.532,0:25:08.213
we can't even match them!

0:25:08.213,0:25:11.213
How do we exceed that?"

0:25:15.352,0:25:15.602
So, what is Jesus trying to teach?

0:25:17.861,0:25:18.945
And, also another question that I

0:25:18.945,0:25:20.482
would have, too, is that,

0:25:20.482,0:25:22.915
have you ever tried to earn [br]the favor of Christ, of God?

0:25:22.915,0:25:25.561
I mean, let's be real.[br]

0:25:25.561,0:25:28.462
Have you ever been in that situation?

0:25:28.462,0:25:29.976
Please be willing to share, I hope,

0:25:29.976,0:25:34.742
a time when you've tried to do that.

0:25:34.742,0:25:38.346
What was that like?[br]Go ahead, Tricia Lee.

0:25:38.346,0:25:40.268
(Tricia Lee) Your first question

0:25:40.268,0:25:42.128
about how could they exceed the[br]righteousness of the Pharisees.

0:25:42.128,0:25:43.359
The Pharisees, you're right.

0:25:43.359,0:25:45.058
They were very good at doing [br]what the law required,

0:25:45.058,0:25:47.579
and the different requirements [br]that they made,

0:25:47.579,0:25:51.837
but they did not love God, [br]and they did not love other people

0:25:51.837,0:25:53.104
other than themselves.

0:25:53.104,0:25:54.875
And we find that that was what God

0:25:54.875,0:25:57.944
was trying to teach them was that,[br]at the heart of the commandments,

0:25:57.944,0:26:00.069
loving the Lord more than anything else

0:26:00.069,0:26:01.586
and loving your neighbor as yourself,

0:26:01.586,0:26:02.944
and they completely missed all of that.

0:26:02.944,0:26:06.061
So, the "checking of the boxes" meant[br]nothing because they didn't love God.

0:26:06.061,0:26:08.898
They crucified Him, tried to kill Him[br]at every chance they could.

0:26:08.898,0:26:11.263
They did not love their neighbors;[br]they were the ones walking past

0:26:11.263,0:26:13.302
the Samaritan on the road [br]and these people.

0:26:13.302,0:26:17.568
I think that it's hard because, as humans

0:26:17.568,0:26:20.724
and even as you grew up as a child,[br]you learned that if you study hard

0:26:20.724,0:26:22.707
and you get a good grade, [br]or if you do this then you get a reward.

0:26:22.707,0:26:25.426
So, it goes against the way even society

0:26:25.426,0:26:27.824
runs and functions, that, [br]if you do something then

0:26:27.824,0:26:30.192
you get something.[br]An action has an equal reaction.

0:26:30.192,0:26:33.606
But here God is showing us that[br]it really doesn't depend upon you

0:26:33.606,0:26:38.025
or me or us, it all has to depend[br]upon Christ, and that's where

0:26:38.025,0:26:39.132
the faith comes in.

0:26:39.132,0:26:42.650
So, it's the faith, it'is the obedience, [br]it's all depending upon Christ.

0:26:42.650,0:26:45.880
It's really His righteousness [br]that's working in us.

0:26:45.880,0:26:48.361
And I think what happens, [br]at least for me, is that...

0:26:48.361,0:26:52.915
and I'm sorry...it's just that[br]once you are honest with yourself,

0:26:52.915,0:26:55.139
and when you realize, "I keep [br]trying, and I keep failing,

0:26:55.139,0:26:58.472
and that's not good enough,"[br]at some point you just have

0:26:58.472,0:26:59.472
to get tired of trying and [br]failing, and you realize

0:26:59.472,0:27:01.890
it can't depend upon me anymore.

0:27:01.890,0:27:04.462
I have to reach out to somebody who I know

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
was successful in this life, [br]and it was Christ.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) And who has [br]the power to do it.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Tricia Lee) Exactly.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) To get us out of the mess.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
And I think we've all [br]been there, haven't we?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Team Member) Yeah!

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) We realize that we need Jesus.[br]

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Andrea, you wanted to share?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Andrea) I only wanted to reflect

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
a little bit on your question, which was

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
how would we express if we have been

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
in a similar situation, and where we felt

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
we needed to do something in order [br]to earn God's favor.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
And I recall I was a teenager and have sat

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
in church many times listening

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
to baptismal appeals and calls[br]to give our lives to Jesus.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
And, as the pastor's daughter,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
it was something I would [br]listen to very frequently.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
However, I had the feeling or a tendency

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
of thinking that I have to be [br]very prepared to make that step.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
So, for years I have resisted the call,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and I have considered that

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
I'm not ready yet, or [br]I'm not good enough...

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) Wow.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Andrea) ...until I was 17 when I started

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
to meditate more upon this decision,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and decided I have to make this step

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
even if I'm not feeling quite ready,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and the Lord will take care of the rest.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) Amen.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Andrea) I cannot tell you how blessed

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
I felt afterwards.[br]It was the best decision of my life.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie, Team) Amen.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Derek) You know what Jesus said,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Stephanie, in the Sermon [br]on the Mount just a little later.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
He said, "Seek first the Kingdom

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and His righteousness."

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) Yes.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Derek) And really what Tricia Lee

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
is saying is righteousness is a gift,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
back to that miracle of new creation

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
that we talked about in a previous study.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
God is going to change us from the inside

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
so that we are motivated by love,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
even in the keeping of the Commandments.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Love to God and love to those around us.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
And that's a miracle of the new creation.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) And I believe John,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
chapter 14:15 tells us [br]a little bit about that.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
John, chapter 14, verse 15.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
And, Nathan, would you be willing

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
to read that for us?[br]John, chapter 14, verse 15.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Nathan) Right. I'm reading[br]from the New King James Version.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
John 14 and verse 15:

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) Wow.[br]Very simple, right?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Team Member) Very plain.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) So, how does your attitude

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
towards God's law change when you have

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
this trusting, loving relationship

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
with Jesus as your Savior and your Lord?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
How does that change?[br]Olric?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Olric) You want to keep it because,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
when you have this love relationship

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
with God, I compare it to a marriage.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
You know, for those who are [br]married here on the set.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
You know, you have your spouse, [br]you exchange vows and so forth.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
And, you know, some folks, they

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
may be married for 7 years, 4 years,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
50 years, and sometimes we question

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and we ask them, "How did you "guys"

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
maintain that relationship,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
that connection, the [br]obedience to the vows?"

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
And they just say to me,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
"It's very simple:[br]I love the other person.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
That's why I do what I do."

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
So, when you are in that love relationship

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
with God, you want to do the things

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
that pleases Him the same way He likes

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
doing things that blesses you.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
So, you are motivated by a love for God,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
that is what really propels [br]you to obedience.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) The heart's been changed.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Olric) The heart's been changed.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) The heart's been changed.[br]Missy and then Nathan.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Missy) I see Scripture as God

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
in continual pursuit of humanity,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
"Look at me; look at my face;

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
look at what I've done for you.[br]Please, keep your attention on me.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Look at what I've said in My Word.[br]Get to know me."

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) Yes.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Missy) When we are able [br]to hone in on that,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
the Law is a natural [br]result of the relationship.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) Powerful.[br]Nathan.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Nathan) Well, I love this woman.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Derek) You better tell the people

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
that that's your wife.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Nathan) This is my wife, and, you know,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
if I do something that [br]hurts her, that hurts me.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
To see my wife hurting

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
because of something I've done

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
would break my heart.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
So, when we're in love with the Lord,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
we realize that when we break [br]His Law we're hurting Him.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
He's given us His Law because [br]He wants us to be happy.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) Yes.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Nathan) And when I wander away

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
from that Law that He's given, which is

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
a Law of freedom, a Law of liberty,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and it's a Law that brings joy to my life,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
I know that not only am I hurting myself,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
but I'm hurting Him.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) Yes.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Nathan) So, my love for Him just propels

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
me into naturally obeying the Law

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
because I don't want to break His heart;

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
I don't want to hurt Him, as well.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) Okay, Joshua, and then

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
we'll go to Tricia Lee, and then [br]we have to move on.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Joshua) I believe that we not only serve

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
a holy God but we serve a practical God.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
So, when I look at His Commandments,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
I see that even if I weren't a Christian

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
it would be in my best interest [br]to still keep these Commandments.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) Amen.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Joshua) So, if you think about what it

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
would be like to murder someone, and what

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
you would have to live with after that,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and if you know what it feels like

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
to commit adultery and see the effects

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
of that trickling after, if you look

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
at each and every Law, you'll see,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
"Wait a minute. [br]He's not telling me

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
to keep these Laws as [br]hoops to jump through

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
in order to make it into Heaven,"

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
but it's for our own good and for our [br]best interest to keep these Laws.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) Yes.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Tricia Lee) Something that Missy

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and Joshua mentioned [br]about getting to know God

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and what's in our best interest,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
I think that the Devil's deception is that[br]we would think of God as someone

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
who is out to get us, someone[br]that cannot be trusted.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
And if He's a being that is not [br]to be trusted or, you know,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
wants to hurt us, then I don't care[br]about what He's saying, I don't care

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
about His Laws, (that breaking them) [br]is not good for me.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
When we do exactly what Missy is saying,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
try to get to know Him, allow Him [br]to enter our lives, and we see who He is,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
like, how Jesus came, the best example[br]and revelation of the Father,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
He lived a whole life, when [br]we see the life of Christ,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
how could we not want to be more like Him?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
How could we not want to see [br]truly who the Father is,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and then everything He's saying starts [br]to make sense as things for our benefit,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
as things that will help us be [br]in a loving relationship with Him.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
So, even Christ coming and expounding[br]and fulfilling the Law

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
was us seeing the Father as who [br]He really is, not the deception,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
not the lies, the angry God [br]with lightening and thunderbolts.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
When we see that, then the Law[br]starts to be something beautiful

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
for our best interest and something that[br]helps us be in a good, loving,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
strong relationship with Him.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) We have full confidence...

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Tricia Lee) Yeah, yeah.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) ...that He has [br]the best interest in mind.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
We need to move on to God's ideal

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
for His children, which somewhat connects

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
with what we've already [br]been speaking about.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Matthew, chapter 5, verse 48, and, Nicole,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
if you would be willing to read that

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
for us, and then we'll follow it up

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
with Luke 6:36, and, Nancy, if you [br]would read that one after Matthew 5:48.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Nicole) Okay, Matthew 5:48.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
I'm reading it from the New International[br]Version, and the Bible says:

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) And then Luke 6:36.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
We're looking at these two [br]in conjunction with each other.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Nancy) Okay, and this is from the[br]New King James Version.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) All right, what is [br]Jesus asking us to do?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Olric) Be like God.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) To be like God.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
He's asking us, may I mention it this way:

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
He's asking us to do the [br]impossible without Him.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
It would be impossible without Him.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
You understand what I'm saying?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
But He's giving us the strength to do it,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
so, it's not impossible, but without Him,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
if we're trying to do it as only head[br]knowledge, it is going to be impossible.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Derek) And, you know, Stephanie,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
sometimes people read that like,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
"Be perfect," and think that's the way to

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
make God love us, right?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Never quite good enough.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
That's not what it's saying at all.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) Right.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Derek) That's why Luke's wording

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
is different is important.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
He's saying, "I want you to reflect

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
the beauty of my Father's character."

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
And what does it look like?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Jesus said, "If you want to know

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
what the Father is like, look at Me."

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
So, He's saying, "I want you to [br]reflect my character to the world,"

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and that is not to earn His love.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
He already loves us.[br]It's out of that loving relationship.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) Yes.[br]Go ahead, you wanted to say something.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Andrea) I also wanted to add

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
to what Elder Morris said, that this[br]perfection that God is calling us to

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
is not so much a state of sinlessness

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
as the spiritual maturity to which we need

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
to attain, and the Lord can [br]help us to attain that.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
And, of course, at each state

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
of the Christain's experience,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
there is a different level of maturity

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
because what is perfect for [br]a grade one student to add 2 + 2

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
is not perfect for a grade five student

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and to a grade eight student.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
So this perfection is where we are at;

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
if we just fulfill what God requires [br]us to do at that stage,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
we have attained to God's ideal.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) Amen.[br]All right, Olric.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Olric) Let me encapsulate [br]what she's saying.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
At each stage, God reveals light to us.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
He reveals more of Himself to us.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Perfection that is being talked about here

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
is the progressive state [br]of growth, Christian maturity.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
A plant starts out as a seedling,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
but then it grows to a big tree [br]and bears fruit.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
A baby starts off walking on fours

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and mumbling, but eventually [br]they grow, and they walk on legs,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and now they can talk well [br]and do things for themselves.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
There is maturing; there is growth.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
God's ideal of perfection is that[br]you should continually grow.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Not that you reach a stage here,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
where, "Hah! You're perfect.[br]Now you don't need to go any further."

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
No.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
His idea of perfection is [br]progressive Christian maturity.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) So, let me...[br]Go ahead, go ahead, Kyle.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Kyle) You know, somebody [br]might be worried,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
"Well, I'm not perfect, and I [br]have all these faults,"

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and my only thing I think we [br]could all say: "Look to Jesus."

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie/Team) Yes.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Kyle) Look to Jesus, because Jesus,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
?as we look to Him, "If ye love Me, [br]

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
keep My Commandments," He says.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
The only way that we can truly grow

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
in likeness to Him is to fall in love

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
with Him, and how do we [br]fall in love with Him?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
By looking to Him, spending time with Him.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie/Team) Yes.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Kyle) That is so key because otherwise

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
we're just going to try [br]to earn our righteousness,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and that will never get us anywhere.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
So, we must look to Jesus.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Derek/Team) Amen. Yes.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) Beautiful, beautiful.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
So, my question, I think we already have

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
an answer for it, but my question is:

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Is this a means of salvation

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
or an evidence of a living, [br]loving connection with Jesus?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Olric) Simple.[br]

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
it's an evidence of a living connection

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
with Jesus, not a means to salvation.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) All right.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Will you share with us a [br]verse that supports that?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Olric) Galatians 2, verses...

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) Galatians, chapter 2.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
So, Olric, you'll go ahead and read

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Galatians, chapter 2, [br]I believe, 20 and 21.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Olric) Galatians, chapter 2, [br]verses 20 and 21?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) Yes.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Olric) Reading from the [br]New Living Translation,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
the Word of God says:

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) Wow.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Another verse, another [br]promise that we can share.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Someone out there, as Kyle was saying,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
may be wondering, "How do I do this?"

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
"How is this practical?"

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Yes.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Derek) Let me just say people may not [br]know who wrote the Galatian letter,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
but Saul of Tarsus, later [br]called Paul the Apostle,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
he had gone down that road [br]of trying to earn righteousness.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie/Team): Yes.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Derek) He said, "I was [br]flawless," you know?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
But he was killing people [br]who believe in Jesus.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) Yes.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Derek) So, he understands [br]the miracle of his changed heart.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
And I just want to emphasize,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
I know it is one stage and then another,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
but it's a miracle at every stage.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie/Team): Amen. Yes.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Derek) For us to be who God's [br]calling us to be, is a miracle.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) It is.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Derek) And Paul would be the first one

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
to say that it is a miracle.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
That's why he says that [br]if anyone is in Christ,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
she or he is a new creation.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) Amen.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Derek) Because he's seen it himself.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) Amen.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Olric) It's key that in that verse

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
is mentioned Christ now lives in me.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
He says, "It is no longer [br]I who live, but I died.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
I surrender self and the old way,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and I accept Christ in my heart,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and He changes me internally.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Now what I do is motivated by love."

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
So, it is very important [br]to see the transformation.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) Would you share with us

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
a time when you experienced

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
or you saw someone who represented

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
the character of Christ.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
What impact did that have on you?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
You saw someone had [br]the character of Christ.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
What was the impact on you, or what was

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
the impact when someone saw

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
the character of Christ in you?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
What impact did that have on you?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Derek) Stephanie, I was 7 years old...

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) Go ahead.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Derek) Oh good, if I can [br]just share real briefly.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
...and my teacher in Form 2[br](this is back in the UK)

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
was full of the love of Jesus.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
I was only privileged to go

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
to a Christian school for four years,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
but that one year with Christine Emmerson

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
my teacher changed my life...

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) Wow.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Derek) ...because she was [br]full of the love of God.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
And when you see that, and I think

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
that's the ultimate witness,[br]it's not just what we say.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
When the love of God fills a heart,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
we just say, "I just [br]want to be like that,"

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and that person says, "Well, I'm

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
a follower of Jesus, so follow Him."

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) Amen.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Reflecting the light of Jesus.[br]Nancy.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Nancy) My dad is full [br]of the love of Jesus.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
And, you know, what he does is he studies

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
the Bible in the morning, a chapter

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
in the morning, and a chapter

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
in the evening, a chapter in [br]the New, a chapter in the Old.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
I like to think about it

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
as him "marinating" his life [br]in Jesus, you know?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
It's a cooking term, when you take

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
some meat or some tofu, and you put it,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
you know, in all of those [br]sauces and things.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Well, that's what he does with his life,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and so everything he does [br]is covered in Jesus.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Team) Amen.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Nancy) He's been a great example to me.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Derek/Stephanie) Amen.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Team) Praise God.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) I'm guessing that he's been

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
on his knees praying often,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and I think that's the section that

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
we want to move into next.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
We've talked about the head knowledge,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and that it reaches our hearts,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and, as a result, our hands or our actions

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
produce what has already happened inside.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Now we are going to talk [br]about how we sustain that,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and that is by spending [br]time with God in prayer.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
So, Juliana, if you would read

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Matthew, chapter 6, verses 5 through 13.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Matthew chapter 6, verses 5 through 13,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
talking about Jesus teaching on prayer.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Juliana) I'm reading from [br]the New King James Version:

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie/Team) Amen.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) What important lessons

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
can we learn about prayer[br]from Jesus' example?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Go ahead, Tricia Lee.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Tricia Lee) We're counseled [br]not to have vain repetitions,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
so, there were practices that heathens [br]had at the time but also was part

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
of the religious practices [br]to repeat certain things.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
"The more I say it, then [br]the more likely God will hear,"

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
but here this model, in its [br]simplest way, is a conversation.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
I think, even in talking to God, we are [br]acknowledging that He's hearing us.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
We're not just saying phrases out,[br]and hoping they go somewhere.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
We're actually speaking to another [br]Being who can hear and understand

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and wants to have a conversation with us.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) So, we have full confidence

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
in the Person that we love and trust.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Tricia Lee) Yes.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) Amen.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Nathan, and then we'll go to Olric.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Nathan) I can't miss the distinction

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Jesus is making between people who pray

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
to be seen by others, and it's not just

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
what they say but where they [br]are when they are saying it.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
They're out on the street corners,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
versus people who are praying in secret.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
He says, "Go into your room and pray

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
to your Father who is also in secret."

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
So, in other words, what He's showing us

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
here is this is an intimate time.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
I'm sorry if this sounds a little

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
too far fetched, but just like

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
a married couple behind closed doors

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and the intimacy that they share.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
They are having quiet time[br]or conversation, you know.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
No one else is there, and this is

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
the same way, He says, "With your Father

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
in Heaven, you are behind [br]closed doors, intimate communion."[br]

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
It's just you and Him.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
You're not showing off to the world.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
You're not doing this before others.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
You're having quiet time.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
So, Jesus wants us to be having

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
intimate communion [br]with our Father quietly.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) Just to think that

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
He's willing to spend quiet time with us.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Team) Amen.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) The God of the universe.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
I mean, think about that.[br]That's powerful.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Olric) It's very key that Nathan

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
points that out because in [br]verse 16 of that same chapter

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
He uses the word "hypocrite."

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
He says, "Don't fast as the hypocrites do."

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
That word is a key word,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
because in the Greek it means an "actor,"

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
you know, someone who puts [br]on a show, a performance.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
So, what is Jesus saying about these [br]individuals who pray to be heard

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
by many people or use many words [br]to look religious and so forth?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
He's saying, "You're just acting,"

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and my Bible says to me, "If you harbor

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
iniquity in your heart, God [br]will not hear your prayers."

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
This was a problem with the religious [br]leaders and those who were doing it

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
for outward show; the heart wasn't right.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) Right, He was asking

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
for an inward change.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Go ahead, Nicole.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Nicole) Just to take it [br]a little differently,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
you can also teach someone how to pray,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
so when I look at this verse [br]and I look at this text,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
I think about children and make sure

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
that we instill within our children

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
the desire to pray and the need to pray.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
We have to teach them how to pray

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and how to spend that time with God,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
so they can then grow to a place

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
when they can spend that [br]quiet time in their "closets"

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
knowing what they're to say.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
So I think that we should really remember

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
that we all have to teach [br]our children how to pray.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) I agree.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Team) That's true.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Derek) You know, I'm thinking,[br]in the light of what Nathan said,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
in the little book "Steps to Christ,"

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
it speaks about prayer as the opening

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
of the heart to God as to a friend.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
That's very personal.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Even the Lord's prayer could become

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
a vain repetition, if you [br]just repeat it ten times

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and think that God will hear [br]you by saying it 10 times.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
In fact, if you look at the Gospels,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Jesus prays a lot of different prayers.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) He does.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Derek) He is opening His heart [br]to His Father as to a friend.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
And I think what I'm hearing

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
in this great Sermon on the Mount,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
just like with loving obedience,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
is when you love God you [br]want to talk to Him.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) Yes.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Derek) And you want to listen, too.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) You have [br]an open communication.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Juliana, and then we need to move on.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Juliana) I was just going [br]to say really succinctly

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
that what this says to me,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and I guess why I choked up [br]trying to read it,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
was that it says we have [br]a direct connection.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Team Member) Amen.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Juliana) We don't have [br]anything else in the way.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) That's right.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Juliana) That the God of the universe

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
wants to talk to me and [br]wants me to talk to Him.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Derek) Amen.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) Wow, that's powerful.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Let's move on; Matthew, chapter 7.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Thank you so much for sharing.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Matthew, chapter 7, and [br]we'll go to verse 24 to 27,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and, Jason, would you read that for us?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Matthew, chapter 7, and we're moving

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
into our last section of our study

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
that is "Living What We Learn."

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Go ahead.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Jason) I'll be reading from [br]the New King James Version,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Matthew, chapter 7, verse 24 through 27.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) What is Jesus' [br]appeal in these verse?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
What is Jesus' appeal?[br]Missy.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Missy) Trust and obey, Just to listen

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
to what He has to say and do them.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
It's just simple.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) Yes.[br]Go ahead, Joshua.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Joshua) I would just say to build

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
your foundation on Christ.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Essentially, if you look [br]at family structures,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
it never made sense to me as to why

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
atheists get married, you know?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Think about it just for a second.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Just picture that in your [br]mind for a minute.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
How is it, if you're not focused

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
on the love of Christ and the beauty

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
of His Word and the understanding

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
of His heart rather than your own,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
how is it that you can unite yourself

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
in a marriage and try to build your family

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
on a structure that cannot stand,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
that's built on worldly [br]principles that are like sand?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
They can change at any time.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
They are weak.[br]They are futile.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
So, when I think about [br]that in my own life,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
I say, "Okay, I have to build [br]my foundation on Christ."

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) Amen.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Joshua) Because outside of that,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
everything else is just going [br]to be a wreck, you know,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and it's really that simple.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
I think it's a lesson to us to just say,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
"Okay, let's going about things

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
in the smartest way [br]possible," and this is it.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) Amen.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Nathan and then we'll come up to Kyle.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Nathan) Jesus is comparing [br]two kinds of people here.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Both of them heard His Word. He says,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
"Whoever hears these sayings of Mine

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and does them," and then He says later,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
"Whoever hears these sayings[br]and does not do them."

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
So it's not about just [br]hearing and knowing,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
it's actually about [br]putting it in practice.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
He says, "The one who puts into practice

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
these teachings of Mine, this is

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
solid rock foundation that you can

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
build on, and it's trustworthy,[br]so build on this.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
But if you hear it and don't do it,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
whatever you're building on is like sand."

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) Right.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
It's not a solid foundation.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) You won't [br]make it through the storm.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) Kyle.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Kyle) I'll just add to what Nathan said.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Just to think that this whole time

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
in Matthew 5 we've been [br]looking at, you know,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Jesus' standard of righteousness versus

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
what our human standard is.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
And if we build our lives [br]on our own righteousness,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
on our own works, then it's like sand.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
We have no real foundation.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
The only Rock is the Rock [br]of Christ's righteousness

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
that can get us through the storm.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
So, you know, it all connects;

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
it's dependence upon Him,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
even the prayer thing.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Prayer is all about dependence on God,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and depending on His righteousness,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
on His character in our hearts,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
will give us the foundation that will

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
carry us through that storm.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) Amen.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Tricia Lee, did you have a[br]comment you wanted to share?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Tricia Lee) I was just reflecting on what[br]Juliana mentioned about the invitation

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
to connect with the Lord, "our Father."

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Even in reading this, I just feel as [br]though personally I would be a fool

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
not to accept that invitation, that [br]the great God of the universe came,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
sent His Son, went to all this length[br]to show me who He really was,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
to show me what His Law means,[br]to show me how to love other people,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
who wants to love me and [br]wants to accept my love to Him,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and He's just giving me [br]the simple way to Him

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
that I have to be kind of silly in [br]seeing all of this and then saying,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
"No, I'd rather build it my own way."

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
It just really feels like it's just a [br]heart-felt invitation, and that, wow,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
how do I respond to that.[br]I was just thinking about that.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) So I want to move on.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
We have one more verse to read,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and that's John, chapter 13:17.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
I'll ask Tricia Lee if you [br]would read that for us.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
The question is, why does Jesus want

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
us to live in harmony with His Word?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Tricia Lee) John, chapter 13, verse 17.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
I'm reading from the New King [br]James Version, and it reads:

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) Tricia Lee, I think that is

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
what you were talking about.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Tricia Lee) It's a blessing.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) God wants us to be happy.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Team) Amen. Yes.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) It has to go from the head

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
to the heart, to the [br]hands, and to the "how."

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
How do I do that?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
By spending time with Jesus

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and falling in love with [br]my Savior and Lord.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Then what happens?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
When you're sharing with others,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
doesn't it make you happy?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
You're in the will of God.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
There's no better peace than that.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Go ahead, Olric.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Olric) Let me just wrap [br]this study here together.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
We see clearly Jesus is saying,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
"The law is important, you must keep it,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
but I don't want you to keep it

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
from an unconverted heart because

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
to do that is to do it with a heart

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
that is not connected to the love of God,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
that is devoid of the right[br]motives and right thoughts."

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
So, keep the Law but make [br]sure the heart is converted.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Why?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Because when you do [br]that you build your faith.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) Our faith is [br]built upon the Rock, yes.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
And our eyes are fixed on Jesus,...

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Team) Amen.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Stephanie) ...the Author [br]and Finisher of our faith,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and we share that with joy in our hearts.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
What a God.[br]What a God we serve.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Thank you so much for this lesson

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and for sharing today.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Derek) Thanks, Stephanie.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
You know, the Sermon on the Mount ends

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
by saying they were astonished

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
at His teaching because He taught as One

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
having authority, and really our authority

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
comes from that living [br]connection with God, doesn't it?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Team) Amen.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Derek) And I want to challenge you,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
as you think about this message,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
I have to be honest.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
If I look at God's ideal, [br]it's an impossible standard

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
unless a miracle happens in my heart,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
that God's grace not only saves me

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
but transforms me into that follower

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
of Jesus that He wants me to be,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
to reflect the beauty [br]of His character to others.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
That's God's plan for you and for me.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Why don't we pray that that[br]miracle can happen each day,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
not only for our blessing but [br]the blessing of those around us.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Let's pray.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Our Father in Heaven, we're astonished

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
at the teaching of Jesus, to [br]know how much You love us

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and how much You want to [br]work in us and through us.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Oh, Lord, forgive us where we have tried

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
to build our own righteousness,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
to build on sand instead of [br]on Jesus the Solid Rock.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Please, accept our lives now

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and work in us and through us

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
as we follow you with love in our hearts,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
is our prayer, in Jesus' name, amen.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Thanks for joining us [br]for Hope Sabbath School.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
We are learning a lot from [br]the Gospel of Matthew.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Take what you learn and [br]share it with those around you.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
♪ theme music ♪